Ex Ubris C. K. OGDEN < THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES I V THE H ISTO R Y or THE ISLE OF WIGHT; MILITARY, ECCLESIASTICAL, CIVIL, & NATURAL TO WHICH IS ADDED A VIEW OF ITS AGRICULTURE. By the Rev. RICHARD WARNER; EDITOR OF "HAMPSHIRE EXTRACTED FROM DOMESDAY BOOK," AND or THE " ANTIQJJITATES CULINARIiE j" AND AUTHOR OF " TOPOGRAPHICAL REMARKS RELATING TO HAMPSHIRE," AND " AN ATTEMPT TO ASCERTAIN THE SITUATION OF THE ANCIENT C L A U S E N T U M." " Tu nimio nee ftrifta gelu, nee fidere fervens, Clement! ccelo, tempeneque places. Cum pareret Natura parens varioque favore Divideret dotes omnibus una locis, Sepoluit potiora tibi, maaemque profefTa, ' Ir.fula fis felix, plenaque pacts' ait. ' Quicquid amat luxus, quicquid defiderat ufus, Ex te provenie^, vei aliunde tibi.' " SOUTHAMPTON. PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, JUN. AND W. DAVIEJ, (sUCCES*0*5 TO MR. CADILL) IN THE ITRAND, LONDON j AND T, BAKER, SOUTHAMPTON. MDCCXCV. DA 670 Wfe SIR WILLIAM HEATHCOTE, BART. AND WILLIAM CHUTE, ESQ. MEMBERS FOR THE COUNTY OF HANTS, SIR HARRY BURRARD, BART. GEORGE ROSE, ESQ. JAMES MOWBRAY, ESQ. AND THE REV. WILLIAM GILPIN, THE FOLLOWING EPITOMIZED HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, IS GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED, BY THEIR OBEDIENT AND OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT, BATH, February i, 179$. R. WARNER, JUN. Hf r ADVERTISEMENT. OEVERAL publications have already appeared relative to the Ifle of Wight. It will therefore be naturally expefted, that the author of the prefent one either produce fomething new on the fubje6t, or prefent the materials before offered to the public, in a different and improved form. Both thefe objects it has been his en- deavour to attain ; with what fuccefs the reader will beft pronounce. Frequent VI ADVERTISEMENT. Frequent vifits to the ifland, and ha- bitual propensities,* allowed him oppor- tunity and inclination to make ibme collections relative to its natural hiftory ; and a conviction that very little infor- mation of this kind had hitherto been given to the world, infpired the hope of his collections carrying at lead the re- commendation of novelty with them, fhould he methodize and publifh them. This he at length determined to do ; adding, at the fame time, to his plan, a luminous and methodical, but concife detail, of the principal circurnflances in Hs yxiris ^vvx(jMt yXwctfomfox /,Xo 1010-6x1." Horn. Odyff. To me no fond purfuits fuch pleafures yield, As the gay fcenes of Nature's varied field. the ADVERTISEMENT. the military, ecclefiaftical, and civil hif- tory of the ifland. He would not, however, be underfiood to have attempted a complete natural hijtoryof the Ifle of Wight, in the follow- ing pages. He wifhes them to be con- fidered rather as an index, which fome future fauniji may improve and amplify. An accurate natural hiftory of this varied and extenfive diflricl;, would, of itfelf, form a very bulky volume ; fo large an one, as perhaps the abilities and leifure of no tingle individual would allow him to complete. The fubjecl: is fo un- bounded, and Nature fo inexhauftible, that, even after all his labors, he muft find .much remained undone ; and be content at laft to allow the truth of the Philo- fopher's Vlll ADVERTISEMENT. fopherV obfervation : " Multum adhuc rejlat operis, multumque reftabit ; nee ulli nato pqft mille fecula prcecluddur occa/io aliquid adhuc adjiciendi"* * L. A. Seneca, Epift. Ixiv. CONTENTS. The Military Hi/lory of the IJlc of Wight. CHAP. I. Of the original inhabitants of the Ifle of Wight i CHAP. II. Of the Romans, in the Ifle of Wight - -8 CHAP. III. Of the Saxons, in the Ifle of Wight - 16 CHAP. IV. Of the Danes and Normans, in the Ifle of Wight ... - ---24 CHAP. V. Military hiftory of the ifland, from Edward I. to the prefent time ..... 36 CONTENTS. CHAP. VI. The ancient and prefent defence of the Ifle of Wight - - 54 The Eccl'fiajlical Hlflory of the Ifle of Wight. CHAP. I. Of the ancient religion of the Ifle of Wight, and the introduction of Chriftianity there - 87 CHAP. II. Of the religious foundations in the* Ifle of Wight 98 The Civil Hi/lory of the Ifle of Wight. CHAP. I. Of the boroughs of Newport, Newtown, and Yarmouth - ^ j - 129 CHAP. II. Of the lords of the ifland; their power, rights, and franchifes ; and of the Knighton Court 147 CHAP. III. Of the wardens, captains, and governors of the ifland . . 1<54 Tht CONTENTS. The Natural Hi/lory of the IJlc of Wight. CHAP. I. General defcription of the ifland ; climate ; foil ; timber ; rivers ; fprings ; inhabitants ; downs ; and curious particulars relating to them - - 167 CHAP. II. Of the ancient connexion of the Ifle of Wight with the mam land ; its coaft ; rocks ; ca- verns ; chines, &c. '" . - - 186 CHAP. III. The zoology of the Ifle of Wight ; its animals, reptiles, and fifli - - - 403 CHAP. IV. The ornithology of the ifland - 22,5 CHAP. V. Of the botany of the ifland - - 147 CHAP. VI. Of the foffilogy of the ifland - - - 256 A General Xli CONTENTS. A General View of the Agriculture of the JJle of Wight. CHAP. I. A fketch of the progrefs of agriculture in Bri- tain, from the earlieft to the ptefent times . 265 CHAP. II. Of the different grains fown ; ufual courfe of crops ; various manures, &c. - - 273 CHAP. III. Turnips ; grafies ; pafture ; draining ; and roads 285 CHAP. IV. Sheep, horfes, cows, and fwine - 288 CHAP. V. Wafte-Iand ; forefls ; and fea-mud - 293 CHAP. VI. Improvements and experiments - 300 CHAP. VII. The poor ; laborers ; and rates of wages - 305 APPENDIX. CONTENTS. Xlii APPENDIX. ' A Diflertation on Six Roman Coins i A copy of the Rate made for the Maintenance of the Minifter of Newport . 13 PLATES. ff Map - to face title-page Needle Rocks - 200 Coins - (appendix} i THE MILITARY HISTORY ISLE OF WIGHT, CHAP. I. OF THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. nr* JL HE imperfetl light which glimmers on the early antiquities of Britain, is chiefly imparted by the writings of the Greeks and Romans. From thefe fources of intelligence we collet, that the Aboriginal inhabitants of this kingdom were a tribe of the Celtae, Galatae, or Gauls, B (defendants 2 HISTORY OF THE ISLt O F WIGHT. (defcendants of the Gomerians, or Phrygians) who migrated hither from the coaft of Gaul.* At what period they performed this migration, cannot, perhaps, be txaftly ascertained ; though it feems likely to have happened about one thou- fand years before the Chriftian yEra.t The Kentifh more would probably be the fpot which firft received thefe wanderers, on account of its vicinity to the regions from whence they came. They would not, however, long confine themfelves to this corner of the kingdom ; the preffure of additional emigrants would oblige them to feek more diftant habita- tions, and they would foon extend themfelves along the Southern and Eaftern coafts of the country. This would probably happen about a century after the arrival of the original tribe ; at which period we may fuppofe the Ifle of Wight received its firft inhabitants. * Tacitus, de Vit. Agric. c. xi. Strabo, lib. II. et Cxfar, lib. V. t Whit-.ker's Hift. Manchefter, b. I. c. i. p. 7. Thefc HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. g Thefe Aborigines do not feem to have been far removed from the rudeft ftate of favage life; they were barbarous and unenlightened ; having no fixed habitations ; wandering from place to place; and fubfifting chiefly by the labours of the chace.* After thefe wild tribes had continued about five centuries in their acquifitions, another hoft of wanderers, to whom hiftorians give the appella- tion of Belgae, deferted their own country, Gallia Btlgica, croffed the ftrait that feparated them from Britain, and began to difperfe themfelves through the Southern mores of the kingdom. A people, who, though originally a Celtic tribe, were not marked by the fame ferocious charac- teriftics with their anceftors, but were more cultivated and refined; more civilized in their manners, and comfortable in their modes of life. It is not to be iuppofed, however, that thefe new vifitors would gain an immediate, or a peaceable pofTeffion of the diftricl, to which * Caefar, lib. V. B 3 accident, 4 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. accident, curiofity, or diftrefs, had led them. Every inch of territory was obftinately difputed, and many a bloody battle fought, ere the furly Britons were driven by their fuccefsful invaders into the interior, and more retired parts of the country. At length the Belgae fucceeded, and before the period of Caefar's arrival in Britain, the whole Southern coaft was in the pofleflion of this warlike tribe. The Ifle of Wight had, doubtlefs, been deeply affefted by this great and general revolution; and, at leaft a century before the Chriftian ^Era, had received, in the room of its fordid and barba- rous inhabitants, a race of people who already underflood and pra&ifed the arts of hufbandry and commerce.* In their porTeflion, it foon began to afTume a more comfortable appearance than it had hitherto exhibited ; villages and townst were built, and its ports vifited by foreign traders. * Caefar, ut fupra. t It feems likely that a Britifh town, or city, flood on, or near the fpot of the prefent Carifbrook ; for Caer broc (the probable original name) is a Celtic compound, fig- nifying the city or town of yew trees. The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 5 The daring fpirit of the Phoenician naviga- tors, had led them to the South- Weftern pro- montories of Britain, about four centuries be- fore the birth of our Saviour.* Here they found an article of traffic, rare and ufeful ; and immediately entered into a commercial corref- pondence with the Belerian Britons, for the pur- chafe of the tin, which was produced in large quantities in the iilands of Cornwall, t For upwards of two hundred years did the merchants of Tyre and Carthage preferve the monopoly of this lucrative trade, notwithftand- ing the conftant endeavours of all the other Mediterranean powers todifcover and participate it.* The Greeks of Marfeilles, however, at * Herodotus, Weffelingii, p. 254. T Pliny, lib. VII. c. Ivi. The Scilly Iflands received their ancient appellation of Cajitcrides, from the circum- ftancc of their yielding this valuable metal ; from the Creek, Kxao-tTsfor, tin. t So careful were the Phoenicians in concealing the courfe of the veffcls employed in this trade, .that the captain of one of them, perceiving he was purfued by a Roman galley, in order to find out to what part he was bound, im- mediately funk his hark, to prevent the difcovery. Strabo, p. 265. length 6 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. length traced out the fecret, and about two cen- turies prior to the Chriftian .^Era, began to avail themfelves of it. From this period the Cartha- ginian commerce dwindled away, and the Maf- fylian daily extended itfelf; but as the latter people were by no means fuch experienced fea- men as the mariners of Phoenicia, and confe- quently lefs able to encounter the ftormy feas of the Belerian coaft, the mode of traffic was (pro- bably at the folicitation of the Greeks, and by the confent of the Britons) fomewhat changed; and the ftaple of tin removed from the Weftern extremity of the kingdom, to the Southern more; and fixed in the Ifle of Wight, or, (ac- cording to the name by which it was known to the Marfeiilefe) in the Ifland Iclis.* The foreign traders were now no longer at the trouble of performing a tedious and danger- .ous voyage; but employing the Vcneti of Gaul to tranfport the commodity from the new em- porium to the oppofite more, they there receiv- ed it, and fcnt it over land to Narbonne and Marfeilles.t * Diodorus Siculus, p. 347. f Strabo, 297. We HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 7 We may fairly fuppofe that the Ifle of Wight now began to rife into confideration. The re- fort of foreign merchants to its ports, would in- troduce a degree of civilization among its in- habitants, hitherto unknown on the Southern fhores of Britain. A rapid progrefs would be made in all the neceffary arts of life. Improve- ments would be adopted in the civil polity of the people ; and the whole diftricl: would foon fmile with wealth, comfort, and profperity. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. II. OF THE ROMANS, IN THE ISLE OF WIG!,':. A HE expeditions of Caefar into Britain can- not be confidered as amounting to a conqueft of the country. His firft defce-nt was little more than a difcovcry of it.* The fucceffes alfo which attended his fecond, were confined only to the South-Eaftern corner of the ifland, and gave to the Romans neither a firm footing, nor durable authority in it. To complete the reduction of our anceftors, and bring them under the Roman yoke, was a tafk left for Claudius to perform; which, by himfelf and his lieutenants, * !i Igitur primus omnium Romanorum D. Julius cum exercitu Britanniam ingreffus, quanquam profpera pugna terruerit iricolas, ac litore potitus fit, poteft videri often- diffe pofteris, non tradidiffe." Tacitus, Vit. Agric. c. xiii. he HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 9 he effected, about the year of our Lord 43.* Vefpafian was the leader who chiefly (ignalifed himfelf in the fubjugation of Southern Britain. During his expedition into thefe parts, this fuc- cefsful commander, it is faid, was victorious in thirty pitched battles ; conquered two powerful nations ; and planted the Roman ftandard in the Ifleof Wight.t It is probable this laft acquifition was made without any great difficulty, fince there are no veftiges of ancient camps or intrenchments, and very few tumuli, + that lead us to apprehend the inhabitants of the ifland ftruggled hard for the prefervaticfri of their liberties. It is indeed found, that conftant commercial occupations have a tendency to deftroy thofe finer fenfibilities of the foul, without which, genuine patriotifm 3 and a warm attachment to civil liberty, cannot * " Divus Claudius, auftor operis, tranfveftis legionibus auxiliisque, et affumpto in partem rerum Vefpafiano:" Tacitus, ut fupra. + Tacitus, Hift. lib. III. cap. xliv. Suetonius, in Vit. Vefp. cap. iv. J Thefe, by the bye, may be attributed to the times of the Danifh defcents. C fubfift. 1O HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. fubfift. The merchants of the ifland, deeply engaged in the aftive purfuits of commerce, were altogether carelefs as to the protection under which it was carried on ; whether it were the fan&ion of their own native laws, or the tolerating permiflion of a conqueror. While their traffic continued to be uninterrupted, and their ac- cuftomed gains to be received, they fuffered but little concern from the idea of their moft facred rights being at the mercy of a foreign mafter. Juftice, however, obliges us to confefs, that the well-known lenity of the Romans to the nations which they reduced, juftified, in a great degree, this confidence and unconcern on the part of the conquered. Their laws and their religion were generally uninfringed; their civil rights refpeted : or if any alteration were made in the one or the other, it was by the intro- duction of inflitutions that had a tendency to extend the comforts, and increafe the happinefs of life.* * For a proof of this, advert to the conduft of Agricola, during his refidence in Britain. Tacitus, in Vit, Agric. c. xxi. - The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 11 The Romans, having acquired the Ifle of Wight, foon impofed the firft badge of conqueft upon it, by altering its name, which, by an eafy variation, became Veffis, or Vetfa, inflead of Iftis. Tradition fays, they alfo built a forr trefs on the fite of Carifbrook, and formed it into a ftation ; and, indeed, this is very likely to have been the cafe, fince, in their feleftion of fites for thefe places of defence, they ufually chofe fuch fpots as had been the ground-plots of Britifti cities. * But the moft material change which the Ifle of Wight experienced, was the removal of the tin-Jlaple, and the confequent declenfion of its trade. Londinium, or London, had now become the great emporium of the kingdom, and began to afTume that confequence which it has ever fince maintained. Hither the merchants of all nations flocked ; and the firft feeds of its prefent univerfal commerce might be feen, in the various articles its market 4 There is not, however, at prefent, the leafl trace of Roman architefture to be difcerned. C 2 exhibited, 12 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. exhibited, and the different people who crowded its exchange.* But few traces of the Roman government have been difcovered in the Ifle of Wight, and thefe are confined to a fmall feries of coins, about ten or twelve in number, of fome of which the reader will find an account and engraving in the appendix. t They embrace, however, a confiderable period of time, and include fome of the emperors from Tiberius to Gal. Maximianus. It is probable indeed, that a fmali number of the military were fufficient to preferve peace and order in this diftricl; and as the frontiers * " Londinium cognomento quidem coloniae non infigne, fed copra negociatorum et commeatuum maxime celcbre." Tacitus. Anna}, lib. XIV, c, xxxiii. f Two coins arc mentioned to have been found at Newport in 1759 ; one inscribed, TIBERIUS C/ESAR DIVI AUGUSTI FIL. AUGUSTUS. Reverfe, PONTIFEX MAXIMUS. The other had, on one fide, a galley with a crofs at the ftern ; and, on the reverfe, a cippus. furmounted by a globe crofs a coin of the lower empire. Cough's Caroden. vol. I. p. 144. Of HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 13 of Wales, and North of Britain,, required the prefence of all the legionaries that could be fpared, only a few foldiers would be left in the fortrefs of Carifbrook. This may account for the fcarcity of coins difcovered here ; which are always found fomewhat abundantly in places where the Romans have been ftationary for any r time. If we take a view of the pifture, that Veftis, and its inhabitants, would probably prefent, during the period of the Roman government there, we (hall not be aftonifhed at their being able to fupport their power in it, with the flight military force which they maintained. It was invariably the plan of theie matters of the world, to bind the conquered nations to them, rather by the tie of affcBion than of terror ; to treat them rather as friends than as /laves. Hence, the firft fteps they took, after having effectually fubdued them, was to introduce fuch arts, manufactures, and cuftoms among them, as would adminifter to their amufement as well as comfort. This conduft, indeed, might be fuggefted 14 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. fuggefted rather by the policy of the Romans, than their humanity ; fince they were well aware, that modes of refinement, and habits of luxury, would more effectually enervate the mind, and extinguifh that ftrong attachment to freedom, which burns fo fiercely in the bofom of the hardy and unenlightened barbarian, than all the feverities of fkvery. This principle, then, they would of courfe adhere to, in their conducl to the inhabitants of the Ifle of Wight. Such manufactures as were already in ufe among them, they would encourage and improve ; fuch arts as were unknown to them, they would introduce and promote. The treafures of the foil whereon they lived, would be difcovered and unfolded to them. The luxuries of life would be held up to their obfervation ; and the bath and portico, the rich repaft, and elegant attire, recommended to their ufe. Under thefe cir- cumitances, their manners could be gradually refined into politenefs; their minds illumined with fcience ; and themfelves, contented with the advantages which they poffeflec], utterly for- HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1 forgetful and regardlefs of the high price at which they were procured. That this was the cafe in other parts of Britain, we know from the teftimoriy of an excellent hiftorian;* and that it was fo in the Ifle of Wight may be fairly inferred, from the peace and quietude of the diftricl:, during the whole time the Romans poflefled it ; a fpace of four hundred years, wherein we read of no dif- turbances on the part of the conquered, nor of feverity on that of the victors. * Tacitus. See his 'Life of Agricola;' wherein is depifted the refined policy of that commander, in thus foftening and fubduing the minds of the conquered Britons. CHAP. l6 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. III. OF THE SAXONS, IX THE 1 3 L E OF WIGHT. JL HE peaceable, inactive ftate in which the Britons lived, during the continuance of the Romans among them, had, long before the departure of the latter to their own country, totally extinguished that enthufiaftic love of liberty, that contempt of danger and death, which were ftriking features in the character of their anceftors, the ancient Britons. Debilitated by fenfual indulgence, and effeminated by indolent voluptuoufnefs, they were utterly inadequate, on the defertion of the Romans, to the protection of themfelves againft the tribes of barbarians, who, iffuing from the mountains of Scotland, Ipread devaluation and (laughter thro' all HISTORY OK THE ISLF O; WIGHT. ij all the Southern counties. Repeatedly did the unhappy Britons difpatch erhbaflies to Rome, intreatirig the aid of their departed friends, \vho, equally prefTed by the irruptions of barbarians, were obliged to concentrate their forces for the prefervation of themfelves. Affiftance, however, was from time to time afforded them ; till, at length the domeftic neceflities of the Romans not permitting them to impart further aid, they finally left the Britons to their own exertions, in the year of our Lord four hundred and forty-eight.* The depredations of the Pi6h and Scots continually increafing, the Britons were reduced to the deepeft diftrefs ; and, in the fatuity of defpair, invited the Saxons, a warlike Gerraan people, to their affiftance. A party of thefe freebooters, under their leaders, Hengift and Horfa, obeyed the fummons, and landed from three vefTels, about the year four hundred and forty-nine, in the Ifle of Thanet.t They foon * Bede, Eccl. Hift. lib. I. c. xiii. p. 55. Cantab, edit. + Bede, lib. I. c. xv. D difperfed l8 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. difperfed the Northern depredators; but, ob- fervingthe imbecility of the Britons, determined attempting the acquifition of a kingdom, which its inhabitants appeared unworthy to enjoy, and unable to defend. They foon put their deter- mination into effe6l ; and Hengift, after fhedding oceans of blood, and committing the moft horrible atrocities, feated himfelf on the throne of Kent, in the year of our Lord, four hundred and eighty-eight.* * Bede. lib. I. c. xv. This venerable author, who lived at no great diftance from thefe times, thus defcribes the devaftations of the Saxons, and the deplorable ftate of the Britons. ' : Sic enim, et hie agente impio viftore. imo difponente judo judiec. proximas quafque civitates- agrosque depopulans, (ab Orientali mari ufque ad Occi- dentale,) nullo prohibente, fuum continuavit incendium. totamque prope infulae pereuntis fuperficiem oblexit. Ruebant asdificia publica, funul et privata ; paflim facer- dotes inter altaria trucidabantur -, praefules, cum populis, fine ulk) refpeftu honoris, ferro pariter ac flammis abfumebantur : nee erat qui crudeliter interemptos fepul- urae traderet. Itaque nonnulli de miferandis reliquiis, in montibus con>prehenfi, acervatim jugulabantur. Alii fame confefti procedentes. manus hoftibus dabant pro accipiendis alimentorum fubfidiis ; aeternum fubituri fervitium, fi tamen non continue trucidarentur. Alii tranfmarinas regiones dolentes petebant." Hitherto HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 19 Hitherto the Ifle of Wight, lying rather remote from the fcene of a&ion, had not beeh agitated by the convulfions which tore the South- Eaftern parts of the kingdom ; but the period of its fuffering fimilar evils was approaching. In the year four hundred and ninety-five, Cerdic, and his fon Cinric, at the head of a large band of Germans, who chiefly confifted of a race of people called Jutes,* landed in England, excited to aftion by the fuccefs which had crowned the arms of his Saxon brethren here. Though their irruptions were oppofed by the unconquerable fpirit of Arthur, the gallant prince of the Silures ; yet, aided by continual fupplies from the con- tinent, and the affiftance of fuch tribes as had already gained a footing in England, they at length bore down all oppofition, and in the year five hundred and thirty gained poffeflion of the Ifle ofWight.t * Saxon Chronicle, p. 12. Bede, lib. I. c. xv. "De Jutarum origine funt Cantuarii et VeEluarii, hoc eft, ea gens quae VtEtam tenet infulam." t Sax. Chron. edit. Cantab. Wheloc. p. 509. D 2 A fpirit SO HISTORY OF THE ISLE. OF WIGHT. A fpirit of revenge is one of the moft ftriking features of the favage character; and hence it is that, in all the contefts of barbarous nations, the fcene of blood is feldom clofed, without the infliction of death or torture on the perfons of the conquered. Irritated by oppofition, the two Saxon leaders followed the dictates of unbridled paffipn, and flew moft of the inhabitants whom the rage of war had fpared, in cold blood, at the city of Carifbrook.* . Cerdic, the firft Saxon monarch of the lile of - Wight, died, A. D. 534; and bequeathed this acquifition to his nephew Withgar, tor, according to fome authors, to his two nephews, Withgar and Stuffa. J * Bede, ut fupra. " Cirtic namque, ct Cinric filiufi ejus, congregatis ingentibus copiis apud Withland, pras- iiati funt, belloque devi&am iafulam ceperunt, et in- numerabilem hoftium ftragem fecerunt apud \Vitgarefbrige xiii anno regni fui." Leland, Collefb. vol. II. p. 293. t " Ccrdic moriens dedit Veftam infulam Withgaro fuo ex forore nepoti, qui poftea eadem regnavit." Leland, Colleft. vol. I. p. 78. | Sax. Chron.p. 18. Thefe HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 21 Thefe ferocious chieftains filled up the mea- fure of woes which the unhappy Britons of the Ifland were doomed to experience ; and actually murdered all fuch of them as had furvived the perfecutions of their uncle Cerdic* Withgar alfo gave a new appellation to Carifbrook, its moft confiderable town ; which was now called, after his own name, Withgarijburg, that is, the city of Withgar. t Thus have we feen the Ifle of Wight change its inhabitants a fecond time. The Saxons now poffefled it entirely, and, though fometimes difturbed by the tranfient vifits of the Danes, retained the undivided pofleffion of it for five centuries, till the conqueft of the kingdom by the Normans. We find nothing recorded relative to this diftriG, from the maflacre by Withgar to the year fix hundred and fixty-one, when it was attacked and laid wafte by Wulpher King of * Sax. Chron. p. 1 t The ifland itfelf aifo began to be called Wiht, or Wihtland an eafy corruption of the Roman Vefta, or Veftis. Mercia, 2 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Mercia, the fon of Penda. He prefented his conqueft to Edelwalch, King of the South Saxons, who had been his baptifmal fponfor.* The Ifle of Wight continued fubjeft to this monarch till the year fix hundred and eighty-fix, when Ceadwalla, a lineal defcendant of Cerdic, and King of Weflex, flew Adelwalch, and an- nexed this territory to his own dominions. As the iflanders were yet idolaters, this warrior, in the true fpirit of the times, determined to ex- terminate the whole of them, and people their habitations with his own fubje&s. A fourth part of thefe devoted wretches were, however, faved, in confequence of a vow which he had made, when attempting to conquer the ifland, of dedicating this proportion of its inhabitants, and their lands, to the Lord. He performed this vow by conferring three hundred families (for the ifland only contained twelve hundred), and their property, on Bifhop Wilfred ; who com- mitjed the care of them, and the diftric~t, to a nephew of his own, a prieft called Bernwinus.f * Sax. Chron. Wheloc. p. 516. f Bede, lib. IV. c. xvi. This HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. This anecdote is fomewhat curious, as it gives us an opportunity of comparing the population of the ifland eleven hundred years ago, with the ftate of it at prefent ; for if we allow an average of five fouls to a family, we mail find that it contained, in the feventh century, not more than fix thoufand inhabitants; whereas a conjectural cenfus, made about four years ago, brought its population to eighteen thoufand feven hundred fouls. A prodigious increafe ; and a finking example of what agriculture and commerce are gradually able to effet. The Ifle of Wight prefents but a gloomy and difgufting appearance during the early periods of the Saxon dominion in it. Every veftige of refinement difappeared when the Britons were exterminated. Their conquerors, remarkable only for determined valor and the boundlefs love of freedom, neither refpefted, nor cultivated, the arts of peace. Commerce and hufbandry were alike neglecied ; war and hunting alone purfued; and a cloud of ignorance, ferocity, and fuperftition, fettled for centuries over the whole diftrift. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. IV. OF THE DANES, AND NORMANS, IN THE ISLK OF WIGHT. JL HE Saxons did not long retain the un- difturbed poffeflion of the Ifle of Wight. A formidable enemy, towards the latter part of the ninth century, began to interrupt their quiet. This was the Danes, a ferocious race, who inhabited Denmark, Sweden, Jutland, and the other frozen regions of the North. The penury of their own country had early impelled thefe people to commit depredations on happier climes; and in confequence of thefe freebooting habits they had acquired considerable fkill in naval taftics. Their fliips, being fmall and light, were eafily managed, and extremely fwift. With thefe they ran up rivers and creeks; hauled HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 25 hauled them afhore; raifed a flight rampart around them ; and then began the work of plunder. Having effe&ed as much havoc as they could ; and collected as much booty as they were able to carry away, they immediately embarked ; and, before meafures could be taken to repel them, were at fea. Thefe ravagers had made feveral defcents on the Southern coaft, before th'ey attempted the Ifle of Wight.* At length fix Danifh mips, in the year eight hundred and ninety-feven, appeared off this plaqe; the crews of which, landing, committed great depredations, and then failed for the coafl of Devonfhire. The throne of England, was, however, at this time filled by a prince altogether equal to the arduous times in which he lived. Alfred, ever attentive to the aggrandizement of his country, and the improve- ment of his fubje&s, had obferved the fuperiority of the Danifh to the Englifh mips, and had already conftrufted vefTels higher, longer, and fwifter, than thofe of his enemies. Nine of * Sax. Chron. p. 64 ct 73. E 26 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. this defcription he difpatched to the Weft of England, to intercept and punifh the Northern invaders. Thefe effe&ually revenged the out- rages which had been committed, by taking two of the Danifh fhips ; driving three on fhore ; and killing a great number of their men. Such as were taken prifoners, Alfred tried as pirates at Winchefter, and condemned them to be hanged.* To particularize the various tranfient vifits of thefe * naval robbers to the Ifle of Wight, would be tirefome and ufelefs ; as they were at- tended with no permanent effect, and as they all exhibit the fame difgufting fcene of unmer- ciful butchery and wafting conflagration. We pafs over, therefore, the temporary diftreffes of the iflanders, occafioned by thefe inroads; as well as the defcent of Earl Godwin, in the year one thoufand and fifty-two,t (who had been out- lawed by Edward the Confeffor,) and the in- vafion of Tofti, fon of Earl Godwin, in one * Sax. Chron. Wheloc, p. 546. fr Sax. Chron. p. 166. thoufand HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 27 thoufand and fixty-fix ; *that we may notice the more weighty alterations which took place in the internal ftate of the ifland by the Norman conqueft. The important battle of Ha/lings, fought on the fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thoufand and fixty-fix, put the crown of England, together with the dominion of the Ifle of Wight, and other dependancies, into the pofleffion of William the Norman. It is obferved, that what is acquired with eafe, is, generally, diffipated with thoughtleflhefs ; an axiom, the truth of which is well exemplified in the extravagant munificence with which the Conqueror rewarded the barons who attended him in this expedition. His kinfman, William Fitz-Ofborne, flood particularly high in his favor ; as he had long been a confidential friend ; had planned and affifted the attempt on England ; been marfhal of the Norman army at the battle of Haftings, and, by his a&ive valor, had greatly contributed to the fuccefs of that well-fought * Florence of Worcefter, p. 428. edit. 1592. day. 28 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. day. Thefe fervices the monarch rewarded by the donation of the ifle of Wight, to be held by Fitz-Ofborne, as freely as William himfelf held the realm of England.* The Norman baron imitated the bounty of his lord, and diftributed the lands, thus conferred on him, among the fub-feudatories who ranged themfelves under his ftandard. What became, in the mean time, of the unfortunate inhabitants of the ifland, thus bereft of all their property, we are not informed ; but it is likely many of them perifhed through want, as was the cafe in feveral parts of the kingdom ; while others were content to lengthen a wretched exiftencc by becoming flaves, on thofe lands which they had formerly held as their own. William Fitz-Ofborne, firft lord of the Ifle cf Wight, enjoyed his acquifition only four years, being flain in battle on the continent. He was fucceeded in his dignity by Roger de Breteville. Earl of Hereford, his third fon. * Chartulary of Carifbrook priory, in the poffeflion of Sir Richard Worfley, bart. Gratitude HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2 Gratitude is fomuch the virtue of a cultivated mind, that it is but rarely found among the illiterate and unenlightened. Of this defcription was the Earl of Hereford, who, unmindful of the obligations which William had conferred on his family, and the perfonal favors he himfelf had received at his hands, entered into a confpiracy to depofe him, during his abfence in Normandy. Wahheof, Earl of Northumberland, however, one of the confpirators, difclofed the fecret, which gave William an opportunity of checking it in the bud. Earl Roger was taken, tried, found guilty, and condemned to perpetual imprifonment. His lands were confifcated, and the Ifle of Wight, amongft the reft, efcheated to the crown.* This valuable lordfhip was a fecond time beftowed on a fubje6l, during the reign of Henry the firft, who granted it to Richard de Redvers, a Norman of high defcent. On his death, which occurred in the year one thoufand one hundred and thirty-five, Baldwin de Redvers, his fon, fucceeded to the dignity. Being a * Dugdale's Baron, vol. I. p. 67. devoted go HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. devoted partizan of the emprefs Maud, he was one of the firft to rebel againft the ufurped authority of Stephen. He therefore fortified his caftle of Exeter, put the I fie of Wight in a ftate of defence, and boldly defied the king. Stephen, however, proved too powerful for him; his fortrefs was taken; the ifland fubdued; and himfelf obliged to fly the kingdom;* Shortly after this event, an accommodation took place between the contending parties, when the honors and poffeffions, which Baldwin had loft in the ftruggle, were again reftored to him ; and he had an opportunity of bequeathing the lordlhip of the Ifle of Wight to his fon Richard, in the year one thoufand one hundred and fifty-four.t After paffing lineally through feveral of the Redvers family, the Ifle of Wight devolved to * Annali Waverly, p. 154. f In the year one thoufand one hundred and feventy- fcven, during the time the ifland was in the pOiTeflion of Baldwin's nephew, Richard, a fearful miracle is faid to have happened in it; a fnowtr of blood of two hours continuance. <; Pluitin infula Ve&ae xiii. cal. fanguineus imber, fere per duas horas integras." Lei. Col. vol. I. p. 326. William HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. $1 William de Vernon, a collateral branch of the fame flock, anno domini one thoufand one hundred and eighty-four. The oppreflive gripe of King John was extended to this nobleman, out of whom he fqueezed a fine of five hundred marks, on reinftating him in his caftle of Plympton, and allowing him to govern his Ifle of Wight tenants, by military fervice, and, according to the laws of the land, by judgment in his court.* It was by this, and fimilar als of harfhnefs and " injuftice towards his barons, that John at length roufed the fpirit of this formidable clafs of his fubjefts; who, rather for the purpofe of re- drefling their own wrongs, than emancipating the great body of the people from the oppreflions under which they groaned, raifed the llandard of rebellion, and obliged the tyrant to fign that great charter which is the facred foundation and bulwark of all our liberties. It has been obferved, however, by an hiftorian, on an occafion analogous to this, that " the king * Sir Richard Worfley's Hift. p. 54. meant 32 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. meant not to bind himfelf with fetters of parch- ment;" a remark extremely applicable to the ratification of Magna Charta : for as foon as John had pacified the furious barons, by- complying with their demands, he refolved not to reft, till he again releafed himfelf from the obligations which necefiity and fear had impofed upon him. Scarcely therefore had the aflertors of freedom retired to their refpeftive caftks, when the king applied to the pope for ab- folution from the tremendous oaths by which he had ratified the great charter. He alfo empowered his favorites to raife bodies of mercenary foldiers, in Germany, France, and Flanders, to aflift his meditated revenge on the barons, and his encroachments on the budding liberties of his fubje&s. During the time thefe crafty negociations were on foot, the king retired into the Ifle of Wight, that he might be iefs expofed to the obfervation of the public. Here he continued fome time, confining himfelf to the fociety of the lower ranks of people, fuch as fimermen and failors ; a conduct which raifed the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the curiofity of all, and the merriment of many, who aflerted he had turned fifherman, or merchant; or intended to betake himfelf to the profeflion of piracy.* It is fomewhat odd, indeed, the monarch fhould choofe this fpot for the place of his concealment; fince it was then in the poffeflion of William de Vernon, a baron who had been extremely active in his oppofition to him. Per- haps, however, as the ratification of Magna Charta had produced a kind of fpecious recon- ciliation between John and his nobility, he apprehended he might remain with tolerable fafety on the demefne of De Vernon, till his plans were fufficiently matured ; aware that the fecrecy of his negociations would preclude a difcovery of the intentions he harboured, and the real manner in which he was employed. The Ifle of Wight defcended, through Bald- win the grandfon, and Baldwin the great- grandfon, of William de Vernon, to Ifabella. (the daughter of the latterBaldwin,) who obtained * Rapin's liift. Eng. vol. I. p. 2^7. F poffeffion 34 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. pofieffion of its lordfhip in the twelfth year of Edward I. This lady married William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle, and, furviving him, was llyled Countefs of Albemarle, and Lady of the Jfle of Wight. In the thirteenth century, and for fome centuries afterwards, it was cuftomary for the great barons to refide upon their eftates, begirt by numerous dependants and retainers, and furrounded with the barbaric magnificence of the age. The Countefs Ifabella, on the deceafe of her lord, chofe Carifbrook caftle for the place of her abode, where me lived for fome years in almoft regal fplendor; ad- miniftering juilice; difpenfing charity; and heaping donations (according to the miftaken piety of the times) on the numerous monafteries under her protection. Upon her death bed, it appears fhe was pre- vailed upon by the agents of Edward I. to alienate to the crown this valuable lordfhip, for the fum of fix thoufand marks. Walter, Bifhop of Litchfield and Coventry, drew the deed of fale ; which was executed by the coun- HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 35 tefs, a few hours before her death, in the year 1293 :* not without ftrong fufpicions of improper advantages having been taken of the weaknefs and fatuity which generally precede the hour of diflblution.t * Rot. Parl. 8 et 9, Edward II. t Dugdale, Baron, vol. I. p. 55 et 56. The fmallnefs ef the purchafe-money, and other circumftances, feem to indicate fomething fraudulent and difhonorable in this tranfaftion ; fince fix thoufand marks (about "4000 fterling) can never, by any reafonable mode of calculating the comparative value of money, be fuppofed to have been the real worth of the ifland in the thirteenth century. Beudes, Edward himfelf, a few years previous to Ifabella's death, had entered into a treaty with her daughter Aveline, and Edmund Crouchback her hufband, to pay her no lefs than twenty thoufand marks, together with the grant of an eftate, for a fimple affurance of this \'aiuablc lordfhip, to himfelf and heirs, after the deceafe of her mother ; a treaty which was annulled by the premature death of Aveline. Cough's Camden, vol. I. p. 125. Fa CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. V. MILITARY HISTORY OF THE ISLAND, FROM EDWARD THE FIRST TO THE PRESENT TIME. JJuRING the time the Ifle of Wight con- tinued in the De Redvers family, its poffefibrs feem to have held it by the moft free and independent tenure. By the grant of Henry I. to Richard de Redvers, that baron became pofleffed not only of the royal demefnes within this diftrift, but was inverted alfo with the dominion of the whole ifknd ; holding it under the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 37 the crown in efcuage,* at fifteen knights' fees and an half.t A fief of fuch importance, of confiderable magnitude, and great ftrength from the circum- ftances of its fituation, was foon found, in the turbulent and unfettled ftate of the government at this period, to give too much confequence to a fubjecl, and afford him too frequent oppor- tunities of infulting and endangering regal authority. The wifdom of Edward I., therefore, determined him to make the Ifle of Wight an appendage to the crown, and his policy at length gave him pofleffion of it, in the manner mentioned in the laft chapter. * According to the cuftoms of the feudal fyftem, the king could demand the perfonal attendance of all his vaflals in war. This troublefome fervice was, however, very Toon changed into a pecuniary cempofition, which was aptly enough termed efcuage, from the wordfcutum, the Latin for (hield. It was a fum paid upon every knight's fee, for fome reigns precarious and uncertain ; being at times 2os. per knight's fee, at others, 2 marks, &c. + One knight's fee was compoied of four hydes of land ; and each hyde contained one hundred Norman acres, which were equal to one hundred and twenty EngliJ/i ones. Arthur Agarde, p. 9. Shortly 38 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OT WIGHT. Shortly after Edward's purchafe of it, the preparations of Philip, King of France, to in- vade the Englifh coaft, threw the Southern part of the kingdom into fome confirmation; and a defcent being apprehended on the Ifle of Wight, Edward took proper precautions for its defence, by giving a joint commiffion to the Bifhop of Winchefter, Adam de Gordon,* and Sir Richard de Affeton, to aft as wardens of it. The French force, however, took a direction more to the * This Adam de Gordon was a famous rebel and free- booter in the reign of Henry III., who ranged through the extennve forefts of Hampfhire, committing de- predations on all who fell into his hands. He became at length fufficiently formidable to merit the notice of government, and Prince Edward was difpatched in purfuit of him. They met near Alton in Hampfhire, and a defperate fingle combat immediately commenced between them ; in which Edward was at length vic- torious, though not without great difficulty. Inftead of being enraged by the oppontion of Gordon, the young prince was ftruck with admiration of his valor ; pardoned him on the fpot for his former atrocities, and received him into his confidence and friendfhip. A curious example of the romantic fpirit of the times ; and a remarkable inflance of generous gallantry in Eaward. T. Wikes, p. 76. Eaftward ; HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 39 Eaftward , attacked the town of Dover, re- duced it to afhes, and retired.* The peace of the ifland continued unmolefted till the reign of Edward III.; whofe abfurd claims to the crown of France involved him in a war with France, which, though brilliant with refpecl: to temporary fuccefs, was extremely pernicious to his country in its confequences. During thefe hoftilities, the Ifle of Wight was repeatedly threatened with a defcent, which induced the iflanders to enter into regulations for their fecurity, of the following nature : t" 1. That there mould be but three ports in the ifland ; namely, La Riche, Shamblord, and Yarmouth. 2. That three perfons fhould be appointed wardens of thefe ports, who were to prevent any one from retiring from the ifland, or exporting provilions from thence without licence. 3. That none but licenfed boats mould be permitted to pafs, except the boat belonging to * Trivetus. p. 284. t Rot. Far. i2th Edward III. the 40 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the abbot of Quar; a boat belonging to Sir Bartholomew de Lifle, and another belonging to Robert de Pimely. 4. That feveral watches fliould be appointed, and perfons nominated to fuperintend them and the beacons.* Nor were thefe precautions ufelefs, for in the thirteenth of Edward HI., the French aftually landed at the Eaftern extremity of the ifland, in confiderable force. They were, however, foon oppofed by Sir John de Long- ford, Sir Bartholomew de Lifle, and SirTheobald Ruflel, (who had been appointed wardens,) with a body of iflanders under their command. A {harp conflict enfued, in which Sir Theobald Ruflell was flain, but the French were obliged to retire with lofs to their (hipping. The fituation of the ifland, immediately op- pofite to the coaft of France, rendered it always liable to vifits from the French, before the exiftence of thofe caflles, which the prudence of Henry VIII. creeled. So that there was fcarcely * Sir R. Worfley, p. 31. a war HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 41 a war with that kingdom from the thirteenth to the feventeenth century, in which Tome attempts were not made to land in the Ifle of Wight. Many of the inhabitants, indeed, confcious of its expofed fituation, and the conftant danger in which they ftood of lofing their lives and fortunes, during the almoft perpetual hoftilities between France and England in the fourteenth century, voluntarily withdrew, with their effels, to the coaft of Hampfhire : and this fpirit of emigra- tion began to be fo univerfal amongft them, that Edward IH. was obliged to enforce their con- tinuance on it, by an order to the wardens, that the lands of thofe who had retired from the ifland, and did not immediately return, fliould be feized, and efcheat to the crown.* G It appears * Brcv. Regis de Morando in Inf. Vea, 51. Ed. III. Rex dileftis et fidel. fuis, Johi. de Cavendifh et fociis fuis jufliciariis ad placita coram nobis tenenda aflignatis, fal., &c. Cum infula Vefta, qme infra littus maris in comitatu Southamptoniae fituatur, hoftibus noftrispublicis maxime fit propinqua, quam etiam infuiam iidem hoftes multum deiiderant ; et cum, infra breve tompus, appro- pinquare et debellare proponunt, ut audivimiis. ct I* parint. Nos licet de avifamento concilii noftri felliones noftras 42 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. It appears that their apprehenfions were not without foundation. Early in Richard's reign, the French, with a multitude of galliesand fhips, landed at the village of Rye, which they burnt to the ground, making prifoners of many of its inhabitants, and murdering the reft. They then proceeded into the heart of the ifland, and at- tacked Carifbrook-caftle, whither numbers of the iflanders had retired for protection. This for- trefs was defended by a gallant knight, Sir Hugh Tyrrel, who, by his prudence and bravery, at length obliged the invaders to retire, but not be- fore they had extorted a contribution of one thoufand marks from the inhabitants, who were noftras in com. prasdifto ad placita coram nobis tcnenda quamdiu noftrse placuerit voluntati ordinaverimus, vo- lumus lamen et jubemus quod omnes et fmguli refidentes et habitantes in infula Vefta, cujufcunque fuerint flatus et condition's, falvationi et dcfenfioni cjufdem infular continue intendant, et ibidem rnoram faciant et remaneant, abfque eo quod ipfi feu eorum aliquis coram nabis in feflionibus noftris in comitatu prsedi&o comparere {eu v-entre, vel in aflifis juratis feu rccognitionibus aliquibus ibidem (quanquam nos fpecialitci" tangant.) poni feu paneilari non compellatur, aut tencntur quocunque modo vcl colore qftoufque aliud inde duxerimus demandandum, &c. Rymcr' Feed. vol. VII. p. 147. glad r OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. glad, by thefe means, to refcue their houfes and property from fire and devaluation.* The annalifts have tranfmitted to us fome other accounts of attempts by the French to fur- prife this place. One of thefe occurred in the fifth year of Henry V., when a large party of them landed, for the purpofe, as they aflert- ed, of keeping Chrijlmas .there : their entertain- ment, however, was but a forry one ; for the iflanders being apprized of their arrival, fud- denly attacked, and deftroyed, a grea.t number of them. Not learning prudence from their ill fuccefs, they made another hoftile vifit a fhort time after this failure, demanding a fubfidy, in the name of Richard II. and Ifabella his queen. The conduct of the iflanders on the occafion, marks * In this expedition the French burned the towns of Newtown and Yarmouth. They made the following ilipulation alfo with the inhabitants, before they agreed to retire, which is ridiculous enough, from the im- probability of its being regarded, had the invaders infilled on its obfervance ; That, fhould they return within twelve months after their departure, the inlanders would not attempt to interrupt their devaftatio>;s. G 2 ftrongly 44 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ftrongly the fpirit of the times ; and gives us very favorable impreffions of their courage and generofity. They denied any money being due from them to the French; but added, if the latter had any inclination to try their prow- efs in battle, they mould land without molefta- tion, and be allowed fix hours to reft and re- frefh themfelves; after which interval, the men of the ifland would meet them in fair combat. The invitation was declined, however, on the part of the Frsnch, and they fpeedily decamped. Henry VIII. was the firil of our monarchs who adopted the plan of building forts on thofe parts of the Britifh coafts which were moft ex- pofed to the infults of the French. He ere&ed feveral along the mores of the Ifle of Wight. Perhaps he was induced to this by fome defcents made by that people during his wars with Francis I., whofe marine feems to have been more numerous than his own. In the thirty-fixth year of his reign, Annebout, the French admiral, landed two thoufand men in three different parts of the ifland, with an intention to take pofTeflion of, HfSTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 45 of, and fortify it for his mafter, the King of France. But a council of war having deter- mined the impracticability of this fcheme, the invaders contented themfelves with burning and laying wafte the villages ; in which work they were bufily employed, when Richard Worfley, Captain of the Ifland, attacked, and drove them to their fhips, with the lofs of the admiral, and a great part of his forces. The powerful naval preparations of Spain againft England, ftimulated Elizabeth to bend her particular attention towards the increafe of the Britifh Marine. Her exertions were fuch, that flie foon put it upon a footing fufficiently re- fpe&able to brave the power of Philip, and to gain that afcendency which her fuccefTors have ever fince maintained. Her navies were found to be a furer defence againft the attempts of foreign enemies, than all the fortrefles which her father had erected ; and the neighbourhood of Portfmouth, that now became the rendezvous of mips of war, gave additional fecurity to the Jfle of Wight, which, from this time, does not appear 46 HI$fOftY OF tHE ISLE OF WIGHT. appear to have fuffercd farther by French invafions. Early in the civil wars of the laft century, the Parliament became 'poflefled of the Ifle of Wight, by the removal of Jerom, Earl of Portland, (who was attached to the caufe of the ill-fated Charles,) from the government of it. This nobleman had rendered himfelf extremely popular, during the exercife of his authority, by the affability of his manners, and his generous hofpitality. Infomuch that, when the Parliament fuddenly imprifoned him, upon the abfurd pretences of his being a favorer of popery, and a thoughtlefs expender of the ammunition en- trufted to his care, the chief inhabitants of the ifland drew up and prefented the following petition to the parliament in his behalf. " To the honourable the knights, citizens, and burgeffes, of the houfe of commons, aflembled in parliament;" 44 The humble petition of the deputy- lieutenants and juftices of the peace, the mayors arrd corporations of Newport. Newtown, and Yarmouth ; HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Yarmouth ; and of the reft of the inhabitants of the Ifle of Wight." " Prefenting to your gracious confideration our general! griefe for the queftioning of Jerom, arl of Portland, our noble and much honoured and beloved captayne and governor." " The principal imputation, as we are given to understand, being a jealoufy of his iordfhip's inclination to popery." " For ourfelves. we have a pregnant teftimony amongft us of his pious affe&ion and love to the reformed religion, by a conftant weekly leQurq at Newport, to which his lordfhip is a principal benefaclor. So are there on the other fide, fo fmall effe&s to be feen, of his lordfhip's difcourfe or pra&ife that way tending, that amongft all the inhabitants of this ifle, we have not one profefled papift, or, to our knowledge, popifhly affe&edj Co rare a bleffing, in thefe times, as we fuppofe cannot be boafted in any trad of ground, of this extent, in all the kingdom of England." 44 Some other weake afperfions uppon bis lordfhip, we thought not worthy of our owne regard, 48 HISTORY OK THE ISLE OF WIGHT* regard, much lefle dare, wee prefume to re- member them to fo grave and wife a fenate ; wee do therefore, at once, with this petition, prefent our humble and gratefull acknowledgment to this greate and good aflembly, of the care that is taken of our weale and fafety, which wee conceive can no waye be better advanced and continued uppon us, than by your juft ap- probation of the vigilance and fidelity of our prudent and able governor."* The above reprefentation being difregarded by the parliament, the moft refpeclable gentlemen of the ifland feemed inclined to enforce a com- pliance with what they had, in vain, requefted ; ami actually entered into a fpirited declaration againft the proceedings of the houfe of commons, ftating, that it was their determination to fupport, with their lives and fortunes, the proteftant religion, " and admit no forreyn power or forces, or new government; except his majefty, by advice of his parliament, uppon occafione that may arife, (hall think itt neceffary to alter it in * Sir R. Worfley's Hift. p. no. any HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 49 any particulars, for the good and fafety of the kingdom ;" this was fubfcribed with twenty-four names.* Notwithftanding, however, the inclination of the Ifle of Wight gentry, to befriend the caufe of the unfortunate Charles, the populace, whofe affections are as uncertain as worthlefs, inftigated by the feditious fpirit of Mofes Read, Maycvr of Newport, declared in favor of the parliament; and a reprefentation was tranfmitted to this affembly, of great danger accruing to the ftate, from the Countefs of Portland being allowed to continue in Carifbrooke caftle, and Col. Brett retaining the cuftody of it. In confequence of this, orders were fent to Read, to feize im- mediately on this fortrefs; and to fecure the temporary governor, and the Earl of Portland's lady, together with her five children, and other relatives, who had flickered themfelves in it. The rebel mayor marched, therefore, with the Newport Militia, and a body of four hundred * Sir R. Worfley, p. 115 : the declaration bears date, Auguft 8th, 1642. H {ailors HISTORY OF THE ISLL OF WIGHT. failors, to attack the garrifon of Carifbrooke, which, at that time, did not confift of more than twenty men. We blufh for the degeneracy of our kind, when we relate, that Harby, the curate of Newport, who was bound to the Earl of Port- land by the ftrongeft ties of gratitude, proftituted his facred office, by exhorting, from the pulpit, this rebellious band, to fweep from the earth the unfortunate Countefs, with her innocent offspring. This lady, however, animated by that un- bending fortitude which fprings from confcious rectitude, was no ways diftrefled at the prodigious difproportion between the numbers of her aflailants and defenders. She knew it was im- poffible for her little garrifon long to refift the enemy's attacks, but, at the fame time, was determined not to furrenderit, without affurance of receiving the moft honorable terms of capitu- lation. She roufed the fpirits of the defponding foldiers, by her animating exhortations; and added the force of example to the perfuafion of eloquence. With a lighted match in her hand, fte HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. i file walked deliberately to one of the baftions, declaring (he would difcharge the firft cannon at the foe. Read, and his party, unwilling perhaps to provoke the dangerous efforts of defpair, offered terms of capitulation, which, after fome negociations, were accepted, and the cattle was furrendered on the following ftipulations; That the warder of the caftle, Col. Brett, together with his fervants, and the garrifon, fhould be allowed the freedom of the ifland, under the reftriftion of their forbearing to vifit Portfmouth, which Goring at that time held for Charles. That the countefs, with her family and friends, fhould be allowed to continue her refidence in the caftle, till fuch time as the parliament had declared its pleafure in that refpeft. Her ftay here was not long protracted; the houfe of commons, with invidiousexpedition, immediately iranfmittcd an order for her to remove from the ifland, within two days after the receipt of it. Ye_t fuch was the height to which the fpirit of fanaticifm had already arifen, in this part of England, that not a {ingle iflander could be H 2 found, 2 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. found, who would undertake to convey to the oppofite more, one, whofe confort had been fufpefted of favoring popery ; and it is probable the unfortunate countefs might have been com- pelled to negleft the orders of the council, had not the feamen of a trading vefiel, with that generous compaffion which characterizes the maritime profefiion, taken her and her family on board their fhip, and conveyed them fafely to the coaft of Hampfhire. From this period, the hiftory of the Ifle of Wight ceafes to afford further military anecdote. On the Earl of Pembroke fucceeding Col. Brett, its inhabitants quietly funk under the control of the parliament; and witneffed, without an effort to prevent it, the unnatural imprifonment of their anointed fovereign, in Carifbrook caflle, and the forcible abduftion of him from thence to the fcaffold at Whitehall. On the reftoration of his fon, they as patiently and willingly received the governor appointed by the court, Thomas, Lord Culpeper ; and, during the whole trouble- Tome period of the civil war, occupied entirely by HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 53 by their agricultural and commercial purfuits, kept the " noifelefs tenor of their way ;" with- out being involved in thofe convulfions, which fhook the peace of almoft every other part of the kingdom.* * " The quiet they enjoyed invited many from the neighbouring counties to retire hither ; which raifed the rents of the farms in the proportion of twenty pounds in the hundred. That the rife originated from this caufe only, appeared by their finking again, foon after the Reftoration." Sir R, WorHey's Hift. Ifle of Wight, CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OP WIGHT. CHAP. VI. THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT DEFENCE OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. D URING the continuance of the Roman government in Britain, the univerfal empire of that people precluded the neceffity of keeping a military force in the ifland, to defend it from external attacks. The few legionaries who dwelt in the ftaiion at Carifbrook, were placed there for the purpofe of preferring internal peace and order; which, from the caufes mentioned in a preceding chapter, were eafily maintained throughout the diftril. Not but that the iflanders had it in their power to be troublefomc to their conquerors, provided their inclination had been fuch; for although Claudius, on his fubduing the Southern parts of Britain, deprived, for HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 55 for a time, its inhabitants of their arms ; yet thefe were again reftored, as foon as their minds were reconciled to the dominion of the Roman power.* The excellent regulations of Alfred, with whom originated the idea of a national militia, t enabled the Ifle of Wight to repel the repeated defcents of the Danes ; nor could they effeft any ferious impreffions on it, fo long as thofe regulations were properly obferved. From the time that William Fitz-Ofborne received the abfolute dominion of the Ifle of Wight, the defence of it refted entirely with itfelf. Being totally diftinft from the crown, it was not to expe'61 the interference of that power, in ca r e of foreign aflaults. But the feudal fyftem provided ample refources for its pro- tection. According to the fpirit of this mingled mafs of wifdom and abfurdify, each land-holder was a foldierj and bound to attend the lord of the fee in his wars. A principle that certainly * Dio. p. 959. t Afferius de Vit. jfclfredi, p, 6. was ,56 HISTORY OF THE ISLL OF WIGHT; was not without its advantages, whilft ftrictly adhered to; fince it furnifhed, on every emer- gency, a band of warriors who were bound by the ftrong tie of intcreft, as well as the facred obligation of oaths, to exert every effort in the field of battle. Although Richard de Redvers did not receive the Ifle of Wight on fuch independent and unfettered terms, as William Fitz-Ofborne had it from the Norman on ; yet, with refpeft to its defence, he alone was to provide the means of that; And we find, accordingly, that fo long as it continued in his family, a fupply of feventy- fix men at arms was always drawn from Devon- ftiire, (of which county the Redvers family were earls,) whenever the profpeft of external hoftility rendered fuch fuccour neceflary for the iflanders.* As foon, however, as Edward I. waspoflefled of it. the means of its fecurity became of courfe the care of the crown. The following lift of men at arms, furniftied to this monarch, for its defence, * Inq. Ann. i6mo Ed. III. will HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 57 will difplay the nature and the fources of its proteftion at this time : MEN. From the Bifhop of Salifbury - 5 From the Abbot of Glaftonbury 7 From John Mandut - i From Emmeline Longefpey - t from the Abbot of Stanley - ,2 From Beatrice de Winter mail - i From the Abbot of Gloucefler - i From the Abbefs of Godefknv - i From Robert de Keynis - i From the Abbot of Malmfbury - * 3 From the Abbot of Cirencefter . 2 From Thomas Warbiington - i From the Prior of Hurle i from Thomas de Ambro(bury i From the Abbot of Abyngdon - 3 Fiom Elia Molendinari - i From John Dandele i From William Pagham i From Richard Winton - i From Peter Coudray - i From Hugh Taylor - i From the Abbot of Romele - i From Lucia de Grey - t I From 58 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ::r:<. From the Abbot of Walton - 1 From the Preceptor of Shalford - 1 From the' Preceptor of Conele - 1 From Nicholas Burden - i From Roger de St. Mardn - i From Mary the king's daughter, a nun at} f 2 Ambrefbury - j From the Bifhop of Worcefter - i From Hamon de Paries - 1 From the Bifhop of Bath and Wells - i From Robert Kingborne, for William de Coates i John Grey, for Walter Skydemour - - John Blaine, for the Abbot of Thukefburgh - Richard Selby, for the Hundred of Herewalkeden Henry Hemenhall, for Chipham and Malmfbury Walter Cornifey, for the Hundred of Warham i John Carrile, for Chalk and Domerham i GeofFry de Calne, for Heightfbury i From Roger de Coke, for Weftbury - i From the Abbefs of Whonvell i From Hugh Feverell - - - . . i From William Ires, for the Abb. of Shafton i From Maurice de Wileb, for Matthew Fitz John i From Sterne ... . i From the Community of Wilts 6 From Alife- de Bavent j From HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ,59 MEN. From the Prior of - i From Adam de Breton i *From Richard dc la Rivere - i In all Men at Arms - - - 73 Exclufive of this band of auxiliaries, every free land-holder, to the amount of twenty pounds per annum, was obligated by his tenure to find one horfeman, completely armed and ac- coutred, at his own proper charges, in all times of aftual danger. It appears alfo, that for the better fecurity of the ifland againft furprizes, various beacons and watches were eftablifhed in different parts, at which con- ftant duty was performed both night and day. Of thefe there were thirteen in the Eaftern divifion of the ifland, and fixteen in the Weftern divifion; and each of them, (for the moft part) had four men to watch at it during the night, and two by day.t To thefe means of * Prynne on the 4th Inilitute, p. 211. + Inquifitio anno 18. Edw. II. num. 216. in Tur. Lend. N. B. The illand, from very early anti- I 2 quity 60 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. of defence were added one hundred {lingers and bowmen fent by the king, and three hun- dred by the city of London.* Early in the reign of Edward III. we find the number of forces furnifhed by the land-holders of the ifland, amounted to fifty-four men at arms, and one hundred and forty-two bowmen, who were produced by the perfons, and in the pr a The Lord of Alverfton - o 2 The Manor of Milton - -03 The Vavafor - o a John Malterfon, for Wood Anfterborn ^ (Ofborne) and Chilling Wood - J The Manor of Pagham - 02 The Manor ot Nettlefton - o a The Abbot of Beaulieu o 2 John Wyvill - -04 John Norreys ... o i Edward Barnaby - o i The Manor of Nunwell - 02 Richard de Hale - OB Ralf Overtoil, for Horringford o i Thomas Hacket - o i William Urry - o l The Lady Mary Buteler, for Hale o l The Prior of Portfmouth o a Geoffry Rouelle ... -02 The 62 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ARM. SAG. The Manor of Bathingborne O 2 John Palmer of Wotton, and John Stone o 1 Roger Baker .... o 1 William Stouer o 1. Ifabell Keynis, for Niton - 2 John Waite 1 Henry Pedder, for Weftbrooke o 1 Sir Theobald Gorges, for Chillingwood - o 1 The Temnt of Robert Syngdone ... o 1 1 Sir John de Kyngfton, for Lucelo and l ^ o I Priffloe - i The Churches of Eajl Medinc : The Church of Brading 2 Yaverland o 1 New church 2 O Arreton 1 3 Whippingham 2 Niton o 1 Benilede o I Shentlyn t Bonechurch I Wootton 1 Wathe o 1 Appulderford o 1 $townam, or Standen o 1 The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 63 ARM. SAG. The Church of Knighton o i Alverfton - o i The Vicar of Brading o i Arreton - o i Goddefhill - o i The Chapel of St. Edmund, at Wootton o The Weft Medine : The Prior of Carifbrooke ^ - 60 The Procurator of Lyra i 2 Giles Beauchamp, For Frefhwater ' 20 Gilbert de Spencer - 12 The Lord of Affeton - - i o The Erie of Salifbury - 32 Sir John de Kingfton - - 12 John de Compton ~- - 02 Sir Thomas Langford - - 3 The Manors of Gatcomb, Whitwell, Caulborn, and Merften Thomas Rale - i o Sr. Lawrence de St. Martin - i i The Lord of Motteflon - i o Ralph de Woolverton - -02 Nicholas deWoolverton - - o i Ralf DiBon and Tho. Hacket, for Hatherfield o 2 Sr. John Tychborn - - 02 Thomas HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Thomas le Wayte - - William Paflelew and Geoffiry Ronele John Berle ... John Fauterby Lady liabella Hunfton Henry Tailour - The Abbefs of Lay cock Park Lawrence Ruflel The Churches of the Weft Medine The Church of Frefhwater Schaldeflet Caulborn Brixton Shorewell - Gatecomb - Chale Mottefton - Broke Lemerfton - Kingfton Yarmouth - The Vicar of Shorewell Shaldeflet Thorley ARM. SAG. O 2 I 1 1 1 O O O O O O O O O O O HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 6,5 ARM. SAO. The Vicar of Cirefbrook o The Prior of Chriftchurch, who is Reaor of Thorley* I . In all, fifty-four men at arms, and one hun- dred and forty-two bowmen. Thefe, however, by no means conftituted the whole force of the ifland at this period, fince a kind of general militia was furnifhed by the feveral parifhes and tyth- ings, in cafes of external aflault, which was dif- tributed into companies, and commanded by fuch lords of manors as were of the moft approved military fkill : and if thefe refources were in- fufficient for its protection, the warden had frill a difcretionary power veiled in him, of levying new forces throughout the ifland, and of im- prefling men for its defence from the County of Southampton.t To thefe regulations for its fafety, the Ifle of Wight continued fubje6t for the fpace of many * Sir R. Worfley's Hiil. Ifle of Wight, Append. No. II. f Rot. Franc. 26. Ed. III. m. 13. K years. 66 HISTORY Of THE ISLE OF WIGHl. years, till Henry VIII. incenfed by fome recent defcents of the French on the Britifh coaft, adopted the plan of building a number of forts and block-houfes on the parts moft expofed to their infults. Thofe ere&ed at this time, on the ifland, were the following :* Sandown Fort, fituated at the bottom of a bay of that name, in the South-eaftern part of the ifland.t Yarmouth Co/lie, intended to defend the en- trance of the riveryizr,+ on the north-weftern part. Wor/leys Tower^ (long fince demolished) built on a point of land, about a mile to the Weft of Yarmouth. * Thefe were all built about the g6th Hen. VIII. + This fortrefs is ftill kept in repair, and has the fol- lowing eftablifhment : A captain, twelve warders, one mailer gunner, three . othsr gunners. It is a regular quadrilateral building ; having a baftion at each angle, and furrounded with a wet ditch. Yar, is a corruption of yr, a Britifh appellative for water. The eflablifhment of this caftle is ftill prefervcd ; though its ufes have long fmce ceafed. It has a captain, one mailer gunner, and five other gunners. Weft HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 67 Weft Cowes Caftle, ereaed on the Weft fide of the river Medina, on the North fhore of the ifland, and Eajl Cowes Co/lie, on the other fide of the fame river, of which no veftige now remains.* The eftablifhment of Sandham and Weft- Cowes caftles, will appear from the underwritten account of fees paid to their refpe&ive garrifons : Sandham Ca/lk. Sandham Bay. PXR DIEM. 45. Captain as. Under ditto 6d. Soldiers, thirteen . : d. 8d. Porters, one Fee 3 6 3 6 8 8d. Matter Gunner 6d. Other Gunners, feven Weft - Cowes Fortrefs. is. Captain 6d. Soldiers, two . ,. 4 -. 8d. Porter, one (" Fee 10 3 8 ' 4* 6d. Gunners, fix % * Weft Cowes caftle is alfo utterly ufelefs ; but ftill has a captain, one mafter gunner, and five other gunners. t Sir R. Worflcy's Hift. Append, No. XXXVI. Ka The 68 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The nature and proportions of the military ftores kept in the different caftles of the ifland, at the period of Henry's death, are ftill preferved to us, and may be deemed fufficiently curious to be laid before the reader. The IJlc of Wight* The Cajlell at 1 Ordenaunce, artillery, and Yarmouthe. J other munycions of warre re- maynyng at the faide caftell in the cuftody and chardge of Richard Edwall, captaine there, the a6th. of Decembre, anno regni regis nunc Edwardi fexti primo. Curtail Cannon of Brafle furnyfhed Gone Demy Culveryne of BrafTe furnyfhed Gone Demy Culveryne of caile Irene fur- ? Gone nymed 3 Fowlers of Irone with 4 chambers 7 ij. flocks broken 3 Sacres of Cafte Irone furnyfhed - ij. * Extracted from a MS. formerly in the povTeffion of Gufliivus Brander, Efq. (now in the Britifh Mufeunv, being ' ; An inventory of the plate, Jewells, ordenaunce. &c. of Henry VIII." dated i^th September, 1547. Doblc HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 69 Doble barces of yrone with iiijl chambers j Single bafes of yrone with iiij chambers ijo. Demy culveryne of cafte yrone - Gone broken. Cannon fhot of yrone - . - xv. Demy culveryne Shott of yrone xlvj. Sacre (hotte of yrone C. Fowler fliotte of ftone - - l li ' Shotte of doble bafes of diece and lead !*' Shott of fmgle bafes * xxx ti - viii di. bar. iii Serpentyne powder - Hagbuttes furnyflied - xix. Corne Powder for the fame - di. Bar. Bowes - cxl ti- Sheiffs of Arrows - ccxlviij. Bowftrings oone firkyne, conteyning ij GrofTe. Billes - ccxxiij. The Block-houfe at Sharpnode within -the faid Ifle of Wight, in the charge of Nicholas Cheke. Demy Culveryns of Brafle furnyfhed Oone Sacres of Brafle furnyftied - Oone Demv cnlveryne fhotte of yronc - xxj. Sac re 70 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. XX11J. Gone doble Bar. The Ca/lell of 1 Ordenaunce, artyllery, and Cary/brooke. j other munycions of warre re- mayninge at the faid Caftell in the cuftody and charge of Richard Worfley gentilman, Captayne of the faid ifle. Slynges of yrone furnyfhed .- ij. Fowler of yrone furnyfhed - Gone. Doble baffys of yron furnyfhed - ij* Hoole culveryne fhotte r ' Demy Cannon Shotte Yron for divers peices Demy culveryne Shotte of yrone Sacre fhotte of Yrone - - cciiij. Fawcon fhotte of yrone clx*'* Doble bafis fhotte - xlti- f xxiij doble Serpentyne powder i bar. iij. firk. Hagbuttes furnyfhed, lacking xxl r cxl. flafks and xx touch-boxes j Coilles of Lyntte - DC. Corne Powder - iiij doble bar. Cheftes HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Cheftes of Arrowes Cheftes of Bowes Bow firings Morifpickes Javelyns Billes lix. xxi. iij Bar. D. XX C. iiij. iiij. Dccl. The Cajlell of Sandham baye. Ordenaunce, artillery, and other munycions of warre remaynyng at the faid caftell in the cuftody and charge of Peter Smythe Cap- tayne there. Demy culveryns of brafle furnyfhed - Saker of brafle furnyfhed Fawcone of brafle furnyfhed Porte pieces of yrone with ii cham-7 beis furnyfhed j Hoole flynges of yrone furnyfhed Demy flynges of yrone with vil chambers 3 Quarter Slynges of yrone with oone 1 chamber J Demy Culveryn fhotte of yrone Demy culveryn fhotte of dice and lead Oone. Oone. Oone. Oone. Oone. v. Oone. XX iiij. xv. Hollo* HISTORY OF THE ISLt OF WIGHT. Hollow fhottes for wild fier - Sacre fhotte of yrone Sacre fhotte of Dice and Leade Fawcon fhotte of yrone Fawcon fhotte of Dice and leade Shotte of ftone for port pieces Cafes of haile fhotte for the fame Slynge fhotte of Dice and leade Demy flyng fhotte of Dice and Leade Quarter flynge fhotte of dice and leade Serpentyne powder Hagbufhes wanting flafks and touch- boxes Corne powder Bowes - Sheiff Arrowes Pickes Billes i xij. Ixij. XX iiij.xiiij* xxxvj. cxvj. xxiiii. xxvijij. xij. c. xlvj. iij doble bar. j firk. Ixxviij. Gone firk. Gone cheft. Gone cheft. cl. cxx. The Cajlell at the Wefte Cowe. Ordenaunce, artillery, and other munycions of Warre remaynyng in the faid caftell in the charge or cuftody of Robert Raymonde Cap- tayne. The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The Barbycan. Curtoll cannon of Brafle furnyflied - Gone Baftard Culveryne of Braffe furnyfhed Gone Porte pieces of y rone i'urnyfhed with! iiij chambers j Three Quarter Slynges with ij cham- Gone. bers Porte pieces not able to ferve - Gone. Cannon Shotte of yrone xvij. Baftard Culveryn Shotte of yrone - xiij. Baftard Culveryn Shotte of leade Ivj. Shotte for port pieces of Stone xxx. Slinge Shotte of Irone xxxij. The Wcjlc Wynge. Doble bafes with ij chambers not 7 > Gone. hable to ferve J Single bafes with iij chambers not] hable to ferve ^ The Eaftc Winge. h hable to ferve Doble bafes with iij chambers not 1 The 74 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The maynt Towre. Doble bafes with ii chambers furnyfhed Oonc. Three quarter Slinges with ii cham- "1 bers apiece, whereof oone is not S iij. hable to ferve Single Bafes with viij chambers not 7 hable to ferve J Three quarter fling fhott of leade - cxlvj. Shotte for doble bafes Ixiiij. c Ji doble Bar. it Serpentyne Powder - g^ Hagbutts not hable to ferve x. Corne Powder - iiij Ib. Bowes - - xix. Chefts of Arrowes - xxxij. Pickes - xxij. Billes - - xx. In the year 1558, a very confiderable ad- dition was made to the means of defence in the Ifle of Wight, by the introduction of Jire arms there. Richard Worfley, Efq. who was that year reinftated in his office of captain of the ifland, received orders to put the com- mon HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 75 mon mufket of the times into the hands of the militia, and to fettle an armourer at Carif- brooke caftle, for the purpofe of fabricating them. Thefe directions were executed, and the foldiers received their new arms ; which although they were the rude and clumfy harquebufles of- the fixteenth century, with the match lock, and reft, yet they might be confidered as much more formidable inftruments of deftruclion than the weapons before in ufe amongft them.* It was in confequence of thefe new regu- lations, and the vigilant care with which they were inforced, that the militia of the Ifle of Wight wore a very refpe6table appearance to- wards the clofe of the fixteenth century. Cam- den fpeaks of the inhabitants at that time, as * About the fame time, the iflanders voluntarily put themfelves to the trouble and expence of providing a train of artillery for their defence. Each parifh found me, which was either kept in a fmall houfe built for the purpofe, or in fome part of the church. About eighteen of thefe remain. Ihe carriages and ammunition were provided at the expence of the garifhes, and particular farms were charged with the' duty of finding horfes to draw them. Sir R. Worfley, p. i - L 2 excelling 76 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. excelling greatly in military {kill. u They are brave and courageous," fays he, " and fo con- flantly trained by the captain of the ifland, as to underftand completely all the operations of war. They excel in firing at a mark ; can keep their ranks ; march compact and orderly ; or extend their files if need be ; are inured to hardfhip, fatigue, heat and duft, and can per- form every office of a foldier. The ifland," he continues, " can raife four thoufand foldiers of its own ; and can have, at a ftiort notice^ three thoufand well difciplined men from Hampfhire, and two thoufand from Wiltfliire.*" In the year 1625, the ifland could bring into the field, two thoufand and twenty ef- fective men ; the following ftatement mews in what manner they were armed, and how divi- ded into companies. A true Noate of the Strenght of the ifland, taken by Sir John Oglander, liftennant, the iath of May 1625, and by him delivered to the Counfell. * Cam. Brit. Edit. 1607. In HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 77 In Sir John Oglandtrs Band. Officers - - 7 Mulketieres ."* . - 60 , * Corflettes ^ 21 Bare Pickes - 9 Soom 97 In Sir Edward Dennis Bandt. Officers 10 Mufkettes - - 103 Corflettes . . 13 Bare Pickes . 23 Men unarmed - 61 Som - 210 Appcldorcoombc Bandf. Officers - 9 Mulkettes - - 150 Corflettes - 25 Bare Pickes 37 Men unarmed - 40 Som 261 Mr. Dillingtoris Band. Officers _ . 12 Mufkettes - 60 Corflettes HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Corflettes Bare Pickes Men unarmed Som Sir John Richardcs Bande. Officers Mufkettes Corflettes Bare Pickes and men unarmed Som Mr. Ckeekes Band. Officers Mufkettes Corflettes Bare Pickes Som Sir William Meux. Officers Mufkettes Collivors Corflettes .Men unarmed 20 *5 122 6 61 28 109 21 12 44 .20 Som 261 Mr. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 79 Mr. Ltyghes Band. Officers 6 Mufkettes 63 Corflettes 16 Bare Pickes - 10 Som 95 Mr. Barman's Band. Officers 13 Mufkettes 65 Corflettes 17 Bare Pickes 20 Som "5 Mr. Hobfon's Band. Officers 18 Mufkettes 83 Corflettes - 38 Men unarmed 3 1 Som 170 Mr. Urric's Band. Officers 11 Mufkettes ^ 80 Corflettes 80 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Corflettes - - - 22 Bare Pickes - 9 Soom 122 Nuport Band. Officers - - - 2 Mufkettes - 94 Collivors - 4 Corflettes - - 12 Bare pickes 32 Holberdes - - 10 Men unarmed 130 Som 304 Mufkettes - - 1088 Collivors - - 33 Corflettes 263 Bare Pickes - 196 Holberdes 10 Men unarmed - 297 Officers 133 Som totoll of all the ablei men within the Ifland is. 3 2020 Since they arr all armed.* * Sir Richard Worfiey's Hift. Append. No. XIV. Three HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 8l Three years after the return of this ftate- ment, the above force was new-modelled, and formed into fixteen companies, which were, in the year 1638, commanded and appointed to the ftations as under. The Watches and Wardes that ar now kept in our I (land. Sep. 20- 1638. Eafl Medcn. {At St. Caterons, a Ward with * Men. On the Hatton Nyghtonfyld, a watch with 2 men. A Watch at Lanes, 2 Men. A Ward at Roxall Down, f Aflien Down, a Ward one Man and a Watch 2 Men. Sir J. Oglander < At St. Helen's poynt, a watch, \_ 2 men. f On Knyghton, a Watch, 2 Men. Sir R. Dilhngton { I At Ryde, a Watch, 2 men. r At Apeldercombe, a watch z men Sir Hen. WorfeleyJ At Criple at Nyghton, a watch, (, 2 men. M Cap. Sir Ed. Dcnnys .) HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Cap. Cheeke Cap. Bafkett Sir Wm. Liflie Wtjl Mcden. Mr. Mewx Sir John Leygh Cap. Urry Cap. Harvyc At St. George's Down, a Watch 9. men. On Binbridge Down, a ward, one Man, and a Watch, 2 men. At Eaft Cowes, Wootton poynt, and at Fifchowfe, a Watch, 2 men a peece. Cap, Booreman ^ !At Ramfe Down, a watch 2 men. At Chale Down, a watch, 2 men. r At Lardon Down, a watch, 2 men. i At Atherfylde, a watch, 2 men. fOn Hearberoe Down, a Ward, 2 Men j On the feae more at Brixton, a [_ watch, 2 men. f On Avington Downe, a Watch, I 2 Men. At Northwood, a Watch, 2 Men, On Gatecombe Downe, a watch, _ 2 Men. f On Frefchewaltor Downe, a ward and Watch, two men apeece. On Motfon Downe, a Watch, 2 Men. Cap, HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 83 Cap. Hobfon At Hamftede, a Watch, 2 Men. Newport 2 Com- 7 i 1 hey only watch in the towne. panics. j The internal ftrength of the ifland, however, feems to have fallen off confiderably in the courfe of a very few years after this arrangement of its militia ; for on the appointment of the Earl of Pembroke to the government of it, in 1642, a reprefentation of its ftate was tranfmitted by Sir John Dingley (who had been deputy-gover- nor) to that nobleman, which affirms that the train-bands were very much weakened and de- cayed, and if there were not a fpeedy courfe taken, would be daily worfe and worfe ; on account of the lords of the manors taking their copyholds into their own hands as quickly as they fell in ; and the rich farmers laying to- gether all the farms they could put their hands upon; caufes which occafioned a fenfible de- creafe in the population and ftrength of the ifland. Further regulations were adopted foon after the above reprefentation, and in the year 1651 M 2 a fet 84 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. a fet of inftru&ions was delivered to the militia of the ifland, of a very fenfible nature ; com- prizing a long lift of precautions to be taken, for the prevention of an enemy's landing, or for refilling him if he did land. A copy of thefe inftruftions was fent to eveiy captain, with orders to have them read at the head of his company whenever it was muttered.* Immediately on the reftoration of Charles the Second, Lord Culpeper was appointed gover- nor of the ifland; whofe inattention with re- fpe6l to the means of its defence, and arbitrary proceedings in civil matters, induced the in- habitants to prefent a petition to the king for his removal ; in which they ftate, that the an- cient magazines and ftores of the ifland, were neither fo full, nor in fo good repair as in former times; nor the militia in fuch a con- dition as was confident with the fafety of the place. In the lord chancellor's anfwer to this peti tion, it is promifed, that Lord Culpeper mould * Sir R. Worfley's Append. No. XVIII. be HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 85 be forthwith difpatched to the ifland to regu- late its militia, and order matters for its better fecurity. This, however, he had not an oppor- tunity of doing, as he fhortly after refigned his poft of governor; in which he was fuc- ceeded by Sir Robert Holmes. In the year 1757 the prefent militia of the Ifle of Wight was firft raifed; and drawn out, embodied, and formed into an independent company in 1770. It confifts of fixty men, and is commanded by a captain under the governor. This ifland has alfo lately evinced its patriot- ifm, in the formation of a cavalry corps, confift- ing of fifty men (officers included) denominated The Loyal I/Is of Wight Yeomanry Cavalry ; a corps raifed for the repullion of foreign attack, and the fuppreffion of domeftic confufion. THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY O F TH E ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. I. F THE ANCIENT RELIGION OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY THERE. .L/RUIDISM was the ancient religion of the Ifle of Wight. Both its original Celtic inhabitants, and their Belgic fucceffors, pro- fefled this mode of worfhip. The Druid doctrine, in its primeval ftate, was fublime and fimple. It taught the exift- ence of one eternal, almighty God, the Creator and Ruler of the univerfe, to whom all things were fubjeft and obedient.* It taught alfo * Regnator omnium . DEUS, caetera fubjefta atque parcntia. Tacit. the 88 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the immortality of the foul; that great principle, which is the moft effectual fpur to virtue, the greateft check to vice, and happieft antidote to defpair.t It further inculcated, the belief of a future ftate, in which the fpirits of the departed were to be cloathed with incorruptible bodies, unfading youth, and perpetual beauty; and invited its followers to reftitude in peace, and gallantry in war, by profpe&s of an un- ceafing repetition of thofe pleafures (though in- finitely exalted and refined), in the ifland of the Weft,* which they had moft efteemed and delighted in, during their refidence on earth.* f" Etio-%vti yacq wag avrois o TIvQotyogov foyos, on vets Y avOgwrrui a.9acva.Tovf ctvxt crv/jJceGviKe. Diod. Sic. lib. V. Imprimis hoc volunt perfuadere, non interire animas. Csef. lib. VI. c. xiv. * Celebratze illas beatorum iniula? dicuntur elle in Occidental oceano. Euftathius ad Dion. Perieg. t Vobis auloribus, umbrae, Non tacitas Erebi fedes, Ditifque profundi Pallida Regna petunt ; regit idem fpiritus artus Orbt alia: longae (canitis ft cognita) vitae Mori media eft. Lucani Pharf. lib. 1. Thus HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Thus fimple and noble was the Druidical religion originally; before the ignorance, the errors, and the fears of the multitude, had cor- rupted and diftorted its philofophical tenets. The policy of its minifters, the Druids, how- ever, involved thefe truths in wilful obfcurity, and in order to preferve iheir empire over the public mind, they wrapped themfelves and their docirine in the mantle of myftery. This conduft naturally increafed their own impor- tance and the veneration of their followers; but at the fame time, left the latter to the wild wanderings of gloomy fuperftition ; to the frightful confequences of affociated folly, igno- rance, and vice. The effects were fuch as might be expected ; the people degenerated into the groffeft Polytheifim ;* immoralities of the impureft nature were univerfally praftifed * JDeorum maxime Mercurium colunt, cui certis diebus humanis quoque hoftiis litarc fas habent. Tacit, dc Mor. Germ. c. ix. Et quibus imn}itis placatur fanguine diro fentates, horrenfque feris altaribus Hefus, Et Taranif Scythicae non mitior ara Dianae. I ucan. lib. i. N amongft 90 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. amongft them ;* and they hefitated not at ap- peafing their multifarious deities by human fa- crifices.t Such was the ftate of religion in the Ifle of Wight when the Romans arrived there ; a fyftem which it would be one of their firft objefts to overturn, for they wifely concluded that whilft its priefts retained that dominion over the minds of the people, which the terrors of their dotrine had acquired to them, patient fubmiffion, quiet government, and public order could never be expected. They therefore (with refpeft to Britain] departed from their eftablifhed maxim, of adopting the deities of the conquered nations, and never ceafed from re- ligious perfecution, till not a veftige of Druidifm remained. + * Uxores habent deni duodenique inter fe communes, et maxime fratres cum fratribus, et parentes cum li- beris. Catfar, p. 89. t Caefar, p. 1 20. % Tacit. Ann. lib. XIV. c. xxx. The HISTORY OF THE ISLK OF WIGHT. 91 The fplendid and motley, but more humane religion of Rome, was now introduced into the Ifle of Wight; and we may fuppofe fome tem- ples would neceflarily be reared there, by a people, who animated every virtue and vice, every paffion and attribute of the mind, and even every abftracled idea, into a living divinity. But the happy period now approached, when the refulgence of the Gofpel was to dif- perfe the moral darknefs of the Britifh em- pire ; to illuminate the underftandings, and purify the hearts of thofe, who had hitherto been wrapped in the gloom of Pagan fuper- flition. Towards the conclufion of the firft century after our Saviour's birth, the religion of Chrift was received in England, and in the courfe of a few years, traverfed a great part of the Southern coaft ; fo that we may fairly conclude, by the beginning of the fecond cen- tury, the bleffings, advantages, and comforts of Chriflianity were offered to, and accepted by the inhabitants of the Ifle of Wight. When, however, this diftricl yielded to the fury of a new invader, and became the ac- N 2 quifition 93 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. quifition of the Saxons, it changed its religion with its inhabitants, and once more witneffed the follies of Paganifm. The religion of the Saxons was that of a barbarous, fierce, and fenfual people grofs and gloomy. Their deities were clothed with ter- rors and vengeance, and only to be appeafed by the blood of human offerings. The fancied pleafures of Odin's Hall too, the feat of the departed warrior, were fuch as fuited the de- praved conceptions of an illiterate, unenlightened people, whofe fole delights were feafting, {laugh- ter, and the chace. In this manfion of happi- nefs, the chief, who perifhed in battle, quaffed his favorite ale from the fkulls of his enemies.* He appeafed his hunger with the fat of the inexhauftible wild boar Serimncr, which was renewed, as foon as carved from the immortal animal. t Again he experienced the extacy of * In craniis inimicorum brevi bibam in praeflantis Odini aula. Epiced. Reg. Lodbrog apud Bartholin. f Mallet's Northern Antiquities, vol. II. Edda, Fable the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 93 the chace in the purfuit of airy ftags;+ and had the daily felicity of mingling in battle, and falling, together with his opponent, tranf- fixed by mutual wounds.} A death, however, which was only to be temporary; for when dinner was announced, the fpiritual forms of the flaughtered warriors were once more ani- mated ; they again mounted their fteeds, and rode unhurt into Valhalla, where frefh recruits of fat and ale invited them to the diurnal de- bauch.* . Thus vicious, wild, and abfurd, were the religious fancies of our Saxon anceftors^ be- fore the rays of Chriftianity had enlightened their darkling reafon, and purified their grofs conceptions. It muft be confeficd, however, that depraved as thefe notions were, they were probably the | Offian. v. I. p. 54. Mallet's North. Antiq. ut fupra. * InH-anti vero prandii tempori omnes incolumes in aulam equitant, et ad potandum confident. Edda, Mythog. xxxv. Apud Mallet, ut fupra. foundation 94 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT: foundation of that enthufiaftic valor and con- tempt of death, which ftrongly marked their character, and rendered their conqueft of Britain complete. Men who could firmly perfuade themfelves, that deftruclion in the field of battle would be followed by an endlefs fruition of de- light, would rather court, than fhun the enemy's fword. Their religious prejudices would teach them to defpife danger in all its Ihapes, and con- vert death, which moft other fyftems of religion involve with terrors, into a defirable event a paffport to immortality and joy.* Towards the latter end of the feventh century, the Ifle of Wight was once more liberated from Pagan fuperftition ; though the circumftances of its converfion to Chriftianity were fomewhat harfh and cruel. Bede thus relates the parti- ticulars : " As foon as Ceadwalla had poffeffed * Certe populi quos defpicit Arftos Felices errore fuo ! quos ille timorum Maximus baud urget lethi metus ; inde rucndi In ferrum mens prona viris, animaeque capaces Mortis ; et ignavum rediturac parcere vitae. Lucan, Pharf. lib. I. himfelf HISTORY OF -THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 95 himfelf of the kingdom of the Geviflii, he took alfo the Ifle of Wight, which hitherto (i. . fmce it had been in the polTeflion of the Saxons) had been devoted to idolatry. He formed a refolu- tion to maffa,cre all its inhabitants, and place in their room people of his own province, binding himfelf by a vow, (though he himfelf was not yet converted to Chriftianity,) if he gained the ifland, to devote a fourth part of it, and its fpoils to the Lord. This he performed, by granting it to Bifhop Wilfred, who happened to be here at the time from his own country. The extent of this ifland, according to the eftimation of the Englifh, is t equal to the fupport of one thoufand two hun- dred families. The Bifhop had the land of three hundred given him. This portion he committed to one of his clergy, named Bernwin, his fitter's fon, allowing him a prieft, named ffildila, to inftrufcl and baptize all that offered themfelves. I muft not here omit, that among the firft fruits of thofe who were faved by their faith here, two infant brothers ofArvandus, king of the ifland, ob- tained the crown of martyrdom, by the fpecial grace 96 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. grace of God. On the enemy's approach they efcaped out of the ifland, and were conveyed to the adjoining country, where being conducted to the place called Ad Lapidemf and thinking there to conceal themfelves from the victorious monarch, they were betrayed, and ordered to be put to death. A certain abbot and prieft named Cynbreth, who had a monaftery not far off, at a place called Reodford,t or the Ford of Reeds, hearing of it, came to the king (who was concealed in the fame neighbourhood, to have his wounds dreffed, which he had received in battle in the Ifle of Wight,) and befought him that if the lads muft die, they might firft receive Baptifm. The king granted his requeft ; and he inftru&ing them in the word of truth, and warning them in the foun- tain of life, fecured their admiflion into the king- * Probably, Stone, a manor in the parifh of Fawley ; near the fea fhore, and immediately oppofite the Ifle of Wight. + The ancient name of Red-bridge ; where, in the Saxon times was a religious houfe. Tanner's Not. Monaftica. dom HISTORY OF THK ISLE OF WIGHJ. 97 dom of Heaven. When the executioner came, they gladly fubmitted to temporal death, by which they doubted not to pafs to eternal life. In this manner," continues Bede, " after all the pro- vinces of Britain had embraced Chriftianity, the Ifle of Wight received it alfo."* * Bede, lib. VI. 16. Cough's Camden, vol. I. p. 124. O CHAP. HISTORY Of THE IbLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. II. OF THE RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS IN THE. ISLE OF WIGHT. AT is feldom found that any religion receives improvement from time ; but on the contrary, that as it gains age it acquires corruption. Being an univerfal concern, it is in the hands of all; and the follies and fuperftitions of fome, the vices and prejudices of others, will, in the natural courfe of things, loon vitiate and deform it. Such was the cafe with the pureft, fimpleft, and beft of all religions; and Chri/lianity in a very few ages after the apoftolical times, had, by the ignorance or perverfenefs of its profef- fors, been ftripped of almoft all thofe divine graces, which adorned it when firft promulgated HISTORY OF TH& ISLE OF WIGHT. 99 to mankind. Errors innumerable, both in doftrine . and praftice, darkened the whole Chriftian world. Monftrous and impious ab furdities difgraced its worfhip. The fpirit of religion entirely evaporated, and rifelefs ridicu- lous ceremonies were fubftituted in the room of real piety.* In this ftate of religious depravity, * The following is the pifture of a good chrijlian, in the feventh century, as drawn by a faint of that age; by which we difcover that, in the opinions of thofe times, a man might be deemed extremely pious, and reckon himfelf fure of heaven, without the trouble of fulfilling one angle duty towards God or his neighbour. " Bonus Chriftianus eft qui ad ecclefiam frequenter venit, et oblationem, quae in altari Deo offeratur, exhibet ; qui de fruftibus fuis non guftat, nifi prius Deo ^liquid ofFerat ; qui, quoties fanftas folemnitates ad- veniunt, ante dies plures caftitatem etiam cum propria uxore, nt fecura confcientia Domini altare accedere nofiit ; qui, poftremo, fymbolum vel orationem Domini- ram numeriter tenet. Redimite animas veftras de poena, dum habetis in poteftate remedia : oblationes et decimas ecclefiac ofFerte ; luminaria fantis locis, juxta quod habetis, exhibete ; ad ecclefiam quoque frequentius con- venite ; fanftorum patrocinia humiliter expetite : quod ii obfen'averitis, fecuri in die judicii ante tribunal aeterni judicjs venientes, dicetis, ' Da, Domine, quia dedimus,' &c." Vita Sanfti Eligii in Dacherii Spicileg. Vet. Sqrip. vol. II, O 2 the 100 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. % the obligations of morality would of courfe be but little attended to ; and in fa6l we find, that, during the middle ages, as they are called, (from the ninth to the twelfth century, when this mantle of mental darknefs was moft clofely drawn over Chriftendom) the different offices, relations, and duties of life were lefs underftood, and worfe fulfilled, than at any other period of time. During this gloomy interval, many ftrange opi- nions arofe, and amongft the reft, that the prayers of others might be as efficacious in averting the wrath of Heaven from a finner, as his own devo- tions ; or, in other words, that it was poflible to be pious by proxy. A principle like this, which re- conciled temporal licentioufnefs with eternal fe- licity, and permitted a free fcope to the paffions without annexing the terrors of future punifli- ment to their indulgence, met with a welcome reception ; and finners of affluence and rank immediately began founding religious houfes for the reception of thofe who were thus to be their proxies in the works of prayer and godlinefs. Hence arofe the numerous monafteries which \vere HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 101 were thickly fprinkled in every country through- out the Chriftian world, before the clofe of the feventh century ; and for feveral ages afterwards increafed with a rapidity only to be accounted for by the natural of the opinions which gave them birth originally. The Normans, a fierce and profligate people, were deeply tinftured with thefe fu- pedtitions and delufive notions ; and as foon as they had acquired England, began with all expedition, founding abbies and monaf- teries throughout the kingdom. William Fitz- Ofborne, on whom the Ifle of Wight was beftowed, followed the example of his country- men, and founded the priory of Carifbrook. The hiftory of this religious houfe is very concife. Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon, in the reign of King Stephen, grants the church of Carifbrook (after the death of two perCbns mentioned in his deed) to the abbot and con- vent of Lyra (in Normandy), to be freely by them enjoyed, either as demefne, or they might fend monks to the faid church. A grant 102 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. A grant and confirmation of William dc Vernun, in the reign of king John, occurs, by which the church of Carifbrook is to re- ceive two marks per annum, out of the toll of the ifland; on the condition of the monks performing daily fervice in the chapel of Newport. A general charter of confirmation ratifies to the abbot and convent of Lyra in Nor- mandy, the church of Carifbrook, with divers other chapels and churches in the ifland. Edward III. when he made his ill-founded claims to the crown of France, feized upon Carifbrook, and all its churches, as an alien priory ; and granted it to the abbey of Mont Grace, in Yorkfhire. Henry IV. however, immediately on coming to the crown, reftored it with many others to the former pofleflbrs. Henry V. again refumed it, and granted it to the monaftery of Shene in Surry, where it continued till the diffolution. In the reign of Henry VIII. this monaftery was leafed to Sir James V/orfley ; from the widow of whofe fon, HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 103 fon, it came to Sir Francis Walfingham. Sir Thomas Fleming afterwards made a purchafe of it; and through his defcendents it devolved to the prefent poflefTors; the vicarage remain- ing in the crown till the time of Charles I. who gave it to Queen's College, Oxford. The chapels of Northwood, Weft Cowes, and New- port, belong to the church of Carifbrook.* The abbey of Quarr, or De Quarreirat as it was anciently called, owes its origin to Baldwin Earl of Devon, who in the thirty- fecond year of Henry I. gave the manor of Arreton to Geoffry, abbot of Savigny in Nor- mandy, for the building of this monaftery, which was dedicated to St. Mary. This abbey appears to have been richly endowed, and that too, by perfonages of the firft confequence ; feveral of whom made it the place of their interment. Amongft thefe were its founder, Earl Baldwin, Adeliza his countefs, and Henry * Sir Rich. Worfley's Hid. p. 163, et infra. t Probably from its neighbouring ftone quarries. It was of the Ciftertian order. their 104 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. their fon ; William de Vernun, who bequeathed three hundred pounds (a prodigious fum in the thirteenth century) for the ere&ion of a monument to himfelf, his lady; and the lady Cicely, fecond daughter of Edward IV. In the fifteenth century the lands of Quarr Abbey, were taxed as follows: " De Redditu affis. taxat. ad - viij marks. ** Apud Newnham ad xv m. *' Apud Sambele (Combley) ad xvj m. " Apud Arreton, ad - xviij m. " Virga de Bykeburie (Bugbury) ad lx s. " Apud HafTeley, ad , xviij m. " Apud Lovecomb, ad - xij m. " Apud Staplehurft et Claybrooke - xl s. " Apud Roweburg - 1 s. " Apud Schete . vij m. " Apud Shalcomb & Compton - x m. " Apud Beneftede - xl s. " Apud Foxore - - Iviij s. " Apud Schrob & Goy, ad - xlij s. " De duobus molendinis apud x 1 ' ecclefiam xij s. " De 4 Molendinis in Ins. Vefta - xv s. "De HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. " De Proventu tannaria - . xl s. XX " Sm. iiij. x\'}!. iijj. iiij. ^'ear-tenths. 2s. 8?. III. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 117 III. when Walter dc Infula built the chapel, and endowed it with glebe, arable, pafture, and wood lands; adding, at the fame time, certain other tithes. This church was afterwards con- fumed by fire, when the one now Handing was creeled upon the fame file. Adjoining to the original church, was a chapel dedicated to St. Edmund the King, which had an independent endowment, and a chaplain diftinft from the reftor of the church.* The church of Northwood is a chapel of eafc to Carifbrook, but, fince the reign of Henry VIII. has enjoyed all parochial privileges, and is exempted from contributing to the repairs of the mother church. When the priory of Carifbrook obtained the re6lory,-and endowed the vicarage, the tithes of Northwood, both great and fmall, were afligned to the vicar. The * Wootton is a reftory dedicated to St. Edmund. Patron, Rev. Mr. Walton ; valuation in King's books, 7!. 16. o^ > Year-tenths, ics. y4. Adjoining to this pavifh is that of Whippingham ; it is a rectory ; patron, the King. Val. King's books. 19!. i. 5'. Year-tenths, 1. a8. i*. Vicar Il8 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Vicar of Carifbrook is Reftor of Northwood.t Northwood parifh includes Weft Cowes, the chapel of which place was creeled in 1657, confecrated in 1662, and endowed in 1671 by Mr. Richard Stephens, with five pounds per annum for ever. It was farther endowed in the year 1679, by Bifhop Morley, with twenty pounds per annum ; provided the inhabitants paid the minifter (who is always appointed by them) an additional forty pounds per annum ; otherwife the faid endowment to be forfeited for ever. Newport church is fuppofed to have been erefted towards the latter end of Henry the Second's reign. The inhabitants, however, had no burial-place here till the time of Queen Elizabeth, when they were indebted to one of the heavieft of God's vifitations, for the privi- lege of interment.* i The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptift. * The plague was fo heavy at Newport, that the burial-place of Carifbrook, the mother church, was not fufficiently large to receive the number of the dead. Carifbrook HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 11$ Carifbrook being the mother church, the appointment of the curate of Newport is ftriBly in the vicar of that parifh. But as the ftipend paid to the officiating minifter arifes from a rate levied on the town's-people, they feem, in juftice, entitled to have their inclination confulted in the appointment. The prefent incumbent, how- ever, appears not to be of this opinion; and has actually given a nomination contrary to the wifhes of the parifh. The confequence of this is an univerfal difcontent, extremely pre- judicial to the interefts of religion; for the larger part of the congregation, difgufted at having a minifter forced upon them, contrary to their choice, have, for fome time paft, difcon- tinued their attendance on divine worfhip. Whether the pertinacity of the curate in holding the appointment under thefe circumftances, or that of the congregation in continuing to teftify their difguft in this manner, be moil blamable, muft be left for others to determine. St. Nicholas chapel, in Carifbrook caftle, was built either by William Fitz-Ofborne, or his fon Roger, 120 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Roger, Earl of Hereford ; and given by Baldwin de Redvers to Ouarr Abbey, together with its lands. The parifh of St. Nicholas has no other place of worfhip than this chapel, at which, for many years, no fervice has been performed; hence its little living is ^finccurt, in the gift of the Governor of the Ifle of Wight. The crown pays for this chapel three pounds a year to the Vicar of Carifbrook, as an acknowledgment to the mother church.* The parifh church of Carifbrook is a pile of great antiquity, ere&ed before the Domefday furvey, as appears by its being mentioned therein, and called The Church of the Manor. It was formerly of much greater extent than it is at prefent ; Sir Francis Walfingham (in the ' reign of Elizabeth) having robbed it of its chancel. He was led to do this by a parfimony not very juftifiable; for, having the leafe of the priory, and by that being obligated to repair this part of the edifice, he avoided the expence foon after he became the leflee, by perfuading * It is a vicarage. Year-tenths, 145. the HISTOKY Ot T!i:: ISLE OF WIGHT. 121 the parifhioners that the body of the church would be fufficiently large for them. To his perfuafions, he added the magic of one hun- dred marks, and by the united force of both, the devoted chancel fell.* 5 It does not appear when Catcombe church was creeled. The manor, however, is as old as Edward the ConfcfTor's time ; to which the patronage of the church was always annexed. The chantry called Cantaria Manerii de Gat- combci was at Whitwell, and dedicated to St. Radigund. The land adjoining to that chapel, which was the' endowment of the chantry, is efteemed to be in the parifh of Gatcombe, and pays a penfion to it as the mother church. The Vicar of Godfhill officiates in the chapel of Whit- well, where the Re&or of Gatcombe is bound to affiil him; but the diftance rendering it in- convenient for him to difcharge that duty, he * This is a vicarage ; patron. Queen's Coll. Oxford ; valuation in King's books, 23!. 8. i. year-tenths, si. 6s. 9|. Church dedicated to St. Mary. R pays 122 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT: pays four nobles per annum to the Vicar of Godfhill to perfonn the whole.t The church of Kingfton (which is the fmalleft parifh in the ifland) was built by one of the Kingfton family, who long poflefled the manor. They alfo appear, by the regifters of the Bifhops of Winchefter, to have enjoyed the prefentation to it.* Chale church was built by Hugh Vernun, in the reign of Henry I. and dedicated to St. Andrew. This parifh being originally in- cluded in that of Carifbrook, the prieft of the latter claimed the new church of Chale as foon as it was ere&ed ; a claim which the founder endeavoured to difprove. To termi- nate, however, all animofities, Hugh Vernun agreed to aflign to the church of Carifbrook a moiety of the glebe land, and tithes of burials + This is a reftory ; patron, Edward Meux Worflcy, Efq. valuation in King's books, 25!. 18. 9. year-tenths, zl. it. 1 1. * It is a reftory ; patron, Worfley, Efq. val. in King's books, 5!. 6. 8. year-tenths, ics. 8. and HISTORY Of THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 123 and oblations, excepting thofe of his own houfe, which he referved entire, for maintaining the lervice and repairs of the church of Chale. The Parfon of Chale, alfo, was to perform the whole fervice of his church ; and on thefe con- fiderations, the Prieft of Carifbrook teftificd his confent to the new church having a cemetery; an agreement which the Bifhop of Winchefter, William Gifford, confirmed under his anathema.^ The church of Shorwell, (formerly a chapel) was built ihortly after the foundation of Carif- brook priory ; and confirmed to it by the char- ter of William de Vermin. It was included in the parifh of Carifbrook till the reign of Edward III. when the inconvenience of carry- ing its dead to be buried fuch a diftance, oc- cafioned its feparation from that parifh, and having parochial rights of its own.+ ^ It is a re&ory; patron, Sir R. Worfley, Bart. val. in King's books, 14!. 3. n. year-tenths, il. 8. 4!. | Shorwell is a reclory ; valuation in King's books, aol. o. 2~. year-tenths, 2!. o. o|. dedicated to St. Peter. R 2 The 124 HISTORY OP THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The parilh of Brixton was taken out of that of Calbourn by one of the Bifhops of Winchefter, who built its church, and endowed it with parochial privileges. The former rec- tory anciently claimed archidiaconat jurifdi&ion over that of Brixton, to which the reftors of the latter refu-fing to fubmit, the conteft rofe to aclual violence.* The claim, however, was probably accommodated by the bifliop, the pa- tron of both churches.t Mottefton church was built in the twelfth century. In the fourteenth, we find it, to- gether with the manor, in the poiTeflion of the L-angford family; for Dionyfia, widow of Mr John de Langford. prefented to it in 1364. Ed- ward Cheke, Efq. prefented to k in 1374; * There was anciently a dean of this ifland, to fuper- intend ecclefiarftical affairs ; we find alfo, by the regifters' of Winchefter, that William of Vv'ykeham fubilituted a fuffragan bifhop here, as was afterwards done by Henry VIII. i Brixton is a reftory ; patron, Bifhop of Winchefter ; vil. in Km-'s books, 32!. 3. 4. year-tenths, 3!. ^. /. Church ce^icdted to St. Mary. and HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 12 and with his defcendents it continued for above three centuries.* Calbourn church appears to have had thirty (hillings from the manor of that name, in the time of Edward the Confefljrj a circumftance which proves its remote antiquity. The ad- yowfon of it, remained in the fee of Winchefter till the time of Edward I. who in the twelfth year of his reign, deprived the bilhop of that diocefe (in confequence of a perfonal pique.) both of the church and manor of Calbourn. They were however afterwards returned, in confequence of a heavy fine paid by the bilhop to Ed ward / There is a chapel at Newtown, a manor within this parifh, which belongs to Calbourn church ; and the glebe with which it is endowed, is enjoyed by the reftor. In the furvey of the * It is a reftory ; valuation in King's books, ill. 16. 3d. year-tenths, il. 3. -j\. Dedicated to, irt. Peter and St. Paul. J It is a re&ory; patron, Bi-fhop of Winchefter; valuation in King's books, 19!. 17. 8j-, year-tenths, il. 19. 9. Dedicated to All .Sarnts. iflanci 126 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ifland taken in the reign of Elizabeth, the Parfon of Calbourn is laid to hold a grant of forty acres, called Magdalen's land, belonging to the chapel of Newtown, for which land he provided a reader for the chapel. The church of Shalfleet is mentioned in the Domefday furvey, and probably was built ftiortly before that general cenfus. Edward III. granted it to William Montecute, Earl of Salifbury; who gave it to his new-founded abbey of Bifham in Berkfhire. The impro- priation, after the diffolution of the monafteriesj was purchafed by Lord Chief Juftice Fleming, and devifed by him to a younger branch of his family. It is now in the crown,* It is not known at what period the church of Brook was creeled. Some years fince a difpute occurred relative to the patronage of it, between St. John's College, Cambridge, which claimed it as a chapel belonging to Frefhwater, and the JBowerman family, who pofleffed the manor of Brook. The caufe was tried, and determined in * Shalfleet is a vicarage; year-tenths, tl. 17. a|. favor HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 127 favor of the latter; which family has ever fmce prefented to it.* The church of Thorley was probably built- by Amicia, Countefs of Devon, who gave it to the priory of Chriftchurch, in Hampfhire. where it remained till the difiblution. It was then exchanged (with other eftates of the priory) with Thomas Hopfon, Efquire, in 1546, for his manor of Marybone in Middlefex.t The prefent church of Yarmouth was built in the thirty-fifth year of Henry VIII. This is not, however, its original one. In the thirteenth century, a fmall chapel was erected at the Eaft end of the prefent town, which the French, in one of their defcents on the ifland, deftroyed. A fecond place of worfhip was then built at the Weftern extremity, and this too fell a facrifice to the fame people, in a vifit which they made in the reign of Henry VIII. A third time the * It is a reftory ; year-tenths, 35. 10^. Dedicated to St. Mary. i It is a vicarage ; year-tenths, 133. 10*. Dedicated to St. Svvithin. inhabitants 1?8 HISTORY OF THE ISLK OF WIGHT. inhabitants rebuilt their church, and placed it in the middle of the town, where it at prefent {lands. The endowment of this church being extremely fmall, it was augmented by the bounty of Queen Anne; to which was added a fum of money given by Colonel Henry Holmes, for that purpofe.* The church of Frefhwater was given by William Fitz-Ofborne to his abbey of Lyra; where it continued till the alien monafteries were feized on by the crown. It was afterwards repeatedly granted to the captains of the ifland for the time being ; but at length given to St. John's College, Cambridge, where it now remains. t * It is a reftory ; patron, the King. Dedicated to St. James. 4- It is areftory; valuation, King's books, 19!. 8. 4. year-tenths, il. 18. 10. Dedicated to All baints. THE CIVI L HISTORY ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. I. OF THE BOROUGHS OF NEWPORT, NEWTOWN, AND YARMOUTH. IKE Ifle of Wight fends to the Houfe of Commons, fix members ; two for Newport, two for Newtown, and the fame number for Yar- mouth. Of thefe boroughs, Newport and Yarmouth returned reprefentatives to parliament as early as the twenty-third year of Edward I. a period, according to antiquaries, when the reprefenta- tives of the commons were firft legally convened.* S The * Willis's Not. Parl. Preface. 130 HISTOR7 OF fHE ISLE Of WIGHT. The incorporation of Newport by charter took place in the firft year of James I. when the bailiff and burgeffes of the place were con- ftitutcd a body politic ; the corporation to con- fift of a mayor, and twenty -four burgefles. By this charter, the mayor, recorder, or his deputy, with two of the burgefles, are impowered to hold a court on every Friday, for the trial of all fmall caufes arifing within the borough ; to take recognizances of debts according to the ftatutes merchant, and of the ftaple ; and to have a gaol for the reception of fuch perfons as they fhould commit for debts, felonies, or other of- fences. Cliarles II. in the thirteenth year of his reign, granted another charter to Newport ; in which the ftyle of the corporation is altered from its origmal one, to that of Mayor^ Alder- mrn, and Burgfffes. By this charter, the may- or is to be chofen from among the aldermen, who are twelve in number ; thefe are to be chofen out of the chief burgefles, by the mayor and aldermen ; and the mayor is to be fworn into HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT* 13* into his office before the governor of the ifland or his fteward.* Amongft other privileges granted or confirmed by this charter, it is men- tioned, that the mayor, aldermen, and chief btirgefles are exempted from ferving on juries at the aflizes, or general quarter fcffions. From the twenty-third of Edward I. to the twenty-feventh year of Elizabeth, Newport does not appear to have fent any reprefentatives to parliament; but iince the latter period, its re- turns of two members to each parliament have been very regular. Newport was conftituted a borough almoft as foon as it came into the pofleffion of the De Redvers family; Richard, the fon of the firft grantee, bellowing on its inhabitants thofe va- rious liberties which in early days formed a borough.t Thefe liberties confided of a per- S 2 miffion * This ceremony is now performed in the old chapel of St. Nicholas, in Carifbrook caflle. \ It is difficult to afcertain precifely, the origin df burghs in this kingdom ; though v/c find them men- tioned in the laws of Ina Kir.g of the Weft Saxons, which 132 miffion to trade under the protection of the lord of the demefne : a right of exafting a toll for all goods brought to be difpofed of within the limits of the borough : a privilege of having a market, and holding fairs in the fame ; and various others of the like nature : liberties -which were generally, either purchafed originally of the lord by thofe on whom they were conferred, or paid for, by a regular annual rent levied on every burgefs.* A fecond which gives them an antiquity of nearly eleven hun- dred years. Among the municipal conflitutions of this wife monarch, for the internal peace and govern- ment of his kingdom, we find an ordinance to this effeft ; that, " whoever {hall be guilty of a violation of the peace in a borough under the protection of the king or biihop, he fhall pay one hundred and twenty {hillings. " Leges Inae apud Lambarde Archaionom. p. ix. c. 46. Vide my " Topographical Remarks relating to Hampfhire." Bla- mire, 1792, vol. II. p. 51. * Boroughs, we have feen in the lafl note, were of Saxon origin. They were intended for the promotion of induftry and commerce ; and their inhabitants were encouraged to exertion by particular privileges, im- munities, and laws. Here markets were eftablifhed ; imports and exports of various merchandife carried on, under HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 133 A fecond charter of immunities and privileges was granted by Jfabella de Fortibus, in the thirteenth century, to the burgeflcs of Newport ; by which fhe invefts them with the power of taking toll throughout the -whole ifland^ in all vil- lages and roads ; on the fea, and in the har- undcr the Prepofitus Burghi, or bailiff of the borough, appointed by the prince or lord of the fee to refide in the place, and gather the tolls, duties, and impofitions, arifmg from the trade of it. Notwithstanding, however, the various regulations thus made in favor of thofe who inhabited boroughs, their ftate, for the moft part, in the Saxon times, feems to have been nothing more than a certain qualified flavery. Repeated r.otices occur in Domefday book, of towns whofe b urge fifes were confined to a. refidence on the fpot where they traded ; who were io completely under the dominion of their lord, tht they could not do homage to, nor receive protection from any other fuperior. In this (late, it is probable, the boroughs remained till the Anglo-Norman kings took polfefiior. of the Engli(h crown ; who, finding that commerce was cramped by the refit iclions under which the buigeffcs labored, relaxed by degrees the fsrvile ties, and remitted the numerous imports that had arifen in the Saxon times ; granting them liberty of perfon, and accepting, in lieu of the duties formerly received, a fixed rodditus, called a fee-farm rent, which was proportioned to the amount of the original impofitions. A.t the Tame, time alfo we may look tor the origin of chartered cornfratiois,- -Topog. Remarks, vol. 11. p. 54. bour ;* 134 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. hour;* in fairs, and at markets; in all places, and on all commodities. She further grants, an exemption to the burgeffes from attending the hundred and county courts; a privilege of de- pafturing their cattle in her foreft of Parkhurft ; a power of trying all pleas arifing within the borough, and fixing the quantum of fines on conviction ; and a liberty of retaining and di- viding amongft themfelves all fuch fines as mould fo arife. All which immunities and privileges were to be held by the faid burgeffes, in con- fideration of their paying to her and her heirs, eighteen marks, annually ; and to the prior and monks of Carifbrook, two marks, annually.t This charter was confirmed by Edward III. Richard II. Henry VII. Edward IV. Henry VIII. Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth; fome of whom, particularly Edward IV. added other grants and privileges to the borough, fuch as the * This is the foundation of a duty even now paid at Cowes, by all fhips which cafl anchor in that road. t Carta Ifabellz Corn. Alb. Sir R. Worfley's Append. No. XXL for- HISTORY OF THE ISLE Of WIGHT.. 135 forfeitures of outlaws, felons, and fuicides, with- in the borough ; and the petty cuftoms of any port or creek in the ifland. This town has given title to four earls : Lord Mountjoy Blount, natural fon of the Earl of Devonfhire, created by Charles I. Baron of Thurflfton, and Earl of Newport. He died in the year 1665, and his three fons fucceffively enjoyed the title. On the deceafe of Henryj the laft furviving one, unmarried, it became extinft. Lord Windfor was alfo Baron New- port in Queen Anne's reign. The borough of Newtown (which changed its ancient name of Francheville, on being rebuilt when burnt by the French in the reign of Richard II.) is a prescriptive borough, and firft fent members to the fenate in the twenty-feventh year of Queen Elizabeth. It was formerly a place of confiderable confequence ; and traces of its magnitude are Rill difcernible in four lanes, which interfeft each other at right angles, and are faid, formerly to have been covered with houfes. The 136 HISTORY OF THE ISLE CF WlGHf. The firft liberties and franchifes granted to the burgefTes of Newtown are contained in a charter of Aymer, Eifhop of Winchefter, lord of the place ; who invefts his town of Francheville, with all fuch immunities and privileges as were enjoyed by the inhabitants of Taunton, Alesford, and Farnham. This charter bears date at Swanifton : and afterwards received the feveral confirmations of Edward II. Edward IV. and Queen Elizabeth. Edward II. alfo granted to the burgefifes of Newtown, a charter in the eleventh year of his reign; in which is beftowed the liberty of a market to be holden on the Wed- nefday in every week ; and of a fair annually, on the feaft of St. Mary Magdalene, on the eve pre- ceding, and on the day following. The elective franchife in this borough was de- termined by the Houfe of Commons in 1729, to be confined to the mayor and burgefles, having borough lands. Previous to this final adjuft- ment of the right, perpetual contefts arofe re- lative to the exertion of it,- The moft ancient books of the corporation prove, that the quali- fications HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1.^7 fication of a burgefs was formerly the holding of a borough land^ paying rent to the mayor and chief burgeffes ; but in the time of Charles 1 1. the right of voting was confined to the burgeffes alone, and the number of thefe limited to twelve. This limitation however was pronounced illegal by the corporation, in the reign of William III. which met on the twentieth day of September, 1698, and came to the following refolutions : " At this aflembly, upon examining the ancient records of the faid corporation, (Newtown, alias Francheville) and taking the depofitions on oath o,f James Overy; as alfo upon the averment of fome of the chief burgeffes there, then prefent ; it is refolved, that the reftraint of the chief bur- geffes of this corporation, to the number of twelve, or any lefs number than are freeholders of borough lands is againft law, and contrary to the ancient ufage of this corporation." " Alfo 'tis ordered and agreed^ that whofoever mail prove himfelf to be a freeholder, of any borough land in fee, either by the rent-roll now produced in this aflembly, bearing date and T beginning 13& HISTORY OF TliE 1SL OF WIGHT. beginning in the year of our Lord 1685, (where- of a true copy fhall be kept by the mayor for the time being) or otherwife efFe&ually in lawj fhall upon demand, be fworn a chief burgefs." This meeting had been convened in confe- quence of an agreement entered into during the preceding year, between Lord Cutts, the then governor, and the principal gentlemen in the ifland ; the object of which was, to reftore that harmony, good fellowfhip and neighbourhood of the diftnft, that had been mightily interrupted by conftant difputes relative to the right of voting in the three corporations of Newport, Newtown, and Yarmouth. In thefe articles of agreement it was ftipulated, that the governor fhould call a hall at Newtown, examine witnefles concerning the ancient method of choofing mem- bers to fepve in parliament for that corporation, and effectually reftore the {aid corporation, and all who have a juft pretence to be members of it, to their ancient rights of burgage -tenure; pro- vided always, that the faid governor be firft put in poffeffion of a qualifying burgage-tenure, Aif- ficient HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ficient to enable him to be a member and eleftof of the faid corporation : he paying for the fame. The meeting was called, and the regulations above detailed entered into at it.* In the courfe of a few years, however, after this adjuftment, the right of voting became again the occafion of controverfy. The cor- poration, on infpecting the old books of the borough, difcovered that the arrangement of 1698 was contrary to the ancient ufage; the minutes of that meeting were therefore erafed from the town-book, and thofe who enjoyed a freehold in a borough land were once more * The Corporation at that time confided of, John, Lord Cults, Mayor. Jofeph Dudley, Efq. Deputy-Mayor. Henry Dore Col. David Urry Mr. John Chiverton Major Henry Holmes Mr. John Philips Mr. David Urry James Worfley, Efq. Col. Richard iriolmes Mr. Edward Hayles Sir Rob. Worfley, Bart. William Stephen, Efq. William Bowerman, Efq. John Leigh, Efq. T 2 invefted 140 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. invefted with a right of voting for a reprefcntative for Newtown. We have feen that this regulation was reverfed by the Houfe of Commons in 1729, which lodged the privilege in the mayor and burge/fts having borovgh lands. The borough of Yarmouth fent its repre- fentatives to the parliament convened in the twency-third of Edward I. It had a fecond fummons in the twenty-feventh of Queen Elizabeth, from which period its returns of two members to the Britifh fenate have been very regular. Its firft charter appears to have been granted by Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon, brother of Tfabella de Fortibus ; which comprized nearly the fame rights or privileges as the grants to Newport and Newtown. James I, who re- incorporated a multitude of the boroughs, formed this alfo into a regular corporation, by a char- ter bearing date the firft of September, in the feventh year of his reign, which in effe6l is as follows : " Whereas HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 14* " Whereas the borough of Eremuth, alias Yarmouth, in the I fie of Wight, is an ancient borough, and the mayor and burgefles have prefcribed to have and ufe diverfe liberties and privileges, which they claim alfo under colour of charters of confirmation from feveral kings and queens of this realm, confirming an ancient grant made to this borough by Baldwin dc Redvers, fome time lord of this ifle; viz. the charter of confirmation under the great feal, in the eighth year of the reign of King Edward I. a like charter granted in the eighteenth of Henry VI. another charter of the fixth of Edward IV. and another charter of the fecond of Elizabeth: And whereas the faid mayor and burgefles, and their predeceflbrs, have always paid to the king and his predeceffors, for the faid privileges, immunities, and liberties, the fee-farm of twenty millings yearly ; and whereas it appears by the records in the Remembrancer's office in the Exchequer, in the fecond year of Richard II. that the town of Yarmouth was entirely burned by the enemy, and its inhabitants greatly im- poveriflied 142 HISTORY OF THE ISLB OP WIGHT. WMM*^MMMl^aMi^MHMWHVMHMHML^H^M^^VW^ta^M*MM^MI^MMMMMMMiiMMft^aMHMHiH^MMill& poverifhed ; and whereas the faid town lies near to a good harbour for ihipping, and, for that reafon, King Henry VIII. caufed a caftle to be built, fince which the town is better inhabited than before ; and it is to be hoped that it will yet be more filled with people, for increafing the ftrength of the ifland, and guarding the faid caftle, if his majefly would vouchfafe to regrant them their liberties and immunities : that the faid mayor and burgefles, efteeming the charters before -mentioned inefficient to authorize them in the ufing and enjoying the faid liberties and immunities, have petitioned the king, to make, confirm, and new create them a body politic and corporate, with fuch franchifes as mail be by the king thought expedient : that the king therefore being willing to fettle the rules for the government of the faid borough and the people there, declares it to be a free borough ; and that they mail be a body politic and corporate, by the name of mayor and burgeffes of Yarmouth, in the Ifle of Wight, with capacity to purchafe, &c. to grant, &c. to plead or to be impleaded, and to have HISTORY OF THE IStE OF WIGHT. 143 have a common feal ; that there fhall be twelve chief burgefles to be the common council of the borough; that, out or thefe, one fliall be chofen mayor of the borough ; that they fhall have power to make laws, ftatures, and orders, for the government of the borough and its officers ; that the burgeffes of the faid borough mall continue for life, excepting any of them fhall be removed for reafonable caufe ; and on the death of removal of a chief burgefs, the mayor and major part of the burgeffes then living fhall eleft another in his place, who fhall be fworn before the mayor and major part of the chief burgeffes ; that the mayor and fteward of the borough fhali hold the courts of the faid borough ; that they fhall hold a view of frank pledge of all in- habiting and refident in the faid borough, and to redrefs abufes in the fame ; the mayor and burgeffes- are empowered to ele& and conftitute a fteward, a common clerk, and a fergeant at mace, to continue during the pleafure of the mayor and burgeffes ; that the mayor and burgeffes fhall have all the fines, forfeitures, and profit* 144 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. profits of the courts, which they lhall have power to levy, by their own officers by diftrefs : they have alfo a grant of ftrays, and the goods of felons, within the limits of the borough : a mar- ket is granted to the town, to be kept every Wednefday ; and a fair to be held yearly, viz. on St. James's day, the eve before, and the day after, together with a court of pie-powder, &c. with all the profits and emoluments belonging to fuch markets, fairs, and courts : a fpecial licence and authority are given to the mayor and burgeffes, to purchafe and hold to them, and burgefles for ever any manors, lands, &:c. not holden of the king in capite, or by knight's fervice, not ex- ceeding the value of twenty pounds per annum, the ftatute of mortmain notwithftanding ; and licence is alfo given for any perfon, &c. to grant and alien to the faid mayor and burgefles, under the like reftridion, all liberties, privileges, fran- chifes, and immunities, which the borough has held and enjoyed, by reafon or colour of grants by the king or any of his predeceflbrs, or by any other perfons made heretofore, are confirmed; faving HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 145 faving and referving out of this grant, the caftle of Yarmouth, its ditches, trenches, and limits, wherein the faid mayor and burgefles have no power or authority to enter : they are to pay the fee-farm of twenty Jhillings yearly, at the feaft of St. Michael ; a claufe is added to indemnify them from all profecutions for any liberties or franchifes ufed, had, or ufurped by them, before the date of this charter, and no fine is to be paid to the Hanaper office for it.* Yarmouth had the honor of entertaining Charles II. in the year 1671. He fpent a fhort time in this town, at a houfe built entirely for his accommodation, by Sir Robert Holmes ; it has many years fince been converted into an inn ; and, blending the memorial of its having lodged a royal vifitor, with a compliment to the reigning family, is now called the George. The monarch in this excurfion landed at Gurnard's Bay, and in his way to Yarmouth pafled through the foreft of Parkhurft, over a road which Sir Robert Holmes had formed on purpofe to accommodate him. * Sir Richard Worfley's Hift. p. 159. U The 146 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The circumftances of this vifit are tenacioufly remembered by the inhabitants of the ifland, \vhofe beautiful refidence has had the pleafure of receiving only three of its monarchs fince the conqueft, King John, Henry VIII. and Charles II. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. II. OF THE LORDS OF THE ISLAND; THEIR POWER, RIGHTS, AND FRANCHISES; AND OF THE KNIGHTON COURT. A HE barons of the feudal ages enjoyed on their own demefnes an authority almoft regal. The lords of the Ifle of Wight, by the grant of Henry I. became poflefled of all thofe rights in the ampleft degree, with which the higher fees were endowed. They had their own courts of judicature for the trial of all offences, fave thofe of treafon and murder. They nominated their own bailiffs, conftables, and all other petty officers. They executed the office of coroner throughout the whole ifland. They had the return of all the king's writs. They poflefled a chacc, now called U a Parkhurft 148 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Parkhurft Foreft; a fence-mouth there, and in other places; and a free warren on the Eaft fide of the river Medina ; together with wrecks, waifs, and ftrays. The tenants of the ifland were chargeable in aid to them alone;i and held their lands as of the caftle of Carif- brooke. By the regulations of their tenure, the tenants were bound to aflift (diftinft from their cuftomary aids) in the charge of making the eldeft fon of the lord a knight; of marry- ing his daughter; and of paying the ranfom for his liberation mould he be made a prifoner. They were alfo obligated to defend the caftle of Carifbrooke for forty days, at their own coils and charges, whenever it might be at- tacked; and to attend the lord both on his coming to the ifland, and departing from it. Moreover, the lord enjoyed the right of ward- fhip over the whole ifland ; a right which pla- ced every heir that was a minor under his + They paid no regular arnual tax to the lord ; but as often as the king levied a {"outage upon him fo f the iflandj fo often his feudatories contributed each his fettled proportion towards the payment of it. protection ; HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 149 protection; that conferred on him the rents and profits of the eftate during the minority, and enabled him to give the ward in marriage to whomfoever he pleafed. Many are the traces of this feudal govern- ment, which fubfift to the prefent day, both in the Ifle qf Wight, and every other part of the kingdom ; one remnant, however, deferves particular mention, as it formerly conftituted one of the greateft privileges which the lord of this diftrid enjoyed. This is the Knight's Court, or Knighton Court<, as it is now called, or the Curia Militum, as it yas anciently ftiled. It received this appella- tion from the circumftance of thofe who held a knight's, or part of a knight's fee in capite, being the judges in this tribunal; where they gave judgment according to the Norman mode of trial, without a jury. This principle of de- cifion, fo contrary to the fpirit of Anglo-Saxon jurifprudence, leads one to apprehend the Kpighten Court had its origin during the .period of William Fitz-Ofborne's poffefling the me 1,50 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Ifle of Wight, who modelled it after the court of judicature in his own country. In the year 1626 an attempt was made to improve and enlarge the jurifdi&ion of this court, when the following reprefentation of its form and extent, was tranfmitted to Lord Conway, then governor of the ifland. Knighten Court. " i. It hath been always kept by the cap- tain's fteward of the ifland, or his fubftitute, by virtue of the captain's patent, and by no other particular patent,- for aught we know." " 2. It hath been always kept in the town- hall of Newport, on the Monday every three weeks, unlefs that day happen a feftival day, and then it is adjourned for fix weeks." " 3. It hath jurifdi&ion throughout the whole ifland, the corporation of Newport excepted." " 4. It holdeth plea of all aftions of debt and trefpafs, under the value of forty millings, and upon replevins granted by the fteward or his fub- ilitute that keeps the court." * 5. The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 15! 66 5. The procefs in a&ions of debt and tref- pafs, are fummons, attachments, and diftringas, to bring the defendant to appear, which if he do in perfon, he muft confds the aftion, or elfe he is condemned by default ; if by an attorney, he is admitted one eflbine, if he prays it, and the next court muft appear, or be condemned by default. And in actions upon replevins, if the defendant appear not in the three firft courts, he is con- demned by default : and in thefe aftions upon replevins, noeflbine is admitted." " 6. The pleadings are Englifh bills and an- fwers ; and if the cafe require, replications and rejoinders." " 7. All the actions are entered, profecuted, and pleaded, by certain attornies allowed in that court." " 8. The aftions of debt are tried by proof of plaintiff or defendant, or the defendant's wager of law with two hands, if he pray it, and in tref- pafs by proof only." " 9. All the actions are adjudged by the court, without jury; which it will be conceived will 1^2 HISTORY OF THE ISLP, OF WIGHT. will be better with jury, as in other courts of re- cord, if the value of actions be increafed." " 10. The judges are freeholders, which hold of his majefty's caftle of Carifbrooke ; whereof there are known to the fteward not above eighteen. The which freeholders, for their better eafe, have been appointed by the captain of the ifle to fit by four or five at a court by turns ; but fome being aged and impotent, one under age, fome living out of the ifle, and fome of the reft being negligent of that fervice, there hath been much defecl in their atten- dance; which is to the great prejudice of the court, and hindrance of the people, by delay of trials." " Therefore, under favor, we conceive, that a certain form of election of a certain number of judges, of other fufficient men of the coun- try, fhall be added; and a ftricl; order taken for their due attendance will be very neceffarv, efpecially if the value of aftions be raifed : and that if there be not an efpecial reftraint of removing actions in that court triable from thence HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 153 thence into higher courts, that court will do little more good than it doth already." This ftatement being delivered to the privy council, orders were immediately ifTued by the Lord Treafurer^ Vifcount Grandifon, to the attorney-general, to prepare forthwith a grant for extending the jurifdiftion of the Knighten Court, " to all cafes whatfoever, civil or crimi- nal, under the value of twenty pounds, provided that the fame extend not to the life, member, or freehold of any of the inhabitants.". Not- withitanding this mandate^ however, the bufmefs was not proceeded in ; and the jurifdi&ion of the Knighten Court, and mode of decifion therein, continue the fame as before.t i Sir R. Worfley's Hift. p. 81. et infra. X CHAP. 1,54 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. III. OF THE WARDENS, CAPTAINS, AND GOVER- NORS OF THE ISLAND. t S foon as the Ifle of Wight became the property of the crown, Edward I. appointed a warden to regulate its concerns. Indeed, during its continuance in the De Redvers family, the reigning monarch had twice, when the owner was a minor, and his property therefore (according to the feudal lyftem) became temporarily veiled in the crown, appointed a warden, who exercifed the rights of the lord, during the nonage of the heir. The firft inftance of this, happened in the firft of Henry III. when Walleran de Ties re- ceived HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1$ ceived the cuflody of the ifland in the minority of Baldwin the third, grandfon of William de Vernon, The fecond took place in the thirteenth of Henry III. when Savery de Mauleon, or de Malo Leone, was appointed to die office in the minority of Baldwin the fourth. In the year 1293* Edward I. conftituted John Fitz-Thomas warden of the ifland; who en- joyed alfo the ftewardfhip of New Foreft. Richard de Affeton appears to have held this office in the twenty- fecond year of Edward I. And in the enfuing year, the Bilhop of Win- chefter, and Adam de Gordon, were included with him in another commiflion for the fame appointment. A record of the fame year mews that William Rufiel alfo was warden at this time. Sir. John Lifle of W^ootton was appointed to the wardenfhip of the ifland in the thirtieth of Edward I. and made captain of Carifbrooke Caftle. On the acceffion of Edward II. he was fuperfeded, and his brother appointed in his ftead; but the latter being murdered by X 2 one J.5& HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. one Robert Urry, in the third of Edward II. Sir John Lifle was reftored to his dignity and office. Sir Henry Ties was appointed warden under Prince Edward, in 1321 ; the fame perfon pro- bably who was beheaded in the enfuing year, for being concerned in rebellion with Thomas, Earl of Lancafter, who alfo loft his head. In the eighteenth of Edward II. John de la Hufe and John Lifle were wardens of the ifland. Nicholas de la Felde occurs as cvftos during'the fame year. In the ninth of Edward III. 1336, John de Langford of Chale, was warden of the ifland, and captain of Carifbrooke Caftle. In the eleventh of the fame king, Theobald RufTel occurs as captain general of the ifland. The abbot of Quarr was appointed warden of the ifland in 1 340 ; to whom was directed a writ to aft in the capacity of a general officer, by arraying men, fupplying arms, and erecting beacons. Three commiflioners wtrc. defied by the inhabi- tants of the ifland, to aft as wardens, in 1341 3 Sir HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 157 Sir Bartholomew Lifle, John de Langford Lord of Chale, and Sir Theobald Ruflel Lord of Yaverland. In 1353, three other wardens are found a&- ing at one time ; Bartholomew Lifle, John de Kingfton, and Henry Romyn. John de Gatefden received a commiffion, as warden of the ifland, to array the inhabitants, in the year 1353. ' In 1360, the abbot of Quarr, Theobald dc Gorges, and William Dale, were appointed wardens. In 1377, the firft of Richard II. the gallant Sir Hugh Tyrril, who, as we have before feen, defended the caftle of Carifbrooke againfl the French, was conftable of that fortrefs. In the feventeemh year of Henry VI. Hum- phrey, Duke of Gloucefter, fon of Henry IV. fucceeded to the lordlhip of the ifland, after the deceafe of the Duchefs of York, (grantee of it under the crown). He died in the twenty- fifth of Henry VI. and on his deceafe, that king immediately appointed Henry Trenchard to HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. to the office of conftable of the caftle of Carif- brooke, with a falary of -twenty pounds per annum ; ten pounds as keeper of the foreft of Parkhurft j and four-pence per day for the pay of the porter of the caftle. In the reign of Henry VI. the lordfhip of the ifland was conferred on Richard, Duke of York ; who appointed one John Newport his lieutenant and fteward. The behaviour of this deputy was fo oppreffive, that Richard removed him from the office, and appointed John Bruin in his ftead. In 1461, the firfl of Edward IV. the captain- fliip of the ifland was conferred on Sir Geoffry Gate, for life. He furrendered it, however, in 1467, and it was given to Anthony, Lord Schales, the uncle of the king. Early in the year 1483, Sir William Berkley was made captain of the ifland ; and towards the clofe of it, Sir John Saville was appointed to the fame office. Sir Edward Woodville was entrufted with the command of the ifland at the acceffion of Henry VII, In -'HISTORY or THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 159 In the tenth of Henry VII. Sir Reginald Bray received a grant of the ifland, on leafe, with the caftle and honor of Carifbrooke, &c. (late in the pofleflion of George, Duke of Clarence) at the annual rent of three hundred and feven marks. On his death Sir Nicholas Wadham fucceeded him ; anceftor to the founder of Wadham Col- lege, Oxford. Early in the third year of Henry VIII. Su Nicholas Wadham died, and was fucceeded by Sir JamesWorfley, keeper of the king's wardrobe, and matter of the robes. He was conftituted cap- tain of the ifland for life, with a falary of fixfhillings and nine-pence per diem for himfelf, two fhillings for his deputy, and fixpence each for thirteen fervants ; added to this was a reverfionary grant of the office of conftable of Carifbrooke caflle^ when it mould become vacant, and the command of all the forts in the ifland. He was likewife eonftituted keeper of Carifbrooke foreft and park, with a fee of two millings per day. He was empowered too, to leafe any of the king's houfes, demefne lands, &c. within the ifland ; to t6<3 HISTORY OF THE ISLE QT WIGHT. ' - ^-r to return all writs ; to execute all procefles; to re- gulate the markets ; and take inquefts as coroner. In the year of 1538, Richard Worfley, Efq. fucceeded his father in the office of captain of the Ifle of Wight. He held it till 1553, when finding himfelf obnoxious to Queen Mary, whofe principles he difliked and oppofed, prudence dictated to him to refign his appointment; in which he was fucceeded by Mr. Girlingj a man of low extraction, and a favorer of popery. On Mary's death, however, Richard Worfley was reinftated in his office. In the commiflion which he received on this occafion inftru&ions were contained-, to indraft the inhabitants of the ifland in the ufe of harquebufles, and to introduce them there; orders which he immediately obeyed. In 1565 the command of the ifland was beftowed on Edward Horfey, Efq. afterwards knighted. His memory is held in fome efteem by the fportfmen of the ifland, who attribute the great plenty of hares, and other game found there at prefent, to the attention beftowed on them during his government. Sir iJlSTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. l6 L Sir George Carey fucceeded Sir Edward Horfey. He appears to have been the firft captain of the ifland who affumed the name of governor; a circiunftance that gave great dif- guft to the inhabitants, who conceived the title to be an arbitrary and improper one, in a free country. Henry, Earl of Southampton, fucceeded Sir George Carey in the firft year of James I. His patent ftyles him Captain of all the Ifle of Wight; Captain of the caftle of Carifbrooke, and all other caftles and forts within the faid ifle ; alfo Conftable of the caftle of Carifbrooke, Warden of the foreft of Parkhurft; Steward, Surveyor, and Receiver of all the lands, woods, revenues, &c. of the crown, within the ifland. His affability, attention, and hofpitality, gave extraordinary fatisfa&ion to the inhabitants, and raifed the ifland to an enviable and flourifhing (late. He won the affections of the gentry by mixing in their diverfions; and twice every week threw off the cumbrous ftate of the go- vernor at a public bowling-green and ordinary, Y where l62 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. where the knights and gentlemen met for amufe- ment and relaxation. This popular nobleman died in December 1625, and was fucceeded by John, Lord Con- way ; who was afterwards made Secretary of ftate and Prefident of the council. On his deceafe in 1631, Richard, Lord Wefton, afterwards created Earl of Portland, was conftituted Captain of the Ifle of Wight; an office which was vacated by his death in 1634. Jerom, Earl of Portland, fucceeded his father. The parliament, as we have before feen, re- moved this nobleman in 1642, and appointed in his place Philip, Earl of Pembroke. In 1647, Colonel Hammond was Governor of the Ifle of Wight, and held it for two years. It was during this interval, that the unfortu- nate Charles I. took refuge here, vainly flat- tering himfelf he mould find a friend in the governor, as his uncle Doctor Henry Hammond was at that time his confidential chaplain. But the fpirit of fanaticifm, the vice of the times, and HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 163 and the fuggeftions of intereft, prevailed on the colonel to forget the ties of duty and of gratitude; and to give himfelf up implicitly to the republican party. Inftead therefore of finding a refuge in the ifland, as he expecled, Charles foon after his arrival there, began to feel the reftri&ions of confinement; which gradually became more fevere and ignominious, until he was feized by the army, on the twenty-ninth of November 1648, and conduced to the fcaffold that clofed his unmerited fufferings. In 1649, Colonel Sydenham fucceeded Ham- mond in the government of the ifland. He was brother to the celebrated phyfician of that name. In 1660, when Charles was reftored to the throne of his anceftors, Thomas, Lord Culpeper, received the government of the ifland ; we have before feen that he rendered himfelf very un- popular in this office, which he refigned in 1 667, and was fucceeded by Admiral Sir Robert Holmes, a gallant naval officer. He is ftyled Governor and Captain of the ifland, in his patent, and of the caftles and forts therein". He died in Y 2 1692, 1$4 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1692, and was interred in a vault in Yarmouth church, where a very elegant marble monument is raifed to his memory. John, Lord Cutts, one of the moft gallant foldiers of his time, and a great favorite of King William, fucceeded Sir Robert Holmes in the government of the ifland. He refided much at Carifbrooke, where he gave very fuperb and frequent entertainments. He died in 17075 and was fucceeded by Charles, Marquis of Winchefter. afterwards Duke of Bolton ; Warden of the New Foreft; and Lord Lieutenant of the counties of South- ampton and Dorfet. As this nobleman refided very little in the ifland, it was judged prudent to appoint a lieutenant-governor, under him, by royal com million, with a falary of twenty millings per diem ; an office that was conferred on Colonel Morgan. The Duke of Bolton was removed in 1710, and General John Richmond Webb appointed governor in his room. This officer immortalized his name, by defeating with a hand of feyen thoufand HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 16,5 thoufand men, upwards of twenty thoufand French, at Wynendale, under the command of General La Motte. William, Lord Cadogan, afterwards an ear], fucceeded General Webb in 1716.- He tco was a gallant jfoldier of the great Duke of Marlborough's fchool ; and after the death of that commander, was appointed General and Commander in Chief of His Majefty's Forces, Mafter-general of the Ordnance, and Colonel of the firft regiment of foot guards. On his de- ceafe, in Auguft 1726, Charles, Duke of Bolton, was appointed Governor and Vice-admiral ; but being removed from his offices in 1733? he was fucceeded by John, Duke of Montagu; who fcarcely held the office a twelvemonth, and was fucceeded by John, Lord Vifcount Lymington, (foon after created Earl of Portfmouth) in 1734. Charles, Duke of Bolton was reinftated in 1742, but foon afterwards reiigned his offices, when John, l66 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. John, Earl of Portfmouth, was again made Governor of the Ifle of Wight ; this happened the twenty-fecond of February 1745. Thomas, Lord Holmes, on the death of Lord Portfmouth in 1762, fucceeded to this office ; which he enjoyed but a fhort time, dying in July 1764. He was fucceeded by Hans Stanley, Efq. who was removed in 1766, and . Harry, Duke of .Bolton, appointed governor in his room ; but owing to a fluctuation in the cabinet, this nobleman was difmifled from the appointment, and in the year 1770, The Right Honorable Hans Stanley was again nominated to it. He died in 1780, when the Right Honorable Sir Richard Worfley, Bart, one of his Majefty's moft honorable privy coun- cil, fucceeded to the offices of Governor, Vice- admiral, &c. of the Ifle of Wight. In the year 1787, thefe were conferred on The Right Honorable Thomas Orde, the prefent governor. THE NATURAL HISTOPvY ISLE OF WIGHT. t: A man need not to fay, What is this ? Wherefore is that ? for He hath made all things for their ufes."* yxii)s CHAP. I. GENERAL D ESCRIPT1ON OF THE ISLAND; CLI- MATE; SOIL; TIMBER ; RIVERS ; SPRINGS; IXHABITAKTS; DOWNS; AND CURIOUS PARTICULARS RELATING TO THEM. 1 HE Ifle of Wight is fituated on the coaft of Hampfhire, nearly midway between the two counties of Dorfet and SufTex. It is feparated from the main land, by a {trait, or arm of the fea, of unequal breadth ; being not more than one mile over at the narrowed part, towards the * Ecclefiaaicus, + Horn. Odyff. HISTORY OF THi: ISLE O :' WIGHT. Weftern extremity; and nearly fevcn miles acrofs at the Eaftern end. The form of the ifland is rhomboidal; meafuring twenty-two miles and an half from the Eaftern to the Weftern angle; and thirteen miles from the Northern to the Southern one : its fuperficial contents may be computed at one hundred and five thoufand acres. It is divided into two Hundreds, called Eaft and Weft Medine; and contains thirty parifhes. Its inhabitants we may eftimate at eighteen thoufand feven hundred. The face of the country is in general very beautiful, as it poffeffes all thofe ingredients, .which, properly combined, form piclurefque fccnery ; wood, rocks, fwelling hills, winding rivers, and rich vales. The climate is pleafcnt and falubriotis, highly favorable to vegetation, which is here generally forwarder than in any other parts of England, If we except the Southern coaft of Cornwall. The profufion of myrtles to be feen, for the pro- duction of which it has been long famous, evince there is a genial mildnefs in the air, approaching to HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 169 to the foftnefs of more Southern climates ; and there can be no doubt, that fome of the hardier plants of thofe parts might be cultivated here with fuccefs, would the inhabitants bend their at- tention to the rearing of fuch exotics. It might then literally exhibit the riches of the Italian foil. " Hie ver purpureum, varies hie flumina circum Fundit humus floras : hie Candida populus antro Imminet, et lentse texunt umbracula vites." Being, however, very hilly^ the ifland is fub- je6i to that frequent rain which is one of the mofl unpleafant circumftances attending moun- tainous countries. The vapours are attracted by the long range of lofty hills which ftretch from Eaft to Weft the whole length of the ifland, and in the colder months, involve the parts beneath them in almoft perpetual gloom and moifture. Yet this circumftance does not appear to afFel the general health of the in- habitants refiding in the immediate neighbour- hood of thefe elevations ; notwithftanding the vapours thus accumulated teem with putrefcent Z qualities. 1/0 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. qualities, which I am informed, are fometimes fo powerful as to taint, in a very few hours, any kind of meat in the houfes immediately under the hills. This fad is moft frequently experienced in the vicinity of St. Boniface and Steephill. The foil of the ifland differs extremely in different parts; but generally fpeaking, is a ftrong and loamy earth, admirably adapted to the purpofes of agriculture. It often exhibits a remarkable variety in a fmall diftri 61 of ground; as in the parifh of Brading, (towards the Eaftern extremity), where the following diverfities ap- pear ; in the South part, a free kind-working earth, mixed with a fmall proportion of fand; in the Weft, a light loam mixed with chalk; and in the North and Eaft parts, a ftiff clay, fcarcely yielding to the operations of hufbandry. The fertility of the ifland is almoft proverbial; it having, long fince, been faid to produce more in one year, than its inhabitants could eonfume in eight. An improved hufbandry has inereafed this fertility; and from what I have HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. IJ have been able to colleft, we may fairly efti- mate its annual produce to be at leaft twelve times as much as its yearly confumption. Timber was formerly extremely plentiful in the ifland, but the inhabitants have had fo good a market for it, at Portfmouth Dock, and the other different yards in its neighbourhood, that few extenfive woods are now to be feen.* Improvi- dent of the future, they have omitted to plant, in proportion to their cutting down ; and confe- quently, there being no young trees to fupply the place of the old ones, in a few years the Ifle of Wight will be entirely robbed of its timber, and a great part of its prefent beauty alfo. The powerful reafon, which perhaps has prevented the proprietors of land in this fpot (and, indeed, operates with moft individuals throughout the kingdom) from encouraging the growth of oak on their eflates, is, the more profitable, and quick returns made to them by keeping land in an arable ftate. To bring this noble tree to maturity, no lefs than one hun- * Of what remains, the oak and elm flourifh moft. Z 2 dred HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHTi dred years are required ; and it can hardly be expefted, that the man of fmall property mould forego the intermediate profits arifmg from his land, in an uncertain expectation of advantage to his family, at a diftance of time to which he can fcarcely extend his ideas of intereft. Befides, it is well known that the oak requires the ftrongeft, fineft, and deepefl foil for its culture; which being the moft lucrative for hufbandry, it is not exfraordinary, that indi- viduals not burthened with 'affluence, mould apply it to other purpofes than railing timber. Thefe reafons, however, for neglecting the plantation of oak, though applying forcibly enough to the fanner, or landlord of fmall property, certainly lofe great part, of their effeft with refpect to poffeffors of extenfive eftates. To them, the inconvenience of appropriating a few acres to the purpofe of planting timber, would fcarcely be felt ; the expences attending it would not be regarded; the lofs of the intermediate profits arifmg from the land, would be trifling; and as large eflates are frequently entailedj HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. entailed, or continued in the fame family for a long feries of years, the planter of the pre- fent century, might reafonably build upon the profpeft of his defcendent enjoying the fruits of his labors in the next. For government to interfere at all with the management or ufe of private property, by tn~ forcing in any way the planting of oak, (a prac- tice adopted by parliament in the fixteenth cen- tury) would now be juuiy deemed a trefpafs on one of the moft facred rights of the fubjeft ; but what it cannot compel, it might perhaps allure to, by holding out honors, pecuniary rewards, or other flimuli, to incite and encourage the pro- prietors of land to cultivate this valuable tree, and thereby to provide for the future navies of our country. What timber remains, is chiefly found in the central, and Eaftern parts of the ifland. The noble woods of Sir John Barrington, Bart, at Swainfton, whofe houfe is embofomed in them, are of great extent, and contain many magnifi- cent and valuable trees. Thofe of Wootton and Quarr 174 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Quarr prefent a fine fylvan fcene to the eye, covering a fuperficies of eleven hundred acres. In the parilh of Whippingham, alfo, on the Eaft- ern fide of the river Medina, fome valuable timber may be feen. The principal rivers of the ifland are, the Me- dina, the Yar, and Wootton river. The fpreading mouth of the firft forms an ample and fecure harbour ; and its ftream, after it contracts, and winds into the heart of the ifland, rolls its waters through fome very agreeable quiet fcenery, pre- fenting a pleafing contraft to the buftle and con- fufion of the port. Wootton river, alfo, when the tide is high, is rendered extremely beautiful by the noble woods which defcend quite to the water's edge, and caft their fhades athwart it. In the Yar there is nothing ftriking or pic- turefque. The fprings are in general pure and cryftal- line; particularly thofe that have been filtered through the vaft ilrata of chalkj with which the ifland HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 175 ifland abounds.* They are plentiful in moll parts, and on the Southern coaft form a pleafing accompaniment to the wild fcenery of the place, by pouring forth their treafures in innumerable little cafcades, pellucid as cryftal, which fall from rock to rock, and gratify the ear by their murmurs, and the eye by their fparkling bril- liancy. The inhabitants of the ifland are not diftin- guifhed by any local chara&eriftics from their countrymen on the main land ; but are a vigo- rous, healthy, and aftive race. They fall natu- rally into the three general divifions of, gentry, yeomanry, and laboring poor. The firft clafs blend fimplicity with refine- ment, and are at once hofpitable and urbane. They live together in a friendly reciprocation of good offices; and ftrengthen their harmony by * The water which has undergone this natural perco- lation, is fo perfectly free from impurity, that it has fre- quently been carried to the tropics, and brought back entirely fwcet. frequent 176 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT*. frequent focial meetings, and the pleafures of the chace. The yeomanry form a very refpeftable clafs of people ; renting, in general, eftates from one hundred pounds to four hundred, per annum. They are excellent farmers, and bear the cha- ra&er of kind, benevolent mafters. The feeling and reflecting mind cannot but receive particular pleafure in contemplating the condition of the third divifion of inhabitants, the laboring poor ; a defcription of people who, in other parts, are too often involved in want and wretchednefs. Among the laborers of the ifland, a general appearance of content and decency does away the ideas of poverty and mifery. They all feem comfortable and happy. Their dwellings are neat, fnug, and cleanly ; to each of which is attached a little garden, kept in nice order, and planted with potatoes. Their manners are civil, inoffenfive, and incorrupted by thofe vices which are generally found amongft the lower ranks of people in the neighbourhood of great towns. The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1?7 The above character attaches to the laborers in general, throughout the ifland, but applies perhaps more particularly to thofe of the rocky and mountainous regions of the. South, who are chained, as it were, to their native hills, and have not been vitiated by foreign communica- tion. It is about Steephill, Undercliff, and their neighbourhood that the poet's defcription af- fumes reality. " Tho' poor the peafant's hut, his feafts tho' fmall, He fees his little lot the lot of all ; Sees no contiguous palace rear its head, To fhame the meannefs of his humble med ; No coftly lord the fumptuous banquet deal, To make him loathe his vegetable meal r But calm and bred in ignorance and toil, Each wifli contracting, fits him to the foil. Chearful at morn he wakes from fhort repofe, Breads the keen air and carols as he goes ; With patient angle trolls the finny deep, Or drives his vent'rous plough-fhare to the fleep." " At night returning, every labour fped, He fits him down the monarch of a fhed ; Smiles by his chearful fire, and round furveys His children's looks, that brighten at the blaze; While his lov'd partner, boaftful of her hoard, Difplays the cleanly platter on the board." A a It Ij8 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. It is, however, much to be lamented, that no pains feem to have been taken, in imparting ufc- ful knowledge to this honeft, and induftrious clafs of people. When we look into other parts of the kingdom, and fee the fuccefs that has attend- ed one of the nobleft plans of general improve- ment among the lower ranks of fociety, ever fuggefted, the eftablimment offundayfchools, by means of which, the morals of the poor are bet- tered, their manners civilized, and valuable in- ftruftion is imparted to them ; we cannot but regret, that fimilar advantages are not held .out to the laboring poor of the Ifle of Wight. Both policy and morals diclate and enforce the adop- tion of this excellent fyftem. To impart inflruc- tion to the ignorant, is confeffedly the duty of the higher and better informed ranks ; and I believe no one will affert, that fulfilling this ob- ligation has a tendency to render thofe inftruft- ed, lefs valuable members of fociety than they were, before their emancipation from profound and ftupid ignorance. I would not take upon me to determine what precifc degree of knowledge it may be neceflary to afford to the lower ranks of HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1/g of people; but I think we may venture to fay, all fuch information ought to be beftowed, as can tend to imprefs their minds with a proper fenfe of their obligations to God, the community, and themfelves. It would be unpardonable were we to take leave of the inhabitants, without noticing the jnoft amiable part of them ; the fair females of the ifland. The general beauty of its women has long been one of the boafts of this part of England, and any one who poffefles a tafte for female charms, will readily acknowledge that the boaft is neither vain nor unfounded. To what phyfical caufe it may be afcribed, is difficult to fay ; but certainly the girls of the ifland, of all ranks and defcriptions, have an elegance of ftature and beauty of countenance not to be obferved (in the general, I mean), in any other particular diflriclof Southern Britain. It is here only that we may behold conftant examples of " The form Shap'd by the hand of harmony ; the cheek, Where the live crimfon, thro 1 tlie native white Aa :> Soft- l8o HISTORY OF THE ISJLE OF WIGHT. Soft-fhooting, o'er the face diffufes bloom, And every namelefs grace ; the parted lip, Like the red rofe-bud moift with morning dew, Breathing delight ; and, under flowing jet, Or funny ringlets, or of circling brown, The neck light-fhaded, and the fwelling breaft." The d wns confift of a long range of hills, ftretching the whole length of the ifland, from the town of Brading, at the Eaftern extremity, to the Needle rocks at the Weftern one. The whole furface of thefe is covered with a fhort, fweet herbage, which affords admirable pafturc for fheep; rendering the meat delicious, and the texture of the wool extremely fine. Some of thefe downs fwell into very bold elevations, and unfold to the aftonifhed vifion profpe&s, vaft, various, and fublime. The higheft of them appears to be (from a late meafurement) St. Boniface down, which rifes about eight hun- dred and forty feet above the level of the ocean. A late amiable naturalilt, fpeaking of a range of chalk downs, in the upper part of Hampfhire, refembling thofe of the ifland, has the following obfer-^ HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. l8l obfervation : " perhaps I may be fingular in my opinion, and not fo happy as to convey to you the fame idea; but I never contemplate thefe mountains, without thinking I perceive fome- thing analogous to growth, in their gentle fwellings, and fmooth fungus like protuberances, their fluted fides, and regular hollows and Hopes, that carry at once the air of vegetative dilatation and expanfion."* The idea is novel and in- genious, and feems to be founded in truth, from certain appearances of gradual enlargement which the Ifle of Wight hills have exhibited. It is a well-known facl, that, about half a cen- tury fince, Shanklin down, which (lands in the $outh-Eaftern part of the ifland, was not to be difcerned, from St. Catherine's, owing to the intervention of Week down, whofe magnitude and elevation completely fcreened it from the eye. A gradual, but imperceptible expanfion, however, of Shanklin down, has at length reared it to a greater bulk, and a greater height, (by at * White's Nat. Hift. Sclborne, p. 163. leaft l8a HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. lead one hundred feet) than that of its formerly invidious neighbour. It feems fufficiently clear, that this difference in the appearance of the two downs muft have arifen rather from the growth of Shanklin, than the finking of Week ; fince the latter, and all the furrounding downs, bear the fame relative proportion to each other they ever did, which could not be the cafe, had any change taken place in its elevation or magnitude. Thefe downs exhibit a number of thofc circular marks on the grafs, which Philofophy, unable herfelf to account fatisfaclorily for the phenomenon, in compliance with vulgar fuper- ftition, is content to call by the name of fairy rings ; " Where At fall of eve the fairy people throng, In various game and revelry to pafs The fummer night, as village ftories tell." Thefe appearances are generally circular, fometimes oval, and from two to twenty feet in diameter. They may eafily be difcovered by the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the ranknefs of the grafs, which forms the ring, and the number of fungi or mufhrooms that cover it. Various, have been the conjectures relative to the caufe of this phenomenon, and none perhaps more plaufible than that of Doftor Darwin, who accounts for it in the following manner : " The numerous flames of lightning which occur every fummer, are, I believe, generally difcharged on the earth, and but feldom, if ever, from one cloud to another. Moift trees are the moft frequent conductors of thefe flames of lightning, and I am informed by purchafers of wood, that innumerable trees are thus cracked and injured. At other times larger parts or prominences of clouds, gradually finking as they move along, are difcharged on the moifter parts of graffy plains. Now this knob or corner of a cloud, in being attracted by the earth, will become nearly cylindrical, as loole wool would do when drawn out into a thread, and will ftrike the earth with a ftream of eleclricity perhaps two or ten yards in diameter. Now as a ftream of elec- tricity l8} HISTORY OF THE ISLE Of \VIGHT, . *g tricity difplaces the air it paffes through, it is plain no part of the grafs can be burnt by it, but juft the external ring of this cylinder, where the grafs can have accefs to the air, fince without air nothing can be calcined. This earth, after having been fo calcined, becomes a richer foil, and either funguffcs or a bluer grafs for many- years mark the place. That lightning difplaces the air in its paffage, is evinced by the loud crack that fucceeds it, which is owing to the fides of the aerial vacuum clapping together when the lightning is withdrawn. That nothing will cal- cine without air is now well tinderftood from the acids produced in the burning of phlogiftic fub- Itances; and may be agreeably feen by fuf- pending a paper on an iron prong, and putting it into the centre of the blaze of an iron furnace; it may be held there fome feconds, and may be again withdrawn without being burnt, if it be palfed quickly into the flame, and out again through the external part of it, which is in contaft with the air. I know," adds the Do6lor, *' fome circles of many yards diameter, of this kind, near Foremark HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. l8^ Foremark in Derbyshire, which annually pro- duce large white fungufles, and ftronger grafs, and have done fo, I am informed, above thirty years." The probability of this hypothefis will perhaps be allowed, when it is recollected that thefe gramineous circles are generally found upon open and expofed places, and never in immediate contatt with trees, or any other free conductors of the electrical fluid. Bb CHAP. l86 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. II. OF THE ANCIENT CONNECTION OF THE ISLE O*F WIGHT WITH THE MAIN LAND ; ITS COAST ; ROCKS ; CA- VERNS; CHINES, &C. AT is now pretty generally imagined, that the ifland, many centuries fince, was connected with, and actually made a part of, the main land. Hiftory indeed does not reach to a period previous to the exiftence of the prefent feparating ftrait ; but we have recorded accounts remaining, of the waters which formed it being fo mallow, as to leave its bottom entirely dry at low water.* Mr. Borlafe has indeed endeavoured to prove, that the hiftorian, on whofe accounts this * Diodorus Siculus, p. 347. opinion HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. l8/ opinion is founded, fpoke of one of the Cafli- terides, a clufter of iflands on the coaft of Corn- wall ; and that Iftis (the ifland mentioned by him) can by no means be fuppofed to be the Ifle of Wight. But his arguments do not appear to me convincing, particularly when oppofed to the authorities produced by Mr. Whitaker, in favor of a contrary opinion.* The Cornifh antiquary perceives a great abfurdity in the Britons bringing their tin from fuch a diftant place as the Belerian fliores, to the Ifle of Wight; but this apparent abfurdity will vanifh, if we refleft, according to my fuggeftion in an early part of this volume, that the Greeks of Marfeilles, on their fucceeding the Phoenicians in this traffic, might have prevailed on the Britons to remove the itaple of this article, from the ports where it was originally fhipped, to thofe of the Ifle of Wight ; iince a removal of this nature would fave the former a tedious, long, and dangerous voyage (in thofe cjays) through the Bay of Bifcay, part of the Atlantic Ocean, the * See his Hift. Mancheflcr, vol. II. p. 177. B b 2 Straits l88 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Straits of Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean Sea. The land-carriage of the tin, from Normandy to Languedoc, might be performed in the fpace of fifteen or eighteen days, whereas the circuitous navigation juft mentioned would not be ac- complifhed, by the unfldlful failors of that period, in lefs than five or fix weeks. The appearance alfo of the Northern fhore of the ifland, and the oppofite one of Hampfhire, feems to confirm the idea of an ancient junction between them ; as they are both low, and their refpetive^/2r being covered with huge frag- J c 2 ments 196 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ments of cliff, tumbled and thrown about in the wildeft confufion. On the Weftern fide of the latter, another gaping fiflure occurs, called Black' gang chine, a name which in fome degree pre- pares one for the gloomy horrors of the chafm. Its fides are ftratified with alternate layers of cal- careous ftone, and a black argillaceous earth. Through the bottom of it runs a ftream ofwater, that after heavy rains is magnified into a copious torrent, w -'ch da flies with roaring impetuofity from one rocky fragment to another, till it reaches the mouth of the chine, down which it precipi- tates itfelf, in a noble perpendicular cafcade of forty feet. The coaft exhibits from hence a continued range of cliffs of unequal height, for the diftance of eight or nine miles; when it forms another extenfive finus. called Frefhwater bay. To- wards the centre of this fweeping recefs, the fhore again becomes flat and pebbly ; and feems to offer but a poor bulwark againft the thundering feas which rufh in hither, when the ocean is agitated by a South-wefterly wind. Nature in- deed HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 197 deed appears to have here intended a divifion of the Weftern limb of the ifland, from the other part, having brought the fpring-head of the river Yar within one hundred yards of the water's edge, and placed no obftacle to their jun6iion in this intermediate fpace, but the low, pebbly beach above-mentioned, over which, in tempeftuous weather, the fpray of the fea eafily makes it* way. The view from the bottom of Frefhwater bay is extremely noble. On the left, the eye takes in the rugged defcent of St. Catherine's hill, the white cliffs to the Weftward of it, and three mif- fhaped, unwieldy rocks, ifolated, and detached from the land, and frowning on the waves that lafh their fides. On the right, it beholds a more covered with vaft fragments of broken rock, and the commencement of thofe ftupendous chalky elevations called Frefhwater cliffs; while in front, the ocean, bounded only by the horizon, clofes the fcene. This fpot is alfo remarkable for a prodigious natural cavern, formed in the rock ; to which there 198 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHTi there is an approach when the tide* is at ebb. It penetrates into the cliff about forty yards; gra- dually finking in height, and contracting in breadth, from the mouth to the bottom. Its largeft aperture (for it has three) is a noble rude arch, fpreading about twelve yards from fide to fide, and meafuring five and twenty feet in height. The vaft excavation we are now con- fidering, like moft other fnnilar appearances in the natural world, has probably been produced by water, which is a wonderfully aftive agent in the fccret receffes of the earth. This element, according to Doclor Goldfmith, finding fub- terraneous paffages, and, by long degrees, hol- lowing the beds through which it flows, the ground above it, in time, naturally flips down clofer to its furface, leaving the upper layers of earth or ftone ftill fufpended,; the ground or rock, that finks upon the face of the water, forming thus the floor of the cavern, the ground or rock that keeps fufpended, forming the roof. At this part the fhore rifes into one immenfe chalk cliff, from four to fix hundred feet in height, HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. height, and runs in a South-wefterly direction about four miles, fometimes prefenting a per- pendicular elevation, at other times beetling fearfully over its excavated bafe. If the eye be caft down this abrupt defcent, particularly during the feafon of incubation, it is aftonifhed and delighted with a new and unexpected fcene. Myriads of birds of various forts and different fizes are feen, either feated on the clefts and fhelvings of the rocks, or fporting in circular flights through the midway air; or floating lightly on the billows, in purfuit of their filhy prey. Meanwhile the whole fky refounds with the rude harmony of thefe winged nations ; and rocks, air, and ocean prefent one fcene of noife, buftle, and animation.* The greater part of thefe feathered clouds are aquatic fowl, which migrate hither from the colder * Mr. Pennant has the following amufing obfcrvation, the truth of which may be fully exemplified by a vifit to Frefhwater cliffs. ' ; 1'he notes of all the fea birds are extremely harfli or inharmonious : we have often refted under the rocks attentive to the various founds above our tOO HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. colder regions of the North, to depofit their eggs, and rear their young ; of the moft remarkable fpecies we lhall give an account in their proper place, but their great variety utterly precludes a particular defcription of all; for, " Who can recount what tranfmigrations here Are annual made ? what nations come and go ? And how the living clouds on clouds arife f Infinite wings ! till all the plume-dark air And rude refounding fliore, are one wild cry !" The molt fublime part, however, of this won- derful coaft, is the Weftern termination of the ifland ; a perpendicular chalk rock, fcooped by the hand of Nature into an immenfe femi- our heads, which, mixed with the folcmn roar of the waves fwelling into and retiring from the vaft caverns beneath, have produced a fine effeft. The fharp voice of the fca gulls, the frequent chatter of the guillemots, the loud note of the auks, the fcream of the herons, to- gether with the hoarfe, deep, periodical croak of the corvorants, which ferves as a bafs to the reft ; has often furnifhed us with a concert, which, joined with the wild fcenery that furrounded us, afforded in a high de- gree, that fpecies of pleafure which arifes from the no- velty, and, we may fay, gloomy grandeur of the enter- tainment." Britilh Zoology, vol. II. p. 434. circular HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2Oi circular hollow, and rearing itfelf fix hundred feet above the pebbly fhore. It is called St. Chriftopher's cliff. Its Northern limb is length- ened intft a chain of rocks, named the Needles., from a lofty pointed one which formerly ftood a little . to the North of the remaining rocks ; but (being undermined by the fea,) fell into the ocean about twenty-five years fince.* The grandeur of this fcene, compared with which the mightieft works of human labor arc trifling and contemptible, cannot be expreffed by verbal defcription. To be conceived, it muft be beheld ; and forry mould I be for that man who, on beholding it, was not involuntarily led to a contemplation of its divine and almighty Architect ; who did not feel the pious rapture of the Poet, and exclaim, " Thefe are thy glorious works, Parent of Good, Almighty ! thine this univerfal frame Thus wond'rous fair ; thyfelf how wond'rous then ! * The annexed plate gives a view of this fingular rock, vulgarly called Lot's Wife, from, its fancied refem- blance to the pillar of fait, into which her improper curi- ofity occafioned her to be converted. D d Unfpeakable ; 2O2 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Unfpeakable ; who fitt'ft above ihefe heav'ns To us invjfible, or dimly feen In thefe thy loweft works." The chalky cliffs continue round this vaft promontory, the'diftance of fomewhat more than a mile into Alum bay, when the fcene is fuddenly changed ; they at once lofe their white and pre- cipitous appearance, and are converted into a gradual flope, confiding of various ochres, and fands of different colors, beautifully ftratified in a very oblique direction. And here all gran- deur ceafes; the hills fink gently to the fhore, and nothing now occurs but flat beach or ver- dant declivities. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 203 CHAP. III. THE ZOOLOGY -OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT; ITS ANIMALS, REPTILES, AND FI^H. ^ r| _^ *- " But afk now the bcafts, and they fhall teach thec ; and the fowls of the air, and they fhall tell thee :" '* Or fpcak to the earth, and it fhall teach thce ; and the fifties of the fea fhall declare unto thee." " Who kuoweth not in all thcfc, that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this ?" VV E have hitherto confidered the magnifi- cent exhibitions of nature in the Ifle of Wight : we fhall now defcend to her more minute but not lefs ihterefting, operations. In the contem- plation of caverns, rocks, and mountains, the mind is rather awed into aftonifhment than foft- ened into delight : we there behold the agency of a Being of infinite power and majefty, at whofe prefence the " earth {hakes, the heavens Dd.2 drop, 204 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. drop, and the waters are afraid ;" but in furvey- ing the economy of the animal and vegetable kingdoms; the exquifite mechanifm with which their individuals are formed; the unerring in- ftinls with which they are endued ; and the nice adaptation of their feveral parts to anfwer the purpofes for which they were created; we ac- knowledge the finger of a God, wife and bene- volent, as he is great and powerful; who is " good to all the creatures of his hand ; and whofe tender mercies are over all his works." The fauna Vettenjis does not add much to the zoology of Hampfhire. It is indeed marked by fome fingular omifflons in the chain of quadru- peds common in every other part of England. The fox, who has for ages been the terror of the farmer, and the delight of the fportfman through- out Britain, was never yet found in the Ifle of Wight. The harmlefs badger alfo, and the fetid jitchet, or polecat, are (hangers to this diftrift; which, from the abfence of thefe animals, and its infular fituation, appears to be the beft cal- culated for the production of game of any place in HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 205 1h Great-Britain. And indeed it has always been famous for its hares, pheafants, and par- tridges. The hare of the Ifle of Wight furnifhes good and conftant fport to the hunter during the fcafon. It is, I think, rather fmaller than its brethren on the continent, but fwift and ftrong. The inequalities of the ifland make this fpot an excellent relidence for the animal, and give it confiderable advantages over its purfutrs. The long mufcular hind legs which it has, are well calculated to mount the fteep downs of the ifland with uncommon fleetnefs; and it not unfrequently efcapes, by diftancing both hunters and dogs, at thefe rapid afcents. As the hare is an animal of furprizing fecun- dity,* and fecured from the attacks of the fox, * They breed frequently in the year, bringing forth from two to four young ones at a litter. This wife pro- vifion of nature^ in making the moft innocuous and efcu- lent animals the moft fruitful, was not unnoticed by the ancient naturalifts. " Benigna circa hoc natuva, innocua et efculenta animalia foccunda generuvitj" Hiny, lib. VIII. cap, Iv. and 206 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. and polecat, by the abfence of thefe definitive vermin in this part, we may naturally fuppofe they would be found in very great plenty throughout the ifland. And indeed this was the cafe till within thefe thirty or forty years ; but as a Roman tafte* for thefe animals has arifen amongft us, and they are considered as tit-bits by modern epicurifm, the midnight poacher finds it well worth while to employ ail his fkill, and run every rifle, in the capture of the hare; a practice which of courfe muft thin the breed extremely. There remain, however, fufficient for the fport of the gentlemen of the ifland. There are few difagreeable reptiles in the ifland. Such as occur, are found in the lower, fandy parts of it ; the other fpots being freed from them by the elevation and expofure of their fituation. Many -vipers indeed are met with in * The Romans were very partial to this animal : " later quaJrupedes gloria prima lepus." Martial. And its fhoulder was reckoned a moft delicate morfel ; " Fcecund: leporis fapiens feftabitur anr.os." Horace. Sec my " Antiquitates Culinariaj." Quarto, Blamire, 1791, the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2O/ the chalky and ftony places, and the largeft I ever faw, I had nearly trodden upon, in the parifh of Wootton, in the outfldrts of Coombly wood, in Auguft, 1792. Had my foot, however, come in contact with this animal, no injury could have cnfued to me from the preffure, as it was utterly incapable of revenging the infult. This in- capacity had been produced by its voracioufnefs, as was evident on an examination of the reptile. We then found that it had attempted to gorge a frog, (at leail three times as large in circum- ference as the thickeft part of its own body,) but being unable to accomplifh the tafk entirely, one of the legs and thighs of its prey continued to depend from the viper's mouth, and effectually prevented it from clofing the jaws and excluding its poifon. The animal indeed (as is the cafe with all the ferpent kind after fatisfying their voracity,) was in a ftate of torpor, which rendered it apparently infenfible of our approach or ob- fervation, and unable to exprefs any tokens of indignation when we deftroyed it. On meafu- ring it when dead, it was found to be exaclly twenty-nine inches long. On 2O8 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. On contemplating this animal, one of the moft remarkable circumftances relating to it, appears to be the faculty it thus pofleffes, of extending its jaws, throat, and flomach fo confiderably, as to render them capable of admitting a fubftance much thicker than any part of its body. In the fingular conformation of its parts, to accomplifh this purpofe, the wifdom of providence ftrikingly manifefts itfelf. The head of the viper is broad and flat, having a wide mouth of very un- common and difproportionate magnitude. This permits the jaws to gape to a great extent ; but the aperture would ftill be inefficient for the admiffion of the animal's prey, were not the capability of its diftention increafed by the following nice contrivance. The jaws are not united together at the bottom, as in the human mouth, by a procefs refembling a pair of hinges ; but connected by a ftrong mufcle, the elafticity of which is fuch, as to keep the features firm when not in aftion, and to allow their being ftretched to an immoderate extent, when the fize or form of the animal's food requires it. The gullet or throat receives the aliment from the mouth. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. mouth, and being very capacious and elaftic, eafily accommodates itfelf to the magnitude and figure of it. From hence a part only imme- diately finds its way into the ftomach, a recepta- cle by no means fo large as the gullet; here it continues till it be reduced by the aftion of digeftion into chyle, which going off in the natural way, affords room for the remaining parts to be abforbed by the ftomach, and digefted. Thefe reptiles are viviparous, but fortunate- ly for mankind not very prolific.* The poifon of their bite is fully eftablifhed; and the effects of it, if there be no fpeedy application to the wound, extremely frightful, and many times fatal. The fnnpleft and moft ready cure, in cafe of an injury from a viper, is a brifk fomentation of the wounded limb with warmed fallad oil ; and taking about a jill of the fame liquid internally. * That is, as Ariftotlc cxpreiFes it, " E> xiroif / uonxit TO TiXf/o woy, e|w & CaoToxti." DC Gen. Animal, lib. III. cap. ii. " Within them they bear a perfeft egg, (wherein the young one is contained) but they bring forth their young alive." They produce from fix to ten at a time; copulate in May, and are about three months in geftation. E e The 210 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The only infecl of any curiofity, which my occafional walks through the ifland have given me an opportunity of difcovering, is the gryllus tcdpdi or mole-cricket. The character and man- ners of this little creature, which is perfectly in- offenfive, are well deferving notice, particularly as its homely, and indeed hideous figure, are apt to excite emotions of dread and abhorrence, neither of which need be entertained againft it. The only one I have feen in this part of Hamp- fhire occurred in a wet meadow in the heart of the ifland. It had been dug up by a lad who was grouting for earth-worms; and had filled I him with aftonifhment arid apprehenfion. The fpade was juft lifted for dividing the harmlefs in- left in twain, when my prefence and intreaty prevented the meditated blow. On examining this infecl, it appeared to be of a very dark brown color, and little more than two inches in length. Its body was fcaly; furnifiied with two long, pointed wings, and as many hairy tails. The moft remarkable parts about it, however, were the fore-feet, which have forne refemblance to HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 211 to a human hand, and are admirably formed for making thofe fubterraneous excavations wherein the animal refides, and depofits its eggs. Strong, webbed, and a little incurvated, the mole- cricket works with its paws at a prodigious rate, and will burrow its way through a whole ridge of leguminous plants, (of the roots of which it is very fond) in the courfe of a fingle night. With thefe inftruments, alfo, its neat habitation (which is a room about the fize of an hen's egg) is quickly formed, and guarded with various wind- ing paffages, and curious approaches to it. This domicilium is generally, in the fummer time, placed within fix inches of the furface of the ground, and herein the female lays her eggs, from one hundred to one hundred and fifty ; but to- wards winter, inftinft, ever faithful to its office, in- forms the little being that in order to fecure his tender offspring he muft get deeper into the foil, and retire from the influence of the froft. Again therefore he fets to work, and in a fhort time completes with his little webbed feet, a commo- dious hybernaculum, about fourteen inches be- e 2 low 212 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, low the furface of the ground. Hither he retires with his family, and patiently waits for the return of genial funs, and warmer feafons, when he, again takes pofTeflion of his fummer abode. The chief food of the mole-cricket confifts of roots and vegetables, for which he fometimes travels at night, by the afiiftance of his wings, to a confiderable diftance. Before morning he generally returns to his fubterraneous habitation, and, wonderful to tell ! is found (by the minute inveftigations of naturalifts and anatomifls,) to be employed there during the day chiefly in rumi- nating, or chewing the cud. What purpofes thefe little, but curious infecls may anfwer in the fcale of creation, we cannot at prefent apprehend, and mail perhaps ever remain ignorant of them. That, however, they fulfil certain ends, and thofe beneficial ones, cannot be doubted ; as they are the creatures of an Artift who made nothing in vain, and who formed every part to aflift and co-operate towards the good of the whole. Viewed in this light, even the mole-cricket becomes a fourcc of HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 213 of edification; fince it may at leaft ferve to humble the pride of human knowledge, by exemplifying the truth of the Philofopher's obfervation ; Ea quce fcimus Junt pars minima eorum qua ignoramus, The fijh found on the coaft of the ifland are chiefly fuch as frequent the Southern fhores of Britain. Now and then, indeed, thefe innoxious tribes are difturbed by \\\tjhark, who is either brought from the Baltic, or the tropics. In thcfe cafes he comes, " Lur'd by the fcent Of {learning crouds, of rank difeafe, and death." following veffels, the crews of which are un- healthy, and afford him luxurious meals by their occafional diflblution. Sharks have been mot in the {trait that feparates the ifland from the oppofite fhore, and been feen even within the harbour of Cowes. They make, however, but a fhort ftay in this neighbourhood; and either return to the regions from whence they came, or go more to the Weflward, in fearch of the droves of pilchards on the Cornifh coaft. The 214 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The porpeffe alfo is perpetually feen on the coafts of the ifland, " tempefting the deep" with its unwieldy gambols. It is a very difgufting fifh to the eye, being almoft black in color, with a head like a hog, and from three to fix feet in length. During the whiting and herring feafon, it is very amufing to watch thefe animals in purfuit of their food, which is compofed of the fmaller fifh ; and to remark the various arts by which they accomplish the great end of fatisfying their voracity. An excellent naturalift* compares their exertions, at this time, to thofe of a pack of hounds after a fox ; and indeed there is a great refemblance in the operations of both. Their eagernefs alfo, when thus engaged, equals that of the dog, and frequently renders the porpeffe fo blind to its fafety, that he will dam headlong upon fhoals from whichhe never can recede, rather than give up the purfuit. It is either by ar. accident of this nature, or by an injury or in- difpofition which prevents him keeping the feas. * Pennant. Brit. Zoology, vol. III. that . HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. that the porpefle is now and then forced on our fhores, and found either dead or expiring, When this happens, the carcafe proves to be no contemptible treafure to the finder; for the quantity of fat with which the flefh is furrounded, being well boiled, is converted into a very excellent and valuable oil. The lean alfo of this fifh is in fome parts of the world ufed for the table ; but proves, to a palate not habituated to it, a very rank and difagreeable viand. The mutations of faihions and taftes, however, in the line of eating, have been not a little whimfical, even in our own country ; fince the porpefle, which we now turn from with loathing and abhorrence, was eaten with avidity by the old Englifh epicure. Ancient cookery ex- haufted all its art in mixing fauces for this dele&able morceau ; and there was no enter- tainment of any magnificence till the fixteenth century, at which the porpefle, either bodily or in junks, did not find a refpeftable place.* * Vide my " Antiquitatatcs Culinariae, or Curious Trafts relating to old Englifh Cookery." Quarto ; Blamirc, 1791. There 2l6 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. There is another fifh of a curious form and fingular hiftory, which is often fifhed up by the dredgers on the ifland fhores. This is the loligo, or great cuttle -fifh, whofe bones are the well known white, oval fubftances, found on the beach in many parts of the ifland. This aquatic ani- mal, which the naturalifts place in the vermcs clafs, exibits a very hideous and deformed ap- pearance. It is from eighteen inches to two feet in length, and covered with a thin dark co- lored (kin. To the eye it feems to be of the confiftence of jelly ; ftrengthened, confolidated, and defended as it were by a bone on the upper part of the back. For the convenience of feed- ing itfelf, it poffefles eight arms, placed with great regularity round its mouth, each of which is thickly fet with a multitude of fmall concave difes, that enable it to adhere, with inconceivable tenacity, to rocks or Hones when it chufes to be quiefcent. Exclufive of thefe arms it has two tentacula,or feelers, of confiderable length, which it is able to extend or contract at pleafure. With, thefe it feizes upon (he fmall fry that com- HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 217 compofe its food, which having entangled, they immediately commit the prey to the management of the eight arms., while therafeJves are again expended in fearch of further plunder. The eyes are feated immediately beneath the tentacula; and a little below them is discovered a curious mouth, which in fhape at>4 fubliance nearly re- fembles die beak of a parrot. As this fifh is formed without any external weapons of defence, and by no means made for conteft or exertion, it would fare but ill amid the dangers of the deep, and the numerous enemies that furround it, had not providence wifely af- forded it a means of fafety, which enables it to cfcape mifchance, and continue the propagation of its kind. This arifes from a fecretion of a black fluid, nearly refembling the beft.ink, con- tained in a bladder under the belly of the fifh. No fooner does the animal perceive himfelf to be in danger, from the purfuit of an enemy which he can neither outfwim nor contend with, than he emits (by the anus) a certain portion of his dingy liquor; this immediately difcolors the cir- Ff cum- 2l8 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. cumambient waters, and precludes the purfuer from feeing his deftined prey, which, wrapped in impenetrable darknefs, quietly finks to the bot- tom, and there remains till the danger be over- paft. Thefe remarkable means of felf-prefervation, did not elude the obfervation of the ancient naturalifts, who all make mention of them ; and particularly Oppian, in the following pretty manner : " Th'endanger'd cuttle thus evades his fears, And native hoards of fluid fafety bears. A pitchy ink peculiar glands fupply^ Whofe (hades the fharpeft beams of light defy : Purfu'd he bids the fable fountains flow, And wrapt in clouds eludes th'impending foe. The filh retreats unfeen, while felf-born night, With pious fhade befriends her parent's flight."* The launce, ammodytes, or fand-eel, is a delicate little fifh, found on the fandy mores of the ifland. It being both a good bait for other fpecies, and excellent eating in itfelf, the fimer- men take fome trouble in procuring them. At * Jones's Oppiarvs Halieut, lib. III. the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 219 the recefs of the tide, they are to be found atout fourteen inches below the furface, and are eafily turned up by a light fpade, or indented fork. The iflanders call them the fand-fprat, from the place of their refidence; into which they bore with great dexterity and difpatch. Here alfo is found theftliqua, a fpecies of th John-) or razor ; fo called from the exal refem- blance of its fhell to the haft of that inflrument, I believe the iflanders are unacquainted with the excellence of this fifh ; fince I did not find they ever made a practice of taking them, although it is evident they are fufficiently plentiful, on the fandy parts of the coaft, from the numbers of caft (hells which occur, and the holes of their habi- tations vifible allow water. The (lender form of this fhell enables its in- habitant to fink it eafily into the fand, which it does in a perpendicular direction, to the depth of nearly two feet. When the fifh requires food, it afcends from this dark retreat, and difcovers one end of the fhell a few inches above the fur- face of the fand ; from this the body is feen to Ff 2 be 220 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. be protruded, and aftively employed in the fearch of fuch minute infefts as conftitute its prey. The filiqua is only to be caught at the recefs of the tide ; and fo vigilant is it in providing for its own fafety, that it requires great circum- fpeclion to furprize it even then. In this cafe, the fifherman takes fome fait, and places a fmall quantity of it round the perforation in the fand wherein the fifh refides. This quickly melting penetrates to i\\c filiqua^ v;ho is led from thence to believe the tide is tifen, and accordingly ele- vates himfelf to the furface to feek for food. A moment, however, convinces it of the deceit, and if the fifherman be not extremely atlive, his deftined prey efcapes him, by finking inftanta- neoufly into its dark and deep retreat, from whence it is not a fecond time to be allured. The mytilus edulis, or eatable mttfcle*, is found in many parts of the ifland mores, but appears not to be regarded much, from the opinion of its pofleffing fome noxious, nay poifonous qua- lities. The idea, however, is flanderous and Without HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF \VIGHT. 221 without foundation, as the fifh itfelf is a whole- fome and nutritious food. What occafions the difagreeable effe&s fometimes experienced after eating mufcles, is fwallowing inadvertently the little mafs of hair or filky web, found in the middle of the fifh, with which it attaches itfelf when alive to rocks and ftones. This is very- pernicious and highly incligeftible, producing that ficknefs, fwelling, &c. which raw filk, cob. webs, or any thing of the fame nature, is found, if fwallowed, to occafion.* On opening the mufcle, there is generally difcovered a fmall crab, called the pifum^ or pea- crab, who feems to be the voluntary inhabitant of this bivalve. The ancients fancifully imagined, that this minute infecl was purpofely placed in * Ihe nngular conformation of the organs of this ma- rine animal is faid to be this : It has a mouth fumifhcd with two flefhy lips ; its inteftine begins at the bottom pf the mouth, pafles through the brain, and makes a num- ber of circumvolutions through the liver ; on leaving this organ it goes on ftraight into the heart, which it penetrates, and ends in the anus ; near which the lungs are placed, and through which it breathes! Goldfmith's Animated Nature, vol. VI I. p. 42. the 222 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the (hell of the mufcle, and other fifli of the fame clafs, to affift, by its fagacity, the ftupidity of its hoft, in acquiring food and avoiding danger. When the friendly pair feel inclined to eat, the mufcle opens its fhells, and permits the little lodger to travel forth in queft of provender. As foon as he has procured a fupply, he returns to the fluggifh mufcle, enters the (hell, a*nd divides the plunder .with him. But mould he, on going out, perceive any of the polypus race, (the fworn enemies of the mytilus tribe,) in the neighbour- hood, he inftantly hurries to his teftaceous home, communicates the alarm, and all danger is immediately prevented by the mufcle firmly clofing his impenetrable fhells.* All the fubmarine rocks and ftones on the coaft of the ifland afford protection to the patella vulgata, or common limpet ; and to thefe this fifh attaches itfelf with the rnoft obftinate adhefion. The difficulty of feparation indeed is fuch, that the fimermen are deterred from attempting to colleft limpets for fale ; though ? Pliny. Antiquitates Culin. in preliminary difcourfe. fuclv HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 223 fuch as have patience fufficient to difengage them from the places to which they are affixed, are rewarded for their trouble by an extremely good and nourifhing viand. Various fpecies of turbinated fhells, chiefly of the buccinum or wdk kind, are picked up on thefe mores. As the natural inhabitants of thefe affect the deep recefles of the ocean, the mells are never found with their original pofleflbrs alive. It frequently happens, however, that on taking them up they appear to be tenanted by a kind of crab ; the claws and legs of which difcover themfelves at the mouth or opening of the ftiell. This lodger is called the bernard, or hermit-crab, and curioufly exhibits the \vonderful operations of animal inftinft. As the hinder parts of the hermit's body are tender and naked, unprotected by that Ih'elly covering which its cruftaceous brethren poffefs, perpetual injuries would happen to it, had not nature provided it with a foj-efight which ferves to guard it from external accident. Taught by this, the hermit- crab feeks for the roomy cavity of fome forfaken welk, 8*4 HISTORY OF THE' ISLE OF WIGHT. welk, into which it wriggles itfelf, and there con- tinues till its increased fize obliges it to look out for an habitation of greater dimenfions. It then leaves its temporary prote.clor, and traverfes the coaft with patient affiduity in fearch of another abode, to which when found it attaches itfelf, as to the former one, by means of a ftrong hook placed at the extremity of its tail. So kindly has providence beftowed even on the mod minute and contemptible animals, the means of comfort and felf-prcfervation ! The Southern fhore of the ifland abounds with cruflaceous fifh of all forts. The lobjler and crab in particular are found in great plenty, and of uncommon fize and excellence. Of the former. I have feen an individual that weighed fix pounds and an half; and I am informed the latter will arrive to an equal magnitude. The plentiful production of this fifii on a particular part of the fhore, at the back of the ifland, has occafioned a neighbouring village to be called Crab-Niton. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISI.E OF WIGHT. CHAP. IV. OF THE ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. " Quae multae glomcrantur aves!' T L HOUGH Nature have been rather thrifty in her diftribution of quadrupeds to the Ifle of - Wight ; yet fhe makes ample amends by the number and variety of the feathered tribes^ which are either conftant refidents in this part of England, or flock hither during the feafon of incubation. At this period the lofty chalk cliffs are all one living fcene, and exhibit a fingular appearance of univerfal buftle. Amongft the winged emigrants who thus vifit the fhores of the ifland, to fulfil the great com- mand of nature, and rear their tender young, G g there 226 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. there are fome which are feen only occafionally on thefe rocks; and who appear to be brought hither by accident or caprice, rather than the force of inftincl:. Thus for inftance, the eagle has been known to incubate among the crags of Culver cliff. The beetling brows of this emi- nence appear to offer an eligible habitation for this predacious bird, which, according to Job's fublime defcription of it, is partial to thefe elevated fituations : " Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her neft on high ?" " She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the ftrong place." " From thence me feeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off." " Her young ones alfo fuck up blood ; and where the (lain are, there is me."* The laft eagle known to build in Culver cliff (according to the information I could obtain,) came there in the year 1780. An adven- * Job, chap, xxxix. ver. 27, 28, 29, 30. Pliny, fpeaking of the fame birds, fays ; " Nidificant in petris t arboribus." Lib. X. feft. iv. turous HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 227 turous countryman, who had frequently de- fcended the rock for the eggs of its other winged tenants, having watched the eagle from the neft, paid a vifit to it alfo. He found this fabri- cation to be of confiderable fize, and formed of fticks and rufhes laid alternately; containing one folitary young bird. This he took, but not knowing how to manage it, the eaglet foon died. It is probable the parent bird had come from the Northern parts of Wales, or the craggy cliffs of - the Weftern Ifles; fince the offspring appeared to be of the ringtail fpecies, a fort very common in thofe places. It is, however, but very rarely that this noble bird builds its ayry in a fpot fo diftant from the natural place of its abode. The vigor of this race fits it for in- habiting the colder regions of the North. Here it dwells in folitary majefty, furrounded by filence and defolation ; its ficrcenefs and voracity giving additional horrors to the favage fcenery of its Unfrequented domain ; " High from the fummit of a craggy cliff Jiuiig o'er the deep, fuch as ?.n?.r.ing frowns G2 On 228 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. On utmoft Hilda's fhore, whofe lonely race Refign .the fetting fun to Indian worlds ; The royal eagle draws his vig'rous young, Strong pounc'd, and ardent with paternal fire." To an obferver of the manners of birds, nothing is more amufing than to remark the various little devices which the parents will ufe, during the feafon of incubation, to draw any in- truding footftep from the fpot that conceals their offspring. Thus, for example, a pewit, or lap- wing, the moment it is aware of any approach to her young, immediately takes flight, and wheeling in circles round the head of the enemy, endeavours to engage his attention, and by de- grees to draw him from her neft. A partridge alfo, if file obferve a dog or man coming towards her helplefs covey, will hop away as if wounded, with a tumbling kind of gait, that the intruder may be induced to purfue her, rather than moleft the offspring. But of all the different modes fuggefted by animal oro sv >i for the pre- fervation of the young, that of the eagle feems to t>e the mofl efficacious; and indeed forms an admirable HISTOR.Y OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 229 admirable accompaniment to the rude and fear- ful fcenery of the precipices wherein thefe birds ufually fabricate their lofty citadels. As no naturalift (to the beft of my recollection) has mentioned this particular in the hiftory of the eagle, the reader will not be difpleafed in being made acquainted with it by the following anecdote : A few fummers fince, a gentleman, making the tour of Wales, paffed through the county of Carnarvon. Having furnifhed himfelf with a guide, he vifited every part of this romantic coaft. One day, in drolling amongft the rocks and precipices with which it abounds, he found himfelf fuddenly feparated from his companion. At that moment, a difmal hollow moan afTailed his ear from below. Shortly afterwards he heard it again : and it was repeated, with flight inter- ruptions, for two or three minutes. His ima- gination, prepared to receive imprefiions of ter- ror from the ruggednefs and defolation of the furrounding rocks, immediately painted to him the unfortunate guide fallen from the precipice, and 230 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. and darned to pieces on the crags beneath. In a fhort time, however, his mind was relieved from this painful idea, by the appearance of the fup- pofed fufferer, who had been hidden from his obfervation by the prominent jutting of an enor- mous rock. On being joined by him, he com- municated the extraordinary circumftance which had occurred, and the founds of diftrefs that even then rang in his ear. But his apprehenfions were foon calmed by the guide, who informed him, they proceeded from fome eagle in the vicinity ; with which bird it was cuftomary, during the feafon of incubation and before the young ones had quitted the neft, to emit the dole- ful founds that had alarmed him, in order to en- tice away any intruder from the place of its abode. When the diverfion of falconry was a noble, and even royal amufement, Culver cliffs were in fome degree of repute, from their producing in great abundance a fmall fpecies of hawk, of great ftrength and fpirit, much ufed in fporting for partridges, and other birds of an equal or inferior fize. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 23! fize. As this amufement is, however, now ob- folete, the breed, which ftill continues, is allowed to build its aerial nefts, and purfue its depreda- tions on young game, pigeons, &c. without mo- leftation. I take it to be the falco nifus of Lin- naeus. I have before mentioned the multitude of mi- < grating birds, which may be feen on the rocky mores of the ifland, during the early fummer months. Moft of thefe come hither, merely for the purpofe of depofiting their eggs on the ledges of the cliffs, and rearing their young; which bu- finefs being performed they return to their more northerly habitations. Of thefe fpecies the moil curious and remarkable are, the puffin; the razor- bill; the guillemot; and the cormorant, or, as it is vulgarly called in thefe parts, the IJle of Wight parfon. The puffin ufually reforts to this coaft about the latter end of April. On its arrival, it immediately looks out for a proper place for the depofition of its egg ; it feldom, or never, laying more than one : a crevice in the rock, or a hole in 232 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. in the ground near the more, beft ferves this important purpofe. Being thus provided with an habitation, the female produces her burthen, which fhe and her faithful confort continue alternately to cover and proteci, till the young bird is excluded from the fhell. This happens about the middle of June, when nothing can equal the buftle and anxiety of the dams. They are now to be feen flying in circular rings about the aperture of their nefts, mewing, as it were, the ufe of their pinions to the unpraftifed young, arid encouraging them, by a thoufand little arts, to commit themfelves to the vacant air, or drop into the watery wafte. This bufinefs, however, once finifhed, the oro^/n ceafes. Nature has accomplifhed the important end of introducing the rifing generation properly to the world ; and it would now be a wafte of affection, were the dam to continue its parental fondnefs. The moment, therefore, that inftmcl informs the older birds it is time for them to depart from their fummer habitation, they obey its intimations. , No paternal ties can protrad their flay ; fuch of their tilSTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 233 their offspring as are able to accompany their flight, join the migrating hod, whilft the more feeble young ones are left to fhift for themfelves. I cannot give fo accurate an idea of this fingu- lar bird, which is equally curious in perfon as in manners, as by tranfcribing the excellent defcrip- tion of it, drawn by the faithful pen of our Britifh Zoologift. " This bird," fays he, u weighs about twelve ounces ; its length is twelve inches ; the breadth from tip to tip of the wings extended, twenty-one inches : the bill is more, broad at the bafe, com- preffed on the fides, and running up to a ridge, triangular, and ending in a fharp point : the bafe of the upper mandible is ftrengthened with a white narrow prominent rim, full of very minute holes; the bill is of two colors, the part next the head of a bluifh grey, the lower part red : in the former is one tranfverfe groove or furrow, in the latter three ; the fize of the bill is one inch and three quarters long ; and the bafe of the upper mandible one inch broad." Hh The 234 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. " The iridcs are grey, and the edges of the eye-lids of a fine crimfon ; on the upper eye- lid is a fingular callous fubftance, grey, and of a triangular form ; on the lower is another of an oblong form ; the crown of the head, whole upper part of the body, tail, and covert feathers of the wings are black ; the quill-feathers are of a dufky hue." 46 The cheeks are white, and fo full of feathers as to make the head appear very large, and al- moft round ; the chin of the fame color, bounded on each fide by a broad bed of grey : from the corner of each eye is a fmall feparation of the feathers, terminating at the back of the head. The neck is encircled with a broad collar of black ; but the whole lower part of the body, as far as is under water, is white." " Tail black, compofed of fixteen feathers : legs fmall, of an orange color, and placed fo far Behind as to difqualify it from {landing, except quite eret ; refting not only on the foot, but the whole f length of the leg ; this makes the rife of the puffin from the ground very difficult, and it HISTORY OP THE ISLE OF WIGHT. it meets with many falls before it gets on wing ; but when that is effe&ed, few birds fly longer or ftronger."* The razor-bill is found among the lofty crags of Frefhwater, and St. Chriftopher's cliffs, about the beginning of May. Here it is that the female depofits her fingle egg (for they never lay but one at a time) on the bare level of fome rocky ledge, that beetles over the beach below. This egg is enormoufly large in proportion to the fize of the bird, being three inches in length ; its color is cither a dirty white, or a fea green, thickly fet with a variety of irregular black fpots.t To acquire thefe, and to procure the feathers of the young puffins, it is cuftomary with many of the iflanders to defcend the tremendous precipices where they are found, by the afliftance of a ftrong rope, attached to a crow bar fixed in the ground * Brit. Zool. p. 431. Quarto. f Thefe are erroneoufly, though commonly, called puffin's eggs ; whereas the egg of that bird is much fmaller, and entirely white. above. 236 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. above. When the eggs are gotten, they may be purchafed at about nine pence a dozen; and being boiled hard, are by many people much efteemed. The yolk is then rich and well flavored, but the white very infipid, and fome- what difagreeable to the eye, having the appear- ance of a dingy tranfparent jelly. Jf the fituation of the egg be obferved, as ordered by the parent bird, it will be found to be moft won- derfully and curioufly placed 3 with a balance fo nice and exaft, that fliould it be once re- moved, it is out of the power of human art to Teftore it to its former equilibrium. Indeed the danger of the egg rolling off the fmooth level on which it is depofited, from the agitation of the winds, or other external caufes, is fo inftinftively known by the female razor-bill, that when once it is brought forth, fhe feldom forfakes it till the young one is excluded ; being regularly fed by the affiduous male, who is conftantly on the wing feeking provifion for his faithful partner, during this tedious incubation. In the mean time, fhould any plunderer deprive this patient crea- ture HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 237 ture of her folitary egg, (he immediately fupplies its place with another; and if the theft be 1 re- peated twice or thrice, me will as often produce a frefh one; though, wonderful to tell, fhe never thinks of laying a fecond if her firft-born be left undifturbcd. The razor-bill is a handfome bird, about eighteen inches long, and twenty-fix broad; its head, back, and wings black; it? neck and belly white. The bill is two inches long; fomewhat crooked, ftrong, and fharp ; having a broad tranfverfe groove of white, eroding each man- dible. The legs are black, and placed very far back, which gives the bird the fame ereQ: ap- pearance when {landing, as the puffin has; and nothing is more laughable, but at the fame time more curious, than to behold long ranks of thefe birds thickly planted fide by fide, on the different ledges of the rocks, in a pofture, which, though natural to them, has a mod affefted and abfurd appearance. The guillemot alfo migrates to the Ifle of Wight rocks, to produce and rear its offspring. It 338 HISTOF-Y OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. It generally accompanies the other aquatic birds before defcribed, both in their advent and de- parture. Like them too, it only lays one egg, of a pale blue, fpotted with black blotches, or marked with numerous interfering lines. Its figure is not inelegant, though it do not boaft the brilliant colors of other birds ; being, on the head, neck, back, and wings, of a deep moufe color, with the belly perfectly white. The bill is about three inches long, ftraight, and tapering to a very (harp point. Naturalifts have given to this bird the oppro- brious name of the fooli/h guillemot, from its not changing its fituation when mot at. But I am inclined to think, from obfervations which I have perfonally made, that this conduft of the bird is rather a beautiful example of inftinftive animal affection, than a fpecimen of ftupidity. The attachment of thefe aquatic birds to their offspring, is (whilft it continues) ardent beyond apprehenfion ; and the reafon of the older birds thus neglecting to fly from danger, when it becomes too obvious to them to be miftaken, is, their HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 239 their difinclination to remove from their young ones, which would not be able to accompany them in their flight. Whilft thefe various fpecies of migrating bird* continue in the neighbourhood of the Needle rocks, it is a common diverfion with the fportf- men of thefe parts, to form parties for the purpofe of mooting them ; a barbarous practice, and without excufe ; fince the wounded carcafes of thefe unfufpeting vifitors can be applied to no one ufe after they are deftroyed. But fuch are the delights of " The fteady tyrant man, Who, with the thoughtlefs infolence of pow'r Inflam'd beyond the moft infuriate wrath Of the worft monfter that e'er roam'd the wafte, For fport alone purfues the cruel game, Amid the beamings of the gentle days." The cormorant * is not, properly fpeaking, a bird of migration. It builds in, and inhabits the * The proper name of this bird is corvorant, from eorvus crow, and varans devouring ; an appellation if well deferves, from its incredible voracity, infatiablcr gluttony, and rapid digeftion. immenfc HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. immenfe precipices of Frefhwater, for the better part of the year. During the winter, however, the voracious plunderer may be feen, purfuing his depredations in the rivers and creeks, for many miles around. Here this folitary favage is on the perpetual watch for prey ; tortured with unquenchable hunger, occafioned by an infinite multitude of worms, which inhabit his infide, and, like the dogs of Milton's Sin, would make his bowels their repaft, did he not fupply their voracity by unceafing repletion. For this purpofe, the miferable glutton is feen continually diving after the fifh, which his piercing eye can difcern at a great depth in the water ; or perched upon fome folitary elevation, enjoying a tempo- rary refpite from labor, and the attacks of his internal enemies. During thefe moments of idlenefs and eafe, he is often found feated in a lofty tree; a fituation fomewhat fingular for a water fowl, and which indeed (according to the obfervation of Ariftotle) the cormorant alone, of all birds of that clafs, makes ufe of. It is this generally unobferved circumftance, in the hiftory of HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 24 I of the cormorant, that our great Poet has laid hold of, when he introduces Satan ufurping the figure of that bird, and perching upon a tree, to make his obfervations on our firft parents : " Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, The middle tree, and higheft there that grew, Sat like a cormorant''* An admirable vehicle, from its voracity and bafenefs, for the Devil to make ufe of, whilft devifing fchemes of death and definition. Nature feems to have intended a check upon human gluttony, by rendering thofe quadrupeds and birds, which are moft remarkable for an in- temperate indulgence of the appetite, the moft hateful and offenfive. The cormorant is a proof of this, than which bird no other is more vora- cious in feeding, nor at the fame time, more difagreeable in perfon, deteftable in fmell, or dif- gufting in manners ; an inftance, amongft num- * Paradife Loft, book IV. line 193. I i berlefs 342 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. berlefs others, of the moral inji.ruftion which might be gleaned from every part of nature, if we would but perufe her ample volume. The ifland has always produced abundance of game. As early as the reign of Henry VIII. we find that the pheafants and partridges of the royal demefnes here, engaged the attention of our monarchs. This prince, who was a great fportf- man, and more particularly devoted to hawking^ arnufed himfelf occafionally that way in the ifland. Great depredations, however, were committed by the farmers, and lower ranks of people, on the birds, (for poaching was praftifed even three centuries ago) which occafioned the following mandate from Henry, to Richard Worfley, Efq. who was then Captain of the Ifle of Wight. It bears date in 15 j i : " Trudy and well beloved we grete you well and being crediblye enfourmed that o 1 . Games of Partricheand Fcfant w ; in that our Ifle of Wight is muche decayed by the pmiflion and fufferaunce of fuche lewd psonsas for their pryvate Lucres contrary KiSTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 243 contrary to our Lawes and pleafure doo dailye wt. netts and other Engyns take the fame. You fhall underftande that myndyng to havie the fayd Games of Patriches and Fefant cherifhed w*in our fayde Ifle as wel for our difporte and Paftyme if we fhould chaunce to repayre thither as for our Furniture at Tundry our Hono 1 "*. Manors and Houfes which from tyme to tyme we intende to replenifhe with the fcore of trie fame Ifle as nede mail requyre Our pleafure and commaundement is that you fhall not only uppon monicon to be by you hereof given to the In- habitaunts of the fayde Ifle have diligent regarde and vigilant Eye that no man of no degree or condition kill any Fezant or Partriche w*. net Engyne or Hawk on any our propre lands in the fame Ifle, taking the Netts and Engyns of all fuch as (hall attempte the contrary and further punifheng the ptyes foe offending as to your Wifdom fhall be thought convenyent. But alfo that you fhall advife all the Reft of the Owners and Inhabitaunts there at o r . coriT li 2 tem- 244 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. templacon alfo to fpare the fame games in their own grounds, fpeally abftaining to take or fuffre . to be taken any Fefant or Partriche wt. netts and fuch Engyns as totally deftroyeth the Brede of the fame wherein you mall doo unto us accep- table fervice. And theife our Lres mail be your fufficient Warraunt and difcharge in that behalf. Given undre our Signet, at oi\ manor of Otland the 19 th . day of Decembre the 32 yere of o r . Reign."* The woodcock is found in the Ifle of Wight during the ufual feafon of his vifits to this part of Europe. Two or three ftragglers generally arrive before the appearance of the great flock, which always manages to reach the land after funfet; a well-informed friend, who is alfo a fportfman, informed me, that one or two had been feen this year as early as the middle of September, but inftances of this premature * Append, to Worfley's Hill. I He of Wight, No. XXXVII. advent HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 245 advent are by no means common. They con- tinue here till the latter end of March, after which time it feldom happens that they are met with. One or two pair, indeed, have been- known to remain and breed, as has been the cafe, though rarely, in fome other parts of the kingdom. Many (lories have been told off-wallows, and other Britifh hirundines^ being found during the winter, in a torpid ftate, in holes and crevices of the ifland cliffs; but, after the minuted enquiry, I do not fee reafon to credit any of the relations. Indeed, the general migration of the hirundo tribes is now fo fully eftablifhed, that the natu- ralifl will be difmclined to give credit to any thing lefs than ocular demonftration, for their continuance during the winter with us. In forward fprings they have been obferved here as early as the eighteenth and twentieth of February : and at the latter end of September may be feen afiembled in large flocks, waiting for a fair gale, to waft them to Southern latitudes, and 40 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. and warmer climes. Indeed they need every afliftance from wind and weather, fince we find they wing their arduous flight as far as Senegal, and other parts of Africa.* * M. Adanfon's Voyage to Senegal, p. 12*. The Poet of Nature has, with his ufual accuracy, painted the manners of thefe tribes, previous to their departure from their funamer abodes : " When autumn fcatters his departing glooms, Warn'd of approaching winter, gather'd play The fwallow people, and toff'd wide around O'er the calm (ky, in convolution fwift, The feathered eddy floats, rejoicing once, Ere to their winter {lumbers they retire. In clutters hung beneath the mould'ring bank, And where, unpierc'd by frofts, the wint'ry cavern. fweats"; Or rather into warmer climes convey'd, With other kindred birds of feafon there, They twitter chearful, till the vernal months Invite them welcome back ; for thronging now, Innum'rous wings are in commotion all." Thompfon, CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 247 CHAP.' V. OF THE BOTANY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. s not our ntenton to enter nto a mnute and fcientific account of the various plants to be found in this extenfive diftricl ; fince this alone would make a copious work. The objeft of thefe pages is merely to point out a few fpecies, remarkable either for their rarity, the fingu- larity of their conformation, or their efficacy in medicine. The mere fyftematic claffification of herbs and flowers, without a view to their utility, feems to be but a trifling purfuit, an ufe- lefs wafte of time and patience ; but when the botanift, by pointing out their various virtues and powers, or their curious and wife con- ftruftion, can extend the knowledge of fimples, or 240 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. or elevate the mind to contemplation, his labors are then dignified by their laudable and eligible ends. The ophrys apifera, or bee archly is found in the fields about Carifbrooke caftle. It flowers in June and July, and then difplays a fingular and beautiful contrivance of nature for the prefervation of the plant. The great importance of the ne6lary or honey-gland in flowers is manifeft; and furprizing care and various devices are found to have been ufed, in pro- tecting this part from the depredations of thofe various infecls, which are ever on the wing in fearch of this delicious vegetable liquid. To this end the nelarium of the bee orchis is formed with fo near a refemblance to the wall bee, as at a fmall diftance to be eafily miftaken for that infeft; by which appearance, it is probable, a number of depredators, who would otherwife rob the plant of its means of fupport, are deterred from approaching it. The digitalis, or fox-glove, is a moft beautiful and fhewy wild plant, occurring in almofl every hedge-bank HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 249 hedge-bank in the ifland. It is indeed common to moft parts of Southern England, and there- fore not mentioned here on account of its rarity, but becaufe it teems with efficacious virtues, which are by no means generally under- ftood. The misfortune is, that in the vegetable world, as in every thing elfe, we are apt to over- look and defpife thofe productions which are moft common, not troubling ourfelves with an inveftigation of their feveral properties ; whereas it is not improbable, (reafoning from the kind- nefs of nature in other refpecls) that thofe which moft perpetually occur, are moft replete with medicinal ufes, would we be at the trouble of fearching them out ; " But yet the wholefome herb neglefted dies, Though with the pure exhilarating foul Of nutriment and health, and vital pow'rs, Beyond the reach of art 'tis copious blefs'd." The falutary effe&s of the digitalis are ex- perienced in one of the fevereft maladies that can affli6l the human frame ; the anafarca, a kind of dropfy, attended with an enlargement of the Kk legs HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. legs and thighs, and a difficulty of refpiration* In this diforder, the following deco&ion is found to be extremely efficacious, and in a very fhort time ; one large fpoonful, or half an ounce, being taken twice during the day. Boil four ounces of the frefh leaves of purple fox glove, from two pints of water to twelve ounces 3 and add to the ftrained liquor, while yet warm, three ounces of re&ified fpirit of wine. The preparation of it is eafy, the mode of ad miniftering fimple, and the good effefts nearly certain.* There can be no difficulty in dif- tinguifhmg this elegant plant from its more homely neighbours; the length of the ftem, thickly fet with inverted corollas, of a purple hue, and a bell fhape, forming a beautiful cone of flowers, fufficiently points it out.t On * Vide a pamphlet, entitled, " Experiments on Muci- laginous and Purulent Matter," by Dr. Darwin. Ca- elcll, 1780. t This plant may be further afcertained by the following character. The leaves of the calyx are ovate (egg-fhaped) and acute, with the fegments of the corolla obtufe HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 251 On the Eaftern fhores of the ifland is found the conferva polymorfha^ which receives its name from the fingular changes it undergoes in form and appearance. Originally it is of a red hue ; this it firft difcards for brown, and fhortly after- wards becomes black; dropping, at the fame time, its lower leaves, and lengthening fome of its upper ones, to the almoft total alteration of its priftine figure. The lichen calcareum^ or liver-wort, occurs on all the rocky elevations. This plant feems to be the foundation of all vegetation, drawing its own nourifhrnent probably from air alone, originally. ft is the firft vegetable that appears on the broad front of the naked rock, which it runs over with a kind of net-work. When it dies away, its re- crements afford a bed for other mo^Tes to root themfelves in, which in their turn perifh, and leave an additional foil for fucceeding plants; obtufe, and the upper lip entire : the infide of the corolla is beautifully fprinkled with fpots rcfcmbling eyes ; and the leaves are large and wrinkled. The color of the t flower is red. Roufleau's Letters on Botany ; Martyn's edit. 1794 ; p. 316. Kk 2 v thus 2,52 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. thus probably has the globe gradually acquired the means of fupporting vegetables, and affumed that foil with which it is covered, from the naked appearance it exhibited after the ravages of an univer&l deluge. Among the ledges and precipices of the cliffs is found the crithmum maritimum^ or rock-fam- phire ; which is gathered for fale by the adven- turous hinds of the ifland. Well might Shakfpere pronounce this avocation to be a dreadful trade ; * for it is a fearful fight even to fee the bufinefs performed, much more terrible then muft the aftual execution of it be. The mode is the fame with that praftifed, and before hinted at, in acquiring the puffin eggs ; a rope attached to a crow bar firmly fixed on the brow of the cliff, by which the perfon lowers himfelf down to the crevices wherein the famphire is found ; and by the fame means clambers again to the fummit, when he has filled the bafket girt around him. There is, however, fome little fraud praclifed now and then by thefe famphire * In his King Lear. dealers, HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 253 dealers, and the purchafer (unlefs he be a botanift and can difcover the deceit) is furnifhed with a baftard kind of plant, by no means fo fit for medicinal or culinary purpofes as the genuine famphire. This fubftituted vegetable is called the inula crithmoides, or golden famphire, and gathered, with little trouble and no danger, on all the fea beaches in and near the ifland. The fallacy may be detected by obferving the formation of the plant, and tafting the ftalk or leaf. In the genuine famphire, the ftalks are fucculent, the leaves pinnate (winged, or feather- ed) formed of three or five divifions, each having as many fmall, thick, lance-fhaped leaves. Both thefe and the ftalk have a pungent tafte. In the other fpecies, the ftalk, on the contrary, is roundifh, jointed, and taftelefs ; with a tough ftring running through the middle of it. inftead of the flat leaf of the crithmum maritimum.* The fubmarine rocks and ftones which line the coafts of the ifland, abound with various aquatic plants; fuch as * Roufleau's Letters on the Elements of Botany j tranflated by Profcffor Martyn ; edit, i 794 ; p. 233. The 2,54 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The fucusjibrofus, or fennel-leaved wrack of fea-weed ; Thefucus bifiduS) or bifid ditto ; Thefucus caniliculatus, or furrowed ditto; Thefucus crifpatus, or branched ditto ; The fucus albiduS) or white ditto a very beautiful fpecies; Thefucus'multifidus, ormultifid ditto : The ulva purpurefccns, or purple laver ; The ulva capillaris., or capillary ditto ; The ulva filiformiS) or filiform ditto moft of them conftrufted for riding on the waves, by the afliftance of numberlefs little bladders filled with air, which fupport them on the furface, and thus enable them to form vaft beds of floating vegetation. The mildnefs of the climate in this part of England, is manifefted by the great numbers of the tnyrtus communis, or common myrtle, to be feen here in all its varieties. It needs no par- ticular culture or attention, but braves the vari- ations of the external air, and all the rigors of the winter; circumftances which would have af- forded HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2,55 forded fufficient hints for ancient mythologifts to have afcribed the tutelage of the ifland to the gentle goddefs of love ; " Populus Alcidae gratiffima, vitis laccho, Formofae myrtus Veneri, tua laurea Phoebo."* * Virg. Eclog. The myrtle flourilhes bed in a warm marine fituation " Pallentesque ederas, et amantes littora myrtus. -Virg. Georg. I. verfe 2 9. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. VI. OF THE FOSSILOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. JL HE ifland confifts chiefly of an immenfe mafs of calcareous matter, of a chalky nature, running in a direction Eaft and Weft. Of this all the higher parts are compofed; the other flat and lefs animated fpots exhibit a gravelly, fandy, or clayey foil. This chalk, however, is not of fo foft and fine a texture as that found more to the Eaftward, by Portfmouth, and along the Suflex downs; ap- proaching nearer to limeftone. It is, notwith- ftanding, dug both for medicinal and agri- cultural purpofes, andufedas a manure through- out the whole ifland. In HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2,57 In the pits which have been thus formed, arc frequently found chalk-foflils of different forts, fuch zsechiniijharks' teeth, andammonice, that have preferved their form, enveloped in the calcareous matter wherein they were bedded, throughout all the unknown and wonderful mutations it has in the lapfe of ages experienced.* LI The * A modern philofopher thus accounts for the for- mation of chalk. " The limeftone rocks have had their origin from (hells formed beneath the fea, the fofter ftrata gradually difTolving, and filling up the interlaces of the harder ones ; afterwards, when thefe accumulations of {hells were elevated above the waters, the upper ftrata became diffolved by the. aftion of the air and dews, and filled up the intcrftices oerieath, producing folid rocks, of different kinds, from the coarfe limeftones to the fineft marbles. When thefe limeftones have been in fuch a fituation that they could form perfeft cryftals, they are called^arj, fome of which poffefs a double refraftion, as obferved by Sir Ifaac Newton. When thefe cryftals arc jumbled together, or mixed with fome coloring impuri- ties, it is termed marble, if its texture be equable and firm ; if its texture be coarfe and porous, yet hard, it is called limejloru ; if its texture be very loofe and porous, it is termed chalk." Darwin's Bot. Garden, Firft Part, additional notes. With refpeft tofoj/iljhetts, it is a very curious circum- ftance, that many of them are not now known to our naturalifts 258 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The range of cliffs which form the bold Southern fhore of the ifland exhibit alfo a great variety of beautiful fojfil /helh ; amongft which are fecn vail and perfecl echini^; cornua nmmonis^ of all fizes, from fix inches to eighteen in diameter ; cava s ; turbinated and bivalved fhells of various fpecies, either now altogether un- known in a living ftate, or inhabitants only of the tropical climates. They are fometimes found bedded in limeftone rock ; and, in other fpots, enveloped in a dark-colored, indurated clay, which is foluble by water. naturalifts in their reeent Hate ; and that, on the other hand, the fhells moft numerous in their recent ftate, are not known in a fofTil one. The cornu ammonis, for inflar.cc, of which fuch ^numbers are every where dif- covered in the fofnl ftate, has never been difcovered in a recent one. " Were all the ammonia: deftroyed," fays Dr. Darwin, ' : when the continents were raifed ? Or do fome genera of animals perifh } by the increafing power of their enemies? Or do they ftill refide at inacceflible depths in the fea ? Or do fome animals change their forms gradually, and become new genera ?" Philofophy may afk thefc queftions, but it is to be feared the narrow bounds of human knowledge will never enable us to give fatisfaftory anfwers to them. A thick HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. &$g A thick and extenfive flratum of a clofe, black, earthy ftone, or fchiftus, runs under the whole ifland. It appears at low water mark on the coaft near Mottifton. When firft taken up it can be penetrated by any fharp or pointed inftrument; but after having been fometime expofed to the air, it indurates, and makes very good whetftones. The inhabitants call it A ftratum of coal difcovers itfelf at the foot of Bimbridge cliff, and runs through the Southern part of the ifland, appearing again at Warden ledge, in Frefhwater parifh. On the North fide of this ftratum, lie a vein of white fand and another of fuller's earth ; and on the South fide is a vein of red ochre. The coal is faid to be of a good quality. The late Sir Robert Worfley funk a fhaft at Bimbridge, in order to afcertain the depth of the ftratum ; but finding it was very thin, he did not conceive the profits of working it would anfwer the charges of the undertaking, and therefore defifted.* * Sir Richard Worthy's Hift. p. 7. LI 2 Various a6o HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT* Various forts of fiont are found in the Ifle of Wight, but none of very fuperior quality. That which was formerly dug near Ouarr Abbey, (fa named from its neighbourhood to thefe quarries) appears to have been for feveral centuries in fome eftimation ; the cathedral at Winchefter and other ecclefiaftical edifices being built with it. When the Portland freeftone, however, once became known, its qualities were found to be fq much more valuable than thofe of the Quarr {tone, that the latter funk into difrepute, foon ceafed to be called for, and is now forgotten. There are feveral varieties of flone alfo, at the back of the ifland, but being all of a fandy nature, coarfe grain, and dark color, they are not in much requeft. The argilla apyra, a heavy, ductile, white clay, commonly called tobacco-pipe clay, is found in the ifland ; there are feveral confiderable ftrata of it, which are made to turn to good account. Amongft the foffil earths of this diftrift, may be reckoned the argilla fullonic a (fuller's earth); the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2&1 A the argilla tnarga, or white marie ; the marga columbina, or dove marie; the ochra fcrri, or yellow ochre ; and the ochra Syriaca^ or red qchre : the two laft are particularly obvious in Ahun bay, where their mingled ftrata form a beautiful and variegated appearance at a fmall diftance. At the fame fpot is alfo found the arena micacea argcntca, or white filvery fand, of infinite ufe in the glafs and porcelain manu- factories, for which it is perpetually (hipping off. The bed of it is, however, fo immenfe, that fcarcely any diminution in the quantity can be perceived. The name of this bay fufficiently points out the kind of fofiil fait produced there. The alumen commune, common native alum, is found in confiderable quantities. As it is a fait of great efficacy and ufe both in medicine, dying, &c. the crown ufed formerly to monopolize the whole of it ; and proper people were appointed to gather and preferve it for government. This practice commenced with Queen Elizabeth, who having learnt 262 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, learnt that much of this natural production was to be gotten in the ifland, fent the following mandate to the then governor, Mr. Richard Worflcy, in order to afcertain the truth of what me had heard, and to avail herfelf of it, if it were fo. " After my right harty commendacons Whereas the Quean's Majefty being infermyd that there is wtin that lie certen Oure of Alume. For trial and Profe whereof her Highnefs purtly fendeth thider the Bearer herof one Bendall, Thefe mall be in her Mat's. Name to require you with your Authorite and fav r . fo to aflift him in that behalf, as he may revyfe fyche partes there as he (hall thynk to be meete for the purpofe and bring w*. him fume part of the fayde Oure to the End he maye therof make fume profe here w*in the Realme. In this part as her Highnefs trufteth, you will give order that no man there mail impede and refift him ; foe he hath charge to ufe himfelf with fyche moderation and refpeft of behavior as mail apperteyne. And HISTORY OP THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 463 And thus I bid you hartely well to fare. Fro the Court at Weflmynfter the yth. daye of Marche 1561; your allured Frend, W. Cecil." * Small mafTes of the fulphur vivum opacum^ of yellow native fulphur , are picked up on feveral parts of the ifland mores ; and fuch quantities of copperas about Shanklin, as are fufficient to freight fmall trading veffels, which carry the fame to the London markets, and there difpofe of it to great advantage. The expectations of the iflanders were fome years fince awakened, on a difcovery that fmall particles of gold were mingled with the fand of Chale bay. The circumftance was foon noifed about, and the whole neighbourhood, filled with the thoughts of ideal fortunes, left their occu- pations, and bent their attention to the collecting and fifting of this precious fand. After a fhort time, however, the gold duft ceafed to appear, * Sir Richard Worfley's Hift< Append. No. II. and 264 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. and it was found out, that a Spanifh fhip having been wrecked on the coaft, this rich article, which had been fuppofed to be the natural pro- duction of the place, was part of her cargo, wafhed afhore by the violence of a ground fea. The iflanders therefore returned to their homes and ufual avocations, fomewhat difappointed, but wifely determining to content themfelves for the future with the flow but certain profits of agri- culture, and mercantile purluits. * * " Arguntum ft aurtcm," fays the incomparable Tacitus, fpeaking of the natural productions which their country yielded to the Germans, " propitii an irati dii negavtrint, dubito." Could our philofopher have beheld the evils which the poffeffion of thefe fatal metals occafioned to the innocent inhabitants of the netu world ; or have taken a view of the barbarifm, ferocity, and wretchednefs which are exhibited on the gold coaft, from one extremity to another, he would have entertained no doubt on the fubjeft; but inftantly acknowledged the kindnefs and benevolence of the gods, in denying thefe " filming mif- chiefs" to the honcft Germans. A GENERAL VIEW AGRICULTURE OP THI ISLE OF WIGHT. "Ye gen'rous Britons! venerate the plough, And o'er your hills, and long withdrawing vales, Let autumn fpread his treafures to the fun, Luxuriant and unbounded." CHAP. I. A SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF AGRICUL- TURE IN BRITAIN, FROM THE EARLI- EST TO THE PRESENT TIMES. AGRICULTURE is one of the neceflary arts of life ; perhaps the moft fo of any other. At leaft it muft be the firft ftep towards comfort and civilization. Whilft men continue to lead * " If .ardent thirft of wealth thy bofom warm, Leave vain purfuits, and take afertilefarm." Phocy. Sent. Mm a wandering t66 HISTORY OF THfe ISLE OF WIGHT* a wandering, unfettled life, without fixed habi- tations, they will of courfe remain favage and unenlightened; nor can any fcintillation of improvement be expe&ed to appear in their minds and manners, till the knowledge and practice of agriculture have given them ideas of the advantages refulting from the pofleffion of permanent property, and taught them to be ftationary, and to fettle and affociate together. That the firft Celtic inhabitants of this kingdom were not arrived to the knowledge of agriculture, when they wandered hither, has been ftiggefted before ; they were in that ftage of human manners denominated the hunter Jlate, migrating from place to place, without any notions of permanent property or fettled abode. Their Belgic fucceffors, in the South of Britain, had advanced a ftep beyond thefe barbarians, and pofTefled fome little theoretic and pratlical knowledge of hufbandry ; though fo crude and perverfe were their ideas on the fubjeft, that they efteemcd the purfuit of this ufeful art ignoble and impolitic ; and actually framed infUlutions'to difcourage it. Ciefar HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 167 Caefar tells us, the diet of thefe people con- Cfted chiefly of milk, flc-fh and cheefe : that none of them poffefled any fpot of ground which they could call their own : that the chiefs allotted annually a certain proportion of land to each perfon, which, at the conclufion of the year, was again refumed, and the temporary owner obliged to repair to another fpot; a conduft they adopted for the exprefs purpofe, as he further informs us, of weaning the people from agricultural purfuits.* It was under the government of the Romans, that Britain firft exhibited a fyftematic and re- fpeftable hufbandry ; thefe conquerors {hewed a minute and fludious attention to every branch of this art. In their hands it became a perfect fcience ; a fubjeft of eulogy to their orators,t Mm 2 of * De Bell. Gal. lib. VI. cap. xxii. Tacitus gives an acxount nearly funilar. DC Mpribus Germ. cap. xxvi. i - Omnium rcrum ex quibus aliquid adquiretur, nihil eft agricultura melius, nihil uberius, nihil dulcius, aihil homine libcro dignius." Cicero de Officiis, I. cap. xlii. and again ; {: Ab aratro arc&flebantur qui conlulef 268 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. of difcuffiorrto the literati,* and of defcription to their poets : " Such things as thefe the rural Maro fung To wide imperial Rome, in the full height Ot elegance and tafte by Greece refiii'd." Moft of the modes of tillage which are even now in ufe with us, were introduced amongft the natives of Britain by their Roman conquerors ; to whom we are indebted alfo for many of the feeds, plants, root?, and flowers, which ad- minifter to our prefent comfort, luxury, and amufement.t At iicrent. Suos enim agros ftudiofe colebant, non alienos cupide appetebant, quibus rebus et agris, et urbibus, et nationibus rempublicam, atque hoc imperium et populi Roman! nomen auxerunt." Orat. pro Ligaro. * Varro ; Cato ; Columella ; Fliny. i We are to thank the Romans for the following feeds, plants, and roots. The radix, or radifh ; the afparagus ; the cucumber ; the lettuce ; the melon ; the pea ; the faba, or bean ; the beet root ; the fennel ; rofemary ; and thyme. They alfo added to the parterre the following flowers the rhos, or rofe ; thelilly ; the violet : and to the orchard the following fruits the pear ; the damfon ; the cherry ; the perfica, or peach ; the aprica, or apricot ; the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. At the time of the Norman conqueft, the agri. culture of Britain appears to have been at a very low ebb. But a fmall proportion of land was in tillage; and the chief attention was bent to the grazing of cattle, and the fattening of hogs.* Little encouragement, indeed, could be given to it in the pure feudal ages ; the lord of the demefne was too much occupied in conftant warfare, to attend to domeftic concerns ; and his miferable vaflal, with every intellectual faculty chilled and deprefled by ignorance, fuperflition, and fervimde, had neither ability, fpirits, nor inclination, to try experiment, or attempt im- provement. A fmall approach to the increafe of tillage was made at the clofe of the twelfth century, when the cidonia, or quince ; the morus, or mulberry ; the caftanea, or chefnut ; the lie us, or fig ; the vitis, or vine ; the forbus, or fervice ; the mefpilus, or medlar. They introduced cider and perry: and laftly, enlarged the Briiijh fauna by bringing with them, pheafants ; pigeons ; partridges ; pluvialis, or plover ; turtur, or turtle dove ; DSIVO, or pea-cock ; rabbit ; coccyx, or cuckoo. Pliny. * Vide Domefday Book, paflim. the HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the barons manumitted a number of their vaflals, in order to itrengthen their caufe againil the kingly power. Thefe freedmen receiving at the fame time a certain proportion of allodial 1and s began inclofing their acquifitions ; and foon experiencing the fweets of eating the fruits of their own labor, introduced fome fmall tafte for the purfuits of hufbandry. But the inaufpicious influence of the feudal inftitutions, and the monopolizing fpirit of the church, that fwallowed up nearly a third part of the landed property of the kingdom, ft ill ope- rated as conftant checks upon any little fpirit of agricultural improvement, which might other- wife have gotten abroad ; and it was not till the reign of Henry VII. (whofe policy didated a relaxation and diminution of the feudal tenures) when landed property was to be acquired by moft defcriptions of people, that any general attention was paid to this art. This event, however, being followed, in the fubfequent reign, by a diftiibution of the immenfe pofleflions of the ccclefiaftics amongft the laity, the united circum- ftances HISTORY OF THfi ISLE OF WIGHT. ftances diffafed a pretty univerfal fpirit of hufbandry, and lucrative improvement; a fpirit, indeed, that operated rather too violently. For the new poflefTors of thefe lands, wifhing to turn their recently-acquired property to the fpeedieil advantage, began, with all expedition, breaking up the numerous commons and wafte grounds^ which had hitherto afforded fubfi Hence to the fcafantry of the kingdom. The legiflature per- ceiving that this fyftem was praftifed univerfally with increafing ardor, thought proper at length to prohibit it, as it had a manifeft tendency to impoverilh and deflroy that ufeful defcription of people. Since the period of the Reformation, when the vail advanfages pf agriculture firft became generally known and acknowledged, this ufeful art has been creeping on by a flow, but pro- greffive improvement, till the prefent time. During this interval of two centuries and an half, feveral names, high on the roll of literary fame, have, at different times, honored agri- culture with their patronage and recommen- dation ; 872 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. dation ; nor did Bacon, Milton, Evelyn, or Cowley think it unworthy of their occafional lucubrations. But it was left for the prefent age to call in the influence of government^ to the promotion, encouragement, afliftance, and im- provement of the national hufbandry ; a great and wife idea, originally fuggefted by a patriot, whofe affiduous labors in the developement of the true fources of national happinefs and wealth, entitle him to the efteem and gratitude of every real lover of his country.* * Sir John Sinclair^ Bart. Prefidcnt of the Board of Agriculture., CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 273 CHAP. II. OF THE DIFFERENT GRAINS SOWN ; USUAL COURSE OF CROPS; VARIOUS MANURES, &C. HE foil of the Ifle of Wight being extremely diversified, as we have feen in a former part of this volume, the modes of tillage, kinds of grains, courfes of crops, and forts of manure, will of courfe be different in its different diftrifts. We will, however, point out, as nearly as poflible, the hufbandry of each particular part. The grains chiefly cultivated here are, wheat, barley, oats, peafe, and beans. Of wheat, all the different forts are occafionally ufed. In the neighbourhood of the fea, the fanners prefer the old white-Jlrazued wheat, for the fenfible reafon of its being lefs liable than any other kind to be injured by high winds and Nn tern- a/4 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT* tempeftuous weather. On the North* part of the ifland, the red ftrawed wheat is ufually fown; as well as in all the wet, poor lands, becaufe it is fuppofed to run more to Jlraw than any other kind, and of courfe enables the farmer to pro- vide more fodder for his cattle in the winter. Of oats, the common forts are generally fown; though fome farmers, particularly in the Eaftern parts of the ifland, are partial to the Tartarian kind; but I am informed they feldom anfwer. With refpeft to beans and peafe, more or lefs attention is paid to them, according to the nature and foil of the land. The following, is a ftatement of the rotation of crops, in various parts of the ifland. Towards the Eaftern extremity, the common eourfe, on the free, light-working land, is, * By the North of the ifland is to be underftood all the land* on the North of the range of hills which imerfeft the Hland from Eaft to Weft ; and by the South of the ifland is to be underftood all the lands lying between the faid hills and the ocean. Firft HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 875 Firft year, - * Wheat ; Second ditto, * - Barley; Third ditto, - - Clover; Fourth ditto, - - Wheat. On the fliff land they have wheat once in four years only. At the Southern part of the ifland the follow- ing courfe is ufed : Firft year, - - Wheat ; C Fallow dunged, and Second ditto, - < turnips; Third ditto, - - Barley; Fourth ditto, - - Clover. About Steephill we have the following management : Firft year, - - Wheat, oats, or peaff; Second ditto, - Barley, with clover; mow it next fummer ; feed it afterwards ; plough it up ; and fow it with wheat again. Near the centre of the ifland, the rotation is as follows : Firft year, - - Wheat ; Second ditto, - Barley ; Nn 2 Third HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Third year, - - Clover,; Fourth ditto, - - Wheat. Towards the Weftern extremity there is this variation in the management of their crops : Firftyear, - - Turnips; Second ditto, - Barley ; Third ditto, - - Clover, and ray-grafs ; Fourth ditto, - - Wheat. The wheat is prepared for fowing, fometimes by fteeping it in fait water, and afterwards mix- ing it with lime ; but generally by (imply mixing with it lime, which has been fcalded with boiled frem water. The medium produce of wheat on the beft land in the Southern part of the ifland is about twenty-four bufhels per acre ; and on the North fide of the ifland the average may be laid at eighteen bufhels per acre; fo that the medium produce throughout the whole dijtnft appears to be twenty-one bufhels per acre. The medium produce of oats is twenty-five bufhels per acre in the Eaftern part of the ifland, and about five and thirty in the Southern and Weftern HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 277 Weflern parts. Of barley thirty bufhels on the fame fpots. The leguminous crops are generally pretty productive; peafe and beans yielding twenty- four bufhels per acre in the Eaftern parts ; and in the Southern and Weftern parts, the former giving twenty-eight bufhels, and the latter thirty- two bufhels, per acre. . In preparing their land for wheat, the ifland- ers give three or four ploughings (as the foil re- quires) to their fallows ; and one on breaking up their clover lays. They fow about two bufhels and an half per acre. For oats they feldom plough more than once, and fow about four bufhels and an half per acre, For barley they give three ploughings, and fow about four bufhels per acre. The grain is in general broad-caft, though fome farmers have adopted the drilling fyilem for wheat, barley, and peafe, which is found to fucceed very well in the free, light, fandy foils. When this hufbandry is pra6lifed, they ufe a fmall kind of horfe-hoes, which are worked by a man; 478 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. a man; thefe, with the afliftance of hand-hoes, and earthing up the ranks, and keeping them clean by women and children weeders, combine to produce profitable crops. The fyftem of fallows^ both fummer and win- ter, is pretty generally followed throughout the ifland ; nor will many of the farmers hear of a contrary practice. Much, indeed, has been written and faid on both fides of this agitated queftion ; and the favorers of the different modes are equally pertinacious in fupport of their ref- pe&ive doftrines. It would be difficult there- fore to fay which is right in all points ; but modern philofophy has proved that the fallowift is wrong in one. The great argument of the friend to fallows, for leaving his land in a ftate of idlenefs during the winter, has been the fuppofed benefit it received from the " Etherial nitre whate'er the wintry froft Nitrous prepar'd." It is now, however, well known, that neither ice nor fnow contain any nitrous particles, nor in any HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 279 any degree meliorate the ground ; for, according to the obfervation of an excellent natural philofopher, though froft, by enlarging the bulk of moid clay, leaves it fofter for a time after the thaw, yet as foon as the water exhales, the clay becomes as hard as before, being prefled together by the incumbent atmofphere, and by its felf- attraftion.* Hence, therefore, one of the ftrongeft reafons for purfuing this fyftem vaniihes into air. In many of their ftiff clayey lands, the iflanders dibble beans j but fome improvement might be introduced into this branch of huf- bandry. By planting ten pecks upon an acre, (a common practice), a very ufelefs wafte of feed is occafioned; and in not hoeing them when they come up, which in general they omit doing, the plant is lefs healthy and productive than it would be if properly attended to. Potatoes are not fo much regarded in the Ifle of Wight as their excellence and utility defervc. The little farmers, and laboring poor, are almoft * Dr. Darwin, the *8o HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the only people who plant them : the land intended to receive them is fallowed and well dunged, the potatoes (divided according to their eyes) are then planted in rows ; the rows being about a foot diftance from each other; and earthed up when about four or five inches above the ground. In general the crops are very fatisfa6lory ; from fixty to eighty facks per acre. I confefs, I am aftonifhed that more attention is not paid to the potatoe, in this part of Hamp- fhire, where fomany fpots are found, peculiarly well calculated for its cultivation. Of all the roots which our climate produces, none perhaps is of greater, or more general ufe than this ; whether it be confidered as a meliorator, cleanfer, and improver of the foil, or as a plant which affords a cheap and nutritious food, both to men and to cattle. Viewed in the light of profit alfo, it would affuredly anfwer well to the Ifle of Wight farmer to cultivate potatoes, as his vicinity to Portfmouth, whither they might be carried at a trifling expence, would always infure HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 281 infurc him an immediate and profitable market for his crop. I am confcious, that with many farmers this plant is no great favorite ; nor is a crop of potatoes confidered by them as an improving one. So far from it, indeed, that in fome counties, about Crewkerne in Somerfetfhire, for inftance, as a very intelligent gentleman has informed me, the landlords reftricl: their tenants by fpecial covenants, from planting more than a very fmall quantity of land with potatoes, under the idea of their being very impoverijliing roots. However, in this, as well as in moft other matters in agri- culture, much muft depend on the nature of the foil, the management and preparation of the land, and the different forts and quantities of manure, &c. made ufe of in different parts. The times of fowing and harvefting are as follow. Wheat and winter vetches are generally fown in October, and harvefted in Auguft ; oats are fown in March ; barley, in April ; beans, in February ; and peafe, in February or Oo March. HISTORY OF THE ISXE OF WIHT. March.* Peafe are harvefted in the latter part of July, or beginning of Auguft, and the other grains in September. Their manures are chiefly chalk and dung arifing from the farm-yard, which, after lying for fome time in a heap, is mixed with earth. From fifteen to twenty pots per acre, of this compoft, are fpread on the lands prepared for wheat. Chalk is alfo much ufed, its durable and im- proving qualities having been of late years experienced by the Ifle of Wight farmers. They put about one hundred bufhels of it upon an acre, which continue to operate beneficially for fourteen or fifteen years. Some few experi- mental farmers have of late tried the effe&s of fea-weeds as a manure ; and mixing them up with dung, lime, and earth, formed a compoft, and fpread it on the foil : but I am informed their pains have not been, in many inftances, rewarded with fuccefs. * Some farmers fow their peafe as early as January, and thefe are generally found to produce the befl crops, In HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 183 In the ifland the farmers have a choice of marles, both ftone and teftaceous : when they find it neceffary to ufe this manure, they ufually put from twenty to twenty-four waggon-loads upon an acre. The farms are of a moderate fize, fome few under 100 per annum, and fome above ^400 per annum ; but the general run is between thofe two fums. Early in Henry the Seventh's reign, a regu- lation was made for reducing the fize of the farms in the Ifle of Wight, and preventing the landed property getting into the hands of a few indi- viduals, to the decreafe of population, and the deftruftion of the peafantry. An aft of parlia- ment was pafled, prohibiting any of the in- habitants from holding farms, lands, or tithes, exceeding the annual rent of ten marks; an abfurd law, which could not long operate with any efficacy, inafmuch as money was conftantly decreafing in value, and land taking a contrary direction ; the confequence of which would be that the fize of the farms muft have been con- Oo 2 llantly 284 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ftantly diminifhed, to keep them within the letter of the a6t. The average rent of land on the South fide of the ifland. including foul ground, does not exceed fifteen (hillings per acre; and on the North fide the medium is about eleven fhillings per acre. Eftates, when fold, fetch about twenty- eight years purchafe. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. III. TURNIPS; GRASSES; PASTURE; DRAINING; AND ROADS. JL URNIPS are now highly efteemed in the Southern, Weftern, and central parts of the ifland ; and the farmers are correcting an error, which fome few years fince they were guilty of, viz. not hoeing this valuable root. They now plough four times, harrow and hoe once, and feed them off with (heep by hurdling. The green crops moftly cultivated are, tur- nips, clover, vetches, ray-grafs. and trefoil. They have alfo fome buck-wheat; but the quantity is fmall, and only raifed in their lighteft and moft fandy foil. It is generally given to the hogs, for the purpofe of fattening them. Of clover they cut on an average about one ton and an half per acre j and then let it go to feed. 86 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. feed. Vetches are now and then fowed after clover, and, according to the pleafure of the farmer, are either fed off, or mowed, and given to the horfes in the ftable. The pafture and meadow land is extremely rich, and produces from one to two tons of fine hay per acre. The dry meadows are well ma- nured, at the proper feafon, with good rotten dung; and the wet ones kept in excellent order by well managed drains. The common method of forming thefe drains is by digging a trench, two feet and an half deep, in which fmall picked ftones, or lumps of chalk are thrown to the height of a foot ; on thefe is placed a layer of ftraw, heath, or furze; and the whole is then covered with foil. The expence of this opera- tion is about nine-pence per perch. The roads of the ifland (particularly in the Eaftern divifion) are paid great attention to ; and, except in the Southern parts, where their natural rocky ruggednefs and inequality cannot be rectified by labor, are as good as thofe of Hamp- fhire. The Weftcrn divifion being more thinly in- HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 287 inhabited, the roads here are lefs pleafant to the traveller; though, indeed, of late years, great improvements have been made in thefe means of communication throughout the whole ifland. They are formed and repaired, as in other places, by the refpeftive parifhes or tythings through which they pafs. CHAP. 288 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. IV. SHEEP, HORSES, COWS, AND SWINE. J. HOSE profitable and ufeful animals, Jheep, have been very much attended to of late years by the Ifle of Wight farmers, who fully find their account in adopting this excellent fyftem of husbandry.* * It is only fince the introduction of the Norfolk hufbandry into the Ifle of Wight, that the Jheep-farming has been attended to there ; the yeomanry are now fully aware of the many advantages which arife from keeping numerous flocks of thefe animals, whofe ufes are thus defcribed by an ancient faunift. " Poft majores quadru- pedes ovilli pecoris fccunda ratio eft ; quae prima fit, fi ad utilitatis magnitudinem referas. Nam id praecipue contra frigoris violentiam protegit, corporibusque noftris liberali- ora praebet velamina ; et etiam elegantium menfas jucundis et numerous dapibus exornat."Columella, de Re Ruftica, lib. VII. cap. ii. Had the Roman added the dung to its other advantages, the catalogue would have been complete. The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 289 MMHMMMMMMMMM^^M^HMMM^^MHMHMB^BMHMMMMMMMMMMMMHHMMMMBM^^^W The number of fheep annually fhorn is com- puted to amount to forty thoufand. In the year 1793, five thoufand lambs were fold to the London butchers alone. And during the fum- mer of that year, when I happened to be at Newport, one of thefe dealers bought fifteen hundred of them. The Dorfetfhire breed is the one in general ufe; perhaps however, by occafionally changing it (a praftice not fufficiently attended to here) that degeneracy might be prevented, which I obferved began to appear in two or three flocks. This is a practice common with all the great fheep farmers in the Weft of England ; and, as I have heard fome of the moft intelligent declare, is the only method of keeping up the original perfection of a flock. The average weight of wool per fleece, in the Eaftern part of the ifland, is three pounds ; and in the Southern and Weftern parts, about three pounds and an half. Little of this is manu- factured in the ifland, it being chiefly exported in the fleece to different trading towns. Pp The 290 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WfCHT. The flock ufually kept on the farms confifts of fheep, cows, and horfes ; oxen are rare, what few there are, the farmers generally feed with ftraw and hay, and work them as horfes. The cows are moftly of the Devon breed, though blended with other forts. The farmers alfo make a point of having a few Alderney cows in their dairies, which they think produce a better and fweeter butter than would be made without their milk. Thefe little animals are extremely profitable, fome of them giving to the dairy, during part of the fummer, nine and ten pounds of butter per week. It is matter of furprize that this breed is not more generally attended to in other parts of the kingdom, than appears to be the cafe. The original price of a good Alderney cow, at the place where fhe is imported, is feldom more than eight guineas; (he is equally hardy with our own breeds, nay perhaps has the advantage of them in this refpeft ; confumes lefs provender, and certainly yields as much milk, the cream of which HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 291 which gives a richnefs to butter, not obfervable in what is made from the Englifh cow. The horfes are of different breeds, but in general large, and, I think, black. As there is fome emulation among the farmers with regard to the beauty and ftrength of their teams, the draught-horfes are fine animals, and kept in excellent order. It was the practice formerly among the farmers of the ifland, not to confine their cattle to the farm-yard in winter. Their own good fenfe, however, or hints from others, have convinced them of the pernicious confequences of this omiflion. They now adopt farm-yard foddering in the winter pretty generally, and thereby reap thofe certain good confequences of the practice, health to their cattle, ' and a great addition to their farm-yard manure. The hogs are of a breed, I believe, peculiar to the ifland ; at leaft I do not recollect feeing any of the fame in other places. They are large and tall, marked with black fpots, and have very deep fides ; their bacon is excellent. Pp 2 The 292 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The oxen and cows are fattened with bay ?.nd turnips. The hogs with peafe and barley meal. The Jhtep are fed in the winter with hay and turnips. The dairies produce, in confiderable quantities, a particular kind of fkim-milk cheefe, emphati- cally called the IJle of Wight rock. It is ex- tremely hard; can fcarcely be cut but by a hatchet or faw ; is to be mafticated only by the firmeft teeth ; and digefted only by the ftrongeft ftomachs. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 293 CHAP. V. WASTE-LAND; FORESTS; ANDSEA-MUtf. X HERE is but little -wajlt land, in the ifland, and this chiefly exhibits a fandy foil, which would probably repay the expence of being brought into tillage. Perhaps, indeed, Parkkiirft or Carijbrook foreft, lying in the centre of the ifland, may at prefent be properly denominated wafte land, as it remains in an inactive, ufelefs ftate, without affording any advantages to the crown, of whofe demefne it makes a part ; and very trifling ones to the inhabitants who refide in its neighbourhood. This tral of land, which contains three thoufand acres, is fituated to the North of Newport and Carifbrook; and though called a/0r/2, has long been without a tree of any value. There is, however, 294 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. however, a lodge ftill kept up, and a keeper ap- pointed, whofe office it is to preferve the deer and the wood, of which fcarce a veftige remains. Notwithftanding the inattention paid hitherto by government to Parkhurft foreft, the foil is in many places extremely good, and capable of be- ing applied to the moft valuable purpofes. Se- veral large fpots are .to be found on which the oak would thrive furprizingly well, and none arc fo bad as to preclude the hope of the larch, Scotch fir, and fuch hardy trees fucceeding on them. The obftacles which prefent themfelves to the plan of inclofing and planting the other royal foreftsin the kingdom, fuch as the adjuftment of multiplied and complicated claims, &c. would perhaps be gotten over without much difficulty, in the cafe of Parkhurft foreft, fhould govern- ment think proper to appropriate it to the growth of timber; fince thefe claims are but few, and confined to a fmall number of people, (the real ones, I mean, for that of a general right of common for black cattle, exercifed by the free- holders HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 2Q$ holders of the ifland, appears to be a furreptitious one) and confequently might be fettled with little trouble and expence. Thefe claims confift of a right of common for cattle and fheep ; and of turbary, (or turf-cutting) and are attached to the cftates immediately adjoining the foreft. In the Eaftern parts of this ifland are fome trafts of marfhy ground, covered at high tide by the fea, but left bare on its reflux : the largeft of thefe (the others being inconfiderable) is Brading haven, containing about nine hundred acres. Into this the fea flows through a narrow inlet. As early as the reign of Edward I. an idea was entertained that there was a poflibility of re- covering this ufurpation of foil, from the fea, and converting it to agricultural purpofes; and accordingly Sir William Ruflel, warden of the ifland at this period, made the attempt, and actually fucceeded in gaining a confiderable number of acres; a circumftance fomewhat remarkable, fo little attention being paid in that comparatively barbarous age, by the feudal chieftains, to any thing connected with agricul- tural HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT* tural improvement. Further acquifitions were alfo made in the years 1562 and 1594. The next and laft attempt was of a more extenfive nature, the particulars of which, as they are curious in them (elves, and may afford ufeful hints to future adventurers in that line, I fhall extracl from Sir Richard Worfley's Hiflory of the Ifle of Wight. A grant of Brading haven was obtained from King James I. by Gibbs, a groom of the bed- chamber. The owners of the adjoining land contefted this grant, which the king was very earneft in fupporting. After a verdict obtained in the Exchequer, againft the gentlemen of the ifland, Gibbs fold his fliare for two thoufand pounds, to Sir Bevis Thelwall, a page of the king's bed-chamber, who admitted the famous Sir Hugh Middleton to a fliare. They employed a num- ber of Dutchmen to inclofe and recover the haven from the fea. The firft taking of it in coft four thoufand pounds, and one thoufand pounds more were expended in building a dwelling-houfe, barn, water-mill; in trenching, quick- quick-fetting, and other neceflary works ; fo that, including the original purchafe, the total ex- penditure amounted to feven thoufand pounds. But after all, the nature of the ground did not anfwer the expectation of the undertakers; for though that part of it adjoining Brading proved tolerably good, nearly one half of it was found to be a light running fand; neverthelefs an inconteftible evidence appeared, by the dif- covery of a well, cafed with ft one, near the middle of the haven, that it had formerly been good ground. Sir Hugh Middleton tried a variety of experiments on the land which had been taken in, before he fold his mare, fowing it with wheat, barley, oats, cabbage, and finally with rape-feed, which lad was alone fuccefsful. But the greateft difcouragement was that the fea brought up fo much ooze, weeds, and fand, as choaked up the paffage for the difcharge of the frefli water; and at length, in a wet feafon, when the inner part of the haven was full of frefh water, and a high fpring tide, the waters met under the bank and made a breach. Thus Qq ended 2g8 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ended this expenfive project; and though Sir John Oglander, who lived in the neighbourhood, confeffes himfelf a friend to the undertaking, which, befide its principal object, tended to ren- der that part of the country more healthy, he declares it as his opinion, that the fcheme can never be refumed to any profitable purpofc. Sir Bevis Thelwall and his heirs labored to afcribe this accident to other caufes, in order to preferve their claims, and to recover compen- fation for their lofles ; but the whole affair died away, and the fea ftill Continues to overflow Brading haven. The ill fuccefs of Sir Bevis Thelwall and Sir Hugh Middleton (whofe adventurous exertions delerved a better fate,) feems fufficient to deter any future projector, from rifking fo large a fum as would be neceffary to recover Brading haven from the fea, on a fpeculation that has already terminated fo much to the difadvantage of thofe engaged in it. But fhould any gentle- man be bold enough to attempt its embankment a feeond time, he would do well to pay every attention HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 299 attention to the mode adopted by the late Count Bentinck, for fhutting out the fea on his Norfolk eftate ; who has fhewn an example almoft unique in this kingdom, of laudable fpirit, unconquer- able perfeverance, found judgment, and con- fummate (kill, in adding to his propeny upwards of one thoufand acres, formerly overwhelmed by the tides of the ocean. Oq 2 CHAP. 300 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. CHAP. VI. IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPERIMENTS. JL HE improvements introduced of late yeart in the Ifle of Wight hufbandry, are chiefly fuch as have occurred in the preceding pages : the general introduction of large flocks of fheep on the different farms, the adoption of fome branches of the Norfolk hufbandry, and other fmaller matters. But I cannot help dwelling more particularly upon an experiment, which, as it is connected with agriculture, naturally falls within a view of that agricultural fyftem which is praclifed in the Ifle of Wight. I allude to Sir Richard Worfley's -vineyard-) at his elegant cottage of St. Lawrence, in the Southern part of the ifland. The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 301 The claflical owner of this charming retreat, having remarked a very fc-Lfible mildnefs of climate in this part of the ifland, (occafioned by its lying immediately open to the South, and being flickered to the North and Eaft by a high range of rocky hills, which at the fame time (hut out the biting winds, and ftrongly reflect the rays of the fun on the foil beneath them) determined to attempt the propagation of the vines of Bretagne, the climate of which place corref- ponded in fome meafure with that of Steephill. For this purpofe he procured the neceflary number of plants, of the two grapes called white mufcadine and plant verd, from which the natives of the North-weft of France make a light white wine : and at the fame time hired a Breton to attend to their management and cultivation. The man began his operations in the early part of the year 1792; having gotten rather more than an acre (in a very flickered fpot) into proper order for the reception of the plants, in the month of March he put them into the ground. This g02 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, This piece of land is divided into feveral beds, each bed being about twelve feet in breadth ; thefe are feparated by foot paths, for the con- venience of a near approach to the vines. The plants themfelves are placed in rows, at the diftance of a foot and an half from each other. As this firft experiment wore a very encoura. ging appearance, another piece of ground, rather more to the Eaftward, and about an acre and an half in extent, was gotten irUa order, and a fimilar plantation made in it, in February 1 793. Thefe two plantations comprize together about three acres, and contain feven hundred plants. The man who has the care of thefe plantations appears to underftand his employment, and keeps the plants in good order : the ftem of the vine is about eight inches from the ground, and the earth around it is well hoed and freed from weeds. He does not allow more than two moots to remain on each ftem ; thefe are cut off in the enfuing March, and their place fupplied by other young ones. The moots alfo are not fuffered to HISTORY OF THE ISLE Of WIGHT. 303 to run into luxuriance -, but kept at the length of two feet, or two and an half. In September 1793, when I had the pleafure of feeing thefe plantations, every vine bore the appearance of health and vigor. There was fome little fruit on two or three of thofe which had been firft planted ; but this prematurity was to be attributed to their being fituated near a rock, and receiving the rays of the fun ftrongty reflected from it. The vine-dreffer did not expecl any confiderable quantity of grapes till the fourth year after planting. He feemed to entertain no doubt as to the fuccefs of his labors, and affured me he had never before feen fuch ftrong and profperous young plants in any vineyard. But in order to give any poflible chance to his experiment, Sir Richard has not confined himfelf to one mode of planting only. In a bank within his inclofures (having a flope of about forty-five degrees to the South) he has made a terrace confilting of feven ftages, formed of rough ftones rifing like a flight of fteps, one above another. Againft the perpendicular face of each ftage 304 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ftage are placed trellifes,and on them the vines are intended to be trained in the manner of efpaliers. The plants were put in during the month of March, in the year 1793. With refpet, however, to this mode of propa- gating vines, it may admit of doubt whether it be likely to fucceed or not, owing to the fmall degree of nourifhment which the plants can poflibly re- ceive as they now ftand. For although the vine when mature, will flourifh where there is little foil, nay where there is apparently no foil at all, among gravel, flints, and rocks, drawing fupport with its minute, but far extending fibres, from fources im- perceptible to the human eye ; yet, I believe, in its infant ftate, it requires more nutriment, and more room for the extenfion of its tender roots, than it will find where it is at prefent planted. I cannot clofe this fhort, and, I fear, imperfect account of Sir Richard Worfley's vineyard, without adding every wifh for the fuccefs of an experiment which difplays great public fpirit, and has been attended with confiderable trouble and great expence. CHAP. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. GHAP. VII. ===. THE POOR; LABORERS; AND RATES OF WAGES. JL HE paupers of the ifland are extremely well regulated and taken care of; a fyftem of manage- ment adopted of late years, and well worth being attended to and followed in other diftricls. Great abufes having been formerly experi- enced in the management of the poor, in the different parifhes of the ifland, the gentlemen determined to adopt fome mode of remedying the evil; and accordingly, in 1770, a general meeting of the refpeftable inhabitants was held, in which it was propofed that an a6l of parliament fliould be procured to confolidate the poor rates of the feveral parifhes, and to erecl: a Houfe of Indujlry for the general reception of the paupers. Rr The HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. The propofal being agreed to, a bill was accordingly obtained, and a large building erefted on part of the foreft of Parkhurft, eighty acres of which were granted by parliament for this purpofe. The plan of this extenfive edifice is extremely good, it having every convenience that can tend to render the inhabitants healthy, cleanly, ufeful, and induftrious. It is capable of containing feven hundred people^ though there are feldom above five hundred refident paupers ; two-thirds of whom are conftantly employed in manu- facturing facks for corn, flour, and bifcuit; and kerfeys, (lockings, &c. for the ufe of the in- habitants of the houfe. The profits of thefe operations are applied to the fupport of the eftabliftment, the payment of the intereft due on the money borrowed* for carrying it into execution, and the gradual difcharge of the principal. The aft of parliament indeed provided that for the firft twenty years after the completion of the * This amounted to/"i8,coo. plan. HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, 307 plan, half the profits arifing from the labor of the poor fhould be applied to the reduction of the poor rates; and half to the payment of the furn borrowed. It being, however, found, that the reduction thus made in the former was incon- fiderable, it was thought prudent to apply the whole to the latter purpofe, which has been the cafe for fome years laft paft. This meafure, not- withftanding, though founded in fenfe and reafon, has given difguft to feveral, who are not difpofed to endure a prefent trifling inconvenience, for an eventual permanent good; and they talk loudly of compelling, by a fuit in chancery, an adherence to the letter of the a6t of parliament. The rates throughout the ifland were not equalized at the time of their confolidation ; but, that each parifh might pay its fair proportion to the new eftablimment, an account was taken of the amount of their poor rates refpeftively, for the feven years preceding; and an average being llruck, this was determined to be the ratio of their future payments, till reduftions fhould be made frojn the profits of the houfe. Hence it is that Rr a the 308 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. the rates vary confiderably in different parts of the ifland ; thus, for inftance, Brading pays two Shillings and three pence in the pound upon two- thirds of the rent; Whitwell two {hillings in the pound, upon the rack-rent ; and Frefhwater not more than one fhilling and three pence in the pound. Every praife is due to the gentlemen of the ifland, for their attention to the regulation of this great eflablifhment ; which, at the fame time that it exemplifies the fojjibility^ points out the mode of rendering the mod unhappy and ufelefs part of the community, ferviceable to the com- munity and comfortable in themfelves. I have before remarked the pleafing contraft between the laboring poor of the ifland, and thofe of moil other parts of England. This their comfortable ftate they chiefly owe to the occafional kindnefles of the farmers, who in general bear a high characler for benevolence and generofity to thofe who work under them ; and their living in a great meafure upon potatoes, a wholefome, nourifhing food, and fufticiently plentiful HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 309 plentiful with them, as every laborer's family has a plantation annexed to his dwelling, ftocked with this ufeful root. Indeed, without thefe afliftances, they would be fcarcely able to fubfift, as the rate of wages is but low in the ifland, provifions dear, and the rents of cottages rather extravagant, being from forty (hillings to two pounds fifteen {hillings per annum. They are indeed neat little dwellings, built offtone, with a little garden to each, for the accommodation of its tenant. The rates of wages, as well as hours of work, vary in different parts of the ifland. In Brading parifh laborers have two guineas for the harveft, month, and their board ; eighteen pence per day for grafs-mowing, and their beer; and one {hilling per day during the reft of the year, when employed. Their hours of work are, in winter from feven to four, and in fummer from fix to five. In the Southern and Weftern parts they get fourteen pence per day, but give an additional hour 310 HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. hour of labor, vifc. from five to five in fummer, and from feven to five in winter. The crops, however, of the ifland are fo large (moft of the land being in tillage) that the refident laborers are by no means fufficient for the cutting down and harvesting of them. This dearth of hands is fupplied from the Weftern counties, and between three and four hundred laborers annually pafs into the ifland, a little before harveft, and hire themfelves to the different farmers, for the month. The ufual wages for this period are two guineas if it be peace, and from forty -five to fifty Ihillings if it be war time. They have their board alfo. For the time they are employed before and after the month, they have two millings per day, food, and liquor. During the harveft of 1793, there were nearly four hundred Dorfetmire, Devonfhire, and Somerfetfhire men employed in getting in the ifland harvefts ; and as a warm prefs was at that time on foot, a general protection from govern- ment was allowed to them, to operate during their HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 311 their paflage from their own habitations to the theatre of labor, and back again.* * Since writing the above, I am informed that an agricultural fociety, on an admirable plan, has been founded in the ifland, having for its objeft the improve- ment of the hufbandry of the diftrift. I cannot avoid adding my warm wifhes for its fuccefs and profperity. Coim, JOI- liomari Coins. APPENDIX. A DiJJcrtation on Six Roman Coins found in the IJlc of Wight. " The medal, faithful to its charge of fame, Through climes and ages bears each form and name ; In one fhort view fubjefted to our eye, Gods, emp'rors, heroes, fages, beauties lie." JL HE Roman coins exhibited in the annexed tables were turned up in ploughing a field to the North of Carifbrooke caftle, about fifty years ago ; and are now in my pofleflion. They include a feries of about three centuries; and may be confidered as affording an incontro- vertible proof of the prefence of the Romans in the Ifle of Wight. Ss The APPENDIX. The firft [No. i.] is a coin of M. Viffanius Agrippa, the fon-in-law of the Emperor Auguftus, by his marriage with Julia, the daughter of Auguftus and Scribonia. He had early efpoufed the caufe of O6lavius, and rendered him fuch fignal fervices as fecured the warm friendfhip and lading attachment of the young emperor, who, amongft other inftances of it, had him thrice appointed to the confulfhip. It was during the laft time of his filling this office, that the coin in queftion appears to have been ftruck.* The face of it reprefents the head of Agrippa, encircled with a rojlral crownjc a reward he * It may be obferved that the power of coining money was vcfled in the fenate ; hence the initials S. C. or fenatus confu-lto, by the decree of the fenate, on the revcrfc of moft of the pieces. It was alfo an ufual compliment, paid by this body to the emperors, or their relations, whenever any thing fignally glorious or fervice- able to the ftate had been performed by them, to ftamp the eircumftance on coins, and fend them into circulation, with a few initials exprefiive of it. t The engraver has made a miftake, omitting the ro/trum, or prow, on the front of the crown, and making it fimply a laurel chaplet. The roftral crown was beftowed on the man who firft leaped into the enemy's fhip during *.he engagement. received APPENDIX. received from the hand of the emperor in return for his gallantry in feveral fea aftions ; particu- larly in one fought with Sextus Pompeius, to which, and its honorable reward, Virgil alludes in the following lines : " Parte alia vends et diis ./Vgrippa fecundis Arduus agmen agens ; cui belli infigne fuperbum Tempora navali fulgent roftrata corona."* The neck of Agrippa is reprefented as bare, and the hair fliort and curling. Thefe were fafhions amongft the old Romans, who left both the arms and neck entirely expofed to view ; a knowledge of which circumftance throws confiderable light on, and gives additional beauty to that natural piclure of jealoufy fo admirably painted by the Roman Poet; * Virgil, JEneid. VIII, et Dio, lib. XLIX. Agrippa was the fecond perfon who received the reward of a roftral crown for his naval pr9wefs ; the learned Varro anticipated him in this honor about thirty years before, Pliny, III. ii. et VII. xxx. Ss 2 " Cum APPENDIX. " Cum tu Lydia Telephi Cervicem rofeam, et ccrea Telephi Laudas brackia, vae meum Fervens difficili bile tumet jecur."* " Ah ! when on Telephus his charms, His rofy neck, and waxen arms, My Lydia's praife unceafmg dwells, What gloomy fpleen my bofom fwells."t The reverfe of this coin bears the figure of Neptune, holding a trident in his left hand, and treading with his contrary foot on a kind of globe. The coin is of brafs, the fize of the en- graving.^ * Hor. Carm. lib. I. ode xiii. t Francis. J The Romans very wifely {truck all their devices on the bafer rnetals, for two reafons ; that the knowledge of the circumftances they were meant to commemorate might be the more univerfally imparted ; and that covetoufnefs might not annihilate the monument, by defacing the device, and melting the metal. It is to be remembered, that what we call Roman coins are nothing more tha.n the common currency of Italy, in the times of the ancients. No. APPENDIX. 5 No. 2. is a coin of Tiberius Caefar, who was adopted by, and fucceeded Auguftus. The unnatural brutality and infamous practices of this difgrace to manhood are too well known, to render any detail of his character neceflary. This coin appears to have been flruck during his fecond confulfhip ; in which he obtained, by the permiflion of Auguftus, the title of Imp. or Imperator, the victorious general, in confequence of his recent fuccefles in Germany ; eight years before the birth of our Saviour. The reverfe reprefents the figure of Vittory, ftanding on the rojlrum of a fhip ; ornamented, as the ancients reprefented her, with a pair of wings, and bearing in one hand a chaplet of laurel, and in the other a branch of palm ;* the rewards * Alatam quoque fingi pingique folitam ob veloci- tatem dixeris (quo enim citius viftoria parta, ac breviori fpatio vifti fugatique holies, eo illuftrior eft ac celcbrior ;) vcl quod mobilis fit, nunc his nunc illis fecunda. Palma. Viftorias tributa, quod ejus rami, ut auclor eft Ariftotelcs, Plutarchus, Plinius, et A. Gellius, lib. III. Noft. Alt. cap. vi. ponderi impofito refiftunt, nee premi fe patiuntur, imo contra obfiftunt. Corona datur/^w?-^, quia eft vinculum, quo et vicii hoftes alligari folcnt, aut vcrius pracmium eft viftori. Ant. Auguft. Dialog, ii. Antiq. Numiiinat. p. 23. of APPENDIX. of thofe who had fignalized themfelves in battle.* " Adfuit ipfa fuis alls Viftoria."t And winged Viftory herfelf was there. Nor has our own great Poet forgotten theie appendages of the Goddefs, in his fublime de- fcription of the Mefliah, when going to the dif- comfkure of Satan and his angels : " He in celeftial panoply all arm'd Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, Afcended ; at his right hand Vi&ory Sat eagle-wing' 'd ; befide him hung his bow And quiver with three-bolted thunder ftor'd, And from about him fierce effufion roll'd Of fmoke, and bickering flame, and fparkles dire." J No. 3. is a coin ftruck in honor of Germanicus^ on a glorious and memorable occafion. The face of it reprefents him in the habit of a Roman foldier, apparently in the ac~l of addreflmg a body * " Lentas viftoris praemia palmce." Ovid. f Claud, de Sex. Conf. Honorii. | Paradife Loft, book vi. line 760. of- APPENDIX. of people: the reverfe exhibits his triumphal chariot, in which he again appears. This laft circumftance marks the time of the medal being coined, which was during the confulfhip of C. Ccelius Rufus, and L. Pomponius Flaccus, in the feventeenth year of the Chriftian aera, when Germanicus received the honors of a triumph, for his victories over the Germans.* On both the faces of the coin, this hero is rerrefented as holding in his left hand a kind of fceptre furmounted with a bird. This is the ftandard or eagle of the nineteenth legion, one of the three that perifhed with the unfortunate Varus, which was recovered during the aufpicious campaigns of Germanicus, againft the barbarians who had deceived and deftroyed that credulous commander.t Germaaicus * Tacit. Annal. II. cap. xli. f " Bruftcros fuaurentes, ekpedita cum manu L. Ster- tinius, miffu Germanici, fudit ; intcrque csedem et pnedam repent undevictjimiK legionis aquilam, cum Varoamiflam." Tacit. Ann. lib. I. " Ipfe [Gcnnanicus^ majoribus copiis Marfos APPENDIX. Germanicus was the fon of Antonia Minor, and Drufus Major, and cut off in the prime of life, by poifon, at the fecret inftigation of the Emperor Tiberius.* No. 4. exhibits the head of Antonia Minor, daughter of Mark Anthony and Oclavia, and mother of Germanicus and the Emperor Clau- dius. She bore an amiable character, and met with the general fate of fuperior worth in thofe days a violent death ; dying by poifon during the reign of Tiberius.t The coin was ftruck when her fon Claudius had obtained the fove- reignty, in honor of his deceafed parent. He is reprefented, on the reverfe, with the clofe habit Marfos irrumpit, quorum dux Malovendus, nupcr in deditionem acceptus, propinquo loco defoflam Varianae legionis aquilam, modico praefidio fcrvari indicat. Mifla extemplo manus, quae hoftem a fronte eliceret , alii, qui terga circumgreffi, rccluderent humum : utrifquc adfuit fortuna." Tacit. Annal. lib. II. * Sucton. in Vit. Cal\g. cap. i. Tacit. Annal. lib. I. et II. I Tacit. Annal. lib. III. and APPENDIX. 9 and veiled head of the pontifcx maximus, or high prieft, (for the emperors were inverted with all the offices of the priefthoodj bearing in his right hand a kind of veflel, called a Jimpuvium, anciently ufed in the facrificial rites. No. 5. is a coin of the Emperor Vefpafian, (truck during his feventh confulfhip, in the year of our Lord 76. At this period the empire was bleffed with univerfal peace, the emperor having, in the preceding year, dedicated and furnifhed a temple to that goddefs. Hence the figure of Peace became a very proper fubjeft for the reverfe of this coinage, and the fenate, (who regulated the mint) by adopting it, paid a noble though tacit compliment to their emperor, through whofe exertions this blefling had been procured. The goddefs is reprefented on the reverfe as refting on a pillar, to fhew the duration and fe- curity of the empire's quiet. In her right hand Tt fhc IO APPENDIX. {he holds an olive branch,* one of her ufual emblems : " Ingreditur. ramumque tenens popularis olivae."t In her left a cornucoplae, expreffive of the plenty produced by the arts of peace : " Interea pax arva colat, pax Candida primura Duxit araturos fub juga curva boves ; Pax aluit vites et fuccos condidit uvae, Funderet ut nato tefta paterna metum ; Pace bidens vomerque vigent "J " Quae cornu retinet divite copiara."^ * " In aliis plurimis virgoeft, [pax] altera oleae ramum. altcra geftans cornu copiae. Virgo eft, ut fimplex et Integra ; clara pacis argumenta. Bello namque virgines Contra jus ftuprantur ac rapiuntur. Olea fignum eft paci- ficatoris, ut legati tefte Virgilio. In cornu copiae obferves fpicas, uvas, aliofque fruftus, cum vomere, omniaquein hoc cornu, quod Acheloi fuit, cum in tauruni mutatils Herculem fuperare conabatur ; qui alterum fregit cornu, quod Nymphae acceptum floribus et pancarpio, ut Nafo fabulatur, implerunt." Ant. Auguftini Dialog, ii. Antiq. i Ovid, Metam. line 7. + Tibullus, El. X. line i. ^ Seneca, Trag. in Medea, de pace. It APPENDIX. 11 It may be obferved alfo that the flowing veft of the figure appears to be gathered or tucked up before. This feems to be intended, by the Roman mint-mafters, \vho had a meaning in every thing, to convey a ftronger idea of the abundance produced by a ceflation from war; for we are to imagine this fold of the garment filled likewife with the gifts of Ceres and Pomona, according to the defcription of .Tibullus : " At nobis, pax alma, veni, fpicamque teneto, Perfluat et pomis candidus ante Jinus." The fixth and laft coin is one of Galerius Valerius Maximianus, who, from a very bafe origin, was raifed to the purple, jointly with Conftantius, in the year of our Lord 304. He was remarkable for his propenfity to every vice which could difhonor our nature; and an in- flexible diflike to the Chriftian religion, which he perfecuted with the utmoft rigor. The ancient fathers of the church affure us his punifhments for his iniquities commenced evtn in this life, by the vifitation of a tedious, horrible, and loath- Tt2 fomc IS APPFNDIX. fome difeafe, of which he at length expired, hateful to himfelf and detefted by all around him.* The reverfe bears the figure of the genius of the empire, holding a patera^ or facrificial plate, in his right hand, and a cornucopias in his left ; for fuch was the fanciful fuperftition of the Romans, that they not only believed each individual had his own particular genius or daemon ; but that kingdoms, ftates, and cities poffefled a fimilar advantage, every one having a prefiding intelligence, perpetually employed in Averting evil and inducing good.t * Eufebius, lib. VII. cap. xv. i " Varies cuftodes urbibus rr.ens divina diftribuit. Ut animae naftentibus, itapopulis iaUiej> genii dividuntur." Symmachus. A Copy APPENDIX. 13 A Copy of the Rate made March ijth, 1653, for the Maintenance of the Minijler of New- port. Vide page 119. WHEREAS this towne and Borough is become very populous, confiding of two thou- fand five Hundred Souls and upwards, and the Church or Chappell thereof is not endowed wth. any means or Maintenance for the fubfiftence or livelyhood of any Minifter, or Minifters, to preach the word of God, or officiate therein as a minifter, or minifters ; By means whereof all Godly minifters are utterly difcouraged to take the Care and Burthen of the faid place and people upon themfelves, to the great damage and eternall hazard of the Soules of the poore in- habitants of this fame towne. The w ch . the Mayor and chief Burgefles of this Burrough are willing, as much as in them lyeth, to remove, redrefle, and for the future pfent, it being a duty incumbent on all magiflratesj and therefore have thought 14 APPENDIX. 9UMH*MHM0MMiMMMMattMMMM**MMMMmMmM*MM^^M thought fitt, to conftitute, ordeyne, and appoint, and do hereby at this pfent affembly, conftitute, ordeyne, and appoint, That for and towards the maintenance of fuch minifter, or minifters, as are, or fhall be thought fit, and appointed to of- ficiate in the aforefaid church or chappell, a rate, Tax, or Afiefiment, not exceeding the fome of one fhilling and fixpence upon every pound, for one whole yeare, be made on all the Lands and Ten ts . lying w^in the fame Borough, and alfo on all the Rents and perfonall Eftate, and Eftates, of all the Inhabitants, rcfiding w^in the aforefaid Burrough, with refpecl to their beft abilities in that behalfe, by the Mayor, and the chiefe BurgefTes of the fame Burrough, or the Major Part of them, together \v t1n . Eight, fix, or four of the able Inhabitants refideing withing * Y fame Burrough. And that thofe for the fame purpofe fhall be from time to time elefted, named, and chofer. by the faid Mayor, and chief Burgefies for the time being, for that purpofe.* * Sir R. Worfley's Hiftory, Append. No. XLIV, ERRATA. frACI LINK FOR READ 99 61 rifelefs, ufclefs. tot, 5, natural, nature. 1 7 1 2 twelve, ten. 192, 8, crufh, crafh. 216, 18, difes, diics. 228, 21, OTOfrr>v t fuXfTIJf. 268, 3> things, themes. INDEX. A PACE. BORIGINAL Inhabitants of Britain - i their favage ftate 3 Anecdote from Strabo (note) . . . 5 Arthur, prince of the Silures, oppofes the Saxons 19 Adelwakh, king of the South Saxons, receives the ifland - - - 22 Alfred defeats the Danes - 25 Adam de Gordon, warden of the ifland - 38 Affeton, Sir Richard de, warden of ditto - 38 Annebout, the French admiral, invades the ifland 44 Alfred, his political regulations 55 Artillery provided by the inhabitants of the ifLnd 75 Arreton church, an account of - i6 Ancient connection between the ifland and the continent - - - - 186 Aquatic fowl - - - - 199 Ammodytes, or fand-eels - - -218 Animal fyi?, initances of 228 Uu INDEX. Anafarca, recipe for 250 Ammoniac - .... 257 Argilla apyra ... 360 fullonica .... 260 marga - - ' - 261 Arena micacea argentea - 261 Alumen commune .... 261 Alderney cows .-_''* . - 290 Belgae, -who they were - 3 when they arrived in England - 3 Britons ot Belerium (or Cornwall) trade with the Phoenicians - 5 Britons lend ambafladors to Rome for afliftance 17 Bede's account ot Saxon devaftations (note} 18 Bernwinus receives charge of fourth part of the ifland - - 2* Baldwin de Redv: j rs, lord of the ifland - 30 Barons, their ancient (late 34 Beacons in the ifland, their number and fituation 59 Bifhop Wilfred receives a fourth part of the ifland 95 Brading church, an account of - - \\z Bin {lead church, ditto - 117 Brixton parith, ditto - - 124 Brooke church, ditto ... - 126 Borough of Newport - 129, 130 of Yarmouth - 129 Boroughs, their nature in early times (note) - 133 Baldwin de Redvers grants a charter to Yarmouth 140 Bray, Sir Reginald, leiiee of the ifland - 1,59 INDEX. !Bolton, Duke of, governor of the ifiand - 164 Charles, Duke of, ditto . 165 Harry, Duke of, ditto - 166 Bonchurch, or St. Boniface, fcenery about it 191 Black-gang chine .... 196 Badgers not found in the ifland - - 204 Bernard, or hermit-crab - - 223 Bee orchis ..... 248 Brading haven .... 295 Celtae, the original inhabitants of Britain - i migrated hither from Gaul 2 Carifbrook, its probable derivation (note) - 4 Cornwall, Phosnicians trade thither - 5 produces tin $ Cafliterides iflands, why fo called (note) - 5 Caefar, his expeditions into Britain - 8 Claudius in Bricain .... 8 Commercial occupations, their effeft on the mind 9 Carifbrook, the fue of a Roman ftation - - 11 Cerdic and Cinric conquer Ifle of Wight - 19 Cerdic dies .... - - 20 Ceadwalla, king ojf Weflex, conquers the ifland 22 his cruelty and vow 22 Carifbrook caflle attacked by the French - 42 Charles I. his caufe befriended by the Ifle of Wight gentlemen ... -49 Countefs of Portland, her gallantry 50, 51 Culpeper, Lord, governor of the ifland 59 UU2 INDEX. Carifbrook caftlc, ftores of, in Henry the Eighth's reign - 70 Caftle of Sandha n bay. ditto - - -71 Caftle at Weft Cowes, ditto - - - 7* Camden's character of the inhabitants of the ifland 76 Culpeper, Lord, governor of the ifland 84 Chnftianity introduced into the ifland 91 Converfion of the Saxon inhabitants of the ifland to Chriftianity - , - - 9$ Cynbreth, Abbot of Reodford or Redbridge, anec- dote of - 96 Chriftianity, its depraved ftate in the middle ages - r r 99, 100 Carifbrook priory founded - , 101 granted to the abbey of Lyra lot Chapels, feveral in the ifland - - no, in Carifbrook church, an account of - -120 Canteria Manerii de Gatcombe - - 121 Chaie churc' , an account of - - 12* Calbourn church, ditto - - 125 Charles II. giants a charter to Newport - 130 vifits Yarmouth - 145 Carey, Sir George, governor of the ifland - 161 Culpeper, Lord, ditto - - 163 Cutts, Lord, ditto - 164 Cadogan, Lord, ditto - - .165 Climate' of the Ifle of Wight - - - 168 Culver cliff - 189 Columba faxatilis, or rock-pigeon - 189 Cuttle-fifh - - - 216,217 Crabs, large - - - - 22^ Cormorant, hiftory of that bird 239 IND1X. Conferva polymorpha . , 251 Crithmum maihimum - < 252 Chalk ... . . -256 Coal * - 259 Clover - - - - - 286 Cows ... . 290 Cheefe ...... 292 Panifli tumuli in the Ifle of Wight (note) g Degeneracy of the Briions when deferted by the Romans - - r - - 16 Danes, particulars refpe&ing them - -24 make a defcent on the ifland 25 Pe Redvers, family of, lords of the ifland 29, 30 Deteuce of the ifland under its lords - 55, 56 in the reign of Edward I. 57, 58 in the reign of Edward III. 60-64 in the feventeenth century 81-83 Druidifm the ancient religion of the ifland - 87 Dimenfions of the Ifle of Wight - ^ 168 Downs ot ditto - - 180 Dunnofe promontory - - 191 - T - 248 Eaftern coaft, when firft peopled - a Expeditions of Czefar into Britain did not amount to a conqueft of the country 8 Edward I. purchafes the lordfhip of Ifle of Wight 34 INDEX. Emgiration from the ifland in fourteenth century 41 Eaft-Meden, watches in it in 1638 - . 81 Echo, a remarkable one - 194 Eagle, Job's fublime defcription of it - 226 builds occafionally in Culver cliff - 827 anecdote of one - - 229 Echini - . . Fortibus, William de, Earl of Albemarle - 34 French invade the Ifle of Wight - 40 attack Carifbrook caflle . -42 Forts built in the ifland by Henry VIII. - 44 Feudal fyftem, its principles - "65 Fire-arms introduced into the ifland . 74 Fitz-Ofborne, William, founds Carifbrook priory 101 Frefhwater church, an account of - 128 Fortibus, Ifabella de, grants charter to Newport 133 Francheville, ancient name of Newtown - 135 Female inhabitants of the ifland - . 170 Fairy rings, their caufe - - - 182 Frelh water bay - . - 196 cavern - . . - 198 cliffs . J09 Foxes not found in the ifland - - 204 Falco iiifus - - - .231 Fox-glove - - - - - 248 Foflil (hells - - . . - 258 Fallowing fyftem - 278 Farms, their fize - m _ - 283 INDEX. Galatae or Gauls, the original inhabitants of Britain i Gomerians, orPhrygians,Celtae defcended from them 2 Gallia Belgica, the country of the Belgae - 3 Godwin, Earl, makes a defcent on the ifland 26 Gallantry, inftance of, in the Hinders - 44 Godfhill church, an account of - 115 Gatcombe church, ditto - - - isj Gate, Sir Jeffery, captain of the ifland -" 158 Game of the ifland pieferved by E. Horfey, Efq. 160 Growth of downs - 181 Gryllus talpa, or mole-cricket, its hiftory 210, 21 1 Guillemot, hiftory of that bird - - 238 Game, regulations refpe&ing it by Henry VIII. 242 Gold - 263 H Hengift and Horfa, Saxon chiefs, land Ln England 17 Haftings, battle of, when fought - 27 Hereford, Earl of, lord of the Ifle of Wight 28 Henry VIII. builds forts in the Ifle of Wight 44 Harby, the feditious curate of Newport - 50 Henry VIII bull. is forts on the coaft of the ifland 66 Holmes, Sir Robert, governor of the ifland - 85 builds a noufe at Yarmouth to accomodate Charles II. - - 145 Humphrey, Duke of Gloucefter, warden of the ifland - - - >57 Horfey, Edward, captain of the ifland - 6o INDEX. Henry, Earl of Southampton, captain of the Ifle of Wight .... 161 Hammond, Colonel, governor of the ifland - 16* Holmes, Lord, ditto - 166 Hares, plenty of them in the ifland - - 205 Hermit-crab .... 2^3 Hawks in Culver cliff - 230 Horfes - - - - 891 Hogs - - - - 291 Houfe of Induftry 305 Ifle of Wight, when fir ft peopled a when peopled hy the Belgae - 4 tin ftaple removed thither * 6 Iftis, ancient name of Ifle of Wight - .6 Ifle of Wight fubdued by Vefpafian - 9 conquered by the Saxons - 19 its inhabitants murdered - 20 laid wafte by Wuipher 22 given to Edelwalch 22 annexed to the kingdom of WefTex 22 its population in the (eventh century 23 its ftate and Appearance under the Saxons - 24 attacked by the Danes - - 25 attacked by Earl Godwin and his fon Tofti - 26 conquered by the Normans 27 given to William Fitz-Ofborne 28 granted to Richard de Redwrs 29 INDEX. Ifle of Wight defcends to Ifabella de Fortibus 33 purchafed by Edward I. 34 invaded by the French - 40 ditto - - 42 ditto - 43 ditto - 45 its defence under its lords - 55* 5& ditto in the reign of Edward I. 57. 58 its ancient religion 87-9* Inhabitants of the ifland r - 175 J Jutes, a German tribe - 19 Jerom, Earl of Portfmouth, removed from the government of the Ifle of Wight - 46 James I. incorporates Newport. 130 Yarmouth - 140 John Fitz-Thomas, warden of the ifland - 155 John de Langford, ditto - . - 156 Job's defcription of the eagle - 226 K Kentifli fhore firft peopled a KotfffftTtfos, the Greek name for tin (note) - 5 Kent, kingdom of, eftabliflied - 18 King John figns Magna Charta - 31 retires to the Ifle of Wight - 32 Kingfton church, an account of - -121 Kaighton court, ditto - 149 Knowles, grand fcenery there - 195 Xx INDEX. Lenity of the Romans to conquered" nations - 10 Londinium, or London, tin ftaple removed thither - - 11 Lords warden of the ifland, their rights - 147 Lymington, Vifcount, governor of the ifland -^ 165 Laboring poor of the ifland - 176 Luccomh, fceriery about it - 191 Loligo, or cuttle-fifh - -216 Launce, or fand-eel - - - - 218 Limpets - 222 Lobfters, of large fize - - 224 Lichen calcareum - - "^ - 251 M Marfeillefe Greeks difcover Phoenician trade here - - - - - 6 * Marfeillefe Greeks, when they began to traffic in Cornwall - 6 Marfeilles, tin fent thither 6 Magna Charta figned by King John - 31 Mofes Read, the feditious mayor of Newport 49 Military characler of the iflanders in fixteenth century - ' - - 76 Militia of the ifland, the prefent, when eftablilhed 85 Monafteries, the original principle of their foundation - - 100 Mottefton church, an account of 124 Montagu, Duke of, governor of the ifland - 165 Medina river ----- 174 INDEX. Mole-cricket, its hiftory 210,211 Mytilus edulis, or eatable mufcle - 220 Myrtles - - 254 Marga columbina - - - 261 Manures - - - - 282 N Narbonne, tin tranfported thither 6 Normans conquer England - - 27 Newtown, village of, burnt - ~ 43 Northwood, a religious houfe there - - no Newchurch church and pariih, an account of 114 Niton church, ditto - 115 Northwood church, ditto - - - 117 Newport church, ditto - -118 Newtown chapel, ditto - - - 125 Newport borough ... 129, 130 when firft regularly fends members to parliament - 131 Newtown borough - ~ *35 contefts about the eleftive franchife there - - *37 *39 Northern coaft of the ifland, its defcription - 1 88 Needle rocks - - - - - 201 Oratory of Burton founded - - 105 its ftatutes - 106 granted to Winchefter col- lege - 108 INDEX. Orde, Right Honorable Thomas, governor of the ifland ... - 166 Ophrys apifera - 248 Ochra ferri - - - - 26 1 Syriaca - 261 Phrygians, or Gomerians, Celtae defcended from them Phoenician navigators trade to Britain - commerce declines here - 6 Policy of the Romans with refpett to conquered nations - - - 13 Picls and Scots, their depredations - 17 Population of the ifland in the feventh century 23 Petition of the inhabitants of the ifland in favor of Jerom, Earl of Portland - 46 Perfecution of Druidifm by the Romans - 90 Priory of Appulciurcombe founded - - 108 Priory of St. Crofs given to Wmchefter college 109 Portland, Earl of, captain of the Ifle of Wight 162 Jerom, Earl of, ditto - - 162 Portfmouth, Earl of, ditto - 166 Polecats not found in the ifland - - 204 Porpefles - - 214 Pi fum, or pea- crab - 221 Patella vulgata, or common limpet - - 222 Puffin, hiftory of 231-233 Plotmore - 2,59 Potatoes - - - - - 280 P.jrkliurft foreft - 293 Poor rates > - 307 INDEX. Queen Elizabeth increafes the Britifti marine - 45 Quarr, abbey of, founded b) Baldwin, Earl of Devon - - 103 taxation of its lands in the fifteenth century - 104 dilapidated ... 105 the abbot of, warden of the ifland - - 16 R Romans in Britain - 8 lenient to conquered nations - 10 acquire the Ifle of Wight . \ i Roman coins found in the ifland - 12 Romans entirely forfake Britain f \j Roger de Breteville, lord of the Ifle of Wight 28 rebels, is imprifoned, and lofes his property - 29 Richard de Redvers receives a grant of the ifland - -29 Regulations for internal defence of the ifland - 39 Ruflel, Sir Theobald, flain by the French - 40 Religious tenets of the Saxons 92, 93 Richard de Redvers, founder of Appuldurcombe priory - - 108 grants charter to Newport 131 Richard de Aflfeton, warden of the ifland - 1,55 Rivers of the ifland .... 174 INDEX. Razor-fifli - - 219 Razor-bill, hiftory of that bird - - 235 Rock-famphire - - 2,52 Roads - - - - - 286 Southern coaft of England, when firft peopled 2 Strabo, an anecdote from - "5 Scilly iflands, why called CafTiterides (note} - 5 Spirit ot freedom extingmfhed by luxury - 14 Saxons land in England - - -17 conquer Britain - - - 18 Shower of blood falls in the Ifle of Wight (note) 30 Sandown fort - - - 66 eflablifhment of, in fixteenth century 67 Sharpnode block-houfe - - - 69 Strength of the ifland in 1625 - 77-80 Saxons, their fyftem of religion - 92, 93 St. Helen's priory, when founded and by whom 108 Shanklin chapel, an account of - 113 St. Boniface church, ditto - - 113 St. Nicholas chapel, ditto - 120 Shorwell church, ditto - - 123 Shalfleet church, ditto - 126 Sir John Lifle, warden of the ifland - - 155 Sir Henry Ties, ditto - 156 Sydenham, Colonel, governor of the ifland - 163 Stanley, Hon. Hans, ditto - 166 Soil of the ifland - - - - 170 Springs of the ifland - - - - 174 Sandown bay - - - -190 INDEX. Shanklin chine Steephill, rude frenery of - - St. Catherine's, ditto - St. Chriftopher's cliff Sharks, occafionally on the Owes of the ifland Sand-eel - . . Siliqua, or razor-fifh . . Shells - . _ . Swallows - - - . Submarine plants - - - Stone . . -. _ Sulphur - - - - Sheep - - . _ Tin produced in Cornwall - - ^ purchafed by the Phoenicians - j the derivation of its name (note) - $ ftaple removed to the Ifle of Wight - 6 Tacitus quoted fnotej ~ % Tumuli in the ifland - - g Tacitus quoted (note) - - g Tin- ftaple removed from the ifland to London 1 1 Tacitus quoted (note) - - 12 Tiberius, coins of that emperor in the ifland 12 Thanet, ifle of, Saxons firft land there - 17 Tofli, Earl, makes a defcent on the ifland - 26 Tyrrel, Sir Hugh, flain by the French - 42 Tenure of land, terms of it in the thirteenth century - - - '59 Tenets of the Druids - - 88 Thorley church, an account of 127 INDEX. Theobald Ruflel, warden of the ifland - 156 Timber of the ifland ' - - 171 Tobacco-pipe clay - - 260 Turnips 285- U and V Veneti of Gaul employed in tranfporting tin - 6 Vefpafian's fuccefles in Britain - p conqueft of the Ifle of Wight 9 Veftis, or Vela, Roman name for Ifle of Wight 1 1 view of it under Roman government j 3 Vernun, William de, lord of the Ifle of Wight 31 UnderclifF, a land-flip - - 193 Vipers in the ifland - 206 their hiftory - - 207, 208 Vineyard, Sir R. Worfley's - 300 W Withgar receives the Ifle of Wight from Cerdic so murders all the remaining Britons in it 21 calls Carifbrook, Withgarifburg - i Wulpher lays wafte the ifland - 22 Wilfred, Bifhop, receives a fourth part of the ifland - - ... - 22 William the Conqueror acquires England - 17 William Fitz-OCborne receives the Ifle of Wight *j Worfley's tower built - - - 66 Weft-Cowes caftle built - - "67 its eftablifhraent in fixteenth century - - 67 Watches and wards kept in the ifland in 1638 81 INDEX. i Weft Meden, watches kept there in 1638 - 8* Whitwell church, an account of - - 1 14 Weft Cowes chapel, ditto - - 1 18 Walleran de Ties, conftable of the Ifle of Wight 155 William Ruflel, warden of ditto - 1,55 Worfley, Sir James, captain of the ifland - 159 Richard, ditto - 160 ' Webb, General, governor of the ifland - 164 Worlley, Rt. Hon. Sir Richard, ditto* - 166 Woods, the largeft in the ifland, where - 174 Wootton river - - - 174 Woodcocks - 244 Wheat ----- 273 Wages - 309 Yarmouth, town of, burnt by the French - 43 caitle built - - - 66 caftie, ftore.s belonging to it in Henry the Eighth's reign - - 68 Yeomanry cavalry of the ifland, when eftablifhed 85 Yaverland church, an account of - 113 Yarmouth church, ditto - 127 borough - 129, 140144 Yar river - J 74 Yeomanry of the ifland - 176 FINIS. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. k Form L9-Series 4939 AnXA ^^ ' ' '" " " 000 883 140 6 DA -70