i 690 T3GD9 (603 THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES WILLIAM GEORGE'S SONS LTD. BOOKSELLERS 89 PARK STREET, BRISTOL "DA ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION. XT has been remarked (by Mr. Bofvvell, in his Tour to the Hebrides) that, " In every place where there is any thing worthy of ob- iervation, there (hould be a fhort printed Di- rectory for Strangers." For this reafon, and from the frequent enquiries of gentlemen, travelling through this borough, for informa- tion relative to its church, antiquities, &c. the Editor has been induced to compile this little Work. And, as it is more immedi- ately calculated for the convenience of flran- gers, it may be neceffary to obferve, that it is collected not only from a variety of mate- rials found in the bed authors, but from an attentive examination of the church, &c. on the fpot, as well as the beft private informa- tion. And he embraces this opportunity of acknowledging his obligations to thofe gen- 6'\A -\A ft iJ!.UjLo ENGLISH LOCAL tlcmen who have furnifhed him with feveral manufcript copies of ancient records, and the works of many learned authors who have treated on this fubject. The Editor intreats the candour of his readers, and their pardon of errors and de- feels, which, (notwitbflanding every care,) may be found in this publication ; allcdging for his excufe, the want f more authentic records, and the contradictions and chafms, which, in the lapfe of a thoufand years, muft be expected in thofe which are to be ob- tained. PREFACE TO THE. SECOND EDITION. WHEN fuccefs Simulates to new ex- ertions, and gratitude difplays itfelf in a foli- citude to pleafe, the public, it is hoped, will allow that favour has not been mifplaced, or encouragement thrown away. Animated by the recollection of paft ap- probation to attempt farther improvements, the Editor of this little volume has new mo- delled and extended bisfubjecT: matter under almoft every head. With refpecl: to the ad- ditional engravings*, it is prefumed they will be found illuilrative as well as ornamental, and prove acceptable to the generality of his readers. On the whole, he indulges the pleating expectation that the utility of his work will not be folely confined to the place for which * Oftavo edit. pub. in 1798. [ vi ] it was originally intended. What is local is often of general import ; and if he has the fatisfaclion to find, that by this endeavour to illuftrate a fmall part of our national antiqui- ties, he has prompted others of fuperior ta- lents to produce fimilar works, where the field lies open for enquiry and inveftigation, he will think that his labours have not been quite in vain. Indeed that labour cannot be in vain, which has given him an opportunity of fhewing his zeal in favour of a town which has conferred upon him the honour of a pa- tronage, far beyond his humble merits, or even his molt fanguine expectations. Sketch of GloccjlerJIiire. r [I s HOUGH Glocefterfliire has an immediate cora- A munication with the fea, by means of the Se- vern, it is always confidered as an inland county. During the Saxon heptarchy it belonged to the king- dom of Mercia*. It now forms a diocefe of its own name, and is included in the Oxford circuit. It is bounded on the north by Worcefterfliire, on the eaft by Warwickfhire and Oxfordfhire, on the fouth by Wiltfhire and part of Somerfet, and on the weft by * The kingdom of Mercia, the fineft and mod confiderable of all the divifions of the Heptarchy, contained the counties of Huntingdon, Rutland, Lincoln, Northampton, Leicefter, Derby, Nottingham, Oxford, Chefter, Salop, Glocefter, Hereford, Wor- celtcr, Stafford, Warwick, Buckingham, Bedford, and part of Hertford. Its length was 6o miles, and breadth about 100 miles. Derivation from the Saxon HER, fignifying ABOUND. Vlll GLOCESTERSHIRE. the counties of Monmouth and Hereford. It ftretchc from north-eaft to fouth-weft, in length about (X) miles, and in breadth upwards of 40; containing, accord- ing to the moft accurate calculation, 130O fquare miles, or 832,000 acres, divided into 30 hundreds and 280 parilhes. In its whole extent it has one city and 26 market towns; pays 12 parts to the national land-tax, and furnilhes 960 men to the militia. It delegates eight members to parliament ; two for the county, and the fame number for Glocelier, Tewkelbury, and Cirencefter. v The general fertility and riches of Glocefterfhire are almoft proverbial ; and its diverfity of foil and fituation render it pidturefque and beautiful. The river Severn divides it into two unequal parts. To the weft of that river, as far as the Wye, (its boundary to- wards Monmouth fliire,) the face of the country is varied with hill and dale, and comprehends the celebrated foreft of Dean, once reckoned the chief fupport of the Englifti navy, and ftill celebrated for its mineral pro- ductions, as well as its fylvan fcenes. Between the Severn and the Cotefwold hills, extends the vale of Tewkefbury, pofieffing a foil the moft fertile and lux- uriant of any in the kingdom. The Cotefwold hills, the eaftern or upland diyifion of this county, are no lefs valuable for their breed of (heep ; and were once famous for the games that ufed to be annually celebrated in the vicinity of Camden, during Whitfun week. High Cotefwold alfo 'mong the fliepherd fwains Is oft' icmember'd, tho' the greedy plough Preys on its carpet. BYE&'S rtrio. fcLOCESTERSHIRE. IX 'Such are fhe three natural divifions of this county j 'the foreft, the vale, and the upland. Each porlefles it* peculiar and appropriate beauties and advantages, and taken collectively, render Glocefterihire as defirable as it is diitinguillied. The ftaple manufactures of this county, are its woollen cloth and cheefe. Though the firft is lefs ex- tenfively carried on than formerly, on account of the rivalry it meets with in Yorklhirej the beauty of the fabric has never been excelled ; and the clothing towns of Stroud, Wotton-under-Edge, Painfwick, Durfley, &c. with the neighbouring villages, difplay a iingular degree of opulence and aclivity. The Glocefterfhire cheefe ftill maintains a diftin- gaifhed reputation. That of Berkeley hundred, or the double Glocefter, as it is called, for richnels and flavor, is juftly celebrated. Betides thefe two principal articles of native and ar- tificial produce, the forefts of Dean and Kingfwood abound in mines of iron and coal, which furnim em- pJoyment for a number of hands, and increafe the ge- neral wealth of the nation. Nor muft we forget to particularize the excellent cyder which the vale and the foreft produce. Many of the orchards, in favourable years, are not lefs valu- able than the vineyards of trance and Spain. The ftyre apple, almoft peculiar to the weftern banks of the GLOCESTERSHIRE. Severn, yields a liquor fo potent and delicious, that it may be named the Englifh champaign. The bacon too of this county is in high eftimation, and forms no inconfiderable article of its domeftic com- merce. The falmon of the Severn and the Wye are alib plentiful and choice, and are conveyed to the me- tropolis in great quantities. In a particular defcription of Glocefterfhire, many other branches of manufacture or native produce, would deferve notice ; but a general furvey is all that can be expected here. Near the conflux of the Severn and the Warwick - fhire Avon, ftands TEWKESBURY. As this antient town forms the iubject of the prelent volume, we fhall only obferve, in this place, that it will ever be tliftin- guiftied for its church, its monaflry, and the decifive battle, fought in 14/1, which reduced the Lancaftriani to fubmiffion, and forced them to bend to Edw. IV. Purfuing the courfe of the Severn, we come to GLOCESTER, the capital of the county. This city, in point of antiquity, may vie with any in the kingdom. It confifts of four principal ftreets, which meet at right angles, the central point being the moft elevated ground ; from which circumftance the view has a charming effect. Modern improvements have greatly heightened the beauty of this city. A pin manu- factory employs a great number of hands ; and when the amazing canal, now executing to this place, i GLOCESTERSHIRE. XI finifhed, Glocefter is likely to poflefs a confiderable ihare of foreign trade ; and, by leffening the expenfe of land carriage, will add to the benefit of the inland counties, while it enriches itfelf. The bafon now forming here is faid to be capable of containing from 100 to 150 veflels. The dangerous navigation of the Severn, for fome miles below Glo- cefler, has hitherto been a great bar to fhipping; but this difficulty will be obviated by the canal, which is of fufficient depth and dimenfions to carry veifels of 200 tons burden, without the impediment of a tingle lock. BRISTOL, the fecond city in England for com- merce and extent, is fituated partly on the Glocefter- ihire and partly on the Somerfetfhire fide of the lower Avon. It is now a county of itfelf, and therefore does not fall under our preient review. The hot wells, however, in its vicinity, belong to Glocefterfhire, and increafe its provincial diftin&ion. Thefe fprings have obtained great reputation for their falutary influence, in one of the moft afflicting maladies to which man- kind are fubjed. In the cure of confumptions they are generally the laft refort, and were they applied to in the earlier flages of this diforder, it is probable their effects would not fo often fail, nor numbers of youth of both fexes be hurried to an untimely grave. While on the fabjecl: of mineral waters, we fliall now advert to CHELTENHAM, about ten miles from Tewkelbury, and the fame diftance from Glocefler. B 2 XU CLOCESTF.RSHIRE. The Tktues of the Cheltenham Spa are fo well known, that they do not tiand in need of our recommendation. In fcorbutic, bilious, and nervous complaints, they are almoft a Ipeciffc; while the beauty of the place, the charms of the fociety, and the elegance of the amule- ments, render this fpot a favourable fummer retreat, not only to invalids, but to the famionable and the gay. Within a few years. Cheltenham has rifen to great and deferved celebrity, and has increafed in magnitude and population beyond moft watering places in the kingdom. CIRENCESTER, the Corimum of antiquity, is ftill a borough town of great eminence, and one of the largeft in this county. Formerly its wool market was very considerable ; but fince the baneful practice of buy- ing up wool, and almoft every article in the country, has increafed, markets of all kinds dwindle away j the poor are robbed, the growers of domeftic produce not bettered, while a few monopolifts fatten on both. Cirencefter is famous, not only for its remains of Ro- man architecture, but alfo for earl Bathurft's extenfive park, which adjoins it. In the fociety of the venerable Allen, earl Bathurft, Pope ipent many happy days at this place j and gave it a diftinclion, which mere rank and opulence could never have conferred. TETBURT is alfo a place of fome confequence. It ftands on the verge of Wiltfhire, in a fertile foil, and a falubrious air. The chief ornament of this town is its fuperb church, which was fome years lince ereded by fubfcription, at an immenfe expenfe, and in the nioft beautiful ftile of Gothic Architecture. GLOUCESTERSHIRE. XtU ftands In the centre of the clothing country, frequently called the Glocefterfhire bottoms^ It is feated on the fide of a imall ilream, vvhich is faid to be peculiarly adapted for the dyeing of fcarlet. On this account, its banks are covered with the feats and manufactories of the clothiers. This rivulet is accom- panied in its progrefs to the Severn by a canal, which, pafling Stroud, connects the Severn with the Ifis ; fb that the junction of thefe two noble ttreams is no longer a poetic vifion. The arched tunnel through Salperton hill is nearly two miles and a half long, and at a level 250 feet below its fummit. Few works of the kind are more ufeful, or have been more expenfive, than this navigation. FAIR FORD is chiefly remarkable for its elegant church, built on purpofe to receive the fine painted glafs, the work of Albert Durer, above three centuries ago. This beautiful and unique collection of painted glafs is arranged in 28 windows, in regular feriesj and in vivid beauty of colouring, chaftity of defign, and eorrectnels of perspective, may vie with the moft cele- brated productions of the pencil. John Tame, a mer- chant in London, and a native of Fairford, had the good fortune to feize this invaluable prize, as it wa tranfporting to Rome; and, to immortalize himfelf, built the church, and adorned it with the above-men- tioned glafs, which is flill in better prefervation than might be expected from the diftance of time, and the revolutions which have taken place. The other towns in this county do not prefent any thing remarkable to the curfory furveyorj we, XtV GLOCESTERSHIRE. therefore, omit to particularize them. BERKELEY CASTLE, however, is a place of fo much note in hiftory, that it ought not to be overlooked in the moft general view of this county. It was formerly dedicated to religion ; but was much diflionoured by the long con- finement and moft inhuman murder of Edward II. To this direful event the prophetic Bard of Gray al- ludes: " The fhrieks of death through Berkeley's roofs that ring, " Shrieks of an agoni/.ing king." CONTENTS. Page Defcriptivc Sketch of Glocefterfnire 7 PART I. Situation, Antiquity, and Derivation of TKWKESBURY 17 Foundation of thr Abbey Hiftorical Account of the Lords of the Manor ... 21 Abbey Church .... 44 Antient Monuments, Infcriptions, <&c. - 49 Modern Monuments and Infcriptions - 55 Topographical Defcription of the Town, Trade and Government 60 Public Strudures : Town Hall 67 Marketplace - . , 6& Houfe of Induftry 68 Free Grammar School . 68 Charity School .... 69 Sunday Schools - 69 Hamlets Mythc and Southwick 70 Rivers furrounding Tewkefbury: The Severn - - 7 2 Avon -79 Carron and Swilgate . - 80 Remarkable and Interefting Incidents - - 81 PART IL. Surrender of the Monaftery to king Hen. VIII. 107 Chronological Series of the Abbots, &c. . 113 CONTENTS. particulars of the Battle of Tewkefbury 117 D:avton's Verfes on the Battle - - 136 Military Tranfaftions in the Reign of Charles I 139 APPENDIX. Some Account of the Walton Water - H LIST OF THE PLATES, fubl'ijled lu'itb the large Octavo Edition of this Work t WHICH MAY BI HAD SEPARATE, Price 2s. a Set. * Tewkcfbury, from Cork's Hill. View of the Old Abbey Gate-houfe. 'Plan of the Town. Abbey Church. Defpcnfer's Monument. Town Hall and Market Place. * This charming view is taken from the delightful little emi^ nence of Cork's Hill, near an alcove creeled by the prefent bifliop of Ely, who has a pleafantly fituated feat in the neighbourhood, " Here you may fit and enjoy to great advantage a very fine view. It commands an extenfive and beautiful profpecl, and a good view of Tewkefbury, which is about a mile diftant. Though the country is not called a very hilly one, yet the ground rifes and falls in fuch a pleafing manner as to give great variety to it. The Severn winds fweetly through the valley, and a number of fmall vefleis continually paffing, arc a very great addition to the beauty of the fccne. A view up the vale of Evelham completes the landfcapet." The drawing of the above was fketched by the mafterly hand of Mr. Samuel Ireland (author of Pifturefquc Views on the War- wickfhire Avon, &c ) who politely prefentcd it to the editor for the prcfcnt hiftory. f Mrs. Morgan in her Tcur to Milford Haven. TEWKESBURY. SITUATION ANTIdUITY ORIGIN AND DEKIVATIOK OF THE NAME, Loft in the mift of years, RefleHon ftrays In fearch of Truth, thro' Fi6Uon's devious wayt. ANON. 1 EWKESBURY lies in the hundred to which it gives name, in the county of Glocefter j about 10 miles from that city, 15 from Worcester, and 103 miles from London j in the dired road from Briftol to Birmingham. It is pleafantly fituated in a moft delightful and fertile vale, which affords luxuriant crops of grain and fruits, as well as rich pafturage for cattle and fheep. Like another Eden it is watered by four rivers : the Severn and the Avon, at the confluence of which it ftandsj and two fmaller Ilreams the Carron and the Swilgate. This irriguous fituation expofes it to annoyance from great and rapid floods, when the overcharged A [ 18 ] flrenms intermingling, mutually impede each others courfe; but the fertility they diflfufe, and the inter- oourfe they promote by navigation, amply compenfate for this local inconvenience. The Severn and Avon are adapted for veflels of confiderable burden ; while their tributary ftreams, the Carron and the Swilgate, add to the general amenity and fertilization of the fpot. A defire to explore the remote antiquity of places, and to trace the derivation of their names, is fo natural to the mind of man, that conjecture has too frequently been called in to fupply the place of truth, and the vi- fions of ingenious theorifts have been fubftituted for actual demonftration. We have all the partiality for our fubject that can arife from native prediliSion and voluntary labour, and and wifh it were in our power to do it greater juftice. There is a charm in being able to develope myftery, which every hiftorian is anxious to feel, however hum- ble the department he aflumes. In regard to the origin of Tewkeibury however, it is fo remote as to be almoft antecedent to written memorials. Uniform tradition has recorded the name of Theocus, a religious reclufe, who lived about the end of the feventh century, and had a chapel on the banks of the Severn, near this place. Whether a town then exifted where Tewkef- bury now ftands, is unknown ; but in days when de- votees followed thofe who were eminent for religious zeal, and the molt auftere were not indifferent about the admiration of their fellow men; we may reafonably fuppofe that Theocus was not the fingle inhabitant of the fpot. However this may be, whether Theocus was dif- tinguilhed as a religionift, or a warrior, or both, it ap- pears highly probable, that we owe the etymology of [ 19 ] Tewkefbnry to this perfonage. A ftr'iGt attention to original orthography, where it can be alceitained, is furely the heft mode of investigating the derivation of names To this end inscriptions and records, that bear evident marks of antiquity, are more conducive than a thoufand hypothefes. From fuch a fource we are for- tunately able to draw confiderable afliftance. It appears by an antient Saxon infcription. difcovered in the church of Leominfter in Herefordfhire, in 15Q2, (a copy of which is preferved in Weever's Funeral Monuments, p. 584.) that Tewkelbury in the Saxon era was called Deocij-t yjig, that is Theotiibyrg, or Theot-his-byrg. Now that byjig or Byjiij (lat. Urbs) lignifies a fort, caftle, town, or borouch, is evident from Lye's Saxon Diet. Codex Exon. and Somn. Voc. Anglo- Saxonicum ; from whence it appears, that Theotiitmrg means Theot his town, or the town belonging to Theot. This derivation, though it would denote a perfon who poflefled temporal power rather than fpiritual dif- tin&ion, is naturally enough deduced from Theocus j while contending etymologifts lofe themfelves in a la- byrinth of abfurdities by fanciful deductions, which even the great and allowed difference between antient and modern appellations will fcarcely juftify. William of Malmelbury, not fatisfied with verna- cular idioms, attempts to derive Tewkefbury from the Greek word THEOTOCOS, the Mother of God; becaufe the monaftery, which was afterwards built here, was dedicated to the virgin mother ; but we conceive that the town was antecedent to the monaftery, and that the latter obtained its name from the former.* * It has been urged, notwithftanding the probability of the town having derived Hsnavnefrom Thcocut, thatthe monailery was ante- [ 20 J Others will have it that it takes its name from Dodo or Thodo, one of the lords of the manor and founder of the monaftery, obferving that the D and Th are frequently fubftituted for each other in the Saxon language. Hence they infer, that from Thodo comes the Latin derivative Thodocus, and from that Teode- chefberie as in Domefday book ; but this feems to be more particularly in favour of the derivation from Theocus. It has alfo been conjeftured, that Theocus and Dodo or Thodo were one and the fame perfon, and to this opinion their contemporary exiftencc appears to give probability. f Leaving fuch difquifitions, which are more cu- rious than ufeful, we {hall only remark, that the word Bury, however differently written, correfponds with the primitive Saxon termination. And though Old Bury field certainly indicates a place that was the fite or in the vicinity of a camp or fortification,* yet we have no reafon to conclude that there was a military ftation at Tewkefbury, or that the name was in the lead degree dependent on this fpot for its termination. On the contrary, we learn that Old Bury is a name cedcnt to any habitation here. An opinion founded chiefly on the belief, that the fituation of thofe buildings was generally chofenin the moil fequcftercd parts. But we cannot upon the mod mature confideration acquiefce in this opinion, becaufe we believe as well in this inftance as many others, that the building of thofc edifice* was not unfrequently induced by the felicity and convenience of the fituation. t AH ingenious gentleman fuppofes, that the name of Tewkef- bury may be derived from the rank of duke Dodo and his brother and originally called Dukefbury. C 21 ] which has been given to meadows or pieces of inclofed ground belonging to religious houfes, without the moft dirtant intimation of their having ever been applied to military purpofes. f- The name alfo implies the Old Town. Either of which derivations carries a greater degree of probability than the conjectures hazarded, by more general hiftorians. FOUNDATION OF THE ABBEY HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE LORDS OF THE MANOR. ,UITTING the boundlefs field of conjec- ture, we are now arrived at a period and a fubjeft in which we can be guided by the lights of hiftorical evi- dence. The path however is ftill not without afperities and chafms ; but the candid and intelligent will make allowances for difficulties not to be furmounted, and for omiffions which no induftry can fupply, in a nar- rative of tranfa&ions, which embraces the long period of eleven hundred years. In the reigns of Ethelred, Kenred, and Ethelbald, kings of Mercia, there flourifhed in that divifion of the ifland two brothers, Odo and Dodo, no lefs diftin- guiflied for their high rank than for their eminent vir- tues and pious difpofitions. Among other evidences of their zeal for the honour of God, in the year 715 J they i See Williams's Monmouthfhire. J According to Stow in 676 where their palace formerly flood as was fhewn by the following infcription, which, as Camden af- ferts, remained there long after : pSNC . HVUKD R6DIHCD . DODO . DVX . CONSGCRERI rec IT . IN . ecciesiscn. 4 This royal palace duke Dodo caufed to be confccrated for a church* and Odo his brother endowed it. . [ 22 ] founded a monaftery on their own cftate at Tewke f- bury, and dedicated it to I he virgin mother, and en- dowed it with the manor of Stanwayf in Glocetterilnre and other polfeflions, fulficient to maintain a prior and four or five monks, who were of the Benedictin|| order. The founders of this monaflery, which afterwards be- came fo famous, died about the year 725, and were buried at Perfliore. In the year SOO, Hugh, a nobleman of Mercia, being patron of the priory of Tewkefbury, procured Bri6tric, king of the Weft Saxons (who married the daughter of OrTa, a Mercian king) to be buried there, in St. Faith's chapel, where he himlelf in 812 was alfo buried, on the north fide of the body of the church. f Leland fays, " Odo and Dodo gave to Theokefbyri Staneway cum membris, videlicet, Tadmgton, Preftecote et Didcot.'* Thi ettate continued in the abbey of Tewkefbury until the Diffolution; it was then granted by the Crown to William Tracy of Todding- ton, efq. and his defcendants. [| The order of the Berediftins is the mod ancient and the richeft order of the monks, from which many other eminent orders have been derived. St. Benedict was born at Narfi in Italy : he infti- tuted his order at Monte Cafmo in the year 516, and died at that place in 543. There have been of this order, 4 emperors, 12 em- preffes, ^Gkin^s, and <,i queens. ATKY us' Gi-o.p. i. Theform and colour of the habits of thefe monks, it isfaid,were atfirft left to the direction of the abbots, who varied them according to the feafon and climate. But it was afte. wards ordained, that they fhould wear a loofe gown of black fluff, reaching down to. the heels, with a cowl or hood of the fame, and a fcapulary ; under this another habit of the fam e fize, made of white flannel, and boots on their legs, from the coloui of their outward habit, they were ge- nera ly called black monks. Their beds were a mat, fome ftraw, and a pillow. Their covering a blanket and a piece of ferge. G*OSE'S ANT icui TIES. [ 23 ] In the year 980, a nobleman named Haylward Snow, (from his fair complexion) and defcended from king Edward the elder, founded a monaflery on his own eftate at Cranhurne in Dorletflu're, and at that time lubje&ed the priory of Tewkelbury, of which he was patron, to the abbey of Cranburne. Hiftorians give him the character of being valiant and generous in his early years, and in his latter, devout. Of his devotion, according to the ideas of the times, he gave a fufficient proof in his founding a monaftery. Algar his eldeft fon by his wife Algive, fucceeded him in his eftate, who dying, was fucceeded by his *fon Bri&ric. This Brictric being ambaflador at the court of Baldwin earl of Flanders, Maud, the earl's daughter fell violently in love with him ; but being flighted {he afterwards married William the Conqueror; and after the Norman conqueft, rev nge ftill rankling in her breaft for fuch a flight, and the Conqueror being tempted with his large eftate, flie worked Britric s ruin ; who was feized in his manor of Hanley, and fent prifoner to Winchefler, where he died without i(fue, and was there buried. The king afterwards gave Bri6tric's honour of Glocefter to the queen, who held it for her life ; but flie dying in 1083, the king re- tained it in his own hands, the Conqueror dying in 1087, his fon William, furnamed Rufus, (from the colour of his hair) fucceeded him, who fometime after- wards gave Briftric's honour of Glocefter f to Robert * Hiftorians have ftated, that Algar died without iflue, and was fucceeded by his BROTHER Brictric ; but, that Briftric was the fon of Algar, appears by many paffages in the Domefday Book, particularly under the manor of Tewkefbury. + After the conqueror's death, his third fon Henry,' claimed his mother's pofleffions in England, of which king William diffeized C 24 ] FIlz-Hamon, Ion of Hamon Dentatus lord of Corboile in Normandy, as a reward for the many fervices he had performed for his late fatherf. In the year 1 102, the faid Robert Fitz-Hamon, at the inftance of Sybil his wife and Girald the Abbot of Cranburne, rebuilt Tewkefbury church with all the offices*, and endowed it with many large poffeffions, and it being judged that this place exceeded the mo- naftery of Cranburne in fruitfulnefs of foil and plea- fantnefs of fituation, abbot Girald and the monks that year removed to Tewkefbury, leaving only a prior and two monks at Cranburne, to keep up the memory of him, beftowing them on Robert Fitz-Hamon, fon-in-law of Ro. bert dc Montgomery earl of Shrewfbury ; whereby Henry (after- wards Hen. I. of England) was reduced during his brother's reign to a very narrow fubfiftence in Normandy. + Robert Fitz-Hamon, in Jogi, made a defccnt into South- Wales, flew Rhys ap Tewdwr the laft prince thereof, and con. quered Glamorganmire, His ftyle in his charters runs thus : " Sir Robert Fitz-Hamon, by the grace of God, prince of '* Glamorgan, earl of Corboile, baron of Thorigny and Gtan- " ville, lord of Glocefter, Briftol, Tewkefbury and Caidiff, " conqueror of Wales, near kinfmanof the king, and general of * his highneffes army in France," J The monaftery of Tewkelbury being almoft ruined by age and the fury of the wars, was, in 1102, rebuilt, or rather reftored and enlarged by Robert Fitz-Hamon, pioufly defigning to make what IatisfaHonhewasable,for the lofs the church of Bajeux in Normandy fuftained, which Henry I.confumed with fire to free him from prjfon, butaftc rwards repenting of the faft, rebuilt it. *' It cannot," fays William of Malmefbury, " be eafily re. " ported how highly Robert Fitz-Hamon exalted this monaf. tery, wherein the beauty of the buildings ravifhed the eies, and ' the charity of the monk* allured the hearts of fuch folk as " ufed to come thither," [ 25 ] the founder of that place ; changed the abbey of Cran- burne into a priory, and fubjedted it for the future to the abbey of Tewkeibury. About this period it ap- pears probable, that Tewkeibury began to ailume feme confequence as a town. In the re-taking of Falaize in Normandy, Fitz- Hamon was ftruck on the temple, which deprived him of his fenfes, and dying loon after, (March 1107,) he was brought over and buried in the chapter-houfe of Tewkelbury; but his bones, in 1241, were removed by Robert (the third abbot of that name) into the church, and interred between two Pillars, in a plain tomb above ground, on the right-hand of the chancel. Afterwards Thomas Parker, the eighteenth abbot, in 13Q7, caufed the chapel of carved ftone, that how is, to be erected over him, and appointed a mafs for the dead to be celebrated every day in memory of this fe- cond founder and his wife. Robert Fitz-Hamon left hlue by his wife Sybil, four daughters, Mabel, Ha- wife, Cecile, and Amice. King Henry the firft, after the death of Robert Fitz-Hamon, being unwilling fo great an eftate as the honour of Gloucefter ihould be divided amongft fe- males, made Hawife, abbefs of Winchefter, Cecile, ab- befs of Shaftfbury, married Amice to the earl of Brit- taine, and Mabel to his baftard fon Robert, whom he created conful and earl of Gloucefter,* This earl, * The following very curious account of King Henry's courting the lady for his fon, who at firft refufed him from his want ot a title, is given us by Robeit of Gloucefter in the following lines : " Sir, fhee faide, ich wotc your herte upon me is, More for myne Heritage, than for myfelfc I wis : B [ 26 ] every funday in the year, had the abbot of Tewkrs- burv and twelve of the monks to dine with him. He And fuch lierilage as ich have, hit weer to mcc greet fhaine To take a lorde, hut he had any furname : Damofeill, quoth the kyng, thou feed well in this cafe, Sir Robert Fit/,-Hayine thi fader s name was : As fayre a name he thall have, as you mav lee, Sir Robert Ic Fitz-Roy fhall his name be : Damofeill, he fay'd, thi lorde fhall have a name For him and for hisheiies fayre without blame; For Robert eric of Gloucefter his name fhall be and is Hee (hall be erleof Gloucefter, and his heires I wis Line this forme, quoth fhec, ich wole that all my thyng be his." Robert, natural fon of Henry I. was born of Nell, the daughter of Rhys ap Tcwdwr, prince of South Wales. All writers agree in giving this young nobleman a mod exec lent character ;-" who had no inconfiderable ttnflure of learning, and " was the patron of all thofe who excelled in it : qualities rare " at all times in a noblernan of his high rank, but particularly fo in " an age when knowledge and valour were thought incompatible, " and not to be able to read was a mark of nobility." LYTT. HIST. HEN. II. vol. i. p 281% Again, " He was unqutilionably the " wifeft man of thofe times; and his virtue was fuch, that even " thofe times could not corrupt it. If, when the nation was grown "equally tired of Matilda and of Stephen, he had afpired to ob. " tain the Crown for himfelf, he might very polfibly have gained it ' from both : but he thought it lefx glorious to be a king, than to " preferve his fidelity and honour inviolate. He fecms to have " acted only fiom the purcft and noblelt principles of juftice and <; dutv, without pride, without paffion, without any private views, * 01 felfifh ambition : and to this, admirable temper of mind he "joined all the addrefs and cxtcnfivc abilities, that are particu- " bily necrflVy for the head of a pa"ity. w'io rniift conncft an fecond hufband of lady Defpenler, with his figure re- cumbent, in armour, with this beating : on the right three piles en point, and on the left, three lozenges ; tin; piles being the arms of the Obrien's. and the lozenges of the Montacutes. Near the above, and almoft oppofite the chapel called faint Edmund's the martyr, under a monument of arched work, is the figure of an emaciated monk, lying on a fhroud. This monument is covered with a large profuiion of rich Gothic ornaments, and is faid to have been creeled by John Wich, alias "VVakeman, the latl abbot of Tewkelbury, and the iirft bilhop of Glo- cetfer. C 52 ] In the fame aiile, in a little chapel near that of the Holy Trinity, lies, as it is faid, Robert Fortington, 12th :ihbot of this place, who died in 1253. Over it are thefe arms carved in ftone, A chevron bttween tbree ef- callops, over all a palmer sjiaff in pale. Willis fays, " under this arch are the effigies of a man lying in full proportion, which is faid to have been for Robert Fortingtou, abbat of this place, "-.-but no figure is now exifting, though it is probable there was one. Nearly oppofite to the above, is an ancient altar- monument of grey marble, on the top of which is a crofs carved; and round the verge, which was inlaid with brafs, is this infcription : lOpENNSS. 3BB3S. pVIVS. LOCI. JOHN, ABBOT OF THIS PLACE. In the fouth wall near the veftry door, is the tomb of Alan, one of the abbots of this monaftery. On the weft end is infcribcd " Alanus Domiaus Abbas." On the other fide of the fame door, is another tomb or monument of an abbot ; but there is no infcrip- tion to inform us who lie was, or when he prefided. This monument is richly beautified with carved wrok. On the fouth fide of the church, under an arch, is n monument, which we apprehend has been erroneoufly taken for a tomb in memory of the duke of Somerfet, who was beheaded after the battle of Tewkefbury, in 1471 ; as its bearings are evidently the arms of the Clares, earls of Gloceller, fome one of which, it is pro- cable, was interred below. [ 53 ] Dire&ly oppofite, on the north fide, under an arch, is the effigy of lord Wenlock ( who was killed by the dnke of Somerfet, in the battle of Tewkefbury) reclin- ing on a tomb ; bearing on the fliield, a chevron between three blackmoor'i beads, Leland tells us that his body was removed to foms other place : he is faid to have been gentleman of the horfe to the prince of Wales. Under the tower, is a brafs plate, to perpetuate the memory of the unfortunate Edward, prince of Wales (only fon of king Henry VI.) who was murdered after the battle of Tewkelbury, by the adherents of king Edward IV, It is uncertain where this prince was in- terred ; but hiftory informs us that his body was thrown into a hole in common with the other victims of the battle, who were buried in the abbey. The following infcription is taken from a brafs plate on a flone in the body of the church : In hoc Tumulo fepulta jacet Amia uxor Johannis Wiatt Tewkcs- burienfis Generofi qua; fpiritum exhalavit xxv Augus Ao. Dni. In cujus obitum verficulos perlegito fubfequentes. A : A me difce mori, mors eft fors omnibus una ; M : Mortis et efca fui mortis et cfca fores. I : In terram ex terra terreftiis mafia meabis ; E : Et capiet cineresurna parata cinis. V : Vivere vis cjelo terrenam tcmnito vitam ; V : Vita pijs mors eft, mors mihi vita pis, ] : Jeiuncs vigiles, ores, credafq. potcnti, A : Ardua Fac i non efl mollis ad Aitra via, T : Te fcriptura vocat, te icnno ecclefia mater; T : Teq. vocat fponfus fpiritus atque pater. Thus Literally Translated : In this tomb lies buried Amie, the wife of John Wistt, of Tewkelbury, gentleman, who breathed out her fpirit, the a^ih of Augult - . (the year effaced). Upon whofc dcceafc read the following Veifes* [ 54 J From me learn to die. Death is the common lot of all. Death's prey I have been, the prey of Death thou wilt be; To earth, from earth f an earthly mafs thou mull return ; And thy afhes the afhy urn fhall receive. Wouldft thou live in heaven, defpife the life of earth. Life to the pious is Death. A pious death is life to me. Faft, watch, pray, believe in the omnipotent. Arduous 'tis true; but the way to heaven is not eafy. The fcriptnre, the word, the church call tbee; The bride, the fpirit, and the Father invite thee. In the body of the church, between two pillars, is an old ftone, as under: DYSVX : D3 w r 3 Q -i 3 In Englifh, Leger de Paw Hcs here : God on his Sou! have mercy. C 55 ] In the aiflc furrounding the chancel, and juft be- hind the altar, is the chapel of faint Edmund the Mar- tyr. The legend, reporting his being (hot with arrows, beheaded, and a wolf defending his head from other bealls, it is laid was formerly defcribed in fret-work on the top of the chapel ; but no traces of it remain. An ancient Monument, tzo. * 2. Gules, on a crofsflory, argent pierced, twelve efcaHofts, three on each extremity palewajs fable, for Humphreys. D'Avcaant Hankias Efq. Obit 6th Oft, 1782, /Etatis 54 Arms, Gules, tivo dcmi lions pajjant guardant, Or. Here lyeth the body of Edward Hatch Gent, who de- parted this Life the gth day of January 1667. The noble parts of him who here doth lye In Law and Learning and of Policie And with all virtues which from heaven are fent Doe well deferve a Golden Monument Oh cruell death could nothing thee afuagc To fparc with us the Darling of our age. Ecce Vcnio cito. i On a brafs plate in the church. 1. llree lozenges conjoined infefs, on that in tie centre a, martlet for difference. 2. As Roberts. Elianor Freeman.. A Virgin blofom in her May Of Youth and Venues, turn'd to clay; * Robert and Thomas De Hankins, fons of Frederic De Han- kins of Mayon Cafllc in Xormandy, came over with dukf Wil- lum, Anno 1066, who, for their noble Cervices done in that, and other warlike aftions, were honoured and rewarded. Robert he knighted and made governor of his Caftle of Cailifle in Cumber- land, a place of ^reat truft, and gave Thomas an ellatc near White- haven, in the fame county, and alfo this coat of irms, to them and then pollerity, to bear in memory of the fame forever. F [ 58 ] Rich Earth! accomplifht with thofe graces That aciorne Saints for Heavenly places! Let not Death boa It his conquering power; Shce'le rife a Staire, that fell a flower; dfceafrd May the 2 a fubfcription was fet onf foot by the in- habitants of this town, towards the reparation of the Stanway road, which fubfcription amounted to 317], and 6d. In addition to this fum, John Martin, efq. of Ham Court, fubfcribed 1001. and James Martin, efq. 5001. At the general eleclion, on Monday, September 11, 1/80, fir William Codrington, and James Martin, efq were re-ele&ed reprefentatives for the borough, without oppofition. The winter of 1784 was very fevere. It began fnowing on Chriftmas day, 1783, and continued fnow- ing and freezing, with little intermiflion, 'till the be- ginning of April. Notwithstanding which, there were great crops of hay and corn the next harvefl, and the greateft fruit feafon known for mnny years ; yet provi- fions of all kinds, except vegetables, bore very great prices. L2 JOO ] On the 6th of April, the fame year, fir William Codrington, and James Martin, efq. v. ere agaiu elected to ferve this borough in- parliament. In 1/87, the town, at a very heavy expence, was paved and lighted. 1788. Oit Wednefctay morning, the Kith of July, our gracious fovereign, George III. the queen, the princefies Royal, Augufta, and Elizabeth, attended by lady vifcountefs Weymouth, lord Courtown. and the honourable colonel Digby, honoured this ancient bo- rough with a vifit. The king, and his attendants, on horfeback ; the queen, princetfes, and lady Weymonth, in coaches. They were received with the moft joyful acclamations ; and every poflible demonltration of loy- alty was {hewn on the occalion. The condefceiv ling- behaviour of their maj cities, when parting through the town, at once commanded the refpecl, and captivated the hearts, of the admiring fpeftators. The firlt place their majefties alighted to view was the Mythe Tute, that cfelightful little eminence fituated on the Mythe hill (See My the Hamkt, p. ~0). Upon their return through the town, they alighted to view that facred and venerable pile of Gothic architecture, the abbey church. The concourfe of people afiembled was very great} all anxious to behold their illuftrious king, and his amiable confort. After having feen every thing worthy of obfervation, his majefty exprefled great fatis- fa&ion, mounted his horfe, and left this place amidft the reiterated plaudits of the multitude, (grateful for the honour conferred on them by a royal vifit) and re-, turned, with the queen and princefles, to Cheltenham to dinner, where they refided for the benefit of his ma- }cfty"s health. In the evening the town was generally C ror I and brilliantly illuminated, without the leaft diforder or irregularity, all \vas harmony and joy, and each indi- vidual teemed defirous to rival the other in acts of refpect and gratitude. On Saturday the 26th, their majefties pafled and repaflVd through this town, in their way to and from the feat of the earl of Coventry, at Croome ; upon, which occafion the inhabitants gave every proof of their loyalty and attachment to their fovereign. A grand triumphal arch was creeled acrofs the ftreet, at the then Poft Office, adorned and decorated with flowers, bays, and other evergreens, and with flags fireaming. On the top of the arch hi- majefty s arms were placed, and beneath was the following infciiption : " King George ! before his acceffion to the Throne, was Baron of Tcwkeibury." " May the illuftrious houfe of Hanover floujifh to the lateft pofteiity." A band of mufic was placed on an eminence near the arch, who, as their majefties paffed, played, God/awe the King, &c. and every other means wereufed totef- lify the plealure received on this occafion*. The Chriftmas of ] /88, was memorable for a very- hard and fevere froft, accompanied with an extreme cold air. It began on the evening of the 23d of No- vember, and continued without any efte&ual thaw * Tewkefbury had the honour of feveral other vifits from the Royal Party, during their ftay at Cheltenham: but as no parti- cular circumftance marked thofc excursions, the Editor pre. fumes it might be thought trivial to give the cays on which that honour was conferred. c 102 r until the 21ft of January, 1/Sg (being eight weeks and three days), when the bridges of Worcefier and T r pron were cleared of the ice, fo that the river Severn, which had been frozen from the 12-th of December to this time (being five weeks and four days) became again navigable, a nd'feveral barges, laden with coals, came in here, to the relief of the diftrefTed poor, and joy of the inhabitants in general. The hardships of the poor people in this fevere leafon, were extreme; but, to the everlafting honour of the ladies and gentlemen of this town and neighbourhood, be it recorded, that they did every thing in their power to alleviate the diftreifes of their fellow-creatures, in caufing coals and bread to be diftributed among them. Jarnes Martin, efq one of the reprefentatives, fent 10O guineas for the fame purpofe, On the 22d of June, 1789, the rivers Severn and Avon overflowed their banks, and continued rifing 'till the 27th. Great quantities of hay were loft or fpoiled, and the damage done to the farmers and others in and near this place, was very eonliderable. The roads leading from the town were all under water, and boats were employed on the long-rbridge for the more ready conveyance of foot paflengers. 1790. On Friday the 18th of June, fir William Codrington and James Martin, efq. from the faithful difcharge of the tfuft repofed in them, were again re- ele&ed to ferve this borough in parliament. On the llth of March, 1702, died fir William Codrington, fix fucceflive Parliaments member for Tewkefbury. He was iucceeded by his nephew, Wil- liam DowdeiwclL efq. r[ W3 3 .1792. On Thurfday morning the lth. of April, occafioned by a great fall of rain, the rivers werefwolu to an amazing degree, overflowing all the low grounds, by which much damage was futtained. The water rofe to the afloniibing height of fifteen feet perpendicular Ln twenty-four hours: a rife fo rapid in the Severn and Avon, could not be remembered by the oldeft man living. This year an at of parliament was obtained for the better relief and employment of the poor. 1793. The floodgate pit at the quay -emptied. 1794. A very fevere froft commenced on the 23d of December, and continued with little intermilTion till the 7th of February following. A fudden thaw- took place on the Sth, which occafioned a greater in- undation than had been known ,for many years, and did very great damage to the roads and bridges. At the height of the flood the water rofe to within a few inches of the memorable inundation of 17/0. During this inclement feafon, the benevolence of the inhabitants was very liberally exerted in behalf of the poor houfe- keepers. In May 1/96, James Martin and William Dowdef- well, efqrs. were returned members for this borough. The election was contefted by Peter Moore and Philip Francis, efqrs. who infifled, amongft. other things, that no honorary freeman hnd right to vote, and that by the conftrudion of the charter, the inhabitants at large had that right; but upon thefe being re;ecl:ed by the re- turning officers, a petition was prefented to the Houfe of Commons againft the return ; and in confequence a [ 104 fele5t committee was appointed to determine the merits of the petition. The ftatement given in by the Petitioners wa i' 1 confeqnence of the appoint- ment of Colonel Dowdefwell to the government of the Bahama iflands, his feat in parliament for this borough was vacated ; andChriftopherCodrington, Peter Moore, and George Toilet, efqrs. were candidates to fucceed him. Mr Codrington was elected by a very confidera- ble majority; but a rumour having prevailed, that Ire had been previoufly appointed one of the bailiffs of the borough, Mr. Moore, on the ground of that report, again prelented a petition to the Houfe of Commons, complaining of an undue election. '[ 105 ] This petition came on to be heard before a com- mittee, appointed for that purpofe, in the month of May following; when, it appearing, on the examination of Mr. Moore's own evidence, that there was not the leaft foundation for fuch petition, his counfel, on the fecond day, declined proceeding any farther, when the com- mittee refolved that Mr. Codrington was duly elected, and that the petition was frivolous and vexatious. By the former determination, the right of election for the borough is finally fettled. Mr. Moore petitioned againft the determination ia refpec\ to the right of election, under the Stat. of 28 Geo. III. c 52, but withdrew his petition. M HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF TEWKESBURY. PART II. SURRENDEH OF THE MONASTERY OF TEWKESBURY TO KING HENRY VIII. T JL HE caufes which led to the dilToludon of the religious houfes in this kingdom, are too well known to require any elucidation ; but the particulars of the furrender of the Abbey of Tewkelbury are fo in- timately connected with the fubjeft of our little volume, that they cannot fail to be interefting. It was the laft of the monaftic eftablilhments in the county of Glou- cefter that yielded to the irrefiftible power of king Henry VIII. and the abbot appears to have gained a mitre by his obedience. The furrender was made under the convent feal, by John "VVich, alias Wakeman, the abbot, with fifteen of his monks, the ninth day of January, 153p, and in M2 [ 108 J the tbirty-firft year of that king's rdgn ; to Robert Southwell, efcj. William Petre, Edward Kairn, and John London, doctors of law; John ap Price, John Kingfman, Richard Paulett, and William Bernars, cfqrs. commiflioners, afligned by his faid majefiy to take the furreader of divers- raonafteries, by force of his majefty's commiflion to them, or any fix, rive, four, or three of them in that behalf directed, and dated at Weftminfter, the feventh of November, in the faid thirty-rirftyearofhis reign; as well of thofemonafteries- by his majefty appointed to be altered, as of thofe to be dhTolved, according to the tenor and effect of his ma- jefty's commiflion, with inftrudions to them likewife delivered, as by certificate under the above-namad commiffioners appears. The introduction to which furrender was in form following : " To all Qbriflian People to lubom tbefe prefents JIM " come, We tie abbot, &c. and brothers of tbefaid monaf- " tery,J end greeting. Know ye, that u>e, upon full conji- " deration, certain knowledge, and mer motion, and, for " divers caufcs jujl and reasonable, moving our fouls and " confciences, bave freely and voluntarily given and " granted to our lord ibe king, &c." The clear yearly value of all the pofleflions belong- ing to the laid late monaftery, as well fpiritual as tem- poral, befides 1361. 8s. Id. granted in fees and annuities to feveral perfons by letters patent, under the convent fenl for their lives, was 15Q5L 17s. 6d. The penfions afligned by the commiflioners to the abbot and other members of that ruonaftery were as follow : r 1-09 i . s. di To John Wich, alias Wakeman, the late abbot 266 13 4' To John Beoly, late prior there 16 O O To John Bromefgrove, late prior at Dcer- hurft 13 6 8 To Robert Circefter, late prior of St. James, Briftol 13 6' 8 To William Didcot, the late prior of Cranburne 1O O O To Robert Cheltenham, B. B: 10 O To two monks, 81 each 16 O To one monk - / O To twenty-feven monks, each 61. 13s. 4d 180 O . 532 6 8 Remains clear, . 10(53 10 10 The keys of the treasury were delivered to Rich. Paulett, receiver; buttlie records and evidences belong- ing to the monaftery, which were depofi ted therein, and the houfes and buildings affigned to remain undefaced, were committed to the cuftody and care of John "Whittington, knight. A particular of which houfes and buildings fo pteferved, is as under-mentioned : The lodging, called Newark, leading from the gate to the late abbot's lodging, with the buttery, pantry, cellar, kitchen, larder, and paftry thereto adjoining; the late abbot's lodging; the hoftrey; the great gate entering into the court, with the lodging over the fame ; the abbot's ftable, bake-honie, brew-houfe, and flangh- [ no 1 , ter-houfe ; the almary, barn *, dairy-houfe ; the great barn next Avon; the malt houfe, with the garners in the fame} the ox-houfe in the barton gate, and the lodging over the fame. The buildings deemed to be fuperftitious and fu- perfluous, and fit to be deftroyed, were alfo committed to the faid John Whittington, knight, and were a- follow: The church fi with the chapels, cloifter, cfrapter- houfe, the two dormitories; the infirmary, with cha- pels and lodgings within the fame ; the work-houfe, with another houfe adjoining to the fame; the convent kitchen ; the library ; the miferieord ; the old hoftrey ; the chambers, lodgings ; the new hall ; the old parlour adjoining to the abbot's lodging; the cellarer's or but- ler's lodging ; the poultry houfe; the garner; the al- inary, and all other houles and lodgings not before referved. The following account contains all the different materials belonging to the lute monafiery, and which were feized by the commiffioners for his majefty's ufe: The leads remaining upon the choir, iiles, and cKapels annexed; the cloifter, chapter-houfe, frater, St. Michael's chapel, halls, infirmary, and gate-houfe, were efteemed to be 180 fodder. * The remains of this barn are ftill vifible. i Fortunately, however, the church, with its appendages, was pieferved, and made parochial. [ 111 ] The bells remaining in the fteeple were eight poize by eftimation 14600 \vt. The jewels re ferved for his majefty's ufe were, Two mitres gilt, garniflied with rugged pearl, and counterfeit ftones. .The filver plate referved for his rnajefty's ufe was, Silver gilt 329 2. .Parcel of ditto 605 .Plain filver 497 Total of oz. 1431 The ornaments referved for his majefty's ufe were, One cope of filver tiffue, with one chelible and tunicle of the fame 5 one cope of gold tiflue, with one chefible and two tunicles of the fame. The ornaments, goods, and chattels belonging to the laid late monaftery, were fold by the faid commif- (ioners, as in a book of fales thereof made appears, for the fum of 194!. 8s. Od. To money given to thirty-eight religious perfons of the faid monaftery 80 13 4 To one hundred and forty-four fer- vants of the faid late monaftery, for their wages and liveries 75 10 Paid the debts of the faid monaftery 18 12 O -.174 15 4 Remains clear, . 19 12 8 [ m ] NOTE, For a particular account of the Innds and poflettions belonging to the late monattery of Tewkef- bury, vide A Record in the Augmtnta.tion-OjJice, dated 33 H. VIII. proved in the cj.nf<: iVnggan and Aubrey, A general account of the Ecclefiaftical Livings in the gift of the Monaltery of Tewkelbury : Parfonages. Vicarages. Glocefterfhire ... ....... 4 ........ 10 Worceftcrfhire .......... 2 ........ 2 Warwicklhire .......... 2 ........ O Wiltftiire and Briftol .... 5 ........ 3 Oxfordfliire ............ 1 ........ 2 Somerfetfhire .......... 3 ........ O Devonihire ............ ........ 1 Cornwall .............. O ........ 2 'Glamorgan ............ ........ 5 Dorfetiliire ............ 4 ........ 2 21 27 The Arras of Tewkefbury Abbey were, Gules ivltbin a border argent, a crofs ra^u.1- Or. Thus they are blazoned in Willis's Seals of Parliamentary Abbeys, and engraven in Tanner's Notilia Monaflica, and in Reyner's Hift. Benedict. ; but in the chancel win- dow, and on the organ, they are fimply GuleSj a crofs raguk Or. <;HHOKOLOGICAL SERIES OF THE ABBOTS OF TEWKESBURY. I. >.T is ftill a difputed point, whether this Ab- bey was ftridly peeral or not. Fuller, in his Church Hiitory, feeins to doubt if the abbot had a voice in par- liament, while Bifhop Godwin, in his Annals, allows that he had a feat. Sir Robert Atkyns informs us, that the abbot of Tewkelbury was fummoned to parliament in the reigns of Hen. Ill Edw. I. and II. ; though the Abbey, he fays, was not peeral. However, it is certain that the laft abbot fat among the number of mitred or parliamentary abbots. Hence we may infer, that if they had not a prefcriptive right to a feat, they fre- quently enjoyed it by fummons. Their names and the dates of their admifilon, are as follow : 1104. GIRALD was appointed the firft abbot, by the founder He had previoufly been abbot of Cran- burne. *He refigned his abbacy in 110Q, and returned * ' Girald, the chaplain of Hugh earl of Chefter, when he came to Guenta, took upon him the order of a monk in the ancient monaflery of St. Peter in that place; feme time after- wards he was canonical!)' promoted to the government of the church of Tewki fbury, whereof he was the fit ft Abbat, Samp- fon being then Bp. of VVorder. Robert Fitz.Hamon had built there a ftately monaftery toSt.Mary, near the Severn, and had endowed it with great riches, in the reign of William the Second, king of England." f.CCLF.5, HIST. ORDER1C VITAtlS, p. 6oO, N [ 11-1 ] to \Vinchefter, where he had been formerly a monk. "Whereupon, the year following 1110. ROBF.HT was made abbot. He died in 1124, and was fucceeded by 1124. BENEDICT, who dying in H3/, was fuc- ceeded by 1137. ROGER, fometimes called Robert. He died in llO'l, whereupon ll>2. FROMUND was made abbot. He died in 1178. In his time the church of Tewkelbury \\as burnt. At this place appears a large vacancy, for 1182. ROBERT, the next abbot, did not receive the benediction, 'till fome time in Sept. 1182. He died the next year. Whereupon here feems another vacan- cy, for it appears that 1187. ALAN*, prior of Canterbury, received not the benediction 'till the year 1187. Upon his deceafe, which happened in 1202, 1202. WALTER was made abbot. Who dying in 1213, was fucceeded by 1213. HUGH, prior of this place. He died in 1214, and was fucceeded by 1215. BERNARD, a monk of this place; but his election not being approved, he was fucceeded by * It appears from an old Book, in which is an account of the Gentlemen of Eminency in this County, that Alan of Tcwkef- bury, was a man of grcit learning, and one of the four authors who wrote the life of Thomas Bcckct, with his paflion and mira- cles, to promote his canonization. 1216. PETER, a monk of Worcefter, in 1210". He died in 1232, and had for his fucceflbr 1232. ROBERT FOKTINGTON, prior of this place. He died in 1253, and was fucceeded by 1253. THOMAS STOKE, who died in 12/5. His fucceflbr was 1276. RICHARD DE NORTON. He died in 1282, and was fucceeded by 1282. THOMAS KEMSEY. Upon whofe deceafe in 1328, 1328. JOHN COTES was made abbot. He died in 1347, and his fuccellbr was 1347. THOMAS DE LEGH; who died in 136l,and was fucceeded by 13G2. THOMAS CHFSTERTONJ who dying in 1389, had for his iucceflbr 13()O. THOMAS PARKER, who was a great bene- faftor to this monaftcry. Among other pious works he built a curious none chapel over the founder's grave, and appointed a daily mats to be faid for his and his wife's fouls. He died in 1412, and was fucceeded by 1414. WILLIAM BKISTOW. He died in 1442, and was fucceeded by 1443. JOHN ABINGDON; whofe fucceflbr was 1468. JOHN DF. SALYS. When he died is uncer- tain, but his fucceflbr was JOHN STRENSHAM.. In his time, it is fup- pofed by fome, the Abbey was made parliamentary. He died in 1481, and was fucceeded by N 2 L 116 ] 1491. RICHARD CHELTENHAM} who died in 1509 He was fucceedcd the fame year by 1509. HENRY BEOLY. It does not appear when he died, but his fuccefibr is faid to be 1531. JOHN Wren*, alias WAKKMAM, . the laft abbot of this monnftery, and the lirff bifhop of GloceC- ter+. He was conlecrated to that fee, Sept. 20, 1541. The following manor places belonged to the abbot* of Tewkelbury. Stanway, which was re-edified and enlarged by abbot Cheltenham. Forthampton, on the right bank of the Severn, about a mile below Tewkelbury. And, Tewkefbury Park manor place, {landing on the left bank of the Severn-. * By other accounts John Walker fucceeded Henry Bcoly, and died in 15.3!) and was buried in this monaflery under a mar- ble ftone with his coat of arms, and that he was fucceeded the fame year by John Wich, alias Wakcinan. This is confirmed by a manufcript in ihe Herald's Office. f John Wich, alias Wakeman, died about the beginning of November 1549, having i" his life-time erefted a tomb for his place of burial, in Tewkefbury church, in the north fide of a lit- tle chapel behind the high allar. But Godwin fays, he was buiied at Worthington (meaning Wormington inGloucefterfhire) though Wood rather thinks at Forthampton in the faid county, where he bad a boufe and chapel, PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE OF T EWSE9BU R Y, WITH SOME REMARKS ON THE EVENT. " Heard ye the din of battle bray, " Lance to lance and horfe to horfe ? " Long years of havoc urge their deRin'd courfe, " And thto" the kindred fquadrons mow their way." CRAY'S BARD, alluding to the ruinous civil wars ef the haufes of York and Lane after. -T is univerfally acknowledged, that no event in hiftory requires a more faithful or minute defcription than that of a military conflift. The im- portant quarrel of the two rofes is allowed to be an mterefting epoch, and the battle of Tewkefbury is cer- tainly one of its moll confiderable events. This battle having been very fuperficially reprefented by hiftorians of modern date, the Editor prefumes that the defcrip- tion of Holinfhed, (the father of Englifli hiftory, and whofe works are as rare as they are invaluable,) as being more copious and fatisfaftory than that of any other author, will be deemed the moft defirable by the ge- nerality of his readers, notwithitanding the antiquity of the language. " Queene Margaret and hir fonne prince Edward, with the other that landed at Weimouth, went irom thence to an abbeie neere by called Ceerne. Thither came vnto them Edmund dnke of Summerfet, and Thomas Courtneie earle of Deuonihire, with others, and welcommed them into England, comforting the queene in the beft manner they could, and willed hir not to defpaire of good fucceife ; for albeit they had loft erne field* (whereof the queene had knowledge ; the Jcinie day being Mondai in Eatler weeke, the fifteenth of Aprill, and was therefore right forrow lull) yet they doubted not but to aifemble fuch a puillance (and that verie iliortiie) foorth of diuerfe parts of the reaime. as being faithful!, and wholie bent to fpend their Hues, and Ihed the beft blond in their bodies for hir fake, and hir fonnes, it fhould be hard for king Edward to relift them with all the power lie had or could make. " The prefenee of thefe noble men greatlie comforted hir, and relieued hir of the forrowes that in maner ouer whelmed hir penfiue heart : for ihe doubted fore the end of all thefe proceedings, the which they concluded to follow vpon the aduancement of hir and hirs. Spe- ciallie it mifgaue hir, that Ibme euill Ihould chance to hir fonne priace Edward, for fhee greatlie weid not of hir owne perill (as fhe hir felf con felled) and therefore Ihe would gladlie haue had them either to have deferred the battell till a more convenient time : or elfe that hir fonnemight haue been conueied ouer into F ranee againe, there to haue remained in fafetie, till the chance of the next battell were tried: but they being of a contrarie mind, and namelie the duke of Summerfet, ihe at length confented vnto that which they were refolved vpon. " Thus euerie man being bent to battell, gathered his power by himfelfe. firlt in Summerfetlhire, Dorfet- flnre, and part of Wiltfhire, and after in Deuonfhire and Cornewall. For the better encouraging of which countries to ioine with them in their quarrel], they re- The Battle of Barnet. C HP ] paired to Excefter. Here they lent for Sir John Artm? to hanc entrcd by force, they departed their waies, marching with all fpeed poflible towards Teukelburie. " It might be maruelled at, whie they attempted not the winning of Glocetfer indeed, confidering the freends which they knew they had within it. But the caufe which moued them chiefiie to forbeare, was, for that as well they without, as the other within the towne, knew that king Edward approached at hand, and was ready to fet upon them on the backes, if they had once begun to haue allaulted the towne ; and i'o, neither they within the towne that were the kings freends doubted the enimies forces, nor the eniruie in- deed durft attempt anie fuch en'crprife againft them. About foure of the clocke in the afternoone, they came to Teukelburie, hau'tng trauelled that night la ft part, and that daie, fix and thirtie long miles, in a foule countrie, all in lanes and flonie waies, betwixt woods, without anie good refrefhing, fo that as well the men as the horfses were right wearie. " And where the more part of their armie con- iifted of footmen, the capteins could not haue gone anie further, except they would haue left their foot- men behind them, and fo of neceflity they weredriuen to ftaie there, determining to abide the aduenture that God would fend them. For well they knew that the Icing followed them verie neere at hand, fo as if they fhould haue gone further, and left the moft part of their companie behind, as it could not otherwife haue chanced, he would haue been readie to haue taken the [ 125 1 ac!uant?.ge wholie, fo to diftrelfe them*. Hecrevpon they pight their field in a cloief, euen hard at the * Rapin fays, " Kdward fo clofcly purfucd 'them, that upon their arrival at Tewkefbury, they confulud whether they fhould venture to pafs the river, at the peril of feeing their rear put to rout, or intrench thcmfclvcs in a park adjoining to the town, tilt the earl of Pembroke anivcd. The queen, who thought only of faving the prince, was for parting. Some others, more out ofcom- plaifance to her than for any good reafon, feconded her opinion. But thedukeofS'imerfet ftrcnuoufly rppofed it Hercprt fenced the ene- my was fo nea', that before the army had all paffed, he would cer- tainly have it in his power to attack them and cut in pieces thofe who fhould have the misfortune to be left behind : That fuch an accident, which feemed unavoidable) could not but prove very fatal, and di (courage fuch *s were ftill friends to the houfe of Lan- cafier : In fine, though their army was inferior in number to that- of the enemy, that diladvantage might be repaired by intrf nching in the park, and drawing lines which would balance the fupe. riority of his troops After mature deliberation, this opinion was thought moil advifcable, confidcring the circnmllancrs of time and place. Hifloiians, of whom few undciiiand the art of war. have taxed the duke of Somerfet with imp r udence and lafhnefs, folely becaufe they confidered not the difficulty of pafling a river like the Severn, with die enemy in the rear. But if that general had been guilty of no other iault, perhaps the queen's aihirs would have taken another luin. At leaft me might have waited the eail of Pembroke s arrival, and by fighting upon equal terms, caufed her enemy to run his (hare of the peril. 'J his the fcqucl will demonflrate." HIST, or EKC. p. 614. r Called the Vineyard ; which William of Malmefbury, in his Book de Pontificibus, alludes to when celebrating the Vineyards of this county. The W ines of which, he fays, are " little inferior in fweet verdure to the French Winei." Vineyard* are frequently dcfcribcd in Domefday Book, and tythes of wines are frequently al- luded to in the records of cathedrals as objefts of importance. But thofe improvements (aocordingtoWiHiams'sMonmouthfhire)dif- appearcd in consequence of the devastations of lhcSaxons,thepolicjr [ 128 ] towncs end, hauing the towr.e and abbcie at their backes ; and directlie before them, and upon each fide of them, they were defended with cumbcrfome lanes, armie above three thoufand footmen, he trauelled with them and the re- fidue thirtie miles and more. By all which waie they could find neither horflemeat, nor man's meat, no not fo much as water for their hortfes, except one little brooke, of the which they receiued no great re-lcefej for what with the horifes and carriages that pafled thorough it, the water became fo troubled, that it ferued them to no ufe: and ftill all that daie king Edward with his armie was within fine or fix miles of his eni- mies, he in the plaine ccuntrie and they among the woods. " King Edward had ever good efpials, to aduer- tife him fiill what his enimies did, and which waic they tooke. At length he came \\ ith all his aimie vnto of the Norman times, the ncgociations of the Fiench Monarrhs, a paffion for conquering France, and a taftc for ks fupcrior produc- tions. This field is remaikable for a vtrv finr echo, oecafioned, aj it is fuppofed, by a fubtcriancous paflage from thence under the Swilgatc to the chuich. C 127 3 a village called Cheltenham, like a fiue miles diftant from Teukefberie, where he had certeine knowledge that his enimies werealreadie come to Teukelberie, and were incamped there, purpofing to abide him in that place, and to deliuer him battell. King Edsvard there- vpon made no long delaie but tooke a little refection himfelfe, and cauied his, people to doo the like, with fuch prouifion of vittels as he had appointed to be con- ueied foorth with him for the relcefc of himfelfe and his armie. This doone he fet forward towards his eni- mies, and lodged that night in a field not pall three miles di riant from them. " On the morrow being Saturdaie, and fourth of Maie, he drew towards his enimies, and marflialled his armie, diuided into three battels in this fort. He put his brother the duke of Glocefter in the fore-ward, and himfelfe in the middle-ward. The lord marques, and the lord Haftings led the rere-ward. Herewith he approached the enimies campe, which was right hard to be affailed, by reafon of the deepe ditches, hedges, trees, buflies, and cumberfome lanes, wherewith the fame was fen fed, both a front, and on the fides, fo as the king could not well approach them to anie aduan- tage : and to be the better in a readinefie to beat backe the kings power, when he fhould come to aflault them, they were imbattelled in this order. " The duke of Summerfet, and his brother the lord John of Summerfet led the fore-ward. The mi- dle-ward was gouerned by the prince, vnder the conduct of the lord of faint John, and the lord We-nlocke (whome king Edward had aduanced to the degree of a baron.) The rere-wani was appointed to the rule of the earl of Deuonmire. Thus may yee perceiue, that king FJwrard was put to his iliifts, how (to an:-- aduantage) to aiUuilt his enimies. Neuerthelelfe, he being well farnifhed witbr artillerie, the lame was api'i<: lodged to annoie the enimies, that they receiwed gre.it dam.ige thereby ; and the duke ofGlocefter, who lacked no policie, galled them greeuouflie with the Ihot of arrowes: and they rewarded their aduerfaries home againe with like paiment, both with fliot of arrowes, and great artillerie, although they had not the like plentie of guns as the king had. The paiTages were fo cumberfome, that it was not pomble to come vpon anie euen hand, to ioine at hand blowes. " The duke of Glocefter, vpon a politike purpofe (as fome haue written) reculed backe with all his com- panie, which when the duke of Summerfet perceiued, either moued therewith, or elle becaufe he was too fore annoied with the {hot in that place where he and bis fore-ward ftood, like a knight more couragious than circumfpecl:, came out of his ftrength with his whole battell, and aduanced himfelfe ibmewhat afide, Hips the kings voward, and by certeine paHages aforehand, and for that purpofe prouided, (to the king's part, al- though vnknown) he pafled a lane and came into a faire open clofe*, right before the king, where he was imbattelled, not doubting but the prince and the lord \Venlocke, with the middle-ward, had followed iuft at his backe. But whether the lord Wenlocke diiVembled the matter for king Edward's fake, or whether his hart ferued him not, ftill he flood, and gaue the looking on. " The king, or (as other haue) the dnke of Glo- cefter, taking the aduantage that he aduentured for, * Glaflon Meadow. I 129 ] turned agalne face to face vnto the duke of Summerfet his baltell, and winning the hedge and ditch of him, entred the dole, and with great violence put him and his people vp towards the hill from whence they were defcended. Heere is to be noted, that when the king was corns before his enimies. yer he gaue the onfet, he perceiued that vpon the right hand of their campe there was a parke, and much ftore of wood growing therein ; and doubting leaft his aduerfaries had laid an ambufh within that wood, he chofe foorth of his companies two hundred fpeares, commanding them to keep a ftale, like a quarter of a mile from the iield, to attend vpon that corner of the wood out of the which the ambuth, if anie were, was to iiThe, and toincounter with them as occafion ferued : but if they perceiued that there was no ambulh at all, then to imploie their feruice as they fhould fee it expedient and behouefull for the time. " This politike prouiflion for danger that might haue enfued (although there was none that waie foorth) ferued yet before the end of the battell, to great good purpofe, For when thofe fpeares perfedUie vnderltood that there was no ambuih within the wood, andwithall law conuenient time to imploie themfelues, they came and brake with full random vpon the duke of Summerfet and his voward a flanke, in fo violent wife vpon the fudden, that where they had before inough to doo with thofe with whom they were firft matched, now with this new charge giuen on them by thofe two hundred fpeares, they were not a little dif- maied 5 and to conclude, fo difcouraged, that ftreight- waie they took them to flight. Some fled into the parke, other into the meadow there at hand, fome into P [ 130 ] the lanes, and fome hid them in ditches, each one mak- ing what fliift he could, by the which he hoped beft to efcapc : but manie neuerthelefie were beaten downe, flaine, and taken prifoners. " The duke of Summerfet feeing this vnfortunnte chance, as fome write, turned to the middle ward, and there finding the lord Wenlocke (landing ftill, after he had reuiled him, and called him traitor, with his ax he flroke the brains out of his head. The duke of Glo- cefter purfuing after them that fled with the duke of Summerfet to their campe, where the reft of their armie flood, entred the trench, and after him the king, where he bare himfelfe fo knightlie, that therevpon the queens part went to wracke, and was put to flight ; the king and other falling in chafe after them, fo that manie were flaine, but efpeciallie at a mill in the mea- dow faft by the towne a great fort were drowned. Many ran towards the towne, fome to the church, and diuerfe to the abbeie, and other to other places, where they thought beft to faue themfelues. [This was the laft fought field or pight bat tell tried between the po- tentats of this land in king Edward the fourths daies (which chanced on the fourth of Maie, being Satur- daie, in the eleauenth yeare of his reigne, and in the yeare of our Lord, 14/1) as Angkrum prtelia affirmeth, faieng : Vltima poflremae locus eft Tcuxburia pugnr.] " Ip the winning of the campe, fuch as flood to it were flaine out of hand, prince Edward was taken as he fled towards the towne, by fir Richard Crofts, and kept clofe. In the field and chafe were flaine, the lord John of Summerfet, called marquefle Dorfet, Tho- mas Courteuie earle of Deuonlhire, fir John Delues, [ 131 J fir Edward Hampden; fir Robert WMtfngham, and fir John Leukener, with three thoufand others. After the field was ended, proclamation was made, that who- foeuer could bring foorth prince Edward aline or dead, fhould haue an annuitie of a hundred pounds during his life, and the princes life to be faued, if he were brought foorth aline. Sir Richard Crofts, nothing mil- trufting the king's promife, brought foorth his prifoner prince Edward, being a faire and well proportioned yoong gentleman ; whom when king Edward had well aduifed, he demanded of him, how he durft fo prelump- tuouflie enter into his realme with banner dilplaied. " Wherevnto the prince boldlie an fwered, faieng; To recouer my fathers kingdome and heritage, from his father and grandfather to him, and from him after him to me lineallie defcended. At which words king Edward faid nothing, but with his hand thruft him from him, or (as fome faie) ftroke him with his gantlet ; whom incontinentlie, George Duke of Clarence, Richard Duke of Glocefier, Thomas Greie, marqueffe Dorcet, and William lord Hangings that flood by, fuddenlie murthered * : for the which cruell a&, the more part * Rapin fays, " I do not know whether the hiftorians are to be credited, who affirm, thtfe lords killed him with their own hands. This might be an effeft of the prejudice of thofe that wrote the hiftory, after the restoration of the houfe of Lancallcr, fmce it is certain they have forgot nothing to render the houfe of Yoik odious. It is likely however, the murder was committed in the prefence of the fore-mentioned lords." HIST, or INC. p. 615. The prince of Wales is faid to have been murdered in the houfe now occupied by Mr. Thomas Brown, mercer. P 2 [ 132 j ot the dooers in their latter dales drankcof the like cup, by the righteous iuftice and due puniihment of God. His bodie was homelie interred with the other fimplc corpfes, in the church of the monafterie of blacke monks in Teukelburie*. " After the viftorie was thus atchiened, the king repaired to the abbeie church there, to give God thanks for that good fuccefle, which it had plcafed him to blefle him with : and there finding a great number of his enimies, that were fled thither to laue themfelves, he gave them all his free pardon: albeit there was no franchife there for rebels, but that he might haue commanded them to haue beene drawen foorth without breach of anie liberties of that church. He granted alfo that the dead bodies, as well of the lords as other, ilaine in that battell, might be buried in the fame church, or elfe where it pleafed their freends or fer- tiants, without anie quartering and heading, or letting vp the heads or quarters in anie publike places. [O the patience and clemencie of this good king, who befides the putting vp of wrongs doone to him by violence of foes without vengeance) freely forgaue the offenders, and did fo honorablie temper his aftedions !] " There were found in the abbeie and other place* ofthetowne, Edmund duke of Summerfet, John Lon- ftrother lord prior of St. John, fir Thomas Trefliam, fir Gerueis Clifton, and diuerfe other knights and elquiers, which were apprehended, and all of them being brought before the duke of Glocefter, fitting as Conftable of * He was buried without any folemnity, among Come mean pcrfousiu the church of the black friers inTcwkefbury. HALL. England, andthedukeofNorifolke, as Marfliall, in th midden ut the towne, they were arraigned, condemned, and judged to die j and fo vpon the Tuefdaie, being the feueuth * of Maie, the laid duke and the lord prior, with the two forenamed knights and twelue other knights, were on a fcaffold, fet vp in the middle of the towns for that purpole, beheaded, and permitted to be buried, without anie other dilinembring, or letting vp of their heads in anie one place or other. " The fame Tuelclaie, the king departed from Teukefburie towards Worcefter, and by the waie had knowledge that the queene Margaret was found in a poore houfe of religion, not far from thence, into the which the u as withdrawen for falegard of hir felfe, on Saturdaie in the morning, being the daie of the battell +. She was after brought to London as prilbner, and fo kept, till hir father J ranfomed Lir with great fummes of monie. which he borrowed of Lewes the eleuenth king of France. And bicaule he was not able to make repaiment thereof, he fold vnto the faid Lewes (as the French writers affirme) the kingdomes of Naples, and both the Sicils, with the countie of Prouance." * Hall and Stowe, May 6. f Kail fays, " that the queen was found in a chariot, half dead with grief at the fight of her forlorn affairs, without knowing what was become ol the prince her fon, and was brought in that condition to king Edward." J Regnier, duke of Anjon and Lorraine. He was titular king of Sicily, Naples, and Jerufalem, and dtfcendcd from the count of Anjou, biother to Charles V. ^ Fifty thoiifand crowns. [ 134 ] Tbe. Names ofibofe Perfons ivh were killed in tie Battle of the Gajlons, near Ttwlitjbury. (FROM LELANU'J ITI N.) Edward prince of Wales, buried in the monaftcry of Tewkelbury. Edmund duke of Soraerfet, beheaded and buried there. John de Somerfet, brother of Edmund, buried there. Thomas Courteney, earl of Devonfliire, ditto Lord Wenlok, whole body was removed to be bu- ried el fe where. Humphrey Handeley, beheaded with Thomas Courteney, and buried together. Sir Edmund Havarde. John Delves, the elder, was {lain in the field, and John Delves his fon was beheaded there, buried toge- ther, and afterwards removed elfewhere. Sir William Wichingham. Sir John Leukenor, flain in the field, and buried near the Delves 's. Sir William Vaulz, who fell in the field and buried there. Sir Gervais Clifton, who was taken, beheaded, and buried in the fame place. Sir William Car and Sir Henry Rofs, taken, beheaded, and buried in the church-yard of Teukef- beric. Sir Thomas Treflam, ditto. Sir William Lirmouthe, John Urman, Thorna* Semar, William Rowys, fell in the field, and buried in the church-yard. Sir" William Newborow, taken, beheaded, and bu- ried in the lame place. t 135 ] Henry Wately, efq. killed and buried there. Henry Barow, efq. ditto. Felding, efq. ditto. John Gower, fword bearer to prince Edward ; John Tlore, ilandard bearer to the duke of Somerlet} Henry Trefham, Walter Courteney, Robert A6ton, prilbners and beheaded. Prior of St. John, London, ditto. His body was removed to be buried among his friends. Hugh Courteney, made prilbner, and afterwards beheaded. Pardoned by King Edward. Queen Margaret. Anne, wife of the prince of Wales, who was ilain. Fofter, chief juftice of England. .Dr. Mackerell, John Throghmerton, Baynton, Wroughton. Stebbing fays, to the monaftery and convent of Tewkefbury, king Henry VII. granted the parochial church of Towton, to pray for the foul of Edmund duke of Somerfet, his brother John, and others who loft their lives in the quarrel of the Houfe of Lancafter. The local memorials of this very decifive battle are but few. The principal fcenes of the action are the meadow, which has received the appellation of bloody meadow, and the vineyard. The former lies between two gently descending tanks, about half a mile fouth- weft of the town, and was the fpot where the ilaughter was the greateft. The latter was the place where queen Margaret lay, and where fome intrenchments are ftill to be traced. 13(5 3 Michael Dray ton, in his " Miferies of Queen Margarite," has the following verfcs on this battle: When SOMERSET and DEVONSHIRE came in To the fad queer.e, and had her not defpaire, Though they of late infortunate hael bin, Yet there was helpe that Rnine to repaire What they had lolt they hop'd againe to winnc, And that the way lay open yet, and faire. For that the Weft would wholly with her rife, Befides from Italics affur'd her of fupplies. And etiery day ftill adding to their force; As on their Hoft tow'rds Glocejler they guide When EOVARD finding their intended cowfe, Againe for Battell ftrongly doth prouide, Both Armies they fupply with Foote and Horfe, By both their friends, as they affeft the fide, And in their march at Te'ivkefbury they mett Where they in Order their Battalions fet. Ill was her choife of this vneuen ground, Lucklefse the place vnlucky was the howre, The heauens vpon her (6 extreamely fround, As on her head their plagues at once to powre ; As in a Deluge here her hopes were drown'd, Here fees fliee death her faithfull friends deuoure, The earth is fill'd with grones, the ayre with cryes, Horror on each fide doth enclofe her eyes. Neuer did death fo terrible appeare, Since fit ft their Armes the Engli/b learnt to weeld, Who Would fee daughter, might behold it heere In the true (hape vpon this fatai field, In vaine was valour, and in vaine was feare, In vaine to fight, in vame it was to yeeid, Jn vaine to fly ; for deftiny difcuft, By their owue hands, or others, dye they muft. [ 137 1 HereherdeareDEVONSHiERE noble Co VRTNEYdyde, Her faithfull friend great SVMMERSET here fell, DELVES, LEVKNOR, HAMDEN, WHITTINGHAM befide, O MARGARITR, who thy miferies can tell ! Sharpe were thofe fwords which made their wounds fo wide, Whofe blood the foyle did with th' abundance fwell Other her friends into theTowne that fled Taken, no better than the former fpecd. But the amazing mifery of all As heauen the greatft vntill the laft had kept, As it would fay, that after this none (hall By mortall eyes be worthy to be wept, The Prince her fonne who fees his friends thus fall And on each fide their carcafes lye heapt Making away in this moft piteous plight Is taken prifoner in his tardy flight. And forth by CROFTS before the Conquerour brought, His Proclamations electing euery doubt, Of the youths fafety : liuing were he caught, As a Reward to him mould bring him out; But when they once had found him whom they fought Hearing his anfweres, Princely, wife, and ftout, Thofe bloody brothers, HASTINGS, and the reft, Sheath'd their fliarpe Ponyards in his manly breaft. Queene MARGARITE thus of mortalls moft forlorne Her fonne now flaine, her army ouerthrowne Left to the world as fortunes only fcorne And not one friend to whom to make her moanc (To fo much woe was neuer woman borne) This wretched Lady wandring all alone Getts to a homely Cell not farre away If poflibly to hide her from the day. But wretched woman quickly there bewray'd, She thence is taken and to Prifon fent, Q [ 133 ] Meanely attended, miferably array'd, The people wondring at her as (he went ; Of whom the moft malicioii* her vpbrav'd With good Duke Humpbres death, lier heart to rent, Whilft her rnilcle lookes, and Graceful! gefture drue, Many a fad eye, her miferies to rue. Till by Duke RAYNER Ranfomed at laft, Her tender Father, who a Prince but poore, Borrow'd great Summes of LEWES, with much waft, Which for he was not able to reftore, Prouincf and both the Cicils, to him paft, With fruitfull Naples, which was all his ftore ; To bring her hacke, from earthly ioyesexil'd The vndone father, helpes the vndone Child. And though enlarg'd ere (he could leaue the land, Making a long yeere of each fhort-liu'd houre, She heares that by Duke RICHARD'S murthering hand The King her hufoand fufFers in the Towre As though high heauen had laid a ftricl command Vpon each ftane, fome plague on her to powre : And vntil now that nothing could fuffice Nor giue a period to her Miferycs* [ 139 3 MILITARY TRANSACTIONS AT TEWKESBURY, IN THB REIGN OF KING CHARLES I. T A HE banners of war were again difplayed at this place, during the civil diflentions between Charles I. and his parliament, which at laft ended in the overthrow of our monarchy. The fubfequent ac- count is taken from " Corbett's Military Government of Glocefter," Sir William Vavafour, fir Walter Pye, and colonel Wroughton, potfeflcd themfelves of the town ofTewkefbury on behalf of the king, and fortified it after the liege of Gloucefler. But before that fiege, the king's forces under lir Matthew Carew were pofiefl'ed of Tewkelbury, which they quitted on the rirft news of the Welch army being made prifoners near Glou- celter, and in lei's than twelve hours the town of Tewkelbury was repoffeflcd by the parliament's forces, who immediately received an alarm, that the former forces were returned with a greater power : 'Twas a gallant brigade of horfe, commanded by lord Grandi- ion, which came from Cheltenham. Captain Fiennes, with his party, had certainly been furprized by them, but for a ridiculous accident. Lord Grandifon meeting with a man going from the town, about a mile off, queftioned him whether any forces were there, of what ftrength, and by whom commanded. The man, hip- poling them part of the parliament's forces, and willing to curry favour, talked of vaft numbers, great ftrength, Q2 and defied the cavaliers with much afie&ed indignation, Upon this they held a council ot war, and weieonce about to turn back. This delay gave an hour's refpite to thofe within to prepare for flight, who had 1:0 Conner recovered the end of the town, than the horfe t ntered it at the other, amazed to fee themfelves fo miferably deluded. " This town was afterwards fortified by the king's- party, and became a bad neighbour to Gloucefter, the parliament's head garrifon ; wherefore governor Maflie, on the 5th of June, in the year JL()44, with one hundred and twenty horfe, about thirty dragoons, and three hundred foot, refolved to attempt the taking it. The horie and dragoons, commanded by major Hammond, advanced fome few hours before the foot and artillery, and were to alarm the enemy till the foot came up. They made a halt about a mile from the town, and drew out a pretty ftrong forlorn hope, conceiving they might poifibly lurprife them, if they had not as yet taken the alarm. And firft, three men were fent before to efpy if the draw-bridge was down, and fix more behind went undifcovered ; next unto thefe marched the forlorn hope, and the main body in the rear. In this pofture they advanced up to the town, where they found the bridge down, the guards llender, the enemy without intelligence, and lupinely negligent. On went the firft party, killed the centinels, a pikeman, and a muiketeer without match, and made good the bridge. The forlorn hope rufhed in, and after them a full body of horfe and dragoons fell upon the guards, came up to the main guard before the alarm was taken, overturned their ordnance, and charged through the ftreets as far as the bridge, Worcefter-way, where they took Major Myn, governor of the town. The enemy threw down their arms, many efcaped by flight, and many were- taken priibners. Of the king's party colonel Godfrey, the quarter-mafter-general, and a lieutenant, were flain in the firti charge. But the parliament's forces difmounting, and neglecting to make good the bridge, at which they entered, and to dilarm the main guard, the latter at length took courage, charged fome of them, and beat them out of the town. However, colonel Maffie coming up with a few horfe in the van of the foot, ordered the dragoons to fire on thole that defended the bridge* next Glocefter, whilfl he drew the foot round the town, it being now dark night ; but before he could reach the further end, where he entered about midnight, the garrifon were fled towards Wor- cefter. There were found in the town two brafs drakes, eighteen barrels o powder, and a few other military ftores. The town itielf was of great confe- quence to the parliament, as a frontier town, fecuring that fide of the county, and commanding a great part of Worcelterihire." * Swilgatc. APPENDIX. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 'WALTON WATER, NEAR TEWKESBURY. T A HE medicinal powers and natural hiftorjr of the waters of Walton, nearTewkefbury, having been illuftrated by experiments in a valuable traft, written fome years fince by the ingenious Dr. Johnftone of Worcefter, and annexed, with the Doctor's permiirion, to the former editions of this hiftory ; it might be deemed .in omiflion in the editor, to conclude this work without noticing it, though, from the immediate refidence of the proprietor upon the efcate, we are forry to fay, accefs to the well, is now become difficult. We (hall therefore, content ourfelves with the following extracls, referring the reader to the tracl: itfelf for further fatisfadion. " The ufe and advantages of waters is eftablifhcd by experience alone, as well as that of every article, in the materia medica. The advantages found from the life of the Walton well, in various eruptive difeafes, and in old fordid ulcers, as well as in many other dif- eafes. has already been fo considerable, as to confirm the expectation grounded on their being fimilar to the Cheltenham water. " It will undoubtedly be found as much like Chel- tenham water, as that water is like itlelf at different feafons. Seafons occafion accidental differences of fa- turation in all mineral waters, the caufe of which is fometimes known and fometimes unknown. Rainy [ 143 ] reafons, while they make fprings more abundant, ren- der the mineral impregnation at the fame time weaker. To this alteration, the Walton water muft be fometimes liable, as it lies on a plain, part of which is frequently overflowed with water. But if by experience this lhall be found to have any confiderable influence., means will be ufed to remove the inconvenience. An inconvenience which is very feldom likely to happen in dry and warm feafons, in which waters of this clafs are for the mod part reforted to. " After all, I am perfuaded, that the dilution of mineral waters is very feldom any injury to the patient. The virtues and powers of mineral water depending principally on the quantity ,of water, the medium, in which the medicinal ingredients are fufpended; the vehicle which conveys them into the fmalleft veflels, and makes them capable of removing obftrudions fixed in them, and in various glands; hence the fame medi* cinal ingredients, given in the ufual forms, have but little efficacy in removing fuch difeafes. " The healing powers of the Walton well, and thofc of its elder lifter of Cheltenham, are owing to the mix- ture of a neutral compound of vitriolated magnolia, commonly called epfom, or cathartic fait ; to vitriolated mineral alcali, or glauber fait, wirh a fmall portion of falited mineral alcali, magnolia, and lime, nearly to the quantity of a drachm, in a pint -of water; alfo, to a confiderable quantity of fixed air, and hepatic gas, bj the former of which iron, and by the latter magnefia, and abforbent earth are held in folution. " The whole is a compolition friendly to appetite and digeftion, as well as foft and pleafing to the tafte. It is alfo a penetrating deobftruent and attenuating me- I 144 ] tllcine, and in fenfible operation, a quick aucl gentls laxative and diuretic; and when applied with dif- cretion, it may be continued a loug time without any diminution of itrength. " It is obvious this water contains faline ingredients, and, others poifefling different attractive powers and af- finities, which, though balanced in the water, yet, when mixed with animal fluids and falls in the courfe of di- geftion, chylification, and in circulation with the blood, muft be fo changed and varied, as to form new attrac- tions and combinations in their courfe through the vef- iels, whence compounds, poffefiing properties different from what exifted before, will be produced, and the fyftem itfelf will be changed. It is well known, that cold is generated by diflblving falls, and, that while fa- line bodies, of different affinities and attractive powers, are forming new compounds, fuch falls, in the procefa of mutual attraction and incorporation, produce heat. In this manner, and from fuch caufes, new ftimuli. with olher alterations, take place in the glands and remoter vefTels of our fyftem, from the falls, combined with other ingredients in mineral waters; and it is by thefe means, as well as evacuation, they become beneficial, and are really valuable alterative medicines." : printed by W. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9 15m-10, '48(31039)444 THE LIBRA* i' OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES University of California. Los Angeles L 005 847 817 3 UC SOUTHERN REG NALLBRARYF A 001324634 3 F