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paiTOed  by  I  Haigraw.-, 


EDWARD       BAINE  S,      ESQ 


7:JHEP.    SCiN  1   C°  lOHDOK.  16S3 


\ 

^ 


4 


All  80- 
V-  I 


g  TOHISMAJESTY, 

3  WILLIAM   IV. 


KING  OF  THE  UNITED  KINGDOM  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND, 

AND 

DUKE  OF  LANCASTER. 


SIRE, 

Emboldened  by  Your  most  gracious  permission, 
I  beg  to  dedicate  to  Your  Majesty  this  History  of  that 
S        important  portion   of  the   British  dominions,  of  which 
Your  Majesty  is  by  a  double  title  the  illustrious  Head. 

As  little  inclined  to  offer  as  Your  Majesty,  in  the 
noble  frankness  of  Your  character,  is  disposed  to  receive, 
the  homage  of  servile  adulation,  permit  me,  most  gra- 
cious Sire,  to  express  an  ardent  wish,  that  uninterrupted 
peace  may  be  the  glory  of  Your  Majesty's  reign ;  that 
Your  triumphs  may  consist  in  the  achievements  of  Arts 
rather  than  of  Arms,  and  in  the  extension  of  the  liberties 
and  happiness  of  Your  Majesty's  subjects,  rather  than  in 

*?OfT    ^ey^ 


IV 


the  enlargement  of  dominions,  already  sufficiently  ample 
to  gratify  every  purpose  of  legitimate  ambition. 

That  Your  Majesty  may  long  govern  a  contented  and 
loyal  people,  and  that  when  in  the  course  of  nature  You 
shall  be  called,  by  that  power  by  whom  Kings  reign,  to 
descend  to  the  tomb  of  Your  illustrious  ancestors,  the 
appropriate  inscription  upon  Your  monument  may  be — 
The  Father  of  his  People," — is  the  fervent  wish  of 

Your  Majesty's 

Most  grateful 


n 


and  devoted  Subject, 


EDWARD  BAINES. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


LANCASHIRE,  so  eminent  in  ages  that  are  past  for  its  baronial  dignity,  has,  in 
modern  times,  become  equally  distinguished  for  its  manufactures  and  commerce ;  and 
it  has  long  been  a  matter  of  regret,  that  of  this  great  division  of  the  kingdom  there 
is  no  History  at  all  worthy  of  its  importance.  The  late  venerable  and  learned 
Dr.  Whitaker  having  written  the  History  of  one  of  the  parishes  of  Lancashire, 
It  is  intended,  in  the  volumes  now  announced  for  publication,  to  present  to  the 
public  a  History  of  all  the  Parishes,  coiTCsponding  in  some  measure  with  that  of  the 
parish  of  Whalley— less  antiquarian,  indeed,  and  it  is  feared  less  profound,  but 
somewhat  more  popular,  and  equally  accurate. 

In  exploring  the  historical  treasures  of  this  County  for  the  purposes  of  a  late 
publication,  the  Author  of  this  work  was  surprised  by  the  vast  body  of  information 
dispersed  throughout  its  various  parishes,  and  gratified  in  the  highest  degree  by  the 
readiness  with  which  it  was  every  where  laid  open  to  his  inspection :  thus  encouraged, 
his  views  expanded  beyond  their  original  limits,  and  though  he  sat  down  only  to  write 
a  sketch,  he  rose  with  the  ambition  to  complete  a  history  of  his  native  County.  The 
materials  which  he  thus  collected,  his  close  and  extensive  connexion  with  the  County 
has  enabled  him  continually  so  to  increase,  that  they  form  a  store  more  rich  and 
varied,  perhaps,  than  is  possessed  by  any  other  individual  in  the  kingdom,  on  the 
subject  of  Lancashire  history ;  and  he  now  submits  to  his  readers,  in  a  connected 
and  condensed  form,  a  work  comprising  all  the  valuable  and  curious  matter  which  is 
scattered  through  piles  of  detached  volumes,  or  locked  up  in  the  numerous  unpublished 
pedigrees,  and  other  MSS.  in  his  possession,  or  to  which  he  may  have  access. 
VOL.  I.  A 


vi  ADVERTISEME]\T. 

The  work  he  has  already  published,*  honoured  as  it  has  been  with  public  patronage 
to  an  extent  that  inspires  his  mind  with  gratitude,  has,  he  trasts,  imparted  to  his  readers 
some  grounds  of  confidence  in  his  future  labours.  In  his  former  volume,  it  was  barely 
possible  to  glance  at  the  stores  of  information  contained  in  the  public  Libraries  of  the 
Kingdom;  but  the  Manuscripts  in  those  Libraries  will  now  be  examined  with 
diligence  and  accuracy  proportioned  to  the  importance  of  the  information  they 
contain ;  and  whatever  is  valuable  on  the  subject  of  Lancashire  History  in  the  Harleian, 
Cottouian,  and  Lansdowne  collections  in  the  British  Museum,  will  be  extracted,  to 
enrich  this  publication.  All  the  important  materials  relating  to  the  County  of  Lan- 
caster, collected  and  arranged  under  the  authority  of  the  Commissioners  appointed  by 
his  late  Majesty,  King  George  III.  will  also  be  extracted  from  the  Domesday  Survey 
of  William  the  Conqueror,  the  Taxatio  Ecclesiastica  of  P.  Nicholas  IV.,  the  Testa  de 
Nevill,  the  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  temp.  Hen.  VIII.,  and  the  Ducatus  Lancastriae,  as 
presented  in  the  public  records  of  the  Kingdom.  The  period  for  compiling  the  decen- 
nial census  of  the  County  having  again  arrived,  the  whole  of  the  Lancashire  returns, 
as  made  to  Government  in  the  year  1831,  will  be  inserted  in  this  History,  with  a  sum- 
mary of  the  official  returns  of  1801,  1811,  and  1821,  for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting  the 
rapid  increase  of  the  population  during  the  present  century. 

The  Plan  of  the  Work  will  embrace  a  general  History  of  the  County,  succeeded 
by  the  history  of  each  Hundred,  in  which  the  Parishes  and  Townships  will  follow  in 
regular  succession,  according  to  their  local  connexion.  The  history  of  the  regal  House 
of  Lancaster  will  be  traced  from  the  foundation  of  that  House  to  the  time  when 
Henry  IV.  the  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  ascended  the  throne  of  these 
realms ;  and  while  the  remains  of  other  periods  are  preserved,  the  concerns  of  the  age  in 
which  we  live  will  by  no  means  be  neglected.  A  full  and  comprehensive  view  of  the 
rise  and  progress  of  the  Manufactures  and  Commerce  of  the  County,  from  their  earliest 
introduction  to  the  present  time,  will  be  taken.  All  the  public  Institutions,  rendered 
venerable  by  time,  or  important  as  modern  establishments,  will  be  described ;  and  a 
complete  record  will  be  preserved  of  all  the  public  Charities  in  each  Parish  and  Town- 
ship of  the  County,  as  they  existed  in  the  2Gth  George  III.,  with  their  annual  produce, 
and  the  names  of  the  benefactors  and  the  trustees  in  whom  they  were  vested,  when 
the  parliamentary  return  was  made  in  that  year.  Connected  with  this  subject,  the 
interesting  reports  of  the  Commissioners  acting  under  the  authority  of  Parliament 
"  for  inquiring  concerning  Charities,"  so   far  as  these  reports  concern  the  schools, 

•  The  Topographical  Sketch  of  the  County  of  Lancaster. 


ADVERTISEMENT.  vii 

hospitals,  and   other  benevolent  institutions  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  will  be  con- 
sulted, and  their  substance  communicated. 

A  few  years  ago,  William  Robert  Whatton,  Esq.  F.  A.S.,  announced  a  publi- 
cation under  the  title  "  Lancastrenses  Illustres;  or.  Historical  and  Biogra- 
phical Memoirs  of  Illustrious  Natives  of  the  Palatine  County  of  Lancaster,  with 
Genealogical  and  Heraldic  Observations."  The  materials  for  this  undertaking  were 
drawn  from  Original  Records,  public  and  private  Manuscripts,  General  and  County 
Histories,  Heraldic  Visitations,  Monumental  Inscriptions,  &c.,  enriched  from  the 
collections  in  the  British  Museum,  the  Bodleian  Library,  Oxford,  the  University 
Library  of  Cambridge,  and  the  Chetham  Library  of  Manchester.  Professional 
engagements  having  prevented  Mr.  Whatton  from  prosecuting  his  design  to  maturity, 
he  has,  since  the  original  Prospectus  of  the  present  Work  was  announced,  gene- 
rously transferred  his  ample  biographical  collections  to  the  appropriate  depository 
of  the  General  County  History,  to  which  Work  it  will  form  a  highly  interesting 
acquisition. 

To  the  last  Volume  of  this  History  will  be  subjoined  copious  indexes  of  places, 
persons,  and  subjects,  accompanied  by  chronological  tables,  so  arranged  as  to  exhibit 
a  regular  connexion  of  characters  and  events,  as  they  successively  arise  in  the  different 
parts  of  the  County.  To  secure  the  gi-eatest  authenticity,  every  Parish  in  the  County 
has  either  already  been  visited,  or  will  be  visited  by  the  Author  in  the  progress  of  tliis 
work,  which  it  is  his  earnest  wish  to  render  worthy  to  descend  as  a  record  through 
successive  generations. 

The  graphic  Embellishments,  Drawings,  and  Illustrations,  will  consist  of  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  Views,  &c.  antiquarian  and  modern,  taken  by  artists  eminent  in 
their  profession,  with  a  Map  of  the  County,  a  Map  of  each  Hundred,  and  armorial 
bearings  of  the  principal  Nobility  and  Gentry  of  the  County  ;  and,  to  secure  uniformity 
in  the  impressions,  the  Engravings  will  be  executed  on  steel  by  engravers  of  reputation 
in  their  respective  departments.  Some  select  subjects  inserted  in  the  "  Illustrations  of 
Lancashire"  will  be  introduced  amongst  the  Embellishments. 

A  complete  List  of  Subscribers  will  be  published  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the 
order  in  which  the  names  are  received.  In  the  distribution  of  this  Work  amongst  the 
Subscribers,  the  periodical  mode  is  adopted,  in  order  to  increase  the  number  of  its 
patrons. 

The  Nobility  and  Gentry  are  respectfully  solicited  to  furnish  Drawings  of  their 
Arms,  Crests,  &c.,  in  order  to  ensure  accuracy. 


viii  ADVERTISEMENT. 

Public  bodies,  and  private  individuals,  in  possession  of  documents  calculated  to 
shed  light  upon  the  History  of  Lancashire,  or  to  afford  materials  for  biographical 
notices  of  the  worthies  of  the  County,  are  requested  to  allow  the  Author  to  inspect  the 
originals,  or  to  furnish  him  with  copies  or  extracts,  through  the  medium  of  Messrs. 
Fisher  &  Co.  of  London ;  Messrs.  Wales  &  Co.  of  Liverpool ;  or  Messrs.  Clarke  &  Co. 
of  Manchester,  taking  their  receipt  if  necessary;  and  he  pledges  himself  that  all  papers 
committed  to  their  charge  for  his  use  shall  be  carefully  preserved,  and  punctually 
returned. 


PREFACE. 


The  labours  of  ten  years  have  at  length  enabled  tlie  Author  of  these  volumes  to 
present  to  his  readers  the  history  of  his  native  county.  The  baronial  family  desig- 
nated by  the  illustrious  title  of  The  House  of  Lancaster,  whicli  ranks  amongst  its 
early  members  tlie  renowned  John  of  Gaunt,  has  imparted  a  dignity  to  this  portion 
of  the  kingdom,  which  will  be  as  durable  as  the  national  records ;  and  the  transmis- 
sion  of  the  title,  in  the  person  of  Henry  of  Lancaster,  Earl  of  Derby  and  Duke  of 
Hereford,  from  the  ducal  family  of  Lancaster  to  the  Royal  Family  of  England, 
serves  to  shed  additional  honour  on  the  early  history  of  the  county. 

Subsequent  to  the  Reformation,  the  conflicts  of  parties  arising  out  of  that 
memorable  event,  and,  at  a  still  later  period,  the  wars  of  the  Commonwealth,  have 
rendered  this  county  the  theatre  of  transactions  of  the  highest  political  interest ; 
and,  in  our  own  times,  the  rapid  rise  of  commerce  and  manufactures  in  the  towns 
of  Liverpool  and  Manchester,  with  their  extensive  ramifications  through  the  hun- 
dreds of  West  Derby,  Salford,  and  Blackburn,  has  accumulated  within  a  narrow 
space  more  wealth,  population,  and  enterprise  than  are  to  be  found  in  any  other 
division  of  the  kingdom,  the  metropolitan  county  of  Middlesex  alone  excepted. 

That  a  county  so  circumstanced  should  have  been  so  long  destitute  of  a  county 
history,  is  a  matter  of  surprise  and  regret.  Several  attempts  have  been  made  to 
supply  this  desideratum.  As  early  as  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the 
learned  and  indefatigable  Dr.  Kuerden  announced  his  intention  to  publish  a  history 
of  "  the  honorable  Dukedom  of  the  County  of  Lancaster,"  under  the  title  of 
"  Brigantia  Lancastriensis  Restaurata  ;"*  but  the  life  of  the  laborious  antiquary  was 
spent  in  collecting  the  materials,  and  death  overtook  him  before  the  first  page  of  his 
publication  was  committed  to  the  press.  More  than  a  century  after  this  time, 
namely,  in  1787,  Doming  Rasbotham,  esq.,  at  the  instance  of  the  magistracy  acting 
for  the  hundred  of  Salford,  himself  a  member  of  that  body,  undertook  to  write  a 
"  History  of  Lancashire,"  and  collected  no  fewer  than  five  volumes  of  notes  and 
documents,  principally  written  in  short-hand,t  in  furtherance  of  his  object ;  but  before 
the  materials  had  assumed  the  form  of  history,  sickness  and  death  arrested  his 

*  See  Vol.  III.  p.  461.  t  See  Vol.  III.  p.  42,  43. 

VOL.  I.  b 


Vi  PREFACE. 

progi'ess,  and  the  task,  undertaken  with  so  much  zeal,  and  under  circumstances  so 
auspicious,  was  left  to  be  executed  by  other  hands.  At  a  still  later  period  (in  1825) 
a  gentleman  of  the  name  of  Cony  imposed  upon  himself  the  duty  of  produchig  a 
"  History  of  Lancashire ;"  but  owing  to  adverse  circumstances,  his  work  fell  into 
disrepute,  and  terminated  in  a  manner  equally  unsatisfactory  to  himself  and  to  the 
public. 

Detached  portions  of  our  county  history  have  been  written  by  the  Whitakers,  in 
a  manner  highly  creditable  to  theii-  learning  and  their  talents.  "  The  History  of 
Manchester,"  by  the  Rev.  John  Whitaker,  has  always  been  considered  a  piece  of 
valuable  topography,  too  imaginative,  indeed,  for  the  sobriety  of  history,  but  abound- 
ing with  learning,  and  full  of  information  ;  while  Dr.  Thomas  Dunham  Whitaker's 
"  History  of  the  Original  Parish  of  Whalley  and  the  Honor  of  Clitheroe,"  and  his 
history  of  that  part  of  Lancashire  comprehended  within  the  archdeaconry  of  Richmond, 
rank  the  reverend  and  learned  author  amongst  the  most  popular  and  eloquent  of  anti- 
quaries, as  well  as  amongst  the  most  prejudiced  declaimers  against  the  state  of  society 
under  the  system  of  modern  manufacturing  industry.  The  history  of  the  "  Antiqui- 
ties of  Furness,"  by  West,  possesses  distinguished  merit  for  accuracy  and  laborious 
research.  At  an  earlier  period.  Dr.  Charles  Leigh  published  "  The  Natural  History 
of  Lancasliire,  Cheshire,  and  tlie  Peak  of  Derbyshire,"  Avhich  occupied  seventeen 
years  in  the  completion,  though  aided  by  doctors,  proctors,  and  heads  of  colleges.* 
In  the  mention  of  works  connected  with  the  Jiistory  of  this  county,  it  would  not  be 
proper  to  omit  "  The  Portfolio  of  the  Fragments  of  the  History  of  Lancashire,  by 
Matthew  Gregson,  esq.,"  compiled  with  exemplary  industry,  but  published  without 
arrangement.  Two  other  works,  of  a  more  antiquarian  character,  not  confined  to 
Lancashire,  but  containing  considerable  portions  of  topographical  information  con- 
nected with  the  county  in  the  sixteenth  century,  will  be  found  frequently  quoted  in 
the  following  pages,  namely,  "  Leland's  Itinerary"  and  "  Camden's  Britannia,"  both 
of  them  works  of  high  authority,  at  a  time  when  kings  and  queens  sent  forth  learned 
men  to  explore  "  distant  counties,"  and  directed  that  the  results  of  their  inquiries 
should  be  published  for  the  benefit  of  their  subjects.  "  Harrison's  Description  of  the 
Manners  and  Customs  of  Britain  in  Elizabeth's  Reign,"  is  also  quoted  at  some 
length ;  and  Stukeley,  Gale,  and  Horsley  have  been  frequently  consulted  on  sub- 
jects relating  to  Roman  antiquities  discovered  in  various  parts  of  Lancashire,  and 
numerous  passages  transferred  from  them  to  these  volumes. 

*  See  Leigh's  History,  Epistle  Dedicatory. 


PREFACE.  VU 

All  these  sources  of  information  fall  far  short  of  a  History  of  the  County  Palatine 
and  Duchy  of  Lancaster ;  and  to  supply  tliis  deficiency  in  a  county  to  which  the 
Author  is  bound  by  many  tics,  has  been  one  of  his  strongly  actuating  motives  for 
enaaains:  in  an  undertaking  that  will  stand  so  much  in  need  of  the  candour  of  his 
readers.  In  the  midst  of  numerous  public  and  private  engagements,  he  has  devoted 
all  his  leisure  for  years  to  the  compilation  of  this  history ;  and  if  others  should  derive 
as  much  pleasure  from  reading  as  he  lias  enjoyed  in  writing  his  history,  he  Avill  not 
have  raised  this  monument  of  his  attachment  to  his  native  county  in  vain. 

Some  errors,  indeed  many,  are  unavoidable  in  a  work  of  this  nature,  when 
thousands  of  inquiries  were  to  be  instituted  in  all  the  great  divisions  of  the  county, 
and  when  the  information  as  to  events,  families,  and  persons  was  to  be  obtained  from 
so  many  different  quarters  ;  but  to  secure  the  accuracy  of  the  narrative  as  far  as 
possible,  every  parish  in  the  county  has  been  visited,  and  many  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent persons  in  each  parisli  consulted  upon  the  subjects  most  likely  to  be  within  their 
own  knowledge.  That  the  Author's  health,  strength,  and  spirits  have  been  spared, 
to  conduct  him  through  labours  under  which  others  better  qualified  have  sunk,  is  a 
cause  of  gi-atitude  to  the  great  Disposer  of  all  events,  in  whom  we  live,  and  move, 
and  have  our  being. 

The  plan  of  the  work  is  simple  and  inartificial.  The  first  volume  consists  of  the 
general  history  of  the  county,  whicli  also  extends  through  1 46  pages  of  the  second 
volume.  The  history  of  the  separate  hundreds,  parishes,  and  townships  is  then  com- 
menced, and  constitutes  the  principal  part  of  the  remaining  volumes. 

Rising  from  the  aboriginal  state  of  the  county  in  the  general  history,  the  period  of 
the  Roman  occupation  of  Britain,  and  especially  of  the  Brigantine  provinces,  is  briefly 
treated.  The  Saxon  and  Danish  periods  succeed,  terminating  with  the  Conquest 
by  the  Normans.  The  Domesday  Survey,  so  far  as  relates  to  this  county,  is  given 
at  length,  both  in  the  Norman  Latin  and  by  ti'anslation  ;  and  a  map,  founded  upon 
that  judicial  record,  is  presented,  with  the  names  of  the  manors  and  other  places 
engraved  according  to  the  orthogi'aphy,  and  in  the  character,  of  the  original  manu- 
script,— being  a  new  feature  in  county  history.  The  possessions  of  the  Norman 
barons  are  traced  through  the  earls  of  Chester,  the  baronial  house  of  the  Ferrers, 
earls  of  Derby,  to  the  Plantagenets,  dukes  of  Lancaster,  and  till  the  possessions  of 
the  Derby  family  merged  in  the  crown  by  the  elevation  of  Henry  IV.  to  the  throne. 
In  this  and  other  portions  of  the  work,  the  Record  Office  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster 
has  been  freely  resorted  to  ;  and  selections  from  the  enormous  piles  of  documents 

in  that  office,  liberally  conceded  by  the  noble  chancellor,  Lord  Holland,  through  the 

62 


Viii  PREFACE. 

medium  of  Frederick  D.  Danvers,  esq.,  registrar  of  the  council,  and  the  late 
W.  Minchin,  esq.,  the  clerk  of  the  duchy  court,  from  that  invaluable  depository  of 
local  and  general  information,  serve  to  enrich  these  pages. 

The  representative  history  of  the  county,  never  before  systematically  treated,  is 
derived  from  the  writs  of  summons,  and  the  rolls  of  parliament,  commencing  with  the 
original  iirstitution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  and  extend- 
ing to  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill  in  the  reign  of  Wilham  IV.,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  period  of  the  wars  of  the  Roses,  of  which  the  writs  of  summons  are  not 
in  existence  ;  nor  are  the  returns  of  the  comity  or  borough  members  to  be  found 
amongst  the  public  records  of  those  times. 

The  wars  of  the  Barons,  and  the  invasions  of  the  Scots,  undertaken  against  the 
border  counties  in  the  reigns  of  the  Henrys  and  the  Edwards,  so  far  as  their 
influence  extended  to  the  county  of  Lancaster,  are  treated  at  some  length ;  and  the 
history  of  witchcraft,  once  so  rife  in  Lancashire,  having  been  traced  through  a  period 
of  two  hundred  years,  is  shewn  to  have  given  way  before  the  progress  of  education — 
the  best  security  against  individual  and  popular  superstition. 

The  wars  of  the  Commonwealth,  which  raged  in  Lancashire  in  the  early  periods 
of  the  contest  between  the  Stuarts  and  the  parliament,  necessarily  occupy  considerable 
space,  both  in  the  general  history  of  the  county  and  in  the  local  history  of  the 
parishes  visited  by  this  scourge ;  and  the  information  supplied  from  the  King's 
Library,  in  the  British  Museum,  and  from  the  stores  of  this  and  all  other  topics  of 
Lancashire  history  accumulated  by  that  liberal  patron  of  literature,  Thomas  Hey- 
wood,  esq.,  have  supplied  ample  materials  for  rendering  this  interesting  portion  of 
the  Author's  labours  complete. 

The  general  history  is  concluded  with  such  particulars  of  the  rebellions  of  1715 
and  174.5  as  regard  the  transactions  which  took  place  in  Lancashire  in  those  periods 
of  alarm  and  agitation,  and  with  a  number  of  miscellaneous  subjects  relating  to  the 
public  institutions,  the  charities,  and  the  population  of  the  county,  copied  fi-om  the 
official  decennial  returns  of  1801,  1811,  1821,  and  1831,.  exhibiting  a  rapidity  of 
numerical  gi-owth  unequalled  in  any  other  county  in  the  kingdom. 

Having  treated  these  subjects  of  a  more  general  nature,  the  history  of  the  separate 
Hundreds  is  commenced  with  that  important  manufacturing  district  comprehended 
within  the  hundred  of  Salford  ;  and  in  the  parishes  and  townships  of  that  division  of 
the  county,  Manchester  appropriately  takes  the  lead.  In  writing  the  history  of  that 
parish,  all  the  sources  of  information,  published  and  unpublished,  tbat  are  open  to 
the  topographer,  have  been  carefully  explored.     The  history  of  the  out-townships  of 


PREFACE.  IX 

the  parish,  taken  consecutively  in  their  regular  order,  till  the  tour  of  the  ecclesiastical 
limits  is  completed,  is  then  treated  with  as  much  particularity  as  the  nature  of  this 
publication  would  allow ;  and  the  same  course  is  pursued  through  all  the  hundreds 
and  parishes  of  the  county,  as  they  successively  come  under  review. 

In  writing  the  History  of  the  County  of  Lancaster,  it  became  indispensably 
necessary  to  exhibit  the  history  of  that  most  important  of  all  our  sources  of  national 
industry — the  cotton  manufacture;  and  the  Author  has  to  ofTer  his  affectionate 
acknowledgments  to  his  son,  Mr.  Edward  Baines,  for  an  original  and  comprehensive 
history — the  first  ever  written — on  that  stupendous  source  of  wealth  and  of  employ- 
ment. These  chapters  have  since  been  expanded  by  their  Author  into  a  volume, 
which,  in  addition  to  a  wide  circulation  in  Great  Britain,  and  the  United  States  of 
America,  has  received  the  honour  of  translation  into  the  German  language. 

The  sources  of  information,  both  general  and  local,  from  which  this  History  of 
the  County  Palatine  and  Duchy  of  Lancaster  have  been  derived,  are  to  be 
found  in  the  Rolls  of  Parliament,  in  the  Charter  Rolls,  in  the  Hundred  Rolls,  in 
the  Inquisitiones  Post  Mortem,  Escheats,  and  other  official  inquiries  into  landed 
property ;  in  the  Taxation  Rolls  of  EdwardL,  and  in  the  Taxation  of  Pope  Nicholas  IV., 
deposited  in  the  Tower  of  London  ;  in  the  Domesday  Book,  in  the  Pipe  Rolls,  in  the 
Bags  of  "  Pedes  Finium,"  (or  Fines,)  in  the  Quo  Warranto  Rolls  in  the  reigns  of  Edw. 
I.  II.  and  III.,  and  in  the  Surveys  of  Abbeys,  Monasteries  and  Priories,  deposited  in 
the  Chapter  House  at  Westminster;  in  the  books  of  Pedigrees  and  Arms,  and  in  the 
Visitations  of  the  Heralds  in  the  College  of  Arras;  in  the  Records  of  the  Presentation  to 
Benefices,  in  the  Ecclesiastical  Court  at  Chester  ;*  in  the  Chartularies,  Registers,  and 
Ledgers  of  the  Monasteries,  and  in  the  Surveys  and  Inquisitions  of  the  larger  and 
smaller  religious  houses  in  the  Harleian,  Cottonian,  Lansdowne,  and  Hargrave 
Collections;  in  the  Records  of  Pious  Uses,  taken  before  Bishop  Bridgmau,  in  the 
20th,  21st,  and  22nd  of  James  I.,  contained  in  the  British  Museum;  and  in  the 
Charters  of  Grants  of  various  kings,  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancas- 
ter, the  Court  Rolls  of  the  Duchy,  the  Inquisitiones  Post  Mortem,  the  Presentations 
to  Livings,  the  Calendar  of  Pleadings,  and  the  Abstracts  of  Duchy  Records,  in  the 
Bags  and  Rolls  of  the  Duchy  Courts,  deposited  in  the  Record  Office  of  the  Duchy, 
in  Lancaster-place,  London.  When  room  could  be  afforded,  copies  of  the  docu- 
ments themsehes  have  generally  been  inserted,  but,  in  most  cases,  they  have 
been  necessarily  withheld,  though  never  without  a  description  of  their  contents  being 

*  Owing  to  the  defective  state  of  these  records   ia  the  eaily  ages  of  the  bishoprics,  the  returns 
are  less  perfect  than  might  be  expected. 


X  PREFACE. 

given,  and  references  attached  to  indicate  where  they  are  to  be  found  by  those  wlio 
msh  to  consult  them  for  purposes  connected  with  family  history,  or  the  rights  of 
property,  or  in  support  of  municipal  privileges. 

In  addition  to  the  advantages  afforded  to  the  Author  by  the  public  records,  much 
valuable  information  has  been  derived  from  Dr.  Kuerden's  MSS.  in  the  Heralds' 
College  in  London,  and  in  the  Chetham  Library  at  Manchester ;  from  the  Norris  and 
Derby  papers ;  from  the  MS.  Collection  of  Doming  Rasbotham,  esq.,  obligingly 
furnished  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Gray ;  from  the  Mancuniensis  of  Holliugworth ;  and 
from  the  MS.  History  of  Manchester,  in  possession  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith ;  as  well 
as  from  the  ample  MS.  collections  of  pedigrees  by  Hopkiuson  and  Wilson,  in  the 
Leeds  Library,  and  from  the  MS.  entitled  "  Familiae  Lancastrienses,"  compiled  from 
the  collections  of  sir  John  Byron,  sir  George  Booth,  Ralph  Thoresby,  John  LucaS) 
and  others  in  the  Author's  possession;  but  most  of  all  is  he  indebted  for  genealogical 
information  to  the  accurate  and  valuable  MS.  collection  of  pedigi'ees,  originally 
compiled  by  Mr.  Vernon,  of  Shackerley,  for  the  Asshetons  of  Middleton,  and 
politely  furnished  from  the  library  of  the  late  deeply -lamented  lord  Suffield. 

In  the  transcription  of  documents  from  the  public  records,  and  in  quotations  from 
those  documents,  as  well  as  from  private  collections,  the  varying  orthography  of  the 
original  has  been  faithfully  copied,  as  well  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  fidelity 
of  the  quotation,  as  to  sliew  the  changes  in  the  spelling  of  names  and  places  in 
different  ages. 

Some  years  before  the  publication  of  this  work  was  commenced,  William  Robert 
Whatton,  esq.,  F.A.S.,  announced  a  biographical  work,  under  the  title  of  "  Lan- 
castrenses  lUustres ;  or  Historical  and  Biograpliical  Memoirs  of  illustrious  Natives 
of  the  Palatine  County  of  Lancaster,  Avith  Genealogical  and  Heraldic  Observations ;" 
but,  professional  engagements  having  prevented  Mr.  Whatton  from  prosecuting  his 
design  to  maturity,  he  generously  transferred  his  ample  collections,  contained  in  four 
manuscript  volumes,  to  the  appropriate  depository,  the  general  history  of  the  county. 
In  the  progi-ess  of  this  work  through  the  press,  literature  and  science  were  suddenly 
deprived  by  the  stroke  of  death  of  this  accomplished  man ;  but,  fortunately,  his 
biographical  labours  were  completed  before  that  calamity  befell  his  family  and 
friends. 

To  the  noblemen  and  gentlemen  who  have  liberally  communicated,  from  their 
pedigrees  and  evidences,  much  valuable  information  relating  to  their  own  and  to 
other  distinguished  families  in  the  county,  the  Author  is  deeply  obliged.  To  the 
Rev. Thomas  Raffles,  D.D,,  LL.D,  the  Author  feels  himself  under  great  obligations. 


PREFACE.  XI 

For  several  years  this  gentleman  had  been  engaged  in  collecting  materials  for  a 
HistoiT  of  the  Hundred  of  West  Derby,  with  the  judgment  and  zeal  for  which  he 
is  distinguished.  The  products  of  all  this  labour  he  spontaneously  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  Author  of  the  County  History,  leaving  him  the  unrestricted  use  of  all 
the  papers  in  his  collections.  To  Thomas  Binns,  esq.,  of  Liverpool,  he  is  also 
indebted  for  the  repeated  inspection  of  his  vast  collection  of  engi'avings  relating  to 
the  different  hundreds  of  Lancashire,  a  collection  more  extensive  and  varied  than  is 
possessed  by  any  other  individual  in  the  county ;  as  well  as  for  the  use  of  a  number 
of  rare  books,  from  the  perusal  of  which  he  has  derived  important  facilities  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  labours.  A  valuable  original  paper  on  the  Roman  roads  con- 
verging to  Wigan  from  the  hundreds  of  West  Derby,  Salford,  and  Amounderness, 
was  contributed  by  the  Rev.  Edmund  Sibson,  a  laborious  and  successful  antiquary ; 
and  Nicholas  Grimshaw,  esq.,  the  guild-mayor  of  Preston,  emphatically  so  called,  has 
in  a  variety  of  ways  placed  the  Author  under  obligations  by  his  contributions  and  his 
corrections,  in  matters  connected  with  the  history  of  the  ancient  borough  of  Preston. 
To  his  valued  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Hunter,  Keeper  of  the  Records  in  the 
Tower  of  London,  he  is  indebted  for  many  useful  suggestions,  as  well  as  for  a 
copious  catalogue  of  the  MS.  works  of  Roger  Dodsworth  connected  with  the  county 
of  Lancaster,  in  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford.  In  every  parisli  in  the  county  he 
has  received  numerous  acts  of  kindness  and  assistance  in  the  progress  of  his  publica- 
tion, but  the  instances  are  too  numerous  to  admit  of  distinct  and  separate  acknow- 
ledgment. 

It  is  due  to  Mr.  Hampson,  the  gentleman  who  has  filled  the  luimble  but  con- 
fidential office  of  amanuensis  to  the  Author  for  several  years,  to  say,  that  his  learning 
and  research  have  contributed  essentially  to  the  accuracy  of  this  publication ;  and  it 
is  also  due  to  Mr.  Edwin  Butterworth,  who  has  visited  all  the  parishes  and  town- 
ships of  the  couuty,  without  a  single  exception,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  local 
information,  and  to  verify  facts  already  obtained,  to  say,  that  he  has  performed  his 
duty  with  zeal,  intelligence,  and  fidelity. 

The  Appendix  to  these  volumes,  which  follows  the  paiish  histories,  will  be  found 
to  contain  a  variety  of  uiformation  connected  with  the  statistics  of  the  County  and 
Duchy  of  Lancaster ;  and,  amongst  other  matter,  Abstracts  of  the  Ecclesiastical 
Survey  of  the  various  parishes  of  the  county,  made  by  commissioners  under  the 
authority  of  the  Lord  Protector  during  the  period  of  the  Commonwealth,  usually 
designated  "  The  Oliverian  Survey."  These  documents  are  found  in  the  unpub- 
lished MSS.  in  tlie  Lambeth  Library,  obligingly  opened  to  the  Author  for  transcrip- 


XU  PREFACE. 

tion,  by  his  Grace  the  Arclibishop  of  Canterbury ;  to  whom  he  is  also  indebted  for 
permission  to  make  the  Abstracts  of  the  Endowments  of  Vicarages  in  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  by  Dr.  Ducarcl. 

The  Engravings  (upwards  of  two  hundred,)  consisting  of  portraits,  views,  maps, 
antiquarian  subjects,  and  drawings  of  manufacturing  machinery,  witli  which  this  pub- 
lication is  adorned,  by  artists  eminent  in  their  profession — and  the  uniformity  of  the 
volumes  in  paper,  print,  and  embellishments — reflect  credit  upon  the  spirited 
publishers ;  and  the  vignette  initial  letters  affixed  to  each  chapter  and  parish  history, 
from  which  the  design  is  derived,  display  the  taste  of  the  engraver  in  wood,  and  the 
advanced  state  of  that  branch  of  the  arts.  Tlie  pedigrees  are  also  arranged  with  skill 
by  the  printer ;  and  the  arms  and  crests  by  which  these  Tamily  trees  are  surmounted, 
though  simple  in  their  construction,  have  the  merit  of  perfect  accuracy  in  the 
execution. 

A  number  of  Additions  and  Corrections,  arranged  in  the  order  of  the  parishes, 
follow  the  Appendix ;  and  a  general  Index  of  places,  persons,  and  subjects,  for  the 
facility  of  reference,  concludes  the  work. 

The  extensive  and  highly  respectable  support  which  this  publication  has  received 
during  the  long  period  of  its  progress  through  the  press,  is  indicated  by  the  number 
and  station  of  the  subscribers  ;  and  the  best  acknowledgment  that  can  be  ofl'ered  in 
return  is  the  assurance  that  an  anxious  desire  has  existed  to  execute  the  work  in 
every  department  in  such  a  manner  as  to  deserve  that  patronage  which  has  been  so 
liberally  awarded. 

Leeds,  December,  1836. 


CONTENTS    OF   VOL.   I. 


Introductory  Observations. — Roman  name  of  Lancashire. — Brigantes. — Aborigines. — Druidism. — 
Manners  and  customs. — Languages. — Caesar's  invasions. — Renewed  invasion  by  the  Romans. — 
Lancashire  overrun  by  the  Romans. — Hadrian's  wall. — Roman  stations  in  Lancashire. — Lancashire 
estuaries. — Roman  roads  in  Lancashire. — Antonine's  Itinerary  of  the  Lancashire  routes. — Richard 
of  Cirencester's  Itinerary. — Arrival  of  the  Emperor  Severus  in  the  Brigantine  capital. — His  acts. 
— His  death  and  deification. — His  successors. — The  goddess  of  the  Brigantes. — Recent  discovery 
of  Roman  remains  at  Ribchester. — Provinces  and  districts. — Britain  finally  abandoned  by  the 
Romans.— Roman  institutions. — Roman  remains  in  Lancashire.  Page  1 

Cljap,  m, 

Saxon  period. — State  of  Britain  on  the  departure  of  the  Romans.— Urgent  application  of  the  Britons 
for  foreign  aid. — Assistance  offered  by  the  Saxons. — They  visit  Britain  as  friends.— Remain  as 
enemies. — Take  possession  of  Kent. — Defeat  of  the  Saxons  at  York. — Saxon  ingratitude. — King 
Arthur. — Battles  on  the  Douglas. — The  Round  Table. —  Sir  Tarquin. — The  heptarchy. — North- 
umbria. — Saxon  idolatry. — Introduction  of  Christianity. — Missionaries  to  Britain. — Conversion  of 
the  Northumbrians.  —  Restoration  of  churches. —  Lancashire  castles. — Oswald. — Archbishop 
Wilfrid. — Papal  authority  acknowledged. — Transference  of  the  people  of  Furness. — Rain  of 
blood. — Venerable  Bede. — Invasion  of  the  Danes. — Battle  of  Whalley. — Dissolution  of  the  hep- 
tarchy.— State  of  Lancashire  in  the  ninth  century. — Reign  of  Alfred  the  Great. — Saxon  name  of 
Lancashire. — Early  tradition  of  the  Eagle  and  Child. — The  tenth  century. — The  south  of  Lan- 
cashire in  Northumbria,  and  not  in  Mercia. — Wars  in  Northumbria. — Lancashire  not  mentioned 
in  the  Saxon  chronicles. — Passes  under  the  Danish  power.— Termination  of  the  Saxon  and  Danish 
dynasties  in  England. — Manners  and  institutions  of  our  Anglo-Saxon  ancestors.  Page  2.3 

Cbap.  iM. 

Conduct  of  the  Conqueror, — Unsuccessful  revolt  in  the  north  against  his  authority. — York  superior 
to  London  {note). — Proscriptions. — Early  manners. — Renewed  insurrection.— City  and  Cathedral 

of  York  destroyed. — William   marches  again  to  the  north. — Fate  of  Earls  Morcar  and  Edwin. 

Tremendous  infliction. — Royal  grant. — The  Conqueror's  dealings  with  the  clergy. — Domesday 
survey. — How  formed. — The  name  of  Lancashire  not  in  the  Domesday  Book. — Perpetual  use  of 
this  memorable  survey.— Latin  and  English  versions  of  it.— Observations  of  the  Domesday  Book. 
—Thanes.— Ethlings.— Aldermen.— The  honor  of  Lancaster.— The  Norman  barons  of  Lancashire. 
— Their  stations. — Pedigree  of  Roger  de  Poictoii,  the  first  Norman  baron  of  the  honor. — The 
honor  forfeited  by  Roger. — Conferred  on  Ranulf,  the  third  earl  of  Chester.  Page  85 

VOL.  I.  f. 


XIV  CONTENTS  OF   VOL.  I. 

Cfiap.  iw. 

Lands  between  die  Ribble  and  Mersey. — Possessed  by  the  earls  of  Chester.— Descend  to  the  Ferrers, 
earls  of  Derby. — Earldom  of  Lancaster. — Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster. — His  opposition  to  the  royal 
favourite,  Piers  Gaviston. — To  the  Despensers. — Heads  the  barons  against  the  king. — His  fate. 
— His  reputed  miracles  after  death. — The  king's  mandate. — Marriage  of  his  widow. — Forfeits 
part  of  her  dowry. — Early  manners. — Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster. — Henry,  his  son. — His  military 
renown. — Created  duke  of  Lancaster.  Chancery  court  of  Lancaster  instituted. — County  made 
palatine. — "The  good  duke  of  Lancaster's"  deeds  of  arms. — Holy  relic. — His  charities  to  the 
"  black  liverys." — To  Whalley  abbey. — To  Leicester  college. — His  death. — His  issue. — John  of 
Gaunt. — His  marriage.  — His  possessions. — Created  duke  of  Lancaster. — His  achievements  in  arms. 
— Obtains  the  grant  of  chancery  in  the  duchy  and  palatine  privileges  in  the  county  of  Lancaster. 
— Advocates  the  cause  of  VVickliffe,  "  the  morning  star  of  the  Reformation." — Privileges  con- 
ceded to  him  at  court. — Obtains  a  grant  of  treasury  in  the  duchy  of  Lancaster. — Demolition  of 
his  house  by  the  followers  of  Wat  Tyler. — Magnanimity  shewn  towards  and  by  the  duke  in  Scot- 
land.— Charged  with  a  design  to  usurp  the  throne. — His  foreign  wars. — E.\tension  of  the  duchy 
privileges.  —  Espouses  Catherine  Swinford,  his  concubine.  —  Legitimatizes  her  children. — The 
duke's  death  and  character.  Page  121 

Character  of  Henry  Plantagenet. — His  marriage,  and  summons  to  parliament  by  the  title  of  the  Earl 
of  Derby. — Created  duke  of  Hereford. — His  quarrel  with  the  duke  of  Norfolk. — Wager  of  battel. 
— Great  preparations  for  the  contest. — The  dukes  separated  in  the  moment  of  the  onset. — Both 
sentenced  to  banishment. — The  duke  of  Hereford  quits  the  country  amidst  the  general  lamentation 
of  the  people. — Elevated  to  the  dignity  of  Duke  of  Lancaster  on  the  death  of  his  father,  John  of 
Gaunt. — Returns  to  England. — Expels  Richard  H.  from  the  throne. — Elevation  of  the  noble 
house  of  Lancaster  to  the  royal  dignity. — Allusion,  on  ascending  the  throne,  to  the  tradition,  that 
Edmund  Crouchback  was  superseded  by  his  younger  brother. — Ancient  tradition  that  John  of 
Gaunt  was  a  foundling. — Original  letter  on  that  subject. — Possessions  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster 
separated  from  the  crown  possessions. — Establishment  of  the  duchy  court. — Abolition  of  the 
duchy  court  of  star  chamber. — Augmentation  of  the  duchy  possessions. — Early  archives  of  the 
duchy. — Inquisitions  j90s<  mortem,  and  pleadings  in  the  duchy  court. —  Incorporation  and  confisca- 
tion of  the  duchy. — Act  of  Philip  and  Mary  for  restoring  the  duchy  possessions. — Ancient  duchy 
book,  revenues,  fees,  &c. — Abolition  of  the  feudal  system. — Administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 
duchy,  and  appropriation  of  the  revenues  under  the  Commonwealth.- — Chancellors  of  the  duchy 
of  Lancaster,  from  the  creation  of  the  duchy  to  the  present  time. — Duchy  records,  their  nature 
described,  and  the  places  of  their  deposits  stated. — Officers  of  the  duchy,  as  they  at  present 
exist.  —  The  duchy  seal.  —  Origin  and  use  of  seals.  —  Ducatus  Lancastrise,  from  the 
Harleian  MSS.  Page  159 

Cftap.  1J1E. 

Creation  of  the  county  palatine. — Dr.  Kuerden's  letter  on  its  antiquity. — Reasons  for  conferring  the 

palatine    privileges. — Form    of  legal    processes  in  the  county. — Mode   of  electing  the   sheriff. 

— List  of  sheriffs,  from  the  earliest  records  to  the  present  time.— Violation  of  the  liberty  and  pro- 
perty of  the  subject. — Ancient  petition  to  parliament. — Punishment  of  outlaws Prohibition  of 

liveries. — Exigent. — Appointment  of  sheriff  during  the  civil  wars. — His  oath. — Courts  of  the 
county  palatine. — Ecclesiastical  courts. — Synopsis. — Description  of  the  various  courts. — Con- 
templated removal  of  the  assizes. — Ancient  indictment  of  the  high  sheriff.— Inferior  courts  of  the 
county  palatine. — Public  records  of  the  county  palatine,  civil  and  ecclesiastical.  Page  199 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    I.  XV 

The  antiquity  of  the  county.-The  earldom   possessed  by  king  John.-Tl>e  crusades  -Pm  .leges 
granted  to  the  honor  of  Lancaster  in  the  articles  of  Magna  Charta.-Ratiticat.on  of  Magna  Charta. 
-The  forest  laws.-Assize  of  the  forest  at  Lancaster.-King  William's  letter.-Abol.t.on  of  the 
ordeals  of  fire  and  water.-Grant  of  land  between  the  Mersey  and  Ribble.-Ongin  of  the  repre- 
sentative system  in  England.-The  barons'  wars,  and  their  effect  on  the  honors  and  mhentances 
of  the  house  of  Lancaster.-War  with  Wales.-Ancient  Lancashire  wood-cutters.-F,rst  mditary 
summons  extant,  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire.-Wages  of  labourers    the.r  uniform 
adaptation  through  successive  ages  to  the  price  of  grain.-Chronolog.cal  table  of  the  standards 
of  value  for  six  centuries.-Coals   first  used   for  fuel.-Ancient   loyalty  loan -Summonses  of 
military  service-Conquest  of  Wales.-Reference  to  pope  Nicholas  s\  alor.-Wars  w,th  Scot  and. 
Lancashire  newsmongers  denounced.-Scotland  conquered.-Renewed  struggles  under  W.llmm 
Wallace  and  Robert  Bruce.-Large  drain  for  men  and  money  rn  Lancashn-e.-Effects  of  wa,.- 
Comm.ssion  of  Trailbaston.-Edward  I.   in  Lancashire.-His  death  at  Carhsle.-Fresh  wars.- 
Increase  of  crime  and  misery  .-Adam  de  Banistre  takes  the  field  aga.nst  the  ear   of  Lancaster  - 
His  fate.-Renewed  wars  of  the  barons,  headed  by  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancas  er.-H,s  late.- 
m.erest  taken  in  Lancashire  in  the  barons'  wars.-Charge  of  aiding  Thomas  earl  o   Lancaster- 
Edward  n.  dethroned.-Placed  in  the  custody  of  the  earl  of  Lancaster  -H.s  cruel  death.-The 
Testa  de  NeviU'  analyzed,  so  far  as  regards  the  landed  possessions  .n  the  county  of  Lancaster. 

Cftnp.  vrw. 

Representative  history  of  the   county  of  Lancaster.-Hitherto   neglected.-Ancient  constitution  of 
^;     iam  nts-Thedawnof  parliamentary  representation.-The  reform  parhament  of  Oxfonl, 
pauiaments.      ine  u.t  i  •'..  f  j^i„,,jts  of  the  sh  re.— Constitution  of  the 

called  parZiamen^am  iMsanwrn.— First  appointment  or  Knigiiis.  ui  I  .        ,•  , 

parUarTent  of  Oxford.-Its   acts.-First  writ  for   the  payment  of  members   of  parliament.- 
Op  oS-    g'-»  to  the  ancient  parliamentary  reform. -Borough   members  first  sent  to  par- 
Hament.-How  elected.-First  members  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  for  .  s   boroughs.- 
First  parliamentary  return  for  Lancashire,  extant.- First  parliamentary  wnt  of   summons  fo. 
LnaLre,  extant -Returns    in  the  reign   of   Edward   L-Number  of  counties,   boroughs    &c. 
then  returning  members. -Duration  of  the  session  of  pari lament.-Frequent  parliaments - 
Members    returned    for    the  county  of   Lancaster    in    the   reign    of    Edward    IL_Lancash.re 
borough    returns  in  this  reign.-The  high  sheriff  of    Lancashire  assumes  the    power  to  e  ect 
members  for  the  county.-Presentment  against  him  for  this  and  other  offences.-Lancashire 
Tounty  members  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.-The  duration  of  parliaments.-False  return    or  the 
county  made  by  the  under  sheriffs.-The  king,  and  not  the  commons,  decides  on  disputed  elec- 
tions -Peers  of  parliament,  temporal  and  spiritual.-The  boroughs  of  Lancashire  cease  to  return 
rembers.-The  reason  assigned.-Payment  of  the  wages  of  men.bers  of  parhament.-Returns  in 
he  reign  of  Richard  IL-Writ  of  summons,  not  to  the  sheriff,  but  to  John  of  Gaunt,  duke    f 
I  ancasS.-Members  for  the  county  in  the  reign   of  Henry  IV.-The  lack-learning  parliament. 
Lancashire  members  in   the   reign  of  Henry  V.-of  Henry  VL-Qualification  of  electors   for 
kn:gi:^::^the  shire  fi.xed.-Cou:ty  members   in  the   reign  f  ^^^^^^^.J^-^^L  ^"^^^^ 
17  Edward  IV.  to  33  Henry  Vlll.-County  members  from  1  Edwaid  M.  to  16  Charles  I.      Ihe 
ncient  Lancashire  boroughs,  consisting  of  Lancaster,  Preston,  Liverpool,  and  Wigan,  resume  the 
lecUve  franchise,  1  Edward  VI.-Newton  and  Clitheroe  added  to  the  boroughs  of  Lancashire- 
Nomination  boro;ghs.-Dame  Packington's  nominees.-Claim  of  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster  to  nominate  members  for  Leicester.-Representation  of  Lancashire  during  the  Com- 
monwel.-List  of  knights  of  the  shire  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  from  the  Restoration  to  the 
present  time.-Political  character  of  the  county  representation.-Alterat.ons  made  ,n  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  county  and  boroughs  of  Lancashire  by  the  Reform  Bill  of  1831.  Page  286 


c  Z 


xvi  CONTENTS    TO    VOL.    I. 

Cfjap.  IX. 

Impoitaut  period  in  Lancashire  history. — Royal  clemency  towards  the  adherents  of  Thomas  earl  of 
Lancaster. — Attainder  reversed. — Battle  roll  of  Borouglibridge — Scotch  invasion. — Lancashire 
banditti. — Redress  of  public  grievances. — Levies  in  the  county. — Cattle  removed  into  the  south. 

The  invaders  punished. — Subsidy  in  Lancashire  on  the  marriage  of  the  king's  sister. — Talliages 

in  the  county,  sliewing  the  relative  importance  of  tiie  principal  towns. — Statute  of  Winton 
enforced  in  Lancashire. — Consequences  in  the  county  of  renewed  wars. — Splendid  naval  victory. 
Fresh  levies  in  the  county. — Flocks  and  herds  again  driven. — Signal  overthrow  of  the  Scots. — 
Their  king  made  prisoner. — Pestilence. — Creation  of  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster. — On  the  origin  of 
the  title  of  duke. — Heavy  imposts  on  the  people  of  the  duchy. — Impressment  of  ships. — Maximum 
of  agricultural  wages. — Death  of  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster. — His  will. — His  possessions.— Admi- 
nistration of  the  first  duke,  from  the  rolls  of  the  duchy. — Renewal  of  the  dukedom  in  the  person 
of  John  of  Gaunt. — Papal  bull. — Levy  of  ships  at  Liverpool.— Non-exportation  from  thence. — 
Renewed  alarm  of  invasion. — Parish  tax. — Exchange  of  Richmondshire  for  other  possessions. — 
The  franchise  of  jura  regalia  confirmed,  and  extended  in  favour  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster. — Let- 
ters of  protection  to  Lancashire  men — iSTo  restrictions  on  the  importation  of  grain  in  these 
early  times. — Continuance  of  the  royal  bounty  to  the  house  of  Lancaster.  Page  323 


€f)ap,  .V. 

'ijwer  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster. — Lancashiremen  at  the  coronation  of  Richard  II. — Courts  of  law 
closed  by  the  insurrection  of  Wat  Tyler. — State  of  public  morals  in  Lancashire. — Invasions  of  the 
Scots. — Murderof  Latimer,  the  accuser  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster. — The  duke's  expedition  to 
Spain. — Submission  of  award. — Renewed  Scotch  invasion. — Larger  measure  in  Lancashire  than 
any  other  part  of  the  kingdom. — Ancient  salmon  fislieries  of  Lancashire. — Alleged  claim  to  the 
throne  made  by  John  of  Gaunt  for  his  son. — .4ccusation  of  the  duke  against  sir  Thomas  Talbot. 
— Legitimation  of  the  duke's  children  by  Catherine  Swinford. — Accession  of  the  house  of  Lan- 
caster to  the  throne. — Grant  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  first  to  Henry  earl  of  Northumberland,  and  after- 
wards to  sir  John  Stanley,  knight.  —  Annals  of  the  duchy.— Charters  of  the  duchy. — John  of 
Gauut's  illustrious  descent. — His  children. — Hostility  of  France. — Contest  for  the  papacy. — Will 
of  Henry  IV. — Henry  V.  ascends  the  throne. — The  Lollards. — Union  of  the  county  of  Hereford 
to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster. — Battle  of  Agincourt. — Commissions  of  array. — Tiie  crown  jewels 
pledged  to  carry  on  the  war  —Death  of  Henry  V.— His   bequest  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster. 

Page  360 

Cijap.  XI' 

Scarcity  of  records   for   history  during   the  Wars  of  the  Roses. — Mariiage  of  Henry  VT. — Lancaster 

Herald. Witchcraft. — The  Lancashire  alchymists,  sir  Edmund  Trafford  and  sir  Thomas  Ashton. 

— Their  patent. — Claims  of  the  rival  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster  to  the  throne. — Their  official 
pedigrees. — Wars  of  the  Roses. — Letter  from  the  earl  of  Marche  and  the  earl  of  Rutland,  sons  of 
the  duke  of  York,  (with  fac -simile.) — Badges  of  the  house  of  Lancaster. — Declaration  against 
lord  Stanley. — State  of  public  morals.— Unsuccessful  attempt  to  compromise  the  diflTerence 
between  the  rival  houses. — Henry  VI.  dethroned  by  Edward  IV. — Henry  seeks  an  asylum  in 
Lancashire. — Taken  by  sir  John  Talbot. — Sir  John's  grant  for  this  service. — Catastrophe  of  the 
Lancastrian  family. — Edward  V.   murdered  in   the  Tower. — Coronation  of  Richard  HI. — Letters 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  I.  XVll 

patent  granted  by  him — His  warrant  for  seizing  a  rebel's  land  in  Lancashire. — The  king's  jealousy 
towards  the  duke  of  Richmond,  son-in-law  of  lord  Stanley,  extends  to  his  lordship. — Attainder  of 
lady  Stanley,  countess  of  Richmond. — Landing  of  the  duke  of  Richmond  in  England. — Battle  of 
Bosworth  field. — Confiscation  of  Lancashire  estates. — Union  of  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster. 
— Sweating  sickness. — Lambert  Simnell  and  Perkin  Warbeck,  pretenders  to  the  throne. — Fatal 
consequences  of  the  civil  wars  to  the  duke  of  York's  family  (note). — Sir  William  Stanley  accused 
of  high  treason — Condemned  and  executed. — Henry  VIL's  royal  progress  to  Lancashire. — 
Letter  of  the  countess  of  Derby  and  Richmond  (fac-simile.) — Execution  of  Edward,  earl  of  War- 
wick, the  last  male  of  the  Plantagenet  line. — Death  of  Henry  VH.  Page  402 

The  sixteenth  century. — Henry  VIIL  ascends  the  throne. — Invasion  of  England  by  the  Scots. — 
Battle  of  Flodden  field. — The  king's  letter  of  thanks  to  sir  Edward  Stanley,  &c. — Lord-lieutenants 
'  first  appointed. — Proclamation  to  the  sheriflT  of  Lancaster  on  the  menaced  Scotch  invasion. — The 
Reformation. — Religious  persecution. — Visitation  of  the  monasteries. — Deplorable  ignorance  of 
the  clergy. — Report  of  the  commissioners  on  the  Lancashire  monasteries — Dissolution  of  the 
lesser  monasteries — Original  certificate  of  the  value  of  certain  monasteries  in  Lancashire. — Pro- 
gress of  a  suffragan  in  Lancashire. — Insurrections  produced  by  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries. 
— The  pilgrimage  of  grace. — Letter  from  the  king  to  the  archbishop  of  York  and  lord  Darcy. — 
Original  warrants  (fac-similes)  from  the  king  to  sir  Roger  Bradshaw  and  sir  Thomas  Langton, 
knights. — Dispersion  of  the  rebel  army — Reassemble — Final  dispersion. — Letter  from  the  earl  of 
Derby  to  the  king,  on  the  taking  of  Whalley  abbey. — First  draught  of  Henry  VIII.'s  letter  to  the 
earl  of  Sussex,  on  the  rebellion  in  the  north,  &c. — Renewed  rebellion  in  the  north. — Execution 
of  the  abbot  of  Whalley,  and  others. — Dissolution  of  the  larger  monasteries. — First  publication 
of  the  Bible  in  English. — Excommunication  of  the  king. — List  of  Lancashire  monasteries. — Their 
revenues  administered  by  the  duchy. — Aggregate  value  of  the  dissolved  monasteries. — Bishopric 
of  Chester,  &c.  erected. — List  of  chantries  in  Lancashire. — Decayed  towns  in  Lancashire. — 
Privilege  of  sanctuary. — The  king's  death.  Page  457 

Cljap.  XIM. 

Lancashire  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI. — In  the  reign  of  queen  Mary. — Lancashire  martyrs:  John 
Rogers,  John  Bradford,  George  March. — Bluster  of  soldiers  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  in  Mary's 
reign. — Lancashire  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth. — General  muster  of  soldiers  in  Lancashire,  in  1559. 
— Ecclesiastical  commission,  consisting  of  the  earl  of  Derby,  the  bishop  of  Chester,  and  others. — 
State  of  Lancashire  on  the  appointment  of  the  commission. — Catholic  recusants. — Mary  queen  of 
Scots  seeks  an  a«yluni  in  England — -Placed  in  confinement. — Puritan  recusants. — Rebellion  in 
the  north  to  re-establish  the  Catholic  religion — Suppressed. — Certificates  of  the  levies  of  troops 
in  the  county  of  Laneasler,  with  autographs  of  a  number  of  the  principal  inhabitants. — Meetings 
of  the  lieutenancy. — Original  letter  of  Edward,  earl  of  Derby,  to  tire  queen.  Letter  of  the  earl  of 
Huntington  to  secretary  Cecil,  casting  suspicion  on  the  loyalty  of  the  earl  of  Derby ;  proved  to 
ill  founded.  Part  taken  by  Lancashire  gentlemen  to  liberate  Mary  queen  of  Scots. — Comparative 
military  strength  of  the  kingdom. — Muster  of  soldiers  in  Lancashire,  in  1574. — Declaration  of  the 
ancient  tenth  and  fifteenth  within  the  county  of  Lancaster. — Queen  Elizabeth's  visit  to  Dr.  Dee, 
the  astrologer. — The  Chaderton  MSS.  relating  to  the  affairs  of  the  county  of  Lancaster. — Original 
papers  relalting  to  the  Lancashire  recusants. — Lancashire  contribution  of  oxen  to  queen  Elizabeth's 


xviii  CONTENTS  OF  VOL.   \. 

table. — Fac-simile. — MS.  of  the  Lancashire  lieutenancy. — Lancashire  loyal  asaociation  against 
Mary  queen  of  Scots  and  her  abbettors. — Trial  and  execution  of  Mary  queen  of  Scots. — The 
Spanish  armada. — Letter  from  the  queen  to  the  earl  of  Derby  thereon. — Preparations  in  Lanca- 
shire to  resist — Destruction  of. — Thanksgiving  for  national  deliverance  in  Lancashire. — Memorable 
and  fatal  feud. — Atrocious  abduction.  Levies  of  troops  in  Lancasliire  for  Ireland. — Suppression 
of  the  rebellion  there. — Death  of  queen  Elizabeth. — Loyal  address  of  Lancashire  gentry  to  her 
successor  James  I.  on  his  accession  to  the  throne.  Page  496 


Cftap.  XIV. 

Ancient  manners  and  customs  of  the  county. — The  chase. — Archery. — Dress. — Buildings. — Food. — 
Coaches. — Progress  of  improvement.  —  Sports  and  pastimes. — The  arts. — The  laws. — King 
James's  first  progress. — Lancashire  knights. — The  plague. — The  Gunpowder  plot. — Letter  to 
lord  Monteagle. — Cecil's  account  of  the  discovery. — Fate  of  the  conspirators. — Nevif  dignity  of 
inheritance. — Lancashire  baronets. — Lancashire  witches. — Dr.  Dee's  petition. — Seer  Edward  Kel- 
ley,  the  necromancer. — History  of  Lancashire  witchcraft. — Duchess  of  Gloucester. — The  Stanley 
family. — Satanic  possession. — Cases  of  seven  demoniacs  in  Mr.  Starkie's  family  at  Cleworth. — 
Dispossessed. — The  conjurer  hanged. — King  James's  daemonologie. — Witches  of  Pendle  Forest. — 
Their  trial. — Fate. — Salmesbury  witches. — Acquitted. — Second  batch  of  Pendle  Forest  witches. 
— The  witch-finder's  deposition. — Proved  to  be  an  impostor. — Examination  of  the  Lancashire 
witches  before  the  king  in  council. — Deposition  of  Ann  Johnson,  one  of  the  reputed  witches. 
— On  the  belief  in  witchcraft. — Case  of  a  Lancashire  witch  in  Worcestershire. — Richard 
Dugdale,  the  Lancashire  demoniac. — His  possession. — Dispossession. — Witchcraft  exploded. — 
Progress  of  king  James  through  Lancashire. — Sunday  sports. — rThe  Book  of  Sports. — Further 
honours  conferred  on  Lancashire  men. — Letter  from  king  James  to  sir  Richard  Hoghton,  with 
autograph. — Letter  from  the  king's  council  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  lord-lieuteiiant  of  Lancashire  and 
Cheshire.  Pwge  567 


LIST   OF    PLATES. 


VOL.  I. 


Edward  Baines,  Esq.,  M.P To  face  Title 

Antique  Helmet  of  Bronze  found  at  Ribchester  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  .     p.  20 

Map  of  Lancashire,  according  to  the  Domesday  Survey        . 92 

John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster 137 

Seals  of  the  County  Palatine  and  Duchy  of  Lancaster  . 192 

Autographs  of  the  Lancashire  Lieutenancy  in  the  Reign  of  Elizabeth  .....       518 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  BINDER. 

Cancel  the  original  Titles,  and  use  the  separate  ones,  which  have  the  words  "  SllllJ  l3Uff)J>"  added. 
Insert  the  "  Preface"  (Sig.  b)   given   in  the  last  Part,  instead  of  the   "  Advertisement"  originally 

given  in  Part  I. 
In  each  volume,  the  Contents  and  List  of  Plates  are  immediately  to  precede  the  body  of  the  Work. 
In  Volume  I.  the  original  pages,  319,  320,  321,  322,  in  signatures  2  S  and  2  T,  (which  were  printed 

before  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill,)  are  to  be  cancelled,  and  the  reprint  of  those  pages 

substituted  in  their  stead. 
In  Vol.  II.  the  pages  wanting  between   Sigs.  3  D  and   3  E  (namely,  folios  393,  394,  395,  396,) 

consist  of  Pedigrees. 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  LANCASHIRE. 


Cftap,  h 

In'.roductory  Observations. — Roman  name  of  Lancashire. — Brigantes. — Aborigines. — Druidism. — 
Manners  and  customs. — Languages. — Caesar's  invasions. — Renewed  invasion  by  the  Romans. — 
Lancashire  overrun  by  the  Romans. — Hadrian's  waU. — Roman  stations  in  Lancashire. — Lanca- 
shire estuaries. — Roman  roads  in  Lancashire. — Antonine's  Itinerary  of  the  Lancashire  routes. — 
Richard  of  Cirencester's  Itinerary. — Arrival  of  the  Emperor  Severus  in  the  Brigantian  capitaL — 
His  acts. — His  death  and  deification. — His  successors. — The  goddess  of  the  Brigantes. — 
Recent  discovery  of  Roman  remains  at  Ribchester. — Provinces  and  districts. — Britain  finally 
abandoned  by  the  Romans. — -Roman  institutions. — Roman  remains  in  Lancashire. 


HE  County  of  Lanca.ster,  though  not  particularly    chap. 
famed  for  those  monuments  of  antiquity  which  shed        ^' 


a  lustre  on  histoiy,  local  as  well  as  national,  is  by  introduc- 
no  means  destitute  of  ancient  remains.  Its  dis- 
tinguisliing  characteristics,  however,  consist  in  the 
extent  of  its  commerce,  the  importance  of  its  manu- 
factures, the  nimiher  and  value  of  its  modem  insti- 
tutions, and  the  activity  and  enterprise  of  its  abun- 
dant population.  In  tracing  the  liistory  of  such  a 
County,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  historian  to 
describe  mth  accuracy  the  monuments  bequeathed  to  us  by  our  ancestors,  without 
exhausting  the  patience  of  his  readers  with  prolix  details  and  controversial  disquisi- 
tions ;  which,  however  interesting  to  the  antiquarian,  seldom  tend  to  any  valuable 
result.  Wliere  facts  are  wanting,  conjecture  may  be  resorted  to,  in  order  to  sup- 
ply the  defect ;  but  in  a  portion  of  the  kingdom  where  there  is  so  much  of  the 
real  history  of  human  affairs,  it  would  be  unpardonable  to  spend  that  time  in 
barren  speculation,  wliich  may  be  so  much  more  advantageously  devoted  to  the 
concerns  of  the  gi"eat  community  for  whose  information  tliis  work  is  intended. 
VOL.  T.  B 


2  Cf)f  2>isitoii)  of  tht 

CHAP.  For  nearly  four  thousand  years  of  the  world's  existence,  the  liistory  of  this 

County,  and  of  this  country,  is  almost  a  blank,  except  so  far  as  it  may  be  read 

in  its  geological  phenomena;  and  it  may  be  confidently  asserted,  that  before  the 
fu'st  lancHng  of  Julius  Csesar  upon  our  shores,  scarcely  any  tiling  is  known  of 
the  people  who  inhabited  this  island,  or  of  the  government  and  institutions  under 
wliich  they  lived.  There  have  been,  it  is  true,  certain  zealous  and  adventurous 
antifiuarians,  who  have  assigned  dates  much  earlier  than  the  fifty-fifth  year  before 
the  bii'th  of  Cluist,  to  the  two  Universities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge ;  the  cham- 
pion of  the  antiquity  of  Cambridge  going  back  to  Cantaber,  who,  as  we  are  told, 
lived  394  years  before  the  Clmstian  era;  and  the  still  bolder  Oxonian  dating 
the  bii-th  of  his  Alma  Mater  as  far  back  as  the  fall  of  Troy  ! 

The  history  of  Britain  before  the  Norman    Conquest   may   be    divided    into 
foiu"  portions : 

Fii-st,  the  Aborigines ; 

Second,  the  Roman  period ; 

Thii'd,  the  Anglo-Saxon  period ;  and. 

Fourth,  the  Danish  period. 

Each   of  these   epochs   had  its   distinct   character,  and   in   all   of  them  the 
inhabitants   of  Laucashii-e  took  theuf   share;  though   it  is  doubtful  whether  tliis 
County,  even  at  the  Conquest,  had  obtained  its  present  name. 
Roman  According    to    Ptolemy,   the   inhabitants  of   the    country    between   the   lofty 

Lanca-  ridge  which  now  separates  Yorksliire  from  Lancashire,  and  the  bay  of  Morecambe, 
bore  the  name  of  the  Setantii,  or  Segantii — the  dwellers  in  "  the  country  of  water ;" 
wliich  district,  on  the  second  invasion  of  the  Romans,  was  included  in  the  more 
Brigantes.  cxteusive  proAiuce  of  the  Briijantes*  extending  on  the  east  side  of  the  island 
from  the  Hmnber  to  the  Tyne,  and  on  the  west  from  the  Mersey  to  the  Eden,  and 
comprehending  the  five  counties  of  Yorksliii-e,  Durham,  Ciunberland,  Westmore- 
land, and  Lancaslm-e.  Tliis  being  the  most  powerful  and  populous  nation  in 
Britain,  durmg  the  Roman  sway,  it  is  the  most  celebrated  by  the  best  writers,  f 
Ahorigi-  Historians   ai-e   generally  agi-eed   that   the   Aborigines  of  Britain,   as   Caesar 

calls  our  earliest  ancestors,  were  a  tribe  of  the  Gauls,  who  emigi-ated  from  the 
Continent,  and  settled  in  this  island  |  about  a  thousand  years  before  the  butli 
of  Christ.  The  more  probable  conjecture  is,  as  Caesar  intimates,  that  the 
interior  parts  of  Britain,  to  the  north  and  to  the  west,  and  consequently 
Lancashire,  were  peopled  by  the  earliest  mhabitants,  and  the  maritime  pai'ts  by 

*  Brigantes.      From  the    Spanish   Briga,    a  city,  or  from   the   Belgic  Brigantes,  free   lands, 
rather  tlian  from  the  French  Brigands,  piratical  marauders. 

t  Camden,  vol.  iii.  p.  233.  X  Rich,  de  Cir.  b.  I.  cap.  ii.  sect.  4. 


oes. 


Cotintp  ^aalntint  of  iCanrneitrr.  3 

those  -who  crossed  over  from  Belgiimi,   in   Gaul,  for  the  pui-pose  of  in\acling  it,    ^hap. 

almost   all   of  whom  had  their  names  from  the  tribes   whence  they  sprang,  and,  

on  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  remained  here. 

Before  the  first  invasion  of  the  Romans,  the  inhabitants  of  tliis  part  of  the 
island  subsisted  cliiefly  by  hunting;  and  theii-  cattle  gi'azed  upon  pastures, 
unencumbered  by  any  of  the  artificial  di\'isious  whicli  a  state  of  cultivation  never 
fails  to  produce.  For  their  clothing,  when  the  severity  of  the  season  compelled 
them  to  submit  then-  lunbs  to  such  restraints,  they  were  indebted  to  the  skins 
of  animals ;  and  their  dwellings  were  formed  by  the  pillars  of  the  forest,  rooted 
in  the  earth,  and  enclosed  by  interwoven  branches,  wldch  but  imperfectly  served 
to  shelter  them  dming  the  hours  of  repose  from  the  conflict  of  the  elements. 
Their  governments,  according  to  Diodorus  Siculus,  the  ancient  liistorian,  though 
monarchical,  were  free,  like  those  of  all  the  Celtic  nations;  and  theii-  religion, 
wliich  formed  one  part  of  the  government,  was  Druidical :  then-  deities  were 
furies ;  hiuaan  sacrifices  were  offered  to  them ;  *  and  the  eternal  transmigration 
of  souls  was  inculcated,  and  universally  believed. 

According  to  Caesar,!  "  the  Druids  attend  on  divine  offices,  perform  the  public 
and  private  sacrifices,  and  explain  the  mysteries  of  religion.  To  them  gi-eat  oruidisra. 
niunbers  of  youth  resort  for  instruction,  and  they  are  held  in  great  honour  among 
them,  for  they  decide  in  almost  all  cases,  public  and  private ;  and  if  any  crime  or 
murder  is  committed,  or  any  disputes  arise  about  estates  or  bounds,  they  deter- 
mine it,  and  appomt  rewards  and  punishments.  If  any  individual  or  body  of 
men  refuses  to  abide  by  then-  sentences,  they  forbid  him  to  come  to  the  sacrifices. 
Tliis  is  esteemed  the  heaviest  punishment  among  them.  The  persons  thus  for- 
bidden are  considered  a.s  impious  ^TCtches,  shunned  by  all,  and  then-  conversation  is 
avoided,  as  if  for  fear  of  bemg  injiu-ed  by  the  contagion  of  thefr  company.  They 
can  obtain  no  benefit  from  the  laws,  nor  ai'e  they  alloAved  any  shai-e  in  public 
honom-s.  Over  all  these  Druids  presides  one  with  supreme  authority.  Upoji 
his  death  the  next  in  rank  succeeds ;  but  if  there  are  many  equal  in  rank,  a  suc- 
cessor is  elected  by  the  suffrage  of  the  rest.  They  sometimes  dispute  for  the 
superiority  by  the  sword.  These  priests,  at  a  certain  time  of  the  year,  hold  a 
general  assembly,  in  a  consecrated  place  in  the  confines  of  the  Carnutes,  whose 
counhy  is  supposed  the  centre  of  all  Gaid.  Hither  repair-  all  who  have  any 
disputes,  and  submit  themselves  to  their  judgments  and  decrees.  This  system 
of  discipUne  is  supposed  to  have  been  planned  in  Britain,  and  thence  transfen-ed 
to  Gaul ;  and,  to  this  day,  those  who  desii-e  to  acquire  a  more  intimate  knowledge 
of  it,  generally  go  tliither  to  be  instructed  in  it.  The  Druids  are  dispensed  from 
*  Solinus.  t  C.  Julii  Caesaris  Commentarii  de  Bello  Gallico,  lib.  vi.  cap.  13,  14. 

b2 


4  €I)t  i>i5torp  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  attending  on  war,  nor  do  they  pay  ti-ibute,  like  the  rest  of  the  nation ;  and  they 
'  ai-e  exempted  from  military  and  all  other  service.  Encouraged  by  such  re- 
wards, and  frequently  of  tlieu-  own  choice,  many  come  to  them  to  be  instructed, 
or  are  sent  by  then-  relatives  and  pai-euts.  They  ai'e  said  to  leam  bj^  heai-t  a 
great  number  of  verses,  and  therefore  spend  several  years  in  this  discipline ;  nor 
do  they  think  it  right  to  coimnit  what  they  are  taught  to  writing,  whereas,  in 
almost  every  thing  else  of  a  public  or  private  natm-e,  they  use  the  Greek  charac- 
ters. This  I  suppose  them  to  do  for  two  reasons ;  because  they  would  not  have 
the  common  people  acquainted  ^vith  then-  discipline,  nor  their-  scholai's  who  leani 
it  trust  to  letters  more  than  their  memory,  it  being  a  too  conuuon  case  that  per- 
sons who  rely  upon  the  assistance  of  Aniting,  lay  too  little  stress  on  memory. 
The  points  they  cliiefly  inculcate  ai-e,  the  immortality  and  ti-ansmigi-ation  of  the 
soul,*  which  they  think  very  conducive  to  inspire  courage,  by  occasioning  a  con- 
tempt of  death.  They  likei\ise  discourse  ^vith  youth  much  about  the  heavenly 
bodies  and  their-  motion,  the  size  of  the  heaven  and  the  eai-th,  the  nature  of 
tilings,  the  influence  and  power  of  the  immortal  gods." 

Accorchng  to  Pliny ,t  "  the  Druids  (as  the  Gauls  call  their-  magicians  or 
wise  men)  hold  notliing  so  sacred  as  the  misletoe,  and  the  ti-ee  on  wliich  it 
gi-ows,  provided  it  be  an  oak.  They  make  choice  of  oak  gi-oves  in  preference  to 
all  others,  and  perfonn  no  rites  without  oak  leaves;  so  that  they  seem  to  have 
the  name  of  Druids  from  thence,  if  we  derive  their-  name  fi-om  Greek.  Tliey 
think  whatever  grows  on  those  trees  is  sent  from  heaven,  and  is  a  sign  that  the 
Deity  has  made  choice  of  that  tree.  But  as  the  misletoe  is  seldom  to  be  met 
with,  when  found,  it  is  fetched  with  great  ceremony,  and  by  aU  means  on  the 
sixth  day  of  the  moon,  which  with  them  begins  the  months  and  years,  and  the 
period  of  thirty  years,  wliich  they  term  an  age ;  for,  at  that  season,  the  moon 
has  sufficient   influence,  and   is    above    half   fidl.      Tliey  call  tliis  plant  in  their 

*  The  effects  of  this  opinion  are  very  strikingly  described  by  Lucan,  in  a  highly  poetical 
apostrophe  to  the  Druids  : — 

'  Vobis  auctoribus  umbrse 
Non  tacitas  Erebi  sedes,  Ditisque  profundi 
Pallida  regna  petunt :  regit  idem  spiritus  artus 
Orbs  alio  :  longse  (canitis  si  cognita)  vitse 
Mors  media  est.     Certe  populos  quos  despicit  Arctos 
Felices  errore  suo,  quos  ille  timorum 
Maximus,  baud  urget  leti  metus  !     Inde  ruendi 
In  ferrum  mens  prona  viris,  animaeque  capaces 
Mortis,  et  ignavum  rediturse  parcere  vitae."  Lucan,  Pharsal.  1.  i. 

t  Nat.  Hist.  xvi.  c.  44. 


Ctrnntp  ^alati'nt  of  I-ancasitfr.  5 

own  language  All-heal ;  and,  after  preparing  it  for  the  sacrifice  and  feast  *imder    chap. 

the  tree,   they  bring  up  two  wliite  Lulls,  whose   horns  have  been  bound  for  the  '. — 

first  time.  The  priest,  habited  iu  wliite,  mounts  the  tree,  and,  with  a  golden 
hook,  cuts  the  misletoe,  which  is  received  in  a  white  cloth.  They  then  sacrifice 
the  \'ictiins,  praying  the  deity  to  render  this,  his  gift,  favourable  to  those  to 
whom  they  distribute  it.  They  suppose  it  renders  any  animal  fruitful  wliich 
(Wnks  a  decoction  of  it,  and  it  is  a  remedy  against  all  sorts  of  poison.  So 
much  does  the  gi'eatest  pai-t  of  a  national  religion  consist  in  trilles." 

The  manners  and  customs  of  the  ancient  Britons  resembled  those  of  the  Gauls.  Manners 
They  were  extremely  warlike,  eager  for  slaughter,  and  bold  and  courageous  in  tums. 
battle.  Dion  Cassius,  speaking  of  the  Britons  in  the  northern  pait  of  the  island, 
(the  Brigantes,)  says,  "  They  never  cultivate  the  land,  but  live  on  prey,  hunting, 
and  the  fiiiuts  of  trees ;  for  they  never  touch  fish,  of  which  they  have  such  prodi- 
gious plenty.  They  live  in  tents,  naked,  and  mthout  shoes;  have  theii*  wives  iu 
common,  and  maintain  all  theu"  cliil(beu.  The  people  shai'e  the  government 
amongst  them,  and  they  practise  robbery  ^\'ithout  restraint.  They  fight  in  chariots, 
haring  small  fleet  horses;  they  have  also  infantry,  who  can  run  very  swiftly,  and  while 
they  stand  are  very  firm.  Then-  arms  are  a  shield,  and  a  short  spear,  on  the  lower 
part  of  wliich  is  a  bell  of  brass,  to  terrify  the  enemy  by  its  sound  when  shaken. 
They  likewise  weai'  daggers.  They  are  accustomed  to  brave  hunger,  cold,  and  all 
kinds  of  toil ;  for  they  will  contiuue  several  days  up  to  their  chins  in  water,  and 
bear  hunger  many  days.  In  the  woods  they  live  on  bai"k  and  roots  of  tfees.  They 
prepare  a  certain  kind  of  food  for  all  occasions,  a  piece  of  which,  of  the  size  of  a 
bean,  prevents  their  feeling  hunger  or  tliirst."* 

Xiphihnust  says,  Bundinica,  the  British  queen,  "  wore  a  gold  coUai-,  and  was 
dressed  in  a  party-coloured  robe."  Pliny  says,  "  the  Britons  and  Gauls  wore  a 
ring  on  then-  middle  finger ;"  and  Caesai*  describes  them  as  wearing  long  liair.J 
They  wore,  like  the  Gauls,  a  particular  di'ess,  called  bracha : 

Quam  veteres  brachae  Britonis  pauperis.^ 
Like  the  old  brachae  of  a  needy  Briton. 

But  the  description  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  ancient  Britons,  as  given 
by  CjBsar,  is  the  most  full  and  clear.]!  "  The  Britons,"  says  the  Roman  conqueror, 
"  use  brass  money,  or  nou  rings  of  a  certain  weight  instead  of  it.     They  tliink  it  not 

*  Sir  Robert  Sibbald  supposes  this  to  be  the  root  of  orobus,  or  tlie  wild  astragalus  thalius,  which 
has  a  taste  like  liquorice,  and  is  called  by  the  Highlanders,  who  chew  it  for  the  same  purpose  at  present, 
karemyle.  Scotia  lUust.  p.  i.  lib.  i.  c.  17 — 19.  The  plant  meant  by  Sir  Robert  (for  it  is  not  easily 
identified  by  this  description)  is  the  heath  peaseling,  the  orobus  tuberosus  of  Linneeus. 

+  LXII.  Punc.  :  B.  G.  V   14.  §  Martial.  1|  B.  G.  v.  12. 


6  CI)t  S^istorp  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  right  to  eat  hares,  poultiy,  or  geese,  though  they  breed  them  all  for  amusement. 
'  Of  all  the  natives,  the  most  civilized  are  the  inhabitants  of  Cantium,  all  that  country 
lying  on  the  sea-coast;  and  the  manners  of  this  people  are  not  very  different  from 
those  of  the  Gauls.  The  inland  inhabitants  for  the  most  part  sow  no  corn,  but  live 
on  milk  and  flesh,  and  for  clotliing  wear  skins.  AU  the  Britons  stain  themselves 
with  woad,  which  produces  a  blue  colour,  and  gives  them  a  more  horrible  appearance 
in  battle.  They  wear  the  hair  of  their  head  long,  but  close  and  bare  on  every  part 
of  their  body,  except  then*  head  and  upper  lip.  Tliey  have  their  wives  in  common 
among  ten  or  twelve  of  them,  especially  brothers  with  brothers,  and  parents  with 
cliilch'en;  but  the  issue  by  these  Avives  belongs  to  those  who  manied  them  when 
vu-gins.  Most  of  them  use  chariots  in  battle.  They  first  scour  up  and  down  on 
every  side,  throwmg  their  darts,  creating  disorder  among  the  ranks  by  the  teiTor  of 
their  horses  and  noise  of  theu*  chariot  wheels;  and  when  they  are  got  among  the 
troops  of  horse,  they  leap  out,  and  fight  on  foot.  Meantime  the  charioteers  retire  to 
a  little  distance  from  the  field,  and  place  themselves  in  such  a  manner,  that  if  the 
others  are  overpowered  by  the  nmnber  of  the  enemy,  they  may  be  secure  to  make 
good  then-  retreat.  Thus  they  act  with  the  agility  of  cavalry,  and  the  steadiness  of 
infantry,  in  battle,  and  become  so  expert  by  constant  practice,  that  in  declivities  and 
precipices  they  can  stop  then.'  horses  on  full  speed,  and  on  a  sudden  check  and 
tm-n  them,  run  along  the  pole,  stand  on  the  yoke,  and  then  as  quickly  dart  into  their 
chariots  again.  They  frequently  retreat  on  purpose,  and,  after  they  have  drawn  our 
men  a  little  way  fi-om  the  main  body,  leap  from  their  poles,  and  wage  an  unequal 
war  on  foot.  Then-  manner  of  fighting  on  horseback  creates  the  same  danger,  both 
to  the  reti-eater  and  the  pursuer.  Add  to  tliis,  that  they  never  fight  in  bodies,  but 
scattered  and  at  gi-eat  cUstances,  and  have  parties  in  reserve  supporting  one  another, 
and  fresh  troops  ready  to  relieve  the  weary." 
Language.  From  the  affinity  of  language,  Camden  contends  that  the  Britons  sprang  fi-om 
the  Germans,  and  the  Scotch  fi-om  the  Irish  ;  and  though  Caesar  says  that  the  Gauls 
had  different  languages,  he  adds,  as  we  have  seen,  that  it  was  usual  for  the  Gauls, 
who  wished  to  acquu-e  greater  proficiency  in  the  Druidical  mysteries,  to  come 
over  to  Britain  to  receive  instruction  from  our  Druids;  and  Tacitus*  says,  "The 
language  of  the  Britons  and  the  Gauls  is  not  very  different." 

Tlie  Romans,  in  their  tliirst  for  universal  empii-e,  after  subduing  Gaul,  turned 
their  attention  towards  Britain;  and  if  any  tiling  can  palliate  the  disgi-ace  of  a 
conquered  country,  that  alleviation  is  to  be  found  in  the  name  of  the  conqueror, 
wliich  ^ill  Uve  throughout  all  ages,  as  well  in  the  glory  of  his  arms,  as  in 
the  fidelity  of  his  classical  Commentaries. 

*  Vit.  Agr.  xi. 


Count))  |3alatinf  of  aanrastfr.  7 

Nee  stetit  oceanus,  remisque  ingressa  profundum  CHAP. 

Vincendos,  alio  quEcsivit  in  oibe  Britaniios.  ^' 

Nor  ocean  stopped  him,  but  with  daring  oar 
He  sought  new  conquests  on  the  British  shore. 

CjBsar's  owii  account  of  the  conquest,  as  presented  in  the  fourth  and  fiftli  books  Csesar's 

iuvasion* 

of  his  "  De  Bello  Gallico,"  exceeds  all  other  descriptions,  and  is  suhstantitdly  as 
follows : 

In  the  summer  of  the  55th  year  before  the  bii'th  of  Christ,  Caesar  resolved  to 
pass  over  into  Britam.  Having  marched  his  army  into  the  tenitory  of  the  Morini, 
(now  the  French  department  of  the  Pas  de  Calais,)  he  ordered  a  gi'eat  many  ships 
in  the  neighbouring  ports  to  attend  him,  for  the  jrarpose  of  undertaking  the  invasion. 
The  Britons,  in  the  mean  tune,  having  notice  of  his  design,  came  to  Caesar  with 
oifers  of  hostages  and  submission  to  the  authority  of  Rome.  The  answer  returned 
to  these  overtures  was,  that  he  should  visit  them  in  person,  and  he  hoped  they  would 
be  ready  to  enter  into  alliance  with  the  Romans.  The  preliminary  arrangements 
having  been  made,  he  weighed  anchor  about  midnight,  and  about  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning  reached  the  coast  of  Britain,  where  he  saw  all  the  cHffs  covered  witli  the 
British  force  assembled  to  repel  the  invaders.  To  effect  a  landing,  the  Romans 
were  obliged  to  leap  from  then-  sliips  breast-liigh  into  the  water.  In  their  endea- 
vours to  laud  they  were  sti'enuously  opposed  by  the  Britons,  whose  chariots  lined 
the  shore,  while  their  cavalry  advanced  boldly  to  the  edge  of  the  water,  and  cast 
theii-  darts  at  the  invaders  Avith  murderous  eftect.  Tlie  Roman  soldiers,  sluinking 
from  tliis  unequal  warfare,  demurred  to  leap  into  the  sea,  when  tlie  standard-bearer 
of  the  tenth  legion,  having  first  invoked  the  gods  for  success,  cried  out  aloud — 
"  Follow  me,  fellow-soldiers,  unless  you  will  betray  the  Roman  eagle  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy :  for  my  part,  I  am  detennined  to  discharge  my  duty  to  Caesar  and 
the  commonwealth."  Upon  tliis  he  jumped  into  the  sea,  and  advanced  with  the 
eagle  against  the  enemy.  Excited  by  this  heroic  example,  the  Roman  sokliers 
leaped  promiscuously  from  then-  sliips,  and,  falling  upon  the  enemy,  speedily  put 
them  to  the  rout.  The  Britons,  being  thus  vanquished  in  battle,  despatched  ambas- 
sadors to  Caesar,  to  offer  hostages,  and  an  entu-e  submission  to  his  conuuands.  A 
peace  was  thus  concluded  four  days  after  Cesar's  arrival  in  Britain ;  but  that  very 
night  a  stonn  came  on  suddenly,  and  destroyed  or  dismantled  all  the  conqueror's 
sliippiug.  Consternation  spread  through  the  camp,  there  being  no  sliips  left  to 
cany  back  the  troops,  and  the  army  was  wholly  without  com  whereon  to  subsist. 
Tliis  disaster  being  known  to  the  British  cliiefs,  who,  after  the  battle,  had  repaii-ed 
to  Caesar's  camp  to  perform  the  conditions  of  the  treaty,  they  confederated  amongst 
themselves,  and  left  the  camp  to  ch-aw  the  islanders  together;  but  Caesar,  suspecting 


8  €i)t  fnsitorp  of  tftf 

CHAP,  tlieii-  design,  had  daily  supplies  of  corn  brought  to  liis  camp,  and  by  extraordinary 
"  exeitious  the  fleet  was  repaii-ed,  and  soon  in  a  condition  to  take  the  sea.  During 
these  transactions,  the  seventh  legion  being  sent  out  to  forage,  according  to  custom, 
the  soldiers  were  attacked  by  a  strong  body  of  the  Britons  placed  in  ambush,  and 
only  escaped  destruction  by  the  timely  arrival  of  Caesar,  who  came  to  their  relief. 
Meanwliile  the  Britons  despatched  messengers  into  all  parts,  to  make  kno^ra  to  their 
countrymen  the  small  number  of  the  Roman  troops,  and  the  favourable  opportunity 
they  had  of  making  immense  spoil,  and  freeing  their  country  from  future  invasion, 
by  storming  the  enemy's  camp.  Having  by  tliis  means  got  together  a  great  body 
of  infantry  and  cavalry,  they  marched  towards  the  Roman  entrenchments.  Caesar 
lost  no  tune  in  tbawing  up  his  legions  in  order  of  battle  before  the  camp,  and,  falling 
upon  the  Britons,  who  were  not  able  to  sustain  the  shock  of  cUsciplined  troops,  they 
were  soon  put  to  flight.  The  Romans,  pursuing  them  as  long  as  their  strength 
would  permit,  made  a  terrible  slaughter,  and,  setting  fii-e  to  then-  houses  and 
Aollages  a  great  way  roimd,  returned  to  the  camp.  The  same  day  ambassadors 
came  to  Caesar  to  sue  for  peace,  when  Ctesar,  doubling  the  nimiber  of  the  hostages 
he  had  before  imposed  upon  them,  ordered  them  to  be  sent  to  the  continent,  and, 
not  judging  it  prudent  to  winter  in  Britain,  embarked  his  army  and  returned 
to  Gaul.* 

Taught  by  experience,  Caesar's  next  invasion  was  undertaken  with  a  much 
superior  force,  consisting  of  five  legions  and  two  thousand  horse,  accompanied  by  a 
fleet  of  eight  hundi-ed  sail  of  vessels,  wliich  quitted  Portus  Ituis  in  the  summer  of 
the  following  year.  Though  a  great  anay  of  Britons  had  repaired  to  the  coast,  to 
resist  the  landing  of  the  invaders,  they  became  terrified  by  the  vast  nmnber  of 
ships,  and  retired  hastily  to  the  mountains,  where  they  liid  themselves  in  dismay. 
CiBsar  ha\Tng  landed  his  army  Avithout  resistance,  chose  a  proper  place  for  Ms  camp 
upon  the  coast,  in  which  he  left  ten  cohorts,  with  three  huncked  horse,  to  guard  the 
fleet,  when,  after  a  march  of  about  twelve  hoiu's  by  night  into  the  country,  he  came 
in  sight  of  the  British  army,  Avho,  having  posted  themselves  behind  a  river,  with 
then-  cavalry  and  chariots,  attacked  the  invaders  from  their  high  gi-ound,  to  resist 
their  passage.  After  a  bloody  conflict,  the  Britons  were  first  driven  into  the  woods, 
wliich  were  strongly  barricadoed  by  felled  trees ;  but  the  sokhers  of  the  seventh 
legion,  advancing  under  cover  of  their  shields,  and  having  cast  up  a  mound,  forced 
the  entrenclunents  with  little  loss,  and  obliged  the  native  troops  to  abandon  the  wood. 
The  next  morning  Caesar  was  preparing  to  pursue  the  enemy ;  but  when  he  had 
advanced  a  little  way,  intelligence  was  brought  liim,  "  that  a  dreadful  stonn  aiising 
on  the  preceding  night,  had  fallen  violently  upon  liis  fleet,  and  diiven  almost  all  the 

*  B.  G.  iv. 


CountP  ^3alatint  of  EanraEitrr*  9 

ships  on  shore."     Caesai-,  upon  this,  recalled  his  legions  and  cavalry,  and  returned     chap. 

to  his  camp,  from  wlieuce,  after  spending  ten  days  in  repairing  the  disaster,  he  1 . 

retui-ued  to  the  place  where  he  had  quitted  the  pursuit  of  the  Britons.  Upon  Ids 
amval  he  found  their  numbers  had  heen  considerably  increased  in  the  interval ;  and 
that  tlie  coimnaud  of  tlieii-  forces  had,  by  common  consent,  been  conferred  upon 
Cassibelaunus,  whose  territories  were  divided  from  the  maritime  states  by  the  Thames, 
a  river  eighty  miles  from  the  sea.  The  British  horse,  supported  by  their  chariots, 
vigorously  charged  the  Roman  cavalry  on  then'  march ;  yet  they  were  every  where 
dispersed,  and  diiven  back  to  theii-  woods  and  hUls  with  great  slaughter.  The 
Romans,  in  then-  turn,  suffered  considerable  loss  by  a  sally  made  by  the  enemy  from 
the  woods,  and  Q.  Laberius  Durus,  a  military  tribune,  was  slain  on  the  occasion. 
On  tlie  following  day  a  most  sanguinary  and  decisive  engagement  took  place,  in 
wliich  the  Britons  were  routed.  StUl  unsubdued,  they  stationed  themselves  in  gi-eat 
numbers  upon  the  banks  of  the  Thames,  at  the  only  place  where  the  river  was 
fordable ;  but  the  Roman  cavalry  succeeded  in  crossing  the  river,  though  notliing 
but  then-  heads  were  above  the  water,  and  charged  the  Britons  with  so  much  unpe- 
tuosity  as  to  oblige  them  to  quit  the  banks,  and  betake  themselves  to  flight.  A 
predatory  warfare  was  carried  on  for  some  time  against  the  Romans :  but  at  length 
the  Britons,  finding  further  resistance  hopeless,  the  Trinobantes,  the  Cenimagni, 
Segontiaci,  Ancalites,  Bibroci,  and  Cassi,  sent  ambassadors  to  Caesar  with  offers  of 
submission ;  and  Cassibelaunus,  discouraged  by  so  many  losses  and  the  devastation 
of  liis  tenitory,  sued  for  peace.  Csesar,  designing  to  pass  the  winter  in  Gaul,  Csesar 
listened  the  more  readily  to  theii"  overtures,  and,  baring  demanded  hostages,  and  tain, 
appointed  the  yeai-ly  tribute  which  Britain  was  to  pay  to  the  Romans,  embai-ked  his 
anny,  and  quitted  the  British  shores  never  to  return.  A  more  empty  conquest 
was  scarcely  ever  achieved:  and  yet,  on  liis  return  to  Rome  from  the  conquest 
of  Britain,  Caesar  dedicated  a  breast-plate  made  of  British  pearls,  in  the  temple 
of  Venus  Genetrix,*  and  exliiluted  a  number  of  British  prisoners  in  the  theatre 
of  tliat  city. 

The  sun  of  Roman  glory  bad  now  passed  its  meridian.  Distracted  by  domestic 
wai-s,  which  ended  in  the  establishment  of  an  absolute  monarchy  in  Rome,  the 
conquerors  bad  little  force  to  spare  for  the  preservation  of  distant  conquests ;  the 
Britons  were,  therefore,  for  a  long  time,  left  to  themselves,  and,  for  nearly  a  century 
after  the  invasion  of  Caesar,  they  enjoyed,  unmolested,  then-  o^vn  ci^il  and  religious 
institutions. 

*  In  Britannia  parvosatque  decolores  (uniones)  nasci  certum  est,  quoniam  Divus  Julius  thoracem, 
quern  V^eneri  genetrici  in  templo  ejus  dicavit,  ex  Britannicis  margaritis  factum  voluerit  intelligi. — 
Plin.  lib.  IX.  c.  35. 

VOL.  I.  c 


10  Wi)t  ?f)istorj)  of  tftf 

CHAP.  In  the  intenal  between  the  first  and  second  invasion  of  Britain  by  the  Romans, 

the  founder  of  the  Chiistian   religion  had  accomplished  liis  divine  mission,  in  ii 


A.D.  43. 


province  of  the  Roman  empiie,  but  ahnost  without  observation  at  Rome ;  and,  ten 
Renewed     yeai's  after  his  death,  the  Emperor  Claudius  sent  over  an   ai'iny  to  this  country, 

invasion        *  i       /■    a     i         tii         • 

by  the  Ro-  mulcr  the  conunaud  of  Aulus  Plautnis,  the  first  Roman  general  who  landed  on  tliis 

mans.  ,.-,,  .,.  .  r    t    ^'  n  T-fcT 

island  smce  the  invasion  of  Juuus  Caesar,  rlautius  haMiig  obtained  a  footiuo-  in 
Britain,  Avas  succeeded  by  Ostorius  Scapula,  by  whom  the  southern  part  of  the 
island  was  reduced  to  a  Roman  province.  The  Emperor  Claudius  considered  tlie 
conquest  of  Britain  of  sufficient  importance  to  call  for  the  royal  presence;  and 
after  a  visit  to  Camelodunum  (Colchester),  where  he  received  the  submission  of 
several  of  the  native  kings,  he  returned  to  Rome  vrith  the  additional  title  of 
"  Britannicus." 

"  O'er  Britain  he  the  Roman  sceptre  sway'd. 
Him  the  Brigantes  azure-arm'd  obey'd." 

Extermi-  Suetouius  PauKnus,  the  successor  of  Ostorius,  soon  after  the  departure  of  the 

tiie  emperor,  embarked  liis  amiy,  with  the  determination  to  extenninate   the   Druids. 

The  island  of  Mona  (Anglesey)  being  theii-  chief  seat,  he  resolved  to  dii-ect  his 
operations  against  that  place.  The  Britons,  aware  of  its  importance,  used  every 
means  in  their  power  to  resist  the  landing  of  the  enemy ;  but  all  then-  endeavours 
were  in  vain.  The  scene  wliich  followed  was  one  of  utter  despaii'.  "  On  the  shore," 
says  Tacitus,  "  stood  a  motley  gi-oup  of  armed  men,  mixed  with  women  running  up 
and  down  amongst  them,  di-essed  like  furies  in  black  gaiments,  theii-  hair  dishevel- 
led, and  torches  iu  their  hands.  The  Druids  also  attended,  lifting  up  their  hands  to 
heaven,  and  uttering  dreadful  execrations.  The  novelty  of  the  sight  so  struck  the 
Roman  soldiers,  that  they  stood  as  it  were  motionless,  exposing  themselves  to  the 
enemy's  weapons,  till,  animated  by  the  exhortations  of  the  general,  and  encoiu-aging 
one  another  not  to  fear  an  army  of  women  and  madmen,  they  advanced,  bore  down 
all  they  met,  and  involved  them  in  theii-  own  fu-es.  The  tribunals  of  the  Druids 
were  overtui'ued  ;*  gamsons  were  afterwards  placed  in  the  to^nTis,  and  the  groves, 
sacred  to  then-  bloody  superstitions,  cut  down.  For  it  was  their  practice  to  offer  the 
blood  of  then-  prisoners  upon  their  altars,  and  to  consult  the  gods  by  the  entrails 
of  men." 

*  In  the  year  1702,  while  removing  the  rubbish  from  the  remains  of  the  chief  tribunal  of  the 
Druids  in  Anglesey,  a  brass  medal  of  our  Saviour  was  found,  on  which  was  inscribed  in  Hebrew — 
"  This  is  Jesus  Christ,  the  Mediator ;"  from  which  it  is  inferred,  that  the  Christian  religion  had 
been  preached  here  in  the  early  part  of  the  first  century  ;  and  it  seems  probable,  that  this  medal  was 
the  property  of  some  of  its  ministers,  who  had  been  condemned  and  sacrificed  by  the  Druids. — 
Burton's  Man.  Ehor.  b.  i.  p.  3. 


Count))  palatmr  of  aanrasitn*  ii 

The  exactions  of  the  Roman  procurator,  and  the  Ucentiousness  of  the  legionaries,  chap. 
had  produced  the  most  inveterate  hatred  towards  the  conquerors  in  the  south  of  — - — - 
Britain ;  and,  instead  of  the  family  of  tlie  long  of  the  Iceni,  who  Avas  lately  deceased, 
belno-  treated  ^vith  respect,  BoacHcea,  his  ^Aidow,  was  ignominlously  scourged,  and 
her  two  daughters  ravished.  Driven  to  desperation  hy  then-  AVTongs,  the  people 
took  up  arms  under  Boadicea,*  in  the  absence  of  Suetonius,  and,  after  driving  in 
the  outposts  mth  great  slaughter,  they  stoiTued  the  forts,  took  possession  of  Came- 
lodunum,  the  capital  of  the  colony,  and  put  to  death  the  Roman  ganison.  On 
hearing  of  this  cHsaster,  Suetonius  repaii-ed  by  forced  marches  to  London,  then  a 
conunercial  city,  but  not  a  Roman  station,  ft'om  whence  he  marched  against  the 
Britons,  who,  during  theii-  short  career  of  victory,  had  put  to  death  70,000  of  theii- 
enemies.  A  sanguinary  battle  now  approached;  Suetonius,  at  the  head  of  the 
fourteenth  legion,  with  the  vexillai-ii  of  the  twentieth,  amounting  in  the  whole  to 
10,000  men,  met  BoatUcea  vdih  her  countless  unchscipUned  followers,  and,  after  a 
desperate  engagement,  fought  on  the  confines  of  Epping  Forest,  in  which,  as  usual, 
discipUne  prevailed  over  numbers,  the  Roman  sokUers  triumphed,  and  80,000 
Britons,  without  distinction  of  age  or  sex,  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  Boadicea, 
finding  that  all  was  lost  but  her  honour,  and  scorning  to  grace  the  triumph  of  tlie 
conqueror,  terminated  her  life  by  poison. 

At  tliis  period  the  prmclpal  and  the  most  able  commander  amongst  the  Britons  Lanca- 
was  Venutius,  of  the  state  of  the  Brigantes  ;  and  it  is  probable,  that  the  progi'ess  of  run  by  the 
the  Roman  arms  in  the  country  of  the  Segantii  (Lancasliire),  was  ai'rested  by  the 
sldll  and  valour  of  this  native  general ;  but  the  discipUne  and  constancy  of  the 
Roman  troops,  now  commanded  by  JuHus  Agricola,  the  successor  of  Suetonius, 
"  stiaick  a  panic  into  the  state  of  the  Brigantes,  wliich,"  according  to  Tacitus,  "  was 
accounted  the  most  numerous  of  the  whole  country,  by  attacking  them  with  great 
force ;  and  after  several,  and  some  of  them  bloody  battles,  he  reduced  gi-eat  part  of 
Britahi  by  ^-ictory,  or  involved  it  in  war."  When  Agiicola,  who  added  to  the  bravery 
of  the  soldier  the  skill  of  the  statesman,  had  alarmed  the  native  inhabitants  by  his 
severity,  he  ofiered  inducements  to  peace  by  liis  clemency.  By  tliis  conduct  many 
of  the  states,  and  the  Brigantes  amongst  the  rest,  which  till  then  had  stood  out,  gave 
hostages,  and  submitted  to  have  a  Hue  of  ganisons  and  castles  (;ka^\^l  round  them. 
This  was  the  origin  of  oui-  Roman  stations.  "  In  order  that  men  who,  by  their  a.d.  so. 
unsettled  and  unciAolized  state,  were  always  ready  for  wai-,  might  be  accustomed  to 
peace  and  inactivity  by  pleasure,  the  general  privately  suggested,  and  pubHcly  cou- 
cm-red  in  erecting  temples,  market-places,  and  houses,  commending  those  who 
shewed  a  readiness  to  these  works,  and  censuring  those  who  appeared  remiss.    This 

*  Tacitus,  Vit.  Agr,  xvi. 
c2 


12  CI;r  W^tOYV  cf  tftr 

CHAP,  honourable  emulation  produced  the  effect  of  obligation.  He  applied  liimself  to 
'  instruct  the  sons  of  the  cliiefs  in  the  liberal  arts,  and  appeared  to  prefer  the  genius 
of  the  Britons  to  the  accomplishments  of  the  Gauls ;  inasmuch  as  they,  who  but  a 
little  time  before  cUsdained  the  language,  now  affected  the  eloquence  of  Rome.  Tliis 
produced  an  esteem  ibr  the  Roman  di'ess,  and  the  to(ja  came  into  general  use.  By 
deo-rees  the  Britons  adopted  the  vicious  indulgences  of  the  Romans,  and  the  porti- 
coes, the  baths,  and  the  splendid  banquets,  entered  into  the  number  of  theu*  enjoy- 
ments. This,  which  they  called  cultivation,  was  in  effect  the  appendage  of  slavery."* 
Pursuing-  liis  A-ictorious  career,  Agricola  carried  the  terror  of  his  arms  to  the 
remotest  part  of  Scotland,  and  added  Ireland  to  the  number  of  his  conquests.  At 
length,  ha\ing  traversed  the  country  from  its  southern  to  its  northern  extremity, 
in  the  short  period  of  eight  years,  he  returned  to  Rome,  where  the  Emperor  Domitian, 
rendered  jealous,  by  liis  renown,  received  him  with  a  cold  salute,  and  then  left  the 
conqueror  of  Britain,  to  mix  with  the  servile  crowd  of  the  imperial  court.f 

Without  plunging  into  the  depths  of  antiquarian  research,  it  may  be  proper  to 
point  out  the  Roman  stations  in  Lancasliire, — to  trace  the  Roman  roads  wliich 
intersected  tliis  county — to  glance  at  the  institutions,  secular  and  religious,  intro- 
duced by  imperial  Rome — and  to  describe  the  infant  efforts  of  that  commercial  spuit 
which  was  destined  to  rank  Britain  amongst  the  first  of  nations,  and  Lancasliire 
amongst  the  fost  of  counties. 
A.D.  82.  From  the  departure  of  Agi-icola  till  the   arrival  of  the  Emperor  Hadrian  in 

A.D.117.    Britain,  the  name  of  the  Brigantes  scarcely  occurs  in  liistory.     It  appears,  ho%vever, 
that  they  were  subjected  to  the  incursions  of  their  northern  neighbours,  the  Picts, 
Hadrian's    and  that  the  emperor,  "  after  con-ecting  many  tilings,  di-ew  a  wall  eighty  miles  in 
"""■         length,  on  the  northern  boundary  of  the  country  of  the  Brigantes,  to  confine  the 
'  Barbarians'  within  the  lunits  of  their  own  border.s."J     Neariy  a  century  had  now 
elapsed  since  the  second  invasion  of  Britain  by  the  Romans,  and  in  the  course  of 
Roman       that  period  there  had  risen  up  in  Lancashire  the  stations^  of  3Iancunium,  Man- 
Lancr '"  CHESTER  ;||    Veratinum,  Warrington;    Rerigonium,    Ribchester  ;||  Colunium, 
''""'■         CoLNE  ;  Coccium,  Blackrode  ;  Ad  Alaunam,  (the  Longovicus  of  the  Notitia,) 

Lancaster  ;  BremctonaccB,  Overborough. 
Estuaries.         The  estuaries  into   which  the  rivers  that  Avatered   these  stations  fell,  though 
involved  in  some  degree  of  uncertainty,  from  the  vague  and  indecisive  character  of 
the  Roman  charts,  were— The    Mersey,  called  Belisama ;  The   Neb  of  the 

*  Tacitus,  Vit.  Agricolse,  xxi.  t  Vit.  Agr.  xl. 

t  Vit.  Hadriani,  Scrip.  Hist.  Aug.  p.  51.  §  Whitaker's  History  of  Manchester. 

II  The  name  or  termination  Castor,  Cester,  or  Chester,  from  Castra,  a  camp,  generally  indicates 
a  Roman  station. 


Coinit))  |3alatn«  of  annrnstrn  13 

Nese  (Freckleton),  at  tlie  mouth  of  tlie  Kibble,  called  the  Haven  of  the  Setantii,     chap. 
or  the  Setantlan  Port,  and  The  Bay  of  Mouecambe.  '" 

The  Lancaslm-e  stations  comniuiiicatcd  with  Isuriuni  (Aldhoroiioh),  and  Ebora- 
ciim  (York),  the  Brigantine  capitals,  by  roads  constructed  by  the  Roman  soldiery, 
and  with  other  towns  enumerated  in  the  Itinerary  of  Antoninus,  the  Chorography  of 
Ravennas,  and  the  Description  of  Britain,  by  Richard  of  Cii'encester. 

It  is  conjectured  that  tlie  principal  part  of  the  Roman  roads  in  Britain  were  Roman 
commenced  by  Julius  Agi-icola,  to  facilitate  his  conquests ;  and  an  imperial  general  ilu'cu-'" 
of  modern  times,  in  devoting  so  much  attention  to  the  public  roads,  only  imitated  '*'""^" 
these  ancient  conquerors.      Tlie  four  gi-and  military  Roman  ways  in  Britain  bear 
the  names  of  Watling  Street,  Hennin  Street,  the  Fosse,  and  Ikening  or  Iknild 
Street ;  but  it  is  only  the  first-mentioned  of  these  roads  that  comes  within  the  scope 
of  tliis  liistory.      Each  of  the  stations  affords  its   antiquities :    at   Blackrode,  the 
Roman  roads  are  seen  expanchng  like  radii  from  a  centre ;  Ribchester  abounds  ^\'itli 
remains;  and  Colne,  Freckleton,  Lancaster,  Manchester,  Overborough,  and  War- 
rington, wiW  be  found,  in  the  progi-ess  of  this  Avork,   to  exhibit  in  succession  their 
antiquaiian  stores,  and  to  proclaim  theii-  ancient  alliance  with  the  Mistress  of  the 
World. 

After  the  lapse  of  sixteen  centuries,  the  County  of  Lancaster  still  presents 
innunieralde  remains  of  these  celebrated  roads.  Four  gi-eat  Roman  roads  pass 
through  this  county — two  of  them  from  north  to  south,  and  two  others  from  west 
to  east. 

The  first  of  the  Roman  routes  extends  fi-om  Carlisle  (Languvallium),  in  Cum- 
berland, to  Kinderton  (Condate),  in  Chesliire :  passing  through  Lancaster,  it 
advances  pretty  nearly  due  south,  near  Garstang  and  Preston,  to  Blackrode ;  then 
taking  the  dii-ection  of  Walden  Moor,  Avhere  it  assumes  the  name  of  Staney-street, 
it  advances  by  the  Hope  Hall  estate,  crosses  the  liighway  from  Manchester  to 
Wan-ington,  and,  having  passed  the  ford  of  the  Irwell  at  the  shallow  wliich  gives 
denomination  to  Old  Trafford,  proceeds  tlu'ough  the  tillage  of  Stretford  to  the  bridge 
over  the  Mersey;  then  pointing  at  Altringham,  it  passes  along  the  declivity  of  the 
hills,  and  enters  Dunbam  Park ;  here  it  takes  the  name  of  Street  to  Buckley  HUl ; 
from  hence  it  passes  to  Mere  Tomi ;  when,  leanng  Northwich  about  half  a  mile 
to  the  right,  it  takes  the  name  of  King  Street,  at  Broken  Cross,  and  proceeds  to 
Kinderton,  the  Condate  of  Antoninus,  now  a  suburb  of  Middlemch. 

The  second  Roman  road  extends  from  Overborough  to  Slack  or  Almondbury 
(Camboduniun),  in  Yorksliire.  Tliis  road  passes  through  Ribchester,  across  the 
Ribble ;  then,  proceeding  to  the  east  of  Blackburn,  tlu-ough  Ratcliffe  and  PrestArich 
over  Kersall  Moor,  is  carried  by  Strangeways  Lane  to  Manchester ;  traversuig  that 


14  mjt  %ii^tor^  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    to^\^lsllip  obliquely,  it  passes  over  Newton  Heath,  by  Haigh  Chapel,  to  the  summit 

"        of  Austerlancls,  where  it  enters  Yorksliii-e,  passes  Knoll  Hill  in  Saddleworth,  and, 

crossing  the  Manchester  and  Huddersfield  road  at  Delph,  leaves  Mai'sden  about  a 

mile  and  a  half  to  the  south,  skii'ts  Golcar  HUl,  and  attains  the  plot  of  Cam- 

bodunum. 

The  tliii-d  route  commences  at  the  Neb  of  the  Nese,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Ribble,  called  by  the  Romans  Tlie  Setanlian  Port,  or,  as  we  should  express  it,  The 
Port  of  Lancashire ;  tliis  road  ranges  from  west  to  east,  and,  crossing  the  Lancaster 
road,  leaves  Preston  about  a  mile  to  the  right,  assuming  on  Fulwood  Moor  the  name 
of  Watling  Street;  hence  it  proceeds  to  Ribchester,  from  wliich  station  it  passes 
over  Longridge  Fell,  and  then,  turning  to  the  north,  traces  the  Hodder  to  its  source. 
The  fourth  Roman  road  commences  at  the  ford  of  the  Mersey,  near  Wamngton, 
and  passes  through  Barton  and  Eccles  to  Manchester ;  it  afterwards  traverses  the 
to^vnsllips  of  Moston,  Chadderton,  and  Royton,  and  keeping  about  a  quailer  of  a  mUe 
to  the  right  of  Rochdale  by  the  Oldham  road,  continues  thi-ough  Littleborough ; 
afterwards,  mounting  the  British  Apennines,  it  sweeps  over  Rumbles  Moor,  and 
advances  to  Ilkley,  the  Olicana  of  Ptolemy,  where  stood  the  temple  of  Verbeia, 
the  goddess  of  the  Wharf. 

Antonine's         The  Roman  Stations  in  Lancashire  occur  in  the  second  and  the  tenth  routes  of 

of  Lanca-    the  Itiueraiy  of  Antoninus,  and  are  thus  arranged : — 

sliire 
Routes, 

Iter.  II. 

********* 

Eboracvm, LEG.  VI.  vie.  .  .  York. 

Calcaria, M.p.  IX.  .  .  Tadcaster. 

Cambodvns, M.p.  XX.  al.  XXX.  .  .  Almondbury. 

Manvico, M.p.  XVIII.  al.  XXIII.  .  .  Manchester. 

CoNDATE, M.p.  XVIII.  .  .  Northwich. 

Deva, LEG.  XX.  vie.  M.p.  XX.  .  .  Chester. 

Iter. X. 
From  Lanchester,  in  the  County  of  Durham,  to  Drayton,  in  the  County  of 
Slu'opsliire. 
A  Glanoventa.  From  Lanchester.  n 

Galava, M.p.  XVIII.  al.  XXVIII.  .     .  Old  Town. 

Alone, m.p.  XII.  .     .  WJiitby  Castle. 

Galacvm, M.p.  XIX.  .     .  Appleby. 

Bremetonacis,  ..     .     M.p.  XXVII.  al.  XXXn.  .     .  Overborough. 


Coimtp  IJalatint  of  ^mxmstti'. 


15 


CocciA, M.p,  XX.  aJ.  XXV. 

Mancvnio,     ....    M.p.  XVII.  al.  XXXIL 

CONDATE, M.P.  XVIII. 

Mediolano,  ....  M.P.  XVIII.  al.  XXVIII. 


Rihchestor. 
Manchester. 
Near  Northvich. 
Near  Drayton. 


CHAP. 
I. 


The   Itinerary  of  Richard  of  Cirencester  is  more  fuU,  and  thus  exliibits  tlie  Riciiiudof 
Lancasliire    Stations,  with  their  immediate  connexions,  in  the  VI.  VII.  and  X.  ten'^"'^'^* 
routes : — 

Iter.  VI. 
Ab  Eboraco  Devam  usque  sic. 

Calcaria, M.P.  villi. 

Camboduno,      ]     .     .     M.p.  XXII.  al.  XXXIL 

Mancunio,      .     .     .      M.p.  XVIII.  al.  XXIII. 

FinibusMaxim^  et  Flavin,  m.p.  XVIII. al. VI. 

CoNDATE,       ....    M.P.  XVIII.  al.  XXIII. 

Deva, M.p.  XVIII. 


From  York  to  Chester. 

.  Tadcaster. 

.  Slack. 

.  3Ianchester. 

.  Stratford  on  Mersey. 

.  Kinderton. 

.  Chester. 


Iter.  VII. 
A  Portu  Sistuntiorum  Eboracum  usque,  sic.       From  Freckleton(on  the  Kib- 
ble) to  York. 

Rerigonio, m.p.  XXIII.  al.  XIII.     .     .  Rochester. 

Ad  Alpes  Peninos,     .     .  m.p.  VIII.  al.  XXIII.     .     .  Barrens  in  Brouyhton. 

Alicana,  M.p.  X.     .     .  Ilkley. 

Isurio, M.p.  XVIII.     .     .  Aldboronyh. 

Eboraco, m.p.  XVI.  al.  XVII.     .     .  York. 

Iter.  X. 

******** 

Brocavonacis, Brouyham. 

Ad  Alaunam, m.p.  XXXXVII.     .     .  Lancaster. 

Coccio, M.p.  XXXVI.     .     .  Blackrode. 

Mancunio, m.p.  XVIII.     .     .  Manchester. 

Condate, M.p.  XXIII.     .     .  Kinderton. 

******** 


Several  other  roads,  called  Vicinal-ways,  are  to  be  found  in  this  county,  but  the 
routes  above  described  form  the  four  principal  military  coromunications.  These 
roais  generally  consist  of  a  regular  pavement,  formed  by  large  boulder  stones  or 


16 


Cftf  5?istoii)  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 

I. 


Arrival  of 
the  Em- 
peror Se- 
lerus. 


A.  D.207. 


Takes  the 
field. 


Severus's 
wall. 


li-aoinents  of  rock  imbedded  iu  gravel,  and  vary  in  width  from  four  to  fourteen  yards. 
It  is  a  sins^ular  characteristic  of  the  Roman  roads,  that  they  are  not  carried  over 
rivers  Ly  bridges,  but  by  fords,  except  where  the  rivers  are  impassable,  and  then 
bridges  ai-e  thi-o^vn  over.* 

The  terror  of  the  Roman  name,  and  the  vigour  of  their  arms,  seemed  scarcely 
able  to  keep  in  subjection  the  inhabitants  of  Britain,  who  sought  every  opportunity 
to  shake  off  the  foreign  yoke.  According  to  Herodiau,  the  propraetor  in  Britain 
adcb-essed  a  despatch  to  the  Emperor  Severus,  to  the  eifect  that  "  the  insuiTections 
and  inroads  of  the  Barbarians,  and  the  havoc  they  made  far  and  near,  rendered  it 
necessary  that  he  should  either  increase  the  Roman  force  in  this  country,  or  that 
he  should  come  over  in  person."  On  this  intimation,  the  emperor,  though  then 
advanced  in  life,  and  sinkiug  under  bodily  infirmities,  repaired  to  Britain,  and 
established  his  court  in  Eboracum  (York),  the  capital  of  the  Brigantes.  Having 
collected  liis  force  round  that  city,  the  emperor,  attended  by  his  sons  Caracalla  and 
Geta,  marched  from  York,  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army,  to  the  North,  where  he 
drove  the  Caledonians  witliin  their  fi'ontiers,  and  erected  a  stone  wall  witliin  the 
vallum  of  Hadrian,  and  very  nearly  upon  the  site  of  that  celebrated  earthen  rampart. 
Tlie  loss  of  Roman  soldiers  iu  tliis  exj^ecUtion,  according  to  Dion  Cassius,  amoimted 
to  50,000  men,  partly  by  war,  and  pai'tly  in  cutting  dovna.  the  woods,  and  draining 
the  mosses,  for  wliich  the  north  of  England,  and  Lancashire  in  particular,  is  to 
the  present  day  distinguished. 

To  commemorate  liis  ^-ictories,  Severus  coined  money  with  the  inscription, 
VICTORIA  BRITANNIC  A;  he  also  assmned  the  name  of  BRITANNICUS 
MAXIMUS,  and  gave  to  his  son  Geta  the  name  of  BRITANNICUS. 


His  coin. 


Mints  were  established  by  the  Romans  at  eleveu  of  their  British  stations,  two  of 
wliich  were  York  and  Chester;  and  it  is  probable  that  from  these  northern  mints  the 
coin  Avas  cii'culated  over  Lancasliire.  No  fewer  than  fifty  different  Roman  coins 
have  been  found  at  Standish,  iu  tliis  county,  neai-  the  ancient  Coccium,  several  of 
wliich  are  from  dies  struck  by  the  Emperor  Severus. 

*  Galen,  ix.  c.  8.  methodi. 


Countp  ^galatutf  of  ^[anrasstfr.  17 

A  few  years  after  the  retui-n  of  Severus  to  York,  where  he  hehl  his  court  in  all    chap. 
the  splendour  of  Roman  magnificence,  tlie  Caledonians  again  took  up  ai-ms,  and        ^' 
penetrated  beyond  the  wall  which  the  conqueror  had  pronounced  an  insimnouutable 
bulwark.     This  renewed  iiTuption  excited  the  indignation  of  the  emperor  beyond  all 
bounds ;  forgetting  that  he  was  himself  an  invader,  he  commanded  his  legions  to 
advance  once  more  against  the  enemy,  and  to  put  the  whole  population,  without  sangui- 
distinction  of  age  or  sex,  to  the  sword,  as  the  poet  has  expressed  it*  orders. 

Tpoiec  S"  av  iripwdev  iivh    tttoKiv  wirXiCoVTO, 
UlavpoTtpoi  •  {.lijiaaav    ce  Kj   wq  vafiivi  [ia^Eodai, 
Xpeioi  ai'ayKfui],    Trpo  te  ■Katdoiv  ic,  trpb  yvvaiKwv. 

No  sooner  had  Severus  put  down  tliis  new  insuiTection,  than  the  infii-mities  of 
age,  and  the  cai'es  of  the  government,  brought  on  a  mortal  disease,  of  wliich  he  died 
in  the  Brigantine  capital,  the  city  of  his  adoption.  His  last  words  to  his  sons  his  death, 
were — "  I  leave  you,  my  Antonines,  (a  tenn  of  affection,)  a  finn  and  steady  govern- 
ment, if  you  wUl  follow  my  steps,  and  prove  what  you  ought  to  be, — weak  and 
tottering,  if  othenvise." — "  Do  every  thing  that  conduces  to  each  other's  good." — 
"  Cherish  the  sohUery,  and  then  you  may  despise  the  rest  of  mankind:  a  thsturbed 
and  every  where  disti'acted  government,  I  found;  but  to  you  I  leave  it  finn 
and  quiet — even  to  the  Britons."  "  I  have  risen  from  the  lowest  to  the  liighest 
station,  and  am  now  no  better  for  it."  Tlien  calling  for  the  urn  which  was  to 
contain  liis  ashes,  after  the  ossilegium  (the  burning  of  liis  body),  and,  looking  steadily 
upon  it,  he  said — "  Thou  shalt  hold  what  the  world  was  not  lai-ge  enough  to 
contain." 

After  the  dead  body  of  the  emperor  had  been  consumed  in  the  flames,  his  ashes 
were  collected,  and  sent  in  a  porphyrite  urn  to  Rome,  where  they  were  deposited  in 
the  capitol,  and  the  honour  of  apotheosis,  or  deification,  was  confen-ed  upon  him  by 
the  senate  and  the  people.  That  his  memory  might  not  be  lost  m  Britain,  his 
devoted  anny,  with  infinite  laboui",  raised  tlu-ee  large  hills  in  the  place  where  liis 
funeral  rites  were  performed,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  York,  which  elevations 
bear  the  name  of  Severus's  Hills,  and  are  still  very  prominent.t 

The  manner  of  "  making  a  god,"  a.s  described  by  Herodian|:  in  the  case  of  His  deifi- 
Severus,  is  extraordinary,  and  will  yield  more  amusement  to  the  reader  than  the  '^^''°'^' 
object  of  deification  could  afford  benefit  to  liis  chsciples.  "  The  ceremony,"  says  the 
historian,  "  has  a  mixture  of  festivity  and  pomp.  Tlie  corpse  is  buried,  like  other 
emperors,  in  a  sumptuous  manner.  But  they  make  an  effigy  [of  wax]  as  like  the 
deceased  as  possible,  and  place  it  in  the  porch  of  the  palace,  upon  a  large  and  lofty 
bed  of  ivory  covered  with  cloth  of  gold.  Tliis  image  is  of  a  pale  complexion,  and 
•  Homer  II.  viii.   55.  f  Drake's  Eboracum,  book  i.  p.  14.  X  Book  iv.  c.  3. 

VOL  I.  D 


18  ci)f  lietoii)  of  tin 

CHAP,  lies  at  full  length  lilce  a  sick  person.  Round  the  bed  on  each  side  sit,  for  the 
^'  gi-eatest  part  of  the  day,  on  the  left  hand,  the  whole  senate  in  black  habits;  on  the 
rio-ht,  ladies  whose  husbands  or  parents  are  persons  of  distinction.  None  of  these 
latter  wear  any  gold  or  bracelets,  but  thin  white  hal)its,  like  mourners.  This  they  do 
for  seven  days  together,  the  physicians  coining  every  day  to  the  bed  to  visit  the  sick 
person,  whom  they  report  to  grow  worse  and  worse.  At  last,  when  they  tliink  he  is 
dead,  the  noblest  and  choicest  youths  of  equestrian  and  senatorian  rank  take  up  the 
bed  on  their  shoulders,  and  carry  it  along  the  sacred  way  into  the  Old  Forum,  where 
the  Roman  magistrates  usually  resign  then-  authority.  On  both  sides  are  built  steps 
like  staii-s,  on  which  are  placed,  on  one  hand,  a  band  of  boys  of  the  noblest  and 
patrician  families ;  on  the  other,  of  noble  women,  singing  hjTims  in  honoui-  of  the 
deceased,  and  dirges  set  to  solemn  and  mournful  measures.  This  being  ended, 
they  take  up  the  bed  again,  and  carry  it  out  of  the  city  into  the  Campus  Mailius. 
In  the  widest  part  of  this  field  is  raised  a  kind  of  scaffold  of  a  square  fonn,  and 
equilateral,  built  of  nothing  but  vast  quantities  of  wood  in  form  of  a  house.  The 
bed  being  placed  in  the  second  story,  they  throw  over  it  heaps  of  spices  and  per- 
fumes of  all  lands,  fnuts,  herbs,  and  all  sorts  of  aromatic  juices.  For  there  is  no 
nation,  city,  or  inchvidual,  of  any  rank  or  eminence,  who  do  not  \ie  with  each  other 
in  making  these  last  presents  to  the  memory  of  the  emperor.  After  a  gi-eat  heap 
of  spices  has  been  piled  up,  and  every  part  of  the  buUding  filled,  the  grand  procession 
on  horseback  is  made  by  the  whole  equestrian  order  round  tlic  structure,  in  certain 
orders,  and  returns  in  Pyrrliic  measure  and  time.  Chariots  also  are  driven  round 
in  like  order,  by  persons  di-essed  in  purple,  and  representing  all  the  Roman  generals 
and  emperors.  This  bemg  ended,  the  successor  to  the  empire  takes  a  torch,  and 
puts  it  to  the  builcUng.  AU  the  rest  immediately  set  fire  to  it,  and  instantly  the 
whole,  being  filled  mth  chy  combustibles  and  perfmnes,  is  in  a  strong  blaze.  Pre- 
sently from  the  highest  and  least  story,  as  from  a  pinnacle,  an  eagle  is  let  loose, 
and,  towering  up  into  the  air  Avith  the  flame,  is  supposed  to  convey  the  emperor's 
sold  to  heaven.  From  thenceforth  the  emperor  is  worshipped  among  the  rest  of 
the  gods." 

Tlie  conduct  of  the  sons  of  Severus,  Caracalla  and  Geta,  shews  but  too  clearly 
the  necessity  that  was  felt  by  then-  d^nng  father  for  m-ging  upon  them  tiie  duty  of 
brotiierly  affection  and  union.  After  tiie  emperor's  death,  the  imperial  dignity  was 
dirided  between  them :  but  Cai-acalla,  aspu-ing  to  the  undiAided  power,  resolved  upon 
liis  brother's  death,  and,  on  a  slight  pretence,  caused  20,000  soldiers,  whom  he 
supposed  to  be  in  liis  brother's  interest,  to  be  put  to  the  sword.  Not  satisfied  with 
tliis  horrible  atrocity,  and  familiarized  to  blood  by  the  sanguinary  deeds  of  liis  deified 
father,  he  pursued  his  unoffending  brotiier  into  the  presence  of  his  mother,  Julia, 


His   suc- 
cessors. 


Countp  ^3alntinf  of  aanrajjtrr. 


19 


and,  with  his  o^™  hands,  pierced  the  unhappy  prince's  heart  in  the  arms  of  lier  who    chap. 
gave  him  life.*  ' 

After  the  return  of  Caracalla  to  Rome,  a  long  and  profound  silence  is  ohserved  hy  a.  d.  211. 
the  Roman  historians  as  to  the  affahs  of  Britaui;  and  it  is  not  till  the  reign  of 
Dioclesian,  Avhen  Carausius,  Imuself  a  Briton,  who,  being  sent  by  the  emperor  with 
a  fleet  to  guai'd  the  Belgic  coast,  embraced  the  opportunity  to  pass  over  into  tliis 
island,  and  got  himself  proclauned  emperor  at  York,  that  any  incident  appertaining 
to  the  subject  of  tliis  liistory  is  recorded. 

At  a  subsequent  period  Carausius  was  slain  by  his  compeer  Alectus,  who  imme-  A.  D.  207. 
diately  assumed  the  purple,  and  bore  sway  in  Britain,  till  Constantius,  suruamed 
Chlorus,  dethi-oned  the  usurper,  and  reigned  in  Ids  stead.  Constantius,  having 
previously  manied  a  British  princess  who  had  embraced  the  Cluistian  religion, 
manifested  his  attachment  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Cross,  ratlier  by  following  its 
precepts  than  by  openly  avowing  its  faith;  and  on  liis  death,  at  York,  the  honour  of 
tlie  apotheosis,  or  deification,  was  conferred  upon  liim  by  the  Roman  senate.  Tlie  a.  d.  3C6. 
issue  of  his  marriage  ^ith  the  Princess  Helena,  was  Con- 
stantine,  by  whom  he  was  succeeded.  The  inauguration  of 
this  emperor  took  place  in  the  unperial  city  of  York,  the 
place  of  his  buth,  and  the  British  soldiers,  in  Roman  pay, 
presented  then-  countryman  ^rith  a  golden  ball,  as  a  symbol 
of  his  sovereignty  over  the  island.  Upon  his  conversion  to 
Christianity  he  placed  a  cross  upon  the  ball ;  and  ever  since 
this  emperor's  time,  the  globe  surmounted  by  the  cross  has  A.  d.  341. 
sl||j^\^  J  Iv  ^^^^  used  as  the  emblem  of  majesty  in  all  the  kuigdoms  of 
^  -  Christendom. 

On  the  death  of  Constantme  the  Great,  the  empire  was 
divided  among  liis  three  sons,  Constantine,  Constantius,  and 
Constans.  In  this  division  Britain  fell  to  the  share  of  Con 
stantme,  the  eldest  of  the  number 

part  of  the  empire,  Constantine  invaded  the  tenitories  of  his 
youngest  brother;  in  which  invasion  he  lost  liis  life,  and 
was  succeeded  in  Britain  by  Constans,  who  thus  became 
Emperor  of  the  West.  Constans  having  fallen  in  the  -village 
of  St.  Helena,  at  the  foot  of  the  Pyi-enees,  liis  only  surviving 
brother  succeeded  to  the  purple;  and  he  was  succeeded  by 
Julian,  in  whose  reign  the  statue  of  the  Brigantine  god- 
dess is  supposed  to  have  been  erected.     This  ancient  piece  of  Roman  sculpture  was 

*  Xipliiliinis  a  Dione. 
d2 


Goddess 
■vT  •  1     1  •      of  the 

JNot    content    with    mS    Biigantes. 


B  RIG AKTiE  S  AMANDV  S 
aRflTiXnVSlIXJMPERIOl^ 


20  CI;f  ??isitJ3ii)  of  tijf 

CHAP,    found  in  the  ruins  of  a  temple  in  Annandale,  in  the  year  1 732.    Tlie  figure  is  &ui)- 

'•       posed  to  represent  Victory,  or  a  Panthea,  adorned  with  the  symbols  of  Victory  and 

Pallas ;  and  the  inscription,  according  to  Roger  Gale,  the  antiquary,  may  be  read  thus : 

"  Briffantia  sacrum  Amandus 
Arcitectus  ex  imperio  imperatoris  Juliani.^^ 

The  most  recent,  and  one  of  the  most  interesting  discoveries  of  Roman  remains 
in  Lancaslui'e,  was  made  during  the  sununer  of  1 796,  at  Ribchester,  in  this  county, 
by  a  youth,  the  son  of  Joseph  Walton,  in  a  hollow,  nine  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
sTound,  that  had  been  made  in  the  waste  land  at  the  side  of  the  road  leading  to  the 
church,  and  near  the  bed  of  the  river.  It  is  conjectured,  that  when  these  antiquities 
were  deposited  in  this  place,  the  sand  was  thrown  amongst  them  to  preserve  them 
in  a  diy  state,  but  they  ai'e  in  general  much  defaced  by  the  corrosive  effect  of  sand 
upon  copper  during  a  period  of  nearly  two  thousand  years.  These  antiquities  were 
purchased  by  Charles  Townley,  Esq.,  of  Townley  Hall,  in  this  county,  fi'om 
the  persons  who  found  them,  and  they  are  described  by  that  gentleman  in  a  letter 
addi-essed  by  liim  to  the  Rev.  John  Brand,  secretaiy  to  the  Society  of  Anti- 
quarians, the  substance  of  wliicli  will  be  found  in  its  proper  place  in  these  volumes. 
Tt  ^rill  be  sufficient  to  say  here,  that  tliey  consist  of  a  helmet;  a  nmnber  of  patera; 
the  remains  of  a  vase;  a  bust  of  Minerva;  the  remains  of  two  basins;  a  number  of  cir- 
cular plates ;  and  various  other  curiosities,  many  of  wliich  appear  to  have  been  appro- 
priated to  rehgious  uses.  "  The  helmet,"  says  Mr.  Tofloiley,  "  deserves  the  particular 
attention  of  the  curious  as  the  remains  of  remote  ages;  very  few  ancient  ones,  decorated 
with  embossed  figures,  have  as  yet  appeared.  The  three  or  four  which  were  preserved 
in  the  Museum  at  Portici  are  esteemed  to  be  the  most  richly  ornamented,  and  the 
best  as  to  style  of  workmansliip ;  but  when  this  helmet  was  in  its  proper  state,  it  must 
have  been  equal,  at  least,  to  those  in  point  of  decoration,  and  in  respect  to  its  baring 
a  vizor  unitating  so  exactly  the  hmnan  features,  I  believe  it  to  be  the  only  ancient 
example  of  the  kind  that  has  yet  been  discovered.  Tliis  singularity  may  excite  a 
doubt,  whether  such  a  helmet  was  destined  for  real  combat,  or  only  for  the  enrich- 
ment of  occasional  trophies  wliich  were  erected  in  the  celebration  of  military  festi- 
vals, or  cai-ried  in  procession  amongst  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Tropliies  of  this  sort 
are  seen  on  various  medals,  \vi\h  the  names  of  the  people,  whose  subjugation  such 
tropliies  are  meant  to  record,  inserted  upon  them;  as  for  example, — DE  8ARMA- 
TIS — DE  GERMANI8,  on  the  medals  of  Marcus  Aurelius  and  Commodus. 

"  Tlie  superior  style  of  worlanansliip  of  the  mask  to  that  of  the  head-piece  is  also 
remarkable ;  in  the  former,  the  beauty  of  the  features,  the  excellent  work  of  the 


I>ana  "bv  Ja!  B^ 


iTiy  J 


J'^  tl  jl' ji.'A,'  'L'i  ilj         JtILT.5JL,i_vJIl.I  . 


Eog« 


;i:i  -T?  ,v  -r-r-o 


Count!?  ^3alatinf  of  Saiuastfr.  21 

fio-ures  in  relief,  and  more  particularly  by  the  sharp  edges  and  lines  with  which  the    chap. 

eye-brows,  eye-lids,  and  lips  ai-e  marked,  after  the  manner  of  Grecian  art  preced-  __J 

ino-  the  Csesai's,  denote  it  to  have  been  executed  some  ages  before  tlic  head-piece, 
llie  coarse  and  heavy  work  of  which  coiTesponds  with  that  of  the  artists  employed  in 
the  reign  of  Septimius  Severus,  and  particularly  with  the  sculpture  upon  the  arch 
of  that  emperor,  situated  near  the  Capitol  liill  at  Rome.  The  cheek  measures  ten 
inches  and  a  half  from  its  junction  to  the  scull-piece,  at  the  top  of  the  forehead,  to  its 
bottom,  under  the  chin.  A  row  of  small  detached  locks  of  haii*  surrounds  the  fore- 
head a  little  above  the  eyes,  reacliing  to  the  ears,  wliich  are  well  deUneated.  Upon 
the  locks  of  hair  rests  the  bottom  of  a  cUadem  or  tutulus,  which  at  the  centre  in 
the  fi-ont  is  two  inches  and  a  quarter  in  height,  diminisliing  at  the  extremities  to 
one  incli,  and  it  is  divided  horizontally  into  two  parts,  bearing  the  proportionate 
heio-hts  just  mentioned.*  The  lower  part  projects  before  the  Irigher,  and  repre- 
sents a  bastion  wall,  separated  into  seven  divisions  by  prjoecting  turrets  with  pyra- 
midal tops,  exceeding  a  little  the  height  of  tlie  wall.  The  apertures  for  missile 
weapons  of  defence,  are  marked  iu  each  of  the  tun-ets.  The  two  aixhed  doors 
appeal'  in  the  middle  di^^sion  of  tliis  wall,  and  one  arclied  door  in  each  of  the 
exti'eme  dinsions.  The  upper  part  of  tlie  cUadem,  which  recedes  a  little,  so  as 
to  clear  the  top  of  the  wall  and  of  the  tuiTets,  was  ornamented  Avith  seven  embossed 
figures,  placed  under  the  seven  arches,  the  abutments  of  wliich  are  heads  of  genii. 
Tlie  central  arch,  and  the  figure  that  was  witliin  it,  are  destroyed,  but  the  other  six  ai-e 
filled  vnih  a  repetition  of  the  follo^ving  three  gi'oupes : — A  Venus,  sitting  upon  a 
marine  monster;  before  her  a  diaped  figure  Tvith  wings,  bearing  a  wi-eath  and  a 
palm  branch,  and  behind  her  a  triton,  whose  lower  part  terminates  in  tails  of  fish. 
Two  serpents  are  represented  on  each  side  of  the  face,  near  the  ears,  from  whence 
the  bocUes  of  these  reptiles  surround  each  cheek,  and  are  joined  under  the  cliin. 
The  union  of  various  characters  j-ecals  the  pantheic  representations  of  the  goddess 
Isis ;  and  when  the  accompaniments  of  the  work  are  attentively  considered,  I  am 
persuaded  they  wiU  be  found  to  represent  the  goddess  in  her  generating,  preserving, 
and  destroying  capacities,  which  primitively  constituted  her  universal  dominion,  and 
characterized  her  as  tlie  Dea  Trifomiis." 

Britain  was  soon  after  this  period  divided  into  two  consular  provinces,  Maxima  provinces 
CaBsariensis  and  Valeutia,  and  into  three  prsesicUal  districts — Britannia  Prima,  Districts. 
Britannia  Secunda,  and  Flavia  Caesariensis.f     Tliis  division  was  probably  made  in 

"  From  subsequent  information  it  is  ascertained,  that  a  Sphinx  was  found  with  these  remains, 
which  the  person  who  discovered  them,  omitted  to  deliver  to  Mr.  Townley,  but  which,  it  is  judged, 
served  to  decoratje  the  top  of  the  helmet. 

t  Notitia. 


22  U)t  Sn'storj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP     the  reign  of  Valeiitinian,  after  the  memorable  victory  obtained  by  Theodosius  over 

the  united  power  of  the  Plots  and  the  Scots;*  and  Lancasliire  came  under  the 

consular  g-overnment  of  Valentia,  as  forming  part  of  that  province. 

From  tills  period  the  Roman  power  rapidly  declined,  and  the  empire  was 
menaced  with  desolation  by  the  continental  barbarians.  The  inhabitants  and  troops 
that  were  quartered  in  Britain,  fearing  lest  the  Vandals  should  pass  over  the  sea, 
and  subdue  them  with  the  rest,  revolted  from  then'  obedience  to  Honorius,  and  set 
up  one  Mark,  Avliom  they  declared  emperor ;  but  they  soon  deprived  liim  of  liis 
dignity  and  his  life,  placing  Gratian  in  his  room,  who  was  a  countryman  of  their  ovm. 
Within  four  months  they  murdered  liim  also,  and  conferred  the  sovereignty  upon 
one  Constantine,  not  so  much  in  respect  to  his  courage  or  his  quality,  for  he  was  a 
very  inconsiderable  man  in  the  army,  but  in  regard  to  his  name,  which  they  looked 
upon  as  fortunate ;  hoping  he  would  do  as  much  as  Coustantine  the  Great  had  done, 
who  had  been  advanced  to  the  imperial  dignity  in  the  same  island.  Tliis  new  prince, 
Britain  immediately  after  his  promotion,  passed  over  into  Gaul,  and,  taldng  %vith  him  the 
abandoned  Very  flower  of  the  British  j^outh,  so  utterly  exliausted  the  military  force  of  the 
Ronia'ns.  islaiid,  that  it  was  wholly  broken,  and  the  island  left  naked  to  her  invaders.-j"  Britain, 
being  thus  deprived  both  of  the  Roman  soldiers  and  of  the  most  vigorous  part  of  her 
A.D.  418.  own  population,  became  an  easy  prey  to  the  incursions  of  the  northern  invaders,  the 
Picts  and  Scots,  to  whose  inroads  the  County  of  Lancaster  was  peculiarly  exposed. 
The  wall  of  Sevenis,  though  it  stretched  across  the  island,  and  was  built  of  solid 
stone,  twelve  feet  in  height  and  eight  feet  in  thickness,  and  though  it  was  strength- 
ened by  fortresses  well  supplied  ^-ith  munitions  of  war,  no  longer  formed  a  bander 
against  the  inroads  of  the  enemy. 

In  tliis  deplorable  situation  the  Bi-itons  invited  over  the  Saxons,  to  protect  them 
against  an  evW  that  they  knew,  and  thereby  fell  upon  a  greater  that  they  never  antici- 
pated. But,  before  proceeding  to  this  new  period  of  our  liistory,  it  may  be  proper  to 
take  a  summary  survey  of  the  Roman  institutions  as  they  existed  in  tliis  country,  and 
in  tliis  county,  during  the  four  centuries  that  Britain  Avas  subject  to  the  Roman  sway, 
and  to  glance  at  the  remains  with  which  some  of  the  Lancashii-e  Roman  stations 
abound,  though  the  details  must  be  reserved  for  theii'  more  ajipropriate  arrangement, 
under  the  respective  heads  in  the  Hundred  and  Parish  Histories. 
Roman  in-  Tlie  government  of  Britain,  during  the  Roman  period,  was  praesidial,  and  with 
the  president  or  vicar  was  associated,  in  military  matters,  the  Comes  Britanniartim. 
The  country  was  garrisoned,  and  the  conquest  principally  achieved  and  maintained 
by  three  out  of  the  twenty-nine  Roman  legions,  namely, — Legio  II.,  Legio  VI., 


Etitutions. 


*  Ediard,  vol.  iii.  p.  272,  273  f  Ammianus  Marcellinus,  lib.  xxvii.  c.  8. 


Count|)  iaalatiiw  of  ^LanrasUr.  23 

Victrix,  principally  statioued  in  the  Brigantiau  capital  of  Eboracum,  and  Legio  XX.,    chap. 

usually  called  Valens  Victrix.*  

According  to  Josephus,  the  Jewish  liistorian,  who  Avi'ote  in  the  first  century. of 
the  Christian  era,  there  were  four  legions.  His  words  ai-e,  "  Britain  is  surrounded 
by  the  ocean,  and  almost  equal  in  extent  to  our  world  !  Yet  it  was  reduced  by  the 
Romans,  and  four  legions  controlled  such  a  populous  islajid."t  The  knowledge  of 
geooi-aphy  possessed  by  tliis  ancient  historian  seems  scarcely  more  accurate  than  the 
knowledge  of  astronomy  displayed  by  Caesar  and  Tacitus. 

The  manufacture  of  woollens  was  introduced  into  England,  and  probably  into 
Lancasliire,  at  an  cariy  period  of  the  Roman  conquest,  and  the  luxury  of  (bess  soon 
succeeded  the  painting  of  the  body.  After-ages  have  increased  and  perfected  these 
useful  fabrics,  and  the  ancient  country  of  the  Brigantes  is  still  the  most  famous  of 
all  the  districts  of  England  for  this  invaluable  production  of  the  loom. 

The  religion  of  the  Romans  consisted,  till  after  their  final  depai-tm-e  from 
Britain,  of  the  idolatry  of  the  Pantlieon,  though  the  light  of  Christianity  began  to 
dispel  the  mist  of  heathenism  during  the  reign  of  Constantius  Chlorus,  the  father  of 
Constantino  the  Great.  Constantius  erected  the  first  episcopal  see  in  Britain,  and 
the  seat  of  that  liigh  dignity  was  at  Eboracum. j  Constantine  not  only  lavoured  the 
Clu-istian  doctrine,  but,  to  display  Ins  attaclmient  to  Cliristianity,  he, stamped  upon 
his  coins  the  emblem  of  the  Cross,  a.d.  311.  The  progress  of  the  true  faith  was, 
however,  continually  retarded  by  the  wars  with  which  this  country  was  distracted, 
and  it  was  not  till  a  later  period  of  British  liistory  that  tiie  great  body  ,of  the  nation 
could  be  called  Christians. 

The  lapse  of  sixteen  centuries,  during  which  time  fifty  generations  of  men  have  Roman 
passed  over  the  stage  of  time,  though  it  has  consigned  to  desti'uction  numberless 
Roman  remains,  has  served  to  bring  to  light  a  gi'eat  mass  of  antiquities  in  the 
stations  of  Lancashire.  Hence  in  IMancunium,  and  in  Ad  Alaunam,  we  have  altars, 
statues,  coins,  and  medals;  and  in  Rerigonium,  a  rich  collection  of  antiquities,  con- 
sisting of  masks,  helmets,  and  domestic  utensils,  serves  to  shew  that  tliis  retii'ed 
village  was  once  the  abode  of  the  conquerors  of  the  world.  But  of  these,  each  in 
its  proper  place.  Tlie  goddess  of  the  Brigantes,  being  a  general  sulyect,  will 
serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  monuments  of  antiquity  in  the  general  department  of  our 
liistory. 

In  dismissing  for  the  present  the  Roman  period,  it  may  be  observed,  that  skilful  Romans 
as  were  some  of  the  Caesars,  and  many  of  their  subjects,  in  ai-ts  and  in  arms,  they  "°*  ^"™" 
were  deplorably  ignorant  of  some  of  the  great  phenomena  of  nature.     Hence  we 

*  A  Roman  legion,  when  full,  consisted  of  about  6,000  infantry  and  400  cavalry. 
t  Bell.  Jud.  ii.  c.  16.  sec.  4.  J  Burton's  Monasticon,  p.  6. 


nomers. 


24  CIk  |[^i5torj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  find  Julius  Csesai-,  in  his  Commentaries,  astonisliing  his  readers  by  communicating 
^'  a  rumour,  that  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  a  few  leagues  from  the  Laucasliire  coast,  the 
nio-hts  were  of  tliii-ty  days'  duration,  and  expressing  liimself  in  a  manner  indicating 
his  own  uncertainty  upon  the  subject.  The  words  are,  "  In  hoc  mecho  cursu  est 
insula,  qufe  appellatur  Mona;  complm-es  prseterea  minores  objectiB  insula  existi- 
mantur;  de  quibus  insulis  nonnulli  scripserunt,  dies  contmuos  xxx  sub  bruma  esse 
noctem.  Nos  niliil  de  eis  percontationibus  reperiebamus,  nisi  certis  ex  aqua  meu- 
suris  breviores  esse,  quam  in  continente  noctes  videbamus."* 

Another  classical  author  of  gi-eat  celebrity,  wlio  Avi-ote  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  after  Caesai-,  records,  that  it  was  said  of  the  Isle  of  Anglesey,  that  the  days  and 
niglits  were  each  of  them  six  montlis  long  ]-\  Tlie  Romans,  in  the  days  of  their 
emperors,  conceiving  the  earth  to  be  a  flat  surface,  imagined  that  night  was  occa- 
sioned by  the  sun  retiiuig  beliind  high  mountains.  It  was  reserved  for  Copernicus 
to  announce  the  rotundity  of  tlie  globe,  and  for  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  a  native  of  that 
island  whicli  in  Caesar's  time  was  the  abode  of  savages,  to  calciUate,  with  mathe- 
matical jjrecision,  the  length  of  the  days  and  nights  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Strange  as  this  ignorance  of  the  most  learned  of  tlie  Romans  may  soimd  in 
modern  ears,  since  the  light  of  science  has  opened  the  volume  of  nature  to  the  great 
body  of  mankind,  and  rendered  them  to  a  certain  extent  more  learned  than  the 
ancient  pliilosophers,  a  period  was  now  approaching  in  British  history,  when  the 
gloom  of  heathen  darkness  was  to  become  still  more  impervious,  and  when  the 
native  inhabitants  of  Britain  were  to  be  exposed  to  the  horrors  of  tliose  sangui- 
nary contests,  wliich  so  long  existed  between  tlieii-  northern  hivaders  and  the 
Saxons. 


*  De  Bello  Gallico,  lib.  v.  c.  13. 


t  Pliny,  lib.  ii.  sec.  75.     It  is  understood  that  the  Mona  of  Caesar  was  the  Isle  of  Man,  and 
that  of  Pliny,  the  Isle  of  Anglesey. 


Count))  ^aalntiiif  of  ^Lanrasttn 


25 


Saxon  period. — State  of  Britain  on  the  departure  of  the  Romans. — Urgent  application  of  the 
Britons  for  foreign  aid. — Assistance  offered  by  the  Saxons. — They  visit  Britain  as  friends. — 
Remain  as  enemies. — ^Take  possession  of  Kent. — Defeat  of  the  Saxons  at  York. — Saxon  ingrati- 
tude.— King  Arthur. — Battles  on  the  Douglas. — The  Round  Table.— Sir  Torquin.— The  Heptar- 
chy.— Northumbria. — Saxon  idolatry. — Introduction  of  Christianity. — Missionaries  to  Britain. — 
Conversion  of  the  Northumbrians. — Restoration  of  churches. — Lancashire  castles. — Oswald. — 
Archbishop  Wilfrid. — Papal  authority  acknowledged. — Transference  of  the  people  of  Furness. — 
Rain  of  blood. — Venerable  Bede. — Invasion  of  the  Danes. — Battle  of  Whalley. — Dissolution  of 
the  Heptarchy. — State  of  Lancashire  in  the  ninth  century. — Reign  of  Alfred  the  Great. — Saxon 
name  of  Lancashire. — Early  tradition  of  the  Eagle  and  Child. — The  tenth  century. — The  south 
of  Lancashire  in  Northumbria,  and  not  in  Mercia. — Wars  in  Northumbria. — Lancashire  not 
mentioned  in  the  Saxon  Chronicles. — Passes  under  the  Danish  power. — Termination  of  the  Saxon 
and  Danish  dynasties  in  England. — Manners  and  institutions  of  our  Anglo-Saxon  ancestors. 

HE    progress   in  civilization  made  by  the  Britons    chap. 
dui'ing  the  four  hundred  years  that  tliis  county  and 


II. 


tliis  country  were  occupied  by  the  Romans,  was  almost  ^^j""  ''*' 
obliterated  by  the  sis  centuries  Avliich  .succeeded,  of 
invasion  fi-om  Avithout,  and  tUscord  within  the  island. 
One  redeeming  event  served,  however,  to  cUspel  the 
night  of  heathen  darkness;  and  the  general  intro- 
duction of  Christianity,  perverted  and  contaminated 
though  it  was  by  superstition  and  error,  UTadiated 
the  gloom  of  the  Saxon,  the  Danish,  and  the  Norman 
dominion.  So  fail'  a  country  as  Britain,  suddenly  abandoned  by  its  Roman  con- 
querors, and  possessed  by  a  people  without  union  in  the  governments,  and  vrithout 
reliance  upon  themselves,  naturally  became  a  prize  for  foreign  competition ;  and 
the  struggles  for  independence  were  rather  the  transient  and  convulsive  efforts  of 
despaii-,  than  the  dauntless  energies  of  patriotic  confidence.  The  sliips  which 
ti'ansported  the  legionaries  of  Rome  from  the  shores  of  Britain  had  scarcely  weighed 
anchor,  when  the  invading  hordes  of  the  Scots  and  Picts  cUslodgcd  the  British  trooj)s 
from  then-  fortresses,  and,  forcing  a  passage  through  the  Roman  wall,  penetrated  into 
the  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Lancaster,  and  even  to*  the  gates  of  York,  from 
whence  they  menaced  the  other  parts  of  the  island.  The  state  of  the  country  at  that 
time,  as  described  by  one  of  the  earliest  British  historians,*  serves  to  shew  that 
considerable  progi-ess  had  been  made  in  the  arts,  in  conuuerce,  and  in  agriculture ; 
VOL.  I.  *  Gildas.  E 


26  COt  W^tOV}}  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    and  tliat  tlie  people  no  longer  painted  their  bodies,  and  depended  for  tlieir  food  on 

" the  precarious  resources  of  the  chase.     "  The  island  of  Britahi,"  says  this  sapient 

nduiin'^on  ecclesiastic,  "  placed  in  the  balance  of  the  divine  poising  hand,  which  weigheth 
iu?e'o7tUe  the  Avhole  world,  at  ahuost  the  uttermost  bounds  of  the  earth  towards  the  south- 
Uomans.  ^ypg^^  exteutHug  itself  from  the  soutli-west  out  towards  the  North  Pole,  800  miles  in 
length  and  200  in  breadth,  embraced  by  the  embowed  bosoms  of  the  ocean,  with 
whose  most  spacious,  and  on  every  side  impassable  enclosure,  she  is  sti-ongly  defended, 
enriched  with  the  mouths  of  noble  floods,  by  which  outlandish  commodities  have  in 
times  past  been  transported  into  the  same,  besides  other  rivers  of  lesser  account ; 
streno-thened  ^\^th  eight-and-twenty  cities,  and  some  other  castles,  not  meanly  fenced 
with  fortresses  of  waUs,  embattled  towers,  gates,  and  buildings,  (whose  roofs,  being 
raised  aloft  with  tlu-eatening  hugeness,  were  mighty  in  the  aspking  tops  compacted,) 
adorned  vvith  her  large  spreading  fields,  pleasantly  seated  liills,  even  framed  for  good 
husbandry,  which  ever  mastereth  the  ground,  and  mountains  most  convenient  for 
the  chano-eable  pastures  of  cattle ;  watered  Avith  clear  fountains  and  sundry  brooks, 
beating  on  the  snow-wliite"  sands,  together  with  silver  streams  glichng  forth  Avith 
soft  sounding  noise,  and  leaving  a  pledge  of  sweet  savours  on  bordering  banks,  and 
lakes  gusliing  out  abundantly  m  cold  runnhig  rivers."* 

Tliis  description  of  the  wealth  of  Britain,  and  of  its  scenery,  di-awn  tJiirteen 

hundi-ed  years  ago,  Avas  doubtless  appUcahle  to  the  county  of  Lancaster  at  the  time 

A.D.  4-18.    of  the  departure  of  the  Romans.      "  After  this,"  continues  our  author,   "  Britain 

being  now  despoiled  of  all  armed  soldiers,  and  of  her  own  brave  and  valorous  youth, 

(who  quitted  the  island  along  with  the  Romans,  never  returning  to  their  homes,)  and 

absolutely  ignorant  of  all  practice  of  war,  was  trampled  many  years  under  the  feet 

Invaded     of  two  Very  ficrcc  outlandish  nations — the  Scots  and  tlie  Picts.     Upon  whose  invasion, 

Picts^aud  and  most  terrible  oppression,  she  sent  ambassadors,  furnished  Avith  letters,  to  Rome, 

humbly  beseecliing,  Avith  piteous  prayers,  the  hosts  of  soldiers  to  redress  lier  AATong-s, 

and  voAving  AA-ith  the  whole  power  of  her  mind  her  everlasting  subjection  to  the 

Roman  empii'e,  if  they  would  allow  their  soldiers  to  return,  and  to  chase  aAvay  their 

foes.      These  letters  Avere   mdicted  to   this  puqjose, — '  Tlie  Lamentations  of  the 

Urgent       '  Bfitons  uuto  Agitixs,  thrice  Consul.'     '  The  barbarians  thive  us  to  the  sea,  the  sea 

tion  for      '  drivcs  US  back  to  the  barbarians.     Thus,  of  tAvo  lands  of  death,  one  or  other  must 

aid. "         '  be  our  clioicc,  either  to  be  SAvallowed  up  by  the  waves,  or  butchered  by  the  SAvord.' 

In  this  deplorable  conthtion,  no  relief  covdd  be  afibrded  by  the  Romans ;  the  Goths 

AA'ere  at  theu*  oaa'u  gates  ;  and  to  aggi'avate  the  miseries  of  the  Britons,  a  dreadful 

famine  raged  in  the  ravished  country,  Avhich   obliged  many  of  them  to  peld  their 

necks  to  the  yoke  of  the  iuA'aders  for  a  little  food ;  and  those  who  had  too  much 

*  Epist.  of  Gildas,  cap.  i. 


Countp  ^3nlntine  of  3Caurn£itfi%  27 

constancy  to  submit  to  tliis  hnmiliation  were  constrained  to  seek  refuge  in  the  moun      chap. 
tains,  or  to  conceal  themselves  in  caves  and  thickets."*  "' 

Repulsed  by  the  Roman  government,  and  without  confidence  in  their  own 
strength,  the  Britons  sought  assistance  from  the  Saxons,  a  nation  of  warriors  and 
pu-ates.  The  mUitary  reno^vn  of  these  people  pointed  them  out  as  the  most 
efficient  of  auxiliaries,  wliile  their  ambition  and  their  avarice  made  them  in  reality 
die  most  dangerous  of  allies.  To  avert  a  present  danger,  ambassadors  were  sent  to 
the  heads  of  then-  government,  and,  an  autUeuce  ha\iag  been  obtained,  they  spoke 
as  follows : — 

"  Most  noble  Saxons — The  poor  and  distressed  Brets  (Britons),  outworn  and 
exhausted  by  the  uicursions  of  their  enemies,  hearing  the  fame  of  those  victories 
which  you  have  most  gallantly  obtained,  have  sent  us  supplicants  unto  you,  craving 
that  you  would  not  deny  us  your  help  and  succour.  A  large  and  spacious  land  we 
have,  plentiful  and  abimdant  in  aU  things,  wliich  we  yield  wholly  to  your  coimnand. 
Hitherto  we  have  lived  freely  under  the  patronage  and  protection  of  the  Romans ; 
next  unto  them  we  know  not  any  more  powerful  than  yourselves,  and  therefore  we 
seek  for  a  refuge  under  the  Avings  of  your  valour.  So  that  we  may,  by  your  puissance, 
be  superior  to  our  enemies;  and  whatsoever  service  you  shall  impose  upon  us,  that 
we  will  wUUngly  afrord."t 

To  tliis  urgent  invitation  the  peers  and  the  governors  of  the  Saxons  replied  : —     Assistance 

"  Know  ye,  that  the  Saxons  ■will  be  fast  friends  to  the  Britons,  and  ready  at  all  tue'^sax-^ 

times  to  assist  them  in  their  necessity  for  a  suitable  return ;  Avitli  joy,  therefore, 

embark  again  for  your  country,  and  make  your  countrymen  glad  with  these  good 

tidings." 

Tlie  Saxons  were  confederated  tribes,  consisting  of  the  Angles,   (and  hence  The  Sax- 
ons. 
Anglo-Saxons,)  the  Jutes,  and  the  genuine  Saxons.     They  were  settled  on  the 

shores  of  the  Gennan  ocean,  and  extended  fi'om  the  Eyder  to  the  Rliine.     The 

etymology  of  their  name  is  involved  in  the  obscurity  of  remote  antiquity.     Their 

leaders  are  supposed  to  have  bequeathed  the  appellation  to  their  followers."    The 

classical  historians  have  painted  this  nation  with  the  features  of  terror ;  the  word 

Saxum,  a  rock,  as  an  expression  of  unfeeling  ferocity,  has  been  thought  by  some  to 

have  produced  the  name,  while  Sacsesons,  the  sons  of  the  Sacae ;  Sasscn,  a  settled 

people;    S-uess-on,  or  Saxon,  Celtic  for  the  waters  of  the  river;  and  Saex,  or 

Siachs,  the  short  sword  they  fought  with,  has  each  found  its  advocates.^     The  first 

Saxon  expecUtion  to  England,  wliich  consisted  of  1000  soldiers,  embarked  in  three 

vessels,  called  Cyulce,  or  Kules,  composed  of  hides,§  under  the  command  of  Hengist 

*  Epist.  of  Gildas,  cap.  xvii.  f  Witichindus. 

X  Sh.  Turner's  Hist,  of  the  Anglo  Saxons,  vol.  1.  p.  22-3.  §  Nennius,  cap.  xxviii. 

E  2 


38  €i)t  l^lStOll)  of  ti)t 

c:hap.  and  Horsa,  the  latter  sening  under  tlie  former,  and  botli  being  in  the  fourth 
'  generation  from  Woden,  one  of  the  princiiml  gods  of  the  Saxons.  On  their  arrival 
They  visit  iu  England,  tliey  were  cUrected  by  Vortigern,  the  Britisli  king,  to  march  agfdnst  the 
friends!  ^'  cuemj,  then  spread  over  the  greatest  part  of  the  country  of  the  Brigantes  ;  and  on 
then-  arrival  in  the  neighbourhood  of  York,  a  bloody  engagement  took  place,  by 
winch  the  Picts  and  the  Scots  were  driven  out  of  Lancasliire  and  Yorkshire,  and 
compelled  to  take  refuge  mthin  then*  own  borders.  The  Saxon  generals,  disinclined 
to  finish  the  campaign  by  a  single  battle,  neglected  to  follow  up  this  victory,  and 
their  troops  remained  in  York  and  in  Manchester,  to  recover  from  the  fatigues  of 
their  journey,  and  to  recruit  their  luimbers  with  fresh  levies.  So  short-sighted  are 
nations  frequently,  as  well  as  incH^iduals,  that  gi-eat  rejoicings  took  place  in  Britain 
on  the  expulsion  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  and  the  Saxons  were  every  where  hailed  as 
deliverers.  Vortigern,  held  by  the  double  tie  of  gratitude  to  Hengist,  and  love  to 
his  fascinating  daughter,  Rowena,  became  insensible  to  the  danger  that  menaced  his 
country.  The  poison  of  Saxon  perfidy  was  poured  into  the  royal  ear,  wliile  he  reposed 
on  the  bosom  of  the  "  blue-eyed"  enchantress,  and  the  kmg  closed  his  eyes  to  those 
dangerous  designs  of  ambition  in  liis  foreign  auxiliaries,  which  every  day  became  more 
manifest  to  liis  people. 

Having  possession  of  Mancunium  and  Eboracum,  the  Saxons  sent  for  a  further 
supply  of  troops  from  Germany,  which  speedily  arrived  in  seventeen  cyulce,  and  were 
encamped  in  the  Isle  of  Thanet.  This  measure  naturally  increased  the  suspicion  of 
the  Britons,  and  they  expressed  their  (hspleasure,  by  refusing  to  provide  for  the  fresh 
levies.  A  proclamation,  conunanding  them  to  quit  the  country,  immediately  followed, 
A  D.  450.  at  which  Hengist  took  deadly  offence ;  and  the  Saxons,  Avho  had  come  to  expel 
invaders,  now  assumed  themselves  the  character  of  open  enemies.  Further 
reinforcements,  under  the  command  of  Octa,  the  son  of  Hengist,  and  Ebissa,  the  son 
Remain  as  of  Octa,  soou  after  arrived,  and  marched  to  the  north,  spreading  themselves  over  the 
Brigantian  districts,  which  were  soon  to  assume  another  name.  The  demands  of 
the  Saxons  rose  with  the  concessions  of  the  Britons ;  and  it  at  length  became  clear, 
that  notluug  short  of  the  full  possession  of  tliis  fail'  island  would  allay  the  cravings  of 
then-  ambition  and  cupichty.  Disgusted  with  the  blindness  and  effeminacy  of  Vorti- 
gern, his  people  drove  him  from  his  tlu'one,  and  Vortimer,  his  son,  reigned  in  his 
stead.  After  several  battles  between  the  Britons  and  the  Saxons,  fought  -with 
various  success,  in  one  of  wliich  Vortimer  fell,  Vortigern  again  ascended  the  tlu'one, 
and  Hengist  demanded  a  conference  between  the  Saxon  chiefs  and  the  British  nobility, 
to  ai-range  terms,  as  was  alleged,  for  the  Saxons  quitting  the  kingdom.  Tliis  meet- 
ing took  place  upon  the  plain  of  Ambrij,  now  called  Salisbury  Plain.  The  unsus- 
pecting Britons  came  unarmed,  but  the  perfidious  Germans  had  each  a  short  skeine 


enemies. 


Coimti)  ^3alntinr  of  aanrnstm  29 

concealed  under  liis  cassock.      After  the  conference,  the  horns  of  festivity  went    chap. 

roimd,  till  the  spiiits  of  the  assembly  had  become  exliUarated,  when,  at  the  terrible  

exclamation  of  "  Nemed  Saxes,"  out  rushed  the  Saxon  weapons ;  the  unarmed 
Britons  fell  before  the  perficUous  assassins,  and  three  huncU-ed  of  the  bravest  cliiefs 
and  tlie  most  elevated  men  of  the  country  perished  on  the  spot.*  Well  may  the 
venerable  Gildas  speak  of  the  men  who  could  perpetrate  so  horrible  an  atrocity  as 
ferocissimi  illl  nefandi  nominis  Saxones  Deo  hominibusque  invisi.\ 

Hengist  now  possessed  liimself  of  the  southern  part  of  the  island,  wliich  he  Take  pos- 
erected  into  a  prmcipaUty,  under  the  designation  of  the  Kingdom  of  Kent,  wlule  Kent. 
Octa  and  Ebissa  remained  settled  in  Northmnbria.  Tlie  fortunes  of  the  Britons 
were  partially  retrieved  by  Aurelius  Ambrosius,  a  Briton  of  Roman  extraction.  Under 
his  dii-ection  the  military  spii'it  of  his  countrymen  was  roused  into  action,  and  after 
marching  from  Totness  at  the  head  of  a  formidable  force,  accompanied  by  Uter,  his 
brother,  siu'named  Pendragon,  he  arrived  before  the  gates  of  York,  when  he 
smumoned  Octa  to  surrender.  A  council  of  war  being  called,  at  wliicli  the  question 
to  be  discussed  was,  whether  the  Saxon  garrison  should  stand  a  siege  ?  it  was  deter- 
mined to  suiTender  at  chscretion,  and  to  cast  themselves  upon  the  clemency  of  the 
Britons.     Tliis  detei-minatiou  haviug  been  fonned,  Octa,  accompanied  by  his  princi-  surrender 

of  York. 

pal  captains,  caiTying  each  a  chain  in  his  hand,  mth  dust  upon  his  head,  presented 
himself  to  Ambrosius  with  tliis  address, — "  My  gods  are  conquei'ed,  and  I  doubt  not 
but  the  sovereign  power  is  iu  your  god,  who  has  compelled  so  many  noble  persons  to 
come  before  you  in  this  suppliant  manner :  be  pleased,  therefore,  to  accept  of  us 
and  this  chain ;  if  you  do  not  tliink  us  fit  for  yoiu-  clemency,  we  here  present 
ourselves  ready  to  be  fettered,  and  ai-e  Avilling  to  undergo  any  punislmaent  you  shall 
tliinli  us  worthy  of"  Moved  by  this  liumiliating  appeal,  Ambrosius  granted  a  free 
pardon  to  the  invaders,  and,  instead  of  shipping  them  out  of  the  country,  he  assigned 
to  them  a  district  on  tlie  borders  of  Scotland.  Ebissa,  who  had  probably  occupied 
Manchester  while  Octa  was  stationed  in  York,  encom-aged  by  the  success  of  his 
kinsman's  appeal  to  the  conqueror's  clemency,  came  and  surrendered  himself  in  the 
same  manner,  and  met  with  a  similar  reception. 

Tlie  gi-atitude  of  the  Saxons  did  not  outlive  theii-  merciful  conqueror.     On  the  a.d.  49o. 
death  of  Ambrosius,  who  was  succeeded  by  Uter  the  Pench-agon,  Octa  and  Ebissa 
revolted,  and  issued  from  their  northern  retreat,    by   the   route   of  Bremetonacae  saxon  in- 
(Overborough)  and  Coccium  (Blackrode),  botli  wliicli  places  they  took,  as  well  as  s'"^"'"^'^- 
Mancunium  (Manchester)   and  Veratinum  (Wan-ington).     On  then-  amval  before 
Eboracum  (York),  an  obstinate  battle  took  place  under  the  walls  of  that  city,  which 
ended  in  the  defeat  and  capture  of  the  two  ingi-ates.J 

*  Nennius,c.  xlviii.         t  Epist.  of  Gildas,  c.  xxiii.        l  Geof.  Mon.  Polichron,  &c. 


30 


COt  S^istori.)  of  ti)t    ■ 


CHAP. 
II. 

A.D.  510. 

King 
Arthur. 


His  mili- 
tary 

achieve- 
ments. 


The  son  and  successor  of  liter,  born  of  Lady  Igi-en,  Duchess  of  Cornwall,  was 
the  renoAvued  King  Arthur.  Trained  to  arms  by  Ambrosius,  under  wliose  conunis- 
sion  he  for  some  time  fought,*  and  animated  by  the  wi-ongs  of  the  Britons,  over  whom 
lie  was  appointed  to  reign,  he  became  himself  the  leader  of  then-  wars,  and  hi  all  of 
them  he  came  off  conqueror.  The  first  of  his  battles  was  fought  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  called  the  Glem.  The  second,  tliiixl,  fourth,  and  fifth,  upon  another  river 
called  the  Douglas,  in  the  territory  of  Linuis.  The  sixth  was  on  a  stream  which 
bears  the  name  of  Bassas.  The  seventh  was  in  the  wood  of  Celidon,  that  is,  in  Cat- 
toit  Celidou.  The  eighth  was  at  Castle  Gunnion.  The  ninth  at  the  city  of  Legion. 
The  tenth  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Ribroit.  The  eleventh  on  the  luU  Agned 
Cathregonion ;  and  the  twelfth  at  Mount  Badon.f 

The  history  of  tliis  distmguished  warrior  is  mixed  up  with  so  much  romance  as 
to  render  it  extremely  difficult  to  separate  truth  from  fiction.  That  part  of  it, 
however,  which  regards  the  subject  of  this  history,  is  not  only  supported  by  early 
tradition  extending  through  many  generations,  but  it  is  also  supported  by  the  concur- 
rent testimony  of  indubitable  facts.  The  ingenuity  and  research  of  Mr.  Wliitaker, 
the  liistorian  of  Manchester,  has  placed  tliis  subject  in  so  strong  and  mteresting  a 
light,  in  the  second  chapter  of  liis  Saxon  History  of  Manchester,  that  it  may  be 
quoted  with  advantage,  Avith  the  exception  of  those  passages  for  which  the  public 
is  indebted  more  to  the  vigorous  unagination  of  the  author  than  to  historical 
evidence. 

"  The  second,  tliii-d,  fourth,  and  fifth  battles  of  Arthur  are  supposed  to  have 
been  fought  m  our  own  county  (Laucashii-e),  and  upon  the  banks  of  our  little 
Douglas.J  And  the  name  of  the  river  concurs  with  the  ti'adition  concerning 
Arthur,  and  three  battles  prove  the  notice  true.  On  the  traditionaiy  scene  of  this 
engagement  remained,  till  the  year  1 770,  a  considerable  British  baiTow,  popularly 
denominated  Hasty-Knoll.  It  was  originally  a  vast  collection  of  small  stones  taken 
from  the  bed  of  the  Douglas ;  and  gi-eat  quantities  had  been  successively  carried 
away  by  the  neighbouring  inhabitants.     Many  fragments  of  iron  had  been  also 

*  Malmesbury,  f.  4. 

t  "  Artur  ipse  dux  erat  bellorum,  et  in  omnibus  victor  extitit.  Primum  bellum  fuit  in  ostium 
fluniinis  quod  dicitur  Glem.  Secundum  et  tertium  et  quartum  et  quintum  super  aliud  flumen,  quod 
vocatur  Duglas,  quod  est  in  regione  Linuis.  Sextum  bellum  super  flumen  quod  vocatur  Bassas. 
Septum  bellum  fuit  in  silva  Calidonis,  id  est,  Cattoit  Celidon.  Octavum  fuit  bellum  in  Castello  Gun- 
nion. Nonumque  bellum  gestum  est  in  urbe  Legionis.  Decimum  bellum  gestum  est  in  litore 
fluminis  quod  vocatur  Ribroit.  Undecimum  bellum  fuit  in  monte  quod  dicitur  Agned  Cathregonion. 
Duodecimum  fuit  bellum  in  monte  Badonis." — Historia  Britonum,  auctore  Nennio,  cap.  Ixv.  Ixvi. 

I  Higden,  p.  225,  from  Radulphus,  Hodie  fluvius  vocatur— Dugglis,  et  currit  sub  urbe  de  Wigan, 
and  Brompton,  c.  11.53. 


Countp  |3alatine  of  iLanrastfr*  31 

occasionally  discovered  in  it,  together  ^^itli  remains  of  those  military  weapons  which    chap. 

tlie  Britons  iutei-red  Avith  their  heroes  at  death.     On  finally  levelling  the  harrow,   '. — 

tliere  was  found  a  cavity,  in  the  hungry  gravel  iimuediately  under  the  stones,  ahout 
seven  feet  in  length,  the  evident  grave  of  the  British  ollicer,  and  all  filled  with  the 
loose  and  hlackish  earth  of  his  perished  remains.     At  another  place,  near  Wigan,  was  ' 
discovered,  ahout  the  year  1741,  a  large  collection   of  horse  and  human  hones, 
and  an  amazing  quantity  of  horse  shoes,  scattered  over  u  large  extent  of  ground — 
an    evidence    of  some    important  hattle   upon   the    spot.      The   very  appellation 
of  Wio-an  is  a  standing  memorial  of  more  than  one  hattle   at  that   place ;  Wig 
sicmifying,  in  Saxon,  a  figlit,  and  Wif/-en  heiug  its  plural.     According  to  trathtion, 
the  first  battle  fought  neai-  Blackrode  was  uncommonly  hloody,  and  the  Douglas  was 
ci-imsoned  with  blood  to  Wigan.     TracUtion  and  remains  concui-  to  evince  the  fact, 
that  a  second  battle  was  fought  near  Wigan-lane  many  ages  before  the  rencoimter 
in  tlie  civil  Avars.     And  credulity,  deeply  impressed  with  the  story,  not  unfrequently 
fancies,  to  the  present  period,  that  it  sees  warriors  habited  in  strange  dresses,  and 
hovering  about  the  scene  of  slaughter.     The  defeated  Saxons  appear  to  have  crossed 
the  liill  of  Wigan,  wliere  another  engagement  or   engagements  ensued  j  and  in 
forming  the  canal  there,  about  the  year   1735,  the  workmen  discovered  evident 
indications  of  a  considerable  battle  on  the  gi-ound.     All  along  the  course  of  the 
channel  from  the  termination  of  the  Dock  to  the  point  of  Pool-bridge,  fi-om  forty  to 
fifty  roods  in  length,  and  seven  or  eight  yards  ui  breadth,  they  found  the  ground 
every  where  containing  the  remains  of  men  and  horses.     In  maldng  the  excavations, 
a  large  old  spur,  carrjdng  a  stem  four  or  five  inches  in  length,  and  a  rowel  as  large 
as  a  half-crown,  was  dug  up ;  and  five  or  six  hundi'ed  weight  of  horse-shoes  were 
collected.     The  point  of  land  on  the  south  side   of  the  Douglas,  wliich  lies  inune- 
diately  fronting  the  scene  of  the  last  engagement,  is  now  denominated  the  Parson's 
meadow ;  and  tradition  very  loudly  reports  a  battle  to  have  been  fought  in  it.     To 
attack  the  Saxons   in  this  situation  was  a  bold  effort ;  but  victory  heightens  the 
courage  and  mcreases  the  power  of  an  army.     The  attack  was  made :  it  could  not 
be  sustained.     The  dispuited  Saxons  fell  before  the  superior  bravery  and  dauntless 
spirit  of  the  Britons. 

"  These  four  battles  were  fought  upon  the  river  Douglas,  and  in  the  region  Linuis.  on  the 
In  this  district  was  the  whole  course  of  the  current,  from  its  source  to  its  conclusion,  ""^  '^^' 
and  the  words  "  super  flumen  quod  vocatur  Douglas,  quod  est  in  Linuis,"  shew 
the  stream  to  have  been  less  known  than  the  resnon.  Tliis  was  tlierefore  consi- 
derable ;  one  of  the  cantreds  or  gi-eat  cUvisions  of  the  Sistuntian  kingdom,  and 
comprised,  perhaps,  the  western  half  of  south  Lancashire.  From  its  appellation  of 
Linuis,  or  the  Lake,  it  seems  to  have  assumed  the  denomination  from  the  Mere  of 


32  CIK  5)l5ton,>  of  tl)t 

CHAP.    Marton,  which  was  once  the  most  considerable  object  witliin  it,  and  was  traversed 

by  the  Romans  in  canoes  of  a  single  tree  * 

"  Thus  by  four  successive  victories  had  Arthur  subdued  the  great  ai-my  of  the 
Saxons,  which  had  so  often  beaten  the  Britons  of  the  north,  and  then  held  the 
Sistuutii  in  bondage.  But  Lancasliire  was  not  yet  entii-ely  delivered.  The  castles 
which  had  been  previously  erected  there  by  the  provincials,  would  naturally  be  garri- 
soned by  the  Saxons  on  their  conquest  of  the  country,  and  the  towns  and  their 
vicinities  more  immecHately  bridled  by  then-  barbarous  oppressors.  TracHtion 
asserts  Manchester  to  have  been  thus  ciixumstanced  in  particular  at  tlus  period. "f 
Here,  in  the  Castle-field,  according  to  our  authority,  stood  the  Roman  castle,  now 
occupied  by  the  Saxon  commander  Sii-  Torquin,  who  was  not  expelled  till  after  two 
desperate  attempts  to  carry  the  fortress,  in  wliich  the  Britons  at  length  succeeded, 
and  Torquin  fell  before  the  \dctors.  The  tracUtions  of  Lancashire  still  cherish  and 
uphold  the  memory  of  Su*  Torquin,  the  lord  of  the  castle,  and  the  knights  of  the 
Round  Talde,  many  of  whom  fell  witliiu  the  tyi'ant's  toils,  till  Sir  Lionell  of  Liones 
slew  the  sanguinary  knight,  and  liberated  his  captives.| 

The  last  of  Arthur's  victories  Avas  acliieved  at  the  battle  of  Badon  Mount ;  and 
Mr.  Wliitaker  contends,  that  these  memorable  engagements  not  only  checked  the 
pi-ogress  of  Cerdic,  but  anniliilated  the  Saxon  anny,  and  that  a  long  interval  of 
repose,  extending  through  seventy  years,  followed.  It  appears,  however,  from  the 
Saxon  chronicles,  that  CercUc  ched  in  the  year  534,  "  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Cynic  in  the  government  of  Wessex ;  and  that  he,"  in  the  peculiar  language  of  these 
chronicles,  "  reigned  afterwaids  twenty-six  winters."     It  is  also  shewn  from  the 

*  Leigh's  Lancashire,  b.  i.  p.  18.  f  Whitaker's  Manchester,  voL  ii.  b.  ii.  c.  2. 

I  The  chivalrous  order  of  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  was,  according  to  the  Vetus  Ceremo- 
niale  MSS.,  instituted  by  King  Arthur  and  the  Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  is  thus  mentioned  by  Du 
Cange  : — "  Le  roy  Arthur  d'  Angleterre  et  le  due  le  Lancastre  ordonnerent  et  fu-ent  la  Table  Ronde, 
et  les  behours  tournois,  et  joustes,  et  moult  d' autres  chose  nobles  etjugemens  d' armes  dont  ils 
ordonnerent  pour  juger  dames  et  damoiselles,  roys  d'  armes  et  heraux."  This  Table  is  described  in 
the  romantic  annals  of  Tristan  : — 

"  The  great  and  skilful  Merlin  has  exhausted  all  the  secrets  of  his  art  in  the  constructing  of  that 
table.  Thirteen  seats  were  placed  round  it,  in  honour  of  the  thirteen  apostles.  Twelve  only  of  these 
could  be  filled  up,  and  only  by  the  bravest  and  truest  knights.  The  thirteenth  represented  that  of  the 
execrable  traitor  Judas.  It  was  called  the  perilous  chair,  ever  since  a  rash  and  presumptuous  Saracen 
had  dared  to  set  himself  on  it,  when  on  a  sudden  the  floor  gave  way,  and  the  miscreant  was 
swallowed  up  and  consumed  by  devouring  flames.  By  means  of  the  spell,  an  invisible  hand  traced 
on  the  back  of  the  seat  the  name  of  the  candidate  who  deserved  to  fill  it,  and  who  must  have  proved 
himself  superior  in  every  respect  to  the  companion  whom  he  was  to  succeed ;  otherwise,  whoever 
presented  himself  was  instantly  repelled  by  an  unknown  force.  This  was  the  trial  those  brave  cham- 
pions underwent  whenever  an  election  was  become  necessary,  by  the  decease  of  any  of  the  worthies. 


Countp  ^aalatme  of  Sancastn-.  33 

history  of  our  Anglo-Saxon  ancestors,  that  Ella  and  Ida  reigned  in  Deua  and    chap. 
Bernicia,   witliin  thirteen  years  from  the  death  of  Arthur,   and  tliat  the  Saxon  ' 


conquests  gradually  advanced,  till  all  England  was  suhdued,  and  erected  into  seven 
soverei'ni  states,  under  the  name  of  the  Heptarchy.  The  propriety  of  this  appella- 
tion has  heen  disputed,  and  the  term  Oclarchy  adopted  in  its  stead.  The  difference  The  hep- 
is  capahle  of  an  easy  explanation, — Northumhria  heing  considered  one  kingdom  by 
the  advocates  for  the  Heptarchy,  and  two  (that  is,  Deii-a  and  Bernicia,)  by  the 
supporters  of  the  Octarchical  division.  The  seven  Idngdoms  were,  Sussex,  Kent, 
Wessex,  East  Anglia,  Essex,  Mercia,  and  Northmnbiia.     Tliis  latter  kingdom. 

Of  the  twelve  honourable  seats,  that  of  Mourhoult,  of  Ireland,  had  remained  ten  years  vacant. 
Arthur  led  Tristan  to  the  empty  seat.  A  celestial  harmony  was  heard  as  he  advanced,  and  the  ambient 
air  was  sweetened  by  the  most  fragrant  perfumes  ;  the  name  of  Mourhoult  disappeared,  and  that  of 
Tristan  was  seen  most  resplendent  and  conspicuous.  Now  his  modesty  was  put  to  a  hard  trial ; 
he  was  obliged,  when  seated,  to  detail  all  his  achievements,  which  the  clerks,  as  usual,  took 
down." 

The  episode  of  Sir  Torquin,  in  the  celebrated  history  of  King  Arthur,  under  the  title  of  "  La 
Morte  d'Arthur,"  portrays  with  vrvacity  the  achievements  of  the  gallant  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table,  and,  according  to  Mr.  Whitaker,  the  scenery  of  the  Castle-field,  Manchester,  and  the  surround- 
ing country,  in  the  Saxon  period,  would  answer  to  this  description  : — 

"  Sir  Lancelot  of  the  Lake  (Marton  Mere),  and  Sir  Lionell  of  Liones,  two  brothers,  and  Knights 
of  King  Arthur,  entered  a  deep  forest  in  quest  of  adventures,  and  came  into  a  great  plain  within  it. 
Here  (in  the  usual  awkwardness  with  which  events  are  brought  about  by  these  ancient  romances,)  the 
former  lay  down  to  sleep  under  an  apple-tree,  and  the  latter  guarded  him.  While  they  were  thus 
employed,  three  knights  rode  by  on  full  speed,  pursued  by  a  fourth  ;  and,  as  Lionell  fixed  his  «yes 
upon  the  last,  he  thought  that  he  never  beheld  so  stout  a  knight,  so  handsome  a  man,  or  so  well- 
accoutred  a  hero.  This  was  Sir  Torquin,  the  lord  of  a  castle  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  who,  in  the 
view  of  Sir  Lionell,  overtook  the  knights  that  he  was  pursuing,  seized  them,  and  bound  them. 
Moved  with  generous  pity  at  the  sight,  Lionell  resolved  to  engage  him.  Without  waking  his  brother, 
he  followed  Torquin,  and  bade  him  turn.  He  turned,  overcame,  and  bound  his  challenger ;  and 
took  all  four  away  with  him  to  his  castle.  And  there  he  stripped  them  of  their  arms  and  clothes, 
whipped  them  with  thorns,  and  put  them  in  a  deep  dungeon,  to  share  the  fate  of  the  many  knights 
that  were  in  the  same  prison,  and  to  join  with  them  in  lamentations  of  their  misery. 

"  In  the  mean  while.  Sir  Ector  de  Maris,  brother  to  Lionell  and  Lancelot,  followed  them  to  partake 
of  their  adventures,  and  came  also  into  a  great  forest.  There  he  heard,  that  within  a  mile  was  a 
castle,  strong  and  well  ditched,  and  by  it,  upon  the  left  hand,  a  ford  ;  and  that  over  this  grew  a  fair 
tree,  on  the  branches  of  whicli  were  hung  the  shields  of  the  many  gallant  knights  wlio  had  been 
overcome  by  the  owner  of  the  castle;  and  at  the  stem  was  a  basin  of  copper,  with  a  Latin  inscription, 
which  challenged  any  knight  to  strike  upon  it,  and  summon  the  castellans  to  a  contest.  Ector  came 
to  the  place,  saw  the  shields,  recognized  many  that  belonged  to  his  associates  of  the  Round  Table,  and 
particularly  noticed  his  brother's:  fired  at  the  sight,  he  beat  violently  on  the  basin,  and  then  gave  his 
horse  drink  at  the  ford.  And  immediately  a  knight  appeared  on  horseback  behind  him,  and  called  him 
to  come  out  of  the  water.  He  turned  himself  directly.  He  engaged  the  knight,  was  conquered, 
VOL.  I.  F 


34 


€f)t  W^tov})  of  tin 


CHAP. 
II. 


which  alone  concerns  the  subject  of  this  liistoiy,  was  occasionally  divided  into  two, 
under  the  names  of  Deira  and  Bemicia,  but  in  its  iiitegi-ality  it  may  be  exliibited 
thus,  with  the  succession  of  its  Saxon  sovereign  princes  : — 


Northumberland 
consisted  of  the 
counties  of    .  .  . 


r 


Lancashire 

Yorkshire 

Durham 

Westmoreland 

Cumberland 

Northumberland, 


And  its 
Kings<( 
are  . 


J   V  Ella 

11. 

Alkfryd 

■  i  Ida 

12. 

Osred 

2  ^  Adda 

1.3. 

Kenred 

i  Elappea 

14. 

Oswick 

3.     Tlieodwald 

15. 

Ceolulph 

4.     Fretnulse 

16. 

Egbert 

5.     Theodrick 

17. 

Oswalph 

6.     Ethelrick 

18. 

Ediswald 

7.     Ethelfiid 

19. 

Elured 

8.     Edwin 

20. 

Ethelred 

9.     Oswald 

21. 

Alfwald 

10.     Egfrid 

22. 

Osred. 

This  kingdom  existed  379  years,  dating  its  commencement  from  .547,  and  its 
desolation  in  926.  During  the  Roman  period,  the  largest  portion  of  this  county  took 
its  name  fiom  the  Brigautes  ;  but  the  Saxons,  from  its  local  situation  to  the  North  of 
the  Humber,  changed  its  designation  to  Nopjian  Humbep  Londe,  or  Northimiber- 
land.  Tlie  Saxon  inhabitants  of  this  kingdom  were  the  Angles,  who  arrived 
from  Anglia,*  or  Angloen,  in  Pomerania,  as  eai'ly  as  the  year  449,  though 
theii-  kingdom  of  Noi-thumberlaud  was  not  established  till  one  huntb-ed  years 
after  that  date.  It  has  been  conjectured,  that  Mercia  included  Deii-a,  or  that 
the    country  between  the  Mersey  and  the  Ribble  was  witliin  the   Mercian  terri- 


and  taken  prisoner  by  him.  The  brother  of  both  these  unfortunate  heroes,  Sir  Lancelot,  whom  we 
left  sleeping  before  in  the  forest  adjoining  to  the  castle,  had  been  carried  from  thence  by  enchantment, 
and  confined  for  some  time.  But,  as  soon  as  he  was  released,  he  went  in  search  of  Lionell,  and  came 
into  the  same  forest,  where  they  had  so  strangely  parted.  There,  in  the  midst  of  a  highway,  he 
heard  that  a  knight  dwelt  very  near,  who  was  the  most  redoubted  champion  that  ever  existed,  and 
had  conquered,  and  now  kept  in  prison,  no  less  than  sixty-four  of  King  Arthur's  knights.  He 
hastened  to  the  place.  He  came  to  the  ford  and  tree  ;  and  he  let  his  horse  drink  at  the  ford,  and 
then  beat  upon  the  basin  with  the  end  of  his  spear.  This  he  did  so  long  and  so  heartily,  that  he 
drove  the  bottom  out ;  and  yet  no  one  answered.  He  then  rode  along  the  gates  of  the  castle  almost 
half  an  hour.  At  last  he  descried  Sir  Torquin  coming  upon  the  road  with  a  captive  knight.  He 
advanced,  and  challenged  him.  The  other  gallantly  accepted  the  challenge,  defying  him  and  all 
his  fellowship  of  the  Round  Table.  They  fought.  The  encounter  lasted  no  less  than  four  hours. 
Lancelot  at  last  slew  his  antagonist,  took  the  keys  of  his  castle,  and  released  all  the  prisoners  within 
it,  who  instantly  repaired  to  the  armourv  there,  and  furnished  themselves  completely. 


idolatry. 


Countp  IJalntmt  of  itanrastcr,  35 

ton'.     But  the  preponderance  of  evidence  is  in  favour  of  the  more  generally  recog-    chap 

nized  limits;  namely,  that  the  Humber  and  the  Mersey  to  the  south,  and  the  Eden   L_ 

and  the  T}Tie  to  the  north,  formed  the  Northumbrian  boundary;  and  that  when  tliis 
kingdom  was  thvidcd,  the  kingdom  of  Deira  consisted  of  the  counties  of  Lancaster, 
York,  Westmoreland,  Cumberland,  and  Durham,  precisely  the  ancient  Brigantine 
limits,  wlule  Bernicia  comprehended  Northumberland  and  the  south  of  Scotland, 
between  the  Tweed  and  the  Frith  of  Forth. 

Tlie  system  of  government  established  by  our  Saxon  ancestors  had  in  it  the  germ  of  Saxon 
freedom,  if  it  did  not  always  exhibit  the  fruits.  In  religion  they  were  idolaters,  and  when 
they  settled  in  Britain,  their  idols,  altars,  and  temples  soon  overspread  the  country. 
They  had  a  god  for  every  day  in  the  week.  Tlior,  or  Tlmr,  represented  Tluirsday ; 
Woden  confeiTed  his  name  on  Wechiesday ;  Frisco  presided  over  Friday;  Seater  over 
Saturday;  and  Tuyse,  the  tutelar  god  of  the  Dutch,  conferred  his  name  on  Tuesday. 
The  attributes  of  the  first  four  of  these  deities  corresponded  with  those  of  the  Roman 
deities,  Jupiter,  Mars,  Venus,  and  Saturn ;  Tuyse  had  no  parallel  in  the  pantheon, 
but  the  Saxons  had  their  Ermenseni,  who,  like  Mercury,  was  the  bestower  of  yai ; 
and  Heile,  a  sort  of  Esculapius,  the  preserver  and  restorer  of  health.  Besides  these 
gods,  the  Saxons  worsliipped  the  sun  and  the  moon,  who  each  conferred  a  name  on 
one  of  the  days  of  the  week ;  Sunnan  on  Sunday,  and  Monan  on  Monday.  The  people 
worsliipped  the  statiies  of  these  gods.  Thor  the  supreme  was  seated  on  a  throne, 
and  on  either  side  of  bun  stood  Woden  and  Frisco.  Thor,  according  to  the  pre- 
vailing superstition,  bore  rule  in  the  air,  and  governed  the  thunder,  the  lightning, 
ajid  the  A\'inds ;  he  likewise  du'ected  the  weather,  and  regulated  the  seasons,  giving 
plenty  or  inflicting  famine  at  Ms  will.  Woden  made  war,  and  ministered  rigour 
against  enemies ;  wlule  Frisco  bestowed  upon  mortals  peace  and  pleasure.  So 
gross  was  the  Saxon  superstition,  and  so  strong  their  incentives  to  war,  that  they 
believed,  if  they  obtained  the  favour  of  Woden  by  theu*  valour,  they  should  be 
admitted  after  death  into  liis  hall,  and,  reposing  on  couches,  should  satiate  themselves 
with  ale  from  the  skiUls  of  theu*  enemies,  whom  they  had  slain  in  battle !  Tliis  beve- 
rage was  iu  high  esteem  amongst  them ;  and  Foster,  to  whom  they  sacrificed  in  the 
month  of  April,  gave  the  name  to  Easter,  by  Avliich  the  festival  of  the  resuiTection  is 
designated  in  the  Christian  system.  Tlie  Saxon  women  were  not  allowed  to  contract  a 
second  marriage,  and  a  sunilar  restriction  applied  to  the  men,  except  those  in  elevated 
stations  who  were  childless;  for,  amongst  such,  "  to  be  without  children  was  to  be 
without  reputation."  The  most  dismal  feature  of  their  superstition  was  the  custom 
which  they  had  in  war,  after  a  successful  enterprise,  of  selecting  by  lot,  and  sacri- 
ficing, one-tenth  of  their  captives  to  their  sanguinary  gods.*     In  tliis  spirit  they 

*  Sid.  ApoU.Epist.vi.l.  8. 

f2 


36  Cfte  W^tov}]  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    offered    human   sacrifices,   to  obtain   success  in   battle;  and   Herald,    a    poet  of 

^  •       tiiat  name,  offered  up  on  tlie   altar  two  of  liis  sons  to  his   idols,  tliat  he   might 

obtain  a  storm,  to  scatter  and  to  destroy  the  Danish  anuada,  which  had  sailed 

against  him! 

Christia-  Before  the  arrival  of  the  Saxons,  Clmstiaiiity  had  taken  root  in  England,  and 

dll^ed"'™    spread  its  heaUiig  branches  over  the  whole  laud,  recommending  itself  even  to  the 

Roman  legionaries ;  but  the  invasion  of  the  Saxon  infidels  for  a  time  obscured,  if  it 

did  not  extinguish,  the  liglit  of  the  gospel  in  Britain;  and  both  Gildas  and  Bede 

concur  in  representing  the  Saxons,  at  that  period,  as  a  nation  "  odious  both  to  God 

and  man,"*  the  subverters  of  jUtars,  and  the  enemies  of  the  priesthood. 

Before  Gregory,  surnamed  the  Great,  had  attained  the  pontifical  chaii-,  he  formed 
the  pious  design  of  imdertaking  the  conversion  of  the  Saxon  Britons.  Observing  in 
the  market-place,  at  Rome,  a  number  of  Saxon  youths  exposed  to  sale,  whom  the 
Roman  merchants  in  their  trading  voyages  had  bought  from  theii-  British  parents, 
and  being  struck  with  theu-  beauty,  he  inquired  to  what  country  they  belonged, 
and  was  told  they  were  Angles,  from  the  kingdom  of  Deu-a.  Moved  by  the  same 
spirit  that  now  actuates  so  many  of  the  people  of  England  towards  the  heathen 
nations,  he  determined  liimself  to  undertake  a  mission  to  Britain,  to  convert  the 
heathen  of  that  country  .f  Tlie  popidai*  favour  of  the  monk  disinclined  the  people 
to  allow  him  to  be  exposed  to  so  much  danger  in  person ;  but  no  sooner  had  he 
assumed  the  purple,  than  he  resolved  to  fulfil  liis  benevolent  design  towards  the 
Britons,  and  he  pitched  upon  two  Roman  monks,  Augustine  and  Paulinus,  to 
preach  the  gospel  in  that  island. 

*  Gildas  Brit.  Epist.  xxiii.  Bede  1.  i.  22. 
f  Die  quadam  cum  advenientibus  nuper  mercatoribus  multa  venatia  in  forum  fuissent  rollata, 
multique  ad  emendum  confluxissent,  et  ipsum  Gregorium  inter  alios  advenisse,  ac  vidisse  inter  alia 
pueros  venales  positos,  candidi  corporis,  ac  venusti  vultus,  capilloruni  quoque  forma  egregia.  Quos 
cum  aspiceret,  interrogavit,  ut  aiunt,  de  qua  regione  vel  ten-a  essent  allati  ?  dictumque  est  quod  de 
Britannia  insula,  cujus  incolse  talis  essent  aspectus.  Rursus  interrogavit  utrum  iidem  insulani, 
Christiani ;  an  paganis  adhuc  erroribus  essent  implicati?  Dictumque  est,  quod  essent  pagani.  At 
ille  intimo  ex  corde  longa  trahens  suspiria,  Heu  proh  dolor;  inquit,  quod  tam  lucidi  vultus  homines 
tenebrarum  auctor  possidet,  tantaque  giatia  frontis  conspicui  mentem  ab  interna  gratia  vacuam 
gestant !  Rursus  ergo  interrogavit,  quod  esset  vocabulum  gentis  illius  ?  Responsum  est  quod  Angli 
vocarentur.  At  ille  bene  inquit, — Nam  et  angelicam  habent  faciem,  et  tales  angelorum  in  coelis  decet 
esse  coheredes.  Quod,  ait,  habet  nomen  ipsa  provincia,  de  qua  isti  sunt  allati  ?  Responsum  est, 
quod  Deiri  vocarentur  iidem  provinciales.  At  ille  bene  inquit,  Deiri  de  ira  eruti,  et  ad  misericordiam 
Christi  vocati.  Rex  provinciee  illius  quomodo  vocatur  ?  Responsum  est,  quod  Elle  diceretur.  At 
ille  alludens  ad  nomen,  ait.  Alleluia  laiidem  Dei  creatoris  illis  in  pavtibus  oportet  cantari. — Bede, 
lib.  ii.  cap.  1. 


Count);  |3nlatiuc  of  JCanragtfr  37 

lu  the  yeai-  596,  Augustine,  at  the  head  of  about  lorty  niissiouaiies,  embarked     chap. 
from  Italy,  and  landed  in   the  Isle  of  Thanet.      Their  amval   was  immediately       " 
mmounced  to  Ethelbert,  king  of  Kent.     Ethelbert  had  married  Bertha,  the  daughter  Missiona- 
of  Caribert,  Idng  of  Paris;  and,  as  a  condition  of  tliis  alliance,  he  had  stipulated  that  liritahi. 
the  prmcess  should  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  her  religion,  which  was  Christian.    The 
exemplary  conduct  of  the  queen  had  prepossessed  Ethelbert  in  favour  of  the  Chiistian 
religion,  and  thus  paved  the  way  for  the  missionaries.     On  hearing  of  then-  anival, 
he  invited  them  to  Canterbury,  his  capital,  and  assigned  them  habitations  in  that 
city.    Theu"  holy  doctrines  were  recommended  by  their  pious  lives ;  and  thek  blissful 
views  beyond  the  grave  so  much  gained  upon  the  king  and  upon  his  subjects,  that 
they  all,  as  with  one  accord,  received  the  faith  of  the  Cross.    In  604  the  neighbouring 
East  Saxons  were  proselytized;  in  627  the  East  Angles  adopted  the  Christian  faith; 
and  in  the  following  year  the  example  extended  to  Mercia.     Thus  the  flame  spread 
from  kingdom  to  kingdom,  till  the  whole  heptarchy  had  become  Chiistian.     Edwin, 
the  king  of  Northumbria,  one  of  the  best  and  the  wisest  of  the  Saxon  sovereigns,  convev- 
having  manied  Ethelburga,  a  Christian  piincess,  received  PauUnus  inth  distin-  Nonhum^ 
guished  favour ;  and  in  the  year  627  he  was  consecrated  archbishop  of  the  Northima- 
brians.     Not  satisfied  with  his  own  reflections,  and  vnth  reasoning  in  private  with  liis 
ministers  on  the  subject,  Edwin  convened  all  liis  nobility,  counsellors,  and  friends, 
to  examine  the  gi'ounds  of  both  religions,  the  Christian  and  the  Pagan,  in  a  solemn 
assembly  held  at  York.     This  memorable  convocation  having  assembled,  the  king 
announced  the  object  of  the  meeting.     The  coifi,  or  chief  pontitf,  of  Northumbria, 
was  heard  first  in  favour  of  paganism  ;  but  the  tenor  of  liis  argument  was  more 
favourable  to  the  Christian  faith  than  to  liis  own ;  and  he  thd  not  hesitate,  in  conclu- 
sion, to  award  to  it  the  preference.     He  was  followed  by  one  of  the  Saxon  barons, 
who  strongly  condemned  the  general  system  of  heathenism,  for  keeping  mankind  in 
a  state  of  darkness,  shewing  them  neither  what  had  preceded  nor  what  was  to  follow 
the  present  state  of  being.     In  theii-  views  the  court  generally  concun-ed,  and  the 
heathen  pontiff',  if  he  any  longer  was   entitled   to  th.at   reproach,  requested  that 
PaiUinus  would  explain  to  the  assembly  the  nature  of  the  religion  he  professed,  and 
the  attributes  of  the  God  he  worsliipped.    The  missionary  spoke  with  liis  usual  fervour. 
Conviction  flashed  more  sti-ongly  than  before  upon  the  whole  assembly.      The  king 
openly  declared  liimself  a  believer,  and  the  cause  of  Christianity  had  a  solemn  and 
signal  triumph.      After  the  assembly  had  broken  up,  the  pontiff",  with  the  zeal  of  a 
proselyte,  mounted  a  war-horse,  and  rode  to  Godmundin  Gaham,  in  the  East  Riding  Destnu- 
of  YorksJm-e,  where  stood  the  great  Northumbrian  temple  of  pagan  worship,  laid  out  heathen' 
in  vaiious  courts,  enclosed  with  several  walls,  containing  witliin  it  many  altai-s  and  '^'"'''^" 
idols,  and  attended  by  the  first  personages  of  the  priesthood.     Having  cast  a  javelin 


38 


Win  Sjistoii)  of  t])t 


CHAP. 
II. 


Preaching 
of  Pauli- 
nus  io 
Lanca- 
shire. 


Pfstora- 
tton  of 
churches. 


Lanca- 
shire 
castles. 


at  the  principal  iiiol,  he  commanded  that  those  around  liim  should  he  tlu'own  down, 
and  the  temple  consigned  to  the  flames.*  Edwin  now  embraced  the  Christian  religion, 
\vitli  liis  whole  court ;  and  on  Easter  Sunday,  in  the  year  627,  the  king  and  liis 
nobles  were  all  baptized  at  York.  Tlie  gi-eat  body  of  the  people  followed  the 
example  of  their  sovereign  and  his  barons,  and  in  one  day  10,000  persons  were  bap- 
tized by  Paulinus  m  the  river  Swale,  since  designated  the  Northumbrian  Jordan. 
Christianity  now  became  the  prevailing  religion.  Tlie  people  of  Lancasliire, 
like  those  of  Yorkshire,  embraced  the  ti'ue  religion.  The  venerable  Paulinus  was 
indefatigable  here,  in  the  cUscharge  of  the  duties  of  liis  mission ;  and  the  waters 
of  the  Ribble,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Swale,  were  resorted  to  for  the  baptism  of 
his  converts.  From  that  period  to  the  present,  Christianity  has  continued  to  main- 
tain its  ascendency  in  the  northern  parts  of  Britain;  and  in  678  the  South  Saxons, 
who  were  the  last  of  the  states  to  bow  down  to  idols,  discarded  their  superstitious, 
and  became  the  wor.shippers  of  the  only  true  God.  Paulinus  was  consecrated  fii'st 
archbishop  of  York,  which  dignity  he  enjoyed  "  nineteen  winters,  two  months,  and 
twenty-one  days,  when  he  died,  in  the  year  644."  So  states  the  Saxon  Clu-onicle,  but 
there  is  here  an  evident  error,  as  his  elevation  could  not  take  place  earlier  than  the 
year  627,  when  Edwin  was  converted  to  Clu-istianity. 

The  British  chuixhes,  wliich  the  Saxons  had  not  demolished,  had  fallen  into 
decay :  but  they  were  now  repaired,  and  the  heathen  temples  were  many  of  them 
converted  into  places  of  Christian  worship,  with  appropiiate  dedications ;  and  the 
Saxon  churches  in  London,  York,  and  Manchester,  were  distinguished  by  the 
names  of  St.  Paul,  St.  Peter,  and  St.  Maiy.  Tlie  feasts  of  dedication  were  insti- 
tuted to  preserve  the  memory  of  the  consecration  of  the  churches ;  and  these  annual 
festivals,  which  commenced  in  the  evening  preceding  the  celebration  of  the  dedication, 
were  called  church  wakes,  which  have  gi'adually  assumed  a  secular  chai-acter,  and 
are  now  ranked  amongst  the  village  festivals  of  Lancashii'e. 

Coeval  Anth  the  churches,  a  number  of  castles  were  also  erected,  or  re-etlified ; 
and  it  is  conjectured,  that  not  fewer  than  twelve  considerable  ones  arose  at  the  south 
of  the  Ribble,  Wall-ey,  Wal-ton,  Cliild-wall,  and  Win-wick,  Black-stone,  Seph-ton, 
Stan-dish,  and  Pcn-wortham,'|"  Wig-an,  Roch-dale,  Middle-ton,  and  Beiry.  These 
were,  probably,  the  seats  of  twelve  Saxon  chiefs,  before  the  institution  of  parishes ; 
and,  therefore,  the  seats  of  as  many  parochial  churches.];  Edwin  sutAived  his 
conversion  only  six  yeai's,  having  faUen  in  a  sanguinary  battle,  fought  with  Penda. 
the  Mercian,  and  Cadwallan,  tlie  Cambrian,  at  Hethfield,  where  his  whole  army  was 
put  to  the  sword. 


Bede,  lib.  ii.  cap.  14.  t  Domesday  Book,  fo.  270.  j  Bede,  lib.  ii.  cap.  9. 


s. 


Countj)  |3al«itine  of  3Lanradtn%  30 

Tlie  ancient  kingdom  of  Northumberland  revived,  on  the  death  of  Edwin,  in  the    chap. 
.  .....  .  II. 

person  of  Oswald,  his  successor ;  of  which  king  it  is  said,  that  though  his  power 


extended  to  three  kingdoms,  "  he  was  lowly  to  all,  gi'acious  to  the  poor,  and  houn-  Oswald, 
tiful  to  strangers."  Under  the  force  of  his  anns,  Cadwallan  fell,  and  the  flower 
of  liis  arniv  perished.  The  victories  of  Oswald  served  but  to  inllanie  the  resentment  of 
the  pagan  Penda,  king  of  Mercia,  who  fought  against  him,  and  slew  liini  at  Miifield, 
in  the  West  Ritling  of  Yorkshii-e,  according  to  the  Saxon  Clnonicles,*  or,  according 
to  the  venerable  Bede,  at  WiuAvick,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster.  For  some  years, 
the  people  of  Lancashire,  Avith  the  rest  of  theii"  fellow-subjects  of  the  kingdom  of 
Deira,  had  been  in  a  state  of  constant  hostility  A\ith  their  ancient  allies  and  neigh- 
bours, the  people  of  Bernicia  ;  but  by  the  mild  and  enlightened  rule  of  Oswald, 
then-  differences  were  reconciled,  and  they  united  in  allegiance  to  one  sovereign. 

A  new  era  was  now  opening  in  the  ecclesiastical  liistory  of  this  province,  the  introduc- 
elTects  of  which  were  to  he  felt  through  a  long  series  of  ages,  and  to  influence  in  no  monastic 
small   degi'ee  the  future   interests  of  the  nation.     Monastic  institutions  began  to  ["on's'^nto 
prevail  in  Northumbria,  al)out  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century,  under  the  fostering  '''■''^'" 
hand  of  that  distinguished  prelate  Wiufrid,  sole  bishop  of  Northumberland  ;  and  in  a 
few  years  nmnbers  of  monasteries  and  nunneries  sprung  up  in  Lancasliu'e,  and  other 
parts  of  the  province.     The  practice  of  introducing  relics  into  the  chiu'ches  belongs 
also  to  this  age,  and  innumerable  were  the  pilgi'images  made  to  Rome,  and  to  the 
venerable  places  which  had  been  hallowed  by  the  blood   of  the  martyrs,  to   collect 
the   remains    of  the    saints.      By   the   constitution  of  the   western  churches,  the 
pope    was   invested   with    a    patriarchal    authority    over   them;    but   the   Britons 
had  hitherto  never  acknowledged  the  pontifical  jurisdiction.     He  was  now,  however, 
requested  to  confiiin  the  unmunities  of  religious  houses,  which  had  been  previously 
ratified    by   the    king,    and   Wii-emouth   was    the    first    that   received   the   papal 
confirmation. f 

Tlicodore,  the  archbishop  c>f  Canterbury,  having  long  seen  the  necessity  for  Aich- 
affording  to  the  people  some  more  extensive  means  of  religious  instruction,  than  they  AvlnWd. 
at  that  time  possessed,  and  for  dividing  such  of  the  bishoprics  as  were  too  large  for  the 
proper  cUscharge  of  the  episcopal  duties,  recommended  to  the  king  to  convene  a 
synod  in  678,  at  which  Egfrid  and  his  Saxon  barons  were  present.  By  tliis  august 
assembly  it  was  provided,  by  an  unanimous  decision,  that  as  the  number  of  Christians 
was  daily  increasing,  new  sees  should  be  erected ;  and,  as  ii"  in  anticipation  of  some 
fonnidable  opposition,  a  declaration  was  appended  to  the  decrees,  to  the  effect,  that, 
Avhoever  presumed  to  violate  them,  should  be  degraded  of  his  sacerdotal  office,  and 
excommunicated.|      In  virtue  of  these  canons,  the  bishopric  of  the  East  Angles  was 

*  Sax.  Chron.  A.  D.  642.  +  Bede,  lib.  i.  c.  29.  t  Bede,  lib.  iv.  c.  5. 


40  0)r  ?&!5ttiii)  of  tf)f 

CHAP.    di\-i(led  into  two,  and  tlie  dominions  of  the  Mercians,  wbicli  lay  beyond  the  Severn, 
^^'       were  assi"-ned  to  the  new  see  of  Hereford.     Wilfrid  still  remained  the  sole  bishop 
amono-st  the  Northumbrians,  and  liis  cUocese  reached  from  the  Frith  of  Forth  to  the 
Hiunl)er,  on  the  east  of  the  kingdom,  and  from  the  Frith  of  Clyde  to  the  Mersey,  on 
the  west.     No  prelate  in  these  early  days  had  aggi-andized  the  church  so  much  as 
Wilfrid.    With  influence  almost  unbounded  in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  amongst 
all  the  upper  classes,  from  the  gi-eatest  to  the  humblest  of  the  Saxon  barons,  he  was 
enabled    to  procure  manors  and  lordships   for   the    erection   and   endomuents  of 
churclies;   and  in  liis  time  the  precedent  was  first  established  of  alienating   the 
demesnes  of  the  crown,  to  augment  the  revenues  of  the  cliurch.    Resembling,  in  many 
respects,  an  archbishop  of  York  of  more  modern  days,  (Cardinal  Wolsey,)   Wilfrid 
was  munificent  and  ostentatious,  afTable  and  accomplished,  ambitious  and  intractable, 
pious  but  proud.    By  one  of  the  decrees  of  the  synod,  it  was  directed  that  the  bishop- 
ric of  this  prelate   should  be  divided  into  two,  Deira  and  Bernicia,  of  wliich  York 
was  to  be  the  capital  of  one,  and  Hexliam  of  the  other. 
Refractory         The  hauglity  spiiit  of  the  prelate  was  wounded  by  this  pai'tition,  wliich  he  did 
AniMd.  "^  not  hesitate  to  designate  as  an  unjust  spoliation.     Repairing  to  the  court,  where  the 
Idng  and  the  archbishop  were  sat  in  council,  he  required  the  reason  why  he  had 
been  deprived  of  his  income,  given  by  princes  for  pious  uses,  without  being  guilty  of 
any  offence  ?     To  this  inquiry  it  was  replied,  that  the  .synod  had  charged  liim  with 
no  crime,  but  that  they  had,  in  vulue  of  their  functions,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 
church,    ch^•ided  his  province,  and  should  adhere  to  their  decision ;  on  which  he 
exclaimed,  that  "  from  that  decision  he  appealed  for  redi-ess  to  Rome."     This  threat 
excited  the  derision  of  the  court,  fi'om  its  novelty  and  singularity.     Wilfrid  was  not 
slow  to  execute  it.     He'  appealed  to  the  pope  in  person ;  and  his  holiness,  conceiving 
tliis  a  fit  opportunity  for  establisliing  his  patriarchal  power  in  Britain,  decreed — 
"  That  Wilfrid  should  be  restored  to  the  possession  of  the  bishopric  he  had  before ; 
that  such  coadjutors  as  he  should  choose,  with  the  consent  of  a  synod,  should  be 
ordained  by  the  archbishop ;  that  those  who  had  been  made  bishops  in  his  absence 
should  be  expelled ;  and  that  every  person  who  should  oppose  tliis  sentence  should  be 
degraded,  if  in  holy  orders,  but,  if  lapnen,  or  even  kings,  that  they  should  be 
excommimicated." 

Tliis  insolent  mandate  was  resented  by  the  king  in  full  convocation,  who  dii-ected 
that  the  property  of  the  archbishop  should  be  confiscated,  and  his  person  committed 
to  prison.  In  the  course  of  these  proceeduigs,  a  convocation  of  all  the  bishops  in 
England  was  summoned  ;  the  place  of  meeting  was  the  plains  of  Nesterfield,  between 
Wada  and  Wathe,  in  the  county  of  York,  wiiere  tents  were  pitched  for  holding  tlie 
assembly.     Tlie  archbishop  of  Canterbury  came  in  person,  to  preside  ;  the  king  was 


Countj)  ^3alntmt  of  ilanrasftcr,  41 

present  in  council ;  and  the  abbots  assisted  in  gi-eat  numbers.     Wilfrid  still  refused    chap. 
to  subscribe  the  canons,  and  asked  the  king  and  the  abbots,  how  they  dared  to  ' 

oppose  the  papal  power,  and  to  prefer  the  decrees  of  Theodore  to  those  of  popes 
Agatho,  Benedict,    and   Sergius.     The   convocation   broke  up,  after  a  decree  of 
inhibition  against  WUfrid,  by  wliich  he  was  deprived  of  his  ecclesiastical  functions, 
and  obliged  to  seek  his  personal  safety  in  Mercia.  After  a  contest,  continued  for  twenty- 
seven  years,  the  quarrel  was  terminated  in  a  compromise,  under  the  mediation  of 
Eliieda,  the  abbess,  and  daughter  of  Elfrid,  by  which  Wilfrid  was  reinstated  m  the 
see  of  Hexham ;  but  the  Saxon  bishops  refused  to  admit  the  authority  of  the  Roman 
pontiff  in  any  affairs  relating  to  the  British  churches.  When  the  angi-y  passions  excited  Papai  au- 
by  this  conti'oversy  had  subsided,  the  pontifical  claim  was  again  advanced,  and,  in  acknd^- 
the  middle  of  the  eighth  century,  the  Roman  see  was  authoritatively  declared,  in  the    '"^^^'^■ 
canons  of  Northumbria,  to  be  the  couit  of  appeal  in  all  ecclesiastical  differences. 

Although  the  Britons  had  lived  secui'ely  in  Furness,  relying  upon  the  fortifica-  xransfer- 
tions  with  which  nature  had  guarded  them,  nothing  proved  uuj)reguable  to  the  Saxon  the  people 
conquerors ;  for  it  appears,  that  in  the  early  jiai't  of  the  reign  of  Egfrid,  king  of  ness.""^ 
Northumberland,   that  monaixh  "  gave    St.   Cuthbert  the   land  called   Carthmell, 
and  all  the  Britons  in  it."* 

It  is  recorded,  in  the  Saxon  Clu'onicle,  that  in  the  year  685  there  was  in  Britain  Rain  of 
a  bloody  rain,  and  milk  and  butter  were  turned  to  blood.  A  similai'  phenomenon 
is  mentioned  iir  734 ;  and  this  year  the  moon  was  as  if  /tef  were  covered  with  blood. 
Bede,  or  Beda,  a  native  of  our  kingdom  of  Northumbria,  died  tliis  latter  year,  after  venerable 
a  life  of  unparalleled  literary  labours.  This  venerable  ecclesiastic,  who  was  born  in 
the  year  672,|;  ranks  the  first  in  the  number  of  eai-ly  British  historians,  though  his 
works  are  defaced  by  legendary  tales,  which  serve  to  shew  that  Ms  mind  was  not  free 
from  the  superstitions  Avliich  for  so  many  ages  afterwards  prevailed  in  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  to  an  extent  scarcely  equalled  in  any  other  part  of  the  kingdom.  In  the 
time  of  Bede,  but  in  what  exact  year  is  not  ascertained,  the  ecclesiastical  divisions  of 
parishes  were  first  establishetl,  and  before  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century,  and 
witliin  twenty-five  years  from  the  conversion  of  the  Saxon  inhabitants  of  Northiun- 
bria  to  the  Christian  faith,  churches  were  erected  in  the  various  districts  of  this 
county,  to  which  ministers  were  appointed  to  dispense  the  ordinances  of  religion. 

The  Saxon  heptarchy  was  now  di'aAving  towards  its  tennination.  Ambition 
agitated  all  parts  of  the  country  by  its  conflicts,  and  the  face  of  nature  seemed  to 
sympatliize  mth  the  general  disorder.     Dreadful  forewarnings  came  over  Lancashire 

*  Camden's  Brit.  vol.  iii.  p.  380. 
t  In  the  Saxon,  as  in  most  of  the  Oriental  languages,  the  moon  is  masculine,  and  the  sun  feminine. 
t  At  Wearmouth,  in  the  bishopric  of  Durham. 
VOL.  I.  G 


Bede. 


42 


€i)t  W^tov\!  of  tl)e 


CHAP. 
II. 


InTasion 
of  the 
Danes. 

Battle  at 
Whalley. 


Dissolu- 
tion of  the 
heptar- 
chy 


A.D.  800. 


and  the  otlier  parts  of  the  land  of  the  Nortliuiubnans,*  which  excited  general  teiTor 
ainono-st  the  people.  "  Immense  sheets  of  light  were  seen  rusliing  through  the  air, 
(qu.  the  aurora  borealis,)  accompanied  by  wliiilwinds,  and  fiery  di-agons  fl,>™g 
across  the  finuament.  These  tremendous  tokens  were  soon  followed  by  a  great 
famine ;  and  not  long  after,  on  the  sixth  day  before  the  ides  of  January,  iu  the  same 
year,  the  ban-owing  of  heathen-men  (the  Danes)  made  lamentable  havock  in  the 
chiu-ch  of  God."  In  the  year  798,  adds  the  Saxon  Chronicle,  "  a  severe  battle  was 
fought  in  the  Northumbrian  territory  during  Lent,  on  the  fourth  day  before  the 
nones  of  April,  at  Wlialleyj  wherein  Alric,  the  son  of  Herbert,  was  slain,  and  many 
others  with  liim."  The  sentence  is  cm-ious,  as  being  the  fii-st  time  in  which  the 
palish  of  Whalley  is  mentioned  in  ci^il  history,  and  the  precise  tenns  are  these  : — 

"  An.  DCCXCVIII.  l^ep  pa?j-  mycel  jepeoht  on  Nop^-hymbpa  lanbe.  on 
Lenjtene.  on  iv.  non.  App.  xt  Jipeallasje.  "]  Jiasp  man  opj^loh  Alpic.  fJeapb- 
bephcej-  j-unu.  *j  o^pe  mc'enije  mib  him"  :• 

The  version  of  Simeon  of  Durham,  of  the  same  event,  is  more  explanatory  : — 

"  A.  D.  798.  Coujuratione  facta  ab  interfectoribus  Ethelrech  regis,  Wada  Dux  in 
iUa  conjm'atione  cum  iUis  belliun  inivit  conti'a  Eardwlphum  regem,  in  loco  qui  appel- 
latur  ab  AngHs  BiUaugahoh,  juxta  Walalega,  et  ex  utraque  parte  plmimis  interfectis. 
Wada  Dux  cum  suis  in  fagum  versus  est."t 

Wliile  these  wai's  were  raging  in  the  north,  Egbert,  tlie  son  of  Alcmund,  king  of 
Wessex,  was  preparing  himself,  under  the  tuition  of  Charlemagne,  in  liis  wars 
against  the  Avarians  and  the  Huus,  on  the  banks  of  the  Danube,  to  overrun  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  heptarchy,  and  to  appropriate  them  to  the  pui-poses  of  his  own 
ambition.  On  his  return  to  England,  having  mounted  the  throne  of  his  ancestors, 
he  penetrated  successively  into  Devouslui-e  and  Cornwall,  and  ravaged  the  country 
li'om  east  to  west.  Beornwulf,  the  usurper  of  the  kingdom  of  INIercia,  alanned  by 
the  progi'ess  of  Egbert's  anus,  and  aspuing  himself  to  general  dominion,  attacked 
the  West  Saxon  prince,  and  the  conflict  was  brought  to  an  issue  at  Wilton.  After 
a  sanguinary  battle,  fought  with  great  obstinacy,  the  laurel  of  victory  was  awarded 
to  the  pupU  of  Chaiiemagne,  and  Beormvull"  fled  in  confusion  from  the  field. 
Mercia  was  still  further  weakened  by  a  long  and  sanguinary  war  with  the  East 


*  Saxon  Chron.  A.D.  793. 
t  Dr.  Whitaker  supposes  Billange,  or  Billinge,  to  have  been  at  that  time  the  name  of  the  whole 
ridge,  extending  from  the  mountain  neai  Blackburn,  now  bearing  that  appellation,  to  Whalley. 
Billangaton  will,  on  that  supposition,  be  the  orthography  of  Billington,  and  Billongahah,  or  the  low 
hill  by  Billinge,  will  leave,  after  cutting  off  the  first  syllable,  the  modern  village  of  Langho.  Of  this 
great  battle  there  are,  however,  no  remains,  unless  a  large  tumulus  near  Hacking  Hall,  and  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  Langho,  be  supposed  to  cover  the  remains  of  Alric,  or  some  other  chieftain 
amongst  the  slain. — History  of  Whallev,  Book  I.  cap.  iii.  p.  31. 


Counti.)  ^3nlntinr  of  annrasitn-,  43 

Angliaus ;  and  when  the  two  usurpers,  Beornwulf  and  Ludecan,  had  destroyed  then-    chap. 
military  strength,  Eghert  invaded  Mercia,*  and  compelled  Wiglaf,  who  had  just  ' 

ascended  the  tlu'one  of  that  (hstracted  kingdom,  to  take  refuge  in  the  monastery  of 
Croyland.  Through  the  intercession  of  the  venerable  abbot,  the  ditference  between 
the  two  kings  was  reconciled,  but  it  was  that  species  of  accoimnodation  wliich 
corn-age  and  strength  dictate  to  compromising  weakness :  the  conditions  were,  that 
Wiglaf  shoiUd  still  occupy  the  tin-one  of  Mercia,  but  that  it  should  be  in  the  character 
of  the  tributary  vassal  of  Wessex.  The  balance  of  power  bemg  lost,  the  subversion 
of  East  AngUa  was  easily  effected ;  and  Kent  and  Essex  soon  sunk  mto  the  general 
vortex.  After  the  conquest  of  Mercia,  Egbert  marched  against  Eanred,  Idng  of  the 
Northiunbrians ;  but  this  prince,  feeling  that  resistance  was  hopeless,  acknowledged 
liis  superiority,  and  the  M^hole  Anglo-Saxon  heptarchy  merged  in  the  kingdom 
of  Wessex,  under  the  sway  of  Egbert,  the  founder  of  the  feudal  system  in  Eng- 
land.! 

Before  Egbert  ascended  the  throne,  the  north-men  had  commenced  theii-  attacks 
upon  Britain;  and  so  eai-ly  as  the  year  787  a  small  expetUtion  landed  at  Teign- 
mouth,  in  Devoushii-e.  The  invaders  were  princi2)ally  from  the  promontory  of 
Denmark,  the  Camhrica  Chersonesus  of  Tacitus,  "  at  the  utmost  end  of  natui-e, 
and  of  the  world,"  where,  according  to  the  astronomy  of  the  times,  it  was  supposed 
that  the  sun  was  heard  daily  at  its  rising  and  setting  in  the  sea.  In  794,  a 
more  formidable  ai-mament  effected  a  landing  in  Britain,  and  spread  devastation 
amongst  the  Northumbrians,  plundering  the  monastery  of  Idng  Everth,  at  the 
entrance  to  the  Wear.  The  resistance  made  to  the  invaders  was  so  determined, 
that  some  of  their  leaders  were*  slain ;  several  of  their  sliips  were  shattered  by 
the  \dolence  of  a  stoi-m ;  and  such  of  the  invaders  as  escaped  the  fury  of  the 
waves,  fell  by  the  sword.  The  folloAraig  year,  Erdulf,  the  viceroy  or  king  of  Northum- 
bria,  a.scended  the  throne,  and  was  consecrated  in  the  capital  of  York.];  Fom-  yeai-s  a.d.  soo. 
afterwards,  Northumbria  was  again  subjected  to  a  Danish  visitation,  and  the  imme- 
diate cause  of  this  invasion  is  thus  naiTated  by  our  early  lustorians :  Osbert,  the 
viceroy  of  Ethelred,  having  established  his  court  and  residence  at  York,  returning 
one  day  from  hunting,  called  at  the  mansion  of  Earl  Bruern  Bocard,  guarchan  of  Cause  of 
the  sea-coast  against  the  u'ruptions  of  the  Danes.  The  earl  happening  to  be  from  invasion, 
home,  his  lady,  to  whose  beauty  was  joined  the  most  engaging  behaviour,  enter- 
tained her  guest  with  the  respect  and  attention  due  to  his  quahty.  Osbert,  overcome 
by  the  sight  of  so  much  beauty,  took  the  lady  into  an  inner  chamber,  under  pretence 
of  a  secret  conference,  in  which  the  advancement  of  her   lord   and   herself  was 

*  Ingulfus  Chron.  Petr.  xii.       t  Kuerden's  MS.  in  the  Manchester  College  Library,  4to.  p.  229. 

:  Sax.  Chron. 
g2 


44  mn  Itgtorj)  of  ti)t 


CHAP,    concerned.     Tlie  base  designs  of  the  viceroy  soon  became  manifest,  when,  not  being 
. 1 able  to  effect  his  piii-pose  by  persuasion,  he  resorted  to  violence,  and  triumphed  over 


her  chastity.  Ou  the  entrance  of  her  lord,  she  coromunicated  to  liim  the  giievous 
■wi'onf  she  had  suffered,  and  so  imbued  his  muid  with  resentment  against  the  perfi- 
dious representative  of  the  monarch,  that  he  fu'st  repaired  to  liis  court  at  York,  to 
complain  of  liis  wi'ongs,  and  then  invited  Godericke,  the  long  of  Deimiark,  to  take 
possession  of  the  country.  Godericke  received  this  invitation  with  great  alacrity, 
and  despatched  a  strong  annament,  under  lugwar  and  Hubba,  to  Britahi.  On  their 
arrival  in  Nortluimbria,  on  the  coast  of  Houlderness,  the  Danes  fell  upon  the 
inhabitants  mth  the  utmost  fury,  and  massacred  all  before  them,  without  regai'd  to 
age,  sex,  or  condition.  Marching  on  to  York,  they  took  possession  of  that  city,  and 
slew  Osbert,  the  tyi'ant,  by  whose  lust  his  country  had  been  involved  in  so  much 
ruin.  Emboldened  by  then-  success  in  the  north,  they  advanced  into  Norfolk,  and 
demanded  of  Edmund,  the  king  of  the  West  Saxons,  that  he  should  sm-render  liis 
throne.  With  this  insolent  summons  he  refused  to  comply ;  on  wliich  a  bloody 
battle  ensued,  at  Thetford,  which  ended  in  the  overthrow  of  the  Saxons,  and  in  the 
execution  of  their  king,  who,  because  he  would  not  abjure  the  Cluistian  faith  for  the 
eiTors  of  paganism,  was  bound  to  a  stake,  and  shot  by  the  arrows  of  the  Danish 
invaders.* 
state  of  The  situation  of  Lancaslnre,  and  of  the  other  parts  of  Northumbria,  must  now  have 

siiiie.  been  most  deplorable :  for  forty  years  the  war  raged  amongst  them  with  various  success ; 
and  Ella,  the  governor,  like  Osbert,  fell  by  the  sword.  Ethelred  for  a  wliile  kept  the 
field,  but  at  length  liis  life  and  liis  power  fell  before  the  superior  discipline  of  the 
Danes.  In  the  midst  of  these  sanguinary  conflicts,  the  clergy,  resting  then-  claim  on 
the  Jewish  law,  insisted  that  a  tenth  of  tlie  produce  of  the  land  belonged  to  the 
priesthood  under  the  Christian  cUspensation :  this  claim,  though  long  resisted,  was 
at  length  admitted  by  Ethelwulf,  for  the  honour  of  God,  and  for  his  own  everlasting 
salvation;!  and  it  was  further  agi-eed,  that  the  revenues  of  the  chmxh  should  be 
exempt  from  the  burdens  of  the  state. 
Excesses  The  Daucs,  in  the  fury  of  their  warfai'e,  laid  waste  every  town  and  place  that 

Danes.  resisted  their  sway;  but  tlieu-  especial  fury  was  dii-ected  against  rehgious  houses, 
and,  amongst  others,  against  Brachiey,  Crowland,  Peterborough,  Ely,  and  Colding 
Low,J  iu  the  last  of  wliich  monasteries,  Lady  Ebbe  and  her  nuns,  to  avoid  the  savage 
pollution  of  the  spoilers,  cut  off  then-  own  noses  and  upper  lips,  lest  the  attraction  of 
theii-  beauty  should  prove  the  bane  of  theii-  honour.     The  exactions  of  the  Danes 

*  Tlie  Danes,  like  the  original  Saxons,  were  idolaters ;  their  principal  god  was  Thur,  and  to  him 
they  offered  human  sacrifices. 

t  Saxon  Chron.  A.D.  854.  J  Stow. 


CotintP  |3nlalinf  of  SLancasiUi-,  45 

made  upon  the  impoverished  people,  advanced  from  £10,000  to  £40,000  a  year,    chap. 
wliicli  sum  in  those  days  was  considered  of  enormous  amount. 


Lancashii'e,  and,  no  douht,  other  parts  of  the  island,  were  this  year  iisited  by  one  a.d.  scq. 
of  the  most  ckeadlul  calamities  to  which  mankind  are  subject — a  severe  famine,  and, 
its  inevitable  consequence,  a  mortality  of  cattle  and  of  the  human  race.*  The  Famine. 
equalizing  operations  of  commerce,  by  which  the  failure  of  the  crops  in  one  country 
is  supplied  by  the  superabundance  of  another,  were  then  scarcely  known  in  Britain. 
Agiicultiu'e  was  but  imperfectly  understood,  and  almost  every  district  of  the  same 
kingdom  was  left  to  depend  upon  its  own  precarious  resources.  The  contest  between 
the  Anglo-Saxons  and  the  Danes,  in  this  and  the  neighhouiing  counties,  had  with- 
di-a*vn  the  husbandman  from  his  employment,  and,  having  neglected  to  sow,  of 
com'se  he  had  nothing  to  reap.  The  consequence  was,  that  not  only  many  parts 
of  these  fair-  regions  mom-ned  in  want,  but  they  were  absolutely  depopulated.  Merci- 
less and  slow-consuming  famine  devoured  its  wi-etched  victims,  and  the  small  shai'e, 
wliich  might  have  fallen  to  the  native  inhabitants,  was  consumed  by  the  ruthless 
Danes,  who,  from  theu-  principal  station  in  York,  spread  like  swamis  of  locusts 
across  the  island,  from  sea  to  sea. 

Both  Northiunbria  and  East  Anglia  had  now  fallen  under  the  sanguinary  sword 
of  the  Danish  invaders,  who  began  to  aspire  to  the  conquest  of  the  whole  island. 
Mercia  next  became  the  object  of  theii-  attack,  and  Ethelred,  king  of  Wessex,  fell  in  a 
battle  fought  with  the  invaders  at  Merton.     Alfred  was  now  advanced  to  the  tlu-one  of  Reign  of 

.        ^^j..  Alfred  the 

Wessex ;  but  within  a  month  of  liis  elevation,  he  was  attacked  and  defeated  at  VVilton.-t"  Great. 
A  new  swarm  of  the  Danes  soon  after  landed,  under  three  of  their  princes,  Guthrum, 
Oscital,  and  Amund,  and  proceeded  into  Northimabria,  the  favomite  seat  of  their 
power.     The  husbandmen  became  the  slaves  of  the  invaders,  and  the  thanes  were 
made  subservient  to  then-  purposes  of  avarice  and  aggi'andizement.     The  noble  spiiit  Driven 
of  Alfred  bent  beneath  the  storm,  and,  fuiding  no  secmity  upon  the  throne,  he  with-  throne. 
drew  fi-om  his  elevated  station,  and  took  up  liis  residence  m  an  obscui'e  part  of  the 
kingdom,  as  a  guest  in  the  family  of  a  swineherd. 

Such  was  liis  distress,  that  he  knew  not  where  to  turn — such  his  poverty,  that 
he  had  no  subsistence  but  that  which  he  obtained  by  plunder,  or  by  fishing  and 
hunting.  He  wandered  about  in  woods  and  marshes — sometimes  m  the  greatest 
penury,  sometimes  with  a  few  companions,  sometimes  alone.  He  had  neither  terri- 
tory, nor,  for  a  time,  the  hope  of  regaining  it.  His  occupation,  while  in  the  swine- 
herd's house,  was  of  the  most  humble  kind;  and  Ms  historian  relates,  that  one 
Sunday,  when  the  peasant  had  led  his  herd  to  their  usual  pasture,  his  wife  prepared 
her  fire  to  make  the  rustic  bread  against  liis  return.  Other  domestic  business 
*  Asser,  20.  t  Saxon  Chron.  A.  D.  871. 


46 


€i)t  %}i^tov^  of  tin 


CHAP. 
II. 


Re-as- 
cends the 
throne. 


requirino-  lier  attention,  she  committed  her  cakes  to  the  care  of  the  king,  who  sat 
furhisliino-  his  bow  and  arrow,  intending  to  use  them  for  tlie  acquisition  of  food.* 
Alfred  on  Avhose  mind  reflections  the  most  interesting  must  have  been  continually 
pressino-,  forgot  his  allotted  task,  and  suffered  the  bread  to  burn.  The  woman, 
irritated  by  liis  neglect,  poured  out  her  invectives  upon  liim,  tellhig  liim  that  he  had 
a  o-reat  capacity  for  food,  but  was  too  idle  to  prevent  it  from  being  spoiled.  Alfred's 
lofty  spirit  calmly  brooked  this  angiy  reproof,  and  he  applied  liimself  in  future 
with  more  attention  to  the  new  and  homely  labour.  The  hospitable  rustic,  notwith- 
stancHiig  the  asperity  of  his  wife's  temper,  obtained  the  favour  of  the  kmg.  By  liis 
advice  he  applied  liimself  to  learning;  and  Alfred,  on  liis  return  to  power,  acknow- 
ledged the  obligation  he  had  received,  by  elevating  his  host  from  the  shepherd's  crook 
to  tlie  bishop's  crosier,  and  afterwards  made  him  bishop  of  Winchester.f  Tlie  humi- 
liation of  Alfred  disciplined  liis  temper,  purified  his  heart,  and  sened  to  enlighten 
liis  already  profound  understanduig.  His  measures  to  regain  his  throne,  and  to 
suiTound  it  with  its  only  unpregnable  bulwark,  the  love  and  confidence  of  the  people, 
Avere  judicious  and  exemplary.  An  auspicious  incident  at  tliis  juncture  occurred,  to 
fortify  liis  courage;  for  having,  in  the  assiuned  character  of  a  minstrel,  observed  the 
conduct  of  the  Danes  in  their  encampments,  he  suddenly  assembled  a  strong  force,  and 
mflicted  a  signal  overthrow  upon  the  invaders,  at  EdcHngton,  where  the  Danes  were 
encamped.  With  a  generosity  equal  to  his  bravery,  he  gave  them  their  lives,  on  the 
condition  that  they  should,  through  their  leader  Guthi-um,  exchange  paganism  for 
Christianity.  Guthrum  was  permitted,  vfith  liis  follofl^ers,  to  colonize  East  Anglia, 
and  the  Northmnbrians  were  afterwards  put  under  liis  rule.  Tlie  sovereignty  of 
Mercia,  on  the  defeat  of  the  Danes,  fell  into  the  power  of  Alfred,  and,  without  avow- 
edly incorporating  it  Avith  Wessex,  he  discontinued  its  regal  honours,  and  constituted 
Ethelred  his  military  commander,  to  whom  he  afterwards  married  liis  daughter 
Ethelfleda.  To  fortify  liis  Idngdom  against  hostile  attacks,  he  rebuilt  the  cities  and 
castles  which  had  been  destroyed  by  the  invaders ;  but  liis  pruicipal  care  was  to 
construct  a  navy  for  the  protection  of  the  coast,  and  he  has  ever  been  considered  as 
the  founder  of  the  English  marine.  In  Northumbria  the  Danes  continued  to  govern 
till  towards  the  close  of  Alfred's  reign,  when  Anai'awd  abandoned  liis  power  in  that 
kingdom,  and  besought  the  friendsliip  of  Alfred.  The  king  received  him  hospitably  ; 
and,  to  confirm  the  good  intentions  that  he  had  formed  in  favour  of  the  Clmstian 
faith,  he  became  his  sponsor  in  baptism,  and  Ids  friend  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
The  state  of  learning  in  Lancasliire,  in  the  ninth  century,  may  be  inferred  from 
Alfred's  OAvn  declaration — "  When  I  took  the  Idngdom,"  said  he,  "  there  were  very 
few  on  the  south  side  of  the  Humber,  the  most  unproved  pai't  of  England,  who 
*  Asser,  30.  t  Malmsb.  p.  242. 


Counti)  |)nlatinr  of  Stancasitcr.  47 

could  uuclerstancl  their  daily  prayers  in  English,  or  translate  a  letter  from  the  Latin,    chap. 
I  think  there  were  not  many  beyond  the  Huniber ;  they  Avere  so  few,  that  I  cannot  ' 


indeed  recollect  one  single  instance  on  the  south  of  the  Thames,  Avhen  I  took  the  state  of 
kingdom."*     The  encouragement  given  to  learning  by  tliis  enlightened  and  henevo-  irLanc^a- 
lent  monarch  was  liiglily  exemplary.     His  o\vn  example  served  as  a  stimulus  to  the  in'the  gtii 
exertions  of  liis  courtiers;  and,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  the  king  instituted  schools  "'°'""'^' 
for  the  instruction  of  liis  nobles  in  readuig  and  MTiting,  much  after  the  model  of  the  institu- 
Lancasterian  schools  of  the  present  day.     His  maxuns  have  descended  to  posterity.  Alfred. 
It  is  recorded  of  him,  that  he  chvided  his  time  into  three  portions :  one  third  of  the 
day  and  night  he  gave  to  sleep  and  refreslunent ;  one  tliird  to  the  affairs  of  his  king- 
dom ;  and  one  tliii'd  to  those  duties  wliich  he  considered  as  sacred.f     To  the  mecha- 
nical arts  he  was  a  munificent  patron.     He  invited,  from  all  quarters,  industrious  and 
ingenious  foreigners.      He  introduced  and  encouraged  manufactures  of  all  Idnds, 
and  prompted  men  of  acti^dty  to  betake  themselves  to  navigation,  to  push  conmierce 
into  the  most  remote  countries,    and  to   acquire   riches  l)y  propagatuig  mdustry 
amongst  their  fellow-citizens.     Mechanics  were  then  so  little  known,  that  Alfred  had 
)iot  the  aid  either  of  dials,  or  of  clocks  or  watches,  to  measure  the  progress  of  time. 
To  supply  tliis  defect,  he  resorted  to  a  simple  exiJecHent ;  liis  chaplains,  by  liis  orders, 
procured  wax,  and  he  ordered  seventy-two  denarii  of  it  to  be  made  into  six  equal 
candles,  each  candle  to  be  twelve  inches  long,  wliich  were  separately  marked.     These 
candles,  successively  used,  lasted  through  the  whole  twenty-four  hours ;  and,  of  course, 
every  inch  marked  the  lapse  of  twenty  minutes ;  but  sometunes  the  wind  rusliuig  in 
tlu'ongh  the  windows  and  doors,  and  the  numerous  chinks  of  the  royal  palace  walls, 
or  the  slender  covering  of  the  tents,  consumed  the  candles  with  undue  celerity.     To 
cure  tliis  catI,  wliich  confused  liis  calculation,  he  thought,  skilfully  and  wisely,  says 
Asser,    "  consilioque  artificiose    atque    sapienter   invento;"    and  the   result  of  his 
skill  and  wisdom  was  the  invention  of  lanterns.     He  found  that  white  horn,  when 
cut  thin,  became  transparent,  lilce  glass,|  and  Avith  this  and  wood,  a  case  for  a  candle 
was  admuably  made. 

A  passage  in  the  life  of  Alfred  serves  to  shew  that  the  Christian  religion  had  Chris- 
obtained  a  footing  in  IntUa  as  early  as  the  ninth  century;  for  among  other  of  his  India!'" 
public  acts  it  is  recorded,  that  he  sent  an  embassy  to  the  shrine  of  St.  Thomas,  in  the 
gi-eat  eastern  peninsula,  by  Suithelm,  the  bishop  of  Shii-eburn  ;§  and  it  is  also  ascer- 
tained that  the  light  of  the  gospel  had  begun  to  sliine  in  China  at  a  period  equally 
early.  The  invasion  of  the  Danes,  and  their  predatory  depredations,  particularly  in 
the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  Idngdom  of  Northumbria,  had 
ahnost  destroyed  the  ancient  poHce  of  the  kingdom.     To  remedy  tliis  chsorganized 

*  Alfred's  Preface,  p.  82.         f  Malmsb.  p.  4.5.         X  Asser,  p.  67.         ^  Flor.  Wig.  320. 


48 


m)t  l)i^tov\>  of  t\)t 


CHAP. 

II. 


Division 
oftlie 
kingdom 
into  Coun- 
ties. 


state  of  society,  Alfred  changed  the  ancient  provisional  diAdsions  of  England  into 
counties  and  the  distribution  of  these  into  hundreds,  which  were  again  suljdivided 
into  tenths  or  titliings.  Under  these  divisions  the  population  of  the  country  has  been 
ever  since  ai'ranged ;  and  every  person  was  du'ected  to  belong  to  some  hundi'ed  or 
tenth  while  every  huntbed  and  tenth  became  pledged  to  the  preservation  of  the  public 
peace  and  security  in  their  district,  and  were  made  answerable  for  the  conduct  of  their 
several  inhabitants.  In  consequence  of  this  arrangement,  every  criminal  accused 
was  sure  to  be  apprehended;  and  it  may  be  supposed  that  in  this  part  of  the  kingdom 
the  mmiber  of  the  lawless  was  at  fu-st  very  large.  A  short  period  sufficed  greatly  to 
reduce  their  number ;  and  before  the  termination  of  the  reign  of  Alfred,  it  was  exult- 
ino-ly  maintained,  that  a  pair  of  golden  bracelets  might  be  exposed  upon  the  liighway, 
or  in  the  most  populous  of  om-  cities,  without  any  danger  of  being  stolen.  So  rigid 
and  efficient  a  measure  of  police  might  comport  with  the  state  of  society  in  Anglo- 
Saxon  times,  but  it  would  be  wholly  incompatible  'tvith  the  freedom  of  locomotion  in 
modern  days,  when,  by  the  rapicHty  of  our  movements,  and  the  frequent  change  of 
place  and  residence,  no  registration  would  be  sufficient  to  ascertain  to  what  tithing 
we  belonged. 

in  the  division  of  Britain  into  counties,  the  south-western  portion  of  the  Brigan- 
tine  territory  of  the  Romans,  and  of  the  Northumbrian  kingdom  of  the  Saxons,  was 
named  Loncaj-tep|-cype,  or  Lonkeshire,  from  the  capital  Loncaster,  the  castle 
on  the  Lone,  or  Luue.  South  Lancashire  was  thrided  into  six  hundreds, 
wliich  have  since  undergone  some  alteration.  The  designation  of  each  of  these 
hundreds  was  derived  from  the  principal  place  in  the  division,  in  the  reign  of 
Alfred ;  and  those  names  now  serve  to  indicate  the  mutations  to  wliich  places  as  well 
as  persons  are  exposed.  The  Lancaslui-e  liunckeds  of  our  Saxon  ancestors  were 
Derbei,  Newtone,  Walmtune  (Warrington),  Blackeburne,  Salford,  and  Lailand. 
Of  the  names  of  the  Lancashii-e  titliings  we  have  no  distinct  remains;  but  the  nearest 
approximation  to  them  may  be  found  in  each  ten  of  our  modern  townships.  Tlie 
Wittenagemot,  or  Assembly  of  Wise-men,  as  the  name  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  parlia- 
ment imports,  was  an  institution  earlier  than  the  days  of  Alii-ed ;  and  the  earls,  the 
prelates,  the  aldennen,  and  the  great  landed  proprietors,  of  which  that  body  consisted, 
were  called  upon  to  concur  in  these  early  reforms. 

Hitherto  the  administration  of  justice  was  confided  to  a  species  of  provisional 
prefects,  but  in  the  time  of  Alfred  the  functions  of  these  officers  were  divided  into 
those  of  judges  and  sheriffs.  The  institution  of  juries  belongs  to  the  same  period; 
and  so  tenacious  was  Alfred  of  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  judicial  office  in  penal 
judgments,  that  he  caused  forty-four  justices  to  be  executed  as  murderers,  because 
they  had  exceeded  their  duty,  and  condemned  to  death  unjustly  the  persons  they 


Counti)  ^Jalntint  of  ilancagUr*  49 

judged.*     Alfred  compiled  a  code  of  laws,  (the  Dom-Boc)  wliich  he  enlarged  with    chap. 
his  own  hand,  and  of  which  he  lumself  says :  


"  lt?rnrr  I,  Uing  ^Ifrrti.  gatftrrrti  ttjrsf  togrtftrr.  anS  romman&rti  iiirtny  of 
tifou  to  fir  iDiittrn  DoUJit  luijirf)  our  forrfatljrrs  olisrnifiJ— tl)O0e  tofjir!)  I  lifefft,— 
aria  tljosr  UJtjiri)  I  aiO  not  lifer,  fij?  ti}e  aUOirr  of  my  CiLlttait  I  ttjrrU)  aeitrr.  jFor 
J  Duret  not  omtnrr  to  ert  trolun  in  Uirittng  obrr  many  of  mi?  oUm,  ssincr  E 
fenrU)  not  Urfjat  among  tfjrm  toouia  plraer  tl)oer  UjJjo  stjoulU  comr  aftrr  U0. 
JiJut  tt)09r  totjirl)  I  mrt  Uiiti)  ritfjrr  of  tljrlraiig  of  mr,  mp  feinsiman,  or  of  ©ffa, 
feing  of  iMrrrta,  or  of  iati)rH)rrf)t,  tutjo  toae  tfjr  fir^t  of  tf)r  ISnglieJ)  U3l)0 
trrrioro  fiaptiem— ti)O0r  Ujftirf)  apprarrtr  to  mr  tfjr  justrst— 5  l)abr  Jjrrr 
roUrrtrtr,  antr  aliantionrO  tijr  otijrre.  Cftrn  I,  aifrrlr,  feing  of  tfjr  mxc^t 
5&aions,  sljotorrr  tl)r0r  to  all  top  aciitan,  ana  tijrp  tDrn  sain  tl)at  tljrp  lurrr  all 
UJilling  to  oflsrrtir  tfjrm." 

Laws  of  Alfred,  yrom  Price's  MSS. 

Amongst  his  other  legal  institutions,  it  is  perfectly  cleai-  that  he  had  none  corre- 
sponding with  our  Com-t  of  Chancery,  since  it  appears  that  he  hastened  the  decision 
of  causes,  and  allowed  no  delay  exceeding  fifteen  days.f 

Death  deprived  the  world  of  this  most  brilliant  luminary  at  the  age  of  Death 
fifty-two  years.  He  was  a  pattern  for  kings  in  the  time  of  extremity;  a  bright  ^.d.  ooo 
star  in  the  history  of  mankind.  Living  a  century  after  Charlemagne,  he  was, 
perhaps,  a  gTeater  man,  in  a  cncle  happily  more  limited.^  Power  was  with  liim 
but  the  servant  of  his  reason,  and  the  instrument  of  his  virtue.  Of  the  many 
humane  ti'aits  in  Ms  character,  one  is  mentioned,  which  serves  to  show  that  our 
popidar  Lancasliire  tradition  of  the  Eagle  and  Child  is  of  the  date  of  several 
centuries  earlier  than  the  time   of  the   De  Lathoms : — "  One  day,  as  Alfr-ed  was  Early  tra- 

,  ,  ,  Till'       d'tion  of 

hunting  m  a  wood,  he  heard  the  cry  of  a  httle  infant  m  a  ti'ee,  and  ordered  Ins  the  Eagle 
huntsmen  to  examine  the  place.  They  ascended  the  branches,  and  found  at  the  top, 
in  an  eagle's  nest,  a  beautiful  child  (kessed  in  purple,  with  golden  bracelets,  the 
marks  of  nobility,  on  his  arms.  The  king  had  liim  brought  down,  and  baptized,  and 
well  educated ;  from  the  accident,  he  named  the  foundling  Nestingum.  His  grand- 
son's daughter  is  stated  to  have  been  one  of  the  laches  for  whom  Edgar  indulged  an 
improper  passion."  The  question  here  arises,  if,  for  Edgar  we  may  not  read 
Oscital,  the  Danish  prince,  and  thus  complete  the  pai'aUel. 

Though  the  life  of  Alfred  exhibited  a  series  of  indefatigable  exertions,  both 
bocUly  and  mental,  it  was  literally  a  life  of  disease.  The  ficus  molested  him  severely 
in  liis  cliiltlliood.§  "  Quod  genus  infestissimi  doloris  etiam  ab  infantia  habuit."     This, 

*  Mirroir  des  Justices,  cap.  ii.  sec.  3.  X  Herder's  Outlines,  p.  245. 

t  Mirroir,  p.  245.  %  Asser,  p.  4. 

VOL.  I.  H 


50 


Cf)t  W^tov]}  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 

II. 


The  tenth 
century. 


EthelBe- 
<ia, daugh- 
ter of 
Alfred. 


after  distressing  him  many  yeai-s,  disappeared;  but  at  tlie  age  of  twenty  was  succeeded 
by  another  disease,  of  the  most  tormenting  nature.  Its  seat  was  internal  and 
iimsible,  but  its  agony  Avas  incessant.  The  skill  of  the  Saxon  physicians  was  unable 
to  detect  its  nature,  or  to  alleviate  its  pain,  (probably  an  internal  cancer.)  Alfred 
had  to  endui-e  it  unrelieved,  but,  as  if  born  to  subdue  all  (HfEcidties,  coi-poreal, 
mental,  and  political,  his  activity  suffered  no  interruption  in  the  midst  of  all  this 
bodily  affliction;  and  if  any  thing  can  add  to  the  magnanimity  of  his  character,  it  is 
the  consideration,  that  all  liis  Airtues  were  exercised,  and  all  his  patriotic  deeds 
performed,  amidst  the  spirit-subduing  power  of  almost  perpetual  agony. 

In  the  century  which  succeeded  the  death  of  Alfred,  there  is  little  to  relieve  the 
contests  of  ambition,  which  so  generally  prevailed.  Lancaslme  and  the  whole 
Northumbrian  temtory  had,  by  the  clemency  of  Alfred,  become  a  species  of  Danish 
colony.  There  the  resident  Danes  concocted  their  schemes  of  ambition  and  aggi-es- 
sion  against  the  Saxon  power;  and,  upon  the  shores  of  Yorksliire  and  of  Lancasliire, 
fresh  swarms  of  invaders  effected  theii-  lanthng,  and  found  succour  and  support. 
Edward  the  Elder  succeeded  to  the  power  of  his  father;  but  liis  title  was  disputed  by 
Ethelwald,  son  of  king  Ethelbert,  who  established  liis  head-quarters  in  York,  and 
was  joined  l)y  the  Northumbrians  in  liis  rebellion.  The  insurgents,  quitting  their 
strong  hold  in  the  north,  marched  hito  Kent,  where  a  sanguinary  battle  ensued,  and 
Ethelwald  fell  in  the  action,  when  liis  followers  sought  their  safety  in  flight. 
Unsubdued,  though  vanquished,  the  Northumbrians  penetrated  again  into  Wessex, 
where  they  were  again  defeated,  aud  pursued  with  gi'eat  slaughter  into  their  own 
country.  Following  up  liis  successes,  he  subdued  the  two  next  princes  of  Northum- 
berland, Reginald  and  Sidoc,  and  acquired  the  dominion  of  that  province.  In  his 
wai's  between  the  Mersey  and  the  Hmnber,  the  king  was  assisted  by  liis  sister 
Ethelfleda,  the  widow  of  Ethelbert,  earl  of  Mercia,  Avho,  after  her  husband's  death, 
had  retained  the  possession  of  the  government  of  that  province.  This  princess  is 
extolled  by  the  early  British  historians  as  the  wisest  lady  in  Britain,  the  very  emblem 
of  her  illustrious  father,  Alfred;  and  to  her  munificence  the  Mercians  were  indebted 
for  the  rebuilding  of  the  city  of  Chester,  while  her  royal  brother  biult  the  ancient 
city  of  Thelwall,  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Mersey,  and  placed  a  gan-ison  there.* 
The  princess,  Ethelfleda,  who  had  been  reduced  to  exti'emities  in  child-birth, 
persisted,  that  it  cUd  not  become  a  king's  daughter  to  piu'sue  any  pleasm-e  that 
endangered  her  life,  or  interfered  with  her  usefulness,  and  decHned  afterwards  all 
chance  of  a  repetition  of  such  danger.  The  poets,  like  the  historians,  were  loud  in 
her  praise ;  and  Huntingdon,  combining  the  tno  characters  in  the  ardour  of  his 
admiration,  has  thus  celebrated  her  fame : — 

•  Saxon  Chron.  A.D.  923. 


Counti.)  ^aalatmc  of  Eaitfasttr.  5i 

"  O  iElfleda  potens!     O  terror  virgo  virorum  !                                                           CHAP. 
Victiix  naturtE,  nomine  ditrna  viri  !  ' 


Tu  quoque  splendidior  fecit  natura  puellam, 
Te  probitas  fecit  nomen  habere  viri. 
Te  miitare  decet,  sed  solum  nomine,  sexus  ; 
Tu  regina  potens,  rexque  trophea  parens. 
Jam  nee  Ceesarei  tantum  meruere  triumph!  : 
Csesare  splendidior,  virgo,  virago,  vale  !" 

'  Jilfleda  great,  though  thou  a  virgin  art, 
Thou  strik'st  a  terror  in  each  manly  heart. 
Thou  nature  dost  so  conquer  and  refine, 
Thy  virtue  makes  thee  more  than  masculine. 
A  royal  changeling  thou,  only  the  name ; 
A  queen  in  that,  a  king  in  worth  and  fame : 
The  virtues  of  each  sex  in  thee  are  found ; 
Farewell,  brave  dame,  than  Caesar  more  renowned." 

Tlie  more  effectually  to  maintaiu  liis  doimuion  over  the  province  of  Nortlmmbria, 
tlie  king  collected  an  army  in  Mercia,  Avliich  he  ordered  to  march  to  Manchester, 
which  place  he  repaired  and  garrisoned.* 

In  the  excess  of  antiquarian  disputation,  a  controversy  has  arisen,  whether,  in  the  The  south 
era  of  the  Saxon  heptarchy,  the  country  between  the  Mersey  and  the  Ribble,  compre-  siiire  in 
bending  the  southern  part  of  Lancashire,  was  included  in  the  kingdom  of  Northum-  bria,notin 
bria  ;  and  Dr.  Wliitaker,  with  his  usual  tone  of  decision,  maintains  that  tliis  district, 
under  the  heptarchy,  fonned  a  portion,  not  of  Northumbria,  but  of  Mercia.  Tliis 
ai'gument  he  rests  principally  on  the  authority  of  the  Status  de  Blachbiirnshire,  from 
which  it  appears,  that  the  parish  of  Whalley  was  from  the  earliest  times  a  portion 
of  the  diocese  of  Litchfield,  which  diocese,  as  he  contends,  never  passed  the  Mercian 
kiugtlom.  It  is  further  urged,  that  the  peculiar  dialect  of  the  Northumbrian  king- 
dom ceases  on  the  confines  of  the  parish  of  Whalley,  Avhere  the  Mercian  dialect 
commences.  On  the  first  of  these  points,  (the  historical  argument,  as  it  is  called,)  it 
is  well  known,  that  in  the  early  ecclesiastical  division  of  Britain  there  was  gi'eat 
eccentricity,  and  that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  fix  the  limits  of  the  respective  dioceses 
at  this  cUstaut  period  ;  and  on  the  second,  it  woitld  be  unsafe  to  draw  a  conclusion  of 
tliis  nature  from  the  variety  of  dialects  in  the  different  parts  of  Noiihumbria,  seeing 
that  there  is  a  still  more  marked  difference  between  the  dialects  of  the  North  and 
the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  than  exists  between  those  to  the  north  and  to  the 
south  of  the  Ribble.  To  these  theories  are  opposed  the  generally  received  opuiion, 
that  the  kingdom  of  Mercia  was  terminated  on  its  north-western  boundary  by  the 

'  Saxon  Chron.  A.D.  923. 
H  2 


52  €\)t  ?f?iStorp  of  t\)t 

CHAP,  river  Mersey ;  and  the  positive  fact,  that  in  the  Saxon  Clu-onicle,  the  highest  existing 
"        authority  perhaps  upon  this  subject,  Mancliester  is  said  to  be  in  Northiunbria.     Tlie 

A.D.  923.  passage  is  conchisive  upon  this  point : — "  Tliis  year  went  king  Edwai-d  ^ith  an 
army,  late  in  the  harvest,  to  Thehvall ;  and  ordered  the  borough  to  be  repaired,  and 
inhabited,  and  manned.  And  he  ordered  another  anny  also  from  the  population  of 
Mercia,  the  while  he  sat  there,  to  go  to  Manchester,  in  Northumbria,  to  repaii-  and 

to  man  it." 

An.  DCCCCXXIII.  l2ep  on  ))y)-f-um  jeape  pop  Gabpeapb  cynm^  mib 
pypbe.  on  upan  hEeppept.co  Djelpasle.  -J  het  jepypcan  Jia  buph.  "J  jepettan.  :| 
jemannian.  anb  het  o^pe  pypb  eac  op  GQypcna  Jieobe.  }a  hpile  fe  he  Jjasp  pset. 
jepapan  CDanije-ceaptep  on  Nop^-hymbpan.  ^  hie  jebetan  •]  jemannian. 

To  contend,  in  opposition  to  this  evidence,  that  the  Saxon  Chroniclers  did  not 
know  the  limits  of  theii-  oAvn  kingdom  within  nearly  a  degree  of  latitude,  and  to 
compare  then-  records  mth  the  vague  notions  of  certain  of  the  uninformed  inhabit- 
ants of  the  south  of  England,  who  call  all  persons  born  north  of  the  Trent, 
Yorksliii-emen,  is  to  push  a  favomite  theory  to  the  confines  of  absurchty.  A  line  in 
Nennius  would  seem  to  favour  a  conclusion  of  quite  an  opposite  nature,  by  repre- 
senting Mercia  as  included  in  Northiunbria  : 

"  Pendor  primus  separavit  regnum  Merciorura  a  regno  Nordorum."* 

But  it  would  be  as  unjust  to  appropriate  Mercia  to  Deira,  on  this  unsupported 
evidence,  as  it  is  to  appropriate  the  most  important  part  of  the  county  of  Lancaster  to 
Mercia,  on  the  authority  of  a  vague  ecclesiastical  lUrision,  which  might,  or  might  not, 
be  co-extensive  with  the  civil  jurisdiction  of  that  kingdom. 
FirstEng-         The  asccudancy  of  the  Danish  power  in  Northumbria,  owing  to  their  coloniza- 
Imrcr      tion  in  that  kingdom  by  Alfred,  subjected  this  part  of  Britain  to  a  frequent  recur- 
rence of  the  hoiTors  of  war,  when  all  the  other  parts  of  the  island  were  at  peace.     In 
order   to  extinguish  the   spirit  of  rebellion,  and   to  give    security  to  liis   throne, 
Athelstan  marched  into  Northumbria,  and  after  a  signal  -victory,  gained  at  Bruns- 
bury,  he  united  Northumbria  to  the  rest  of  his  Idugdom ;  and  in  that  way  acquired 
the  title  of  the  first  English  monarch,  thus  eclipsing  the  fame  of  Alfred,  who  had 
suffered  the   Danes  to   divide   the  kingdom  with  him,  by  apportioning  to  them 
Northmnbria   and    East   Anglia.      Athelstan,    whose   mind    and    education   rose 
superior  to  the  age  in  whicli  he  lived,  liberalized  liis  institutions;  and  it  is  men- 
tioned as  honourable  to  liis  general  policy,  that,  amongst  the  laws  passed  by  liis 
authority,  it  was  enacted.  That  any  merchant  who  should  make  tlu-ee  voyages  over 
A.  D.  9S5.  the  sea  Avith  his  own  manufactures,  should  have  the  right  of  a  thane,t  that  is,  should 
rank  with  the  priATleged  orders.     By  this  means  encouragement  was  given  to  manu- 
*  Pao-e  117.  t  Wilkin's  Leges  Anglo-Sax.  p.  71. 


Cotint))  palatine  of  tanrastfr. 


53 


factures  and  commerce  at  tlie  same  time ;  and  that  agi-iciilture  might  enjoy  its  share    chap. 
of  the  royal  favour,  any  ceorl  who  had  five  liides  of  his   own  land,   a  church,  a        ^^' 
kitchen,  a  bell-house,  and  a  separate  office  m  the  Idng's  hall,  also  became  a  thane. 

Tlie  Danish  Northumbrians,  still  impatient  of  the  Saxon  rule,  broke  out  again  Keign  of 
into  rebellion,  in  the  reign  of  Edmund,  the  successor  of  Athelstan,  and  chose  Anlaf,  '''''""""'• 
of  Ireland,  as  their  king  ;*  but  Edmund,  marcliing  suddenly  into  the  southern  part 
of  Northumbria,  (Lancaslm-e  and  Yorkshii-e,)  overtlu-ew  the  malcontents,  who,  to 
appease  his  indignation,   and  to  conciliate  liis  confidence,  offered  to  embrace  the 
Cluistian  religion,  and  to  abandon  their  idolatry.     The  king  also  conquered  Cmn- 
berland,  and  confen-ed  that  temtory  on  Malcohn,  king  of  Scotland,  by  the  following 
gi-ant,  which  is  amongst  the  most  ancient   m  the  records  of  British  history: — 
"  Edmundus  rex  totam  Cumberland  praedavit,  et  contrivit,  et  commendavit  earn 
Malcolmo  regi  ScotiaB,  hoc  pacto  quod  in  auxilio  sibi  foret  terra  et  mari."    The  sliort  a.d.  946. 
but  glorious  reign  of  Echnund  Avas  terminated  by  the  hand  of  Leolf,  a  notorious 
robber,  who  had  obtruded  liimself  into  the  royal  presence,  and  who  resented  the 
king's  rebukes  by  plunging  his  dagger  into  liis  heart.      His  memory  and  his  deeds 
are  perpetuated  in  the  annals  of  his  country  in  the  foUoAving  strain  : — 


An.  DCCCCXLII.     rSep 
Gabmunb  cyninj. 
Gnjla  J)eoben. 
maja  munb-bojia. 
OOypce  je-eobe. 
bype  bseb-jrpuma. 
j-pabop  j'cabe^ 
hpitan  pyllej-  3eaC 
■J  l^umbpa  ea"- 
bpaba  bpym-j-tpeam. 
buphja  pipe. 
Lijopa-ceapcep. 
*]  Linbcyhie. 
■3"  Snotinjaham. 
pylce  Stanpopb  eac 
"i  Deopaby  :• 
Dene  paspon  asp", 
unbep  Nop^mannum 
nybe  jebejbe. 

*  Saxon  Cliron. 


A.D.  942.     Here 
Echnund  king, 
of  Angles  lord, 
protector  of  friends, 
author  and  framer 
of  du'eful  deeds, 
o'erran  with  speed 
the  Mercian  land, 
where'er  the  course 
of  Whitwell-spring, 
or  Humber  deep, 
the  broad  brim-stream, 
divides  five  towns, — 
Leicester  and  Lincoln, 
Nottingham  and  Stamford, 
and  Derby  eke. 
In  tln-aldom  long 
to  Norman  Danes 
they  bowed  through  need, 
A.D.  941 


54  m)t  W^tOV}}  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  on  hsejienpa  and  cbagged  the  chains 

"  hasj-te-clommum  of  heathen  men ; 

lanje  Jipaje.  till,  to  Ids  glory, 

oS  ^e  hie  alyfbe  great  Edward's  lieii 

epc  pop  hip  peop^-pcype.  Edmund  the  king, 

pijjenbpa  hleo.  refuge  of  warriors, 

apopa  Gabpeapbep.  their  fetters  broke. 
Gabmunb  cynmj:- 

Wars  in  From  the  middle  to  the  end  of  the  tenth  century,  the  Anglo-Saxon  Clironicles 

bria.  are  almost  entii-ely  occupied  by  the  wars  in  Northumbria,  and  the  changes  in  the 
monastic  orders,  Avhich  were  then  taking  place,  under  the  influence  of  the  ambitious 
Dunstan,  abbot  of  Glastonbury.  Under  the  auspices  of  Dunstan,  the  Benedictine 
rule  was  introduced  into  nearly  fifty  monasteries  south  of  tlie  Trent ;  but  notwith- 
standing Wilfrid's  endeavours  in  former  times,  and  Dunstan's  energies  and  activity 
in  the  present  day,  there  was  not,  before  the  Norman  conquest,  a  single  monk  in  all 
the  Northumbrian  territory.*  The  tribute  of  Danegeld,  a  tax  upon  the  people  to 
repel  the  ravages  of  the  Danes,  was  imposed  for  the  fii'st  time  in  the  year  991,  and 
was  at  first  of  the  amount  of  £10,000.1  AH  the  land  in  the  county  contributed  to 
tliis  impost  by  a  rateable  assessment,  except  the  lands  of  the  church,  which  were 
exempt  on  account  of  the  efficacy  of  the  prayers  of  the  clergy,  which  were  supposed 
to  fonn  an  equivalent  for  theii*  contributions.  "  Tlie  payment  of  Danegeld  was  first 
ordained  on  account  of  the  pii-ates  ;  for  in  their  ravages  of  our  country,  they  did  all 
they  could  to  desolate  it.  To  check  their  insolence,  Danegeld  was  levied  annually, 
I2d.  on  every  hide  throughout  the  country,  to  hire  men  to  oppose  the  pirates.  From 
this  tax  every  church,  and  every  estate  held  in  property  by  the  chiuxh,  wheresoever 
it  lay,  was  exempted,  contributing  nothing  towards  tliis  payment,  because  more 
dependence  was  placed  on  the  prayers  of  the  church  than  on  the  defence  of  arms."! 
The  produce  of  this  tax,  wliich  was  at  first  employed  in  resisting  the  Danes,  was 
afterwards  used  to  purchase  theu-  forbearance.  Their  irruptions  and  exactions 
became  continually  more  oppressive,  and  in  the  year  1010  the  base  expedient  was 
resorted  to,  of  purchasing  peace  fi'om  them  by  the  payment  of  £48,000. 

Lanca-  It  is  remarkable,  that  in  the  whole  of  the  Saxon  Clu-onicles,  the  term  "  Lanca- 

sliire"  never  once  occurs,  though  the  neighbouring  counties,  in  the  kingdom  of 
Northmnbria,  are  mentioned  in  those  ancient  annals  several  times.    Hence  it  is  said, 

des™'  A.D.  966,  "  Tliis  year  Thored,  the  son  of  Gunner,  plundered  Westmoreland;  and  the 
same  year  Ostac  took  the  aldermansliip."  In  A.  D.  1000,  "  This  year  the  king 
*  Sim.  Dunelm,  A.D.  1074.         f  Saxon.  Chron.  A.D.  991.         :  Camden,  vol.  i.  p.  177. 


shire  not 
mentioned 
in  the 
Saxoc 


s 


Countj)  palatine  of  ^anrasttr,  66 

Ethelred,  tlie  uui'eady,  went  into  Cumberland,  and  neai'ly  laid  waste  the  whole  of  it    chap. 
witli   his  army,    Avhile  liis  navy  sailed  ahout   Chester,    consequently   near  to   the  ' 

Lancasliire  coast,  Avdth  the  intention  of  co-operating  with  liis  land  forces,  part  of 
which  were  probably  quai-tered  in  the  latter  county.  It  is  also  remai-kable,  that  the 
name  of  Lancasliii-e  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  Domesday  Book  of  William  the 
Conqueror,  though  the  manors  and  lands  are  described  in  that  imperishable  record, 
with  the  usual  accuracy  and  precision. 

Dr.  Kuerden,  in  Ids  impublished  preface  to  his  History  of  Lancasliii'e,  depo- 
sited in  the  Chetham  Library  at  Manchester,  says — 

"  King  Egljert,  after  his  victorious  conquests,  having  reduced  the  Saxon  Kuerden 
Heptarchy  into  a  monarchy,  and  called  it  England,  he  thvided  his  new  acquisits  into  shire.'' 
seueral  portions  and  shares,  and  for  the  preseruation  of  a  future  peace,  set  over  each 
of  them  a  Comes,  to  rule  them,  whence  each  portion  or  bailiwick  was  styled  Comita- 
tus,  a  scjTe  or  county,  sc.  an  earldome.  So  that  the  kingdome  of  Northmnbria, 
which  extended  ii'om  the  riuer  Humber  and  the  riuer  Mersey,  on  the  south  part,  to 
the  riuer  Tweed  upon  the  north,  wliich  was  the  begiiuiing  of  Scotland ; — this  region 
was  divided  into  diners  schyres  or  prouinces. 

"  1.  The  prouince  of  York  upon  the  East  part  from  the  riuer  Humber  to  the  Division 
riuer  Tese.  He  styled  it  Evrvckshyre,  or  Yorksliii-e,  in  wliich  were  22  hundreds  umbria. 
or  Wapentakes. 

"  2.  And  from  the  Tese  to  the  riuer  Tyne,  the  prouince  of  the  Bishoprick  of 
Durham.     This  he  cald  Durohmschire. 

"  3.  And  fi-om  the  riuer  Tyne  to  the  riuer  Tweed,  he  cald  it  Northumbria,  or 
the  shyre  of  Northumberland. 

"  4.  And  on  the  west  part,  from  the  riuer  Sol  way  to  the  riuer  Duden  on  the 
South.     This  he  cald  Carliershire  or  Cumberland. 

"  5.  And  Avhat  lay  upon  the  West  on  Durham  and  Lancashyre  he  cald  Apleby- 
SCHYRE  or  Westmorland. 

"6.  And  from  the  riuer  Duden  to  the  riuer  Mersey  upon  the  south,  was  styled 
Lancasterschyre. 

"  In  whych  schyi'e  or  Prouince  contains  wdtliin  it  five  lessor  schyi-es,  sc.  West 
Derbyschyre,  Salfordscyi-e,  Leylandscyre,  and  Blackburnscyre,  Amundernes  and 
the  territory  of  Lancaster.     Thes  now  are  cald  Hnnckeds  or  Wapentakes. 

"  Ouer  euery  scyre,  as  hath  been  said,  he  placed  a  Comes  to  rvle  and  gouern  it  Eari. 
according  to  the  Lawes  and  customes  of  the  country,  who,  together  with  the  Byshop  Byshop. 
of  the  Diocess,  were  to  instruct  and  rule  the  people,  the  one  declaring  to  them  the 
laws  of  God,  and  the  other  the  laws  of  the  land ;  and  they  had  likewise  vnder  them 
a  Heretoge  chosen  by  the  people  in  a.folcmote,  who  had  the  power  to  raise  the  Heretoge. 


66  Cftf  lisitoii)  of  tfje 

CHAP,    people,  to  compell  the  otliermse  disobedient  to  obedience,  or  to  inflict  chastisement 
"       for  offences,  by  fines  or  imprisonment.* 

"  King  Ahired,  grandchild  to  the  said  Egbert,  to  check  the  evils  occasioned  by 
the  Danish  pyi-ats  making  inroads  upon  the  people,  and  the  dissolut  caryage  of  his 
owne  subjects,  by  filching  and  stealing  clandestinely,  upon  deliberat  aduize  (tlivided 
the  country)  into  centmys  or  Hundi-eds,  and  to  euery  century  appointed  to  defend 
them  as  occasion  required,  from  such  theifs  and  robbers. 

"  And  every  such  century  or  hundred  he  subdivided  into  Ty things  or  Fred- 
bui'ges,  to  respond  for  the  good  behaviour  of  one  another. 

"  And  as  Moses,  whom  God  set  over  the  Isralits,  aduised  by  Jethro  his  father- 
in-law,  for  his  better  ease,  to  constitute  Judges  ouer  Tribes,  Hundreds  and  fiftyes,  to 
whom  he  committed  power  to  determine  lesser  matters,  euer  reseruing  thos  of 
gi'eatest  Importance  to  his  own  ^^isdom  and  definitive  sentence,  so  did  King  Alured 
constitute  his  companions,t  to  wliom  he  bestowed  such  territory  or  schp-e,  to  sit  in 
courts  of  Judicature  with  the  Byshop,  to  take  care  of  the  people's  Interest,  and  for 
the  better  defence  of  the  realm. 

"  And  the  Byshop  was  an  assistant  to  the  Comes,  to  se  the  Interest  of  the 
Church  not  to  be  diminished,  but  ordered  according  to  the  lawes  of  God. 

"  And  the  Heretogen,  upon  all   occasions,  endowed   likewise  with  power  to 

compell  all  refi'actory  people  to  ther  obedience  to  the  Laws  as  Justice  dictated,  as 

Sheriff.      now  the  Vicecomes  (sheriff),  vdth  his  posse  comitatus,  acts  the  same. 

Coroner.  "  Tlie  Corouor  likewise  is   chosen  by  the  people,  and  assigned  super  visum 

corporis  mortui,  and  to  give  account  to  the  King  of  the  loss  of  his  subject,  and  what 

deodands  do  accrue  to  the  King  thereby."! 

This  quaint,  but  comprehensive  and  interesting  passage  is,  no  doubt,  substantially 

correct ;  but  it  would  have  been  more  satisfactory,  had  the  learned  antiquaiian  quoted 

his  authority  for  asserting  that  king  Egbert  styled  the  country  fi-om  the  river  Duden 

to  the  river  Mersey  Lancasterschyre.     That  authority,  if  it  exists,  would  at  once 

have  decided  two  disputed  points — first,  whether  the  country  between  the  Ribble  and 

the  Mersey  did,  in  Saxon  times,  form  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Mercia;  and,  second, 

at  what  period  the  county  of  Lancaster  first  obtained  its  present  designation. 

Passes  The  long  and  inglorious  reign  of  Ethelred  was  perpetually  tlistracted  by  the 

Danish  ^   iuvasious  of  the  .Danes,  fii"st  under  Sweyn,  and  afterwards  under  Canute,  liis  son 

'"'"*'^'       and  successor ;  and  in  the   reign   of  Echnond  Ironside,   the  king  was  obliged  to 

surrender  up  one-half  his  Idngdom,  by  awarcUng  to  Canute,  Mercia,  East  Auglia, 

and  Northumbria,    which   he   had   entii'ely   subdued.      The    unfortunate    Edmond 

*  Heretoch — a  Saxon  word,  literally  meaning  the  leader  of  an  army. 

t  Comitates,  literally  companions.  I  Kuerden's  MS.  4to.  f.  229. 


Countj)  |3alatint  of  ilanrastcr.  67 

survived  the  treaty  by  which  liis  Idngdom  was  dismembered,  only  a  month,  having    chap. 
been  mm'dered  at  Oxford  by  two  of  liis  chamberlains ;  and  in  tliis  way  the  succession  


of  Canute,  the  Dane,  to  the  throne  of  England,  was  secured. 

In  order  to  gi'atify  the  ambition  of  the  chief  of  the  English  nobility,  and  to 
attach  them  to  liis  interest,  Canute  created  Thurkill  earl  or  viceroy  of  East  Anglia, 
Eric  earl  of  Nortluunbria,  and  Ediic  earl  of  Mercia,  reserving  to  himself  only  the 
govermnent  of  Wessex :  but  this  power  of  the  eai-ls  was  of  short  duration ;  Thurkill 
and  Eric  were  soon  expelled  from  the  kmgdom,  and  Canute  became  sole  monarch 
of  Eno-land.  Finding  liimself  firmly  seated  on  liis  tlu-one,  he  restored  the  Saxon 
customs,  to  wliich  the  people  were  attached,  in  a  general  assembly  of  the  states ; 
justice  was  administered  with  impartiality ;  the  lives  and  property  of  all  the  people 
were  protected,  and  the  Danes  were  gi'adually  incorporated  with  liis  subjects. 
Canute,  the  gi-eatest  sovereign  of  liis  age,  had  the  fame  to  reign  over  six  kingdoms,* 
and  yet  such  was  liis  humility,  that  ha^dng  in  a  moment  of  intemperance  killed  one 
of  his  soldiers,  and  by  that  criminal  deed  >'iolated  the  law,  he  confessed  his  crime  in 
the  presence  of  liis  assembled  army,  and  fined  himself  three  huncked  and  sixty 
talents,  as  a  punislimeut  for  his  ofiience — the  punisliment  for  homicide  being  in  that 
age  forty  talents  .t     Surrounded  as  he  was  with  courtiers  and  flatterers,  his  mind  Subiime 

.  .  .  .  reproof 

might  have  swelled  into  presumption,  and,  like  Alexander,  he  nught  have  felt  more  given  to 
disposed  to  rank  liimself  amongst  the  gods  than  amongst  mortals.  But  ^vith  all  his  sjcophan- 
power,  he  felt  that  he  was  a  mere  creature,  as  impotent  as  the  humblest  of  his 
subjects,  when  opposed  to  the  gi-eat  operations  of  nature,  under  the  control  of  that 
Being,  who  has  said  to  the  ocean  Avith  effect,  "  Hitherto  slialt  thou  come,  but  no 
further;  and  here  shall  thy  proud  Avaves  be  stayed."  To  communicate  this 
reverential  sentuneiit  to  those  who  were  accustomed  to  off"er  to  liim  the  incense 
of  their  servile  adiUation,  the  king  ordered  a  chaii-  to  be  placed  on  the  sea- 
shore on  the  approach  of  the  tide,  and,  seating  liimself  upon  it,  vntii  an  aii'  of 
command  he  exclaimed — "  Ocean !  the  island  on  wliich  I  sit  is  mine,  and  thou  art 
a  part  of  my  dominions.  None  of  my  subjects  dare  to  resist  my  orders,  I  therefore 
command  thee  that  thou  ascend  not  my  coasts,  nor  presume  to  wet  the  borders  of 
my  robes.  Tlius  far  shalt  thou  advance,  but  no  further."  In  vain  the  royal  man- 
date was  issued.  Every  wave  drew  nearer,  till  the  general  elevation  of  the  waters 
thi-eatened  to  immerse  the  chaii-  of  state  and  its  royal  occupant  in  its  iiidiscrimi- 
natuig  embrace;  when,  arising  from  liis  seat,  he  thus  expressed  the  sublime 
sentiment  wliich  filled  liis  mind — "  Let  every  dweller  upon  the  earth  confess,  that 
the  power  of  kuigs  is  frivolous  and  vain.  God  only  is  the  great  supreme  ;  let  liim 
only  be  honoured  with  the  name  of  Majesty,  whose  everlasting  laws,  the  heavens, 
*  Saxo  196.  t  Encom.  Emmse,  492. 

VOL.  I.  1 


58  €i)t  In'SitOl-l)  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    and  the  eai-tli,  and  the  sea,  with  all  their  hosts,  ohey."     In  confonnity  with  this 

__J exalted  feeling,  Canute  would  never  afterwards  weai-  liis  crown.* 

Canute  in         The  closest  conuexion  subsisted  between  Northumbria  and  Scotland,  in  the  reign 
shire.         of  Canute,  and  even  Cumberland  was  subject  to  Malcohn,  the  Scotch  king.     This 
division  of  his  kingdom  was  inconsistent  with  the  policy  of  Canute,  who,  after 
marcliing  through  Lancashii*e  at  the  head  of  a  formidable  army,  took  possession  of 
Cvunberland,  and  placed  Duncan,  the  gi-andson  of  Malcolm,  in  possession  of  that 
province,  subject  to  the  throne  of  England. 
A.D.  1033.         Cimute,  by  a  treaty  mth  Richard  Duke  of  Nonnandy,  had  stipulated  that  his 
Harold  I.    cliilih-en  by  Emma,  the  sister  of  that  prince,  should  succeed  to  the  tin-one  of  England; 
but,  in  violation  of  that  engagement,  he  appointed  Harold,  sumamed  Harefoot  for 
the  swiftness  of  his  speed,  as  his  successor,  instead  of  Hardicanute,  the  son  of  that 
princess.     A  short  and  disturbed  reign  was  terminated  by  the  succession  of  Hardi- 
canute, wlio  appointed  Siwai'd,  duke  of  Northumbria,  along  with  God^\in,  duke  of 
Wessex,  and  Leofric,  duke  of  Mercia,  to  put  down  the  insui-rection  wliich  prevailed 
against  his  government. 
A.D.104].         In  an  age  when  the  benefit  of  the  right  of  undisturbed  hereditary  claims  was  but 
Edward     imperfectly  understood,  Edward  the  Confessor  succeeded  to  the  throne,  to  tlie  pre- 
fessor.       judice  of  Sweyu,  king  of  Norway,  the  eldest  son  of  Canute.      The  EngUsh  flat- 
tered themselves,  that  by  the  succession  of  Edwai-d  they  were  delivered  for  ever  from 
the  dominion  of  the  Danes,  and  theii"  rejoicings  were  unbounded;  but  the  court  was 
soon  filled  with  Normans,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  nobility,  and  the 
language  and  the  fashions  of  France  v/ere  very  generally  introduced.     This  circum- 
stance gave  gi-eat  offience  to  the  native  nobles,  who,  with  God^vin  at  their  head, 
supported  by  his  three  sons,  Gurth,  Sweyn,  and  Tosti,  rose  in  rebellion  against 
the  king. 
Candi-  On  the  death  of  duke  Godwin,  one  of  the  most  powerful  nobles  of  his  time,  his 

(lutes  for  _ 

the  throne,  son  Harold  aspired  to  the  English  tlu'one,  and  was  joined  by  Macbeth,  an  ambi- 
tious Scotch  nobleman,  who  had  put  to  death  liis  sovereign,  Duncan  king  of  Scotland, 
and  usurped  his  tlu'oue.  In  the  wai-s  which  ensued,  the  men  of  Lancasliire  were 
deeply  engaged,  and  Siward,  duke  of  Northmnberland,  resisted  the  usurper  with  all 
his  force.  To  defeat  the  ambitious  progi'ess  of  Harold,  the  king  cast  his  eye  towards 
liis  kinsman,  William,  duke  of  Nonnandy,  as  liis  successor.  Tliis  prince  was  the 
natural  son  of  Robert,  duke  of  Normandy,  by  Harlotta,  daughter  of  a  tanner  in 
Falaise.f  The  character  of  the  young  prince  qualified  liim  for  the  duties  of  govern- 
ment in  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  and  to  a  courage  the  most  intrepid  he  added  a 
severity  the  most  inflexible.  During  a  visit  paid  by  Harold  to  Rouen,  William 
*  Matt,  of  West,  p.  409.  and  Hen.  of  Hunt.  p.  367.  f  Brompton,  p.  910. 


Count))  ^3alnti'ne  of  Slaiirasitfi'.  69 

disclosed  to  him  the  intentions  of  Edward,  and  prevailed  upon  hun,  by  an  offer  of  one    chap. 

of  his  daughters  in  maniage,  and  by  other  motives  of  fear  and  reward,  to  promise  that  '. 

he  would  support  liis  claims  to  the  throne  of  England.  Not  satisfied  Anth  a  promise, 
on  which  he  had  little  reUauce,  William  required  Harold  to  take  an  oath  in  ratification 
of  that  engagement;  and,  in  order  to  give  increased  solemnity  to  the  pledge,  he 
secretly  conveyed  under  the  altar,  on  which  Harold  agreed  to  swear,  the  reliques  of 
some  of  the  most  revered  martyrs.  Not>vithstanding  tliis  solemn  engagement, 
which  Hai'old  considered  as  extorted,  and  therefore  not  binding,  on  liis  return  to 
England  he  resorted  to  every  means  witliiu  liis  power  to  strengthen  liis  influence. 
Eail  Tosti,  a  tyraunical  piince,  the  brother  of  Harold,  who  had  been  created  duke 
of  Northumberland,  acted  wdth  so  much  cruelty  and  injustice  in  the  counties  of  York 
and  Lancaster,  that  the  inhabitants,  headed  by  the  thanes,  rose  in  rebellion  against 
liim,  and  expelled  him  fi-om  his  government.  Morcar  and  Edwin,  the  sons  of  duke 
Leofric,  who  possessed  gi-eat  powers  in  this  part  of  the  kingdom,  concui-red  m  the 
insurrection;  and  the  former,  being  elected  duke,  advanced  from  York  with  an  army, 
collected  on  the  north  of  the  Mersey  and  of  the  Humber,  to  oppose  Harold,  who  had, 
tkrough  the  royal  favour,  been  appointed  governor  of  Wessex,  and  who  was  commis- 
sioned by  the  king,  on  the  representation  of  Tosti,  to  reduce  and  chastise  the  Northum- 
brians.   Morcar,  "  advancing  south  with  all  the  sliire,  and  with  Nottinghamsliire,  and  Expulsion 

of  Eflrl 

Derbysliii'e,  and  Lancashii-e,"*  marched  to  Northampton.      Here  they  were  met  by  Tosti. 
Harold,  at  the  head  of  the  king's  forces,  and  a  desperate  battle  appeared  inevitable ; 
but  Morcar,  wisliing  fii'st  to  appeal  to  Harold's  generosity  and  sense  of  justice,  rather 
than  to  the  issue  of  arms,  represented  to  him  that  Tosti  had  acted  with  so  much 
injustice  and  oppression  in  liis  government,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Yorkshu'e  and  of 
Lancasliire,  with  those  of  Durham,  Northumberland,  Cumberland,  and  Westmore-  Early  as- 
land,  being  accustomed  to  the  government  of  the  law,  and  being  determined  to  sup-  liberty  in 
port  their  bii-th-right,  preferred  death  to  slavery,  and  had  taken  the  field,  determined  siilre." 
to  perish  rather  than  to  submit  to  the  iron  yoke  of  the  tyi-ant.     After  coimnunicating 
with  the  king,  Harold  abandoned  the  cause  of  his  brother,  and  obtained  a  royal 
amnesty  for  the  insurgents,  who  returned  to  their  homes  as  conquerors,  chiving 
before  them  all  the  cattle  they  could  collect,  amounting  to  many  thousands.     Morcar 
was  fi-om  this  time  confirmed  in  his  government  of  Northumbria;  and  Harold,  instead 
of  consiunmating  the  family  alliance  contracted  with  the  daughter  of  William  of 
Noi-mandy,  man-ied  the  daughter  of  duke  Morcar.      The  death  of  Edwai-d  speedily 
followed  the  suppression  of  the  great  nortliern  insurrection,  and  his  body  was  interred 
in  the  abbey  of  Westminster,  "  wliich  he  had  liimself  erected,  to  the  honour  of  God 
and  St.  Peter,  and  all  God's  saints.|    The  reUgious  zeal  of  tliis  sovereign,  with  whom 
*  Saxon  Chron.  A.  D.  1065.  t  Saxon.  Chron. 


ous  star. 


60  CIk  listoi'i)  of  tl)e 

CHAP,  the  Saxon  line  of  English  sovereigns  terminated,  procured  him  the  name  of  the 
'  Confessor;  and  liis  love  of  justice  induced  liim  to  complete  a  code  of  laws  from  the 
works  of  Ethelbert,  Ina,  and  Alfred,  though  tliose  which  pass  under  liis  name  were, 
accor(Hug  to  Su-  Henry  Spebnan,  composed  after  liis  deatli.  Tliis  sovereign  was 
the  first  who  touched  for  the  king's  e^il — a  superstition  wliich  maintamed  its  hold  of 
public  credulity  through  six  centuiies,  and  was  not  discontinued  tUl  the  tune  of  the 
Stuarts. 

Harold  Though,  by  the  will  of  Edward,  William  of  Normandy  was  appomted  his  successor, 

Harold  stepped  into  the  vacant  tlu'one  without  hesitation,  ha\-ing  fii-st  been  cro\vned 
at  York,  where  he  was  residing  at  the  tune  of  the  king's  death,  by  Aldi'ed  the 
ai'chbishop,  nor  did  he  quit  tliis  part  of  the  kingdom  till  four  months  afterwards, 
when  he  repaired  to  London,*  havmg  been  every  where  received  in  liis  progi'ess 

Portent-  ^^th  the  most  joyous  acclamation.  The  appearance  in  the  heaven  of  a  phenomenon 
of  malign  influence  at  this  juncture,  filled  men's  minds  with  apprehension.  "  Then 
was  over  aU  England,"  say  the  Saxon  Chroniclers,  "  such  a  token  as  no  man  saw 
before.  Some  men  said  it  was  the  comet-star,  wliich  others  denominated  the  long- 
haii'ed  star.  He  appeai'ed  fii'st  on  the  eve  called  Litania  major,  tliat  is,  on  the  8th 
before  the  calends  of  May,  and  so  shone  all  the  week."  Harold's  danger,  however, 
consisted  not  in  the  heavenly,  but  in  eartUy  bodies.  Earl  Tosti,  who  had  taken 
refuge  in  Flanders  Avith  earl  Baldwin,  liis  father-in-law,  on  his  expulsion  from 
Lancasliire,  collected  a  lai'ge  fleet,  and  endeavoured  to  regain  liis  forfeited  possession 
by  sailing  up  the  Humber,  and  penetrating  into  Northumbria.  Finding  liis  power 
ineffectual,  he  associated  himself  %vith  Hai'old  Halfagar,  Idng  of  Norway,  who  with 
300  ships  assembled  in  the  Isle  of  W  ight,  and  there  remained  all  the  summer. 

On  the  approach  of  autumn,  Halfagar  appeared  off  the  Yorksliire  coast  with  his 

uinbria."  300  sliips,  and  was  joined  by  eai'l  Tosti,  who  had  replenished  liis  force  amongst  the 
Danish  Northumbrians,  and,  alter  entermg  the  Humber,  they  sailed  up  the  Ouse 
towards  York.  On  receiving  tliia  intelligence,  Harold,  whose  anny  was  collected  in 
the  south,  under  the  expectation  of  an  invasion  undertaken  by  the  Normans,  hastened 
to  the  north  by  forced  marches.  But  before  liis  arrival,  Edwin,  earl  of  Mercia, 
and  Morcar,  earl  of  Northumberland,  had  gathered  fi'om  Lancasliii'e,  and  other  parts 
of  the  earldoms,  a  considerable  force,  with  the  intention  of  repeUing  the  invaders. 

Sangui-      Ou  their  anival  at  Apud  Fulford,  a  \illage  south  of  York,  a  sanguinary  battle  ensued, 

tie,  Sept.    in  wliich  the  slaughter  was  so  great,  that  the  Norwegians  traversed  the  marshes 

2nth. 


invasion 
of  North 


on  the  bocUes  of  the  fallen,^  and  in  wliich  Morcar  and  Edwin  were  obhged  to  seek 

safety  in  flight,  leaving  the  invaders  in  possession  of  the  field.      After  demancUng 

hostages  and  prisoners  from  the  inhabitants  of  York,  the  "  Northmen"  marched  to 

*  Saxon  Chron.  A.  D.  1066.  +  Snorre,  p.  1.55.  Ork.  Saga,  p.  95. 


Countj)  ^3alatinc  of  Slanraeitfr.  61 

Stamfordbriilge,  where  they  were  surprised  by  Harokl,  at  the  head  of  the  largest    chap. 

force  ever  collected  hi  England.     Before  the  battle  conuneuced,  a  proposal  was  sent  

by  Hai-eld  to  his  brother,  offering  to  re-mstate  hun  iu  tlie  government  of  Northum-  Sept.2.-.th. 
bria  if  he  would  \\'itlKh-aw  from  the  field.  To  Aviiich  Tosti,  m  the  insolence  of  his 
spu-it,  replied,  "  Last  winter  such  a  message  might  have  spared  much  blood ;  but  now 
what  do  you  offer  for  the  king  my  ally?'  "  Seven  feet  of  gi'ound,"  said  the  Saxon 
general.*  The  die  was  cast.  For  some  time  the  passage  of  the  bridge  was  chsputed 
by  one  of  the  Norwegians,  who,  owing  to  the  narrowness  of  the  bridge,  withstood  the 
"  Eno-lish  folk,"t  so  that  they  could  not  pass.  In  vain  did  they  aun  at  lum  their 
javeluis,  he  still  maintained  his  gi-ound,  till  a  soldier  came  under  the  bridge,  and 
pierced  liim  ten-ibly  inwards,  under  the  coat  of  mail.  Tliis  unpethment,  which,  by 
the  operations  of  modern  warfare,  would  have  been  speedily  removed,  no  longer 
intervening,  Harold  marched  over  tlie  bridge,  at  the  head  of  liis  anny,  when  a  di'ead- 
ful  slaughter  ensued,  both  of  the  Norwegians  and  the  Flemings,  ui  wliich  was  slaui 
Halfagar,  the  faii'-haired  king  of  Norway,  and  Tosti,  the  expatriated  earl  of  North- 
lunbria.     The  fleet  of  the  Norwegians  fell  also  into  the  hands  of  Harold,  Avho  allowed  Expulsion 

.  .  .  of  the 

prince  Olave,  the  son  of  Halfagar,  to  depai-t  the  kingdom,  with  twenty  of  his  vessels,  invaders. 
taking  with  liim  the  wreck  of  the  Norwegian  and  Flemish  army.     This  act  of  gene- 
rosity, as  historians  are  accustomed  to  consider  it,  was  not  unmixed  ^\ith  policy.     A 
still  more  formidable  invasion  was  approaching,  and  Harold  wislied  to  be  freed  from 
one  body  of  his  enemies  before  he  had  to  encounter  another.      The  shouts  of  victory 
were  heai'd  across  the  island,  from  the  Humber  to  the  Mersey ;  but  scarcely  had 
those  shouts  subsided,  before  intelligence  was  received,  that  William  of  Normandy  Landing 
had  landed  at  Pevensey,  at  the  head  of  60,000  men,  supported  by  a  fleet  of  3,000  sail, J  the  Cea'^ 
and  was  constructmg  a  castle  at  the  port  of  Hastings.      As  William  was  landing  ''"*™''" 
from  liis  sliip,  he  stumbled  and  fell.     In  those  days  of  superstition,  the  incident  was 
uiterpreted  into  an  omen  of  disaster,  but  the  panic  was  checked  by  an  artful  soldier,  Sept.  28th. 
who  raised  William  from  the  gi-ound.     Seeing  liis  hands  full  of  mud,  he  exclaimed — 
"Fortunate  general!     You  have  already  taken    England j   its    earth   is  in  your 
liands."§     Harold  received  the  news  of  William's  landing  without  any  emotions  of 
dismay,  wliile  he  was  at  dinner  m  liis  favourite  city  of  York.     Hastening  to  London 
at  the  head  of  his  anny,  wliich  had  been  duninished.by  the  battle  of  Stamfordbridge, 
and  wliich  was  discontented  by  being  denied  a  share  of  the  spoil,  he  received  a  mes- 
sage from  duke  William,  who  offered  Harold  liis  choice  of  three  proposals — to  reign  in 
fealty  under  William,  wliom  he  had  sworn  to  serve ;  or  to  decide  the  cUspute  by 
single  combat;  or  to  submit  the  cause  to  the  arbitration  of  the  pope:  to  wliich  Harold 

*  Snorre,  p.  160.  t  Saxon  Chron. 

J  The  "  Roman  de  Row"  says  696,  which  is  more  probable.  |  Matt,  of  West.  p.  435. 


62  U)t  ?l?isitxii-p  Of  tl)e 

CHAP,    replied,  that  the  god  of  battles  should  be  the  ai-bitrator,  and  decide  the  differences 
'       between  them.     Yielding  to  the  impetuosity  of  his  o\vn  temper,  instead  of  listening 


to  the  wise  counsels  of  his  brother  Gurth,  he  marched  fi-om  London  without  due 
prepai-ation,  in  the  vain  hope  of  surprising  the  Normans  in  the  south,  as  he  had 
surprised  the  Nonvegians  in  the  north.  Tlie  night  before  the  battle  of  Hastings  was 
passed  by  the  invaders  in  prepaiations  and  in  prayer,*  while  the  English  devoted 
their  hours  to  festivity  and  jojful  anticipations.     Tlie  fate  of  England  himg  on  the 

Oct.  14th.  issue  of  the  day.  Before  the  battle  commenced,  WiUiam  joined  in  the  solemnity  of 
religious  worsliip,  and  received  the  sacrament  at  the  hands  of  the  bishop ;  and  to  give 
increased  effect  to  these  solemnities,  he  hung  round  his  neck  the  reliques  on  which 
Harold  had  sworn  to  support  his  claims  to  the  English  throne.f     He  divided  his 

Battle  of  army  into  three  bodies.  In  front  he  placed  his  light  infantry,  armed  with  arrows 
^'"'^^'  and  balistae,  led  by  Montgomery.  The  second  division,  commanded  by  Martel, 
consisted  of  Ms  heavy-armed  battalions.  His  cavalry,  at  whose  head  he  stood  in 
person,  formed  the  tliird  line,  and  were  so  disposed,  that  they  sti'etched  beyond  the 
infantiy,  and  flanked  each  wing  of  the  army.  To  stimulate  their  courage,  he 
addressed  them  in  words  to  this  effect: — "  Remember  RoUo,  the  founder  of  your 
nation,  and  the  glorious  achievements  of  your  ancestors.  You  have  now  a  rich 
booty  before  you.  If  /  become  the  king  of  England,  you  will  be  the  owners  of  the 
land;  vengeance  and  plunder  are  alike  before  you.  You  are  to  punish  the  peijmy 
of  the  English.  They  massacred  om-  kinsmen,  the  Danes  and  the  Normans. 
Harold,  their  king,  has  been  guilty  of  the  basest  perjury.  You  are  to  fight,  not  only 
for  victory,  but  for  life.  If  you  are  idctorious,  glory  and  wealth  are  your  rewards ; 
if  you  ai"e  defeated,  a  cruel  death,  or  hopeless  captinty,  await  you.  Escape  there  is 
none.  On  one  side,  an  unknown  and  hostile  country;  on  the  other,  the  blockading 
sea.  Would  it  not  be  a  disgi'ace  to  be  vanquished  by  a  nation  accustomed  to  be 
conquered;  a  nation  without  aiTOws,  and  without  military  warriors?  Raise,  sokUers, 
your  standai'd.  Let  the  lightning  of  yoiu-  glory  shine  resplendent  from  the  east  to 
the  west."J  Still  further  to  incite  their  ardour,  Taillefer,  a  Norman  minstrel, 
inflamed  the  mai-tial  ardour  of  the  men  of  Britany,  of  Normandy,  and  of  Poictou, 
by  singing  the  song  of  Roland  and  Charlemagne : 

"  Taillefer  qui  mout  bien  chantout, 
Sur  un  cheval  qui  tost  alout, 
Devant  euls  aloit  chantant, 
De  Kallemaigne  et  de  RouUant, 
Et  d'  Olivier  et  de  Vassaux 
Qui  moururent  en  Rains  clievaux."^ 

*  Will,  of  Malms,  p.  101.         t  Guil.  Pict.  p.  201  I  Hen.  of  Hunt.  p.  368.         §Lanc.  p.  461. 


Coimtj)  IBalatme  of  ILanrasitfr.  63 

The  English  army,  chiefly  iufantry,  were  an-aiiged  by  Harold  in  the  form  of  a    chap 

wedge,  meant  to  be  impenetrable.     Their  sliields  covered  their  bodies  ;  their  anns 

melded  the  battle-axe.  Harold,  whose  corn-age  was  equal  to  his  station,  quitted  his  horse, 
to  shai'e  the  danger  and  the  glory  on  foot.  His  brothers,  Gurth  and  Sweyn,  accompa- 
nied him,  and  Ms  banner,  in  wliich  the  figure  of  a  man  in  combat,  woven  simiptuously 
with  gold  and  jewels,  sliining  conspicuous,  was  planted  near  liim.*  Tlie  English, 
occupying  the  liigh  gi-ound,  wliich  was  flanked  by  a  wood,  not  only  received  the 
dischai'o-e  of  the  Norman  weapons  with  patient  valour,  but  returned  the  attack  with 
their  battle-axes  and  ancient  weapons  %\'ith  so  much  effect,  that  the  foot  and  the 
cavalry  of  Bretagne,  and  all  the  other  allies  of  William  on  the  left  wing,  gave  way. 
Tlie  impression  extended  along  the  whole  line,  and  was  increased  by  a  rumour,  that 
the  duke  had  fallen.  Dismay  began  to  unnerve  liis  anny;  and  a  general  flight 
seemed  about  to  ensue.f  William,  to  arrest  the  progi-ess  of  the  panic,  and  to 
con\ince  his  soldiers  of  his  safety,  rushed  amongst  the  fugitives,  and,  with  his  helmet 
thrown  fromliis  head,  exclaimed,  "  Behold  me — I  Uvej  and  will  conquer  yet,  with 
God's  assistance.  What  madness  influences  you  to  fly  ?  What  way  can  be  found 
for  your  escape  ?  They  whom,  if  you  choose,  you  may  kill  like  cattle,  are  driving 
and  desti'oying  you.  You  fly  from  victory — from  deatliless  honour.  You  run 
upon  rum  and  everlasting  disgi'ace.  If  you  continue  to  retreat,  every  one  of  you 
•will  perish."!  '^'^'^  Normans  rallied,  and  made  a  desperate  onset ;  but  the  English, 
forming  a  wall  of  courageous  soldiery,  remained  unbroken.  William,  finding  all  his 
efibrts  to  penetrate  their  ranks  fruitless,  resolved  to  hazard  a  feigned  retreat.  A 
body  of  a  thousand  horse  were  entrusted  with  this  critical  operation.  Having 
rushed  upon  the  EngUsh  with  a  horrible  outcry,  they  suddenly  checked  themselves, 
as  if  panic-struck,  and  affected  a  hasty  flight.  The  English  entered  eagerly  on 
tlie  pursuit  with  apparent  success ;  for  the  Nonnans,  having  retired  upon  an  excava- 
tion somewhat  concealed,  fell  into  then-  own  trap ;  many  of  them  perished,  and  some 
of  the  English  shared  the  same  fate.  Wliile  this  manoeuvTe  was  occupying  their  atten- 
tion, the  duke's  main  body  rushed  between  the  pursuers  and  the  rest  of  then-  army. 
Tlie  English  endeavoured  to  regain  their  position :  the  cavalry  turned  upon  them, 
and,  thus  enclosed,  many  of  them  fell  victims  to  the  skilful  movements  of  then- 
adversaries.  At  length  they  rallied  and  regained  then-  position,  but,  uninstructed  by 
experience,  they  suffered  themselves  to  be  twice  afterwards  decoyed  to  a  repetition 
of  the  same  artifice.  In  the  heat  of  tlie  struggle,  twenty  Nonnans  confederated  to 
attack  and  carry  off"  the  English  standard.  Tliis  service  they  effected,  though  not 
without  the  loss  of  many  of  then-  number.§ 

*  Will,  of  Malm.  p.  101.  1  Guild.  Pict.  202. 

t  Guild.  Pict.  202.  §  Brompt.  p.  9G0. 


Defeat 
and  death 
of  Harold. 


64  €i)t  S^istorp  of  tfte 

CHAP.  The  battle  continued  through  the  day  with  frequent  changes  of  fortune.    Harold 

'  was  more  distinguished  for  the  bravery  of  a  soldier  than  for  the  skill  of  a  general. 
William  united  the  two  characters.  He  had  tlu-ee  horses  killed  under  him.  Wliile 
Harold  lived,  liis  valorous  countrymen  seemed  invincible.  Feilile  in  expedients, 
the  duke  chrected  his  archers  not  to  fire  dii-ectly  at  the  English,  but  to  dischaa-ge 
their  arrows  vigorously  upwards  towards  the  sky.  The  random  shafts  descended 
into  the  EngUsh  ranks  like  impetuous  hail,  and  one  of  them  pierced  the  gallant 
Harold  in  the  eye,*  and,  penetrating  the  brain,  terminated  liis  life.  A  furious  charge 
of  the  Noi-man  horse  increased  the  disorder.  Panic  scattered  the  English,  and  the 
Normans  vigorously  pursued  tliem  tlu'ough  the  broken  gi-ound.  A  part  of  the 
fugitives  rallied,  and,  indignant  at  the  prospect  of  siuTcndering  their  country  to 
foreigners,  they  sought  to  renew  the  contest.  William,  perceiving  that  the  critical 
moment  for  sealing  the  victory  had  arrived,  ordered  Count  Eustace  and  liis  soldiers 
to  the  attack.  The  duke,  with  a  vigour  and  energy  pecuHar  to  hiaiself,  joined  in 
the  final  conflict,  and  secured  the  victory  of  Hastings  and  the  crown  of  England. 
The  body  of  Harold  was  found  by  his  mistress,  EcUth,  "  the  Lady  of  the  Swan 
Neck,"  near  those  of  liis  two  brothers,  who  were  also  slain  in  the  battle,  and  was 
sent,  at  the  request  of  liis  mother,  for  intennent,  to  the  monastery  of  Waltham,  which 
he  had  founded. 
Extinc-  The  battle  of  Hastings  terminated  the  Saxon   dynasty   in  England,  after  a 

Saxon  ^  continuance,  with  occasional  inteiTuptions,  of  sis  liimcbed  yeai's.  Duiing  this 
long  period  the  foundations  of  some  of  the  most  important  of  our  public  institutions 
were  laid,  and  it  may  be  interesting,  even  for  the  illustration  of  local  liistory,  shortly 
to  advert  to  then*  nature  and  origin. 
Saxon  in-  111  the  Saxou  period,  the  mechanical  arts,  so  closely  interwoven  with  the 
interests  of  society,  met  ■with  liberal  encouragement :  the  wisest  of  their  monarchs 
invited  from  all  quarters  sldlfiil  and  industrious  foreigners ;  they  encoiu'aged  manu- 
factm'es  of  every  kind,  and  prompted  men  of  activity  to  betake  themselves  to  naviga- 
tion, and  to  push  commerce  into  the  most  remote  countries.  As  an  indication  of  an 
approach  towards  a  state  of  free  traflic,  and  of  the  increase  of  commerce,  it  is 
mentioned,  that  Canute,  about  the  year  1028,  established  mints  for  the  coinage  of 
money,  in  thirty-seven  cities  and  towns  of  England,  of  wliich  number  the  town  of 
Manchester  was  one.  A  silver  penny,  coined  at  York  about  the  year  630,  and 
marked  with  the  name  of  Edv\in,  the  Northumbrian  monarch,  is  supposed  to  be  the 
earliest  specimen  of  coinage  in  tliis  island,  after  the  abdication  of  the  Romans.  Tlie 
king  and  liis  barons  enfrancliised  the  principal  towns,  to  encourage  the  progress  of 
manufactures,  and  Manchester  was  of  the  favoured  number. 

*  Henry  of  Hunt.  p.  368.     Will,  of  Malms,  p.  101. 


line. 


stitutions. 


Coimt))  ^Palatmr  of  aanrastrr. 


65 


It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  whatever  progress  oui-  Anglo-Saxon  ances-    chap. 

tors  had  made  in  conuuerce   and  in  manufactures,  since  the  time  of  the  Roman   

sway  in  Britain,  this  couutiy  had  reti-ogi-aded  deplorably  in  the  practice  of  the  fine 
arts.  As  early  as  the  reign  of  Severus,  the  sculpture  and  the  painting  of  Rome 
had  obtained  a  liigh  degree  of  perfection ;  but  in  the  Saxon  times  these  accom- 
plislunents  Avere  almost  extinct  in  the  island,  and  the  coinage  of  Northumbria,  in  the 
reigns  of  Edelstan,  of  Harold,  surnamed  Harefoot,  and  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  as 
exliibited  in  the  folloAraig  specimens,  serve  sufficiently  to  prove  the  lamentable 
deterioration : — 


The  Anglo-Saxons    were  divided   into  four  classes: — men  of  birth — men  of 

property freemen — and  serviles.   Then-  money  was  in  pounds,  sliillings,  and  pence; 

twenty  slullings  constituted  a  pound,  and  twelve  pence  a  slulling,  as  at  present, 
with  this  difference,  however,  that  twenty  shillings  weighed  a  pound  troy— and 
hence  the  term  pound.  Guilds,  or  communities  of  mutual  protection,  were  formed 
by  persons  engaged  in  trade,  which  sought  at  once  to  protect  the  interests  of  those 
branches  of  business,  and  to  proAide  for  the  members  of  their  fraternities  in  sickness 
and  old  age.*  Markets  and  fairs  were  pretty  generally  establislied ;  attention  was 
paid  to  agricultm-e ;  and  the  yeoman  was  held  in  deserved  estimation.  Their 
monarchy  was  partly  hereditary,  and  partly  elective;  and  the  power  of  their 
sovereigns  not  absolute,  but  limited.  Their  Witena-Gemot  of  "  wise  men"  formed 
the  gi-eat  council  of  the  nation,  and  was  a  body,  the  foundation  of  our  parliaments, 
tliat  at  once  enacted  laws  and  administered  justice.  Besides  the  trial  by  jury,  they 
had  the  trial  by  ordeal  of  water  and  of  iron  :  by  the  iron  ordeal,  the  accused  carried  a 
piece  of  red-hot  iron,  tlu-ee  feet,  or  nine  feet,  according  to  the  magnitude  of  the 
offence ;  in  the  water  ordeal,  he  plunged  his  hand  into  a  vessel  of  boiling-hot  water 
up  to  the  wiist  in  some  cases,  and  to  the  elbow  in  others ;  the  hand  was  then  bound 
up,  and  sealed  for  thi-ee  days,  at  the  end  of  wliich  time  the  bandage  and  seal  were 
removed ;  when,  if  the  hand  was  found  clean,  he  was  pronounced  innocent,  if  foul, 
guilty.f  This  Avas  a  trial,  not  a  punishment,  and  it  was  perfonned  before  the  priest, 
in  the  presence  of  two  Avitnesses,  after  due  preparation.  Sometimes  the  party 
choosiug  this  mode  of  trial  prepared  liis  own  hand,  to  endure  the  fiery  trial ;  and 

*  Eden  on  the  Poor  Laws.  t  Wilk.  Leg.  Inae,  p.  27. 

VOL.  I.  K 


66  CIk  ?f)fetm-p  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  sometimes  probably  prepared  the  hand  of  the  priest,  and  thus  induced  liim  to  abate 
'  the  height  of  the  temperature.  There  was  anotlier  ordeal  by  water :  the  culprit, 
having  a  rope  tied  about  liim,  was  plunged  into  a  river  two  ells  and  a  half  deep;  if 
he  sunk,  he  was  acquitted;  but  if  he  floated,  being  considered  deficient  in  weight  of 
goodness,  he  was  condemned.*  The  punishments  were  various,  and  consisted  of 
banislmieut,  slavery,  branding,  amputation  of  limb,  mutUation  of  the  nose,  ears,  and 
lips,  plucking  out  the  eyes,  stoning,  or  hanging.  The  trial  by  jury  was  a  rational 
and  enlightened  inquiry.  The  Saxoas  have  the  merit  of  having  introduced  tliis 
invaluable  mstitution  into  England;  and  some  authors  contend,  that  it  originated  in 
the  tune  of  Alfred,  but  it  is  certain  that  it  was  in  use  amongst  the  earUest  Saxon 
colonists.t  The  trial  by  jury  tlid  not  at  ouce  attain  perfection,  and  it  is  probable 
that  Alfred  matured  and  perfected  the  institution.  Originally  a  man  was  cleai'ed  of 
an  accusation,  if  twelve  persons  came  forward,  and  swore  that  they  behoved  liim  to  be 
innocent  of  the  alleged  crime.J  This  was  a  jury  in  its  earhest  fonn.  Afterwards  it 
became  necessary  that  twelve  men,  peers  or  equals  of  the  litigants,  should  hear  the 
evidence  on  both  sides,  and  that  they  on  then-  oaths  should  say  whether  the  accused 
was  guilty  or  innocent. 

Feudal  The   Feodttl   System    rose    in   England  during  the    Saxon    dynasty,    and  for 

many  ages  exercised  an  influence  and  conti'ol  over  society,  not  only  in  tliis 
country,  but  over  the  whole  of  the  western  nations  of  the  world.  Though  the 
system  was  inti'oduced  into  tliis  country  by  the  Anglo-Saxon,  it  was  not  tUl  the 
Norman  conquest  that  it  received  its  complete  consummation.  In  the  heat  of  the 
battle  of  Hastings,  William  had  promised  liis  followers  that  tlie  lands  of  England 
should  be  theu's,  if  victory  crowned  their-  eiForts ;  and  the  possessions  of  eai-1  Tosti, 
as  well  as  the  other  Saxon  barons,  between  the  Mersey  and  the  Ribble,  and  to  the 
north  of  the  latter  river,  speedily  became  the  laiights'  fees  of  the  houses  of  Lacie 
and  Pictavensis.  In  the  partition  of  the  spoil,  the  most  considerable  share  fell  to  the 
Idng.  These  lands  became  the  subject  of  feudal  tenures ;  the  king  conferred  them 
upon  liis  favourites  in  capite,  on  the  condition  that  they  should  faithfully  serve  him 
in  war  and  in  peace,  and  on  payment  of  a  certain  annual  fine ;  and  they  again 
granted  their  Lancashii'e  manors  to  Goisfridus,  WUlielmus,  Tetbaldus,  and  others,  as 
then-  feudatories.  Tliese  thanes  had  tlieii-  socmen  and  Adllams — in  other  words,  then* 
ianners  and  their  slaves — some  holding  by  miUtary,  and  others  by  nistic  obhgations  ; 
but  all,  from  the  liighest  to  the  lowest,  under  feudal  tenures.  The  whole  frame  of 
society  was  involved  in  tliis  comprehensive  system,  wliich  Dr.  Kuerden  has,  in  his 
unpublished  MS.  of  the  History  of  Lancashii-e,  arranged  under  the  foUovnng  heads, 
taldng  for  liis  text-book  Sir  Henry  Spehnan's  Glossarium  Archaiologicum  : — 
*  Textus  Roffensis.  f  Black.  Com.  cap.  xxiii.  {  Turner's  Ang.  Sax.  iv.  337. 


system. 


CountP  palatine  of  2Lanra<5tn%  67 

"  Regal  Franchises.* — The  Kinpf  or  soueraigne  Goucrnour  of  the  Reiilm,  firom     chap. 
wliom  all  fi-ancliises  are  deriued,  being  the  most  exceleut  and  woitliicst  part  or  " 

member  of  the  body  of  the  conunonwelth,  next  nnto  God,  because,  as  Braclon  Koyai 
sayth,  the  law  doth  make  liim  a  Idng,  and  as  the  head  of  a  natural  body,  doth  with  a 
prouident  care  look  about  for  the  safety  and  preseruation  of  euery  member  of  the 
same  body,  even  so,  the  king  being  head  of  the  coimuonwelth,  doth  not  only  cary  a 
watclifuU  eye  to  the  preseruasion  of  peace  and  quietness  at  home  amongst  his  own 
subjects,  but  also  to  keep  them  in  peace  and  quietness  from  euery  forreign 
Inuasion. 

"  And  hereupon  the  Law  doth  allow  liim  sufferein  jurisdiction,  not  only  through 
the  whole  land,  but  also  to  the  midst  of  the  sea,  encompassing  the  whol  retdm ;  and 
for  the  same  cause,  the  Lawes  do  attribut  to  the  king  all  Honor,  Dignity,  Preroga- 
tive, and  Pre-eminence. — Bracton,  lib.  ii.  cap.  24. 

"  Like^-ise,  the  king  hath  certain  proper  priiuleges  by  the  canon  law,  that  he  shal 
only  haue  thos  tilings  wldch  by  the  Lawes  of  Nature  ought  to  be  the  finders,  as 
Treasm-e  troue.  Wrecks  of  the  Sea,  Great  fishes,  as  Whales,  Stm-geons,  &c. 

"  And  waifes,  wliich  are  said  to  be  the  goods  of  another  man,  therefore  the  king, 
by  his  prerogative,  shal  have  them. 

"  He  ought  also,  by  the  comon  law,  to  have  in  his  own  possession,  such  things 
as  by  the  law  ought  to  be  comon,  as  wild  beasts,  fowls  that  are  not  tame,  but  are 
made  proper  by  possession,  and  taking  of  them  as  by  Fowling,  Hunting,  or  the 
like. 

"  And  by  the  law  the  king  may  enter  into  the  grounds  of  any  of  his  subjects  wher- 
soever  ther  are  any  mynes  of  gold  or  siluer  to  be  found,  and  dig  the  land  at  his 
pleasure  for  the  same  mines,  and  carry  them  away,  for  that  they  ai'C  tilings  that  do 
only  belong  unto  the  king,  for  gold  and  siluer  are  tilings  of  most  excelency  that  are 
upon  the  Earth ;  and  therefore  when  they  are  found,  the  law  doth  attribut  them  for 
their  Excellency  to  belong  unto  the  king  as  the  most  excellent  person. 

"  And  in  like  manner,  wild  beasts  of  Venery,  and  beasts  of  chace  and  waren,  being 
things  of  excellent  recreation,  they  are  meetest  for  the  dignity  of  a  prince  for  liis 
pastime  and  delight,  and  thence  it  is  not  lawful  for  any  man  witliin  his  own  fee,  to 
make  any  chase  or  pai'k,  or  waren,  without  the  king's  warrant  so  to  do. 

"  And  although  men  may  kill  such  wild  beasts  in  ther  wildns  when  they  ai'e  found 
wandering,  being  out  of  the  forest  park,  or  chase,  or  waren  ;  yet  no  man  hath  any 
property  in  them  until  they  have  kild  them,  for  during  the  time  of  ther  wildnes  they 
are  nitlUus  in  rebus,  and  they  must  needs  be  said  to  be  in  manu  Domini  Regis,  m 
the  king's  possession. 

*  Kuerden's  MS.  Manchester  College  Library,  fo.  330. 
k2 


68  C!)e  fmtov^  of  t])t 

CHAP.  "  And  so  in  some  measure,  Treasure  troue,  waifs,  esti'ays,  the  goods  of  fellons  and 

'       fugitives,  thos  being  out   of  any  man's  right,   the  thre   fii'st  their  owners  being 

Royal        unknown,  and  the  2  later  as  confiscated,  ther  owners  being  convicted,  or  not  daring 

privileges.  , 

to  justify  themselues  by  law,  when  they  remaui  as  proper  escheats  vnto  the  king  as 
owner. 

"  And  as  Countyes,  Hundi-eds,  Honors,  wards.  Gaols,  chief  cityes,  and  sea-port 
towns,  with  ther  cheifest  manors,  these  rights  kings  only  assmned  antiently,  as 
belonging  to  the  crown,  where  justice  might  most  regularly  be  executed,  malefactors 
most  surely  kept  in  custody,  and  the  king  preseriiing  thereby  his  subjects  better  in 
peace,  more  nobly  maintained,  and  keep  of  liis  Landing. 

"  All  those  great  prerogatives  were  confinned  upon  our  EngUsh  monarch,  the 
famous  Egbert,  by  his  subdued  Heptarchy,  and  euer  since  duly  and  justly  claimed, 
and  enjoyed  by  his  successors,  the  Saxon,  Danish,  and  Norman  Kings  and  Queens 
of  England. 

"  Hence  may  be  obserued,  whereas  the  king  did  chstribut  the  gi'eater  fees  capitaneis 
Regiis  (royal  cliiefs,)  sc.  to  Archbyshops,  Byshops,  Palatines,  Abbots,  Abbesses, 
under  gi-eater  Francliises  or  privileges,  wliich  are  cald  regalia,  to  Dukes,  Maixliions, 
and  Earls. 

"  And  thes  again  may  be  reduced  into  lesser  fees,  when  any  of  thos  capitanei  do 
distiibut  any  pari,  of  them  to  their  vassals  and  clients  with  sunilar  priuiledges,  and 
thos  are  cald  Hegij  vel  regis  Valvasores,  or  capitanei.  medii.*  The  former  were  cald 
regal  chgnities,  quod  regis  splendoris  radios  quosdam  obtinent  fruebantur  olim 
juribus  plerumque  regalibus,  which  are  called  Serjantia  majora,  or  greater 
Serjantyes. 

"  But  the  feoda  capitanea  media,  are  thos  that  are  granted  not  imechately  from  the 
prince  himself,  but  from  some  of  this  capitanorum  regis  to  ther  clients,  as  from  a 
count  palatine  to  thcii-  Barons,  Valvasores,  or  Castellani. 

"  And  thes  capitanei  medij,  or  Valvasores,  may  lilvewise  distribut  yet  smaller  fees, 
called  feoda  militaria,-\^  sunply,  which  are  neither  given  from  the  Prince,  nor  from 
any  of  the  capitanei  Regni,\  but  from  the  medij  capitanei,  or  Valvasores,  Bai'ons,  or 
some  meaner  Lords,  to  thefr  Knights,  or  Valvasivi  minores,  and  thos  fees  are  cald 
feoda  militum,  ox  feoda  militaria. 

"  Hence  became  various  feocUsts  or  comites,  Palatini,  Vicecomites,  Eails,  Dukes, 
Heretocliij,  Hundi'edarij,  Holdcastellani,  Titliingmeu. 

"  Hence  it  appears,  that  it  is  not  lawful  to  all  to  give  a  fee,  so  likewise  it  is  not 
lawful  for  al  to  receive  one  for  iguobl  persons,  and  of  seruile  condition,  ai-e  forbidden, 

*  Middle  chiefs.  f  Knight's  fees.  X  Chiefs  of  the  kingdom. 


Countp  ^3alatmt  of  itanrasitfr.  69 

and,  according  to  the  manor  received  in  Heroick  Ages,  to  undertake  military  offices,    chap. 
munera  suhire  militaria.  


"  Therefore,  only  nohl  persons  wer  susceptibl  of  receiiiing  fees,  wliich  are  esteemed 
much  before  rusticks,  and  iguobles  being  unfit,  ad  urma  tractanda  reffcndaque 
militiam*  and  in  compensation  of  this  his  coi-poral  seruice  ther  fees  wer  given 
them  indued  with  the  said  priiiiledges,  and  so  made  fre  a  trihutis  rusticis,  so.  Tallage 
and  subsidyes. 

"  But  the  nobilia  Ula  feoda  (noble  fees)  at  length  were  bestowed  upon  the 
Biu-gesses  and  ig-nobl  persons  nisi  auspice  rege,  and  moneys  offered  into  the 
Exchecq.  to  obtain  that  liberty,  becaus  that  accipientis  personam  nohilitavit,  this 
ennobles  the  person  of  the  receiuer. 

"  "Now  feodum  ignobile  et  vulgare'\  is  opposed  io  feodum  nobile,  and  is  properly 
called  that  which  belongs  ignohilibus  et  rusticis,  adorns  with  no  feodal  priuUedges, 
but  the  name  of  a  fee  in  tliis  latter  age,  perperam  auspicatum. 

"  We  call  it  Soccage,  and  some  call  it  feodum  Burgense  ;\  and  hence  it  comes 
about  that  cUuers  franchises  and  priuUedges  have  been  granted  to  corporations, 
together  vA\h  markets  and  fayi-es. 

"  How  Fees  first  Instituted.^ — The  more  antient  Ages  of  the  world  labouring  sore  institu- 
on  each  syde  with  gi'eat  warrs.  Emperors,  kings,  and  piinces,  more  advisedly  guiding  fee"." 
ther  afTayi'es,  did  cUstribut  and  bestow  whol  regions,  and  especially  thos  that  bordered 
and  were  exposed  to  the  enemy,  upon  ther  patiites  and  gi'eat  persons  they  cald 
capitanei,  not  so  possessing  them  iutii-ely  might  reape  benefit  thereby,  but  that  being 
seuered  into  fitting  portions  of  a  fee,  and  each  placed  out  stipendij  nomine  to  several 
knights  and  soldiers,  a  respect  being  had  to  persons,  and  so  such  bemg  cald  ui)on 
unanimously  might  defend  the  country,  having  taken  the  oath  of  fealty  might  come 
to  the  assistance  of  that  waning  prince,  and  thereupon  the  necessity  of  waning 
brought  forth  the  Invention  of  fees. 

"  Tlie  Germans  brought  forth  the  feodal  rytes  and  customes,  and  propagated  the 
same  by  long  usage. 

"  It  was  in  antient  time  anexed  to  the  Lord's  power,  that  where  they  pleased  they 
might  take  back  that  had  been  given  already  by  them,  but  afterwards  it  was  estab- 
lished, that  it  should  continue  to  the  faitlifuU  for  his  life,  but  not  to  his  cliildi'en  to 
belong  by  any  hereditary  right. 

"  Afterward  it  came  to  pass,  that  their  gift  held  finn  only  for  a  year,  yet  it  so  pro- 
ceeded, that  it  might  come  to  their  sons,  sc.  to  him  whom  the  Lord  was  pleased  to 
confirm  the  grant. 

*  To  carry  arms,  and  to  command  an  army.  I  Bought  fee  or  tenure. 

t  A  vulgar  and  ignoble  fee.  ^  MS.  fo.  130. 


nors. 


70  C6e  ??istJ3tt)  of  tfif 

CHAP.  "  Conrade,  passing  to  Rome,  (lid  confirm  it  to  gi-anchildren.    Sons  did  not  succeed 

"       collateral,  ultra  fratres  patruelles  ;*  but  in  a  short  time  after  it  did  extend  to  the  next 

degree. — Jo   Faber  saith,  Ducatus,  Countys,  Baronys,  &c.  were  made  perpetual 

hereditary,  and  nobles  thereupon  began  to  taie  themselves  syniames  from  ther  chief 

denomination  of  ther  fees.f 

f)fma-  "  First  Institutions  of  3Ianors. — 1.    In  the  first  place  (the  Lord)   designed 

a  fitting  place  for  his  own  habitation,  and  to  it  was  a  messuage  fit  uberiores  ad 

familiam  suam  alendam  conscripsit  fundos  qui  hodie  terrce  dominica;,  cald  demaine 

lauds. 

"  2.  Another  part  he  bestowed  dientibus  quot  alere  videatur  milites  oh  siibsidium 
in  bello,  such  poitions  are  cald  feoda  mihtaiia  Kts'  fees,  but  if  any  portion  was  not 
sufficient  of  itself,  ad  militem  alendum,\  yet  according  to  its  quantity,  partem  pactum 
contribuit,\  sc.  one  half,  one  tliii'd,  a  fourth  pt,  a  100  pt,  vel  tantillo  levior  esset 
sumptus  Domini  militaris,  (or  so  much  less  as  the  Lord's  military  charges  were  the 
lighter.) 

"  3.  Tertiapartem  colonis — who  were  called  socmanni — elocat  decernitque  ut  pro 
tenementorum  suorum  ratione  frumenti  vel  vestis  aliquid,  juxta  Taciturn,  aut  obsonii 
aliorumque  necessariorum  reddant  faciantque,^ — and  after  he  placed  and  sorteth  out 
a  tliird  part  to  husbandmen,  who  are  called  socmanni,  that  proportionably  to  their 
tenements  they  should  render,  or  cans  sometliiug  of  fruit  or  gannents  and  victuals, 
and  other  necessaries  (according  to  Tacitus)  et  preterea  ad  (cdes  Domini  et  suapradia, 
as  rustic  and  servile  labours.  They  shal  till  the  Lord's  gi-ound,  plow,  sow,  reap, 
cut  his  corn  and  hay,  tluash,  ditch,  and  hedg,  et  greges  et  indicta  singula  exe- 
quantur. 

"  4.  Neither  in  the  Interim  were  they  forgetful  of  God,  for  they  dedicated  a  place 
for  the  chiu'ch  and  priest,  ut  concilia  volunt  AgricoUs — pauperibus  suis  qui  famdice 
navant  opera  latam  fundi  portionem  cedit  quo  eorum  rictus  nutriantur  animaUa 
Solent  nominare.% 

"  Tliis  distribution  of  land,  which  since  ut  visit  e  domino  beneficentia  ejus  etiam 
paruit  voluntati,  and  was  governed  by  such  laws  as  the  lord  imposed,  ut  de  Germanis 
Tacitus  AgricoUs  suis  jus — huic  jurisdictioni  prcetorium,  (as  Tacitus  says,  in  liis 

*  Beyond  brother's  cousins  on  the  fathers'  side. 

t  In  no  county  in  England  do  the  names  of  the  lands  so  much  correspond  with  the  surnames  of 
their  owners,  as  in  Lancashire. 

I  To  support  a  knight.  ^  He  finished  the  portion  agreed  upon. 

II  Towards  their  maintenance  and  cultivation. 
H  As  the  councils  will.     To  their  poor  husbandmen,  who  industriously  laboured  for  their  families, 

they  granted  a  broad  portion  of  ground  (common)  by  which  they  might  furnish  food  for  themselves 
and  cattle. 


Coiuiti?  |3alatine  of  ^Lanrasstfi*.  71 

works  on  tlie  manners  of  the  Germans — the  pra;torium  in  this  jurisdiction,)  was    chap. 

•  II 

the  lord's  house,  sometimes  thereupon  cal'd  aula  (a  hall),  otherwise  curia  tenebatur  _ 

ejus  cUcntela  rebus  ita  postulaniibus,  (a  court,  wluch  was  held  on  affairs  hetween  the 
lord  and  his  tenants  so  reqiiii-ing  it),  each  3  weeks  here  the  most,  but  more  general 
sub  festo  anmmtiationis  B.M.  et  St.  MichaeUs,  at  our  lady  day  and  St.  Michael, 
fi-om  whom  the  coui'ts  at  this  day  are  called  generally. 

"  Of  the  Value  and  various  Qualities  of  a  KnighCs  Fee. — Tlie  antient  yearly  value 
of  a  fee  may  be  gathered  from  the  reHef  payd,  for  the  most  part  were  alike. 

"  The  antient  relief  mth  us  was  5lb.  and  afterwards,  about  H.  3  time,  he  that 
enjoyed  251b.  in  lands  ought  to  be  cald  ad  dignitatem  militia;,  (to  the  honor  of 
knighthood)  as  then  the  estimation  of  that  was  set  upon  a  knight's  fee. 
"  Yet  afterwards  in  E,  2.  251b.  and  afterwards  401b. 

"  Thos  that  possest  an  estate  of  1 5lb.  37H.  3.  were  cald  out  ad  militia;  dignitatem,* 
and  Ed.  201b.  and  in  Rastal,  Title,  Knights,  who  possest  10  libratas  terra,  (ten 
librates  of  land)  were  cald  to  the  dignity  of  knighthood,  or  to  be  fyned  1256. 
41  H.  3. 

"  Quantity  of  a  Knight'' s  Fee. — 1  MS.  A  certain  book  of  the  Abbot  of  Mamsbury  a  knight's 
sayth  that 

"  A  vigrate  of  Land  containeth  24  acres, 
"  4  \dgrates  make  a  Hyde,  and 

"  5  Hydes  makes  a  knight's  fee,  the  relief  thereof  lOOsh. 
"  2  MS.  says,  that,  according  to  antient  custome, 
"10  acres  make  a  fardell, 
"  4  fardels  makes  a  vu"gat, 
"  4  Vu'gats  makes  a  Hyde, 
"  4  Hydes  malies  a  knight's  fee. 
"  3  MS.  So  that  the  Book  of  Mamesbury  sayth  16  virgats  makes  a  whole  knight's 
fee,  and  when  taxed  at  6s.  4d.  makes  the  sum  of  lOOsh.     Therfor  a  knight's  fee, 
according  to  the  first,  contauis  480  acres,  and  this  agrees  with  the  thii-d  MS.     If  a 
vii-gate  with  2d  MS.  be  40  acres ;  but  if,  as  the  fii-st  hath  it,  only  24  acres,  it  differs 
much  from  both,  yet  not  above  484  recknd  masse. 

"  But  after  some  time,  according  to  the  goodness  of  the  ground,  is  less,  and  other 
times  of  larger  extent  for  the  baii-ness  therof. 

"  And  ther  is  a  respect  to  be  had  to  the  Lord's  bounty,  or  parcimony,  sometimes 
gi\Tng  more  sparingly,  and  others  more  profusely,  as  also  the  sendees  imposed  upon 
fees,  sometimes  according  to  the  customes  more  easUy,  other  tunes  ex  pacto 
graviora. 

"  To  the  honour  of  knia,hthood. 


72  Wl)t  5]i6torj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  "  Tlie  Various  Parts  of  a  Knight's  Fee. — 1.  Hifla  or  Hyde  is  a  portion  of  land 

"  wliicli  is  set  apart  for  the  alimony  of  the  family,  or  that  will  yeai-ly  mamtayn  one 
plow,  so  that  Hide  is  sometimes  taken  for  a  mansion,  as  when  it  is  sayd  in  the  charter 
of  kino-  Ethelbert,  or  about  the  year  845,  that  each  10th  mansion  should  belong  to 
the  seruice  of  God.*  W.  of  Mamsbery  sayth,  that  to  the  end  of  the  world  that  the 
10  Hide  should  be  to  cloath  and  feed  the  poore. 

"  2.  Taken  for  a  family,  for  what  Beda  caldy'amiZ/a,  other  Authors  and  the  Saxon 
Interpreters  call  a  hyde,  or  hydilandes. 

"  3.  Taken  for  a  carucat  of  land  sufficient  yearly  to  maintain  a  plow. 

"  Tlie  quantity  of  a  hyde  is  disputable,  for  Gervis  of  Tilbery  says,  a  Hyde  in  its 
original  institution  did  consist  of  100  acres,  but  by  W.  of  Mamsbery  96  acres.f 

"  The  Annals  of  Waverly,  An.  1083.  The  king  sent  5  of  liis  Justitiai-yes  tlu-ough- 
out  England  to  inquii-e  upon  oath,  how  many  hydes,  i.  e.  jugera,  might  be  sufficient 
in  each  Town  yearly  to  maintain  a  plow. 

"  And  the  same  Mathew  Paris  addes  the  same  year,  how  many  cattel  might  he 
sufficient  for  the  village  of  one  Hyde. 

"  Domesday  book  in  fine  Cestreshire,  (Land  between  the  Ribble  and  the  Mersey,) 
Tit.  Derbei  Hunched. 

"  In  the  Hundi-ed  of  Derbei  vi.  carucates  make  a  Hyde. 

"  Regis  Inee,  cap.  24.  by  the  name  of  Hydes,  are  known  thos  12  portions  which 
are  reported  to  be  given  to  the  companions  of  Joseph  of  Aramathea  in  the  territory 
of  the  monastery  of  Glastonbury. 

"  Hydare  is  as  much  as  to  taxe  the  land  by  Hydes. 

"  Hydatus  is  taken  for  land  that  is  to  be  taxed  by  Hyde,|: 

"  Hydage  is  a  tribut  that  is  gathered  fi-om  each  Hyde. 

"  And  in  paying  of  taxes  the  antient  maner  was  to  describe  the  kingdom  by  Hydes; 
and  king  Edelred,  to  oppose  the  Danes,  caused  each  320  hydes  to  send  a  slup,  and 
each  8  to  give  a  coat  of  male  and  Helmet. 

"  W.  C.  (WiUiam  I.)  received  from  each  Hyde,  A.  D.  1084,  3  sh.§  W.  Rufiis 
from  each  Hyde  4sh. 

"  H.  I.  for  maii-yiug  his  daughter  to  the  Emperor,  A.  D.  1110,  from  each 
Hyde  3sh. 

"  Carucata  Terrte,  a  carucate  of  land,  is  such  a  portion  of  land  as  is  designed  for 
the  work  of  a  plow,  or  plow  land,  with  Math.  Paris  a  Hyde. 

*  The  charter  says,  that  every  tenth  mansion  shall  be  devoted  to  the  servants  of  God  (Famulis 
Dei)  which  is  a  very  different  thing. 

t  Not  William  of  Malmesbury,  but  the  Malmsb.  MS. 
I  Hidata  (not  hidatus)  is  land  that  is  actually  taxed,  and  hidanda,  land  to  be  taxed.    §  6  solidi,  or  shillings. 


Countp  ^aalatiitf  of  iLantasitfC*  73 

"  A  carucate  of  land  is  sajd  to  be  so  much  land  as  a  plow  can  work  in  seasonable    chap. 
time,  containing  120  acres,  yet  various  as  the  gi-oimd  was  more  easy,  or  harder,  or         ' 
troublesome  to  be  tild. 

"  Vityata  Terrce. — 3.  Virgata  Terrte,  yapt)  land,  (yard  land)  sc.  mensuree 
quantitas  pro  rations  loci  diversi,  in  some  places  20,  in  others  24,  in  others  30  acres. 

"  4.  Fer  Ungate. — 10  acres  makes  a  ferlingate. 
"  4  ferlingates  makes  a  vii-gate, 
"  4  vii-gates  makes  a  hyde, 
"  5  hydes  makes  a  knight's  fee. 

"  Carucat.  TeiTse.  The  Abbot  of  Rochester  demanded  against  Albereda  de  Basin- 
burn  8  car.  terrae  and  2  bovats  of  land,  ut  jus  Ecclesite,  of  which  each  carucat  of  land 
contained  8  bovats  terr(B  mensuratce.  27  H.  3.  Rot.  1. 

"  Rob.  Constable  gave  his  Lordship  of  Therlesthorpe,  whereof  8  carucates  makes  a 
knight's  fee. 

"  Herbert  de  St.  Quintin  gave  3  bovats  of  land,  whereof  48  carucates  makes  a 
knight's  fee. 

"  H.  fil.  Sywardi  de  Kerden  gave  3  bovat  of  land  in  maritagio. 

"  Rijil.  Adce  de  Blackburn  unde  16  bovats — sint  cequales  de  forinscco. 

"  Caruagio  and  Carucagio,  a  tribut  imposed  upon  plows.  In  charters  of  pri\Tledges 
many  being  fi-ee  from  the  Tributs  tenned  quieti  a  carucagio,  when  the  R  doth  taxe 
his  land  by  carucates. 

"  JugumTerrcB. — 5.  as  much  gi-ound  as  a  yoke  of  joyned  oxen  can  plow  in  a  day. 
It  appears  that  at  fii'st  a  manor  was  divided  into  various  portions  sufficient  for  the 
nourishment  of  so  many  country  familyes,  together  with  the  yoaks  of  oxen,  and  from 
thence  they  were  cald  juga,  or  yoaks. 

"  Jugatio  is  said  to  be  a  tribut  that  is  payd  a  singulis  jugis. 

"  Bouata  Terr<s,  or  Oxgangs. — 6.  It  is  sayd  to  be  as  much  ground  as  one  oxe  can 
till ;  but  in  an  antient  MS.  8  bovats  of  land  doth  make  a  carucate,  and  8  carucates  a 
kt's  fee.  18  acres  makes  a  bovat  of  land.  An  oxegang,  as  much  as  serves  the 
neck  of  an  oxe,  but  tliis  must  be  understood  of  oxen  joyned,  or  a  yoak  of  oxen. 

"  Ferdella  Terra. — 7.  Out  of  an  old  MS.  is  the  4t  part  of  a  vii-gate  of  land,  for 
saying  that  10  acres  makes  a  vii-gate,  and  4  wgates  makes  a  hyde,  and  4  hydes 
a  kt's  fee. 

"  Ferdendeal,  or  farandeal,  with  Cowil,  is  the  4t  part  of  an  acre,  which  we  call  a 
road,  or  rood.  Crompton  sayth  Quadrans  is  the  4t  part  of  a  penny,  and  obulus  the 
half,  and  the  sliilliug  contains  12  pennyes,  and  a  pound  20  shUHngs,  and  that  in  the 
originall  Quadrata,  ohulata,  denariata,  librata  terrce,  sc.  J  of  an  acre,  J  of  an  acre, 
the  acre  itself,  solidata,  12  acres,  librata  12  tunes  20  acres,  sc.  240. 

VOL.  I.  L 


74  COe  In'stori)  of  tht 

CHAP.  "  Hence  the  word  fardella  is  rather  to  be  understood  of  the  4t  jjart  of  a  \irgate  of 
'- land,  and  to  contain  5  acres,  or  sometimes  more. 

"  Acre. — 8.  Acra  from  aceji,  or  ager ;  it  is  a  measured  part  of  land  formerly 
uncertain,  but  now  by  Stat,  of  31  Ed.  I.  contains  8  score  perchs,  and  by  some  is 
cald  jugerum.  Cmit  II.  cap.  14,  if  any  deny  to  give  liis  Tyth  as  the  comon 
use  of  al  is,  that  is   10th  acre,  as  the  plow  passeth  over. 

"  Ancinga. — 9.  Is  conceived  to  be  a  portion  of  land,  4  perches  broad,  and 
40  long,  but  this  respects  10  feet  Roman,  or  oui*  acre. 

"  Selio  Terra. — 10.  A  part  of  land  containing  some  imcertain  fiiiTows. 
Sciant  prces.  3Iarg.  f.  W.  de  Rylela  (1)  dedl  Em  f.  mece  1  acra  terrte,  sc. 
6  seliones  et  dimid'm,  (Know  by  these  presents,  that  I  Mai'garet,  daughter  of 
William  de  Ruly,  give  to  my  daughter  Emma,  one  acre  of  land,  namely  six  fiu'- 
rows  and  a  half.) 

"  Variety  of  Possessions. — 1.  Tofta*  is  taken  to  be  a  place,  where,  in  times  past, 
stood  mansio  rustica,  or  country  hous  called  Messuagium.  And  Reinerus  sayth  est 
genus  lucis  jmrmd:  seu  loci  coiisiti  arboribus  minusculis.  Hence  we  may  observe, 
that  Toftiuanni  were  either  natives,  or  smal  cottagers,  or  burgess,  that  had  some  little 
pai'cel  of  land  belonging  to  their  bm-gage,  for  we  find  it  generally  in  some  corporations 
thos  Tofts  to  be  under  an  acre  of  land,  most  comonly  to  be  a  4t  of  an  acre  or  therabout, 
on  wliich,  in  al  probability,  in  former  times  was  the  site  of  some  smal  hous.  unto 
which  was  annexed  some  smal  paixel  of  land,  as  afterwards  cald  a  Toft,  though  at 
present  the  hous  hath  suffered  dilapidation,  or  demolishment,  and  often  in  sucli 
ground  remans  the  relics  of  some  fruit  trees  or  gai'den  shrubs,  of  rose,  curres, 
gosberye,  in  the  hedges  or  the  like. 

"  Messuagium. — 2.  Messuagiimi,  or  Massuagium,  is  Avhere  Messce  vel  Masste 
negotium  agitur  domesticum  (household  affaii-s  are  conducted)  for  Massa  est  terree 
portio  certis  constans  jugeribus,  puta  20,  {Mas,  an  old  French  law-term,  is  a  portion 
of  land,  consisting  of  a  certain  number  of  acres,  say  20),  and  messuagium  chffers  a 
massd  ut  pars  a  tola,  (from  massa,  as  a  part  from  the  whole),  or  as  situs  manerij  a 
manerio  est  sella  mansi,  (the  site  of  the  manor  from  the  manor  itself.)  Though 
Messuagium  is  properly  sedes  Massce  (seat  of  the  Mas)  and  ti'ansfen-ed  ad  hones- 
turn  quoddam  Domicilium  sire  prtedio  (to  some  decent  dwelling  or  farm)  whence 
liliewise  cedes  urbicce  (town  residences)  ai'e  called  3Iessuagia.  It  is  domus 
habitationis  (a  house  of  residence),  but  it  is  more  remai'kable,  habitatio  cum  aliquo 
fundo  adjacentis,  set  apai't  for  the  use  tlierof. 

"  Curtis. — 3.  Sometimes  taken  pro  area  circa  cedes — dommn  novum  curte  et 
cedificijs. 

*  A  small  p-ove. 


Countj)  ^3alatine  of  iCanragtcr.  75 

"  Curtilagium. — 4.  It  is  curtis,  mansio  v.  manerhmi  inhabifanda,  with  lands,    chap. 

...  II. 

possessions,  and  other  emohmieuts,  to  such  a  manor  belonging.     It  is  said  to  be  ' 

adjunctus  tali  curti,  ubi  leguntur  herha  et  olera,  so  cald  from  curtis  and  lego  pro 

colligere. 

"  Cassata,  Cassamenta. — 5.  It  is  habitaculiim  cum  terra  idonea  ad  unam  fami- 
liam  calendam,  (a  Uttle  dwelling-house,  •m\\\  land  suitable  for  the  maintenance  of  a 
single  family.) 

"  Cassamenta  est  agreste  habitacidum  palis,  grandiorihus  virgidtisque  contextum 
qidbus  posset  tueri  a  vifrigoris,  as  an  Irish  crate. 

"  Cassati  ai-e  such  as  inliabit  Cassatam,  a.s  well  liberi  as  seri:i  vassali  Domini,  and 
ai'e  those  that  have  suas  (edes,  suamfamiliam,  sua  peculia  servos  sen  subserves  quam- 
vis  Domino  lucrantes. 

"  Haga. — 6.  Domus  in  urbe  vel  oppido,  qd.  ex  complicatis  viminibus  instar  cratis 
rel  sepis,  fabricata,  liaj.  Saxonich  sepes,  Gal.  hag,  j  in  y  conversa.  (A  house  in 
the  city  or  town,  and  so  called  because  built  with  twisted  osier  twigs,  wickers,  or 
rods,  like  fences.  Hag,  a  fence  in  Anglo-Saxon,  becomes  hag  in  French,  the  g 
being  converted  into  g.) 

"  Hamlet,  Hall,  Villa,  Ham  or  Villa, — 7.  Ham,  often  taken  for  house  or 
suigl  habitation,  and  likewise  signifies  plurium  conjunctiones  (the  jouiing  togetlier  of 
many),  for  as  the  ancient  Germans  diversi  colentes  et  discreti,  (tilling  separate  and 
apart,)  as  Tacitus  noteth,  cald  each  several  of  their  habitations  a  ham,  and  tin  \)(ini, 
(o  home,  in  modern  German.) 

"  But  afterwards  cohabiting  together,  they  attributed  that  single  word  to  a  multi- 
tude, and  so  made  use  of  ham  and  heim  for  \illa,  oppido,  ui-be,  (village,  town,  city,) 
as  now  Pemvortham,  Nottingham. 

"  8.  Hamlet  may  be  properly  taken  for  part  or  member  of  a  gi-eater  villa,  than  for 
any  vrUula per  se  existens*  Observe  the  statute  Exonise,  14  Ed.  I.  concerning  the 
names  of  all  Aillas  and  hamletts,  cc.  and  a  little  afterwards. 

"  That  they  order  and  make  to  come  before  them,  which  ai-e  in  each  wapentake, 
hundi-ed,  or  francliises,  out  of  every  intu-e  Aolla  eight  men,  and  out  of  every  half  ^iUa 
six  men,  and  each  hamlet  four  men,  of  the  more  sage  and  loyal  men,  and  to  declare 
befor  the  Lords  of  tlios  WUas,  demie  lilies,  and  hamlets. 

"  Villa  intcgra  et  just  a  (a  perfect  and  just  villa)  was  the  same  -iritli  Friburgiun, 
wliich  contained  at  least  ten  capital  Burgesses'  pledges ;  and  a  Demi  villa  either 
contained  the  half,  or  at  least  was  less  than  a  friburgum,  but  a  Hamlet  reached  not 
the  half  of  a  free  Burgum,  where  five  capital  pledges  were  not  to  be  found. 

*  Villa  frequently  signifies  a  town  ;  here,  however,  it  is  a  village,  and  villula  is  the  diminutive  of 
villa. 

1,2 


76  Cftr  H^isitorj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  "  Villa,  vill,  ^vith  the  antient  Saxons,  seems  to  be  taken  Romaiio  sensii pro  prcedio 

'  tinius  aUcitjus  in  rtire  cum  idoneis  tsdibus  ad  reponend.  ejusdem  fnictus  honestato, 
(in  the  Roman  acceptation  of  the  word,  for  some  one's  farm,  with  proper  buildings  to 
lay  up  the  produce,)  but  now  pro  midtarum  mansionum  connexione  quod  in  oppidis 
erpetendum,  (for  the  connection  of  many  mansions  or  buildings,  which  is  to  be  sought 
for  in  towns.) 

"  Services  and  Trihuts  incident  to  Fees. — Tenere  per  Servitium  (to  hold 
by  service)  is,  when  any  man  Servitium  Do  suo  Superiori,  (owes  service  to  his 
superior  lord.) 

Serjantia,  Seijeanty. 

MUitaris,  Knights. 

"  This  service  is  either   .     .      ^   s^^j^annei.  Service  of  Soccomani. 

Elemosynariae,         Elemosynaiy. 

"  Serjantia,  amongst  the  feodal  services,  is  the  chief  and  most  illustrious,  which 
owns  no  other  patron  but  the  kuig,  and  is  either  Grand  or  Petit  Seijanty. 

"  1.  Grand  Seijanty  is  servitium  militare  (knight's  service),  whereby  any  one 
prcedia  tenet  de  rege  in  capite,  (holds  of  the  king  in  chief,)  on  that  condition,  that 
some  honorable  service  be  perfonned  by  the  person  of  the  man  either  by  himself  or 
some  other  in  his  behalf,  and  is  cald  servitium  militare,  not  because  it  is  always 
performed  in  the  wars,  but  after  maner  of  military  service,  it  ckawes  hceredis  custodia, 
maritagium  et  relevium,  (wardsliip  of  the  hen-,  maritage,  and  relief),  and  of  this 
sort  are, 

"  1.  To  lead  the  king's  army. 

"  2.  To  caiTy  signum  vexillum,  hastam  in  ejus  acie,  (to  caiTy  the  king's  standard, 
banner,  and  spear  in  his  anny.) 

"  3.  To  undergo  the  office  of  the  king's  marschal,  constabl,  or  cliampion. 

"4.  Vexillum  regis  infra  4  maria  sequi,  to  attend  the  king's  staudai'd  into 
[upon]  4  maria  (seas). 

-'  Al  degi-ees  of  peers,  sc.  Dukes,  Marqs,  Earls,  Vicont,  Barons,  hoc  tenentur 
servitio,  (are  held  by  this  service,)  nor  are  the  lesser  dutyes  and  offices  which  are 
performed  to  the  king  m  the  grand  solemnity  of  the  coronation,  as 

"  1.  To  bare  the  king's  sword,  or  other  ensigns. 

"  2.  To  execut  the  office  of  senescal,  camerarii  (chamberlain),  pincemts  (butler), 
and  other  illustrious  munera.  Ther  are  many  Seijantys  that  respect  private  persons, 
and  not  the  king  liimself,  as  those  who  ought  to  ride  with  the  Lord  from  manor  to 
manor,  and  thes  are  cald  Rad-knights  or  Radmans. 


Counti)  palati'nt  of  3lanra6tci-.  77 

"  2.  Petit  Serjanty  is  muubered  among  those  services  that  are  caWed.  Soccaffia,  as     chai'. 

when  one  owe  a  yearly  bond  to  bestow  upon  the  long  some  smal  tilings,  ad  appara-  '_ 

turn  bellicum  ;  as  Arcum,  gladium,  pugionem,  hastam,  chirothecas  ferreas,  calcaria 
aurata,  sagittam,  falcem,  a  bow,  a  sword,  a  dagger,  a  lance,  gauntlet,  gilded  spurs, 
a  barbed  ai'row,  or  a  quiver,  etc. 

"  Radnights. — 1.  Thes  were  manyfeodal  vassals,  who  were  attendant  on  horsback, 
and  solely  to  attend  the  Lord,  and  wayt  upon  him.  Tlios  Avere  clients  on  horsback 
who  did  wayt  upon  his  Lord  and  his  Lady  by  compact  agreed  upon,  and  did  attend 
upon  liim  as  his  guard  cald  by  the  Saxons  Radknights,  or  attendants  on  horsback, 
as  such  at  this  day  we  call  Reteyners. 

"2.  But  to  greater  Lordships,  Baronys,  and  Manors,  did  antiently  belong  not  only 
Radmans,  but  likewis  Dapiferi,  SenescalU,  Camerarij,  Pincerrue,  Coqui,  Bordarij, 
ViUari,  Soc'tj  et  ancillcs. 

"  Servitmm  MUitare. — Milites  sen  Liberi  Tenentes  de  feodo  militare  debent, 
(Knights,  or  Free  Tenants  by  Knight's  fee)  ought, 

"  1.  Esse  in  custodia,  (to  be  in  wardsliip,)  if  under  age,  ad  21  years. 

"  2.  Relevare  terrain,  to  pay  relief  after  theu*  farthere  deues. 

"  3.  Homagium  facere,  to  perform  homage  and  fidelity  to  their  Lord. 

"  4.  Maritari  per  dominum,  to  be  marryd  by  the  Lord's  approbation. 

"  5.  Dotari  de  tertio,  to  be  endowed  with  the  tliirds  of  theii*  husband's  estate. 

"  6.  Soccagia  prcestare,  to  perform  their  fealty  and  other  dutys. 

"  7.  Primogenitus  succedit  in  toto.  Tlie  eldest  son  succeeds  in  the  whole 
estate. 

"  Tlios  milites  of  gi'eater  peers  are  sayd  to  hold  their  gi-eat  fees  in  feodo  Hauber- 
tico,  and  were  to  attend  the  king  in  liis  wars,  armed  cap-e-pe. 

"  Or,  in  feodo  Loricato,  according  to  the  custom*  of  Nonnandy,  and  were  com- 
manded to  attend  ad  Banmim  et  Retrobannum,  with  perfect  armes,  i.e.  a  horse,  his 
coat  of  mayle,  his  target,  his  lance,  sword,  and  helmet,  in  the  king's  domaines  for 
40  days,  but  of  late  times  so  long  without  the  kingdom,  and  within,  for  3  months, 
at  theii"  own  charg.  And  such  attendance  and  furniture  was  said  of  thos  that 
found  a  Demi  Lance.  But  whosoever  in  hostem  bannitus  fuerit,  (was  summoned 
against  the  enemy,)  and  did  not  come  accordingly,  payd  liis  full  Heribannmn,  soil. 
60s.,  or  was  to  deliver  liimself  up  ptro  Vadio  in  the  prince's  service,  until  liis  mult 
was  satisfied,  and  retrobannimi  was  a  2d  summons  to  the  warrs. 

"  Other  milites  hold  ther  fees  in  feodo  scut  agio,  and  cald  thos  that  are  of  the 
Valvasinorum,  and  held  j)er  servitmm  scuti,  sc.  per  scutagiimi,  (namely,  by  scutage,) 
and  are  not  only  cald  scutiferi,  but  also  armigeri  quod  Loricas  induebant,   and  so 

*  Kuerden  has  written  custody. 


78  Clje  W^tovn  of  m 

CHAP,  were  also  cald  Loricati,  and  were  to  attend  tlie  greater  as  Esquires,  and  beai-  Ids 
armour,  thence  cald  arinigeri. 

"  For,  observe  in  the  Heriots  of  such  Lords  what  provisions  martial  they  provided 
for  such  attendance,  and  if  thos  made  defect  m  then-  attend,  they  payd  their  scuta- 
ffium  to  their  Lord  as  a  mulct  for  then*  chsohecUonce. 

"  Lorica  was  annulis  ferreis  conserta,  (the  armour  cald  Lorica  was  composed  of 
iron  rings,)  and  was  cald  Haubergeon  quasi  armatura  milites,  cald  Hauerber,  and 
transferd  to  al  coats,  by  French  coats  of  maile.  Likewise  ther  was  another  sort  of 
thos  milites  that  held  per  feodum  vexilare,  (by  banner-fee.)  Such  were  Knight 
Banerets. 

"  (Kniffht  Banneret.) — Tliis  knight  was  to  appear  in  the  army,  ha\dng  liis  banner. 
He  shal  be  led  betwixt  2  other  kts.  before  the  K.  or  General,  bearing  his  penon  of 
armes  in  his  owne  hand,  in  the  presence  of  the  nobility  and  other  captans.  Then 
the  Herald  shal  say  to  the  K.  or  Gen. 

"  May  it  pleas  your  Grace  to  understand,  that  this  Gentleman  hath  shewed 
"  himself  in  the  field,  and  for  so  doing  desei'veth  to  be  advanced  to  the  degi'ee  of 
"  a  kt.  baneret,  as  worthy  from  henceforth  to  beare  a  banner  in  the  warrs." 


"  Tlien  the  Idng  shal  cause  the  points  of  liis  penon  or  guydon  to  be  rent,  and  the 
new  made  shal  go  to  Ids  Tent  between  2  other  kts.,  the  Trumpetts  sounding  al  the 
way  before  him,  ther  to  receive  (qu.  to  pay)  fees,  \ddel :  to  the  Herald  31.  6s.  8d.,  or 
if  before  he  were  a  knight  bachelor,  then  to  pay  also  unto  the  Trumpetts  20s.  Then 
ndght  at  least  25  knights  attend  on  Idra. 

"  A  Baneret,  and  every  Estate  above  him,  may  beai'e  Ids  Banner  displayed,  if  he 
be  a  Captain,  and  set  Ids  annes  therein. 

"  A  Banno  Retrobanno. — Bannum,  sometimes  talcen  for  an  EtUct  or 
Proclamation  towai'd  the  wars,  is  an  order  to  the  contrary  for  sm'cessing  of  the 
wars. 

"  Heribannum,  Haribannum, — Here  signifyeth  Exercitus,  a  mulct,  when 
necessity  compels  Avars  to  be  proclaimed  against  an  enemy. 

"  Heribannitus. — Amongst  the  Franks  and  Gemians  it  was  a  law,  when  the 
day  and  place  were  comanded,  and  accorchngly  each  man  cald  out  to  make  Idmself 
ready,  the  tenant  according  to  the  custom  of  Ids  fee,  prepai'ed  with  horse  and  arms, 
lest  for  his  absence  he  might  be  punished  with  the  loss  of  Ids  fee,  al  under  the 
penalty  of  both,  wldcli  if  he  payd  not  in  servitium  jrrincipis  mancipali  sunt  donee 
satisfaceret,  (in  the  sendee  of  the  Prince,  Ids  right  and  title  should  be  suspended 


Coiinti)  ^3alatmr  of  SLancaeitrr.  79 

until  he  gives  satisfaction.)     The  full  heribaunum  was  only  payd  hy  thos  who  61s.    chap. 
aestimatus  est  (valued  at  £6.)  and  who  were  esteemed  at  31s.  payd  only  30sh.,  and  ' 

2ls.  20sh.,  of  liiin  esteemed  at  20s.  paid  only  5s. 

"  Arribannum,  RETROBANNuai,  was  a  mulct  for  being  called  ud  bannum,  2nd 
time,  sc.  iterato  erocato  (again  called  out.) 

"  SocMANRiA,  or  SOCMANNIA, — Is  SO  cald  a  Soca,  qiue  privilegium  immunitatem 
et  libertatem  significat,  unde  venit  terrarum  ilia  tenura  apud  nos  possessionis  soccagia 
dicta.  Sumat  hoc  nomine  qd.  terra  eo  modo  possessa  sub  certis  scil.  et  nominatis  servitijs 
aqtiibus  cum  aliis  oneribus  immunis  fit  et  libera,  (from  soca,  wliich  signifies  privilege, 
immunity,  and  liberty,  whence  comes  that  tenure  of  lands  amongst  us,  called  Soccage 
of  the  possession.  Land  possessed  in  tliis  manner,  and  under  tliis  name,  is  exempt 
and  free  from  certain  named  sendees,  and  other  burdens.) 

"  Libera  Socmanria,  and  all  such  tenants,  L  [Noii]  possunt  dare  vel  vendere 
sed  ad  voluntatem  Dni.  (may  [not]  give  or  sell,  but  at  the  Lord's  will.)  2.  Nan 
aUenare  certa  servitia,  (may  not  alienate  sei-vices  that  are  ascertained.)  3.  Averinm 
masculum  non  vendere,  (may  not  sell  a  male  animal.)  4.  Filiam  non  maritare  nisi  dat 
domino  merchetam,  sc.  3s.  4d.  not  to  marry  then-  daughter,  unless  they  gift  the  lord 
for  merchet,  3s.  4d.  5.  Filium  omnino  nonfacere  clericum,  (not  to  make  their  son  a 
clergyman.) 

"  Thes  tenants  are  cald  Free  Socmanni.  1.  They  cannot  give  or  sell  without 
the  Lord's  good  liking,  lest  the  sen  ices  due  to  the  Lord  be  extinguished,  the  tenant 
being  reduced  to  poverty.  2.  He  cannot  enfeof  another  by  any  other  teniu-e  or  title 
than  he  hath,  lest  the  senices  be  so  extinguished.  3.  He  or  his  heir  cannot  be  made 
a  clergjnnau,  nor  take  a  religious  vow,  for  then  he  cannot  observe  his  fidelity  to  the 
Lord  for  defect  of  freedom. 

"  Tributs  incident  to  Knight  Service  Tenure.  Heriot,  or  Herigate, 
ought  to  be  payd  or  rendered  back  unto  the  Lord,  the  Tenements  being  now 
deprived  of  a  person  to  attend  the  Lord  in  waiT,  so  that  the  tenant  is  now  requii-ed 
to  deliver  up  Ms  wariike  furniture,  the  better  to  provide  liimself  in  the  Interim,  and 
not  to  be  unfurnished;  and  when  a  new  tenant  is  fit  for  service,  to  be  reclaimed 
unto  liira. 

"  Warda. — Fees  may  return  unto  the  Lord's  hand  for  defect  of  service,  as  not 
to  go  to  batl  with  tiie  Lord,  or  for  breach  of  fidelity. 

"  Probatio  iETATis,  (Trial  of  Age.)*  Assysa  Com.  Derby.  Each  person  of  the 
Town  of  Derby,  of  the  age  of  15  years,  according  to  the  custome  time  out  of  mind, 
may  sell  or  give  thefr  tenement,  and  shal  be  esteemed  of  full  age,  when  he  knows 

*  Previous  to  the  abolition  of  wards  and  liveries,  it  was  customary  to  try  whether  a  king's  tenant 
was  of  full  age,  by  a  writ  of  ^tate  Probanda. 


80  Cftf  ?Sie!toi-j)  of  tf)f 

CHAP,    how  to  count  20sli.  or  measiu-e  cloath,  or  weigh  merchandise,  and  the  like  custome 
"•       for  a  woman.     Rot.  5  PI.  de  T.  Pasc.     Claus.  G.  E.  I. 

"  AssiGNATio  DoTis. — DotaUum  est  usuj'ructus  partis  terrcB  et  bonorum  mariti 
quam  uxori  propter  miplias  ut  eo  post  suam  mortem  alatur.  (DoAviy  is  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  portion  of  tlie  land  and  goods  of  the  liusband  given  to  the  wife  in  conse- 
quence of  the  marriage,  that  she  may  be  maintained  after  his  death.) 

"  Maritagium — is  sayd  to  be  that  the  pupil  or  ward  depends  upon  his  feudal 
Lord  for  license  to  contract  maryage  or  nuptialls  Avitli  any  one.  By  reason  of  the 
feudal  Lord  having  the  wardship  of  an  Infant,  ought  not  to  have  a  husband  intro- 
duced to  liis  charg  tliat  might  p'liaps  be  liis  enemy;  therefore  he  ought  to  give 
license  or  approbation  for  sucli  tenant  to  marry. 

"  Releuium. — Ingress  or  Introitus  into  the  estate  is  when  some  honorable  gift 
or  perfoiTuance  that  a  new  tenant  of  fuU  age,  if  he  has  been  ward  after  the  death  of 
his  ancestor,  bestowed  upon  liis  feodal,  for  obtaining  of  liis  new  inheritance ;  becaxise 
at  the  death  of  the  tenant  the  lands  or  fees  seemed  decidisse  se,  to  ha-v  e  been  taken 
into  the  Lord's  hands  until  again  redeemed  with  some  small  gift  bestowed  upon  the 
Lord  in  token  of  subjection,  that  it  might  be  lawful  for  heirs  to  new  tenements  to 
take  up  their  a  ill. 
Feudal  "  Fealty. — Particular  fealty  amongst  tho  English  doth  individually  concentrat 

al  tenui'es  and  dismissions  for  the  shortest  term,  and  now  a  days  it  is  more  spaiingly 
exercised,  yet  it  can  by  no  means  be  released  sine  tenuree  interitu,  (mthout  the 
destruction  of  the  tenure.) 

Ancient  Oath  of  Fidelity  (St.  Edw,  Conf.  cap.  35.) — 

"  Thou  shalt  swear  from  this  day  forward,  thou  shalt  be  faithful  and  loyal  to  our  Sovereign 
"  Lord  the  King  and  his  heirs,  and  thou  shalt  owe  to  him  faith  and  loyalty,  of  life  and  limb,  and 
"  al  worldly  honor,  and  thou  shalt  know  neither  of  any  evil  or  damage  wliich  thou  to  thy  power 
"  shalt  not  prevent.     So  help  thee  God." 

The  Oath  of  Fidelity  wliich  all  Tenants  by  reason  of  their  fee  shall  take  : — 

"  I  swear  by  God's  Evangelists,  that  from  this  day  forward  I  will  bear  faith  to  him  as  a 
"  vassall  to  the  Lord ;  nor  any  thing  that  under  the  name  of  fealty  is  commanded  of  me  will  I 
"  disclose  to  others  to  his  detriment,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge." 

"  These  six  things  included  in  the  oath,  according  to  those  two  verses,  explaned. 

"  Incolume  et  tutum  ;  sicut  utile  semper  honestum  ; 
"  Possibile  et  facile  ;  et  consule  adfer  opem." 

"  Homage — Is  a  solemn,  strict,  and  humble  kind  of  service,  that  a  man,  by 
reason  of  liis  tenure  or  fee,  performeth  to  liis  Lord.  Each  new  successor  into  a 
feodal  inheritance,  is  bound  witliin  a  yeai-  to  appear  before  liis  Lord,  and  unarmed. 


oaths. 


Countp  palatine  of  Sanrastfr.  8i 

bai-eheaded,  and  falling  down  upon  his  knees,  and  liis  hands  held  together  within  the     chai*. 

hands  of  his  Lord,  sitting  down  as  if  he  would  worsliip  him,  shall  speake  to  lum   '. — 

after  tliis  manner : — 

"  I  become  your  man  from  tliis  day  forward,  of  life  and  limb,  and  terrene  honour,  I  shal  be 
"  true  and  faithfuU  to  you,  and  I  shal  bear  faith  to  you  for  the  lands  I  hold  of  you,  saving  the 
"  faith  to  our  Soverain  Lord  the  King  and  his  heirs." 

"  This  having  spoken,  the  Lord  kissetli  him,  and  the  vassall  standeth  up  forth- 
with. The  tenant's  hands  being  closed  within  the  Lord's  hands,  signifyeth,  as 
Bracton  saith,  lib.  2  cap.  35.,  on  the  Lord's  part  protection,  defending,  waranty,  and 
on  the  Tenant's  part  reverence  and  subjection. 

"  Civil  Services — Is  L  to  a])pear  at  the  Lord's  Manor  Court,  amongst  other  Civic  ser- 
of  his  tenants.  2.  To  take  recognizance  of  the  affayres  of  the  lordship.  3.  Censum 
reddere  (to  pay  liis  rents).  4.  Auxilia,  operas,  consuetudines  usitatas  prcestare, 
to  pay  liis  rents,  and  to  perform  the  aydes,  boons,  and  usual  customs.  But  care  is  to 
be  taken  in  the  statute  of  18  Edw.  I.  tliat  none  after  that  time  shall  give  lands  to  be 
held  of  hunself,  but  of  tlie  superior  lord  of  the  same,  from  the  time  that  clause,  scil.  de 
vie  et  haredibus  meis  (namely,  of  me  and  my  heirs)  Avas  no  longer  to  be  found  in 
Charters. 

"  Marcheta  Mulierum. — Merch,  in  the  Cimbric  language,  signifyed  a  daugh-  Marcheta. 
ter  or  woman,  and  March,  what  is  paid  for  the  daughter's  marriage.  Alluding  to 
the  custom  of  Scotland,  that  both  noble  servants  and  mercenary  women  payd  ther 
marchet — her  maixhet  shall  be  one  heifer,  or  3  slullings  et  rectum  servieiiti,  (and 
what  is  proper  for  the  servant).  The  daughter  of  a  freeman,  not  Lord  of  a  Manor, 
shal  pay  one  Cow  or  6  slullings,  servient.  3d.  2.  Merchet  of  a  Thain,  2  Cowes  or 
12  sh.,  servient.  12d.  3.  Eai'l's  daughter,  12  Cowes  to  the  Queen.  Skenaeus  sayth 
the  Margat  of  a  thein's  or  ogethern  daughter,  is  twakids,  or  12d.  sc.  2  httle  goats. 
This  marchet  or  mulct  by  litle  and  litle  spread  over  England,  upon  the  maiiag  of  a 
bonchnan's  daughter,  but  did  not  belong  to  any  freeman's  daughter.* 

ScuTAGiUM,  EscuAGE. — The  service  as  equally  due  unto  inferior  Lords,  as  to 
the  King,  obliging  his  tenants  to  attend  the  Lord,  against  the  Welsh,  Scotch,  or 
French,  in  his  wars  for  a  certain  munber  of  days  at  liis  own  expense ;  and  if  not,  a 
pecuniaiy  ayd  to  be  contributed,  but  who  attended  the  K.  were  in  pai-dons  or  par- 

*  Kuerden,  or  rather  Spelman,  speaks  in  allusion  to  the  custom  of  Scotland,  which  is  thus 
described  by  Buchanan:  Malcolm,  who  reigned  in  1057,  is  said  to  have  procured,  at  the  entreaty  of 
his  wife,  that  law  of  king  Eugenius,  by  which  nobles  were  entitled  to  sleep  with  the  bride  of  his  vassal 
on  the  wedding  night,  and  obtained  for  the  husband  the  privilege  of  redeeming  it  by  paying  half  a 
mark  of  silver,  a  fine  still  called  Mercheta  Mulierum,  payable  to  the  lord  on  the  marriage  of  a  tenant's 
daughter. — Hist.  Rer.  Scot.  lib.  vii.  cap.  21. 

VOL.  I.  M 


82  €i)t  1l?i5torp  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    doned,  and  were  to  have  a  Scutagium  from  tlie  tenants.     Tliey  were  scutiferi,  and 
'       attended  not  on  the  Lord  in  the  field. 

"  Libera  Socmanria. — The  Oath  of  Fealty  for  Soccage  Tenui-e,  17  Edw.  IL 
was  as  follows  : — 

"  Hear  me,  my  Lord  K.,  I,  A.  B.  will  bear  faith  and  loyalty  to  you  for  the  lands  I  hold  of 
"  you,  and  I  will  justly  performe  the  Customes  which  I  ought  to  do  to  you  at  times  appointed. 
"  So  help  me  God,  and  his  holy  Angels."  And  so  shall  kisse  the  Book. 

"  Socmanria,  Coteria,  Customarij. — Curtillum  est  parva  curtis  prcedictam 
signat  rusticam  cum  adscriptitis  pr<Bdijs,  (Curtillum  is  a  small  cm-tis  (house)  Tvith 
lands  attached  to  it.)  Curtis  est  mansio  ad  inhalntandum  cum  tcrris  et  imssessionihus 
pcrtinenfihus,  (is  a  small  house  to  dwell  in,  with  lands  and  possessions  belonging  to 
it.)  And  the  inhabitants  are  cald  cottarij  or  nativi,  who  have  country  habitations  at 
the  Lord's  pleasure,  and  ai"e  cald  customary  tenants,  and  hold  in  Bondagio  per 
voluntatem  curice  seu  manerij,  (in  Bondage  by  the  will  of  the  Court  or  Manor,)  or  in 
villenage,  wliich  properly  signify  the  service  due  from  a  villain,  i.e.  conditloni  colo- 
nario  pro  vel  vide  adscriptio  glebes* 

"  Nativus — Is  taken  from  liim  that  is  born  Servus. 

"  BoNDi — Are  those  qui  pactionis  vinculo  se  astrinxerunt  in  servitutem,  (who 
have  tied  themselves  to  servitude  by  a  bond  of  agreement,)  for  Bondi,  in  Latin, 
vinculum  (a  bond),  Bondi  are  quasi  astricti  nuncupantur,  (are  so  called  as  if  bound.) 
Extent.  teiT.  et  tent  Dom.  D.  Lane,  26.  Edw.  3.  Altcar. 

"  Villani — are  those  qui  glehce  ascripti,  (who  being  ascribed,  enrolled,  or 
registered  of  the  glebe,)  till  the  Lord's  domains ;  nor  can  depart  from  thence  without 
the  Lord's  pennission.  They  ai-e  called  villani  from  their  Uying  in  the  country,  and 
they  for  the  most  part  are  exercised  in  operibus  sordidis. 

"  Nativi. — Most  of  the  nati\i  held  a  small  quantity  of  land,  thereupon  cald 
cotarij  (cottagers),  for  wliich  yeai-ly  they  paid  a  rent,  as  likewise  jjro  operibus  falca- 
tione  pratormn  Domini,  (for  performing  services  in  mowing  the  Lord's  meadows,) 
and  pro  focali  ad  donium  seu  aulam  Di,  pro  casis  ad  maremium  pro  cBdificiis  domorum 
aut  castri  dni,  (for  firing  (fuel)  to  the  house  or  haU  [to  bring]  timber  for  the  building 
of  the  Lord's  house  or  castle) ;  neither  cold  they  many  theii*  daughter,  or  suffer  their 
son  to  be  shorn  a  monk — he  shall  be  praepositus  (perhaps  overlooker,  in  this  place) 
of  liis  Lord's  manor  rustic,  when  he  is  elected  thereunto,  requiiing  nothing  for  his 
pay.  They  are  to  plow,  haiTow,  reape  the  Lord's  corn,  and  bring  it  to  liis  barn,  and 
pay  marchet  for  theii*  daughter's  marriage. 
Drenches.  "  DRENCHES  ad  soccagium  pertinent,  (Drenches  belong  to  soccage,)  Domesday 
Book,  Cestrescer,  (between    Ribble   and   Mersey.)      Rogerius  Pictavensis   tenuit 

*  Not  intelligibly  quoted. 


Coiintp  ^aalatinr  of  aanrastrr.  83 

Newton-    Hnjtis   manerii   aliam   terram   XV  homines   quos   Drenches   vocabunt.    chap. 

In  villa  de  Walinton,  and  to  that  Manor,  belong  34  berewicks.     It  is  manifest,    L 

that  these  Drengs  were  e  grege  rassallonnn  et  servorum  domeslicorum,  (of  the 
tribe  of  domestic  vassals  and  serfs,)  wliich  at  tliis  day  are  called  amongst  the 
Danes  in  the  singular  number  Dreng,  and  in  the  plund  Drenge.  According  to 
Tacitus,  Drenges  were  not  inconsiderable  persons.  Each  of  them  in  Domesday 
Book  possessed  a  Manor.*  Edwin  de  Sliii-burne,  and  some  others,  who  were  ejected 
e  terris  suis  (from  then-  lands),  went  to  the  Conqueror,  and  told  liim  that  they, 
neither  before  the  conquest,  nor  afterwards,  did  oppose  the  King  by  then-  counsel  or 
aid,  but  kept  themselves  in  peace,  and  this  tliey  were  ready  to  prove.  Whereupon 
the  king  caused  an  inquirendum  to  be  made  thi'oughout  all  England,  whether  it  was 
so ;  and  indeed  it  was  proved.  Whereupon  the  king  commanded  that  they  should 
be  restored  to  theu-  lands,  and  doni[inatlon^es  adeo  integre  et  in  pace  nt  unquam 
habuerunt  vel  teniierunt  ante  conquestum  suum.  Et  quod  ipsi  in  poster  umvocarentur 
Drenges.  (Domains  as  completely  and  peaceably  as  ever  they  had  or  held  them  before 
the  conquest.  And  that  they  (the  owners)  should  for  the  future  be  called  Drengs. 
But  it  is  to  be  understood,  that  all  they  and  their  ancestors,  who  were  of  the  class 
of  Drengs,  either  held  by  Drengage  tenure,  or  had  dwelt  upon  then-  paternal  estates 
previous  to  the  coming  in  of  the  Normans.  These  Drenches  held  each  a  manor,  called, 
"  Bereuuica,  or  Berewick. — Bereuuicha,  Berewicka,  Berewichus,  Berewick, 
all  signify  the  same,  and  most  of  them  a  Manor,  or  rather  part  of  a  Manor,  a  corpore 
dissitum  (distinct  from  the  body),  Villida  vel  Hamleta  Manerij  seu  Domiuij  (the 
village  or  hamlet  of  a  Manor  or  Domain),  a  lesser  Manor  belonging  to  a  gi'eater. 
Berewichi  were  not  placed  in  the  heart  of  a  Manor,  but  either  on  the  confines,  or 
sometimes  they  were  Manors  disjoined.  Sometunes  they  seemed  to  be  Manors  stiis 
partibus  absoluta  (perfect  in  theii-  own  parts),  and  containing  many  carucates  of  land, 
various  ser\ices,  many  liheri  homines,  socmanni,  BordariJ,  vil Ian i,  according  to  Domes- 
day Book.  And  to  some  capital  Manors  belonged  many  Berewicks,  Domes.  '  Our 
King  held  Chideminster  with  18  Berewicks.'  Domesday,  Titulo  Cestreshire  (between 
Ribble  and  Mersey).  Rog.  Pictavensis  Newton;  hiijus  Manerij  aliam  terram  15 
homines  quos  Drenches  vocabunt  pro  15  manerij  tenebant,  sed  hijtis  manerij  Bere- 
wicks erant,  (Roger  de  Poictou  held  Newton.  Fifteen  men,  whom  they  called 
Drenches,  held  other  land  of  tliis  manor,  for  fifteen  manors,  but  they  were  Bere- 
wicks of  this  manor.)  From  wliich  it  appears,  that  splenchd  Manors  qiiee  a  majori 
aliquo  tenebantur,  (wliich  were  held  from  some  ancestor,)  were  called  Berewicks,  and 
had  sometimes  within  themselves  maneria  minorum,  sc.  Dominicorum  sedes  et 
patrimonia,  (manors  of  the  smaller  domams,  viz: — seats  and  patiimonies.) 

*  See  Newton  Hundred,  Domesday. 
31  2 


84  CI)f  Historp  of  tfje 

CHAP.  "  Those  fanners  of  these  Berewicks  resembled  those  foster-fathers,  or  niu'se- 

"  dads,  as  they  are  called  in  the  country  parts.  The  custom  of  Drengage  tenure 
being  to  provide  meat  and  drink  or  food  for  their  Lords,  nurse  cliildi-en,  wash 
horses  and  dogs,  and  for  this  duty  might  well,  according  to  the  Saxon  language,  be 
styled  Drenches,  like  nursing-fathers;  and  so  might  these  Berewicks  in  some 
measure  resemble  releefs.  These  Drenches  were  a  kiud  of  Socmanni,  having  land 
set  apart  for  them  as  husbandmen,  who  proportionally,  according  to  their  tenements, 
should  render  unto  their  Lord  some  fruits  of  then-  labours,  sc.  corn,  vestments,  and 
victuals,  and  other  necessaries  for  tlieir  Lord's  use ;  and  in  time  of  war,  victuals  and 
clotliing  for  the  soldiers,  and  were  so  freed  from  military  services  in  their  own 
person,  wliich  gave  occasion  to  the  Conqueror  to  restore  their  lands,  having  not  any 
wise  opposed  biTn  before  or  after  the  Conquest."* 

*  For  the  Capitanei  Regni,  and  the  offices  and  duties  belonging  to  theii'  fees,  see  Chapter  III. ; 
and  for  the  Earls  Palatine,  the  Counts  Palatine,  the  Shyregereve  or  Sheriffs,  see  Chapter  IV. 


Countj)  |3alatiite  of  I.ancaeittr< 


85 


Cijap,  Mh 


Conduct  of  the  Conqueror. — Unsuccessful  revolt  m  the  North  against  his  authority.— York  superior 
to  London  (Note). — Proscriptions. — Early  manners. — Renewed  insurrection. — City  and  cathedral 
of  York  destroyed. — William  marches  again  to  the  North. — Fate  of  Earls  Morcar  and  Edwin. — 
Tremendous  infliction.— Royal   grant.— The  Conqueror's  dealings  with  the  clergy.— Domesday 

survey. How  formed. — ^The  name  of  Lancashire  not  in  the  Domesday  Book. — Perpetual  use  of 

this  memorable  survey. — Latin  and  English  versions  of  it. — Observations  of  the  Domesday  Book. — 

■jlianes. Ethlino-s. — Aldermen.— The  honor  of  Lancaster. — ^The  Norman  barons  of  Lancashire. — 

Their  stations. Pedigree  of  Roger  de  Poictou,  the  first   Norman   baron  of  the   honor. — The 

honor  forfeited  by  Roger. — Conferred  on  Ranulf,  the  third  earl  of  Chester. 


CHAP. 
III. 


O  sooner  was  the  Norman  conqueror  seated  on  the 
throne  of  England,  than  he  hegan  to  exercise  the 
power  of  conquest  with  all  the  rigour  wliicli  the  Conduct 
jealousy  of  liis  own  niind,  and  the  insubordinate  queror. 
disposition  of  his  new  subjects,  dictated.  The  doc- 
trines inciUcated  by  Macluavel,  in  liis  instructions  to 
conquering  princes,  were  practised  by  William  of 
Normandy  in  England,  five  centuries  before  they 
were  promulgated  by  the  Italian  poUtician.  He  left 
no  art  untried,   to  root  out  the  ancient  nobility,   to 

curb   the  power  of  the  established  clergy,   or   to  reduce  the  commonalty   to  the 

lowest  state  of  penury  and  dependence. 

Earls  Morcar  and  Edwin,  who  had  so  successfully  resisted  the  tyrannical  power  Unsuc- 

rp         •         cessful  re- 

of  earl  Tosti,  were  among  the  first  to  revolt  from  the  yoke  of  the  tyi-ant.     1  o  give  voit  in  the 
eflFect  to  their  resistance,  they  raised  forces  in  Lancashire  and  Cheshire,  as  well 
as  in  the  other  northern  counties,  and  fixed  upon  the  celebrated  Northumbrian 
capital,  the  city  of  York,  then  amongst  the  fii-st  cities  in  the  kingdom,  superior  even 


86 


€l)t  W^tOYv  of  tht 


CHAP. 

III. 


Proscrip- 
tiuns. 


Early 
manners. 


to  London,*  as  their  strong  hold.  This  alanning  revolt  the  Conqueror  hastened  to 
subdue ;  and  such  was  the  violence  of  his  rage,  that,  on  liis  way  to  the  north,  he 
swore  repeatedly,  by  the  "  splendour  of  God,"  that  he  would  not  leave  a  soul  of  the 
insui'gents  alive.  The  strength  of  the  Saxon  barons  was  increased  by  the  junction 
of  a  hu'ge  force  under  Betliwm,  king  of  North  Wales.  Preliminary  to  liis  amval, 
WUHam  had  suspended  Morcar,  and  appointed  Robert  de  Comyn,  a  Norman  baron, 
to  the  eai-ldom  of  Northiunberland.  The  orders  given  to  Robert  were,  to  subdue 
the  refractory  spiiit  of  the  people,  without  regard  to  the  shedding  of  blood  ;*  and  a 
guard  of  seven  huncked  men  was  placed  around  his  person.  The  intrepid  Northmn- 
brians,  roused  by  a  sense  of  theii-  own  wrongs,  and  by  the  incUgnity  offered  to  the 
eai-1  Morcar,  rose  in  open  insurrection,  and  put  to  death  the  Norman,  with  every 
incUvidual  composing  his  guard.  The  first  measure  taken  by  William,  on  liis  arrival 
at  York ,  was,  to  offer  mercy  to  the  insurgents,  on  then-  submission  to  liis  authority ; 
and  the  chiefs,  finding  themselves  unequal  to  contend  Avith  the  power  that  was 
brought  against  them,  accepted  the  proffered  clemency.  The  eai'ls  Morcar  and 
Edwin,  accompanied  by  Gospatric,  and  Edgai*  Atheling,  theii'  lawfid  prince,  fled  into 
Scotland  under  the  protection  of  king  Malcolm. 

Unmindfid  of  that  general  amnesty  wluch  he  had  offered,  the  Conqueror  directed 
the  most  sevei'e  proscription  against  the  Saxon  inliabitants  of  these  regions,  hundreds 
of  whom  fell  under  the  cruel  inflictions  of  the  Normans.  The  Saxon  Clironicle,  in 
recording  the  iiitercom'se  which  arose  between  the  members  of  the  fugitive  English 
nobles  and  the  Scotch  court,  exhibits  a  striking  instance  of  the  manners  of  the 
times.  "  Then,"  say  the  clu'oniclers,  "  began  king  Malcolm  to  yearn  after  the  cliild's 
sister  Margaret  to  wife,  (that  is,  the  sister  of  Edgar  Atheling,)  but  Atheling  and  all 
his  men  long  refused ;  and  she  also  herself  Avas  averse,  and  said,  that  she  would 
neither  have  him,  nor  any  one  else,  if  the  supreme  Power  would  gi-ant,  that  she,  in 
her  maidenhood,  might  please  the  Almighty  Lord,  Avitli  a  carnal  heart  in  this  short 
life,  in  pure  continence.  The  king,  however,  earnestly  urged  her  brother,  till  he 
answered.  Yea.  And  indeed  he  durst  do  no  otherways,  for  they  were  come  into  his 
kingdom  *  *  *  *  Tlie  kmg,  therefore,  received  her,  though  it  was  against 
her  will,  and  was  pleased  with  her  manners,  and  thanked  God,  who  in  liis  might 


*  "  Ye  shaul  understaund,  that  in  those  dayes  the  Cyte  of  London  had  much  building  from 
Ludgate  towards  Westminster,  and  little  or  non  wher  these  or  part  of  the  Cyte  is  now,  except  that  in 
diverse  places  stoode  housing  ;  but  they  stoode  out  of  ordere.  So  many  Townes  or  Cytes  as  York, 
Canterbury,  and  diverse  othere  in  Englande,  passed  London  for  buylding  in  those  dayes,  but  after 
the  conquest  it  increased,  and  shortly  aftere  passed  all  others." — J.  Haudynge,  floruit  temp. 
Hen.  V. 

*  Wal.  Hemingford,  Canon  of  Gisburgh. 


Couutj)  palatine  of  i.anrasitn%  87 

had  given  him  such  a  match.     He  wisely  bethought  himself,  as  he  was  a  prudent    chap. 
man,  and  turned  liimself  to  God,  and  renounced  all  impiety ;  accordingly,  as  the  " 

apostle  Paid,  the  teacher  of  the  Gentiles,  saith, '  Salvabitur  vu-  infidelis  per  mulierem 
fidelem;  sic  et  muUer  iniideUs  per  \ii-um  fidelem,'  &c.  Tliis  queen  aforesaid 
perforaied  many  useful  deeds  in  tliis  land  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  also  in  her  royal 
estate  she  well  conducted  herself,  as  her  natui-e  was.  Of  a  faithfid  and  nohle  king 
was  she  sprung.  Her  father  was  Edward  AtheUng,  son  of  king  Edmund  ;  and  her 
maternal  kindi'ed  goeth  to  the  emperor  Henry,  who  had  the  sovereignty  over  Rome  ; 
and  from  tliis  man-iage  a  long  race  of  Scottish  Idngs  of  Great  Britain,  lineally 
descended." 

To  guard  against  a  sui-prise,  the  Conqueror  caused  numerous  castles  to  be 
erected  in  the  north  of  England ;  and  in  the  city  of  York  two  castles  sprung  up 
under  the  direction  of  the  Normans.     These  precautious  were  not  confined  to  inland 
fortifications;  they  extended  also  to  the  coast,  and  the  castles  of  Lancaster  and  of  a.d.ioto. 
Liverpool,  on  the  Lune  and  the  Mersey,  were  both  erected  diu-ing  the  early  part  of  Lancaster 
the  Conqueror's  reign,  by  Roger  de  Poictou,  one  of  the  most  cUstinguished  amongst  pooi^'cas" 
the  Norman  bai-ons.     Notwithstanding  the   severity  practised  by  William  on  the  g^f  '^''*'^'" 
suppression  of  the  first  insurrection,  he  allowed  the  earls  Morcar  and  Edwin  to 
retain  their  estates  in  Lancasliire,  Yorksliii-e,  and  Cheshire,  though  he  extended  the 
rigours  of  confiscation  over  the  lands  of  many  of  their  followers.     The  forfeitures, 
attainders,  and  other  acts  of  violence,  soon  produced  another  insurrection.     The 
inhabitants  of  York,  rising  in  arms,  slew  Robert  Fitz-Richard,  the  governor,*  and  Renewed 
besieged  in  the  castle  WilUam  Mallet,  on  whom  the  command  had   devolved.     At  tion. 
this  jmicture  two  of  the  sons  of  king  Sweyne,  A\itli  two   huncbed  and   forty  ships, 
anived  from  Demnark,  under  the  command  of  duke  Osborne,  brother  to  the  king. 
Tlie  troops  disembarked  on  the  bank  of  the  Humber,  where  they  were  met  by  Edgar 
AtheUng,  and  eaids  Waltheof  and  Gospatric,  Anth  large  le\ies  of  Northumbrians 
from  Yorksliire,  Lancasliire,  Cumberland,  and  Durham,  "  riding  and  marcliing," 
says  the  Saxon  Chi-onicle,  "  full  menily,  towards  York." 

The  Nonnan  governor,  that  he  might  the  better  provide  for  the  secmity  of  the  a.d.iogo. 
citadel,  and  prevent  the  insurgents  from  finding  a  lodgment  under  the  walls,  set  fu"e  The  city  of 
to  the  subiu-bs.     The  consequences  of  this  liazardous  expedient  Avere  most  tenific.  stioyed. 
The  wind  wafted  the  flames  to  the  city,  and  the  conflagi'ation  spread  with  such 
uncontrollable  fury,  that  a  great  number  of  the  houses  were  consumed.    The  ancient 
cathedi-al,  amongst  the  most  renowned  in  the  kingdom,  was  burnt  to  the  ground ;  and 
with  it  was  consumed,  to  the  in-eparable  loss  of  learaing,  the  celebrated  library,  accu- 
mulated by  the  learned  Alcuin,  about  the  year  800,  under  the  auspices  of  arch- 

*  Order.  Vital,  p.  512. 


88  Clje  ?i)l£itOl-J)  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    bishop  Eebert.     On  this  fatal  day,  the  ancient  splendour  of  York  was  obscured,  and 
III  . 

'      the  sun  of  that  city's  glory  has  never  since  shone  forth  with  its  former  brightness. 

The  enraged  inhabitants,  incited  to  desperation  by  this  incendiary  act,  rose  against 
the  governor ;  and,  being  joined  by  the  Danes,  and  the  insurgents  from  the  adjoin- 
ing countiy,  who  were  already  at  the  gates,  they  carried  tlie  castle  by  assault,  and 
put  all  the  garrison,  consisting  of  tlu'ee  thousand  men,  to  the  sword.  The  flame  of 
insurrection,  lighted  up  amongst  the  brave  Northimibrians,  spread  into  other  parts  of 
the  kingdom ;  but  the  king,  well  aware  that  the  most  imminent  danger  existed  in  the 
William  counties  of  Yorkslm-e  and  Lancasliire,  determined  to  march  once  more  against  them, 
again  to  and,  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  a  2)owerful  ai-my,  he  left  London,  to  take  his 
revenge  upon  the  insurgents.  By  common  consent,  earl  Waltheof  was  appointed 
governor  of  the  city  of  York  by  the  Saxon  biu'ons,  while  the  Danish  general  took 
up  his  intrencliments  between  the  Humber  and  the  Trent,  in  order  to  keep  the 
Normans  in  check. 

On  the  arrival  of  WUliam  and  liis  army  before  York,  he  sent  his  summons  to  the 
governor,  offering  liim  clemency,  if  he  sm-rendered  promptly ;  but  threatening  the 
most  terrible  vengeance,  if  he  attempted  to  witlistand  liis  authority. 

Finthng  himself  placed  between  two  armies,  the  Danes  and  the  Anglo-Saxons, 
he  had  recourse  to  an  expedient;  and,  by  tlie  force  of  bribes  offered  to  Osborn,  the 
Danish  general,  accompanied  by  a  permission  to  plunder  the  people  on  the  coast, 
whom  he  had  come  to  protect,  the  perfidious  Dane  was  induced  to  re-embark,  and  to 
retiu-n  with  his  aimy  to  liis  own  countiy.  Deserted  by  his  allies,  Waltheof  was  left 
to  rely  solely  upon  the  valour  and  constancy  of  his  own  men,  and  upon  such  supplies 
as  they  could  obtain  secretly  from  the  surrouncUng  country.  AVilliam  pushed  on  the 
siege  with  Aigour,  and  was  not  less  vigorously  resisted.  A  breach  ha\Tng  been  made 
in  the  walls  by  the  engines  of  the  besiegers,  the  governor  himself  being  a  man  of 
prodigious  might  and  strength,  stood  single  in  the  breach,  and  cut  off  the  heads  of 
several  Normans  who  attempted  to  enter.*  For  six  months  the  siege  was  sustained, 
and  the  struggle  was  sanguinaay  and  exliausting  ;  and  it  was  not  till  William  had 
reinforced  the  besieging  army  again  and  again,  that  he  gained  possession  of  the 
city.  Famine  at  length  effected  what  force  could  not  achieve;  and  William  not  only 
promised  forgiveness  to  the  governor,  but  also  the  most  reasonable  tenns  to  liis  troops, 
on  the  condition  of  surrender.  Under  the  influence  of  that  atlmiration  which  bravery 
inspu-es  amongst  the  brave,  the  Conqueror  gave  to  Waltheof  liis  niece  Judith, 
daughter  of  the  countess  Albemarle,  in  maniage,  and  created  lum  also  earl  of 
Northumberland.  The  reconciliation  was  only  temporary.  William,  impatient  of 
oiiposition,  brought  the  gallant  earl  to  the  block,   on  account  of  another  conspiracy, 

*  William  of  Malmsbury. 


Comitp  ^3alatinc  of  Sanragtn-,  89 

and  this  was  the  first  nobleman  whose  life  was  terminated  in  England  by  deca-    chap. 
pitation. 


Eai-ls  Morcar  and  Edwin,  no  longer  able  to  sustain  their  own  dignity,  or  Fate  of 
to  preserve  the  public  rights,  quitted  the  seats  of  their  eai'ldoms  in  Northum-  rarand"'' 
bria  and  Mercia.  Edwin,  in  attempting  to  make  his  escape  into  Scotland, 
was  betrayed  by  some  of  liis  followers,  and  killed  by  a  party  of  Nonnans,  to  the 
deep  affliction  of  the  men  of  Lancasliii-e  and  Cheshu-e,  where  the  ardour  of  his 
patriotism,  and  his  personal  accomplishments,  had  gained  all  heai-ts;  while  earl 
Morcai-  was  throwii  into  prison,  and  consigned  to  future  obscurity.  Lucia,  the  sister 
of  the  earls  Morcar  and  Ed^rin,  was  presented  in  marriage  to  Ivo  Talbois,  the  first 
baron  of  Kendal,  who  came  over  -with  the  Conqueror.  Tliis  baron  was  distin- 
guished by  the  favour  of  his  prince,  who  granted  to  him  that  part  of  Lancasliire 
which  adjoins  to  Westmoreland,  as  well  as  the  confiscated  lands  of  his  wife's  brother 
in  Lincolusliii'e. 

William  viewed  the  inhabitants  of  this  district  as  the  most  fonrddable  Tremen- 
enemies  to  liis  power;  and  in  order  to  satiate  liis  rage,  and  to  prevent  further  flictio'n. 
resistance,  he  razed  the  city  of  York  to  the  ground;  and  with  it  fell  many  of 
the  principal  nobUity  and  gentry,  as  well  as  the  humbler  inhabitants.  Nor  did 
his  implacable  vengeance  rest  here ;  he  laid  waste  the  whole  of  the  fertile  countiy 
between  the  Hiunber  and  the  Tees,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  so  that,  for  nine 
years  afterwards,  neither  spade  nor  plough  was  put  hito  the  gi'ound.*  If  any  of 
the  wi-etched  inhabitants  escaped,  they  were  reserved  for  a  more  lingering  fate, 
being  forced  through  famine  to  eat  dogs  and  cats,  horses,  and  even  human  flesh. 
So  unsparing  was  the  destniction,  that  the  inhabitants  could  scarcely  recognize 
then-  o^vn  lands ;  and  when  the  Domesday  Book  was  compiled,  though  the  survey 
was  not  conunenced  till  ten  years  afterwards,  many  townships  remained  uncul- 
tivated, wliich  is  the  reason  why  Wasta  so  often  occurs  in  the  Domesday  .Survey 
of  Yorkshu-e.  In  that  part  of  tliis  ancient  document  which  concerns  Lancasliii-e, 
the  returns  are  principally  made,  though  not  under  the  head  of  a  distinct  county ; 
and  a  presumption  naturally  arises,  that  the  Conqueror's  severity  was  practised 
with  less  rigour  between  the  Mersey  and  the  Duddon,  than  between  the  Humber 
and  tlife  Tees.  In  the  north  of  Lancashire,  included  within  the  ancient  hmits 
of  Richmondshu-e,  several  vacancies  are  found;  and  in  the  south-eastern  pail 
of  the  district,  between  the  Kibble  and  the  Mersey,  the  scanty  return  of  names 
may  be  accounted  for,  by  the  vicinity  of  that  part  of  Salfordsliii-e  to  the  devoted 
county  of  York. 

*  Malms,  p.  103.  Knighton.     Ingulf,  p.  79.     Sim.  of  Diir.  p.  199. 
VOL.   I.  jj 


90 


Cftf  ?}isttirp  of  tbe 


CHAP. 
III. 


Royal 
L'rant. 


An  act  of  state,  issued  by  the  Conqueror  while  he  was  in  this  part  of  the  king- 
dom, is  alike  curious  for  the  freedom  of  style,  and  the  comprehensive  brevity  of  the 
conveyance.     The  gi'ant  is  in  these  words : — 

"  i^go  ©ulirlinuis,  rognomtnr  ^Sastarlruis,  tro  rt  ronrrtio  tifit  ^latto,  nrpoti 
mro,  Ijritanir  rontitt,  ft  i)rrrtitliu0  tui0  in  prrprtuum,  omnrsi  iUiie  Uillae 
rt  tnra0,  que  nuprr  furruiit  romttte  iSiiluini  in  iSIioraeriria ;  rum  forttis 
ittelitum  rt  rrrlrsiiie,  rt  altisi  lifirrtatttme  rt  ron0urtittrtnttiu0,  ita  liftrrr 
rt  i)cnorifirr  strut  i&rni  l£liU)tnu$  ra  truuit.— dat.  in  oftsitiionr  roram 
riDttatr  ijdorari." 


m    iiiiin 


In  this  way  nearly  two  hunch'ed  manors  and  to\vaisliips  were  transfeiTed,  by  a  dash 
of  the  pen,  and  an  impression  of  the  seals,*  from  the  unfortunate  Edwin  earl  of 
Mercia,  to  Alan  earl  of  Britany,  and  afterwards  of  Richmond. 

It  is  due  to  the  fidelity  of  lustory  to  observe,  that  tlie  epithet  "  Ego  Gulielmus, 
cognomine  Bastardus,"  casts  a  suspicion  on  the  authenticity  of  this  grant,  tliough 
adopted  by  Camden  and  Sir  William  Dugdale,  as  well  as  by  all  our  early  antiqua- 
ries, and  the  learned  Roger  Gale  does  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  it  a  monkish  fabri- 
cation.-j-     In  confinnation  of  the  uiternal  evidence  of  forgerv,  it  will  be  remarked, 


*  It  was  the  practice  of  the  Conqueror  to  use  two  seals,  one  of  them  indicating  his  sovereign 
power  in  England,  and  the  other  his  ducal  authority  in  Normandy. 

t  Et  in  lautre  Tanfeld  devant  le  Conquest,  avoit  Torkil  une  manoir,  Ic  quel  apres  le  temps  dii 
Conquest  avoir  et  tenoit  Alan  Fergant,  Conte  de  Bretagne  et  de  Richmonde,  par  voie  de  Conquest, 
a  soit  quod  onque,  nulle  chastelle  estoit  en  lieu  ou  ore  est  Richmonde  assise  :  mais  le  lieu  estoit 
appeller  les  terres  de  Fountenay,  avec  tout  le  territoire  par  les  boundes  ou  la  villa  est  au  present. 
Apres  Alan  son  frere  et  heir  founda  et  edifia  une  chastel  et  lappella  Richemont. — Gale  Hon.  de  Rich. 
App.  p.  (31. 


Counti)  ^aalatiiif  of  ILaiuasitfr.  91 

that  the   alleged  act  of  state  gTaiits  the  lands   "  ita  libere  ct  honorifice"   as  the    chap. 
fonuer   possessor   had   them,   though,  during  the   Saxon    period,   they   had   been   L_ 


geldahle,  and  they  were  now  exonerated  from  all  burthens.  The  conduct  of  the 
Conqueror  towards  the  English  priesthood  had  probably  stunulated  the  original 
inventor  of  the  document  to  resent  the  severity  practised  towards  liis  order,  by 
attacliing  a  tenn  of  opprobrium  to  his  name ;  and  the  error  has  been  perpetuated 
by  the  supposition,  that  the  first  earl  Avas  the  same  person  as  Alan  Fergeaunt,  dulie 
of  Bretagne.  The  frequent  occurrence  of  the  name  of  Alan,  which  appears  thrice  in 
the  pedigree  of  this  family,  within  two  generations,  has  tended  materiidly  to  increase 
the  perplexity;  but,  accorchng  to  Gale,  Alan  Fergeaunt  liad  no  interest  in  the 
earldom  of  Richmond.  He  had,  however,  a  brother  Eudo,  who  had  six  sons,  all  of 
whom,  excepting  Geofiiey,  the  eldest,  appears  either  to  have  accompanied  the 
Conqueror  in  liis  expedition  to  England,  or,  being  then  too  young,  subsequently 
partook  of  liis  bounty,  or  that  of  their  elder  brethren. 

Whatever  suspicion  may  attach  to  the  grant  made  to  the  Earl  of  Richmond,  it  is 
clear  that  the  Conqueror  placed  all  the  land  of  the  kingdom  imder  that  system  of  feudal 
tenure,  which  had  already  been  partially  introduced  under  the  Saxon  dynasty.  These 
possessions,  Avith  very  few  exceptions  besides  the  royal  demesnes,  were  divided  into 
baronies,  wliich  were  conferred,  Avith  the  reservation  of  stated  services  and  payments, 
on  the  most  considerable  of  the  Normans.  The  great  barons,  Avho  held  of  the  crown, 
shared  out  a  large  part  of  the  lands  to  other  foreigners,  avIio  bore  tlie  names  of 
knights  or  vassals,  and  who  paid  tlieu'  lord  the  same  duty  and  submission  in  peace 
and  in  war,  which  he  himself  OAved  to  liis  sovereign.  The  whole  kingdom  contained 
about  seven  hundred  cliief  tenants,  and  60,215  knights'  fees;*  and  as  none  of  the 
English  Avere  admitted  into  the  fii-st  rank,  the  few  who  retained  theii'  landed  posses- 
sions were  glad  to  be  received  under  the  protection  of  some  poAverful  Norman  baron, 
though  at  the  cost  of  an  oppressive  burden  on  those  estates  which  they  had  received 
as  a  free  inheritance  from  tlieii*  ancestors.f 

Having  broken  the  spiiit  of  the  laity,  the  Conqueror  now  proceeded  to  aj^propriate  The  Con- 
a  large  share  of  the  enormous  property  of  the  clergy  to  his  own  use.     The  first  step  deaiTn'gs 
he  took  for  the  attainment  of  this  object,  was  to  seize  not  only  all  tlie  richesj  and  dergy!'*' 
valuable  effects  Avhich  the  English  had  lodged  in  the  religious  houses  tliroughout  the 
kingdom  duruig  the  troubles;  but  even  the  charters,  sluines,  and  treasures  belonging 
to  the  monasteries  themselves,  resolving  at  the  same  time  that  none  of  the  English 

*  Order  Vitalis,  p.  523. 

t  The  drenches  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Book,  "  Newton  Hundred,"  were  probably  of  this 
number. 

t  Sim.  of  Dur.     Ann.  of  Waver.     Chron.  Spot.  p.  114. 


92  €i)t  li£it£ll|)  of  t\)t 

CHAP  monks  or  clergy  should  ever  be  preferred  to  any  of  the  vacant  sees,  and  that  those 
'  who  already  possessed  them  should  l)e  stripped  of  then-  dignities.  In  consequence 
of  tliis  resolution,  Stigand,  ai'chbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  removed  fi-om  his  episcopal 
office  on  various  groundless  pretences,  but  without  the  colour  of  justice.  Adch'ng 
cruelty  to  injustice,  William  imprisoned  the  deprived  prelates,  and  kept  them  in  con- 
finement all  the  rest  of  then*  lives.  In  our  province,  the  Idng,  during  the  feast  of 
Pentecost,  named  Thomas,  a  canon  of  Baieux,  to  the  see  of  York.  The  principles  he 
had  adopted  in  Normandy  he  introduced  into  England,  and  seemed  quite  ready  to 
act  upon  the  determination  he  had  made  in  the  former  country,  namely,  "  that  if  any 
monk,  who  was  liis  subject,  should  dispute  liis  will,  he  would  cause  liim  to  be  hanged 
forthwith."  In  Saxon  tunes,  the  clergy,  not  only  in  this  province,  but  througliout  tlie 
nation  generally,  held  their  lands  and  possessions  by  a  different  tenure  from  the 
laity,  called  Frank- Almolgne,  subject  to  no  secular  service,  to  no  rents  or  imposi- 
tions, but  such  as  they  consented  to  lay  upon  themselves  in  their  councils  or  sjaiods, 
which  privilege  they  had  extorted,  as  we  have  already  seen,  from  the  superstition  of 
Ethelwulf.*  Their  estates,  derived  fi'om  the  bounty  of  the  Saxon  kings  and  their 
nobles,  were  so  gi-eat,  that  they  possessed  more  than  a  third  pai't  of  the  kingdom ; 
the  computation  being  that  of  the  60,215  knights'  fees,  the  clergy  held  28,015,'|' 
exclusive  of  their  plate,  jewels,  and  various  other  treasures.  With  such  enormous 
riches  at  their  disposal,  they  became  unduly  powerful ;  and  William,  jealous  of  that 
power,  and  suspicious  of  their  fidelity,  reduced  all  their  lands  to  the  common  tenure 
of  knight's  service  and  barony.  The  new  prelates  were  required  to  take  an  oath  of 
fealty,  and  to  do  homage  to  the  king,  belbre  they  could  be  achnitted  to  their  tempo- 
ralities ;  they  were  also  subject  to  an  attendance  upon  tlie  king  in  liis  court  baron,  to 
follow  him  in  his  wars  with  then"  knights  and  quota  of  solcHers,  to  pay  liim  their  usual 
aids,  and  to  perfonn  all  the  other  services  incident  to  the  feudal  tenures.  Tlie 
clergy  remonstrated  most  bitterly  against  this  new  revolution,  equalled  only  by  tlie 
revolution  which  took  place  in  church  property  and  ecclesiastical  power,  in  this 
country,  five  centuries  afterwards;  but  WUliam,  like  Henry,  was  inexorable,  and 
consigned  to  prison  or  to  banishment  all  who  opposed  liis  will.  Wliile  the  power 
of  the  clergy  was  thus  curtailed,  that  of  the  barons,  who  were  now  cliiefly  Nor- 
man, was  increased.  In  theii-  manors  they  had  absolute  jurisdiction;  tliey  gave 
laws  and  achiimistered  justice  in  their  courts  baron  to  their  vassals;  and  suits 
between  the  tenants  of  (hfferent  lords  were  tried  in  their  hundred,  or  county 
courts,  whUe  the  king's  courts  took  cognizance  only  of  those  between  the  barons 
themselves. I 

*  See  chap.  ii.  p.  44.  t  T.  Sprott.     Chron.  p.  114. 

I  Carte's  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  421. 


Coiintp  palattnr  of  aamaster.  93 

By  a  synod  held  in  Loudon,  the  precedency  of  the  hishops  was  settled,  accordin"f    chaf. 

Ill 
to  the  priority  of  then-  consecration,  except  ^rith  regard  to  such  sees  as  had  particular   '__ 


pri\-ileges  annexed  to  them.     Hitherto  the  hishops  had  resided  in  small  towns  or  a.d.  1075. 

\-illages,  for  the  purpose,  as  was  alleged,  of  sacred  retirement ;  hut  at  this  synod  it 

was  determined,  that  the  see  of  Litchfield,  in  Avhich  chocese  the  county  of  Lancaster 

was  at  that  time  included,  should  be  removed  to  Chester.      It  was  now  ordained  for 

the  first  time,  "  that  no  bishop,  abbot,  or  clergpuau,  should  judge  any  person  to  the 

loss  of  life  or  limb,  or  give  lus  vote  or  countenance  to  any  otlier  for  that  pui-pose;'' 

and  to   comply  with  tliis  canon,  tlie  prelates  have  ever  since  mthdi-awn  from  the 

House  of  Lords  in  such  cases,  satisfnng  themselves  with  entering  a  protest  in  favour 

of  their  right,  mthout  exercising  it.* 

The  actirity  of  William's  mind  suggested  to  him  a  great  national  work,  wliicli  xiie 
^vill  be  held  tluoughout  all  ages  as  a  redeeming  feature  in  his  life,  and  mtII  serve  to  sur"e^^^ 
ti-ansmit  his  memory  with  veneration  to  posterity.  "  After  the  syiiod,"  says  the 
Saxon  Clu-ouicle,  "  the  king  held  a  large  meeting,  and  very  deep  consultation  \rith 
the  council,  about  this  laud ;  how  it  was  occupied,  and  by  what  sort  of  men.  Then 
sent  he  liis  men  over  all  England  into  each  sliu'e,  coimnissioning  them  to  find  out — 
'  How  many  hundreds  of  hides  were  in  the  shii-e,  what  lands  the  king  liimself  had, 
and  what  stock  upon  the  land ;  or  what  dues  he  ought  to  have  by  the  year  from  the 
shii'e.'  Also,  he  commissioned  them  to  record  in  wiiting,  '  How  much  land  liis 
ai'chbishops  had,  and  liis  diocesan  bishops,  and  his  abbots,  and  his  eai'ls ;  what  or  how 
much  each  man  had,  who  was  an  occupier  of  land  in  England,  either  in  land  or 
stock,  and  how  much  money  it  was  worth.'  So  very  narrowly,  mdeed,  cUd  he  com- 
mission them  to  trace  it  out,  that  there  was  not  one  single  hide,  nor  a  yard  of  land ; 
nay,  moreover,  (it  is  shameful  to  tell,  thougli  he  thought  it  no  shame  to  do  it,)  not 
even  an  ox,  nor  a  cow,  nor  a  swine,  was  there  left,  that  was  not  set  down  in  his 
writ.     And  all  the  recorded  particulars  were  afterwards  brought  to  liim." 

That  uotliing  might  be  wanted  to  render  this  record  complete,  and  its  authority  How 
pei-petual,  the  survey  was  executed  by  NoiTuan  commissioners,  called  "  the  king's  '^"'■'"*^'*- 
justiciai-ies,"  consisting  of  nobles  and  bishops,  actmg  under  royal  appointment,  and 
associated,  probably,  ^ith  some  of  the  principal  men  of  each  sliii-e.  The  inquisitors, 
upon  the  oaths  of  the  sheriffs,  the  lord  of  each  manor,  the  presbyters  of  every  chmxli, 
the  reves  of  every  huncbed,  the  bailiffs  and  sLx  villains  of  every  A-illage,  were  to 
inquii-e  into  the  name  of  the  place,  Avho  held  it  in  the  time  of  Idng  Edwai-d,  who  was 
the  present  possessor,  how  many  liides  in  the  manor,  how  many  carucates  in 
demesne,  how  many  homagers,  how  many  villains,  how  many  cotarii,  how  many 
servi,  what  free-men,  how  many  tenants  in  soccage;  what  quantity  of  wood,  how  much 

*  Brist.  Monast.  p.  33. 


94  CI)f  W^tovv  of  tl)r 

CHAP.  mca<low  and  pasture,  what  mills  and  fish-ponds ;  how  much  added  or  taken  away, 
' wliat  tlie  gi'oss  value  in  king  Edward's  time,  and  how  much  eacli  free-man  or  soc- 
man had  or  has.  All  this  was  to  he  triply  estimated  :  first,  as  the  estate  was  held  in 
the  time  of  the  Confessor;  then,  as  it  was  bestowed  by  king  William;  and,  tliirdly, 
as  its  value  stood  at  the  formation  of  the  survey.  The  jurors  were  moreover  to  state, 
whether  any  advance  could  be  made  in  the  value. 

The  exact  time  occujiied  in  taking  the  whole  survey  of  the  kingdom  is  differently 
stated  by  historians;  hut  tlie  probability  is,  that  it  was  commenced  A.D.  1080;  and  it 
is  evident,  from  the  insertion  at  the  end  of  the  second  volume,  that  it  was  completed 
in  1086.*  The  following  passage  from  the  register  of  St.  Mary,  Worcester,  pre- 
served amono'st  the  Cotton  MSS.  exhibits  the  manner  in  which  the  returns  were 
collected  and  made : — 

"  In  vicecomitatu  Wiraceastre  habet  S.  Maria  de  Wimceastre  unum  hundi-e- 
dum,  quod  vocatur  Osvaldeslaii,  in  quo  jacent  300  hida;,  &c.  Hoc  testimonium 
totus  vicecomitatus  Wiraceastre,  dato  sacramento  jusjurandi  firmavit,  exhortante  et 
adlaborante  piissuno  et  prudentissimo  patre  D.  Wolstano  episcopo  tempore  regis 
WUlielmi  senioris,  coram  principibus  ejusdem  regis,  Remigio  scilicet  Lincolniensi 
episcopo,  et  comite  Walters  Giffardo,  et  Henrico  de  Feriers,  et  Ada  fi'atre  Eudonis 
dapiferi  regis,  qui  ad  inquirendas  et  describendas  professiones,  et  consuetudines 
tam  regis  quam  principum  suormn,  in  hac  provincid,  et  in  plurimis  aliis,  ab  ipso 
rege  destinati  sunt  eo  tempore  quo  totam  AngUam  rex  describi  fecit,  &c." 
The  name  It  is  remarkable,  that  in  this  survey  the  name  of  Lancasliire  does  not  occur ;  but 
shire  not  that  part  of  it  which  lies  between  the  Ribble  and  the  Mersey  is  surveyed  in  Cheshire, 
day."""'^'  wliile  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  incluchng  Amounderness  and  the  Hundred 
of  Lonsdale,  north  and  south  of  the  Sands,  is  comprehended  in  Yorksliire.  It  has 
already  been  stated,  that  Northumberland,  Cumberland,  Westmoreland,  and  Dur- 
ham, are  not  described  in  the  Domesday  Book ;  but  the  south  of  Westmoreland,  and 
part  of  Cumberland,  are  included  in  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire.  The  devasta- 
tion made  by  the  Conqueror  in  the  three  most  northern  counties  of  England, 
rendered  it  impossible  to  take  an  exact  survey  of  that  (Ustrict ;  and  the  retura  in 
Amounderness,  that  "  sixteen  of  the  villages  in  this  hundred  have  few  inhabitants, 
(how  many  is  not  known,)  and  tlie  rest  are  waste,"  sufficiently  indicates  that  the 
hand  of  the  spoiler  had  lain  heavy  upon  this  Hundred.     The  absence  of  a  return  for 

*  Anno  Millesimo  Octogesimo  Sexto.  Ab 
Incarnatione  Dni.     Vigesimo  V°  Regni 
Wifti  Facta  Est  Ista  Descriptio.  Non 
Solvm  P  Hos  Tres  Comitatvs.     Sed  &ia 
¥  Alios 


Coimtp  palatine  of  iLanrasitrr.  95 

the  county  of  Diu'ham  has  been  accounted  for,  from  the  lands  between  the  Tees  and  chap. 

.                                    .                    .                                           .  HI. 

the  Tyne  having  been  conferred  by  Allied  on  the  bishop  of  the  see,  and  from  this  ' 


county  being,  at  the  coming  in  of  the  Conqueror,  a  reputed  county  palatuie.  These 
do  not  appear  to  afford  sufficient  reasons  for  the  omission.  The  property  of  the 
bishops,  as  tenants  in  capile,  in  other  counties,  is  specified,  and  Cliesliii-e  is  mcluded 
in  the  survey,  thougli  that  county,  ajs  well  as  Diuliam,  was  at  the  time  a  county 
palatine.  Lancasliu'e  had  not  at  the  Conquest  attained  to  tliis  distinction,  though 
Roger  de  Poictou  is  stated  to  have  exercised  jjalatinate  privileges. 

By  the  Domesday  return,  the  king  acquired  an  exact  knowledge  of  all  the  Use  of 
possessions    of    the    crown.       It  furnished   liim   with   the   means    of  ascertaining  boX '^^ 
the  strength  of  the  country,  pointed  out  the  possibility  of  increasing  the  revenue 
in  certain  districts,  and  formed  a  perpetual  register  of  appeal  for  those  wliose  titles 
to  then-  estates  might  in  future  be  tUsputed.     This  purpose  it  has  served  ever  since 
its  completion ;  and  even  now,  at  the  end  of  nearly  eight  hundred  years,  such  is  the 
credit  of  this  document,  that  if  a  question  arises  whether  a  manor,  parish,  or  lands, 
be  ancient  demesne,  the  issue  must  be  tried  by  tliis  book,  whence  there  is  no  appeal. 
The  two  volimies  which   contain  the  survey  are  now,  by  common  consent,   called  xhe  name. 
Domesday  Book,  from  Dome  (census),  and  Boc  (book).     It  has,  however,  borne 
other  designations,  and  has  been  known  as  Rotulus  Wmtonice,  Scriptura  Thesauri 
Regis,  Liber  de  Wintonia,  and  Liber  Regis.     Sir  Henry  Spelman  adds.  Liber  Judi- 
ciarius,  Censualis  Anglic,  Anglice  Notitia  et  Luslratio,  and  Rotula  Regis. 

A  document  so  unportant  cannot  be  presented  mth  too  much  particularity  in  a 
County  History,  and  the  following  literal  transcript  from  this  "  Book  of  JucUcial 
Verdict,"  so  far  as  it  regards  the  county  of  Lancaster,  is  therefore  accompanied  by  a 
translation.* 

*  The  Latin  version  is  a  copy  from  the  Domesday  Book,  pubHshed  under  tiie  direction  of  his 
Majesty's  Commissioners  of  Public  Records ;  and  the  English  translation  is  from  the  pen  of  the 
Rev.  William  Bavedwen,  with  a  few  verbal  corrections. 


Ci)e  ligtoi-p  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 


"I-  '  INT    RIPA    7    MERSHAM.* 

Terra  infra  Scripta  Tenvit  Rogerp  pictavensis. 

JNTER  RlPA  7  MeRSHAM.  In  DeRBEI  HVNDRET. 

^  BI  Habuit  Rex  Edward^  un  CD  Derbei  nominatO. 

"•  ", 

cu  .  VI .  Bereuuicti .  Ibi .  irii .  hidae .  Tra  .  c .  xv .  car .  Foresta 

.  II .  leuu  Ig  .  7  una  lat .  7  aira  Accipitris. 

V  ctred^  tent) .  vi .  Maner .  Rabil  Chenulueslei .  Cherchebi 

Crosebi .  Magele .  Achetun  .  Ibi .  11 .  hidjE 

SiluEB .  II.  leuu  Ig .  7  lat .  7  II .  airs  accipitr. 

Dot  teneb  Hitune  7  Torboc .  Ibi .  i .  hida  q'eta  ab  omi  csuetud  praet 

geld .  Tra  .  e .  iiii .  car .  Valb .  xx .  sot.  l^   Reddeb  ,  iiii  .  solid. 

h    H  I  •,    h 

Bernulf  teneb  Stochestede .  Ibi .  i.  uirg  trse  7  dimid  caruc  trae. 
Stainulf  tenb  Stochestede  .  Ibi .  i .  virg  tre  .  7  dimid  car  tre .  Vtb 
Quinq^,  taini  tenb  Sextone  .  Ibi .  i .  hida .  Valb .  xvi .  sol.  [mi .  sot. 
Vctred^  tenb  Chirchedele .  Ibi  dimid  hida  q'eta  ab  omi  csuetud 
pt  geld .  Valb .  X  .  solid.  [viii  .  sot. 

Winestan  teneb  Waletone .  Ibi .  11 .  car  tre  7  iii .  boiiats .  Valb 
Elmger  tenb  Liderlant .  Ibi  dimid  hida .  Valb .  viii .  sot. 
Tres  taini  teneb  Hinne  p  .  in  .  CD  .  Ibi  dimid  hida .  Valb .  viii .  sot. 
Ascha  tenb  Torentun .  Ibi  dimid  hida  .  Valb .  viii .  sot. 

^  Ibi  dimid'  hida. 

Tres  taini  tenb  mele  .p.m.  maner.|Valb  .  viii .  sot. 

h   '-  h 

Vctred  tenb  Vluentune .  Ibi .  11 .  car  trae .  7  dimid  leuu  silus. 

II         ^ 
Edelmund^  teneb  Esmedvne  .  Ibi  una       [Valb .  lxii  .  den. 

car  trae .  Valb  .  xxxii .  denar.  [viii .  sot. 

Tres  taini  teneb  Alretune .  p .  in  .  CD  .  Ibi  dimid  hida .  Valb 

Vctred  tenb  Spec .  Ibi .  11 .  caruc  trae .  Valb .  lxiiii  .  denar. 

Quattuor  radmans  tenb  Cildeuuelle  p  .  iiii .  CD  .  Ibi  dimid 

hida  .  Valb  .  viii .  sot .  Ibi  pbr  erat  hns  dimid  car  trjE  in  elemos. 

VIbt  tenb  Wibaldeslei .  Ibi .  11 .  caruc  trge .  Valb .  lxiiii  .  den. 

Duo  taini  teneb  Vuetone  p .  11 .  CD  .  Ibi .  i .  car  trje .  Vlb .  xxx .  den. 

*  This  Survey  is  inserted  under  the  head  Cestrescire,  fo.  269  b. 


Coimtj)  palatine  of  3lanfa£{tti%  97 

CHAP 

ROGERDEPOICTOU  iil" 

HELD    THE    FOLLOWING    LANDS    BETWEEN    THE    RIBBLE    AND    THE    MERSEY. 


In  Drrtiy  itt?untirrti. 

King  Edward  (the  Confessor)  had  there  one  manor  called  Derbei,  with  six  Bere- 
nicks.  There  are  four  hides,  land  to  (or  sufficient  to  employ)  fifteen  ploughs ;  a 
forest  two  miles  long  and  one  broad ;  and  an  aerie  of  Hawks. 

C/c^rec?  held  six  inanors,  Rahil  (Roby),  Chenulucslei  (Knowsley),  Cherchebi 
(Kirkby),  Crosebi  (Crosby),  Magele  (Maghull),  and  Achetun  (Aughton). 
There  were  two  liides  of  land  :  a  wood  two  miles,  &c.  and  two  aeries  of  hawks. 

Dot  held  Hitune  (Huyton)  and  Torboc  (Torbock)  :  there  was  one  liide 
discharged  from  the  pajTuent  of  all  customary  duties  except  geldam,  or  (danegeld.) 
There  is  land  to  four  ploughs,  and  it  was  worth  twenty  shillings. 

Bernulf  held  Stochestede  (Toxteth).  There  was  one  virgate  of  land  and  half 
a  plough  :  it  paid  four  slullings. 

Stainulf  held  Stochestede  (Toxteth).  There  is  one  vii'gate  of  land  and  half  a 
carucate  or  plough  land  :  it  was  worth  four  slullings. 

Five  Tlianes  held  Sextone  (Sefton).  There  is  one  liide  :  it  was  worth  sixteen 
slulUngs. 

Uctred  held  Ckirchedele  (Kirkdale).  There  is  half  a  hide  quit  from  all 
custom  except  the  tax  :  it  was  worth  ten  slullings. 

Winestan  lield  Waletone  (Walton).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land  and  three 
hovates :  it  was  worth  eigrht  slullings, 

Elmtsr  held  Lidei-lant  (Litherland).  There  was  half  a  hide:  it  was  worth 
eight  shillings. 

T7u-ee  Tlianes  held  Hinne  (Ince  Blundell)  for  three  manors.  There  is  half 
a  liide  :  it  was  worth  eight  slullings. 

Ascha  held  Torentun  (Thornton).  There  is  half  a  hide:  it  was  worth  eight 
shillings. 

Three  Tlianes  held  Mele  (Meols)  for  three  manors.  Tliere  is  half  a  liide :  it 
was  worth  eight  sliiUings. 

Uctred  held  Uluentune  (Woolton).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land,  and 
half  a  mUe  of  wood  :  it  was  worth  sixty-four  pence. 

Edelniund  held  Esmedune  (Smedone,  now  Liverpool,  or  Litherpole). 
There  is  one  carucate  of  land :  it  was  worth  thirty-two  pence. 

Three  Thanes  held  Alretune  (Allerton)  for  three  manors.  There  is  half  a 
hide  :  it  was  worth  eight  shilUngs. 

Uctred  held  Spec  (Speke).  There  are  two  cai-ucates  of  land:  it  was  worth 
sixty-foiu'  pence.  ' 

'Four  Rad mans,  or  Knight  Riders,  lield  CildeuueUe(CmhDWALL)  for  four  manors. 
There  is  half  a  liide  :  it  was  worth  eight  shillings. — There  was  a  priest  there  having 
half  a  camcate  of  land,  held  in  ahns. 

Ulbert  held  Wibaldeslei  (Winstanley).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land  :  it 
was  worth  sixty-four  pence. 

Two  Thanes  held  Uuetone  (Woolton)  for  two  manors.  There  is  one  carucate 
of  land  :  it  was  worth  tluity  pence. 

vol.  I.  o 


III. 


98  Cfie  lisitoiT)  of  t\)t 

^Vu^'  Leuing^  tenb  Wauretreu  .  Ibi .  ii .  caruc  trae .  Valb .  lxiiii  .  den. 

Quattuor  taini  tenb  Boltelai  p  .  iiii .  CD  .  Ibi .  ii .  car  tr£e. 
Valb .  LXIIII .  den  .  Pbr  habb  .  i .  car  trse  ad  aecctam  Waletone. 
Vctred  teneb  Achetun .  Ibi .  i .  car  tree .  Valb .  xxxii .  denaf. 
Tres  taini  tenb  Fornebei .  p  .  iii .  CD  .  Ibi .  mi .  car  trae  .  Valb 
Tres  taini  teneb  Emuluesdel .  Ibi .  ii .  car  trae.  [x  .  sol. 

Valb .  LXIIII .  denar. 

Stemulf  tenb  Holland  .  Ibi .  ii .  car  trae .  Valb .  lxiiii  .  den. 
Vctred  teneb  Daltone .  Ibi .  i .  caruc  tre .  Valb .  xxxii .  denar. 
Isd  Vctred  Schelmeresdele  .  Ibi .  i .  car  trae .  Valb .  xxxii .  den. 

h    h  h 

Isd  Vctred  tenb  Literland .  Ibi .  i .  caruc  trse .  Valb .  xxxii .  den. 

<,  '7 
Wibt^  tenb  Erengermeles  .  Ibi .  11 .  car  trs  .  Valb .  viii .  sol. 

H  tra  q'eta  fuit  pt  geld. 

Quinq,,  taini  tenb  Otegrimele .  Ibi  dim  hida .  Valb  .  x  .  sot. 

Vctred^  tenb  Latvne  .  cu  .  i  .  bereuuicti .  Ibi  dimid  hida. 
h  ,    _        h  i 

Silua .  I .  leuu  Ig .  7  dimid  lat .  Valb .  x .  sot  7  viii .  denar. 

"7 
Vctred  tenb  Hirletun  7  dimid  Merretun .  Ibi  dim  hida. 

Valb .  X .  sot .  7  VIII .  denar.      l^   7  dimid  leuu  lat .  Valb .  x  .  sot. 

Godeue  tenb  Melinge  .  Ibi .  11 .  car  trae  .  Silua .  i .  leuu  Ig. 

Vctred  tenb  Leiate .  Ibi .  vi .  bouat  trse .  Silua .  i .  leuu  Ig. 

7  II .  q^  lat.     Valb .  lxiiii  .  denar.  l^  .  11 .  solid. 

Duo  taini  tenb .  vi .  bouat  trae  p .  11 .  CO  in  Holand .  Valb 

Vctred  teneb  Acrer .  Ibi  dimid  car  trae .  Wasta  fuit. 

Teos  teneb  Bartune .  Ibi .  i .  caruc  trae .  Valb .  xxxii .  den. 

">  ', 
Chetel  teneb  Heleshale .  Ibi .  11 .  caruc  trae .  Valb  .  viii .  sot. 

/^  Oinis  ti  tra  geldab .  7  xv  .  Maner .  nil  reddeb  nisi  geld  R.E. 

Hoc  CD  Derbei  cu  his  supdictis  hid  reddeb  regi .  E. 

de  firma .  xxvi .  lib  7  11 .  solid .  Ex  his  .  in  .  hid^  eraA^ 

libere .  quar  censu  pdonauit  teinis  qui  eas  teneb, 

Istae  reddeb  .  iiii .  lib .  7  xiiii .  solid .  7  viii .  denar. 

Ofiis  isti  taini  habuer  csuetud  redde .  11 .  oras  denariox 

de  unaqq^  caruc  trse .  7  facieb  p  csuetud  domos  regis 


Countj)  ^3alatine  of  i^anraeitn-,  99 

Leuingus  held  Wauretreu  (Way^rtkee).     There  ai'e  two  cai'ucates  of  land  :  it    chap. 
was  worth  sixty-four  pence.  i"- 

Four  Thanes  hekl  Boltclal  (Bootle)  as  four  manors.  Tliere  are  two  carucates 
of  land  :  it  was  worth  sixty-four  pence. — A  priest  had  a  carucate  of  land  helongiug 
to  the  chui-ch  of  Waletonc  (Walton). 

Uctrcd  held  Aclietun  (Ashton  or  Aughton).  There  is  a  carucate  of  land  :  it 
was  worth  thii'ty-two  pence. 

Tliree  Thanes  held  Fornehei  (Formby)  as  three  manors.  There  are  four 
cai'ucates  of  land  :  it  was  worth  ten  sliillmgs. 

TTiree  Thanes  held  Emuluesdel  (Ainsdale).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land: 
it  was  worth  sixty-four  pence. 

Slcinul/'hekl  Holland  (Holla-nd).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land:  it  was 
worth  sixty-four  pence. 

Uctred  hold  Daltone  (Dalton).  There  is  one  carucate  of  land  :  it  was  worth 
tliiity-two  jjence. 

The  same  Uctred  held  Schelmercsdele  (Skelmersdale).  There  is  one  carucate 
of  land  :  it  was  worth  thirty -two  pence. 

The  same  Uctred  held  Literland  (Litherland).  Tliere  is  one  carucate  of 
land  :  it  was  worth  tliirty-two  pence. 

Wihert  held  Erengermeles  (Ravens  Meols).  There  are  two  carucates  of 
land :  it  was  worth  eight  shillings.  Tliis  land  was  exempt  from  all  duties  except 
danegeld. 

Five  Tlianes  held  Otegrimele  (Orrell).  There  is  half  a  liide :  it  was  worth 
ten  shillings. 

Uctred  held  Latune  (Lytiiam)  with  one  berewick.  Tliere  is  half  a  liide  of 
land :  wood  one  mile  long  and  half  a  mile  broad :  it  was  worth  ten  shillnigs  and 
eight  pence. 

Uctred  held  Hirletun  (Tarleton)  and  half  of  3Ierretun  (Martin).  Tliere  is 
half  a  liide  :  it  was  worth  ten  shillings  and  eight  pence. 

Godeue  held  Mellnge  (Melling).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land;  wood  one 
mile  long,  and  half  a  mile  broad  :  it  was  worth  ten  shillings. 

Uctred  held  Leiate  (Lidiate).  There  are  six  bovates  of  land;  wood  one  mile 
long,  and  two  quarentens  broad :  it  was  worth  sixty-four  pence. 

Two  Thanes  held  six  bovates  of  land  for  two  manors  in  Holand  (Holland). 
The  value  was  two  sliillings. 

Uctred  held  Acrer  (Altcar).     There  is  half  a  carucate  of  land  :  it  was  waste. 

Teos  held  Bartiine  (Barton).  There  is  one  carucate  of  land :  it  was  worth 
tliiily-two  pence. 

Chetel  held  Heleshale  (Halsall).  There  are  two  carucates  of  land  :  it  was 
worth  eight  shillings. 

AH  this  land  was  liable  to  pay  danegeld ;  and  fifteen  manors  paid  King  Edward 
nothing  but  danegeld. 

This  manor  of  Derhei  (West  Derby),  with  the  hides  above-mentioned,  paid 
King  Edward  for  rent  twenty-six  pounds  two  sliilluigs ;  of  these,  three  hides  were 
exempt,  the  rent  of  wliich  was  granted  to  the  thanes  that  held  them ;  these  paid  four 
pounds  fourteen  shillings  and  eight-pence. 

All  these  thanes  were  accustomed  to  pay  two  ores  of  pennies  for  each  carucate  of 
land :  and  by  custom  they  built  the  king's  houses  with  then*  appurtenances,  as  the 

o2 


100  CTje  In'Storj)  of  t\)t 

CHAP.  7  quJE  ibi  ptineb  sic  uitti .  7  piscarias  .  7  in  silua  haias 


in. 


7  stabilituras .  7  qui  ad  hgec  n  ibat  q.do  debeb .  11 .  sot  emdab. 
7  postea  ad  op^  uenieb  7  opabat  donee  pfect  erat. 
Vn^  quisq,,  eoa  uno  die  in  Augusto  mitteb  messores 
suos  secare  segetes  regis .  Si  non  r'  p  .  11 .  sot  emdabat. 
/^  Siq's  lib  ho  faceret  furtu .  Aut  forestel  aut  heinfara. 
aut  pace  regis  infringeb  ^  xl  .  sot  efndabat. 

r_  _  qui 

Siq's  facieb  sanguine  aut  raptu  de  lemina.  uel|re 

maneb  de  siremot  sine  rationabili  excusatione :' 

p  .  X .  solid  emdab.    /^  Si  de  Hund  remaneb .  aut  ii  ibat 

ad  placit  ubi  pposit^  jubeb  :^  p  .  v.  sot  emdab. 
i^  Si  cui  jubeb  in  suu  seruitiu  ire  7  n  ibatr'iiii .  sot  emdab. 
/^  Siq's  de  tra  regis  recede  uoleb .  dab .  xl  .  sot  7  ibat  quo  uoleb. 
//^  Siq's  tra  patris  sui  mortui  habe  uoleb :'  xl  .  solid  releuabat. 
J^  Qui  noleb  r  7  tra  7  omem  pecunia  patris  mortui  rex  habeb. 
//^  Vctred^  tenuit  Crosebi  7  Chirchedele  p  .  i .  hida .  7  erat  q'eta 

ab  omi  csuetud  pt  has .  vi .  pace  infracta .  Forestel .  Heinfara. 

post  ^  .        /-,    . 

7  pugna  quaB|sacramtu  factu  remaneb .  7  si  constrict^  justicia 

si  ij  _  _ 

ppositi  alicui  debit  solueb .  7|tminu  a  pposito  dat  n  attendeb. 
H  p  .  XL  .  sot  emdab  .  Geldu  u  regis  sic  hoes  patriee  solueb. 
l^  In  Otringemele  7  Herleshala .  7  Hiretun .  erant .  in  •  hid^e  q'etfe 
a  geldo  carucatar  trse  .  7  a  forisfactura  sanguinis .  7  femine 

o 

uiolentia .  Alias  u  csuetud  reddeb  oms. 

e  isto  CD  Derbei  ten  modo  dono  Rog  pictau  hi  hoes  tra. 
Goisfrid^ .  11 .  hid  7  dimid  car .  Roger^  .  i .  hid  7  dimid .  Witts  una 
hid  7  dimid  .  Warin^  dimid  hid .  Goisfrid^ .  i .  hid  .  Tetbald^  hida 
7  dimid .  Robert^ .  11 .  car  trae  .  Gislebt-^ .  i .  caruc  trae. 
Hi  hiit  in  diiio .  iiii .  car .  7  xlvi  .  uitt  .71.  radnian  7  lxii  .  bord. 
7  II .  seruos  7  in  .  ancitt.  Int  oms  hnt.  xxiiii .  car. 
Silua  eoj^ .  in  .  leuu  7  dim  long  .71.  leuu  7  dim  7  xl  .  ptic  latit. 
7  ibi .  Ill .  airae  accipitr. 


Countp  ^aalatmr  of  Sanrasiten  loi 

villains  tlid  ;  and  at  the  fislieries,  and  at  the  hays  and  stands  (the  fences  and  stalls)    chah. 
in  the  wood ;  and  whosoever  did  not  attend  this  service  when  he  ought  was  fined  two       ^^^' 
shillings,  and  afterwai-ds  was  obliged  to  attend  and  to  work  till  the  business  was 
completed :  every  one  of  them  moreover  sent  theii-  reapers  for  one  day  in  August  to 
cut  the  king's  com,  and  if  he  failed  be  was  amerced  in  two  shillings. 

If  any  freeman  committed  a  theft,  obstructed  the  way,  enticed  a  servant  away,  or 
broke  the  king's  peace,  he  was  fined  forty  shillings. 

If  any  one  wounded  a  person,  or  ravished  a  woman,  or  absented  liimself  from 
the  shii'e  mote  without  a  reasonable  excuse,  he  was  fined  ten  shillings. 

If  he  absented  himself  fi'om  the  hundred  court,  or  went  not  to  the  place  of 
pleading  dii-ected  by  the  proper  officer,  he  forfeited  five  sliillings. 

If  he  ordered  a  person  to  go  upon  a  service,  and  he  did  not,  he  was  fined  four 
sliillings. 

If  any  one  had  a  mind  to  withdi-aw  himself  from  the  king's  land,  he  gave  40s. 
and  then  he  was  at  liberty  to  go  where  he  would. 

If  any  one  had  a  mind,  on  the  death  of  Ms  father,  to  succeed  to  liis  land,  he  paid 
a  relief  of  forty  sliillings. 

If  he  was  not  inclined,  then  the  king  had  the  land  and  all  the  money  of  the  father 
deceased. 

Uctred  held  Crosebi  (Crosby)  and  Chirchedele  (Kirkdale)  for  one  liide,  and 
it  was  exempt  fi'om  all  forfeitures  but  these  six — breach  of  peace,  obstructing  the 
way,  inveigling  of  servants,  desertion  after  enlisting,  and  if  the  sheriff  had  adjudged 
a  debt  to  be  paid  at  a  certain  day,  and  the  defendant  did  not  keep  the  time  given 
liim,  he  was  to  be  amerced  forty  sliillings.  As  for  danegeld,  this  they  paid  like 
other  men  of  the  country. 

In  Otringemelc  (Orrell)  and  Herleshahi  (Hals all)  anAHiretini  (Evert ot^), 
there  were  tlu-ee  liides  exempt  from  paying  danegeld,  fine  for  wounding  and  for 
rape  ;  but  they  were  liable  to  other  customs. 

By  the  gi'ant  of  Roger  de  Poictou,  the  following  men  now  hold  the  land  of  this 
manor  of  Derbei : — Goisfrid  held  two  liides  and  half  a  carucate,  Roger  one  hide 
and  a  half,  William  one  liide  and  a  half,  Warin  half  a  hide,  Goisfrid  one  hide, 
Tetbald  one  liide  and  a  half,  Robert  two  carucates  of  land,  Gislebert  one  carucate  of 
land.  These  have  four  carucates  in  demesne,  and  forty-six  villains,  and  one  radman, 
and  sixty-two  bordars,  and  two  bondmen  and  tliree  bondwomen ;  they  have  twenty- 
four  carucates  amongst  them :  their  wood  is  three  miles  and  a  half  long,  and  one 
mile  and  a  half  and  forty  perches  broad ;  and  there  are  three  aeries  of  hawks.     The 


CHAP. 
IIT. 


102  Wl)t  M^tonj  of  tftr 

In  unaqq^  hida .  sua^  .  vi .  caruc  trae. 
Dnium  u  huj^  CQ  qd  tenefe  Rogers  .  ual .  viii .  lib .  Sujv  ibi  m  in 
diiio .  Ill .  car  7  vi .  bouar .  7  un^  radman  7  vii .  uitti. 
In  Neweton .  T.R.E .  fuer .  v  .  hidse.  In  Neweton  HD. 

Ex  his  una  erat  in  diiio .  ^ccta  ipsi^  CID  habeb .  x .  caruc  trse. 
7  Scs  Osuuold^  de  ipsa  uilla .  11 .  caruc  tre  habeft  q'etas  p  oma. 
Huj^  CID  alia  tram  .  xv  .  hoes  quos  drenchs  uocabant  p .  xv  .  CD. 
teneb .  sed  huj^  GD  bereuuich  erant .  7  int  oms  xxx .  solid  reddb. 
Silua  ibi .  x .  leuu  Ig .  7  vi .  leuu  7  11 .  qrent  lat .  7  ibi  airse  accipit. 

■■y  ';  <,        OS 

xluj^  HVND  hoes  libi  pt .  11 .  eraAr  in  ead  csuetud  qua  hoes  derberiae. 

7  plus  illis .  II .  dieb}  in  Augusto  meteba^v  in  culturis  regis. 

lUi  duo  habeb .  v .  carucat  trte  .  7  forisfactura  sanguinis  7  feminae 

uiolentia  passse  .  7  pasnagiu  suo^  hominu .  Alias  habeb  rex. 

Tot  hoc  5S  reddeb  de  firma  regi .  x  .  lib  .  7  x .  solid. 

Modo  sunt  ibi .  vi .  drenghs  .7  xii .  uiHi  7  mi .  bord .  Int  oms .  ix  .  car 

hrit .  Valet .  iiii .  lib  .  hoc  dnium.         In  WalINTVNE  HVND. 

rVex .  E  .  tenuit  Walintvne  .  cu .  iii .  Bereuuich .  Ibi .  i .  hida. 

Ad  ipsu  CD  ptineb .  xxxiiii .  drengh .  7  totid  CD  habeb. 

In  quib}  erant  xl.ii  .  carucatEe  tree .  7  una  hida  7  dimidia. 

Scs  Elfin  teneb  .  i .  caruc  traa  q'eta  ab  omi  csuetud  pt  geldu. 

Tot  CD  cu  HVND  reddeb  regi  de  firma .  xv .  lib .  11 .  sot  min^. 

Modo  sunt  in  diiio .  11 .  car .  7  viii .  hoes  cu .  i .  car. 

Hoes  isti  ten  ibi  tra .  Roger^ .  i .  caruc  trae .  Tetbald-^ .  carucat 

7  dimid .  Warin^ .  i .  car .  RaduLf^ .  v .  car  .Witts .  11 .  hid  7  iiii .  car  ti-«. 

L  I,    1, 

Adelard^ .  i .  hid  7  dimid  caruc .  Osmund^ .  i .  car  trae. 

Vat  hoc  tot .  IIII .  lib  7  X .  sot .  Diiium  uat .  iii .  lib  7  x .  sot.  ^ 

RT  D  lUfND. 

ex .  E  .  tenuit  Blachebvrne .  Ibi .  11 .  hidge   In  IjlACHEBVRN 

7  II .  caruc  tree .  ^ccta  habeb  habeb .  11 .  bouatas  de  hac  tra.  f     csuetud. 

7  aeccta  S'  mari^  habeb  in  Wallei .  11 .  caruc  trae .  q'etas  ab  omi 

In  eod  CD  Silua .  i .  leuu  Ig .  7  tntd  lat .  7  ibi  erat  aira  accipitris. 

Ad  hoc  CD  uel  HVND .  adjaceb .  xxviii .  libi  hoes .  tenentes 

V .  hid  7  dimid  7  xl  .  carucat  trae  j) .  xxviii .  Manerijs. 


Countj)  ^3alntmf  of  tnnrasitrr.  103 

whole  is  wortb  eight  pounds  twelve  shUlmgs  :  in  each  liide  there  are  six  carucates    chap. 
of  laud.  " 

Tlie  demesne  of  this  manor,  held  by  Roger,  is  worth  eight  pounds.  Tliere 
are  now  in  demesne  tlu-ee  ploughs,  six  neatherds,  one  rathnan,  and  seven  villains. 

In  Krluton  Jt^unUrctt. 

In  the  time  of  King  Edward  (the  Confessor)  there  were  five  liides  in  Neweton 
(Nevpton)  :  one  of  these  was  held  in  demesne.  The  chiuxh  of  tliis  manor  had  one 
carucate  of  land  :  and  Saint  Oswald  of  lliis  village  had  two  carucates  exempt  from 
all  taxation. 

Fifteen  men  called  Drenchs  held  the  other  land  of  this  manor  for  fifteen  manors ; 
but  they  were  here  wicks  of  this  manor,  and  they  paid  altogether  tliirty  shillings. 
Tliere  is  wood  ten  miles  long,  and  six  miles  and  two  quarentens  broad ;  and  there 
are  aeries  of  hawks. 

The  freemen  of  this  hundred,  except  two,  had  the  same  customs  as  the  men  of 
Derbei:  they  reaped  the  Idug's  fields  two  days  more  in  August.  Those  two  had  five 
carucates  of  land,  and  the  forfeiture  for  bloodshed  and  ravishment,  and  the  homaa-e 
of  theii-  tenants  or  vassals — the  king  had  the  others. — The  whole  manor  of  Neweton 
paid  to  the  king  ten  pounds  ten  shillings.  There  are  six  cbenghs,  twelve  villains, 
and  four  bordars :  amongst  them  they  had  nine  carucates  or  ploughs.  This  demesne  is 
valued  at  foui*  pounds. 

In  Slffllairtiigton  ?^unt»rrD. 

King  Edward  held  Walintune  (Warrington)  with  thi'ee  berewicks,  and  there  is 
one  liide.  To  this  manor  belonged  thiity-four  di-enghs,  and  they  had  as  many 
manors  :  m  these  there  were  forty-two  carucates  of  land,  and  one  liide  and  a 
half.  Sainl  Elfin  held  one  carucate  of  land,  free  fi'om  all  custom  but  danegeld.  Tlie 
whole  manor  and  hundi-ed  paid  to  the  king  for  rent  fifteen  pounds  save  two  shil- 
lings.   There  are  now  two  ploughs  in  the  demesne,  and  eight  vassals  ^\-ith  one  plough. 

The  following  held  land  there,  viz.  Roger  one  carucate  of  land,  Tetbald  one 
carucate  and  a  half,  Warin  one  carucate,  Radulf  five  carucates,  William  two  hides 
and  four  carucates,  Adelard  one  hide  and  half  a  carucate,  Osmund  one  carucate  of 
land.  The  whole  of  this  is  valued  at  four  pounds  ten  sliillings ;  the  demesne  at  three 
pounds  ten  shillings. 

Jn  iJIarfefiutn  ?^unDrrlr. 

King  Edward  \\e\i\.  Blachehurne(Bh\CKBVR^).  There  are  two  liides  and  two 
caiTicates  of  land:  the  church  had  two  bovates  of  tliis  laud;  and  the  church  of 
St.  Mary's  had  in  Wlialley  two  carucates  of  land,  free  from  all  custom.  In  the  same 
manor  there  is  a  wood  one  mile  in  length  and  the  same  in  breadth,  and  there  was  an 
aerie  of  hawks. — To  this  manor  or  hundred  belonged  twenty-eight  freemen,  holding 
five  hides  and  a  half  and  forty  carucates  of  land  for  twenty-eight  manors  adjoining. 


101  Cftf  5)i6tori)  of  tin 

^m^'  Silua  ibi .  vi .  leiiu  Ig .  7  iiii .  leuu  lat .  7  era.v  in  siipdictis 

csuetudinib^. 

In  eod  HVND  habeft  rex .  E  .  Hunnicot  de .  11 .  car  tre .  7  Wale 

tune  de .  II .  car .  tr^e .  7  Peniltune  de  dimid  hida. 

Tot  CD  cu  HVND  reddeb  regi  de  firma .  xxxii .  lib  7  11 .  solid. 

Hanc  tra  tota  ded  Rogerius  pictauensis  Rogerio  de  Busli. 

7  Albto  Greslet.  7  ibi  sunt  tot  hoEs  qui  hilt,  xi .  car  7  dimid. 

quos  ipsi  ccesser .  ee .  q'etos  usq^  ad  .  in .  annos .  7  ido  n  appciat  m. 

Rex .  E  .  tenuit  Salford  .  Ibi .  in .  bids.   In  SalfoRD  HVND. 

7  XII .  caruc  tr£E  Wastae .  7  Foresta .  in .  leuu  Ig .  7  tntd  lat. 

7  ibi  plures  haise  7  aira  accipitris.  [ad  Salford. 

Radecliue  teneb  rex .  E  .  p  CID  .  Ibi .  i .  hida  .  7  aha  hid  ptinefi 

^ccta  S'  MARIE .  7  aeccta  S'  Michael  teneb  in  Mamecestre. 

h  h  _.  _  'i 

una  caruc  trs .  q'eta  ab  omi  csuetud  pt  geld. 

Ad  hoc  CD  uel  HVND  ptineb  .  xxi .  bereuuicll .  teneb 

totid  taini  p  totid  Maner  .  In  quib}  era^r .  xi .  hidffi  7  dimid. 

7  x .  caruc  trae  7  dimid. 

Siluae  ibi .  ix .  leuu  7  dim  Ig  .  7  v  .  leuu  7  una  qrent  lat. 

Vn^  eoa  Gamel  tenen' .  n  .  hid  in  Recedha  .  habeb  suas  csue 

tudines  q'etas  .  pter .  vi .  has  .  Furtu  .  Heinfare  .  Forestel. 

Pace|  infracta  .  tminu  fractu  apposito  stabilitu  .  pugna 

post  sacramtu  factu  remanents  .  H  eiiidab .  xl  .  solid. 

Aliquae  haru  traru  eraAc  q'etae  ab  omi  csuetud  pt  geld. 

7  aliqtae  a  geldo  su.v  q'etas. 

Tot  G5  Salford  cu  HVND  reddeb .  xxx.vii .  lib  7  iiii .  sol. 

Modo  sunt  in  CD  in  dnio .  n  .  car .  7  vin  .  serui .  7  n  .  uitt  cu  .  i .  car 

Valet .  c  .  solid  hoc  dnium. 

De  hac  tra  hui^  GD  ten  milites  dono  Rogerij  pictau. 

Nigellus  .  Ill .  hid  .  7  dimid  caruc  trs  .  Warin^ .  n  .  car  tree. 

7  alt  Warin^  .  i .  caruc  7  dimid .  Goisfrid^  .1 .  caruc  trae  .  Gamel 

i.   If  7ix.bord'. 

.11 .  car  trae  .  In  his  sunt .  in  .  taini .  7  xxx .  uitli  7  pbr  7  x. 
serui .  Int  onis  hnt .  xxii .  car  .  Valet .  vii .  lib. 


r 


III. 


Countj)  palatine  of  2Lanfa6tn%  los 

There  is  wood  six  mUes  long  aiid  foiu-  broad,    and  there  were  the  above-said    chap. 
customs. 

In  the  same  hundi'ed  King  Edward  had  Hunnicot  (Huncote)  with  two  caru- 
cates  of  land,  Walehme  (Walton)  with  two  carucates  of  land,  Peniltune  (Pendle- 
ton) half  a  hide.  The  whole  manor,  with  the  hundi-ed,  paid  to  the  king  for  rent 
tliirtj-two  pounds  two  sliillings. 

Roger  de  Poidou  gave  aU  this  land  to  Roger  de  BusU  and  Albert  Greslet,  and 
there  are  as  many  men  who  have  eleven  carucates  and  a  half ;  they  allowed  these 
to  be  exempt  for  three  years,  and  therefore  they  are  not  rated. 

King  Edward  held  Salford.  There  were  thi'ee  liides  and  twelve  cai-ucates  of 
waste  land;  forest  thi-ee  miles  long  and  the  same  broad;  and  there  are  many 
hedges,  and  an  aerie  of  hawks. 

Edward  held  Radecliue  (Radcliffe)  for  a  manor.  There  is  one  hide,  and 
another  belonging  to  Salford.  The  church  of  St.  Mary's  and  the  chm'cli  of 
St.  Michael's  held  uii)/a»teee.s7re  (Manchester)  one  carucate  of  land,  free  from  all 
duties  or  rents  except  danegeld. 

To  tliis  manor  or  hundi'ed  there  belonged  twenty-one  beremcks,  wliich  were  held 
by  as  many  thanes  for  as  many  manors ;  in  wliich  there  were  eleven  hides  and  a  half 
and  ten  cai'ucates  and  a  half  of  land,  with  wood  nine  miles  and  a  half  long,  and  five 
and  a  quarenten  broad. 

One  of  these  thanes,  called  Gamel,  holding  two  hides  of  land  in  Recedham, 
(Rochdale),  had  them  free  trom  all  duties  but  the  following  six,  viz.  theft, 
inveigling  of  servants,  obstinicting  the  king's  road,  breach  of  peace,  removal  of 
boundary,  and  desertion  after  enlisting;  the  fines  for  these  offences  were  forty 
shillings.  The  rest  of  these  lands  were  free  from  all  customs  except  danegeld,  and 
they  are  partly  free  from  danegeld. 

The  whole  manor  vdih  tlie  Imucb'ed  of  Salford,  paid  thirty-seven  pounds  four 
shillings.  Tliere  are  now  in  the  manor,  in  the  demesne,  two  carucates  and  eight 
bondmen,  and  two  vUlains  with  one  carucate.  Tliis  demesne  is  valued  at  a 
hundi-ed  sliillings. 

The  knights  hold  the  land  of  this  manor  by  the  gift  of  Roger  de  Poictou  : 
Nigel  three  hides  and  half  a  carucate  of  land,  Warin  two  cai'ucates,  and  another 
Warin  one  carucate  and  a  half,  Goisfrid  one  carucate,  Gamel  two  cai'ucates. 
In  these  lands  there  are  three  thanes  and  tliirty  villains,  nine  bordars,  one  priest, 
and  ten  bondmen :  amongst  them  they  had  twenty-two  carucates.  It  is  valued  at 
seven  pounds. 

vol.  I.  p 


106  ClK  lisitoii)  of  t\)e 

^Wr-  Rex  .  E  .  tenuit  Lailand  .  Ibi .  i  .  hida  In  Lailand  HVND. 

'  I,    I,  h  h  h 

7  II .  caruc  trse .  Silua  .  ii .  leuu  Ig  .-7  una  lat .  7  aira  Accipitr. 


Ad  hoc  CD  ptineb  .  xii .  trae  quas  teneb  .  xii .  hoes  libi  pro 

totid  Maner .  In  his  .  vi .  hidae .  7  viii .  caruc  trae. 

Siluae  ibi .  vi .  leuu  Ig .  7  iii .  leuu  7  una  qrent  lat. 

Hoes  huj^  CB  7  de  Salford  ii  opabant  p  csuetud  ad  aula  regis. 

^  o 

neq,,  metebaw  in  Augusto  .  Tantm  .  i .  haia  in  silua  facieb. 

7  habeb  sanguinis  forisfactura  .  7  femin«  passse  uiolent. 

De  alijs  csuetudinib}  aliox  supio^  Manerio^  era//  csortes. 

Tot  CD  Lailand  cu  H  VND  reddeb  de  firma  regi .  xix  .  lib. 

7  XVIII .  solid  7  II .  denar. 

De  hac  tra  huj^  CD  ten  Girard^  hid  7  dimid  .  Robt^  .  iii .  car  trae. 

Radulf^  .  II .  car  tree .  Roger^  .  11 .  car  trae .  Walter^  .  i .  car  tras. 

Ibi  sunt .  nil .  radmans  .  pbr  7  xiiii .  uifti  7  vi .  bord .  7  11 .  bouar. 

Int  oms  hnt .  viii .  car .  SUua  .  iii .  leuu  Ig .  7  11 .  leuu  lat. 

7  ibi .  nil .  au-«  Accipitru  .  Valet  tot .  l  .  solid .  Ex  parte  .  e  wasta. 

JCVex  .  E .  tenuit  Peneverdant  .  Ibi .  11 .  car  trae  .  7  reddb .  x .  den. 

Modo .  e  ibi  castellu .  7  11 .  car  sunt  in  diiio .  7  vi .  burgses .  7  in. 

radmans .  7  viii .  uitti  7  iiii .  bouar .  Int  oms  hnt .  iiii .  car .  Ibi 

dimid  piscaria .  Silua  7  airae  accipitru .  sic  T.R.E  .  Val .  111 .  lib. 

In  his  .  VI .  HVND  Derbie  Neutone  Walintune .  Blacheburne 

a  i,        ti    7  octo 

Salford  7  Lailand  sunt .  c  .  qt .  xx|Manerij  .  In  q'b}  sunt 

qt  XX .  hidae  geld  una  min"^. 

T.R.E  .  ualb  .  cxLv  .  lib  7  11 .  solid  7  11 .  denar. 

Q'do  Rogeii^  pictauensis  de  rege  recepr'  ualb .  cxx  .  lib. 

Modo  tenet  Rex .  7  ht  in  dnio .  xii .  car .  7  ix .  milites 

feudu  tenentes .  Int  eos  7  eo^  hoes .  sunt .  cxv  .  car  7  in  .  boues. 

Diiium  qd  tenuit  Rogeriusr'  appciat .  xxiii .  lib  7  x  .  solid. 

Qd  dedit  militib}:'  xx  lib  7  xi .  solid  appciatuR. 


Couiitp  palatine  of  Santasitfr.  107 


In  ILrj)lanti  fBunttrrlr. 

Kinff  Edward  held  Leyland,  where  he  had  one  hide  and  two  carucates  of  land,  a 
wood  two  miles  long  and  one  broad,  and  an  aerie  of  hawks.  To  this  manor  belonged 
twelve  carucates  of  land,  wliich  twelve  freemen  held  as  twelve  manors  :  in  these  are 
six  hides  and  eight  carucates:  there  are  woods  six  miles  long,  and  tliree  and  a 
quarenten  broad.  The  men  of  this  manor  and  of  »S'ff//brfZ  did  not  work  as  customary  for 
the  king  at  the  haU,  nor  tUd  they  reap  in  August ;  they  only  made  one  hedge  in  the 
wood:  they  were  subject  to  fines  for  wounding  and  rajie,  and  had  all  the  other 
customs  of  the  other  superior  manors.  The  whole  of  the  manor  of  Leyland,  with 
the  hundred,  rendered  to  the  king  nineteen  poimds  eighteen  shilliugs  and  two 
pence.  Of  the  land  in  tins  manor  Girard  holds  one  hide  and  a  half,  Robert  three 
carucates,  Radulph  two  canicates,  Roger  two  carucates,  Walter  one  carucate. 
There  are  foiu:  radmans,  a  priest,  and  fourteen  villains,  and  six  bordars,  and 
two  neatherds :  between  them  they  have  eight  carucates,  wood  tlii'ee  miles  long  and 
two  miles  broad,  and  four  aeries  of  hawks.  The  whole  is  worth  fifty  shUlings — 
part  is  waste  land. 

King  Edward  held  Peneverdant  (Penwortham),  where  there  are  two  carucates 
of  land,  wliich  rendered  ten  pence.  There  is  now  a  castle  there ;  and  there  are  two 
carucates  in  the  demesne,  six  burgesses,  three  radmans,  eight  villains,  and  four 
neatherds ;  between  all  they  have  four  cai'ucates ;  there  is  half  a  fishery,  a  wood, 
and  aeries  of  hawks.  As  in  the  time  of  King  Edward  it  is  valued  at  three 
pounds. 

In  these  six  hundreds,  Derby,  Newton,  Warrington,  Blackburn,  Salford,  and 
Leyland,  there  ai"e  one  hundred  foui-score  and  eight  manors,  in  which  there  are 
fourscore  liides,  save  one,  to  be  taxed.  In  the  time  of  King  Edward  they  were  valued 
at  one  hundred  and  forty-five  pounds  two  shillings  and  two  pence.  When  Roger  de 
Poictou  received  them  from  tlie  king,  they  were  valued  at  one  hundi'ed  and  twenty 
pounds.  The  king  now  holds  them,  and  has  ui  the  demesne  twelve  cai'ucates,  and 
nine  knights  holding:  a  fee :  between  them  and  their  vassals  there  are  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  carucates  and  three  oxen.  The  demesne  wliich  Roger  held  is  valued 
at  twenty-three  pounds  ten  sliiUings,  and  what  he  gave  to  the  knights  at  twenty 
pounds  eleven  shillings. 


CHAP. 

III. 


p  2 


CHAH. 
III. 


108  COt  In&tOVlJ  of  tftf 

IAgemvndrenesse.  * 
n  Prestvne  .  comes  Tosti .  vi .  car  ad  gld  •  Ibi  ptin  he  trtE. 

II.C*  i.c'  l.C  .ii.c'  .II.C*  IIII.C'  VI.C' 

Estun  .  Lea  .  Saleuuic .  Clistun .  Neutime  .  Frecheltun  .  Rigbi. 

IIII.C'  n.c'  II.C*  ii.c'  .111.0'  -II.C'  .jjii.c' 

Chicheham .  Treueles .  Westbi .  Pluntun  .  Widetun  .  Pies .  Wartiin. 

.ii.c'  .TI.C*  .VI.  VI.C'  IIII.C'  .\HIC' 

Lidun .  Meretun .  Latun  .  Staininghe .  Carlentun  .  Biscopham. 

II.C'  II.C  VI.C'  .II.C'  .VI.C'  III.C' 

Rushale .  Brune  .  Torentun .  Poltun  .  Singletun  .  Greneholf. 

.IIII.C'  II.C'  III.C'  II.C  I.c'  I.C' 

Eglestun .  alia  Eglestun  .  Edelesuuic  .  Inscip  .  Sorbi ,  Aschebi. 

.I.C  .II.C  .II.C'  .I.c'  -v.c' 

Michelescherche  .  Catrehala .  Clactune  .  Neuhuse  .  Pluntun. 

.I.c'  .II.C'  III.C'  .I.c'  .I.c' 

Broctun  .  Witingheham .  Bartun .  Gusansarghe  .  Halctun. 

.I.c'  .I.c'  III.C'  .1.0'  .I.c'  .II.C' 

Trelefelt .  Watelei .  Chipinden  .  Actun  .  Fiscuic  .  Grimesarge. 

ii.c'  ii.c  .i.c*  .1.C'  -I.c 

Ribelcastre .  Bileuurde .  Suenesat .  Fortune  .  Crimeles  .  Che 

vie'  ii.c'  .ii.c'  h  .iii.c'  .ii.c' 

restanc.  Rodeclif.  alia  Rodeclif"  .tcia  Rodeclif.  Hameltune. 

ini.o'  vLc*  I.c' 

Stalmine ,  Pressouede .  Midehope. 

0ms  h^  uille  iacent  ad  Prestune  .  7  iii .  eccte  .  Ex  his .  xvi. 
a  paucis  incolunr  .  S3  quot  sint  habitantes  ignoratur. 
Reliqua  sunt  wasta .  Rog  pict  habuit. 


f6ln  HALTVN .  habuit comes  Tosti .  vi .  car  tr^e  ad  gld. 

I  lie'  lie'  iC  vi.o'  ii.c' 

n  Aldeclif .  Tiernun  .  Hillun  .  Loncastre  .  Chercaloncastre. 

ii.c'  .ii.c'  mi.c'  .iiii  C  iiii.o'  IIII.C' 

Hotun  .  Neutun  .  Ouretun  .  Middeltun  .  Hietune  .  Hessam. 

ii.c'  ii.c'  -li.c'  VI. c'  Ii.c'  VI.C 

Oxeneclif .  Poltune  .  Toredholme  .  Schertune  .  Bare  .  Sline. 

liii.c'  VI.O'  .11.0'  .II.C'  ii.c' 

Bodeltone .  Chellet .  Stopeltierne  .  Neuhuse  .  Chreneforde. 

_  h 

Oms  hae  uillae  ptin  ad  Haltune. 


CD  J  n  WiTETVNE .  tib  comes  Tosti .  vi .  car  tre  ad  gld. 

II.C*  vi.o'  ii.c'  III.C'  .III.C* 

In  Neutune .  Ergune .  Ghersinctune  .  Hotun  .  Cantesfelt. 

III.C'  III.C'  III.C'  IIII.C'  .I.c'  VI.C' 

Irebi .  Borch  .  Lech  .  Borctune .  Bernulfesuuic  .  Inglestune. 

III.C'  III.C'  I. II.C'  vi.c' 

Castretune  .  Berebrune  .  Sedberge  .  Tiernebi. 
Oms  ha2  uillae  ptin  ad  Witetune. 

*  This  Survey  is  inserted  under  the  head  Evrvicscire,  fo.  301  b.  and  302  a. 


Count))  |)alatme  of  Hanrasitn'.  109 

ailtOUniirrnr0S*,  mulcr  En-vic-sdre.  CHAP. 

In  Prcstvne  (Prkston)  Earl  Tosti  had  six  carucates  to  be  taxed.    These  lands  belong  thereto  : —        III. 

Estun  (Ashton)  two  carucates  ;  Lea  (Lea)  one  carucate  ;   Saleunic   (Salwick)  one  carucate  ;    

Cliston  (Cliftox)  two  carucates  ;   Neuiune  (Newton)  two  carucates  ;   Frecliellvti  (Freckelton) 
four  carucates;   Rigbi  (Ribby)  six  carucates. 

CAjc/je/mra  (Kirkham)  four  carucates ;  TreMeZes  (Treales)  two  carucates;  IFesiSi  (Westby) 
two  carucates  ;  Pluntun  (Plumpton)  two  carucates;  Widetun  (Weeton)  three  carucates;  Pres 
(Preese)  two  carucates  ;  Wartun  (Warton)  four  carucates. 

Lidun  (Lytham)  two  carucates  ;  Meretim  (Marton)  six  carucates  ;  Latiin  (Layton)  six  caru- 
cates ;  Staininghe  (Staining)  six  carucates ;  Carlentun  (Carlton)  four  carucates ;  Biscopham 
(Bispham)  eight  carucates. 

iJ«s/mZe  (Rossall)  two  carucates  ;  Brtiwe  (Brining)  two  carucates  ;  Torcntun  {TnonsTOn)  six 
carucates;  Poltun  (Poulton)  two  carucates;  Singletun  (Singleton)  six  carucates;  Greneholf 
(Greenhalgh)  three  carucates. 

Eglestun  (Eccleston)  four  carucates  ;  another  Eglestun  (Eccleston)  two  carucates  ;  Edelesuuic 
(Elswick)  three  carucates;  Inscip  (Inksip)  two  carucates;  Sorbi  (Sowerby)  one  carucate; 
Aschebi  (Nateby)  one  carucate. 

Michelescherche  or  Michael's  Church,  one  carucate  ;  Catrehala  (Catterall)  two  carucates  ; 
Clactune  (Claughton)  two  carucates  ;  Neiihuse  (Newsham)  one  carucate  ;  Pluntun  (Plumpton) 
five  carucates. 

Brocton  (Broughton)  one  carucate  ;  Witingheham  (Whittingham)  two  carucates  ;  Bartun 
(Barton)  three  carucates  :  Gusansarghe  (Goosnargh)  one  carucate ;  Halctun  (Haighton)  one 
carucate. 

Trelefelt  (Threlfield)  one  carucate  ;  Watelei  (Whalley)  one  carucate  ;  Chipinden  (Chip- 
ping) three  carucates;  ^ciun  (Alston)  one  carucate;  Fiscuic  (Fishwick)  one  carucate ;  Grime- 
sarge  (Grimsaigh)  two  carucates. 

iJt6eZcas/re  (Ribchester)  two  carucates  ;  JSi'/eirarrfe  (Billsborough,  two  carucates  ;  Suenesat 
(Swainset)  one  carucate  ;  Fortune  (Forton)  one  carucate  ;  Crimeles  (Crimbles)  one  carucate  ; 
Cherestanc  (Garstang)  six  carucates  ;  Rodecliff  (Rawcliffe)  two  carucates  ;  another  Rodeclif 
(Rawcliffe)  two  carucates  ;  a  third  ditto,  tliree  carucates  ;  Hameltune  (Hambleton)  two  carucates. 

Stalmine  (Stalmin)  four  carucates  ;  Pressouede  (Preesall)  six  carucates  ;  Midehope  (Mithope 
or  Midhope)  one  carucate. 

All  these  villages  and  three  churches  belong  to  Prestune  (Preston)  ;  of  these  sixteen  have  few 
inhabitants — but  how  many  inhabitants  there  may  be  is  not  known. 

The  rest  are  waste.     Roger  de  Poictou  had  it. 

In  aonsaalf  Vale. 

Manor.     In  Haltun  (Halton)  Earl  Tosti  had  six  carucates  of  land  to  be  taxed. 

In  Aldeclif  {\\,viC\AYe)  two  carucates  ;  Tiernun  (Thurnham)  two  carucates  ;  Hillim  (Hillhaji) 
one  carucate ;  Loncastre  (Lancaster)  six  carucates  ;  Chercaloncastre  (Kirby'-Lancaster)  two 
farucates. 

Hotun  (Hutton)  two  carucates ;  Neutun  (Newton)  two  carucates  ;  Oiiretun  (Overton)  four 
carucates;  Middeltun  (Middleton)  four  carucates;  //e'eZttne  (Heaton)  four  carucates;  Hessam 
(Heysham)  four  carucates. 

Oxeneclif  (O^c^T-vv)  ivio  carucates;  Po/^^ine  (Poulton)  two  carucates  ;  Toredholme  (Torris- 
uolme)  two  carucates;  Schertune  (Skerton)  six  carucates;  Bare  (Bare)  two  carucates;  Sline 
(Sly'ne)  six  carucates. 

Bodeltone  (Bolton)  four  carucates  ;  Chellet  (Kellet)  six  carucates  ;  Stopeltierne  (Stapleton- 
therne)  two  carucates;  Neuhuse  (Newsome)  two  carucates  ;  Chreneforde (CAnvFomn)  two  carucates. 

All  these  villages  belong  to  Haltune  (Halton.) 

Manor.     In  Witetvne  (Whittington)  Earl  Tosti  had  six  carucates  of  land  to  be  taxed. 

In  iVeuZttree  (Newton)  two  carucates  ;  Ergune  (Arum  orARKHOLME)  six  carucates  ;  Ghersinc- 
tune  (Gressingham)  two  carucates  ;  Hotun  (Hutton)  three  carucates ;  Cantesfelt  (Gansfield) 
three  carucates. 

/r^ii  (I rebt)  three  carucates  ;  BorcA  (Burrow)  three  carucates  ;  iec^  (Leck)  three  carucates  ; 
(all  in  Lancashire.)  i?orc<M«e  (Burton  in  Lonsdale) four  carucates;  £ern?((/esMuic  (Barnolds- 
wick)  one  carucate  ;   Inglestune  (Ingleton)  six  carucates. 

Castretune  (Casterton)  three  carucates;  Berebrune  (Barbon)  three  carucates;  Sedberge 
(Sedberg)  three  carucates;  Tiernebi  (Tuirnby  or  Tiiornby)  six  carucates. 

All  these  villages  belong  to  Whitune  (Whittington.) 


110  C!k  5ji£itorj)  of  t\)t 

'^^u''       t^ In  OrsTEvric .  7  Heldetune .  Clapeham .  Middeltun  .  Manz 

serge .  Cherchebi .  Lupetun  .  Prestun  .  Holme  .  Bortun  .  Hotune. 

Wartun  .  Clactun  .  Catun  .  Haec  habuit  Torfin  .  p  xii .  Maner. 
In  his  sunt  xl.iii  .  carucate  ad  gld. 
^  In  Benetain  .  Wininctune  .  Tathaim  .  Fareltun  .  Tunestalle. 

Chetel  lib .  nil .  515  .  7  sunt  in  eis .  xviii .  car  ad  gld  .  7  iii .  Eecdae. 
OD  In  HOFGrNAih  comes  Tosti .  iiii .  car  tre  ad  gld. 

_  iiic-  .lll.c-  .liii.c'  ii.C  il.c-  »i.c' 

In  Chiluestreuic .  Sourebi .  Hietun  .  Daltune  .  Warte  .  Neutun. 

VIC'  II.C  lie'  TI.C  IlC  TIC'  T  "■'^ 

Walletun .  Suntun .  Fordebodele  .  Rosse  .  Hert .  Lies .  aha  Lies. 

ILc'  II.C'  llll.c'  .III.C'  DIII.C  II.c' 

Glassertun .  Steintun .  CUuertun  .  Ouregraue .  Meretun  .  Penni 

lie'  TIC'  iiiiC  nil.C  line' 

getun  .  Gerleuuorde  .  Borch  .  Berretseige  .  Witingha .  Bodele. 

.LC'  .TI.C' 

Santacherche  .  Hougenai .  0ms  has  uUIeb  iacent  ad  Hougun. 
^  In  Stercaland  .  Mimet .  Cherchebi .  Helsingetune. 

Steintun .  Bodelforde .  Hotun  .  Bortun  .  Daltun  .  Patun. 

H  habuit  Gilemichel .  In  his  suat  .  xx  .  car  trae  ad  gld. 
515  In  Cherchebi .  Duuan .  vi .  car  ad  gld. 
55  In  Aldingha .  Ernulf .  vi .  car  ad  gld. 


CD  In  Vlurestun  .  Turulf .  vi .  car  ad  gld. 
In  Bodeltun  .  vi .  car .  In  Dene  .  i .  car. 


ItJCRAVE*  h 

CQln  Mellinge  7  Hornebi  7  Wennigetun  .  Vlf .  ix .  car  ad  gld. 
■•  ',  ^ 

B  Ibide  hb  Orme  .  i .  car  7  dim  ad  gld. 

.11.  x 

^  In  Lanesdale  .  7  Cocreha  .  hbr  Vlf  7  Machel 

II .  car  ad  gld. 

.III.T  h 

^  In  EsTVN .  Cliber  .  Machern  7  Ghilemichel  hbr .  vi .  car 

ad  gld .  In  Ellhale  .  11 .  car .  In  Scozforde  .  11 .  car. 
Q5  in  Biedvn.  hb  comes  Tosti .  vi .  car  ad  gld  .  Nc  ht  Rog 

ij  pb'r  _  iiii.c'  .iiii.c'  .iiLc' 

pictau .  7  Ernuin  sub  eo  .  In  jalant .  Fareltun  .  prestun. 

II.C'  II.c'  II.c'  II.C' 

Bereuuic .  Hennecastre  .  Eureshaim  .  Lefuenes. 

*  This  Survey  is  also  inserted  under  the  head  Evrvicscire  (West  Reding),  fo.  301  b.  and 
fo.  332  a. 


Countp  ^3«ilatinc  of  Sancasitfr.  in 

Twelve  manors.     In  Ovstevvic  and  Heldetune  (Austwick  and  ),  Clapeham     CHAP. 

(Clapham),  3Iiddeltun  (Middleton),  Manzserge  (Mansergm),  Cherchehi  (Kirkby-Lons-        HI- 

dale),   Lupetun    (Lupton),    Prestun    (Preston),    Holme    (Holm),    Bortun    (Burton),    

Hotline  (Hutton  Roof.) 

IFartun  (Wharton),  Clactun  (Claugiiton),  Catun  (Caton).  These  Torfin  had  for 
twelve  manors. 

In  these  are  forty-three  carucates  to  be  taxed. 

Four  manors.  In  Benetain  (Bentham),  TVininctune  (Winnington),  Tathaim 
(Tatham),  Fareltun  (Farlton),   Tunestalle  (Tunstall). 

Chetel  had  four  manors,  and  there  are  in  them  eighteen  carucates  to  be  taxed,  and  three 
churches. 

Manor.  In  Hovgvn  (Furness,  Low)  Earl  Tosti  had  four  carucates  of  land  to  be 
taxed. 

In  Chiliiesti'euic  (qu.  Woodlands)  three  carucates ;  Sourehi  (Sowerby)  three  caru- 
cates ;  Hietun  (Heaton)  four  carucates ;  Daltune  (Dalton)  two  carucates ;  JVarte 
(Svvarth)  two  carucates ;  Neiitun  (Newton)  six  carucates. 

Walletun  (Walton)  six  carucates ;  Suntun  (Santon)  two  carucates ;  Fordebodele 
(  )   two  carucates ;  Rosse  {  )   six  carucates ;  Hert   (Hest)   two  carucates ; 

Lies  (  )  six  carucates ;  another  Lies  (  )  two  carucates. 

Glasserfun  (Gleaston)  two  carucates  ;  Steintun  (Stenton)  two  carucates ;  Cliuertun 
(Crinleton)  four  carucates  ;  Ouregraue  (Orgrave)  now  called  Titeup,  three  carucates; 
Meretun  (Marton,  alias  Martin)  fovir  carucates ;  Pennigetun  (Pennington)  two  caru- 
cates ;  Gerleuuorde  (Irelith  Kirkby)  two  carucates ;  Borch  (Burrow)  six  carucates  ; 
Berretseige  (Bardsey)  four  carucates ;  Witiugliam  (Whitingham)  four  carucates ;  Bodele 
(Bothil,  alias  Bootle)  four  carucates. 

Santacherche  (Santonkirk)  one  carucate ;  Hougenai  (Furness,  High)  six  carucates. 
All  these  villages  lie  to  Hougun  (Furness,  High). 

Manor  in  Stercalaud  (Strickland),  3Iimet  (Mint),  Chercliebi  (Kirkby  Kendal), 
Helsingetune  (Helsington). 

Steintun  (Stainton),  Bodelforde  (  ),  Hotun  (Old  Hutton),  Bortun  (Burton  in 

Kendal),  Daltun  (Dalton),  Patiin  (Patton). 

Gilemichel  had  these.     In  these  are  twenty  carucates  of  land  to  be  taxed. 

Manor.     In  Cherchehi  (Kirkby  Kendal)  Dituan  had  six  carucates  to  be  taxed. 

Manor.     In  Aldingham  (Aldingham)  Erniilf  \vaA  six  carucates  to  be  taxed. 

Manor.     In  Vlurestun  (Ulverston)  Turulf  ho-Ci  six  carucates  to  be  taxed. 

In  Bodeltun  (Bolton)  six  carucates  to  be  taxed ;  in  Dene  (Dean,  alias  Dbyn)  one 
carucate. 

5it  C^tabrtt,  ffiSMrst  Ititiing,  !»orfe0f)irr. 

Manor.  In  Mellinge  (Melling),  Hornehi  (Hornby),  and  fVenningetun  (Wenning- 
ton),  ?7//'had  nine  carucates  to  be  taxed. 

Berewick.     In  the  same  place  Orme  had  one  carucate  and  a  half  to  be  taxed. 

Two  Manors.  In  Lanesdale  and  Cocrehain  (Lonsdale  and  Cockerham)  Ulf  and 
Machel  had  two  carucates  to  be  taxed. 

Three  Manors.  In  Estun  (Ashton),  Cliber,  Machern,  and  Ghilemichel,  had  six 
carucates  to  be  taxed ;  in  Ellhale  (Ellill)  two  carucates  ;  in  Scozforde  (Scotforth)  two 
carucates. 

Manor.  In  Biedun  (Beetham)  Earl  Tosti  had  six  carucates  to  be  taxed; 
Roger  of  Poictou  now  has  it,  and  Ernuin  the  priest  under  him ;  in  Jalant  (Yea- 
land)  four  carucates ;  in  Fareltun  (Farlton)  four  carucates ;  in  Prestun  (Preston) 
tliree  carucates. 

In  Bereuuic  (Borwick)  two  carucates  ;  in  Hennecastre  (Hincaster)  two  carucates  ;  in 
Eureshaim  (Haversham)  two  carucates ;  in  Lefuenes  (Levbns)  two  carucates. 

Yealand  and  Borwick  only  in  Lancaster,  tlie  rest  in  TVestmoreland. 


112  Cftr  l^t£itoii>  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  Tlie  oTeat  baroiiial  proprietors,  both  Saxon  and  Nonnan,   of  the  "  Honor  of 

^^^'      Lancaster  "  were  amongst  the  most  unfortunate  of  theii-  order.     Tlie  earls  Morcar 
and  Tosti  had  suffered  the  fate  so  common  to  men  in  exalted  stations  in  those  turbu- 
lent times ;  and  Roger  de  Poictou,  the  thii-d  son  of  Roger  de  Montgomery,  though 
endowed  ^vith  three  hundred  and  ninety-eight  manors,  as  the  reward  of  the  sei-vices 
rendered  by  his  family  to  the  Conqueror,  was  doomed  to  sun-ender  them  all  as  the 
price  of  liis  rebellion.     Tlie  proprietors,  at  the  time  of  taking  the  survey,  had  greatly 
increased  in  number,  and  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  as  developed  in 
the  survey  of  the  six  hundi-eds  between  the  Mersey  and  the  Ribble,  form  the  most 
valuable  feature  of  this  ancient  record.*     The  tenure  by  which  the  thanes  held  the 
land  in  the  hundred  of  Derby  was — two  ores  of  pennies  for  a  carucate  :    this  must 
have  been  most  indulgent  as  far  as  the  rent  was  concerned,  but  the  obligation  to 
build  the  king's  houses,  to  attend  his  fisheries,  to  repak  his  fences,  and  to  reap  his 
Thanes,     harvest,  would  add  not  a  little  to  the  pressure  upon  the  thanes.     Tliere  were  two 
classes  of  thanes, — the  ecclesiastic,  called  in  Saxon,  Mass-Thanes,  and  the  temporal 
or  secular  thanes.     Both  of  these  were  again  divided  into  two  classes ;  the  greater 
thanes  were  next  in  rank  to  earls,  being  the  king's  thanes,  and  called  Barones  Regis. 
The  inferior  the  Saxons  called  the  less  thanes,  without  any  addition,  as  the  smaller 
barons,  such  as  lords  of  manors,  the  less  valvasores,  and  freeholders.     After  the 
invasion  of  the  Normans,  many  military  men  of  that  rank  and  appellation,  endowed 
vfith  the  title  of  knight,  were  called  by  the  name  of  thanes,  and  afterwards  of 
milites  or  equites — laiights.     Such  was  the  inequality  of  the  laws  in  these  times, 
that  in  some  disti-icts — Oirel,  Halsall,  and  Everton,  for  instance — the  occupiers  were 
exempt  not  only  from  the  principal  tax  (dane-geld),  but  they  were  exonerated  fi'om 
the  punislmaent  justly  due  to  some  crimes  of  the  greatest  enormity ;  wlule  in  other 
places,  the  oflfence  of  ravisliing  a  woman,  and  of  the  tenant  absenting  liimself  fi"om 
the  slure-mote  or  hundi'ed  court,  were  to  be  punished  with  the  same  severity,  viz., 
a  fine  of  ten  sliillings  !     It  appears  also  that  there  were  in  tliese  six  hundreds  one 
luuwhed  and  eighty-eight  manors,  and  that  then-  annual  value,   when   Roger   de 
Poictou  received  them  from  the  king,  was  scarcely  equal  to  that  of  a  small  estate  in 
our  times.     The  conti-ast  between  the  nature  of  landed  possessions  in  this  district,  in 
the  time  when  the  dane-geld  tax  was  enforced  in  1086,  and  the  time  when  the 

*  The  appellation  Christis  Crofte  was  anciently  given  to  this  tract,  and  it  is  celebrated  as  a  place 
of  securitY  in  troublesome  times,  in  the  following  metrical  prophecy  : — 

"  When  all  England  is  alofte. 

Safe  are  they  that  are  in  Christis  Crofte  ; 
And  where  should  Christis  Crofte  be 
But  between  Ribble  and  Mersey." 


Coiintp  llalatmr  of  iLaiuastrr.  ii3 

property  tax  existed  in  1814,  is  most  strikiug;  in  the  former  all  the  lands  between    chap. 

Mersey  and  Ribble  were  valued  at  £120, — in  the  latter  at  £2,569.761.     Allowing  L_ 

for  the  tlifference  in  the  value  of  money  at  the  two  periods,  the  statement  will  stand 
thus : — 

Annual  value  in  1086  £120,   x    110     =     £13,200 
In   1814 2,569,761 


Increased  value     .     .     £2,556,561 

Of  the  different  ranks  of  men  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  the  Bai'ons, 
the  Thanes,  the  Free-men,  the  Radmen,  the  Drenches,*  the  Bordars,  the  Bond- 
men, and  the  Villains,  the  dissertation  on  Feudal  Tenures,  already  inserted,  will 
afford  general  information,  while  the  measure  of  land,  and  the  value  of  money,  in 
those  times,  will  be  collected  from  the  same  source. 

The  Saxon  titles  consisted  of  EtlUing,  Duke,  Earl,  and  Comes,  but  they  all  Titles. 
merged  at  the  Conquest  into  the  more  general  and  comprehensive  title  of  Norman 
Baron.  At  the  head  of  the  Capitanei  Regni,  or  cliiefs  of  the  realm,  in  the  earlier  of 
these  periods,  stood  the  Ethlings.  These  were  noble  persons  of  the  first  rank,  as 
princes  sprung  from  the  blood  royal,  and  were  endowed  accordingly  Avith  great  fees 
and  offices  in  the  kingdom.  Of  this  description  was  Edgar  Ethling,  but  the  Conquest 
deprived  liim  of  his  inheritance. 

Amongst  the  Saxons  were  certain  magisti'ates  called  Aldermen.  These  were  Aldermen. 
princes  and  governors  of  provinces.  Earls,  Presidents,  Senators,  Tribunes,  and  the 
like.  They  were  of  different  ranks,  as  Aldermannus  totius  Anglice,  (the  Aldei'man 
of  all  England),  in  later  times  imagined  to  be  capitalis  Anglice  Justiciarius,  (chief 
justice  of  England)  ;  Aldermannus  Regis  (king's  alderman),  so  called  because  he  was 
constituted  by  the  king,  or  that  he  exercised  regal  authority  in  the  province  com- 
mitted to  his  charge ;  Aldermannus  Comitatus  (of  a  county),  sometimes  taken  pro 
Schyreman  et  ipso  Comite,  (for  the  sliireman  and  the  comes  himself). 

The  office  of  Alderman  was  to  inspect  the  county's  arms,  and  to  raise  forces 
witliin  his  jurisdiction ;  to  repress  the  refractory,  and  to  promote  public  justice.  The 
Bishops  were  nobles  inferior  in  rank  to  Earls.  By  the  laws  of  Alfred  and  Athelstan, 
the  lives  of  the  dignitaries,  both  in  the  church  and  state,  were  valued,  and  the  rate 
at  wloich  their  heads  were  estunated  serves  to  show  thefr  relative  dignity.  The 
head  of  the  Archbishop,  the  Earl,  or  Satrap,  was  valued  at  15,000  thrymses; 
the  bishop  and  alderman,  at  8,000  ;  the  Belli  Tmperator  et  summus  propositus,  (the 
conunander  and  chief  officer  of  war,)  or  vice-comes  (sheriff),  at  4,000  thrymses. 
From  which  it  appears  that  the  alderman  held  the  middle  station  between  the  earl 

*  See  Chap.  iii.  p.  82. 
VOL.  I,  Q 


114  Ci)e  5?i£itori)  of  tl)f 

CHAP,     aiij  the  sheriff.     After  the  Conquest,  the  alderman's  office  grew  out  of  use,  and  was 

superseded  almost  entii-ely  by  the  sheriff. 

Honors  were  hereditable  before  the  Conquest  by  earls  and  barons,  and  for  the 
most  pai't  to  such  as  were  of  the  blood-royal ;  hence  the  honor  of  Lancaster  had 
been  possessed  successively  by  earls  Tosti  and  Morcar.  By  the  Norman  law,  honors 
became  a  feudal  patrimony  of  any  of  the  liigh  bai'ons,  generally  adjoined  to  the 
principal  seat  of  the  baron.  The  great  baron  of  Lancashii-e,  Roger  de  Poictou,  so 
called  from  having  manied  Akuodis  of  Poictou,  ranked  amongst  the  Capitales 
Bai'ones,  holding  immecUately  from  the  crown.  The  barons  who  held  of  him  were 
called  Bai-ones  Comitatus  (barons  of  the  county),  and  held  free  courts  for  all  pleas 
and  complaints,  except  those  belonging  to  the  earl's  sword.  Tlie  ancient  barons  in 
tliefr  lordships  or  baronies  took  cognizance  of  litigation  and  robberies,  and  employed 
the  privileges  which  are  called  sac,  soc,  tol,  theam,  infangthef,  outfangthef,  feiias,  et 
marketas.*  The  distinction  between  an  honor  and  a  manor  consists  principally  in  the 
much  greater  extent  of  the  former,  and  in  the  courts  held  in  each.  We  have 
already  seen  that  a  manor  is  composed  of  demesne  and  services,  to  which  belong 
a  tlu'ee  weeks'  Court  or  Berry,  where  the  freeholders,  being  tenants  of  the  manor, 
sit  covered,  and  give  judgment  in  all  suits  that  are  there  pleading.  But  an  honor 
has  either  a  castle,  as  at  Lancaster,  or  at  least  the  site  of  a  castle,  or  some  principal 
house  of  state,  consisting  of  demesnes  and  services,  to  wliich  a  number  of  manors 
and  lordships,  with  aU  their  appurtenances  and  other  regalities,  are  annexed.  To 
every  manor  a  Court  Baron  is  attached.  In  an  honor,  an  honourable  Berry  or 
Court  is  kept,  once  every  year  at  least,  and  oftener  if  requu-ed ;  at  wliich  court  all 
the  freeholders  of  aU  the  manors  which  stand  united  to  the  honor,  make  their  appear- 
ance, and  in  which  suitors  do  not  sit,  but  stand  bai'eheaded.  Over  that  court  should 
be  hung  a  cloth  of  state,  Avith  a  chair  ,of  state,  upon  whicli  chair  should  be  laid  a 
cushion  made  of  cloth  of  gold,  or  what  is  becoming  and  decent  for  a  place  of  honour, 
and  upon  which  there  ought  to  be  embroidered  the  arms  belonging  to  the  honor. 

The  barons  of  the  Honor  of  Lancaster,  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  are  thus 
exliibited  in  Kenion's  MSS, 

*  Soc  was  the  power  of  administering  justice ;  Sac,  of  hearing  and  determining  causes  and 
disputes,  with  the  power  of  levying  forfeitures  or  fines ;  Tol,  an  acquittance  from  payment  of  duties 
or  tolls  in  every  part  of  the  kingdom  ;  Theam,  a  royalty  granted  over  their  villain  tenants,  as  well  as 
over  their  wives,  and  children,  and  goods,  to  dispose  of  them  at  pleasure.  Spelmau  calls  it,  a  right 
of  trying  their  bondmen  and  serfs.  Infangthef  weis  the  privilege  of  trying  thieves  taken  within  their 
lordship  ;  Outfangthef,  a  royalty  granted  by  the  king,  with  power  to  try  and  punish  a  thief  dwelling 
out  of  the  baron's  liberty  or  fee,  for  a  theft  committed  out  of  his  jurisdiction,  if  he  be  taken 
within  it. 


Countj)  t^alatine  of  Sanraster. 


115 


"  List  of  Barons  Cosi.  Lanc.  uuder  Roger  de  Poictou. 

"  Godefiidus,  Vicecomes  eius  de  Derby — Yardfridus,  Baro  de  Widnes — 
Paganus  Villers,  Bai-o  de  Wan-intou — Albertus  Grelle,  Baro  de  Manchester — 
Burin,  Baro  de  Ratcliale  and  Totingten — Ilbert  Lacy,  Baro  de  Clithero — War- 
linus  Banish-e,  Baro  de  Newton — Waninua  Bushel,  Baro  de  Penwortham — Roger 
de  Montbegon,  Baro  de  Hornby — William  Mai-shall,  Baro  de  Cartmel — Michael 
riemingus,  Baro  de  Glaston — William  de  Lancaster  and  Robert  de  Fumes,  Barones 
de  Ulverston — Wil  de  Lancaster,  Baro  de  Nethei-wii-esdal — Theobaldus  Walter,  Baro 
de  Weeton." — N.B.  Another  copy  says,  "  Tlieob.  Pincerna." 

In  tracing  the  bai'ony  of  Lancaster,  we  find  the  founder  of  this  illustrious  house 
to  have  been  Ivo  de  Talebois,  otherwise  TaUlebois,  otherwise  Talboys,  of  the  house 
of  Anjou,  who  came  over  with  the  Conqueror,  and  who,  in  virtue  of  his  marriage 
with  Lucy,  the  sister  of  the  Saxon  earls  Edwin  and  Morcar,  seconded  by  the  favour 
of  liis  prince,  obtained  a  lai-ge  portion  of  the  north  of  Lancashii-e,  and  so  much  of 
Westmoreland  as  comes  mider  the  designation  of  tlie  bai'ony  of  Kendal.  The 
Richmond  Fee,  the  Marquis  Fee,  and  the  Lmnley  Fee,  fonned  portions  of  tliis 
barony,  and  William,  the  gi-eat  gi-andson  of  Ivo  de  Talebois,  first  caused  himself,  by 
royal  license,  to  be  called  William  de  Lancaster  and  bai-on  of  Kendal,  before  the 
king  in  parliament.  The  descents  of  this  famUy  are  thus  given  in  Kuerden's  MSS. 
under  the  head 


CHAP. 
III. 


Baron  of 
the  honor 
of  Lancas- 
ter. 


BARONY  OF  WILLIAM  DE   LANCASTER. 


1.  John  Talboys  I^J  Lucia  J^  Rog.  de  Roman. 


2.  Ethelbert- 


W.  de  Romana. 
Co.  Bedford. 


r 


J 


4.     Will,  de  Lanc- 


Ros- 


5.     Will,  de  Lanc. 


Girard- 


Albert  Grelle- 


Aylward 


Chetil  1^3  3.  Gilb.  de  Furnesio  — ,         Reinfrid  — ^         Ralph 
Alex. 


R.  de  Meschines — ^      Rob. — >       Em.    f(3?§<I    Orm. 

'    r'    r^ 


r 


J 


6.     Gilbert- 


D 


Ralph  - 


Hu. 


Ranulf. 


7.     W.  de  Lanc. 


I 


Albert.        Rog.  -p  Orm. 


Rog.  de  Ashton 


] 


Raf.- 


Alex. 


r 


Rog.  de  Kirby. 


Q2 


tions. 


116  COf  S?isitoii)  of  ti)e 

CHAP.  "  Succession  of  the  Barons  of  Lancashire* — 1.  Vicecomes  de  Derby, 

Til 

1_  Goclfi-id,  Peverel,  Fen-ers.     2.  Castellanus  de  Liverpool,  Molineiix.     3.  Baro  de 

Widness,  divided  between  Lacy  and  Grelly.  4.  Baro  de  Warington,  Paganus, 
afterwards  Butler.  5.  Baro  de  Newton,  Langton.  6.  Baro  de  Manchester, 
Grelly,  West,  Moseley.  7.  Baro  de  Rochdale,  afterwards  Byron.  8.  Baro  de 
Cliderow,  Lacy,  the  Crown,  Monk,  Montague.  9.  Baro  de  Penwortham,  Bussel, 
Lacy,  the  Priory,  Fleetwood.  10.  Baro  de  Hornby,  Roger  de  Montbegon. 
11.  Bai'o  de  Fumes,  Michael  Flemings.  12.  Baro  de  Wii-esdale,  W.  de  Lancas- 
ter.    13.  Baro  de  Weeton  and  Amounderness,  Theobald  Walter." 

^heir  sta-  "  STATIONS  OF  THE  Ancient  Barons.-j" — Roger  de  Poictou,  Earl  of  Lancas- 
ter, prudently  stationed  liis  barons  in  the  most  vulnerable  places,  to  preserve  his 
earldom  in  quiet: — 1.  He  built  a  castle  at  Liverpool  against  the  passage  over  the 
water  fi-om  Cheshire,  and  there  placed  his  trusty  friend,  ViAdan  MoUneux,  to  be 
governor  and  castellanus  in  the  utmost  limits  of  his  earldom  ;|  and  for  his  gi'eater 
assistance  he  placed  neai*  liim  at  Derby  his  vicecomes,  Godefridus  ;  and  not  far 
above,  at  or  opposite  Runcorn,  being  another  passage  out  of  Cheshii'e,  he  fixed 
Yardfrid,  another  baron,  at  Widnes ;  and  a  little  above  that,  at  Warrington  another 
passage,  and  near  unto  the  church  was  the  seat  of  another  barony,  given  to  Paganus 
VUlers,  to  defend  the  ford  at  Latcliford,  before  a  bridge  was  made  at  Warrington  ; 
and  a  little  distance,  at  Newton,  was  the  seat  of  the  Banisters,  a  barony  in  king  John's 
time,  to  strengthen  the  former,  and  opposite  a  liigh  ford  or  boat  called  Holyn  Fare 
Passage,  out  of  Cheshii-e,  at  Straitford ;  as  well  as  to  keep  guard  against  another 
Cheshii-e  barony,  called  Stockport,  he  placed  Albertus  Grelle,  an  eminent  baron ; 
then  approacliing  the  hiUy  mountain  fiom  Yorksliii-e,  at  a  different  passage  fi-om 
Rotchdale,  an  ancient  bai-ony,  afterwards  succeeded  by  Lord  Buryn,  the  present 
baron  thereof ;  then  ascending  easterly  among  those  hills  at  Clidero,  he  placed  Ilbert 
Lacy,  a  baron,  near  the  adjacent  passage  into  Yorkshii'e  ;  and  more  northward,  not 
far  fi"om  his  own  castle  at  Lancaster,  at  Hornby,  he  placed  Roger  de  Montbegon. 

*  From  Percival's  MSS.  f  From  Kenion's  MSS. 

I  A  castellanus  is  the  prefect  or  governor  of  a  castle,  acting  there  in  place  of  the  lord,  and 
sometimes  called  castaldus,  gastaldius  ;  his  office  is  called  castaldia,  castallanea  being  first  the 
name  of  an  office,  and  afterwards  of  a  dignity.  These  castellans  were  appointed  by  dukes  and  earls, 
who  enjoyed  vast  territories,  and  in  some  fortified  places  stationed  military  guards  or  garrisons,  to  repel 
enemies.  Tliey  were  also  civil  judges,  to  determine  the  disputes  of  the  people.  Having  become 
powerful,  and  the  sons  often  succeeding  to  their  father's  office,  they  at  last  obtained  from  the  lords 
the  right  of  holding  office  in  fee;  and  by  little  and  little  passing  the  bounds  of  their  jurisdiction, 
they  transformed  the  wand  of  an  inferior  justice  into  the  swurd  of  the  superior,  making  the  force  of 
the  dignity  to  consist  more  in  the  fulness  of  baronial  power,  than  in  the  mere  name  of  baron.* 

*  Spelman,  p.  128,  voce  Castellanus. 


Count))  ^^alatint  of  tanrastfr.  117 

Then  upon  the  northern  Ijoundary,  from  the  Scots  in  Cumberland,  was  placed,  at    chap 

Gleston,  Michael  Flandrensis;  and  shortly  after,  the  abbot  of  Furnes,  4th  W.  Rufus,  L 

placed  upon  the  west  pai't,  possessing  the  Foldra  and  Walney,  who  convened  with 
William  de  Lancaster ;  and  long  afterwards  the  king  bestowed  the  same  upon  Inge- 
lianus  de  Guyas  in  marriage  Avith  his  sister ;  afterwards  it  was  alienated,  and  came  to 
the  possession  of  the  families  of  Kirkby  and  Tells.  From  thence  returning  south- 
ward to  Kartmel,  which  in  king  John's  time  came  to  William  de  Marshall,  governor 
to  king  Henry  III.  and  proceeding  southward  on  the  river  Wyre,  one  side  guarded 
by  William  de  Lancaster,  lord  of  that  part  of  the  barony  of  Netherwyrsdal,  belonging 
likewise  to  the  lords  of  Furness,  and  the  other  side  environed  with  the  barony  of 
Weeton,  wliicli  temp.  W.  Rufus  was  an  appendant  to  the  barony  of  Penwortham, 
and  bestowed  upon  Abardus  Bussell,  brother  of  Warinus  Bussell,  and  continued  in 
the  renowned  noble  family  of  Theobaldus  Pincerna,  from  whom  proceeded  the  duke 
of  Ormond.  And  lastly,  on  that  famous  estuary  of  Riblde,  at  Penwortham,  Avhere 
remained  an  ancient  castle  fi'om  the  time  of  the  Saxons,  here  was  placed  the  barony 
given  to  Waiiiius  Bussell,  who  had  this  place  bestowed  upon  him  temp.  William 
the  Conqueror,  tliough  it  liad  then  no  baron.  Leyland  and  great  part  of  Amounder- 
ness  did  anciently  belong  to  the  Bussells,  for  in  the  survey  temp.  WUl.  I.  I  find  one 
Prog,  de  Busby  and  Albert  Gresley,  who  had  Blackburn  hundred,  and  afterwards, 
upon  division  between  them,  Grelley  had  part  of  Leyland  hundred,   as  Brindle, 

Wortliington,  &c and  a  knight's  fee  m  Dalton,  Wrightington,  and  P.  ...  * 

which  he  gave  in  marriage  with  a  daughter  to  one  Orme,  the  son  of  Edward,  and 
Ashton-under-Line.  Montbegon  had  another  part  of  Leyland  luuKked,  wliich  he 
held  as  annexed  to  Hornby  as  most  part  of  Croston  parish,  viz. : — Croston,  Madeley, 
Chorley,  Haskenmore,  Tarlton,  and  Hole,  formerly  part  of  Warinus's  Barony, 
belonged  to  the  Villers,  and  afterwards  to  Montbegon,  as  likewise  Sherington, 
Welchwallet,  and  Chernoe,  Gogard  Adlington,  and  Duxby,  belonged  to  Grelley. 
N.B.  The  baron  of  Warington  had  divers  territories  in  Derl)y  hundred  to  be 
assistant  to  the  baron  of  Derby,  and  a  fee  or  two  in  the  huncbed  of  Amoundemess,  as 
the  baron  of  Manchester  held  divers  fees  in  the  hundred  of  Leyland;  the  baron  of 
Newton  a  knight's  fee  in  Blackburn  hundred,"  &c. 

The  more  particular  succession  of  the  bai'ons  of  Lancashire  Avill  be  most  advan- 
tageously treated  m  the  hunckeds  to  wliich  the  baronies  belong,  but  the  rise  of  the 
honor  into  a  duchy,  and  the  achievements  of  the  noble  and  royal  house  of  Lancaster, 
fi-om  the  Conquest  to  the  period  when  they  attained  the  consummation  of  their 
dignity,  by  giving  a  sovereign  to  the  tlu-one  of  England,  belong  to  this  portion  of 
our  liistory. 

*  Probably  Parbold. 


118  CI;r  lisitoi-p  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  The  castle  of  Lancaster,  built  by  Roger  de  Poictou,  not  only  served  as  a  military 

'  foitress  to  preserve  the  power  of  liis  royal  benefactor,  but  it  was  used  also  as  the 
bai'onial  residence.  It  appears  from  the  "  Bai-onia  de  Manchester,"  that  Robert 
Bush  held  Blackbm'n  hundred  on  a  temporaiy  tenure  only,  per  tres  annos,  idea  non 
appropriatur,  before  Lacy  was  its  lord;  and  the  probabUity  is,  that  he  held  under 
de  Poictou.  In  the  reign  of  Rufus,  Roger  de  Poictou  granted  a  charter  to  our  lady 
of  Lancaster,  to  which  Albert  Grelley,  the  fii-st  baron  of  Manchester,  was  a  witness.* 
Tiie  In  tlie  interval  between  the  first  cUiisiou  of  jn'operty,  under  the  Noi-man  dynasty 

forfeited     and  the  Domesday  survey,  the  possessions  of  Roger  were  forfeited  to  the  crown, 
Poicfou.     by  his  defection  from  the  royal  cause.     The  honour  of  Lancaster  was,  however, 
A.D.1102.  restored  to  him  in  the  time  of  WiUiam  Rufas,  but  it  was  finally  alienated  on  the 
banishment  of  Roger,  in  the  2d  Henry  I.      From  that  time  it  remained  in  the 
Conferred   cro^vii,  till  it  was  bcstowed  on  Ranulf  de  Bricasard,  the  tliii'd  earl  of  Chester.     The 
third  earl    precise  time  when  tliis  grant  was  made,  and  the  circiunstances  wliicli  called  for 
so  sti'ong  a  manifestation  of  the  royal  bounty,  ai-e  not  ascertained,  but  the  follo^\ing 
translation  of  an  almost  illegible  chaiter  in  the  British  Musemu  sufficiently  authen- 
ticates the  fact.f 

"  Ranulf,  Earl  of  Chester,  to  his  constable,  dapifei',  justiciaries,  sheriffs, 
and  bailifi",  that  are  betwixt  Ribble  and  Mersey,  and  to  all  his 
men,  French  and  English,  health. 
"  Know  me  to  have  gi-anted  and  coufii-med  to  the  Abbot  of  Evesham,  and  Monks 
serving  God,  all  possessions,  lauds,  and  tenements,  and  all  liberties  given  and 
gi-anted  by  Waiin  and  Albert  Buissel  in  all  tilings;  and  also  that  they  may  have  their 
comts  in  HocA\dce  of  all  then-  tenants,  as  truly  as  I  have  mine  at  Penwortham,  for 
him  and  all  liis  tenants,  household  and  hayhold,  for  building  or  burning,  and  useful 
for  all  other  his  necessities,  without  disturbance,  or  my  being,  or  of  any  other  what- 
soever. I  also  ivill  and  fuinly  command,  that  no  man  against  the  same  monks  con- 
cerning my  gi-ant  and  confirmation  shall  interfere  upon  any  occasion,  exaction,  or 
confii-mation.  I  will  warrant  the  aforesaid  Abbot,  Convent,  and  then-  successors, 
Avitliout  fine  or  demand,  for  fear  and  my  forfeiture,  but  they  shall  hold  the  same  freely 
and  honourably  in  all  places;  and  I,  Ranulf,  and  my  lieii"s,  tlie  aforesaid  concession 
and  confinnation  to  the  aforesaid  Abbot  and  their  successors,  with  wairant  and 
without  fine. — Teste  meipso." 

*  Kuerden's  MSS.  folio  271.  f  Harl.  MSS.  cod.  7386. 


CountP  ^3alatin(  of  tanraEitn-. 


121 


Cftap.  ]IF» 


Lands  between  Ribble  and  Mersey — Possessed  by  the  earls  of  Chester — Descend  to  the  Ferrers,  earls 
of  Derby. — Earldom  of  Lancaster. — Tliomas,  earl  of  Lancaster — His  opposition  to  the  royal 
favourite,  Piers  Gaviston — To  the  Despensers — Heads  the  barons  against  the  king — His  fate — 
His  reputed  miracles  after  death. — The  king's  mandate — Marriage  of  his  widow — Forfeits  part  of 
her  dowry. — Early  manners. — Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster — Henry,  his  son — His  military  renown — 
Created  duke  of  Lancaster — Chancery  court  of  Lancaster  instituted — County  made  palatme. — 
"  The  good  duke  of  Lancaster's"  deeds  of  arms — Holy  relic — His  charities  to  the  "  black 
liverys" — To  Whalley  abbey — To  Leicester  college. — His  death — His  issue. — John  of  Gaunt — 
His  marriage — His  possessions — Created  duke  of  Lancaster — His  achievements  in  arms — Obtains 
the  grant  of  chancery  in  the  duchy  and  palatine  privileges  in  the  county  of  Lancaster — Advocates 
the  cause  of  WicklifFe,  "  the  morning  star  of  the  Reformation" — Privileges  conceded  to  him  at 
court — Obtains  a  grant  of  treasury  in  the  duchy  of  Lancaster —  Demolition  of  his  house  by  the 
followers  of  Wat  Tyler — Magnanimity  shewn  towards  and  by  the  duke  in  Scotland — Charged  with 
a  design  to  usurp  the  throne — His  foreign  wars — Extension  of  the  duchy  privileges — Espouses 
Catherine  Swinford,  his  concubine — Legitimatizes  her  children. — The  duke's  death  and 
character. 


URING  the  distui'bed  reign  of  Stephen,  Ranulf,  the 
fourth  earl  of  Chester,  possessed  himself  of  a  tliii-d  part  of 
the  whole  realm  of  England,*  and  amongst  his  posses- 
sions were  the  lands  ceded  to  his  father  between  the 
Ribble  and  the  Mersey.  From  Ranulf,  the  son,  they 
descended  to  Hugh  de  Kevelioc,  and  Ranulf,  surnamed 
de  Blundeville,  son  and  grandson  of  the  foiTuer.  Ranulf 
de  Blundevdlle,  in  13  Henry  IH.  had  a  confirmation 
from  the  king  of  all  his  lands  between  the  Ribble  and  the 
Mersey,  and  was  made  cliief  lord,  under  the  king,  of  the  whole  county  of  Lancaster, 
with  all  its  forests,  hays,  homages,  and  other  appurtenances.     At  the  same  time  he  exe- 

Nichols's  Leicestershire,  to  which  we  have  been  much  indebted  for  the  historical  materials 
relating  to  the  illustrious  house  of  Lancaster. 

VOL.  I.  R 


CHAP. 
IV. 

Lands 

between 

Ribble 

and 

Mersey. 


A.D.  1228. 

Possessed 
by  the 
earls  of 
Chester. 


122  Cljt  ??ieitorp  of  tl)e 

CHAP,  cuted  the  office  of  sheriff  by  his  deputies  in  the  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  and  ninth  of  that 
^^'  kino-.  Ranulf  paid  down  forty  marks  of  silver  for  these  lands  to  Roger  de  Maresey, 
and  afterwai-ds  two  hundred  marks  more ;  and  agi-eed  further  to  render  annually,  at 
Easter,  a  pair  of  wliite  gloves,  or  one  penny,  for  all  services  whatsoever.  This  earl, 
after  enjoying  his  possessions  fifty-one  years,  died  in  1252;  and,  leaving  no  issue,  his 
Avliole  inheritance  was  shared  by  liis  four  sisters  and  coheiresses.  Maud,  tlie  eldest, 
man-ied  David,  earl  of  Huntingdon,  brother  to  William,  Idug  of  Scots ;  Mabil,  the 
nest,  mai-ried  William  de  Albini,  earl  of  Arundel ;  Agnes,  the  third  sister,  married 
William,  earl  of  FeiTers,  the  sixth  in  lineal  descent  fi-om  Robert  de  Ferrers,  raised 
by  lung  Stephen  to  the  earldom  of  Derby,  for  liis  prowess  at  the  battle  of  the  Stan- 
Descend  dard,  iu  the  tliii'd  year  of  the  king.  The  heu's  of  the  first  earl  of  Derby  were 
Ferrers,  usually  Called  eai'ls  of  Ferrers,  though  they  were  likewise  earls  of  Derby.  Tliis 
Deiby.^  Agucs  had  the  castle  of  Chartley,  in  Staffordsliii-e,  and  the  lands  in  that  part  of 
Wales  called  Powis;  and  also  the  manor  of  West  Derby,  and  all  earl  Rauulf's  lands 
between  the  Ribble  and  Mersey;  with  Buckbrock,  in  Nortliamptonshire,  and  Navenby, 
in  Lincolnsliii'e.  In  the  eighth  year  of  Henry  III.,  William,  earl  of  Fen-ers,  was 
constituted  governor  of  the  castle  and  honor  of  Lancaster;*  and  the  next  year 
he  executed  the  sheriff's  office  for  this  county  for  tlu-ee  parts  of  the  year,  as  he  did 
likewise  for  the  whole  of  the  tenth  and  the  eleventh  years  of  the  king's  reign.  In 
addition  to  £50  for  the  relief  of  the  lands  of  liis  wife's  inheritance,  he  and  she  were 
bound  to  pay  yearly  a  goshawk,  or  fifty  sliillings,  into  the  Idng's  exchequer,  as  had 
A.D.1241.  been  usual  for  lauds  lying  between  the  rivers  Ribble  and  Mersey.  In  26  Henry  III. 
he  gave  a  fine  of  £100  to  the  king  for  the  livery  of  the  three  hundreds  of  West 
Derby,  Leyland,  and  Salford,  which  had  been  seized  into  the  king's  hands  for 
certain  misdemeanors  of  liis  bailiffs.  This  earl  (Hed  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1247,  and  liis  countess  survived  liim  only  one  month — they  having  lived  together  as 
man  and  wife  seventy-seven  years ! 

William,  earl  of  Ferrers,  son  and  heir  of  the  above  earl  and  countess,  had  hvery 
of  liis  lands  and  castle  in  the  year  1247  ;  and  the  next  year  he  obtained  a  mandate 
to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire  for  the  enjoyment  of  such  lands  between  Ribble  and 
Mersey  as  liis  uncle  Ranulf,  earl  of  Chester,  fonnerly  possessed.  He  also  obtained 
a  charter  for  free  wai'ren,  for  himself  and  Ids  heii's,  in  all  liis  demesne,  tlu'oughout 
his  lordships  in  Lancashii'e  and  elsewhercj"     Three  years  afterwards  he  procured  a 

*  Dugdale's  Baron,  ex  Pat.  8  Hen.  III.  m.  12. 

t  Ranulfus,  consul  Cestrie,  constabulario,  dapifero,  baronibus,  justiciariis,  vicecomitibus,  ministris, 

&  ballivis,  quicunque  fuerint,  inter  Ribbam  et  Mersam,  &  omnibus  liominibus  suis,  Francis  &  Anglis, 

salutem.      Sciatis  me    concessisse  Deo   &   Sancte  Marie,  &  monachis  de  Evesham,  eleemosinam 

suam  de  Hocwicce,  ita  bene  &  libere,  &  quiets,  &  lionorific^,  sicut  meliils  tenuerunt  tempore  comitis 


Countp  |3alatine  of  SLanrasfttr.  123 

special  gi-aiit  from  the  king  of  such  officers,  for  conservation  of  the  peace  between    chap. 

Ribble  and  Mersey,  as  Ranulf,  earl  of  Chester,  formerly  had;  wliich  officers  were   L_ 

maintained  at  the  expense  of  the  inhabitants.  By  Margaret,  his  second  ^\ife,  one  of 
the  daughters  and  cohcii'esses  of  Roger  de  Quencey,  earl  of  Winchester,  he  had  two 
sons;  Robert  succeeded  liim  in  the  earldom  of  Derby,  and  settled  at  Groley,  in 
Leicestershire.  This  unfortunate  earl  took  part  with  Simon  de  Montfort,  and  was 
deprived  of  liis  earldom  and  all  Ids  estates  in  1265 ;  among  wliich  were  all  his  lands 
between  Ribble  and  Mersey.  These  possessions  Henry  III.  united  ^ntli  the  honor 
of  Lancaster,  and  gave  to  Edmund  Croucliback,  liis  youngest  son,  who,  by  that 
king's  creation,  was  the  first  Earl  of  Lancaster. 


^arls  of  UmxtmUv. 

Ethnund  Croucliback  was  the  distinguished  favomite  of  liis  father;  and  on  St. 
Luke's  day,  in  the  year  1253,  the  king  convened  many  of  his  nobles,  along  with  the 
bishop  of  Romania,  who  came  to  liim  fi-om  pope  Innocent  IV.,  and,  having  brought 
a  ring  from  his  Holiness,  used  it  as  a  symbol  to  invest  Edmund  Avith  the  dominion  of 
SicUy  and  Apulia,  whereupon  he  had  the  title  of  king  of  Sicily.  Tliis  grant  produced 
some  of  the  most  important  events  in  our  history ;  amongst  others,  the  association  of 
the  barons  against  Hemy  HI. ;  the  a2)pointing  of  conservators  of  the  peace  in  this 
and  the  other  counties  of  England;  and  the  settling  of  the  democratical  part  of  our 
constitution  on  a  pennanent  basis  by  Sunon  de  Montfort,  earl  of  Leicester,  while  the 
king  was  liis  prisoner.  Piince  Echuund,  about  the  same  time  that  he  took  the  title 
of  king  of  Sicily,  was  made  eai-1  of  Chester.  Upon  Innocent's  death,  Alexander  IV. 
confirmed  prince  Edmund  in  the  grant  of  the  kingdom  of  Sicily  in  due  form ;  but 
pope  Urban  IV.  by  a  bull  in  1263,  revoked  the  deed,  and  Edmund  renounced  the 
claim  to  the  crown  of  that  kingdom.     The  prince  was  amply  compensated  for  the 

Rogeri  Pictavensis,  &  tempore  Ranulfi  patris  mei,  &  sicut  decet  eleemosinam  fiabere  sancta  ecclesia. 
Ita  quod  nuUus  super  monachos  predictos  se  intromittat  de  predict^  eleemosina,  nee  de  operationibus, 
nee  de  aliis  exactionibus,  nee  de  occasione  aliquS,  aliquis  eos  vel  eorum  eleemosinam,  super  timorem 
meum  &  super  forisfactum  meum,  inquietet ;  sed  honorifice  teneant  in  terris,  &  decimis,  &  pasturis, 
&  in  bosco,  &  in  piano,  &  in  aquis,  &  in  molendinis,  &  piscariis,  &  in  omnibus  aliis  locis.  Testibus, 
Eustachio  constabulario  Cestrie,  &  Hugone  Ostvero,  &  Serlone  venatore,  &  Richardo  Buissel, 
Richardo  Pine',  apud  Molas  warini.  — Du^da/e,  Mon.  Ang.  1.  p.  361. 


CHAP. 
IV. 


Earldom 
of  Lan- 
caster. 


124 


m)t  I^i'sitori?  of  t\)t 


loss  of  that  imaginary  power;  for  on  the  4th  of  August,  1265,  his  brother  Edward 
havino-  defeated  the  Earl  of  Leicester  and  his  atlherents  iu  the  battle  of  Evesham, 
the  kino-,  by  his  letters  patent,  beai'ing  date  the  25th  of  October,  created  him  earl  of 
Leicester;  giving  him  therewith  the  honor  of  Hinckley,  and  the  stewardsliip  of 
England.  The  next  year  he  received  from  liis  noble  benefactor  the  honor,  to^vn, 
and  castle  of  Derby,  with  all  the  effects  belonging  to  Robert  de  Ferrers,  earl  of 
Derby.  In  addition  to  other  grants,  he  received  also  the  honor,  earldom,  castle, 
and  town  of  Lancaster,  with  the  forests  of  Wiresdale  and  Lonesdale.* 


*  ROYAL  GRANT  TO  EDMUND  CROUCHBACK, 


51  Henry  III. 


"  Rex  concessit  Edmundo  filio  suo  castrum  de  Kenilleworth.  Habend'  sibi  &  heredibus  de 
corpore.  Et  quod  liberam  chaceam  &  liberam  warrennara  in  omnibus  dnicis  terris  &  boscis  pertin' 
ad  castrum. 

"  Rex  concessit  prefato  Edmundo  honorem,  castrum,  &  manerium  de  Monemouth,  cum  pertin". 
Habend'  sibi  &  hered'  de  corpor'. 

"  Rex  concessit  prefato  Edmundo  castra  de  Grossemunde,  Skenefrithe,  &  Blaunchastel.  Habend' 
ut  supra. 

"  Henricus,  Dei  gratia,  rex  Anglie,  dominus  Hibemie,  &  dux  Aquitanie,  archiepiscopis,  &c. 
salutem.  Sciatis  nos  dedisse,  concessisse,  &  hac  carta  nostra  confirmasse  Edmundo  filio  nostro 
carissimo,  honorem,  com',  castrum,  &  villam  de  Lancastr',  cum  vaccariis  &  forestis  de  Wiresdel  & 
Lonnedsdall,  &  Novum  castrum  subtus  Lynam.  Et  manerium,  castrum,  &  forestam  de  Pykering. 
Et  villam  nostram  de  Gounemecestr'.  Et  redditum  nostrum  villate  de  Huntindon,  cum  omnibus 
pertin'  suis.  Habenda  &  tenenda  eidem  Edmundo,  &  heredibus  suis  de  corpore  suo  legitime  procreat', 
de  nobis  &  heredibus  nostris,  cum  feodis  militum,  advocationibus  ecclesiarum,  chartis,  libertatibus, 
consuetudinibus,  &  aliis  omnibus  ad  honorem,  com',  castra,  villas,  dominica,  vaccaria,  forestas,  & 
redditum  predictum  pertinentibus.  Faciendo  nobis  &  hered'  nostris  servicia  inde  debita  &  consueta. 
Ita  quod  prefatum  Edmundum  vel  heredes  sues  predictos  inde  non  disseissiemus,  nee  disseisiri  permit- 
temus;  donee  sibi  excambium  rationabile  fecerimus  in  aliis  terris  nostris  ad  valorem  honoris,  comitat', 
castrorum,  villarum,  dominicorum,  vaccar',  forestarum,  &  reddituum  predictorum.  Ita  etiam  quod  si 
prefatus  Edmundus  sine  heredibus  de  corpore  suo  legitime  procreat'  decesserit,  honor',  com',  castra, 
ville,  dominica,  vaccarie,  foreste,  &  redditus  predict'  cum  pertin',  ad  nos  vel  heredes  nostros  integr^ 
revtantur.  Quare  volumus  ^&  firmiter  precepimus,  pro  nobis  &  heredibus  nostris,  quod  dictus 
Edmundus  &  heredes  sui  predicti  imperpetuum  habeant  &  teneant  honorem,  com',  castra,  maner', 
villas,  dominica,  vaccar',  forestas,  &  redditus  predict',  cum  feodis  militum,  advocationibus  ecclesiarum, 
chartis,  libertatibus,  consuetudinibus,  &  omnibus  aliis  ad  eadem  pertin',  faciendo  nobis  &  heredibus 
nostris  servitia  inde  debita  &  consueta.  Ita  quod  prefatum  Edmundum  vel  heredes  suos  predictos 
inde  non  disseisiemus,  nee  disseisiri  permittemus,  donee  escambium  rationabile  sibi  fecerimus  in  aliis 
terris  nostris  ad  valenciam  honoris,  comitatus,  castr',  maneriorum,  villarum,  dominicorum,  vaccar', 
forestar',  &  reddituum  predictorum.     Ita  etiam,  quod  si  prefatus  Edmundus  sine  heredibus  de  corpore 


Coimtp  palatine  of  2Lantagten  125 

The  foUomng  year  the  king  announced  to  his  knights,  vassals,  and  other  tenants    chap. 
of  the  Honor  of  Lancaster,  that  he  had  given  to  liis  son  Echnund  that  honor,  Avith 


tlie  wards,  reUefs,  and  escheats,  attached  to  it.*  In  the  same  year,  during  the  ad.  129-2. 
king's  residence  at  York,  he  issued  a  royal  mandate,  from  wliich  it  appears,  that, 
although  he  granted  the  possessions  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  to  his  son  Edmund 
for  liis  sustentation,  that  grant  was  not  to  operate  to  the  injury  of  Roger  de  Lancas- 
ter.! The  royal  hounty  was  still  further  extended  in  the  foUomng  year,  by  a  grant 
jfrom  the  Idng,  of  possessions  forfeited  by  the  treason  of  Simon  de  Montfort.J  In 
the  year   1284,   Edward  I.  in  an  inspeximus,   dated   at  Lincoln,  on  the  15th  of 

suo  legitime  procreatis  decesserit,  honor',  comitat',  castra,  maneria,  villa,  dominica,  vaccarie,  foreste,  & 
redditus  predict',  cum  pertinen',  ad  nos  &  heredes  nostros  integre  revertantur,  sicut  predictum  est, 
"  Hiis  testibus, 

"  JoHANNE  DE  Warexna  comite  Surr', 
"  Humfr'  de  Bohun  comite  Hereford  &  Essex, 
"  Phillippo  Basset, 
"  rogero  de  somery, 
"  Aland  la  Rusche, 
"  Stephano  de  Eddeworthe, 
"  Bartholomew  le  Bigod  &  aliis. 
"  Dat'  per  manum  nostram  apud  Sanctum  Paulum,  London',  tricesimo  die  Junii,  anno  regni 
nostri  quinquagesirao  prime." 

*  ROYAL  MANDATE, 
52  Henry  HL 
"  Rex  militibus,  liberis  hominibus,   et  omnibus  aliis  ten'  de  honore  Lancastr',   salutem.    Cum 
dudum  dederimus  Edmundo  filio  nostro  honorem  predictum,  cum  wardis,  releviis,  escaetis,  et  omnibus 
aliis  rebus  pertinent',  ad  ipsum  honorem  spectantibus ;  habend  sibi  et  heredibus  suis  de  corpore  suo 
legitime'procreand'imperpetuum.     Vobis  mandamus  quod  eidem  Edmundo  et  heredibus  suis,  sicut  pre- 
dictum est,  in  omnibus  que  ad  dictum  honorem  pertinent  de  cetero  sitis  intendentes  et  respondentes. 
"  Teste  rege  apud  Westm',  octavo  die  Februarii,  anno  regni  sui  quinquagesimo  secundo." 

t  GUARANTEE  TO  ROGER  DE  LANCASTER, 

52  Henry  HL 

"  Rex  omnibus  ad  quos,  &c.  salutem.  Cum  nuper  commisserimus  dilecto  et  fideli  nostro  Rogero 
de  Lancastr'  comitat'  nrm  Lancastr'  cum  pertinentiis,  custod'  quod  vixerit ;  ita  quod  reddet  nobis 
inde  per  ann.  centum  marcas  ad  Seem  nostrum.  Et  postmodum  com'  ilium  cum  pertin'  Edmundo 
filio  nostro  cino  ad  sustentacionem  suam  concesserimus.  Nos  volentes  eidem  Rogero  in  hac  parte 
nostram  facere  specialem  promittiinus  ei  bona  fide,  quod  ipsum  in  premissis  conservabimus  indempnis 
temporibus  oportunis.     In  cujus,  &c. 

"  Teste  rege  apud  Ebor',  decimo  quinto  die  Septembris,  anno  regni  sui  lijdo." 

I  FURTHER  GRANT  TO  PRINCE  EDMUND, 

53  Henry  III. 

"  Rex  omnibus  ballivis,  &c.  salutem.  Cum  per  cartam  nostram  dederimus  et  concesserimus 
Edmundo  filio  nostro  honorem,  villam,  castrum  Leyc',  et  omnes  terras  et  ten'  ejusdem  honoris,  cum 


126  Clje  iSt'sitorp  of  ti)t 

CHAP.    August,  confirmed  the  grant  of  the  Honor  of  Lancaster  made  by  Hemy  III.  to  liis 
^^'      brother  Ecbnund,  and  forbids  the  sheriifs  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Lincoln,  Northamp- 
ton, Leicester,  Derby,  York,  Rutland,  and  Stafford,  or  their  officers,  from  entering 
the  Honor  of  Lancaster.* 

These  vast  possessions  laid  the  foundation  of  the  future  greatness  of  the  house  of 
Lancaster;  the  power  and  influence  of  which  increased  to  such  a  magnitude  as 
ultimately  to  seat  the  family  on  the  tlu'one  of  these  realms.  In  21  Edwai-d  I.  prince 
Edmund  procured  license  to  make  a  castle  of  his  house,  in  the  ptii-ish  of  St.  Clement 
Danes,  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  called  the  Savoy  j  and  he  founded  that  house  of 

feodis  militum  et  aliis  pertinentibus  suis,  qucumque  nomine  censeri  possint,  que  fuerunt  quondam 
Simonis  de  Monteforti  comitis  Leyc',  inimici  nostri,  et  que  secundum  legem  et  consuetudi- 
nem  regni  nostri,  per  guerram  quam  contra  nos,  ad  coheredacoem  iiram,  in  regno  nro  exci- 
tavit,  et  bellaque  contra  nos,  in  quorum  altero,  apud  Evesham  tanquam  inimicus  noster  inter- 
fectus  fuerat,  commisit,  ad  nos  tanquam  escaeta  iira  per  pdcra  forisfactum  deveuerunt ;  habend' 
et  tenend'  eidem  Edmundo  et  heredibus  suis  de  corpore  legitime  procreatis  imperpetuum.  Nos, 
eidem  filio  gratiam  facere  volentes  uberiorem  concessimus  ei  senescalciam  Anglie,  quam  idem 
Simon  quondam  habuit,  habend'  et  tenend'  ad  totam  vitam  ipsius  Edraundi,  cum  omnibus  ad  senes- 
calciam illam  pertinentibus,  de  gratia  nra  speciali.     In  cujus,  &c. 

"  Teste  rege,  apud  Winds',  none  die  Maii,  anno  regni  sui  53°." 

*  CONFIRMATION  OF  GRANT  OF  HENRY  III., 
13  Edward  I. 
"  Rex  omnibus  ad  quos,  &c.  salutem.  Inspeximus  literas  quas  Celebris  memorie  dominus 
Henricus  pater  iir  fecit  carissimo  fratri  nro  Edmundo  comiti  Lane',  m  hec  verba  :  '  Henricus,  dei 
gratia.  Rex  Anglie,  dhus  Hibernie,  &  dux  Aquitan',  vicecomitibus  Norff',  Suff',  Lincoln',  Notting', 
Leyc',  Derb',  Eboru,  Rotel',  &  Staff',  &  omnibus  aliis  vicecom',  &  senescall'  in  quorum  bal- 
livis  honor  Lancastr'  consistit,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  per  cartam  nram  concessimus  &  dedimus 
Edmundo  filio  nostro  carissimo  honorem  predictum,  cum  omnibus  homagiis,  wardis,  releviis, 
escaetiis,  redditibus,  &  omnibus  aliis  ad  honorem  ilium  pertin',  habend'  sibi  &  heredibus  suis  de 
corpore  suo  legitime  procreand'  imperpetuum.  Et  ideo  vobis  precipimus,  firmiter  injungentes, 
quod  de  honore  illo,  aut  hominibus  illius  honoris,  seu  aliquibus  aliis  ad  ilium  honorem  spectantibus, 
in  nullo  vos  intromittatis  aut  ballivos  vros  intromittere  permittatis,  sicut  vultis  vos  ipsos  indempnes 
conservare,  nisi  de  ballivis  prefati  filii  nri  fueritis  requisiti.  Et  si  aliqui  vrm  vel  ballivorum  vrorum 
aliquid  de  hiis  que  ad  ipsum  honorem  spectant  reperitis,  id  sine  dilatione  predicto  filio  nro  vel 
ballivis  reddi  faciatis.  Distringatis  etiam  tenentes  de  predicto  honore,  quotiens,  a  ballivis  predictis 
fueritis  requisiti,  quod  eisdem  balhvis  de  cetero  sint  intendentes  &  respondentes  in  omnibus  predic- 
tum honorem  tangentibus  in  forma  predicta.  Ita  quod  non  oporteat  nos  pro  defectu  vestri  super 
negotio  predicto  soUicitari.  In  cujus  rei  testimonium  has  literas  nras  fieri  fecimus  patentes.  Teste 
meipso  apud  Lincoln'  decimo,  octavo  die  Augusti,  anno  regni  nri  quinquagesimo  secundo.'  Nos 
autem  tras  illas  acceptamus  pro  nobis  &  heredibus  iiris  in  forma  predicta.     In  cujus,  &c. 

r  •  "  Teste,  ut  supra."         :■'' 


Coimtj)  |3alatint  of  Eaitrastcr.  127 

nuns  of  the  order  of  St.  Clara,  called  the  Minoresses,  without  Aldgate,  in  London,    chap. 
He  also  was  the  cliief  builder  of  the  Grey-fiiars  house  in  Preston,  in  this  county.  ' 

Tliis  gi-eat  earl,  by  Blanch,  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  Robert,  earl  of  Artois,  (tlmxl 
son  of  Lewis  VIIL  king  of  France)  and  widow  of  Henry  of  Navan-e,  had  three 
sons — Thomas,  Henry,  and  John,  and  a  daughter.  lu  24  Edward  L  beuig  sent  Avith 
the  earl  of  Lincoln  and  twenty-six  bannerets  into  Gascony,  they  sat  down  before 
Bourdeaux;  but,  seeing  no  likelihood  of  its  surrender,  they  marched  to  Bayonne. 
Here  their  army  began  to  dissolve,  on  account  of  thek  treasure  being  exhausted,  and 
prince  Edmund  became  so  much  affected  by  the  embarrassments  of  their  situation, 
that  he  fell  sick  and  died,  about  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  1296.  By  Ms  will  he 
directed  that  liis  body  should  not  be  buried  till  Ids  debts  were  paid;  and  it  was  not 
till  after  the  truce  of  that  year  that  liis  corpse  was  carried  into  England,  and  buried 
in  the  abbey  church  of  Westminster,  where  a  splendid  monument  is  erected  to  liis 
memory.* 

Thoma.s,  earl  of  Lancaster,  the  eldest  son  and  immetliate  successor  of  prince  A.D.1297. 
Edmimd,  chd  homage  in  26  Edward  L   and  had  livery  of  Ids  lands,   except  the  Thomas, 
dowry  of  Blanch,  Ids  mother.      After  this  ceremony,  he  marched  into  Scotland  Lancaster. 
through  Lancashii-e,  the  king  himself  bemg  in  the  expecUtion.      Being  sheriff  of 
Lancashire  by  inheritance,  he  appointed  Richard  de  Hoghton  his  deputy  in  that 
office;   and  in   the  next  year  he  was  summoned  to  parliament  by  the  king.     In 
4  Edwai'd  H.  he  mamed  Alice,  the  sole  daughter  of  Henry  de  Lacy,  earl  of  Lincoln,  a.d.isio. 
and,  in  virtue  of  that  marriage,  became  possessed  of  the  castles  and  lands  belonging 
to  that  (Ustinguished  house.     With  tlds  accession  of  property,  the  earl  of  Lancaster 
became  the  most  opulent,  as  well  as  the  most  powerful  subject  in  England,  and 
possessed  in  his  own  right,  and  that  of  Ids  wife,  no  fewer  than  six  earldoms,  attended 
with  all  the  jurisdictions  and  power,  which  in  that  age,  and  under  the  feudal  system, 
were  annexed  to  landed  possessions.     Li  the  following  year  he  was  the  chief  of 
those  nobles  who  entered  into  a  combination  against  Piers  de  Ga\iston,  the  king's 
Gascon  favourite,  with  the  avowed  intention  of  defenchng  the  religion  of  the  state, 
and  restoring  the  people's  liberties.     Being  made  choice  of  by  the  barons  for  their  His  oppo- 
general,  the  earl  of  Lancaster  sent  messengers  to  the  king,  requu'ing  the  delivery  of  the  rojai 
Piers  into  their  hands,  or  that  he  should  be  bamshed  the  reahn.     Such  was  the  Piers 
inveteracy  of  the  nobles  against  the  royal  favourite,  that  it  is  said  that  Henry  de 
Lacy  charged  the  earl  of  Lancaster  upon  his  death-bed,  that  he  should  maintam  his 
quarrel  against  Gaviston.     Tlds  injunction  the  earl  faithfully  obeyed,  and,  after  a 
protracted  sti'uggle  with  the  king,  the  earls  of  Lancaster,  Hereford,  and  Arundel, 

*  See  Gough's  "  Sepulchral  Monuments  of  Great  Britain,"  and  Nichols's  History  of  Leicester- 
shire, vol.  i.  p.  222. 


128  Cftf  liJStOfJ)  of  tftf 


CHAP.    haviii<T  seized  GaAiston  in  the  castle  of  Warwick,  struck  off  his  head  without  the 

IV. 


formality  of  a  trial. 

Tliis  act  of  disloyalty,  both  to  the  king  and  to  the  laws,  awakened  in  the  mind  of 

Edwai'd  a  determination  to  execute  vengeance  upon  the  offenders ;  but,  being  less 

constant  in  liis  enmities  than  in  liis  fi'iendships,  he  soon  after  hearkened  to  terms  of 

accommodation,  and  granted  to  the  earl  of  Lancaster,  and  to  the  other  delinquent 

bai'ons,  pardon  of  their  offence,  stipulating  only  that  they  should,  on  their  knees, 

ask  liis  forgiveness  in  public*     With  these  mild  conditions  they  very  cheerfully 

complied,  and,  having  made  their  submission,  they  were  again  received  into  the 

royal  favour.     It  was  the  misfortune  of  the  reign  of  Edward  to  be  disturbed  by 

favouritism  on  the  part  of  the  king,  and  discontent  on  the  part  of  the  people,  or 

To  the       rather  of  the  barons.     Gaviston  was  succeeded  in  the  royal  confidence  by  Hugh 

sers.         le  Despenser,  or  Spenser,  and  by  his  father,  a  venerable  nobleman,  whose  wisdom 

and  moderation  were  not  sufficient  to  check  the  opposite  qualities  in  his  son.     No 

sooner   was  Edward's   attachment   declared  for  the  Spensers,  than  the  tm-bulent 

barons,  headed  again  by  the  earl  of  Lancaster,  concerted  plans  for  their  ruin,  and 

manifested  theu*  discontent  by  fldthdr'awing  from  parliament.     The  Spensers  were 

accused  of  having  committed  injustice  on  the  barons  of  Audley  and  Ammori,  who 

possessed  considerable  estates  in  the  marshes  of  Wales,  and  also  on  the  heir  of 

William  de  Braose,   lord  of  Gower,  who  had  made  a  settlement  of  liis  estate  on 

Jolm  de  Mo«:bray,  liis  son-in-law ;  and,  in  case  of  failiu'e  of  that  nobleman  and  his 

issue,  had  substituted  the  earl  of  Hereford  in  the  succession  to  the  barony  of  Gower. 

Mowbray,  on  the  decease  of  liis  father-in-law,  entered  immediately  into  possession 

of  the  estate,  without  the  fonuality  of  taking  "  livery  and  seisin  from  the  crown." 

From  tliis  infonnality  the  younger  Spenser,  who  coveted  that  barony,  persuaded  the 

king  to  put  in  execution  the  rigour  of  the  feudal  law,  to  seize  Gower  as  escheated 

Heads  the  to  the  crowu,  aud  to  confer  it  upon  liim.     This  gi'oss  act  of  injustice  so  alai'med  the 

against       earl  of  Hereford,  that  he  complained  to  Thomas  earl  of  Lancaster,  who  thereupon 

'"^'     mustered  a  number  of  the  barons,  with  their  adherents,   at  Sliii-eburne ;  and  from 

thence  marched  armed,  and  with  banners,  to  St.  Alban's,  with  the  determination  to 

reform  the  administration  of  the  government.     After  remaining  in  this  place  for 

three  days,  the  earl  of  Lancaster  sent  the  bishops  of  Ely,  Hereford,  and  Cliichester, 

to  the  Idng,  then  in  London,  requiring  tliat  he  should  banish  the  Spensers,  as 

persons  highly  obnoxious  to  the  people  for  vaiious  acts  of  unposition  and  oppression. 

Scarcely  afforcUng  time  to  ascertain  the  success  of  this  negociation,  the  earl  and  his 

adherents  fell  upon  the  lands  of  the  younger  Spenser,  wliich  they  pillaged  and  laid 

waste ;  murdered  liis  servants,  drove  off  liis  cattle,  and  burnt  his  houses.     They 

*  Ryley,  p.  538. 


Coimtj)  ^3alatmt  of  iLaiuasitn-,  129 

then  proceeded  to  commit  similar  devastations  on  the  estates  of  his  father,  and,     chap. 
having  formed  aii  association  among  themselves,  they  marched  to  London  with  all  ' 

theii-  forces,  stationed  themselves  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that  city,  and  exliibited 
before  the  parliament,  which  was  then  sitting,  charges  against  the  Spongers,  who 
were  both  of  them  at  that  time  absent  from  the  country.  These  chai'ges  the  lay- 
bai'ons  declared  to  he  proved,  and  passed  a  sentence  of  attainder  and  perpetnal 
exUe  against  the  ministers.  Tlie  conunons,  though  now  an  estate  in  parliament, 
were  yet  so  little  considered,  that  their  assent  was  not  required ;  and  even  the  votes 
of  the  prelates  were  dispensed  Avith  on  the  present  occasion.  To  secure  themselves 
against  consequences,  the  barons  obtained  from  the  king  an  indemnity  for  their 
illegal  proceedings.*  The  foUoinng  year  the  king  raised  a  powerful  anny,  with 
which  he  marched  into  Wales,  and  so  far  recovered  confidence  in  liis  o^vn  strength, 
as  to  recall  the  Speusers.  Many  of  the  barons,  considering  their  cause  hopeless, 
sent  in  their  submission ;  but  thg.  earl  of  Lancaster,  in  order  to  prevent  the  total 
ruin  of  his  party,  summoned  together  Ms  vassals  and  retainers,  and,  having  received 
the  promise  of  reinforcements,  advanced  with  liis  forces  against  the  king,  who  had 
collected  an  army  of  tlm-ty  thousand  men.  The  earl,  being  aware  of  the  inferiority 
of  Ids  own  force,  despatched  into  Lancashii-e  Sir  Robert  de  Holland,  whom  he  had 
advanced  from  the  humble  office  of  liis  butler  to  the  dignity  of  knighthood,  Avith  a 
stipend  of  two  thousand  marks  per  annum,  to  bring  up  fi^e  huucked  men  out  of  that 
coimty.  The  requu'ed  force  was  raised  without  difficulty,  but  the  perfidious  knight, 
instead  of  bringing  them  to  the  earl,  conducted  them  to  the  king.  Finding  himself 
disappointed  of  his  levies,  the  earl  marched  to  his  castle  at  Pontefract,  the  ancient 
seat  of  the  Lacies.  Having  called  a  council  of  the  bai'ons  by  whom  he  was  sur- 
rounded, wliich  sat  in  the  Black-friars  in  Pontefract,  they  advised  liim  to  march  to 
Dunstanburgh,"  iu  Northumberland ;  but  this  adnce  he  declined,  and  I'esolved  to 
remain  at  Pontefract ;  Avhereupon  Sir  Roger  de  Clifibrd,  one  of  his  knights,  drawing 
out  liis  dagger,  swore  that  he  would  plunge  it  into  the  breast  of  the  earl,  if  he  would 
not  submit  to  the  counsel  that  had  been  given  to  liim.  Under  the  influence  of  these 
cogent  arguments,  the  earl  quitted  Pontefract,  and  marched  to  Boroughbridge,  where, 
finding  the  country-people  in  arms,  and  William,  lord  Latimer,  then  governor  of  the 
city  of  York,  and  Sn  Andrew  de  Harcla,  warden  of  Carlisle  and  the  Marches,  ready 
to  encounter  liim,  the  battle  commenced  without  delay.  The  first  thscharge  of  arrows  His  Fate. 
from  the  archers  of  the  royal  army  proved  so  fatal  to  the  Lancasterian  force,  that 
the  earl  betook  himself  to  a  chapel,  wliich  he  refused  to  jield  to  Harcla,  though  he 
saw  liis  force  partly  dispersed  and  partly  destroyed.  Looking  on  the  crucifix  in  the 
chapel,  he  spid  :— "  Good  Lord,  I  render  myself  to  thee,  and  put  myself  into  thy 

*  Tottle's  Collect,  part  ii.  p.  54. 
VOL.  I.  S  . 


130  CI)f  iJtsitorL)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  mercy."  His  prayers  were  unavailing ;  the  royal  forces  entered  the  chapel,  and 
'  the  earl  was  made  prisoner.  To  add  indignity  to  liis  misfortune,  liis  enemies  took 
off  liis  coat  of  armour,  and,  putting  upon  liim  one  of  liis  men's  liveries,  they  cai-ried 
him  fii-st  to  York,  and  afterwards  to  Pontefract,  where  he  was  pelted  hy  the  mob, 
and  confined  in  the  tower  of  the  castle.  "  Being  brought  into  the  hall,  in  the 
presence  of  the  Idng,  he  had  sentence  of  death  by  these  justices,  viz.,  Aymer,  earl  of 
Pembroke,  Echuund  earl  of  Kent,  John  de  Bretaigne,  and  Sii-  Robert  Malmethorpe. 
His  defence  was  not  listened  to  by  liis  judges,  and  the  earl,  in  the  bitterness  of  his 
complaint,  exclaimed — "  Shall  I  die  without  answer  ?"  After  quitting  the  com't,  he 
was  exposed  to  fresh  insults,  and  being  set  upon  a  wretched  horse,  without  bridle, 
he  Avas  paraded  through  the  streets  with  a  friar's  liood  upon  his  head.  On  his  way 
to  the  j)lace  of  execution,  he  cried — '  King  of  heaven,  have  mercy  on  me !  for  the 
king  of  the  earth  nous  ad  guerthi.'  Having  arrived  at  a  liill  without  the  iowa,  he 
knelt  down  towards  the  east,  until  Hugiii  de  Mustoii  caused  liim  to  turn  his  face 
toward  Scotland,  when  an  executioner  from  Loudon  cut  off  his  head." 

A  number  of  the  earl's  followers  were  afterwards  condemned  and  executed ; 
others  fled  beyond  the  seas,  and,  for  a  time,  the  public  tranquillity  was  restored. 
His  character  is  chfferently  estmiated.  His  partisans  represented  liim  as  a  saint ; 
his  enemies,  as  a  sinner,  and  that  of  no  ordinary  magnitude :  by  the  former  he  is 
said  to  have  wrought  miracles  after  his  death;  by  the  latter  he  is  described  as  a 
turbulent  subject,  an  arbitrary  master,  and  a  faithless  husband.  The  just  way  to 
estmiate  his  character  is  to  make  due  allowance  for  the  prejudices  both  of  liis 
friends  and  liis  enemies;  and  the  conclusion  mil  then  be,  that  he  was  a  munificent 
benefactor  to  the  poor,  a  devoted  adherent  to  liis  own  order,  and  a  man  of  more  than 
orthnary  mental  powers;  while,  at  the  same  time,  he  was  ambitious,  incontinent,  and 
disloyal. 
His  re-  Many  mkacles  were  reported  to  have  been  wrought  at  the  tomb  of  this  earl  of 

lacics  af-  Lancaster ;  and  the  people  flocked  in  great  numbers  to  the  place  of  his  execution, 
till  the  Idng,  at  the  instance  of  the  Spensers,  set  guards  to  restrain  them.  So  great 
indeed  was  the  veneration  paid  to  liim,  that  they  worsliipped  liis  picture,  which,  with 
other  tilings,  was  painted  on  a  tablet  in  St.  Paul's  cathech-al,  London,  till  the  king, 
by  liis  special  letters  to  the  bishop,  dated  from  York,  inhibited  them  from  so  doing. 
The  royal  mandate,  which  is  highly  chai'acteristic  of  the  age,  and  forms  a  striking- 
proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  this  earl  of  Lancaster  was  held,  is  subjoined  in  a 
translation : — 

The  king's  "  The  king  to  the  venerable  father  in  Christ,  Stephen,  by  the  same  grace  bishop 
of  London,  gTcetuig.  It  hath  been  thundered  in  our  ears,  to  our  severe  afiliction, 
that  many  of  the  people  of  God,  committed  to  your  direction,  being  imposed  upon  by 


tei-  death. 


mandate. 


Countp  ^3alatinf  of  2:nnfa6tfi%  I3i 

a  tliabolical  fraud,  foolishly  approaching  a  certain  picture  in  your  church  of  St.  Paul's,    chap. 
London,   on  wliich  are   depicted   certain   statues,   sculptures,  or  images  of  divers  " 

persons,  and,  among  the  rest,  the  effigies  of  Thomas,  formerly  earl  of  Lancaster,  an 
enemy  and  rebel  to  us,  worship  and  adore  it,  ^\ithout  the  authority  of  the  cliurch  of 
Rome,  as  if  it  Avere  a  holy  tiling,  asserting  that  miracles  are  worked  there,  to  the 
shame  of  the  whole  church,  to  our  and  your  dishonour,  the  manifest  danger  of  the 
souls  of  the  people  aforesaid,  and  a  pernicious  example  to  others ;  and  wliich 
you,  knomng  that  these  abuses  prevail  among  the  people  entrusted  to  you,  have 
permitted  to  be  done,  or  rather  pretended  to  be  done,  for  the  salie  of  gain  or  filthy 
lucre,  by  wluch  we  are  not  a  little  (Usturbed :  We,  therefore,  command  and  strongly 
enjoin  you,  that  you  consider  well  the  above  premises,  and  observe  that  the  above 
church  is  of  our  patrmiony,  and  that  as,  by  reason  of  fidelity  you  owe  to  us,  you  wish 
to  keep  our  honour  safe,  and  to  prevent  our  dishonour,  you  by  all  means  prohibit  the 
said  people  to  approach  the  picture  aforesaid,  nor  let  them,  witliout  authority  from  the 
church  of  Rome,  presume  to  make  prayers,  offerings,  or  any  tiling  else  tencUng  to 
divine  worship,  as  you  know  to  be  your  duty,  according  to  canonical  sanctions,  in  such 
wise  conducting  yourself  on  tliis  behalf,  that  you  may  avoid  our  indignation  and  the 
wi'ath  of  God ;  and  the  people  aforesaid,  being  profitably  instructed  by  the  prudence 
of  your  doctrines,  may  wholly  desist  from  the  aforesaid  abuses,  that  the  renown  of  your 
praise  may  be  spread  among  the  same  people,  and  that  we  may  justly  continue  the 
benevolence  conceived  towards  you  and  the  aforesaid  church.  And  what  you  shall 
resolve  to  do  in  this  matter,  describe  in  your  letters  to  us  without  loss  of  time. 

"  Witness  the  king,  at  York,  28th  June,  16th  year  of  his  reign." 

Notwithstanding  this  inliibition,  the  memory  of  the  deceased  earl  was  cherished 
with  the  deepest  veneration;  and  it  was  generally  believed,  in  that  age  of  super- 
stition, that,  in  addition  to  other  miracles,  blood  issued  from  his  tomb.  In  the  reign 
of  Edward  I.  the  king,  in  compliance  AA-ith  the  wishes  of  liis  subjects,  presented 
a  petition  to  the  pope,  beseecliing  liim  to  gi-ant  canonization  to  the  departed  earl 
Thomas;*  but  it  does  not  appear  that  tliis  saint  was  ever  added  to  the  calendar. 

Ancient  slander  asserts   that  Alice,    the  wife  of  Thomas,  earl   of  Lancaster,  Maniage 

of  Ills 

was  repudiated  by  her  husband  on  account  of  her  familiarity  with  Ebulo  Le  Strange,  widow. 
a  younger  son  of  lord  Strange,   of  Knockin.      However  this  may  be,   after  the 
death   of  her   husband,    she   was   manied  by  Ebulo  without  the   king's   license; 
and  all  the  lands  of  her  inheritance,  which  were  held  of  the  king  in  capite,  Avere  Foifeits 
seized  and  detained.      This  confiscation  Avas   not  relaxed   till    she  delivered  up  dowry. 
those  lands  wliich  lay  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  Cheshire,  and  Yorkshire,  and  gave 
*  Rot.  Rom.  et  Franc.  1  Edw.  III.  n.  4.  in  Turr.  Lend. 
S  2 


manners. 


132  €l)t  ?)l£itOll)  Of  U)t 

CHAP,  tlie  castle  and  lordsliip  of  Denbigh,  in  Wales,  and  also  the  castle  of  Biilliugbrook, 
^^'  in  the  county  of  Lincoln,  and  other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  unto  Hugh  le  Despenser, 
the  royal  favomite.  After  being  divested  of  these  immense  possessions,  the  lands 
which  she  still  held  amounted  to  no  less  a  sum  in  annual  value  than  -3000  marks. 
At  the  death  of  tliis  lady,  which  occun-ed  in  the  year  1348,  all  the  lands  of  that 
oi-eat  inheritance,  which  descended  to  her  from  Henry  de  Lacy,  late  eaii  of  Lincoln, 
by  virtue  of  the  grant  made  by  her  father,  and  by  the  gi-ant  of  king  Edward  I.  came 
to  Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster,  afterwards  the  duke  of  Lancaster;  which  lands  lay  in 
Blackbumsliii-e,  Rochdale,  Tottington,  and  Penwortham,  in  thecounty  of  Lancaster; 
Halton,  in  the  county  of  Chester;  Bowland  and  Snaith,  in  the  county  of  York;  and 
divers  other  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

Early  A  household  book  of  Thomas,  earl   of  Lancaster,  preserved  in  the   record   of 

Pontefract,  and  quoted  by  Stow,  exhibits  a  curious  illustration  of  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth  century.  This  book,  kept  by  Henry 
Leicester,  liis  cofferer,  shows  the  amount  of  the  disbursements  of  Tliomas,  earl  of 
Lancaster,  in  liis  domestic  expenses,  for  tlie  year  1313,  which  were  no  less  than 
£7359.  13s.  0|f/.  At  that  time  sUver  was  of  the  value  of  one  sliilling  and  eight- 
pence  the  ounce,  or  20s.  the  lb.  troy:  his  total  expense,  therefore,  in  one  year, 
amounted  in  our  money  to  about  twenty-two  thousand  pounds — an  inmiense 
amount,  when  the  great  dispaiity  in  the  price  of  provisions  between  that  tune  and 
this  is  considered. 

ii^ciu0rf)oltr  laooft  of  ^Tijonia^,  i5arl  of  Itanraetfr,  in  tftc  Wcav  1313. 

£.       s.  d. 

Charge  of  the  pantry,  butteiy,  and  Idtchen 3405     0  0 

To   184  tuns,  1  pipe,  of  red  or  claret  wine,  and  2  tuns  of 

white  Avine 104   17  6 

Togi-ocery 180  17  0 

To  6  ban-els  of  sturgeon 1900 

To  6800  stock-fishes,  so  called,  and  for  dried  fislies  of  all 

sorts,  as  lings,  haberchnes,  (kc 4167 

To  1714  pounds  of  wax,  vermilion,  and  turpentine    .     .     .     314     7  4^ 
To  2319  pounds  of  taUow-candles  for  the  household,  and 

1870  of  lights  for  Palis  candles  called  perchers     .     .     .       31   14  3 

*To  charge  of  the  earl's  great  horses  and  servants'  wages  .     486     4  Si 

To  linen  for  the  earl  and  liis  chaplains,  and  for  the  paiitiy    .       43  17  0 

To  129  dozen  of  paixhment,  and  ink 4     8  3J 

*  The  number  of  the  earl's  horses  was  generally  about  1 ,500. 


Countp  ^3a!atinc  of  aanfa^trr.  133 

To  2  clotlis  of  scai-let  for  the  earl's  use;  one  of  russet  for  tlie      £.      s.     d.  chap. 

bishop  of  Anjou;  70  of  bUie  for  the  knights ;  28  for  the  L_ 

esquii-es;  15  of  mecUey  for  the  clerks;  15  for  the  ofEcers; 
19  for  the  gi-ooms;  5  for  the  archers;  4  for  the  minstrels 
and  carpenters,    with  the  sharing  and  carnage  for  the 

eail's  liveries  at  Christinas 460  15     0 

To  7  furs  of  variable  miniver,  or  powdered  ermine,  7  hoods 
of  purple,  395  furs  of  budge  for  the  liveries  of  barons, 
knights,  and  clerks;  123  furs  of  lamb,  bought  at  Christ- 
mas  for  the  esquu-es 147  17     8 

To  65  saf&on-coloured  cloths  for  the  barons  and  knights 
in  summer;  12  red  cloths  for  the  clerks;  26  ray  cloths 
for  the  esquires,  1  for  the  ofEcers;  and  4  ray  cloths  for 

carpets  in  the  hall 345  13     8 

To  100  pieces  of  gi-een  silk  for  the  kniglits;  14  budge  furs 
for  surcoats;  13  hoods  of  budge  for  clerks;  75  furs  of 
lambs  for  liveries  in  summer,  with  canvass  and  cords  to 

truss  them 72  19     0 

To  saddles  for  the  lord's  summer  liveries 51     6     8 

To  1  saddle  for  the  eai'l,  of  the  prince's  aims 2     0     0 

To  several  items  [the  pai-ticulars  in  the  account  defaced]    .     24114     U 

To  horses  lost  in  the  service  of  the  earl 8     6     8 

To  fees  paid  to  earls,  barons,  knights,  and  esquires  .     .     .     623  15     5 
To   gifts  to   knights  of   France,  the   queen  of  England's 
nurses,  to  the  Countess  of  Wan-en,  esquii-es,  minstrels, 

messengers,  and  riders 92  14     0 

To  168  yards  of  russet  cloth,  and  24  coats  for  poor  men, 

with  money  given  the  poor  on  Maucdv  Thursday  ...         8167 
To  24  silver  dishes;  24  saucers;  24  cups;  1  pair  of  pater- 
nosters; 1  sUver  coifer;  all  bought  this  year     ....     103     5     6 
To  diverse  messengers  about  tlie  earl's  business  ....       34  19     8 

To  sunchy  things  in  the  earl's  chamber 5     0     0 

To  several  old  debts  paid  tliis  year 88   16     Oi 

The  expenses  of  the  countess  at  Pickering,  in  the  pantry, 

buttery,  kitchen,  &c 285  13     4  i 

In  wine,  wax,  spices,  cloths,  furs,  &c.  for  the  countess's 

wai-cb-obe 154     7     4i 


Total £7359  13     Oj 


CHAP. 
IV. 


134  m)t  JnstOll)  Of  tt)t 

A  Maximum  on  the  price  of  provisions  was  established  by  a  royal  proclamation 
in  1314,  by  which  the  following  rates  were  fixed  : — 

£.   s.    d. 

The  best  gi'ass-fed  ox  alive 0160 

The  best  giain-fed  ox 14     0 

Tlie  best  cow  alive  and  fat 0   12     0 

The  best  hog  of  two-years  old 034 

Tlie  best  shorn  mutton 012 

The  best  goose 003 

Tlie  best  cajwn 0     0     2J 

The  best  hen 0     0     1| 

The  best  cliickens,  2  for 0     0     U 

The  best  young  pigeons,  3  for 0     0     1 

20  eggs 0     0     1 


Henry, 
earl  of 
Lancas 
ter. 


Tliis  maximum,  after  existing  for  twelve  yeai"s,  was  repealed  in  the  year  1326. 

Henry,  brother  and  heir  of  Tliomas  eai'l  of  Lancaster,  obtained  a  gi'ant  of  the 
custody  of  the  castles  and  honor  of  Lancaster,  Tutbuiy,  and  Pickering,  20  Edw.  II., 
and  in  the  followuig  year  an  act  was  passed  for  reversing  the  attainder  of  his  unfor- 
A.D.1326.  tunate  brother ;  Avhereupon  he  became  possessed  of  all  the  lands  and  lordships 
which  had  been  seized  on  the  death  of  liis  brother,  namely,  the  earldoms  of  Lancas- 
ter and  Leicester,  and  all  the  other  lauds  of  winch  Edmund  liis  father,  and  Thomas 
liis  brother,  were  formerly  possessed.  This  document,  which  is  preserved  in  the 
national  archives  in  the  Tower  of  London,  serves  to  shed  much  light  upon  the 
local  liistory  of  the    age.*      The  life  of  tliis   earl   was  not  remarkable  for  any 


A.  D.  1327, 
An.    1  Edw.    III. 

Claus.     1  Edw.     III. 
p.  I.  m.  3.  in  Turr.  Lond. 


*  ACT  OF  RESTITUTION. 

"  Rex  dilecto  sibi,  Adas  de  Boghier,  nuper  firmario  manerii  de  Berleye, 
in  comitatu  Eborum,  salutem.  Cum  ceperimus  homagium  dilecti  consanguinei 
&  fidelis  nostri,  Heniici  comitis  Lancastr'  &  Leyc',  fratris  &  haeredis  Thomse, 
nuper  comitis  Lancastr',  defuncti,  de  omnibus  terris  &  tenementis,  que  idem 
Thomas,  frater  suus,  tenuit  de  domino  E.,  nuper  rege  Anglise,  patre  nostro,  in  capite,  die  quo 
obiit,  &  ei  terras  illas  &  tenementa  reddiderimus,  eaque  sibi  mandaverimus  liberari. 

"  Nos,  volentes  eidem  comiti  gratiam  in  hac  parte  facere  specialem,  concessimas  ei  omnes  exitus  & 
arreragia  firmarum,  de  terris  &  tenementis,  quee  fuerunt  praedicti  Tliomas  die  quo  obiit,  provenientes, 
de  quibus  preedicto  patri  nostro,  aut  nobis,  nondum  est  responsum,  habend'  de  nono  nostro. 

"  Et  ideo  vobis  mandamus,  quod  eidem  comiti  exitus,  &  arreragia  hujusmodi  de  tempore  quo 
firmarius  dicti  manerii,  quod  fuit  preedicti  Thomse  die  quo  obiit,  fuistis  (si  quse  in  custodia  vestra 
existant)  liberetis,  habendos  in  forma  prsedicta ;  volumus  enim  vos,  de  eisdem  firmis  &  arreragiis,  erga 
nos  exonerari.  "  Teste  rege,  apud  Staunford,  xxiii  die  Aprilis. 

"  Per  ipsum  Regem. 


CountL'  |3nlntmc  of  aaitwsfttr.  135 

great  political  event  connected  with  tlie  house  of  Lancaster.     He  left  issue,  by     cmai' 
Maud,   his    wife,    Henry,   Ins   son  and  heir,    and  six  daugliters :  Maud,  married       ^^' 
to  William  de  Burgh,   earl  of  Ulster,  and  afterwards  to  Ralph,  son  and  lieir  of  Henry, 
the  earl  of  Suffolk ;    Blanch,    to    the   lord   Wake  ;  Eleanor,   to  Richard,   eari  of  *"'' '°"" 
Arundel,  having  the  pope's  tlispensatiou  for  the  same,  on  account  of  their  affinity, 
and  likewise  because  in  his  tender  years  he  had  contracted  matrimony  with  Isabel, 
the  daughter  of  Hugh  le  Despenser,  liis  kinswoman  in  the  second  deo-ree  of  con- 
sanguinity ;    Isabel,  prioress   of  Ambressbury ;  Jane,   married  to   lord   Mowbray ; 
and  Maiy,  to  lord  Percy. 

"  Eodem  modo  mandatum  est  subscriptis  ;  videlicet, 

"  JoHANNi  DE  Lancastria,  ciistodi  hoiioris  Lancastriae. 

"  Galfrido  de  Werburton,  vicecomiti  Lancastriae. 

"  Johanni  de  Kylvynton,  ciistodi  honoris  de  Pykervno-. 

"  Roberto  Foncher,  custodi  de  IVlelebourne  &  fiimariis  honoris  de  Tutlebury. 

"  WiLLiELMo  David  seniori,  Roberto  de  Hilton,  &  sociis  suis,  firmariis  vill  de  Tutlebury. 

"  Thom;e  de  Rolleston,  firmario  vill  de  Rolleston. 

"  Philipo  de  Somervill,  firmario  manerii  de  Barton. 

"  Richardo  de  Wythenhull,   Nicholao  de  Salopia,  &  sociis  suis,  firmariis  manerii 

de  Adgersleye. 
"  Roberto  le  Hunte,  Johanni  de  Verney,  &  sociis  suis,  firmariis  manerii  de  Utoxhather. 
"  WiLLtELMO  David,  firmario  manerii  de  Yoxhale. 
"  Johanni  de  Kynardeseye,  firmario  manerii  de  Marchinton. 
"  Prior,  de  Tutlebury,  firmario  manerii  de  Scropton. 

"  HugonideMeinell seniori,  Roberto  FoucH,&sociis  suis,  firmariis  hundredideAppeltre. 
'   Roberto  Fouch,  Johanni  de  Denum,  &  sociis  suis,  firmariis  maneriorum  de  Beaurepeir, 

Dofteld',    Heigheg',    Holebrok,    Suthewode,   Wyneleye,    Holond,    Wevvebiggynge, 

Edricheshay,  Alrewasseleic,  &  Coldebrok,  cum  membris. 
"  Johanni  de  Kynardeseye,  Waltero  Walteshef,  &  sociis  suis,  firmariis  wapentachii 

de  Wirkesworth  &  Assebourne,  cum  membris. 
"  Laurentio  Coterell  &  sociis  suis,  firmariis  miners  Plumbi  ejusdem  wapentachii. 
"  Nicholao  de  Hungerford,  firmario  quarerse  de  Rovfeclif. 
"  Thom;e  de  Radeclive,  Henrico  de  Bek,  firmariis  manerii  de  Spoudon. 
"  WiLLiELMO  Cokeny,  firmario  burgi  de  Asshebourne. 
"  GiLBERTo  Henry  de  Yoxhale,  firmario  hundredi  de  Grescleie. 
"  Edmundo  de  Assheby,  custodi  feodorum  honoris  Lancastrise,  in  comitatu  Lin',  Notyng- 

ham,  StafFord',  &  Eborum,  &  maneriorum  de  Wadinton  &  Alkeberugh. 
"  Johanni  de  Wyvill,  firmario  manerii  de  Ridelinton. 
"  Riciiardo   de  Whatton,  nuper  firmario   curiarum  de  Bothenieshull    &  Crophull,  in 

comitatu  Notingham. 
"  Marine  comitissse  PEMBROCHia;,  pro  manerio  de  Hegham. 
"  WillielmoTrussel,  escaetori  citra  Trentam. 
"  SiMONi  ioE  Grymesby,  cscaetori  ultra  Trentam. 
"  Odoni  de  Stok,  nuper  custodi  castri  de  Kenilworth." 


136  ,    ■'       Wl)t  W^tovv  Of  tl)r 

CHAP.  Heniy,  son  and  lieii-  of  Hemy,  sumamed  Giismoud,  from  the  place  of  bis  bii-tli, 

^^"       obtained,  in  7  Edwai'd  III.  a  grant  ft-om  liis  fatber,  dated  at  Kenilwortb,  28tb  Decem- 


A.D.1333.  ber,  of  the  castle  and  town  of  Kidwelly,  Avith  tbe  wbole  territory  of  Carnwartbland, 
&c.  and  in  tbe  9  Edward  III.  be  was  in  the  expecUtion  to  Scotland,  at  Avbicb  time 
he  o'avp  such  proof  of  bis  valour  and  military  skill,  that  be  obtained  from  tbe  long  a 
oi-ant  of  certain  lands  at  Berivick-upon-Tweed,  which  bad  belonged  to  Peter  de 
Kymeringbam.  On  tbe  7tli  of  April,  in  tbe  year  ensuing,  be  was  made  captain- 
o-eueral  of  tbe  king's  ai-my  in  that  realm;  and  in  May  following  be  received  tbe  title 
of  banneret.  Two  years  afterwards  he  was  advanced  to  the  title  and  dignity  of  the 
earl  of  Derby ;  liaving,  besides  tbe  annual  fee  of  £20  per  amium,  (usually  given  in 
lieu  of  tbe  tcrtium  denarium  de  placitis  comitaius,  which  tbe  earls  anciently  bad,)  a 
pension  of  1000  marks,  to  be  received  yearly  during  bis  father's  life,  out  of  tbe 
customs  of  London,  Boston,  and  Kingstou-upon-HuU,  untU  the  king  should  other- 
wise provide  for  him  in  lands,  or  rents,  of  tliat  value.  Shortly  after  tliis,  lung 
Edward,  designing  to  clear  the  Isle  of  Cagant  of  tbe  ganison  which  the  French  had 
placed  there,  sent  over  this  earl  ^vith  considerable  forces ;  where,  upon  the  first 
encounter,  the  gallant  earl  of  Derby  advanced  so  fai',  that  he  was  struck  down,  when, 
by  tbe  valour  of  the  famous  Sir  Walter  Manney,  he  was  raised  up,  and  placed  out 
of  danger ;  the  gallant  knight  crying,  "  Lancaster  for  tbe  earl  of  Derby."* 
Hismiii-  lu  16  Edwaxd  III.  the  earl  was  in  another  expedition  into  France,  having  with 

novvn.  lum  of  liis  rctiuue  5  bannerets,  50  knights,  144  esquires,  and  200  archers  on  horse- 
back ;  and  bad  for  his  wages  in  that  service,  an  assignation  of  a  hundred  and  eighty 
sacks  of  Avool ;  taking  for  himself  eight  shillings  per  diem  ;  for  every  banneret,  four 
slullings;  every  knight,  two  shillings;  every  esquii-e,  one  shilling ;  and  every  aixber, 
sixpence.  He  had  also  tbe  same  year  an  assignation  of  1000  marks  for  guarding 
the  mai-cbes  of  Scotland.  In  18  Edward  III.  tlie  earl  of  Lancaster  was  engaged  in 
another  expedition  to  tbe  south  of  France,  and,  according  to  Walsingbam,  after 
taking  tbe  strong  iovra  of  Brigerac,  be  subjected  no  less  than  fifty-six  cities  and 
places  of  note  to  tbe  dominion  of  king  Edwai'd;  and  such  Avas  the  terror  of  liis  name, 
that  the  cry  of  "  A  Derby !"  "  A  Derby!"  carried  dismay  into  the  enemy's  camp. 
In  tliis  year  of  his  gi-eat  exploits,  bis  father  died,  as  already  mentioned,  on  wliich  the 
earl  of  Derby  succeeded  to  the  honor,  castle,  and  eai-ldom  of  Lancaster.  Tlie  famous 
order  of  the  Garter  was  first  instituted  in  1.349  ;  of  wliich,  next  to  the  Idng,  prince 
Edward  was  the  first  knight-companion,  and  the  earl  of  Lancaster  the  second.f 

*  Sir  John  Froissart's  Chronicles,  liv.  i.  chap.  30. 
t  The  number  received  into  this  order  consists  of  twenty-five  persons,  besides  the  sovereign  ;  and 
as  It  has  never  been  enlarged,  the  value  of  this  badge  of  honourable  distinction  continues  unimpaired. 
Tlie  particular  cause  of  its  origin  is  unknown ;  but  a  story  prevails,  that  the  mistress  of  king  Edward,  at 


Count!)  ^3alatint  of  iianrasitrr.  137 

After  the  siege  of  Poictiers,  of  wliicli  the  earl  of  Lancaster,  Derln',  aud  Leicester     chap. 

was  the  hero,  he  was  ai^pointed  by  the  Idug,  together  with  WiUiam  de  Clinton,   

earl  of  Huntingdon,  Renaud  de  Cohham,  sii-  Walter  Manney,  William  Lovell,  and 
Stephen  de  Consintone,  to  hear  and  determine  all  disputes  relating  to  aims.  At  this 
tune  he  had  of  his  own  retinue  800  men  at  anns,  and  2,000  archers,  with  30  banners, 
and  kept  such  hospitality,  that  he  spent  a  huncked  pounds  a  day.  After  the  ti'uce, 
it  was  found  also  that  he  had  expended,  in  those  wars  of  France  m  which  the  battles 
of  Crecy  and  of  Poictiers  were  fought,  about  seventeen  thousand  pounds  sterling, 
besides  the  pay  which  he  had  from  the  king.  In  consideration  whereof  he  obtained 
a  gi-ant,  beaiing  date  fi'om  the  camp  before  Calais,  21  Edwai'd  IIL  to  liimself  and  a.d.i348. 
liis  heii's  male,  of  the  castle  and  town  of  Brigerac,  wliich  was  one  of  the  places  he 
had  taken  by  strong  assault;  likeAvise  of  aU  the  lands  and  goods  wliich  he  had  taken 
at  St.  John  d'Angelyn,  until  their  ransom  were  satisfied ;  and  soon  after  he  procured 
another  grant  to  himself  and  his  heii's  male,  of  Horeston  castle,  in  the  county  of 
Derby,  and  the  annual  rent  of  forty  pounds,  issuing  out  of  the  town  of  Derby.  Soon 
after  this  he  was  constituted  the  king's  lieutenant  and  captain-general  in  the  parts  of 
Poictou  ;  and,  to  cro^^^l  his  (Ugnities,  and  to  reward  liis  merit,  the  title  of  DUKE  Created 
OF  LANCASTER  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  king.  Lancaster. 


29ufec0  ot  IBLammttv* 


Henry,  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster,  having  received  liis  title  to  the  dukedom  by 
the  general  consent  of  all  the  prelates  and  peers  then  sitting  in  parliament  at  West- 
minster, for  his  life,  he  was  invested  therewith  by  cincture  of  a  sword  ;  with  power  chancery 
to  have  a  chancery  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  to  issue  out  writs  there,  under  Lancaster 
liis  own  seal,  as  well  touching  pleas  of  the  crown  as  any  other  relating  to  the  com- 
mon laws  of  this  realm ;  as  also  to  enjoy  all  other  liberties  and  regalities  belonging  county 
to  a  county  palatine,  in  as  ample  a  manner  as  the  earl  of  Chester  was  known  to  have  palatine. 

a  court  ball,  dropped  her  garter ,  and  the  king,  taking  it  up,  observed  some  of  the  courtiers  to  smile  signi- 
ficantly, as  if  they  thought  he  had  not  obtained  the  favour  by  accident :  upon  which  he  exclaimed, 
Honi  soit  qui  mal  y  pense,  (Evil  to  him  that  evil  thinks) ;  which  was  adopted  as  the  motto  of  the 
order. 

VOL.  I.  T 


138  CI)f  ?i?i6torj)  of  tfK 

CHAP,    within  that  county.*     About  this  time  likewise  he  was  constituted  admiral  of  the 

'- —  king's  whole  fleet,  from  the  Thames  westwai-d. 

In  the  Harleian  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum,']"  a  document  is  jneserved,  con- 
taining the  names  of  some  of  the  principal  and  subordinate  officers  of  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster,  on  the  fii-st  institution  of  the  duchy,  'svith  a  list  of  the  salaries  paid  for 
theii-  services,  of  wliich  the  follo^vdng  is  a  ti-anslation  : — 

Fees  and  Wayes  of  the  Officers  within  the  King's  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  made  in  the 
■     22d  of  the  Reign  of  Edward  III. 

Lancaster,  with  its  Members. 
Richard,  duke  of  Gloucester,  head  stewai'd  there,  per  ann. 
Thomas  Molineux,  constable  of  the  castle  of  Liverpool    .     . 
The  same,  head-forester  of  Simon's  wood,  and  king's  parker 

of  Croxteth       

The  same,  liigh-steward  of  West  Derbyshire  and  Salfordsliire 
Thomas  lord  Stanley,  receiver  of  the  county  Lane,  per  ann. 

Hugh  Worthing-ton,  forester  of  Querumore 

Two  foresters  of  Wii-esdale,  each  of  them  per  ann.  30s.  4d. 
Richai-d  Pilkington,  keeper  of  the  park  of  Hyde  and  Ful- 

wood,  per  ann 

Tliomas,  lord  Stanley,  pai-ker  of  the  park  of  Toxtetli  .  . 
Thomas  Richardson,  1  forester  of  the  wood  of  Mirescough  . 
John  Adamson,  another  forester  of  the  same  wood,  per  ann. 

Two  foresters  in  Blesedale,  per  ann 

Su'    James    Harrington,    knt.,    senescal    of   Lonsdale   and 

Amounderness 4l.     4s.  Od. 

*  CREATION  OF  THE  DUKE  OF  LANCASTER. 
25  Edward  III. 
"  Rex,  de  assensu  parliament!,  creavit  Henricum  com'  Lane'  diicem  Lancastr' ;  &  con- 
cessit prefato  duci,  ad  totam  vitam  suam,  quod  habeat  infra  eundem  com'  cancellariam  suam, 
&  Br'ia  sua  sub  sigillo  sue  pro  officio  cancellar'  deputand',  consignand'  justiciar'  sues  tam  ad  placita 
corone  quam  alia  coem  legem  tangent',  ac  cognitiones  eorundem  quascunque  executiones  per  fer'ia  sua 
&  ministros  suos  ibidem  fac',  &  quascunque  alia  lititates  &  jura  regalia  ad  comitem  palatinum 
pertin',  adeo  integre,  &c.  sicut  comes  Cestri'  infra  com'  Cestr'  dinoscitur  optinere ;  decimis  &  aliis 
quotis  concessis  per  clerum,  pardonationibus  vite  &  membrorum,  potestate  corrigendi  ea  que  in  cur' 
suis  ibidem  erronic^  facta  sunt,  &c.  semper  salvis.  Et  quod  ad  mandatum  regis  mittat  ad  parlia- 
mentum  duos  milites  &  burgenses,  &c. 

t  Cod.  433.  fo.  317  a. 


Ql. 

13s. 

4d. 

61. 

13s. 

4d. 

70s. 

4d. 

100s. 

61. 

13s. 

4d. 

41. 

lis. 

Od. 

60s. 

8d. 

30s. 

4d. 

60s. 

8d. 

60s. 

Sd. 

60s. 

8d. 

30s. 

4d. 

Coimtp  IJalatinr  of  ilancaeiUr. 

The  same,  Sir  James,  keeper  of  the  park  of  Quernmore,  p.  an.         45s.  Qd. 

Ths.  Thwayte,  chancellor  of  the  coimty  palatine  of  Lane.    .     40/.  Os.  Od. 

Sir  H.  Fairfax,  knt.,  cli.  justice  of  the  king  at  Lane.  p.  ann.  261.  13s.  4d. 

Richard  Pigot,  another  king's  justice  at  Lane,  per  ann.      .  231.     6s.  8d. 

John  Hawardyn,  king's  attorney-gen.  at  law  there,  p.  ann.       61.  13s.  4d. 

John  Lake,  clerk  of  crown  pleas         40s.  Od. 

John  Bradford,  clerk  of  common  pleas 40s.  Od. 

Jolm  Lake,  William  Bradford,  and  John  Bradford,  clerks  of 
the  crown  in  the  county  of  Lane,  in  the  time  of  sessions, 
for  their  wages  for  40  days,  each  of  them  2s.  per  day      .     6/.     Os.  Od. 

Ranulphus  Holcrofte,  baron  of  the  King's  Bench  at  Lan- 
caster, per  ann 4Z.     Os.  Od. 

Thomas  Bolrou,  crier  of  all  sessions  and  courts  of  the  king, 

within  the  county  of  Lane,  per  ann 40s.  Od. 

Thomas  Ratclitf,  Esq.,  constable  of  the  king's  castle  of  Lan- 
caster, per  ann 13/.     6s.  8d. 

Thomas  Barowe,  master-mason  of  the  king's  castles,  ivithin 

the  counties  of  Lancaster  and  Chester 121.     3s.  4d. 

Peter  Wraton,  king's  cai-penter  at  Lancaster,  and  clerk  of  the 
king's  works  there 7Z.     3s.  8d. 

Total  £200  18s.  2d. 


139 


CHAP. 
IV. 


Clyderowe,  with  its  Members. 


Richard,  duke  of  Gloucester,  stewai-d  of  the  lordsliip  of  Pen 
wortham . 

Thomas,  lord  Stanley,  receiver  of  the  lordship  of  Clyderowe 

Brian  Talbot,  constable  of  the  castle  of  Clyderowe     .     . 

Roger  Banaster,  porter  of  the  castle  there,  per  ann. 

John  Cays,  parker  of  the  park  of  Musbury,  per  ann. 

John  Talbot,  parker  of  the  pai-k  of  IgletunhuU,  per  ann. 

Robert  Harington,  parker  of  the  park  of  Radam,  per  ann. 

John  Hunter,  keeper  of  the  chace  of  Trowdon,  per  ann. 

Richard  Sluobury,  keeper  of  the  pai-k  of  Lathegi'yne,  and 
paler  of  the  same  . 


6/. 
10/. 


20s.  Od. 

13s.  4d. 

Os.  Od. 

40s.  8d. 

30s.  4d. 

40s.  8d. 

30s.  4d. 

40s.  8d. 

45s.  6d. 


Total 


£22.    Is.  6d. 


T  2 


140  Cf)f  2)l£itOll)  Of  tftf 

CHAP.  The  duke  of  Lancaster,  deeply  imbued  with  the  chivali-ous  s])ii-it  of  tlie  age  in 

^^'  which  he  Uved,  obtained  a  license  ti-om  the  king  to  proceed  to  Sp-acuse,  to  fight  against 
The  duke  the  infidels.  To  guard  against  the  possible  consequences  of  tliis  crusade,  he  obtained 
ter'sX'^^s  a  royal  grant,  providing,  that  in  case  he  should  depart  this  life  before  liis  return,  his 
of  arms,  g^gg^^oj-g  should  retain  all  his  estates,  castles,  manors,  and  lands  in  then-  possession, 
untU  his  debts  were  (hschai-ged.  On  his  journey  he  was  taken  prisoner  in  Germany, 
and  constrained  to  give  three  thousand  scutes  of  gold  for  liis  liberty.  This  sui-prisal 
was  made  at  the  instance  of  the  duke  of  Brunswick ;  and  learning,  before  he  came  to 
his  destination,  that  the  Christians  and  the  pagans  had  made  a  truce,  he  returned  to 
Coloone,  where  he  obsei-ved,  "  that  it  did  not  belong  to  a  person  of  the  duke  of 
Brunswick's  rank  to  deal  ^ritli  a  stranger  in  the  manner  that  the  duke  had  dealt 
with  him  ;  that  he  had  never  offended  liim ;  and  that  if  the  duke  thought  proper  to 
interfere  ^ith  his  concerns,  he  woidd  find  liim  ready  to  play  a  sokUer's  part."  Tliis 
conversation  having  been  conununicated  to  the  duke  of  Brunswick,  he  sent  the  duke 
of  Lancaster  a  letter  of  challenge  to  meet  him  at  Calais  in  single  combat.  Tlie 
duke  of  Lancaster  accepted  this  challenge  with  alacrity,  and,  taking  with  liim  fifty 
knio-hts  and  a  large  retinue,  he  proceeded  towards  the  scene  of  action.  A  rencoun- 
ter between  two  personages  of  so  much  distinction  excited  the  deepest  interest  both 
in  France  and  England ;  and  gi-eat  efforts  were  made,  but  without  success,  to  recon- 
cile the  combatants  without  an  appeal  to  arms.  On  the  appointed  day  they  entered 
the  lists,  and,  having  taken  the  usual  oaths,  mounted  their  horses  for  the  combat. 
In  the  moment  of  triiil,  the  courage  of  the  duke  of  BrunsAdck  failed  him,  and  he 
quitted  the  quarrel,  and  submitted  himself  to  the  award  of  the  king  of  France.  The 
king  and  Ids  court,  who  were  to  have  witnessed  the  combat,  now  became  the  media- 
tors, and  at  a  great  feast  reconciled  the  dukes  to  each  other. 
Having  effected  this  object,  the  king  exhibited  to  the  duke  of  Lan- 
caster a  great  variety  of  rare  and  costly  oniaments,  wliich  he  pre- 
Hoiy  sented  for  his  acceptance ;  but  the  duke  selected  only  one  of  the 
many  cmiosities  wliich  were  laid  before  him,  and  that  was  a  relic, 
in  those  days  higldy  venerated,  namely,  a  thorn  out  of  the  crown 
of  our  Saviour,  wliich  he  brought  to  England,  and  deposited  in  the 
collegiate  chiu-ch  of  our  lady  at  Leicester.* 

Tliis  heroic  duke,  who,  for  liis  deeds  of  piety,  was  styled  the  "  Good  Duke  of 
Lancaster,"  out  of  his  devout  respect  to  the  canons  of  the  collegiate  chm-ch  at 
Leicester,  pennitted  the  priests  to  enclose  their  woods,  and  stored  them  Avith  deer 
out  of  liis  own  parks.  After  tliis  time  he  received  special  command  from  the  king 
to  keep  a  strict  guard  upon  the  sea-coasts  of  Lancashire,  and  to  aim  all  the  lanciers 
*  This  sketch  of  the  holy  relic  is  from  Nichols's  History  of  Leicestershire. 


relic. 


Coimtp  |3alatinr  of  ILancasitiT.  ui 

who   were  raised  in  bis   tonitories  for  the  jiiihlic  serncc.      In    31   Edward   III.    char 

John  king  of  France,  having  been  taken  prisoner  by  Edwai-d  tlie  Black  Prince,  was 

brought  into  tliis  country.     The  captive  monarch  became  the  guest  of  Henry  duke  A.D.1337. 
of  Lancaster,  in  his  stately  palace  in  the  Savoy,  which  he  had  completed  at  the 
expense  of  fifty-two  thousand  marks,  obtained  at  the  taking  of  Brigerac. 

Tlie  duke  of  Lancaster,  ha\ing  terminated  liis  cai-eer  of  military  renown,  devoted  Hischari- 
liimself  to  works  of  piety ;  and  amongst  Ids  other  acts  of  munificence,  was  the  gift    "^' 
of  a  certain  livery  to  the  two  recluses  in  the  house  of  St.  Helen,  at  Pontefract,  called  To  the 
the  "  black  Hverys,"  which  appertained  to  liis  donation  as  Lord  of  the  Honor  of  yen's/' 
Pontefract,  to  be  paid  every  day  out  of  the  hospital  of  St.  Nicholas  there,  for  the 
finding  of  a  priest  to  celebrate  divine  service  in  the  cliapel  of  St.  Helen  for  ever. 

By  a  deed,  bearing  date  the  2nd  of  Jauuaiy,  in  the  35th  of  Edward  III.,  he  gave  a.d.ugi. 
to  the  monks  at  Whalley,  in  tliis  county,  and  to  theii-  successors,  two  cottages.  To  whai- 
seven  acres  of  land,  one  huncked  and  eighty-thi-ee  acres  of  pasture,  two  hundred  ^  '^^" 
acres  of  wood,  called  Ramsgi'ove,  aU  Ij^ng  in  the  chase  of  Blackburn;  Hke^-ise  two 
messuages,  a  huncfred  and  twenty-six  acres  of  land,  twenty-six  acres  of  meadow,  and 
a  hundred  and  tliii'ty  acres  of  pasture  called  Standen,  Holcroft,  and  Grenelache, 
Ijiug  within  tlie  townships  of  Penhulton  and  Clitheroe,  Arith  the  fold  and  foldage  of 
Standen,  to  support  and  maintain  two  recluses  in  a  certain  place  within  the  churcli- 
yai-d  of  the  parochial  church  of  Whalley,  and  tlieii-  successors  recluses  tliere ;  as 
also  two  women-servants  to  attend  them  there,  to  pray  for  the  soul  of  him  the  said 
duke,  his  ancestors  and  heu"s ;  that  is  to  say,  to  find  them  every  week  thi'oughout 
the  year  seventeen  loaves  of  bread,  such  as  usually  were  made  in  theu*  convent, 
each  of  them  weighing  fifty  shillings  sterling  ;  and  seven  loaves  of  the  second  sort,  of 
the  same  weight ;  and  also  eight  gallons  of  then-  better  sort  of  beer  ;  and  threepence 
for  their  food.  Moreover,  every  year,  at  the  feast  of  All  Saints,  to  provide  for  them 
ten  large  fishes,  called  stock-fish ;  and  one  bushel  of  oatmeal  for  pottage  ;  one 
bushel  of  rye  ;  two  gallons  of  oil  for  then*  lamps  ;  one  pound  of  tallow  for  candles  ; 
six  loads  of  tiu'f,  and  one  load  of  faggots,  for  theii-  food ;  likeA\ise  to  repau'  their- 
habitations ;  and  to  find  a  chaplain,  with  a  clerk,  to  sing  mass,  in  the  chapel  belong- 
ing to  these  recluses,  every  day;  and  also  all  vestments,  and  other  utensils  and 
ornaments,  for  the  same  chapel ;  the  nomination  of  successors,  upon  deaths,  to  be  in 
the  duke  and  his  heirs. 

This  "  good  duke  of  Lancaster"  completed  the  hospital  begun  by  liis  father,  at 
Leicester,  wherein  were  maintained  a  hundred  infinn  poor  persons.     Within  tlie 
precincts  also  of  the  Newark,  he  founded  a  most  magnificent  and  goodly  college,  ToLeices- 
and  set  over  it  a  dean,  twelve  canons,    tliii'teen  vicars  choral,   thi-ee  clerks,  six  lege, 
choristers,  and  one  merger ;  all  of  wliom  were  sufiiciently  proAided  Avith  revenues. 


142  €i)t  ?l)istorj)  of  tl)t 

CHAP.    Both  the  hosi:)ital   and  college  continued  the   gi-eatest  ornaments  of  the  tomi   of 
"       Leicester  tUl  the  general  dissolution  of  religious  houses  at  the  Reformation.     By  his 

A.D.1361.  ivill,  bearing  date  at  the  castle  of  Leicester,  the  15th  of  March,  35  Edward  III., 
wherein  he  styles  liimself  Duke  of  Lancaster,  Eail  of  Derby,  Lincoln,  and  Leices- 
ter, steward  of  England,  and  Lord  of  Brigerac  and  Beauford,  he  bequeathed  liis  body 
to  be  bui-ied  in  the  collegiate  church  of  our  lady  of  Leicester.  He  only  siu'vived  the 
making  of  tliis  testament  nine  days.  At  that  time  a  plague  raged  in  England,  which. 

His  death,  in  allusion  to  the  great  plague  in  1349,  Bai'nes  calls  the  "  second  plague,  notliing 
near,"  says  he,  "  so  dismal  and  universal  as  the  former,  but  much  more  destructive 
to  the  nobility  and  prelacy."  Thus  died  a  man  most  worthy  to  live  for  ever,  even  the 
great,  valiant,  and  liberal  piince  Hemy  Plantagenet,  March  twenty-four,  1361. 

His  issue.  He  left  issue  by  Isabel,  his  wife,  daughter  of  Henry  lord  Beaumont,  two  daugh- 

ters, his  heirs :  Maud,  twenty-two  years  old,  first  married  to  Ralph,  son  and  heir  of 
Ralph  lord  Stafford ;  and  after  to  William  of  Bavaria,  son  of  Lewis  the  emperor ; 

John  of  and  Blanch,  nineteen  years  old,  married  to  John  of  Gaunt,  earl  of  Richmond,  fourth 
son  of  king  Edward  III.  Maud,  the  elder,  had  for  her  pui-pai'ty  an  assignment  of 
the  manors  in  the  counties  of  Berks,  Leicester,  Northampton,  Rutland,  and  Hunt- 
ingdon, and  also  the  lordsliip  of  Beauford  and  Nogent  in  France.  And  to  John 
eail  of  Riclmiond,  and  Blanch  his  wife,  "  whose  homage  was  then  taken  by  reason 

His  pos-  of  issue  between  them,  the  castle  and  town  of  Pontefract ;  the  manors  of  Bradeform, 
Almanbuiy,  Altofts,  Wamfeld,  Rothewell,  Ledes,  Roundehay,  Scoles,  Berewyck, 
Kepax,  Aberford,  Knottingley,  with  the  mills  there ;  Beghale,  Kamsale,  Ouston, 
Elmesdale,  Akworth,  and  Staincros  ;  the  baihwick  and  honor  of  Pontefi'act ;  a  certain 
rent,  called  castlefenne,  with  the  pleas  and  perquisites,  also  the  manors  of  Kiiteling 
and  Barlay ;  except  such  lands  therein  as  were  held  for  life,  (the  reversion  to  the 
said  duke,)  the  castle  of  Pickering,  with  the  soke  and  all  its  members ;  the  manors 
of  Es}-ngwold  and  Scalby,  with  the  members,  all  in  the  county  of  York ;  the  wapen- 
takes (or  rather  hunckeds)  of  Leyland,  Amunderness,  and  Lonsdale  ;  the  manors  of 
Oves-walton,  Preston,  Shingleton,  Riggeby  and  Wra,  Overton,  Skirton ;  the  towns 
of  Lancaster  and  Sh^le  ;  the  royal  bailiwick  of  Blackbm-nshire,  the  office  of  master- 
forester  beyond  Ribbel ;  the  viccary  of  Wyi-esdale,  likewise  the  manors  of  Penwor- 
tham,  Totyngton,  and  Rachedale  ;  the  wapentake  of  Clyderhowe,  with  the  demesne 
lands  there  ;  the  lordship  of  Bowland,  the  \'iccary  of  Bowlaud  and  Blackburnshire  ; 
the  forest  of  Blackbm-nshire  and  the  park  of  Ightenhull,  Avith  the  appmlenances  hi 
Blackburnshu'e ;  all  in  the  county  of  Lancaster.  The  castle  and  manor  of  Dun- 
stamburgh,  with  the  manors  of  Shoplaye,  Stamford,  Bm-ton,  and  Emeldon ;  also  the 
fishing  of  Tweed,  in  the  county  of  Northumberland.  The  manor  of  Hinckley,  with 
the  bailiwick  there,  in  the  county  of  Leicester ;  the  castle  and  manor  of  Kenilworth, 


sessions. 


Counti)  ^Jalatinr  of  iLnitrastrr.  143 

will  the  pool  and  mill  there  ;  the  manors  of  Wotton,  Shrewle,  Radesle,  and  Ashtul,    chap. 

with  then-  appurtenances,  in  the  county  of  Wai-wick  ;  the  manors  of  Halton,  Ron- 1 

kore,  More,  Whitelawe,  Congleton,  Keleshole,  and  Bedestan ;  the  bailiwick  of 
Halton ;  the  town  of  Wyndenes,  serjeantry  of  Wyndes,  in  the  county  of  Chester. 
In  adcHtion  to  these  gi'eat  lordships  and  lands,  there  was  a  farther  assignment  made 
unto  the  eai-1  of  Richmond,  and  Blanch  liis  Avife,  of  the  manors  of  Coggleshul,  Cride- 
lyng,  Bailey,  Kilbom-ne,  Toresholme,  Marthesdon,  Swanyngton,  Passenham:  lilie- 
wise  certain  lands  in  Daventre  and  Hinkele,  with  the  mUls  of  Lillebom ;  also  the 
manor  of  Uggele,  in  the  county  of  Essex."* 

John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  was  born  at  Gaunt  (Ghent)  in  Flanders,  His  his- 
between  the  25th  and  31st  of  March,  1340,  from  whence  he  derived  liis  surname;  '"'^' 
and  on  the  20th  of  September,  1343,  he  was  created  earl  of  Richmond,  having 
therewith  a  gi'ant  in  tail  general  of  all  the  castles,  manors,  and  lands  belonging  to 
that  eai'ldom,  and  all  the  prerogatives  and  royalties  which  John,  late  duke  of  Britany 
and  Richmond,  enjoyed.f  In  1355  he  attended  the  king,  his  father,  on  an  expedi- 
tion into  Flanders,  and  in  1357  had  a  gi-ant  in  special  tail  of  the  castle  and  lordsliip 
of  Lydell,  in  the  county  of  Northumberland. 

Having  obtained  a  special  dispensation  from  Rome,  he  was  married  at  Reading,  His 
in  Berkshire,  to  his  cousin,  the  lady  Blanch,  second  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Henry 
Plantagenet,  duke  of  Lancaster.  In  1361  he  obtained  a  special  charter  for  divers 
privileges  to  liimself,  and  his  heirs  by  Blanch  his  wife,  namely,  return  of  writs, 
pleas  of  Withernam,^  felon's  goods,  &c.  in  all  the  lordsliips  and  lands  whereof  he 
was  then  possessed,  with  freedom  for  himself  and  his  heirs,  and  all  the  tenants  and 
residents  upon  the  lands,  and  fees  which  belonged  to  Henry,  eail  of  Lancaster,  from 
all  manner  of  tolls  of  what  kind  soever,  throughout  the  whole  kuigdom.  The  same 
year,  having  issue  by  his  wife,  and  doing  his  homage,  he  had  an  assignation  of  her 
property  in  all  the  lands  whereof  her  father  died  possessed.  And  by  virtue  of  the 
king's  license,  he  obtained  a  further  grant  from  John  bishop  of  Luicoln,  Richard  earl 
of  Ai'undel,  and  others,  to  himself,  liis  wife,  and  then-  issue,  of  the  castle  of  Boling- 
broke,  with  the  park,  knights'  fees,  and  advowsons  of  the  churches  thereto  belonging, 
together  with  other  manors  in  the  counties  of  Stafford,  Northumberland,  and  Derby. 

In   1362,  upon  the  death  of  Maud,  the  vndow  of  William,  duke  of  Bavaria,   Vastac- 

ii-fTiTiii    f^pssion  of 

mthout  issue,  he  had,  in  right  of  the  said  Blanch,  the  sister  and  hen-  ol  Maud,  all  ,veaitii 
the  possessions  appertaining  to  her  moiety  of  the  estate  of  Henry,  duke  of  Lancaster, 

*  In  the  enumeration  of  these  splendid  possessions,  the  ancient  orthography  is  preserved, 
t  Cart,  in  officina  ducatus  Lancastriee. 

t  When  a  distress  is  removed  out  of  the  county,  and  the  sheriff,  upon  a  replevin,  cannot  make 
deliverance  to  the  party  distressed. 


144  ClK  S}l6t0lJ)  Of  ti)t 

CHAP,    deceased.     Whereupon  he  was  in  parUament  declared  duke  of  Lancaster,*  m  riglit 
^^"       of  liis  wife  Blanch ;  and  the  king  girt  him  with  a  sword,  and  set  on  his  head  a  cap  of 
Created      fuT  and  a  ciixlet  of  gold,  ^vitli  pearls  therein ;  and  created  liim  duke  of  Lancaster, 
LMca°^-     with  all  the  liberties  and  regalities  of  an  earl  palatine ;  as  also  earl  of  Leicester, 
pnLtint     Lincoln,  and  Derby,  with  the  office  of  liigh  steward  of  England, 
privileges.         j^^  1366,  after  having  been  empowered  to  vest  several  of  liis  estates  in  feoffees, 
in  order  to  make  a  settlement  on  his  lady,  and  to  discharge  some  pecuniary  incum- 
brances, the  duke  of  Lancaster  joined  his  brother,  prince  Edward,  at  Bourdeaux,  on 
behalf  of  Don  Pedro,  king  of  Castile,  who,  owing  to  an  insurrection  of  his  subjects, 
fled  into  Gascony  for  aid.     On  breach  of  the  truce  in  1369,  he  was  sent  with  a  consi- 
derable force  to  give  battle  to  the  French  ;  being  retained  to  serve  the  king  for  half 
a  yeai-  with  300  men  at  arms,  500  archers,  3  bannerets,  80  knights,  and  216  esquires; 
but  owino-  to  sickness  amongst  his  soldiers,  he  did  not  venture  to  make  the  attack. 
On  his  return  from  Calais  to  England,  he  found  that  liis  wife,  the  lady  Blanch,  had 

*  CREATION  OF  JOHN  OF  GAUNT  DUKE  OF  LANCASTER, 

36  Edw.  III. 

"  Edwardus,  Dei  gratia,  rex  Aiiglie,  dominus  Hibemie  et  Aquit,'  archiepiscopis,  abbatibus, 
prioribus,  comitibus,  baronibus,  justic,'  vie  ecomitibus  prepositis,  ministris,  &  omnibus  ballivis  & 
fidelibus  suis,  salutem.  Sciatis  nos,  considerant  strenuitatem  excrescentem  &  gestum  laudabilem, 
quos  in  cariss'imo  filio  nro  Johanna  comite  Lancastrie  vigere  conspicimus,  ac  volentes  provide 
personam  suam  juxta  claritatem  generis  sui  ac  morum  suorum,  merita,  ut  per  ipsius  potentiam  & 
prudentiam  regale  sceptrum  fulceatur,  ad  exaltationem  &  detentiam  status  sui  honorare;  eidem 
comiti  nomen  &  honorem  ducis  dedimus,  et  ipsum  in  ducem  Lancastr'  prefecimus,  ac  de  eisdem 
nomine  &  honore  per  cincturam  gladii  &  appositionem  cappe  suo  capiti  investimus ;  habend'  &  tenend 
eadem  nomen  &  honorem  ducis  Lancastrie  sibi  &  heredibus  suis  masculis  de  corpore  suo  legitime 
procreatis  imperpetuum  :  Quare  voUunus  &  firmiter  precipimus,  pro  nobis  &  heredibus  iiris,  quod 
predictus  filius  iir  nomen  &  honorem  ducis  Lancastrie  habeat  &  teneat  sibi  &  heredibus  suis  masculis 
de  corpore  suo  legitime  procreatis  imperpetuum,  sicut  predictum  est.  Hiis  testibus  venerabilibiis 
prioribus : 

SIMONE  archiepiscope  Cantuar',  totius  Anglie  primatfe ; 
W.  WYNTON'  cancellar', 
S.  ELIEN'  thes'  iiris,  episcopis  ; 
RICARDO  comite  Arundell, 
ROBERTO  Suff', 
THOMA  de  Veer  Oxon'  camerario  iiro  comitibus  ; 
EDWARDO  le  Despenser 
RADULFO  de  NeviU 
JOHANNE  de  Nevill 
JOHANNE  atte  Lee,  senescallo  hospitii  iiri;  &  aliis. 

Dat'  per  manum  iiram,  in  pleno  parliamento,  apud  Westm',  decimo  tertio  die  Novembris, 
anno  regni  nri  tricesimo  sexto. 


Coutttp  |3nlatinc  of  aanrasttr.  145 

been  talven  off  by  the  great  pestilence,  and  that  she  had  been  interred  witli  great    chap. 
funeral  pomp  in  St.  Paul's  cathedral.  '■ — 

In  1370,  the  duke  of  Lancaster  was  again  engaged  in  an  expedition  into 
Gascony;  and  Peter  the  cruel,  Idng  of  Castile  and  Leon,  whom  Edward,  prince  of 
Wales,  had  invested  in  his  kingdom,  having  left  at  his  death  two  daughters,  who,  to 
avoid  the  usurper,  their  uncle,  had  taken  refuge  in  Gascony,  he  married  Constance, 
the  elder  of  the  sisters.  Soon  afterwards  he  assumed  tlie  title  of  king  of  Castile 
and  Leon,  and  supported  his  claim  by  force  of  arms,  but  without  success.  He 
impaled  also  the  arms  of  Castile  and  Leon  with  his  ducal  coat.  On  his  return  to 
England,  in  1372,  the  duke  was  empowered  to  surrender  to  the  king  liis  father  liis 
earldom  of  Richmond,  with  all  the  castles,  manors,  &c.  to  the  same  belonging,  in 
exchange  for  numerous  other  manors  in  the  counties  of  York,  Norfolk,  Suffolk, 
Huntingdon,  and  Sussex.  Soon  afterwai'ds  he  headed  two  formidable  expeditions 
against  France,  both  of  which  failed.  In  1377,  he  obtained  the  manors  of  Grenested, 
Seford,  and  Leighton,  ^nth  several  privileges  in  the  same,  and  the  castle  and  honor 
of  Tildiill.  He  had  license  also  to  give  his  lordsliips  of  Gryngeleye  and  Wlieteley 
to  Catharine  Swinford,  liis  concubine  (widow  of  Su-  Hugh  Swinford,  knight,  and 
daughter  of  Sir  Paen  Roet,  knight,  guyen  king  of  arms)  for  life. 

During  this  year  he  procured  the  gi-ant  of  a  chancery  in  liis  dukedom  of  Lan-  Grant  of 
caster,  with  all  other  royalties  pertaining  to  a  county  palatine,  to  hold  in  as  ample  a  in  the 

.  ,,..»■,.  duchy  of 

manner  as  the  earl  of  Chester  ever  enjoyed  the  same ;  with  an  obhgation  of  sending  Lancas- 

/•  'sr,  and  of 

two  knights  to  parliament  as  representatives  of  the  commonalty  oi  the  county  oi  palatine 
Lancaster,  with  two  burgesses  for  every  borough  within  the  said  county.*     He  had  for  the 

county. 

*  CHARTER  OF  DUCHY  AND  COUNTY  PALATINE. 
51  Edward  HI. 
"  Rex  omnibus,  ad  quos,  &c.  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  si  nos,  debits  consideratione  pensantes 
gestus  magnificos  cunctorum,  qui  nobis  in  guerris  nostris  laudabiliter  et  strenu^  servierunt,  ipsos 
desideramus  honoribus  attollere,  et  pro  viribus,  juxta  merita,  prEemiare;  quanto  magis  filios  nostras, 
quos,  tam  in  sapientia  quara  in  gestu  nobili,  alios  prsecellare  conspicimus,  et  qui  nobis  locum  tenerunt 
et  tenere  poterunt  potiorem,  nos  convenit  majoribus  honoribus  et  gratiis  prorogare? 

"  Considerantes  itaque  probitatem  strenuam  et  sapientiam  prsecellentem,  carissimi  filii  nostn 
Johannis  Regis  Castellee  et  Legionis,  ducis  Lancastrise,  qui  laboribus  et  expensis  semper  se  nobis 
obsequiosum  exhibuit,  pro  nobis  pluri^s,  in  necessitatibus,  intrepid^  se  guerrarum  discriminibus 
exponendo  ; 

"  Et  volentes,  eo  praetextu,  ac  desiderantes  eundem  filium  nostrum  aliquali  comodo  et  honors 
ad  praesens,  licet  non  ad  plenum,  prout  digna  merita  exposcunt,  remunerare,  ex  certi  scienti^  nostra 
et  teto  corde,  de  assensu  praelatorum  et  procerum,  in  instanti  parliamento  nostro,  apud  Westmonas- 
terium  convocato,  existentium,  concessimus  pro  nobis  et  hseredibus  nostris,  praefato  filio  nostro  quod 
ipse,  ad  totam  vitam  suam,  habeat,  infra  comitatum  Lancastriae,  cancellariam  suam,  ac  brevia  sua 
sub  sigillo  suo  pro  officio  cancellariae  deputando  consignanda,  justiciarios  suos,  tam  ad  placita 
VOL.  T.  U 


146 


€i)t  InstOlT)  of  t\)t 


CHAP. 
IV. 


Advocates 
the  cause 
of  Wick- 
Jirte,  the 
reformer. 


license  also  to  coin  money  for  the  space  of  two  years,  from  the  12th  of  June,  in  the 
city  of  Bayonne,  or  the  castle  of  Guyssen,  or  any  other  place  within  the  seneschalcy 
of  Landere,  of  gold,  silver,  or  any  other  metal  whatsoever. 

In  tliis  year  John  WicklifTe,  the  most  eminent  of  all  the  LoUards  of  that  time — the 
"  morning  star  of  the  Reformation,"  as  he  lias  heen  beautifully  called — being  convened 
before  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  bishop  of  London,  John  duke  of  Lancaster, 
and  lord  Percy,  at  the  Black  Friars,  in  London,  the  duke  had  the  magnanmiity  to 
speak  in  favour  of  WicklifTe,  and  to  make  some  strong  observations  upon  the 
bishops.  So  unusual  a  departure  fi-om  tlie  orthodoxy  of  the  day  gave  gi-eat  offence 
to  the  episcopal  bench,  and  produced  so  much  discontent  among  the  citizens,  that 
they  rose  m  tumult,  and  detennined  to  murder  the  duke,  and  to  set  fire  to  his  house 
in  the  Savoy.  Tliis  tumult,  the  bishop  of  London,  mucli  to  his  honour,  succeeded 
in  quelling ;  but  the  duke  of  Lancaster  was  obliged  to  seek  liis  safety  in  fhght,  and 
it  was  not  tiU  after  the  death  of  liis  father  that  a  reconciliation  was  effected  between 
biin  and  the  citizens  of  London,  under  the  mediation  of  Richard  II. 

After  the  death  of  Edwai'd  III.  consultation  being  had  about  the  solemnity  of 
the  coronation  of  kmg  Richard  II.  Jolm,  king  of  Castile  and  Leon,  duke  of  Lancas- 


coronae  quam  ad  qusecumque  alia  placita  communem  legem  tangentia  tenendum,  ac  cognitiones 
eorundem,  et  quascumque  execuliones,  per  brevia  sua  et  ministros  suos  ibidem,  faciendum,  et  quse- 
cumque alia  libertates  et  jura  regalia,  ad  comitem  palatinum  pertinentia,  adeo  integre  et  libere  sicut 
comes  Cestrise,  infra  eundem  comitatum  Cestrias,  dignoscitur  obtinere  : 

"  Decimis,  quintisdecimis,  et  aliis  quotis  et  subsidiis,  nobis  et  hseredibus  nostris,  per  communi- 
tatem  regni  nostri,  et  decimis  et  aliis  quotis,  per  clerum  ejusdem  regni,  nobis  concessis,  et  imposte- 
rfim  concedendis,  aut  eidem  clero  per  sedem  apostolicam  impositis  et  imponendis  ;  ac  pardonationi- 
bus  vitas  et  membrorum,  in  casu  quo  aliquis,  ejusdem  comitates,  aut  alius,  in  eodem  comitatu,  pro 
aliquo  delicto,  vitam  vel  membrum  amittere  debeat ;  ac  etiam  superioritate  et  potestate  corrigendi 
ea,  quae  in  curiis  ejusdem  filii  nostri  ibidem  erronicfe  facta  fuerint ;  vel  si  idem  filius  noster,  aut 
ministri  sui,  in  justitia,  in  curiis  ejusdem  filii  nostri,  inibi  facienda  defecerint,  semper  salvis  : 

"  Et  est  intentionis  nostree  quod  idem  filius  noster,  ad  mandata  nostra  et  hseredum  nostrorum,  ad 
parliamenta  et  concilia  nostra  duos  milites,  pro  comunitate  comitates  prsedicti,  et  duos  burgenses  de 
quolibet  burgo  ejusdem  comitatils,  ad  tractandum,  cum  aliis  de  communitate  dicti  regni  nostri,  ad 
eadem  parliamenta  et  concilia  venientibus,  de  negotiis  dicti  regni  nostri,  in  eisdem  parliamentis  et 
conciliis  exponendis,  mittere  teneatur. 

"  Et  quod  idem  filius  noster  certos  homines,  fideles  et  sufficientes,  ad  hujusmodi  decimas  et 
quintasdecimas,  subsidia,  et  alia  quota,  quotiens  ea  nobis  seu  hseredibus  nostris  in  parliamentis  seu 
conciliis  concedi  contigerit,  coUigenda  assignet ;  ita  quod  nobis  et  haeredibus  nostris  de  sic  concessis 
respondeatur  per  eosdem.     In  cujus,  &c. 

"  Teste  Rege,  apud  Westm',  xxviii.  die  Februarii. 

"  Per  ipsum  Regem  de  assensu  totius  parliamenti." 

Rymeu,  torn.  iii.  p.  iii.  p.  1073.  Ed.  recent. 


Count!)  ^3alatinr  of  ?Xanrn6tri%  147 

ter,  appeared  before  the  king  in  council,  and  claimed,  as  earl  of  Leicester,  the  office    chap. 


IV. 


of  seneschal  of  England ;  as  duke  of  Lancaster,  the  right  of  bearing  tlie  principal 
sword,  called  the  curtana,  on  the  day  of  the  coronation ;  and  as  earl  of  Lincoln,  to  I'riviieges 
cai've  for  the  king  sitting  at  table  on  the  day  of  his  coronation.     Diligent  examina-  <iuke  of 
tion  being  made  before  certain  of  the  king's  council,  concerning  these  demands,  it  at  the  c" 
sufficiently  appeared  that  the  duke,  as  holding  by  the  law  of  England,   after  the 
death  of  Blanch  his  wife,  had   established  his  claim  ;  and  it  was   agreed,  that  he 
should  exercise  the  offices  by  himself,  or  proper  deputies,  and  receive  the  fees  there- 
unto belonging.     Accordingly,  on  the  Thursday  before  the  coronation,  wliich  was  on 
the  Thursday  following,  by  order  of  the  king,  he  sat  judicially,  and  kept  liis  court  in 
the  Whitehall  of  the  king's  palace  at  Westminster,  and  there  received  the  bills  and 
petitions  of  all  such  of  the  nobility  and  others  as,  by  reason  of  then-  tenure,  or  other- 
wise, claimed  to  do  service  at  the  new  king's  coronation,  and  to  receive  the  accus- 
tomed fees  and  allowances.*     He  was  also,  with  Edmund  earl  of  Cambridge,  and 
certain  bishops,  appointed  one  of  the  protectors  of  the  king  during  his  minority. 

In  2d  Richai'd  II.   the  duke  obtained  authority  to  establish  a  trea.sury,  with  Grant  of  a 
barons  and  otlier  proper  officers,  within  his  duchy  of  Lancaster.-}"  irthrdu- 


"  A  portrait  of  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  in  this  capacity,  is  preserved  in  the  Cottonian 
MSS.  in  the  British  Museum,  a  copy  of  which  is  exhibited  in  the  initial  letter  to  this  chapter  of  our 
history. 

t  CONFIRMATION  AND  AMPLIFICATION  OF  CHARTER, 

2  Rig.  II. 

R.  II.  Inspeximus  cartam  &  E.  III.  p  quern  dedisset  &  concessisset  canssimo  Avunculo  nostro 
JoKi  nomen  &  honorem  ducis  Lane'  &  ipsum  in  duce  Lane'  pfecisset  &  de  eisdem  nomine  &  honore  p 
cinctura  gladii  &  appositione  cappe  suo  capiti  investivisset  fiend'  ead'  nomen  &  honor'  Ducis  Lane' 
sibi  &  heredibus  suis  masculis  de  corpore  suo  legitime  procreatis  nu|)  ips'. 

R.  II.  concessit  pro  se  &  heredibus  suis  pfato  Avunculo  quod  ipse  ad  totam  vitam  suam  haberet 
infra  comit'  Lane'  cancellarium  suii  ad  brevia  sua  sub  sigillo  suo  pro  offic'  cancell'  deputand'  consig- 
nand'  justiciar'  tam  ad  placita  corone  quam  ad  quecunque  alia  placita  coinunem  legem  tangentia 
tenendum  ac  cognitiones  eorum  &  quascunq  alias  libertates  &  jura  regalia  ad  comit'  palatin'  ptinent' 
adeo  libere  &  integre  sicut  comes  Cestriae  infra  eundem comit'  Cestrie  dignoscitur  ptinere. 

Decimis  quintisdecimis  &  aliis  quotis  subsidiis  eidem  Ave  nostro  &  heredibus  suis  per  coitatem  regni 
sui  &  decimis  &  ahis  quoties  p  clerum  ejusdem  regni  tunc  concessis  &  extunc  concedend'  aut  eidem 
clero  p  sede  Apostolica  imposit'  &  imponend'  ac  pardonationibus  vite  &  membrorii  in  casu  quo  aliquis 
ejusdem  comit'  aut  aliquis  in  eodm  comit'  pro  aliquo  delicto  vitam  vel  membrii  amittere  deberet  ac 
etiam  superioritatem  &  potestatem  corrigendi  ea  que  in  curiis  ejusdem  Avunculi  nri  ifim  erronice  facta 
fuerint  vel  idem  Avunculus  noster  aut  ministri  sui  in  justicia  in  curia  sua  faciend'  defecerint  semper 
salvis. 

Et  quod  Avuncultis  habet  duos  milites  pro  comitatu  &  duos  burgenses  de  quolibet  burgo  in 
parliamento  nostro. 

V  2 


chy  of 
Lancaster. 


148  Ci)e  ?^iEittirp  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  In  this  early  period  of  our  history,  personal  slavery  prevailed  to  a  greater  extent 

'       in  England  than  in  any  other  country  of  Europe.*     The  harons  had  sti'uggled  for 


liberty,  and  had,  to  a  certain  extent,  secured  its  possession  from  the  crown  by  the 

deed  of  Magna  Chai'ta,  extorted  from  Idng  Jolm,  and  confirmed  by  Henry  III.  and 

Edward  I.      But  this  liberty  was   almost  exclusively  enjoyed  by  the  privileged 

Slavery  of  classes,  who  tlicmselves  exercised  despotic  power  over  theii"  vassals.     The  rights  of 

lish.  those  who  tilled  the  gi'ound,  and  perfonned  the  other  duties  of  hiunble  citizens,  were 

imperfectly  understood,  and  subject  to  daUy  violation ;  and  so  unequal  was   the 

pressure  of  taxation,  that  the  rich  and  the  poor  were  confounded  together  in  one 

Poll-tax.    indiscriminate  mass,  and  called  upon  to  pay  a  poll-tax,  amounting  to  tlu'ee  groats  on 

every  iudivddual  throughout  the  land,  male  and  female,  above  the  age  of  fifteen 

"^^^Jy-    years.      The  collection  of  tliis  unequal  and  odious  impost  produced  a  rebellion, 

surrec-       excited  by  Jolm  Ball,  a  popular  preacher,  and  led  by  Wat  Tyler,  Jack  Straw,  and 

Duke  of     others.     The  duke  of  Lancaster,  one  of  the  king's  ministers,  and  who  was  supposed 

to'Thouse  ^*^  ^^  ^^^^  principal  adviser,  became  extremely  unpopular ;  and  the  insurgents,  liaA^ing 

destroyed,  ijrokeu  iiito  the  city  of  Loudon,  burnt  down  the  duke  of  Lancaster's  palace   of  the 

"  Et  quod  idem  Avunculus  noster  certos  homines  fideles  &  sufficientes  ad  hujusmodi  decimas  & 
quintasdecimas  subsidia  &  alia  quota  quotiens  ea  eidem  Avo  nostro  seu  heredibus  nostris  in  parlia- 
ment' &  consiliis  concedi  contigerit  assignaiet.  Ita  quod  Avo  nro  de  sic  concessis  concederetur  p 
eosdem.  Et  quod  habeat  justiciarios  itinerantes  &  ad  placita  foresta  infra  comit'  pd'.  Et  ulterius 
de  gratia  nostra  special!  cocesserimus  pro  nobis  &  heredibus  nostris  quod  ipse  scaccarium  suum  in 
dicto  comitat'  &  barones  &  alios  ministros  in  eodem  scaccario  necessarios  necnon  jurisdiccoes  execu- 
tiones  &  consuetudines  quascunque  in  scaccario  Anglie  rationabiliter  usitatis  habeat  in  eodem 
scaccario  sii  &  eis  ibidem  gaudeat  &  rationabiliter  utatur.  Et  voluerimus  quod  omnia  verba  generalia 
in  concessione  Avunculi  nostri  pdicta  contenta  in  suo  robore  gmaneant  durante  vita  Avunculi  nostri 
supradict'  declarat'  concessiones  pdict'  non  obstantibus  prout  in  cartis  &  literis  pdictis  plenius  conti- 
nentur.  Quare  volumus  &  firmiter  pcipimus  quod  idem  Avunculus  noster  &  heredes  sui  pdict' 
habeant  &  teneant  omnia  &  singula  libertates  &  de  constituend'  justic'  ad  placit'  forest'  exceptis 
placitis  ubi  rex  pars  est  ac  decimis  &  quintisdecimis  &  aliis  quot  &  quoties  subsidiis  nobis  &  heredibus 
nostris  &  aliis  quotis  g  clerum  ejusdem  regni  concessi  ac  pardonacionibus  vit'  &  membr'  in  casu  quo 
aliquis  ejusdem  comitat'  aut  alius  in  eodem  comitat'  p  delicto  aliquo  vitam  vel  membrum  amittere 
debeat  &  privilegia  scaccarii  sui  &  jura  regalia  &  alia  supradicta  una  cum  dictis  nomine  &  honore 
ducis  Lancastrie  exceptis  preexceptis  eidem  modo  ac  adeo  libere  &  Integra  sicut  idem  Avunculus 
noster  ea  ad  ipsura  habet  &  tenet  in  perpetuum  sicut  pdictum  est.  His  testibus, 
"  Abps.  Cant'  &  York, 

"  Bps.  London  &  Winton'  (the  Chancellor,)  Edw.  Ebor',  Thomas  Gloucester, 
"  Ducibus  Avunculis  nostris,  Comssis,  Ric'  Arundell,  Willm  Sarum,  Hen'  Northume', 
comitibus,  Ric'  le  Scrope,  Johannis  Devereux,  senescall'  hospitii  nostri  &  aliis. 
Dat'  Westmonast'  p  manus  nostros  xvj'  Feb'  ano  regni  xiij." 

*  Froissart,  liv.  ii.  chap.  74. 


CoimtP  ^3alntint  of  aanrnstm  149 

Savoy,  and  cut  off  the  heads  of  a  niunher  of  gentlemen  who  attempted  to  resist  their    chap. 
lawless  outrages ;  amongst  whom  was  Simon  Sudhury,  the  primate  and  chancellor  of  " 

England,  and  Sii-  Robert  Hales,  the  liigh-treasurer.  Tliis  insuiTection  was  sup- 
pressed by  the  determined  conduct  of  Walworth,  the  lord  mayor  of  London,  who 
resented  the  insolence  shown  towards  the  long  on  the  part  of  Wat  Tyler,  by  a  violent 
blow  with  his  sword,  which  brought  liim  to  the  gi-ound,  where  he  was  soon  despatched 
by  others  of  the  king's  attendants.  Richard,  taking  advantage  of  the  temporary 
panic,  contrived  to  conciliate  the  people,  and,  by  liis  wisdom  and  moderation,  pre- 
vailed upon  them  to  (Usperse.  During  this  insurrection,  the  duke  of  Lancaster  was  Treatmeot 
in  Scotland,  negociating  a  peace,  in  winch  he  happUy  succeeded.  On  this  occasion,  dukrin 
WilUam  earl  of  Douglas,  inth  a  degree  of  generous  forbeai-ance  which  seldom  fails  ^'"""'■""'' 
to  obtain  its  reward,  told  the  duke  that  he  had  been  acquainted  from  the  first  with  the 
distracted  state  of  England,  but  was  so  far  from  wisliing  to  take  advantao-e  of  the 
critical  situation  in  which  the  duke  and  liis  country  Avere  placed,  either  for  carrvino- 
on  the  war,  or  extorting  more  favourable  terms  of  peace,  that  he  might  remain  in 
Scotland  as  their  guest,  until  the  insurrection  should  cease ;  or,  if  he  chose  to  return, 
he  might  have  an  escort  of  five  hundred  horsemen.  The  duke  expressed  his 
acknowledgments,  but  declined  the  offer.  On  his  return  to  England,  beino- 
excluded  from  Berwick  by  the  governor,  he  accepted  the  earl's  pledge  of  honour, 
and  returned  into  Scotland,  where  he  remained  until  the  popular  tumult  had 
subsided. 

In  1384  the  duke  of  Lancaster  was  despatched,  yni\\  a  powerful  miUtary  and  Hi; 
naval  force,  to  Scotland,  to  avenge  the  injuries  which  the  English  had  received, 
and  to  prevent  a  repetition  of  them,  by  some  memorable  act  of  chastisement.  The 
duke  advanced  to  E(Unbui-gh,  and  at  the  same  time  the  fleet  was  despatched  to 
ravage  the  coast  of  Fife.  His  sohhers  strongly  urged  him  to  burn  the  capital,  but 
the  duke,  cherisliing  a  gi-ateful  remembrance  of  the  hospitality  which  he  had  expe- 
rienced tlu-ee  years  before,  preserved  the  city  from  destruction.*  So  extensive  was 
the  popular  indignation  against  the  measures  of  the  king  and  his  ministers  during 
the  rebellion  of  Tyler  and  Straw,  that  the  lady  Constance,  wife  of  the  duke  of 
Lancaster,  hastened  from  Leicester  to  the  castle  at  Pontefract,  for  refuge,  expecting 
security  there ;  but  when  she  arrived  at  Pontefract,  her  otvii  servants  durst  not 
pennit  her  to  enter  the  place,  and  she  was  constrained  to  go  seven  miles  by  torch- 
light to  Knaresborough  castle,  where  she  contmued  till  the  violence  of  the  storm 
subsided,  and  till  the  duke  returned  from  Scotland. 

A  little  before  Easter  in  1.384,  John  Latimer,  an  Irish  Carmelite  friar,  charged  The  duke 
the  duke  of  Lancaster  with   an  intention  to   destroy  the  king,   and  to  usurp  the  with^high 

treason. 
*  Buchanan  :  Rerum  Scotiarum  Historia,  lib.  ix.  cap.  45. 


iis  re 
turn. 


150  €i)t  ??is!toii)  of  tfte 

CHAP,    crown;  but  on  being  summoned   to  meet  tliis   accusation,   the   duke   completely 
^^'       established  his  loyalty.     The  king,  being  under  the  guidance  of  evil  coimsellors. 


conspired  the  death  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster ;  but  private  information  ha\ing  reached 
The  fo-  liim  from  one  of  those  that  were  in  the  j^lot,  he  retired  to  his  castle  at  Pontefract, 
ware.  and  througli  the  mecUation  of  the  princess  Joan,  mother  of  the  king,  a  perfect  recon- 
ciliation took  place.  The  next  year  he  desii-ed  leave  of  the  king,  and  also  of  the 
lords  and  coimnons  in  parliament,  to  go  into  Spain  for  the  recovery  of  liis  %vife's 
inheritance ;  and  ordained  liis  son,  Henry  eai'l  of  Derby,  his  lieutenant  of  all  he  had 
in  England,  placing  around  liim  a  safe  and  judicious  council.  When  he  took  his 
leave,  the  Idng  presented  him  Avith  a  coronet  of  gold,  and  the  queen  gave  another  to 
his  wife  ;  orders  were  also  given  that  he  should  be  addi'essed  by  the  title  of  "  King 
of  Spain."  His  train  consisted  of  no  less  than  a  thousand  spears  of  knights  and 
esquii'es,  two  thousand  archers,  and  a  thousand  tall  yeomen.  Ha™ig  landed  in 
Britany,  near  the  castle  of  Brest,  he  was  resisted  by  two  of  the  forts,  m  the  assault 
of  which  he  lost  many  of  his  men ;  but  he  ultimately  triumphed,  and,  having  sailed 
with  his  fleet  to  the  Garonne,  he  marched  to  the  Spanish  frontier,  and  carried  the 
town  of  Bayonne.  After  tliis,  the  king  of  Castile  sent  to  him  to  treat  of  a  marriage 
between  his  daughter  and  the  duke's  son ;  and  through  the  mediation  of  the  duke  of 
Berry,  a  truce  Avas  concluded.  In  1388  the  duke  was  appointed  lieutenant  of 
Aquitaine. 
Claims  to  The  thsputes  wliich  had  so  long  existed  in  Spain,  concerning  the  right  to  the 

of  Spain,  kingdom  of  Castile  and  Leon,  Avere  at  length  amicably  settled  by  an  agi'eement  that 
Henry,  eldest  son  of  John,  king  of  Castile  and  Leon,  and  of  Portugal,  should  marry 
Catheidne,  the  duke's  only  daughter,  by  his  vnie  Constance ;  and  that  the  duke 
should  quit  liis  claim  to  Spain,  on  concHtion  of  receiving,  for  liis  owti  and  daughter's 
life,  a  yearly  payment  of  16,000  marks,  and,  in  case  his  wife  should  survive  him,  that 
she  should  have  annually  12,000  marks.  The  duke  returned  to  England  in  Novem- 
ber, 1389,  with  much  treasure;  for,  it  is  said,  that  he  had  forty-seven  mules  laden 
with  chests  of  gold  for  liis  second  payment ;  and  several  gi'eat  men  of  Spain,  as 
guarantees  for  his  future  annuity.  On  his  return  he  relieved  Brest,  in  Britany, 
then  besieged  by  the  French.  In  the  folloAving  year  he  Avas  created  duke 
of  Aquitaine  by  the  consent  of  the  lords  and  commons  of  England,  on  wliich 
occasion  a  splencHd  cap  Avas  put  upon  liis  head,  and  a  rod  of  gold  Avas  given 
to  him,  to  hold  his  neAV  dignity  of  the  lung  of  England,  as  Idng  of  the  realm  of 
France. 
A.D.1390.  lu  13  Richard  II.  he  obtained  a  further  confirmation  of  the  privileges  of  his 
duchy  of  Lancaster,  in  the  appointment  of  a  chancery  court  there,  AA-ith  the  poAver 
to  issue  Aviits  under  his  ow^l  seal;     likcAvise  an  exchequer,  AA-ith  bai-ons  and  other 


€ouuti)  |3alntinr  of  Sanrasitn-.  151 

necessary  officers,    and   power   to   make  justices   itinerant   for   the  pleas   of  tlie    chah 
forest,  &c  *  "' 


His  attachment  to  his  favourite  Catharine  Swinford  remained  unaltered,  not-  'f'"''""'' 

'  duchy 

withstancUng  the  disparity  of  their  stations;  and,  after  the  death  of  his  second  wife,  P^-^'i^ges. 
Constance,  he  married  her  at  Lincoln,  on  the  octaves  of  the  Epiphany,  at  which,  Catiiarine 
say  the  Chi-oniclers,  there  was  no  little  admiration  in  regard  of  her  low  birth.  "  This  ^"""'^""'■ 
woman  was  born  in  Henault,  daughter  of  a  knight  of  that  country.  She  was  brought  A.D.1395. 
up  in  her  youth  in  the  duke  of  Lancaster's  house,  and  attended  on  liis  first  wife,  the 
duchess  Blanche  of  Lancaster ;  and  in  the  days  of  his  second  wife,  the  duchess  Con- 
stance, he  kept  the  aforesaid  Catharine  as  his  concubine,  who  afterwards  was 
married  to  a  knight  of  England,  named  Swinford,  that  was  now  deceased.  Before 
she  was  mamed,  the  duke  had  by  her  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  One 
of  the  sons  was  named  Thomas  de  Beaufort ;  and  the  other,  Henrie,  who  was  brought 
up  at  Aken,  in  Almaine,  proved  a  good  lawyer,  and  was  afterwards  bishop  of  Win- 
chester. For  the  love  that  the  duke  had  to  these  liis  chUcbeu,  he  married  their 
mother,  the  said  Catharine  Smnford,  being  now  a  widow,  whereof  men  marvelled 
much,  considering  her  mean  estate  was  far  unmeet  to  match  with  his  liiglmess,  and 
nothing  comparable  in  honour  to  his  other  two  former  wives.  And  indeed,  the  great 
laches  of  England,  as  the  duchess  of  Gloucester,  the  countesses  of  Derby,  Arundel, 
and  others,  descended  of  the  blood  royal,  gi-eatly  disdained  that  she  shoidd  be  matched 
with  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  Ijy  that  means  be  accounted  second  person  in  the 
realm,  and  prefen-ed  in  room  before  them,  and  thereof  they  said  that  they  would 
not  come  in  any  place  where  she  slioidd  be  present,  for  it  should  be  a  shame  to  tliem 
that  a  woman  of  so  base  a  birth,  and  concubine  to  the  duke  in  his  other  wife's  days, 
should  go  and  have  place  before  them.  The  duke  of  Gloucester  also,  being  a  man  of 
an  liigh  mind  and  a  stout  stomach,  misliked  liis  brother  matching  so  meanly;  but 
the  didve  of  York  bare  it  well  enough;  and  verily  the  lady  herself  was  a  Avoman  of 
such  bringing  up  and  honourable  demeanour,  that  envy  could  not  in  the  end  but  give 
place  to  well  deserving."!  Three  years  after  his  marriage,  in  a  parliament  convened 
at  London,  he  procured  an  act  for  legitiinatizing  the  chilcb-en  whom  he  had  by 

*  FURTHER  DUCHY  PRIVILEGES. 
13  Ric.  II. 
"  Rex,   de  assensu   parliament!,  concessit  prefato  avunculo  suo  Johanni  duci  Lancastr',  quod 
ipse  &  heiedes  sui  masculi  de  corpore  suo  procreati  habeant  infra  com'   Lancastr'  cancellariam 
suam,  &c.  &  quecunque  alia  libertates  &  jura  regalia  ad  com'  palatinum  pertin',  &  seem  suum,  &c. 
lit  in  annis  precedentibus,  sicut  ea  ad  presens  habuit,  pro  termino  vite  sue. 
•) 

t  Holinshed,  p.  485. 


152  CJk  W^tov^  of  tftf 

CHAP.    Catharine  Swinford;  and  in  another  parliament,  held  in  Septemher  in  the  same  year, 
"       called  the  great  pai-liament,  the  earl  of  Arundel  was,  by  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  who 
sat  that  day  as  high  steward,  condemned  of  treason,  and  beheaded  on  Tower-hill. 
During  this  parliament  the  earl  of  Derby  Avas  created  duke  of  Hereford. 

Soon  after  the  duke  of  Lancaster  attended  king  Richai-d  into  France,  being  wth 
liim  at  Guynes,  upon  the  meeting  then  had  with  the  king  of  that  realm,  when 
peace  was  made  by  Richard  IL  maiTying  Isabel,  daughter  of  the  king  of  France, 
then  only  eight  years  old.  In  the  same  year,  the  duke  of  Lancaster  had  a  renewal 
and  amplification  of  the  privileges  of  his  duchy  of  Lancaster.*  He  also  obtained 
the  hunch-eds  of  Southgi'enhowe  and  Laundishe,  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  which  had 
come  into  the  king's  hands  by  the  attainder  of  the  earl  of  Arundel.  In  1398,  after 
obtaining  from  the  king  an  ample  renunciation  of  all  claim  on  ajiy  part  of  his  inherit- 
ance, with  a  confirmation  of  the  dower  of  the  castles  of  Knaresbrough  and  TickhiU 
to  Catharine  liis  Avife,  and  a  settlement  of  the  manor  of  Bradford  and  Ahnondbury 
on  his  sou  John  Beaufort,  marquis  of  Dorset,  he  was  constituted  heutenant  in  the 
marches  toward  Scotland,  from  the  beginning  of  the  twenty-eight  years'  truce 
between  that  country  and  England.  In  October,  Henry  of  Bolingbroke,  the  duke's 
son,  received  sente'nce  of  banishment ;  and  fi'om  that  period,  tliis  disgi'ace  produced 
the  most  pimgent  soitow  in  the  mind  of  his  venerable  father,  who  was  soon  afterwards 
seized  Avith  a  fatal  illness,  and  died.  His  death  was  much  lamented  by  his  friends; 
but  neither  the  king  nor  the  people  sympathized  in  then'  sorrow.  He  was  inteiTcd 
with  great  funeral  pomp  near  the  body  of  Blanch,  his  fii-st  wife,  for  whom,  and  for 

*  CONFIRMATION  OF  DUCHY  PRIVILEGES, 

20  Ric.  II. 

"  Exemplificatio  &  confirmatio  ampla  cartarum  precedentium,  sicut  in  anno  primo.  Et 
rex,  volens  eidem  duci  gratiam  facere  iiberiorem,  concessit  prefato  duci  quod  de  cetero  predictis 
concessionibus,  libertatibus,  &c.  plene  gaudeat,  &c.  licet  ipse  aliquibus  earum  hactenus  usus  non 
fueiit.  Et  ulterius,  pro  majori  securitate  ipsius  ducis,  rex  declaravit  &  concessit  prefato  duci,  quod 
ipse  ad  totam  vitam  habeat  omnes  fines  pro  transgr',  &c.  pro  licentia  concordandi,  &  omnes  exitus  & 
forisfactos  de  omnibus  hominibus  &  tenentibus  &  residentibus  in  terris  &  feodis  suis;  &  quascunque 
forisfactur',  annum,  diem,  &  vastum,  in  quibuscunque  curiis  regis,  &c.  &  quod  per  manus  minis- 
trorum  suorum  possit  levare  fines  &  amerciamenta  predict'.  Et  quod  habeat  in  terris  &  feodis  pre- 
dictis assisam  panis,  vini,  &  cervisie,  &c.  &  aliorum  ad  officium  clerici  mercati  pertin'  &  fines,  &c. 
inde  provenientia,  ita  quod  clericus  mercati  regis  non  ingrediatur.  Et  quod  habeat  catalla  felonum 
&  fugitivorum.  Et  quod  habeat  retorna  omnium  brevium,  summonitionum,  preceptorum  regis,  &c.  & 
executionem  eorundem,  ita  quod  nuUus  minister  regis  ingrediatur.  Et  quod  si  contigerit  ministros 
dicti  ducis  in  curiis  regis  propter  negligentia  amerciari,  &c.  hujusmodi  fines  &  amerciamenti  sint  pre- 
fati  ducis.  Et  quod  habeat  catalla  vocat'  wayfe  &  streye,  deodand',  thesaurum  inventum,  &  catalla 
vocat'  manuopera,"  &c. 


The 

duke's 

death 


Countp  llalatine  of  XanrnsfUr,  153 

himself,  he  had  erected,  soon  after  her  decease,  a  sumptuous  monument,  surmounted    chap. 
with  the  ducal  arms,  and  with  the  folio winj?  inscription  on  a  pensile  tablet: — 


IV. 


"  Hic  IN  Domino  obdormivit, 
JOANNES     GANDAVENSIS, 

Vulgo  de  Gaunt,  a  Gandavo  Flandriae  urbe,  loco  natali,  ita  denominatus; 

Edwardi  Tertii  regis  Anglise  filius  ; 

a  patre  comitis  Richmondise  titulo  ordinatus. 

Tres  sibi  uxores  in  matrimonio  duxit ; 

primam  Blancheam,  filiam  &  hseredem  Henrici  ducis  Lancastriee, 

per  quam  amplissimam  adiit  hereditatem. 

Nee  sohim  dux  Lancastrie,  sed  etiam  Leicestria,  Lincolniee,  &  Derbeise  comes  effectus ; 

^  cujus  sobole  imperatores,  reges,  piincipes,  &  proceres,  propagati  sunt  plurimi. 

Alteram  habuit  uxorem  Constantiam  (quae  hic  contumulatur),  filiam  &  hseredem  Petri  regis  Castilise 

&  Legionis;  cujus  jure  optimo  titulo  regis  Castilise  &  Legionis  usus  est. 

Hsec  unicam  illi  peperit  filiam  Catharinam,  ex  qua  ab  Henrico  reges  Hispaniae  sunt  propagati. 

Tertiam  vero  uxorem  Catharinam,  ex  equestri  familia,  &  eximia  pulchritudine  fceminam  ; 

ex  qua  numerosam  suscepit  prolem,  unde  genus  ex  matre  duxit   Henricus  Septimus,  rex  Angliae 

prudentissimus ; 

cujus  felicissimo  conjugio  cum  Elizabetha  Edwardi  quarti  regis  filia  e  stirpe  Eboracensi,  regise  illiae 

Lancastriensium  &  Eboracensium  familise  ad  exoptatissimam  Anglise  pacem  coaluerunt. 

Illustrissimus  hic  princeps  Johannes,  cognomento  Plantagenet, 

rex  Castilise  &  Legionis,  dux  Lancastrise,  comes  Richmondise,  Leicestrise,  Lincolniee,  &  Derbeise, 

locum  tenens  Aquitaniee,  magnus  seneschallus  Angliae, 

Obiit  anno  XXIL  regni  regis  Ricardi  Secundi, 

annoque  Domini  MCCCXCIX." 


In  "  An  ancient  and  large   [MS.]   Chronicle  in  the  English  Tongue,  from  the  Death  of 
beginning  of  the   Raigne  of  King  Edward  I.  continued  to  the  9"  yeare  of  King  Gaunt. 
Henry  VI."  preserved  in  the  British  Museum,*  the  death  and  interment  of  John  of 
Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  is  thus  recorded : — 

"  In  the  20th  of  Rich*  II,  a  parliament  was  held  at  Westminster,  which  was 
"  clepid  the  gpete  plement,"  and  at  which  so  many  noblemen  attended  ^ith  theii' 
armed  retainers,  as  to  fill  the  town  and  neighbourhood. — "  And  all  pes  gpete 
nombpe  and  multytude  of  this  pepil  come  ynne  to  London  in  one  day,  that  eury 
stpete  and  eiiy  lane  in  London,  in  all  pe  subbarbes  wepen  full  of  hem,  logged  and  so 
forth  X  or  xj  myles  euy  way  about  London. 

"  And  yn  this  same  zere  deid  John  of  Gaunte,  the  kynges  uncle,  and  duke  of  20  r.  ii. 
Lancastpe,   in  the   Byshopes  ynne  of  Ely  in   Holborne,  and  was  bpought  from 

•  Harl.  Coll.  cod.  266.  fo.  107. 
VOL.  I.  X 


154  €t)t  SiStoi-p  of  t\)t 

CHAP,  thennes  into  London,  to  Seint  Paulys,  pe'  the  kynge  made  hys  terment  well  and 
^^'  wortliely,  w'  all  liis  lordes  and  coues  to  reuerens  and  worship  of  the  hye  lynage  and 
berthe  that  he  come  of,  and  for  the  hye  and  gpete  and  peuerent  estate  that  he  all  way 
aforne  hadde  and  ben  ynne,  and  ys  beryed  pe'  yn  the  chupche  of  Seint  Paulys  in 
London,  be  sydes  Dame  Blaunche  liis  wyfe,  that  was  doujter  and  heire  to  the  goode 
Henry  that  was  duke  of  Lancastpe." 

The  bequests  of  John,  duke  of  Lancaster,  were  numerous  and  munificent;  but 
the  largest  portion  of  his  estates  descended  to  his  only  surviving  son  and  heir  by 
Blanch  of  Lancaster.  Throughout  his  life,  the  duke  of  Lancaster  surpassed  all  the  great 
men  of  liis  age  in  power  and  fortune;  but  he  was  not  so  universally  respected  as  liis 
Henry  of  brother,  the  Black  Prince,  the  good  duke  of  Lancaster,  or  Ids  eldest  son,  Henry  of 
brokef  Bolingbroko,  eai'l  of  Derby.  Some  defects  in  the  moral  character  of  John  of  Gaunt, 
his  haughty  carnage  towai-ds  inferiors,  and  his  public  support  of  Wickliffe,  the 
refonner,  added  to  his  want  of  success  in  arms,  contributed  to  lower  bun  in  the 
pubhc  estimation,  though  liis  readiness  on  all  occasions  to  apply  his  ample  fortune 
in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties,  and  liis  zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  country,  served 
to  rank  liim  amongst  the  most  illustrious  of  her  benefactors. 

The  ducal  famUy  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  had,  by  its  man-iage  alliances, 
become  connected  with  many  of  the  most  powerful  barons  of  the  kingdom,  as  will 
appear  from  the  subjoined  pedigrees,  and  Henry  of  BoHngbroke,  the  representative 
of  this  house  after  the  death  of  his  father,  John  of  Gaunt,  impelled  partly  by  his 
wi'ongs,  but  principally  by  his  ambition,  was  about  to  wrest  the  sceptre  from  the 
feeble  hands  of  liis  royal  cousin,  and  to  ascend  the  throne  of  England  almost  Avithout 
a  sti-uggle.  By  tliis  act  of  usui-pation  the  seed  was  sown  for  the  long  and  sangui- 
nary intestine  wars  between  the  rival  houses  of  Lancaster  and  York,  wliich  served 
for  so  many  years  to  deluge  the  country  with  blood. 


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rH\i'. 

IV. 


These  Descents  and  Alliances  of  the  noble  House  of  Lancaster,  derived  from  the 
most  correct  sources,  are  confirmed  by  tlie  indubitable  evidence  of  tlie  best 
historians,  and  the  heraldic  illustrations  are  amongst  the  earliest  efforts  in  tliis 
country,  of  men  learned  in  "  the  Antient  usage  of  Honour  commonly  called 
Arms,"  of  which  our  distinguished  Herald,  Sir  William  Dugdale,  Garter 
Principal  King  of  Arms,  the  worthy  scion  of  a  Lancastrian  stock,  has  said  : — 

"  That  these  Ensigns  of  Honour,  as  are  commonly  call'd  Arms,  which  of  later 
times  have  been  cliiefly  used  for  distinction  of  families,  had  their  original  from  the 
practice  of  great  Commanders  in  War,  is  not  imkno^vn  to  the  learned.  For  certain 
it  is,  that  the  faces  of  all  gi-eat  military  Officers,  being  obscured  by  such  Hoods  and 
Helmets  as  were  antiently  worn  in  times  of  Battel ;  it  was  espechent,  that  by  some 
other  means  then-  persons  should  be  notified  to  their  friends  and  followers.  Necessity 
therefore  requiring  it,  they  depicted  upon  their  Sheilds  (wliich  were  bom  for  the 
defence  of  their  bocUes)  as  also  upon  theii-  Surcotes  of  silk.  Banners,  Penons,  (Sfc. 
certain  Badges,  tliat  might  make  them  known  at  a  distance  from  each  other.  Of 
which  sort  those,  that  were  most  conspicuous ;  viz.  Crosses,  Bends,  Fesses,  Cheve- 
rons,  Saltiers,  ^c.  (all  single  charges)  being  ever  held  the  best. 

"  In  bearing  whereof  (as  appeareth  by  divers  old  Rolls  of  Arms)  such  order  was 
observed,  that  none  might  assume  anothers  mark ;  but  that  there  should  be  a  plain 
and  apparent  diflference  in  each  man's  Shield,  Surcote,  Banner,  Penon,  &^c.  to  the 
end,  that  upon  any  disorder  the  common  Souldier  might  know  his  Leader,  and  the 
better  repair  to  his  succour  in  case  of  danger. 

"  But  these  latter  times  having  devised  other  sorts  of  Armour  and  weapons  both 
for  offence  and  defence,  then  of  old  were  used ;  those  marks  and  Badges  in  Shields, 
Surcotes,  S^c.  have  been  for  (Uvers  past  ages,  as  to  any  such  military  purpose, 
totally  layed  aside;  and  since  meerly  retained  as  honourary  Ensigns  by  the 
Nobility  and  Gentry ;  especially  to  difference  themselves  and  theii'  families  from  the 
vulgar,  and  one  from  another ;  as  also  to  distinguish  the  collaterals  from  those  of 
the  principal  stock.  In  all  wluch  the  Kings  of  Arms,  in  their  respective  Provinces, 
were  to  see  due  order  observed." 


Countp  ^alattnt  of  SLanragtrr. 


159 


Cftap.  F. 


Character  of  Henry  Plantagenet — His  marriage,  and  summons  to  parliament  by  the  title  of  Earl  of 
Derby^Created  duke  of  Hereford — His  quarrel  with  the  duke  of  Norfolk — Wager  of  Battel — 
Great  preparations  for  the  contest — The  dukes  separated  in  the  moment  of  the  on-set—  Both 
sentenced  to  banishment — The  duke  of  Hereford  quits  the  country  amidst  the  general  lamenta- 
tion of  the  people. — Elevated  to  the  dignity  of  duke  of  Lancaster  on  the  death  of  his  father, 
John  of  Gaunt — Returns  to  England — Expels  Richard  11.  from  the  throne. — Elevation  of  the 
noble  House  of  Lancaster  to  the  royal  dignity — Allusion,  on  ascending  the  throne,  to  the  tradi- 
tion, that  Edmund  Crouchback  was  superseded  by  his  younger  brother. — Ancient  tradition,  that 
John  of  Gaunt  was  a  foundling — Original  letter  on  that  subject. — Possessions  of  the  Duchy  of ' 
Lancaster  separated  from  the  crown  possessions. — Establishment  of  the  duchy  court. — Abolition 
of  the  duchy  court  of  star  chamber. — Augmentation  of  the  duchy  po.ssessions. — Early  archives 
of  the  duchy. — Inquisitions  post  mortem,  and  pleadings  in  the  duchy  court. — Incorporation  and 
confiscation  of  the  duchy. — Act  of  Philip  and  Mary  for  restoring  the  duchy  possessions. — Ancient 
duchy  book,  revenues,  fees,  &c. — Abolition  of  the  feudal  system. — Administration  of  the  affairs 
of  the  duchy,  and  appropriation  of  the  revenues  under  the  Commonwealth. — Chancellors  of  the 
duchy  of  Lancaster,  from  the  creation  of  the  duchy  to  the  present  time.— Duchy  records,  their 
nature  described,  and  the  places  of  their  deposit  stated. — Officers  of  the  duchy  as  they  at 
present  exist. — The  duchy  seal. — Origin  and  use  of  seals. — Ducatus  Lancastriae,  from  the 
Harleian  MSS. 


CHAP. 
V. 


ENRY  Plantagenet,  surnamed  of  Boliiigbroke,from 
the  place  of  liis  birth,  was,  in  character,  cliainctrically 
the  reverse  of  his  sovereign,  king  Richard  II.  His  Henry 
talents  were  of  a  superior  order ;  his  manners  were  net.  ° 
popular,  and  even  fascinating;  and  his  ambition  led 
him  to  aspire  to  a  higher  station  than  tliat  of  the 
fii-st  subject  in  the  realm,  wliich  his  father  had  so 
long  occupied. 

In  the  fourth  j^ear  of  Uie  reign  of  Richard  II.,  Henry  His  mar- 
was  betrothed,  with  the  consent  of  the  king,  to  Mary  de  Bohun,  the  younger  daughter  "^^*' 
and  coheiress  of  Himiplrrey  de  Bohun,  late  earl  of  Essex,  Hereford,  and  North- 
ampton,   and   herecUtary  constable  of  England.       In    1385,   he  was  summoned  to 
pai-liament  by  the  title  of  Henry,  earl  of  Derby.     In  the  eleventh  yeai-  of  the  reign, 
Henry  was  engaged  with  the  duke  of  Gloucester,  in  the  combination  against  the 


160  Cftf  lisitoii)  of  tin 

CHAP,    king's  ministers,  at  which  his  majesty  took  gi-eat  offence ;  but  Ricliard  was  afterwards 

_^J reconciled  to  liim,   and  in  the  21st  year  of  liis  reign  wo  find  the  king  "sitting  in 

royal  majesty,  holding  in  liis  hand  a  rod,  and  making  his  cousin,  sir  Henry  of  Lan- 
caster, earl  of  Derby,  a  duke,  by  the  title  of  Duke  of  Hereford." 
Quarrel  Tliis  reconciliation  was,  however,  short-lived ;  a  violent  quan-el  having  arisen 

dillVof'  between  the  duke  of  Hereford  and  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  which  terminated  in  an 
Norfolk,  j^ppgj^]  to  arms,  the  king  availed  himself  of  this  opportunity,  with  the  advice  of  his 
council,  of  which  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  father  of  the  duke  of  Hereford,  was  at  the 
head,  to  send  them  both  into  exile.  The  circumstances  of  tliis  memorable  quarrel 
and  combat,  in  which  all  England,  as  well  as  all  the  knights  of  Chi-istendom,  felt 
the  most  lively  interest,  are  related  with  gi-eat  particularity  in  the  following  docu- 
ment, extracted  from  a  MS.  entitled,  "  The  Originall  of  Herehawghtes,"  in  the  British 
Museum.*  In  some  of  the  versions  relating  to  this  memorable  duel,  it  is  repre- 
sented, that  Henry,  duke  of  Hereford,  lodged  the  information  against  Thomas,  duke 
of  Norfolk;  but  sir  John  Froissart,  a  contemporary  wi-iter,  states  the  matter  differ- 
ently, and  more  probably,  by  representing,  that  the  secret  of  the  confidential  conver- 
sation between  the  duke  of  Hereford  and  the  duke  of  Norfolk  was  divulged  by  the 
latter ;  and  this  construction  is  supported  by  the  more  severe  sentence  passed  upon 
that  duke,  "  because  he  had  sowen  sediciou  in  this  realme  by  his  woordes,  whereof 
he  could  make  no  profe." 

"  A  Comhate  to  hefowglde  bcUvlvt  ye  Duke  of  Hereforde  and  Tliomas  Mowhraye, 
Jyrst  Duke  of  Northefolke  and  3farshall  of  Enylande. 

Cause  of  "  Henry,  Eai-le  of  Darbeye,  (sonne  of  John  of  Gaunte,  duke  of  Lancaster,  and 

^^equar-  £Q^yj.^]jg  |,pgQ^^gjj  gonne  of  Edwarde  y'  thirde)  being  but  a  little  before  created  Duke 
of  Hereforde,  a  prudente  and  politiq'  psonue,  beganne  to  consider  howe  that  Kinge 
Richarde,  liis  cousyne  gerinaine  did  litle  regard  the  counseile  of  his  vncles,  or  other 
gi'aue  psonnes,  but  did  set  his  wille  and  appetite  in  steade  of  Law  and  Reasonne  ;  on 
a  daye  being  in  y''  compaignye  of  Thomas  Mowhraye,  firste  duke  of  Northefolke, 
beganne  to  breake  his  mynde  vnto  liim,  (rather  lamentinge  on  the  behalfe  of  his 
cousine  germame  the  king,  then  for  anye  malice  that  he  bare  vnto  bun)  tellinge 
him,  that  the  kinge  little  estemed  or  regarded  the  nobles  and  princes  of  his  Realme, 
but  that  he  soughte  occasions  (as  much  as  in  him  did  lye)  to  destroye  the  greater  pte 
of  them,  nothinge  esteeminge  the  blotte  of  honor,  the  damage  of  the  weale  publique, 
the  murmuiinge  of  the  nobility,  the  gi'udge  of  the  comons,  nor  the  wonderinge  of 
all  men,  at  his  ATiprincely  doinge,   desii'ed  the  Duke  of  Northefolke,  (w"''  was  one 

*  Harl.  MSS.  No.  6079.  fo.  29—31. 


Countj)  ^Jalatiiie  of  iLamneitfr.  ifii 

of  the  kinges  priuey  counsaile,  and  well  harde  w"'  him,)  to  aduertise  ye  Idnge  to    chap. 

tourue  the  leafe,  and  to  take  a  better  lesson.  '. 

"  When  the  Duke  of  Northefolke  had  harde  his  deuice  at  fiille,  he  toke  it  not  in 
good  parte,  but  rekened  that  he  had  got  a  praye,  by  w"'"  he  shoulde  obtaine  gieater 
fauoure  of  the  kinge  then  euer  he  had,  so  at  that  time  dissembled  the  matter,  (as  he 
was  in  deede  a  deepe  dissembler,)  and  hauiuge  fytte  opportunitye,  opened  the  whole 
matter  vnto  the  king,  and  (aggi'auatinge  the  same  to  make  yt  appeare  vnto  him 
more  hajTious,)  broughte  the  kinge  in  gTeat  dislikinge  w"'  the  Dulve  of  Hereforde. 
Neueilhelesse  his  furye  beinge  somewhat  appeased,  he  detenniiied  to  hear  bothe 
ptyes  indifferently,  aikl  called  vnto  liim  the  Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  his  counsaile, 
and  also  the  Dukes  of  Hereforde  and  Northefolke,  and  caused  the  accuser  to  reporte 
openly  the  woorde  to  him  declarde,  w'*"  rehersed  them  againe,  as  he  had  before 
related  them  to  the  kinge.  Wlieu  Duke  Henry  harde  the  tale  othermse  reported 
then  he  either  thought  or  sayde,  (somwhat  disquieted  w*  y'  \aitrewthe  of  y'  matter) 
besoughte  y*  kinge  that  he  would  not  conceaue  any  euil  opinion  of  him  vntUl  he 
vnderstoode  more  of  y'  matter ;  and  tourninge  him  to  his  accuser,  declared  woorde 
and  woorde  what  he  had  saide,  and  shewed  the  cause  whereupon  he  spake  them, 
affirminge,  that  if  the  kinge  wolde  pmitte  and  suffer  him,  he  wolde  pue  his  accuser 
a  false  forger  of  seditious  tales,  by  the  stroke  of  a  speare,  and  dynte  of  a  sworde. 
The  Duke  of  Northefolke  afhnned  constantly  his  sayeinge  to  be  trewe,  and  refused 
not  the  combate.  The  kinge  demaunded  of  them  bothe  if  they  wolde  agi-ee  betweene 
themselves,  vf"^  they  bothe  refused ;  and  then  he  grauuted  them  the  battell,  and 
assigned  them  y'  place  to  be  at  Coventree  citye,  in  y'  monethe  of  Auguste  next 
ensueinge,  wliere  he  caused  a  sumpteous  theatre,  and  hste  roiall,  to  be  prepared. 

"  At  the  daye  appoynted,  the  2.  valiaunte  dukes  came  to  Coventree,  accompaig-  Prepara- 
nied  w*  y'  nobles    and   gentries   of   theii-e  linages,   w'^'"  encouraged    them  to  y"  tiiTcom- 
vttei-moste.     At  y"  daye  of  combate  and  fighte,  the  Duke  of  Aumai-le  that  daye 
liighe  marshall,  entred  into  the  lyste  w""  a  gi-eate  compaignie  of  men,  apparailed  in 
silke  sendale,  embroudered  w""  siluer  both  richly  and  curiouslye,  euery  man  havinge 
a  tipped  staffe  to  keepe  y"  field  in  order.     About  the  tyme  of  prime,  came  to  the  The  com- 
barriers  of  the  liste,  the  Duke  of  Hereford,  mounted  upon  a  wliite  courser,  barbed  enter  the 
with  blewe  and  green  velute,  embroudered  sompteouslye,  w""  swannes  and  ante- 
loppes  of  goldesmithes  woorke,  armed  at  all  pointes.     The  constal)le  and  marshall 
came  to  y^  barriers  demaundinge  of  liim  what  he  was,  who  answered,  "  I  am  Henrye 
of  Lancaster,  Duke  of  Hereforde,  w''''  am  come  hether  to  doe  my  deuoyre  againste 
Thomas  Mowbraye,  Duke  of  Northefolke,  as  a  traitor  vntrewe  to  God,  the  kinge. 
Ids  realme,  and  me."     Then  incontiuente  he  sware  vpon  the  Holy  Evangeliste,  that 
liis  quan-el  was  iuste  and  trewe,  and  therupon,  he  desired  that  he  myghte  enter  the 
VOL.  I.  y 


162  Cftf  5)i5ton)  of  tl)r 

CHAP  liste.  Then  he  put  vp  his  sworde,  (w^''  before  he  helde  naked  in  his  hande,)  and  put 
^-  down  liis  -siser,  and  made  a  crosse  in  his  foreheade,  and,  av"'  speare  in  his  hande, 
entred  into  y"  liste,  and  descended  from  liis  horse,  and  set  him  downe  in  a  chaire  of 
oreene  velute,  w'"'  Avas  set  in  a  traues  of  greene  and  blewe  velute,  at  thone  ende  of 
the  liste,  and  there  reposed  himselfe,  expectinge  the  cominge  of  his  aduersarye. 
Soone  after  liim  entred  into  y'  field  w""  greate  pompe.  King  Ricliarde,  accopaned 
w"'  all  v"  pieres  of  liis  realme ;  and  tliere  came  w*  him  also  the  Erie  of  St.  Paule, 
who  came  in  poste  oute  of  Fraunce,  to  see  thys  challenge  pformed.  The  kinge  had 
aboue  ten  thousande  men  in  hai-nesse,  lest  some  fraye  or  tumult  myghte  rise 
amongest  his  nobles  by  parte  taldnge,  or  quarrellinge.  When  the  kinge  was  set  on 
his  stage,  w'"  was  richely  hanged,  and  pleasantly  adourned,  a  kinge  of  ai-mes 
made  open  pclamation,  pliibitinge  all  men,  in  y'  kynges  name,  and  y'  high  con- 
stable and  marshalls  names,  vpo  paine  of  deathe,  not  to  enterprise,  to  approche  any 
parte  of  y'  listes,  excepte  suche  as  were  appointed  to  order  and  marshall  y''  fielde. 
Wliiche  pclamation  ended,  another  haraulde  cryed,  "  Beholde  here  Henrye  of  Lan- 
caster, Duke  of  Hereforde  appealante,  w'"  is  entred  into  y'  Lystes  royall,  to  doe  his 
deuoyi-e  againste  Thomas  Mowbraye,  Duke  of  Northefolke,  defendante,  vpon  paine 
to  be  pved  false  and  recreante."  The  Duke  of  Northefolke  houered  on  horsebacke ; 
at  the  entrye  of  y'  Lyste  Ms  horse  beinge  barbed  wth  crimson  velute,  embroudered 
w*  Lyons  of  syluer  and  mulbery  trees.  And  when  he  had  made  his  othe  before 
the  constable  and  marshaU,  that  liis  quarell  was  iuste  and  trewe,  he  entered  y' 
fielde  manfully,  sayinge  aloude,  "  God  ayde  him  that  hathe  y'  right;"  and  then  he 
dismounted  from  his  horse,  and  sate  downe  in  his  chaii'e,  which  was  crimson  velute, 
curtened  aboute  w"'  wliite  and  red  damaske. 
Prepare  "  The  L.  Marshall  vewed  theyre  speares  to  see  that  they  were  at  one  equall 

for  action.  jgj-|g^-[^g^  ^^^^  deliucred  thone  speare  liimselfe  to  the  Duke  of  Hereforde,  and  sent 
thotber  speare  to  the  Duke  of  Northefolke  by  aknighte.  Then  y'  haraulde  pclaimed, 
that  y"  trauesses  and  cliaiers  of  y'  champions  shoulde  be  remoued,  comaundinge  them, 
on  y'  kinges  behalf,  to  mounte  on  horsebacke,  and  to  addresse  themselues  to  y'' 
battayle  and  combate.  The  Duke  of  Hereforde  was  quicklye  horsed,  and  closed  his 
bauier,  and  cast  his  speare  into  y*  reste,  and  (when  ye  trompet  sounded)  set 
forwardes  courageouslye  towai'de  his  enemy  .6.  or  .7.  paces.  The  Duke  of  Northe- 
folke was  not  fully  set  forwarde,  when  y°  kinge  caste  downe  his  warder,  and  the 
separa-  haraulde  cried  "  Ho !  Ho  !"  The  kinge  then  caused  theire  speares  to  be  taken 
comb'a-*'^^  from  them,  and  comaunded  them  to  repaire  vnto  their  chaires,  where  they  remained 
.2.  longe  howres,  wiiile  y"  king  and  his  counsaile  deliberately  consulted,  what  waye 
was  best  to  be  taken  in  so  waighty  a  case. 

"  Then  the  haraulde  cried  Silence,  and  Sr  John  Borcye,  secretary  to  the  kinge, 


tants, 


Coimtp  ^alattnf  of  Sanrastrr.  163 

reade  y^  sentence  and  determination  of  the  kinge  and  his  counsaile,  in  a  loiige    c;h.vp. 
roUe,  pnouucinge  it  in  this  nianr.     "  My  Lordes  and  masters,  I  intimate  and  notifie  ' 

\aito  you  hy  y"  kinges  ma"%  and  liis  honorable  counsayle,  that  Henrye  of  Lancas-  Sentence 
ter,  appealante,  and  Tliomas,  Duke  of  Northefolke,  defendante,  have  honorably  and  king. 
valiantly  appeared  here  w*""  in  the  lists  royall  this  daye,  and  haue  bene  ready  to 
darraine  to  battaile,  like  .2.  valiante  knyghtes  and  hardye  champions,  but  because  y' 
matter  is  greate  and  waighty  between  those  .2.  greate  prynces,  the  kinge  and  his 
counsaile  haue  taken  this  order :  Firste,  that  Henrye,  Duke  of  Hereforde,  for  diners 
considerations,  and  because  he  hath  displeased  the  Idnge,  shall,  w"'  in  XV.  dayes 
next  foUowinge,  depte  oute  of  the  realme,  for  terme  of  X.  yeares,  \v"'  oute  retoiu'ninge, 
excepte  he  be  by  the  kinge  repealed  againe,  vpony'  paine  of  deathe."  The  harauld 
then  again  cryed  "  O  Yes,"  and  then  y'  secretary  pnounced,  "  That  Thomas  Mow- 
braye,  Duke  of  Northefolke,  by  thordinaunce  of  the  kinge  and  liis  counsaile,  because 
he  had  sowen  sedicion  in  tliis  realme,  by  his  woordes  wherof  he  coulde  make  no 
profe,  shall  auoyde  the  realme  of  Englande,  and  dwell  in  Hungrye,  Boeame,  Pruce, 
or  where  he  Idve,  and  neuer  retourne  againe  into  England,  nor  approche  y'  borders 
or  confines  of  y'  same,  vpon  paine  of  deathe,  and  that  y''  lunge  wolde  stay  y' 
pfites  and  reuenewes  of  hys  landes  in  liis  owne  hand,  vntill  he  had  receaued  suche 
somes  of  money  as  the  Didie  had  taken  vp  of  the  kinges  treasoui'er  for  the  wages 
of  y'  garison  of  Callyce,  w'''  weare  styll  vnpaied." 

"  ^Vlien  these  iudgementes  were  thus  deuulged,  the  kinge  called  before  liim 
those  two  exiles,  and  made  them  sweare,  that  thone  shoulde  neur  come  w""  in  sem  into 
place  where  thother  was  (willingely),  or  keepe  compaignye,  to  go  there  in  any 
forrayne  regione,  w'*"  othe  they  humbly  receaued,  and  depted  fi'om  y'  Lystes.  It 
was  supposed  that  the  kinge  mistrusted,  that  if  they  two  shoulde  ioyne  in  one 
againe,  and  conspii'e  to  be  reuenged  againste  liim,  that  they  mighte  woorke  him 
muche  trouble,  and  for  that  cause  to  haue  deuised  this  othe.  Then  the  Dulce  of 
Northefolke  (w'^'"  supposed  he  should  have  been  borne  oute  by  y"  kinge)  repented 
sore  of  liis  enterpryse,  and  depted  sorowfuUy  oute  of  the  realme,  into  Almayne,  and 
at  the  last  came  to  Hungre,  where  (through  thought  and  melancholy)  he  deceassed. 
The  Duke  of  Hereforde  tooke  liis  leave  of  y°  kinge  at  Elsham,  whiche  there  released 
.4.  yeares  of  liis  banislunent;  and  so  he  toke  his  iourneye  to  Callice,  and  so  into 
Fraunce,  where  hauinge  gotten  estimation  w"'  Charles  the  Frenche  kinge,  had  like 
(by  y'  helpe  of  y'  said  kinge)  to  have  maryed  thonly  dawghter  of  John  duke  of 
Berye,  vncle  to  the  Frenche  kinge,  if  kinge  Richarde  (for  feare  of  y"  miscliiefe  that 
therby  mighte  ensue  ^nto  liis  psonne,  if  the  duke  were  so  strongly  alyed,  because  y' 
comons  of  Englande  loued  him  dearely,  and  greatly  desired  Ins  retourne)  had  not 
cast  a  stoppe  in  liis  waye."         ******* 

y  2 


164 


Cf)C  jMEitori)  of  tf)t 


CHAP. 
V. 


Arrival 
at  the 
French 
court. 


Becomes 
duke  of 
Lancaster 
on  his 
father's 
death. 


The 

duke  s  re- 
turn to 
England. 


The  nation  was  highly  incensed  by  the  king's  behaviour  to  the  duke  of  Hereford, 
ivho  was  the  darling  of  the  principal  peers,  of  the  city  of  London,  and  of  the  people. 
Tliey  held  that  he  had  committed  no  crime,  and  had  been  condemned  without  trial; 
that  by  his  banishment  they  were  deprived  of  their  best  protector;  and  tliey  thought 
themselves  by  that  event  exposed  to  all  the  malice  and  indignation  of  an  incensed 
and  vincUctive  tyrant.  As  the  duke  passed  through  the  city  of  London  on  horseback, 
on  his  leaving  the  kingdom,  he  was  followed  by  more  than  40,000  people,  who  cried 
after  liim,  and  bcAvailed  his  fate  and  their  owa  in  the  most  moA'ing  manner.  He 
was  accompanied  on  tliis  occasion  by  trumpets  and  instruments  of  music,  and  with 
the  more  melting  sounds  of  universal  lamentation.  The  mayor  of  London,  and  others 
of  the  principal  citizens,  followed  him  to  Deptford;  and  some  accompanied  liim  as  far 
as  Dover,  in  his  way  to  Calais. 

On  the  duke's  an-ival  at  Paris,  he  was  very  graciously  received  by  the  court  of 
France;  where  he  was  soon  offered  in  maniage  the  only  daughter  of  the  duke 
of  Berry,  uncle  of  Charles  VL  To  prevent  this  union,  king  Richard  sent  the  earl  of 
Salisbury,  liis  ambassador  to  the  court  of  France,  where  the  earl  represented  the 
duke  of  Hereford  as  a  person  guilty  of  traitorous  designs  against  liis  prince ;  upon 
which  the  treaty  of  marriage  proceeded  no  fai-ther. 

After  liis  departure,  he  received  letters  from  his  father,  advising  him  rather  to  go 
into  Castile  than  into  Hungaay;  but  the  duke  of  Lancaster  becoming  sick,  his  son 
continued  in  Paris,  where  the  news  reached  him  of  liis  father's  death.  The  king 
avaihng  liim  self  of  the  exile  of  the  duke  of  Hereford,  now  become  duke  of  Lancaster, 
seized  the  possessions  of  liis  father,  John  of  Gaunt,  into  his  owa  hands,  and  lavished 
them  with  his  usual  profusion  upon  liis  favourites.  Shortly  after  this  time,  the  king 
was  obliged  to  embarli  for  Ireland,  to  suppress  a  rebellion  wliich  had  arisen  in  that 
oppressed  country;  and,  during  his  absence,  England  fell  into  great  distraction.  In 
this  exigency,  the  people  of  London  sent  for  theii'  favourite  Henry,  duke  of  Lan- 
caster, promising  him  their  assistance,  if  he  woidd  accept  of  the  government.* 
With  such  encouragement,  and  aided  by  the  duke  of  Britany,  he  took  shipping  at 
Le  Port  Blanc,  and  landed  at  Ravenspur,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Humber,  in 
Yorkshire,  where  he  Avas  met  by  a  number  of  nobles  in  the  north,  and  their  followers. 
On  liis  arrival  at  Doncaster,  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  army, 
and  the  common  people  in  all  places  gi-eeting  liis  retimi  with  enthusiasm.  The 
injustice  practised  towards  him  by  the  king,  in  first  banishing  him  from  the  realm 
without  proof  of  guilt,  and  then  seizing  upon  his  patrimonial  inheritance,  in  yiolation 
of  his  letters  patent,  excited  the  intUgnation  of  the  nation  towards  the  oppressor, 
and  their  sympathy  and  enthusiasm  in  favour  of  the  oppressed.     His  march  tlirough 

*  Froissart. 


Countp  palatine  of  Xaucasftfr,  165 

the  country  was  a  triumph ;  every  where  the  castles  yielded  to  liis  summons,  and,    chap. 
on  liis  arrival   at  Bristol,  his  forces  were  augmented  to  60,000.     To  oppose  this  ' 

formidable  force,  the  duke  of  York,  Avho  had  been  left  viceroy  of  the  kingdom  during 
the  king's  absence,  assembled  an  ai-my  of  40,000  men  at  St.  Alban's;  but  their 
attaclmient  to  the  royal  cause  was  so  lukewai-m,  that  they  attached  themselves  to 
the  duke  of  Lancaster,  on  his  representation  that  he  sought  not  the  subversion  of  the 
throne,  but  the  recovery  of  liis  paternal  possessions,  which  the  king  had  seized,  on 
the  death  of  liis  illustrious  fatlier.  Tlie  intelligence  of  tliis  invasion  reached  the  king 
when  he  was  in  Dublin,  on  wliicli  he  hasted  back  into  England,  and  landed  in  Wales; 
whei'e,  finding  that  he  was  almost  totally  forsaken,  he  went  on  to  Conway  castle, 
in  the  county  of  Carnarvon.  The  duke,  on  hearing  of  the  king's  arrival,  miuxhed 
to  Chester.  From  thence  he  despatched  the  earl  of  Northumberland  to  the  king, 
who  proposed  that  a  parliament  shoiUd  be  called,  to  remove  the  grievances  of  wliich 
the  country  complained,  and  particularly  to  arbitrate  between  the  king  and  the  duke 
of  Lancaster. 

Richard,  scarcely  aware  of  the  danger  by  which  he  was  menaced,  consented  to  Elevation 
an  interAdew  with  tlie  duke  of  Lancaster.     In  tliis  way  he  became  Ms  prisoner,  and  bie  house 
was,  under  various  pretences  of  friendship  and  loyalty,  conducted  to  London.     To  caster  to 
give  an  air  of  justice  to  the  lUtunate  designs  of  the  duke,  he  caused  a  parliament  to  dignity.* 
be  convened  under  the  authority  of  Richard,  by  Avliich  parliament  the  king  was 
declared  to  have  forfeited  Ms  throne  by  extortion,  rapine,  and   injustice.     Being 
thus  deposed  by  the  suffi-ages  of  two  estates  of  the  realm,  the  throne  was  declared 
vacant,  and  the  head  of  the  noble  house  of  Lancaster  ascended  the  throne  of  these 
realms,  by  the  stile  and  title  of  Henry  IV.     On  receiving  this  dignity  before  the 
assembled  parhament,  the  new  monarch  crossed  liimself  on  the  forehead,  and,  calling 
upon  the  name  of  Christ,  said — 

"  In  the  name  of  Fadlier,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  I  Henry  of  Lancaster, 
"  challenge  tliis  rewme  of  Yngland,  and  the  croun,  irith  all  the  membres,  and 
"  the  appurtenances ;  als  I  that  am  descencht  by  riglit  line  of  the  blode,  coming 
"  fro  the  gude  King  Hemy  therde,  and  throge  that  right  that  God  of  Ms  grace 
"  hath  sent  me,  mth  help  of  kyn,  and  of  my  frendes  to  recover  it;  the  wliich 
"  rewme  was  in  poynt  to  be  ondone  by  defaut  of  governance,  and  undoing  of 
"  the  gude  lawes."* 

A  tradition  had  prevailed  amongst  the  vulgar,  that  Edmond  Crouchback,  eaid  of 

Lancaster,  son  of  Henry  III.  was  really  the  eldest  brother  of  Edward  I.,  but  that, 

owing  to  some  defonnity  in  Ms  person,  he  had  been  supplanted  in  the  succession  by 

his  younger  brother ;  and  as  the  present  duke  of  Lancaster  inherited  from  Edmond 

'  *  Knyghton,  p.  2757. 


166  €i)t  W^tOV}}  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    by  liis  mother,  tliis  genealogy  constituted  liiin  the  true  heir  to  the  throne.     This  Avas, 
'       however,  a  topic  rather  to  be  insinuated  than  dechu-ed,  and  the  best  grounds  of 
Henry's  claim  wei'e  the  misrule  of  his  predecessor,  and  the  aflections  of  the  people 
over  whom  he  was  himself  called  to  govern. 

A  similar  story  of  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  is  told  by  that  ancient 
gossip,  Dame  Alice  Pierce,*  the  concubine  of  king  Edward  III.,  and  retailed  by 
John  Stowe,  the  annalist,  on  which  subject  we  find  the  following  original  letter,  in  the 
British  Museum, (Harl.MSS.  Cod.  374.  DeRebus  Literariis,Politicis,Domest.fol.23.) 
"  Letter  to  Stowe,  the  Historian. 
"  Mr.  Stowe, — I  hartely  coiriend  me  vnto  yow,  and  like  well  your  Anuales,  and 
gi-eat  payues  taken  therin.  My  fownder  is  bound  to  yow,  but  that  tale  of  Alice 
Peers  is  slannderous,  and  in  my  conscience  most  vntrue,  nether  hath  Thomas  Wal- 
singam,  nor  Froisard,  nor  any  writer  the  same,  but  yow  note  of  a  nameless 
munck  of  St.  Albans,  and  the  addition  to  Polycrouico  per  nescio  quern,  and  D.  Har- 
pisfeld  doth  confute  yt.  The  like  tale  that  queue  Pliilip  should  vtter  in  confession 
to  B.  Wikam,  and  B.  Wikam  to  the  Parlement,  to  witt,  yt  the  duke  of  Lancaster 
was  a  chaingelinge  ;  that  also  is  most  vntrewe.  And  yet  I  know  Monach^  Alban^ 
hath  yt.  In  these  tlu'ee  poynts  I  must  dispute  wt  yow,  therefore  provide  your 
selfe  against  the  next  Time,  for  I  will  defend  the  negative  in  euery  one  ;  as  likewise 
that  B.  Wikam  was  neuer  a  banished  man  beyonde  the  seas.  And  yet  some  hold 
that  he  was  there  in  banishment  vij  yeres,  and  some  that  he  was  then-  but  iij  yers, 
and  some  yt  he  was  the  whiles  in  Normandy,  some  in  Pariss,  and  all  most  vntruly  ; 
nether  can  I  fynde  that  Skipwith  did  euer  precede  to  iudgment  of  the  bannishment 
against  him,  but  only  to  the  deprivation  of  the  temperalties  of  his  bishopwricke.  My 
sone,  this  beai'er,  shall  give  yow  a  token  to  have  me  in  remembrance  in  the  premis- 
ses, by  Your  most  assured  friend, 

(Superscribed)  "  Thomas  Martyn." 

"  To  my  wel-beloved  and  very  kind  Mr.  Stowe,  at  liis  howse, 
beyonde  London  hall  in  London,  give  these." 

*  The  character  of  this  Dame  Alice  Pierce,  and  of  royal  mistresses  in  later  times,  may  be 
collected  from  the  account  given  of  her  by  Stowe  himself,  who  says  : — 

"  at  tf)t  tinre  tfie  ISings  sirSnesac  inrrwsta,  anti  IpJigsirians  trgati  to  Bispagrr  o£  ^is  vtfobcrg.  alfdougli  tf)c 
forenanitJ)  iaiift,  tosftficr  toitb  featitll,  ficr  Baiig1)trr,  Bi&  lie  tj;  f)tm  rbcrn  nigftt.  •  »  •  ijfiitg  noto  Bottatitflji 
tafem  toitf)  tf)c  flag  of  Ijts  fltatfi,  fir  6rgan  to  fiabr  manifest  sigurs  tt)ncof:  tojat  aiire  T^icvte  tfirn  flifl.  am  man 
map  iuflgc.  altfiougfi  tot  srt  tljnn  not  Dotonr  in  hiriting,  for  as  soonr  as  Bl)f  sato  tljc  King  l)ati  srt  footr  tuitljin  Oratfis 
floorf,  sfjc  bctliouglit  Ijcr  of  flugfit.  jjft  ttforr  sfic  tocnt  Ifiat  all  mm  miglit  frrrribr  tfiat  stir  lobrfl  not  tf)f  litng  for 
Jimsclfr,  but  foe  tl)at  tofiirfi  teas  i)is,  sftc  tooftc  tfic  rings  from  fiis  fingers,  tofiirlj  for  tfic  rojialtir  of  Ijis  ftlaicstir  f)rc  teas 
tDont  to  tocarc.    Cf)uB  jjttlBtng  fjim  surf)  tfianliffl  for  Ijis  benrfitts,  eljrc  bafl  ftim  aflicto,  anO  so  tottfjBrciii  fier  srlfc  from 

Jim." Stowe's  Atinales,  pp.  272,  270. 


Count!)  ^3alatinr  of  ilanrasitfr.  167 

To  return.     Heury  duke  of  Lancaster  being  now  seated  upon  the  throne  of    chap 
England,  the  unfortunate   Richard  was  sent  to  the   duke's   castle   at  Pontefract.  ' 


Here  he  was  detained  in  confinement  for  sonic  time;  but  so  short  is  the  distance 
between  the  throne  and  the  grave  of  a  deposed  monarch,  that  his  life  was  speecHly 
terminated,  either  by  the  hand  of  the  assassin,  or  the  more  protracted  misery  of 
famine.     Richard's  reign  being  thus  teraiinated — 

"  Post  breve  tempus 
Exiiit  insigni  sese  diademate,  sceptrum 
Henrico  Lancastrensi  regale  relinquens" — 

his  successor  turned  his  attention  to  the  appointment  of  his  new  officers.     Tlie  oflSce  Appoint- 
of  high-steward,  which  he  possessed  in  right  of  his  earldom  of  Leicester,  derived  public 
fi-om  the  Lacys,  he  confeiTed  upon  his  second  son,  Lord  Thomas,  Avhose  incapacity, 
from  his  non-age,  was  supplied  by  the  earl  of  Worcester,  wliile  the  office  of  chan- 
cellor of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  was  given  to  John  Wateringe,  a  divine  of  consi- 
derable influence  with  his  royal  master.      Mr.  Justice  Blackstone,    in  liis  Com- 
mentaries,* observes,  that  "  the  County  Palatine,  or  duchy  of  Lancaster,  was  the 
property  of  Henry  Bolingbroke,  the  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  at  the  time  when  he 
^vi-ested  the  crown  from  king  Richard  IL  and  assmned  the  title  of  Idng  Henry  IV." 
But  this  is  a  mode  of  expression  at  variance  with  the  usual  accuracy  of  that  dis- 
tinguished Amter's  style,  and  would  seem  to   imply,   that  the   county  palatine  of 
Lancaster  and  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  are  co-extensive,  and  that  the  terms  are  con- 
vertible.   Tliis,  however,  is  by  no  means  the  case,  the  county  palatine  being  confined  to 
the  county,  while  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  as  we  have  already  intimated,  and  as  we 
shall  speedily  shew  more  specifically,  comprehends  not  only  the  county  of  Lancaster, 
but  many  other  portions  of  the  kingdom.     It  has  been  justly  observed  by  Plowden,t 
in  the  celebrated  "  Duchy  of  Lancaster  Case,"  4  Elizabeth,  and  by  Sir  Edward 
Coke,|  in  liis  fourth  Institute,  that  the  new  monarch  was  well  aware,  that  "  he  held 
the  duchy  of  Lancaster  by  sure  and  mdefeasible  title,  but  that  his  title  to  the  crown 
was  not  so  assured :  for  that,  after  the  decease  of  Richard  II.  the  right  of  the  crown 
wa.s  in  the  heir  of  Lionel,  duke  of  Clarence,  second  son  of  Edward  III.;  John  of 
Gaunt,  father  of  Hemy  IV.  being  but  the  fourth  son."     One  of  his  fii-st  measures  confers 
after  ascending  the  throne  was,  therefore,  to  pass  an  act,  sanctioned  by  parliament,  duke  of 
ordaining  that  his  eldest  son  Henry  should  have  and  bear  the  name  and  title  of  on  his 
duke  of  Lancaster,  in  addition  to  liis  other  titles ;  and  that  neither  the  inheritance 
of  liis   duchy  of  Lancaster,   or   its  liberties,    should  be  changed,   transferred,   or 
diminished,  through  his  assumption  of  the  royal  dignity ;  but  that  they  should  retain 
their  distinctive  character  and  privileges,  and  be  governed  in  like  manner,  as  if  he 
*  Vol.  i.  Intro,  sect.  4.  p.  118.  t  P-  215.  X  p.  205. 


168  Cl;f  Jnstorj)  of  tl)c 

CHAP,    had  never  attained  the  royal  dignity*  It  was  further  dii-ected,  that  all  ecclesiastical 

^'        benefices  in  the  said  duchy  should  be  conferred  by  liimself  and  his  heirs,  so  that  the 

The  duchy   (lord)  chancellor,  ti'easurer,  or  other  officers  of  tlie  state,  sliould  not  interfere,  by 

from  the     rcasou  of  tliciv  respective  offices,  with  the  collection  or  preservation,  or  even  with 

crown.       ^j^^  visitation,  of  benefices  within  the  duchy;  and  that  all  receivers,  bailiffs,  and  other 

servants  of  the  duchy,  &c.  should  appear  before  certain  special  auditors  and  ministers, 

and  not  before  the  treasurer  and  barons  of  the  king's  exchequer,  and  account  and 

answer  for  profits  and  benefits  of  the  duchy,  without  any  interference  of  the  treasurer 

and  barons. 

*  "  ACT  RENDERING  THE  INHERITANCE  OF  THE  DUCHY  OF  LANCASTER 
INDEPENDENT  OF  THE  POSSESSION  OF  THE  CROWN. 

1  Hen.  IV. 

"  Item  fire  dit  seignoiir  le  roi,  considerant  coment  luy  Dieu  tout  puissant  de  sa  grande  grace  luy 
admys  en  honourable  estat  du  roy,  &  per  tant  il  ne  poet  mesme  pur  certeine  cause  porter  le  nom 
de  due  de  Lancastr'  en  son  estile  :  Et  auxi  mesme  fire  seignour  le  roi,  considerant  coment  cet 
honourable  nom  &  estat  de  due  ad  este  mesnez  &  governez  moelt  honourablement  en  honourable 
persone  de  son  pier  qi  Dieu  assoile  &  des  pleusours  ses  honourable  ancestres.  Et  veuUant  sur  ceo  q 
le  dit  nom  de  due  Lancastre  soit  continuez  en  honur  come  affiert ;  de  ladvis  &  assent  des  toutz  les 
segnours  espirituelx  &  temporelx  &  de  les  coes  avauntditz  ad  ordeignes,  q  Henry  son  eisnex  fitz  ait 
&  porte  le  nom  de  due  de  Lancastr'  &  qil  soit  nomez  Prince  de  Gales,  due  d'  Aquitaine,  de  Lancastr', 
&  de  Cornewaill,  &  count  de  Cestr'.  Et  outre  ceo  messme  fire  seign'  le  roy,  considerant  coment 
diverses  libtees  &  franchises  aient  este  gntes  devant  ces  heures,  sifen  a  son  dit  pier  come  as  autres  ses 
auncestres  dues  &  countz  de  Lane'  voet  &  gnte  de  ladvys  &  assent  avauntditz,  q  mesme  les  libtees 
&  franchises  soient  &  demorgent  a  son  dit  eisnez  fitz  &  ses  heires  dues  de  Lane',  dissevez  fitz  de  la 
corone  d'  Engleterre,  qui  teinent  &  entierment  solonc  leflfect  &  purport  de  les  gntes  avaundites;  &  sur 
ceo  monstra  una  chartre  en  parlement  ent  fait,  &  la  bailla  a  son  eisnez  fitz  avauntdit. 

"  Post  amplissiman  cartarum  precedentium  repetitionem  &  exemplificationem.  Rex,  nolens 
hereditatera  suam  ducatus  sni  Lancastr'  aut  libertates  ejusdem,  occasione  assumptionis  regalis  status, 
in  aliquo  mutari,  transferri,  seu  diminui ;  sed  eandem  hereditatem,  cum  juribus  &  libertatibus  suis  pre- 
concessis,  eisdem  modo,  forma,  conditione,  &  statu,  quibus  sibi  descenderunt  &  evenerunt,  ac  cum 
omnibus  &  singulis  talibus  libertatibus  &  franchesiis,  &c.  quibus  Johannes  dux  Lancastr',  pater  regis, 
dum  vixit,  earn  ad  terminum  vite  sue  habuit  &  tenuit,  sibi  &  heredibus  suis,  in  cartis  predictis  nomi- 
natis,  plenari^  &  integr^  conservari  &  continuari ;  voluit  &  ordinavit,  de  assensu  parliamenti  quod  tam 
ducatus  suus  Lancastr',  quam  universa  alia  comitat',  honor',  castr',  maner',  feoda,  advocaticnes,  pos- 
sessiones,  &c.  quecunque,  sibi  ante  adoptionem  dignitatis  regis  quatrcumque  descensa,  &c.  sibi  & 
dictis  hered'  suis,  &c.  remaneant ;  &  tali  modo,  &  per  tales  ofiiciarios  deducantur  &  gubernentur,  &c. 
sicut  remanere  &  gubernari  deberent  si  ad  culmen  dignitatis  regie  assumptus  non  esset ;  &  quod  talia 
&  hujusmodi  libertates,  jura  regalia,  &c.  in  eisdem  in  omnibus  habeantur  &  continuentur,  &c.  qualia 
&  cujusmodi  uti  &  haberi  consueverunt  temporibus  dictorum  patris  sui  &  aliorum  antecessorum 
suorum.  Volens  ulterius  quod  singuli  tenentes  de  ducat',  com',  honor',  &c.  predict'  libere  &  illese 
conditionis  sint,  tam  in  ingressibus  post  mortem  antecessorum  suorum  quam  in  tenuris  suis,  &c.  sicut 
esse  deberent  si  dicta  dignitas  regia  non  accessisset.      Proviso  semper  quod  tenentes  infra  com' 


Count))  ^Jalatmr  of  aanradtfr.  169 

Steadily  pursumg  the  jjiiuciple  here  laid  down,  it  was  by  a  subsequent  act*  chap. 
ordained,  tliat  the  right  of  succession  to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  after  the  king's  ' 
death,  should  belong  to  his  eldest  son,  Henry,  prince  of  Wales,  and  his  heirs ;  and 
in  default  of  heirs  to  Thomas,  his  second  son,  and  that  the  ancient  rights,  statutes, 
and  customs  of  the  duchy,  should  be  maintained  and  observed  inviolate.  Having 
thus  fixed  the  succession  to  the  property  of  the  duchy  by  all  the  force  of  legislative 
enactments,  the  next  cai-e  of  the  king  was  to  establish  a  court,  called  the  ducliy  Estabiisi.- 
court  of  Lancaster,  in  Avliich  all  questions  of  revenue  and  council,  affecting  the  duchy  the'c'iuchy 
possessions,  might  be  decided.  This  court  is  now  held  at  the  duchy  office  in  West-  '^"""' 
minster ;  thence  issue  all  patents  and  commissions  of  office  or  dignities,  all  orders 
and  gi'ants  affecting  flie  lunits  and  revenues,  and  all  acts  of  authority  within  the 
duchy.  It  is  also  a  court  of  appeal  from  the  chancery  of  the  county  palatine  of 
Lancaster,  which  court  is  a  court  of  equity  for  matters  of  equity  arising  Avithin  the 
county  of  Lancaster,"!"  ^"^^  i*^  ^^^^^  ^t  Preston.  The  record-office  of  the  duchy 
of  Lancaster,  where  the  deeds  are  deposited,  has  been  frequently  changed :  witliin 
living  memory,  Gray's-Iun,  Somerset-House,  and  Great  George's-street,  has  each 
in  succession  afforded  them  a  depository ;  but  the  office  now  seems  permanently 
fixed  within  the  precinct  of  the  ancient  ducal  residence  of  the  Savoy,  in  Lancaster- 
place,  Waterloo-bridge,  London,  of  which  bridge  the  southern  arch  abuts  against 
liis  Majesty's  inheritance  of  the  duchy  of  Cornwall,  and  the  northern  against  his 
inheritance  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster.  The  duchy  chambers  at  Westminster,  being 
within  the  precincts  described  in  old  statutes  as  a  royal  residence,  the  proceedings 
are  dated  before  his  majesty,  "  at  his  palace  at  Westminster,"  and  not,  as  other 
royal  acts,  at  the  personal  residence  of  the  monarch.  In  tliis  court  he  is  not  only 
presumed  to  be  present,  as  in  others,  but  to  be  personally  acting  by  the  advice  of  his 
chancellor,  and  other  ministers,  for  the  affairs  of  liis  duchy. 

When  that  intolerable  nuisance,  the  court  of  star-chamber,  existed,  in  contra-  Aboiitimi 
vention  of  the  provisions  of  Magna  Charta,  which  direct  that  no   freeman  shall  be  court  of 
deprived  of  his  liberty  or  property  but  by  lawful  judgment  of  liis  peers,  the  duchy  of  ciiambei. 

palatin'  Lane'  hereditates  suas,  &c.  extra  manum  regis  prosequantur  per  liberationem  in  cancellar' 
regalitatis  ibidem,  ut  est  moris,  &c.  Voluit  insuper  rex,  &c.  quod  singula  beneficia  ecclesiastica  ad 
hereditatem  predict'  spectant'  per  ipsum  &  heredes  suos  predict'  conferantur ;  ita  quod  cancellar'  vel 
thes'  Anglie,  vel  alius  officiarius  regius,  de  coUatione  vel  presentatione,  seu  etiani  de  visitatione  benefi- 
ciorum  hujusmodi  ratione  officiorum  suorum  non  intromittant.  Voluit  insuper  quod  omnes  receptores, 
firmarii,  ballivi,  &  quicunque  alii  ministri  sui  predictorum  ducatus,  honorum,  castrorum,  mane- 
riorum,  &c.  de  singulis  denariis  &  proficuis,  &c.  de  eisdem  ducat',  honor',  &c.  provenient',  coram 
certis  specialibus  auditor'  &  ministris,  &  non  coram  thes'  &  baron',  socio  regis,  coniputent  aut  respon- 
deant;  ita  quod  thes'  &  barones  predict'  in  aliquo  premissorum  se  non  intromittant." 

*  8  Hen.  IV.  f  2  Lev.  24. 

VOL.  ].  Z 


170 


Ei)t  ?l)i5toii)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
V. 


Augmeu- 
tation  of 
thediichv. 


Confirma- 
tion of 
former 
acts. 


Further 
augmen- 
tation of 
the  duchy. 


Lancaster  had  also  its  star-chamber,  antl  the  chaiiceUor  of  the  duchy  and  council  of 
his  court,  punished  without  law,  and  decreed  without  authority ;  but  tliis  power  was 
.swept  away  by  the  act  16  Car.  I.,  which  ordained,  that  from  the  1st  of  August, 
1641,  tliis  power  should  be  aboli.shed  in  every  court  witliin  the  realm,  and  that  from 
henceforth  no  couil  should  exercise  the  juristliction  of  star-chamber.* 

Two  years  after  the  succession  had  been  settled  upon  prince  Henry  and  liis 
heirs,  the  manor  of  Brotilby,  and  fee  of  La  Haye,  in  the  county  of  Lincoln,  with  the 
wardship  of  the  castle  of  Lincoln,  formerly  in  the  possession  of  Thomas,  earl  of 
Lancaster,  and  wliich  now  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  king,  through  the  forfeiture 
of  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  earl  of  Kent,  was  incorporated  with  his  inheritance  of 
Lancaster,  as  parcel  of  the  duchy;  and  it  was  ordained,  that  it  should  descend  to 
liis  heirs,  and  that  all  the  tenants  of  these  possessions  should  be  governed  in  the 
same  manner,  and  by  such  officers  as  the  other  lordships  and  manors  of  the 
inheritance.t 

Soon  after  Henry  V.  ascended  the  throne,  he  confirmed  the  acts  of  his  royal 
father  with  regard  to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  ;  and  it  was  dii'ected,  with  the  sanction 
of  parliament,  that  all  the  liberties  and  franchises  of  tliis  duchy  should  in  all  things 
be  maintained  and  exercised  for  ever,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  charters  already 
gi-anted-,  and  that  the  seal  hitherto  used  in  the  duchy,  and  all  matters  under  that 
seal  which  had  hitherto  been  given  and  gi'anted,  should  have  force,  without  the 
reclamation  of  the  king,  or  his  officers ;  and  that  the  seal  of  the  duchy  should  be 
used  for  ever,  in  transacting  the  business  of  the  duchy.  As  several  honors,  castles, 
and  manors,  wdiich  were  the  inheritance  of  Mary,  one  of  the  daughters  and  heiresses 
of  Hmnplu-ey  de  Bohun,  earl  of  Hereford,  Essex,  and  Northampton,  whose  heir  the 
Idng  was,  had  descended  to  liun  by  hereditary  right ;  the  king  separated  all  these 
possessions  from  the  crown,  and  incorporated  them  with  his  duchy  of  Lancaster, 
appointing  that  they  should  be  administered  by  the  officers  of  the  duchy,  as  they  had 
been  accustomed  to  be ;  and  that  the  vassals  and  tenants  of  tliis  inheritance,  and 
the  resiants  witliin  the  same,  should  enjoy  the  liberties  and  franchise  of  the  duchy. 
He  also  ordained,  that  all  ecclesiastical  benefices  attached  to  the  duchy  inheritance, 
should  be  conferred  under  the  seal  of  the  duchy  without  the  interference  of  the 
chancellor  and  treasurer  of  England.  To  render  tliis  ordinance  complete,  it  was 
further  dii-ected,  that  all  the  castles,  honors,  and  lands,  which  had  come  into 
possession  of  the  king's  father,  Henry  IV.,  in  consequence  of  a  grant  made  in  the 
first  year  of  his  reign,  as  to  escheats,  forfeitures,  and  recovery,  should  be  incorporated 
with  the  duchy,  and  that  any  other  honors,  castles,  or  manors,  wliich  had  come 
by  escheats,  forfeitures,  or  recovery,  should  also  be  joined  to  the  duchy,  and  that 
•  Rot.  Pari.  16  Car.  p.  2.  nu.  6.  t  Act  of  10  Henry  IV. 


Counti.)  palatine  of  iLancastrr.  i7i 

they  should  l)e  ruled  and  governed  by  the  officers  and   ministers  of  the   duchy,    chap. 
under  the  sanction  of  the  duchy  seal.*  


In  the  tliiid  year  of  the  reiern  of  Henry  V.  it  was  dii*ected,  that  two  of  the  chief  Appoint- 
seneschals  of  liis  inheritance  for  the  tune  being,  besides  the  number  of  guardians  senes- 
limited  by  form  of  statutes,  should  act  in  all  the  counties  of  his  kingdom,  and  that 
they  should  exercise  their  office  of  seneschal  iu  all  commissions  of  the  peace, 
and  that  no  donations,  pardons,  or  releases,  whicli  concerned  in  any  manner  the 
ducliy  of  Lancaster,  or  that  emanated  therefrom,  should  be  valid,  except  under 
the  seal  designed  for  the  duchy.  Two  other  acts,  the  fii-st  passed  in  the  ninth 
year  of  Henry  V.  and  the  second  in  the  first  of  Henry  VI.  annex  other  possessions 
of  the  Bohun  family  to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster. 

It  Avas  the  misfortune  of  Henry  VI.  to  be   deeply  involved  in  debt;  and  his  Mortgage 
expectation  that  two  Lancashire  knights  would  remove  all  lus  embarrassments,  by  duchy 

posses- 

the  discovery  of  the  philosopher's  stone !  was  not  sufficient  to  prevent  liis  creditors  sions. 
from  urging  their  demands  in  a  tone  little  suited  to  the  refinement  of  a  coui't.  To 
satisfy  these  demands,  he  was  diiven  to  the  expedient  of  mortgaging  for  five  years 
the  revenues  of  the  duchies  of  Lancaster  and  Cornwall,  and  the  tenns  of  this  mort- 
gage, as  given  in  the  18th  Henry  VI.  sufficiently  incUcate  the  importunity  of  the 
royal  creditors,  aud  the  petulancy  of  the  king  under  theii'  demands. 

"  For  so  muclie,"  says  this  act,  "  as  the  king  oure  soverayn  lord  liaving  know- 
liche  of  gi-eate  mui-mour  and  clamour  that  shold  be  in  lus  roiahne  of  England,  for 
nonpaiment  of  the  dispensis  of  his  houshold ;  willing  of  his  good  grace  paiement  to 
his  liege  people  to  be  made  for  the  (Hspensis  of  the  same  houshold,  gi'anteth  and 
ordeineth,  bi  thassent  of  the  lords  spmtuell  and  temporell,  and  the  coramones  of  tliis 
roialiue,  in  this  present  parliimient  assembled,  and  bi  auctorite  of  the  same  parle- 
meiit,  that  all  the  profits,  issues,  revenues,  customes,  and  commodites,  comynge  or  for 
to  come,  of  all  the  castles,  honours,  manors,  lordsliips,  landes,  tenementes,  rentes, 
reversions,  services,  franchises,  libertees,  viewes  of  francjileg,  hundredis,  letis,  courtis, 
and  all  other  inheritances  and  possessions  of  the  duchie  of  Lancaster  remayuing  in 
liis  liaiide,  and  of  the  duchie  of  Cornewaille  while  the  same  duchie  shall  be  in  liis 
hande,  from  the  fest  of  Seint  Michell  the  archaugell  last  passed,  except  all  fees, 
wages,  annuyteis,  reparations,  and  other  chai-ges  necessary  goinge  out  of  the  same, 
be  ordeined,  applied,  and  emploied,  to  the  dispensis  of  his  said  houshold,  and  dely- 
vered  by  the  receyvours  generall  of  the  said  duchies  for  the  tyniie  being,  to  the 
tresourer  of  liis  said  houshold  for  tlie  tyme  being,  by  indenturs,  thereof  betwene 
tliaym  to  be  made;  and  that  the  recepours  generall  of  the  said  duducs,  upon  theu-e 
accompte,  allewayes  shall  liave  allowance  and  discharge  of  theii'e  payementz,  made 

*  Act  2.  Henry  V. 


172  Cfte  llistor))  of  tf)t 

CHAP,    by  suche  endeiitures  ;  and  yf  the  same  receyvours  make  payement  in  any  otherwise 
'        than  in  forme  aforesaid,  that  then  tlierof  they  be  disalowed  ujion  theii-e  accompt. 
Saviuge  to  all  the  Idnge's  lieges  theire  title,  right,  and  interesse  that  they  have  in 
the  siiid  ducliies,  or  iu  any  parcelle  therof,  tliis  acte  notwithstandinge ;  and  that  tliis 
ordinance  endure  to  the  ende  of  five  yere  next  ensuinge." 
Officers  of        The  reveuues  of  the  duchy  having  reverted  to  the  Idng,  as  duke  of  Lancaster,  an 
'^  ""^  ■'  act  was  passed  in  the   39  Henry  VI.  appointing  that  there  should  appertain  to 
the  duchy  one  cliief  steward  and  one  auditor  in  the  northern  parts,  and  one  other 
chief  steward  and  one  other  auditor  in  the  southern  parts,  with  one  chancellor,  one 
receiver  general,  and  one  attorney-general  in  and  of  all  the  duchy,  with  one  chief 
steward,  and  one  attorney-general  in  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster.     Wlule  the 
mortgage  existed,  several  new  offices  had  been  created,  but  by  this  act  those  offices 
were  abolished  as  burdensome  in  fees,  and  unnecessary  for  use. 
Early  Hitherto  the  archives  of  the  duchy  had  been  lodged  in  the  church  and  priory  of 

of  the  Saint  Bartholomew,  in  West  Smithfield,  London,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the 
""^  ^  prior  and  liis  convent.  On  a  representation  that  the  church  had  become  much 
occupied  and  encumbered  with  "  divers  great  chests  containing  the  books"  of  the 
duchy  of  Lancaster,  and  that  iHvine  service  was  interrupted  by  the  enti'ance  of 
ministers,  under  colour  of  an  exiunination  of  the  books,  and  that  no  little  disturbance 
was  created  thereby,  the  king  du-ected  that  the  prior  and  convent,  and  their  suc- 
cessors, should  be  exonerated  from  the  custody  of  the  said  books  and  documents;  and 
the  officers  of  the  duchy  were  ordered  to  remove  their  chests,  with  then-  contents,  out 
of  the  priory  into  the  tower  of  London,  or  into  such  other  place  as  might  be  found 
convenient  to  deposit  them,* 

Although  the  court  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  was  instituted  in  the  cai-ly  part  of 
the  reign  of  Henry  IV.,  no  post  mortem  inquisitions  are  registered  in  this  court  earlier 
Taken  than  the  first  of  Henry  V.  The  duty  of  collecting  and  arranging  the  inquisitions 
"uthoiity*^  has  been  performed  by  the  direction  of  his  majesty's  coromissioners  of  public  records, 
"luchy  and  a  list  of  these  inquisitions  is  published  along  with  a  list  of  the  pleachngs,  con- 
Lancaster.  sistiug  of  bUls,  answers,  depositions,  and  surveys,  relating  to  the  suits  in  that  court, 
Ducatus  in  two  volumes,  entitled  "  Ducatus  Lancastriae."  Tliese  volumes  ai'e  thus  described 
trice.  by  the  persons  charged  mth  the  duty  of  collecting  and  arranging  the  materials : 

"  According  to  the  returns  made  to  the  select  committee  of  the  house  of  com- 
mons in  the  year  1800,  the  INQUISITIONS  POST  MORTEM  in  tliis 
repository  then  found  amounted  to  2400,  beginning  with  the  first  year  of  king 
Henry  V.  (1413,)  and  ending  with  the  eighteenth  year  of  long  Charles  the 
First,   (1042.)     A  more  recent  investigation  has  shewn  then."  nmnber  to 

*  39  Hem7  VI. 


Counti>  |3alatint  of  i!.anca£itn-.  173 

amount  to  3569  ;  wliicli  it  has  also  been  found  necessary  to  put  in  a  better    chap. 

state  of  arrangement,  and  to  clean,  repair,  and  bind  them  in  volumes.     The 

PLEADINGS  consist  of  bills,  answers,  and  depositions  and  surveys,  in 
suits,  exldbited  in  the  duchy  court,  commencing  Avith  the  first  year  of  king 
Henry  VII.  and  are  continued  to  the  present  time. 

(Signed)  "  R.  J-  Harper,  John  Caley,  Wm.  Minchin. 

Dated  "  Office  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  1823." 

Tlie  Inquisitions  and  PleacUngs  contain  a  great  fund  of  local  information;  but 
they  would,  ui  the  most  condensed  form,  occupy  an  inconveniently  large  space  in 
our  coimty  history ;  and  the  necessity  for  theii-  insertion  is  materially  dhninished 
since  the  Ducatus,  thanks  to  the  hberality  of  parliament,  is  presented  to  many  of  the 
pubUc  Ubrai-ies  in  this  kingdom,  and  is  therefore  easily  accessible :  suffice  it  to 
say,  that  the  records,  of  wliich  the  Ducatus  exlubits  little  more  than  an  mdex,  are  to 
be  found  in  the  duchy  record  office,  in  London ;  and  theii-  number,  as  fai*  as  regai'ds 
the  county  palatme  of  Lancaster,  stands  thus: 

Inquisitions  Post  Mortem,  m  Vol.  1 3105 

In  Vol.  II.  (Nil)  .     . 

Pleadings  in  Vol.  1 1594 

In  Vol.  II 1589 

3183 

The  hostility  of  the  house  of  York  to  the  house  of  Lancaster  did  not  extend  to  Confirma- 
the  revenues  of  the  duchy,   for  no  sooner  had  Edward  IV.  ascended  the  throne  charters  of 

,  •'  !•  T       ^  c   T  .the  duchv. 

than  he  confirmed  all  the  charters  and  liberties  of  the  duchy  ol  Lancaster,  m  a 
manner  the  most  ample,  except  that  he  joined  the  duchy  inheritance  to  the 
crown.*      Henry  VII.  not  to  be    outstripped  by  a  member  of  the  rival  house, 

•  AN  ACT  FOR  INCORPORATING  AND  ALSO  FOR  CONFISCATING  THE  DUCHY 
OF  LANCASTER  TO  THE  CROWN  OF  ENGLAND  FOR  EVER. 

1  Edward  IV. 
"  It  is  declared  and  adjudged  by  the  assent  and  advice  of  the  Lords  Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and 
oi'  the  Commons,  being  in  this  present  parliament,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that  the  same 
Henry,  late  called  King  Henry  the  Sixth,  for  the  considerations  of  the  great,  heinous,  and  detestable 
matterl  and  offences  before  specified  by  him,  committed  against  his  faith  and  ligeance  to  our  said  liege 
Lord  King  Edward  the  Fourth,  his  true,  righteous,  and  natural  liege  Lord,  offended  and  hurt  unjustly 
and  unlawfully  the  Royal  Majesty  of  our  said  Sovereign  Lord,  stand  by  the  advice  and  assent  con- 
victed and  attainted  of  High  Treason.  And  that  it  be  ordained  and  established  by  the  same  advice, 
assent,  and  authority,  that  he  the  same  Henry  forfeit  unto  the  same  our  Liege  Lord  Edward  the 
Fourth,  and  to  his  heirs,  and  to  the  said  Crown  of  England,  all  Castles,  Manors,  Lordships,  Towns, 


174  8nf)f  W^tor^  of  tf)e 

CHAP,  enacted,  in  the  first  year  of  liis  reign,  that  all  the  lauds  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster, 
^'  which  had  heen  alienated  from  that  inheritance  in  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  should 
he  re-invested  in  the  king  and  liis  heii's  for  ever,  as  amply  and  largely,  and  in  like 
manner,  fonn,  and  coniUtion,  separate  from  the  crown  of  England,  and  possessions  of 
the  same,  as  the  tkree  Henries,  or  Edward  IV.  or  any  of  them,  had  and  held  the 
same.  Ever  since  the  period  when  Henry  IV.  mounted  the  throne  of  England, 
the  duchy  of  Lancaster  has  indeed  always  been  considered  by  the  reigning  monarch 
as  one  of  the  richest  gems  in  the  crown,  though  for  state  purposes  it  has  heen  kept 
separate  and  distinct  from  the  regal  revenues  and  possessions.  When  the  act  for 
reo-ulating  the  order  of  wai-ds  and  liveries  was  passed,  a  special  proviso  was 
introduced,  to  guard  against  the  royalties,  liberties,  and  jurisdictions  of  the  county 

Townships,  Honours,  Lands,  Tenements,  Rents,  Services,  Fee-Farms,  Knights'-Fees,  Advowsons 
Hereditaments,  and  Possessions,  with  their  appurtenances,  which  he  or  any  other  to  his  use  had  the 
third  day  of  March  last  past,  being  of  the  Dutchy  of  Lancaster,  or  that  were  any  parcel  or  member  of 
the  same  Dutchy,  or  thereunto  annexed  or  united  in  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Henry,  late  called 
King  Henry  the  fifth,  or  at  any  time  since.  And  that  it  be  ordained  and  established  by  the  same  advice, 
assent,  and  authority,  that  the  same  Manors,  Castles,  Lordships,  Honours,  Towns,  Townships,  Lands, 
Tenements,  Rents,  Services,  Fee-Farms,  Knights'-Fees,  Advowsons,  Hereditaments,  and  Possessions, 
with  their  appurtenances  in  England,  Wales,  and  Calais,  and  the  Marches  thereof,  make,  and  from  the 
said  day  of  March  be  to  the  said  Dutchy  of  Lancaster  corporate,  and  be  called  the  Dutchy  of  Lan- 
caster. And  that  our  said  sovereign  Lord  King  Edward  the  fourth  have,  seize,  take,  hold,  enjoy, 
and  inherit  all  the  said  Manors  and  Castles,  and  other  the  Premisses  with  their  appurtenances,  by 
the  same  name  of  Dutchy,  from  all  other  his  inheritances  separate,  from  the  said  fourth  day  of  March, 
to  him  and  to  his  heirs  Kings  of  England  perpetually,  and  that  the  County  of  Lancaster  be  a  County 
Palatine  :  And  that  our  Liege  and  Sovereign  Lord  King  Edward  the  fourth  and  his  heirs  have, 
as  parcel  of  the  said  Dutchy,  the  same  County  of  Lancaster  and  County  Palatine,  and  a  Seal, 
Chancellor,  Judges,  and  Officers  for  the  same ;  and  all  manner  of  Liberties,  Customs,  Laws  Royal, 
and  Franchises  in  the  same  County  Palatine  lawfully  and  rightfully  used,  and  over  that,  another 
Seal,  called  the  Seal  of  the  Dutchy  of  Lancaster,  and  a  Chancellor  for  the  keeping  thereof,  Officers 
and  Counsellors  for  the  guiding  and  governance  of  the  same  Dutchy,  and  of  the  particular  officers, 
ministers,  tenants  and  inhabitants  thereof,  in  as  great,  ample,  and  large  form  as  Henry,  calling 
himself  Henry  the  fifth,  at  any  time  therein  had,  used,  and  enjoyed  lawfully.  And  by  the  same 
authority  the  said  officers  and  ministers,  and  also  the  said  tenants  and  inhabitants  of  and  in  the  same 
Dutchy  have,  use,  exercise  and  enjoy  such  and  all  Liberties,  Privileges  and  Customs,  as  the  Officers, 
ministers,  tenants  and  inhabitants  of  the  same  Dutchy  had,  used,  exercised  or  enjoyed  lawfully  in  the 
time  of  the  same  Henry,  calling  himself  King  Henry  the  fifth  ;  and  that  also  in  the  same  Dutchy  be 
used,  had,  and  occupied  all  such  Freedoms,  Liberties,  Franchises,  Privileges,  Customs  and  Jurisdic- 
tions, as  were  used  therein  lawfully  before  the  said  fourth  day  of  March.  And  the  Officers,  minis- 
ters, tenants,  and  inhabitants  of  or  in  the  said  Dutchy  be  entreated  and  demeaned  according  to  the 
same  Freedoms,  Liberties,  Franchises,  Customs,  Privileges  and  Jurisdictions,  and  not  distrained, 
arcted,  nor  compelled  to  the  contrary  in  anywise." 


Countj)  ^alati'm  of  ^Lantaster.  175 

palatine  and  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  suffering  prejudice;  and  when  Henry  VIII.  had    chap. 
impaired  the  revenues  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  by  a  number  of  gifts,  gi-ants,  and 


sales,  indemnity  against  the  consequences  of  these  alienations  was  found  for  the  si  Henry 
king,  as  duke  of  Lancaster,  by  a  gi-ant  from  parliament  of  the  manor  of  Ripon  and 
its  dependencies,  in  the  county  of  York,  and  of  the  viccary,  in  the  forest  of  Aslie- 
downe,  with  its  rents  and  manors,  in  the  county  of  Sussex,  botli  of  wliich  were 
attached  to  the  duchy,  and  the  revenues  received  and  accounted  for  as  duchy  lands.  37  Hemy 

VIII, 

The  example  set  by  the  father  was  closely  and  speedily  imitated  by  his  chiklien ;  and 
in  the  time  of  Philip  and  Mary  the  duchy  possessions  were  restored  to  their  fonuer 
extent,  by  an  act  expressed  in  these  very  significant  terms  ; 

"  An  Act  for  thenlargyng  of  the  Duchie  of  Lancastree. 

"  Forasmuche  as  tlie  Kyng  and  Queue  our  sovereigne  Lorde  and  Ladyie,  con-  Act  of 
sideling  and  regarding  the  state  of  the  Ducliie  of  Lancastree,  being  one  of  the  and  Mary, 
most  famous  Princeliest  and  Stateliest  peeces  of  our  said  Sovereigne  Ladie  the 
Queues  auncyent  Enheritance,  doo  pceyve  and  consider  that  the  Possessions  and 
yerely  Revenues  of  the  stiid  Duchie  arre  and  have  been  of  late  greatlye  diminished, 
as  well  by  reason  of  Sundry  Giftes,  Grant'  and  Sales,  made  by  the  late  Kinges  of 
famous  memorye,  Henry  theight  and  Edoarde  the  Sixte,  late  Kings  of  Englande, 
Father  and  Brother  to  our  said  Sovereigne  Ladie  the  Queues  Higlmes,  as  also  by 
reason  of  suncbie  Exchainges  made  w""  dyvers  their  loving  Subjectes,  of  Sundry 
Manors,  Landes,  Tentes,  Possessions,  and  Hereditaments,  lately  belonging  to  tlie 
same  Duchie  ;  and  the  Mano",  Landes,  Tentes,  Possessions,  and  Hereditaments, 
being  recey\'ed  and  taken  in  recompence  of  the  said  Exclianges,  bee  not  annexed  to 
the  said  Duchie,  but  been  in  thorder  svey  and  governance  of  other  Courtes  and 
Places,  so  by  theyr  Highnes  taken  and  receyved  in  Excliange ;  And  forasmuche 
also  as  thejT  Ma""  doo  niynde  and  intende  to  jn-eserve,  avaunce,  majTitaine,  and 
contynue  thauncient  and  honorable  Estate  of  the  said  Ducliie  ;  Our  said  Sovereigne 
Lord  and  Ladye  therfore  bee  pleased  and  contented  that  yt  lie  enacted,  ordeyned, 
and  estabUshed  by  their  Ma"'',  w'"  thassent  of  the  Lordes  Spuall  and  Temporal!, 
and  the  Comons  in  tliis  pnte  pliament  assembled,  and  by  tliauctoritee  of  tlie  same, 
That  all  Hono",  Castels,  Lordeshippes,  Mauo",  Landes,  Tenementes,  Possessions, 
and  Hereditamentes  w"'hi  this  Realme  of  Englande,  w'^'"  at  any  tyme  synce  the 
xxiij""  daye  of  Januarie,  in  the  first  yere  of  the  Reigne  of  our  said  late  Sovereigne 
Lorde  Kynge  Edoarde  the  Sixte,  were  prell  of  the  Possessions  of  the  said  Duclue 
of  Lancastre,  or  w'"  were  united  and  annexed  to  the  said  Duchie  by  aucthorite  of 
pliament  tres  Paitentes  or  otherways,  and  w'""  at  any  time  since  tlie  sayd  xxxiij  daye 


CHAP. 


176  Cf)C  ?)l£itmi)  of  tl)t 

of  Jauuaiie,  have  beeu  given,  gi-anted,  alyenated,  bargayned,  solde,  exchanged,  or 
^-  otherwayse  severed  from  the  said  Duchie,  by  our  said  late  Sovereigne  Lorde  King 
Edoai'dc  the  Sixte,  or  by  our  said  Sovereigne  Lady  the  Quene  that  now  ys,  or  by 
oui"  Sovereigne  Lorde  and  Ladie  the  King  and  Queues  Ma""  that  now  bee,  to  or 
w""  any  pson  or  psons,  and  w'''  sayd  Hono",  Castles,  Lordshippes,  Mano",  Lande, 
Tente,  and  Hereditamente,  since  such  Giftes,  Grants,  Alienacons,  Bargaynes,  Sales, 
Exchanges,  or  Severance  thereof  so  made  as  is  aforesaid,  been,  comon,  or  retm-ned 
agayn  to  thandes  of  our  said  late  Sovereigne  Lorde  Kyng  Edwarde  the  Sixte,  or  to 
thaudes  of  om-  said  Sovereigne  Ladie  the  Quene,  or  to  thandes  of  our  Sovereigiie 
Lord  and  Ladie  the  King  and  Quene,  or  to  thandes  of  her  M"%  lier  heires,  and 
successors,  in  Possession,  Revercon,  Remainder,  or  other  ways,'  and  w"*"  now  bee  or 
remain  in  thandes  of  our  said  Sovereigne  Lord  and  Lady  the  King^  and  Quenes 
Ma"'',  of  any  estate  of  inheritance,  shall  from  the  time  the  same  came^reverted  agam 
to  thandes  of  our  said  late  Sovereygne  Lorde  Kinge  Edward  the  Sixte,  or  to 
thaudes  of  our  said  Sovereigne  Lady  the  Quene,  or  *  thandes  of  our  said  Sove- 
reyne  Lord  and  Ladye  the  Kiug  and  Quene,  by  aucthoritee  and  force  of  tliis  Acte 
bee  united  and  annexed  for  ever  uuto  the  sayd  Duchye  of  Lancastree,  and  shalbe 
adjudged,  demed,  and  taken  for  ever  for,  and  as  peels  and  membres  of  the  said 
Duchie  of  Lancastre,"  &c. 

In  the  following  reign  a  systematic  return  was  made  of  the  fees,  pri\Tleges,  ^viits, 
and  advowsons,  attached  to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  and  its  officers,  a  copy  of  wliich 
has  been  preserved,  and  is  as  follows  : — 

^ere  liesinnetl)  ti)e  Mott 

Which  is  known  by  the  name  of  and  Treating  of  the  Fees,  Privileges, 
Writts,  Advowsons,  and  other  Officers  that  belong  to  the  Duchy 
and  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster  [about  1588]. 

Fees  of  the  Dutchei/. 

The   chancellor's    fee    of    the  £.    s.    d.          lying   in   London,   as  much       £.    s.    d. 

Dutchey 238  16     4          more  as  makes  both  theii-  sa- 

The  attorney  of  the  Dutchey    .  66     5     4          laries  amount  to,  £76  17  3.] 

The  auditor  for  the  north  partes  68  13     4     The  sum  of  all  the  payments 

The  auditor  for  the  south  partes  68     3     4          which  are  paid  to  all  the  offi- 

[Besides  to  both  of  them  mur-  cers,  or  allowed  as  salarys  in 

rey   cloth,   green    cloth   for  the   dutchey,    in   the   whole 

their   tables    and   for    their  amount  to 641     3     4 


£400 

0 

0 

1000 

0 

0 

900 

0 

0 

400 

0 

0 

Cotintp  ^3alatme  of  iLaiuastm  177 

An  Estimate  of  the  Revenues  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  collected  hy  the    chap. 
particular  Receivers  of  the  Honors  belonging  to  the  said  Duchy,  and  yearly         " 
paid  by  the  Receiver-General. 

Revenues  of  the  Dutchey  per  annum. 

The  receiver  of  Cliderhow  and    £.  s.  d.  The  i-eceiver  of  Leicester     . 

Halton,  payeth  to  the  general  The  receiver  of  Furness 

Receiver  of  the  dutchy     .     .   I7OO  0  0  The  receiver  of  Bullingbroke 

The   receiver   of   Pomfrett   and  Augmentation  of  Lancaster 

Knasbrough,  com.  69  annis  .  1800  0  0  The  receiver  of  the  colledge  and 

The  receiver  of  Tickhull      .     .     500  0  0          chantry  rents    in  the  county 

The  receiver  of  Piclieringleigh      350  0  0          of  Stafford  and  Derby      .     .       40     0     0 

The  receiver  of  Duntanborough      80  0  0                                                          

The  receiver  of  Tutbury,  p.ann.   1500  0  0                                                          £8600     0     0 

The  receiver  of  Longberington       80  0  0                                                             

South  Division. 

The    receiver   of  Higham     Fe-    £.  s.  d.  The  receiver  of  Essex  and  Hart-     £.    s.    d. 

rars 80000         ford 1000     0     0 

The  receiver  of  Norfolk  and  Suf-  The  receiver  of  the  marches  of 

folk 200  0  0         Wales  and  Monmouth     .     .     100    0    0 

The  receiver  of  Sussex    .     .     .     300  0  0  The  receiver  of  Kilwaldid    .     .     100    0    0 

The     receiver     of     the     south  


parts 1000    0    0  £4800    0    0 

So  that  the  whole  receipts  of  the  general  receiver  of  the  Dutchy,  one  year       £.      s.    d. 

with  another,  amounteth  to *  14,000     0     0 

The  receiver  is  to  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  his  Majesties  most         £.      s.    d. 

honourable  chamber 4000     0    0 

And  to  the  cofferer  of  his  Majesties  household /OOO     0     0 

For  fees  to  the  court  officers .     .       641     3     4 

For  expenses  of  the  mass  songs,  and  others,  per  ann.  .     .       100     0     0 


Total  disbursements     .     .     .     11,741     3     4 
So  that  remains  communihus  annis,  in  the  custody  of  the  general  receiver, 
to  be  disposed  oif  according  to  his  majesty's  use,  upon  Mr.  Chancellor, 
Sir  Francis  Walsinghamf 2258  16    8 


£14,000    0    0 

*  It  may  be  presumed,  that  the  statement  of  Revenue  this  year  is  not  equal  to  the  average  year, 
as  the  figures  do  not  correspond  with  this  amount. 

t  Sir  Francis  Walsingham  was  chancellor  in  1588. — See  list.  This  fixes  the  period  when  this  account 
was  taken,  or  the  rates  affixed,  concurring  with  the  Entry  of  the  Fees  of  the  "  Justices  of  the  Queen's 
Bench." 

VOL.  I.  2  A 


178 


mn  ?§i6toi-p  of  ti)f 


CHAP.    A  Declaration  of  all  the  Forests,  Chases,  and  Parkes,  belonging  to  the 
^"  DuTCHY  of  Lancaster,    out  of  Avhich  the  Chancellor,  Attorney-General, 

Receiver-General,  and  two  Auditors,  are  to  have  deer  summer  and  winter. 


Iti  Comit.  Lancastrian. 
The  forest  of  Bolland. 
The  forest  of  Wiersdale. 
The  forest  of  Bleasdale. 
Legrame  parke. 
Mierscough  parke. 
Toxteth  parke. 
Quernmore  parke. 

In  Comit.  Cestrice. 
Halton  parke. 

In  Comit.  Stcvffbrdie. 
Yoxalward  parke. 
Agardesley  parke. 


Rolleiitou  parke. 
MarchiDgton  ward. 
Tutbury  parke. 
Hockeley  paike. 
Rowley  parke. 
High  Lenis  parke. 

Hcec  sunt  in  Comit.  Derbie. 
High  Peak  forest. 
Shattell  parke. 
Melbure  parke 
Mansfield  parke. 
Morley  parke. 
Posterne  parke. 
Ravensdale  parke 


I71  Comit.  Leicestri. 

The  forest  of  Leicester. 
Castle  Donnington  parke. 
Barnes  parke. 
New  parke  of  Leicester. 
Tonley  parke. 
Pekelton  parke. 

In  Comit.  Wilts. 

Loxley  parke. 
Alborne  chace. 
Everley  parke. 


Parks  and  Chases. 

In  Hamshire,  Kingsomburne  parke. — ^The  chace  of  Holt,  and  the  parke  com.  Dorset.- 
Kirby  parke,  in  com.  Lincolniae. — Higham  Ferrers,  in  com.  Nortbamtoniae. 


In  Comit.  York. 


Poulfret  parke. 
Cridlinge  parke. 
Kepax  parke. 
Blausby  parke. 


Pickeringly  forest.  Havery  parke. 

Billon  parke.  Coinsbrough  parke. 

The  old  parke  of  Wakefield.        Altafts  parke. 
Hay  parke.  Acworth  parke, 

and  the  New  parke  of  Wakefield. 


In  Comit.  Sttssex. 
Hunsde  parke. 
The  forest  of  Ashdowne. 
Weecks  parke. 


In  Comit.  Essex. 
The  great  parke  of  Plashey. 
The  little  parke  there. 
Coppedhull  parke. 


Two  other  parkes  there  are  in   Highester  parke  there. 
Suffolk.     Eyste  parke  there 
also. 


In  Com.  Hartford. 
Hartingfordbury  parke. 
Two  more  parkes  in  do. 
Kingslaugby  parke,  do. 
Oldney  park,   Buckingham- 
shire. 
Hungerford  park,  Berkshire. 


Counti?  |3alatmt  of  2[ancaeitn% 

"  Fees  due  per  Annum  to  these  Officers. 


179 


Bailiffe  of  the  manor  of  Salford 
Bailiffe  of  Derby  wapentake 
Bailiffe  of  man'  of  West  Derby  . 
M'    of   the    forest    of    Wiers- 

dale 

IVf  of  Amounderness  forest 
The  escheator  of  county  palatine 
The   sheriff  of  Lane,   hath    for 

allowance 

The  constable  of  Liverpool  castle 

The    maister    of    Symondwood 

forest  and  keeper  of  Toxteth 

parke  hath  for  his  fees,  per 

annum 

Steward   of  the    wapentake    of 

Derby  and  Salford    . 
The  receiver  of  the  co.  palat 
Porter  of  Lancaster  castle 
Steward  of  Amounderness 
Steward  of  Lonsdale    . 
Keeper  of  Quernmore  parke 
M'  of  the  forest  wood  of  Myers- 
cough     

Maister  of  Wiresdale  et  Quern- 


£.  s. 

d. 

6  13 

4 

4  0 

8 

3  0 

8 

1  10 

0 

3  0 

0 

5  0 

0 

9  0 

0 

6  13 

4 

2    0    0 


..50 

0 

.  .  6  13 

4 

.  .  4  11 

0 

..20 

0 

..20 

0 

.  2  5 

6 

4  11     0 


The  chancellor's  fee  of  the 
county  palatine,  per  annum    . 

The  justice  of  the  queen'' s  bench 
for  his  office  in  county  pala- 
tine         

And  for  dyett 

To  another  justice  for  his  office 
in  county  palatine,  and  dyett 
too 

Att^  of  County  palatine     .     .     . 

Gierke  of  y^  crown  for  county    . 

Clerk  of  the  common  pleas   .     . 

Clerk  of  crown  and  pleas  .     .     . 

Barons  of  the  exchequer  there  . 


3  0 

8 

40  0 

0 

36  13 

4 

13  6 

8 

40  0 

0 

6  13 

4 

2  0 

0 

2  0 

0 

6  0 

0 

4  0 

0 

Cryer  of  the   sessions  at  Lan- 
caster     

Master  of  Bolland  forest  .  .  . 
Steward  of  ponds  for  his  fee  .  . 
Receiver  of  Clitheroe  .... 
Steward  of  Blackburn,  Totting- 
ton,   and   Clederhow,   for  his 

fee 

Constable  of  Clitherow  castle    . 
The  keeper   and  porter  of  the 
geole  in  the  castle  of  Clithe- 
row   

Messenger  of  the  dutchy  .  .  . 
The  keeper  of  the  parkes'  fees  . 
Fee  of  the  bailive  of  Ormskirk  . 
Bailif  of  Burscough  fee  .  .  . 
The  under  steward  of  Ormskirk 
appointed    by    the    Earl    of 

Derby 

Fee   of  the  clerk  of  the  court 

there 

The  fee  of  the  auditor  .  .  . 
The  fee  of  the  receiver  per  annum  16 
The  reward  of  the  said  receiver  13 
The  fee  for  Furness  .... 
The  baylives  of  Dalton's  fee  .  . 
The  ditto  of  Hawkshead's  fee  . 
The  ditto  of  Beamond  and  Bol- 
ton     

Fee  of  all  the  manors  pertaining 

to  Furness  monastery 
Fee  of  the  receiver  there  . 
Clerk  of  the  court  there    .     .     . 
Baylive  of  Furness  liberty    .     . 
Keeper   of  woods    in   plane    of 

Furness 2 

Reward  of  the  auditor 
The  stipend  of  a  clerk  to  serve 
in  the  chapel  at  Farnworth     .     3 

a2 


d. 

CHAP. 
V. 

£.  s. 

2  0 

0 

6  13 

4 

1  0 

0 

15  13 

4 

3  6 

8 

10  0 

0 

3  0 

8 

2  0 

0 

2  5 

8 

2  0 

0 

2  13 

4 

2    0    0 


1 

13 

4 

28 

0 

0 

16 

0 

0 

13 

6 

8 

6 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

2 

13 

4 

2  10    0 


26  13 

4 

20  0 

0 

6  13 

4 

4  0 

0 

2  0 

0 

6  13 

4 

12  10 


CHAP. 
V. 


180  CI)f  i^istorp  of  tf)f 

£.    s.    d.  £.    s.    d 

The  stipend  of  a  clerk  to  serve  in  The    stipend   of    a   clerke   and 

the  chapel  at  Litherpoole  .     .  4  17     5  school  maister  at  Manchester, 

The  fee  of  a  clerk  and  schoole  per  annum 4     0    2 

m'  of  Walton,  per  annum       .  5  13     4        Clerke  of  Beconshawe  chapell    .     2  16     5 
The  clerk's    stipend   at   Black-  The  stipend  of  a  clerk  and  school- 

j.Q(les 44I3  master  at  Leyland    .     .     .     .     3  17   10 

The  clerk  of  Clitherow  stipend  .  3     9     1        The  stipend  of  a  clerk  and  scliool- 
The  stipend  of  the  clerk  of  Pa-  master  at  Preston     ....     2 

diham  chappel 6  19     2        Clerke  and  steward  of  Wigan    .     5 

The  Chaplin's  fee  in  the  chap-  The  clerke  of  Crostons  stipend  .     3 

pel  of  Harewood,  per  annum  4     6     6       The  payment  made  unto  seven 
The   clerk    in    the    chappel    of  weomen   praying   within  the 

Whalley 4     8  11  late  coUedge,  called  Knowles's 

The     stipend    of    a    clerke    to  Alms  house,  per  annum    .     .  35   15     0 

serve  in  the  chappel  of  Ruf-  Payd  to  two   persons  and   the 

ford,  per  annum 3     2     2  surveyor  thereof 5  10    0 


18 

2 

10 

0 

19 

9 

"  A  Note  of  all  the  Benefices  and  Spiritual  Living  belonging  to  the  Dutchy 

OF  Lancaster. 


('■) 
Comit.  Berks. 
Henton  Rectory      .... 

In  Comitat.  Ebor. 
Methley  rectory  clare  .     .     . 
Darrington  viccaria,  per  ann. 
Ackeworth  rectoria,  per  ann. 
Croston  rectoria,  per  ann.     . 
Slaitborne  rectoria,  per  ann. 
Kirkbram  with  rectoria    .     . 
Ouston  vicaria,  per  ann. 
Castleford  rectoria,  per  ann. 
Bradford  vicaria      .... 
Berwickes  of  Elemitt  .     .     . 
In  Com.  Essex. 
Stamford  rivers  rectoria  .     . 

Munden  (v) 

Dedham  {v)  per  ann.  .     .     . 
Essex  (v)  per  ann.       .     .     . 
Longton  (v)  per  ann.  . 
Laugham  viccaria  sen  rectoria 


for  rectory- 


23    7    5 


25 

8 

11 

0 

0 

0 

22 

1 

0 

10 

0 

u 

0 

0 

0 

12 

18 

4 

7 

2 

n 

20 

13 

0 

20 

0 

0 

33 

12 

4 

26 

13 

4 

12 

12 

0 

10 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

18 

3 

8 

17 

0 

0 

-(11)  for  vikai'age. 

Gloucester. 

Tiberton  Rectoria 

Hartford. 
Saint  Andrews  with  St.  Nicholas 

In  Com.  Lincoln. 
Hartringfordbury  (r)    .     .     .     . 

Ounley  (>■)  clere 

Whittingham  {?•) 

Hantley  (c)  per  ann 

Stoopings  parva  (»•)      .... 

Norcot  (r) 

South  Somersetes  (r)   . 

Bennington  {11) 

Salt  Thetby  (r) 

Southreston  (r) 

Morningerby  [r) 

Thoresby  (/•) 

In  Comit  Lancastrie. 
Pennington  Don  clear  (r)  .  . 
Dalton  {v)  and  clear     .     .     .     . 


7 

16 

0 

12 

1 

2 

16 

0 

0 

9 

3 

4 

18 

6 

8 

6 

4 

6 

9 

19 

4 

12 

10 

0 

22 

6 

8 

20 

0 

2 

7 

0 

2 

5 

10 

2 

9 

8. 

4 

6 

9 

6 

0 

0 

0 

17 

6 

8 

Countp  palatine  of  ilancasJten 


181 


In  Com.  Leicester. 

Hathurend  {v) 12 

St.  Peter,  Leicester  {v)     .     .     .  2 

Desford  (r) 2 

Wliitwicke  vie 9 

Viccaria  de  pembe  valet,  per  ann.  6 
Mandeoallocke      sene      Mono- 

bon(v)   9 

Swafield  (r) 6 

Mamelly  vie.  valet,  per  ann.       .  6 

Shibden  (v) 9 

Trunche  (r) 10 

Southropes  (r) 6 

Sydestrond  (r) 5 

Northrope  (r) 0 

Mondesley  (r) 8 

In  Comit.  Norfolk. 

Themingham  rector     ....  6 

Withrope  (r) 5 

Malilaske  (/■) 5 

Beeston  {r) 16 

Plumbstead  (r) 5 

In  Comit.  Northump. 

Inchester  {v) 8 


d.  £. 

Passenham  (r) 20 

Preston  {v) 15 

Widd  {v)        3 

Bethome  {v)  clear 13  17 

Millome  {v) 8 

Urswick  {v)  sunt  Richmondsha     7 


In  Com.  Stafford. 

Tudbury  {v)        7 

Rolston  (r)          13 

Tatenhill  rectory      ....  26 

Wolstanton  (r)        32 

In  Com.  Suffolk. 

Clare  (vie.) 4 

Eyken  (f) 6 

Holmesett  (v)  cleare    ....  0 

Stratford 13 

Somersham  (r) 8 

Hunden  (v) 7 

In  Co.  TVilts. 

Poole  (/•) 17 

Ashley  (r) 9 

In  Co.  Westmoreland. 
0     0        Orton  (v) 16 


0 

0 

5 

0 

9 

7 

14 

4 

6 

8 

13 

4 

8 

6 

13 

4 

4 

9 

13 

4 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

9 

9 

0 

0 

5 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

2 

s. 
0 

d.   CHAP. 

0   ^• 

4 

0 

6 

10 

17 

4 

5 

8 

17 

4 

0 

0 

9 

6 

0 

0 

3 

9 

18 

8 

13 

4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

13 

4 

12 

5 

16 

4 

17     4 


"  The  valuation  of  some  parsonages  and  vicarages  mtliin  the  dutchy  appeareth 
not  in  the  records  remaining  in  the  dutchy  office,  but  may  be  found  in  the  office  of 
the  fii-st-fruits,  where  the  same  are  best  known." — Birch's  MSS. 

From  the  time  of  queen  Elizabeth  to  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  no  material  change 
took  place  in  the  duchy  court  of  Lancaster,  with  the  exception  of  the  abolition  of  the 
duchy  court  of  star-chamber  already  noticed;  but  in  the  twelfth  year  of  that  monarch, 
the  last  remaining  vestige  of  the  feudal  system,  after  having  existed  in  tliis  country  for 
at  least  six  hundred  years,  was  swept*  away,  and  with  it  the  privileges  of  wards  Abolition 
and  liveries  attached  to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  although  those  privileges  had  been  feudal 
thought  worthy  of  special  protection  a  century  before.     The  progi-ess  of  Imowledge  ^^'  "'"■ 
had  burst  the  bonds  of  vassalage,  and  although  the  system  introduced,  or  completed, 
by  the  Norman  conquerors,  had  taken  deep  root,  and  identified  itself  with  the  whole 

•  Rot.  Pari.  12  Car.  II.  p.  3.  nu.  4. 


182 


€i)t  ^^I'Stoi-p  of  t\)t 


CHAP. 
V 


16  &  17 
Car.  II. 


Chancel- 
lors of  the 
Duchy. 


frame  of  society,*  the  tenures  in  capite,  and  knights'  service,  were  now  declared 
"  more  biii-thensome,  giievous,  and  prejudicial  to  the  Idugdom,  than  beneficial  to  the 
king,"  and  they  were,  therefore,  for  ever  abolished. 

During  the  interval  between  the  year  1642,  when  the  public  treasmy  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  pai'liament,  and  the  yeai'  1660,  when  Charles  II.  obtained  the  royal 
inheritance,  the  revenues  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  were  applied  to  the  exigencies  of 
the  state,  first  under  the  administration  of  Lord  Newbm-gh,  and  subsequently  under 
the  chancellorsliips  of  William  Lenthall,  speaker  of  the  house  of  commons,  John  (Pre- 
sident) Bradshawe,  Thomas  Fell,  and  Sir  Gilbert  Gerard,  Bart. ;  the  latter  of  whom 
was  displaced  at  the  Restoration  by  Francis  lord  Seymoiu-,  who,  as  a  mark  of  the  royal 
favoiu-,  obtained  tliis  lucrative  appointment,  for  his  attacliment  to  the  House  of  Stuart. 

To  facilitate  the  proceedings  in  the  duchy  court,  an  act  was  passed  in  the  16th 
and  17th  Charles  II.  empowering  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  to  grant  commissions 
for  taking  affidavits  vntian  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  and  other  places  in 
the  several  counties  of  the  kingdom  within  the  survey  of  the  duchy  court,  whereby 
the  same  validity  was  given  to  those  affidavits,  as  if  they  had  been  sworn,  as  liitherto 
in  the  duchy  chamber  at  Westminster,  and  to  render  these  proceedings,  in  the 
incipient  state,  as  little  burthensome  as  possible,  it  was  directed  that  the  very 
moderate  fee  of  twelve  pence,  and  no  more,  should  be  received  by  the  person 
empowered  to  take  the  affidavits. 

From  the  first  creation  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  in  1351,  to  the  present  time, 
1831,  there  have  been  eighty-three  chancellors  of  the  duchy.  The  following  is  a 
complete  list  of  those  officers,  obligingly  furnished  by  the  duchy  office  : — 

Chancellors  of  the  Duchy  and  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster,  from  the 
first  Creation  of  the  Dukedom  in  1351,  to  the  present  time,  June  1831. 


34  Edward  III.       Sir  Henry  de  Haydok 


46  Edward  III. 
51  Edward  III. 

1  Richard  II. 
6  Richard  II. 

6  Richard  H. 

7  Richard  II. 
1  Henry  IV. 
1  Henry  IV. 


Ralph  de  Ergham,  clerk. 
Thomas  de  Thelwall,  clerk 

Sir  John  de  Yerborough,  clerk. 
Sir  Thomas  Stanley. 
Sir  Thomas  Scarle. 
Sir  William  Okey. 
John  de  Wakering. 
William  Burgoyne,  Esq. 


Chancellor  of  Henry,  first  Duke  of 

Lancaster. 
Bishop  of  Sarum. 
Created  Chancellor  of  the   County 

Palatine,  16th  of  April, 

November  10th,  pro  temp. 
November  29th , 
October. 


See  vol.  1.  c.  2.  p.  66^84. 


Coiintj)  ^alatint  of  iLnnragtrn 


183 


6  Henry  IV. 
11  Henry  IV. 
1  Henry  V. 

1  Henry  VI. 

2  Henry  VI. 
9  Henry  VI. 
17  Henry  VI. 

20  Henry  VI. 

26  Henry  VI. 

27  Henry  VI. 

I  Edward  IV. 

II  Edward  IV. 

17  Edward  IV. 

18  Edward  IV. 
1  Richard  III. 
1  Henry  VII. 

19  Henry  Vll. 

21  Henry  VII. 
1  Henry  VOL 
14  Henry  VHI. 
17  Henry  VIII. 


Sir  Thomas  Stanley. 
John  Springthorpe,  clerk. 
John  Woodhouse. 
John  Woodhouse,  contd. 
William  Troutbecke,  Esq. 
Walter  Sherington,  clerk. 

William  Tresham. 
William  Tresham. 
John  Say,  Esq. 
John  Say,  Esq.  contd. 
Sir  Richard  Fowler,  Kt. 
Sir  John  Say,  Kt. 
Thomas  Thwaites. 
Thomas  Metcalfe. 
Sir  Reginald  Bray,  Knt. 
Sir  John  Mordant,  Knt. 
Sir  Richard  Empson,  Knt. 
Sir  Henry  Marny,  Knt. 
Sir  Richard  Wingfield,  Knt. 
Sir  Thomas  Moore,  Knt. 


21  Henry  VHI.       Sir' William  Fitzwilliams,  Knt. 


35  Henry  VIII. 
1  Edward  VI. 
6  Edward  VI. 
1  Queen  Mary. 
4&5  Phil.  &  Mary 
1  Elizabeth. 
10  Elizabeth. 
19  Elizabeth. 
32  Elizabeth. 
37  Elizabeth. 
43  Elizabeth. 

13  James  I. 

14  James  I. 

15  James  I. 
6  Charles  I. 
Feb.  10,  1644. 


Sir  John  Gage,  Knt. 

Sir  William  Pagett,  Knt. 

Sir  John  Gate,  Knt. 

Sir  Robert  Rochester,  Knt. 

Sir  Edward  Walgrave,  Knt. 

Sir  Ambrose  Cave,  Knt. 

Sir  Ralph  Sadler,  Knt. 

Sir  Francis  Walsingham,  Knt. 

Sir  Thomas  Henage,  Knt. 

Sir  Robert  Cecil,  Knt. 

Sir  John  Fortescue,  Knt 

Sir  Thomas  Parry,  Knt.  and  John 

Daccomb,  Esq. 
Sir  John  Daccombe,  Knt. 
Sir  Humphrey  May,  Knt. 
Edward  Lord  Newburgh. 
William  Lord  Grey  of  Wake  and 

William  Lenthall,  Esq. 


May  15th. 

March  30th. 

4th  April. 

20tli  of  January. 

10th  of  June. 

16th  of  February. 

7th  of  May,  Chancellor  for  life. 

3d  of  July,  Chancellor  in  reversion. 

1st  of  November. 

10th  of  June. 

16th  of  June. 

10th  of  June,  also  Chan,  of  Excheq. 

3rd  of  November. 

2d  of  April,  also  Chan,  of  Excheq. 

7th  of  July. 

13th  of  September. 

24th  of  June. 

3d  of  October. 

14th  of  May. 

14th  of  April. 

31st  of   Dec.    made    Chancellor   of 

England. 
3d    of    Nov.     afterwards    Earl    of 

Southampton. 
10th  of  May 
1st  of  July. 
7th  of  July. 

22d  of  June. 

16th  of  May. 
15th  of  June. 

7th  of  October. 
16th  of  September. 
27th  of  May. 

5th  of  June. 
23d  of  March. 
16th  of  April, 


CHAP. 
V. 


184 


Cfte  listtorp  of  tt)t 


CHAP.     1649. 

John  Bradshawe 

1st  of  August. 

^-        1655. 

Thomas  Fell 

1659. 

Sir  Gilbert  Gerard,  Bart. 

14th  of  May. 

12  Charles  11. 

Francis  Lord  Seymour. 

9th  of  July. 

16  Charles  11. 

Sir  Thomas  Ingram,  Kt. 

21st  of  July. 

23  Charles  11. 

Sir  Robert  Carr,  Bart. 

22d  of  February. 

34  Charles  11. 

Sir  Thomas  Chicheley,  Kt. 

21st  of  November. 

1  Wm.  and  Mary. 

Robert  LordWilloughby,  of  Ersby. 

21st  of  March. 

9  William  lU. 

Thomas  Earl  of  Stamford. 

4th  of  May. 

1  Queen  Anne. 

Sir  John  Leveson  Gower,  Bart. 

12th  of  May. 

5  Queen  Anne. 

James  Earl  of  Derby. 

10th  of  June. 

9  Queen  Anne. 

William  Lord  Berkeley,  of  Stratton, 

,  21st  of  September. 

1  George  1. 

Henage,  Earl  of  Aylesford. 

6th  of  November. 

2  George  I. 

Richard  Earl  of  Scarborough. 

12th  of  March. 

3  George  I. 

Nicholas  Lechemere,  Esq. 

19th  of  June. 

1  Geo.  11. 

John  Duke  of  Rutland. 

July  17th. 

8  Geo.  II. 

George  Earl  of  Cholmondeley. 

May. 

16  Geo.  II. 

Richard  Lord  Edgecumbe. 

December  22nd. 

34  Geo.  11. 

Thomas  Earl  of  KinnouU. 

27th  of  February. 

3  Geo.  111. 

James  Lord  Strange. 

13th  of  December. 

11  Geo.  111. 

Thomas   Lord   Hyde,    afterwards 

Earl  of  Clarendon. 

14th  of  June. 

22  Geo.  111. 

John  Lord  Ashburton. 

17th  of  April. 

23  Geo.  III. 

Edward  Earl  of  Derby. 

29th  of  August. 

24  Geo.  III. 

Thomas  Earl  of  Clarendon. 

31st  of  December. 

27  Geo.  III. 

Charles  Lord  Hawkesbury. 

6th  of  September. 

44  Geo.  III. 

Thomas  Lord  Pelham. 

11th  of  November. 

44  Geo.  111. 

Lord  Mulgrave. 

6th  of  June. 

45  Geo.  111. 

Earl  of  Buckinghamshire. 

14th  of  January. 

45  Geo.  III. 

Dudley  Lord  Harrowby. 

10th  of  July. 

46  Geo.  ni. 

Edward  Earl  of  Derby. 

12th  of  February. 

47  Geo.  111. 

The  Right  Hon.  Spencer  Perceval. 

30th  of  March. 

62  Geo.  111. 

The  Earl  of  Buckinghamshire. 

25th  of  May. 

52  Geo.  III. 

The  Right  Hon.  Charles  Bathurst 

23d  of  June. 

4  Geo.  IV. 

Nicholas  Lord  Bexley 

13th  of  February. 

9  Geo.  IV. 

The  Earl  of  Aberdeen,  K.T. 

26th  of  January. 

9  Geo.  IV. 

The  Rt.  Hon.  Charles  Arbuthnot 

2d  of  June. 

1  V^iUiam  IV. 

Lord  Holland 

25th  of  November. 

We  have  thus  sketched,  with  a  rapid  hand,  principally  from  official  documents,  a 
connected  and  authentic  liistory  of  tlie  duchy  of  Lancaster,  one  of  "  the  most  famous, 
princeliest,  and  stateliest  of  inheritances."     The  connexion  of  the  duchy  Avith  the 


Coiintp  ^3alatmt  of  S.ancngtfn  i85 

ducal  and  royal  House  of  Lancaster  is  too  close  to  adinit  of  separation.     Tliey  serAe    chap 
to  illustrate  and  to   ennoble  each  other,  and  to  have  exliibited  them  apart  would  ' 

have  derogated  from  the  tUguity  of  both.  In  each  successive  reign,  from  the  period 
when  Hemy  of  Bolingbroke  ascended  the  throne  of  tliis  kingdom,  to  the  present 
time,  Avith  the  exception  of  the  inteiTegnam  of  the  commonwealth,  the  kings 
of  England  have  enjoyed  the  title  of  duke,  and  the  revenues  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster,  both  of  which  are  now  in  possession  of  om-  gracious  sovereign 
William  IV.,  and  mil  descend  as  an  inalienable  inheritance  to  liis  royal 
successors. 

The  proceedings  of  the  duchy  court  during  a  period  of  four  huncked  and  thirty 
years,  are  full  of  interest  in  all  the  counties  of  the  kingdom  to  wliich  the  duchy 
extends,  but  in  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster  they  have  a  peculiar  claim  to  that 
distinction  ;  and  it  may  tend  essentially  to  the  convenience  of  those  who  at  present, 
or  in  future  times,  may  have  occasion  to  consult  the  records  of  that  duchy,  to  be 
presented  with  the  follo\ving  authentic  information,  both  as  to  then-  nature,  and  as  to 
their  places  of  deposit. 


Ci)e  Hue!)])  3i^rcortis» 


"  Return  from  the  deputy  Clerk  of  the  council,  and  keeper  of  the  Records  in 
the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  to  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Records  of  tliis 
Kingdom,  made  in  vii'tue  of  an  order  from  the  select  Committee,  with 
an  answer  to  the  enquiry.  Whether  all  the  Records  of  the  Duchy  are 
open  to  jjublic  inspection? 

"  In  obedience  to  your  Order  of  the  21st  February  last,  I  herewith  return 
answers  to  the  several  Queries  put  to  me,  with  respect  to  the  Records  of  this  Office, 
under  the  Custody  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Council,  and  the  two  Auditors,  to  whom  I,  in 
tliis  respect,  act  as  deputy ;  but  beg  leave  at  tlie  same  Tune  to  state,  that  such  only 
are  considered  as  public,  and  open  for  public  Inspection,  as  in  any  wise  relate  to  or 
concern  Judicial  Proceedings,  the  remainder  being  collected  for  the  purpose  of 
better  managing  and  improving  the  Inheritance  of  his  Majesty's  Possessions  m 
right  of  liis  Duchy  of  Lancaster;  and  the  Officers  of  the  Duchy  think  themselves  at 
liberty  to  withhold  them  from  public  Inspection,  except  for  the  purposes  before 
mentioned,  or  by  command  of  his  Majesty,  as  Duke  of  Lancaster,  signified  by  his 
chancellor  of  the  Duchy. 

VOL.  I.  2  B 


186  Cfje  ?^isitori)  of  tbe 

CHAP.  "  Tlie  Answer  to  the  Fii-st  Question,  is  contained  in  the  foUowino;  list  of  Records 

V. 

1_  in  the  Office  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster : — 


Records.     "  Account  of  the  puichase  Money  arising  fi-om  the  Sale  of  Rents  under  the  several 

acts  of  Parliament, — 29  Geo.  III.  1 780,  to  tlie  present  time. 
"  Awards  for  inclosures,  in  wliich   the  Duchy  Property  has  been  concerned, — 

27  Geo.  II.  1754,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  BUls  and  Answers  and  Depositions  in  the  Duchy  Court  of  Lancaster,  and  of  such 

as  liave  been  transmitted  from  the  County  Palatine  to  be  heai'd  in  the  Duchy 

Court, — 1  Hen.  VII.  1487,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Charters  and  Grants  of  various  Kings  imder  the  Great  Seal,  as  well  as  of  private 

Persons  (remaining  in  Boxes),   to  the  King's    Sons,    and  to   Ecclesiastical 

Persons,  of  Lands  A^ithin  tlie  Surveys  of  the  Duchy, — 1  King  Stephen,  1135, 

to  10  Queen  Elizabeth,  1558. 
"  Charters  and  Grants  in  Fee  Farm,  some  of  wliich  ai'e  em-oUed  in  the  Office,  and 

others   remain  on  Pai'chment,  with  the   Royal   Sign  Manual.      The  original 

Charters  of  the  Duchy  and  County  Palatine  to  the  King's  Son,  and  Grants  of 

Lands  to  Individuals  of  the  possessions  of  the  Duchy, — 51  Ed.  III.   1377,  to 

1  Queen  Anne,  1702. 
"  Court  Rolls  of  such  Manors  as  formerly  belonged  to  the  Duchy,  and  have  suice 

been  granted  away,  and  of  such  as  are  at  present  demised  by  Leases  under  the 

Duchy  Seal, — 1283,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Decrees  of  the  Duchy  Court  inrolled  in  Books,  and  some  drafts  with  the  Attorney 

General's  Signature, — 1  Hen.  VII.  1487,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Grants  of  Rents  under  the  several  Acts,  to  enable  the  Chancellor  and  Council  to 

dispose  of  the   Fee   Farm  and   otlier   Rents,    and   to    enfranchise    Copyhold 

Estates,— 20  Geo.  III.  1780,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Inquisitions  Post  Mortem,  consisting  of  2,400  of  various  Lands  and  Tenements, 

within  all  the  Counties  in  England, — 1  Hen.  V.  1413,  to  18  Cha.  I.  1642. 
"  Leases,  Drafts,  and  lurolments,  of  such  as  have  passed  the  Duchy  Seal,  of  Land 

and  Tenements,  Parcel  of  the  Possessions  of  the  Duchy, — 1  Hen.  VIII.  1510, 

to  the  present  Time. 
"  Ministers  and  Receivers  Accounts  of  the  Rents  and  Revenues  of  the  Duchy, — 

1135,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Patents  of  Offices  granted  under  the  Duchy  Seal,— 1  Hen.  VIII.  1510,  to  the 

present  Time. 
"Presentations  to  Livings  under  the   Duchy  Seal^ — 1  Hen.  VIII.  1510,  to  the 

present  Tune. 


Countp  ^aalatine  of  2Lanrae!tn%  187 

"  Rentals  and  Particulars  of  Lands  belonging  to  the  Duchy,  collected  together  in    chap. 
Bags  and  Presses,  and  consisting  of  various  other  documents,  of  such  Descrip-   [ 


tions,  that  they  cannot  he  comprised  under  one  Head,  registered  mto  Counties,  Records. 

and  in  the  Catalogue   are  the  Names   of  places  alphabetically  arranged, — 

51  Ed.  III.  1377,  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Reo-isters  of  Leases,  Warrants,  Grants,   and   other   Docmnents,   under   Royal 

Signs  Manual,  inroUed  in  Books,  of  John  Duke  of  Lancaster,  in  tlie  Time  of 

Edw.   the  Tliii'd,  and   of  various  Kings,   relating  to   the  Possessions   of  the 

Duchy,— 51  Edw.  IIL  1377,  to  8  Hen.  VI.  1430. 
"  Revenue  ProceecUngs  in  Duchy  Court  inrolled  in  Books, — 6  Cha.  I.  1630,  to 

the  present  time. 
"  Special  Commissions  of  Sewers,  and  to  survey  estates  belonging  to  the  Duchy, — 

23  Eliz.  to  the  present  Time. 
"  Privy  Seals  and  Bills,  being  the  particulars  prepared  previous  to  the  gi-anting 

any  Leases  or  Offices  under  the  Duchy  Seal, — 1  James  I.  to  the  present  Time. 
"  The  Building  wherein  the  Records  are  kept  is  situate  on  the  East  Side  of 
Somerset  Place,*  is  in  good  Condition  and  Security,  with  respect  to  the  Rooms  where 
the  Records  are  deposited ;  but  many  of  them  have  been  obliged  to  be  lately  removed 
from  the  lower  part  on  account  of  the  Dry  Rot,  which  has  affected  the  Casement 
Story.  As  the  Records  yearly  increase,  more  Room  will  be  wanted  at  some  future 
Pei-iod,  for  the  Accommodation  of  them.  The  Office  was  appropriated  to  the  use  of 
the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  under  the  Act  for  erectuig  the  Buildings  at  Somerset 
House,  and  is  therefore  public  Property.  But  tliis  office  was  given  to  the  Duchy  in 
consideration  of  Accommodations  and  Concessions  made  by  his  Majesty  in  right  of 
liis  Duchy,  from  such  parts  of  the  manor  of  Savoy  as  belonged  to  the  Duchy. 

"  The  Records,  except  those  of  very  ancient  Date,  (wliich  were,  in  some  degi-ee, 
destroyed  by  the  vennin  in  the  late  ofiice,)  are  in  good  preservation;  and  such  as 
are  not  contained  in  Books  are  arranged  in  Presses,  according  to  their  Dates,  tied 
up  with  paper  and  string,  and  numerically  indorsed ;  and  in  the  course  of  every 
summer  a  person  is  employed  to  remove  the  Dust  from  them,  and  put  new  paper 
and  string  to  such  as  want  it.  Tlie  Books  are  deposited  in  Closets,  indorsed  accord- 
ing to  their  dates  and  Subjects. 

"  There  are  correct  general  Indexes,  Repertories,  and  Calendars,  of  all  the 
Records  in  the  Office,  with  reference  to  the  particular  Subjects  wliich  they  contain; 
and  as  fresh  Records  are  transmitted  to  the  Office,  they  are  continued  to  be  entered 
in  existing  Calendars;  and  these  additions  are  minutely  attended  to,  without  any 
Expense  on  that  account  being  borne,  by  the  King  as  Duke  of  Lancaster. 
*  The  Records  are  now  removed  to  Lancaster-place. 
2b  2 


188  Cf)e  W^tov)]  of  tfte 

CHAP.  "  Several  Years  ago,  according  to  what  I  have  been  infonned,  a  Fii-e  happened  at 

"  the  Duchy's  Office,  Gray's  Inn,  by  wliich  accident  several  Records  were  destroyed, 
Henords.  and  some  ai-e  supposed  to  have  been  stolen.  Some  of  these  have  been  recovered 
from  persons,  wlio  have  voluntarily  sun-endered  them;  and  some  few  Indexes  and 
Cataloanies,  wliich  had  been  made  for  the  use  of  the  officers  who  had  the  care  of  the 
Records;  but  I  know  of  none  now  existing  in  any  place,  from  Avhence  they  ai-e  lOvely 
to  be  regained ;  and  such  ample  Repertories  have  since  been  made,  and  the  Records 
aiTanged  in  such  order,  that  they  would  hardly  be  of  use  if  recovered. 

"  I  am  employed  iu  the  arrangements  of  the  Records  myself,  and  a  clerk  assists 
me  in  placing  and  replacing  them,  for  which  no  Salary  or  allowance  whatever  is  paid, 
but  a  fee  of  8s.  6d.  is  chai'ged  for  the  production  of  each  Record,  which  is  the  sole 
allowance,  as  well  for  the  trouble  and  producing  them,  as  for  arranging  them  and 
keeping  them  in  proper  preservation,  and  for  making  the  Indexes,  Repertories,  and 
Calendars,  and  the  further  some  of  Is.  is  chai-ged  per  foUo  for  Copies,  or  \6cl.  if  there 
is  any  considerable  difficulty  arising  from  the  Antiquity  or  Language  of  the  Record. 
Attendance  with  the  Records  themselves  is  so  seldom  demanded,  that  no  Fee  has 
been  regularly  settied  for  that  purpose;  but  if  in  London,  a  charge  is  made  of  one 
guinea,  besides  the  coach-hire  ;  and  if  in  the  country,  two  guineas  a  day,  with  the 
travelhng  chai-ges,  and  all  other  expenses,  would  be  expected.  No  account  has 
been  kept  of  the  profits  derived  by  seai'ches  for  public  Records,  independent  of  those 
where  fees  have  been  received  for  other  searches,  firom  whence  any  average  can 
be  taken, 

"  The  answer  to  the  Sixth  Question  is,  I  presume,  contained  in  the  answer  to  the 
foregoing  questions. 

"  I  am  not  apprised  of  any  regulation  that  can  be  made,  for  rendering  the  use  of 
the  said  Records  more  convenient  for  proper  Inspection. 

"  R.  J.  Harper. 
"  May  8,  1800."  "  Deputy  Clerk  of  tlie  Council. 

"  Several  Fee  Farm  Rolls  of  this  Duchy  have  been  lately  transfen-ed  to  this 
Office,  from  the  Augmentation  Office." 

"  Return  to  a  further  Question  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Council  and  Keeper  of  the 
Records  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 

"  Query.  Are  there  in  yom-  custody,  as  such  Officer,  any  Calendars,  or  Indexes, 
to  the  Inquisitions  Post  Mortem  mentioned  in  your  Return  to  this  Committee,  and 
upon  what  plan  are  they  formed — and  are  they  in  a  state  sufficiently  coiTect  for 


Countt)  |3alatmc  of  aanrn^ter* 


189 


publication,  if  it  should  be  thought  to  conduce  to  the  benefit  of  tlie  Public  to  have    chai' 
the  same  printed?"  L_ 


"  Answer.  There  are,  as  stated  in  my  former  Return,  several  Inquisitions  Post  Records. 
Mortem,  Traverses,  and  other  Inquisitions  of  divers  kinds,  remaining  in  this  Office 
under  my  care,  cormuencing  in  the  beginning  of  the  Reign  of  Henry  V.  and 
finisliing  18  Charles  I.  amounting  to  nearly  24,000  in  number,  some  of  which  consist 
of  many  large  Skins  of  Parclunent  put  on  Files,  in  several  bundles,  secured  from 
futm-e  injuries  by  strong  covers,  and  to  wliich  there  is  a  regular  Alphabetical  Index 
and  Calendar,  in  one  Volume,  divided  into  the  several  Reigns  of  the  Kings  before 
mentioned,  and  containing  the  names  of  Persons,  and  all  places  mentioned  in  each 
Inquisition,  oniittuig  none  that  are  legible.  The  first  dii'ecting  immediately  to  the 
several  lands  eacli  person  died  possessed  of;  the  other  refemng  to  each  Inquisition, 
in  which  any  particular  Lands  are  to  be  found. 

"  I  know  of  no  objection  to  pnbHsliing  the  above  Index,  if  it  should  be  thought 
conducive  to  the  public  benefit;  and  understand  it  \\ill  fill  about  90  Pages  when 
printed. 

"  R.  J.  Harper. 
«  June  27,  1810."  "  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Council. 


The  following  is  an  Abstract  from  the  public  records  relating  to  the  Depositories 
of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster : — 


DEPOSITORIES  OF  THE  DUCHY  RECORDS. 


Records  mid  other  Instruments. 

Charters  and  Grants  : 

Under  the  great  Seal  of  Duchy  Lands    .     .     . 

Of  various  Kings 

Grants  in  Fee  Farm,  some  enrolled,  others  not, 

Confirmation  of  privileges 

Copies  of  Charter  relating  to  the  Duchy      .     . 
Exemplification  of  the  grant  of  creation  of  the  "^ 
County  Palatine,  and  creation  of  Duke  .     .  3 
Patents  of  Offices  under  the  Duchy  seal     .     . 

Grants  of  Rent  under  Statutes     .     .     •     .     . 


Date. 


th  .-J 

nne* 


Stephen  to  Elizabetl 
1135  to  1558 
51  Edw.  III.  to  Ann 
2  Henry  V.       .     .     . 
Henry  IV.  to  Edw.  I V.^ 

1  Edw.  IV.       •     •     •( 

I  Henry  Vlll.  to  the  ^ 
present  time.     .     .  ^ 

1780  to  the  presents 
time ' 


Where  kept. 


Duchy  office. 
Bodleian  library. 
Ashmolean  Museum. 

Bodleian  Library. 
Duchy  Office. 


Where  <le- 
positeii. 


190 


C6c  lisitorp  of  tfie 


CHAP. 
V. 


Records  and  other  Instruments. 


Inquisitions,  Post  Mortem 


Records.  Transcripts  of,   for    Duchy  Lands  in  Western^ 

Where  de-  Counties,  Dorset,  Somerset,  Wilts,  Hants   .3 

posited. 

Sewers — Special  Commissions 

Surveys : — Of  Woods  and  Underwoods  .  .  . 
Feoda  Militum  Regis  Caroli  Ducis  Lancastrise 
Privy  Seals  and  Bills 


Awards  for  Inclosures 


Presentations  to  livings  under  the  Duchy  Seal 

Court  Rolls, 

Of  manors  formerly  of  the  Duchy  and  of  those  "1 

now  in  demise ( 

Leases, 

Registers  of,  together  with  warrants  and  other 

documents,  under  the  sign  Manu; 
Drafts  and  inrolments  of    . 


ts  and  other  "1 
aal     .     .     .\ 


Rentals  and  Particulars : 

Of  Duchy  Lands,  alphabetically  arranged  .     . 

Fee  Farm  Rent  Rolls  during  the  Commonwealth 
Knight's  fees  therein  belong  to  Charles  L    .     ."^ 
General  Rental  Tempo.  Interregni     .     .     .     .^ 
The  like  for  Dorset,  Somerset,  Wilts,  and  Hants 
Of  ministers  and  receivers  .  

Of  money  arising  by  sales  under  statutes    .     . 

Of  receiver  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  and"j 
annexed  lands   of  Clithero,   Furneis,    and  > 

Houlton ^ 

Forests,  Pleas  of 

Pleading  and  Decrees,  by  Bill  and  answer  .     . 


Books  of  decrees  and  orders      .... 

Revenue  Proceedings      .     .     .     .     .     . 

A  few  Records  concerning  the  Duchy    .     .     . 


Date. 


1  Henry 

V.  to  Car.  L 

16  Car. 

[.    . 

.     .     . 

23  Eliz. 

to  the 

present 

time 

. 

. 

1575  . 

,     , 

* 

Car.  L 

1  Jac.  L 

to  the 

present 

time 

.     . 

.     . 

1754    to 

the 

present 

time 

. 

. 

1510    to 

the 

present 

time 

,          , 

1283   to   the    present 
time 


51Ed.  Ul.toSH.  VL 

1  Hen.  VHI.    to  the 
present  time 

51  Edw.    III.    to   the 

present  time 
Car.  I  and  II. 

1648       .     . 


1636  to  1640 
1135   to   the 

time     . 
1780   to    the 

time     .     . 


present 


present 


Date  wanting 

8  Edw.  III. 
1  Henry   VII. 

present  time 
1487  to    the 

time     . 
1630  to    the 

time    .     . 


to  the^ 
present 
present 


Where  kept. 


Bodleian  Library. 


University  Lib.  Camb. 


Duchy  Office. 


Augmentation  Office. 
University  Lib.  Camb. 

Duchy  Office. 

University  Lib.  Camb. 
King's  Rememb.  Office. 

Duchy  Office. 


Auditor's    Office    Land 
Revenue. 


Cotmtp  |3alatinf  of  aanfasften  I9i 

The  Seal  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  is  as  ancient  as  the  duchy  itself;  as  is  also    chap. 

the  Seal  of  the  County  Palatine.     The  Seal  of  the  Duchy  remains  with  the  chancel-  '. 

lor  of  the  duchy  at  Westminster ;  that  of  the  county  palatine  is  deposited  in  a 
chest  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  under  the  safe  custody  of  the  keeper  of  the  seal. 
All  grants  and  leases  of  land,  tenements,  and  offices,  in  the  county  palatine  of  37  Hen. 
Lancaster,  in  order  to  render  them  valid,  must  pass  under  the  seal  of  the  county  c.  le. 
palatine,  and  no  other ;  and  all  gi-ants  and  leases  of  lands,  tenements,  and  offices, 
out  of  the  comity  palatine,  and  within  the  survey  of  the  ducliy,  must  pass  under 
the  seal  of  the  duchy,  and  no  other  seal.*  The  custom,  however,  is,  to  seal  all 
deeds  of  lands,  &c.  Avitliin  the  county  palatine,  mtli  hoth  tlie  duchy  and  the  county 
palatine  seals,  and  all  mthout  the  county,  but  witliin  the  survey  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster,  A\dth  the  duchy  seal  only. 

These  seals  are  essentially  the  same  as  those  that  have  been  used  since  tlie  days 
of  John  of  Gaunt,  but  new  seals  are  engi-aved  in  eacli  successive  dukedom.  Those 
at  present  in  use  are  extremely  splendid,  and  may  rank  amongst  the  first  efforts 
of  art  in  this  department,  as  will  be  seen  on  reference  to  the  annexed  plate,  in 
which  they  are  correctly  delineated. 


THE  DUCHY  SEAL 

Represents  the  King  seated  on  his  Tlu'one  in  Royal  Robes,  wearing  the  Collar  Duchy 
of  tlie  Most  Noble  Order  of  the  Garter,  and  the  Imperial  Crown.  In  his  right 
hand  he  holds  the  Royal  Sceptre,  and  his  left  is  placed  on  the  Orb  and  Cross 
on  his  left  knee.  On  the  dexter  side  of  the  Throne,  on  a  compartment  adorned  with 
the  Union  Badge  of  the  Rose,  Thistle,  and  Shamrock,  is  placed  a  Lion  sejant 
croAvned  with  the  Imperial  Cro^vn,  and  supporting  between  the  Paws  a  Banner  of 
the  Arms  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  and  on  the  sinister 
side  of  the  Tlu'one,  on  a  lilce  compartment,  is  a  Unicorn  sejant  and  addorsed,  gorged 
with  a  Prince's  Crown,  and  supporting  a  banner  of  the  Arms  of  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster,  viz.  Gules,  3  Lions  passant  guardant  Or,  a  label  of  three  points,  each 
charged  with  three  fieurs  de  lis.  The  ground  of  the  Seal  is  diapered,  and  round 
it  is  the  Royal  Style, 

iiSiiUrlmuft  Quartu0  ari  gratia  ISritanntarum  Ilex,  jFibei  Btfen^ov. 

) 

*  Sir  Edward  Coke's  Fourth  Part  of  the  Institutes  of  the  Laws  of  England,  fo.  210. 


192  CljC  iJlSltOip  Of  ti)t 

CHAP.  On  the  Reverse  is  an  antique  Shield  of  the  Arms  of  the  Duchy,  placed  in 

^'  hend  dexter,  between  two  Ostrich  Feathers  erect  Ermine,  each  issuant  from  an 
Escrol.  The  Sliield  is  pendent  by  a  belt  from  a  Helmet,  fi-om  which  flows  the 
Lambrequin,  and  on  the  Helmet  rests  the  Crest,  being  upon  a  Chapeau,  turned  up 
Ermine,  a  Lion  statant  guardant,  gorged  with  a  Label  of  three  points,  each  charged 
Tvith  thi-ee  fleurs  de  lis. 

The  Seal  is  cuxumscribed  mth  the  inscription 

«6i0iUum  Bncatm  lianrastrhT. 


THE  COUNTY  PALATINE  SEAL, 

County  The  ground  of  which  is  diapered,  represents  the  King  on  Horseback  in  AiTQOur,  upon 
Seal'"''  a  Mount  in  base,  with  the  right  arm  elevated,  and  branchshiug  a  sword.  Upon  the 
King's  Helmet  is  placed  the  Crest,  being  on  a  chapeau,  a  Lion  statant  guardant. 
On  the  dexter  side,  under  the  upraised  Arm,  is  a  Rose  ensigned  by  a  Prince's 
Coronet.  The  Caparisons  of  the  Horse  are  ornamented  with  the  letter  £,,  ensigned 
with  a  like  Coronet,  and  with  the  Royal  Motto,  Dieu  et  Mon  Droit.  On  the  Mount, 
near  the  dexter  foot  of  the  King,  is  a  Talbot  Dog  courant,  gorged  with  a  coUar. 
The  whole  is  cu'cumscribed 

^igillum  CTomitat:  iJalatin:  Uanrastnap. 

The  Reverse  of  tliis  Seal  is  also  diapered,  and  bears  a  Shield  of  the  Arms  of 
the  Duchy,  as  above  described,  pendant  by  a  belt  fr-om  a  Coronet,  composed  of 
Crosses  patee  and  fleurs  de  lis,  occupying  the  upper  part  of  the  Seal.  On  a  Moimt, 
in  base,  are  represented,  on  each  side  of  the  Shield,  two  Talbots  addorsed,  each 
collared,  and  supporting  an  Ostrich  Feather  issuant  fi-om  an  Escrol, 
The  Seal  is  thus  cfrcumscribed, 

<ffiuUelmu0  (iuattu0  Uri  grat.  JSritanniarum  Utx:  dFiU:  Drf: 


Although  the  ofiices  of  the  duchy,  and  the  county  palatine,  except  that  of  the 
chancellor's,  are  little  subject  to  political  changes,  the  list  of  ofiicers  is  fr-equently 
varying  by  the  inevitable  operations  of  time.  At  present,  Jime,  1831,  these  lists 
stand  thus : — 


S(ai  oi  the  (County  palatini   ci  ^ancaeter. 


Sfttl  oi  tk  IBmbp  oi  ^amaBtet, 


Engraved  ly   H    MclviUe,  liom  Uir   Modiri.. 


■^ 


^ 


Cotintp  palatmt  of  Hancnsfttr. 


193 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  DUCHY  OF  LANCASTER. 


CHAP. 
V. 


Chancellor — Lord  Holland. 
Attorney-General — William  Walton,  Esq. 
King's  Sergeant — R.  G.  Cecil  Fane,  Esq. 
King's  Counsellors — F.  A.  Roe,   Esq.  and 

Robert  Palk,  Esq. 
Receiver-General — Sir  William    Knighton, 

Bart.  G.C.H. 
Auditor — Sir  George  Harrison,  K.C.H. 
Clerk  of  the  Council  and  Registrar — 

Fredk.  D.  Dan  vers,  Esq. 


Clerk  in  Court  in  Causes — W.Minchin,Esq. 
Surveyor  of  Lands    and  Woods    South  of 

Trent — Robert  Smirke,  jun.  Esq. 
Surveyor  of  Lands  North  of  Trent — John 

Bower,  Esq.  Ferrybridge. 
Surveyor  of  Woods  North  of  Trent — R.  I. 

Harper,  Esq. 
Usher  of   the  Duchy  Court — Mr.  Richard 

Edwards. 
Messenger — Charles  Coggins. 


Receivers  of  the  Rents. 


Lancashire — Wm.  Eccles,  Esq.  Manchester. 
Yorkshire  and  Notts — Thos.  Lack,  Esq. 
Leicestershire  and  Northamptonshire — Tho- 
mas Freer,  Esq. 


Staffordshire — Thomas  Lack,  Esq. 
Monmouthshire — William  Davies,  Esq. 
Essex  and  Hertford — T.  Hinckley,  Esq. 
Derbyshire — Rd.  Hinckley,  Esq.  Lichfield. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  COUNTY  PALATINE. 


Chancellor — Lord  Holland. 
Vice-Chancellor — Francis  L.  Holt,  Esq. 
Secretary — Robt.  J.  Harper,  Esq. 
Attorney-General — John  Crosse,  Esq. 
Constable    of    Lancaster    Castle — William 

Hulton,  Esq. 
Registrar,   Examiner,    and    First    Clerk — 

Wm.  Shawe,  Esq. 
Seal  Keeper — Robt.  Wm.  Hopkins,  Esq. 


Cursitors    and    Clerks    of    the   Chancery  - 
William     Wilson,     Nicholas 
Grimshaw,     Christopher     B. 
Walker,  Robert  R.  Hopkins 
Charles  Birch,  Esqrs. 

Acting  Cursitor — N.  Grimshaw,  Esq. 

Prothonotary — Earl  of  Clarendon. 

Deputy — 

Clerk  of  the  Crown— J.  T.  Batt,  Esq. 

Clerks    of  the   Peace — Edw.    Gorst,    Esq. 
Thos.  Birchall,  Esq. 


Messenger — Charles  Coggms. 


The  use  of  seals  is  of  very  ancient  date.     The  Romans,  during  the  four  centui-ies  Antiquity 

•'  "of  seals. 

that  they  occupied  tliis  country,  had  them  in  constant  use ;  but  Ave  do  not  find  that 
in  Lancashu-e,  or  in  any  other  part  of  the  kingdom,  that  they  were  used  by  our  Saxon 
ancestors. — Tlie  Normans  again  introduced  them ;  and  the  progress  of  the  use  of 
seals,  till  they  became  almost  universal,  is  exliihited  with  considerable  precision  in 
a  paper  on  that  subject,  in  the  Harleian  MSS.*  in  the  British  Museiun,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy : — 

*  Harl.  MSS.  no.  6079,  fo.  109. 
VOL.  r.  2  c 


194  €f)t  ?^iston)  of  tfte 

CHAP.  «  PARTICULER  VSE  OF  SEALES. 

V. 

"  Fii'st,  y  Kinge  only. 

"  At  fii'st,  y^  kinge  oulye,  and  a  few  other  of  y'  nobilitye  besides  hym  vsed  y'  seale. 
"  Then  Nohleme,  and  none  other. 

"  Afterwai'des  nohleme  for  y"  moste  parte,  and  none  other.  As  a  man  maye 
see  in  y'  Historye  of  Battell  Ahbaye,  where  Richard  Lucye,  chiefs  Justice  of  Eng- 
lande  in  y'  tyme  of  kinge  Hen.  y"  seconde,  ys  reported  to  have  blamed  a  meane 
Subiecte,  for  that  he  vsed  a  pryvate  seale,  wher  as  that  ptayned  (as  he  saide)  to 
y'  kinge  and  nobilitye  onlye. 

"  At  this  tyme  also  (as  John  Rosse  noteth)  they  vsed  to  engi'aue  in  theyre 

scales  Tlieire    owne   picktm-es,  and  Counterfaytes  couered  w'*'  a  long  coate  ouer 

theire  Armours. 

"  Vse  of  sealinge  by  Gentileme  of  y"  better  Sorte. 

"  After  this  y'  Gentilemen  of  y"  better  sorte  toke  vp  y'  fasliion.  And 
because  they  were  not  all  Warriours,  they  made  seales  engraved  with  their 
seueral  coates  or  sliieldes  of  Armes,  for  (HfTerence  sake,  as  y'  same  Author 
reporteth. 

"  Common  vse  of  Sealinge. 

"  At  lengthe  aboute  y''  tyme  of  kinge  Edwai-de  y'  tliirde,  seales  became 
verye  comon ;  so  that  not  only  suche  as  bore  ai-mes  vsed  y'  seale,  but  other 
me  fashioned  to  themselues  signets  of  theu-e  owiie  deuice.  Some  takinge  y'  letters 
of  theii-e  owne  names,  some  flowres,  some  knotts  and  flowrishes,  some  byrdes  or 
beastes,  or  some  other  thinges,  as  now  be  helde  daylye  in  vse. 

"  Other  maner  of  Sealinges  diiferinge  from  those  aboue  mentioned, 

as  foUoweth : — 
"  Some  other  manors  of  sealinge  besids  these  have  bene  hai-de  of  amongst  vs,  a.s 
namely,  that  of  kinge  Edwarde  y=  thyi-de,  by  w"'  he  gave  vnto  Norma  y°  Hunter, 
y'  Hop  et  y'  Hopto^v^le,  w"'  all  ye  boundes  vsiddowne,  and  in  A^itnesse  it  was  soothe. 
He  byt  y'  waxe  w"'  liis  fore  Toothe. 

"  Tlie    like   was    William    y"    conqueroirrr. 

"  I  Willia  kinge  geve  to  thee,  Powsen  Roydeu,  my  Hope  et  my  hope 
"  Landes,  w""  y'  boundes  A-p  and  downe,  from  heaven  to  earthe, 
"  from  earthe  to  hell,  for  thee  et  thyne  to  dwelle,  from  me  and 
"  myne  to  thee  et  thyne,  for  a  bo  we  and  a  broade  arrowe  when  I  come 
"  to  hunt  vpo  yaiTOW ;  in  Avitnesse  this  is  his  soothe,  I  byt  this  waxe 
"  Av""  my  toothe,  in  the  presence  of  Magg.  Mawde  and  Margary, 
"  and  of  my  thii'de  sonne  Henry." 


(Counti?  ^3alntine  of  ilanrasitfr.  195 

"  Another   forme  is,  that  of  Aherii-ke   de   Veer   conteyiiinge   y'  donation   of    chap. 

Hatfielde,  to  y'  w"''  lie  affixed  a  short  black  hafted  knife,  like  to  an  olde  halfpenny   

whyttell,  in  steede  of  a  seale,  w"'  dyueres  snche  like. 

"  Some  phappes  will  thinke  that  these  latter  were  receaued  in  comon  vse  and 
custome,  and  that  they  were  not  rather  deuices  and  pleasures  of  a  fewe  singular 
psoimes.  Suche  are  no  lesse  deceaued  the  they  that  deeme  euery  charter  that 
hathe  no  seale  annexed  to  be  as  aunciente  as  y'  conquest ;  wheras  in  deede  sealinge 
was  not  comonly  vsed,  vntyl  y'  tyme  of  kinge  Edwarde  y'  thii-de." 

From  the  institution  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  seals  were,  no  doubt,  in  use,  and 
the  words,  "  The  seal  hitherto  used,"  m  the  act  above  quoted,  serves  to  prove  that  it 
was  not  now  introduced  for  the  first  time. 

In  the  British  Museum*  there  is  a  manuscript  entitled  "  Ducatus  Lancastriae," 
on  the  subject  of  the  honors  and  dignities  of  the  dukedom  of  Lancaster,  written  in 
the  age  of  Elizabeth,  and  attributed  to  Sii-  William  Fleetwood,  recorder  of  London, 
one  of  the  worthies  of  Lancasliii'e,  wliich  supplies  an  hiatus  in  the  early  period  of 
the  history  of  the  Honor  of  Lancaster,  wherein  the  learned  civilian  scrutinizes  the 
claims  of  Edmund  Crouchback,  to  the  title  of  Earl  of  Lancaster,  Avith  as  little 
ceremony  as  he  was  accustomed  to  use  in  scrutinizing  the  representations  of  the 
suitors  in  the  recorder's  court. 

«  DUCATUS  LANCASTRI^. 

"  Hitherto  I  have  trauelled  to  declare,  how  Lancaster  is  an  antieut  Honor,  and  Honors 
the  rather  for  that  the  Dukedome  of  Lancaster  is  made  and  incorporated  of  a  num-  nities  be- 
ber  of  honors.     Tliis  sunple  DiscoATse  may  serue  for  a  declaration  of  all  y^  honors  conq^uest. 
belonging  to  y'  same  ;  and  fiulher,  y'  honors  were  dignities  before  the  conquest,  wee 
may  gather  y"  same  to  bee   soe  by  the  agi'eement  y'  Avas  made  betweene   King 
Stephen  and  Henry  Duke  of  Normandy,  sonne  to  Maude  j'  Empresse,  for  succes- 
sion of  the  crowne.     This  Stephen  was  sonne  to  Adela,  daughter  to  y  conqueror. 
Thus  much  may  suffice  as  soue'eign  of  the  Honor  of  Lancaster. 

"  How  after  y'  death  of  K.  Stephen,  Henry  Plantagenet,  (filz  de  Empresse) 
was  king  of  England,  and  how  he  had  issue  Heiny,  Avhom  bee  croAAiied  king  in  his 
life  tyme ;  and  after  Richai'd  Cceur  de  Lyon,  Geffiiey  Duke  of  Brittaine,  and  after 
John,  Counte  Sanns  Terre,  and  lastly,  Isabella.  Tliis  Henry  y"  2''  had  greate 
discomfort  of  his  cluldren ;  for  Henry,  his  second  sonne,  being  croAvned  King  of 
this  realme  in  his  fathers  life  tyme,  did  take  part  w"'  y"  french  king  in  open  battaUe 
against  his  ovme  father,"  &c. 

*  Harl.  Coll.  No.  2077. 
2  c2 


196  €l)t  lisitorj)  of  tftf 

CHAP.  "  Hemy,  through  greefe  of  myiid,  departed  tliis  life  ;  Rich.  Coeur  de  Lyon  was 

^'       crowned  king,  and  did  penance  for  his  rebellion  against  liis  father.     The  King 


How  Lan-  Richard  did  create  John  Counte  Sanns  Ten-e  Earle  of  Lancaster,  and  tonne  and 

held.         ten-itory  of  Bristole,  y  Prouinces  of  Nottingham,  Devonshii-e,  and  CornewaU,  but 

alsoe  w"'  many  other  stately  things.     To  bee  short,  tliis  now  earle  of  Lancaster,  his 

sayd  brother,  kinge  Richard,  being   in  the    holy  land  m   the  wan-es  against  y' 

enemies  of  Christ,  did  enjoye  the  crowne  and  kingdome  very  unnaturally,  having 

been  so  lately  aduanced  to  so  great  dignitie  and  yearly  reuenues  by  his  brother. 

Well,  suche  was  the  successe  of  tyme  that  he  dyed  withoute  issue,  and  leaning 

yong  Arthur-   and  liis  sister,  the  cliildren  of  Jeffrey,  liis  next  brother  and  heire. 

John  neuerthelesse  was   crowned  king  of  Englaude,  whoe  had  issue  Henry  and 

Richard,  besydes  4  daughters.     Jolm  dyeth,  Henry,  his  eldest  sonne,  is  crowned 

kino-.     The  w'"  Henry  gi-aunteth  to  his  brother  y'  earledome  of  CornewaU.     Hee 

gi-aunted  vnto  him  gi-eate  and  ample  possessions.     Tliis  king  Henry  did  marry 

Helinor,  y'   daughter  of  Raymon,   y'   earle   of  Proumce.     In  y'  26"'  yeare  of  y' 

kino-  there  came  into  England  an  auntieut  noble  man,  Peirs  of  Savoi.     This  noble 

man  fuit  "vdr  multo  prudeutissimus  quo    Rex  Henr  3.  famUiai-iter  est  usus,  hunc 

ppter  gravitate   prudentiamque  rex  himianiter  accepit  lumcque  in  consilio  in  rebus 

agendis.     Vnto  y'  noble  man  did  y'  king  [give]  the  whole  earledome  of  Lancaster, 

pell  of  w'^''  earldome  is  y'  Savoy,  a  place  w""  out  y°  Bai-res  of  the  new  temple,  London, 

y'  w'"'  in  those  dayes  were  knomi  by  y*  name  of  a  Vanaforia,  and   sithence  hath 

bene  named  Manor  Mori  Templi,  att  this  day,  the  Savoy,  pcU  of  the  possessions  of 

y'  dukedome  of  Lancaster ;  y'  sayd  Pierce  of  Savoy  did  build  him  a  liouse  there,  and 

did  calle  y'  by  y*"  name  of  y"  countrye  from  Avhenc  hee  came,  vizi,  y'  Savoy ;  y' 

Piers  groweing  into  gi-eate  Age,  being  earle  of  Lancaster,  his  heii-e  being  an  alien 

borne,  could  not  inheritt  y"  earldome  of  Lancaster  for  y'  cause,  y'  did  Escheate  vnto 

y=  king,  as  y'  may  appere  by  Magna  Charta  31.,  and  y'  being  vestid  in  y"  crowne. 

Hereafter  yo"  shall   [know  or  learn]   how  kinge  Henry  the  3''  disposed  of  y*  same. 

King  Henry  hauing  issue   6  sonnes   and  twoe  daughters,   vizi.  John,  Rich.,  W"'., 

Hem-y,  whoe  dyed  w"'  out  issue,  Edward  y"  prince,  after  king  by  succession,  and 

likewise  Edmund,   surnamed  Crouchebacke,   of  whom  is  descended  y'  famiiie  and 

right  no"'  house  of  Lancaster.     The  names  of  liis  daughters  were  Margi-ett  queene 

of  Scotts,  and  Beatrice  dutchesse  of  Brittaine.     The  said  king  Henry  y'  3^  ad  exhal- 

tacolm  sanguinis  sin,  did  by  liis  Lores  Patents,  dated  att  Ljiicolne  y'  8'*"  daye  of 

August,  on  y'  22''  yeai-e  of  his  raigne,  grante  vnto  his  dearely  beloved  sonne 

Edmund  honorem  de    Lancaster,  cu  olB  ho.  wardis   releuijs  Escaet  redd  et  oilj 

alijs  ad  honor  ptinent  ad  hend.  sibi  et  haer  suis  de  coi-pe  suo  Item  pocr  impptuu. 

The  same  king  alsoe  gi-aunted  and  confirmed  vnto  his  sonne  Edmund  ad  honor  de 


Coimtp  laalati'nt  of  Sniirastfr.  197 

Leycester,  cum  ollj  lio.  vt  supra.  Dat  17"  Juuij,  a"  55  regui  sui  p'  liend  sibi  et    chap. 
hsered.  suis.  '. — 

"  Before  I  proceede  any  further  I  am  to  note  in  y'  place,  y'  I  haue  not  sett 
downe  any  manner  of  proofe  or  record,  y'  euer  y'  said  Edmunde  was  created  earle 
either  of  Lancaster  or  Leycester,  therefore  many  one  y'  hath  a  quii-ke  mil  moue  y' 
question  vnto  Avhomsoever  shall  hee  good  grace  chancelor  of  y'  Dutchie,  how  cometh 
it  to  passe,  that  Edmund  Crouchehacke  shoiUd  he  earle  of  Lancaster,  and  after  earle 
of  Leycester,  and  carry  y'  name  and  stUe  and  (hgnitie,  and  y'  there  is  not  any 
manner  of  record  or  proof  extant  y'  euer  hee  was  created  either  earle  of  Lancaster  or 
Leycester  ;*  according  to  antient  lawes  of  y'  crowne  vsed  for  y*  creation  of  dukes, 
marquesses,  and  earles  in  y'  behalf.  For  the  truth  is,  y'  if  y'  please  her  Ma"'  to 
graunt  vnto  W™  Fleetwood,  S'jeant  att  Lawe  and  Recorder  of  Loudon,!  and  his 
heii'es,  euer  y'  honor  of  Tutbury,  w""  y'  appurtenances,  by  y'  gi-ant  y°  said  W"'  is 
not  a  wliitt  att  all  of  better  dignitie  than  hee  was  before,  but  yo"  must  weighe  in 
your  mynd  y'  there  is  a  natural  earle,  and  an  earle  artificiall,  and  earle  artificiall  is 
an  earle  created,  fi-amed,  made,  ordeined  by  Lrs.  Patents  fi'om  y"  king,  w""  y"  cere- 
monie  tlierevnto  belonging ;  but  an  earle  natural  is  euermore  a  king's  sonne,  who, 
by  his  bii'tli  right,  is  an  earle  borne  by  reason,  y'  by  y'  lawes  of  the  crowne  evly 
king's  sonne  is  an  earle  borne,  &c. 

"  And  as  I  said  before  of  king  John,  whoe  was  named  by  y^  whoU  world  John 
Counte  Sans  Terre,  vntil  sometyme  as  y'  pleased  y"  king  Richard  to  gi-aunt  liim  y' 
aforesaid  Honno"^  of  Lane,  and  then  hee  was  named  earle  of  Lancaster,  not  by  crea- 
tion but  by  bii'th  right.  Euen  soe  doe  I  say  y'  y"  said  Edmund  Croucliebacke  being  a 
kings  sonne,  and  alsoe  a  covnte  Sans  TeiTe  vnto  whom  y''  king  had  [ad]  Exlialtacom 
sanguis  sui,  first  did  grante  y'^  sayd  Honor  of  Leycester,  and  by  those  places  hee 
was  named  y^  earle  of  Lancaster,  A-izl.  The  earle  of  Lancaster  and  Leycester. 
Here  alsoe  may  gi-owe  a  question,  first,  in  w'  countreyes  y'  said  honors  did  extend, 
and  then  whether  y^  whole  dukedome  of  Lancaster  did  concist  upon  these  honors ; 
yea  or  noe.  Fii'st,  the  honor  of  Lancaster,  as  by  Record  y*  doth  appere,  doth  extend 
cheifly  vnto  Lane.  Middlesex,  Norf.  Sufi".  Lyncoln,  Nottingham,  Derby,  Ebor. 
Rotell.  and  Staff,  and  into  (Uuers  other  countries. 

"  This  Echnund  Crouchehacke  behig,  as  I  said,  y°  2*  sonne  of  king  Henry 
y'  3'^,  and  being  alsoe  aduanced  to  the  aforesaid  honors  and  dignities,  had  2  sonnes, 
Thomas  and  Henry,  and  after  dyed.     Tliis  Tho.  erroniously  attainted  in  Parliam' 

*  No  assertion  can  be  more  erroneous  than  this ;  Prince  Edmund  was  created  earl  of  Leicester  by 
letters  patent,  49  Hen.  III.,  and  earl  of  Lancaster  51  Hen.  III.,  both  which  patents  are  still  extant. 

t  The  supposed  author  of  this  MS. 


V. 


198  €i)t  i^isitory  of  tht 

CHAP,  holden  by  K.  E.  f  2.  by  y'  poUicie  of  Hugh  Spencer  y"  father,  and  Hugh  Spencer 
y'  Sonne,  and  was  putt  to  deathe  at  Pomfrett,  but  aftr  y"  deathe  of  Edward  y'  2^  in 
a  parliam'  holden  a°  1°  E.  3,  y^  said  erronious  judgem'  was  reuersed,  and  y'  said 
earles  doomes  and  possessions  restored  to  y^  next  heire,  w'^'"  was  y'  said  Henry, 
brother  of  y'^  said  Thomas,  wliereby  y'  king,  botli  earle  of  Lane,  and  Leycester. 
His  issue,  whoe,  by  lineal  descent,  was  not  only  earle  of  Lane,  and  Leycester,  butt 
alsoe  Heritor  to  cUuers  other  earldomes,  honors,  manors,  and  dominions,  y  w"''  to 
recite  were  too  long.  The  said  Henry  was  afterwards  created  duke  of  Lancas- 
ter, by  king  E.  y'  S"*.  The  said  Henry  then  created  Duke  of  Lancaster,  had 
issue  one  onlie  daughter  named  Blanch,  was  afterwards  mai-ried  to  John  of  Gant, 
by  means  whereof  y*  said  John  was  created  Duke  of  Lane,  and  by  y"  assent 
of  y"  lady  Blanch  liis  wife,  all  y'  possessions  of  y'  said  dukedome,  by  circumstance 
of  lawe,  were  lawfully  conueyed  to  the  said  John  Duke  of  Lancaster  and  y^  said 
Lady  Blanch,  and  to  y'  heii-es  of  y"  body  of  y'  said  John  Duke  of  Lane,  lawefully 
begotten,  after  w"""  y°  said  John  Duke  of  Lane,  had  issue  of  y°  said  Blanch,  Henry 
of  Bullingbrooke,  whoe  was  afterwards  king  by  name  of  H.  y"  4"',  wlioe  had 
issue  H.  5.  H.  y'  5"'  had  issue  King  H.  y°  6"',  founder  of  Eton  College,  neai'e 
Windsor,  and  also  founder  of  y'  Kings  college,  Cambridge,  w'""  H.  y°  the  6""  had 
issue,  after  whose  death  y"  right  and  title  of  y'  said  Dukedome  by  force  of  j'  said 
Eutaille,  vnto  John  Earle  of  Somersett,  sonne  of  y^  said  John  Earle  of  Lane,  begot- 
ten of  Katherine  Swineford,  y'  3*  wife  of  y*  Duke  of  Lane,  w"'"  John  earle  of  Somer- 
sett had  issue  Margi-ett,  y*  countesse  of  Richmond  and  Derby,  w'*"  Margrett  had 
issue  H.  j'  7"",  who  married  Elizabeth,  y*  eldest  daughter  of  Edward  y'  4"',  by 
whom  he  had  issue  K.  H.  y*  8'\  who  had  issue  oure  Soueraigne  lady  y"  Queene 
Elizabeth,  in  whose  sacred  person  are  conteyned  y"  twoe  houses  of  Lancaster  and 
Yorke. 

"  Here  in  tliis  place  it  is  my  intention  to  sett  downe  what  became  of  y"  Duke- 
dome of  Lancaster,  and  of  all  Franchises  thereunto  belonging  att  y'^  instant  when 
Henry  y'^  BuUingbrooke  did  take  up  the  kingdome  of  England,  so  y'  I  see  y'  y^  lawe 
is  cleere  y'  y°  said  Dukedome  and  dignitie,  and  all  y°  preleminaries  as  well  m 
name  as  in  stUe  and  title  to  all  intents  and  purposes  were  extinguished  and  deter- 
mined, and  then  y'  was  not  further  a  dukedome  of  Lancaster,  but  y'  was  refoi-med 
to  one." 


Counti)  |3alatmc  of  2.anra5trr. 


199 


Creation  of  the  county  palatine. — Dr.  Kuerden's  letter  on  its  antiquity. — Reasons  for  conferring  the 
palatine  privileges. — Form  of  legal  processes  in  the  county. — Mode  of  electing  the  sheriff. — 
List  of  sheriffs  from  the  earliest  records  to  the  present  time. — Violation  of  the  liberty  and  pro- 
perty of  the  subject. — Ancient  petition  to  parliament. — Punishment  of  outlaws. — Prohibition  of 
liveries. — Exigent.— Appointment  of  sheriff  during  the  civil  wars. —  His  oath. — Courts  of  the 
county  palatine. — Ecclesiastical  courts. — Synopsis. — Description  of  the  various  courts. — Con- 
templated removal  of  the  assizes. — Ancient  indictment  of  the  high  sheriff. — Inferior  courts  of 
the  county  palatine. — Public  records  of  the  county  palatine,  civil  and  ecclesiastical. 


LOSELY  connected  witli  tlie  duchy  of  Lancaster 
are  the  courts  and  pri\Tileges  of  tlie  county  palatine. 
Upon  the  subject  of  the  palatinate  privileges,  Selden 
observes,  "  that  the  counties  of  Chester  and  Durham 
are  such  by  prescription  or  immemorial  custom,  or,  at 
least,  as  old  as  the  Norman  conquest ;  but  tliat 
Lancashire,  as  a  palatine  county,  is  of  more  modern 
date,  and  was  so  created  by  Edward  IIL  after  it 
became  a  duchy,  in  favour  of  Henry  Plantagenet, 
first  earl  and  then  duke  of  Lancaster,  Avliose  heiress  being  married  to  John  of  Gaunt, 
the  king's  son,  the  franchise  was  greatly  enlarged  and  confirmed  in  parliament,  to 
honour  John  of  Gaunt  himself,  whom,  on  the  deatli  of  his  father-in-law,  the  king 
had  also  created  Duke  of  Lancaster."* 

Upon  this  subject,  the  authorities  are  conflicting :  Lancashire  appears  to  have 
enjoyed  palatine  jurisdiction  under  earl  Morcar,  before  the  Nonnan  conquest ;  but 
after  that  event,  which  changed  the  whole  frame  of  society,  these  privileges  remained 
in  abeyance  tUl  they  Avere  partially  revived  in  the  early  part  of  the  twelfth  century,  and 
fully  confirmed  in  the  time  of  "  the  good  duke  of  Lancaster,"  and  of  Jolm  of  Gaunt. 
Tlie  folloAving  original  letter  from  Dr.  "  Kuerden,  in  his  own  hand,"  to  his 
brother,  both  in  law  and  in  pursuits,  Mr.  Randle  Holme,  is  found  in  the  Harleiau 
Collection  in  the  Britisli  Museum  :t 

*  Tit.  Honour,  part  ii.  sec.  8.  p.  677.  t  Cod.  2,042. 


CHAP. 
VI. 

Creation 
of  the 
county  pa- 
latine. 


Henry 

Plantau;e- 
net. 


200  Wi)t  llSitOip  of  t\)t 

CHAP.  "  Brother  Hulme,  "  Preston,  20'"  Jan.  1664. 

^'  "  Being  so  unfortunate  in  my  necessitous  occasions  as  not  being  permitted  to 

visit  you  at  Chester,  I  could  do  no  less  than  salute  you  by  my  friend,  Mr.  King,  who 
is  to  be  in  your  city  at  1 2  of  tliis  Instant,  at  Mr.  Greg's,  as  I  conceive.  I  hope  my 
sister  Holme  and  your  little  ones  are  all  in  good  health.  I  desbe,  if  your  leisure 
•will  permit,  to  send  me  by  this  bearer,  my  townsman,  what  you  have  of  CoU.  Wor- 
den's  descent,  and  likewise  an  old  role  or  bundle  of  transcripts  I  left  Anth  you  long 
agoe,  concerning  Fazakerley  and  Walton  lands  nere  Liverpoole.  Mr.  To^vnly  and 
myseK  are  in  hott  pursuit  of  our  coutryes  aifaires,  and  in  retriuing  the  glory  of  our 
Palatinate  out  of  monumetal  ashes,  and  are  able  by  tliis  time  to  prove  our  county  a 
Dr.  Kuer-  Palatinate  Jurischction  under  Rog.  Pictavensis,  before  the  gi-and  survey  of  Dooms- 
county  ^  day's  Record  in  y'  Echq'  and  forfeted  before  that  time,  restored  again  in  WiH  the 
pa  a  me.  gg^j^^^pg  \{^q^  forfeited  againe  by  Pictavensis  at  the  battell  of  Teuerchbuy,  in  the 
beginning  of  Hemy  the  first,  bestowed  then  on  Stephen  before  he  was  king,  and 
continuated  for  his  reigne  in  his  son,  W.  Comes  Bolomse  et  Moritoniae,  till  about  the 
5""  of  Richard  the  first,  then  giuen  to  J°  Earl  Moreton,  afterwards  to  P.  of  Savoy, 
and  by  Henry  3''  confened  on  Echnund  Crouchback,  our  fu'st  earl  by  charter,  though 
some  of  these  latter  had  not  their  Jura  Regalia  as  at  first.  S",  I  am  troublesome  in 
tliis  discourse,  and,  therefore,  in  hast  shal  rest  and  subscribe, 

"  Your  Brother,  "  Ric.  Kuerdc. 

"  For  M'  Handle  Holme,  over  against  the  Twoo  Churches,  in  Chester,  Thes." 

County  Counties  palatine  are  so  called  a  palatio,  because  the  owners  thereof,  the  earl  of 

pa  atme.  (^j^gg^^^.^  ^^^  bisliop  of  Durham,  and  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  had  in  those  counties  jwra 
regalia  as  fully  as  the  king  had  in  his  palace ;  regalem  potestatem  in  omnibus*  The 
peculiar  jurisdiction  and  form  of  proceedings  of  the  courts  of  law,  in  the  county 
palatine  of  Lancaster,  are  the  result  of  those  privileges  which  were  gi-anted  to  its 
Reason  early  earls  and  dukes,  to  induce  them  to  be  more  than  ordinarily  watchful  against 
granted,  the  predatory  incursions  from  the  Scotch  border,  and  to  prevent  their  tenants  fi-om 
leaving  the  territory  defenceless  and  exposed  to  hostile  aggressions,  while  seeking 
redress  at  the  more  distant  tribunals  of  the  realm.f  Law  was  to  be  adminis- 
tered by  the  officers  and  ministers  of  the  duke,  and  under  his  seal,  and  anciently 

*  Bracton,  lib.  iii.  c.  8.  sec.  4. 
t  Upon  this  account  there  were  formerly  two  other  counties  palatine,  border  counties,  as  they 
were  called,  Pembrokeshire  and  Hexhamshire;  the  latter  now  united  with  Northumberland;  but  these 
were  abolished  by  parliament;  the  former,  27  Henry  VIII. ;  the  latter,  14  Elizabeth.  By  the  first 
mentioned  of  these  acts,  the  powers  of  owners  of  counties  palatine  were  much  abridged,  the  reason  for 
their  continuance  having  in  a  manner  ceased,  though  still  all  writs  are  witnessed  in  their  names,  and 
all  forfeitures  for  treason  by  the  common  law  accrue  to  them. 


CoiintP  t^tilatiiif  of  ^Lanrastrr,  201 

all  offences  were  said  to  be  against  his  peace,  liis  sword  and  dignity,  and  not    chai'. 

as  now   "  against    the    peace  of  om-    lord    the   king,    his    crown  and   dignity."  '. 

Tlie  king's  orilinary  writs  for  redi-ess  of  private  grievances,  or  the  punishment  of 
offences  between  man  and  man,  were  not  available  within  the  county  palatine,  sucli 
AVTits  then  ran  in  the  name  of  the  duke;  but  in  matters  between  the  king  and  the 
subject,  tlie  palatine  privileges  could  not  contravene  tlie  exercise  of  tlie  sovereign 
power,  and  the  prerogative  Avrits  were  of  force,  lest  injuries  to  the  state  should  be  Form  of 
remediless.     Since  27  Henry  VIII.  all  ^viits  have  run  in  the  name  of  the  king,  and  cess  in  the 
axe  tes'd  before  the  owner  of  the  franchise.       Hence  it  is  that  all  ordinary  ^lits  palatine  of 
out  of  the  king's  court  at  Westminster,  for  service  in  tliis  county,  are  adtb'essed  to  the 
cliancellor  of  the  duchy,  commanding  lum  to  chrect  the  sheriff  to  execute  them,  and 
that  all  processes  to  that  officer,  out  of  the  chancery  of  the  county  palatine,  are  not 
tes'd  before  the  king  or  his  justices  at  Westminster,  as  iu  other  counties.     The 
franchise  and  revenue  of  the  duchy  being  under  (Ufferent  guiding  and  governance 
from  those  of  the  crown,  all  honours  and  immunities  and  all  redress  mthin  this 
county,  Anth  very  few  exceptions,  must  be  derived  from  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy, 
as  the  principal  minister  of  the  Idng,  in  his  capacity  of  duke  of  Lancaster.     Justices 
of  assize,  of  gaol  delivery,  and  of  the  peace,  are,  and,  ever  since  the  creation  of  the 
county  palatme  of  Lancaster,  have  been  made  and  assigned  by  cormnission,  under  the 
seal  of  the   coimty  palatine,*   and  the   sheriffs    for   tlie  county   of  Lancaster  are 
appointed  in  the  same  way.     The  election  of  sheriff  for  tliis  county  palatine,  in  1824, 
fonned  an  exception  to  the  general  rule.     The  practice  is  to  date  the  vrvit  before  liis 
majesty,  "  at  Ids  palace  at  Westminster;"  but  on  this  occasion,  when  John  Entwistle, 
Esq.  of  Foxholes,  was  appointed,  that  dociunent  was  dated  from  "  the  palace  of  28  Ed.  i. 
Brighton."     Anciently  slieriffs,  like  coroners,  were  chosen  by  the  freeholders;!  but  9  Ed.  ii. 
popular  elections  gro'ning  tumultuous,  this  practice  was  abolished. 

Tlie  choice  of  the  sheriffs  in  the  palatine  counties  is  conducted  hi  a  different  Sherins  of 
manner  from  that  of  the  choice  of  these  officers  in  the  other  counties  of  the  kingdom,  shire. 
The  usual  mode  of  election  is  for  the  judges,  having  met  in  the  exchequer  chamber 
on  the  morrow  of  St.  Martin,  to  return  for  each  of  the  counties,  not  palatine,  the 
names  of  three  persons,  residents  in  each  county,  to  the  king — and  for  the  king,  mtli 
a  small  instrument,  to  prick  the  name  of  one  of  the  three,  usually  the  first  upon  the 
list,  as  sheriff.  But  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  tlie  chancellor  of  the  duchy  selects 
the  three  names,  wjiich  he  sulimits  to  the  king,  as  duke  of  Lancaster,  usually  on 
some  day  between  the  1st  and  the  20th  of  February  in  each  yeai-;  and  the  king 
chooses  one  of  the  three,  generally  that  at  the  head  of  the  list.  In  the  early 
periods  of  British  history,  the  sheriffs  continued  iu  office  for  a  number  of  years, 
*  Coke's  4th  Institute,  p.  205.  t  Coke's  2d  Institute,  p.  174. 

VOL.  I.  2d 


202 


Wl)t  fMsitorp  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
VI. 


High 
sheriffs 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


as  will  be  seen  in  the  folloM-ing  list,  and  some  for  the  whole  term  of  theii-  life ;  but 
since  the  twenty-eighth  Edward  III.  tlie  office  can  only  be  held  legally  for  one  yeai-. 
Nor  was  it  unusual  in  early  times  to  elect  to  tliis  office  the  most  exalted  peers  of  the 
realm.  Before  the  Conquest,  the  county  of  Lancaster,  ^ith  some  other  jurisdictions, 
Avere  committed  to  the  Comes  Northiunbriae,  in  the  large  sense,  and  sometimes  to  the 
Comes  Deii-ae,  being  the  more  southern  part  of  that  kingdom  or  province.  The  last 
of  these  comites  in  the  Saxon  times  were  earls  Tosti  and  Morcar,  whose  possessions 
are  noted  in  Domesday  Book. 

The  following  list  is  compiled  from  the  manuscripts  of  Mr.  Hopkinson,  compai-ed 
by  the  late  Mattliew  Gregson,  Esq.  with  that  of  the  late  George  Kenyon,  Esq.  which 
we  have  collated  with  and  corrected  fi-om  a  MS.  (No.  259.)  in  the  British  Museum, 
indorsed,  "  Nomina  Vicecomitum  coUecta  ex  Rotulis  Pellium  recepta  apud  West- 
monasterium.     De  Tennins  MichaeUs,  anno  piimo  Regis  Edwardi  piimi." 

SHERIFFS  OF  LANCASHIRE, 

FROM    THE    EARLIEST    RECORDS    TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME. 


Norman  Linje. 

1177. 

Robt.  fil.  Bernardi.  Rad.  fil.  Bernard. 

Will.  H. 

1178  ■ 

) 

1087. 

Galfridus  was  sheriff,  and  the  onlj' 

to 

\ Radulphus  fil.  Bernardi. 

one  named  until  1156.     Probably 

1183. 

j 

the  person  called  Goisfrid  in  the 

1184.' 

Gilbert  Pipard  and  Hugo. 

Domesday  Survey.     "  Inter  Rip  a 

Gilbert  Pipard, 

7  Mersham."* 

1185. 

Frater  ejus  pro  eo.     Alan  Valans. 

Plantagjenet  of  Anjou. 

86. 

Gilbertus   Pipard  and  Petrus  frater 

Henry  II. 

ejus  pro  eo.    Gilbert.  Pipard. 

1156. 

Rad.  Vigot,  for  four  1/ ears. 

87. 

Gilbertus  Pipard  and  Petrus. 

1160. 

Robt.  de  Montaltop,  for  three  years. 

88. 

Gilbertus  Pipard. 

63. 

Hugh  de Owra. 

Richard  I. 

64. 

Galfr.  de  Valoniis. 

1189. 

Gilbertus  Pipard. 

1165. 

Galfridus  de  Valoniis. 

1190. 

Henry  de  Cornhill. 

66. 

William  Vesci. 

91. 

Idem. 

67. 

Willielmus  de  Vescye. 

92. 

Rad.  de  Cornhill. 

68. 

Rogerus  de  Herlebeck.    Herlebergo. 

93. 

Idem. 

1170. 

Idem. 

94. 

Theobald    Walter    and  Wm.  Rad- 

71. 

Herlebeck. 

cliffe  pro  eo,  Theobald  Walter. 

72. 

Rad.  fil.  Bernard 

95. 

Idem  Theobald  and  Bendictus  Gar- 

73. 

Idem. 

net  pro  eo. 

74. 

Rad.  fil.  Bernardi.    Rad.  de  Glanvill. 

96. 

Idem.         idem. 

75. 

Radulphus  fil.  Bernardi. 

1197. 

Idem   Theobald  and   Robertus  Va- 

76. 

Radulphus  fil.  Bernardi. 

vasor  pro  eo. 

*  See  chap. 

iii.  p.  100. 

Countp  ^alatinr  of  ilanrneitfr. 


203 


1198.     Theobald  Walter  and  Nicholas  Pin- 
cerna  pro  eo. 


1199. 
1200. 

1. 
2. 

3. 

1206. 


1206. 


1207. 


i 


John. 

Theobald  Walter. 
Rob.   de  Tattershall. 

Rob.  de  Toteshal. 

Ricardus  Vernon. 


8. 


1209 

to 

1216, 


/'Roger    Lacy.      Cons    Cest.     Robt. 
y     Walensis,  Rich.  Vernon. 
J  William  Vernon.     Gilbertus  fil. 
V_  Roger  and  Rich. 

Idem.   Roger,  Walter  Marshall,  Gil- 
bertus fil.  Reynfridi. 
Adam  fil.  Roger  pro  eo. 

Roger  Lascy. 
Roger    Lacy,      Robert     Wallensis, 
Gilbert    fil.    Reynfridi,    Adam  fil. 
Rogrio  pro  eo. 
Gilbert  fil.  Reynfridi  and  Adam  fil. 
Rog.  pro  eo. 

Gilbert  fil.  Reinford. 
r  Idem.      Gilbert  and  Adam,   durante 


i 


vita  Jobs,  regis. 
Idem. 


1216. 
17. 

18. 

1223. 

24. 


25. 


26. 


Henry  IH. 

R.  Comes  Cestra. 

RamUfus   Comes   Cestra    and   Jor- 

danus  fil. 
Idem.      Ranulfus  and  Jordanus,  for 

five  years  the  same. 
Idem.    Ranulfus  and  Jordanus. 

William  Ferrars  Comes. 
Idem.     Ranulfus  and  Jordanus,  and 

Will.  Ferrars  Comes. 
Robertus  Montjoy  pro  eo. 
Idem.    Wills,  and  Roberts.     Custos 

pro  eo. 
Idem.     Willielmus,   and    Gerardus 

Etwell  pro  eo. 


1227. 

28. 

1233. 

34. 

35. 
36. 

37. 

43. 

44. 
45. 

46. 

47., 
48. 

49. 

1256. 

59. 

1260. 

61. 

62. 
63. 

12/2. 


CHAP. 
VI. 


of  Lanca 
shire. 


Adam  de  Eland,  Cust.  pro  Will.  com. 

Adam  de  Yeland.       ____ 

Idem,   (same  person  appointed  five  High 
years  more,  Eland  of  Ebor.) 

Johannes  Byron  Mills,  Will,  de  Lan- 
caster. Other  accounts  say,  Wil- 
liam de  Lancaster  only. 

Gilbert  Westby  pro  eo. 

William  Lancaster,  et  Simo  de 
Thornton,  pro  eo. 

Idem,  Willielmus  et  Simo. 

Robertus  de  Latham,  idem  Will,  and 
Simo  pro  eo. 

Same  William  and  Simeon  for  six 
years. 

William  Lancaster  et  Richard  But- 
ler pro  eo. 

Willielmus  Lancaster. 

Idem.  William  and  Matthew  Red- 
main. 

■  Idem. 

Idem.  Mathews  and  Robert  Latham, 

half-year. 
Robert  Latham. 
Ditto,  for  seven  years  further. 

■  Patricius  de  Ulvesby,  for  three  years. 
'  Ult.  an  junct.  Will,  de  Pincerna  de 

Bewsey. 

Patricius  de  Ulvesby. 
Galf.  de  Chetham  ut  Firmarius. 
Idem.     Galfridus  for  two  years. 
Idem.     Galf.     Radulus    Dacre    and 

Gal.  de  Chetham,  half-year. 
Idem,  Galf.  and  Adam  de  Montalto. 
Idem,  Adam  and  Robert  de  Latham. 

Adam  de  Montalto. 
Randulphus  Dacre. 


Saxon  Line  restored. 
Edward  I.  Rex. 

73.  Thos.  Travers. 

74.  William  Gentyl. 


204 


€i)t  5}igtorj)  of  tftc 


CH.\l>. 
VI. 

High 
sherili's 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


12/5. 

76. 
77. 
78. 
79. 
1280. 
81. 
82. 
83. 
84.- 
85.. 
86. 

87. 
88. 
89. 
1290. 
91. 
92. 


1292 

to 

1298. 

99. 


I 


1300. 
1. 
2. 


Ramilphiis  de  Daker. 

Nichus  (le  Le. 

Henry  de  Lea,  or,  Hen.  dii  Lee. 

Gilbert  de  Clifton. 

Rog.  de  Lancaster. 

Ractus  de  Montjoy. 

Thomas  Banester. 

Rich,  de  Hoghton. 

Thos.  de  Lancaster. 

Henry  de  Lea. 

Robert  Latham  and  Gilbert  Clifton 
pro  eo.  or,  Gilbert  Clifton  alone. 

Gilbert  Clifton. 

Robert  de  Leyborne. 

Gilbert  Clifton. 

Roger  de  Lancaster. 

Radus  Montjoy. 

Richard  Hoghton  and  Rads.  de 
Montegaudeo,  or  Montjoy. 

Idem  Radulphus  Montegaudeo,  or 
Montjoy. 

Edmund      Comes      Lancaster    and 

Richard  Hoghton  pro  eo. 
Thomas  Lancaster,   by   inheritance 

with  Rich.  Hoghton. 
Richard  Hoghton  for  two  years. 
Thos.  Travers  and  Richard  Hoghton. 
Thos.  Travers. 

Edward  H. 


1303  ) 

to     'Thos.  Earl  of  Lancaster. 
1306. j 

1309.     Willielmus  Gentyl. 
10.     Thos.  Earl  of  Lancaster. 


1) 
VRic 


131 

to     VRichard  de  Bickerstath. 
1320.  j 

21.     Gilbertus  South  worth. 

Wm.  le  Gentyl. 
23.     John  d'  Arcy. 


1328. 

29. 
1330. 

31. 

32. 
1333. 

34. 

35. 
1339. 

40. 

44. 

45. 

48. 
1355. 

58. 

59. 
13(50. 

63. 


Edward  HI. 

Wm.  Gentyl. 

Joftes  de  Hambury. 

Johes  de  Burghton. 

Johes  de  Hambury  and  Galfrus  de 

Warburton. 
Johes  de  Denon. 

y  Robertus  Foucher,  others  Toucher. 
Willielmus  Clapham. 

^1 


1371 

1375 
1376 


Robertus  Radcliffe,  of  Ordsall. 

Stephanus  Ireton. 

Johes  le  Blount. 

Johannes  Cockayne. 

Ricardus  Radcliffe. 

Willielmus  Radcliffe. 

Johannes  Ipree. 

Willielmus  Radcliffe. 

Johannes    Ipree,    vice-sheriff,     (no 

sheriff's  name  found.) 
Galfrus  de  Chetham. 


175.7 

76.  S 


Richard  Townley. 

Richard  II. 
1377-     Richard  Townley. 

78.  Thos.  de  Bobbeham. 

79.  Nicholas  Harrington,  for  six  years. 
1385.     Rads.  Radcliffe,  for  three  years. 

89.     Robertus  Standish. 
1392.     Rads.  Standish,  miles. 
93.     Johannes  Butler  de  Rawcliffe,  miles, 

for  two  years  more. 
97.     Ricardus  Mollineux. 

HoDSE  OF  Lancaster. 

Henry  IV. 

1400.     Thomas  Gerard. 
1.     Johannes  Butler. 

4.  Johannes  Butler. 

5.  Radulfus  Radcliffe. 


Coimti)  ^3alatiue  of  aanrastfi*. 


205 


1406. 

7. 

1410. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 
18. 
19. 
1420. 
21. 

23. 

27. 

29. 
1441. 

42. 
1459. 


Radulfus  Radcliffe,  miles. 
Johannes  Bold. 
Johannes  Bold,  miles. 

Radulfus  Stanley,  miles. 

Henry  V. 

Rads.  Stanley,  miles,  and  Nicholas 

Longford. 
William     Bradshaw 

Longford. 

Robertas  Urswick, 


and      Robert 


7 

s 

Robertus  Lawrence. 

>  Ricardus  Radcliffe. 

Henry  VI. 

Ricardus  Radcliffe,  for  three  years, 

>  Robertus  Lawrence. 

i  Johannes  Byron,  Knt. 
Nichus  Byron. 

House  of  York. 


Edward  IV. 
1462.     Johannes  Broughton. 

^'\  Thomas  Pilkington. 

65.  > 

66.  Robtus  Urswick,  miles. 
1473.     Thos.  Pilkington,  arm. 

76.     Thos.  Molineux,  arm. 
1482.     Thos.  Pilkington,  miles. 

Union  of  York  and  Lancaster. 
Henry  VH. 


1501 
8, 


■  >  Edward  Stanley,  miles. 

■  J 


House  of  Tudor. 

Henry  VIII. 

12.     Edwardus  Stanley,  miles. 

14.     Idem,  Postea  Dom.  Monteagle. 


1520.7  o      , 

ryj  >  Edwardus  Stanley. 

28.  Alex.  Osbaldeston,  miles. 

1532.  Johes  Townley,  miles. 

42.  Thos.  Southworth  miles. 

46.  Alex.  Radcliffe,  miles. 


CHAT. 
VI. 

High 
sherifls 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


Edward  VI. 

47.  Alexander  Radcliffe,  miles. 

Richard  Radcliffe. 

48.  Thomas  Gerrard,  miles. 

49.  Robert  Worsley,  miles. 

T.  Gerrard. 
1550.     Peter  Legh,  miles. 

R.  Worsley,  miles. 

51.  John  Atherton,  miles. 

Peter  Leigh  de  Lime,  mil.  John 
Atherton. 

52.  Thomas  Talbot,  miles. 

53.  Thomas  Gerrard,  miles. 

Mary. 

1554.     Marmaduke  Tunstall,  mil. 

55.  John  Atherton,  miles. 

56.  Thomas  Langton,  miles. 

57.  Edmund  Trafford,  miles. 

58.  Thomas  Gerrard,  miles. 

Elizabeth. 

59.  John  Talbot,  Esq. 
1560.     Robert  Worseley,  Knt. 

61.  John  Atherton,  Knt. 

62.  John  Southworth,  Knt. 

63.  Thomas  Hesketh,  Knt. 

64.  Thomas  Hoghton,  Esq. 

65.  Edmund  Trafford. 

66.  Richard  Molineux,  Knt. 

67.  Thomas  Langton,  Knt. 

68.  Edward  Holland,  Esq. 

69.  John  Preston,  Esq.  of  the  Manor. 
1570.  Thomas  Butler,  Esq. 

71.     Edmund  Trafford,  Esq. 


206 


€l)t  il^isitorp  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
VI. 

High 
shcrifls 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


1572. 

John  Byron,  Esq. 

1607. 

73. 

Richard  Holland,  Esq. 

8. 

74. 

William  Booth,  Esq. 

9. 

75. 

Francis  Holt,  Esq. 

1610. 

76. 

Richard  Bold,  Esq. 

77 

Robert  Dalton,  Esq. 

11. 

78. 

John  Fleetwood,  Esq. 

12. 

79. 

Ralfe  Ashton,  Esq. 

13. 

1580. 

Edmund  Trafford,  Knt. 

81. 

John  Birom,  Knt. 

14. 

82. 

Richard  Holland,  Esq. 

83. 

John  Atherton,  Esq. 

15. 

84. 

Edmund  Trafford. 

Thomas  Preston. 

16. 

85. 

Thomas    Preston,    Esq.         Richard 

17. 

Asheton,  Esq. 

18. 

86. 

Richard    Asheton,     Richard    Bold, 

19. 

Esqs. 

1620. 

87. 

John  Fleetwood,  Esq. 

88. 

Thomas  Talbot,  of  Bashall,  Esq. 

21. 

89. 

Richard  Molineux,  Knt. 

22. 

1590. 

Richard  Bold,  Esq. 

23. 

91. 

James  Asheton,  Esq. 

24. 

92. 

Edward  Fitton,  Esq. 

93. 

Richard  Asheton,  Esq. 

94. 

Ralph  Ashton,  Esq. 

1625. 

95. 

Thomas  Talbot,  Esq. 

26. 

96. 

Richard  Holland,  Esq. 

27. 

97. 

Richard  Molyneux,  Knt. 

28. 

98. 

Richard  Asheton,  Esq. 

29. 

99. 

Richard  Hoghton,  Knt. 

1630. 

1600. 

Robert  Hesketh,  Esq. 

31. 

1601. 

Cuthbert  Halsall,  Esq. 

32. 

2. 

Edmund  Trafford,  Knt. 

33. 

House  of  Stu-\rt. 

James  I. 
1603      John  Ireland,  Esq. 
4.     Nicholas  Moseley,  Knt. 
5      Ralph  Barton,  Esq.     Rand.  Barton, 

Esq. 
6.     Edmund  Fleetwood,  Esq. 


34. 
35. 

36. 

37. 

38 

39. 

1640. 


Richard  Ashton,  Knt. 
Robert  Hesketh,  Esq. 
Edmund  Trafford,  Knt. 
Roger  Nowell,  Esq. 

Roger  A.  Nowell,  Esq. 
John  Fleming,  Esq. 
Cuthbert  Halsall,  Knt. 
Robert  Bindloss,  Esq. 

RobertBinloss.  A.  Berwick, Esq. 
Richard  Sherborne,  Esq. 

Rich.  Sherburne,  Stonyhurst. 
Edmund  Stanley,  Esq. 
Rowland  Moseley,  Esq. 

Robert  Moseley. 
Edmiuul  Trafford,  Knt. 
Richard  Shuttleworth,  Esq. 
John  Holt,  Esq. 
Leonard  Ashawe,  Esq. 

Leonard  Ashall,  or  Ashow. 
Edmund  Moore,  Esq. 
Gilbert  Ireland,  Esq. 
Sir  George  Booth,  Knt.  and  Baronet. 
Sir  Rafe  Asheton,  Baronet. 

Charles  I. 
Richard  (or  Edward)  Holland,  Esq. 
Roger  Kirkby,  Esq. 
Sir  Edward  Stanley,  Baronet. 
Edmund  Ashton,  Esq. 
Edward  Rawsthorne,  Esq. 
Thomas  Hesketh,  Esq. 
Richard  Bold,  Esq. 
Nicholas  (or  Richard)  Townley,  Esq. 
Rafe  Ashton,  Esq. 
Ralph  Standish,  Esq. 
Humfry  Chetham,  Esq.     (Benefac- 
tor)  Manchester. 
William  Farrington,  Esq. 
Richard  Shuttleworth,  Esq. 
Roger  Kirkby,  Esq. 
Sir  Edward  Stanley,  Baronet. 
Robert  Holt,  Esq.  or  Ri.  Holt. 


Countp  ^alatutr  of  Sanrastrr. 


207 


1 64 1 .     Peter  Egerton ,  Esq. 

42.  John  Girlington,  Knt. 

43.  Gilbert  Hoghton,  Esq. 

44. 

45 

46 

47- 


John  Bradshavv,  Esq. 


1648. 


49. 


C0MM0NWEAI.TH. 

Gilbert  Ireland,  Knt.  until  May 
1649. 

John  Hartley,  of  Strangeways,  gen- 
tleman, until  December  1649. 


1674. 
75. 
7G. 

77- 

78. 

79. 

1680. 

81. 
82. 
83. 
84. 


1650. 

Edward  Hopvvood,of  Hopwood,Esq. 

51. 

Henry  Wrigley,  gentleman.  Cham- 

1685. 

ber  Hall.     A.  Wrigley. 

86. 

52. 

Alexander  Barlow,  of  Barlow,  Esq. 

53. 

John  Parker,  of  Entwistle,  Esq. 

88. 

54. 

Peter  Bold,  of  Bold,  Esq. 

1655. 

John  Atherton,  of  Chowbent,  Esq. 

56. 

John  Starkie,  of  Huntroyd,  Esq. 

57. 

Hugh  Cooper,  of  Chorley,  Esq. 

1689. 

58. 

Robert  Bindloss,  Esq. 

1690. 

59. 

Sir  Richard  Hoghton,  Baronet. 

91. 

Restoration. 

92. 

Charles  H. 

93. 

1660. 

George  Chetham,  Esq. 

94. 

61. 
62. 

>  Sir  George  Middleton  Baronet. 

95. 

96. 

63. 

J.  Girlington,  Esq. 

97. 

64. 

Thomas  Preston,  Esq. 

98. 

65. 
66. 

>  William  Spencer,  Esq.  two  years. 

99. 

67. 

John  Arden,  Esq. 

1700. 

68.7  Thomas  Greenhalgh,  Brandlesome, 

69. 

>      Esq. 

1. 

70. 

Christopher  Banister,  Esq. 

71. 

Henry  Slater,  Knt. 

72. 

73. 

>  Sir  Robert  Bindloss,  Baronet. 

1702. 
3. 

Peter  Brooks,  Knt. 

Alexander  Butterworth,  Esq. 

Idem.     Alexander  Rigbj',  Esq. 

Alexander  Rigby,  Esq. 

Idem,  of  Layton. 

Sir  Roger  Bradshaw,  Baronet. 

William  Johnson,  Esq.  of  Rishton 

Grange.     William  Sjiencer. 
Lawrence  Rosthorn,  Esq. 
Idem.     Thomas  Leigh,  Esq. 
Thomas  Leigh,  jun.  Esq. 
Idem.    Peter  Shakerley,  Esq. 

James  II. 

Peter  Shakerley. 

William  Spencer,  Esq.  two  years. 

Peter  Shakerley. 
Thomas  Richardson,   of  Rawnhead, 

nominated,  but  not  sworn  in. 

William  and  Mary. 

Jas.  Birch,  Esq. 

Peter  Bold,  Esq.     Alexander  Rigby. 

Alexander  Rigby,  Esq.  Layton, 
Lindley. 

Francis  Livey,  Esq.  Lindley.  Tho- 
mas Rigby. 

Thomas  Rigby,  Esq. 

Thomas  Ashurst,  of  Ashurst,  Esq. 

Richard  Spencer,  Esq. 

Thomas  Norris,  Esq. 

Roger  Manwaring,  Esq. 

Wm.  West,  Esq. 

Robert  Duckenfield,  Esq.  Thomas 
Rigby,  of  Middleton. 

Thomas  Rigby,  Esq.  Hulm,  of 
Davy  Hulme. 

William  Hulm,  Esq. 

Anne. 
Roger  Nowel,  of  Read,  Esq. 
Peter  Egerton,  of  Shaw,  Esq, 


CHAP. 
VI. 

HiRh 

sheriffs 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


208 


Cf)f  %}i&toiv  of  tfif 


CHAP. 
VI. 

High 
sheriffs 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


1704. 


1705. 
6. 


7. 
8. 
9. 


1710. 
11. 

12. 
13. 

14. 


1715. 
16. 

17. 
18. 

19. 
1720. 

21. 
22. 
23. 

24. 

1725. 

26. 


1727. 

28. 


George  Birch,  of  Birch  Hall,  Esq.  1729. 
Succeeded  by  his  brother,  Tho- 
mas Birch.  1730. 

Richard  Spencer,  of  Preston,  Esq.  31. 

Christojjher  Dauntesey,  of  Agecroft.  32. 

Edmund  Cole,  of  Lancaster  and  Cote.  33. 

Miles  Sandes,  of  Graythwaite,  Esq. 

Roger  Kirkby  (ob.  this  year).     Sue-  34. 

ceeded  by  Alexander   Hesketh.  35. 
Esq. 

Roger  Parker,  of  Extwisle,  Esq.  36. 

Sir  Thomas  Standish,  of  Duxbury, 

Bart.  37. 

Wm.  Rawsthorne,  of  Preston,  Esq.  38. 

Richard  Valantine,    of   Preston  and  39. 
Bentclift'e,  Esq. 

William  Farrington,  of  Werden,  Esq.  1 740. 

41. 

House  of  Brunswick.  42. 

43. 

George  I.  44. 

Jonathan  Blackburne,  of  Orford,  Esq.  45. 

Thomas    Crisp,    Esq.     Wigan    and 

Parbold.  46. 

Samuel  Crooke,  of  Crooke,  Esq.  47. 

Richard   Norris,    of   Liverpool   and  48. 

Speke,  Esq.  49. 

Thomas  Stanley,  of  Clithero,  Esq.  1750. 

Robert    Mavvdesley,  of  Mawdesley,  51. 

Esq.  52. 

Benjamin  Hoghton,  Esq. 

Benjamin Gregg,Esq.  Chamber  Hall.  53. 

Sir  Edward  Stanley,  of  Bickersteth,  54. 

Bart.  55. 

William  Tatham,  Esq.  Over  Hall. 

Miles  Sandys,  of  Graithwait,  Esq.  56. 

Edmund    Hopwood,    of   Hopwood,  57. 

Esq.  58. 
George  H. 

Dr.  Daniel  Wilson,  of  Dalham  Tower.  59. 

Joseph   Yates,  of  Peel,  near  Man- 
chester, Esq.  1760. 


William  Greenhalgh,  of  Myerscough, 

Esq. 
James  Chetham,  of  Smedley,  Esq. 
William  Leigh,  of  West  Houghton. 
John  Parker,  of  Breightmet,  Esq. 
John  Greaves,  of  Kilshaw,  Esq.   or 

Culchith. 
Dr.  Bushel,  of  Preston,  M.D. 
Arthur    Hambleton,    of    Liverpool, 

Esq. 
Darcey  Lever,  of  Alkrington,  Knt. 

LL.D. 
Thos.  Horton,  of  Chadderton,  Esq. 
Samuel  Chetham,  of  Castleton,  Esq. 
Sir  Ralph   Asheton,   of  Middleton, 

Bart. 
Roger  Hesketh,  of  Meols,  Esq. 
Robert  Diickenfield,  of  Manchester. 
Robert  Bankes,  of  Winstanley. 
John  Blackburne,  of  Orford,  Esq. 
Robert  Radcliffe,  of  Toxdenton,Esq. 
Daniel  Willis,    of  Red   Hall,    Esij. 

(now  Halstenliead.) 
William  Shaw,  of  Preston,  Esq. 
Sam.  Birche,  of  Ardwicke,  Esq. 
Geo.  Clarke,  of  Hyde,  Esq. 
Rigby  Molineux,  of  Preston,  Esq. 
Charles  Stanley,  Esq.  Cross  Hall. 
James  Fenton,  of  Lancaster,  Esq. 
Richard  Townley,  jun.  of  Belfield, 

Esq. 
John  Bradshaw,  of  Manchester,  Esq. 
Thomas  Hesketh,  of  Rufford,  Esq. 
Thomas    Jolmson,    of    Manchester, 

Esq. 
James  Barton,  of  Penwortham,  Esq. 
James  Bailey,  of  Withington,  Esq. 
Robert     Gibson,     of     Myerscough 

Planks,  Esq. 
Edward   Whitehead,  of  Claughton, 

Esq. 
Sanmel  Hilton,  of  Pennington,  Escj. 


Countp  ^Salatuif  of  aanrnstfr. 


209 


George  III.  I788. 

I76I.     Sir   William   Farington,   of  Shawe 

Hall,  Kilt.  89. 

62.  Thomas  Braddle,  of  Conishead,  Esq.      1790. 

63.  Thomas  Blackburne,  of  Hale,  Esq. 

64.  Sir  William  Horton,  of  Chaderton,  91. 

Bart.  92. 

65.  John  Walmesley,  of  Wigan,  Esq. 

66.  Edward   Gregg,   of  Chamber  Hall,  93. 

Esq. 

67.  Alexander  Butler,  of  Kirkland,  Esq.  94. 

68.  Thomas     Butterworth    Baylej^,    of 

Hope,  Esq.  95. 

69.  Doming  Rasbotham,  of  Birch  House, 

Esq.  96. 

1770.     Nicholas    Ashton,     of    Liverpool,  ^. 

Esq. 

71.  Sir  Ashton  Lever,    of    Alkrington,  98. 

Knt.  99. 

72.  William  Cunliffe  Shaw,  Esq.  Pres-      1800. 

ton.  1. 

73.  Thomas  Patten,  Esq.  Warrington. 

74.  Geoffrey  Hornby,  of  Preston,  Esq.  2. 
1775.     Sir  Watts   Horton,  of  Chadderton, 

Bart.  3. 

76.     Lawrence  Rawsthorne,  Preston,  Esq.  4. 

"77 •     Samuel  Clowes,  of  Chorlton,  Esq. 

78.  Wilson  Gale  Bradyall,  Esq.  Conis-  5. 

head.  6. 

79.  John  Clayton,  of  Carr,  Esq.  or  Little 

Harwood.  7. 

1780.     John  Atherton,   Esq.  Walton  Hall, 

Liverpool.  8. 

81.  John  Blackburne,  Esq.  Orford,  now  9. 

Hale. 

82.  Sir  Frank  Standish,  Duxbury,  Bart.      1810. 

83.  James    Whalley,    Esq.    Clerk   Hill,  H. 

Whalley. 

84.  Wm.  Bankes,  of  Winstanley,  Esq.  12. 

85.  John  Sparling,  Esq.  Liverpool.  13. 

86.  Sir  John  Parker  Mosely,  of  Ancoats, 

Bart.  14. 

87.  William  Bamford,  of  Bamford,  Esq. 
VOL.  I.  2  E 


Edward  Falkner,   of  Faii-field,  near     cHAP. 

Liverpool,  Esq.  ^'^• 

William  Hulton,  of  Hulton,  Esq.         High 
Charles  Gibson,  Esq.  of  Lancaster,   of  Lanca- 

now  Quernmore.  '*' 

James  Starkie,  of  Heywood,  Esq. 
William  Asheton,  of  Cuerdale,  Esq. 

now  Downham. 
Thomas  Townley  Parker,  of  Cuer- 

den,  Esq. 
Sir  Henry  Philip  Hoghton,  of  Wal- 
ton, Bart. 
Robinson  Shuttleworth,  of  Preston, 

Esq. 
Richard  Gwillym,  Bewsey,  Esq. 
Bold  Fleetwood   Hesketh,   of  Ros- 

sall,  Esq. 
John  Eiitwistle,  of  Foxholes,  Esq. 
Joseph  Starkie,  of  Royton,  Esq. 
James  Ackers,  of  Lark  Hill,  Esq. 
Sir  Thomas  Dalrymple  Hesketh,Bart. 

Rufford. 
Robert  Gregg  Hopwood,  of  Hop- 
wood,  Esq. 
Isaac  Blackburne,  Esq. 
Thomas   Lister   Parker,  of  Brows- 
holme,  Esq. 
Meyrick  Bankes,  of  Winstanley,  Esq. 
Le  Gendre  Pierce  Starkie,  of  Hunt- 

royd,  Esq. 
Richard  (Cross)  Legh,  of  Shawe  Hill 

and  Adlington,  Esq. 
Thomas  Clayton,  of  Carr  Hall,  Esq. 
Samuel  Clowes,  of  Broughton,  Man- 
chester, Esq. 
William  Hulton,  of  Hulton,  Esq. 
Sam.  Chetham   Hilton,    of  RIoston 

Hall,  Esq. 
Edmund  Greaves,  of  Culcheth,  Esq. 
William  Farington,  of  Shawe  Hall, 

Esq. 
Lawrence  Rawsthorne,  Penwortham, 
Esq. 


210 


mn  lisstorj)  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
VI. 


Violation 
of  the  li- 
berty and 
property 
of  the 
subject. 


1815. 

16. 
17. 

18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 

22. 

23. 


Le    Gendre   Pierce    Starkie,   Hunt- 

royd,  Esq. 
William  Townley,  Townhead,  Esq. 
Robert  Townley  Parlcer,  of  Cuerden, 

Esq. 
Joseph  Feilden,  Wetton  House,  Esq. 
John  Walmesley,  Castle  Mere,  Esq. 
Robt.  Hesketh,  Rossal,  Esq. 
Tliomas     Richard    Gale     Braddyll, 

Conishead  Priory,  Esq. 
James  Shuttleworth,  Barton  Lodge, 

Esq. 
Thomas  Greene,  Slyne,  Esq. 


1824.     John  Entwistle,  Foxholes,  Esq. 

25.  John  Hargreaves,  Ormerod  House, 

Esq. 

26.  James  Penny  Machell,  Penny  Bridge, 

Esq. 

27.  Chas.    Gibson,     Quernmore     Park, 

Esq. 

28.  Edmund  Hornby,  Dalton  Hall,  Esq. 

29.  Henry   Bold   Hoghton,    Bold   Hall 

and  Hoghton  Tower,  Esq. 
1830.     Peter  Hesketh,  Rossal  Hall,  Esq. 
31.     Peregrine      Edw''      Towneley,      of 
Towneley,  Esq. 


The  county  palatine  of  Lancaster  is  parcel  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  and  the 
king  has  a  seal,  chancellor,  and  other  officers,  for  the  county  palatine,  and  others  for 
the  duchy,  both  of  which  are  managed  separately  from  the  possessions  of  the  king.* 
It  is  one  of  the  privileges  of  a  county  palatine,  that  none  of  its  inhabitants  can  be 
summoned  out  of  their  own  county,  except  in  case  of  treason,  or  error,  by  any  writ 
or  process  .f 

In  the  eai'ly  periods  of  the  palatine  privileges  in  Lancashire,  these  distmctions  of 
law  were  not  so  well  understood  as  at  present ;  hence  a  number  of  legal  harpies 
were  in  the  daily  habit  of  seizing  the  mhabitants  and  their  property,  and  conveying 
them  away  under  form  of  law,  though  they  had  no  juristHction  whatever  in  the 
county.  These  violent  and  illegal  proceedings  kept  those  parts  of  tlie  county 
wherein  they  were  practised  in  a  coutmual  ferment.  Large  assemblies  of  the  people 
rose,  to  resist  the  intruders ;  and  riots,  and  even  miu'ders,  frequently  ensued.  So 
intolerable  an  evil  called  for  a  strong  remedy,  which  the  law  had  not  then  provided, 
hut  in  28  Hemy  VI.  an  act  was  passed,  by  which  it  was  ordained,  that  if  any 
"  misruled"  persons,  under  colour  of  law,  made  a  distress  where  they  had  no  fee, 
seigniory,  or  cause,  to  take  such  distress  in  the  counties  and  seigniories  in  Wales,  or 
in  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  they  should  be  adjudged  guilty  of  felony,  and  punished 
accordingly.;!:  An  ancient  petition  to  pai'Uament  from  the  inhabitants  of  this  county 
has  been  preserved  in  the  Tower  of  London,  wherein  that  protection  was  loudly  called 
for,  wliich  the  legisla.ture  were  not  slow  to  gi-ant: — 

*  Plow.  Com.  p.  219.  on  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  case,  so  elaborately  argued,  by  which  it  was 
decided,  that  a  lease  under  the  duchy  seal  of  land,  parcel  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  made  by 
Edw.  VI.  in  his  nonage,  to  commence  after  the  end  of  a  former  lease  in  esse,  was  good,  and  not 
avoidable  by  reason  of  his  nonage. 

t  Coke's  4th  Institute,  p.  411.  I  Statutes  of  the  Realm,  vol.  ii.  p.  356. 


Countp  |3alatine  of  ilnnrastfiv  211 

"  Soit  bailie  as  Sfs.  vi. 


"  To  the  discrete  Corayns  of  this  pseut  Parliament.  Please  it  your  Tvdsdomes  petition. 
aud  liigh  discrecions  teuilii-ly  to  consicke,  that  diverse  misgoverned  persones  of  the 
Shu-es,  Lordesliippes  Roialx,  in  Walys,  and  of  the  Ducherie  of  Lancastre  in  the  seid 
parties,  dayly  taken  and  use  to  take,  diverse  persones,  goodcs  and  catelx  in  the 
seid  Shii'es,  Duchie  and  Lordeshippes,  by  the  name  and  untke  colour  of  distresse, 
where  thei  have  noo  maner  Fee,  Lordesliip,  ne  cause  to  take  such  disti'esse,  but 
feynen  accions  and  quarelx,  to  gi-eve  and  destrye  the  trewe  pepiU  of  the  seid  Shii'es, 
Ducfiie  and  Lordeshippes,  ayenste  lawe,  reason  and  conscience ;  and  the  seid  psones, 
goodes  and  catelx  soo  taken,  leden  and  carien  out  of  the  Slm-es,  Diictiie  and  Lorde- 
shippes where  thei  ben  talven,  into  other  diverse  places  in  England  and  Walys :  And 
oft  tyme  for  suche  disti'esse  takjiig,  and  in  resistens  therof,  ther  is  gi-ete  assembles 
of  pepill,  notes,  mayhemmys,  and  murdi'es  doon  aud  hadde,  and  if  it  be  not  in  hasty 
tyme  remedyed,  like  to  folowe  therof  other  inconvenientise ;  of  the  which  takynges, 
ledynges  and  cariynges,  there  is  in  that  partie  no  dewe  punishment,  cause  wlierof 
the  pepill  of  the  seid  parties  dayly  habundeth  and  encreseth  in  misgovnaunce.  Tliat 
it  please  youre  said  high  discreciouns  to  consicbe  thees  pmisses,  and  to  praye  the 
Kynge  oure  Sovereigne  Lorde,  by  advise  of  liis  Lordes  Spuelx  and  Tempelx  in  this 
present  Pai'liament  assembled,  and  by  auctorite  of  the  same  Pai'liament,  to  ordeigue 
and  stablish ;  that  if  eny  psone  take  eny  goodes,  catelx  or  persons,  in  eny  of  the  seid 
Shii'es,  Duchie  or  Lordeshippes,  and  them  lede  or  caiye  into  eny  places  out  of  eny 
of  the  seid  Shires,  DucWe  or  Lordeshippes,  wherin  thei  ben  taken,  into  eny  other 
places,  that  all  manner  suche  takynges,  ledying,  or  carying,  be  hadde  aud  demyd 
Felonye;  And  if  eny  person  therof  be  atteint  in  eny  wyse,  that  he  have  execucion  as 
a  Felon  shulde  have.  And  that  noo  maner  person  in  the  seid  Shii'es,  Duchie  or 
Lordesliippes,  ne  in  no  other  places  in  Walys,  arettyd,  accused  or  endited  of  Felonye, 
in  eny  wise  be  admitted  to  disclajone  out  of  the  seid  Sliii-e,  Duchie  or  Lordeship, 
where  he  is  soo  enchted,  accused  or  aretted.  Pm-veyd  alway,  that  noo  person  for 
distresse  takyng  within  his  Fee,  or  for  eny  maner  cause  wherfore  distresse  is  lawfuU 
by  the  comyn  lawe  of  England,  by  this  Ordinaunce  be  hui'te  or  greved:  And  also 
purveyd,  that  tliis  Acte  be  not  prejudicial  to  eny  psone  Englyshe  boren  in  Enge- 
lond;  and  that  in  the  onour  of  God,  and  in  the  wey  of  charite. 

Responsio.     "  Le  Roy  s'advisera." 
A  most  extraordinary  piece  of  legislation  relating  to  the  county  palatine  of  Punish- 

1      /•  raent  of 

Lancaster,  took  place  four  years  after  this,  by  which  an  act,  made  tor  a  temporary  outlaws. 
purpose,  was  declared  perpetual.      By  this  act  it  was  ordained,  that  if  any  person 


212 


€l)t  liEftorp  of  tin 


CHAP. 
VI. 


31  Hen. 
VI. 


.■)3  Hen. 
VI. 


Rot.  pari. 
7  Hen. 
VII. 

111.  8.  . 


Prohibi- 
tion of 
liveries. 


should  be  ovitlawed  in  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  he  should  forfeit  such  of  his 
land  and  goods  as  were  found  in  that  county,  hut  in  no  other  ;*  and  that  this  should 
be  the  extent  of  his  punishment,  however  aggravated  might  be  his  offence.  The 
effect  of  such  a  law  was  to  encourage  crime  to  an  alarming  extent,  for  if  any 
"  foreigner"  came  into  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  and  committed  any  treason, 
murder,  or  robbery,  or  made  and  violated  any  contract,  the  sole  rech-ess  for  the 
injured  party  was  against  liis  lands  and  effects  in  the  county,  which  generally  were 
of  no  value.  The  pernicious  consequence  of  tliis  law  soon  became  too  palpable  to  be 
endured,  and,  two  years  after  it  had  been  made  "  perpetual,"  it  was  repealed.-|' 

The  defeat  of  this  insidious  measure  did  not  prevent  its  repetition  in  the  seventh 
year  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIL  when,  in  the  absence  of  the  "  knights  of  the  sliii-e, 
and  otlier  noble  persons  of  the  county,"  an  act  of  parliament  Avas  obtained,  at  the 
instance,  and  by  the  influence,  of  a  single  individual,  probably  one  of  the  adherents  of 
the  deposed  tyrant,  Richai-d,  by  wliich  it  was  ordained,  that  persons  resichng  out  of 
the  county  should  neither  be  liable  to  process  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  nor  should 
forfeit,  for  their  offences  in  the  county,  any  goods  but  such  as  were  to  be  found 
within  its  limits.  It  may  easily  be  conceived,  that  no  long  time  Avas  necessaiy  to 
discover  this  legislative  error;  and,  accorcUngly,  we  find  that,  in  the  very  same  par- 
liament, an  act  was  passed,  which,  after  reciting,  "  That  the  Countie  of  Lancastre  is 
and  of  long  tyme  hath  byn  a  Countie  Palantyne,  made  and  ordeyned  for  gi-ete 
consideracion,  and  within  the  same  hath  byn  had  and  used  Jurisdiccion  Roiall,  and 
all  things  to  a  Countie  Palantjnie  belonging,  in  the  dayes  of  the  noble  Progenitours 
of  our  Soverayn  Lord  the  King,  unto  the  begynnyng  of  this  present  Parliament," 
proceeds  to  enact,  "  that  the  said  Countie  Palatyne,  and  every  parte  of  the  Juris- 
diccion therof,  be  in  every  poynt  touching  all  Processes,  Forfaitures,  and  other 
tliinges,  as  large,  and  of  like  force  and  effecte,  as  it  was  the  day  next  before  the  fii-st 
day  of  this  psent  Parliament,  and  as  if  the  said  Acte  had  not  bin  made." 

The  wars  between  the  rival  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster  stUl  agitated  the 
country.  The  madness  of  party  raged  with  Its  utmost  violence,  and  men  of  fortune 
and  influence  were  accustomed  to  equip  their  partisans  in  Uveries,  and  to  furnish 
them  Avith  badges  of  distinction  incUcating  to  wliich  house  they  belonged.  The 
natural  consequence  of  this  conduct  was  to  increase  the  general  agitation,  and  to 
embarrass  the  administration  of  the  laws.  It  is  probable  also,  that  there  were  local 
feuds  mixed  up  Avith  these  elements  of  general  discord,  wliich  so  far  exceeded  the 
corrective  power  of  the  police,  that  a  law  was  enacted,  by  which  it  Avas  declared,  that 
no  person  should  give  liveries  or  badges,  or  retain,  as  their  menial  servants,  officers, 
or  men  learned  either  in  civil  or  ecclesiastical  laAV,  by  any  oath  or  promise,  under 
*  Stat,  of  the  Realm,  vol.  ii.  p.  356.  t  Ibid.  vol.  ii.  p.  365. 


Counti)  |3alatme  of  ^Lancasittn  213 

the  penalty  of  one  luuKli-ed  shillings  per  mouth  for  every  person  so  retained,  to  he    chap. 
recovered  before  the  justices  at  then-  usual  sessions  of  oyer  and  terminer,  or  before       ^'' 
the  king's  justices  in  the  counties  palatine  of  Lancaster  and  Chester.* 

The  palatine  privilege  had  in  the  reign  of  Edw.  VI.  been  perverted  to  the  injury  Prodama- 
of  the  inhabitants,  by  subjecting  them  to  the  consequences  of  outlawry  without  their  aTexi-"" 
knowledge.     As  the  Idng's  vrnt  of  proclamation  awarded  upon  an  exigent  ao-ainst  ^'"'' 
any  mhabitaut  of  Lancashii-e,  in  any  action  involving  the  process  of  outlawry,  did  not 
run  in  Lancasliii-e,  it  was  necessarily  sent  to  the  sheritf  of  an  adjoining  county,  and 
the  consequence  was,  that  many  persons  were  outlawed  without  tlieii-  own  know- 
ledge.    When  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  county  began  to  be  extended,  tliis 
gi-ievance  manifested  itself  so  frequently,  that  an  act  was  passed,  whereby  it  was  c  Ed.  vi. 
enacted,  that  whenever  any   writ   or    exigent  fi'om  the  court  of  king's  bench  or 
common  jjleas,  should  issue  against  any  person  residing  in  Lancasliire,  a  writ  of 
proclamation  should  be  awarded  to  the  sheriff  of  the  county  palatme  of  Lancaster, 
and  not  to  the  sheriff  of  any  adjoining  county ;  and  that  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliii-e 
.should  make  and  return  the  proclamation  accordingly. 

During  the  civU  wars  between  prerogative  and  privilege,  when  Charles  L  had  the  .Sheriff of 
nominal  authority  of  the  sovereign,  but  when  the  two  houses  of  parliament  exer-  siiire  dm- 
cised  the  royal  functions,  the  powers  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  like  those  of  the  king  dfn  wars. 
of  England,  were  assumed  by  the  founders  of  the  commonwealth ;  and  an  ordinance 
remains  upon  record,  by  which  John  Bradshaw,  of  Bradshaw,  in  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster, Esq.  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of  this  county,  which  office  he  held 
for  four  successive  years,  in  contravention  of  tlie  act  of  28  Edw.  IIL  till  the  king 
was  deposed,  and  until  he,  the  sheriff  of  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  in  the  capa- 
city of  president  of  the  parliamentary  tribunal,  consigned  his  monaixh  to  the  block. 
This  ordinance  is  of  the  date  of  the  10th  of  February,  1644,  and  is  thus  expressed:— 

"  The  Lords  and  Commons,  assembled  in  Parliament,  do  order  and  ordain,  and 
"  be  it  ordered  and  ordained,  that  William  Lcnthall,  Esq.  Speaker  of  tlie  House  of 
"  Commons,  shall  have  power,  and  is  hereby  authorized  to  put  in  use  the  duchy 
"  seal,  for  the  constituting  and  maldng  of  sheriffs  and  justices  of  peace  witliin  the 
"  county  of  Lancaster,  and  to  issue  out  all  writs  and  processes,  and  to  do  and  perfonn 
"  all  acts  and  tilings  necessary  for  the  benefit  of  the  said  county,  in  as  ample 
"  manner  as  any  Chancellor  of  the  Duchy  heretofore  hath  done,  or  ought  to  do;  and 
"  tliis  ordinance  to  continue  and  be  in  force,  until  both  houses  take  further  order; 
"  and  whatsoever  the  said  William  I,ord  Grey,  of  Mark,  and  W'"  Lenthall,  shall  do 
"  in  pursuance  hereof,  they  shall  be  saved  harmlesse  by  both  houses  of  pariiament : 

*  Stat,  of  the  Realm,  vol.  ii.  p.  426. 


VI 


214  €i)t  ?i)i6toii>  of  t\)t 

;hap.  "  and  it  is  further  ordered  and  ordained,  that  tlie  officers  belonging  to  the  Duchy 
"  Couil  do  prei)are  a  patent  for  to  make  Jolm  Bradshaw,  of  Bradshaw,  Esquu-e, 
"  Sheiiff  of  the  said  County,  who  is  to  take  the  oath  of  Sheiiff  hereinto  annexed : — 

"  THE  OATH  OF  THE  SHERIFF  OF  LANCASTER." 

"  Yee  shall  Swear,  Tliat  well  and  ti-uly  ye  shall  serve  the  King  in  the  Office  of 
the  Sheriff  of  Lancaster,  and  do  the  King's  profits  in  all  things  tliat  helongeth  you 
to  do  by  way  of  your  Office ;  As  much  as  you  can  or  may,  ye  shall  not  respite  the 
Kings  Debts,  for  any  gift  or  favoui-,  where  you  may  raise  them  without  gi-eat 
gi-ievance  of  the  Debtors :  Yee  shall  ti-uly  and  rightfully  treat  the  people  of  your 
Sheriffwick,  and  do  right,  as  well  to  Poor  as  to  Rich,  in  all  that  helongeth  to  your 
office ;  Yee  shall  do  no  wrong  unto  any  man  for  any  gift  or  promise  of  goods,  nor 
favom-  nor  hate:  Yee  shall  disturb  no  man's  Right;  yee  shall  truly  Accompt  before 
the  Auditor  of  the  Dutchy  of  Lancaster  ;  of  all  them  of  whom  yee  shall  any  thing 
receive  of  the  King's  Debts :  Yee  shall  nothing  take  whereby  the  King  may  loose, 
or  whereby  that  Right  may  be  tUsturbed,  letted  or  the  Kings  Debts  delayed :  Yee 

shall  truly  retm-n,  and  truly  serve  all  the  Jungs  Writs,  as  far  forth  as  it  shall  be 

********** 
m  your  cunnmg : 

Also,  yee  shall  utterly  testify  and  declai-e  in  your  conscience,  that  the  said  Kings 
Highnesse  is  the  onely  Supream  Governour  of  this  Realm,  and  of  all  other  His 
Highnesses  Dominions  and  Countries,  aswell  in  all  Spuituall  and  Ecclesiastical 
things  or  causes,  as  Temporall;  and  that  no  FoiTaign  Prince,  Person,  Prelate, 
State  or  Potentate,  hath  or  ought  to  have  any  Jurisdiction,  Power,  Superioiity,  Pre- 
heminency  or  Authority,  Ecclesiasticall  or  Spliituall  witliin  tliis  Realm;  and  there- 
fore yee  shall  truly  renounce  and  forsake  aU  Forraign  Jurisdictions,  Power,  Superio- 
rities, and  Authorities,  and  shall  promise,  that  fi-om  henceforth  yee  shall  beare 
Faith  and  true  Allegiance  to  the  said  Kings  Highnesse,  His  Heirs  and  Lawfull 
Successors  ;  and  to  your  power,  shall  Assist  and  defend  all  JurisiUctions,  Privileges, 
Preheminences,  gi-anted  or  belonging  to  the  said  King's  Highnesse,  His  Heirs  and 
Successors,  or  Vnited  or  annexed  to  the  Imperiall  Crown  of  this  Realm :  So  help 
you  God,  and  by  the  holy  Contents  of  this  Book." 

"  H.  Elsynge,  Cler.  Pari.  D.  Com." 

With  the  restoration  in  1660,  the  authority  and  the  revenues  of  the  duke  of 
Lancaster  reverted  to  the  king.  In  order  to  secure  the  ducal  prerogatives,  and  the 
ancient  privileges  of  the  county,  a  number  of  courts  have,  in  the  succession  of  ages, 
risen  up  in  Lancashire,  involving  the  jurisprudence  of  the  county.     The  reason  of 


tical 
courts. 


Count))  |3alatinc  of  Saiuast^n  215 

these  inununities,  as  assigned  by  Sir  Edward  Coke,  is,  "  for  that  the  county  of  Lan-    chai- 

caster  is  a  county  palatine,  and  the  duke,"  at  its  institution,  "had  jura  ret/alia,"  or    1 

royal  prerogatives,  within  the  county — "  to  exercise  all  manner  of  jui-isdiction,  liigh, 
mean,  and  low."  "  This  county  palatine  (of  Lancaster)  adds  Sir  Edward,  was  the 
youngest  brother,  and  yet  best  beloved  of  all  other,  for  it  hath  more  honors,  manors, 
and  lands  annexed  unto  it  than  any  of  the  rest,  by  tlie  house  of  Lancaster,  and  by 
Henry  VIII.  and  Queen  Mary,  albeit  tliey  were  descended  also  of  the  house  of 
York,  viz.  from  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Edward  IV."  The  nature  of  the 
courts  in  the  duchy  and  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  ecclesiastical,  civil,  and 
criminal,  have  already  been  exliibited  in  a  connected  form,*  in  combination  with  the 
other  courts,  which  liave  a  concurrent  jurisdiction  in  the  county ;  and  it  is  only 
necessary  in  tliis  place  to  repeat  this  information,  and  somewhat  to  amplify  the 
details : — 

The  Ecclesiastical  Courts  are. 
The  Prerogative  Court  of  York,  -nitliin  which  province  tliis  county  lies ;  the  Court  Ectiesi.s- 
for  the  Archdeaconry  of  Chester ;  and  the  Court  for  the   Archdeaconry  of  Rich- 
mond.    Probates  of  wUh  and  letters  of  administi-ation,  of  persons  dying  witliin  the 
archdeacomy  of  Richmond,  are  usually  granted  in  the  ecclesiastical  comt  of  Rich- 
mond, and  the  original  wills,  with  the  registers  of  other  proceedings,  are  deposited 
at  Lancaster,  where  the  court  for  the  Lancashire  portion  of  that  arclideaconry  is 
held ;  wliile  the  wills  and  letters  of  acbninistration,  as  to  persons  dying  within  the 
archdeaconry  of  Chester,  must  be  proved  in,  or  gi-anted  by,  the  ecclesiastical  court 
of  Chester,  held  in  that  city,  m  whicli  case  the  wills  are  there  deposited.     But 
dm-ing  the  year  of  triennial  visitation,  the  jiu-isdiction  of  the  archdeaconry  of  Rich- 
mond ceases,  and  the  proceedings  throughout  tlie  whole  county  of  Lancaster  are 
then  registered  at  Chester.     Tlie  widows  of  mtestates,  dying  ^vithin  the  archdea- 
conry of  Riclunond,  obtain,  by  the  custom  of  the  province  of  York,  sanctioned  by  the 
statute  of  distributions,  a  greater  shai-e  of  theii-  iiusbands'  personal  estates  than  that 
to  which  those  ai-e  entitled,  by  the  statute,  whose  husbands  die  ^-ithin  the  arclidea- 
conry of  Chester,  where  such  custom  does  not  prevail,  Chester  not  being  governed 
by  any  custom  but  by  statute  law.    UntU  the  institution  of  the  bishopric  of  Chester, 
at  the  period  of  the  Reformation,  Lancasliii-e  lay  within  the  dioceses  of  Lichfield  and 
Coventry,  and  ^vills  proved  from  this  county,  at  that  time,  were  deposited  at  Lichfield, 
where  those  ^vills  now  remain.     The  river  Ribble  generally  forms  the  boimdary  of  ^'"'' 
tJie  two  archdeacomies— places  to  the  North  of  the  Ribble  being  in  the  archdeaconry 
of  Riclunond ;  and  tliose  to  the  South  of  that  river,  in  the  archdeaconry  of  Chester. 
Tliis  definition  is,  however,  subject  to  one  exception ;  the  whole  of  the  extensive 

*  Baines's  Lancashire,  edit.  1824.  vol.  1.  p.  128  —  138. 


32  Hen. 


216 


Cije  ?l]i6ttii-p  of  tl)t 


CHAP,    parish  of  Wlialley  is  in  the  archdeacomy  of  Chester,  though  the  townsliip  of  Bow- 
land- with-Leagi'am,  in  this  parish,  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  Rihble. 


VI. 


Synopsis. 


INFERIOR    COURTS.   < 


Of  Record. 


The  Courts  of  Law  are, 

f  *The  High  Court  of  Chancery. 
*The  Exchequer. 
Tlie  Chancery  of  the  Duchy. 
The  Chancery  of  the  County  Palatine. 
superior    courts.  «(  *The  King's  Bench. 

*The  Common  Pleas  at  Westminster. 
The  Common  Pleas  at  Lancaster. 
Tlie  Judges  Commission  of  all  manner  of  Pleas. 
The  Commission  of  Oyer  and  Terminer. 

Cruuinal.       C  Sessions 

I" For  the  County 

and 
!.For  Boroughs. 
Coroner's  Court. 

{For  the  County 
and 
For  Boroughs. 
rFor  Hundreds 
Leets^  and 

(.  For  Manors. 
C  Borough  Coiu'ts. 
<  Piedpoudre  Courts. 
'  Courts  of  Requests. 
C  By  Justicias. 
\  By  Replevin. 
(By  Plaint, 
f  By  Replevin. 
^  By  Plaint, 
spyhold. 
Customary. 
r  Copyhold. 
For  Manors.    <  Customary. 
(  By  Plaint. 

The  Courts  marked  thus  *  have  a  general  jurisdiction,  and  are  not  peculiar  to  this  county. 


w 

•< 

Z 

V.  o 

in 

CO 


Not  of  Record. 


Civil. 


County. 

For 
Hundi-eds. 

For  Honors. 


(Cus 


Count|)  palatinf  of  tniunsitcr.  217 

The  High  Colrt  of  Chancery,*  and  the  Court  of  Exchequer,    chap.- 

VI. 

have  coucuiTent  jurisiliction  in  tliis  county  with  the   Chanceries  of  the  Duchy,  and 


the  county  Palatine,  m  all  matters  requiring  the  interference  of  equity  to  i-emedy  the  <-'""'•'  "f 
defects,  or  mitigate  the  rigours,  of  law.    But  in  affaii-s  Avhere  the  authority  is  derived 
by  statute,  or  commission  from  the  crown,  as  in  bankruptcy  and  matters  of  a  fiscal 
nature,  the  lord  chancellor  has   an  exclusive  jurisdiction,  and  the   barons  of  the 
exchequer  paramount  authority. 

The  Chancery  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster 
is  not  a  mixed  court  of  law  and  equity.     It  has  cognizance  of  matters  of  an  equitable  chancery 
nature,  whether  they  relate  to  the  county  palatine,  or  to  the  duchy,  and  of  all  chy. 
questions  of  revenue  and  council,  affecting  the  ducal  i)ossessions.     The  proceedings 
in  this  court,  as  in  the  comi  of  chancery,  ai-e  by  EngUsli  bill  and  decree.  The  process 
is  by  privy  seal  and  attachment,  as  in  the  chancery.     All  patents,  and  commissions 
of  officers,  or  dignitaries,  all  orders,  and  gi-ants  affecting  the  lands  and  revenues, 
and  all   similar  acts  of  authority  mthin   the  duchy,   issue  from  hence.     It  is  also 
a  court  of  appeal  from  the  chancery  of  the  county  jmlatine ;  and  the  archive  of  all 
records  aifecting  the  francliise.     It  is  held  at  the  duchy  office  in  Westminster,  from 
which  all  processes  issuing  out  of  this  court  are  dated. 

The  Chancery  of  the  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster 
is  an  original  and  independent  court,  as  ancient  as  the  50th  of  Edward  III.  and  the 
proceedings  are  earned  on  by  Enghsh  bill  and  decree.     The  office  is  at  Preston,  chancery 
and  the  court  sits  four  times  a  year,  at  least ;  namely,  once  at  each  assize  at  Lancas-  {"atine.  ''*' 
ter,  and  once  at  Preston  in  the  interval  of  each  assize.     The  process  of  the  court  is 
by  subpcEna,  attachment,  attachment  with  proclamations,  commission  of  rebellion, 
sequestration,  and  writ  of  assistance,  &c.;  and  the  general  practice  of  the  court,  except 
in  some  particular  cases  where  it  is  governed  by  its  own  particular  rules,  is  similar 
to  the  practice   of  the  high  court  of  chancery  in  almost  every  tiling,  except  in 
despatch  and  expense.     The  chancery  of  Lancasliire  has  concurrent  jurisdiction  with 
the  liigh  com"t  of  chancery,  and  the  court  of  exchequer,  in  all  matters  of  equity, 
whether  concerning    lands  lying   witliin    the    palatine,     or    concerning    transitory 


*  The  chancery  is  called  of  Chancelli,  because  they  examine  matters  within  places  endorsed  with 
partitions  of  cross-barrs  ;  or  rather,  from  the  chancellours  cancelling  or  dashing  out,  wt  cross  lines 
lattice-wise,  commissions,  warrants,  and  decrees,  passed  against  all  law  or  right.  They  (the  chancel- 
lors) were  in  England  before  the  Conquest,  and  then,  and  now,  are  reputed  the  second  persons  in 
the  Kingdom.— Fragmenta  Historipolitica  Miscellanea,  Harl.  MSS.  no.  980.  fo.  59. 
VOL.  I.  2  f 


218  €l)t  5}isitiDr|)  of  tfte 

CHAP,  suits,  its  cogmzance  of  wliich  depends  on  the  person  or  lands  of  the  defendant  being 
'  amenable  to  the  process  of  this  court;  but  its  jurisdiction  is  exclusive  of  all  other 
courts  of  equity,  when  both  the  subject  of  the  suit,  and  the  residence  of  the  parties 
litigant,  are  Avitlun  the  county,  and  in  such  case  a  defendant  may  insist  on  liis  right 
to  be  sued  in  this  chancery  by  demurrer  or  plea  to  any  other  equitable  process. 
This  court  seems  to  be  entirely  independent  of  the  liigh  court  of  chancery,  the  latter 
court  not  assuming  any  jurisdiction  or  power  over  it ;  for  an  appeal  from  the  chan- 
cery of  Lancashire  lies  to  the  duchy  cliamber  at  Westminster,  and  from  thence  to 
the  king  in  parliament ;  and  no  instance  can  be  remembered,  nor  any  precedent 
adduced,  when  the  Iiigh  court  of  chancery  has  evei'  in  any  manner  attempted  to 
interfere  in  the  process  or  proceedings  of  the  court  of  chancery  of  Lancasliii-e,  or 
to  remove  the  cause  or  matter  in  dispute  from  its  jurisdiction. 

The  court  in  point  of  fact  exercises  a  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  high  court 
of  chancery  m  all  matters  of  equity  within  the  county  palatine,  particularly  in  matters 
of  account,  fraud,  mistake,  trusts,  foreclosures,  tithes,  infants,  partition,  and  specific 
performance  of  contracts  and  agTeements.  It  also  interferes  to  restrain  parties  from 
proceeding  m  actions  at  law,  and  for  that  j^urjiose  grants  tlie  writ  of  injunction.  And 
it  also  issues  injunctions  to  stay  waste  and  trespass  in  cases  where  in-eparable  mis- 
chief might  arise,  unless  the  parties  were  immediately  resti-ained  from  doing  the  acts 
complained  of.  It  is  likewise  auxiliiuy  or  assistant  to  the  jurisdiction  of  courts  of 
law,  as  by  remo-ving  legal  impedunents  to  the  fan-  decision  of  a  question  depenchng, 
either  by  compelling  a  discovery  wliich  may  enable  them  to  decide,  or  by  perpetuating 
testimony  when  in  danger  of  being  lost,  before  the  matter  to  wliich  it  relates  can  be 
made  the  subject  of  judicial  investigation.  It  also  has  jurisdiction,  on  ex-parte  appU- 
cations,  in  appointing  guardians  for  infants,  and  in  allowing  them  a  competent  main- 
tenance out  of  their  property,  and  in  enabUng  them  to  make  conveyances  of  their 
trust,  and  mortgaged  estates,  for  the  benefit  of  the  parties  beneficially  entitled.  It 
also  claims  the  care  of  all  lunatics  and  itUots  within  the  county  palatine,  and  grants 
commissions  in  the  nature  of  the  WTit  de  Lunatico  rel  Id'tota  probanda,  for  the 
purpose  of  inquiring  into  the  state  of  mind  and  circumstances  of  the  parties  against 
whom  the  commission  of  lunacy  or  idiocy  is  prayed.  And  on  the  inquisition 
beiiig  returned,  it  grants  admiuistration  of  the  persons  and  estates  of  lunatics  and 
idiots  to  committees  or  guartUans  appointed  for  tlie  purpose,  under  the  directions  of 
the  court.  If  the  suit  is  on  behalf  of  a  private  inchvidual,  the  bUl  of  complaint  is 
addressed  to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  in  the  name  of  the  party  complaining,  and 
if  the  suit  is  instituted  on  behalf  of  the  crown,  or  of  those  who  partake  of  its  preroga- 
tive, or  whose  rights  are  under  its  peculiar  protection,  as  the  objects  of  a  pubhc 
charity,  &c.  the  matter  of  complaint  is  offered  to  the  cliancellor  of  the  duchy  by  way 


Coimtp  ^Jalntiitf  of  i!.anrns:t(i%  219 

of  information,  in  the  name  of  the  attorney  general  of  the  county  palatine.     The    chap. 
proceedings  ai'e  afterwards  carried  on,  except  in  little  points  of  practice  arising  fi-oni  " 

local  circumstances,  as  in  suits  originally  commenced  in  the  high  court  of  chancery. 
Although  the  hills  are  adch-essed  to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy,  the  vice-chancellor 
of  the  county  palatine  is  the  judge  of  the  court,  and  the  causes  and  all  motions  and 
petitions  are  set  down,  and  heard  before  him.  The  chancellor  of  the  duchy,  assisted 
hy  the  two  judges  in  commission  for  the  county  palatine,  sits  to  hear  causes  at  West- 
minster, either  commenced  originally  in  the  duchy  chamber,  or  which  have  been 
transmitted  there  by  way  of  appeal  from  the  court  of  chancery  of  the  county 
palatine. 

■  All  original  writs  within  the  county  palatine  issue  from  the  chancery  of  Lanca- 
shire, and  writs  from  the  courts  at  Westminster  are  directed  to  the  chancellor  of  the 
duchy,  who  makes  out  his  mandate  to  the  sheriif  of  the  county,  to  execute,  and  return 
them  into  the  chancery.  Tlie  officers  of  the  court  are — the  chancellor  of  the  duchy, 
the  vice-chancellor,  the  registrar,  examiner,  and  first  clerk,  the  five  cursitors  and 
clerks  in  court,  who  are  the  attorneys  of  the  court,  the  seal-keeper,  and  the 
messenger. 

The  Court  of  King's  Bench  and  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  at 

Westminster, 
have  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  court  of  common  pleas,  for  the  county  palatine  Courts  of 
of  Lancaster,  in  almost  all  cases ;  and  will  enforce  their  jurisdiction  over  personal  bench  ana 
actions,  unless  conusance  of  the  cause  be  claimed,  or  the  palatinate  jurisdiction  be  p™ 
pleaded,  or  eiTor  be  brought,  after  judgment  by  default,  mth  the  venue  laid  in  Lan- 
cashire,  and   the  want  of  an   original  be  assigned  for  error.      In  the  two  first 
instances,  the  superior  courts  cannot  refuse  to  allow  the  privilege,  when  properly 
claimed;  and  in  the  last,  the  want  of  jurisdiction  becomes  apparent,  from  the  circum- 
stance of  there  being,  in  the  chancery  at  Westminster,  cui-sitors  for  the  issuing 
of  wits  into  every  county  but  the  counties  palatine,  and  therefore,  upon  a  cause  of 
action  arising  in  Lancashire,  there  is  no  proper  officer  from  whom  an  original  could 
have  been  obtained,  to  wan-ant  the  subsequent  proceedings  in  the  court  at  Westmin- 
ster.    The  cases  where  the  jurisdiction  of  the  courts  above  is  excluded,  and  that  of 
the  common  pleas  at  Lancaster  must  be  adopted,  are  chiefly  pleas  of  lands  wdtliin  the 
county;  actions   against  corporations  existing  in  Lancashire;  or  suits  in  wliich  a 
defendant  residing  there  must  be  aiTested  for  less  than  £20.     All  writs  out  of  the 
courts  at  Westminster  (except  Habeas  Corpus  and  Mittimus)  are  directed  to  the 
chancellor,  knd  not  to  the  sheriff,  in  the  first  instance;  and,  where  execution  of  them 
must  be  done  by  the  sheriff,  the  chancellor  issues  his  mandate  to  that  officer,  and,  on 

2f  2 


common 

(leas. 


tine. 


220  m)t  iJlEitOll)  Of  tftf 

CHAP,    recemnff  liis  return,  certifies,  in  his  ovra  name,  to  the  court  above,  that  the  writ  lias 

VI. 

"  been  duly  executed;  and  if  the  chancellor  return,  that  he  commanded  the  sheriff,  and 
has  received  from  him  no  answer,  the  court  above  will  rule  the  sheriff  to  return  the 
mandate.  There  is  only  one  li-anchise  in  the  county  having  the  execution  of  writs 
by  its  own  officer,  viz.  the  Liberty  of  Furness,  to  the  bailiff  of  which  the  sheriff  dii-ects 
his  precepts,  and  receives  from  him  the  requisite  returns. 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County  Palatine  of 

Lancaster, 
Common  is  an  original  superior  Court  of  Record  at  Common  Law,  having  jurisdiction  over 
the  paia-  all  real  actions  for  lands,  and  in  all  actions  against  coi-porations  within  the  county, 
as  well  as  over  all  personal  actions  where  the  defendant  resides  m  Lancashire, 
although  the  cause  of  action  may  have  ai'isen  elsewhere ;  but  this  court  has  no  juris- 
diction beyond  the  limits  of  the  county.  The  judges  of  this  court  are  appointed  by 
commission  from  the  king,  under  the  seal  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  but  in  the  name 
of  the  king,  pursuant  to  the  statute  of  27  Hen.  VIIL  The  judges,  according  to  the 
present  usage,  are  only  two,  being  the  judges  appointed  on  the  northern  circuit, 
whose  commission  continues  in  force  so  long  as  the  same  judges  continue  to  be 
appointed  to  that  circuit.  Its  returns  are  on  the  fii'st  Wednesday  in  every  month. 
The  office  of  the  prothouotary  is  at  Preston,  where  the  records  for  the  preceding 
twenty  years  are  kept,  and  those  for  previous  years  are  deposited  at  Lancaster,  where 
the  court  sits  every  assizes  before  one  of  the  two  judges  of  the  courts  at  Westminster 
who  have  chosen  the  northern  circuit,  and  who  are  half-yearly  commissioned,  the 
one  as  the  cliief  justice,  and  the  other  as  one  of  the  "justices  of  the  common  pleas  at 
Lancaster."  The  patent  of  the  judges  for  the  common  pleas  at  Lancaster  also 
appoints  one  of  the  judges  "  cliief  justice,  and  the  other',  one  of  the  justices  of  all 
manner  of  pleas  within  the  county  pidatine,"  and  under  this  the  causes  sent  by 
mittimus  from  the  courts  at  Westminster  ai-e  tried  at  bar ;  but  as  there  is  no  clause 
of  nisi  prius  in  the  jury  process  by  mittimus  to  Lancaster  (it  being  out  of  the 
ordinary  circuit  of  the  judges,)  they  camiot  be  assisted  by  a  sergeant  on  the  civil  side 
as  in  other  coimties.  By  the  same  commission  ai-e  tried  at  bar  all  pleas  of  the 
crown,  whether  removed  by  certiorari,  or  otherwise  directed  so  to  be  tried.  Tliis 
court  is  a  great  advantage  to  the  commercial  county  of  Lancaster,  as  well  because 
its  process  for  arrests  to  any  amount  reaches  to  all  parts  of  the  county,  and  may  be 
had  ^vithout  the  delay  of  sending  to  London,  as  from  the  celerity  and  excellency  of  its 
practice.  A  gi'eat  majority  of  the  causes  now  tried  at  Lancaster  are  brought  in  the 
common  pleas  of  the  county  palatine,  and  in  point  of  importance  are  equal  to  those  sent 
down  for  trial  there  fi-om  the  courts  at  Westminster.     In  tliis  court,  actions  may  be 


Coimti.)  ^alatint  of  2Laiirnsitfn  221 

brought  mtliiu  about  three  weeks  from  tlie  time  of  hohliug  the  assizes ;  and  exe-    chap. 
cution  may  be  had  after  trial,  as  soon  as  the  assizes  tenninate,  without  waiting  till  ' 

the  following  term,  which,  at  the  siumner  assizes  especially,  embraces  a  considerable 
period.  The  advantage  of  tliis  promptitude  in  legal  processes  in  Lancashu-e,  has 
been  so  strongly  felt,  that  the  principle  is  now  extended  to  the  general  law  of  the 
country ;  and  still  furtlier  improved,  by  an  act  of  parliament  passed  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1831,  for  the  more  speedy  judgment  and  execution  in  actions  i  wiii. 
brought  in  his  majesty's  courts  at  Westminster  ;  and  the  proceedings  in  the  court 
of  common  pleas  of  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  have  been  facilitated  by  making 
all  writs  of  inquiry  or  damage  returnable  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  every  month, 
(in  adcUtion  to  the  fii'st  and  last  days  of  each  assize,)  in  lieu  of  being  returnable,  as 
liitherto,  on  any  of  the  return  days  in  Easter  and  Michaelmas  terms  respectively. 
The  general  official  business  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  in  Lancashii-e,  is 
transacted  by  the  deputy  of  the  prothonotary.  The  office  of  prothonotaiy  is  a  patent 
office,  in  the  gift  of  the  crown,  in  right  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster.  Jolm  Crosse,  Esq. 
is  the  attorney-general ;  and  Wm.  Walton,  and  M.  F.  A.  Aiuslie,  Esqrs.  ai'e  king's 
counsel  for  the  palatinate.  The  attorney-general  for  the  county  is  an  officer  of  this 
circuit,  and  there  are  also  two  king's  counsel  for  the  palatinate. 

It  is  not  witliin  the  province  of  this  work  to  enter  into  the  subject  of  fees,  and  other 
details  of  legal  practice,  but  the  foUo^ving  order  of  court,  issued  by  the  judges 
upwards  of  two  hunched  years  ago,  may  sei"ve  as  a  piece  of  legal  lore  : — 

"  Orders  made  at  Lanc  : 

By  S.  James  Altham,  Bar.  of  Ecq. 
S.  Edw.  Bromley,  Bar.  of  Ech. 
By  assent  of  Tho.  Tidsley,  Attorn,  of  Cout.  Pal.  and  Vicechancelor  of  the  same,  at 

the  assizes  at  Lanc. 

29th  July.     Jac.  9. 

"  That  Attorneys  admonish  there  clients,  both  dwel:  in  the  couty,  to  trie  in  the 

couty. 
"  If  Attura  \vill  not  be  refoiTQed,  then  to  them  in  any  foren  court  ace.  to 

Stat.  4  H.  4.  if  it  seeme  good  to  the  Justices. 
"  Euery  writ  made  by  the  Attorn,  shall  cost  2^  for  euery  12''  the  proton,  hath. 
"  The  Atturney  shall  have  liis  fee  in  euery  action  3'  4''  for  euery  assize. 
•'  Tlie  Sherif  shall  return  at  the  first  Distr:  suff:  issues  upon  euery  Freholdi-  that 

shall  be  sued,  and  double  the  same  til  the  fi-eeholder  appere  to  the  suit. 


222 


<U)t  %)Mov^  Of  tlje 


CH\P. 

VI. 


Under  euery  action  of  debt  of  201s.  or  upward,  the   debtor  sliall  put  in  special 

bayle  if  the  plantifs  Attor.  do  require,  unles  good  cans  to  the  couti'ary. 
Tlie  Protonot.  shall  not  accept  of  any  writs  wherupon  any  fines  or  recou.  are  to  be 

sued  wlier  above  3  or  4  cognisors  are  named,  being  not  joynt  ten  a  ten  in  cou. 

without  spec:  direct:  from  the  Justices  of  Assizes. 
No  recouery  brought  to  the  Proton,  but  under  the  hand  of  some  Attorney  of  the 

said  court. 
Euery  Attorney  shall  bring  liis  orig.  writs  and  mean  proces  wher  any  exigent  is 

awarded  of  the  Ass.  precedent  H"*.     All  cost  be  the  Assise  subseq.  to  be  fUed 

with  the  Proton. 
Or  else  to  pay  for  euery  such  writ  returned  the  assise  before,  he  bring  the  same 

for  the  post  diem  4"*. 
If  they  file  any  writts  of  any  fomier  Assis  after  the  said  Ass.  subseq  .  begin  then  to 

pay  for  each  12''  for  a  post  a»ssis.  Attorney  may  receiue  of  there  o^vn  use  ^  of 

al  fines  due  upon  orig.  writs,  and  wi'its  of  couents,  and  writs  of  Entryes  for 

reco.  only  excepted. 


Assizts. 


Contem- 
plated re- 
moval of 
the  as- 

sizeH. 


Previous  to  every  assize,  commissions  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  and  General  Gaol 
Delivery  are  issued,  under  which  the  senior  judge  presides  in  the  crown  court,  and 
delivers  Lancaster  castle.  The  official  proceedings  in  criminal  cases  \\dtliin  the 
county  are  conducted  by  the  clerk  of  the  crown,  or  liis  deputy.*  The  office  of  clerk 
of  the  crown  is  in  the  gift  of  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  for  the  tune  being,  and  he  is 
assisted  by  a  deputy,  on  whom  the  duty  principally  devolves.  The  office  is  held  at 
Preston.  At  the  end  of  the  assizes,  three  copies  are  made  of  the  calendar  of  the 
prisoners ;  one  of  wliich  is  signed  by  the  senior  judge,  and  delivered  to  the  clerk  of 
the  crown,  in  whose  custody  it  is  kept ;  another  copy  is  signed  by  the  clerk  of  the 
crown,  and  kept  by  the  judge ;  and  a  tliii'd,  signed  by  the  same  officer,  is  left  with  the 
high  sheriif  or  the  gaoler.  Under  this  authority,  and  without  any  special  wan-ant, 
all  executions  take  place.  The  judge  writes  the  word  "  reprieved"  or  "  respited", 
opposite  to  the  name  of  each  convict  sentenced  to  die,  but  not  left  for  execution  ;  and 
such  as  have  not  either  of  these  words  written  opposite  their  names,  are  hanged.  On 
behalf  of  those  who  are  reprieved,  the  judge  addresses  a  letter,  called  "  the  Circuit 
Letter"  to  the  king,  recommending  them  to  mercy  on  the  grounds  therein  specified, 
which  letter  is  transmitted  to  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state,  and  generally,  indeed 
invariably,  produces  a  commutation  of  punislunent. 

Tlie  assizes  are  held  half-yearly  at  Lancaster,  but  strenuous  efforts  have,  from 
time  to  time,  been  made  by  the  more  populous  part  of  the  county,  to  obtain  an 
*  Appendix  to  Evans  on  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster. 


Coimtp  |]alattnf  of  Eanra^tfr.  223 

adjournment  of  each  assize  from  the  county  town  to  Preston,  Manchester,  and  Liver-    chai' 

pool,  on  the  grounds — that  as  it  is  a  principle  of  the  gi'cat  charter,  that  justice  ought   L 

not  to  be  delayed,  it  is  in  consonance  with  that  principle,  that  it  ought  not  to  be  remote. 
It  is  alleged  that  nine-tenths  of  the  civil  causes,  and  four-fifths  of  the  criminal 
prosecutions,  tried  at  Lancaster,  are  from  the  three  most  distant  hunch-eds  of  >Salford, 
West  Derby,  and  Blackbura,  which  contain  neai-ly  nine-tenths  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
county ;  and  that,  by  the  proposed  adjournments,  the  saving  to  prosecutors  and  suitors, 
both  in  time  and  travelling  expenses,  would  be  immense.  The  cogency  of  these 
representations  arrested  the  attention  of  the  magistracy  of  the  county,  and  in  the 
report  of  a  committee  appointed  by  that  body  at  their  annual  general  sessions  of  the 
peace  in  1820,  which  report  was  made  in  1822,  the  conunittee  earnestly  recoimnend, 
that  at  the  county  assizes  at  Lancaster,  the  two  judges  should  "  both  proceed  upon 
the  trial  of  prisoner's,  and  afterwards  upon  the  trial  of  all  cases  ii'om  the  north  of  the 
county,  as  usual,  and  then  adjourn  to  Preston,  and  there  proceed  with  the  causes  from 
all  other  parts  of  the  county."  By  this  arrangement,  the  committee  "  estimate  the 
saving  to  the  county  to  amount  to  at  least  £10,000  a  year,"  but  they  discountenance 
the  idea  of^djourning  the  a,ssizes  to  Manchester  and  Liverpool,  and  deem  it  to  be 
a  measure  fraught  "  with  serious  inconvenience  and  mischief." 

The  subject  being  thus  brought  under  the  consideration  of  the  whole  bench,  it 
became  necessary  to  pronounce  a  decision  upon  it ;  aiid  in  a  report  of  the  magistracy, 
subsequently  made,  they  negative  the  proposition  in  toto :  first,  because  they  agree 
%vith  the  committee,  that  it  would  be  attended  with  serious  inconvenience  and  mis- 
chief to  adjourn  the  assizes  to  Manchester  and  Liverpool ;  and  second,  because  an 
adjournment  to  Preston  would  only  shorten  the  distance  of  travelling  about  twenty 
miles,  and  is  not  estimated  to  save  more  than  £10,000  a  year — a  consideration 
which  they  do  not  think  sufficiently  powerful  to  justify  the  adjournment  of  the 
assizes  from  the  place  where  justice  has  been  well  administered  for  centuries  past, 
and  which  is  entitled  to  have  the  assize  held  in  it  by  the  charters  of  many  kings. 
Liverpool  took  a  strong  interest  hi  this  question,  and  at  a  public  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants,  held  on  the  11th  of  Apiil,  1823,  at  which  the  mayor  presided,  it  was 
determmed  to  present  a  memorial  to  the  lord  liigh  chancellor,  the  chancellor  of  the 
duchy  of  Lancaster,  and  the  Right  Hon.  Robert  Peel,  secretary  of  state  for  the  home 
department,  urging  the  measure  upon  their  consideration.  To  tliis  memorial  an 
answer  was  returned  by  Mr.  Secretary  Peel,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1824,  to  the  effect 
"  That  the  memorial  relative  to  an  adjournment  of  the  assizes  to  the  towns  of  Liver- 
pool and  Manchester,  or  the  neighbourhood  thereof,  having  been  fully  considered, 
and  the  arguments  weighed  in  support  of  that  measure,  with  those  which  have  been 
urged  from  several  quarters  against  the  proposed  adjournments,  he  is  dii-ected  to 


224  €i)t  ?l?i6toi-p  of  tf;e 

CHAP,    acquaint  the  memorialists,  that  the  pailies  memorialized  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  not 

^^"       expedient  for  the  government  to  take  measures  for  adjouining  the  assizes  from  the 

town  of  Lancaster,  at  wliich  they  have  been  liolden  for  a  long  series  of  years." 

Subsequent  efforts  have  been  made  for  the  attainment  of  this  object,  but  hithei'to  with 

no  better  success. 

On  tliis  subject,  the  commissioners  appointed  by  liis  majesty  to  inquu-e  into  the 
practice  and  proceedings  of  the  supreme  courts  of  law,  in  their  report  made  to  the 
king  on  the  18tli  of  February,  1829,  say — "  Tlie  increased  population  of  the  county 
of  Lancaster,  amoimting  to  more  than  one  mUHou  of  inhabitants,  has  augmented  the 
business  of  that  county  to  such  a  degi'ee  as  to  render  a  subdivision  of  it  necessary. 
Accordingly,  a  regulation  has  been  found  expedient,  and  has  beeu  established  for 
many  years  past,  under  the  authority  of  the  judges  on  that  circuit,  by  wliich  the 
causes  are  divided  into  three  separate  lists,  appropriated  to  three  different  portions 
of  the  county,  viz.: 

"  L  Tlie  three  northern  hundreds  of  Lonsdale,  Amouuderness,  and  Blackburn. 

"  IL  The  bundled  of  West  Derby,  including  the  town  of  Liverpool  and  the 
hundi-ed  of  Leyland. 

"  III.  Salford  hundred,  including  Manchester. 

"  The  causes  entered  for  trial  were  as  follows,  viz.: 

Last  fourteen  Ciicuits.  Last  seven  Circuits. 


1st  List  .     . 

.     377 

average 

27 

1st  List  .     . 

.     227 

average 

32 

2d      .     .     . 

.     919 

•         •          ■ 

65|- 

2d      .     .     . 

.     573 

. 

82 

3d      .     .     . 

.     807 

.     .     . 

57i 

3d      .     .     . 

.     491 

.     .     . 

70 

150  184 

"  Hence  it  is  evident,  that  the  entry  of  causes  is  on  the  increase;  and  that  the 
number  for  Manchester  and  Salford  may  be  taken  at  65  at  the  least.  The  distances 
of  the  hundreds  of  West  Derby  and  Salford  fi-om  Lancaster  have  been  found  incon- 
venient in  the  highest  degree,  not  only  on  account  of  the  actual  nmnber  of  miles  from 
Livei-pool  and  Manchester,  and  other  populous  towns  of  Lancaster,  but  from  the 
incommodious  approach  to  that  place  by  the  road  to  the  north  of  Preston.  The 
population  of  Liverpool  and  West  Derby  hundred,  which  amounts  to  more  than 
270,000  inhabitants,  and,  with  the  hundred  of  Leyland,  to  more  than  300,000,  and 
that  of  Manchester  and  Salford  huncked,  which  also  amounts  to  more  than  the  latter 
number,  makes  it  not  only  expecUent  but  just,  towards  those  places,  that  separate 
assizes  should  be  held  mthin  them." 


enor 
courts. 


CoiintL)  pnlntinr  of  aanradtn*.  225 

To  promote  this  act  of  justice,  it  is  proposed  by  the  commissioners,  that  Manchester,     chap. 

•\vith  the  rest  of  the  huudi-ed  of  Salford,  should  be  comprehended  within  an  additional 1_ 

ciiTuit  proposed  to  be  established,  to  comprehend  Staffordshire  and  Salop,  the  two 
north  Welsh  (Ushicts,  the  district  of  Chester,  including  Flintshire  and  the  western 
part  of  Denbighsliire.  But  this  scheme,  wliich  involves  a  strange  subchvision  of 
counties,  only  cures  half  the  alleged  evil,  and  leaves  Liverpool,  with  the  other  parts 
of  West  Derby,  and  tlie  whole  of  Leyland,  subject  to  "  the  unjust  degi'ee  of 
inconvenience." 

The  Courts  of  Inferior  Jurisdiction, 

are  either  Courts,  which,  upon  recording  their  judgment,  can  award  that  tlie  party  infi 
condemned  shall  be  fined,  or  imprisoned,  or  they  are  Courts  not  of  record,  and, 
consequently,  not  possessing  the  power  to  make  such  an  award.  Of  the  fonuer  class, 
some  are  more  conversant  in  matters  of  criminal,  and  others  of  ci^-il  nature.  The 
Criminal  Courts  of  Record  are — the  General  Sessions,  held,  annually  and  quarterly.  Sessions, 
before  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county.  The  Annual  Sessions  are  held  in 
July,  at  Preston,  and  afterwards,  by  various  adjournments,  until  the  numerous 
county  affairs,  placed,  by  various  statutes,  under  the  peculiar  cognizance  of  this  court, 
are  transacted.  These  ai'e  annually  accumulating;  and  the  matters  of  county  finance 
have  now  become  so  much  the  objects  of  magisterial  care  and  public  interest,  that  its 
sittings  bear  no  very  cUstant  resemblance  to  those  of  parliament. 

The  General  Quarter  Sessions 

are  now  held,  according  to  statute,  the  first  week  after  the  11th  of  October;  the  first  i  AViiiiam 
week  after  the  20th  of  December;  the  first  week  after  the  31st  of  March;  and  the 
first  week  after  the  24th  of  June,  in  each  year.  The  multifarious  matters  under  the 
cognizance  of  this  court  are  too  well  known  to  requii'e  enumeration.  A  very  consi- 
derable number  of  barristers  attend  the  last  adjournments ;  and  many  judicious 
an-angemeuts  have  been  made,  which  evince  the  anxious  desire  of  the  magistrates 
to  reduce,  as  much  as  possible,  the  time  consimied,  and  the  enonnous  sums  annually 
expended,  in  the  prosecution  of  offenders.  The  bench  have  the  power,  and,  in  some 
cases  exercise  it,  to  effect  a  further  saving  of  both,  by  (Uvidiug  the  sessions,  and 
trying  indictments  and  appeals  in  different  courts  at  the  same  time ;  wliich,  especially 
in  parish  matters,  would  be  a  gi-eat  public  advantage. 

Similar  sessions  are  held  in  the   boroughs  of  Lancaster,  Preston,  Clitheroe,   Boroush 
Wigan,  and  Livei-pool,  before  the  local   magistrates,  agi-eeably  to  the  respective 
vol.  I.  2  G 


220  mn  ?i)i£itorj)  of  tin 

CHAP,    cliarters,  or  to  inuuemorial  prescription,  wliicli  presupposes  sucli  a  charter  anciently 

'       granted,  and  now  lost  or  decayed. 
Coroner's  Another  court  of  record  of  criminal  judicature,  is  the  coroner's  court,  rapidly 

assembled  on  the  discovery  of  any  dead  body,  and  composed  of  the  officer,  and  a  jury 
selected  by  the  constables  of  the  four  townships  next  adjoining  to  that  spot  on  Avhich 
the  corpse  was  first  found.  The  name  of  the  officer  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from 
the  circumstance  of  Ms  examination  of  the  witnesses,  and  pronouncing  of  sentence, 
being  in  a  ring  or  cii'cle  of  people  assembled  round  the  deceased,  or  in  corona  populi. 
He  is  elected  by  the  freeholders,  upon  a  Avrit  requiring  the  sheriff  to  hold  a  county 
court  for  the  election,  and  returned  into  chancery.  In  this  county  there  are  six 
coroners,  each  of  Avhom  has  full  power  to  act  through  Lancashire;  but  the  exercise  of 
such  power  is  limited,  by  private  agreement,  and  for  mutual  convenience,  to  the 
hundred  or  neighboui'hood  of  theii*  respective  residence.  The  coroner  is  bound  by 
law  to  discharge  his  office  in  person,  to  come  Avhen  sent  for,  and  to  view  the  body  in 
the  presence  of  the  jury;  and  if  the  coi-pse  cainiot  be  found,  no  inquest  can  be  held. 
He  must  also  inquire  of  every  death  in  prison,  whether  naturally  or  by  misfortune. 
There  are  other  duties  attached  to  the  office,  such  as  the  execution  of  process  wliere 
the  sherifT  is  party,  or  in  contempt;  the  taking  and  entering  of  appeals  of  murder, 
rape,  and  robbery,  &;c.;  the  judgment  on  the  writs  of  outlawry;  the  inquests  of 
■WTeck,  and  treasui'e-trove ;  and  others  of  less  frequent  occurrence,  and  less  public 
concernment,  than  its  ordinary  painful  and  unpleasant  task :  the  office  is  of  high 
antiquity,  and  great  public  utility,  when  executed  according  to  the  spirit,  and  for  the 
end,  of  its  original  institution.  The  principal  officers  of  the  corporate  boroughs  are 
usually  coroners  within  the  precincts  of  their  jurisdiction.  The  coroner  is  a  conser- 
vator of  the  peace,  at  common  law,  virtute  ojficii. 
Courts  The  remaining   court  of  record,  for  the  punishment  of  offences,  is  the  Leet. 

Formerly  the  sheriff  perambulated  the  county,  and  held  his  criminal  court  in  every 
hundred.  This  was  called  the  Torn,  or  Towrn;  but  A\]ieu  the  delay,  inconvenience, 
and  expense  of  that  officer  "  taking  a  turu"  tlu'ough  so  extensive  a  (hstrict  became 
manifest,  this  court  was  made  stationary  in  every  hundi-ed,  and  was  held,  as  at  present, 
before  the  steward  of  the  hundred. 
Ancient  A  singiilar  instance  occurs,  as  early  as  the  time  of  Edward  H.,  of  the  exactions  to 

ment  wliicli  the  inhabitants  of  Lancashire  were  subjected,  h\  the  itmerant  visits  of  some  of 

the  high  tlie  ostentatious  sheriffs  in  their  periodical  towrns  through  the  county ;  but  to  tliese 
grievances  they  cUd  not  tamely  submit,  as  appears  from  an  ancient  indictment  pre- 
sented by  the  grand  juiy,  of  which  the  following  is  a  translation  :* — 

*  Rot.  plac.  coram  R.  17  Edw.  11.  m.  72. 


sheriir. 


CountP  |3alatinc  of  Snnrastcr*  227 

(  The  Grand  Jury  of  the  Wapentake  of  West  Derby  present    chap. 
"  LANCASTER  '  .  -^  ^  ,v 

*  i    tliat  '  Willielinus  le  Gent'd,'  at  the  time  when  he  was  sheriff,  " 

and  when  he  hekl  his  Towrn  in  the  said  Wajn'iitake,  ought  to  have  remained  no 

longer  in  the  Wapentake  tlian  three  nights  with  tlu-ee  or  four  horses,  Avhereas  he 

remained  there  at  least  nine  days  with  eight  liorses,  to  tlie  oj^pression  of  the  people  ; 

and  that  he  quartered  himself  one  night  at  the  house   of  '  Dns  de  Turbat,'   and 

another  night  at  the  house  of  one  '  Bobeiius  de  Bold,''  auotlier  at  the  house   of 

'  Rohcrtus  de  Grenlmj,'   and  elsewliere,  according  to  his  wUl,  at  tlie  cost  of  the  men 

of  the  Wapentake." 

For  tliis  offence,  and  for  another  of  a  more  extraordinary  kind,  which  will  be 
exliibited  in  the  parliamentary  history  of  the  county,  the  sheriff  was  placed  in  duress  ; 
but  the  record  goes  on  to  say,  that  "  the  said  '  Willielinus  GentiV  is  enlarged  upon 
the  manucaption  of  four  manucaptors."  ' 

At  the  period  when  the  comes  or  earls  divested  themselves  of  the  charge  of  the 
counties  that  duly  devolved  upon  the  sheriffs,  as  the  name  shire-reeve,  or  bailiff  of  the 
shii'e,  unports ;  and,  ui  like  manner,  when  tlie  Inindredors  ceased  to  govern  the 
divisions  styled  humh-eds,  their  office  was  sujiplied  by  the  steward,  i.e.  stede-ward, 
or  governor  of  the  place.  This  officer  is  one  of  those  conservators  of  the  peace  who 
still  remain  sucli  by  virtue  of  his  office.  The  six  hundreds  in  Lancashire,  viz. 
Lonsdale,  Amounderness,  Blackburn,  Leyland,  West  Derby,  and  Salford,  were 
anciently  styled  shires.  Thus  Leland,  temp:  Henry  VIII.  speaks  of  Manchester 
standing  in  Salfordslm-e ;  and,  in  common  with  all  the  hundreds  north  of  the  Trent, 
they  bear  the  synonymous  name  of  wapentakes,  from  the  ancient  custom  of  the  heads 
of  families  assembling  armed,  upon  the  summons  of  the  hunch-edor,  and  touching  his 
weapon,  to  testify  their  fealty.  In  many  parts  of  this  county,  lands  and  manors  are 
held  by  suit  to  the  hundred  leet,  of  which  ser\'ice  this  was  probably  the  sign  and 
symbol,  and  such  are  called  humh-ed  lands.  The  leet  must  be  held  at  least  twice  in 
every  year,  and  within  a  month  of  Easter  and  Michaelmas,  respectively.  It  is  held 
before  the  steward  of  the  hundred,  or  his  deputy,  and  a  jury  impannelled  by  him. 
The  amercements  are  limited  only  by  the  assessment  of  at  least  two  men,  accordino- 
to  the  measure  of  the  fault,  agi-eeably  to  a  provision  of  magna  cliarta.  Anterior  to 
the  statues  which  have  given  to  the  sessions  concurrent  jurisdiction,  its  duties 
embraced  every  offence,  from  eaves-dropping  and  vagrancy,  to  higli  treason ;  but, 
although  contrary  to  several  very  learned  chcta,  every  statute  affecting  it  has  pre- 
served, and  none  has  dhninished,  its  powers,  Avhich  are  seldom  called  into  exercise, 
except  to  abate  nuisances,  punish  deficient  measures,  and  appoint  the  high  and  petty 
constables,  and  other  municipal  officers.  Its  proceecHngs  have  two  singular  diarac- 
teristics — the  entire  absence  of  fees  and  lawyers.    The  increase  of  population,  and  the 

2g2 


request. 


228  m)t  %mtOV]y  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    influence  of  feudal  lords,  gave  rise  to  manorial  leets,  which  were  jn-anted,  to  obviate  tlie 

VI.  .  o  J 

'. necessity  of  tlie  tenants  of  a  particular  manor  being  obliged  to  attend  tlie  torn,  or 

general  leet  of  the  hundred,  before  the  stewai'ds  of  the  several  lords  of  manors,  or  their 
deputies ;  and,  by  custom,  the  leets  of  several  manors  may  be  held  at  once  in  some 
certain  place  within  one  of  the  manors. 

The  Inferior  Courts  of  Record  of  Civil  Judicature, 

Boroiigii     are,  1st,  the  Courts  of  Boroughs,  usually  held  before  the  princii^al  corporate  officer, 

and  the  recorder  or  steward,  and  having  jurisdiction,   in  personal  actions,  to  an 

unlimited  amount.    8uch  is  the  Court  of  Passage  at  Liverpool,  the  Borough  Court  of 

Preston,  and  others,  as  numerous  and  as  various  as  tlie  respective  charters  or  pre- 

Piedpoii-    scriptions.     2nd,  The  Piedpoudrc  Court  is   a  court   of  Record,   having  unlimited 

(he  court.      .....  ..  ..  ...  ».,^ 

jurisdiction  over  all  contracts  arising  witluii  a  lair,  before  the  lord  or  owner,  or  lus 
stewai'd  or  clerk  of  the  fair.  It  was  the  lowest  and  most  speedy  court  in  the  realm, 
except  one  now  extinct,  called  the  Court  of  Trail-baton,  Avliere  the  judge  Avas  bound 
to  decide  whilst  the  bailiff  drew  his  staff,  or  trailed  his  baton,  round  the  room.     3rd, 

Courts  of  Almost  equal  to  these,  in  the  raj)id  admhiistration  of  justice,  are  the  Courts  of 
Request,  which  the  legislature  has,  at  various  periods,  established  in  Liverjjool, 
Manchester,  Ashton-under-Line,  and  Poulton  in  the  Fylde.  Under  various  regu- 
lations, and  chiefly  before  a  certain  number  of  commissioners,  assembling  by  rota- 
tion, they  determine,  in  a  summary  manner,  at  a  small  expense,  and  without  lawyers, 
such  matters  as  are  allowed  by  their  respective  statutes,  under  forty  slulUngs,  or  five 
pounds. 

The  Inferior  Courts,  not  of  Record, 
are  all  calculated  for  the  redress  of  civil,  and  not  of  criminal,  injuries.     It  has  been 
seen  that  the  sheriff  had  a  court  leet  called  tlie  torn,  Avliich  was  the  criminal  court  of 
the  county  ;  he  had  also  his  court  baron  or  civil  court,  Avhich  formerly  tra\  elled  round 
the  county,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  torn.     The  same  complaint  of  expense,  delay, 

County  and  inconvenience,  attended  this  rotary  process ;  and  long  before  the  torn  was  localized 
in  the  hundreds,  the  eonntij  court,  or  sheriffs  court,  became  stationary  in  the  county 
town,  and  its  jurisdiction  Avas  limited  to  those  suits  in  which  the  parties  dwelt  in 
several  hundi'eds.  In  l)oth  hundred  and  county  courts,  matters  to  any  amount  were 
originally  determined,  until  the  statute  of  Gloucester  directed  that  no  suits  should  be 
commenced  without  the  king's  writ,  unless  the  cause  of  action  did  not  exceed  40s. 
Since  that  time,  a  device  has  been  adopted,  to  give  the  county  court  jurisdiction  in 
matters  above  40.s.  without  breach  of  this  statute.  A  plaintiff  sues  forth  out  of 
chancery  aAmt,  alleging  that  he  is  clamorous  for  defect  of  right,  before  the  Mng,  and 
commanding  the  sherifT  to  do  hun  justice.     This  is  held  to  be  in  the   nature  of  a 


court. 


Count})  |9alntinf  of  laufasiten  229 

commission  to  the  sheriff  to  try  the  cause  in  the  county  court,  and  the  defendant  is    i;hai'. 

summoned  to  answer  the   coniphiint  before  the   sheriff,  by  virtue  of  his  majesty's   '. — 

writ  of  justicias.  The  jurisdiction  under  this  commission  is  unhmited  in  amount, 
except  by  the  faciHty  of  removing  the  suit  by  merely  lodging  a  writ,  Avithout  security 
that  it  shall  be  proceeded  in,  when  the  suit  is  for  £10  or  upwards;  Avliich  vii-tually 
limits  the  county  court  to  that  sum.  It  has  also  unlimited  juristhction  in  replevins 
of  property  unlawfully  lUstrained,  subject  to  the  like  removal.  The  Lancasliire  county 
court,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  recovery  of  small  demands,  ju'obably  possesses  gi'eater 
practice  and  efficiency  than  any  other  similar'  court ;  owing  to  an  act  of  parliament,* 
(peculiar  to  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster)  prohibiting  the  removal  of  causes 
mthout  bail,  where  the  debt  or  damage  is  under  £10,  and  to  the  excellent  rules  of 
practice  since  introduced,  in  conjunction  vniii  the  cu'ciunstance  that  process  may  be 
issued  at  Preston,  from  the  chancery  of  the  duchy,  at  a  much  smaller  expense,  and 
more  speedily,  than  it  can  be  in  orcUnary  cases,  where  it  must  be  had  from  the  high 
court  of  chancery.  Very  much  delay  (incident  to  proceedings  in  county  courts  in 
general)  is  likewise  obviated  in  this  court,  by  entries  being  permitted  to  be  made  at 
the  sheriff's  office  in  the  intervals  between  the  regular  monthly  court  days,  as  if  they 
had  been  entered  at  the  previous  court  day.  Accorthng  to  umnemorial  usage,  the 
court  has  been  held  every  Tuesday  month,  at  Preston,  but  latterly,  in  addition  to  this, 
it  has  regularly  adjourned  its  monthly  sittuigs  from  thence  to  Manchester,  on  the 
Thursday  following,  in  order  to  obviate  the  expense  and  loss  of  time  incurred, 
through  so  many  witnesses  having  to  travel  from  that  populous  chstrict  as  far  as  to 
Preston.  Of  late  years  too,  the  sheriff  has  retained  a  barrister,  to  preside  in  the  court, 
in  which  the  number  of  actions  commenced  may  be  stated  at  from  4  to  5,000  annually: 
from  1  to  2,000  being  for  sums  under  40s.,  but  the  greater  proj)ortion  being  for  sums 
above  that  amount. 

The  Hundred  Courts 
have  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  county  court  in  certain  personal  actions  under  Humhed 
40s.  in  value,  and  are  held  from  three  weeks  to  three  weeks,  before  the  steAvard  of 
the  hundi'ed,  or  his  deputy,  and  a  jury,  within  the  respective  jurisdictions.  One  of  the 
deputy  stewards  of  Salford  huntked  is  a  barrister,  James  Norris,  Es(|.  of  Manchester, 
Avho  has  presided  for  above  twenty  years.  No  suit  can  be  removed  by  the  del'endant, 
before  judgment,  without  bad,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court ;  nor  by  the  losing  party, 
after  judgment,  without  similar  security  in  double  the  amount  of  the  judgment. 

There   is   in   tliis   county,  one   Honor    or    Superior  Manor,  having  numerous 
dependent  manors  under  it.     It  is  the  Honor  of  CUtheroe,  the  jurisdiction  of  which  ho 
is  very  extensive.     It  has  courts  in  the  nature  of  courts  leet,  at  which  the  lords  of  the 

■•  35  Geo.  III. 


ionor 
courts. 


230  €i)t  5;>t6tori)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    iuferior  manors  owe  suit;   and  others  in  the  nature  of  copyhokl  courts,   for  the 
^^'       admittance  of  tenants  hy  copy  of  court  roll,  under  the  various  forfeited  manors  within 
the  honor. 

Manor  Thcrc  are  also  numerous  other  Manors  in  various  parts  of  the  county ;  some 

of  which  have  copyhold  courts,  and  others  only  courts  haron  for  the  reckess  of  the 
tenants'  grievances;  some  have  courts  leet,  and  some  kw  courts  for  the  recovery  of 
debts  and  damages  under  40s.  held  according  to  their-  various  local  customs. 

It  has  been  comjjlained  of  as  a  defect  of  the  superior  courts,  that  their  sittings 
and  offices  are  at  too  great  a  (hstauce  fi'om  the  centre  of  business,  and  the  mass  of 
the  population.  The  evil  of  the  inferior  judicatures  of  a  civil  nature  is,  that,  owing 
to  the  restrictions  upon  the  amount  of  the  sums  sought  to  be  recovered,  and  the 
diminished  value  of  money,  the  time  of  respectable  juries,  and  professional  men,  are 
wasted  upon  trifling  suits,  wheu  they  might  be  advantageously  applied  to  ease  the 
superior  courts  of  those  matters  whicli  are  too  small  to  deserve  their  cognizance,  and 
yet  too  gi'eat  to  pass  remediless,  save  at  the  risk  and  ruin  of  individuals.  Several 
unsuccessful  attempts  have  been  made  to  remedy  both  these  grievances.  Tlie 
answer  to  such  has  been,  that  it  is  dangerous  to  render  more  easy,  cheap,  and  speedy 
the  administration  of  justice,  lest  the  people  should  contract  a  love  of  litigation, 
which  would  injure  them  more  than  the  delay  or  denial  of  retbess. 

I^ccortis  of  tlje  Couutp  i^alattue* 

I'uiiiic  The   principal  public  records,  connected  Anth  the  jurisprudence  of  the  county 

of  the  palatine  of  Lancaster,  may  be  classed  under  tln-ee  heads  :  1  st.  Those  in  the  depart- 
ment of  the  deputy  clerk  of  the  crown  at  Lancaster.  2d.  Those  in  tlie  department 
of  the  prothonotary  of  his  majesty's  coiu't  of  common  pleas  for  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster; and,  3d.  Those  in  the  department  of  the  register  of  the  court  of  chancery 
of  Lancashire.  Soon  after  the  appointment  by  his  majesty  of  the  commissioners  of 
puljlic  records,  issued  in  virtue  of  a  recommendatio)i  of  the  two  houses  of  parliament, 
in  the  year  1800,  the  commissioners  instituted  inquiries  into  the  nature  of  these 
records,  and  the  places  of  theii"  deposit;  and  from  the  answers  retui'ued  to  those 
inquiries  it  appears — 
In  the  First,  That  the  public  records,  rolls,  instruments,  and  manuscript  books  and 

the  clerk  papers,  iu  the  custody  of  the  clerk  of  the  crown  for  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster, 
consist  of  instruments  and  other  criminal  proceethngs  in  the  crown  office  for  the 
county  palatine ;  the  records  of  such  instruments  and  proceedings,  and  different  books 
of  entries,  though  not  very  numerous,  are  supposed  to  he  all  that  have  been  pre- 
served.     These  records  (except  the  jn-oceedings  at  two  or  three  preceding  assizes, 


of  the 
crown 


Countp  ^alatiiif  of  itancn^ter.  231 

wbicli  are  kept  in  the  office  of  the  deputy  clerk  of  the  crown  in  Preston)  are  chap. 
deposited  in  the  new  office  or  room  that  has  been  filted  up  in  Lancaster  castle,  lor  '' 
the  reception  of  these  and  other  records  of  the  county ;  Lancaster  castle  beino-  sup- 
posed to  be  the  property  of  the  crown,  in  riglit  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster.  For 
eighty  or  ninety  years  past,  the  indictments,  &c.  are  so  far  arranged,  that  any  pro- 
ceeding inquired  for,  may  be  easily  referred  to ;  antecedent  to  that  period,  such  as 
have  been  preserved  are  promiscuously  placed  together  in  no  regular  order,  but  are 
in  tolerable  preservation.  All  tlie  proceecUngs  at  each  assizes,  within  the  period  first 
mentioned,  ai-e  entered  or  docketed  in  books,  by  referring  to  which,  the  proceetUnn-s 
in  each  prosecution  may  be  known ;  but  there  are  no  other  indexes  or  cataloo-ues, 
except  that,  upon  some  of  the  older  rolls,  the  contents  are  endorsed.  All  searches 
are  made  by  or  in  the  presence  of  the  deputy  clerk  of  the  crown,  or  liis  confidential 
clerks,  who  are  employed  in  the  custody  and  arrangements  of  the  records,  and  give 
attendance  as  occasion  may  requii-e,  without  any  remuneration  from  the  public. 
Office  copies  of  records  are  charged  after  the  rate  of  eight-pence  for  each  sheet, 
consisting  of  seventy-two  words,  and  the  usual  fee  upon  a  search  is  6s.  8d.  and  the 
deputy  clerk  of  the  croA\-n  charges  for  attending  at  Lancaster  during  the  assizes, 
with  a  record,  a  guinea.  The  searches  in  this  office  are  very  rare,  and,  of  course, 
the  fees  upon  them  very  inconsiderable. 

Second.  The  public  records,  rolls,  instruments,  and  manuscript  books  and  of  the 
papers,  in  the  custody  of  the  deputy  prothouotary  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  in  faiyl'""°" 
and  for  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  consist  of  fines  and  recoveries,  records, 
writs,  minutes,  papers,  and  proceedings  in  real,  personal,  and  mixed  actions,  insti- 
tuted in  tliis  court  along  with  some  few  enrolments  of  deeds;  and  they  are  supposed 
to  be  the  whole  of  tlie  records  or  papers  relating  to  tliis  court  since  its  creation. 
Tliese  records  and  other  documents,  for  a  period  of  upwards  of  fiftv  vears,  are 
lodged  at  the  office  of  the  deputy  prothouotary,  which  (with  'i-ie  other  principal  law 
officers  of  this  county  palatine)  is  held  at  Preston,  on  account  of  its  central  situation. 
All  the  early  records  and  documents  are  now  lodged  in  an  ancient  tower  or  chamber 
within  the  castle  of  Lancaster,  which  has  been  very  commodiously  fitted  up  for  their 
reception,  at  the  expense  of  the  county.  The  records  and  other  dociunents  are 
methocUcaUy  arranged  in  separate  compartments,  accordhig  to  theii-  dates,  and  are  in 
general  in  very  good  preservation.  There  are  docket  rolls,  or  indexes,  to  all  the 
records,  containing  the  names  of  the  parties  to  the  fines,  recoveries,  and  suits 
recorded  at  each  assizes.  As  the  records  of  tliis  court  are  kept  at  a  distance  of 
twenty-two  miles  from  the  office,  a  person  is  appointed  at  Lancaster  by  the  deputy 
prothouotary,  vulgarly  called  citstos  rotulorum,  avIio  is  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the 
records,  &c.  whose  duty  it  is  to  attend  every  search,  and  to  take  care  that  everj 


232  Cftr  Snsitor))  of  tOe 

CHAP,  record  he  duly  and  safely  restored  to  its  proper  place,  for  which  a  fee  of  one  shilling 
'  is  due  for  each  king's  reign  into  wliich  a  searcli  is  made,  hesides  a  salary  of  three 
guineas,  payable  by  the  deputy  prothonotary.  But  all  searches  are  made  by  or  in 
the  presence  of  the  deputy  prothonotary,  or  liis  confidential  clerks,  who  are  employed 
in  the  custody  and  arrangement  of  the  records,  and  give  attendance  as  occasion 
requires,  without  any  salary  paid  by  the  public  in  respect  of  such  custody.  Accord- 
ing to  the  table  of  fees  payable  to  the  prothonotary,  6s.  8d.  is  paid  on  a  seai'ch  for 
each  reign,  and  to  the  cust.  rot.  one  sliilling.  For  an  office  copy  for  each  sheet  of 
seventy-two  words,  and  duty,  one  sliilling ;  and  for  a  certificate  of  a  copy,  if  required, 
3s.  6d.  Searches  among  the  records  kept  at  Lancaster  are  usually  made  dining 
the  time  of  the  assizes,  when  the  prothonotary's  office  is  held  at  Lancaster ;  but 
when  a  search  is  required  at  any  other  time,  the  deputy  prothonotary  charges  a 
reasonable  extra  sum  for  his  journey  and  expenses.  If  a  record  is  to  be  produced 
in  the  court  at  Lancaster,  tlie  deputy  prothonotary,  or  his  clerk,  attends  upon  a 
subpoena,  and  charges  a  guinea  for  each  attendance.  If  any  proceeding  is  to  ])e  pro- 
duced elsewliere,  he  diarges  a  reasonable  sum  for  his  journey  and  attendance,  accord- 
ing to  cii-cumstances.  The  nett  annual  amount  to  the  protlionotary's  office  of  these  fees, 
upon  an  average  of  years,  after  deducting  the  salary,  &c.  of  the  custos  rotulorum, 
was  stated  in  1800  not  to  exceed  £10,  wliich  siun,  it  is  added,  is  barely  equal  to  the 
rent  of  the  rooms  occupied  by  the  records  and  public  papers  of  the  office  at  Preston.* 
Of  the  re-  Third.  The  public  records,  &c.  in  the  custody  of  the  register  of  the  court  of  chan- 
tile''^chan-  ccij  of  the  couuty  palatine  of  Lancaster,  consist  of  bills,  answers,  and  otlier  pleadings, 
cou'nt^  pa-  depositions,  order-books,  decrees,  decree-books,  and  otiier  books  for  entries  in  causes, 
latine.  ^^^  j  ^^j^^^,  yj^ttcrs  instituted  in  that  court ;  and  ai-e  supposed  to  be  the  whole  of  the  records 
or  papers  that  have  been  preserved  since  its  creation.  These  documents,  anterior  to  the 
year  1 740,  were  kept  in  a  room  or  chamber  in  the  castle  of  Lancaster ;  such  as  ai"e 
subsequent  to  that  period  are  at  the  office  of  the  deputy  register  in  Preston,  which  is 
the  private  property  of  the  deputy-register.  The  old  records  are  deposited  in  an 
office  fitted  up  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century  in  Lancaster  castle  for  their 
reception,  at  the  expense  of  the  county.  The  bills,  answers,  and  depositions,  cSic.  are 
upon  different  files,  mth  the  respective  years  in  which  they  are  filed  marked  upon 
labels  affixed  to  them;  but  neither  these,  nor  the  other  books  or  proceedings,  appear 
ever  to  have  been  well  aiTanged ;  many  of  them  are  much  defaced,  and  almost,  if  not 
wholly,  unintelligible.  The  bUls,  answers,  depositions,  &c.  have  usually  been 
indexed  (or  entered  in  a  pye-book)  when  brought  to  tlie  register's  office  to  be  filed  : 
there  are  no  indexes  of  the  other  proceedings,  and    many  of  the  indexes    first 

*  Return  made  by  William  Cross,  Esq.  deputy  prothonotary  to   the  commissioners  of  Public 
Records. 


Counti)  ^3alatine  of  5i.anrn£(tn% 


233 


mentioned  have  been  lost,   and  the  reniamdor  arc  not  accurate.     Various  circuni-    chap. 

VI 

stances  have  caused  these  records  or  papers  to  be  at  different  times  removed.     All  L. 


searches  in  tliis  office  are  made  by,  or  in  the  presence  of,  the  deputy  register,  or  his  Records, 
confidential  clerks,  who  are  employed  in  the  custody  and  arrangement  of  the  records, 
and  give  attendance  as  occasion  requu-es,  without  any  salaries  or  emoluments  paid  by 
the  public.  The  charge  for  copies  of  proceecUngs  in  this  office  is  fourpencc  for  each 
sheet,  consisting  of  seventy-eight  words ;  and  the  usual  fee  for  a  search  is  6s.  8d. ; 
should  a  search  be  required  at  Lancaster,  the  deputy  register  charges  a  reasonable 
extra  sum  for  his  journey  and  expenses.  But  owing  to  the  ii-regodai'  state  of  the 
records,  few  searches  are  made. 

The  places  of  dejjosit  of  the  records  of  the  county  palatine  may  be  summarily 
stated  as  follows  : — 


Records  and  other  Instruments. 

Date. 

Where  kept. 

County  Palatine  of  Lancaster. 
Chancery : 

Bills,    Pleadings,     Depositions,    Orders,    and  C 
Decrees i 

1740  to  1800.    Dates 
wanting  before  1740; 
1135  to  1558. 

Register  of  the    County 
Palatine  Duchy  Office. 

Charters  and  grants  of  various  kinds       .     .     . 
Common  Pleas : 

1136  to  1558.     .     . 

Fines  and  Recoveries,   Writs,  Minutes,   Pro- 
ceedings   in    Actions,     and    Inrolment    of 
Deeds 

Geo.  Ill 

Dates  wanting .     .     . 

Prothonotary's  Office,  at 
Preston. 

The  Records  before  his  present  Majesty's  Reign 
Pleas  of  the  Crown  : 

) 

Indictments  and  other  Criminal  proceedings, 
and  Books  of  Entries 

About  50  years  before 

y  Castle,  Lancaster. 
) 

Collectanea  relating  to  the  History  and  Antiqui- 
ties thereof,  made  by  the  three  Holmes       .     . 
Collection  of  Names  of  the  King's  Castles,  Man- 

1800  

British  Museum. 

sions,  Parks,  Forests,  Chases,  &c.  within  the 

survey  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster      .... 
Iter  Forestae 

8  Edward  III.  .     .     . 
15  Edward  III.      .     . 
26  Henry  VIII.     .     . 

University  Library,  Carab. 
Lincoln's  Inn  Library. 
King's  Rememb.  Office. 
First  Fruit's  Office. 

Nona  Roll 

Ecclesiastical  Survey  (a  copy) 

Survey   of  Estates  therein   not   granted  in  Fee 

Farm 

1629 

Temp.  Interregni. 

University  Library,  Camb 

Catalogue  of  Charters  throughout  England  and 
Wales 

Fee  Farm,  Rolis  of 

Augmentation  Office. 

VOL.  1. 


2h 


CHAP 
VI. 


of  the  ec 
clesiasti- 
cal  courts. 


234  Cfte  ?)i^tor))  of  tl)t 

The  arcliives  of  tlie  ecclesiastical  courts,  so  far  as  they  concern  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  are  to  he  fountl  at  LicMekl,  from  the  earliest  period  of  their  preservation 
Archives  up  to  the  year  1590,  in  the  custody  of  the  registrar  of  the  diocese  of  Liclifield  and 
Coventry;  and  since  that  period,  in  the  custody  of  the  deputy  registrar  of  the  diocese 
of  Chester  ;  the  deputy  registrar  of  the  consistory  court  of  the  archdeaconry  of  Rich- 
mond; and  the  deputy  registrar  of  the  five  several  deaneries  of  Amoundeniess, 
Copeland,  Lonsdale,  Kendal,  and  Furness.  These  depositories  may  be  classed 
under  four  heads  : — 
In  the  First.     There  are  in  the  custody  of  the  registrar  of  the  diocese  of  Lichfield  and 

Lkhfieid!*^  Coventry,  in  right  of  the  hishop's  see,  original  manuscripts,  or  episcopal  registers,  or 
acts,  of  the  bishops  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry,  from  the  year  1298,  except  that  there 
are  some  chasms  in  several  of  the  bishops'  tunes.     These  registers  contain  acts  on 
institutions  of  rectors  and  vicars,  and  some  entries  of  appropriations  of  rectories  and 
endowments   of  vicarages  in  the   diocese.     There  ai'e    also   books  of  the  judicial 
proceedings  in  causes  in  the  court,  from  about  the  year  1450.     Original  Avills,  and 
ffrants  of  letters  of  administration,  from    1526  to  1590,  when  the  ecclesiastical 
arclrives  belonging  to  the  diocese  of  Chester  ceased  to  be  kept  at  Lichfield. 
In  the  re-         Second.     There  are  deposited  in  the  public  episcopal  registry  at  Chester,  in 
('hSe°.      which  diocese  the  county  of  Lancaster  is  situated,  original  wills  or  copies  thereof 
proved  there,  from  the  year  1590  to  the  present  time,  and  bonds  given  by  persons 
administering  to  the  effects  of  persons  dying  intestate.     Sundry  pleadings  and  pro- 
ceedings exhibited  in  causes  in  the  consistory  court  of  Chester,  and  books  of  the  acts 
in  the  same  causes.     Nine  folio  volumes,  commencing  in  the  year  1525,  containing 
entries  of  sentences  of  consecrations,  of  churches,  chapels,  and  burial  grounds,  in  the 
diocese,  faculties  for  rebuilding  and  improving  churches,  chapels,   and  parsonage- 
houses,  confirmation  of  seats,  and  other  ecclesiastical  commissions  and  faculties. 
Proceedings  on  the  installations  of  bishops,   patents   of  the   officers  of  the  vicar 
general,  and  official  principal  commissaries;  rural  deans,  registrars,  proctors,  and 
apparitors.      Three  books,  commencing  in  1500,  containing  entries  of  presentations 
or  institutions   to  ecclesiastical  benefices  within  the    (hocese.     Four  books,   com- 
mencing in  1752,  containing  entries  of  institutions,  licenses  to  curacies,  orduiations, 
and  other  episcopal  acts.      Several  books  of  subscriptions  to  the  liturgy,  and  the 
articles  of  the  church  of  England,  by  persons  ordained,  and  clergymen  admitted  to 
benefices  or  cures.     A  volume  usually  called  Bridgman''s  Ledger,  having   been 
chiefly  collected  by  Dr.  John  Bridgman,  who  was  appointed  bishop  of  Chester  in 
1619,  containing  copies  of  various  appropriations,  endowments,  compositions,  grants, 
agreements,  leases,  charters,  orders  by  the  crown,  rentals  of  synodals,  procurations, 
pensions,  tenths,  and  subsidies ;  patents  and  statutes  of  grammar  schools.     A  volume 


Count|)  ^3alatinc  of  ?tanra£iUr»  235 

usually  called  GastreWs  Notitia,  being  conipUed  by  Dr.  Francis  Gastrell,  elected    chap. 

lord  bishop  of  Chester,  in   1714,  containing  an  account  of  the  then  population  of  '. — 

each  parish,  number  of  families,  Catholics,  Dissenters,  families  of  note,  patrons, 
wardens,  schools,  endowments,  charities,  and  several  other  particulars  of  each  pai-ish 
and  chapeli-y  in  the  diocese;  entries  of  licenses  of  mai-riagc;  probates  of  wills,  and 
letters  of  administration  ;  names  of  the  clergy ;  church  and  chapel  wardens ;  account 
of  exhibits  at  episcopal  visitations,  and  correction  books ;  original  presentation  to 
benefices,  and  nominations  to  curacies  and  schools,  and  terriers  and  parish  and  chapel 
reoisters.  There  are  two  other  registries  in  the  archdeaconry  of  Riclunond,  within 
the  diocese  of  Chester,  at  Lancaster  and  Richmond.  All  the  foregoing  records  ai-e 
deposited  in  the  public  episcopal  registry  in  Chester,  which  is  a  stone  building, 
slated,  and  commocHously  fitted  up  for  the  safcand  convenient  preservation  of  the 
records  and  papers  deposited  therein.  The  records  and  papers  are  in  general  in 
o-ood  preservation,  except  the  most  ancient  part;  from  time  or  inevitable  accident, 
They  are  in  many  parts  imperfect  before  the  year  1650,  and  for  ten  years  follomng 
quite  deficient.  From  that  period,  the  ^dlls,  and  most  of  the  registries  and  entries, 
are  reo-ular  and  correct.  There  are  complete  indexes  to  the  wills,  registries,  and 
entries  of  institutions,  from  then-  commencement,  except  in  the  parts  before  men- 
tioned to  be  deficient.  There  are  several  manuscript  volumes  in  the  possession  of 
the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  containing  a  particular  account  of  the  extent  and  popula- 
tion of  the  diocese;  number  of  Catholics  and  Dissenters,  state  of  parsonage-houses, 
residence  of  clergy,  schools,  charities,  and  several  other  particidars  relative  to  the 
diocese,  being  answers  to  queries  addi-essed  by  different  bishops  to  the  clergy  of  the 
diocese.  The  number  of  parishes  in  the  diocese  of  Chester  was,  in  the  year  1800, 
two  hundi-ed  and  sixty-two. 

Third.  The  records,  instruments,  and  papers,  in  the  custody  of  the  deputy  in  the 
registrar  of  the  consistory  court  of  the  archdeaconry  of  Richmond,  in  the  diocese  of  conry  of 
Chester,  consist  entii'ely  of  original  wills;  bonds  talven  upon  the  issuing  of  letters  of 
administration,  tuition,  and  curation ;  afiidavits  and  bonds  relative  to  marriage 
licences;  proceedings  in  ecclesiastical  suits;  enrolments  of  faculties  for  pews  and 
galleries  in  churches  and  chapels;  teniers  and  duplicates  of  parish  registers;  and 
such  other  matters  as  relate  to  the  oflice  and  juriscUction  of  the  commissary  of  the 
said  archdeaconry  of  Richmond,  but  do  not  comprehend  any  record  or  instrument 
of  any  other  nature  or  description.  From  the  most  ancient  of  the  said  records,  to 
tlie  year  17.50,  they  compromise  the  wills,  administration  and  tuition  bonds,  which 
have  arisen  from  every  part  of  the  said  archdeaconry  of  Richmond ;  but  since  tliat 
year,  a  division  took  place,  and  the  wUls,  and  other  papers  and  records  not  relating 
to  such  business  as  is  usually  called  contentions,  arising  ^vitliin  the  five  deaneries  of 

2h  2 


Rich- 


236  €ht  f>MtOV}]  Of  tI)C 

CHAP.    Amoundeniess,  Keiulal,  Copeland,  Lonsdale,  and  Furness,  part  of  the  said  ardi- 

'. deacouiy,  are  deposited  in  the  parish  chiu'ch  of  Lancaster,  under  the  custody  of 

another  officer  there.  From  the  most  remote  period,  the  dujjlicates  of  parish  regis- 
ters, teniers,  and  all  other  records,  proceecUngs,  and  papers  (except  those  of  a  con- 
tentious natui-e,  and  the  wills,  &c.  of  the  period  first  before  mentioned)  of  the  five 
deaneries,  are  also  deposited  at  Lancaster ;  Avhilst  all  other  wills,  papers,  and  records, 
arising  within  this  archdeaconry,  have  continued  to  be  deposited,  and  remain  in  the 
registry  of  the  consistory  court  at  Richmond.  The  registry  at  Richmond  is  part  of 
the  ancient  chapel,  called  Trinity  Chapel,  in  the  centre  of  the  market-i^lace  of  the 
borough  of  Richmond,  sufficiently  large  and  commodious,  and  in  most  respects  secure ; 
but  having  sevei'al  dwelling-houses  and  shops,  wherein  fires  are  du-ectly  underneath, 
as  well  as  adjoining  to  it,  it  is  in  some  measure  exposed  to  danger.  The  state  of 
preservation  of  the  records,  &c.  at  Richmond,  is  in  general  very  good,  though  some 
few  of  the  ancient  wiUs  have  sufifered  by  the  access  of  moisture  in  certain  places, 
particularly  in  the  corners  of  the  roof,  which  are  now  perfectly  repaii-ed ;  and  all 
increase  of  decay  is  prevented  as  much  as  possible.  The  wills  are  arranged  alpha- 
betically in  biincUes  of  ten  years  each;  the  terriers  and  paiish  registers  in  parcels, 
according  to  the  different  parishes;  and  all  the  rest  of  the  records,  with  sufficient 
regularity  to  answer  the  purposes  of  those  who  require  searches  to  be  made.  There 
is  no  regular  catalogue,  schedule,  or  repertory  of  the  records,  nor  any  index,  except 
of  the  terriers  and  faculties,  and  of  such  of  the  avtUs  and  administrations  as  have 
arisen  mthin  the  present  centmy,  mthin  the  three  deaneries  of  Riclmaond,  Cat- 
terick,  and  Boroughbridge,  commonly  called  the  three  Yorkshire  deaneries. 

In  the  five         FouRTH.     The  Original  wills  within  the  five  deaneries  of  Amounderness,  Cope- 
deaneries.  " 

land,  Lonsdale,  Kendal,  and  Furness,  within  the  archdeaconry  of  Riclunond  in  the 
diocese  of  Chester,  preserved  and  kept  at  Lancaster,  proved  and  approved  before  the 
worsliipful  commissary  (for  the  time  being)  of  the  said  archdeaconry,  or  his  sm-ro- 
gates ;  or  before  the  vicai'-general,  or  his  surrogates  respectively,  since  the  fii'st  of 
November,  1748,  are  registered,  deposited,  and  kept  in  a  convenient  room,  called 
the  registry  of  the  east  end,  of  and  Avitliin  the  parish  church  of  Lancaster ;  where  ai-e 
also  deposited  all  bonds  taken  on  granting  letters  of  administration,  curation,  tuition, 
and  marriage  licenses,  within  these  five  deaneries.  And  in  the  same  place  are  also 
deposited  and  kept,  copies  of  the  parochial  registers  delivered  in  by  the  chmxh  and 
chapel  Avardens,  \Nitlun  the  five  deaneries  at  each  visitation.  The  register,  or  place  of 
deposit,  is  deemed  very  secure,  and  well  accommodated  for  the  keeping  of  the  several 
instruments.  The  several  A\ills  and  instruments  are  well  preserved,  and  the  wills 
and  administration,  curation,  and  tuition  bonds,  belonging  to  each  of  the  said 
deaneries,  ai-e  kept  separate  and  apart  from  each  other ;  and  those  of  each  deanery 


Coiinti.)  |[)alatinc  of  tanrasttr. 


237 


aiTanged  annually,  and  also  decennially,  in  alphabetical  order.  Tlie  bonds  ou 
granting  marriage  licenses  are  arranged  in  numerical  order.  There  are  distinct 
alphabetical  books  for  each  of  the  deaneries,  called  "  Act  Books,"  in  each  of  wliich 
are  entered  schedules  containing  a  short  entry  of  the  probate  of  each  will,  and  of 
every  administration,  curation,  and  tuition,  gi-anted  within  each  of  the  deaneries 
respectively ;  to  each  of  which  act  books  is  prefixed  or  amiesed  an  alphabetical  index 
of  contents. 

The  following  exhibits  a  condensed  view  of  the  places  of  deposit  of  the  records, 
and  other  instrimients,  connected  with  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  county  of 
Lancaster : — 


CHAl>, 
VI. 


Ecclesiastical. 


Records  and  other  Instrmnents. 


Diocese  of  Chester : 

Installations   of  Bishops,  Patents  of  Officers 

&c 

Terriers  and  Parish  and  Chapel  Registers  . 
Presentation    to    Benefices,    Nominations    to 

Curacies  and  Schools 

Appropriations,    Endowments,    Compositions, 

Grants,  Agreements,  Leases,  Orders,  &c.     . 
Licenses  of  Marriage,  Probates  of  Wills,  and 

Letters  of  Administration 

Proceedings  in  causes,  and  Books  of  Acts  of 

the  Consistory  Court 

Presentations  and  Institutions  to  Ecclesiastical 

Benefices 

Consecrations  of  Churches,   Chapels,  &c.  and 

Faculties  for  rebuilding  Churches  .     .     .     . 

Original  Wills,  or  Copies  of 

Population  of  Parishes,  Account  of  ...     . 
Richmond  Archdeaconry,  Consistory  Court : 

Wills,  Original 

Bonds  on  granting  Letters  of  Administration, 

&c 

Marriage  Licenses  and  Affidavits  thereon     .     . 

Parochial  Registers,  copies  of 

Act  Books,  containing  Entries  of  Probates 

Proceedings  in  Suits 

Inrolment  of  Faculties  for  Pews,  &c.      .     .     . 

Terriers 

Duplicates  of  Parish  Registers 


Date. 


Where  kept. 


Bishop's  Registry, 
Chester. 


Commencing  1500     . 


^^^■5")  to  the   present 
1590 


1714 


s 


tmie 


Consistory  Registry 
Richmond. 


238 


€i)t  lieitoiT?  of  tl)r 


CHAP. 
VI. 


Ecclesiastical. 


Records  and  other  Instruments. 


Wills,  Original 

Administration,  Curation,  and  Tuition  Bonds  . 

Act  Books,  containing  Entries  of  Probates  .  . 
The  earliest  date — 

Chester 

Lichfield  and  Coventry  Diocese : 

Ecclesiastical  Survey 

Terriers  of  Rectories  and  Vicarages  .... 

Registers,  containing  Institutions  of  Rectors 
and  Vicars,  Appropriation  of  Rectories,  and 
Endowments  of  Vicarages 

Judicial  Proceedings  in  Causes    .... 

Wills  and  Grants 1 

Administration,  Letters  of ^ 

Licenses 

Registers  of  Parishes 


Date. 


i 


1748   to   the    present 
time. 


1500 .     .     . 
26  Hen.  VIIL 

1298    to   the   present 
time,  with  Chasms 

1450- 
15261 


Where  kept. 


'topresenttime. 


1660- 


Commissary    Registry, 
Lancaster. 


Registry,  Chester. 
First  Fruit's  Office. 


Bishop's  Registry,  Lich- 
field. 


[A  number  of  original  documents  Ulustrative  of  the  liistory  of  the  duchy  and 
county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  accompanied  by  a  succinct  unpublislied  liistory  of  the 
duchy,  from  the  pen  of  Villiers,  Lord  Hyde,  afterwards  Earl  of  Clarendon,  here 
press  for  admission ;  but  as  the  supplemental  collection  is  not  yet  complete,  they 
must  be  reserved  for  an  Appendix.] 


Counti?  |3alntmc  of  ilancaeittr. 


243 


€im.  Fur. 


The    antiquity    of   the    county.  — The   Earldom    possessed    by    King    John.— The    crusades.— 
Privileges  granted  to  the  honor  of  Lancaster  in  the  articles  of  Magna  Charta.— Ratification  of 
Magna   Charta.— The   Forest   Laws.— Assize   of    the    Forest   at    Lancaster.— King    William's 
letter.— Abolition   of  the    ordeals   of    fire    and  water.— Grant  of   land  between    Mersey  and 
Ribble.— Origin  of  the  representative  system  in  England.— The  Barons'  Wars,  and  their  effect  on 
the  honors  and  inheritances  of  the  house  of  Lancaster.— War  with  Wales.— Ancient  Lancashire 
wood-cutters.— First  Military  Summons  extant  addiessed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire.— Wages  of 
labourers,  their  uniform  adaptation  through  successive  ages  to  the  price  of  grain.— Chronological 
table  of  the  standards  of  value  for  six  centuries.— Coals  first  used  for  fuel.— Ancient  loyalty  loan.— 
Summonses  of  military  service  .-Conquest  of  Wales. -Reference  to  Pope  Nicholas'  Valor.-Wars 
with  Scotland.— Lancashire  newsmongers  denounced.— Scotland  conquered.— Renewed  struggles 
under  William  Wallace  and  Robert  Bruce.— Large  drain  for  men  and  money  on  Lancashire.— 
Effectsof  war.— Commission  of  Trailbaston.— Edward  I.  in  Lancashire. -His death  at  Carlisle.— 
Fresh  wars.— Increase  of  crime  and  misery.— Adam  de  Banistre  takes  the  field  against  the  earl  of 
Lancaster.-Hisfate.-Renewedwars  of  the  barons;  headed  by  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster.— 
His  fate.— Interest  taken  in  Lancashire  in  the  Barons'  Wars.— Charge  of  aiding  Thomas,  earl  of 
Lancaster.— Edward  II.  dethroned.— Placed  in  the  custody  of  the  earl  of  Lancaster.— His  cruel 
death.— Tlie  Testa  de  Nevill  analyzed,  so  far  as  regards  the  landed  possessions  in  the  county  of 
Lancaster. 


Error  of 
Selden. 


ESUMING  the  chronological    order  of  our  Mstory    chap 

from  the  period  at  wliich  it  had  arrived  when  we  com 

menced  the  history  of  the  dukes  and  duchy  of  Lan- 
caster, it  is  proper  to  correct  an  eiTor  into  wliich 
the  learned  Selden  has  fallen,  when  he  says,  "  That 
Lancashire,  till  Henry  III.  created  his  youngest  son 
Ednnmd,  Crookback,  carl  of  it,  (A.D.  1266,)  I  think 
was  no  county ;  for  in  one  of  our  old  year  hooks  a 
learned  judge*  affirms  that  in  tliis  Henry's  time 
was  the  fii-st  sheriff's  turn  held  there." 

That  sheriffs  were  elected  for  this  county  upwards  of  a  century  before 
Henry  IH.  ascended  the  throne  of  these  realms,  is  already  abundantly  clear.  In 
the  Domesday  Survey  of  the  date  of  1086,  the  county  of  Lancaster,  as  we  have 

*  Thorp,  17  Edward  III.  fol.  566. 


244 


ClK  5)isitori)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
VII. 


Early 
mention  of 
Lanca- 
shire. 


already  seen,  and  as  the  ancient  map  of  the  county,  now  presented  for  the  first 
time,  wUl  make  stUl  more  obvious,  is  surveyed  as  portions  of  the  adjoining  counties  of 
Yorksliire  and  Chesliii'e,  but  it  is  not  named  in  that  survey;  and  after  a  diligent 
examination  of  the  public  records,  the  fii-st  mention  we  find  of  the  county  is  in 
the  Pipe  Roll  in  the  Exchequer  office,  seventy-eight  yeai's  after  that  survey  was  com- 
pleted. The  entry  consists  of  a  return  made  to  the  king's  ti-easiuy  by  the  sherifi",  in 
11  Hemy  II.  A.  D.  1164,  and  the  words  of  the  record  are  these: — 


LANCASTRE. 

Gaufr  de  Valoniis  redd  Comp  de  firma  de  Lancast*  de.  cc.ti. 

In  th.  lit5a\T[t  in.  ij.  taft.         Et  Quiet^  est. 
Id  redd  Comp  de.  lij.  li.  7.  xvj.  s.  7.  viij.  d.  de  Ex^citu  Walie, 

In  th.  xxxiiij.  ti.  7.  iij.  s.  7.  iiij.  d. 
Et  Inpdoii  p  l5r.  R.  x.  Mil  q  fuerU  in  Ex'icitu  cu  Rege. 

X.  ill.     Et  Ric  Pincne.  viij.  in.     Et  Henf  de  Laci.  v.  in, 
Et  deb.  V.  fii.     Et  Id  redd  Comp  de  Eod  debito. 

In  th.  xl.  s.  p.  Coiii  Hug  p  Ernaldo  Rufo.     Et  deb.  ij.  rii. 


The  Pipe  Rolls  commence  with  5  Stephen,  and  contaiu  returns  from  a  gi-eat 
munber  of  the  sheriffs  of  other  counties,  but  tlie  name  of  Lancashire  does  not  occur 
till  eleven  years  afterwards,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  foUo^nug  enumeration  of  tlie  first 
nineteen  returns : — 

PIPE  ROLLS  ENTRIES. 


5  Stephen.           NU  in  Lancaster. 

1  Henry 

II.         This  Roll  is  missing. 

2  .     .     . 

Nil  in  Lancaster. 

3  .     .     . 

4  .     . 

5  .     . 

6  .     . 

7  .     . 

8  .     . 

This  roll  is  missing. 

9  .     . 

Nd  in  Lancaster. 

10  .     . 

11   .     . 

Lancaster,  Memb.  6. 

12  .     . 

Lancaster,  Memb.  1. 

13  .     . 

Lancaster,  Memb.  5. 

In  turgo 


Countj)  ^3alatinr  of  ilanrasitn-.  245 

14.  .  .  Lancaster,  Memb.  11.  In  turgo.  chap. 

15  .  .  .  Lancaster,  Memb.  9.  ... 

16  .  .  .  Lancaster,  Memb.  .3.  ... 

17  .  .  .  Lancaster,  Memb.  2.  ... 

18  .  .  .  Lancaster,  Memb.  5.  ... 

It  is  tlius  manifest  tbat  Seklen  is  in  eiTor,  in  supposing  that  Lancashire 
was  "  no  county"  till  the  time  of  Henry  III.  and  that  it  had  no  sheriff  till 
1266,  when  Edmund  Crouchback  was  created  earl  of  Lancaster.  The  records  in 
the  office  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  are  stated  by  Mr.  Harper  to  be  of  as  early  a 
date  as  the  first  of  Stephen,  but  those  do  not  of  course  apply  to  the  duchy,  wliicli 
was  not  created  till  more  than  one  hundred  years  afterwards ;  nor  have  we  found 
any  traces  of  records  so  early  in  that  depository,  relating  to  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  as  even  the  time  of  the  second  Henry. 

In  the  Chapter  House,  at  Westminster,  there  is  amongst  its  immense  circular 
documental  stories,  a  bag  of  Lancashire  fines,  marked  "  Lancastria,"  in  which 
several  ancient  deeds  are  deposited,  of  the  date  of  7  Richard  I.  relating  to 
ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  one  of  which,  on  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Kirkham, 
in  the  hundred  of  Amounderness,  and  the  archdeaconry  of  Riclmiond,  will  be  intro- 
duced in  its  proper  place  in  these  volumes. 

In  the  reign  of  John,  the  men  of  Lancashire,  complained  that  their  privileges 
Avere  infringed  by  Theobald  Walter,  who  had  abridged  their  supply  of  fuel,  and  by 
Roo-er  Poer,  who  had  deprived  them  of  more  than  a  huncb-ed  acres  of  wood  and 
forest  land,  which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  enjoy  as  pasturage: — 

"  Lanc.  ")  Loquendmn  cu  Dno  Rege  de  hoib}  Land  qui  non  possut  ut  dicut 
John,  j  ftere  lifetates  suas  sicut  p  illis  hendis  fine  fccerut  in  Noi-mand 
p  Theobald  Walteri,  &  de  hoib3  de  Sutton  qui  queruntur  de  Rogo  le  Poer  qd  cepit 
ad  se  injuste  post  mortem  Hero  Rs  patris  plusqm  lOO'""  acras  tam  de  bosco 
qfn  de  landa  de  Foresta  Dfii  Rs  in  quo  bosco  solvunt  habere  commune  pastura." — 
rot  1.  Abbrev.  Placit.  p.  24. 

The  complaint  of  the  men  of  Lancashire  was  made  with  peculiar  propriety  to  The  eaii- 
king  John,  who,  though  he  was  suniamed  Sansterre,   possessed  the   earldom  and  honor  of 
honor  of  Lancaster,  wliich  were  confeiTed  upon  him  as  an  inheritance,  wliile  he  was  possessed ' 
earl  of  Morton,  by  his  brother  Richard  I.  in  the  excess  of  liis  bounty.     The  retm-n  of  Morton, 
made  by  John  was  suitable  to  his  character;  when  Richard  was  on  his  return  from  ^^a^ds 
the  Holy  Land,  where  he  had  been  vigorously  engaged  in  the  crusades,  John  con-  ^ingJohn. 

VOL.  T.  2  I 


246  C()t  SKSitOlT?  Of  n)t 

CHAP.     sj)ired  with  Pliilip,  kiug  of  France,  to  deprive  liiiu  of  liis  throne,  and  thus  to  unite 


VII 


prematurely  tlie  honor  of  Lancaster  with  the  croAvn  of  England.  Tlie  escape  of 
Richard  from  the  Austrian  prison  in  Avhich  he  had  been  immured,  alarmed  the  con- 
federated princes 5  but  such  was  Ids  indulgence  toward  his  brother's  faults,  that,  though 
Pliilip  apprised  John  of  the  king's  escape  in  these  expressive  terms,  "  Take  care  of 
yourself,  the  devil  has  broken  loose,"  Richard  was  induced,  on  the  mtercession  of  his 
mother,  queen  Eleanor,  to  restore  John  to  liis  favour  ^vith  tliis  mild  rebuke — 
"  I  forgive  you ;  and  I  hope  I  shall  as  speedily  forget  my  injuries  as  you  will  my 
pardon." 
The  The  death  of  Richard  soon  after  opened  the  way  to  the  throne  for  John,  who  did 

not  hesitate  to  assume  the  possession  by  imbruing  liis  hands  in  the  blood  of  liis  nephew 
Artliur.  During  the  reign  of  Richard,  the  spuit  of  crusading  had  been  at  its  height; 
not  only  tlie  flower  of  the  most  distinguished  families  in  Lancashire,  but  in  every  part 
of  Cluistendom,  embai-kedin  these  holy  wars  ^vith  the  utmost  enthusiasm;  and  though 
a  few  splinters  from  the  wood  of  the  real  cross  were  purchased  by  the  sacrifice  of  more 
than  300,000  men,  such  was  the  excitation  of  the  times,  that  a  knight  templai-  seldom 
failed  to  rank  amongst  the  first  of  public  benefactors.  To  these  wars  future  ages  are 
indebted  for  the  introduction  of  coats  of  amis,  by  wliich  the  incased  knights  were 
distinguished  on  the  plains  of  Palestine,  and  since  which  time  illusti'ious  families  have 
used  them,  to  adorn  their  pedigrees.* 
Privileges  When  the  great  bulwark  of  British  freedom.  Magna  Charta,  was  wrested  from 
shire  in  kJ^g  Jolm  ou  the  field  of  RumijTnede,  by  the  intrepid  barons,  special  pri^oleges  were 
cies  of  gi'anted  to  the  honor  of  Lancaster  by  name ;  and  it  was  provided  in  the  articles 
ChTte.  appendent  to  that  charter,  that  "  if  any  one  should  hold  any  escheat  as  the  honor  of 
Walingeford,  Notiugeham,  Bonon,  and  Lankastr',  and  of  other  escheats  which  are 
in  the  king's  hands,  and  are  baronies,  and  he  die,  his  heii*  shall  not  give  any  other 
relief,  or  perform  any  other  service,  to  the  king,  than  he  should  perfonn  to  the  baron; 
and  that  the  king  hold  it  in  the  same  manner  as  the  baron."  The  Charter  of  Forests 
was  scarcely  less  appreciated  in  Lancasliii-e  than  Magna  Charta.  The  number  and 
extent  of  the  forests  in  this  county  made  the  severity  of  the  laws  by  which  they  were 
protected  oppressive  in  the  extreme,  (though  the  rigour  of  the  laws  had  already  been 
relaxed  in  their  favoui-,)f  and  the  immunities  conferred  on  the  people  by  these  memor- 
able charters  would  have  unmortalized  the  memory  of  the  king,  had  they  flowed 
spontaneously  from  the  royal  bounty,  instead  of  having  been  dictated  by  an  imperious 
necessity,  over  which  he  had  no  control.  Extorted  refonns  produce  weakness  to 
governments;  voluntary  ones,  strength.  This  is  a  distinction  which  monaixhs  should 
never  lose  sight  of,  and  which  applies  with  equal  force  in  all  ages. 
*  Seep.  158.  t  See  p.  240. 


Couiitp  ^alatinr  of  ilanrasitfr*  247 

The  Forest  Laws  are  of  gi-eat  antiquity  in  this  country;  they  are  of  Saxon  origin;    chap 
and,  like  the  laws  of  Draco,  they  ai'e  written  in  Wood.     A  charter  of  forests  was  1 


granted  hy  Canute,  in  the  year  1016,  called  "  Tlie  Charter  and  Constitution  of  The  forest 
Forests,"  introduced  hy  tliis  royal  declaration  : — "  These  are  the  Constitutions  of 
"  the  Forest,  Avliich  I  Canute,  king,  Mith  the  adnce  of  my  nol)les,  do  make  and  Canute's 
"  stablish,  tliat  both  peace  and  justice  may  be  done  to  all  the  churches  of  our  king- 
"  dom  of  England,  and  that  every  offender  may  suffer  according  to  his  quality,  and 
"  the  manner  of  his  offence."     By  this  charter,  four  of  the  best  freemen,  (Poegened) 
were  appointed  in  every  pronnce  of  the  Idngdom,  to  distribute  justice,  called  "  The 
Chief  men  of  the  Forest."     There  were  placed,  under  each  of  these,  four  men  of 
middle  sort,  (LcspegendJ,  to  take  upon  themselves  the  care  and  charge  by  day,  "  as 
well  of  the  vert  as  of  the  venison."*     Under  each  of  these,  two  of  the  meaner  sort  of 
men,  Tinemen,  were  appointed  to  take  care  of  the  vert  and  the  venison  by  night. 
These  officers  were  supported  at  the  cost  of  the  state,  the  first  class  receiving  a 
stipend  of  two  hundred  sliillings  a  year,  the  second  of  sixty,  and  the  third  of  fifteen 
each,  with  certain  equipments  and  immunities.      "  Tlie  chief  men  of  the  Forest" 
were  clothed  with  royal  powers,  in  the  administi'ation  of  the  laws  of  the  forest.     If 
any  man  offered  violence  to  one  of  these  chief  men,  if  a  fi-eeman,  he  was  to  lose  liis 
fi-eedom,  and  all  that  he  had;  and  if  a  villain,  liis  right  hand  was  to  be  cut  off,  for  the 
fii-st  offence;  for  the  second  he  suffered  death,  whether  a  fi-eeman  or  a  slave.     Offences 
in  the  forest  were  punished  according  to  the  manner  and  quahty  of  the  offender:  any 
freeman,  either  casually  or  wilfully  chasing  or  hunting  a  beast  of  the  forest,  so  that 
by  swiftness  of  the  course  the  beast  pant  for  breath,  was  to  forfeit  ten  sliillings  to  the 
king;  if  not  a  freeman,  twenty;  if  a  bondman,  to  lose  his  skin!     If  the  beast  chased 
be  a  royal  beast,  (a  staggon),  and  he  shall  pant  and  be  out  of  breath,  the  fi-eeman  to 
lose  his  liberty  for  a  year,  the  bondman  for  two  years,  and  the  villain  to  be  outlawed. 
A  fi-eeman  or  a  bondman  killing  any  beast  of  the  forest,  to  pay  double  its  value  for 
the  fii-st  offence,  the  same  for  the  second,  and  for  the  third  to  forfeit  all  that  he 
possesses.     Bishops,  abbots,  and  barons,  not  to  be  challenged  for  hunting  in  the 
forests,  except  they  kill  royal  beasts,  and  then  to  make  restitution  to  the  king. 
Every  freeman  to  be  allowed  to  take  his  own  vert,  or  venison,  in  the  pm-Heus  of  the 
forest,  or  when  himting  in  liis  own  gi-ound,  but  he  must  refi-am  from  the  king's  vener}'. 
Freemen  only  to  keep  the  dogs  called  gi-eyhounds,   and  the  knees  of  those  dogs  to 
be  cut  before  the  chief  men,  unless  they  be  removed,  and  kept  ten  nules  from  the 
bounds,  of  the  royal  forest.     Vellerons,  or  Langerans,  small  dogs,  as  Avell  as  Ram- 

*  The  vert  is  the  covert,  the  trees,  and  the  herbage  of  the  forest ;  and,  according  to  Sir  Edward 
Coke,  whatever  beast  of  the  forest  is  for  the  food  of  man,  is  venison,  and  therewith  agreeth  Virgil, 
describing  a  feast — "  Implentur  veteris  Bacchi  pinguisque  ferinas." 

2  i2 


248  Ci)c  Instorp  of  tf)r 

CHAP,    hundt,  might  be  kept  without  cutting  their  knees.     If  a  dog  became  mad,  and  bit  a 
'__  beast  of  the  forest,  the  owner  was  requii-ed  to  make  a  recompense  according  to  the 


the  Cou 
queror. 


price  of  a  freeman,  that  is,  twelve  times  two  hundred  shillings;  but  if  a  royal  beast 
was  bitten  by  a  mad  dog,  then  the  owner  was  to  answer  as  for  the  greatest  offence  in 
the  forest,  namely,  with  his  own  life!     Such  substantially  were  the  forest  laws  of 
Canute  the  Dane. 
No  forest  WiUiam  the  Norman,  another  royal  Nimrod,  did  not  relax  the  severity  of  these 

committed  laws;  but,  by  afforestuig  large  tracts  of  land,  very  much  extended  the  field  of  then- 
shires"'"  operation.  Tliough  the  Conqueror  displayed  a  large  share  of  his  sanguinary  and 
rapacious  character  in  the  north,  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  he  deprived  any 
man  of  Ins  possessions,  to  enlarge  the  forests  of  Lancasliii-e.  It  is  said  of  him,  how- 
ever, by  Mapes,  perhaps  with  some  monkish  exaggeration,  that  in  afforesting  the 
New  Forest,  in  Harapsliire,  for  the  free  enjoyment  of  the  chase,  "  he  took  away 
much  land  from  God  and  man,  and  converted  it  to  the  use  of  wild  beasts,  and  the 
sport  of  his  dogs,  for  which  he  demolished  thirty-six  churches,  and  extermmated  the 
Retribu-  inhabitants."*  The  retribution  which  followed  was  speedy  and  signal;  three  of  the 
*"""■  iimnediate  descendants  of  the  gi-eat  spoliator  lost  their  lives  while  engaged  in  the 

chase  in  tliis  forest,  amongst  whom  was  William  Rufus,  who  fell  by  the  arrow  of  his 
bow-bearer,  Sii-  Walter  Tprell — 

"  He  draws  his  bow  with  right  good-will, 
"  The  shaft,  if  it  go  true,  must  kill ; 

"  Back  leaps  the  sounding  string  : 
"  Missed  of  the  deer,  the  whistling  reed, 
"  A  nobler  prey  was  doomed  to  bleed, 

"  No  less  than  England's  king." 

Forest  Richard  I.  was  much  addicted  to  the  pleasures  of  the  chase,  and,  as  one  of  the 

privileges    ]j|gijggt  favours  he  could  bestow  upon  his  brother  John,  earl  of  Morton,  he  gave  bun, 

and^free-    ^^  """^  ^^^'^  ^^^1'°'  ^^*^  ^^°'^*''^'  °^  Lancaster,  and  the  royal  prerogatives  of  forest  in  this 

holders  of  countv.     Jolm,  ha%-ing  received  so  much  from  liis  sovereign,  felt  disposed  to  allow  the 

shire.         knights,  thanes,  and  freeholders  of  the  county  of  Lancaster  to  share  in  the  royal 

bounty;  and  for  this  purpose  he  gi-anted  them  a  charter,  whereby  they  and  their 

heirs,  without  challenge  of  him  and  his  heirs,  were  allowed  to  fell,  sell,  and  give,  at 

their  will,    thefr    forest   woods,   without   being   subject    to  the    forest   regulations, 

and  to  hunt  and  take  hares,  rabbits,   and  all  kinds   of  ^vild  beasts,    except  deer, 

bisse  (wild  oxen),  goats,  and  wild  hogs,  in  all  parts  within  his  forests  and  demesne 

hays  of  the  county. 

*  Lib.  de  Script.  Brit.  187.  c.  159. 


Countj)  palatine  oC  aaurasitn-,  249 

Johes  Comes  Morton  Justi?  Vicecoib3  Battis  Miuistris  f  omib}     chap. 

fidelib}  f  amicis  suis  Francis   f  Anglicis  qui   sunt  f  qui  venturi L_ 

LANCASTR'      sunt  sattm  sciatis  me  concessisse  f  hac  Carta  mea  confinnasse 

omil)3  militis  f  omib3   thengis  f  omib}  libe  tenetib}  qui  manet  in 

foresta  mea  de  Honore  de  Laucastf  qd  Possint  nemora  sua  ppa 
assartare  vende  f  dare  f  in  eis  lierbergiare  p  voluntate  sua  sicut  in  feodo  suo  f  de 
eis  suas  voluntates  face  absq^  omn  cahipnia  mei  vt  fiedum  nieor  vt  Ballior  nieor 
concessi  et  eis  quietancia  rewardi  de  Foresta  pretea  concessi  eis  canes  suos  f  venatu 
leporis  f  Vvlpis  f  ominii  alia?  bestiar  (ptqm  cervi  f  cerve  f  porci  silvestf  f 
laye  f  capriot)  per  totam  dcam  forestam  ext\  dnicas  hayas  meas  Quare  volo  f  finnit 
pcipio  qd  omes  p'dci  milites  tliengi  et  libe  tenetes  f  ftedes  sui  post  ipos  omes 
p>  dcas  lifetates  heant  de  me  f  hered.  meis  fere  f  in  pace  Et  pliibeo  ne  quis  Ballior 
meor  vel  aliq's  alius  eos  inde  desturbet  Et  p  hac  mea  concessione  dederut 
Michi  Quingentas  libf  ai'genti. 

T.  Rogo  de  plan  Witto  de  Buchet,  Rogo  de  novo  Burgo  Ingamo   de 

Praeles,  Jolie  de  NevUl  David  Walens  Magro  P.  do  Littelbur 

apud  Saleford. 
[Extract  from  the  Rolls  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  Rot.  f.  12.] 

Tliis  charter  he  confirmed  to  them  in  the  fii-st  year  of  his  reign,  before  the  celebrated  carta  de 
"  Carta  de  Foresta,"  for  ameliorating  the  rigours  of  the  forest  laws,  was  sketched ; 
and  Ids   successor,   Hem-y  III.,  confinned  these  franchises  to  the  lieges   of  Lan-  Rot.  Par. 

18  Edw 

cashu-e  four  years  after  he  had  signed  that  charter.     These  gi'ants,  so  ratified  and  n.  17. 
confirmed,  were  not  sufficient  to  protect  "  the  lieges"  against  the  annoyance  of  the 
royal  foresters,  and  on  the  18th  of  Edw.  II.  we  find  them  presenting  a  petition  to  the 
king,  praying  that  they  may  enjoy  their  chartered  privileges  without  molestation.* 

*  Ex  Pet.  in  Pari.     18  Edward  II.     No.  17. 
A.D.  1324  \         A  n're  Seigneur  le  Roi  monstre  ses  liges  de  Counte  de  Lancaster,  qe  com  le  Roi 
18  Ed  II  i     Johan,  tant  com  il  estoit  Conte  de  Moieton,  par  sa  Chartre  las  graunta,  qe  eus  e  lour 

heires,  sans  chalenge  de  luy  e  de  ses  heires,  lour  propres  Boys  poient  assarter,  vendre,  e 
Lancashire      doner,  a  lour  voluntez,  e  qe  eus  fuissent  quitts  de  reward  de  Forest ;  e  ensement  q  'il 

puissent  chaser  e  prendre  Levre,  e  Gupyl,  e  chescune  manere  de  beste  de  salvagine, 
f'orpris  Cerf,  e  Bisse,  e  Chevereil,  e  Pork  salvage,  tutes  partes  dedeinz  sa  Forest  en  le  dit  Counte, 
de  hors  ses  demeynes  hayes.  Et  puys  apres,  mesmes  cele  chartre  en  le  primer  an  de  son  regne 
conferma.  E  ensement,  le  Roy  Henry,  1'  an  de  son  regne  trezisme,  les  dites  Chartres  recita  e  con- 
firma.  Dount  il  prient  a  nre  Seigneur  le  Roi,  q  'il  luy  pleise  celes  Chartres  confermer,  e  commander 
J)  Bref  a  ces  Ministres  en  celes  parties,  qe  eus  ne  soient  sur  les  ditz  pointz  grevez  ne  chalengez. 

Responsio.]     Veignent  en  Chauncellerie,  &  monstrent  lur  Chartres  &  les  Confermements,  et  le 
Roy  se  avisera.  Coram  Rege. 


250  Cf)c  S^istorp  of  tl)t 

CHAP.  Tlie  parks,  forests,  and  chases*  of  Lancashire,  in  the  time  of  the  Edwards, 
;_  according  to  the  records  in  the  duchy  office,  were — 

Wyresdale,  Amoundemess,  Fidlwood,  Croxteth, 

Lonsdale,  Blesdale,  Symoneswood,  Toxteth; 

Quernmore,  Derbysliire,  Lancaster, 

and  inchided  in  the  general  term  of  the  Forest  of  Lancaster,  were  the  forests  of 
Bowland,  Blackbiu'nshii'e,  Pendle,  Trawden,  Accrington,  and  Rossendale ;  in  a  word, 
the  high  region  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  county,  the  successive  possessions  of  the 
houses  of  Lacy  and  of  Lancaster. 

Though  the  "  Carta  de  Foresta"  and  the  "  Assiza  et  Consuetudines  Forestae,"  of 
Forest  the  6th  Edward  I.  had  so  far  relaxed  the  rigour  of  the  forest  laws,  as  no  longer 
to  allow  the  life  of  a  man  to  he  put  on  a  level  with  the  life  of  a  stag,  yet  assizes 
of  forests  were  statedly  held  in  this  county,  at  wliich  the  Justices  in  Eyre  north  of 
the  Trent  presided,  and  where  offences  committed  against  "  the  vert  and  the 
venison"  were  visited  with  heavy  penalties. 

The  first  of  these  ancient  coimnissions  we  find,  is  in  the  records  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster,  and  the  document,  hitherto  mipubUshed,  is  at  once  curious  for  its  anti- 
quity, and  interesting  for  its  details.f 


FOREST  ASSIZE  HELD  AT  LANCASTER, 
15  Edward  I.  a.d.  1286. 

UNDER  THE   JURA  REGALIA   OF   PRINCE   EDMUND,  EARL  OF  LANCASTER. 


assize. 


Due.  Rot.       Placita  apud  Lane 

1.5Edw.  I.         ,.        1  ,. 

F.  12.  die   lune  a  die 

Pasche  in  xv  dies 
Anno  r  r  Edwardi 
quinto  decimo. 


"  Coram  diiis  Willmo  de  Vesey,  Thorn,  de  NormauA-ill 
"  et  Rico  de  Creppyng  Justic  diii  Reg  itimantibis  ad  plicita 
"  foreste  de  Lane  de  fnsgi'ssionib}  fcis  in  eadem  foresta  ab 
"  anno  Regni  Reg  Henr  xlvij  usq3  ad  annu  Regni  ejusde 
"  Reg  Ij  p  quinq}  annos  usq5  ad  temp"'  quo  pdca  foresta 
"  data  fuit  dfio  Edmuudo  fi-i  Reg  qui  nue  est  placitata  p 
"  forestar  f  \ii-ida  subsptos  ■sidclt  p." 

*  The  legal  distinction  between  a  forest  and  a  chase  is  this:  the  latter  is  under  the  common  law, 
the  former  under  the  forest  law. 

t  When  a  deer  was  found  dead,  either  in  the  forest  or  in  the  purlieus,  a  kind  of  inquest  was  held, 
at  which  the  Viridors  acted  as  coroner,  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  its  death.  The  swainmote,  an 
inferior  court,  then  sat  in  judgment  upon  the  accused ;  but  it  was  only  "  The  Justice  Seat"  that  could 
inflict  punishment. 


Coiintj)  ^Jalatine  of  ^.ancasitfr,  251 

"  Fore  STAR.     Thorn,  de  Gersino-hm  forestar  feod  f  Willm  de  Dacre  qui  despon-    chap. 

savit  filiam  f  herede  Benedti  Gernet  qui  tuc  rpris  fiut  forestar  feod  '__ 

f  p  Rogin  de  Lane. 

"  ViRiDAR.  Joliem  de  Oxclyve  Adam  de  Brokholes  lierede  Rogi  de  Brok- 
holes,  Joliem  de  Barton  fil  f  ftedem  Witti  de  Barton,  Tliofn  Bolrun 
fil  f  hedem,  Radi  Bolrun  f  p  xxiiij  jur  loco  viiidar  electos  f  eisde 
adjuctos  videlt  Joliem  de  Tatlim  nillite  Tliom  Travers,  Johem  Gentyl 
Gilbtiii  de  Lane  clicum  Robtm  de  Pratis,  Robtm  de  Syngelton,  Rogm 
de  Wedacre,  Robtm  de  Holaund,  Joliem  de  Ryggemayden,  Ad  de 
Hocliton,  juniore,  WiHm  de  Wytingham  clicum  Henr  le  Botiller, 
Robtm  de  Eccleston,  Robtm  de  Hudersale,  Williii  de  Carleton,  Rogm 
de  Byllesburg,  Johem  de  Tiinstall,  Willfii  fil  Symois  de  Boulton, 
Rogm  de  Stodard,  Willm  de  Clachton,  Joheiii  de  Paries,  Willm  de 
Hoton,  WUlm  Banes,  f  Johem  de  Eston. 

"  Presentatu  est  f  convictu  n  forestar  f  viridai-  q''  Adam  de  Carleton,  Rogs  fil  Venacio 

.  ,  .  _  1  ano.  r  H. 

Rogi  de  media  Routlieclyve  f  Ricus  fi-at  ejus  qui  obijt  ceput  tres  bissas  cu  lepar  xivij. 
Rici  le  Botiller  in  foresta  dfii  Reg  sup  mossam  de  Pelyn,  Anno  R.  R.  H.  xlvij"  f 
venacoem  portaverit  ad  domu  Rogi  ppoiti  qui  obiit  Qui  pdcus  Adam  venit  coram 
Justic  f  sup  hoc  convict^  lifeatur  jv'sone  f  educf  de  pJsona  est  redeptus  ad  j  m  f 
iiivenit  sex  sufficietes  man  de  redepcoe  sua  f  qd  deceto?  no  forisfac  in  aliq"  foresta  diii 
Reg  put  patet  in  rotto  manucaptor.  Et  pjdcus  Rogus  fil  Rogi  no  venit  nee  phis 
attach  fuit  33  testat  est  qd  manct  in  eode  com  jo.  p'ceptf  est  vie  qd  heat  corpus  ejus 
hie  de  die  in  die  &c.  Postea  venit  p'dcus  Rogus  fil  Rogi  cora  justic  f  sup  hoc  con  li. 
p'.  f  qdou}  p  aia  R.  q}  paup  f  invenit  maiiuc  ut  p5,  &c. 

"  Present  est  f  con  &c  qd  Nichus  de  Lee  Johcs  fil.  S\Tnonis  Jolies  de  Arkel- 
beck  mortuus  Rogus  frat  ejus  Witts  fil.  Juliane  de  Heysam  Walts  Gernet  supif 
redept^  Ricus  fil  Wltti  de  Hoton  fuernt  in  foresta  dfii  Reg  infra  duicas  hayas  anno 
pdco  ad  malefaciend  de  venacoe  f  cepnt  cervos  f  bissas  cu  arcub}  sagitt  f  leporar 
qm  pdci  Nichis  f  Johes  fil.  Symois  venerut  coram  Justic  f  sup  hoc  con  li.  p 
Postea  venerut  f  sunt  redepH  Nicliu  ad  j  fil  f  Johes  fil.  Symois  ad  xl.  d.  f  quilt 
eore  invenit  manue  ut  patet  &^  fsentatu  est  f  con  Sif  qd  pdci  Nichus  f  alij  J.  m.  xi.  d. 
cepnt  Lu  foresta  anno  pdco  damos  f  damas  cu  Arcub}  sagitt  f  lepar  ext'.  diiicas 
hayas  diii  Reg  qm  pdcus  Nichus  venit  f  dicit  qd  bu  advocac  capcoem  pdcor 
damor  f  damar  in  foresta  capt  ext.  diiicas  hayas  diii  Reg  ut  pdcm  est  cii  mani- 
festu  sit  qd  tam  milites  q  tliengi  f  libe  tenetes  Com  pdci  possmt  cape  omiodas 
fera.s  silvestr  except  cervo  f  bissa  capriolo  Porco   silvesti^  f  laya  put  contuiet".  in 


In  r.  ex. 

xl.  d. 
xl.  d. 


252  C&e  %)i^tov^  of  t\)t 

CHAP.  Carta  dfii.  Reg  quam  ijde  Milites  f  libe  tenetes  com  pdci  cofa  justiciar  ptiilerut 
^^^'  et  05  iuvcutu  est  ^  rotlos  ultimi  itinSis  foreste  Robti  de  Nevill  qd  p*dci  milites  f 
libe  tenetes  hoc  ide  clamavarut  f  tiic  in  respem  ponebatur  jo  ad  p  sens  ponir.  in 
respeu.  Et  test?  est  qd  Rogus  de  Arkclbek  no  he  nee  scit"  nee  aliquis  &^  jo  exig. 
Et  pdci  Witts  fil.  Juliane  f  Ricus  fil.  Witii  no  venut  nee  p'us  &'.  S3  test?  est  qd 
manet  in  eode  Com  Jo  p''.  vie  &^  Postea  venit  Witts  til.  Juliane  coram  Justic 
f  sup  capcoe  dcore  Cernore  f  biss  con  li  p'  f  est  redeptus  ad  xl.  d  f  im^eii  maniic  ut 
patet  Sc"".  Postea  testat?  est  qd  Ricus  fil.  Willi  de  Hoton  no  ht  n'^  scif"  &^  n"  aliqs 
&"  Jo  ex'  Postea  veS  ide  Riciis  apud  NotjTigh  coq^  f  sup  hoc  con  U  p>  f  est  redepf 
ad  xl.  d.  f  inuen  man  Henr  de  Kyghele  f  Thom  Travers  &'.  de  redempconc 
sua  tin." 

This  ancient  document  discloses  pretty  fully  the  system  of  forest  jurisprudence. 
We  have  here  the  Justices  in  Eyre,  "  Justiciarii  Itineiantes,"  north  of  the  Trent, 
assisted  by  the  Foresters  of  the  Fee,  in  their  ministerial  capacity,  for  they  had  no 
judicial  office.  To  these  were  added  the  Vmdors,  who  presided  in  the  forest  courts 
of  attacluuent  and  swainemote,  as  a  kind  of  initiative  tribunal,  leaving  it  to  the 
judges  to  ratify  or  to  annul  their  decisions.  To  complete  the  judicial  array,  there 
were  added  twenty-fom-  Regardors,  or  jurors,  knights  of  the  forest,  chosen  by  viilue 
of  the  king  s  writ,  and  elected,  like  the  Viridors,  by  the  freeholders  in  full  county. 
The  presentments  for  killing  and  taldng  deer  are  in  the  usual  style,  and  amounted 
at  this  assize  to  forty-eight  in  number,  a  few  of  which  we  have  selected,  as  a 
specimen  of  the  remainder.  The  most  remarkable  is,  the  plea  set  up  by  Nich.  de 
Lee,  who,  in  justification  of  his  conduct,  urges  the  chartered  privileges  of  the 
knights  and  freeholders  of  Lancashire,*  one  of  whom  he  doubtless  was.  Tliese  pro- 
ceedings are  so  perfectly  intelligible  as  to  call  only  for  one  observation,  and  it  is  this, 
the  sanguinary  character  of  the  forest  laws  had  been  gradually  amehorated  ever 
since  the  time  of  Canute,  by  the  charters  of  king  John,  Henry  IIL,  and  Edward  I.; 
and,  instead  of  expatriation  and  death,  we  find  the  hea^-iest  punishment  inflicted  at 
this  memorable  assize,  to  consist  of  fine  and  imprisonment,  and  those  of  a  very 
moderate  nature.  In  a  word,  the  forest  laws,  so  severely  condemned,  were  less 
rigorous  under  the  Plantagenets  than  are  the  game  laws  of  modern  times. 

The  delights  of  the  chase  were  enjoyed  mth  a  liigh  zest  by  our  ancestors;  and 
the  following  vivid  description  of  the  costume  and  armour  of  an  ancient  forester, 
by  Chaucer,  may  be  supposed,  without  any  great  stretch  of  imagination,  to  have 
been  suggested  on  entering  upon  the  chase,  in  the  Forest  of  Lancaster,  during  one 
of  Ms  visits  to  the  bai'onial  castle  of  liis  gi-eat  benefactor,  John  of  Gaunt,  whose 

*  See  John's  Charter,  p.  2-15. 


Couixtj)  palatine  of  2.aitra£(tei%  253 

singular  felicity  it  was,  not  only  to  have  been  the  intrepid  advocate  of  John  de  Wick-    chap. 

liffe,  the  first  English  reformer,  but  also  the  munificent  patron  of  Geoffrey  Chaucer,  L. 

the  first  English  poet : — 

"  And  he  was  clad  in  Cote  and  Hode  of  Grene ;  Chaucer's 

"  A  shaft  of  Pecocke  Arwes  bright  and  kene,  tion'of'the 

"  Under  his  Belt  he  bare  full  thriftily,  costume  of 

an  ancient 
"  Well  coude  he  dresse  his  takel  yemanly ;  forester. 

"  His  Armes  drooped  not  with  Fetheres  lowe, 

"  And  in  his  Hande  he  bare  a  mighty  Bowe  ; 

"  A  not-hed  had  he  with  a  broune  visage, 

"  Of  Wood-crafte  could  he  well  all  the  usage. 

"  Upon  his  Arm  he  bare  a  gay  Bracer, 

"  And  by  his  Side  a  Sword  and  a  Bokeler, 

"  A  Christopher  on  his  Brest  of  Silver  Shene, 

"  A  Home  he  bare,  the  Baudrick  was  of  grene, 

"  A  Forister  was  he  sothly,  as  I  gesse." 

Prol.  to  the  Cant.  Tales. 

The  Lancaster  forests,  in  days  of  yore,  answer  with  great  accuracy  to  the  oescrip- 
description  given  by  Manwood,  the  elaborate  writer  on  the  Forest  Laws,  when  he  forest, 
says — "  A  forest  is  a  certaine  territory  of  woody  gi'ounds  and  pastures,  privileged  for 
wild  beasts  and  fowls  of  forest,  chase,  and  warren,  to  rest  and  abide  in  under  the 
protection  of  the  king,  for  his  pleasure  and  recreation."  The  forest  laws  of  Lan- 
caster and  of  Pickering  are  quoted  by  this  authority,  as  the  most  perfect  model  of 
forest  jirrisprudence.  *'  The  earl  of  Lancaster,"  says  he,  "  in  the  time  of  Edward  IL 
and  Edward  III.  had  a  forest  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and  York,  in  the  wliich  lie 
did  execute  the  forest  laws  as  largely  as  any  king  in  tliis  realm  did.  And  even  at 
this  day,  (A.  D.  1580,)  there  are  no  records  so  much  followed  as  those  which  were 
executed  by  the  said  earl  in  liis  forests."* 

In  much  later  times  we  have  had  an  English  monarch  cUsplaying  liis  solicitude 
for  the  preservation  of  the  "  vert  and  venison"  in  the  forests  of  Lancashu'e.  Tlie  fol- 
lowing royal  warrant,  adtkessed  to  the  Master  Foresters,  Bow-bearers,  and  Keepers 
of  the  Forests,  Parks,  and  Chases,  in  the  county  palatme  of  Lancaster,  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  duchy,  bearing  the  signature  of  king  William  III.  and  countersigned  by 
the  chancellor  and  the  auiUtor  of  the  duchy,  will  form  not  an  inapt  conclusion  to  the 
(Ugi-ession  into  wliich  we  have  been  betrayed,  by  the  alluring  influence  of  the 
chase : — 

*  See  "  Manwood  on  the  Forest  Laws,"  p.  72,  a  work  which  may  be  consulted  with  advantage  by 
those  who  wish  to  obtain  more  than  a  popular  acquaintance  with  this  subject. 
VOL.  I.  2  K 


254 


€\)t  l^isitorj)  of  tlje 


CHAP. 
VII. 


Due.  Rot. 
66.  17. 


(M^PCttdlSi  Complaint  has  been  made  to  Us  that  great  Destruction  lias 
been  made  of  Our  Deer  m  severall  of  Our  Forre.sts,  Chaces  &  Parks 
Avitliin  Oiu'  Duchy  &  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster,  and  that  some  of  you 
have  refused  to  give  an  Account  thereof.  Our  Royall  Will  and  Pleasure  is, 
that  you  and  every  of  you,  do  from  time  to  time,  as  often  as  it  shall  be  requii-ed 
of  you,  give  a  true  and  just  Account  To  Our  Right  Trusty  and  Right  Well- 
beloved  Cozen  &  Counsellor  Thomas  Eaile  of  Stamford,  Chancellor  of  Our 
Duchy  &  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster,  or  Chancellor  for  the  Tune  being, 
Of  All  Our  Deer  witliin  the  FoiTests,  Chases  &  Pai'ks  where  you  are  respect- 
ively concerned,  and  of  what  Destruction  has  been  made  thereof.  And  at  the 
Close  of  every  Season  you  also  give  a  particular  and  true  Account  what  Num- 
ber of  Our  Deer  have  been  killed,  by  whom,  for  whom,  and  by  whose  Order  or 
Authority,  and  of  what  Stock  is  or  shall  be  remaining  in  Our  FoiTests,  Chases, 
and  Parks  wherein  you  are  concerned  as  aforesaid,  that  all  abuses  and  ill 
practices  may  be  remedied,  and  Our  Deer  better  preserved  for  the  future. 
And  hereof  you  are  not  to  faile,  as  you  will  answer  the  contrary  at  your  Perill. 

Given  at  Our  Court  at  Kensington  the  23d  day  of  December,  1697,  and 
in  the  Ninth  year  of  Our  Reign. 


Jl 


^Pu  AM 


■<4fA\/-vrrui^^^' 


Irrotulatur  in  Officio  Auditoris  Dni  Regis  nunc  Ducat,  sui  Lane,  in  partib^.  Austral 
Vicesimo  quarto  die  Decembris  Anno  Regni  dni  Regis  nunc  Willi  tertij  Nono  Anno 
y9  Domini  1697. 

p  Jo.  Bennett,  And. 

To  all  Rangers,  Master  Forresters,  Bowbearers,  Keepers,  &c.  of  all  and 
singular  Our  Forrests,  Chaces,  or  Parks  in  the  County  Palatine,  or  in  any 
part  or  parcell  of  Our  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 


Countp  |)alatii«  of  Sniuasttr.  355 


nr      CHAl' 
VII. 


Gilbert  de  Lancastre  (son  of  Reynfr')  who  had  been  placed  in  confinement  by  kin 
John,  found  it  necessaiy,  in  order  to  satisfy  the  cupidity  of  the  king,  to  deliver  up  his 
castles  of  Hirhull  and  Kii-kley;*  and  yet  so  slow  was  his  persecutor  to  relax  his  Gilbert  de 
severity,  that  it  was  not  till  two  years  after  tliis  surrender,  that  his  prisoner  was  set  at  a.d!?2u.' 
liberty-t   In  tiie  following  reign  this  Gilbert  was  appointed  a  commissioner,  on  the 
man-iage  of  the  king's  sister  to  Alexander,  king  of  Scotland. 

The   act   of   Magna   Charta,    so   recently   gi-anted    by    John,   was   confirmed  Ratifica- 
and  ratified  by  Henry  III.,  to  whom  an  aid  of  one-fifteenth  of  all  the  moveables  Ma"gna 
of  his  people  was  given  by  parliament  in  return  for  this  favour,  with  the  rcser-  Hen!  nif 
vation,   that  those  only  who  paid   the  fifteenth  should  be  entitled  to  the  liberties 
and  privileges  of  the  charter.     To  give   increased    stability  to   the    oblioations   of 
tliis  engagement  between    the   king   and  his  people,  all  the  prelates   and   abbots 
were  assembled,  with  burning  tapers  in  their  hands,  and  the  great  charter  beino- 
raised  in  their  presence,  they  denounced  the   sentence  of  excommunication  against 
all  who   should  henceforth  violate  this  fundamental   law.     Then,  thro^ving   down 
their  tapers  on  the  gi'ound,   they  exclaimed — "  May  the  soul   of  every  one  who 
incurs  this  sentence,  so  stink  and  corrupt  in  hell !"     To  which  the  king,  who  took 
part  in  the  ceremony,  added — "  So  help  me  God.     I  will  keep  these  articles  invio- 
late, as  I  am  a  man,  as  I  am  a  christian,  as  I  am  a  knight,  and  as  I  am  a  king 
cro^vued  and  anointed."')' 

The  trial  by  ordeal,  introduced  by  the  Saxons,  and  continued  through  so  many  Abolition 
successive  ages,  to  the  outrage  of  justice,  and  the  scandal  of  the  nation,  could  now  deais^of ' 
no  longer  be  tolerated.     The  church  of  Rome,   never  prone  to  innovation,  was  the  fvater.' 
first  to  protest  against  a  standard  so  fallible.     And  accordingly  we  find  royal  letters 
of  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  addressed  to   the  itinerant  judges  in  the   counties  of 
Lancaster,  Cumberland,  and  Westmoreland,  the  north-western  circuit  of  that  day,  Pat. 
announcing  to  the  judges,  that,  because  it  was  not  detennined  previous  to  the  opening  m.  .5^."Turr 
of  the  cu'cuit,  what  form  of  trial  they  should  undergo  who  were  charged  ■with  robbery,     ""  ' 
murder,  arson,  and  the  like,  "  since  the  ordeal  of  fire  and  water  had  been  prohibited  by 
the  Roman  church,"  it  had  been  provided,  by  the  king  in  council,  that  tlie  judges  should 
proceed  in  the  folloiving  manner  with  persons  accused  of  these  crimes  : — viz.  Tliat 
those  charged  with  the  greater  crime,   and   to  whom  violent  suspicion  attached, 
should  be  held  and  safely  confined  m  prison,  but  not  in  such   a  manner  as  to  incur 
peril  of  life  or  limb  :  That  persons  accused  of  other  crunes,  and  to  whom,  had  it  not 
been  proliibited,  the  ordeal  of  fire  and  water  might  have  been  sufl[icient,  should  be 

1 

*  Foedera,  vol.  i.  p.  136.  f  Foedera,  vol.  i.  p.  146. 

I  Matt,  of  Paris,  p.  580. 
2k  2 


256  CJ)f  M^tov^  Of  t&e 

CHAP,    reqiiii-ed  to  quit  tlie  realm  :  And  that  those  charged  with  minor  offences  shouhl  be 
^^''      liberated  on  bail.     These  directions,  it  was  felt,  were  very  vague  and  general ;  but 

as  they  were  all  that  the  council  could  at  the  time  provide,  the  judges  were  left  at 

liberty  to  follow  theii'  own  discretion,  and  to  act  according  to  the  chelates  of  tlieu- 

consciences.* 
Lands  be-         In  this  reign  the  undisputed  possession  of  that  great  mass  of  Lancashire  pro- 
Mersey      perty,  the  lands   between   Ribble    and  Mersey,   was    conveyed  by  the   family   of 
Me.    '       Roger  de  Maresey  to  lord  Randulf,  earl  of  Chester,  in  virtue  of  a  compact  already 

adverted  to  (see  p.  121.),  and  which  is  expressed  in  the  following  terms  : — 

Circa  "  HiBC  est  couveutio  facta  inter  dominum  Ranulfum  comitem  Cestrise  et  Lin- 

15 H. III."  colnise,  et  Rogerum  de  Maresey;    videlicet,  quod  cHcti  comes  et  Rogerus  tradi- 

derunt  domino  Radulfo  de  Bray  in  aequali  manu  quach-egenta  maixas  ai-genti,  et 

chartam  quam  dictus   Rogerus   fecit  dommo  comiti  de  vencUtione    et   dimissione 

omnium  terrarum  suarum,  quas  habuit  vel  habere  potuit  inter  Ribble  et  Mersey  : 

•  3  HENRY  III. 

"  Rex  dilectis  et  fidelibis  suis  Philippe  de  UUetot,  &  sociis  suis,  justiciariis  itinerantibus 
in  coniitatibus  Cumberland',  Westmerland',  &  Lancastrise,  salutem. 

"  Quia  dubitatum  fuit  &  non  deterrainatum,  ante  inceptionis  itineris  vestri,  quo  judicio  deducendi 
sunt  illi  qui  rectati  sunt  de  latrocinio,  murdro,  incendio  &  hiis  similibus,  cum  prohibitum  sit  per 
ecclesiam  Romanam  judicium  ignis  &  aquoe,  provisum  est  a  concilio  nostro,  ad  praesens,  ut,  in  hoc 
itinera  vestro,  sic  fietde  rectatis  de  hujusmodi  excessibus. 

"  Videlicet,  quod  illi,  qui  rectati  sunt  de  criminibus  praedictis  majoribus,  &  de  eis  habeatur 
suspicio  quod  culpabiles  sint  de  eo  unde  rectati  sunt,  de  quibus  etiam,  licet  regnum  nostrum  abju- 
rarent,  adhuc  suspicio  esset  quod  posted  malefacerent,  teneantur  in  prisona  nostra  &  salvo  custo- 
diantur  ;   ita  quod  non  incurrant  periculum  vitae  vel  membrorum  occasione  personae  nostrse. 

'  Illi  vero,  qui  mediis  criminibus  rectati  fuerint,  &  quibus  competeret  judicium  ignis  vel  aqua; 
si  non  esset  prohibitum,  &  de  quibus,  si  regnum  nostrum  abjurent,  nulla  fuerit  postea  mal^  faciendi 
suspicio,  regnum  nostrum  abjurent. 

"  Illi  vero,  qui  minoribus  rectati  fuerint  criminibus,  nee  de  eis  fuerit  mali  suspicio,  salvos  & 
secures  plegios  inveniant  de  fidelitate  &  pace  nostra  conservanda,  &  sic  dimittantur  in  terra 
nostra. 

"  Cum  igitur  nichil  certius  providerit  in  hac  parte  concilium  nostr\mi  ad  prtesens,  relinquimus 
discretioni  vestree  hunc  ordinem  prsedictum  observandum  in  hoc  itinera  vestro,  ut,  qui  personas  homi- 
num,  formam  delicti,  &  ipsarum  rerum  veritatem  meliiis  cognoscere  poteritis,  hoc  ordine,  secundum 
discretiones  &  conscientias  vestras,  in  hujusmodi  procedatis. 
"  Et  in  hujus  rei  testimonium,  &c. 
"  Teste  domino  P.  Winton, 

"  apud  West',  vicesimo  sexto  die  Januarii,  anno  regni  nostri  tertio. 
"  Per  eundem  &  H.  de  Burgo  justiciarium." 


Counti)  palatine  of  Sancasitfr.  257 

Ita  scilicet  quod  Rogerus  sine  dilatioiie  iturus  est  inter  Ribbel  ct  Mersey  ad  depo-    chap. 
nendum  se  de  dicta  terra,  et  ad  Jaciendmn  omnes  illos  (qui  de  ipso  ibidem  tenuerunt)  ' 

liomagia  sua  facere  dicto  domino  comiti,  vel  fidelitatem  ejus  ballivis  loco  suo  consti- 
tutis  :  et  etiam  seisinam  de  Boultou  cum  omnibus  pertinentiis  dicto  comiti  facien- 
dam :  Quo  facto  dictus  Radulfus  de  Bray  saspe-dicto  comiti  chartam  jkm  dictam 
reddet,  et  eidem  Rogero  dictas  quadraginta  marcas:  Et  si  condngat,  qudd  tenentes 
de  dictis  tenuris  ad  hoc  quod  prsedictum  est,  domino  comiti  faciendum  per  ipsum 
Rogerum  adesse  noluerunt,  saepe-dictus  comes,  vel  ballivi  sui,  ipsos  compellent  ad 
hoc  faciendum.  Et  dictus  Rogerus  ad  sumptus  domini  comitis  itinerabit  un^  cum 
ballivis  comitis,  quousque  negotium  istud,  secundum  quod  prsedictum  est,  fuerit  con- 
summatum.  Et  ad  majorem  hujus  rei  securitatem  uterque  illorum  prsesenti  scripto, 
more  cheii'ographi,  sigillum  suum  apposuit. 

"  Hiis  testibus,  domino  Waltero  abbate  Cestriae,  domino  Willielmo  de  Vernon 
justiciavio  Cestrise,  Radulfo  de  Bray,  Waltero  Dayvill,  Ricardo  de  Biron,  Johanne 
de  Lexington,  Simone  et  Johanne,  clericis." 

[From  the  Couchir  Book  of  the  Duchy  Office,  Lancaster  Place,  London,  tom.  i. 
Comitatus  Laucastriae,  fol.  77.  nmu.  70.] 

Notwithstanding  the  ratification  of  Magna  Charta,  the  nation  continued  much 
agitated,  by  the  intrigues  of  the  nobles  witliin,  and  the  hostility  of  the  bordering 
countries  from  without.  To  meet  tliis  emergency,  a  proclamation  Avas  issued  to  the 
sheriflTs  of  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  Cumberland,  and  Westmoreland,  ordering 
them  to  assemble  all  those,  in  their  respective  jurisdictions,  who  held  of  the  king  in 
cliief  to  the  amount  of  a  knight's  fee,  to  be  prepai-ed  with  horses  and  arms,  to  march 
with  the  king  from  Chester,  on  an  expedition  into  Wales,  against  Llewelyn,  and 
other  rebels. 

The  barons,  in  the  mean  time,  more  anxious  about  the  redress  of  their  own  Origin  of 
grievances,  than  the  incursions  of  the  Welsh,  assembled  in  supreme  council,   at  sent'ali've 
Oxford,  under  Simon  de  Mountfort,  earl  of  Leicester,  and,  after  insisting  upon  the  zngUnl 
strict  fulfilment  of  the  ailicles  of  Magna  Charta,  demanded,  that  four  knights  should  be 
chosen  by  the  freeholders  from  each  county  in  the  kingdom,  to  make  inquiries  into 
the  complaints  of  the  inhabitants,  and  to  present  them  at  the  next  parhament.     They 
also   resolved,   that  three   parliaments  should   be   held   in  every   year,  including 
burgesses,  as  well  as  barons  and  ecclesiastical  dignitaries,  the  two  latter  of  whom 
had  alone  been  liitherto  summoned;  that  the  sheriffs  should  be  annually  chosen  in  each 
county  by  the  freeholders ;  that  the  sheriffs  should  have  no  power  to  fine  the  barons; 
that  no  heii-s  should  be  committed  to  the  wardsliip  of  foreigners ;  that  no  new  war- 
rens or  forests  should  be  created ;  nor  the  revenues  of  any  counties  or  lumdreds  let 


258 


CI;e  f?is!torp  of  tfte 


CHAP. 
VII. 


The  lia- 
rons' 
wars. 
A.D.  12C3. 


Accession 
of  wealth 
and  ho- 
nours to 
the  house 
of  Lancas- 
ter from 
the  ba- 
rons' 
wars. 


to  farai.  Tlie  king,  feeling  that  the  tendency  of  these  extensive  measures  of  reform 
was  to  abridge  the  royal  power,  strenuously  opposed  their  introduction,  and  the 
matter  was  finally  referred  to  the  pope,  by  whose  decision  the  gi-eat  charter  was 
ratified,  but  the  ordinances  of  the  supreme  council  of  Oxford  were  annulled. 
The  barons  did  not  hesitate  to  resist  the  award  of  liis  holiness  by  force  of  arms,  and 
Robert  de  Ferrars,  earl  of  Derby,  was  amongst  the  most  distinguished  of  the  insur- 
gents. An  association  was  formed  in  the  city  of  Worcester,  consisting  of  the  popu- 
lace and  the  leaders  of  the  insurgents,  amongst  whom  were  eighteen  of  the  gi'eat 
barons,  headed  by  the  earls  of  Leicester,  Gloucester,  and  Derby,  with  le  Despenser, 
the  cliief  justiciary.  By  the  terms  of  their  compact  they  were  never  to  make  peace 
with  the  king  but  by  common  consent,  and  with  such  securities  for  then-  liberties 
and  privileges  as  those  which  were  contained  in  the  convention  of  Oxford.  A  long 
and  sanguinary  civil  war  ensued,  during  which  the  king  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
barons,  and  obliged  to  ratify  the  obnoxious  convention.  Subsequently,  Simon 
de  Mountlbrt,  earl  of  Leicester,  fell  in  the  contest,  and  the  eaid  of  Derby 
was  taken  prisoner.  Tliis  struggle  was,  however,  essentially  conducive  to  the 
establisluuent  of  the  public  liberties,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  our  representative 
system  of  government.  The  defeat  of  the  barons  elevated  the  house  of  Lancaster. 
Tlie  forfeited  title  and  possessions  of  Simon  de  Mountfort  devolved  by  royal  favour 
upon  Edmund  Crouchback,  the  second  son  of  Henry  IIL,  and  the  estates  of  Robert 
de  Ferrai-s,  eai'l  of  Derby,  were  also  conferred  upon  hmi  by  the  king,*  ^vith  a  grant 
of  the  possession  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  but  not  to  the  prejudice  of  Roger 
de  Lancastre. 

Llewelyn,  piince  of  Wales,  had  been  deeply  implicated  with  the  barons  of 
England  in  theii-  wai's  against  their  sovereign,  Henry  HL,  and  when  Edwai-d  L 
ascended  the  throne,  one  of  the  fii"st  acts  of  his  government  was,  to  summon 
the  Welsh  prince  to  do  homage  in  person  to  the  new  king.  With  this  mandate 
Llewelyn  refused  to  comply,  except  upon  the  condition,  that  the  king's  son,  and 
other  noblemen,  should  be  delivered  to  the  Welsh  court  as  hostages  for  his  safe 
custody.  Edward  was  in  no  temper  for  parley,  and,  accordingly,  we  find  a  summons 
from  the  king,  calling  upon  Roger  de  Lancastre  to  attend  upon  liis  majesty,  to 
proceed  against  the  Welsh,  who  are  represented  as  having  risen  in  rebellion.  This 
royal  order  was  followed  by  a  writ  of  military  simmions  from  the  king  to  Edmmid, 
earl  of  Lancaster,  and  the  sheriff  of  the  county,  announcing,  that  Llewelyn,  son  of 
Griffin,  prince  of  Wales,  and  liis  rebellious  associates,  had  invaded  the  land  of  the 
lieges  in  the  Marches,  and  committed  murders,  and  other  enormous  damages,  and 
commanding,  that  the  sheriff  do  forthmth  assemble  all  that  are  capable  of  bearing 

*  See  p.  124. 


Counti?  palatine  of  Sancaeittr.  259 

arms  in  the  liundieds,  boroughs,  and  market  towns,  of  his  slirievalty,  to  march  to    chap. 
Worcester,  in   the   octaves   of   St.  John  the  Baptist,   prepared  with   liorses   and 


VII. 


ages. 


The  war  was  continued,  with  some  intermissions,  througli  several  successive  Wai  «iti, 
years ;  and  in  order  to  clear  a  passage  into  Wales,  it  appears  that  a  mandate  was 
issued  by  the  Idng  in  tlie  year  1282,  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliire,  ordering  liim  to 
provide  two  hundred  woodcutters  (coupiatoribus),  to  cut  away  the  wood,  and  thereby  The  Lan- 
to  open  passes  into  Wales.     These  men  were  to  be  powerful  and  active,  and  each  of  coupiato- 
them  was  to  come  provided  with  a  large  hatchet,  to  cut  down  the  trees.    They  were  '*'*" 
to  be  chosen  in  the  presence  of  William  de  Percy,  who  was  sent  specially  into  the 
county   for  that  purpose;  and  were   to  muster  at  Chester,  on   Satui-day  on  the 
octaves  of  the  feast  of  St.  Peter.     For  this  service,  the  sheriff  was  to  pay,  from  the  Their 
issues  of  his  bailiwick,  into  the  hands  of  each  hewer,  three-pence  per  diem  for  his  '^'^^'''" 
wages.-]" 

At  the  time  when  these  Lancasliire  husbauchuen,  of  extraordinary  powers,  were  Wages  of 
receiving  thi-ee-pence  a  day  for  their  labour,  the  price  of  wheat  was  nine-pence  per  g^uia"ed'by 
bushel,  and,  taking  the  average  of  wages   in  England  for  the  six  hundred  years  ^oU^UeZ 
following,  it  will  be  found,  (unfavourable  seasons  apart,)   that  the  wages  of  labour  '"  ''" 
have  generally  been  in  the  proportion  of  a  peck  of  wheat  per  day.     In  large  towns 
the  price  of  manufacturing  labour  has  often  been  higher,  and  in  some  cases,  espe- 
cially amongst  the  weavers,  much  lower;  but  as  a  standard,  none  can  approach  nearer 
than  the  one  wliich  is  here  suggested.     Much  of  obscurity  is  thrown  over  liistorical 
and  topogi-aphical  works  on  the   subject  of  money,  for  want  of  some  standard  of 
value  to  which  the  sums  mentioned  in  different  ages  may  be  refeiTed.     No  standard 
will  be  found  so  uneiTing  as  the  prices  of  wheat  and  of  laboui-,  wliich,  on  being  com- 

•  This  first  form  of  military  summons  extant,  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire,  we  present 
entire,  as  claiming  a  place  in  the  antiquarian  stores  of  the  county  : — 

"  Forma  de  exfcitu  R  sum  in  Walt. 
"  Edwardus  Dei  gfa  Rex  Angt  Dns  HyBn  T;  Dux  Aquit  dilecto  f  ri  T,  fideli  suo  Edmiido  Com 
Lancastr  satm.  Quia  Lewelinus  fit  Griflfini  P'nceps  Wallie  T;  complices  sui  rebelles  nri  Pras  nras  1 
fidelium  nroj  in  ^tihy  Marchie  invaseriit  T;  de  die  in  diem  invadiit  T;  homicidia  T,  alia  dampna  enormia 
ibidem  gpet'runt.  Et  idem  Lewelin^  nol5  put  deBet  obedire,  cotempsit  T;  cotempnit  in  nri  p^judicium 
T;  contemptii  T;  vfi  T;  alioj  fidelium  nro|i  grave  dapnu  T;  exftradacoem  maifestam,  p  qit  jam  exPcitum 
nrm  sum  fecimus  qd  sit  apd  Wygorn  in  Octal)  Sci  Joliis  Bapte  px'  futur  ad  rebellione  dci 
Lewelini  T,  fautor  suoj  rep'mendam :  voB  mandamus  qd  dcis  die  T;  loco  intstis  cii  equis  T;  armis  cii 
Servico  vro  nolj  debito  pati  nofecu  exinde  pfiscisci  in  expedicoem  nram  cont°  pdcra  Lewet  1  coplices 
suos  rebellos  nros.     T.  me  ipo  apd  Wind  xii  die  Decemb  anno  r.  f..  q'nto." 

Rot.  Claus.  5  Ed.  I.  m.  12.  d.  in  Turr.  Lond. 
t   Foedera,  vol.ii.  p.  611. 


nes, 


260  Cfte  5?i«>ti3ll)  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    pared  in  times  past  vnth  the  price  of  those  articles  in  our  day,  wUl  ahvays  convey  to 

VII  .  *     . 
L.   the  mind  some  definite  notion,  when  smus  of  money  ai-e  mentioned,  of  the  value  of 

those  sums  at  the  period  under  consideration.     With  tliis  view,  the  following  table, 

extracted  from  the  records  in  the  exchequer,  and  collated  with  Paris,  Walsingham, 

Stowe,  Fleetwood,  and  others,  is  constructed : — 

CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE, 

SHEWING  THE  PRICE  AT  WHICH   THE    ARTICLES,    THEREIN    MENTIONED,    SOLD    IN 

THE  YEARS  SPECIFIED. 

£.     S.     d. 

Table  of     A.D.  1202.     Wheat  (rainy  season) 0  12    0     per  quarter. 

tixTelZ-  1248.     Thirty-seven  sheep  for  the  King 0  18     4 

1253.     Wheat  fell  to 0     2     6     per  quarter. 

1256.     Brewers  ordered  to  sell  three  gallons  of  ale  in  the  country  for  a  penny. 

12/2.     A  Labourer's  wages OOIJ  per  day. 

A  Harvest  Man 0    0    2         do. 

1274.  A  Bible  in  nine  vols,  with  a  Comment      .     .     .  33    6    8 

1275.  Rent  of  the  Lord  Mayor's  House 10     0a  year. 

1280.     The  Chancellor's  Salary 40     0     0       do. 

1283.     An  English  Slave  and  his  Family  sold  for     ..     0  13     4  •' 

1285.  Grinding  Wheat 0    0    OJ  per  quarter. 

1286.  Wheat,  after  a  great  storm 0  16    0    per  quarter. 

1288.  fell  to 0     18        do. 

1294.     Wheat  (a  grievous  famine) 10    0        do. 

Wheat,  average  in  the  13th  century,  about  ..060        do. 
1300.     Wheat  and  Barley        0     3     4         do. 

Oats 0     18         do. 

A  Primer  for  the  Prince  of  Wales,  now  15  years  1 1  months  old,  £2  0  0. 
1302.    A  Cow 060 

A  fat  Sheep 0     10 

A  Cock  or  Hen .     •     .     0    0     IJ  each. 

1309.     A  Pair  of  Shoes 004 

1314.     Prices  fixed  by  Parliament,— A  fat  Ox     ...     0  16    0 


A  Cow £0  12s.  Od. 

A  fat  Hog     ....     £0    3s.  4d. 
Pair  of  Chickens     .     .     £0     Os.  Id. 


A  Sheep       ....     0     1     2 

A  fat  Goose      .     .     .     0    0    2i 

Eggs 0    0    OJ  per  dozen. 


This  Maxhmim  increased  the  scarcity  which  it  was  intended  to  remove.  The  growers 
would  not  bring  in  provisions,  and  what  was  sold  was  dearer  than  before.  The  act 
was  therefore  repealed  in  1315. 


A.D.  1315. 
1326. 


1338. 


1342. 
1347. 
1348. 


1357. 
1360. 


1379. 
1385. 
1390. 

1407. 


1414. 

1482. 
1495. 


1547. 
1562. 

1576. 
1576. 


VOL.  I. 


Coiintp  |3alatinf  of  Eantasttr. 

£.    s. 

Salt  (an  unheard  of  price) 0  2 

Yearly  Rent  of  Arable  Land  in  Kent,  3d.  to      .     0  0 

Pasture  Land 0  0 

Meadow  Land,  4d.  to        ...     0  0 
Allowance   from   Edward  III.   to  32  Students  at 

Cambridge       0  0 

Wool  taken  by  the  King  (a  forced  price)      ..02 

Wine 0  0 

King's  Apothecary,  a  pension  for  life        ...     0  0 

A  year  of  pestilence, — a  Horse 0  6 

a  fat  Ox 0  4 

a  Cow 0  1 

a  Heifer 0  0 

Ransom  of  David,  King  of  Scotland     .     .    100,000  0 

of  John,  King  of  France     .     .        500,000  0 

A  horse  for  military  service 10 

A  Master  Carpenter,  4d. — his  Journeyman  ..00 

Wine,  white,  6d. ;— Red 0  0 

Assistant  Clerk  of  Parliament 5  0 

Kendal  Cloth,  from  3s.  4d.  to 0  6 

Wheat,  average  in  the  14th  century,  about  ..06 

Salt 0  0 

A  Plough 0  0 

Wages  of  a  Thresher 0  0 

A  Priest's  stipend,  with  cure  of  souls  ....     5  6 

without 4  13 

220  Draught  horses  for 100  0 

Allowance  to  Edward  the  Fourth's  Daughter     .     1  0 

for  her  eight  servants 51  11 

Oats 0  2 

Wheat 0  6 

Wheat,  average  in  15th  century,  as  estimated  for 

rent,  about 0  7 

Income  of  the  poor  churches  in  York        ...     1  6 

Wlieat  conversion  price 0  8 

Ale,  when  Malt  was  8s.  per  quarter     ....     0  0 

Beef  and  Mutton 0  0 

Veal,  eight  pence  to 0  1 

Wlieat,  average  in  the  16th  century,  about   .     1  1 
Labour  of  a  husbandman  per  week,  in  the  16th 

century 0  5 

2  L 


261 


d. 

CHAP. 

6 

a  bushel.                    ^''' 

6 

per  acre. 

1 

do. 

10 

do. 

2 

per  diem. 

0 

perstoneof  141b. 

4 

per  gallon. 

6 

per  day. 

8 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

0 

2 

per  day. 

4 

per  gallon. 

0 

a  year. 

0 

a  piece. 

0 

per  quarter. 

7i 

per  bushel. 

10 

2 

per  day. 

8 

a  year. 

4 

do. 

0 

0 

a  week. 

8 

a  year. 

0 

a  quarter. 

0 

0 

8 

a  year. 

0 

per  quarter. 

2 

per  gallon. 

6 

a  stone. 

0 

0 

per  quarter. 

263 


€f)t  lisitort)  of  t])t 


Average  Price  of  Wheat  and  Malt  per  quarter,  at  Windsor. 

From  1671  to  1680  . 
1681  to  1690 
1691  to  1700  . 
1701  to  1710  . 
1711  to  1720  . 
1721  to  1731       . 

Labour  of  a  husbandman  per  week,  in  the  17th  century 

These  prices  of  wheat  are  from  the  Eton  Books,  and  are  for  the  best  grain ;  the 
measure  also  is  above  the  legal  standard,  so  that  7-9ths  of  the  preceding  quotations  will 
form  about  the  average  price  of  all  England. 


CHAP. 

^ve 

VII. 

From  1611  to  1620 

1621  to  1630 

1631  to  1640 

1641  to  1650 

1651  to  1660 

1661  to  1670 

£2 

1 

n 

2 

5 

2 

2 

6 

10^ 

3 

12 

8 

2 

10 

0 

2 

8 

lOi 

£2  10 

8i 

1  19 

U 

2  16 

lOi 

2    3 

2i 

2    4 

11 

2     1 

1 

0    9 

0 

Average  London  Price  in  January:- 


From 


From 


Wheat. 

1732  to  1740      . 

.  £1     8  10 

1741  to  1750       . 

.     1     5    8i 

1751  to  1760      . 

.     1  13    3 

1761  to  1770      . 

.     1  13  llj 

Average  Price  in 

Wheat. 

1771  to  1775      . 

.  £2  10    0 

1776  to  1780      . 

.     1  19    0 

1781  to  1785      . 

.292 

1786  to  1790      . 

.    2     5  10 

1791  to  1795      . 

.     2  12  11 

1796  to  1800      . 

.    3  12    3| 

Barley. 

£0  15     \l 

0  14    3 

0  17  11 

1     2     0 

and  Wales. 

Barley. 

£16    9 

1     0    0 

1     4    41 

1     3    51 

1  10  11 i 

1  17    8 

Oats 

£0 

12 

5 

0 

12 

4 

0 

14 

101 

0 

15 

\n 

Oats. 


Labour  of  a  husbandman  per  week,  in  the  18th  century 


£0  16 

lOj 

0  16 

6^ 

0  16 

10 

0  17 

01 

1     1 

0 

1     5 

2 

0  11 

0 

AVERAGE  PRICE  OF  WHEAT  IN  ENGLAND  AND  WALES, 

In  each  year  from  1801  to  1830  inclusive ,  from  the  official  returns. 


In  1801  .  £5  18    3i    In  1809  .£4  15    2 


In   1817.£4  14     4i    In  1825.  £3     6    5^ 


1802  . 

3    7 

4 

1810  . 

5    6 

2i 

1818  . 

4    4 

2i 

1826  . 

2  17    3f 

1803  . 

2  16 

5i 

1811  . 

4  14 

11 

1819  . 

3  13 

0* 

1827  . 

2  16  10 

1804  . 

3     1 

7 

1812  . 

6    5 

6 

1820 

3    5 

6 

1828 

3  11  lOf 

1805  . 

4    7 

n 

1813  . 

5    8 

5 

1821  . 

2  14 

4 

1829  . 

3  16  10 

1806  . 

4    0 

n 

1814  . 

3  14 

Oi 

1822  . 

2    3 

H 

1830  . 

3  14    6 

1807 

3  12 

Al 

1815  . 

3    4 

^ 

1823 

2  11 

9 

1808 

inur  0I 

3  19 

a  hush 

2 

an  dm  a 

1816 

n  npr  wee 

3  15 

k.  in  th 

5i 
e  19th  c 

1824 
enturv 

2  17 

0 

■         •         • 

0  12    0 

Countp  ^3alatint  of  SLaufastrn 


263 


COINAGE. 


CHAP. 
VII. 


For  a  further  illustration  of  the  Scale  of  Prices  in  successive  ages,  it  is  necessary  to 
show  how  many  pounds,  shillings,  and  pennies  have  been  coined  out  of  a  pound  troy  of 
silver,  at  different  times  in  England ;  and  also  the  degree  of  fineness  of  the  standard,  and 
the  times  at  which  the  several  alterations  have  taken  place. 

Fine  Silver 
Before  A.D.  1300  a  pound  of  "^  oz.  dwt. 
standard  silver  contained,  j  11     2 

28  Edward  1 11 

18  Edward  III 11 

20  Edward  III 11 

27  Edward  III 11 

13  Henry  IV 11 

4  Edward  IV 11 

18  Henry  VIII.       .     .          .11 
34  Henry  VIII 10 

36  Henry  VIII 6 

37  Henry  VIII 4 

3  Edward  VI 6 

5  Edward  VI 3 

end  of  1552.     6  Edw.  VI.       .  11 

1  Mary 11 

2  Elizabeth 11 

43  Elizabeth 11 


1300. 
1344. 
1346. 
1353. 
1412. 
1464. 
1527. 
1543. 
1545. 
1546. 
1549. 
1551. 
1551, 
1553. 
1560. 
1601. 
1816. 


2 
2 
2 

2 
2 

2 
2 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

1 

0 

9 


56  George  III 11 


Alloy. 

oz. 

dwt 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

2 

0 

6 

0 

8 

0 

6 

0 

9 

0 

0 

19 

1 

0 

0 

18 

0 

18 

0 

18 

£. 

s. 

d. 

0 

0 

0 

3 

2 

2 

2 

6 

5 

0 

1 

10 

0 

1 

17 

6 

2 

5 

0 

2 

8 

0 

2 

8 

0 

2 

8 

0 

3 

12 

0 

3 

12 

0 

3 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

3 

2 

0 

3 

6 

0* 

These  Rates  of  English  Money,  except  the  last,  are  taken  by  Mr.  Folkes,  from  the 
indentures  made  with  the  masters  of  the  mint,  and  consequently  may  be  depended  upon 
as  authentic ;  the  last  is  from  the  act  56  George  III.  cap.  68. 

The  mines  of  Lancashire  were  yet  unexplored ;  and  the  most  imj^ortant  of  all  coai  first 
its  minerals,  as  constituting  the  principal  source  of  its  manufacturing  gi-eatness,  had  "uei!  ^ 
lain  undisturbed  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth  till  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  when  coals 
were,  for  the  first  time,  used  as  fuel  in  England.     From  that  period  to  the  present, 
the  great  coal  fields  in  the  south  and  in  the  centre  of  the  county  of  Lancaster  have 
continued  to  be  worked,  but  the  full  extent  of  their  capacity  and  utility  were  not 


A.D.1260. 


*  In  1816,  the  pound  of  bullion  was  first  coined  into  sixty-six  shillings,  of  which,  however,  only 
sixty-two  were  issued  ;  four  shillings  being  kept  at  the  mint  as  a  seignorage. 


264 


mn  ^Mi^toi\)  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
VII. 


Honour  of 
knight- 
hood. 

Rot. 
Claus. 
r,  Edw.  I. 
rn.8.  d. 
Turr. 
Lond. 


Rot.  Fin. 
21  Edw.  I. 
m.  i'5. 


Rot. 

Claus.  34 
Edw.  I. 
ni.  IC.  d. 


Commis- 
sions. 


Rot.  Pat. 
7  Edw.  I, 
m.  lU. 


shown  till  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  the  agency  of  steam  began  to 
be  brought  into  general  operation  under  the  powerful  geniuses  of  Crompton, 
Arkwriglit,  and  Watt,  aided  by  the  sldll,  enterprise,  and  capital  of  Peel,  and 
a  hundred  other  names  that  might  be  mentioned. 

In  the  early  ages  of  our  history,  the  honom-  of  knighthood,  with  the  military  services 
to  which  it  was  incident  under  the  feudal  system,  was  often  forced  upon  the  subject, 
and  hence  we  find  that,  in  the  year  1278,  a  writ  was  addi'essed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lan- 
casliii'e,  commanding  him  to  distrain  upon  all  persons  seized  of  land  of  the  value  of 
£20  per  annum,  whether  held  of  the  king  in  capite,  or  of  any  other  lord,  who  ought 
to  be  knights,  and  were  not,  and  all  such  were  ordered  forthwitli  to  talve  out  their 
patent  of  knighthood.  Fom'teen  years  after  this,  a  writ  was  issued,  wherein  the 
qualification  was  raised  to  double  the  amount,  and  a  writ,  dated  the  6th  of  February, 
1292,  was  issued  to  the  sheiiff  of  Lancasliire,  along  ■n'ith  other  sheriffs,  proclaiming 
that  all  persons  holding  lands  in  fee,  or  of  inheritance,  of  the  value  of  £40  per  annum, 
must  take  the  order  of  knighthood  before  Cluistmas  in  that  year.  One  of  the  pre- 
rogatives of  the  crown  was  to  relax  and  to  vary  these  services,  and  hence  a  writ, 
addi'essed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire,  was  issued,  reciting  "  that  the  commonality  of 
England  haraig  performed  good  services  against  the  Welsh,  the  king  excuses 
persons,  not  hokhng  lands  of  the  value  of  £100  per  aunimi,  from  taking  the  order  of 
knighthood;"  but  in  this  writ  it  was  directed,  that  all  holding  above  that  amount,  and 
not  taking  that  order  before  the  Nativity  of  the  Vu-gin,  are  to  be  distrained  upon. 
Subsequently,  injunctions  were  addressed  to  the  sheriff,  commanding  him  to  make 
extents  on  the  lands  of  those  who  refuse  to  take  the  order  of  knighthood,  and  to  hold 
them  for  the  king  until  further  orders.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  this  honour  was 
always  declined,  or  that  no  man's  ambition  led  liim  to  aspii'e  to  the  distinction.  Such 
a  conclusion  would  be  eiToneous ;  for  we  find  a  writ  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliire,  of 
the  date  of  the  6th  of  April,  1305,  directing  liim  to  proclaim,  that  aU  who  should 
become  knights,  and  are  not,  must  repaii-  to  lioudon  before  Whit-Sunday  next,  to 
receive  that  distinction,  if  properly  qualified. 

While  the  contest  continued  between  England  and  Wales,  a  number  of  public 
officers  were  appointed,  called  commissioners  of  aiTay,  (arralatores,)  whose  duty  it 
was  to  aiTay  the  troops  engaged  in  the  war,  to  preserve  the  peace  in  the  midst  of  so 
much  agitation,  and  to  communicate  the  views  and  intentions  of  the  government  to 
the  people.  Roger  de  Mortimer,  who  enjoyed  a  large  share  of  the  royal  favour, 
received  tlie  appointment  of  conservator  of  Lampaderoour,  in  West  Whales,  which 
appointment  was  amiounced  by  letter  to  the  prelates  and  clergy,  in  Lancashii'e,  thi-ough 
the  medium  of  Reginald  de  Grey,  the  captain,  in  Chester  and  Flintsliire. 

The  necessities  of  the  public  treasury,  in  1282,  obliged  the  king  to  demand  an 


Countp  |3nlatme  of  2.nnr(TStfi%  265 

aid  by  way  of  loan  from  the  religious  houses,  and  from  all  the  merchants  in  the    chap. 
kingdom,   and  John    dc  Ku'keby  Avas  empowered  to  declare  certain  difficult  and         ^^' 


important  matters  with  which  he  was  entrusted,  explanatory,  no  doubt,  of  the  Idng's  j^Jli'ity' 
necessities,  to  the  people  of  Lancaslm-e.     SpeedOj  after^^-ards,  letters  patent  were  '"''"' 
adch-essed  to  Robert  de  Harington,  Jolm  Byron,  and  Robert  de  Holland,  appointintv  loEdw.L 
them  conservators  of  the  peace,  pursuant  to  the  statute  of  Winton,  and  writs  of  Venire  Rot  Pat 
were  issued  for  that  purpose.*  ^  ^^'■''-  '• 

During  the  contest  with  Wales,  several  summonses  for  military  seri'ice  were  sum- 
issued  in  Lancashire,  the  number  of  which  was  probably  increased  by  its  vicinity  to  for"f,iil. 
the  seat  of  war.     On  the  26th  of  May  a  writ  was  sent  to  the  sheriff,  reciting  an  '"j^e  '*'^' 
ordinance  in  council,  Avhereby  every  person  holding  laud  or  rents  of  the  value  of  £.30  Rot.  Waii. 
a  year,  was  required  to  provide  liimself  with  a  horse  and  suitable  armour,  and  to  join  i"  g.^'ck''" 
the  king's  forces  against  the  Welsh,  and  even  persons  unfit  for  military  service  were  Ko'  ^vaii. 
requii-ed  to  find  and  to  equip  substitutes.     On  the  30th  of  July,  in  the  same  yeai-,  a  m-  4. 
docket  of  commission  issued,  empowering  William  de  Butiller,  de  Werenton.  to  press 
1,000  men,  capable  of  bearing  anns,  into  the  king's  service;   from  wliich,  it  woidd 
appear,  that  the  obnoxious  practice  of  imj)ressing  men  for  the  navy  in  latter  times 
extended  then  to  the  army.      The  contest  with  Wales  was  now  at  its  crisis.    On  the 
24tli  of  November,  a  writ  was  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire,  requiring  liiin  to 
send  all  men  capable  of  bearing  arms  to  march  against  the  Welsh;  and  Edmund, 
earl  of  Lancaster,  was  required  to  furnisli  from  his  lands  in  Lancasliire  200  soldiers. 
Early  in  the  following  year  anotlier  levy  was  called  for;  and  the  earl,  on  the  summons 
of  the  king,  was  requii-ed  to  repair  with  horse  and  aims  to  Montgomery:  a  similar  sum-  Rot.  de 
mens  to  arms  was  also  addressed  to  Roger  de  Lancastre;  and  to  supply  the  necessary  nEdw""!' 
ways  and  means  for  this  vast  expenditure  of  the  government,  a  commission  was  '"'  ^' 
issued,  constituting  Henry  de  Newark  and  others  collectors  of  the  levy  of  the  30th. 

The  skill  and  perseverance  of  Edward,  seconded  by  the  zeal  and  constancy  of  his  Conquest 
subjects,  at  length  reduced  the  Welsh  nation  to  the  gi'eatest  extremities.  Llewelyn, 
finding  all  liis  resources  exhausted,  his  country  almost  depopulated  by  the  length 
and  severity  of  the  contest,  and  famine  rapidly  completing  the  destruction  wliich  the 
sword  had  commenced,  was  obliged  to  submit  to  the  conqueror ;  and  the  ancient 
Cambrians,  after  having  for  800  years  maintained  their  national  independence, 
passed  under  the  English  yoke.  The  title  of  "  Prince  of  Wales"  was  now  confen'ed 
for  the  first  time  on  a  "  foreign  prince,"  and  the  eldest  son  of  the  king  of  England 
has  ever  since  that  period  borne  this  designation. 

*  By  the  statute  of  Winton,  (^Winchester,)  passed  13  Edward  I.  it  is,  amongst  a  number  of  other 
important  enactments,  provided,  that  evefy  hundred  shall  be  answerable  for  the  robberies  and  other 
offences  committed  within  its  jurisdiction. 

VOL.  I.  2  31 


266  €i)t  ilK'storj)  of  tbe 


CKAP.  The  wars  of  the  crusades,  in  which  England  took  so  large  a  share,  had  served  to 

di'ain  the  treasury,  and  the  cost  of  these  holy  contests  seemed  especially  to  helong 


Jfthe''""  to  the  church.      Pope  Nicholas  IV.  to  whom,  as  the  head  of  the  see  of  Rome,  the 
belfefices    fii'st-fruits  and  tenths  of  all  English  henefices  were  payable,  granted  to  Idng  Edward  I. 
PopefNi-*^  the  tenths  of  tliese  henefices  for  six  years,  towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  cru- 
cUoias.       sades.     In  order  to  ascertain  the  full  value  of  the  livings,  and  ultunately  to  enrich  the 
church,  his  holiness  caused  a  siu'vey  to  he  made,  usually  called  "  Pope  Nicholas's 
Valor,"  wliich  was  completed  in  the  province  of  Canterbury  in  1291,  and  in  the  pro- 
vince of  York  in  the  following  yeai',  under  the  cUrection  of  the  bishops  of  Winchester 
and  Lincoln.     This  valuable  and  cmious  document  is  still  preserved ;   and  its  con- 
tents, so  far  as  regards  the  county  of  Lancaster,  will  be  introduced  in  that  depai't- 
ment  of  our  work  which  relates  to  the  ecclesiastical  liistoiy  of  the  county.     How 
far  this  exhibition  of  the  wealth  of  the  church  of  England  influenced  the  mind  of 
the  king,  it  is  impossible  now  to  ascertain;  hut  in  tliis  reign  the  celebrated  statute  of 
mortmain  was  passed,  by  which  the   clergy  were   prevented  by  law  from  making 
new  acquisitions  of  land  for  the  use  of  the  church. 
New  This  county  had  scarcely  recovered  from  the  drain  made  upon  its  blood  and 

treasure  by  the  war  with  the  neighbouring  princiiJality  of  Wales,  when  it  was  called 
upon,  in  common  with  the  other  parts  of  England,  to  engage  in  another  contest,  still 
more  formidable,  against  the  combined  power  of  Scotland  and  France.  The  causes 
of  these  long  and  sanguinary  wars,  it  is  not  the  pro^'ince  of  tliis  liistory  to  investigate; 
but  it  may  be  observed,  that  the  war  Avith  Scotland  originated  in  a  wish  on  the  pai't 
of  the  English  monarch  to  render  that  country  a  tributary  state;  and  that  the  war* 
with  France  arose  out  of  the  failure  of  a  negociation  conducted  with  the  court  of 
Paris  by  Edmund  Crouchback,  earl  of  Lancaster,  originating  in  a  quarrel  between 
two  seamen,  a  Norman  and  an  Englishman,  to  determine  which  of  them  should  take 
the  precedency  in  supplying  his  boat  with  water  from  a  spring  on  the  baidis  of 
the  Adour. 
Fresh  OiT  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  v\Tits  of  military  service  were  issued  to  the 

lIiTcI-"     sheriffs,  announchig  that  the  king  was  about  to  set  out  for  Gascony,  to  protect  liis 
*'"■'''■         inheritance  from  the  kinsr  of  France ;  and  all  knip-hts,  abbots,  and  priors,  holding  in 

Rot.  Vase.         .  ..  .  .  . 

2iEdw.i.  chief  by  military  tenure,  or  serjanty,  were  required  to  meet  the  king  at  Portsmouth, 
Rot.  Pat.  to  embark  in  this  expedition.  In  the  same  year,  letters  patent  were  sent  to  the  knights 
m.  2!^"^  ''  ^"'^  freeholders  in  Lancashire,  announcing  that  collectors  were  appointed,  of  the 
tenths  in  aid  of  the  war :  writs  were  issued  in  the  early  part  of  the  folloA\ing  year,  to 
sixty-eight  persons  about  to  embark  with  Edmund,  earl  of  Lancaster,  to  Gascony, 
exempting  their  goods  from  the  pajanent  of  tliis  impost,  and,  as  a  matter  of  precaution, 
orders  from  the  Idng  were  issued  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire,  reciting,  that  through 


Counfj)  ^3alatine  of  Sanra£itn%  267 

some  religious  foreigners,  as  v.e\\  Normans  as  others,  residing  in  this  kingdom,  and    chap 

dwelling  on  the  sea  coasts,  not  a  little  danger  had  arisen  to  the  safety  of  the  state;  L_ 

he  was,  therefore,  commanded  to  cause  such  jiersons  to  remove  to  the  interior  Avithont 
delay,  and  to  give  up  their  places  to  religious  English.  The  sheriffs  were  also 
conunanded  further  to  ckaw  to  land  all  theii'  sliips  and  hoats,  wherever  they  might  find 
them,  in  the  sea  or  any  other  water,  and  to  cause  all  their  furniture  and  cargoes  to 
he  wholly  removed,  so  that  the  vessels  might  be  of  no  use. 

The  commissioners  for  assessing  and  collecting  the  tenth  and  the  seventh  this  Rot 
year  were,  "  Magr.  Rich,  de  Hoghton,  clerk,"  and   "  Rad  de   Mansfield,   clerk;"  24Ed«. i. 
and  that  the  returns  might  be  duly  made,  Ric''  de  Hoghton  and  John  Gentyl  were 
earnestly  requu-ed  to  appear  in  tlieii'  proper  persons,  before  the  treasurer  and  the 
barons  of  the  exchequer,  on  the  feast  of  St.  Nicholas  ensuing,  to  do  and  execute 
those  matters  which  should  be  mote  fully  explained  to  them ;  and  this  they  were  to 
do  as  they  regarded  the  king's  honour,  aiad  their  own  loss  of  all  things,  both  lands 
and  tenements,  goods  and  chattels,  and   as  they  M'ould  avoid  the  king's  peii^etual 
wrath.*     Tlie  exactions  of  the  king  to  carry  on  the  war  became  burdensome  in  the  Importu- 
extreme ;  the  tii-st  peers   of  the  realm  murmured  against  Ms  demands  upon  their  mands  for 
purse,  and  upon  theii-  personal  serAaces  ;  and  to  such  an  excess  did  their  altercations 
arise,  that  the  Idng,  in  requii'ing  the  reluctant  services  in  Flanders  of  his  constable, 
Humphrey  Bohun,  earl  of  Hereford,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  duchy  posses- 
sions, exclaimed — "  Sir  Earl;  by  God,  you  shall  either  go,  or  hang!"  was  answered 
by  the  earl  Avitli  equal  determination — "  By  God,   sir  king,   I  will  neither  go,  nor 
hang  !"t     The  clergy  Avere  not  more  disposed  to  acquiesce  in  the  arbitraiy  exactions 
of  the  liing  and  his  ministers,  than  the  laity ;  in  consequence  of  wliich,  numbers  of 
them  were  put  out  of  the  protection  of  the  law  ;  but  in  order  at  once  to  stimulate 
their  loyalty,  and  inflame  their  fears,  Aviits  were  issued  to  John  de  Lancastre,  and  to  Rot.  Pat. 
the  sheriffs,  empowering  them  to  appoint  commissioners  to  reverse  the  recognizances  m.  12. 
of  such  of  the  clergy  as  wished  to  receive  the  king's  protection,  and  to  arrest  and 
imprison   all   those   who   liad   promulgated    excommunications    and    ecclesiastical 
censures  against  his  ministers. 

*  Lancastr. — R  dilco  t  fideli  suo  Magro  Ric  de  Hogliton,  ctco  sattem.  Mandam®  volS  in  fide 
"X  dilecoe  quib3  noB  tenemini  firmil;  injungentes  qd  sitis  in  ppria  psona  vra  coram  Thes  T;  Baronibj 
nris  de  SccMo  octavo  die  post  festO  Sci  Niclii  |)ximo  futur  ad  ultimu,  ad  faciend  t  exequenct  ea 
que  iidem  Thes  T;  Baron,  vot5  tuc  ibidem  dicent  T;  injungent  plenius  ex  jjte  nra.  Et  hoc  sicut 
honorem  nrm  T  vrm  amissionem  ijium  frag  1  ten  bonog  1^  catallosS  que  in  Regno  nro  tenetis,  et 
indignacoem  nram  ppetuam  vitare  volGitis  nuUo  mode  omittatis.  Et  fieatis  ibi  hoc  bre.  T.  ft  apud 
Scpi  Edm.  XV.  die  Nov. 

t  Rymer's  Fcedera,  vol.  ii.  p.  783. 


2G8 


CfK  |)i6torj)  of  tl)e 


CHAP. 
VII. 


News- 
mongers 
denoun- 
ced. 


IMarcli  (if 
the  A^'rlsli 
tlnoiigli 
Lanca- 
shire 
against 
the 
Scotch. 


Kot.  Pat. 
2.5  Edw.  I. 
p.  2.  m. 


Dawn  of 
the  com- 
mercial 
and  ma- 
nufactur- 
ing great- 
ness of  the 
county. 
A.D.1216. 


Rot.  Pat. 
25  Edw.  I. 
p.  2.  m. 


At  this  early  period  of  our  liistory,  newspaper.?  were  unknown,  and  prosecutions 
against  the  public  press  had  of  course  no  existence,  hut  in  the  25  Edwai-d  I.  the 
khig  adch-essed  a  mandate  to  John  de  Lancastre,  sheriff  of  the  county,  announcing, 
that  his  majesty  had  learnt,  that  newsmongers  ("  froueurs  de  norelles,'"  as  they  are 
called,)  were  going  about  the  country,  sowing  discord  amongst  the  prelates,  earls, 
and  barons,  as  well  as  others  of  his  subjects,  endeavouring  thereby  to  chsturb  the 
pul:)lic  peace,  and  to  subvert  the  good  order  of  the  realm ;  which  said  offences,  the 
sheriffs  were  required  to  inquire  into,  and  to  take  order  for  bringing  the  delinquents 
to  justice. 

From  enemies  the  Welsh  had  been  converted  into  alUes  ;  and  while  the  king  ivas 
engaged  in  the  French  war,  an  army  from  Wales  was  appointed  to  march  against 
the  Scots,  to  carry  hostilities  into  their  country.  That  no  interruption  might  be 
given  to  that  force,  letters  were  adckessed  by  the  king  to  the  sheriffs  of  Lancashire 
and  Yorkshu-e,  as  well  as  to  those  of  Nottinghamshire  and  Derbyshu-e,  directing 
them,  at  their  peril,  to  take  care  that  all  bakers  and  brewers  should  have  a  sufficient 
supply  of  bread  and  beer  in  the  towns  through  which  the  Welsh  army  had  to  pass, 
on  their  march  "  against  the  Scottish  rebels."  In  the  course  of  this  year,  no  fewer 
than  three  rates  were  imposed  :  the  first,  of  an  eighth ;  the  second,  of  a  fifth ;  and 
the  tliu'd,  of  a  ninth  of  the  moveables  of  the  subject ;  and  William  de  Quinton  and 
Geoffry  de  Hothaui  were  appointed  assessors  and  collectors  for  the  county  of  York, 
while  Rob',  de  Hoyland,  Allan  le  Norreys,  John  Gcntyl,  and  Hugh  de  Clydcrhau, 
with  the  sheriff  of  the  county,  were  appointed  assessors  and  collectors  for  the  county 
of  Lancaster.  To  reconcile  the  people  to  these  accumulated  impositions,  and  to 
assuage  the  popular  discontent,  letters  were  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire, 
and  the  sheriffs  of  the  other  counties,  threcting  them  to  take  means  for  the  redi'ess 
of  public  grievances,  the  most  intolerable  of  which  jjrobably  was  that  of  excessive 
taxation. 

At  tliis  time  the  resources  of  the  government  were  principally  derived  from  the 
landed  possessions  of  the  people  ;  but  commerce  and  manufactures,  to  which  in 
future  ages  the  state  was  to  stand  so  much  indebted  for  its  supplies,  now  l)egan  to 
dawn  upon  the  country,  and  the  establishment  of  the  famous  commercial  society  of 
"  ]\Ierchant  Adventurers,"  with  the  partial  introduction  of  the  staple  manufacture  of 
woollens,  both  in  the  west  and  in  the  north  of  England,  laid  the  foundation  of  those 
mighty  resources,  whicli  we  shall  have  occasion,  in  the  future  progress  of  our  labours, 
more  fully  to  develop,  and  which  in  modern  days  disthiguish  the  county  of  Lancaster 
from  all  other  districts  of  the  world. 

In  the  time  of  tlie  Edwards  of  the  Plantagenet  line,  the  population  of  Lancashire 
must  have  been  veiy  considerable ;  for  in  this  year,  the  commissioners  of  array,  in 


Count))  |3nlntinf  of  annra^tfr.  269 

their  precepts  to  Will,  de  Ormesby,  the  lung's  justiciary,  directed,  that  a  levy  of    chap. 
tlu-ee  thousand  foot  sokUers  should  he  raised  in  Lancashire,  and  sent  to  Newcastle-  1_ 


upon-Tyue,   by   the   feast  of  St.  Nicholas,   to   be  placed  under  the  command   of  Levy  of 
Rob',   de   Clili'ord,  warder  of  the  Scotch  marches,  adjoining  to  Ciunberland.     The  Iiiois  in 
following  year  a  writ  was  directed  to  John  de  Warren,  earl  of  Surrey,  directing  him  siiire  to 
to  march  forthwith  to  Scotland,  at  the  head  of  the  troops  raised  in  Lancashire  and  in  Scotland. 
the  neighbouring  counties. 

The  wai'  %nth  France  having  been  brought  to  an  end  by  the  mediation  of  his  Tiie  king 
holiness  the  pope,  and  the  peace  consimamated  by  a  double  marriage,  that  of  Edward  \,;mseU  at 
himself  Avith  Margaret,  the  sister  of  Philip,  Idng  of  France,  and  that  of  the  prmce  of  If'thrfif- 
Wales  with  Isabella,  the  daughter  of  the  same  monarch,  the  king  was  left  at  liberty  Itm"^ 
to  turn  his  un(Uvided  attention  to  the  conquest  of  Scotland ;  and  for  the  purpose  of  Rot.  Pat. 
infusing  fresh  vigour  into  the  operations  against  that  country,  Edmund  determined  m!i<j."'   " 
to  place  himself  at  the  heatl  of  the  English  army.     No  fewer  than  tlu-ee  successive 
Avrits  of  military  summons   were  issued  during  the  year  1297,  to  the  authorities  of 
the  county  of  Lancaster ;  the   first  to  the  sheriff,  the  second  to   Thomas  earl  of 
Lancastre,  and  the  third  to  Henry  baron  de  Laucastre,  calling  upon  the  levies  to 
meet  the  king  at  Carlisle,  and  appointing  Rob',  de  Clifford,  the  king's  lieutenant  Rot.  Pat. 
("  cheventain")  of  Lancasliire,  Cumberland,  and  Westmoreland.    The  spirit  of  Scot-  m.  n. 
land  sunli  under  the  mighty  array  that  was  proceeding  against  that  country,  headed 
by   a   monarch    accustomed    to    conquer.       Rb'.   Bruce,    father    and    son,    along 
with   several  other   nobles,    made    their-   submission   to   Edward,    but  John  Baliol, 
the   king,    assembled    the   flower   of    the    Scotch  nobility,  together  with  a  large 
portion  of  the  military  force   of  the  kingdom,  hoping  by  one  mighty  effort  to  expel 
the  invaders,  and  to  liberate  their  country.     For  this  purpose,  they  made  a  general 
and  simultaneous  attack  upon  the  English,  under  the  earl  Warrenne,  who  were  at 
that  tune  besieging  Dunbar  with  a  force  of  twelve  thousand  men.     Undismayed  by  Scotland 

iT-iTi  1  1  •  .  subdued. 

superior  numbers,  the  English  general  advanced  to  receive  them,  and  a  sanguinary 
battle  ensued,  which  issued  in  the  total  defeat  of  the  Scotch  army,  with  a  loss  of 
twenty  thousand  men.  One  of  the  first  consequences  of  this  victory  was  the  surren- 
der of  Dunbar,  and  the  other  fortresses  of  Scotland  soon  followed  the  example. 
Baliol,  the  king,  despairing  of  his  country's  cause,  resigned  his  crown  into  the 
hands  of  the  English  monarch,  who,  on  his  return  from  Scotland,  conveyed  with 
liim  the  ancient  stone  of  inauguration,  which  had  for  so  many  ages  been  deposited  at 
Scone,  aud  to  which  tradition  attached  the  belief,  that  wherever  that  stone  was 
placed,  the  monarch  in  possession  of  it  would  govern  Scotland. 

Though  subdued,  the  spirit  of  the  Scotch  nation  was  not  wholly  broken.     The 
severity  of  the  English  justiciary,  Ormesby,  and  the  exactions  of  the  treasurer. 


270 


Zht  $)lS!tOll)  Of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
VII. 


A^  illiam 
M  allace 
relieves 
the  for- 
tresses 
of  liis 
country. 


129S-9. 


Writs  of 
military 
summons. 


Rot. 
Claus. 
28Edw.I, 
ra.  14.  d. 


Cressiiigliam,  rendered  the  joke  of  the  conqueror  intolerable  ;  and  AVilliam  Wallace, 
the  descendant  of  an  ancient  family,  whose  valour  and  skill  will  be  remembered 
thi-ough  all  time  in  Scotch  history,  reanimated  the  spiiits  and  rallied  the  scattered 
forces  of  liis  country.  The  Enghsh  army  under  WaiTenne,  consisting  of  forty  thou- 
sand men,  having  obtained  a  victory  at  Anuandale,  pushed  forward  to  Stirling,  where 
they  were  encountered  by  Wallace,  on  the  banks  of  the  Forth,  and  the  greatest  jmrt 
of  theu"  number  was  pushed  into  the  river  at  the  edge  of  the  sword.  After  this  signal 
victory,  Wallace,  in  liis  turn,  became  the  invader ;  and  the  north  of  England,  as  far 
as  the  borders  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  was  laid  waste  with  fire  and  sword.  The 
Idng,  on  receiving  tlds  cUsastrous  news  in  Flanders,  hastened  back  to  England ;  and 
having  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  thousand  men,  of  which  our  county 
furnished  its  full  complement,  he  chased  the  invaders  into  Scotland,  and  inflicted 
upon  them  a  signal  overtluow  at  Falkirk.  AVaUace,  aided  by  the  son  of  Robert 
Bruce,  still  kept  the  field,  and,  by  a  kind  of  predatory  warfare,  rendered  the  conquest 
of  Scotland  any  thing  but  secure. 

No  cessation  was  allowed  to  the  efforts,  military  and  pecuniary,  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  north  of  England ;  for,  in  the  two  following  years,  eight  writs  of  military 
ser\-ice  were  issued,  appertaining  to  the  county  of  Lancaster.  Tlie  first  directed 
the  sheriff  to  proclaim  the  prorogation  of  tlie  general  military  summons  of  the  26th 
September  preceding :  the  second  was  a  writ  of  military  summons  to  Thomas,  eai'l 
of  Lancaster,  requiring  liim  to  aj^pear  at  York  on  the  moiTOW  of  St.  Martin :  the 
thii-d,  addressed  to  the  commissioners  of  array,  ordeiing  them  to  raise  two  thousand 
foot  soldiers  in  Lancashii-e,  to  meet  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  on  the  eve  of  St. 
Katharine,  to  march  against  the  Scots  :  the  fourth,  was  a  Avrit  to  the  commissioners 
of  aiTay,  indicating  the  deteriorated  state  of  the  coinage,  in  which  it  was  announced, 
that  if  the  sohUers  le^•ied  by  the  preceding  commissions  should  be  unwilling  to  march 
on  account  of  the  bad  money  then  current,  (p  t  malcnn  monetam,)  or  from  the 
severity  of  the  weather,  the  commissioners  were  to  provide  them  a  premium  in 
adcUtion  to,  theu"  pay  :  the  fifth,  was  a  summons  to  Henry  earl  of  Lancaster  to  repaii- 
to  the  army :  the  sixth,  a  writ  to  Thomas  de  Banastre  to  raise  two  thousand  infantry 
in  Lancasliii-e,  to  meet  the  king  at  Ber^^-ick-upon-Tweed  :  the  seventh,  a  vrr'ii  to  the 
sheriff  of  Lancashire,  directing  that  all  prelates  and  other  priests,  and  all  ^ridows 
and  other  women  holding  of  the  king,  should  send  substitutes  to  Carlisle  :  and  the 
eighth,  a  summons  to  Thomas,  John,  and  Hemy  de  Lancasti'e,  to  meet  the  king,  to 
proceed  against  the  Scots. 

In  the  following  year,  commissions  were  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashii'e, 
impowering  lum  to  siunmons  all  persons  holding  lands  or  rents  of  the  value  of  forty 
pounds  per  annum  and  upwards,  to  meet  the  king  at  Carlisle  ;  and  iu  the  same  year. 


CountP  palatuif  of  Sanrn*rtrr,  271 

the  commissioners  of  array  called  by  various  wTits  upon  Robert  de  Holand,  Matliew    chap. 
de  Redman,  Allan  Norreys,  John  Gentyl,  and  Robert  de  Non-eys,  to  raise  in  Lanca-  L_ 


shire,  by  separate  leAies,  three  tliousand  men,  to  meet  the  Iving  at  Carlisle  on  the 
Nativity  of  St.  John  Baptist,  on  the  day  after  the  Assumption.  The  oppressive 
nature  of  these  ancient  conscriptions  may  be  collected  from  the  royal  proclamations 
of  the  same  period,  by  which  Jehan  de  Seint  Jelian,  (the  king's  lieutenant  and 
and  cheventayne,)  in  all  matters  relating  to  deeds  of  arms  in  Lancashire,  SiC,  Avas 
impowered,  along  with  the  earl  de  Abindon,  to  amerce  those  refractory  persons  who 
refused  to  perfonn  sei-vices,  either  in  defence  of  the  marches,  or  to  act  against 
the  Scots. 

The  writs  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliire,  in  the  two  following  years,  relate  i)rinci-  Rot.  ciaus. 

2'J  Edw.  I. 

pally  to  the  assessment  and  collection  of  the  fifteenths,  which  both  the  clergy  and  m.  5.  d. 
the  laity  were  called  upon  to  pay  to  the  knights  appointed  to  make  the  collections. 

Jehan  de  Seint  Jehan  having  been  superseded  in  his  lieutenancy  in  Lancashire  Rot.  I'at. 
by  John  Butterte,  letters  of  credence  were  addressed  to  the  inhabitants,  clerical  and  ,„.  41"^' 
laical,  requiring  them  to  give  full  faith  to  the  king's  clerk,  Ralph  de  Mounton,  and 
to  Richard  le  Brun,  who  were  commissioned  to   declare  to  them   certain   weighty  Rot.  pat. 
matters  touching  the  safety  of  the  country,  not  explained  in  the  letters  of  credence,  m.  28. 
but  wliich,  it  appears,  related  to  the  Idng's  determination  to  undertake  a  fresh 
expedition  against  Scotland.      One  of  the   first  consequences  of  this   confidential 
conununication  was   a   call   upon   the  commissioners  of  array,  William  de  Dacre,  Rot.  Pat. 
Henry  de  Kygheley,  and  Robert  de  Hephale,  requiring  them  to  raise  seven  hundred  m.  28. 
men  in  Lancashire,  and  to  send  them  to  Lancaster  after  the  feast  of  the  Invention 
of  the  Cross ;  and  all  prelates,  women,  and  others  unfit  to  bear  arms,  but  who  were 
willing  to  pay  the  fine,  (twenty  pounds  for  a  knight's  fee,  and  so  on  in  proportion 
to  theii'  possessions,)  for  the  senices  done  to  the  lung  in  Scotland,  were  to  appear 
before  the  treasurer  at  York  on  the  morrow  of  the  Ascension ;  or  otherwise,  by  sub- 
stitute, with  horse  and  arms,  at  Berwick.     Aided  by  a  large  army,  and  a  no  less 
powerful  fleet,  Edward  marched  victoriously  through  Scotland,  and  laid  the  country 
at  his  feet.     Amongst  liis  tropliies,  the  gallant  William  Wallace  became  his  prisoner, 
and,  instead  of  obtaining  that  resj)ect  to  which  he  was  entitled  by  his  courage  and 
patriotism,  he  was  conveyed  in  chains  to  London,  where  he  Avas  tried  and  executed 
as  a  traitor. 

The  disorganization  of  society  produced  by  so  much  intestine  wai",  exhibited  Effects  of 
itself  on   every  hand.     Crimes   were    greatly  nudtiplied,   and   Peter   de   Badbate, 
Etlmund  Deyncount,  William  de  Vavasour,  John  de  Island,  and  Adam  de  MidiUeton,  Commis- 
were  judges  under  a  commission  of  Trailhnston,  appointed  to  hear  and  detenmne  all  traiibas- 
offences  against  the  peace  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and  Westmoreland,  as  well 


272  €ht  %ti^toi-\y  of  tfte 

CHAi'.    as  in  eight  other  counties.     The  number  of  offenders  rendered  necessary  the  utmost 

promptitude  in  the  achmnistration  of  justice ;  and  the  proceedings  of  the  judges,  under 

these  commissions,  ai-e  said  to  have  been  so  smimiary,  as  not  to  exceed  the  time 
in  which  their  staff  of  justice,  or  hasten,  couhl  he  trailed  round  the  room.* 
Robert  One   formidable    enemy   still   remained  in    Scotland,   viz.    Robert  Bruce,  the 

grandson  of  that  Robert  who,  in  the  tune  of  Bahol,  was  a  competitor  for  the  crown. 
Animated  by  those  principles  of  resistance  to  foreign  sway  wliich  had  hispired  the 
breasts  of  so  many  of  his  countrymen,  this  ambitious  young  nobleman  collected  a 
strong  army  in  Scotland,  by  means  of  which  he  was  enabled  to  expel  a  large  portion 
of  the  English  from  tliat  country,  and  to  drive  their  principal  army  across  the 
borders.  Edward,  roused  to  desperation  by  this  renewed  revolt,  when  he  considered 
his  conquest  secure,  determined  to  take  signal  vengeance  upon  the  Scottish  nation. 
Edward  I.  On  his  march  to  the  north,  he  took  the  route  of  Lancasliii-e,  and  for  some  time  fixed 

atPres-        ,  .     ,         ,  -n  t^ 

ton.  his  head-quarters  at  Preston.     From  this  place  the  king  addressed  a  letter  to  his 

holiness  the  pope,  complainmg  of  the  wi'ongs  he  had  sustained  from  the  aixlibishop 
of  Canterbury,  and  claiming  reckess. 

Rot.  The  ticHngs  of  a  new  war  were  communicated  to  John  de  Lancastre,  by  a  rat. 

Clans  ^     *'  ' 

34  Ed  W.I.  dated   the    5th  of  April,   which  recites,  that    "  Robertas  de   Brus,"    late  earl  of 
Carrick,  and  his  accomplices,  have  raised  war  against  the  king,  with  the  intention 
of  usurping  the  kingdom  of  Scotland.     To  resist  tliis  aggression,  Henry  de  Percy  was 
appointed  commander-in-chief  under  the  king,  and  John  de  Lancastre  was  required 
Rot.  to  assist  liim  with  all  tlie  horses  and  arms  in   his  power.     At  the  same  time,  two 

34Edw.i.  writs  were  adcbessed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster:  the  first,  requii-ing  liim  to  make 
purveyance  of  corn,  &c.  for  the  king's  army,  at  the  public  cost ;  and  the  second,  a 
letter  to  the  sheriff,  archbishops,  and  other  prelates,  as  well  as  to  women  who  owed 
military  sernce,  ordering  them  to  send  their  substitutes  to  Carlisle,  in  fifteen  days 
from  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  Baptist,  or  to  appear  at  the  exchequer,  and  make  fine 
for  the  same. 

*  According  to  Sir  Edward  Coke,  the  judges  of  trailbaston  were  a  sort  of  Justices  in  Eyre;  and 
it  is  said,  they  had  a  baston,  or  staff,  delivered  to  them  as  the  badge  of  their  office  ;  so  that  whoever 
was  brought  before  them  was  iraile  ad  baston,  iraditus  ad  baculum ;  whereupon  they  had  the  name 
of  justices  de  trail  baston,  or  justiciarii  ad  tradendum  offendentes  ad  baculum  vel  baston.  Their 
office  was  to  make  inquisition  through  the  kingdom  on  all  officers  and  others,  touching  extortion, 
bribery,  and  such  like  grievances ;  of  intruders  into  other  men's  lands,  barretors,  robbers,  and 
breakers  of  the  peace,  and  divers  other  offenders ;  by  means  of  which  inquisitions,  some  were 
punished  with  death,  many  by  ransom,  and  the  rest  flying  the  realm,  the  land  was  quieted,  and  the 
king  gained  riches  tovs^ards  the  support  of  his  wars.  Mat.  Westm.  anno  1305.— A  commission  of 
trailbaston  vfas  granted  to  Roger  de  Gray,  and  others,  his  associates,  in  the  reign  of  king  Ed.  III. 
Spelm. 


11  in. 


Coimtp  ^3nlntmc  of  iCnnrnstcr.  273 

In  the  Dilclst  of  all  tliis  hostility,  the  Scots  and  the  English  were  not  inrlisposed    chap. 

to  indulge  in  then-  ancient  games  of  the  jousts  and  the  toiu'naincnts.     Tlie  indulgence  L_ 

in  these  pastimes  was  thought  hy  the  Idng  to  indicate  a  degi-ee  of  le\ily  and  fami- 
liarity inconsistent  ■with   the  relative  situation  of  the  two  countries;  and  hence  two 
proclamations   Avere    addressed   to   the    sheriff   of   Lancashu'C,    requiring   liim    to 
announce,  that  any  persons  who  should  engage  in  these  sports  until  the  Scottish  war  Rot. 
was  terminated,  would  be  liable  to  ai-rest,  and  that  their  lands  and  goods  would  be  34  i:.iw.  i. 

T   •  1       1  •       1     1  1  ni.  5.  cl. 

seized  mto  the  iang  s  liantls. 

From  Preston  the  king  marched  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  powerful  annies  Marches 
ever  seen  in  Laucashii'e,  to  Carlisle,  and  from  thence  into  Scotland.     The  final  con-  Scotland. 
flict  now  approached.     Bruce,   Avho  had  procured  himself  to   be  proclaimed  king, 
and  had  been  crowned  in  the  abbey  of  Scone  by  the  bishop  of  St.  Anih-ews,  met 
the  English  army  at  Methven,  iu  Perthsliire,  where  a  general  engagement  took  Conquers 
place,  which  ended  in  the  entire  overthrow  and  cUspersion  oi  the  Scots.     A  number  try. 
of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  country  were   taken  by  the  English,   and 
executed  by  order  of  Edward,  as  traitors  ;  but  Robert  Bruce  escaped  with  his  life, 
and  took  shelter,  along  with  a  few  of  his  followers,  in  the  Western  Isles. 

To  complete  the  conquest  of  Scotland,  Robert  de  Lathum,  Nicholas  de  Leyburn, 
Will.  Gentill,  Alan  le  Norreys,  and  John  de  Kirlveby,  clerk,  commissioners  of  array 
for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  were  ordered  to  levy  one  thousand  foot  sohliers  in  this 
county,  one  hunched  and  fifty  of  them  from  the  liberty  of  Blackburushire,  and  the 
remainder  from  the  other  parts  of  the  county.  This  force,  when  collected,  was 
ordered  to  advance  in  pursuit  of  Robt.  de  Brus,  into  the  marches  of  Scotland, 
Avhere  he  was  lurking.  But  iu  the  mean  time,  the  king,  in  the  midst  of  all  liis  glory.  Death  of 
was  seized  with  a  mortal  siclmess  at  Carlisle,  and  there  he  sun-endered  hmiseli  to  in  iiie 

north. 

the  universal  conqueror. 

One  of  the  legacies  left  by  Edward  I.  to  his  successor,  was  the  recently  subdued  Rot.  Pat. 
Idngdom  of  Scotland  ;  and,  amongst  the  first  acts  of  the  neAv  monarch,  we  find  Avrits  p.  i.  in.  an. 
of  miUtary  service  addressed  to  the  sheriffs  of  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  Westmore- 
land, Cumberland,  and  Northumberland,  as  well  within  their  francliise  as  without, 
commanding  them  to  assist  the  custos,  Johannes  de  Britannia,  earl  of  Riclimond, 
the  king's  lieutenaut  in  Scotlaud,  with  horses  and  arms,  for  the  purpose  of  resisting 
the  malice  and  insolence  of  "  Robertus  de  Brus,"  and  his  accomplices.     Summonses  Rot.  Scoc. 

2  Ed.  II. 

of  a  still  more  urgent  nature  were  addressed  in  the  following  year  to  "  VVulielmus  m.  is.  d. 
de  Acre,"  "  Mattheus  de   Redeman,"  and  the  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Lancaster, 
urging  them  to  assemble  together,  with  the  men  of  the  county,  as  well  horse  as  foot, 
and  to  take  order  for  the  defence  of  the  Scotch  marches,  imder   the  command  of 
"  GUbertus  de  Clare,"  earl  of  Gloucester  and  Hereford, 
vol..  I.  2n 


m    12. 


274 


€i)t  i^isitorj)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
VII. 


Kot.  Scoc. 
4  Ed.  II. 
ni.  13. 


Fresh  mi- 
litary le- 
vies de- 
manded 
from  Lan- 
cashire. 
Hot.  Scoc. 
7  Ed.  II. 
m.  4. 


Preva- 
lence of 
crime  in 
the  coun- 
ty- 
Rot.  Pat. 
7  Ed.  11. 
p.  2.  m.  6. 


Rot. 
Claus. 
8  Ed.  II. 
m.  14.  d. 


The  pay  of  the  forces  was  made  with  so  much  iiTegularity  as  to  dismcline  the 
conscripts  to  the  service;  but  in  the  year  1310,  a  commission  of  array  was  adthessed 
to  "  Robertus  de  Leyburne"  and  "  Mattheus  de  Redman,"  along  with  the  sheriff  of 
the  county,  ordering,  that  three  hunch-ed  foot  sohUers  should  be  "  elected,"  to  muster 
on  the  feast  of  the  Nativity  of  the  Vii-gin  at  Berwick -upon-T^^•eed,  and  from  thence  to 
inarch  against  the  Scots ;  their  wages  to  be  paid  to  them  by  the  sheriff,  from  the  day 
that  they  maixhed  from  the  county  of  Lancaster,  until  then-  arrival  at  the  place  of 
muster. 

The  war  with  the  Scots,  so  long  protracted,  was  now  drawing  to  a  crisis. 
Edward  II.  had  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  English  army,  and  the  commissioners 
of  aiTay  called  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Lancashii-e  for  a  fresh  levy  of  five  hundred 
men,  while  Yorkshii-e  was  required  to  contribute  foiu-  thousand,  Derbyshire  one 
thousand,  Nottinghamshii-e  one  thousand,  Northumberland  two  thousand  five  hun- 
cU-ed,  and  the  other  comities  in  a  similar  proportion,  regulated,  no  doubt, 
in  some  degi-ee,  by  their  wealth  and  population.  After  due  preparation,  the 
two  armies  met  at  Bannockburn.  At  first  the  event  of  the  contest  seemed  dubious, 
but  the  English  having  got  involved  amongst  a  number  of  covered  pits  prepiu-ed  by 
Bruce  for  their  reception,  theii-  forces  fell  into  disorder ;  and  the  disasters  of  years, 
suffered  by  the  Scots  during  the  reign  of  the  first  Edward,  were  retrieved  in  a  single 
day.  The  throne  of  Scotland  was  re-e.stabli.shed  by  this  remarkable  ^■ictory,  Robert 
Bruce  reaped  the  reward  of  his  valour  in  the  loyalty  and  affection  of  his  people, 
and  Edward  returned  to  London  to  coerce  his  refi-actory  barons,  who  appeared  as 
little  cUsposed  to  submit  to  liis  sway,  as  were  the  people  he  had  so  lately  left  in  the 
north. 

The  description  given  of  the  state  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  as  well  as  of  other 
parts  of  the  country,  at  this  period,  in  the  royal  proclamations,  serves  to  shew  to 
what  an  extent  insuborchnation  and  lawless  outrage  were  carried.  According  to  these 
documents,  malefactors  of  all  classes,  as  well  knights  as  others,  were  accustomed  to 
assemble  unlawfully  by  day  and  by  night,  in  large  bodies,  and  to  commit  assaults, 
and  even  murders,  with  impunity.  To  put  an  end  to  these  excesses,  commissioners 
were  appointed  in  Laucasliire,  under  the  designation  of  conservators  of  the  peace ; 
and  as  a  healing  measure,  a  letter  of  credence  was  issued  by  the  government  to 
"  Nigellus  Owhanlam,"  chief  of  escheats,  requu-ing  liun  to  obtain  full  faith  for 
"  Edmundus  le  Botiller,"  justiciar,  "  Ricardus  de  Beresford,"  chancellor,  and 
"  Magister  Walterus  de  Jeslep,"  ti'easm-er  of  Ireland,  who  were  empowered  to 
explain  to  the  principal  inhabitants  certain  matters  relating  to  the  king  and  the 
kingdom.  Similar  letters  were  also  addressed  to  "  Walterus  de  Lacy,"  "  Hugo  de 
Lacy,"  "  Thomas  Botiller,"  and  others,  whose  influence  was  necessary  to  maintain 


ter. 


Counti.)  ^3alnttne  of  aanrastcr.  275 

the  public  peace,  under  the  combined  pressure  of  war  and  of  famine,  with  both  of    chai'. 
which  the  county  was  at  that  time  afflicted.  

Tlie  tide  of  invasion  seemed  now  about  to  pour  fi'om  the  north  to  the  south, 
and,  instead  of  the  levies  being  raised  to  march  into  Scotland,  a  commission  was 
appointed,  whereby  "  Johannes  de  Maubray"  was  empowered  to  raise  all  the  able-  Hot. 
bodied  men  in  Lancaslm-e,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty,  for  the  purpose  of  lo  Ed.  ii. 
resisting  the  Scots,  in  case  they  should  invade  tliis  kingdom.     Shortly  after  tlie 
institution  of  this  commission,  a  command  was  issued  to  "  Thomas"  carl  of  Lan-  Rot. 
castre,  and  to  one  hunch-ed  and  twenty-eight  other  individuals,  usually  considered  lo  Ed.  u. 
barons,  or  tenants  in  capite,  ordering  them  to  appear  at  Newcastle,  prepared  with 
horses  and  arms,  to  proceed  against  "  Rol^ertus  de  Brus."     In  the  same  year,  a  Rot. 
writ  of  summons  was  addressed  to  Tliomas  earl  of  Lancastre,  and  twelve  other  lo  Ed.  ii. 
barons,  convening  them  to  meet  at  Nottingham,  to  hold  a  colloquium,  to  deliberate  "' 
upon  matters  of  state  vrith  the  pope's  legate. 

The  state  of  society  in  Lancasjiire  at  this  juncture  called  loudly  for  the  appoint-  Adam  de 
ment  and  intervention  of  conservators  of  the  public  peace.  A  species  of  civU  war  takes  the 
existed  in  the  heart  of  the  county.  Adam  de  Banistre,  of  the  house  and  family  of  against 
Thomas  earl  of  Lancaster,  in  order  to  ingi-atiate  liimself  with  the  king,  and  to  avert  Lancas- 
the  consequences  of  his  own  crimes,  invaded  the  lands  of  the  earl.  Having  erected 
the  royal  standard  between  the  Ribble  and  the  Mersey,  in  opposition  to  his  feudal 
lord,  he  declared  that  the  earl  ■wished  to  control  the  king  in  the  choice  of  his 
ministers,  wliich  he  disapproved  ;  and  numbers  of  others,  friends  to  higli  prerogative, 
embarked  in  his  cause.  Having  entered  the  earl's  castles,  they  supplied  themselves 
with  money  and  arms,  wliich  had  been  deposited  there  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers 
who  were  appointed  to  march  against  the  Scots.  In  this  way  about  eight  huncked 
aimed  men  Avere  collected,  when  the  earl,  hearing  of  the  hostile  enterprise,  inune- 
diately  ordered  his  knights  and  vassals  into  the  field.  This  force  did  not  exceed  six 
hundi-ed  men ;  but  they  marched  vvitliout  delay  against  the  insurgents,  and,  having 
come  up  with  them  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Preston,  they  divided  themselves  into 
two  bodies.  The  force  under  De  Banistre  did  not  wait  to  be  attacked,  but  fell 
furiously  upon  tlie  first  division  of  the  earl's  men,  which  began  to  give  way,  when, 
the  second  division  coming  up,  the  fortune  of  the  day  Avas  clianged,  and  Adam 
and  his  followers  took  to  flight,  many  of  them  having  been  killed  by  wounds  in  then- 
back,  received  in  their  precipitate  retreat.  For  some  tune,  De  Banistre,  their 
leader,  concealed  himself  in  his  barn;  but  being  closely  beset  by  liis  enemies,  and 
abandoning  all  hope  of  escape,  he  took  courage  from  despaii-,  and  boldly  opposed 
himself  to  his  foes,  of  whom  he  killed  several,  and  desperately  wounded  many 
others ;    at  length,   finding  it   impossible  to  take  liuu    alive,    his   assailants    slew 

2  n2 


CHAP. 
VII. 


His  fate. 


Rot.  Scoc. 
12  Ed.  II. 
m.  6. 


Fresh 
writs  of 
railitary 
service. 

Rot. 
Claus. 
13  Kd.  II. 
m.  20.  d. 

Rot. 
Claus. 
13  Ed.  II. 
m.  15. 

Rut.  Fin. 
13  Ed.  II. 

m.  0. 


War  of 
the  liarons 
under 
'J'liumas 
earl  of 
Lancas- 
ter. 


Rot.  Pat. 
15  Ed.  II. 
p.  2.  m.  25. 


276  €\)t  ?l)i5torj)  of  t\)t 

liiin,  and,  liaviiig  cut  oflF  liis  head,  jn-esented  it  to  the  earl  as  a  trophy. 
Accorchno-  to  aii  ancient  indictment,  hereafter  to  be  inserted,  the  battle  between 
Adam  de  Bauistre  and  liis  adherents,  and  the  adherents  of  the  earl  of  Lancaster, 
took  place  near  Preston,  in  the  valley  of  the  Ribble ;  and  the  victors  so  far 
foro-ot  their  duty  to  their  lord,  and  then-  allegiance  to  the  king,  that  they  entered 
the  hundred  of  Leylaud,  and  robbed  and  despoiled  various  of  the  inhabitants, 
of  property  to  the  amount  of  five  thousand  pounds — an  uumense  sum  in  the  four- 
teenth century,  when,  as  we  have  seen,  a  bushel  of  wheat  sold  for  nine-pence,  and 
the  yearly  value  of  good  arable  land  did  not  exceed  sixpence  per  acre. 

The  necessities  of  the  state  still  continued  urgent,  and  a  commission  of  array 
Avas  issued,  for  levying  the  follov.  ing  bodies  of  foot  soldiers  in  the  north  : — 

In  Lancashii-e 1000 

Cumberland 1000 

Northiunberland 2000 

Westmoreland 1000 

Yoik.sliire 10,000 

To  support  these  enormous  levies,  it  became  necessary  to  resort  to  extraordinary 
means,  and  writs  were  addressed  to  tlie  mayors  of  Lancaster,  Preston,  and  Wigan, 
as  well  as  to  all  the  other  principal  towns  hi  tlie  kingdom,  soHcitiug  them  to  send 
the  king  as  much  money  as  they  conld  possibly  afford,  to  carry  on  the  almost 
interminable  war  with  Scotland.  Tliis  corporate  contribution,  or  "  Loyalty  Loan," 
as  it  was  probably  called  in  that  day,  was  independent  of  the  collection  of  the 
eighteenths,  wliich  was  proceeding  along  with  it  contemporaneously  ;  for  we  find  in 
the  records  a  Avrit,  addressed  to  the  collectors  and  assessors  of  the  rates,  directing 
them  to  stay  the  collection  in  Lancasliii-e,  as  to  those  persons  who  had  thek  property 
destroyed  from  the  invasion  of  the  Scots,  but  specifically  providing  that  they  alone 
should  be  exempted.  The  levy  for  the  scutage,  in  respect  of  the  general  summons 
of  the  array  against  the  Scots,  was  also  continued,  and  fixed  at  the  rate  of  two 
marks  for  each  shield  or  knight's  fee,  in  Lancashii'e. 

In  the  turbulent  and  disastrous  reign  of  the  second  Edwai'd,  the  invasion  of  the 
enemy  fi'om  without  was  aggravated  by  the  wars  of  the  barons  du-ected  against  the 
royal  favourites  within  the  kingdom.  We  have  already  seen,*  in  that  department  of 
our  history  of  Lancasliii-e  which  relates  to  its  ancient  barons,  that  Thomas  earl  of 
Lancaster,  after  having  headed  tlie  barons  against  Piers  Gaviston,  made  a  further 
attempt,  by  force  of  arms,  to  remove  the  De  Spencers  fi-om  the  royal  councils. 
While  this  war  was  pending,  a  commission  was  issued  to  ai-rest  and  take  "  Thomas" 
earl  of  Lancaster,  and  ten  others,  liis  principal  associates  in  rebellion ;  and  a  Anit 

*  Paffe  127—130. 


Countj)  ^3alatnie  of  iCancnstfr.  277 

was  at  the  same  time  addressed  by  the  king  to  the   sheriffs  of  Nottingham  and    chai'. 
Derby,  commancUng  him  to  raise  the  "  hue-and-cry"  against  the  earls  of  Lancaster      ^ 
and  Hereford,  and  other  rebels,  then-  adherents,  and  to  biing  them  to  condign  Rot. 
p\mishment.     Tlie  fatal  battle  of  Boroughbridge  siin-endered  the  earl  of  Lancaster,  islEd.  ii. 
and  his  followers,  into  the  Idng's  possession ;  and  the  hand  of  the  executioner,  with 
the  dehnquent's  face  turned  to  Scotland,  to  incUcate  that  he  Avas  in  league  vrilh  the  His  fate. 
Scotch  rebels,  terminated  his  career,  witliout  allaying  the  general  discontent. 

Although  it  does  not  appear  that  the  county  of  Lancaster  was  the  actual  scene 
of  any  of  the  conflicts  between  the  barons  and  the  king's  forces,  yet  levies  of  troops 
were  called  for  in  the  county,  to  aid  the  earl's  enterprise  ;  and,  in  a  memorandmn 
of  the  delivery  of  the  prisoners  confined  in  the  king's  niarshalsea,  and  in  the  castle 
of  York,  some  of  whom  had  been  taken  in  ai-ms  against  the  king,  and  others  had 
sun'endered  at  discretion,  in  all  about  two  hundred  principal  men,  it  is  stated,  that 
"  Nicholas  de  Longford,"  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  was  fined  two  hundi'ed 
marks,  and  that  "  Ricardus  de  Pontefracte,"  "  Robertus  de  Holand,"  "  Johannes  de 
Holand,"  and  "  Ricardus  de  Holand,"  found  security  for  their  good  behaviour. 
Tiiere  is  also  preserved  an  ancient  inquisition,  taken  at  Wigan,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing is  a  copy,  tending  stUl  furtlier  to  shew,  that  neither  the  laity  nor  the  clergy  of 
the  county  of  Lancaster  were  indifferent  spectators  of  the  contest  by  which  the 
kingdom  was  at  that  time  agitated  : — 

R^'iNrdi"'^''™™')    Inquisition  taken  before  the  king  at  Wigan,  in  the  county  of 
'^2^n"i "'       5  Lancaster,  in  his  presence,  and  at  his  command. 

West  Derby. — Tlie  jurors  of  the  Wapentake  present,  that,   "  GilbeHiis  de 
Suthen-oriJi,"  15Ed.  H.,  sent  two  men  at   anus  at  his  own  expense,  to  help  the      i32i 
Earl  of  Lancaster  against  the  King;  viz.  "Johannes  filius  lioberti  le  TaUlour  de 
Wynequik"  and  "  Ricardus  de  Plnmpton,"  and  that  he   also  abetted  many  other 
persons  in  aiding  the  Earl  against  the  Kuig. 

The  said  "  Gilbcrtus,"  being  in  court,  puts  liimself  upon  the  country,  and  is 
acquitted  by  the  jury. 

The  jurors  present,  that,  "Robertus  de  Cliderhou,"'  parson  of  tlie  Church  of 
Wygan,  who,  for  thii-ty  years,  was  a  clerk  of  the  Chancery,  and  afterwards  Eschea- 
tor  "  citra  Trentam,"  has  committed  the  following  offences  : — 

Tliat  he  sent  two  men-at-arms,  well  armed,  atIz.  "  Adam  de  Clidcrhou,"  his  son, 
and  "Johannes  fil.  Johannis  de  Knolle,"  to  assist  the  Earl  of  Lancaster 
against  the  King,  and  with  them  four  able-bodied  foot  soldiers,  armed  with 


278  Clje  li'stoii)  of  tl)t 

CHAP.  sAVords,  daggers,  bows  and  an-ovvs.   That,  on  a  certain  high  festival,  he  preached 

^^  '  to  liis  parishioners  and  others,  in  his  Church  at  Wigan,  before  all  the  people, 

tellino-  them  that  they  were  the  liege  men  of  the  Earl,  and  bound  to  assist 
him  against  the  King,  the  cause  of  the  Earl  being  just,  and  that  of  the  King 
unjust.  By  means  of  which  harangues,  many  persons  were  incited  to  turn 
against  the  King,  avIio  otherAnse  would  not  have  done  so. 

And  the  said  "  Robertus,'"  being  present  in  Court,  and  arraigned,  says,  that  on  a 
certain  feast  day,  when  preaching  in  his  Church,  he  exhorted  his  parishioners  to 
pray  for  the  King,  and  for  the  peace  of  the  kingdom,  and  for  the  Earls  and 
Barons  of  the  land;  and  lie  denies  sending  any  men  at  arms  or  foot  soldiers  ; 
and  he  puts  himself  upon  the  Country, — he  is  found  guilty  by  the  Jury,  of  the 
offences  charged  in  the  indictment, — and  is  committed  to  prison. 

Afterwards,  thirteen  Manucaptors  undertake  to  produce  Imn  on  Monday  after  the 
Octaves  oj  St.  Martin,  under  the  penalty  of  1,000  marks,  and  they  also  under- 
take to  answer  for  any  fine,  &c. 

On  Avhich  day,  the  said  "  Robertus"  appears  in  court,  and  submits  to  a  fine  of 
£200. 

Though  a  truce  had  been  concluded  between  England  and  Scotland,  the  war  was 

continued  with  little  intermission ;  and  in  a  commission  for  raising  fresh  levies  in 

this  and  the  other  counties,  it  is  said,  that,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  truce,  the  Scots 

had  invaded  the  kingdom,  and  that  Thomas,  late  earl  of  Lancaster,  and  his  adlierents, 

("  whose  malice   is  now  quelled,")   had  entered  into  treasonable   conspiracy  with 

Rot.  Pat.    them.     The  commissioners  of  array  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  under  the  com- 

p"u  t.^.^:  mission,    were,  "  Richard   de   Hoghton,"    "  Johan   Travors,"    and   "  Thomas    de 

Lathum,"  to  whom  the  duty  was  confided  of  anning  the  forces  of  the  county,  and 

marching  them  to  their  destination. 

ijot.  The  disorders  of  the  tunes  had  filled  the  prisons  of  Lancashire  with  inmates,  and 

iT^iid.  II.  writs  were  addressed  from  Kii-kham,  to  the  constables  of  the  castles  of  Liverpool, 

111.  40.  <i.     jj(jj.jji)y^    fi^(j    Clithcroe,    (but   not   of   Lancaster,)    chrecting   them   to   keep    the 

17  Ed.  li.  prisoners  in  their  respective  castles,  in  safe  custody.     At  the  same  time  a  commis- 

(i-  sion  was  issued,  under  the  royal  seal,  whereby  Johannes  do  AVeston,  jun.,  marshal 

of  the  household,  was  empowered  to  pursue,  arrest,  and  take  "  Willielmus  de  Brad- 

shagh"  and  "  Ricardus  de  Holland,"  the  leaders  of  chsorderly  bodies  of  armed  men, 

who  committed  gi-eat  depredations  in  the  county  of  Lancaster.     This  Willielmus  de 

Bradshagh  soon  after  appears  to  have  been  restored  to  the  royal  favour ;  for  in  the 

Rot.  Vas.    foUoAving  year  we  find  a  writ  addressed  to  him,  stating,  that  the  king  has  ordained, 

■n.  iiVd.  '  that  "  Johan,"  earl  of  Warrenne,  and  others,  shall  proceed  to  Lancashire  with  an 


Coimtp  ^alatnif  of  aanraeitcr,  279 

armed  force,  for  its  protection,   (against  the   Scotch  invaders,  no  doubt,)  and  that    chai'. 

"  Bradshagh"  sliall  be  one  of  the  commissioners  of  public  protection,  " 

The  return  of  the  sheriff  to  a  ^mt  issued  for  that  purpose,  serves  to  shew,  that 

the  great  landed  proi)rietors  were,  at  tlie  early  part  of  tlie  fourteenth  century,  very 

few  in  number  :  it  is  as  follows  : — 

,,  T     T  1  •       <  1 3  Knights  and 

"  In  Lancaslure,  '  ° 

(.51  Men  at  arms. 
"  All  the  above  hold  lands  to  the  amount  of  £15  per  annum." 

According  to  a  presentment  made  in  the  hundred  of  West  Derby,  it  would  Present- 
appear  that  the  sheriffs,  in  these  days,  were   often  remiss  in  their  duty,   and  that  against 
"  WUhelmus    de  Gentil,"   and  "  Henricus  de  Maltou,"  his  predecessor  in  office, 
suffered  certain  notorious  thieves  to  be  set  at  liberty  upon  manucajjtion,  though  their 
crimes  were  not  mainpernable  accorcUng  to  the  law ;  and  that  0T\'ing  to  the  laxity  of 
tlieir  administration  of  the  law,  several  persons  in  the  wapentake  avoided  making  pre- 
sentment of  other  notorious  thieves,  to  the  injury  of  the  peace,  and  the  danger  of  the 
property  of  then- honest  and  well-disposed  neiglibours.   Norwas  this  all ;  they  returned 
ceitain  persons  as  jurors,  and  on  inquests,  without  giving  them  warning;  and  "  Gentil"  Rot.  piac. 
so  far  presumed  upon  his  office,  as  to  arrogate  to  himself  the  election  of  knights  of  the  m.  72. 
shire ;  "  whereas,"  as  the  instrument  charging  him  Avith  these  manifold  delinquen- 
cies very  properly  observes,  "  they  ought  to  have  been  elected  by  the  county." 

The  intrigues  of  the  barons  were  still  actively  at  work  against  the  king  and  the 
royal  favourites,  the  De  Spencers  ;  and  Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster,  the  brother  and 
heu-    of    earl    Thomas,    entered     into    that    conspiracy    by    which    Edward    was 
dethroned.      The  ill  fortune  of  this  weak  monarch  having  precipitated  him  from  The  king 
a  throne  to  a  prison,  the   earl  of  Lancaster  became  his  gaoler  in   the  castle  of  ed. 
Kenilworth.     The  mildness  and   humanity  of  the  earl's  character  iU  suited  him  fiie  caii 

.  of  Lan- 

for  this  office,  wluch  he  was  ordered  by  Mortimer,  the    gallant  of  the  perficUous  caster 
queen,  to  surrender  into  the  hands  of  Mautravers  and  Gournay,  under  whose  direc- 
tion, if  not  actually  by  their  hands,  the  wretched  Edward,  after  having  been  exj)osed 
to  every  possible  insult  and  privation,  was  throAvii  upon  a  bed,  and  a  red-hot  iron  Edward 
having  been  forced  up  his  body,  he  was  consigned  to  death,  under  agonies  so  excru-  rousiy" 
elating,  that  Ids  shrieks  proclaimed  the  atrocious  deed  to  all  the  guards  of  the  castle.     """'''^''^''• 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Edward  IIL  was,  to  reverse  the  attainder  of  Thomas 
earl  of  Lancaster,  and  to  place  his  brother  Henry  in  possession  of  the  princely 
inheritance  of  that  illustrious  house.* 

But  here  we  must  pause,  to  take  a  survey  of  the  landed  property  of  the  county 
of  Lancaster,  and  the  tenures  l)y  wliich  it  was  held  in  tlie  early  part  of  the  fourteenth 
'  *  See  page  134. 


280  CI)f  2?i5torj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  century,  as  deduced  in  tlie  "Testa  de  Nevill."  Of  this  book  it  is  said,  in  the 
^"'  Records  published  by  liis  majesty's  commissioners,  that  "in  the  khig's  remembran- 
cer's office  of  the  court  of  exchequer,  are  preserved  two  ancient  books,  called  the 
Testa  de  Nevill,  or  Liber  Feodorum,  which  contain  principally  an  account — 

"  1st.  Of  fees  holden  either  immediately  of  the  Iving,  or  of  others  who  held  of  the 
king  in  caplte. 

"  2d.  Of  serjeanties  holden  of  the  king. 

"  3d.  Of  widows  and  heiresses  of  tenants  iw  capite,  whose  mai'riages  were  in  the 
gift  of  the  king. 

"  4th.  Of  churches  in  the  gift  of  the  Idng,  and  in  whose  hands  they  were. 

"  5th.  Of  escheats,  as  well  of  the  lands  of  Normans  as  others,  in  whose  hands 
the  same  were. 

"  6th.  Of  thanage,  forestry,  and  other  peculiar  services  and  tenures. 

"  Tlie  entries  specifically  entitled  Testa  de  Nevill,  foi-m  comparatively  a  very 
small  part  of  the  whole.  A  part  of  a  roU,  bearing  that  name,  is  extant  in  the 
chapter-house  at  Westminster,  consisting  of  five  small  membranes,  containing  ten 
counties,  of  which  Lancashire  is  one.  The  roll  appears  to  be  of  the  age  of  Edwd.  L, 
and  these  books  to  have  been  compiled  neai*  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Edwd.  IL,  or 
the  commencement  of  that  of  Edward  III.,  pai-tly  from  inquests  on  presentments, 
and  partly  from  inquisitions  on  vmifi  to  sherifl"s." 

The  following  is  a  tolerably  copious  extract  and  analysis  of  the  contents  of  the 
Testa  de  Neville,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  county  of  Lancaster,  which  may  answer 
any  popular  pui"pose,  reser\'ing  the  oflicial  return  itself  for  the  Appendix  to  these 
volumes  : — 

\.    Fees  held  in  chief  of  the  King,  &c. 

Fees  in  "  Agiies   de    Clopwayt,   in  Blothelay,  Alex  de  Kyrkeby,  Ormus  de  Kelet,  Henr.  de 

jiig^i'j,^  Waleton,  in  TFaleton,  Adam  Girard,  Luke  Pointus  de  Dereby,  in  Dereby,  Adam  de  Hehne- 
lesdal,  in  Crossehy,  Quenilda  de  Kirkdale,  in  Fornehy,  Robert  Banastr,  Robert  de  Cl3rton, 
in  Ley  land  Hundred,  Ahi'ard  de  Aldholm,  in  Vernet,  Hug.  le  Norrays,  in  Blakerode, 
Edwin  Carpentar,  in  Kadewaldesir,  Rich  de  Hilton,  in  Salford  Hundred,  Alan  de  Singleton, 
in  Blackhurn  Hundred,  and  Amoundernesse,  Rich.  Fitz  Ralph,  in  Singleton,  John  de 
Oxeclive,  in  O.vcumhe,  Roger  Carpentar,  in  Lancaster,  Robert  Seertne,  in  Sutherton,  Ra. 
Barun,  John  Oxecli\'e,  Oxeclive,  Robert,  the  constable  of  Hoiferton,  in  Hofferton,  Adam 
Fitz  Gilemichel,  in  Sclitie,  Rog.  Carpentar,  in  Lancaster,  Rob.  de  Shertnay,  in  Skerton, 
Rad.  Balrun,  in  Balrun,  W.  Gardinar,  in  Lancaster,  Walter  Smith,  in  Hefeld,  Rog. 
Gernet,  in  Hulton,  Will.  Gernet,  in  Heschin,  Will.  &  Benedict  de  Gersingham,  in 
Gressingham,  Margery,  widow  of  Barnard  Fitz  Barnard,  in  Gressinglium. 


Coimti)  palatine  of  Stanrastn-.  281 

"  The  Earl  of  Ferars,  in  the  wapentake  of  Derhij,  (and  he  has  sub-tenants,)  Almaric     CHAP. 
Butler,  who  has  the  following  sub-tenants — Gilb.  de  Kulchet,  in  Culcheth,  Alan  de  Rixton,    '__ 


in  Richston  and  Astley,  Will,  de  Aderton,  in  Atherton,  Robt.  de  Mamelisbury,  in  Sonky,  Fees  in 
Roger  de  Sonky,  in  Penketh,  Earl  de  Ferrars  in  Hole  Hulesale  and  IVymlul,  Will,  de  thrkinR. 
Waleton  &  Will,  de  Lydyathe  in  Lydiate  &  Hekagard,  Rich.  Blundea  in  Hyms  and 
Barton,  Ad.  de  Molinous  &  Robt.  Fitz  Robt.  in  Thorinton;  the  heir  of  Robert  Banaster  in 
Makerfeld,  Wuleton  §•  Blakehiirnsliire,  and  has  sub-tenants;  Will,  de  Lanton  &  Rich,  de 
Golborn  in  Langton,  Kejium  &  Herhury  ;  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  (Randolph  Earl  of  Chester) 
in  Appleton  &  Crouton,  of  the  Earl  Ferar's  fee;  of  the  same  fee  are,  Will,  de  Rerisbury 
in  Sutton  &  Eccleston,  Robt.  de  Lathun  in  Knowsley,  Hityton,  and  Torhock,  Ad.  de  Moli- 
neus  in  Little  Crossly,  Robt.  de  Rokeport,  Rog.  Gernet  and  Thorn  de  Bethem  in  Kyrkehy, 
Sim.  de  Halsale  in  3laghitl,  Will,  de  Waleton  in  Kirhdale,  Will,  le  Koudre  in  N^orth 
Meols,  Thom  de  Bethum  &  Robt.  de  Stokeport  in  Raven  3Ieols. 

"  Waren  de  Waleton  in  TFaleton,  Ric.  Banastre,  Walt,  de  Hole,  Ric.  de  Thorp,  Will, 
de  Brexin,  Thom  de  Gerstun,  Sim.  del  Pul  in  Bretherton,  Robt.  de  Cleyton  in  Clayton  & 
Pemvortham,  the  abbot  of  Cokersand  in  Hutton,  Robt.  Russel  in  Langton,  Leyland,  & 
Eccleston,  Robt.  Banastre's  heir  in  Shevington,  Charnock,  and  Welch  Whittle. 

"  John  Punchardim  in  Little  Mitton,  Ad.  de  Blakeburn  in  TFisewall  and  Hapton,  Henr. 
Gedleng  in  Tunley,  Caldcoats,  &  "  Sn.  Odiswrtli',"  Ad.  de  Preston  in  Enttuistle,  Ra.  de 
Mitten  in  Altham,  Mearley,  &  Livesay,  Robt.  de  Cestr'  in  Boiunham,  John  de  Grigleston 
in  Kokerig,  Will.  Marshall  in  Little  Mearley,  Gilb.  Fitz  Henry  in  Rushton,  Hugo  Fitun  in 
Harewood,  Thos.  de  Bethum  in  Warton,  Will.  Deps'  in  Preesall  &  Newton;  Ric.  de  Fre- 
kelton  in  Frekelfon,  Qidntinghay,  Newton  &  Eccleston,  Gilb.  de  Moels,  Rog.  de  Nettelag 
&  Will,  de  Pul  in  Freckelton,  Alan  de  Singilton  &  Iwan  de  Frekelton  in  Freckelton,Wa.ren 
de  Quitinghay  &  Robt.  de  Rutton  in  Quitinghay,  Alan  de  Singilton  in  Quitinghay, 
Newton,  &  Elswick,  Warin  de  Wytingham  in  Elswick — The  heir  of  Theobald  Walter  in 
JVytheton  &  Trevele,  John  de  Thornbul,  Will,  de  Prees,  Rog.  de  Notesage,  Ad.  de  Brete- 
kirke.  Will,  de  Kyrkeym,  Robt.  Fitz  Thomas,  &  Will.  Fitz  William  in  Thisteldon,  Preesall, 
&  Greenhalgh.  Will,  de  Merton  in  Marlon ;  Rog.  Gernet,  Thos.  de  Bethun,  and  Robt. 
Stokeport  in  Bustard  Rising. 

"  Adam  de  Bury  in  Bury,  Robt.  de  Midelton  in  Middleton,Gilh.  de  Warton  in  Atherton, 
the  heir  of  Rich.  Hilton  in  Pendleton ;  Thomas  de  Gretley's  tenants,  Gilbert  Barton  in 
Barton,  Matthew  Haversage  in  mt langton,  Robt.  de  Lathum  in  Childwall,  Parhold,  and 
TFrightington,  Rich,  le  Pierpoint  in  Rumivorth,  Will,  de  Worthinton  in  TVorthington, 
Rog.  de  Pilkinton  in  Pilkington,  Thos.  le  Grettley  in  Lindeshcy,  in  the  honor  of 
Lancaster. 

"  Will,  de  Lancaster  in  Ulverston,  Matthew  de  Redeman  &  Robt.  de  Kymyers  in  Yeland, 
Lambert  le  Muleton  in  Roiitheclive,  Rog.  Gernet  in  Little  Farleton,  Robt.  de  Stokeport 
in  Gt.  Farlton,  Ad.  de  Eccliston,  Will,  de  Molineus,  Hug.  de  Mitton,  Ric.  de  Katherale, 
Hen.  de  Longeford  in  Eccleston,  Leyrebreck,  and  Catterall,  Ad.  de  Werninton  in  JVen- 
nington.  Hug.  de  Morwyc  in  Farleton  &  Cansfield,  Henr.  de  Melling  in  Melling,  Rich,  de 
Bikerstat  in  Helmes  &  Stotfaldechage;  Adam  Fitz  Richard  in  Bold  &  Lawerke,  Rich.  Fitz 
VOL.  I.  2  O 


ties, 


282  CfK  llEitflfp  Of  ti)t 

CHAP.     Martin  in  Ditton,  Rich.  Fitz  Thurstan  in  T/iingwall,  Tlios.  de  Bethum  in  Bootle,  Rich,  de 

"       Frequelton  in  Thorp,  Rog.  de  Lacy,  5  knts.  fees  of  the  fee  of  Ciithero,  Walter  Fitz  Osbert, 

Fees  in       Will,  de  Wynewyck,  Peter  de  Stalum,  Elya  de  Hoton,  the  heir  of  Rog.  de  Hoton,  Alan 

the  king.     Fitz  Richard  &  John  de  Billesburgh,  tenants  of  the  king,  hut  no  place  mentioned;  Will. 

de  Nevilla    in    Kaskenemor,  Morferth   de    Hulton    in   Pendleton,    Ric.    de   Midleton    in 

Chetham,    Edwin     Carpentar    in     Cadwalesate,    Ada    de    Prest^vych    in    Prestivych   Sf 

Failesworth,    Hugh   de    Blakerode,   by   charter   in    Blakerode,    Elias   de   Pennelbury    in 

Pendlehury  and   Chaddertoti,    Robt.  de   Clifton   in   Clifton,  Gospatric    de   Cherleton    in 

Chorleton,   Henry    de  Chetham  in   Chetham,    Will,    de  Bothelton,  Gilbt.  de   Tonge    in 

Tonge,  Rich,  de  Edburgham,  the  Abbot  of  Furness   in   Furness,  Ad.  Fitz  Orm   in  Mid- 

dleton,  Walt,  de  Paries  in   Pulton,  Will,  de   Hest  in  Middleton,  the  Prior  of  Lancaster 

in  Newton  &  Aldcliff,  the  Burgesses  of  Lane,  in  Lancaster,  Nich.  de  Verdon  in  Kirkby, 

Jarnord  de  Hilton  in  Pendleton.* 

2.     Serjeanties  holden  of  the  King. 

Serjean-  "  Omi  de  Kellet,  in  Kellet,  Rich,  de  Hulton,  Wapentake  of  Salford,  Roger  Carpentar  in 

Lancaster,  Roger  Gernet  in  Fishivick,  Lonesdale,  &  Wapent.  of  Derby,  Alan  de  Singleton, 
Will,  de  Newton;  Ad.  Fitz  Orm  in  Kellet,  Thos.  Gernet  in  Hesham,  John  de  Oxeclive  in 
OxcUffe,  Robt.  de  Overton  in  Overton,  Rog.  de  Skerton,  Rog.  Blundus  in  Lancaster, 
le  Gardiner  in  Lancaster,  Rad.  de  Bollern  in  Bolrun,  Thos.  Fitz  Ada  in  Gersingham, 
Will.  &  Benedict,  in  Gersingham,  Margery,  widow  of  Bernard  Fitz  Bernard ;  Walter 
Underwater  holds  Milnejlet.  Ad.  Fitz  Richard,  in  Singleton,  by  serjean ty  of  Amounder- 
iiess,  "  Willoch'  &  Neuton"  in  Newton,  Ad.  de  Kelleth,  son  of  Orm  in  Kellet,  Henr.  de 
Waleton  in  Walton,  Wavertree  &  Newsham's,  Edwin  Carpentar  in  Cadwalslete,  Hamo  de 
Macy  &  Hugo  de  Stotford  in  Scotforth,  Rog.  White  &  Gilbert  Fitz  Matthew  in  Lancaster, 
Will.  Fitz  Dolfin  &  Will.  Fitz  Gilbert  in  Gersingham.  The  places  are  not  mentioned  after 
the  following  names  :  Henry  Fitz  Siward,  Robt.  de  Middleton,  Rich.  Fitz  Henry,  Gilbt. 
de  Croft,  Hugo  de  Croft,  Robt.  Pierpoint,  Adam  de  Relloc,  &  Rog.  Fitz  John ;  Roger 
Gernet  in  Halton,  Rog.  le  Clerk  in  Fishivick,  Baldewin  de  Preston  in  Fishwick,  John  Fitz 
John  in  Fishwick,  Alan  and  Rich,  de  la  More  in  Fishwick,  Rog.  Fitz  Viman  in  Hesham, 
Tliomas  Gernet  in  Hesham,  John  de  Toroldesholm  in  Torrisholm,  Adam  Gerold  in  Derby, 
Ad.  de  Moldhal  in  Crosby,  Robert  de  Curton  in  Querton,  Rog.  de  Assart  in  Fishivick,  Will. 
Wachet  in  Fishwick,  Will.  &  Agnes  de  Ferar,  Salford,  Clayton,  and  Neivshcmis,  Gervas 
Fitz  Simon  in  Oaxlifi'e,  Abbot  of  Cockersand  in  Bolrun,  Brothers  of  St.  Leonard  at  York 
in  Bolrun,  the  widow  Christiana  de  Gersingham,  Robt.  &  Will,  de  Bolrun  the  Prior  of 
Lancaster,  Will,  le  Gardiner  &  Adam  Gernet  in  J5o/n<H,  Rog.  Fitz  William,  Will.  Fitz 
Thomas,  Will.  &  Matilda  de  Paries  in  Torrisholme,  Rad.  Bolun  in  BoV,  Margery  del 
Beck  in  Halghton,  Robert  Seertne  in  Sutherton. 

'  The  "  Testa  de  Nevill"  mentions  several  tenants  in  chief,  whose  lands,  though  held  of  the 
honor,  are  not  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  which  are  omitted  here. 


Countp  palatine  of  3i.anca£itfi» 


283 


3.     Widows   and   Heieesses  of  Tenants   in  capite,  whose   Marriages    chap. 
WERE  in  the  Gift  of  the  King.*  


"  Alicia  dr.  of  Galfr.  de  Gersinarham,  Christiana  dr.  of  same  Alicia  &  Thomas  de  Ger-   Widows 
singham,  Lady  Elevvisa  de    Stutevill,  Oliva,  wid.   of   Rog.   Montbegon,  Queiulda   wid.   resses  at 
Rich.  Walens,     Margaret  wid.  Ad.  de  Gerstan,  Waltania,  wid.   Rich.  Bold,  Beatrix  de  jjgposar 
Milton,  Quenilda,  wid.  Rog.  Gernet,  Matilda  de  Thorneton,  Avicia  wid.  Henr.  de  Stotford, 
Avicia  wid.  Rog.  de  Midelton,  Eugenia  wid.  Will,  de  Routhclive,  Eva  de  Halt,  Matilda 
dr.  Nicholas  de  Thoroldeholm,  Alicia  the  wid.   of  Nicholas,  Emma  the  wid.  of  Nicholas, 
Sarra   de   Boterhelton,    Alicia   wid.    Rich.    Fitz    Robert,  Cecilia  wid.    Turstan    Banastr, 
Quenilda  dr.  Richd.  Fitz  Roger,  Matilda  de   Stokeport,  Lady  Ada  de  Furneys;   wid.   of 
Gamell  de  Boelton,  Matilda  de  Kellet,  Agnes  de  Hesham,  widow  of  Hugo  de  Oxeclive, 
wid.  Will.  Gernet. 

4.    Churches  in  the  Gift  of  the  King,  &c. 


"  Lancaster ;  earl  Roger  de  Poictiers  gave  it  to  the  Abbot  of  Sees. 

"  Preston  ;   King  John  gave  it  to  Peter  Rossinol,  who  died,  and  the  present  King  Henry 

gave  it  to  Henry  nephew  of  the  Bishop  of  Winton.     Worth  59  marks  per  an. 
"  St.  Michael  upon  Wyre  ;  the  son  of  Count  de  Salvata  had  it  by  gift  of  the  present  King, 

and  he  says,  that  he  is  elected  into  a  bishopwrick,  and  that  the  church  is  vacant,  and 

worth  30  marks  per  an. 
"  Kyrkeham  ;  King  John  gave  2  parts  of  it  to  Simon  Blundell,  on  account  of  his  custody 

of  the  son  and  heir  of  Theobald  Walter.     Worth  24  marks. 


Churches 
in  the 
king's 

Rift. 


5.    Escheats  of  the  Lands  of  Normans  and  others.  Escheats. 

"  Merton,  Aston,  '  Henry  de  Nesketon  holds  of  the  king's  escheats  in  the  counties  of 
Warwick  &  Leicester,  Nottingham  and  Derby,  Lancashire,  Cumberland,  Westmorland 
and  Northumberland.'  Fourteen  bovates  of  land  in  Haskesmores,  which  Willm.  de  Nevill 
held  as  escheats  of  our  lord  the  king. 

"  Hugo  le  Norreys  holds  a  carucate  of  land  in  Blakerode,  which  is  an  escheat  of  the 
king,  to  whom  he  pays  a  yearly  rent  of  20s. 


*  See  Chap.  II.  on  Feudal  Tenures,  "  Marcheta  Mulierum,"  p.  81. — If  the  land-holder  left  only 
daughters,  the  king  had  the  profits  of  relief  and  wardship  ;  and  had  also,  if  they  were  under  the  age 
of  fourteen,  the  tight  of  disposing  of  them  in  marriage.  This  power  was  said  to  be  vested  in  the 
king,  in  order  to  prevent  the  heiresses  that  were  his  tenants,  from  marrying  persons  that  were  of 
doubtful  affection  to  him,  or  that  were  incapable  and  unfit  to  do  the  services  belonging  to  the  land.  He 
had  also  a  power  of  disposing  of  his  male  wards  in  marriage,  whose  parents  had  died  when  they  were 
under  twenty-one,  though  without  such  good  reasons  for  it.  But  this  power  of  disposing  of  wards 
of  either  sex  in  marriage,  as  well  as  the  right  of  wardships,  was  afterwards  very  much  abused,  and 
was  therefore  taken  away  by  the  statute  of  12  Car.  II.,  together  with  the  tenure  itself  by  military,  or 
(as  it  was  usually  called)  knight's  service. 

2o2 


284 


€l)t  fd^tov^  of  tl)e 


CHAP. 
VII. 

Peculiar 
services 
and  te- 
nures. 


6.  Thanage,*  Forestry,  and  other  peculiar  Services  and  Tenures. 

"  Thomas  &  Alicia  de  Gersingham,  by  keeping  the  king's  hawks  in  Lonsdale  ;  Luke 
Pierpoint,  by  keeping  an  aery;  Adam  de  Hemelesdale,  by  constabulary  at  Crosby; 
Quenilda  de  Kirkdale,  by  conducting  royal  treasure  ;  Richd.  Fitz  Ralph,  by  constabulary 
of  Singleton  ;  John  de  Oxeclive,  by  being  carpenter  in  Lancaster  castle ;  Adam  Fitz  Gil- 
mighel,  by  being  the  king's  carpenter  ;  Roger  Carpentar,  by  being  carpenter  in  Lancaster 
castle  ;  Rad.  Barun,  by  being  mason  in  Lancaster  castle ;  Rad.  Babrun,  the  same  ;  Walter, 
son  of  Walter  Smith,  by  forging  iron  instruments  ;  Roger  Gernet,  by  being  chief  forester ; 
Willm.  Gernet,  by  the  service  of  meeting  the  king  on  the  borders  of  the  county  with  his  horse 
and  white  rod,  and  conducting  him  into  and  out  of  the  county ;  he  holds  2  carucates  of  land 
in  Heskin;  Willm.  &  Benedict  de  Gersingham,  by  forestry;  Gilbert  Fitz  Orm,  by  paying 
annually  3d.,  or  some  spurs  to  Benedict  Gernett,  the  heir  of  Roger  de  Heton,  in  thanage  ; 

*  Thanage  Service. — Thane,  from  the  Saxon  thenian,  ministrare,  was  the  title  of  those  who 
attended  the  Saxon  kings  in  their  courts,  and  who  held  their  lands  immediately  of  those  kings ;  and 
therefore  they  were  promiscuously  called  thani  et  servientes  regis,  though,  not  long  after  the  Con- 
quest, the  word  was  disused  ;  and  instead  thereof,  those  men  were  called  Barones  Regis,  who, 
as  to  their  dignity,  were  inferior  to  earls,  and  took  place  after  bishops,  abbots,  barons,  and  knights. 
There  were  also  thani  minores,  and  these  were  likewise  called  barons  :  these  were,  lords  of  manors, 
who  had  a  particular  jurisdiction  within  their  limits,  and  over  their  own  tenants  in  their  own  courts, 
which  to  this  day  are  called  Courts  Baron  :  but  the  word  signifies  sometimes  a  nobleman,  some- 
times a  freeman,  sometimes  a  magistrate,  but,  more  properly,  an  officer  or  minister  of  the  king. 
"  Edward  King  grete  mine  Biscops,  and  mine  Earles,  and  all  mine  Thynes,  on  that  shiren,  v/lier 
mine  Prestes  in  Paulus  Minister  habband  land." — Chart.  Edw.  Conf.  Pat.  18  H.  VI.  m.  9. 
per  Inspect. 

In  an  Anglo-Saxon  writ  of  William  the  First,  quoted  by  Spelman  from  an  Abbotsbury  MS.  the 
term  Thegena  occurs  in  the  same  sense. 

In  thanage  of  the  king,  signified  a  certain  part  of  the  king's  lands  or  property,  whereof  the  ruler 
or  governor  was  called  thane. —  Cowell. 

Buchanan  says.  In  former  times  there  was  no  name  of  honour  higher  than  the  order  of  knighthood, 
except  that  of  thane,  which  meant  the  prefect  or  governor  of  a  country,  and  judge  of  capital  oflFences  ; 
which,  I  understand,  is  still  observed  by  the  Danes. — Hist.  Scot.fol.  59.  20. 

In  the  early  periods  of  the  history  of  this  country,  the  payments  of  the  thanes  were  made  regularly 
into  tlie  public  treasury  by  the  sherifl's,  distinctly  in  the  name  of  this  class ;  hence  we  find,  that  in 
13  Henry  III.  the  thanes  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  through  the  sheriff,  paid  a  composition  of  fifty 
marks,  to  be  excused  from  the  tailliage  or  assessment,  which  the  king,  in  the  exercise  of  his  absolute 
authority,  had  imposed  upon  his  people. — Thayni  de  Comitatu  Lancastriae,  reddunt  compotum  de 
1  marcis,  ut  quieti  sint  hac  vice  de  tallagio,  quod  Rex  super  eos  assidere  prsecepit.  Mag.  Rot. 
13  Hen.  III.  titulo  Lancastr  (ia).  Idem  Vicecomes  (sc.  Willelnius  de  Vesci)  reddit  compotum  de 
quater  xx.  &  xvi.  libris,  de  Dono  Militum  &  Tainorum.  Mag.  Rot.  5  Hen.  II.  Rot.  2.  h.  Tit. 
Northumberland  Nova  Placita  &  Novoe  Conventiones.  In  3  John,  the  "  Theigni  and  fermarii"  of 
the  honor  of  Lancaster,  had  paid  a  composition  of  fifty  marks  to  be  exonerated  from  crossing  the  sea. 
(Mag.  Rot.  3  John.  Rot.  20.  a.) 


CountL'  ^3alntinr  of  annragtrr.  285 

Heir  of  Robt.  Fitz  Barnard,  in  thanagc ;  Rog.  de  Leycester,  by  paying  8s.  &  2   arrows     CHAF. 


yearly;  Adam  Fitz  Rice  &  Alan  Fitz  Hagemuiul,  in  drengage ;  Riclid.  de  Gerardin,  in 
drengage  ;*  Gillemuth  de  Halitton,  in  drengage;  Adam  de  Glothic,  Will,  do  Nevilla,  Rey- 
ner  de  Wambwallc,  Gilbert  de  Norton,  Rog.  de  Midelton,  Adam  de  Pikinton,  Will,  de 
Redeelive,  Adam  de  Prestwich,  Elias  de  Penilbury,  Will.  &  Rog.  Fitz  William,  Henr.  de 
Chatham,  Alured  de  Ives,  Thomas  de  Burnul,  Adam  de  Pemberton,  Adam  de  Railing, 
Gilbert  de  Croft,  Gilbert  de  Kelleth,  Matell  de  Kelleth,  Thos.  Gerneth,  William  de  Hest, 
and  William,  son  of  Rich,  de  Tatham,  all  in  thanage ;  John  de  Thoroldesholm,  by  larde- 
nery;  Rog.  de  Skerton,  by  provostry ;  Robt.  de  Oveston,  by  provostry  ;  Rog.  White  and 
Edward  Carpenter,  by  Carpentry ;  Roger  Fitz  John,  by  making  the  king's  iron  ploughs  ; 
Will.  Fitz  Matthew,  by  gardenry;  Rad.  de  Botran,  by  masonry;  the  burgesses  of  Lan- 
caster, in  free-burgage  and  by  royal  charter ;  the  Prior  and  monks  of  Seaton,  by  roj"al 
charter ;  Thomas  Fitz  Adam,  Will.  Fitz  Dolfin,  &  Willm.  Fitz  Gilbert,  by  forestry ; 
Peter  de  Mundevill,  by  service  of  one  "berachet"  of  one  colour  ;  prior  of  Wingal,  by  he 
knows  not  what  service  ;  Lady  Hillaria  Trussebut,  by  no  service,  and  she  knows  not  by 
what  warrant ;  Henr.  de  Waleton,  by  being  head  Serjeant  or  bailiff  of  the  hundred  of 
Derbj'shire ;  Galfr.  Balistrar',  by  presenting  two  cross-bows  to  the  king ;  Will.  Fitz 
William,  by  presenting  one  hrachet,  one  velosa,  and  two  lintheamina ;  the  serjeanty  of 
Hetham,  Avhich  Roger  Fitz  Vivian  holds,  by  blowing  the  horn  before  the  king  at  his 
entrance  and  exit  from  the  county  of  Lancaster  ;  Thomas  Gernet,  in  Hesham,  by  sounding 
the  horn  on  meeting  the  king  on  his  arrival  in  those  parts  ;  Will.  Gresle,  by  presenting  a 
bow  without  string,  a  quiver,  twelve  arrows,  and  one  buzon  ;  Will.  Fitz  Waukelin,  by 
presenting  one  soaring  hawk ;  Hervi  Gorge,  by  presenting  one  plough,  one  Unthola,  one 
velusa,  and  one  auricular  ;  Roger  and  Hugh  de  Auberville,  by  keeping  one  hawk." 

In  addition  to  these  peculiar  services  and  tenures  of  the  feudal  times,  many  of 
Avhicli  sound  strangely  in  modern  ears,  several  religious  bouses  are  enumerated 
whicli  held  in  pure  frank  alms ;  and  a  still  larger  number  of  persons  wbo  held  by 
donation,  in  consideration  of  annual  rents,  as  will  be  seen  on  reference  to  the 
"  Testa  de  Nevill." 


See  chapter  on  Feudal  Tenures,  "  Drenches,"  p.  82. 


VII. 


286 


C&e  %}i^tov\>  of  tin 


Representative  history  of  the  county  of  Lancaster — Hitherto  neglected. — Ancient  constitution  of 
Parhaments. — The  dawn  of  parhanientary  representation. — The  reform  parliament  of  Oxford,  called 
parliamenlum  insanwn. — First  appointment  of  knights  of  the  shire. — Constitution  of  the  parliament 
of  Oxford. — Its  acts. — First  writ  for  the  payment  of  members  of  parliament. — Opposition  given 
to  the  ancient  parliamentary  reform. — Borough  members  first  sent  to  parliament. — How  elected. — 
First  members  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  for  its  boroughs. — First  parliamentary  return  for 
Lancashire,  extant. — First  parliamentary  writ  of  summons  for  Lancashire,  extant. — Returns  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  L — Number  of  counties,  boroughs,  &c.  then  returning  members. — Duration  of 
the  session  of  parliament. — Frequent  parliaments. — Members  returned  for  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster in  the  reign  of  Edward  II. — Lancashire  borough  returns  in  this  reign. — ^The  high  sheriff"  of 
Lancashire  assumes  the  power  to  elect  members  for  the  county. — Presentment  against  him  for  this 
and  other  ofTences. —  Lancashire  county  members  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III. — The  duration  of 
parliaments. — False  return  for  the  county  made  by  the  under-sheriflPs. — The  king,  and  not  the  com- 
mons, decides  on  disputed  elections.  —  Peers  of  parliament  temporal  and  spiritual. — The  boroughs 
of  Lancashire  cease  to  return  members. — The  reason  assigned. — Payment  of  the  wages  of  mem- 
bers of  parliament. — Returns  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II. — Writ  of  summons,  not  to  the 
sheriff,  but  to  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster. — Members  for  the  county  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
IV. — The  lack-learning  parliament. — Lancashire  members  in  the  reign  of  Henry  V. — of  Henry 
VI. — Qualification  of  electors  for  knights  of  the  shire  fixed. — County  members  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  IV. — Returns  lost  from  17  Edward  IV.  to  33  Henry  VIII. — County  members  from 
1  Edward  VI.  to  16  Charles  I. — The  ancient  Lancashire  boroughs,  consisting  of  Lancaster, 
Preston,  Liverpool,  and  Wigan,  resume  the  elective  franchise  1  Edward  VI. — Newton  and 
Clitheroe  added  to  the  boroughs  of  Lancashire. — Nomination  boroughs. — Dame  Packington's 
nominees. — Claim  of  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  to  nominate  members  for  Leicester. 
— Representation  of  Lancashire  during  the  commonwealth.  List  of  knights  of  the  shire  for  the 
county  of  Lancaster,  from  the  Restoration  to  the  present  time.  Political  character  of  the  county 
representation.  Alterations  made  in  the  representation  of  the  county  and  boroughs  of  Lancashire 
by  the  Reform  Bill  of  1831. 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


Repre- 
sentative 
history  of 
Lanca- 
shire 
hitherto 
neglected. 


E  have  now  arrived  at  tliat  period  when  the 
representative  system  began  to  prevail  in  the 
English  parliament,  and  when  this  county,  by 
its  freeholders  and  burgesses,  obtained  the 
privilege  of  returning  members  to  the  senate, 
tharged  with  the  duty  of  making  known  the 
public  will  in  that  assembly,  in  order  to  promote 
the  interest  of  the  gi-eat  commimity  for  wliich 
it  legislates.  None  of  the  English  counties 
presents  a  more  interesting  representative  his- 
tory than  the  county  of  Lancaster;  and  yet  tliis  subject  has  liitherto  been  either 
entirely  neglected,   or  has   been   treated   in  so  vague  and   desultory  a  manner, 


Counti.'  |3alntmr  of  aanrnstrr.  287 

as  to  have  neither  uniformity  nor  connexion.      To  supply  this  deficiency,  much    chai». 

.  .  VIII 

laboui-   has   been   required   in   cxamiuhig    and   collating   the  public    records;   but  L 

that  labour  has  been  amply  rewarded  by  the  mass  of  facts  which  these  documents 
contain,  and  by  the  satisfaction  wliich  is  generally  found  to  flow  from  the  fouutahi 
head  of  authentic  information. 

So  early  as  the  Saxon  heptarchy,  a  species  of  parliament  existed,  as  Ave  have  Ancient 
already  seen,  under  the  designation  of  the  Witena-Gemot,  or  "  Council  of  Wise  ment's. 
Men,"  by  whom  the  laws  were  enacted.  This  assembly  consisted  of  the  comites  or 
eaiis,  the  herecUtary  representatives  of  counties,  assisted  by  the  prelates  and  abbots, 
and  the  tenants  in  capite  of  the  crown  by  knight's  ser^dce.  Tlie  disposition  of  such 
an  assembly  would  naturally  incline  them  to  sanction  the  edicts  of  the  sovereign;  and 
it  is  highly  probable  that  liis  Avill  generally  served  as  theii*  law. 

After  the  Conquest,  the  first  William,  and  his  immediate  descendants,  called  to 
then*  "  Great  Council,"  the  Norman  barons  and  the  dignified  clergy,  Avith  tlie 
mihtary  tenants.  This  council,  or  "  King's  Court,"  as  it  Avas  called,  (the  tenn 
Parliament  not  having  then  come  into  use,)  assembled  tlu-ee  times  in  the  year, 
namely,  at  Christmas,  Easter,  and  Wliitsuntide. 

The  barons  and  other  tenants  in  chief  of  the  king,  enimierated  in  Domesday 
Book,  amount  to  about  scAcn  huucbed.  These  persons  possessed  all  the  land  of 
England  in  baronies,  except  that  part  which  the  king  reserved  in  liis  OAvn  hands,  and 
which  was  called  "  Terra  Regis,"  and  has  since  been  called  the  "  ancient  demesne" 
of  the  crown.  Tliese  tenants  in  chief,  per  baroniam,  as  well  the  few  w'ho  held  in 
socage  as  those  Avho  held  by  military  serA^ce,  composed  the  gi-eat  council,  or  parlia- 
ment, in  those  times ;  and  Avere  summoned  by  the  king,  though  they  had  a  right  to 
attend  Avithout  summons.  The  landoAATiers  of  the  second,  thu-d,  and  other  inferior 
classes,  being  all  tenants,  or  vassals,  of  this  upper  class  of  landholders,  though  by 
free  and  honourable  tenures,  similar  to  those  by  Avhich  then-  lords  themselves  held  of 
the  king,  were  bound  by  the  decisions  of  their  upper  lords.  The  landed  interest 
alone  was  represented  in  the  national  councils;  there  were  at  that  time  no  representa- 
tives, either  of  the  cities,  or  boroughs,  or  of  the  trading  interest,  Avhich  were  consi- 
dered too  insignificant  to  be  represented  in  the  great  council.*  The  representation 
of  such  places  was  an  innovation  introduced  iu  the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth 
century  by  Simon  de  Montfort,  and  the  reforming  barons  of  Ins  day. 

It  is  true  that  these  barons  Avere  actuated  in  some  degi-ee  by  ambitious  motives,  The  first 
and  that  then-  conduct  partook  of  the  revolutionary  turbulence  of  the  age  in  Avhich  padia-°*^ 
they  lived;  but  they  were  the  legitimate  descendants  of  those  illustrious  pahiots,  who  rXm^ 
AA-rung  fiom  king  John  the  charter  of  British  freedom.     Tlie  reforms  they  introduced 

*  Aichreologia,  vol.  ii.  p.  310. 


288 


CI)f  W^tov^  of  tl)t 


CHAP,    were  parts  of  the  same  system;  the  one  the  natm-al  efTect  of  the  other,  and  both 

VIII. 

L   flowing  from  tliat  spiiit  of  "  popular  encroachment,"  which   does  not,  and  which 

ought  not,  to  rest,  till  its  fair  claims  are  satisfied.  In  this  way  the  dictation  of  the 
barons,  and  the  discontents  of  the  suhortHnate  orders  of  society,  were  overcome ;  and, 
though  in  an  age  of  comparative  darkness,  Edward  I.,  the  "  Justinian  of  England," 
whose  sagacity  enabled  him  to  mark  the  signs  of  the  times,  did  not  hesitate  to  declare 
in  his  Wilts  to  the  sheriffs  for  the  return  of  burgesses  to  parliament,  "  that  it  was 
a  most  equitable  rule,  that  that  wliich  concerns  all  should  be  approved  of  by  all."  The 
best  security  against  undue  democratical  encroachment,  is  to  be  found  in  the  conces- 
sion of  those  reasonable  immunities  which  time  and  cuxumstances  render  necessary 
to  the  improved  state  of  society.  By  this  temperate  extension  of  the  popular  rights, 
the  Aisionary  projects  of  John  Ball  and  Wat  Tyler,  which  soon  after  arose,  were 
defeated;  and  the  representative  system  of  England  has  remained  ever  since  essen- 
tially unaltered,  till  an  enlargement  of  the  elective  franchise  Avas  rendered  necessary 
b}'  the  altered  state  of  society  in  commerce  and  in  manufactures.  That  five 
centuries  more  will  pass  over  before  any  new  change  will  be  required  in  the 
constitution  of  parliament,  it  would  be  presumptuous  to  declare ;  but  all  history 
bears  out  the  fact,  that  the  best  security  against  frequent  changes  is  to  be  found  in 
those  large  and  liberal  grants  to  pojjular  claims,  which  satisfy  the  reasonable,  and 
■withcU'aw  from  the  schemes  of  the  visionary  all  the  support  they  derive  from  public 
sympathy,  when  mixed  up  with  real  and  generally  admitted  giievances.  It  is 
equally  demonstrable  from  liistorical  experience,  that  danger  to  the  stability  of  a 
government  never  arises  from  timely  reforms,  cheerfully  acquiesced  in  on  the  part 
of  the  governing  powers,  but  that  the  great  danger  consists  in  a  pertinacious  resistance 
of  those  ameliorations. 

If  the  ancient  house  of  Lancaster,  instead  of  aiding  the  bai'ons  in  their  efforts  to 
establish  the  representative  system  in  England,  seized  upon  and  appropriated  the 
estates  of  the  principal  of  them  (the  earl  of  Leicester  and  the  earl  of  Derby,)  to  their 
own  use;  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  modern  duke  of  Lancaster  has  done  more,  and 
with  a  better  grace,  than  any  monarch  that  ever  swayed  the  British  sceptre,  to 
extend  and  consolidate  that  system. 

In  the  time  of  Henry  III.  abuses  in  the  government  had  been  suffered  to  accu- 
mulate, tin,  according  to  the  contemporaiy  liistorians,  "  justice  itself  was  banished 
from  the  realm;  for  the  wicked  devoured  the  righteous,  the  courtier  the  rustic,  the 
oppressor  the  innocent,  the  fraudulent  the  plain  man,  and  yet  all  these  tilings 
remained  unpunished.  Evil  counsellors  wliispered  into  the  ears  of  the  princes,  that 
they  were  not  amenable  to  the  laws.  The  subject  was  oppressed  in  vaiious  ways, 
and,  as  if  these  sycophants  had  conspired  the  death  of  the  king,  and  the  destruction 


Accumu- 
lated 
abuses  in 
the  go- 
vernment. 


Count!)  ^aalatint  of  aanrasitfr*  289 

of  Ms  throne,  they  encouraged  him  to  disregard  the  devotion  of  liis  people,  and  to    chap. 
incur  their  hatred  rather  than  to  enjoy  their  alfection,"*     In   adcUtion   to   tliese      ^^^^' 
grievances,  the  kingdom  was  deeply  involved  in  deht,  and  the  king  stood  in  need  of 
fresh  contrihutions  to  carry  on  liis  wars,  wliich  the  barons  refused  to  gi-ant  till  the 
public  grievances  were  redressed. 

Overwhelmed  with  difBcnlties,  Henry  issued  his  mandate  for  holding  a  parlia-  The  re- 
ment  at  Oxford.     Of  this  parliament,  so  celebrated  in  history,  and  particularly  in  Hamenrof 
the  representative  liistory  of  England,  it  is  recorded,  that  "  the  grandees  of  the  ^^^°'"^' 
realm,  major  and  minor,  with  horses  and  arms,  were  convened  at  Oxford,  together  June  n, 
with  the  clergy,  to  make  pro^dsion  and  reformation,  and  ordination  of  the  realm:  and  '^'^' 
on  theii-  oath  of  fidelity  were  exhibited  the  articles,  which  in  the  said  realm  stood  in 
need  of  coi-rection."     This  parliament,  owing  to  the  popular  excitation  under  wliich 
it  was  assembled,  and  to  all  the  members  coming  di'essed  in  armour,  and  mounted  as 
for  battle,  obtained  the  name  of  parliamenium  insanum  ;  but  there  was  a  method  in  their 
machiess,  and  one  of  their  first  acts  was  to  ordain,  that  four  knights  should  be  chosen  First  ap- 
by  each  county,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  inquire  into  the  giievances  of  the  people,  of 'knTghts 
in  order  that  they  might  be  redi-essed,  and  that  they  should  be  returned  to  the  next  shhe! 
parliament,  to  give  infonnation  as  to  the  state  of  their  respective  counties,  and  to 
co-operate  in  enactmg  such  laws  as  might  best  conduce  to  the  public  good.     Some 
approach  had  been  made  towards  this  state  of  things  in  the  time  of  king  John,  when 
the  knights  were  appointed  to  meet  in  their  several  counties,  and  to  present  a  detail 
of  the  state  of  those  counties  to  the  great  council ;  but  here  they  were  not  only  to 
present  their  complaints,  but,  by  being  made  a  component  part  of  the  legislative  body, 
they  were  to  contribute  from  their  local  knowledge  to  the  removal  of  those  wi'ongs 
which  it  was  then-  duty  to  present. 

In  this  parliament  at  Oxford,  twenty-four  persons  were  elected;  twelve  on  the  Constitu- 
part  of  the  king,  and  as  many  on  the  pail  of  the  community,  for  the  refonnation  of  p'ariia- 
public  abuses,  and  the  amendment  of  the  state  of  the  realm.  Oxford. 

"  The  elected  on  the  part  of  the  king     "  Tlie  elected  on  the  part  of  the  barons 
were —  were — 

The  lord  bishop  of  London,  The  lord  bishop  of  Worcester, 

The  lord  elect  of  Winton,  Su-  Simon,  earl  of  Leicester, 

Sfr  Henry,  son  of  the  king  of  Almaine,  Sir-  Richard,  earl  of  Gloucester, 

Sii-  John,  earl  of  WaiTcnne,  Su-  Humplu-ey,  eail  of  Hereford, 

Sii-  Guy  de  Lesignan,  Sir  Roger  Mareschal, 


*  Ann.  Burton,  anno  1258,  p.  424. 


VOL.  r.  2  p 


290  3EfK  i^i^toi-j)  of  tftf 

CHAP.         Sii-  Wm.  (le  Valence,  Sii-  Roger  de  Mortimer, 

'^"^-  Sir  Jolin,  earl  of  Wai-wick,  Sii-  Geoffiy  Fitz-Geoflfry, 

Sii-  John  Mansel,  Sir  Hugh  le  Bigot, 

Friai-  John  de  Derlinglon,  Su-  Richard  le  Grey, 

Tlie  ab])ot  of  Westminster,  Su-  WiUiam  Bardulf, 

Sii-  Hugh  de  Wengham,  Sii-  Peter  de  Montfort, 

[The  twelfth  is  wanting.]  Sir  Hugh  Despenser." 

Their  acts.  Amongst  a  vai-iety  of  other  decrees,  the  twenty-four  enacted  that  the  state  of  the 
holy  church  be  amended  ;  that  a  justiciar  be  appointed  for  one  year,  to  be  answerable 
to  the  kino-  and  his  council  during  liis  term  of  oflSce  ;  that  a  treasurer  of  the  exche- 
quer be  also  appointed,  to  render  account  at  the  end  of  the  year ;  that  the  chancellor 
shall  also  answer  for  liis  trust;  that  sliii-e-reeves  be  pronded  in  every  county, 
trusty  persons,  freeholders,  and  vavasors,*  of  property  and  consequence  in  the 
county,  who  shall  faithfully  and  honestly  ti-eat  the  people  of  the  county,  and  render 
their  accounts  to  the  excliequer  once  every  yeai- ;  and  that  neither  they,  nor  theii- 
bailiffs,  take  any  hii-e  ;  that  good  escheators  be  appointed,  and  that  they  take  notliing 
from  the  goods  of  the  deceased  out  of  the  lands  which  ought  to  be  in  the  king's 
hands ;  that  the  exchange  of  London  be  amended,  as  well  as  all  the  other  cities  of 
the  king,  which  had  been  brought  to  disgrace  and  ruin  by  talliages,  and  other 
extortions ;  and  that  the  household  of  the  king  and  queen  be  amended. t 
Of  the  parliaments,  they  ordaiu  : — 

"  That  there  be  tlu-ee  pai-liaments  in  the  yeai-:  the  fii-st,  upon  the  octave  of 
St.  Michael ;  the  second,  on  the  mon-ow  of  Candlemas  ;  the  third,  on  the  first  day 
of  June.  To  these  three  pai-liaments  shall  come,  the  counsellors  elect  of  the  king, 
though  they  be  not  commanded,  to  see  the  state  of  the  realm,  and  to  manage  the 
common  business  of  the  realm,  when  there  shall  be  need,  by  the  command  of  the 
king." 

"  That  the  community  do  choose  twelve  prode  men  (opulent  persons),  who 
shall  go  to  the  parliaments,  and  attend  at  other  times  when  there  shall  be  need, 
when  the  king  or  liis  council  shall  command,  to  manage  the  business  of  the  king, 
and  of  the  realm ;  and  that  the  community  hold  for  stable  that  which  these  twelve 
shall  do ;  and  this  to  spare  the  cost  of  the  commons.  Fifteen  shall  be  named  by 
the  earl  mai-eschal,  tiie  earl  of  Wai-wick,  Hugh  le  Bigot,  and  John  Mansel,  who  are 
elected  by  the  twenty-four,  to  name  the  aforesaid  fifteen,  who  shall  be  of  council  of 

*  Vavasors  were  persons  who  held  lands  by  military  tenure  of  other  persons  than  the  king. 

t  See  cap.  vii.  p.  257. 


Countj)  |3alatinf  of  aniun^tcr.  291 

tlie  king ;  and  they  shall  be  confirmed  by  them,  or  by  the  greater  part  of  them ;  and    chap. 

they  shall  have  power  from  the  king  to  give  them  counsel  in  good  faith  concerning  1_ 

the  government  of  the  realm,  and  all  tilings  belonging  to  the  king  and  kingdom ; 
and  to  amend  and  re(kess  all  things  which  they  shall  see  want  to  be  amended 
and  redi-essed,  and  be  over  the  high  justiciar,  and  over  all  other  persons ;  and  if  they 
cannot  all  be  present,  that  which  the  gx-eater  pail  shall  do,  shall  be  firm  and 
stable." 

The  unconstitutional  power  assumed,  of  choosing  the  responsible  ministers  of  the 
crown — for  in  no  other  light  can  the  functions  of  these  "  twelve  prode  men"  be  consi- 
dered— gi-adually  fell  into  disuse,  though  the  time  when  that  authority  ceased  is  not 
very  accm-ately  defined  in  liistory.     In  November  of  the  same  year,  after  the  disso- 
lution of  the  memorable  parliament  of  Oxford,  writs  were  issued  from  the  king's 
chancery   to    the    sheriffs   of   England,    commanding   them    respectively   to   pay  First  writ 
"  reasonable  wages"  to  the  knights  delegate  for  their  journey  to  parliament,  upon  payment 
the  affaii's  touching  their  several  counties.    This  is  the  first  known  writ  "  de  e.rpensis,'"  bers'  cx- 
and  it  is  of  the  same  tenure  as  that  of  subsequent  times,  when  it  became  essential  to  p^°^**" 
parliament  to  have  in  it  the  representatives  of  the  counties,  chosen  by  the  freeholders ; 
but  the  writ  for  Lancasliire,  issued  on  this  occasion,  is  lost,  and  ^lith  it  the  names  of 
the  knights  returned  for  the  county. 

The  Idng  and  Ids  courtiers,  headed  by  liis  brothers,  and  countenanced  by  his  son  opposi- 

,,  -iiiii  1  ''<"!  giveu 

lidward,  the  heu'-apparent  oi  the  crown,  resisted,  to  blood,  the  attempts  made  to  to  the  re- 
reform  the  parliament,  and  to  redi'ess  the  public  grievances,  accomj^anied,  as  these  of  Henry 
attempts  were,  vriih  measures  for  subverting  the  royal  prerogative,  and  establisliing 
an  aristocratical  oligarchy.     Tlie  progi'ess  of  refoim  in  the  constitution  of  parlia- 
ment was  not,  however,  materially  retarded  by  tliis  resistance.     It  had  always  been 
the  avowed  intention  of  Simon  de  Montfort,  earl  of  Leicester,  and  Robert  de  Ferrers, 
earl  of  Derby,  to  confine  the  executive   power  within  the  limits  of  the  law,  and  to 
have  all  the  acts  of  the  king  confirmed  as  well  by  the  representatives  of  the  county, 
as  by  the  barons  spiritual  and  temporal  ;*  and  in  the  parliament  of  Worcester,  called 
"  Montfort's  PaiUament,"  held  in  49  Henry  III.,  it  was  enacted,  that  each  sheriff,  a.d.i2C4. 
throughout  England,  shoiUd  cause  to  be  sent  to  the  parliament  two  knights  (not 
four,)  elected  by  the  fi'eeholders,  with  two  citizens  fi-om  each  of  the  cities,  and  two  Borougii 

1        niembers 

burgesses  from  each  of  the  boroughs,   throughout  England.     By  these  means,  the  first  sent 
respective  orders  in  the  state  had  an  opportunity  of  expressing  the  public  will ;  and  mem. 
in  an  assembly  so  constituted,  and  of  wliicli  the  lords  spiritual  and  temporal  formed  a 

*  According  to  Selden,  there  were,  in  1262,  one  hundred  and  fifty  temporal,  and  fifty  spiritual 
barons,  summoned  to  parliament  to  perform  tlie  service  due  to  their  tenures. 

2  p  2 


292  COf  ?i}i£(torj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  part,  the  due  consideration  of  the  public  good  was  effectually  secured.*  It  hap- 
1_  pened,  however,  that  in  these  early  parliaments  the  expense  incurred  by  the  com- 
munities of  the  counties,  cities,  and  boroughs,  from  the  attendance  of  their  members 
in  pai'liameut,  was  often  considered  oppressive ;  and  hence  we  find,  that  many  poor 
boroughs,  particularly  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  had  no  members ;  the  reason 
alleged  being,  that  they  were  unable  to  pay  their  expenses,  on  account  of  their 
debility  and  poverty. 
Hon-  The  boroughs  for  which  returns  were  made  were  principally  "  walled  towns," 
held  of  the  king  in  ancient  demesne ;  and  the  only  places  in  Lancashire  entitled  to 
the  privilege,  if  that  could  be  considered  a  privilege  which  was  felt  as  a  'public 
burden,  were,  Lancaster,  Preston,  Liverpool,  and  Wigan.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
borouglis,  under  the  feudal  system,  were,  for  the  most  part,  villeins,  either  in  gi'oss, 
or  in  relation  to  the  manor  in  which  the  town  stood,  and  belonged  to  some  lord.f 
The  former  held  houses,  called  burgage  tenui'es,  at  the  will  of  the  lord,  and  carried 
on  some  trade,  such  as  cai'penter,  smith,  butcher,  baker,  clothier,  or  tailor,  and  the 
election  of  members  was  in  the  inhabitants  of  the  burgage  tenures,  so  far  as  they 
were  free  agents.  There  were  also  in  these  boroughs,  certain  free  inhabitants  who 
held  burgages,  and  were  in  consequence  invested  with  the  elective  franchise.  In 
incorporated  cities  and  boroughs,  the  right  of  election  was  generally  in  the  corporate 
body,  or  freemen,  as  they  Avere  called,  subject  to  such  limitations,  however,  as  the 
charters  imposed.  When  the  wages  of  the  members  representing  the  cities  or 
boroughs  were  paid  out  of  the  rates,  the  election  was  in  the  inhabitant  householders 
pa^-ing  those  rates,  and  the  riglit  of  election  was  hence  designated  "  scot  and  lot 
sufii'age." 
The  sub-  lu  treating  the  subject  of  the  county  representation  from  the  fii'st  return 
treated!  to  parliament  made  by  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire  to  the  present  time,  the  most 
clear  and  satisfactory  mode  will  be  to  take  the  reign  of  each  of  the  early  kings 
separately,  and  connect  with  the  Hsts  in  each  reign  such  other  liistorical  matter  as 
may  be  presented  on  the  subject :  and  1st.  Of  the  parliamentaiy  history  of  the 
reign  of 


*  In  former  times,  both  lords  and  commons  sat  together  in  one  house  in  parliament,  says 
Sir  Edward  Coke,  in  his  4th  Institute,  23;  but  this  is  clearly  a  mistake,  as  is  shewn  by  Sir  Robert 
Cotton  and  others,  and  as  is  decidedly  proved  by  6  Edward  III.  n.  3.  Pari.  Rol.,  where  it  is  said — 
"  The  bishops  by  themselves,  the  lords  by  themselves,  and  the  commons  by  themselves,  consulted, 
and  advised  the  king  touching  the  war  with  Scotland."  So  that  in  reality  the  early  parliaments  of 
England  consisted  not  of  one  house,  but  of  three  houses. 

t  Archeeologia,  vol.  ii.  p.  31.5. 


CtiimtL)  |3alatmf  of  Saiuasitrn  293 


Edward  I. 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


Although  the  return  of  liuights  aud  burgesses  summoned  to  parliament  by  ■\mt, 
commenced  as  eai-ly  as  49  Henry  III.,*  no  original  return  made  by  the  sheriff  for  a.d.  1204. 
this  county,  or  for  its  boroughs,  is  found  in  any  of  the  public  records  till  23  Edw.  I.  a.u. 1-295. 
The  first  return  of  members  for  this  county  is  to  the  parliament  at  Westminster, 
appointed   to    assemble  on   Sunday   next   after   the   feast   of  St.  Martin;  and  it  First 
announces,  that  "  Matthew  de  Redman,"  and  "  John  de  E^^yas,"  were  elected  for  the 
knights  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  by  the  consent  of  the  whole  county,  who  have  auj'bo- 
full  and  sufficient  power  to  do  for  themselves,  and  for  the  commonality  of  the  county  Lanca- " 
aforesaid,  what  our  lord  the  king  shall  ordain  by  his  coimcil.  **"'*■ 

"  That  the  aforesaid  Matthew  was  guaranteed  to  come  on  the  day  contained  in 
tlie  writ,  by  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  de  Yeland ;  Thomas  Fitz  Hall ;  William 
Fitz  Adam;  and  William  son  of  Dake,"  (in  confinnation  of  wliich  they  affix  their 
marks,  the  manucaptors,  or  sureties,  for  the  members  not  + 

being  able,  probably  to  write  their  own  names) .  -I- 

"  And  that  the  aforesaid  John  was  guaranteed  by  John  de  Singleton,  Richard  de 
Grenel,  Roger  de  Boulton,  and  Adam  de  Grenehulles." 

The    sheriff's  return   adds,  "  There  is  no  city  in  the  county   of  Lancaster."  Borousii 
It  then  proceeds  to  say,  "  That  Lambert  le  Despenser  and  William  le  Despenser,  ter. 
burgesses  of  Lancaster,  are  elected  burgesses  for  the  borough  of  Lancaster,  in 
manner  above  said.     And  the  aforesaid  Lambert  is  guaranteed  by  Adam  de  le 
Grene  and  John  de  Overton;  aud  the  aforesaid  William  is  guaranteed  by  Tliomas 
Molenduiar  and  Hugh  le  Barker." 

That  "  William  Fitz  Paul,  and  Adam  Russel,  burgesses  of  Preston,  are  elected  Borougi. 
for  the  borough  of  Preston  in  Amounderness ;  and  the  aforesaid  WilHam  is  guaran-  ton. 
teed  to  come  as  above  by  Richard  Banaster  and  Richard  Pelle.     And  the  aforesaid 
Adam  is  guaranteed  by  Henry  Fitz  Baldwin,  and  Robert  Kegelpin." 

That  "  William  le  Teinterer,  and  Henry  le  Bocker,  burgesses  of  Wigan,  are  Borough 
elected  for  the  borough  of  Wygan  in  the  manner  above  said.     And  they  are  giiai-an- 
teed  to  come  by  John  le  Preston  of  Wygan,  Adam  de  Cotiler,  Roger  Fitz  Orme,  and 
Richard  Fitz  Elys." 

That  "  Adam  Fitz  Richai-d  and  Robert  I  inklowe,  burgesses  of  Liverpool,  ai'e  Borough 
elected  for  the  borough  of  Liverpool.     And  they  are  guai-anteed  to  come,  in  the  tune  pool. 

*   Prynne."s  Enlargement  of  his  4th  Institute. 


294  €i)t  W^tov}}  of  tOe 

CHAP,    specified  iii  the  ^mt,  by  John  de  la  More,  Hugh  de  Molendino,  William  Fitz  Richard, 

and  Elias  le  Baxster."* 

Rot.  Pari.  There  is  a  copy  of  a  writ  and  return,  in  1294,  for  Cumberland,  and  amongst  the 

22Edw.i.       .gjjjjg  retui-ned  for  that  year  are — Matthew  de  Redman-j  and  Richard  de  Preston, 

as  knights  of  the  sliii'e. 
First  Par-  The  first  parliamentary  wi'it  extant,  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliii-e,  is  of 
tory  writ  the  date  of  25  Edward  I.  in  the  Tower  of  London,  and  requires  that  knights  only 
monTfor  (uot  citizcus  and  burgesses)  shall  be  sent  from  this  county  to  parliament,  for  the 
the  coun-  ^QQfjj.jjjj^ti(jn  of  Magna  Charta,  and  the  Charter  of  Forests.  Tliis  Avi-it,  wliich  is  of 
the  nature  of  a  bargain  between  the  king  and  his  people,  recites,  that  in  relief  of  all 


»  FIRST  PARLIAMENTARY  RETURN  FOR  LANCASHIRE,  &c. 

*f  "  Matheus  de  Redman  T;  Johes  de  Ewyas  Milites  sunt  electi  pro  Comitatu  Lancastr  per  consen- 

Lanc.  sum  totius  Comitatus,  qui  plenam  '\  sufficientem  potestatem  pro  se  1  communitate  Comitatus  prse- 

dicti  habent  ad  faciend  quod  Dominus  Rex  de  communi  consilio  sue  ordinabit. 

"  ^  Et  prsedictus  Matheus  manucaptus  est  veniendi  ad   diem  in  brevi  contentum  per  Thomam 
filium  Thomse  de  Yelond.     Thom  fit  Haft  Wiftm  filium  Adae  T,  + 

Wiitm  filium  Dake  + 

"  uT-  Et  praedictus  JoKes  manucaptus  est  per  Joliem  de  Singleton  Ricm  de  Grenel  Rogerum  de 
Boulton  T;  Adam  de  Grenehulles." 

"  Nulla  Civitas  est  in  Com  Lancastr. 
Burgusde  "  Lambertus  le  Despenser  T;    Willms   le    Chaunter  Burgens  Lancastr  electi  sunt  pro   Burgo 

I'»°<='  Lancastr  modo  supradicto. 

"  Et  preedictus  Lambertus  manuc  est  per  Adam  de  le  Grene  T,  JoRem  de  Overton. 
"  Et  praedictus  Wiftus  manuc  est  per  Thomam  Molendinar  T;  Hugonem  le  Barker. 
Burgusde  "  Willius  Jilius  Pauli  T;  Adam  Russel  Burgenses  de  Preston  electi  sunt  pro  Burgo  de  Preston  in 

Preston.       Amounderness  modo  proedicto. 

"  Et  preedictus    Willius   manucaptus  est  veniendi  ut  supra  per  Ricardum  Banaster  T;  Ricuni 
Pelle. 

"  Et  praedictus  Adam  manucaptus  est  per  Hen?  filium  Baldwin!  1  RoTjtum  Kegelpin. 
Burgusde  "  Willius  le  Teinterer  T;  Henr  le  Backer  Burgenses  de  Wygan  electi  sunt  pro  Burgo  de  Wygan 

Wigan.        modo  supradicto. 

"  Et  manucapti  sunt  veniendi  per  Johannem  le  Prestun  de  Wygan  ,  Adam  le  Cotiler  ,    Rogerum 
filium  Ormi ,  T;  Ricum  filium  Elys. 
Burgusde  "  Adam  ^lius  Richardi '\  Robtus   Pinklowe  Burgenses  de  Liverpol  e>lecti  sijt   pro  Burgo  de 

Liverpol.     ^.yerpoZe. 

"  Et  manucapti  sunt  veniendi  in  brevi  contentum  per    Johannem  de  la   More  ,    Hugonem  de 
Molendino  ,  Wiftm  filium  Rici  ,  T;  Eliam  le  Baxster." 

Petit  MSS.  vol.  15.  fol.  88.     Inner  Temple  Libr. 

t  This    is    probably    the     same    person     that   was    returned    for    Lancashire     in    the    following 


Coimti?  ^anlatme  of  Sanraeiter.  295 

the  inhabitants  and  people  of  the  kingdom  for  the  eighth  of  all  the  goods  of  every    chap. 

layman,  and  the  most  urgent  necessity  of  the  kingdom,  the  king  has  agi'eed  to  con-  !_ 

firai  the  gi-eat  charter  of  the  liberties  of  England,  and  the  charter  of  the  liberties  of 
the  forest;  and  to  grant,  by  letters  patent,  that  the  said  levy  of  the  eightli  shall  not 
operate  to  the  prejudice  of  his  people,  or  to  the  infringement  of  their  liberties;  and 
he  commands  and  firmly  enjoins  the  sheriff,  that  he  cause  to  be  elected,  without 
delay,  two  of  the  most  able  and  legal  knights  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  send 
them  mth  full  powers  from  the  whole  community  of  the  said  county,  to  liis  dearest 
son  Edward,  his  lieutenant  in  England,  (the  king  being  then  abroad,  engaged  in  the 
Avar  with  France,)  on  the  octaves  of  St.  Michael  next  ensuing,  to  receive  the  said 
charters  and  the  king's  letters  patent  for  the  said  county.* 

In  the  parliament  of  1296,  no  original  writ  for  Lancasliire  appears,  nor  is  there  Returns  in 

the  reicn 

any  enrolment  of  writs  de  expensis  for  this  county  on  the  rolls.  of  Edw.  i. 

The  members  returned  in  the  parliament  of  1297,  were  "  Henricus  de  Kigheley" 
and  "  Henricus  le  Botiller,"  vel  "  Botiler." 

In  the  parliament  of  1298,  the  return  in  the  original  writ  is  "  Henricus  de 
Kigheley,"  and  "  Joannes  Denyes,"  knights  of  the  slm-e. 

The  parliament  of  the  following  year  produces  no  original  writ,  nor  any  wiit  de 


*  FIRST  WRIT  EXTANT  TO  THE  SHERIFF  OF  LANCASTER,  FOR  THE 
CONFIRMATION  OF  THE  CHARTERS. 

"  Edwatidus  Dei  gra  Rex  Aug!  Dtis  Hiba  T^  Dux  Aquit  Vic  Lancastr  sattm.     Quia  in  releva-   De  veni- 

^..,n  ,•  .~.  ^.,  ....  ^'i  ~         endo  pro 

cionem  omium  incolaj  t  populi  regni  nn  p  octava  omium  bonog  singulo^  laicofi  ,p  totni  iciem  regnu  p   confirma- 

urgentissima  nuc  dci  regni  cont"  Gallicos  necessitate  levandas  concessimus  j>  notj  T  lierecl  nris  con-  ^j°°^ 

firmare  T;  firmiP  teii  fa8e  magnam  cartam  de  lifeertatib3  AngtT;  cartam  de  liBtatib3  foreste  T;  concedere   Carte. 

oiTiib3  et  singulis    ejusdem    regni  Iras  nras    patentes    qd    dee   octave  levacio  no  cedet  eisde  in 

pjudiciu  Svitutem  exheredacoem  usu  vel  consuetudine  in  futuru  tibi  jJcipim®  tirmiP  injugentes  qd 

sine  ditone  aliq*  duos  de  j)biorib3  T;  legaliorib3  militib3  com  tui  eligi  1  eos  plenam  potestatem  ^  ipis 

T;  tota  coitate  dci  Com  lientes  ad  Edwardii  filiii  nrm  carissimu  tenetem  in  Angl  locu  nrm  venire  fac 

ita  qd  sint  London  ad  eunde  filiu  nrm  mod  oIb3  in  Octat)  Sci  Micliis  pro.xTo  futuf  ad  ultimii  carta3   g  Oct. 

j?dicta3  p  1 1fas  nras  su  dca  concessione  p  ipa  coitate  in  forma  fJdicta  recepturi  %  fcuri  ulfius  qd  ^^^''• 

f)  diem  filiCi  T;  consiliu  nrm  ibidem  j?dit  ordinatum.      Et  hoc  nullo  modo  omittas  T;  tieas  hoc  bi^e.    is  Sept. 

'^  *,    ^j       .        .  .  1297 

T.  Edwardo  filio  nro  apud  Scm  Paulu,  London,  xv  die  Sept  anno  r.  n.  vicesimo  qumto. 

"  Rot.  Claus.  25  Ed.  I.  m.  6.  d.  Orig.  in  Turn  Lond." 

"  In  dorso, 
Elegi  feci  p  assensu  toti®  Com  Hens  de  Kigheleye  T^  Henr  le  Botiller  qui  plenam  potestatem  Kent 
|iut  in  bri  cotinef, 
Pleg  p'dci  Henr  de  Kigheley  ven     §  Rogus  de  Boulton  T:  Ad  de  Stodlehurst, 

Pleg  Henr  le  Botiler  ven  §  AVilts  fit  Simonis  deCanterhale    Wilts  Gormond  de  eadm." 


296 


CI;e  5?i^toii)  of  tfie 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


Number 
of  places 
returning 
members. 


Duration 
of  session 
of  parlia- 
ment. 


expensls,  for  this  county.     The  same  observation  applies  to  the  parliaments  of  May, 
1300  and  1305,  and  to  the  two  parliaments  in  1306. 

To  the  parliament  of  January,  1300,  "  Henricus  de  Kigheley"  and  "  Tliomas 
Travers"  were  returned  for  this  countyj  in  September,  1302,  "  WilUelmus  de 
Chfton"  and  "  Gilbertus  de  Singleton;"  in  1304,  "  WilUelmus  de  CUfton,"  vel 
"  de  Clyffedone,"  and  "  Willielmus  Banastre,"  were  elected  to  the  same  honour. 
These  retui-ns  to  the  frequent  parliaments,*  in  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of 
Edward  I.  complete  the  writs  for  that  period,  so  far  as  regards  this  county.  During 
the  same  reign,  four  returns  were  made  to  parliament  of  members  for  the  borough  of 
Lancaster,  two  for  the  borough  of  Liverpool,  five  for  Preston,  and  two  for  Wigan ; 
each  of  which  Tvill  be  treated  of  in  its  proper  place. 

The  number  of  counties,  cities,  and  boroughs,  making  returns  to  parliament  at 
this  time  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  forty-nine,  t  in  the  list  of  which  we  find  ten 
members  for  Lancashii-e;  namely,  two  for  the  county,  and  two  for  each  of  the  above- 
named  boroughs.  In  the  24  Henry  VI.  the  number  of  members  was  reduced  to 
274,  all  the  boroughs  of  Lancasliiie  having  then  disappeared  from  the  list,  and  the 
only  members  returned  for  this  county  consisting  of  the  knights  of  the  shire. 

Although  these  eai-ly  parliaments  Avere  fr-equent,  the  period  of  then-  sitting  was 
of  short  duration.  In  49  Henry  HI.  the  pai-Hament  which  assembled  to  settle  the 
peace  of  the  kingdom,  after  the  barons'  wars,  accomplished  its  duty  in  thirty-two 
days,  and  then  dissolved;  and  yet  this  was  reputed  an  increchble  delay.  The  parlia- 
ment 28  Edwai-d  I.  which  confinned  the  great  charter,  and  made  arthuU  super 
cartas,  was  summoned  to  meet  on  the  second  Sunday  in  Lent,  and  ended  the  20th 
day  of  March,  on  which  day  the  writs  for  the  knights'  and  burgesses'  expenses  were 
dated,  malving  a  session  of  three  weeks.  The  famous  parliament  at  Lincoln, 
28  Edward  I.  Avherein  the  king  and  nobles  wi'ote  their  memorable  letters  to  pope 
Boniface,  claiming  homage  fi-om  the  lungs  of  Scotland  to  the  kings  of  England,  sat 
but  ten  days.  The  parliament  of  35  Edward  I.  was  summoned  to  meet  at  Carlisle, 
on  the  20th  of  January,  when  the  king  expected  cardinal  Sabines ;  but  the  cardinal 
not  arriving,  as  was  expected,  the  king  prorogued  this  parliament  by  another  writ, 
till  the_  Sunday  next  after  Mid-lent,  and  on  Palm  Sunday  the  parliament  ended, 
having  sat  only  fourteen  days,  whereof  thi-ee  were  Sundays,];  it  being  in  those  times 


*  It  is  evident  that  no  fixed  rule  was  adhered  to  in  summoning  these  parliaments,  except  that 
which  arose  out  of  the  king's  want  of  either  money  or  counsel,  or  both.  The  order  of  the  parliament 
of  Oxford,  that  three  parliaments  should  be  held  in  one  year,  does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  acted 
upon  with  uniformity,  and  this  enactment  was  probably  intended  only  to  fix  the  times  at  which  the 
parliaments  were  to  assemble,  till  the  reforms  then  contemplated  were  completed. 

t  Prynne's  Brev.  Pari.  t  Prynne's  Enlargement  of  his  4th  Institute. 


Coimti)  ^Jalatiiif  of  iLaiuassttr.  297 

the  general  practice  to  assemble  the  pai-liameiits  on  the  Sunday,  and  so  far  to  dis-    chap. 
regard  the  Sahbath,  as  to  hold  theii-  sittings  contmuously,  without  any  intermission,      ^"'" 
on  that  day. 

Edward  II. 

No  fewer  than  tlmly-two  parliaments  were  held  during  the  twenty  years'  reign  Frequent 
of  Edward  II.     There  are  no  waits  extant  for  Lancashu-e  in  eleven  of  that  number:  mentt." 
namely,  in  1308  and  1309;  in  1311;  in  the  two  parliaments  of  1312,  the  fii-st  in 
February  and  the  latter  in  July;  in  the  parliaments  of  1313  and  1316;  and  m  those 
of  1317,  1318,  1319,  and  1323. 

Mr.  Palgi-ave,  in  liis  second  volume  of  Parhamentary  Writs  and  Writs  of  MiKtary 
Summons,  published  by  chi-ection  of  the  commissioners  of  public  records,  has  given  a 
very  complete  list  of  the  returns  made  to  parliament,  by  the  sheriflf  of  Lancashu-e, 
during  tliis  reign;  and  from  that  source  the  follo>ving  retimis,  from  1307  to  1327, 
are  derived. 

In  1307,  it  appears  from  the  original  wit  for  this  county,  that  "  Matheus  de  Members 
Reddeman,  miles,"  and  "  Willielmus  le  Gentyl,  miles,"  were  returned.*  foJX"' 

In  1311,  "Thomas  deBethune,"  vel  "  Bethum,  miles,"  and  "  Williehnus  le  """''^• 
Gentylle,"  vel  "  Gentyl,  miles,"  were  returned  to  the  parliament  on  the  8th  of 
August.  The  wiit  de  espensis  for  the  attendance  at  parliament,  from  the  return  day 
until  the  feast  of  St.  Dionysius,  together  v.'iih.  their  chai-ges  coming  and  returning,  is 
tested  at  London,  on  the  11th  of  October.  It  is  remarkable,  that  an  individual, 
named  Thomas  de  Bethun,  or  Bethom,  is  also  returned  for  Westmoreland  in  the 
same  parliament;  and  it  is  liighly  probable,  that  the  electors  in  some  cases  econo- 
mized theii-  expenses,  by  returning  the  same  member  to  represent  two  counties. 
This  parliament  is  remarkable  for  the  desertion  of  its  public  duty,  from  a  cause 
which  strikingly  indicates  that  ancient  members  of  parliament  had  much  less  patience 
than  theii'  successors  of  the  present  day.     So  exhausted  were  the  lords,  the  king's 

*  This  parliament  was  held  at  Northampton,  and  the  nature  of  the  business  there  to  be  transacted 
is  indicated  in  the  following  writ  of  summons  to  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster : — 

Rot.  claus.  1  Edw.  II.  m.  19.  d. 

Writ  docketed  "  De  veniendo  ad  parliamentum  Regis,"  addressed  to  "  Thomas,"  earl  of 
Lancaster  and  others. — "  The  King  is  desirous  to  hold  a  special  '  Colloquium'  with  the  Earl,  the 
Prelates,  and  the  Magnates  of  the  Kingdom,  concerning  the  celebration  of  the  funeral  of  the  late 
King  his  father,  and  also  the  solemnization  of  his  own  espousals  and  coronation.  The  Earl  is 
therefore  commanded,  '  in  fide  et  dilectione,'  to  be  in  person  at  Northampton,  on  the  Qiiintaine  of 
St.  Michael,  13  Oct.  in  order  to  treat  and  advise  on  the  said  affairs  with  the  King,  and  with  the 
Prelates  and  Magnates  of  the  Kingdom." — Tlie  writ  contains  the  Premunientes  clause  for  the  clergy 
of  the  diocese.  Orig.  in  Turr.  Lond. 

VOL.  I.  2  Q 


298  €l)t  ?Si£iti3ri)  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    counsel,  the  limgbts,  aud  the  burgesses,  by  theii-  sitting  of  nine  weeks,  tliat  most  ol' 

L  them  departed  from  parliament  without  license,  as  the  wTits  aud  summons  attest,  and 

the  remainder  petitioned  the  king  to  adjourn,  and  tlms  obtained  license  to  return  to 
their  homes. 

Tlie  original  writ  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  in  the  parliament  of  August, 
1312,  retm-ns  "  Henricus  de  Trafforde,  miles,"  and  "  Ricardus  le  Moliueaux  de 
Croseley,  rmles."  No  enrolment  of  writ  de  expensis  ajjpears  on  the  rolls,  but  the 
entries  of  such  writs  are  incomplete. 

"  Dominus  "VVillielmus  de  Bradeschagh,  miles,"  and  "  Dominus  Edmundus  de 
Dacre,  miles,"  are  returned  in  the  original  writ  of  March  18,  1313.  In  the  writ  of 
July  8,  in  the  same  year,  "  Radulphus  de  Bykerstathe,  miles,"  and  "  Willielmus  de 
Slene,  miles,"  are  returned.  No  manucaptors  were  found  by  these  knights.  To  the 
parKameilt  of  the  23d  of  September,  in  tlie  same  year,  "  Henricus  de  Fegliirby  vei 
Fegherby,  miles,"  and  "  Thomas  de  Thornton  vel  Thorneton,  miles,"  are  returned. 
The  writ  de  expensis  for  "  Henricus  de  Fegherby,"  and  "  Thomas  de  Thorneton," 
for  attendance  at  parliament,  from  tlie  retiu'u  day,  (September  23),  uutU  Thursday 
next  after  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  (November  15)  amounts  to  £21.  125.  at  the  rate 
of  four  shillings  each  per  diem,  together  with  then-  chai-ges  coming  and  returning. 

In  the  pai-liament  of  Sej)tember,  1314,  "  Thomas  Banastr',  mUes,"  and  "  WUliel- 
mus  de  Slene,  nules,"  ajjpear  in  the  original  writ,  as  well  as  in  the  writ  de 
expensis. 

"  Willielmus  de  Bradeshagh,  miles,"  and  "  Adam  de  Halghton,  miles,"  are 
returned,  1395,  and  £19.  4s.,  at  the  rate  of  four  sliillings  each  per  diem,  as  awarded 
to  them  by  the  writ  de  expensis. 

In  the  following  year,  "Johannes  de  Lancastrie,"  and  "  Willielmus  de  Walton," 
are  returned  on  the  27th  of  January. 

"  Rogerus  de  Pilketon,  miles,"  and  "  Johannes  de  Pilketon,  miles,"  aj-e  returned 
by  the  original  writ  of  29th  July,  in  the  same  year,  and  their  chai-ges  allowed  at  the 
usual  rate  in  the  writ  de  expensis. 

"  Edmundus  de  Ne\-iir,  miles,"  and  "  Johannes  de  Horneby,  miles,"  are 
retm-ned  by  tlie  original  writ  of  1318,  on  which  it  is  observed,  that  no  manucaptors 
were  found  by  these  knights.  At  tliis  period  an  advance  took  place  in  the  wages 
allowed  to  the  comity  members  for  then-  services  in  parliament,  and  the  allowance 
in  the  writ  de  expensis  is  five  sliillings  each  per  diem,  instead  of  four,  as  liitherto. 

In  the  following  year,  "  Willielmus  de  Walton,  miles,"  and  "  Willielmus  de 
Slene,  miles,"  are  returned  in  the  origuial  writ  for  the  county ;  but  it  is  much  torn 
and  defaced,  and  rendered  almost  illegible.  From  some  cause,  the  members'  wages 
were  again  reduced  to  four  sliillings  each  per  diem. 


Coimtp  palatine  of  ilanrasiter*  299 

"  Gilbertus  clc  Haydok,  miles,"  and  "  Thomas  de  Thornton,  miles,"  appear  hi    chap. 

the  original  writ,  and  in  the  writ  de  expensis ;  but  it  was  alleged,  that  they  Avere   L 

returned  by  WiUielmus  le  Gentil,  the  sheiiflf,  on  his  own  authority,  and  without  the 
assent  of  the  county. 

No  original  writ  for  this  county  is  found  for  the  parliament  of  1321,  but  the 
names  of  "  Johannes  de  Horneby,  junior,"  and  "  Gilbertus  de  Heydok,"  are  inserted 
in  the  writ  de  expensis,  tested  at  Westminster  on  the  22d  of  August. 

"  Edmimdus  de  Nerill,  miles,"  and  "Johannes  de  Lancastria,  miles,"  were 
returned  to  the  parliament  of  1322.  By  this  writ,  the  sum  of  one  hundi-ed  and  seven 
shillings  and  fom-peuce  is  awarded  to  the  two  knights  for  seventeen  days'  attendance 
in  parliament  at  York,  and  six  days  coming  and  returning ;  Edmundus  de  Ne\-ille 
receiving  sixty-nine  sliillings,  at  the  rate  of  three  shillings  per  diem,  and  Johannes 
de  Lancastria  tliirty-eight  shillings,  at  the  rate  of  twenty  pence  per  diem ;  but  why 
the  latter  received  lower  wages  than  the  fonner  for  his  parliamentary  services 
is  not  stated.  It  may  be  presumed,  however,  that  the  surplus  fourpence  wliich 
remained  after  tliis  inequitable  division  was  made,  was  allotted  to  Johannes  de 
Lancastria. 

In  the  original  writs  of  election  and  proclamation  for  this  county,  in  the 
parliament  siimmoned  to  meet  at  Ripon  on  the  14th  of  November,  1322,  (altered 
aftei-wards  to  York,)  "  Richard  de  Hoghton,  miles,"  and  "  Gilbertus  de  Singilton' 
vel  Sengilton,  miles,"  were  returned.  From  the  writ  de  expensis  it  appears,  that 
the  original  rate  of  wages  was  re-estabUshed,  and  the  sum  of  £8.  8s.  for  fifteen  days' 
attendance  in  parliament,  and  three  days  coming,  and  three  days  returning,  was 
awarded  to  the  kniglits. 

In  1324,  the  original  writ  for  this  county  returns  the  names  of  "Edmundus  de 
Neviir,  miles,"  and  "  Gilbertus  de  Haidok,  miles."  The  names  of  "  Edmundus  de 
Nevyir  "  and  "  Thomas  de  Lathum,"  p.  iiri  dies,  are  entered  on  the  original  pawn 
or  docket,  as  knights  appearing  for  this  county.  The  writ  de  expensis  dii-ects,  that 
sixteen  mai'ks  for  twenty  days'  attendance  at  parliament,  and  four  days  coming,  and 
four  days  returning,  at  the  rate  of  thi-ee  sliillings  and  fourpence  each  per  diem, 
should  be  paid  to  the  knights.  No  reason  is  assigned  for  the  substitution  of  the 
name  of  "  Thomas  de  Lathum"  for  that  of  Gilbert  de  Haidok. 

"  Wilhelmus  de  Slene,  miles,"  and  "  Nicholaus  le  Non-ays  vel  Norreys,  miles," 
appear  in  the  original  writ  for  this  county,  returned  by  Gilbertus  de  [Sothejworth, 
sheriff.  No  manucaptors  were  found  by  these  Itnights.  In  the  writ  de  expensis, 
£7.  15s.  is  awarded  to  the  members  for  twenty-one  days'  attendance  in  parliament, 
and  five  days  coming,  and  five  days  returning,  at  tlie  rate  of  two  sliillings  and  six- 
pence each  per  cUem.     There  is  a  peculiarity  hi  tliis  original  vait.     Usually  the 

2q2 


300 


€l)t  fiMov^  of  tf)e 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


Lanca- 
shire bo- 
rough re- 
turns in 
this  reign. 


The  high 
sheriff  of 
Lanca- 
shire as- 
sumes the 
power  to 
elect 
members. 


citizens  and  burgesses  of  the  county  are  rcquii-ed  to  send  members ;  but  in  this  case, 
tlic  summons  is  confined  to  knights  of  the  shire. 

In  1325,  "  Willielmus  de  Bradeshaghe,  miles,"  and  "  Johannes  de  Horneby  vel 
Hornby,"  are  returned.  No  manucaptors  Avere  found  by  these  knights.  In  the  vnit 
de  expensis,  £7.  14s.  is  awarded  for  twenty-two  days'  attendance  in  pai-liament, 
inchiding  coming  and  returning ;  "  Willielmus  de  Bradeshaghe"  to  be  paid  at  the 
rate  of  four  shillings  per  diem,  a  knight's  wages,  and  "  Johannes  de  Horneby,"  at 
the  rate  of  three  shillings  per  diem,  an  inferior  rate  of  wages. 

In  1326-7,  "  Ednmndus  de  Nevyll,  miles,"  and  "  Ricardus  de  Hoghton, 
miles,"  appear  in  the  writ  of  expenses,  the  original  vn-'it  not  being  found. 
The  sum  awarded  to  the  two  knights  is  £28.  8s.  for  seventy-one  days  attend- 
ance in  parliament,  coming  and  returning,  at  the  rate  of  four  sliillkigs  each 
per  diem. 

During  tliis  reign,  four  returns  are  made  for  the  borough  of  Lancaster,  and  two 
for  the  borough  of  Preston,  but  none  for  either  Liverpool  or  Wigan.  The  rate  of 
wages  paid  to  the  borough  members  appears  to  have  been  fixed  at  two  shillings  each 
per  diem. 

By  an  assumption  of  power  which  is  scarcely  to  be  credited,  the  high  sheriff  of 
the  county,  in  17  EdAvard  II.,  aiTOgated  to  liimself,  as  we  have  already  seen,  the 
right  of  superseding  the  privileges  of  the  electors,  and  returning  members  for  the 
county  by  his  own  appointment.  The  presentation  made  to  the  grand  jury  of 
the  hundred  of  West  Derby,  against  this  ostentatious  and  arbitrary  sheriff,  has 
already  been  referred  to,  but  it  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  have  the  document 
entu'e  : — 


Rot.  Plac. 
cov.  R. 
17  Ed.  II. 
m.  72. 


Present- 
ment 
against 
the  high 
sheriff. 


LANCASTER. 


"  The  Grand  Jury  of  the  Wapeulalie  of  West  Derby,  pre- 
sent, That  '  Willielmus  le  Gentil,'  at  the  time  when  he  was 
Sheriff,  and  when  he  held  his  Towrn  in  the  said  Wajientake, 
ought  to  have  remained  no  longer  in  the  Wapentake  than 
three  nights  with  three  or  four  horses,  whereas  he  remained 
there  at  least  nine  days  with  eight  horses,  to  the  oppression  of  the  people  ;  and  that 
he  quartered  himself  one  night  at  the  house  of  '  Diis  de  Tiirbat,"  and  another 
night  at  the  house  of  one  '  Rohcrtiis  de  Bold,'  another  at  the  house  of  '  Rohertus  de 
Grenlay,'  and  elsewhere,  according  to  his  \\ill,  at  the  cost  of  the  men  of  the 
Wapentake. 

"  They  also  present,  that  the  said  '  WUlielmus'  allowed  one  '  Henricus  fil. 
Roberti  le  fiercer,'  indicted  of  a  notorious  theft,  to  be  let  out  upon  manucaption ; 
whereas  he  was  not  mainpernable   according  to  the  law ;  in   consequence  of  whicli 


Coiinti?  ^Jalatiuf  of  iLanrasstrr.  301 

the  men  of  tlie  Wapentake  avoided  maldng  presentments  of  notorious  tliieves ;  and    chap. 
that ' Henricus  de  Malton'  did  the  same  when  lie  was  sheiifF.  ^"^- 

"  Tliat  the  said '  WilUehnus'  and '  Henricus  returned  certain  persons  on  inquests 
and  jmies,  without  giving  them  warning. 

"  Tliat  the  said  '  Williehiius  le  GcntU,'  when  sheriff,  had  returned  '  GiJhcrtus  de 
Haijdol-,'  and  '  TJiomas  de  Tliornton,''  knights  of  the  shii-c,  (14  Edward  II.)  without 

the  assent  of  the  County,  whereas  they  ought  to  have  been  elected  by  the  County ; 

and  had  ieided  twenty  pounds  for  theii*  expenses ;  whereas  the  County  could,  by 
then-  o^vn  election,  have  found  two  good  and  sufficient  men,  who  would  have  gone 
to  Parliament  for  ten  marks  or  ten  pounds,  and  the  sheriff's  bailiffs  levied  as  much 
for  theu"  own  use  as  they  had  leA"ied  for  the  knights. 

"  Also,  that  '  Henricus  de  Malton,'  when  he  was  sheriff,  had  returned 
'  WilUehnus  de  Slene,'  and  '  Willielmus  de  Walton,''  as  knights,  (12  Edwai-d  II.) 
in  the  same  manner. 

"  The  said  '  Willielmus  GentiV  is  enlarged,  upon  the  manucaption  of  four 
manucaptors." 

Edward  III. 

In  the  fii-st  parliament  of  Edward  III.  "  Michael  de  Haverington,"  and  "  Willus  Lanca- 
Lawi-ence, '  were  returned  knights  of  the  shire  for  the  county  of  Lancaster.  members 

"  Nichus   le   Norreys"    and    "  Henricus   de    Haydock,"   were  elected  in  the  reigt'^of 
following  year,  and  were  succeeded  by  "  Thomas  de  Thornton,"  and  "  John  de  inJ^"'' 
Hornby,"  who  were  succeeded  in  the  same  year  by  "  Willus  de  Bradshaigh,"  and 
"  Edras  de  Nevill." 

In  the  following  year,  "  Nicholaus  de  Non-eys,"  and  "  Henry  de  Haydok," 
attended  the  adjourned  parliament,  and  were  succeeded  by  "  Willus  de  Bradeshawe," 
and  "  Johes  de  Lancastria." 

"  Willus  de  Saperton,"  and  "  Henry  de  Haydok,"  were  their  successors  in  the 
year  1330.  At  the  election  of  these  members  the  sheriff,  by  order  of  the  king,  pro- 
claimed that  if  any  person  in  the  county  had  suffered  wi'ong  from  any  of  the  servants 
of  the  crown,  they  were  to  come  to  the  nest  parUament,  and  make  known  their 
complamts. 

"  Willus  de  Bradshawe,"  and  "  Oliverus  de  Stanesfield,"  were  retm'ued 
in  1331. 

"  Robertus  de  Dalton,"  and  "  Johes  de  Horneby,"  were  elected  in  1332, 
and  in  the  same  year  "  Adam  Banastre,"  and  "  Robertus  de  Dalton,"  were 
returned. 


302 


C&e  ?l}i^tori)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


Duration 
of  parlia- 
ments. 


In  1333,  "  Edo.s  clc  Nevill,"  and  "  Johannes  de  Horneby,"  were  electedj  and  In 
the  MTits  de  expensis  it  appeal's,  that  the  wages  of  the  knights  were  then  foui-  sliillings 
per  diem. 

"  Robertas  de  Radeclyf,"  and  "  Henricus  de  Haydock,"  were  returned  in  the 
follo^nng  yeai",  and  they  were  succeeded  in  the  same  year  by  "  Echuundus  de  Nevill," 
and  "  Robertus  de  Dalton." 

"  In  1335,  "  Robertus  de  Slm-bui-n,"  and  "  Edmundus  de  NeviU,"  were 
elected. 

In  1336,  "  Johannes  de  Horneby,"  and  "  Henricus  de  Haydok,"  were  returned; 
and  in  the  same  year  "  Johannes  de  Shii-bum,"  and  "  Henricus  de  Haydok." 

.  In  the  following  year,  "  Robertus  de  Irland,"  and  "  Henricus  de  Haydok,"  were 
returned,  and  they  were  succeeded  in  the  same  year  by  "  Ricus  de  Hoghton,"  and 
"  Edmundus  de  Nevill." 

The  changes  made  in  the  county  members  seem  at  this  period  to  have  been  very 
frequent,  but  whether  that  ai'ose  from  tlie  fickleness  of  the  constituents,  from  the 
inadequate  payments  made  to  the  knights  of  the  shire,  or  from  the  unproductive 
natui'e  of  parliamentary  influence,  and  the  very  diminutive  size  of  the  pension  list, 
does  not  appear. 

The  return  to  the  ^vi-it  of  summons,  in  the  year  1338,  contained  the  names  of 
"  Johannes  de  Hornby,"  and  "  Johannes  de  Clyderhowe,"  as  knights  of  the 
shii-e,  to  whom,  by  the  writ  de  expensis,  dated  at  Northampton,  on  the  2d  of  August, 
the  sum  of  £7.  4s.  was  awarded  for  coming  to,  remaining  in  parliament,  and 
returning  to  their  houses,  being  a  payment  of  four  sliillings  each  per  diem  for 
eighteen  days. 

The  writ  for  1339,  was  issued  by  the  guai-dian  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  king's 
council,  in  his  majesty's  absence;  and  the  knights  returned  to  parliament  for  the 
county  of  Lancaster  were  "  Robertus  de  Clyderhowe,"  and  "  Henricus  de  Biker- 
stath."  In  the  same  year,  "  Nichus  de  Hulm,"  and  "  Robertus  de  Prestecote," 
were  returned. 

"  Robertus  de  Dalton,"  and  "  Johannes  de  Dalton,"  were  returned  in  1340; 
and  in  the  same  year  "  Johannes  de  Radecliife,"  and  "  Robertus  de  Radecliff,"  were 
elected,  and  returned  to  parliament,  with  the  usual  allowance  of  four  shillings 
per  diem. 

During  the  remainder  of  this  reign,  the  parliaments  continued  to  be  held  almost 
every  year;  and  it  is  clear,  from  the  continually  varying  names  retimied  for  the 
county  of  Lancaster,  that  each  session  was  a  new,  and  not  an  adjourned  parliament. 
It  is  equally  clear,  that  no  argument  in  favour  of  any  precise  duration  of  parliament 
can  be  founded  upon  the  practice  of  these  early  times,   seeing  that  there  was  fre- 


Johes  de  Haverington, 
Johes  Ungton, 

Clatis.  17  E.  III.  P.  1.  771.  1.  dorso. 


f  Westminster,    Monday,    15  7 

1  days  of  Easter.  J  ^13.  12s.  for  34  days. 

Claus.  17  E.  III.  P.  1.  711.  1.  dor 

Niclius  le  Botiller,  ^  Westminster,  Monday  after  "> 

WiUus  fil.  Rob.  de  Radeciiff,  |     Octaves  of  Holy  Trinity.     3  ^^^-  ^^^-  ^"'^  ^^  ^^'^'^• 

Claus.  18  E.  III.  P.  2.  m.  26. 

Johes  de  Cliderhowe,  C  Westminster,  Monday  after  "> 

Adam  de  Bredekirk,  {  Feast  of  Nat.  Blessed  Mary.  >  ^'^-  ^^-  ^°^  ^^  ^^y^' 

Claus.  20  E.  in.  P.  2.  m.  14.  d. 

„,,,,,  ^  c  Westminster,  Monday  after  ^ 

Robt.  de  Plesyngton,  V     ^      .   .        ',,.,,,_      .    ) 

R  bt  d    Pre  tcote  I     Domniic.  day  Middle  Quad-  K  £9.  4s.  for  23  days. 

^    ragesima.  J 

Claus.  22  E.  III.  P.  1.  »».  24.  d. 

Adam  de  Hoghton,  C  Westminster,  Morrow  of  St. ") 

Johes  Cokayn,  ^  Hillary.  ]  £15.  4s.  for  38  days. 

Claus.  22  E.  III.  P.  1.  m.  33.  doi 
Otto  de  Halsale,  C  Westminster,  Octaves  of  the  ^ 

Willus  de  Radeclif.  {  Purification.  S  °^^^'  ^'"  ^°'"  ^^    ^^^' 


Claus.  25  E.  III.  Pars  tinica  m.  27-  dorso. 


No  writ  found. 


C  Westminster,  Tuesday,  Feast ") 
I  St.  Hillary.  j 


Coimt|)  |3alatine  of  Saiirasittn  aos 

queutly  more  than  one  parliament  in  the  year ;  and  that  at  other  times,  the  assem-    chap. 

bling  of  parliament  was  intermitted  for  two,  three,  or  four  yeai's.  L 

In  the  4th  of  Edward  III.  it  was  enacted,  that  parUaments  should  be  held  once  a 
year,  and  oftener,  if  necessary.  The  36  Edward  VI.  requu'cs  a  pailiameut  to  be 
held  every  year.  By  16  Charles  II.  it  is  enacted,  that  pailiaments  shall  be  trien- 
nial ;  confirmed  by  6  William  and  Mary ;  but  by  1  George  I.  the  time  of  theii* 
continuance,  if  considered  necessary  by  the  king  and  his  advisers,  was  rendered 
septennial.  So  that  our  parliamentaiy  history  affords  all  tlie  precedents  from  three 
parliaments  in  the  yeai'  to  one  parliament  in  seven  years. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  for  the  county  of  Lancaster  dming  the 
remainder  of  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  with  the  date  of  the  parliaments  in  which 
they  sat,  and  the  amount  of  wages  they  received  from  the  county  : — 

Members,  (Knights.)  Parliament  at  Wages. 


26  E.  III. 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


304 

Members,  (Knights.) 
Johes  de  Haveryngton, 


Willus  Careles, 
("Duchy  of  Lane") 

Willus  Careles, 
Ricus  Nowell, 


mn  l^igtorj)  of  tlje 

Parliament  at 
C  Westminster,    Morrow*   of  "^ 


Wages. 


£4.  4s.  for  21  days. 


^  the  Assumption.  3 

Claus.  26  E.  III.  m.  10.  d. 

(■Westminster,  Monday  after 7 

I  St.  Matthi.  Apost.  1^6.  for  30  days. 

Claus.  27  E.  III.  m.  5.  d. 

C Westminster,  Monday  after 7  „     „,   , 

\  c.  AT    1   IT  t  ^13.  12s.  for  34  days. 

^  St.  Mark  Evang.  y  •' 

Clmis.  28  E.  in.  m.  21.  rf. 


Rog.  de  Farndon. 
Robt.  de  Horneby, 


Vrits  ad- 
dressed to 
the  duke 
of  Lan- 
caster. 


f  Westminster,   Monday  after  7  ,„  , 

1        St.  Edmm.d,  Martyr.        j  ^^^  ^^^  ^or  19  days. 

Claus.  29  E.  III.  Pars  unica,  m.  3.  d. 

„,         .  ,^      ,  .>  £1.  12s.   for    John   for  38 

Westminster,  Monday  seven  I        ,  ^  ^     t,  ^  ^   nn   a 

'      -^  N      days,  and  for  Robt.  £6.  4s. 

weeks  after  Easter.  i       r     oi    i 

J       tor  31  days. 

(Addressed  to  the  Duke.)  Clam.  31  E.  III.  m.  19.  d. 


John  de  Haveringtou, 
Robt.  de  Singleton, 


1 


The  writs  de  expensis  for  the  knights  of  the  sliire  for  the  county  of  Lancaster 
ai"e  directed,  not  to  the  sheriff,  but  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster  himself. 

The  knights  for  the  counties  generally  had  two  distinct  writs,  some  of  them  for 
six,  others  for  seven,  and  one  for  eight  days'  expenses  ;  but  the  ^\Tits  for  Lancashbe 
were  issued  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster  himself,  by  the  title  of  Duke  and  Duchy  of 
Lancaster : — 


Members,  (Knights.) 

Roger  de  Farjmgdon, 
Robert  de  Horneby, 


Willus  de  Radecly, 
Ricus  de  Tounley, 


Parliament,  at 


Wages. 


C  Westminster,  Monday  after  7 

I  Purification  B.M.  j  ^13-  12s.  for  34  days. 

Claus.  ^2  E.  in.  m.3\.d. 

C  Westminster,   Sunday   after  7 

{       Conversion  of  St.  Paul,      j  <£15.  4s.  for  38  days. 
Claus.  35  E.  Ill  m.  38  d. 


No  Writ  for  Lancashire  in  ^  Westminster,  15  days  of  St. 


Prynne. 


I 


Michael. 


} 


36  E.  in. 


*  This  was  called  the  "  Great  Council"  for  "  settling  the  Staple"  or  manufacture  of  the  kingdom, 
to  which  Lancashire  sent  only  one  member  for  the  county,  and  none  for  its  boroughs;  but  were 
such  a  council  to  be  held  in  the  present  day,  it  is  highly  probable  that  this  county  would  return,  at 
least,  its  full  complement  of  members. 


Counti?  |3alatiiie  of  S.anrastcr.  305 

At  this  period,  a  singular  piece  of  presumption  was  practised  in  the  return  to  parlia-  chav. 

rnent  of  members  for  the  county  of  Lancaster.   The  deputy  sherifls,  instead  of  returning  L 

the  members  elected  by  the  county,  returned  themselves,  concealing  the  writ,  and  levy- 
ing the  expenses,  wliich  they  appropriated  to  their  own  use.     Upon  complaint  made  to 


False 
return 
made  by 

the  king,  he  issued  two  \\Tits :  the  first  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliire,  and  the  second  't''  V"***^'" 

<='  '  sheiifls. 

to  the  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  county,  directing  them  to  examine  into  the  merits 
of  the  election,  and  to  certify  the  facts  to  him  in  chancery ;  in  the  mean  time,  the 
levying  of  the  expenses  Avas  suspended  tUl  further  orders  upon  these  "  unparalleled 
Avrits,"  as  they  are  called  by  Prynne. 

In  the  writ  to  the  sheriff,  that  officer  is  informed,  that  the  greatest  agitation  exists 
in  Lancasliire  respecting  the  election  of  the  knights  for  that  county  in  the  last  parlia- 
ment; and  his  majesty,  wishing  to  be  more  fully  informed  about  the  election,  com- 
mands the  sheriff  to  assemble  tlie  knights  and  other  good  men  of  the  commons  of 
the  said  county,  and  to  make  inquiiy,  whether  "  Edrus  Laurence"  and  "  Matthew 
Risheton,"  who  have  been  returned  in  the  writ  to  parliament  as  knights  of  the  said 
county,  or  other  persons,  were  duly  elected ;  and  if,  upon  deliberation  and  iufonna- 
tion,  he  should  find  them  to  have  been  elected  by  the  common  assent  of  the  county, 
then  to  cause  the  said  Edi-us  and  Matthew  to  have  £18.  16s.  for  their  expenses 
incuiTed  in  coming  to  the  parliament,  remaining  there,  and  then  returning;  that  is  to 
say,  for  forty-seven  days,  each  of  the  aforesaid  Edrus  and  Laurence  receiving  four 
shillings  per  diem ;  but  if  other  persons  have  been  elected  knights  of  the  said  county, 
then  the  sheriff  is  to  render  information  of  their  names  under  his  seal,  into  the  king's 
chancery,  and  to  remit  the  writ  to  his  majesty,  conformably  to  the  du-ections 
already  given.* 

*  "  Rex  vie.  Lancastr.     Salutem  Quia  super  electione  facta  de  Militibus  pro  Communitate  Com.    CI.  36. 
praedicti  pro  ultimo  Pailiamento  nostro  in  Comprsedicto  venientibus  maxima  altercatio  facta  existit,   f.'&\'.'  "'' 
Nos  ea  de  causa  volentes  super  electione  prsdicta  plenius  certiorari,  tibi  precipimus,  quod  habita  in   dorso. 
plenoCom.  tuo  super  electione  prsedicta  cum  Militibus  et  aliis  probis  hominibus  de  Communitate  dicti 
Com.  deliberatione  et  informatione  diligentibus  utrum,  viz.  Edrus  Laurence  &  Mattheus  de  Risheton, 
qui  in  Brevi  nostro  de  Parliamento  prsedicto  tibi  directo  retornati  fuerunt,  pro  Militibus  dicti  Com. 
electi  fuerint,  an  alii ;  et  si  per  deliberationem  et  informationem  hujusmodi  inveneris  ipsos  de  communi 
assensu  totius  Com.  prsed.  pro  Milit.  dicti  Com.  electos  fuisse  tunc  hab.  fac.  eisdem  Edro  et  Matthao 
decern  et  octo  lib.  sexdecim  solidos  pro  Expensis  suis  venieudo  ad  Parliamentum  prsedictum,  ibidem 
morando  et  exinde  ad  propria  redeundo,  videlicet,  pro  quadraginta  et  septem  diebus  ;  utroque  prsedic- 
tomm  Edri  et  Laurentii*  capiente  per  diem  quatuor  solidos  :  et  si  alii  pro  Militibus  ejusdem  Com. 
electi  fuerint,  tunc  Nos  de  nominibus  illorum  sub  sigillo  tuo  in  Cancellaria  nostra  reddas  certiores,  hoc 
breve  nobis  remittens.     Teste  Rege,  apud  Westm.  17  Nov. 

]  "  Per  ipsum  Regem." 

*  An  error,  for  Matthcei. 
VOL.  I.  2  R 


306 


CIjc  Insitorj)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


The  king, 
and  not 
the  com- 
mons, de- 
cided upon 
disputed 
elections. 


Tlie  king's  writ  to  the  justices  is  adch-essed  to  his  beloved  and  faithful  Godefr. 
Foleiamhe,  and  his  fellow-justices  of  the  peace,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  on  the 
5th  of  February  following ;  and  it  states  roundly,  that  the  said  Edus  and  Matthew, 
who  are  the  sheriff's  lieutenants,  have  made  a  false  and  deceptive  return ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  the  jurors  ai'e  requii'ed  to  call  before  them,  at  their  next  session, 
the  knights  and  other  good  men  of  the  same  county,  and  take  diligent  information 
and  inquisition  on  the  above  premises,  and  to  return  the  same  into  the  king's  chan- 
cery; the  sheriff  of  Lancasliire  being  at  the  same  time  commanded  to  supersede  the 
levy  of  the  wages,  until  he  shall  have  further  dii'ections  from  the  king  in  liis  mandate 
respecting  them.  The  result  was,  that  the  election  was  declai-ed  void,  and  the 
sheriff's  lieutenants  were  unseated  by  the  king's  authority. 

The  proceedings  under  these  memorable  %vi-its,  wliich  were  the  first  of  the  kind 
that  were  issued,  serve  to  shew  that  the  Idng  in  these  early  times,  and  not  the  com- 
mons house  of  parliament,  examined  and  determined  on  disputed  elections ;  and  that 
the  king,  by  special  wi-it  issued  to  the  sheriff,  or  to  the  justices  of  the  peace,  caused 
the  mei-its  of  the  elections  to  be  inquii-ed  into,  and  certificate  to  be  made  of  their 
legality  or  illegality. 

But,  to  resume  the  returns  of  the  list  of  members  for  the  county : — 

Knights.  Parliament  at  Wages. 


Adam  de  Hoghton, 
Roger  de  Pylkyngton, 


C  Westm.  Octaves  of  St.  Hil- 1  „       „  , 

I  ,  I  £17.  4s.  for  43  davs. 

t  lary.  > 

CI.  39  E.  III.  m.  31  d. 


Job.  le  Botiller,  C  ^^'*^^-  ^^°''^''^'  ^^'^  °'°^- 

Will.  fil.  Robti  de  Radeclyf,  ) 

^      Cross 


c  <      row  of  the  Invention  of  the  S  £8.  16s.  for  22  days. 


-i 


Rog.  de  Pylkynton, 
Rog.  de  Radeclyf,  sen. 

Johes  de  Dalton, 
Johes  de  Ipre, 

Johes  de  Ipre, 
Ricus  de  Tounley, 


Johes  de  Ipre, 


C  7 

I  Westm.  1st  of  May.  J 


a.  40  E.  III.  m.  23  d. 

£14.  for  35  days. 

CI.  42  E.  in.  m.  14  rf. 


]  Westm.  Octaves  of  Trmity.    f  £8.  16s.  for  22  days. 

CI.  43  E.  Ill  m.  13  rf. 

f  Westm.   Monday,   Feast  of^  ^  ^    ,^     ,     ^,   , 
1  St.Miehael.  j  £l9.  12s.  for  51  days. 

CI.  Ab  E.  III.  m.  34  rf. 

C  Wvnton,  Mondav  in  Octaves  7 

1  of  Trinity.  j  £4.  4s.  for  21  days. 

CI.  45  E.  Ill  m.  22  rf. 


Knights. 

Nich.  de  Haveryntoii, 

Willus  de  Atherton, 
Jolies  de  Holcroft, 

Johes  Bottiler,  Chivaler, 
Rog.  de  Brokhols, 

Johes  Botiller, 
Rog.  Pilkington, 


County  palatine  of  aancasiten 

Parliament  at 


307 


Wages. 


CHAP 
VIII. 


CWestm.     Morrow     of     All") 

I  Souls.  1  ^6-  12b.  for  33  days. 

CI.  46  E.  III.  m.  4  d. 

f  Westni.  Morrow  of  St.  Ed-  } 

I  mund.  S  ^^^"  ^''  '"°'  ^^  '^^^''• 

CI.  47  E.  III.  m.  1  d. 
i  Westm.   Monday   after    St.  > 
I  Gregory.  j  ^^4.  8s.  for  86  days. 

CI.  50  E.  III.  P.  2.  m.  23  rf. 

f  Westm.    in    fifteen  days    of  "J 

^  St.  Hillai-y.  S  ^^^-  ^^'-  ^°'  ^'^  '^''^''• 

CI.  51  25.  ///.  »«.  12  rf. 


In  the  20  Edward  III.  the  nmnher  of  the  temporal  peers  summoned  to  the  Peers  of 


parliament  held  at  Westmuister,  at  the  head  of  whom  stood  Henry,  duke  of  Lan- 
caster, amounted  only  to  fifty-four,  from  wliich  it  may  be  inferred,  that  tlie  hundred 
and  fifty  barons  in  parliament  of  47  Henry  III.  mentioned  by  Selden,  included  the 
minor  barons,  at  that  time  the  only  representatives  of  the  commonality  of  the  land; 
and  that  not  by  delegation,  but  by  a  common  interest.  The  fixed  number  of  abbots 
and  priors  to  be  summoned  to  parliament  was  determined  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 
but  it  will  be  seen  by  the  foUowuig  list,  that  of  the  twenty-six  religious  houses  to 


parlia- 
ment, tem- 
poral and 
spiritnal. 


which   this    privilege    wa.s 
included : — 


adjudged,    none   of   the   Lancashire    monasteries   ai'e 


1.  St.  Albans, 

2.  Glastonbury, 


8.  Evesham,         15.  Shrewsbury,       22.  Malmesbury, 

9.  Winchelcomb,  16.  Gloucester,         23.  Cirencester, 


3.  St. Austin's,  Cant.  10.  Crowland, 

4.  Westminster,  11.  BatteU, 

5.  St.  Echnondsbury,  12.  Reading, 

6.  Peterborough,         13.  Abingdon, 

7.  Colchester,  14.  Waltham, 


17.  Barchiey,  24.  St. Mary,  York, 

18.  BenetinHohn,  25.  Selby, 

19.  Thorney,  26.  Prior  of  St.  John 

20.  Ramsey,  of  Jerusalem,  first 

21.  Hide,  baron  of  England. 


Although    the    boroughs  of  Lancaster,   Preston,   Liverpool,    and  Wigan,    all  The  bo- 
returned  burgesses  to  represent  them  in  parliament  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  only  Lanca- 
the  t^vo  former  of  these  places  sent  members  in  the  reign  of  the  second  Edward,  cease  to 
and  so  early  as  the  ninth  year  of  Edward  III.  we  find  the  return  made  by  the  sheriff  members, 
of  the  county,  in  answer  to  the  parHamentary  writ  of  summons,  states  that,  There  is 
not  any  city  or  borough  in  his  baiHwick   [or  county].     Non  est  aliqua  civitas  neque 

2k2 


308  ti)t  i]i£(torj)  of  tht 

CHAP,     biu'o-us  in  Balliva  mea.     It  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  writs  do  uot  particulai-ize  the 
^"^"      borouo-hs  that  are  to  return  members,  but  merely  requii-e  tlie  sheriff  to  return  two 


citizens  for  each  city,  and  two  burgesses  for  each  borough,  within  his  county. 

In  the  36  of  Edward  III.  the  sheriff,  in  his  return,  writes  upon  the  writ.  There  is 
not  any  city  or  borough  in  his  county  from  which  citizens  or  burgesses  ought,  or  are 
accustomed,  to  come  as  tliis  wiit  requbes.- — Et  non  est  aliqua  civitas  nee  aliquis 
Bui'gus  infi-a  Com :  prsBilict  unde  Gives  sen  Bui'genses  venii-e  debent  sen  solent 
prout  breve  istud  requiiit. 
Tiie  rea-  In  the  38th  of  Edward  III.   the  reason  for  this  negative  return  is  rendered — 

signed.  There  are  not  any  cities  or  boroughs  (in  Lancasliire)  that  ought,  or  are  wont,  to 
come  to  the  said  parliament,  on  account  of  tlieii-  debility  or  poverty. — Et  non  sunt 
aliqui  Civitates  sen  Burgi  infra  Com  :  de  quibus  ahqui  Cives  sen  Burgenses  ad 
dictum  Parliamentum  veniie  debent  sen  solent,  propter  eorum  debilitatem  seu 
paupertatem. 

In  the  following  year  the  case  is  still  more  strongly  put — There  is  not  any  city 
or  borouo-h  fi'om  wliich  any  citizens  or  burgesses  are  able,  or  accustomed,  to  come, 
according  to  the  tenure  of  the  vnii,  by  reason  of  their  debility  and  poverty. — Et  non 
est  aliqua  Civitas  seu  aliquod  Burgum  de  quibus  aliqui  Cives  seu  Burgenses  venire  pos- 
sunt  seu  solent  secundum  tenorem  bre\is,  propter  eorum  debilitatem  &  paupertatem. 

In  the  2nd  of  Richard  II.,  when  the  parliamentary  writs  were  addressed  to  the 
duke  of  Lancaster,  this  plea  of  debility  is  not  confined  to  the  county,  but  is  extended 
to  the  whole  duchy ;  and  it  is  stated,  that  there  are  not  any  burgesses  in  the  duchy 
of  Lancaster  who  were  accustomed  to  come  to  our  lord  the  king's  parliament,  through 
their  poverty.— Et  non  sunt  aliqui  Cives  seu  Burgenses  in  Ducatu  praedict.  qui  ad 
aliquod  Parliamentum  venire  solebant,  propter  eorum  paupertatem. 

In  the  last  year  of  tliis  lung's  reign,  the  plea  of  poverty  is  again  reduced  within 

the  limits  of  the  county,  and  it  is  said — ^That  there  are  not  any  citizens  or  burgesses 

within  the  county  of  Lancaster,  who  have  been  accustomed  in  times  past  to  come  to 

On  the       any  pai-liaments.    Our  ancestors,  so  far  fi-om  aspuing  to  an  increase  in  then-  boroughs, 

of  11™"°'     were  anxious,  in  the  language  of  modern  legislation,  to  merge  those  they  had  in 

membe^*^    sclicdule  A.,  concciviug  the  cost  of  their  borough  members,  though  limited  to  the 

men"''*"    ^'^ry  moderate  sum  of  two  shillings  a  day  during  parliaments  of  comparatively  short 

duration,  not  sufficiently  repaid  by  the  support  of  then-  local  interests.       On  the 

subject  of  the  payment  of  wages  to  the  members  of  parliament,  considerable  light  is 

shed  by  a  petition  presented  to  the  king  in   8  Henry  VI.  by  the  commons,  and 

Rot.  Pari,  which  is  expressod  in  these  words — "  The  Commons  pray,  that  all  cities,  boroughs, 

8  Hen. VI.  ^g^yj^g  ^ud  hamlcts,   and  the  residents  within  them,  except  the  lords  spiritual  and 

temporal  coming  to  parliament,  and  the  ecclesiastics,  and  those  cities  and  boroughs 


Countp  ^3alatinr  of  i^anrnsitfr.  309 

wliicli  fiutl  citizeus  or  burgesses  for  pailiament,  shall  henceforth  for  ever  contribute     chap. 
to  the  expenses  of  the  knights  elected,  or  to  be  elected,  to  parliaments."  '_ 

For  two  hundred  and  fifty  years,  that  is,  from  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  to  the 
middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty,  or  one  hundi'ed  and 
tliii-ty,  cities  and  boroughs  in  England,  returned  members  pretty  constantly  to 
parliament ;  and  about  thirty  others  returned  them  only  occasionally,  amongst 
which  were  the  Lancashiie  boroughs,  the  sheriffs  having  taken  upon  themselves  to 
dispense  with  the  attendance  of  members  for  those  boroughs,  for  the  reasons  stated  in 
the  wi-its. 

Tlie  following  petition,  presented  by  the  commons  to  the  king  m  the  same  year, 
shews  that  the  very  moderate  remuneration  of  the  members  was  witliheld,  to  their 
impoverishment,  and  to  the  detriment  of  the  state  : — 

"  Wliereas  the  Citizens  and  Bui'gesses  elected  to  Parliament,  have,  fi"om  antient 
time,  been  accustomed  to  have  of  right,  for  wages  and  expenses  each  day  during  the 
sitting  of  parliament,  two  shillings ;  and  for  which  wages,  each  of  them  had  from 
antient  time,  and  of  right  ought  to  have,  their  ^vrit  to  the  sheriffs  of  the  county 
where  such  cities  or  boroughs  are,  for  them  to  levy  and  deliver  to  them  the  said 
wages,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  knights  of  shires  have  had  and  used.  And 
whereas  these  wages  are  now  witliheld,  and  divers  notable  and  wise  persons,  elected 
to  Parliament,  cannot  attend  without  their  utter  ruin,  and  the  national  loss ;  the 
Commons  of  this  present  Parliament  pray  the  king  to  grant  them  tlie  said  wages, 
of  two  shillings  each,  ever}^  day,  during  the  Session  of  Parliament." 

Prynne  has  preserved  a  register  of  the  time  allowed  to  members  of  parliament 
for  travelling  from  Lancashire  to  certain  places,  when  the  parliaments  were -held  in 
those  cities ;  from  which  it  appears,  that  two,  and  sometimes  three  days,  were 
allowed  for  travelling  to  York,  four  days  to  Coventry,  and  five  or  six  to  London,  in 
ordinary  seasons ;  but  in  a  snow  or  "  foul  weather"  eight  days  was  the  maximum 
allowance  for  travelling  from  hence  to  a  parliament  sitting  at  Westminster.  It  may 
be  presumed,  that  these  honourable  and  right  honourable  gentlemen  had  not,  in  those 
days,  to  legislate  upon  bills  for  the  construction  of  railways. 

In  the  7th  of  Henry  VI.  it  is  asserted  in  the  shei-ifTs  return,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  to  the  contrary,  that  there  is  not  any  city  or  borough  within  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  wliich  was  accustomed  in  times  past  to  send  any  citizens  or  burgesses 
to  parliament,  on  account  of  theu*  poverty  and  want  of  means,  and  therefore  no 
mention  is  made  of  citizens  and  burgesses,  as  appears  in  the  indenture  annexed  to 
the  writ.      Similar  langiiage  is    held   in    all    the   returns   from   Lancashij-e   till 


310  €i)t  SjisitorL)  of  tfte 

CHAP.     1  Edward  VI.,  when  Lancaster,   Preston,  Liverpool,  and  Wigan,  resumed  their 
^^"-      elective  franchise ;  and  in  1  Elizabeth,  Nekton  and   Clitheroe  were  added  to   the 
borouohs  of  the  county.     During  the  Commonwealth  two  returns  were  made  by 
Manchester,  but  tliat  town  ceased  to  return  members  at  the  Restoration. 

Richard  IL 

Rfturuo  In  the  fii-st  year  of  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  the  king,  in  his  writ  of  summons 

rei"n%f     for  the   duchy   of  Lancaster,    addressed   to  John   of  Gaunt,   duke  of  Lancaster, 
and   kino-   of  Castile  and  Leon,    after    announcing   that   Charles    of   France   had 
overrun  Flanders,  and  was  mecUtating  an  attack  upon  the  English  city  of  Calais, 
informed  his  beloved  uncle,  that,  for  the  better  defence  of  his  kingdom,  and  of  the 
Writs  of     Ano-lican  church,  and  to  afford  succour  to  his   allies,  he  designed  to   embark  for 
TdT^^sed    the  continent ;  and  for  the  good  government  of  the  Idngdom  while  he  was  absent, 
rheviff,b'.t  the  duke  was  commanded  to  send  from  his  duchy  two  knights  from  the   county 
Oatnt""*^  palatine    of   Lancaster,    two    citizens   fi-om    each   city,    and    two    burgesses   from 
Lancaster,  each  borough,  ^-itliin  the  same,  to  parliament,  having  full  power,  from  the  com- 
mons of  the  duchy,  to  talvC  the  necessary  measures  therein.     Tliis  ^^rnt  is  preserved 
in  the  archives  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  and  the  following  copy  is  derived  from 
that  source : — 


Richard 
II 


D.  venire  facieud 
ad  pliamentu. 


Anno  Regalitatis  Johannis  Regis  Castelle  et  Legionis 
Ducis  Lane  Com  sui  palatuii  sexto  incipiente. 


"  R.  carissimo  Avunculo  suo  Johi  Regi  CasteU  f  legionis 
Duci  Lancastr  vel  ejus  Cancellar  in  Ducatu  p^dco  saltm 
Quia  referente  fama  publica  ad  firm  pvenit  c^titudinalit  intellectum  qd  Karolus 
advlsar  nr?  FranS  principalis  subjugata  sibi  maxima  pai-te  Fland^  que  de  amicitia 
nra  existebat  ad  obsidend  jam  villam  nram  Cales  f  alia  mala  dampna  f  gvamina  nob 
f  regno  nro  Angt  undiq3  mfereud  f  fieri  pcurand  totis  virib3  se  festinat  omiqj 
diligencia  machiua?  nos  malicie  dci  advlsarij  firi  resiste  f  hujusmocU  obsidionem 
sique  ibidem  quod  absit  fieret  in  eventu  favente  dfio  removere  necnon  cuxa 
recupacoem  juris  firi  qd  ad  coronam  f  regnu  Franc^  notorie  optinem?  ac  cii'ca  defen- 
sionem  dci  regni  ilri  f  ecctie  AngHcane  meliorem  laborai-e  f  intendere  relevamenq} 
f  succursum  amicis  f  fidelil)5  nris  cii-cumquaq;,  fac'e  f  pbere  cupientes  de  concilio  f 
assensu  qmplurm  prelatorl  pcum  magnatu  duor?  militu  Bmgensiu  f  ihcatori  dci 
regni  mi  ad  Consiliu  nrfii  ex  hac  causa  euocator?  sumus  in  pposito  in  ppria  psona 
nra  ad  pai'tes  tnsmar  cum  comitiua  pdum  magnatum  f  nobilin  plurimorl  manu  forti 


Coimtj)  ^3alatiue  of  2.anra£(tn\  311 

volent  diio  pficisti  Et  ut  hujusmocli  jipositum  firm  filiccm  sorciat  csscm  ac  nob  in    chap. 

remotis  agentib}  p  expedienti  f  uecessario  regiuiiue  dci  regiii  firi  debite  f)\-ideaV  f  L 

intrmi  tarn  iniinicis  iiris  Ispanu  qifi  alijs  quibuscumqs  siqiii  regem  m-m  pdcm  hostilit 
invadere  p^sumpseimt  foitit  f  virilit  ut  oportet  f  put  maxinie  invidet  cordi  nro 
resistar  disposimuP  de  consilio  f  assensu  pdcis  die  lune  in  tcia  septimana  quadia- 
gesime  px  futur  quoddam  pliamentu  iirm  apud  Westfii  tenere  f  cum  Prelatis  p&b} 
dfiis  f  coitate  dci  regni  mi  sup  pjmissis  f  alijs  urgentib}  causis  nos  statum  regnu  f 
houorem  iira  concuentib}  coUoqum  here  f  tractatum  vob  igit?  in  fide  f  dilectoe  quib3 
nob  tenemum  mandamus  qd  de  ducatu  pJdico  duos  milites  gladijs  cinctos  magis 
idoneos  f  discretes  de  qualibet  ciuitate  Ducatus  illius  duos  cjuesf  de  quolibet  Burgo 
duos  Burgenses  de  discreciorib}  f  magis  su£Bcientib5  eligi  f  eos  ad  dcos  diem  f 
locum  venire  fac  Ita  qd  ijdem  milites  jjlenam  f  sufficieutem  potestatejn  p  se  f  Coitate 
Ducatus  illius  f  dci  Cjues  f  Burgenses  p  se  f  coitatib3  cunctatu  f  Burgori  pdcoi-? 
diuisum  ad  ipis  lieant  ad  faciend  f  consenciend  hijs  que  tunc  ibidem  de  eor  consilio 
regni  inri  favente  dno  contig'it  ordinari  sup  negocijs  antedcTs  sic  qd  p  defectu  potes- 
tatis  hujiismodi  sou  ppt  improndam  electoem  militu  cium  aut  Burgensiu  pdcor'  dca 
negocia  infecta  non  remaneant  quouis  modo  Et  heatis  ibi  noia  pdcor'  militum  cium  f 
Burgensiu  t  hoc  bre  T  R.  apud  Westm  vij  die  Jauuar  Anno  sexto." 

Extract  from  Roll  A.  6. — \Qth  membrane  Duchy  Records. 

The  members  returned  to  parliament  as  knights  of  the  shii'e  for  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  in  virtue  of  the  ivTit,  were  "  Johes  Boteler"  and  "  Nich.  de  Haver- 
yngton,"  who,  after  a  session  of  sixty-six  days,  received  a  wi-it  de  expensis  to  the 
amount  of  £26.  8s. ;  but  no  citizens  or  burgesses  were  returned  from  any  city  or 
borough  of  the  duchy  or  county  of  Lancaster.  In  the  2d  year  of  Richai'd  II. 
"  Johes  Botiller,  Chivaler,"  and  "  Radus  de  Ipre,"  were  returned  for  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  as  appears  fi-om  the  Roll,  CI.  2  Rich.  II.  m.  22  d.  on  which  Prynne 
observes,  that  the  wiit  in  tliis  roll  was  issued  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  to  his 
vicegerent,  for  the  knights  of  the  duchy ;  that  in  the  writ  to  the  duke,  tliis  clause,  tarn 
infra  libertates  quam  extra,  is  omitted,  and  tliis  clause  of  exception,  (inserted  in  all 
other  writs  for  knights'  expenses  in  other  counties,)  Civitatibtis  et  Burgis  de  quibus 
Gives  ^  Burgenses  ad  Parliamentum  nostrum  apud,  S(c.  venerunt,  duntojcat 
Exceptes,  because  the  sheriffs  of  Lancashu'e  then  and  before  returned,  Non  est 
aliqua  Civitas  vel  aliquis  Burgxis  infra  Ball,  de  quibus  aliqui  Gives  vel  Burgenses  ad 
dictum  Parliamentum  venire  debent,  sen  fio\eni,propter  eorum  debilitatem  seu  pauper- 
tarn.  And  in  tliis  very  year  made  tliis  return,  Et  non  sunt  aliqui  cives  vel  Bur- 
genses in  Ducatu  pradicto,  qui  ad  aliquod  Parliamentum  venire  solebant,  propter 
eorum  paupertatem  ^  debilitatem. 


312 


m)t  ®i5tori>  of  t\)t 


CHAP.  The  other  knights  of  the  sliire  returned  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  during  the 

^^^^'     reign  of  Richard  II.  are  enumerated  in  tlie  following  list : — 


Knights. 


Parliament  at 


Wages. 


Johes  Botiller,  Chivaler,         f  Westminster,  Monday  after 
Thos.  Setheworth,  Chivaler,  (_  St.  Hillary. 

Johi  Botiller,  Chivaler,  y  Northampton,  Monday  after 

Thos.  deSuthworth,  Chivaler,  ^  All  Saints. 


Will,  de  Athirton, 
Robt.  de  Ureewyk, 


^  Westminster,  Morrow  of  All 
^  Saints. 


Roger  dePylkynton,Chivaler,  f  Westminster,  Morrow  of  St. 


Robt.de  Clifton, 

Johes  Assheton, 
Robt.  Usewick, 

Ricus  de  Hoghton, 
Robt.  de  Clifton, 

John  Holcroft, 
(Name  obliterated.) 

Roger  de  Pilkington, 
Thos.  Gerard, 


I 


John. 


^  Westminster,   Monday,  Oc- 
^        taves  of  St.  Michael. 

C  Westminster,  Monday,  three 
i_      weeks  of  Quadragesima. 

(  Westminster,  Monday  before 
I  All  Saints. 

t  New    Sarum,    Friday    after 
I.  St.  Mark. 


Robt.  Ursewick,  Chivaler,       C  Westminster,     Morrow     of 
Will,  de  Tunstall,  Chivaler,  |  St.  Martin. 

Robt.  Ursewyk,  Chivaler,        C  Westminster,    Friday    after 
Thos.  de  Radecliffi,  I  St.  Luke. 


Nic.de  Haveryngton,Chivaler  ^ 


Robt.  de  Workesley, 


^ 


Westminster,  1st  October. 


£24.  for  60  days. 

C1.3R.  II.  m.  18  f/. 

£19.  12s.  for  49  days. 
CI.  4  R.  II.  m.  20  d. 

£38.  8s.  for  96  days. 
CI.  5  i?.  //.  m.  22  d. 

£10.  for  25  days. 

CI.  5  R.  IL  m.  5  d. 

£10.  16s.  for  27  days. 
CI.  6  It.  Up.  l.ni.  17  d. 

£10.  8s.  for  36  days. 
CI.  6  R.  II  p.  2.  m.  13  d. 

£8.  16s.  for  40  days. 
CI.  7  R.  II.  m.  23  d. 

£16.  for  40  days. 

CI.  7  R.  II.  VI.  1  d. 

£18.  for  45  days. 

CI.  8  R.  II  7/1.  27  d. 

£23.  4s.'  for  58  days. 
CI.  9  R.  IL  m.  22  d. 

£28.  for  71  days. 

CI.  \QR.  II.  m.  16(/. 


Joh.  le  Botiller  de  Weryng    (  ") 

ton,  Chivaler,  \  Westminster,  Morrow  of  the  »  ^^^  ^^^  j 

Thos.  Gerard,  (       Purification,  B.  Mary.       j 


15  days. 

11  R.H. 


Countj)  |3alatinc  of  Sanrastfr. 


313 


Knights. 


Parliament  at 


Joh.de   Asheton,    "^Chiva-     ^  Cantebrigge,  Morrow  of  Nat. 
Job.  de  Crofts,        j    lers,      \  B.  Mary. 

Rad.de  Ipres,        "^Chiva-     ^Westminster,  Monday  after 
Job.  de  Asheton,    3    lers,       |^  St.  Hillary. 

Job.  de  Urse-ivjdv,  Chivaler,     ^  Westminster,  Morrow  of  St. 
Job.  de  Croft,  Chivaler,  ^  Martin. 

Kobt.  de  Ursewike,  Chivaler,  ij  Westminster,  Morrow  of  All 
Robt.  de  Workesley,  i^  Souls. 

Robt.  de  Ursewik,  Chivaler,  ^  Wynton,     Octaves     of     St. 
Rad.  de  Ipre,  Chivaler,  |^  Hillary. 

Robt. deUrsewyke, Chivaler,  ^Westminster,    five   days   of 
Thos.  Gerard,  Chivaler,  ^  St.  Hillary. 

Robt.  de  Ursewike,  Chivaler,  ^  Westminster,    five    days    of 
Thos.  de  Radeclifi",  I  St.  Hillary. 

Robt.  deUrsewyke,  Chivaler,  C  Westminster,   Feast   of  St. 
Ric.  Molyneux,  ^  Vincent. 


Wages. 

£18.  8s.  for  46  days. 
a.  12  R.  IT.  m.  14  d. 

£22.  for  56  days. 
CI.  13  JR.  II.  p.  2.  m.  7  d. 

£30.  12s.  for  34  days.       ^ 
a.  14  R.  II.  m.  30  d. 

£1/.  for  40  days. 

CI.  15  R.  II.  m.  26  d. 
£23.  for  38  days. 

Cl.mR.ll.m.  19  rf. 

£21.  for  71  days. 

CI.  17  R.  II.  m.  9  d. 

£12.  16s.  for  32  days. 
CI  18  R.  II.  m.  6  d. 


CHAI'. 
VIII. 


£30.  12s.  for  34  days. 

Cl.20R.ll.  p.  2.  7,1.2  d. 

Job.  Botiller  de  Weryngton,  r  Westminster,  Monday  after  "J 

Chivaler,  \      Exalt,  of  Cross,   and  ad-  \  £16.  8s.  for  41 

CI.  21  7?.  II.  p.  2.  m.  9  d. 


Rad.  de  Radecliff, 


(      journed  to  Salop. 


days. 


Henry  IV. 

The  ducliy  of  Lancaster  being  now  united  with  the  crown,  by  the  duke  having  Members 
become  king  of  England,  the  parliamentary  writs  of  summons,  in  the  first  and  second  county  in 
years  of  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  were  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster,  and  not  of'nem^ 
to  the  duke.     The  members  for  the  county  returned  in  this  reign  were  : — 


IV. 


Knights. 


Wages. 


Parliament  at 

r,  ,  ^    J    TT  1  -^  /-.I  •        ( Westminster,  Morrow  of  St.1 

Kobt.  de  Ursewjk,  )  Chiva-  »,,.,,  f 

„        J    TT     1  .  J     1  i      Michael,     summoned    by  >  <£26.  16s.  for  / 1  days. 

Hen.  de  Hoghton,  3     lers.    t     u._^     j  „  S 

Claiis.  1  Heti.  IF.  P.\.7n.2l.d. 


Richard  H. 


VOL.  I. 


2S 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


314  Win  ijigtjjii)  of  ti)e 

Knights.  Parliament  at  Wages. 

Robt.  de  Ursewyks,  7  Chiva-  f  Westminster,    five    days    of^ 

>   ,  ^  „,    ,T-ii  I  £oi.  16s.  for  DO  days. 

Nich.  de  Atherton,  >    lers.    ^  St.  Hillary.  3  •' 

Clmts.2  H.IF.  P.I.  m3.  d. 
Rich,  de  Hoghton,   ")  Chiva-  ^  Westminster,  Morrow  of  St. 


NicdeHaverington,  3    lers.     ^ 


Michael.  •}  ^27.  for  69  days. 

Clam.  4  H.  IF.  m.  34.  d. 


Rad.  de  Radeclyff,  Chivaler,  C  Westminster,  Morrow  of  St.  7    „„,    ,„     ^     ^„  , 
^  ,      ^  <  „.,,  >  ct31.  12s.  for  69  days. 

Robt.  Lawrence,  (.  Hillary.  3  ^ 

Claus.  5  H.  IF.  P.  m.  10.  d. 

Jac   Harryngton,      |  Chiva-  |  ^^^^^^        ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^.  ^^ 

Rad.  Staneley,  3    lers.    3 

C7«i«.  6  H.  IF.  m.  5.  d. 


Will.  Botiller, 
Robt.  Lawrence, 


I  Westminster,  1st  of  March.  ^ 
Adjom-ned  to  16th  April.    ■ 
Adjourned  to  19th  June.     \  £j\ .  I2s.  for  189  days. 
Adjourned  to  25th  Oct.       i 
Adjourned  to  22d  Deer,      j 

Claus.  8  H.  IP',  m.  J.  d. 


Henr   Hoghton,        |  Chiva-  >  ^^^^^^^^^^^  20th  October.  ^21 .  12s'  for  54  days. 

Rad.  de  Staveley,      3     lers.    3 

Claus.  9  //.  IF.  m.  8.  d. 


The  lack-         To  the  parliament  lield  at  Coventry  in  the  6th  year  of  this  monarch's  reign,  the 
pariia"     sheriffs  were  couunanded  by  tlie   king  not  to  return  any  lawj^ers — persons  learned 
in  the  law ;  and  hence  this  parliament  Avas  called,  "  The  Lack-learning  Parlia- 
ment."— Parliamentum  Indoctum. 


Henry  V. 


Lanca- 
shire 
members 
in  the 
reign  of 
Henry  V. 


The  fii'st  return  made  in  this  reign,  of  the  knights  of  the  shire  for  Lancasliire, 
transmits  the  names  of  "  Joh.  Assheton  and  Joh.  de  Stanley,  chivelers."  By  a 
striking  singularity,  the  indenture  mentions  only  the  name  of  Sir*  John  Stanley,  and 
entirely  omits  that  of  his  colleague,  stating,  that  Nich.  Longford,  knight,  and  all 
others  named  in  the  indenture  after  him,  with  unanimous  consent  and  agreement, 
have  made  a  free  election,  and  given  to  John  Stanley,  the  younger,  full  power  to 
become  a  knight  in  the  parliament  to  be  held  at  Westminster,  to  answer  for  them- 


County  ^alatint  of  aanrnstfr.  315 

selves,  and  all  theirs,  and  for  all  the  commons  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  in  tliose     chap. 

matters   wliich,  under   favour  of  the  king,  shall  happen   to  be  ordained  in  par- 

liament.* 

The  corresponding  indenture  is  lost. 

In  the  next  parliament,  "  Rad.  de  RadclifT"  and  "  Nich.  BlundcU,"  are  returned  CI.2H.V. 

m.  10.  d. 

as  knights  of  the  shire  for  this  county. 

2  Henry  V.     Johannes  de  Stanley,  Rohertus  Lawrence,  per  indent. 
8  Henry  V.     Henry  de  Hoghton,  Radus  de  Stanley. 

Henry  VL 

The   members   returned  to  represent  the   county  of  Lancaster   in  this  reign  Members 

in  the 

were  : —  reign  of 

7  Henry  VL  JotiesByi'on,  Rohertus  fil.  Roberti  Laurence,  knights,  j:>e/-?n(/e«/.  vi. 

25  Henry  VL  Thomas  Stanley,  kn'.  Thomas  Hariington,  Esq.  per  indent. 

27  Henry  VL  The  same  persons. 

28  Henry  VL  Thomas  Stanley,  Jolies  Butler,  knights,  jyer  indent. 

29  Henry  VI.  Thomas  Stanley,  Thomas  Harrington,  knights,  per  indent. 
33  Henry  VI.  Thomas  Stanley,  Alexander  Radcliff,  knights. 

38  Henry  VI.     (At  Leicester.)     Richus  Harrington,   knight,  Henry  Hal.sall, 

j)er  indent. 

39  Henry  VI.  — — -     Richd.  Haryng-ton,  knt.,  and  Henry  Halsall. 

In  the   7th  year  of  tliis  king's  reign,  the   qualification  of  electors  for  counties,   Quaiifi. 
which  had  hitherto  been  undefined,  was  fixed  by  an  act  of  parliament,  which  ordains  e?ec°ors 
that  "  tlie  knights  shall  be  chosen  in  every  county  by  people  dwelling  and  residing  in  kni'h^s  of 
the  same  county,  whereof  every  one  of  them  shall  have  land  or  tenement  of  the  gxed!"'^''' 
value  of  forty  slullings  by  the  year,  at  the  least,  over  and  above  all  charges,"  which 
is  explained,  by  an  act  of  the  10th  of  the  same  king,  to  mean,  freeholds   of  that 
value,  A\'ithin  the  county  for  Avliich  the  election  is  to  be  made.     Hitherto  all  the 
freeliolders,  without  exception,  had  claimed  the  right  of  voting  for  county  members, 

*  I  HENRY  V. 

"  Heec  Indentura  testatur,  inter  Radum  de  Stanley  V.  C.  Lane,  ex  una  parte,  et  Nicum 
Longford  Clihs.  et  omnes  alios  post  se  infra  istas  indentures  nominat.  Quiquidem  Nicus  et  omnes 
alii  post  se  unanirai  concessu  et  assensu  eligi  fecerunt  liberam  electionem,  dant  Johi  de  Stanley, 
juniori,  plenam  potestatem  pro  seipsis  et  omnibus  suis  essend.  Militeni  in  Parlianiento  Domini 
Regis  prox.  tenend  apud  Westm.  die  lunse,  &c.  ad  respondend.  pro  seipsis  et  omnibus  suis  et  pro 
omnibus  commiinitatibus  Com.  Lane,  ad  ea  quse  in  dicto  Parliamento  favente  domino  ordinari  con- 
tingeret.     In  cujus  rei  testimonium  sigilla  sua  alternatim  apposuerunt." 

2s2 


316 


CiK  ?l)i6ton)  of  tl)t 


CHAP,    in  consequence  of  which,  it  is  alleged,  gi-eat  outrages  had  arisen,  "  wliereby  luan- 

1_  slaughter,  riots,  batteries,  and  divisions  among  the  gentlemen  and  otlier  people  of  the 

said  counties,  shall  very  likely  arise  and  be,  unless  convenient  and  due  remedy  be 
provided  in  this  behalf."  From  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  to  the  present  time,  no 
change  has  been  judged  necessary  in  this  qualification,  though  the  value  of  money 
has  in  the  mean  time  increased  tenfold. 

The  agitation  of  the  Idngdom  at  this  period,  arising  out  of  the  wars  between  the 
houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  seems  to  have  given  rise  to  a  violent  stretch  of  the 
royal  prerogative, — the  king  having,  of  liis  own  authority,  summoned  members  to 
parliament;  and  hence  an  act  of  indemnity  was  passed  23  Henry  VI.,  wliich  provides, 
"  that  all  such  knights  of  any  county,  as  are  returned  to  tlie  parliament  by  virtue  of 
the  king's  letters,  without  any  other  election,  shall  be  good,  and  that  no  sheriff,  for 
returning  them,  do  incur  the  pains  therefore  provided."* 


Edward  IV. 


County 
members 
in  the 
reign  of 
Kdw.  IV. 


The  members  returned  for  the  county  of  Lancaster  in  tliis  reign  were  : — 

7  Ed.  IV.   1467.     James  Haryngtou,  kut.,  and  WUliam  Haryngton,  knt. 
12  Ed.  IV.   1472.     Robert  Harynton  and  John  Asshton. 
17  Ed.  IV.   1477.     George  Stanley,  knt.,  and  James  Haryngton,  knt. 
From  the  17th  of  Edward  IV.  to  33  Henry  VIII.  all  the  returns  are  lost;  and 
in  the  latter  year,  though  a  parliament  was  held,  no  return  for  this  county  appears 
amongst  the  records.     From  that  period  to  tlie   16th  of  Charles  I.   the  writs   are 
regular,  and  the  following  are  the  members  returned  as  knights  of  the  shire  for  this 
countv : — 


County 

members 

from 

1  Ed.  VI. 

to  16 

Char.  II. 

1  Edw.  VI. 

7 

1  Mary. 

1547. 
1552-3. 

1553. 

1     ... 

1554. 

1  &  2  Philip 

&  Mai 

•y.   1554. 

2&3 

1555. 

4&5 

. 

1557. 

1  Elizabeth. 

1558-9. 

13 


Thurst  Tyldesley,  Esq. — John  Kechyn,  Esq. 

Richard  Houghton,  (in  whose  place  Robert  Worsley,  Knt. 
Tho.  Butler,  Esq. 

Rob.  Sherborne,  Knt. — John  Rygmayden,  Esq. 

Tho.  Stanley,  Knt. — Tho.  Langton,  Knt. 

Tho.  Stanlej',  Knt. — John  Holcroft,  Knt. 

Tho.  Stanley,  Knt. — Will.  Stanley,  Knt. 

Tho.  Talbot,  Knt. — John  Holcroft,  senr.  Knt. 

John  Atherton,  Knt. — Rob.  Worseley,  Knt. 
1563.  Tho.  Gerard,  Knt. — John  Southworth,  Knt. 
1571.     Tho.  Butler— John  Radclitfe,  Esq. 


*  Sir  Robert  Cotton's  Abridgment,  p.  664. 


Coimtp  |3nlatinf  of  i!.anra£>tn-. 


317 


14  Elizabeth 

1572. 

27  ... 

1585. 

28   ... 

1586. 

31   ... 

1588. 

35 

1592. 

39   ... 

1597. 

43   ... 

1601. 

1  James  I. 

1603. 

12   ... 

1614. 

18   ... 

1620. 

21   ... 

1623. 

1  Charles  I. 

1625. 

1   ... 

1625. 

3   ... 

1628. 

15   ... 

1640. 

16   ... 

1640. 

John  Radcliff,  Esq. — Edm.  Trafford,  Esq. 

Gilbert  Gerard,  Knt. — Rich.  Molineux. 

John  Atherton,  Esq. — Rich.  Holland,  Esq. 

Tho.  Gerard,  son  of  Sir  Gilbert  Gerard,  Knt. — Tho.  Wahiis- 

ley,  sergeant  at  law. 
Tho.  Molineux,  Knt. — Tho.  Gerard,  jun.  Knt. 
Ric.  Houghton,  Knt. — Tho.  Gerrard,  Knt. 
Rich.  Houghton,  Knt. — Tho.  Hesketh,  attorney  of  the  Court 

of  Wards. 
Rich.  Molineux,  Knt. — Rich.  Houghton,  Knt. 
Gilbert  Houghton,  Knt. — Jolni  Radcliff,  Knt. 
John  Radcliff,  Knt. — Gilbert  Houghton,  Knt. 
John  Radcliff,  Knt. — Tho.  Walmisley,  Knt. 
Rich.  Molineux,  Bart. — John  Radcliff,  Knt. 
Rob.  Stanley,  Esq. — Gilbert  Houghton. 
Rich.  Molineux,  Knt.  and  Bart. — Ale.K.  Radcliff",  Knight  of 

the  Bath. 
Gilbert  Houghton,  Knt.  and  Bart. — Will.  Farrington,  Esq. 
Ralph  Ashton,  Esq.— Roger  Kirby,  Esq. — Rich.  Houghton, 

Bart. 


CHAP. 
VIII. 


In  1.5tli  of  HemyVIII.  Sir  Thomas  More,  then  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster,  held  the  office  of  speaker  of  the  house  of  commons.  The  learned 
chancellor's  connexion  A\dth  the  duchy  has  led  to  the  mistake  that  he  repre- 
sented the  county  of  Lancashire  in  parliament,  and  consequently  that  tliis  county 
has  had  the  honotir  to  supply  a  member  to  the  speaker's  chair;  but  this  is  an 
error. 

In  the  1st  of  Edward  VI.  writs  of  parliamentary  summons  were  re-issued  to  Lan- 
caster, Preston,  Liveqwol,  and  Wigan ;  and  each  of  these  places  at  that  period 
resumed,  by  royal  authority,  the  elective  franchise.  Queen  Elizabetli,  in  tlie  first 
year  of  her  majesty's  reign,  made  a  further  accession  to  the  Lancasliire  boroughs,  by 
the  adtlition  of  Newton  and  Clitheroe  ;  and  all  tliese  six  boroughs  have  ever  since 
that  time  regularly  returned  members  to  parliament. 

It  appears  that  nomination  boroughs  were  perfectly  familiar  so  early  as  the  reign 
of  Elizabeth ;  and  it  is  probable,  that  both  Newton  and  Clitlieroe  have  always 
2)artaken  of  this  character  :  but  tlie  most  flagrant  instance  of  the  kind  upon  record 
in  these  early  times,  is  to  be  found  in  a  bundle  of  returns  of  parliamentary  writs  in 
the  1  1th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  wliicli,  though  unconnected  with  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster, may  not  inaptly  be  introduced  in  tliis  place.  Tlie  document  is  in  tlie  cliapel 
of  the  rolls,  and  is  expressed  in  the  following  terms  : — 


Sir  Thos. 
More, 
member 
for  Lanca- 
shire, anj 
speaker  of 
the  house 
of  com- 


The  an- 
cient Lan- 
cashire 
borou^'hs 
resume 
the  exer- 
cise of 
their  elec- 
tive fran- 
chise. 

New  ho- 
rou^hs. 

Nomina- 
tion bo- 
roughs in 
the  reign 
of  Queen 
Elizabeth. 


318  ClK  ©ISitOll)  of  tftf 

CHAP.    "  To  all  Clnistian  people  to  whom    this  present  Writing   shall   come.     I,  Dame 


VIII. 


"  Dorothy  Packlngton,   "niclow,  late  ■wife   of  Sir  John  Paclington,    Kt.,  Lord 
Dame  "  and  Owiier  of  the  Town  oi Aylesbury,  send  greeting.     Know  ye,  Me,  the  said 

ton's  no-  "  Dame  Dorothy  Packington,  to  have  chosen,  named,  and  appointed  my  trusty 


niinees. 


"  and  well-beloved  Thomas  Lichfield  and  George  Burden,  Esqrs.  to  be  my 
"  Burgesses  of  my  said  town  of  Aylsbury.  And  whatsoever  the  said  Thomas 
"  and  George,  Burgesses,  shall  do  in  the  Service  of  the  Queen's  Highness 
"  in  that  present  Pai-liament,  to  be  liolden  at  Westminster  the  Eighth  Day  of 
"  3Iay  next  ensuing  the  Date  hereof,  I  the  same  Dorothy  Packington,  do 
"  ratify  and  approve  to  be  my  own  Act,  as  fully  and  wholly  as  if  I  were  or 
"  might  be  present  there.  In  witness  whereof  to  these  presents,  I  have 
"  set  my  Seal  this  Fourth  Day  of  3Iay,  in  the  Fourteenth  Year  of  the  Reign  of 
"  our  Sovereign  Lady  Elizabeth,  by  the  Grace  of  God  of  England,  France, 
"  and  Ireland,  Queen,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c." 

The  Chan-  Jn  the  26th  year  of  tliis  queen's  reign,  a  very  extraordinary  claim  was  set  up  to 
the  duchy  parliamentary  nomination  by  Sir  Ralph  Sadler,  "  eques  notae  viitutis,"  ui  virtue  of 
ter  claims  liis  office  of  chaucellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  which  was  no  less  than  the  right 
to  nomi-  to  nominate  both  the  members  to  rejiresent  the  borough  of  Leicester  in  pai'liameut. 
bers  for  The  accouut  givcii  in  the  archives  of  the  borough,  of  this  claim,  and  of  the  manner  in 
rough  of     which  it  was  disposed  of,  is  as  follows : — 

Leicester  ,,  Nov.  12,  26  Eliz. — At  a  coiiimou  hall,  the  slieriflF's  precept  being  read,  and 

after  that  sii-  Ralph  Sadler's  letter  for  nomination  of  both  our  burgesses,  and  other 
letters;  it  is  agTced,  that  sir  Ralph  Sadler,  knight,  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lan- 
caster, shall  have  the  nomination  of  one  of  the  burgesses;  who  thereupon  nominated 
Henry  Skipwith,  esq. ;  and  the  other  chosen  was  Thomas  Jolmson,  one  of  her 
majesty's  seijeants  at  arms;  and  either  of  them  promised  to  bear  their  own  charges." 

On  what  authority  the  chancellor  grounded  his  pretensions  to  nominate  members 
for  this  borough,  except  that  it  is  within  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  does  not  appear, 
nor  does  it  appear  that  any  similar  claim  was  ever  made  by  any  other  chancellor, 
either  before  or  since.  It  may  be  inferred  from  the  corporation  record,  that  members 
began  about  this  time  to  serve  without  wages;  and,  it  is  probable,  that  the  practice 
was  gi-adually  discontinued,  till  at  length  it  wholly  ceased. 

Commonwealth. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  elected 
during  the  Commonwealth  : — 


Countj)  ^Jalatmt  of  2Lanra£iUi%  3i9 

1653.  Will.  West,  John  Sawiy,  Rob.  Cunliss.  chap. 

[The  name  of  "  Praise  God  Barebone,"  occurs  iu  this  parliament  in  the  _ 

list  of  Loudon  members.] 

1654.  Rich.  Holland,   Gilbert  Ireland,   Rich.  Standish,   Will.  Ashurst. 

1656.  Sir  Rich.  Houghton,  bart.    Col.  Gilbert  Ireland,    Col.  Rich.  Holland,    Col. 

Rich.  Sandish. 
1658-9.  George  Book,  bart.  Alex.  Rigby,  esq. 

11  Charles  II.*  to  2  William  IV. 
The  parliament  of  1653  was  a  packed  parliament,  returned  by  Cromwell,  the 
lord  protector,  and  consisted  only  of  one  hundi-ed  and  twenty-one  members,  of  whom  Repre- 
one  hundi-ed  and  ten  were  for  England,  five  each  for  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  one  of  Lanca- 
for  Wales.     In  1654,  the  right  of  election  was  again  partially  restored,  the  number  of  h'g  the"' 
members  being  augmented  to  four  hundred,  of  whom  two  hundi-ed  and  seventy  were  ^eXh!" 
chosen  by  the  counties;  the  remainder  were  elected  by  London  and  other  considerable 
corporations  and  towns,  Manchester  and  Leeds  being  amongst  the  number.     To  the 
pai-liament  of  1653,  neither  Lancaster,  Preston,  Liverpool,  Wigan,  or  Clitheroe,  sent 
any  members,  but  the  county  returned  three;  to  those  of  1654  and  1656,  Lancaster, 
Preston,  Liverpool,  and  Wigan,  sent  each  one  member,  and  the  county  four.     To 
thepariiament  of  1658-9,  Lancaster,  Preston,  Liverpool,  Wigan,  and  Newton,  sent 
two  members  each,  and  the  county  two;  but  no  return  was  made  for  Clitheroe  during 
the  whole  period  of  the  Commonwealth.     Though  the  government  professed  to  be 
popular,  the  elective  franchise  was  very  much  abridged  during  tliis  period,  and  an 
estate  of  two  hundred  pounds  value  was  necessary  to  confer  the  right  of  voting.     In 
other  respects,  the  elections  were  unobjectionable,  except  that  all  those  who  had 
carried  arms  against  the  parliament,  as  well  as  their  sons,  were  proliibited  from  voting 
at  the  elections. 

List  of  the  knights  of  the  sliire  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  from  the  Restoration 

to  the  present  time : — 

11  Charles  II.  1660.  Sir  Roger  Bradsliaw— Edward  Stanley. 

12  Charles  II.  1661.  The  same.  The  same. 
29  Charles  11.  1678.  Peter  Bold— Charles  Gerrard. 

32  Charles  11.  1681.         Sir  Charles  Houghton— The  same. 

36  Charles  II.  1685.         Sir  Roger  Bradshaw— James  Holt. 

3  James  II.  1688.         Lord  Brandon— Sir  Charles  Houghton. 

*  The  reign  of  Charles  II.  is  dated  from  the  death  of  his  royal  father,  in  1649,  in  the  calendars; 
and  that  chronology  is  adopted  in  this  list,  thougli  his  reign  did  not  commence  de  facto  till  1660. 


320 


Cftr  il?i£(ti3ii)  of  ti)t 


CHAP.       1  William  &  Mary 

1690. 

James  Stanley, 

Ralph  Ashton. 

VIII.        7  William  III. 

1695. 

1698. 

The  same, 
The  same. 

The  same. 

10 

Fitton  Garrerd. 

.13 

1701. 

Tlie  same, 

Robert  Bold. 

14 

1/02. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

3  Anne 

1705. 

The  same. 

Richard  Shuttleworth. 

6    ... 

1708. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

8    .  .  . 

1710. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

11    ..  . 

1713. 

Sir  John  Bland, 

The  same. 

12    .  .  . 

1714. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

8  George  I. 

1722. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

13    .  .. 

1727. 

Sir  Edward  Stanley, 

The  same. 

7  George  II. 

1734. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

14     .  .. 

1741. 

Lord  Strange. 

The  same. 

20     ... 

1747. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

27    ... 

1754. 

The  same. 

Peter  Bold. 

1  George  III. 

1761. 

The  same. 

James  Shuttleworth. 

2      ... 

1762. 

J.  Smith,  (Lord 

Strange), 

James  Shuttleworth,  Esq. 

8      ... 

1768. 

The  same. 

Lord  Arch.  Hamilton. 

Richard  L.  V.  Molyneux, 

Sir  Thos.  Egerton,  Bart. 

14      ... 

1774. 

E.  Smith,  (Lord  Stanley,) 

The  same. 

Hon.  Thomas  St 

anley. 

Thomas  Stanley, 

Esq. 

20      ... 

1780. 

The  same. 

Sir  Thomas  Egerton,  Bart. 

24      ... 

1784. 

The  same. 

John  Blackburn,  Esq. 

30      ... 

1790. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

36      ... 

1796. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

41      ... 

1801. 

The  same, 

The  same. 

42      .. 

1802. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

46      ... 

1806. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

47     ... 

1807 

The  same. 

The  same. 

53      ... 

1812. 

Lord  Stanley, 

The  same. 

59      ... 

1819. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

1  George  IV. 

1820. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

7     ... 

1826. 

The  same. 

The  same. 

1  William  IV. 

1830. 

The  same. 

John  Wilson  Patten,  Esq. 

1       ... 

1831. 

The  same. 

Benjamin  Heywood,  Esq. 

Of  all  the  Lancashire  boroughs,  Liverpool  alone  has  risen  into  eminence;  and  for 
tliis  distinction  it  seems  indebted  rather  to  the  local  advantages  of  its  marine 
situation,  than  to  its  chartered  privileges.  Preston  has  at  all  times  occupied  a  high 
station  amongst  the  to^viis  of  the  county ;  but  for  several  centuries  it  was  perfectly 


Count))  ^^alatiue  of  ^Lanrndtfr.  321 

stationary  In  its  wealth  and  population  ;  and  it  was  not  till  its  corporate  restrictions    chap. 

were  materially  relaxed,  that  it  began  to  increase  in  either.     The  other  boroughs  of 

the  county  have  not  undergone  any  material  changes  in  the  lapse  of  ages,  Avhile  a 
number  of  the  other  towns  of  Lancashii-e  have  been  increasing  within  the  last  cen- 
tiuy  in  a  ratio  altogether  unexampled. 

For  many  years,  and,  indeed,  for  some  ages,  the  political  character  of  the  county  I'oiiticai 

ITT      1  I'lr-  f    •   •  c   ^  <•  1  cliaiacter 

representation  had  displayed  itselt  m  a  division  oi  the  return  of  members  between  the  of  the  re- 
Stanley  family,  as  the  head  of  the  Whig  party,  and  the  Tory  interest,  of  which  Jolin  tion  of 
Blackburne,  esq.,  the  venerable  proprietor  of  Hale  Hall,  was  the  organ ;  but  at  the  silire. 
general  election  in  1831,  the  disposition  of  the  county  in  favour  of  the  then  pending 
Reform  Bill,  (of  which  the  most  conspicuous  features  were  its  disfranchising  the 
decayed  boroughs,  and  conferring  the  elective  francliise  on  many  of  the  popidous 
unrepresented  towns  of  the  country,)  was  so  strong,  that  this  tacit  arrangement  was 
no  longer  acted  upon,  but  tAVO  members  were  returned,  both  of  them  in  favour  of  the 
new  system. 

The  alteration  made  by  the  Reform  Act,  in  tlie  representation  of  the  county  of  Alteration 
Lancaster  in  parliament,  is  more  considerable  than  in  any  other  county  in  tlie  king-  presenia- 
dom ;  the   princijjle   of  the  elective  franchise   being  property  and  population,  and  county 
both  property  and  population   having  increased   more   in  this    than  in   any  other  roughs  of 
county  since   the  representative  system  Avas  first  settled  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  shTre  by 
That  "poverty  and  debihty"  which  for  so  long  a  period  induced  the  inliabitants  of  lilfnlTn'ta- 
all  the  parliamentary  boroughs  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  to  suffer  their  elective  Act'^of"'^'" 
rights  to  sink  into  abeyance,  now  no  longer  exist,  but  have  given  place  to  an  amount  '^*^' 
of  wealth  and  population,  whicli  fully  entitles  most  of  those  boroughs,  and  several 
other  towns  in  the  county,  to  send  their  representatives   to   the   national  councils. 
By  the  provisions  of  this  memorable  act,  entitled,  "  An  Act  to  amend  tlie  Rcpresen-  Passed 
tation  of  the  People  in  England  and  Wales,"  and  the  act  "  To  settle  and  describe  1832.  ' 
the  Divisions  of  the  Counties,  and  the  Lunits  of  Cities  and  Borouglis,"  consequent  J'assed 
upon  it,  the  privilege  of  senchng  four  members  to  parliament  as  kniglits  of  the  sliire,  i832. 
instead  of  two,  is  conferred  upon  the  county  of  Lancaster.      For  the  convenience 
of  the  electors,   the    county  is    separated   into  two   parts — the    northern    and   the 
southern: — for  the  northern   division,   consisting  of  the  Avhole  of  the  hunch-eds  of 
Lonsdale,  Amounderness,  Leyland,  and  Blackburn,  the  election  is  to  be  held  in 
the  borough  of  Lancaster ;  and  for  the  southern  division,  consisting  of  the  whole  of 
the  hundreds  of  Salford  and  West  Derby,  the  election  is  to  be  held  in  the  town  of 
Newton. 

By  schedule  A,  of  the  Reform  Act,  the  borough  of  Newton,  in  this  county,  is  dis- 
franchised; and  by  scliedule  B,  the  borough  of  Clitlieroe,  instead  of  sending  two 


322  Cbe  Instoii)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,     members  to  parliament,  is  allowed  only  to  return  one.     By  schedule  C,  Manchester, 

^'"''     Bolton,  Blackburn,  and  Oldliam,  are  erected  into  boroughs,  with  the  privilege  of 

sending  two  members  each  to  parliament;  and  by  schedule  D,  Ashton-under-Lyne, 

Bury,  Rochdale,  Salford,  and  Warrington,  are  also  created  boroughs,  Avith  the  privilege 

of  sending  one  member  each. 

The  number  of  members  sent  by  Lancaster,  Liverpool,  Preston,  and  Wigan, 
remains  unaltered,  so  that  an  actual  increase  of  two  members  is  made  to  the  knights 
of  the  shire,  and  ten  members  to  the  borough  representation  of  the  county. 


The  Boroughs  in  the  Northern  Division  are — 

Blackburn — which  sends Two  Members. 

Clitheroe One  Member. 

Lancaster Two  Members. 

Preston Two  Members. 

The  Boroughs  of  the  Southern  Division  are — 

Ashton-under-Lyne — which  sends     ....  One  Member. 

Bolton-le-Moors       Two  Members. 

Bury One  Member. 

Liverpool Two  Members. 

Manchester Two  Membei's. 

Oldham Two  Members. 

Rochdale       One  Member. 

Salford One  Member. 

Warrington One  Member. 

Wigan        Two  Members.* 

In  the  early  periods  of  the  representative  history  of  this  county,  the  members 
returned  for  the  boroughs  were  chosen  out  of  the  respective  communities  wldch  they 
were  sent  to  represent,  namely,  the  merchants  and  other  principal  inhabitants ;  and 
one  gi'eat  object  of  the  recent  changes  in  the  constitution  of  the  lower  house  of 
parliament,  has  been  to  revive  this  system  in  large,  commercial,  and  manufacturing 
toivns,  though  it  is  probable  tliat  the  principle  Mill  not  be  carried,  in  those  places,  to 
the  extent  of  the  entire  exclusion  of  men  of  eminent  talent  and  worth,  who  may 
possess  no  claim  on  the  ground  of  local  connexion. 

*  The  boundary  of  each  borough  of  the  county,  as  defined  in  the  act  2  and  3  William  IV.  cap.  64. 
will  he  inserted  in  the  history  of  that  borough. 


£ounti)  |3alcitinc  of  iLaurastfr. 


323 


Cfjap,  if. 


Important  period  in  Lancashire  history. — Royal  clemency  towards  the  adherents  of  Thomas,  earl  of 
Lancaster — Attainder  reversed. — Battle-roll  of  Boroughbridge. — Scotch  invasion. — Lancashire 
banditti. — Redress  of  public  grievances. — Levies  in  the  county. — Cattle  removed  into  the  south. — 
The  invaders  punished. — Subsidy  in  Lancashire  on  the  marriage  of  the  king's  sister. — Talliages 
in  the  county,  shewing  the  relative  importance  of  the  principal  towns. — Statute  of  Winton 
enforced  in  Lancashire. — Consequences  in  the  county  of  renewed  wars. — Splendid  naval  victory. 
— Fresh  levies  in  the  county. — Flocks  and  herds  again  driven. — Signal  overthrow  of  the  Scots, — 
Their  king  made  prisoner. — Pestilence. — Creation  of  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster. — On  the  origin 
of  the  title  of  Duke. — Heavy  imposts  on  the  people  of  the  duchy. — Impressment  of  ships. — 
Maximum  of  agricultural  wages.— Death  of  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster — His  will— His  posses- 
sions.— Administration  of  the  first  duke,  from  the  rolls  of  the  Duchy.— Renewal  of  the  dukedom 
in  the  person  of  John  of  Gaunt. — Papal  bull. — Levy  of  ships  at  Liverpool. — Non-exportation 
from  thence. — Renewed  alarm  of  invasion. — Parish  tax. — Exchange  of  Richmondshire  for  other 
possessions. — The  franchise  of  jura  regalia  confirmed,  and  extended  in  favour  of  the  duke  of 
Lancaster. — Letters  of  protection  to  Lancashire  men. — No  restrictions  on  the  importation  of 
e:rain  in  these  early  times. — Continuance  of  the  royal  bounty  to  the  house  of  Lancaster. 


IvE  of  the  most  spirit-stirring  periods  in  the   early    chap. 


annals  of  Lancashire,  is  that  comprehentlecl  in  the 
long  reign  of  Ed^vard  III.,  at  which,  in  the  order  of 
our  history,  we  have  now  arrived.  In  this  reign,  the 
estates  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  forfeited  by  the 
defection  of  the  head  of  that  house,  were  restored  and 
augmented;  the  ducal  dignity  was  confeiTed  upon 
Henry,  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  the  second 
duke  created  in  England ;  the  county  was  erected  into 
a  palatinate  jiiristUction,  with  jura  regalia,  and  John 
of  Gaunt,  the  chstinguished  ornament  of  the  ducal  house,  flourished  in  princely 
splendour  in  the  exercise  of  regal  functions.  To  add  to  the  interest  of  tliis  portion 
of  our  liistorr  the  public  records  of  the  kingdom  abound  with  authentic  materials ; 
and  our  dilBculty  has  arisen,  not  from  the  deficiency,  but  from  the  redundancy  of 
those  materials,  which,  being  too   copious  to  be   published  in  detail,   can  only  be 

2x2 


IX. 


Important 
period  in 
Lanca- 
shire liis- 
tory. 


324  €i)t  il?teitJ3ri)  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    presented  iu  selection,  and  often  by  close  abridgment.     An  ordinary-sized  volume 
^^'       would  scarcely  contain  all  the  interesting  documents  belonging  to  the  liistory  of 


Lancashire  in  this  reign ;  and  in  the  researches  of  that  rich  dej^ository,  the  office  of 

the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  we  have  found  extreme  difficulty,  as  will  be  perceived  in 

the  course  of  the  present  chapter,  in  keeping  within  those  bounds  which  the  limits 

of  this  work  necessarily  prescribe. 

Royal  cie-         One  of  the  first  acts  of  Edward  IIL,  on  ascending  the  tlu'one,  was  to  relax  the 

wards  t'he  severity  of  those  decrees,  under  which  Thomas  earl  of  Lancaster,  by  the  advice  of 

of  Thomas  the  viudictivc  Despensers,  had  been  doomed  to  the  block,  and  the  estates  of  the  earl, 

Lancaster,  ^s  Well  as  of  his  foUowcrs,  to  coufiscatiou.     Edmund  de  Ne\ill,  by  petition  laid 

before  the  king  in  coimcil,  humbly  represented,  that  at  the  command  of  Thomas, 

earl  of  Lancaster,  in  whose  service  he  was,  he  had  arrayed  certain  persons  to  arrest 

Hugh  le  Despenser,  and  others  of  the  counsellors  of  the  late  Idng,  for  which  offence 

he  had  been  fined  one  hundred  marks ;  of  tliis  fine  he  had  paid  thu-ty  marks  into  tlie 

exchequer,  which  he  prayed  might  be  accepted  in  discharge  of  his  fine,  and  which 

request  the  king  was  pleased  graciously  to  gi-ant.* 

Another  petition  was  presented  by  the  wardens  of  the  temporalities  of  the  bishop 
of  Hereford,  who  alleged,  that  in  the  quan-el  of  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster,  the 
venerable  father  had  adhered  to  Roger  de  Mortimer,  of  Wygmore,  and  sent  certain 
men  at  arms  to  assist  in  that  quarrel,  for  which  liis  lands  had  been  declai-ed  forfeited, 
but  that  he  now  repented  of  liis  errors,  and  prayed  that  liis  possessions  might  be 
restored ;  wliich  prayer  was  also  granted.f 

An  order  from  his  majesty  in  council,  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancasliii'e,  issued  this 
year,  directs,  that  the  lands  of  Richard  de  Holaud,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the 
quarrel  of  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster,  against  the  Despensers,  should  be  restored, 
and  delivered  into  his  hands ;  and  the  king,  by  the  assent  of  parhament,  ordered 
writs  to  be  directed  to  the  treasurer  and  barons  of  the  exchequer,  for  releasing 
fi-om  fines  and  confiscation,  those  who  had  joined  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster, 
against  his  majesty's  deceased  father,  in  the  battle  of  Boroughbridge.| 
Reversal  But  the  Consummation  of  all  this  clemency  was  in  the  reversal  of  the  attainder, 

."lilder!'"  and  the  cessation  of  all  proceedings  against  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster,  on  the  peti- 
tion of  liis  brother  and  heii-,  Henry,  the  now  earl,  to  whom  all  the  estates,  forfeited 
by  his  deceased  brother,  were  restored  by  a  special  act  of  gi-ace,  dated  the  3d  of 
March,   1328.      The  order  of  restoration  of  the  lands,  profits,  castle,  and  honor 

*   1  Edw.  III.  p.  1.  m.21.     TuiT.  Lond.  t  Ibid.  m.  13. 

t  The  roll  of  the  battle  of  Boroughbridge,  in  possession  of  C.  W.  W.  Wynn,  Esq.,  published  in 
Division  II.  of  the  Parliamentary  Writs,  and  Writs  of  Summons,  (Append.  188.)  serves  to 
shew  the  extent  of  this  rebellion,  and  the  quality  of  the  rebels.     No  fewer  than  three  hundred  and 


Coimti)  IJalntmr  of  itanrastfr. 


325 


of  Lancaster,  to  Henry,  eail  of  Lancaster,  is  directed  to  John  de  Lancaster,  warden 
or  keeper  of  the  honor  of  Lancaster ;  Geofrey  de  Werhurton,  sheriff  of  Lancaster ; 
Edmund  de  Assheby,  keeper  of  the  fees  of  the  honor  of  Lancaster ;  and  to  the 
various  other  officers  of  tliat  honor.* 

As  if  it  had  been  intended  to  propitiate  the  manes  of  the  deceased  earl,  a  brief  was 
issued  fi-om  York,  to  Robert  de  Weryington,  clerk,  enabling  hhn  to  collect  alms 
in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  to  defray  the  cost  of  the  erection  of  a  cliapel,  to  be 
built  on  the  site  where  Thomas,  eai-1  of  Lancaster,  had  been  recently  beheaded. 


CHAP. 
IX. 


fifty  barons  and  knights  had  arrayed  themselves  under  the  banners  of  Thomas,  earl  of  Lancaster,  in 
this  memorable  insurrection,  of  whom  the  following  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners,  exclusive  of  a 
great  nuniljer  of  knights  of  somewhat  inferior  note,  who  were  captured,  and  their  lands  confiscated 
by  Edward  II.,  but  principally  restored  by  his  successor  : — 

"  Les  nouns  des  g^untz  mortz  a  Borghbrigge  le  Marsdy  1  le  Meherdy  apres  la  feste  Saint  Gre- 
(joire  I'an  du  regne  le  Roi  EDWARD  fiz.  au  Roi  EDWARD  quinzisme  '  q  furent  cotf  le  Roy.' 

"  Le  Comte  de  Hereford. 

"  Sire  William  de  Suleye. 

"  Sire  Rog.  de  Berefeld. 

"  Sire  Hug.  Lovel,  e  treis  Esquyers. 

"  '  Sir  Raiif  de  Elington.' 

"  Sir  Rog.  Dammory,  fust  mort  un  poy  devaunt  a  '  Tottebury.' 


"  Banneretz  priz  a  Borghbrigge  T;  aillours  '  en  memes  el  temps.' 

"  Le  Counte  de  Lancastre  fust  de  '  colec' 

"  Sire  Jofm  de  Wylington, 

"  Sire  Gilb'.  Taillebot, 

"  Sire  Phelip  Davey, 

"  Sire  Robt.  de  Wadeville, 

"  Sire  Adl  de  SwylintoTi, 

"  Sire  Rog.  de  Clifford, 

"  Sire  Will.  Touchet, 

"  Sire  Henr  Tyeys, 

"  Si?  John  Giffard. 

"  Sire  Earth  de  Bedlesm'e. 

"  Sire  John  de  Moubray, 

"  Sire  Waryn  del  Idle, 

"  Sire  Thorn.  Maudyut, 

"  '  Sir  Willejiz  Willi,  le  fiz.'  " 


Iceux  furent  treynez  '\  penduz 
'  '  de  Banerez.'  " 


2  Edw.  III.  p.  1.  m.  18.  Turr.  Lond. 


326 


JTIje  fii^tovi]  of  t])t 


CHAP. 
IX. 

Inciir- 
siuns  uf 
the  Scotch 
into  the 
northern 
counties 
signally 
punished. 


Lanca- 
shire 
banditti. 


I'rocla- 
mation  for 
the  redress 
of  public 
"rongs. 


Tlie  Avar  witli  Scotland  still  continued,  and  the  incursions  of  the  Scots  exposed 
the  inhabitants  of  the  northern  counties  of  England  to  the  most  severe  suffering. 
The  young  king,  anxious  to  avenge  the  AATongs  committed  upon  his  subjects,  j^laced 
himself  at  the  head  of  liis  anny ;  to  increase  which,  he  dii-ected  his  mandate  to  the 
commissioners  of  array  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster, 
announcing  that  the  Scots  were  preparing  to  invade  the  kingdom,  and  ordering  them 
to  prepare  with  arms  all  the  men  in  the  county,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and 
sixty,  to  join  the  king  at  Durham.*  The  effect  of  this  expedition  was  to  free  the 
country  from  the  invaders,  by  the  overtlu'ow  of  the  Scots  army ;  and  the  death  of 
Robert  Bruce,  king  of  Scotland,  ^  hich  occurred  on  the  7th  of  June,  1 329,  prevented 
any  further  active  hostility  between  the  two  countries  for  some  years. 

At  tliis  time  the  county  of  Lancaster  was  much  disturbed ;  large  bodies  of 
armed  men  assembled  in  the  hundreds  of  Salford  and  West  Derby,  to  the  alarm 
of  the  peaceable  inhabitants,  and  the  insecurity  of  their  property  and  lives.  To  put 
an  end  to  tliis  state  of  tilings,  the  king  adckessed  liis  waiTant  to  the  sheriff  of  Lanca- 
shire, commanding  him  to  make  public  proclamation,  that  whoever  should  in  future 
assemble  in  this  way,  would  be  subject  to  imprisonment  and  the  loss  of  their  anns.f 

This  measure  does  not  appear  to  have  had  the  desired  effect.  It  was  found 
necessary  in  the  following  year  to  appoint  a  commission,  consisting  of  John  de 
Haryngton,  Thomas  de  Lathom,  Richard  de  Houghton,  Richai'd  de  Kigheley,  and 
Gilbert  de  Wai-burton,  as  guai'dians  of  the  public  peace.  In  the  proclamation  by 
which  this  commission  was  accompanied,  it  is  stated,  that  great  multitudes  of  vaga- 
bonds and  others  assemble  illegally  together,  by  day  and  by  night,  watcliing  the 
passes  through  woods  and  other  places,  both  public  and  private,  and  that  these  ban- 
ditti way-lay  travellers,  beating,  wounding,  and  abusing  them;  Idlling  some  of  them, 
maiming  others,  and  robbing  all  of  them  of  their  property.  The  functions  of  the 
guardians  of  the  peace  were  very  extensive;  they  were  no  less  than  the  powers  of 
inquiring  into  offences,  and  of  correcting  and  punishing  the  offenders  at  then-  own 
discretion. 

While  the  government  were  punishing  the  outrages  of  the  lawless,  they  were 
not  unmindful  of  the  oppressions  and  delinquencies  practised  by  their  own  ser- 
vants; and  hence  Ave  find  that,  in  the  folloAnng  year,  a  Anit  was  issued  by  the 
king's  authority  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancaslme,  reciting,  that  in  consequence  of  the 
representation  that  divers  oppressions  and  hardsliips  had  been  inflicted  on  the  inha- 
bitants by  men  in  authority,  he  was  to  make  proclamation,  that  whoever  had  sufTered 
oppression  and  hijustice,  contrary  to  the  laws  and  usages  of  the  realm,  should  make 


Rot.  Scot.  1  Edw.  III.  m.  4.  Turr.  Lend. 


t  Claus.  2  Edw.  III.  m.  20  d.  Tuir.  Lond. 


eotmtp  ^Jalatiiif  of  i.anra5tn%  327 

known  tliek  grievances  to  the  next  pavliaracut,  tlirough  the  two  knights  of  the  shire,    chap. 
to  be  sent  from  this  county  to  that  parliament.*  

The  county  was  now  tlu-eatened  ^rith  a  fresh  wai-.  The  regency,  by  wliich  the  Fresh 
Scotch  nation  was  governed  during  the  minority  of  the  prince,  declined  to  recognize  Lanca-" 
the  claims  of  Edward  Baliol,  whose  cause  the  English  king  had  espoused,  and 
taillage  Avas  levied  of  a  fifteenth,  to  enable  him  to  carry  on  the  war,  of  wliich  William 
de  Denum,  Thomas  de  Baneuburgh,  and  Robert  de  Tughole,  were  appointed  the 
assessors  in  the  northern  counties  of  Lancashii-e,  Nortluunberland,  Cumberland,  and 
Westmoreland ;  while  Henry  de  Percy  was  appointed  warden  of  the  marches.  The 
demands  upon  Lancashii'e  Avere  not  confined  to  money;  a  levy  of  four  hundred 
archers  and  one  hunch-ed  hohelers,  very  strong  and  able-bodied  men,  fully  accoutred, 
were  requii-ed  from  this  county,  and  John  de  Denum,  Edward  Neril,  and  Robert  de 
Shii-eburn,  were  appointed  to  array  the  levy.t  At  the  same  tune,  a  writ  of  summons 
was  addressed  to  Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster,  dii-ecting  him  to  join  the  king  at  New- 
castle-upon-Tyne, on  the  Feast  of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Scots  forces  had  penetrated  into  the  northern  counties,  and  Removal 

.  .  .  ,  of  cattle, 

spread  so  much  alarm  by  their  homicides  and  devastations,  that  a  WTit  was  issued  to  c^c.  out  of 

.  .  •<■!  •  e     ^        •    -x  ""^  countv 

the  sheriff  of  Lancasliire,  announcing  that  the  king,  for  the  protection  oi  the  mha-  into  the 
bitants,  permitted  them  to  Aritlubaw  themselves,  with  their  goods  and  cattle,  out  of 
the  county  into  the  southern  parts  of  the  Idngdom,  and  there  to  remain  wherever  they 
chose  in  the  king's  woods,  forests,  and  pastures,  during  their  pleasure,  and  to  graze 
their  cattle  in  the  same  Arithout  making  any  payment  for  so  doing.  It  Avas  also 
announced  that  sunilar  commands  had  been  given  to  the  bishop  of  Durham,  and  to 
the  sheriffs  of  Northumberland,  Nottingham,  and  Derby  .J 

Signal  and  speedy  vengeance  was  inflicted  upon  the  Scots  for  this  violation  of  The  in- 
the  English  territory.  The  king,  who  Avas  then  at  Pontefract,  at  the  head  of  a  again 
powerful  army,  on  his  Avay  to  the  north,  marched  forward  to  Berwick,  in  wliich 
garrison  the  regent  Douglas  had  fortified  himself.  After  a  protracted  siege,  a 
general  battle  ensued,  in  which  Douglas  Avas  killed,  and  nearly  tliirty  thousand  of 
the  Scotch  troops  fell  in  the  action,  in  which,  according  to  Knyghton,  the  loss  of  the 
English  amounted  only  to  one  knight,  one  squire,  and  thirteen  private  soldiers ! — 
a  loss,  as  the  liistorian  Hume  observes,  so  small  as  almost  to  be  increcUble. 

The  tailliage,  or  tallage,  collected  in  tliis  reign,  as  mentioned  above,  was  a  kind  Taiiiiage 

.  ,      .     _  ,  .  in   Lanca- 

of  occasional  property rtax.     In  the  1 1  Henry  III.  a  taiUiage  Avas  made  m  Ijancaslure,  shire, 
which  serves  as  a  barometer  by  Avliich  to  measure  the  relative  importance  of  the  the  reia° 

tive  im- 


portance 
of  its 


Clans.  4  Edw.  III.  m.  18  d.  Turr.  Lond.  t  Pat.  6  Edw.  III.  p.  3.  m.  IS.  Turr.  Lond.  [^^3. " 

:  Claus.  7  Edw.  III.  p.  1.  m.  18.  Turr.  Lond. 


328  Ci)f  ?i?i^txirj?  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    principal   towns   of   the    county,    in    the   tliii-teenth   century.      Tlie    impost   was  ■ 
"       assessed  by  "  Master  Alexander  de  Dorsete  and  Simon  de  Hal,"  and  the  payments 

were  for — 

Marks.       s.         d. 

Tlie  town  of  Lancaster xiij. 

The  town  of  Liverpool xj.  vij.  viii. 

The  town  of  West  Derby vij.  iiii,  iiij. 

The  town  of  Preston xv.  —  vj. 

The  tenants  in  theinage  paid  x  marks  to  liave  respite,  that  they  might  not  be 

tailliaged.*      It  is  remarkable  that  neither  Manchester  nor  Salford  are  mentioned  in 

tliis  early  return  to  liis  majesty's  exchequer,  and  that  Wigan,  though  one  of  the 

ancient  boroughs  of  the  county,  is  also  omitted. 

Subsidy  On  the  marriage  of  the  king's  sister  Alionora  to  the  earl  of  Gerl*,  an  order  was 

the  county  issued  to  the  abbot  of  Furness,  and  to  the  priors  of  Burscough,  Up-Holland,  and 

mairiase     Homby,  as  Well  as  to  the  abbot  of  Whalley  and  to  the  priors  of  Kertmell  and 

king's  sis-  Coningsliead,  requiring  them  to  levy  the  subsidy  on  their  respective  houses,  towards 

'*"■  the  maritagium,  an  impost  of  early  times,  wliich  ceased  -nitli  the  feudal  system.f 

This  order  the  priests  were  slow  to  obey,  in  consequence  of  which  another  letter  was 

issued  by  the  king  from  Pontefract,  reminding  them  of  their  neglect,  and  ordering 

them  to  communicate  their  intention  to  the  proper  authority.    No  further  documents 

appear  on  the  subject;  and  it  may  be  presumed  that  this  second  application  produced 

the  desired  effect.     The  abbot  of  Peterborough,  in  order  to  shew  his  attachment  to 

the  king,  and  to  secure  the  favour  of  the  noble  family  wliose  influence  at  this  time 

Service  of  prevailed  in  his  majesty's  councils,  presented  Edward  with  a  splendid  service  of  plate, 

^'  Lancas-   amougst  which  was  a  silver  gilt  cup  with  a  scuchon,  on  which  was  engi-aved  the 


ter  arms." 


arms  of  "  Lancaster." 


Statute  of         The  danger  of  invasion  from  the  Scotch,  which  prevailed  so  fi-equently  during 

Winton  t  •  r    t->  t  •  a  ./  o 

enforced     the   rcigu  of  Eward  IIL,  induced  that  monarch  to   issue  an  order  to  Robert  de 
shire.         Sliireburn  and  Echuund  de  Ne-ville,   directing  them   to   enforce,  in   the  county  of 

Lancaster,  the  statute  of  Winton,  for  arming  and  arraying  the  inhabitants  according 

to  their  respective  estates  in  land.  \ 

*  "  Tallagium  per  Magistrum  Alexandrum  de  Dorsete  &  Simonem  de  Hal.  Villata  de  Lankastre 
r.  c.  de  xiij  marcis  de  eodem.  Villata  de  Liverpul  r.  c.  de  xj  marcis  &  vijs.  &  viijd  de  eodem. 
Vellatade  Westderby  r.  c.  de  vij  marcis  &  vij  s.  &  viijd  de  eodem.  Tenentes  inTheinnagio  (debent) 
X  marcas,  pro  habenda  respectu  ne  talientur.  Villata  de  Preston  r.  c.  de  xv  marcis  &  vjd  de  eodem 
(taillagio,)  with  several  other  towns."    Mag.  Rot.  11  H.  III.  Rot.  1.  a.  Lankastre. 

t  Claus.  7  Edw.  Til.  p.  1.  m.  23.  Turr.  Lond. 

t  The  statute  of  Winton,  passed  13  Edward  I.  requires  that  persons  possessing  fifteen  pounds  in 
land    or  upwards,  and  chattels  of  the  value  of  forty  marks,  shall  provide  themselves  with  a  halbert 


County  |3alntinf  of  aanrasti^r.  329 

England  being  again   involved  in   war  ^\-itli   France,  the   king  deterniiued  to    chai'. 
embark  for  the  continent,  partly  to  du-ect  its  operations,  but  principally  to  animate    _1J__ 


by  his  presence,  that  extensive  confederacy  wliich  he  had  organized  against  Philip,  ReneweJ 
the  French  king.  This  intention  was  announced  in  Lancashire  by  a  writ,  dii'ected  theu'con- 
to  John  de  Haryngton,  Edmund  de  Nevill,  and  Richard  dc  Houghton,  knights,  by  fnLanca- 
which  they  were  directed,  along  \rith  other  knights,  to  be  in  their  proper  persons  ^elh ' 
"  present  before  the  king  in  council  at  Westminster,  the  day  after  Easter,  to  hear  '*'"^^" 
what  he  had  to  expound  to  them  for  theu*  conduct,  during  his  absence  on  most  urgent 
business,  in  parts  across  the  sea,"  and  with  the  further  purpose  of  receiving  instruc- 
tions, to  preserve  the  peace  inviolate  during  his  absence.*  Although  parliaments 
had  then  been  only  very  recently  instituted  upou  the  model  of  popular  representa- 
tion, the  royal  influence  began  already  to  exert  itself,  to  obtain  the  return  of  such 
members  to  the  house  of  commons  as  would  best  secure  the  king's  purpose,  by 
gi-anting  liim  large  supplies  out  of  the  public  revenue ;  and  this  appears  to  have 
been  the  object  of  Edward,  in  summoning  these  knights  by  the  authority  of  Ids  own 
writ.  The  parliament  which  was  convened  on  the  recommendation  of  tliis  council, 
made  a  gi-aut  for  two  years  of  the  ninth  sheaf  of  corn,  and  the  ninth  lamb  and  fleece, 
on  then*  estates ;  and  fi-om  the  burgesses,  of  a  ninth  of  their  moveables,  at  the  true 
value.  The  same  parliament  also  granted  a  duty  of  forty  shillings  on  each  sack  of 
wool  exported,  on  each  three  hundred  woolfells,  and  on  each  last  of  leather,  for  the 
same  term,  declaring,  however,  tliat  tliis  grant  was  not  to  be  di-a^Ti  into  a  precedent. 
But  in  order  to  facilitate  the  supply,  and  to  meet  the  king's  urgent  necessities,  they 
agi"eed  that  he  shoidd  be  allowed  twenty  thousand  sacks  of  wool,  the  amount  to  be 
deducted  fi'om  the  moveables  when  they  were  levied.  Local  treasuries  became 
necessary,  as  deposits  for  the  sums  collected  in  the  respective  counties,  and  the 
abbot  of  Furness  accordingly  received  a  conunaud  to  pronde  a  suitable  house  in  liis 
abbey,  for  "  the  custody  of  the  king's  pence."  A  writ  of  summons  was  at  the  same 
time  directed  to  the  sheriff"  of  Lancashu'e,  ordering  him  to  arrest  the  ships  in  the 
ports,  and  to  man  and  equip  them  for  action."]"     With  the  fleet,  consisting  of  two 

(haberjonem),  an  iron  cap,  a  sword,  a  cultel,  and  a  horse;  often  pounds  in  land,  and  chattels 
value  twenty  marks,  a  halbert,  sword,  and  cultel ;  of  one  hundred  shillings  in  land,  a  purpoint  iron 
cap,  sword,  and  cultel  ;  of  forty  shillings  in  land,  and  more  up  to  a  liundred  shillings,  a  sword,  a 
bow,  arrows,  and  cultel ;  and  he  who  had  less  than  forty  shillings  in  land,  to  be  sworn.  Persons  to 
have  arms  and  armour  in  their  houses,  according  to  the  quality  of  their  lands  and  goods.  This  sta- 
tute also  provides,  that  the  people  of  every  hundred  shall  be  answerable  to  the  sufferers  for  the 
robberies  and  other  offences  committed  in  their  respective  hundreds. 

*  Claus.  12  Edw.  III.  p.  1.  m.  37.  d.  Turr.  Lond. 

t  Rot.  Aleman.  12  Edw.  III.  p.  1.  m.  23.  Turr.  Lond. 
VOL.  I.  2  u 


330  CJk  S)isitxiri)  of  tl)t 

CHAP,  bimcked  aud  forty  sail,  principally  collected  in  this  wav,  the  splendid  victory  of 
_^_J__  Sluisse  was  obtained  hy  Edward  over  the  navy  of  France,  in  which  two  hunth-ed  and 
Splendid    thirty  French  ships  were  taken,   and  thirty  thousand  Frenchmen  killed,  alons  Avith 

ii(ivB.I  vic- 

tory.  theii'  two  admirals,  while  the  loss  of  the  English  was  comparatively  inconsiderable.* 

Fiesh  le-  Although  this  sig-nal  victory  had  given  to  the  navy  of  England   a  superiority 

Lanca"       wliich  it  has  never  since  lost,  the  alarm  of  invasion  spread  very  generally,  and, 

^  ""^'         amongst  other  prepai'ations  made  to   repel  the  invaders,  it  was  ordered,  that  fifty 

men  at  arms,  tlu'ee  liundred  anned  men,  and  three  hundred  archers,  should  be 

raised  in  this  county,  of  which  number,  twenty-five  men  at  arms,  and  one  Imncked 

and  twenty  archers,  were  to  be  contributed  by  the  following  gentlemen  if — 

Monsr  Johan  de  Harragton,  pur  lui         7   v  i    -v.       t  o   vt        »- 

•>   o      '  L  i  -^  homes  a  armes  &  XL  arcnrs. 

&  son  pier  3 

Robt  de  Radeclif, V  homes  d'  armes  &  XL  archrs. 

Henry  de  Trafford,   X  homes  d'  armes  &  XL  archrs. 

The  warlike  spivit  of  the  king  had  involved  him  in  hostilities  both  with  Scotland 
and  France ;  and  in  the  foUowmg  year  a  writ  of  military  simimons  was  issued  to 
Gilbert  de  Clyderowe  and  to  Robert  de  Radeclyf,  ordering  them  to  assemble  the 
men  at  aims,  and  ai'chers,  under  their  command,  to  meet  the  king  at  Carlisle,  by 
Quadi-agesima  Sunday,  to  repel  the  invasion  of  the  Scots.J  At  the  same  time, 
John  de  Helleker,  the  king's  receiver  for  Lancashu-e,  was  ordered  to  send  money  to 
Carlisle,  towai-ds  repairmg  the  fortresses  of  that  city,  and  the  abbot  of  Furness  was 
commanded  to  proAide  a  suitable  house  in  liis  abbey  for  the  custody  of  the  king's 
pence.  To  the  joy  of  the  people,  a  proclamation  was  tliis  year  received  in  Lanca- 
sliii-e,  and  in  the  other  counties  of  England,  commanding  the  sheriff  to  publish  a 
truce  between  the  king  and  Philip  de  Valois,  and  between  the  English  and  the 
Scotch. 

Little  reliance,  however,  appears  to  have  been  placed  upon  the  permanent  restora- 
tion of  tranquillity,  for  in  the  following  year  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire  was  ordered  to 
provide  one  hundred  bows  and  one  thousand  sheaves  of  arrows,  for  the  expetUtion 
into  France.§     This  was  speedily  followed  by  another  order  to  the  sheriff,  directing 

*  Froissard,  liv.  i.  chap.  .51.  f  Rot.  Pail.  13  Edw.  III.  vol.  ii.  p.  110. 

t  Rolls  of  Pail.  vol.  ii.  p.  110.      13  Edw.  III.     No.  33. 

^  The  price  of  bows  is  fixed  in  the  goveniment  order  at  one  shilling  each,  which  sum  is  also  to  be 
allowed  for  a  sheaf  of  arrows,  except  when  they  are  guarded  with  steel  (aceratse),  and  then  the  charge 
js  to  be  one  shilling  and  twopeiice. 


Coiintj)  ^3tilatine  of  Sanrasitrr.  331 


him  to  provide  a  tliousaud  sheaves  of  steel-headed  arrows,  and  a  thousand  bow-    chap. 

IX. 

strings.  


In  the  war  with  France,  wliicli  was  speedily  renewed,  Henry,  eail  of  Derby,  son 
of  the  earl  of  Lancaster,  gi-eatly  distinguished  himself;*  and  the  events  of  this  war, 
in  wliich  tlie  French  king  was  taken  prisoner,  shed  an  imperishable  renown  on  the 
military  character  of  England.  For  the  prosecution  of  the  contest,  large  lenes  were 
raised  in  all  the  counties  of  the  kingdom ;  and  an  order  was  cUrected  by  the  king  to 
the  sheriff  of  Lancasliii-e,  commantUng  him  to  make  proclamation,  that  all  barons, 
bannerets,  knights,  and  esquires,  in  the  county,  within  the  age  of  sixteen  and  sixty, 
should  be  forthwith  prepared  with  horses  and  arms,  to  attend  the  king  across  tlie 
sea,  to  enable  him  to  put  a  speedy  and  successful  termination  to  the  war.f  Not 
only  the  noble,  but  the  ignoble  also  were  embarked  in  this  service,  and  the  sheriff 
received  soon  after  a  writ  of  military  service,  commanchng  him  to  make  public 
proclamation,  that  all  persons  in  his  county  who  had  been  foimd  guilty  of  felonies, 
liomicides,  robberies,  and  other  offences,  and  had  been  pardoned  by  the  king's 
clemency,  should  pro\ide  tliemselves  with  arms  and  acoutrements,  and  march  to  join 
the  royal  army  on  its  embarkation  at  Portsmouth  for  France. 

Tlie  Scots,  under  David  Bruce,  availing  themselves  of  the  opportunity  whicli  xiie  flocks 
the  absence  of  the  English  forces  afforded,  prepared  to  invade  the  northern  counties ;  of  the'^"  ° 
on  which  a  ^vi-it  was  addi-essed  by  the  king  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire,  announcing  ag"in^ 
the  danger  of  the  country,  and  ordering  him  to  make  proclamation,  that  all  the  men  seerpro- 
of  the  county  sliould  remo^•e  their  live  stock  to  the  forest  of  Galtres,  in  the  county  of  ''^'^''''"■ 
York,  where  tliey  might  be  preserved  in  safety,  and  wliere  the  flocks  and  lierds 
would  enjoy  pasturage  free  of  c]iarge.| 

The  king  of  England  being  engaged  in  the  Frencli  wars,  aided  by  his  son,  tlie  signal 
Black  Prince,  and  Ijy  the  earl  of  Derby,   queen   Pliilippa   assembled    a  body  of  onhe''™^'^ 
soldiers,  to  repel  tlie  Scotch  invaders.    This  force,  under  the  command  of  lord  Percy,  a^n,'^.'' 
met  at  Neville's  Cross,  with  the  determination  to  revenge  the  insults  which  liad  been 
offered  to  the  country,  and  to  put  an  end  to  the  violations  which  liad  been  committed 
upon  the  property  of  the  iuliabitants.     Animated,  in  that  chivalrous  age,   to   the 
higliest  pitch  of  enthusiasm  by  the  presence  of  the  queen,  who  rode  along  their  ranks 
previous   to  the  battle,  tlie  English  troops,   though  not  numerically  amounting  to 
one-fourth  of  the  number  of  the  Scotcli,  fought  like  lions.     Tlie  enemy  Avas  broken 
and  chiven  off  the  field,  and  fifteen  thousand  of  them  were  made   to  bite  tlie  dust, 
amongst  whom  was  the  earl  marshal  of  Scotland.     To  crown  tliis  niemoralile  victory, 
David  Bruce,  the  Scotch  king,  was  made  prisoner,  and  conveyed  to  London,  along 

*  See  c.  iv.  p.  136.  +  Rot.  Fiaiir.  10  Edw.  III.  p.  2.  m.  12.     Tiirr.  Lond. 

I  Claus.  19  Edw.  111.  p.  2.  in.  10.  d.     Tun.  Lond, 
2u  2 


332 


mjt  ?^i£(tori)  of  tiit 


CHAP. 
IX. 

Dasid 
Bruce 
taken 
prisoner. 


Impress- 
ment of 
ships  in 
Lanca- 
shire. 


Dreadful 

pestilence 
in  the 
county. 


Tlie  first 
diilcedom 
of  Lancas- 
ter, the  re- 
ward of 
splendid 
public 
services. 

The  first 
creation  of 
dukes. 


•nitli  a  number  of  Ids  captive  nobles,  in  triumph.*  Tlie  number  of  prisoners  taken 
in  tliis  battle  was  so  large  as  to  fill  all  the  prisons  of  Lancashire.  The  inhabitants, 
in  order  to  relieve  themselves  from  the  burden  of  the  support  of  so  many  prisoners, 
liberated  a  number  of  them,  in  the  hope  that  they  would  return  to  their  own  country, 
but  instead  of  pursuing  this  course,  they  began  to  commit  depredations ;  on  which  the 
government  instituted  a  commission,  consisting  of  Thomas  de  Latham,  .John  de 
Haryngton  the  younger,  and  Nicholas  le  Botiller,  to  make  inquisition  into  the 
alleged  liberations,  and  to  announce  that  the  persons  guilty  of  this  oflfence  against 
the  public  safety  would  be  liable  to  the  forfeiture  of  life  and  limbs.t 

In  order  to  reinstate  the  English  navy  in  its  former  strength,  after  the  splendid 
victory  of  Suisse,  a  tax  somewhat  resembling  that  attempted  to  he  imposed  by 
Charles  L  though  unattended  by  its  disastrous  consequences,  was  levied  in  the  sea- 
ports of  Liverpool  and  Chester,  under  the  authority  of  an  order  from  the  king,  by 
wliich  the  collectors  of  the  sliip-money  were  directed  to  collect  the  subsidy  of  two 
shillings  the  sack  on  wool,  and  sixpence  Hie  pound  on  moveables,  for  sixty  large 
ships  of  war  (grossis  navibus  de  guerra,)  and  to  deliver  the  money  so  assessed  to  the 
admiral  of  the  fleet  of  those  ports.  A  contribution  was  also  made  in  Lancasliire, 
in  favour  of  Echuund  Baliol,  king  of  Scotland,  the  nominee  of  Edward,  king  of 
England;  and  Richard  Molineaux  and  his  associates,  collectors  of  the  triennial 
tenths  recently  gi'anted  to  tlie  king,  were  ordered  to  transmit  one  hundred  and 
eighty-four  pounds,  in  two  instalments,  out  of  the  sums  collected  for  the  king's 
exchequer.! 

At  this  time  a  pestilence  of  the  most  fatal  character  raged  in  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster, and  indeed  in  all  the  other  counties  of  the  kingdom;  and  so  malignant  were 
its  effects,  that  one-third  of  the  inhabitants  became  its  victims.  According  to  Stowe, 
the  annalist,  fifty  thousand  persons  died  of  tliis  plague  in  the  city  of  Norwich,  and  an 
equal  number  were  interred  in  one  bm-ial-ground  in  the  city  of  London. 

The  brilliant  career  pm-sued  in  France  by  Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster  and  Derby, 
determined  the  king  to  confer  upon  liim  a  signal  mark  of  the  royal  favour,  by 
creating  him  duke  of  Lancaster.^  The  origin  of  tliis  title  is  thus  represented  by  the 
heralds : — 

"  The  first  creation  of  the  title  of  duke,  as  chstinct  from  that  of  eai'l  (for  in  the  elder 
times  they  were  oft  synonymous  with  us)  was  in  the  eleventh  year  of  Edward  the 
Thud,  when  in  parliament  he  conferred  upon  his  eldest  sou,  being  then  earl  of 
Chester,  the  title  of  duke  of  Cornwidl.  The  investiture  of  this  fii'st  duke  was  only 
by  girding  him  with  the  sword,  although  some  learned  men,  confounding,  it  seems. 


*  Froissard,  liv.  i.  c.  139. 

X  23  Edw.  III. 


t  Rot.  Scot.  20  Edw.  III.  m.  4d.  Turr.  Lend. 
^  25  Edw.  III.  1351. 


Countj,)  ^alatint  of  XanrasJttr.  333 

the  ceremonies  of  his  being  afterwards  made  prince  of  Wales,  with  this  creation  into    chap. 
the  title  of  duke,  say  he  was  invested  by  a  ring,  a  rod,  and  a  coronet,  all  of  which  " 

indeed  together  ai-e  mentioned  in  some  patents  of  the  following  times,  that  seem  to 
create  the  eldest  sons  dukes  of  Cornwall,  as  well  as  princes  of  Wales,  and  earls  of 
Chester.  The  same  investiture  also,  by  the  sword  ouly,  is  mentioned  in  the  creation 
of  Henry,  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster,  about  fourteen  years  after  tliis  first  creation  of 
the  duke  of  Cornwall.  He  was  created  for  life  in  parliament,  and  the  clause  of 
investiture,  in  the  charter,  is  only  nomen  ducis  Lancastriae,  imponimus  S^  ipsum  de 
nomine  ducis  dicti  loci,  per  cincturam  gladii  praesentiaUter  investimiis ;  and  the 
county  of  Lancaster  as  a  county  palatine,  with  reference  to  tliat  of  Chester,  for 
example  of  jurisdiction,  is  given  to  him  as  the  body  of  liis  duchy  *  Afterward,  in 
36  Edw.  III.  on  the  last  day  of  the  pailiament,  Lionel,  duke  of  Clarence,  and  John, 
duke  of  Lancaster,  both  sons  to  the  king,  were  honoured  with  those  titles,  Lionel 
being  then  in  Ireland ;  but  the  other  being  present,  had  investiture  by  the  king's 
girding  him  with  a  sword,  and  his  putting  him  on  a  cap  of  fur,  desus  in  cercle  d'or 
^  de  petvs,  as  the  roU  says,  that  is,  under  a  coronet  of  gold  and  stone.s." 

Soon  after  the  first  establishment  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  heavy  complaints  Heavy 
■were  made  by  the  inhabitants,  in  consequence  of  the  two-fold  pressure  of  taxation;  the''peniX 
fii-st,  for  the  support  of  the  state,  and,  next,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  institutions  of  duchy. 
the  duchy.      To  alleviate  tlieix*  burdens,  the  king  addi-essed  a  mandate  to  the  duke 
of  Lancaster,  or  to  his  lieutenant  and  chancellor,  wherein  it  was  directed,  that  all 
general  inquisitions  concerning  felonies  and  trespasses  in  every  part  of  the  kingdom 
should  cease,  so  long  as  the  people  remained  peaceable,  and  particularly  that  the 
people  in  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,   who  had  been  impeded  in  their  business,  and 
reduced  to  great  poverty,  by  the  inquisitions  made  in  the  duchy,  should  no  longer  be 
burdened  in  this  way.     The  duke  was  therefore  ordered  to  supersede  all  such  pro- 
ceedings within  liis  duchy,  and  to  achninister  the  law  in  the  same  manner  as  in 
other  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

Tlie  same  year  the  king  addi-essed  a  proclamation  to  all  admirals,  their  lieutenants  Further 
and  sheriffs,  appointing  Roger  del  Wych,  John  Syword,  John  Cruys,  and  William  Te^nTof 
son  of  Adam  de  Lyverpol,  to  ai-rest  as  many  ships  in  Liverpool  and  Chester,  and"  the'ports 
other  ports,  as  were  necessary  to  convey  Thomas  de  Roclieby,  the  king's  justiciary  shi^^e*""^^ 
of  Ireland,  into  that  country.  ","''  •^''«'- 

'  •'  shire. 

Tlie  difficulty  of  procuring  labourers  in  husbandry  after  the  country  had  been  iMaxim,,,,, 
so  much  thinned  of  its  population  by  the  plague,  disinclined  the  working  classes 
to  take  the  usual  rate  of  wages  for  then*  labour,  and  an  act  was  in  consequence 
passed  "  to  restrain  the  malice  of  servants,"  who  insisted  upon  extravagant  wages, 

•  Seec.  iv.  p.  138. 


of  af;ricul- 

tural 

labour. 


334  Cfte  S)i^tor|)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  (outrageouses  loivers.)  The  standard  of  wages,  fixed  by  this  act,  was  that  which  had 
'^'  prevailed  vokmtaiily  before  the  plague  broke  out,  when  com  was  tenpence  a  bushel, 
and  wages  fifteen  pence  a  week.  This  law  being  in  opposition  to  the  general  principle 
of  trade,  which  causes  the  supply  and  the  demand  to  regulate  the  price,  failed  iu  its 
object,  and  the  labourers  left  then-  usual  places  of  abode,  to  seek  more  profitable 
emplojTnent,  wliich  they  easily  found  from  home.  The  strong  arm  of  the  law  was 
ao-ain  called  in,  and  it  was  enacted,  that  no  servant  should  in  summer  go  out  of  the 
tOAvn  or  parish  where  lie  usually  dwelt  in  winter,  if  he  could  obtain  employment 
there,  with  an  exception  in  favour  of  the  labourers  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster, 
Staflbrd,  and  Derby,  and  in  the  districts  of  Craven  and  the  marches  of  Wales,  who 
were  allowed  to  go  in  the  month  of  August,  the  season  of  harvest,  to  work  in 
other  counties;  and  persons  refusing  to  obey  this  proclamation  were  to  be  put  in  the 
stocks,  by  the  lords  and  stewai'ds,  or,  if  that  discipline  did  not  prove  sufiicient,  they 
were  to  be  sent  to  the  next  prison,  and  there  confined  for  three  days.* 

During  the  king's  absence  in  France,  Hemy,  duke  of  Lancaster,  was  summoned 

to  attend  the  council,  which  duty  he  performed  with  liis  usual  fidelity.      This  was 

Death  of     amongst  the  last  public  acts  of  tliat  venerable  peer;  for  in  tlie  mouth  of  March,  in  the 

o/La'n-*^     following  year,  1361,  he  expired,  without  male  heir,  on  wliicli  liis  honours  and  his 


caster. 


sessions. 


princely  possessions  descended  to  his  two  daughters,  Maud  and  Blanch,  whose  names, 
however,  are  not  even  mentioned  in  his  ^^"ill. 

Will  of  Henry,  Duke  of  Laixcaster. 

His  will.  "  En  le  nom  del  Piere,  del  Fitz,  et  del  Seint  Espirit.     Nous  Hemy,  Due  de 

Hispos-  Lancastre,  Comte  de  Derby,  de  Nichol,  et  de  Leicestr',  Seneschal  d'Engletere, 
Seigneur  de  Bruggerak,  et  de  Beufort,  le  xv  jour  del  mois  de  Mai-z  I'an  de  gi-ace 
mill  ccc.  et  Ix  a  n're  chastel  de  Leic'  devisons  et  fesons  n're  testament  en  manere  qe 
s'  ensuit.  Enprimes  nous  recommaundons  et  devisons  n're  alme  a  Dieu,  et  devisons 
n're  corps  a  estre  ensevellitz  en  I'eglise  coUegiale  del  annimciation  n're  Dame  de 
Leicestr'  dautrepart  le  antiere  on  le  coi-ps  n're  seign'r  et  piere  qe  cUeu  assoile  est 
enten-ez.  Et  voloms  q'  n're  corps  ne  demeorge  desenterrez  outre  troies  symaynes 
apres  le  departu-  del  alme.  Et  volons  q'  si  nous  devious  a  Leic'  que  n're  corps  soit 
porte  a  I'eglise  parocliiele  le  tiers  jour  de-\ant  I'euterrement,  et  q'  illeoq's  soiont  faites 
les  divines  services,  tiels  come  appartieut,  ove  xxiii  torches,  et  qe  les  douze  torches 
demoergent  a  I'eglise  et  deux  draps  d'or ;  les  cureez  de  la  dite  eglise  aient  n're 
melior  chivall  ou  les  pris  en  noun  de  principal,  et  q'  n're  cori)s  soit  porteez  d'Hleoqes 
tanqe  a  I'eglise  collegial  de  n're  Dame  avant  dite,  et  Uloqes  enterrez  come  desus  est 

*  Claus.  33  Edw.  III.  m.  .5  d.  Tuir.  Lond. 


Coimtj)  ^Jalatmc  of  iLanfastrr,  335 

dit;  issint  q'il  ny  ait  chose  voine  ne  de  bobaunce,  come  des  homes  armeez,  ne  des    chap. 


chivals  couvertz,  ny  autres  choses  veines,  nes  une  berce  ove  cyiik  cierges,  chescuue 
cierge  de  ceutz  lb,  et  liii  graimtz  mortiers,  et  c  torches  entoiir  les  corps.  Et  qe 
cynqainte  poures  soient  vestus,  rait  et  cynk  de  blauk  et  xxv  de  blew,  portaiit  les 
ditz  torches.  Et  voloiis  q'  n're  Seigii'r  le  Roy  et  ma  Dame  le  Reyne  soient  garniz 
de  n're  ent'  rement,  et  Monsr'  le  Prince,  et  mes  seigu'rs  ses  fi-eres,  et  madame  Dame 
Isabell,  et  nos  seors  et  nos  freres  lo'r  seigneurs,  et  les  auti'es  grauntes  de  n're  saunk. 
Et  devisons  cynqaunt  linges  por  departu-  es  poures  bosoignouses  en  temps  environ 
n're  enterement  en  manere  come  nous  avous  charge  de  bouche  les  uuz  de  nos 
executors,  si  tauntz  des  poures  y  soeint.  Et  ne  volons  una  q'  uulles  costages  soeint 
faitz  le  jour  de  n're  enteiTement  pour  pestre  les  gentz  del  pais  nes  les  coes  de  la 
viUe,  et  volons  q'  religionses  soient  bien  regardez.  Et  volons  q'  si  nous  devious 
aillors  qu'a  Leic'  q'n're  corps  soit  menez  al  eglise  de  n're  dame  collegial  avauntdite 
et  illeoqes  ensteiTez  en  manere  come  desus  est  dit.  Et  volons  et  devisons  q'  toute 
la  cire  et  touz  les  di-apes  d'or  demoergent  a  la  dite  eglise  collegial,  et  devisons  a  la 
chte  eglise  entierement  n're  chapele  ove  touz  les  aouruementz  et  touz  nos  reliqes. 
Et  devisons  touz  nos  biens,  vessell  d'argent,  et  touz  lez  autres  moebles  a  aquiter  noz 
dettes  et  guer doner  noz  poures  servauutz,  qe  ne  sount  mie  ungore  guerdone, 
chescun  solom  lour  dessert,  et  solom  lour  estat,  a  la  disposicion  de  nos  executors,  et 
a  perfaii-e  la  dite  eglise  collegial  et  touz  les  autres  maisons  devisez  et  ordeignez 
entom-  la  dite  eglise.  Et  volons  qe  si  nos  executours  puissent  estre  enfourmes  en 
verite  qe  nous  tenoins  terre  qe  fuist  d'autruy,  et  qe  nous  ne  avoms  tiel  estat  qe  uos 
heires  puissent  de  bone  foi  le  tenir,  q'il  persueut  a  nos  heires  de  rendre  les  ten-es  a 
ceux  ou  a  cely  a  queux  ou  a  qy  eles  devient  ou  doit  estre  de  droit.  Et  auxint  qe  si 
nos  executours  puissent  estre  enforme  qe  nous  eions  euz  d'autri  a  tort,  q'ils  facent 
gTee  en  descharge  de  n're  alme.  E  a  toutes  cestes  choses  pleniement  perfaire  et 
acumplir  solom  n're  volunte  et  devys  suschtz,  nous  ordeignouus  et  fesons  nos 
executors  le  rev'rent  piere  en  Dieu  John  evesq'  de  Nichol,  le  honorable  home  de 
seinte  religion,  AVilliam  abbe  de  Leic',  n're  ti-eschiere  soer  la  Dame  Wak,  n're 
tres  chiere  cosyne  de  WalkjTiton,  Monsieui-  Rob't  la  Mare,  Mens'  John  de  Boke- 
londe,  Su-e  John  de  Charnele,  Sire  Want'  Power,  Sinkyn  Simeon,  et  John  de 
Neumarche;  douaunt  pleine  poeraeux  et  a  chescun  de  eux  toutes  les  choses  suschtes 
pleinement  perfaii-e  et  accomplir  en  la  manere  suscHte.  Et  en  cas  qe  nuUe  chose 
soit  endoubte  et  nemye  desclare  en  le  dit  testament,  eient  nos  ditz  executors  pleine 
poer  totes  choses  en  mesme  le  testament  desclai-er  solom  ceo  q'ils  senterent  qesoit 
plus  a  pleisance  de  Dieu,  al  profit  de  n're  alme,  accordaunt  a  n're  volunte  et  a 
resoun.  Item  nous  devisons  touz  noz  biens  qe  remenent  outre  noz  dettes  et  outre 
ceo    qe   seiTa  donez  pur  reward  a   noz   servauntz,   et  a  perfaiie  n're   dite  eglise 


IX. 


336  ClK  l^lStJJll)  Of  ti)t 

CHAP,     colleo-ial  de  Leic'  et  en  eide  de  performii-  et  accomplii-  les  maisous  qe  uous  avoius 


IX. 


ordeioTiez  illoeqes,  d'estre  inys  al  profit  de  n're  aliue  par  ^a^^s  et  assent  de  uoz  ditz 
executors.  En  tesmoigne  de  queles  choses  nous  avions  a  cest  n're  testament  mys 
n're  seal  ensemblement  ove  n're  signet ;  escript  le  jour,  lu,  et  an  susditz. 

"  Probatio  dicti  Testament!,  3  Kal.  April,  A.D.  1361,  in  castro  Leycestr' 

coram  Jolianne  Liucoln  Ep'o. 
"  Alia  probatio  diet'  Testament!  coram  D'n'm  Will'  mum  de  Witleseye, 

Official'  Cm-'  Cant'.  Dat'  London,  7  Idus  Mali,  A.D.  1361. 
"  Regist'     Islip.    fol.     172.    a.    b.    in    the    Arcliiepiscopal    Registry    at 
Lambeth." 

The  extent  and  magnitude  of  the  possessions  of  the  fii'st  duke  of  Lancaster, 
forming  as  they  do  the  principal  part  of  the  duchy,  may  be  in  some  degi-ee  estimated 
from  the  following  enumeration  exhibited  in  the  Inquisition  Post  Mortem  in  the 
records  of  the  Tower  of  London,  taken  in  36  Edw.  III. 

INQUISITION  POST  MORTEM 

OF   THE    POSSESSIONS    OF    THE    FIRST    DUKE    OF    LANCASTER. 

"  In  the  County  of  Lancaster. — Lancastr'  castrum  &  honor — Placita  comitatus 
Lancastr' — Westderbysliire  ballia — Lonesdale  wapeutac' — Lancastr'  atH' — Lone 
aqua  piscar'  juxta  Prestwait — Overton  maner' — Slyne  villa — Skerton  terr',  &c. — 
Quernemore  pai-cus — Wiresdale  vaccar' — Blesdale  vaccar' — Cakb-e  vaccar' — Gris- 
dale  vaxjcar' — ^Amimderness  wapeutac' — Preston — Siugleton — Riggeby  villa  cum  le 
Wray  —  Hydilparke  —  CacHlegh — Fulwode  bosc'  —  Kylaneshalghe — Broughton — 
Mii-estagh  parens — Wiggehalgh — Baggerburgh — Clyderhoo  ca-str' — Blakebornsliire 
wapentac' — Ighterhall  maner' — Colne  maner'  cum  membris — Woxtou — Penhalton 
vill' — Chatebume  vill' — Acrinton  vill' — Huncotes — Haselingden  vill' — PenhuU 
chacea— Trogden  chacea — Rossendale  chacea — Totinton  maner'  &  chacea — Hod- 
desden  bosc' — Rachedale  maner' — Penwortham  maner' — Widnes  maner' — Ulles- 
Walton  maner' — Eccleston  y\\Y — Leylond  vill'— LyverpoU  castr' — Westderby 
maner'  &  Salford  maner'  (ut  de  honore  de  Tuttebury)-  Horneby  castr'  &  maner' — 
Werington  maner' — Laton  maner'. 

"  In  the  Count  1/  of  Leicester. — Leycestr'  castr'  &  honor  extent' — Frithe  bosc' — 
Hynkeley  maner'  extent'— Schelton  maner'  extent' — Derford  maner'  extent' — 
Selby  quinque  visus  franc'  pleg'  Carleton  quatuor  \isus  franc'  pleg' — Schulton 
duo  visus  franc'  pleg' — Derford  duo  ^^sus  franc'  pleg' — Hynkeley  duo  -visus  franc' 
pleg'. 


Coiintj)  ^3alatiiie  of  tanrastfr.  337 

"  In  the  County  of  Dorset— Kyngeston  Lacy  maner'— Winteiboru  Minster—    cfiAi'. 
AVimbourne  Holt  cliacea— Bradbury  huiidrecr — Shapwj^k  mauer' — Maiden  Neuton       ^^' 
hundred'. 

"  In  the  Counft/  of  Southampton. — Kyngesomborne  maner' — Pernholt  bosc'  & 
cliacea — La  Lond  bosc' — Staunden — Earle — EUeden — Huld — Pernholt — Tymbre- 
bury — Conipton  Houghton — Siunborne  Parva — Upsomborne  (ter,  &c.) — Stockbrigo- 
^•il^ — Laugestoke  maner' — Weston  maner'  juxta'  Odiam — Herteley  maner', 

"  In  the  County  of  Wanvic." — Keiiehvorth  castr'  and  maner'  extent' — AsthuU 
maner' — Wotton  reddit' — Waddesley,  Lapwortli  reddit' — Mershton  Boteler — 
Brinkelowe  (terr'  &  ten') — Ilmedon  visus  franc'  pleg'. 

"In  the  County  of  Wiltes. — Colingborne  maner'  extent' — Everlee  maner' 
extent' — ^Lavyngton  maner'  extent'. 

"  In  the  County  of  i?e/7is'.— Esgarston  maner'  extent' — Poghele — Hungerford 
— Sandon — &  Kentebury  (terr.  &c.) 

"  In  the  County  of  DerV . — Melborne  castr'  &  maner'. 

"  In  the  County  of  York. — Pontefract  castr'  &  honor  cum  membris  viz' — 
Slaikeborne  maner' — Bowland  maner'  cum  foresta — Snaith  villa  cum  soca — Pvker- 
ing  castr'  vill'  &  honor — Scalby  maner' — Hoby  maner' — Esingwald  maner' — Brade- 
ford  maner' — ^Almanby  maner' — Ledes  maner' — Berewyke  maner' — Roundhaye 
maner' — Scoles  maner' — Hjqjax  maner' — Allerton  maner' — Rothewell  maner' — 
Altoftes  maner' — Warnefield  mauer' — Ackworth  maner' — Elmesdale  maner' — 
Camesale  maner' — Custou' — Tanshelfe  maner' — Knottingleye  maner'^Boghall 
maner' — cum  libera  curia  de  Pontefracto — Divers  terr'  et  ten'  &c.  in  Maningham 
Barnboghe  — Woodhouse  —  Potterton  —  Hillum —  Saxton — Roundhay — Secroft — 
Tliornore — Scole — Muston — Kypax  maner' — Ledeston — Allerton. — ^Ayer  pisca- 
ria — Rothewell — Flete  molend' — Wridelesford — Kildre  piscaria.  Divers'  terr  & 
ten,  &c.  Warnefeld — Crofton — Akeworth — Elmcsle  —  Kerkeby  Mensthrop — 
Suthelmsale — Coteyerd — Ellerker — Camesale— Balnehoke — Hargincrofte  Bernes- 
dale — Custon — Holnhirst — Carleton  Castelford  molend' —  Hardewike — Knoting- 
ley — Beghale — Beglielker — Beghallund. 

^  "  Omnia  jyredicta  pertinent  honori  de  Pontefriet.' 
"  Slaykeborne  in  Boiiland  cum  forest' — Bremund  pastur' — Roudon — Up  Ald- 
ington —  Maukholes  —  Crombewell  —  Holme — Baxsterhay — Browesholme — Berk- 
holme —  Eghes — Latheringi-ime  Bernardseless — Nicolshey — Wardeslegh — Hoge- 
king — Heigh e — Crepiugwarde — Benteley  Close — Graistanley —  Lekherst — Pein- 
leghes — Coswayne — Chipping  Crosdale — Neuton — Hamerton  Witton — Grimling- 
ton — Salley  molend' — Bradeford  in  Bouland — Blakshelfe  in  Mitton — Witliikill — 
Smitliecrofte — Cowyke  \alla  pertin'  soce  de  Snaythe — Roucliffe  mora — Acre  aqua 
VOL.  I.  2  X 


338  CIjc  Sji6tor|)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    piscai- Pikering  castr'  forest'    &c.   cum   feodis  pertin'    viz' — Middleton — Leves- 

^^'  ijaiu  Finhilwode — Gotherland — Aleiutoftes — Thwaite— Lingtliwaite — Rumbald — 
Haretoft — Folketon  maiisc' — Ednesmershe — Brumpton — Scalby — Hobye — Esing- 
wolde — Credeling  manei'.'     Divers  reddit  ^-  repris  exeunt  de  maner  j)redict\ 

"  In  the  County  of  Northumberland. — Duiistauburgh  castr' — Staunford  baronia 
cum  membris  suis  vidlt,  Emeldon — Dunstau — Buiton — Wanadam — Sliipplay — 
Crauncesti-e — Fenton — Newton  super  Moram  &  Cartington. 

"  In  the  County  of  Huntingdon. — Huntingdon  reddit' — Gomecestre  reddit'. 

"  In  the  County  of  Rutland". — Tye  due  lete — Casterton  Magna  due  lete. 

"  In  the  County  of  Northampton. — Higham  Fen-ers — Raimdes  vill' — Russhe- 
den  \air — Irchestre  vill' — Hegliam  hundr'  ut  de  honor e  de  Tuttebury — Davintre 
maner' — Esthaddon  due  lete — Helmingden — Lylleborne — Dodeford  due  lete — 
Wedonbeck  ut  de  honore  de  Leycestr'. 

"  In  the  County  of  Surrey. — Erwell  ten'  vocat'  Hertegrave. 

"  In  the  County  of  Middlesex. — London'  mess'  vocat' — Savoye  cum  shop'  & 
reddit  peitin'. 

"  In  the  County  of  Lincoln. — Lincoln'  comitat  14  feed'  in  eodem  pertin'  castro 
de  Lancastr' — Retrecombe  curia. 

"  In  the  County  of  Stafford. — Novum  Castrum  subtus  Lynam  maner'  castr'  & 
burgus  cum  membris  vidlt,  Clayton  vill' — Wolstanton — Sbelton  vill' — mere  pas- 
sas' — Stoke  advoc'  ecclie — Cliff  bosc' — Bradenef  terr'  &  ten'. 

"  In  the  County  of  Hereford'  &^  Marches  of  Wales. — Monemouthe  castr'  \ill'  & 
domin' — Grossemont  castr' — Skenfrithe  terr'  &c. — Album  Castriun  &  domin' — 
Karakenmyn  castr' — Oggemore  castr' — Ebbothe  maner' — Iskennin  comot' — Ked- 
wellye  dominium — Carnwathlon  dominium. 

"  In  the  County  of  Glouc  ^  Marches  of  Wales. — Roddell  maner' — Eccelowe — 
Minsterworthe  maner' — Monemuthe  castr' — Bertonterr'  &c. — Blakmorles  pastur' — 
Kedwelly  castr'  vill  &  domiuimu. 

"  In  the  Counties  of  Gloucester,  Hereford,  ^  Marches  of  Wales. — Cai-newath- 
lan  dominium — Lananthu-  ^dll' — Kaerkennyn  castr' — Iskennyn  comet' — Ogemore 
castr'  &  dominium — Ebbothe  maner' — Shen  castr'  cum  Barton — Albiun  castr'  cum 
Barton — Tyburton  maner' — Minsti'eworth  maner' — Rodleye  maner' — Monemouthe 
castr'  &  domin' — Grosmonde  castr'  <Sc  domin' — WliitcasteU  castr'  &  domin' — 
Kedwelly  domin' — Carnwathlan  domin' — Ogemore  castr' — Ebbothe  maner'. 

Feoda. 

"  In  the  County  of  Bucks'. — Tappelowe — Chalflmnt  Sancti  Petri — Saundes- 
dron — Weston  Tui-^Ue — Broughton  Parva — Penua. 


Counti)  ^aalatme  of  Xanrasitn-.  339 

"  In  the  County  of  BcdforcV . — SiUlinmlne — Middeltou  Erueys.  chap 

"  In  the  County  of  Cambriilye. — Giauucete.  ' 

"  In  the  County  of  Worcester. — Biuites  Morton. 

"  In  the  County  of  Lincoln. — Duodecim  feoda  railitiim  quorum  quodlibet  reddit' 
p  aim'  10'  ad  wai-dam  castri  de  Lancastr'. 

"  In  the  County  of  Somerset'. — Redene — North  Overe. 

"  In  the  County  of  Dorset'. — Shape^vilie — Smuetolre — Maydeu  N)'T\'etou — 
Upsydeliuge. 

"  In  the  County  of  Kent. — Strode — Godwineston — Clyve  Hastinglegli — Bra- 
borue — Chelefeld  mauer' — Horton — Caulstoke  Hasslie. 

"  In  the  County  of  Sussex. — Sclieffeld  Parva — Kirstede — Kiudale — Charlax- 
lou — Flecchiug — Chiffeld — Hotliore  — Est  Griiistede^ — Hertefelde  -Claverham — 
Erlington  —  Raketou —  Torrenge — Westdeue — Megliam — Bethington — Telton — 
Cheleworth — Chiffield  mauer'  in  Fleccliing — Folyiigton — Wemioke — Excete  — 
Rattoii. 

"  In  the  County  of  O.roH.— CliurcliuU— Clapwell— Dene— Chalkeford— Fyflf- 
hyde — Cliadlyngton — Brougbton — Ny  wenton  — Lylliugeston — Bagerugg — Pyiitou 
— Hasele — Tbomele — Brigbtwell — Slniptou  super  Chai-ewell — Blecbdon — Wight- 
hull — Lyuliam — Cbildeston  &  Sewell  juxta  Goldnorton. 

"  In  the  County  of  Berks. — FyiTeliide — Kiugeston — Southdeucbesworth — 
Lokiiig — Cherleton  juxta  Wantynge — Stauuden — Hanrethe — Staunford — Westliil- 
desle — Wolbampton — ^Northstanden  capella — Hungerford  capella  Sancti  Johis. 

"  In  the  County  of  Wiltes\ — Choldringtou  dimid'  feed' — Chitterue  dimid'  feod' 
— Elcomb  dimid'  feod' — Merevedene  mi'  feod — Wrichford  dimid'  feod' — Hordene- 
buuislie  un'  feod' — Cbeckelowe  uu'  feod — Berewike  maner'  uu  feod'. 

"  In  the  County  of  Southampton. — Clialghton — Katerington — Erleston — Som- 
borne — Fyffliide  juxta  Audover — Scbalden — Bellum  Avenetum — Hertele — Lau- 
gestoke — Weston — Estden — Semborne. 

"  In  the  County  of  Devon. — Hemly — Portheleg — Sliillingford — Ferdon — Ker- 
dogis — Ivelegb — Cliilton — Coleton  Ralegh — Fursan — Whitbem — Wliiston — Hod- 
desworth — Maneton — Prank  arswike — South  wyk — Spray  ton — Woreslegh — Whit- 
neslegh — Wollegh — Wrixston — Godelee — Kippingiscote — Uppecote — Witherige — 
Hole  Meleford — Clompton — Clift  Sancti  Laurencij — Hordeliswortli — Milleford — 
Deandou — Bourdoulistou — Yowe — Hogeland  &  Heanis. 

"  In  the  Counties  of  Gloucester,  Hereford',  Sf  Marches  of  Wales. — Landingate 
— Longehope — Dounameney — Huntelege — Wisham — Walbykney — Parthir — Dile 
— Cunstoue  —  Dixton — Novum  CastiHim — Cotliitliam — Monimoutlie — Garthe — 
Rakeuill — Holywell     Grosemound — Chesterton — Asperton — Maynestou — Lanwar- 

2x2 


CHAP. 
IX. 


340  €ln  M^tOY^  Of  tfte 

tliiu Laiikuetliin  iu  domiuio  de  Kedwelly — Penbray — Witewike — Hope  Maloisell, 

Llaaeltliye  ecclia,  Saiicti  Ismaelis  ecclia,  Laucouar  ecclia — In  domiuio  de  Og- 
more  feoda  subsciipta  vidlt — Doureiien — Deyiiell — Pyncote — Lauforte — Colemu- 
gtone  —  Frogg  Castell  —  E^yerdon  —  Puttes  —  Lc  Wilje — Soutlidoiie  &  Saiicta 
Brigitta. 

"  In  the  County  of  Lancastr  . — Walton  in  Blakebornshii-e — Crouiton — Apulton 
— Sutton  —  Eccleston  —  Rainbull —  Knowselegh — Torbok — Hyton — Maghull — 
Crosseby  Pai'va — Kirkeby e — Kirkedale — Noithmeles — Argameles — Ulues waklen 
— Bretberton — Hogbton — Ckaitou — Wlielton  cum  Heparge — Wytherbull  cum 
Botbelesworthe — Hoton  —  Longeton  —  LeiJond — Enkeston — Cbenington  — Cber- 
uoke — Walsbewbitbull — Wailon  iu  Amouuderuesse — Prees — Neuton — Frekelton — 
Witiuo-liam — ^Etheleswike — Bura  iu  Salfordshire — Middleton  cum  membris — Clia- 
tberton  —  Totinton  —  Milton  Parva — ^Wiswall  —  Hapton  — Townlay  Coldecotes — 
Suoddewortbe — Twiseltou  —  Extwisell  — Agbton  — Merlaye — Lyvesay — Douuom 
Fobiio-o-e — Merlave  Parva — Rossbeton — Billingtou — Aluetbau — Clayton — Hare- 
^yode — Crofton  Horneby — Ulideston — Wartou  in  Louesdale — Gairstang  cum 
membris — Tbiselton — Prees — Kelgrimesargbe — Briniuge — Merton  Magna — Mid- 
delton  iu  Louesdale — Neuton — Makerfeld — Lauton — Keinan — Erbury — Golde- 
burne — Sefton — Tborneton — Kerdon — Halglitou — Burgli — Lee — Fisbwicke — Dal- 
ton  in  Furness — Stayuiuge — Midliope — Cberuoke. 

"  Feoda  suhscrlpta  tenentur  de  konore  de  Tuttebunj. — Hagb  Parva — Bolton — ■ 
Brigbtmet — Compton — Burgbtou — Cbilderwell — Barton  in  Salfordsliire — Aspbull 
— Broklioles— Dalton— Perbald— Witbington— Lostok— Romwortbe — Pilldnton— 
Wortliington — Hoton  subtus  Herewicbe — Tildeslegb — Sultliitbe — RLxton — Asteley 
Atberton — Sonky — Penkythe — Ives— Blundell— Barton — Halsale— Wiudebulle — 
Lydegate — Egergartbe — Lancastr'  priorat'  advoc' — Saucti  Micbis  super  Wire 
ecclia — Preston  ecclia — Marie  Magdalene  capella— Cbypin  ecclia — Ribcaster  ecclia 
— Wballey  abbia  de. 

"  Pro  Decano  et  capitulo  Ecclie  Marie  de  Leicestr'.  Preston 
advoc'  ecclie. 

"  Pro  Abbt'e  &  conventu  de  Whalley.  Romesgi-ene  in  cliacea  de  Bou- 
land  juxta  Blakebone  terr'  &  ten'— PenbuUon  terr'  &  ten'— Cliderbow  ten'  vocat' 
Standen— Hulcrofte  &  Grenelacbe— Standen  laltag'  terr'  &c.— Cliderboo  maner' 
ten-'  &c.  ut  de  castro  de  Lancastr'." 

Adminis-  ^Yq  ^jj-g  inquisition,  we  are  enabled  to  add  a  condensed  transcription,  from  tbe 

tration  of  i  '  ill 

the  duke     Rolls  of  tlic  Ducliv  of  Lancaster,    (not  before  published,)   extending  through  tlie 

from  the  *'  ^  '■  '  ITl* 

rolls  of  the  ^vbole  ucriod  of  the  first  ducal  administration,  and  which,  while  it  slieds  much  lignt 

duchy.  -^ 


IX. 


Counti)  ^Jalntiitf  of  aancastrr,  341 

upon  the  early  liistorv,  as  well  as  upou  the  landed  possessions  in  the  county,  serves    chap. 
to  illustrate  the  nature  of  the  jura  regalia  exercised  hy  the  dukes  of  Lancaster  in 
this  "  kingdom  within  a  kingdom  :" — 

Anno  1  Ducatus,  26  Edward  III. 

{Office  Reference  AI.) 

"  Plita  apud  Preston  de  tribus  sessiouib3  Justic  dni 
"  Ducis  Lane  anno  Ducat  ejusd  dni  Ducis  nunc  p)mo. 
"  Berewyk." 


Intituled, 


This  roll  contains  the  essoigns  taken  at  Preston,  before  Hugh  de  Berewyk,  and  a.d.i35-.' 
his  associates,  justices  of  our  lord  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  Wednesday  next  before 
the  feast  of  St.  Margaret  the  Virgin,  in  the  year  of  his  duchy  the  1st. 

It  contains  pleatlings  of  lands  between  pai'ties,  plaintiffs  and  defendants,  plead- 
ings of  assize  mortis  ante  cessoris,  novel  disseisin,  pleas  of  debt,  account,  and 
trespass,  and  other  claims  to  liberties,  rights,  &c.,  all  as  arising  in  the  county  pala- 
tine of  Lancaster,  with  the  judgnnents  thereof  given  {int.  alia  as  follows)  : — 

"  Jolies  de  Wjii^vyk  psona  ecclie  de  Wygan  et  Dns  Burgi  de  Wygan  po. 
"  so.  lo.  suo  Rohm  de  Prestecote  vel  Johem  de  Lanfeld  ad  petand  calumpni  et  "Lauc." 
"  psequend  ofnes  libtates  suas  ville  et  Burgi  de  Wygan  sedm  forma  carte  dni 
"  Regis  sibi  inde  confecti." 
On  the  second  portion  of  the  roll,  and  on  the  first  skin  of  such  roll,  after  reciting 
the  grant  by  king  Edward  III.,  in  the  25th  year  of  his  reign,  to  Henry,  duke  of 
Lancaster,  earl  of  Derby,  Lincoln,  and  Leicester,  and  steward  of  England  of  his 
dukedom  of  Lancaster,  as  therein  set  forth  ai'e  recorded,  the  letters  patent  to  Hugh 
de  Berewyk,  and  others,  by  the  said  Henry,  appointing  them  justices  of  assize  for 
his  said  duchy,  and  of  pleas  as  well  of  the  crown,  as  others  within  the  said  duchy, 
to  hold,  hear,  and  determine,  according  to  the  law  and  custom  of  the  kingdom  of 
England,  saving  to  him  amercements,  &c.     Tested  at  the  Savoy,  7th  March,  in  the 
first  year  of  his  said  duchy. 

In  contmuatiou  of  the  roll  aa-e  recorded  a  multiplicity  of  pleadings  between  vari- 
ous parties,  to  the  following  effect : — 
Anglicized  from  the  roll. 

"  John  Molyneux  ags'.  John  Blundell,  of  Crosseby,  touching  the  lands  upon 
marriage. 

"  John  Knody,  of  Cliderow,  ags'.  William  de  Horneby,  parson  of  the  church 
of  Ribchester,  touching  lands  in  Cliderowe. 


342 


€i)t  %}i&tOV^  Of  tf)t 


CHAP. 
IX. 


A.  l.a. 
36  Ed.  3d, 


A.  2. 


A.  2.  a. 


A.  2.  b. 


"  John  Blounte  of  Hazlewood,  Robert  Legh,  and  Thos.  Strangewayes,  came 

on  tlieir  recognizance,  at  the  suit  of  Jolm  Radclif,  touching  a  tenement  and 

lands  in  Salford.     John  Blounte  answeiing  that  the  premises  were  of  the 

manor  of  Ordesale,  and  that  Hemy,  late  earl  of  Lancaster,  father  of  Henry 

the  duke,  was  seized  of  the  lands,  and  gi-anted  the  same  by  charter  to  the 

said  John  Blounte,  as  of  the  manor  of  Ordesale." 

And  thus    the   pleadings    are   continued  tlu'oughout   the    entire    roll;  and   as 

evidences  of  that  early  period  ai-e  applicable  to  the  most  considerable  part  of  the 

places  and  manors  in  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  and  the  early  possessors' 

riglits  and  premises  there. 

There  is  a  second  roll  distinguished  A.  1.  a.  and  contauiing  the  essoigns,  taken 
at  Preston  before  William  de  Fynche,  or  Fjnichedeu,  and  Ids  associates,  justices  of 
the  said  duke  de  Banco,  in  the  10th  year  of  liis  dukedom,  and  in  its  nature  similar  to 
the  preceding  roll. 

Anno  2  and  3  Ducatus, 

Contains  pleadings  and  essoigns,  taken  at  Preston  before  Hugh  de  Berewyk  and 

others,  in  the  2d  year  of  the  said  duke,  and  of  the  same  nature  and  effect  as  those  of  the 

preceding  rolls,  and  is  A'ery  copious,  the  proceedings  in  many  cases  being  fully  set  out. 

Contains  pleadings  and  essoigns  of  the  like  nature,  as  taken  both  at  Lancaster 

and  Preston,  in  the  4th  year  of  the  same  duke. 

Is  properly  considered  as  a  roll  of  fines,  letters,  close  and  patent,  and  as  con- 
taining charters  of  the  4th  year  of  Henry,  duke  of  Lancaster,  being  the  29th  year  of 
the  reign  of  king  Edward  HI.  And,  the  follo\^•ing  outline  comjjrises  the  general 
matters,  or  subjects,  with  several  of  the  names  of  persons  and  places  applicable 
thereto: — 


Numbered 
on  the  Roll. 


Principal  Matters. 


Proceedings  before  the 
Justices  at  Preston,  as 
to  Right  of  Fisliing. 


Persons. 


Richard  Aghton  ag"  Ro- 
ger Boudesson  and 
John  Stelle,  the  De- 
fendants justifying  in 
right  of  William  de 
Heskayth,  Tliomas  de 
Litherland,  the  Prior  of 
Burscogh,  the  Abbot 
of  Cockersand,  and 
Richai'd  de  Aghton. 


Places. 


Merton    Meer,    Le 
Wyck,  Nortluneles. 


Numbered 
on  the  Roll. 


Countj)  |3alatinf  of  ILanrastfr. 

Principal  Matters. 


343 


Account  of  Fines  paid  to 
the  Duke  as  Lord,  for 
Writs  of  Assize. 

William  Jerard  and  Wife. 


Peter  Jerard  and  Wife. 


William  Careles. 


William  Lawrence. 


Persons. 


John  de  Hatonshou. 
Richard  Bradshagh. 


Henry  de  Ditton. 
William   de  Excestre,^ 
Parson     of    Crofton  > 
Church.  ) 

John  Culpeper. 
Grants  hy 

The  Duke  to  William  de  Heglifield,  in  pei-petuity, 
28  Acres  of  Land,  at  14s.  Rent,  and  Tenants 
to  do  suit  at  the  Lord's  Mill. 


Places. 


CHAP. 
IX. 


Hamelton. 
Perhald. 

Asheton  in  Maker- 
field. 
^Vyndhull  Manor. 
i.Raynhull  Manor. 

'Torhok  Manor. 

WalshwittellManor. 
i  Dalton  Manor. 

Wright}iiton, 

Cophull. 
''Thonieton. 

Laton  Magna. 

Laton  Parva. 

Ribleton  Manor. 

Asheton,  near  Pres- 
ton Manor. 
^Ditton, 

North  Meyles. 

Maincestre. 


Salford  Waste. 


Several  other   grants  were   made  to  persons  specified,  but  cancelled,    as  the 
premises  became  leased  by  the  duke's  charter  to  John  de  Radeclif. 

4.  A  fine  of  3s.  4d.  to  the  duke  as  lord  for  a  Writ  of  Pone,  concerning  an 

agreement — Cicilia  Orulshagh  and  Hugh  de  lues. 

5.  Tlie   duke  to  Richard    de    Walton,    the    duke's   approver  in  the   parts  of 

Blackburnshire. 


344  Cfte  ?I^i£itoii)  Of  t!)e 

c}jxv.  "  Grant  of  a  messuage  and  lands  in  Colne  and  Merclesden,  held  by  tlie 

;_■ custom  of  the  manor  and  castle  of  Clithero,   and  other  premises  in 

Trowden  Mithum  and  Trowdeu  Chace. 
Fines  to  the  Lord  for  Writs. 

6.  "  John  de  Radeclif,  parson  of  the  cliurch  of  Bury,  to  the  duke— Half  a  mark 
for  lands  in  Asheton-under-Lime. 
"  Robert  de  Legh  and  Matilda  his  wife  to  the  Duke — 13s.  4d.  for  the  moiety 

of  the  manor  of  Flixton. 
"  Clarissa  de  Bolton  to  the  Duke — Half  a  mark  for  tenements  in  Newton  in 

Makerfield  and  Walton  in  the  Dale. 
"  Robert  de  Legh  and  Matilda  his  wife  to  the  Duke — 13s.  4d.  for  the  manor 
of  Ordeshale." 
This  course  is  pursued  through  tliiileen  other  instances  of  fines  of  the  like  nature, 
paid  by  various  persons  in  different  places  in  the  county  palatine. 

De  Anno  4'°  Ducatus  (in  dorso.) 
Recognizances  of  Debts. 

Otho  de  Halsale  and  John  de  Radeclif 

Richard  de  Rixton  John  de  Asheton  ""•'  ""  100  marks. 

John,   son  of  Adam  Su- Adam  de  Hoghton, 

de  Claxton  Knt.  1 7  marks. 

Otho  de  Halsale  The  Duke  100  marks. 

Grants,  &c. 

The  Duke  to  Geoffry  de  Langholt  and  Robert  de  Gikellswyk,  of  Tadecastre, 
for  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Sallay.  • 

Licence  to  Alien  in  Mortmain  Lands,  in  Bradeford  in  Bouland,  held  in 
socage  by  fealty  and  ser\dce,  and  as  by  inqmsition  taken  by  the  Duke's 
command. 
The  Duke  to  Adam  de  Hoghton. 

Acquittance  of  serraig  on  juries,  &c. 
^Tlie  Duke  to  John  de  Haverington  of  Farleton. 

Lease  of  the  Manor  of  Horneby  and  its  demesnes,  the  Castle  Deer  and 
Chace  of  Rebrundale,  (Advowsons,  &c.  excepted.) 
The  Duke  to  Matthew  de  Southeworth. 

Pardon  of  a  Debt  owing  to  the  Duke's  Father,  Henry,  Earl  of  Lancaster. 
The  Duke  to  John  de  Dyneley  and  Heirs. 

Grant  of  Dunham  Manor  by  Homage  and  Fealty,  and  £12,  6s.  7d.  per 
Ann.  with  2s.  for  the  Ward  of  Lancaster  Castle. 

The  above  are  all  tested  at  Preston. 


Coimti.)  ^Jalntme  of  Eanrnsftn-*  345 

The  Duke  to  the  King.  chap. 


Precept  to  John  Cokayn  and  others  to  levy  in  the  Dnchy  the  remainder  of 
Aid,  granted  hy  Parliament  to  King  Edward  III.  to  Knight,  his  chlest 
sou,  according  to  the  King's  Mandate,  and  also  a  Mandate  of  the  Sheriff 
of  Lancaster  to  assist  therein. 
As  tested  at  Lancaster. 
William  do  Stoldegh  and  Avisia  de  Bretargh. 
lurolment  of  a  Deed  of  the  Manor  of  Hyton. 
Tested  at  Preston. 
Pleadings  at  Lancaster  of  a  similar  nature  to  A.  2. 


IX. 


o 


No.  2. 


Other   Grants,  from  the  Ath  to  the  Wth  Henry,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  comprising 
29th  Edward  III.  1356,  and  36th  Edward  III.  1363. 

The  Duke  to  William  de  Heghfeld  and  liis  Heirs. 

Grant  of  23  Acres  of  Waste  in   Salford,  at  a  Rent  of  IP  C""  reserved,  As  con- 
tained m 

and  remainder  to  Thomas  Strangwas.  the  close 

°  Roll. 

Tested  by  Henry  de  Walton,  Archdeacon  of  Richmond,  Lieutenant    a.  3  a. 
of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 
The  Duke  to  Richard  de  Dynesargh,  of  Liverpool,  and  his  Heirs. 

Grant  of  a  Messuage  and  Appurtenances  in  Castle  Street,  Liverpool,  which 
formerly  belonged  to  Benedict  le  Stedemen,  late  Constable  of  Liverpool  Castle, 
at  4'  Rent  p  ann.,  and  by  Services,  as  the  other  Tenants  of  that  Town  did  for 
theii"  Messuages. 
The  Duke  to  Henry  le  Norreys. 

Grant  of  Free  Warren  in  Speek. 
The  Duke  to  John  del  Monkes. 

Grant  of  the  Wardship  and  Lands  of  Henry  de  Croft. 
Divers  Fines  to  the  Lord  for  Writs  of  Assize. 

For  Lands  and  Tenements  in  Hopton,  Tildesley,  Ditton  near  Torhok,  and 
in  Chorlegh. 
The  Duke  to  John  de  Perhurn. 

Letters  of  Protection  while  abroad  with  the  Duke  in  the  King's  Service, 

and  similar  Letters  of  Protection  to  various  other  Persons. 

Among  numerous  other  entries  on  the  Roll  ai-e  various  instriunents  by  licence, 

wai-rant,  writ,  gi-ant,  or  appointment,  ^ddzt:     For  holding  pleas  and  complaints;  for 

keeping  the  statute  of  weights  and  measures;  the  statutes  of  seiTauts,  ailificers,  &c., 

VOL.  I.  2  Y 


346  '  €i)t  |?i£itxirj)  of  tfje 

CHAP,    aud  the  record  of  various  fines  for  ^\Tits  of  assize,   &c.,  and  therein  the  Writ  de 

L_   Conspiratioue. 

A  Writ,  diem  clausit  extremum,  ,of  the  Lands  of  John  de  Rigmayden,  in  the 
Duchy  of  Lancaster. 

An  ExempHfication  of  the  Proceedings  hetween  Thomas  de  Ahnay,  of  the  High 
Peake,  and  Thurstau  de  Holand,  of  Salfordshire,  returned  in  the  Duke's  Chancery, 
concerning  the  Manor  of  Denton  under  Downeshagh. 

A  Mandate  to  John  Haverington  and  others,  to  equip  tlie  Men  at  Arms  in  the 
Duchy,  with  300  Archers  and  others,  to  be  dispatched  to  Newcastle-upon-TjTie,  to 
march  with  the  King  against  the  Scotch. 

Another  Mandate  on  behalf  of  the  King,  as  to  the  Alienations  and  Possessions  of 
Lancaster  Priory,  taken  with  other  Alien  Priories,  by  reason  of  the  War  Avith 
France. 

Appointments  to  the  Office  of  Escheator,  inquiries  of  the  conduct  of  Bailiffs  of 
the  Wapentakes,  appointment  of  Justices  to  hear  and  determine  Trespasses  within 
the  Duchy,  and  Mandates  to  the  Sheriff  to  assist  in  all  such  Premises. 
A  Lease  of  the  Herbage  of  Musbury  Park . 

Grant  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  Leonard's  at  Lancaster,  to  be  annexed  to  the  Priory 
of  Seton,  if  the  Burgesses  of  Lancaster  consented. 
The  Appointments  of  Keeperships  of  Forests. 
Pardon  of  a  Suit  by  the  Duke  for  an  Assault  committed. 

Grant  and  Confirmation  of  the  Advowson  of  Wygan  Church,  and  Letters  of 
Protection  to  various  Persons,  while  staying  with  the  Duke  in  the  King's  Service  in 
the  Parts  of  Brittany. 

Anno  T  Ducatus. 
Divers  Fines  for  Writs  of  Assize  of  Lands  and  Tenements  in  Longtre,  Hepay, 
and  Dokesbury,  Great  Penhulton,  Great  Merley,  Bury,  Middleton,  and  Penhulton, 
in  Salfordslme. 

Grant  of  Land  and  Turbary  in  Salford,  and  divers  Fines  for  Premises  in  West- 
legh,  Flixton,  Whitton,  Weryugton,  Sonckey,  Penlieth,  Burtonwood  and  Laton, 
Great  Merton,  Bispham,  Pynington,  Bold,  Lydiat,  Thorneton  near  Sefton,  Cul- 
cheth,  TUdesley,  Glasebi'ook,  Bedeford,  Halsale,  WyndhuU,  lues  near  Crosby,  and 
Ines  Blundell,  including  the  Writs  Post  Dissesin  forma  Donationes,  Dedimus  Potes- 
tatem,  and  the  Writ  de  Ingi'essu. 

A  Mandate  by  the  Duke  for  the  King,  to  William  de  Horneby  and  Richard  de 
Townley,  to  collect  and  levy  the  lOths  and  ISths  A\ithin  the  Ducliy  of  Lancaster. 

A  Pardon  by  the  Duke  of  the  Suit  of  Peace  against  Hugh  le  Machon,  of 
Abingham,  indicted  for  Housebreaking  at  Chorley. 


CmintL>  IJalatinc  of  itanrasitfi-*  347 

Anno  8°  Ducatus. 

The  Duke's  Mandate  to  Justices  assigned  to  try  certain  Malefactors,  ag" 
whom  the  Parson  of  the  Churcli  of  Wygan,  and  the  Lord  of  the  Town,  had  com- 
plained regarding-  the  hindi'ance  of  liis  Bailiffs  in  the  pcrfomiance  of  their  Duties, 
and  liis  INIandate  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  Duchy  to  assist  therein. 

Divers  Fines  for  Writs  de  Conventione,  &c.  concerning  Lands  in  Culcheth, 
Maucesti'e  Manor,  and  the  Advowsons  of  the  Churches  of  Mancestre  and  Assheton  ; 
Lands  in  Chippyn,  Eggeworth  Manor ;  Lands  in  Liverpool,  Penhulton  in  Salford- 
shire,  Culchitli  and  Hyndelegh  Manors,  Croxteth  Park,  Flixton  Manor,  Kenyan, 
and  the  Manor  of  Huyton. 

A  Grant  of  the  Herbage  of  the  Foss  of  Lancaster  Castle,  and  of  the  place  called 
Bernyard  in  Lancaster. 

An  Acquittance  of  serving  the  Office  of  Juror,  Escheator,  Coroner,  or  Bailiff. 

A  Release  of  Rent  for  Lands  held  by  John  Baret  in  Derby,  Liverpool,  Everton, 
and  elsewhere  witliiu  the  Duchy. 

A  Pardon  by  the  Duke  to  John  de  Etlieleston,  indicted  for  extorting  money  and 
other  oflFences,  and  a  Pardon  to  William  del  Twjs,  of  Transgressions. 

A  Lease  of  the  Fishery  in  the  River  Ribble  at  Penwortham,  with  the  Meadows 
there. 

Tested  by  the  Duke  at  Preston. 

Anno  9"  Ducatus. 

Appointment  of  Justices  in  Eyi-e  for  Pleas  of  the  Forests. 

Precepts  to  the  Sheriff  to  make  a  Proclamation  for  holding  Sessions  at  Preston, 
and  to  summon  Persons  to  attend  before  the  Justices  there. 

Pardons  for  Trespasses  of  Vert  and  Venison  in  Duchy  Forests,  and  other 
Trespasses. 

Grant  of  Free  Warren  in  Halsal  and  Rynecres. 

Lease  of  the  Herbage  called  Veden  and  Mufden. 

Grant  of  a  Yearly  Rent  of  20'  to  William  de  Liverpool,  out  of  the  Manor  of 
West  Derby. 

Licence  to  take  Gorse  from  Toxteth  Park. 

Pardons  for  Trespasses  in  the  Duchy  Forests,  and  in  Toxteth  Park. 

Pai-don  upon  Indictment  for  Offences  against  the  Statutes  of  Servants  and 
Labourers,    i 

Divers  Fines  upon  Writs  for  Lands  in  various  places. 

2  Y  2 


CHAP. 
IX. 


348  ClK  i^isitJjrj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  The  Duke,  iu  behalf  of  Roger  La  Waire.     Commissioners  appointed  to  inquire 


IX. 


into  the  said  Roger's  Petition,  shewing,  that  he  held  the  Town  of  Mancestre  as  a 
Boro'  and  Market  Town,  and  enjoyed  certain  Liberties  there,  and  in  the  Manor 
and  Hamlets,  and  that  the  Duke's  Bailiffs  had  interfered  to  levy  Amerciaments,  &c. 

A  Licence  to  Alien  in  Mortmain  Lands  in  Lancaster. 

Grant  of  Lands  in  Salford  to  Thomas  del  Olers,  and  others. 

Grant  of  a  Messuage  in  Preston  escheated  to  Henry,  earl  of  Lancaster,  by 
Felony. 

A  Mandate  to  the  Escheator  of  the  Duchy  to  interfere  no  further  in  a  Chapel 
and  Lands  in  Andreton,  Avliich  had  been  seized  into  the  Duke's  hands  by  the  late 
Escheator,  it  being  found  by  Inquisition,  that  the  Church  of  Standish  was  endowed 
therewith. 

Anno  10™°  Ducatus. 

The  Duke  to  Adam  de  Skilpigcom. 

Licence  to  take  with  him  a  Body  Guard  within  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  for  the 
Defence  and  Protection  of  Ids  Person. 

Pai'don  to  Agnes  del  Birches,  for  producing  a  forged  Chai'ter  before  the 
Justices,  in  an  Action  concerning  Tenements  in  Astelegh. 

Grant  of  Lands  in  Penhulton. 

Mandate  to  the  Escheator  of  the  Duchy  for  Livery  of  Seizin  of  Lands 
held  by  an  Outlaw  for  Felony  iu  ChipjTi,  the  Duke  haAing  had  liis  Year,  Day, 
and  Waste. 

Mandate  to  Collect  and  Levy  A^itlun  the  Duchy  the  10th  and  15th,  granted  by 
Parliament,  to  defray  the  Expences  of  War. 

Appointment  of  BaiHff  of  the  Manor  of  Derby  for  Life,  at  two  pence  a  day  for 
his  Wages. 

Appointment  of  Keeper  of  Toxteth  Park  for  Life,  mth  tlie  Grant  of  Skeryorde- 
rock  ^itliin  the  Sea,  to  construct  a  Fishery  there. 

Mandate  to  the  Duchy  Escheator  to  interfere  no  further  as  to  Land  iu  Kirden, 
seized  into  the  Duke's  hands  ujion  Felony. 

Appointment  of  Keeper  of  Quernmore  Park. 

Mandate  to  the  Duchy  Escheator  to  deliver  Lands  which  had  been  seized  into 
the  Duke's  hands  upon  the  Mamage  of  one  of  the  Duke's  Maidens,  a  legal  Divorce 
having  subsequently  taken  place. 

A  Pai-don  upon  Indictment,  for  catching  Fish  at  Heton  Norres. 

Fines  for  Lands  iii  Hunersfeld  and  Stalmyn. 


Conntp  |3alatinf  of  HanrasJttr.  349 

Grant  of  a  Messnas^e  and  Lands  in  Salfoid,  whicli  came   to  the   Duke's   hands    chap. 

...  IX. 

by  tlie  deatli  of  Richard  de  Tetlowc,  who  was  a  Bastard,  and  died  without  Heii' —  .^_LL_ 
Remainder  to  Tliomas  de  Strangwas. 

Grant  of  Lands  in  Ingoll. 

Grant  of  an  Escheat  in  Salibrd. 

Divers  Fines  for  Writs  de  Attincta,  Writs  of  Assize,  and  the  Wiit  de 
Debito. 

Grant  of  20  Marks  yearly,  out  of  the  Manor  of  West  Derby. 

Grant  of  Wardsliip  and  Marriage  of  William  de  Warton. 

Appointment  of  Justices  to  try  Malefactors  for  Trespasses  in  the  Chases  of  Bow- 
land,  PenhuU,  Trowdcn,  Rochdale,  Rossendale,  and  Romesgrene. 

Grant  of  the  Wardship  and  Marriage  of  Thomas  de  Haverington. 

Grant  of  Lands  and  Tenements  in  Gosenargh  Escheated  by  Felony. 

Lease  for  20  Years  of  the  Foreign  Wood  of  Myerscough. 

Mandate  to  the  Duchy  Escheator  to  interfere  no  further  in  Premises  at  Ribble- 
chester,  seized  into  the  Duke's  Hands  on  the  Felony  of  Roger  de  Allele. 

An  Indenture  of  Agreenaent  concerning  Tenements  in  Romesgrene  and  the 
Towns  of  Penhulton  and  Cliderowe,  between  the  Duke  and  the  Abbot  and  Convent 
of  Whalley. 

Grant  of  the  BailiAnck  of  Derby  WapentalvC  for  Life. 

Mandate  to  the  Duchy  Escheator  not  to  interfere  further  as  to  Messuages  and 
Lands  in  Asteley  and  Kyndeley,  seized  into  the  Duke's  Hands  by  reason  of  the 
Felony  of  Richard  de  Athertou. 

On  the  back  and  in  continuation  of  this  Roll  to  the  following  effect.  a.  3.  a. 

°  continued. 

The  Duke  to  Adam  Skillingcorn. 

A  Lease  of  a  Place  called  Hoddesdone  for  12  Years,  at  £2.  6s.  8d.  per  Ann. 
Henry  Le  Norres,  of  Speek,  and  others,  for  the  Duke. 

Recognizance  of  Debts  and  divers  other  Recognizances  of  Debts. 

A  Lease  by  the  Duke  to  William,  sou  of  Adam,  of  Ly\erpull,  and  More  de     No.  3. 
LtvctouU  and  others  deLyverpull,  of  the  Town,  with  all  the  Mills  of  the  same  Town,  guishedun 

the  hiiciv 

toorether  with  the  Rents  and  Services,  and  the  Passage  of  the  Water  of  Merese,  with  of  the 

R    tl 

the  Turbary  of  Toxteth  Park  and  the  stallages  as  therein  particularized. 

The  Instrument,  as  enrolled,  is  very  obscure.  It  is  Tested,  Henry  do  Walton, 
Lieutenant  of  the  Duchy,  at  Lancaster,  24th  March,  lltli  Year  of  the  said 
Duke. 

Mandate  to  John  Haverington  and  others,  to  raise  Soldiers,  Men  at  Anns,  and 
Archers,  in  the  Wapentakes  of  Amounderness,  Fourneys,  and  Lonsdale,  within  the 
Duchy,  to  march  against  the  Scotch.     And  like  Mandates  to  others  for  Derbyshii-e, 


350  C&e  iK^tnrj)  of  t\)c 

CHAP.  Salfordsliire,  Blalvcbnrnslure,  and  Leyloiulsliire  Wapentakes,  witli  a  distinct  Man- 
_____  date  to  the  Sheriff  to  assist. 

Grant  of  a  yearly  Rent  of  £10  to  Henry  Dittou  out  of  the  Lands  of  Tliomas 
Dittou. 

Grant  of  Wardship  and  Lands  and  Marriage  of  William  the  Son  of  Robert 
de  Frees. 

The  Duke's  Pardon  of  Suit  for  Trespass  and  Hunting  at  Blakelegh  Park. 

Grant  of  Holtefeld  in  Salford. 

Pardon  of  Peace  to  the  Vicar  of  Kirkham  Church  for  Mal-Adniinistration  in  his 
Office  of  Dean  of  Amouuderness. 

Mandates  to  raise  300  Archers,  to  accompany  the  Duke  to  Brittany,  from  the 
various  Wapentakes. 

Grant  of  a  Paviage  for  Preston,  and  for  Customs  on  Merchandize  in  aid 
thereof. 

Admissions  of  Attorneys  to  plead  in  the  Ducln*  Courts. 

Justices  assigned  for  observing  the  Statute  of  Weights  and  Measures. 

Permission  to  inquu-e  of  Lands  in  Hornclyx  e. 

Grant  of  the  Wardship  of  Lands  of  Adam  de  Mondesley. 

Paviage  for  the  Town  of  Lperpull  for  2  Years. 

Mandate  to  the  Duchy  Escheator  for  Livery  of  Seizin  of  Lands  in  Radeclif,  as 
forfeited  by  Felony,  the  Duke  having  had  year,  day,  and  waste. 

Confirmation  of  a  Grant  of  Henry,  Earl  of  Lancaster,  to  William  Norreys,  of 
Lands  in  Derby. 

Writ  of  the  Disseisin  of  Dokesbury  Manor. 

The  like  of  Lands  in  Chorley. 

Mandate  to  the  Escheator  for  Laud  in  Fenwortham,  seized  for  mthdraiiving  of 
the  service  of  a  Boat  over  the  River  Ribble. 

Writ  of  the  Disseisin  for  Lands  in  Ellale. 

Grant  of  the  Site  of  Ulneswalton  Manor  to  Richard  de  Hibernia,  the  Duke's 
Physician,  with  Liberty  to  be  Toll  free  and  Hoper  free  at  the  Duke's  Mills. 

Grant  of  Allowance  to  the  Town  of  Overton  to  grind  Corn  at  the  Duke's  Mill 
at  Lone. 

Grant  of  the  Custody  of  St.  Mary's  Chapel  at  Syngleton. 

Pardon  for  Trespasses  in  the  Duchy  Forests. 

Pardon  for  Non-Appearance  in  Court. 

Justices  assigned  to  keep  the  Waters,  in  which  Salmons  are  caught. 

Justices  to  inquire  of  Stoppages  in  the  Duchy  Rivers,  and  chiefly  tlie  Ribble,  to 
tlie  injury  of  Fenwortham  Fishery. 


CoimtP  palatine  of  aanrasttr.  351 

Appointments  of  Stewai-dsliips.  chap. 

Pardon  of  a  Fine  pro  Licentia  Concordanili,  as  to  Tenements  in  Mancestre.  ' 

Inquisition  and  Letters  Patent  touching  the  Manor  of  Mancestre  as  a  Mai-ket 
To^ii  and  Boro'  with  the  Hamlets  thereto. 

The  Duke  to  Thomas  de  Lathum  and  Wife. 

Licence  to  hokl  Knouselegh  Park. 

Agreement  touching  the  Wardship  of  Lands  and  the  Mairiage  of  Richard  de 
Molyneux  of  Sefton. 

Divers  Letters  of  Protection  for  Persons  serving  the  King  abroad. 

Confirmation  of  a  Lease  of  the  Manor  of  Ahleclif  to  the  Prior  of  Lan- 
caster. 

WaiTant  to  levy  520  Marks  from  the  Freeholders  of  Quernemore  Forest  and 
the  Natives  of  Lonsdale,  as  theii-  portion  of  £1000  Fine  for  Trespasses  against 
the  Assize  of  the  Forest. 

Several  Mandates  to  the  Escheators  concerning  various  Lands  seized. 

Divers  Pardons  for  Trespasses  and  Assaults. 

Exemplification  of  Procee(hngs  touching  the  Intail  of  tlic  Manor  of  Bury. 

Tlie  like  as  to  Lands  in  Harewode,  the  Water  of  Hyndehurue,  and  Clayton  on 
the  Mores. 

The  other  Records  of  the  Annals  of  the  Duchy  are  marked  A.  1.  and  A.  5.,  and 
are  similai'  in  their  contents  to  A.  1.  These  Rolls  terminate  the  Records  of  the 
first  Duke,  who  died  in  the  year  1361,  without  male  issue. 

So  rich  an  inheritance  as  the  dukedom  of  Lancaster  could  not  remain  long  in  Revival  of 
abeyance.     The  maniage  of  John  of  Gaunt,  the  fourth  son  of  the  reigning  monarch  (jom  i" the 
of  England,  to  Lady  Blanch,  the  youngest  daugliter  of  the  deceased  duke,  produced  jo'hn  of' 
the  almost  immediate  revival  of  the  title;  and  the  subsequent  death  of  lady  Maude,    ^"'"'' 
mtliout  issue,  invested  duke  John  with  the   whole  of  those  extensive  possessions 
which  the  fii'st  duke  had  left  to  liis  children.     The  confidence   reposed  by  the  king- 
in  this,  liis  favourite  and  most  higldy  gifted  son,  conferred  upon  liim  every  thing  but 
sovereign  power  ;  and  his  second  marriage  with  Constance,   the   eldest  daugliter  of 
Peter  the  Cruel,  obtained  for  him  the  title  of  King  of  Castile  and  Leon.     In  this 
character  he  obtained  the  i-ight  to  coin  money,  and  several  pieces  were  struck  bearing 
his  superscription.     Tlie  wars  in  wliich  he  was  engaged  have  already  been  adverted 
to,*  and  the  history  of  this  munificent  duke  shortly  portrayed.     His  claim  to  the 
tlu*one  of  Sicily,  founded  on  no  just  pretension,  produced  a  strong  remonstrance  on 
the  pai't  of  liis  holiness.  Pope  Urban  V.,  who  issued  on  the  occasion  one  of  those 

*  See  chap.  iv.  p.  145. 


352  C!)c  i^iistory  of  the 

CHAP.    Bulls,  at  the  bare  name  of  wliicli  piiuces  and  kings  were  accustomed  to  tremble. 
^^'       This  Bull  is  still  in-eserA^ed,  tbougb  divested  of  its  seal,  and  is  couched  in  the  follow- 
ing terms : — 

BULLA  URBANI  V.  FAPJE. 

Papal  "  Urbauus   episcopus,   servus   serAorum  Dei,    carissi- 

A.D.  1367.  ™^'  ^^-  salutem  et  apostolicam  benedictionem. 

An.  41  Edw.  III.  "  Insonuit,  fili   caiissime,   liiis    diebus,    riunor  impla- 

T  cidus,  incomitatu  Proviuciae,  ad  caiissimam  in  Christo 

In  Thesau"  Cur  filiam  nostram  Johannam  Reginam   SiciUiae   Ulustrem, 

Recent.  Scacc.  pro   regno    SiciJliae    nostram  et  ecclesise    Romanae  vas- 

salam,   spectans,  et  jam  usque  ad  nostram  audientiam 

est  perlatus,  qu6d,  dilectus  filius,  nobilis  vii-,  Johannes 
dux  Lancastriae,  natus  tuns,  intendit,  comminatur,  et  parat  se  praedictum  comitatum 

invadere : 

"  De  quo,  nescientes  quo  jiu-e  vel  titulo  hoc  agere  Aaleat,  mii-amur  plurimum  et 
dolemus,  maxime  quia,  cum  olun  de  hoc  aliqua  suspicio  praecessissit,  quidam  nun- 
cius  tuus,  ex  parte  tui\,  litteras  portans  credentiae,  nobis  retiUit,  quod  hoc  nequaquam 
permitteret  fieri  regia  celsitudo,  nisi  prius  praecedente  requisitione  legitima,  et  in 
justitiae  defectu,  quod  nondiim  noscitur  esse  factum. 

"  Cum  itaque  memorata  Regina  parata  sit,  super  omnibus,  quae  idem  dux  ab  ea 
vellet  petere,  stare  juri,  quod  etiam  nos  offerimus  pro  eadem,  serenitatem  tuam  aflfec- 
tuosfe  rogamus,  et  obsecramus  in  Domino,  quatenus  hujusmodi  iuvasionem,  quae 
omnes  illas  partes,  Deo  juvante  pacificas  conturbaret,  multaque  pericula,  animarum 
et  corporum  ac  renim  dispendia  generaret  indubi^,  fieri  non  permittas,  maximfe  quia 
prffifatus  dux,  tenendo  A-iam  istam,  rationabilem,  justitiam  suam,  si  quam  habeat, 
facilius  et  houorabilius  consequetur. 

"  Super  quibus,  eidem  serenitati  pleuius  exponendis,  dilectum  filium,  magistrum 
Johannem  de  Cabrespino,  cauonicum  Narbonensem,  decretorimi  doctorem,  apostolicae 
sedis  nuncium,  latorem  prssentium,  ad  tuam  prajsentiam  destinamus,  cui  super  hiis, 
qua;  tibi  de  prsemissis,  ex  parte  nostra,  nan-averit,  fidem  velis  credulam  adhibere. 
"  Dat.  Viterbii,  vii.  kal.  Augusti,  pontificates  nostri  anno  quinto. 

"  BARTHOLOM.i:U.S." 

(Slgillo  avulso.) 

The  inquiry  upon  Avhat  legitimate  gi-ound  the  duke  of  Lancaster  founded  liis 
pretensions  to  the  kingdom  of  Sicily,  he  was  not  able  to  answer  to  the  pope's  nuncio, 
and  from  that  time  this  claim  seems  to  have  been  abandoned. 


Coiintj)  ^aalatmr  of  ilancnsittn  353 

The  continental  wai-s  in  which  the  English  were  engaged,  did  not  prevent  them    chap. 
fi-om  emharking  on  a  crusade  against  Ireland,  that  iinfortmiate  country,  whicli  has       ^^' 
for  so  many  centuries  been  the  scene  of  oppression  and  misgovemment.     In  a  writ, 
addi-essed  to  tlie  sheriff  of  Lancasliire  hy  the  king,  the  Irish  people  are  characteiized 
as  "  our  enemies,  and  rebels ;"  and  it  is  announced  to  the  sheriff,  that  Lionel,  duke 
of  Clai'euce,  the  king's  son,  is  on  his  way  to  Ireland,  to  coerce  the  •'  rebels"  into 
subjection,  and  the  ports  of  Livei-pool  and  Chester  are  requu-ed  to  send  sliips,   pro-  Levy  of 
perly  manned,  to  support  the  expedition.*     That  the  object  of  this  armament  was  Liverpool 
not  very  speedily  accomplished,  may  be  infeiTed  fi-om  the  fact,  that,  two  years  after-  against 
wai'ds,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  king  for  seizing  eighty  ships,  of  thirty  tons 
burden  and  upwards,  wherever  they  could  be  found,   on  the  western  coast  between 
Bristol,  in  Somersetshu-e,  and  Funaess,  in  Lancashu-e,  which  ships  were  to  be  sent 
to  Lyvei-pole,  before  the  fii-st  of  St.  Peter  ad  Vincula,  to  assist  prince  Lionel  in 
caiTying  on  the  war  against  Ireland.     At  that  tune,  the  exports  of  Livei-pool  were  Non-ex- 
veiy  subject  to  the  restrictions  of  orders  in  council ;  in  the  year  1.3G2  the  bailiffs  of  {lomU- 
Liverpool,  and  John,  duke  of  Lancaster,  both  received  orders  from  tlie  govermnent  '^'''""'* 
to  i^rohibit  the  exportation  of  provisions  of  various  kinds,  as  well   as  of  dye  wares 
and  other  commochties,  which  prohibition   extended  to  cloths   called  "  worstedes," 
and  to  sea-coal,  then  recently  discovered  as  an  article  of  fuel ;  and  similar  inter- 
dicts, soon  after  issued,  extended  the  prohibition   to  horses,   linen,  woollen  yarns, 
jewels,  and  the   precious  metals.     Liverpool  was    at   that   period   rising,    though 
slowly,  into  importance;  and  an  order  was  issued  by  the  king  to  the  admiral  on  the 
station,  as  well  as  to  the  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  the  mayor  and  bailiffs  of  the 
borough,   to  rebuild   (de  novo  construere)  a  bridge  over  the   Mersey  within  their 
lordship. 

The  alanii  of  invasion  was  again  spread  with  gi-eat  assiduity,  and  the  royal  pro-  Renewed 
clamations  of  the  year  1369  dOigeutly  propagated  these  apprehensions,  in  order  to  invasion 
quicken   the   transmission  of  the  public  supplies.     Adam  de  Hoghton,   Roger  de  shire. 
Pilkinton,  WUliam  de  Atherton,  Pachard  de  Radclyf,  and  Matthew  de  Rixton,  com- 
missioners of  aiTay  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  were  appointed,  by  royal  mandate, 
to  press  and  enj-ol  four  hundred  archers  in  Lancaslm-e,  to  accompany  John,  duke  of 
Lancaster,  to  Aquitaine  ;t  and  the  archbishops,  bishops,  abbots,  priors,  dukes,  mar- 
quisses,  earls,  barons,  and  castellans,  were  informed,  that  the  king  liad  appointed 
his  son,  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  his  captain  and  lieutenant  in  "  Guynes  and  Caleys." 
In  the  following  month,  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster  was  commanded  to  an-ay,  by  him- 
self or  his  deputies,   all  men  in  the   county  capable  of  beaiing  arms,  between  the 
ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty  yeais,  and  to  cause  them  to  be  in  readiness,  and  properly 

•  Pat.  35  Edw.  III.  p.  2.  m.  24.  Turr.  Lond.  t  Rot.  Vascon.  43  Edw.  III.  m.  5.  Turr.  Lond. 

VOL.  I.  2  z 


354  CIk  listorj)  of  tfie 

CHAP,  equipped,  to  resist  the  French,  who  tlu'eatened  to  invade  England,  to  ohstnict  the 
^^'  passage  of  merchants  and  merchandise,  and  to  abolish  the  English  language  !*  By 
a  subsequent  proclamation  it  was  ordained,  that  the  men  at  arms,  Jtobelers,  and 
archers,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  should  be  in  complete  reatliness  by  Palm 
Sunday  (1370),  and  William  de  Risseby,  John  Blake,  clerk,  Matthew  de  Rixtou, 
and  Richard  ap  Llewellin  Vaughan,  had  confided  to  them  the  power  to  arrest  all 
ships,  from  twelve  to  forty  tons  burthen,  in  the  ports  of  LyverpuU,  and  all  other 
places  from  thence  to  Chester,  that  port  included,  and  to  send  them  to  the  ports  of 
Southampton  and  Plymouth,  by  Sunday  next  before  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  with  a 
sufficient  equipment  of  sailors  for  the  passage,  to  embark  in  the  expedition  of  John, 
duke  of  Lancaster,  and  others  in  his  company,  going  to  Gascony.t 
Parish  To  prosecute  all  these  hostile  operations,  the  long,  this  year,  by  the  authority  of 

'^^'  parliament,  le\ied  upon  the  parishes  of  England  a  tax  of  fifty  thousand  pounds, 

each  parish  being  requii-ed  to  pay  five  pounds  fifteen  shillmgs,  the  gi-eater  to  help 
the  less.  From  this  return  it  appears,  that  there  were  then  eight  thousand  six 
hundi-ed  and  thirty-two  parishes  in  England,  and  that  the  contribution  of 

Lancasliire,  for  its  58  parishes,  was      .          ...  £336  8  0 

Westmoreland,         32       185  12  0 

Cumberland,             96       556  16  0 

Middlesex,  exclusive  of  London,  63  parishes     .     .     .  365  8  0 

London,                   110  parishes 638  0  0 

Yorkshire,               540       3132  0  0 

Exchange         By  an  indenture,  made  in  the  following  year,  between  the  king  and  liis  son  John, 

mond-''      duke  of  Lancaster,  king  of  Castile  and  Leon,   the  duke  gi-ants  to  liis  father  the 

foi-'^th^r"'  county,  castle,  town,  and  honor  of  Riclunond,  in  exchange  for  the  castle,  manor,  and 

srons?"       honor  of  Tykhill,  castle  and  manor  of  High  Peak,  with  knights'  fees,  together  with 

the  advowson  of  the  churches  of  Steyndrop  and  Brannspath,  the  free  chapels  of  Tyk- 

liill  and  High  Peak,  the  church  and  free  chapel  of  Marsfeld,  the  fiee  chapel  of 

Pevenese,  the  priory  of  Wylmyngdon,  the  priory  of  Whitiham,  and  the  house  of 

St.  Robert  of  Kuaresborough,  with  the  castle,  manor,  and  honor  of  Knaresborough,  the 

hunch-ed  or  wapentake  of  StajTicliff,  in  Yorkshire,  and  the  manor  of  Grjnigeley  and 

Whetebury.J     At  the  same  time,  an  order  was  issued  by  the  king  to  the  freemen, 

and  all  other  tenants  on  the  exchanged  possessions,  ordering  them  to  obey  John, 

dulie  of  Lancaster ;  and  sunilar  orders  were  given  by  the  duke  "  to  the  venerable 

*  Rot.  Vascon.  43  Edw.  III.  m.  3.  Turr.  Lond.       f  Rot.  Franc.  44  Edw.  III.  m.  25.  Tiirr.  Lond. 
I  Rot.  Pat.  1  Rich.  II.  p.  ).  m.  11  per  inspex.  Turr.  Lond. 


Countj)  ^3alntmf  of  iCauwstn-.  355 

fathers,  all  and  singular  his  archhishops,  bishops,  and  other  prelates  of  churches,    chap. 
and  to  his  earls,  viscounts,  barons,  and  others,  hokUng  of  the  castle,  honor,  and        ^' 
county  of  Richmond,"  announcing,  that  he  had  gi-auted  to  his  royal  father  and  lord 
the  couuty  of  Richuiond,  and  commaniling,  that  all  vassals  and  feodataries  should 
perform  homage,  fealty,  and  all  other  ser\ices  and  duties  to  the  king.* 

The  prerogatives  of  jura  reyalia  conferred  upon  John  of  Gaunt,  in  liis  duchy  and  The  fran- 
county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  were  gi'eatly  enlarged  by  the  royal  bounty,   by  which  jurTrega- 
he  was  appointed  the  lung's  especial  lieutenant  and  captain-general  of  "  oiu-  king-  ,"',1™°  '"^' 
dom  of  France,"  and  in  Aquitaine,  and  the  parts  beyond  the  sea.f     This  authority  oaun t*^ 
Avas  still  further  enlarged  by  the  memorable  charter,  granted  to  the  duke  in  the  early 
part  of  the  reign  of  his  royal   uncle,   of  which   charter   the   following  is  a  free 
translation : — 


POWERS  GIVEN  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  LANCASTER. 

"  The  king  to  all  who  shall  see  or  hear  these  letters,  health :  Know  that  we,  fully 
confiding  in  the  understanding,  loyalty,  and  wisdom  of  our  dearest  uncle  John,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  king  of  Castile  and  Leon,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  have  made  and 
ordained,  and  do  make  and  ordain,  liim,  as  well  on  the  sea  as  in  our  kingdom  of 
France  and  our  lordship  of  Aquitaine,  and  elsewhere  in  all  parts  beyond  the  sea,  our  in  parts 
lieutenant,  principal  cliieftain,  and  general,  as  well  of  the  constable  and  marshal  as  the  sea. 
our  admirals  for  the  time  being,  counts,  barons,  captains,  knights,  esquii-es,  men  at 
arms  and  archers,  and  others,  of  what  nation,  tongue,  or  conchtion  soever  they  may 
be,  present  and  to  come,  sustaimng  and  maintaining  the  war  in  our  quarrel  which 
we  have  with  our  adversary  of  France,  his  adherents,  or  allies, 

"  Giving  and  committing  to  our  said  uncle  and  lieutenant,  by  the  tenor  of  these 
presents,  authority  and  plenary  power  of  convoking  and  assembling  the  constable 
and  marshall,  admirals  for  the  time  being,  counts,  barons,  captains,  knights  and 
esqimes,  men  at  arms,  archers,  aiid  others  howsoever  denominated, 

"  And  them  to  lead,  together  or  in  parts,  and  govern  in  all  places,  as  well  on 
the  sea  as  by  land,  in  whatsoever  manner  it  shall  seem  good  to  liim  for  the  expedition 
of  oiu'  wai's. 

Of  coiTecting,  chastising,  and  punisliing  those  persons,  or  any  of  them,  as  well 
officers  as  others,  of  whatsoever  estate  or  condition  they  may  be,  according  to  the 
excesses  and  deserts,  and  according  to  the  quality  of  the  fault  and  the  rank  of  the 
persons,  whether  it  be  high  treason,  or  any  other  crime  or  misdemeanor, 

*  Ex.  origin,  in  Turr,  Lond.  f  Rot.  Franc.  47  Edw.  III.  m.  19.  Turr.  Lond. 


356  C!)f  iJiEitxiri)  of  tl)t 

CHAP.  "  Of  exercising,  and  causing  to  be  exercised,  all  manners  of  jurisdiction,  high, 

'^'  mean,  and  low,  whether  they  be  of  marine  or  mixed  empii-e,  according  to  the  laws 
used  both  by  sea  and  laud,  in  such  manner  as  we  should  do,  if  we  were  there  present 
(si  avant  come  Nous  le  purrons  faire  si  nous  fcurons  presenles,) 

"  Of  likewise  commanding,  in  all  the  places  aforesaid,  and  of  causing  towns, 
cities,  castles,  and  forti-esses,  to  be  well  maintained,  repaired,  and  kept  in  good 
condition,  and  those  castles  and  fortresses  to  be  razed  and  demolished,  or  others  to 
be  erected  anew,  if  it  shall  seem  for  the  advantage  and  peace  of  us  and  our  subjects 
of  the  parts  aforesaid, 

"  And,  moreover,  of  taking  and  receiving  in  our  name  and  by  our  authority,  into 
our  peace,  grace,  obedience,  aiid  subjection,  all  the  cities,  towns,  boroughs,  castles, 
fortresses,  and  places  of  the  aforesaid  parts,  and  their  inhabitants  and  residents,  who 
wish  to  come  or  return  to  our  peace,  gi-ace,  obedience,  and  subjection,  and  to  dismiss 
and  pardon,  in  consequence  of  pity  and  mercy,  all  manner  of  misdeeds,  trespasses, 
outrages,  ai-sons,  homicides,  and  all  other  manners  of  horrible  crimes,  or  treasons, 
whether  generally  or  specially  done  or  committed,  or  for  wliatsoever  cause, 

"  And  also  of  utterly  taking  away  and  repealing  all  banishments  and  exiles,  which 
have  been  or  are  pronovmced  or  published  against  them  or  any  of  them, 

"  And  to  re-establish  and  restore  to  them  all  their  property  wliich  they  had  or 
have  forfeited  on  account  of  the  banishments  and  forfeitures  aforesaid, 

"  And  further,  to  remove  the  mark  or  note  of  their  infamy  or  disgrace,  and  to 
restore  them  or  any  of  them  to  their  former  estate  and  fame,  and  their  possessions,  places, 
and  countries,  and  as  entii-ely  as  they  had  in  any  time  past,  together  with  their 
antient  privileges,  such  as  they  were  accustomed  to  exercise  reasonably  in  former 
times, 

"  Of  gi-anting,  in  heritage,  or  for  life,  or  for  a  term  of  years,  to  those  who  shall 
have  well  deserved,  as  shall  seem  fit  to  him,  towns,  castles,  fortresses,  lands,  rents, 
or  homages,  nobilities,  (noblesces,)  jurisdictions,  droits,  and  all  theii-  antient 
appurtenances, 

"  Saving  the  droit  of  any  one  that  belongs  him  by  power  of  the  ordinance  made 
on  the  Conquest,  and  those  cities,  castles,  fortresses,  lands,  rents,  antiently  belonging 
to  our  own  Domain  and  royal  patrimony, 

"  Of  granting  and  presenting  suitable  persons  to  dignities,  and  all  benefices  of 
the  Holy  Church  vacant,  or  which  shall  hereafter  be  vacant,  as  well  to  Cathedral, 
collegiate  Churches,  as  to  other  Churches,  so  that  they  shall  pertain  to  us,  and  so  to 
act  for  the  good  government  of  the  benefices  aforesaid,  and  for  the  maintenance  of 
their  rights,  so  that  by  defect  of  good  government,  the  alms  of  the  parisliioners  do 
not  perish. 


Countj)  ^alatint  of  ^Laiuasstfr,  357 

"  And  of  taking  and  receiving   from   our   subjects  of  the  parts  beyond  seas,     chap. 
homage  and  oath  of  fealty,  such  as  it  behoves  them  to  perform,  _____ 

"  And  to  establish  seneschalls,  constables,  chancellors,  treasurers,  commanders 
over  our  castellans,  captains,  advocates,  proctors,  and  all  other  officers  and  ministers, 
who  ai'e  placed  by  us,  or  oui-  authority,  in  all  the  places  of  the  said  parts,  who  shall 
seem  to  our  said  uncle  to  be  profitable  for  the  good  government  of  the  subjects  of  the 
parts  aforesaid, 

"  And  the  ministers,  appointed  by  them,  or  by  any  others,  (save  by  us  or  of  our 
authority)  placed  and  established,  to  remove  and  oust  from  then-  office,  and  to  put 
and  establish  others  in  the  place  of  them,  or  of  the  dead,  if  any  should  be,  at  the 
accustomed  wages  and  fees, 

"  And  of  causing  and  gi-anting  respect  to  the  same  the  officers  and  ministers, 

"  Of  commanding  our  treasurer  and  receiver  of  those  parts  to  make  the  pay- 
ments with  wliich  our  said  uncle  shall  charge  them  as  often  as  it  shall  please 
him, 

"  Ordering  and  commancUng  all  the  auditors  of  our  accompts,  that  they  make  due 
allowance  of  all  tlie  sums,  wliich  shall  be  paid  by  the  letters  or  mandates  of  our  uncle 
aforesaid, 

"  And,  moreover,  of  puttmg  and  imposing  contributions  and  impositions  for  the 
support  of  the  wars,  and  to  demand  and  require  subsitUes  and  aids  on  account  of 
the  wars,  of  all  the  prelates,  nobles,  and  commons  of  the  cities  and  towns  of  the 
parts  aforesaid, 

"  And  those  subsicUes,  impositions,  and  contributions,  to  levy  and  collect, 

"  Of  coining,  stamping,  and  maldng  new  money  of  gold  and  silver,  and  other 
metals,  when  and  as  often  as  shall  seem  good  to  liim, 

"  Of  ennobUng  persons  not  noble, 

"  And  of  legitimatizing,  as  to  heritages  and  all  other  things,  bastards  and  all 
others  who  are  born  out  of  true  matrimony, 

"  Of  creating  and  making  scribes  and  notaries,  of  a  convenient  number, 

"  Of  giving  such  letters  of  safe-conduct  and  guard,  of  our  banners,  penons, 
and  standards,  as  shall  seem  good  to  liim. 

"  Of  making  truces,  and  treating  of  peace  and  accord  Avith  our  enemies  and 
rebels,  then-  allies  and  adlierents,  of  whatsoever  estate,  condition,  or  degi-ee  they 
may  be, 

"  And  of  conciliating  and  pacifying  on  all  debates,  contentions,  and  tliscords, 

"  And  to  those  truces,  leagues,  peaces,  and  treaties,  to  affirm  and  assent  in 
our  name,  by  oath,  faith,  obligations,  and  sm-eties,  to  have  before  hand,  on  that 
treaty  of  peace,  the  accord  and  assent  of  us  and  our  couucd. 


358  €i)t  5?l<jtOll)  Of  ti)t 

CHAP.  "  Of  causing  and  granting,  on  all  tlie  remissions,  pai-dous,  restitutions,  pre- 

^^'  sentations,  collations,  donations,  safe-conducts,  safe-guai-ds,  privileges,  and  other 
tilings,  to  the  prelates,  nohles,  and  commonalties  of  the  cities  and  towns,  and  other 
singulai'  persons  whosoever,  privileges,  charters,  muniments,  and  letters  under  liis 
seal,  which  we  wiU,  shall  have  as  much  vigour  and  force,  as  if  they  had  been  sealed 
with  our  ovm  proper  seal. 

"  And,  lastly,  of  doing  and  expediting  all  other  tilings,  necessary  or  suitable  to 
the  tilings  aforesaid,  as  we  should  ourselves  do,  if  we  were  present  in  our  OAvn 
proper  person, 

"  Ordering  and  commanding  the  said  constable  and  marshals,  admirals,  all 
prelates,  nobles,  and  commonalties  of  cities,  towns,  castles,  fortresses,  and  places,  and 
to  all  our  ministers,  officers,  and  others  our  subjects,  of  whatsoever  estate,  con(htion, 
or  degree  they  may  be,  as  well  on  the  sea,  as  on  the  parts  beyond  sea  aforesaid,  on 
forfeiture  of  whatever  they  can  foi'feit  to  us,  that  tliey  and  each  of  them  obey  and 
diligently  observe,  as  shall  pertain  to  any  of  them,  or  as  they  shall  be  required, 
our  said  dearest  uncle  and  his  lieutenant,  and  his  commissaries  and  deputies, 
in  doing  the  things  aforesaid,  and  any  of  them. 

"  Given  at  Westminster,  the  12th  day  of  June,  (1379,) 

"  By  the  King  himself." 

Letters  of         The  pcrsous  embarked  with  the  duke  in  his  foreign  expeditions,  were  privileged 

to  Lane™   hy  royal  authority,  and  letters  of  protection  were  granted  by  the  king,  dii-ecting,  that 

shire  men.  ^jj  noblemeu,  and  others  attached  to  the  expedition,  should  cross  the  sea  without 

delay,  so  that  none  of  them  should  be  found  in  this  country  after  the  approaching 

feast  of  St.  John  the  Baptist.      Amongst  others  engaged  in  this  expecHtion,  and  to 

whom  letters   of  protection  were   adcbessed,  Ave   find  the  names  of  Robert,  son  of 

William  de  Clyfton,  William  de  Barton,  of  Ridale,  Adam  del  Darn,  Hemy  Fitz- 

henry,  son  of  Thomas  de  Alkerynglon,  John  de  Ribelton,  of  Preston,  in  Amonder- 

nesse,  Hugh  de  Tyldesley,  JohuRedeman,  and  Adam,  son  of  Adam  de  Lancaster. 

Expedi-  Ireland  was   still  treated  as  a  conquered  country,  and  each  successive  lord- 

ireiand      lieutenant,  instead  of  sailiug  for  that  island  in  the  chai-acter  of  a  messenger  of  peace, 

was  anned  with  a  strong  naval  and  military  force,  as  if  embai'king  against  a  hostile 

state.     Accordingly,  Ave  find  an  order  from  the  king  to  the  sheriffs,  announcing,  that 

he  had  appointed  Simon  Chanvelton,  clerk,  and  Walton  de  Eure,  to  arrest  sliips  of 

from  tAventy  to  tAvo  huncked  tons  burthen,  m  Bristol,  and  the  other  western  ports  as 

far  as  LyA'ei-pole,  at  Avhich  latter  place  they  were  to  rendezvous,  for  the  passage  of 

William  de  Wyndesore,  "  governor  and  warden  of  the  land  of  Ireland."* 

*  Pat.  47  Edw.  III.  p.  2.  m.  24.  Turr.  Lond. 


renewed. 


Countp  |)alntine  of  2anras(Ui%  359 

In  these  eaily  days,  amongst  all  the  restrictions  on  commerce,  we  find  no  laws     chap 
against  the  importation  of  grain,  but  there  are  frequent  interdicts  against  the  expor-       ^^- 
tation  of  that  article ;  and  hence  we  have,  in  the  year  1375,  a  precept  to  the  sheriff  No  le- 

.  .  ,  strictions 

of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  dii'ectmg  him  not  to  allow  the  exportation  of  wheat,  on  the  im- 

•        <■  1  •  portation 

bai'ley,  or  other  gram,  trom  tins  county.  of  corn  in 

The  reign  of  Edward  III.,  though  a  period  of  war  and  military  renown,  teiini-  century. 
nated  in  peace.     For  the  restoration  of  tliis  blessing,  the  country  was  indebted  to 
John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  who,  in  virtue  of  the  powers  with  wliich  he  was 
invested,  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  Flanders,  and  also  a  truce  with  France, 
which,  after  having  been  prorogued  from   time  to  time,  terminated  finally  in  an  Royal 
adjustment  of  the  cHfierences  between  the  two  nations.     In  the  last  year  of  this  the  iiouse 
king's  reign,  a  grant,  as  we  have  already  seen,  of  chancery  in  the  county  palatine  of 
Lancaster  was  made  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster,-]"  and  tlie   reign  concluded,  as  it 
had  begun,  with  favoui's  and  privileges  to  the  ducal  house,  which  had  long  held 
the  first  station  amongst  the  peers  of  the  realm,  and  was  speedily  to  be  advanced 
to  sovereign  power. 

*  See  Chap.  iv.  p.  145. 


ofLancas- 


360 


€i)t  ??isstori)  of  ti)t 


CI)ap.  f. 


Power  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster — Lancashire  men  at  the  coronation  of  Richard  IL — Courts  of  law 
closed  by  the  insurrection  of  Wat  Tyler. — State  of  public  morals  in  Lancashire. — Invasions  of  the 
Scots. — Murder  of  Latimer,  the  accuser  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster. — The  duke's  expedition  to 
Spain. — Submission  of  award. — Renewed  Scotch  invasion. — Larger  measure  in  Lancashire  than 
any  other  part  of  the  kingdom. — Ancient  salmon  fisheries  of  Lancashire. — Alleged  claim  to  the 
throne  made  by  John  of  Gaunt  for  his  son. — Accusation  of  the  duke  against  Sir  Thomas  Talbot. — 
Legitimation  of  the  duke's  children  by  Catherine  Swinford. — Accession  of  the  House  of  Lancaster 
to  the  throne. — Grant  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  first  to  Henry  earl  of  Northumberland,  and  afterwards 
to  Sir  John  Stanley,  knight. — Annals  of  the  duchy. — Charters  of  the  duchy. — John  of  Gaunt's 
illustrious  descent. — His  children. — Hostility  of  France. — Contest  for  the  papacy. — Will  of 
Henry  IV. — Henry  V.  ascends  the  throne. — The  Lollards. — Union  of  the  county  of  Here- 
ford to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster. — Battle  of  Agincourt. — Commissions  of  array.— The  crown 
jewels  pledged  to  carry  on  the  war. — Death  of  Henry  V. — His  bequest  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster. 


CHAP. 
X. 


Power  of 
the  Duke 
of  Lancas- 
ter. 


OHN  of  Gaunt,  diike  of  Lancaster,  had  now  attained 
his  mericUan  power,  and  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  may 
not  inaptly  he  called  the  regency  and  ^ice-royalty  of 
the  duke.  Though  the  king  swayed  the  sceptre,  his 
nohle  uncle  guided  the  arm  that  melded  it ;  and  all 
the  principal  measures  of  his  reign  were  supposed  hy 
the  people,  and  not  \N'ithout  cause,  to  emanate  fi'om 
the  palace  of  the  Savoy,  or  the  castle  of  Lancaster. 
No  suhject  of  the  realm  had  hy  any  means  equal 
power  in  this  kingdom ;  and,  as  the  representative  of 
the  king  in  foreign  countries,  he  exercised  prerogatives  seldom  confided  to  a  suhject. 
The  wealth  of  the  duke  was  immense,  but  the  splendour  and  state  which  he  main- 
tained absorbed,  and  even  anticipated,  his  prmcely  income.  The  arts  were  then 
slowly  emerging  from  the  night  of  the  middle  ages  ;  the  dogmas  of  the  schools,  and 


Counti.)  |3alatn«  of  ilnmnstfn  36 1 

the  superstition  of  the  monasteries  were   shaken  by  tlio  rising   sjiuit   of  inquiry;     chap 
poetry,  hitherto  ahnost  unknown  in  this  island,  except  in  the  elfusions  of  the  Welsh        ^' 
bards,  began  to  be  cultivated ;  and  "  time-honoured  Lancaster"  was  amongst  the 
most  munificent  patrons  of  genius  in  liis  age  and  nation. 

In  the  "  process  and  ceremony  of  the  coronation"  of  Richard  IL,  who  was  now  Lanca- 
but  eleven  years  of  age,  we  find  the  names  of  John,  duke  of  Lancaster,  Roger  le  at"tite"co- 
Strange  de  Knokyn,  John  la  Warre,  Henry  de  Grey  de  Wilton,  and  Archibald  de  ""'''*■'""'■ 
Grelly,  all  names  comiected  with  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  attached,  for  the 
purposes  of  this  ceremony  at  least,  to  the  king's  court.     This  "  process"  John,  king 
of  Castile  and  Leon,  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  high  steward  of  England,  delivered 
with  his  own  hand  into  the  king's  court  of  chancery.*     The  liigli  reputation  of  the 
duke  pointed  him  out  as  the  mediator  of  (hfferences,  whether  of  a  national   or  a 
domestic  land ;  and  after  having  settled  the  quarrel  with  France  and  with  Belgiimi, 
we  find  him  appointed  a  coimuissiouer,  to  compose  the  ancient  differences  between 
the  gallant  eai'ls  of  Northumberland  and  Douglas.'l 

In  1-378  the  prerogatives  oi  jura  regalia  wexe  renewed  in  favour  of  "King 
John,"  duke  of  Lancaster,  as  he  was  called,  on  going  abroad,  and  rendered  as 
extensive  as  they  were  in  the  time  of  king  Edward  III.  The  privilege  of  coining 
money  in  the  city  of  Bayoune,  and  other  places,  was  at  the  same  time  rcnewed.| 
The  followhig  year,  plenary  power  was  given  to  the  duke  in  the  marches  of  Scotland. 
While  clothed  Avith  these  powers,  the  duke  concluded  a  peace  with  Scotland,  wliich 
was  confirmed  by  the  king,  his  nephew,  at  Northampton,  and  proclauned  in  this 
county,  under  the  designation  of  the  "  Great  Truce,"  by  the  sheiiflF  of  Lancaster,  at 
the  end  of  the  year  1380. 

The  insurrection  of  Wat  Tyler  and  his  confederates,  in  which  the  house  of  the  courts  of 
duke  of  Lancaster,  situated  in  the  Savoy  in  London,  was  destroyed,§  inteiTupted  by"iiii"i^n^ 
the  proceedings  of  the  court  of  justice  at  Westminster ;  on  which  occasion  a  procla-  „" "vat'"° 
mation  was  issued  by  the  king  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  ordaining,  that,  on  account  '^5''"'- 
of  the  unheard-of  and  horrible  commotions  and  insurrections  of  the  people  in  the 
kingdom  of  England,  and  for  averting  the  dangers  arising  from  the  incursions  of 
foreign  enemies,  as  well  as  for  other  reasons,  all  the  pleadings  in  the  court  of  king's 
bench  stood  adjourned ;  and  all  writs  and  mandates  delivered  to  the  duke,  to  his 
chancellors,  justiciaries,  sheriffs,  or  other  ministers,  within  the  county  of  Lancaster, 

*  1  Richard  II.  claus.  1.  m.  44.  f  Scot.  I  Richard  II.  ni.  7. 

I  2  Richard  II.  Vase.  3.  R. 

I  See  chap.  iv.   148.     The  Savoy  palace  was  built  by  Peter,  earl  of  Savoy  and  Richmond,  on 
whose  death  it  escheated  to  the  crown ;  and  Henry  III.  conferred  it  on  his  son,  Edmund  Crouch- 
back,  through  whom  it  became  a  possession  of  the  earls  of  Lancaster. 
VOL.  1.  3  A 


362  ClK  S^tsitciri)  of  ti}t 

CHAP.  sboiUJ  he  returned  on  the  octaves  of  St.  Michael,  instead  of  at  the  usual  period.* 
_JJ_  Tlie  seditions  Avhich  originated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  London,  spread  into  the 
provinces ;  and  rumours  were  very  extensively  circulated,  that  these  disturbances 
were  fomented  by  the  duke  of  Lancaster  and  other  peers,  in  order  to  procure  the 
deposition  of  the  king,  that  they  might  usurp  the  royal  authority.  To  t])ese  rumoui's 
it  was  judged  proper  to  give  the  most  positive  and  solemn  contradiction ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  king  to  all  archbishops,  prelates, 
and  others,  wherein  it  was  announced,  that  a  hateful  rumour,  wliich  wounded  and 
gi-ieved  the  royal  heart  beyond  measure,  had  been  diffused  throughout  divers  pai'ts 
of  the  kingdom,  representing,  that  the  detestable  disturbance  in  certain  counties  of 
England,  against  their  allegiance  to  the  king,  and  the  public  peace,  had  been  insti- 
gated by  John,  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  certain  others,  prelates  and  faithful  subjects ; 
wliich  rumours  the  proclamation  denounced  as  wicked  inventions,  and  declared,  that 
the  duke  had  always  been  faithful  and  zealous  for  the  honour  and  safety  of  the 
country .-j"  These  sinister  rumours,  notwithstanding,  at  length  became  so  prevalent 
as  to  endanger  the  personal  safety  of  the  duke ;  and  a  proclamation  was  in  conse- 
quence issued  to  Henry  de  Percy,  eai'l  of  Northumberland,  and  to  John,  lord  de 
Nevyll,  appointing  them  to  raise  a  body-guard  for  the  duke,  with  all  possible 
despatch,  both  men  at  arms  and  archers,  to  protect  him  against  the  violence  of  his 
enemies.  The  duke  was  at  the  same  time  appointed  the  king's  justiciary,  to 
inquu-e,  on  oath,  within  the  counties  in  his  duchy,  and  the  county  palatine  of  Lancas- 
ter, into  depredations,  robberies,  homicides,  burnings,  and  rapes,  with  power  to 
punish  tlie  offenders. 

That  these  crimes  had  attained  to  a  frightful  magnitude  in  Lancashii-e,  may  be 
state  of  inferred  from  a  species  of  royal  proclamation  issued  by  the  "  king  and  duke"  (king  of 
morals.  CastUe  and  duke  of  Lancaster)  to  the  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  pre- 
served in  the  arcliives  of  the  duchy,|  in  which,  after  ordaining,  that  the  "  holy 
Anglican  Mother  Church"  shall  have  all  its  liberties  whole  and  unimpaired,  and  fully 
enjoy  and  use  the  same,  and  that  tlie  gi-eat  charter  and  forest  charter  shall,  according 
to  the  statute  6  Rich.  IL,  be  firmly  observed,  proceeds  to  say,  that  so  licentious  had 
become  the  public  manners,  that  the  female  chai-acter  was  treated  ivith  the  greatest 
disrespect,  and  "ladies,  and  other  noble  maids  and  women,"  were  frequently 
violated  by  force,  and  that  the  resentment  of  the  persons  subject  to  these  outrages 
was  so  slight,  that  numbers  of  them  married  theii-  ra\ishers  ;  for  remedy  of  which  it 
was  ordained,  that  if,  after  such  outrage,  the  parties  contracted  marriage,  they 
should    both   of  them  be  disabled,  ipso  facto,  from  maintaining   any  inheritance, 

*  Claus.  4  Richard  II.  m.  1.  +  Pat.  5  Richard  II.  p.  1.  m.  32.         I  Roll  A.  6,  m.  16. 


Countp  ^Jalatmt  of  aanrastn-.  363 


dowi-y,  or  conjoiut  feoffament,  or  from  receiving  any  bequest  from  their  ancestors,    chap. 
and  that  the  iaheritance  should  descend  to  the  next  in  blood.*  


For  the  purpose  of  interposing  a  barrier  against  the  progress  of  the  Scots  in  invasions 
then-  future  attempts  to  mvade  the  northern  counties  of  England,  a  treaty  was  Scots, 
entered  into  and  ratified  between  Jolm  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  Henry  de 
Percy,  earl  of  Northumberland,  in  which  it  was  stipulated,  that  the  freemen  of  the 
counties  of  Lancaster  and  Durham  should  be  charged  by  the  lord  to  assemble,  and 
come  with  all  theii'  power,  whenever  proclamation  was  made  by  the  earl  of  Northum- 
berland that  the  Scots  had  laid  siege  to  any  castle  in  the  allegiance  of  the  king.t 
The  stipulations  of  tliis  treaty  were  soon  brought  into  active  operation.  The  Scots, 
aided  by  a  body  of  French  cavalry,  renewed  their  incursions  into  Cumberland,  West- 
moreland, and  Lancashire,  where  they  committed  the  most  extensive  outrages.  On 
which  the  king  of  England,  having  assembled  an  army  of  60,000  men,  issued  an 
order  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster  to  meet  liim  with  horse  and  anns  at  Newcastle,  on 
the  14th  of  Jidy.|  With  tliis  army  the  young  king  penetrated  into  Scotland,  and,  Retrii)u. 
after  having  burnt  the  capital,  and  laid  waste  all  the  towaa  and  villages  through 
which  he  had  to  pass,  advanced  as  far  as  Dundee.  Tliis  signal  act  of  retributive 
justice  put  an  end  to  tlie  invasions  of  the  Scots,  and  restored  peace  to  the  two 
countries. 

•  DE  STATUTO  PCLAMAND. 

"  Item,  cont."  malefcores  &  raptores  dnar  &  filial  nobilium  alicirq3  mulier  violentius  &  plus 
solito  hijs  dieb3  quasi  in  oiiii  parte  regni  pdci  invalescentes  /'ordinatum  est  &  statutfi  qit  ubicumq3 
&  quandocumq3  hujusmodi  diie  filie  &  alie  mulieres  pdce  decePo  rapiant®  &  post  hujusmodi 
raptum  iaptorib3  hujusmodi  consenserint  qd  tam  raptores  sive  rapientes  qin  rapte  &  eor  quitt 
deceto  inhabilitent  &  inhabiles  sint  ip5  fco  ad  omem  hereditatem  dotem  sive  conjunctfl  feoffa- 
mentu  post  mortem  virof  &  antecessor  suor  bend  vel  vendicanct  et  qd  statim  in  hoc  casu  dx 
de  sanguine  eordem  rapiencii?  &  raptar  cui  hereditas  dos  seu  conjunctum  feofFaraentum  descendere 
revti  remanere  vel  accidere  deberet  post  mortem  rapientis  vel  rapte  beat  titulC  in  mediate 
statim  scitt  post  raptum  intrandi  sup  rapientem  vel  raptam  ac  eor  assign!  &  ?re  tenentes 
in  eisdem  hereditate  dote  seu  conjuncto  feoffamento  &  ilia  hereditar  tenend  &  qd  viri  hujus- 
modi mulier  si  viros  tiuerint  vel  si  viros  non  buerint  supstites  qd  tunc  pres  vel  alij  de  sanguine 
ear  ppinquiores  decePo  lieant  sectam  |)sequendi  &  sequi  po?unt  v^sus  eosdem  malefcores  & 
raptores  in  hac  parte  &  illos  inde  qu^vis  eedem  mulieres  post  hujusmodi  raptum  dcis  raptorib3 
consenserint  de  vita  &  membro  convinccndi  Et  ulPius  concordatum  est  qd  defendens  in  hoc 
casu  ad  duellum  vadianct  minime  recipiat  Immo  rei  vtas  inde  p  inquisicoem  prie  triet  salvis 
semp  diio  Regi  &  cetis  diiis  regni  j?dci  de  raptorib3  illis  si  foitassis  inde  convincant  in  oinib3 
escaetis  suis." 

t  Scot.  7.  Richard  II.  m.  1.  j  Claus.  8.  Richard  II.  m.  3.  d. 

3  A  2 


364  €i)t  %H^tov\)  Of  tl)e 

CHAP.  A  charge  of  high  treason,  in  compassing  the  death  of  the  king,  and  usurping  liis 

"       throne,  was  this  year  made,  as  we  have  already  seen,  by  John  Latimer,  B.D.  an 

Murder  of  Iiish  friar  of  the  Franciscan  order,  against  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  \^  hich  charge  the 

theac-'     duke  positively  denied,  and  requu-ed  to  he  confronted  with  liis  accuser;  but  on  the 

the  duke     eve  of  the  trial,  according  to  Kennett,'*  "  Lord  Jolui  Holland  and  Sir  Henry  Green, 

caster"       two  of  the  duke's  friends,  entered  the  friar's  lodgings,  and  cruelly  put  him  to  death 

^\ith  theii-  own  hands,  by  hanging  him  up  by  the  neck  and  privy   members,  and 

laying  a  great  stone  upon  his  breast,  which  broke  his  neck ;  and,  as  if  they  had 

perpetrated  this  enormity  by  public  authority,  they  drew  his  dead  body  through  the 

streets  the  next  day,  as  being  deservedly  punished  as  a  traitor.      This  cruel  action 

brought  upon  the  duke  much  dishonour,  and,  though  it  ridded  him  of  a  false  accuser, 

as  was  thought  till  tlie  friar  was  so  illegally  put  to  death,  yet  it  rendered  his  inno- 

cency  more  suspicious  than  before;  and  many  believed  liim  really  guilty,  who  before 

thought  liim  falsely  accused."     This,  to  be  sure,  was  a  monstrous  infraction  of  law 

and  justice,  and  might  well  subject  the  duke  to  suspicion,  if  the  fact  could  have  been 

established  that  he  was  a  party  to  the  murder,  in  which  liglit  the  punishment  of  the 

friar  must  be  viewed;  but  we  do  not  find  in  the  records  of  the  day  any  evidence  of 

this  fact. 

The  The  war  with  Scotland  being  ended,  and  the  duke  of  Lancaster  feeling  that  his  i)os- 

pedition  to  sessious  in  the  duchy  and  county  palatine  were  secure,  he  prepared  to  enforce  liis  chum, 

^'"°'        in  right  of  his  wife,  to  his  inheritance  in  Spain,!  leaving  his  son  Henry,  earl  of  Derby, 

as  his  locum  tcnens  in  his  absence.     In  this  expethtion,  the  most  splenchd  of  the  age,  he 

was  accompanied  by  his  chancellor,  WilUani  de  Ashton,  esq.  Tliomas  de  Ashton,  esq. 

John  de  Eccleston,  of  Lyverpole,  esq.  and  Thomas  Holcroft,  esq.  all  of  tlie  county  of 

Lancaster,  to  whom  letters  of  protection  were  given  by  the  king.      Previous  to  his 

departure,  the  duke  entered  into  an  engagement  with  the  king  liis  nephew,  that  he 

would  not  make  any  treaty  with  the  crown  of  Spain,  unless  upon  the  condition  that 

the  king  of  Spain  should  pay  to  the  king  of  England  20,000  gold  doubloons;  and  the 

duke  further  engaged  that  he  would  repay  to  the  king  20,000  marks,  which  he  had 

borrowed  to  defray  the  expenses  incident  to  the  fitting  out  of  this  expedition.     Of 

tliis  mission,  the  following  account  is  given  in  an  ancient  manuscript  chronicle  in  the 

Harleian  collection,  in  the  British  Museum.J 

"  And  in  the  xi  zere  of  pe  pegne  of  kynge  Richapde  H.  S"' John  of  Gaunte,  Duke 
of  Lancastpe,  wente  ouep  the  see  into  Spayne  to  chalenge  his  piglite  pat  he  hap  by 
his  wyfes  titell  to  the  cpowne  of  Spayne  w'  a  gpete  oost  of  peple,  of  lordes,  and 

*  Vol.  i.  p.  252.  +  See  chap.  iv.  p.  150.  %  Hail.  MSS.  Cod.  2G6.  fo.  98.  b. 


Countj)  |3alatint  of  ?Laitrastci%  365 

kiiyjtes,  and  squyepes,  men  of  apmes  and  apchers,  and  liadde  the  duches  his  wyfe    chap. 

and  his  iij  doughtejien  oiLie  the  see   with  hym  in  Spayne  and  pe"'  pei  Avepcn  a  U 

gpete  whyle  tylle  at  laste  the  kyngc  of  Spayne  gan  tpete  with  the  dnke  of  Lan- 
castpe,  and  as  thei  wepe  accorded  to  getliepe  porogh  hop  sope  counsailles  p'  the 
kyuge  of  Spayne  shiikle  and  wedde  the  dukes  dougliter  of  Lancastjie  pat  was  hipe 
to  Spayne  and  the  kynge  of  Spayne  jafe  to  the  duke  of  Lancastpe  of  golde  and 
syluep  that  wepe  caste  into  gpete  yngotts  as  moche  as  viij  charietes  myjt  capye 
and  manye  ope'e  piche  jewelles  and  jiftes  and  eitiy  zere  after,  dupyng  the  lyfe 
of  the  duke  of  Lancastpe  and  of  tlie  duches  his  wyfe  x.  m'  mapke  of  gohl  and  pat 
by  her  owne  aveutupe,  costages  and  cliapges  thei  of  Spapie  shukle  hjiyngt  thes  - 
X  m'  niapke  euejiy  zere  zerely  into  Bayone  to  the  dukes  assignes  by  sujiete  made. 
And  tlie  duke  of  Lancastpe  wedded  anop'e  doughter  of  his  vnto  the  kynge  of  Por- 
tyngale  well  and  worthely,  and  lefte  p'e  his  ij  doughters  with  her  lordes  her 
liusbondes,  and  come  hym  home  ajen  into  Engelande  with  the  gode  lady  his  wyffe 
Duchesse  of  Lancastpe." 

During  the  duke's  absence  in  Spain,  "  a  submission  of  award"  was  entered  into  Submis- 
between  the  honourable  "  Prince,  King,  and  Duke,"  as  he  is  designated  in  this  docu-  award. 
ment,*  on  the  one  part,  and  William  Pargrave  and  Igden  Slingsby,  esq.  on  the  other 
part,  relating  to  the  manors  of  Scotton,  Breareton,  and  Thonge,  in  the  county  of 
York,  to  determine  how  far  the  latter  parties,  in  right  of  their  wives,  the  daughters 
of  William  de  Westfield,  were  entitled  to  certain  privileges  in  these  manors ;  the  aAvard 
to  be  made  by  twenty  knights  and  esquires,  the  most  sufficient  that  could  be  found 
near  to  the  manors  in  litigation. 

In  the  year  1388,  the  alarm  of  Scotch  invasion  was  again  very  prevalent  in  this  Renewed 
country,  on  which  the  Idug  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  or  his  invasion. 
chancellor,  announcing  that  the  Scots  and  their  adherents  had  assembled  a  great 
army,  and  had  hastily  invaded  the  kingdom  of  England,  burning,  destroying,  and 
horribly  slaying  men,  women,  and  children,  and  had  almost  advanced  to  the  gates  of 
York.  To  repel  this  ci'uel  invasion,  the  duke  was  required  to  make  proclamation  in 
all  cities,  boroughs,  and  market  towns,  and  other  places  in  the  county  and  duchy  of 
Lancaster,  that  all  lords,  knights,  esquires,  and  others  competent  to  bear  arms, 
should  repair  with  all  speed  to  join  the  king's  army.-f  Before  the  return  of  the  duke 
from  Spain,  in  1389,  the  Scots  were  driven  into  their  own  country,  but  the  public 
mind  still  continued  agitated  in  the  extreme  by  the  intrigues  of  the  duke  of 
Gloucester  and  liis  adherents,  who  souglit  to  usurp  the  royal  prerogatives,  and  to  use 
them  for  theii-  own  aggi-andizement.     The  presence  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster  served 

*  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  266.  fo.  50.  t  Claus.  12  Rich.  II.  m.  43. 


366 


CI)e  S^i'gtor])  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
X. 


Establish- 
ment of  a 
standard 
of  weights 
and  mea- 


Exempt 
in   Lanca- 
shire. 


Ancient 
salmon 
ftslieries 
of  Lanca- 
shire. 


Alleged 
claim  of 
John  of 
Gaunt  to 
the  throne 
for  his 


to  check  the  tiirhiilent  and  ambitious  spirit  of  liis  brother  of  Gloucester,  and  to  restore 
tranquillity  to  the  state. 

Although  by  Magna  Charta  it  was  declared  that  uniform  weights  and  measures 
should  be  used  throughout  the  whole  kingdom,  to  guard  agauist  those  impositions  to 
wliich  the  people  were  exposed  from  the  arts  of  fraudulent  dealers,  the  provisions  of 
the  charter  had  liithcrto  not  been  enforced;  but  it  was  now  ordained  by  the  authority 
of  the  king,  on  petition  of  the  commons,  that  a  standard  measure  and  weight  should 
be  established  for  the  whole  kingdom ;  and  that  any  person  convicted  of  using  any 
other  should  not  only  make  satisfaction  to  the  aggrieved  parties,  but  should  also  be 
imprisoned  for  six  months  without  bail.  The  county  of  Lancaster  was,  however, 
exempt  from  tliis  enactment,  "  because,"  as  the  king  says  in  his  answer  to  the 
commons,  "  there  has  always  been  a  larger  measure  used  in  Lancashii-e  than  in  any 
other  part  of  the  kingdom."* 

The  earliest  enactments  in  the  statutes  of  the  realm  for  regulating  the  salmon 
fisheries  of  this  kingdom,  relate  to  the  Lancashire  rivers  of  the  Lune,  the  Wyre,  the 
Mersey,  and  the  Ribble:  and  by  a  statute,  13  Richard  IL  c.  19.  it  is  enacted,  "  That 
no  young  salmon  be  taken  or  destroyed  by  ne  s,  at  mills,  dams,  or  other  places,  from 
the  middle  of  April  till  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  Baptist;"  and  "  it  is  ordained  and 
assented,  that  the  waters  of  Lon,  Wyre,  Mersee,  Ribbyl,  and  all  other  waters  in  the 
county  of  Lancaster,  be  put  in  defence,  as  to  the  taking  of  salmons,  from  Michaelmas 
Day  to  the  Purification  of  our  Lady,  and  in  no  other  time  of  the  year,  because  that 
salmons  be  not  seasonable  in  the  said  waters  in  the  time  aforesaid;  and  in  the, parts 
where  such  rivers  be,  there  shall  be  assigned  and  sworn  good  and  sufficient  conser- 
vators of  tliis  statute."  This  act  was  amended  by  the  17  Richard  IL  c.  9.  which 
enacts,  "  that  the  justices  of  the  peace  shall  be  conservators  of  the  recited  statute, 
with  under  conservators  appointed  by  them,  and  that  the  said  justices  shall  inquire 
into  the  due  execution  of  the  law  at  their  sessions ;"  and  further  amended  by 
1  Eliz.  c.  17.  wliich,  amongst  other  things,  provides  that  the  meshes  of  the  nets  used 
in  taliing  salmon  shall  be  two  inches  and  a  half  broad,  and  that  the  fish  shall  not  be 
taken  by  any  other  means.")" 

The  history  of  these  times  presents  many  rumours,  but  no  well-authenticated 
facts,  tending  to  shew  that  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  was  inflamed  by  that 
ambition  which  points  to  the  throne,  and  is  little  scrupulous  of  the  means  of  grati- 
fying the  tliii-st  for  regal  power.  These  rumours  impute  to  the  duke  a  desire  also  to 
place  the  crown  of  England  upon  the  head  of  his  son,  Henry  of  Bolingbroke;  and 


*  Rot.  Pari.  vol.  iii.  p.  270. 

t  The  subsequent  statutes  for  the  regulation   of  these  fisheries   are  4  and  .5   of  Anne,  c.  21. 
1  George  I.  slat.  ii.  c.  18.    23  George  II.  c.  26.    43  George  III.  c.  61. 


Count!)  t^alatinc  of  iCancnsitfr.  367 

tlie  venerable  Lelaucl  asserts,  that  "  in  a  parliament  held  at  London  19  Rich,  II.  the    chai'. 

duke  moved  that  liis  son  Henry  might  be  adjudged  lieii-  to  the  kingdom  of  England,  

as  being  the  son  of  Blancli,  daughter  of  Henry,  duke  of  Lancaster,  gi-andson  of 
Edmund,  first  carl  of  Lancaster,  who,  he  pretended,  was  eldest  brother  to  Idug 
Edwai'd  I.  but  put  by  tlie  crown  by  king  Henry  III.  because  of  the  deformity  of  a 
broken  back,  and  therefore  named  Crouchback:  Avliich  argument  of  his  was  contra- 
dicted by  Roger  Mortimer,  earl  of  March,  who  made  it  appear  to  the  contrary,  and 
alleged  that  it  belonged  to  him  as  son  of  Pliilippa,  only  daughter  and  heir  of  Liouell, 
duke  of  Clarence,  second  surviving  son  of  Edward  III.  who,  not  allowing  Henry's 
pretended  succession  from  an  eldest  son  of  Henry  III.  was  to  be  preferred  before 
the  son  of  John,  duke  of  Lancaster,  being  younger  than  Lionell.  It  was  tliis  spark 
which  his  son  Henry  of  Bolingbroke  afterwards  blew  into  a  flame,  which  continued 
burning  in  the  royal  families  of  Lancaster  and  York,  till,  having  well  nigh  consumed 
botli,  it  became  quenched  with  the  effusion  of  much  princely  blood."* 

From  what  source  this  information  is  derived,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  conjecture ; 
certain  it  is,  that  no  English  parliament  was  held  in  London,  or  elsewhere,  in 
19  Richard  II.;  nor  does  it  appear,  either  from  the  rolls  of  parliament,  or  from  the 
records  in  the  Tower,  that  any  such  claim  was  advanced  for  his  son  by  John  of 
Gaunt,  though,  in  the  speech  made  by  Henry  IV.  to  his  parliament  on  ascending 
the  throne,  he  evidently  alludes  to  the  tradition  upon  which  this  story  is  fabricated. f 

Two  years  before  this,  "  John,  didte  of  Lancaster,  son  of  the  king  of  England, 
duke  of  Guienne,  earl  of  Derby,  Lincoln,  and  Leicester,  and  steward  of  England," 
as  he  is  styled  in  the  parliamentary  records,  and  Thomas,  duke  of  Gloucester,  con- 
stable of  England,  "  complained  to  the  king  that  su'  Thomas  Talbot,  knight,  with 
others  Ids  adherents,  conspu'ed  the  deaths  of  the  said  dukes  in  divers  parts  of  Cheshire, 
as  tlie  same  was  confessed  and  well  known;  and  the  dukes  prayed  that  parliament 
might  judge  of  the  fault.    Whereupon  the  king  and  the  lords  in  parliament  adjudged  Accusa- 
the  said  Thomas  Talbot  guUty  of  liigh  treason,  and  awarded  two  writs,  the  one  to  against  sir 
the  sheriffs  of  York,  and  the  other  to  the  sheriffs  of  Derby,  to  take  the  body  of  the  Taibot. 
said  sir  Thomas,  returnable   in   the  King's  Bench,  in  the  month  of  Easter  then 
ensuing:  and  open  proclamation  was  made  in  Westminster  Hall,  that  upon  the 
sheriffs'  return  at  the  next  coming  in  of  the  said  sir  Thomas,  he  should  be  con- 
victed of  treason,  and  incur  the  loss  and  penalty  of  the  same."J 

Notwithstanding  all  these  court  intrigues,  the  honours  and  privileges  of  the 
duke  of  Lancaster  continued  to  accumulate;  and  by  an  act  of  royal  favour,  he  was 
allowed  to  hold  Aquitaine  in  liege  homage  of  the  king;  and  all  prelates,  earls, 

*  Sandford's  Genealogical  History,  book  4.  c.  1 .  f  See  chap.  v.  p.  165 

t  Sir  Robert  Cotton's  Coll.  p.  354.   17  Rich.  11. 


368  Cftf  ??tsitori)  of  tlje 

CHAP,    viscounts,  aucl  others,  were  conunanded  to  pay  homage  to  tlie  duke.    The  viceroyalty 
^_ll__  of  Picardy  was  soon  after  conferred  upon  hhn,  at  Avhich  time  the  privilege  was  con- 


ceded to  him  of  importing  sixty  casks  of  AAinc,  duty  free,  for  the  use  of  his  househohl.* 
Legitima-  The  scandal  raised  at  court  hy  the  marriage  of  John  of  Gaunt,  the  king's  uncle, 

the  duke's  to  liis  uiistress,  Catherine  Smnford,!  was  somewhat  abated  by  tlie  king's  patent, 
by  Cathe-  whicli  legitimatized  her  four  children  by  the  duke.      These  chilth-en  were  surnamed 
fird.  "'"    Beauford,  from  the  place  of  their  birth;  and  the  patent  of  legitimation,  wliich  bears 
date  on  the  10th  of  February,  1397,|  may  be  thus  rendered: — 

"  Be  it  remembered,   That  on  Tuesday  the  fifteenth  day  of  Parliament,   the 

Chancellor,  by  the  King's  command,  declared  how  our  Holy  Father  tlio  Pope  had, 

in  reverence  of  the  most  excellent  person  of  the  King,  and  of  his  honourable  uncle 

the  Duke  of  Guyenne  and  of  Lancaster,  and  of  his  blood,   enabled  [habliez]  and 

legithnatized  Sir  John  de  Beauford,  his  brothers  and  his  sister,  and  that  therefore 

our  Lord  the  King,  as  entire  Sovereign  [entier  Emperor]  of  his  Realm  of  England, 

for  the  honour  of  his  blood,  wills,  and  hath  of  his   full  royal  power  enabled,  and  of 

liis  own  proper  authority  made,  the  said  John,  liis  said  brotliers  and  sisters,  viuUers,^ 

and  also  pronounced   and   published  the   abUity   [l'  abilite]    and    legitimatization, 

according  to  the  form  of  the  King's  charter  thereof  made.     The  wliich  charter  was 

read  in  full  Parliament,  and  delivered  to  the  said  diilie,  father  of  the  said  John,  and 

his  said  brotliers  and  sister,  the  tenor  of  Avhicli  charter  ensueth : — Richard,  by  the 

Grace  of  God,  King  of  England  and  France,  and  Lord  of  Ireland,  to  our  most  dear 

cousins  the  noblemen,  John  the  Knight,  Henry  the  Clerk,  Thomas  '  Domicello,'  and 

to  our  beloved  the  noble  woman  Joan  Beauford  '  Domicelle,'  the  most  dear  relatives 

of  our  uncle  the  noble  John  Duke  of  Lancaster,  born  our  lieges,  greeting,  and  the 

favour  of  our  royal  majesty.     Whilst  internally  considering  how  incessantly,  and 

with  what  honours  we  are  gi-aced  by  the  very  useful  and  sincere   affection  of  our 

aforesaid  uncle,  and  by  the  Avisdom  of  his  counsel,  we  think  it  proper  and  fit,  that, 

for  the  sake  of  his  merits,  and  in  contemplation  of  Ins  favours,  we  should  enrich  you 

(who  are  endowed  by  nature  Avith  great  probity  and  honesty  of  life  and  behaviour,  and 

ai'e  begotten  of  royal  blood,  and  by  the  divine  gift  ai'e  adorned  with  many  virtues) 

■vntli  the  strength  of  our  royal  prerogative  of  favour  and  grace.     Hence  it  is,  that, 

yielding  to  the  entreaties  of  our  said  uncle,  your  father,  we  do,  in  the  fullness  of 

our  royal  power,  and  by  the  assent  of  Parliament,  by  the  tenor  of  these  presents, 

*  The  duty  on  wine  at  this  time  was  3s.  per  cask,  with  an  ad  valorem  duty  of  5  per  cent,  upon  its 
introduction  into  the  port  of  London. 

t  See  chap.  iv.  p.  151.  I  Rot.  Pari.  vol.  iii.  p.  343. 

§  Mulier — A  son  born  in  wedlock  of  a  mother,  who  had  borne  a  former  son  to  the  father  before 
marriage.     When  conipiued,  they  are  designated  thus — "  Bastard  eigne  et  Mulier  puisne." 


Coimtj)  ^alatiitf  of  SnncnjJtm  309 

empower  you,  Avho,  as  it  is  asserted,  suffer  from  the  want  of  biilhriglit,  (notwilh-  chai 
standing  such  defect,  which,  and  the  qualities  thereof,  we  take  to  be  in  these  pre-  — L_ 
seuts  sufficiently  expressed,)  to  be  raised,  promoted,  elected,  assume,  and  be 
■admitted  to  all  honours,  cUgnities,  [except  to  the  royal  cUriniti/*]  preeminences, 
estates,  degrees,  and  offices,  public  and  private  whatsoever,  as  well  perpetual  as 
temporal,  and  feodal  and  noble,  by  wliatsoever  names  they  may  be  designated, 
whether  they  be  Duchies,  Principahties,  Earldoms,  Baronies,  or  other  fees,  and 
whether  they  depend,  or  are  holden  of  us  mediately  or  immechately,  and  to  receive, 
retain,  bear,  and  exercise  the  same  as  freely  and  lawfully  as  if  ye  were  born  in  law- 
ful matrimony,  and  you  and  every  of  you  do  restore  and  legitunatize :  any  statutes 
or  customs  of  oiu*  realm  of  England  to  the  contrary  tliereof,  made  or  observed 
(which  we  consider  to  be  herein  fully  expressed)  in  anywise  notwithstanding. 

"  Witnessed  by  the  King  at  Westminster,  the  10th  day  of  February." 

In  the  following  year,  the  quarrel  between  Henry  of  Bolingbroke,  duke  of  Here- 
ford, and  Thomas  Mowbray,  first  duke  of  Norfolk,  which  tenninated  in  the  banish- 
ment of  both  these  knights,  took  place.f  The  death  of  the  illustrious  and  venerable 
duke  of  Lancaster  was  precipitated  by  tliis  event  ;|  and  the  deposition  of  Richard  H. 

"  unking'd  by  Bolingbroke," 


speedily  followed. §  On  the  death  of  his  father,  the  duke  of  Hereford  returned  to 
England,  ostensibly  to  claim  bis  paternal  inheritance  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  but 
really,  through  the  pubUc  power,  and  his  own  daring,  to  assume  the  stUl  higher 
possession  of  the  throne. 

Amongst  the  most  powerful  of  the  adherents  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  was 
Henry  de  Percy,  earl  of  Northumberland,  and  his  son,  Henry  Hotspur,  to  whose 
services  he  was  essentially  indebted  for  his  elevation : 

"  Northumberland,  thou  ladder,  by  the  which 
"  Bolingbroke  ascends  the  throne  ;" 

and  one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  new  king's  reign  was,  to  present  that  nobleman  witli  isie  of 
a  gi-ant  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  to  be  held  by  the  feudal  service  of  bearing  the  curtana,  granted 
called   the    "  Lancaster   Sword,"   on  the  day  of  the    coronation, ||    at  the  left  Eari^of 
shoulder  of  the  king  and  liis  heirs,  which  sword  had  been  borne  by  .Tolni  of  Gaunt  blriind!" 
at  the  coronation  of  Richard  II.     This  grant  is  represented,  in  the  document  by 

•  The  words  "  excepta  dignitate  regali"  are  not  in  the  original  grant,  but  have  been  interpolated 
in  the  copy  on  the  Patent  Rolls,  20  Rich.  II.  p.  2.  m.  6. 

t  See  chap.  v.  p.  160.  %  p.  1,52.  ^  p.  165.  ||  Pat.  1  Hen.  IV.  p.  5.  m.  35. 

VOL.  I.  3b 


Stanley. 


370  <li)t  W^tov^  Of  tfte 

CHAP,    which  it  is  made,  as  the  inadequate  reward  of  the  earl's  magnificent  and  faithful 

■y 

__1_L_  services  to  the  state.  The  island,  castle,  peel,  and  lordship  of  Man,  the  possession 
of  William  le  Scroop,  earl  of  WUtshii-e,  had  been  seized  by  the  king,  on  the  execu- 
tion  of  the  eai-1,  for  misgoverning  the  kingdom  in  the  time  of  Richard  II. ;  and  the 
whole  of  these  possessions,  together  with  the  regalia,  royal  jurisdictions,  franchises, 
liberties,  and  the  patronage  of  the  bishoprick,  as  well  as  the  goods  and  chattels  of 
the  unfortunate  earl,  were  conferred  upon  the  eai-1  of  Northumberland  in  pei-petuity. 
The  restless  spirit  of  Northumberland,  who  thought  himself  inadequately  rewarded 
by  the  Isle  of  Man,  while  he  had  secured  for  his  sovereign  the  kingdom  of  England, 
urged  him  on  to  acts  of  rebellion  against  king  Henry,  as  he  had  before  rebelled 
against  his  predecessor.  Less  fortunate  in  liis  second  than  in  liis  first  revolt,  the 
reward  of  his  perfidy  to  Richard  overtook  him,  and  he  lost,  in  the  sequel,  liis  son 
young  Hotspur,  his  possessions,  and  liis  life. 
Subse-  By  the  attainder  of  the  earl  of  Northumberland,  the  Isle  of  Man,  after  six  yeai's, 

Sir  John  again  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  crown,  and  was  seized  for  the  king's  use 
by  Sir  William  and  Sir  John  Stanley  ;*  on  which  the  king,  by  letters  patent,  of  his 
especial  grace  and  favour,  granted  to  Sir  John  Stanley  the  island,  castle,  peel,  and 
lordship  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  all  the  islands  and  lordsliips  thereto  belonging, 
together  ^yiih  regalia,  regalities,  franchises,  and  liberties,  and  all  other  profits  and 
commodities  annexed  thereto,  to  have  and  to  hold  for  the  term  of  liis  life.f 


DE  INSULA  MANNIiE  CONCESSA. 

A.D.1405.  "  Rex,  dUecto  &  fideli  suo,  Willlelmo  Stanley,  Cliivaler,  vel  ejus  Locumtenenti 
in  Insula  de  Man,  Salutem. 
"  Licet  nuper,  per  Literas  nostras  Patentes,  commiserimus  vobis,  ac,  dUecto  & 
fideli  nostro,  Johanni  Stanley,  Cliivaler,  Insulam,  Castrum,  Pelam,  &  Dominium 
de  Man,  ac  omnia  Insulas  &  Dominia  eidem  Insulte  de  Man  pertinentia,  una  cum 
Regaliis,  Regalitatibus,  Franchesiis,  &  Libertatibus,  ac  omnibus  aliis  Proficuis  & 
Conunoditatibus,  in  dictis  Literis  nostris  sjiecificatis,  ad  opus  nostrum  salvo  & 
secure,  quamdiu  nobis  placuerit,  Custodieiida, 

"  Quia  tamen  postmodum,  per  alias  Literas  nostras  de  Gratia  nostra  speciali, 
Concessimus  eidem  Johanni  Insulam,  Castrum,  Pelam,  <Sc  Dominium  prsedicta, 
ac  omnia  Insulas  &  Dominia  eidem  Insulae  de  Man  pertinentia,  un^  cum  Regaliis, 
Regalitatibus,  Franchesiis,  &  Libertatibus,  ac  omnibus  aliis  Proficuis  &  Coimnodita- 
tibus,  eisdem  Insulae,  Castro,  Pelae  &  Doiuinio  qualltercumque  spectaiitibus 
*  Writs  dated  Pountfreyt  Castle,  3  July,  6  Hen.  IV.  t  Claus.  7  Henry  IV.  m.  42. 


CciuntL>  IJalatinc  of  Sancnsitfr.  37 1 

sive  pertineiitibus,  Habenda  pro  Termino  Vitse  suae,  prout  in  dictis  ultiiiiis  Literis    chap 
nostris,  eidem  Jolianui  factis,  plenius  contiiietur,  - 

"  VoLis,  sub  Fide  &  Ligeantia  vestris,  districtius  quo  possumus,  Injungiinus 
&  Mandamus  qu5d  eidem  Johanni,  aut  ejus  in  hac  parte  Attornato,  Insulam,  Cas- 
truni,  Pelam  &  Dominium  pnedicta,  ac  Insulas  &  Dominia  eidem  Insula?  de  Man 
pertinentia,  un^  cum  Regaliis,  Regalitatibus,  Franchesiis,  &  Libertatibus,  ac 
omnibus  aliis  Proficuis  &  Commoditatibus  praedictis,  liberetis,  &;  ipsum  Ula 
habere  permittatis,  juxta  Tenorem  dictarum  ultimarum  Literarum  nostrarum, 
sibi  sic  ind^  confectarum ;  vos  ind^,  contra  Tenorem  eorundem,  nullatenus  intro- 
mittentes ; 

"  Volumus  enim  vos  iudfe  erga  Nos  exonerari. 

Teste  Rege  apud ,  Quarto  die  Octobris." 

"  Per  ipsum  Regem." 

On  tbe  6th  of  April,  in  the  follomng  year,  the  king  so  far  extended  liis  bounty 
as  to  grant  the  Isle  of  Man  to  Sir  John  Stanley  in  perpetuity,  in  as  full  and  ample  a 
manner  as  it  had  been  held  by  any  former  lord  of  the  crown  of  England,  per  homa- 
gimn  legium,  but  altering  the  tenure,  which  was  now,  instead  of  bearing  the  Lan- 
caster sword  at  the  coronation,  to  pay  to  the  king  a  cast  of  falcons  at  the  coronation, 
after  homage  made  in  lieu  of  all  demands  and  customs. 

To  return  from  tliis  digression.  The  annals  of  the  duchy,  during  the  whole  period  Annals  of 

°  ,  .  .  the 

of  the  life  of  John  of  Gaunt,  will  at  all  times  rank  amongst  the  most  mterestmg  Duchy, 
records  in  the  early  history  of  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster;  but  though  they  are 
all  before  us,  they  are  much  too  voluminous  to  be  inserted  in  detail,  and  can  only  be 
given  in  summary,  with  such  references  as  may  enable  those  who  wish  to  consult 
particular  documents  to  find  them  with  facility.  These  annals  being  resumed  from 
the  period  of  the  death  of  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  brought  down  to  the 
demise  of  the  last  subject  duke,  comprehend  the  whole  period  of  the  history  of  the 
duchy,  fi'om  its  creation  to  the  time  when  it  merged  in  the  crown,  not  indeed  by 
absolute  union,  for  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  has  always  been  considered  a  separate 
inheritance,  but  by  actual  possession — the  kings  of  England  and  the  dukes  of  Lancaster 
having  been  the  same  persons  ever  since  the  time  when  Henry  of  Bolingbroke 
ascended  the  throne,  to  the  present  day. 


3  B  2 


372 


Cl;e  i^isitoi-p  of  tOe 


CHAP. 
X. 


EXTRACT  FROM  CLOSE  ROLL  A.  6. 
John  Duke  of  Lancaster — viz*  1377,  51  Edw.  IIL  to  1389,  12  Rich.  IL 

From  the  Duchy  Records  in  the  Office  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


Extract 
from  Close 
Roll  A.  6. 


D'procla- 
niaiido. 


Tlie  two  mti'oductory  instruments  are  as  follows : — 

51  Edw.  in. 
John    the     Duke    to    Thomas    de 
Thelwall. 


Also,    the    Duke    to    the    Sheriff 
of  the  County. 
1.  John  Hodelleston  and  Wife  to  the 
Duke. 
Nicholas  de  Syiigleton  to  the  Duke. 


*Appointment  of  Chancellor  of  the  Duchy 
and  County  Palatine,  and  delivery  of 
the  Great  Seal  of  the  Royalty. 

Proclamation  of  Pleadings  of  Assize,  &c. 


Fine  for  Writ  of  Assize  de  Nov.  Dis.  20s. 

paid  to  the  Hanaper. 
Fine  of  10s.  for  a  Writ  de  Conventione. 


*  APPOINTMENT  OF  CHANCELLOR  OF  THE  DUCHY  AND  COUNTY 

PALATINE,  &c. 

"  cimo  septimo  die  Apiilis,  Anno  Regni  Regis  E.  rcij  a  conquestu  Angt  quin- 

quagesirao  prime  apud  le Westm  Johes  Rex  Castelle  &  Legionis  Dux  Lancastr  in 

psencia  Rofeti  de  Wylyngton  Militis  Thome  de  Hungjford  Militis  &  alio?  de  Familia  iplus  Regis 
ibide  ©senciu  vidett  in  capella  infra  Mansu  dci  loci  constructa  constituit  Thoma  de  Thelwall  cticuni 
Cancellariu  suu  infra  Ducatu  &  Comitatu  Lancastrie  &  capto  Sacro  sue  idem  Rex  magnii  SigillQ  suu 
|)  regimine  Regalitatis  Comitatus  Palatini  ibidem  ordinatu  manu  sua  j)pria  pfato  Thome  libavit  juxta 
Officij  sui  debitu  custodiend. 

"  Et  postmodu  |yfatus  Cancellar    recepto  eodem  sigillo  consignavit   vidett  vicesimo  die  Aprit 
extunc  ^x  sequente  quoddam  bre  quod  irrotulat  sub  hac  forma. 

C"  "  Johes  dei  gra  Rex  Castelle  &  Legionis  Dux  Lancastr  vie  Lane  Saltm  Scias  qd  assignavim' 
^  dilcos  &  fideles  nros  Willm  de  Skipwyth  Rogju  de  Fulthorp  &  Willin  de  Nessefeld  JustiS  nros  ad 
omia  ptita  nra  tam  Corone  qm  ?re  assisar  juratar  &  fitificaconu  &  orhioda  plita  in  Com  p'dco  qua- 
liPcuq  enMgencia  &  ad  Comite  Palatinu  spectancia  tenend  &  eisde  Justifi  die  Lune  px  post  festu 
Ascencionis  Diii  ^x  futur  ad  Sessiones  suas  apud  Lancastre  hijs  occbnib3  incipienct  de  avisamento 
Consiiij  nri  duxim'  pfigend.  Et  ideo  tibi  jJcipim'  qd  in  pleno  Com  tuo  &  alijs  lonis  nijcatorijs  ubi 
expedire  videris  publice  pclamari  fa8  qd  omes  &  singti  negocia  vel  ptita  sua  cora  eisdem  Justi8  ^isequi 
volentes  ibidem  inPsint  ad  diem  illu  &  ulPius  venire  fa8  tunc  ibidem  xxiiij  de  cliscrec5rib3  Iegaliorib3 
&  |)biorib3  hoib3  cujuslibet  wapentachij  sive  Hundri  dco  Com  ad  faciend  ultius  quod  ex  pte  nra 
P  p'fatos  Justi8  nr5s  hfiint  in  Mandatis.  Et  heas  ibi  noTa  p'dco?  xxiiij  &  hoc  bre.  T.  meipo  apud 
Lancastr  xx  die  Aprit  anno  Regalitatis  nri  Comitatus  Palatini  primo." 


Countp  |3alatin(r  of  Sanrasitcr. 


373 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


CHAP. 
X. 


2.  The  King  aiid  Duke  for  Robert,  son 

of  Sii-  John  de  Hanyngton,  knt. 

3.  The  King  and  Duke  for  Henry  de 

Ferrarijs. 

4.  Tlie   King   and    Duke   for   Walter 

Pedwai'dyne  and  others. 

5.  The  King  and  Duke  for  William  de 

Brottiieux     Ellalle,      Scotforde, 
Assheton,  and  others. 

6.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Duke  : 

Adaiu  de  Hoghton,    Keeper   of 
Quernemore  Forest. 

7.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Duke. 


8.  Various  Fines  paid  for  Writs. 

9.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Duke. 


10.  Tlie  Kiug  and  Duke  for  John  Boteler 
and  Nicholas  de  Haveryngton. 


11. 


Tlie    Kuig 
Ricliard. 


and     Duke    for 


King 


12.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Prior 


and     Convent 
Leicester. 


of    St.     Mary's, 


Mandate  to    Roger   de   Brokholes,    the  Extract 

.  from  Close 

Duke's    Escheator,    for    delivery    of  RoUA.  o. 

T         T      /•  1      T     1  1   •      /-(       •  continued. 

Lianus  lonnerly  held  in  Lapite. 
Mandate   to    the    Escheator    to   deliver 

Lands  formerly  held  in  Capite. 
Like  Mandate  for  Advowsons  of  Churches, 

&c.  Conyngshead  Priory  and  Whai-ton 

Church. 
The   like   for   delivery  of  a   Moiety  of 

Knights'  Fee  and  Appurtenances  in 

Right  of  Thomas  de  Thvreng. 
WaiTant  to  cut  Timber  for  Repairs  of 

Lancaster  Castle. 

Precept  to  the  Mayor  and  Bailiffs  of 
Lancaster,  and  other  Persons,  to  pro- 
claim prohibition  against  Persons  con- 
gregating Avith  an  armed  power  to 
impede  the  Sessions  at  Lancaster. 

Writ  to  the  Escheator  to  seize  the  Lands 
of  Nicholas  de  Prestwyche. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  for  pa}ing  them 
£26.  8s.  as  Knights  elect  for  the  Com- 
monalty of  the  Duchy,  for  Expences 


to    the 


Kuig's 


Pariia- 


lU     couui 
ment. 

Precept  for  Proclamation  that  all  Foreign 
Mendicant  Friars  within  tlie  Ducliy 
quit  the  Realm,  accortUng  to  the  King's 
Mandate. 

Precept  to  the  Escheator  not  to  interfere 
in  the  Manors  and  Possessions  of  the 
Abbey  of  St.  JNIary  de  Pratis,  during 
the  avoidance  of  the  Abbot's  death. 
Here  ends  the  first  Yeai-  of  the  Royalty  on  the  1st  side  of  the  Roll. 


374 


€l)t  ^I'sitoii)  Of  tf)e 


CHAP. 
X. 


Extract 
from  Close 
Roll  A.  0. 
continued. 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


13 


John,  King  of  Castile,  &c.  for  the 
Abbot  of  Furnes. 


Precept  to  the  Slieriff,  commanding  the 
Executors  of  John  Raton  to  pay  £55. 
to  the  Abbot. 

14.  Fines  paid  to  the  Duke  for  various  Writs,  and  attested  by  the  Custos  Regalitiitis, 

"William  Wetherley,  Vicar  of  Blakeburn  Church. 

15.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Abbot     Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer 
of  Evesham.  concerning  the  Fishery  of  Hoghwyk, 

in  the  River  Ribble,  claimed  by  the 
Abbot,  and  seized  by  the  Deputy  Ste- 
ward of  the  Manor  of  Penwortham. 

Mandate  to  the  SIieriflF  to  Levy  Aid, 
according  to  the  Statute,  to  make  his 
eldest  Son  a  Knight. 

Letters  to  the  Abbots  of  Furneys,  Whal- 
ley,  Cockersand,  and  other  Abbots, 
Priors,  Archdeacons,  and  Proctors,  to 
offer  prayers  and  sacrifices  to  God,  for 
the  success  of  the  Expedition. 

Mandate  to  the  Duke's  Escheator,  to 
seize  the  Lauds,  &c.  of  Otho  de  Hal- 
sale. 

Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer 
to  pay  his  Account  of  Chai'ges  for 
Parclunent,  &c. 

Precept  to  tlie  Sheriff  to  pay  the  Knights 
elected   for   tlie    Commonalty   of   the 
Duchy   £16.    for   their   Expences  in 
coming  to  Parliament  at  Gloucester. 
This  ends  the  2d  Year  of  the  Royalty. 
2  Rich.  II. 

The   King   and  Duke  for  Alan    Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer 
WUkeson  and  Wife.  to  enquii-e  of  a  Messuage  and  Lands 

seized  into  the  Duke's  Hands,  for  the 
Felony  of  John  de  Leyland  at  Kirkeby, 
in  Derbyshire. 
22.  Various  Fines  paid  to  the  Duke  for  Writs. 


16.  The  same  for  the  King  and  Duke. 


17.  The  same  for  the  Dulve  and  other 
Magnates  of  his  Retinue  going 
abroad  in  the  King's  service. 


18.  The  same  for  the  Duke. 


19.  Tlie  same  for  Richard  de  Townelay 
Sheriff. 


20 


The   same    for    John 
Ralph  de  Ypre. 


Boteler   and 


21 


Coiint{)  |)alatme  of  ^.anrasJter. 

PERSONS.  MATTERS. 


375 


23.  Tlie  Kins  and  Duke  for  tlie  Duke. 


24.  The  same  for  the  Abbot  of  Whalley. 


25.  The  same  for  the  King. 


26.  The  same  for  Nicholas  de  Haryng- 

ton  and  Rol)ert  de  Wiswyk. 

27.  The  same  for  the  Duke. 

28.  The  same  for  tlie  Duke. 

29.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  John  de 

Eccleston. 


30.  The  same  for  the  Abbot  of  Evesham 

Monastery. 

31.  The  same,  for  the  same. 


32.  The  same  for  tlie  Duke. 


Mandate  to  the  Justices  to  adjourn 
Sessions. 

Mandate  to  the  Barons  to  inquire  of 
Tithes  seized  l)y  the  Escheator,  as  be- 
longing to  William  Talbot,  an  Outlaw, 
touching  the  Tithes  of  the  Church  of 
All  Saints  of  Whalley,  at  Alnetham. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  proclaim  within 
the  Duchy  the  Ordinance  made  as  to 
the  Goldsmith's  mark. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  pay  the  Knights 
of  the  Commonalty  their  Expences  to 
Parliament  at  Westminster. 

Precept  to  tlie  Sheriff  to  elect  a  Coroner 
in  the  room  of  Thomas  de  Fasakereley. 

Precept  to  elect  Verderors  for  Derbyshire, 
Amounderness,  and  Lonsdale. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  give  Seizin  of  a 
Messuage  and  Lands  taken  by  the 
Duke  for  the  Felony  of  Robert  de 
RaynhuU. 

Mandate  to  the  Escheator  to  deliver 
Temporalities  to  Roger  de  Yatton, 
Abbot  elect. 

Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer, 
to  surcease  demands  upon  the  Abbot, 
and  to  answer  for  the  Issues  according 
to  the  Award  of  the  Great  Council. 

Mandate  to  the  Escheator,  to  seize  the 
Lands,  &c.  of  Sii*  Thomas  Bannastre, 
Kut. 


CHAP. 
X. 


Extract 
from  Close 
Koli  A.  «. 
continued. 


Tlie  end  of  the  S"'  Year  of  the  Royalty. 


33.  3  Rich.  IL     The  King  and  Duke, 
for  the  Duke. 


Precept  to  the  Sheriff  for  election  of  a 
Coroner. 


376 


€l)t  ?^t£(torit)  of  m 


CHAP. 
X. 


Close  Roll 
A.  6.  con- 
tinued. 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


34.  Tlie  same,  for  John  de  Boteler  and 
Thomas  de  Sonthworth. 


Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  pay  them  as 
kniglits  for  the  Commonalty,  £24,  for 
Expences  in  coming  to  Parliament  at 

Westminster. 


Anno  Quarto  Regalitatis  John  Duke  of  Lancaster. 
3  Ric.  II. 

35.  Fines  paid  to  the  Lord  for  "Writs. 

36.  The    King   and  Duke   for  John  de 

Haydock. 


37.  Tlie  same,  for  John  Botiller. 


38.  The  same,  for  the  Duke. 


39.  The  same,  for  Gilbert  de  Gorford- 

syche. 

40.  The  like,  for  the  Tenants  ofWorston 

Township. 


41.  The  same,    for   John  Botiller   and 
Tliomas  de  SoutliAvorth. 


Precept  to  the  Escheator,  to  give  seizin 
of  the  Lands  of  WU1"\  BotUler  in 
Laton  Magna,  Laton  Parva,  Bispham 
Warthebrek,  and  Great  Merton;  and 
Rents  in  Atherton,  Westlegh,  Py- 
myngton,  Bolde,  Lydegate,  Thornton, 
Culcheth,  Egergarth,  Tildeslegh, 
Glassebroke,  Bedford,  Halsall,  Ives, 
and  WyndhuU ;  Great  Sonkey  Manor 
and  Werington  Manor. 

Precept  to  give  seizin  of  Lands  and  Mill 
in  Burt  on  wood,  and  the  Manor  of 
Weryngton,  with  Advowson  of  the 
Church. 

Precept  to  seize  the  Lands  of  William 
Botiller. 

The  like  of  John  Byron. 

The  lilie  of  Richard  Radclif. 

Writ  of  Re-Disseisin  as  to  the  Turbaiy 
in  Scaresbrek. 

Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exche- 
quer, relating  to  the  Tenants  of  Wor- 
ston,  and  Pasturage  of  Common  and 
the  Inclosure  by  William  Nowel. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriffs  to  pay  Knights 
for  the  Commonalty  of  the  Duchy, 
£19.  12s.,  theii-  Expences  in  coming 
to  Parliam'.  at  Northampton. 


Countj)  IJalatint  of  iLanrasUn 

PERSONS.  MATTERS. 


377 


42.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 


43.  The  same,  for  Jolin  Radeclif. 


44.  The  same,  for  Isabella  Bradeshagh. 


Mandate  to  the  Escheator,  to  seize  the 
Lands  and  Tenements  of  Peter  Gerard. 

The  lilve  of  Ellen  de  Bu-ewayth. 

The  like  of  W'\  de  Bradshagh  of  Hagh. 

The  like  of  Rich",  de  Caterall. 

The  like  of  Gilbert  de  Kyghley. 

Tlie  like  of  Isabella  de  Eton. 

Mandate  to  give  Seizin  of  the  Manor  of 
Urdesale,  3  parts  of  Moiety  of  the 
Town  of  Flixton,  Tenements  in  Le 
Hope,  Shoresworth,  Le  Holynhed,  in 
Tokholes,  Salford,  the  Bailiwick  of 
Rochdale,  and  I  of  moiety  of  tlie  Town 
of  Flixton. 

Mandate  to  assign  Dower  of  Lands  seized 
into  the  Duke's  Hands,  by  reason  of 
the  minority  of  Thomas  Bradeshagh. 


CHA1> 
X. 


Close  Roll 
A.  6.  con- 
tinued. 


Writs  of  Diem  Clausit  Extremum. 


45.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke.      Mandate  to  the  Escheator,  to  take  the 

Lands  of  John  de  Skerton. 

And  the  like  Mandate  for  several  others 
upon  deaths. 

Writ  of  Post  Disseisin  to  the  Sheiiif  for 
a  Tenement  in  Rediche. 

Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer 
to  enquire  of  Rent  of  Lands  in  Mel- 
lyug,  held  by  Henry  Chaderton,  as 
seized  for  Debt. 

48.  Fines  paid  for   various  Writs   to  the    Duke,    as   acknowledged  by   William 
Horneby,  Clerk  of  the  Hanaper. 

Precept  to  the  SheriflF  to  take  William 
GrcnliU,  an  Outlaw  m  the  King's 
Court  within  the  Duchy,  according  to 


46.  The   same,   for  Sir-  Roger   Pilking- 

ton,  Knt. 

47.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Abbot 

of  Cokersand. 


49.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King. 


the  King's  Mandate  therem  recited. 


VOL.  I. 


3  c 


378 


C&f  Snsitorj)  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
X. 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


Close  Roll  50.  Tlie  same,  for  same. 

A.  6. 


.  con 
tinned 


Precept  to  the  Mayor  and  Bailiffs  of 
Livei-pool  to  proclaim  the  King's  Man- 
date, prohibiting  Exportation  of  Corn. 


Anno  Sej'to 
51.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  John  de 
Warren. 


52.  The  same,  for  William  de  Atherton 
and  Robert  de  Urcewyk. 


53.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King. 


54.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King 
of  Scotland. 


55.  The  same,  for  the  King  of  England 


56.  The  same,  for  Sir  Roger  de  Pilking- 
ton,  Kn'.  and  Robert  de  Clifton. 


57.  Fines  to  the  King  and  Duke  for  Wr 


Regalitatis. 

Mandate  to  the  Escheator,  to  give  Seizin 
of  Wood  Plumpton  Manor,  as  in  Fee, 
by  Sir  John  Davenport,  Knt.  to  Robert 
de  Eton. 

Precept  to  the  Sheiiff  to  pay  the  Knights 
of  the  Commonalty  of  the  Duchy,  for 
therr  Expences  to  Parliament  at  West- 
minster. 

Precept  to  the  Mayor  and  Bailiffs  of 
Livei-pool,  to  proclaim  the  King's  Man- 
date touching  the  Exportation  of  Com. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff,  to  distrain  Per- 
sons in  Liverpool  possessing  several 
Casks  of  Wine  taken  in  the  Port  of 
Inchgalle  by  some  Persons  in  the 
County  of  Chester,  contraiy  to  the 
Truce  with  Scotland,  and  to  pay  10 
Marks  for  each  Cask. 

Precept  to  the  Sheiiff,  to  publish  the 
King's  Proclamation  \\-itliin  the  Du- 
chy, relative  to  Chai-ters  of  Pai'don  by 
the  King's  Subjects,  (except  certain 
Persons  named,  and  the  Men  of  the 
City  of  Canterbury,  of  the  Towus  of 
Cambridge,  Bridgwater,  St.  Edmund's, 
Beverley,  and  Scarboro). 

Precept  to  pay  the  Knights  elected  for 
the  Duchy  Commonalty  £10.  for  their 
Expences  to  Paiiiament  at  Westmin- 
ster, 
its. 


Cutmtj)  ^Jnlntint  of  aanrasitn'. 


379 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


CHAP. 
X. 


68.  The  King  luid  Duke,  for  the  King 


of  England. 


Precept  to  Livei"pool,  as  to  Exportation  close  Roii 

e  r^  A.  0.  con- 

01  Corn.  tinued. 


Writs  of  Diem  Chiusit  Extremura. 


59.  Tlie  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 


60.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King 

of  England. 

6 1 .  The  same,  for  the  Poor  Fishermen  in 

the  Duchy. 


62.  The  same,  for  Matilda  Waryng. 

63.  The  same,  for  Thomas  de  Knoll. 


64.  The  King  of  England,  for  the  King. 


65.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King. 


Mandate  to  the  Escheator,  to  take  the 
Lands  of  Edward  Lawrence,  and  the 
Land  of  Thomas  Lathum. 

Precept  to  Liverpool  as  before. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff,  to  publish  the 
King's  Prohibition  against  preventing 
the  Fishermen  from  setting  then*  Nets 
in  the  Sea,  and  catching  Fish  for  their 
Livelihood. 

Writ  of  Re-Disseisin  to  the  Sheriff,  of  a 
Messuage  and  Lauds  in  Chippyn. 

Mandate  to  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer, 
to  inquire  of  Lauds  in  Chippendale, 
seized  into  the  Duke's  hands  on  the 
Felony  of  John  de  Knoll,  as  purchased 
after  the  King's  Charter  of  Pardon. 

Writ  addressed  to  the  King  of  CastUe 
and  Duke  of  Lancaster,  to  cause  to  be 
elected,  and  to  come  to  Parliament, 
2  Knights  for  the  Commonalty  of  the 
Duchy,  and  of  every  City  2  Citizens, 
and  of  every  Boro'  two  Burgesses. 
Witness  the  King  at  Westminster, 
7th  January,  6  Ric.  II. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff,  to  make  Proclama- 
tion of  the  Statutes  and  Ordinances 
made  in  the  Parliam'.  of  the  6"'  Year 
of  King  Richard,  as  recited  in  the 
King's  Mandate  addressed  to  the  Duke 
of  Lancaster,  or  his  Lieutenant. 

Witness  the    King   at  Lancaster, 
8'"  Febiy. 


3c2 


380 


CJk  Sjisitorp  of  tht 


CHAP. 
X. 


Close  Roll 
A.  6.  con- 
tinued. 


PERSONS. 


BIATTERS. 


60. 


67. 


The  Kiug  and  Duke,  for  Margery 

Baunastre. 
The  same,    for  the  OwTiers  of  the 

Ship  called  Cai-ralv,  To-ecked  on 

the  Duchy  Coast. 


Writ  of  Post  Disseisin,   as  to  Dower  ef 
Lands  in  Walton  in  le  Dale. 

Precept  to  the  Slieriff  to  make  Proclama- 
tion, that  all  the  Duke's  Officers,  Mi- 
nisters, and  Tenants  of  the  Duchy,  ab- 
stain from  taking  the  Goods  of  the  said 
Ship,  the  Crew  having  escaped  alive. 
Anno  Septimo  ReyaUtatls. 


Writ  of  Diem  Clausit  Extremum,  upon 

the  death  of  John  de  Kii'kby,  Cliivaler. 
The  like,  upon  death  of  David  de  Irland. 
Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  elect  a  Verdurer 

for  Amoundemess,   instead  of  Adam 

Bratlkiik. 
The  like  for  Derbyshire,  vice  Richard  de 

Aynscough. 
D°.  to  elect  a  Coroner  for  the  County, 

vice  Adam  de  Skylicorne. 
D°.  to  give  Seizin  of  Lauds  in  Billynge, 

seized  by  King  Edward  for  the  Felony 

of  WiUiam  de  FaljTigge. 

74.  Fines  to  the  King  and  Duke  for  Writs. 

75.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  Richard  de     Writ  of  Re-Disseizin  concerning  Lands 

Bareweford  and  Agnes,  liis  Wife. 

76.  Fines  to  the  Kins:  and  Duke  for  Writs. 


68.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 

69.  The  same,  for  same. 

70.  The  same,  for  same. 


71.  The  like. 

72.  The  lUve. 

73.  The  same,  for  the  Abbot  of  Cocker- 

sand. 


at  Chorlegh. 


77.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 


78.  The  King  and  Duke, 

kington  and  Wii'e. 

79.  The  same,  for  same. 


for  John  Pil- 


80.  Fines  paid  to  the  Duke  for  Writs. 


Writ  of  Diem   Clausit,  &'.  dii-ected  to 

Robert  de  Ursewyk,   on   the  death  of 

Hugh  de  Bradshagh. 
Writ  de  Dote  Assignando  directed  to  the 

Esclieator,  for  Margaret  de  Bradshagh. 
Writ  of  Diem  Clausit  Extremmn,  upon 

the  death  of  Hugh  de  Dacre. 
D°.  onthedeathof  Thomas deRigmay den. 
D°.  of  Thomas  de  Lathiun. 
D°.  of  Richard  de  Balderstou. 


County  |3alatme  of  iLanrastrr, 


381 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


Anno  Octavo  Reyalilatis. 
81.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke- 


CHAP. 
X. 


Close  Kull 
A.  5.  con- 
tinued. 


82.  The  same,  for  Adam  de  Prestall,  of 

Salfordshke. 

83.  The  same,  for  Johanna  Rigmayden. 

84.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 


85.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke  for 

86.  Tlie  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 


87.  The  same,  for  John  Daunport. 


88.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke  for 

89.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King 


of  England. 


90.  Tlie  same,  for  the  Abhot  of  Cocker- 
sand. 


91.  The    King  and   Duke,   for   Isabella 

Lathum. 

92.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke  for 


Precept  to  the  Sheriff  for  Proclamation, 
that  all  tlie  Men  of  the  Duke's  retinue 
meet  liim  at  Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  to 
mai'ch  into  Scotland. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  not  to  put  the  said 
Adam  on  Juries,  &'.,  he  being  deaf. 

Writ  de  Dote  Assignanda,  addressed  to 
the  Escheator. 

Writ  of  Diem  Clausit  Extremom,  on  the 
death  of  Matthew  de  Twi.siIton. 

of  John  Kekwyk,  of  Derby. 

of  William  Barton. 

Writs. 

Mandamus  to  the  Escheator,  upon  the 
death  of  Thomas  de  Rigmayden. 

of  Thomas  Banaster. 

of  Edward  Banastre. 

Mandate  to  WUli;un  de  Horneby,  Re- 
ceiver of  the  County  of  Lancaster,  to 
pay  the  secondary  Justice  in  the  Du- 
chy 20  Marks,  for  liis  Fee  of  20s.  for 
his  Clerk  for  two  last  Sessions. 
Writs. 

Precept  to  the  Slieriffto  get  ready  tlie 
Men  at  Arms  and  Bomnen  witliin  the 
Duchy,  to  mai-ch  ags*  the  Scotch, 
according  to  the  King's  Mandate. 

Precept  to  give  Seizin  of  Lands  in  Bil- 
lynge,  as  seized  into  King  Edward's 
Hands  for  the  Felony  of  William  de 
Falyng. 

Writ  de   Dote  Assignanda,  out  of  La- 
thum Manor. 
Writs. 


382 


Cfie  l^i^torp  of  tht 


CHAP. 
X. 


Close  Roll 
A. con- 
tinued. 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


93.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  Roger  ile 
Fazaclvrelegh  and  Wife. 


94.  The  same,  for  Johanna  Kekewyk. 

95.  The  same,  for  the  Duke. 


Writ  de  Procedendo  in  an  Assize  of 
Novel  Disseizin  before  the  Justices,  as 
to  Tenements  in  Knowselegli,  Child- 
wall,  Roby,  and  Anlasargh. 

Writ  de  Dote  Assignanda. 

Mandamus  to  the  Escheator,  upon  the 
death  of  Tliomas  de  Latlium. 


Hie  incipit  Annus 
96.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King 
and  Duke. 


97.  The  same,  for  the  Duke. 


98.  Fines  paid  to  the  Lord  for  Writs. 

99.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  John  de 

Pilkyngton,  Parson  of  the  Church 
of  Bmy. 


100.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  King. 


Nonns  RegaUtatis. 

Writ  of  Diem  Clausit,  &'.  on  the  death 
of  Hemy  de  Dyneley. 

Geoflrey  Workesley. 

Adam  de  Hoghton. 

Precept  to  elect  a  Coroner  for  the  County 
of  Lancaster,  vice  John  Skilicorn,  de- 
ceased. 

Writ  of  Re-Disseizin  as  to  the  Manors 
of  Le  Lee,  Grymsargh,  Hoghton, 
Quylton,  Ravenemeles,  and  Wliytyng- 
ham,  and  Messuages  and  Lands  in 
Lee,  Goosnargh,  Assheton,  GrJ^ne- 
sargh,  Quytyngham,  Freldlton,  Cate- 
rall,  Hoghton,  QuUton,  Withenhall, 
Hephay,  Lynesey,  Plesyngton, 
Wrightyngton,  Ravenmeles,  Gold- 
bum,  Preston,  Sourby,  Wliitlull  in 
the  Wodes,  Walshwhittill,  Eccleston, 
Chernock  Richard,  and  Ribchester ; 
and  Moieties  of  Chernok  Richai'd 
Manor  and  Wliittill  in  the  Wodes  ; 
two  parts  of  Asheton  and  Gosenargh 
Manors,  and  the  4'"  part  of  CateraU 
and  Wrightynton  Manors. 

Mandate  to  the  Justices  to  adjourn  Ses- 
sions. 


Coimti)  |3alatinf  of  lanrasitfr* 

PERSONS. 


383 


MATTERS. 


101.  The  same,  for  the  Duke. 


102.  Fmes  paid  to  the  Lord  for  Writs. 

103.  Tlie  King  and  Duke,  for  Isabella 

Latlium. 


104.  Fines  paid  to  the  Lord  for  Writs. 

105.  John  de  Radclif  to  the  Duke. 


106.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  Margaret 
de  Ines. 


107.  The  same,  for  Jas.  Botiller,  Earl  of 
Ormond. 


108.  The  same,  for  Roger  Fazackerledi. 


Mandate  to  the  Escheator  to  seize  into  the 
Hands  of  the  King  and  Duke,  the 
Lands  of  Thomas  Banastre  in  Ethels- 
wyk,  Frccidton,  Claughtou  in  Amound'. 
Billesburgh,  Halghton,  Syngleton 
Parva,  Thornton  le  Holmes,  Sowerby, 
Hamylton,  Stalmyn,  Crofton,  Far- 
ryugton,  Tliorpe,  and  Brethirton. 

hike  Mandate  for  the  Lands  of  Edniond 
Banastre  in  Dilworth,  Broghton,  Pres- 
ton in  Amounderness,  Wodeplumpton, 
with  the  More  Hall  and  Gosenargh. 

Precept  to  the  Slieriff  to  give  Seizin  of 
Tenements  in  Lathum  Manor,  viz'. 
Horskarre,  Demedowe  near  Rughford, 
Robynfeld  de  Hojskarre,  Calverliay, 
Watton,  Ryding,  and  8  Marks  Rent 
of  Freehold'  in  Newburgli. 

Recognizance  for  Rent  of  Lands  in  Old- 
am,  Cliatherton,  and  Wytton,  near 
Plesjaigton. 

Writ  of  Assignment  of  Dower  to  Marga- 
ret Bradeshagli,  of  a  Water  Mill  in 
Westlegli,  in  tlie  Duke's  Hands  by 
Minority  of  the  Heir. 

Precept  to  the  Escheator  for  Seizin  of 
Rent  of  the  Manor  of  Wethcrton,  not- 
withstanding no  Process  as  to  proof  of 
Age,  nor  his  being  called  on  the  Inqui- 
sition taken. 

Mandate  to  the  Justices  of  the  Bench,  to 
proceed  on  Novel  Disseizin  as  to  Te- 
nements of  Sir  Tliomas  Lathum,  Kn'. 
in  Knowslegh,   Childwall,    Roby,  and 


CHAP. 
X. 


Close  Roll 
A.  G.  con- 
tinued. 


384 


ClK  li^torj)  of  tfte 


CHAP. 
X. 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


Extract      108.  Continued. 

from  Close 
Roll  A.  6. 
continued. 


Anhlesaigh,  and  on  no  Acco'  to  give 
Judmi'  witlio'  the  Duke's  advice. 


Anno  Decimo  Regalitatis. 


109.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke. 

110.  The  King  and  Duke  for  Margaiet 

de  Radclif. 


111.  The  same  for  Robert  de  Barton. 

112.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke. 
11.3.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Duke. 


Precept  to  the  Receiver  of  the  Duchy  to 
pay  a  yearly  Rent  for  Lands  in  Oklom, 
Chatherton,  and  Wittou,  near  Ples- 
iugton. 

Writ  of  Re-disseizin  for  Messuages  and 
Lands  in  Lathum. 

Precept  to  the  SheriflF  to  Levy  £20.  of 
the  Lands  of  John  de  Radclif  in 
Oldom,  Chatherton,  and  Wytton,  for 
Arrears. 

Witnessed  by  Henry,  Earl  of  Derby, 
Custos  of  the  Duchy. 


Anno  Undecimo  Regalitatis. 


115.  The  King  and  Duke  for  William 


Ward. 


116.  The  King  and  Duke  for  the  Duke. 


114.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke  for  Writs. 

Writ  to  Walter  de  Urswyk,  Keeper  of 
Lancaster  Forest,  to  accept  Bail  for  the 
said  William,  detained   in  Lancaster 
Castle,  for  a  Trespass  on  the  Forest. 
Writ  of  Diem  Clausit  Extremimi  upon 
the  death  of  Tno.  de  Wareyn, 
Thomas  Strangways, 
Thomas  Sotheworth, 
Richard  Torbock, 
Thomas  Holand, 
William  Tinistall, 
Petronilla  Banastre, 
Thomas  Molyneux, 
WUliam  Aghtou. 


Countj)  ^aalatine  of  aaiuasiter. 


386 


PERSONS. 


MATTERS. 


CHAP. 
X. 


117.  The  same,  for  same. 


1 18.  The  same,  for  same. 


Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  elect  a  Coroner,  Extract 

_-,  ,  ,   _  from  Close 

Vice  ±ichvarcl  Irere. 


119. 
120. 


Do.  ^dce  Hugli  de  Ines,  they  being  both 
incompetent  to  theii-  Offices. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  elect  a  Verduror 
for  Quernmore  and  Wyresdale,  vice 
John  Croft,  made  Steward  of  Lonsdale. 

The  like,  vice  Robt.  Caiincefeld,  he  being 
in  Spain  Avith  the  Duke. 
Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Dulie  for  Writs. 


Roll  A.  G. 
continued. 


Ralph  de  Radclif,  Sheriff  of  Lan- 
caster, for  the  King  and  Duke. 

121.  The  same,  for  same. 

122.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  John  de 

Ines. 


Recognizance  of  Debt  for  the  Sheriff  to 
pay  £80.  for  his  Office  for  one  Year. 

Like  Recognizance  for  a  faithful  Account 
of  Ids  Profits. 

Precept  to  the  Escheator  to  supersede 
the  demand  of  £34.  14s.  4d.  of  Lands, 
&c.  in  Wytliyngton  and  Harewode, 
and  other  Monies,  till  the  next  Ses- 
sions. 


Anno  Duodecimo  Regalitatis. 
123.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke  for  Writs. 


124.  The  King  and  Duke,  for  the  Duke. 

125.  The  same,  for  same. 

126.  The  same,  for  MUicent  de  Aghton. 


Mandate  to  the  Justices  to  adjourn  Ses- 
sions. 

Writs  of  Diem  Clausit  Extremum  upon 
the  death  of  Jno.  de  Haydok, 

Alice  de  Legh, 

.John  de  Nevill. 

Writ  to  the  Escheator  for  Assignment  of 
Dower. 
127.  Fines  paid  to  the  King  and  Duke  for  Writs. 


128.  The  King  and  Duke  for  Ralph  de 
Ne\T]l. 


Precept  to  the  Escheator  for  Livery  of 
seizin  of  the  Advowson  of  Prescote 
Church,  and  for  Payment  of  Relief 
and  for  Respite  of  Homage,  till  the 
Duke's  return  to  England. 


VOL.  r. 


3  D 


386 


ClK  i^lgtOll)  Ot  U)t 


CHAP. 
X. 


DUCHY    OF    LANCASTER. 


CONTINUATION  OF  ABSTRACT  OF  THE  CLOSE  ROLL  A.  6.  1st  to  12th  YEAR  OF 
THE  ROYALTY  OF  JOHN  OF  GAUNT,  DUKE  OF  LANCASTER; 

THE  INTERIOR  PART  OF  THE  ROLL  HAVING  BEEN  ALREADY  ABSTRACTED,  THE 
FOLLOWING  ARE  FROM  THE   SAME  ROLL  IN  TERGO. 


First  Year. 

Grantors  and  others. 


Grantees  and  others. 


Matters  and  Premises. 


A.  6.  in 

Tergo. 


No.  1.    Ecbnund,     son    of 
dors.       Alau  de  Folifayt. 


No.  2.    John  de  Asslieton- 
dors.       under-Liine. 


No.  3.   Thomas  Lathum. 
dors. 


Edmund  Lorence,  son  of 
John  La^vi'ence,  of  Assh- 
don. 


John  de  Kirkeby. 


Robert  de  Breton,  Vicar  of 
the  Church  of  Huyton, 
and  Tliomas  de  Ryding, 
Chaplain. 


Annus  Secundus.     In  Teryo. 


No.  4. 
xlors. 


Robert    de 
shington 
others. 


Was- 
and 


For  William  de  Horneby, 
Parson  of  the  Chuixh  of 
St.  Michael-upon-Wyre. 


Enrolment  of  the  Deed  of 
Release  and  Quit  Claun 
of  all  Right  to  the  Manor 
of  Folifayt,  near  Tadcas- 
ter,  50  Ed.  III. 

The  like  of  Lands  wliich 
Elizabeth  FoUfayt,  widow, 
held  in  dower,  51  Ed.IIL 
Other  Deeds  relative  to 
the  Manor. 

Recognizance  of  the  Re- 
ceipt of  £40.  in  part  pay- 
ment of  a  Debt  of  140 
Marks,  1  Ric.  II.  Other 
Deeds  relating  thereto. 

Em-ohneut  of  Deed  by  Re- 
lease and  Quit  Claim  at 
Crossechalle,  in  Lathum, 
and  all  other  Lands  grant- 
ed in  Lancashire,  49  Ed. 
III. 

Recognizance  of  Debt  of 

£8. 

A"  -2^"  Regalitatis. 


County  |)alatinr  of  Sancasiten  387 

Grantors  and  others.  Grantees  and  others.  Matters  and  Premises. 


No.  5. 

Thomas  de  Lam- 

For  Echnund  Lorence. 

Recognizance     of      Debt, 

dors. 

plogh  and  others. 

£40. 

No.  6. 

Adam  of  Lancas- 

For Thomas  Min-eson,  of 

Recognizance     of      Debt, 

dors. 

ter. 

Lancaster. 

£10. 

No.  7. 

William  deHeton. 

Ralph  de  Ipre  and   Peter 

Enrolment    of    Grant    of 

dors. 

de  Bobrun. 

Lands  in  Heton,  Broune, 
Molebek,  Urwike,  and 
Lancaster.    51  Edw.  III. 

No.  8. 

Richard  de  Massy, 

For  John  de  la  Pole,  Jus- 

Recognizance of  Debt   of 

dors. 

Kut. 

tice  of  Chester. 

£5. — Witness,  Henry, 
Earl  of  Derby,  Custos  of 
the  Royalty. 

And  various  other  Recognizances  of  Debts. 

CHAP. 
X. 


A.  6.  in 

Teigo, 
continued. 


No.  9. 
dors. 


Annus  Tertius.     In  Tergo. 
John     de      Pies-    Hugh  de  Dacre,  Knt.  Lord 
of  Gillesland. 


No.  10. 
dors. 

No.  11. 
dors. 


yngton. 


Enrolment  of  Grant  of  the 
Manors  of  Halton  in 
Lonesdale,  and  Eccleston 
in  Leylandshire,  in  Coin 
Lane,  with  all  their  Mem- 
bers and  Appurtenances. 
2  Rich.  II. 
Release  and  Quit  Claim  by  Feoffees. 


Annus  Quartus.     In  Tergo. 
Various  Recognizances  of  Debt. 

Annus  Quintus.     In  Tergo. 


John  Botiller,  Knt. 


Hemy  de  Bispham  and 
Richard  de  Carleton, 
Chaplains. 


3  D  2 


Enrolment  of  the  Grant  of 
the  Manor  of  Great  La- 
ton,  Little  Laton,  Bisp- 
ham, and  Wardebrek, 
Lands  in  Great  Merton, 
and  the  wliole  Lordsliip 
of  Merton  Town. 

4  Rich.  II. 


388 


CHAP. 
X. 


A.  6.  in 

Tergo, 

continued. 


Grantors  and  others. 


ClK  S)isittiri)  of  t\)t 

Grantees  and  others. 


Matters  and  Premises. 


No.  12. 
dors. 


No.  13. 

dors. 
No.  14. 

dors. 


No.  15. 
dors. 

No.  16. 
dors. 


No.  17, 
dors. 


Henry  de  Bisp- 
ham  aud  Rich- 
ard de  Carleton 

Annus  SeMus 


John   Botiller,    Knt. 
Alice  his  wife. 


and 


In  Tergo. 


Recognizances  of  Debts. 


Robert  de    Was- 
shyngton, 


Roger    de 
creley. 


Fasa- 


For  William  de  Hornby, 
Parson  of  St.  Michael- 
upon-Wyre,  and  William 
le  Ducton. 


Edward  de  Lathnm,  Henry 
de  Scai'esbreck  and  others. 


For  the  King  and  Duke. 


Adam  de   Hogh- 

ton,  Chiv"^, 
Nicholas  de  Har- 

yngton,  Chiv% 
And  Richard,  son 
of     Adam     de 
Hoghton, 

Annus  Oct  aims.     In  Tergo. 

For  WUIiam  de  Horneby, 
Parson  of  St.  Michael- 
upon-Wire. 


Richard  de  Hogh- 
ton. 


No.  18.   The     King 
dors.         Dnke. 


and 


For  Jolm  Nowell. 


Enrolment  of  Grant  of  the 
above  Manors,  Lands,  and 
Lordsliip,  in  Fee  Tail 
special.  4  Ric.  H. 


Em-olment  of  Grant  of 
Lands,  &c.  in  Carleton  in 
Amounderness,  for  a  Rose 
Rent  per  Ann.  8  Years, 
and  increased  Rent  £20 
per  Ann.    5  Ric.  II. 

Memorandum  of  Agree- 
ment as  to  Dower  of  Tene- 
ments in  Wrightiuton. 

Recognizance  of  Debt  of 
200  Marks,  upon  a  sei- 
zure into  the  Duke's 
hands,  on  the  death  of 
James  Botiller,  Earl  of 
Ormond. 


Em-olment  of  Grant  of  the 
Wardship  of  Lands  of 
Henry  de  Kighley,  Knt. 
m  Lancashire  and  York- 
shii'e,  and  the  Marriage  of 
his  Son.     7  Rich.  II. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to 
supersede  taking  the  Body 
of  John  Nowell,  to  answer 
before  the  Justices  of  the 
Duchy  for  the  death  of 
John  de  Holden,  upon 
Appeal  of  Murder. 


County  palatine  of  Sanrasiter.  389 

Grantors  and  others.  Grantees  and  others.  Matters  and  Premises. 


CHAP. 
X. 


The  like.  The     King    and    William  de  Rigniaydcn. 
dors.        Duke, 


No.  19.    The     King     and 
dors.        Duke, 


No.  20.    The     King     and 
dors.        Duke, 


No. 21.    The     King     and 
dors.        Duke, 


For  Hugh,  son  of  John  de 
Pai't3Tigton,  of  Irurlham. 


For    Adain    de    Hoghton 
and  others. 


For  Thomas  Smith  Nayller, 
of  Cholle. 


Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to  a.  o.  in 
supersede    the    Outlawry  continued 
for     Trespasses     in    the 
Duchy  Chases. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff  to 
supersede  an  Outlawry, 
King  Richard  II.  having 
granted  him  pardon. 

Similar  Writs  for  William 
Crist  and  John  de  Ley- 
lond,  Souter,  of  Wigan. 

Precept  to  the  Escheator 
to  supersede  Levy  of 
Rent  of  100  Marks  out  of 
Wetheton  Manor. 

Precept  to  the  Sheriff,  to 
supersede  Outlawry,  De- 
fendant havdng  found  Bail 
to  appear  at  Sessions. 


Annus  Nonns.     In  Tergo. 
Various  Recognizances  of  Debts  and  Writs  de  Supersedendo,  addressed  to 
the  Sheriff. 


No.  22. 
dors. 


No.  23. 
dors. 


Annus   Decimus.      In    Tc 


John  de  Walton. 


ergo. 

Recognizances  of  Debts,  &c. 
Robert    de     Saureby    and 

John      de      Birkeheved, 

Chaplains. 


Robert  de  Saureby 
and     John     de 
Birkeheved, 
)         Chaplains. 


John  de  Walton  and  Rosa 
his  Wife. 


Enrolment  of  Grant  of 
Iiands,  &c.  in  Lancaster, 
Bare,  and  Kertraell. 

9  Ric.  XL 


Grant  of  the  above  Lands, 
&c.  in  Fee  Tail,  special. 


390 


CHAP. 
X. 


A.  0.  in 

Tergo, 

continued. 


Grantors  and  others. 


m)t  I]i^txin>  of  tf)f 

Grantees  and  others. 


Matters  and  Premises. 


No.  24.    Agues  Banasrte, 
dors. 


For  William  de  Horneby, 
Parson  of  the  Cliurcb  of 
St.  Micliael-upon-Wp-e. 


Recognizance  of  Debt  of 
500  Marks  for  lufeoflBment 
of  Lands,  seized  into  tbe 
Duke's  bauds  by  tbe 
minority  of  Constance 
Bauastre. 


Annus  Undecimus.     In  Tergo. 
Recoouizances  of  Debts  and  Writs  de  Supersedendo  as  to  Debts. 


No.  25. 
dors. 


William  de  Dut- 
tou, 


For  William  Molon,  Ro- 
bert DyrjTig,  John  de 
Cornay,  and  others,  Chap- 
lains. 


Annus  Duodechnus.     In  Tergo. 


No.  26. 
dors. 


Gilbert  de  Halsall 
and  others. 


No.  27.  'Robert  de    Stan- 
dors,       dyssh  and  others, 


For  the  King  and  Duke. 


For  the  King  and  Duke. 


Enrolment  of  Grant  of 
Lands,  &c.  of  William  de 
Dutton  in  Ribchesetr, 
Bispham,  and  Northe- 
brok,  and  all  his  Bur- 
gages and  Lands  and 
Tenements  in  Preston, 
in  Amounderness. 

11  Rich.  IL 

Recognizance  of  Debt  of 
£700  for  payment  to  Wil- 
liam de  Hornby,  Re- 
ceiver of  £237.  14s.  Oid. 
for  his  Account  of  the 
Time  he  was  Sheriff. 
Witness,  Henry,  Earl  of 
Derby,  Custos  of  the 
Duchy,     12  Rich.  II. 

Recognizance  of  Debt  of 
£200  for  the  said  Robert, 
to  render  Account  of  his 
Office  of  Sheriff. 


"  From  tbe  7th  year  of  King  Richai-d  II.  there  are  no  Books  nor  Rolls  extant 
to  the  1st  of  Hemy  IV."— £  Libro  Great  Ayloffe,  1692;  page  159,  in  John  of 
Gaunfs  Chancery  of  the  Duchy. 


Cotmtp  ^Balntuif  of  aanraettiv  391 

In  the  "  Originalia  Memoranda,"  on  the  Lord  Treasm-er's  side  of  the  Exchequer,    chap. 

we  find  the  foUoAving  Records  relating  to  the  county  and  duchy  of  Lancaster,  from    

the  period  when  the  ducal  house  first  rose  into  (hstiuction,  to  the  time  when  the  third  Luncas- 

r     TT  TAT  1     ^'"'*'" 

duke  of  Lancaster  ascended  the  throne,  with  the  letters  patent  of  Henry  IV.  and  charter. 

Henry  V. 

LANCASTER.— The  duke  of  Lancaster's   charter,    enrolled   in  Memoranda 

9  Edw.  I.;  and  Records  of  St.  Hilary  19  Edw.  H. 

Chart,  of  Henry,  E.  of  Lane,  enrolled,  Recs.  St.  Hil.  6  Edw.  IH.— Roll. 

D.  of  Lane's  liberty  of  replevying  to  the  INIorrow  of  Easter  Term,  in  Co.  York— 
Recs.  St.  Mich.  26  Edw.  IH.  Roll. 

Unjust  claun  of  Henry,  late  E.  of  Lane,  duke  of  Lane,  in  Co.  Derby— Recs. 
St.  Hil.  26  Edw.  IH.  Roll. 

Charter  of  Duke  of  Lane,  respecting  divers  liberties  gi-anted  to  Mm  in  the  city  of 
London— Recs.  Hil.  27  Edw.  IH.  Roll. 

Chai-ter  of  the  D.  of  Lane,  for  receiving  £40.  under  the  Honor  of  the  Earl  of 
Derby  and  Lincoln,  in  equal  parts,  in  Co.  Leicester.     Mich.  Records  28  Edw.  IH. 

Roll. 

Duke  of  Lancaster's  claim,  in  Co.  Leicester,  Easter  Recs.  28Edw.in.  RoU  1. 

Charter  of  D.  of  Lane,  in  Co.  Leicester,  enrolled  Mich.  Recs.  29  Edw.  HL  Roll. 

Cognizance  of  Rich.  Michel,  sheriff  of  Not.  and  Derby,  for  the  D.  of  Lane,  in 
Co.  Derby,  HU.  Recs.  32  Edw.  IH.  Roll. 

D.  of  Lane's  claun  in  Co.  Line,  for  workmg  fines.     Mich.  Recs.  33  Edw.  III.  Roll. 

Charter  of  John,  D.  of  Lane.     Mich.  Recs.  38  Edw.  III.  RoU  24. 

Charter  of  John  Duke  of  Lancaster.     Mich.  Recs.  38  Edw.  HI.  21. 

Record  sent  to  the  King's  chancellor  in  the  county  of  Lancaster.  Mich.  Recs. 
38  Edw.  III.  Roll. 

Charter  of  J.  D.  of  L.  for  liberties  gTanted  to  liim.     Hil.  Recs.  39  Edw.  III. 

Roll  16. 

D.  of  Lane's  claim  of  divers  sums.     Mich.  Recs.  42  Edw.  III.  Roll  20. 

D.  of  Lane's  Charter,  57  Edw.  III.  Roll. 

Chai-ters  of  John,  Kg.  of  Cast,  and  Leon,  D.  of  Lane,  enrolled  Mich.  Recs. 
1  Ric.  II.  Roll  2. 

Charter  of  John,  D.  of  Aquitaine  and  Lane,  of  liberties  gi-anted  to  Mm  by  the 
king.     Mich.  Recs.  21  Ric.  II.  Roll  13. 

The  Duke  of  Lancaster's  claim  of  divers  smns  charged  upon  the  sheriffs  of  the 
Counties  of  Somerset,  Dorset,  Lincoln,  and  York.    Mich.  Recs.  21  Ric.  II.  Roll  20. 

John  Duke  of  Lancaster's  claim  of  divers  sums  charged  upon  the  sheriff  of  the 
County  of  Line.     Mich.  Recs.  22  Ric.  II.  Roll  34. 


392  Cfte  W^tov^  of  tin 

CHAP.  The  claim  of  John  D.  of  L.  for  divers  sums.     Mich.  Recs.  21  Ric.  II   Roll  21. 

^"  The  claim  of  John  D.  of  Lane,  for  clivers  sums  upon  the  sheriff  of  Lincoln's 

accountant.     Mich.  23  Rich.  II.  Roll  34. 

The  King's  Letters  Patent  touching  the  Duchy  of  Lane,  enrolled  Mich.  Recs. 

1  Hen.  IV.  Roll  14. 

****** 

Two  Letters  Patent,  made  to  John  Leventhorp,  under  the  Seal  of  the  Duchy  of 

Lancaster,  enrolled.    Mich.  Recs.  1  Henr.  IV.  Roll  15. 

****** 

Divers  sums  claimed  by  our  Lord  the  King's  Attorney  Gen.  of  his  Ducliy  of 
Lane,  to  be  placed  to  the  same  King  as  for  his  Duchy  of  Lane,  in  Co.  Derby  and 

elsewhere.     Trinity  Records,  5  Henr.  IV.  Roll  16. 

****** 

The  King's  Letters  under  his  privy  seal  of  the  Duchy  of  Lane,  enrolled  Mich. 

Recs.  6  Hen.  V.  Roll  19. 

The  Of  the  illiistrious  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  it  has  been  observed,  that 

illustrious   he  was  the  son  of  a  king,  the  father  of  a  king,  and  the  uncle  of  a  king,  and  could  have 

said  as  much  as  Charles  of  Valois,  had  he  been  the  brother  of  a  king.     His  children 

were  as  follows: — 

By  Blanch,  his  first  Wife — 
His  chii-  Henry  of  Lancaster,  surnamed  Bolingbroke,  afterwards  Henry  IV.  of  England. 

The  first  king  of  the  Lancasterian  line. 

Philippa  of  Lancaster,  queen  of  Portugal. 
Elizabeth  of  Lancaster,  duchess  of  Exeter. 

By  Constance,  his  second  Wife — 
Katherine  of  Lancaster,  queen  of  Castile  and  Leon. 

By  Catharine  Svvinford,  afterwards  third  Wife — 
»    John  Beaufort,  earl  of  Somerset. 

Henry  Beaufort,  cardinal  of  St.  Eusebius,  and  bishop  of  Winchester. 
Thomas  Beaufort,  duke  of  Exeter  and  earl  of  Dorset. 
Joan  Beaufort,  countess  of  Westmoreland. 

The  reign  of  Henry  IV.  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  was  short  and  agitated.  The 
insurrection  of  the  earls  of  Rutland,  Kent,  and  Huntingdon,  was  followed  by  an 
Insurrection  in  Wales;  and  a  royal  proclamation,  addressed  to  the  "  Chancellor  of 
the  King's  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster,"  announced  that  Owyn  Glendourdy,  and 
other  rebels,  had  lately  risen  against  the  king  in  great  numbers,  to  resist  whom  tlie 
chancellor  was  required  to  proclaim  within  his  jurisdiction,  that  all  knights  and 
esquires  able  to  bear  arms  in  person,  and  archers  who  received  annual  fees  from  the 


Uren 


Countj;  ^3alattnr  of  2Lanrastfr«  393 

king,  should  repair  to  Worcester  by  the  1st  of  October,  to  join  the  other  levies  raised  chap. 
to  put  down  this  insurrection.*  A  long  and  sanguinary  civU  war  ensued,  in  which  ^" 
Henry  had  In-  turns  tofiglit  against  his  English  subjects,  under  the  earl  of  Northum- 
berland, who  from  being  his  friend  had  become  his  deadly  enemy;  the  Welsh  under 
theii-  native  princes,  and  the  Scotch  under  Richard  III.  of  tliat  kingdom;  but  by  liis 
corn-age,  sldll,  and  prudence,  lie  overcame  liis  enemies,  and  established  that  throne 
by  the  power  of  the  sword,  which  appeared  at  first  to  have  been  erected  upon  the 
affections  of  his  people.  The  writ  to  raise  troops  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  was 
followed  by  another,  adckessed  to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy,  commandiu"-  him  to 
proclaim  that  William  Adherton  and  Edmund  de  Dacre  were  appointed  to  collect 
the  reasonable  aid  of  twenty  shillings  for  the  marriage  portion  of  Blanche  of  Lan- 
caster, the  king's  eldest  daughter,  to  die  duke  of  Bavaria.f 

The  wounds  inflicted  upon  the  pride  of  France  by  the  conquests  made  in  that  Threat  of 
country  by  the  Black  Prince,  and  the  earl  of  Derby,  son  of  Henry  earl  of  Lancas-  hosunty. 
ter,  formed  a  never-ending  source  of  hostility  between  the  French  and  English 
nations  ;  and  the  duke  of  Orleans  did  not  faU  to  avail  liimself  of  the  difiiculties  by 
which  Henry  IV.  was  surrounded.  His  attacks  were  directed  against  the  English 
castles  and  fortresses,  both  in  the  south  and  north  of  France,  at  Bourdeaux  and  at 
Calais.  To  prevent  these  possessions  from  falUng  into  the  hands  of  the  French,  tlie 
king  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy,  and  of  the  county  pala- 
tine of  Lancaster,  as  well  as  to  the  sheriffs  of  other  counties,  commanding  him  to 
proclaim  in  all  proper  places  within  his  jurisdiction,  that  all  knights,  esquii-es, 
valets,  and  other  persons  competent  for  defence,  having  any  fees  or  annuities,  lands, 
tenements,  gifts  or  grants,  or  other  donations,  held  by  gift  of  the  Idng  or  liis 
progenitors,  should  personally  appear  in  the  king's  presence  at  London,  ^nthin 
fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  the  proclamation.!  These  demonstrations  were  of 
themselves  sufficient  to  preserve  the  English  possessions  without  stiiking  a  blow; 
and  the  contest  between  the  duke  of  Burgundy  and  the  duke  of  Orleans,  in  which 
the  king  of  England,  in  a  proclamation  to  the  chancellor  of  the  county  palatine  of 
Lancaster,  inhibited  the  people  of  England  from  taking  any  part,  so  much  engaged 
the  French  armies,  that  they  would  not  prosecute  their  hostility  against  the  English 
cities  of  France.§ 

That  the  commerce  of  this  county,  in  its  infant  state,  was  at  this  period  greatly  Hostile 
injured  and  impeded  by  the  depredations  of  the  hostile  powers  by  wliich  England  tionfon 
was  assailed,  may  be  infen-ed  from  a  petition  to  the  commons  house  of  parliament,  I'^f  L^iTca- 
from  tlie  inliab-itauts   of  Lancashire,   Cheshire,    and    Cumberland,   in    which   they  *''''^^'^'^- 

*  Claus.  2  Henry  IV.  p.  2.  m.  1.  d.  t  Fin.  3  Henry  IV.  m.  16. 

t  Clans.  8  Henry  IV.  m.  17.  d.  §  Claus.  13  Henry  IV.  m.  22.  d. 

VOL.  I.  3  E 


for  tbe 

papacy 


394  ClK  Sn'stxirp  of  tin 

CHAP,  alleo-e,  that  several  robberies  and  depredations  have  been  committed  on  their  coast 
'^"  by  their  enemies  of  France  and  Scothuid,  and  by  tlie  rebels  of  Wales,  who  have 
seized  and  taken  their  vessels,  o^^ing,  as  they  allege,  to  no  achuiral  or  keeper  of  the 
seas  beino-  upon  this  station,  to  the  gi-eat  destruction,  ruin,  and  oppression,  of  the 
said  counties  J  for  remedy  whereof,  tliey  pray  that  protection  may  be  afforded  to  them. 
To  which  petition  the  king  replied,  that  an  admiral  should  be  appointed  for  the  safe- 
sruard  of  the  seas  of  tlie  north-western  coast.* 

Contest  The  contest  for  the  papacy,  Avhich  at  this  time  agitated  all  Christendom,  was  felt 

so  strongly  in  England,  that  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  king  to  the  sheriff  of 
the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  to  other  counties,  whereui  it  was  announced,  that 
Peter  de  Luna,  alias  Benedict  xiij.  and  Angelo  Corario,  alias  Gregory  xij.  were 
raslJy  contending  for  the  papal  cliair,  and  both  of  them  being  pronounced  and 
declared  notorious  heretics  and  schismatics  by  the  definitive  sentence  of  the  holy  and 
universal  sjaiod  canonically  congregated  at  Pisa,  the  most  reverend  father  in 
Christ,  the  lord  Petro  de  Candias,  on  account  of  his  merits,  was  elected  by  the  same 
authority  to  the  pontificate,  by  the  title  of  Alexander  V.,  and  the  sheriff  was  com- 
manded to  make  proclamation  in  all  places  within  his  jurisdiction,  that  the  said 
Alexander  V.  was  the  true  Roman  pontifex."!' 

The  life  of  king  Henry  IV.,  though  only  in  the  meridian  of  his  years,  was  now 
drawing  fast  to  a  termination.  Tlie  scenes  through  wliich  he  had  passed  in  his  way 
to  the  throne,  and  tlie  disquietude  vnt\i  Avliich  he  was  assailed  from  so  many  quarters, 
wliile  in  the  possession  of  that  giddy  eminence,  preyed  upon  liis  constitution,  and 
shortened  his  days.  Had  it  been  his  fate  to  remain  in  the  sufficiently  elevated, 
but  more  humble  station  of  duke  of  Lancaster,  it  is  highly  probable  that  liis  life 
would  have  been  more  happy,  and  his  death  less  early. 

"  Heaven  knows,  my  son, 
By  what  by-paths,  and  indirect  crook'd  ways, 
I  met  this  crown  ;   and  I  myself  know  well. 
How  troublesome  it  sat  upon  my  head  : 
To  thee  it  shall  descend  with  better  quiet, 
Better  opinion,  better  confirmation, 
For  all  the  soil  of  the  achievement  goes 
With  me  into  the  earth." 

Sii.AKSPEARE — Henry  IV.  2d  Part,   Act  4.   Scene  4. 

By  his  wUl,  which  breathes  a  spirit  of  remorse,  characteristic  of  the  state  of  the 
royal  mind,  he  bequeathed  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  as  an  endoAAinent  to  his  consort 
the  queen.     Tliis  document  forms  a  favourable  specimen  of  the  state  of  the  English 

*  Rot.  Pari.  11  Henry  IV.  item  5-2.  t   Claus.  11  Henry  IV.  m.  31.  dors. 


County  ^aalatine  of  Sanrasittr.  395 

language  in  the  early  ixiit  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and,  being  of  unquestionahle    chap. 
authority,  may  with  jiropriety  be  inserted  here  : —  


WILL  OF  HENRY  IV. 

"  In  tlie  name  of  God,  Fader,  and  Son,  and  Holy  Gost,  tlu-e  persons  and  ou 

God.     I  Henry,   sinful  wretch,  be  the  Grace  of  God,  Kyng  of  England,  and   of 

Fraunce,   and   Lord   of  Irlaud,  being  in  myne   hole  niynd,  mak  my  testament  in 

manere  and  forme  that  sayth  :     First,  I  bequcth  to  Almyghty  God  my  sinful  soul, 

tlie  whiche  had  never  be  Avorthy  to  be  man,  but  tlu-ougli  hys  mercy  and  hys  gi-ase, 

Avhich  lyffe  I   haxe  mispendyd,  whereof  I   put  me  whollily  in  his  gi'ase   and  his 

mercy,  with  all  myn  herte.     And  what  tym  hit  liketh  hmi  of  hys  mercy  for  to  tak 

me  to  hym,  the  body  for  to  be  beryed  in  tlie  chii'ch  of  Caunterbury,  aftyr  the  discre- 

cion  of  my  cousin  the  Archbyshcopp  of  Caunterbury.     And  also,   I  tliank  all  my 

lordis  and  trew  peple  for  the  trewe  servise  that  they  liave  done  to  me,  and  y  ask  hem 

forgiveness  if  I  have  myssentreted  hem  in   any  Avyse.     And  als  far  as  they  have 

ofFendyd  me  in  wordis,  or  in  dedis  in  any  wyse,  I  prey  God  forgeve  hem  hit,  and 

y  do.     Also  y   devys   and   ordeyn,   that   ther  be    a   chauntre  perpetually  of  twey 

preestis,  for  to  sing  and  prey  for  my  soul  in  the  aforseyd  chirch  of  Caunterbury,  in 

soch  a  plase,  and  aftyr  soch  orcUnaunce,  as  it  seemeth  best  to  my  aforseyd  cousin  of 

Caunterbury.     Also  y  ordeyne  and  devise,  that  of  my  goodcHs   restitution  be  made 

to  all  hem  that  y  have  WTonfully  grevyed,  or  any  good  had  of  theirs  without  just 

tytle.     Also  I  will  and  ordeyne,  that  of  my  gooddis  all  my  debtes  be  paied  in  all 

hast  possible,  and  that  my  servants  be  rewardyd  aftyr  their  uede  and  desert  of 

service,  and  in  especyal  Wilkin,  John  Warren,  and  William  Tliorpe,  gromes  of  my 

chambre.     Also  y  will,  that  all  those  that  in  eny  Avyse  be  bond  in  any  debt  that  y 

owe  in  eny  wise,  or  have  undertake  to  any  man  for  eny  debt  that  y  owe,  or  that  they 

can  dewlye  shewe  liit,  that  oil  soche  persons  be  kept  harmlysse.     Also  I  will,  that  all 

fees  and  wages  that  are  not  paied  be  paied,  and  in  especiall  to  my  servaunts  of  my 

houshold  before  eny  oder.     And  also,  that  all  myn  annuityes,  fees  and  donacions, 

granted  by  me  before  this  tym,  be  my  lettres  patents,  be  kept   and  paid  aftyr  the 

effeit  of  the  forseyd  letters   patents ;  and  jTi  especiall  to   all  hem  that  have  bene 

trewe  servants  to  me  and  toward  me  alway.     Also,  y  will  and  prey  my  sou  that  he 

have  recommendyd  Thomas  de  la  Crois,  that  hath  well  and  trewly  servyed  me,  and 

also  in  the  same  wyse  Jacob  Raysh  and  Halley.     Also,  I  will  that  the  Queue  bee 

endowyd  of  the   Duche  of  Laucastre.     Also,  I  ysiW  that  all  my  officers,  both  of 

houshold  and  other,  the  which  nedeth  to  have  pardon  of  eny  thing  that  touch  here 

offices  both  of  losse  and  oder  thing,  they  have  pardon  therof  in  scm1)able  manere,  as 

3e2 


396  Cfie  %}i$tov^  of  tl)t 

CHAP.    I  of  my  grase  liave  be  wont  to  do  befor  this  tym.     And  for  to  execut  this  testament 

— U well  and  ti-uelich,  for  gi-ete  tryst  that  I  have  on  my  son  the  Prince,  y  ordeyne  and 

mak  him  my  execntor  of  my  testament  foreseyd,  kalling  to  him  soche  as  him 
tliinkyth  in  his  discrecion,  that  can  and  will  labour  to  the  sonnest  spcde  of  my  will, 
compreliended  in  this  myn  testament.  And  to  fulill  trewly  all  things  foresaid,  y 
charge  my  foresaid  son  upon  my  blessyng.  Wetnessying  my  wel-belovyd  cousins 
Thomas  archbyshop  of  Caunterbury  foreseyde,  and  Edward  duke  of  Yorke.  Tliomas 
bishchop  of  Daresme,  Richard  the  Lord  Grey  my  chamberlayne,  John  Tiptoft 
m}ai  treasurer  of  Englond,  Jolni  Prophete  wardeine  of  my  privie  seal ;  Thomas 
Erpingliam,  John  Norbery,  Robert  Waterton,  and  many  oder  being  present. 

"  In  witnessyug  whereof,  my  privy  seele  be  my  commandment  is  set  to  tliis  my 

testament. 
"  lyeve  at  my  manere  of  Greenwich,  the  xxi  day  of  the  moneth  of  Janver,  in  tlie 
year  of  Lord  Mccccviii,  and  of  our  reigne  the  tenth." 

The  reign  of  Henry  V.  the  second  British  king  of  the  Lancastrian  line,  presents 
one  of  the  most  splendid  periods  in  the  military  annals  of  England.  During  this 
short  but  eventful  reign,  France  was  once  more  laid  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  her 
ancient  rival,  and  the  capital  of  that  kingdom,  as  well  as  the  power  of  its  government, 
was  held  by  the  British  monarch  with  a  tenacity  which  was  not  relaxed  even  in  the 
hour  of  death.  At  home  all  was  tranquillity;  the  cabals  of  the  court,  Avhich  had 
embittered  the  last  days  of  Henry  IV.  were  hushed  by  the  frank  and  fascinating 
chai'acter  of  his  once  profligate  son,  and  the  scenes  of  domestic  discontent  were 
confined  altogether  to  the  contests  between  the  early  reformers  and  the  church  of 
Rome. 
The  Loi-  The  first  English  martjT  in  the  cause  of  the  Lollards  was  William  Sautre,  rector 

of  Osythes,  in  London,  Avho  was  consigned  to  the  flames  in  1401,  at  the  instance  of  the 
church,  in  virtue  of  a  writ  issued  by  Henry  IV.,  whose  father,  John  of  Gaunt,  had  been 
the  early  patron  and  firm  friend  of  John  Wickliffe,  the  founder  of  the  obnoxious  sect  in 
England.  Henry  V.,  more  influenced  probably  by  a  wish  to  preserve  the  peace  and 
harmony  of  his  kingdom,  than  by  any  strong  predilections,  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
church  of  Rome;  and  it  should  appear  from  a  royal  proclamation,  issued  in  the  fii'st 
year  of  his  reign  to  the  sheriff"  of  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  that  the  new 
schismatics  had  spread  into  this  county — "  Those  who  have  turned  the  world  upside 
down  have  come  here  also."  In  this  proclamation  the  king  announced  that  certain 
preachers,  not  privileged  by  law,  or  licensed  by  the  diocesan  of  the  place,  or  per- 
mitted by  the  church,  of  the  new  sect  of  Lollards,  preach  in  public  places,  contrary 
to  the  ordinances  of  the  church,  and,  under  colour  of  preaching  the  Avord  of  God, 


lards. 


Count))  |3nlntine  of  Sanrasttn  397 

foment  and  disseminate  discord  among  the  people,  and  tlie  pestiferous  seed  of  evil    chap. 
doctrine.     For  remedy  of  wliicli,  and  to  protect  the  catholic  faith,  the  sheriff  is  com-  ' 

manded  to  make  proclamation  that  no  chaplain  shall  hold,  dogmatize,  preach,  or 
defend  this  heresy  and  error,  under  pain  of  imprisonment  and  forfeiture  of  goods; 
and  if  any  persons  shall  he  found  puhlicly  or  privately  infringing  these  orders,  l)y 
holding  conventicles,  or  congregations,  or  receiving  the  preachers  of  the  ohnoxious 
doctrines,  or  shall  be  really  and  vehemently  suspected  of  so  doing,  they  shall  be 
committed  to  prison  without  delay,  to  remain  there  until  they  shall  obey  the  man- 
dates of  the  diocesan  in  whose  diocese  they  liaAe  preached,  to  be  certified  by  the 
diocesan  himself.*  The  demand  for  reformation  in  the  doctrine  and  the  discipUne 
of  the  church  was  far  too  loud  and  too  Avidely  extended  to  be  silenced  by  proclama- 
tions ;  and  hence  we  find  fi-om  anotlier  royal  mandate  addressed  to  the  chancellor  of 
the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster  in  the  following  year,  that  divers  of  the  liege  subjects 
of  the  king,  on  the  incitement  and  instigation  "  of  a  most  cunning  and  subtle  enemy,"  Lord  Cob- 
sir  John  Oldcastle  (lord  Cobham),  holding  and  teaching  various  opinions  manifestly 
contrary  and  obnoxious  to  the  catholic  faith,  and  to  sound  doctrine,  stood  charged 
with  wickedly  imagining  aAd  conspiring  the  king's  death,  because  he  and  his  coun- 
sellors would  not  assent  to  these  doctrines.  The  accused  parties,  too  conscientious  to 
plead  not  guilty  of  an  offence  Avhich  they  had  actually  committed,  or  under  some  other 
influence  Avhich  it  is  now  difficult  to  (hscover,  confessed  their  guilt ;  and  the  king  of  his 
special  gi-ace  pardoned  all  the  offenders,  except  lord  Cobham,  sir  Thomas  Talbot, 
knight,  and  ten  other  persons  of  inferior  station.  This  pardon  the  chancellor  was 
requu-ed  to  proclaim  through  the  whole  of  his  jurisdiction  ;  and  the  reformers,  Avith 
the  above  exceptions,  some  of  whom  had  taken  refuge  in  the  places  of  sanctuary — ■ 
Manchester  and  Lancaster  being  of  that  number — were  allowed  to  plead  the  royal 
pardon  before  the  feast  of  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  next  ensuing.f  A 
number  of  tlie  Lollards  forfeited  their  lives  to  the  dictates  of  their  consciences ;  for 
it  is  impossible  to  impute  to  the  gi-eat  mass  of  them  any  sinister  motive;  and  lord 
Cobliam,  the  most  zealous  and  distinguished  of  their  number,  was  hung  up  by  tlie 
middle,  upon  a  gallows  erected  in  St.  George's  Fields,  where  he  was  consumed  alive 
in  the  fire,  praising  God  with  his  last  breath. 

These  terrible  examples  checked  for  a  time  the  spread  of  Lollardy ;  but  the  fires 
only  smouldered ;  and,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  under  sanction  of  the  king,  they 
burst  forth  with  a  force  so  iii-esistible,  as  to  destroy  the  whole  power  of  the  "  holy 
Anglican  mother  church." 

At  this  period  a  large  accession  of  wealth  and  power  was  made  to  the  duchy  of 

'        *  Claus.  1  Hen.  V.  f  Clans.  2  Henry  V.  m.  24. 


398  CI)c  jK'sitorp  of  tl)t 

CHAP.    Lancaster,  by  the  union  of  the  rights  and  possessions  of  the  county  of  Hereford  to 
the  duchy,  under  the  sanction  of  the  following  royal  ordinance : — 


Union  of 
the  county 
of  Here- 
ford to  the 


"  Tlie  Imig,  hy  the  assent  of  parliament,  declares,  grants,  and  ordains,  that  all 
duchy  of     |],g  honors,  castles,  hundreds,  manors,  lands,  tenements,  reversions,  rents,  services, 

Lancaster.  '  '  ,  ,  ,  ;  ,  ,  ; 

AD  1414,  fees,  advowsons,  possessions,  and  lordships,  as  well  witliin  the  kingdom  of  England 
as  in  parts  of  Wales  and  other  places,  ^rithin  the  king's  lordships,  which  have 
descended,  or  shall  descend  inheritahly  to  the  king,  after  the  death  of  Dame 
Maria,  one  of  the  daughters  and  heiis  of  Humphrey  de  Bohun,  formerly  Earl  of 
Hereford,  Essex,  and  Northampton,  and  Constable  of  England,  as  to  tlie  son  and 
heii-  of  that  Dame  Mary;  also,  that  all  the  rights,  liberties,  franchises,  and  frank 
customs,  to  the  same  inheritance  appertaining  or  regarding,  be  severed  from  the 
crown  of  England,  and  adjoined,  annexed,  luiited,  and  incorporated,  to  and  vnth  the 
said  Idng's  duchy  of  Lancaster,  perpetually  to  remain  to  the  same  Idng,  as  being  so 
adjoined,  united,  annexed,  and  incorporated;  and  furtlier,  that  all  the  honors,  castles, 
hundreds,  wapentakes,  manors,  lands,  tenements,  and  reversions  aforesaid,  and  all 
other  things  to  the  said  inheritance  regarding,  and  the  vassals  and  tenants  to  it  apper- 
taining, he  also  entirely  enfranchised,  and  by  the  officers  treated,  guarded,  and 
governed,  in  all  respects,  as  possessions  to  the  said  duchy  appertaining,  and  the 
vassals  and  tenants  to  the  same  duchy  regarding,  are  enfranchised,  treated,  guarded, 
and  governed,  for  ever;  and  this,  accorchng  to  the  form,  force,  and  effect  of  the  words 
contained  in  a  schedule  passed  in  this  pai-liament;  and  by  the  king,  with  the  assent  of 
the  Lords  aforesaid,  and  the  authority  aforesaid,  fully  affiinned." 

Then  follows  an  enumeration  of  the  possessions  at  great  length.* 
Scarcely  had  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  proclaimed,  by  royal 
command,  the  truce  between  England  and  Castile  and  Leon,  when  the  king  of  Eng- 
land embarked  for  France  with  an  army  of  six  thousand  cavalry,  and  tAventy-foiir 
thousand  foot,  principally  archers.     After  carrpng  the  garrison  of  Harfaur,  and 
leaving  a  number  of  his  troops  to  defend  that  fortress,  Henry,  at  the  head  of  his 
The  battle  troops,  marched  for  Calais,  but  on  liis  way  he  was  interrupted  by  a  hostile  army  of 
courF.        fourteen  thousand  cavalry  and  forty  thousand  infantry,  under  the  command  of  the 
constable  of  France,  and  obliged  to  come  to  battle  on  the  phiins  of  Agincourt. 


*  Rot.  Pari.  vol.  iv.  p.  46.  While  speaking  of  this  act,  Sir  Edward  Coke  says — "  For  the  great 
roialties,  liberties,  privileges,  immunities,  quitances,  and  freedoms,  which  the  duke  of  Lancaster  had 
for  him  and  his  men  and  tenants,  see  Rot.  Pari,  die  Lunse  post  octav.  Sancti  Martini  an.  2  Henry  V. 
all  which  are  established,  ratified,  and  continued  by  authority  of  parliament,  necessary  to  be  known 
by  such  as  have  any  of  these  possessions."  Fourth  Institute,  p.  210. 


Counti?  ^alatmc  of  %m(n^tn\  399 

Here  the  glories  of  Cressy  and  Poictiers  were  renewed,  and  the  cry  of  "  a  Derby"    en  \i 

or  "  an  Edward,"  was  not  more  piercing  in  the  ears  of  the  discomfited  Frencli  army  L 

on  those  fields  of  EngUsh  glory,  than  was  the  cry  of  "  a  Henry"  on   the   field  of 
Agincourt  : — 

"  Tliis  note  doth  tell  me  of  ten  thousand  French, 
That  in  the  field  lie  slain  :  of  princes,  in  this  number, 
And  nobles  bearing  banners,  there  lie  dead 
One  hundred  twenty  six  :  added  to  these, 
Of  knights,  esquires,  and  gallant  gentlemen, 
Eight  thousand  and  four  hundred  ;   of  the  which 
Five  hundred  were  but  yesterday  dubb'd  knights  : 
So  that,  in  these  ten  thousand  they  have  lost, 
There  are  but  sixteen  hundred  mercenaries  ; 
The  rest  are — princes,  barons,  lords,  knights,  'squires, 
And  gentlemen  of  blood  and  quality." 

Shakspeare — King  Henry  V.  Act  4.  Scene  8. 


The  loss  of  the  English  in  this  memorable  battle,  which  destroyed  the  military 
power  of  France,  was  incredibly  small ;  some  of  the  contemporary  authorities  say, 
not  exceeding  forty  men,  amongst  whom  Avere  Edward  duke  of  York  and  the  earl  of 
Suffolk.  That  this  number  is  much  underrated  cannot  be  doubted,  and  if  the  nature 
of  the  engagement  did  not  establish  that  fact,  it  might  be  inferred  from  the  proclama- 
tion to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  issued  by  the  king  soon  afterwards, 
for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his  army,  by  wliich  all  knights,  esquires,  and  valets, 
holding  fees  or  annuities  of  the  khig  for  term  of  years,  or  for  hfe,  were  required, 
under  forfeiture  of  the  same,  to  appear  in  their  own  persons  at  Southampton,  to 
cross  the  seas  to  France,  an-ayed  and  furnislied  with  supplies  for  three  mouths* 

Before  the  departure  of  the  king  for  France,  he  instituted  commissions  of  array  Coramis- 
in  this  and  the  other  counties  of  England,  to  take  a  review  of  all  the  freemen  able  to  array. 
bear  arms,  and  to  didde  them  into  companies,  that  they  might  be  kept  in  readiness 
to  resist  aji  enemy.  "This,"  says  Mr.  Hmne,  "  was  the  fii'st  comiuission  of  array 
wliich  we  meet  with  in  English  history."  How  a  writer  of  so  much  research 
should  have  fallen  into  the  error  of  supposing  that  there  had  existed  in  England  no 
commission  of  array  till  the  time  of  Henry  V.  it  is  not  easy  to  imagine ;  commis- 
sions of  tliis  nature  had  been  instituted  two  centuries  before,  and  the  number  of 
them  in  oi)eration  in  the  reigns  of  the  Edwards,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  alone,  it 
is  difficult  to  estimate. 

*  Claus.  4  Hen.  V.  m.  21.  d. 


400 


m)t  n^i'stxirj)  of  tin 


CHAP. 
X. 


The 

crown 

jewels 

pledged, 

to  carry 

on  the 

war. 


Redeem- 
ed. 


Death  of 
Henry  V. 


The  necessities  of  the  state  had  plunged  the  king  into  great  pecuniary  difficulties ; 
and  although  the  county  of  Hereford,  with  its  land  revenues,  had  recently  been 
added  to  liis  hereditary  possessions,  he  was  obliged,  before  he  could  embark  his 
troops  for  France,  to  raise  supplies  by  pledging  the  crown  jewels.  The  loans 
obtained  in  this  way  had  been  contracted  for  with  so  much  precipitation,  and  the 
regalia  had  been  so  widely  dispersed,  that  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  king 
to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  Avherein  it  Avas  announced,  that 
certain  royal  jewels,  of  no  little  value,  had  been  committed  and  pledged,  for  the 
greater  expedition  of  the  king's  voyage  lately  made  to  France,  to  certain  of  his 
liege  subjects  retained  in  the  expedition,  for  the  payment  of  their  wages,  which 
jewels  it  was  now  proper  should  be  restored;  the  chancellor  was  therefore  com- 
manded to  proclaim,  that  all  persons  within  his  jurisdiction,  who  had  received  such 
pledged  jewels,  should  present  them  in  person  at  the  public  treasury,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  redeemed ;  in  default  whereof,  the  offending  parties  were  rendered 
liable  to  forfeit  all  theii-  goods.* 

The  career  of  king  Henry  V.  Avas  as  short  as  it  was  brilliant ;  a  mortal  malady 
seized  him  at  tlie  age  of  thirty-four  years,  and  consigned  the  conqueror  of  France  to 
the  tomb.  His  principal  care  in  Ids  last  illness,  was  to  provide  for  the  secure 
possession  of  his  French  conquest,  to  his  infant  son,  Henry  VL,  then  but  nine 
months  old, — little  suspecting,  that  this  unfortunate  child  would  not,  in  his  mature 
yeai-s,  be  able  to  maintain  even  liis  English  possessions,  and  that,  in  his  person,  the 
Lancaster  line  would  be  pushed  from  tlie  throne  of  his  fathers. 

The  Will  of  Henry  V.  bears  date  tlu-ee  years  before  his  mai-riage  to  the  princess 
Catharine,  and  four  years  before  the  birth  of  his  only  son.  By  that  Will,  the  royal 
testator  bequeaths  his  duchy  of  Lancaster  to  liis  two  brothers,  John  duke  of  Bedford, 
and  Humphrey  duke  of  Gloucester,  in  these  terms  : — 


Royal 
Will. 


"  I  wol  and  pray  ye  forsaid  feffez,  yat  first  my  dettes  paiet,  and  plain  and  entiere 
execucion  of  my  last  wille  daen,  ye  forsaid  feffez  in  ye  forsaid  castils  and  manoirs  of 
Halton  and  Cliderhow,  and  in  alle  othir  lordships,  manoirs,  landes,  tenementz, 
rentes,  services,  and  other  possessions,  in  my  forsaid  lettres  patentes,  with  ye  forsaid 
castils  of  Halton  and  Clyderhow  especifet,  do  departe  as  evenly  as  yay  may  in  two 
parties  egales  ye  same  castils  and  lordsliips,  manoirs,  landes,  tenementz,  rentes, 
services,  and  other  possessions,  Avith  ye  said  castils  of  Halton  and  Cliderhow, 
expresset  in  ye  same  my  lettres  patentes :  And  in  as  much  as  yai  may  godely,  ye 
forsaid  feffez  do  assigne  in  ye  toon  of  ye  said  two  par-ties,  castils,  lordsliips,  manores, 
landes,  tenementz,  rentes,  services,  and  other  possessions,  in  the  South  costees ;  and 


*  Claus.  4  Henry  V.  mil.  dors. 


Cotmtj)  ^alatint  of  iCancasitfi.  40i 

in  ye  totliir  of  ye  said  two  parties,  ye  said  feffez  do  assigne  castils,  lordships,  manoirs,  chai', 
laudes,  teuementz,  rentes,  services,  and  otliir  possessions  in  ye  North  costees  of  ^' 
Yngland ;  and  such  departison  maad  by  ye  said  feffez,  I  wol  and  pray  hem  yet  in 
alle  ye  said  castils,  manoirs,  landes,  tenementz,  rentes,  services,  and  other  posses- 
sions, Avith  alle  yaire  appurtenances  yat  shal  in  ye  foi-me  before  said  be  assignet  in 
said  North  costees  of  Yngland,  ye  said  feffez  do  enfeffe  my  brotliir  John  due  of 
Beford,  to  have  and  to  hold  to  hym  and  to  his  heii-s  mals  of  his  body  comyno- :" 
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  "And  allso  I  wol  and  pray  ye  forsaid 
feffez,  yat  in  alle  ye  forsaid  castils,  lordsliips,  manoirs,  landes,  tenementz,  rentes, 
services,  and  other  possessions,  A^-ith  alle  yair  appurtenances  yat  shal  in  ye  forme 
aforesaid  be  assignet  in  ye  said  South  costees  of  Yngland,  ye  said  feffez  do  enfeffe 
my  brother  Umfray  due  of  Gloucestre,  to  have  and  to  hold  to  hym  and  to  his  heirs 
mals  of  his  body  comyng."* 


J34p 


•  This  was  the  last  Will  of  Henry  V.,  but  the  subsequent  birth  of  a  son  abrogated  its  principal 
bequests,  and  the  whole  duchy  of  Lancaster  descended  to  Henry  VI. 


VOL.  I.  3  F 


402 


Cftc  iljisitoij)  of  ti)t 


C&ap,  p. 


Scarcity  of  records  for  history  during  the  Wars  of  the  Roses. — Marriage  of  Henry  VI. — Lancaster 
Herald. — Witchcraft. — The  Lancashire  alchymists,  Sir  Edmund  TrafTord  and  Sir  Thomas  Ashton. 
— Their  patent. — Claims  of  the  rival  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster  to  the  throne. — Their  official 
pedigrees. — Wars  of  the  Roses. — Letter  from  the  earl  of  Marche  and  the  earl  of  Rutland,  sons 
of  the  duke  of  York,  (with  fac-simile.) — Badges  of  the  house  of  Lancaster. — Declaration  against 
Lord  Stanley. — State  of  public  morals. — Unsuccessful  attempt  to  compromise  the  difference 
between  the  rival  houses. — Henry  VL  dethroned  by  Edward  IV. — Henry  seeks  an  asylum  in 
Lancashire. — ^Taken  by  Sir  John  Talbot. — Sir  John's  grant  for  this  service. — Catastrophe  of  the 
Lancastrian  family. — Edward  V.  murdered  in  the  Tower. — Coronation  of  Richard  III. — Letters 
patent  granted  by  him. — His  warrant  for  seizing  a  rebel's  land  in  Lancashire. — The  king's  jealousy 
towards  the  duke  of  Richmond,  son-in-law  of  Lord  Stanley,  extends  to  his  lordship. — Attainder 
of  Lady  Stanley,  countess  of  Richmond.— Landing  of  the  duke  of  Richmond  in  England. — 
Battle  of  Bosworth  field. — Confiscation  of  Lancashire  estates. — Union  of  the  houses  of  York 
and  Lancaster. — Sweating  sickness. — Lambert  Simnell  and  Perkin  Warbeck,  pretenders  to  the 
throne. — Fatal  consequences  of  the  civil  wars  to  the  duke  of  York's  family,  (note.) — Sir 
William  Stanley  accused  of  high  treason. — Condemned  and  executed. — Henry  VII. 's  royal 
progress  to  Lancashire. — Letter  of  the  countess  of  Derby  and  Richmond,  (fac-simile.)  — 
Execution  of  Edward,  earl  of  Warwick,  the  last  male  of  the  Plantagenet  line. —  Death  of 
Henry  VII. 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Defici- 
ency of 
public 
records 
during  the 
wars  of 
the  roses. 


LTHOUGH  few  periods  in  English  history  afford  so 
many  materials  for  the  pen  of  the  general  and  local 
historian,  as  that  comprehended  in  the  reigns  of 
Henry  VI.,  Edward  IV.,  and  Richard  III.,  during 
which  time  the  wars  hetween  the  houses  of  York  and 
Lancaster  raged  mth  so  much  fury ;  and  that  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  VII.,  when  these  intestine  hroils  were 
happily  composed  by  the  union  of  the  rival  houses  in 
the  persons  of  Henry  VII.  and  liis  queen ;  yet  there 
is  no  time,  from  the  reign  of  king  Stephen,  so  destitute 
as  this  of  authentic  records.  The  savage  and  murderous  contests  of  tlie  court  and 
of  the  people,  appear  so  to  have  disorganized  society,  that  the  usual  communications 
between  the  authorities  in  the  provinces  and  the  government  were  neglected ;  or  if 
proclamations  and  edicts  were  issued  in  the  several  counties,  they  perished  ^vith 


Countj)  palatine  of  ?LaiuaeiUr,  403 

many  of  those  to  whom  they  were  addi-essed,  the  usual  depositories  being  found    chap. 
almost  entirely  destitute  of  these  documents.     This  paucity  of  official  information  is  " 

the  more  extraordinaiy,  seeing  that  the  art  of  printing,  tliat  gi'cat  engine  of  multi- 
plication, was  introduced  into  England  by  WiUiam  Caxton,  in  1471,  during  the 
wars  of  the  roses. 

Many  of  the  conquests  made  in  France  by  Henry  V.  were  lost  during  the 
regency  appointed  for  the  government  of  England,  in  the  nonage  of  his  successor, 
who,  in  his  twenty-thuxl  year,  contracted  marriage  with  Margaret  of  Anjou,  daugliter  Marriage 
of  Regnier,  tituku"  king  of  Sicily,  Naples,  and  Jerusalem.  The  commanchug  and  Henry  vi. 
masculine  talents  of  Ids  royal  consort  would,  it  was  conceived,  compensate  for  the 
weakness  and  effeminacy  of  the  king ;  and  though  she  brought  no  possessions,  the 
French  province  of  the  Main,  then  a  pai*t  of  the  English  territory,  was,  by  a  seci'et 
treaty,  ceded  to  Charles,  her  uncle,  on  the  consummation  of  the  royal  mai-riage. 
By  a  singidar  coincidence,  the  king  had,  seven  years  before  this  event,  changed 
tlie  title  of  "  Anjou  king  of  arms,"  in  the  English  heralds'  college,  to  that  of 
"  Lancaster  king  of  arms ;"  and  in  a  list  of  new  year's  gifts  presented  by  king  Heralds 
Henry  VI.,  in  1436,  to  the  Lancaster  herald,  as  well  as  to  a  person  who  was  then 
created  a  j)ursuivant  of  arms,  by  the  title  of  Collar,  there  is  a  silver  bell  each,  but 
for  Avhat  purpose  it  is  cUfficult  to  comprehend.  Tliis  list  is  preserved,  Avith  many 
otliers  of  a  sunilar  Idnd,  in  the  Cottonian  MSS.*  in  the  British  Museum,  and  the 
entiy  refeiTed  to  is  thus  expressed  : — 

"  Item,  delivd  by  your  saide  comaundefht,  the  erles  of  Warewyke  and  Stafford, 
and  your  chamb'leyn  beyng  p  sent  at  that  same  tyme,  that  is  to  say,  on  Allehalo wen- 
day  laste,  at  Merton,  wlianne  ye  wer  crowned,|  ye  gaf  to  an  heraude  kynge  of  armes 
afore  tliat  tjane  called  Aunyoye,  and  thanne  at  that  fest  lus  name  changed  by  yow 
and  called  Lancastre,  j  belle  of  sylver  weyng  xvj  unc,  and  an  other  belle  of  sylver 
at  that  tyme  delived  to  oon  that  Avas  made  pursevant,  and  thanne  called  Color,  the 
which  weyed  viij  unc. 

"  W.  Phelyp,  Chaumblein." 

No  sooner  had  the  queen  arrived  in  the  English  court,  than  she  entered  into 
all  the  intrigues  by  which  it  Avas  agitated.  The  duke  of  Gloucester,  uncle  to  tlie 
king,  having  become  obnoxious  to  the  predominant  party,  at  the  head  of  Avliich  stood 
Cai-dinal  Winchester  and  the  dulies  of  Bucldngham,  Somerset,  and  Suffolk,  he  was 
marked  out  as  their  A-ictim,     The  duchess  of  Gloucester,  Eleanor,  the  daughter  of 

*  Cleop.  F.  iv.  fo.  103,  (Orig.)  f  i.  e.  wearing  the  crown. 

3  F  2 


404  Cf)f  ?f?l£itOll>  Of  tl)t 


CHAP,    lord  Cobham,  a  lady  of  liauglity  carriage  and  ambitious  mind,  being  attached  to  the 

.  prevailing  superstitions  of  the  day,  was  accused  of  the  crime  of  witchcraft ;  and  it 

Tiie  was  alleged  against  her  and  her  associate,  Sir  Roger  Bolingbroke,  a  priest,   and 

duchess  o  o  J.  ' 

ofGioii-     Margery  Jourdain,  the  witcli  of   Eye,  tliat  they  had  in  tlieir  possession  a  wax 

("ester 

charged  figure  of  the  Iving,  which  th.ey  melted  by  a  magical  dence  before  a  slow  fire,  Avith 
witch-  the  intention  of  wasting  away  his  force  and  vigour  by  insensible  degi-ees.  Tliis  story 
partakes  of  the  nature  of  the  kindred  superstition  which  prevailed  a  century  and  a 
half  afterwards,  and  of  whicli  Fernando,  earl  of  Derby,  was  the  subject,  if  not  the 
victim  :  and  as  we  have  traced  the  popular  Lancashire  tratUtion  of  the  eagle  and 
cliild  up  to  the  time  of  Alfred,  we  now  find  that  the  Avax  figure  in  witchcraft  takes 
its  date  at  a  period  antecedent  to  the  wars  of  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster. 
The  imbecile  mind  of  Henry  was  sensibly  afTetted  by  this  wicked  invention ;  and 
the  duchess,  on  being  brouglit  to  trial,  and  found  giiUty  of  the  design  to  destroy  the 
king  and  his  ministers  by  the  agency  of  witchcraft  was  sentenced  to  do  public 
penance,  and  to  suffer  perpetual  imjirisonment  while  her  confederates  were  con- 
demned to  death,  and  executed.  After  enduring  the  ignominy  of  her  public  penance, 
rendered  peculiarly  severe  by  the  exalted  station  from  wliich  she  had  fallen,  the 
Hanished    ducliess  was  banished  to  the  Isle  of  Man,  where  she  was  placed  under  the  ward  of 

to  the  Isle        _  i 

of  Mail.  Sir  Thomas  Stanley.  On  her  way  to  the  place  of  exile,  she  was  confined  for  some 
time,  first  in  Leeds  castle,  and  afterwards  in  the  castle  of  Liverpool.* — Events  so 
congenial  with  the  imagination  of  our  great  dramatic  poet,  could  scarcely  fail  to  find 
their  way  into  his  historical  plays  ;  and  hence  we  find,  in  the  second  part  of  his 
Henry  VL,  a  small  stream  of  historical  fact  running  through  an  ample  meadoAv  of 
poetic  fiction,  in  which  the  duchess  is  exhibited  and  detected  in  the  midst  of  these 
works  of  darkness-t  After  remaining  in  the  Isle  of  Man  some  years,  it  would 
appear  that  this  unfortmiate  lady  was  transferred  to  Calais,  under  the  ward  of 
Sir  John  Steward,  or,  as  he  describes  himself,  "Johannes  Seneschallus,  miles,  filius 
Johannis  Seneschalli,  aliter  dicti  Scot  Angli."  From  the  Will  of  this  knight,  it 
appears  that  he  was  a  resident,  and  had  an  important  command  in  Calais,  in  the 
mother  church  of  which  town  he  desires  to  be  buried.  He  names  John  Roos  as 
liis  confessor ;  bequeaths  to  his  eldest  son,  Thomas,  all  his  harness  of  war,  and  his 
ship,  the  Giace  de  Dieu,  which  his  master,  the  duke  of  Bedford,  had  given  him, 
together  with  liis  lands  in  the  marches  of  Calais.  To  Sir  Thomas  Criell  he 
leaves  "  a  ring  wUh  a  diamond,  which  Eleanor  Cobham,  duchess  of  Gloucester, 
(fare  me  nliile  she  lived  with  me  as  my  prisoner." 

"  Wilhehni  Wyrcestrii  Annales  Reiiini  Anglicaruni,  pp.  460,  461. 
t  Shakespeare,  Henry  VI.  part  ii.  act  1.  scene  4. 


Coimtj)  palatine  of  SanraiStfr*  405 

Tlie  duke  of  Gloucester,  if  possible,  more  unfortunate  than  his  lady,  was  accused    .chap. 


XI. 


of  liigh  ti'eason,  in  aspiring  to  the  throne,  and  summoned  to  take  his  trial  before  the 
liigh  court  of  parliament  at  Bury  St.  Edmond's  ;  but,  on  the  eve  of  the  investigation,  Tiie 

fill  It  #*^ 

he   was  found   dead   in  his  bed,  without  marks  of  violence,  though  by  no  means  f„te. 
without  strong  suspicion  that  he  had  fallen  a  victuu  to  the  cruel  devices  of  his 
relentless  persecutors. 

While  the  duchess  of  Gloucester  and  sir  Roger  Bolingbroke  were  employed  in 
the  prosecution  of  their  magical  arts,  two  Lancashire  knights  at  the  head  of  the 
principal  families  in  tlie  county,  were  actively  engaged  in  the  equally  delusive,  though 
less  criminal,  science  of  alchjnny,  and  transmutation  of  metals — that  ifjnisfatuus  which 
has  conducted  so  many  ingenious  men  to  their  ruin.  The  Idng  had  on  a  former  1458. 
occasion  commissioned  three  philosophers  to  make  the  precious  metals,  without 
receiving  any  return  from  them  in  gold  and  silver :  his  credulity,  however,  like  that 
of  many  Aviser  men,  was  unshaken  by  disappointment,  and  he  issued  a  pompous 
grant  in  fa-^our  of  three  otlier  alchymists,  who  boasted  that  they  could  not  only  trans- 
mute the  inferior  metals  into  gold  and  silver,  but  that  they  could  also  impart  to  man 
perpetual  youth,  with  unimpaired  poAvers  of  mind  and  body,  by  means  of  a  specific, 
called — The  Mother  and  Queen  of  Medicines — The  inestimable  Glory — The  Quint- 
essence, or,  Tlie  Elixir  of  Life.  In  favour  of  these  tlu'ee  "  lovers  of  trutli  and 
haters  of  deception,"  as  they  modestly  styled  themselves,  Henry  dispensed  with  the 
law  passed  by  his  royal  grandfather,* — a  very  unnecessary  law,  against  the  undue 
multiplication  of  gold  and  silver,  and  empowered,  not  enabled,  them  to  transmute  the 
inferior  into  precious  metals.  This  extraordinary  commission  had  the  sanction  of 
parliament,  and  two  out  of  the  three  commissioners  were  Sir  Tliomas  Ashton,  of  -piie  Lan- 
Ashton-under-Luae,  and  Sir  Edmund  Trafford,  of  TrafTordj  the  latter  of  whom  had  ^^l^"'^ 
assisted  at  the  coronation  of  the  king,  and  received  the  honour  of  Knight  of  the  Bath  ""*'^- 
on  that  occasion.  Tliese  sages,  miposing  probably  upon  themselves  as  Avell  as  upon 
otliers,  kept  the  Idng's  expectations  Avound  up  to  the  highest  pitch,  and,  in  the  fol- 
lowing year,  he  actually  informed  liis  people,  that  the  hour  Avas  approacliing,  Avhen, 
by  the  means  of  the  stone,  he  should  be  enabled  to  pay  off  all  liis  debts !  It  is  scai'cely 
necessary  to  ajdd,  that  this  plulosopher's  stone  never  gave  forth  its  expected  A-irtues ; 
and  tlie  Idng's  debts  must  have  remained  unpaid,  had  his  majesty  not  paAvned  the 
revenue  of  tlie  duchy  of  Lancaster,  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  liis  clamorous  creditors. 
The  patent  for  transmuting  the  inferior  metals  into  gold  and  sUver  was  granted  by  the 
Idng  to  these  tAVO  Lancashire  alchymists  in  the  24th  year  of  his  reign,  in  Avliich  they 
Avere  encouraged  to  prosecute  their  experiments,  and  by  Avhich  aU  the  king's  servants 
and  subjects  Avere  interdicted  from  giving  them  any  molestation. 

*  5  Henry  IV.  c.  4. 


406  €\)t  i^isitorj)  of  tin 

CHAP.  „  Patent  to  Sir  Edmund  Trafford  and  Sir  Thomas  Ashton, 
•  Pat.  2.  Num.  14.  in  Turr.  Lon. 

"  Rex  omnibus  ad  quos  &c.  Salutem, — Sciatis  quod  cum  dilecti  &  fidelesnostri 
Edmuudus  de  TrafTord  Miles  &  Thomas  Asliton  Miles  nobis  per  quandam  supplica- 
tionem  monstraverint  quod  quamns  ipsi  super  certis  metallis  per  ai'tem  sive  scien- 
tiam  Pliilosopliiae  operari  vellent,  metalla  imperfecta  de  suo  proprio  genere  transferre, 
et  tunc  ea  per  dictam  artem  sive  scientiam  in  aurum  sive  argentmn  perfectmn  tran- 
substantiare  ad  omnimodas  probationes  &  examiiiatioues,  sicut  aliquod  aurum  sive 
aro-entum  in  aliqua  miuera  crescens,  expectandum,  Sc  indurandum,  ut  dicunt,  niliilo- 
miuus  certa;  persona;,  illis  malevolentes,  &  malignantes,  supponunt  ipsos  per  artem 
illicitam  operari,  &  sic  ipsos  in  probatione  dictae  artis  sive  scientiae  impedire  &  per- 
turbare  possunt;  nos,  praemissa  considerantes,  &  conclusiouem  dictse  operationis  sive 
scientia;  scire  volentes,  de  Gratia  nostra  speciali  concessimus,  &  Licentiam  dedimus 
eisdem  Edmundo  &  Thomse,  &  ipsorum  servientibus  quod  ipsi  artem  sive  scientiam 
prffidictam  operari,  &  probare  possint  licite  &  impune  absque  impetitione  nostra  vel 
Ofiiciariorum  uostrorum  quorumcunque,  aliqua  Statuta,  Acto,  Ordinatione,  sive 
Provisione  in  contrarium  fact:  ordinat:  sive  provis:  non  obstant:  In  cujus,  &c. 
"  Test:  Rege  apud  West:  7  die  Apr:  1446." 

The  madness  of  party  rage  rendered  the  government  of  England  indifferent  to 
the  retention  of  foreign  possessions ;  and  the  whole  province  of  Bayonne,  wliich  had 
been  obtained  three  centuries  before,  at  the  price  of  so  much  blood  and  treasure,  was 
ceded  to  France,  with  as  little  ceremony  as  in  modern  times  a  gold  snuff-box  would 
be  presented  to  a  plenipotentiary.  The  indifference  of  the  com-t  was  not  shared  by 
the  people.  They  beheld  this  curtailment  of  their  ancient  possessions  with  that 
diso-ust  wliich  it  was  so  well  calculated  to  excite.  The  embers  of  discontent  were 
easily  blown  into  a  flame  by  the  duke  of  York  and  his  adherents.  And  the  duke  of 
Suffolk,  the  favourite  of  the  Idng,  and  the  reputed  paramour  of  the  queen,  after 
having  been  unpeached  on  a  charge  of  ceding  the  province  of  the  Main  to  Cliai-les  of 
Anjou,  without  authority,  and  suiTendering  the  province  of  Bayonne  without  a 
struffole,  was  banished  the  kingdom.  To  prevent  the  duke,  whose  friends  were 
numerous  and  powerful,  from  ever  again  resuming  the  helm  of  state,  he  was  seized 
by  a  band  of  pii-ates,  employed  by  his  enemies  on  liis  voyage  to  the  Continent,  and 
his  head  struck  off  and  thrown  into  the  sea.  The  popular  insurrection  of  Jack 
Cade  was  a  part  of  the  same  system  of  hostility  towards  the  house  of  Lancaster;  and 
the  duke  of  York  at  length  openly  advanced  his  clauns  to  that  sceptre  which  the 
feeble  representative  of  the  house  of  Lancaster  was  unable  to  A\-ield. 


Trial   and 
execution 
of    the 
king's 
minister. 


€ount|)  |3alatmc  of  Sancasften  407 

The    seeds    of   this    contest,    though    apparently   sown   in   the   time   of  king    chap 
Edward  III.,  may,  in  fact,  be  traced  back  to  the  tune  of  Henry  III.,  wlio  died  a  " 

centuiy  before,  leaving  two  sons,  Edward  I.,  and  Edmund  Crouchback,  earl  of  Houses  of 
Lancaster,  the  founder  of  that  house,  whose  inheritance  afterwards,  in  a  fourth  Lancaster, 
descent,  fell  on  Blanch,  married  to  John  of  Gaunt,  the  fourth  son  of  Edward  III., 
who,  in  right  of  his  wife,  was  duke  of  Lancaster ;  and  whose  son,  Henry  of  Boling- 
broke,  afterwards  Henry  IV.,  dethroned  Richard  II.,  pretending,  amongst  other 
tilings,  that  Edmund  Crouchback  was  the  elder  son  of  Henry  III.,  and  unjustly  set 
aside  from  the  crown,  because  he  was  crook-backed.  The  crown  remained,  as  we 
have  seen,  in  the  house  of  Lancaster,  for  three  descents,  when  Richard,  duke  of 
York,  descended  from  Edmund  Langley,  younger  brother  of  John  of  Gaunt,  made 
claim  to  the  crown,  by  title  of  his  grandmother,  who  was  heii-  of  Lionell,  duke  of 
Clarence,  elder  brother  of  John  of  Gaunt.  The  pedigrees  of  these  rival  claimants 
have  at  all  times  fonned  matter  of  discussion  in  English  history ;  and  one  of  our  best 
historians,  Mr.  Hume,  has  fallen  into  some  errors  on  this  subject ;  this  is  the  more 
to  be  wondered  at,  as  the  descents  are  exliibited  with  gi'eat  clearness  and  perspi- 
cuity in  the  Rolls  of  Parliament,  1  Edward  IV.,  No.  8,  from  which  the  following  is 
an  extract : — 

"  FoRSOMOcn  as  it  is  notarie,  openly  and  CA'ydently  knowen,  that  the  right  noble 
and  worthy  Prynce,  Henry  Kyng  of  England  the  thii-de,  had  issue  Edward  his  first  official 
goten  son,  born   at  Westmynster,  the  xv  kalende  of  Juyll,  in  the  VigUle  of  Seint  of'^Thr 
Marce  and  Marcellian,  the  yere  of  oure  Lord  mccxxxix  :  and  Echnund  liis  secund  r°J^'     , 

'  •'  '  houses  of 

goten  son,  born  on  Saint  Marcell'  day,  the  yere  of  oure  Lord  mccxlv.  The  wliich  y°'^  ^"^[ 
Edward,  after  the  deth  of  the  seid  Kyng  Henry  liis  Fader,  entitled  and  called  Kyng 
Edward  the  furst,  had  issue  his  furst  goten  Son,  entitled  and  called,  after  the  decesse 
of  the  same  Edward  the  furst  his  Fader,  Kyng  Edward  the  secund ;  which  had 
issue  the  right  noble  and  honorable  Prynce  Kyng  Edward  the  tliii'd,  ti'ue  and 
undented  Kyng  of  England  and  of  Fraunce,  and  Lord  of  Irlond ;  which  Edward  the 
tliird,  had  issue  Edward  his  furst  goten  Son,  Prynce  of  Wales,  William  Hatfeld, 
secund  goten  Son,  Leonell  thu'd  goten  Son  Due  of  Clarence,  John  of  Gaunt,  fourth 
goten  Son  Due  of  Lancastr',  Edmund  Langley  the  fift  goten  Son  Due  of  York, 
Thomas  Wodestoke  the  sixt  goten  Son  Due  of  Gloucestr',  and  Wilhani  W\Tidesore 
the  yii"'  goten  Son.  And  the  seid  Edward  Prynce  of  Wales,  Avliicli  dyed  in  the  lyf 
of  the  seid  Kyng  Edward  the  third  liis  Fader,  had  issue  Richard  ;  wluch,  after  the 
deth  of  the  same  KjTig  Edward  the  thii'd,  as  Cousyn  and  heii-e  to  hym,  that  is  to  sey, 
Son  to  the  seid  Edward  Prynce  of  Wales,  Son  nnto  the  seid  Kyng  Edward  the 
tliird,  succeeded  hym  in  Roiall  estate  and  dignitee,  lawfully  entitled  and  called  Kyng 


408  Cftf  S^lSitOtT)  Of  t\)t 

CHAP.  Richard  the  secuud,  and  dyed  Tvdthoute  issue.  William  Hatfeld,  the  secund  goten 
— 1_^ —  Son  of  the  seid  Kyng  Edward  the  tliii-d,  dyed  without  issue.  The  seid  Leonell 
Due  of  Clarence,  the  third  goten  Son  of  the  same  Kyng  Edward,  had  issue  Philip' 
liis  oouly  Daughter,  and  dyed ;  and  tlie  same  Philip',  wedded  unto  Edmund  Mor- 
tymer,  Erie  of  Marclie,  had  issue  hy  the  same  Edmund,  Roger  Mortpner,  Erie  of 
Mai'che,  iiir  son  and  heire ;  which  Edmund  and  Philip'  dyed ;  the  same  Roger  Erie 
of  Marche  had  issue  Edmund  MortjTiier  Erie  of  Marche,  Roger,  Anne,  and  Alianore, 
and  dyed;  and  also  the  same  Edmund  and  Roger,  Sonnes  of  the  forseid  Roger,  and 
the  said  Alianore,  dyed  withoute  issue ;  and  the  same  Anne  wedded  unto  Richai'd 
Erie  of  Camhrigge,  the  Son  of  the  seid  Edmund  Langley,  the  lift  goten  Son  of  the 
seid  Kyng  Edward  the  tliird,  as  it  is  afore  specifyed,  had  issue  that  right  nohle  and 
famous  Pryuce,  of  full  worthie  memorie,  Richard  Plantagenet  Due  of  York." 

Tliis  official  pedigree  proceeds  to  say,  that  the  succession  to  the  throne  remained 
undisturbed  till  the  time  that  Henry  of  Bolingbroke,  late  earl  of  Derby,  "  Son  of  the 
seid  John  of  Gaunt,  the  fourth  goten  Son  of  the  seid  Kyng  Edward  the  thu-d,  and 
yonger  brother  of  the  seid  Leonell,  temerously  agenst  rightMituess  and  justice,  by 
force  and  armes,  agenst  his  faith  and  Liegeaunce,  rered  were  at  Flynte  in  Wales, 
agenst  the  seid  Kyng  Richard,  hym  take  and  enprisoned  in  the  Toure  of  London  of 
gi'ete  violence ;  and  the  same  Kyng  Richard  soo  beyug  in  Prison  and  lyving,  usm'ped 
and  intruded  upon  the  Roiall  Power,  Estate,  Dignitie,  Preemjnience,  Possessions 
and  Lordsliip  aforeseid,  takyng  upon  hjnn  usurpously  the  Coroune  and  name  of 
Kyng  and  Lord  of  the  same  Reame  and  Lordship ;  and  not  therwith  satisfyed  or 
content,  but  more  gi*evous  tliyng'  attemptyng,  wykidly  of  unnaturall,  unmanly,  and 
cruell  tyi'anny,  the  same  Kyng  Richard,  Kyng  enoynted,  coroued,  and  consecrate, 
and  his  Liege  and  moost  liigli  Lord  in  the  erth,  agenst  Godds  Lawe,  Mannes 
Liegeaunce,  and  otli  of  fidelite,  with  uttermost  punicion  attormentyng,  murdred  and 
destroied,  with  moost  vyle,  heyuous,  and  lamentable  deth ;  wherof  the  heavy  excla- 
mation in  the  dome  of  every  Cristen  Man  souudeth  into  Godds  herying  in  heven, 
not  forgoteu  in  the  erth,  specially  in  tliis  Reame  of  England,  which  therefore  hath 
sufFred  the  charge  of  intolerable  persecution,  punicion,  and  tribulation,  wherof  the 
lyke  hath  not  been  seen  or  herde  in  any  other  Cristen  Reame,  by  any  memorie  or 
recorde ;  then  bejdng  on  lyve,  the  seid  Edmund  Mortyraer  Erie  of  Marche,  Son  and 
heire  of  the  seid  Roger,  Son  and  heire  of  the  said  Philip',  Daughter  and  heire  to  the 
seid  Leonell  the  third  Son  of  the  seid  Kyng  Edward  the  thii-d.  To  the  which 
Edmund,  after  the  decesse  of  the  seid  Kyag  Richard,  the  right  and  title  of  the 
same  Coroune  and  Lordship  tlien  by  law,  custume,  and  conscience,  descended  and 
belonged." 


County)  |3alatine  of  aniuastcr.  409 

Upon  this  gi-ouml,  the  duke  of  York   founded  his  claim,  hy  succession,  to  the     chap. 
throne  of  England,  and  was  supported  by  a  number  of  the  most  powerful  nobles  of  " 

the  land.*  Amongst  his  partisans,  the  duke  had  the  fortune  to  lunnbcr  the  carl  of  Changes 
War\\ick,  a  man  of  unbounded  influence,  combined  with  great  decision  of  character,  straiion. 
and  whose  future  achieA'ements  in  this  memorable  quarrel  obtained  for  him  tlie 
name  of  the  "  king  maker."  The  duke's  first  demand  was  for  a  refoim  of  abuses  in 
the  administration  of  public  affairs.  An  alarming  disease  by  which  the  king  was 
attacked  at  tliis  juncture,  suggested  the  necessity  of  a  regency ;  and  the  duke  of 
York,  by  the  authority  of  parliament,  though  in  contravention  of  the  ^Hshes  of  tlic 
queen  and  her  party,  was  appointed  regent,  under  the  designation  of  lieutenant  of 
the  kiugdom. 

*  John  Stowe,  the  annalist,  has  set  up  a  replication  against  the  claim  of  the  house  of  York,  and 
in  favour  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  which  is  not  much  known,  and  which  is  too  curious  to  be  with- 
held while  treating  on  this  subject.  This  document  is  contained  in  the  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  543,  in  the 
hand-writing  of  Stowe,  and  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Here  followeth  the  Replication  made  agaynst  the  title  and  clayme  by  the  Due 

of  Yorke  to  the  crowne  and  Realmes  of  england  and  fraunce,  which  that  the  sayd 

agaynst  the  o  i  j 

Duke  of  Vorke.  ^^^^  claymithe  by  the  right  and  title  of  sir  lionell  the  third  sonne  of  Kynge  Edward 
the  third,  and  by  Philipe  dowghter  and  heire  to  the  sayd  sir  Lionell,  whiche  clayme 
and  tytle  so  made  may  be  no  true  nor  right  wyse  clayme  nor  title  duringe  the  lyfe  of  Kinge  Henry  the 
syxt  and  his  heires  lyvinge  after  hym  as  hereafter  foUowinge,  is  more  openly  shewed  and  playnely 
declared. 

"  Be  it  knowne  to  all  well  disposed  people  havynge  will  to  vnderstond  the  truthe  that  thoughe  it 

so  were  the  right  of  the  crownes  of  england  and  of  fraunce  might  descend  vnto  a  woman  as  it  may 

not,  which  is  sufficiently  proved  in  the  trete  there  of  made  by  the  old  knight  exiled,  and  alls  it  shuld 

perteyne  to  the  Kynge  of  Scotts,  which  descended  of  an  elder  stocke  by  a  woman 

L  Chefe  JusUce"'       ^^^'^'^  ^^'"'^   Margaret  dowghter   of  the  Kynge   of  england,  then  any  man  now 

of  england.  clayminge  the  crowne  of  england.   but  yet  for  the  more  declaration  of  truthe  it  is 

to  be  had  in  mynd  that  Edward  now  occupienge  the  crowne  of  england  by  a 
pretensed  title,  sayinge  he  is  descended  there  vnto  by  the  right  of  a  woman  called  dame  Philipe 
dowghter  as  he  saythe  to  sir  lionell  of  Andewarpe  elder  brother  to  sir  John  of  Gaunt,  of  whom  is 
linially  descended  the  very  true  christen  prince  kynge  Henry  the  syxt.  The  whiche  Edward  hath  no 
right  to  the  sayd  Crowne  by  the  above  sayd  dame  philipe.  For  it  is  playnly  founde  in  the  crownes 
of  fraunce  and  of  holand,  that  the  sayd  dame  Philipe  was  conseyved  in  addowtry,  and  gotten  vpon 
the  wyffe  of  the  above  sayd  leonill,  by  one  S'' James  of  Audley,  knight,  which  was  steward  of  the  Hows- 
hold  of  the  above  sayd  wyffe  of  S'  leonell.  The  whiche  S''  Leonell  beinge  absent  by  the  space  of  one  yere 
and  halfe  from  his  wyffe  before  the  byrthe  of  the  sayde  dame  Philipe,  which  S''  James  Audley  afterward 
for  that  offence  was  beheded,  and  S'  leonell,  duke  of  Clarence,  devorsed  by  the  law  from  the  sayd  dame 
Philipe  his  wyffe.  And  after  was  wedded  to  the  dowghter  of  the  duke  of  melayne  and  in  that  contrie 
dyed  and  in  Pavy  is  buried  not  far  from  Melayne  and  sawe  never  his  first  wyfe  dame  Philipa  after 
with  his  eyne.  And  also  she  was  exiled  into  yrland  with  his  sayd  dowghter  Philipe,  which  Philipe 
had  never  fote  of  land  of  the  dutchy  of  Clarence  nor  bare  the  armes  of  England,  ne  none  that 
VOL.  I.  3  G 


410  €l)t  ilnsitcip  of  tin 

CHAP.  On  the  recovery  of  the  king,  the  duke  of  York  was  expelled  from  the  regency, 

^''  ijut  his  thii'st  for  regal  power,  combined  with  a  consciousness  of  the  legitimacy  of 
The  duke  liis  lierethtary  claims,  fixed  his  wavering  purpose;  and  Shakspeare  has  happily 
ambittous^  expressed  the  cogitations  of  the  ducal  claimant,  at  this  crisis  of  liis  destiny  : — 

projects. 

"   York.     Now,  York,  or  never,  steel  thy  fearful  thoughts, 
And  change  misdoubt  to  resolution  ; 
Be  that  thou  hop'st  to  be ;   or  what  thou  art 
Resign  to  death,  it  is  not  worth  the  enjoying  ; 
Let  pale-fac'd  fear  keep  with  the  mean-born  man, 
And  find  no  harbour  in  a  royal  heart. 

Faster  than  spring-time  showers,  comes  thought  on  thought ; 
And  not  a  thought  but  thinks  on  dignity. 
My  brain,  more  busy  than  the  labouring  spider. 

Weaves  tedious  snares  to  trap  mine  enemies. 

****** 

I  will  stir  up  in  England  some  black  storm, 
Shall  blow  ten  thousand  souls  to  heaven  or  hell ; 
And  this  fell  tempest  shall  not  cease  to  rage 
Until  the  golden  circuit  on  my  head. 
Like  to  the  glorious  sun's  transparent  beams, 
Do  calm  the  fury  of  this  mad-bred  flaw." 

First  bat-         Having  levied  an  army  in  the  north,  the  duke  marched  to  St.  Alban's,  where 
^'"^  ^^\,     the  first  battle  between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster  took  place.     In  this 

tween  the  ^ 

houses  of    |)attle,  wliich  was  foug-ht  on  the   12th  of  May,  the  Lancastrians  sufiered  a  severe 

York   and  '  '^  "^  _ 

Lancaster,  defeat,  and  about  five  thousand  of  their  troops  remahied  dead  upon  the  field,  amongst 
whom  were  the  duke  of  Somerset,  the  duke  of  Buckingham,  the  earls  of  Northumber- 
land and  Stafford,  lord  Clifford,  and  a  number  of  other  persons  of  distinction. 
The  king  himself  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  duke  of  York,  who  assumed  the  power 
of  governing  the  state,  but  rather  in  the  capacity  of  regent  than  of  sovereign. 

descended  from  hir,  by  theyre  right  as  they  shuld  have  done  if  she  had  bene  the  dowghter  of  the 
sayd  leonell,  which  S''  leonell  whan  he  was  ded  and  the  writts  called  diem  clausit  extremu  were  sent 
out  into  all  the  Shires  of  england,  they  were  all  returned  that  the  sayd  S'  leonell  dyed  without  heire 
or  yssue  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten,  where  fore  kynge  Edward  the  third  toke  all  the  lands  of  Sir 
leonell  into  his  own  hands.  And  at  a  Parliament  not  long  after  declared  this  case  above  sayde  vnto 
all  his  people.  In  the  which  Parliament  by  thadvyse  of  all  the  lords  and  Comons  of  england,  he 
entayled  the  Crowne  to  his  heires  males.  And  for  a  perpetuall  witnesse  that  his  dowghters  were 
agreed  vnto  the  same  they  cam  all  into  the  open  parliament  in  theyr  mantles  of  estate  embrowdered 
with  tharmes  of  england  and  there  openly  dysclaymed  and  renounsed  from  them  and  theyre  heirs  all 
the  right  and  title  that  they  had  or  might  of  possebylite  have  to  the  Crownes  of  england  and  of 
fraunce.  In  record  whereof  they  let  of  all  theyr  mantles  there  and  departed  out  of  the  parliament  in 
their  shirtes.  So  this  is  a  sufficient  declaration  that  thabove  remembred  Edward  that  now  occupiethe 
the  crowne  hath  no  right  there  to.  Fol.  163,  b. 


Countj)  |)alatme  of  Kanrndtnv  411 

A  letter  written  by  tlic  sons  of  the  duke  of  York,  the  earl  of  March,  afterwards    chap. 

V  I 

Edward  IV.,  and  his  brother  Edmund,  earl  of  Rutland,  from  Ludlow  castle,  serves  to   L_ 


shew  how  deeply  tliese  young  minds  were  already  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  tlie  contest  j^Jj'.'f  ,1,^ 
by  which  one  of  them  Avas  to  be  plunged  into  a  premature  grave,  and  the  otlicr  exalted  ^,'J^'^j;  "' 
to  a  crowTi : — 

"  RVGHT  HIEGH  AND  MyGHTY  PrINCE, 

"  Our  most  worscliipfuli  and  gretely  redoubted  Lorde  and  Fader,  in  as  lowcly 
wyse  as  any  sonnes  can  or  may,  we  recomaunde  us  un  to  your  good  Lordscliip. 
And  plaese  hit  yoiu*  hicglmesse  to  witte  that  we  have  ]'eceyved  your  worschipfult 
tres  yesturday  by  your  sv'nt  WilPm  Cleton,  ber^aig  date  at  Yorke  the  xxix  day  of 
May,  by  the  wliiche  WilPm  &  by  the  relaciou  of  John  Milewaticr  we  conceyve  your 
worschipful  &  Aactorious  spede  ageniest  your  enemyse  to  ther  gi'ete  shame,  and 
to  us  the  most  comfortable  tydings  that  we  desired  to  hei'e.  Where  of  we  thanke 
almyghty  God  of  his  yeste  Besechyng  hym  hertely  to  geve  youe  that  g"ce  & 
cotitUan  fortune  here  aftur  to  knowe  your  enemyse  &  to  have  the  victory  of  them. 
And  yef  hit  plaese  your  liieghnesse  to  luiowe  of  our  wilfare  at  the  makyng  of  tliis 
tre  We  were  in  good  helth  of  bodis  thonked  be  God,  Besechyng  your  good  & 
g'ciouse  faderhode  of  your  daily  blessmg.  And  where  ye  comaunde  us  by  your  said 
tres  to  attende  specially  to  our  lernyng  in  our  yong  age  that  schulde  cause  us  to 
growe  to  honor  &  worschip  in  our  olde  age,  Plaese  liit  you  liieghnesse  to  witte  that 
we  have  attended  our  lernyng  sith  we  come  heder.  And  schall  hereafter,  by  the 
whiche  we  trust  to  God  your  gi'aciouse  Loi-deschip  and  good  fadiirhode  schall  be 
plaesid.  Also  we  beseche  your  good  Lordeschip  that  it  may  plaese  youe  to  sende 
us  Harry  Lovedeyne  grome  of  your  kechyii  whos  svice  is  to  us  ryght  agitable  And 
we  will  sende  youe  John  Boys  to  wayte  on  your  good  Lordscliip.  Rieght  hiegh 
and  myghty  Prince  our  most  worschipfull  and  gretely  redoubted  Lorde  and  Fader 
we  beseeche  Almyghty  God  geve  youe  as  good  lyfe  and  long  as  your  owne 
Princely  hert  con  best  desire.  Writen  at  your  Castill  of  Lodelowe  the  iij  day  of 
Jun  (1454). 


£\mrMc9/3- 


y>n<)<f 


"^^Mm^ 


"  To  the  right  and  mitie  Prince  our  most  worsMppfull  and  gretely  redoubted  Lord 
^  Father  the  Duke  of  Yorke  ptectd"  <?(•  defenso'  of  England." 

3g2 


412 


€i)t  5]i£itorj)  of  t})t 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Badges  of 
the  houses 
of  Lancas- 
ter and 
York. 


The  blood  spilt  iu  the  battle  of  St.  Alban's  was  the  fii'st  that  flowed  in  that  fatal 
contest,  which  was  not  terminated  in  less  than  thirty  years — which  was  signalized  by 
thirteen  pitched  battles — and  iu  which  the  nobility  of  the  land  suffered  more  than  any 
other  order  iu  the  state.  The  people,  lUvided  in  their  aflections,  or  led  by  their 
superiors,  took  cUfferent  symbols  of  party ;  the  partisans  of  the  house  of  Lancaster 
chose  the  red  rose  as  their  badge,  wliile  those  of  York  took  the  wliite  rose  as  their 
mark  of  tUstinction ;  and  the  civil  wars  were  known  over  Europe  by  the  name  of  the 
quarrel  between  the  two  roses.  In  addition  to  the  red  rose,  the  house  of  Lancaster 
exhibited  on  state  occasions  a  mound  or  sphere  with  the  Lancaster  arms  emblazoned 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  circle ;  they  had  also  a  feather  and  scroll  worn  in  the  hats  of 
the  more  elevated  classes,  and  broom-pods  by  those  of  the  iuferior  orders.  The 
paper  manufactured  for  their  use  in  their  communications  with  each  other,  and  for 
their  public  documents,  bore  a  peculiar  water-mark,  and  it  was  only  necessary  to 
look  through  the  sheet  on  which  the  Lancastrians  wrote,  to  discover  wliich  side  of  the 
quarrel  the  writers  had  espoused. 


The  bai-  The  affairs  of  the  conflicting  parties  had  not  yet  proceeded  to  the  last  extremity  ; 

st"i?rin        the  nation  was  kept  some  time  in  suspense ;  the  vigour  and  spuit  of  queen  Margaret, 
suspense,    supporting  her  small  power,  still  proved  a  balance  to  the  gi'eat  authority  of  Richard, 


Countp  ^3alntine  of  3Lnnrasitn%  413 

■which  was  impaired  by  his  ill-defiucd  objects;  sometimes  aspiring  to  the  umnediate    chap 

and  at  other  tunes  to  the  reversionary  possession  of  the  crown  on  the  death  of  the  _ 

present  king.  Tlie  parliament  again  appointed  the  duke  of  York  protector,  owing 
to  one  of  those  relapses  into  mental  intUsjjosition  to  wliicli  Henry  was  subject ;  but 
the  queen  soon  produced  her  husband  before  the  house  of  lords,  where  he  declared 
his  intention  to  put  an  end  to  the  protectorate,  and  to  resume  the  government.  The 
ai-chbisbop  of  Canterbury,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  as  a  christian  prelate, 
endeavoured  to  mediate  in  the  differences  between  the  two  houses,  and  thus  to  prevent 
the  further  effusion  of  l)lood ;  but  tliough  these  attempts  were  received  by  both 
parties  with  an  appearance  of  cordiality,  and  though  the  duke  of  York  passed  in 
procession  through  the  streets  of  London  hand  in  hand  with  queen  Margaret  to  the 
altar  of  St.  Paul's,  on  wJiich  the  existing  anuuosities  were  all  to  be  sacrificed,  it  soon 
became  evident  that  the  reconciliation  was  of  the  most  transient  kind,  and  a  trifling 
difference  between  one  of  tlie  Idng's  retinue  and  another  of  the  earl  of  Warwick's, 
which  brought  on  a  combat  between  theii-  respective  partisans,  blew  it  all  into  air. 

The  duke  of  York,  having  joined  his  sons  at  Ludlow  castle,  was  silently  col- 
lectins:  forces  to  maintain  his  claims,  when  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  while  on  liis  march  to  Battle  of 

"  ,  B lore- 

join  the  duke,  was  overtaken  at  Bloreheath  in  the  county  of  Stafford,  by  lord  AucUey,  iieath. 

at  the  head  of  a  superior  force  of  tlie  Lancastrians.  The  battle,  whicli  was  fought  on 
the  21st  of  September,  was  long  and  sanguinary,  but  victory  at  length  declared  in  1459- 
favour  of  the  Yorldsts,  and  the  Lancastrians  left  two  thousand  four  hundred  men 
dead  on  the  field,  many  of  whom  were  from  Lancashire  and  Chesliire ;  and  amongst 
the  slain  was  sir  R.  Molyneux,  of  Sefton,  son-in-law  of  sk  Tliomas  Stanley,  the 
king's  cliamberlam.  The  duke  of  York  had  now  openly  declared  his  intention 
to  expel  the  princes  of  the  Lancastrian  line,  and  tliis  Avas  the  first  battle  avowedly 
fought  for  the  crown. 

The  list  of  proscriptions  which  followed  this  battle,  sufficiently  indicates  that  the 
men  of  Lancashire  were  by  no  means  unanimous  in  their  support  of  the  house  of 
Lancaster.  Parliament  having  assembled  in  six  weeks  after  the  battle  Avas  fought, 
attainders  Avere  exhil)ited  against  Richard,  duke  of  York,  and  his  adherents,  and 
amongst  the  persons  attainted  of  high  treason  for  the  part  they  took  at  Bloreheath, 
Ave  find  the  names  of  Thomas  Nevill,  John  NoaiII,  Thomas  Haryngton,  Thomas 
Pan-e,  and  William  Stanley,  to  Avhich  list  was  added  the  name  of  Robert  Boulde,  the 
brother  of  Harry  Boulde,  knight,  accused  Avith  others  of  having  industriously  circu- 
lated a  report  that  the  king  Avas  dead.  It  further  appears,  that  the  commons  house 
of  parliament  charged  Thomas,  the  first  lord  Stanley,  Avith  certain  heavy  offences, 
both  of  omission  and  commission,  as  set  forth  in  the  foUoAving  declaratiou  :* — 
]  *  Rot.  Pail.  38  Hen.  VI.  vol.  v.  p.  369. 


414  Cfte  in'storp  of  tf)t 

CHAP.  "  To  THE  King  our  Soverayne  Lord, 

'  "  Shewen, 

Decia-  "  The  Commens  in  tliis  preseut  Pariement  assembled.       That  where  it  pleased 

against      youre  Higluies  to  send  to  the  Lord  Stanley,  by  the  servaunt  of  the  same  Lord  fro 

Stanley.      Not^aigham,  chargyng  hym  that  upon  his  feyth  and  legeaunce,  he  slmld  come  to 

youre  Highnesse  in  all  haste,  Avith  such  felyshep  as  he  myglit  make.    Tlie  said  Lord 

Stanley,  uotwithstondyng  the  said  commaundement,  come  not  to  you ;  but  William 

Stanley  liis  Brother  went,  with  many  of  the  seid  Lordes  Servauntz  and  Tenauntz, 

grete  nombre  of  people,  to  the  Erie  of  Salesbury,  whicli  were  with  the  same  Erie  at 

the  distressyng  of  youre  true  Liege  people  at  Bloreheth. 

"  Also  Avhere  youre  said  Highues  gaffe  in  commaundement  to  youre  first  begoten 
sonne  Edward  Prynce  of  Wales,  to  assemble  youre  people  and  his  Tenauntz,  to 
resiste  the  malice  of  youre  Rebelles,  and  therupjwn  the  same  noble  Prynce  sent  to 
the  said  Lord  Stanley,  to  come  to  hym  in  all  haste  possible,  ^vitli  such  felysliip  as  he 
myght  make.  The  said  Lord  Stanley,  puttyng  tlie  seid  mater  m  delay,  feyntly 
excused  hym,  seying  he  was  not  than  redy.  Howe  be  it  of  his  owen  confession,  he 
had  before  a  commaundement  fi'o  youre  Higlnies,  to  be  redy  to  come  to  the  same 
with  his  said  felysliip,  upon  a  day  warnyng ;  wliich  delay  and  absence  was  a  grete 
cause  of  the  losse  and  distresse  of  your  seid  people,  atte  Bloreheth. 

"  Also  where  the  seid  Lord  had  sent  liis  servaunt  to  oure  Soverapie  Lady  the 
Queue,  and  to  the  seid  noble  Prynce  of  Wales  and  Chestre,  seyiug  that  he  slmld 
come  to  theym  in  all  haste  ;  and  after  that  he  sent  to  theyna  Richard  Hokesley 
his  servaunt,  to  Eggleshall,  certifying  them  that  he  wold  come  to  theyme  in  all 
haste  ;  and  desii'ed  for  asmoche  as  he  understode  that  he  was  had  in  jelosye  that  lie 
myght  have  the  vaward  asseyne  the  Erie  of  Salesbury,  and  his  felyshej) ;  and  the 
seid  noble  Prynce,  be  th'  advice  of  his  Counsell,  consideryng  that  the  felysliij^  of  the 
said  Lord  Stanley  was  fewer  in  nombre  tlian  the  felysliip  of  the  said  Erie,  willed 
and  desired  hym  to  come  to  the  said  noble  Prynce  and  his  felysliip,  that  they  beyng 
all  togedyr,  myght  come  to  have  assisted  youre  Highnes,  which  was  promysed 
feithfuUy  be  his  seid  servaunt  should  be  perfoimned  in  all  haste ;  which  notmtli- 
stondyng  was  not  perfourmed,  but  in  defaute  therof,  youre  people  were  distressed  at 
Bloreheth  aforesaid,  as  is  well  knoweu.  Howe  be  hit  that  the  seid  Lord  Stanley 
was  witliin  VI  mile  of  the  said  Heth  the  same  tyme,  accompanyed  with  H  M.  (2000) 
men,  and  rested  hym  with  the  same  felysliip,  be  the  space  of  HI  dayes  after  at  Ncav- 
castell,  but  VI  myle  out  of  Eggleshall,  where  the  Queue  and  the  Prynce  then  were ; 
and  the  said  Lord  Stanley,  on  the  morne  next  after  the  distresse  at  Bloreheth,  sent 
a  letter  for  liis  excuse  to  oure  Soverapie  Lady  the  Queue,  and  the  said  noble 
Prynce ;  wliich  said  letter,  your  said  Highnes  had  sent  to  hym,  commauudyiig  hym 


Coimtj)  |3alatine  of  SLanrnstm  415 

by  the  same,  to  have  come  to  youre  said  Highnes  with  liis  felyship  in  all  haste :     chap. 

which  came  nethir  to  youve  Highness,  to  the  Qnene,  nor  to  the  seitl  Prynce,  but  soo _ 

departed  home  agajme. 

"  Also  Avhen  the  seid  Erie  of  SiUesbiiry  and  liis  felyship  had  distressed  youre 
said  people  at  Bloreheth,  the  said  Lord  Stanley  sent  a  letter  to  the  said  Erie  to 
Drayton,  the  same  nyght,  thank}nig  God  of  the  good  spede  of  the  said  Erie,  rejoys- 
ing  hym  gretely  of  the  same,  trustyng  to  God  tliat  he  should  be  with  the  same  Erie 
in  other  place,  to  stond  hym  in  as  good  stede,  as  he  shuld  have  doon  yef  he  had 
been  Avith  theym  there ;  which  letter  the  seid  Erie  sent  to  Sii-  Tliomas  Haryngton, 
and  he  shewed  hit  openly,  sapng ;  Sutos,  be  mery,  for  yet  we  have  moo  freudis. 

"  Also  where  as  a  Squii-e  of  tlie  said  Erles,  on  the  Monday  next  after  the  said 
distresse,  told  to  a  knyght  of  youres,  which  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  felyship  of  the 
seid  Erie  at  Bloreheth,  that  a  man  of  the  Lord  Stanleys  had  been  mth  the  seid 
Erie  at  Drayton,  in  the  mornyng  of  the  same  day,  and  brought  hym  word  fro  the 
seid  Lord  Stanley,  that  your  Highnes  had  sent  for  hym,  and  that  he  wold  ride  to 
you  with  liis  felyship.  And  yef  eny  man  wold  resiste  or  lette  the  seid  Erie  to  come 
to  your  high  presence,  for  his  excuse,  accordyng  to  th'  entent  of  the  said  Erie ;  that 
than  the  said  Lord  Stanley  and  liis  felysliip  sliould  lyve  and  dye  with  the  said  Erie, 

agenst  his  resistours. 

"Also  where  the  said  noble  Prynce,  in  fuUfillyng  of  your  liigh  commaundement,  sent 
as  wele  for  yom-  people  and  liis  Tenauntez,  in  Werall  Hundred,  as  in  Maxfeld  Huncbed 
in  Chesliire;  the  said  people  and  Tenauntez  were  lette  by  the  seid  Lord  Stanley,  so  that 
they  myght  not  come  to  youre  Highnes,  nor  to  ye  presence  of  the  said  noble  Pr\Tice. 

"  Also  where  a  Servauut  and  oon  of  the  Cokys  of  the  said  Lorde  Stanleys,  was 
hurte  atte  Bloreheth,  beyng  with  William  Stanley,  in  the  felyship  of  the  said  Erie 
of  Salesbury,  and  left  behjnide  at  Drayton  ;  declared  openly  to  dpers  Gentilmen  of 
the  felyship  of  Tli'  erlez  of  Slirewsbury,  that  he  was  sent  to  tlie  said  Erie  of  Sales- 
bury,  in  the  name  of  the  said  Lord  Stanley,  with  moo  of  his  felysliip. 

"  Also  where  certayne  persons  beyng  of  the  lyvere  &  clothyng  of  the  said  Lord 
Stanley,  were  take  at  the  Forest  of  Morff  in  Shropschire  ;  the  day  afore  theire  deth 
confessed,  that  they  were  commaunded  in  the  name  and  behalve  of  tlie  seid  Lord 
Stanley,  to  attend  and  awayte  upon  the  seid  William  Stanley,  to  assiste  the  said 
Erie  in  such  matier  as  he  intended  to  execute. 

"  Of  all  which  matiers  doon  and  commytted  by  the  said  Lord  Stanley,  we  youre 
said  Commons  accuse  and  enpeche  hym ;  and  pray  youre  moost  high  Regalie,  that 
the  same  Lord  be  commytted  to  prison,  there  to  abide  after  fournie  of  lawe." 

To  this  petition,  the  king  returned  a  refusal  in  the  courtly  terms  of  "  Le  Roy 
s'  advisera." 


416  ri)t  5}l5t0ll)  of  tfie 


CHAP.  It  is  remarkable,  that  altliougli  the  battles  fought  between  the  houses  of  York 

"    and  Lancaster  for  tlie  crown  were  so  numerous,  the  county  of  Lancaster  was   not 


llie  scene  of  any  one  of  these  contests,  autl  hence  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  this 
county  escaped  many  of  the  horrors  that  intestine^wars  never  fail  to  inflict  in  the 
State  of  immediate  scene  of  their  operation.  The  contamination  of  public  morals  was, 
morals.  however,  felt  here,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom.  AccortUng  to  a  solemn 
declaration  of  parliament,  the  complaints  upon  this  subject  were  loudly  made 
tlu-oughout  every  part  of  the  kingdom,  of  robberies,  ranshments,  extortions,  oppres- 
sions, riots,  unlawful  assemblies,  and  wrongful  imprisonments.  To  aggi-avate  these 
evils,  the  oiTenders  were  aided  and  abetted  by  persons  of  station  in  the  country, 
whose  badges  or  liveries  they  wore,  and  by  whom  the  administration  of  justice  was 
continually  interrupted.  Amongst  the  most  notorious  of  the  offenders,  five-and- 
twenty  are  mentioned  by  name,  and  in  this  list  we  find  "  Robertus  Pylkyngton, 
nuper  de  Bury  in  Com.  Lane',  Armiger,"*  and  other  persons  of  equal  respectability. 
These  flagitious  outrages  originated  with  the  civU  wars,  the  greatest  of  all  national 
curses,  and  continued  till  those  wars  were  at  an  end,  when  the  laws  resumed  their 
dominion. 

Tlie  defection  of  a  large  body  of  veteran  troops  brought  over  from  Calais  by  the 
eai"l  of  Warwick,  which  deserted  to  the  royal  standard,  along  with  their  commander. 
Battle  of  sir  Andrew  Trollop,  seemed  for  a  time  to  extinguish  the  hopes  of  the  Yorkists  ;  but 
they  speedily  recovered,  and  met  the  king's  forces  at  Northampton.  Here  a  despe- 
rate and  sanguinary  conflict  took  place,  which  was  decided  against  the  Lancastrians, 
1040.  owmg  to  the  treachery  of  lord  Grey  of  Ruthin,  who  conunanded  king  Henry's  van, 
and  who  deserted  to  the  enemy.  The  loss  on  both  sides  amounted  to  ten  thousand 
men,  comprehending  a  large  proportion  of  the  nobility  and  gentry,  against  wliom 
the  earl  of  Warwick  and  the  earl  of  Marche  principally  directed  then-  hostility. 
Unsuc-  lu  the  session  of  parliament  which  followed,  a  kind  of  compromise  of  the  con- 

attempt  to  flictiug  claims  was  adopted,  under  the  sanction  of  the  legislature,  by  which  Henry, 
m/sTthe  ^^^^  ^^^^  been  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Northampton,  was  to  enjoy  the  crown 
eiees  be-  ^^  England  and  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  for  life,  but  at  liis  death  they  were  to 
tween  the  Jegceud  to  the  duke  of  York,  or  to  liis  heirs,  in  perpetuity.  Tlie  queen  could  ill 
houses.  brook  an  arrangement  by  wliich  the  title  of  her  only  son  to  the  crown  of  England 
was  extinguished.  To  support  tliis  title,  she  collected  a  numerous  army  from  the 
counties  of  Lancaster  and  Chester,  and  took  up  her  station  iu  the  neighbourhood  of 
Battle  of    Wakefield,  in  the  countv  of  York.     No  sooner  had  the  duke  of  York  heard  of  this 

Wake-  _  " 

field.         formidable  array  of  hostile  troops,  than  he  marched  to  the  north,  and  took  possession 
of  Sandal  castle.     Conceiving  that  his  courage  would  be  compromised  if  he  refused 

*    Rot.  Pari.  38  Henry  VI.  vol.  v.  p.  368. 


North- 
ampton 

July  10, 


CountP  ^Jalntmr  of  Xnnrnsittr.  417 

to  meet  a  woman  in  battle,  he  quitted  bis  strong  station,  and  advanced  into  the    chap. 
plain,  where  the  queen,  aided  by  lord  Clifford,  had  the  skill  to  place  his  troops       " 
between  two  fii-es ;  and  thougli  the  duKe  performed  prodigies  of  valour,  his  army  was 
completely  routed,  and  he  himself  was  numbered  amongst  the  slain.  The  queen,  proud 
of  such  a  trophy,  ordered  the  duke's  head  to  be  struck  off,  and  placed  upon  the  gates 
of  York,  adorned  -nith  a  paper  crown,  to  incUcate  the  frailty  of  his  claims, — 

"  Off  with  his  head,  and  set  it  on  York  gates. 
So  York  may  overlook  the  town  of  York." 

Lord  Clifford,  stUl  more  sanguinary  than  his  royal  mistress,  plunged  his  sword, 
after  the  battle  was  over,  into  the  breast  of  the  earl  of  Rutland,  the  duke's  youngest 
son,  in  revenge,  as  he  alleged,  for  the  death  of  his  father,  who  fell  in  the  battle  of 
St.  Alban's,  while  fighting  against  the  Yorkists. 

From  this  time  the  scabbard  was  cast  aside,  and  the  earl  of  Marche,  now  become 
duke  of  York,  determined  to  avenge  the  death  of  liis   father  and  brother,  and  to 
obtain  the  crown,   or  to  perish   in  the   attempt.     The  battle  of  Mortimer's   Cross,  Baltic  of 
fouffht   on   the    second  of  February,  with  the  loss  of  four   thousand  men   to   the  nier's 

"  .  .  .      Cross. 

Lancastrians,  seemed  to  open  the  way  to  the  gratification  of  young  Edward's  ambi- 
tion ;  but  the  second  battle  of  St.  Alban's,  fought  fifteen  days  afterwards,  in  which 
Margai-et,  attended  by  the  king,  held  the  command,  and  in  which  the  earl  of 
Warwick  was  worsted,  clianged  the  aspect  of  these  ever-varying  campaigns,  though 
it  did  not  prevent  Edward  irom  marcliing  to  London,  and  taking  possession  of  the 
throne. 

Although  Henry  was  dethroned,  and  Edward  seated  in  his  place,  the  civil  wars  ejw.  iv. 

.  Ill-'  f   '•scends 

were  by  no  means  at  an  end.     Margaret  having  returned  to  her  favourite  county  of  the 
York,  assembled  an  army  of  sixty  thousand  men ;    and  king  Edward,   vA{\\    liis 
celebrated  general,  the  earl  of  Warwick,  hastened  into  that  county  with  forty  thou-  r.atiie  of 
sand,  to   give  her  battle.     The  hostile  armies  met  at  Towton,  near  Tadcaster,  on  Field, 

ftlarch  29 

Palm  Sunday.  In  this  memorable  battle,  while  the  Yorkists  were  advancing  to  the  uoi. 
charge,  there  happened  a  heavy  fall  of  snow,  accompanied  by  wind,  which  drove  full 
in  the  faces  of  the  Lancastrians.  Lord  Falconberg,  who  led  the  van  of  Edward's 
ai-my,  improved  this  event  by  a  stratagem ;  he  ordered  a  body  of  infantry  to  advance 
before  the  line,  and,  after  having  sent  a  volley  of  flight  arrows  among  the  enemy, 
immediately  to  retire.  The  Lancastrians,  imagining  that  they  had  got  within  reach 
of  the  opposite  army,  discharged  all  theii-  arrows,  which  fell  short  of  the  Yorkists. 
After  then-  quivers  Avere  emptied,  Edward  advanced  his  line,  and  did  execution  Avitli 
unpunity  on  the  dismayed  Lancastrians.  The  bow  was,  however,  soon  laid  aside, 
and  the  sword  decided  the  combat,  which  ended  in  the  total  overthrow  of  king 
VOL.  I.  3  H 


418  mn  ?^(£{torj)  of  toe 

CHAP.    Henry's  forces.     Edwai'd  had  issued  orders,  before  the  battle,  to  give  no  qiiai'ter, 

and  the  routed  anny  was  pursued  with  cb'eadful  slaughter.    The  fljdng  troops  shaped 

theii-  course  to  Tadcaster  bridge,  but,  despairing  of  reaching  it,  they  turned  aside  to 
a  place  where  the  Cock,  a  small  rivulet,  discharges  itself  into  the  Wharf.  This  was 
done  with  so  much  huny  and  confusion,  that  the  bed  of  the  river  was  soon  filled  with 
dead  bodies,  which  served  as  a  bridge  for  the  pursuers  and  the  pursued  to  2:)ass  over. 
The  slaughter  at  tliis  point  was  tremendous.  According  to  the  historians  of  the 
period,  thii'ty-six  thousand  seven  hundred  men  fell  in  the  liattle  and  pursuit,  and  the 
waters  of  the  Wliarf  were  deeply  crimsoned  with  the  blood  of  the  victims.  The 
heralds  who  numbered  the  dead  upon  the  field  state  the  number  of  slain  at  twenty- 
eight  thousand,  and  under  the  sign  manual  of  king  Edward,  they  give  the 
follo^viue: — 


'o 


List  of  the  Noblemen  and  Knights  slain  in  the  Battle  of  Towton. 

noblemen.  knights.  . 

Henry  Percy,  Earl  of  Northumberland,  Sir  Ralph  Gray, 

Thomas  Courtney,  Earl  of  Devonshire,  Sir  Richard  Jeney, 

William  Beaumont,  Viscount  Beaumont,         Sir  Harry  Bellingham, 
John  Clifford,  Lord  Clifford,  Sii"  Andrew  Trollop, 

John  Neville,  Lord  Neville,  With  twenty-eight  thousand  num- 

Lord  Dacre,  bered  by  the  Heralds. 

Lord  Henry  Stafford,  of  Buckingham, 
Lionel  Welles,  Lord  Welles, 
Anthony  Rivers,  Lord  Scales, 
Richard  Welles,  Lord  Willoughby, 
Sir  Ralph  Bigot,  Knt.  Lord  de  Malley 

Honors  of         Sccucs  sucli  as  tliosc  portrayed  by  the  poet  after  this  battle,  though  creations  of 
civi  war.    j^g  ^^^^  inventive  fancy,  must  have  frequently  occurred  during  the  Wars  of  the 
Roses : — 

SCENE.     Towton  Field. 

E^iter  a  Father,  who  has  killed  his  So7i,  tvith  the  Body  in  his  ^4nns. 

Fath.     Thou  that  so  stoutly  hast  resisted  me. 
Give  me  thy  gold,  if  thou  hast  any  gold; 
For  I  have  bought  it  with  a  hundred  blows. — 
But  let  me  see : — is  this  our  foeman's  face  ? 


Cotmtp  ^3alatinf  of  Eanrasitfn  419 

Ah,  no,  no,  no;  it  is  mine  only  son !                                                                    CHAP. 
Ah,  boy,  if  any  life  be  left  in  thee,  "    


Throw  up  thine  eye ;  see,  see,  what  showers  arise. 
Blown  with  the  windy  tempest  of  my  heart, 
Upon  thy  wounds,  that  kill  mine  eye  and  heart. 
O,  pity,  God,  this  miserable  age ! — 
What  stratagems,  how  fell,  how  butcherly. 
Erroneous,  mutinous,  and  unnatural. 
This  deadly  quarrel  daily  doth  beget! — 
O  boy,  thy  father  gave  thee  life  too  soon, 
And  hath  bereft  thee  of  thy  life  too  late! 

King  Henry.     Woe  above  woe  !  grief  more  than  common  grief  ! 
O  that  my  death  would  stay  these  ruthful  deeds  ! — 
O  pity,  pity,  gentle  heaven,  pity ! — 
The  red  rose  and  the  ivhite  are  on  his  face, 
The  fatal  colours  of  our  striving  houses : 
The  one,  his  purple  blood  right  well  resembles ; 
The  other,  his  pale  cheeks,  methinks,  present : 
Wither  one  rose,  and  let  the  other  flourish ! 
If  you  contend,  a  thousand  lives  must  wither." 

The  parliament,  which  met  on  the  4th  of  Novemher,  employed  itself  in  the  usual  uei. 
work  of  proscription,  and  "  Henry  of  Derhie,  otherwise  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  the 
heii-s  of  his  body  coming,  were  utterly  disabled  from  enjoying  any  inheritance,  estate, 
or  profits,  Avitlun  tliis  realm  or  dominions  of  the  same  for  ever."  A  number  of 
nol)lemen  and  gentlemen  were  attainted  for  the  vague  offence  of  being  present  at 
the  death  of  the  duke  of  York,  slain  in  the  battle  of  Wakefield,  amongst  whom  were 
Richard  Tuustall,  Henry  Bellingham,  and  Robert  Wittingham,  knights.  By  the 
same  parliament  it  was  enacted,  that  the  attainder  of  Henry  VI.  should  subject  liim 
to  tlie  forfeiture  of  all  the  lands  and  possessions  belonging  to  the  duchy  and  cotmty 
palatine  of  Lancaster;  and  that  king  Edward  and  his  queen  should  enjoy  the  duchy 
and  liberties  to  the  same  belonging,  separate  from  the  crown ;  and  that  the  tenants 
of  the  said  duchy  and  county  shoidd  enjoy  all  then-  liberties  and  fi-aucliises 
unimpau'ed. 

The  battle  of  Towton  Field  seemed  decisive  of  the  wai's  between  the  houses  of 
York  and  Lancaster.  Henry  escaped  into  Scotland,  while  liis  more  fortunate  rival 
repaired  to  London  to  meet  his  parliament,  by  wliich  his  title  was  recognized,  and 
he  was  declared  king  by  right  from  the  death  of  his  father.  Margaret,  whose  spirit 
and  perseverance  remained  unsubdued,  sailed  for  France,  to  supplicate  tlie  French 
monarch  to  grant  her  forces  for  the  purpose  of  reasserting  the  claims  of  her  house. 

3h2 


420  Cf;e  li£itor|)  of  ti)t 

CHAP.    With  this  request  Le\\ds  so  far  comi)lied,  as  to  place  at  her  disposal  two  thousand 

"       troops,  with  wliich  she  embarked  for  England.     Having  inarched  to  Hexham,  where 

Battle  of    she  Avas  joined  by  a  luimber  of  volunteers  from  Scotland,  and  from  Lancashu-e,  and 

exham.    ^^^  other  northern  counties  of  England,  an  engagement  took   place  between  the 

April  25     qiieen's  troops,  and  the  Yorkists,  now  become  the  royal  army,  under  Montague,  wliich 

'"'^-         issued  in  the  total  defeat  of   the  Lancastrians,    and  the  capture  of  the   duke  of 

Somerset  and  lords   Roos   and  Hungerlbrd,  Avho  were  all   three  tried  by  a  court 

martial,  convicted  of  high  treason,  and  immediately  beheaded.     "  The  fate  of  the 

Depiora-     unfortuuate  royal  family  of  the  Lancastrian  house  after  this  defeat,"  says  Mr.  Hume, 

ti.m  oTthe  "  '^^^  singular.     Margaret,  flying  with  her  son  into  a  forest,  where  she  endeavoured 

femUyf'"   ^'^  conceal  herself,  was  beset,  during  the  darkness  of  the  night,  by  robbers,  who,  either 

ignorant  or  regardless  of  her  quality,  despoiled  her  of  her  rings  and  jewels,  and 

treated  her  with  the  utmost  ignominy.     The  partition  of  this  rich  booty  raised  a 

quarrel  amongst  them;  and  while  their  attention  was  thus  engaged,   she  took  an 

opportunity  of  making  her  escape  A\ith  her  son  into  the  thickest  part  of  the  forest, 

where  she  wandered  for  some  time,  overspent  with  hiuiger  and  fatigue,  and  sunk 

with  terror  and  affliction.      Wliile  in  this  wretched  condition,   she  saw  a  robber 

approach  with  his  naked  sword,  and,  finthng  that  she  had  no  means  of  escape,  she 

suddenly  embraced  the  resolution  of  trusting  entirely  for  protection  to  his  faith  and 

generosity.     She  advanced  towards  him;  and  presenting  to  liim  the  young  prince, 

called  out  to  liun,   '  Here,  my  friend,  I  commit  to  youi"  care  the  safety  of  your 

king's  son!'      The  man,  whose  humanity  and  generous  spuit  had  been  obscured, 

not  entii'ely  lost,  by  his  vicious  course  of  life,  struck  with  the  singularity  of  the 

event,  was   charmed  with   the   confidence  reposed  in  him,  and  vowed  not  only  to 

abstain  from  all  injury  against  the  princess,  but  to  devote  liimself  entnely  to  her 

service.      By  his  means  she  dwelt  some  time  concealed  in  the  forest,  and  was 

at   last   conducted   to    the    sea -coast,   when    she  made   her  escape  into  Flanders. 

She  passed  thence  into  her  father's  court,  Avhere  she  lived  several  years  in  privacy 

and  retirement.      Her  husband  was  not  so  fortunate,  or  so  dexterous,  in  finding 

Henry  VI.  ^^^  Hieaus  of  cscape.     Some  of  his  friends  took  him  under  their  protection,  and 

Tefu^e  in     couvcyed  him  into    Lancashii-e,   where   he  remained  concealed   during  a  twehe- 

sMre."^        month;  but  he  was  at  last  detected,  delivered  up  to  Edward,  and  thrown  into  the 

Tower."      The   place    of   his    concealment   was    Waddington  Hall,  in  the  parish 

of  Mitton   Magna,  in  the   north-eastern   part   of  the  county ;   and  the  person  by 

whom  he  was  betrayed  was  sir-  John  Talbot,  who,  as  a  reward  for  his  perfidy, 

received  a  grant  of  twenty   marks   a  year    from  Edward   IV.,   confirmed  by  his 

successor,  Richard    IH.,  and  made  payable    out   of  the   revenues   of  the  county 

palatine  of  Lancaster. 


Counti.)  |3alattne  of  anncastfr.  421 

Royal  Grant  to  John  Talbot  for  taking  Prisoner  King  Henry  VI.         ^^f^- 

AT  SaLESBURY.  

"  Recarilus  Dei  gi-acia  Rex  Anglie  &  Franciae,  &  Dominus  Hibeniie,  Omnibus 
ad  qiios  presentcs  liteie  perveiierint,  Salutem.     Cum  Domiiuis  Edwavdus,  inii)er 
Rex  Anglie,  Frater  nostov,  in  considevacione  boni   Sc  fidolis  fscrvicii  quod  Johannes 
Talbot  nuper  de  Salebuiy  Armiger  defunctus  in  captura  magni  Advcrsarii  sui  Hen- 
rici,  nuper  de  facto  non  de  jure  Regis  Anglie,  per  Hteras  suas  paten  tes  concessit 
eidem    Johanni    quandem    annuitatem    sive    annualem    feodum    viginti   niarcarmn 
Habend  :  &  percipiend:  eidem  Johanni  &  heredibus  suis  quousque  sibi  de  tcrris  vel 
tcnementis  ad  valorem  annuitatis  predicti  per  ipsum  Dominum  Regem  aut  hercdes 
suos  recompensat:  fuisset.  Nos  autem  consideracione  premisa,  &  pro  bono  Sc  fideli 
servicio  quod  dilectus  nobis   Johannes  Talbot  de   Salebury,  Miles,  filius  &  heres 
predicti  Johannis,  impendit  &  in  futurum  fideliter  impendet,  de  gracia  nostra  special] 
concessimus  &  per  presentes  concedimus  eidem  Johanni  annuitatem  sive  annualem 
feodum  viginti  marcarum  Habend  :  &  percipiendum  eidem  Johanni  .&  heredibus  suis 
quousque  sibi  &  heredibus  suis  de  terris  vel  tenementis  ad  annuum  valorem  annuitatis 
predicte  per  nos  aut  heredes  nostros  recompensatus  fuerit  percipiend:  annuitatem 
predictam  annuitatim  de  exitibus  &  revencionibus  Comitatus  nostri  Palatini  Lan- 
caster: per  manus  Receptoris  nostri  Comitatus  Palatini  predicti  pro  tempore  exis- 
tentis.    In  cuius  rei  testimonium  has  literas  nostras  fieri  fecimus  patentes.    Dat:  sub 
sigillo  nostro  Ducatns  nostri  Lancastr':  apud  Civitatem  Ebor:  vicesimo  sexto  die 
Junii  anno  regni  nostri  secundo,  1484. 

"  Per  literam  sub  signeto."    [Seal  much  damaged.] 

Considering  himself  noAV  securely  seated  on  the  throne,  Edward  threw  the  reins 
upon  his  inclinations,  and  sin-rendered  himself  up  to  those  voluptuous  pleasures,  to 
wliich  he  was  naturally  so  much  inclined.     His  vices  did  not  prevent  him  from 
meditating  a  marriage  ^-ith  Bona,  the  sister  to  the  queen  of  France,  and  Warwick 
was  sent  to  negotiate  the  alliance.     While  the  earl  was  engaged  in  this  mission, 
Edward  became  enamoured  of  the  widow  of  sir  John  Gray,  of  Groby,  whose  husband 
fell  in  the  second  battle  of  St.  Alban's,  while  engaged  on  the  side  of  the  house  of 
Lancaster.      FincUng  that  the   only  way  to  the  lady's  chamber  was  through  the  Edw.  iv. 
church,  he  was  privately  married  to  her ;  and  hence  the  remark  "  that  he  married  "'<">-'«g«' 
his  wife  because  she  Avould  not  become  his  mistress,  and  took  the  wife  of  another 
man  (Shore)  as  liis  mistress."     Warwick  could  not  brook  this  insult;  he  complained  R„p,,,, 
loudly  of  the  king's  conduct  towards  him,  and  associated  himself  with  such  malcon-  'v'"'  '^*'^^" 
tents  as  seemed  disposed  to  question  and  to  overthrow  the  king's  authority. 


422 


ClK  Sn'EitOlT)  Of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Attempt  to 
raise  a 
rebellion 
in  Lan- 
cashire 
against 
the    house 
of  York. 


Flight  of 
Edward. 


Restora- 
tion of 
Henry. 


Edward's 
return. 


April  11, 
1471. 


Battle  of 
Barnet. 


Death  of 
Warwick. 


The  earl  being  joined  by  the  duke  of  Clarence,  they  collected  a  number  of  their 
adherents,  and  marched  into  Lancasliire,  where  they  importuned  lord  Stanley,  who 
had  married  Eleonore,  the  earl  of  Warwick's  sister,  to  embrace  their  cause.  To  tliis 
application  lord  Stanley  returned  a  peremptory  refusal,  and  the  project  of  j-ising  in 
arms  to  displace  his  royal  master  was  for  the  present  abandoned  by  the  earl  of 
Warwick.  The  "  king-maker"  was,  however,  of  a  spirit  too  intrepid  to  be  diverted 
from  his  purpose  by  a  disappointment  of  tliis  nature ;  in  the  month  of  September,  in 
the  same  year,  the  attempt  was  renewed,  and  the  eai'l  and  the  duke,  availing  them- 
selves of  the  zeal  of  the  Lancastrian  pai'ty,  and  of  the  general  discontent  Avhich 
Edward's  extravagance  and  imprudence  had  excited,  they  raised  the  standard  of 
revolt  in  the  centre  of  the  Idngdom,  supported  by  an  army  of  60,000  men.  Edward 
hastened  to  encounter  this  formidable  enemy,  and  the  two  armies  approached  each 
other  near  Nottingham.  On  tlie  eve  of  the  battle,  Edward  was  surprised  in  the 
nio-ht  by  the  cry  of  "  War!"  when,  supposing  that  all  was  lost,  he  fled  into  Norfolk, 
by  the  advice  of  Ms  chamberlain,  and  from  thence  escaped  with  difficulty  to 
Holland. 

As  a  natural  consequence  of  this  royal  panic  and  temporary  abdication, 
Henry  VI.  was  taken  from  the  Tower,  and  again  seated  on  his  precarious  throne, 
under  the  auspices  of  Clarence  and  Warwick,  who  did  not  fail  to  vest  all  the  regal 
power  in  their  o^Ti  hands  as  regents.  Tlie  adlierents  of  the  house  of  York  followed 
the  king's  example ;  and  his  queen,  who  had  just  been  delivered  of  prince  Edward, 
was  amongst  the  fugitives.  Queen  Margaret,  who  was  stUl  abroad,  received  the 
intelligence  of  the  improved  prospects  of  her  house  with  rapture ;  but  before  the 
winds,  inconstant  as  her  o-nn;!  fortune,  could  waft  lier  to  the  shores  of  England,  the 
sun  of  the  house  of  Lancaster  had  set,  never  more  to  rise  in  her  family. 

A  supply  of  two  thousand  troops  having  been  granted  by  the  duke  of  Burgundy 
to  Edward,  he  returned  to  England,  and  disembarked,  as  Henry  of  BoUngbroke, 
earl  of  Derby  and  duke  of  Lancaster,  had  done,  at  Ravenspur,  in  Yorkshire, 
declaring,  as  that  duke  had  done,  that  his  object  was  not  to  challenge  the  throne, 
but  merely  to  obtain  his  paternal  inheritance.  By  one  of  those  unaccountable 
anomalies,  which  the  absence  of  records  and  the  vagueness  of  contemporary  liistory 
disqualify  us  from  explainmg,  Edward  was  allowed,  by  the  regents,  to  present 
himself,  without  molestation,  in  considerable  force  before  the  gates  of  London,  into 
which  be  was  admitted  without  a  struggle,  and  to  re-ascend  the  throne,  Henry 
haring,  very  peaceably,  retired  to  the  Tower.  The  battle  of  Barnet,  fought  three 
days  after  the  entrance  of  Edward  into  London,  in  which  he  commanded  in 
person,  tei-minated  fatally  for  the  house  of  Lancaster;  and  Warwick  himself, 
after  having  perfonned  prodigies   of  valour   as   a  foot  soldier,  when  he  ought  to 


Counti.)  ^3alatine  of  Sanrafitrr*  423 

liaA'e  been  dii'ccting  the  operations  of  Lis  ai*my  as  a  general,  was  numbered  amongst    chap. 
the  slain.  ' 


Queen  Margaret  reached  the  shores  of  England,  accompauled  by  her  son  Edward, 
now  eighteen  years  of  age,  just  in  time  to  hear  of  the  death  of  Warwick,  and  the 
defeat  of  liis  army,  but  not  in  time  to  prevent  that  catastrophe.  This  lion-liearted 
woman  seemed  now  to  bow  to  her  fate,  and  sought  the  privilege  of  sanctuary;  but, 
being  urged  by  Tudor,  earl  of  Pembroke,  and  others  of  the  adherents  of  her  house, 
to  make  another  effort  for  the  throne,  she  marched  through  Devon,  Somerset,  and 
Gloucester,  to  Tewkesbury,  daily  accmnulating  fi-esh  forces  on  her  route :    here  she  Battle  of 

Tewkes- 

was  overtaken  by  king  Edward,  and,  after  a  sanguinary  battle,  ovcrtlu'owu.     The  bury. 
queen  and  her  son  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors  ;  and,  to  consuimuate  the  cUsasters 
of  the  royal  house,  Edward  of  Lancaster  was  mm-dered,  in  cold  blood,  by  Edward  Catas- 
of  York,   and   his   sanguinary  brothers,    Gloucester   and    Clai-euce.      His  father,  theLan- 
Henry  VI.,  died  suddenly,  a  i&w  days  after,  in  the  Tower,  to  which  place  Mai-garet  family. 
was  committed  as  a  state  prisoner ;  and,  after  remaining  six  years  in  confinement, 
she  was  ransomed  by  Le\vis,  king  of  France,  at  the  price  of  fifty  thousand  crowns. 
The  queen  survived  her  cajitivity  fovu-  years,  having  spent  the  evening  of  her  liie  in 
solitude  and  exile.     The  courage  and  energy  of  this  extraordinary  princess,  were 
by  no  means  inferior  to  those  chsjdayed,  in  the  following  century,  by  queen  Elizabeth, 
whose  character  may  not  be  unfitly  compared  to  that  of  Margaret  of  Anjou  :   had 
the  latter  lived  in  happier  days,  unencumbered  by  a  husband  wlio  was  fitter  for  the 
cloister  than  for  sovereign  rule,  she  would  have  held  a  rank  no  way  inferior  to  that 
sustained  by  the  conqueror  of  the  "  invincible  armada."      The  reign  of  Edward, 
after  the  overthrow  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  presents  no  subjects  connected  with 
the  history  of  tliis  county — with  the  exception  of  a  fruitless  expedition  into  France, 
to  regain  the  lost  conquests  of  England,  in  wliicli  lord  Stanley,  and  several  Lanca- 
sliire  knights,  were   engaged;    but  M'hich   terminated   in  nothing  better  than   an 
ostentatious  display  of  military  strength. 

It  has  been  supposed,  by  Mr.  Nicholls,  the  editor  of  a  "  Collection  of  all  the  King  Ed- 
Royal  Wills  now  known  to  exist,"  that  Edward  IV.  died  intestate ;  or,  at  least,  that  win. 
his  Will  was  surreptitiously  destroyed  diuing  the  usurpation  of  his  brotlier,  the  duke 
of  Gloucester :  this,  liowever,  is  an  error ;  a  copy  of  tliis  prince's  Will,  made  by 
Rymer,  is  deposited  in  the  Rolls  chapel  ;*  by  wliich  document,  the  king  directs, 
"  that  all  the  revenues,  issues,  profl5ts,  and  commocHties  comrayng  and  growing  of 
oui-e  countie  palatine  of  Lancastre,  and  of  alle  oure  castelles,  lordshippes,  manoirs, 
lands,  tenements,  rents,  and  ser\-ices  in  the  countie  palatine  and  shii-e  of  Lancastre, 
parceU  of  oure  said  duchie  of  Lancastre,  with  then-  membres  and  appertenances,"  &c. 

*  Excerpta  Historica,  p.  366. 


424  Cfte  S^ieitoii)  of  tin 

CHAP,    shall  be  applied  "  towards  the  marriages  of  our  doughtres."     This  will  is  of  consi- 
^^'       derable  length,  and  bears  date  the  20th  day  of  June,  1475. 


1482.  In  the  last  year  of  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.,  a  petition  was  presented  to  parlia- 

ment, wliicli  had  been  promoted  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  Lancashii-e,  where  the 
The  use  of  manufacture  of  hats  has  prevailed  for  many  ages  to  a  great  extent.     This  document 
nery.         scrves  to  date,  with  tolerable  accuracy,  the  period  when  alarms  from  the  consequences 
of  improved   machinery  first  began  to   manifest  themselves  in  this  county.     The 
allegations  of  the  petition  are  in  these  terms  : — 

"  Prayen  youre  Highnes  the  Comons  of  tliis  present  Pai'liament  assembled. 
That  whereas  Huers,  Bonettes  and  Cappes,  aswele  seugle  as  double,  were  wonte 
truly  to  be  made,  wrought,  fulled  and  thikked  by  the  myght  and  strength  of  men, 
that  is  to  sey,  with  hande  and  fote  ;  and  they  that  have  so  made,  wrought,  fulled  and 
thikked  such  Huers,  Bonettes,  and  Cappes,  have  well  and  honestly  afore  thys  goten 
their  lyvyng  therby,  and  therupon  kept  api)rentices,  servauntes,  and  good  housholdes. 
It  is  so,  that  ther  is  a  subtile  mean  founde  noAve  of  late,  by  reason  of  a  Fullyng 
Mille,  wherby  mo  Cappes  may  be  fulled  and  tliikked  in  one  day,  than  by  the  myght 
and  strenghe  of  xx  men  by  hand  and  fote  may  be  fulled  and  thikked,  in  the  same 
day :  The  wliich  Huers,  Bonettes  and  Cappes,  so  as  it  is  aforesaid  by  the  said 
MUles  fulled  and  thikked,  ben  brosed,  brolcen  and  deceyvably  wrought,  and  may  in 
no  wise  by  the  mean  of  eny  MUle  be  truly  made,  to  the  grete  hurt  of  your  seid 
Highnesse,  and  of  all  your  subjetts  which  daily  use  and  occupie  the  same,  and  to 
the  utter  imdoyng  of  suche  your  subjettes,  as  ben  tlie  Makers  of  the  same  Huers, 
Bonettes,  and  Cappes,  and  wolde  and  entende  to  lyve  by  the  true  making  of  the 
same ;  Avithoute  youre  most  giacious  helpe  be  shewed  to  theiin  in  this  behalf." 

The  petitioners  conclude  A\ith  a  prayer,  that  parliament  will  interdict,  for  two 
years  at  least,  the  use  of  these  fulling-mills  ;  to  which  the  reply  is,  "  Le  Roy  le  voet." 
On  the  subject  of  improved  machinery,  by  which  manual  labour  is  abridged,  it  may 
be  observed,  that  the  use  of  such  machinery,  when  first  introduced,  is  frequently  an 
eyil,  and  sometimes  ruinous  to  those  engaged  in  the  operative  part  of  that  particular 
branch  of  manufacture  to  which  the  improvement  is  applied :  but,  viewed  as  a  public 
question,  involving  the  interests  of  the  nation,  these  improvements  are  beneficial ; 
and  to  them,  combined  Avitli  the  capital  and  enterprise  of  the  middle  classes,  and  the 
skill  and  industry  of  the  workmen  engaged  in  these  pursuits,  the  manufacturing  and 
commercial  gi-eatness  of  this  nation  is  to  be  attributed. 

Tlie  intrigues  of  the  court  which  followed  on  the  death  of  Edward  IV.,  were 
unbounded.     The  ancient  nobility,  with  the  duke  of  Gloucester  as  protector,  at  their 


Countj)  ^;3nlatine  of  Sancnstn*.  425 

head,  opposed,  by  every  ineaus  in  their  power,  the  relations  of  the  queen,  who  were    chap. 
considered  as  aspiring  upstarts ;  and  earl  Rivers,  her  l)rother,  su*  Richard  Gray,  one  ' 

of  her  sons,  and  sir  Thomas  Vaughan,  an  officer  in  the  king's  household,  were,  by  nanfdeeds 
the  authority  of  the  duke,  committed  to  Pontefract  castle,  for  "  setting  variances  edX'The 
amongst  the  states,  to  subdue  and  destroy  the  noble  blood  of  the  realm;"  on  which  qJou.?*^ 
vague  charge  they  were  executed.     Theii'  real  offence,  however,  consisted  in  stand-  ''^'■• 
iug  in  the  way  of  the  duke's  assumption  of  the  crown,  and  no  qviantity  of  blood  was 
thought  too  large  to  be  shed,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  impechments  to  his 
elevation.     Lord-chamberlain  Hastings  shared  the  same  fate,  for  venturing  to  doubt, 
whether  the  protector's  arm,  which  had  been  withered  from  his  birth,  Avas  diseased 
by  the  sorceries  of  liis  queen-sister  and  Shore's  wife. 

Hast.    "  If  they  have  done  this  deed,  my  noble  lord, — 
Glo.      If!  thou  protector  of  this  damn'd  strumpet, 

Talk'st  thou  to  me  of  ifs  ?     Thou  art  a  traitor — 

Off  with  his  head — now,  by  Saint  Paul  I  swear, 

I  will  not  dine  until  I  see  the  same — 

Level  and  Catesby,  look  that  it  be  done  ; 

The  rest,  that  love  me,  rise,  and  follow  me." 


Lord  Stanley  escaped  with  difficulty,  but  not  without  a  severe  contusion  ;  a 
murderous  blow  being  levelled  at  his  head  by  the  ruffians  introduced  into  the  council 
chamber,  at  Gloucester's  bidcUug,  to  seize  Hastings,  and  liurry  him  away  to  execu- 
tion.* The  duke  had  evidently  fixed  his  eye  upon  the  throne,  and  was  determined 
to  ascend  it,  at  whatever  price.  To  consummate  liis  purpose,  his  two  nephews,  iMurder  of 
Edward  V.  and  liis  brother,  Richard,  duke  of  Yorlc,  were  smothered  in  the  Tower,  pHnJeT" 
whilst  sleeping  in  then-  bed,  by  three  assassins,  of  the  name  of  Dighton,  Forest, 
and  Slater,  under  the  du-ection  of  su-  James  Tyrrel,  a  creature  of  the  duke's ;  and 
thus  was  perpetrated,  for  the  purposes  of  ambition, 

"  The  most  arch  deed  of  piteous  massacre 
That  ever  yet  the  land  was  guilty  of." 

Having  thus  removed  the  obstacles  in  his  way  to  power,  the  coronation,  wliich 
appeared  to  be  preparing  for  Edward  V.,  was  appropriated  by  the  duke  of  Gloucester 

*  According  to  sir  William  Dugdale,  quoting  from  Stow,  this  catastrophe  might  have  been 
avoided,  if  lord  Hastings  had  given  heed  to  a  dream  of  lord  Stanley's,  on  the  preceding  night,  in 
which  his  lordship  beheld  a  boar,  Gloucester's  crest,  goring  with  his  tusks  Hastings  and  Stanley,  till 
the  blood  ran  about  their  shoulders. 

VOL.  I.  3  I 


426  Cf)c  W^tory  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    to   Ids   own   pui-pose,  and  that   of  bis    queen.     The  ceremony  was  of  the  most 

"  splendid  kind,  tliat  the  gorgeousness  of  the  scene  might  conceal  the  blood  which 

tion^of       contaminated  the  track  to  the  throne.     Lord  Stanley,  who  had  just  been  liberated 

Rich.  III.   £j.Qjjj  ^jjg  Tower,  was  placed  in  the  hmniliating  situation  of  beaiing  the  mace  before 

the  king,  and  the  "  Lady  of  Rychemond  "  bore  the  queen's  train.     Tlie  other  Lan- 

casliii'e  peers  present  were,  lord  Grey  of  Wilton,  and  lord  Morley ;  and  among  the 

knights   were,  sir  William  Stanley,  sir  Edward  Stanley,  sii-  Charles  Pilkington,  sir 

Rafe  Asbton,  and  sii*  WilHam  Norris.* 

Letters  Diuing  the  short  reign  of  Richard  ITL,  a  considerable  number  of  letters  patent 

granted  by  ^^rc  gi'anted  by  the  king.     These  documents,  in  Latin  and  in  English,  are  jn-e- 

Rich.  III.    ggyygd  ju  ^vbat  is  styled  "  a  very  valuable  book,"  belonging  to  the  lord  treasurer 

Biu-gldey  in  the  Harleian  collection  in  the  British  Museum ;  and  the  following  are 

their  titles,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  the  county  and  duchy  of  Lancaster : — 

Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  433.  [Temp.  Rich.  IIL] 

ART. 

14  To  John  Howard,  knt.,  the  Office  of  Cliief  Steward  of  the  duchy  of  Lane. 
South  of  Trent. 

21  To  Henry  Stafford  Duke  of  Buckinghm  the  offices  of  constable,  steward,  and 
receiver  of  the  castle,  manor,  and  town  of  Monmouth,  in  S.  Wales,  and  of 
all  the  other  castles,  lordships,  manors,  towns,  &c.,  wliich  ai'e  parcels  of  the 
Duchy  of  Lane,  in  S.  Wales.  The  duke  is  also  appointed  keeper  or  head 
forester  of  the  forest  and  chace  of  Hodeuake,  and  of  all  the  other  forests 
and  chaces  being  paixels  of  the  Duchy  afores"*  in  S.  Wales. 

43  To  Sir  Rich''  Huddlestone  the  office  of  receiver  of  the  lordi"  manors  lands  & 
tenem*'  in  CumberP  &  Lancash'  which  were  foimerly  Tho'  Grey's  (Mar- 
quis of  Dorset.) 

03  A  Writ  appoint"  Guy  Fairfax  knt,  &  Milo  Metcalf  Chief  Justiciaries  of  Lane. 

70  Royal  Letters  for  the  advowson  of  the  Parish  church  of  Gayton,  parcel  of  the 
Duchy  of  Lane. 

86  Letters  Pat.  to  Tho'  Metcalfe  the  office  of  Chancellor  of  the  Duchy  of  Lane. 

&  the  custody  of  the  seal  for  the  same  office. 

87  Ditto. 

92  To  Guy  Fairfax  knighte  th'  office  of  chieff  Juge  of  Lancastre. 

93  To  Miles  Metcalfe  the  office  of  one  of  the  Juges  at  Lancastre. 

94  To  Thomas  Molineux  the  office  of  king's  Seijeant  and  Attorney  at  Lawe,  in 

all  his  coirrtes  within  the  counte  palatyne  of  L. 
*  Harl.  MSS.  2115.   f.  152. 


Countj)  ^Jalatine  of  aanrasfter,  427 

99  To  Hemy  Stafford,  D.  of  Buck,  the  office  of  constable,  stuarde,  and  receivour    chap. 
of  the  castles  maunors  &  toi\Ties  of  Mounemouthe  and  Kydwelly,  of  all       ^^' 
castles  lordshps  townes  &c.  hi  Wales,  and  the  Marches  pai-cels  of  the 
Ducliie  of  Lane.  &  thoffice  of  Pananster  ?*  Forster   and  Maister  of  the 
Game  in  all  the  forests  and  chaces  of  Wales  and  Maixhes  of  the  same, 
belonging  to  the  said  Duchie. 

102  To  John  Howard  D.  of  Norfolke  the  office  of  chief  Steward  of  the  Duchy  of 

Lane.  South  of  Trent. 

103  To  Thomas  Pylkyngtone  knight,  the  office  of  Sheiiff  of  the  county  of  Lane'  & 

the  county  Palatme. 

106  To  John  Dudley  Esq  the  office  of  Stew""  of  the  Duchy  within  tlie  counties  of 

Berks  and  Southampton. 

107  To  Sir  John  le  Scrop — chamberlain  of  the  Duchy. 
113  To  Su"  Ric''  Huddlestone  receiver  ut  supr^. 

116  To  therle  of  Siiny  the  Stewardsh''  of  the  Ducliie. 

130  To  Thomas  Kebell  thoffice  of  Gencrall  Attourney  of  the  Duchie  of  Lane,  in 

EngP  &  Wales. 
171  To  W.  Castby  thoffice  of  Steward  of  Daventre  Higham  Ferys  Paverells  Fee,  &c. 

177  To  Adam  Nelsone  th  office  of  Messagere  of  the  Duchie,  and  Ushere  of  the 

councelle  house  ordeyned  for  the  same. 

1 78  To  Ric'*  Pottyere  the  Attorneyshp  of  the  Duchie. 

179  To  therle  of  Surry  ut  supra. 

276  To  John  Fitz  Herbert  the  Baillieff  of  the  newe  Fraiichesie  of  the  Duchie  of 

Lane,  in  the  countie  of  Derby. 
327  "  To  John  Due  of  Norfolke  thoffice  of  chieffe  Steward,"  as  above  m  the  Latin 

patent. 

518  To  Nicholas  Gardyner  tliexecutor  of  John  Gardyner   License   to   found  a 

chauntrie  m  our  Ladie  church  of  Lane.  &  to  mortize  12  b.  of  land  there. 

519  To  Morgan  Kidwelly  the  Stewardshp  of  all  the  lordslips  of  the  Duchy  of 

Lane,  or  otherwise  belonging  to  the  king  in  the  co.  of  Dorset. 
824  To  Thom'  L**  Stanley  Lord  Strange  many  castles  lordsbips  and  manou-s  to 
hold  by  knights  service  whereof  part  of  them  belonged  to  Roger  Tocot, 
Henry  Stafford  Due  of  Buckingham,  &c. 
1628  "  Comission   to   the  Lord  Stanley  constable  of  England  to   sease   vnto   the 
Iduges  use  the  Manoir  of  Briglitmeed  in  the  counte  of  Lancaster  that  late 

*  This  word  is  thus  marked  with  the  (  ? )  in  the  Harl.  catalogue.     There  is  no  doubt  of  its  accu- 
racy, and  that  it  is  the  name  of  the  officer  who  superintended  forest-panage. 

3  I  2 


428  €i)t  S?t£itorj)  of  tl)t 


CHAP.  was  of  Thomas  Seint  Legere  his  rebelle.     Yeven  at  London  the  16'"  day 
of  Dec.   an°  primo."     Several   other   commissions   to  the  same  to  seize 

upon  lauds  belongiug   to   the   above  sir  Thomas    S'  Leger   and   Henry 

Stafford  D.  of  Buckinghiun,  are  found  here. 
2001  Warrant  for  the  Maire  &c.  of  Lane,  to  reteigne  20  marks  of  the  fee  finne  of 

their  towne  which  the  king  hath  geven  unto  them.     Yeven  at  Stoney  Strat- 

forde  y=  6'"  of  Nov^  a"  2''°. 
2210  Letter  patent  from  Edw  5  to  Tho'  Kebeele  for  the  attorneyship  of  the  Duchy. 
2366  Fees  &  Wages  of  officers. 
2377  Fees  payable  to  officers  in  the  Rape  of  Pevensey  and  paixel  of  the  Duchy  of 

Lancaster. 

The  following  is  the  warrant,  or  commission,  (niunbered  1628,)  from  Ricliard  IIL 
to  lord  Stanley,  to  seize  the  lands  of  sir  Thomas  St.  Leger,  who  had  mariied 
Anne,  the  king's  eldest  sister;  but  who  had  revolted  against  his  authority,  and 
suffered  the  punishment  of  death,  in  1483. 

Commission  for  seizing  the  Lands  of  a  Rebel,  in  Lancashire.     [1  Rich.  III.] 

The  Lord     ">  "  ^^*^'-  '^'^  ^'  right  trusty  f  right  welbeloued  Cousin  f  Counsello' 

Stanley.  ^  tlie  lord  Stanley,  Constable  of  England,  gi-eting.  We  wil  and  charge 
you  and  by  these  psentf  yeue  you  fill  auctorite  f  power  to  sease  into 
o'  handf  the  manoir  or  Lordship  of  Brightmede  in  o'  Countie  of  Lancastre 
that  late  was  of  Th.  Seintleger  our  Rebell  and  thisseues  Rentf  and  Reuenues 
f?  of  from  Michelmesse  last  passed  to  take  f  pceyue  to  our  vse  f  behavf , 
yeuing  straitly  in  coiiiaundement  to  the  offics  and  tenauntf  of  the  said  maner 
or  lordship  and  to  all  others  our  offics  treue  liegeaunces  f  subjettf  that  vnto 
you  and  yo"'  assignees  in  thexecucion  of  the  pmisses  they  be  attending  aiding 
fauoling  f  assisting  as  it  appteineth.  Yeuen  at  London  the  xvj  day  of  Dec 
A°  pmo.  [Fol  134  b. 


[Ten  other  commissions  follow  the  above ;  or,  ratlier,  ten  memoranda  of  such 
commissions  ;  addressed  to  *'  The  Lord  Stanley,"  to  seize  lands  and  manors  belong- 
ing to  sir  Thomas  St.  Leger  and  the  duke  of  Buckingham,  forfeited  by  rebellion, 
and  situated  in  the  counties  of  "  Wilts,  Warre  Leuestre,  Chester,  Beds,  Hertford, 
Soms,  Rutland,  and  Oxford."] 


Coiinti?  |3alatmr  of  Sanca^tfr.  429 

A  Warrant,  or  Commission.     [2  Rich.  III.] 

"A  coniLSsion  clii-ected  to  al  knightf  Squiers  gentilmen  and  al 

Strnle°y&         ^     op  the  kiugf  siibjecttf  of  the  Coimte  of  Chester.     Shewyng  that 

StrLge  &         (     the  kmg  hath  deputed  the  lord  Stanley,  the  lord  Strannge  and 

S'^W'^Stanley.    }     S'  Willm    Stanley   to  have   the  Rule  and   leding  of  al  psones 

appointed  to  do  the  Idng  §uice  when  they  be  warned  ageinst  the  kyngf  Rebellf 

Charging  them  ^^fore   to  pvyde  eflfectuel  attendaunce.     And  if  any  Rebellf 

arryue  in  thoos  ptes  pat  than  al  pe  power  that  they  can  make  be  redy  tassist 

the  saide  lorde  and  knight,  Vpon  theii-e  feithes  and  legeauncf  fc?.     Yeuen  at 

Windesore  the  xiij  day  of  Januer  A°  ij''°. 

The  same     >  "  ^  Ijke  Comission  to  the  knightf  Squiers  gentilmen  f  o?  of  the 

lorde.        i      Countie  of  Lancastre  to  geve  their  attendaunce  vpon  the  lorde  Stanley 

f  Strannge  to  doo  the  kiuge    grace  9uice   ageinst  his  Rebellf  in 

whatsoeu?  place  w'in   this   RojTue   thay  fortune  tanyue,  Vpon   the  feithe  f 

leigeaunces.     Yeuen  at  Westni  the  xiij  day  of  Januer.  A°  ij"*". 

[Fol  201  h. 

Harl.  MSS.    Cod.  592. 

The  first  article  in  tliis  volume  is  headed  "  Pro  Ducatu  Lancastrie,"  and 
consists  of  a  patent,  by  wliich  the  king  (supposed  to  be  Edward  IV.,  though  it  is 
not  so  expressed,  the  style  being  sknply  "  Edwardus  Dei  gratia,"  &c.)  confimis  to 
hunself  and  heirs,  being  kings  of  England,  in  perpetuity,  all  the  liberties,  privileges, 
customs,  &c.  of  the  county  palatine  and  duchy  of  Lancaster,  previously  gi-anted  by 
his  ancestors,  kings  of  England,  by  charters,  which  are  here  recited.  This  article 
is  an  Inspeximus,  tested  thus  : — 

"  Teste  Pr  apud  WestiS  quaito  die  Novembris  :"  Witness  the  Idng  at  West- 
minster, November  4. 

No  date  of  the  dominical  or  regal  year.  It  consists  of  twenty-four  very  large 
folio  pages. 

In  order  to  reconcile  lord  Stanley  to  Richard's  usurpation,  he  was  constituted 
steward  of  Ins  household,  and  constable  of  England,  for  life,  being  at  the  same  time 
invested  ^-ith  the  most  noble  order  of  the  garter.  All  these  acts  of  royal  favour 
failed  to  extinguish  the  hatred  wliich  that  nobleman  bore  to  the  tyi-ant,  and  to  his 
sanguinary  deeds.     Of  tliis,  the  king,  whose  suspicions  never  slumbered,  was  fully 


CHAP. 
XI. 


430 


€\)t  W^tov^  oi  tin 


CHAP. 
XI. 


George 
lord 
Strange 
detained 
as  a  host- 
age. 

Attainder 
of  the 
countess 
of  Rich- 
mond. 


a^ai-e ;  and,  that  he  might  have  the  more  secure  hokl  on  the  allegiance  of  lord 
Stanley,  and  prevent  him  from  exciting  an  insurrection  in  Lancasliire  and  Cheslm-e, 
where  his  power  and  influence  were  almost  unlimited,  Richard  insisted  that  George 
lord  Strange,  the  son  and  heir  of  the  house  of  Stanley,  should  remain  in  liis  hands 
as  a  hostage.  Tliese  suspicions  were  increased  hy  the  cii'cumstance  of  lord  Stanley 
hanng  mamed  for  liis  second  wife  Margaret,  the  widow  of  Echnund  earl  of  Rich- 
mond ;  hy  whom  she  had  issue,  Henry  earl  of  Richmond ;  the  representative  of  the 
house  of  Lancaster. 

Richai-d's  displeasure  was  subsequently  marked  by  an  act  of  attainder  against 
the  countess  of  Riclunond,  in  which  it  is  set  forth,  that  "  Forasmuch  as  Margaret 
Countesse  of  Richmond,  Mother  to  the  Kyngs  greate  Rebelle  &  Traytour,  Herry 
Erie  of  Richemond,  hath  of  late  conspii-ed,  confedered,  &  committed  high  Treason 
agenst  oure  Soveraigne  Lorde  the  King  Richard  the  Tliird,  in  dyvers  &  sundry 
wyses,  &  in  especiall  in  sendyng  messages,  writyngs  &  tokens  to  the  said  Henry, 
desiryng,  procuryng,  &  stirryng  hym  by  the  same,  to  come  into  this  Roialme,  & 
make  Wen-e  agenst  oure  said  Soveraigne  Lorde ;  to  the  whiche  desyi-e,  procm-yng, 
&  stiiTjTige  the  said  Henry  applied  hjm,  as  it  appereth  by  experience  by  hym  late 
shewed  in  that  behalf.  Also  the  said  Countesse  made  chevisancez  of  gi-eate  somes 
of  money,  as  well  within  the  Citee  of  London,  as  in  other  places  of  this  Roialme  to 
be  employed  to  the  execution  of  the  said  Treason  &  malicious  purpose ;  &  also  the 
said  Countesse  conspired,  confedered  &  imagjoied  the  destruction  of  oure  said 
Soveraigne  Lord,  &  was  assentyng,  knowyng  &  assistyng  Henry,  late  Duke  of 
BuckjTigham." 

Tlie  tyrant,  of  his  grace  and  favour,  as  he  alleges,  but  under  the  influence  of  his 
fears,  as  is  more  probable,  and  in  consideration  of  the  faithful  services  done  and 
intended  to  be  done  by  Thomas,  lord  Stanley,  husband  of  the  countess,  remitted  the 
gi-eat  punislunent  of  treason — public  execution.  But  at  the  same  time  he  declared 
all  her  property  forfeited  to  the  crown,  whether  in  fee  simple,  fee  tail,  or  otherwise ; 
but  not  to  the  prejudice  of  Tliomas,  lord  Stanley,  or  any  other  person  or  persons, 
with  the  exception  of  the  countess  of  Richmond.  How  far  the  charges  contained  in 
this  act  of  attainder  were  founded,  it  is  difficult  at  this  time  to  detennine;  but  it  is 
liiglJy  probalde  that  a  descendant  of  the  house  of  Lancaster  would  not  be  an  unin- 
terested spectator  of  the  claims  of  her  son  to  the  crown,  in  opposition  to  those  of  a 
prince,  whose  sanguinaiy  crimes  had  rendered  him  universally  obnoxious.  It  does 
not  appear  that  the  countess  was  ever  removed  from  Lathom  house  for  trial,  thougli 
it  was  ordered  that  she  should  be  kept  in  ward  by  her  lord,  in  private  apartments, 
and  not  suffered  to  hold  any  communication  with  tlie  king's  enemies.  One 
of  the  fiist  acts  of  the  next  reign  was  to  aimul  this  act  of  attainder,  and  fully  to 


Coiintp  palatmt  of  aanrasitfr,  431 


reinstate  the  "  noble  i)rincess  Mai-garet,  countess  of  Richmond,  in  all  her  pos-    chap. 

sessions."*  


Maro-aret,  countess  of  Richmond,  was  the  only  daughter  of  John,  first  duke  of 
Somerset,  the  gi-andson  of  John  of  Gaunt,  and  Catlierine  Swinford,  This  lady  had 
married  Edmund,  cai-1  of  Richmond,  and  Henry,  the  present  earl,  was  the  only 
issue  of  that  maniage.  She  had  afterwards  manied  su-  Henry  Stafford,  and,  at  his 
death,  espoused  Thomas,  lord  Stanley.  The  present  earl  of  Richmond  had  long 
been  a  source  of  disquietude  to  the  reigning  family  of  the  house  of  York,  who  had 
spared  no  pains  to  obtain  possession  of  his  person,  for  the  purpose  of  administering 
those  murderous  remecHes  for  the  cm'e  of  a  disputed  title,  which  they  so  well  knew 
how  to  apply.  But,  by  providential  interposition,  he  sur^■ived  all  then-  machinations, 
and  an  alliance  suggested  by  the  mai'quis  of  Dorset,  and  the  bishop  of  Ely,  between  Proposal 
the  earl  of  Richmond  and  EHzabeth,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Edward  IV.,  promised  the  Roses, 
to  effect  an  union  between  the  red  and  the  wliite  roses,  for  whicli  the  nation  had 
long  panted  with  ardent  desu-e.  The  first  attempt  to  accompUsh  tliis  olyect  by 
the  asencv  of  the  duke  of  Buckingham  failed,  and  the  duke  and  a  number  of  his 
fiiends  became  the  victims  of  the  premature  enterprise.'!' 

Before  the  duke  embarked  for  England,  he  addi-essed  a  letter  to  his  friends, 
couched  in  these  teims  :| — 

"  R'  trusty,  wor",  &  HoSble  good  Freinds  &  our  Allyes  I  greet  you  well.  Temp. 
Being  giuen  to  understand  yom-  good  deuoir  &  intente  to  aduance  me  to  y'  further- 
ance of  my  rightfuU  claime,  due  &  lineaU  Inheritance  of  y'  Crowne.  And  for  y" 
just  depriuing  of  y'  Homicide  &  unnaturall  Tyrant  w'^"'  now  unjustly  beai-s  Dominion 
ouer  you,  I  giue  you  to  understand  y'  noe  Cluistian  heart  can  be  more  full  of  joye  & 
gladues,  then  y*^  heart  of  me  yoJ  poore  exiled  Friend,  who  wUl  upon  y°  instance  of 
yom-  sure  Aduertise  what  powers  y'  will  make  ready,  and  what  Captains  &  leaders 
you  gett  to  conduct  be  prepared  to  pass  ouer  y"  Sea  w""  such  forces  as  my  Friends 
here  are  preparing  for  me.  And  if  I  haue  such  good  speed  and  success  as  I  wish 
according  to  your  desire,  I  shall  ever  be  most  forward  to  remember,  &  wholly  to 

*  Rot.  Pari.  1  Henry  VII.  vol.  vi.  page  286. 

t  Amongst  others,  a  gentleman  of  the  name  of  William  Colingbourne,  who  had  been  high  sherifFof 
Wiltshire  and  Dorsetshire,  suffered  death  for  having  written  the  following  whimsical  jeM  d' esprit,  in 
allusion  to  the  names  of  the  two  royal  favourites,  Ratcliffe  and  Catsby,  and  to  the  crest  of  Lovel, 
which  was  a  dog,  and  that  of  Richard,  which  was  a  boar  : — 

"  Tlie  Rat,  the  Cat,  and  Lovel  the  dog. 
Rule  all  England  under  a  Hog." 

:  Har.  MS.  Cod.  737,  fo.  2  b. 


432  ■  CI)f  ijistoi))  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    requite  tliis  jour  gi-eat  &  most  louinge  kindness  in  my  just  quarrell.     Yeouen  under 

XT 

"    our  Signet,  &c. 

"  I  pray  you  giue  credence  to  y''  Messenger  of  y'  he  shall  impart  to  you." 

Retarded  in  the  attainment  of  his  object  by  the  failure  of  the  duke  Buckingham's 
enterprise,  but  by  no  means  discouraged  from  pursuing  it,  the  earl  of  Richmond, 

"  England's  hope," 

Landing     embarked  from  Normandy  with  a  small  army  of  two  thousand  men,  with  which  he 

duke"  of     landed  at  Milford  Haven,  where  he  was  joined  by  sir  Richard  Rice  ap  Thomas, 

i^'E.Tg"-'"'  who  had  been  entrusted  with  a  command  in  Wales  by  the  tyrant  Richard.     In  Ms 

'^"''"         march  into  the  interior  of  the  country  he  Avas  joined  by  the  powerful  family  of 

Shrewsbury,  as  well  as  by  sir  Thomas  Bourcliier  and  sir  Walter  Hungerford,  and  a 

large  number  of  persons  of  inferior  note.     Richard,  aware  of  the  storm  by  which  he 

Avas  menaced,  had  collected  a  well-appointed  army  in  Nottinghamshire,  and  towards 

this  point  the  earl  of  Richmond  du-ected  his  course.     Having  anived  at  Tamworth, 

he  addi-essed  his  followers  in  tenns,  perhaps,  less  poetical,  but  not  less  inspiring, 

than  the  following  : — 

Rich.  "  Fellows  in  arms,  and  my  most  loving  friends, 
Bruis'd  underneath  the  yoke  of  tyranny. 
Thus  far  into  the  bowels  of  the  land 
Have  we  march'd  on  without  impediment ; 
And  here  receive  we  from  our  father  Stanley 
Lines  of  fair  comfort  and  encouragement. 
The  wretched,  bloody,  and  usurping  boar. 
That  spoil'd  your  summer  fields,  and  fruitful  vines, 
Swills  your  warm  blood  like  wash,  and  makes  his  trough 
In  your  embowell'd  bosoms ;  this  foul  swine 
Lies  now  even  in  the  centre  of  this  isle. 
Near  to  the  toun  of  Leicester,  as  we  learn  : 
From  Tamworth  thither  is  but  one  day's  march. 
In  God's  name,  cheerly  on,  courageous  friends. 
To  reap  the  harvest  of  perpetual  peace, 
By  this  one  bloody  trial  of  sharp  war." 

Shakspeare's  Rich.  III.  Act  V.  Scene  II. 

Richai-d,  knowing  that  he  had  forfeited  all  claim  to  the  confidence  of  his 
people,  that  the  enormities  he  had  committed  for  the  attainment  of  the  throne 
had  withdrawn  from  him  the  flower  of  his  nobility,  and  that  those  who  feigned 
allegiance   to   his   person   and   goveniment,  panted   for    an  opportunity  to  betray 


Coimti.)  |3alatinr  of  S-anrnstm  433 

and  desert  him,  became  more  suspicious  of  liis  friends  than  alarmed  by  his  enemies,    chap 

The  persons  of  whom  he  entertained  the  gi-eatest  suspicion,  and  those  wlio  had  the  

power  more  than  any  others  to  decide  liis  fate,  Avere  lord  Stanley,  and  his  brother, 
sir  William  Stanley.  By  a  policy  that  is  only  to  be  accounted  for  on  the  principle, 
tliat  those  princes  whom  Providence  has  marked  out  for  ruin,  he  first  infatuates,  the 
king  commissioned  lord  Stanlej'  to  raise  an  army  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and 
Chester.  The  nmnber  of  soldiers  under  the  command  of  the  Stanleys  was  so  consi- 
derable, that  the  decision  of  the  approaching  battle,  on  wliich  a  kingdom  depended, 
was  placed  in  their  hands.  The  day  before  the  battle  commenced,  Richai-d  maixhed 
to  Leicester  at  the  head  of  his  army,  and  entered  that  town  flith  a  countenance 
strongly  characteristic  of  the  gloomy  state  of  his  mind.  He  took  up  his  quarters 
for  the  night  at  the  principal  inn,*  and  concentrated  his  outposts,  in  prepai'atiou  for 
the  approaching  engagement. 

The  dawn  of  the  day  found  the  two  hostile  armies  on  Bosworth  field  ;  Richard  in 
the  command  of  twelve  thousand  men,  and  Richmond  with  about  half  that  number. 

*  Richard  slept  at  the  Blue  Boar  Inn,  and  the  bedstead  whereon  he  is  supposed  to  have  lain  is 
still  preserved,  and  its  history  is  thus  handed  down : — 

"  In  the  year  1613,  Mrs.  Clark,  keeper  of  that  inn,  was  robbed  by  her  servant  maid  and  seven 

men,  and  the  relation  is  thus  given  by  sir  Roger  Twisden,  who  had  it  from  peisons  of  undoubted 

credit,  who  were  not  only  inhabitants  of  Leicester,  but  saw  the  murderers  executed  :  "  When  king 

Richard  III.  marched  into  Leicestershire  against  Henry,  earl  of  Richmond,   afterwards   Henry  VII. 

he  lay  at  the  Blue  Boar  Inn,  in  the  town  of  Leicester,  where  was  left  a  large  wooden  bedstead,  gilded 

in  some  places,  which,  after  his  defeat  and  death  in  the  battle  of  Bosworth,  was   left,   either  through 

haste,  or  as  a  thing  of  little  value,  (the  bedding  being  all  taken  from  it.)  to  the  people  of  the  house : 

thenceforward,  this  old  bedstead,  which  was  boarded  at  the  bottom,  (as  the  manner  was  in  those 

days,)  became  a  piece  of  standing  furniture,  and  passed  from  tenant  to  tenant  with  the  inn.     In  the 

reign  of  queen  Elizabeth,  this  house  was  kept  by  one  Mr.  Clark,  who  put  a  bed  on  this  bedstead  ; 

which  his  wife  going  to  make  hastily,  and  jumbling  the  bedstead,  a  piece  of  gold  dropped  out.     This 

excited  the  woman's  curiosity ;  she  narrowly  examined  this  antiquated  piece  of  furniture,  and,  finding 

it  had  a  double  bottom,  took  off  the  uppermost  with  a  chisel,  upon  which  she  discovered  the  space 

between  them  filled  with  gold,  part  of  it  coined  by  Richard  III.  and  the  rest  of  it  in  earlier  times. 

Mr.  Clark  (her  husband)  concealed  this  piece  of  good  fortune,  though  by  degrees,  the  effects  of  it 

made  it  known,  for  he  became  rich  from  a  low  condition,  and,  in  the  space  of  a  few  years,  mayor  of 

the  town  ;  and  then  the  story  of  the  bedstead  came  to  be  rumoured  by  the  servants.     At  his  death,  he 

left  his  estate  to  his  wife,  who  still  continued  to  keep  the  mn,  though  she  was  known  to  be  very  rich; 

which  put  some  wicked  persons  upon  engaging  the  maid-servant  to  assist  in  robbing  her.     These 

folks,  to  the  number  of  seven,  lodged  in  her  house,  plundered  it,  and  carried  off  some  horse-loads  of 

valuable  things,  and  yet  left  a  considerable  quantity  of  valuables  scattered  about  the  floor.     As  for 

Mi's.  Clark  herself,  who  was  very  fat,  she  endeavoured  to  cry  out  for  help,  upon  which  her  maid 

thrust  her  fingers  down  her  throat,  and  choked  her;  for  which  fact  she  was  burnt,  and  the  seven  men, 

who  were  her  accomplices,  were  hanged  at  Leicester  some  time  in  the  year  1613." 

VOL.  I,  3  K 


434 


m)t  |f?ieitori)  of  t\)t 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Aug.  22, 
1485. 


Battle  of 
Bosworth 
Field. 


loril  Stanley  had  placed  himself  near  the  neighbouring  village  of  Atherstone,  six 
miles  from  the  field  of  battle,  with  a  force  differently  estimated  by  historians,  but 
probably  amounting  to  about  five  thousand  men.  Even  now  the  determination  which 
liis  lordship  had  taken  was  not  generally  known  in  the  conflicting  armies,  though 
the  commanders,  no  doubt,  had  sagacity  enough  to  discover  that  he  had  abandoned 
Richard,  and  was  determined  to  support  his  rival  to  the  throne.  The  sword 
suspended  over  the  neck  of  lord  Strange,  Avho  was  in  Richard's  camp  as  a  hostage, 
hung  only  by  a  haii* ;  but  the  policy  of  the  king  suffered  it  not  to  descend,  that  he 
might  still  retain  some  hold  upon  the  conduct  of  the  noble  father  of  tliis  gallant 
youth. 

Addi-essing  his  soldiers,  Richard  exclaimed — "  I  hold  the  crown  from  you,  and 
you  must  maintain  it.  Who  is  our  adversary  ?  An  unknown  Welslmian ;  begotten 
by  a  father  less  known  than  liimself ;  and  commanding  a  force  consisting  of  banished 
vagabonds,  the  very  scum  of  the  earth,  and  of  beggarly  Frenchmen,  come  here  to 
plunder  your  goods,  to  ravish  your  wives,  and  to  murder  your  chilcken.  When 
fighting  with  such  an  enemy,  success  is  certain.  When  the  victory  is  obtained,  you, 
my  followers,  shall  share  the  bounty  of  a  generous  prince.  In  the  cause  of  your 
king,  you  ^411  fight  like  Englishmen ;  and  as  for  myself,  I  will  never  quit  the  field  but 
as  a  conqueror." 

Richmond,  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  liis  camp,  demanded  of  liis  soldiers  if  it 
was  not  for  the  public  weal  that  the  tyrant  to  whom  they  were  opposed  should  be 
extii-pated — a  man  who  had  destroyed  his  own  house  by  the  effusion  of  innocent 
blood,  and  defamed  the  mother  who  had  given  liim  birth,  to  smooth  liis  way  to  the 
throne.  "  The  hour  of  retribution,"  said  he,  "  has  now  ai'rived;  and  God's  judgment, 
though  it  has  been  deferred,  will  fall  upon  our  adversary,  who  seeks,  by  the  marriage 
of  princess  Elizabeth,  to  add  incest  to  liis  other  crimes.  You  ought  not  to  be  dis- 
mayed by  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy;  divine  justice  is  at  our  side;  his  own 
friends  will  desert  the  tyrant  in  the  hour  of  his  extremity;  and  already  lord  Stanley 
has  determined,  with  the  forces  under  his  command,  to  support  the  righteous  cause. 
If  your  efforts  are  crowned  with  victory,  all  the  confiscated  possessions  of  the  enemy 
shall  be  distributed  amongst  you  ;  but  should  you  be  defeated,  you  will  fall  into  the 
hands  of  him,  who,  not  having  spared  his  o^^ii  blood,  would  infallibly  consign  you  to 
destruction.  It  is  better  to  die  with  swords  in  your  hands,  than  to  become  the 
victims  of  a  relentless  tyrant:  of  myself,  I  shall  only  say,  that  I  am  the  descendant  of 
the  house  of  Lancaster,  the  glory  of  the  kingdom  they  have  ruled.  All  you  can 
expect  from  a  soldier,  and  from  a  commander,  you  shall  find  in  me ;  and  all  I  ask  of 
you  is,  to  follow  my  example  in  the  hour  of  battle." 

Richard,  extending  his  ti-oops  as  widely  as  possible,  to  hitimidate  liis  enemy  by 


XI. 


Coimty  ^Jalatine  of  itanrasitfr.  435 

an  impression  of  the  gi-eat  strength  of  the  army  to  wliich  they  were  opposed,  gave  chap. 
the  command  of  the  vangnard  to  tlie  duke  of  Norfolk  and  the  earl  of  Surrey;  he  him- 
self led  the  centre,  wliicli  was  guarded  on  the  flanks  by  the  horse,  and  led  on  by  the 
bowmen.  Richmond  having  placed  his  bo\vmen  in  front,  under  the  command  of  the 
earl  of  Oxlbnl,  gave  the  connuand  of  the  right  wing  to  sir  Gilbert  Talbot,  and  of  the 
left  to  sir  John  Savage.  The  command  of  the  horse  he  took  upon  himself,  aided  by  liis 
uncle,  the  earl  of  Pembroke.  Richmond  having,  by  a  successful  manoeuvre,  possessed 
hunself  of  a  path,  wliicli  intersected  a  swamp,  and  thrown  the  glare  of  the  sun  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy,  the  battle  commenced.  The  fii-st  shock  of  the  two  armies  shewed 
sufBciently  the  cUlTerent  spirit  by  which  they  were  aniinated.  For  a  whOe,  however, 
the  contest  hung  in  suspense;  but  the  appearance  of  lord  Stanley,  the  arbiter  of  the 
battle  of  Bosworth  Field,  who  declared  in  favour  of  his  son-in-law,  decided  the  fate 
of  the  day.  The  king's  forces  fought  mthout  spii-it,  and  seemed  more  anxious  to 
secure  their  own  safety  than  to  obtain  victory.  In  tliis  emergency  Richard  was 
advised  to  quit  the  field,  and  a  horse  was  provided  for  the  pm-pose ;  but  he  had  placed 
his  all  upon  the  issue,  and  he  fought  lUve  a  hero.  His  only  remaining  hope  was  now 
in  the  death  of  Richmond;  and,  in  a  desperate  onset  to  accomplish  that  object,  he  slew 
sir  William  Brandon,  the  eai-l's  standard-bearer,  with  his  own  hands,  and,  at  the 
same  moment,  dismounted  sir-  John  Cheyney.  The  commanders  of  the  two  armies 
were  now  on  the  point  of  coming  in  personal  collision,  an  event  of  wliich  they  both 
seemed  ambitious;  but  at  the  moment  when  the  combat  was  about  to  take  place, 
sir  William  Stanley  broke  uito  the  line  vnth  liis  troops,  and  surrounded  Richard,  who 
still  continued  to  fight  with  all  the  courage  and  desperation  of  his  nature ;  but  at 
length,  sinking  under  the  superior  force  by  which  he  was  assailed,  fell  dead  on  the 
field,  pierced  witli  innumerable  wounds,  and  covered  -nith  gore. 

The  number  of  the  slain  in  the  battle  of  Bosworth  Field,  like  the  niuribers 
engaged  in  the  contest,  are  differently  estimated;  some  accounts  rate  them  as  low  as 
a  thousand,  and  others  as  high  as  four  thousand.  The  loss,  however,  fell  principally 
upon  the  Yorkists,  as  sir  William  Talbot,  in  an  account  written  to  his  friends  imme- 
diately after  the  battle,  says  that  the  number  of  slain  on  the  part  of  the  eai-1  of 
Richmond  did  not  exceed  ten  persons!  The  dulie  of  Norfolk,  lord  Ferrars  of  Chart- 
ley,  sir  Robert  Ratcliffe,  sir  Robert  Picrcy,  and  sir  Robert  Brackenbury,  were  all 
numbered  ^-ith  the  dead;  and  sir  William  Catesby,  the  ready  instrument  of  all 
Richard's  crimes,  being  taken  prisoner,  was  beheaded  ^^^th  several  others  at  Leicester 
two  days  afterwards.  After  the  battle,  sir  William  Stanley,  who,  Anth  his  brother, 
had  contributed  so  nnich  to  the  success  of  the  day,  took  the  crown  from  the  tent  of 
Richard,  and,  placing  it  upon  the  head  of  the  earl  of  Richmond,  crowned  him  on  the 
field  by  the  title  of  King  Henry  VH.     A  large  portion  of  the  spoils  of  the  field  fell 

3k2 


436  C!)e  ??is!toii)  of  tl)t 

CHAP,  into  the  hands  of  sir  William  Stanley,  and  were  allowed  by  the  king's  permission  to 
^^-  enrich  that  gallant  knight.  "  Richard's  body  being  stripped  naked,  all  tugged  and 
torn  and  not  so  much  as  a  clout  left  to  cover  liis  shame,  was  trussed  beliind  a  pur- 
suivant at  arms  like  a  hog  or  a  calf;  his  head  and  arms  hung  on  one  side  the  horse, 
and  his  legs  on  the  other,  all  besprinkled  Avith  mire  and  blood,  and  was  so  carried  to 
Leicester."  "  No  king,"  says  Mr.  Hutton,  "  was  ever  so  degi-aded  a  spectacle; 
humanity  and  decency  ought  not  to  have  suffered  it,"  Mr.  Carte  says,  "  they  tied 
a  rope  about  liis  neck,  more  to  insult  the  helpless  dead  than  to  fasten  hun  to  the 
horse."  After  lying  exposed  to  the  inspection  and  insults  of  the  populace,  the 
tyrant's  body,  at  the  end  of  the  second  day,  was  taken  to  the  church  of  the  Grey 
Friars,  and  there  buried  in  a  stone  coffin."* 

An  ancient  manuscript  in  the  British  Museum  relates  with  so  much  precision 
the  part  taken  in  those  gi-eat  events,  by  which  the  crown  of  England  was  finally 
transferred  from  the  house  of  York  to  the  house  of  Lancaster,  by  the  Stanley  family, 
and  the  men  of  Laucasliii-e,  that  it  cannot  be  omitted  in  a  history  of  this  county. — 

Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  542.     [In  Stoive's  writing.'] 

"  Richard  y'  thu-d  liis  deathe  by  y'  lord  Staiiley  borowyd  of  Henry  Savyll. 

"  when  henrie  erle  of  Richmond  cam  in  at  mylford  haven,  he  sayd  thes  words, 
"  O  yngland,  I  am  enteryd  here  to  clayme  myne  heritage,  Jhesu,  y'  dyed  on 
good  friday,  and  mary  his  mothar,  send  me  the  love  of  y-^  lord  Stanley  ho  hathe 
maxied  my  mothar,  it  is  longe  sithe  she  saw  me,  I  trust  to  Jesu,  we  shall  mete,  and 
our  brothar  syr  william  Stanley."  [let  us  leve  henry,  and  speke  of  Richai-d  in  his 
(Uo-nitie,  f  y'  mysfortune  y'  hym  befell,  a  ^vicked  cownsell  di-ew  hym  nye.] 
Tlie  lord  Stanley,  sterne  f  stowte  he  may  be  callyd  flowe  in  liis  countrye,  and 
y'  was  well  sene  at  barwicke,  when  all  y'  lords  of  england  let  it  be,  y'  castle 
wightly  cowlde  he  wine,  than  of  kynge  Richard  toke  he  leve,  f  set  good  rule 
amonge  y'  couwntie,  but  wicked  cownsell  drew  Richai-d  nye,  thes  was  y=  words 
they  sayd  to  him ,  '  Ave  thinke  yow  worke  vnwitily,  In  england,  yf  ye  wold 
contynew  kynge,  for  bothe  lord  Stanley,  lord  strange,  and  y'  chamberlayne  the 
iij  may  bringe  agaynst  yow  on  a  day,  y'  no  lords  may  in  england  far  nor  nere, 
f  y'   sonns  of  y'  mother  y'  are  banished   may   caws   yow    short  tyme    to  Avere 

*  A  monument  was  subsequently  erected  to  his  memory,  with  his  "  picture,"  as  Sandford  calls  it, 
"  ill  alabaster;"  and,  ten  years  afterwards,  Henry  VII.,  on  his  Lancashire  progress,  paid  £10.  Is.  to 
James  Keyley  for  this  erection,  which  perished  with  the  dissolution  of  the  monastery  in  the  following 
reign. 


Count!.)  |3nlatmc  of  3!.anra£(tn\  437 

y'  crowue.'      Then  K.  Richard  made  owt  mesengars  far  into  y'  west  countrie,  to    chap. 
y'  lord  Stanley  to  repayr  to  hym  w'  spede.      Tlicn  y'  lord  Stanley  bowned   hpn       ^^' 
toward    Kjnig  Rychard,  but   he   fell   sycke   at   nianchestar  by  y"  waye  as  was  y" 
wyll  of  god,  to  y'  lord  strange  then  callyd  he,  and  sayd  thes  wordes  to  hym,  '  In 
goodly  haste  boirae  must  ye  to   wyt  y'   will  of  Richard  our  kyng,'  the  tliis  lord 
sti-ange  bowiiyd  hjin  to   ryde  to  kynge  Richard,     wlicn    he  cam   before  hym  f 
knelyd  downe,  Kynge  Richard  sayd,  '  welcome,  lord  strange  f  kynsman  neare, 
wher   is    any   lord   in    england   of  auusytry    sliuld    be    so    trew   to    hys   kynge.' 
ther  was  no  more  of  tliis  to  say,  but  to  ward  comandyd  was  he,  and  messengars 
wer  made  into  y'  west  country,  to  y"  lord  Stanley,    thes  wcr  y"  words  they  sayd 
to  hym :  '  yow  must  rayse  vp  vndar  yowr  banuar  to  mayntayne  Rycliard  owr  kynge, 
for  yondar  comythe  Richemond  ovar  y"  flode  w'  many  an  alyaunt  owt  of  far  contry 
to  chalendge  y"  crowne  of  england,  yow  most  reyse  that  vndar  yowr  bannar  be, 
w'  y"  noble  powere  that  yow  may  brynge,  or  els  y'  lord  strange  yow  moste  nevar 
se,  that  is  in  dangar  of  owr  kynge.'      In  a  studye  still  then  y*  lord  dyd  stond,  and 
sayd  '  Jesu,  how  may  this  be,     I   take   wittes  of  hym  y'  shope  both    se  f   sande, 
I  never  delt  w'  traytorie.     Richard  is  y°  man  y'  bathe  no  mercye,  he  wolde  me  f 
myne  bondage   bringc,    therefor   agajnist    hym  will    I  be.'       Another   messengar 
came  to  william    Stanley  y'  noble   knyght,  f   sayd.     '  K.   Richard  warethe  y'^  to 
bring  thy  royall  rowt,  liis  liope  Is  holy  therui.'      Then  answeryd  y'  noble  knyght, 
'  I  marvayle  of  owr  ^yng  he  bathe  my  nevyeu,  my  brothar's  heire,  a  trcwar  knyght 
is   not  in   cristinte,  he   shall  repent  by   enythyng  y'    I    can  se,  tell   K.  Richard 
this,  for  all  y"  power  y'  he  can  bringe,  he  shall  eythar  fight  or  fie,  or  lose  his  lyfe 
I  make  a  vow,  I  shall  give  hym  suche  a  brekefast  on  a  day  as  nevar  knyght  gave 
kynge,  therefor  byde  hym  aray  hym  f  lus  power  for  he  shall  ether  fyght  or  fle 
or  lose  his  lyfe.'     Then  y'  messengar  rydes  to  y"  kynge,  and  saythe  '  in  y^  contry 
wher  I  have  be,  men  so  gi'evyd  I  nevar  se,  for  y"  lord  strange  sake  y'  in  bale  dothe 
lye,  they  say  they  will  cawse  yow  to  fight  or  flye  or  els  to  lose  your  lyfe,'  kynge 
Richard  smyled  and  swore  by  Jesu,  when  they  be  sembled  all,  I  wold  y*  gr-et  tui-ke 
was  agaynst  me  w'  Pretor  John,  f  y"  sowdan  of  Surre  w'  all  theyr  powers  for  all 
theyr  manhod  I  wold  be  kynge,'  he  swore  by  Jesu  f  hys  mothar,  y'  from  y"  towne  of 
laucastre  to  shrowsberye,  knyght  ne  squire  he  wold  leve  none  alyve,  f  he  wold  deale 
theyr  lands  to  his  knyghtes,  from  y°  holy  heade  to  seyat  david's  land,   wlieras  ar 
castells  f  towers  bye.    '  I   shall  make  parkes  f   playne   fields  fritlie   f  forest  fre, 
they  shall  all  repent  y'  evar  he   rose  agaynst  his  kynge.'     Then  he  sent  out  mes- 
sengars,   bothe    far  f    nyghe,    to    deuke,    earle,    baron,    knyght,   f  othar   in   ther 
degi'e.    part  of  theyr  names  shall  yow  here  y'  owne  to  Kynge  Richard .     The  duke 
of  northfoike,  y'  erle  of  surrey  liis  hejTC,  y'  erle  of  kent,  y'  erle  of  shrowsbery, 


438  €l)t  S]l6tOll)  of  tht 

CHAP,  y'  erle  of  uortliumbarlaud,  y'  erle  of  westmerlaiid,  Robert  Ryclyssc,  ser  Robert 
"  o-vvtrege,  ser  John  Huut}Tigton,  f  John  wilnt,  f  John  smalbv,  i  bryan  of 
stepletou,  ser  Avilliam  liis  cosen,  y'  lord  hartley,  y"  heii's  of  hartley,  y^  lord  Fryn 
#  Grey,  y'  lord  lovell  chamhcrlayn  of  england,  y'  lord  hughe  liis  cosyn,  y'  lord 
scrope  of  Yposall,  y'  lord  scrope  of  bolton,  y'  lord  dakers  raysed  y'  northcontrye, 
y'  lord  owgle,  y^  lord  hower,  y'  lorde  gi-aystoke,  he  browght  a  myghty  many, 
ser  John  blekynson,  i  Raffe  harehotley,  f  wylliuu  warde,  syr  archehald,  w'  y^  good 
Rydley;  syr  nycholas  nahogay  was  not  awaye,  #  olyver  of  chasten,  sir  henry  y'  hyiid 
horsay,  £  John  y'  gi-ay,  ser  Tliomas  y'  mingmnbre,  f  Roger  Standfort,  i  Robart 
bracanberye,  su-  harry  landiingaan,  #  Richard  chowrlton,  £  Raffe  Rolle,  f  Thomas 
marcomfild,  f  Rogar  sandyll,  f  xpofer  ward,  f  william  beckfort,  #  John  cowbwi-ne, 
■f  Robart  ploimton,  f  william  gascoyne,  i  marmaduke  constable,  f  william  conyers, 
£  mai-tyn  of  y'  Fee,  £  Robart  Gilbard,  f  Richar  heaton,  i  John  lothes,  f  william 
Ratclyff,  f  Thomas  his  brothar,  i  Willyam  theyr  brothar,  £  xpofer  y'  mallyre,  £  John 
nortou,  i  Thomas  y'  mallperay,  #  Raffe  dakers  of  y'  northe,  £  xpofer  y"  morys, 
£  william  musgrave,  £  alexander  haymor,  £  george  mortynfeild,  f  Thomas  browghton, 
£  xpofer  Awayne,  £  Richard  tempest  ont  of  y'  dale,  sir-  willyam  his  cosyn,  ser 
Raffe  of  ashton,  £  Roger  long  in  arpenge,  £  John  pudsay,  £  Robart  of  mydleton, 
ser  Thomas  stiyckland,  ser  John  neA-ill  of  bloodfullhye,  £  John  adlnigton,  £  Rogar 
hearon,  ser  James  harryngton,  ser  Robart  liis  brothar,  ser  Thomas  pilkylton,  all 
thes  sware  kynge  Richard  shuld  were  y"  cro^vne. 

"  now  shall  I  tell  how  henry  of  Richmond  cam  to  y"  crowne,  The  lorde  Stanley 
from  lathom  castle  upon  a  day  bownyed  he,  w'  knyghts  f  esquiers  in  his  company, 
w'  theyi-  bannars,  fearce  to  fyght,  to  mayutayn  henry  to  be  theyr  Kynge.  To  the 
new  castell  vndar  lyne  this  lord  toke  y'  way  w'  his  noble  men  in  company e,  he 
told  them  wagys  the  noble  powere  y'  he  dyd  brynge.  ser  A\-illiam  Stanley  y'  nol)le 
knyght  from  y'  castell  of  y'  holt,  to  the  Northwyche  he  rode,  f  told  his  men  wagis, 
all  y'  Northe  Wayles  y'  moste  parte,  f  y'  flower  of  Chestar,  w'  he  dyd  brynge  earlye 
on  a  Souday  at  morne,  syr  -nilliam  of  Stanley  removyd  from  y'  Northewiche  to  y" 
towne  of  stone,  by  then  was  henry  come  to  Stafford,  f  a  pre\-y  messenge  sent  he 
to  hym  w'  a  certayn  parson,  that  noble  knyght  rod  to  Stafford  toward  y"  kjnige, 
when  y'  he  saw  y'  prince  in  syght,  he  knelyd  downe,  f  lient  hym  by  y'  hand  f  sayd 
'  I  am  more  glade  of  the  then  all  y°  gold  in  crystentye,  I  trust  to  y'  lord  my  father 
and  y*  that  in  england  I  shal  be  kynge.'  then  the  othar  sayd,  '  welcom  soveraygne 
kynge  henry,  chalendge  thye  heritage  f  this  land,  loke  thow  fyght  f  nevar  flye, 
Remembar  anothar  day  who  dotlie  for  thee,  yf  thow  be  kynge,  leve  of  y"  prince  tane, 
he  came  agajaie,  by  y*  lyght  of  y*  day,  vnto  y'  lytle  towne  of  stone,  early  on  a 
Saturday,     to  lychfeld  removyd  old  f  yonge,    at  worsley  bredge  ther  befome,  they 


Countj)  ^aalntiuf  of  i!.anrastn%  439 

bad  a  syglit  of  henry  y'  shiikl  be  kynge.  vnto   lycbefild  tbey  ryde,  a  bairot  of    chai' 

armes  came  to  mirabar  y*  company  y'  was  w'  y"  knygbt,  it  was  a  goodly  sygbt.  — 

Gonnes  in  lycbefyld  craked,  glad  was  all  y"  cbevalry,  y'  was  on  benris  party, 
througbe  owt  lycbefyld  rydes  y'  knygbt,  f  on  y^  otber  syd  taryes  be,  tyll  a  message 
cam  to  bjTii,  and  sayd  '  lord  Stanley  is  bis  enemycs  nye,  tbey  be  bnt  a  lytle  way  a 
twyne,  be  will  figbt  w'  in  tbes  tbre  boures  w'  Ricbard  of  england  called  kyng.' 
'  Tbat  wold  I  not,  quod  y"  knygbt,  for  all  y"  gold  in  cristentie,'  and  toward 
tanwortb  be  toke  j"  way,  be  cam  to  adarstone  ere  nyght,  Avber  y*"  lord  Stanley 
lay  in  a  dale,  w'  trompets,  f  a  goodly  copany  all  tbat  nyglit  tbey  tbcr  abode, 
vpon  sonday  they  bard  masse,  and  to  a  i'ajr  field  toke  y"  way,  the  vawai-d  lord 
Stanley  had,  his  brotbar  syr  wUliam  in  y'  rereward,  his  sonne  Edward  in  a 
wynge.  then  came  prince  henry,  it  was  agoodly  sygbt  to  se  y"  metynge  of  them, 
y"  lorde  f  y'  kynge,  vpon  a  bay  cowrsar  was  y'  hynge,  a  lytle  before  y  nyght.  on 
y"  moiTOW  when  y''  larke  gan  synge,  kjaige  henry  askyd  y*^  waward,  of  y"  lord 
Stanley  wliicbe  be  gi-awnted,  f  lent  to  hym  iiij  kuyghts  to  go  w'  b>Tn  to  y°  vaward, 
Gilbert  Talboct,  John  Savage,  ser  hughe  percivall  f  ser  benri  Stanley,  tbes  arayd 
them  to  y'  vaward  w'  y''  kynge.  The  lord  Stanley  y'  second  battaile  bad  syr  ^illyam 
Stanley  be  was  y''  byndermoste  at  y"  first  settyng.  then  they  removyd  to  a  hygbe 
mowntayne,  and  lookyng  into  a  dale  of  v.  myles  compase  they  saw  no  sygbt  for 
annyd  men  f  trapped  steds  in  iiij  battayles.  The  dwke  of  norfolke  avansyd  Ids 
bannar  so  dyd  youge  erle  of  shrisberye  f  erle  of  Oxford.'^  the  kyng  Richard  bad  ^^j 
score  sargents  y'  wer  cheyned  f  lockyd  in  a  row,  f  as  many  bumbards,  f  tbowsands 
of  morys  pyks,  bagge  bushes,  f  otb.  Kyng  Richard  lookyd  into  a  mowntayne  bye, 
f  saw  y"  bannar  of  y°  lord  Stanley,  f  sayd,  '  fetche  y'  lord  strange  to  me,  or  els 
be  shall  dye  tliis  day.'  They  brought  y'  lord  vnto  liis  sygbt  f  be  sayd  '  for  thy 
deathe  make  y'  redy.'  then  answeryd  tbat  noble  Imyght  f  sayde,  '  I  cry  god  f  y" 
Avorld  mercy,  Jbesus  I  take  to  witnes  y'  I  was  nevar  traytor  to  my  kynge,'  Vpon  a 
gentelman  then  called  be  latbome  was  liis  name,  '  and  evar  ye  come  into  my  contrie, 
grete  well  my  gentellmen  f  yemen,  tbey  bad  a  mastar,  now  have  tbey  none.'  then 
he  drew  a  rynge  of  bis  fingar,  f  sayd  '  gyve  tliis  to  my  ladye.  yf  y'  fild  be  lost  on 
owi-  partye,  take  my  sonne  y'  is  mjnie  beii-e,  f  fly  into  a  far  contryc.'  Then  came  a 
knygbt  to  kJ^lge  Ricbai-d,  and  sayd,  '  it  is  liigbe  tyme  to  loke  about,  loke  how  yowr 
vaward  begynethe  to  fyght.  when  ye  have  y'  father  f  sonne  f  y'  yeman  loke  yow 
what  deathe  y'  they  shall  dye,  ye  may  bead  all  at  yoA\T  own  will.'  w'  y'  fortunate 
worde  tbey  counteryd  togetbar  full  egarlye.  whan  y"  vaward  began  to  figbt  kynge 
henry  dyd  full  manfully,  so  dyd  y*"  erle  of  oxford,  so  dyd  syr  John  Savage,  ser  Gilbert 
talbot  dyd  y""  lyke,  ser  hughe  percivall  also  w'  many  otbar.  Kynge  Richard,  in  a 
*  "  The  erle  of  Oxford  was  on  kyng  Henry's  syde." 


440  Cftc  i?i£ittirj)  of  t])t 

CHAF.  man-is  dytl  stand  uouabred  to  xx.  thousand  f  thre  vndar  his  bannar.  Syr  william 
"  Stanley  remembringe  y''  brekfast  y'  he  promysyd  hym,  downe  at  a  banke  he  hyed  f  set 
fiersly  on  y^  kynge,  they  counteryd  togethar  sadly  y'  archers  let  tlieyr  arrows  flye, 
they  shot  of  goonnes,  many  a  bannar  began  to  show  y'  was  on  Richards  party, 
j>  w'  gi'ownde  wepons  they  joyned,  then  dyed  many  a  dowghty  knyght.  Then 
to  Kynge  Richard  ther  cam  a  knyght,  and  sayd,  '  I  hold  it  tyme  for  ye  to  flye,  youdar 
stanlay  his  dynts  be  so  sore  agaynst  them  may  no  man  stand,  her  is  thy  hors  for  to 
ryde,  an  othar  day  ye  may  worshipe  wyne.'  he  sayd  '  bryng  me  my  battayll  axe  in 
my  hand,  and  set  y°  crowne  of  gold  on  my  hed  so  hye,  for  by  hym  y'  shope  bothe 
se  and  sand  kynge  of  england  tliis  day  will  I  dye.  one  foote  away  I  will  not  fle  wliill 
brethe  wyll  byde  my  brest  w'  in.'  as  he  sayd  so  dyd  he.  he  lost  his  lyffe.  on  his 
standard  then  fast  they  did  lyght.  they  hewyd  y°  cro^Tie  of  gold  from  hys  hed  w' 
dowtfuU  dents  his  deathe  was  dyght.  the  duke  of  norfolke  dyd  flye,  y^  lord  surrey 
w'  many  othar  mo,  and  boldly  on  here  they  dyd  hym  brynge  and  many  a  noble 
knyght  then  lost  tlieyi*  lyffe  w'  Richai'd  iheyr  kynge.  ther  was  slayn  syr  Richard 
Ratclyf,  one  of  kyng  Richards  cownsell,  sp-  william  conyers,  ser  Robart  of  brackan- 
bery,  sjt  Richard  of  Charruigton.  Amongst  all  othar,  I  remembar  tow,  sir  william 
brand  was  y^  one  of  tho,  kynge  henrys  standard  he  hev-yd  on  hye,  f  vaunsyd  it  tyll 
w'  deaths  dent  he  was  stryken  downe,  sp-  Richard  percivall,  thurleball  y''  othar  bight, 
Kynge  Richards  standard  he  kept  on  hyghe  tyll  bothe  liis  leggs  wer  cut  hym  fi-o  yet 
to  y"  gro^Mid.  he  wold  not  let  it  goo  wliill  brethe  was  in  his  brest.  then  they  removyd 
to  a  moiintayn  hyghe,  Anthe  a  voyce  they  cryed  '  Kynge  Henry.'  the  cro^nie  of  gold 
was  delperyd  to  y'  lord  Stanley,  and  vnto  kjTige  henry  then  went  he  and  delperyd 
it  as  to  y'  most  worthe  to  were  the  crowne  and  be  theyr  kynge.  They  browght 
kynge  Richard  thethar  that  nyght  as  nakyd  as  evar  he  was  borne,  and  in  y'  new- 
warke  was  he  layd  that  many  a  man  might  se  f  cr." 

FoL  31—33  a. 

End  of  the  Thus  ended  the  wars  between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  so  far  as  the 
twJen'^the  members  of  the  house  of  York  were  concerned,  in  which  fi-om  eighty  to  ninety  thou- 
YoTk'and  sand  Englislunen  were  slain.  Thi-ee  kings,  several  princes  of  the  blood,  sLxty-two 
Lancaster,  jj^^gg^  ^^^  hundred  and  tliirty-nine  knights,  four  hundi-ed  and  forty-one  esquii-es, 
Conse-  and  six  hundred  and  tliii-fy-eight  of  the  gentry  of  the  kingdom,  fell  in  these  memor- 
?he  wars.^  able  wars.*  The  contest  between  the  rival  houses  was  not,  however,  an  ummxed 
evil ;  probably  it  was  more  beneficial  in  its  remote  consequences  than  injurious  in  its 

*  "  In  my  remembrance,"  says  Philip  de  Comines,  "  eighty  princes  of  the  blood  royal  of  England 
perished  in  these  convulsions.  Those  that  were  spared  by  the  sword  renewed  their  sufferings  in 
foreign  lands.     I  myself  saw  the  duke  of  Exeter,  the  king's  brother-in-law,  walking  barefoot  after  the 


Coimti)  |3alntinr  of  aaurasiUr.  441 

immecHate  effects.    Up  to  that  time,  the  property,  as  well  as  the  power  of  the  nation,     en  uv 

was  chiefly  cUvided  amongst  the  Idng,  the  nobiUty,  and  the  clergy.     The  gi-eat  mass  _ 

of  the  people  of  England  were  slaves,  dependent  upon  the  will,  and  the  absolute  pro- 
perty, of  their  lords,  transferable  lilce  cattle,  and  held  in  nearly  the  same  estimation. 
Such  was  their  degi-adation,  that  the  honour  of  hazarding  their  lives  to  settle  a 
qnan-el  between  the  red  and  the  white  roses  was  too  great  for  tliem  to  enjoy:  but  as 
every  lord  was  obliged,  by  a  land  of  moral  necessity,  to  take  part  in  this  Avidely 
extended  contest,  either  on  one  side  or  the  other,  it  became  necessary  for  liis  own 
safety  to  seek  the  aid  of  his  vassals;  and  before  those  vassals  could  be  allowed  to 
take  the  field,  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  be  emancipated.  In  tliis  way,  the 
feudal  system,  introduced  before  the  Conquest,  and  consolidated  by  tlie  Conqueror, 
was  shaken  to  its  centre;  trade  and  commerce  hastened  its  downfall;  villauage  was 
virtually  at  an  end  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.;  and  in  the  twelfth  year  of 
Chai-les  II.  the  name  itself  was  erased  from  the  statute  books. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  lung  Henry  VII.  was  to  reverse  the  attainders  passed  First  acts 

^^  of  Htnrv 

against  the  adherents  of  the  house  of  Lancaster;*  this  was  followed  by  an  act  of  con-  vii. 
fiscation  against  the  property  of  the  adherents  of  the  tyi-ant  Richard,  amongst  whom  c^^sj^fa- 
were  sir  Thomas  Pilkington,  sir  Robert  Hariington,  and  sir  James  Harrington,  all  of  Lanca- 
the  county  of  Lancaster,  whose  estates  Avere  principally  awarded  to  the  Stanley  family,  estates. 
for  their  services  at  the  battle  of  Bosworth-field.    As  a  further  reward.  Ids  lordsliip  was  27th  Oct. 
created  earl  of  Derby,  elected  a  member  of  Ids  majesty's  privy  council,  and  appointed 
a  commissioner  for  exercising  the  office  of  lord  high  steward  of  England.     At  the 
same  time  an  arrangement  was  concluded  between  the  earl -and  Ids  wife,  Margaret, 
countess  of  Richmond  and  Derby,  the  king's  mother,  in  recompense  of  her  jointure 
and  dower,  and  ratified  by  the  sanction  of  parliament.t     A  considerable  augmenta- 
tion was  made  to  her  possessions  six  years  afterwards,  by  the  grant  of  the  lordships 
and  manors  of  Ambursbury  and  Winterbourne,   in  the  county  of  Wilts,  and  the 
manors  of  Henxstrigge  and  Charlton  Cauvile,  in  the  county  of  Somerset,  of  whicli 
Henry  VII.  Avas  seized,   and  which  had  been  gi-anted  to   Henry  Beaufort,  then 
cardinal  Beaufort  and  bishop  of  Winchester.]: 

During  the  short  reign  of  Edward  V.,  a  mandate  was  issued  from  the  lung  to  the  ]^°I'J^;  "f 
sheriff  of  Lancaster,  ordering  him  to  proclaim  within  his  bailiwick,  tliat  those  who  j.;™^^ 

duke  of  Burgundy's  train,  and  earning  his  bread  by  begging  from  door  to  door."  Sir  John  Finn,  in 
his  preface  to  Original  Letters,  written  during  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  Edward  IV.,  and  Richard  III., 
savs,  that  every  individual  of  two  generations  of  the  families  of  Somerset  and  Warwick  fell  on  the 
field,  or  on  the  scaffold,  as  victims  of  those  bloody  contests. 

*  Rot.  Pari.  1  Hen.  VII.  vol.  vi.  p.  "273.  t  Rot.  Pari.  1  Hen.  VII.  vol.  vi.  p.  311. 

I  Rot.  Pari.  7  Hen.  VII.  vol.  vi.  p.  446. 
VOL.  I.  3  L 


on 
men  of 

substance. 


442 


CI)e  i^i'gtoii)  of  tht 


CHAP 
XI. 


held  land  or  rents  of  the  yearly  value  of  £40,  were  to  come  into  the  king's  presence 
to  receive  the  order  of  Ivnighthood ;  and  the  sheriff  was  further  ordered  diligently  to 
inquire  after  the  names  of  those  who  held  possessions  of  tliis  value,  and  to  return 
them  into  cljancery. 

Henry  VII.,  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  his  peojile,  at  length  espoused  the 
the  roses,    priucess  Elizabctli,  and  thus  was  accomplished  the  union  so  long  wished  for  bv  an 
exhausted  nation,  between  the  Jiouses  of  York  and  Lancaster. 


Final 
union  of 


Sweating! 
sickncs^j. 


1485. 


S\nip- 
toins. 


Kenietlies. 


Hoi.  VII.     "  We  will  unite  the  white  rose  with  the  red : — 
Smile,  heaven,  upon  this  fair  conjunction, 
That  long  hath  frown'd  upon  their  enmity! — 
What  traitor  hears  me,  and  says  not, — Amen? 
England  hath  long  been  mad,  and  scarr'd  herself; 
The  brother  blindly  shed  the  brother's  blood, 
The  father  rashly  slaughter'd  his  own  son, 
The  son,  compell'd,  been  butcher  to  the  sire; 
All  this  divided  York  and  Lancaster, 
Divided,  in  their  dire  division. — 
O,  now,  let  Richmond  and  Elizabeth, 
The  true  succeeders  of  each  royal  house, 
By  God's  fair  ordinance  conjoin  together. 
And  let  their  heirs,  (God,  if  thy  will  be  so,) 
Enrich  the  time  to  come  with  smooth-faced  peace, 
With  smiling  plenty,  and  fair  prosperous  days ! 
Abate  tlie  edge  of  traitors,  gracious  Lord, 
That  would  reduce  these  bloody  days  again. 
And  make  poor  England  weep  in  streams  of  blood  ! 
Let  them  not  live  to  taste  this  land's  increase, 
That  would  with  treason  wound  this  fair  land's  peace! 
Now  civil  wounds  are  stopp'd,  peace  lives  again  ; 
That  she  may  long  live  here,  God  say — Amenl" 

Rich.  III.  Act  V.   Scene  IV. 

A  disease  hitherto  unknowni,  which,  from  its  symptoms,  was  called  the  "  sweating 
sickness,"  prevailed  at  this  time  in  Lancasliire,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom. 
Happily,  the  malady,  wliich  was  most  fatal,  was  of  short  duration,  having  made  its 
appearance  about  the  middle  of  September,  and  run  its  course  before  the  end  of 
October  in  the  same  year.  "  The  complaint  was  a  pestilent  fever,"  says  lord 
Verulam,  "  attended  by  a  malign  vapour,  which  flew  to  the  heart,  and  seized  the 
vital  spirits;  which  stiiied  nature  to  strive  to  send  it  forth  by  an  extreme  sweat.  It 
the  patient  were  kept  in  an  equal  temperature,  botli  tor  clothes,  fire,  and  drink. 


Coimti)  |3alatme  of  2Lanrasitfi%  443 

moderately  warm  ^itli   temperate    cordials,   whereby  nature's    work   were   neither    chap. 
irritated  by  heat,  nor  turned  back  by  cold,  he  commonly  recovered,  and  the  danger       "^  " 
was  considered  as  past  in  twentj^-four  hours  from  the  first  attack.     But  infinite 
persons  died  suddenly  of  it,  before  the  manner  of  the  cure  and  attendants  were 
known.     It  was  conceived  not  to  be  an  epidemical  disease,  but  to  proceed  from  a 
malignity  in  the  constitution  of  the  aii-,  gathered  by  the  precUsposition  of  seasons;  and 
the  speedy  cessation  declared  as  much."     Fifteen  yeai-s  afterwards  this  county  was  piafrue  iu 
visited  by  the  plague,  which  spread  extreme  alarm  through  the  country,  and  the  shire!* 
king,  to  escape  the  danger  of  contagion,  sailed  with  his  family  to  Calais. 

This  sweating  sickness  had  so  completely  subsided  in  London,  that  the  cere-  Creation 
mony  of  the  coronation,  wliich  had  been  fixed  for  the  30th  of  October,  took  place  °  ^''"'" 
according  to  appointment ;  on  which  occasion,  only  two  elevations,  and   one   new 
creation,  were  made  in  the  peerage ;  and  the  parties  so  honoured  were,  Jasper  earl  of 
Pembroke,  the  king's  uncle,  created  duke  of  Bedford ;  Tliomas  lord  Stanley,  created 
earl  of  Derby ;  and  Edward  Covertney,  created  eai-1  of  Devon. 

The  partiality  in  favour  of  the  house  of  York  was  still  felt  in  the  north  of  England, 
and  particularly  in  that  city  which  gave  its  name  to  the  party  of  the  wliite  rose.    The  The  king's 
king,  to  conciliate  the  affections  of  his  subjects,  determined  to  make  a  progi-ess  into  to'Jhr^* 
the  north  of  England.     On  his  way  thither,  he  learnt  that  viscount  Lovel,  with  °'"^^' 
sir-   Humphrey  Stafford,    and   Thomas  his  brother,  had  quitted  the  sanctuary  at 
Colchester,  in  wliich  they  had  taken  refuge,  and  were  again  in  the  field,  at  the  head 
of  a  body  of  insurgents.     To  meet  the  impencUng  danger,  a  small  force  was  immedi- 
ately collected  under  the  duke  of  Bedford,  wliich  lord  Lovel,  finding  himself  unable  Level's re- 
to  resist,  he  cUspersed  his  army,  and  fled  into  Laucashke,  where  he  took  up  liis 
residence  in   secret,  under  the  roof  of  sir  Thomas  Broughton,   of  Broughton,  in 
Furness.     Having  remained  here  for  some  time,  and  arranged  a  secret  correspond- 
ence with  the   knight,   he   at  length  embarked  for  Flanders,  the  seat   of  all  the 
intrigues  against  the  existing  English  dynasty,  carried  on  under  the  fostering  care 
of  the  duchess  of  Burgundy,  widow  of  Charles  the  Bold. 

An  opinion  prevailed,  propagated  by  the  malcontents,  that  one  of  the  sons  of 
Edward  IV.,  said  to  have  been  murdered  in  the  Tower  by  order  of  his  uncle,  tlie 
duke  of  Gloucester,  still  survived ;  and  that  his  murderers,  smitten  with  remorse 
when  they  had  despatched  one  of  the  children,  suffered  tlie  other  to  escape.  Richard 
Simon,  a  priest,  living  at  Oxford,  had  as  his  pupil,  the  son  of  a  baker,  named  Lambert 
Lambert  Simnel,  of  the  age  of  about  fifteen  yeai's,  a  prepossessing  youth,  of  princely  pretender 
presence,  wliom  Simon  concluded  would  fitly  personate  the  young  prince,*     To  aid  throne. 

**  At  one  time  he  assumed  the  title  of  Edward  Plantagenet,  earl  of  Warwick,  son  of  the  late  duke 
of  Clarence  ;  and  at  another,  the  title  of  Richard,  duke  of  York,  second  son  of  Edward  IV. 

3l2 


444 


CfK  2^i£itOll)  Of  t])t 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Lands  at 
the  Pile  of 
Fouldrey. 


Rattle  of 

Stoke- 

field. 


6th  Ji'.ne, 
1487. 


the  entei-prise,  this  juvenile  pretender  was  sent  over  to  Ireland,  where  he  found  many 
supporters  of  his  claims,  and  Avhere  he  was  crowned  as  Edward  VI. ;  hut  liis  principal 
friend  was  the  duchess  of  Burgundy,  whose  hatred  to  the  house  of  Lancaster  was 
implacable,  and  who,  though  possessed  of  many  good  qualities,  seemed  under  the 
restraint  of  no  moral  principle,  when  engaged  in  the  subversion  of  the  throne  of 
Henry  VII.  With  the  aid  of  the  duchess,  by  whom  Sunuel  was  provided  with  two 
thousand  troops,  under  the  command  of  Martin  Swart,  he  embarked  for  England  hi 
suitable  vessels,  commanded  by  captain  Thomas  Gerardine,  and  accompanied  by  a 
large  number  of  Irish  adventurers,  who  seemed  well  inclined  to  forget  the  danger 
to  wliich  they  exposed  themselves,  when  a  crown  was  the  prize  to  be  gained  by  the 
successful  party  in  the  contest.  Simnel  and  his  followers  landed  at  the  Pile  of 
Foukkey,  in  the  bay  of  Morecambe,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  ;  here  he  encamped 
on  a  common  subsequently  called  Swart  Moor,  in  Furness,  where  he  chew  together 
a  number  of  adherents,  charmed  with  the  cliivalrous  character  of  the  enterprise,  and, 
amongst  others,  sir  Thomas  Broughton,  the  friend  and  correspondent  of  lord  Level. 
On  the  breaking  up  of  the  camp,  the  insurgents,  under  John  de  la  Pole,  earl  of 
Lincoln,  marched  southward  through  Yorkshire  into  Nottinghamsliire,  where  they 
were  joined  by  lord  Lovel,  the  devoted  servant  of  the  fallen  tyi'ant,  Richard  III. 

The  king,  Avith  his  usual  promptitude  and  decision,  hastened  to  give  the  insur- 
gents battle ;  and  having  been  remforced  by  six  thousand  men,  under  the  earl  of 
Shrewsbury  and  lord  Strange,  accompanied  by  seventy  knights  and  persons  of 
distinction,  the  hostile  army  met  at  Stoke-field,  near  NcAvark.  The  battle,  Avliich 
Avas  fought  on  the  south  side  of  the  vUlage,  Avas  fierce  and  obstinate,  and  continued 
for  three  hours,  but  at  length  A^ctory  declared  in  favour  of  the  Idng.  All  the  leaders 
in  the  rebel  army  were  killed  upon  the  field,  including  the  earl  of  Lincoln,  eaid 
Kildare,  Francis  lord  Lovel,  Mai'tin  SAvart,  and  su-  Thomas  Broughton.  The 
number  of  the  rebel  troops  slain  amounted  to  four  tliousand,  and  of  the  king's  forces 
to  about  half  that  umuber.*     Amongst  the  prisoners  Avas  the  protended  EdAvard 


*  It  appears  difficult  to  account  for  the  death  of  so  large  a  number  as  "  eighty  princes  of  blood," 
said  by  Comines  to  have  fallen  in  the  wars  between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  to  which  this 
battle  may  not  inaptly  be  considered  supplemental  ;  but  that  difficulty  will  be  in  a  great  measure 
removed,  when  the  tragical  history  of  the  losses  sustained  in  the  person  of  one  individual,  Cecily, 
duchess  of  York,  the  widow  of  the  first  duke,  who  laid  claim  to  the  throne  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI. 
is  conside'-ed.  This  most  unfortunate  princess  survived  till  1487;  and  Brooke,  in  his  "  Observations 
illustrative  of  the  accounts  given  by  the  ancient  historical  writers  of  the  battle  of  Stoke-field,"  says, 
"  her  nephew,  Humphrey,  earl  of  Stafford,  was  slain  at  the  first  battle  of  St.  Alban's,  in  1455  ;  his 
father,  Humphrey  Stafford,  duke  of  Buckingham,  who  married  her  sister,  Anne  Neville,  perished  in 
1460,  at  the  battle  of  Northampton;  her  husband,  Richard  Plantagenet,  the  great  duke  of  York, 


XI. 


Coiintj)  |3alatmt  of  ?Lanrasitn%  445 

Plautagenet,  alias  Lambert  SLmiiel,  and  the  Avily  priest  Simon,  his  tutor.     The  youtli,    chai 
beneath  the  resentment  of  Henry,  found  his  level  as  an  assistant-cook  in  the  king's 
kitchen,  more  happy,  probably,  than  if  he  had  worn  the  king's  crown  ;  and  as  a 
reward  for  liis  merits,  he  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  office  of  one  of  liis  majesty's 

when  the  crown  of  England  was  almost  within  his  grasp,  and  her  nephew,  sir  Thomas  Neville,  (son  of 
her  brother,  Richard  Neville,  earl  of  Salisbury,)  were  slain  in  the  same  year,  at  the  battle  of  Wakefield  ; 
her  brother,  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  immediately  beheaded  by  martial  law  ;  and 
her  second  son,  Edmund,  earl  of  Rutland,  was,  at  the  same  time,  butchered   in  cold   blood   by   lord 
Clifibrd  ;  her   half-nephews,  sir  John  Neville,  and  Ralph  Neville,  earl  of  Westmoreland,  perished   in 
1461,  the  former  at  the  skirmish  of  Ferrybridge,  or  Dintingdale,  and  the  latter  at  the  battle  of  Towton  ; 
her  nephew,  sir  Henry  Neville,  (son  of  her  brother,  George  Neville,  lord  Latimer,)  was  made  prisoner, 
and  put  to  death,  at  the  battle  of  Banbury,  in  1469  ;  John  Tibtoft,  earl  of  Worcester,  who  married 
her  niece,  Cecily,  (the  widow  of  Henry  de  Beauchamp,  duke  of  Warwick,)  was  executed  on  Tower- 
hill,  in  1470 ;  her  two  nephews,  Richard  Neville,  the  great  earl  of  Warwick,  the  "  proud  setter-up 
and  puller-down  of  kings,"  and  John  Neville,  marquis  of  Montague,  were  slain  at  the  battle  of  Barnet, 
in  1471;   Edward,  prince  of  Wales,   who  married  her  great  niece,  Anne  Neville,    (daughter  of  her 
nephew,  the  earl  of  Warwick,)  was  most  barbarously  murdered,  after  the  battle  of  Tewksbury,  in  the 
same  year;  her  son  George,  duke  of  Clarence,  was  put  to  death  in  the  Tower  of  London,  in  1478, 
his  wife,  who  was  her  great-niece,  having  previously  died,  as  was  supposed,  by  poison  ;  her  eldest  son, 
'  king  Edward  IV.,  abandoned  a  warlike  and  active  life  for  pleasure  and  excesses,  which  cut  him  off  in 
the  prime  of  manhood  in  1483  ;  William,  lord  Hastings,  (the  ancestor  of  the  house  of  Hastings,  earls 
of  Huntingdon,)   who   married  her  niece,  Katherine   Neville,  was,   a   few  weeks  after  that  event, 
beheaded,  without  even  the  form  of  a  trial;  her  two  grandsons,  king  Edward  V.  and  Richard,  duke 
of  York,  were  murdered  in  the  Tower  of  London  soon  afterwards  ;   and  her  son-in-law,   sir  Thomas 
St.  Ledger,  who  married  her  daughter,  Anne  Plantagenet,  (by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,  Anne,  the 
ancestress  of  the  present  family  of  Manners,  dukes  of  Rutland,)  was  executed  in  the  same  year  at 
Exeter,  for  treason,  in  joining  the  unsuccessful  rebellion  of  the  great  duke  of  Buckingham  ;  and  the 
duke,  who  was  her  great  nephew,  being  deserted  by  his  forces,  and  the  place  of  his  retreat  discovered, 
was  about  the  same  time  taken  and  beheaded  ;  her  grandson,  Edward,  prince  of  Wales,  (son  of  king 
Richard  HI.  and  Queen  Anne,  her  niece,  through  whom  she  naturally  expected  the  honour  of  being 
the  ancestress  of  a  long  line  of  English  monarchs,)  died  in  1484  ;  and  the  childless  queen,  his  mother, 
a  few  months  afterwards,  followed  him  to  the  tomb;  her  youngest  son,  king  Richard  HI.  an  excel- 
lent monarch  and  valiant  soldier,  but  an  ambitious  and  wicked  man,  was  slain  at  the  battle  of 
Bosworth,  in  1485  ;  and  her  grandson,  John  de  la  Pole,  earl  of  Lincoln,  perished  in  1487,  at  the 
battle  of  Stoke.     She  died  in  1495  ;  after  three  princes  of  her  body  had  succeeded  to  the  crown  of 
England,   (without   taking   into    account    her    grand-daughter,    Elizabeth    Plantagenet,    queen    of 
Henry  VII.)  and  four  had  been  murdered;  and,  by  her  death,  was   saved  the  additional  afHiction  of 
the  loss  of  her  grandson,  Edward  Plantagenet,  earl  of  Warwick,  the  last  male  of  the  house  of  Plan- 
tagenet, who  was  doomed  to  imprisonment  for  life,  and  was,  at  length,  inhumanly  put  to  death,  under 
the  colour  of  a  judicial  proceeding,  in  1499,  by  that  cold,  mean,  and  heartless  usurper,  Henry  VII." 

As  to  the  historical  facts  contained  in  this  interesting  note,  they  are  indubitable ;  but  had 
Mr.  Brooke  lived  in  the  fifteenth  century,  he  would  certainly  have  been  a  Yorkist,  and  a  strong  bias 
towards  tlie  princes  and  sovereigns  of  that  house  pervades  his  "  Observations." 


446 


€\n  ^l^isitoi-j)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XI. 


Confisca- 
tion of  sir 
Thomas 
Brougli- 
ton's 
estates. 


falconers.  As  for  Siinon,  he  was  committed  to  prison,  and  doomed  to  perpetual 
incarceration.  The  Idng  rewarded  tlie  services  of  lord  Strange  hy  conferring  upon 
his  father,  lord  Stanley,  the  confiscated  estates  of  sir  Thomas  Broughton. 

"  Stout  Broughton,  that  had  stood 
With  York  even  from  the  first,  there  lastly  gave  his  blood 
To  that  well-foughten  field." 

Dravton's  Poi.y-Olbion. 


Punish- 
ment of 
the  rebels. 


Confirma- 
tion of 
grant  to 
sir  Wra. 
Stanley. 


Abduc- 
tion. 


"  With  this  unhappy  gentleman,  the  family  of  Broughton,  which  had  flourished  for 
many  centuries,  and  had  contracted  alliances  ^ith  most  of  tlie  principal  families  in  these 
parts,  was  extinguished  in  Furness  ;  for  Quicquid  deUrant  rcges  plectuntur  AcJiiri.''* 

After  the  hattle  of  Stoke,  the  king  made  another  journey  into  the  northern 
counties,  but  it  was  rather  an  itinerant  circuit  of  justice,  to  try  and  sentence  the 
rebels,  than  a  royal  progress.  Strict  inquisition  was  made  into  the  conduct  of  the 
offenders,  whether  they  had  been  principals  or  abettors  in  the  late  rebellion.  Many 
persons  were  sentenced  to  death,  and  executed,  but  the  prevailing  jiunishment  was 
by  fine  and  confiscation,  wliich  spared  life,  but  raised  money — at  all  times  the 
distinguishing  characteristic  of  king  Henry's  policy. 

In  the  reign  of  Richard  III.  sir  William  Stanley  became  seized  of  certain 
royal  demesne  lands,  "  as  a  fee  of  the  manors  of  Pykhill,  Sessewyke,  and  Bedewall, 
the  moite  of  the  manors  of  Istoid,  Hewlyngton,  Cobham,  Hem,  Wrexham,  Burton, 
Alyngton,  Esclusham,  Eglosecle,  Ruyaban,  Abynbury,  Dynull,  Morton  Fabror', 
Minere,  Osbaston,  Sonford,  Oseleston ;  the  moite  of  the  castell,  lordship  and  manor 
of  Dynesbram;  castell,  lordship  and  town  of  Lyone,  othenvise  called  the  Holte,  the 
moite  of  the  lordship,  manors  and  lands  of  Hewelyngton,  Bromfeld,  Yale,  Wrex- 
ham, and  Almore,  with  the  advoAvsons  of  the  moite  of  the  churche  of  Grefford,  in 
Wales,  and  marche  of  Wales,  unto  the  countie  of  Shropshire  adjoining."  Tliis 
grant  was  made  to  the  gallant  knight,  partly,  no  doubt,  of  the  royal  bounty,  but  not 
wholly  so,  as  other  manors  and  lands,  as  well  as  money,  Avere  given  by  liim  to  tlie 
crown  on  the  grant  being  ratified  to  sir  William.  After  the  change  of  the  dynasty, 
it  became  a  matter  of  doubt,  Avhether  the  gi'ant  made  by  king  Richai'd  was  of  sufficient 
validity  to  confer  an  undisputed  title;  and,  for  the  purpose  of  remoraig  all  uncertainty 
on  the  subject,  an  act  was  passed  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VII. 
confirming  the  royal  grant  to  sir  William  Stanley,  and  to  his  heirs  for  ever.f 

The  crime  of  abduction,  rendered  somewhat  memorable  in  Lancashire  in  modern 
times,  prevailed  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.,  and,  by  an  act  of  that  monarch. 


*  West's  Furness,  synopsis  of  families,  p.  210.  +   Rot.  Pari.  4  Henry  VII.  vol.  vi.  p.  417. 


Coimtj)  palatine  of  aanrastrr.  447 

tlie  taking  and  carrying  away  of  a  woman  forcibly  and  against  her  will    (except    chap. 

female  wards  and  bond-women)  was  made  a  capital  offence  ;  parliament  conceiving,    '. . 

that  tlie  obtaining  of  a  woman  by  force,  whatever  assent  niigbt  afterwards  follow,  was 
but  a  rape  drawn  forth  in  length,  because  the  first  force  drew  on  all  the  rest.* 

The  failure  of  the  pretensions  of  Lambert  Simnel  served  only  to  whet  the  inven- 
tion of  his  noble  patroness,  the  duchess  of  Burgundy,  who,  with  an  assiduity  and 
malignity  that  belonged  to  her  character,  got  up  a  new  tragedy,  in  which  Perkin  Perkin 
Warbeck,  an  adroit  youth,  the  son  of  a  renegade  Jew,  was  to  act  the  prmcipal  part,  another 

-,.  1  11  !!•  !•       pretender. 

The  reputed  father  of  this  new  pretender  to  tlie  throne  hail,  it  appears,  been  m 
favour  Avith  Edward  IV.  and  was  supposed  to  have  surrendered  his  wife  to  the 
embraces  of  that  licentious  prince;  so  that  the  extraordinary  resemblance  which 
it  is  said  young  Perkin  bore  to  Edwai'd,  his  godfather,  was  by  no  means  mii-acu- 
lous.  Having  found  this  treasure,  the  duchess  of  Burgundy  kept  him  under  her 
tuition  for  a  considerable  time,  polishing  his  manners  up  to  the  standard  of  court 
refinement,  and  instructing  luui  in  all  the  particulars  that  it  concerned  Richard 
Plantageuet  to  know,  regarding  both  his  royal  parents  and  his  elder  brother,  and 
his  kinsfolk;  with  all  which  it  was  essential  that  he  should  be  perfectly  acquainted, 
for  the  due  acting  of  his  princely  part.  To  stimulate  liis  ambition,  she  set  before 
him  the  glories  of  a  crown;  and  assured  him,  that  if  he  should  even  fail  in  his 
entei-prise,  he  should  at  all  times  find  an  asylum  in  her  court.  That  the  less 
suspicion  might  attach  to  the  "  young  prince,"  he  was  sent  through  Portugal  to 
Ireland,  and  disembarked  at  Cork.  Here  he  announced  Ids  chums  to  the  throne  of 
England,  and,  having  paved  his  way,  as  he  conceived,  in  that  country,  he  embarked 
for  France,  Avhere  his  court  was  attended  by  many  of  the  leading  persons  in  Paris. 
From  thence  he  returned  into  Flanders,  for  the  purpose,  as  he  pretended,  of  jjaying 
a  first  visit  to  liis  aunt  of  Burgundy.  The  duchess  affected  never  to  have  seen  him 
before,  and  scrutinized  liis  claims  with  great  severity,  in  order  to  discover  whether  he 
was  the  real  duke  of  York.  The  answers  returned  to  her  questions,  which  were 
asked  in  the  presence  of  a  number  of  persons  of  her  court,  seemed  to  astonish  the 
inquu'er.  She  feigned  to  be  quite  transported  with  joy  and  wonder  at  the  mira- 
culous deliverances  of  her  nephew;  and  having  given  expression  to  her  feelings,  she 
conferred  upon  him  the  title  of  "  The  WJiite  Rose  of  En(/la)i(f,''  ai)pointing  him  a 
guard  for  his  royal  person.  Attracted  by  the  news  of  this  regal  star,  wliich  had  risen 
on  the  continent,  sir  Robert  Clifford  embarked  for  Flanders,  to  ascertain  the  identity 
of  the  young  prince ;  and,  after  having  examined  him  with  great  minuteness,  he  wi'ote 
to  England  to  say,  that  he  knew  Richard  duke  of  York  as  well  as  he  knew  his  own 
son,  and  this  was  unquestionably  that  prince.     Tlie  Idng,  though  a  silent,  was  by  no 

•  Lord  Verulam's  history,  p.  65. 


448 


Cl)r  l^isitori)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XI. 


A  number 
of  his 
H'lherents 
executed. 


Sir  Wm. 

Stanley 

accused. 


Found 
guilty, and 
executed, 
15  Feb. 
1495. 


means  au  inactive  observer  of  tlie  drama  wliicli  was  acting,  and  in  wliicli  lie  had  so 
deep  ail  interest.  His  inquiries  at  home,  and  his  emissaries  abroad,  convinced  him 
that  young  Wai-beck  was  an  impostor ;  and  he  made  an  earnest  representation  to  the 
archduke  Pliilip,  by  a  si)ecial  embassy,  requiring  that  Perkin  might  be  dismissed 
from  liis  court  in  the  same  manner  as  pirates  and  other  impostors  were  treated, 
being  accounted  the  common  enemies  of  mankind.  The  reply  to  tliis  application 
was,  that  the  archduke  had  no  control  over  the  possessions  of  the  duchess  dowager, 
who  was  absolute  in  the  lands  of  her  dowry. 

The  king  now  determined  to  seize  several  of  the  persons  in  this  country,  by  whose 
aid  the  young  pretender  was  partly  upheld  and  supported.  Amongst  a  number 
of  others,  both  of  the  laity  and  clergy,  sir  Simon  Raddiife,  lord  Fitzwater,  sir  Simon 
Mountford,  sir  Thomas  Thwaites,  and  William  Dawbigne}',  were  all  brought  to 
trial ;  and  being  found  guilty  of  conspiring  to  dethrone  the  Idng,  they  were  sentenced 
to  death,  and  beheaded.  It  was  now  ascertained  that  sii'  Robert  Clifford  had  been 
induced  to  embark  in  the  king's  ser^dce  as  a  state  informer.  On  his  return  to 
England  from  Flanders,  he  sought  an  audience  of  the  king  in  council,  and,  affecting 
gi-eat  contrition,  he  fell  do^Mi  at  his  sovereign's  feet,  and  besought  his  forgiveness — of 
which  he  had  already  been  assured.  As  a  return  for  the  royal  clemency,  he  declared 
his  readiness  to  communicate  all  that  be  knew  of  the  parties  who  had  been  in  league 
withWarbeck,  and,  amongst  others,  he  accused  sir  William  Stanley,  the  king's 
chamberlain,  who  was  at  that  moment  in  the  royal  presence. 

The  king  received  this  information  with  amazement ! — that  a  man  who  had 
served  him  so  nobly,  who  bad  rescued  him  from  the  most  iuiminent  peril  in  the  hour 
of  battle,  and  who  had  crowned  him  in  the  field ;  that  a  man  who  enjoyed  by  liis 
favour  so  large  a  fortune,  and  such  high  elevation  in  the  state,  a  man  allied  closely 
with  his  royal  master  by  family  connexion,  and  to  whom  he  had  entrusted  liis  person, 
should  prove  a  traitor, — was  incredible.  Clifford  was  requested  to  reconsider  his 
charge,  and  Avarned  of  the  consequences  of  repeating  a  false  accusation  :  he  persisted, 
however,  in  liis  assertions,  and  offered  to  justify  liis  accusation,  upon  his  soul  and 
upon  his  life.  The  next  day  sir  William  was  examined  before  the  lords  of  the 
council ;  when  he  neither  denied,  or  attempted  to  extenuate,  his  giult.  His  reliance 
for  pardon,  it  is  said,  rested  principally  upon  his  former  services,  and  upon  the  inter- 
cession of  his  brother,  the  earl  of  Derby  ;  but  both  these  hopes  failed  him.  In  about 
six  weeks  from  the  time  when  the  accusation  was  first  preferred  by  sii-  Robert 
Clifford,  sir  William  Stanley  was  arraigned  of  high  treason,  and,  being  found  guilty, 
was  condemned  to  suffer  the  utmost  penalty  of  the  law,  and  soon  after  beheaded. 
The  specific  crime  charged  against  sir  William  Stanley  has  never  been  satisfactorily 
ascertained;  but   it  is   said,  that,  in  a  conversation  with  sir  Robert  Clifford,  lie 


Coimtp  ^alatmr  of  Saitrasitm  449 

observed,  "  That  if  he  were  sure  that  Perkin  Wavbeck  was  king  Edward's  son,  he    chap. 
wouki  neAer  bear  anns  against  him."     Tliis  tlie  judges  construed  into  conditional  '■ 


treason  ;  and  the  preference  that  the  expression  impUed,  for  tlie  claims  to  the  crown,  of 
the  house  of  York,  over  that  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  stung  Henry  to  the  quick. 
Tlie  true  cause,  however,  of  the  extreme  severity  towards  sir  William  Stanley  was 
probably  his  wealth,  as  he  was  one  of  the  richest  subjects  in  England,  there  having 
been  found  in  Ids  castle  of  Holt  forty  thousand  marks,  exclusive  of  plate,  jewels,  and 
other  effects  ;  to  which  is  to  be  added,  three  thousand  pounds  a  year  in  land.  This 
was  a  temptation  too  alluring  for  a  monai'ch  of  the  king's  cUspositiou  to  resist ;  and 
the  general  opinion  is,  that  sir  William  Stanley  was  quite  as  much  the  victim  of 
Henry's  cupifhty,  as  of  his  own  alleged  treason.  Some  disquietude,  it  is  said,  lurked 
in  the  mind  of  su-  Wilham,  whose  ambition  had  prompted  him  to  aspire  to  the  vacant 
earldom  of  Chester,  the  ancient  cUgnity  of  Rundle,  viscount  Bayeux,the  Norman  baron. 
This  request  having  been  refused,  his  allegiance  is  supposed  to  have  been  shaken ; 
and  the  king,  having  become  suspicious  that  his  love  was  turned  into  hate,  was  glad 
of  an  occasion  to  remove  from  his  court  and  person,  one  to  whom  he  was  under 
infinite  obHgation, 

It  is  by  no  means  clear  that  sir  Robert  Clifford,  the  state  informer,  was  not  from  Equi\ocai 
the  beginning  an  emissary  of  the  Idng,  who  maintained  a  widely  extended  system  of  of  cnf- 
espionage,  and  that  he  did  not  go  over  to  Flanders  with  his  consent,  and  by  liis  conniv-    "'  ' 
ance.  This  supposition.  Bacon  (lord  Verulam,)  rejects,  on  the  ground  that  su*  Robert 
never  afterwards  received  that  degree  of  confidence  vvitli  the  king  which  he  enjoyed 
befoi'e  he  left  England ;  but  tliis  is  a  slender  foundation  on  which  to  hazard  the 
conjecture,  seeing  that  spies  and  their  employers  must,  in  the  nature  of  tilings, 
generally  appear  to  stand  in  a  state  of  alienation,  if  not  of  actual  hostilit}-.     The 
parliament,  which  assembled  in  the  same  year,  passed  an  act  of  attainder  against 
sir  William  Stanley,  by  wliicli  all  his  honours,  castles,  manors,  lordships,  and  other 
possessions,  were  confiscated,  and  forfeited  to  the  king,  and  thus  swept  into  the 
general  mass  of  forfeitures  which  filled  the  royal  coffers.* 

In  the  midst  of  all  the  cares  of  state,  Henry  found  sufficient  leisure  in  the  sum-  The  king's 
mer,  after  the  execution  of  su-  William  Stanley,  to  visit  liis  mother,  for  whom  he  Lanca- 
always    cherished   the   most  affectionate   regard,   and  his  step-father,   the  eaii   of  ^^"^' 
Derby,  at  Knowsley,  and  at  Latham,  in  this  county.     So  far  was  the  earl  from 
expressing  any  hostility  towards  the  king  on  account  of  the  recent  execution  of  his 
brother,  that  he  gave  all  possible  effect  to  the  royal  progress,  and  entertauied  his 
guest  with  a  sumptuous  hospitality,  such  as  has  seldom  been  witnessed  hi  these 

*  Rot.  Pari.  1 1  Henry  VII.  vol.  vi.  p.  503. 
VOL.  I.  3m 


450  CIk  i^istxirj)  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    parts.     To  promote  tlie  king's  accommodation,  tlie  noble  lord  built  a  bridge  over  the 
"  river  Mersey  at  Warrington,  for  the  passage  of  liimself  and  liis  suite  ;  which  bridge 


has  been  found  of  so  much  public  utUity,  as  to  afford  a  perpetual  monument  of  the 
■visit  of  Henry  VII.  to  Lancashire.  The  countess  of  Riclrmond  and  Derby  not  only 
returned  her  son's  affection,  but  she  extended  also  her  love  to  tlie  queen  and  her 
chilcken ;  and  the  following  letter,  written  by  her  to  Thomas  Boteler,  earl  of 
Ormond,  chamberlain  to  the  queen,  Avliile  he  was  on  a  foreign  embassy,  is  strongly 
characteristic  of  her  maternal  affection  : — 

"My  Lord  Chambyrlayn,' 

Letter  of        "  Y  thauko  you  hertyly  that  ye  lyste  soo  sone  remebyi-  me  w'  my  glovys  the 

teg's  "oT"     whyche  wer  rygtit  good  save  they  wer  to  myche  for  my  hand,  y  thynke  the  ladyes 

mMd        y  that  partyes  to  giet  ladyes  all,  and  acordjnig  to  ther  gi-et  astate  they  have  gi-et 

personagf ,  as  for  newes  her  y  ame  seure  ye  shall  have  more  seurte  then  y  can  send 

yow,  blessed  be  god  the  kyng  the  quenne  and  alt  our  suet  chyldryn  be  yn  good  hele, 

the  queue  hatlie  be  a  lytytt  erased,  but  now  she  ys  well  god  be  thankyd,  her  sykenes 

ys   soo  good  as  y  wuld  but  y  truste  hastyly  yt  shaft  w'  godd'  gi-asse  whom  y  pray 

gyve  yow  good  sped  y  your  gi-et  maters  and  brjaig  you  well  and  soone  home,  wrety 

at  Shene  the  xxv.  day  of  aprett. 


^    -^Sy^tJt>-^^^^V-^^AAA^ 


"  To  my  lord 

"  The  queuys  chambyi'layii." 

The  progi-ess  of  the  Idng  on  his  northern  tour  to  Lancashire  commenced  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1495,  and  terminated  on  the  3rd  of  October  in  the  same  year.  In  the 
account  of  the  "  privy  purse  expenses  of  Henry  VII."  the  chai-ges  incurred  on  this 
journey  ai-e  enumerated  with  gi-eat  pailicularity,  and  the  successive  stages  of  the 
royal  route,  both  going  and  coming,  ai-e  marked  Avith  the  king's  accustomed  precision, 
in  the  following  terras  : — 

"June  21.     At  Wicombe.     22.  At  Notley.     25.  At  Wodestok. 

"  28.  For  making  the  King's  bonefuyer,  10". 

"  July  1.  At  Cleping-norton. 

"  2.  At  Evesham.     3.  At  Tukesbury.     4.  At  Wours. 

"5.  To  Brom  riding  to  Northamptonsliire  and  Ruteland  with  five  lettres,  10' 


Coiintp  ^alatint  of  aanrasftcr.  451 

"  9,  To  a  preste  that  Avas  the  King's  scolemaster,  £2.  chap 

"  To  a  tumbler  opon  tlie  rope  in  rewarde,  3%  4''.  

"10.  At  Biewdeley.     12.  At  Ludlow.     15.  At  Shrewsbury. 

"  16.  At  Cumbemcre  Abbey. 

"  To  an  archer  of  th'  archeduc  in  rewarde,  £4. 

"  17.  At  Holte.     18.  At  Chester. 

"  To  TophflF  the  Juge  of  Ireland,  £2. 

"  23.  To  John  Reding   for  vitailling,    waging  of  four  shipps  at   Fowey  and 
Pl}anouth,  ^\^th  470  [men]  for  six  weeks  to  be  opon  the  sea,  £350.  2\  9''. 

"  For  his  costs  ricUng  theder  with  the  money,  £6.  13'.  4''. 

"  To  Sii-  Geffi-ey  for  vitadling,  hiring  of  sliippes,  liii-ing  of  horses,  for  liis  olde 
costs,  &  for  Ms  costs  now,  in  grosse,  £42.  1 7".  4''. 

"  To  the  Pycard  of  Chester  liired  for  a  moneth,  to  carry  men  into   Ireland, 
£4.  13'.  2". 

"  To  a  Spanyard  for  can-ying  seventy  men  over  into  Irelande  at  onetyme,  £10. 

"  To  William  Damport  for  four  tun  of  here,  with  the  carriage  and  empty  pipes, 
£4.  IP.  2". 

"  At  Vaile  Roiall  Abbey. 

"  To  one  that  leped  at  Chestre,  6\  8*. 

"  For  the  wags  of  eleven  pety  captanes  for  fourteen  days,  every  of  them  9'  by 
day,  £5.  15'.  6\ 

(Equal  to  about  six  shillings  per  day  at  the  present  time.) 

"  For  their  conduyt  money,  £1.  9'.  3\ 

"  To  the  wags  of  149  fotemen  for  fourteen  days,  every  of  them  6^.  by  day, 
£101.  10'.  6". 

"  To  their  condyt  money,  £26.  6'.  8*. 

"  For  142  jackets,  at  1'.  6^  the  pece,  £13.  11*. 

"  To  fifty-five  cresset  men,  every  of  them  V.  £2.  15'. 

"JM?y  28.  AtWlionwick  (Wiuwick). 

"  20.  At  Lathom. 

"  To  Sii-  Richard  Pole  for  200  jacquetts,  price  of  every  pece  P.  6^  £15. 

Husband  of  Margaret  Plantagenet,  daughter  of  George  Duke  of  Clai-ence» 
and  afterwards  Countess  of  Salisbmy. 

"  For  the  wages  of  100  horsemen  for  fourteen  days,  every  of  them  9*  by  day, 
£52.  10'. 

"  For  their  conduyt  for  3  days,  every  of  the  n  9'^  by  day,  £11.  5'. 

"  For  the  wages  of  100  fotemen  for  fourteen  days,  every  of  them  6''.  by  day, 
£35. 

3m  2 


452  Cf)f  ?ljlStXlip  Of  tl)t 

XI.  "  To  swell  the  King's  retinue. 

"  For  theii"  conduyt  for  four  clays,  every  of  them  6''.  by  day,  £10. 

"  For  shipping,  vitailliug,  and  setting  over  the  see  the  foresaid  200  men  with  an 
100  horses,  £13.  6'.  8\ 

"  To  the  shirif  awayting  upon  S'  Sampson  for  the  safe  conduyt  of  the  forsaid 
souldeours,  £2. 

"  Auff.  2.  To  Picard,  a  hen-aid  of  Fraunce,  in  rewarde,  £6.  13'.  4^. 

"  To  the  women  that  songe  before  the  Kinge  and  the  Queue  in  reward,  6'.  8''. 
From  wliich  it  appeal's  that  the  King  was  accompanied  in  this  progress  by 
the  Queen. 

"  3.  At  Knowsley. 

"  4.  At  Warington. 

"  5.  At  Manchestre. 

"  6.  At  Maxfeld,     8.  At  Newcastell.     10.  At  Strafford.     11.  At  Lychefeld. 
12.  At  Burton.     13.  At  Derby.     28.  At  Lughburgh.     29.  At  Leye. 

"31.  To  theubassador  of  Scotland. 

"  For  charging  and  discharging,  wacliing  and  attending  upon  the  Kinges  jewels 
from  Shene  to  Nottingham,  £20. 

"  Se^y.  1.  At  Walsted. 

"  To  the  Erie  of  Kildare  in  reward,  £6.  13'.  4*. 

"  For  the  costs  and  chai'ges  of  the  Enbassador's  horses  at  Nottuigham  and  Leye, 
£8.  19'.  l-*. 

"4.  At  Colyweston.     11.  At  Rekyng. 

"11.  To  James  Keyley  for  King  Richard  [III.]  tombe,£l0.  P. 

"  12.  At  Northampton. 

"  To  David  Malpas,  for  the  reparacone  done  and  made  at  Rokyngham  Castell, 
£6.  19'  9'. 

"  16.  AtBanbiu-y.     19.  At  Wodestok. 

"  19.  For  gloves  and  Lantory  cheese,  4'. 


d 


"  25.  To  the  Juge  of  Ireland  in  rewarde,  £3.  &\  8' 

"  27.  For  five  paire  of  gloves  by  Hugh  Denes,  P.  8''. 

"  29.  At  Newelme. 

"  To  Dr.  Maye  for  finding  of  John  Phelps  at  Oxon,  £2. 

"  33.  At  Birsham.     Oct.  1.  At  Windesor. 

"  To  the  chiltken  for  the  Kings  spowres,  4'. 

"  Oct.  3.  At  Shene.     16.  At  Westminster." 


Counti.)  |3alatuit  of  2Lanca£Jtfr,  453 

During  the  king's  i-esidence  at  Latham,  Perkin  Wai'beck  having  collected  a    chap. 

considerable  armament,  attempted  a  landing  on  the  coast  of  Kent ;  hnt  this  enterprise,  U . 

like  all  the  others  in  wldch  he  embarked,  utterly  failed.     He  next  sailed  for  Scotland,  invasions 

of  M  ar- 

wliere  he  was  received  with  gi'eat  favour  by  the  8cotch  king.  Here  he  told  liis  i^e^k. 
pathetic  story  with  much  effect,  representing,  that  "  one  Henry  Tudor,  the  son  of 
Edmund  Tudor,  had  usui-ped  that  tlu'one,  of  which  he  had  been  deprived  by  liis 
uncle,  Richard  of  Gloucester.  Henry,  not  content  with  displacing  him  from  tlie  throne, 
had  laboured  to  compass  his  death  and  ruin  ;  the  justice  of  his  cause,  however,  was 
so  manifest  to  his  most  christian  majesty  Charles,  king  of  France,  and  to  the  lady 
duchess  of  Burgundy,  his  dear  aunt,  that  they  not  only  acknowledged  his  title  to  the 
English  crown,  but  were  ready  to  assist  liim  in  obtaining  it."  The  king  so  far 
supported  the  claims  of  his  interesting  young  guest,  that  he  allowed  liim  to  take  to 
^ife  Lady  Katherine  Gordon,  daughter  of  the  earl  of  Huntley,  a  lady  of  great  beauty, 
and  of  high  accomplishments.  The  next  step  was  to  penetrate  into  England  by  the 
northern  borders,  and  to  erect  his  standard  in  Northumberland.  Here  Perkin  issued 
a  "  royal  proclamation,"*  inviting  all  loyal  subjects  to  repair'  to  his  standard,  and 
holding  out  the  most  alluring  promises  to  those  who  embraced  his  cause.  All  these 
blancHshments  failed  of  success.  Tlie  people  were  insensible  to  the  demand  made 
upon  their  loyalty,  and  the  expedition  ended  in  a  precipitate  retreat,  but  not  till  the 
Scotch  had  plundered  and  laid  waste  the  county  of  Northumberland. 

His  next  and  final  attempt  was  upon  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  where  a  recent  insur- 
rection, which  terminated  in  the  defeat  of  the  rebels  upon  Blackheath,  seemed  to 
have  prepared  the  people  for  his  reception.  The  first  appearance  of  Perkin  was  at 
Bodmin,  where  he  was  joined  by  about  three  thousand  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  town 
and  the  neighbouring  district.  Thus  encouraged,  he  marched  to  the  city  of  Exeter, 
which  he  suramoned  to  suiTender  in  the  name  of  "  Richard  IV.,  king  of  England." 
Instead  of  dismay,  tliis  invasion  excited  nothing  but  joy  and  derision  in  the  king's 
court.  Speaking  of  Perkin  and  his  followers,  who  were  many  of  them  persons  of 
decayed  fortune,  and  a  number  of  others  absolute  felons,  Henry  said,  "  The  king  of 
Rake-hells  has  landed  in  the  west,  and  I  hope  I  shtUl  have  the  honour  of  an  internew 
with  hiin."  The  king  lost  not  a  moment  in  despatcliiug  the  lord  chamberlain,  lord 
Brook,  and  sir  Rice  ap  Thomas,  with  a  light  force,  to  Exeter,  to  relieve  the  city, 
charging  them  to  announce  that  he  was  on  liis  march  in  person,  at  the  head  of  the 
royal  ai'my.  All  these  preparations  were  rendered  unnecessary  by  the  gentry  of 
the  county  having  collected  a  force  sufficient  to  alarm  the  invaders,  who  suddenly 
raised  the  siege  of  Exeter,  and  marched  to  Taunton.  From  this  place  Perkin 
Warbeck  fled  in  the  night,  attended  by  about  sLxty  liorsemeu,  to  BeAvley,  in  the  wafiili"!!. 
'  •  Sir  Robert  Cotton's  MSS. 


454  €i)t  i?is;toi|.)  of  tht 

CHAP,    New  Forest,  where  he  shut  liimself  up  for  safety  in  the  sanctuary  of  that  place, 

'       alleging,  that  he  foresaw  the  carnage  that  would  ensue,  and  he  could  not  endure  to 

see  the  blood  of  his  subjects  spilt!     Lady  Katheriue  Gordon,  who  had  followed  the 

fortunes  of  her  husband,  whom  she  tenderly  loved,  was  captured  at  St.  Michael's,  in 

Cornwall,  by  the  king's  troops,  and,  being  taken  to  comt,  she  was  treated  by  the 

queen  with  gi'eat  kindness,  and  even  aifection.    Her  beauty  was  the  theme  of  general 

admiration,  and,  being  extremely  fail-,  the  title  given  to  her  husband  by  the  duchess 

of  Burgundy  was  transferred  to  his  lady,  Avho  was  henceforth  called  "  Hie  ^V^nte. 

Rose."     The  pretender,  Perkin,  on  a  promise  of  pardon  from  the  king,  surrendered 

himself  into  liis  hands.      On  bemg  brought  to  London,  he  confessed  the  imposture, 

and  became  an  object  of  scorn  rather  than  of  loyal  regard.     Having  formed  a  con- 

spu'acy,  as  was  alleged,  with  Edwai-d  Plantagenet,  earl  of  WarAvick,  the  eldest  son 

of  the  late  duke  of  Clarence,  who  had  been  kept  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower  from  liis 

Execution  iufaucy,  he  was  brought  to  trial   for  higli  treason,   found   guilty,  and  afterwards 

male  of  the  executed  at  Tyburn.      The  earl  of  Warwick,  his  accomplice,  was  also  convicted,  and 

genets!       beheaded  on  Tower  Hill,  in  whom  fell  the  last  of  the  male  line  of  the  Plantagenets.* 

The  king,  no  longer  exposed  to  the  danger  of  losing  his  throne,  smrendered 

himself  to  that  passion,  wliich,  when  inordinately  cherished,  strengthens  with  age. 

The  king's  and  outlives  all  other  vices.t     The  sums  wliich  flowed  into  the  royal  coffers  from  the 

pii'ise.        arbitrary  exactions  of  Epsom  and  Dudley  were  immense  j  and  the  strictness  with 

which  the   account  of  the  king's   privy  purse   was  kept  is  at  once  amusing   and 

instructive.     In  these  accounts,  from  the  year  1491  to  1505,  amongst  an  immense 

number  of  other  items  of  expenditure,  the  following  appear  : — - 


*  Contemporary  liistorians  describe  this  young  prince  in  their  strong,  but  homely  terms,  as 
reduced  to  the  most  abject  state  of  imbecility  by  his  long  confinement,  and  by  his  almost  entire 
exclusion  from  human  intercourse:  "  he  was,"  says  Holinshed,  "  a  very  innocent."  Hall  says,  "  being 
kept  for  fifteen  years  without  company  of  men,  or  sight  of  beasts,  he  could  not  discern  a  goose  from 
a  capon." 

t  Among  other  modes  of  raising  money,  the  king  had  frequently  recourse  to  subsidies ;  a  levy  of 
this  kind  was  made  in  1496,  when  the  persons  appointed  to  be  commissioners  for  Lancashire,  along 
with  the  justices  of  the  peace,  were 

Edmundus  Trafford  Mil',  Thomas  Lawrence  Arm' 

JoHes  Talbot  Mil',  Thomas  Hesketh  Arm'. 

It  is  due  to  the  king,  however,  to  say,  that  he  did  from  time  to  time  award  allowances  from  the 
revenues  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  for  the  relief  of  the  public  burdens,  as  appears  by  the  following 
items  in  the  acts  of  the  first  and  eleventh  years  of  his  reign : — 
j^85.  First,  of  the  General  Receivour  of  the  Duchieof  Lancastre  .  .  .  mm.  ccciiiti.  xiriis.  vd.  oB. 

j^gj  First,  oftheGenerallReceyvour  of  the  Duchieof  Lancastre  .  .  .  mm.  ccciiiti.  xiiii  s.  vid.  o'b. 


Coimtj)  palatine  of  £anrasitfr,  455 

£.      S.      d.  CHAP. 

Money  given  to  Sii*  Wm.  Stanley  at  his  execution  ....     10     0     0  "    

Paid  for  Sir  William  Stanley's  buryall  at  Syon 15   19     0 

Paid  to  Simon  Digby  in  full  payment  for  tlie  buriall  of  Sir 

Wm.  Stanley 200 

Paid  to  Robert  Suthewell  for  horses,  sadells,  and  other  neces- 

sarys   bought   for   the  conveyance  of  my  Lady  Kateryn 

Hunt-leye,  (The  White  Rose) 7134 

Paid  to  my  Lord  Strange  in  reward 40     0     0 

Paid  to  Sir  Edward  Stiuiley  in  reward 26   13     4 

Paid  for  making  of  the  bonefuyer 200 

Paid  to  Sir  Gilbert  Talbot  going  on  an  embassade  to  Rome, 

for  his  costs 500 

&c.         &c.         &c.         &c.         &c.         &c.         &c. 

Towards  the  close  of  liis  reign,  the  king  displayed  great  anxiety  to  bring  a  Failure  of 
"  celestial  honour,"  as  it  was  called,  into  the  house  of  Lancaster.     To  accomplish  to  obtain 
this  object,  he  sent  an  embassy  to  Rome,  to  importune  the  new  pope  Julias  IL  to  honour 
canonize  Henry  VI. ;  but  upon  what  gi'ound,  except  that  he  had,  when  Henry  VH.  i^ous^of 
was  a  boy,  predicted  that  he  should  one  day  fill  tlie  throne  of  England,  it  is  difficult     ^""^^^  *'^" 
to  conjecture.     His  holiness  referred  the  matter  to  certain  cardinals,  to  take  the 
verification  of  the  deceased  monarch's  holy  acts  and  miracles;  but  these  were  not 
sufficiently  obvious  to  entitle  him  to  the  dignity  of  the  calendar,  and  the  negociation 
was  abandoned  in  despaii'. 

A  MS.  in  the  Harleian  Collection,*  found  amongst  the  papers  of  Fox  the 
Martyrologist,  entitled  "  De  Miracnlis  Beatissimi  M'lUtis  Xpi  Henrici  F;,''  con- 
sisting of  about  150  folio  closely  written  pages,  contains  an  account  of  a  vast  number 
of  reputed  mii-acles  performed  by  this  monarch,  of  which  the  following  may  be  taken 
as  specimens. 

"  How  Richard  Whytby  Priest  of  Mount  St.  Michaels  was  long  ill  of  a  Fever,  &  at  last  mira- 
culously cured  by  journeying  to  the  Tomb  of  Henry  VI."     [Folio  113  b.] 

"  John  called  Robynson,  who  had  been  blind  ten  years,  recovered  his  sight  by  visiting  Henry's 
Tomb."     [Folio  97  b.] 

"  How  Henry  Lancaster,  afflicted  with  Fever,  was  miraculously  cured  in  three  days  by  the 
appearance  of  that  blessed  Prince  Henry  VI.  in  the  sky."     [Folio  98.] 

"  How  a  girl  called  Joan  Knyght  who  was  nearly  kilLd  with  a  bone  sticking  in  her  throat,  and 
considered  dead,  on  the  by-standers  invoking  Henry  VI.  vomited  the  bone  &  was  restored 
to  health."     [Folio  119  b.] 

•  Cod.  423. 


456  CfK  l?l£(t0lj)  of  tl)t 

CHAP.  One  of  the  last  acts  of  the  parliament  of  Henry  VII.  was  to  answer  a  demand 

^^"       for  two  "  reasonable  aids;"  the  one  for  making  a  knight  of  his  eldest  son  Arthur, 

Reason-  now  deceased,  and  the  other  for  the  marriage  of  his  eldest  daughter  (from  which 
marriage  sprang  the  Stuart  dynasty  in  England)  to  the  king  of  Scotland,  and  also 
for  the  "  gi'eat  and  inestimable  charges"  which  he  had  incurred  for  tlie  defence  of 
the  realm.  Parliament  having  duly  considered  these  demands,  and  being  fully  aware 
of  the  difficulty  and  discontent  which  would  aiise  from  the  aids  being  levied  according 
to  the  ancient  tenors  of  the  kingdom,  compounded  for  them  by  presenting  the  king 
with  forty  thousand  pounds,  towards  which  sum  the  contribution  for  Lancashire,  and 
the  coimnissioners  employed  in  its  collection,  were  as  follow : — 

Thomas  Boteler,  Knyght, 
John  Bothe,  Knyght, 
Pears  Lee,  Knyght, 
1  Richard  Bold,  Knyght, 

Jolm  SoAvthworth,  Knyght, 
Thomas  Laurence,  Knyght, 
William  Thornborough,  Esquyer, 
Cutberd  Clyfton,  Esquyer, 

Immense  The  death  of  the  king  put  the  usual  termination  to  the  accumulation  of  wealth. 

wealth  of  a  jjg  ^eh,''  says  lord  Verulam,  "  mostly  in  secret  places,  vnder  his  owne  Key  and 
keeping,  at  Richmond,  treasui-e  of  store,  that  amounted  (as  by  Tradition  it  is  reported 
to  have  done)  %aito  the  Summe  of  neare  Eighteene  hundred  thousand  pounds 
Sterling;  a  huge  Masse  oi  Money,  even  for  these  tunes," 

From  the  time  of  Henry  VII.  the  distinction  of  the  Roses,  as  a  badge  of  party, 
fell  entirely  into  disuse.  The  origin  of  tliis  distinction  may  be  traced  back  to  the 
time  of  John  of  Gaunt,  whose  device  was  a  red  rose,  and  Edmund  of  Langley,  whose 
device  was  a  white  rose.  "  Tliese  two  factions,"  says  Selden,  "  afterwards,  as  for 
cognizance  of  their  descent  and  inclinations,  were  by  the  same  flowers  cUstinguished," 
till  the  wliite  rose  and  the  red  were  united,  on  the  marriage  of  Henry  VII.  with  the 
princess  Elizabeth. 


,  cccxviiiti.  IIS.  iiid.  ob.  q. 


Cdimti)  l^Mint  of  ILnnrasitfr. 


457 


CJ)ap.  ^M- 


The  16th  century.— Henry  VIII.  ascends  the  throne.— Invasion  of  England  by  the  Scots.— Battle 
of  Flodden  Field—The  king's  letter  of  thanks  to  sir  Edward  Stanley,  &c.— Lord-lieutenants  first 
appointed.— Proclamation  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster  on  menaced  Scotch  invasion.— The  Reforma- 
tion.—Religious  persecution.— Visitation  of  the  monasteries.— Deplorable  ignorance  of  the 
clergy.— Report  of  the  commissioners  on  the  Lancashire  monasteries.— Dissolution  of  the  lesser 
monasteries.-Original  certificate  of  the  value  of  certain  monasteries  in  Lancashire.- Progress  of 
a  suffragan  in  Lancashire.-Insurrections  produced  by  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries.-The 
pilgrimage  of  grace.-Letter  from  the  king  to  the  archbishop  of  York  and  lord  Darcy.-Or.g.nal 
warrants  (fac  similes)  from  the  king  to  sir  Roger  Bradshawe  and  sir  Thomas  Langton,  kn.ghts.- 
Dispersion  of  the  rebel  army.-Reassemble.-Final  dispersion. -Letter  from  the  earl  of  Derby  to 
the  king,  on  the  taking  of  Whalley  abbey.-First  draught  of  Henry  Vin.'s  letter  to  the  earl  of 
Sussex  on  the  rebellion  in  the  north,  &c.-Renewed  rebellion  in  the  north.-Execution  of  the 
abbot  of  Whalley  and  others.-Dissolution  of  the  larger  monasteries.-First  pubhcation  of  the 
Bible  in  En-lish.-Excommunication  of  the  king.-List  of  Lancashire  monasteries.-Their  revenues 
administered  by  the  duchy.-Aggregate  value  of  the  dissolved  monasteries.-Bishopnc  of  Chester 
&c.  erected.-List  of  chantries  in  Lancashire.-Decayed  towns  in  Lancashire. -Privdege  of 
sanctuary.— The  king's  death. 

HE  skteentli  century,  during  almost  the  whole  of 
wliich  period  the  throne  of  England  was  occupied  by 
Henry  VHI.  and  liis  cliildren,  affords  abundant 
materials  for  both  the  general  and  the  local  history  of 
the  county  of  Lancaster.  The  reformation  of  the 
estabUshed  church,  by  which  so  many  of  the  religious 
institutions  of  the  country  were  dissolved,  and  the 
erection  of  a  new  bishopric,  in  which  this  coimty  was 
included,  could  not  fail  materially  to  affect  our  eccle- 

siastical  institutions  ;  wliile  the  persecutions  on  account 

of  the  ever-varying  religion  of  the  state,  created  a  degree  of  public  excitement  that 
has  seldom  had  a  parallel  in  British  history.  In  the  north,  the  impression  produced 
by  these  memorable  changes  was  deeper  than  in  the  south;  and  in  Lancashii-e,  where 
the  recusants  were  more  numerous  than  in  any  other  county,  both  the  clergy  and  the 
laity  awaited  the  result  of  the  contest  of  the  rival  churches  of  England  and  Rome 
with  an  anxiety  fully  commensurate  with  the  unportant  interests  it  involved.     Nor 

VOL.  I.  3  N 


CH\I' 
XII. 


The  leth 
century. 


458 


ClK  5}i£ituii)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XII. 


Henry 
VIII.  as- 
cends the 
throne. 


Invasion 
of  Eng- 
land by 
the  Scots. 


Battle  of 
Flodden 
Field. 
Sept.  0, 
1513. 


were  the  military  and  naval  events  of  this  period  less  interesting.  The  battle  of 
Flodden  Field,  the  wars  with  France,  the  almost  incessant  contests  with  Ireland,  and 
the  menaced  invasion  of  this  country  by  Spain,  which  terminated  in  the  destruction 
of  the  "  invincible  armada,"  filled  the  whole  nation  with  military  ardour;  and  the 
amj)le  official  correspondence  between  the  lieutenancy  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  and 
the  successive  ministers  of  state,  shews  that  tliis  county  took  its  full  share  in  the  great 
events,  by  which  the  destiny  of  the  nation  was  fixed,  and  its  independence  for  ever 
secured. 

No  prince  ever  ascended  the  throne  of  England  under  circumstances  more 
auspicious  than  those  which  attended  the  elevation  of  Henry  VIII.  At  peace  with 
foreign  nations,  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  undisputed  title  to  the  tlu-one,  Avith  a  treasury 
fuU  almost  to  repletion,  and  in  possession  of  the  affections  of  his  people,  he  had 
nothing  to  wish  for,  and  nothing  to  dread,  except  the  impetuosity  of  his  own  passions. 
His  venerable  gi-andmother,  the  countess  of  Richmond  and  Derby,  had  survived  her 
son,  Hemy  VII.,  and  offered  her  valuable  council  and  assistance  in  tlie  formation  of 
the  young  king's  cabinet,  at  the  head  of  which  stood  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
The  countess  lived  to  see  the  hope  of  her  old  age  married  lo  Catherine  of  Arragon, 
the  "  A-irgiu  widow"  of  his  deceased  brother  Arthur,  and  died  soon  after  the  consum- 
mation of  that  unhappy  union. 

A  few  years  served  to  engage  the  king  in  a  war  with  France,  and  to  awaken  the 
doiTaant  feelings  of  hostility  entertained  towards  England  by  the  Scottish  nation.  To 
prosecute  his  operations  with  success,  James  IV.,  king  of  Scotland,  passed  the  English 
frontier  at  the  head  of  fifty  thousand  men,*  and  menaced  the  adjoining  shores  with 
his  invading  army.  To  repel  this  formidable  invasion,  large  levies,  principally  of 
the  tenantry  of  the  great  landed  proprietors,  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster, 
Chester,  York,  and  Westmoreland,  which  were  placed,  by  the  dii-ection  of  the  queen 
regent,t  under  the  command  of  Thomas  Howard,  eail  of  Sm-rey,  and  which,  with  the 
addition  of  five  thousand  regular  ti'oops,  swelled  the  amount  of  the  English  ai-my  to 
twenty-six  thousand  men.  The  earl  having  marched  from  Pontefract  by  the  route  of 
Bolton  Castle,  the  two  armies  met  on  the  field  of  Flodden,  near  the  foot  of  the  Cheviot 
Hills,  on  the  margin  of  the  vale  of  Tweed.  The  earl  of  Sun-ey,  having  divided  his 
forces  into  two  parts,  confided  the  vanguard  to  the  command  of  his  son,  lord  Howard, 
the  lord  achuii-al;  and  the  reai-  he  headed  liimself     Su-  Edmund  Howard  commanded 


*  The  official  account,  written  by  the  lord  admiral,  says  eighty  thousand;  but  numbers  of  these 
were,  no  doubt,  the  hangers-on  of  the  army,  who  had  accompanied  their  friends,  to  partake  of  their 
expected  plunder. 

t  The  king  was  at  that  time  personally  engaged  in  the  wars  in  France,  while  Catherine,  emulating 
the  example  of  queen  Philippa,  (see  chap.  ix.  p.  331,)  was  left  to  repel  the  Scotch  invaders. 


Countp  palatine  of  aanrndtm  459 

the  right  Aviu-,  and  sii-  Edward  Stanley  the  left  whig  of  the  English  army.     On    chap. 

leadin^g  his  followers  to  the  field,  the  earl  exclaimed,  "  Now,  good  feUows,  do  like  

EngliSunen  this  day!"    The  right  wing  of  the  vanguard,  under  sir  Edmund  Howard, 
overwhelmed  by  a  large  body  of  Scottish  spearmen,  commanded  by  lord  Home, 
narrowly  escaped  anniliilatiou  by  the  timely  anival  of  the  Bastard  Heron,  ^Ndth  a 
numerous  body  of  outlaws,  Avho  maintained  a  dubious  contest,  tiU  the  lord  Dacre, 
with  a  reserve  of  fifteen  thousand  horse,  charged  the  spearmen,  aiul  put  them  to 
flight.     Tlie  EngUsh  vanguai-d,  under  the  lord  admii-al,  fought  like  heroes,  and,  after 
slapng  the  eai-ls  of  Enrol  and  Crawford,  dispersed  then-  forces  in  every  dii-ection. 
Tli'e  commanders  of  the  conflicting  annies,  the  earl  of  Surrey,  and  the  Scottish  king, 
with  the  chosen  waniors  of  theh-  respective  armies,  were  opposed  to  each  other. 
James  fought  on  foot,  sun-ounded  by  thousands  of  his  men,  cased  in  armour,  which 
resisted  the  ai-rows  of  the  English  archers  :  maixhing  with  a  steady  step  towards  the 
royal  standard  of  England,  he  conceived  this  trophy  of  victory  to  be  almost  within 
liis  grasp,  and  was  congi-atulating  himself  on  the  glories  that  awaited  him,  when 
sir-  Edward  Stanley,  leading  the  left  wing  of  the  EngUsh  army,  composed  principally 
of  the  Lancasliire,  Chesliire,  and  Yorkshire  levies,  defeated  the  earls  of  Argyle  and 
Lennox,  and  turned  the  fortune  of  the  day.     The  Scotch  ranks,  hai-assed  by  the 
murderous  discharges  of  the  archers,  and  the  tremendous  blows  of  the  bill-men,  feU 
into  disorder ;  when  Stanley,  seizing  the  moment  of  panic,  chased  them  over  the 
liill,  and,  wheeling  to  the  right,  led  his  followers  against  the  rear  of  the  main  Scotch 
army  under  king  James,  and  thus  placed  hhn  between  two  fii-es.     In  vain  did  the 
gallant  monarch  endeavour  to  penetrate  the  hostUe  ranks  by  wliich  he  was  envi- 
roned; the  moment  of  his  destiny  was  at  hand,  and  he  fell  a  lifeless  corpse  upon  the 
field,  Within  a  spear's  length  of  the  feet  of  the  earl  of  Suney.     The  battle,  wliich 
begJn  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  terminated  at  night-fall,  and  the  pursuit 
was  continued  for  only  four  miles.     On  the  part  of  the  Scotch,  ten  thousand  wairiors 
were  slain ;  amongst  whom  were  not  only  the  king,  but  his  natural  son,  the  arch- 
bishop of  St.  Andrews,  with  two  other  bishops,  two  abbots,  twelve  earls,  thii-teen 
barons,  five  eldest  sons  of  barons,  and  fifty  other  men  ot  distinction.*    Six  thousand 
horses  were  taken,  with  the  Avhole  park  of  the  Scotch  ai-tillery,  and  about  eight 
thousand  prisoners.     The  gallantry  of  the  Lancashire  men  at  the  memorable  battle 
of  Flodden-field  has,  at  all  times,  been  a  subject  of  exultation  on  the  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  tliis  county.     That  their  favourite  leader,  sir  Edward  Stanley,  should 
have,  by  liis  skill  and  courage,  contributed  so  essentially  to  turn  the  fate  of  the  day, 
and  'that  those  other  gallant  knights,  sir  William  Molineux  of  Scfton,  sii-  Edward 
Norris  of  Speke,  and  sir-  Richard  Asshton  of  Middleton,  should  have  co-operated 

*  Lord  Thomas  Howard's  official  account. 
3  N  2 


460  €l)t  5?is(tor|)  of  ti)t 

CHVP.    SO  efl5ciently  with  their  leader,  will  long  be  mentioued  mth  praise,  by  those  who 
XII  •  . 

"  cherish  the  memory  of  gallant  deeds  at  arms,  and  combme  with  them  the  localities 

of  the  respective  contingents. 

The  records  of  the  day  are  full  of  the  achievements  of  the  heroes  of  Flodden- 

field,  which  are  celebrated  in  prose  and  in  rhyme  ;  and  an  ancient  MS.  in  the 

Harleian  collection  in  the  British  Museum, f  records  these  valiant  deeds  in  a  strain 

of  eulogium,  wliich  it  would  be  inexcusable  wholly  to  omit.     The  poem  is  contained 

in  nine  fits,  or  cantos,  occupying  sixty-six  closely  wiitten  quai'to  pages,  and  opens 

^ith  the  following  ai'gument : — 

"  Heare  is  the  Famous  historie  or  Songe  called  Floodan  Field,  and  in  it  shal  be 
"  declare  how  whyle  King  Hemie  the  Eight  was  in  France,  the  King  of  Scoots 
"  called  James,  the  Fowerth  of  that  name,  Invaided  the  Realme  of  England,  And 
"  how  hee  was  Incountred  w*^  all  att  a  place  called  Branton,  on  Floodan  HUl,  By  the 
"  Earle  of  Surry  Live  Tennant  Generall  for  the  Kinge,  w*^  his  sonne  Lord  Thomas 
"  Haworth,  the  great  Achnii-all  of  England  w*  the  Helpe  of  dyvers  Lords  & 
"  Knights  in  the  North  Countrie,  As  the  Lord  Dakers  of  the  North  the  Lord  Scrope 
"  of  Bolton,  w'"  the  most  Con-agious  Knight  S'  Edward  Standley,  whoe  for  his 
"  prowis  and  valliantnes  shewed  att  the  said  Battell,  was  made  Lord  Mount  Eagle 
"  as  the  Sequell  declai'eth." 

"  Here  followeth  the  first  Fitt." 

"  Now  will  1  cease,  for  to  recyte 

Kinge  Henrie  afFayres,  in  France  so  wyde, 

And  of  domisticke  warrs  He  writte 

W'^''  in  his  abcence  did  betyd, 

A  fearefull  field,  in  verce  to  Fraunce, 

I  meane  if  that  to  marke  yee  list 

O  Floodan  Mounte,  thy  fearefull  name 

Doth  sore  affraye,  my  trimblinge  Fist 

Almightie  Mars,  Thou  me  adniitt 

For  to  discowrs,  w"'  soundinge  prayse 

This  Bloodie  Field,  this  FearfuU  Fight, 

W'^''  fought  was  in  our  fathers  days. 

Yee  Muses  all,"  &c. 

«         ^         »         ¥         «         «         « 

"  Then  for  the  Earle  of  Surry  hee  sente, 
And  Regente  of  the  North  him  made, 
And  bad  him  if  the  Scoots  were  bente 
The  Northern  Borders  to  Invaid, 

*  Cod.  3526. 


Countj)  ^aalatine  of  Sancasitfn  461 

That  he  should  Raise  a  Royall  Band  CHAP. 

XII 

In  Yorkshire,  and  in  Bushoppricke,  '__ 

In  Westmerland  and  Comberland, 
In  Lancashire  and  Cheshire  eake. 
And  if  thou  need  North vmberl and, 
Quoth  hee  theare  is  stronge  men  &  stoute, 
W''"  will  not  sticke  if  need  doe  stand, 
To  fight  on  Horsebacke  and  on  foote. 
There  is  the  doughtie  Dakers,  olde 
Wardor  of  the  West  Marche  is  hee. 
[  Fol.  4.  ]  There  is  the  Bowes  of  Kendale  bolde 

•\ych  fgjce  will  feight,  and  never  flee. 
There  is  S''  Edward  Standley  stowte 
For  Marshiall  skill  cleare  w*  out  make, 
Of  Laytham  Howse,  by  Lyne  came  out 
Whose  blood  will  never  torne  theire  backe. 
All  Lancashire  will  live  and  dy, 
W"*  him,  soe  cheifly  will  Cheshire, 
For  through  his  fathers  force  quoth  hee. 
This  kingdome  first  came  to  my  Syre,"  &c. 
"  The  5">  Fitt  followeth." 
[  Fol.  34.  ]  "  Now  lyke  a  Captayne  bould  hee  brought 

A  band  of  lustie  ladds  elecke. 
Whose  curious  Cootts  commily  wrought 
W*  dreedfuU  Dragons  weare  bedecte. 
From  Pennigant  to  Pendle  Hill, 
From  Linton  and  long  Addingham, 
And  all  that  Craven  Crofts  did  till ; 
They  with  the  lustie  Cliflford  came, 

All  Stamcliffe  hundred  went  w*  him, 

W""  striplings  strong  from  wharledale. 

And  all  that  Hawton  hills  did  dim, 

W""  Longtrele  eke  and  litle  Dale, 

Whose  Milk  Seeds  fellowes  Fillish  breed. 

Well  band  did  sounding  Bow  vpe  bend, 

All  such  as  Horton  Fells  had  seed. 

On  Cliffords  Banner  did  attend,  &c. 
[  Fol.  37.  ]  Next  whome  S"^  Wittam  Pearcy  prowd, 

Whente  w*  the  Earle  Pearcie's  power, 

From  Lancashire  of  lustie  blood, 

A  Thousand  Souldiers  stiffe  in  stower. 

Then  the  Earle  himselfe  cann  vndertake 

Of  the  reareguard  the  regimente 
1  Whom  Bartons  bold  did  bravely  backe. 

And  Southeren  Souldiers  seemly  bente. 


463  CIjC  ilneitori)  of  tfie 

CHAP      '  Next  whome  in  place  was  nexed  nere 

XII.  Lord  Scroope  of  Bolton,  sterne  and  stowte, 

On  horsebacks  who  had  not  his  Peere, 
Nor  Englisheman  Scootts  more  did  doubt, 
W"'  him  did  weend  all  Wenstadale, 
From  Morton  vnto  Moysdall  More, 
All  they  that  dvveld  by  the  bankes  of  Smale 
W"'  him  were  bent  in  harnes  store. 
From  wensley  warrlyke  weights  did  weend, 
From  Bushoppdale  went  bowmen  bold. 
From  Coverdale  to  Cotterend, 
And  all  to  Bydstone  Cawsey  cold, 
From  Mawlerstange  and  Midleham, 
And  all  from  Maske  and  Mesonbie, 
And  all  that  dim  the  Mountayne  came, 
Whose  growne  from  Frost  is  seldome  free, 
W""  lustie  ladds  and  large  of  length, 

W''  dweld  on  Sommer  water  syde,"  &c. 

******* 

[  Fol.  39.  ]  "  S'  Edward  Stanley  stiff  in  slower, 

He  is  the  man  on  whome  I  meene, 
W"'  him  did  pass  a  mighty  power, 
Of  Soildiers  seemely  to  be  seene. 
Most  liner  ladds  on  Londsdale  bred, 
W*  weapons  of  unwealdy  weight. 
All  such  as  Tatham  Fells  had  fedd 
Went  vnder  Standleys  streamer  bright 
From  Boland  Billmen  bold  weare  bound 
W""  such  as  Bretton  bonkes  did  aide,  &c. 
All  Lancashire  for  the  most  |)te 
The  lusty  Standley  stout  can  lead, 
A  stock  of  striplings  stronge  of  heart 
Brought  vp  from  babes  w""  beefe  and  bread. 
From  Warton  vnto  Warrington, 

[  Fol.  40.  ]  From  Wiggen  vnto  Wiresdale, 

From  Weddecon  to  Waddington, 
From  Ribchester  vnto  Rachdale, 
From  Poulton  to  Preston  w""  pikes. 
They  w""  y'  Standley  howte  forthe  went. 
From  Pemberton  and  Pillin  Dikes 
For  Battel!  Bilmen  bould  were  bent 
W'  fellowes  fearce  and  freshe  for  feight 
W*^''  Halton  feilds  did  turne  in  foores 
W"'  lustie  ladds  liuer  and  light 
From  Blackborne  and  Bolton  in  y'  Mdores 


CountP  ^3(ilntinr  of  itanraistrr,  463 

W"'  children  chosen  fiora  Cheshire  CHAP. 

In  armor  bold  for  battle  drest,  ^^^' 

And  many  a  gentleman  and  squire 
Weare  vnder  Standley  streamer  prest,"  &c.  &c. 

The  poet  then  naiTates  the  progress  of  the  battle,  and  ends  with  celebrating  the 
victory. 

Another  poem  in  the  Harleian  MSS.*  of  a  less  authentic  character,  concludes 
with  the  following  singular  invocation : — 

"  News  God  that  was  in  Bethelem  borne, 
And  for  vs  died  vppon  a  Tree, 
Save  oure  noble  prince  that  wares  the  Crowne, 
And  shewe  his  mersye  on  the  Erie  of  Derby." 

After  the  battle,  the  victorious  anny  penetrated  into  Scotland;  and  Speke  Hall, 
the  seat  of  sii'  Edward  Norris,  has  ever  since  been  enriched  vdth  tropliies  of  this 
memorable  campaign,  brought  from  the  palace  of  the  Scottish  king.  The  English 
monarch,  who  was  then  in  France,'!"  accompanied  by  Henry,  earl  of  Derby,  and 
engaged  in  the  great  expedition  in  wliich  Tournay  was  won,  in  the  ardour  of  liis 
gratitude,  on  liis  return  to  England,  addressed  a  congratulatory  letter  to  sii-  Edward 
Stanley,  expressed  in  the  following  terras : — 

"  Trusty  and  ivell-beloved, 

"  We  greet  you  well,  and  understand  as  well  by  the  report  of  our  right  trusty  Letter 
cousin  and  counsellor,  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  as  otherwise,  what  acceptable  service  king  to  sir 
you  amongst  others  lately  chd  unto  us  by  your  valiant  towardnesse  in  the  assisting  of  stanfey. 
our  said  cousin  against  our  gi'eat  enemy,  the  late  king  of  Scots;  and  how  courageously 
you,  as  a  very  lieaiiy  loraig  servant,  acquitted  yoiu'self  for  the  overthrow  of  the  said 
king,  and  cUstressmg  of  his  malice  and  power,  to  our  great  honour  and  the  advancing 
of  your  no  little  fame  and  praise :  for  wliich  we  have  good  cause  to  favoiu-  and  thank 
you,  and  so  we  full  heartily  do,  and  assured  may  you  be,  that  we  shall  in  such 
effectual  wise  remember  your  said  service  in  any  your  reasonable  pui'suits,  as  you 
shall  have  cause  to  think  the  same  right  well  employed  to  your  comfort  and  weal 
hereafter. 

"  Given  under  our  signet  at  our  castle  at  Windsor,  the  27th  of  November." 

•  Cod.  395. 

t  The  queen,  in  her  letter  to  the  king,  announcmg  the  victory  of  Flodden  Field,  says — "  The 
victory  has  more  honour  than  if  he  (the  king)  should  win  all  the  crown  of  France." — 1  Ellis's  Original 
Letters,  p.  88. 


464  Cfte  l^isitory  of  tOe 

CHAP.  Similar  letters,  mutatis  mutandis,  were  sent  to  sir  William  Molineux,  sii-  Edward 

^^^'      NoiTis,  and  sir  Ricliard  Ashton,  and,  as  a  stiU  further  mark  of  his  majesty's  gratitude, 


sii-  Edward  Stanley,  who  was  the  fifth  son  of  Tliomas,  eai-1  of  Derby,  was  created 

lord  Monteagle,  in  allusion  to  the  family  crest.      The  earl  of  Surrey  was  restored  to 

the  family  title  of  duke  of  Norfolk,  wliile  liis  son,  lord  Howard,  was  honoured  with 

the  title  of  the  earl  of  SmTey.     Wolsey,  then  the  king's  favourite  minister,  was 

created  bisliop  of  Lincoln  j  and  lord  Herbert  obtained  a  step  in  the  peerage  as  earl  of 

Worcester. 

Lords  About  this  period,  the  ancient  commission  of  an-ay,  for  levying  and  organizing 

nantsfirst  troops  ill  the  different  counties  of  the  kingdom,  to  guai'd  against  foreign  invasion  and 

appointed,  j^j^^gg^j^  tumult,  began  to  be  superseded   by  a  new  local  authority,    called  the 

lieutenancy,*  at  the  head  of  which,  in  this  county,  was  placed  the  duke  of  Norfolk, 

who  was  succeeded  in  the  office  by  the  earl  of  Shi-ewsbmy,  and,  subsequently,  by 

Edward,  eai-1  of  Derby;  and  although  not  an  hereditary  honoui-,  the  office  of  lord 

lieutenant  of  the  county  palatine  of  Lancaster  has  been  filled  almost  ever  since  its 

institution  by  the  head  of  the  Stanley  family, 

•  Tlie  baneful  connection  formed  by  Scotland  and  France  served  again  to  embroil 

our  nortliern  neighbours  in  a  fresh  wai'  witli  England,  and  prepai'ations  Avere  made  for 

invading  the  northern  counties.     To  repel  this  invasion,  a  royal  mandate  was  issued 

to  the  liigh  sherifi"  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  commanding  liim  to  make  proclamation 

Procia-      in  these  Avords :  "  Forasmuche  as  the  King's  Highnes  has  learned  of  an  intention  to 

the  'sheH/r  iuvadc  England  at  or  before  the  beginning  of  September,  fonned  by  the  Scots  at  the 

shire  on^     instigation  of  the  French  king;  liis  gi-ace,  therefore,  by  advice  of  liis  counsel,  charges 

ScotcrL  all  and  singular  his  subjects,  of  whatsoever  rank,  &c.  between  the  ages  of  60  and  16, 

Tasion.       uiiiabitants  witliin  the  county  of  Lancaster,  that  from  henceforth  they,  uppon  oon 

Houi-es  Warnyng,  be  in  arred}Ties  defensiblie  aiTayed  with  Harnes  and  Wepyns 

apte  &  mete  for  the  WaiTes,  to  attend  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbmy,  his  Lieutent  general 

of  the  North  against  Scotland,"  Sect 

The  Scotch,  sensible  at  length  of  the  injustice  of  being  so  frequently  called  upon 
to  sacrifice  their  own  peace  and  prosperity  to  foreign  interests,  expressed  their  reluc- 
tance to  advance  into  England ;  and  Albany,  the  French  general,  under  whose 
command  the  Scottish  chiefs  were  to  fight,  obsernng  this  disinclination,  concluded 
a  truce  with  lord  D acres,  warden  of  the  English  marches,  which  did  not,  however, 
prevent  Scotland  from  being  entered  by  the  earl  of  Surrey,  at  the  head  of  his  army, 
who  ravaged  Merse  and  Teviotdale,  and  burnt  the  town  of  Jedburgh.     From  these 

*  15  Rymer,  75.  t  Pat.  14,  Hen.  VIII.  p.  2.  m.  8.  d. 


County  ^Jnlatinr  of  ilanrnstrr.  465 

terrible  inflictions,  the  Scotch  were  glad  to  escape  by  an  alliance  witli  England    chai 


formation. 


XII. 

instead  of  France,  not  without  a  remote  expectation   of  a  contract  of  marriage  '- 

between  lady  Maiy,  heir  presumptive  to  the  throne  of  England,  and  the  young 
Scotch  monarch,  at  that  time  in  his  nonage. 

The  seeds  of  the  refonnation,  which  had  been  sown  in  the  time  of  John  of  Gaunt,  The  Re- 
duke  of  Lancaster,  cherished  by  the  Lollards  in  succeechng  ages,  and  occasionally 
moistened  by  their  blood,  attained  to  maturity  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  Martin 
Luther,  a  monk  of  the  order  of  St.  Augustine,  and  a  professor  in  the  university  of 
Wittemberg,  had  raised  the  standard  of  reformation  in  Saxony,  by  preaching  and 
WTiting  against  the  indulgences  gi'anted,  ^^ith  so  laA^sh  a  hand,  by  the  church  of 
Rome ;  and  liis  works  had  attracted  sufficient  notice  to  induce  the  king  of  England 
to  enter  the  polemical  lists  against  him.  Henry  sent  Ids  answer  in  reply  to  Luther 
to  Leo  X.,  and  his  holiness  was  so  mucli  gratified  by  its  perusal,  either  from  the 
strength  of  the  argument,  or  the  dignity  of  the  advocate,  that  he  rewarded  the  royal 
controversiahst  with  the  appellation  of  "  Defender  of  the  Faith."*  The  fickleness  of 
the  king's  affections  induced  him,  soon  afterwards,  to  put  the  fiiendship  of  the  head  of 
the  church  to  a  severe  test.  Doubts  had  been  suggested,  by  the  scrupulous,  as  to 
the  legality  of  the  king's  maniage  i^ith  Catherine  of  Ai'ragon,  the  widow  of  his  bro- 
ther ;  and  it  wa.s  held  by  them,  that  the  degi-ee  of  consanguinity  was  such  as  to 
vitiate  the  marriage.  These  scruples,  as  Henry  alleged,  began  to  (Usturb  liis  own 
mind;  and,  to  relieve  himself  from  so  great  a  burden,  he  ajiplied  to  Rome  for  a 
divorce,  which  Clement  VII.,  who  now  filled  St.  Peter's  chair,  was  inclined  to  grant, 
had  not  the  fear  of  offending  the  emperor,  Charles  V.,  the  nephew  of  Catherine,  and 
who  wished  to  espouse  Mary,  the  queen's  daughter,  restrained  his  inclinations. 
Tlie  unpetuosity  of  Henry's  temper  could  ill  brook  the  delay  of  episcopal  hesitation, 
and  the  beauty  of  Anne  Boleyn,  a  maid  of  honour  to  the  queen,  to  wliom  he  had 
made  an  offer  of  his  hand,  induced  liim  to  obtam,  fi'om  his  own  complpng  jiarhament, 
a  cUssolution  of  the  mamage  with  Catherine.  His  clergy,  not  less  obedient  to  the 
royal  Avish  than  the  laity,  determined,  in  convocation,  that  an  appeal  to  Rome  was 
unnecessary.  Tlie  parliament,  when  it  next  a.ssembled,  constituted  the  '  Defender 
of  the  Faith'  the  supreme  head  of  the  church,  and  thus  dissolved  the  connexion 
between  the  chmxh  of  England  and  the  church  of  Rome.     A  nimiber  of  the  clergy, 

*  King  Henry's  jester,  finding  his  royal  master  transported  with  unusual  joy,  asked  him  the 
cause  of  his  hilarity  ;  to  which  the  king  replied,  that  the  pope  had  honoured  him  with  a  style  more 
exalted  than  that  of  any  of  his  ancestors — the  title  of  "  Defender  of  the  Faith  :"  to  which  the  fool 
replied,  "  O  good  Harry,  let  thou  and  I  defend  one  another,  and  let  the  faith  alone  to  defend  itself."  The 
copy  of  Henry's  reply  to  Luther,  sent  by  the  king  himself  to  the  pope,  with  the  royal  autograph  in  the 
title-page,  is  preserved  in  the  Library  of  the  Vatican,  and  exhibited  amongst  its  literary  curiosities. 
VOL.  I.  3  o 


466  CfK  S)lSitOll)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,  and  many  of  tlie  laity,  amongst  whom  there  was  probably  a  majority  in  the  county  of 
'  Lancaster,  adhered  to  the  faith  of  theii-  fathers ;  but  the  great  body  of  the  nation 
were  cUsposed  to  go  much  farther  than  the  king :  they  acted  upon  jjrinciple ;  he  was 
influenced  by  passion,  and  remained  as  much  a  fiiend  to  indulgences,  after  he  had 
espoused  the  beautiful  maid  of  honour,  as  he  was  when  he  first  mamed  her  mistress. 
Neither  the  Catholics  nor  the  Protestants  satisfied  liim  ;  in  the  plenitude  of  liis 
power,  and  to  gratify  his  sanguinaiy  temper,  he  inflicted  the  punishment  of  death 
upon  persons  of  both  persuasions,  and  he  promoted  the  reformation  only  so  far  as  it 
could  be  made  subservient  to  the  gratification  of  his  voluptuousness,  and  as  it 
administered  to  the  demands  of  his  procUgality. 
Religious  Such  is  the  perverting  influence  of  religious  persecution,  that  sii-  Thomas  More, 

tjoir*^"  the  mild,  equitable,  and  enlightened  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  on  liis 
A.D.  1534.  elevation  to  the  chancellorship  of  England,  mflicted  the  torture  upon  James  Bain- 
ham,  a  member  of  the  Inner  Temple,  and  finally  consigned  him  to  the  flames  in 
Smitlifield,  for  no  other  ofience,  but  because  he  followed  the  example  of  the  court  by 
favouring  the  doctrines  of  the  refonnation.  More  himself  haAing,  a  few  years  after, 
refused  to  acknowledge  the  king's  supremacy, — saying,  that  it  was  a  two-edged 
sword:  if  he  was  in  favour  of  that  doctrine,  it  would  confound  his  soul;  and  if  he  was 
against  it,  it  would  destroy  his  body — was,  for  this  offence,  brought  to  trial  on  a 
charge  of  high  treason,  and,  being  found  guilty,  was  beheaded  on  Tower  Hill.* 
Visitation  In  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  the  king's  reign,  a  royal  commission  was  issued,  to 

nasteries?  ascertain  the  value  of  all  the  ecclesiastical  property,  and  the  amount  of  all  the  benefices 
in  the  kingdom ;  the  book  containing  the  latter  of  these  returns  is  called  Liber  Regis, 
and  is  a  beautiful  manuscrij)t,  transcribed,  it  is  said,  by  a  monk  of  Westminster,  for  the 
king's  library.  Tlie  office  for  the  receipt  of  tenths,  or  first-fruits,  was  instituted  upon 
the  visitation  of  these  commissioners,  whereby  theDecimcB  Decimorum  were  appomted 
to  be  paid  to  the  king  of  England,  instead  of  being  paid,  as  hitherto,  to  the  Pope. 
The  report  of  the  comixussioners  forms  a  kind  of  ecclesiastical  Doomsday  Book.f 

*  State  Trials,  I.  59. 
t  The  state  of  the  inferior  clergy  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  as  well  as  in  the  other  parts  of  the 
province  of  York,  was  at  this  time  most  deplorable,  whether  considered  as  to  their  acquirements, 
or  their  stipends.  According  to  archbishop  Lee,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Cromwell,  "  their 
benefices  were  so  exile,  of  £-1.  5s.  6d.  per  annum,  that  no  learned  man  would  take  them. 
Therefore  they  were  fain  to  take  such  as  were  presented,  so  that  they  were  of  honest  conversation, 
and  could  competently  understand  what  they  read,  and  minister  sacraments.  In  all  his  diocese,  he 
did  not  know  twelve  that  could  preach."  The  Irish  clergy  at  the  same  time  were  in  a  still  lower 
condition ;  their  new  archbishop  wrote  of  them  to  the  lord  privy  seal — "  as  for  their  secular  orders, 
they  be  in  a  manner  as  ignorant  as  the  people,  being  not  able  to  say  a  mass,  or  to  pronounce  the 
words;  they  not  knowing  what  they  themselves  say  in  the  Roman  tongue."  So  in  1530,  "  a  bird 
may  be  taught  to  speak  with  as  much  sense  as  several  of  them  do  in  this  country." 


Cointt|)  l^alntine  of  anncaeitfr.  467 

The  great  visitation  of  monasteries  was  commenced  in  tlie  autumn  of  1535,  when    chap. 

XII 

Cromwell,  chancellor  of  the  exchequer,  and  first  secretary  to  the  king,  filled  the  L_ 

office  of  vicegerent  and  vicar-general.  The  visitation  of  the  Lancashii-e  monasteries 
was  made  hy  Dr.  Thomas  Legh  and  Dr.  Richard  Laytou,  and  their  original  reports 
are  in  the  Record  Office  of  the  Court  of  Receipt  at  Westminster,  under  the  custody 
of  the  lord  treasurer.  The  resolution  to  dissolve  the  monasteries  had  already  been 
taken.  The  spirit  in  which  this  visitation  was  made,  clearly  indicated  that  the  reports 
were  meant  to  fonn  the  ground-work  for  the  dissolution  of  those  institutions,  and 
the  consequent  appropriation  of  their  lauds  and  revenues  to  the  use  of  the  crown.  It 
cannot  be  denied  that  the  monastic  iustitutions  were  subject  to  gi'eat  abuse;  audtliat, 
under  the  specious  appearance  of  devotion  to  God,  some  of  the  fu'st  duties  to  man 
were  neglected  or  perverted;  but  it  must  also  be  adirdtted,  that  the  collecting  of 
ex-parte  evidence  by  stipendiary  emissaries,  and  the  making  of  that  evidence  a  ground 
for  plundering  the  property  of  tlie  church,  was  a  proceeding  full  of  injustice,  and  an  Report  of 
efXample  that  no  future  age  can  imitate  mth  impunity.  The  questions  proposed  l\v  mission- 
the  royal  commissioners  on  their  Lancasliire  ^  isitation  were  reduced  to  the  folloA\iiig  Lanca-  "^ 

1         1     _  shire  mo- 

neaciS  ;  nasteries. 

1.  As  to  the  incontinence  of  the  heads  of  each  monastery  :  2.  Tlie  name  of  the 
founder:  3.  The  estate  of  the  convents  :  4.  The  superstitions  practised  in 
them:  5.  The  debts  they  had  incurred:  And,  6.  The  names  of  the  votaries 
who  wished  to  be  dischai'ged  from  theu*  vows. 

On  which  the  following  report  was  made  by  the  commissioners : — 

Fdrness. 

TRogerus  Pele,  abbas,  cum  duabus  solutis. 

T         i-       t-       IJohannis  Gayna,  cum  soluta. 
Incontmentia.  <  tt 

J  Thomas  Herneby,  cum  quinque  fceminis. 

(^Thomas  Settle,  cimi  soluta. 

Fundator,  Dominus  Rex. 

_c     li 

Redditus  annuus,  ix  . 

Cartemell. 

T        i-       1-      C  Willehnus  Pavell,  cum  diversis  foeminis,  et  sex  habet  proles. 
Incontmentia.   }     ,  '  .  '■ 

C  Richardus  Bakehouse,  cum  conjugata. 

Fundator,  Edwai-dus  Gray,  haeres  Comitis  Cane. 

Redditus  annuus,  c  '' 

Debet  Domus  XL  " 

Superstitio.  Et  hie  habent  portionem  Sanctse  Crucis. 

3o2 


468 


CfK  S?i6txir|)  of  t\)t 


CHAP 
XII. 


CONISHED. 

Cliristoplierus  Peerson,  cum  sex  fcemiuis. 

Georgius  Cornefurth,  cum  decem  fceminis. 

Incontinentia.  <  Thomas  Backhouse,  cum  soluta. 

Georgius  Hardy,  cum  duahus  solutis. 

.Thomas  Heysham,  cum  una  conjugata,  et  altera  soluta. 

Nicliolaus  WUlson,  ■>       ^     ^  ^      ,  .  »      ,.  • 

i   petunt  dissolvi  a  rehgione. 
Georgius  Hardy,      3 

Fiuidator,  Willielmus  Peunyngton. 

Redditus  annuus,  c  xiii.  '', 

Superstitio.  Et  liic  cingulum  habent  beats' 

Marise,  prsegnantibus  (ut  putatur) 

Salutare. 

COKERSAND. 

Fundator  Incertus. 
Redditus  annuus,  c  c  " 
Debet  Domus,     c  '' 

Whalley. 
Fundator,  Dominus  Rex. 
Redditus  annuus,  y  xli  ". 
Lytham. 
Fundator,  dominus  Rex. 
Redditus  annuus,  lv  '". 
Debet  domus,       xr, '". 

HORN'EBY. 

Incontinentia.    Willielmus  Halliday,  prior,  cum  tribus  solutis. 
Fundator,  Dominus  Montegle. 
Redditus  annuus,  xvi  ^. 


Penwortham. 
Incontinentia.    Richardus  Hawkesbury,  prior,  cum  duabus  foeminis. 
Fundator,  Dominus  Rex. 
Redditus  annuus,  xxvii ''. 


Bristowgh. 
Incontinentia.    Hugo  Wodhewer,  cum  una  foemina. 
Fundator,  Comes  Darby. 
Redditus  annuus,  lxxxx  ". 


Counti)  ^3alatinr  of  ilanraetrr.  169 

Up-Holland.  chap. 

-^  •  .  r  ■     ■  XII. 

.       ,.       (  Petrus  Prestcoite,  prior,  cum  loeimms.  

Incontinentia,    j  .-.   „.  , 

C  Johannes  CotUmge,  cum  soluta. 

Fundator,  Comes  Darby. 

Reclilitus  annuus,  lxv  ''. 

KiRSALL  Cella. 
Fundator,  Dominus  Rex. 
Redditus  annuus,  ix  ''. 
Debet  domus  xx  marcas. 

Stanlowe.  j,^jj„ 

Fundator,  Dominus  Rex.  Iwre*' 

Redditus  amiuus,  x  ''. 

COLLEGIUBI  MaNCHESTRI^. 

Fundator,  Thomas  West,  Dominus  Delawer. 
Redditus  annuus,  cc  ''. 

How  far  tliis  deplorable  picture  of  monastic  life  is  faitliful,  we  have  not  the  means 
of  discovering.*  So  far  as  the  great  monasteries  are  concerned,  it  is  at  vaiiance 
with  the  declaration  of  an  act  of  parliament  passed  in  the  following  year,  wherein  it 
is  said,  "  that  in  divers  and  gi-eat  solemn  monasteries  of  tliis  reahn,  religion  is  right 
well  kept  and  observed."  The  gi-eat  monastery  of  Furness  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  entitled  to  this  flattering  character,  if  the  report  of  the  visitors  is  to  be  credited  ; 
and  of  Whalley,  the  particulai's  are  so  few,  as  to  convey  no  information  on  tliis  head. 
Tlie  returns  of  the  commissioners  served  as  an  apology  for  dissolving  the  lesser  oissoiu- 

,.,,,.  1,.  ..  ,  .  Ill  i  'ion  of  "'^ 

monasteries,  to  wluch  the  king  and  his  immster,  the  vicai'-general,  had  a  strong  pre-  lessei 
disposition.     In  the  following  year,  a  bill  Avas  passed  thi-ough  parliament,  with  very 
little  deliberation,  for  dissolving  all  monastic  establishments  in  England,  whose  clear 
yearly  income  chd  not  exceed  £200;  in  the  preamble  to  wliich  bill  it  is  said,  that 
"  forasmuch  as  manifest  sin,  vitious,  carnal,  and  abominable  living,  is  daily  used  and 

*  It  is  alleged  by  the  Roman  Catholics,  that  young  men  were  employed  to  corrupt  and  to  defame 
the  nuns.  Fuller  mentions  a  story,  upon  the  authority  of  sir  William  Stanley,  from  which  it  appears 
that  two  young  gentlemen,  under  the  pretence  of  the  royal  permission  to  visit  a  convent,  remained 
there  three  days  and  three  nights,  where  they  were  received  with  that  hospitality  and  decorum  which 
ought  to  have  inspired  in  them  nothing  but  gratitude ;  but  that,  in  return  for  these  favours,  they 
falsely  accused  the  nuns  of  licentiousness ;  and  in  that  way  a  pretence  was  obtained  for  dissolving  the 
convents. — Fuller's  History  of  Abbeys,  p.  315. 


mo- 
nasteries. 


470  COe  ijisitori)  oi  tlje 

CHAP,  committed  commonly  in  sucli  little  and  small  abbeys,  priories,  and  other  religious 
^^^-  houses  of  monks,  canons,  and  nuns,  where  the  congregation  of  such  religious  persons 
is  under  the  number  of  twelve,  whereby  the  governors  of  such  religious  houses  and 
their  convent  spoil,  destroy,  consume,  and  utterly  waste,  as  well  the  churches,  monas- 
teries, priories,  principal  houses,  fanns,  granges,  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments,  as 
the  ornaments  of  the  churches,  and  their  goods  and  chattels,  to  the  liigh  displeasure 
of  Almighty  God,  slander  of  good  reUgion,  and  to  the  great  infamy  of  the  king's 
liighness  and  the  realm,  if  redi-ess  should  not  be  had  thereof.  And,  albeit,  all 
attempts  at  amendment  have  failed;  so  that,  without  such  small  houses  be  utterly 
suppressed,  and  the  religious  therein  committed  to  the  gi'eat  and  honourable  monas- 
teries of  rehgion  in  this  realm,  Avhere  they  may  be  compelled  to  live  religiously  for 
reformation  of  theii*  lives,  there  can  else  be  no  redress  or  reformation  on  that  behalf. 
In  consideration  whereof,  the  king's  most  royal  majesty,  daily  studying  and  devising 
the  increase,  advancement,  and  exaltation  of  true  doctrine  and  virtue  in  the  said 
church,  to  the  only  glory  and  honour  of  God,  and  the  total  extirpation  and  destruction 
of  vice  and  sin,  having  knowledge  that  the  premacies  be  true,  as  well  by  the  compts  of 
his  late  visitations,  as  by  sundry  credable  informations;  considering  also,  that  cUvers 
and  gi'eat  solemn  monasteries  of  this  realm,  wherein,  thanks  be  to  God,  religion  is 
right  well  kept  and  observed,  be  destitute  of  such  full  numbers  of  religious  persons 
as  they  ought  and  may  keep,  have  thought  good  that  a  plain  declai'atiou  should  be 
made  of  the  premises;  whereupon  the  lords  and  commons,  by  a  gi'eat  deliberation, 
finally  be  resolved,  that  it  is  and  shall  be  more  to  the  pleasure  of  Almighty  God,  and 
for  the  honour  of  this  his  realm,  that  the  possessions  of  all  such  religious  houses,  not 
being  spent,  spoiled,  and  wasted  for  increase  of  maintenance  of  sin,  shall  be  used  and 
converted  to  better  uses,  and  the  unthrifty  reHgious  persons  so  spending  the  same  be 
compelled  to  reform  then*  lives;  be  it  therefore  enacted,  that  his  majesty  shall  have  to 
himself  and  to  his  heiis  for  ever,  all  and  singular  monasteries,  the  yeai'ly  value  of 
which  do  not  amount  to  £200." 

By  this  act,  about  three  hundred  and  eighty  communities  were  dissolved,  and  an 
addition  of  tliii'ty-two  thousand  a  year  (of  the  value  in  our  money  of  upwards  of 
£160,000,)  was  made  to  the  royal  revenue,  exclusive  of  £100,000  in  money,  plate, 
and  jewels.  According  to  Fuller,  "  ten  thousand  persons  were,  by  this  dissolution, 
sent  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  the  wide  world :  some  had  twenty  shillings  given 
them  at  their  ejection,  and  a  new  gown,  wliich  needed  to  be  of  strong  cloth,  to 
last  till  they  got  another.  Most  were  exposed  to  want ;  and  many  a  young  nun 
proved  an  old  beggar." 


Cotintp  |3alatinc  of  ilanrasiUr* 


471 


Cokersande .... 

Cartmele 

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Clxi.  V.  ix. 

li.      8.     d. 

Cxxij.  V.  vij. 

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Lxxviij.  xij.  ix. 

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lix.  xij.  viij. 

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iiij.  vij.  xvij.  iij. 
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472  CI)t  ?§isitoii)  of  tfte 

CHAP.  The  following  progress  of  a  suffi-agan,  entitled  "  Progressus  Dili   Suffraganij," 

^^^'  indicates  the  order  in  which  the  visitation  of  the  Lancasliire  monasteries,  from  the  centre 
to  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  was  made.  From  the  obscurity  of  the  writing,  and 
the  manner  in  which  the  MS.  is  bound  up  with  other  papers  in  the  Codex,  the  tran- 
script lias  been  made  with  considerable  difficulty,  and,  probably,  with  some  inaccuracy, 
on  that  account.  The  report  is  without  date,  but  it  appears  to  have  been  made  about 
the  year  1538,  to  CromweU,  the  ^dcar-geueral,  by  one  of  the  visitors.* 

"  In  Couutie  Lanchastre. 

"  Walley]  It  to  Walley  in  Lanckersscheer  of  y"  cystercyencf  out  of  one  dyocesys 
vnder  y'  byschope  of  schestri  y'  wyche  couet  was  fii-st  foudyd  in  y"  covnte  of 
schesther  in  a  place  called  Stanlow  by  #  Johen  Lascy  knyght  f  y'  was  in 
y*  yeer  of  our  lord  a.  mt''c°lxxij.  But  aft  lord  Henry  Lascy  y'  thyrd  f 
laste  yeerle  off  lynckoUue  off  y'  name  remouyd  y™  w'  y°  bodyes  off  hys 
aAUcyterss  Jobnes  f  Roger  Lascy  knight^  Walley  outo  y'  was  in  y'  yeer  of 
our  lord  m'°  cc°  nonagesimo  ^j".  Vmylysa  p'ore.f 

"  Kockersand]  Ir  to  Kockersand  chanonss  off  y'  pmonstrateucf  off  y"  fudacon 
off  a  certeyn  Heremyt  namyd  Hew  garthe  in  Kyng  John^  tyme.  xxiiij 
myllys  fi'o  y"  other. 

"  Lanchas?]  I?  to  Lanchas?  to  y^  Fryer  pcheers  off  y^  fudacon  off  f  Hew 
Haryngtone  knygthe.  v  mylys  fro  y'  iolpv. 

"  Cartmelle]  It  to  cartmelle  chanonss  off  seynt  austeyne  order  off  y'  furst  fudacon 
off  lord  Wyllya  Marchall  yeerle  of  penbroke  in  y'  yeer  off  our  lord 
a  mi°cc°  f  ij°  befor  hys  dethe  xvij  zeer  iij°  anno  Regni  Johis.  x  mylys  of  y. 

"  Connghevysched]  It  to  connghevysched  chanons  off  seynt  austene  off  y'  furst 
fudacon  off  gamele  penygton  knyght  whyche  fudyd  y''  a  place  of  iij  or  iiij 
chanons  whyche  whas  in  stryffe  for  a  seasonne  by  reson  y'  the  byldyd  a 
ponne  y'  Grownd  off  lord  Wyllya  lanchast  barown  of  Kyi'bykendall 
f  ouerstonne  but  y''  furst  fudacon.  was  in  y"  yeer  off  our  lord  A  mt°  Ixvij". 
fro  y*  other  v.  mylys. 

"  F'nes]     It  to  Furnees  off  y'  cysterciencf  off  y'  fudacon  off  lord  Stephane  y^"  yeerle 
of  bolonne  befor  he  was  kyng  off  jTigland  ix  yeers  f  y*  xx^j  yeer  off  y^ 
Reyne  off  Kyng  Henry  the  furst — vt  pat}  p  hoc  seques 
Fournesiu  fudat  hie  Stephanus  atq-j  feciidat 
Addens  contenta  membris  cu  vita  intenta 
Dat  Laschastrum  piscem  pr — q5  Wagium 

Anno  milleno  terq3  noneno.  iiij  miliaria  a  pcedente. 

*   Hail.  MSS.  Codex  604.  t  That  is,  from  Salley. 


Count})  ^Jalatmr  of  iLniuasitfr.  473 

Copirul.l      It  to  cowcU-c  off  v°  cysteix'ieucp  off  y"  furst  fudiicTou  off  lord  Ravnald    chap. 

*  _  "  XII. 

luestclijniue  y""  lord  off  Copland   y"'  was  in  y*  yecr  off  our  lord  a.  m'"  — '■ — '■— 
c°xxxiiij°  in  Henrye  y°  furst  tyme.    xix  niylj's  fro  y'  for  sayd  place. 

Ite  to  seynt  bees  monkf  off  y'  order  of  seyut  beuet  off  y"  fudacon  off 
y°  for  sayd  lord  mestclijiine.     V  mylys  fro  y'  other. 

Fol.   106. 
[Notes  at,  the  End.] 

"  In  All  theys  we  liaue  been  in  be  syd  dyuersse  other  mo  bothe  in 
Durha  byschopryke  f  allso  early  ell  w'  many  good  townf  f  vyllagys  as 
wele  in  my  lordys  grace  lybert  as  in  others  f  y'"  Jhesu  p)#ue  your 
masterschippe." 

[In  another  hand.] 


"  Theis  notes  belonw  vnto  me  Tho:  Lovell.     1592." 


o 


Fol.  lOS. 


The  religious  feelings,  as  well  as  tlie  temporal  interests,  of  a  large  body  of  insurrec- 
men   were  deeply  involved   in   the   suppression    of  the   lesser  monasteries,  wliicli  ducetfbi' 
measure  was  considered,  with  much  justice,  as  the  precursor  of  a  stUl  more  sweeping  stractlon 
appropriation  of  church  property.     The  families  of  distinction,  whose  ancestors  had  nasteries! 
founded  monasteries,  or  whose  sons  were  prorided  for  by  spiritual  offices,  complained 
of  being  deprived  of  their  pati'onage  and  emoluments  ;  and  the  poor,  for  whom  there 
was  tlien  no  parochial  pronsiou  in  infancy  or  in  old  age,  and  whose  wants  had  been 
supplied  at  the  doors  of  the  convents,  were  equally  loud  in  their  complaints ;  while 
persons   under  the  influence  of  higlier  motives  felt  shocked   and  outraged  by  the 
spoliation  and  overthrow  of  the  altars  of  their  fathers.     The  discontents  of  the  people 
first  broke  out  in  acts  of  open  rebellion  in  Lincolnshire,  Avhere  Dr.  Mackrel,  friar 
of  Barlings,  assuming  the  character  of  a  mechanic,  collected  an  army   of  twenty 
thousand  men,  of  wliicli  he  took  the  lead,  under  the  assmned  name  of  "  The  Captain 
Cobbler."     A  proclamation  of  pardon  from  the  king  was  found  of  sufficient  force  to 
disperse  tliis  irregular  anny;  while  the  doctor  liimself,  and  a  number  of  its   other 
leaders,  among  whom  was  lord  Hussey,  Avere  consigned  to  public  execution. 

A  more  formidable  insurrection  immediately  afterwards  sprung  up  in  the  northern  The  pii- 
couuties,  under  the  designation  of  the  "  pihjrimoge  of  grace,''  and  Robert  Aske,  a  gra™^.^'^" 
gentleman  of  family,  residing  upon  his  patrimonial  estate  at  Aughtou,  in  the  East 
Riding  of  the  county  of  York,  was  placed  at  its  head.     The  insun-ectionary  spirit 
spread  far  and  wide,  from  the  Tweed  on  the  north,  to  the  Humber  and  the  Ribble 
VOL.  I.  3  p 


474  €l)t  il^istoiy  of  tht 

CHAP.    Oil  the  east  and  the  Avest.     Tlie  insurgents  rendezvoused  in   Yorkshire,  and,  to 
_; ;_    excite  the  enthusiasm  of  their  followers,  and  to  induce  the  j^eople  to  join  their  ranks, 


a  body  of  priests  marched  at  their  head  with  the  banner  of  the  cross,  on  which  was 
depicted  the  figure  of  the  Saviour,  with  the  chalice  and  the  host.  Each  of  the 
soldiers  wore  on  his  sleeve,  as  the  emblem  of  his  holy  cause,  a  representation  of  the 
five  wounds  of  Christ,  with  the  name  "  Jesus"  marked  in  the  centre.  An  oath  or 
covenant  was  enjoined  upon  the  pilgrims,  by  wliich  they  declared,  "  that  they 
entered  into  this  pilgrimage  for  the  love  of  God,  the  preservation  of  the  king's 
person  and  issue,  the  purifying  the  nobility,  and  driving  away  all  base-born  and  ill 
councillors ;  and  for  no  particular  profit  of  their  own,  nor  to  do  displeasure  to  any, 
nor  to  kill  any  for  envy ;  but  to  take  before  them  the  cross  of  Christ,  his  faith,  the 
restitution  of  the  churches,  and  the  suppression  of  hereticks  and  their  opinions." 
Letter  Having  carried  the  town  of  Hull  and  the  city  of  York,  then-  next  operation  was 

H^enry  to     directed  against  the  castle  of  Pontefract,  which  was  in  possession  of  Lee,  the  arch- 
bisi.op  of    bishop  of  York,  and  lord  Darcy,  whose  slumbering  loyalty  the  king  attempted  to 
awaken  by  the  following  letter  written  from  Northampton : — 


York  and 

lord 

Darcy. 


"  By  the  Kingf 
"  Right  trusty  and  wellbeloved  we  grete  youe  wel.  And  wheras  It  is  comen 
to  our  knowleage  ptely  by  yo'  adStisemtf  and  ptely  otherwise  that  the  multitude  of 
the  traito?s  and  Rebelles  assembled  those  pties  haue  been  trayned  in  to  their  Rebel- 
lion be  certain  most  false  and  vntrue  surmyses  reaportf  and  suggestions  noysed  and 
set  furth  amongf  them  by  diSse  most  devilyshe  and  detestable  psounes  desuing  no 
thing  ells  but  a  general  spoyle  w'  tlie  destruction  of  the  sjnuple  and  honest  people.  The 
copie  of  whiche  false  reaport  and  most  vntrue  traiterous  deuises  and  invencons  neuer  by 
by  vs  or  any  of  r  counsail  thought  on  moche  lesste  thenne  determynne  we  sonde  vnto 
yo"  lierew'.  Albeit  we  haue  in  dede  sent  against  them  for  then-  repression  in  suche  ter- 
rible sorte  as  all  the  Avorld  (if  t'  they  shall  remayn  in  tliis  rebelUon)  may  take  example 
at  their  punish  [inent]t  suche  mayiie  Armye  furnished  w'  ordennce  and  all  thiiigf  neces- 
sary as  for  that  pposeshalbe requisite  to  require  and  pray  yo"and  neuertheles  toCoiiiand 
yo"  euiediatly  vppon  the  sight  herof  to  send  Auto  the  said  Rebelles  and  to  declare 
vnto  tliem  that  forasmoche  as  yo"  pceyve  that  this  rebellion  hath  been  attempted  vppon 
most  traiterous  slaunderous  false  and  vntrue  reaportf  noysed  setfurthe  and  bruted 
ainongf  them,  Yo  doo  vppon  yo'  bono";  and  fidelitie  toAvardf  God  and  the  pill  of  yo' 
soule  assure  them  that  all  the  said  reaportf  conteyned  in  the  said  copie  sent 
herw'  be  vttcrly  false  and  vntrue  neuer  spoken  nor  thought  on  by  vs  or  any  of  r 
counsail  But  forged  and  falsely  contryved  by  thuse  divilyshe  and  most  detestable 
traito's  Av'out  any  maner  of  gi-ounde  or  occasion  Avherupon  to  buylde  the  same  aswel 


Coimti?  ^cilatine  of  iLnnrasitn-,  475 

thcrfor  Lamenting-  tliat  vppon  sncho   liolit  and  false  runis  they  slnild  Ije  prone  to    cHAi>. 

arryse  and  soe  to  offend   <vod  f  vs  tlieir  kinge,  f  comaiuuling  in  r  name  all  those   

psones  being  on  that  assell  purpose." 
Indorsed. 

"  To  the  Lord  Dacre  and  the  byshop  of  York  toucliinge  the  Rebellion 

in  y=  Northe."  [Had.  MS8.  Cod.  283.  fol.  80. 

The  reports  here  alluded  to,  and  so  strongly  denounced  by  the  king,  were  con- 
tained in  a  mandate  issued  by  one  of  the  rebel  cliiefs,  assuming  the  name  of  "  the 
Earl  of  Poverty,"  wliich  alleged  that  the  king  and  liis  heretical  ministers  had  deter- 
mined first,  that  no  infant  should  be  baptized  without  a  tribute  to  be  paid  to  theldng; 
second,  that  no  man,Anth  an  income  of  less  than  £20  a  year  should  either  cat  bread 
made  of  wheat,  or  capons,  or  chickens,  or  goose,  or  pig,  without  pajing  a  tribute; 
and,  thiid,  that  for  every  plough  land,  the  king  would  have  a  tribute. 

The  eai-1  of  Shrewsbury,  then  resitUng  at  Sheffield  castle,  animated  by  a  zeal 
which  outstripped  the  kmg's  commands,  raised  a  force  to  resist  the  progi-ess  of  the 
rebellion;  and  the  eari  of  Derby,  and  other  noblemen,  followed  his  example.  On 
arriving  before  Pontefract,  the  rebels  summoned  the  castle ;  with  this  summons,  the 
archbisliop  of  York  and  lord  Darcy  readily  complied,  by  sun-endering  the  fortress 
^rithout  resistance.  On  the  2d  of  October,  a  herald  arrived  at  Pontefract  ^vith  a 
proclamation  from  the  king.  This  messenger  was  received  by  Aske,  seated  on  a 
kind  of  throne,  with  the  archbishop  of  York  on  his  right  and  lord  Darcy  on  his  left, 
attended  by  sir  Robert  Constable,  sir  Christopher  Danby,  and  others;  but  the 
hopes  of  the  rebel  general  were  then  too  much  elevated  to  wan-ant  an  expectation  of 
that  submission  which  the  proclamation  required.  Accorthng  to  WUfred  Holme,  a 
writer  of  that  age,  resicUng  at  Huntington,  near  York,  the  following  lines  were  often 
recited  by  the  pilgruns  of  gi-ace,  from  the  antiquated  quiddities  of  Meriiu:— 

"  Foorth  shall  come  a  worme,  an  Aske  with  one  eye, 

"  He  shall  be  the  chiefe  of  the  mainye; 

"  He  shall  gather  of  chivalrie  a  full  faire  flock 

"  Halfe  capon  and  halfe  cocke 

"  The  chicken  shall  the  capon  slay 

"  And  after  that  shall  be  no  May." 

From  Pontefract  the  rebel  anny  marched  to  Scawsby  Lees,  near  the  left  bank  of  oct.  20. 
the  river  Don,  with  the  intention  of  forcHng  the  river,  and  taking  the  ancient  town 
of  Doncaster,  then  in  possession  of  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  the  leader  of  the  vanguard 
in  the  battle  of  Flodden-field,  on  whom  the  king  had  conferred  the  command  of  the 

roval  arniv. 

3  P  2 


XII. 


476  €i)t  l^iStoi-p  of  tfte 

CHAP.  The  ardour  of  the  jniests  and  their  devoted  followers,  in  tliis  northern  rebellion, 

was  most  striking-.  The  abbots  of  Whalley,  Salley,  Jervaux,  Funiess,  Fountain's, 
and  Rivaulx,  with  all  the  persons  they  could  influence,  either  joiued  the  main  army, 
or  made  diversions  in  its  favour  in  their  respective  districts.  In  a  word,  the  whole  of 
the  north  of  England  was  in  a  state  of  alarm  and  agitation.  The  king,  in  this 
emergency,  issued  warrants  to  his  devoted  followers  in  Lancasliire,  importuning 
them  to  join  the  earl  of  Derby  in  his  endeavours  to  repress  tliis  wide-spreading 
rebellion. 

The  originals  of  two  of  these  documents  are  preserved  in  the  Harleian  Collec- 
tion,* and  are  expressed  in  the  following  terms : — 


S^^^'^W 


By  the  King. 


"  Trusty  and  welbeloued  we  grete  you  well.  And  forasmuche  as  we  be  credibly 
aduertised  how  that  most  like  a  trew  and  feithfull  subiect  you  haue  assembled  all 
your  Force  and  Joyned  the  same  w'  our  right  trusty  and  right  Avelbeloued  Cousin 
therle  of  Derbye  for  the  repssion  of  certajaie  traitors  and  rebellf  in  those  pties,  like 
as  for  the  same  we  gyve  vnto  you  our  most  hertie  thankf .  800  we  thought  as  well 
covenyent  to  requier  you  to  psist  and  contynue  in  your  faithfuU  towardnes  in  the 
companey  of  our  said  cousin  tyll  the  said  traitors  shalbe  vtterly  subdued,  as  to  signifie 
that  we  shall  not  onely  considi'e  your  chai'ges  therein.  But  likewise  so  remembre 
your  fuice  in  the  same  as  you  shall  haue  cause  to  saye  you  haue  well  emploied  your 
labours  paynes  and  trayvaUlf  in  that  behalf.  Yeuen  vnder  our  signett  at  our  castell 
of  wyndsoure  the  xxviij"'  day  of  octobre  in  the  xxviij""  yere  of  o'  reigne. 


[Indorsed] 


"  To  o'  trusty  and  welbeloued  -f  tint 
S''  Roger  Bradshawe,  knyght." 

[Fol.  258. 


MS.  Cod.  283. 


Count))  ^Jalatme  of  Sancasitn-.  477 

Another  to  Sii"  Thomas  Langton.  chap. 


"  By  the  King. 

"  Trustie  and  Welbeloued  we  gi-ete  you  well.  And  Forasmuche  as  we  liaue  ])een 
credeably  adutised  howe  that  lyke  a  moste  true  and  faythfull  Subgect  you  haue 
assembled  all  your  Force  and  Joyned  the  same  w'  o'  Right  trustye  and  Right  wel- 
beloued Cousyn  Therle  of  Derbye  for  the  Repressyon  of  certayne  Traytours  and 
Rebelles  in  those  ptf,  lyke  as  we  for  the  same  gyve  vnto  you  owr  nioste  liarty 
thankf,  So  we  thought  as  well  convenient  to  Require  yo"  to  psist  and  contynue  in 
your  faytlifuU  towardnes  in  the  company  of  o"^  said  Cousyn  till  the  said  Traytours 
shalbe  vtterly  Subdued.  As  to  signifie  vnto  you  that  we  shall  not  onely  consider 
your  charge  therein  But  lykwise  so  Remebre  yo''  Sruice  in  the  same  as  you  shall 
haue  causf  to  saye  you  haue  well  jnnployed  your  lal)ours  paynes  and  travaille  in  that 
behalf,  yeven  vncke  o"  Signet  at  o"  Castell  of  Windeso'  the  xxviij"'  day  of  Octobre  in 
the  xxviij  yere  of  o'  Regne. 

Indorsed, 

"  To  o"'  trusty  and  Melbeloved  serunt 
S'  Thomas  Langton  knyght."  [Fol.  259. 

[The  above  are  of  the  same  date  and  in  the  same  Aviiting,  though  tliey  dilTe)-  so 
materially  in  the  orthography.] 

The  warmth  of  the  Idng's  thanks  for  the  service  rendered  to  the  royal  cause  by 
sir  Roger  Bradshawe  and  sir  Thomas  Langton,  and  the  solicitude  expressed  by  him 
that  they  should  continue  their  services,  sufficiently  indicate  the  sense  he  entertained 
of  the  danger  attending  tliis  rebellion,  not  only  to  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of 
the  county  of  Lancaster,  but  also  to  the  stability  of  his  throne.  The  scene  of  hostile 
operations  in  Lancashire  was  principally  on  the  eastern  boundary,  adjoining  to  tlie 
county  of  York;  and  the  earl  of  Cumberland,  emulating  the  example  of  the  earls  of 
Shi-ewsbury  and  Derby,  gallantly  repulsed  the  rebels  in  an  attack  made  upon 
Skipton  castle. 

The  main  army  of  the  insurgents  now  prepared  to  advance  to  the  south ;  and,  with 
that  view,  tliey  proposed  to  ford  the  Don  at  the  point  where  the  earl  of  Shrewsbury 


XII. 


sion  of  the 
rebel 


478  €i)t  ?insitXlll)  of  t])t 

CHAP,  ^va-s  posted  by  direction  of  the  duke  of  Norfolk  ;  but  a  sudden  rising  of  the  waters  of 
^"-  ([y^^i  river,  tbouo-h  proceeding  from  causes  purely  natural,  served  to  awalien  the 
Disper-  susceptible  superstition  of  the  followers  of  Aske,  who,  viemng  tliis  impediment  as  an 
evil  omen,  were  prevailed  upon  to  disperse,  partly  to  repair  the  deficiency  in  their 
commissariat  department,  and  partly  to  alTord  time  to  conduct  a  negociation  between 
the  government  and  the  insurgent  chiefs.  The  duke  of  Norfolk  was  placed  in  a 
situation  of  great  difficulty.  The  unpetuosity  of  the  king's  temper  disinclined  liim 
to  make  any  concessions  to  his  subjects  m  arms;  and  the  demands  of  the  rebels  were 
such  as  to  preclude  his  compliance  with  them,  without  compromising  the  royal 
dio-nity.  They  claimed  that  a  royal  pardon  should  be  granted,  ^vithout  exception  of 
persons;  that  a  parliament  should  be  held  at  York,  and  courts  of  justice  established 
tliere,  so  that  no  suitor  on  the  north  side  of  the  Trent  should  be  requii-ed  to  go  to 
London  upon  any  suit  at  law.  They  further  demanded  a  repeal  of  several  acts  of 
parliament,  specifymg  particularly  those  for  the  last  subsidy,  and  the  statute  of  uses, 
with  the  statute  wliich  made  words  without  overt  acts  misprision  of  treason ;  and  the 
statute  requiring  the  clergy  to  pay  their  tenths  and  first-fruits  to  the  king.  They 
farther  desked  that  the  princess  Mary  might  be  restored  to  her  right  of  succession, 
the  pope  to  his  wonted  jurischction,  and  the  monks  to  theii-  houses  again ;  that  the 
Lutherans  might  be  punished;  that  Audley,  the  lord  chancellor,  and  Cromwell,  the 
lord  privy  seal,  might  be  excluded  from  the  next  parliament;  and  that  doctors  Lee 
and  Langton,  who  had  visited  the  northern  monasteries,  might  be  imprisoned  for 
bribery  and  extortion. 

After  an  interval  of  a  month,  the  pilgi-uns  of  gi-ace  again  assembled  in  gi-eater 
strength  than  before,  and  once  more  prepared  to  ford  the  Don ;  but  again  the  waters 
rose  suddenly,  and  a  second  time  prevented  that  operation.  The  negociations  were 
renewed  under  the  management  of  sir-  Ralph  Ellerker  and  su-  Robert  Bowas,  on  the 
side  of  the  insurgents,  and  of  the  duke  of  Norfolk  for  the  king.  The  duke  was 
empowered  to  offer  pardon  to  all  the  rebels,  ^nth  the  exception  of  ten ;  six  of  them  to 
be  named,  and  four  unnamed;  but  tliis  offer,  from  the  uncertainty  which  it  involved, 
was  refused.  It  was  next  proposed  by  the  duke,  that  a  kind  of  congress  should 
assemble  at  Doncaster,  consisting  of  thi-ee  hundi-ed  representatives  chosen  from  the 
men  of  the  different  wapentakes,  to  negociate  with  the  duke  and  the  lord  achniral, 
Avho  was  a  Fitzwilliam  of  Aldwark.  For  some  time,  the  duke,  by  the  dii-ection  of  the 
privy  council,  insisted  on  the  king  exercising  the  right  to  except  ten  persons  from 
the  general  amnesty;  but,  finding  it  impossible  to  obtain  these  terms,  he  at  length 
agi-eed,  that  the  royal  clemency  should  be  extended  to  the  whole  of  the  rebel  army 
Dec.  9.  without  exception.  On  these  terms,  the  pilgi-image  was  dissolved;  bat  the  king,  on 
the  dispersion  of  the  insurgents,  read  them  a  lecture,  in  a  royal  manifesto,  of  a  nature 


Countj)  |3nlntinf  of  aanrn5Stn%  479 

which  would,  m  these  clays,  rather  have  laised  than   suppressed  a  rebellion.     In    c;hai'. 
answer  to  that  part  of  their  petition   which  related  to  the  removal  of  his  mhiisters,   _ 


who  were  chai'ged  with  a  design  to  subvert  the  relioioii  of  the  state,  and  to  enslave 
the  people,  the  king  says,  "  And  we,  yviili  our  whole  council,  think  it  right  strange 
that  ye,  who  be  but  brutes  and  inexpert  folk,  do  take  upon  you  to  appoint  us, 
who  be  meet  or  not  for  our  council :  we  will  therefore  bear  no  such  meddling  at 
your  hands,  it  being  inconsistent  with  the  duty  of  good  subjects  to  interfere  in  such 
matters." 

In  the  interval  between  the  dispersion  of  the  insurgent  army  of  the  nortli  and 
their  re-assembling,  an  attemjit  was  made  by  the  rebels  to  take  the  abbeys  of 
Whalley  and  Salley,  which  the  earl  of  Derby  was  preparing  to  resist,  when  he 
received  the  Idng's  command  at  Preston  to  disperse  liis  forces.  These  orders  he 
obeyed,  but  finding,  on  the  re-assembling  of  the  rebels,  that  the  danger  was  inmii- 
nent,  he  again  collected  liis  troops,  and  marched  to  Whalley,  where  he  succeeded  in 
securing  the  monastery,  and  in  restoring  the  public  tranquillity.  The  following 
despatch  to  the  king  from  the  earl  was  •mitten  on  the  first  of  November,  four  days 
after  the  repulse  of  the  rebels  from  Skiptou  Castle,  and  details  the  operations  with 
sufficient  particularity.* 

Letter  of  the  Earl  of  Derby  to  the  King  Henry  VIII., 
ON  the  taking  of  Whalley  Abbey. 

"  Pleas  it  your  magestye  to  be  adutysed  That  vpon  Munday  last  past,  I  being  at  Letter 
your  town  of  preston  in  Lancasliir  theii'   accompanyed  and  in  other  townes  and  earl  of 
villages  nere  thereaboutf  w'  the  moost  part  of  your  true  f  faithfull  subiectf  of  the  same  the  king. 
Shir  was  then  in  aredynes  to  have  avansed  forward  toward  Salley  to  bane  executed 
your  gTacf  comanchnent.     And  the  said  Munday  at  nyght  I  had  ai)poynted  to  haue 
loged  at  the  Abbey  of  Whalley  whiche  is  but  iiij  myles  from  Salley.     And  abowt  ix 
of  clok  of  the  same  Munday  came  on  Berwyke  your  Herald  at  armes  vnto  me.  And 
hauing  your  Cote  armure  on  liis  body  delyued  me  a  £re  dyrected  vnto  me  fro  mv 
Lord  the  Erie  of  Slu-ewisbury  your  gees  Ueutennt  and  my  Lord  of  Rutland  and  my 
Lord  of  Huntyngdon.     Theffect  of  whiche  £res  w'  this  (they  certifyed  me  by  the 
same  y'  my  Lord  of  Norfolk  and  they  had  stayd  the  comous  of  Yorkshir  and  that 
euy  man  was  sparpoled  and  retjTed  home  vnto  then-  own  howses.    And  that  my  said 

*  This  despatch  is  deposited  in  the  Chapter-house  at  Westminster,  and  forms  part  of  the  Codex 
entitled,  "  Letters,  Papers,  &c,  relating  to  the  disturbances  in  the  North  of  England." 


480  €i)t  W^tiiv\)  of  tl)t 

CHAP.    Lord  of  Norfolk  was  depted  to  your  Highnes.    And  that  they  were  informed  from  the 
^  '"      Lord  Darcy  that  I  w'  my  retynue  had  appoynted  to  be  on  the  said  Muuday  at 
Whalley  Abbey.     And  forsomoche  as  all  thiugf  was  well  stayd  as  they  dyd  write 
therfor  they  desii-ed  and  prayd  me  and  ueuertheles  in  yo'  gi-acf  name  charget  me 
that  I  shuld  sparple  my  said  Cumpeny  w'out  doing  any  hurt  or  molestacon  to  the 
saides  conions  or  any  of  theym.     And  that  I  shuld  not  fayle  herof  as  I  wold  answar 
to  your  Highnes  at  my  pill.     And  like  charge  your  herald  did  giff  vnto  me  in  your 
oracf  name.      And  after  the  Receyt  of  the  said  £re  f  after  Counsaill  taken  w'  the 
Lord  Mountegle  then  present  and  w'  a  gi-et  nomber  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  same 
Sliir  and  w'  their  assentf  I  and  they  thynkyng  the  said  £re  f  comandment  to  be  in 
effect  as  your  comandment  considermg  it  cam  from  yoiu-  said  lieutennt  dyd  imme- 
diatly  sparple  the  said  Cumpeny  so  assembled  as  is  aforsaid  and  soo  departed  whom- 
wardf .     And  the  same  Munday  in  the  moro  the  comons  of  the  borders  of  Yorkeshir 
nere  to  Salley  w'  sume  of  the  borders  of  Lancashii-  nere  to  theym  assembled  theym 
together  and  w'  force  they  vnkowen  to  me  sodenly  toke  the  said  Abbey  of  Whalley 
wher  I  liad  intended  to  haue  loged  that  nyght.     And  when  they  herd  and  knew  how 
y*  I  had  receyved  such  a  £re  or  comancbnent  as  is  aforsaid  tlien  they  sparpoled  their 
Cumpeny  the  same  Daye.      And  truly  all  tlioghe  the  ways  and  passages  to  whalley 
f  Salley  be  vere  cumberous  strayt  full  of  myi-e  impedimentf  by  warters  f  otherwyse 
Yet  I  w'  the  power  of  yo'  true  subgettf  soo  assembled  wold  haue  put  all  o'^  bodyes 
in  the  aventure  to  haue  executed  your  former  comandment  if  the  said  £re  liad  not 
cumon  to  myhandf.     And  w'  goddf  gee  I  haue  no  dowt  but  in  conclusion  all  tliogh 
a  great  fray  had  therof  inswed  as  it  was  lyke  to  haue  byn  venquyshed.     And  wlier 
their  hath  hya  lately  an  other  insurreccon  and  Rebellion  in  the  borders  of  Westimand 
Cumbland  and  in  that  part  of  Lancasliir  northward  from  yo'  town  of  Lancaster  and 
now  sparpoled  who  had  intented  as  it  is  to  be  suspected  and  as  I  do  verely  beleue  to 
haue  cumen  thrugli  this  Sliir  if  they  had  not  bpi  afliayd  of  me  and  other  your  true 
subgettf  soo  asseml)led  as  is  aforsaid  at  Preston.      The  circiistancf  wherof  I  feare 
were  to  tedious  for  your  grace  here  to  put  in  w'tyng  of  all  that  I  haue  herd  and 
knowen  therof  w'  the  fals  and  feaned  £res  f  deuyses  that  hath  hyn  feaned  by  that 
assemble  and  other  whiche  £res  f  deuyses    they   sparple   abrode   amongf    your 
subiectf  by  settyng  theym  on  Chnrche  Dores  and  otherwise.     Therfor  I  haue  made 
a  byll  of  Artycles  therof  sumthing  breifly  made  signed  w'  my  hand  whiche  I  delWd 
to  yo'  flint  Henry  Acres  who  was  w'  me  and  eight  persons  w'  h>in  to  haue  fued 
your  grace  in  my  Cumpeny  And  can  insti-uct  yo'  grace  therof.    And  in  thise  affairs 
and  all  other  accordyng  to  my  bonden  dutye  I  shall  always  during  my  liff  as  yo'  true 
subget  be  redy  w'  liert  f  hand  to  do  you  suche  pore  fues  as  lyeth  in  my  power 
w'  asmoche  obedyens  as  I  can  jTuagyn.     As  o'  Lord  god  knoes  who  pfue  your 


CountP  ^3nlatinr  of  aaurnstcr.  48 1 

magestye  hi  high  hono"^  and  excelleiicie.     Written  at  my  mano"^  of  Latliom  on  all    chap. 
sainctf  Daye  abowt  iiij  of  clok  after  none.  ' 

"  Yo"^  most  obcdyent  seruaiit  f  suliiet 

«  EDWARD  DERBYE.* 
(In  dorso) 

"  To  the  Kingf  Magestye." 

"  My  Lord  of  Derbye  to  the  Kaugf  higlmes  certifjHing  the  king  in  what  redynes 
he  was  w"'  Lancasliii-e  against  the  Rebelles  in  the  North." 

The  following  documents  cast  still  further  light  on  these  transactions,  and  serve 
to  shew  to  liow  great  an  extent  the  religious  houses  in  Lancashire,  and  their  heads, 
were  implicated  in  this  rebellion,  one  object  of  which  was,  to  repossess  the  monks  of 
the  monasteries : — 

"  Part  of  the  first  Draught  of  Henry  VIII"''  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  &c.,  con- 
ceruiug  the  Rebellion  in  the  North.  [It  seems  to  be  of  Thomas  Ci-umwell's 
h3M^.—Harl.  Ca/.]"t 

[The  signature,  under  the  erased  endorsement,  is  precisely  the  same  as  that  wliich 
appears  on  papers  which  are  unquestionably  in  Cromwell's  Avriting.] 

"  Right  trusty  and  wellbeloued  Cousins  and  trusty  and  wellbeloued  [counsellors]  The  king's 
we  grete  yo"  wel.  And  lating  yo"  wit  that  havmg  receyved  yo'"  sondry  £res  we  doo  JlJe'e'ari  of 
right  wel  pceyve  by  the  contentf  of  the  same  y*^  cii'cuspecte  proceedingf  and  diligent 
endeuo'^s  in  the  trial  of  our  traito's  and  Rebelles  of  those  ^ties  and  the  trajTiing  of 
the  rest  of  r  affaires  there  to  suche  frame  as  maye  be  to  r  satisfaction  for  the  wliiche  we 
geve  vnto  yow  r  most  harty  thankf .  And  to  make  vnto  youe  pticuler  answers  to  the 
pticuler  poiutf  of  y""  said  £res  First  forasmuche  as  by  such  examynacons  as  yo"  have 
sent  vnto  ts  It  appereth  that  Thabbot  of  Furnes  and  diuse  of  his  monckf  have  not 
been  of  that  truthe  toward^  vs  that  to  their  cUeuties  apperteyned  We  desii-e  and 
pray  yo"  w'  all  the  dexteritie  yo"  cann  to  deuise  and  excogitate  to  vse  all  the  meanes 
to  yo"  possible  to  enserche  and  trye  out  the  veray  truth  of  their  proceding(;'  and 
w'  whom  they  or  any  of  them  have  had  any  IntelUgence,  For  we  thinke  veraylie  that 
yo"  shall  fynde  therby  such  matier  as  shall  shewe  the  light  of  many  things  yet 

*  Considerable  intimacy  seems  to  have  existed  between  the  earl  of  Derby  and  the  king,  owing, 
probably,  to  the  family  connection;  for  we  find  the  following  item  in  Henry's  privy  purse  expences  : 
'  Octobre  iiij  paid  to  henry  webbe  by  the  Kingf  comaundment  for  to  Cristene  my  lorde  of  derbye 
Sonne  iij  li  vj  s  viij  d." 

t  Hari.  MSS.  Cod.  2S3. 

VOL.  I.  3  Q 


Sussex. 


482  mn  w^toi'v  oi  ti)t 

CHAP,     vnkiioweii.  And  r  pleasure  is  that  yo"  shall  vppon  a  further  examynacon  Comytt  the 

1_   said  Abbot  and  suche  of  his  Monkf  as  yo"  shall  suspecte  to  have  been  ofTendo'^s  to 

wai'de,  their  to  remayn  tyl  yo"  shall  vppon  the  signification  vnto  vs  of  such  other  tliingf 
as  by  yo*^  wisedome  yo"  shall  trye  out  knowe  further  of  r  pleasure.  Secunde  we 
sende  vnto  yo"  herw'  certain  £res  according  to  yo''  desire  for  the  bestowinge  of  the 
Monkf  w'  uj  01  uij  Blankf  to  be  directed  to  suche  other  houses  as  yo"  sliall  thinke 
mete,  w  other  Mom  Neutheles  we  thinke  it  necessary  that  yo"  shall  not  only  duely 
examyn  them  all  befor  yo"  shall  dismisse  any  of  that  sorte  that  shall  goo  to  other 
hotises,  as  well  for  that  we  thinke  some  of  the  houses  mentioned  in  yo'  bUl  of  then- 
names  be  not  wel  liable  to  receyve  their  nomber  set  vpon  them  as  for  that  the  house 
of  Gervayse  is  in  some  daunger  of  suppression  by  like  offence  as  hathe  been  comytted 
[at  or  in]  Whalley ;  but  also  that  yo"  shall  retayne  John  Estgate  who  Avoid  goo  to 
Methe,  tyl  we  may  pceyve  the  cause  whye  he  shuld  desire  to  goo  more  to  that  place 
thenne  to  any  other.  And  as  touching  the  rest  that  desire  capacities  if  yo"  shall 
thinke  them  men  mete  to  be  suffred  to  goo  abrode,  we  be  content  yo"  shall  give 
them  their  Bedding  and  chamber  stuff  w'  suche  money  as  yo"  shall  hy  yo'  wisedoes 
thinke  mete,  the  capacities  for  whom  we  shall  send  vnto  yo"  by  the  next  messenger. 
Tliirde  wheras  yo"  have  sent  vnto  vs  the  copie  of  the  £re  Aviiten  from  r  coushi  of 
Norff  to  the  lord  Daixye  after  his  first  dpture  from  Dancaster  Wliiche  yo"  found  in 
the  Vicar  of  Black  Burnes  chamber  Forasmoche  as  by  the  same  it  ai>pereth  that  there 
hathe  been  gi-eat  Intelligence  amongf  sucJi  psonnes  as  were  of  that  naughty  incli- 
nacon  entent  and  conspii-acye.  We  desire  and  praye  yo"  aswel  by  the  straite  examy- 
nacon of  the  said  Vicar  as  by  all  other  meanes  that  yo"  canne  possibly  deuise  strongly 
to  enserche  howe  the  said  copie  was  conveyed  thether  Who  was  the  Messenger 
Who  was  of  counsel  and  howe  many  £res  or  writings  of  that  sorte  or  any  other  weir 
in  that  tyme  conveyed  in  to  those  pties  to  whom  from  whom  and  of  what  effect.  For 
in  the  ernest  folowing  of  this  matier  yo"  maye  doo  vnto  vs  as  highe  and  as  acceptable 
#uice  as  canne  be  deuised.  Finally  we  desire  and  pray  yo"  to  sende  V2)pe  in  sauftie 
vnto  vs  Richai'd  Estgate  late  Monke  of  Salleye.  Our  font  s"^  Arthur  Darcy  hathe 
writen  that  he  doubtethe  not  to  declare  suche  matier  against  him  at  his  repa^T  vnto 
vs  as  shall  conveye  some  tilings  to  r  knowleage  whiche  for  r  affiEiii'es  shalbe  very 
necessary  to  be  knowen.  Which  thingf  being  ones  conduced  to  some  pfection  we 
shall  signifie  r  pleasure  vnto  yo"  touchiuge  the  returne  of  r  cousin  of  Sussex  to  r 
presence."  [Indorsed] 

"  The  Mynute  of  the  £res  to  my  Lord  of  Sussexe 

xi"'  Marcij  xxviij  yeare  of  H.  8."  T.  C. 

[Fol.  76. 


Countp  ^3alatint  of  Xanrastrr.  483 

«  The  Answer  of           to  certain  articles  administered  to  bim  toucliing  the  same    chap. 
rehelUon,  temp.  Hen.  VIII."*  ^«''^-  ^«^-  ' 

"  Fower  artycles  wher^wn  was  to  Answere  vnto  touchinge  the  Rebellyone  in 

the  yeare  of  H.  8. 

«  1.  Firste  whether  yo"  wrott  any  tres  to  the  Prior  of  Conished  or  Cartemell  or 
to  any  Religeous  persone. 

"  2.  Item,  wliat  motyon  or  at  whose  Requeste  or  interpellation  yo"  wTott  them. 

"  3.  Item,  of  what  tenor  or  forme  such  tres  were  that  yo"  wrotte. 

"  4.  Item,  what  daye  or  place  yo"  wrott  them. 

"1.  To  the  firste  I  gi'aunte  I  wrott  a  letter  to  the  priore  of  Cartemell  as 
herafter  shalbe  declared  but  neuer  to  the  prior  of  Conishid  or  any  other  Religeous 
pson  touchinge  any  tliinge  of  the  insurrection  in  my  Ufe  otherwise  then  is  vnder- 

written. 

"  3.  To  the  tliii-d  I  saye  I  Cannot  perfectely  remember  the  very  tenor  or  forme 
of  the  saide  letter,  for  I  kepte  no  Coppye  therof,  but  as  faiTO  as  I  canne  now 
remember,  it  was  of  this  effecte.  That  forasmuch  as  all  religeouse  psonnes  in  the 
North  pai-tes  had  entered  theii-  houses  by  puttynge  in  of  the  Cofhones,  and  as  I  am 
enformed  yo"  meanynge  the  Prior  of  Cartemell  bemg  requu-ed  so  to  enter  doe 
w'drawe  y"^^selfe.  I  tbinke  yo"  may  safly  enter  and  doe  as  other  doe  keepinge  yo'selfe 
quiete  for  the  season  and  to  praye  for  tlie  Kinge.  And  at  the  nexte  Pai-liamente  then 
to  doe  as  shalbe  deteiTayned,  and  I  haue  no  doubte  but  so  domge  yo"  may  contynewe 
in  the  same  w'^  the  grace  of  god  who  keepinge  yo"  &c.  And  if  I  sawe  the  origenall 
Letteres  or  a  Coppie  therof  I  would  truly  confesse  my  deede. 

«  2.  To  the  Second  I  say  I  wotte  the  sayd  Letters  to  the  Prior  of  Cartemell  at 
the  requeste  and  desire  of  one  CoUenes  baylife  of  Kendall,  W^"  Collenes  at  my 
beinge  at  pomfret  shewed  me  that  all  the  Chanones  of  Cai-temell  Avere  entered  the 
house  excepte  the  foolishe  Prior  who  would  not  goe  to  them  onlie  for  his  owne 
profite  desii-inge  me  to  write  a  letter  to  liim  to  exhorte  him  to  goe  in  like-ivise  as 
his  bretheren  had  done  :  And  I  gi-aunted  him  to  write  the  same  ire  when  I  Come  to 
yorke  w'"  was  the  morowe  after  the  Conceptyon  of  our  Ladye,  and  I  defen-ed  the 
tj-me  because  I  would  hear  howe  the  matteres  proceeded  in  the  Communication  at 
Donkester  the  meane  space  after  that  CoUines  came  to  yorke  eftesoones  desiiinge 
the  same  letter.  At  whose  onlye  mocon  requeste  and  intei-pellacon  I  wrot  the  same 
letter  of  suche  effecte  as  is  vnderwritten  beinge  the  bouldere  so  to  write  for  somuch 
as  at  my  departynge  fiom  pomfret  it  was  openly  procla^nned  as  I  hard  saye  and  also 

*  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  283. 
3  Q  2 


484  CI)e  S!t6torp  of  tin 

CHAP,    at  yorke  when  I  Came  there  it  was  voyced  in  euevy  manes  mouth  that  the  Abbeyes 


"  sliould  stand  in  snche  maner  as  they  were  put  ni  vnto  the  nexte  parleamente  and 

after  my  coining  liome  to  Kirkeby  shortely  after  w"'in  sixe  dayes  as  I  remember 
M'  Robarte  Bowes  in  the  presence  of  S'  Henry  Gascoine  kniglit  and  other  desired 
me  to  exhorte  suche  of  the  vtiseste  men  as  were  Channones  of  S'  Ageathes  by 
Richemonde  whom  I  knewe  to  be  contente  (leste  they  or  the  Country  shoidd  tliinke 
strange  therat)  to  be  put  forthe  of  their  houses  by  the  kinges  Authoritie,  And  to  be 
taken  in  againe  by  the  same.  And  so  to  remaine  vnto  the  determenacon  of  the 
nexte  paiieamente  saing  it  was  Conchided  at  the  Communicacon  at  Dancaster  it 
should  so  be.  At  whose  de[sire]  I  spake  to  one  Coke  prior  of  the  same  howse  to  be 
contente  w""  the  premisses  and  lie  promissed  to  be  for  liis  parte,  and  to  exhorte  his 
*  bretheren  to  the  same  ;  And  this  manner  of  puttynge  out  and  tal^ynge  in  was  comonly 
spoken  of  to  be  true  after  our  returne  from  Pomfret  in  all  tliose  partes  asweU  w"" 
gentlemen  as  other  vnto  the  Cominge  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolke  in  these  pai'ts  as 
farre  as  euer  I  hard  of  any  man. 

"  4.  To  the  fourthe  I  save  I  wrot  the  said  Ires  at  yorke  the  Satordaye  or 

Sondaye  iinediatly  followhige  tlio  Conceptyon  of  our  lady  w'^''  was  vpon   a  fridaye 

w'^''  daye  I  departed  from  Pomfiet  homeward,  one  fortenyght  before  the  publycacon 

of  the  pardon  av'^''  was  published  at  Richemond  iij  myles  from  the  place  where  I 

Tiiese        dwell  on  a  market  daye  beinge  Saturdaye  the  xxiij  day  of  December  and  not 

cMite-  "'^  as  I  remember  a  letter  concerniuge  the  insurrection  I  never  wrot  so 

Ihe™^-    ma       ex[cepte]  that  the  tlierof  large  w^"  was  w"'in  of  the 

""'■  firste  beginninge  of  the  Insurrectyon  in  Richemondslieire  to  the  Abbot  there  M'  Sig- 

geswicke  M'  Witham  gentlemen.     And  I  all  together  wrotte  letteres  to  the  Abbotte 

of  Fountaines  and  other  preestes  for  a  poste  horses,  and  one  other  to  S'  Cliris- 

tofer  Danby  knight  to   desire  liim  to  Subscribe  his  Name  to  his  Letter,  av^''  wee 

receaved  from  him,  the  Coppie  of  w"''  letteres  doe  remayne  yet  as  I  suppose  in 

Jervaux  abbaye  aforesaid,  and  from  the  tyme  of  writyiige  the  said  letteres  vnto  the 

priore  of  Cartemell  w^''  was  w"'in  two  dayes  after  tlie  conceptyon  of  o'  Ladye  as  is 

aboue  Expressed  nito  tliis  daye  I  never  wrotte  ne  sonte  xiito  him  any  letter  or 

messuage  for  any  thinge  ne  I  haue  hard  any  thiuge  by  worde  or  writynge  from  him 

at  any  tyme  sithen."  [Fol.  85. 

Renewed  Tlic  rebel  amiy  of  the  north  was  dispersed,  but  the  cause  of  their  discontent  Avas 

in  the  in  no  degree  removed.  Several  of  the  monks  and  others,  who  liad  repossessed  them- 
selves of  the  religious  houses  during  the  time  of  the  insurrection,  were  again  ejected, 
and  a  fresh  rebellion  broke  out  on  the  northern  exti'emity  of  Lancashire,  under 
Musgiave  and  Tilley.     Tlie  career  of  the  insurgents  was  short  and  humiliating;  and 


Counti.)  |3alntinf  of  Sanrastfr,  485 

tlieii'  only  military  operation  consisted  in  besieging  tlie  city  of  Carlisle,  in  wliicli  they  chap. 
entiiely  failed.  The  dnke  of  Norfolk,  having  put  their  army  to  flight,  made  prisoners  '^"' 
of  all  theii'  officers,  with  the  exception  of  Musgi-ave ;  seventy  of  them  were  brought  to 
trial  by  martial  law,  and,  being  found  guilty  of  treason  and  rebellion,  they  were  all 
executed  on  the  walls  of  Carlisle.  Similar  risings  took  place  at  Hull,  and  in  some 
other  places;  and  the  king,  in  the  heat  of  his  indignation,  seemed  to  consider  these 
fresh  revolts  as  a  justification  for  the  uifi-action  of  the  act  of  amnesty  gi'anted  by  his 
authority  at  Doncaster,  though  many  of  the  accused,  who  afterwards  became  sufferers, 
were  not,  and  could  not  be,  concerned  in  the  latter  rebellion.  Aske,  the  leader  of  the 
pilgrimage  of  gr-ace,  was  tried  and  executed ;  as  were  also  sir  Robert  Constable,  sir 
John  Bulmer,  sir  John  Percy,  su-  Stephen  Hamilton,  Nicholas  Tempest,  and  William 
Lumley ;  many  others  were  thrown  into  prison,  and  most  of  them  shared  the  fate  of 
their  leader.  The  plea  of  compulsion  set  up  by  lord  Darcy  for  the  surrender 
of  Pontefi-act  did  not  avail  him,  neither  did  his  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  though 
many  of  them  had  been  spent  in  the  service  of  his  country.*  The  inexorable 
monarch,  after  his  condemnation,  refused  to  extend  to  hhn  the  royal  clemency,  and 
he  was  executed  on  Tower  HUl.  "  Being  now  satisfied  witli  punishing  the  rebels, 
the  king  published  anew,"  says  lord  Herbert,  "  a  general  pardon,  to  which  he  faith- 
fiUly  adhered;  and  he  created  a  patent  court  of  justice  at  York,  for  deciding  on  suits 
in  tlie  northern  counties;  a  demand  which  had  been  made  by  the  rebels."  It  appears, 
however,  that  the  arm  of  justice  Avas  not  yet  stayed;  for  at  the  spring  assizes  at  Lan- 
caster, in  1537,  John  Paslew,  D.D.,  abbot  of  Whalley,  was  sentenced  to  death  for 
high  treason,  on  account  of  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  northern  rebellion,  and  Execii- 
suffered  the  exti-eme  penalty  of  the  law  on  a  gallows,  erected  in  front  of  the  house  of 
his  bii'th,  in  Whalley ;  while  William  Trafford,  abbot  of  Salley,  and  the  prior  of  the 
same  place,  were  executed  at  Lancaster,  two  days  before,  along  with  John  Castegate 
and  WUliam  Haydocke,  monks  of  Whalley.  Adam  Sudbury,  abbot  of  Jervaux, 
with  Ashbeed,  a  monk  of  that  house,  and  WUliam  Wold,  prior  of  Burlington,  also 
suffered  death  for  the  same  offence. 


*  On  being  led  to  execution,  lord  Darcy  accused  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  the  commander-in-chief  of 
the  king's  forces,  of  having  encouraged  the  rebellion  of  the  north ;  but  this  charge  was  disregarded  by 
the  king,  and  seems  to  have  had  no  better  foundation  than  the  anxiety  of  the  duke  to  spare  the  lives 
of  the  rebels.  Near  the  close  of  Henry's  reign,  the  duke  and  his  son,  the  earl  of  Surrey,  fell  into 
disgrace,  owing  to  the  intrigues  of  their  enemies  at  court,  and  to  the  fickleness  of  the  king's  disposi- 
tion. The  accomplished  and  lamented  son  perished  on  the  scaffold;  and  his  father  was  indebted  for 
his  life  rather  to  the  death  of  the  king  than  to  the  services  he  had  rendered  to  his  country,  by  his 
achievements  on  the  ocean,  his  gallantry  in  the  battle  of  Flodden,  and  his  still  more  distinguished 
service  in  dispersing  an  army  of  40,000  men  without  the  effusion  of  blood. 


486  €i)t  W^tov^  Of  tbe 

CHAP.  Tlie  part  taken  by  the  monks  in  the  rebellion  of  the  north,  and  the  encourage- 

^"'      ment  they  had  given  to  theii-  dependants  and  tenants  to  join  in  that  insuiTection, 


Dissoiu-  served  as  a  reason  for  the  dissolution  of  the  larger  monasteries,  of  which  it  had  been 
i!rrge°  mo-  declared  by  pailiament,  that  "  in  divers  of  them  religion  was  right  well  kept  and 
nasteries.  Q|jggj.yg(j;'  This  character,  however,  did  not  save  them  from  the  rapacious  grasp  of 
the  spoiler ;  and  the  sagacity  wliich  suggested  that  the  dissolution  of  the  smaller 
monasteries  would  soon  be  succeeded  by  the  sequestration  of  the  property  of  the 
laro-er  establishments,  was  soon  made  manifest.  A  new  commission,  ^rith  the  earl  of 
Sussex  at  its  head,  was  appomted,  to  investigate  the  conduct  of  the  existing  monas- 
teries, and  the  commissioners  spent  nearly  four  years  m  going  fi-om  house  to  house, 
by  turns  soliciting,  and  by  turns  compelling,  the  heads  of  those  houses  to  suiTender 
them,  Avith  their  lands  and  revenues,  into  the  hands  of  the  king.  Tliough  these 
appropriations  were  so  numerous  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VITT.,  only  one  original 
surrender  of  any  religious  house  is  to  be  found;  and  that  is,  the  surrender  of  the 
abbey  of  Furness,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster.  Tliis  instrument  is  of  the  date  of 
the  9th  of  April,  in  the  last  year  of  the  king's  reign,  from  wliich  it  appears  that  the 
annual  value  of  the  monastery  was  £960,  and  that  tlmiy  monks  were  attached  to  that 
house.  The  surrender  of  Furness  abbey  will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  proceedings 
under  tliis  new  commission.* 

"  All  the  members  of  the  community,  with  the  tenants  and  servants,  were 
successively  examined  in  private;  and  the  result  of  a  protracted  inquiiy  was,  that, 
though  two  monks  were  committed  to  Lancaster  ca.stle,  notliing  could  be  discovered 
to  criminate  either  the  abbot  or  the  brotherhood.  Tlie  commissioners  proceeded  to 
Whalley,  and  a  new  smnmons  compelled  the  abbot  of  Furness  to  reappear  before 
them.  A  second  investigation  was  instituted,  and  the  result  was  the  same.  In  these 
circumstances,  says  the  earl,  in  a  letter  to  Henry,  which  is  still  extant,  '  devising  with 
myselfe,  yf  one  way  would  not  serve,  how  and  by  what  means  the  said  monks  myght 
be  ryd  from  the  said  abbey,  and  consequently  how  the  same  might  be  at  your 
gi-acious  pleasur,  I  detennined  to  assay  liim  as  of  myself,  whether  he  would  be  con- 
tented to  surrender  giff  and  gi-aunt  unto  (you)  your  heirs  and  assigaus  the  sayd 
monastery;  which  tldng  so  opened  to  the  abbot  farely,  we  found  liim  of  a  very  facile 
and  ready  mynde  to  follow  my  advice  in  that  behalf.'  A  deed  was  accordingly 
offered  him  to  signi,  in  wliich,  having  acknowledged  '  the  misorder  and  evil  rule  both 
unto  God  and  the  kmg  of  the  brethren  of  the  said  abbey,'  he,  in  tUschai'ge  of  his  con- 
science, gave  and  surrendered  to  Henry  all  the  title  and  interest  wliich  he  possessed 
in  the  monastery  of  Furness,  its  lauds  and  its  revenues.     Officers  were  immediately 

*  See  original  papers  in  the  British  Museum,  Cleop.  E.  iv.    Ill,  244,  246.     See  also  AVest's 
Furness,  Appendix  x.  4—7. 


Counti?  ^3nlatmf  of  2.anra£itfi%  487 

despatched,  to  take  possession  in  the  name  of  the  king;  the  commissioners  followed    chap. 


XII. 


mih.  the  abhot  in  their  company;  and  in  a  few  days  the  whole  community  ratified  the 
deed  of  its  superior.  The  liistory  of  Furness  is  the  liistory  of  Whalley,  and  of  the 
other  great  abbeys  in  the  north.  They  were  ^^sited  under  pretext  of  the  late 
rebeUion;  and,  by  one  expecUent  or  other,  were  successively  wrested  from  then- 
possessors,  and  transferred  to  the  crown."* 

As  an  inducement  to  theii"  superiors  to  surrender  their  monasteries,  tempting 
offers  of  a  permanent  provision  were  made  to  the  brotherhood;  and  to  such  as  with- 
held their  consent,  either  no  allowance  whatever  was  granted,  or  that  allowance  so 
small  as  to  leave  them  in  a  state  of  abject  penury.f 

The  progi'ess  of  the  reformation  kept   pace  with  tlie  dissolution  of  the  papal  Pubiica- 
institutions;  and  in  the  year  1538,  the  scriptiu'es  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  BiUein' 
were,  for  the  first  time,  printed  entu-e  in  Enghsh,  under  the  sanction  and  authority     °° '" '' 
of  the  government.     Pope  Clement,  incensed  by  all  these  acts  of  disobedience  to  the 
Romish  church,  was  at  length  induced  to  issue  his  celebrated  bull  of  excommunication, 
by  which  the  king  of  England  was  declared  an  apostate,  the  Avhole  kingdom  was  put 
under  an  iuterdict,  his  subjects  were  requii'ed  to  rise  up  in  arms  against  his  authority, 
foreign  potentates  were  charged  to  make  war  upon  liim,  and  he  was  expelled  from 
the  pale  of  the  holy  catholic  church. 

So  far  were  the  thundei-s  of  the  Vatican  from  arresting  the  king  in  liis  sacrilegious  Excom- 
career,  that,  in  the  following  year,  a  bill  was  brought  into  the  EngUsh  parliament,  tion  of  the 
vestuig  in  the  crown  all  the  moveable  and  unmoveable  property  of  the  monastic     "'^' 
institutions,   wliicli  either  had   already  been,  or   should   hereafter   be,    suppressed,       1539. 
abohshed,  or  surrendered.     The  heads  of  the  twenty-eight  mitred  abbeys,  and  the 
two  priors  of  Coventry  and  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  having  been  divested  of  their 
revenues,  lost  the  seats  which  they  had  hitherto  enjoyed  in  the  house  of  peers ;  but 
the  county  of  Lancaster  cUd  not  in  tliis  way  suff"er  any  diminution  of  parUamentaiy 
influence,   seeing  that  none  of  those  highly -privileged  houses  were  situated  in  this 
county.      The  abbots,  masters,  and  priors  of  the  religious  orders  in   Lancashire, 
however,  frequently  received  Avrits  of  summons  to  parliament;  and  it  appears  from 

*  Lingard,  IV.  256. 

t  The  pensions  to  the  superiors  varied  from  £266  to  £6  per  annum.  The  priors  of  cells  received 
generally  £13.  A  few  whose  services  had  merited  distinction  obtained  £20.  To  the  other  monks 
were  allotted  pensions  of  six,  four,  or  two  pounds,  with  a  small  sum  each  as  a  departure  fee,  to  provide 
for  his  immediate  wants.  The  pensions  to  nuns  averaged  about  £4.  "  It  should,  however,  be 
observed,"  says  Dr.  Lingard,  from  whom  we  quote,  "  that  these  sums  were  not  in  reality  so  small  as 
they  appear,  as  money  was,  probably,  at  that  period  of  ten  times  more  value  than  it  is  now."  This, 
however,  is  an  over-estimate,  taking  the  price  of  wheat  as  the  criterion. 


488  Cfte  ?l?tgtoti)  of  tin 

CHAP,    the  Close  Rolls,  that  from  49  Hemy  III.  to  23  Edwai'd  IV.  the  heads  of  the  Pre- 

XII 

'  monstratensian  Abbey  of  Cockersand  alone  received  upwards  of  one  huudi'ed  of  these 

parUameutary  writs. 
1540.  From  tliis  period  is  to  be  dated  the  dissolution  of  all  the  monastic  institutions 

From  the    in  the  couutj  of  Lancaster;  and  the  follo^ving  is  a  concise  history  of  theii'  original 
Mona's-      foundation,  the   religious  orders  to  Avhich  they  were  attaclied,  and  their  estimated 


tica. 


income,  according  to  Dugdale  and  to  Speed,  at  the  time  of  the  visitations,  Avliich  took 
place  in  the  interval  between  1534  and  1540: — 
Lanca-  "  At  BuRSCOUGH  was  a  Priory  of  Austin,  or  Black  Canons,  founded  by  Robert 

shire  mo-  _  _  _  ci  • 

nasteries.  Fitz-Heury,  Lord  of  Lathom,  in  the  reign  of  Richaixl  I.  St.  Nicholas  was  the  tutelar 
saint  of  this  house,  Avliich  had  a  prior,  and  five  religious,  and  forty  servants,  and  was 
endowed  at  the  dissolution  Tvitli  £80.  7s.  6d.  per  annum,  according  to  Dugdale; 
according  to  a  second  valuation,  £122.  5s.  7d.;  according  to  Mr.  Speed,  with 
£129.  Is.  lOd. 

"  At  CoKERHAM  there  was  a  Priory. 

"  At  Cockersand,  a  Premonstratensian  Abbey.*  Here  was  first  a  hermitage,  and 
then  an  hospital  for  several  infirm  bretln-en,  under  the  government  of  a  prior,  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Mary,  and  subordinate  to  the  Abbey  of  Leycestre,  founded,  or  chiefly 
endowed,  by  WUliam  of  Lancastre,  in  the  time  of  Henry  II.;  but  about  the  year  1 190, 
it  was  changed  into  an  Abbey  of  Premonstratensian  Canons,  to  wliicli  there  seems  to 
have  been  united  another  abbey  of  the  same  order,  which  Theobald,  brother  to  Hubert 
Walter,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  some  years  after,  built,  or  designed  to  build,  at 
Pyliug,  to  the  honoiu-  of  tlie  blessed  Vu-gin.  The  Abbey  of  Cockersand  consisted, 
about  tlie  time  of  the  dissolution,  of  twenty-two  religious,  and  fifty-seven  servants,  and 
was  then  found  to  be  worth  £157.  14s.  per  annum,  Dugd.;  £228.  5s.  4d.  Speed; 
£282.  7s.  7d.  according  to  a  second  valuation.  The  site  was  granted,  35  Henry  VIII., 
to  John  Kechin. 

"  At  CoNiSHED,  a  Priory  of  Austin  Canons.  Gabriel  Pennington  built,  in  the 
time  of  Henry  II.,  upon  the  soil,  and  by  the  encouragement,  of  William  of  Lancastre, 
Baron  of  Kendale  (who  Avas  a  very  great  benefactor)  an  hospital  and  priory  of  Black 
Canons,  to  the  honour  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary ;  wliich  priory  consisted  of  a  prior, 
and  seven  religious,  and  forty-eight  servants,  and  was  valued  at  £124.  2s.  Id.  per 
annum.  Speed;  £97.  Os.  2d.  Dudg.,  which  was  the  fii-st  valuation ;  but,  upon  a  second 
valuation,  £161.  5s.  9d. 
Near  "  At  FuRNE  s,  a  Cistertian  Abbey.    The  monastery,  begun  at  Tulket,  A.  D .  1 1 24, 

for  the  monks  of  Savigny,  in  France,  was,  after  three  year's,  viz.  A.D.  1 127,  removed 
to  this  valley,  then  called  Bekangesgill.     Stephen,  the  earl  of  Morton  and  Boloigne, 
•  This  monastery,  by  favour  of  the  king,  outlived  for  a  short  time  the  general  dissolution. 


Counti)  ^3alatine  of  aaiirasttr.  489 

(afterward  king  of  England)  was  the  founder  of  tliis  abbey,  which  was  of  the  Cister-    chap. 
cian  order,  and  commended  to  the  patronage  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary.     It  was      ^^^' 
endowed  at  the  dissolution  Avith  £805.  16s.  5d.  per  annimi,  Dugd. ;  £766.  7s.  lOd. 
Speed. 

"  At  Up  Holand,  a  Benedictine  Priory.  Here  was,  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Tliomas 
the  Martyr,  a  college  or  chantry,  consisting  of  a  dean  and  twelve  secular  priests,  who 
were  changed,  A.  D.  1319,  by  Walter,  lord  bishop  of  Litchfield,  at  the  petition  of 
sir  Robert  Holand,  then  patron,  and,  as  I  conceive,  original  founder,  into  a  prior  and 
Benedictine  monks.  Here  were,  about  the  time  of  the  suppression,  five  religious  and 
twenty-six  servants.  Tliis  house  was  valued  at  £53.  3s.  4d.  per  annum,  Dugd.; 
£61.  3s.  4.  Speed;  and  at  £78.  12s.  according  to  a  second  valuation.  It  was 
granted  37  Henry  VIII.  to  John  Holcroft. 

"  At  HoRNEBY,  a  Premonstrateusian  Cell.*  An  hospital  or  cell  of  a  prior  and 
thi'ee  Premonstrateusian  canons  to  the  al)bey  of  Croxton,  in  Leicestershire,  of  the 
foundation  of  the  ancestors  of  sir  Thomas  Stanley,  lord  Monteagle,  to  whom  the 
site  and  domains  of  this  priory  (as  parcel  of  Croxton)  were  granted,  36  Henry  VIII. 
It  was  dedicated  to  St.  Wilfred,  and  endowed  with  lands  to  the  value  of  £26  per 
amium. 

"  At  Kershall  or  Kyrkshawe,  a  Cluniac  Cell.  King  Henry  II.  granted, 
and  King  John,  anno  reg.  I.  confirmed,  to  the  monastery  of  Nottinghamshii-e,  the 
hermitage  here,  which  thereupon  became  a  small  house  of  Cluniac  monks,  and  a 
cell  to  that  priory  was  gi-anted  32  Henry  VIII.  to  Bahhvin  Willoughl)y. 

"  At  Kertmel  or  Cartmele,  a  Priory  of  Austin's  Canons,  William  Mares- 
chall,  the  elder  earl  of  Pembroke,  founded  here  A.  D.  1188,  a  priory  of  regular 
canons  of  the  order  of  St.  Austin,  which  Avas  dedicated  to  the  blessed  Virgin,  and 
rated  26  Henry  VIII.  at  £91.  6s.  3d.  per  annum,  Dugd.;  £124.  2s.  Id.  Speed; 
£212.  lis.  lOd.  second  valuation.  Herein,  about  the  time  of  the  dissolution,  were 
reckoned  ten  religious,  and  thirty-eight  servants.  The  site  of  tliis  monastery  was 
gianted  32  Hemy  VIII.  to  Thomas  Holcroft. 

"  At  Lancaster,  (1)  an  Alien  Priory,  earl  Roger,  of  Poictiers,  gave,  A.D.  1094, 
the  church  of  St.  Mary,  with  some  other  lands  here,  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Martin  de 
Sagio,  or  Sees,  in  Normandy,  whereupon  a  prior  and  five  Benedictine  monks  were 
placed  here,  who,  with  three  priests,  two  clerks  and  servants,  made  up  a  small  monas- 
tery, subordinate  to  that  foreign  house,  which  was  endowed  with  the  yeai'ly  revenue 
of  about  £80  sterling.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  alien  priories,  this,  with  the  land 
thereunto  belonging,  was  annexed  by  king  Heniy  V.  or  liis  feoffees  to  the  abbey  of 
Syon,  in  Middlesex. 

*  This  cell  was  resigned  before  the  visitation  in  1535. 
VOL.  I.  3  R 


490  Win  i)i6t0l|)  of  t\)t 

CHAP.  "  (2.)  An  hospital  for  a  master  chaplain  and  nine  poor  persons,  whereof  three  to 


XII 


be  lepers,  was  founded  in  tliis  town  by  king  John,  while  he  was  earl  of  Morton, 
wliich  was  afterward,  bj  Henry  duke  of  Lancaster,  annexed  to  the  nunnery  of 
Seton,  in  Cimiberland,  about  30  Edward  III.     It  was  dedicated  St.  Leonard. 

"  (3.)  A  Priory  for  Black  Friars.  Here  was  a  house  of  Dominican  or  Black 
Friars,  founded  about  44  Henry  III.  by  sir  Hugh  Harrington,  Kuight,  which  was 
granted  32  Henry  VIII.  to  Thomas  Holcroft. 

"  (4.)  A  Friary  for  Grey  Friars.     A  Franciscan  Convent  near  the  bridge, 

"  Lanyricjh,  now  Longiidge.  An  ancient  hospital  under  Longridge  hills,  of  a 
master  and  brethren,  dedicated  to  the  Vugin  Mary  and  our  Holy  Saviour. 

"  At  Lythom  or  Lethum,  Benedictine  Cell.  Richard  Fitz-Roger,  in  the  latter 
end  of  the  reign  of  king  Richard  I.  gave  lands  here  to  the  church  of  Durham,  with 
intent  that  a  prior  and  Benedictine  monks  might  be  settled  here,  to  the  honour  of 
St.  Mary  and  St.  Cuthbert.  Its  annual  revenues  at  the  suppression  were  worth 
£48.  19s.  6d.  Dugd.;  £53.  15s.  lOd.  Speed.  The  site,  as  parcel  of  Durham,  was 
granted,  2  Mariae,  to  sir  Thomas  Holcroft. 

"  At  Manchester.  A  College,*  Thomas  de  la  Ware,  clerk,  some  time  rector 
of  the  parish  church  here,  (having  the  bai'ony  and  estate  of  liis  brother,  Jolni  Lord  de 
la  Ware,  without  heu-s)  obtained  leave  of  the  king,  9  Henry  V.,  to  make  it  collegiate, 
to  consist  of  a  Avarden  and  a  certain  number  of  priests.  It  was  dedicated  to  the 
blessed  Virgin,  and  endowed  with  revenues  to  the  yearly  value  of  £200,  or,  as  they 
were  returned  into  the  first-huits  office,  26  Hemy  VIII.  £226.  12s.  5d.  in  the  whole, 
and  £213.  10s.  lid.  clear.  Tliis  college  was  dissolved  in  1547,  by  king  Edward  VI. 
but  re-founded,  first,  by  queen  Mary,  and  afterwards  by  queen  Elizabeth,  A.  D.  1578, 
and  again  by  king  Charles  I.  A.D.  1636,  for  a  warden,  four  fellows,  two  chaplains, 
four  singing  men,  and  four  choristers,  being  incorporated,  as  they  were  before  by 
queen  Elizabeth,  by  the  name  of  '  the  Warden  and  Fellows  of  Christ  Churcli,  in 
Manchester.' 

"  At  Penwortham,  a  Benedictine  Priory.  Warine  Bussel,  having  given  the 
church  and  tithes  of  this  place,  with  several  other  estates  in  tliis  country,  to  the  abbey 
of  Evesham,  in  Worcestersliire,  in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  here  was 
shortly  after  a  priory  erected,  and  several  Benedictine  monks  from  Evesham,  placed 
in  it.  This  priory  was  decUcated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  rated  26  Henry  VIII.  at 
£29,  18s.  7d.  jier  annum,  as  Dugdale  in  one  place,  and  £99,  5s.  3d.  as  he  saith  iu 
another;  and  at  £114.  16s.  9d,  per  annum,  as  Speed,  The  site  was  granted 
34  Henry  VIII.,  to  Jolm  Fleetwood. 

•  This  college  escaped  the  general  dissolution,  or  was  speedily  restored. 


Coimtj)  ^Oalatme  of  aanrastn%  491 

"  At  Preston,  (I.)  an  ancient  Hospital,  dedicated  to   St.  Mary  Magdalen,    chap 
occurs  in  the  Lincoln  taxation,  A.  D.  1291.     The  mastership  was  in  the  gift  of  " 

the  king. 

"  (2.)  A  Friary,  for  Grey  Friars.  The  original  builder  of  the  Grey  Friars' 
College,  on  the  north-^vest  side  of  this  town,  was  Ednmnd  carl  of  Lancaster,  son  to 
king  Henry  HL  The  site  of  which  was  granted,  32  Henry  VIH.,  to  Thomas 
Holcroft. 

"  At  Warrington,  a  Friary  for  Austin  Friars.  At  the  bridge  end  near  this 
town,  was  a  priory  of  Augustine  Friars,  founded  before  A.D.  1370,  which,  32  Henry 
Vni.,  was  granted  to  the  often-mentioned  Thomas  Holcroft. 

"  At  Whalley,  an  Abbey  for  Cistercians.  Henry  Lacy,  earl  of  Lincoln,  having 
given  the  advowson  of  the  parish  to  the  White  Monks  of  Stanlawe,  in  Cheshire,  they 
procured  the  same  to  be  appropriated  to  them,  whereupon,  A.D.  1296,  they  removed 
theu"  abbey  hither,  and  increased  the  number  of  theii-  religious  to  sixty.  There  was 
another  removal  proposed  to  a  place  called  Tocstathe,  by  Thomas  earl  of  Lancaster, 
A.  D.  1316,  but  it  seems  not  to  have  taken  effect.  Whalley  was  dedicated  to  the 
blessed  Virgin  Mary,  and,  at  the  suppression,  had  revenues  to  the  yearly  value  of 
£321.  9s.  Id.  Dugd.;  £551.  4s.  6d.  Speed.  It  was  gi-anted  to  Richard  Ashton  and 
John  Braddyll,  7  Edward  VI. 

"  At  Wyersdale,  a  Cistercian  Abbey.  A  colony  of  Cistercian  monks  from 
Furnes,  for  some  tune  fixed  here;  but  about  A.D.  1188,  they  removed  over  into 
Ireland,  and  founded  the  abbey  of  Wythney." 

The  lands  and  revenues  of  the  monasteries   of  Furness,    Cartmel,  Conished,  The  re- 
Burscough,  and  Up-Holland,  were  confided  by  parliament  to  the  officers  of  the  adminis- 
duchy  of  Lancaster,  to  be  administered  for  the  king's  use.*     The  king  also  annexed  iii'/duchy. 
to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster  property  of  the  yearly  value  of  £796.  4s.  2^([.,  subject 
to  an   annual   pension    to   chantry    piiests  of    £126.    2s.  4d.       This  appropria- 
tion was  made  through  the  mecUum  of  the  court  of  augmentation,  which  court 
was   established    in   the    year    1535,    for   the    purpose    of    ordering,    surveying, 
selUng,  or  letting,  all  manors,  lands,  tithes,  and  other  property  belonging  to  the 
monasteries. 

Tlie  number  of  monasteries  suppressed  in  England  and  Wales  amounted  in  the  Vaiue  of 

•  tliG  dis- 

whole  to  six  hundred  and  forty-five,  exclusive  of  ninety-six  colleges,  two  thousand  solved 
three  hundi'cd  and  seveuty-four  chantries  and  free  chapels,  and  one  huucU'ed  and  ten  teries. 
hospitals  ;f  the  value  of  which  property  has  been  variously  estimated,  but,  according 

*  32  Henry  VIII.  c.  20.  f  Camden's  Brit.  i.  cxci. 


492  €l)t  ?gi£itorj)  of  tl)e 

CHAP,  to  the  Liber  Regis,  it  jdelded  aumially  £142,914.  12s.  91d.,*  wliich,  taken  at 
^"'  twenty  years' purchase,  would  produce  £2,858,290;  Avorth  in  our  money  £28,582,900. 
The  revenues  of  the  church,  before  the  dissokition  of  the  monasteries,  is  said  to  have 
equalled  about  one-fourth  of  the  whole  landed  income  of  the  kingdom.f  According 
to  the  records  in  the  augmentation  office,J  the  process  pursued  by  the  commissioners, 
on  the  dissolution  of  each  of  the  monasteries,  was  as  follows : — 1st.  The  commis- 
sioners broke  its  seal,  and  assigned  pensions  to  the  members.  2nd.  The  plate  and 
jewels  were  reserved  for  the  king ;  the  furniture  and  goods  were  sold,  and  the 
money  was  paid  into  the  augmentation  office.  3rd,  The  abbot's  lodgings  and  the 
offices  were  left  standing,  for  the  convenience  of  the  next  occupant ;  the  church, 
cloisters,  and  apartments  for  the  monlvs,  were  stripped  of  the  lead  and  every  other 
saleable  article,  and  then  left  to  fall  to  ruins.  4th.  The  lands  were  by  degi-ees 
alienated  from  the  crown  by  gift,  sale,  or  exchange. 

A  revenue  so  immense  as  that  yielded  by  the  monasteries  might,  under  juchcious 
application,  have  extinguished  all  the  public  burdens  both  for  the  support  of  the 
state  and  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  expectations  of  this  kind  were  held  out  to  the 
people  ;§  but  they  were  soon  undeceived ;  i)auperism  became  more  extensive  than 
ever,  and,  within  one  year  from  the  period  of  the  last  appropriation,  a  subsidy  of  two- 
tenths,  and  another  of  two-fifteenths,  were  demanded  by  the  king,  and  gi-anted  by 
parliament,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  reforming  the  religion  of  the  state.||  Henry  VIII., 
like  his  predecessor,  was  rapacious, — with  tliis  ilifTerence,  however,  that  the  father 
collected  money  to  save,  while  the  son  amassed  wealth  to  supply  the  demands  of  a 
licentious  profusion.  Much  of  the  church  property  was  disposed  of  to  the  king's 
favourites,  by  gi-ants  or  by  indulgent  sales,  one  of  the  conditions  of  which  was,  that 
the  new  proprietors  of  the  abbey  lands  should  keep  up  the  ancient  hospitality ;  but 


Annual  revenue  of  all  the  monastic  houses  classed  in  tlie  orders. 


No.  of  Houses.          Orders. 

Revenue. 

No.  of  Houses.           Orders. 

Revenue. 

£.       s.    d. 

£.       s.    d. 

186     ... 

Benedictines  .  .  . 

65,877  14     0 

3     ... 

Fontevraud  Nuns 

825     8     6i 

20     ... 

Cluniacs          .  .  . 

4,972     9     2A 

3     ... 

Minoresses     .  .  . 

548  10     6 

9     ... 

Carthusians     .  .  . 

2,947  15     4i 

1      ... 

Bridgetines    .  .  . 

1731     8     9f 

101     ... 

Cistercians      .  .  . 

18,691   12     6 

2     ... 

Bonhommes   .  .  . 

859     5  11| 

173     ... 

Austins            .  .  . 

33,027     1   11 

Knights  Hospitallers 

5,394     6     5i 

32     ... 

Premonstratensians 

4,807   14     1 

Fiiars             .  .  . 

809   11     8J- 

25     ... 

Gilbertus        .  .  . 

2,421    13     9 

t  Lord  Herbert,  p.  396.  J  Burnet's  Records,  I,  151.  §  Coke's  Inst.  iv.  44. 

II  Henry's  enormous  expenditure  is  easily  accounted  for  by  the  fact,  that  his  principal  employment 
was  gambling. — Privy  Purse  Expenses  of  Henry  VIII.  p.  xxiii. 


Couutj)  IJalatine  of  JLanrasttr. 


493 


as  this  was  in  some  degree  voluntary,  the  practice  soon  fell  into  disuse.  A  portion 
of  the  monastic  revenues  was  appropriated  to  the  advancement  of  religion,  though 
much  less  than  the  Idng  originally  intended.  His  first  pui-pose,  as  appears  from 
documents  under  his  own  hand,  was  to  found  eighteen  new  hishoprics,  but  the 
number  declined  from  time  to  time,  till  it  was  at  last  reduced  to  six,  viz.  West- 
minster, Oxford,  Peterborougli,  Bristol,  Gloucester,  and  Chester,  in  the  last  of  wliich 
was  included  Lancashire  and  Richmondsliire.  Anciently  there  had  been  a  bishop's 
see  at  Chester,  but  it  had  merged  in  the  cUocese  of  Lichfield.  At  the  same  time 
tlie  king  converted  fourteen  abbeys  and  priories  into  cathech-al  and  collegiate 
churches,  attaching  to  each  a  dean  and  a  certain  number  of  prebendaries,  but  none 
of  these  were  in  this  county.  That  the  endo^vments  might  not  be  too  ricli,  each 
chapter  had  imposed  upon  its  ecclesiastical  revenue  the  obligation  of  contributing 
annually  to  the  support  of  the  resident  poor,  and  to  the  repair  of  the  highways.* 
The  order  of  the  knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  including  the  Knights  Templar 
and  the  Hospitallers,  after  ha\-ing  existed  for  four  hunih-ed  and  thirty-sLx  yeai's, 
were  doomed  to  suppression  by  legislative  enactment ;  and  the  universities  of  Oxford 
and  Cambridge,  happily  for  learning  in  future  ages,  escaped,  though  naiTowly,  the 
same  fate. 

The  chantries,  in  the  monasteries  and  churches  of  tliis  county,  were  very 
numei'ous  at  the  period  of  the  refonnation,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  following 
List  of  Chantries,  which  we  find  in  the  records  of  the  ofiice  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster  : — 


CHAP. 

xri. 


Bishopric 
of  Cliester 
erected. 


1540. 


1 .  Warton  Ecclesia  stipend,  no  date. 

2.  Kirkeby  Irelath.     Cantaria. 

3.  Leverpole  Capella. 

4.  Liverpole  Capella. 

5.  Eccleston.     Cantar. 
Sefton.     Cantar. 
Croston.     Cantar. 
Manchester  Colleg.     Decimee. 
Manchester    Decimae    in    Moston,    Norton, 

Kidemanhulme,  Cromeshall. 
Burscoughe  Priory,  the  Manor. 
Ormskirke.     Cantar. 

12.  Eccles.     Cantar. 

13.  St.  Michael's  super  Wyram.     Cantar. 

14.  Manchester,  Beckwith's.     Cantar. 


6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 

10. 
11. 


First  por- 
tion. 


15.  Manchester    Colleg.    Decimse   de   Trafford,    Bundle  U, 

Stratford  and  Chollerton. 

16.  Halsal  Ecclesia.     Cantar. 

17.  Yerleth.  Parcel  Monaster  de  Fumes. 

18.  Beamonde.  Parcel  Monaster  de  Fumes. 

19.  St.  Michael's  super  Wyram.     Cantar. 

20.  Manchester   Colleg.    Decimae.    Granor    de 

Bradford,  Ardewick,  and  Openshaw. 

21.  Bailie.     Cantar.   in   Capell   infra    Poch.   de 

Mitton.     Ebor. 

22.  Cantaria,  in  Lancaster. 

23.  Hollingfare  Capella,  in  Warrington. 

24.  Standish  Ecclesia.     Cantar. 

25.  Warrington  Ecclesia.  Butler's  Cantar. 

26.  Halsall  Ecclesia.     Cantar. 


Rymer,  xv.  77. 


494 


Cl)c  W^tov^  Of  tl)e 


CHAP. 
XII. 


Decayed 
towns  in 
Lanca- 
shire. 


Privilege 
of  sanc- 
tuary. 


27.  Preston  Ecclesia.  Scse  Marise.    Cantar. 

28.  Ribcliester  Ecclesia.     Cantar. 

.52.  Pickering  Lythe  pell.  Maner  in  Com.  Ebor. 
Windell  Capell  in  Prescot.   Cantar. 

53.  Beckingshaw  Capella  in  Croston  et  Tene- 
ment in  Preston,  pcell.  possession  Colleg. 
novi  opis  Leicest. 


54.  Silverdale,   Boston,   Hest  pcell.  Monast.  tie 

Cartmell. 

55.  Clitherow  Capella,  in  Whalley  Cantar. 

56.  Manchester    Ecclesia,   TrafFord's    Chappel. 

Cantar. 

57.  Eccles  Church  Colleg.  Jesu. 


The  condition  of  the  people  appears  to  have  suflfered  with  the  suppression  of  the 
monastic  institutions ;  no  fewer  than  four  sepai-ate  statutes  were  passed  between  the 
years  15-35  and  1544,  setting  forth  lists  of  decayed  cities  and  towns  in  different,  and 
in  almost  all,  pai-ts  of  the  kingdom,  wherein  it  is  declared — "  That  there  hath  been  in 
times  past  many  beautiful  houses  in  those  places  which  are  now  falling  into  ruin," 
and  amongst  the  towns  mentioned  in  the  act  of  1544,  are,  "  Lancaster,  Preston, 
Lyi-epool,  and  Wigan,  in  Lancashire." 

Tlie  pri^•ilege  of  sanctucmj  was  one  of  the  e\Tls  of  the  monastic  system,  though 
its  date  is  anterior  to  the  foundation  of  monasteries.  In  \irtue  of  tliis  privilege, 
certain  places  became  cities  of  refuge — "  seats  of  peace"  as  they  were  called ;  and 
the  in\-iolability  of  these  asylums  in  eai-ly  times  is  sufficiently  indicated  by  the 
answer  of  cai-dinal  Boughier,  when  importuned  by  the  creatures  of  the  duke  of 
Gloucester  to  bear  away  his  ill-fated  nephew,  young  Richard  of  York,  from  the 
sanctuary  of  Westminster : — 

"  God  in  heaven  forbid 
We  should  infringe  the  holy  privilege 
Of  blessed  sanctuary  !  not  for  all  this  land 
Would  I  be  guilty  of  so  deep  a  sin." 

Siiakspeare's  Rich.  III.,  Act  III,  Scene  I. 

"  These  sanctuaries  were  first  instituted  and  designed  for  an  asylum  or  place  of 
safety  to  such  malefactors  as  were  not  guilty  of  any  notorious  crimes  ;  and  were  of 
gi-eat  antiquity  in  Greece;  whence  they  were  derived  to  the  Romans;  and  had 
perhaps  then-  originals  from  those  cities  of  refuge  appointed  by  Moses,  by  the 
immediate  command  of  God  himself.  There  were  many  of  them  in  tliis  kingdom 
before  the  Conquest;  and  they  became  so  numerous  after,  and  so  scandalous,  (divers 
of  them  having  obtained  protection  for  those  that  were  guilty  of  iiigh-treason,  miu-der, 
rape,  felony,  &c.)  that,  being  complained  of  in  parliament,  1540,  immediately  after 
the  dissolution  of  the  religious  houses,  the  gi-eatest  part  of  them  were  suppressed,  and 
those  few  that  remained  reduced  to  tlieii-  first  institution."*  Manchester  was  one 
of  the  places  of  sanctuary  in  the  county  of  Lancaster ;  Lancaster  was  another ;  and 

*  Burton's  MSS. 


Coiintp  |3alatinf  of  aanrastrr.  496 

Chester,  then  called  West  Chester,  a  thii'd.     When  trade  began  to  extend  itself,  the    chap. 
nuisance  of  a  harbour  for  tliieves  and  other  delinquents  became  intolerable,  and,  by      ^^'' 
an  act  passed  38  Henry  VIII.,  Manchester  was  allowed  to  forego  its  privilege,  and 
to  transport  all  the  refugees  within  its  jurisdiction  to  Chester. 

The  king  survived  the  tlissolutiou  of  the  monasteries  seven  years,  but  no  event 
occuiTcd,  in  that  period,  of  public  interest  in  the  lustory  of  Laucashii-e.  Duiing  his 
last  sickness,  he  revoked  his  former  ^ills,  and  ordained  that,  after  his  death,  liis  three 
children,  Edward,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth,  should  succeed  liim  in  the  sovereign  power, 
the  son  as  male  heir,  and  the  daughters  in  the  order  of  primogeniture. 


€i)t  ?^isitor|)  of  ti)t 


Cftap.  mh 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Edw.  VI. 


Lancashire  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI. — In  the  reign  of  queen  Mary. — Lancashire  martyrs:  John 
Rogers,  John  Bradford,  George  March. — Muster  of  soldiers  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  in  Mary's 
reign. — Lancashire  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth. — General  muster  of  soldiers  in  Lancashire,  in  1559. 
— Ecclesiastical  commission,  consisting  of  the  earl  of  Derby,  the  bishop  of  Chester,  and  others. — 
State  of  Lancashire  on  the  appointment  of  the  commission. — Catholic  recusants. — Mary  queen  of 
Scots  seeks  an  asylum  in  England — Placed  in  confinement. — Puritan  recusants. — Rebellion  in 
the  north  to  re-establish  the  Catholic  religion — Suppressed. — Certificates  of  the  levies  of  troops 
in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  with  autographs  of  a  number  of  the  principal  inhabitants. — Meetings 
of  the  lieutenancy. — Original  letter  of  Edward,  earl  of  Derby,  to  the  queen. — Letter  of  the  earl  of 
Huntington  to  secretary  Cecil,  casting  suspicion  on  the  loyalty  of  the  earl  of  Derby;  proved  to  be 
ill  founded. — Part  taken  by  Lancashire  gentlemen  to  liberate  Mary  queen  of  Scots. — Comparative 
military  strength  of  the  kingdom. — Muster  of  soldiers  in  Lancashire,  in  1574. — Declaration  of  the 
ancient  tenth  and  fifteenth  within  the  county  of  Lancaster. — Queen  Elizabeth's  visit  to  Dr.  Dee, 
the  astrologer. — The  ChaderLon  MSS.  relating  to  the  affairs  of  the  county  of  Lancaster. — Original 
papers  relating  to  the  Lancashire  recusants. — Lancashire  contribution  of  oxen  to  queen  Elizabeth's 
table. — Fac-simile. — MS.  of  the  Lancashire  lieutenancy. — Lancashire  loyal  association  against 
Mary  queen  of  Scots  and  her  abettors. — Trial  and  execution  of  Mary  queen  of  Scots. — The 
Spanish  armada. — Letter  from  the  queen  to  the  earl  of  Derby  thereon. — Preparations  in  Lanca- 
shire to  resist — Destruction  of. — Thanksgiving  for  national  deliverance  in  Lancashire. — Memorable 
and  fatal  feud. — Atrocious  abduction. — Levies  of  troops  in  Lancashire  for  Ireland. — Suppression 
of  the  rebellion  there. — Death  ot  queen  Elizabeth. — Loyal  address  of  Lancashire  gentry  to  her 
successor  James  I.  on  his  accession  to  the  throne. 

VERY  year  during  tlie  "  infant  reign"  of  Edward  VI. 
the  refoiTOation  continued  to  advance  with  a  steady  step ; 
but  no  events  of  any  distinguished  public  interest  occur- 
red witliin  this  period,  connected  with  the  county  pala- 
tine of  Lancaster.  In  the  first  year  of  this  reign,  Fran- 
cis, earl  of  Shrewsbmy,  was  constituted  lord-lieutenant 
of  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  York,  Chester,  Derby, 
Stafford,  Salop,  and  Nottingham,  and,  in  the  following 
year,  he  was  made  justice  of  the  forests  north  of  the 
Trent.*  Under  the  inhibition  of  a  proclamation,! 
issued  by  the  lord  protector,  Somerset,  in  the  name  of  the  kuig,  all  places  of  public 
worship  belonging  to  dissenters,  as  well  Protestant  as  Catholic,  in  this  and  the  other 
counties  of  England,  were  closed ;  and  any  preacher,  of  whatsoever  persuasion,  who 
took  upon  liimself  to  preach  in  an  open  audience,  except  such  as  were  licensed  by 
*  Lodge's  Illustrations,  I.  p.  xiv.  t  Dated  September  23,  1548. 


Coimti)  |3alatine  oC  2Lanca£(tn-.  497 

the  lord  protector,  or  by  the  archbishop  of  York,  became  obnoxious  to  tlie  royal  displca-     chap. 

sure.    Tlie  avowed  olyect  of  this  intolerant  proclamation  was,  "  to  produce  an  uniform '__ 

order  throughout  the  realm,  and  to  put  an  end  to  all  controversies  in  religion."  At 
the  same  time  there  was  a  board  of  commission  formed,  for  ;ul\  ancing  the  reforma- 
tion, of  wliich  Edward,  earl  of  Derby,  was  a  conmiissioner. 

Tliis  document  was  founded  upon  an  act  of  parliament,  bv  which  the  archbishop  tiic  litur- 
of  Canterbury,  "  with  other  learned  and  discreet  bishops  and  divines,"  was  directed 
to  draw  up  an  order  of  divine  Avorship,  called  a  liturgy,  or  book  of  common  prayer. 
This  duty  hanng  been  performed  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  king  and  his  parliament, 
it  was  enacted,  that  from  the  feast  of  Whitsunday  next,  all  di\ine  ofliccs  should  i54s. 
be  performed  according  to  the  prescribed  ritual,  and  tliat  such  of  the  clergy 
as  should  refuse  to  conform,  or  should  continue  to  officiate  in  any  other  man- 
ner, should,  upon  conviction,  be  imprisoned  six  months,  and  forfeit  a  year's 
profit  of  their  benefices ;  for  the  second  offence,  forfeit  all  church  preferment,  and 
sulTer  a  year's  imprisonment ;  and  for  the  third  offence,  suffer  imprisonment  during 
life.  And  all  that  should  Amte  or  print  any  thing  against  this  liturgy,  were  to  be 
fined,  for  the  first  offence  ten  pounds,  for  the  second  tv/enty  pounds,  and  for  the 
third,  forfeit  all  their  i)roperty,  wth  imprisonment  for  life.  Against  tliis  act,  the  earl 
of  Derby,  and  eight  of  the  bishops,  entered  their  protest  on  the  journals  of  the  Lords. 

In  the  same  arbitrary  spirit,  a  law  was  made  against  vagabonds,  whicli  was  Vagrancy. 
covertly  meant  to  apply  to  mendicant  priests,  by  whicli  it  was  enacted,  tliat  any 
persons  avIio  should  be  found,  for  three  days  together,  loitering  without  ivork,  or 
without  offering  thcmsehes  to  work,  or  that  should  run  away  from  work,  and 
resolve  to  live  idly,  should  be  seized  on ;  and  whosoever  sliould  present  them  to  a 
justice  of  peace,  was  to  have  them  adjudged  to  be  slaves  for  two  years,  and  they 
were  to  be  marked  with  the  letter  V  imprinted  with  a  hot  iron  on  their  breast.  Two 
years  afterwards,  this  cruel  statute  was  repealed,  and  provisions  were  made  for 
relieving  the  sick  and  the  impotent,  and  for  setting  such  of  the  poor  as  were  able,  to  Vim  poor 
work ;  on  which  law  tlie  celebrated  statute  of  the  43d  Elizabeth  was  grounded. 

That  the  earl  of  Derby,  and  several  of  the  bishops,  should  have  protested  against  Eariypar- 
the  act  of  uniformity,  and  its  impracticable  provisions,  which  act  presumptuously  tar.v  "ppo- 
assumed  "  to  be  drawn  up  by  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  could  not  be  matter  of 
wonder ;  but  why  his  lordship,  and  the  earls  of  Rutland  and  Sussex,  the  viscount 
Hereford,  and  lords  Montcagle,  Sands,  Wharton,  and  Evcrs,*  should  enter  a  pretest 
against  an  act  i)assed  prohibiting  all  simoniacjd  pactions  for  reservation  of  pensions 
out  of  benefices,  and  the  granting  of  advowsons  while  the  incumbent  was  yet  alive,  it 
is  difficult  to  discover,  unless  upon  the  supposition,  that  his  lordsliip  headed  an  oppo- 

*  Journals  of  the  Lords,  1552. 

vor,.  I.  3  s 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Visitation 


of  the 
duchy 


498  €i)t  i^i'Stoii)  of  tlje 

sition  alike  hostile  to  all  the  measures  of  the  existing  administration,  whether  good 
or  bad.  The  act  for  legalizing  the  marriage  of  the  clergy  passed  in  the  same  year, 
and  was  also  protested  against  by  the  earl  of  Derby,  by  the  earls  of  Shrewsbury, 
Rutland,  and  Bath,  and  by  the  lords  Abergavenny,  Stourton,  Monteagle,  Sands, 
Wliarton,  and  Evers. 

Edward  VI.,  or  rather  the  regency  by  which  his  government  was  directed, 

Mes.^'''  imitating  the  example  of  his  royal  fatlier,  instituted  a  visitation,  by  which  the  chan- 
tries of  Lancashire  were  inspected  by  two  lay  gentlemen  appointed  for  that  purpose, 
and  by  a  civilian,  a  divine,  and  a  register,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the 
chantries,  and  to  apply  their  revenues  to  the  king's  use,  to  be  expended,  as  was 
alleged,  in  the  endowment  of  schools,  the  maintenance  of  the  poor,  and  the  erection 
of  colleges.  These  visitations  became  general  throughout  the  provinces  of  Canter- 
bury and  York,  and  the  suppression  of  chantries  followed   as   a  matter  of  course. 

Degrada-    Subsequently,  lord  Paget,  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  was  charged 

'ha°iiceUor  with  having  appropiiated  large  sums  out  of  the  revenues  of  the  suppressed  chantries 
to  his  own  use,  and  mth  other  acts  of  malversation  j  of  Avliich  charges  he  was  con- 
victed, on  vague  and  unsatisfactory  evidence,  and  fined  in  the  enormous  sum  of  six 
thousand  pounds.  Nor  did  the  severity  of  his  lordsliip's  sentence  end  here  ;  he 
was  degraded  from  liis  rank  as  a  knight  of  the  order  of  the  garter,  because  he 
was  not  a  gentleman  by  descent,  either  from  his  father  or  his  mother.  His  real 
offence,  however,  consisted  in  liis  steady  adherence  to  the  fallen  protector,  the  duke 
of  Somerset,  by  which  he  became  obnoxious  to  his  successful  uncle,  the  duke  of 
Northumberland. 

Council  of  "  His  Majesty's  Council  in  the  Northern  Parts,"  an  institution  arisuig  out  of  the 
demands  of  the  Pilgrims  of  Grace,  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  administration  of 
justice,  without  subjecting  suitors  in  the  north  to  the  trouble  and  cost  of  repairing  to 
the  metropolis,  was  organized  in  this  reign,  and  the  earl  of  Shrewsbury  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  lord  president  of  the  council.  This  court,  which  was  in 
some  degi-ee  vice-regal,  consisted  of  a  council,  with  the  president  at  its  head,  assisted 
by  Henry  eail  of  Westmoreland,  Henry  earl  of  Cumberland,  Cuthbert  bishop  of 
Durham,  lord  William  Dacres  of  the  north,  John  lord  Conyers,  Thomas  lord  Whar- 
ton, John  Hind,  knt.,  one  of  his  majesty's  justices  of  the  common  pleas,  Ethuuud 
Moleneux,  knt.,  sergeant-at-law,  Henry  Savel,  knt.,  Pvobert  Bowes,  knt.,  Nicholas 
Fairfax,  knt.,  George  Conyers,  knt.,  Leonard  Becquith,  knt.,  William  Babthorp,  knt., 
Anthony  Nevill,  knt.,  Thomas  Gargrave,  knt.,  Robert  Mennell,  sergeaut-at-law, 
Anthony  Bellasis,  John  Rokeby,  doctor  of  law,  Robert  Chaloner,  Richard  Morton, 
and  Thomas  Eynis,  esqrs.  The  sum  of  a  thousand  pounds  a  year  was  granted  to 
the  lord  president,  for  the  better  entertainment  of  himself  and  his  council,  with  divers 


the  north. 


Countj)  ^3alattnc  of  Sanrasitfr.  499 

revenues  to  the  stipendiary  members,  who  were  requii'etl  to  be  in  continual  attend-    chap. 
ance  upon  the  council,  except  at  such  times  as  a  certificate  of  absence  was  gi'anted  to  !_ 


any  of  them  by  the  lord  president.  The  council  was  furnished  with  powers  to  decide 
cases  between  pliuntiffs  and  defendants  in  their  bill  of  complaint,  without  replication, 
rejoiiuler.  or  other  plea  of  delay,  ^nth  power  and  authority  to  punisli  sucli  persons,  as 
in  any  thing  should  neglect,  contemn,  or  disobey  thcLr  coimnand,  or  the  process  of 
the  council :  and  all  other  that  should  speak  seditious  words,  invent  rumours,  or 
commit  such  lilie  offences,  (not  being  treason,)  Avhereof  any  inconvenience  might 
gi'ow,  by  pillory,  cutting  the  ears,  wearing  of  papers,  imprisonment,  or  otherwise,  at 
their  discretion  ;  or  to  assess  fines,  of  all  persons  who  might  be  convicted  of  any 
riot ;  and  to  assess  costs  and  damages,  as  well  to  the  plaintiffs  as  to  the  defendants. 
And  for  the  more  certain  and  brief  determination  of  causes,  it  was  ordained,  that  the 
lord  president  and  council  should  keep  four  general  sessions  or  sittings  in  a  year, 
each  of  them  to  continue  by  the  space  of  one  month,  one  at  York,  another  at  Hidl, 
the  third  at  Newcastle,  and  the  fourth  at  Durluun,  withui  the  limits  whereof  the 
matters  arising  there  should  be  ordered  and  decreed.*  In  fixing  upon  these  places 
for  holding  the  periodical  sessions  of  the  council,  the  convenience  of  the  eastern, 
rather  than  of  the  Avestern  counties  of  the  north,  seems  to  have  been  consulted ;  and 
it  is  lUfficult  to  say,  why  Lancaster  was  not  fixed  upon  in  making  the  an-ange- 
ment,  in  preference  to  either  Durham  or  Newcastle.  That  the  suitors  might  not  be 
oppressed  with  heavy  bills  of  costs,  it  was  dii-ected,  "  that  no  attorney  should  take,  in 
one  sitting  or  sessions,  above  twelve  pence,  nor  any  counsellor  more  than  twenty 
pence,  for  one  matter." 

Amongst  the  most  distinguished  of  the  king's  favourites  was  lord  Sti'ange,  by  Proposed 
whom  it  was  suggested  to  Edward,  that  a  marriage  with  lady  Ann  Seymour,  thu'd    '''     "  " 
daughter  of  the  duke  of  Somerset,  Avould  conduce  to  his  happiness,  and  to  the  peace- 
ful settlement  of  the  crown ;  but  this  alliance  was  defeated  by  a  counter-intrigue,  the 
object  of  which  was  to  obtain  for  the  king  the  hand  of  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter 
of  the  French  king. 

A  fatal  malady  soon  afterwards  seized  the  young  monarch,  who,  in  his  last  sick-  Death  of 

!■  1  •    •  /-w        1  1       /■  "'^  king. 

ness,  was  entrusted  to  the  charms  and  medicines  of  a  female  empu-ic.  On  the  6th  ot 
July  he  expired,  with  the  reputation  of  liigh  talents  for  government,  had  time  suffered 
them  to  be  fully  developed.  He  was  succeeded,  after  an  ineffectual  effort  in  favour 
of  the  unfortunate  lady  Jane  Grey,  the  victim  of  the  ambition  of  others,  by  liis  sister, 
the  lady  Mary,  only  daughter  of  Catherine  of  Arragon. 

The  reign  of  queen  Mary  is  knowai  in  the  liistory  of  Lancasliii'e,  as  it  is  in  the  Queen 
other  parts  of  the  kingdom  of  England,   more  by  the  bloody  persecution   wliich 
*  Bishop  Burnet's  Collection  of  Records,  booki.  p.  ii.  No.  56. 

3s2 


600 


€i)t  listmi)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Re-estab- 
nient  of 
the  Catho- 
lic reli- 
gion. 

Lanca- 
shire 
chantries. 


Lanca- 
shire mar- 
tyrs. 


John 
Rogers. 


stained  it,  tliaii  by  any  other  circiunstance.  The  reproach  of  the  loss  of  Calais,  the 
last  remaining  strongliold  of  England  in  France,  is  almost  obliterated  by  the  streams 
of  blood  wliich  flowed  to  satiate  an  embittered  mind,  the  abode  of  superstition,  and 
the  slave  of  priestly  domination.  A  period  of  nearly  three  hundred  years  has  scarcely 
been  found  sufficient  to  wash  away  these  sanguinary  stains  from  the  religious  com- 
munity to  whom  they  attach ;  though  they  were,  the  crime  of  the  age  in  wliicli  it  was 
the  destiny  of  this  unhappy  queen  to  live,  and  though  her  father  and  her  sister,  both 
of  the  reformed  religion,  shared  her  guilt  in  a  mitigated  degree. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  queen  Mary  was  to  re-establish  the  Roman  Catholic  reli- 
gion in  tliis  kingdom  as  the  religion  of  the  state ;  and  in  furtherance  of  that  measure, 
the  abolished  chantries  were  restored.  Tlie  following  list  contains  the  names  of  the 
parish  churches  in  Lancashire,  whose  chantries  were  restored  in  the  first  year  of  the 
queen's  reign,  with  stipends  allowed  to  the  chantry  priests,  which  were  from  £1.  10s. 
to  £6.  per  annum: — Ashton-under-Line,  Chddwal,  Croston,  (St.  John  and  St. 
Trinity,)  Crofton,  Goosnergh,  Halsall,  (St.  Nicholas  and  St.  Mary's,)  Holme,  Kirkby, 
Kii'kham  2,  Lancaster  2,  Manchester  collegiate  church  7,  Mawdline,  St.  Michael-on- 
WjTC,  Ormskirk,  Prest^vich,  Rufford,  Blackburn,  Tarleton,  Standish  2,  Tunstal, 
Thurland  Castle,  Ulverstone,  Walton  2,  "Warrington  3,  Warton,  Wigan,  and 
Wiuwick  2. 

During  the  life  of  her  fathei',  Mary  had  written  a  penitential  letter,  expressing 
her  contrition  for  not  having  submitted  herself  to  his  "  most  just  and  virtuous  laws," 
in  the  matter  of  the  reformation,  and  putting  her  conscience  under  his  royal  and 
paternal  dii-ection.  The  letter  is  preserved  in  the  Haideian  Collection.*  The  sub- 
sequent death  of  the  king,  and  the  possession  of  the  royal  power  on  the  part  of  liis 
daughter,  obliterated  the  remembrance  of  these  solemn  protestations,  and  she  became 
still  more  fixed  than  before  in  her  attaclmient  to  the  ancient  faith.  Her  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Philip,  king  of  Spain,  strengthened  her  previous  partialities  ;  and  the 
presence  of  cardinal  Pole,  legate  of  the  pope,  one  of  the  most  learned  of  the  clergy, 
and  one  of  the  most  devoted  disciples  of  the  church  of  Rome,  conspired  ta  fix  this 
attachment. 

An  act  for  reviving  the  statutes  of  Richard  II.,  Henry  IV.,  and  Henry  V.,  against 
heretics  (the  Lollards)  was  hun-ied  through  the  parliament,  and  gave  the  sanction 
of  laAV  to  the  executions  which  speedily  followed.  The  first  mai-tyr  in  this  reign 
was  John  Rogers,  one  of  the  translators  of  the  bible  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  jf  a 
Lancasliire  man,  educated  at  Cambridge,  and  one  of  the  first  theological  scholars  of 
the  age.    The  offence  with  which  he  was  charged  was  that  of  hokUug  a  meeting  near 

*  Cod.  283.     See  also  Cotton.    Lib.  Otho,  C.X, 

t   In  the  dedicatory  epistle  of  that  bible,  this  divine  signs  himself  Thomas  Mathevv. 


Countp  palatine  of  aantagtcr.  soi 

Bow  church,  in  London,  Avhere  a  minister  of  the  name  of  Ross  had  acbninistered  the     chai'. 

communion  according  to  the  rites  of  the  English  book  of  service,  and  had  02)enly  -J 

prayed,  that  God  woukl  either  change  the  heart  of  the  queen,  or  take  her  out  of  the 
world.  The  tribunal  before  which  he  was  condemned  sat  on  the  28th  of  Januaiy, 
1555,  and  consisted  of  the  bishops  of  Winchester,  London,  Durham,  Salisbury^ 
Norwich,  and  Cai'lisle ;  and  sentence  was  passed  both  upon  Hooper,  the  silenced 
bishop  of  Gloucester,  and  Rogers ;  but  the  utmost  severity  of  the  law  was  only 
executed  on  the  latter,  the  former  having  at  that  time  been  merely  degraded  from 
the  order  of  the  priesthood. 

Seven  days  after  the  sentence  of  condemnation  was  passed,  Rogers  was  called  f'*'^-  ^• 
to  make  ready  for  Smithfield,  where  he  was  sentenced  to  be  burnt  at  the  stake  for 
heresy.  When  brought  to  Bonner's,  bishop  of  London,  to  be  degraded,  he  asked 
permission  to  see  his  v.i(e,  in  order  that  he  might,  through  her,  convey  his  dying 
blessing  to  his  ten  cliildi-en ;  but  the  request  was  peremptorily  refused,  with  the 
insulting  taunt,  that  he  was  a  priest,  and  could  not  possibly  have  a  wife.  When 
fastened  to  the  stake,  a  pardon  was  brought,  and  offered  to  him,  on  the  condition  that 
he  would  recant;  but,  \vith  an  intrepidity  which  nothing  but  religious  principle  can 
inspire,  he  rejected  the  proffered  clemency,  and  assumed  the  crown  of  martyixlom. 

The  next  Lancasliire  martyr  executed  in  Smithfield  was  John  Bradford,  born  at  Jo''" 

•^     .  Biailfoid. 

Manchester,  who  had  in  early  life  been  a  man  of  the  world,  and  filled  the  office  of 
secretaiy  to  sir  John  Hanington,  the  treasurer  of  Henry  VHI.  and  Edward  VI.  At 
a  subsequent  period,  he  became  a  divine  of  exemplary  piety,*  of  mild  and  diffident 
manners,  but  of  a  character  so  decided,  that  he  did  not  hesitate  to  lay  dowTi  his  life 
for  the  truth  of  that  religion  which  he  had  embraced  from  strong  conviction.  To  so 
high  a  pitch  had  religious  hostility  attained,  that  Bourn,  a  canon  of  St.  Paul's,  and 
afterwards  bishop  of  Bath,  while  preaching  a  sermon  in  favour  of  the  Catholic  faith, 
had  a  dagger  hurled  at  him  by  one  of  the  congregation.  From  tliis  violence  he  was 
happily  rescued  by  Bradford,  who  assuaged  the  storm  of  popular  tumult.  But  this 
was  made  a  charge  against  liim;  and  it  was  alleged,  that  his  power  to  allay  the 
storm  proved  that  he  could  direct  the  elements  of  which  it  was  composed.  Though 
a  prebendary  of  St.  Paul's,  he  preached  much  in  Lancaslure,  his  native  county, 
where  his  piety  and  his  zeal  rendered  his  ministry  peculiarly  acceptable.  Being  sent 
to  the  King's  Bench  prison,  he  was  tried  along  with  Dr.  Taylor,  for  denying  the 
doctrine  of  transubstantiation,  or  the  corj^oreal  presence  of  Christ  in  the  sacrament, 
and  asserting  that  wicked  men  do  not  partake  of  Christ's  body  in  that  ordinance.    In 

*  When  he  became  religious,  "  he  sold,"  says  Simpson,  his  intimate  friend,  "  his  chains,  rings, 
brockets,  and  jewels  of  gold,  which  before  he  used  to  wear,  and  did  bestow  the  price  of  this  his  former 
vanity  in  the  necessary  relief  of  Christ's  poor  mehibers." 


502  CfK  t?istory  of  tl)f 

CHAP,    vain  was  liis  fear  appealed  to;  he  would  admit  of  no  tenets  or  practices  but  such  as 

L  were  contained  in  the  holy  scriptures;   and  being   found    "  incorrigible,"  he  was 

deemed  a  heretic;  first  excommunicated,  and  then  condemned.  For  some  mouths  he 
was  confined  in  Newgate,  in  the  hope  that  he  Avould  retract  his  "  heretical  eiTors ;" 
but  instead  of  abjuring,  he  employed  himself  in  promulgating  them,  particularly 
amongst  liis  friends  in  Lancasliire;  and  the  earl  of  Derby,  in  declaiming  against 
him  in  the  house  of  lords,  informed  their  lordships,  that  Bradford  had  done  more  hurt 
by  the  letters  he  had  written  wliile  he  was  in  prison,  than  he  could  have  done  by 
July,  preaching,  had  he  been  at  large,  and  at  liberty  to  preach.*  "  With  Bradford,"  says 
bishop  Burnet,  "  one  John  Lease,  an  apprentice  of  nineteen,  was  led  out  to  be  burnt, 
who  was  also  condemned  upon  his  answers  to  the  articles  exhibited  to  him.  When 
they  came  to  the  stake,  they  both  fell  down  and  prayed.  Then  Bradford  took  a 
faggot  in  his  hands,  and  kissed  it;  and  so  likewise  kissed  the  stake,  exjiressing 
thereby  the  joy  he  had  in  his  sufierings;  and  cried,  "  O  England,  repent,  repent, 
beware  of  idolatry  and  false  antichrist!"  But  the  sheriff  liindering  hun  from 
speaking  any  more,  he  embraced  his  fellow-sufferer,  and  prayed  him  to  be  of  good 
comfort,  for  they  should  sup  with  Christ  that  night.  His  last  words  were,  "  Strait 
is  the  way,  and  narrow  is  the  gate,  that  leadeth  into  eternal  life,  and  few  there  he  that 
find  itr 
George  George  Marsh,  a  native  of  the  parish  of  Dean,  was  the  third  and  last  Lancashire 

Marsh.  .  . 

martyi',  who  suffered  in  tlie  reign  of  queen  Mary.  This  single-minded  man  had 
been  brought  up  as  a  farmer  with  his  father,  who  was  a  Lancasliii'e  yeoman,  but  he 
afterwards  embraced  the  profession  of  a  divine,  and  to  his  duties  of  a  ciu'ate  added 
those  of  an  instructor  of  youth.  Tlie  obscurity  of  his  station  did  not  preserve  him 
from  persecution ;  he  was  charged  with  propagating  heresy,  and  sowing  the  seeds  of 
sedition;  and,  finding  that  he  had  become  the  object  of  suspicion,  he  surrendered 
himself  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  at  Latliom  House.     Here  he  underwent  various 

*  These  letters  breathed  the  most  ardent  spirit  of  piety,  combined  with  an  invincible  heroism ; 
and,  in  one  of  them,  addressed  to  the  inhabitants  of  "  Lancashire  and  Cheshire,"  written  from  his 
prison  a  short  time  before  his  martyrdom,  he  thus  expresses  himself: — "  Turn  unto  the  Lord,  yet 
once  more,  I  heartily  beseech  thee,  thou  Manchester,  thou  Ashton-under-Line,  thou  Bolton,  Bury, 
Wigan,  Liverpool,  Mottrim,  Stopport,  Winsley,  Eccles,  Prestwich,  Middleton,  Radcliff,  and  thou 
city  of  West-Chester,  where  I  have  truly  taught  and  preached  the  word  of  God.  Turn,  I  say  unto 
you  all,  and  to  all  the  inhabitants  thereabouts;  turn  unto  the  Lord  our  God,  and  he  will  turn  unto 
you;  he  will  say  unto  his  angel,  '  It  is  enough,  put  up  the  sword.'  And  that  he  do  this,  I  humbly 
beseech  his  goodness,  for  the  precious  blood  sake  of  his  dear  Son,  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Ah ! 
good  brethren,  take  in  good  part  these  my  last  words  unto  every  one  of  you.  Pardon  me  mine 
offences  and  negligences  in  behaviour  amongst  you.  The  Lord  of  mercy  pardon  us  all  our  ofl'ences, 
for  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ's  sake.     Amen." 


Coimtj)  |3alatme  of  ii.anraE(tfi\  503 

examinations,*   and  several   attempts  were   made  to   prevail   upon  him  to  espouse     chap. 

XIII. 


the  Catholic  laitli,  but,  as  they  all  proved  unsuccessful,  lie  was  at  length  connnit 
ted  hy  his  lordship  to  Lancaster  castle,  and  confined  in  ii'ons  with  common  felons. 
While  in  this  situation,  endeavours  were  made  to  extract  from  him  information, 
wliereon  to  found  charges  against  other  persons  in  the  county ;  but  no  motives  of 
fear  or  reward  could  induce  him  to  endanger  the  lives  or  liberties  of  liis  fellow- 
clmstians.  After  remaining  some  time  in  confinement  at  Lancaster,  he  was 
removed  to  Chester,  and  placed  in  the  bishop's  liberty.  Tlie  bishop's  (Dr.  Cote's) 
endeavours  to  "  reclaim"  liim  having  proved  ineffectual,  he  was  remanded  back  to 
prison,  and,  in  a  few  days,  summoned  before  the  spiritual  court,  assembled  in  the 
cathedral  church  at  Chester,  where,  in  the  presence  of  the  mayor,  the  chancellor,  and 
the  principal  inhabitants  of  tlie  city,  he  was  accused  of  having  preached  most  hereti- 
cally  and  blasphemously  in  the  parishes  of  Dean,  Bury,  and  Eccles,  as  well  as  in 
other  parishes  in  the  bishop's  diocese,  not  only  against  the  pope's  authority,  but 
against  the  church  of  Rome,  the  holy  mass,  the  sacraments  of  the  altar,  and  the 
articles  of  the  Romish  faith.  To  these  charges  he  modestly  answered,  he  had 
preached  neither  heresy  nor  blashpemy,  and  that  the  doctrines  wliich  he  believed  and 
had  propagated  were  those  sanctioned  by  royal  authority  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VL 
On  the  subject  of  the  power  of  the  pope,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  declare,  that  the 
bishop  of  Rome  ought  to  exercise  no  more  authority  in  England  than  the  archbishop 
of  Canterbury  ought  to  exercise  in  Rome.  This  answer  raised  the  bishoj)  of  Chester's 
indignation  to  the  highest  possible  pitch,  and  the  torrents  of  his  indignation  flowed 
out  \nth  so  much  fury,  that  he  stigmatized  his  prisoner  as  "  a  most  danmable,  irre- 
claimable, and  unpardonable  heretic."  After  some  further  endeavour  made  by  the 
chancellor  to  reclaim  this  "  irreclaimable  heretic,"  the  bishop  proceeded  to  j)ass 
sentence  upon  him,  and  he  was  consigned  to  the  Northgate  prison,  where  he  1555 
remained  tDl  the  4th  of  April.  On  this  memorable  day,  he  was  led  to  execution 
amidst  a  crowd  of  spectators,  agitated  by  conflicting  feelings.  The  scene  of-  this 
liorrible  tragedy  was  a  precinct  called  Spital  Broughton,  within  the  liberties  of  the 
city.  After  the  exhibition  of  a  conditional  pardon,  as  was  the  prevailing  practice, 
from  the  queen  by  the  vice-chancellor,  Mr.  Vawdrey,  and  the  refusal  of  the  maiijT 
to  retract  his  faith,  the  people,  roused  to  indignation  by  the  barbarous  scene  that 
presented  itself,  attempted  to  rescue  Marsh  from  the  hands  of  his  sanguinary  mur- 
derers, and  sheriff  Cowper,  sharing  the  public  feeling,  joined  in  the  attempt;  but  he 

*  In  the  course  of  one  of  these  examinations,  Marsh  gave  the  earl  the  fallowing  well-deserved 
reproof: — "  It  is  strange  that  your  lordship,  being  of  the  honourable  council  of  the  late  king 
Edward,  consenting  and  agreeing  to  acts  concerning  faith  towards  God  and  religion,  should  so  soon 
after  consent  to  put  poor  men  to  a  shameful  death  for  embracing  the  same  religion." 


504 


€\)t  W^tov))  Of  tfte 


CHAP 
XIII. 


was  beaten  off  by  the  other  sheriff  and  liis  retainers.  The  most  composed  man  in 
tlie  assembly  was  the  victim,  about  to  be  sacrificed  to  his  principles;  he  exhorted  the 
multitude  to  remain  strong  in  the  faith,  and  the  faggots  being  lighted  around  him, 
he  sun-endered  his  spu-it  into  the  hands  of  his  Redeemer. 

While  these  revolting  scenes  Avere  acting  in  the  north,  the  powers  of  persecution 
raged  in  the  south  Avith  undiminished  fury,  and  the  distinguished  martyi%  Cranmer, 
Effects  of  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  shared  the  fate  of  so  many  of  his  order.  The  effect  of 
these  sanguinary  persecutions  was  to  spread  the  doctrines  they  were  meant  to 
destroy;  and  it  may  be  fairly  doubted  whether  ever  so  many  converts  were  made  to 
the  Protestant  faith  in  the  same  time  as  during  those  years,  when  the  seeds  of  the 
church  were  thus  watered  by  the  blood  of  the  saints. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  reign,  a  muster  of  soldiers  was  made  in  the  county  pala- 
tine of  Lancaster,  from  the  respective  hundreds,  of  which  the  follo\\dng  is  the 
abridged  record,  from  a  MS.  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  Biixh,  the  younger, 
armiger,  of  Bii-ch,  temp.  Eliz. 


persecu 
tion. 


Lancashire   0iiliUt^  JHUfiter*— Mahy,   1553. 


"  Derby  Hundred,  to  raise  430  men ;  these  were  the  commanders  of  them : — 
"  Edward  Earl  of  Derby,  Sir  Richard  Molyiieux,  Sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  Sir  Peers  Legh, 
Sir  John  Holcroft,  Sir  John  Atherton,  Sir  William  Norris ;  Thomas  Butler,  of  Beiusey, 
George  Ireland,  of  Hale,  William  Tarbock,   of   Tarhock,  Lawrence  Ireland,  of  Lydiate, 
Esquires. 

"  Salford  Hundred — 350  men. 
"  Sir  Edmund  Trafford,  Sir  Wm.  Ratcliffe,  Sir  Robert  Longley,  Sir  Thomas  Holt,  Sir 
Robert  Worseley;  Robert  Barton,  Edward  Holland,  Ralph  Ashton,  Esqs. 

"  Leyland  Hundred — 170  men. 
"Sir  Thomas  Hesketh;  Edward  Standish,  John  Fleetwood,  Roger  Bradshaw,  John 
Langtree,  Peers  Anderton,  and  John  Wrightington,  Esqs. 

"  Amounderness  Hundred — 300  men. 
"  Sir  Thomas  Hesketh,  Sir  Richard  Houghton ;  George  Brown,  John  Kitclien,  Richard 
Barton,  William  Wetbie,  and  Wm.  Barton,  Esqs. 

"  Blackburn  Hundred — 400  men. 
"  Sir  Richard  Shireburn,  Sir  Thomas  Langton,  Sir  Thomas  Talbot,   Sir  John  South- 
worth;  John  Townley,  Thomas  Catterall,  John  Osbolston,  Jolin  Talbot,  Esqs. 

"  Lonsdale  Hundred — 350  men. 
"  The  lord  Monteagle,  Sir  Marmaduke  Tunstall  Thomas  Carus,  George  Middleton, 
Thomas  Bradley,  Hugh  Dicconson,  and  Oliver  Middleton,  Esqs. 


County  |3alatinc  of  aanrnsitcr. 


505 


The  Parish  of  Ormskirk,  men  28 
Tlie  Parish  of  North  Meols  .  9 
The  Parish  of  Aiighton  .  .12 
The  Parish  of  Altcar  ...  9 
The  Parish  of  Hallsall     .     .  28 


'  Hundred  of  West  J 

Uerby. 

CHAP. 

The  Parish  of  Sefton  . 

.  30 
.  36 

The  Parish  of  Leigh    .     . 
The  Parish  of  Warrington 

.  36 
.  25 

XIII. 

The  Parish  of  Walton 

The  Parish  of  Wigan 

.  52 

The  Parish  of  Childwell  . 

.  27 

The  Parish  of  Prescot 

.  67 

The  Parish  of  Huyton     . 

.  16 

The  Parish  of  Winwick 

.  34 

"  The  Hundred  op  Leyland. 


The  Parishes  of  Leyland      .  36 

Brindle  Parish,  cum  v 

Ua     . 

14 

Parochia  de  Eccleston     . 

.  19 

The  Parish  of  Croston 

.     .  36 

Parochia  de  Chorley  et  vill. 

9 

Penwortham  Parish   .     . 

.   17 

"  The  Hundred  of  Amounderness. 

Warton 

.     6 

Pulton 

3 

Elston  and  Huddersall 

.     5 

Carleton     . 

.     8 

Weton 

.  3 

Goosenargh 

.     7 

Hardhome  c  Clifton 

.     8 

Threleye 

6 

Much  Singleton . 

.     7 

Much  Eccleston 

.     5 

Houghton     . 

5 

Whittington 

.     5 

Clifton 

.     6 

Little  Eccleston  and  Larbreke 

6 

Haighton    . 

■     5 

Bispham  and  Norbrek 

e        .     5 

Upper  Rawcliffe  and  Tornecard  1 

Elson  .... 

.     2 

Scalnew  and  Straynow 

re       .     7 

Little  Singleton  and  Grange 

.  5 

Fryswicke  . 

.     3 

Freckleton 

.     5 

Westbye  and  Pkimbton 

.  8 

Grymsa^vre  and  Unkefall 

.     5 

Thilston      . 

.     8 

Rigby  and  Wraye 

.  8 

Ribbleton  . 

.     3 

Warton 

.     4 

Elliswicke    . 

.  5 

Lea  .... 

.     3 

Newton  and  Scales 

.     3 

Kelmyne  and  Brininge  . 

.  5 

Plumpton  . 

.   11 

Ashton,  Inghill,  and  C 

ottom     3 

Kirkham 

.  3 

BiUesburghe 

6 

Out  Rawcliffe     . 

.     4 

Wassed 

.  1 

Barton's  Newisame 

.     2 

Thornton    . 

.     8 

Lithum 

.  5 

Parish  of  Garstang 

.  45 

Layton  and  Warbrick 

.     8 

i< 

The  Hundred  of  Blackburn 

e. 

The  Parish  of  Blackbu 

m    .  113 

The  Parish  of  Ribchester  . 

20 

Rossendall  Forest 

36 

The  Parish  of  Whallej 

.   175 

Pendle  Forest  . 
'  The  Hundred  of  Lonsd 

36 
ale 

Cockeram 

.     8 

Leisham     .... 

2 

Carnford    .         • 

.     3 

Ellall 

.  11 

Overton 

2 

Marton 

.     6 

Wiersdale 

.     6 

Middleton 

2 

Silverdale 

.     2 

Wiremore  . 

.     4 

Hayton  and  Oxcliffe 

4 

Healand     . 

.     4 

Turnhani    . 

.     4 

Halton  and  Aughton 

5 

Hutton 

.     3 

Ashton  and  Stodley 

.     2 

Sline  and  Heste 

2 

Dalton 

.     3 

Scotford     . 

.     7 

Bolton 

6 

Gressingham 

2 

Buke  and  Alkelefe      . 

.     3 

Nether  Kellet     . 

5 

Whittington 

5 

Lancaster  . 

.     7 

Over  Kellet 

5 

Newton 

I 

Skerton 

.     2 

Conpyne  Wray  . 

1 

Docker 

1 

Taisholme,  Pulton,  anc 

Bare     4 

Barwicke   . 

3 

Tunstall      . 

1 

VOL.  I. 

3t 

506 


Cftf  lisstorp  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 

Camffeild  . 

. 

.     1 

Bayliwicke  of  Millhwaye 

8 

Pennington 

3 

XIII. 

Barrow 

.     3 

Ditto  of  Colton 

8 

Torwarbboth 

7 

Loeke 

.     2 

Ditto  of  Grisdale 

7 

Hamlet  of  Cromston    . 

4 

Irebie 

.     1 

Ditto  of  Smithwick 

10 

Doversdale  Brougliton 

7 

Thatum      . 

.     4 

Ditto  of  Clayfe 

7 

Much  Land 

27 

Hornbye     . 

.     7 

Dalton  in  Furness 

21 

Broughton     cum    Membris, 

Claughton 

.     2 

Bardsay      .         .         .         . 

2 

with   Township    of    Cart- 

Caton 

.     5 

Kirkby  Irelith     . 

8 

mall        .          .          .          . 

16 

Lanckewicke 

5 

Cartmell,  Holcar,  and  Alith- 

Furness. 

Norland  and  Egton  Ulverston 

13 

waite      .         .         .         . 

15 

Baylivvicke  of  Ha 

wshead 

.  17 

Osmunderly 

4 

"  Salford  Hundred,  no  particular  returns." 


Loss  of 
Calais. 


Scotch 
invasion. 


Foul'  years  afterwards,  when  England  had  become  involved  in  that  war  which 
expelled  her  from  the  continent  of  Europe,  a  royal  proclamation  was  issued  by  the 
king  and  queen  to  Nicholas,  archbishop  of  York,  chancellor  of  England,  commanding 
him  to  cause  commissions  to  be  issued  under  the  great  seal  to  the  justices  of  the 
peace  and  sheriffs  of  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  Suffolk,  and  Norfolk,  with  full  powers 
to  array,  inspect,  and  exercise  all  men  at  arms,  and  men  capable  of  bearing  arms,  as 
well  archers  as  horse  and  foot  men,  so  that  from  the  present  time,  and  in  time  to 
come,  they  might  be  arrayed  in  arms  ready  to  serve  then-  country.*  All  this  pre- 
pai'ation  was  unavailing;  a  siege  of  eight  days,  under  the  dulve  of  Guise,  rendered  the 
French  masters  of  Calais,  a  fortress  which  it  had  cost  the  conquerors  of  Cressy 
eleven  months  to  acquii'c,  and  wliich,  for  two  hundred  years,  had  been  held  by  this 
country  as  the  key  to  the  dominions  of  the  French  king. 

Soon  after  the  fall  of  Calais,  the  Scots,  influenced  by  French  councils,  began 
once  more  to  move  on  their  borders,  and  to  threaten  the  northern  counties  of  Eng- 
land with  invasion.  At  this  juncture,  the  earl  of  Derby,  as  lord  lieutenant  of  the 
counties  palatine  of  Lancaster  and  of  Chester,  addressed  a  despatch  to  the  earl  of 
Shi'ewsbury,  lord  president  of  the  north,  apprising  liis  lordship  of  the  measures  that 
had  been  taken  to  array  the  levies  in  Lancashire  and  in  Cheshire  against  "  the 
Scottish  doings,"  of  the  munber  of  the  forces,  and  of  the  captains  by  whom  they  were 
to  be  commanded.  The  despatch  is  of  the  date  of  the  29th  of  September,  1557,  and 
the  following  are  the — 

"  Capteyns  in  the  County  of  Lancaster. 

"  Sir-  Richard  Molynexe,  K.  or  liis  son  &  heire;  a  feeble  man  himself,     cc    • 
"  S'  Thom"s  Gei-i-ard,  K cc 

*  Pat.  3  and  4.  Phil,  and  Mary,  p.  5.  ni.  11  dors. 


Countj)  ^palatine  of  3lanrasttr»  507 

«  S^  Thom"s  Talbot,  K cc  chap. 

"  S'  Richard  Hoglitoii,  K.  not  liable  himself,  but  A\ill  furnish  an  liable  L 


Gent,  to  be  Capteyn:  Bycause  he  is  not  liable  to  goo  himself 

doth  furnish  but c 

«  S'  Thom"s  Hesketh,  &  others  vath  lijnn         c 

"  S'  ThonV's  Langton,  L.   S'^  WiH"m  Noressc,   L.   neyther  of  them 

hable,  but  will  furnislie  an  liable  Capteyn c 

"  S'  Wiir'm  Radclif,  or  his  son  and  heire  Alex^  who  is  a  hansome 

Gent.  &  S'  John  Atherton  joened  w'  him c 

"  Fraunc"s  Tunstall,  &  others c 

"  S'  John  Holcroft,  or  his  son  and  heire — Richard  Asheton  of  Mydd, 

&  others c 

"  It"m,    The  rest  appopited  in  Lancasliier  be  of  my  retynnue, 

"  Edw".  Derby." 

Disappointed  in  all  her  hopes,  Mary's  spirits  sunk  under  her  accumulated  disas-  Death  of 
ters,  and  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years  she  descended  childless  to  the  gi-ave,  leaving  jiary. 
the  throne  to  the  possession  of  her  sister  Elizabeth,  whose  masculine  habits  and  dis- 
cruninatmg  mind  much  better  fitted  her  to  wield  a  sceptre. 

Tlie  death  of  queen  Mary,  on  the    17th  of  November,   1558,   found  the  lady  Elizabeth 

I  •/  .  ascends 

Elizabeth,  now  become  queen  of  England,  at  Hatfield;  and  a  suimnons  was  unme-  the  throne. 
diately  sent  by  the  queen's  council  to  the  marquis  of  Winchester,  the  earl  of  Shrews- 
bury, the  earl  of  Derby,  and  other  noblemen,  requiring  them  to  repair  tliither,  to 
conduct  the  queen  to  Loudon.  Amongst  the  nobles  assembled  to  perform  this  first 
act  of  loyal  duty,  were  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  lords  Audley  and  Merley,  lord  Dacres 
of  the  north,  lord  Monteagle,  lord  Vaux,  lord  Wharton,  and  many  others.  In  par- 
liament, the  annunciation  of  Elizabeth  by  the  archbishop  of  York  Avas  hailed  with 
acclamation,  and  the  general  cry  of  "  God  save  queen  Elizabeth,"  not  merely  from 
the  courtiers,  but  also  from  the  patriots,  gave  promise  that  a  new  and  more  happy 
era  had  already  coimnenced. 

Tlie  state  religion  was  soon  destined  to  undergo  another  change  ;  but  instead  of  The  state 

^    1         ^       c     V  religion 

beins:  rapid  and  violent,  it  was  conducted  with  gi-eat  prudence  ;  and  that  the  leeluigs  again 

O        1  .  .  ,  .    •        1         changed. 

of  the  Catholics  miglit  not  be  outraged  by  a  sudden  transition,  the  queen  retained  a 
number  of  her  Catholic  ministers,  taldiig  care  to  have  a  sufficient  nmnber  of  the 
reformed  faith,  to  overrule  their  deliberations. 

To  further  the  si-eat  work  of  ecclesiastical  reform,  the  queen  set  on  foot  a  royal  Royal 

"  .     .  •  •  1     J*  visitation. 

A-isitation  throughout  England,  and  appointed  commissioners  to  Aisit  each  diocese, 
whose  business  it  was  to  inquire  into  the  late  persecutions ;  to  ascertain  what  -nTongs 

3t  2 


508 


COf  i}isitori)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


June  24, 
1559. 


Commis- 
sioners for 
the  north. 


The 
queen's 
dislike  to 
political 
sermons. 


Oath  of 
suprema- 
cy. 


hatl  been  doue ;  what  blood  had  been  shed ;  and  who  were  the  persecutors.  They 
were  further  directed  to  minister  the  oath  of  recognition,  and  to  enjoin  the  new  book 
of  ser\ice,  which  was  to  come  into  general  use  on  the  festival  of  John  the  Baptist. 
Another  of  their  duties  was,  to  examine  such  as  were  imprisoned  and  in  bonds  for 
religion,  though  they  had  ah-eady  been  condemned,  and  to  liberate  them  from  prison. 
Tlie  commissioners  for  the  north  were,  Francis  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  president  of  tlie 
council  in  the  north,  Edward  earl  of  Derby,  Thomas  eai"l  of  Northumberland,  lord 
warden  of  the  East  and  Middle  Marches,  Thomas  lord  Evers,  Henry  Percy,  Thomas 
GaigTave,  James  Crofts,  Henry  Gates,  knts.,  Edwin  Sandys,  D.D.,  Henry  Har- 
vey, LL.D.,  Richard  Bowes,  George  Brown,  Christopher  Escot,  and  Richard 
Kingsmel,  esqrs. 

The  northern  visitation  connnenced  at  St.  Mary's,  Nottingham,  on  the  22nd  of 
August,  and  was  continued  tliroughout  the  dioceses  of  Lincoln,  York,  Chester,  and 
Durham.  The  commissioners  received  the  complaints  of  many  clergymen,  who  had 
been  ejected  from  their  livings  during  the  last  reign  for  being  manied ;  and  in 
almost  all  cases  they  were  restored.  Dr.  Sandys,  one  of  the  visitors  for  tlie  northern 
parts,  preached  against  the  primacy  of  the  pope ;  he  also  endeavoured  to  prepare  the 
clergy  to  take  the  oath  of  supremacy  to  the  queen,  which  was  required  of  them,  and 
to  which  most  of  them  conformed,  though  in  Lancashire  there  Avere  many  who 
declined  to  take  the  oatli,  and  who  stanclily  supported  .the  doctrine  of  the  real 
presence  in  the  sacrament. 

In  these  tunes  of  religious  and  political  excitement,  the  clergy  were  natm'ally 
prone  to  mix  up  secular  subjects  in  their  discourses,  and  to  convey  to  the  royal 
ear,  when  occasion  presented  itself,  the  views  of  the  preachers  on  the  administration 
of  government.  This  species  of  preaching,  a  certain  great  man  at  court  (probably 
Lord  Burghley)  writing  to  Dr.  Chaderton,  afterwards  bishop  of  Chester,  thought 
proper  to  rebuke.  "  The  queenes  majestie,"  saith  he,  "  doeth  mislike  that  those  who 
preach  before  her  should  enter  into  matters  properlie  appertaining  to  matter  of 
government :"  they  were  therefore  required  to  abstain  from  such  preacliing ;  not 
that  her  majesty  wished  to  close  her  ears  against  the  advice  of  those  who  were  moved 
to  desne  amendment  in  tilings  properly  belonging  to  herself,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
was  willing  to  hear  any  that  should,  either  by  speech  or  Aviiting,  impart  tlieir  senti- 
ments, but  she  cUd  not  wish  to  be  lectured  in  public,  nor  to  have  the  afl'airs  of 
government  animadverted  upon  before  the  vulgar.* 

It  having  been  enacted,  that  the  oath  of  supremacy  should  be  taken  to  the  queen, 
her  majesty  issued  a  proclamation  to  su'  Ambrose  Cave,  knt.,  chancellor  of  the 
duchy  of  Lancaster,  dated  at  Westminster,  on  the  23rd  of  May,  1559,  directing, 
*  Chaderton's  MS.  fo.  32  a.  Peck's  Desid.  Cur.  p.  83. 


Coiinti)  palatine  of  ILanra^tn*.  soo 

that  this  oath   shoukl  be  taken  throughout  liis  jurisdiction,  both  by  ihc  clergy  and    chap. 
laity.*     At  the  same  time  she  clu-ccted,  that  all  the  chantries  should  conform  them-  _J L 


selves  to  the  practice  of  her  own  chapel,  and  in  Uiat  (though  much  of  popish 
ceremony  was  retained)  she  forbade  that  the  host  should  be  elevated,  and  com- 
manded that  the  Lord's  prayer,  the  creed,  and  the  gospels  should  be  read  in  the 
vulgar  tongue.  In  the  following  year,  a  number  of  new  bisliops  were  consecrated, 
amongst  whom  Avere  Edward  Scrambler,  D.l).,  for  Peterborough  j  and  James 
Pilkington,  B.D.,  both  Lancasliire  men,  and  both  firm  adherents  of  the  reformed 
religion.  Soon  after  his  inauguration,  Dr.  Pilldngton  preached  before  the  queen,  at 
Greenwich,  on  the  mission  of  a  fanatic,  from  the  county  of  Lancaster,  of  the  name 
of  EUys,  calling  himself  Elias  :  the  bishop  of  London  had,  however,  so  little  regard 
for  the  northern  prophet,  and  his  "  warning  voice,"  that  he  ordered  liim  three  days 
afterwai-ds  to  be  put  in  the  pillory  in  Cheapside,  from  whence  he  was  committed  to 
Bridewell,  Avhere  he  soon  after  died.f 

The   bishopric  of  Chester  liaving  become  vacant,  the  queen  issued  her  mandate     3  Eiiz. 
to  the  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  announcing,  that  the  dean  and  chapter, 
with  her  majesty's  license,  had  elected  William  Downham  to   be  theii-  bishop  and  ^'"'^ 
pastor,  and  commanding  the  chancellor  to  cause  to  be  delivered  up  without  delay, 
the  temporalities  belonging  to  the  episcopal  see  %vithin  his  baUiwick,  together  \\ith 
the  issues  and  profits  thereof,  from  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  archangel. 

That  the  nation  might  be  put  in  a  jiosture  of  defence,  a  muster  of  troops  was 
ordered  in  the  several  counties  of  the  kingdom  ;  and  the  following  is  the 

(General  iHuster,  in  famiarie  15594 

CERTIFIED    WITHIN    y'    CoUNTY    of    Lan?. 


Blackeburne  Hundred  iiij.  vij.  harnised  men, 

c. 
vnhaniised  men  iiij.  vj. 
c. 
Amoundernes    Hundred  ij.  xiij.  harnised, 

c. 
vnharnised  iij.  Ixix. 
c. 
Londesdall  Hundred  iij.  Ivj  harnised, 

vnharnised  cxiiij. 

Pi^f   1  Eliz.  m.  32.  dors.  f  Stiype's  Ann.  of  y«  Reformation.  I.  506. 

t  Had.  MSS.  Cod.  1926.  fo.  4  b. 


510  Clje  ?^isitoii)  of  tbt 

X  X 

E  Hundred  iiij 
viiliai'iiised  xxij. 


CHAP,  .?.^ 

xiir.  Leylonde  Hundred  iiij.  harnised, 


C.    XI. 


Saleforde  Hundred  iij.  iiij.  xiiij.  harnised, 

c. 
vuharnised  vj.  xlix. 
c._ 
West  Derby  iiij.  lix.  harnised, 

vnharuised  iiij.  xiij. 

Suma  Tottis  of  harnised  men, 

c. 
M.  ix.  xix. 

Suiiia  Tottis  of  vnharnised  men, 

M.M.'^  Ixxiij. 

HoUinsMorth  says,  "there  was  a  sore  sicknesse"  in  Lancashire"  in  1565,  which 
was  probably  some  remains  of  the  plague  contracted  by  the  English  army  at  New- 
haven,  in    1562;  at  which  time,  Stowe  avers,  that   17,404  persons  cHed  in  London 
alone  in  one  year. 
Decline  of         Although  the  progress  of  the  reformation  was  rapid  in  many  parts  of  the  king- 
formed  re-  dom,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  it  was  retrograde.     The  Catholics  multiplied ;  the 
Lanca-°     mass  was  usually  performed  ;  priests  were  harboured  ;  the  book  of  common  prayer, 
and  the  service   of  the  church   established  by  law,  were  laid  aside  ;  many  of  the 
churches  were  shut  up ;  and  the   cures   were    unsupplied,  unless   by  the  ejected 
Catholic  priests.     This  was  thought  the  more  extraordinary,  as  the  queen  had  iusti- 
Ecciesias-  tutcd  an  ccclesiastical  commission,  with  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  at  its  head,  for  the 

tical  com-  .  „       ,.    .  rri         •        i 

mission,      promotion  01  religion,   lo  stimulate  the  zeal  of  the  prelate,  the  queen  addressed  to  him 

1567.      a  letter  of  remonstrance,  couched  in  her  usual  tone  of  decision,  reminding  him  of  his 

Royal  re-    duty,  and  requiring  of  him  its  more  vigUant  performance.     "  We  tliink  it,"  says 

the  bish-     the  queen,  "  not  unknown,  how,  for  the  good  opinion  we  conceived  of  yoiu-  former 

"''■  service,  we  admitted  you  to  be  bishop  of  tlie  chocese,  but  now,  upon  crechble  reports 

of  disorders  and  contempts,  especially  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  we  find  great  lack 

in  you.     In  which  matter  of  late  we  write   to  you,  and  other   our  commissioners 

joined  with  you,  to  cause  certain  suspected  persons  to  be  apprehended,  ivTitiug  at  the 

same  time  to  our  right  trusty  and  well  beloved  the  earl  of  Der])y,  for  the  aid  of  you 

in  that  behalf.     Since  which  time,  and  before  the  delivery  of  the  said  letters  to  the 

earl  of  Derby,  we  be  duly  infonned  that  the  said  earl  hath,  upon  small  motions  made 

to  him,  caused  such  persons  as   have  been  required  to  be  apprehended,  and  hath 

shewn  himself  therein,   according  to  our  assured    expectation,    very   faithful   and 


Counti)  palatine  of  Sancastn-,  sii 

careful  of  our  ser\dce."*     In  conclusion,  the  bishop  is  required  to  make  personal    chap. 

visitation,  by  repairing  to  the  most  remote  parts  of  his  diocese,  and  especially  into   

Lancashire,  and  to  see  to  it,  that  the  churches  be  provided  Avith  honest  men  and 
leai-ned  curates,  and  that  there  be  no  more  cause  to  blame  hhn  for  his  inattention 
and  neglect.  At  a  subsequent  period,  the  lords  of  the  councU  WTote  to  the  bishop, 
complaining  that  many  persons  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and  Chester  absented 
themselves  habitually  from  church,  and  from  places  of  public  prayer,  and  requesting 
that  the  bishop  would  take  measures  to  enforce  their  attendance.  To  this  intimation 
his  lordship  re^jlied,  tliat  he  had  made  diligent  inquisition  into  the  matter  of  com- 
plaint, that  some  of  the  gentry  and  others  had  promised  to  be  more  conformable  in 
future,  but  that  others  had  disregarded  his  achnonitions,  and  that  he  had  enclosed  a 
list  certifying  the  names  of  those  who  remained  obstinate,  and  of  those  who  promised 
to  conform."!' 

The  zeal  of  the  earl  of  Derby  in  favour  of  the  reformed  faith,  so  warmly  eulogized 
by  the  queen,  was  the  zeal  of  a  convert,  and  therefore  perhaps  the  more  lively.  In 
the  last  reign,  his  lordship  embraced  the  cause  of  popery,  and  the  committal  of  the 
intrepid  George  Marsh  to  that  dungeon  from  which  he  was  liberated  only  to  be  con- 
ducted to  the  stake,  serves  to  shew  that  sudden  changes  in  religious  faith  were  not 
confined  to  priests,  but  that  they  were  extended  to  nobles,  and  to  a  certain  extent 
pervaded  the  Avhole  people.  In  the  county  of  Lancaster  there  was  more  of  consistency 
than  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom  ;  and  this  is  a  principle  which  excites  resj^ect,  even 
though  it  should  be  a  consistency  in  error. 

Tlie  queen's  admonitions  to  the  bishop,  as  the  head  of  the  ecclesiastical  commis- 
sion, produced  an  immediate  effect.  The  bishop  entered  upon  his  visitation  with  all 
convenient  despatch ;  many  of  the  popish  recusants,  as  they  were  called,  were  detected 
in  plots  to  subvert  the  established  religion,  and  to  substitute  their  own  in  its  stead ; 
and  the  county  was  engaged  in  a  land  of  religious  warfare,  which  is  described  with 
considerable  animation,  and  probably  with  as  much  accuracy  as  can  be  expected,  by 
an  author  having  a  strong  bias  towards  the  Protestant  cause  :| — 

"  And  first,"  says  our  author,  "  to  give  some  account  of  the  Bishop's  Visitation.   Descrip- 
"Which  proved  thus,  according  to  the  Relation  he  made  of  it  himself  to  tlie  Secretary  s'ta?e°of''^ 
in  a  Letter  to  liim,  dated  Nov.  1,  1568,  '  That  he  had  the  last  Summer  Aisited  his  ^i)"^  ^'t 
whole  Diocess,  Avhich  was  of  Length  above  six   score  MUes ;  and  had  found  the  *'^'^  '""^* 
People  very  tractable  ;  and  no  where  more  than  in  the  farthest  Parts  bordering  upon 
Scotland.     Where  as  he  said,  he  had  the  most  gentle  Entertainment  of  the  Wor- 
sliipful   to  his  gi-eat  Comfort.     That  his  Journey  was  very  painful  by  reason  of 

•  Pap.  Office,  Strype's,  Ann.  I.  544-5.  t  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  286.  fo.  28 

t  Strype's  Ann.  I.  546-552. 


Bhire. 


512  Cf)e  itji'story  of  tlje 

CHAP,    the  extreme  heat ;  and  if  he  had  not  received  great  Courtesy  of  the  Gentlemen,  he 

L_  must  have  left  the  most  of  liis  Horses  by  the  way  :  Such  Drought  was  never  seen  in 

those  Parts.' 
Commis-  "  The  Bishop  also  now  sent  up,  by  one  of  his  Servants,  a  true  Copy  of  all  such 

poi'ronthe  Orders  as  he,  and  the  rest  of  his  Associates,  in  the  Queen's  Commission  Ecclesias- 
Lan^ca-  tical,  had  taken  with  the  Gentlemen  of  Lancashire.  Who,  (one  only  excepted,  whose 
Name  was  John  Westby,)  with  most  humble  Submissions  and  like  Thanks  unto  the 
Queen's  Majesty,  and  to  her  Honourable  Council,  received  the  same  ;  Promising, 
that  from  thenceforth  they  would  live  in  such  sort,  that  they  would  never  hereafter 
give  occasion  of  Offence  in  any  tiling  concerning  their  bounden  Duty,  as  well  towards 
Religion,  as  then-  Allegiance  towards  theii-  Prince.  But  notwithstanding  their 
Promises,  the  Commissioners  bound  every  of  them  in  Recognizances  in  the  simi  of 
an  Hundi"ed  Marks  for  their  Appearances  from  time  to  time,  as  appeai'ed  in  the 
abovesaid  Orders,  And  certain  Punishments  infhcted  upon  some  of  them  had  done 
so  much  good  in  the  Country,  that  the  Bishop  hoped  he  should  never  be  troubled 
again  with  the  lil^e. 

"  Nowel,  Dean  of  S.  Paul's,  London,  was  a  Lancashire  man,  and  was  now 
down  in  that  Country.  Who  with  his  continual  preaching  in  tUvers  Places  in  the 
County,  had  brought  many  obstinate  and  wilful  People  unto  Conformity  and  Obe- 
dience, and  had  gotten  great  Commendation  and  Praise  (as  he  was  most  worthy) 
even  of  those  that  had  been  gi-eat  Enemies  to  liis  Religion. 

"  But  now  to  set  down  particularly  what  had  been  detected  and  discovered 
among  these  Lancashire  Papists,  and  the  Negligence,  or  Lothness  of  the  Bisliop,  to 
prosecute  them.  Information  was  brought  into  the  Bishop  by  one  Mr.  Glasier,  a 
Commissioner,  and  another  named  Edmund  Ashton,  that  gi-eat  Confederacies  were 
then  In  Lancashire.  And  that  sunchy  Papists  were  there  lurking,  Avho  had  stiiTed 
divers  Gentlemen  to  then.'  Faction,  and  sworn  them  together,  not  to  come  to  the 
Church  in  the  Service  time,  now  set  forth  by  the  Queen's  Authority,  nor  to  receive 
the  Communion,  nor  to  hear  Sermons ;  but  to  maintain  the  Mass  and  Papistry. 
And  after  this  Information,  Glasier  advised  the  Bishop  to  go  to  the  Earl  of  Darby, 
and  to  execute  the  Commission  in  Lancashire ;  or  else  it  could  not  be  holpen  but 
many  Church  Doors  must  be  shut  up,  and  the  Curates  hindered  to  serve  as  it  was 
appointed  to  be  used  in  the  Church.  And  that  this  Confederacy  was  so  great,  that  it 
would  gTowe  to  a  Commotion,  or  Rebellion.  The  Bishop  hereupon  sent  for  those 
Offenders  by  Precept,  but  declmed  to  go  yet  to  execute  the  Commission  in 
Lancashire. 

"  Again,  Sir  Edward  Fytton  informed  the  Bishop,  that  Mr.  Edmund  Trafford 
spake  of  these  Matters  before  to  liim  as  a  Commissioner,  for  to  have  redi-ess  thereof. 


Coimti)  |3alatu«  of  ^.anrasittr,  613 

Wliereupoii  Mr.  Gerrnrd  said,  that  it'  the  Bishop  would  not  go  to  Wygan  iu  Lancu-    chap. 

shire,  or  such  like  Place,  and  sit  to  execute  the  Commission,  aud  move  the  Earl  1 

of  Darby  to  be  there,  (who  had  assured  them  he  would  sit  and  assist,)  he  knew  that 
a  Commotion  would  ensue ;  and  that  he  knew  their  Determination  was  thereunto. 
For  that  his  Kinsman  and  Alliance  to  his  Remembrance  (naming  IMr.  Wcsthy)  had 
told  him.  He  would  wiUlnyly  lose  his  Blood  in  these  3Iatters.  Also  he  said  furtlier, 
tliat  from  Warrington  all  along  the  Sea  Coasts  in  Lancashire,  the  Gentlemen 
(except  Mr.  Butler)  were  of  the  Faction,  and  withdrew  themselves  from  Religion ; 
as  Mr.  Ireland,  Su"  W'"-  Norris,  and  many  others  more.  So  that  there  was  such  a 
Likelihood  of  a  Rebellion  or  Commotion  speedily,  that  for  his  Part,  if  the  Bishop 
would  not  go  to  execute  the  Commission  in  Lancashire,  he  would  himself  within 
twelve  Days  inform  the  Privy  Council.  And  yet  he  had  desired  the  Bishop  to 
deliver  the  Commission  unto  him,  and  Fytton  to  execute  :  but  the  Bishop  refused, 
saying,  he  would  send  for  the  Offenders.  But  afterward,  the  Bishop  and  Gerrard 
signed  Precepts  for  divers  Papistical  Priests  and  some  Gentlemen,  to  appear  before 
the  Commissioners  concerning  the  Premisses. 

"  Again,  one  Edmund  Holme  made  tliis  Discovery ;  That  there  was  a  Letter 
\ratten  from  Dr.  Saunders  [Nicolas  Saunders]  to  Sii*  Richard  MoUneux  and  Sir 
William  Noi-ris  ;  the  Copy  of  which  Letter  was  ready  to  be  shewed.  The  Contents 
of  it,  as  it  seems,  were,  to  exhort  them  to  own  the  Pope  supreme  Head  of  the 
Church  ;  and  that  they  should  swear  his  Supremacy,  and  Obedience  to  him,  before 
some  Priest  or  Priests  appointed  by  his  Authority ;  who  should  also  absolve  them 
that  had  taken  any  Oath  to  the  Queen  as  supreme,  or  gone  to  Church  and  heai-d 
Common  Prayer.  Hereupon  Sir  Richard  3Iolineux  did  make  a  vow  unto  one 
Noi-rice,  otherwise  called  Butcher,  othermse  called  Fisher,  of  Formeby ;  and  unto 
one  Peyle,  otherwise  called  Pyclc,  (who  reported  that  he  had  tlie  Pope's  Authority,) 
that  he  would  do  all  things  according  to  the  Words  of  the  said  Letter.  And  so  did 
receive  Absolution  at  Pyck's  hand  ;  And  he  did  vow  to  the  said  Pyck,  that  he  would 
take  the  Pope  to  be  the  supreme  Head  of  the  Church.  And  the  said  3Iolineux's 
Daughters,  Jane,  Alice,  and  Anne,  and  liis  son  John,  made  the  like  Vow  as  their 
Father  had  done.  And  then  tliey  took  a  Corporal  Oath  on  a  Book.  Aud  so  did 
John  Mollin  of  the  Wodde,  and  Robert  Blundel  of  Inse,  and  Richard  Blundel  of 
Christby,  and  Sir  TJiomas  Williamson,  and  Sir  John  Dervoyne,  and  John  William- 
son. These  were  some  of  those  Popish  Gentlemen  of  Lancashire ;  and  these  were 
their  Doings.  But  the  Commission  Ecclesiastical,  roundly  managed,  had  pretty  well 
reduced  them,  as  we  heard  before. 

"  In  what  Form  the  Submission  ran,  to  wliich  these  Popish  Gentlemen  sub- 
scribed, before  they  made  their  Peace,  I  know  not.     But  I  find  this  Year  one  Fonn 
VOL.  I.  3  u 


514 


CIjc  ?t)is;tnri)  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Mary, 
queen  of 
Scots. 


15C8. 


Conimen- 
dam. 


offered  to  Sii-  John  Soitthvorth,  of  these  Parts,  (who  had  entertained  Priests,  and 
absented  from  the  Church,)  by  order  of  the  Privy  Council ;  whidi  was  as 
followeth  ; — 

".  Whereas  I,  Sir  John  Southworth,  Knt.,  forgetting  my  Duty  towards  God  and  the  Queen's 
"  Majesty,  in  not  considering  my  due  Obedience  for  the  Observation  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Laws  and 
"  Orders  of  this  Realm,  had  received  into  my  House  and  Company,  and  there  relieved  certain  Priests 
"who  have  not  only  refused  the  Ministry,  but  also  in  my  hearing  have  spoken  against  the  present 
"  State  of  Religion,  established  by  her  Majesty  and  the  States  of  her  Realm  in  Parliament,  and  have 
"  also  otherwise  misbehaved  myself  in  not  resorting  to  my  Parish  Church  at  Common  Prayer,  nor 
"  receiving  the  Holy  Communion  so  often  times  as  I  ought  to  have  done. 

"  I  do  now,  by  these  Presents,  most  humbly  and  unfeignedly  submit  myself  to  her  Majesty, 
"  and  am  heartily  sorry  for  mine  Offence  in  this  Behalf,  both  towards  God  and  her  Majesty.  And 
"  do  further  promise  to  her  Majesty  from  henceforth,  to  obey  all  her  Majesty's  Authority  in  all  Matters 
"  of  Religion  and  Orders  Ecclesiastical ;  and  to  behave  myself  therein  as  becometh  a  good,  humble. 
"  and  obedient  Subject ;  and  shall  not  impugn  any  of  the  said  Laws  and  Ordinances  by  any  open 
"  Speech,  or  by  Writing,  or  Act  of  mine  own ;  nor  willingly  suffer  any  such  in  my  Company  to 
"  offend,  whom  I  may  reasonably  let,  or  disallow:  Nor  shall  assist,  maintain,  relieve,  or  comfort  any 
"  Person  living  out  of  this  Realm,  being  known  to  be  an  Offender  against  the  said  Laws  and  Orders 
"  now  established  for  godly  Religion,  as  is  aforesaid.  And  in  this  doing,  I  firmly  trust  to  have  her 
"  Majesty  my  gracious  and  good  Lady,  as  hitherto  I,  and  all  other  her  Subjects,  have  marvellously 
"  tasted  of  her  Mercy  and  Goodness." 

"  But  this  knight  refused  to  subscribe  the  submission,  any  further  than  in  that 
point  of  maintaining  no  more  those  disordered  persons." 

Mary,  queen  of  Scots,  having  at  this  time  been  expelled  from  her  throne  by  her 
subjects,  under  the  authority  of  the  earl  of  Murray,  regent  of  the  kingdom  of  Scot- 
land, sought  an  asylimi  in  England  ;  but  before  she  could  be  admitted  to  the  court, 
it  became  necessary  that  she  should  justify  herself  fi"om  the  charge  of  having  been 
accessory  to  the  murder  of  her  husband.  In  this  she  failed ;  indeed,  her  agents 
refused  to  proceed  with  the  investigation,  when  the  evidence  of  lier  guilt  became 
conclusive ;  and,  instead  of  being  admitted  to  the  court  of  Elizabeth,  she  was  ever 
after  kept  as  her  prisoner,  fii'st  in  Bolton  castle,  afterwards  at  the  castle  of  Sheffield, 
then  at  Tutbury,  and  finally  at  the  castle  of  Fotheringhay.  Several  of  Mary's 
adherents  now  fled  out  of  England  from  Lancasliire,  and  other  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
and  it  was  discovered  in  the  course  of  this  year,  that  sums  of  money  were  sent  to 
them  from  hence,  to  promote  the  invasion  of  England,  and  to  re-establish  the  ancient 
religion. 

The  recently  created  bishopric  of  Chester  Avas  amongst  the  lowest  of  the  livings 
in  the  English  chiu-ch,  not  exceeding  iu  value  three  huncbed  and  fifty  pounds  a  year; 
and  yet  such  was  the  ho.spitality  at  this  time  kept  up  by  the  bishops,  that  Dr.  Down- 
ham,  in  his  application  to  the  queen  for  the  extension  of  his  commendam,  repre- 


Count|)  ^3alatin«  of  aanraster,  515 

sented,  that  he  supported  every  day,  in  virtue  of  his  office,  "  forty  persons,  yong    chai'. 
and  old,  besides  comers  and  goers."*  '_ 


The  bias  of  the  queen's  inind  was  towai-ds  the  ancient  rehgion,  with,  all  its  forms  The 
and  ceremonies,  so  far  as  was  consistent  with  that  supremacy  whicli  she  claimed  as  bias!" " 
the  head  of  the  church  ;  and  though  the  real  presence  was  denied  by  the  reformed 
church,  she  openly  thanked  one  of  her  preachers  for  a  sennon  he  had  preached  in 
favour  of  that  doctrine. f  Celibacy  in  the  ministers  of  religion  was  always  newed 
by  her  with  favour  ;  and  all  the  influence  of  her  favourite  minister,  Cecil,  was  neces  - 
saiy,  to  prevent  her  from  interchcting  the  marriage  of  the  clergy.  While  this  was 
the  disposition  of  the  queen,  several  of  her  ministers  conceived  that  the  reform  in 
the  religion  of  the  state  was  by  no  means  sufficiently  radical;  and  not  only  CecU,  but 
Leicester,  Knolles,  Bedford,  and  Walsingham,  favoured  the  Puritans,  who  derived  The  Pmi- 
their  origin  from  those  exiled  ministers  that,  during  the  reign  of  queen  Mary,  had 
imbibed  the  opinions  of  Calvin,  the  reformer  of  Geneva.  Tlieir  historianj  describes 
the  Puritans  as  objecting  to  the  assumed  supremacy  of  the  bishops,  and  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  ecclesiastical  court ;  to  the  fi-equent  repetition  of  the  Lord's  prayer  in  the 
liturgy,  to  the  responses  of  the  people,  and  to  the  reading  of  the  apocryphal  lessons  ; 
to  the  sign  of  the  cross,  in  the  administration  of  baptism ;  and  to  the  ring,  and  the 
terms  of  the  conti'act,  in  maniage;  to  the  observance  of  the  festivals  in  the  calendar, 
the  chaunt  of  the  psalms,  and  the  use  of  musical  instruments  in  the  cathedral  services ; 
and,  above  all,  to  the  habits,  "  the  very  livery  of  the  beast,"  enjoined  to  be  worn  by  the 
ministers  during  the  celebration  of  divine  services. 

Dean  Nowell,  one  of  the  queen's  cliaplains,  so  celebrated  for  his  preacliing  in 
Lancashire,  his  native  county,  was  understood  to  favour  the  puritanical  doctrines, 
wliich  was  probably  one  of  the  causes  of  his  popularity  in  tliis  county ;  and  when,  in 
a  sennon  preached  before  his  royal  mistress,  he  spoke  disparagingly  of  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  she  called  aloud  to  him  in  the  congregation,  and  ordered  liim  "  to  quit 
that  ungodly  discussion,  and  to  return  to  his  text." 

From  this  period,  through  a  succession  of  ages,  the  county  of  Lancaster  con-  Lasting 
tinned  much  divided  on  subjects  of  religion  and  politics;  the  Catholics  assuming  tlie  in  the""^ 
high  church,  and  the  monarchical  principles,  and  the  Puritans  the  low  church,  and  Lam:aster 
democratic  principles,  Avliile  the  established  church  held  the  balance  between  the  two,  anrpoTi!" 
by  turns  favouring  the  former  or  the  latter,  as  best  accorded  with  the  objects  and  '"'"■ 
views  of  the  existing  government ;  and  not  unfrequently  restraining,  and  even  perse- 
cuting both.      In  no  county  in  the  kingdom  have  the  distinctions  been  so  marked  as 

*  Bishop  Dovvnham's  Letter  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  1568.  f  Heylem,  p.  124, 

I  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  c.  iv.  v. 

3  u  2 


516 


€l)t  i}i£!torp  of  tiK 


CHAP. 
XIII. 

Rebellion 
in  the 
north. 


ill  Laucashii-e,  and  in  none  will  tliis  observation  be  i'ound  so  unerring  an  index 
■whereby  to  account  for  the  local  feuds,  and  for  the  party  animosities. 

Several  of  the  leachng  families  of  the  north,  anxious  to  re-establish  the  Catholic 
relioion,  and  to  place  Mary,  queen  of  Scots,  on  the  throne  of  England,  entered  into 
a  conspu'acy  for  tliis  purpose,  at  the  head  of  wlucli  stood  the  earls  of  Northumbei'- 
land  and  Westmoreland.  One  of  their  first  objects  was  to  liberate  Mary  from  her 
confinement  in  Tutbury  castle,  and  su-  Thomas  and  sii-  Edward  Stanley,  sons  of  the 
earl  of  Derby,  along  with  sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  and  other  Lancasliii-e  gentlemen, 
favoured  the  enterprise.  In  furtherance  of  this  object,  the  eai'ls  of  Northmnberland 
and  Westmoreland  put  forth  the  following  proclamation : — 


"  The  DECLARACON  of  the  Earles  at  y^  RISING  in  y"^  NORTH. 

"  Wee  Thomas  Earle  of  Northumberland,  &  Charles  Earle  of  Westmland,  y' 
Queenes  ti'ue  &  faithfuU  sub",  to  all  y'  came  of  y'  old  &  Catholiq3  Rehgion,  know  ye 
y*  wee  w""  many  other  well  disposed  persons  as  well  of  y"  NobUitie  as  others,  have 
promised  our  Faith  to  y*^  Furtherance  of  this  our  good  meaning.  Forasmuch  as  diners 
disordered  &  euUl  disposed  persons  about  the  Qu'  Ma'^"  liaue  by  theyr  subtill  & 
crafty  deaUngs  to  aduance  themselues,  ouercome  in  this  Realme  y^  true  &  Catholicke 
Religion  towardes  God,  &  by  the  same  abused  y"  Queene,  chsordered  y  Realme,  and 
now  lastly  seeke  and  procure  the  destruccon  of  y'  NobiHty :  Wee  therefore  haue 
gathered  our  selues  together  to  resist  by  force,  &  the  rather  by  the  helpe  of  God  & 
you  good  people,  to  see  redi'ess  of  these  things  amiss,  w""  y*  restormg  of  all  ancyent 
customs  Schbertyes  to  Gods  Church,  and  this  noble  Realme;  least  if  wee  should  not 
doe  it  our  selves,  wee  might  bee  reformed  by  strangers,  to  y"  great  hazai-d  of  y"  state 
of  this  our  country,  whereunto  wee  are  all  bounde. 

"  God  sane  y'  Queene." 
[Harl.  3ISS.  Cod.  787.  fo.  10  b.] 


Nov.  27, 
1569. 


Earl  of 
Derby's 

loyalty. 


The  influence  of  the  leaders  of  the  insm-rection,  and  the  attachment  of  the  people 
to  the  Catholic  faith,  di-ew  together  an  army  of  four  thousand  foot  and  six  hundred 
horse.  To  strengthen  their  force,  the  earls  of  Westmoreland  and  Northumberland 
addi'essed  a  letter  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  requesting  him  to  join  theu"  standard,  and  to 
procure  for  them  such  aid  and  assistance  as  his  lordship  coidd  collect,  in  "  all  parts 
of  his  terrytoryes,  to  effect  then"  honorable  and  gotUy  entei-prises."* 

Seven  days  before  the  date  of  this  despatch,  the  eai'l  of  Derby  had  received  a 
commission  from  the  queen,  appointing  liim  lord-lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Lan- 

*  Burghley's  State  Papers,  i.  564. 


Countp  palatine  of  2.anca£(tn%  517 

caster;  and,  instead  of  listemn<?  to  their  ti-easouable  invitation,  his  lordship,  without    chap. 

,  .  XIII. 

loss  of  time,  enclosed  the  letter  of  the  rebel  earls  to  the  queen,  accompanied  by  the  1_ 

following  despatch: — 

"  THE  ERLE  OF  DERBY  TO  THE  QUEENES  MAJESTY. 

"  My  moste  humble  and  obedient  dutie  done.  Hit  iney  pleace  your  Majestie,  tunderstande,  that 
"  this  Dale  being  the  29th  of  this  Monethe,  one  Walther  Passeleiue  brought  to  my  Howse  ane  Letter 
"  tromTherles  of  Northumhei'land  and  Westemorlande,  together  v/ith  a  Protestacion  of  theyre  unduty- 
"  full  Meanyng  and  rebelliose  Attempt  (as  may  appere)  whiche  the  saide  Passelewe  praied  one  of  ray 
"  Servaunts,  myghtbe  delivered  to  me:  The  whiche  after  I  had  receyvede,  persavyng  the  same  to  be 
"  unsealid,  and,  upon  perusyng,  fynding  the  matter  to  swarve  so  farre  from  the  Dutie  of  any  good 
"  Subjects,  thought  hit  my  Parte  to  give  the  same  to  be  understandet  of  your  Magestie,  and  so  have 
"  sent  theym  enclosed  as  I  receyved  them.  The  Berrer,  by  cause  I  cold  not  savely  send  hym  without 
"  Garde,  I  have  sent  to  cume  with  more  Leysure,  but  with  as  muche  Spede  as  conveniently  may  be  used. 
"  I  founds  with  hym  the  lyke  Letter  and  Protestacion  sent  to  my  Lord  Mounteygle,  which  I  have  also 
"  sent  enclosed.  And  restyng  your  Magesties  assured  at  Commandment,  beseechyng  God  long  to 
"  prosper  your  Magestie,  and  make  you  victoriose  over  your  Enmyes,  I  humblie  take  my  Leave. 

"  From  Lathom,  my  House,  the  29th  off  November,  1569. 

"  Your  Magesties  most  humhjll  and  obedyent  Subyett  and  Sarvant, 

"  Edward  Derby." 

The  queen  and  her  councU,  ever  alive  to  their  duty  and  the  public  safety,  assem-  Suppres- 
bled  an  army  of  seven  thousand  men,  at  the  head  of  which  the  earl  of  Sussex  was  rebenLm* 
placed,  attended  by  the  earl  of  Rutland,  and  the  lords  Hunsdon,  Evers,  and  Wil- 
loughby.  The  royal  army  having  overtaken  the  insurgent  force  in  the  bishopric  of 
Durham,  the  earls  of  Northumberland  and  Westmoreland  retreated  to  Hexliam, 
where,  on  hearing  that  the  earl  of  Warmck  and  lord  Clinton  were  advancing  against 
them,  they  dispersed  their  forces  mthout  striking  a  blow.  Tliis  abortive  effort  of 
treason  was  succeeded  soon  after  by  another  rebellion  in  the  north,  raised  by  Leonai'd 
Dacres,  which  was  suppressed  by  lord  Hunsdon,  at  the  head  of  the  garrison  of  Ber- 
wick, without  any  other  assistance.  Great  severity  was  exercised  against  such  as 
had  taken  part  in  these  rash  enterprises.  Sixty-six  constables  were  hanged*  for 
neglect  of  duty,  and  no  fewer  than  eight  hundred  persons  are  said  to  have  suffered 
by  the  hands  of  the  public  executioner. 

Fifty-seven  noblemen  and  gentlemen  of  the  counties  of  Northumberland,  York, 
Durham,  &c.  implicated  in  tliis  rebellion,  were  attainted  by  parliament  in  the  follow- 
ing year;  but  the  list  of  proscriptions  does  not  contain  any  Lancasliii-e  names.! 

To  guard  agamst  the  recurrence  of  rebellion,   and  speedily  to  suppress  any 
attempt  to  disturb  the  public  ti-anquillity,  the  levies  of  troops,  armour,  and  money 
•  Camden,  p.  423.  f  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  309.  fo.  201  b. 


518 


CIk  l^i^tov^  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Memora- 
ble police 
search. 


Meeting 
of  lieute- 
nancy. 


were  very  abundant  this  year  in  tlie  county  of  Lancaster;  and,  amongst  the  original 
certificates  preserved  in  these  retimis,  the  following  autograplis  ajjpear: — 

"  Edward  Derby,  F.  Stanley,  Thomas  Butler,  Thos.  Gerrard;  HuncU-ed  of  West 
Derby. — Thomas  Hoghton,  Cuthbert  Clifton;  Hunch-ed  of  Amounderness. — Tliomas 
Hesketh,  Edwarde  Stand^sshe;  Huncbed  of  Layland. — Rich.  Shyrbum,  Sir  Rycliard 
Assheton,  John  Braddyll;  Hundred  of  Blackburne. — Wyllum  Mountegle;  Hundred 
of  Lonsdale. — Robert  Worseley,  Edmund  Trafford,  John  Radclylf,  Robt.  Barton, 
Edward  Holand,  Raffe  Assheton,  Francis  Holt ;  Hundred  of  Stdford." 

In  the  course  of  the  same  year  a  memorable  search  had  been  instituted  in  the 
county  of  Lancaster,  by  order  of  the  lords  of  the  council,  wliich  Avas  simultaneously 
made  in  the  other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  for  vagrants,  beggars,  gamesters,  rogues,  or 
gipsies,  which  was  commenced  at  nine  o'clock  at  night,  on  Sunday  the  10th  of  July, 
and  continued  till  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  folloA\'ing  day,  and  which 
resulted  in  the  apprehension  of  the  almost  incredible  number  of  tliirteen  thousand 
"masterless  men,"*  many  of  whom  had  no  visible  mode  of  living,  "excep't  that  which 
was  derived  from  unlawful  games,  especially  of  bowlmg,  and  maintenance  of  archery, 
and  who  were  all  passed  to  their  own  counties,  under  the  direction  of  the  magis- 
trates." The  effect  of  this  vigorous  measure  of  police,  which  was  continued  monthly 
till  the  November  following,  was  to  diminish  the  numbers  that  would  otherwise,  in 
these  unsettled  times,  have  swelled  the  insurgent  force,  and  endangered  the  stability 
of  the  government. 

The  earl  of  Derby,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  as  the  head  of  the  lieutenancy 
in  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and  Chester,  assembled  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  the 
palatine  counties,  in  then-  respective  divisions,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  their 
forces,  and  for  adjusting  the  assessments  to  which  they  should  respectively  be 
liable.  These  an-angements  being  completed,  they  were  transmitted  to  the  lords  in 
council,  accompanied  by  the  following  despatch  : — 


ORIGINAL  LETTER  OF  THE  EARL  OF  DERBY. 

"  Right  hono"'able  my  verrey  good  Lords  Accordinge  to  the  Queene  her  ma'"  pleyso'  vnto  me 
"  and  others  signifyed  by  yo''  letters  and  articles,  I  have  caused  the  SherifFf  comyssioners  of  the 
"  musters  and  Justicf  of  the  peace  of  the  Counties  of  Lan9  f  Chester,  (where  I  am  her  ma'«  lieu- 
"  tenant)  to  assemble  in  their  accustomed  devisions  sundrye  tymes  for  the  execucon  of  the  same, 
"  Who  have  made  inquisicon  as  well  towchinge  such  somes  of  money  as  haue  byn  assessed  or  taxed 
"  since  the  date  of  her  ma'"  laste  comyssion  for  musters  for  provicon  of  armor  weppons  shotte  and 
"  suche  lyke  :  As  also  for  taxacons  colleccons  f  assessementf  of  money  for  the  furniture  of  Soldio" 
"  for  her  ma"  service  -wyth  other  things  in  the  said  Ires  f  articles  conteyned,  And  haue  sente  vnto 
"  yo''  L.  herew"'  the  seid  all  Stifica'"  of  both  Shiers,  whereof  the  laste  came  to  my  haudf  so  latelye 


Strype's  Ann.  vol.  i.  p.  .572. 


Countj)  |3alatuw  ot  Eanrajster.  519 

"  as  vppon  Fryday  laste  W'^''  was  the  cause  of  so  longe  tracte  of  tyme  of  both  Stificatf  Thus  w"'     CHAP. 
"  my  verry  hertye  Cofnendacons  vnto  yo''  good  L  f  take  my  leyve  of  youe  From  Lathom  my  howse       ^'''• 
"  the  vij*  of  Septembie,  1570. 

"  Yo''  good  L.  verrey  lovinge 
"  Frende  assured 

"  Edwaud  Derby." 

[Indorsed]     "  To  my  vJrey  good  Lordf  of  the  Queue 
"  her  ma'=  hono'"able  pvey  Counsaill 
"  gyve  theise." 
[In  another  Hand]  1570     vij"     7''bris. 

"  Therle  of  Derbye  to  the  Councell  w"'  certificate  out  of  the 
"  counties  of  Lancaster  f  Chester  towching  money 
"  collected  for  ^vision  of  Armo"'  f  Weapons." 

[Hail.  MSS.  Cod.  309.  fo.  104.] 

Devoted  as  the  earl  of  Derby  had  shewn  liimself  to  the  service  of  the  queen,  yet 
suspicion  was  entertained,  and  that  in  high  quarters,  that  his  loyalty  was  of  a  dubious 
kind,  and  that  it  would  scarcely  withstand  the  temptations  to  wliich  it  was  exposed, 
from  the  wicked  counsellors  hy  which  he  was  surrounded.     Under  the  hiiluence  of  Depiora- 
these  suspicions,  it  is  probable  that  Mary,  countess  of  Derby,  the  widow  of  Edward,  of  the 
the  late  earl,  had  been  apprehended,  and  placed  in  confinement ;  for,  from  a  letter  of  Derby, 
addressed  by  her  ladyship  to  IVIr.  Secretary  Walsingham,  in  the  course  of  the  present 
year,  it  appears  that  she  was  a  state  prisoner,  labouring  under  the  accumulated 
pressure  of  bodily  affliction  and  pecuniary  embarrassments.     The  suspicions  against 
the  earl  of  Derby  were   communicated  to  the  queen's  secretary  of  state  by  the 
earl  of  Huntingdon,  in  a  letter,  intended  to  have  been  consigned  to  the  flames  as 
soon  as  it  was  read,  but  wliich  has  outlived  its  original  destiny.      A  number  of 
suspicious  ciiciunstances  were  accumulated  against  the  earl  of  Derby,  and,  amongst 
others,  he  was  strongly  suspected  of  keeping  a  conjuror  in  liis  house !     The  Letter 
was  in  these  terms  : — 

"  THERLE  OF  HUNTYNGDON  TO  SECRETARY  CECILL. 

"  Sir, 

"  I  am  bolder  to  wryte  to  you  of  wayghtye  Maters,  then  I  dare  be  to  sum  others ;  the 
•'  Cause  I  leave  to  your  Consideration,  and  so  to  you  onelye  I  am  bolde  to  imparte  that  I  heare. 
"  The  Matter  in  shorte  ys  thys:  Amongst  the  Papystes  of  Lankyshyre,  Cheshyre,  and  the  Cosynes, 
"  great  Hope  and  Expectation  theare  ys,  that  Darby e  wylle  playe  as  fonde  a  Parte  thys  yeare,  as  the 
"  two  Earles  dyd  the  last  Yeare.  I  hope  better  of  hym  for  me  Parte,  and  for  mannye  Respectes  both 
"  generalle,  and  particular,  I  wyshe  hym  too  doo  better.  I  knowe  he  bathe  hytherto  ben  loyall,  and 
"  even  the  last  Yeare,  as  you  knowe,  gave  good  Testimonye  of  hys  Fidelytee,  and  of  hys  aune  Dyspo- 


520 


€])t  ?§isittiri)  of  t\)e 


CHAP  "  sition  ;  I  thynk  wylle  doo  so  stylle  ;  but  he  may  be  drawne  by  evyll  Counsayle,  God  kuovveth  to 
XIII.  u  what.  I  feaie  he  hatha  even  at  thys  Tyme  mannye  wycked  Councellors,  and  sum  to  neare  hym. 
"  Theaie  ys  one  Browne  a  Conjerour  in  hys  House,  kepte  secretely.  Thear  ys  also  one  Uphalle,  who 
"  was  a  Pyrate  and  had  lately  hys  Pardon,  that  coulde  telle  sumwhat,  as  I  heare,  yf  you  coulde  get 
"  hym :  He  that  caryed  my  Lord  Morley  over  was  also  theare  wythyn  thys  Sennet  kepte  secretlie. 
"  He  with  his  hole  Famylye,  never  ragyd  so  muche  agaynst  Religion  as  they  doo  nowe  ;  he  never 
"  came  to  comon  Prayer  for  thys  Quarter  of  thys  Yeare,  as  I  heare,  neythyr  dothe  any  of  the  Famylye 
"  except  fyve  or  syxe  Persons.  I  dare  not  wryte  what  more  I  heare,  because  I  cannot  justyfye  and 
"  prove  yt;  but  thys  may'sufFyse  for  you  in  Tyme  to  loke  to  yt.  And  surelye,  in  my  symple  Opyn- 
"  yone,  yf  you  send  sum  faythfulle  and  wyse  Spye  that  woulde  dyssemble  to  cum  from  D'Alva,  and 
"  dyssemble  Poperye,  you  might  understand  all ;  for  yf  all  be  trewe  that  ys  sayde,  theare  ys  a  verrye 
"  fonde  Companye  in  the  Housse  at  this  Present.  I  doutte  not  but  you  cann  and  wylle  use  thys 
"  Matter,  better  then  I  can  advyse  you.  Yet  let  me  wish  you  to  take  heade  to  which  of  your  Corapa- 
"  niones  (tho  you  be  now  but  fyve  together)  you  utter  thys  Matter,  ne  forte  yt  be  in  Latham  sooner 
"  than  you  wolde  have  yt,  for  sum  of  you  have  Men  about  you  &  Frendes  attendynge  on  you,  &c. 
"  that  deale  not  alwayes  well.  I  pray  God  save  owre  Elysaheth,  and  confounde  all  hyr  Enemies ;  and 
"  thus  I  take  my  leave,  comyttyng  you  to  God  hys  Tuycyon. 
"  From  Ashbey  the  24*  of  ^»^ms^  1570. 

"  Your  assured  poor  Frend, 

"   H.   HUNTYNGDON." 

"  P.S.  Because  none  theare  shulde  know  of  my  Letter,  I  wolde  not  send  yt  by  my  Servant,  but 
"  have  desyred  Mr.  Ad  to  delyver  yt  to  you  in  Secrete  :  When  you  have  red  yt  I  praye  you  to  burne 
"  yt,  and  forgett  the  Name  of  the  Wrytar. 

"  I  praye  God,  I  may  not  heare  any  more  of  your  cumynge  to " 

[From  Lord  Burghley's  State  Papers,  \.  603.] 


The  duke 

of  Nor- 
folk's con- 
spiracy. 


1572. 


Mary, 
queen  of 

Scots. 


The  earl  of  Derby's  loyalty  remained  unshaken  through  another  ordeal.  A 
new  conspu-acy  was  formed  by  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  in  concun-ence  with  Mary, 
queen  of  Scots,  whom  the  duke  proposed  to  marry,  in  wliich  he  was  aided  by  the 
duke  of  Alva,  the  Spanish  general,  and  the  court  of  Rome,  the  object  of  Avhich  was, 
to  deprive  Elizabeth  of  the  throne,  and  to  elevate  Mary  to  that  distinction.  The 
vigUance  and  sagacity  of  secretary  CecU,  now  become  lord  Burghley,  discovered  the 
treasonable  confederacy,  and  the  duke  was  brought  to  trial  before  a  commission  of 
twenty-six  peers,  amongst  whom  were  "  Arthure  Grey,  Lord  Wylton,"  and  "William 
West,  Lord  de  lawai'e."* 

An  unanimous  sentence  of  death  passed  against  the  duke,  wliich  was  earned 
into  execution  in  the  middle  of  the  following  year ;  and  the  earl  of  Northumberland, 
for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  northern  rebellion,  shared  the  same  fate.  Against 
the  queen  of  Scots,  though  her  prisoner,  Elizabeth  did  not  venture  yet  to  proceed  to 
the  utmost  extremity,  but  she  sent  lord  Delawar,  sir  Ralph  Sadler,   su-  Thomas 

*  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  542.  fo.  77. 


k>    ".   .V  ^j-  .•■\  ^\.  J--  :',•(  t..> 


-A'...,, 


ptO^^iH^^^  (7^fy,^^^^^^JL£^ ^ 


-^',Ot^ft.      •'^'/-       / 


^=^^vL-V^twvr^ 


^fa 


-^^^^ 


c^^ 


/^,:>^^l^    -i^^jfe-^^ 


^^>:f  ^  -rT^.A. 


^^..-^h^n^a/^  ^{u^^ 


:> 


c  <^»-» 


c^-^?H^-/" 


FISHER.  SON,  fe    C?  LONDON.  3832. 


Countj?  palatine  of  3!.ancasitn%  521 

Bromlev,  and  Dr.  Wilson,  to  expostulate  with  her   on    her  intended  clandestine     chap. 

marriage  with  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  on  her  concurrence  in  the  northern  rebellion,  on  _ 

the  encouragement  she  had  given  to  Spain  to  invade  England,  and  on  the  part  she 
had  taken  in  procuring  the  pope's  bull  of  excommunication  against  Elizabeth,  and 
particularly  upon  allo^ving  her  friends  abroad  to  give  to  her  the  title  of  "  Mary 
Queen  of  England."  These  charges  Mary  denied,  and  justified  herself  either  by 
repelling  the  allegations,  or  by  casting  tlie  blame  on  others  over  whom  she  had  no 
control.*  The  queen  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with  these  apologies ;  and  the  temper 
of  parliament,  as  expressed  in  the  application  for  the  immediate  trial  and  execution 
of  Mary,  shewed  that  a  storm  was  gathering,  by  which  that  unfortunate  princess  was 
speedily  to  be  overwhelmed.  The  evidence  of  the  bishop  of  Ross,  exhibited  in  the 
Burghley  State  Papers,i"  shews  that  Mary  was,  as  early  as  the  year  1571,  in  negocia- 
tion  with  the  ambassadors  of  both  France  and  Spain,  for  her  escape  from  Sheffield 
castle  to  the  continent,  and  that  she  was  aided  in  her  design  by  several  Lancashii-e 
gentlemen.  The  bishop  says — the  queen  wrote  a  letter  by  a  little  priest  of  RoUes- 
ton's,  that  su"  Thomas  Stanley,  sir  Thomas  Gen'ard,  and  Rolleston,  desired  a  "  cifre 
for  her,  and  that  they  oflrid  to  convey  her  away,  and  willed  this  examiuate  to  ax  the 
duke  (of  Norfolk's)  opinion  herin."  He  furtlier  says,  that  Hall  told  him,  that  if 
the  queen  would  get  two  men  landed  in  Lancasliii'e,  sir*  Thomas  Stanley  and  sir 
Edward  Stanley,  along  with  sii*  Thomas  Gerrard  and  Rolleston,|;  would  assist  her 
escape  to  France  or  Flanders,  and  that  the  whole  country  would  rise  in  her 
I'avour. 

The  death  of  Edward,  the  munificent  earl  of  Derby,  with  whom,  says  Camden, 
"  the  glory  of  hospitality  hath  in  a  manner  beene  layd  asleepe,"  took  place  at  Lathom 
house,  on  the  24th  of  Fel)ruary,  in  the  year  1573 ;  and  he  was  succeeded  in  his  title 
and  estates  by  lord  Strange,  a  nobleman  honoured  vdih  the  special  favour  of  queen 
Elizabeth,  and  for  whose  family  she  entertained  the  highest  regard.^ 

The  progress  of  public  improvement  in  the  county  of  Lancaster  appears  to  have 
been  slow  up  to  the  time  of  Ehzabeth,  as  may  be  collected  from  an  expression  con- 
tained in  a  petition  from  dean  Nowel,  the  founder  of  the  free-school  of  Middleton, 
for  the  better  encouragement  of  leai-ning  and  true  Christianity,  who,  in  speaking  of 
the  people,  designates  them  as  "  the  inhabitants  of  the  rude  country  of  Lancashii'e." 

During  this  reign,  the  military  strength  of  the  kingdom  was  taken  -nitli  great 
accuracy,  and  the  following — 

•  Camden,  p.  442.  +  Vol.  ii.  p.  20,  and  112. 

t  Sir  Thomas  Stanley,  sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  and  Rolleston,  were  apprehended,  and  committed  to 
the  Tower  as  State  prisoners. — Lord  Burghley' s  Papers,  II.  771. 
§  Burghley's  State  Papers,  II.  184. 

VOL.  I.  3  X 


522 


€i)t  ??i£(tori)  of  tlje 


CHAP. 
XIII. 

,7~  MILITARY    MUSTER, 

Blilitary 
strength  of 

doni.  Taken  by  Order  of  Government,  and  made  in  the  Year  1574,  serves  to  shew  the  Strength,  while  it 

indicates  the  Population,  oj"  each  County. 


ARTIFICERS 

ARMED 

SELECTED 

DEMI- 

LIGHT 

COUNTIES. 

ABLE  MEN. 

AND 

MEN. 

MEN. 

PYONEERS. 

LAUNCES. 

HORSE. 

1 

Cambridgeshire  . 

1080 

50 

19 

22 

Cornwall 

6600 

•  •  •  • 

400 

Isle  of  Ely 

600 

•  •  •  • 

140 

.... 

^    ^ 

66 

Derbyshire 

4000 

500 

.... 

«    • 

66 

Devonshire 

10000 

Exon 

500 

500 

1000 

Sussex 

6099 

799 

600 

900 

11 

150 

Lincolne 

6111 

716 

800 

1385 

12 

125 

Somerset 

6800 

600 

.... 

.... 

20 

160 

Hertford   

2934 

2828 

330 

1552 

25 

Worcester 

1850 

1850 

Norfolk 

8460 

4132 

2065 

.... 

28 

184 

Essex 

1902 

4264 

•  •   •  • 

■   •    •    ■ 

64 

139 

Salop , . 

3044 

1369 

24 

120 

2 

53 

Wilts 

5334 

2357 

590 

207 

66 

94 

Leicester 

1260 

400 

400 

800 

4 

66 

Oxon 

6470 

1232 

480 

291 

2 
9 

66 
73 

Middlesex 

Dorset 

6407 

2448 

50 

11 

Surrey  

6000 

1800 

•  •    .   ■ 

•   >   •   • 

96 

Bucks 

7253 

•   •   ■  • 

500 

■    a    ■    ■ 

12 

28 

Berks 

1720 

1720 

.... 

335 

14 

88 

Kent 

8960 

6000 

780 

880 

15 

787 

Bedford    

■   •   •  • 

.... 

•   ■   >   • 

8 

12 

Stafford 

1500 

562 

100 

•   •   ■   • 

7 

44 

Lichfield     

80 

46 

30 

Lancaster 

6000 

3600 

.... 

600 

12 

90 

Hants 

5889 

5889 

596 

1238 

4 

180 

Southampton  . . . 

495 

420 

Winton , . 

90 

66 

Yorkshire 

40187 

7160 

2000 

3794 

8 

172 

Warwick    

300 

978 

•  •   ■  • 

300 

16 

90 

Cheshire 

3600 

1057 

60 

189 

Herefordshire  . . . 

3812 

1004 

473 

•  • 

68 

Anglesey 

372 

•  •   •  • 

, 

4 

Flint 

500 

500 

, 

50 

Denbigh 

1000 

400 

, 

50 

Moutg-omery  . . . . " 

1000 

400 

47 

Merioneth 

700 

300 

, 

8 

Glamorgan 

Summa  totalis  . . 

600 

200 

• 

30 

158509 

55597 

11365 

13105 

429 

3037 

Couittj)  ^3alatint  of  ilamasiter.  623 

From  this  table  it  appears,  tliat  Lancashire  at  this  time  ranked  amongst  the  first  chap. 
counties  of  the  kingdom  in  military  strength,  and  that  in  number  of  able-bodied  ^'"' 
men  it  was  only  exceeded  by  Cornwall,  Devonshire,  Sussex,  Somerset,  Norfolk, 
Oxford,  Dorset,  Kent,  Yorkshire,  and  probably  Middlesex,  of  which  the  return  is 
only  partially  given.  The  population  of  Yorkshire,  when  compared  with  Lanca- 
shire, was  then  in  the  proportion  of  nearly  seven  to  one,  though  now  the  population 
of  the  two  counties  is  so  nearly  equal,  that  the  difference  is  scarcely  perceptible. 
Of  the  other  counties,  Lancasliire  exceeds  the  highest  of  them,  except  the  meh'opo- 
litan  county  of  Middlesex.* 

MUSTER  OF  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  LANCASTER  IN  1574. 

[Had.  MS.  Cod.  1926.] 

"  The  nubers  of  Dymylances,  horses,  geldings  for  lighte  horsemen,  armo', 
muncon  f  weapons  putt  in  ReadjTies  w"'in  the  County  of  Lane,  aswell  by 
fox'ce  of  the  statute  as  graunted  of  good  Will,  by  pswacon  of  the  Cofnyssyores 
of  the  geniall  mvsters.  And  of  the  pticular  names  and  S'names  of  them  w"''  doe 
furnishe,  liaue  f  keepe  the  same  for  her  Ma""  S'vyce  w"''  were  Certifyed  vnto 
her  ho :  privie  Counsell,  conioyned  w""  the  geroall  musters  by  force  of  the 
firste  and  Seconde  Comissions  of  the  saidde  mvsters  the  monthe  of  Auguste 
A"  xyj'^  Eliz.  Reginse." 

I^un&rrti  "at  Drilipe. 

Henrie  Earle  of  Derbye  furnished  : — Dymylaunces  (therof  iii.  to  be  horses)  vi ;  light  horsemen  fur- 
nished X  ;  Corsletts  xl ;  Pykes  xl ;  Plate  cotes  and  almon  ryvetts  xl ;  long  boes  xxx  ;  Sheffe 
of  arroes  xxx  ;  Steele  cappes  xxx  ;  Black  billes  xx  ;  Calivers  xx;  Murrens  xx. 

Sir  Thomas  Standley,  Knt.  to  furnishe  : — Geldinges  for  lighte  horsemen  ii ;  Corseletts  iii ;  Pyks  iii ; 
Almon  revetts  iii ;  Calivers  iii ;  Morrians  iii ;  Long  boes  iii ;  Sheflfe  arroes  iii ;  Steele  cappes  iii. 

Sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  Knt.  to  furnishe  : — Dymylaunce  i ;  Light  horsemene  ii ;  Corseletts  x ; 
Coates  of  Plate  x  ;  Pykes  x  ;  Long  boes  viii ;  Sheffe  of  arrowes  viii  ;  Calivers  iii ;   Morrians  iii. 

Richard  Bolde,  Esq.  to  furnishe — Dimilaunce  i;  Light  horses  ii ;  Corseletts  iii;  Coates  of  Plate 
iii ;  Pykes  iii ;  Long  boes  iri ;   Sheffe  of  arrowes  iii ;  Steele  cappes  iii  ;  Calivers  ii ;  Marians  ii. 

Thomas  Butler,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Lighte  horsemen  ii ;  Corseletts  iii ;  Coates  of  plate,  or  almone 
revetts  iii ;  Pykes  iii ;  Long  boes  iii ;  Seefe  arrowes  iii ;  Steele  cappes  iii ;  Calivers  iii ; 
Morrians  iiii. 

*  By  the  population  returns  of  1831  the  numbers  stand  thus  : — 

Inhabitants  of  Yorkshire 1,371,296. 

1 Middlesex   1,358,541. 

Lancashire 1,336.854. 

3x2 


524  ClK  ?i?is(tori)  of  tlje 

CHAP.     Sir  John  Holcrofte,  Knt.  to  furnishe: — Lighte  horsemen  i;  Corseletts  i;  Coates  of  Plate  ii;  Pyks  ii; 
'*"'''■  Longe  bowes  ii;  Sheflfe  of  anowes  ii;  Steele  cappes  ii;  Calivers  i;  Morriens  i. 

George  Ireland,  Esq.  to  furnishe: — Lighte  horsemen  ii;   Corslelts  ii;  Coates  of  plate  ii;   Fykes  ii; 

Longe  boes  ii;  ShefTe  of  arrowes  ii ;  Steele  Cappes  ii;  Calliveri;  Morrian  i. 
Henrie  Halsall,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Dymylaunce  i ;   Lighte  horses  ii ;   Corsletts  iii ;   Pyks  iii ;  Long 

boes  iii ;  ShefFe  arrowes  iii ;  Calivers  ii ;  Morrians  ii. 
Roger  Bradshawe,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Lighte   horsemen  i ;    Corsletts  ii ;   Almon   ryvetts  ii ;   Pyks  ii  ; 

Long  boes  ii ;  ShefTe  arrowes  ii ;  Steele  cappes  ii ;  Callivers  i ;  Morrian  i. 
Edward  Tyldesley,  Esq.  to  furnishe: — Light  horsemen  i ;   and  the  rest  as  Roger  Bradshawe  dothe 

furnishe  in  all  points. 
Edw.  Scaresbricke,  Ar.       In   all  things  the  lyke,  savinge  that  he  is  chardged  with  almayne  ryvetts 

or  plate  coats. 
William  Gerrard,  Esq.     In  lyke  to  Mr.  Scaresbricke. 
Edward  Norrys,  Esq.  Richard  Massye,  Esq.  Peter  Stanley,  Esq.  Henry  Ecclesby,  Esq.  John  Byron, 

Esq.  the  same  as  Wm.  Gerrard,  Esq. 
John  Moore,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i ;  Corselett  i ;  Pyke  i ;  Morriane  i. 
Richard  Blundell,  Esq.  John  Kylshawe,  Esq.  the  same  as  John  Moore,  Esq. 
Barnabie  Kytchen,  to  furnishe  : — Almayne  ryvetts  i ;   Pyke  i ;  Longe  boe  i ;    Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Steel 

cappe  i ;  Calliver  i ;  Morriane  i. 
John  Bolde,  Esq.  Bartholomewe  Hesketh,  the  same  as  Barnabie  Kytchen,  Esq. 
Mr.  Langton  de  Loe,  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i ;  Corslette  i ;  Pyke  i ;  Morriane  i. 
Adam  Hawarden,  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i. 
Richard  Ormestone,  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i. 
Edmund  Hulme,  (of  Male,)  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i. 
Thomas  Asshton,  to  furnishe  : — Almayne  ryvetts  or  coate  plate  i ;  Pyke  i;  Longe  bowe  i ;   Sheefe 

arrowes  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ;  Caliver  i ;  Morriane  i. 
J.  Mollyneuxe,  of  Mellinge,  GefFraye  Holcrofte,  Robert  Blundell,  of  Ince,  Thomas  Lancaster,  John 

Rysley,  the  same  as  Thomas  Asshton. 
Hamlet  Dytchfield,  to  furnishe  : — Coate  of  plate  i ;  Pyke  i ;  Long  bowe  i ;  SchefTe  arrowes  i ;  Blacke 

bill  i ;  Morriane  i. 
Humfrey  Winstanley,  to  furnishe  : — Coate  plate  i ;  Pyke  i ;   Long  bowe  i ;  SchefFe  arrowes  i ;  Steele 

cap  i ;  Blacke  bill  i ;  Morriane  i. 
John  Bretherton,  Thomas  Mollineux,  John  Ashton,  Thomas  Abrahame,  Fraunces  Bolde,  Richard 

Ettonhead,  Roberte  Fazeakerley,  William  Ashehurste,  Lambert  Tildesley,   John  Crosse,  and 

Elice  Kigheley,  the  same  as  Humfrey  Winstanley. 
Nicholas  Fleetecrofte,  to  furnishe : — Coate  plate  i ;  Longe  bowe  i ;  ShefFe  arrowes  i ;  Scull  bill  i. 
Richard  Hollande  to  furnishe  in  lyke  sort. 
William  Nayler,  James  Lea,  William  MoUineuxe,  Adam  Bolton,  Richard  Boulde,  Richard  Hawarde, 

Rawffe  Sekerston,  Roberte  Corbette,  and  Richard  Mosse,  the  same  as  Nicholas  Fleetecrofte. 
Summary  for  the  Hundred  of  Derbye. 

ShefFe  [of]  Arrowes     . 


Dymilaunces  iij 

ix 

Light  horses  iij             .              . 

xxxix 

Corslettes 

Ixxxv 

Almayne  Ryvettes  or  plate  coates 

cxviij 

Pykes 

cxj 

Longe  Bowes  . 

cvj 

Steele  cappes  or  sculles 

Calivers 

Murrians 

Billes 


nij  .  X 
hiij 
Ixxj 

xlv 


Countj)  palatine  of  aancasiter.  525 

ittjunHrrli  of  Urylonae.  chap. 

XIII. 

Sir  Thomas  Hesketh,  Knt.  to  furnishe: — Dymylaunce  i;   Light  horsemen  ii ;  Corseletts  iii ;  Almayne    ■ 

ryvetts  or  coates  plate  iii ;   Pykes  iii ;   Long  bowes  iii ;   Sheffe  arrowes  iii ;  Steele  cappes  iii ; 

Harquebutts  ii ;  Murians  or  salletts  ii. 
Edward  Standishe,  Esq.  to  furnishe : — Light  horses  ii;  Corseletts  ii;  Almayne  ryvetts  or  coats  plate  ii; 

Pykes  ii;  Long  bowes  ii;  ShefFe  arrowes  ii;  Steele  cappes  ii;  Calivers  i;  Morrione  i. 
Willm.  Farington,  Esq.  for  goods  to  furnishe: — Light  horse  i;   Hargabut  i;   Longe  bowe  i;  Sheffe 

arrowes  i. 
Thomas  Standish,  Esq.  pro  terr.  to  furnishe  lyke  Mr.  Farington. 
Richard  Lathome,  Ar.  to  furnishe: — Light  horse  i. 

Thomas  Ashall,  Robert  Charnocke,  Richard  Ashton,  to  furnish  same  as  Mr.  Lathome. 
Henry  Banester,  Ar.  to  furnishe : — Light  horse  i ;   Hargabut  i ;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Scull  i. 
John  Adlington  to  furnishe: — Light  horse  i;  Harquebut  i;  Long  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arrowes  i;  Scull  i. 
Peter  Farington,  Vx  John  Charnock,  Wm.  Chorley,  John  Wrightington,  Gilbert  Langtree,  Edward 

Worthington,  Laurence  Worthington,  to  furnishe  the  same  as  John  Adlington. 
Willm.  Stopford,  to  furnishe: — Coate  plate  i;  Longe  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arrowes  i;  Scull  i. 
John  Butler  to  furnishe: — Long  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arrowes  i;  Scull  i;  Bill  i. 
And  the  following  the  same  as  John  Butler: — 

Thomas  Stanynawght,  George  Norres,  Richard  Todde,  Richard  Jevum,  Rich.  Hoghe,  John 
Clayton,  Tho.  Solome,  Wm.  Tarleton,  John  Stones,  John  Stewerson,  John  Lightfbote,  Wm.  Forshawe, 
Edmunde  Parker,  Willm.  Tayler,  Henry  Farington,  Rich.  Foreste,  Robert  Cowdrye,  Henry  Sherdley, 
Rawffe  Caterall,  Thomas  Sharrocke,  Thomas  Gellibronde,  Alexander  Brerde,  Roberte  Farington, 
Wm.  Cowper,  Oliver  Garstange,  John  Guerdon,  Robert  Mollyneux,  Edward  Hodgson,  Richard 
Withrill,  Laur.  Garstange,  Gilberte  Howghton,  James  Browne,  Thomas  Dickonson,  Laur.  Finche,  Vx 
Thurston  Hesketh,  John  Wakefielde,  Seth  Forester,  James  Tompson,  Thomas  Chisnall,  Laur.  Night- 
gall,  Vx  Roberte  Charnocke,  Richard  Nelson,  James  Prescote,  Rich.  Tompson,  Robert  Forster,  John 
Lawe,  Roger  Brodhurste. 


Summary  for  the  Hundred  of  Leylonde. 


Dymylaunces 

Light  horses  .... 
Corselettes  .... 
Cotes  of  Plate,  Brigund"  or  Almaine 
Ryvettes  .... 
Pykes  .... 


j 

Stronge  Boes     . 

xj 

Sheffes  of  Arrowes 

V 

Steele  cappes  or  seniles 

Culivers 

xiiij 

Morians 

xiiij 

Billes      . 

Ixx 
Ixx 
Ixx 

X 

X 

xlix 


Sir  Rich.  Shirburne,  Knt.  to  furnishe :  — Dymylaunce  i ;  Lighte  horsemen  ii ;  Corseletts  iii ;  Coates  of 
plate  iii;  Pykes  iii    Long  boes  iii;  Sheffe  arrowes  iii;  Steele  cappes  iii;  Calivers  ii;  Murrians  ii. 

John  Towneley,  Esq.  to  furnishe: — Dymilaunce  i;  Lighte  horses  ii ;  Corsletts  ii ;  Coates  of  plate  ii ; 
Pykes  ii;  Long  boes  ii ;  Sheffe  of  arrowes  ii ;  Steele  cappes  ii ;  Caliver  i ;  Morrian  i. 

Sir  J.  SowthwOrth,  Knt  to  furnishe  : — Light  horses  ii ;  Corsletts  ii ;  Coates  of  plate  ii ;  Pyks  ii ;  Long 
bowes  ii ;  Sheffe  of  arrowes  ii ;  Steele  cappes  ii;  Caliver  i;  Morrione  i. 


526 


Cfte  W^tov^  ot  tt)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


John  Osbaldeston,  Esq.  to  furnishe  same  as  Sir  John  Sowthworth,  saving  he  is  chardged  with  almaine 
ryvetts  or  cotts  of  plate,  and  this  is  the  wholle  difference. 

Thomas  Caterall,  Esq.  to  furnishe: — Lighte  Horse  i;  Harquebut  i ;  Longe  bowe  i;  Sheffe  of  arrowes  i; 
Scull  i. 

Thomas  Nowell,  Esq.  to  furnishe  the  same  as  Mr.  Caterall. 

Richarde  Ashton,  Esq.  to  furnishe : — Lighte  horse  i ;  Corsletts  ii ;  Coates  of  plate  ii ;  Pykes  ii ;  Long 
bowes  ii;  Sheffe  of  arrowes  ii ;  Steele  cappes  ii;  Caliver  i;  Morrione  i. 

John  Talbot,  Esq.  to  furnishe  the  same  as  Mr.  Ashton,  saving  he  is  not  chardged  with  any 
Steele  cappes. 

Nicholas  Banestar,  Ar.  to  furnishe  : — Lighte  horse. 

John  Rishworth,  Ar.  to  furnishe : — Lighte  horse. 

Richard  Grymeshawe,  Ar.  to  furnishe  :^Coate  of  plate  i ;  Long  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  of  arrowes  i ;  Caliver  i ; 
Scull  i;  Billi. 

Thomas  Walmysley,  Ar.  John  Braddill,  Ar.  Henrie  Towneley,  Thomas  Aynsworth,  Nicholas  Parker, 
to  furnishe  the  same  as  Mr.  Grymeshawe. 

Alex.  Howghton,  Gent,  to  furnishe  : — Corslette  i ;  Cote  of  plate  i ;  Pyke  i ;  Long  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  of 
arrowes  i;  Steele  cappe  i;  Caliver  i ;  Morrione  i. 

Roger  Nowell,  Esq.  to  furnishe: — Coate  of  plate  i;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arrowes  i;  Caliver  i ; 
Scull  i;  Bill  i. 

William  Barecrofte,  Henrie  Banester,  Thomas  Watson,  Ilvan  Heydocke,  Edward  Starkie,  Robert 
Moreton,  Olin  Birtwisill,  John  Greenacre,  Nicholas  Hancocke,  to  furnishe  the  same  as 
Mr.  Nowell. 

Thomas  Astley  to  furnishe  : — Cote  plate  i ;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ;  bill  i. 

Thomas  Whittacre,  George  Shuttleworth,  Fraunces  Garsyde,  to  furnishe  same  as  Mr.  Astley. 

Robert  Smithe,  to  furnishe  : — Long  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Scull  i ;  Bill  i. 

John  Ashowe,  Nicholas  Robinson,  George  Seller,  Nicholas  Halstidd,  Wm.  Langton,  Bryan  Parker, 
Laurence  Whitacre,  John  Ormrode,  Rawffe  Haworth,  Richard  Cunlyffe,  Rich.  Parker,  Wm. 
Barker,  Adam  Bolton,  George  Talbot,  Thomas  Lassell,  Thomas  Isherwoodde,  Richard  Haber- 
iame,  Wm.  Starkye,  Rich.  Harrison,  Rich.  Crounlowe,  Tho.  Honghim,  Rich.  Shawe,  Rich. 
Bawden,  Alexander  Lyvesaye,  William  Churchlowe,  Rawffe  Talbotte,  Edwarde  Carter,  Rich. 
Woodde,  Tho.  Holliday,  Roger  Nowell,  Hughe  Shuttleworth,  Hughe  Halsted,  Henry  Speake, 
Tho.  Enot,  Henrie  Shawe,  Peter  Armerode,  Thomas  Walmysley,  Thomas  Dewhurst,  Olin 
Ormerode,  John  Nuttall,  Gilberte  Rishton,  Nicholas  Cunliff,  Henrie  Barecrofte,  Laur.  Blakey, 
John  Hargreue,  James  Fieldes,  James  Hartley,  Thomas  Ellys,  Thurston  Baron,  Roberte  Caruen, 
George  Elston,  Barnarde  Townley,  Oliver  Halsted,  John  Seller,  John  Pastlowe,  John  Whittacre, 
John  Aspinall,  Roberte  Cunliff,  Richard  Charneley,  Geffrey  Ryshton,  Roberte  Seede,  Thurstone 
Tompson,  Richard  Bawden,  Tho.  Osbaldeston,  John  Holden,  Gyles  Whitacre,  Richard  Tatter- 
sall,  Roberte  Smithe,  Nicholas  Duckesburie,  William  Merser,  to  furnishe  in  everie  respect  the 
same  as  Robert  Smithe. 

The  following  is  the  Summary  for  the  Hundred  of  Blackeburne. 


Dnnilaunces 

ij 

Sheffe  of  arr. 

CXlJ 

Light  Horses      .             .             .             . 

xiij 

Steele  cappes     . 

cix 

Corslettes 

xiiij 

Calivers 

xxvj 

Cotes  of  Plate  or  Almaine  Ryvettes 

xxxiiij 

Morrians 

xxvij 

Pykes 
Large  boes 

xiiij 
cxij 

BiUes 

XX 

iiij  .  x 

Coiintp  ^alatuw  of  ILantasitn-* 


527 


fl^un&rrti  of  amounaernr^^. 

John  Rigmaiden,  Esq.   to  fumishe: — Lighte  horse  i;   Corsletts  ii;  Coates  plate  ii ;   Pyks  ii ;   Long 
boes  ii ;  Sheffe  arrowes  ii ;  Steele  cappes  ii;  Caliver  i ;  Morrione  i. 

Cuthberte  Clifton,  Esq.  to  fumishe: — Light  horse  i;   Coate  plate  i;  Pyke  i;   Long  bowes  ii ;  SheflF 
arrowes  ii;  Steele  cappes  ii;  Caliver  i ;  Morrione  i. 

John  Westbie,  Thomas  Barton,  Wm.  Skillicome,  to  fumishe  the  same  as  Mr.  Clyfton. 

Richard  Traves,  to  fumishe: — Coate  plate  i;   Longe  bowe  i;  sheffe  arr.  i ;  sculls  ii;  Caliver  i;  Mor- 
rione i ;  Bill  i. 

James  Massey,  George  Alane,  to  fumishe  the  same  as  Richard  Travers. 

Robert  Mageall  to  fumishe : — Coate  plate  i ;  Long  bowe  i ;  Sheff  arr.  i ;  sculls ;  Bill  i. 

Thomas  Ricson  to  fumishe  the  same  as  Robert  Mageall. 

Wm.  Hodgkinson,  to  fumishe: — Coate  plate  i;   Pyke  i;    Long  bowe  i ;   Sheffe  arr.  i;   Scull  i ;  Mor- 
rione i ;  Bill  i. 

William  Banester,  Thomas  Breres,  Roger  Hodgkinson,  Laur.  Walles,  to  fur.  the  same  as  Wm.  Hodg- 
kinson doth. 

William  Hesketh  to  furnishe  of  good  will: — Caliver  i ;  Morriane  i. 

Robert  Plesington,  Thomas  Whyttingham,   Wm.  Singleton,   John  Veale,  Evan  Heydocke,  William 
Burrell,  to  fur.  the  same  as  Wm.  Hesketh  doth. 

Henrie  Kygley,  to  furnishe: — Coate  plate  i;  Long  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arr.  i.  Scull  i. 

Summary  for  the  Hundred  of  Amoundernes. 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Dimylaunces 

i 

Sheff  arr. 

xxij 

Light  horses 

V 

Steele  Cappes 

xxvij 

Corselettes 

■J 

Calivers 

XV 

Cotes  of  Plate  or  Almaine  Ryvettes 

xvij 

Murrions 

XX 

Pykes 

xi 

Billes 

X 

Long  bowes 

xxij 

l^ttntirrti  of  %ont^Xit\\. 

Wm.   Lord  Monteagle,  to  furnishe: — Dimilaunces  (thereof  one  to  be  an  horse)  ii ;   Lighte  Horsemen 

iii ;   Corseletts  xx  ;  Cots  of  plate  or  almayne  ryvetts  xx;   Pyks  xx  ;   Long  bowes  xv  ;  Sheffe  of 

arrowes  xv ;  Steele  cappes  xv  ;  Calivers  vi ;  Morrians  vi. 
Roberte  Dalton,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Dimilaunce  i ;   Light  horse  i ;  Corseletts  i ;    Coats  of  plate  or 

almayne  ryvetts  ii ;  Pyks  iii ;   Longe  bowes  iii ;   Sheffe  arrowes  iii ;   Steele  capes  iii ;   Caliver  i ; 

Morrione  i. 
Francis  Tunstall,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Light  horses  ii ;   Corsletts  ii ;   Coate  plate  or  briged  ii ;   Long 

bowes  ii ;  Sheffe  arrowes  ii;  Sculles  ii ;  Pyks  ii ;  Morryans  ii ;  Caliver  i. 
George  Middleton,  Esq.  Roger  Kirbie,  Esq.  to  fumishe  same  as  Francis  Tunstall,  Esq. 
William  Fleminge,  to  furnishe : — Lighte  horse  i ;  Corselette  i ;  Coate  plate  i ;  Pyke  i ;  Long  bowes  ii; 

Sheffs  of  arr.  ii ;  Sculls  ii ;  Caliver  i. 
Thomas  Carus,  to  furnishe  : — Lighte  horse  i;   Corslette  i;   Coate  plate  i;  Pyke  i ;   Longe  bowe  i ; 

Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Calliver  i ;  Morrione  i. 
Robert  Byndlowes,  to  furnishe  same  as  Thomas  Carus. 
Thomas  Curwen,  a  lighte  horse  furnished. 


628 


CfK  ?^lSittlll)  Of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Wm.  Thornborowe,  a  light  horse  furnished. 

Gabriell  Crofte,   to  furnishe  : — Corslette  i ;   Steele  coate  i ;    Longe  bowe  i ;   Sheff  arr.  i ;  Scull  i ; 

Caliver  i ;  Morrione  i. 
Nicholas  Brudsey,  to  furnishe ;— Coate  plate  i;  Longe  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arr.  i;  Pyke  i;  Steele  cappe  i; 

Caliver  i;  Morrione  i. 
George  Sowthworth,  to  furnishe  :— Coate  plate  i ;   Longe  bowe  i ;   Shefte  arr.  i ;   Scull  i ;  Caliver  i ; 

Morrione  i. 
James  Ambrose,  Wm.  Redman,  Marmaducke  Blackburne,  Anthonie  Knype,  Thomas  Stanfilde,  same 

as  Geo.  Sowthworth. 
John  Preston,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i ;  Corseletts  ii ;  Steele  coats  ii ;  Fyks  ii ;  Longe  bowes  ii ; 

ShefFe  arr.  ii ;  Steele  cappes  ii  ;  Caliver  i ;   Morryane  i. 
Frauncis  Tunstall,  to  furnishe:— Coate  plate  i;  Longe  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ;  Cali- 
ver i ;  Morrione  i. 
Nicholas  Hudleston,  Richard  Curwen,  Rich.  Redman,  to  fur.  same  as  Francis  Tunstall. 
Edwarde  Northe,  to  furnishe  :— Coate  plate  i ;  Long  bowe  i  ;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Steele  cappe  i. 
John  Tompson,  Robert  Banz,  Jun.  John  Gibson,  Tho.  Parker,  Mr.  Newton,  of  Whittingham,  Thomas 

Parker,  to  fur.  same  as  Edward  Corthe. 
John  Calvert,  to  furnishe  :— Long  bowe  i  ;   Sheffe  arr.  i  ;  Scull  i  ;   Bill  i. 
Richard  Reder,  Christopher  Skerrowe,  Richard  Hynde,  Elenor  Singlet,  Laur.  Parkinson,  Christopher 

Thornton,  John  Proctor,  Geffray  Batson,  Thomas  Widder,  W".  Thornton,  Christopher  Battye, 

to  fur.  the  same  as  John  Calverte. 


Summary  for  the  Hundred  of  Lonesdall. 


Dimilaunces     . 

"J 

Sheffes  Arrowes 

Light  horses     . 

xvij 

Steele  Cappes 

Corselettes 

xxxiij 

Calivers 

Coates  of  Plate  or  Almaine  Ryvetts 

lij 

Morryans 

Pykes 

XXXV 

BiUes 

Long  bowes 

Ivij 

Ivij 

XXV 
XXX 

xiij 


i^untrwa  tit  S'alforU. 


Edmunde   Trafford,    Esq.   to   furnishe: — Dimilaunce  i;  Light  horses    ii ;  Corseletts   x;  Coates  of 

plate  X ;  Pyks   x  ;   Longe  bowes  viii ;    Sheffes   arr.    viii ;    Steele   cappes  viii  ;    Calivers   iii  ; 

Morrians  iii. 
John  Radcliffe,  Esq.  to  furnishe  : — Dimilaunce  i ;  Lighte  horses  ii ;  Corseletts  iii  ;  Coates  plate  iii ; 

Pykes  iii ;  Longe  bowes  iii ;  Sheffes  Arr.  iii ;  Steele  cappes  iii ;  Calivers  ii ;  Morrians  ii. 
Robte  Barton,  Esq.  to  furnishe :— Light  horses  ii ;   Corseletts  ii ;  Almaine  ryvetts  or  plate  cots  ii ; 

Pykes  ii ;  Long  bowes  ii ;  Sheffe  arr.  ii ;  Steele  capps  ii ;  Caliver  i ;  Morrione  i. 
Richarde  Hollande,  Ar.,  Fraunce  Holt,  Ar.,  John  Bothe,  Ar.  to  furnishe  same  as  Mr.  Barton. 
Edmund  Prestwich,  Ar.  a  light  horse  furnished. 
Christopher   Anderton,    Roberte    Worsley,    Edward  Rawstome,  to   furnish    same   as    Mr.  Preste- 

wiche. 
Charles  Holte,  Ar.  to  furnishe  :— Lighte  horse  i ;  Caliver  i ;   Morriane  i ;   Coate  of  plate  i. 


CHAP. 


County  |3alntinc  of  aaiunstcr.  529 

Edmunde  Asshton,  Ar.  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i ;  Calivcr  i  ;  Morriane  i. 

Willm.  Hylton,  Ar.,  James  Browne,  Ar.,  Rawffe  Ashton,  Ar.,  T.  Greenehalghe,  Ar.,  Alex.  Barlowe,       XIII. 
Ar.,  to  furnishe  same  as  Mr.  Ashton. 

John  Orrell,  Esq.,  to  furnishe  : — Light  horse  i ;  Corslette  i;  Pyke  i;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arr.  i ; 
Morriane  i ;  Harq.  i ;  Scull  i. 

George  Halghe,  to  furnishe :— Coate  of  plate  i ;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ; 
Bill  i. 

James  Bradshawe,  Allen  Hilton,  Edmund  Hey  wood,  Roger  Browne,  Richard  Leaver,  Greorge 
Longworth,  to  furnish  same  as  George  Halghe. 

Bradshawe,  of  Bradshawe,  in  lyke,  and  a  caliver  furnished. 

Alexander  Warde,  W"".  HoUande,  Thomas  Massie,  Robert  Holte,  Charles  RadclifFe,  Edw".  Butter- 
worth,  Cuthbte.  Scolefeld,  Arthure  Asshton,  Tho.  Lees,  James  Asshton,  George  Gregorie,  Ellys 
Aynsworth,  Tho.  Crompton,  same  as  Bradshawe. 

George  Pylkington,  to  furnishe  : — Corslette  i ;  Caliver  i ;  Morriane  i. 

James  Hulme,  to  furnishe  : — Coate  plate  i ;  Long  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ;  Caliver  i ; 
Morryan  i  ;  Bill  i. 

Richard  Radcliffe  to  furnish  the  same  as  James  Hulme. 

Thomas  Chatterton  to  furnishe  :— Coate  plate  i ;  Long  bowes  ii ;  Sheffe  arr.  ii ;  Sculles  ii ;  Caliver  i ; 
Murriane  i ;   Bill  i. 

Dame  Eliz.  Byron  to  furnishe  : — Coate  plate  i ;  Longe  bowes  ii ;  Sheffe  arr.  ii ;  Sculles  ii ;  Bill  i ; 
Morriane  i. 

Willm.  Tatton,  Ar.  to  fur  : — Corslette  i ;  Caliver  i ;  Murriane  i ;  Longe  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Stele 
cappe  i ;  Bill  i. 

Adam  Hill  to  furnishe  -.—Coate  plate  i ;  Long  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Steele  cappe   ;  Bill  ii. 

Thomas  Asshton,  to  furnishe  :— Coate  plate  i;  Long  bowe  i;  Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ; 
Caliver  i ;  Murriane  i;  Bill  i. 

Morrys  Asshton  to  fur.  same  as  Thomas  Asshton. 

W"!.  Ratcliffe,  to  furnishe : — Coate  plate  i ;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Caliver  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ; 
Bill  i. 

Laur.  Tetlowe,  W™.  Hyde,  Roberte  Hyde,  Rawffe  Holme,  Thomas  Byron,  Roberte  Holme,  Thomas 
Willotte,  Alexander  Rigbie,  to  fur.  same  as  W™.  Ratcliffe. 

John  Sharpies,  to  furnish  : — Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arrowes  i ;  Steele  cappe  i ;  Bill  i. 

John  Marten,  John  Bradshawe,  Edward  Hopkinson,  William  Browne,  Hughe  Westmonghe,  Edmund 
Brodhurste,  Roger  Hyndley,  George  Lathome,  Tho.  Valentyne,  John  Parre,  Otes  Hollande, 
Edmund  Sceadie,  Henrie  Tonge,  Robert  Hodge,  John  Nowell,  Rawffe  Cowoppe,  James  Ander- 
ton,  John  Roberte,  Rich.  Meadowcrofte,  Tho.  Aynsworthe,  Edmund  Taylor,  Roberte  Barlowe, 
John  Wrighte,  Richarde  Livesaye,  Huane  Worthington,  Thomas  Buckley,  Robert  Haworthe, 
Edmunde  Whyteheade,  John  Chadwicke,  Henrie  Sledge,  Ellis  Chadwicke,  Robert  Butterworth, 
Peter  Heywoodd,  Roger  Houlte,  W".  Bamforde,  Thomas  Barlowe,  Vx  Edward  Symond,  Roger 
Laye,  Francis  Barlowe,  Thurston  Hayner,  Robert  Blagnley,  Anthonie  Elcocke,  Tliomas  Birche, 
Edwarde  Saddell,  Robert  Skelmesden,  Thomas  Nicholson,  Frauncis  Pendleton,  Humfrey  Hough- 
ton, W".  Blagnley,  George  Birche,  George  Prowdlove,  George  Hollande,  Laur.  Robynson, 
Nicholas  Moseley,  to  fur.  same  as  John  Sharpies. 

Adame  Hill,  to  furnishe  : — Coate  plate  i ;  Longe  bowe  i ;  Sheffe  arr.  i ;  Bill  i. 

James  Guillame,  James  Chetame,  Edward  Holme,  to  fur.  same  as  Adame  Hill. 
VOL.   I.  3  Y 


530 


Cfte  i^isituri)  of  tt)e 


CHAP.     The  Towne  of  Manchester  were  contented  of  good  will  to  fur.  and  have  in  ready nes  ; 
^^^^'  Pyks  vi ;  Curriers  ii ;  Morrians  ii. 


-Corseletts  vi ; 


Summary  for  the  Hundred  of  Salford. 


Dimilaunces 

'J 

SheflPes  of  Arrowes 

Light  Horses     . 

xxiiij 

Steele  Cappes  . 

Corselettes 

XXX 

Calivers 

Coats  of  Plate  or  Almaine  Ryvettes 

Iviij 

Morrians 

Fykes 

xxviij 

Billes 

Long  bowes 

Cxviij 

Cxviij 

Cxxiij 

xxxiij 

xxxv 

Ixxxxvij 


Sum  of  all  the  Furniture  w"'in  the  Countie  of  Lane]  appearethe  here  vnder  written. 


Dimilaunces 
Light  Horses 
Corselettes 

Coates  of  Plate  cr  Almaine  Ryvettes 
Pykes 


Lan8    \      Long  bowes 

Shefies  of  Arrowes  . 

Steele  Caps 
Calivers 
Morrians 
Billes 


xvuj. 
Cviij. 

Clix. 

XX. 

CCiiij.  xiij. 


C.  XX. 

iiij.    iiij.  x. 

C.  XX. 

iiij.    iiij.  x. 

C.        XX. 

iiij.    iiij.  x. 

Clxiij. 

Clxxiij . 

CCClxv 


Men  furnished  by  the  Statute  and  of  good  will  the  nijber  of  ni  CCxxx''^. 

[Fromfol.  5  tofol.  19  a.] 

A  Certificate  of  a  geiJall  Muster  taken  w'l'in  the   coiitie  of  Lane,   in  August  aforesaid 
A"  xvj'°  Eliz.  Reginse  wherin  was  certifyed  on  and  besyde  the  m.  CC.  xxx.  men  furnished  by  force 

C.  C.        XX. 

of  the  Statute  for  Armo"  the  nQb'  of  mm  iij.  Ixxv.  able  men  furnished  by  the  cuntrey  iiij.  iiij.  Ixxv. 

c. 
And  also  the  niaber  of  mm.  iiij.  xv.  able  men  to  serue  her  Ma*'*  and  w'^''  be  vnarmed. 

Hundred  de  Derbye. 

Archers,  being  able  men  furnished  by  the  cCtreye  w"'  bowes,  arrowes,  f 

Steele  cappes,  sword  f  dagger        ,.  ..  ..  .,  ..      ^Cxl. 

Bill  men  beinge   able  men  fur.  by  the  Cuntrey  w*  Jacke,  sallette,  bill,  ^ 

sworde  and  dagger  ..  ..  ..  .,  ..  ..       ^'llJ•xxlx 

Archers  beinge  able  men  vnfurJ  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  q^I 


c. 

V.  Ixix. 


Bill  men  beinge  able  men  vnfurj 


C.        XX.        ^V. 

iij.  iiij.  X  y 


Couiitp  palatine  of  Eanrastcr,  531 

Hundred  of  Leylande.  CHAP. 

XIII. 


} 


Archers  beinge  able   men.   fur.  by  the  Cuntrey  w""  bowes,  Arrowes, 

Steele  cappes,  sword  f  dagger        . .  . .  . .  . .  . .      5  '"      f  /-.ri;  . 

Bill   men  beinge  able  men   fur.  by  the  Cuntrey  w""  Jacke,  Sallet,  bill,  ^qq    4 
sword  f  dagger       . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  •'      S 

Archers  beinge  able  men  vnfur.  .  •  . .  . .  . .  . .  xl  ^  Cxxx 

Bill  men  beinge  vnfurnished       . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .       Ixxxx       3 

Hundred  of  Blackeborne. 
Archers  beinge  able  men  fur.  by  the  Countrey  w""  bowes,  arrowes,  Steele"^ 

cappes,  sword  f  dagger 5    ^''^"'  |  iij.  Ixxv 

Bill  men,  beinge   able  men  fur.   by  the  Cutrey  w"-  Jacke,   sallet,  bill,  "^  > 

sworde  f  dagger     . .  . .  . .  . .  •  •  •  •  •  •      3 

Archers  beinge  able  men  vnfur.  . .  . .  .  •  •  •  •  •  xx         -^  ^ 

.9.:    ..       Jiiij.   xxij 
Bill  men  being  able  vnfur.  ..  ..  ..  ••  ••  ••  uij.  ij.     J 

Hundred  de  Lonesdall. 
Archers  beinge  able  men  fur.  by  the  Cuntrey  w">  bowe,  arrowes,  Steele"^ 

cappe,  sword  f  dagger 3    ^'■'  >iiH.  Ivj 

Bill  men  beinge  able  fur.  by  the  cuntrey  w'"  Jacke,  sallett,  bill,  sword  "^  jy    ^^--     ^ 

f  dagger     . .  • .  . .  .  •  •  •  •  •  • •  •  •      J 

Archers  beinge  able  men  vnfurnished Ixxvj      ^.p-   ^ 

Bill  men  beinge  able  vnfurj       . .  . .  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  CClxvij  ) 

Hundred  de  Amoundernes. 
Archers  beinge  able  men  fur.  by  the  countrey  w'^  bowes,  arrowes,  Steele  "^ 

cappe,  sword  ^  dagger       ..  ..  ..  ••  ••  "      S  fm 

Bill  men  beinge  fur.  by  the  cuntreye  w'!"  Jacke,  sallette,  bill,   sword  f^  >CClx 

dagger         . .  . .  . .  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •      3 

Archers  beinge  able  vnfur.         . .  . .  •  •  .  •  •  •  •  •  Cxx  ^^-    ,     . 

c.  J  V.  Ixxix 

Bill  men  beinge  able  vnfur. '"J-  ^'^     J 


Hundred  de  Salforde 
Archers  being  able  men  fur.  w">  y'  ciitrey  w'h  bowes,  arr.  Steele  cappe,  "^ 


sworde  and  dagger  ..  ..  ..  ..  ••  ••      3  J?.-.     ,■•• 

Bill  men  beinge  able  fur.  by  the  cutrey  w">  Jacke,  sallet,  bill,  sworde  ")?.■  j??.-  ^jjj.    j"'"    '"• 
e  das-ffer      . .          . .           . .           . .          . .          . .          •  •           . .      3 

:xii  ")  9/.     ?. 

i.  ix   3 


f  dagger 

Archers  beinge  able  vnfur.         . ,  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .         Ixx 

c.   '      ?"J-  '">  J 
Bill  men  beinge  able  vnfur.        . .  . ,  . .  . .  . .  . .  iij- 

c. 
,  Sum  tottis  of  the  men  fur.  w'*"  Armes  at  the  chardges  of  the  Cuntrey  m.  m.  iij.  Ixxv. 

"  \  Sum  tottis  of  the  able  men  f  beinge  vnarmed  certifyed  in  this  gefiall ")  .p.-.  .=?.• 

I  ».  o  JO  i.m.  m.  nij.  nij.  XV. 


mvster         . .  . .  . .         . .         . .         . .         • .         •  •      3 


c. 


'        Vnd  that  there  was  certifyed     Also  of  Laborers  or  Pyoffls  vnarmed   . .  vj. 

[Fol.  20.] 
3  Y  2 


632 


CiK  ?t?i5tori)  of  tftc 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Ancient 
Tenth  and 
Fifteenth. 


In  the  same  year  that  these  returns  were  made,  a  declaration  was  promulgated 
of  the  ancient  tenth  and  fifteenth  chargeable  throughout  the  county,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  summary: — 

[Harl.  MS.  Cod.  1926.] 

"  A  Declaracon  of  the  Ancient  Tenthe  and  xv""  chargeable  av*''  in  the  contie  of 
Lane,  w"'  a  note  also  of  the  Deduccons  sett  dowiie  by  S'  Peter  Leiglie  and  S'  Peter 
Gerrard  K'",  Thomas  Kighley,  Esq'  and  others  ComissionSs  for  the  same  Deduccons 
by  utue  and  force  of  a  Comission  to  them  directed  in  the  xxv""  yeare  of  the  Raigne 
of  Kinge  Henrye  the  vj"",  w"'  a  noate  also  of  the  Remaine  f  Declaracon  of  the 
certen  x"'  f  xv""  nowe  payable  f  chardgeable  throwghe  everie  hundreth  and  pte  of 
the  saidde  Coiitie  of  Lane   [xij  Eliz.  Reginae.] 


Summary. 


Leylonde  Hundrethe 

Blackeborne 

Salforde 

Derbye  Hundred 

Amoundernes 

Louesdall  Hundi'eth 


Deduccons.        Remaind' 


d. 
4 


£.      s. 
36     X 

48     8  6 

48     9  4 

125     8  7 

66   17  0 

50   18  2 


£. 

S- 

d. 

5 

17 

8 

11 

3 

0 

6 

15 

0 

18 

19 

1 

16 

8 

8 

12 

3 

10 

£.     s.  d. 

30  12  8 

37     5  6 

41    14  4 

106     9  6 

49   17  8 
39     4 


0 


"  Sum  of  the  Auncient  x'"  f  x"'"  w"'  in  the  countie  of  Lan? 
as  the  same  is  before  pticlerly  sett  downe  f  expressedde 
amoviteth  vnto  the  som  of  ..... 

"  Wlierof  there  was  deducted  by  force  of  a  Comission  vnder 
the  great  Seale  of  Englaude  du'ected  to  the  Comission's 
before  named  bearinge  date  as  before,  the  soiii  of    . 

"  And  so  Remayneth  payable  to  the  Queens  Ma'''  for  a 
Tenth  f  xv"'  w"'  in  the  said  coutie  of  Lane,  the  soiTi  of  . 


ccc  Lxxvj"  xj'  xj"*  ob. 

Ixxj''  vij^  3''  ob. 
cccv''  3'  Aiij'' " 


While  these  financial  arrangements  were  proceechng,  the  county  was  much 
agitated  by  religious  feuds;  and  the  ministers  of  rehgion  were  not  only  threatened 
with,  but  actually  exposed  to,  the  dagger  of  the  assassin.* 

The  queen  at  this  time,  and  indeed  from  the  period  of  her  coronation,  manifested 
much  regai-d  for  the  arts  of  that  celebrated  astrologer,  Dr.  Dee,  afterwards  warden 

*  Warden  Herle's  letter  to  the  lord  treasurer  on  the  wrongs  of  Manchester  College,  1574. 


Coimtp  IJalntme  of  iCanrasitfr.  533 

of  the  collegiate  church  of  Manchester,  whicli  living  lie  procured  of  her  majesty's    chai 


XIII. 


grace  and  favour.  The  doctor  had  hcen  patronized  by  her  royal  brother,  Edward  VI. ; 
but  Elizabeth,  more  munificent,  at  least  iu  her  promises,  assured  him,  that  where 
Edward  had  "  given  him  a  crown,  she  would  give  him  a  noble."  The  queen,  in  her 
condescension,  frequently  visited  the  astrologer  at  his  house  at  Mortlake ;  and  as  he 
was  employed  to  determine  what  would  be  the  most  fortunate  day  for  her  coronation, 
and  to  counteract  the  ill  effects  wliich  it  was  apprehended  would  befall  her,  fi-om  a 
waxen  image  of  her  majesty,  stuck  full  of  pins,  having  been  picked  up  in  Lincoln's 
Inn  Fields,  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  "  vu'gin  queen"  consulted  the  doctor,  as 
other  virgins  in  humbler  stations  consult  "  wise  men,"  upon  the  subject  of  her 
matrimonial  projects. 

The  voluminous  correspondence  of  Dr.  Chaderton,  bishop  of  Chester,  preserved  Tiie 

.  Chaderton 

by  Mr.  Peck,  m  Ins  "  Desiderata  Curiosa,     extending  from  tlie  year  1580  to  mss. 
1586,  details  with  considerable  minuteness  the  pi'oceedings  of  the  ecclesiastical  com- 
mission in  the  county  of  Lancaster  during  that  period,  and  the  object  of  wliich  Ecciesi- 
commission  was  to  prevent  the  inhabitants  from  degenerating  again  into  popery,  as  commis- 
well  as  to  punish  those  recusants,  particularly  of  the  leading  families,  who  refused  to 
adhere  to  the  reformed  religion.     These  objects  are  stated  in  the  following 

"  Letter  from  the  Lords  of  the  Queen's  Council  to  Henry  Hastings, 
Earl  of  Huntington,  [Lord  President  of  the  North.]* 

"  1.  After  our  right  liartie  comendatioiis  unto  youre  good  lordship. 

"  2.  Upon  notice  given  unto  her  Majestie  of  the  falling  awaie  in  matters  of  reli- 
gion in  sundry  of  her  subjects  of  good  qualitie  &  others  within  the  countie  of  Lan- 
caster; for  the  avoiding  of  further  inconveniences  like  to  grow  thereof,  yf  speedye 
redresse  be  not  had,  shce  hath  thouglit  meete  at  this  present  to  gi-aunt  out  the  eccle- 
siastical! commission  for  the  diocesse  of  Chester,  directed  to  our  verie  good  lords,  the 
lord  archbishoppe  of  that  province,  the  earl  of  Darbie,  your  lordsliip,  the  lord 
bishoppe  of  Chester,  and  others;  whereby  you  are  auctorized  to  proceed  with  the 
saide  paities  soe  fallen  away  for  the  reducinge  of  them  to  conformitie,  or  to  punishe 
them  accordiuge  to  such  direction  as  you  shall  receive  by  the  saide  commission 
waiTanted  by  the  lawes  of  the  realnie : 

"  3.  And  forasmuch  as  this  infection,  the  longer  it  shall  be  suffered  to  reigiie  the 
more  yt  will  be  spred  &  become  dangerous;  therefore  yt  behoveth  that  all  expedition 
be  used  in  the  execution  of  the  said  commission ;  which,  being  prescntlye  sent  to  the 
earle  of  Dai'bie,  her  majesties  pleasure  is, 

*  Pock's  Desid.  Cur.  p.  85. 


534  €l)t  iJlEitXIll)  Of  ti)t 

CHAP.  "  4.  That  youre  lordsliip,  with  the  saide  eaile  of  Darhie  &  bishoppe  of  Chester, 

_1 L  doe  forthwitli  consider  &  take  order  for  the  time  &  place  of  your  fii-ste  meetinge ;  & 

thereof  to  geve  knolege  unto  the  rest  of  the  commissioners,  that  they  may  he  readie 
to  meete  &  assist  you  at  the  time  &  place  to  be  appointed. 

"  5.  And  as  tliis  defection  is  principallie  hegunne  by  sundrye  principal!  gentle- 
men of  that  countie,  by  whom  the  meaner  sort  of  people  ai-e  ledd  &  seduced;  soe  it 
is  thought  meter  that  in  thexecution  of  the  commission  you  begin  first  with  the  best 
of  the  said  recusants.  For  that  we  suppose,  tliat  the  inferior  people  will  thereby  the 
soner  be  reclaymed  &  brought  to  obedience;  which,  in  oure  opinions,  wiQ  be  not  a 
little  furthered,  yf  you  shall,  at  the  place  of  youre  assemblies,  cause  some  learned 
minister  to  preach  and  instruct  the  saide  people,  duringe  the  time  of  youre  staye  in 
those  places. 

6.  And  soe  referinge  the  care  and  consederation  of  all  other  thinges  that  maye 
appertaine  to  the  furtherance  of  this  her  majesties  service  to  the  good  consideration  of 
you  the  Commissioners,  wee  bid  you  right  hai'teUe  farewell.  From  the  court  at 
Nonesuch,  the  x,  of  June  1580. 

T.  Bromley,  Cane.  A.  Warwicke,  Clu'.  Hatton, 

"VV.  Burgheley,  F.  Bedford,  James  Crofte, 

E.  Lincoln,  Ro.  Lecester,  Fra.  Walsingham, 

J.  Sussex,  Henry  Huusdon,  Tho.  Wilson. 

"  To  our  verie  good  lord  the  eai'le  of  Himtington." 

June  29,  This  dospatch  is  followed  by  two  others ;  the  first  of  which  dii'ects  that  no  ques- 

tion, whether  this  ecclesiastical  commission  supersedes  the  former,  shall  prevent  them 
from  proceeding  with  theii-  duty;  and  the  latter  dii'ects  that  the  penalties  against  the 

July  3.  recusants  for  not  coming  to  church  shall  be  advanced,  and  that  the  chief  of  their 
number  shall  be  imprisoned  in  Halton  castle,  in  the  county  of  Chester,  with  the  diet 
to  be  allowed  them  after  the  manner  of  the  Fleet  prison  in  London. 

July  15.  The  next  communication  from  the  lords  of  the  council  signifies,  that  the  queen 

having  gi-auted  the  fines  laid  upon  certain  popish  recusants  in  Lancashire  to  Mr. 
Nicholas  Annesley,  and  he  having  been  obliged  to  take  out  a  distringas  on  then- 
lands  and  goods,  the  commissioners  are  to  see  that  the  said  distringas  is  duly  exe- 
cuted by  the  sheriff,  and  the  forfeitures  paid  to  Mr.  Annesley. 

July  Ti.  This  is  followed  by  a  letter  from  lord  Burghley  to  Dr.  Chaderton,  touching  the 

ill  state  of  Lancashii-e  at  the  time  when  the  high  commission  first  repaired  thither,  in 
wliich  it  is  announced,  that  the  queen  has  sent  a  letter  of  thanks  to  the  earl  of  Derby, 
for  liis  zeal  in  endeavouring  to  reform  the  county :  liis  lordship,  at  the  same  time. 


Countj)  ^3alatinr  of  ilaiungtrr.  535 

expresses  his  wish  to  obtain  a  proper  person  to  wliom  he  may  entrust  the  care  of  the    chai>. 

tenants  of  Manchester  college ;  and  after  giving  the  bishop  hopes  that  liis  fii'st  fruits  _ L 

may  be  remitted,  he  gives  him  tliis  statesman-like  advice  as  to  his  behaviour,  both  to 
great  men  and  to  poor: — "  And  nowe,  good  my  lorde,  that  you  are  once  entered  into 
the  way  of  refonnation,  remember  S.  Paul,  tempestivi,  intempestivh.  Somewhere  you 
must  be  as  a  fatlier,  somewhere  [as]  a  lord.  For  so  the  diversitie  of  your  flocke 
Avill  reqmre.  With  the  meanest  sort,  courtesie  will  serve  more  than  argument  3  with 
the  higher  sort,  auctoritie  is  a  match." 

From  a  subsequent  despatch  from  the  lords  of  the  council  to  the  bishop  of  Chester,  July  20. 
it  appears  that  the  people  m  Laucasliii'e  had  much  disputing  about  the  bread  of  the 
holy  sacrament — vdiether  it  should  be  common  bread  or  of  the  wafer  land ;  on  wliicli 
point  theii"  lordships  decided,  that  the  communicants  in  each  parish  should  use  that 
which  they  liked  best,  till  the  parhament  had  taken  further  order  in  the  matter :  to 
the  parhament  was  also  refeiTed  the  question,  whether  fairs  and  mai-kets  should  be 
continued  on  the  sabbath  days,  or  they  should  be  discontinued.  In  a  letter  from  sir  JuK  31. 
Francis  Walsingham  to  the  bishop  of  Chester,  the  quesn's  resolution  was  commu- 
nicated to  deal  with  the  recusants,  and  it  was  at  the  same  time  stated,  that  good 
preachers  were  wanted  in  Lancasliire.  In  a  despatch,  of  the  29th  of  September,  from 
the  queen  to  the  bishop  of  Chester,  his  lordship  and  the  dean  and  chapter  are  requii-ed 
to  furnish  out  three  light  horsemen  for  Ireland;  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  rectors  of 
Wigan,  WinAvick,  and  Middleton  are  required  by  the  council  to  furnish  out  three 
more  Ught  horsemen,  being  each  one.  Two  following  despatches  reqiiu"ed  that  certi-  Nov.  12. 
ficates  of  the  recusants  should  be  returned  from  Lancasliire,  if  not  as  perfect  as  pos- 
sible, yet  as  perfect  as  they  can  be  made.  The  prevaihng  evil  of  young  gentlemen 
being  educated  abroad  in  popish  countries  is  dwelt  upon,  and  divers  gentlemen  in 
the  diocese  are  requii-ed  to  be  called  before  the  bishop,  and  to  give  bonds  for  calling 
their  chilch-en  home  in  tlu'ee  months.  In  a  communication  fi'om  Edwin  Sandys,  lord 
archbishop  of  York,  to  William  Chaderton,  lord  bishop  of  Chester,  an  account  is 
given  of  an  "  exercise"  lately  held  in  Yorkshire,  probably  on  account  of  the  gi-eat 
earthquake  of  the  6thof  Apiil,  1580. 

In  the  following  year,  the  prosecutions  against  the  popish  recusants  were  still  usi. 
more  strongly  pressed  by  the  lords  of  the  council ;  and  sii-  John  Southworth,  lady 
Egerton,  James  Labourne,  esq.,  John  Townley,  esq.,  sir  Thomas  Hesketh,  the  lady 
of  Mr.  Bartholomew  Hesketh,  Campion  the  Jesuit,  James  Aspden,  John  Baxter, 
Richard  a  priest,  William  Wickliffe,  and  Richai-d  Massey,  ai'e  mentioned  as  of  that 
number;  all  of  whom  were  placed  in  confinement,  and  subjected,  as  the  coiTespon- 
dence  sufficiently  indicates,  to  heavy  penalties  and  to  personal  privations.  As  is 
usual  in  times  like  these,  pretenders  to  supernatural  gifts  were  abroad  in  the  county: 


536  €i)(  W^tov^  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    aiid  one  Elizabeth  Ortou  made  no  small  stir  by  two  feigned  visions  wliicli  she  pre- 

L  tended  to  have  had,  and  accounts  of  which  Avere  spread  abroad  amongst  the  Cathohcs 

July  22.  and  otlier  ignorant  people,  to  abuse  the  vulgar,  and  unsettle  the  minds  of  the  well- 
aflfected.  This  unfortunate  giid  was  pubhcly  wliipped,  in  order  to  extort  from  her  a 
confession;  and  the  experiment  at  first  succeeded;  but  she  afterwaixls  retracted  her 
declaration  made  before  the  bisliops  and  the  other  ecclesiastical  commissioners :  that 
confession  was,  however,  thought  too  valuable  to  be  lost,  and,  notwithstanding  her 
retractation,  it  Avas  publicly  read  in  the  parish  church,  and  in  other  places  where  the 
fame  of  her  Aisions  had  been  divulged.  In  addition  to  Halton  castle,  in  the  county 
of  Chester,  the  new  Fleet  at  Manchester  was  used  as  a  prison  for  the  recusants ;  and 
sir  John  Southworth  was  kept  in  confinement  there,  under  the  wardship  of 
Mr.  Worsley,  an  active  public  officer. 
Dec.  7.  In  the  course  of  tliis  correspondence,  the  lord  president  of  the  north  commends 

the  design  of  the  bishop  of  Chester  to  live  at  Manchester,  and  wishes  him  to  set  up  a 
lecture  there,  to  commence  every  morning  at  six  o'clock,  and  every  evening  at  seven 
o'clock.  Notwithstanding  all  this  A-igOance,  the  lords  of  the  council  still  comj^lained 
Dec.  14.  to  Mr.  Richard  Holland,  high  sheriff  of  the  county,  that  though  an  act  had  been 
passed  in  the  last  session  of  parliament  for  all  recusants  to  be  proceeded  against  at 
the  quarter-sessions,  yet  nothing  Avas  done  in  Lancasliire ;  and  they  requii-ed  the  justices 
of  the  peace  to  meet,  and  cause  the  rural  deans,  ministers,  and  churchwardens  to  pre- 
sent aU  such  recusants  upon  oath  at  the  next  quarter-sessions,  or,  in  case  of  neglect,  to 
retiu'n  the  names  of  all  absent  justices,  and  other  defaulters,  to  tlie  privy  council.* 

Amongst  the  most  distinguished  of  the  recusants  was  father  Edmund  Campion, 
tlie  Jesuit,  already  mentioned,!  who,  after  having  passed  through  the  counties  of  York 

*  The  parliament  of  January,  1581,  declared  the  crime  of  absolving  or  withdrawing  others  from 
the  established  religion  high  treason,  and  adjudged  that  the  penalty  of  saying  mass  should  be 
increased  to  two  hundred  marks  and  one  year's  imprisonment;  of  hearing  mass,  to  one  hundred  marks, 
and  imprisonment  for  the  same  period ;  that  the  fine  for  absence  from  church  should  be  £20  a  lunar 
month ;  and  if  extended  to  a  year,  the  offender  to  find  two  sureties  for  his  future  good  behaviour  in 
£200  each;  and,  to  prevent  the  concealment  of  priests  as  tutors  or  schoolmasters  in  private  families, 
every  person  acting  in  such  capacity,  without  the  approbation  of  the  ordinary,  was  liable  to  a  year's 
imprisonment,  and  the  person  who  employed  him  to  a  fine  of  £10  per  month. — 23  Eliz.  c.  1 . 

Koxii  +  ^  letter  from  Campion  to  the  privy  council,  offering  to  avow  and  to  prove  his  Catholic  religion 

MSS.  by  disputation,  before  the  doctors  and  masters  of  both  universities,  concludes  in  a  strain  worthy  of  an 

ancient  martyr :  "  If,"  says  he,  "  these  my  offers  be  refused,  and  my  endeavours  can  take  no  place; 
and  I,  having  run  thousands  of  miles  to  do  you  good,  shall  be  rewarded  with  rigor,  I  have  no  more  to 
say,  but  to  recommend  your  case  and  mine  to  Almighty  God,  the  searcher  of  hearts,  who  send  us  of 
his  grace,  and  set  us  at  accord,  before  the  day  of  payment.  To  the  end  at  last  we  may  be  friends  in 
heaven,  where  all  injuries  shall  be  forgotten." 


Coimtp  ^3alatinr  of  aanragtfr.  537 

and  Lancaster,  disseminating  the  Catholic  doctrines,  was  appi-ehended  in  London,    chap. 

and  committed  to  the  Tower,  wliere,  by  tlic  ojieration  of  the  rack,  lie  was  brouglit  to   L 

divulge  the  names  of  the  jiersons  by  whom  he  had  been  entertained,  and  in  which 

number  the  following  inhabitants  of  Lancashii-e  appear: — "  Talbot  of ,  Esq.; 

Thomas  Southworth,  Gent.;   Bartholomew  Hesketh,   Gent.;  Mrs.  Allen,  WidoAv; 

Richard  Hawghton,  of  the  Park,  Gent.; Westby,  Gent.; Rygmaiden, 

Gent."  It  further  appeared,  that  he  was  in  these  places  between  Easter  and  Whit- 
suntide last  past;  and  that  during  that  time  he  resided  in  Lancashire,  at  Mr.  Tal])ot's, 
and  Mr.  Southworth's.  On  the  ISth  of  November,  Campion  was  brought  to  triid  in 
London,  along  with  seven  other  persons,  before  sir  Christopher  Wray,  the  lord  chief 
justice,  charged  with  conspiring  the  death  of  the  queen's  majesty,  the  overthrow  of 
the  religion  now  professed  in  England,  and  the  subversion  of  the  state.  On  the  trial 
a  letter  was  produced,  written  by  Campion,  the  prisoner,  to  a  person  of  the  name  of  isgi. 
Pound,  a  Catholic,  in  which  the  writer  said,  "  It  gTieveth  me  much  to  have  offended 
the  Catholic  cause  so  liighly,  as  to  confess  the  names  of  some  gentlemen  and  friends, 
in  whose  houses  I  have  been  entertained  :  yet  in  this  I  gi-eatly  cherish  and  comfort 
myself,  that  I  never  discovered  any  secrets  there  declared,  and  that  I  will  not,  come 
rack,  come  rope."  Though  the  prisoners,  particularly  Campion,  defended  themselves 
with  gi-eat  ability,  they  were  all  found  guilty,  and  the  Jesuit,  along  with  three  of  his 
fellow-prisoners,  namely,  Thomas  Cotton,  Robert  Johnson,  and  Luke  Finley,  were 
executed.* 

The  lords  of  the  council,  in  a  despatch  to  Henry  Stanley,  earl  of  Derby,  and 
William  Chaderton,  lord  bishop  of  Chester,  thanked  them  in  the  queen's  name  for 
theii-  brisk  proceedings  against  the  recusants,  and  desii-ed  them  to  go  on;  thanking 
them  also  for  removing  such  as  were  piisoncrs  at  Chester  to  the  new  Fleet,  in  Sal- 
ford,  and  expressing  their  sorrow  that  priests  were  lurking  about  the  country  under 
the  name  of  schoolmasters,  whom  they  wished  to  have  apprehended,  and  brought  to 
punishment.  In  another  despatch  from  the  archbishop  of  York  to  the  bishop  of 
Chester,  the  bishop  is  required  to  reform  Mr.  Wigington,  a  young  puritanical 
minister,  or,  if  that  is  not  practicable,  to  prevent  liini  from  preaching  in  liis  diocese. 
The  expense  of  supporting  the  recusant  prisoners  could  not  be  defrayed  out  of  the 
monthly  forfeitures  levied  in  the  diocese  on  the  recusants,  and  therefore  the  collection 

*  According  to  the  "  Theatrum  Crudelitatis  Hsereticonim  in  Anglia,"  there  were  executed  of 
priests  and  others  of  the  popish  religion,  in  queen  EUzabeth's  reign,  from  1.570  to  1587,  thirty-one 
priests  and  thirteen  laymen.  In  Henry  VIII. 's  reign,  from  1535  to  1543,  according  to  the  same 
authority,  there  were  executed  fifty-two  priests,  including  one  cardinal,  nine  abbots,  and  three  priors ; 
besides  thirty-two  Franciscans,  that  died  in  several  prisons  ;  in  addition  to  which,  there  were  six  laics, 
one  of  whom  was  sir  Thomas  More,  late  lord  chancellor,  and  another  the  countess  of  Salisbury. 

VOL.  r.  3  z 


538  €l)t  ?^l£iti3rp  Of  tin 

CHAP,    of  eio-ht  pence  per  week  in  every  parish,  allowed  by  the  statute  of  the  14  Eliz.  for 

^^^ '_  the  relief  of  other  poor  prisoners,  was  ordered  by  the  lords  of  the  council  to  be  con- 

june  24,     verted  to  this  use,  and  letters  were  written  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  the  bishop  of  Chester, 

1582 

and  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  Cheshii'e  and  Lancasliire,  to  give  orders  for  that  col- 
lection to  be  made  forthwith.  It  was  also  ordered,  that  su'  Edmond  TrafTord,  the  late 
sheriff  of  Chester,  should  pay  the  sum  of  one  hundred  marks,  levied  by  way  of  fine  in 
his  shrievalty  on  James  Laborne,  esq.  a  recusant,  to  Robert  Worsley,  keeper  of  the 
new  Fleet,  in  Manchester,  for  the  diet  and  other  charges  of  the  priests,  and  other  poor 
June  30.  rccusauts  m  that  prison.  To  save  charges,  sir  Francis  Walsingham,  in  a  letter  to  the 
earl  of  Derby,  requested  that  the  most  inoffensive  poor  recusants,  as  women  and  such 
like,  might  be  discharged  upon  their  own  bonds.  The  collection  of  tliis  parish  assess- 
ment, though  amounting  to  only  eight  pence  weekly  for  each  parish,  appears  to  have 
been  attended  with  gi-eat  difficulty;  to  obAiate  which,  Mr.  Worsley  ti-ansmitted  a  pro- 
Dec.  3.  posal  to  government,  wherein  he  offered,  if  he  might  have  a  year's  collection  before- 
hand, to  erect  a  general  workhouse  for  the  Avhole  county  of  Lancaster,  there  being 
then  none  in  existence.  This  scheme  the  lords  of  the  council  strongly  approved,  and 
recommended  that  Mr.  Worsley's  proi)osal  should  be  acceded  to,  both  in  Lancashire 
and  in  Cheshire ;  but  the  undertaldng  seems  to  have  failed. 

1583.  Lord  Burgldey,  and  the  other  lords  of  the  council,  in  a  letter  to  the  earl   of 

Derby  and  the  bishop  of  Chester,  thanked  them  in  the  queen's  name,  for  the  pains 
they  had  taken  in  the  examination  of  James  Labourne,  a  layman,  about  whom  they 
had  ordered  the  queen's  council  to  consider  how  far  he  might  be  punished  for  his 
lewd  speeches,  wliich  punislunent  speedily  ensued.  Labourne,  baling  been  brought 
to  trial,  was  convicted  and  executed,  on  a  charge  of  having  conspired  to  subvert  the 
queen's  government,  and  to  overturn  the  religion  of  the  state.  The  lords  of  the 
council,  though  not  disposed  entii'ely  to  liberate  either  sii"  John  Southworth,  or  John 

Feb.  22.  Townley,  esq.,  fi-om  their  confinement  in  the  Fleet  at  Manchester,  submitted  to  the 
earl  of  Derby  and  the  bishop  of  Chester  whether  they  might  not  relax  the  severity 
of  their  imprisonment.     The  expense  of  the  prison  establisluuent  in  Manchester  at 

July  6.  this  time  was  so  considerable,  that  Mr.  Worsley  brought  in  a  bill  for  the  diet  of  six- 
teen recusants  to  the  amount  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  which  neither  the 
fines,  which  were  very  large,  nor  the  collections  of  eight  pence  per  week  from  the 
parish,  which  were  very  small,  and  deemed  to  be  illegal,  were  equal  to  pay.  The 
justices  of  Lancashire,  therefore,  made  an  offer  of  a  year's  contribution  to  meet  this 

7  Oct  expense,  which  example  the  lords  of  the  council  m-ged  the  justices  of  Chesliii'e  to 
imitate.  At  this  time  many  Jesuits  and  other  priests  were  abroad  in  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  the  antidote  for  which  pest,  the  lord-president  of  the  council  of  the  north 
conceived,  was  best  to  be  found  in  zealous  protestant  preachers,  and,  in  particular. 


Counti)  |3alatinr  of  tanrastrr.  539 

he  hoped  a  good  one  wovihl  be  placed  at  Preston,  wliicli,  being  a  central  part  of  the    cuw 
county,  it  was  desirable  should  be  well  supplied. '_ 


At  the  same  time,  archbishop  Sandys  composed  a  monitory  letter,  ATliich  he 
addressed  to  Dr.  Chaderton,  and  the  other  bishops  of  his  province,  urging  them  to 
take  the  sword  and  armour  of  tlie  Spirit,  to  defeat  the  common  enemy,  and  to  defend 
the  fmth  even  to  blood  and  death.  Tlie  fibres  of  superstition  had,  he  said,  taken 
deep  root  in  the  land ;  to  tliese  he  urged  them  to  ai)p]y  the  sharp  sickle  of  God's 
word,  to  build  up  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  with  all  earnestness  to  shake  down  the 
cruelty  and  tyranny  of  Anticlnist,  to  check  the  stubborn  and  contentious  enemies 
of  the  church  Avith  a  rod  of  iron,  and  to  I'estrain  them  from  infecting  the  sound  with 
their  leprosy.* 

An  obscure  letter,  from  sir  Francis  Walsingham  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  commuui-  Nov.  so. 
cated  the  fact,  that  Mr.  Cartwriglit,  a  puritan  minister,  and  a  number  of  popish 
recusants,  were  in  Lancashire,  for  remedy  of  which  he  recommended  good  preacliers. 
In  this  letter  it  is  stated,  that  Somerville  entertained  the  disloyal  intention  of  assassi- 
nating the  queen,  and  that,  in  order  to  avert  the  consequences  of  liis  treason,  he  had 
feigned  himself  to  be  mad,  but  it  appeared  on  examination,  that  he  was  not  labouring 
under  any  mental  chstraction. 

The  parocliial  weekly  collection,  though  yiehUng  little  revenue,  was  still  pressed 
on  by  the  lords  of  the  council ;  and  those  gentlemen  who  opposed  it,  especially 
Mr.  Bold,  were  ordered  to  be  sent  up  to  London,  to  enter  into  recognizances,  to  Dec.  2. 
appear  before  the  council,  as  well  as  those  who  subscribed  their  names  both  for  it 
and  against  it,  and  those  who  promised  to  join  ^rith  the  earl  of  Derby  and  the  bishop 
of  Chester,  but  yet  forsook  them.  Ferdinand  Stanley,  lord  Strange,  in  order  to 
shew  his  zeal  in  the  prosecution  of  recusants,  addressed  a  letter  of  congratulation  to  Dec.  lo. 
the  bishop  of  Chester,  on  the  good  opinion  entertained  of  his  behaviour  by  the  lords 
of  her  majesty's  council,  and  also  on  the  good  opinion  they  entertained  of  liis  father, 
the  earl  of  Derby. 

As  a  further  act  of  grace  to  sir  John  Soutliworth,  the  lords  of  the  council     23  Feb. 

.  1584 

adcU-essed  a  letter  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  the  bishop  of  Chester,  sir  Jolni  BvTon, 
and  sii-  Edmund  Tratford,  signifying  their  wish,  that  sir  John  might,  at  the 
instance  of  his  son,  have  the  liberty  of  certam  walks  which  he  had  formerly  been  per- 
mitted to  take,  but  which  Mr.  Worsley  had  refused  to  gi'ant  lum,  on  account  of  sir 
John  not  being  present  at  the  saying  of  grace,  and  refusing  to  read  the  bible.  By  Marcii  22. 
another  despatch,  permission  was  gi'anted  to  Mr.  To^^niley,  a  prisoner  for  religion,  at 
Manchester,  to  repair  to  London  for  medical  advice,  at  the  request  of  dean  Nowel, 
Mr.  To^Tiley's  brother-in-law.     In  a  succeeding  despatch  to  the  eai'l  of  Derby  and  w^ircb  22. 

*  Libr.  Gonv.  &  Caius  Col. 
3  z  2 


540  €l)t  l^lStOl'l)  Of  ti)t 

CHAP,    the  bishop  of  Chester,  the  lords  of  the  council  signify,  that  tjiere  being  several  popish 

— L_  priests,  now  prisoners  at  Manchester,  for  perverting  the  queen's  sul)jects  from  their 

allegiance,  it  is  thought  good  that  they  should  be  tried  for  the  same,  //*  terrorem,  at 
the  next  assizes ;  and  that  lay  gentlemen  recusants,  their  p^risoners,  be  made  to  pay 
for  their  diet,  or  be  put  upon  prison  allowance.  The  zeal  of  the  council  against 
Maj  2.  the  recusants  was  not  confined  to  one  sex  ;  for,  in  a  letter  addressed  by  sir  Francis 
Walsingham  to  the  bishop  of  Chester,  liis  lordship  is  desired  to  cause  Mr.  Bartholo- 
mew Hesketh's  wife,  a  busy  recusant,  to  be  apprehended.  He  is  also  desired  to 
inquire  into  the  reason  why  "  sir  John  Southworth  is  minded  to  disinherit  his  son," 
and  to  take  care  to  prevent  his  so  doing.  Robert  Dudley,  earl  of  Leicester,  in  a 
June  5.  letter  to  the  bishop,  expresses  his  approval  of  the  recognizance  of  sir  Tliomas  Hes- 
keth ;  and  intimates  his  intention  shortly  to  visit  liis  cousin,  the  earl  of  Derby.  It 
appears,  that  some  apology  was  thought  necessary  to  be  made  by  her  majesty's 
council  to  the  ecclesiastical  commissioners  for  the  removal  of  sir  John  Southworth 
and  Mr.  Townley  from  Manchester  to  London ;  their  lordships  therefore  stated  to 
the  earl  of  Derby  and  the  bishop  of  Chester,  that  these  gentlemen,  having  paid  their 
fines  according  to  the  late  statute,  could  not  any  longer  remain  justly  committed,  and 
moreover,  that  they  would  do  less  mischief  in  London  than  in  Lancasliire ;  but  that 
if  the  commissioners  thought  it  absolutely  necessary  for  the  ends  of  good  policy,  or 
for  their  own  sake,  they  should  be  sent  back  to  Manchester.  To  turn  the  disloyalty 
of  the  subject  to  the  advantage  of  the  state,  the  lords  of  the  council  wrote  to  the 
sheriffs  and  justices  of  Lancashire,  requiring  the  recusant  gentlemen  in  that  county 
to  set  forth  certain  horsemen  for  the  queen's  service,  or,  in  lieu  thereof,  to  pay  a 
composition  in  money  of  twenty-four  pounds  for  every  horseman  :  and  the  queen, 
whose  zeal  for  the  military  service  was  not  less  active  than  that  of  her  ministers, 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire,  ordering  liim  to  levy  two  hundred 
foot-men  in  that  county  for  the  Irish  service,  without  parade ;  the  said  men  to  be 
ready  at  three  days'  warning,  to  march  under  Edmund  Trafford,  esq.,  whom  she  had 
appointed  to  be  their  captain,  all  furnished  with  cali^  ers,  corslets,  bows,  and  halberts, 
to  which  were  afterwards  added,  swords,  daggers,  doublets,  hose,  and  cassocks. 
June  25,  In  a  letter  from  the  lords  of  the  council  to  Ferchnaud  Stanley,  lord  Strange,  the 

bishop  of  Chester,  and  the  justices  of  Lancasliire  and  Cheshire,  it  is  signified,  that 
several  libels  having  been  formally  published  against  the  queen,  and  now  a  vile 
book,  [Leicester's  Commonwealth]  against  Robert  Dudley,  earl  of  Leicester,  the 
queen  cannot  forbear  rebuking  some  for  their  gi-eat  slackness  in  not  suppressing 
the  former  libels,  and  requiring  them  to  be  more  diligent  in  taking  care  of  tliis 
last ;  both  the  queen  and  they  knowing  the  eai"l  of  Leicester  to  be  clear  of  the 
aspersions  contained  in  it. 


County  palatine  of  iLancasJten 


541 


Tlie  last  public  letter  in  the  series  of  the  Chaderton  MSS.  is  from  the  queen  to 
the  bishop  of  Chester,  signifying  that  her  majesty,  being  resolved  to  assist  the 
Hollanders  against  the  king  of  Spain  mth  a  thousand  horse,  besides  foot,  and  the 
clergy,  in  case  the  Idug  of  Spain  should  prevail,  being  in  as  gi'eat  danger  as  herself, 
she  had  thought  good  that  they  should  pro\ide  some  of  the  said  horse,  or  allow 
twenty-five  pounds  for  each  horse  and  furniture  to  buy  them  abroad ;  the  l)isliop  of 
Chester,  and  his  clergy  in  particular,  to  fit  out  as  many  horse  as  directed  in  the 
following  schedule,  sent  witli  the  queen's  letter  : — 

SCHEDULE. 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


Jan.  'li, 
158(i. 


1 .  The  bishoppe iii. 

2.  The  deane i. 

3.  The  chapter ii. 

4.  Edward    Fleetwood,    parson    of 

Wigan. i. 

5.  John  Caldwell,  parson  of  Wyn- 

wicke ii. 

6.  Edward  Ashton,  parson  of  Mid- 

dleton i. 


7.  John  Nutter,  prebendarie  parson 
of  Seston,  of  Aughton,  and  Be- 


bington 


8 .  R'  Gerrard, prebendarie  in  South- 
well, and  parson  of  Stopport  in 
Cheshire 


u. 


xui. 


recusant 
papers, 
Lanca- 
shire. 


In  the  Harleian  collection  of  manuscripts*  in  the  British   Museum,  we  find  a  Original 
number  of  original  papers   relating  to  "  recusants   and  other  religious  criminals," 
from  wliich  are  made  the  following  extracts  relating  to  the  county  of  Lancaster  : — 

PAPERS  RELATING  TO  RECUSANTS  AND  OTHER  RELIGIOUS  CRIMINALS. 

(Originals.) 

This  ys  the  names  of  all  the  bishopes  doctors  pristes  that  were  prisoners  in  the  flyte  'or 
Fo.  76.  religion  synse  the  fyrste  yere  of  the  raygne  of  quene  Elizabethe  ano  dom.  1558. 

[There  are  18  entries  on  this  paper;  of  which  the  I?"'  is  MC  Pryswytch  g6tellma  th'  16 
gut.]  •    of  Deseber  1562.]  [Fol.  7  b. 

Persons  to  be  sought  after. 
[The  names  of  these  persons  are  written  under  each  other  in  one  column,  and  opposite  most  of 
the  names  are  remarks  stating  the  quality  and  condition  of  the  person,  his  haunts,  &c.     The  follow- 
ing appear  to  be  Lancashire  gentlemen,  but  there  are  no  remarks:] 
The  Sonne  of  S''  Ths.  Gerrard. 
Bouth,  gen" 
Stanley,  gen" 
[The  above  seem  to  have  been  suspected  of  implication  in  Babbington's  Plot ;    for  under  one 
remark  is  written  "  whereof  the  Suauntf  of  Babington  can  further  shewe."] 


Cod.  360. 


542  CI)e  ?^is!torp  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  10  Sep.    1586. 

XIII.  ^  Collection  of  sondry  persons  as  well  Preestf  as  other  ill  affected  to  y'  State. 

N.B.  There  is  no  Lancashire  gentleman  under  this  head,  but  in  the  two  following,  which  are  lists 
of  names,  and  styled  in  the  Catalogue,  "  Advertisements  touching  others,"  and  "  discovering  more 
of  the  same  Gang,"  there  are  these — 
M"'  Charnock  of  Ashby 
M--  Hilton  of  Hilton  Park 
S'"  John  Ratclyffe,  a  daungerous  Temporiser 

Burton,  a  Freest  remayning  w""  the  wyfe  of  S^  Thomas  Gerott's  base  sonne,  being  a 
fleming  borne,  and  a  very  great  harborer  of  the  ill  affected  gent,  in  those  ptf  :  she 
remayneth  for  the  most  pte  at  Checkerbent  in  the  house  of  Ralfe  Holme,  a  Recusant 
M''  Standishe  of  Standishe 
Fo.  14.         M''  Haughton,  of  Haughton  Tower 

Henry  Davys,  sometyme  very  inward  w"'  Shelley. 


Names  of  such  as  are  detected  for  receiptinge  of  Priestf,  Seminaries,  ^8.  in  the  Countie  of  Lancast. 

This   appeareth   by   the  /'      Jane  Eyves  of  Fishiwicke  widowe  receipte  the  Sr  Evan  Banister  an  old 
pnltm'  of  Rafe  S'^iant  j  Prieste 

Churchwarden  of  Wal-  J       S''  Richard  Banister  an  old  Prieste  is  receipted  att  the  howse  of  one 
ton  in  ledait  ' Carter  nere  to  Runcorn  bote 

This   appeareth    by   the  ^       q^^  ^^^^^  jj^^j^  j^i(,i^ard  receipted  att  M'  Rigmadens  of  Weddicar  by 

pflmt  of  y'   Vicar  of  < 

■^  •'  )  reporte 

Garstange  I. 

This   appeareth   by   the  r        ^       ^     ,  ,,■  i-oii  i.- 

„         „  ^  ■"    ,       \       One  Duckson  an  oulde  priest  contynueth  in  Samlesburye  by  comon 

pnStm'  of  Law  :  ccker  .{   ^ 

c  Tj  -1  u     )   Reporte 
sworneman  of  Brihilt     C 

This   appeareth   by   the  ^ 

pffitm's  of  the  Curate  \       Ro'bte  Woodroof  a  seminarie  Priest  receipted   att  the  house  of  Jenet 

of  Burneley  and  the  )  Woodroof  of  Bancktopp  in  the  .pishe  of  Burneley  within  this  halfe  yeare, 

Churchewarden  of  the   I  by  comon  reporte 

Churche  v. 

This   appeareth   by  the  r       John  Lawe  a  seminarie  priest  receipted  in  diflse  ptes  of  Lancashire 

pn!tm'  of  the  Vicar  of  I   as    speciallie    in    the   fishes    of    Ormeskirke    Preston    Blackborne  f 

Whaley  (.  Whalley 

1:  Henry  Fairehurst  of  Winstanley  yeoman 

2:  Thomas  Oriell  of  Winstanley  yeoman 

3:  Thomas  Berchall  of  Billinge  yeoman 

4:  James  Winstanley  of  Billinge  yeoman 

5:  John  Roby  of  Orrell  yeoman 

6:  Henrie  Laithewaite  of  the  Medowes  gent. 

7:  John  Culchethe  of  Abram  gent. 

8:  9:   Myles  Gerrerde  of  luce  esquire  f  his  wyfe 


r 


Coimtp  palatine  of  iLaiwasten 


543 


This   appeareth    by 
pfftm"'    of  the    |)son 
of  Wigan 


This  appeareth    by   the 

pn!tm'<^  of  the  Curate 

of  Chippin 
This  appeareth    by    the 

piitemt   of  the   Vicar 

of  Deane 
This   appeareth    by   the 

pfltem''^  of  the  Curate 

of  Sephton 

Tliis  appeareth  by  the 
pn!tem*=  of  the  Vicar 
of  Kirkhatn 

This  also  appearethe  by 
the  pn!tem'<'  of  the 
Vicar  of  Kirkeham 


These    Persons  are   piJted  (by  greate   and  Comon  fame  f 
reporte)  to  be  receipto"  of  Priestf  hereafter  named,  vz. 
Bell:  Burton:  Mydleton 

Alex:  Gerrerde  brother  to  Miles  Gerrerdc  of  Innce  esquier 
James  Foorde  sonne  to  Alex  Fourdc  of  Swindley  gent : 
John  Gardner  brother  to  Rotste  GardfJ  of  Aspull  gent : 
Alex  :  Markelande  sonne  to  Mathewe  nijkelande  of  Wigan. 
Pilkington  borne  in  Standishe  ^jishe 
Worthington  borne  in  the  same  Parishe 
Stopforthe 

)       Guile  a  Prieste  receipted  att  the  howse  of  James  Dewhurst  of  Chippin 
^  by  the  reporte  of  John  Salesburie  of  Chippin 

)       Dyverse  Priestf  harbored  att  the  howse  of  Ralphe  Holme  of  Checker- 
(  bente 

}       James  Darwen  a  seminarie  prieste  receipted  att  the  howse  of  Richard 

(^  Blundell  of  Crosbye  esq"^  by  comon  reporte 

/-       Richard  Cadocke  a  seminarie   priest  also   Deiv.  Tytmouse  conusante 

\  in  the  Companie  of  twoo  wydowes,  vz.  M"».  Alice  Clyfton  f  M«^  Jane 

\  Clyfton  aboute  the  first  of  October  last  1580  by  the  reporte  of  James 

{^  Burie 

r      Rychard  Brittaine  a  prieste  receypted   in  the  howse  of  Wiltm  Bennet 

J  of  Westlye   about  the  beginninge   of  June   last   from  whence  younge 

J  M"'  Norrice  of  Speake  conveighed  the  said   Brettaine  to  the  Speaks  as 

C  the  said  Bennet  hath  reported 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


The  said  Brittaine  remayneth  now  att  the  howse  of  Mr.  Norrice  of 
the  Speake  as  appearethe  by  the  depowtion  of  John  Osbaldston  (by 
coiiion  reporte) 


This  appeareth  by  the 
ptern'o  of  Tho:  Sher- 
ples. 

Fo.  32  b. 


f  James  Cowpe"  a  seminarie  prieste  receipted  releived  and  mainteined  att 
the  Lodge  of  S"^  John  Sowthworthe  in  Samlesburie  Parke  by  M'  Tho : 
Sowthworthe,  one  of  the  younger  sonnes  of  the  said  S''  John  And  att 
the  howse  of  John  Warde  dwellinge  in  Samblesburie  Parke  syde.  And 
the  said  Prieste  sayeth  Masse  att  the  said  Lodge  and  att  the  said  Wardf 
howse.  Whether  resorte,  M''  Sowthworthe,  M"'  An  Sowthworthe,  John 
Walmesley  servante  to  S"  John  Sowthworthe,  Tho.  Sowthworthe  dwellinge 
in  the  Parke,  John  Gerrerde,  Svante  to  S"'  John  Sowthworthe,  John  Sin- 
gleton, John  Wrighte,  James  Sherples  iunior,  John  Warde  of  Sambles- 
burie, John  Warde  of  Medler  theldcr,  Henrie  Potter  of  Medler,  John 
Gouldon  of  Winwicke,  Thomas  Gouldon  of  the  same,  Ro'bte  Anderton  of 
Samblesburie  and  John  Sherples  of  Stanleyhurst  in  Samblesburie. 


544 


COe  W^tOY^  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


This  appeareth  by  the 
pffltemt  of  Tho.  Sher- 
ples. 


This  also  appearethe  by 
the  pnJtem'  of  Tho. 
Sherples. 


Att  the  howse  of  WlHm  Charnocke  of  Fulwoode  gent,  was  a  Masse 
donne  on  o''  Ladle  day  in  lente  last  by  one  Evan  Bannister  and  these 
|)sons  were  att  yt,  Wiftm  Harrison  of  Fulwoode  and  his  wife,  Richard 
Harrison  f  his  wife,  James  Sudale  of  Haighton,  Thomas  Sudale  and  his 
wiefe,  George  Berley  and  his  wife,  Jeffraye  Wirdowe  of  Owes  Walston 
^  and  his  wyefe. 

Att  the  howse  of  James  Sherples  in  Samblesburie  was  a  Masse  donne 
on  Candlemas  day  by  one  Henrie  Dueson  also  Harrie  Duckesson.  And 
these  psons  were  att  yt  V3  :  John  Sherples  of  Stanleyhurst  in  Samblesburie 
and  his  wyef  and  his  sonne  Thomas  and  his  daughter  An  and  Rodger 
Sherples  and  his  wyef  f  Richarde  Sherples  and  the  wyef  of  Harrie  Sher- 
ples and  the  wiefe  of  Hughe  Welchman  and  Thomas  Harrisson  and  the 
wief  of  Thomas  Welchman  thelder  The  wyef  of  John  Chitonie  Robte 
Blackehay  Thomas  Duckesson  of  Houghton  James  Duckeson  The  wyef  of 
Harrie  Bonne. 


Att  the  Lodge  in  Samblesburie  Farke  there  be  masses  daylie  and  Seminaries  dyffse 
Resorte  thither  as  James  Cowpe,  Harrisson  Bell  and  such  like,  The  like  vnlawfull  meet- 
Fo.  33.  ing^  are  made  daylie  att  the  howse  of  John  Warde  by  the  Parke  syde  of  Samblesburie 
all  wiche  matters,  masses,  Resorte  to  Masses,  receiptinge  of  Seminaries  wilbe  J ustifyed 
by  Mr.  Adam  Sowtheworthe  Thomas  Sherples  and  John  Osbaldston. 


"  Dioc  of  Chester. 


Com  Lau8        "j  Cuthfete  Clifton  Ar. 

Amoundernes    VJohn  Westone  ar. 

Deanry.  I  Alexander   Houghton  gen 

Leonard  Houghton  and  his  wief 

M"' Burton  Vid. 

Thomas  Burton  her  sonne 

Wm.  Skellicorne  gen  and  his  wief 

Brigett  Browne  Vid 

Garge  Clarkson  gen 

John  Hothersall  gen 

Thomas  Dicconson  gen. 

Obstinate         Willm.  Hesketh  gen. 
George  Walton  gen 
Thomas  Coston  and  his  wief 
Wm.  Hardock  Junior  and  his  wief 
Wm.  Easton  gen 
John  Singleton  gen 
George  Houghton  gen. 
James  Eues 
Richard  Eues 


George  Butlo'' 

John  Hothersall  Husbandman 

Thomas  Walmesley 

Rogerson  Vid.  and  her 
children 
Robte  Midgeall  gen 
Conformable    Arthur  Houghton  gen 

vx.  George  Sothwortlie  gen. 

George  Copell  gent  and  his  wief 
Thomas  Cowell 
Thomas  Cradon 
Blagburne  Deanry 

John  Sothworth  knight  and  the  ladie  his  wief 
Thomas  Sothworth  his  sonne  and  heire 


Com  Lane 
Blagburne 
Deanry 


! 


John  Sothworth  gen  sonne  to  John 

Sothworth  k. 
Anne  Sothworth  his  doughter 
Dorothie  Sothworth  his  sister 
John  Talbott  ar. 
John  Townley  ar.  and  his  wief 


County  IJalatiuf  of  a.ancasitn% 


546 


Tbo:  Catlierall  ar.  and  liis  wief 
Henrie  Lowe  J  unior 
m^garet  Lowe  Vid. 

01)stinate         James  Hargreues 

Lucie  Townlie 

John  Yate  sonne  to  John  Town- 
ley,  ar. 

EUm  Bannister  vx-  Robte  Banes- 
ter  gen 

Anne  Townley  vx"^  Henrie  Townley 
gen 

Jenet  Paslowe  vx'  Frauncis  Pas- 
lowe  gen 

John  Rishton  gen 

John  Rishton  Husbandman 

Ran!  Ferrand 

Ri8  Wodde 

Ri8  Hinley 

*  »  « 

Wm.  Rishton  gen  and  his  wief 

Conformable     Ellen  Rishton  vid. 

Gillet  Rishton  gen  and  his  wief 
Lun.  Whittacre  gen 


Warrington  Deanry 

Hamlet  Holcrofte  gen  and  his  wief 
Dame  rnjgaret  Atherton  Vid. 
Tho :  Mollinex  gen 
Matthewe  Trauys 
John  Mollinex  schalerffi 


Obstinate         Elizabeth  Hesketh  Vid. 
Eiiz.  Sutton  Vid. 
Eliz.  Kighley  gone 
Stanley  Vid  and  Anne  her  doughter 
One  Bineston  her  §unt  [servant] 
Wm.  Fletcher 

Kat.  ni^sh  vx'  Hemfv.  IVlTshre 
Henrie  Richardson 

Conformable     Edward  Chawner 

Manchester  Deanery 

W""  Hulton  de  -Pkear  and  his  wief 
obstinate 

Several  names  follow,  belonging  to  the  county  of 
Chester,  after  which  are — ] 

Com  Lan8 

Item     t  John  Sothworth  knight 
+  Cuthbert  Easton  Esquier 
t  John  Talbott  esquier 
t  John  Townley  esquier 
t  Thom  Caterall  esquier 
t  Alexander  Houghton  gent 
t  Thomas  Mollinex  gen 
t  John  Hothersall  gen 
t  Matthewe  Travis  Yoman 

Com  Ces?    John  Whitmor  esquier 
W""  Houghe  esquier 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


"  Of  all  the  rest  theis  xij*  are  mo'  opinions  of  longest  obstinacy  against  Religion  and  yf  by  yo''  LL. 
good  wisdomes  theye  cold  be  reclaymed  we  think  the  other  wold  as  well  foUowe  their  good  example 
in  embrasinge  the  Queues  Ma'«  most  godly  ^cedinge  as  they  haue  followed  their  evill  example  in 
contemprisinge  their  dutie  in  that  behalf.  ■ 

[Indorsed]  Feb.  9th  [or  7th]   1575. 

In  the  EHzabetliaii  age,  when  taxation  had  not  attained  its  present  perfection, 
the  couutie.s  Avere  called  upon  to  supply  their  monarch  Avith  the  substantial  viands 


vor,.  T. 


There  are  only  eleven  names  here. 
4   A 


546 


Ciie  S^istori,)  of  tf)f 


CHAP. 
XIII. 

Lanca- 
shire con- 
tribution 
of  oxen  to 
queen  Eli- 
zabetli's 
table. 

Jan.  10, 
1.582. 


which  graced  even  the  breakfast  table  of  her  majesty.*  The  county  of  Lancaster, 
by  an  agi-eement  entered  into  at  Wigan  by  the  earl  of  Derby,  the  bishop  of  Chester, 
the  lord  Strange,  and  a  number  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  there  assembled,  com- 
pounded on  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  county,  for  the  provision  of  oxen  and 
other  cattle,  for  her  majesty's  household ;  and  sir  Richard  Sliiiburn,  and  Alexander 
Rigby,  esq.,  on  their  resort  to  London  during  the  ensuing  term,  were  authorized  to 
ratify  the  agi-eement  \vith  "  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr.  Controwler,  and  Mr.  Cofferer," 
with  whom  it  was  agi'eed,  that  the  county  of  Lancaster  should  yearly  yield  for  that 
purpose  forty  great  oxen,  at  fifty-three  shillings  and  fourpence  apiece,  to  be  deli- 


*  EXPENCES  OF  QUEEN  ELIZABETH'S  TABLE. 


The  Queenes  Majesty's  booke 

signed  with  her  hand. 


The  Queenes  Majesty's  dyett, 

as  she  hath  bene  daylye  servid. 


Cheate  and  mancheate  . 

Ale  and  bare     .... 

Wine,  1  pt.  . 

Flesh  for  Pottage. 
Mutton  for  the  pott,  3  st.     . 
Longe  bones,  2  st. 
Ise  bones,  2  st. 
Chines  of  Beafe,  1  st.       . 
Short  bones,  2  st.        . 

Chines  of  beafe,  1  st. 
Connyes,  2  st.    . 
Butter,  6  dish 


Breakfast. 


6d. 

3^d. 

7d. 

18d. 

6d. 

2d. 
16d. 

4d. 

14d. 
8d. 
6d. 


Cheate  and  mancheate,    8 

Ale  and  bere,  6  g.  .         . 

Wine,  1  p. 

Flesh  for  Pottage. 
Mutton  for  the  pott,  4  st. 
Long  bones,  4  st. 
Ise  bones,  3  st.        . 
Chines  of  beef,  1  st.     . 
Chines  of  Mutton,  2st.     . 
Short  bones,  1  st. 
Chines  of  veal,  3st. 
Chickens  for  grewell,  2 
Veale,  2  st 


Summa     .     .     .8s.  6id.  (rather  7s.  Sjd.) 
Surcharged       .     .     .5s.  5d. 


Chines  of  beafe,  1    . 
Butter,  2  lb. 

Summa 


8d. 

104d. 

7d. 

2s. 
12d. 

3d. 
16d. 

2  s. 

2d. 

6d. 

7d. 

2s. 

16d. 
8d. 


13s.  lUd. 


Coimtp  IJalatint  of  iLanrasttr. 


547 


verecl  at  licr  majesty's  pasture  at  Crestow.     Tliis  gi-avc  matter  being  adjusted,  the    chap. 
following?  awai'd  was  made  from  each  hundred,  iu  ratification  whereof  the  under-  L 


signed  affix  their  hands  :- 


x\j"  x^ 
xvj"  x', 


Derbye  huncketh        .     .     xxvj'' 

Amouudernes 

Louesdall    .... 

Salford XAJ"  x^ 

Blackborn xvj''  x'. 

Leylond  huncb'eth  .     .  viij'' 


>C" 


Yf  the  soiTi  sliall  coni  to 
more  or  lesse,  the  same 
to  be  increased  or  abated 
after  this  rate. 


Richard  Shirbui'ue. 
John  Byron. 
Jolui  Radclifle. 
Richard  Brereton. 
Richard  Holland. 


H.  Derbie.    W.  Cestr. 
Fer.  Straunge. 

W".  Faringtou. 

James  Asshton. 

Edw.  Tyldesley. 

Richard  Asshton. 

Xpifer  Andertou. 


Robert  Worsley. 
Robert  Langton, 
Tho.  Eccleston. 
Nicholas  Banester. 
John  Bradley. 


For  the  Provicon  of  Oxen  for  the  Queenes  Ma""  Household. 


These  contributions,  which  were  reduced  to  a  money  charge,  having  subsequently 
fallen  into  arrear,  a  purveyor  was  sent  down  by  government  to  execute  the  commis- 
sion, by  seizing  the  oxen  in  the  county ;  but  the  earl  of  Derby,  aided  by  his  trea- 
surer, took  order  for  enforcing  the  payment  of  the  composition,  and,  in  any  case 
where  the  money  could  not  be  had,  the  commissioners  were  directed  to  take  in  lieu 
thereof,  "  for  her  ma'°  provison.  Bacon,  and  suche  lyke  thinges."*  The  exactions 
of  these  purveyors  "  for  her  majesty's  houshold  and  stables"  had  become  so  noto- 
rious, that  in  the  year  1590  a  commission  was  instituted  in  Lancashii'e,  to  investi- 
gate these  delinquencies,  and  to  certify  the  same  to  the  queen's  government. 

A  manuscript  book  of  correspondence,  relating  to  the  heutenancy  of  the  county  Lie„fe. 
of  Lancaster,  from  the  yeai-  1582  to  the  end  of  queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  is  deposited  l^'^^ 
in  the  Harleian  collection  in  the  British  Museum,*  and  serves  to  shew  with  how 
much  diligence  the  affaii's  of  the  queen  were  administered  during  that  period.  These 
documents,  though  many  of  them  highly  interesting,  and  calculated  to  shed  much 
light  upon  the  early  history  of  tlie  county,  are  too  voluminous  to  be  comprised  in  the 
limits  of  a  county  history,  and  can  therefore  only  be  interwoven  into  the  general 

•  Codex  1926. 
4  A  2 


vice. 


548  COe  M&tov^  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    liistory  in  abstract.     In  folio  54  of  this  manuscript,  a  despatch  appears  from  the  lords 

L  of  the  council,  signed, 

Tho.  Bromley,  Cauc.  F.  Bedford  Wm.  Burghley 

E.  Lyncoln  Chr.  Hatton  F.  Walsingham 

R.  Leicester  J.  Crofte  R.  Sadler 

W.  Myldmaye 

Lanca-       addressed  "  to  the  justices  of  the  peace  inhabiting  Avithin  the  liundred  of  Salford," 

shire  _    _  .  .         .  ■,  . 

levies  for  apprising  them  that  her  majesty's  service  in  Ireland  requu'es  to  be  supplied  with  fifty 
ty's  ser-  soldicrs  fi-om  tliis  county,  and  du-ecting  that  the  levdes  be  made,  so  that  the  men  may 
be  at  Livei-pool,  ready  to  embark  on  the  15th  of  December,  prepared  with  such  arms 
and  accouti'eraents  as  are  necessary  for  then*  complete  equipment,  or  that  the  sums 
necessary  for  that  purpose  be  forthcoming.  The  number  of  men  to  be  provided  from 
the  respective  hundreds  in  the  following  quotas: — 

"  Men  to  be  made  fourthe  of  theis  hundrethes  followinge 

Derbie  hundrethe  x  men  f  an  half  Amoundernes         vij  men 

Lonesdall  ix  men  f  an  half  Leylond  iiij  men  f  an  half 

Salford  ixmen  —  xxxviij"  viijs  Sufii  1." 

Blackburn  ix  men  f  an  half 

On  the  receipt  of  tliis  mandate,  a  letter  was  addressed  by  "  Ric  Holland,  Vic"  from 
Heaton  House,  summoning  sii-  Edmund  TralTord,  and  the  other  justices  of  the  county, 
to  meet  at  Ormsldrk,  on  Saturday  1st  of  December,  to  take  the  necessary  order  for 
carrying  her  majesty's  commands  into  effect.* 

This  series  of  official  documents  illustrates  the  con-espondence  contained  in 
the  Chaderton  MS.  and  here  we  find  the  proceedings  adopted  against  the  i-ecusants, 
as  detailed  in  a  despatch  of  the  20th  of  June,  wherein  the  sheriff  and  justices  of  the 
county  of  Lancaster  are  directed  to  proceed  against  the  principal  offenders,  forbearing 
for  the  present  to  prosecute  those  of  the  meaner  sort,  but  to  call  before  them,  at  their 
quarter-sessions,  recusants,  being  of  the  quality  of  gentlemen  and  upwards,  and  ladies 
and  gentlewomen  widows,  and  to  take  bonds  and  securities  of  them  for  their  personal 
appearance  at  the  next  assizes  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  that  couAdction  and 
judgment  may  ensue.  To  guard  against  remissness  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty, 
they  are  warned  to  take  care  to  answer  her  majesty's  expectations,  and  the  trust  com- 
mitted unto  them,  seeing  that  the  judges  of  assize  have  received  directions  to  examine 
and  take  account  of  then*  doings,  and  to  report  the  same  in  writing  to  the  council. 

In  the  following  year  her  majesty's  service  in  Ireland  required  that  Lancashire, 
instead  of  fifty,  should  send  two  hundi-ed  able-bodied  men  to  that  country,  to  be  in 

*  Cod.  1926,  fo.  72  b. 


Coimtj)  |]alatint  of  aanra£(tfi%  549 

readiness  to  meet  at  Chester,  on  the  10th  ol  September,  to  embark  from  thence  for    chap. 
Ireland.*     To  obviate  a  complaint  that  had  beeii  made  to  the  queen  and  her  council,   '__ 


to  the  effect  that  the  men,  when  placed  under  the  command  of  strangers,  were  not 
treated  with  "  that  love  and  care"  that  appertained  to  them,  her  majesty  by  her 
letters  recommended  that  they  should  be  placed  under  the  son  of  sir  Edmund  Traf- 
ford,  and  that  they  should  be  furnished  with  "  swords  and  daggers,  and  lil^ewise  con- 
venient doublets  and  hose,  and  also  a  cassocke,  or  some  motley  or  other  sadd  gi-eene 
colour  or  russette."  The  hundred  of  Salford  furnished  one-fourtli  of  the  whole 
number,  and  the  letter  of  sir  Thomas  Preston,  siunmoning  the  levy  to  muster  at 
Preston,  requii'ed  that  they  should  come  provided  with  weapons  as  follows: — "  xx 
Av"'  Calius.  X  w""  Corseletts  f  pykes.  x  w"'  bowes  f  aiTowes.  f  x  w"'  halberdes  or 
good  blacke  billes."  The  urgency  of  the  occasion  is  strongly  indicated  by  the  super- 
scription of  the  letter,  which  runs  thus: — 

"  A.  DeUu  this  Lre  to  the  next  justice  of  peace  of  the  hundrethe  aforesaidde  and 

he  to  breake  it  oppe  f  aff"  the  pvsall  tlierof  to  be  sente  from  one  justice  to 

another  that  no  delaye  be  in  the  service  w"'in  contayned." 

In  the  years  1585-6,  the  county  was  visited  by  a  famine,  and  by  a  murrain  amongst  Famine, 
cattle,  which  were  felt  with  great  severity  in  tlie  north ;  and  her  majesty,  in  her 
royal  solicitude,  directed  the  lords  of  the  council  to  address  a  letter  to  the  sheriff 
and  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and  Chester,!"  I'equiring  that 
the  gentry  of  those  counties  should  strictly  abstain  from  killing  and  eating  flesh  in 
the  time  of  Lent,  and  other  prohibited  days,  not  only  from  the  effect  that  the  absti- 
nence of  their  own  families  would  produce,  but  from  the  benefit  of  the  example 
amongst  those  of  a  meaner  sort.  These  orders  were  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Lan- 
cashii-e  by  the  lords  of  the  queen's  council,  and  were  generally  diffused  throughout 
the  county. 

The  violation  of  the  sabbath  liad  long  been  complained  of  in  the  county  of  Lan-  On  the  ob- 
caster,  and  one  of  the  objects  of  the  ecclesiastical  commission  sent  do^^ni  by  queen  of  the  sab- 
Elizabeth  into  this  county,  was  to  remedy  these  enormities.  For  the  same  purpose  Lam!" 
a  letter  was  promulgated  by  the  magistrates  of  the  county,  signed  by 

Jo.  Byron  Ric.  Shu-born  Edm.  Trafforde         Nicholas  Banester 

James  Asshton       Bryan  pker  Ric.  Brereton  Ric.  Asshton 

Edm.  Hopwood      Th.  Talbotte  John  Bradshawe        Alex.  Rigbie 

Robte  Worsley       Tho.  Talbot  J.  Wrightiugton        Edm.  Fleetewoode. 

*  Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  1926,  fo.  103,  b. 

t  A  letter  of  similar  import  addressed   by  the  queen  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire  is  contained  in 
the  Chaderton  MS. 


shire. 


550  Cfte  5?is(turi)  of  tftr 

CHAP.  The  complaint  was,  that  the  sahbatli  was  profaned  by  "  Wakes,  fayres,  mkettf, 


XIII. 


bayrebayts,  bull  baits,  Ales,  Maygames,  Resortlnge  to  Alehouses  in  tyme  of  devyne 
ser\ice,  pypiuge  and  dauneinge,  huntinge  f  all  maner  of  vnlaw"  gamynge."  For 
reformation  whereof,  it  was  ordered  to  give  in  charge  at  the  quarter-sessions  to  all 
mayors,  baiUffs,  and  constables,  as  well  as  to  other  civil  officers,  churchwardens, 
&c.,  to  suppress  by  all  lawful  means  the  said  chsorders  of  the  sabbath,  and  to  pre- 
sent the  offenders  at  the  quarter-sessions,  that  they  might  be  dealt  with  for  the 
same  according  to  law.  It  was  also  directed,  that  the  minstrels,  bearwards,  and  all 
such  disorderly  persons,  should  be  immediately  apprehended,  and  brought  before  the 
justices  of  the  peace,  and  punished  at  then*  discretion;  that  the  churchwardens 
should  be  enjoined  to  present  at  the  sessions  all  those  that  neglected  to  attend  divine 
service  upon  the  sabbath  day,  that  they  might  be  indicted,  and  fined  in  the  penalty 
of  twelve  pence  for  every  offence ;  that  the  number  of  alehouses  should  be  abridged, 
that  the  alesellers  should  utter  a  full  quart  of  ale  for  a  penny,  and  none  of  any  less 
size,  and  that  they  should  sell  no  ale,  or  other  victuals,  in  time  of  divine  service; 
that  none  should  sell  ale  without  a  license;  that  the  magistrates  should  be 
enjoined  not  to  grant  any  ale  license,  but  in  public  sessions ;  and  that  they  should 
examine  the  officers  of  the  church  and  of  the  commonwealth,  to  learn  whether  they 
made  due  presentment  at  the  quarter-sessions,  of  all  bastards  born,  or  remaining 
within  then-  several  precincts ;  and  that  thereupon  a  strict  course  should  be  taken  for 
the  due  punishment  of  the  reputed  parents,  according  to  the  statute ;  as  also  for  the 
convenient  keeping  and  relief  of  the  infants.*  This  rigid  moral  discipline  was  much 
complained  of  by  some  of  the  gentry,  and  still  more  by  the  labouring  classes ;  and 
when,  at  a  subsequent  period,  khig  James,  in  his  progress,  visited  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  he  not  only  rescinded  the  orders,  but  he  founded  upon  that  act  his  book 
of  sabbath  sports,  the  consequence  of  which  was  felt  for  succeeding  ages ;  but  of 
this,  more  in  its  proper  place. 
Early  The  plots  against  the  queen,  and   against  the  established  Protestant   church  of 

Lanca-  ^  ,  _ 

siiire  loyal  England,  botli  foreign   and  domestic,  awakened  in  the  nation  a  spirit  of  fervent 

associa-        iii  •      •  /•    t  • 

tion.  loyalty ;  and  an  association  of  Lancashii-e  gentlemen,  on  the  model  of  the  earl  of 

Leicester's  association,  was  formed,  for  the  defence  of  queen  Elizabeth,  against  the 
machinations  of  Mary,  queen  of  Scots,  and  the  other  enemies  of  the  state.  In  the 
declaration  promulgated  by  this  association,!  the  doctrine  of  the  divine  right  of 
kings  aud  queens  is  strongly  insisted  upon,  and  the  associators  pledged  themselves, 
in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to  defend  the  queen  against  all  her  enemies,  foreign  and 
domestic ;  in  confirmation  of  which,  they  took  a  solemn  oath  upon  the  holy  Evange- 
lists, and  in  witness  whereof  they  affixed  their  hands  and  seals  as  follows  : — 
*  Harl.  MS.  Cod.  1926.  fol.  80.  +  Hail.  MSS.  Cod.  2219. 


Countj)  ^alatmr  of  2Lanra£itn% 


551 


Hen.  Derby 
W.  Cestren 
Fer.  Stranghe 
Rychard  Sherburne 
John  Radclyffe 
Thomas  Houghton 
Edward  Butler 
Rychard  Ashton 
Edward  Norres 
Thomas  Holcroft 
Edward  Osbaldeston 
Rychard  Holland 
Rychard  Boolde 
Edward  Scaresbrecke 
Thomas  Hesketh 
John  Holcroft 
Richard  Mollineux 
Rauffe  Ashton 
Robt.  Langton 
Myles  Gerrard 
Willm.  More 


Adam  Langhe 
Robt.  Charnocke 
Richard  Ormeston 
WiUm.  Holton 
William  Thorneborowe 
Edward  Stanley 
Edmund  Chaderton 
Gilbt  Langtree 
John  Croft 
Thomas  Leighe 
Edward  Braddle 
John  Wrightington 
Edward  Rawstorne 
James  Browne 
Barnabie  Kilchin 
Edward  Halsall 
Edward  Tildisley 
Henry  Stanley,  senior 
Willm.  Farrington 
Henrye  Stanley 
John  Byrome 


Wilni.  Massye 
Edward  Tarbucke 
Peter  Stanley 
Thomas  Talbott 
John  Bradley 
John  Culcheth 
John  Rysliley 
George  Ireland 
Charles  Holt 
Thomas  Goodlowe 
Thomas  Morley 
Thomas  Ashton 
Alexander  Barlowe 
Fraunces  Holt 
James  Ashton 
Henry  Eccleston 
Alexander  Rigbye 
James  Anderton 
Barth.  Hesketh 
Lawrence  Ireland 
Thomas  Lathome 


John  Grenalghe 
Henry  Banest' 
Nycholas  Banest' 
Thomas  Lancaster 
Rychard  Eltonheade 
Robt.  Holt 
Edward  Chaderton 
Frances  Tunstall 
Willm.  Skillicorne 
Edmund  Prestwiche 
John  Singleton 
Henrye  Butler 
Thomas  Brockholes 
John  Massye 
William  Redman 
Alen  Holton 
Willm.  Kirbye 
William  RadclyfFe 
Edward  Worthington 
Thomas  Woofall 


CHAR 
XIII. 


Upon  this  declaration,  an  act  of  parliament  was  formed,  by  which,  after  reciting  Act  found- 
that  sundry  wicked  plots  had  lately  been  devised  and  laid,  as  well  in  foreign  parts  as 
mthin  this  realm,  to  the  great  endangering  of  her  majesty's  royal  person,  and  for  the 
utter  ruin  and  suljversion  of  the  commonwealth,  ordained,  that  if  at  any  time,  after 
the  end  of  the  present  session  of  parliament,  any  open  invasion  or  rebellion  should  be 
had  or  made  of  her  majesty's  dominions,  or  any  act  attempted  leading  to  the  hurt  of 
her  majesty's  royal  person,  by  or  for  any  person  that  shall  or  may  pretend  title  to  the 
crown  of  this  realm,  or  if  any  thing  be  compassed  or  imagined  tending  to  the  hurt  of 
her  majesty's  royal  person,  by  any  person,  or  with  the  privity  of  any  person  tliat 
shall  or  may  pretend  title  to  the  crown,  then,  by  her  majesty's  commission  uudei'  her 
great  seal,  the  lords  and  others  of  her  majesty's  privy  council,  and  such  other  lonls  of 
parliament,  to  be  named  by  her  majesty,  as  Avith  the  said  privy  council  shall  come  up 
to  the  number  of  twenty-four  at  the  least,  shall,  by  virtue  of  this  act,  have  authority 
to  examine  all  such  offences,  and  thereupon  to  give  sentence  or  judgment  as  upon 
proof  shall  appear  to  them  meet. 

Mary,  queen  of  Scots,  had  long  been  a  prisoner  in  England;  and  it  requii-ed  no  Maij, 
sagacity  to  perceive,  that  this  act  was  passed  specially  to  bring  her  and  her  adherents  scou""^ 
to  trial  before  a  new  species  of  tribunal.      The   occasion  was  not  long  wantuig. 
Babmgton's  conspiracy,  formed  in  tlie  year  1586,  which  had  for  its  object  to  assas- 


552  €i)t  itstxifj)  of  tin 

CHAP,    sinate  Elizabeth,  and  to  elevate  Mary  to  the  throne  of  England,  followed  so  speedily 

L  upon  the  passing  of  the  new  act,  as  to  raise  the  surmise  that  the  plot  had  been 

ai-ranged  to  promote  the  interest  of  Mary's  enemies,  rather  than  to  advance  her  cause. 
Babington,  under  the  influence  of  that  enthusiastic  spirit  which  at  this  time  existed 
against  the  queen  of  England,  not  only  in  the  courts  of  Rome,  Madrid,  and  Paris, 
but  also  amongst  many  of  her  Catholic  subjects,  found  little  difficulty  in  organizing 
a  band  of  assassins,  animated  by  the  persuasion,  that  they  should  render  service  both 
to  God  and  man,  if  success  attended  their  efforts;  and  confidently  assured,  that  if 
they  failed,  and  fell  victims  to  the  enterprise,  a  crown  of  martyi'dom  awaited  them. 
At  the  head  of  these  fanatics  stood  John  Savage,  a  man  of  desperate  courage,  who 
wished  to  monopolize  the  glory  of  despatching  the  heretical  queen;  next  in  order 
followed  Babington  himself,  and  he  had  associated  with  him  Barnwel,  a  man  of  noble 
family  in  Ireland;  Cliarnock,  a  gentleman  of  Lancashire;  and  Abington,  whose  father 
had  been  cofferer  to  the  queen's  household.  Walsingham,  the  queen's  secretaiy, 
whose  vigilance  never  slept,  and  who  had  engaged  Maud,  a  Catholic  priest,  and 
a  pai'ty  in  the  plot,  as  his  spy,  became  perfectly  acquainted  with  all  the  proceedings 
of  the  conspirators ;  and  when  the  proofs  against  Mary  had  sufficiently  accumulated, 
Her  trial,  she  was  arraigned  and  brought  to  trial,  charged  Avitli  having,  with  others,  compassed 
I586."  the  queen's  death,  and  tlie  subversion  of  the  established  religion  of  the  realm.  To  the 
indictment,  which  was  delivered  to  her  by  the  lord  chancellor  Bromley,  and  lord  la 
Warre,  she  at  first  declined  to  plead,  allegmg,  that  she  was  herself  a  sovereigni  princess 
in  her  own  right,  and  that  she  was  not  subject  to  the  laws  of  England,  Avhere  she  had 
sought  an  asylum,  but  liad  for  years  been  detained  a  prisoner.  After  much  hesita- 
tion, she  consented  at  length  to  plead,  and  declared  lierself  not  guilty.  Amongst  the 
forty  commissioners  appointed,  under  the  authority  of  the  great  seal,  to  sit  in  judgment 
in  this  case,  were  sir  Thomas  Bromley,  (lord  chancellor,)  the  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  the 
earl  of  Derby,  lord  Grey  de  Wilton,  and  sir  Raljjh  Sadler,  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of 
Lancaster,  witli  sir  Christopher  Wray,  the  lord  chief  justice,  and  four  other  judges. 

The  correspondence  of  Babington  and  Mary,  carried  on  in  cipher,  and  proved 
by  her  secretaries  Nau  and  Curie,  was  laid  before  the  commissioners,  from  Avhich  it 
appeared,  that  Babington  had  informed  her  of  the  designs  laid  for  a  foreign  invasion, 
the  plan  of  an  insurrection  at  home,  the  scheme  for  her  deliverance,  and  the  conspi- 
racy for  assassinating  queen  Elizabeth,  by  "  six  noble  gentlemen,"  all  of  them  his 
private  friends  ;  who,  from  the  zeal  which  they  owed  to  a  Catholic  church  and 
her  majesty's  service,  would  undertake  the  tragical  deed.  To  this,  Mary  replied, 
that  she  approved  highly  of  the  design,  that  the  gentlemen  might  expect  all  the 
rewards  which  it  would  be  in  her  power  to  confer,  and  that  the  death  of  Elizabeth 
was  a  necessary  circumstance,  before  any  attempts  were  made  either  for  her  own 


Countj)  ^aalatiuf  of  aancagUn  553 

deliverance,  or  lor   an  insurrection.*     It  was  also   proved,   that  she   had  allowed    chap. 
cardinal  Allen,  a  native  of  Lancashire,  but  long  resident  in  Rome,  to  treat  her  as  L 


Queen  of  England,  and  that  she  bad  kept  up  a  correspondence  with  lord  Paget,  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  the  Spaniards  to  invade  this  kingdom.  It  was  further 
proved,  tliat  cardinal  AUen,  and  Parsons,  the  Jesuit,  had  negociated  by  lier  orders,  at 
Rome,  the  conditions  of  the  transfer  of  the  English  crown  to  the  king  of  Spain,  and 
of  disinheriting  her  heretical  son,  James  VI.  of  Scotland. 

The  trial,  as  might  have  been  expected,  terminated  in  the  conviction  of  Mary ;  Convic- 
and  on   sentence  of  death  being  passed  upon  her,  the  queen  of  England  hesitated 
long   whether   to  inflict  the   utmost   sentence  of  the  law,  or  to   extend  the  ro^-al 
clemency  to  her  unfortunate  kinswoman ;  but  the  importxmity  of  parliament,  and 
probably  the  queen's  own  secret  inclinations,  at  length  decided  that  Mary  should  be 
executed ;  and  the  earl  of  Shi'ewsbury,  the  earl  of  Kent,  the  earl  of  Derby,  and  the 
earl  of  Cumberland,  attended  by  two  executioners,  were  sent  down  to  Fotheringhay, 
charged  with  the  melancholy  duty  of  seeing  the  sentence  of  the  law  carried  into 
effect.     Maiy  received  the  fatal  intelligence  without   dismay,  and  suffered  witli  a  Execu- 
degi'ee  of  heroism  which  proved  that  she  considered  herself  rather  as  a  martyr  to  the  Feb.  s, 
holy  Catholic  religion,  than  as  a  traitor  to  the  state.  **^^' 

While  these  ti-ansactions  were  pending,  the  alarm  of  Spanish  invasion  spread  Alarm  of 
through  the  kingdom ;  in  a  letter  from  the  earl  of  Derby,  as  lord-lieutenant  of  the  invasion 
county  of  Lancaster,  to  the  deputy-lieutenants,  they  were  warned  that  advices 
had  been  received  from  sundry  parts  beyond  the  seas,  of  foreign  forces  assembled  to 
invade  this  realm,  and  it  was  the  special  command  of  her  majesty,  that  order  should 
be  taken  in  every  part  of  the  county,  that  the  principal  inhabitants  should  furnish 
themselves,  without  delay,  with  armour  and  weapons,  and  take  cai'e  that  all  theii- 
tenants  and  followers  be  also  provided,  and  in  readiness  to  repel  the  common  enemy. 
By  another  despatch  from  his  lordship,  of  the  same  date,  addressed  to  the  justices  of 
the  county,  they  are  charged  to  provide  then-  proper  quota  of  horsemen,  to  be  ready  at 
the  shortest  notice,  to  resist  the  invaders. 

At  this  critical  period,  it  became  esseutial  that  the  magistracy  of  the  county  The  Lan- 

CiisiiirG 

should  be  sound  and  well  affected  ;  and  although  the  earl  of  Derby,  in  his  confiding  commis- 
temper,  did  not  conceive  any  material  change  to  be  necessary,  the  lord-treasurci",  peace  new 
on  the  suggestion  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Fleetwood,  rector  of  Wigan,  and  others, 
caused  a  new  commission  to  be  issued,  in  which  the  names  of  several  fresh  magis- 
trates were  introduced,  and  a  considerable  number  of  those  who  were  thought 
favour-able  to  the  recusants,  omitted.  Tlie  consequence  was,  that  at  the  summer 
assize  in  1587,  no  fewer  than  six  hundred  recusants  were  presented  on  oath,  eighty- 

*  State  Trials,  vol.  1.  p.  123. 
VOL,  I.  4  B 


554  CJk  i^tsitxiri)  of  tht 

CHAP,  seven  of  whom  were  indicted,  and  a  notification  was  made  of  twenty-one  vagrant 
'^'"'  priests  usually  received  in  Lancasliire,  and  twenty-five  notorious  houses  of  receipt 
for  them.*  The  puritans,  though  pursued  with  rigour,  had  hecome  extremely 
ohnoxious  to  the  high-church  party,  and  the  works  against  the  prelacy,  clandestinely 
issued  from  the  press  in  IManchester  at  tliis  period,  under  the  assumed  name  of 
Martin  Marprelate,  tended  to  aggravate  the  difference,  and  to  excite  the 
animosity  of  the  queen  and  her  court. 

The  ambition  of  Philip,  Idng  of  Spain,  and  his  anxiety  again  to  introduce  the 
Roman  Catholic  religion  into  England,  liad  involved  the  two  countries  in  active 
liostility,  and  preparations  had  for  some  time  been  making,  by  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment, to  invade  this  country.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations  and  alanns,  tlie 
queen  of  England  and  the  king  of  Spain  contemplated  the  negociation  of  a  peace ; 
and  the  earl  of  Derby,  lord  Cobham,  sir  James  Croft,  and  others,  were  appointed 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  England,  to  meet  certain  Spanish  commissioners  at 
Bourbourg,  near  Calais.  The  negociations  continued  for  some  time,  but  without 
any  relaxation  on  the  part  of  Philip  for  attack,  or  of  Elizabeth  for  defence.  The 
The  In-  haughty  Spaniard,  having  at  length  become  impatient,  ordered  the  "  Invincible 
Armada.  Armada,"  by  which  presumptuous  name  his  fleet  was  cUstuiguished,  to  prepare  for 
sea ;  and  although  Santa  Crux,  by  whom  the  fleet  was  commanded,  objected  to  the 
danger  of  navigating  a  narrow  and  tempestuous  sea,  without  the  possession  of  a 
single  harbour  capable  of  afforcUng  shelter ;  and  the  duke  of  Panna,  the  commander 
of  the  Spanish  land-forces,  Avished  to  reduce  the  port  of  Flushing  previously  to  the 
departure  of  tlie  expedition ;  their  prudent  counsel  was  rejected,  as  was  also  the 
advice  of  sir  William  Stanley,  who  had  devoted  himself  to  the  Spanish  cause,  and 
had  sacrificed  his  patriotism  and  his  integrity  by  the  sale  of  Deventer,  and  tlie 
transfer  of  its  garrison  to  the  enemy.t  The  preparations  of  Spain  were  beyond  all 
former  example,  and  the  invading  fleet  consisted  of  seventy-two  galliasers  and  gal- 
lions,  forty-seven  second-rate  sliips  of  war,  and  eleven  pmnaces,  carrying  two 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-three  pieces  of  ordnance,  eight  thousand  and 
ninety-four  seamen,  and  eighteen  thousand  six  hundi-ed '  and  fifty-eight  soldiers ; 
Piepara-  while  the  English  fleet,  by  which  tliis  immense  armament  was  to  be  resisted,  con- 
England  sisted  only  of  thirty-four  ships  of  war,  and  a  numbei-  of  vessels  principally  furnished 
klce.'  by  opulent  individuals  and  by  communities,  but  by  no  means  equal,  in  weight  or 
appointment,  to  those  to  which  they  were  to  be  opposed.  In  this  emergency,  the 
queen  issued  a  proclamation  to  Henry  earl  of  Derby,  as  lord-lieutenant  of  the 

*  See  leUer  of  Edward  Fleetwood,  dated  7th  September,  in.  Cotton  MSS. 
t  The  advice  of  sir  William  was  to  take  possession   of  Ireland,  as  a  preliminary  measure  for  the 
conquest  of  England. 


tion  in 
ncii- 
shire. 


Cointtp  |3alatinc  of  3!.anrast^i-»  555 

county  of  Lancaster,  urging  his  lordship,  and  the  county  over  which  he  presided,  hy    chap. 

every  consideration  of  social  and  doin(\stic  security,  to  call  forth  the  uuitcd  energies  __! L. 

of  the  county,  in  common  with  the  country  in  general,  to  resist  the  meditated  attack 
upon  the  throne  and  the  altars  of  their  country.  This  proclamation  is  still  pre- 
served,* and  is  expressed  in  the  following  energetic  terms  : — 

"  By  the  Queene. 

"  Right  trustie  f  welbeloved  cozen  f  counsellour  wee  greete  you  well.  The 

"  Wliereas  hertofore  vpon  the  Adutisem"  from  tyme  to  Tyme  f  from  sundrie  prociama- 
places  of  the  gTeatte  pparatious  of  foraine  forces  w"'  a  full  Intencon  to  invade  this  Lanca- 
o''  Realm  and  other  oure  dominions,  wee  gave  oure  direccons  vnto  you  for  the 
pparmge  of  o'  S'iectC  w"'in  yo''  Livetenancy  to  he  in  readynes  f  defence  againste 
anie  attempt  that  mighte  he  made  against  vs  f  oure  Realm ;  w'^''  oure  direccons  wee 
fynde  soe  well  pformed,  as  wee  cannot  but  recejxe  great  contentm'  therby,  bothe  in 
respecte  of  youre  carefuU  proceedinge  therin  f  also  of  the  greatte  willingiies  of  oure 
people  in  genSall  to  the  Accomplishm'  of  that  whervnto  they  were  Required  Shewinge 
therby  theire  gi-eatte  Love  f  Loyaltie  towardes  vs,  w"''  we  Accepte  most  thankfully 
at  theii'e  hands,  acknowledginge  o'selves  Infinitelie  l^ounde  to  almightie  god  in  that 
it  hath  pleased  him  to  blesse  vs  w'"  soe  lovinge  f  dutifull  subiectes.  Soe  would  wee 
have  you  make  it  knoweii  vnto  them.  For  as  niuche  as  we  fynde  the  same  Inten- 
con not  only  of  invadinge  but  of  makinge  a  conqueste  alsoe  of  this  oure  Realm, 
nowe  constantlie  moore  f  moore  detectedd  f  confirmed  as  a  matter  fully  resohcd  on 
(an  Armye  alreadie  beinge  putt  to  the  seas  for  that  purpose.)  Althoughe  wee  dowbte  not 
but  by  godf  goodnes  the  same  shall  proove  frustrate,  Avee  have  therfore  thought  meete  to 
will  f  require  you  furthw"'  wi"'  as  muche  convenient  speede  as  you  may  to  call  together  - 
at  some  convenient  place  or  places  the  beste  sorte  of  gent,  nuhr  yo'  Livetenancie,  f  to 
declare  vnto  them  that  consid'inge  theis  gi-eat  pparacons  f  threateuinges  nowe  burste 
out  in  accon  vpon  the  seaes  tendinge  to  a  pposed  conqueste ;  wherein  eiiie  mans 
pticuler  estate  is  in  the  highest  degree  to  beTutched  in  respecte  of  cuntrey,  Libertie, 
wyfFe,  cliildren,  landf,  lyffe,  and  that  w"*"  is  especially  to  be  regarded  for  the  pser- 
vacon  of  the  true  f  syncere  Religion  of  Christe,  wee  doe  looke  that  the  moste  pte  of 
them  should  have  vjion  this  instant  extraordinarie  occacon  a  lardger  proporcon  of 
furniture  bothe  for  horsemen  f  footemcn,  but  especially  horsemen,  then  liath  bene 
certlfyed.  Therby  to  be  in  theire  beste  strengtlie  against  anie  Attempt  whatsoeu,  f 
to  be  imployed  bothe  about  our  owne  pson  f  otherwyse  as  they  shall  have  knoAvledge 
geven  them.      The  nuber  of  w''''  lardger  proporcon  as  soone  as  you  shall  knoAve  wee 

•  Had.  MSS.  Cod.  1296.  fo.  68   b. 
4b2 


556  €\)t  ?SlS!tOl1)  Of  tin 

CHAP,    require  you  to  signify  to  o'  privy  coiisell.     And  hervnto  as  wee  doubt  not  but  by  yo' 

'—  good  indeavo"  tbey  ^Ailbe  the  rather  conformable  soe  alsoe  wee  assure  o'   self  that 

almightie  god  will  soe  blesse  theis  theire  loyall  Hartes  borne  towardf  vs  theire  lov- 
inge  souaigne  C  their  naturall  cuntrey,  that  all  the  Attempt?  of  anie  enemyes  what- 
soeu  shalbe  made  voide  f  fi'ustrate  to  theire  Confusion,  youre  comfortes  and  godf 
highe  glorie.  Geven  vnder  oure  Signet  at  oure  mauer  of  Greenewiche  the  xviij"'  of 
June  1588,  in  the  xxx  yeare  of  o'  Raigne. 

"  To  oure  right  Trustie  and  right  welbeloued  Cozen  f  Counselloure  therle  of 
Derby  Livetenate  of  o''  Coiities  of  Chest''  f  Lane.  And  in  his  Absence  to  o' 
right  trustie  C  welbeloued  the  L.  Strange." 

Similar  proclamations  were  sent  to  the  lords-lieutenant  in  all  the  other  shii'es, 
and  the  country  was  animated  to  a  degree  of  enthusiasm  never  before  witnessed. 
Lanca-  The  beacons  in  every  part  of  the  county  were  ordered  by  a  mandate  from  Ferdinando, 
beacons,  lord  Strange,  to  be  kept  in  continual  readiness;  and  it  appears,  from  a  note  of  taxa- 
tion in  the  archives  of  the  hundred  of  Salford,  that  the  following  charges  were  made 
for  watching  the  beacon  at  Rivington  Pike,  from  the  10th  of  July  to  tlie  30th  of 
September,  1588: — 

Manchester  divicon  3"  8"  x**  ob  "i  Middleton  divicon  46'  x"*  oh  "i 

Bolton  divicon  xl  x^  x**  ob  "^  Sum  v"  ix'  iiij'' 

Amongst  the  precautionary  measures  for  the  defence  of  the  kingdom  was  one  of 
considerable  rigour,  which  the  necessity  of  the  times  seemed  to  suggest.  A  letter 
was  addressed  to  the  earl  of  Derby  and  the  other  lords-lieutenant  of  counties,  and 
commissioners  of  musters,  requiring,  that  because  the  enemy  made  his  boast  that 
he  should  have  assistance  of  the  Catholic  subjects  of  this  land,  that  all  the  horses 
belonging  to  the  recusants  should  be  seized,  and  committed  to  the  custody  of  some 
AveU-affected  gentlemen,  their  neighbours,  that  tlieir  serrices  might  be  used  if  there 
should  be  occasion ;  and  in  the  mean  time,  that  they  should  be  kept  and  maintained 
at  the  charge  of  the  owners,  to  be  restored  again  when  the  danger  was  past.  This 
document  recommends  that  cai-e  should  be  taken  of  the  beacons,  and  tliat  persons 
who  spread  false  rumours  and  reports  should  be  arrested  and  committed  to  prison ; 
and  that  assistance  should  be  given  to  the  clergy,  whose  special  province  it  was  to 
find  out  a  certain  number  of  horse  and  foot,  who  were  to  meet  for  the  guard  and 
defence  of  her  majesty's  person,  because  it  might  fall  out  that  they  should  stand  in 
need  of  men  to  ride  tlieir  horses  and  to  wear  their  armour. 

Amongst  other  places  mentioned  for  the  landing  of  the  invading  army  was  the 
Pile  of  Fouldrey,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  the  place  where  Martin  Swart  landed 


Countj)  |3alatint  of  Haiirndter. 


557 


with  Perldn  Wavbeck,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII. ;  and  tlie  reason  of  this  conjecture    chap. 

was,  that  it  was  the  hest  harbour  for  kirge  shipping  in  all  the  western  coast  of  Eng 

land,  that  the  deputy-steward  of  the  Pile  was  Thomas  Preston,  a  Catholic,  and  that 
Dr.  Allen,  who  was  born  at  no  great  distance,  and  had  infected  the  inhabitants 
witii  his  tenets,  was  Ukely  to  cUrect  the  attention  of  the  Spaniards  to  this  harbour.* 

Tlie  magisti-ates,  gentry,  and  freeholders  of  the  county  were  required  to  meet 
lord  Strang^  at  Preston,  on  the  13th  of  July,  in  order  to  complete  the  preparations 
for  the  defence  of  the  country  j  and  in  the  mandate  issued  by  liis  lordship,  in  virtue  of 
orders  from  the  queen,  the  very  significant  words  are  used  of  "  fayle  not  at  youre 
vttermost  peril."  By  means  of  these  vigorous  preparations,  a  force  was  collected  of 
one  hunch-ed  and  one  thousand  and  forty  men,  trained  and  untrained,  in  tlie  (hfferent 
divisions  of  the  kingdom,  including  tlm-teen  thousand  eight  hundred  and  tliirty-one 
pioneers,  lances,  light  horse,  and  petronells,  of  which  Lancashire  and  Cheshire 
furnished  the  foUovving  numbers: — 

"  An  Abstract  of  the  Certificates  returned  fi-om  the  Leiuftenants  of  the  able, 
trayned,  and  furneshed  men,  in  the  seuerall  Countis:  vpon  Letters  from  the  Lordes 
reduced  into  bandes  vnder  Captaines,  and  howe  tliey  were  sourted,  w'  weapons  in 
Aprill  an°  dom  1588:— 


Warre 

1588    I  Traind 

Lancastre  vn 

I  trained 


Men 
1170 


Cheshire 


Trained 

vn 
Trained 


2189 


siiott 


700  Cat 


^  420  Cat 
I  39  music 


Corslets 

Bows 

Bills 

300 

80 

20 

Launces  20 
Light  horse  50 


The  provisione  of  thesej-jg  ^^^  Certefied 
2  Counties  >z<- 


500 


80 


80 


Launces  30 
Light  horse  50 


"  The  Abstracte  of  the  nombers  of  everie  sorte  of  the  armed  men  in  the  Countis 
throughe  y'  Kingdom,  taken  an"  1588: — 


Countis 


Able  men     Armed 


Trained 


vntrained 


Pioners 


Launces 


Ligln- 
liors 


Petronels 


Lanckeshire 


0000 


1170     I     1170       I       0000       I     0000 


64 


265 


000 


Cheshire 


0000 


2189 


2189 


0000 


0000 


020 


050 


091 


*  Lansdiwne  MSS.  Cod.  56.  endorsed  "  touchinge  a  place  called  the  Pille,  in  Lancashire,  a 
dangerous  place  for  Landinge." 


558  CiK  ?^tSitOlJ)  Of  tfte 

CHAP.  In  tlie  midst  of  these  preparations,  the  Spanish  armada  sailed  from  the  Taaus, 

XTII.  ...  o      ' 

— '—  and,  after  encountering  A-arious  disasters,  entered  the  English  channel,  and  formed 

Sailing      in  the  shape  of  a  crescent,  the  horns  of  wliich  lay  some  miles  asunder.     Tlie  sight 

of  the  T  •  1  ,  • 

armada,      was  gi'and  bejoud  conception;  hut  the  events  which  soon  after  followed  were  infinitely 

more  gratifying.*     The  command  of  the  English  fleet  had  been  confided  to  lord 

Howard,  of  Effingham,  the  lord  high  admiral,  whose  want  of  naval  skill  was  supplied 

by  the  earl  of  Cumberland,  and  the  lords  Henry  Seymour,  Thomas  Howard,  and 

Edmund  Sheffield,  Avith  sir  William  Winter,  sir  Francis  Drake,  sir  Robert  Southwell, 

sir  John  Hawkins,  sir  Henry  Palmer,  su-  Martin  Furbusher,  sir  George  Reeston, 

and  others.     By  this  able  council,  the  plan  of  operations  was  determined  upon ;  and 

Arrives  in  before  the  Spanish  fleet  had  been  two  hours  arrayed  in  order  of  battle,  the  cannonade 

lish  Chan-  was  Commenced  by  the  English  with  a  spii-it  wliich  shewed  that  the  determination 

existed  to  save  England,  or,  if  she  was  to  fall,  to  let  her  fleet  be  the  fu'st  sacrifice. 

A  succession  of  engagements  took  place,  in  all  of  Avhicli,  though  none  of  them  deci- 

Beaten       sive,  the  advantage  was  on  the  side  of  England,  till  the  finishing  blow  was  given  by 

off.  a  masterly  manoeuvre,  practised  on  the  29th  of  July.     On  that  memorable  night,  the 

sea  on  a  sudden  became  illuminated  by  the  appearance  of  eight  vessels  in  flames, 

drifting  rapidly  in  the  direction  of  the  armada,  wliich  was  then  moored  off"  Calais. 

A  loud  cry  of  horror  burst  from  the  Sj)aniards  on  the  appearance  of  these  engines  of 

desti'uction ;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  panic  they  cut  their  cables,  and  ran  out  to  sea, 

infUcting  upon  each  other  more  damage  than  they  had  liitherto  received  from  their 

intrepid  enemies.     The  fire-sliips  burnt  harmlessly  on  the  edge  of  the  beach,  but  a 

furious  gale  blowing  from  the  west,  the  armada  was  dispersed  along  the  coast  from 

Totally       Ostend  to  Calais,  and  the  guns  of  the  British  fleet  completed  what  the  skill  of  their 

defeated 

manoeu\Tes  and  the  fury  of  the  elenlents  had  begun.  The  want  of  ammunition  com- 
pelled the  English  admiral  to  return  to  port;  otherwise  the  Spanish  fleet  would  have 
been  anniliilated.  The  shores  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  in  Avhich  direction  the  enemy 
steered,  Avere  covered  AA-ith  the  AATCcks  of  their  vessels,  and  streAA^l  AA^th  the  dead 
bodies  of  theii*  mariners ;  and  Avhen  tlie  duke  of  Medina,  the  successor  of  Santa  Crux, 
terminated  his  unfortunate  voyage  in  the  port  of  St.  Andero,  he  acknoAvledged  the 
loss  of  thu'ty  ships  of  the  largest  class,  and  10,000  men. 

The  English  nation  was  filled  Avith  exultation  by  tliis  signal  deliverance,  and 
most  memoi"able  victory.     The  expressions  of  thankfulness  were  not  confined  to  the 

*  From  a  manuscript  in  the  Harleian  Coll.  Cod.  286,  it  would  appear  that  the  first  notice  of  the 
sailing  of  the  armada  from  Spain  was  communicated  to  the  government  by  Homfrstye  Brooke,  a  Liver- 
pool merchant;  but  the  dates  do  not  correspond  with  the  official  details,  and  we  are  unable  to 
reconcile  them.  The  document,  however,  is  curious,  and  as  such  will  be  inserted  in  the  West  Derby 
Hundred  history,  under  the  head  of  Liverpool. 


Couuti>  ^3nlatinc  of  aanrastfr.  559 

heroes  by  whom  it  was  acliieved,  but  rose  to  tliat  Being,  without  whose  providential    chap. 


xiu. 


aid  all  their  efforts  must  have  been  in  vain.     Tlie  nation,  wisliing  to  bear  in  pei-pe- 
tual  memory  "  this  signal  deliverance  from  the  malice,  force,  and  cruelty  of  their  Thanks- 
enemies,"   celebrated   a  general   thanksgiving   by  royal   proclamation,   which  was  Lanca- 
announced  to  the  county  of  Lancaster  by  the  earl  of  Derby  in  the  following  terras : —  victory. 

"  After  my  verie  hartie  coiiiendacons.      Whereas  I  am  creadiblie  Infounned      isss*. 
that  it  hathe  pleased  god  to  contynue  liis  goodnes  towardf  our  pryncc,  Churche,  f  Thank«- 
Cunti'ey  as  in  the  late  outhrowe  of  o'  Enemies  taken  vpon  the  costf  of  Irelande  yt  <iefeat 
may  appeare  by  this  Calender  herindosed.     I  have  thought  it  expediente  in  rcspecte  Spanish 
of  Christiane  dutie  we  should  fall  to  some  godlie  exercyse  of  thanks  gevinge  for  the 
same  by  prayer  f  preacliinge.      Willinge  you  so  to  comende  the  busynes  to  the 
clergie  of  youre  hundi-ethe  in  theire  seuall  chardges,  as  cure  god  by  mvtuall  consente 
may  be  praysed  therefore.    And  tliis  not  to  be  omitted  nor  delayed  in  anie  ^vyse,  but 
to  be  putt  in  Execucon  att  or  before  the  next  Sabotbe.     And  thus  des}Tinge  god  to 
blesse  her  ma"°  w"'  longe  Lyffe  f  contynuall  \'ictorie  ou  all  her  Enemyes  bidde  yo" 
farewell.     Lathome  my  howse  this  xxiiij"'  of  September,  1588. 

"  Yours  assuredlye, 

"  H.  Derby. 

"  To  my  verie  lovinge  frendes  S'  John  Byron  knighte  one  of  ray  deputy  Live- 
tenJtf  for  Lancasliire  And  to  the  reste  of  the  Justicf  of  peace." 

[Here  follows  a  list  of  the  "  Shippes   f  men  sunke  t  drowned  lulled  f  taken, 
vpou  the  coaste  of  Irelande,"  on  the  side  of  the  Spaniards.] 

Harl  MSS.  Cod.  1296./o.  88. 

Although  the  pope,  Sextus  V.  had  fulminated  a  new  bull  of  excoramunication  Fidelity 
against  Elizabeth,  absolving  her  subjects  from  their  allegiance,  and  had  published  catholics. 
a  crusade  against  England,  with  pecuniary  indulgences  to  any  one  that  engaged  in 
the  invasion;  and  although  Dr.  Allen  had  received  a  cardinal's  cap,  to  qualify  him  as 
legate  to  England,  yet  the  Catholic  subjects  of  the  queen,  both  in  this  and  other 
counties,  remained  faithful  to  their  allegiance,  and  were  amongst  the  most  active  in 
equipping  ships,  and  placing  them  under  protestant  commanders  to  repel  tlie 
invaders.*  Amongst  a  number  of  others,  sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  sir  Thomas  Vavasour, 
and  sir  Charles  Blount,  distinguished  themselves  by  their  zealous  and  disinterested 
service  in  their  country's  cause. 

In  Ireland  the  war  seemed  interminable,  and  lience,  in  the  following  year,  an 
order  was  issued,  through  sir  Richard  Sherburne  and  sir  .Tohn  Byron,  to  the  magis- 

*  Stowe's  Ann.  p.  747. 


560  €i)t  S}l£itl3r|)  of  tl)t 

CHAP,    trates  of  Lancashire,  requiring  them  to  levy  another  hundred  soldiers  in  addition  to 


xui. 


those  before  sent,  to  proceed  to  Ireland,  properly  furnished  and  equipped,  to  assemble 
Fresh         at  Cliorley,  and  to  proceed  from  thence  to  their  destination.     In  a  subsequent  letter, 
Lanca-"     the  gentry  and  principal  freeholders  of  the  county  are  advertised,  that  all  the  demi- 
ireiand!^     lauccs  and  light  horse  ^ntliiu  the  respective  hundreds,  are  to  appear  before  the  lord- 
lieutenant  for  liis  inspection;  which  mandate  awards  to  each  the  number  he  is  to 
furnish.     It  appears,  that  in  the  former  year  the  inspection  did  not  take  place,  and 
the  earl  of  Derby,  in  a  communication  of  the  1 9th  of  February,  notifies  that  it  is  the 
queen's  pleasure  that  they  should  be  furnished  and  equipped,  and  ready  at  one  hour's 
warning,  and  that  the  money  assessed  for  the  le^des  should  be  paid  into  the  hands  of 
liis  receiver,  Richard  Holland,  esq.  at  his  bouse  at  Heaton. 
Memoia-  The  dominion  of  the  law  was  at  this  time  so  little  regarded  in  the  county  of 

Lancaster,  that  the  baron  of  Newton  assembled  on  Sunday  evening  his  tenants  and 
retainers,  to  the  number  of  eighty,  in  fi-ont  of  the  house  of  Mr.  Hoghton,  of  Lea,  in 
the  parish  of  Preston,  and  challenged  him  to  combat,  ostensibly,  because  he  had 
impounded  a  number  of  cattle  belonging  to  the  widow  Singleton,  but  really  to  avenge 
an  ancient  feud.  Finding  himself  menaced  in  liis  own  mansion,  he  saUied  forth  at 
the  head  of  a  band  of  thirty  men,  when  a  regular  engagement  ensued,  in  which 
Mr.  Hoghton  and  Richard  Bawdwen,  one  of  Ms  followers,  were  left  dead  on  the  field. 
The  eai'l  of  Derby,  as  lord-lieutenant  of  the  county,  to  vindicate  his  authority,  caused 
a  watch  to  be  instituted  day  and  night,  that  the  offenders  might  be  detected,  and 
brought  to  justice ;  and  a  species  of  magisterial  assize  was  appointed  to  be  held  at 
Preston,  to  inquire  into  the  ciixumstances  of  the  riot  and  murders.  The  magistrates 
could  only  pursue  one  course,  and  that  was,  to  dii'ect  that  all  the  parties  engaged  in 
the  homicides  should  be  indicted  at  the  ensuing  assizes,  on  a  charge  of  wilful  murder. 
The  earl  of  Derby,  foreseeing  the  consequences  that  Avould  ensue,  addressed  an 
earnest  petition  to  lord  Burghley,  the  queen's  high-treasurer,  beseeching  liis  lordsliip 
to  use  liis  influence  to  obtain  a  pardon  from  the  queen,  as  very  many  of  the  ruder 
sort  engaged  in  the  riot  could  not  read,  and,  being  unable  to  take  the  benefit  of 
clergy,  must  lose  their  lives;  while  those  who  were  of  more  distinction  must  be 
burnt  in  the  hand,  and  thereby  a  dangerous  quarrel  would  arise  amongst  the  gentle- 
men of  the  county,  of  an  extent  and  duration  that  would  involve  the  most  serious 
consequences.  Tliis  application,  which  was  accompanied  by  a  petition  from  forty- 
seven  of  the  offenders  for  the  queen's  pardon,  and  was  supported  by  a  petition  from 
the  widow  of  Mr.  Hoghton,  seems  so  fai*  to  have  prevailed,  that  the  murder  was 
compromised,  by  the  heir  of  the  deceased  gentleman  receiving  from  the  piincipal 
offender,  as  a  compensation  for  his  father's  death,  the  valuable  estate  and  manor  of 
Walton-le-Dale,  the  future  scene  of  one  of  Cromwell's  most  splenchd  ^-ictories.    Some 


Coimti)  |3alatinc  of  ilaiuasur,  561 

documents  on  this  subject,  characteristic  of  the  tuues  of  Elizabeth,  will  be  found  in     ch.vp. 
theii"  proper  place  in  the  Huncked  History. L 


In  the  preceding  century,  a  less  fatal  but  more  licentious  outrage  was  perpetrated  Rape  and 
upon  one  of  the  principal  families  of  Lancasliii-e  :  "  On  the  Monday  next  after  the 
feast  of  St.  James  the  Apostle,"  as  the  ofBcial  documents  express  it,  William  Pullc,  use. 
of  Liverpool,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  of  Wyrall,  in  the  county  of  Chester, 
gentleman,  with  a  gi-eat  number  of  others,  repaired  to  the  house  of  Isabell,  tlie  widow 
of  sir  John  Boteler,  of  Bewsey,  and  feloniously  and  most  horribly  ravished  the  said 
widow,  and  carried  her  off  hi  a  state  of  nudity,  except  "  her  kirtyll  [petticoat]  and 
her  Smokke,"  into  the  wild  and  desolate  part  of  Wales,  for  which  offence  he  was 
indicted  at  Lancaster ;  but  of  tins  also  more  in  its  proper  place. 

The  loyal  conduct  of  the  Catholics,  when  this  country  was  menaced  \\ith  invasion,  Persecu- 

.  .  ,  .     .  ''ons  of 

did  not  stay  the  persecutions  to  which  tliey  were  exposed;   a  commission  under  the  the  Catho- 
lics. 
great  seal  of  England  was  issued,  for  the  apprehension  and  discovery  of  seminary 

priests  and  Jesuits,  and  for  reducing  the  recusants  to  conformity.  To  give  effect  to  isoi. 
tliis  commission,  the  churchwardens  in  the  various  parishes  of  Lancasliire  were 
requii'ed  to  meet  the  magistrates,  and  to  bring  with  them  lists  in  writing,  containing 
the  Christian  and  surnames  of  all  the  householders  in  their  respective  parishes,  both 
men  and  women,  with  all  theii-  inmates  above  the  age  of  sixteen  yeai's,  certifying 
whether  they  repaired  to  the  church  to  hear  divine  service,  that,  in  case  of  neglect, 
they  might  be  dealt  with  accordingly.  The  rigorous  proceedings  against  the  Catholics, 
not  in  this  county  only,  but  in  the  country  generally,  may  be  inferred  fi-om  the  facts 
mentioned  by  Challouer,  who  states,  that  for  the  vague  oflences  of  harbouring  priests, 
or  of  receiving  orchnation  beyond  the  seas,  or  of  admitting  the  supremacy  of  the 
pope,  and  denying  that  of  the  queen,  sixty-one  priests,  forty-seven  laymen,  and  two 
gentlewomen,  suffered  capital  punislunents,  by  laws  recently  enacted,  and  unkiio\vn 
to  the  ancient  constitution  of  the  country;  and  that  in  one  night  fifty  Catliolic  gentle- 
men, in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  were  suddenly  seized  and  committed  to  prison,  on 
account  of  the  non-attendance  at  church.  As  a  test  of  their  fidelity  to  the  reformed  Test  of  the 
faith,  all  the  justices  of  the  peace  were  required  openly  and  publicly  to  take  the  oath  t?at^es. 
of  supremacy  in  special  sessions,  and  an  order  from  the  lords  of  the  queen's  council, 
of  the  date  of  the  22d  of  October,  1592,  addressed — 

"  To  our  verie  Loraige  frendf  the  highe  Sheriffe  f  Custos  Rotuloru  of  the 
"  Countie  of  Lancaster  S'  John  Byron  f  S'  Edward  Fytton  knightes, 
"  Richard  A.sheton  Richard  Brereton  f  Richard  Hollande  esquier  f  to  euie 
"  of  them;"* 

*  Had.  MSS.  Cod.  1926.  fo.  109  a. 
VOL.  I.  4  c 


562  €i)t  ?§igtorj)  of  tfte 

CHAP,     directs  that  sessions  of  the  peace  shall  be  holden  before  the  20th  day  of  November 

. '__  next,  at  the  accustomed  places  in  the  county,  at  Aviiicli  every  justice  of  the  peace 

present  shall  take  the  said  oath,  and  that  any  person  having  hitherto  filled  that 
office,  who  shall  refuse  or  forbear  to  take  the  oath,  shall  be  removed  out  of  the  com- 
mission of  the  peace;  or  any  justice  of  the  peace,  who  does  not  repau-  to  the  church 
or  chapel  where  the  common  prayer  is  used,  or  whose  wife,  liA-iug  with  her  husband, 
or  son  and  heii-,  living  in  liis  father's  house,  or  Avitliin  the  county  where  his  father 
dwells,  refuses  or  does  not  usually  go  to  church,  tlie  husband  or  father  of  such 
recusant  shall  cease  to  exercise  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  during  the  time  of 
such  recusancy.  The  high-sheriff  and  other  persons  named  in  the  writ  of  Dedimus 
Poiestatem  are  themselves  first  required  to  take  the  oath,  and  then  to  administer  it 
to  the  justices,  saving  that  the  lords  of  pai'liament  are  excepted, 
x^eisecu-  The  puritaus,  at  least  that  pail   of  them   called  Browiiists,  who  deemed  every 

PuHtaas."  specics  of  commuuiou  with  the  established  church  unchristian,  fai-ed  little  better 
than  the  Catholics :  five  of  them  were  aiTaigned  in  the  year  1 593,  on  a  chai'ge  of 
writing  and  publishing  seditious  libels;  and  though  the  publishers  were  spared, 
Barrow  and  Greenwood,  the  writers,  were  condemned  and  executed,  uotwithstauchng 
then*  plea,  that  the  obnoxious  passages  were  directed  against  the  bishops,  and  not 
against  the  queen.  Penny,  the  "  Martin  Marprelate"  of  Manchester,  was  sen- 
tenced to  death,  on  a  pretence  that  a  number  of  papers,  containing  disjointed 
sentences,  intended  as  a  petition  to  the  queen,  were  treasonable ;  and,  to  prevent  the 
populace  from  interposing  any  obstacles  in  the  way  of  his  execution,  he  was  sud- 
denly taken  fi-om  prison,  and  hanged  at  the  door  of  sir  Thomas  Waterings. 

The  alarm  of  Spanish  invasion  was  re\-ived  in  1593,  and  the  queen  adckessed  a 
letter  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  as  lord-lieutenant  of  the  palatine  counties  of  Lancaster 
and  Chester,  announcing,  that  troubles  had  been  stii-red  up  in  Ireland,  and  that  it 
had  come  to  the  knowledge  of  her  majesty's  council,  that  certain  Spanish  ships  of 
war  were  to  be  sent,  by  the  way  of  Scotland,  to  aid  the  insurgents  in  that  country. 
Spanish  To  repel  this  invasion,  levies  were  to  be  made  in  the  different  counties  of  the  king- 
landed        dom,  and  the  comities  of  Lancaster  and  Chester  were  each  requii-ed   to  furnish  one 


Ireland. 


there. 


Imndi-ed  and  thirty-eight  able  men,  properly  equipped,  to  proceed  to  Liverpool,  or 
Chester,  to  be  embarked  in  that  service.  To  enforce  this  order,  a  letter  was 
addressed  by  the  earl  of  Derby  to  sir  Richard  Shirburn,  knt.,  Richard  Hollande, 
esq.,  and  the  other  deputy-Lieutenants  of  the  county,  in  which  his  lordship  was 
Lanca-  pleased  to  state,  "  that  her  majesty  in  her  princely  wisdom,  having  resolved,  by 
tierfor.  God's  assistance,  to  withstand  and  suppress  tliis  wicked  force  treacherously  brought 
against  her  highnesses  most  excellent  and  godly  government,"  requh-ed  that  con- 
sultation might  be  had,  and  the  utmost  promptitude  used,  in  carrving  the  measures 


Countp  IJalatine  of  aancasfttr.  563 

into  effect.     A  subsequent  letter  from  liis  lordsliip,  dated  on  the  14tli  of  June  in  the    chap. 

same  year,  represents,  tliat  "  general  greffe  and  mislyke"  lia\e  l)ecn  conceived  in   

the  county,  and  not  Avithout  good  cause,  if  he  is  rightly  informed,  from  tlie  manner 
in  which  the  county  has  been  assessed  for  the  Irish  service.  In  consequence  of 
tliese  alleged  malversations  the  magistrates  for  the  hundred  of  Salford  were  required 
to  assemble  at  Manchester,  and  to  make  out  an  account  of  the  sums  of  money  which 
had  been  collected  in  theii-  respective  jurisdictions  for  this  service,  during  the  last 
eight  years,  in  order  that  justice  might  be  done  to  the  county.  From  tlie  nature  of 
tliis  official  coiTespondence,  it  should  appear,  that  the  alai'm  of  invasion  soon  subsided, 
for  in  tlie  mouth  of  September  in  the  same  year,  the  lords  of  the  council  directed,  that 
the  beacon-watches  should  be  chscontinued,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  count}-  of 
Lancaster  should  forthwith  be  discharged  fi'om  the  necessity  of  contributing  to  tliis 
service. 

At  this  period  of  our  history,  the  liospitals  of  Chelsea  and  Chatham  did  not  exist,  Provision 

^  .  .  ^^^  pen- 

neitlier  tlid  the  chests  out  of  which  disabled  soldiers  and  mariners,  who  have  served  sioners. 
tlieir  country,  are  relieved ;  but  unfortunate  persons  of  this  description,  when  they 
were  discharged  from  the  public  service,  received  a  certificate,  addressed  to  the 
justices  of  the  peace,  in  the  counties  where  they  were  born,  or  had  been  impressed' 
recommending  them  to  the  liumane  consideration  of  the  churchwardens  and  consta- 
bles. Tliese  certificates  were  given  by  men  high  in  office,  and,  amongst  others,  we 
find  one  signed  by  no  fewer  than  nine  members  of  her  majesty's  council,  in  favour 
of  Nicholas  Whittacre,  a  poor  soldier,  ha\ing  done  good  service,  and  bearing  office 
as  a  lieutenant  in  her  majesty's  wars,  directing,  that  he  might  receive  such  benefit 
from  the  general  collections  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  wliere  he  was  horn,  or 
impressed,  as  was  given  to  others  of  the  same  description. 

An  event  which  agitated  the  county  of  Lancaster — "  the  superstitious  county  of  Popular 
Lancaster" — in  the  most  extraorchnary  manner,  happened  to  the  head  of  its  principal  tion.  * 
family  soon  after,  in  the  death  of  Henry  earl  of  Derby.  His  son  and  successor, 
Ferdinando,  was  seized  "  in  the  flower  of  his  youth,"  vnth  a  violent  sickness,  at 
Kuowsley,  in  the  month  of  April,  wliicli  was  attributed  to  witchcraft,  botli  by  himself 
and  his  attendants,  and  of  which  he  died  at  Lathoni  House,  twelve  days  afterwards  ; 
but  the  documents  upon  this  subject  appertain  rather  to  the  history  of  the  Stanley 
famil)',  and  must  be  reserved  for  that  portion  of  our  work. 

It  appears  that  tliis  country  was  visited,  in  the  years  1595  and  1596,  by  a  severe  Famine, 
dearth,  amounting  almost  to  famine,  owing  to  a  succession  of  unfavourable  seasons. 
In  the  following  year,  the  lords  of  the  council  issued  a  letter  to  the  justices  of  the 
peace  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  congratulating  them  on  the  return  of  plenty ;  but 
at  the  same  time,  directing  them  to  cause  diligent  inquisition  to  be  made  in  all  the 

4  c  2 


564 


Wi)t  ?l?is(tori)  of  tin 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


The 

queen's 

expenses. 


di^'isions  of  their  county,  for  such  persons  as  kept  up  the  price  of  pro-vdsions,  by 
buying  or  bai-gaiuiug  for  corn  or  other  victuals,  except  in  open  mai-ket,  or  for  their 
private  use,  and  clii-ecting  that  they  should  apprehend  all  engi-ossers,  and  compel 
them  to  revoke  their  bargains. 

In  the  list  of  queen  Elizabeth's  annual  expenses,  cinl  and  military,  in  the  year 
1598,  the  following  items  occur : — 


County 

and 

duchy. 


Subjuga- 
tion of 
Ireland. 


The  Countie  Palatine  of  Lancaster. 

£.  s.  d. 

Chamberlaine ;  fee     ...     20  0  0 

Clark  of  the  crown ;  fee  .     .     40  0  0 
And  his  dyet  when  he  rydes 

esteemed       .....     40  0  0 

Clark  of  the  pleas ;  fee    .     .     40  0  0 

Clark  of  the  extreats ;  fee    .     20  0  0 
Barons  of  the  exchequer,  2; 

fee  apeece 40  0  0 

Attorney  j  fee 6  13  4 

Messenger ;  fee    ...     .       200 

And  his  ryding  expences 

Cryerjfee 2  0  0 


The  Duchie  of  Lancaster. 

£.     s. 
Chancellor ;  fee  and  allowance 
of  £4,  for  paper,  parchment, 

and  ynck 142  10 

Surveior;  fee  .     .  .     .     66   13 

Attorney ;  fee  and  allowance      45     0 
Receaver    general;    fee     and 

allowance  .     .     .     .     38  10 

Clarke  in  the  court  of  the  du- 
chie; fee  and  allowance   .     27  10 
Messenger;  fee  and  liis  charges 

when  he  rydeth       ...     40     0 


0 
4 
0 


The  munerous  levies  that  had  been  made  for  the  queen's  service  in  Ireland, 
enabled  the  English  general,  Mountjoy,  to  effect  the  subjugation  of  that  country, 
though  the  rebels,  so  called,  were  aided  by  au  invading  army  of  six  thousand 
Spaniards.  But  the  long  and  eventful  reign  of  Elizabeth  now  drew  to  a  close.  The 
queen,  in  the  midst  of  all  her  splendour  and  success,  fell  into  a  state  of  irrecoverable 
melancholy,  and  died  in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age,  having  bequeathed  her 
crown  to  her  lawful  successor,  James  the  Sixth  of  Scotland,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
unfortunate  Mary  queen  of  Scots. 

Immediately  on  the  death  of  the  queen,  a  letter  was  addi-essed  by  the  lords  of  the 
Eikabeth.  council  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster,  (and  the  other  sheriffs,)  announcing,  that  "  As 
much  as  it  has  pleased  God  to  take  out  of  this  life  to  his  mercy  our  dearly  beloved 
sovereign  queen  Elizabeth,  it  has  become  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
safety  of  the  realm,  forthwith  to  proclaim  James  VI.  king  of  Scotland,  and  now 
James  I.  king  of  England,  France,  and  Ireland."  For  this  purpose,  their  lordships 
had  sent  a  proclamation,  which  the  sheriff  was  requii'ed  to  publish  in  his  county  of 
Lancaster,  and  which  proclamation  announced,  that  tlie  imperial  crown  had,  by  the 


Death  of 


Coimtp  ^3alatinc  of  aautastfr.  565 

death  of  the  high  and  mighty  princess  Elizabeth,  descended  on  the  high  and  mighty    chap. 

prince  James,  lineally  and  lawfiUly  descended  from  the  body  of  Margaret,  daughter  _J !_. 

of  the  high  and  renowned  prince  Henry  VII.,  king  of  England,  liis  gTeat- 
gi-andfather,  the  said  lady  Margaret  being  the  daughter  of  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
king  Edward  IV.,  by  which  happy  conjunction,  both  the  houses  of  York  and  Lan- 
caster were  united,  to  the  joy  unspeakable  of  this  Idngdom,  fonnerly  rent  and  torn 
by  the  large  dissension  of  bloody  and  civil  wars. 

This  proclamation  met  with  a  prompt,  loyal,  and  dutiful  response  from  the 
principal  gentry  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  expressed  in  the  following  terms  : — 

"  To  the  most  highe  f  mightye  prince  James  kinge  of  Scotland  the  Sixt  Address 
f  of  England  Fraunce  f  Ireland  the  first  our  most  gracious  f  dreede  shire  gen- 

gT         1  *  ''■y '"  her 

aigne  Lord.*  successor, 

James  I. 

"  Albeyt  most  gracious  souraigne  lord.  That  the  Loyall  bond  of  om-  Allegeance 
to  your  Ma'^'^  cannot  receyve  force  from  our  Testimonye  or  approbacon  But  remayn- 
eth  in  yt  selfe  firme  f  inviolable  as  dependinge  in  regard  of  your  hyghnes  vndoubted 
right  to  be  oiu'  true  f  lawfull  souragne  imedyatlye  vpon  godf  holye  ordinance  whoe 
established  the  right  of  priucf  in  theyr  Crownes  f  kingdoms  for  soe  muclie  yet  as 
the  vmble  acknowledgement  of  dutye  ys  some  tymes  thought  not  the  gi'eatest  yet  not 
the  least  grateful  pte  of  dutye  yt  selfe  and  ys  vpon  soe  just  occacon  as  oportuiiitye 
nowe  ofFereth  neyther  improper  nor  vndewe  Wee  therefore  yo'  most  vmble  subiectes 
w"'in  the  Countye  Palleutye  of  Lancaster  have  out  of  the  abundance  of  our  Lovall 
resolved  hartf  psumed  to  Comend  hereby  to  your  most  gi-acious  acceptance  this 
vmble  Testimonye  f  acknowledgement  of  our  Loyall  dutyes  f  Allegeance  Tliat 
wheras  the  almightye  god  hayth  to  the  manifold  good  f  blessiuge  of  tliis  our  Nation 
vowchesaved  by  knowne  Course  of  Lyneall  f  lawfull  discent  to  calle  your  Ma'"  to 
the  kingly e  governement  of  thes  most  noble  Realmes  of  England  Fraunce  t  Ireland 
w"'  open  pclamacons  f  geniall  applaus  througheout  our  whole  Countye  wee  doe 
hereby  ptest  for  our  selves  f  oures  That  during-e  our  natural!  lyves  wee  wUl  f)forme 
layth  €  obedience  to  your  Ma'^^  as  to  our  knowne  vndoubted  rightfuU  souaigne,  f  be 
eumore  redye  thoughe  w"'  the  hazard  of  our  estaytf  f  expence  of  our  dearest  blood 
as  well  to  ptect  f  defend  you  ma'"  most  Royall  pson  As  also  to  w"'stand  resist  t 
pursue  to  death  all  such  as  hereafter  att  any  tyme  shall  interrupt  impugne  or  gayne 
saye  your  ma'"  most  just  f  and  lawfull  dame  to  the  Impiall  Crownes  f  (Ugiiityes  of 
thes  afforsayd  Realmes  To  the  pformance  whereof  wee  doe  all  of  \s  hereby  joyntlye 
conteste  in  the  psence  of  our  gi-eat  god  f  in  Testimonye  of  tliis  our  solemne  act  have 

*  Had.  MSS.  Cod.  2219.  fo.  95  b. 


566 


€l)t  M&tov^  of  tl)e 


CHAP. 
XIII. 


subscrybed  thes  psentes  w"'  our  liandf  the  faithfull  witnesses  of  our  resolved  hartf , 
f  psumed  to  put  the  same  to  your  highnes  by  Artliure  Aston  your  ina'"  Svant  w"' 
our  hvmble  requeste  in  belialfe  of  the  rest  of  the  Inliabitantes  of  our  Countye  That 
yo'  highnes  would  vowchesafe  gi'aciouslye  to  receyve  by  him  the  excuse  of  theyr  nowe 
absence  and  not  subscrybinge.  Given  att  Wigau  the  last  of  Marche  in  the  first 
yere  of  your  gracious  most  happye  reigne 


"  Your  Ma"'  most  hvmble  f  Loyall  subiectf 


"  John  Ireland  Vic 
S'  Rychard  Mollineuxe 
S'  Rychard  Hoghton 
S"^  Cuthbert  Halsall 
S'  Edward  WaiTen 
S'  John  Radclyffe 
Tliomas  Preston 
Fraunces  Tunstall 
Randle  Barton 
Rychard  Holland 
Thomas  Sothworth 
Jolm  Osbadelston 
WiUm  Thorneborrowe 
George  Preston 
Edward  Tarbucke 
Alexander  Standishe 
James  Ashton 
John  Middleton  of  Leyton 
Willm  Farrington 
Rofet  Dalton  de  Thurnam 
Robt  Dalton  of  Pillinge 
Roger  Bradshawe 
Roger  Nowell 
Nycholas  Banister 
Myles  GeiTard 
Edwai-d  Stanley 
Barnabie  Kitcliin 


S"  Nycholas  Mosseley 

Thomas  Walmysley 

Thomas  Gerrard 

Thomas  Langton 

John  Townley 

Richard  Sherburne 

James  Anderton  of  Los- 
tocke 

James  Anderton  of  Clay- 
ton 

Rofet  Charnocke 

Thomas  Ashton 

Rychai-d  Fleetwood 

Henrye  Banister 

Roger  Kiikbye 

Christopher  Cams 

John  Cansfild 

John  Calvert 

Edmund  Fleetwood 

Edward  Rawstorne 

Wiftm  Hvlton 

James  Browne 

Alexander  Barlowe 

John  Greenhaughe 

Alexander  Reddishe 

Edmund  Hop  wood 

John  BradcUll 


Thomas  Barton 
James  Westbye 
John  Massy e 
Edward  NoiTes 
Richard  Ashton 
Rychard  Bold 
Raufe  Ashton 
Robt  Hesketh 
Edward  Standishe 
John  Traves 
Henry  Butler 
Edward  Rigbie 
Edward  Langtrie 
Robt  More 
Thomas  Tildisley 
Thomas  Ireland 
Alexander  Standishe 
Roger  Downes 
John  Crosse 
John  Wrightington 
Robt  PiUiiugton 
Thomas  Gidlow 
Wiftm  Chorley 
Rychard  Ashton 
Wittm  Clayton 
Roger  Bradshawe 
Winstanley." 


County  ^aalatint  of  ilancaeiUr. 


567 


Cftap.  ^'iv. 


Ancient  manners  and  customs  of  the  county.-The  chase.-Archery.-Dress.-Buildmgs.-Food.- 
Coaches.— Progress  of  improvement.  —  Sports  and  pastimes.— The  arts.— The  laws.— Kmg 
James's  first  progress.— Lancashire  knights.— The  plague.— The  Gunpowder  plot.— Letter  to 
lord  Monteagle.— Cecil's  account  of  the  discovery.— Fate  of  the  conspirators.— New  dignity  of 
inheritance.— Lancashire  baronets.— Lancashire  witches.— Dr.  Dee's  petition  .-Seer  Edward  Kel- 
ley  the  necromancer.— History  of  Lancashire  witchcraft. -Duchess  of  Gloucester.-The  Stanley 
fam'ily— Satanic  possession. -Case  of  seven  demoniacs  in  Mr.  Starkie's  family  at  Cleworth.- 
Disposses.sed.— The  conjurer  hanged.— King  James's  daemonologie.- Witches  of  Pendle  Forest.— 
Their  trial.-Fate.~Salmesbury  witches.— Acquitted.— Second  batch  of  Pendle  Forest  witches. 
—The  witch-finder's  deposition.— Proved  to  be  an  impostor.— Examination  of  the  Lancashire 
witches  before  the  king  in  council. -Deposition  of  Ann  Johnson,  one  of  the  reputed  witches.- 
On  the  belief  in  witchcraft.-Case  of  a  Lancashire  witch  in  Worcestershire.-R.chard  Dugdale, 
the  Lancashire  demoniac.-His  possession.-Dispossession .-Witchcraft  exploded.-Progress  of 
kin.^  James  through  Lancashire.-Sunday  sports.-The  Book  of  Sports.-Further  honours  con- 
ferred on  Lancashire  men.-Letter  from  king  James  to  sir  Richard  Hoghton,  with  autograph.- 
Letter  from  the  king's  council  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  lord-lieutenant  of  Lancashire  and  Cheshire. 


UEEN  ELIZABETH  was  no  sooner  consigned  to    <';^\af 

the  tomb  of  her  royal  progenitors,  than  her  successor,  

James  I.,  entered  upon  liis  progi-ess  from  Edinburgh,  Andem 
by  way  of  York,  to  London.  But,  having  now  arrived  a^i^cus- 
at  times  comparatively  modern,  Ave  shall  pause,  to  take 
a  short  retrospective  view  of  the  ancient  manners  and 
customs  of  the  people  of  Lancashire,  and  in  some 
degi-ee  of  the  kingdom  in  general,  which;  on  beuig 
collated  with  the  customs  and  manners  of  modern 
times,  will  often  afford  instructive  lessons,  and  exhibit 
by  turns  striking  contrasts  and  close  resemblances. 

From  the  tune  of  the  Norman  conquest,  the  inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Lancas- 
ter have  been  much  addicted  to  the  chase.  The  extent  of  their  forests  has  attached 
them  to  tliis  pursuit ;  and  their  skill  in  archery,  for  which  they  have  been  famed, 
both  in  war  and  in  their  sports,*    had   given  them  a  taste  for  the  chase,  which  cUs- 

*  See  chap.  vii. 


The 
chase. 


568  Clje  f^istoii)  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    played  itself  as  early  as  the  reign  of  king  John,  and  was  at  its  height  in  the  reigu  of 

_J ;_  Henry  VIII.     The  laurels  gained  on  the  field  of  Flodden  by  tJie  levies  under  sii- 

Edward  Stanley,  were  principally  owing  to  their  dexterity  in  the  use  of  the  bow  and 
thebUl*    . 

Archery.  According  to  Holinshed,    the    skill  of  the  archers   must  have  been  in  great 

request,  for,  says  he,  "  the  whole  countie  of  Lancaster  hath  beene  forrest  hereto- 
fore ;"  but  tliis  is  an  error  of  the  venerable  clu'onicler,  as  is  shewn  with  sufficient 
clearness,  by  the  Domesday  survey  of  William  the  conqueror.f  It  is  true,  that  when 
the  Lacies,  and  the  successors  of  'the  ducal  house  of  Lancaster,  sported  over  their 
vast  domain,  from  the  castle  of  Clitheroe  to  the  castle  of  Pontefract,  the  right  of 
fi'ee-warren  was  exercised  over  all  the  intervening  country  without  control ;  but  it 
is  also  true,  that  the  track  was  studded  with  towns  and  villages,  more  nmnerous 
even  in  the  days  of  John  of  Gaunt  than  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIILJ 

Hospita-  The  nobles  of  Lancasliire,  in  their  baronial  halls,  were  distinguished  for  the 

ancient  munificence ;  and  the  successive  barons,  earls,  and  dukes  of  Lancaster,  set 
the  example,  for  which  Edward,  earl  of  Derby,  the  model  of  hospitality,  was  cele- 
brated. The  knights,  the  gentry,  and  the  yeomen,  each  in  their  station,  were  also 
famed  for  their  hospitality  and  manly  exercises ;  and  Ctunden,  speaking  of  the 
Lancasliire  men  generally,  without  distinction  of  rank,  says — "  You  may  determine 
the  goodness  of  the  country  by  the  temperament  of  the  inhabitants,  who  are  extremely 
comely."^ 

Dress.  The  dress  of  the  ladies  in  the  time  of  the  Ferrers,  first  earls  of  Derby,  is 

described  as  at  once  simple  and  graceful;  they  were  clothed  in  modest,  elegant  habits, 
consisting  of  a  loose  gown  girdled  round  the  waist,  wliich  reached  to  the  gi'ound,  and 
was  surmounted  with  a  veil  over  the  head  ;  the  unmarried  ladies  were  distinguished 
by  an  additional  robe  over  the  gown,  wliich  hung  down  before,  and  resembled  the 


*  Chap.  xii.  The  English  chiefly  depended  upon  the  force  of  their  infantry,  and  the  bravery 
and  expertness  of  the  archers,  which  was  as  much  relied  upon  in  our  ancient  warfare,  as  is  the 
charge  in  modern  British  tactics.  The  archers  were  protected  by  body  armour,  the  arms  being  left 
perfectly  free  ;  except  when  they  wore  a  brigandine  of  mail,  which  came  before  them  like  an  apron ; 
their  arms  were,  a  long  bow,  a  sheaf  of  arrows,  a  sword,  and  a  small  shield.  The  bill-men,  so  called 
from  their  weapon,  which  resembled  a  small  bill,  or  hooked  axe,  were  sometimes  armed  in  brigandines 
of  mail,  but  at  other  times  they  were  scarcely  protected  at  all  by  armour. 

t  See  the  Domesday  Map  of  Lancashire. 

I  Description  of  England  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  written  by  Wm.  Harrison,  and  affixed  to 
Holinshed's  Chronicles,  new  edit.  p.  324.     See  also  chap.  vii.  p.  268,  of  this  work. 

§  Britannica,  iii.  377. 


Coimtj)  ^Jalatine  of  iLanrnistfr.  56y 

sacerdotal  robe.  The  di'ess  of  the  men  of  the  liighcr  order  was  a  flomng  robe  ;  chap. 
and  the  common  people  wore  a  kind  of  tunic  girt  round  the  loins,  which  seldom  ^'^' 
reached  lower  than  to  the  knees.  Nothing  could  be  more  vain  and  ridiculous  than 
the  fashions  which  prevailed  in  the  reign  of  the  last  sovereign  of  the  Lancaster  line, 
and  which  seemed  to  combine  all  the  fantastical  costumes  of  former  reigns.  In  the 
reign  of  Henry  VII.  there  was  an  affectation  of  feminine  attire  in  the  men,  and 
the  lord  chamberlain  is  described  in  the  book  of  Kervjnige,  as  sayino-, — "  warme 
your  soverayne  hys  petycote,  his  doublet,  and  Ids  stomachere ;  and  then  put  on  hys 
hosen,  and  then  his  schone  or  slyppers,  then  stryke  up  his  hosen  manuerlve,  and 
tye  them  up,  then  lace  his  doublet  hole  by  hole,"  &c.  Of  the  garbs  of  the  priests 
just  before  the  Protestant  reformation,  Harrison,  an  author  of  great  fidelity,  who 
wrote  iu  that  century,  says, — "  that  they  went  either  in  diverse  colors  like  plaiers, 
or  in  gai-ments  of  light  hew,  as  yellow,  red,  greene,  &c.,  with  theii*  shoes  piked, 
their  haire  crisped,  their  gu'dles  armed  with  silver ;  their  shooes,  spun-es,  bridles, 
&c.,  buckled  with  like  mettall ;  then-  apparell  (for  the  most  part)  of  sUke,  and 
richlie  fun-ed,  their  cappes  laced  and  buttoned  with  gold  ;  so  that  to  meet  a  priest 
in  those  dales,  was  to  beholde  a  peacocke  that  spreadeth  his  taile  when  he  danseth 
before  the  lienne."  These  clerical  beaux  must  have  been  the  dignitaries  of  the 
church,  and  not  the  inferior  clergy  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  who  are  described  by 
archbishop  Lee,  as  in  the  possession  of  benefices  not  yielding  them  more  than  four 
guineas  per  annum.*  In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  the  dress  of  the  clergy  was  more 
becoming  their  sacred  order,  and  the  showy  colours,  the  "  piked"  shoes,  and  the 
glittering  girdles  were  discarded.  The  head-ckess  of  the  laity  was  as  various  as  the 
cut  of  theii-  beai'ds,  "  which  were  some  times  shaven  from  the  chin  lilve  tliose  of  Turks, 
some  times  cut  short  like  the  beard  of  marques  Otto,  sometimes  made  round  like  a 
rubbing  brush,  other  with  a  pique  clevant ;  and  now  and  then  suffered  to  grow  long.'' 
As  the  men  imitated  the  fashions  of  the  women,  so  did  the  women  imitate  the 
faslllbns  of  the  men,  to  a  degree  offensive  ahlie  to  good  taste  and  to  modesty ;  and 
Harrison,  in  describing  the  ladies  of  the  ton  in  his  days,  says,  "  thus  it  is  now  come 
to  pass,  that  women  are  become  men,  and  men  are  transformed  into  monsters."  Randle 
Holme,  one  of  our  county  collectors,  says,  that,  about  the  fortieth  year  of  Elizabeth, 
the  old  fashions,  wliicli  were  used  in  the  beginning  of  lier  reign,  were  again  revived 
mth  some  few  additions  made  thereto,  as  guises,  double  ruffs,  &c.;  the  men  likewise, 
besides  the  double  use  of  the  cloak,  had  a  certain  kind  of  loose  hanging  garment, 
called  a  mandeville,  much  like  to  our  old  jackets  or  jumps,  but  witliout  sleeves,  only 
having  holes  to  put  the  arms  through;  yet  some  were  made  with  sleeves,  but  for  no 
other  use  than  to  hang  on  the  back.    Early  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  the  weaiing  of 

*  See  chap.  xii.  p.  466,  note. 

VOL.  r.  4  D 


570  ClK  i^lStXHl?  Of  tl)t 

CHAP,  o-reat  breeches  Avas  carried  to  a  Aery  absurd  and  ridiculous  length,  together  Avith  the 
^^^"  peas-cod  doublets,  as  they  Avere  called.  These  sloops,  or  breeches,  or  trunk  hose,  it 
Avas  theii-  custom  to  stuff  Avith  rags,  or  such  like  materials,  till  they  brought  them  to 
an  enormous  size;  so  enormous,  that  it  Avas  deemed  necessary  to  legislate  for  their 
regulation.  The  legislators  themselves,  hoAvever,  seem  to  liaA-e  fallen  into  the  same 
absurdity;  for  in  the  Harleian  Collection,  No.  980,  a  paper  is  preserved,  from  Avhich 
it  appears,  that  in  the  reign  of  EHzabeth  a  scaffold  A\'as  erected  round  the  inside  of 
the  house  of  counnons,  for  those  members  to  sit  in,  Avho  used  the  wearing  of  great 
breeches  stuffed  Avith  hair,  and  bulging  out  like  Avoolsacks.  Bulver,  in  his  pedigree 
of  the  "  English  Gallant,"  speaks  of  a  man,  Avhom  the  judges  accused  of  Aveariug 
breeches  contrary  to  the  laAv,  AVJien  he,  for  bis  excuse,  cU-oav  out  of  Ins  sloops  the 
contents — "  as,  first,  a  pair  of  sheets,  tAVO  table-cloths,  ten  napldns,  four  sliii-ts,  a  brush, 
a  glass,  a  comb,  Avith  night-caps,"  and  other  useful  articles.  The  ladies,  that  they 
might  not  be  outdone  in  gi-otesqueness  of  attire,  invented  the  large  hoop  fartliingales, 
as  a  companion  to  the  trunk  hose,  and  the  Avomen  Avho  could  not  purchase  these 
expensive  commodities  supplied  their  place  Avith  bum-rolls. 

The  description  of  a  fine  lady's  di-ess  in  the  tune  of  queen  Elizabeth,  as  breathed 
in  the  Avishes  of  Miss  Margaret  Hardman,  AA-liile  she  Avas  under  the  influence  of 
possession,  (apparently  by  a  spirit  of  pride,)  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Starkie,  of 
Leigh,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  is  too  graphical  to  be  Avithheld  :  "  Come  on,  my 
lad,  said  she,  for  so  she  called  her  familiar — come  on,  and  set  my  partlett  on  the  one 
side,  as  I  do  the  other.  I  AAill  have  a  fine  smock  of  silk,  Avith  a  silk  petticoat  garded 
a  foot  high;  it  shall  be  laid  Avith  good  lace,  it  shall  have  a  French  body,  not  of  A\'hale- 
bone,  for  that  is  not  stiff  enough,  but  of  borne,  for  that  aa-UI  hold  it  out ;  it  shall  come 
loAV  before,  to  keep  in  my  belly.  I  Avill  have  a  French  farthingale;  I  Avill  haA'e  it  Ioav 
before  and  high  behind,  and  broad  on  either  side,  that  I  may  lay  my  arms  upon  it. 
My  goAvn  shall  be  black  Avrought  velvet ;  I  avtII  have  my  sleeves  set  out  Avith  Avire, 
for  sticks  Avill  break,  and  are  not  stiff  enough.  I  Avill  have  my  pereAAincke  so  fine;  I 
Avill  have  my  cap  of  black  velvet  A\ith  a  feather  in  it  A\ith  fleAves  of  gold,  and  my  hair 
shall  be  set  Avith  pearis.  I  Avill  have  a  busk  of  Avhalebone;  it  shall  be  tied  Avith  tAvo 
silk  points;  and  I  Avill  have  a  draAven  Avrought  stomacher  embossed  Avith  gold,  and  a 
girdle  of  gold.  I  Avill  have  my  hose  of  orange  colour,  this  is  in  request;  and  my  cork 
shoes  of  red  Spanish  leather.  I  aaHI  haA-e  a  scaif  of  red  silk,  Avith  a  gold  lace  about 
the  edge.  I  Avill  have  a  fan  Avith  a  silver  steel,  and  a  glass  set  in  it.  Bring  me  a 
pair  of  gloves  of  the  finest  leather  that  may  be,  AA-ith  tAVO  gold  laces  about  the  thumb, 
and  a  fringe  on  the  top,  Avith  flewes  and  red  silk  underneath,  tliat  I  may  draAv  them 
through  a  gold  ring,  or  else  I  Avill  have  none  of  them."* 

*  Tract  of  the  Rev.  Geo.  More,  published  in  1600. 


Coimtj)  palatinf  of  aanraetrr,  571 

When  Idug  James  came  to  the  crown,  most  of  the  old  fasliions  used  in  the  days    chap. 


of  Elizaheth  were  again  reWved,  and  the  large  breeches,  with  the  hoop  farthingales 
amongst  the  rest,  came  once  more  into  fashion.  Expensive  garters  and  curious  shoe 
roses  were  worn  very  generally,  and  the  ladies  kept  pace  with  the  other  sex  in  costly 
ornaments.  In  the  comedy  of  the  "  City  Madam,"  a  lady  says,  "  these  roses  would 
shew  well,  an  'twere  the  fashion  for  the  garters  to  be  seen."  But  of  all  the  ridiculous 
fasliions,  that  of  the  men  wearing  stays  was,  perhaps,  the  most  so;  and  the  earl  of 
Somerset,  when  so  equipped,  may  be  supposed  to  have  served  as  a  model  for  men  of 
fashion  of  a  much  more  recent  period.  The  manufacturers  were  not  much  beliind 
the  courtiers,  and  the  opulent  clothier's  widow,  of  Newbury,  is  thus  described: — 
"  She  came  out  of  the  kitchen  in  a  fair  train  gown,  stuck  full  of  silver  pins ;  a  white 
cap  on  her  head,  with  cuts  of  curious  needlework  under  the  same,  and  an  apron 
before  her  as  Avhite  as  the  driven  snow;"  while  the  spruce  master  tailor,  her  suitor, 
wore  "  a  new  russet  jerkin,  and  a  tall  sugar-loaf  hat  clapped  on  the  side  of  his  head." 
The  factory  gu'ls  of  that  day  are  thus  described  : — 

"  And  in  a  chamber  close  beside 
Two  hundred  maidens  did  abide, 
In  petticoats  of  flannel  red, 
And  milk-white  kerchers  on  their  head, 
Their  smock  sleeves  like  to  winter's  snow, 
That  on  the  western  mountains  flow, 
And  each  sleeve  with  a  silken  band 
Was  fairly  tied  at  the  hand. 
Which  pretty  maids  did  never  lin, 
But  in  that  place  all  day  did  spin,"  &c. 

The  young  gentleman  was  distinguished  by  liis  gay  suit  of  ai)parel,  liis  cloak,  and 
rapier;  the  merchant's  dress  at  that  time  was  a  plain  grave  suit  of  clothes,  with  a 
black  cloak;  and  the  rustic,  when  in  liis  Sunday  attire,  had  a  leathern  doublet  iritli 
long  points,  and  a  pair  of  breeches  primed  up  like  pudchng  bass,  with  yellow  stocldugs, 
and  liis  hat  turned  up  with  a  sUver  clasp  on  the  leer  side.*  These  fashions  were  not 
confined  to  any  particular  district,  they  extended  to  the  whole  kingdom.  "  Tlie 
manners  and  customs  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lancasliii-e,"  says  John  De  Brentford, 
"  are  similai-  to  those  of  the  neighbouring  counties,  except  that  the  people  eat  with 
two-pronged  forks.  The  men  are  masculine,  and  in  general  well  made;  they  ride 
and  hunt  the  same  as  in  the  most  southern  parts,  but  not  with  that  grace,  owing  to 
the  Avhip  being  canied  in  the  left  hand.  The  women  are  most  handsome,  then-  eyes 
brown,  black,  hazel,  blue,  or  gi'ey;  their  noses,  if  not  inclined  to  the  aquiline,  are 
•  Strutt's  Ancient  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  English,  iii.  98. 

4  D  2 


XIV. 


572  ^i)t  ?i?i£stcii|)  Of  tin 

CHAP,  mostly  of  the  grecian  form,  which  gives  a  most  heautiful  archness  to  the  countenance, 
^^^'  such  indeed  as  is  not  easy  to  he  descrihed.  Their  fascinating  manners  have  long 
procured  them  the  name  of  Lancashire  Witches.''*  Leland  says  "  the  dress  of  the 
men  chiefly  consists  of  woollen  garments,  while  the  women  wear  those  of  sUk,  linen, 
or  stuff.  Their  usual  colours  are  green,  hlue,  l)lack,  and  sometimes  hrown.  Tlie 
military  are  dressed  in  red,  which  is  vulgarly  called  scarlet."  According  to  Randle 
Holme,  hats  were  not  used  in  Lancasliire,  nor  indeed  in  England,  till  the  time  of 
Charles  II.  This  is  obviously  a  chronological  mistake  ;  the  hatting  business  existed 
in  the  south-east  part  of  tliis  county,  in  the  time  of  Henry  VI.,  and,  probably,  much 
earlier,  as  we  have  a  petition  to  parliament  in  that  reign  from  the  hatters,  com- 
plaining of  the  introduction  of  machinery  into  their  business,  and  representing  that 
"  hats,  caps,  &c.  were  wont"  to  be  fulled  by  manual  labour;  but  that,  of  late,  fulling- 
mills  had  been  introduced,  to  effect  this  operation,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  workmen, 
and  the  deterioration  of  the  fabric.  Silli  stockings  were  not  worn  till  the  year  1560, 
when  queen  Elizabeth,  on  being  presented  with  a  pair  made  by  Mrs.  Montague, 
her  silk  woman,  as  a  New  Year's  gift,  declared  that  she  liked  them  so  well  that 
she  would  not  wear  any  more  cloth  hosejt  which  persons  of  the  highest  distinction 
had  hitherto  Avorn. 
Build-  In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  there  were  few  houses  of  stone  in  the  county  of  Lan- 

caster, except  those  of  the  nobility  and  the  highest  rank  of  gentry.  The  houses  of 
the  middle  and  lower  class  were  principally  built  with  wood;  those  of  the  better  order 
had  large  porches  at  the  principal  entrance,  with  halls  and  parlours ;  the  fi-ame-work 
was  constructed  with  beams  of  timber,  of  such  enormous  size,  that  the  materials  of 
one  house,  as  they  were  then  built,  would  make  several  of  equal  size  in  the  present 
mode  of  building:  the  common  method  of  making  walls  was,  to  nail  laths  to  the 
timber  frame,  and  strike  them  over  with  rough  (clay)  plaster,  which  was  afterwards 
whitened  with  fine  mortar,  and  this  last  was  after  beautified  with  figures  and  other 
curious  devices.^  Some  had  houses  built  with  bricks,  but  these  were  rare,  and  of 
modern  date.  The  inner  walls  were  either  hung  with  tajiestry,  aiTas-work,  or  painted 
cloth,  whereon  were  difierent  devices,  or  they  were  wainscoted  with  oak,  and  in  that 
way  made  warm  and  ornamental.  Tlie  cottages  of  the  poor  were  slightly  set  up, 
with  a  few  posts,  and  plastered  over  vA\h  clay,  not  very  dissimilar  to  the  rustic 
cottages  of  the  present  day.  The  houses  in  the  cities  and  towns  were  built  each  story 
jutting  over  that  beneath  it,  so  that  where  the  sti'eets  were  not  wide,  the  people  in  the 
top  stories,  from  opposite  houses,  might  not  only  converse  with  each  other,  but  even 
shake  hands  together.     Tlie  houses  were  covered  with  tiles,  shingles,  slates,  or  lead. 

*  Bodleian  Collection,  1602.  f  Stow's  Chronicle,  fo.  867. 

\  Harrison's  Description  of  Britain. 


ings 


Count),'  ^Jalntiuf  of  annrastrr,  573 

Tlie  sti-cets  of  Manchester,  Preston,  Liverpool,  and  the  other  towns  of  the  countv,    chap. 

were  unpaved,  and  wore  generally  narrow,  the  smallness  of  the  carriages  and  the L 

diminutive  intercourse  not  requiring  spacious  streets.  At  the  period  of  the  wars 
between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  the  windows  principally  consisted  of 
lattice  or  ^ickerwork,  and  sometimes  of  panes  of  horn;  but  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth 
glass  had  become  plentiful,  and  was  generally  used  in  small  squares  set  in  lead.  A 
stni  further  improvement  took  place  in  the  buildings  about  this  period.  Till  the  time 
of  Henry  VIII.  the  houses  were  generally  erected  without  chimneys;  and,  in  many 
of  the  first  towns  of  the  realm,  not  more  than  two  or  three  chimneys  were  to  be  seen, 
the  fires  being  made  in  a  recess  in  the  wall,  where  the  family  dressed  their  victuals, 
and  left  the  smoke  to  make  its  escape  as  it  does  at  present  out  of  the  Irish  cabins. 
Valleys  were  generally  preferred  for  the  sites  of  toAnis  and  villages;  the  buildings  in 
the  early  times  of  Britain  being  mostly  of  a  consti'uctiou  too  slight  to  encounter  the 
boisterous  elements  of  the  climate  to  which  they  Avere  exposed.  The  out-buUdings, 
such  as  the  dairy,  stables,  and  brewhouse  attached  to  the  mansions,  were  at  a  little 
distance  from  the  house,  and  yet  sufficiently  near,  says  Harrison,  "  that  the  goodman 
lieng  in  his  bed  may  lightlie  heare  Avhat  is  donne  in  each  of  them  with  ease,  and  call 
quicklie  vnto  his  meinie  if  anie  danger  should  attach  him." 

In  the  tune  of  Edward  I.,  orchards  and  gardens  were  much  in  use,  but  they  FooJ. 
afterwards  grew  into  neglect,  so  that  from  John  of  Gaunt's  days  to  the  end  of  the 
reign  of  Hemy  VII.,  little  attention  was  paid  to  these  delightful  and  ornamental 
appendages  to  the  gentlemen's  mansions.  This  was  owing  to  herbs,  fruits,  and 
roots  being  little  in  use  for  the  purpose  of  human  food ;  but  in  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  not  only  the  poor,  but  the  rich,  began  to  use  melons,  radishes, 
skirets,  parsneps,  caiTOts,  cabbages,  turnips,  and  sallad  herbs,  the  latter  of  which 
were  served  as  delicacies  at  the  tables  of  the  nobility,  gentry,  and  merchants.  Hops 
in  times  past  had  been  plentiful,  but  they  also  grew  into  disuse,  and  the  cultivation 
of  them  was  neglected,  till  about  the  time  of  the  Reformation ;    and  hence  the 

couplet — 

Hops,  Reformation,  Bays,  and  Beer 
Came  into  England  all  in  a  year. 

Beer,  however,  had  been  in  England  long  before,  and  was  a  favourite  beverage 
amongst  the  working  classes,  when  they  were  all  good  Catholics.  The  number 
of  fasts  in  Catholic  times  somewhat  tUminished  the  consumption  of  flesh-meat, 
which  would  otherwise,  as  the  sustenance  of  the  people  was  cliiefly  animal  food 
and  milk,  have  been  very  gi-eat ;  but  when  it  became  lawful  for  every  man  to  feed 
upon  what  he  was  able  to  purchase,  except  upon  the  weekly  fast-days,  which  ^vere 
observed  by  all  long  after  the  Refonnation,  it  was  necessary  to  resort  to  herbs,  loots. 


574  CftC  $}t£itOri)  Of  tf)t 

CHAP,     and  bread,  to  diminish  the  consumption  of  cattle.      "  In   number   of  dishes   and 


XIV. 


change  of  meat,  the  nobilitie  of  England,"  says  Harrison,  "  doo  most  exceed,  sitli 
there  is  no  daie  in  maner  that  passeth  over  their  heads,  wherein  they  have  not 
onelie  b^efe,  mutton,  veale,  lainbe,  kid,  porke,  conie,  capon,  pig,  or  so  manie  of 
these  as  the  season  yieldeth;  but  also  some  portion  of  the  red  or  fallowe  d6er, 
beside  great  varietie  of  fish  and  wild  foule,  and  sunckie  other  delicacies.  The  chiefe 
pait  of  then-  daily  provision  is  brought  in  before  them  (commoulie)  in  siluer  vessell, 
if  they  be  of  the  degi"6e  of  barons,  bishops,  and  vpvvards,  and  placed  on  then-  tables, 
whereof,  when  they  haue  taken  what  it  pleaseth  them,  the  rest  is  reserued,  and 
afterwards  sente  downe  to  theii*  seruing  men  and  waiters,  who  f^ed  thereon  in  like 
sort  with  conuenient  moderation,  and  their  reuersion  also  being  bestowed  Tpou  the 
poore,  which  lie  readie  at  their  gates  in  great  numbers  to  receiue  the  same."  This 
si)ecies  of  hospitality  prevailed  to  a  vast  extent  at  Lathom  House  and  Knowsley,  in 
the  time  of  Edward,  earl  of  Derby ;  and  the  bishop  of  the  diocese.  Dr.  Downham, 
entertained  every  day  forty  persons,  besides  comers  and  goers.*  To  guard  against 
intemperance,  each  guest  at  the  table  of  his  noble  host  called  for  a  cup  of  such 
liquor  as  he  preferred,  which,  when  he  had  satisfied  himself,  he  returned  to  the 
servant.  "  By  this  device,"  says  our  author,  "  much  idle  tijiling  is  cut  off,  for 
if  the  foil  pot  should  continuallie  stand  at  the  elbow  or  near  the  trencher,  diuers 
would  alwaies  be  dealing  with  it,  whereas  now  they  drinke  seldome  and  onelie  when 
necessitie  urgeth,  and  so  auoid  the  note  of  gi-eat  drinking,  or  often  troubling  of  the 
seruitours  Avith  filling  of  their  bols.  Neuerthelesse,  in  the  noblemen's  hals  this 
order  is  not  vsed,  niether  in  any  man's  house  commonlie  vnder  the  degi-ee  of  a 
knight  or  esquire  of  great  reunues.  The  gentlemen  and  merchants  keepe  much 
about  one  rate,  and  each  of  them  contenteth  himselfe  with  foure,  fine,  or  six  dishes, 
when  they  haue  small  resort,  or  peradventure  with  one  or  two,  or  thr^e  at  the  most, 
Avhen  they  haue  no  strangers  to  accompanie  them  at  their  tables."  The  potato 
Avas  not  then  known  in  England,  though  now  so  familiar,  especially  in  Lancasliire, 
except  as  a  foreign  root  obtained  with  much  difficulty  and  cost,  and  therefore  the 
more  desii'ed.  The  wine  most  in  estimation  was  called  theologicmn,  because  it  was 
had  from  the  clergy  and  religious  men,  whose  cellars  were  well  replenished.  March 
beer  was  also  much  esteemed  at  the  tables  of  the  nobility  and  gentry,  but  it  was 
required  to  be,  at  least,  a  year  old.  The  household  beer  was  not  (hunk  till  after  it 
had  been  brewed  a  month. 

The  artificers  and  husbandmen  had  their  festivities,  as  well  as  their  betters, 
"  especiallie,"  says  Harrison,  "  at  Bridales,  purifications  of  women,  and  such  od 
m^etmgs,  where  it  is  incredible  to  tell  what  meat  is  consumed  and  spent,  ech  one 

*  Chap.  xiii.  p.  515. 


Coimti?  palatine  of  2Laucasitn-.  575 

brmoing  such  a  cUsh,  or  so  many,  with  him,  as  his  wife  and  he  doo  cousult  vpoii,    chap. 

hut  dwaies  Avith  this  consideration,  that  the  leefr  freend  shall  haue  the  better    

proiiision.  Tliis  also  is  commonUe  s^ene  at  their  hankets,  that  the  good  man 
of  the  house  is  not  charged  with  any  thing  sauing  bread,  think,  sauce,  houseroome 
and  fire.  But  the  artificers  in  cities  and  good  tomies  doale  far  otherwise,  for 
albeit  that  some  of  them  doo  suffer  their  iaws  to  go  before  their  clawes,  and  diners 
of  them  making  good  cheer  doo  liinder  themselves  and  other  men ;  yet  the  wiser 
sort  can  hancUe  the  matter  well  enough  in  these  iunkettings,  and  therefore  their 
frugalitie  deserueth  commendation.  Both  the  artificer  aiid  the  husbanchnan  are 
sufEcientUe  liberall  and  verie  friendlie  at  their  tables,  and  when  they  m^ete,  they 
are  so  merry  without  maUce,  and  plaine  without  inward  Italian  or  French  craft  and 
suhtiltie,  that  it  would  doo  a  man  good  to  be  in  companie  among  them."* 

The  more  opulent  classes  generally  used  wheaten  bread  at  their  owti  tables, 
while  theh-  household  and  poor  neighbours  were  forced  to  content  themselves  with 
rye  or  bai-ley,  and  in  times  of  scarcity  with  beans,  peas,  or  oaten  bread,  the  latter  of 
wliich  was  then  in  general  use  amongst  the  middle  and  lower  classes  in  Lancashire 
and  in  Yorkshire,  and  is  by  no  means  entirely  banished  from  these  counties  in  the 
present  day.  According  to  the  same  authority,  the  difference  between  summer  and 
winter  wheat  was  not  known  in  Ids  time  by  the  husbanthiien  in  many  counties ; 
but  in  the  north,  about  Kendal,  and  we  presume  about  Lancaster  also,  the  spring 
wheat  was  cultivated,  and  called  Maixh  wheat.  In  EUzabeth's  time,  the  practice  of 
sitting  long  at  meals  grew  into  disuse,  and  two  meals  a  day,  chnner  and  supper, 
were  thought  sufficient.  The  nobUity,  gentry,  and  students  usually  dined  at 
eleven  o'clock  m  the  forenoon,  and  supped  between  five  and  six  in  the  afternoon. 
The  merchants  seldom  dined  before  twelve  at  noon,  and  supped  at  six  at  night. 
The  husbandmen  and  artisans  cHned  at  high  noon,  as  they  called  it,  and  supped 
at  seven  or  eight.  In  the  Universities,  the  students,  out  of  term-time,  dined  at  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

In  those  early  days,  when  coffee  and  tea,  with  various  other  slops,  were  unknown, 
or  not  used  in  England,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  chief  lords  and  laches  of 
the  court  to  breakfast,  as  we  have  already  shewn,t  upon  a  fine  beefsteak  and  a  cup 
of  ale,  and  that  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  that  the  hour  of  supper  was 
early  in  queen  Mary's  time,  may  be  inferred  from  Weston's  promise  to  BratUbrd, 
the  Lancashire  martyi",  that  he  woidd  see  the  queen,  and  speak  to  her  on  liis  behalf, 
after  supper,  but,  adds  he,  "  it  is  to  be  thought  that  the  queen  has  almost  supped  at 
present,  for  it  is  past  six  of  the  clock."  In  the  reign  of  king  James,  early  hours 
were  still  kept  by  people  of  quahty,  for  we  Icaru  f];om  the  king's  history  of  the 
*  Description  of  England.  t  See  Chap.  xiii.  p.  546. 


576 


CJk  i^iStoiT)  of  ti)t 


CHAP. 
XIV. 


Coaches. 
1555. 


Progress 
of  Im- 
prove- 
ment, 


"  Powder  Plot,"  that  the  letter  cautioning  Lord  Monteagle  against  going  to  parlia- 
ment was  delivered  in  the  evening,  between  6  and  7  o'clock,  when  his  lordsliip  was 
just  going  to  .supper. 

According  to  Stow,  the  luxury  of  coaches  was  not  introduced  into  England  tUl 
the  reign  of  Mary,  when  Walter  Ripon  made  a  coach  for  the  earl  of  Rutland ;  and, 
in  the  year  1564,  the  same  artist  made  the  first  "hollow  turning  coach"  mth  pillars 
and  arches  for  Elizabeth  ;  in  1584  he  made  a  chariot  throne,  with  four  pillars 
beliind,  to  hear  a  canopy,  surmounted  with  a  crown  imperial,  and  two  pillai-s  in  front, 
Avhereon  stood  a  lion  and  di-agon,  the  supporters  of  the  anus  of  England.  Tlie 
coach-box  was  not  added  till  a  long  time  after;  "  the  coachman,"  says  our  authority, 
"  joineth  a  horse  fixt  to  match  a  saddle-liorse,  to  the  coach-tree,  when  he  sitteth 
upon  the  saddle ;  and  when  there  are  four  horses,  he  driveth  those  before  him, 
guiding  them  with  a  rean.  Great  persons  are  carried  iu  a  coach,  or  hanging 
waggon,  with  six  horses,  and  two  coaclimen  (postilions)  ;  others  ride  in  chariots 
drawn  by  two  horses  onlj'."  It  is  cleai",  however,  fi-om  Stow's  Survey  of  London 
and  Westminster,  that  wheeled  carriages,  of  the  coach  kind,  were  introduced  into 
England  nearly  two  centuries  before  this  time.  In  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  the 
king,  "  being  threatened  by  the  rebels  of  Kent,  rode  from  the  Tower  of  London  to 
the  Mile's-end,  and  with  him,  his  mother,  because  she  was  sick  and  weak,  in  a 
n-hirUcote  *  *  *  *  But  in  the  year  next  following,  the  said  Richard  took 
to  wife  Anne,  daughter  to  the  Mug  of  Bohemia,  who  first  brought  hither  the  riding 
iipon  side-saddles ;  and  so  was  the  ricUng  in  those  whbiicotes  and  chariots  forsaken, 
except  at  coronations,  and  such  like  spectacles.  But  now,  of  late,"  continues  he, 
"  the  use  of  coaches,  brought  out  of  Germany,  is  taken  up  and  made  so  common,  as 
there  is  neither  distinction  of  time  nor  difference  of  persons  observed ;  for  the  world 
runs  on  wheels  with  many  whose  pai-euts  were  glad  to  go  on  foot." 

During  the  wars  of  the  Roses,  the  domestic  accommodations  of  the  people,  in 
this  and  the  other  counties  of  the  kingdom,  were  as  scanty  and  deficient  as  their 
historical  records.  "  There  are,"  says  Harrison,  "  old  men  dwelling  in  the  village 
where  I  remaine,  which  have  noted  three  things  to  be  marvellouslie  altered  in 
England  Avithin  theu*  sound  remembrance :  One  is,  the  multitude  of  cliimnies 
latelie.  erected,  wheras  in  their  yoong  daies  there  were  not  above  two  or  three,  if  so 
manie,  iu  most  \-planchsli  townes  of  the  realme,  (the  religious  houses  and  manour 
places  of  their  lords  alwaies  excepted,  and  peraduenture  some  great  personages,) 
but  ech  one  made  his  fire  against  a  reredosse  in  the  hall,  where  he  dined  and 
di'essed  his  meat.  The  second  is  the  gi-eat  (although  not  generall)  amendment  of 
lodging,  for  (said  they)  our  fathers  (yea  and  we  our  selues  also)  haue  lien  full  oft 
^-pon  straw  pallets,  on  rough  mats  couered  onelie  with  a  sh^ct  vnder  couerlets  made 


€i)t  im^torj)  of  ti)t  577 

of  dagswam  or  liopliarlots  (I  vse  their  owne  termes)  and  a  good  round  log  vnder    chap. 

their  heads  in  steed  of  a  bolster  or  pillow.    If  it  were  so  that  our  fathers,  or  the  good-   L 

man  of  the  house,  had  ^-ithin  seuen  yeares  after  liis  mariage  purchased  a  matteres 
or  flockebed,  and  thereto  a  saclce  of  chaffe  to  rest  his  head  vpon,  he  thought  himselfe 
to  be  as  well  lodged  as  the  lord  of  the  towne,  that  peraduenture  laie  seldonie  in  a 
bed  of  downe  or  whole  fethers ;  so  well  were  they  contented,  and  ^\ith  such  base 
kind  of  furniture ;  wliich,  also,  is  not  verie  much  amended  as  yet  in  some  parts  of 
Bedfordshii-e,  and  elsewhere  further  off  from  oui*  southerne  parts.  Pillowes  (said 
they)  were  thought  m6et  onelie  for  women  in  cliildbed.  As  for  seruants,  if  they  had 
anie  sh^et  aboue  them  it  was  well,  for  seldome  had  they  anie  vnder  their  bodies, 
to  keepe  them  from  the  pncking  straws  that  ran  oft  through  the  canuajs  of  the 
pallet,  and  rased  their  hai-dened  liides.  The  third  tiling  they  tell  of,  is  the 
exchange  of  vessell,  as  of  treene  platters  into  pewter,  and  wodden  spoones  into 
siluer  or  tin.  For  so  common  were  all  sorts  of  treene  stuffe  in  old  time,  that  a 
man  should  hardlie  find  foure  pieces  of  pewter  (of  which  one  was  peraduenture 
a  salt)  in  a  good  farmer's  house,  and  yet  for  all  this  frugalitie  (if  it  may  so  be  iustly 
called)  they  were  scarse  able  to  line  and  paie  their  rents  at  their  dales  without 
selling  of  a  cow,  or  an  horse,  or  more,  although  they  paide  but  foure  pounds  at  the 
vttermost  by  the  yeare." 

On  the  union  of  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster  under  the  prudent  govern- 
ment of  Henry  VII.,  the  degrading  and  impoverishing  feudal  system  having  been 
^ii'tually  abolished,*  the  condition  of  all  classes  began  to  improve ;  and  in  the  reign 
of  Elizabeth  they  attained  to  comparative  opulence,  as  woidd  appear  from  the  same 
authority.  "  The  furniture  of  our  houses,"  adds  our  author,  "  also  exceedeth,  and 
is  gi'owne  in  manor  euen  to  passing  delicacie ;  and  herein  I  doo  not  speake  of  the 
nobilitie  and  gentrie  oulie,  but  likemse  of  the  lowest  sort.  Certes  in  noble  men's 
houses  it  is  not  rare  to  see  abundance  of  Arras,  rich  hangings  of  tapistrie,  siluer 
vessell,  and  so  much  other  plate,  as  may  furnish  sunth-ie  cupbords  to  the  summe 
oftentimes  of  a  thousand  or  two  thousand  pounds  at  the  least ;  whereby  the  value  of 
this  and  the  rest  of  their  stuffe  dooth  grow  to  be  almost  inestimable.  Likewise  in 
the  houses  of  kniglits,  gentlemen,  merchantmen,  and  some  other  wealthie  citizens, 
it  is  not  geson  to  behold  generallie  their  great  prouision  of  tapistrie,  Turkic  worke, 
pewter,  brasse,  fine  linen,  aud  thereto  costlie  cupbords  of  plate,  worth  five  or  six 
hundred  or  a  thousand  pounds,  to  be  deemed  by  estimation.  But  as  herein  all  these 
sorts  doo  far  exceed  their  elders  aud  predecessors,  and  in  neatnesse  and  curiositie, 

*  "  As  for  slaves  and  bondmen,  we  have  none  ;  and  if  any  come  hither,  so  soon  as  they  set  foot 
on  land,  they  become  so  free  of  condition  as  their  masters." — Description  of  England  in  Elizabeth's 
Time. 

VOL.  r.  4  E 


578  mn  i^isftorp  of  tfte 

CHAP     the  merchant  all  other ;  so  in  time  past,  the  costlie  furniture  staled  there,  whereas 

XIV 

1_  now  it  is  descended  yet  lower,  euen  vnto  the  inferiour  artificers  and  mauie  farmers, 

who  by  vertue  of  their  old  and  not  of  then-  new  leases  liaue  for  the  most  pai-t  learned 
also  to  garnish  their  cupbords  with  plate,  then*  ioined  beds  with  tapistrie  and  sUke 
hangings,  and  theii"  tables  with  carpets  and  tine  uai)erie,  whereby  the  wealth  of  our 
countrie  dootli  infinitelie  appeare." ' 

Formerly,  the  accommodation  at  the  principal  inns,  even  in  the  towns,  was  very 
deficient,  but  in  tlie  time  of  Elizabeth  they  had  so  much  unproved  as  to  become 
great  and  sumptuous ;  and  Holinshed,  in  his  Itinerary  from  Cockermouth  to  London, 
enumerates,  amongst  these  places,  Kendale,  Burton,  Lancaster,  Preston,  Wigan, 
and  Wanington,  where  the  inns  were  well  furnished  with  "  naj)ierie,  bedchng,  and 
tapisserie.  Each  commer,"  says  he,  "  is  sure  to  lie  in  cleane  sheets  wherein  no 
man  hath  been  lodged  since  they  came  fi'om  the  landresse.  If  the  traueller  haue  an 
horse,  liis  bed  dooth  cost  liim  nothing,  but  if  he  go  on  foot  he  is  sure  to  paie  a 
penie  for  the  same  :  but  whether  he  be  horseman  or  foote,  if  his  chamber  be  once 
appointed,  he  may  carie  the  kaie  with  him,  as  of  his  owne  house,  so  long  as  he 
lodgeth  there."  It  appears,  however,  that  he  was  subject  to  great  impositions  at 
these  plausible  houses  of  entertainment,  and  if  he  was  not  upon  his  guard,  his 
"  budget"  would  be  pillaged  both  by  his  host  and  by  the  servants.  The  penny  for 
the  lodging,  when  the  comparative  value  of  money  is  considered,  was  pretty  much 
the  same  in  amount  in  the  time  of  Ehzabeth,  as  that  which  is  now  paid  by  travel- 
lers for  similar  accommodation  at  respectable  inns.  Henry  VIII.  indeed  had 
debased  the  coinage  so  much  as  to  unsettle  its  value,  but  Ehzabeth  restored  it  by 
utterly  abolisliing  the  use  of  copper  coin,  which  she  made  into  cannon,  and  using 
only  silver  even  in  her  half-pence  and  fartliings,  and  silver  groats  were  as  common 
in  her  day  as  silver  shillings  are  in  ours. 

Sports  and  The  sports  and  pastimes  of  our  ancestors  consisted  of  hawking,  hunting,  and 
archery,  to  which  the  nobles  added  the  justs  and  tournaments ;  theatrical  amusements 
of  various  kinds,  and  music,  were  also  in  vogue,  to  which  the  rustics  added  bull-baiting 
and  bear-baiting,  Avith  their  various  gambols  at  the  wakes  and  fau"s.  The  theatrical 
performances  consisted  of  sacred  mysteries,  derived  from  the  holy  scriptures;  of 
comedies ;  and  of  masques,  which  prevailed  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  when  Shakspeare 
lived,  and  in  the  times  of  James  I.,  when  Ben  Jonson  composed  liis  celebrated 
masques  for  the  royal  amusement.  Up  to  tliis  time  the  players  were  deemed 
vagrants,  and  in  6  Edward  III.  it  was  ordained  by  parliament,  tliat  they  should  be 
whipped  out  of  London,  notwithstancUng  their  endeavours  to  entertain  prince  Richard 
and  his  uncle,  the  duke  of  Lancaster.  Their  dramas,  though  sacred,  Avere  so  ridi- 
culous as  to  bring  the  histories  of  the  New  Testament  into  contempt,  and  to  encourage 


pastimes. 


Count))  |3alatme  of  %mtafitn\  579 

libertinism  and  infidelity.*  Tlie  wakes,  though  arising  from  the  dedication  of  chap. 
churches,  soon  degenerated  into  a  species  of  rustic  fairs,  often  kept  on  the  Sunday,  ^^^' 
but  totally  devoid  of  any  religious  character.  The  waits  or  wakes,  who  were  a  species 
of  nocturnal  musicians,  went  through  the  streets  at  midnight  about  Christmas  time, 
plajing  their  music,  which  is  still  partially  continued;  but  in  earlier  times  they  were 
accustomed  to  sing  carols  and  Christmas  hymns.  The  ministrels  were  less  stationary; 
they  strolled  about  the  country  to  feasts,  fairs,  and  weddings,  and  these  cantabanqtii 
were  accustomed  to  mount  upon  benclies  and  barrel-heads,  where  they  sang  popular 
songs  for  the  amusement  of  the  rustics,  at  the  price  of  a  groat  a  fit,  or  canto,  their 
matter  being  for  the  most  part  stories  of  past  times.f  Thus,  in  the  Blind  Beggar  of 
Bethnal  Green  is  the  following  verse : — 

"  Then  give  me  leave,  nobles  and  gentles  each  one, 
One  song  more  to  sing,  and  then  I  have  done; 
And  if  that  it  may  not  win  good  report, 
Then  do  not  give  me  a  groat  for  my  sport." 

Tlie  second  Randle  Holme,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  better  antiquary  than 
poet,  has  preserved  the  names  of  a  number  of  the  prevailing  games  of  Lancashire  in 
the  following  metrical  enumeration : — 

"  AUNTIENT   CUSTOMS   IN  GAMES  USED  BY  BOYS,   AND  GIRLES,   MERILY  SETT 

OUT  IN  VERSE. 
"  Any  they  dare  chalenge  for  to  throvir  the  sledge, 
To  jumpe,  or  leape  ovir  ditch,  or  hedge ; 
To  wrastle,  play  at  stoole  ball,  or  to  runne, 
To  pitch  the  barre,  or  to  shoote  of  a  gunne; 
To  play  at  loggets,  nine  holes,  or  ten  pinnes. 
To  trye  it  out  at  foote  ball,  by  the  shinnes. 
At  tick  tacke,  seize  nody,  maw  and  ruffe. 
At  hot  cokles,  leap  frogge,  or  blind-man's  buffe  : 
To  drink  the  halper  pottes,  or  deale  at  the  whole  cann, 
To  play  at  chesse,  or  pue,  and  inke  home; 
To  daunce  the  moris,  play  at  barley  brake, 
At  al  exploits  a  man  can  think  or  speak: 
At  shrove  groate,  venter  poynte,  or  cross  and  pile. 
At  beshrew  him  that's  last  at  any  stile ; 
At  leapinge  over  a  Christmas  bonfire, 
Or  at  the  drawynge  dame  out  of  the  myer  ; 
At  shoote  cocke,  Gregory,  stoole  ball,  and  what  not; 
Picke  poynt,  toppe  and  scourge  to  make  him  holt." 

*  The  first  stage  performances  were  in  the  churches,  and  on  the  sabbath-day;  but  this  profanation 
cf  the  sacred  edifices  was  interdicted  by  Bonner,  bishop  of  London,  in  1542. —  Wartons  Hint,  of 
Eng.  Poetry. 

t  Puttenham's  Art  of  English  Poesy,  p.  69. 

4e  2 


580  Cfte  ^fetovp  of  tfte 

CHAP.  The  arts,  as  the  couchers  books  of  Whalley  and  Fiimess  sufficiently  shew,  had 

L-  made  considerable  progress  in  the  time  of  the  first  duke  of  Lancaster.     The  art  of 

The  arts-  engi'aviiig  in  wood  and  on  copper  had  also  advanced,  as  is  evident  from  the  remaining 
prints  of  Anckea  Mantegna;  and  we  have  already  seen  that  these  ornamental  accom- 
plishments were  crowned  by  an  invention,  the  most  important  of  any  age  or  country, 
that  of  the  art  of  printing,  made  by  Guttemburg,  at  Mentz,  and  introduced  by 
Caxton,  our  countryman,  into  England.*  In  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  oil  painting  was 
first  practised  in  this  country,  and  at  that  time  was  confined  principally  to  scripture 
subjects;  but  the  Reformation  gave  a  more  free  scope  to  genius;  and  Holbein 
flourished  under  the  patronage  of  Henry  VIII.  These  early  productions  of  the 
pencil  were  only  eclipsed  by  Rubens,  and  his  pupil  Vandyke,"!"  who  flourished  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  I. 
The  laws.  The  administration  of  the  laws  in  these  early  tunes  was  often  extremely  lax,  as 
is  instanced  in  the  frequent  and  systematic  arrests  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  county 
and  duchy  of  Lancaster,  under  the  colom*  of  law,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.;  in  the 
abduction  of  lady  Butler,  in  the  same  reign;  and  in  the  murder  of  Mr.  Hoghton,  at  a 
still  later  period.  When  vagrants,  pedlars,  and  strumpets  were  to  be  dealt  with,  the 
punishment  was  sufficiently  severe  and  certain :  the  fii-st,  on  conviction,  were  doomed 
to  be  grievously  whipped,  and  burnt  tlu'ough  the  gristle  of  the  right  hand  with  a  hot 
ii-on,  of  an  inch  square ;  the  next  were  condemned  to  the  pillory,  for  the  second 
offence,  against  the  monopolizing  borough  shop-keepers ;  and  the  thii-d  were 
immersed  by  the  ducking-stool,  which  was  also  apjn'opriated  to  the  con-ection  of  those 
domestic  disturbers,  known  by  the  name  of  notorious  scolds.J  Trial  by  combat,  or 
wager  of  battle,  so  prevalent  in  these  early  days,  served  to  encourage  the  strong 
against  the  weak;  tliis  relic  of  a  semi-barbai'ous  age  long  outlived  the  trial  by  ordeal, 
wliich,  as  we  have  shewn,  was  abolished  on  the  northern  cii"cuit,§  and,  doubtless,  in 
all  other  cii'cuits  in  the  kingdom,  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  III.  In  the  times 
of  religious  persecution,  the  terrors  of  the  rack  were  resorted  to,  for  the  purpose  of 
extorting  confession  for  crimes  that  had  sometimes  never  been  committed;  and  as 
the  duchy  of  Lancaster  had  its  star-chamber,  so  also  it  had  its  rack.     Of  tlie  laws 

*  It  is  conjectured,  though  the  fact  cannot  be  ascertained  with  certainty,  that  Manchester  was 
the  first  town  in  Lancashire  into  which  the  printing  press  was  introduced;  and  the  works  of  Martin 
Marprelate,  printed  in  that  town,  favour  this  opinion. 

t  ITie  portraits  of  James,  earl  of  Derby,  and  Charlotte  (Tremouille'),  his  countess,  are  amongst 
the  most  successful  efforts  of  this  artist's  pencil, 

t  The  ducking-stool,  though  now  wholly  discarded,  was  in  use  in  Manchester  and  in  Preston, 
within  living  memory. 

§  Chap.  vii.  p.  255. 


County  ^alatint  of  Sanrastcr,  581 

against  witchcraft  we  shall  have  occasion  to  treat  at  some  length;  and  it  may  suffice  chai'. 

to  say  in  this  place,  that,  in  the  administration  of  those  laws  in  Lancashire,  unpartial  — 1- 

justice  and  i-oyal  clemency  were  of  rare  occurrence. 

But  we  have  heen  hetrayed  by  this  retrospect  of  the  ancient  manners  and  King 

,  .  ,  T  .  1  .  1  •        James's 

customs  of  our  ancestors  mto  too  long  a  cbgi-ession,  and  must  now  resume  our  his-  progress. 
tory  ^nth  the  reign  of  James  I.  at  the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
On  the  Idng's  arrival  in  York,  on  his  first  progress  to  London,  he  was  met  by  persons 
of  distinction  from  all  the  northern  counties  of  England,  charged  witli  the  duty 
of  declaring  the  loyalty  and  allegiance  of  those  counties  to  his  majesty,  without 
stipulating   however   for  the  loyalty   of  the   king   to  the   free  institutions    of  the 
country.     From  the  county  of  Lancaster,  sir  Edmond  TrafTord,  and  sir  Thomas  Hoi-  Lanca- 
croft,  attended,  both  of  whom  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  in  the  garden  of  knights. 
the  palace  at  York,  on  Sunday  the  seventeentli  of  April ;  on  the  following  day,  his      \oos. 
majesty  conferred  the  same  honour  on  sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  of  Bryn,  at  Grimstone ; 
and  on  the  arrival  of  the  royal  suite  at  Worksop,  sir  John  Bu'on,  of  Newstead  Abbey, 
in  the  county  of  Nottingham,  and  of  Rochdale,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  father  of 
John  the  fii'st  lord  Bu'ou,  and  sir  Thomas  Stanley,  of  Derbyshire,  were  also  dubbed 
kniffhts.     After  the  kins's  ai'rival  in  London,   sir  Thomas  Hesketh,  sir  Thomas 
Walmsley,  sir  Alexander  Barlow,  su-  Edward  Stanley,  sir  Thomas  Langton,  and 
sir  William  Norris,  all  of  the  county  of  Lancaster,  received  the  honour  of  knight-      ioo4. 
hood ;  and  in  the  following  year,  sii"  Gilbert  Hoghton,  of  Hoghton  Tower,  a  distin- 
guished favourite  of  the  king,  obtained  the  same  honour.        In  this  year,  sir  John 
Fortescue,  knight,  cliaucellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  was  appointed  a  member  of 
a  royal  commission  for  the  extermhiation  of  the  Jesuits. 

The  plague  which  had  bi'oken  out  in  Loudon  in  the   first  year  of  the  king's   The 

.  .  ...  ,  '  .  plague. 

reign,  and  carried  off  thirty  thousand  of  its  inhabitants,  when  the  whole  population  of 
that  city  cHd  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand,  spread  the  f()llowing  year 
into  Lancashire,  and  became  so  extremely  fatal,  that  in  JManchester  alone  one 
thousand  of  the  inhabitants*  died  of  that  malady  in  1605,  wliich  was  probably  equal 
to  one-sixth  of  its  population.  At  tliis  time  it  was  not  usual  to  inter  the  dead  of  the 
lower  class  of  people  in  coffins,  and  the  bodies  were  probably  often  insufliciently 
covered  with  earth,  wliich  might  conduce  to  the  sjiread  of  the  pestilence ;  indeed,  as 
late  as  1628,  it  was  no  unusual  thing  to  bury  the  poor  without  coffins. f 

This  pestilence  having  greatly  subsided  in  Loudon,  it  was  appointed  that  the      loos. 
first  parliament  in  the   new  reign  sliould  assemble  on  the  fifth  of  November  ;  but 
while  the  preparations  were  making,  a  plot  was  discovered,  the  most  atrocious  that  The  gun- 
"  the  tongue  of  man  ever  delivered,  the  ear  of  man  ever  heard,  the  heart  of  man  plot. 
*  HoUinworth's  Mancuniensis  MS.       .     f  Sir  Henry  Spelman's  Treatise  de  Sepultura,  p.  173. 


spiratois. 


682  CI)e  i^igtory  of  tl;e 

CHAP,    ever  conceived,  or  the  malice  of  devils  ever  practised"* — a  plot  which  had  for  its 

XIV 

object,  to  destroy  at  one  blow  the   king   and  the   queen,  and  then-  family,  and  the 

lords  and  the  commons  of  the  realm  congi-egated  in  parliament.  Some  of  the  actors  in 
this  ti'emeudous  di'ama  stand  connected  with  the  county  of  Lancaster,  but  happily 

Lanca-       rather   as   conservators   than   destroyers.     The   letter   by  which   the  treason  was 

sliire  men  ^     •  ^ 

conserva-  disclosod,  IS  supposed  to  liavc  been  wiitten  by  a  lady,  a  descendant  by  the  female 
hue  of  su-  Edward  Stanley,  the  Lancashire  hero  of  Flodden-field,  to  her  brother, 
Lord  Monteagle,  a  Roman  Catholict  Overtures  had  been  made  by  the  conspira- 
tors to  sii-  William  Stanley,  who  was  then  in  Flanders,  to  become  a  party  in  the 
ti'eason,  but  su-  William  in  some  degree  retrieved  his  character,  by  declining  to  take 
part  liimself,  and  by  discountenancing  an  intended  application  to  foreign  Catholic 

The  con-  powcrs  to  aid  the  conspiracy.  The  plot  originated  with  Robert  Catesby,  a  descend- 
ant of  the  noted  favourite  of  Richard  III.,  a  man  of  fortune,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
famUy  estate  at  Ashby  in  Northamptonshire,  and  with  Thomas  Piercy,  a  gentleman- 
pensioner  to  the  king,  and  a  descendant  of  the  illustrious  house  of  Northumberland, 
both  of  them  Roman  Catholic  recusants ;  and  its  object  was,  to  destroy  the 
Protestant  reigning  family,  and  to  substitute  a  Catholic  dynasty.  HaWng  increased 
their  numbers  by  the  addition  of  Robert  Winter,  Thomas  Winter,  John  Wright,  and 
Christopher  Wright,  and  embarked  Guido  Faux,  a  Yorkshii'eman,  passing  under 
the  name  of  Johnsonne,  in  the  entei-prise,  Piercy,  who  had  rented  the  vault  under 
the  house  of  parliament  as  a  fuel  cellai",  there  accumulated  thiity-six  ban-els  of 
gunpowder,  to  perpetrate  the  intended  explosion.  Sir  Everai-d  Digby,  Ambrose 
Rookewood,  esq.,  Francis  Tresham,  esq.,  Thomas  Habington,  esq.,  John  Grant,  and 
Rol)ert  Keys,  gentleman,  became  also  members  of  the  conspiracy,  though  less 
actively  employed  in  the  ti'eason.J  To  bind  the  conspirators  to  secrecy,  and  to 
perseverance  in  the  treasonable  design,  Gerrard,  a  Jesuit,  administered  an  oath  to 
Catesby  and  Piercy,  and  to  others  of  theii-  fraternity,  in  these  terms  : — 

"  You  shall  swear  by  the  blessed  Trinity,  and  by  the  sacrament  you  now  purpose  to  receive,  never 
"  to  disclose,  directly  or  indirectly,  byword  or  circumstance,  the  matter  that  shall  be  proposed 
"  to  you  to  keep  secret,  nor  desist  from  the  execution  thereof,  until  the  rest  give  you  leave." 

Ten  days  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  assembling  of  parliament,  Lord 
Monteagle,  son  and  heir  to  Lord  Morley,  being  in  his  lodgings  in  London,  ready  to 

*  Sir  Edward  Philips's  speech  on  the  trial  of  the  conspirators  engaged  in  the  gunpowder 
treason. 

t  Father  Juvenqi,  in  his  Hist.  Societatis  Jesu,  1.  xiii.  s.  45,  says,  that  "  Tresham,  one  of  the 
conspirators,  sent  to  lord  Monteagle,  his  friend,  the  letter  revealing  the  conspiracy." 

X  Works  of  king  James  I.  p.  241. 


Cotmtp  |3alatine  of  ilancaeitei-.  583 

go  to  Slipper,  between  six  and  seven  o'clock  at  night,  one  of  liis  footmen,  on  return-  chai*. 

ino-  from  an  errand  across  the  street,  delivered  to  liim  a  letter,  \nthout  either  date,  !_ 

signature,  or  superscription,  which  had  been  put  into  Ids  hand  in  the  dark  by  a  man  LordMo,,. 

iniknown,  who  charged  him  to  give  it  to  Ids  master,  and  wliich  letter  was  expressed  ''^*^''''' 
in  these  terms : 

"  My  Lorde,  out  of  the  Loue  I  beare  to  some  of  yo''  friendes,  I  haue  care  of  yo''  preservation,  and 
"  therefore  I  aduise  yo"  as  yo"  Tenders  yo'^  Lyfe  to  dcuise  some  excuse  to  shifte  of  yo"^  attendance  at 
"  the  Parliamente,  for  god  and  good  men  haue  concurrede  to  punishe  the  wickednese  of  this  time, 
"  and  thinke  not  sleightlie  of  yo"'  Aduertisemente  but  Retire  yo''  selfe  into  yo''  Countreye,  wher  yo" 
"  maye  expecte  the  Evente  in  saftie,  for  thoiighe  thear  be  no  Apparence  of  any  sture,  yet  I  saye 
"  they  shall  receaue  a  terreble  blovve  this  parlemente,  and  yet  they  therin  shall  not  see  who  horte 
"them.  This  Counsell  is  not  to  be  contemnede,  because  it  may  doe  yo"  good,  and  Canne  doe  yo" 
"  no  harme,  for  the  daunger  is  paste  so  soone  as  yo"  burne  this  letter,  and  I  hope  god  will  giue  yo" 
"  grace  to  make  good  vse  of  it,  to  whose  holly  ptection  I  comitte  yo"." 

After  pondering  over  the  letter  for  some  time,  doubtful  whether  the  writer  was 
in  jest  or  in  earnest.  Ids  lordship  repaiied  to  the  king's  palace  at  Whiteliall,  and 
there  delivered  the  letter  to  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  the  principal  secretary  of  state,* 
who  has  himself  given  an  account  of  what  followed,  and  we  prefer  quoting  his  own 
words,  because  tliey  involve  a  point  of  history  which  has  been  misrepresented  for  the 
purposes  of  courtly  adulation. 

"  'When  I  obserued  the  generalety  of  the  aduertisement  and  the  stile  [of  the  letter]  I  could  not   Cecil's 
"  well  distinguish  whether  it  were  a  frenzee  or  sport.     For,  from  any  serious  ground  I  could  hardlie   (|,j,  jis^,,. 
"be  induced  to  beleeue  that  it  proceeded  for  many  reasons.     First,  because  noe  wiseman  would   verj  of  the 
"  thinke  my  Lo:  to  be  so  weake  as  to  take  any  alarm  to  absent  himself  from  Parliament  vpon  such 
"  a  Loose  Aduertisement. 

"  Secondly,  I  considered  that  if  any  such  thing  were  really  intended,  that  it  was  very  improbable 
"  that  onelie  one  Nobleman  should  be  warned  and  none  other. 

"  Neuertheless  being  loath  to  trust  my  owne  iudgment  alone,  being  alwayes  inclyned  to  doe  too 
"  much  in  such  a  Case  as  this,  I  imparted  the  £re  to  the  Earle  of  SufF.  Lo :  Chamberlaine,  to  the 
"  end  I  might  receaue  his  opinion.  Whervpon  pervsinge  the  wordes  of  the  £re  and  observinge  the 
"  writinge.  That  the  blowe  should  come  without  knowledge  whoe  had  hurt  them,  we  both  conceiued 
"  that  it  could  not  be  more  proj?  then  the  tyme  of  Parlement ;  Nor  by  any  other  way  like  to  be  • 
"attempted,  then  with  Powder  whilst  the  King  was  sittinge  in  thassembly.  Of  which  the  Lo: 
"  Chamblaine  [thought]  y^  more  probability  Because  there  was  a  greate  'Vault  vnder  the  said 
"  Chamber  w"^*"  was  neuer  vsed  for  anything  but  some  wood  and  Cole  belonginge  to  y""  Keeper  of  y' 
"  Old  Palace. 

"  In  which  consideracon  after  wee  had  imparted  the  same  to  the  Lo  Admirall,  the  Earle  of 
"  Worcester  and  the  Earle  of  Norttiton  and  some  others,  We  all  thought  fitt  to  forbeare  to  impart 
"  it  to  the  King  vntill  some  three  or  fower  dayes  before  the  Session.      At  which  tyme  we  shewed  his 

*  Letter  from  (Cecil)  the  Earl  of  Salisbury,  dated  November  9,  1605,  to  Sir  Charles  Cornewallyes. 
Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  1875. 


584 


C!k  l&istoii)  Of  tf)e 


CHAP. 
XIV. 


"  Ma''«  the  £ie,  rather  as  a  thinge  wee  would  not  Conceale  (because  it  was  of  such  a  nature)  then 
"  any  way  pswading  him  to  geve  any  further  Credite  to  it,  vntill  the  place  had  bene  visited,  where- 
"  vpon  his  Ma'"  (whoe  hath  a  naturall  habite  to  Contemn  all  false  feares  and  a  Judgm'  soe  strong  as 
"  neuer  to  doubt  any  thing  which  is  not  well  warranted  by  reason)  concurred  onely  thus  farre  with 
"  vs,  That  seeing  such  a  matter  was  possible,  That  should  bee  donne  which  might  prevent  all  danger 
"  or  ells  nothing  at  all. 

"  Herevpon  it  was  moued,  That  till  the  night  before  his  comeing  nothinge  should  be  donne  to 
"  interrupt  any  purpose  of  theirs  that  had  any  such  diuellish  practice.  But  rather  to  suffer  them  to 
"  goe  on  till  the  Eve  of  the  daye. 

"  And  soe  on  Mondaye  in  the  afternoone  accordinglie  the  Lo:  Chamberlaine  whose  office  it  is  to 
"  see  all  places  of  Assembly  put  in  readynes  when  the  King's  person  should  come,  takeinge  with  him 
"  y"  Lo:  Mounteagle  went  to  see  all  y^  places  in  y"  Parliament  House.  And  tooke  alsoe  aslight 
"  occasion  to  pervse  that  Vaulte,  where  finding  onelie  Piles  of  BilletC  and  faggotf  heaped  vpp,  His 
"  Lopp  fell  into  inquireinge  onely  who  owed  the  same  wood  Observing  the  proporcon  to  be  somewhat 
"  more  than  y'  Howse  keeper  was  likely  to  laye  in  for  his  owne  vse.  And  when  Aunswere  was  made 
"  That  it  belonged  to  one  Mr.  Percy  His  Lop  streight  conceiued  some  suspici5n  in  regard  of  his 
"person;  And  the  Lo:  Mounteagle  takeinge  some  notice  that  there  were  was  greate  profession 
"  between  Percy  and  him  from  which  some  inferrence  might  be  made  that  it  [was]  the  warneinge  of 
"  a  friend.  My  Lord  Chamberlaine  resolued  absolutely  to  proceede  in  a  search  though  noe  other 
"  matterialls  were  visible,  f  being  returned  to  the  Courte  aboute  fine  a  Clocke  tooke  me  vpp  with  him 
"  to  the  King,  and  told  him  y'  all  though  they  were  hard  of  beliefe  that  any  such  thing  was  thought 
"  of  yet  in  such  a  Case  as  this  whatsoefl  was  not  donne  (to  put  all  out  of  doubt)  was  as  good  as 
"  nothinge.  Wherevpon  it  was  resolued  by  his  Ma"*  that  this  matter  should  be  soe  carryed  as  noe 
"  man  should  be  scandalized  by  it,  nor  any  alarm  taken  for  any  such  purpose. 

"  For  the  better  effectinge  whereof  The  Lo  Threr.  the  Lo:  Admirall  the  Earle  of  Worcester  and 
"  we  twoe  agreed  That  S"'  Tho  Kneuett  should  vnder  a  pretext  of  searchinge  for  stollen  and  imbezilled 
"  goodes  both  in  that  place  and  other  houses  thereaboutf ,  remoue  all  that  wood,  and  soe  to  see  the 
"  playne  ground  vnder  it. 

"  S''  Tho.  Kneuett  goeinge  thither  (vnlooked  for)  about  Midnight  into  the  Vault  found  that  fel- 
"  lowe  Johnsonne  [Faux]  newly  come  out  of  the  Vault,  and  without  any  more  questions  stayed  him, 
"  And  haueinge  noe  sooner  remoued  ihe  wood,  he  perceaued  the  Barrels  and  soe  bound  y''  Caitiffe 
"  fast  who  made  no  difficultie  to  acknowledge  the  fact  nor  to  Confesse  clearely  that  the  morrowe 
"  followinge  it  should  haue  bene  effected.  And  thus  haue  you  a  true  narracun  from  the  begin- 
"  ninge,"  &c. 


Historical         From  tliis  letter  it  appears  that  the  sagacity  of  first  penetrating  the  mystery, 
corrected.   i™puted  to  the  king  by  historians,  and  by  senators,*  and  for  Avhich  he  himself  takes 
credit  in  his  Avork  on  the  "  Powder  Treason, "f  was  not  his. 

*  In  the  preamble  to  the  act  for  public  thanksgiving  on  the  anniversary  of  the  5th  of  November, 
it  is  said,  that  "  the  conspiracy  would  have  turned  to  the  utter  ruin  of  this  whole  kingdom,had  it  not 
pleased  Almighty  God,  by  inspiring  the  king's  most  excellent  majesty  with  a  divine  spirit  to  interpret 
some  dark  phrases  of  a  letter,  shewed  to  his  majesty,  above  and  beyond  all  ordinary  construction, 
thereby  miraculously  discovering  this  hidden  treason." 

f  Works  of  King  James  L  p.  227. 


commu- 
nity. 


Coimti)  ^aalatme  of  iLnnrnsftfr*  585 

After  some   delay,  and  ^\ith  considerable   difficulty,  Faux,  the  incendiary,  was    chap. 

brought  to  confess,  in  the  presence  of  the  i)rivy  council,  that  the  plot  was  first  com-  L 

municated  to  liim  about  Easter,  in  the  year  1604,  when  he  was  in  the  Low  Coun-  Fateoftiie 
tries,  by  Thomas  Winter,  and  that  on  his  ai'rival  in  England  he  conferred  upon  it  tors!'"™' 
with  Catesby,  Piercy,  and  John  Wriglit,  and  that  they  and  he  laboured  in  the  mine 
to  penetrate  from  the  adjoining  house  through  the  walls,  into  the  vault  under  the 
house  of  lords,  which  work  was  abandoned  when  Piercy  got  the  vault  itself  into  his 
possession. 

On  the  rumour  of  the  discovery  of  the  plot,  several  of  the  conspu'ators  limTied 
down  into  Warwickshire,  Avhcre  they  made  a  fruitless  attempt  to  raise  an  insurrec- 
tion, in  which  Piercy  and  Catesby  were  IdUed,  and  Digby,  Rookewood,  and  the 
others,  being  talien  prisoners,  were  brought  to  London,  tried,  and  executed  on  the 
thirtieth  of  January,  along  with  Faux.  i'''"'- 

The  Catholics,  as  well  as  the  Protestants,  condemned  tliis  diabolical  treason  in  The  trea- 
the  most  unqualified  terms;  and  so  strongly  ^\as  the  king  impressed  mth  the  con  vie-  uctof'a"'^ 
tion,  that  it  was  the  conspiracy  of  a  few  fanatical  individuals,  and  not  of  a  christian 
community,  that,  in  his  speech  at  the  opening  of  parliament,  he  deprecated  the  injus- 
tice of  involving  the  Roman  Catholics,  as  a  body,  in  such  enormous  barbarities. 

Lord  Monteagle,  whose  promptitude  and  undeviating  loyalty  had,  through  the 
blessing  of  Providence,  saved  all  the  estates  of  the  realm,  was  rewarded  for  his 
communication,  by  a  grant  of  crown  lands  and  a  pension  ;  and  as  a  further  mark  of 
the  king's  favour  towards  him,  the  hfe  of  his  brother-in-law,  Thomas  Habiugton, 
esq.,  of  Hendlip,  in  Worcestersliii'e,  the  husband  of  the  lady  who  is  conjectured  to 
have  written  the  mysterious  letter  wliich  afforded  the  clue  to  the  discovery,  was 
saved,  on  condition  that  he  should  not  quit  the  county  of  Worcester.  The  debt  of 
public  gratitude  due  to  lord  Monteagle  from  his  country,  has  been  thus  comme- 
morated : — 

"  Lo  !  what  my  country  should  have  done,  (have  raised 
An  obehsk,  or  column,  to  thy  name, 
'  Or,  if  she  would  but  modestly  have  praised 

Thy  fact,  in  brass  or  marble  writ  the  same,) 
I,  that  am  glad  of  thy  great  chance,  here  do  ! 

And,  proud  my  work  shall  out-last  common  deeds, 
Durst  think  it  great  and  worthy  wonder  too  ; — 
But  thine,  for  which  I  do't,  so  much  exceeds. 
My  country's  parents  I  have  many  known, 
But  saver  of  my  country  thee  alone." 
) 

Ben  Jonson's  Epigram  on  Lord  Monteagle. 
VOL.  I.  4  F 


586  €l)t  ?[]i£storj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP.  Sir  William  Stanley,  with  two  other  popish  recusants,  of  the  names  of  Owen  and 

_1 L_  Baklttin,  were  placed  under  arrest  at  Brussels,  on  suspicion  of  liaving  been  concerned 

S'f  \^'-       in  the  erunpowder  treason ;  but,  in  the  cool  lanf^uage  of  sir  Thomas  Edmonds,  the 

Stanley.  . 

Englisli  ambassador,  "  Su*  William  was  not  yet  so  deeply  charged  concerning  tliis  last 
treason,"  as  to  be  put  upon  his  trial. 
Peter  Accordiug  to  a  monument  in   St.  Ann's  churcli,  Aldersgate,  London,  Peter 

esq.  Heywood,  esq.,  of  Heywood,    (then  spelt  Heiwood,)  a  magistrate  of  the  county  of 

Lancaster,  having  probably  accompanied  sir  Thomas  Knevett,  apprehended  Guido 
Faux,  coming  forth  from  the  vault  of  the  house  of  parliament  on  the  eve  of  the  gun- 
powder treason  ;  and  on  the  same  authority  it  appears,  that  this  vigilant  magistrate  was 
stabbed  in  Westminster  Hall,  five-and-thirty  years  afterwards,  by  Jolm  James,  a 
Dominican  friar,  for  urging  him  to  take  the  oaths  of  supremacy  and  allegiance.* 
Stanley  That  the  Stanley  family  stood  in  high  estimation  with  the  Idng,  may  be  inferred 

family.  .  ,•/■.! 

from  the  fact  of  the  mutual  interchange  of  new-year  s  giftsj  between  his  majesty 
1006.      and  the  earl  of  Derby,  and  from  the  present  of  plate  given  to  the  earl  on  tlie 
christening  of  his  son  and  lieii",  James,  the  future  earl  of  Derby,  who  was  destined 
to  die  on  the  scaffold  in  the  cause  of  the  Stuarts. 
Lanca-  A  knightly  cUgnity  of  inheritance,  more  elevated  than  that  of  the  knights  ban- 

barouets.  neret,|  was  instituted  by  the  king,  in  1611,  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  defending 
and  reforming  the  province  of  Ulster,  in  Ireland.  It  was  the  boast  of  king  James 
and  his  courtiers,  that  he  had  done  more  in  nine  years  towards  ameliorating  the 
condition  of  the  people  of  Ireland,  than  had  been  accom2)lished  by  his  predecessors 
in  the  four  huncked  and  forty  years  which  had  ehipsed  since  the  first  conquest  of  that 
country.§  To  carry  on  these  improvements,  and  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the 
country,  the  baronets  Avere  created,  eacli  of  whom  had  a  bloody  hand,  in  a  field 
argent,  (the  arms  of  Ulster,)  superadded  to  his  family  crest.  The  stipulations 
entered  into  by  the  recipients  of  the  new  honour  were,  that  they  should  be  aiding 
towards  the  building  of  cliurches,  towns,  and  castles ;  should  hazard  their  lives  and 
fortunes  in  the  performance  of  their  duty;  and  that,  when  any  spark  of  rebellion,  or 
other  liostile  invasion,  should  threaten  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  kingdom  or  pro- 
vince, they  should  be  ready  to  defend  it ;  and  that  each  of  them  should  mamtaui  and 
keep  thirty  foot  sokUers  there.  None  were  at  first  admitted  to  the  new  honour, 
except  those  descended,  at  least,  from  a  grandfather,  on  the  father's  side,  who  had 

*  Stowe's  Survey  of  London,  vol.  i.  p.  605.      Clarendon's  Hist,  of  Reb.  i.  387. 

t  Nichols's  Progresses  of  King  James  I.  vol.  i.  p.  593. 

X  The  last  knight  banneret  created  was  sir  Ralph  Sadler  ,  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster, 
on  the  field  of  Musselburgh,  in  the  year  1547. 

§  King  James's  Works,  p.  259. 


Coimtu  ^Jalatmc  of  ^ianrasitn-.  587 

borne  arms,  and  who  had  a  dear  Income  in  land  of  £1000  per  annum.     At  the    chap. 

XIV 

institution  of  the  order,  it  was  intended  that  the  number  should  not  exceed  two  Imn-  L 

dred,  that  number  to  be  filled  up  as  the  titles  became  extinct.  In  the  first  batcli  of 
baronets,  created  on  the  22d  of  May,  eighteen  knights  were  honoured  with  this  here- 
ditary dcgi-ee,  amongst  whom  were  the  names  of  sir  Richard  Molineux,  of  Sefton; 
sir  Richard  Hoghton,  of  Hogliton  Tower;  and  sir  Thomas  Gerrard,  of  Bryn,*  all  in 
the  county  of  Lancaster;  and  sir  George  Booth,  of  Denham  Massy,  in  the  county  of 
Chester.  Up  to  this  time,  the  honourable  ancient  dignities  were  only  eleven  in 
number,  but  they  were  now  increased  to  twelve,  ranldng  in  the  following  order: — 
Fii-st,  the  king;  second,  the  prince;  third,  the  duke;  fourth,  the  marquis;  fifth,  the  earl; 
sixth,  the  viscount;  seventh,  the  baron;  and  these  seven  are  called  princely,  and 
allowed  to  wear  coronets.  The  other  five  are  only  noble:  as  first,  the  knight  baronet; 
second,  tlie  knight  banneret;  third,  the  knight  bachelor ;  fourth,  the  esquire ;  and, 
fifth,  the  gentleman. 

This  was  the  age  of  witclicraft ;  and  no  county  in  the  kingdom  was  more  scan-  Lanca- 
dalized  by  the  degi-ading  superstition  than  the  county  of  Lancaster.  In  the  present  ^uches. 
day,  when  the  term  "  Lancashire  Witches"  serves  only  to  excite  feelings  of  gaiety  and 
admii-atiou,!  it  is  not  possible  to  conceive  how  tUfferent  were  the  sentiments  produced 
by  those  magical  words  in  the  seventeenth  century,  when  the  "  Solomon  of  the 
North"  ascended  the  throne  of  England,  and  when,  on  the  proclamation  of  a  general 
pardon,  the  crime  of  "  wytchcrafte"  was  excepted  from  the  common  amnesty. 

A  petition  from  Dr.  Dee,  warden  of  the  collegiate  church  of  Manchester,  of  the  date 
of  the  5tli  of  January,  1604,  praying  to  be  freed  from  tliis  revolting  imputation  of  witch-  dv.  Dee's 
craft,  even  at  the  risk  of  a  trial  for  his  life,  sufficiently  indicates  tlie  horror  excited  by 
the  charge.  "  It  has  been  afiii-med,"  says  the  doctor,  "  tliat  your  majesty's  supplicant 
was  the  conjurer  belonging  to  the  most  honourable  privy  coimcil  of  your  majesty's 
predecessor,  of  famous  memory,  queen  Elizabeth ;  and  that  he  is,  or  hath  been,  a 
caller  or  invocater  of  devils,  or  damned  spirits :  these  slanders,  which  have  tended  to 
his  utter  undoing,  can,"  he  adds,  "  no  longer  be  endured;  and,  if  on  trial  he  is  found 
guilty  of  the  offence  unputed  to  lum,  he  offers  liimself  willingly  to  the  punishment  of 
death;  yea,  either  to  be  stoned  to  death,  or  to  be  buried  quick,  or  to  be  burned  unmer- 
cifully."!     Conjurer  or  not,  the  reverend  wai-den  sported  with  conjurer's  weapons ; 

*  Each  baronet  paid  a  patent  fee  of  £1000  on  his  creation;  but  this  sum  was  returned  to  sir 
Thomas  Gerrard,  in  consideration  of  his  father's  sufferings  in  the  cause  of  the  king's  mother,  Mary, 
queen  of  Scots. 

t  Mackenzie  mentions  a  case  of  a  fine  girl,  condemned  to  die  in  Scotland  for  witchcraft,  whose 
crime  in  reality  was,  that  she  had  attracted  too  great  a  share,  in  the  lady's  opinion,  of  the  attention  of 
the  laird.     This  in  modern  times  would  have  been  called  a  real  Lancashire  witch. 

t  Lansdowne  MSS.  Cod.  161. 

4  F  2 


petitiun. 


588  m)t  ?^i£(tori)  of  the 

CHAP,    and  his  predictions  on  the  fortunate  day  for  the  coronation  of  liis  royal  mistress,  and 

'__  liis  pretensions  to  render  innoxious  the  waxen  effigy  of  queen  Elizabetli,  found  in 

Liucohi's-Inn-Fields,  very  naturally  subjected  him  to  those  suspicions  which,  combined 
Avith  other  circumstances,  hereafter  to  be  mentioned,  proved  his  utter  undoing. 
seerEdw.         The  doctor's  connections  too  were  of  the  most  suspicious  land.      For  some  years 

Kellev,  .  .  ^  .        m  ... 

the  necro-  he  was  the  friend  and  associate  of  Edward  Kelley,  alias  Talbot,  a  distinguished 


roancer. 


English  alchymist  and  necromancer,  who,  for  his  delinquencies,  had  his  ears  cut  off 
at  Lancaster.  It  was  the  practice  of  Kelley  to  exhume  and  consult  the  dead,  to 
obtain  a  knowledge,  as  he  pretended,  of  the  fate  of  the  living  j  and,  upon  a  certain 
night,  in  the  park  of  Waltou-le-Dale,  in  tlae  county  of  Lancaster,  ^vith  one  Paul 
Waring,  his  fellow-companion  in  such  deeds  of  darkness,  he  invoked  one  of  the  infernal 
regiment,  to  kuoAV  certain  passages  in  the  life,  as  also  what  might  be  known  by  the 
devil's  foresight  of  the  maimer  and  thne  of  the  death  of  a  noble  young  gentleman,  as 
then  in  his  wardship.*  This  ceremony  being  ended,  Kelley  and  his  companion 
repaired  to  the  church-yard  of  Walton-le-D ale,  sometimes  called  Law  Church,  where 
they  dug  up  the  body  of  a  poor  old  man  recently  interred,  and  whom,  by  then-  incan- 
tations, they  made  to  deliver  strange  predictions  concerning  the  same  gentleman,  who 
was,  probably,  present,  and  anxious  to  read  a  page  in  the  boolv  of  futurity.  After 
these  feats,  which  were,  no  douljt,  performed  by  a  land  of  ventriloquism.  Seer  Edward 
went  abroad,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Dee,  where  they  found  the  celebrated  elixir,  or 
The  piiiio-  philosopher's  stone,  in  the  form  of  a  powder,  by  which,  amongst  other  transmutations, 

snplier's  iii  r  •  •  i*i  i  •• 

stone.  they  converted  the  bottom  of  a  warming  pan  into  good  silver,  only  by  warming  it  at 
the  fire !  and,  so  plentiful  were  the  precious  metals,  that  their  children  played  at  quoits 
with  golden  quoits!  The  fame  of  the  alchymists  having  reached  queen  Elizabeth, 
she  sent  a  messenger,  captain  Peter  Gwinne,  secretly,  for  Kelley,  who  had  got  himself 
immured  in  one  of  the  prisons  of  the  emperor  Rodolphus  II.  in  Prague ;  but  he 
1595.  was  doomed  to  die  in  a  foreign  land,  for,  in  an  attempt  to  escape  out  of  the  window 
of  the  castle,  he  received  a  mortal  bruise — the  elixir  not  being  able,  as  it  should 
appear,  to  communicate  immortality  to  its  possessor. 

Avitch-  The  first  distinct  charge  of  witchcraft,  in  any  way  connected  with  this  county, 

is  that  of  the  wife  of  the  good  duke  Humphrey,  duchess  of  Gloucester,  the  associate 
1447.  of  Roger  Bolingbroke,  the  priest,  and  Mai-garet  Jourdan,|  Avho,  after  having  been 
hurled  by  her  ambition  and  inquisitive  credulity,  from  the  highest  elevation  to  the 
lowest  degi'adation,  became  the  prisoner  of  sir  Thomas  Stanley,  in  the  Isle  of  Man, 
and  for  some  time  suffered  confinement  in  the  castle  of  Liverpool. J  The  arts  of  the 
145J.      Lancashire  alchymists,  and  sir  Edward  Ashton,  though  jjartaking  of  the  nature  of 

*  Weiver's  Ancient  Funeral  Monuments,  p.  45. 

t  Margaret  Jourdan,  the  Witch  of  Eye,  was  burnt  to  death  in  Smithfield.     |  See  chap.  xi.  p.  404. 


CountL)  |3alatine  oC  iCanrnsitfr*  689 

witchcraft,  prefer   no   claim  to  supernatural  agency,  but  maj-  rank  amongst  the    chap. 
eccentric  phenomena  of  the  liuman  mind.*  — 1. 


In  the  Stanley  family,  Edward  earl  of  Derby  liad  tlie  reputation,  on  the  autho-  i"  the 
rity  of  a  minister  of  state,  of  entertaining  a  conjurer  in  his  house ;  and  Margaret  family. 
Clifford,  countess  of  Derby,  lost  the  favour  of  queen  Elizaljeth  for  a  womanish 
curiosity,  (from  which  the  queen  herself  was  not  entirely  free)  and  constilting  with 
wizards  or  cunning-men ;  wlule  Ferdinando,  earl  of  Derby,  died,  as  we  have  seen, 
under  the  impression  that  he  was  bewitched,  in  which  belief  "  very  many,  and  some 
of  them  very  learned  men,  concurred."  During  his  last  sickness,  "  a  homelie  wise- 
woman,  about  fifty  years  old,  was  found  mumbling  in  a  corner  in  liis  honour's 
chamber,  but  what  God  knoweth  *  *  *  About  midnight  was  found  by  Mr.  Hal- 
sail,  an  image  of  wax,  with  hair  like  unto  tlie  hair  of  his  honour's  head,  twisted  through 
the  belly  thereof;  and  he  fell  twice  into  a  trance,  not  able  to  move  hand  or  foot, 
when  he  Avould  have  talvcn  phissicke  to  do  him  good.  In  the  end,  he  cried  out  often 
against  all  witches  and  -witchcraft,  reposing  his  only  hope  of  salvation  upon  the 
merits  of  Christ  Jesus  his  Saviour. "f 

Connected  with  these   impositions  and   this  infatuation,  was  the  doctrine  and  Satanic 
practice  of  satanic  possession  and  dispossession,  on  whicli  subject  an  almost  inter-  sufn.*^^ 
minable  controversy  arose,  which  divided  public  opinion  in  the  county  of  Lancaster 
for  many  years,   and  which,  like  witchcraft  itself,  was  at  length   exploded  by  the 
progress  of  luiowledge. 

Amongst  the  first  cases  of  this  kind  is  that  of  "  Ann  Milner,  a  mayden  of  Chester 
Chester,  eighteen  years  of  age,"  to  whom  an  evil  spirit  appeared  suddenly,  on  the  '^^''' 
16th  of  February,  1564,  in  the  foi-m  of  a  "  wliite  thing  compassing  her  round 
about,"  while  she  was  bringing  her  father's  kyne  from  the  field.  The  followino- 
morning  she  took  her  bed,  where  she  fell  into  a  succession  of  trances,  from  wliich  she 
was  not  recovered  even  by  the  prayers  of  "  Maister  John  Prince,"  one  of  the  canons 
of  the  cathedral  church  of  Chester,  who  attended  her  under  this  grievous  visitation. 
Maister  Lane,  another  clergyman,  was  more  successful.  After  witnessing  her 
tortures,  which  were  so  extreme  that  her  head  and  her  feet  met,  and  she  appeared  in 
the  form  of  a  hoop,  he  found  that  her  pulse  beat  in  good  measure,  as  if  she  had  been 
in  perfect  health,  on  wliich  the  sage  divine  called  for  vinegar,  which  he  poured  into 
her  mouth,  and  blew  into  her  nostrils.  Roused  by  tliis  stimulant,  the  possessed 
exclaimed,  "A  Lady,"  "A  Lady."  He  next  advised  her  to  call  upon  God  and 
the  blood  of  Christ ;  himself  calling  at  the  same  time  for  more  vinegar.  But  the 
damsel  having  already  had  enough,  exclaimed,  "  No !  No !  no  more,  for  God's 
salve."  She  then,  on  the  bidding  of  Maister  Lane,  said  the  Lord's  prayer  and 
*  See  chap.  ii.  p.  405.  +  Harl.  MS.  Cod.  247. 


690  CI)C  5?lgtOll>  Of  t\)t 

CHAP.    Te  Deum,  and  was  thus  dispossessed,  after  more  than  a  month's  confinement.     At 
XIV  .  ... 
1_  whicli  the  whole  city  stood  astonished  ;  the  judge  of  assize,  John  Throgmorton,  esq., 

liigh  justice,  Iieard  a  sermon  from  Maister  Lane,  on  the  occasion,  and  sir  Wyllyam 
Calverley,  knight,  Richard  Harlestone,  esq.,  and  John  Fisher,  attested  the  ^'eracity 
of  the  narrative.* 
Seven  Another  case  of  demoniacal  possession,  much  more  extensive  and  varied  in  its 

possessed  circumstanccs,  took  place  at  Cleworth,  now  called  Clayworth,  in  the  parish  of  Leigh, 
shire!°'^*  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  thirty  years  afterwards.  The  facts  are  related  by  the 
Rev.  John  DaiTell,  a  minister  of  religion,  and  himself  a  principal  actor  in  the  scene. 
According  to  the  naiTative  published  by  this  thvine,  there  lived  in  the  year  1 594,  at 
Cleworth,  one  Nicholas  Starkie,  who  had  only  two  children,  John  and  Ann;  the 
former  ten,  and  the  latter  nine  years  of  age;  these  children,  according  to  our  autho- 
rity, became  possessed  with  an  evil  spuit;  and  John  Hartlay,  a  reputed  conjurer,  was 
applied  to,  at  the  end  of  from  two  to  three  months,  to  give  them  relief,  which  he 
effected  by  various  charms,  and  the  use  of  a  magical  cuxle  with  four  crosses,  cbawn 
near  Mr.  Starkie's  seat,  at  Huntroyd,  in  the  parish  of  Whalley.  Hartlay  was  con- 
jurer enough  to  discover  the  difference  between  Mr.  Starkie's  table  and  his  own,  and 
he  contrived  to  fix  lumself  as  a  constant  inmate  in  his  benefactor's  family  for  two  or 
three  years.  Being  considered  so  essential  to  tlieir  peace,  he  advanced  in  his  demands, 
till  Mr.  Starkie  demurred,  and  a  separation  took  place ;  but  not  till  five  other  persons, 
three  of  them  the  female  wards  of  Mr.  Starkie,  and  two  other  females,  had  become 
possessed  through  the  agency  of  Hartlay,  "  and  it  Avas  judged  in  the  house,  that  whom- 
soever he  kissed,  on  them  he  breathed  the  devil." 
Feats  of  According  to  the  narrative,  all  the  seven  demoniacs  sent  forth  such  a  strange 

the  demo-  ^^^^  supernatural  voice  of  loud  shouting,  as  the  Uke  was  never  before  heard  at 
Cleworth,  nor  in  England.  In  this  extremity.  Dr.  Dee,  the  warden  of  Manchester 
college,  was  applied  to,  to  exorcise  the  evil  spirits;  but  he  refused  to  interfere,  advising 
that  they  should  call  in  some  godly  preachers,  with  whom  he  would,  if  they  thought 
proper,  consult  concerning  a  public  or  private  fast ;  at  the  same  time  he  sharply 
reproved  Hai'tlay  for  liis  fraudulent  practices.  Some  remission  of  violence  followed, 
but  the  evil  spirits  soon  returned,  and  Mr.  Stai-kie's  house  became  a  perfect  bedlam. 
John  Starkie  the  son,  was  "  as  fierce  as  a  madman,  or  a  mad  dog ;"  liis  sister  Anne 
was  little  better;  Margaret  Hardman,  a  gay  sprightly  gii-1,  was  also  troubled,  and 
aspired  after  all  the  splencHd  attire  of  fashionable  life,  calling  for  one  gay  tiling  after 
another,  and  repeatetUy  telling  her  lad,  as  she  called  her  unseen  familiar,  that  she 
would  be  finer  than  liim.     Elinor,  her  younger  sister,  and  Ellen  Holland,  another  of 

*  From   a  black-letter  copy  in  the  British  Museum,  transcribed,  and  obligingly  furnished  by 
George  Ormerod,  esq. 


macs. 


Counti?  ^alatiiif  of  3Lanrasitn-.  591 

Mr. Starkie's  wards,  were  also  "  troubled;"  and  Marpraret  Byrom,  of  Sallbrd,  a  woman     chap. 

.  XIV. 

tliirty-three  years  of  age,  who  was  on  a  visit  at  Cleworth,  became  giddy,  and  partook 

of  the  general  malady.  The  young  ladies  fell  down,  as  dead,  while  they  were 
dancing,  and  "  singing  and  playing  the  minstrel,"  and  talked  at  such  a  rate,  that 
nobody  could  be  heard  but  themselves. 

The  preachers  being  called  in,  according  to  the  advice  of  Dr.  Dee,  they  inquired 
how  the  young  demoniacs  were  handled  ?  to  wliich  tlie  possessed  replied,  that  an 
angel,  like  a  dove,  came  from  God,  and  said,  that  they  must  follow  him  to  heaven, 
which  way  soever  he  would  lead  them.  Margaret  Hardman  then  ran  under  a  bed, 
and  began  to  make  a  hole,  as  she  said,  that  her  lad  (her  familiar)  might  get  through 
the  wall  to  her;  and,  amongst  other  of  her  feats,  she  Avould  have  leapt  out  of  the 
window  J  the  others  were  equally  extravagant  in  their  proceetUngs;  but  when  they 
had  the  use  of  their  feet,  the  use  of  their  tongues  was  taken  away.  The  gu-ls  were 
so  sagacious,  that  they  foretold  when  their  fits  would  come  on.  When  they  were 
about  any  game,  or  sport,  they  seemed  quite  happy;  but  any  godly  exercise  was  a 
ti'ouble  to  them.  As  to  Margaret  Byi'om,  she  was  gi'ievously  troubled;  she  thought 
in  her  fits  sometliing  rolled  in  her  belly  lilce  a  calf,  and  lay  ever  on  her  left  side,  and 
when  it  rose  up  towards  her  heart,  she  thought  the  head  and  nose  thereof  had  been 
full  of  nails,  wherewith  being  pricked,  she  was  compelled  to  shriek  aloud  with  very 
pain  and  fear ;  sometimes  she  barked  and  howled,  and  at  others  she  so  much  quaked, 
that  her  teeth  chattered  in  her  head.  At  the  sight  of  Hartlay  she  fell  down  speech- 
less, and  saw  a  gi'eat  black  dog,  with  a  monstrous  tail  and  a  long  chain,  running  at 
her  open-mouthed.  Six  times  within  six  weeks  the  spirit  would  not  suffer  her  to  eat 
or  drink,  and  afterwards  her  senses  were  taken  away,  and  she  was  as  stiff  as  iron. 
Two  nights  before  the  day  of  her  examination  against  Hartlay,  who  was  committed 
to  Lancaster  castle,  the  devil  appeared  to  her  in  his  likeness,  and  told  her  to  speak 
the  truth  !  On  the  16th  of  March,  Maister  George  More,  pastor  of  Cawlke,  in 
Derbysliire,  and  Maister  Jon  Darrell,  afterwards  preacher  at  St.Mary's  iuNottingham, 
came  to  Cleworth,  Avhen  they  saw  the  girls  grievously  tormented.  Jane  Asliton,  the 
servant  of  Mr.  Starkie,  howled  in  a  supernatural  manner.  Hartley  having  given  her 
kisses,  and  promised  her  marriage.  The  ministers  having  got  all  the  seven  into  one 
chamber,  gave  them  spiritual  advice;  but  on  the  bible  being  l)rought  up  to  them,  tlu'ee 
or  four  of  them  began  to  scoff,  and  called  it — "  Bib-le,  Bab-le,  Bible  Bablc."  Tlie 
next  morning  they  were  got  into  a  large  parlour  and  laid  on  couches,  when  Maister 
More  and  Maister  Dickens,  a  preacher  (and  their  pastor,)  along  with  Maister 
Darrell,  and  thu'ty  other  persons,  spent  the  day  with  them  in  prayer  and  fasting,  and 
hearing  the  word  of  God.  All  the  parties  afflicted  remained  in  their  fits  the  whole 
of  the  day.     Towards  evening,  every  one  of  them,  with  voice  and  hands  lifted  up,  cried 


592  C6e  i}i£(tDr|)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    to  God  for  mercy,  and  he  was  pleased  to  hear  them,  so  that  six  of  them  were  shortly 


'  dispossessed,  aud  Jane  Ashton  in  the  course  of  tlie  next  day  experienced  the  same 
The  devils  deliverance.  At  the  moment  of  ilispossession,  some  of  them  were  miserably  rent,  and 
the  blood  gushed  out  both  at  the  nose  and  mouth.  Margaret  Byrom  said,  that  she 
felt  the  spii-it  come  up  her  throat,  when  it  gave  her  a  "  sore  lug"  at  the  time  of 
quitting  her,  and  went  out  of  the  window  with  a  flash  of  fire,  she  only  seeing  it. 
John  Starlde  said  his  spirit  left  him,  like  a  man  with  a  hunch  on  his  back,  very  ill- 
favoured;  Elinor  Hardman's  was  like  an  urcliiu;  Margaret  Byrom's  like  an  ugly 
black  man  with  shoulders  higher  than  his  head;  and  the  others  were  equally  hideous. 
Two  or  three  days  afterwards,  the  unclean  spirits  returned  and  would  have  re-entered, 
had  they  not  been  resisted.  When  they  could  not  succeed,  either  by  bribes  or 
entreaties,  they  threw  some  of  them  violently  do's™,  and  deprived  others  of  the  use  of 
their  legs,  and  other  members;  but  the  victory  was  finally  obtained  by  the  preachers, 
and  aU  the  devUs  banished  from  Mr.  Starkie's  household. 
The  con-  lu  this  State  of  turmoil  and  confusion  Mr.  Starkie's  house  had  been  kept  for 

jurer 

hanged,  upwards  of  two  years,  but  in  the  mean  time  Hartlay,  the  conjurer,  who  seems  to  have 
been  a  designing  knave,  after  undergoing  an  examination  before  two  magistrates,  was 
committed  to  Lancaster  castle,  where  he  was  convicted,  on  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Starkie 
and  his  family,  of  witchcraft,  and  sentenced  to  be  executed,  principally,  as  it  is  stated, 
for  drawing  the  magical  cu'cle,  which  seems  to  have  been  the  least  part  of  his  oifence, 
though  the  most  obnoxious  to  the  law.  In  this  trial,  spectral  evidence  was  adduced 
against  the  prisoner,  and  the  experiment  was  tried  of  saying  the  Lord's  prayer.*  It 
does  not  appear  that  any  of  the  Lancashii'e  A\itches  or  wizards  were  tried  by  swimming. 
When  it  no  longer  served  his  purpose,  he  endeavoured  to  divest  himself  of  the 
character  of  a  conjurer,  and  declared  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  the  crime  for  which  he 
was  doomed  to  suffer;  the  law,  however,  was  inexorable,  and  he  was  brought  to 
execution.  On  the  scaffold,  he  persisted  in  declaring  his  innocence,  but  to  no  purpose; 
the  executioner  did  his  duty,  and  the  criminal  was  suspended.  While  in  tins  situa- 
tion, the  rope  broke,  Avhen  he  confessed  his  guUt ;  and  being  again  tied  up,  he  died 
the  victim  of  his  own  craft,  and  of  the  infatuation  of  the  age  in  which  lie  lived.t 

On  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Darrell's  book,  containing  the  relation  of  these  mar- 
vellous events,  a  long  controversy  ai'ose  on  the  doctrine  of  Demonology,  and  it  was 
charged  upon  him  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Harsnet,  afterwards  bishop  of  Chichester,  Nor- 
wich, and  York,  that  he  made  a  trade  of  casting  out  devils,  and  that  he  instructed  the 
possessed  how  to  conduct  themselves,  in  order  to  aid  liim  in  carrying  on  the  imposition. 

*  Dr.  Hutchinson's  Historical  Essay  on  Witchcraft,  p.  33. 

t  Darrell's  narrative  of  the  strange  and  grievous  vexation  by  the  devil  of  seven  persons  in  Lanca- 
shire.   One  of  his  most  famous  acts  of  dispossession  was  exercised  on  William  Somers,  of  Nottingham. 


Countj)  ^aalatinf  of  3Lamneitfi%  593 

Mr.  Dariell  was  afterwards  examined  by  tlie  queen's  commissioners;  and,  by  tlie  full    chap. 
agreement  of  the  whole  court,  he  was  condemned  as  a  counterfeit,  dejjosed  from  the      '^'^" 


ministiy,  and  committed  to  close  confinement,  there  to  remain  for  fiirtlier  punishment.  Oetec- 
The  clergy,  in  order  to  prevent  the  scandal  brought  upon  the  chuich  by  false  preten-  countlr-''" 
sions  to  the  power  of  dispossessing  demons,  soon  after  introduced  a  new  canon  into  the  '^^''' 
ecclesiastical  law,  expressed  in  these  terms : — "  That  no  minister  or  ministers,  without      ifios. 
"  license  and  direction  of  the  bishop,  under  his  hand  and  seal  obtained,  attempt, 
"  upon  any  pretence  whatsoever,  either  of  possession  or  obsession,  by  fasting  and 
"  prayer,  to  cast  out  any  devil  or  devils,  under  pain  of  the  imputation  of  imposture.  Can.  72. 
"  or  cozenage,  and  deposition  from  the  ministry." 

Some  light  is  cast  upon  these  mysterious  transactions  by  "  a  discourse  concerning  iMr. 
the  possession  and  dispossession  of  seven  persons  in  one  family  in  Lancashire,"  chudren! 
wi'itteu  by  George  More,  a  Puritanical  minister,  who  had  engaged  in  exorcising  the 
legion  of  devils.  Tliis  discourse  agrees  substantially  with  Darrell's  nan-ative,  but 
adds  some  facts  that  are  worthy  of  mention;  amongst  others,  that  he,  Mr.  More,  was 
a  prisoner  in  the  Clhike  for  nearly  two  years,  for  justifying  and  bearing  witness  to  the 
facts  stated  by  his  fellow-minister.  Speaking  of  Mr.  Starkic's  family,  he  says,  that 
Mr.  Nicholas  Starkie  having  married  a  gentlewoman,  that  was  an  inheritrix,*  and  of 
whose  kindred  some  where  papists;  these,  partly  for  religion,  and  partly  because  the 
estate  descended  not  to  heii's  male,  prayed  for  the  perishing  of  her  issue,  and  that  four 
sons  pined  awayin  a  strange  manner;  but  thatMrs.  Starkie, learning  this  cii-cumstance, 
estated  her  lands  on  her  husband,  and  his  heirs,  failing  issue  of  her  own  body,  after 
wliich  a  son  and  daughter  were  born,  Avho  prospered  well  till  they  arrived  at  the  age 
of  ten  or  twelve  years. 

In  this  disordered  state  of  the  public  mind,  a  work  of  king  James's,  under  the  title  Kins 
"  Daemonologie,"  alike  distinguished  for  its  vulgar  credulity  and  for  its  sanguinary  Da"mono- 
demmciations,  was  issued  from  the  press,  and  read  mth  avicUty.     Tlie  sapient  author,  infbiisii^i 
after  having  imagined  a  fictitious  crime,  placed  the  miserable  and  friendless  objects  '"  ^^^^' 
of  conviction  beyond  all  hopes  of  royal  clemency.      The  reader  of  this  royal  farrago 
is  told  that  "  the  feareful  abounding,  at  this  time,  in  this  countrey,  of  those  detestable 
slaues  of  the  Diuel,  the  Witches,  or  enchanters,  hath  moued  the  King  to  despatch, 
in  post,  the  following  Treatise"  not,  as  he  protests,  to  shew  his  learning,  but  "  to 
resolve  the  doubting  hearts  of  many,  both  that  such  assaults  of  Satan  are  certainly 
practised,  and  that  the  instruments  thereof  merit  most  severely  to  be  punished;  against 
the  damnable  opinions  of  those  Avho  are  not  ashamed  in  Publicke  Print  to  deny  that 
there  can  be  such  a  thing  as  witchcraft;  and  so  maintain  the  old  error  of  the  Sad- 

*  Ann,  widow  of  Thurston  Barton,  esq.  of  Smithells,  and  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  John  Parr, 
esq.  of  Kempnough,  and  Cleworth,  in  tiie  county  of  Lancaster. — Ormcrod's  Cheshire,  vol.  iii.  p.  474. 
VOL.  I.  4  G 


594  Cftf  i^tstori)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    ducees  in  the  denving  of  spirits."*     Tlie  royal  casuist  then  proceeds  to  prove  from 
\  I V  * 

J '_  the  scriptures,  that  these  unlawful  arts  have  been  and  may  be  put  in  practice.     The 

arts  of  the  necromancers,  enchanters,  or  Avitclies,  he  says,  may  be  divided  into  two 

2)arts;  the  one  called  magic,  or  necromaucie,  and  the  other  sorcerie,  or  lAitchcraft. 

As  to  the  Avitches,  they  are  servants  or  slaves  to  the  devil,  but  the  necromancers  ai"e 

his  masters.      There  ai'e  also  two  kinds  of  miracles;  God's  miracles,  and  the  devil's 

miracles.    The  devil's  contract  with  the  witches,  he  divides  also  into  two  parts;  to  the 

baser  sort  of  them,  Satan  obliges  himself  to  appear  on  their  calling  upon  liim,  either 

in  the  likeness  of  a  dog,  a  cat,  an  ape,  or  such  like  other  beast,  or  else  to  answer  by 

a  voice  only ;  but  to  the  more  curious  sort  he  will  ojjlige  himself  to  enter  into  a  dead 

body,  and  thereout  to  give  answers  relating  to  tlie  events  of  battles  and  of  matters 

concerning  the  states  and  commonwealtlis ;  on  some  he  will  be  a  continual  attendant, 

in  the  form  of  a  page,  or  he  wUl  permit  himself  to  be  conveyed  for  the  space  of  so 

many  years,  either  in  a  tablet  or  a  ring,  or  such  like  thing,  which  they  may  easily 

carry  about  them.      His  majesty  then  shews  that  witches  may  transport  themselves 

to  places  at  a  distance,  by  being  carried  either  above  tlie  earth  or  aboAe  tlie  sea,  unseen 

to  any  but  themselves,  or  that  tliey  may  come  to  their  conventions  in  the  likeness  of 

a  little  beast  or  fowl,  and  that  they  can  pierce  througli  any  house  or  cluu-cli,  though 

all  ordinary  passages  be  closed.     Assuming  that  there  are  twenty  women  of  this  craft 

for  one  man,  he  accounts  for  this  excess  by  saying,  "  for  as  that  sexe  is  frailer  then 

man  is,  so  it  is  easier  to  entrap  them  in  these  gi'osse  snares  of  the  divell,  as  was 

ouer-well  proued  to  be  trew  by  the  serpent's  deceiving  Eua  at  the  beginning."     As 

to  their  arts,  to  some  he  teaclieth  how  to  make  pictures  of  wax  or  clay,  that  by  the 

wasting  thereof  the  person  that  they  beare  the  name  of  may  be  continually  melted  or 

dried  away  by  continual  sickness :  to  some  he  gives  such  stones  or  powders  as  will 

help  to  cure  or  to  bring  on  diseases;  and  others  he  instructs  in  the  use  of  poisons 

which  physicians  do  not  understand.     Armed  with  these  powers,  they  can  make  men 

and  women  to  love  or  hate  each  other;  can  lay  the  sickness  of  one  upon  another; 

and  can  raise  storms  and  tempests  in  the  air,  upon  sea  or  land.      The  treatise  is 

wound  up  with  that  whicli  gi\es  it  its  sanguinary  and  most  mischievous  character — 

"  On  the  trial  and  punishment  of  \vitches."     As  to  their  trial  at  the  assizes,  the  king 

says,  that  as  -witchcraft  is  an  act  of  treason  against  tlie  prince,  the  evidence  of  "  barnes 

(children)  or  wives  (weak  women)  or  never  so  defamed  persons  (persons  of  never  so 

infamous  character)  may  serve  for  sufficient  witnesses  against  them;  for,  adds  he,  who 

but  witches  can  be  provers,  and  so  witnesses,  of  the  doings  of  Avitches?"     Besides 

evidence,  "  there  are  two  other  good  helps  that  may  be  used  for  their  triall;  the  one 

is,  the  finding  of  their  marke  and  the  trying  the  insensibleues  tlierof :  the  other  is  the 

*  Preface  to  King  James's  Dsemonologie. 


Countj)  ^alatmf  of  aanca^tn-.  595 

fleeting  on  the  water;  for  as  in  a  secret  murtlicr,  if  the  dead  carkasse  hee  at  an.v     chai'. 

time  thereafter  handled  hy  the  murtherer,  it  ^^ill  gnsh  out  bloud  as  if  the  bloud  were  L 

crying-  to  Heaven  for  revenge  of  the  murtherer,  God  haA-ing  appointed  tliat  secret 
supernatural  issue  for  triall  of  that  secret  vnatural  crune!  so  it  appcrirs  tliat  God  hatli 
appointed  (for  a  supernatural  signe  of  the  monstrous  impietie  of  ^ntches)  that  the 
water  shall  refuse  to  receive  them  into  her  bosome,  that  have  shaken  off  them  the 
sacred  water  of  Baptisme,  and  wilfully  refused  the  benefit  thereof:  No  not  so  much 
as  tlieir  eyes  are  able  to  shed  teares,  (tlu-eaten  and  torture  them  as  ye  please,)  while 
first  they  repent,  (God  not  permitting  theii-  obstinacie  in  so  horrible  a  crune)  albeit 
the  woman-kind  especially,  be  able  otherwayes  to  shed  teares  at  euery  light  occasion 
when  they  avUI,  yea,  although  it  were  cUssembling  like  the  crococUles."  Having  thus 
opened  the  door  for  the  most  unjust  convictions,  the  royal  fanatic  adds,  that  all  witches 
ouo-ht  to  be  put  to  death,  without  distinction  of  age,  sex,  or  rank  * 

°  A  few  years  after  the  author  of  this  sanguinary  commentary  upon  the  demoniacal  wiu;hes 
code  of  Henry  VHI.  and  Elizabeth  ascended  the  English  tlu-one,  a  cHscovery  took  forest. 
place  of  an  alleged  convention  of  witches,  held  at  Malkin  Tower,  in  PencUe  forest, 
in  the  county  of  Lancaster. 

It  has  been  justly  observed  by  Dr.  Hibbert,  that  witchcraft  was  generally  the 
most  life  in  wild  and  desolate  parts  of  the  country,  and  tliis  observation  is  borne  out 
in  Lancashiie,  for  no  district  in  the  county  is  more  wild  and  desolate  than  certain 
parts  of  the  parish  of  Whalley,  in  wliich  parish  ahnost  all  the  witch  scenes  of  the 
county  have  been  perfomed.  The  persons  accused  of  holding  the  convention  at 
Malkin  Tower  were,  a  poor  wretched  old  woman,  of  the  name  of  Southernes,  and 
Anne  Whittle,  each  of  them  fourscore  years  of  age  and  upwards— 

So  wither'd  and  so  wild  in  their  attire, 

They  look'd  not  like  the  inhabitants  o'the  earth, 

with  several  of  theii"  neighbours  and  relations,  all  of  the  same  rank.  No  fewer  than 
nineteen  of  these  persons  were  tried  at  the  assizes  at  Lancaster  in  the  autumn  of  1612, 
charged  with  the  ciime  of  witchcraft,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  list:— 

Witches  of  Pendle  Forest. 

Elizabeth  Southernes,  widow,  alias  Old  Demdike, 

Elizabeth  Device,  alias  Young  Demdike,  her  daughter, 

»  The  infliction  of  death  for  witchcraft  in  England  has  been  generally,  if  not  universally,  by 
hanging;  but  in  Scotland,  in  1608,  "  some  women  were  taken  in  Broughton  as  witches,  and  put  to 
an  Tssize,  and  convicted;  albeit  they  persevered  constant  to  the  end,  yet  they  were  burned  quick 
[alive]  after  such  a  cruel  manner,  that  some  of  them  died  in  despair,  renouncing  and  blasphemmg 
God;  and  others,  half  burnt,  brake  out  of  the  fire,  and  were  cast  quick  in  it  again,  till  they  were 
burnld  to  the  death."— ^e  Earl  of  Mar's  declaration,  quoted  in  Sir  W.  Scott's  Demonology,  p.  315. 

4g  2 


596  Cftf  %}istov^  Of  tfje 

CHAP.  James  Device,  tlie  son  of  Young  Demclike, 

XIV 

'  Alizon  Device,  the  daughter  of  Young  Demclike, 

Anne  Whittle,  widow,  alias  Chattox,  alias  Chatter-box,  the  rival  Avitch  of  Old 
Demdike, 

Anne  Redferne,  daughter  of  Ann  Chattox, 
Alice  Nutter, 

Katherine  Hewytt,  alias  Mould-heeles, 
Jane  Bulcock,  of  the  Mosse  End, 
John  Bulcock,  her  son, 
Isabel  Robey, 

Margaret  Pearson,  of  Padiham. 

The  last  mentioned  of  whom  was  tried;  1st,  for  murder  by  witchcraft;  2d,  for 
bemtcliing  a  neighbour;  3d,  for  bewitching  a  horse;  and,  being  acquitted  of  the 
two  former  charges,  was  sentenced  for  the  last  to  stand  uj^on  the  pUlory,  in  the 
markets  of  Clitheroe,  Padiham,  Colne,  and  Lancaster,  for  four  successive  market 
days,  with  a  printed  paper  upon  her  head,  stating  her  oflfence. 

Witches  of  Salmesbury. 
Jennet  Bierley,  John  Ramsden,  Isabel  Sidegraves, 

Ellen  Bierley,  Elizabeth  Astley,  Lawi-ence  Haye. 

Jane  Sowthworth,  Alice  Gray, 

Their  The  seusatiou  produced  by  these  trials,  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  counties,  was 

gi-eat  beyond  all  former  example  ;*  and  Thomas  Potts,  esq.  the  clerk  of  the  court, 
was  du'ected  by  the  judges  of  assize,  sii'  Edward  Bromley,  knight,  and  su*  James 
Altliam,  knight,  to  collect  and  publish  the  endeuce,  and  other  documents,  connected 
with  the  trial,  under  the  revision  of  the  judges  themselves.  According  to  this  authority. 
Old  Demdilie,  the  principal  actress  in  the  tragedy,  was  a  general  agent  for  the  devil, 
in  all  these  parts,  no  man  escaping  her,  or  her  furies,  that  ever  gave  them  occasion 
of  offence,  or  denied  them  any  tiling  they  stood  in  need  of.  The  justices  of  the  peace 
in  this  part  of  the  country,  Roger  Nowel  and  Nicholas  Bannister,  having  learnt  that 
Malkin  Tower,  in  the  forest  of  Pendle,  the  residence  of  Old  Demdike  and  her 
daughter,  was  the  resort  of  the  witches,  had  ventured  so  far  to  brave  the  danger  of 
tlieii'  incantations,  as  to  arrest  their  head,  and  a  number  of  her  followers,  and  to  com- 
mit them  to  the  castle  at  Lancaster.  Amongst  the  rest  of  the  voluntary  confessions 
made  by  the  witches,  that  of  Dame  Demdilie  is  preserved,  and  is  to  the  following- 
effect  : — That  about  twenty  years  ago,  as  she  was  coming  home  from  begging,  she 
was  met  near  Gouldshey,  in  the  forest  of  Pendle,  by  a  spiiit,  or  devU,  in  the  sliape 

*  Pottss  Preface  to  the  Trials  of  the  Lancashire  Witches,  in  1612. 


\IV. 


Countp  ^3alntinf  of  il.«inrasitfr.  597 

of  a  boy,  the  one  half  of  his  coat  black  and  the  otlier  l)rown,  who  told  her  to  stop,  and  chap 
said,  that  if  she  would  give  him  lier  soul,  she  should  have  any  thing  she  mshed  for, 
on  wliich  she  asked  Imn  Ids  name,  and  was  told  that  Ids  name  was  Tib ;  she  then 
consented,  from  the  hope  of  gain,  to  give  him  her  soul.  For  several  yeai-s  she  had 
no  occasion  to  make  any  application  to  her  e^il  spirit;  but  one  "  Sunday  morning, 
having  a  little  child  upon  her  knee,  and  she  being  in  a  slumber,  the  spirit  appeared 
to  her  in  tlic  likeness  of  a  browni  dog,  and  forced  himself  upon  her  knee,  and  begun 
to  suck  her  blood,  under  her  left  arm,  on  wliich  she  exclaimed,  '  Jesus,  save  me,'  and 
the  bro^vn  dog  vanished,  lea^ing  her  almost  stark  mad  for  the  space  of  eight  weeks. 
On  another  occasion,  she  was  led,  being  blind,  to  the  house  of  Richard  Baldwyn,  to 
obtain  payment  for  the  services  her  daughter  had  performed  at  liis  mill,  when  Bald- 
wyn fell  into  a  passion,  and  bid  them  to  get  off  his  gi-ouiid,  upbraiding  them  ^-ith  being 
whores  and  witches,  and  said  he  would  burn  the  one  and  hang  the  other;  on  which 
Tib  appeared,  and  they  concerted  matters  to  revenge  themselves  upon  Baldwyn,  but 
it  does  not  appear  what  was  the  nature  of  that  revenge.  Tins  wretched  creature, 
who  appears,  lilie  her  compeer  Chattox,  to  have  been  a  poor  mendicant  pretender  to 
the  powers  of  witchcraft,  might  have  read  the  work  of  her  sovereign  king  James,  for  hi 
her  examination  she  says,  that  the  surest  way  of  taking  man's  life  by  witchcraft  is 
to  make  a  picture  of  clay,  like  unto  the  shape  of  the  person  meant  to  be  killed,  and 
when  they  would  have  the  object  of  theii-  vengeance  to  suffer  in  any  particular  part  of 
his  body,  to  take  a  thorn,  or  pin,  and  prick  it  into  that  part  of  the  effigy;  and  when 
they  would  have  any  of  the  body  to  consume  away,  then  to  take  that  part  of  the  figure, 
and  Inu-n  it;  and  when  they  would  have  the  whole  body  to  consume,  then  to  take  tlie 
remainder  of  the  picture,  and  burn  it;  by  which  means  the  afflicted  will  che. 

A  number  of  other  examinations  follow,  principally  those  of  the  witches  them- 
selves, amounting  in  substance  to  this,  that  Old  Demdike  persuaded  her  daughter, 
Elizabeth  Device,  to  sell  herself  to  the  devil,  and  that  she  took  her  advice;  and  that 
she,  in  her  turn,  initiated  her  daughter,  Alizon  Device,  in  her  infernal  arts.  When 
the  old  witcli  had  been  sent  to  Lancaster  castle,  a  gi-and  convocation,  consisting  of 
seventeen  ■(vitches  and  three  wizards,  was  held  at  Malkin  Tower,  on  Good  Friday, 
which  was  by  no  means  observed  as  a  fast,  and  at  wliich  it  was  determined  to  kill 
M'Covell,  the  governor  of  the  castle,  and  to  blow  up  the  builcUng,  for  the  pui-pose  of 
enabling  the  mtches  to  make  their  escape,  Avliich  certahily  would  have  been  a  very 
effectual  way  of  accomplishing  that  object,  seeing  that  the  persons  meant  to  be  rescued 
were  in  the  building  wliich  it  was  intended  to  destroy !  The  object  of  this  witch- 
council  Avas  threefold:  first,  to  christen  the  familiar  of  Alizon  DcAice,  one  of  the 
mtches  wholhad  been  taken  to  Lancaster;  second,  to  concert  a  plan  for  blowing  up 
the  castle,  and  murdering  the  gaoler;  and,  third,  foi-  bewitching  and  murderino- 


598  CI)e  i^isitory  of  tin 

CHAP.    Mr.  Lister,  a  gentleman  residing  at  Westby,  in  Craven,  in  Yorksliii-e.     The  business 
^^^"      beino-  ended,  the  witches,  in  quitting  the  meeting,  Avalked  out  of  tlie  barn,  wliich  was 


1612. 


dioTiified  with  the  name  of  a  tower,  in  theii-  proper  shapes;  but  no  sooner  had  they 
reached  the  door,  than  they  each  mounted  their  spiiit,  wliich  was  in  the  foi-m  of  a  young 
horse,  and  quickly  vanished  out  of  sight. 

Before  the  assizes.  Old  Demdike,  worn  out  by  age  and  trouble,  escaped  the  hands 
of  the  executioner  by  her  death  in  prison,  but  the  other  prisoners  were  brought  to 
trial.* 
Aug.  18,  The  'first  person  arraigned  before  sir  Edward  Bromley,  who  presided  in  the 

ci-iminal  court,  was  Ann  Wliittle,  alias  Chattox,  who  is  described  by  Mr.  Potts  as  a  very 
old,  withered-spent,  and  decrepit  creature,  eighty  years  of  age,  and  nearly  blind — a 
dangerous  witch  of  very  long  continuance,  always  opposed  to  Old  DemdUie;  for  Avhom 
the  one  favoured,  the  other  hated  deadly,  and  they  envied  and  accused  one  another 
in  theii-  examinations.  Tliis  witch  was  more  ready  to  do  mischief  to  men's  goods  than 
to  themselves,  her  lips  ever  chattered  as  she  walked,  (and  hence,  probably,  lier  name 
.of  Chattox  or  Chatter-box,)  but  no  man  Imew  what  she  said;  her  abode  was  in  the 
forest  of  Pendle,  amongst  the  Tvicked  company  of  dangerous  witches,  where  the  woollen 
trade  was  earned  on,  and  she,  in  her  younger  days,  was  a  carder  of  wool.  !She  was 
indicted  for  having  exercised  various  wicked  and  devilish  arts  called  ^vitchcrafts, 
enchantments,  charms,  and  sorceries,  upon  one  Robert  Nutter,  of  Greenehead  in  the 
forest  of  Pendle,  and,  by  force  of  the  said  witchcraft,  having  feloniously  killed  the  said 
Robert  Nutter.  To  establish  this  charge,  her  own  examination  was  read,  from  which 
it  appeared,  that,  fom-teen  or  fifteen  years  ago,  a  tiling,  like  "  a  christian  man,"  had 
importuned  her  to  sell  her  soul  to  the  devil,  and  that  she  had  complied  with  his 
request,  giving  to  her  familiar  the  name  oi  Fancy  j  and  on  account  of  an  insult  ofiered 
to  her  daughter,  Redfern,  by  Robert  Nutter,  they  two  conspii-ed  to  place  a  bad  wish 
upon  Nutter,  of  wliich  he  died.     Amongst  other  charms,  was  that  of  an  incantation 

*  UNIQUE  PEDIGREE. 

The  following  witch  pedigree  will  explain  the  relationship  in  which  several  of  the  prisoners  stood 
to  each  other : — 

Elizabeth  Southernes,  ats  Old  Demdike,  dies  in  prison,  1612. 

7 


Eliz.  Device,  ats  Young  Demdike=John  Device,  bewitched  to  death  by  widow  Chattox. 


7 . 

James  Device,  hanged  at  Alizon  Device,  hanged  at         Jannet  Device,  rai   evidence  against 

Lancaster,  in  1612.  Lancaster,  in  1612.  her  own   mother,    in   1612,    con- 

demned herself  as  a  Pendle  witch, 
in  1633. 


Coimtj)  |3alatmf  of  2.anrastn%  599 

used  over  drink,  in  the  process  of  brewing,  when  it  faUed  to  work;  of  which  the  fol-    chap. 

,        .  .  XIV. 

lowing  IS  a  copy: —  

"  A  CHARME. 

"  Three  Biters  hast  thou  bitten, 

"  The  Hart,  ill  Eye,  ill  Tonge; 
"  Three  bitter  shall  be  thy  Roote, 

"  Father,  Sonne,  and  Holy  Ghost,  a  God's  name. 
"  Fine  Pater-nosters,  fine  Auies,  and  a  Creede, 

"  In  worship  of  fiue  wounds  of  our  Lord," 

It  has  been  further  deposed  against  the  accused,  that  John  Device  agreed  to  give 
Old  Chattox  a  dole  of  meal  yearly,  if  she  would  not  hurt  liini;  and  that  when  he 
ceased  to  make  tliis  annual  pajnnent,  he  took  his  bed  and  died.  To  wliich  were  added 
two  otlier  crimes  of  smaller  magnitude;  first,  that  she  had  be^vitchcd  the  drink  of 
John  Moore ;  and,  second,  that  she  had,  without  the  operation  of  the  churn,  produced 
a  quantity  of  butter  from  a  dish  of  skimmed  milk  !  In  the  face  of  this  evidence,  and  no 
longer  anxious  about  her  own  life,  she  acknowledged  her  guilt ;  luit  hinnbly  prayed 
tlie  judges  to  be  merciful  to  her  daughter  Anne  Redfeame.  Tliis  prayer,  so  natural 
from  a  mother,  was  vain.  Bent,  as  was  the  court  before  wliich  she  was  tried,  on 
blood,  they  knew  not  how  to  appreciate  tliis  touching  trait  of  maternal  magnanimity. 

Against  Elizabeth  Device,  the  testimony  of  her  own  daughter,  a  child  nine  years 
of  age,  was  received,  and  the  way  in  which  her  evidence  was  given,  instead  of  filling 
the  court  Avith  lioiTor,  seems  to  have  excited  their  applause  and  achniration.  Accord- 
ing to  our  authority,  the  familiar  of  the  prisoner  was  a  dog,  which  went  by  tlie 
name  of  Ball,  and  by  whose  agency  she  bewitched  to  death  John  Robinson,*  James 
Robinson,  and  James  Mitton;  the  fii-st  of  the  vietims  having  called  her  a  strumpet, 
and  the  last  lia\^ug  refused  to  give  Old  Demdike  a  penny  when  she  asked  her  for 
chai-ity.  To  render  her  daughter  proficient  in  the  art,  the  prisoner  tauglit  her  two 
prayers,  by  one  of  whicli  she  cured  the  bewitched,  and  by  the  other  procured  drink. 

The  prayer  for  drink  was  in  these  tenns: — "  Crucijixus  hoc  signum  vitam  Eter- 
nam.     Amen." 

The  chaiTQ  for  curing  the  bewitched,  thus : — 

"  A  CHARME. 


Vpon  Good-Friday,  I  will  fast  while  I 

may, 
Vntill  I  heare  them  knell 
Our  Lord's  owne  Bell, 
Lord  in  his  messe 
With  his  twelue  Apostles  good, 


What  hath  he  in  his  hand  ? 

Ligh  in  leath  wand  : 

What  he  in  his  other  hand? 

Heauen's  doore  key. 

Open,  open  Heauen  doore  keyes, 

Sneck,  sneck  hell  doore,"  &c. 


*  The  ancient  Rabbins  held  that  the  devils  most  frequently  appeared  in  the  shape  of  Seghuirim, 
rough  and  hairy  goats;  but  none  of  the  familiars  of  the  Lancashire  witches  were  of  this  classical 
description. 


600 


Clie  ?l?i£(torj)  of  tin 


CHAP. 
XIV. 


Salmes- 

bury 

witches. 


The  person  of  Elizabeth  Device,  as  described  by  the  clerk  of  the  court,  seems  to 
have  peculiarly  qualified  her  for  an  ancient  witch:  "  she  was  branded,"  says  he, 
"  Avith  a  preposterous  mark  in  nature;  her  left  eye  standing  lower  than  her  right,  the 
one  looking  dowa  and  the  other  up,  at  the  same  tune."  Her  process  of  destruction 
was  by  modelling  clay  or  marl  figures,  and  wasting  her  victims  away  along  with 
them : — another  proof  of  the  king's  sagacity,  which,  no  doubt,  the  judges,  who  seem 
to  have  been  more  solicitous  to  obtain  the  favour  of  their  royal  master  than  to  admi- 
nister impartial  justice  to  his  subjects,  would  not  fail  to  make  known  at  court. 

James  Device  was  convicted  principally  on  the  evidence  of  liis  infant  sister,  of 
bewitching  and  killing  Mrs.  Ann  Toweuely,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Henry  Towenely,  of  the 
Carr,  by  means  of  a  picture  of  clay,  and  both  he  and  liis  sister  were  witnesses  against 
then*  mother.  Tliis  wizard,  whose  spu'it  was  called  Dandy,  is  described  as  a  poor, 
decrepit  boy,  apparently  of  weak  intellect,  and  so  infirm,  that  it  was  found  necessary 
to  hold  him  up  in  court  on  his  trial. 

Upon  evidence  of  tliis  kind,  no  fewer  than  ten  of  these  unfortunate  people  were 
found  guilty  at  Lancaster,  and  sentenced  to  suffer  the  punishment  of  death;  eight 
others  were  acquitted,  though  for  what  reason  it  is  difficult  to  unagine,  for  the  evidence 
against  some  of  them,  at  least,  appears  to  have  been  equally  strong;  or,  to  speak  more 
properly,  equally  weak  and  absurd,  as  against  those  who  were  convicted. 

The  persons  sentenced  to  death,  aud  afterwards  executed,  were  Ann  Whittle, 
alias  Chattox,  Elizabeth  Device,  James  Device,  Ann  Redferne,  Alice  Nutter,  Cathe- 
I'ine  Hewytt,  John  Bulcock,  Jane  Bulcock,  Alizon  Device,  and  Isabel  Robey. 

Against  Jane  Bieiley,  EUen  Bierley,  and  Jane  Southworth,  of  Salmesbury,  charged 
with  having  bewitched  Grace  Sowerbutts,  at  that  place;  the  only  material  evidence 
adduced,  was  that  of  Grace  Sowerbutts  herself,  a  girl  of  licentious  and  vagi-ant  habits, 
who  swore  that  these  women,  one  of  them  being  her  gi*andmother,  tUd  draw  her  by 
the  hah*  of  the  head,  and  lay  her  upon  the  top  of  a  hay-mow,  and  did  take  her  senses 
and  memory  from  her ;  that  they  appeared  to  her  sometimes  in  their  own  likeness, 
and  sometimes  lUie  a  black  dog.  She  further  deposed,  that  by  theii'  arts  they  pre- 
vailed upon  her  to  join  their  sisterhood;  and  that  they  Avere  met  from  time  to  time 
by  "  four  black  things  going  upright,  and  yet  not  like  men  in  the  face,"  who  conveyed 
them  across  the  Ribble,  where  they  danced  with  them,  and  then  each  retired  to 
hold  dalliance  with  her  familiar,  conformable,  no  doubt,  to  the  doctrine  of  Tnculn  and 
Succuhi,  as  promulgated  by  the  royal  demouologist.  To  consunnnate  then'  atrocities, 
the  prisoners  bewitched  and  slew  a  cliild  of  Thomas  Walshman's,  by  placing  a  nail 
in  its  navel ;  and  after  its  burial,  they  took  up  the  corpse,  when  they  ate  part  of  the 
flesh,  and  made  "  an  unxious  ointment,"  by  boiling  the  bones.  This  was  more  than 
even  the  capacious  credulity  of  the  judge  and  jury  could  chgest;  the  Sahnesbury 


Countj)  palatine  of  2.aucae!Ui%  ooi 

witches  were  therefore  acquitted,  and  a  seminary  priest,  of  the  name  of  Thompson,    chap. 

alias  Southworth,  was  suspected  by  two  of  tlic  county  mapjistratcs,*  to  whom  the  . 

affair  was  afterwai-ds  referred,  of  liaraig  instigated  Sowerbutts  to  make  the  charge ; 
l)ut  this  imputation  was  not  supported  by  any  satisfactory  evidence.  John  Ilamsden, 
Elizabeth  Astley,  Alice  Gray,  Isabel  Sidegraves,  and  Lawrence  Haye,  were  all  dis- 
chai'ged  without  Uial. 

The  iudo-e,  sir  Edwai-d  Bromley,  in  addressing  the  convicted  prisoners,  wlien  sentences 
sentence  of  death  was  passed  upon  them,  made  a  pai-ade  of  clemency  and  impartial  witches, 
justice,  which  was  only  to  be  discovered  in  his  words: — "  You,"  said  he,  "  of  all  peo- 
ple, have  the  least  cause  of  complaint;  since  on  the  trial  for  your  lives  there  hath  been 
much  care  and  pains  taken;  and  what  persons  of  your  nature  and  condition  were  ever 
arraigned  and  tried  with,  so  much  solemnity?  Tlie  court  hath  had  great  care  to  receive 
nothing  in  evidence  against  you  but  matter  of  fact  If  As  you  stand  sunply  (yoiur 
offences  and  bloody  practices  not  considered)  your  fate  would  rather  move  compassion 
than  exasperate  any  man;  for  whom  would  not  the  ruin  of  so  many  poor  creatures 
at  one  time  touch,  as  in  appearance  simple,  and  of  little  understanchug  ?  But  the 
blood  of  these  innocent  childi-en,  and  others  his  majesty's  subjects,  whom  cruelly  and 
barbarously  you  have  murdered  and  cut  off,  cries  unto  the  Lord  for  vengeance.  It 
is  impossible  that  you,  who  are  stained  with  so  much  innocent  blood,  should  either 
prosper  or  continue  in  tliis  world,  or  receive  reward  in  the  next."  Having  thus  shut 
the  door  of  hope,  both  m  this  life  and  the  life  that  is  to  come,  the  judge  proceeded  to 
uro-e  the  victims  of  superstition  to  repentance!  and  concluded  by  sentencing  them  all 
to  be  hanged. 

It  would,  probably,  have  occurred  to  the  judges,  that  persons  possessed  of  the  power 
to  lull  their  enemies,  and  endowed  with  a  capacity  of  locomotion  that  enabled  them 
to  fly  over  the  land  or  the  sea,  might  have  slain  their  prosecutors,  or  mounted  their 
familiars,  and  taken  flight,  had  not  the  dogma  promulgated  by  king  James  answered 
this  objection  in  limine :  "  When  the  mtches  are  apprehended  and  detained  by  the 

*  The  Rev.  William  Leigh,  and  Edward  Chisnall,  esq. 

t  Nothing  but  matter  of  fact  .'—Why,  to  prove  the  guilt  of  one  of  the  prisoners,  evidence  was 
received,  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  a  man,  not  in  court,  that  she  had  turned  his  beer  sour;  and  to  prove 
the  charge  of  murder,  it  was  thought  sufficient  to  attest,  that  a  sick  person  had  declared  his  belief 
that  he  owed  his  approaching  death  to  the  maledictions  of  the  prisoner.  The  bleeding  of  the  corpse 
on  the  touch  of  the  sorceress,  one  of  the  absurd  and  now  exploded  superstitions  insisted  upon  by  king 
James,  was  advanced  on  oath,  on  the  trial  of  Jennet  Preston,  as  an  incontrovertible  evidence  of 
guilt;  and  yet  the  judge  upon  the  bench  declares,  that  no  evidence  was  received  against  the  prisoners 
but  matter  of  fact.  His  lordship  would  have  approached  much  nearer  to  the  truth,  if  he  had  said  that 
nothing  but  fiction  was  heard  in  evidence. 

VOL.  I.  4  H 


602  Cftt  S^igtoru  of  t\)t 

CHAP,    lawful  niao-istrate,"  says  the  royal  commeutator,  "  their  power  is  then  no  jn'eater  than 

XIV.  a  '  •,  ^  X  O 

_1 L_  before  tliat  ever  they  medcUed  with  these  matters."*     This,  indeed,  is  a  necessary 

part  of  tlie  doctrine,  otherwise  Elizabeth  Device  and  her  associates  might  as  easily 
and  as  invisibly  have  conveyed  themselves  from  the  bar  of  the  castle  at  Lancaster,  as 
from  the  witch  convention  at  Malkin  Tower. 

Their  At  the  appointed  tune,  all  these  poor  wretches  died  by  the  hands  of  the  public 

executioner — victims,  no  doubt,  in  part,  of  their  own  fraudulent  arts,  resorted  to 
for  the  purpose  of  eking  out  a  miserable  subsistence — but,  much  more,  sacrifices 
offered  upon  the  altars  of  ignorance  and  superstition. 

According  to  Gaule,  who  is  quite  an  authority  upon  tliis  subject,  witch-conven- 
tions, on  the  model  of  that  held  at  the  residence  of  Old  Demdike's,  at  Malkin  Tower, 
and  from  thence  adjourned,  at  the  instance  of  Jennet  Preston,  to  Romles-raoor,  were 
for  the  solemn  initiation  of  the  T^-itches,  or  for  the  baptism  of  their  imps.  Here  the 
new  disciple  of  Satan  was  presented  by  a  confederate,  or  familiar,  to  the  prince  of 
darkness,  sitting  on  a  throne  of  infernal  majesty,  appearing  in  the  form  of  man,  but 
labouring  incessantly  to  hide  his  cloven  feet  with  liis  vesture :  to  whom,  after  bowing 
and  homage  done  in  kissing  his  back  parts,  a  petition  was  presented,  praying  to  be 
received  into  his  association,  and  taken  under  liis  protection.  Tlie  initiated  was  then 
re-bai)tized  in  the  devil's  name;  and  during  the  ceremony,  the  infernal  president  was 

Desciip-     busy  with  his  long  nails  scraping  and  scratching  those  places  of  the  forehead  where 

vvitnhcon-  the  sigu  of  the  cross  had  been  made  in  Cluistian  baptism,  or  where  the  chrisme  was 
laid ;  in  the  place  of  which  he  impressed  the  mark  of  the  beast,  or  the  devil's  flesh- 
brand,  upon  some  part  of  the  body.  The  mtch  was  then  taught,  by  her  infernal 
instructor,  to  make  an  oil,  or  ointment,  of  live  infants  stolen  out  of  the  cradle,  as  in 
the  case  of  Walshmaji's  cliild,  of  Salmesbury,  or  of  dead  ones  stolen  out  of  their 
gi'aves,  which  they  were  to  boil  to  a  jelly,  and  then  drinking  one  part  of  the  unctuous 
preparation,  and  besmeaiing  themselves  A\-ith  the  other,  they  became  from  that 
moment  endowed  mth  the  mystical  ai't.  "  Further,"  says  Gaule,  "  the  witch  or 
wizard,  for  her  or  his  part,  vows,  either  by  word  of  mouth,  or  peradventure  by  writing, 
and  that  in  her  or  liis  own  blood,  to  give  both  body  and  soul  to  the  devil;  to  deny 
and  to  defy  God  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  to  attend  the  devil's 
nocturnal  conventicles,  sabbaths,  and  sacrifices;  to  take  him  for  her  or  liis  god,  and 
to  worship,  invoke,  and  obey  him;  to  devote  her  or  his  children  to  liim,  as  did  Old 
Dcmdike  and  Old  Chattox,  and  to  labour  to  bring  others  into  the  infernal  confe- 
deracy. The  devil,  on  his  part,  promising  to  be  always  present  witli  his  disciples,  to 
serve  them  at  their  beck ;  to  give  them  their  will  upon  any  body,  and  to  bestow  upon 
them  all  the  riches!  honours!  and  pleasures!  that  they  can  desire,  (an  engagement 

*  King  James's  Dsenionologie,  chap.  vi. 


vention. 


CH.\1». 
XIV. 


Coimti)  |)alntmc  of  Sanrastfr.  603 

that  was  most  Aiitlilessly  performed  towards  tlie  Lancashire  witches,  who  were 
steeped  in  poverty  and  infamy.)  An  imp,  or  familiar,  was  tlien  assigned  to  each  of 
them,  in  the  shape  of  a  dog,  a  cat,  a  mouse,  or  a  rat,  &c. ;  and,  after  tlie}^  liad  shaken 
hands  and  emhraced,  they  fell  to  dancing  and  feasting,  according  to  the  banquet  that 
the  devil,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  feast,  had  provided  for  them.  Sometimes  the 
ceremony  was  consummated  by  marrying  them  before  they  parted;  either  to  himself  or 
to  their  familiars,  or  to  one  another.  After  that,  tliey  parted  till  the  next  gi-eat  con- 
vention, and  were  conveyed,  sAvift  as  the  winds,  throngli  the  air.  Tlie  absentees 
from  these  meetings  were  amersed  in  fines  for  their  non-attendauce,  beaten  on  tlie 
palms  of  their  feet  ^vith  rods  of  iron,  or  pinched  and  sucked  by  their  familiars,  till 
theii-  blood  came,  and  till  they  repented  of  theii-  sloath." 

At  the  assizes  at  York,  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  Jennet  Preston,  of  Trial  and 
Gisborn,  was  brought  to  trial  before  sir  James  Altham,  charged  with  having  attended  of  ^re-"" 
the  great  witch-meeting  at  Malkin  Tower,  in  Lancashire,  on  tlie  Good  Friday  pre-  ',',"!^h  ,,t 
ceding,  and  with  having  murdered  Thomas  Lister,  esq.  of  Westby,  in  Craven,  by  '^"'''• 
witchcraft.  In  support  of  these  charges,  it  was  deposed  by  Anne  Robinson,  probably 
one  of  the  family  of  the  Lancashire  witch-finders,  that  when  Mr.  Lister  was  lyino-  in 
extremity  upon  his  death-bed,  he  cried  out  to  them  that  stood  about  hun,  "  Jennet 
Preston  is  in  the  house,  look  where  she  is!  take  hold  of  her;  for  God's  sake,  shut  the 
doors,  and  take  her!  Look  about  for  her,  and  lay  hold  on  her,  for  she  is  in 
the  house!  and  so  crying,  he  departed  tliis  life."  Other  witnesses  deposed,  that 
after  Mr.  Lister  was  dead,  and  laid  out  in  his  winding  sheet,  Jane  Preston  was 
brought  to  touch  the  dead  body,  on  Mhich  fresh  blood  presently  gushed  out  in  the 
presence  of  all  those  that  were  in  the  room.*  This  appears  to  have  been  the  only 
e\adence  against  the  prisoner,  except  that  which  was  contained  in  the  examination 
of  James  Device,  the  grandson  of  Old  Demdike,  Avho  deposed  before  Roger  Nowell 
and  Nicholas  Bannister,  two  Lancasliii-e  magistrates,  that  Jennet  Preston,  the  prisoner, 
was  present  at  the  great  witch-meeting  at  Malkin  Tower,  on  the  memorable  Good 
Friday,  and  that  she  came  to  tlie  meeting  mounted  upon  a  spirit  like  unto  a  white 
foal,  with  a  black  spot  in  the  forehead ;  that  at  this  meeting  she  asked  the  aid  of  the 
witches  and  ^vizards  assembled  to  kill  Mr.  Thomas  Lister,  and  that  they  consented  to 
entangle  him  in  the  meshes  of  then.'  net  of  enchantment,  and,  in  the  end,  to  destroy 
him;  on  which  she  gave  them  an  invitation  to  attend  another  witch  feast  on  the  next 
Good  Friday,  on  Romeles-moor,  and  then,  mounting  her  spirit,  she  took  flight  through 
the  air,  and  became  imisible.     Tliis  strange  mass  of  absurdities  satisfied  the  judge  of 

•  It  ought  to  be  generally  known  that  the  blood  is  congealed  in  the  liody  for  two  or  three  days 
after  death  ;  and  then  becomes  liquid  again  in  its  tendency  to  corruption  ;  and  that  the  air  being 
heated  by  a  number  of  persons  coming  into  the  room,  the  blood  will  flow,  when  murderers  are  absent 
as  well  as  when  they  are  present.     This  test  ought  therefore  to  be  exploded. 

4  H  3 


604 


Clje  listoip  of  tf)e 


CHAP. 
XIV. 


Second 
batch  of 
Pendle 
Forest 
witches. 


the  prisoner's  guilt,  n-lio  summed  up  the  evidence,  if  evidence  it  could  be  called, 
strongly  against  her;  but  the  jury,  somewhat  more  scrupulous,  spent  the  greatest 
part  of  the  day  in  deliberation;  in  the  end,  however,  they  returned  a  verdict  of  guilty, 
and  the  poor  unfortunate  wretch  ended  her  life  on  the  gallows,  denying  firmly  her 
guilt,  and  accusing,  with  a  gi-eat  deal  of  truth,  her  prosecutors  of  the  crime  of 
murder. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  rack  was  resorted  to  in  Lancashire,  but,  if  the  rack 
was  not  applied,  the  gallows  was  in  frequent  use,  and  a  man  of  the  name  of  Uttey,  a 
reputed  wizai-d,  was  hanged  at  Lancaster,  about  the  year  1630,  for  having  bewitched 
to  death  Richard,  the  son  of  Ralph  Assheton,  esq.  lord  of  Middleton.* 

At  the  assizes  at  Lancaster,  in  16-3.3,  another  batch  of  reputed  witches,  consisting 
of  seventeen  in  number,  were  brought  to  trial  from  the  usual  resort  in  Pendle  forest. 
The  informations  were  laid  before  Richard  Shuttleworth,  esq.  and  John  Starkie,  esq. 
on  the  10th  of  February,  1G33,  the  latter  of  whom  had  figured  as  one  of  the  possessed 
amongst  the  seven  demoniacs,  at  Cleworth,  in  the  year  1595.  The  principal  evidence 
against  the  prisoners  was  Edward  Robinson,t  the  son  of  Edmund  Robinson,  of 
Pendle,  mason,  who  deposed  that  two  gi'eyhounds  had  been  transformed  into  witches. 
That  one  of  the  witches  tliere,  Dickenson's  wife,  had  conveyed  him  before  her  on  horse- 
back to  a  meeting  at  Hoarestones,  where  a  convocation  of  witches,  amountuig  to  three- 
score, or  thereabout,  had  assembled  to  regale  themselves;  that  one  of  them,  Loyard's 
wife,  he  had  seen  sitting  upon  a  piece  of  cross  wood  in  his  father's  chimney;  that 
afterwards  he  had  met  and  fought  with  a  boy,  who  turned  out  to  have  a  cloven  foot ; 
that  in  a  neighbouring  barn  he  had  seen  three  witches  taking  pictures,  into  which 
they  had  stuck  thorns,  and  that,  at  the  meeting  at  Hoarestones,  all  the  persons  now 
in  confinement  for  witchcraft  were  present.];    The  only  evidence  that  appears  in  con- 


*  Dr.  Whitaker's  History  of  Whalley,  p.  528. 

t  The  prototype  of  Matthew  Hopkins,  the  south  country  witch-finder.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  his 
preface  to  the  Wonderful  Discovery  of  Witches  in  Lancashire,  in  lord  Somers's  Tracts,  has  fallen  into 
an  error  by  confounding  the  Pendle  forest  witches  of  1612  with  those  of  1633. 


I  WITCHCRAFT. 
Harl  MSS.   Cod.  6854,  fo.  26  b. 
"  The  Examination  of  Edward  Robinson,  sonne  of  Edmond  Robinson  of  Pendle 
Forest,  mason,  taken  at  Padian  before  Richard  Shuttleworth  and  John  Starkey, 
Esquires,  two  of  his  Ma""  Justices  of  Peace  w"'in  the  Countie  of  Lancaster,  the 
10th  day  of  Februarie,  Anno  Dni  1633. 

"  Who  informeth  vpon  oath  beinge  exammed  touchinge  the  greate  Meetinge  of  Witches  in  Pendle, 
saith  that  vpon  All  Saintf  day  last  past,  he  this  Informer  beinge  w""  one  Henrie  Parker  a  neere  doore- 
neighbour  to  him  in  Wheatley  Lane,  who  desired  the  said  Parker  to  give  him  leave  to  get  some 


Countp  ^alatint  of  aanraeter.  605 

firmatioii  of  this  testimony  is,  that  of  Edimmd  Robinson,  tlie  father,  who  had  himself    chap. 


been  a  witness  against  the  Lancashire  witches  of  1012,  wliicli  amounts  merely  to  this — 
that  he  heard  his  son  cry  pitifully,  and  that  the  boy  told  him  all  that  was  contained 
in  his  deposition. 

Bullas,  w"^*"  he  did,  in  w*^""  tyme  of  gettinge  Bullas  hee  sawe  two  grey  hounds,  vizt.  a  blacke  and 
a  browne  one  come  runninge  over  the  next  feildf  towards  him.  Hee  verilie  thinketh  the  one  to  bee 
Mr.  Butters  and  the  other  to  bee  Mr.  Robinsons,  the  said  Mr.  Butter  and  Mr.  Robinson  then  have- 
inge  such  like.  And  the  said  Grey  Hounds  came  and  fawned  on  him,  they  haveinge  about  their 
neckf  either  of  them  a  Coller,  to  cither  of  w"^''  Collers  was  tyed  a  strynge,  w''''  Collers  as  this  Informer 
affirmeth,  did  shine  like  gold,  and  hee  thinkinge  that  some  either  of  Mr.  Butters  or  Mr.  Robinsons 
familie  should  have  followed  them,  but  seeinge  noe  bodie  to  followe  them,  hee  tooke  the  said  Grey- 
hounds thinkinge  to  hunte  w"'  them,  and  presentlie  a  hare  did  rise  verie  neere  before  him,  at  the  sight 
whereof  he  cryed  '  Loo,  loo,  loo,"  but  the  doggs  would  not  runn,  wherevpon  hee  beinge  verie  angrie 
tooke  them,  and  w"'  the  stringf  that  were  at  their  Collers  tyed  either  of  them  to  a  litle  bush  at  the 
next  hedge,  and  w""  a  rodd  that  hee  had  in  his  hand  hee  beate  them,  and  instead  of  the  blacke  grey- 
hound one  Dickensons  wife  stood  vpp,  a  neighbour  whom  this  Informer  knoweth,  and  instead  of  the 
browne  Greyhound  a  litle  Boy,  whom  this  Informer  knoweth  not,  at  w"^**  sight  this  Informer  beinge 
afrayd,  endeavoured  to  runn  awaie,  but  beinge  stayd  by  the  woeman,  vizt.  Dickensons  wife,  shee  put 
her  hand  into  her  pocket,  and  pulled  forth  a  peece  of  silver  much  like  to  a  fayre  shillinge,  and  offered 
to  give  him  it  to  hold  his  tongue,  and  not  to  tell,  w'^'^  hee  refused,  sayinge,  '  nay,  thou  art  a  witch,' 
wherevpon  shee  put  her  hand  into  her  pocket  againe,  and  pulled  out  a  thinge  like  unto  a  Bridle  that 
gingled,  w''''  shee  put  on  the  litle  Boyes  head  w'^'"  stood  vpp  in  the  browne  Greyhounds  stead,  where- 
vpon the  said  Boy  stood  vpp  a  white  horse.  Then  ymediatlie  the  said  Dickensons  wife  tooke  this 
Informer  before  her  vpon  the  said  horse,  and  carryed  him  to  a  newe  howse  called  Houhlons,  beinge  a 
quarter  of  a  myle  off,  whether  when  they  were  come,  there  were  diverse  ^sons  about  the  doore,  and 
hee  sawe  diverse  others  cominge  rydeinge  on  horses  of  severall  colours  towards  the  said  howse,  w"^*" 
tyed  their  horses  to  a  hedge  neere  to  the  said  howse  to  the  number  of  sixtie  or  thereabout^  as  this 
Informer  thinketh,  where  they  had  a  fyre,  and  meate  roastinge,  and  some  other  meate  stirringe  in  the 
said  howse,  whereof  a  young  woeman  whom  this  Informer  knoweth  not  gave  him  flesh  and  bread  vpon 
a  trencher,  and  drinke  in  a  glasse,  after  the  first  tast,  hee  refused,  and  would  have  noe  more,  and  said 
it  was  nought,  and  psentlie  after,  seeinge  diverse  others  of  the  said  Companie,  goinge  to  a  Barne, 
eere  adioyninge  hee  followed  after,  and  then  hee  sawe  sixe  of  them  kneelinge,  and  pullinge  all  six 
severall  ropes  w'""  were  fastened  or  tyed  to  the  topp  of  the  howse,  at  or  w"'  w'^''  pullinge  there  came  in 
this  Informers  sight  fleshe  smoakinge,  butter  in  lumpes,  and  milke  as  it  were  syleinge  from  the  said 
ropes,  all  w'''^  fell  into  six  basons  w''''  were  placed  under  the  said  ropes,  and  after  that  these  sixe  had 
done,  there  came  other  six,  w"^""  did  soe  likewise,  and  dureinge  all  the  tyme  of  theire  soe  pullinge,  they 
made  such  fowle  faces  that  they  feared  this  Informer,  soe  as  hee  was  glad  to  steale  out  and  runn 
home,  who  when  they  wanted  some  of  their  Companie  runn  after  him  to  a  place  in  the  high  way 
called  Boggard-hole,  where  hee  this  Informer  mett  two  horsemen,  at  the  sight  whereof  the  said  per- 
sons left  followinge  him.  And  the  foremost  of  w'^''  psons  that  followed,  hee  knewe  to  bee  Loyardf  wife, 
w''^  said  wife  together  w"'  one  Dickensons  wife  and  one  Jennet  Davies  hee  hath  scene  since  at  severall 
times  in  a  croft  or  close  adioyninge  to  his  Fathers  howse,  w'^''  put  him  in  greate  feare:  And  further 
this  Informer  saith,  That  vpon  Thursdaie  after  new  yeares  daye  last  past,  hee  saw  the  said  Loyards 


XIV. 


coc 


€i)t  in^tov^  of  tin 


CHAP. 
XIV. 


Upon  tliis  evidence,  all  the  seventeen  prisoners  were  found  guOtj,  and  sentenced 
to  be  executed.     But  the  judge  very  properly  respited  the  execution;  and,  on  the 
Seventeen   case  being  reported  to  the  king  in  council,  the  bishop  of  Chester,  Dr.  Bridsman,  was 

convicted.  ..  ,.  ™---  •  O' 

reqnii'ed  to  investigate  the  cu-cumstances.  This  mquiry  was  instituted  at  Chester, 
and  four  of  the  contacted  ■v\-itches,  namely,  Margaret  Johnson,  Frances  Dickonson, 

wife  sittinge  vpon  a  crosse  peece  of  wood,  beinge  w^^'m  tlie  chymney  of  his  Fathers  dwellinge  howse, 
and  hee  callinge  to  her  said  '  Come  downe  thou  Loyards  wife,'  and  ymediatlie  the  said  Loyards  wife 
went  vpp  out  of  his  sight :  And  further  this  Informer  saith,  that  after  hee  was  come  from  the  Companie 
aforesaid  to  his  Fathers  howse,  beinge  towardf  eveninge  his  Father  bidd  him  goe  and  fetch  home  two 
kyne  to  sell,  and  in  the  waie  in  a  feild  called  the  Oilers  hee  chanced  to  happen  vpon  a  boy  w'^''  began 
to  quarrell  w""  him,  and  they  fought  together  till  the  Informer  had  Lis  eares  made  verie  bloodie  by 
fightinge,  and  lookinge  downe  hee  sawe  the  boy  had  a  cloven  foote,  at  w"^''  sight  hee  was  afrayd,  and 
ran  away  from  him  to  seeke  the  kyne,  and  in  the  way  hee. sawe  a  light  like  a  lanthorne,  towards 
w"=''  hee  made  hast,  supposinge  it  to  bee  carryed  by  some  of  Mr.  Robinsons  people,  but  when  hee 
came  to  the  place  hee  onelie  found  a  woeman  standinge  on  the  bridge,  whom  when  hee  sawe  hee 
knewe  to  bee  Loyards  wife,  and  knowinge  her,  hee  turned  backe  againe,  and  ymediatlie  hee  met 
w*  the  aforesaid  boy,  from  whom  hee  offered  to  runn,  w"^""  boy  gave  him  a  blow  on  the  backe,  which 
made  him  cry.  And  hee  further  saith,  when  hee  was  in  the  Barne,  hee  sawe  three  women  take  three 
pictures  from  the  beame,  in  the  w'=''  pictures  were  manie  thornes  or  such  like  thinges  sticked  in  them, 
and  that  Loyards  wife  tooke  one  of  the  said  pictures  downe,  but  the  other  two  women  that  tooke 
downe  the  other  two,  hee  knoweth  not.  And  beinge  further  asked  what  ^sons  were  at  the  meetings 
aforesaid,  hee  nominated  those  |)sons  foUowinge,  vizt. 


"  Dickensons 
Henrie  Priestleyes  wife  and  his  ladd 
Alice  Hargrave,  widdowe 
Jane  Davies  (ats  Jennet  Device) 
William  Davies 

The  wife  of  Henrie  Offe^  and  her  sonnes 
John  and  Myles 
The  wife  of  Duckers 


James  Hargrave  of  Maresden 

Loyards  wife 

James  wife 

Sanders  wife,  And  as  hee  beleeveth 

Lawnes  wife 

Sander  Pynes  wife  of  Baraford 

One  Foolegate  and  his  wife 

And  Leonards  of  the  West  Close."* 


"  The  Examination  of  Edmund  Robinson  of  Pendle,  the  Father  to  the  said  Edward 
Robinson,  informeth  vpon  oath,  and  saith : 

"  That  vpon  All  Saints  Day  last  past,  hee  sent  his  sonne  thaforesaid  Informer  to  fetch  home  two 
kyne  to  sell,  and  saith  that  his  sonn  staid  longer  then  hee  thought  hee  should  have  done,  and  hee 
went  to  seeke  him,  and  in  seekeinge  him  hee  heard  him  cry  pitifullie  and  found  him  soe  afrayd  and 
distracted  that  hee  neither  knew  his  Father  nor  did  hee  knowe  where  hee  was,  and  soe  contynued  for 


*  This  deposition  differs,  in  some  respects,  from  the  copy  in  Dr.  Whitaker's  Whalley,  and  in 
some  others  from  the  version  given  in  Webster's  Display  of  Witchcraft;  but  it  is  a  correct  transcript 
{tarn  the  Harleian  Collection.     The  discrepancies  in  the  copies  are  principally  clerical. 


Countj)  ^3alatine  of  aaiuasitn-.  607 

Mary  Spencer,  and  tlie  vnk  of  Hargi-aves,  were  sent  to  Loudon,  and  examined,  first,  chap 

by  the   king's    physicians   and   surgeons,    and    afterwai'ds    hy    the    king   himsoll'. 1_ 

Charles  I.  less  prone  to  credulity  than  his  father,  having  satisfied  liimself  that  tlie  by  X'"'"' 

charge  against  these  poor  creatures  was  gi'oundless,  extended  to  them  the  royal  £^",^(,'1" 

neere  a  quarter  of  an  liower  before  hee  came  to  himself,  and  hee  told  this  Informer,  his  Father,  all 
the  jjticuler  passages  that  are  before  declared  in  the  said  Edward  Robinson  his  sonnes  Information. 

"  Richard  Shuttleworth,  '^ 

i^„x,  c-..^,.,^  >Justices  of  the  Peace." 

John  starkie,  k 

"  The  Examination  of  Margaret  Johnson  taken  at  Padian  before  Richard  Shuttle- 
worth  and  John  Starkey,  Esquires,  two  of  his  Ma"'"  Justices  of  peace  w"'in 
the  Countie  of  Lancaster  the  second  day  of  March  Anno  Regni  Regis  Caroli 
nono  annoy3  domini  1633. 
"  Margaret  Johnson  of  Marsden  widdowe  beinge  examined,  confesseth  and  saith  That  betwixt 
seaven  or  eight  yeares  since,  shee  beinge  in  her  newe  howse  in  Marsden  in  a  great  passion  of  anger 
and  discontent,  and  w'^'all  pressed  w""  some  want,  there  appeared  vnto  her  a  spirit  or  divell  in  the 
similitude  and  proportion  of  a  man,  apparelled  in  a  suite  of  black,  tyed  about  w'""  with  silke  pointC, 
who  oflered  that  if  shee  would  give  him  her  soule,  hee  would  supplie  all  her  wantf ,  and  bringe  to  her 
whatsoever  shee  did  neede,  and  at  her  appointment  would  in  revenge  either  kill  or  hurt  whom  or  what 
shee  desired,  were  it  man  or  beast.  And  saith,  that  after  a  salutation  or  two,  shee  contracted  and 
covenaunted  w""  the  said  Divell  for  her  soule,  and  that  the  said  Divell  or  spirit  bidd  her  call  him  by 
the  name  of  Mamillion,  and  when  shee  would  have  him  to  doe  anie  thinge  for  her,  call  in  Maraillion, 
and  hee  would  bee  readie  to  doe  her  will ;  And  saith,  in  all  her  talk  and  Conferense  shee  calleth  her  said 
Divell  Mamillion  my  god.  And  shee  further  saith,  that  the  said  Mamillion  her  Divell  by  her  consent 
did  abuse  and  defyle  her  bodie,  by  comittinge  wicked  vncleanesse  together.  And  saith,  that  shee 
was  not  at  the  greate  meetinge  at  Hartford  in  the  Forrest  of  Pendle  vpon  All  Saintf  day  last  past, 
but  saith.  That  shee  was  at  a  second  meetinge  the  Sunday  next  after  All  Saintf  day  at  the  place 
aforesaid;  where  there  were  at  that  tyme  betweene  thirtie  and  fortie  Witches,  who  did  all  ryde  to  the 
said  meetinge,  and  the  end  of  theire  meetinge  was  to  consult  for  the  killinge  and  hurtinge  of  men  and 
beastf ,  And  that  besid^  theire  pticuler  familiars  or  spirittf,  there  was  one  greate  grand  Divell  or 
spirit,  more  eminent  then  the  rest,  and  yf  anie  have  a  desire  to  a  more  greater  and  more  powerful! 
Divell,  whereby  they  may  have  power  to  hurt,  they  may  then  have  such  an  one.  And  saith,  that 
such  Witches  as  have  sharpe  bones  given  them  by  the  Divell  to  pricke  them  w"",  have  noe  pappes  or 
duggf  where  theire  Divell  may  suck,  but  theire  Divell  suckf  from  the  place  pricked  w""  the  bone,  and 
they  are  more  grand  Witches  then  anie  that  have  markes.  Shee  also  saith  that  yf  a  Witch  have  but 
one  marke,  shee  hath  but  one  spirit,  yf  two  markes  then  two  spirittf,  yf  three  yet  but  two  spirittf. 
And  saith  that  theire  spirittf  vsuallie  have  knowledge  of  theire  bodies.  And  beinge  to  name  such,  as 
shee  knewe  to  be  Witches,  shee  named  these  followinge,  vizt. 

One  Pickerne  and  his  wife  both  of  Wyndwail, 

Rawson  of  C'lore  and  his  wife 

Dutfice  wife  of  Clorc  by  the  water  side 

Cartmell  the  wife  of  Clore 

And  Jane  of  the  hedgend  in  Maresden. 


608  CI;e  i^istorj)  of  tf)t 

CHAP,    clemency,  and  so  well  was  the  case  of  those  left  behind  represented  by  the  unique 


XIV 


delegation,  that  all  the  seventeen  received  a  free  pardon.  Scenes  so  congenial  to  the 
imagination  of  the  poet  di-ew  forth  the  talents  of  the  comic  muse,  and  the  play  of  the 
"  Lancasliire  Witches,"  the  joint  production  of  Thomas  Heywood*  and  Richard 
Browne,  was  brought  forward,  and  performed  with  success  at  the  Globe  theatre, 
in  London,  whUe  the  fate  of  the  convicts  was  depending,  as  is  shewn  from  the 
following  passage  in  the  epilogue : — 

" unto  the  Lawes 

"  We  can  but  bring  the  Witches  and  their  cause, 

"  And  there  we  leave  'em,  as  their  Divels  did ; 

<'  Should  we  goe  further  with  'm?  Wit  forbid, 

"  What  of  their  storie,  further  shall  ensue, 

"  We  must  referre  to  time,  our  selves  to  you." 

Another  play  of  the  Lancasliii-e  witches,  founded  on  the  exploits  of  Old  Demdike 
and  her  weii'd  sisterhood,  was  written  eighty  years  after  her  death,  by  Shadwell,  the 
dramatist,  and  serves  to  shew  that  the  memory  of  these  fantastic  scenes  long  outlived 
the  actors  in  the  real  di'ama. 

It  is  not  the  least  extraordinaiy  pait  of  these  most  extraordinary  transactions,  that 
pre^dous  to  the  trial,  Mai-garet  Johnson,  of  Marsden,  one  of  the  prisoners,  had  been 
so  acted  upon  by  the  terrors  of  her  situation,  that  she  actually  made  a  confession  of 
her  OATO  guilt,  attended  with  circimistances,  which  would,  if  true,  have  ended  in  her 
execution.  According  to  tliis  deposition,  Johnson  had  sold  her  soid  to  a  spirit,  or 
deiil,  in  the  similitude  of  a  man,  to  whom  she  gave  the  name  of  Mamilian,  who  had 
promised  to  supply  aU  her  wants. 

It  is  difficult  to  imagine  how  voluntary  confessions  of  crimes  never  committed, 

"  And  yf  they  would  torment  a  man,  they  bidd  theire  spirittf  goe  and  torment  them  in  anie 
^ticuler  place.  And  that  Good  Friday  is  one  Constant  day  for  a  yearlie  generall  meetinge  of 
Witches.  And  that  on  Good  Fryday  last  they  had  a  meetinge  neere  Pendle  water  side.  Shee  also 
saith,  That  men  Witches  usualie  have  woemen  spirittf  and  woemen  witches  men  spirittf ,  and  theire 
Divells  or  spirittf  give  them  notice  of  theire  meetingf ,  and  tell  them  the  place  and  where  it  must  bee. 
And  saith,  yf  they  desire  to  bee  in  anie  place  vpon  a  suddaine  theire  Divell  or  spiritt  will  vpon  a 
redd  dogg,  or  anie  thinge  also  p'sentlie  convey  them  thither  yea  into  any  roome  of  a  mans  howse,  but 
shee  saith,  it  is  not  the  substance  of  theire  bodies,  but  theire  spirit  assumeth  such  forme  of  shape  as 
goes  into  such  roomes.  Shee  also  saith,  that  the  Divell  after  hee  beginnes  to  sucke,  will  make  a  papp 
or  dugg  in  short  tyme,  and  the  matter  w"^*"  hee  sucketh  is  blood,  And  saith,  that  theire  Divells  can 
cause  fowle  weather  and  stormes  and  soe  did  at  theire  meetingf  Shee  likewise  saith,  That  when  the 
Divell  did  come  to  sucke  her  papp,  hee  vsuallie  came  to  her  in  the  likenes  of  a  Catt,  sometymes  of 
one  Colour,  and  sometymes  of  an  other.  And  that  since  this  trouble  befell  her,  her  spiritt  hath  left 
her,  and  shee  never  sawe  him  since." 

*  The  author  of  an  elegy  on  prince  Henry,  son  of  James  I.  and  several  other  court  poems. 


Counti?  ^Jalntinc  of  iLanrastcr.  609 

could  be  obtained  from  persons,  avIio  were  liable  to  forfeit  llieir  lives,  and  frequently  chap. 
did  forfeit  them,  on  tlieii-  o^\-u  accusations.  But  the  fact  is  undeniable.  The  deep  "^'^" 
ignorance  in  which  the  witches  of  Pcndle  forest  were  sunk,  their  alarm  at  bein"- 
brought  to  trial  and  to  public  execution,  and  their  hopes  of  conciliating  their  accusers 
by  a  confession  of  guilt,  may  have  contributed  to  this  moral  plienomenon;  especially 
as  the  practice  did  not  then  prevail  of  iiKjuiring  whether  any  offer  of  clemency,  or 
any  otlier  motive,  had  been  presented  to  the  accused,  to  induce  such  confessions. 
Sir  George  Mackenzie,  himself  a  believer  in  witchcraft,  and  Avho,  as  the  king's 
advocate,  had  conducted  many  trials  in  Scotland  for  that  crime,  speakino-  upon  the 
judicial  confession  of  the  criminals  themselves,  says,  "  Those  poor  persons  who  are 
ordinarily  accused  of  this  crime,  are  poor  igiiorant  creatures,  and  oft-times  women, 
who  imderstaud  not  the  nature  of  what  they  are  accused  of,  and  manv  inistakino- 
their  own  fears  and  apprehensions  for  witchcraft,  when  they  are  defamed,  become  so 
confounded  i^ith  fear,  and  the  close  prison  in  which  they  are  kept,  and  so  stai'ved  for 
want  of  meat  and  sleep,  (either  of  which  wants  is  enough  to  disorder  the  strongest 
reason,)  that  hardly  wiser  or  more  serious  people  than  they  would  escape  distraction; 
and  when  persons  are  confounded  with  fear  and  apprehension,  they  will  imagine 
things  very  ricUculous  and  absurd.  Most  of  these  poor  ci-eatures  are  tortured  by  their 
keepers,  who,  being  persuaded  they  do  God  good  service,  think  it  their-  duty  to  vex 
and  torment  poor  prisoners.  I  went,"  continues  sir-  George,  "  when  I  was  a  justice- 
depute,  to  examine  some  women,  who  had  confessed  judicially;  and  one  of  them,  who 
was  a  silly  creature,  told  me  under  secrecy,  that  she  had  not  contest  because  she  was 
guilty,  but  being  a  poor  creature,  who  WTOUght  for  her  meat,  and  being  defamed  for  a 
witch,  she  knew  she  would  starve,  for  no  person  thereafter  would  either  give  her 
meat  or  lodging,  and  that  all  men  would  beat  her,  and  hound  dogs  at  her,  and  that, 
tlierefore,  she  desired  to  be  out  of  the  world;  whereupon  she  wept  most  bitterly,  and 
upon  her  knees  called  God  to  witness  what  she  said." 

Tlie  account  of  these  transactions,  given  by  Dr.  Webster,  in  his  "  Display  of  Display  <.f 
Witchcraft,"  serves  to  shew  the  consternation  and  alarm  which  must  have  been  felt  wS^*^'' 
in  those  days,  particularly  amongst  the  old  and  decrepit,  fi-om  the  macliinations  of  the  '™"' 
witch-finders.       Of  the   boy,   Robinson,   he   says,*   "  Tliis  said  boy  was   brouo-ht 
into  the  church,  at  I\ildwick,  [in  Yorkshii-e,  on  the  confines  of  Lancashire,]   a  large 
parish  church,  where  I,  being  then  curate  there,  was  preacliing  in  the  afternoon,  and 
was  set  upon  a  stool  to  look  about  him,  which  moved  some  little  disturbance  in  the 
congregation  for  a  while.     After  prayers,  I  inquired  what  the  matter  was :  the  people 
told  me  that  it  was  the  boy  that  discovered  witches ;  upon  wliich  I  went  to  the  house 
where  lie  was  to  stay  all  night,  where  I  found  him  and  two  very  unlikely  persons,  that 

*  Webster's  Display  of  Witchcraft,  p.  276. 
VOL.  I.  1  I 


610  mn  5?tsitorj)  of  ti)t 

CHAP,    did  conduct  lilm,  and  manage  the  business.     I  desired  to  liaAe  some  discourse  with 


XIV. 


the  hoy  in  private;  but  tliat  they  utteily  refused;  then  in  the  2)resence  of  a  great 
many  people  I  took  tlie  boy  near  me,  and  said, '  Good  boy,  tell  me  truly  and  in  earnest, 
didst  thou  see  and  hear  such  strange  things  at  tlie  meeting  of  witches  as  is  reported 
by  immy  that  thou  tUdst  relate?'  But  the  two  men,  not  giving  the  boy  leave  to 
answer,  did  pluck  him  from  me,  and  said,  he  had  been  examined  by  two  able  justices 
of  the  peace,  and  they  did  never  ask  him  such  a  question.  To  whom  I  replied,  the 
persons  accused  had  therefore  the  more  wrong." 

As  government  spies  multiply  traitors,  so  professional  witch-finders  create 
witches.  "  The  boy  Robhison,"  says  Dr.  Webster,  "  in  more  mature  years, 
acknowledged  that  he  had  been  instructed  and  suborned  to  make  these  accusations 
against  the  accused  persons,  by  his  father  and  others,  and  that,  of  course,  the  whole  was 
a  fraud.  By  such  wicked  means  and  unchristian  practices,  divers  innocent  persons  lost 
their  lives;  and  these  wicked  rogues  wanted  not  greater  persons  (even  of  the  ministry 
too)  that  did  authorize  and  encourage  them  in  then-  diabolical  courses :  and  the  like 
iu  my  time  happened  here  in  Lancasliire,  Avhere  divers,  both  men  and  women,  were 
accused  of  supposed  witchcraft,  and  were  so  unchristianly  and  inhumanly  hantUed,  as 
to  be  stiipt  stark  naked,  and  laid  upon  tables  and  beds  to  be  searched,  for  their  sup- 
posed witch-marks,  so  barbarous  and  cruel  acts  doth  cUabolical  instigation,  working 
upon  ignorance  and  superstition,  produce."*  Not  only  persons  of  the  ministry,  but 
the  Idng  liimself,  as  we  have  seen  in  the  last  reign,  authorized  and  encouraged  these 
diabolical  courses,  not  omitting  the  witch-mark  in  his  descriptions.  It  must  not,  how- 
ever, be  supposed  that  all  who  countenanced  these  impositions  were  themselves  fools 
or  impostors,  for  amongst  the  judges  of  the  land,  who  gave  into  the  delusion,  we  find 
the  venerable  name  of  sir  Matthew  Hale.t 
Belief  in  In  mucli  more  modern  times,  persons  of  superior  minds  ai-e   found  to  give 

craft.         tlie  sanction  of  their  authority  to  the  popular  mythology  of  A^dtchcraft,  and,  amongst 
others,   the   acute    and    profound    Dr.    Wliitaker,    the    author   of  the   History  of 

*  The  cruel  process  was  to  strip  the  supposed  witch  naked,  and  thrust  pins  into  various  parts  of 
the  body,  to  discover  what  the  royal  demonologist  called  the  "  witch-mark,"  or  the  devil's  stigma; 
that  is,  a  part  of  the  body  insensible  to  pain,  and  which  was  supposed  to  be  possessed  by  the  devil, 
as  a  sig'n  of  his  sovereign  power,  and  as  the  place  at  which  the  imps  sucked!  Sometimes  the  accused 
v.ere  thrown  into  a  river,  or  pond,  having  their  thumbs  and  toes  tied  together,  where,  if  they  sunk, 
they  were  held  innocent,  but  if  they  swam  were  dragged  forth  to  prison.  On  other  occasions,  the 
suspected  witch  was  bound  cross-legged  on  a  stool,  there  to  be  watched,  and  kept  without  meat  or 
sleep  for  the  space  of  four-and-twenty  hours,  within  which  time  it  was  supposed  that  her  imp  would 
make  her  a  visit,  and  in  that  way  betray  her. 

t  At  the  assizes  at  Bury  St.  Edmond's,  in  1664,  Amy  Dunny  and  Rose  Cullender  were  tried 
before  sir  Matthew,  anil,  being  convicted,  were  hanged,  both  protesting  that  they  were  innocent. 


Counti)  |3alatme  of  ILanrasitti-.  6ii 

Whalley,  wlio,  after  prcsciithig-  his  readers  -vntli  the  depositions  of  Edward  Rohinson    chap 


and  Margaret  Johnson,  ■winds  i\\)  tliis  part  of  liis  liistory  by  saying,  "  Were  I  to  behokl 
mth  my  own  eyes  such  circumstances  as  have  often  been  related,  or  were  they  to  be 
reported  to  me  by  a  philosophical  observer,  of  perfect  integi-ity,  upon  the  evidence  of 
his  senses,  I  know  not  upon  what  principles  I  could  refuse  my  assent  to  the  conclusion, 
that  they  Avere  really  the  efl'ects  of  diabolical  power."  And  then,  quoting  l)ishop  Hurd, 
he  adds,  "  That  for  any  thhig  we  know,  he  (the  devil)  may  still  operate  in  the  way 
of  possession,  I  do  not  see  on  what  certain  grounds  any  man  can  deny."  Doubtless, 
if  Dr.  Wliitaker  had  beheld  with  his  own  eyes  such  circumstances  as  have  often  been 
related,  and  had,  on  careful  investigation,  found  that  no  fraud  had  been  practised 
upon  him,  he  would  have  been  bound  to  believe  in  the  reality  of  the  effects  of  diabo- 
lical power.  But  this  is  begging  the  question;  no  such  mii-aculous  circumstances 
as  those  related  have,  in  all  probability,  in  modern  times  occuiTed;  at  least  in  all 
cases  where  they  have  been  submitted  to  the  inquiry  of  a  patient  and  philosopliical 
observer,  they  have  been  stamped  with  the  character  of  fraud,  or  ignorance,  or  of  their 
combined  agency.  The  same  observation  applies  to  bishop  Kurd's  remark,  that  devils 
may  still  operate  in  the  way  of  possession.  They  may  certainly,  by  divine  permission  ; 
but  tliat  permission  does  not  appear  in  our  days  ever  to  be  granted.*  There  is  other 
evidence  besides  that  contained  in  Dr.  Wliitaker's  published  works,  to  shew  that  he 
was  a  believer  in  the  visitation  of  spirits,  and  in  a  MS.  in  the  Doctor's  hand-writing, 
he  represents,  with  that  kind  of  gravity  which  indicates  belief,  that  in  the  year  1742, 
the  spirit  of  a  farmer  of  the  name  of  Briercliffe,  of  Hecklehurst,  who  had  lived  a 
dissolute  life,  appeared  at  the  gate  a  little  tlistance  from  his  house,  mounted  beliind 
another  man  on  a  black  horse,  about  the  moment  when  Briercliffe  expired !  It  is  not 
at  all  improbable  that  two  men  mounted  upon  a  black  horse  might  ride  from  the  house 
of  Briercliffe  about  the  time  of  liis  dissolution,  and  that  one  of  them  might  resemble 
the  deceased;  but  it  is  highly  improbable  that  the  parties  were,  as  is  meant  to  be 
intimated,  one  of  them  the  devil  and  the  other  the  spirit  that  he  was  conducting  to 
perdition.  The  venerable  and  pious  John  Wesley  was  also  a  firm  believer  in  witch- 
craft; and  in  his  usual  strong  way  of  expressing  himself,  he  says,  "  that  the  giving 
up  Avitchcraft,  is  in  effect  giving  up  the  bible."  Sir*  Matthew  Hale  had,  in  effect, 
said  the  same  thing  at  the  Bury  assizes;  but  they  might  as  well  have  said  that  the 
giving  up  modern  miracles  is,  in  effect,  giving  up  the  bible.  The  cases  are  very 
similar.  No  Christian  will  doubt  the  reality  of  the  miracles  recorded  in  the  scriptm'cs, 
but  very  few  will  believe  that  any  real  miracles  have  been  performed  since  the  apostolic 

*  Doctor  Hibbert,  in  his  interesting  Sketches  on  the  Philosophy  of  Apparitions,  has  proved  incon- 
testably,  thai  spectral  illusions  may  arise  from  a  great  variety  of  natural  causes,  and  that  one  of  the  most 
prevalent  is  a  highly  excited  state  of  the  feelings  of  the  ghost-seer. 

4i  2 


XIV. 


612 


C!k  i)i5tor|)  of  tl)t 


CHAP. 
XIV. 


A  Lanca- 
shire 
witch  in 

AVorces- 
tershire. 


ages,  though  there  have  been  thousands  of  fictitious  ones.  In  this  belief,  however,  sir 
M"  Hale  and  Mr  .Wesley  had  the  sanction  of  the  tUstinguished  name  of  Martin  Luther, 
who  was  not  only  a  believer  in  the  agency  of  evi\  si)irits,  but  who  had  himself,  according 
to  his  firm  comiction,  maintained  many  severe  personal  conflicts  with  them. 

One  of  the  "  Lancasliire  Witches"  having,  as  it  appears,  quitted  her  native 
county,  and  Avandered  into  Worcestershire,  in  consequence  of  the  distress  occasioned 
by  the  civil  wars,  which  the  poor  are  always  the  first  to  feel,  this  wretched  mendicant, 
a  more  fit  object  of  compassion  than  of  terror,  was  found  by  a  wicked  boy,  who  pro- 
tested that  she  had  by  her  sorceries  deprived  liim  of  speech.  On  what  kind  of  evidence 
this  charge  was  raised  will  he  seen  below;  and  though  the  fate  of  the  poor  woman  is 
not  distinctly  stated,  there  is  but  too  much  reason  to  suppose,  from  the  avidity  Avith 
which  witches  were  in  these  times  pursued,  and  the  relentless  cruelty  with  which  they 
Avere  persecuted,  that  on  this  evidence  she  Avas  tried  and  executed.* 

*  "  A  RELATION  OF  A  LANCASHIRE  AVITCH, 
"  Tryed  at  Worcester,  in  the  Year  1649. 
"  At  Droitwich  in  the  county  of  Worcester,  a  poor  Womans  Boy  in  the  Month  oi  May,  looking 
for  his  Mother's  Cow,  espied  some  Bushes  in  a  Brake  to  shake,  and  supposing  the  Cow  to  be  Brous- 
ing-  there,  went  to  the  Place,  where  he  found  no  Cow,  but  an  Old  Woman,  who  upon  his  approach  said 
Boh!  to  him;  whereupon  he  presently  lost  his  speech,  and  could  only  make  a  Noise,  but  could  not 
speak  any  thing  articulately  so  as  could  be  understood :  In  this  Condition  he  came  home  to  his  Mother, 
made  a  great  Noise,  but  nobody  could  understand  what  ailed  him,  or  what  he  meant.  A  while  after, 
he  ran  out,  and  at  Sir  Edward  Barret's  door,  found,  about  one  a  Clock,  amongst  other  poor  People, 
the  same  old  AVoman  supping  up  a  Mess  of  hot  Pottage,  and  ran  furiously  upon  her  and  threw  her 
Pottage  in  her  Face,  and  offered  some  other  violence  to  her.  AVhereupon  the  Neighbours,  wondering 
at  the  Condition  of  the  Boy  and  his  rage  against  the  old  Woman,  and  suspecting  that  she  had  done 
him  some  hurt.  Apprehended  her,  and  thereupon  she  was  committed  to  the  Prison,  which  they  there 
call  the  Checker.  At  Night  the  Boy's  Mother  lodged  him  in  a  Garret  over  her  own  Lodging;  and  in 
the  Morning  hearing  a  great  Bussle  over  her,  ran  up,  and  found  the  Boy  gotten  out  of  his  Bed  with 
the  Leg  of  a  Form  in  his  Hand,  striking  furiously  at  something  in  the  Window;  but  saw  nothing  there 
that  he  should  strike  at.  The  Boy  presently  put  on  his  Cloaths,  and  ran  down  into  the  Street  towards 
the  Prison,  and  as  he  was  going,  endeavouring  to  speak,  found  his  Speech  restored.  AVhen  he  came 
to  the  prison,  he  asked  for  the  old  Woman,  and  told  the  Gaoler  how  she  had  served  him,  and  how  his 
speech  came  to  him  again  in  the  way.  The  Gaoler  in  the  mean  time  suspecting  that  she  had 
Bewitched  the  Boy,  would  not  let  her  have  either  Meat  or  Drink,  unless  she  would  first  say  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  and  bid  God  bless  the  Boy;  which  at  last  her  hunger  forced  her  to  do;  and  it  appeared  to  be 
at  the  same  instant,  as  near  as  could  be  guessed,  that  the  Boy  had  his  Speech  restored  to  him.  The 
Boy  asked  the  Gaoler,  why  he  did  not  keep  her  faster,  but  let  her  come  out  &  trouble  him  ?  The  Gaoler 
answered  that  he  had  kept  her  very  safe.  The  Boy  replied,  No,  he  had  not;  for  she  came  and  sat  in  his 
Chamber  Window,  and  grinned  at  him;  and  that  thereupon  he  took  up  a  Form  Leg,  and  therewith 
gave  her  two  good  bangs  upon  the  a  —  as  she  would  have  scutled  from  him,  before  she  could  get  away. 
Whereupon  the  Gaoler  caused  some  Women  to  search  her,  who  found  the  Marks  of  two  such  Strokes 
upon  her,   as  the  Boy  said  he  had   given  her.       All   this  was  sworn  upon  her  Tryal  by  the  Boy,  his 


Coimtj)  |3alatme  of  Santasttr.  gi3 

Altliough  trials  for  ^ntchcraft  were  l)y  no  means  unusual  in  the  time  of  the  com-    chap- 

monwealth,  and  tliough  no  fewer  than  three  hunilrecl  reputed  witches  were  tried,  and '__ 

the  major  part  of  them  executed,  in  the  period  hetween  the  deposition  of  Cliarles  I. 
and  the  death  of  liis  son  and  successor,  in  the  southern  counties  of  England,  yet  we 
only  find  two  cases  of  this  kind  of  judicial  homicide  in  the  county  of  Lancaster ,Avithin 
tliat  agitated  period,  and  these  are  mentioned  somewhat  vaguely  by  Dr.  Webster, 
who  says,  "  I  myself  have  known  two  supposed  witches  to  be  put  to  death  at  Lan- 
caster, Avithin  these  eighteen  years,*  that  cUd  utterly  deny  any  league  or  covenant  with 
the  devil,  or  even  to  have  seen  any  visible  devil  at  all ;  and  may  not  the  confession  of 
those  (who  both  died  penitent)  be  as  well  creilited,  as  the  confession  of  those  that  were 
brought  to  such  confessions  by  force,  fraud,  or  cunning  persuasion  and  allurement?" 

But  though  we  have  no  more  cases  of  witchcraft  in  the  county,  Ave  have  a  very  oemonia- 
memorable  case  of  supposed  demoniacal  possession  and  dispossession  in  the  close  of  the  session. 
same  century,  with  which  we  shall  conclude  this  very  curious  portion  of  our  county 
liistory.    The  case  to  Avhich  Ave  refer  is,  that  of  Richard  Dugdale,  the  Surey  demoniac; 
and  the  story,  though  a  very  long  one,  may  be  told  in  a  few  sentences.     Dugdale,  it 
appears,  Avas  a  j'outh  just  rising  into  manhood,  a  gardener  by  trade,  living  Avith  his 
pai-ents  at  Surey,  in  the  parish  of  Whalley,  addicted  to  pleasure,  and  distinguished  Memora- 
even  at  school  as  a  posture-master  and  ventriloquist.     During  his  possession  he  Avas  in  ti,^  " ' 
attended  by  six  dissenting  ministers;  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Thomas  Jolly,  Charles  Sagar,  ?vi,aiit". 
Nicholas  KershaAV,  Robert  Waddhigton,  Thomas  Whally,  and  John  Carrington,  Avho 
Avere  occasionally  assisted  at  their  meetings,  held  to  exorcise  the  demon,  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Frankland,  Mr.  Pendlebury,  and  the  Rev.  Oliver  HeyAVOod.      AccorcUng  to  the  Aieetings 
narration  put  forth,  under  the  sanction  of  these  names,  Avhich  is  called,  "  An  account  ihe'^devii'.' 
of  Satan's  acting  in  and  about  the  body  of  Richard  Dugdale,  and  of  Satan's  removal 
thence  tlu'ough  the  Lord's  blessing  of  the  within-mentioned  Ministers  and  People," 
when  Dugdale  Avas  about  nmcteen  years  of  age,  he  Avas  seized  Avith  an  affliction  early 
in  the  year  1689,  and  from  the  strange  fits,  Avhich  violently  seized  him,  he  was  sup- 
posed to  be  possessed  by  the  devil.     When  the  fit  was  upon  him,  "  he  sheA\ed  great 
despite,"  says  the  narrative,  "  against  the  ordinary  of  God,  and  raged,  as  if  he  had 
been  notlung  but  a  devil  in  Richard's  bodily  shape;  though,  Avlien  he  Avas  not  in  his 


Mother,  the  Gaoler,  and  the  Women.  Upon  Examination  she  was  found  to  be  a  Lancashire  Woman, 
who  upon  the  Scarcity  in  those  parts,  after  the  Defeat  of  Duke  Hamilton,  wandered  abroad  to  get 
Victuals." — A  Collection  of  Moder/i  Relations  of  Matter  of  Fact  concerning  Witches,  ^x.  Part  i. 
p.  50.  4to.  Loud.  1693. 

*  The  doctor's  book  is  dated  Feb.  23,  1673,  so  that  it  is  probable  the  execution  took  place  about 
the  year  1654.  We  have  attempted,  but  without  success,  to  ascertain  the  date  from  the  Criminal 
Records  in  Lancaster  castle,  which  are  very  defective. 


614  mn  m&tov^i  of  tt)t 

CHAP,    fits,  ho  manifested  Q^ieat  inclination  to  the  word  of  God  and  praver ;  for  the  exercise 
XIV.  .  ' .  .  X     .      ' 

. L_  of  Avliicli  in  liis  behalf,  he  desired  that  a  day  of  fasting  might  be  set  apart,  as  the  only 

means  from  which  he  could  expect  help,  seeing  that  he  had  tried  all  other  means, 
lawful  and  unlawful."*  Meetings  were  accordingly  appointed  of  the  ministers,  to 
wliich  the  people  crowded  in  vast  numbers.  These  meetings  began  on  the  8th  of  May, 
and  were  continued  about  twice  a  month  till  the  February  follo^ving.  At  the  first 
meeting  the  parents  of  the  demoniac  were  examined  by  the  ministers,  and  they  repre- 
sented, "  That  at  Whalley  rush-burying  (or  wake)  on  the  James's-tide,  in  July,  1688, 
there  was  a  great  dancing  and  ckinkuig;  when  Richard  offered  himself  to  the  devil, 
on  condition  that  he  would  make  him  the  best  dancer  in  Lancashire."  After  becoming 
extremely  drunk,  he  went  home,  where  several  apparitions  appeared  to  him,  and 
presented  to  him  all  kinds  of  dainties  and  fine  clothing,  M'ith  gold  and  precious  tilings, 
inviting  him  at  the  same  time  "  to  take  liis  fill  of  pleasure."  In  the  course  of  the  day, 
some  compact,  or  bond,  was  entered  into  between  him  and  the  devil,  and  after  that  liis 
fits  grew  frequent  and  violent.  Wlule  in  these  fits,  his  body  was  often  hurled  about  very 
Conduct     desperatelv,t  and  he  abused  the  minister,  and  blasiihemed  his  Maker.     Sometimes  he 

of  the 

demoniac,  would  ftUl  iuto  di'eadful  fits;  at  other  times  he  would  talk  Greek  and  Latin,  though  un- 
taught. Sometuiies  his  voice  was  small  and  shrill,  at  others  hollow  and  hideous.  Now 
he  was  as  light  as  a  bag  of  feathers,  then  as  heavy  as  lead.  At  one  time  he  upbraided 
the  ministers  with  tlieii*  neglect,  at  others  he  said  they  had  saved  him  from  hell.  He 
was  weather-^nse  and  money-wise,  by  turns;  lie  could  tell  when  there  would  be  rain, 
and  when  he  should  receive  presents.  Sometuiies  he  would  vomit  stones  an  inch  and 
a  half  square,  and  in  others  of  his  trances  there  was  a  noise  in  his  throat,  as  if  he  was 
singing  psalms  inwardly.  But  the  strongest  mark  of  demoniacal  possession  consisted 
in  a  lump,  which  rose  from  the  tliick  of  his  leg,  about  the  size  of  a  mole,  and  did  work 
up  like  such  a  creature  towards  the  chest  of  his  body,  till  it  reached  liis  breast,  when 
it  was  as  big  as  a  man's  fist,  and  uttered  strange  voices.|  He  opened  his  mouth  at 
the  beginning  of  his  fits  so  often,  that  it  was  thought  spirits  went  in  and  out  of  him. 
In  agility  he  was  unequalled,  "  especially  in  dancing,  wherein  he  excelled  all  that  the 
Spectatours  had  seen,  and  all  that  mere  mortals  could  perform;  the  Demoniac  would 
for  six  or  seven  times  together  leap  up,  so  as  that  part  of  his  Legs  might  be  seen 
shaking  and  quavering  above  tlie  heads  of  the  People,  fi'om  which  heights  he  oft  fell 
doTvn  on  his  knees,  which  he  long  shivered  and  traverst  on  the  ground,  at  least  as 
nimbly  as  other  men  can  twinckle  or  sparkle  their  Fingers,  thence  springing  up  in 
to's  high  leaps  again,  and  then  falling  on  liis  Feet,  which  seem'd  to  reach  the  Earth, 
but  with  the  gentlest  and  scarce  perceivable  touches,  when  he  made  his  liighest  leaps." 
And  yet  the  divines  by  whom  he  was  attended  most  unjustly  rallied  the  devil  for  the 
*  The  Surey  Demoniac,  pp.  1,2.  f  Ibid,  p.  4.  |  Ibid,  p.  60. 


County  ^alatint  of  SLanrngtrr.  015 

Avaut  of  skill  in  his  pupil,  after  this  fashion :  "  Cease,  Dancing  Satan,  and  he  pjone    chap. 


\iv. 


from  him,"  says  the  Rev.  M.  Ciu-rington,  athbessing  liimself  to  tlie  devil,  "  eanst  thou 
Dance  no  better,  Satan  ?  Ransack  the  old  Records  of  all  past  times  and  places  in  thy 
memory ;  Canst  thou  not  there  find  out  some  other  way  of  finer  trampling  ?  Pump 
thine  invention  diy!  Cannot  that  universal  Seed-plot  of  subtle  Wiles  luid  Stratagems 
spring  up  one  new  metliod  of  cutting  capers?  Is  this  the  top  of  skill  and  pride  to 
shuffle  feet,  and  bramlisli  knees  thus,  and  to  trip  like  a  Doe,  and  skip  like  a  Sipiirrel, 
and  wherein  differs  thy  leapings  from  the  hoppiugs  of  a  Frog,  or  bounces  of  a  Goat, 
or  friskiugs  of  a  Dog,  or  gesticulations  of  a  Monkey?  And  cannot  a  Palscy  shake 
such  a  loose  Leg  as  that?  Dost  not  thou  twirle  like  a  Calf  that  has  the  turn,  and 
twitch  up  thy  Houghs  just  like  a  spring-hault  titi'"  In  some  of  his  last  fits,  he 
announced  that  he  must  either  be  killed  or  cured  before  the  25th  of  March;  this,  says 
the  deposition  of  liis  father  and  mother,  and  two  of  his  sisters,  proved  true,  for  on  the 
24th  of  that  month  he  had  liis  last  fit,  the  de^il  being  no  longer  able  to  withstand  the 
means  that  were  used  with  so  much  vigour  and  perseverance  to  expel  him;  one  of  the 
most  effectual  of  Avliich  was  a  medicine,  prescribed,  in  the  way  of  his  profession,  by 
Dr.  Chew,  a  medical  practitioner  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Mr.  Zach.  Taylor  asserts,  that  the  preachers,  disappointed  and  mortified  at  their  Finally 
ill  success  in  Dugdale's  case,  gave  it  out  that  some  of  his  connexions  were  witches,  se'sseci  by 
and  in  contract  mth  the  devil,  and  that  they  supposed  was  the  cause  why  they  had  cian'r' 
not  been  able  to  relieve  him.     Under  this  impression,  they  procured  some  of  the 
family  to  be  searched,  that  they  might  see  if  they  had  not  teats,  or  the  devil's  mark, 
and  they  tried  them  by  the  test  of  saying  the  Lord's  prayer.     Some  remains  of  the 
evil  spirit  seemed,  however,  still  to  have  possessed  Richard,  for  though  after  this  he 
had  no  fits,  yet  once,  when  he  had  got  too  much  drink,  he  was  after  another  manner 
than  druidven  persons  usually  are.*     In  confirmation  of  wliich  feats,  not  only  the 
eight   ministers,   but  twenty  respectable  inhabitants,  affixed  their   attestation    to   a 
document  prepared  for  the  purpose ;  and  tlu-ee  of  the   magistrates  of  the   district, 
namely,  Hugh  lord  WUloughby,  Ralph  Egerton,  esq.,   and  Thomas   Braddill,  esq., 
received  depositions  from  the  attesting  parties. 

Tliis  monstrous  mass  of  absurdity,  superstition,  and  fraud,  for  it  was  beyond 
doubt  a  compound  of  them  all,  was  exposed  with  success  by  the  Rev.  Zach.  Taylor, 
the  bishop  of  Chester's  curate  at  Wigan,  one  of  the  king's  preachers  in  the  county 
of  Lancaster ;  but  the  reverend  divine  mixed  with  his  censures  too  much  party 
asperity,  insisting,  that  the  whole  was  an  artifice  of  the  nonconformist  ministers,  in 
imitation  of  the  pretended  miracles  of  the  Catholic  priests,  and  likening  it  to  tlie  fictions 
of  John  Darrell,  B.A.,  which  had  been  practised  a  century  before  upon  the  family  of 

*  Surey  Demoniac,  ji.  62. 


610  Zl)t  %n<itov\>  of  tl)t 

CHAP.     JNIr.  Starkie,  in  the  same  county.     Of  the  resemblance  in   many  of  its  parts  there 

"  can  he  no  doubt  that  the  names  of  the  venerable  Oliver  Heywood  and  Thomas  Jolly 

form  a  sufficient  guarantee  against  any  imposition  on  their  part;  and  the  probability 

is,  that  the  ministers  Avere  the  dupes   of  a  popular  superstition  in  the  hands  of  a 

dissolute  and  artful  family. 

Thecflects         Within  living  memory,  the  superstitious  terrors  of  witchcraft   have  prevailed  in 

of  will  h-  '  .         .  _  ^ 

craft.         Lancashu-e  to  an  extent  that  has  imbittered  the  lives  of  the  persons  supposing  them- 
selves subject  to  this  grievous  visitation.     These,  however,  were  only  the  remaius  of 
the  popular  mythology.     During  the  .sixteenth  century,  the  whole  region,  in  some 
parts  of  the  county,  seemed  contaminated  with  the  presence  of  the  witches ;  men 
and  beasts  were  supposed  to  languish  under  their  charm ;  and  the  delusion,  which 
preyed  alike   on  the  learned  and  the  vulgar,  cUd  not  allow  any  family  to  suppose 
that  they  were  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Avitch's  wand.     Was  the  family  Aisited  by 
sickness,  it  was  believed  to  be  the  work  of  an  invisible  agency,  which  in  secret 
wasted  the  image  made  in  clay  before  the  fire,  or  crumbled  its  various  parts  into  dust ; 
did  the   cattle  sicken   and   die,  the  Antch  and  the   wizard  were  the  authors  of  the 
calamity ;  chd  the  yeast  refuse  to  perform  the  oiEce  of  fermentation  eitlier  in  the 
bread  or  in  the  beer,  it  was  the  consequence  of  a  bad  7vish  ;  cUd  the  butter  refuse  to 
come,   the    familiar   was  in  the  charm ;  tUd   the  sliip  founder  at  sea,   the   wind  of 
Boreas  was  blown  by  the  lungless  hag,  who  had  scarcely  sufficient  breath  to  cool 
her  own  pottage  ;  did  the  Ribble  overflow  its  banks,  the   floods  descended  from  the 
congregated  sisterhood  at  Malkin  Tower ;  and  the  blight  of  the  season,  which  con- 
signed the  crops  of  the  farmer  to  destruction,  was  the  saliva  of  the  enchantress,  or 
the  distillations  from  the  blear-eyed  dame,  who  flew  by  night  over  the  field  in  search 
of  miscliief.     To  refuse   an   alms  to  a  haggard  mendicant,  was  to  produce   for  the 
family  that  had  the  temerity  to   make  the  experiment,  an  accumulation  of  the  out- 
pourings of  the  box  of  Pandora.      To  escape  from  terrors  like  these,  no  sacrifice  was 
thought  too  great.     Superstitions  begat  cruelty  and  injustice  ;  the  poor  and  the  rich 
were  equally  interested  in  obtaining  a  deliverance ;  and  the  magistrate  who  resided  in 
his  nansion  at  Read,  and  the  peasant  who  occupied  the  humblest  cot  amongst  the 
hills  of  Cliviger,  were  alike  interested  in  abating  the  common  nuisance.* 

*  According  to  Gaule,  there  were  eight  classes  of  witches  distinguished  by  their  operations:  first, 
the  diviner,  gipsy,  or  fortune-telling  witch ;  second,  the  astrologian,  star-gazing,  planetary,  prognos- 
ticating witch;  third,  the  chanting,  canting,  or  calculating  witch,  who  works  by  signs  or  numbers; 
fourth,  the  venefick,  or  poisonous  witch ;  fifth,  the  exorcist,  or  conjuring  witch;  sixth,  the  gastro- 
raantick  witch;  seventh,  the  magical,  speculative,  sciential,  or  arted  witch;  eighth,  the  necromancer. 
"  The  Lancashire  witches"  were  principally  fortune-tellers  and  conjurers.  The  securities  against 
witchcraft  were  numerous,  but  the  most  popular  was  the  horse-shoe  ;  and  hence  we  see  in  Lancashire 


Coimtp  |)alntine  of  annrasfttn  617 

Nor  was  the  situation  of  the  witch  more  enviable  than  that  of  the  individuals  or    chap. 
the  families  over  wliich  she  exerted  her  influence.     Linked  by  a  species  of  infernal  _1 


compact,  to  an  imaginary  imp,  slie  was  shunned  as  a  common  pest,  or  caressed  only 
on  the  principle,  that  certiiin  of  the  Indian  tribes  pay  homage  to  the  devil.  Tlie 
reputed  Twitches  themselves  were  frequently  thsowned  by  their  families,  feai'ed  and 
detested  by  their  neighbours,  and  hunted  by  the  dogs  as  pernicious  monsters. 
^Vlien  in  confinement,  they  were  cast  into  the  ponds,  by  way  of  trial ;  punctured  by 
bodkins,  to  chscover  their  imp-marks  ;  subjected  to  deprivation  of  food,  and  kept  in 
pei-petual  motion,  till  confessions  were  obtained  from  a  distracted  mind.  On  theii* 
trials,  they  were  listened  to  with  incredulity  and  horror ;  and  consigned  to  the  gallows 
with  as  little  pity  as  the  basest  of  malefactors.  Their  imaginary  crimes  created  a 
tliirst  for  their  blood ;  and  people  in  all  stations,  from  the  higliest  to  the  lowest, 
attended  the  trials  at  Lancaster,  as  we  have  seen  from  Mr.  Potts'  record  of  the 
criminal  proceedings  there,  with  an  intensity  of  interest  that  their  mischievous 
powers,  now  divested  of  their  sting,  so  naturally  excited.  It  is  quaintly  said,  that 
Avitchcraft  and  kingcraft  in  England  came  in  with  the  Stuarts,  and  went  out  with 
them.  This,  however,  is  not  true ;  the  doctrine  of  necromancy  was  in  universal 
l)elief  in  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  century,  and  there  was  not,  perhaps,  a  man  in 
Lancasliire,  nor  indeed  in  any  part  of  England  at  that  period,  wlio  doubted  its 
existence ;  and  as  to  kingcraft,  the  Tudors  understood  and  practised  that  art  quite 
as  well  as  the  Stuarts,  though  they  might  insist  less  upon  the  abstract  principle  of 
the  "  divine  right  of  kings." 

The  belief  in  witchcraft  and  demoniacal  possession  was  confined  to  no  particular  General 
sect  or  persuasion  :  the  Roman  Catliolics,*  the  members  of  the  established  Cliurch  of  witdic'r"aft 
England,  the  Presbyterians,  and  Independents,  and  even  the  Methodists,  though  a  monoi'o'gj! 
sect  of  more  recent  standing,  have  all  fallen  into  this  delusion ;  and  yet  each  deno- 
mination has  upbraided  the  other  with  gi'oss  superstition,  and  not  uufreqiiently  vrith 
wilful  fraud.     Since  tlie  light  of  general  knowledge  has  chased  away  tlie  mists  of 

so  many  thresholds  ornamented  with  this  counter-charm.  Mr.  Roby,  in  his  "Traditions  of  Lanca- 
shire," has  treated  the  subject  with  great  vivacity  and  spirit ;  and  his  legendary  tales  serve  to  convey 
to  the  mind  a  vivid  impression  of  the  effects  of  the  popular  superstition  in  other  times. 

*  See  the  Bull  of  Pope  Innocent  VIII.  to  the  inquisitors  of  Almain,  empowering  them  to  detect 
and  burn  witches.  The  Romish  church  appointed  penances  for  converted  witches  ;  and  Cranmer, 
the  Protestant  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  his  articles  of  visitation,  directs  his  clergy,  in  1549,  to 
inquire  after  any  persons  that  use  "  charms,  sorcery,  enchantments,  witchcraft,  soothsaying,  or  any 
like  craft,  invented  by  the  devil ;"  which  instructions  were  renewed  in  Elizabeth's  reign,  with  the 
addition,  "  especially  in  time  of  women's  travail."  Richard  Baxter,  a  divine  in  deserved  estimation 
amongst  the  nonconformists,  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  possession  and  dispossession  of  devils,  and  his 
"  World  of  Spirits"  abounds  with  proofs  of  his  firm  conviction  of  the  reality  of  this  popular  delusion. 
VOL.  I.  4  K 


618  €i)t  i^i'stoii'  Of  tbe 

CHAP,    this  once  generally  prevailing  error,  we  all  smUe  at  these  bitter  criminations  and 

recriminations,  which  ought  to   guard   us  against  the  commission  of  similar  faults. 

It  is  due,  however,  to  the  ministers  of  the  established  church  to  say,  tliat  they  Avere 
amongst  the  first  of  our  public  writers  to  denounce  the  belief  in  witclicraft,  A\ith  all 
its   attendant  mischiefs,  and  the  names  of  Dr.  Harsnet,  afterwards   archbishop   of 
York,  Dr.  John  Webster,  the  detector  of  Robinson,  the  Pendle  Forest  witch-hunter, 
of  Zach.  Taylor,  one  of  the  king's  preachers  for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  of 
Dr.  Hutchinson,  chaplain  in  ordinary  to  his  majesty  George  I.,   are  aU  entitled  to 
the  public  gratitude  for  their  efforts  to  explode  these  pernicious  superstitions,  though 
their  merit  is  in  some   degree  tarnished  by  an  overweening  solicitude  to  cast  the 
imputation  of  ignorant  credulity  from  their  own  community,  and  to  fix  it  exclusively 
upon  others. 
Now  ge-  For  upwards  of  a  century,  the  sanguinary  and  superstitious  laws  of  James  I. 

exptoded.  disgi-aced  the  English  statute-book j  but  in  the  9tli  year  of  George  II.  a  law  was 
enacted,  repealing  the  statute  of  James  I.,  and  prohibiting  any  prosecution,  suit,  or 
proceeding  against  any  person  or  persons  for  witchcraft,  sorcery,  enchantment,  or  con- 
juration. In  tliis  Avay  the  doctrine  of  Avitchcraft,  with  all  its  attendant  errors,  was 
finally  exploded,  excejit  amongst  the  most  ignorant  of  the  vulgar.* 

To  return  to  the  chronological  order  of  our  liistory.  In  the  year  1617,  James  I. 
on  liis  return  fi-om  Scotland  to  London,  passed  through  the  heart  of  Lancashire,  and 
there,  in  the  midst  of  joy  and  hilarity,  sowed  the  seeds  of  tliscontent  so  wide  and  deep 
as  to  shake  the  stability  of  the  throne.  HaA-ing  arrived  at  Brougham  castle  on  the 
6th  of  August,  he  proceeded  by  way  of  Appleby  and  Wliai'ton  to  Kendal ;  here  he 
stopped  two  nights,  when,  entering  Lancashii-e,  he  reached  Hornby  castlef  on  the 
11th,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Ash  ton  Hall,  the  mansion  of  Thomas,  first  lord 
Gerai-d;  having  remained  here  one  night,  he  advanced  to  Myerscough,  where  the 

*  Code  of  Witchcraft.— By  the  33  Henry  VIII.  cap.  8,  (1562)  persons  practising  witchcraft 
are  declared  guilty  of  a  capital  felony.  This  act  was  repealed  by  1  Edw.  VI.  By  the  5th  of  Eliz. 
cap.  16,  (1562)  persons  using  invocations  of  spirits,  &c.,  by  which  death  shall  ensue,  are  made  liable 
to  be  punished  with  death;  otherwise,  liable  to  fine  and  imprisonment.  By  1  James  I.  cap.  12, 
(1603)  persons  invoking  or  consulting  with  evil  spirits  ;  taking  up  dead  bodies  for  purposes  of  witch- 
craft, (Seer  Edward  Kelley's  offence),  or  practising  witchcraft,  to  the  harm  of  others,  are  declared 
guilty  of  a  capital  felony :  by  the  21st  of  the  same  king,  cap.  28,  (1623,)  the  crimes  of  declaring  by 
witchcraft  where  treasure  is  hidden,  procuring  unlawful  love,  or  attempting  to  hurt  cattle  or  persons, 
are  rendered  punishable  for  the  first  offence  by  pillory,  and  for  the  second  by  death.  By  9  Geo.  II. 
cap.  5,  (1735)  all  the  statutes  against  witchcraft  are  repealed. 

t  Mr.  Nichols,  in  his  "  Progresses  of  King  James  I."  has  mistaken  the  ancient  seat  of  the 
Monteagles  for  Hornby  castle  in  Yorkshire,  the  seat  of  the  duke  of  Leeds,  and  described  the  latter 
instead  of  the  former. 


Counti)  ^alatiuf  of  iLnncaeitci-»  619 

royal  ti-ain  stopped  two  days,  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  the  chase  m  the  forest.     Tlien    chap. 

taking  the  route  through  Preston,  he  went  to  Hoghtou  Tower,  where  he  sojooraed  L 

for  three  days;  hence  he  proceeded  to  Lathoni  House,  where  he  became  the  guest 
for  two  nights  of  the  earl  of  Derby;  and  from  thence  proceeded  by  Bewsey  and  Vale 
Royal,  by^easy  stages,  to  London.  Of  the  royal  tour  througli  Lancasliire,  Nicholas 
Asshe'ton,  esq.  of  Dowuliam,  hi  the  parish  of  Whalley,  has  preserved  the  following 
account  in  his  private  journal : — 

"Junel,  Sunday.  Mr.  C.  P.  moved  my  brother  [in  laAv]  Sherborne  from 
Sir  Richard  Houghton,  to  do  him  such  favour,  countenance,  gi-ace  and  curtesie,  as 
to  weai-e  his  clothe,  and  attend  him  at  Houghton,  at  the  King's  comuig  in  August, 
as  divers  other  Gentlemen  were  moved  and  would.  He  likewise  moved  mee.  I 
answered  I  would  bee  willing,  and  retUe  to  doe  Sir  Richard  anie  service. 

"  Auo-ust  11.  My  brother  Sherborne  his  taylor  brought  liim  a  suit  of  ajjparall, 
and  us  two  others,  and  a  livery  cloake  from  Sir-  Richard  Houghton,  that  we  should 
attend  liim  at  the  King's  conjing,  rather  for  his  gi-ace  and  reputation,  shoeing  [show- 
U10-]  his  neibors'  love,  then  anie  exacting  of  mean  service.* 

"  August  12.     Coz   Towuley  came  and  broke   his   fast   at  Dunuoe,   and  went 

away.     To  Mirescough.     Sfr  Richard  gone  to  meet  the  King ;  we  after  liim  to 

There  the  King  slipt  into  the  Forest  another  way,  and  we  after,  and  overtook  him, 
and  went  past  to  the  Yate ;  then  Sii-  Richard  light  [alighted]  ;  and  when  the  King 
came  in  his  coach,  Sii-  Richard  stept  to  his  side,  and  tould  him  ther  his  Majesties 
Fon-est  began,  and  went  some  ten  roodes  to  the  left,  and  then  to  the  Lodge.  The 
King  hunted,  and  killed  a  buck. 

"  AuoTist  13.  To  Mirescough,  the  Comt.  Cooz.  Assheton  came  with  as  geutle- 
manlie  servants  as  any  was  ther,  and  liimself  excellently  well  appointed.  The  Kmg 
killed  five  bucks.  The  Kinge's  speache  about  hbertie  to  pipeing  and  honest 
recreation.     We  that  were  in  Sii-  Richard's  livery  had  nothing  to  do  but  ritUug  upp 

and  downe. 

"  August  14.  Us  three  to  Preston ;  ther  preparation  made  for  Sir  Gilbert 
Hoghton,  and  other  Knights.  Wee  were  desyred  to  be  menie,  and  at  iiyght  were 
soe.  Steeven  Hamerton  and  wyffe,  and  Mrs.  Doll  Lyster  supped  with  us  att  our 
lodguig.     AU  Preston  full. 

"  August  1.5.     King  came  to   Preston.     Ther,  at  the   Crosse,  Mr.  Beares  the 

*  Although  the  gradations  of  society  were  then  such  that  the  gentry  of  England  disdained 
not,  on  occasions  like  the  present,  to  wear  the  livery  of  the  rank  immediately  above  them,  yet 
there  is  an  Evident  anxiety  in  Mr.  Assheton's  mind  to  have  it  understood,  that  his  appearing  in 
sir  Richard  Hoghton's  livery  was  merely  as  a  token  for  good-will. — Whitaker. 

4  K  2 


620  €i)t  Instorj)  of  tftt 

CHAP,    lawyer  made  a  Speeche,  and  the  Corporation  presented  liim  with  a  bowle ;  and  then 

_i the  King  Avent  to  a  Banquet  in  tlie  Town  Hall,  and  so  away  to  Houghton  ;  ther  a 

speech  made." 

After  the  delivery  of  the  Speech,  as  Mr.  Assheton  continues,  the  King  "  hunted, 
and  Idlled  a  stag.      Wee  attend  on  the  Lords'  table. 

'August  16.  Houghton.  The  King  hunting;  a  great  companie;  kiUed  affore 
dinner  a  brace  of  staggs.  Verie  hott ;  soe  he  went  in  to  dinner.  Wee  attend  the 
Lords'  table,  and  about  four  o'clock  the  King  went  dowue  to  the  allome-mjTies,  and 
Avas  ther  an  hower,  viewed  them  preciselie,  and  then  went  and  shott  at  a  stagg,  and 
missed.  Then  my  Lord  Compton  had  lodged  two  brace.  The  King  shott  again, 
and  brake  the  thigh  bone.  A  dogg  long  in  coming,  and  my  Lord  Compton  shott 
again,  and  killed  liim  [the  stag] .     Late  in  to  supper. 

"  August  17.  Houghton.  Wee  served  the  Lords  Mith  biskett,  wyne,  and 
jellie.  The  Bushopp  of  Chester,  Dr.  Morton,  preached  before  the  King.  To  din- 
ner. About  four  o'clock,  ther  was  a  rush-bearing  and  pipeing  afore  them,  affore  the 
King  in  the  Middle  Court.  Then  to  supp.  Then,  about  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  a 
a  Maske  of  Noblemen,  Knights,  Gentlemen,  and  Courtiers,  afore  the  King,  in  the 
middle  round  in  the  garden.  Some  Speeches ;  of  the  rest,  dancing  the  Huckler, 
Tom  Bedlo,  and  the  Cowp  Justice  of  Peace. 

"  August  18.  The  King,  [after  knighting,  at  Hoghton  Tower,  Sir  Arthur 
Lake,  of  Middlesex  ;  and  Sir  Cecil  Trafford,  of  Lancashire]  went  away  about  twelve 
to  Lathome.  There  was  a  man  almost  slayne  with  fighting.  Wee  back  witli  Sir 
Richard.  He  to  seller,  and  ckunk  with  us  kindlie  in  all  manner  of  frindlie  speake. 
Preston;  as  merrie  as  Robin  Hood,  and  all  his  fellowes. — August  19.  AU  tliis 
morning  wee  plaid  the  Bacchanalians." 

At  the  seat  of  WiUiam,  sixth  earl  of  Derby,  Lathom-house,  the  king  rested  two 
nights;  and  on  the  20th  of  August,  before  liis  departure,  knighted  sii*  William 
Massy,  sir  Robert  Bendloes,  su*  Gilbert  Clifton,  sir  John  Talbot,  of  Preston,  sir 
Gilbert  Ireland,  of  the  Hutt,  and  sir  Edward  Olbaston,  all  of  Lancashu-e. 

The  king  then  proceeded  to  Bewsey  Hall,  the  seat  of  Thomas  Ireland,  esq.,  on 
whom  his  majesty,  before  liis  departure,  confeiTed  knighthood,  as  he  chd  on  sir  Lewis 
Pemberton,  of  Hertfordsliire. 

After  entering  Chesliire  on  the  21st  of  August,  a  ride  of  two  miles  would  bring 
the  king  to  the  bridge  of  Warrington,  then  defended  by  works  of  considerable 
strength,  and  from  thence  he  would  probably  proceed  doAvn  the  vale  of  the  Mersey 
to  liis  castle  of  Halton,  formerly  a  residence  of  a  line  of  powerful  Cheshire  barons, 
and,  after  theii-  extinction,  united  to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster.  The  picturesque  ruins 
which  now  crown  Halton  liill,  and  are  visible  from  a  vast  district,  formed  at  that 


Count))  ^alatiuf  of  Slnnrasitti-.  621 

period  part  of  a  line  of  regular  fortifications,  wliicli  in  the  ensuing  troubles,  not  long     chap. 
withstood  the  forces  of  the  parliamentarian  garrison  of  Manchester. L. 

From  hence  Webb  conducts  the  king  to  Rock  Savage,  a  dependency  of  Halton 
barony,  situated  at  a  short  distance  west  of  the  castle,  at  the  point  where  the  prospect 
opens  to  the  vale  of  Chester  and  the  Welsh  mountains,  \nth  the  confluence  of  the 
Weaver  and  the  Mersey  in  the  foreground.* 

On  that  Sunday  on  which  the  king  was  at  Hoghton  tower,  a  petition  was  presented 
to  liis  majesty,  signed  principally  by  the  Lancashu-e  peasants,  tradespeople,  and  ser- 
vants, representing,  "  that  they  were  debai-red  from  lawful  recreations  upon  Sunday, 
after  evening  prayers,  and  upon  holy  days,  and  praying  that  the  restrictions  imposed  in 
the  late  reign  might  be  wathdi'awn.  The  origin  of  tliis  complaint,  as  we  have  seen,t 
was  laid  in  the  tune  of  Elizabeth,  who,  in  order  to  reform  the  manners  of  the  people, 
instituted  a  liigli  commission  in  the  year  1579.  The  commissioners  were,  Henry 
earl  of  Derby,  Henry  earl  of  Himtington,  William  lord  bishop  of  Chester,  and 
others  ;  and  at  their  sittings,  wliich  were  held  at  Manchester,  they  issued  orders 
throughout  the  county  against  "  pipers  and  minstrels  playing,  making  and  frequent- 
ino- bear-baiting  and  bull-baiting,  on  the  Sabbath  days,  or  upon  any  other  days  in 
time  of  divine  service  ;  and  also  against  superstitious  ringing  of  bells,  wakes,  and 
common  feasts ;  drunkenness,  gaming,  and  other  vicious  and  unprofitable  pursuits." 
These  restrictions  the  royal  visitor  thought  incompatible  with  the  pri\ilege  of  his 
subjects,  whose  complaints,  as  he  says — "  We  have  heard  Avith  our  own  ears,  and 
which  grievances  we  promised  to  redress."  In  the  fulfilment  of  this  pledge,  he 
issued  a  proclamation,];  setting  forth,  "  that  in  liis  progi-ess  through  Lancashire,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  rebulie  some  puritans  and  precise  people,  and  took  order  that 
the  said  unlawful  carriage  should  not  be  used  by  any  of  them  hereafter,  in  the 
proliibitiug  and  unlawfully  punishing  of  liis  good  people,  for  using  their  lawful 
recreations,  and  honest  exercises,  upon  Sundays  after  service."  These  puritans  liis 
majesty  conceived  were  Jewisldy  inchned,  because  they  affected  to  call  Sunday  the 
Sabbath-day.  The  proclamation  proceeds  to  declare,  that  the  king  had  found,  that 
two  sorts  of  people,  within  his  county  of  Lancaster,  much  infested  that  county,  \\z., 
papists  and  puritans,  and  that  they  had  maliciously  traduced  and  calmnniated  his 
just  and  honourable  proceedings  ;  he  had  therefore  thought  proper  to  clear  and 
make  liis  pleasure  manifest  to  all  liis  good  people  in  tliese  parts ;  and  his  majesty's 
pleasure  was,  that  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  should  take  strict  order  with  all  the 
puritans  and  precisians  within  the  county  of  Lancaster,  and  either  constrain  them  to 
conform  themselves,  or  to  leave  the  country,  accorchng  to  the  laws  of  this  kingdom, 

•  Nichois's  "  Progresses  of  King  James,"  vol.  iii.  p.  405.  f  Chap,  xiii,  p.  510,  550. 

:  May  24,  1618. 


622  €])t  W^tOY^  Of  tin 

CHAP,     and  canons  of  tliis  church;  and  as  ior  his  good  people's  lawful  recreation,  his  jileasure 


XIV 


was,  that,  after  the  end  of  divine  service,  they  be  not  disturbed,  letted,  or  discou- 
raged, from  any  lawful  recreation,  such  as  dancing,  either  men  or  women ;  archery 
for  men,  leaping,  vaulting,  or  any  other  such  harmless  recreation ;  nor  from  having 
of  May-games,  Wliitson-ales,  and  Morice-dances,  and  the  setting  up  of  May-poles, 
and  other  sports  therewith  used  :  so  as  the  time  be  had  in  due  and  convenient 
time,  without  impediment  or  neglect  of  divine  service  :  and  that  women  should  have 
leave  to  carry  rushes  to  the  church,  for  the  decorating  of  it,  according  to  their  old 
custom ;  but,  withal,  his  majesty  did  here  account  still  as  prohibited,  all  uidawfiU 
games  to  be  used,  upon  Sundays  only,  as  bear  and  bull-baitings,  interludes,  and,  at 
all  times,  in  the  meaner  sort  of  people,  by  law  proliibited,  bowling.  And,  like>nse, 
did  bar  from  tliis  benefit  and  liberty  all  such  known  recusants,  either  men  or  women, 
as  did  abstain  from  coming  to  church,  or  di\'ine  service,  they  being  unworthy  of  any 
lawful  recreation  after  the  said  service,  that  would  not  first  come  to  the  churcli,  and 
serve  God :  prohibiting,  in  like  sort,  the  said  recreations  to  any  that,  tliough 
conformed  in  religion,  were  not  present  in  the  church  at  the  service  of  God,  before 
their  going  to  the  said  recreations!" 

Subsequently,  his  majesty  further  said,  "  that  his  loyal  subjects  in  all  other  parts 
of  the  kingdom,  did  sutfer  in  the  same  kind,  though  perhaps  not  in  the  same  degree 
as  in  Lancashire,  and  he  did  therefore  publish  a  declaration  to  all  liis  loving  subjects, 
concerning  lawful  sports  to  be  used  on  Sundays  and  festivals,"  which  was  printed 
and  published  by  his  royal  command  in  the  year  1618,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Book 
of  Sports,"  whicli  the  bishops  were  ordered  to  cause  to  be  read  and  published  in  all 
the  parish  churches  of  their  respective  dioceses,  on  pain  of  punishment  in  the  high 
May  24,  coimnission  court.  Against  tliis  profanation  of  the  sanctuary.  Abbot,  the  intrepid 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  amongst  the  first  to  enter  his  protest,  and  being  at 
Croydon  on  the  day  that  it  was  first  to  be  read  in  the  churches,  he  positively  forbade 
the  officiating  minister  to  obey  the  royal  command. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  that  monarch,  uninstructed  by  events, 
thought  fit,  "  for  the  ease,  comfort,  and  recreation  of  his  well-deserving  people,  to 
ratify  and  re-publish  this  his  blessed  father's  declaration;"  and  the  reason  assigned 
was,  "  because  of  late,  in  some  counties  of  the  kingdom,  his  majesty  finds  that,  under 
pretence  of  taking  away  abuses,  there  hath  been  a  general  forbidchng,  not  only  of 
ordinary  meetings,  but  of  the  feasts  of  tlie  decUcation  of  churches,  commonly  called 
n-akes."  His  majesty  therefore  expressed  his  royal  will  and  pleasure,  that  these  feasts, 
with  others,  should  be  observed;  and  that  the  justices  of  the  peace,  and  the  judges  of 
assize,  should  make  known  his  gracious  intentions,  and  that  the  bishops  should  cause 
liis  will  to  be  published  in  all  the  parish  churclies  of  their  several  and  respective 


Countj)  IJnlatiuf  of  Xnnragtcr.  623 

dioceses.     The  disgust  felt  by  some  of  the  clergy  and  many  of  the  laity  in  Lancasliire,    chap. 

and  in  all  other  pai'ts  of  the  kingdom,  at  these  reiterated  injunctions  to  violate  the  _ 

sanctity  of  the  sabbath,  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  civil  wars,  tlie  approach  of  whicli 
was  already  foreseen  by  men  of  political  sagacity.  By  others,  the  license  was  hailed 
as  a  privilege.  The  effects  of  the  Book  of  Sports,  at  the  end  of  two  centuries,  are  still 
\isible  in  Lancashire;  and,  as  Dr.  Wliitaker  has  truly  observed,  there  is  scarcely  a 
\  illage  in  the  county  which  does  not  exhibit  symptoms  of  obedience  to  the  injunction 
of  "  honest  recreation." 

In  addition  to  the  honours  already  mentioned,  a.s  conferred  upon  the  gentry  of  the  ^^^^^^^^^ 
county  of  Lancaster  by  kino-  James,  that  sovereign  knighted  sir  Thomas  Tildesley,  conferred 
on  15th  of  June,  1616,  at  Wimbleton;  the  same  year  sii-  Hugh  Parker,  son  of  lord  gentry  of 

.  .  Lanca- 

Monteagle,  was  made  a  knight  of  the  Bath,  in  honour  of  the  creation  ol  pnnce  shire. 
Charles.  Sir  Gilbert  Gerrard,  of  Harrow  on  the  Hill,  a  junior  branch  of  the  family 
of  Gen-ard  of  Bryn,  in  Lancashire,  was,  in  1620,  advanced  to  the  rank  of  a  baronet; 
and  sir  Ralph  Ashton  of  Lever,  and  sir  John  Boteler,  attained  the  same  honour  in  the 
sununer  of  that  year.  For  sir  Richard  Hoghton  the  king  had  the  liighest  esteem;  the 
name  of  tliis  gentleman  appears  in  many  of  the  royal  masques  and  pubhc  entertain- 
ments; and  amongst  the  archives  of  the  family,  the  following  note,  with  the  royal 
autogi'aph,  is  preserved : — 


"  To  our  trustie  and  wel-beloved  Sir  [Richard  Houghton,  Bart. 

"  Trustie  and  wel-beloved,  wee  greet  you  well;  whereas  we  have  some  occasion 
"  to  speake  with  you  personally,  wee  have  thought  fitt  hereby  to  signifie  o'  pleasvre 
"  unto  you,  that  forth^vith  upon  the  sight  of  these  o'  I'rres  you  make  yo'  rcpaii-e  unto 
"  o'  Court,  wheresoever  it  shalbe,  where  wee  shall  lett  you  know  what  wee  have  to 
"  say  unto  you. 

"  Given  at  our  Court  at  Aldershott,  the  seventeenth  day  of  August  1622." 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  paternal  government  of  king  James,  combined  as  it 
was  with  the  creation  of  the  baronets  of  Ulster,  had  placed  Ireland  in  a  state  of  tran- 
quillity, or  even  of  security;  for,  near  the  end  of  this  king's  reign,  we  find  the  lords 


624  €l)t  feiS^torj)  of,  ^c- 

CHAP,    of  the  council  writing  a  letter  to  the  earl  of  Derby,  as  lord  lieutenant,  requiring  that 


XIV 


all  Irishmen,  passengers  from  any  port  in  Lancashire  or  Cheshu'e,to  their  own  country, 
should  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  on  pain  of  being  sent  to  London  in  safe  custody 
for  contumacy.* 

*  "  THE  LORDS  OF  THE  COUNCIL  TO  THE  EARL  OF  DERBY. 

[Harl.  MSS.  Cod.  2173. /o.  76  6.] 
"  Of  Chester. 

"  To  our  very  good  lord  the  Earle  of  Darby  h.  maiestys  lieftenant  for  the  Countyes  of 
Cheshier  and  Lancashier  theis. 
"  After  our  very  harty  Commendations  to  your  lordshipp  wheras  his  niaiesty  hauing  taken  into 
serious  consideration  the  psent  estate  of  the  kingdome  of  Ireland  doth  is  his  princely  wisdome  obserue 
how  gretly  the  quiet  therof  f  the  safty  of  his  louing  subiects  there  Inhabitinge  may  be  trebled  f 
endangered  especially  in  theis  doubtfull  tymes,  by  Turbulent  ,psons  of  the  same  nation  ill  affected  in 
religion  f  other  vfays  f  more  pticularly  by  such  of  them  as  haue  byn  or  are  Imployed  in  the  seruice  of 
foraigne  prinses  wee  doo  herby  pray  f  requier  your  lordshipp  by  his  mai""  express  Comand  that  wliat 
so  euer  Irish  shall  come  to  Imbark  him  selph  for  Ireland  in  any  of  the  Port  Townes  of  Cheshier  or 
Lancashier  the  maiestrate  of  the  place  shall  examin  him  from  whence  he  Comith  of  what  Condition  he 
is  f  how  he  hath  spent  his  tyme  f  shall  w"'all  minister  vnto  him  the  othe  of  Allegance  f  if  he  shall 
refuse  to  take  the  same  they  shall  send  him  vp  hither  in  safe  custody  to  be  further  examined  f  proceded 
w""  as  wee  .shall  find  cause  f  so  we  bid  your  lordshipp  very  hartyly  farewell,  from  Whitehall 
29  Aprell  1624. 

"  Your  lordshipps  very  louing  friends 

"  G  CANT  SAY 

GRANDISON  SUCKLING 

EDMUNDS  S  WESTON 

G  CALUERT  JU  CiESAR" 
MANDEUILE 


END  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUME. 


LONDON:     FISHER,  SON,   AND   JACKSON,  PRINTERS. 


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