33SS Crowe Lewesdon Hill THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES \ LEWESDON HILL POEM. Key p tvTrfoia trtp-^o EV&' } 0$ T&VT t7rtx.pa.vzv. SOPH. Farewell thy printlefs fands and pebbly (here ! I hear the white furge beat thy coaft no more, Pure, gentle fource of the high, rapturous mood ! - Wheree'er, like the great Flood, by thy dread force Propell'd fhape Thou my calm, my blamelefs courfe, Heaven, Earth and Ocean's Lord ! and Father of the Good ! OXFORD: AT THE CLARENDON PRESS, MDCCLXXXVIII. SOLD BY D. PRINCE AND J. COOKE, OXFORD: J. F. AND C. RIVINGTON, T. CADELL, AND R, FAULDER, LONDON. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD JONATHAN LORD BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH WHO IN A LEARNED FREE AND LIBERAL AGE IS HIMSELF MOST HIGHLY DISTINGUISHED BY EXTENSIVE USEFUL AND ELEGANT LEARNING BY A DISINTERESTED SUPPORT OF FREEDOM AND BY A TRULY CHRISTIAN LIBERALITY OF MIND THIS POEM WITH ALL RESPECT IS DEDICATED BY HIS LORDSHIP'S MOST OBLIGED AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT THE AUTHOR. 866868 r.AYsa I :. H ~T ADVERTISEMENT. THE Hill which gives title to the following Poem is fituated in the weftern part of Dorfetfhire. This choice of a Subject, to which the Author was led by his residence near the fpot, may feem perhaps to con- fine him to topics of mere rural and local defcription. But he begs leave here to inform the Reader that he has advanced beyond thofe narrow limits to fomething more general and important. On the other hand he trufts, that in his fartheft excurfions the connexion between him and his fubjecl: will eafily be traced. The few notes which are fubjoined he thought neceflary to elucidate the paflages where they are inferted. He will only add in this place, from Hutchins's Hiftory of Dorfetfhire, (Vol. I. p. 366.) what is there faid of Lewefdon (or, as it is now corruptly called, Lewfon) c This and Pillefdon Hill, ' furmount all the hills, though very high, between them c and the fea. Mariners call them the Cow and Calf^ in c which forms they are fancied to appear, being eminent c fea-marks to thofe who fail upon the coaft.' To the top of this Hill the Author defcribes himfelf as walking on a May morning. ily/ Jlaih o; LEWESDON HILL. P to thy fummit, LEWESDON, to the brow Of yon proud rifing, where the lonely thorn Bends from the rude South-eaft, with top cut flieer By his keen breath, along the narrow track By which the fcanty-paftured fheep afcend / / r r Up to thy furze-clad fummit, let me climb; My morning exercife ; and thence look round 7 & y 1O Upon the variegated fcene, of hills, And woods, and fruitful vales, and villages Half-hid in tufted orchards, and the fea Boundlefs, and ftudded thick with many a fail. B Ye 2 LEWESDON HILL. Ye dew-fed vapours, nightly balm, exhaled prom earth, young herbs and flowers, that in the morn Afcend as incenfe to the Lord of day, * I come to breathe your odours ; while they float Yet near this furface, let me walk em bathed In your inviflble perfumes, to health So friendly, nor lefs grateful to the mind, Adminiftring fweet peace and cheerfulnefs. How changed is thy appearance, beauteous hill ! Thou haft put off thy wintry garb, brown heath j rr c i r i i - - i i i tf 4 LJ And ruiiet tern, thy leemly-colour d cloak liO To bide the hoary frofts and dripping rains s^r i -11 -. i i 11, Or chill December, and art gaily robed T i- r i r - i t In livery of the fprmg : upon thy brow r n 11 it T ff X'3 A cap or rlowery hawthorn, and thy neck r / / Mantled with new-fprung furze and fpangles thick f^C ill! ii' r i , Of golden bloom : nor lack tnee tufted woods Adown thy iides : Tall oaks of lulty green, The darker fir, light am, and the nem tops Of the young hazel join, to form thy ikirts i In LEWESDON HILL. 3 In many a wavy fold of verdant wreath. So gorgeoufly hath Nature dreft thee up Againft the birth of May; and) vefted fo, Thou doft appear more gracefully array'd Than Fafliion's worfhippers ; whofe gaudy fliews, Fantaftical as are a rick man's dreams, From vanity to coftly vanity Change ofter than the moon. Thy comely drefsj From fad to gay returning with the year,. Shall grace thee ftill till Nature's felf ftiall change. '.? t ifri;om ^IbftdH) ;irlj ^iid bnA Thefe are the beauties of thy woodland fcene At each return of fpring : yet fome delight Rather to view the change ; and fondly gaze On fading colours, and the thoufand tints Which Autumn lays upon the varying leaf. I like them not ; for all their boafted hues /.;/.' Are kin to Sicklinefs : mortal Decay Is drinking up their vital juice ; that gone, -.\ LnnqxH They turn to fear and yellow. Should I praife Jtib adT Such falfe complexions, and for beauty take . ; A look confumption-bred ? As foon, if gray ^ B 2 Were 4 LEWESDONHILL. Were mixt in young Louifa's trefies brown, Td call it beautiful variety, And therefore doat on her. Yet I can fpy A beauty in that fruitful change, when comes The yellow Autumn and the hopes o'the year Brings on to golden ripenefs ; nor difpraife The pure and fpotlefs form of that fharp time, When January fpreads a pall of fnow O'er the dead face of th'undiftinguifh'd earth. Then ftand I in the hollow comb beneath And blefs this friendly mount, that weather-fends My reed-roof 'd cottage, while the wintry blaft From the thick north comes howling : till the Spring Return, who leads my devious fteps abroad, To climb, as now, to LEWES DON'S airy top. .' Above the noife and ftir of yonder fields Uplifted, on this height I feel the mind Expand itfelf in wider liberty. The diftant founds break gently on my fenfe, Soothing to meditation : fo methinks, Even fo, fequefter'd from the noify world, Could LEWESDON HILL. 5 Could I wear out this tranfitory being In peaceful contemplation and calm eafe. But confcience, which ftill cenfures on our ads, That awful voice within us, and the fenfe Of an hereafter, wake and roufe us up From fuch unfliaped retirement ; which were elfe A bleft condition on this earthy ftage. For who would make his life a life of toil For wealth, o'erbalanced with a thoufand cares ; Or power, which bafe compliance muft uphold ; Or honour, lavifli'd moft on courtly flaves ; Or fame, vain breath of a misjudging world ; Who for fuch perifhable gaudes would put A yoke upon his free unbroken fpirit, And gall himfelf with trammels and the rubs Of this world's bufinefs ; fo he might ftand clear Of judgment and the tax of idlenefs In that dread audit, when his mortal hours (Which now with foft and filent ftealth pace by) Muft all be counted for ? But, for this fear, And to remove, according to our power, The wants and evils of our brother's ftate, 'Tis 6 LEWESDON HILL. 'Tis meet we juftle with the world ; content, If by our fovereign Matter we be found At laft not profitlefs : for worldly meed, Given or witheld, I deem of it alike. From this proud eminence on all fides round Th' unbroken profpecl: opens to my view ; On all fides large ; fave only where the head Of Pillefdon rifes, Pillefdon's lofty Pen : So call (ftill rendering to his ancient name Obfervance due) that rival Height fouth-weft. Which like a rampire bounds the vale beneath. There woods, there blooming orchards, there are feen Herds, ranging, or at reft beneath the {hade Of fome wide-branching oak ; there goodly fields Of corn, and verdant pafture, whence the kine Returning with their milky treafure home Store the rich dairy : fueh fair plenty fills The pleafant vale of Marfliwood ; pleafant now, Since that the Spring has deck'd anew the meads With flowery vefture, and the warmer fun Their foggy moiftnefs drain'd ; in wintry days Cold, L E W E S D O N HILL; $- Cold, vapourifh, miry, wet, and to the flocks Unfriendly, when autumnal rains begin To drench the fpungy turf: but ere that time nodi The careful fhepherd moves to healthier foil, Rechafing, left his tender ewes fliould coath*3mn- In the dank pafturage. Yet not the fields Of Evejhani) nor that ample valley named Of the White Horfe> its antique monument iguoiaJ 3trS Carved in the chalky bourne, for beauty' and wealth: W Might equal, though furpaffing in extent, This fertile vale ; in length from LEWES DON'S bafe 1O Extended to the lea, and water'd well ..[ nsHT By many a rill ; but chief with thy clear ftream, ^A Thou namelefs Rivulet, who from the fide Of LEWESDON foftly welling forth, doft trip * To coatb, Skinner fays, is a word common in Lincolnmire ; and fignifies, to faint. He derives it from the Anglo-Saxon, co'Se, a difeafe. In Dorfetfhire it is in common ufe, but is nfed of fheep only : a coat bed meep is a rotten fheep ; to couth is to take the rot. Rechafing is alfo a term in that country appropriated to flocks : to chafe and recbafe is to drive fiieep at certain times from one fort of ground to another, or from one parilh to another. The Author having ventured to introduce fome provincial and other terms, takes this occafion to fay, that it is a liberty in which he has not indulged himfelf, but when he conceived them to be al- lowable for the fake of ornament or expreffion. Adown 8 LEWESDON HILL. Adown the valley, wandering fportively. Alas, how foon thy little courfe will end ! How foon thy infant ftream fliall lofe itfelf In the fait mafs of waters, ere it grow To name or greatnefs ! Yet it flows along Untainted with the commerce of the world, Nor paffing by the noify haunts of men ; But through fequefter'd meads, a little fpace, Winds fecretly, and in its wanton path May cheer fome drooping flower, or minifter Of its cool water to the thirfty lamb: Then falls into the ravenous fea, as pure As when it iffued from its native hilL So to thine early grave didft thou run on, Spotlefs Francefca, fo, after fhort courfe, Thine innocent and playful infancy Was fwallowed up in death, and thy pure fpirit In that illimitable gulph which bounds Our mortal continent. But not there loft, Not there extinguifh'd, as fome falfely teach, Who can talk much and learnedly of life, Who LEWESDON HILL. 9 Who know our frame and fafhion, who can tell The fubftance and the properties of man, As they had feen him made ; aye and flood by Spies on Heaven's work. They alfo can difcourfe Wifely, to prove that what muft be muft be, And fhew hovV thoughts are jogg'd out of the brain By a mechanical impulfe; pufhing on The minds of us, poor unaccountables, To fatal refolution. Know they not, That in this mortal life, whate'er it be, We take the path that leads to good or evil, And therein find our blifs or mifery? And this includes all reafonable ends Of knowledge or of being ; farther to go Is toil unprofitable, and th' effect Moft perilous wandering. Yet of this be fure ; Where Freedom is not, there no Virtue is : If there be none, this world is all a cheat, And the divine {lability of Heaven (That aflured feat for good men after death) Is but a tranfient cloud ; difplay'd fo fair To cherifh virtuous hope, but at our need C Eludes io LEWESDON HILL. Eludes the fenfe, and fools our honeft faith, Vanifhing in a lie. If this be ib, Were it not better to be born a beaft, Only to feel what is, and thus to fcape The aguifh fear that {hakes the afflidled breaft With fore anxiety of what (hall be ; And all for nought ? Since our moft wicked aft Is not our fin, and our religious awe Delufion ; if that ftrong Neceffity Chains up our will. But that the mind is free, The Mind herfelf, bed judge of her own ftate, Is feelingly convinced ; nor to be moved By fubtle words, that may perplex the head, But ne'er perfuade the heart. Vain Argument, That with falfe weapons of Philofophy Fights againft Hope, and Senfe, and Nature's ftrength ! See how the Sun, here clouded, afar off Pours down the golden radiance of his light Upon the enridged fea ; where the black flrip Sails on the phofphor-feeming waves. So fair, But falfely-flattering, was yon furface calm, When LEWESDON HILL. n When forth for India fail'd in evil time That Veflel, whofe difaftrous fate, when told, Fill'd every bread with horror, and each eye With piteous tears ; fo cruel was the lofs. f Methinks I fee her, as, by the wintry ftorm Shatter'd and driven along paft yonder Me, She ftrove, her lateft hope, by ftrength or art To gain the Port within it, or at worft To fhun that harbourlefs and hollow coaft f- The diftrefsful condition of the Halfwell here alluded to is thus circumftantially defcribed in the Narrative of her lofs, p. 13. " Thurfday the 5th, at two in the morning the wind came to the fouthward. blew frefh, and the weather was very thick : at noon Portland was feen, bearing N. by E. diftance two or three leagues ; at eight at night it blew a ftrong gale at S. and at this time the Portland lights were feen, bearing N. W. diftance four or five leagues, when they wore fhip, and got her head to the weftward ; but finding they loft ground upon that tack, they wore again, and kept ftretching on eaftward, in hopes to have weathered Peverel-point, in which cafe they intended to have an- chored in Studland Bay : at 1 1 at night it cleared, and they faw St. Alban's-head a mile and a half to the leeward of them; upon which they took in fail immediately, and let go the fmall bower anchor, which brought up the mip at a whole cable, and me rods for about an hour, but then drove ; they now let go the meet an- chor and wore away a whole cable, and the fhip rode for about two hours longer, when me drove again. They were then driv- ing very faft on fhore, and might expect every moment to ftrike." C 2 From 12 LEWESDON HILL. From Portland eaftvvard to the * Promontory, Where ftill St. Alban's high-built chapel ftands. But art nor ftrength avail her : on fhe drives, In ftorm and darknefs to the fatal coaft ; And there 'mong rocks and high-o'erhanging cliffs Dafh'd piteoufly, with all her precious freight Was loft ; by Neptune's wild and foamy jaws Swallow'd up quick ! The richlieft-laden {hip Of fpicy Ternate, or that annual, fent To the Philippines o'er the Southern main From Acapnlco, carrying mafly gold, Were poor to this ; freighted with hopeful Youth, And Beauty, and high Courage undifmay'd By mortal terrors, and paternal Love * ' Not far from this (Encombe) {lands St. Aldenes Chapel : which took name from the dedication to St. Adeline, the firft Bi- fhop of Sherbourne in this (hire : but now it ferves for a fea- mark.' Coker's Survey of Dorfetfh. p. 47. Near the fea is the high land of St. Aldhelms, commonly called St. Albaris, a noted fea-mark. The cliff here is 147 yards per- pendicular. On this promontory, about a mile S. of Worth, ftands a chapel of the fame name.' Hutchins's Dorfetm. Vol. I. p. 228. But this headland is not marked by name in Hutchins's map. ' The very utter part of St.Aldbelms point is five miles from Sandwich (SwanwichJ. Lei. Itin. Vol. III. p. 53. Strong LEWESDON HILL. 13 Strong, and unconquerable even in death Alas, they perifli'd all, all in one hour ! Now yonder high way view, wide-beaten, bare With ceafelefs tread of men and beafts, and track Of many' indenting wheels, c heavy and light, That violently rufh with unfafe fpeed, Or flowly turn, oft-refting, up the fteep. Mark how that road, with mazes ferpentine, From * Shipton's bottom to the lofty down Winds like a path of pleafure, drawn by art Through park or flowery garden for delight. Nor lefs delightful this ; if, while he mounts Not wearied, the free Journeyer will paufe To view the profpedl oft, as oft to fee Beauty ftill changing : yet not fo contrived By fancy' or choice, but of neceffity, By foft gradations of afcent to lead * Shipton is a hill, which, according to common report, is fo called from its fhape : the top of it being formed like a fhip with the keel upwards. It ftands three miles from Bridport on the road towards London -, which road pafles by the foot of it to the North. The 14 LEWESDON HILL. The labouring and way-worn feet along, And make their toil lefs toilfome. Half way up Or nearer to the top, behold a cot, O'er which the branchy trees, thofe fycamores, Wave gently : at their roots a ruftic bench Invites to fliort refrefhment, and to tafte What grateful beverage the houfe may yield After fatigue, or dufty heat ; thence call'd The Traveller s Reft. Welcome, embower'd feat, Friendly repofe to the flow paflenger Afcending, ere he takes his fultry way Along th' interminable road, ftretch'd out Over th' unfhelter'd down ; or when at laft He has that hard and folitary path Meafured by painful fteps. And bleft are they, Who in life's toilfome journey may make paufe After a march of glory : yet not fuch As rife in caufelefs war, troubling the world By their mad quarrel, and in fields of blood. Hail'd vigors, thence renown'd, and call'd on earth Kings, heroes, demi-gods, but in high Heaven Theives, ruffians, murderers ; thefe find no repofe : Thee LEWESDON HILL. 15 Thee rather, patriot Conqueror, to thee Belongs fuch reft; who in the weftern world, Thine own deliver'd country, for thyfelf Haft planted an immortal grove, and there, Upon the glorious mount of Liberty Repoiing, fit'ft beneath the palmy {hade. And Thou, not lefs renown'd in like attempt Of high achievement, though thy virtue fail'd To fave thy little country, Patriot Prince, Hero, Philofopher (what more could they Who wifely chofe Thee, PAOLI, to blefs Thy native Ifle, long ftruggling to be free ? But Heaven allow'd not) yet may 'ft thou repofe After thy glorious toil, fecure of fame Well-earn'd by virtue : while ambitious France, Who ftretch'd her lawlefs hand to feize thine ifle, Enjoys not reft or glory ; with her prey Gorged but not fatisfied, and craving ftill Againft th' intent of Nature. See Her now Upon the adverfe (hore, her Norman coaft, Plying 16 LEWES- DON HILL. * Plying her monftrous labour unreftrain'd ; A rank of caftles in the rough fea funk, With towery fhape and height, and armed heads Uprifing o'er the furge ; and thefe between, Unmeafurable mafs of ponderous rock Projected many a" mile to rear her wall Midft the deep waters. She, the mighty work Still urging, in her arrogant attempt, As with a lordly voice to the Ocean cries, * Hitherto come, no farther; here be ftaid < The raging of thy waves ; within this bound < Be all my haven :' and therewith takes in A fpace of ampleft circuit, wide and deep, Won from the ftraiten'd main : nor lefs in ftrength Than in dimensions ; giant-like in both : On each fide flank'd with citadels and towers ir/j -I And rocky walls, and arches mafly proof Againft the ftorm of war. Compared with this, f Lefs, and lefs hazardous emprize atcheived . '. ' * A detail of this vaft project is given at. the conclufion of this Poem. f Quint. Curt. lib. 4. cap. 2, 3. Refiftlefs LEWESDON HILL. I? Refiftlefs Alexander, when he caft The ftrong foundations of that high-raifed mound Deep in the hoftile waves, his martial way ; Built on before him up to lea-girt Tyre. * Nor aught fo bold, fo vaft, fo wonderful, At Athos or the fetter'd Hellefpont, Imagined in his pride that Allan vain, Xerxes, but ere he turn'd from Salamis Fly 'ing through the blood-red waves in one poor bark, Retarded by thick-weltering carcafles. f Nor yet that elder work (if work it were, Not fable) raifed upon the Phrygian Ihore, (Where lay the fleet confederate againft Troy, A thoufand Ihips behind the vafty mole All Ihelter'd) could with this compare, though built It feem'd, of greatnefs worthy to create Envy in the immortals ; and at laft Not overthrown without th' embattled aid Of angry Neptune. So may He once more Rife from his troubled bed, and fend his waves, -* Juv. Sat. X. v. 173, 1 86. f Horn. II. VII. v. 433, 463. et II. XII. v. i, 33. D Urged i8 LEWESDON HILL. Urged on to fury by contending winds, With horned violence to pufh and whelm This pile, ufurping on his watry reign ! From hoftile flbores returning, glad I look On native fcenes again ; and firft falute Thee, * Burton, and thy lofty cliff, where oft The nightly blaze is kindled ; further feen Than erft was that love-tended crefiet, hung Befide the Hellefpont : yet not like that Inviting to the hofpitable arms Of Beauty' and Youth, but lighted up, the fign Of danger, and of ambufli'd foes to warn The ftealth-approaching Veffel, homeward bound From Havre or the Norman ifles, with freight Of wines and hotter drinks, the trafh of France, Forbidden merchandize. Such fraud to quell Many a light fkiff and well-appointed floop * Burton is a village near the fea, lying S. E. from Lewef- don, and about two miles S. of Shipton-hill beforementioned. The Cliff is among the loftieft of all upon that coaft; and Smugglers often take advantage of its height for the purpofe re- lated in the poem. Lies LEWESDON HILL. 19 Lies hovering near the coaft, or hid behind Some curved promontory, in hope to feize Thefe contraband : vain hope ! on that high fliore Station'd, th' aflbciates of their lawlefs trade Keep watch, and to their fellows off at fea Give the known fignal ; they with fearful hafte Obfervant, put about the fhip, and plunge Into concealing darknels. As a fox, That from the cry of hounds and hunters' din Runs crafty down the wind, and fteals away Forth from his cover, hopeful fo t'elude The not yet following pack, if chance the fhout Of eager or unpraclifed boy betray His meditated flight, back he retires To flicker him in the thick wood : fo thefe Retiring, ply to fouth, and fliun the land Too perilous to approach : and oft at fea Secure (or ever nigh the guarded coaft They venture) to the tracklefs deep they truft Their forfeitable cargo, rundlets fmall, Together link'd upon their cable's length, And to the flielving bottom funk and fixt D 2 By 20 LEWESDON- HILL. By ftony weights ; till happier hour arrive To land it on the vacant beach unrifk'd. But what is yonder f Hill, whofe dufky brow Wears, like a regal diadem, the round Of antient battlements and ramparts high ; And frowns upon the vales ? I know thee not. Thou haft no name, no honourable note, No chronicle of all thy warlike pride, To teftify what once thou wert, how great, How glorious, and how fear'd. So perifh all, -f- ' Eggardoa Hill is a very high hill, and gives name to the Hundred. Mr. Coker fays it is uncertain whether it takes its name from Edgar, King of the Weft Saxons, or from Orgarus, Earl of Cornwall : and indeed this laft derivation is the trueft -, there being little reafon to doubt that it is the old Orgareftone. The camp on the brow of this .hill is a large and ftrong fortifi- cation, and feems to be Roman.' Hutchins's Dorfet. Vol. I. p. 289; where there is an engraving of this camp. But Hutchins has mifreprefented Mr. Coker, who indeed prefers the derivation from Orgar. His words are thefe : e That it takes name from Edgar, the Weft Saxon King, I dare not affirm, having nothing to prove it but the nearnefle of the name. It better likes me to think this the place, which in Doomfday-book is called Orgarefton, teat whether it take name from Orgareus, Earl of Cornwall, I know not 5 though I think I fhould run into no great error to believe it. Coker's Survey of Dorfetfhire, p. 26. Who LEWESDON HILL. 21 Who feek their greatnefs in dominion held Over their fellows, or the pomp of war ; And be as thou forgotten, and their fame Cancell'd like thine ! But thee in after times Reclaim'd to culture, Shepherds vifited, And call'd thee Orgarfton ; fo thee they call'd Of Orgar, Saxon earl, the wealthy fire Of fair Elfrida ; She, whofe happy Bard Has with his gentle witchery fo wrought Upon our fenfe, that we can fee no more Her mad ambition, treacherous cruelty, And purple robes of ftate with royal blood Inhofpitably ftain'd ; but in their place Pure faith, foft manners, filial duty meek, Connubial love, and ftoles of faintly white. Fain would I view thee, Corfcombe, fain would hail The ground where * Hollis lies ; his choice retreat, * ' Mr. Hollis, in order to preferve the memory of thofe he- roes and patriots for whom he had a veneration, as the afTertors and defenders of his country, called many of the farms and fields in his eftate at Corfcombe by their names j and by thefe names they are ftill diftinguimed. In the middle of one of thofe fields, not far from his houfe, he ordered his corps to be depofited in a grave 22 LEWESDON'HILL. Where, from the bufy world withdrawn, he lived To generous Virtue and the holy love Of Liberty, a dedicated fpirit : And left his aflies there ; ftill honouring Thy fields, with title given of patriot names, But more with his untitled fepulchre. That envious ridge conceals thee from my fight ; Which, pafling o'er thy place north-eaft, looks on To Sherburne's ancient towers and rich domains, The noble Digby's manfion ; where he dwells Inviolate, and fearlefs of thy curie, War-glutted * Ofmund, fuperftitious Lord 1 grave ten feet deep ; and that the field mould be immediately plowed over, that no trace of his burial place might remain/ Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, Efq. Vol. I. p. 481. * Of the ftrange Curfe belonging to Shireburne-Caftle. From a MS. of the late Bi(hop of Ely (Bp John More) now in the Royal Library at Cambridge. ' Ofmund a Norman Knight (who had ferved William Duke of Normandy from his youth, in all his wars again (I the French King, and the Duke's (Williams) fubjedls, with much valour and difcre- tion) for all his faithful fervice (when his Matter had by conqueft obteyned the crown of England) was rewarded with many great gifts ; among the which was the Earldome of Dorfett, and the gift of many other PofTeffions, whereof the Caftle and Baronie of Sberburne were parcel!. But Ofmund, in the declyninge of his age, calling to mynde the great effufion of blood, which, from his L E W E S D O N HILL. 23 Who with Heaven's juftice for a bloody life Madeft thy prefumptuous bargain ; giving more his infancie, he had (hedd ; he refolved to leave all worldly delights, and betake himfelf to a religious life, the better to contemplate on his former finnes and to obteyn Pardon for them. And, with much importunitie, having gotten leave of the Kinge (who was unwilling to want the affiftance of fo grave and worthy a Counfeller) to refign his temporall honors ; and having obteyned the Bifhoprick of Sarum, he gave Sberburne with other lands to the Bimoprick. To which gift he annexed this Curfe, That whofoever mould take thofe Lands from the Bifhoprick, or diminifh them in great or in fmall, mould be accurfed, not only in this world, but alfo in the world to come j un- lefs in his life-time he made reftitution thereof. And fo he died Bifhop of Sarum. Thofe lands continued in the poffeffion of his fuccefTors till the reign of King Stephen, who took them away; < whereupon (fays this Account) his profperity forfook him/ King Stephen being dead, ' thefe lands 7 came into the hands of fome of the Mounta- gues (after Erles of Sarum) who whileft they held the fame, un- derwent many difafters. For one or other of them fell by misfor- tune. And finally, all the males of them became extinct, and the Earldome received an end in their name. So ill was their fuccefs. After this the lands were reftored to the Bifhoprick -, but were taken away a fecond time by the Duke of Somerfet, in the reign of Edward VI ; ' when the Duke, being hunting in the Parke of Sberburne, he was fent for prefently unto the Kinge (to whome he was Protector) and at his coming up to London, was forth- with committed unto the Tower, and, ihortly after, loft his head.' The lands then, in a fujt at law, were adjudged to the Bilhop of Sarum ; and fo remained, till Sir Walter Raleigh procured a grant of them ; he afterwards unfortunately loft them, and at laft his head alfo. Upon his attainder they came, by the King's gift, to Prince Henry -, 24 LEWESDON HILL. Than thy juft having to redeem thy guilt, And daredft bid th* Almighty to become The minifter of thy curfe. But fure it fell, So bigots fondly judged, full fure it fell With facred vengeance pointed on the head Of many a bold ufurper : chief on thine (Favourite of Fortune once but laft her thrall) Accomplifh'd * Raleigh ! in that lawlefs day Henry \ who died not long after the pofTeflion thereof. After Prince Henry 's death, the Erie of Somerj'ett (Carr) did poffeffe them. Finally, he loft them, and many other greater fortunes.' Peck's Defid. Cur. Lib. 14. No. 6. * How Dr. John Coldwell, of a Phyfitian became a Bimop I have heard by more than a good many j and I will briefly handle it, and as tenderly as I can ; bearing myfelf equal between the living (Sir Walter Raleigh] and the dead (Bimop Coldwell). Yet the manifeft judgments of God on both of them I may not pafs over with filence. And to fpeak firft of the Knight, who carried off the Spotia opima of the Bimoprick. He, having gotten Sher- borne Caftle, Park, and Parfonage, was in thofe days in fo great favour with the Queen, as I may boldly fay, that with lefs fuit than he was fain to make to her e'er he could perfect this his purchafe, and with lefs money than he beftowed fince in Sher- borne (in building, and buying out leafes, and in drawing the ri- ver through rocks into his garden) he might, very juftly, and without offence of either Church or State, have compaffed a much better purchafe. Alfo, as I have been truly informed, he had a prefage before he firft attempted it, which did foremew it would turn to his ruin, and might have kept him from meddling with it, Si mens non l