paiTOed by I Haigraw.-, 
 
 EDWARD BAINE S, ESQ 
 
 7:JHEP. SCiN 1 C° lOHDOK. 16S3
 
 \ 
 
 ^ 
 
 4 
 
 All 80- 
 V- I 
 
 g TOHISMAJESTY, 
 
 3 WILLIAM IV. 
 
 KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 
 
 AND 
 
 DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 SIRE, 
 
 Emboldened by Your most gracious permission, 
 I beg to dedicate to Your Majesty this History of that 
 S important portion of the British dominions, of which 
 Your Majesty is by a double title the illustrious Head. 
 
 As little inclined to offer as Your Majesty, in the 
 noble frankness of Your character, is disposed to receive, 
 the homage of servile adulation, permit me, most gra- 
 cious Sire, to express an ardent wish, that uninterrupted 
 peace may be the glory of Your Majesty's reign ; that 
 Your triumphs may consist in the achievements of Arts 
 rather than of Arms, and in the extension of the liberties 
 and happiness of Your Majesty's subjects, rather than in 
 
 *?OfT ^ey^
 
 IV 
 
 the enlargement of dominions, already sufficiently ample 
 to gratify every purpose of legitimate ambition. 
 
 That Your Majesty may long govern a contented and 
 loyal people, and that when in the course of nature You 
 shall be called, by that power by whom Kings reign, to 
 descend to the tomb of Your illustrious ancestors, the 
 appropriate inscription upon Your monument may be — 
 The Father of his People," — is the fervent wish of 
 
 Your Majesty's 
 
 Most grateful 
 
 n 
 
 and devoted Subject, 
 
 EDWARD BAINES.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 LANCASHIRE, so eminent in ages that are past for its baronial dignity, has, in 
 modern times, become equally distinguished for its manufactures and commerce ; and 
 it has long been a matter of regret, that of this great division of the kingdom there 
 is no History at all worthy of its importance. The late venerable and learned 
 Dr. Whitaker having written the History of one of the parishes of Lancashire, 
 It is intended, in the volumes now announced for publication, to present to the 
 public a History of all the Parishes, coiTCsponding in some measure with that of the 
 parish of Whalley— less antiquarian, indeed, and it is feared less profound, but 
 somewhat more popular, and equally accurate. 
 
 In exploring the historical treasures of this County for the purposes of a late 
 publication, the Author of this work was surprised by the vast body of information 
 dispersed throughout its various parishes, and gratified in the highest degree by the 
 readiness with which it was every where laid open to his inspection : thus encouraged, 
 his views expanded beyond their original limits, and though he sat down only to write 
 a sketch, he rose with the ambition to complete a history of his native County. The 
 materials which he thus collected, his close and extensive connexion with the County 
 has enabled him continually so to increase, that they form a store more rich and 
 varied, perhaps, than is possessed by any other individual in the kingdom, on the 
 subject of Lancashire history ; and he now submits to his readers, in a connected 
 and condensed form, a work comprising all the valuable and curious matter which is 
 scattered through piles of detached volumes, or locked up in the numerous unpublished 
 pedigrees, and other MSS. in his possession, or to which he may have access. 
 VOL. I. A
 
 vi ADVERTISEME]\T. 
 
 The work he has already published,* honoured as it has been with public patronage 
 to an extent that inspires his mind with gratitude, has, he trasts, imparted to his readers 
 some grounds of confidence in his future labours. In his former volume, it was barely 
 possible to glance at the stores of information contained in the public Libraries of the 
 Kingdom; but the Manuscripts in those Libraries will now be examined with 
 diligence and accuracy proportioned to the importance of the information they 
 contain ; and whatever is valuable on the subject of Lancashire History in the Harleian, 
 Cottouian, and Lansdowne collections in the British Museum, will be extracted, to 
 enrich this publication. All the important materials relating to the County of Lan- 
 caster, collected and arranged under the authority of the Commissioners appointed by 
 his late Majesty, King George III. will also be extracted from the Domesday Survey 
 of William the Conqueror, the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of P. Nicholas IV., the Testa de 
 Nevill, the Valor Ecclesiasticus temp. Hen. VIII., and the Ducatus Lancastriae, as 
 presented in the public records of the Kingdom. The period for compiling the decen- 
 nial census of the County having again arrived, the whole of the Lancashire returns, 
 as made to Government in the year 1831, will be inserted in this History, with a sum- 
 mary of the official returns of 1801, 1811, and 1821, for the purpose of exhibiting the 
 rapid increase of the population during the present century. 
 
 The Plan of the Work will embrace a general History of the County, succeeded 
 by the history of each Hundred, in which the Parishes and Townships will follow in 
 regular succession, according to their local connexion. The history of the regal House 
 of Lancaster will be traced from the foundation of that House to the time when 
 Henry IV. the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, ascended the throne of these 
 realms ; and while the remains of other periods are preserved, the concerns of the age in 
 which we live will by no means be neglected. A full and comprehensive view of the 
 rise and progress of the Manufactures and Commerce of the County, from their earliest 
 introduction to the present time, will be taken. All the public Institutions, rendered 
 venerable by time, or important as modern establishments, will be described ; and a 
 complete record will be preserved of all the public Charities in each Parish and Town- 
 ship of the County, as they existed in the 2Gth George III., with their annual produce, 
 and the names of the benefactors and the trustees in whom they were vested, when 
 the parliamentary return was made in that year. Connected with this subject, the 
 interesting reports of the Commissioners acting under the authority of Parliament 
 " for inquiring concerning Charities," so far as these reports concern the schools, 
 
 • The Topographical Sketch of the County of Lancaster.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. vii 
 
 hospitals, and other benevolent institutions in the County of Lancaster, will be con- 
 sulted, and their substance communicated. 
 
 A few years ago, William Robert Whatton, Esq. F. A.S., announced a publi- 
 cation under the title " Lancastrenses Illustres; or. Historical and Biogra- 
 phical Memoirs of Illustrious Natives of the Palatine County of Lancaster, with 
 Genealogical and Heraldic Observations." The materials for this undertaking were 
 drawn from Original Records, public and private Manuscripts, General and County 
 Histories, Heraldic Visitations, Monumental Inscriptions, &c., enriched from the 
 collections in the British Museum, the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the University 
 Library of Cambridge, and the Chetham Library of Manchester. Professional 
 engagements having prevented Mr. Whatton from prosecuting his design to maturity, 
 he has, since the original Prospectus of the present Work was announced, gene- 
 rously transferred his ample biographical collections to the appropriate depository 
 of the General County History, to which Work it will form a highly interesting 
 acquisition. 
 
 To the last Volume of this History will be subjoined copious indexes of places, 
 persons, and subjects, accompanied by chronological tables, so arranged as to exhibit 
 a regular connexion of characters and events, as they successively arise in the different 
 parts of the County. To secure the gi-eatest authenticity, every Parish in the County 
 has either already been visited, or will be visited by the Author in the progress of tliis 
 work, which it is his earnest wish to render worthy to descend as a record through 
 successive generations. 
 
 The graphic Embellishments, Drawings, and Illustrations, will consist of about one 
 hundred and twenty Views, &c. antiquarian and modern, taken by artists eminent in 
 their profession, with a Map of the County, a Map of each Hundred, and armorial 
 bearings of the principal Nobility and Gentry of the County ; and, to secure uniformity 
 in the impressions, the Engravings will be executed on steel by engravers of reputation 
 in their respective departments. Some select subjects inserted in the " Illustrations of 
 Lancashire" will be introduced amongst the Embellishments. 
 
 A complete List of Subscribers will be published as nearly as possible in the 
 order in which the names are received. In the distribution of this Work amongst the 
 Subscribers, the periodical mode is adopted, in order to increase the number of its 
 patrons. 
 
 The Nobility and Gentry are respectfully solicited to furnish Drawings of their 
 Arms, Crests, &c., in order to ensure accuracy.
 
 viii ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Public bodies, and private individuals, in possession of documents calculated to 
 shed light upon the History of Lancashire, or to afford materials for biographical 
 notices of the worthies of the County, are requested to allow the Author to inspect the 
 originals, or to furnish him with copies or extracts, through the medium of Messrs. 
 Fisher & Co. of London ; Messrs. Wales & Co. of Liverpool ; or Messrs. Clarke & Co. 
 of Manchester, taking their receipt if necessary; and he pledges himself that all papers 
 committed to their charge for his use shall be carefully preserved, and punctually 
 returned.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The labours of ten years have at length enabled tlie Author of these volumes to 
 present to his readers the history of his native county. The baronial family desig- 
 nated by the illustrious title of The House of Lancaster, whicli ranks amongst its 
 early members tlie renowned John of Gaunt, has imparted a dignity to this portion 
 of the kingdom, which will be as durable as the national records ; and the transmis- 
 sion of the title, in the person of Henry of Lancaster, Earl of Derby and Duke of 
 Hereford, from the ducal family of Lancaster to the Royal Family of England, 
 serves to shed additional honour on the early history of the county. 
 
 Subsequent to the Reformation, the conflicts of parties arising out of that 
 memorable event, and, at a still later period, the wars of the Commonwealth, have 
 rendered this county the theatre of transactions of the highest political interest ; 
 and, in our own times, the rapid rise of commerce and manufactures in the towns 
 of Liverpool and Manchester, with their extensive ramifications through the hun- 
 dreds of West Derby, Salford, and Blackburn, has accumulated within a narrow 
 space more wealth, population, and enterprise than are to be found in any other 
 division of the kingdom, the metropolitan county of Middlesex alone excepted. 
 
 That a county so circumstanced should have been so long destitute of a county 
 history, is a matter of surprise and regret. Several attempts have been made to 
 supply this desideratum. As early as the middle of the seventeenth century, the 
 learned and indefatigable Dr. Kuerden announced his intention to publish a history 
 of " the honorable Dukedom of the County of Lancaster," under the title of 
 " Brigantia Lancastriensis Restaurata ;"* but the life of the laborious antiquary was 
 spent in collecting the materials, and death overtook him before the first page of his 
 publication was committed to the press. More than a century after this time, 
 namely, in 1787, Doming Rasbotham, esq., at the instance of the magistracy acting 
 for the hundred of Salford, himself a member of that body, undertook to write a 
 " History of Lancashire," and collected no fewer than five volumes of notes and 
 documents, principally written in short-hand,t in furtherance of his object ; but before 
 the materials had assumed the form of history, sickness and death arrested his 
 
 * See Vol. III. p. 461. t See Vol. III. p. 42, 43. 
 
 VOL. I. b
 
 Vi PREFACE. 
 
 progi'ess, and the task, undertaken with so much zeal, and under circumstances so 
 auspicious, was left to be executed by other hands. At a still later period (in 1825) 
 a gentleman of the name of Cony imposed upon himself the duty of produchig a 
 " History of Lancashire ;" but owing to adverse circumstances, his work fell into 
 disrepute, and terminated in a manner equally unsatisfactory to himself and to the 
 public. 
 
 Detached portions of our county history have been written by the Whitakers, in 
 a manner highly creditable to theii- learning and their talents. " The History of 
 Manchester," by the Rev. John Whitaker, has always been considered a piece of 
 valuable topography, too imaginative, indeed, for the sobriety of history, but abound- 
 ing with learning, and full of information ; while Dr. Thomas Dunham Whitaker's 
 " History of the Original Parish of Whalley and the Honor of Clitheroe," and his 
 history of that part of Lancashire comprehended within the archdeaconry of Richmond, 
 rank the reverend and learned author amongst the most popular and eloquent of anti- 
 quaries, as well as amongst the most prejudiced declaimers against the state of society 
 under the system of modern manufacturing industry. The history of the " Antiqui- 
 ties of Furness," by West, possesses distinguished merit for accuracy and laborious 
 research. At an earlier period. Dr. Charles Leigh published " The Natural History 
 of Lancasliire, Cheshire, and tlie Peak of Derbyshire," Avhich occupied seventeen 
 years in the completion, though aided by doctors, proctors, and heads of colleges.* 
 In the mention of works connected with the Jiistory of this county, it would not be 
 proper to omit " The Portfolio of the Fragments of the History of Lancashire, by 
 Matthew Gregson, esq.," compiled with exemplary industry, but published without 
 arrangement. Two other works, of a more antiquarian character, not confined to 
 Lancashire, but containing considerable portions of topographical information con- 
 nected with the county in the sixteenth century, will be found frequently quoted in 
 the following pages, namely, " Leland's Itinerary" and " Camden's Britannia," both 
 of them works of high authority, at a time when kings and queens sent forth learned 
 men to explore " distant counties," and directed that the results of their inquiries 
 should be published for the benefit of their subjects. " Harrison's Description of the 
 Manners and Customs of Britain in Elizabeth's Reign," is also quoted at some 
 length ; and Stukeley, Gale, and Horsley have been frequently consulted on sub- 
 jects relating to Roman antiquities discovered in various parts of Lancashire, and 
 numerous passages transferred from them to these volumes. 
 
 * See Leigh's History, Epistle Dedicatory.
 
 PREFACE. VU 
 
 All these sources of information fall far short of a History of the County Palatine 
 and Duchy of Lancaster ; and to supply tliis deficiency in a county to which the 
 Author is bound by many tics, has been one of his strongly actuating motives for 
 enaaains: in an undertaking that will stand so much in need of the candour of his 
 readers. In the midst of numerous public and private engagements, he has devoted 
 all his leisure for years to the compilation of this history ; and if others should derive 
 as much pleasure from reading as he lias enjoyed in writing his history, he Avill not 
 have raised this monument of his attachment to his native county in vain. 
 
 Some errors, indeed many, are unavoidable in a work of this nature, when 
 thousands of inquiries were to be instituted in all the great divisions of the county, 
 and when the information as to events, families, and persons was to be obtained from 
 so many different quarters ; but to secure the accuracy of the narrative as far as 
 possible, every parish in the county has been visited, and many of the most intelli- 
 gent persons in each parisli consulted upon the subjects most likely to be within their 
 own knowledge. That the Author's health, strength, and spirits have been spared, 
 to conduct him through labours under which others better qualified have sunk, is a 
 cause of gi-atitude to the great Disposer of all events, in whom we live, and move, 
 and have our being. 
 
 The plan of the work is simple and inartificial. The first volume consists of the 
 general history of the county, whicli also extends through 1 46 pages of the second 
 volume. The history of the separate hundreds, parishes, and townships is then com- 
 menced, and constitutes the principal part of the remaining volumes. 
 
 Rising from the aboriginal state of the county in the general history, the period of 
 the Roman occupation of Britain, and especially of the Brigantine provinces, is briefly 
 treated. The Saxon and Danish periods succeed, terminating with the Conquest 
 by the Normans. The Domesday Survey, so far as relates to this county, is given 
 at length, both in the Norman Latin and by ti'anslation ; and a map, founded upon 
 that judicial record, is presented, with the names of the manors and other places 
 engraved according to the orthogi'aphy, and in the character, of the original manu- 
 script, — being a new feature in county history. The possessions of the Norman 
 barons are traced through the earls of Chester, the baronial house of the Ferrers, 
 earls of Derby, to the Plantagenets, dukes of Lancaster, and till the possessions of 
 the Derby family merged in the crown by the elevation of Henry IV. to the throne. 
 In this and other portions of the work, the Record Office of the Duchy of Lancaster 
 has been freely resorted to ; and selections from the enormous piles of documents 
 
 in that office, liberally conceded by the noble chancellor, Lord Holland, through the 
 
 62
 
 Viii PREFACE. 
 
 medium of Frederick D. Danvers, esq., registrar of the council, and the late 
 W. Minchin, esq., the clerk of the duchy court, from that invaluable depository of 
 local and general information, serve to enrich these pages. 
 
 The representative history of the county, never before systematically treated, is 
 derived from the writs of summons, and the rolls of parliament, commencing with the 
 original iirstitution of the House of Commons, in the reign of Henry III., and extend- 
 ing to the passing of the Reform Bill in the reign of Wilham IV., with the excep- 
 tion of the period of the wars of the Roses, of which the writs of summons are not 
 in existence ; nor are the returns of the comity or borough members to be found 
 amongst the public records of those times. 
 
 The wars of the Barons, and the invasions of the Scots, undertaken against the 
 border counties in the reigns of the Henrys and the Edwards, so far as their 
 influence extended to the county of Lancaster, are treated at some length ; and the 
 history of witchcraft, once so rife in Lancashire, having been traced through a period 
 of two hundred years, is shewn to have given way before the progress of education — 
 the best security against individual and popular superstition. 
 
 The wars of the Commonwealth, which raged in Lancashire in the early periods 
 of the contest between the Stuarts and the parliament, necessarily occupy considerable 
 space, both in the general history of the county and in the local history of the 
 parishes visited by this scourge ; and the information supplied from the King's 
 Library, in the British Museum, and from the stores of this and all other topics of 
 Lancashire history accumulated by that liberal patron of literature, Thomas Hey- 
 wood, esq., have supplied ample materials for rendering this interesting portion of 
 the Author's labours complete. 
 
 The general history is concluded with such particulars of the rebellions of 1715 
 and 174.5 as regard the transactions which took place in Lancashire in those periods 
 of alarm and agitation, and with a number of miscellaneous subjects relating to the 
 public institutions, the charities, and the population of the county, copied fi-om the 
 official decennial returns of 1801, 1811, 1821, and 1831,. exhibiting a rapidity of 
 numerical gi-owth unequalled in any other county in the kingdom. 
 
 Having treated these subjects of a more general nature, the history of the separate 
 Hundreds is commenced with that important manufacturing district comprehended 
 within the hundred of Salford ; and in the parishes and townships of that division of 
 the county, Manchester appropriately takes the lead. In writing the history of that 
 parish, all the sources of information, published and unpublished, tbat are open to 
 the topographer, have been carefully explored. The history of the out-townships of
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 the parish, taken consecutively in their regular order, till the tour of the ecclesiastical 
 limits is completed, is then treated with as much particularity as the nature of this 
 publication would allow ; and the same course is pursued through all the hundreds 
 and parishes of the county, as they successively come under review. 
 
 In writing the History of the County of Lancaster, it became indispensably 
 necessary to exhibit the history of that most important of all our sources of national 
 industry — the cotton manufacture; and the Author has to ofTer his affectionate 
 acknowledgments to his son, Mr. Edward Baines, for an original and comprehensive 
 history — the first ever written — on that stupendous source of wealth and of employ- 
 ment. These chapters have since been expanded by their Author into a volume, 
 which, in addition to a wide circulation in Great Britain, and the United States of 
 America, has received the honour of translation into the German language. 
 
 The sources of information, both general and local, from which this History of 
 the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster have been derived, are to be 
 found in the Rolls of Parliament, in the Charter Rolls, in the Hundred Rolls, in 
 the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, Escheats, and other official inquiries into landed 
 property ; in the Taxation Rolls of EdwardL, and in the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV., 
 deposited in the Tower of London ; in the Domesday Book, in the Pipe Rolls, in the 
 Bags of " Pedes Finium," (or Fines,) in the Quo Warranto Rolls in the reigns of Edw. 
 I. II. and III., and in the Surveys of Abbeys, Monasteries and Priories, deposited in 
 the Chapter House at Westminster; in the books of Pedigrees and Arms, and in the 
 Visitations of the Heralds in the College of Arras; in the Records of the Presentation to 
 Benefices, in the Ecclesiastical Court at Chester ;* in the Chartularies, Registers, and 
 Ledgers of the Monasteries, and in the Surveys and Inquisitions of the larger and 
 smaller religious houses in the Harleian, Cottonian, Lansdowne, and Hargrave 
 Collections; in the Records of Pious Uses, taken before Bishop Bridgmau, in the 
 20th, 21st, and 22nd of James I., contained in the British Museum; and in the 
 Charters of Grants of various kings, under the Great Seal of the Duchy of Lancas- 
 ter, the Court Rolls of the Duchy, the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, the Presentations 
 to Livings, the Calendar of Pleadings, and the Abstracts of Duchy Records, in the 
 Bags and Rolls of the Duchy Courts, deposited in the Record Office of the Duchy, 
 in Lancaster-place, London. When room could be afforded, copies of the docu- 
 ments themsehes have generally been inserted, but, in most cases, they have 
 been necessarily withheld, though never without a description of their contents being 
 
 * Owing to the defective state of these records ia the eaily ages of the bishoprics, the returns 
 are less perfect than might be expected.
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 given, and references attached to indicate where they are to be found by those wlio 
 msh to consult them for purposes connected with family history, or the rights of 
 property, or in support of municipal privileges. 
 
 In addition to the advantages afforded to the Author by the public records, much 
 valuable information has been derived from Dr. Kuerden's MSS. in the Heralds' 
 College in London, and in the Chetham Library at Manchester ; from the Norris and 
 Derby papers ; from the MS. Collection of Doming Rasbotham, esq., obligingly 
 furnished by his daughter, Mrs. Gray ; from the Mancuniensis of Holliugworth ; and 
 from the MS. History of Manchester, in possession of the Rev. Dr. Smith ; as well 
 as from the ample MS. collections of pedigrees by Hopkiuson and Wilson, in the 
 Leeds Library, and from the MS. entitled " Familiae Lancastrienses," compiled from 
 the collections of sir John Byron, sir George Booth, Ralph Thoresby, John LucaS) 
 and others in the Author's possession; but most of all is he indebted for genealogical 
 information to the accurate and valuable MS. collection of pedigi'ees, originally 
 compiled by Mr. Vernon, of Shackerley, for the Asshetons of Middleton, and 
 politely furnished from the library of the late deeply -lamented lord Suffield. 
 
 In the transcription of documents from the public records, and in quotations from 
 those documents, as well as from private collections, the varying orthography of the 
 original has been faithfully copied, as well for the purpose of preserving the fidelity 
 of the quotation, as to sliew the changes in the spelling of names and places in 
 different ages. 
 
 Some years before the publication of this work was commenced, William Robert 
 Whatton, esq., F.A.S., announced a biographical work, under the title of " Lan- 
 castrenses lUustres ; or Historical and Biograpliical Memoirs of illustrious Natives 
 of the Palatine County of Lancaster, Avith Genealogical and Heraldic Observations ;" 
 but, professional engagements having prevented Mr. Whatton from prosecuting his 
 design to maturity, he generously transferred his ample collections, contained in four 
 manuscript volumes, to the appropriate depository, the general history of the county. 
 In the progi-ess of this work through the press, literature and science were suddenly 
 deprived by the stroke of death of this accomplished man ; but, fortunately, his 
 biographical labours were completed before that calamity befell his family and 
 friends. 
 
 To the noblemen and gentlemen who have liberally communicated, from their 
 pedigrees and evidences, much valuable information relating to their own and to 
 other distinguished families in the county, the Author is deeply obliged. To the 
 Rev. Thomas Raffles, D.D,, LL.D, the Author feels himself under great obligations.
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 For several years this gentleman had been engaged in collecting materials for a 
 HistoiT of the Hundred of West Derby, with the judgment and zeal for which he 
 is distinguished. The products of all this labour he spontaneously placed in the 
 hands of the Author of the County History, leaving him the unrestricted use of all 
 the papers in his collections. To Thomas Binns, esq., of Liverpool, he is also 
 indebted for the repeated inspection of his vast collection of engi'avings relating to 
 the different hundreds of Lancashire, a collection more extensive and varied than is 
 possessed by any other individual in the county ; as well as for the use of a number 
 of rare books, from the perusal of which he has derived important facilities in the 
 prosecution of his labours. A valuable original paper on the Roman roads con- 
 verging to Wigan from the hundreds of West Derby, Salford, and Amounderness, 
 was contributed by the Rev. Edmund Sibson, a laborious and successful antiquary ; 
 and Nicholas Grimshaw, esq., the guild-mayor of Preston, emphatically so called, has 
 in a variety of ways placed the Author under obligations by his contributions and his 
 corrections, in matters connected with the history of the ancient borough of Preston. 
 To his valued friend, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Hunter, Keeper of the Records in the 
 Tower of London, he is indebted for many useful suggestions, as well as for a 
 copious catalogue of the MS. works of Roger Dodsworth connected with the county 
 of Lancaster, in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. In every parisli in the county he 
 has received numerous acts of kindness and assistance in the progress of his publica- 
 tion, but the instances are too numerous to admit of distinct and separate acknow- 
 ledgment. 
 
 It is due to Mr. Hampson, the gentleman who has filled the luimble but con- 
 fidential office of amanuensis to the Author for several years, to say, that his learning 
 and research have contributed essentially to the accuracy of this publication ; and it 
 is also due to Mr. Edwin Butterworth, who has visited all the parishes and town- 
 ships of the couuty, without a single exception, for the purpose of collecting local 
 information, and to verify facts already obtained, to say, that he has performed his 
 duty with zeal, intelligence, and fidelity. 
 
 The Appendix to these volumes, which follows the paiish histories, will be found 
 to contain a variety of uiformation connected with the statistics of the County and 
 Duchy of Lancaster ; and, amongst other matter, Abstracts of the Ecclesiastical 
 Survey of the various parishes of the county, made by commissioners under the 
 authority of the Lord Protector during the period of the Commonwealth, usually 
 designated " The Oliverian Survey." These documents are found in the unpub- 
 lished MSS. in tlie Lambeth Library, obligingly opened to the Author for transcrip-
 
 XU PREFACE. 
 
 tion, by his Grace the Arclibishop of Canterbury ; to whom he is also indebted for 
 permission to make the Abstracts of the Endowments of Vicarages in the county of 
 Lancaster, by Dr. Ducarcl. 
 
 The Engravings (upwards of two hundred,) consisting of portraits, views, maps, 
 antiquarian subjects, and drawings of manufacturing machinery, witli which this pub- 
 lication is adorned, by artists eminent in their profession — and the uniformity of the 
 volumes in paper, print, and embellishments — reflect credit upon the spirited 
 publishers ; and the vignette initial letters affixed to each chapter and parish history, 
 from which the design is derived, display the taste of the engraver in wood, and the 
 advanced state of that branch of the arts. Tlie pedigrees are also arranged with skill 
 by the printer ; and the arms and crests by which these Tamily trees are surmounted, 
 though simple in their construction, have the merit of perfect accuracy in the 
 execution. 
 
 A number of Additions and Corrections, arranged in the order of the parishes, 
 follow the Appendix ; and a general Index of places, persons, and subjects, for the 
 facility of reference, concludes the work. 
 
 The extensive and highly respectable support which this publication has received 
 during the long period of its progress through the press, is indicated by the number 
 and station of the subscribers ; and the best acknowledgment that can be ofl'ered in 
 return is the assurance that an anxious desire has existed to execute the work in 
 every department in such a manner as to deserve that patronage which has been so 
 liberally awarded. 
 
 Leeds, December, 1836.
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 Introductory Observations. — Roman name of Lancashire. — Brigantes. — Aborigines. — Druidism. — 
 Manners and customs. — Languages. — Caesar's invasions. — Renewed invasion by the Romans. — 
 Lancashire overrun by the Romans. — Hadrian's wall. — Roman stations in Lancashire. — Lancashire 
 estuaries. — Roman roads in Lancashire. — Antonine's Itinerary of the Lancashire routes. — Richard 
 of Cirencester's Itinerary. — Arrival of the Emperor Severus in the Brigantine capital. — His acts. 
 — His death and deification. — His successors. — The goddess of the Brigantes. — Recent discovery 
 of Roman remains at Ribchester. — Provinces and districts. — Britain finally abandoned by the 
 Romans.— Roman institutions. — Roman remains in Lancashire. Page 1 
 
 Cljap, m, 
 
 Saxon period. — State of Britain on the departure of the Romans.— Urgent application of the Britons 
 for foreign aid. — Assistance offered by the Saxons. — They visit Britain as friends.— Remain as 
 enemies. — Take possession of Kent. — Defeat of the Saxons at York. — Saxon ingratitude. — King 
 Arthur. — Battles on the Douglas. — The Round Table. — Sir Tarquin. — The heptarchy. — North- 
 umbria. — Saxon idolatry. — Introduction of Christianity. — Missionaries to Britain. — Conversion of 
 the Northumbrians. — Restoration of churches. — Lancashire castles. — Oswald. — Archbishop 
 Wilfrid. — Papal authority acknowledged. — Transference of the people of Furness. — Rain of 
 blood. — Venerable Bede. — Invasion of the Danes. — Battle of Whalley. — Dissolution of the hep- 
 tarchy. — State of Lancashire in the ninth century. — Reign of Alfred the Great. — Saxon name of 
 Lancashire. — Early tradition of the Eagle and Child. — The tenth century. — The south of Lan- 
 cashire in Northumbria, and not in Mercia. — Wars in Northumbria. — Lancashire not mentioned 
 in the Saxon chronicles. — Passes under the Danish power.— Termination of the Saxon and Danish 
 dynasties in England. — Manners and institutions of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors. Page 2.3 
 
 Cbap. iM. 
 
 Conduct of the Conqueror, — Unsuccessful revolt in the north against his authority. — York superior 
 to London {note). — Proscriptions. — Early manners. — Renewed insurrection.— City and Cathedral 
 
 of York destroyed. — William marches again to the north. — Fate of Earls Morcar and Edwin. 
 
 Tremendous infliction. — Royal grant. — The Conqueror's dealings with the clergy. — Domesday 
 survey. — How formed. — The name of Lancashire not in the Domesday Book. — Perpetual use of 
 this memorable survey.— Latin and English versions of it.— Observations of the Domesday Book. 
 —Thanes.— Ethlings.— Aldermen.— The honor of Lancaster.— The Norman barons of Lancashire. 
 — Their stations. — Pedigree of Roger de Poictoii, the first Norman baron of the honor. — The 
 honor forfeited by Roger. — Conferred on Ranulf, the third earl of Chester. Page 85 
 
 VOL. I. f.
 
 XIV CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 Cfiap. iw. 
 
 Lands between die Ribble and Mersey. — Possessed by the earls of Chester.— Descend to the Ferrers, 
 earls of Derby. — Earldom of Lancaster. — Thomas, earl of Lancaster. — His opposition to the royal 
 favourite, Piers Gaviston. — To the Despensers. — Heads the barons against the king. — His fate. 
 — His reputed miracles after death. — The king's mandate. — Marriage of his widow. — Forfeits 
 part of her dowry. — Early manners. — Henry, earl of Lancaster. — Henry, his son. — His military 
 renown. — Created duke of Lancaster. Chancery court of Lancaster instituted. — County made 
 palatine. — "The good duke of Lancaster's" deeds of arms. — Holy relic. — His charities to the 
 " black liverys." — To Whalley abbey. — To Leicester college. — His death. — His issue. — John of 
 Gaunt. — His marriage. — His possessions. — Created duke of Lancaster. — His achievements in arms. 
 — Obtains the grant of chancery in the duchy and palatine privileges in the county of Lancaster. 
 — Advocates the cause of VVickliffe, " the morning star of the Reformation." — Privileges con- 
 ceded to him at court. — Obtains a grant of treasury in the duchy of Lancaster. — Demolition of 
 his house by the followers of Wat Tyler. — Magnanimity shewn towards and by the duke in Scot- 
 land. — Charged with a design to usurp the throne. — His foreign wars. — E.\tension of the duchy 
 privileges. — Espouses Catherine Swinford, his concubine. — Legitimatizes her children. — The 
 duke's death and character. Page 121 
 
 Character of Henry Plantagenet. — His marriage, and summons to parliament by the title of the Earl 
 of Derby. — Created duke of Hereford. — His quarrel with the duke of Norfolk. — Wager of battel. 
 — Great preparations for the contest. — The dukes separated in the moment of the onset. — Both 
 sentenced to banishment. — The duke of Hereford quits the country amidst the general lamentation 
 of the people. — Elevated to the dignity of Duke of Lancaster on the death of his father, John of 
 Gaunt. — Returns to England. — Expels Richard H. from the throne. — Elevation of the noble 
 house of Lancaster to the royal dignity. — Allusion, on ascending the throne, to the tradition, that 
 Edmund Crouchback was superseded by his younger brother. — Ancient tradition that John of 
 Gaunt was a foundling. — Original letter on that subject. — Possessions of the duchy of Lancaster 
 separated from the crown possessions. — Establishment of the duchy court. — Abolition of the 
 duchy court of star chamber. — Augmentation of the duchy possessions. — Early archives of the 
 duchy. — Inquisitions j90s< mortem, and pleadings in the duchy court. — Incorporation and confisca- 
 tion of the duchy. — Act of Philip and Mary for restoring the duchy possessions. — Ancient duchy 
 book, revenues, fees, &c. — Abolition of the feudal system. — Administration of the affairs of the 
 duchy, and appropriation of the revenues under the Commonwealth.- — Chancellors of the duchy 
 of Lancaster, from the creation of the duchy to the present time. — Duchy records, their nature 
 described, and the places of their deposits stated. — Officers of the duchy, as they at present 
 exist. — The duchy seal. — Origin and use of seals. — Ducatus Lancastrise, from the 
 Harleian MSS. Page 159 
 
 Cftap. 1J1E. 
 
 Creation of the county palatine. — Dr. Kuerden's letter on its antiquity. — Reasons for conferring the 
 
 palatine privileges. — Form of legal processes in the county. — Mode of electing the sheriff. 
 
 — List of sheriffs, from the earliest records to the present time.— Violation of the liberty and pro- 
 perty of the subject. — Ancient petition to parliament. — Punishment of outlaws Prohibition of 
 
 liveries. — Exigent. — Appointment of sheriff during the civil wars. — His oath. — Courts of the 
 county palatine. — Ecclesiastical courts. — Synopsis. — Description of the various courts. — Con- 
 templated removal of the assizes. — Ancient indictment of the high sheriff.— Inferior courts of the 
 county palatine. — Public records of the county palatine, civil and ecclesiastical. Page 199
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. XV 
 
 The antiquity of the county.-The earldom possessed by king John.-Tl>e crusades -Pm .leges 
 granted to the honor of Lancaster in the articles of Magna Charta.-Ratiticat.on of Magna Charta. 
 -The forest laws.-Assize of the forest at Lancaster.-King William's letter.-Abol.t.on of the 
 ordeals of fire and water.-Grant of land between the Mersey and Ribble.-Ongin of the repre- 
 sentative system in England.-The barons' wars, and their effect on the honors and mhentances 
 of the house of Lancaster.-War with Wales.-Ancient Lancashire wood-cutters.-F,rst mditary 
 summons extant, addressed to the sheriff of Lancashire.-Wages of labourers the.r uniform 
 adaptation through successive ages to the price of grain.-Chronolog.cal table of the standards 
 of value for six centuries.-Coals first used for fuel.-Ancient loyalty loan -Summonses of 
 military service-Conquest of Wales.-Reference to pope Nicholas s\ alor.-Wars w,th Scot and. 
 Lancashire newsmongers denounced.-Scotland conquered.-Renewed struggles under W.llmm 
 Wallace and Robert Bruce.-Large drain for men and money rn Lancashn-e.-Effects of wa,.- 
 Comm.ssion of Trailbaston.-Edward I. in Lancashire.-His death at Carhsle.-Fresh wars.- 
 Increase of crime and misery .-Adam de Banistre takes the field aga.nst the ear of Lancaster - 
 His fate.-Renewed wars of the barons, headed by Thomas, earl of Lancas er.-H,s late.- 
 m.erest taken in Lancashire in the barons' wars.-Charge of aiding Thomas earl o Lancaster- 
 Edward n. dethroned.-Placed in the custody of the earl of Lancaster -H.s cruel death.-The 
 Testa de NeviU' analyzed, so far as regards the landed possessions .n the county of Lancaster. 
 
 Cftnp. vrw. 
 
 Representative history of the county of Lancaster.-Hitherto neglected.-Ancient constitution of 
 ^; iam nts-Thedawnof parliamentary representation.-The reform parhament of Oxfonl, 
 pauiaments. ine u.t i •'.. f j^i„,,jts of the sh re.— Constitution of the 
 
 called parZiamen^am iMsanwrn.— First appointment or Knigiiis. ui I . ,• , 
 
 parUarTent of Oxford.-Its acts.-First writ for the payment of members of parliament.- 
 Op oS- g'-» to the ancient parliamentary reform. -Borough members first sent to par- 
 Hament.-How elected.-First members for the county of Lancaster, and for . s boroughs.- 
 First parliamentary return for Lancashire, extant.- First parliamentary wnt of summons fo. 
 LnaLre, extant -Returns in the reign of Edward L-Number of counties, boroughs &c. 
 then returning members. -Duration of the session of pari lament.-Frequent parliaments - 
 Members returned for the county of Lancaster in the reign of Edward IL_Lancash.re 
 borough returns in this reign.-The high sheriff of Lancashire assumes the power to e ect 
 members for the county.-Presentment against him for this and other offences.-Lancashire 
 Tounty members in the reign of Edward III.-The duration of parliaments.-False return or the 
 county made by the under sheriffs.-The king, and not the commons, decides on disputed elec- 
 tions -Peers of parliament, temporal and spiritual.-The boroughs of Lancashire cease to return 
 rembers.-The reason assigned.-Payment of the wages of men.bers of parhament.-Returns in 
 he reign of Richard IL-Writ of summons, not to the sheriff, but to John of Gaunt, duke f 
 I ancasS.-Members for the county in the reign of Henry IV.-The lack-learning parliament. 
 Lancashire members in the reign of Henry V.-of Henry VL-Qualification of electors for 
 kn:gi:^::^the shire fi.xed.-Cou:ty members in the reign f ^^^^^^^.J^-^^L ^"^^^^ 
 17 Edward IV. to 33 Henry Vlll.-County members from 1 Edwaid M. to 16 Charles I. Ihe 
 ncient Lancashire boroughs, consisting of Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan, resume the 
 lecUve franchise, 1 Edward VI.-Newton and Clitheroe added to the boroughs of Lancashire- 
 Nomination boro;ghs.-Dame Packington's nominees.-Claim of the chancellor of the duchy of 
 Lancaster to nominate members for Leicester.-Representation of Lancashire during the Com- 
 monwel.-List of knights of the shire for the county of Lancaster, from the Restoration to the 
 present time.-Political character of the county representation.-Alterat.ons made ,n the repre- 
 sentation of the county and boroughs of Lancashire by the Reform Bill of 1831. Page 286 
 
 c Z
 
 xvi CONTENTS TO VOL. I. 
 
 Cfjap. IX. 
 
 Impoitaut period in Lancashire history. — Royal clemency towards the adherents of Thomas earl of 
 Lancaster. — Attainder reversed. — Battle roll of Borouglibridge — Scotch invasion. — Lancashire 
 banditti. — Redress of public grievances. — Levies in the county. — Cattle removed into the south. 
 
 The invaders punished. — Subsidy in Lancashire on the marriage of the king's sister. — Talliages 
 
 in the county, sliewing the relative importance of tiie principal towns. — Statute of Winton 
 enforced in Lancashire. — Consequences in the county of renewed wars. — Splendid naval victory. 
 Fresh levies in the county. — Flocks and herds again driven. — Signal overthrow of the Scots. — 
 Their king made prisoner. — Pestilence. — Creation of the first duke of Lancaster. — On the origin of 
 the title of duke. — Heavy imposts on the people of the duchy. — Impressment of ships. — Maximum 
 of agricultural wages. — Death of the first duke of Lancaster. — His will. — His possessions.— Admi- 
 nistration of the first duke, from the rolls of the duchy. — Renewal of the dukedom in the person 
 of John of Gaunt. — Papal bull. — Levy of ships at Liverpool.— Non-exportation from thence. — 
 Renewed alarm of invasion. — Parish tax. — Exchange of Richmondshire for other possessions. — 
 The franchise of jura regalia confirmed, and extended in favour of the duke of Lancaster. — Let- 
 ters of protection to Lancashire men — iSTo restrictions on the importation of grain in these 
 early times. — Continuance of the royal bounty to the house of Lancaster. Page 323 
 
 €f)ap, .V. 
 
 'ijwer of the duke of Lancaster. — Lancashiremen at the coronation of Richard II. — Courts of law 
 closed by the insurrection of Wat Tyler. — State of public morals in Lancashire. — Invasions of the 
 Scots. — Murderof Latimer, the accuser of the duke of Lancaster. — The duke's expedition to 
 Spain. — Submission of award. — Renewed Scotch invasion. — Larger measure in Lancashire than 
 any other part of the kingdom. — Ancient salmon fislieries of Lancashire. — Alleged claim to the 
 throne made by John of Gaunt for his son. — .4ccusation of the duke against sir Thomas Talbot. 
 — Legitimation of the duke's children by Catherine Swinford. — Accession of the house of Lan- 
 caster to the throne. — Grant of the Isle of Man, first to Henry earl of Northumberland, and after- 
 wards to sir John Stanley, knight. — Annals of the duchy.— Charters of the duchy. — John of 
 Gauut's illustrious descent. — His children. — Hostility of France. — Contest for the papacy. — Will 
 of Henry IV. — Henry V. ascends the throne. — The Lollards. — Union of the county of Hereford 
 to the duchy of Lancaster. — Battle of Agincourt. — Commissions of array. — Tiie crown jewels 
 pledged to carry on the war —Death of Henry V.— His bequest of the duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 Page 360 
 
 Cijap. XI' 
 
 Scarcity of records for history during the Wars of the Roses. — Mariiage of Henry VT. — Lancaster 
 
 Herald. Witchcraft. — The Lancashire alchymists, sir Edmund Trafford and sir Thomas Ashton. 
 
 — Their patent. — Claims of the rival houses of York and Lancaster to the throne. — Their official 
 pedigrees. — Wars of the Roses. — Letter from the earl of Marche and the earl of Rutland, sons of 
 the duke of York, (with fac -simile.) — Badges of the house of Lancaster. — Declaration against 
 lord Stanley. — State of public morals.— Unsuccessful attempt to compromise the diflTerence 
 between the rival houses. — Henry VI. dethroned by Edward IV. — Henry seeks an asylum in 
 Lancashire. — Taken by sir John Talbot. — Sir John's grant for this service. — Catastrophe of the 
 Lancastrian family. — Edward V. murdered in the Tower. — Coronation of Richard HI. — Letters
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. XVll 
 
 patent granted by him — His warrant for seizing a rebel's land in Lancashire. — The king's jealousy 
 towards the duke of Richmond, son-in-law of lord Stanley, extends to his lordship. — Attainder of 
 lady Stanley, countess of Richmond. — Landing of the duke of Richmond in England. — Battle of 
 Bosworth field. — Confiscation of Lancashire estates. — Union of the houses of York and Lancaster. 
 — Sweating sickness. — Lambert Simnell and Perkin Warbeck, pretenders to the throne. — Fatal 
 consequences of the civil wars to the duke of York's family (note). — Sir William Stanley accused 
 of high treason — Condemned and executed. — Henry VIL's royal progress to Lancashire. — 
 Letter of the countess of Derby and Richmond (fac-simile.) — Execution of Edward, earl of War- 
 wick, the last male of the Plantagenet line. — Death of Henry VH. Page 402 
 
 The sixteenth century. — Henry VIIL ascends the throne. — Invasion of England by the Scots. — 
 Battle of Flodden field. — The king's letter of thanks to sir Edward Stanley, &c. — Lord-lieutenants 
 ' first appointed. — Proclamation to the sheriflT of Lancaster on the menaced Scotch invasion. — The 
 Reformation. — Religious persecution. — Visitation of the monasteries. — Deplorable ignorance of 
 the clergy. — Report of the commissioners on the Lancashire monasteries — Dissolution of the 
 lesser monasteries — Original certificate of the value of certain monasteries in Lancashire. — Pro- 
 gress of a suffragan in Lancashire. — Insurrections produced by the dissolution of the monasteries. 
 — The pilgrimage of grace. — Letter from the king to the archbishop of York and lord Darcy. — 
 Original warrants (fac-similes) from the king to sir Roger Bradshaw and sir Thomas Langton, 
 knights. — Dispersion of the rebel army — Reassemble — Final dispersion. — Letter from the earl of 
 Derby to the king, on the taking of Whalley abbey. — First draught of Henry VIII.'s letter to the 
 earl of Sussex, on the rebellion in the north, &c. — Renewed rebellion in the north. — Execution 
 of the abbot of Whalley, and others. — Dissolution of the larger monasteries. — First publication 
 of the Bible in English. — Excommunication of the king. — List of Lancashire monasteries. — Their 
 revenues administered by the duchy. — Aggregate value of the dissolved monasteries. — Bishopric 
 of Chester, &c. erected. — List of chantries in Lancashire. — Decayed towns in Lancashire. — 
 Privilege of sanctuary. — The king's death. Page 457 
 
 Cljap. XIM. 
 
 Lancashire in the reign of Edward VI. — In the reign of queen Mary. — Lancashire martyrs: John 
 Rogers, John Bradford, George March. — Bluster of soldiers in the county of Lancaster in Mary's 
 reign. — Lancashire in the reign of Elizabeth. — General muster of soldiers in Lancashire, in 1559. 
 — Ecclesiastical commission, consisting of the earl of Derby, the bishop of Chester, and others. — 
 State of Lancashire on the appointment of the commission. — Catholic recusants. — Mary queen of 
 Scots seeks an a«yluni in England — -Placed in confinement. — Puritan recusants. — Rebellion in 
 the north to re-establish the Catholic religion — Suppressed. — Certificates of the levies of troops 
 in the county of Laneasler, with autographs of a number of the principal inhabitants. — Meetings 
 of the lieutenancy. — Original letter of Edward, earl of Derby, to tire queen. Letter of the earl of 
 Huntington to secretary Cecil, casting suspicion on the loyalty of the earl of Derby ; proved to 
 ill founded. Part taken by Lancashire gentlemen to liberate Mary queen of Scots. — Comparative 
 military strength of the kingdom. — Muster of soldiers in Lancashire, in 1574. — Declaration of the 
 ancient tenth and fifteenth within the county of Lancaster. — Queen Elizabeth's visit to Dr. Dee, 
 the astrologer. — The Chaderton MSS. relating to the affairs of the county of Lancaster. — Original 
 papers relalting to the Lancashire recusants. — Lancashire contribution of oxen to queen Elizabeth's
 
 xviii CONTENTS OF VOL. \. 
 
 table. — Fac-simile. — MS. of the Lancashire lieutenancy. — Lancashire loyal asaociation against 
 Mary queen of Scots and her abbettors. — Trial and execution of Mary queen of Scots. — The 
 Spanish armada. — Letter from the queen to the earl of Derby thereon. — Preparations in Lanca- 
 shire to resist — Destruction of. — Thanksgiving for national deliverance in Lancashire. — Memorable 
 and fatal feud. — Atrocious abduction. Levies of troops in Lancasliire for Ireland. — Suppression 
 of the rebellion there. — Death of queen Elizabeth. — Loyal address of Lancashire gentry to her 
 successor James I. on his accession to the throne. Page 496 
 
 Cftap. XIV. 
 
 Ancient manners and customs of the county. — The chase. — Archery. — Dress. — Buildings. — Food. — 
 Coaches. — Progress of improvement. — Sports and pastimes. — The arts. — The laws. — King 
 James's first progress. — Lancashire knights. — The plague. — The Gunpowder plot. — Letter to 
 lord Monteagle. — Cecil's account of the discovery. — Fate of the conspirators. — Nevif dignity of 
 inheritance. — Lancashire baronets. — Lancashire witches. — Dr. Dee's petition. — Seer Edward Kel- 
 ley, the necromancer. — History of Lancashire witchcraft. — Duchess of Gloucester. — The Stanley 
 family. — Satanic possession. — Cases of seven demoniacs in Mr. Starkie's family at Cleworth. — 
 Dispossessed. — The conjurer hanged. — King James's daemonologie. — Witches of Pendle Forest. — 
 Their trial. — Fate. — Salmesbury witches. — Acquitted. — Second batch of Pendle Forest witches. 
 — The witch-finder's deposition. — Proved to be an impostor. — Examination of the Lancashire 
 witches before the king in council. — Deposition of Ann Johnson, one of the reputed witches. 
 — On the belief in witchcraft. — Case of a Lancashire witch in Worcestershire. — Richard 
 Dugdale, the Lancashire demoniac. — His possession. — Dispossession. — Witchcraft exploded. — 
 Progress of king James through Lancashire. — Sunday sports. — rThe Book of Sports. — Further 
 honours conferred on Lancashire men. — Letter from king James to sir Richard Hoghton, with 
 autograph. — Letter from the king's council to the earl of Derby, lord-lieuteiiant of Lancashire and 
 Cheshire. Pwge 567
 
 LIST OF PLATES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 Edward Baines, Esq., M.P To face Title 
 
 Antique Helmet of Bronze found at Ribchester . . . . . . . . . p. 20 
 
 Map of Lancashire, according to the Domesday Survey . 92 
 
 John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster 137 
 
 Seals of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster . 192 
 
 Autographs of the Lancashire Lieutenancy in the Reign of Elizabeth ..... 518
 
 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 
 
 Cancel the original Titles, and use the separate ones, which have the words " SllllJ l3Uff)J>" added. 
 Insert the " Preface" (Sig. b) given in the last Part, instead of the " Advertisement" originally 
 
 given in Part I. 
 In each volume, the Contents and List of Plates are immediately to precede the body of the Work. 
 In Volume I. the original pages, 319, 320, 321, 322, in signatures 2 S and 2 T, (which were printed 
 
 before the passing of the Reform Bill,) are to be cancelled, and the reprint of those pages 
 
 substituted in their stead. 
 In Vol. II. the pages wanting between Sigs. 3 D and 3 E (namely, folios 393, 394, 395, 396,) 
 
 consist of Pedigrees.
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE. 
 
 Cftap, h 
 
 In'.roductory Observations. — Roman name of Lancashire. — Brigantes. — Aborigines. — Druidism. — 
 Manners and customs. — Languages. — Caesar's invasions. — Renewed invasion by the Romans. — 
 Lancashire overrun by the Romans. — Hadrian's waU. — Roman stations in Lancashire. — Lanca- 
 shire estuaries. — Roman roads in Lancashire. — Antonine's Itinerary of the Lancashire routes. — 
 Richard of Cirencester's Itinerary. — Arrival of the Emperor Severus in the Brigantian capitaL — 
 His acts. — His death and deification. — His successors. — The goddess of the Brigantes. — 
 Recent discovery of Roman remains at Ribchester. — Provinces and districts. — Britain finally 
 abandoned by the Romans. — -Roman institutions. — Roman remains in Lancashire. 
 
 HE County of Lanca.ster, though not particularly chap. 
 famed for those monuments of antiquity which shed ^' 
 
 a lustre on histoiy, local as well as national, is by introduc- 
 no means destitute of ancient remains. Its dis- 
 tinguisliing characteristics, however, consist in the 
 extent of its commerce, the importance of its manu- 
 factures, the nimiher and value of its modem insti- 
 tutions, and the activity and enterprise of its abun- 
 dant population. In tracing the liistory of such a 
 County, it becomes the duty of the historian to 
 describe mth accuracy the monuments bequeathed to us by our ancestors, without 
 exhausting the patience of his readers with prolix details and controversial disquisi- 
 tions ; which, however interesting to the antiquarian, seldom tend to any valuable 
 result. Wliere facts are wanting, conjecture may be resorted to, in order to sup- 
 ply the defect ; but in a portion of the kingdom where there is so much of the 
 real history of human affairs, it would be unpardonable to spend that time in 
 barren speculation, wliich may be so much more advantageously devoted to the 
 concerns of the gi"eat community for whose information tliis work is intended. 
 VOL. T. B
 
 2 Cf)f 2>isitoii) of tht 
 
 CHAP. For nearly four thousand years of the world's existence, the liistory of this 
 
 County, and of this country, is almost a blank, except so far as it may be read 
 
 in its geological phenomena; and it may be confidently asserted, that before the 
 fu'st lancHng of Julius Csesar upon our shores, scarcely any tiling is known of 
 the people who inhabited this island, or of the government and institutions under 
 wliich they lived. There have been, it is true, certain zealous and adventurous 
 antifiuarians, who have assigned dates much earlier than the fifty-fifth year before 
 the bii'th of Cluist, to the two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge ; the cham- 
 pion of the antiquity of Cambridge going back to Cantaber, who, as we are told, 
 lived 394 years before the Clmstian era; and the still bolder Oxonian dating 
 the bii-th of his Alma Mater as far back as the fall of Troy ! 
 
 The history of Britain before the Norman Conquest may be divided into 
 foiu" portions : 
 
 Fii-st, the Aborigines ; 
 
 Second, the Roman period ; 
 
 Thii'd, the Anglo-Saxon period ; and. 
 
 Fourth, the Danish period. 
 
 Each of these epochs had its distinct character, and in all of them the 
 inhabitants of Laucashii-e took theuf share; though it is doubtful whether tliis 
 County, even at the Conquest, had obtained its present name. 
 Roman According to Ptolemy, the inhabitants of the country between the lofty 
 
 Lanca- ridge which now separates Yorksliire from Lancashire, and the bay of Morecambe, 
 bore the name of the Setantii, or Segantii — the dwellers in " the country of water ;" 
 wliich district, on the second invasion of the Romans, was included in the more 
 Brigantes. cxteusive proAiuce of the Briijantes* extending on the east side of the island 
 from the Hmnber to the Tyne, and on the west from the Mersey to the Eden, and 
 comprehending the five counties of Yorksliii-e, Durham, Ciunberland, Westmore- 
 land, and Lancaslm-e. Tliis being the most powerful and populous nation in 
 Britain, durmg the Roman sway, it is the most celebrated by the best writers, f 
 Ahorigi- Historians ai-e generally agi-eed that the Aborigines of Britain, as Caesar 
 
 calls our earliest ancestors, were a tribe of the Gauls, who emigi-ated from the 
 Continent, and settled in this island | about a thousand years before the butli 
 of Christ. The more probable conjecture is, as Caesar intimates, that the 
 interior parts of Britain, to the north and to the west, and consequently 
 Lancashire, were peopled by the earliest mhabitants, and the maritime pai'ts by 
 
 * Brigantes. From the Spanish Briga, a city, or from the Belgic Brigantes, free lands, 
 rather tlian from the French Brigands, piratical marauders. 
 
 t Camden, vol. iii. p. 233. X Rich, de Cir. b. I. cap. ii. sect. 4. 
 
 oes.
 
 Cotintp ^aalntint of iCanrneitrr. 3 
 
 those -who crossed over from Belgiimi, in Gaul, for the pui-pose of in\acling it, ^hap. 
 
 almost all of whom had their names from the tribes whence they sprang, and, 
 
 on the cessation of hostilities, remained here. 
 
 Before the first invasion of the Romans, the inhabitants of tliis part of the 
 island subsisted cliiefly by hunting; and theii- cattle gi'azed upon pastures, 
 unencumbered by any of the artificial di\'isious whicli a state of cultivation never 
 fails to produce. For their clothing, when the severity of the season compelled 
 them to submit then- lunbs to such restraints, they were indebted to the skins 
 of animals ; and their dwellings were formed by the pillars of the forest, rooted 
 in the earth, and enclosed by interwoven branches, wldch but imperfectly served 
 to shelter them dming the hours of repose from the conflict of the elements. 
 Their governments, according to Diodorus Siculus, the ancient liistorian, though 
 monarchical, were free, like those of all the Celtic nations; and theii- religion, 
 wliich formed one part of the government, was Druidical : then- deities were 
 furies ; hiuaan sacrifices were offered to them ; * and the eternal transmigration 
 of souls was inculcated, and universally believed. 
 
 According to Caesar,! " the Druids attend on divine offices, perform the public 
 and private sacrifices, and explain the mysteries of religion. To them gi-eat oruidisra. 
 niunbers of youth resort for instruction, and they are held in great honour among 
 them, for they decide in almost all cases, public and private ; and if any crime or 
 murder is committed, or any disputes arise about estates or bounds, they deter- 
 mine it, and appomt rewards and punishments. If any individual or body of 
 men refuses to abide by then- sentences, they forbid him to come to the sacrifices. 
 Tliis is esteemed the heaviest punishment among them. The persons thus for- 
 bidden are considered a.s impious ^TCtches, shunned by all, and then- conversation is 
 avoided, as if for fear of bemg injiu-ed by the contagion of thefr company. They 
 can obtain no benefit from the laws, nor ai'e they alloAved any shai-e in public 
 honom-s. Over all these Druids presides one with supreme authority. Upoji 
 his death the next in rank succeeds ; but if there are many equal in rank, a suc- 
 cessor is elected by the suffrage of the rest. They sometimes dispute for the 
 superiority by the sword. These priests, at a certain time of the year, hold a 
 general assembly, in a consecrated place in the confines of the Carnutes, whose 
 counhy is supposed the centre of all Gaid. Hither repair- all who have any 
 disputes, and submit themselves to their judgments and decrees. This system 
 of discipUne is supposed to have been planned in Britain, and thence transfen-ed 
 to Gaul ; and, to this day, those who desii-e to acquire a more intimate knowledge 
 of it, generally go tliither to be instructed in it. The Druids are dispensed from 
 * Solinus. t C. Julii Caesaris Commentarii de Bello Gallico, lib. vi. cap. 13, 14. 
 
 b2
 
 4 €I)t i>i5torp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, attending on war, nor do they pay ti-ibute, like the rest of the nation ; and they 
 ' ai-e exempted from military and all other service. Encouraged by such re- 
 wards, and frequently of tlieu- own choice, many come to them to be instructed, 
 or are sent by then- relatives and pai-euts. They ai'e said to leam bj^ heai-t a 
 great number of verses, and therefore spend several years in this discipline ; nor 
 do they think it right to coimnit what they are taught to writing, whereas, in 
 almost every thing else of a public or private natm-e, they use the Greek charac- 
 ters. This I suppose them to do for two reasons ; because they would not have 
 the common people acquainted ^vith then- discipline, nor their- scholai's who leani 
 it trust to letters more than their memory, it being a too conuuon case that per- 
 sons who rely upon the assistance of Aniting, lay too little stress on memory. 
 The points they cliiefly inculcate ai-e, the immortality and ti-ansmigi-ation of the 
 soul,* which they think very conducive to inspire courage, by occasioning a con- 
 tempt of death. They likei\ise discourse ^vith youth much about the heavenly 
 bodies and their- motion, the size of the heaven and the eai-th, the nature of 
 tilings, the influence and power of the immortal gods." 
 
 Accorchng to Pliny ,t " the Druids (as the Gauls call their- magicians or 
 wise men) hold notliing so sacred as the misletoe, and the ti-ee on wliich it 
 gi-ows, provided it be an oak. They make choice of oak gi-oves in preference to 
 all others, and perfonn no rites without oak leaves; so that they seem to have 
 the name of Druids from thence, if we derive their- name fi-om Greek. Tliey 
 think whatever grows on those trees is sent from heaven, and is a sign that the 
 Deity has made choice of that tree. But as the misletoe is seldom to be met 
 with, when found, it is fetched with great ceremony, and by aU means on the 
 sixth day of the moon, which with them begins the months and years, and the 
 period of thirty years, wliich they term an age ; for, at that season, the moon 
 has sufficient influence, and is above half fidl. Tliey call tliis plant in their 
 
 * The effects of this opinion are very strikingly described by Lucan, in a highly poetical 
 apostrophe to the Druids : — 
 
 ' Vobis auctoribus umbrse 
 Non tacitas Erebi sedes, Ditisque profundi 
 Pallida regna petunt : regit idem spiritus artus 
 Orbs alio : longse (canitis si cognita) vitse 
 Mors media est. Certe populos quos despicit Arctos 
 Felices errore suo, quos ille timorum 
 Maximus, baud urget leti metus ! Inde ruendi 
 In ferrum mens prona viris, animaeque capaces 
 Mortis, et ignavum rediturse parcere vitae." Lucan, Pharsal. 1. i. 
 
 t Nat. Hist. xvi. c. 44.
 
 Ctrnntp ^alati'nt of I-ancasitfr. 5 
 
 own language All-heal ; and, after preparing it for the sacrifice and feast *imder chap. 
 
 the tree, they bring up two wliite Lulls, whose horns have been bound for the '. — 
 
 first time. The priest, habited iu wliite, mounts the tree, and, with a golden 
 hook, cuts the misletoe, which is received in a white cloth. They then sacrifice 
 the \'ictiins, praying the deity to render this, his gift, favourable to those to 
 whom they distribute it. They suppose it renders any animal fruitful wliich 
 (Wnks a decoction of it, and it is a remedy against all sorts of poison. So 
 much does the gi'eatest pai-t of a national religion consist in trilles." 
 
 The manners and customs of the ancient Britons resembled those of the Gauls. Manners 
 They were extremely warlike, eager for slaughter, and bold and courageous in tums. 
 battle. Dion Cassius, speaking of the Britons in the northern pait of the island, 
 (the Brigantes,) says, " They never cultivate the land, but live on prey, hunting, 
 and the fiiiuts of trees ; for they never touch fish, of which they have such prodi- 
 gious plenty. They live in tents, naked, and mthout shoes; have theii* wives iu 
 common, and maintain all theu" cliil(beu. The people shai'e the government 
 amongst them, and they practise robbery ^\'ithout restraint. They fight in chariots, 
 haring small fleet horses; they have also infantry, who can run very swiftly, and while 
 they stand are very firm. Then- arms are a shield, and a short spear, on the lower 
 part of wliich is a bell of brass, to terrify the enemy by its sound when shaken. 
 They likewise weai' daggers. They are accustomed to brave hunger, cold, and all 
 kinds of toil ; for they will contiuue several days up to their chins in water, and 
 bear hunger many days. In the woods they live on bai"k and roots of tfees. They 
 prepare a certain kind of food for all occasions, a piece of which, of the size of a 
 bean, prevents their feeling hunger or tliirst."* 
 
 Xiphihnust says, Bundinica, the British queen, " wore a gold coUai-, and was 
 dressed in a party-coloured robe." Pliny says, " the Britons and Gauls wore a 
 ring on then- middle finger ;" and Caesai* describes them as wearing long liair.J 
 They wore, like the Gauls, a particular di'ess, called bracha : 
 
 Quam veteres brachae Britonis pauperis.^ 
 Like the old brachae of a needy Briton. 
 
 But the description of the manners and customs of the ancient Britons, as given 
 by CjBsar, is the most full and clear.]! " The Britons," says the Roman conqueror, 
 " use brass money, or nou rings of a certain weight instead of it. They tliink it not 
 
 * Sir Robert Sibbald supposes this to be the root of orobus, or tlie wild astragalus thalius, which 
 has a taste like liquorice, and is called by the Highlanders, who chew it for the same purpose at present, 
 karemyle. Scotia lUust. p. i. lib. i. c. 17 — 19. The plant meant by Sir Robert (for it is not easily 
 identified by this description) is the heath peaseling, the orobus tuberosus of Linneeus. 
 
 + LXII. Punc. : B. G. V 14. § Martial. 1| B. G. v. 12.
 
 6 CI)t S^istorp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, right to eat hares, poultiy, or geese, though they breed them all for amusement. 
 ' Of all the natives, the most civilized are the inhabitants of Cantium, all that country 
 lying on the sea-coast; and the manners of this people are not very different from 
 those of the Gauls. The inland inhabitants for the most part sow no corn, but live 
 on milk and flesh, and for clotliing wear skins. AU the Britons stain themselves 
 with woad, which produces a blue colour, and gives them a more horrible appearance 
 in battle. They wear the hair of their head long, but close and bare on every part 
 of their body, except then* head and upper lip. Tliey have their wives in common 
 among ten or twelve of them, especially brothers with brothers, and parents with 
 cliilch'en; but the issue by these Avives belongs to those who manied them when 
 vu-gins. Most of them use chariots in battle. They first scour up and down on 
 every side, throwmg their darts, creating disorder among the ranks by the teiTor of 
 their horses and noise of theu* chariot wheels; and when they are got among the 
 troops of horse, they leap out, and fight on foot. Meantime the charioteers retire to 
 a little distance from the field, and place themselves in such a manner, that if the 
 others are overpowered by the nmnber of the enemy, they may be secure to make 
 good then- retreat. Thus they act with the agility of cavalry, and the steadiness of 
 infantry, in battle, and become so expert by constant practice, that in declivities and 
 precipices they can stop then.' horses on full speed, and on a sudden check and 
 tm-n them, run along the pole, stand on the yoke, and then as quickly dart into their 
 chariots again. They frequently retreat on purpose, and, after they have drawn our 
 men a little way fi-om the main body, leap from their poles, and wage an unequal 
 war on foot. Then- manner of fighting on horseback creates the same danger, both 
 to the reti-eater and the pursuer. Add to tliis, that they never fight in bodies, but 
 scattered and at gi-eat cUstances, and have parties in reserve supporting one another, 
 and fresh troops ready to relieve the weary." 
 Language. From the affinity of language, Camden contends that the Britons sprang fi-om 
 the Germans, and the Scotch fi-om the Irish ; and though Caesar says that the Gauls 
 had different languages, he adds, as we have seen, that it was usual for the Gauls, 
 who wished to acquu-e greater proficiency in the Druidical mysteries, to come 
 over to Britain to receive instruction from our Druids; and Tacitus* says, "The 
 language of the Britons and the Gauls is not very different." 
 
 Tlie Romans, in their tliirst for universal empii-e, after subduing Gaul, turned 
 their attention towards Britain; and if any tiling can palliate the disgi-ace of a 
 conquered country, that alleviation is to be found in the name of the conqueror, 
 wliich ^ill Uve throughout all ages, as well in the glory of his arms, as in 
 the fidelity of his classical Commentaries. 
 
 * Vit. Agr. xi.
 
 Count)) |3alatinf of aanrastfr. 7 
 
 Nee stetit oceanus, remisque ingressa profundum CHAP. 
 
 Vincendos, alio quEcsivit in oibe Britaniios. ^' 
 
 Nor ocean stopped him, but with daring oar 
 He sought new conquests on the British shore. 
 
 CjBsar's owii account of the conquest, as presented in the fourth and fiftli books Csesar's 
 
 iuvasion* 
 
 of his " De Bello Gallico," exceeds all other descriptions, and is suhstantitdly as 
 follows : 
 
 In the summer of the 55th year before the bii'th of Christ, Caesar resolved to 
 pass over into Britam. Having marched his army into the tenitory of the Morini, 
 (now the French department of the Pas de Calais,) he ordered a gi'eat many ships 
 in the neighbouring ports to attend him, for the jrarpose of undertaking the invasion. 
 The Britons, in the mean tune, having notice of his design, came to Caesar with 
 oifers of hostages and submission to the authority of Rome. The answer returned 
 to these overtures was, that he should visit them in person, and he hoped they would 
 be ready to enter into alliance with the Romans. The preliminary arrangements 
 having been made, he weighed anchor about midnight, and about ten o'clock in the 
 morning reached the coast of Britain, where he saw all the cHffs covered witli the 
 British force assembled to repel the invaders. To effect a landing, the Romans 
 were obliged to leap from then- sliips breast-liigh into the water. In their endea- 
 vours to laud they were sti'enuously opposed by the Britons, whose chariots lined 
 the shore, while their cavalry advanced boldly to the edge of the water, and cast 
 theii- darts at the invaders Avith murderous eftect. Tlie Roman soldiers, sluinking 
 from tliis unequal warfare, demurred to leap into the sea, when tlie standard-bearer 
 of the tenth legion, having first invoked the gods for success, cried out aloud — 
 " Follow me, fellow-soldiers, unless you will betray the Roman eagle into the hands 
 of the enemy : for my part, I am detennined to discharge my duty to Caesar and 
 the commonwealth." Upon tliis he jumped into the sea, and advanced with the 
 eagle against the enemy. Excited by this heroic example, the Roman sokliers 
 leaped promiscuously from then- sliips, and, falling upon the enemy, speedily put 
 them to the rout. The Britons, being thus vanquished in battle, despatched ambas- 
 sadors to Caesar, to offer hostages, and an entu-e submission to his conuuands. A 
 peace was thus concluded four days after Cesar's arrival in Britain ; but that very 
 night a stonn came on suddenly, and destroyed or dismantled all the conqueror's 
 sliippiug. Consternation spread through the camp, there being no sliips left to 
 cany back the troops, and the army was wholly without com whereon to subsist. 
 Tliis disaster being known to the British cliiefs, who, after the battle, had repaii-ed 
 to Caesar's camp to perform the conditions of the treaty, they confederated amongst 
 themselves, and left the camp to ch-aw the islanders together; but Caesar, suspecting
 
 8 €i)t fnsitorp of tftf 
 
 CHAP, tlieii- design, had daily supplies of corn brought to liis camp, and by extraordinary 
 " exeitious the fleet was repaii-ed, and soon in a condition to take the sea. During 
 these transactions, the seventh legion being sent out to forage, according to custom, 
 the soldiers were attacked by a strong body of the Britons placed in ambush, and 
 only escaped destruction by the timely arrival of Caesar, who came to their relief. 
 Meanwliile the Britons despatched messengers into all parts, to make kno^ra to their 
 countrymen the small number of the Roman troops, and the favourable opportunity 
 they had of making immense spoil, and freeing their country from future invasion, 
 by storming the enemy's camp. Having by tliis means got together a great body 
 of infantry and cavalry, they marched towards the Roman entrenchments. Caesar 
 lost no tune in tbawing up his legions in order of battle before the camp, and, falling 
 upon the Britons, who were not able to sustain the shock of cUsciplined troops, they 
 were soon put to flight. The Romans, pursuing them as long as their strength 
 would permit, made a terrible slaughter, and, setting fii-e to then- houses and 
 Aollages a great way roimd, returned to the camp. The same day ambassadors 
 came to Caesar to sue for peace, when Ctesar, doubling the nimiber of the hostages 
 he had before imposed upon them, ordered them to be sent to the continent, and, 
 not judging it prudent to winter in Britain, embarked his army and returned 
 to Gaul.* 
 
 Taught by experience, Caesar's next invasion was undertaken with a much 
 superior force, consisting of five legions and two thousand horse, accompanied by a 
 fleet of eight hundi-ed sail of vessels, wliich quitted Portus Ituis in the su mm er of 
 the following year. Though a great anay of Britons had repaired to the coast, to 
 resist the landing of the invaders, they became terrified by the vast nmnber of 
 ships, and retired hastily to the mountains, where they liid themselves in dismay. 
 CiBsar ha\Tng landed his army Avithout resistance, chose a proper place for Ms camp 
 upon the coast, in which he left ten cohorts, with three huncked horse, to guard the 
 fleet, when, after a march of about twelve hoiu's by night into the country, he came 
 in sight of the British army, Avho, having posted themselves behind a river, with 
 then- cavalry and chariots, attacked the invaders from their high gi-ound, to resist 
 their passage. After a bloody conflict, the Britons were first driven into the woods, 
 wliich were strongly barricadoed by felled trees ; but the sokhers of the seventh 
 legion, advancing under cover of their shields, and having cast up a mound, forced 
 the entrenclunents with little loss, and obliged the native troops to abandon the wood. 
 The next morning Caesar was preparing to pursue the enemy ; but when he had 
 advanced a little way, intelligence was brought liim, " that a dreadful stonn aiising 
 on the preceding night, had fallen violently upon liis fleet, and diiven almost all the 
 
 * B. G. iv.
 
 CountP ^3alatint of EanraEitrr* 9 
 
 ships on shore." Caesai-, upon this, recalled his legions and cavalry, and returned chap. 
 
 to his camp, from wlieuce, after spending ten days in repairing the disaster, he 1 . 
 
 retui-ued to the place where he had quitted the pursuit of the Britons. Upon Ids 
 amval he found their numbers had heen considerably increased in the interval ; and 
 that tlie coimnaud of tlieii- forces had, by common consent, been conferred upon 
 Cassibelaunus, whose territories were divided from the maritime states by the Thames, 
 a river eighty miles from the sea. The British horse, supported by their chariots, 
 vigorously charged the Roman cavalry on then' march ; yet they were every where 
 dispersed, and diiven back to theii- woods and hUls with great slaughter. The 
 Romans, in then- turn, suffered considerable loss by a sally made by the enemy from 
 the woods, and Q. Laberius Durus, a military tribune, was slain on the occasion. 
 On tlie following day a most sanguinary and decisive engagement took place, in 
 wliich the Britons were routed. StUl unsubdued, they stationed themselves in gi-eat 
 numbers upon the banks of the Thames, at the only place where the river was 
 fordable ; but the Roman cavalry succeeded in crossing the river, though notliing 
 but then- heads were above the water, and charged the Britons with so much unpe- 
 tuosity as to oblige them to quit the banks, and betake themselves to flight. A 
 predatory warfare was carried on for some time against the Romans : but at length 
 the Britons, finding further resistance hopeless, the Trinobantes, the Cenimagni, 
 Segontiaci, Ancalites, Bibroci, and Cassi, sent ambassadors to Caesar with offers of 
 submission ; and Cassibelaunus, discouraged by so many losses and the devastation 
 of liis tenitory, sued for peace. Csesar, designing to pass the winter in Gaul, Csesar 
 listened the more readily to theii" overtures, and, baring demanded hostages, and tain, 
 appointed the yeai-ly tribute which Britain was to pay to the Romans, embai-ked his 
 anny, and quitted the British shores never to return. A more empty conquest 
 was scarcely ever achieved: and yet, on liis return to Rome from the conquest 
 of Britain, Caesar dedicated a breast-plate made of British pearls, in the temple 
 of Venus Genetrix,* and exliiluted a number of British prisoners in the theatre 
 of tliat city. 
 
 The sun of Roman glory bad now passed its meridian. Distracted by domestic 
 wai-s, which ended in the establishment of an absolute monarchy in Rome, the 
 conquerors bad little force to spare for the preservation of distant conquests ; the 
 Britons were, therefore, for a long time, left to themselves, and, for nearly a century 
 after the invasion of Caesar, they enjoyed, unmolested, then- o^vn ci^il and religious 
 institutions. 
 
 * In Britannia parvosatque decolores (uniones) nasci certum est, quoniam Divus Julius thoracem, 
 quern V^eneri genetrici in templo ejus dicavit, ex Britannicis margaritis factum voluerit intelligi. — 
 Plin. lib. IX. c. 35. 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 10 Wi)t ?f)istorj) of tftf 
 
 CHAP. In the intenal between the first and second invasion of Britain by the Romans, 
 
 the founder of the Chiistian religion had accomplished liis divine mission, in ii 
 
 A.D. 43. 
 
 province of the Roman empiie, but ahnost without observation at Rome ; and, ten 
 Renewed yeai's after his death, the Emperor Claudius sent over an ai'iny to this country, 
 
 invasion * i /■ a i tii • 
 
 by the Ro- mulcr the conunaud of Aulus Plautnis, the first Roman general who landed on tliis 
 
 mans. ,.-,, .,. . r t ^' n T-fcT 
 
 island smce the invasion of Juuus Caesar, rlautius haMiig obtained a footiuo- in 
 Britain, Avas succeeded by Ostorius Scapula, by whom the southern part of the 
 island was reduced to a Roman province. The Emperor Claudius considered tlie 
 conquest of Britain of sufficient importance to call for the royal presence; and 
 after a visit to Camelodunum (Colchester), where he received the submission of 
 several of the native kings, he returned to Rome vrith the additional title of 
 " Britannicus." 
 
 " O'er Britain he the Roman sceptre sway'd. 
 Him the Brigantes azure-arm'd obey'd." 
 
 Extermi- Suetouius PauKnus, the successor of Ostorius, soon after the departure of the 
 
 tiie emperor, embarked liis amiy, with the determination to extenninate the Druids. 
 
 The island of Mona (Anglesey) being theii- chief seat, he resolved to dii-ect his 
 operations against that place. The Britons, aware of its importance, used every 
 means in their power to resist the landing of the enemy ; but all then- endeavours 
 were in vain. The scene wliich followed was one of utter despaii'. " On the shore," 
 says Tacitus, " stood a motley gi-oup of armed men, mixed with women running up 
 and down amongst them, di-essed like furies in black gaiments, theii- hair dishevel- 
 led, and torches iu their hands. The Druids also attended, lifting up their hands to 
 heaven, and uttering dreadful execrations. The novelty of the sight so struck the 
 Roman soldiers, that they stood as it were motionless, exposing themselves to the 
 enemy's weapons, till, animated by the exhortations of the general, and encoiu-aging 
 one another not to fear an army of women and madmen, they advanced, bore down 
 all they met, and involved them in theii- own fu-es. The tribunals of the Druids 
 were overtui'ued ;* gamsons were afterwards placed in the to^nTis, and the groves, 
 sacred to then- bloody superstitions, cut down. For it was their practice to offer the 
 blood of then- prisoners upon their altars, and to consult the gods by the entrails 
 of men." 
 
 * In the year 1702, while removing the rubbish from the remains of the chief tribunal of the 
 Druids in Anglesey, a brass medal of our Saviour was found, on which was inscribed in Hebrew — 
 " This is Jesus Christ, the Mediator ;" from which it is inferred, that the Christian religion had 
 been preached here in the early part of the first century ; and it seems probable, that this medal was 
 the property of some of its ministers, who had been condemned and sacrificed by the Druids. — 
 Burton's Man. Ehor. b. i. p. 3.
 
 Count)) palatmr of aanrasitn* ii 
 
 The exactions of the Roman procurator, and the Ucentiousness of the legionaries, chap. 
 had produced the most inveterate hatred towards the conquerors in the south of — - — - 
 Britain ; and, instead of the family of tlie long of the Iceni, who Avas lately deceased, 
 belno- treated ^vith respect, BoacHcea, his ^Aidow, was ignominlously scourged, and 
 her two daughters ravished. Driven to desperation hy then- AVTongs, the people 
 took up arms under Boadicea,* in the absence of Suetonius, and, after driving in 
 the outposts mth great slaughter, they stoiTued the forts, took possession of Came- 
 lodunum, the capital of the colony, and put to death the Roman ganison. On 
 hearing of this cHsaster, Suetonius repaii-ed by forced marches to London, then a 
 conunercial city, but not a Roman station, ft'om whence he marched against the 
 Britons, who, during theii- short career of victory, had put to death 70,000 of theii- 
 enemies. A sanguinary battle now approached; Suetonius, at the head of the 
 fourteenth legion, with the vexillai-ii of the twentieth, amounting in the whole to 
 10,000 men, met BoatUcea vdih her countless unchscipUned followers, and, after a 
 desperate engagement, fought on the confines of Epping Forest, in which, as usual, 
 discipUne prevailed over numbers, the Roman sokUers triumphed, and 80,000 
 Britons, without distinction of age or sex, were left dead on the field. Boadicea, 
 finding that all was lost but her honour, and scorning to grace the triumph of tlie 
 conqueror, terminated her life by poison. 
 
 At tliis period the prmclpal and the most able commander amongst the Britons Lanca- 
 was Venutius, of the state of the Brigantes ; and it is probable, that the progi'ess of run by the 
 the Roman arms in the country of the Segantii (Lancasliire), was ai'rested by the 
 sldll and valour of this native general ; but the discipUne and constancy of the 
 Roman troops, now commanded by JuHus Agricola, the successor of Suetonius, 
 " stiaick a panic into the state of the Brigantes, wliich," according to Tacitus, " was 
 accounted the most numerous of the whole country, by attacking them with great 
 force ; and after several, and some of them bloody battles, he reduced gi-eat part of 
 Britahi by ^-ictory, or involved it in war." When Agiicola, who added to the bravery 
 of the soldier the skill of the statesman, had alarmed the native inhabitants by his 
 severity, he ofiered inducements to peace by liis clemency. By tliis conduct many 
 of the states, and the Brigantes amongst the rest, which till then had stood out, gave 
 hostages, and submitted to have a Hue of ganisons and castles (;ka^\^l round them. 
 This was the origin of oui- Roman stations. " In order that men who, by their a.d. so. 
 unsettled and unciAolized state, were always ready for wai-, might be accustomed to 
 peace and inactivity by pleasure, the general privately suggested, and pubHcly cou- 
 cm-red in erecting temples, market-places, and houses, commending those who 
 shewed a readiness to these works, and censuring those who appeared remiss. This 
 
 * Tacitus, Vit. Agr, xvi. 
 c2
 
 12 CI;r W^tOYV cf tftr 
 
 CHAP, honourable emulation produced the effect of obligation. He applied liimself to 
 ' instruct the sons of the cliiefs in the liberal arts, and appeared to prefer the genius 
 of the Britons to the accomplishments of the Gauls ; inasmuch as they, who but a 
 little time before cUsdained the language, now affected the eloquence of Rome. Tliis 
 produced an esteem ibr the Roman di'ess, and the to(ja came into general use. By 
 deo-rees the Britons adopted the vicious indulgences of the Romans, and the porti- 
 coes, the baths, and the splendid banquets, entered into the number of theu* enjoy- 
 ments. This, which they called cultivation, was in effect the appendage of slavery."* 
 Pursuing- liis A-ictorious career, Agricola carried the terror of his arms to the 
 remotest part of Scotland, and added Ireland to the number of his conquests. At 
 length, ha\ing traversed the country from its southern to its northern extremity, 
 in the short period of eight years, he returned to Rome, where the Emperor Domitian, 
 rendered jealous, by liis renown, received him with a cold salute, and then left the 
 conqueror of Britain, to mix with the servile crowd of the imperial court.f 
 
 Without plunging into the depths of antiquarian research, it may be proper to 
 point out the Roman stations in Lancasliire, — to trace the Roman roads wliich 
 intersected tliis county — to glance at the institutions, secular and religious, intro- 
 duced by imperial Rome — and to describe the infant efforts of that commercial spuit 
 which was destined to rank Britain amongst the first of nations, and Lancasliire 
 amongst the fost of counties. 
 A.D. 82. From the departure of Agi-icola till the arrival of the Emperor Hadrian in 
 
 A.D.117. Britain, the name of the Brigantes scarcely occurs in liistory. It appears, ho%vever, 
 that they were subjected to the incursions of their northern neighbours, the Picts, 
 Hadrian's and that the emperor, " after con-ecting many tilings, di-ew a wall eighty miles in 
 """■ length, on the northern boundary of the country of the Brigantes, to confine the 
 ' Barbarians' within the lunits of their own border.s."J Neariy a century had now 
 elapsed since the second invasion of Britain by the Romans, and in the course of 
 Roman that period there had risen up in Lancashire the stations^ of 3Iancunium, Man- 
 Lancr '" CHESTER ;|| Veratinum, Warrington; Rerigonium, Ribchester ;|| Colunium, 
 ''""'■ CoLNE ; Coccium, Blackrode ; Ad Alaunam, (the Longovicus of the Notitia,) 
 
 Lancaster ; BremctonaccB, Overborough. 
 Estuaries. The estuaries into which the rivers that Avatered these stations fell, though 
 involved in some degree of uncertainty, from the vague and indecisive character of 
 the Roman charts, were— The Mersey, called Belisama ; The Neb of the 
 
 * Tacitus, Vit. Agricolse, xxi. t Vit. Agr. xl. 
 
 t Vit. Hadriani, Scrip. Hist. Aug. p. 51. § Whitaker's History of Manchester. 
 
 II The name or termination Castor, Cester, or Chester, from Castra, a camp, generally indicates 
 a Roman station.
 
 Coinit)) |3alatn« of annrnstrn 13 
 
 Nese (Freckleton), at tlie mouth of tlie Kibble, called the Haven of the Setantii, chap. 
 or the Setantlan Port, and The Bay of Mouecambe. '" 
 
 The Lancaslm-e stations comniuiiicatcd with Isuriuni (Aldhoroiioh), and Ebora- 
 ciim (York), the Brigantine capitals, by roads constructed by the Roman soldiery, 
 and with other towns enumerated in the Itinerary of Antoninus, the Chorography of 
 Ravennas, and the Description of Britain, by Richard of Cii'encester. 
 
 It is conjectured that tlie principal part of the Roman roads in Britain were Roman 
 commenced by Julius Agi-icola, to facilitate his conquests ; and an imperial general ilu'cu-'" 
 of modern times, in devoting so much attention to the public roads, only imitated '*'""^" 
 these ancient conquerors. Tlie four gi-and military Roman ways in Britain bear 
 the names of Watling Street, Hennin Street, the Fosse, and Ikening or Iknild 
 Street ; but it is only the first-mentioned of these roads that comes within the scope 
 of tliis liistory. Each of the stations affords its antiquities : at Blackrode, the 
 Roman roads are seen expanchng like radii from a centre ; Ribchester abounds ^\'itli 
 remains; and Colne, Freckleton, Lancaster, Manchester, Overborough, and War- 
 rington, wiW be found, in the progi-ess of this Avork, to exhibit in succession their 
 antiquaiian stores, and to proclaim theii- ancient alliance with the Mistress of the 
 World. 
 
 After the lapse of sixteen centuries, the County of Lancaster still presents 
 innunieralde remains of these celebrated roads. Four gi-eat Roman roads pass 
 through this county — two of them from north to south, and two others from west 
 to east. 
 
 The first of the Roman routes extends fi-om Carlisle (Languvallium), in Cum- 
 berland, to Kinderton (Condate), in Chesliire : passing through Lancaster, it 
 advances pretty nearly due south, near Garstang and Preston, to Blackrode ; then 
 taking the dii-ection of Walden Moor, Avhere it assumes the name of Staney-street, 
 it advances by the Hope Hall estate, crosses the liighway from Manchester to 
 Wan-ington, and, having passed the ford of the Irwell at the shallow wliich gives 
 denomination to Old Trafford, proceeds tlu'ough the tillage of Stretford to the bridge 
 over the Mersey; then pointing at Altringham, it passes along the declivity of the 
 hills, and enters Dunbam Park ; here it takes the name of Street to Buckley HUl ; 
 from hence it passes to Mere Tomi ; when, leanng Northwich about half a mile 
 to the right, it takes the name of King Street, at Broken Cross, and proceeds to 
 Kinderton, the Condate of Antoninus, now a suburb of Middlemch. 
 
 The second Roman road extends from Overborough to Slack or Almondbury 
 (Camboduniun), in Yorksliire. Tliis road passes through Ribchester, across the 
 Ribble ; then, proceeding to the east of Blackburn, tlu-ough Ratcliffe and PrestArich 
 over Kersall Moor, is carried by Strangeways Lane to Manchester ; traversuig that
 
 14 mjt %ii^tor^ of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, to^\^lsllip obliquely, it passes over Newton Heath, by Haigh Chapel, to the summit 
 
 " of Austerlancls, where it enters Yorksliii-e, passes Knoll Hill in Saddleworth, and, 
 
 crossing the Manchester and Huddersfield road at Delph, leaves Mai'sden about a 
 
 mil e and a half to the south, skii'ts Golcar HUl, and attains the plot of Cam- 
 
 bodunum. 
 
 The tliii-d route commences at the Neb of the Nese, on the right bank of the 
 Ribble, called by the Romans Tlie Setanlian Port, or, as we should express it, The 
 Port of Lancashire ; tliis road ranges from west to east, and, crossing the Lancaster 
 road, leaves Preston about a mile to the right, assuming on Fulwood Moor the name 
 of Watling Street; hence it proceeds to Ribchester, from wliich station it passes 
 over Longridge Fell, and then, turning to the north, traces the Hodder to its source. 
 The fourth Roman road commences at the ford of the Mersey, near Wamngton, 
 and passes through Barton and Eccles to Manchester ; it afterwards traverses the 
 to^vnsllips of Moston, Chadderton, and Royton, and keeping about a quailer of a mUe 
 to the right of Rochdale by the Oldham road, continues thi-ough Littleborough ; 
 afterwards, mounting the British Apennines, it sweeps over Rumbles Moor, and 
 advances to Ilkley, the Olicana of Ptolemy, where stood the temple of Verbeia, 
 the goddess of the Wharf. 
 
 Antonine's The Roman Stations in Lancashire occur in the second and the tenth routes of 
 
 of Lanca- the Itiueraiy of Antoninus, and are thus arranged : — 
 
 sliire 
 Routes, 
 
 Iter. II. 
 
 ********* 
 
 Eboracvm, LEG. VI. vie. . . York. 
 
 Calcaria, M.p. IX. . . Tadcaster. 
 
 Cambodvns, M.p. XX. al. XXX. . . Almondbury. 
 
 Manvico, M.p. XVIII. al. XXIII. . . Manchester. 
 
 CoNDATE, M.p. XVIII. . . Northwich. 
 
 Deva, LEG. XX. vie. M.p. XX. . . Chester. 
 
 Iter. X. 
 From Lanchester, in the County of Durham, to Drayton, in the County of 
 Slu'opsliire. 
 A Glanoventa. From Lanchester. n 
 
 Galava, M.p. XVIII. al. XXVIII. . . Old Town. 
 
 Alone, m.p. XII. . . WJiitby Castle. 
 
 Galacvm, M.p. XIX. . . Appleby. 
 
 Bremetonacis, .. . M.p. XXVII. al. XXXn. . . Overborough.
 
 Coimtp IJalatint of ^mxmstti'. 
 
 15 
 
 CocciA, M.p, XX. aJ. XXV. 
 
 Mancvnio, .... M.p. XVII. al. XXXIL 
 
 CONDATE, M.P. XVIII. 
 
 Mediolano, .... M.P. XVIII. al. XXVIII. 
 
 Rihchestor. 
 Manchester. 
 Near Northvich. 
 Near Drayton. 
 
 CHAP. 
 I. 
 
 The Itinerary of Richard of Cirencester is more fuU, and thus exliibits tlie Riciiiudof 
 Lancasliire Stations, with their immediate connexions, in the VI. VII. and X. ten'^"'^'^* 
 routes : — 
 
 Iter. VI. 
 Ab Eboraco Devam usque sic. 
 
 Calcaria, M.P. villi. 
 
 Camboduno, ] . . M.p. XXII. al. XXXIL 
 
 Mancunio, . . . M.p. XVIII. al. XXIII. 
 
 FinibusMaxim^ et Flavin, m.p. XVIII. al. VI. 
 
 CoNDATE, .... M.P. XVIII. al. XXIII. 
 
 Deva, M.p. XVIII. 
 
 From York to Chester. 
 
 . Tadcaster. 
 
 . Slack. 
 
 . 3Ianchester. 
 
 . Stratford on Mersey. 
 
 . Kinderton. 
 
 . Chester. 
 
 Iter. VII. 
 A Portu Sistuntiorum Eboracum usque, sic. From Freckleton(on the Kib- 
 ble) to York. 
 
 Rerigonio, m.p. XXIII. al. XIII. . . Rochester. 
 
 Ad Alpes Peninos, . . m.p. VIII. al. XXIII. . . Barrens in Brouyhton. 
 
 Alicana, M.p. X. . . Ilkley. 
 
 Isurio, M.p. XVIII. . . Aldboronyh. 
 
 Eboraco, m.p. XVI. al. XVII. . . York. 
 
 Iter. X. 
 
 ******** 
 
 Brocavonacis, Brouyham. 
 
 Ad Alaunam, m.p. XXXXVII. . . Lancaster. 
 
 Coccio, M.p. XXXVI. . . Blackrode. 
 
 Mancunio, m.p. XVIII. . . Manchester. 
 
 Condate, M.p. XXIII. . . Kinderton. 
 
 ******** 
 
 Several other roads, called Vicinal-ways, are to be found in this county, but the 
 routes above described form the four principal military coromunications. These 
 roais generally consist of a regular pavement, formed by large boulder stones or
 
 16 
 
 Cftf 5?istoii) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 I. 
 
 Arrival of 
 the Em- 
 peror Se- 
 lerus. 
 
 A. D.207. 
 
 Takes the 
 field. 
 
 Severus's 
 wall. 
 
 li-aoinents of rock imbedded iu gravel, and vary in width from four to fourteen yards. 
 It is a sins^ular characteristic of the Roman roads, that they are not carried over 
 rivers Ly bridges, but by fords, except where the rivers are impassable, and then 
 bridges ai-e thi-o^vn over.* 
 
 The terror of the Roman name, and the vigour of their arms, seemed scarcely 
 able to keep in subjection the inhabitants of Britain, who sought every opportunity 
 to shake off the foreign yoke. According to Herodiau, the propraetor in Britain 
 adcb-essed a despatch to the Emperor Severus, to the eifect that " the insuiTections 
 and inroads of the Barbarians, and the havoc they made far and near, rendered it 
 necessary that he should either increase the Roman force in this country, or that 
 he should come over in person." On this intimation, the emperor, though then 
 advanced in life, and sinkiug under bodily infirmities, repaired to Britain, and 
 established his court in Eboracum (York), the capital of the Brigantes. Having 
 collected liis force round that city, the emperor, attended by his sons Caracalla and 
 Geta, marched from York, at the head of a powerful army, to the North, where he 
 drove the Caledonians witliin their fi'ontiers, and erected a stone wall witliin the 
 vallum of Hadrian, and very nearly upon the site of that celebrated earthen rampart. 
 Tlie loss of Roman soldiers iu tliis exj^ecUtion, according to Dion Cassius, amoimted 
 to 50,000 men, partly by war, and pai'tly in cutting dovna. the woods, and draining 
 the mosses, for wliich the north of England, and Lancashire in particular, is to 
 the present day distinguished. 
 
 To commemorate liis ^-ictories, Severus coined money with the inscription, 
 VICTORIA BRITANNIC A; he also assmned the name of BRITANNICUS 
 MAXIMUS, and gave to his son Geta the name of BRITANNICUS. 
 
 His coin. 
 
 Mints were established by the Romans at eleveu of their British stations, two of 
 wliich were York and Chester; and it is probable that from these northern mints the 
 coin Avas cii'culated over Lancasliire. No fewer than fifty different Roman coins 
 have been found at Standish, iu tliis county, neai- the ancient Coccium, several of 
 wliich are from dies struck by the Emperor Severus. 
 
 * Galen, ix. c. 8. methodi.
 
 Countp ^galatutf of ^[anrasstfr. 17 
 
 A few years after the retui-n of Severus to York, where he hehl his court in all chap. 
 the splendour of Roman magnificence, tlie Caledonians again took up ai-ms, and ^' 
 penetrated beyond the wall which the conqueror had pronounced an insimnouutable 
 bulwark. This renewed iiTuption excited the indignation of the emperor beyond all 
 bounds ; forgetting that he was himself an invader, he commanded his legions to 
 advance once more against the enemy, and to put the whole population, without sangui- 
 distinction of age or sex, to the sword, as the poet has expressed it* orders. 
 
 Tpoiec S" av iripwdev iivh tttoKiv wirXiCoVTO, 
 UlavpoTtpoi • {.lijiaaav ce Kj wq vafiivi [ia^Eodai, 
 Xpeioi ai'ayKfui], Trpo te ■Katdoiv ic, trpb yvvaiKwv. 
 
 No sooner had Severus put down tliis new insuiTection, than the infii-mities of 
 age, and the cai'es of the government, brought on a mortal disease, of wliich he died 
 in the Brigantine capital, the city of his adoption. His last words to his sons his death, 
 were — " I leave you, my Antonines, (a tenn of affection,) a finn and steady govern- 
 ment, if you wUl follow my steps, and prove what you ought to be, — weak and 
 tottering, if othenvise." — " Do every thing that conduces to each other's good." — 
 " Cherish the sohUery, and then you may despise the rest of mankind: a thsturbed 
 and every where disti'acted government, I found; but to you I leave it finn 
 and quiet — even to the Britons." " I have risen from the lowest to the liighest 
 station, and am now no better for it." Tlien calling for the urn which was to 
 contain liis ashes, after the ossilegium (the burning of liis body), and, looking steadily 
 upon it, he said — " Thou shalt hold what the world was not lai-ge enough to 
 contain." 
 
 After the dead body of the emperor had been consumed in the flames, his ashes 
 were collected, and sent in a porphyrite urn to Rome, where they were deposited in 
 the capitol, and the honour of apotheosis, or deification, was confen-ed upon him by 
 the senate and the people. That his memory might not be lost m Britain, his 
 devoted anny, with infinite laboui", raised tlu-ee large hills in the place where liis 
 funeral rites were performed, in the vicinity of the city of York, which elevations 
 bear the name of Severus's Hills, and are still very prominent.t 
 
 The manner of " making a god," a.s described by Herodian|: in the case of His deifi- 
 Severus, is extraordinary, and will yield more amusement to the reader than the '^^''°'^' 
 object of deification could afford benefit to liis chsciples. " The ceremony," says the 
 historian, " has a mixture of festivity and pomp. Tlie corpse is buried, like other 
 emperors, in a sumptuous manner. But they make an effigy [of wax] as like the 
 deceased as possible, and place it in the porch of the palace, upon a large and lofty 
 bed of ivory covered with cloth of gold. Tliis image is of a pale complexion, and 
 • Homer II. viii. 55. f Drake's Eboracum, book i. p. 14. X Book iv. c. 3. 
 
 VOL I. D
 
 18 ci)f lietoii) of tin 
 
 CHAP, lies at full length lilce a sick person. Round the bed on each side sit, for the 
 ^' gi-eatest part of the day, on the left hand, the whole senate in black habits; on the 
 rio-ht, ladies whose husbands or parents are persons of distinction. None of these 
 latter wear any gold or bracelets, but thin white hal)its, like mourners. This they do 
 for seven days together, the physicians coining every day to the bed to visit the sick 
 person, whom they report to grow worse and worse. At last, when they tliink he is 
 dead, the noblest and choicest youths of equestrian and senatorian rank take up the 
 bed on their shoulders, and carry it along the sacred way into the Old Forum, where 
 the Roman magistrates usually resign then- authority. On both sides are built steps 
 like staii-s, on which are placed, on one hand, a band of boys of the noblest and 
 patrician families ; on the other, of noble women, singing hjTims in honoui- of the 
 deceased, and dirges set to solemn and mournful measures. This being ended, 
 they take up the bed again, and carry it out of the city into the Campus Mailius. 
 In the widest part of this field is raised a kind of scaffold of a square fonn, and 
 equilateral, built of nothing but vast quantities of wood in form of a house. The 
 bed being placed in the second story, they throw over it heaps of spices and per- 
 fumes of all lands, fnuts, herbs, and all sorts of aromatic juices. For there is no 
 nation, city, or inchvidual, of any rank or eminence, who do not \ie with each other 
 in making these last presents to the memory of the emperor. After a gi-eat heap 
 of spices has been piled up, and every part of the buUding filled, the grand procession 
 on horseback is made by the whole equestrian order round tlic structure, in certain 
 orders, and returns in Pyrrliic measure and time. Chariots also are driven round 
 in like order, by persons di-essed in purple, and representing all the Roman generals 
 and emperors. This bemg ended, the successor to the empire takes a torch, and 
 puts it to the builcUng. AU the rest immediately set fire to it, and instantly the 
 whole, being filled mth chy combustibles and perfmnes, is in a strong blaze. Pre- 
 sently from the highest and least story, as from a pinnacle, an eagle is let loose, 
 and, towering up into the air Avith the flame, is supposed to convey the emperor's 
 sold to heaven. From thenceforth the emperor is worshipped among the rest of 
 the gods." 
 
 Tlie conduct of the sons of Severus, Caracalla and Geta, shews but too clearly 
 the necessity that was felt by then- d^nng father for m-ging upon them tiie duty of 
 brotiierly affection and union. After tiie emperor's death, the imperial dignity was 
 dirided between them : but Cai-acalla, aspu-ing to the undiAided power, resolved upon 
 liis brother's death, and, on a slight pretence, caused 20,000 soldiers, whom he 
 supposed to be in liis brother's interest, to be put to the sword. Not satisfied with 
 tliis horrible atrocity, and familiarized to blood by the sanguinary deeds of liis deified 
 father, he pursued his unoffending brotiier into the presence of his mother, Julia, 
 
 His suc- 
 cessors.
 
 Countp ^3alntinf of aanrajjtrr. 
 
 19 
 
 and, with his o^™ hands, pierced the unhappy prince's heart in the arms of lier who chap. 
 gave him life.* ' 
 
 After the return of Caracalla to Rome, a long and profound silence is ohserved hy a. d. 211. 
 the Roman historians as to the affahs of Britaui; and it is not till the reign of 
 Dioclesian, Avhen Carausius, Imuself a Briton, who, being sent by the emperor with 
 a fleet to guai'd the Belgic coast, embraced the opportunity to pass over into tliis 
 island, and got himself proclauned emperor at York, that any incident appertaining 
 to the subject of tliis liistory is recorded. 
 
 At a subsequent period Carausius was slain by his compeer Alectus, who imme- A. D. 207. 
 diately assumed the purple, and bore sway in Britain, till Constantius, suruamed 
 Chlorus, dethi-oned the usurper, and reigned in Ids stead. Constantius, having 
 previously manied a British princess who had embraced the Cluistian religion, 
 manifested his attachment to the doctrines of the Cross, ratlier by following its 
 precepts than by openly avowing its faith; and on liis death, at York, the honour of 
 tlie apotheosis, or deification, was conferred upon liim by the Roman senate. Tlie a. d. 3C6. 
 issue of his marriage ^ith the Princess Helena, was Con- 
 stantine, by whom he was succeeded. The inauguration of 
 this emperor took place in the unperial city of York, the 
 place of his buth, and the British soldiers, in Roman pay, 
 presented then- countryman ^rith a golden ball, as a symbol 
 of his sovereignty over the island. Upon his conversion to 
 Christianity he placed a cross upon the ball ; and ever since 
 this emperor's time, the globe surmounted by the cross has A. d. 341. 
 sl||j^\^ J Iv ^^^^ used as the emblem of majesty in all the kuigdoms of 
 ^ - Christendom. 
 
 On the death of Constantme the Great, the empire was 
 divided among liis three sons, Constantine, Constantius, and 
 Constans. In this division Britain fell to the share of Con 
 stantme, the eldest of the number 
 
 part of the empire, Constantine invaded the tenitories of his 
 youngest brother; in which invasion he lost liis life, and 
 was succeeded in Britain by Constans, who thus became 
 Emperor of the West. Constans having fallen in the -village 
 of St. Helena, at the foot of the Pyi-enees, liis only surviving 
 brother succeeded to the purple; and he was succeeded by 
 Julian, in whose reign the statue of the Brigantine god- 
 dess is supposed to have been erected. This ancient piece of Roman sculpture was 
 
 * Xipliiliinis a Dione. 
 d2 
 
 Goddess 
 ■vT • 1 1 • of the 
 
 JNot content with mS Biigantes. 
 
 B RIG AKTiE S AMANDV S 
 aRflTiXnVSlIXJMPERIOl^
 
 20 CI;f ??isitJ3ii) of tijf 
 
 CHAP, found in the ruins of a temple in Annandale, in the year 1 732. Tlie figure is &ui)- 
 
 '• posed to represent Victory, or a Panthea, adorned with the symbols of Victory and 
 
 Pallas ; and the inscription, according to Roger Gale, the antiquary, may be read thus : 
 
 " Briffantia sacrum Amandus 
 Arcitectus ex imperio imperatoris Juliani.^^ 
 
 The most recent, and one of the most interesting discoveries of Roman remains 
 in Lancaslui'e, was made during the sununer of 1 796, at Ribchester, in this county, 
 by a youth, the son of Joseph Walton, in a hollow, nine feet below the surface of the 
 sTound, that had been made in the waste land at the side of the road leading to the 
 church, and near the bed of the river. It is conjectured, that when these antiquities 
 were deposited in this place, the sand was thrown amongst them to preserve them 
 in a diy state, but they ai'e in general much defaced by the corrosive effect of sand 
 upon copper during a period of nearly two thousand years. These antiquities were 
 purchased by Charles Townley, Esq., of Townley Hall, in this county, fi'om 
 the persons who found them, and they are described by that gentleman in a letter 
 addi-essed by liim to the Rev. John Brand, secretaiy to the Society of Anti- 
 quarians, the substance of wliicli will be found in its proper place in these volumes. 
 Tt ^rill be sufficient to say here, that tliey consist of a helmet; a nmnber of patera; 
 the remains of a vase; a bust of Minerva; the remains of two basins; a number of cir- 
 cular plates ; and various other curiosities, many of wliich appear to have been appro- 
 priated to rehgious uses. " The helmet," says Mr. Tofloiley, " deserves the particular 
 attention of the curious as the remains of remote ages; very few ancient ones, decorated 
 with embossed figures, have as yet appeared. The three or four which were preserved 
 in the Museum at Portici are esteemed to be the most richly ornamented, and the 
 best as to style of workmansliip ; but when this helmet was in its proper state, it must 
 have been equal, at least, to those in point of decoration, and in respect to its baring 
 a vizor unitating so exactly the hmnan features, I believe it to be the only ancient 
 example of the kind that has yet been discovered. Tliis singularity may excite a 
 doubt, whether such a helmet was destined for real combat, or only for the enrich- 
 ment of occasional trophies wliich were erected in the celebration of military festi- 
 vals, or cai-ried in procession amongst the Greeks and Romans. Tropliies of this sort 
 are seen on various medals, \vi\h the names of the people, whose subjugation such 
 tropliies are meant to record, inserted upon them; as for example, — DE 8ARMA- 
 TIS — DE GERMANI8, on the medals of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. 
 
 " Tlie superior style of worlanansliip of the mask to that of the head-piece is also 
 remarkable ; in the former, the beauty of the features, the excellent work of the
 
 I>ana "bv Ja! B^ 
 
 iTiy J 
 
 J'^ tl jl' ji.'A,' 'L'i ilj JtILT.5JL,i_vJIl.I . 
 
 Eog« 
 
 ;i:i -T? ,v -r-r-o
 
 Count!? ^3alatinf of Saiuastfr. 21 
 
 fio-ures in relief, and more particularly by the sharp edges and lines with which the chap. 
 
 eye-brows, eye-lids, and lips ai-e marked, after the manner of Grecian art preced- __J 
 
 ino- the Csesai's, denote it to have been executed some ages before tlic head-piece, 
 llie coarse and heavy work of which coiTesponds with that of the artists employed in 
 the reign of Septimius Severus, and particularly with the sculpture upon the arch 
 of that emperor, situated near the Capitol liill at Rome. The cheek measures ten 
 inches and a half from its junction to the scull-piece, at the top of the forehead, to its 
 bottom, under the chin. A row of small detached locks of haii* surrounds the fore- 
 head a little above the eyes, reacliing to the ears, wliich are well deUneated. Upon 
 the locks of hair rests the bottom of a cUadem or tutulus, which at the centre in 
 the fi-ont is two inches and a quarter in height, diminisliing at the extremities to 
 one incli, and it is divided horizontally into two parts, bearing the proportionate 
 heio-hts just mentioned.* The lower part projects before the Irigher, and repre- 
 sents a bastion wall, separated into seven divisions by prjoecting turrets with pyra- 
 midal tops, exceeding a little the height of tlie wall. The apertures for missile 
 weapons of defence, are marked iu each of the tun-ets. The two aixhed doors 
 appeal' in the middle di^^sion of tliis wall, and one arclied door in each of the 
 exti'eme dinsions. The upper part of tlie cUadem, which recedes a little, so as 
 to clear the top of the wall and of the tuiTets, was ornamented Avith seven embossed 
 figures, placed under the seven arches, the abutments of wliich are heads of genii. 
 Tlie central arch, and the figure that was witliin it, are destroyed, but the other six ai-e 
 filled vnih a repetition of the follo^ving three gi'oupes : — A Venus, sitting upon a 
 marine monster; before her a diaped figure Tvith wings, bearing a wi-eath and a 
 palm branch, and behind her a triton, whose lower part terminates in tails of fish. 
 Two serpents are represented on each side of the face, near the ears, from whence 
 the bocUes of these reptiles surround each cheek, and are joined under the cliin. 
 The union of various characters j-ecals the pantheic representations of the goddess 
 Isis ; and when the accompaniments of the work are attentively considered, I am 
 persuaded they wiU be found to represent the goddess in her generating, preserving, 
 and destroying capacities, which primitively constituted her universal dominion, and 
 characterized her as tlie Dea Trifomiis." 
 
 Britain was soon after this period divided into two consular provinces, Maxima provinces 
 CaBsariensis and Valeutia, and into three prsesicUal districts — Britannia Prima, Districts. 
 Britannia Secunda, and Flavia Caesariensis.f Tliis division was probably made in 
 
 " From subsequent information it is ascertained, that a Sphinx was found with these remains, 
 which the person who discovered them, omitted to deliver to Mr. Townley, but which, it is judged, 
 served to decoratje the top of the helmet. 
 
 t Notitia.
 
 22 U)t Sn'storj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP the reign of Valeiitinian, after the memorable victory obtained by Theodosius over 
 
 the united power of the Plots and the Scots;* and Lancasliire came under the 
 
 consular g-overnment of Valentia, as forming part of that province. 
 
 From tills period the Roman power rapidly declined, and the empire was 
 menaced with desolation by the continental barbarians. The inhabitants and troops 
 that were quartered in Britain, fearing lest the Vandals should pass over the sea, 
 and subdue them with the rest, revolted from then' obedience to Honorius, and set 
 up one Mark, Avliom they declared emperor ; but they soon deprived liim of liis 
 dignity and his life, placing Gratian in his room, who was a countryman of their ovm. 
 Within four months they murdered liim also, and conferred the sovereignty upon 
 one Constantine, not so much in respect to his courage or his quality, for he was a 
 very inconsiderable man in the army, but in regard to his name, which they looked 
 upon as fortunate ; hoping he would do as much as Coustantine the Great had done, 
 who had been advanced to the imperial dignity in the same island. Tliis new prince, 
 Britain immediately after his promotion, passed over into Gaul, and, taldng %vith him the 
 abandoned Very flower of the British j^outh, so utterly exliausted the military force of the 
 Ronia'ns. islaiid, that it was wholly broken, and the island left naked to her invaders.-j" Britain, 
 being thus deprived both of the Roman soldiers and of the most vigorous part of her 
 A.D. 418. own population, became an easy prey to the incursions of the northern invaders, the 
 Picts and Scots, to whose inroads the County of Lancaster was peculiarly exposed. 
 The wall of Sevenis, though it stretched across the island, and was built of solid 
 stone, twelve feet in height and eight feet in thickness, and though it was strength- 
 ened by fortresses well supplied ^-ith munitions of war, no longer formed a bander 
 against the inroads of the enemy. 
 
 In tliis deplorable situation the Bi-itons invited over the Saxons, to protect them 
 against an evW that they knew, and thereby fell upon a greater that they never antici- 
 pated. But, before proceeding to this new period of our liistory, it may be proper to 
 take a summary survey of the Roman institutions as they existed in tliis country, and 
 in tliis county, during the four centuries that Britain Avas subject to the Roman sway, 
 and to glance at the remains with which some of the Lancashii-e Roman stations 
 abound, though the details must be reserved for theii' more ajipropriate arrangement, 
 under the respective heads in the Hundred and Parish Histories. 
 Roman in- Tlie government of Britain, during the Roman period, was praesidial, and with 
 the president or vicar was associated, in military matters, the Comes Britanniartim. 
 The country was garrisoned, and the conquest principally achieved and maintained 
 by three out of the twenty-nine Roman legions, namely, — Legio II., Legio VI., 
 
 Etitutions. 
 
 * Ediard, vol. iii. p. 272, 273 f Ammianus Marcellinus, lib. xxvii. c. 8.
 
 Count|) iaalatiiw of ^LanrasUr. 23 
 
 Victrix, principally statioued in the Brigantiau capital of Eboracum, and Legio XX., chap. 
 
 usually called Valens Victrix.* 
 
 According to Josephus, the Jewish liistorian, who Avi'ote in the first century. of 
 the Christian era, there were four legions. His words ai-e, " Britain is surrounded 
 by the ocean, and almost equal in extent to our world ! Yet it was reduced by the 
 Romans, and four legions controlled such a populous islajid."t The knowledge of 
 geooi-aphy possessed by tliis ancient historian seems scarcely more accurate than the 
 knowledge of astronomy displayed by Caesar and Tacitus. 
 
 The manufacture of woollens was introduced into England, and probably into 
 Lancasliire, at an cariy period of the Roman conquest, and the luxury of (bess soon 
 succeeded the painting of the body. After-ages have increased and perfected these 
 useful fabrics, and the ancient country of the Brigantes is still the most famous of 
 all the districts of England for this invaluable production of the loom. 
 
 The religion of the Romans consisted, till after their final depai-tm-e from 
 Britain, of the idolatry of the Pantlieon, though the light of Christianity began to 
 dispel the mist of heathenism during the reign of Constantius Chlorus, the father of 
 Constantino the Great. Constantius erected the first episcopal see in Britain, and 
 the seat of that liigh dignity was at Eboracum. j Constantine not only lavoured the 
 Clu-istian doctrine, but, to display Ins attaclmient to Cliristianity, he, stamped upon 
 his coins the emblem of the Cross, a.d. 311. The progress of the true faith was, 
 however, continually retarded by the wars with which this country was distracted, 
 and it was not till a later period of British liistory that tiie great body ,of the nation 
 could be called Christians. 
 
 The lapse of sixteen centuries, during which time fifty generations of men have Roman 
 passed over the stage of time, though it has consigned to desti'uction numberless 
 Roman remains, has served to bring to light a gi'eat mass of antiquities in the 
 stations of Lancashire. Hence in IMancunium, and in Ad Alaunam, we have altars, 
 statues, coins, and medals; and in Rerigonium, a rich collection of antiquities, con- 
 sisting of masks, helmets, and domestic utensils, serves to shew that tliis retii'ed 
 village was once the abode of the conquerors of the world. But of these, each in 
 its proper place. Tlie goddess of the Brigantes, being a general sulyect, will 
 serve as a specimen of the monuments of antiquity in the general department of our 
 liistory. 
 
 In dismissing for the present the Roman period, it may be observed, that skilful Romans 
 as were some of the Caesars, and many of their subjects, in ai-ts and in arms, they "°* ^"™" 
 were deplorably ignorant of some of the great phenomena of nature. Hence we 
 
 * A Roman legion, when full, consisted of about 6,000 infantry and 400 cavalry. 
 t Bell. Jud. ii. c. 16. sec. 4. J Burton's Monasticon, p. 6. 
 
 nomers.
 
 24 CIk |[^i5torj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, find Julius Csesai-, in his Commentaries, astonisliing his readers by communicating 
 ^' a rumour, that in the Isle of Man, a few leagues from the Laucasliire coast, the 
 nio-hts were of tliii-ty days' duration, and expressing liimself in a manner indicating 
 his own uncertainty upon the subject. The words are, " In hoc mecho cursu est 
 insula, qufe appellatur Mona; complm-es prseterea minores objectiB insula existi- 
 mantur; de quibus insulis nonnulli scripserunt, dies contmuos xxx sub bruma esse 
 noctem. Nos niliil de eis percontationibus reperiebamus, nisi certis ex aqua meu- 
 suris breviores esse, quam in continente noctes videbamus."* 
 
 Another classical author of gi-eat celebrity, wlio Avi-ote one hundred and fifty 
 years after Caesai-, records, that it was said of the Isle of Anglesey, that the days and 
 niglits were each of them six montlis long ]-\ Tlie Romans, in the days of their 
 emperors, conceiving the earth to be a flat surface, imagined that night was occa- 
 sioned by the sun retiiuig beliind high mountains. It was reserved for Copernicus 
 to announce the rotundity of tlie globe, and for Sir Isaac Newton, a native of that 
 island whicli in Caesar's time was the abode of savages, to calciUate, with mathe- 
 matical jjrecision, the length of the days and nights in all parts of the world. 
 
 Strange as this ignorance of the most learned of tlie Romans may soimd in 
 modern ears, since the light of science has opened the volume of nature to the great 
 body of mankind, and rendered them to a certain extent more learned than the 
 ancient pliilosophers, a period was now approaching in British history, when the 
 gloom of heathen darkness was to become still more impervious, and when the 
 native inhabitants of Britain were to be exposed to the horrors of tliose sangui- 
 nary contests, wliich so long existed between tlieii- northern hivaders and the 
 Saxons. 
 
 * De Bello Gallico, lib. v. c. 13. 
 
 t Pliny, lib. ii. sec. 75. It is understood that the Mona of Caesar was the Isle of Man, and 
 that of Pliny, the Isle of Anglesey.
 
 Count)) ^aalntiiif of ^Lanrasttn 
 
 25 
 
 Saxon period. — State of Britain on the departure of the Romans. — Urgent application of the 
 Britons for foreign aid. — Assistance offered by the Saxons. — They visit Britain as friends. — 
 Remain as enemies. — ^Take possession of Kent. — Defeat of the Saxons at York. — Saxon ingrati- 
 tude. — King Arthur. — Battles on the Douglas. — The Round Table.— Sir Torquin.— The Heptar- 
 chy. — Northumbria. — Saxon idolatry. — Introduction of Christianity. — Missionaries to Britain. — 
 Conversion of the Northumbrians. — Restoration of churches. — Lancashire castles. — Oswald. — 
 Archbishop Wilfrid. — Papal authority acknowledged. — Transference of the people of Furness. — 
 Rain of blood. — Venerable Bede. — Invasion of the Danes. — Battle of Whalley. — Dissolution of 
 the Heptarchy. — State of Lancashire in the ninth century. — Reign of Alfred the Great. — Saxon 
 name of Lancashire. — Early tradition of the Eagle and Child. — The tenth century. — The south 
 of Lancashire in Northumbria, and not in Mercia. — Wars in Northumbria. — Lancashire not 
 mentioned in the Saxon Chronicles. — Passes under the Danish power. — Termination of the Saxon 
 and Danish dynasties in England. — Manners and institutions of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors. 
 
 HE progress in civilization made by the Britons chap. 
 dui'ing the four hundred years that tliis county and 
 
 II. 
 
 tliis country were occupied by the Romans, was almost ^^j"" ''*' 
 obliterated by the sis centuries Avliich .succeeded, of 
 invasion fi-om Avithout, and tUscord within the island. 
 One redeeming event served, however, to cUspel the 
 night of heathen darkness; and the general intro- 
 duction of Christianity, perverted and contaminated 
 though it was by superstition and error, UTadiated 
 the gloom of the Saxon, the Danish, and the Norman 
 dominion. So fail' a country as Britain, suddenly abandoned by its Roman con- 
 querors, and possessed by a people without union in the governments, and vrithout 
 reliance upon themselves, naturally became a prize for foreign competition ; and 
 the struggles for independence were rather the transient and convulsive efforts of 
 despaii-, than the dauntless energies of patriotic confidence. The sliips which 
 ti'ansported the legionaries of Rome from the shores of Britain had scarcely weighed 
 anchor, when the invading hordes of the Scots and Picts cUslodgcd the British trooj)s 
 from then- fortresses, and, forcing a passage through the Roman wall, penetrated into 
 the counties of Cumberland and Lancaster, and even to* the gates of York, from 
 whence they menaced the other parts of the island. The state of the country at that 
 time, as described by one of the earliest British historians,* serves to shew that 
 considerable progi-ess had been made in the arts, in conuuerce, and in agriculture ; 
 VOL. I. * Gildas. E
 
 26 COt W^tOV}} of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, and tliat tlie people no longer painted their bodies, and depended for tlieir food on 
 
 " the precarious resources of the chase. " The island of Britahi," says this sapient 
 
 nduiin'^on ecclesiastic, " placed in the balance of the divine poising hand, which weigheth 
 iu?e'o7tUe the Avhole world, at ahuost the uttermost bounds of the earth towards the south- 
 Uomans. ^ypg^^ exteutHug itself from the soutli-west out towards the North Pole, 800 miles in 
 length and 200 in breadth, embraced by the embowed bosoms of the ocean, with 
 whose most spacious, and on every side impassable enclosure, she is sti-ongly defended, 
 enriched with the mouths of noble floods, by which outlandish commodities have in 
 times past been transported into the same, besides other rivers of lesser account ; 
 streno-thened ^\^th eight-and-twenty cities, and some other castles, not meanly fenced 
 with fortresses of waUs, embattled towers, gates, and buildings, (whose roofs, being 
 raised aloft with tlu-eatening hugeness, were mighty in the aspking tops compacted,) 
 adorned vvith her large spreading fields, pleasantly seated liills, even framed for good 
 husbandry, which ever mastereth the ground, and mountains most convenient for 
 the chano-eable pastures of cattle ; watered Avith clear fountains and sundry brooks, 
 beating on the snow-wliite" sands, together with silver streams glichng forth Avith 
 soft sounding noise, and leaving a pledge of sweet savours on bordering banks, and 
 lakes gusliing out abundantly m cold runnhig rivers."* 
 
 Tliis description of the wealth of Britain, and of its scenery, di-awn tJiirteen 
 
 hundi-ed years ago, Avas doubtless appUcahle to the county of Lancaster at the time 
 
 A.D. 4-18. of the departure of the Romans. " After this," continues our author, " Britain 
 
 being now despoiled of all armed soldiers, and of her own brave and valorous youth, 
 
 (who quitted the island along with the Romans, never returning to their homes,) and 
 
 absolutely ignorant of all practice of war, was trampled many years under the feet 
 
 Invaded of two Very ficrcc outlandish nations — the Scots and tlie Picts. Upon whose invasion, 
 
 Picts^aud and most terrible oppression, she sent ambassadors, furnished Avith letters, to Rome, 
 
 humbly beseecliing, Avith piteous prayers, the hosts of soldiers to redress lier AATong-s, 
 
 and voAving AA-ith the whole power of her mind her everlasting subjection to the 
 
 Roman empii'e, if they would allow their soldiers to return, and to chase aAvay their 
 
 foes. These letters Avere mdicted to this puqjose, — ' Tlie Lamentations of the 
 
 Urgent ' Bfitons uuto Agitixs, thrice Consul.' ' The barbarians thive us to the sea, the sea 
 
 tion for ' drivcs US back to the barbarians. Thus, of tAvo lands of death, one or other must 
 
 aid. " ' be our clioicc, either to be SAvallowed up by the waves, or butchered by the SAvord.' 
 
 In this deplorable conthtion, no relief covdd be afibrded by the Romans ; the Goths 
 
 AA'ere at theu* oaa'u gates ; and to aggi'avate the miseries of the Britons, a dreadful 
 
 famine raged in the ravished country, Avhich obliged many of them to peld their 
 
 necks to the yoke of the iuA'aders for a little food ; and those who had too much 
 
 * Epist. of Gildas, cap. i.
 
 Countp ^3nlntine of 3Caurn£itfi% 27 
 
 constancy to submit to tliis hnmiliation were constrained to seek refuge in the moun chap. 
 tains, or to conceal themselves in caves and thickets."* "' 
 
 Repulsed by the Roman government, and without confidence in their own 
 strength, the Britons sought assistance from the Saxons, a nation of warriors and 
 pu-ates. The mUitary reno^vn of these people pointed them out as the most 
 efficient of auxiliaries, wliile their ambition and their avarice made them in reality 
 die most dangerous of allies. To avert a present danger, ambassadors were sent to 
 the heads of then- government, and, an autUeuce ha\iag been obtained, they spoke 
 as follows : — 
 
 " Most noble Saxons — The poor and distressed Brets (Britons), outworn and 
 exhausted by the uicursions of their enemies, hearing the fame of those victories 
 which you have most gallantly obtained, have sent us supplicants unto you, craving 
 that you would not deny us your help and succour. A large and spacious land we 
 have, plentiful and abimdant in aU things, wliich we yield wholly to your coimnand. 
 Hitherto we have lived freely under the patronage and protection of the Romans ; 
 next unto them we know not any more powerful than yourselves, and therefore we 
 seek for a refuge under the Avings of your valour. So that we may, by your puissance, 
 be superior to our enemies; and whatsoever service you shall impose upon us, that 
 we will wUUngly afrord."t 
 
 To tliis urgent invitation the peers and the governors of the Saxons replied : — Assistance 
 
 " Know ye, that the Saxons ■will be fast friends to the Britons, and ready at all tue'^sax-^ 
 
 times to assist them in their necessity for a suitable return ; Avitli joy, therefore, 
 
 embark again for your country, and make your countrymen glad with these good 
 
 tidings." 
 
 Tlie Saxons were confederated tribes, consisting of the Angles, (and hence The Sax- 
 ons. 
 Anglo-Saxons,) the Jutes, and the genuine Saxons. They were settled on the 
 
 shores of the Gennan ocean, and extended fi'om the Eyder to the Rliine. The 
 
 etymology of their name is involved in the obscurity of remote antiquity. Their 
 
 leaders are supposed to have bequeathed the appellation to their followers." The 
 
 classical historians have painted this nation with the features of terror ; the word 
 
 Saxum, a rock, as an expression of unfeeling ferocity, has been thought by some to 
 
 have produced the name, while Sacsesons, the sons of the Sacae ; Sasscn, a settled 
 
 people; S-uess-on, or Saxon, Celtic for the waters of the river; and Saex, or 
 
 Siachs, the short sword they fought with, has each found its advocates.^ The first 
 
 Saxon expecUtion to England, wliich consisted of 1000 soldiers, embarked in three 
 
 vessels, called Cyulce, or Kules, composed of hides,§ under the command of Hengist 
 
 * Epist. of Gildas, cap. xvii. f Witichindus. 
 
 X Sh. Turner's Hist, of the Anglo Saxons, vol. 1. p. 22-3. § Nennius, cap. xxviii. 
 
 E 2
 
 38 €i)t l^lStOll) of ti)t 
 
 c:hap. and Horsa, the latter sening under tlie former, and botli being in the fourth 
 ' generation from Woden, one of the princiiml gods of the Saxons. On their arrival 
 They visit iu England, tliey were cUrected by Vortigern, the Britisli king, to march agfdnst the 
 friends! ^' cuemj, then spread over the greatest part of the country of the Brigantes ; and on 
 then- arrival in the neighbourhood of York, a bloody engagement took place, by 
 winch the Picts and the Scots were driven out of Lancasliire and Yorkshire, and 
 compelled to take refuge mthin then* own borders. The Saxon generals, disinclined 
 to finish the campaign by a single battle, neglected to follow up this victory, and 
 their troops remained in York and in Manchester, to recover from the fatigues of 
 their journey, and to recruit their luimbers with fresh levies. So short-sighted are 
 nations frequently, as well as incH^iduals, that gi-eat rejoicings took place in Britain 
 on the expulsion of the Picts and Scots, and the Saxons were every where hailed as 
 deliverers. Vortigern, held by the double tie of gratitude to Hengist, and love to 
 his fascinating daughter, Rowena, became insensible to the danger that menaced his 
 country. The poison of Saxon perfidy was poured into the royal ear, wliile he reposed 
 on the bosom of the " blue-eyed" enchantress, and the kmg closed his eyes to those 
 dangerous designs of ambition in liis foreign auxiliaries, which every day became more 
 manifest to liis people. 
 
 Having possession of Mancunium and Eboracum, the Saxons sent for a further 
 supply of troops from Germany, which speedily arrived in seventeen cyulce, and were 
 encamped in the Isle of Thanet. This measure naturally increased the suspicion of 
 the Britons, and they expressed their (hspleasure, by refusing to provide for the fresh 
 levies. A proclamation, conunanding them to quit the country, immediately followed, 
 A D. 450. at which Hengist took deadly offence ; and the Saxons, Avho had come to expel 
 invaders, now assumed themselves the character of open enemies. Further 
 reinforcements, under the command of Octa, the son of Hengist, and Ebissa, the son 
 Remain as of Octa, soou after arrived, and marched to the north, spreading themselves over the 
 Brigantian districts, which were soon to assume another name. The demands of 
 the Saxons rose with the concessions of the Britons ; and it at length became clear, 
 that notluug short of the full possession of tliis fail' island would allay the cravings of 
 then- ambition and cupichty. Disgusted with the blindness and effeminacy of Vorti- 
 gern, his people drove him from his tlu'one, and Vortimer, his son, reigned in his 
 stead. After several battles between the Britons and the Saxons, fought -with 
 various success, in one of wliich Vortimer fell, Vortigern again ascended the tlu'one, 
 and Hengist demanded a conference between the Saxon chiefs and the British nobility, 
 to ai-range terms, as was alleged, for the Saxons quitting the kingdom. Tliis meet- 
 ing took place upon the plain of Ambrij, now called Salisbury Plain. The unsus- 
 pecting Britons came unarmed, but the perfidious Germans had each a short skeine 
 
 enemies.
 
 Coimti) ^3alntinr of aanrnstm 29 
 
 concealed under liis cassock. After the conference, the horns of festivity went chap. 
 
 roimd, till the spiiits of the assembly had become exliUarated, when, at the terrible 
 
 exclamation of " Nemed Saxes," out rushed the Saxon weapons ; the unarmed 
 Britons fell before the perficUous assassins, and three huncU-ed of the bravest cliiefs 
 and tlie most elevated men of the country perished on the spot.* Well may the 
 venerable Gildas speak of the men who could perpetrate so horrible an atrocity as 
 ferocissimi illl nefandi nominis Saxones Deo hominibusque invisi.\ 
 
 Hengist now possessed liimself of the southern part of the island, wliich he Take pos- 
 erected into a prmcipaUty, under the designation of the Kingdom of Kent, wlule Kent. 
 Octa and Ebissa remained settled in Northmnbria. Tlie fortunes of the Britons 
 were partially retrieved by Aurelius Ambrosius, a Briton of Roman extraction. Under 
 his dii-ection the military spii'it of his countrymen was roused into action, and after 
 marching from Totness at the head of a formidable force, accompanied by Uter, his 
 brother, siu'named Pendragon, he arrived before the gates of York, when he 
 smumoned Octa to surrender. A council of war being called, at wliicli the question 
 to be discussed was, whether the Saxon garrison should stand a siege ? it was deter- 
 mined to suiTender at chscretion, and to cast themselves upon the clemency of the 
 Britons. Tliis detei-minatiou haviug been fonned, Octa, accompanied by his princi- surrender 
 
 of York. 
 
 pal captains, caiTying each a chain in his hand, mth dust upon his head, presented 
 himself to Ambrosius with tliis address, — " My gods are conquei'ed, and I doubt not 
 but the sovereign power is iu your god, who has compelled so many noble persons to 
 come before you in this suppliant manner : be pleased, therefore, to accept of us 
 and this chain ; if you do not tliink us fit for yoiu- clemency, we here present 
 ourselves ready to be fettered, and ai-e Avilling to undergo any punislmaent you shall 
 tliinli us worthy of" Moved by this liumiliating appeal, Ambrosius granted a free 
 pardon to the invaders, and, instead of shipping them out of the country, he assigned 
 to them a district on tlie borders of Scotland. Ebissa, who had probably occupied 
 Manchester while Octa was stationed in York, encom-aged by the success of his 
 kinsman's appeal to the conqueror's clemency, came and surrendered himself in the 
 same manner, and met with a similar reception. 
 
 Tlie gi-atitude of the Saxons did not outlive theii- merciful conqueror. On the a.d. 49o. 
 death of Ambrosius, who was succeeded by Uter the Pench-agon, Octa and Ebissa 
 revolted, and issued from their northern retreat, by the route of Bremetonacae saxon in- 
 (Overborough) and Coccium (Blackrode), botli wliicli places they took, as well as s'"^"'"^'^- 
 Mancunium (Manchester) and Veratinum (Wan-ington). On then- amval before 
 Eboracum (York), an obstinate battle took place under the walls of that city, which 
 ended in the defeat and capture of the two ingi-ates.J 
 
 * Nennius,c. xlviii. t Epist. of Gildas, c. xxiii. l Geof. Mon. Polichron, &c.
 
 30 
 
 COt S^istori.) of ti)t ■ 
 
 CHAP. 
 II. 
 
 A.D. 510. 
 
 King 
 Arthur. 
 
 His mili- 
 tary 
 
 achieve- 
 ments. 
 
 The son and successor of liter, born of Lady Igi-en, Duchess of Cornwall, was 
 the renoAvued King Arthur. Trained to arms by Ambrosius, under wliose conunis- 
 sion he for some time fought,* and animated by the wi-ongs of the Britons, over whom 
 lie was appointed to reign, he became himself the leader of then- wars, and hi all of 
 them he came off conqueror. The first of his battles was fought at the mouth of the 
 river called the Glem. The second, tliiixl, fourth, and fifth, upon another river 
 called the Douglas, in the territory of Linuis. The sixth was on a stream which 
 bears the name of Bassas. The seventh was in the wood of Celidon, that is, in Cat- 
 toit Celidou. The eighth was at Castle Gunnion. The ninth at the city of Legion. 
 The tenth on the banks of the river Ribroit. The eleventh on the luU Agned 
 Cathregonion ; and the twelfth at Mount Badon.f 
 
 The history of tliis distmguished warrior is mixed up with so much romance as 
 to render it extremely difficult to separate truth from fiction. That part of it, 
 however, which regards the subject of this history, is not only supported by early 
 tradition extending through many generations, but it is also supported by the concur- 
 rent testimony of indubitable facts. The ingenuity and research of Mr. Wliitaker, 
 the liistorian of Manchester, has placed tliis subject in so strong and mteresting a 
 light, in the second chapter of liis Saxon History of Manchester, that it may be 
 quoted with advantage, Avith the exception of those passages for which the public 
 is indebted more to the vigorous unagination of the author than to historical 
 evidence. 
 
 " The second, tliii-d, fourth, and fifth battles of Arthur are supposed to have 
 been fought m our own county (Laucashii-e), and upon the banks of our little 
 Douglas.J And the name of the river concurs with the ti'adition concerning 
 Arthur, and three battles prove the notice true. On the traditionaiy scene of this 
 engagement remained, till the year 1 770, a considerable British baiTow, popularly 
 denominated Hasty-Knoll. It was originally a vast collection of small stones taken 
 from the bed of the Douglas ; and gi-eat quantities had been successively carried 
 away by the neighbouring inhabitants. Many fragments of iron had been also 
 
 * Malmesbury, f. 4. 
 
 t " Artur ipse dux erat bellorum, et in omnibus victor extitit. Primum bellum fuit in ostium 
 fluniinis quod dicitur Glem. Secundum et tertium et quartum et quintum super aliud flumen, quod 
 vocatur Duglas, quod est in regione Linuis. Sextum bellum super flumen quod vocatur Bassas. 
 Septum bellum fuit in silva Calidonis, id est, Cattoit Celidon. Octavum fuit bellum in Castello Gun- 
 nion. Nonumque bellum gestum est in urbe Legionis. Decimum bellum gestum est in litore 
 fluminis quod vocatur Ribroit. Undecimum bellum fuit in monte quod dicitur Agned Cathregonion. 
 Duodecimum fuit bellum in monte Badonis." — Historia Britonum, auctore Nennio, cap. Ixv. Ixvi. 
 
 I Higden, p. 225, from Radulphus, Hodie fluvius vocatur— Dugglis, et currit sub urbe de Wigan, 
 and Brompton, c. 11.53.
 
 Countp |3alatine of iLanrastfr* 31 
 
 occasionally discovered in it, together ^^itli remains of those military weapons which chap. 
 
 tlie Britons iutei-red Avith their heroes at death. On finally levelling the harrow, '. — 
 
 tliere was found a cavity, in the hungry gravel iimuediately under the stones, ahout 
 seven feet in length, the evident grave of the British ollicer, and all filled with the 
 loose and hlackish earth of his perished remains. At another place, near Wigan, was ' 
 discovered, ahout the year 1741, a large collection of horse and human hones, 
 and an amazing quantity of horse shoes, scattered over u large extent of ground — 
 an evidence of some important hattle upon the spot. The very appellation 
 of Wio-an is a standing memorial of more than one hattle at that place ; Wig 
 sicmifying, in Saxon, a figlit, and Wif/-en heiug its plural. According to trathtion, 
 the first battle fought neai- Blackrode was uncommonly hloody, and the Douglas was 
 ci-imsoned with blood to Wigan. TracUtion and remains concui- to evince the fact, 
 that a second battle was fought near Wigan-lane many ages before the rencoimter 
 in tlie civil Avars. And credulity, deeply impressed with the story, not unfrequently 
 fancies, to the present period, that it sees warriors habited in strange dresses, and 
 hovering about the scene of slaughter. The defeated Saxons appear to have crossed 
 the liill of Wigan, wliere another engagement or engagements ensued j and in 
 forming the canal there, about the year 1735, the workmen discovered evident 
 indications of a considerable battle on the gi-ound. All along the course of the 
 channel from the termination of the Dock to the point of Pool-bridge, fi-om forty to 
 fifty roods in length, and seven or eight yards ui breadth, they found the ground 
 every where containing the remains of men and horses. In maldng the excavations, 
 a large old spur, carrjdng a stem four or five inches in length, and a rowel as large 
 as a half-crown, was dug up ; and five or six hundi'ed weight of horse-shoes were 
 collected. The point of land on the south side of the Douglas, wliich lies inune- 
 diately fronting the scene of the last engagement, is now denominated the Parson's 
 meadow ; and tradition very loudly reports a battle to have been fought in it. To 
 attack the Saxons in this situation was a bold effort ; but victory heightens the 
 courage and mcreases the power of an army. The attack was made : it could not 
 be sustained. The dispuited Saxons fell before the superior bravery and dauntless 
 spirit of the Britons. 
 
 " These four battles were fought upon the river Douglas, and in the region Linuis. on the 
 In this district was the whole course of the current, from its source to its conclusion, ""^ '^^' 
 and the words " super flumen quod vocatur Douglas, quod est in Linuis," shew 
 the stream to have been less known than the resnon. Tliis was tlierefore consi- 
 derable ; one of the cantreds or gi-eat cUvisions of the Sistuntian kingdom, and 
 comprised, perhaps, the western half of south Lancashire. From its appellation of 
 Linuis, or the Lake, it seems to have assumed the denomination from the Mere of
 
 32 CIK 5)l5ton,> of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. Marton, which was once the most considerable object witliin it, and was traversed 
 
 by the Romans in canoes of a single tree * 
 
 " Thus by four successive victories had Arthur subdued the great ai-my of the 
 Saxons, which had so often beaten the Britons of the north, and then held the 
 Sistuutii in bondage. But Lancasliire was not yet entii-ely delivered. The castles 
 which had been previously erected there by the provincials, would naturally be garri- 
 soned by the Saxons on their conquest of the country, and the towns and their 
 vicinities more immecHately bridled by then- barbarous oppressors. TracHtion 
 asserts Manchester to have been thus ciixumstanced in particular at tlus period. "f 
 Here, in the Castle-field, according to our authority, stood the Roman castle, now 
 occupied by the Saxon commander Sii- Torquin, who was not expelled till after two 
 desperate attempts to carry the fortress, in wliich the Britons at length succeeded, 
 and Torquin fell before the \dctors. The tracUtions of Lancashire still cherish and 
 uphold the memory of Su* Torquin, the lord of the castle, and the knights of the 
 Round Talde, many of whom fell witliiu the tyi'ant's toils, till Sir Lionell of Liones 
 slew the sanguinary knight, and liberated his captives.| 
 
 The last of Arthur's victories Avas acliieved at the battle of Badon Mount ; and 
 Mr. Wliitaker contends, that these memorable engagements not only checked the 
 pi-ogress of Cerdic, but anniliilated the Saxon anny, and that a long interval of 
 repose, extending through seventy years, followed. It appears, however, from the 
 Saxon chronicles, that CercUc ched in the year 534, " and was succeeded by his son 
 Cynic in the government of Wessex ; and that he," in the peculiar language of these 
 chronicles, " reigned afterwaids twenty-six winters." It is also shewn from the 
 
 * Leigh's Lancashire, b. i. p. 18. f Whitaker's Manchester, voL ii. b. ii. c. 2. 
 
 I The chivalrous order of the Knights of the Round Table was, according to the Vetus Ceremo- 
 niale MSS., instituted by King Arthur and the Duke of Lancaster, and is thus mentioned by Du 
 Cange : — " Le roy Arthur d' Angleterre et le due le Lancastre ordonnerent et fu-ent la Table Ronde, 
 et les behours tournois, et joustes, et moult d' autres chose nobles etjugemens d' armes dont ils 
 ordonnerent pour juger dames et damoiselles, roys d' armes et heraux." This Table is described in 
 the romantic annals of Tristan : — 
 
 " The great and skilful Merlin has exhausted all the secrets of his art in the constructing of that 
 table. Thirteen seats were placed round it, in honour of the thirteen apostles. Twelve only of these 
 could be filled up, and only by the bravest and truest knights. The thirteenth represented that of the 
 execrable traitor Judas. It was called the perilous chair, ever since a rash and presumptuous Saracen 
 had dared to set himself on it, when on a sudden the floor gave way, and the miscreant was 
 swallowed up and consumed by devouring flames. By means of the spell, an invisible hand traced 
 on the back of the seat the name of the candidate who deserved to fill it, and who must have proved 
 himself superior in every respect to the companion whom he was to succeed ; otherwise, whoever 
 presented himself was instantly repelled by an unknown force. This was the trial those brave cham- 
 pions underwent whenever an election was become necessary, by the decease of any of the worthies.
 
 Countp ^aalatme of Sancastn-. 33 
 
 history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, that Ella and Ida reigned in Deua and chap. 
 Bernicia, witliin thirteen years from the death of Arthur, and tliat the Saxon ' 
 
 conquests gradually advanced, till all England was suhdued, and erected into seven 
 soverei'ni states, under the name of the Heptarchy. The propriety of this appella- 
 tion has heen disputed, and the term Oclarchy adopted in its stead. The difference The hep- 
 is capahle of an easy explanation, — Northumhria heing considered one kingdom by 
 the advocates for the Heptarchy, and two (that is, Deii-a and Bernicia,) by the 
 supporters of the Octarchical division. The seven Idngdoms were, Sussex, Kent, 
 Wessex, East Anglia, Essex, Mercia, and Northmnbiia. Tliis latter kingdom. 
 
 Of the twelve honourable seats, that of Mourhoult, of Ireland, had remained ten years vacant. 
 Arthur led Tristan to the empty seat. A celestial harmony was heard as he advanced, and the ambient 
 air was sweetened by the most fragrant perfumes ; the name of Mourhoult disappeared, and that of 
 Tristan was seen most resplendent and conspicuous. Now his modesty was put to a hard trial ; 
 he was obliged, when seated, to detail all his achievements, which the clerks, as usual, took 
 down." 
 
 The episode of Sir Torquin, in the celebrated history of King Arthur, under the title of " La 
 Morte d'Arthur," portrays with vrvacity the achievements of the gallant Knights of the Round 
 Table, and, according to Mr. Whitaker, the scenery of the Castle-field, Manchester, and the surround- 
 ing country, in the Saxon period, would answer to this description : — 
 
 " Sir Lancelot of the Lake (Marton Mere), and Sir Lionell of Liones, two brothers, and Knights 
 of King Arthur, entered a deep forest in quest of adventures, and came into a great plain within it. 
 Here (in the usual awkwardness with which events are brought about by these ancient romances,) the 
 former lay down to sleep under an apple-tree, and the latter guarded him. While they were thus 
 employed, three knights rode by on full speed, pursued by a fourth ; and, as Lionell fixed his «yes 
 upon the last, he thought that he never beheld so stout a knight, so handsome a man, or so well- 
 accoutred a hero. This was Sir Torquin, the lord of a castle in the neighbourhood ; who, in the 
 view of Sir Lionell, overtook the knights that he was pursuing, seized them, and bound them. 
 Moved with generous pity at the sight, Lionell resolved to engage him. Without waking his brother, 
 he followed Torquin, and bade him turn. He turned, overcame, and bound his challenger ; and 
 took all four away with him to his castle. And there he stripped them of their arms and clothes, 
 whipped them with thorns, and put them in a deep dungeon, to share the fate of the many knights 
 that were in the same prison, and to join with them in lamentations of their misery. 
 
 " In the mean while. Sir Ector de Maris, brother to Lionell and Lancelot, followed them to partake 
 of their adventures, and came also into a great forest. There he heard, that within a mile was a 
 castle, strong and well ditched, and by it, upon the left hand, a ford ; and that over this grew a fair 
 tree, on the branches of whicli were hung the shields of the many gallant knights wlio had been 
 overcome by the owner of the castle; and at the stem was a basin of copper, with a Latin inscription, 
 which challenged any knight to strike upon it, and summon the castellans to a contest. Ector came 
 to the place, saw the shields, recognized many that belonged to his associates of the Round Table, and 
 particularly noticed his brother's: fired at the sight, he beat violently on the basin, and then gave his 
 horse drink at the ford. And immediately a knight appeared on horseback behind him, and called him 
 to come out of the water. He turned himself directly. He engaged the knight, was conquered, 
 VOL. I. F
 
 34 
 
 €f)t W^tov}) of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 II. 
 
 which alone concerns the subject of this liistoiy, was occasionally divided into two, 
 under the names of Deira and Bemicia, but in its iiitegi-ality it may be exliibited 
 thus, with the succession of its Saxon sovereign princes : — 
 
 Northumberland 
 consisted of the 
 counties of . . . 
 
 r 
 
 Lancashire 
 
 Yorkshire 
 
 Durham 
 
 Westmoreland 
 
 Cumberland 
 
 Northumberland, 
 
 And its 
 Kings<( 
 are . 
 
 J V Ella 
 
 11. 
 
 Alkfryd 
 
 ■ i Ida 
 
 12. 
 
 Osred 
 
 2 ^ Adda 
 
 1.3. 
 
 Kenred 
 
 i Elappea 
 
 14. 
 
 Oswick 
 
 3. Tlieodwald 
 
 15. 
 
 Ceolulph 
 
 4. Fretnulse 
 
 16. 
 
 Egbert 
 
 5. Theodrick 
 
 17. 
 
 Oswalph 
 
 6. Ethelrick 
 
 18. 
 
 Ediswald 
 
 7. Ethelfiid 
 
 19. 
 
 Elured 
 
 8. Edwin 
 
 20. 
 
 Ethelred 
 
 9. Oswald 
 
 21. 
 
 Alfwald 
 
 10. Egfrid 
 
 22. 
 
 Osred. 
 
 This kingdom existed 379 years, dating its commencement from .547, and its 
 desolation in 926. During the Roman period, the largest portion of this county took 
 its name fiom the Brigautes ; but the Saxons, from its local situation to the North of 
 the Humber, changed its designation to Nopjian Humbep Londe, or Northimiber- 
 land. Tlie Saxon inhabitants of this kingdom were the Angles, who arrived 
 from Anglia,* or Angloen, in Pomerania, as eai'ly as the year 449, though 
 theii- kingdom of Noi-thumberlaud was not established till one huntb-ed years 
 after that date. It has been conjectured, that Mercia included Deii-a, or that 
 the country between the Mersey and the Ribble was witliin the Mercian terri- 
 
 and taken prisoner by him. The brother of both these unfortunate heroes, Sir Lancelot, whom we 
 left sleeping before in the forest adjoining to the castle, had been carried from thence by enchantment, 
 and confined for some time. But, as soon as he was released, he went in search of Lionell, and came 
 into the same forest, where they had so strangely parted. There, in the midst of a highway, he 
 heard that a knight dwelt very near, who was the most redoubted champion that ever existed, and 
 had conquered, and now kept in prison, no less than sixty-four of King Arthur's knights. He 
 hastened to the place. He came to the ford and tree ; and he let his horse drink at the ford, and 
 then beat upon the basin with the end of his spear. This he did so long and so heartily, that he 
 drove the bottom out ; and yet no one answered. He then rode along the gates of the castle almost 
 half an hour. At last he descried Sir Torquin coming upon the road with a captive knight. He 
 advanced, and challenged him. The other gallantly accepted the challenge, defying him and all 
 his fellowship of the Round Table. They fought. The encounter lasted no less than four hours. 
 Lancelot at last slew his antagonist, took the keys of his castle, and released all the prisoners within 
 it, who instantly repaired to the armourv there, and furnished themselves completely.
 
 idolatry. 
 
 Countp IJalntmt of itanrastcr, 35 
 
 ton'. But the preponderance of evidence is in favour of the more generally recog- chap 
 
 nized limits; namely, that the Humber and the Mersey to the south, and the Eden L_ 
 
 and the T}Tie to the north, formed the Northumbrian boundary; and that when tliis 
 kingdom was thvidcd, the kingdom of Deira consisted of the counties of Lancaster, 
 York, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham, precisely the ancient Brigantine 
 limits, wlule Bernicia comprehended Northumberland and the south of Scotland, 
 between the Tweed and the Frith of Forth. 
 
 Tlie system of government established by our Saxon ancestors had in it the germ of Saxon 
 freedom, if it did not always exhibit the fruits. In religion they were idolaters, and when 
 they settled in Britain, their idols, altars, and temples soon overspread the country. 
 They had a god for every day in the week. Tlior, or Tlmr, represented Tluirsday ; 
 Woden confeiTed his name on Wechiesday ; Frisco presided over Friday; Seater over 
 Saturday; and Tuyse, the tutelar god of the Dutch, conferred his name on Tuesday. 
 The attributes of the first four of these deities corresponded with those of the Roman 
 deities, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Saturn ; Tuyse had no parallel in the pantheon, 
 but the Saxons had their Ermenseni, who, like Mercury, was the bestower of yai ; 
 and Heile, a sort of Esculapius, the preserver and restorer of health. Besides these 
 gods, the Saxons worsliipped the sun and the moon, who each conferred a name on 
 one of the days of the week ; Sunnan on Sunday, and Monan on Monday. The people 
 worsliipped the statiies of these gods. Thor the supreme was seated on a throne, 
 and on either side of bun stood Woden and Frisco. Thor, according to the pre- 
 vailing superstition, bore rule in the air, and governed the thunder, the lightning, 
 ajid the A\'inds ; he likewise du'ected the weather, and regulated the seasons, giving 
 plenty or inflicting famine at Ms will. Woden made war, and ministered rigour 
 against enemies ; wlule Frisco bestowed upon mortals peace and pleasure. So 
 gross was the Saxon superstition, and so strong their incentives to war, that they 
 believed, if they obtained the favour of Woden by theu* valour, they should be 
 admitted after death into liis hall, and, reposing on couches, should satiate themselves 
 with ale from the skiUls of theu* enemies, whom they had slain in battle ! Tliis beve- 
 rage was iu high esteem amongst them ; and Foster, to whom they sacrificed in the 
 month of April, gave the name to Easter, by Avliich the festival of the resuiTection is 
 designated in the Christian system. Tlie Saxon women were not allowed to contract a 
 second marriage, and a sunilar restriction applied to the men, except those in elevated 
 stations who were childless; for, amongst such, " to be without children was to be 
 without reputation." The most dismal feature of their superstition was the custom 
 which they had in war, after a successful enterprise, of selecting by lot, and sacri- 
 ficing, one-tenth of their captives to their sanguinary gods.* In tliis spirit they 
 
 * Sid. ApoU.Epist.vi.l. 8. 
 
 f2
 
 36 Cfte W^tov}] of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, offered human sacrifices, to obtain success in battle; and Herald, a poet of 
 
 ^ • tiiat name, offered up on tlie altar two of liis sons to his idols, tliat he might 
 
 obtain a storm, to scatter and to destroy the Danish anuada, which had sailed 
 
 against him! 
 
 Christia- Before the arrival of the Saxons, Clmstiaiiity had taken root in England, and 
 
 dll^ed"'™ spread its heaUiig branches over the whole laud, recommending itself even to the 
 
 Roman legionaries ; but the invasion of the Saxon infidels for a time obscured, if it 
 
 did not extinguish, the liglit of the gospel in Britain; and both Gildas and Bede 
 
 concur in representing the Saxons, at that period, as a nation " odious both to God 
 
 and man,"* the subverters of jUtars, and the enemies of the priesthood. 
 
 Before Gregory, surnamed the Great, had attained the pontifical chaii-, he formed 
 the pious design of imdertaking the conversion of the Saxon Britons. Observing in 
 the market-place, at Rome, a number of Saxon youths exposed to sale, whom the 
 Roman merchants in their trading voyages had bought from theii- British parents, 
 and being struck with theu- beauty, he inquired to what country they belonged, 
 and was told they were Angles, from the kingdom of Deu-a. Moved by the same 
 spirit that now actuates so many of the people of England towards the heathen 
 nations, he determined liimself to undertake a mission to Britain, to convert the 
 heathen of that country .f Tlie popidai* favour of the monk disinclined the people 
 to allow him to be exposed to so much danger in person ; but no sooner had he 
 assumed the purple, than he resolved to fulfil liis benevolent design towards the 
 Britons, and he pitched upon two Roman monks, Augustine and Paulinus, to 
 preach the gospel in that island. 
 
 * Gildas Brit. Epist. xxiii. Bede 1. i. 22. 
 f Die quadam cum advenientibus nuper mercatoribus multa venatia in forum fuissent rollata, 
 multique ad emendum confluxissent, et ipsum Gregorium inter alios advenisse, ac vidisse inter alia 
 pueros venales positos, candidi corporis, ac venusti vultus, capilloruni quoque forma egregia. Quos 
 cum aspiceret, interrogavit, ut aiunt, de qua regione vel ten-a essent allati ? dictumque est quod de 
 Britannia insula, cujus incolse talis essent aspectus. Rursus interrogavit utrum iidem insulani, 
 Christiani ; an paganis adhuc erroribus essent implicati? Dictumque est, quod essent pagani. At 
 ille intimo ex corde longa trahens suspiria, Heu proh dolor; inquit, quod tam lucidi vultus homines 
 tenebrarum auctor possidet, tantaque giatia frontis conspicui mentem ab interna gratia vacuam 
 gestant ! Rursus ergo interrogavit, quod esset vocabulum gentis illius ? Responsum est quod Angli 
 vocarentur. At ille bene inquit, — Nam et angelicam habent faciem, et tales angelorum in coelis decet 
 esse coheredes. Quod, ait, habet nomen ipsa provincia, de qua isti sunt allati ? Responsum est, 
 quod Deiri vocarentur iidem provinciales. At ille bene inquit, Deiri de ira eruti, et ad misericordiam 
 Christi vocati. Rex provinciee illius quomodo vocatur ? Responsum est, quod Elle diceretur. At 
 ille alludens ad nomen, ait. Alleluia laiidem Dei creatoris illis in pavtibus oportet cantari. — Bede, 
 lib. ii. cap. 1.
 
 Count); |3nlatiuc of JCanragtfr 37 
 
 lu the yeai- 596, Augustine, at the head of about lorty niissiouaiies, embarked chap. 
 from Italy, and landed in the Isle of Thanet. Their amval was immediately " 
 mmounced to Ethelbert, king of Kent. Ethelbert had married Bertha, the daughter Missiona- 
 of Caribert, Idng of Paris; and, as a condition of tliis alliance, he had stipulated that liritahi. 
 the prmcess should enjoy the free exercise of her religion, which was Christian. The 
 exemplary conduct of the queen had prepossessed Ethelbert in favour of the Chiistian 
 religion, and thus paved the way for the missionaries. On hearing of then- anival, 
 he invited them to Canterbury, his capital, and assigned them habitations in that 
 city. Theu" holy doctrines were recommended by their pious lives ; and thek blissful 
 views beyond the grave so much gained upon the king and upon his subjects, that 
 they all, as with one accord, received the faith of the Cross. In 604 the neighbouring 
 East Saxons were proselytized; in 627 the East Angles adopted the Christian faith; 
 and in the following year the example extended to Mercia. Thus the flame spread 
 from kingdom to kingdom, till the whole heptarchy had become Chiistian. Edwin, 
 the king of Northumbria, one of the best and the wisest of the Saxon sovereigns, convev- 
 having manied Ethelburga, a Christian piincess, received PauUnus inth distin- Nonhum^ 
 guished favour ; and in the year 627 he was consecrated archbishop of the Northima- 
 brians. Not satisfied with his own reflections, and vnth reasoning in private with liis 
 ministers on the subject, Edwin convened all liis nobility, counsellors, and friends, 
 to examine the gi'ounds of both religions, the Christian and the Pagan, in a solemn 
 assembly held at York. This memorable convocation having assembled, the king 
 announced the object of the meeting. The coifi, or chief pontitf, of Northumbria, 
 was heard first in favour of paganism ; but the tenor of liis argument was more 
 favourable to the Christian faith than to liis own ; and he thd not hesitate, in conclu- 
 sion, to award to it the preference. He was followed by one of the Saxon barons, 
 who strongly condemned the general system of heathenism, for keeping mankind in 
 a state of darkness, shewing them neither what had preceded nor what was to follow 
 the present state of being. In theii- views the court generally concun-ed, and the 
 heathen pontiff', if he any longer was entitled to th.at reproach, requested that 
 PaiUinus would explain to the assembly the nature of the religion he professed, and 
 the attributes of the God he worsliipped. The missionary spoke with liis usual fervour. 
 Conviction flashed more sti-ongly than before upon the whole assembly. The king 
 openly declared liimself a believer, and the cause of Christianity had a solemn and 
 signal triumph. After the assembly had broken up, the pontiff", with the zeal of a 
 proselyte, mounted a war-horse, and rode to Godmundin Gaham, in the East Riding Destnu- 
 of YorksJm-e, where stood the great Northumbrian temple of pagan worship, laid out heathen' 
 in vaiious courts, enclosed with several walls, containing witliin it many altai-s and '^'"'''^" 
 idols, and attended by the first personages of the priesthood. Having cast a javelin 

 
 38 
 
 Win Sjistoii) of t])t 
 
 CHAP. 
 II. 
 
 Preaching 
 of Pauli- 
 nus io 
 Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 Pfstora- 
 tton of 
 churches. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire 
 castles. 
 
 at the principal iiiol, he commanded that those around liim should he tlu'own down, 
 and the temple consigned to the flames.* Edwin now embraced the Christian religion, 
 \vitli liis whole court ; and on Easter Sunday, in the year 627, the king and liis 
 nobles were all baptized at York. Tlie gi-eat body of the people followed the 
 example of their sovereign and his barons, and in one day 10,000 persons were bap- 
 tized by Paulinus m the river Swale, since designated the Northumbrian Jordan. 
 Christianity now became the prevailing religion. Tlie people of Lancasliire, 
 like those of Yorkshire, embraced the ti'ue religion. The venerable Paulinus was 
 indefatigable here, in the cUscharge of the duties of liis mission ; and the waters 
 of the Ribble, as well as those of the Swale, were resorted to for the baptism of 
 his converts. From that period to the present, Christianity has continued to main- 
 tain its ascendency in the northern parts of Britain; and in 678 the South Saxons, 
 who were the last of the states to bow down to idols, discarded their superstitious, 
 and became the wor.shippers of the only true God. Paulinus was consecrated fii'st 
 archbishop of York, which dignity he enjoyed " nineteen winters, two months, and 
 twenty-one days, when he died, in the year 644." So states the Saxon Clu-onicle, but 
 there is here an evident error, as his elevation could not take place earlier than the 
 year 627, when Edwin was converted to Clu-istianity. 
 
 The British chuixhes, wliich the Saxons had not demolished, had fallen into 
 decay : but they were now repaired, and the heathen temples were many of them 
 converted into places of Christian worship, with appropiiate dedications ; and the 
 Saxon churches in London, York, and Manchester, were distinguished by the 
 names of St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. Maiy. Tlie feasts of dedication were insti- 
 tuted to preserve the memory of the consecration of the churches ; and these annual 
 festivals, which commenced in the evening preceding the celebration of the dedication, 
 were called church wakes, which have gi'adually assumed a secular chai-acter, and 
 are now ranked amongst the village festivals of Lancashii'e. 
 
 Coeval Anth the churches, a number of castles were also erected, or re-etlified ; 
 and it is conjectured, that not fewer than twelve considerable ones arose at the south 
 of the Ribble, Wall-ey, Wal-ton, Cliild-wall, and Win-wick, Black-stone, Seph-ton, 
 Stan-dish, and Pcn-wortham,'|" Wig-an, Roch-dale, Middle-ton, and Beiry. These 
 were, probably, the seats of twelve Saxon chiefs, before the institution of parishes ; 
 and, therefore, the seats of as many parochial churches.]; Edwin sutAived his 
 conversion only six yeai's, having faUen in a sanguinary battle, fought with Penda. 
 the Mercian, and Cadwallan, tlie Cambrian, at Hethfield, where his whole army was 
 put to the sword. 
 
 Bede, lib. ii. cap. 14. t Domesday Book, fo. 270. j Bede, lib. ii. cap. 9. 
 
 s.
 
 Countj) |3al«itine of 3Lanradtn% 30 
 
 Tlie ancient kingdom of Northumberland revived, on the death of Edwin, in the chap. 
 . ..... . II. 
 
 person of Oswald, his successor ; of which king it is said, that though his power 
 
 extended to three kingdoms, " he was lowly to all, gi'acious to the poor, and houn- Oswald, 
 tiful to strangers." Under the force of his anns, Cadwallan fell, and the flower 
 of liis arniv perished. The victories of Oswald served but to inllanie the resentment of 
 the pagan Penda, king of Mercia, who fought against him, and slew liini at Miifield, 
 in the West Ritling of Yorkshii-e, according to the Saxon Clnonicles,* or, according 
 to the venerable Bede, at WiuAvick, in the county of Lancaster. For some years, 
 the people of Lancashire, Avith the rest of theii" fellow-subjects of the kingdom of 
 Deira, had been in a state of constant hostility A\ith their ancient allies and neigh- 
 bours, the people of Bernicia ; but by the mild and enlightened rule of Oswald, 
 then- differences were reconciled, and they united in allegiance to one sovereign. 
 
 A new era was now opening in the ecclesiastical liistory of this province, the introduc- 
 elTects of which were to he felt through a long series of ages, and to influence in no monastic 
 small degi'ee the future interests of the nation. Monastic institutions began to ["on's'^nto 
 prevail in Northumbria, al)out the middle of the seventh century, under the fostering '''■''^'" 
 hand of that distinguished prelate Wiufrid, sole bishop of Northumberland ; and in a 
 few years nmnbers of monasteries and nunneries sprung up in Lancasliu'e, and other 
 parts of the province. The practice of introducing relics into the chiu'ches belongs 
 also to this age, and innumerable were the pilgi'images made to Rome, and to the 
 venerable places which had been hallowed by the blood of the martyrs, to collect 
 the remains of the saints. By the constitution of the western churches, the 
 pope was invested with a patriarchal authority over them; but the Britons 
 had hitherto never acknowledged the pontifical jurisdiction. He was now, however, 
 requested to confiiin the unmunities of religious houses, which had been previously 
 ratified by the king, and Wii-emouth was the first that received the papal 
 confirmation. f 
 
 Tlicodore, the archbishop c>f Canterbury, having long seen the necessity for Aich- 
 affording to the people some more extensive means of religious instruction, than they AvlnWd. 
 at that time possessed, and for dividing such of the bishoprics as were too large for the 
 proper cUscharge of the episcopal duties, recommended to the king to convene a 
 synod in 678, at which Egfrid and his Saxon barons were present. By tliis august 
 assembly it was provided, by an unanimous decision, that as the number of Christians 
 was daily increasing, new sees should be erected ; and, as ii" in anticipation of some 
 fonnidable opposition, a declaration was appended to the decrees, to the effect, that, 
 Avhoever presumed to violate them, should be degraded of his sacerdotal office, and 
 excommunicated.| In virtue of these canons, the bishopric of the East Angles was 
 
 * Sax. Chron. A. D. 642. + Bede, lib. i. c. 29. t Bede, lib. iv. c. 5.
 
 40 0)r ?&!5ttiii) of tf)f 
 
 CHAP. di\-i(led into two, and tlie dominions of the Mercians, wbicli lay beyond the Severn, 
 ^^' were assi"-ned to the new see of Hereford. Wilfrid still remained the sole bishop 
 amono-st the Northumbrians, and liis cUocese reached from the Frith of Forth to the 
 Hiunl)er, on the east of the kingdom, and from the Frith of Clyde to the Mersey, on 
 the west. No prelate in these early days had aggi-andized the church so much as 
 Wilfrid. With influence almost unbounded in all parts of the kingdom, and amongst 
 all the upper classes, from the gi-eatest to the humblest of the Saxon barons, he was 
 enabled to procure manors and lordships for the erection and endomuents of 
 churclies; and in liis time the precedent was first established of alienating the 
 demesnes of the crown, to augment the revenues of the cliurch. Resembling, in many 
 respects, an archbishop of York of more modern days, (Cardinal Wolsey,) Wilfrid 
 was munificent and ostentatious, afTable and accomplished, ambitious and intractable, 
 pious but proud. By one of the decrees of the synod, it was directed that the bishop- 
 ric of this prelate should be divided into two, Deira and Bernicia, of wliich York 
 was to be the capital of one, and Hexliam of the other. 
 Refractory The hauglity spiiit of the prelate was wounded by this pai'tition, wliich he did 
 AniMd. "^ not hesitate to designate as an unjust spoliation. Repairing to the court, where the 
 Idng and the archbishop were sat in council, he required the reason why he had 
 been deprived of his income, given by princes for pious uses, without being guilty of 
 any offence ? To this inquiry it was replied, that the .synod had charged liim with 
 no crime, but that they had, in vulue of their functions, and for the benefit of the 
 church, ch^•ided his province, and should adhere to their decision ; on which he 
 exclaimed, that " from that decision he appealed for redi-ess to Rome." This threat 
 excited the derision of the court, fi'om its novelty and singularity. Wilfrid was not 
 slow to execute it. He' appealed to the pope in person ; and his holiness, conceiving 
 tliis a fit opportunity for establisliing his patriarchal power in Britain, decreed — 
 " That Wilfrid should be restored to the possession of the bishopric he had before ; 
 that such coadjutors as he should choose, with the consent of a synod, should be 
 ordained by the archbishop ; that those who had been made bishops in his absence 
 should be expelled ; and that every person who should oppose tliis sentence should be 
 degraded, if in holy orders, but, if lapnen, or even kings, that they should be 
 excommimicated." 
 
 Tliis insolent mandate was resented by the king in full convocation, who dii-ected 
 that the property of the archbishop should be confiscated, and his person committed 
 to prison. In the course of these proceeduigs, a convocation of all the bishops in 
 England was summoned ; the place of meeting was the plains of Nesterfield, between 
 Wada and Wathe, in the county of York, wiiere tents were pitched for holding tlie 
 assembly. Tlie archbishop of Canterbury came in person, to preside ; the king was
 
 Countj) ^3alntmt of ilanrasftcr, 41 
 
 present in council ; and the abbots assisted in gi-eat numbers. Wilfrid still refused chap. 
 to subscribe the canons, and asked the king and the abbots, how they dared to ' 
 
 oppose the papal power, and to prefer the decrees of Theodore to those of popes 
 Agatho, Benedict, and Sergius. The convocation broke up, after a decree of 
 inhibition against WUfrid, by wliich he was deprived of his ecclesiastical functions, 
 and obliged to seek his personal safety in Mercia. After a contest, continued for twenty- 
 seven years, the quarrel was terminated in a compromise, under the mediation of 
 Eliieda, the abbess, and daughter of Elfrid, by which Wilfrid was reinstated m the 
 see of Hexham ; but the Saxon bishops refused to admit the authority of the Roman 
 pontiff in any affairs relating to the British churches. When the angi-y passions excited Papai au- 
 by this conti'oversy had subsided, the pontifical claim was again advanced, and, in acknd^- 
 the middle of the eighth century, the Roman see was authoritatively declared, in the '"^^^'^■ 
 canons of Northumbria, to be the couit of appeal in all ecclesiastical differences. 
 
 Although the Britons had lived secui'ely in Furness, relying upon the fortifica- xransfer- 
 tions with which nature had guarded them, nothing proved uuj)reguable to the Saxon the people 
 conquerors ; for it appears, that in the early jiai't of the reign of Egfrid, king of ness.""^ 
 Northumberland, that monaixh " gave St. Cuthbert the land called Carthmell, 
 and all the Britons in it."* 
 
 It is recorded, in the Saxon Clu'onicle, that in the year 685 there was in Britain Rain of 
 a bloody rain, and milk and butter were turned to blood. A similai' phenomenon 
 is mentioned iir 734 ; and this year the moon was as if /tef were covered with blood. 
 Bede, or Beda, a native of our kingdom of Northumbria, died tliis latter year, after venerable 
 a life of unparalleled literary labours. This venerable ecclesiastic, who was born in 
 the year 672,|; ranks the first in the number of eai-ly British historians, though his 
 works are defaced by legendary tales, which serve to shew that Ms mind was not free 
 from the superstitions Avliich for so many ages afterwards prevailed in the county of 
 Lancaster, to an extent scarcely equalled in any other part of the kingdom. In the 
 time of Bede, but in what exact year is not ascertained, the ecclesiastical divisions of 
 parishes were first establishetl, and before the middle of the seventh century, and 
 witliin twenty-five years from the conversion of the Saxon inhabitants of Northiun- 
 bria to the Christian faith, churches were erected in the various districts of this 
 county, to which ministers were appointed to dispense the ordinances of religion. 
 
 The Saxon heptarchy was now di'aAving towards its tennination. Ambition 
 agitated all parts of the country by its conflicts, and the face of nature seemed to 
 sympatliize mth the general disorder. Dreadful forewarnings came over Lancashire 
 
 * Camden's Brit. vol. iii. p. 380. 
 t In the Saxon, as in most of the Oriental languages, the moon is masculine, and the sun feminine. 
 t At Wearmouth, in the bishopric of Durham. 
 VOL. I. G 
 
 Bede.
 
 42 
 
 €i)t W^tov\! of tl)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 II. 
 
 InTasion 
 of the 
 Danes. 
 
 Battle at 
 Whalley. 
 
 Dissolu- 
 tion of the 
 heptar- 
 chy 
 
 A.D. 800. 
 
 and the otlier parts of the land of the Nortliuiubnans,* which excited general teiTor 
 ainono-st the people. " Immense sheets of light were seen rusliing through the air, 
 (qu. the aurora borealis,) accompanied by wliiilwinds, and fiery di-agons fl,>™g 
 across the finuament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great 
 famine ; and not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January, iu the same 
 year, the ban-owing of heathen-men (the Danes) made lamentable havock in the 
 chiu-ch of God." In the year 798, adds the Saxon Chronicle, " a severe battle was 
 fought in the Northumbrian territory during Lent, on the fourth day before the 
 nones of April, at Wlialleyj wherein Alric, the son of Herbert, was slain, and many 
 others with liim." The sentence is cm-ious, as being the fii-st time in which the 
 palish of Whalley is mentioned in ci^il history, and the precise tenns are these : — 
 
 " An. DCCXCVIII. l^ep pa?j- mycel jepeoht on Nop^-hymbpa lanbe. on 
 Lenjtene. on iv. non. App. xt Jipeallasje. "] Jiasp man opj^loh Alpic. fJeapb- 
 bephcej- j-unu. *j o^pe mc'enije mib him" :• 
 
 The version of Simeon of Durham, of the same event, is more explanatory : — 
 
 " A. D. 798. Coujuratione facta ab interfectoribus Ethelrech regis, Wada Dux in 
 iUa conjm'atione cum iUis belliun inivit conti'a Eardwlphum regem, in loco qui appel- 
 latur ab AngHs BiUaugahoh, juxta Walalega, et ex utraque parte plmimis interfectis. 
 Wada Dux cum suis in fagum versus est."t 
 
 Wliile these wai's were raging in the north, Egbert, tlie son of Alcmund, king of 
 Wessex, was preparing himself, under the tuition of Charlemagne, in liis wars 
 against the Avarians and the Huus, on the banks of the Danube, to overrun all the 
 kingdoms of the heptarchy, and to appropriate them to the pui-poses of his own 
 ambition. On his return to England, having mounted the throne of his ancestors, 
 he penetrated successively into Devouslui-e and Cornwall, and ravaged the country 
 li'om east to west. Beornwulf, the usurper of the kingdom of INIercia, alanned by 
 the progi'ess of Egbert's anus, and aspuing himself to general dominion, attacked 
 the West Saxon prince, and the conflict was brought to an issue at Wilton. After 
 a sanguinary battle, fought with great obstinacy, the laurel of victory was awarded 
 to the pupU of Chaiiemagne, and Beormvull" fled in confusion from the field. 
 Mercia was still further weakened by a long and sanguinary war with the East 
 
 * Saxon Chron. A.D. 793. 
 t Dr. Whitaker supposes Billange, or Billinge, to have been at that time the name of the whole 
 ridge, extending from the mountain neai Blackburn, now bearing that appellation, to Whalley. 
 Billangaton will, on that supposition, be the orthography of Billington, and Billongahah, or the low 
 hill by Billinge, will leave, after cutting off the first syllable, the modern village of Langho. Of this 
 great battle there are, however, no remains, unless a large tumulus near Hacking Hall, and in the 
 immediate vicinity of Langho, be supposed to cover the remains of Alric, or some other chieftain 
 amongst the slain. — History of Whallev, Book I. cap. iii. p. 31.
 
 Counti.) ^3nlntinr of annrasitn-, 43 
 
 Angliaus ; and when the two usurpers, Beornwulf and Ludecan, had destroyed then- chap. 
 military strength, Eghert invaded Mercia,* and compelled Wiglaf, who had just ' 
 
 ascended the tlu'one of that (hstracted kingdom, to take refuge in the monastery of 
 Croyland. Through the intercession of the venerable abbot, the ditference between 
 the two kings was reconciled, but it was that species of accoimnodation wliich 
 corn-age and strength dictate to compromising weakness : the conditions were, that 
 Wiglaf shoiUd still occupy the tin-one of Mercia, but that it should be in the character 
 of the tributary vassal of Wessex. The balance of power bemg lost, the subversion 
 of East AngUa was easily effected ; and Kent and Essex soon sunk mto the general 
 vortex. After the conquest of Mercia, Egbert marched against Eanred, Idng of the 
 Northiunbrians ; but this prince, feeling that resistance was hopeless, acknowledged 
 liis superiority, and the M^hole Anglo-Saxon heptarchy merged in the kingdom 
 of Wessex, under the sway of Egbert, the founder of the feudal system in Eng- 
 land.! 
 
 Before Egbert ascended the throne, the north-men had commenced theii- attacks 
 upon Britain; and so eai-ly as the year 787 a small expetUtion landed at Teign- 
 mouth, in Devoushii-e. The invaders were princi2)ally from the promontory of 
 Denmark, the Camhrica Chersonesus of Tacitus, " at the utmost end of natui-e, 
 and of the world," where, according to the astronomy of the times, it was supposed 
 that the sun was heard daily at its rising and setting in the sea. In 794, a 
 more formidable ai-mament effected a landing in Britain, and spread devastation 
 amongst the Northumbrians, plundering the monastery of Idng Everth, at the 
 entrance to the Wear. The resistance made to the invaders was so determined, 
 that some of their leaders were* slain ; several of their sliips were shattered by 
 the \dolence of a stoi-m ; and such of the invaders as escaped the fury of the 
 waves, fell by the sword. The folloAraig year, Erdulf, the viceroy or king of Northum- 
 bria, a.scended the throne, and was consecrated in the capital of York.]; Fom- yeai-s a.d. soo. 
 afterwards, Northumbria was again subjected to a Danish visitation, and the imme- 
 diate cause of this invasion is thus naiTated by our early lustorians : Osbert, the 
 viceroy of Ethelred, having established his court and residence at York, returning 
 one day from hunting, called at the mansion of Earl Bruern Bocard, guarchan of Cause of 
 the sea-coast against the u'ruptions of the Danes. The earl happening to be from invasion, 
 home, his lady, to whose beauty was joined the most engaging behaviour, enter- 
 tained her guest with the respect and attention due to his quahty. Osbert, overcome 
 by the sight of so much beauty, took the lady into an inner chamber, under pretence 
 of a secret conference, in which the advancement of her lord and herself was 
 
 * Ingulfus Chron. Petr. xii. t Kuerden's MS. in the Manchester College Library, 4to. p. 229. 
 
 : Sax. Chron. 
 g2
 
 44 mn Itgtorj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, concerned. Tlie base designs of the viceroy soon became manifest, when, not being 
 . 1 able to effect his piii-pose by persuasion, he resorted to violence, and triumphed over 
 
 her chastity. Ou the entrance of her lord, she coromunicated to liim the giievous 
 ■wi'onf she had suffered, and so imbued his muid with resentment against the perfi- 
 dious representative of the monarch, that he fu'st repaired to liis court at York, to 
 complain of liis wi'ongs, and then invited Godericke, the long of Deimiark, to take 
 possession of the country. Godericke received this invitation with great alacrity, 
 and despatched a strong annament, under lugwar and Hubba, to Britahi. On their 
 arrival in Nortluimbria, on the coast of Houlderness, the Danes fell upon the 
 inhabitants mth the utmost fury, and massacred all before them, without regai'd to 
 age, sex, or condition. Marching on to York, they took possession of that city, and 
 slew Osbert, the tyi'ant, by whose lust his country had been involved in so much 
 ruin. Emboldened by then- success in the north, they advanced into Norfolk, and 
 demanded of Edmund, the king of the West Saxons, that he should sm-render liis 
 throne. With this insolent summons he refused to comply ; on wliich a bloody 
 battle ensued, at Thetford, which ended in the overthrow of the Saxons, and in the 
 execution of their king, who, because he would not abjure the Cluistian faith for the 
 eiTors of paganism, was bound to a stake, and shot by the arrows of the Danish 
 invaders.* 
 state of The situation of Lancaslnre, and of the other parts of Northumbria, must now have 
 
 siiiie. been most deplorable : for forty years the war raged amongst them with various success ; 
 and Ella, the governor, like Osbert, fell by the sword. Ethelred for a wliile kept the 
 field, but at length liis life and liis power fell before the superior discipline of the 
 Danes. In the midst of these sanguinary conflicts, the clergy, resting then- claim on 
 the Jewish law, insisted that a tenth of tlie produce of the land belonged to the 
 priesthood under the Christian cUspensation : this claim, though long resisted, was 
 at length admitted by Ethelwulf, for the honour of God, and for his own everlasting 
 salvation;! and it was further agi-eed, that the revenues of the chmxh should be 
 exempt from the burdens of the state. 
 Excesses The Daucs, in the fury of their warfai'e, laid waste every town and place that 
 
 Danes. resisted their sway; but tlieu- especial fury was dii-ected against rehgious houses, 
 and, amongst others, against Brachiey, Crowland, Peterborough, Ely, and Colding 
 Low,J iu the last of wliich monasteries, Lady Ebbe and her nuns, to avoid the savage 
 pollution of the spoilers, cut off then- own noses and upper lips, lest the attraction of 
 theii- beauty should prove the bane of theii- honour. The exactions of the Danes 
 
 * Tlie Danes, like the original Saxons, were idolaters ; their principal god was Thur, and to him 
 they offered human sacrifices. 
 
 t Saxon Chron. A.D. 854. J Stow.
 
 CotintP |3nlalinf of SLancasiUi-, 45 
 
 made upon the impoverished people, advanced from £10,000 to £40,000 a year, chap. 
 wliicli sum in those days was considered of enormous amount. 
 
 Lancashii'e, and, no douht, other parts of the island, were this year iisited by one a.d. scq. 
 of the most ckeadlul calamities to which mankind are subject — a severe famine, and, 
 its inevitable consequence, a mortality of cattle and of the human race.* The Famine. 
 equalizing operations of commerce, by which the failure of the crops in one country 
 is supplied by the superabundance of another, were then scarcely known in Britain. 
 Agiicultiu'e was but imperfectly understood, and almost every district of the same 
 kingdom was left to depend upon its own precarious resources. The contest between 
 the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes, in this and the neighhouiing counties, had with- 
 di-a*vn the husbandman from his employment, and, having neglected to sow, of 
 com'se he had nothing to reap. The consequence was, that not only many parts 
 of these fair- regions mom-ned in want, but they were absolutely depopulated. Merci- 
 less and slow-consuming famine devoured its wi-etched victims, and the small shai'e, 
 wliich might have fallen to the native inhabitants, was consumed by the ruthless 
 Danes, who, from theu- principal station in York, spread like swamis of locusts 
 across the island, from sea to sea. 
 
 Both Northiunbria and East Anglia had now fallen under the sanguinary sword 
 of the Danish invaders, who began to aspire to the conquest of the whole island. 
 Mercia next became the object of theii- attack, and Ethelred, king of Wessex, fell in a 
 battle fought with the invaders at Merton. Alfred was now advanced to the tlu-one of Reign of 
 
 . ^^j.. Alfred the 
 
 Wessex ; but within a month of liis elevation, he was attacked and defeated at VVilton.-t" Great. 
 A new swarm of the Danes soon after landed, under three of their princes, Guthrum, 
 Oscital, and Amund, and proceeded into Northimabria, the favomite seat of their 
 power. The husbandmen became the slaves of the invaders, and the thanes were 
 made subservient to then- purposes of avarice and aggi'andizement. The noble spiiit Driven 
 of Alfred bent beneath the storm, and, fuiding no secmity upon the throne, he with- throne. 
 drew fi-om his elevated station, and took up liis residence m an obscui'e part of the 
 kingdom, as a guest in the family of a swineherd. 
 
 Such was liis distress, that he knew not where to turn — such his poverty, that 
 he had no subsistence but that which he obtained by plunder, or by fishing and 
 hunting. He wandered about in woods and marshes — sometimes m the greatest 
 penury, sometimes with a few companions, sometimes alone. He had neither terri- 
 tory, nor, for a time, the hope of regaining it. His occupation, while in the swine- 
 herd's house, was of the most humble kind; and Ms historian relates, that one 
 Sunday, when the peasant had led his herd to their usual pasture, his wife prepared 
 her fire to make the rustic bread against liis return. Other domestic business 
 * Asser, 20. t Saxon Chron. A. D. 871.
 
 46 
 
 €i)t %}i^tov^ of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 II. 
 
 Re-as- 
 cends the 
 throne. 
 
 requirino- lier attention, she committed her cakes to the care of the king, who sat 
 furhisliino- his bow and arrow, intending to use them for tlie acquisition of food.* 
 Alfred on Avhose mind reflections the most interesting must have been continually 
 pressino-, forgot his allotted task, and suffered the bread to burn. The woman, 
 irritated by liis neglect, poured out her invectives upon liim, tellhig liim that he had 
 a o-reat capacity for food, but was too idle to prevent it from being spoiled. Alfred's 
 lofty spirit calmly brooked this angiy reproof, and he applied liimself in future 
 with more attention to the new and homely labour. The hospitable rustic, notwith- 
 stancHiig the asperity of his wife's temper, obtained the favour of the kmg. By liis 
 advice he applied liimself to learning; and Alfred, on liis return to power, acknow- 
 ledged the obligation he had received, by elevating his host from the shepherd's crook 
 to tlie bishop's crosier, and afterwards made him bishop of Winchester.f Tlie humi- 
 liation of Alfred disciplined liis temper, purified his heart, and sened to enlighten 
 liis already profound understanduig. His measures to regain his throne, and to 
 suiTound it with its only unpregnable bulwark, the love and confidence of the people, 
 Avere judicious and exemplary. An auspicious incident at tliis juncture occurred, to 
 fortify liis courage; for having, in the assiuned character of a minstrel, observed the 
 conduct of the Danes in their encampments, he suddenly assembled a strong force, and 
 mflicted a signal overthrow upon the invaders, at EdcHngton, where the Danes were 
 encamped. With a generosity equal to his bravery, he gave them their lives, on the 
 condition that they should, through their leader Guthi-um, exchange paganism for 
 Christianity. Guthrum was permitted, vfith liis follofl^ers, to colonize East Anglia, 
 and the Northmnbrians were afterwards put under liis rule. Tlie sovereignty of 
 Mercia, on the defeat of the Danes, fell into the power of Alfred, and, without avow- 
 edly incorporating it Avith Wessex, he discontinued its regal honours, and constituted 
 Ethelred his military commander, to whom he afterwards married liis daughter 
 Ethelfleda. To fortify liis Idngdom against hostile attacks, he rebuilt the cities and 
 castles which had been destroyed by the invaders ; but liis pruicipal care was to 
 construct a navy for the protection of the coast, and he has ever been considered as 
 the founder of the English marine. In Northumbria the Danes continued to govern 
 till towards the close of Alfred's reign, when Anai'awd abandoned liis power in that 
 kingdom, and besought the friendsliip of Alfred. The king received him hospitably ; 
 and, to confirm the good intentions that he had formed in favour of the Clmstian 
 faith, he became his sponsor in baptism, and Ids friend in all the relations of life. 
 The state of learning in Lancasliire, in the ninth century, may be inferred from 
 Alfred's OAvn declaration — " When I took the Idngdom," said he, " there were very 
 few on the south side of the Humber, the most unproved pai't of England, who 
 * Asser, 30. t Malmsb. p. 242.
 
 Counti) |)nlatinr of Stancasitcr. 47 
 
 could uuclerstancl their daily prayers in English, or translate a letter from the Latin, chap. 
 I think there were not many beyond the Huniber ; they Avere so few, that I cannot ' 
 
 indeed recollect one single instance on the south of the Thames, Avhen I took the state of 
 kingdom."* The encouragement given to learning by tliis enlightened and henevo- irLanc^a- 
 lent monarch was liiglily exemplary. His o\vn example served as a stimulus to the in'the gtii 
 exertions of liis courtiers; and, strange as it may appear, the king instituted schools "'°'""'^' 
 for the instruction of liis nobles in readuig and MTiting, much after the model of the institu- 
 Lancasterian schools of the present day. His maxuns have descended to posterity. Alfred. 
 It is recorded of him, that he chvided his time into three portions : one third of the 
 day and night he gave to sleep and refreslunent ; one tliird to the affairs of his king- 
 dom ; and one tliii'd to those duties wliich he considered as sacred.f To the mecha- 
 nical arts he was a munificent patron. He invited, from all quarters, industrious and 
 ingenious foreigners. He introduced and encouraged manufactures of all Idnds, 
 and prompted men of acti^dty to betake themselves to navigation, to push conmierce 
 into the most remote countries, and to acquire riches l)y propagatuig mdustry 
 amongst their fellow-citizens. Mechanics were then so little known, that Alfred had 
 )iot the aid either of dials, or of clocks or watches, to measure the progress of time. 
 To supply tliis defect, he resorted to a simple exiJecHent ; liis chaplains, by liis orders, 
 procured wax, and he ordered seventy-two denarii of it to be made into six equal 
 candles, each candle to be twelve inches long, wliich were separately marked. These 
 candles, successively used, lasted through the whole twenty-four hours ; and, of course, 
 every inch marked the lapse of twenty minutes ; but sometunes the wind rusliuig in 
 tlu'ongh the windows and doors, and the numerous chinks of the royal palace walls, 
 or the slender covering of the tents, consumed the candles with undue celerity. To 
 cure tliis catI, wliich confused liis calculation, he thought, skilfully and wisely, says 
 Asser, " consilioque artificiose atque sapienter invento;" and the result of his 
 skill and wisdom was the invention of lanterns. He found that white horn, when 
 cut thin, became transparent, lilce glass,| and Avith this and wood, a case for a candle 
 was admuably made. 
 
 A passage in the life of Alfred serves to shew that the Christian religion had Chris- 
 obtained a footing in IntUa as early as the ninth century; for among other of his India!'" 
 public acts it is recorded, that he sent an embassy to the shrine of St. Thomas, in the 
 gi-eat eastern peninsula, by Suithelm, the bishop of Shii-eburn ;§ and it is also ascer- 
 tained that the light of the gospel had begun to sliine in China at a period equally 
 early. The invasion of the Danes, and their predatory depredations, particularly in 
 the county of Lancaster, and the other parts of the Idngdom of Northumbria, had 
 ahnost destroyed the ancient poHce of the kingdom. To remedy tliis chsorganized 
 
 * Alfred's Preface, p. 82. f Malmsb. p. 4.5. X Asser, p. 67. ^ Flor. Wig. 320.
 
 48 
 
 m)t l)i^tov\> of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 II. 
 
 Division 
 oftlie 
 kingdom 
 into Coun- 
 ties. 
 
 state of society, Alfred changed the ancient provisional diAdsions of England into 
 counties and the distribution of these into hundreds, which were again suljdivided 
 into tenths or titliings. Under these divisions the population of the country has been 
 ever since ai'ranged ; and every person was du'ected to belong to some hundi'ed or 
 tenth while every huntbed and tenth became pledged to the preservation of the public 
 peace and security in their district, and were made answerable for the conduct of their 
 several inhabitants. In consequence of this arrangement, every criminal accused 
 was sure to be apprehended; and it may be supposed that in this part of the kingdom 
 the mmiber of the lawless was at fu-st very large. A short period sufficed greatly to 
 reduce their number ; and before the termination of the reign of Alfred, it was exult- 
 ino-ly maintained, that a pair of golden bracelets might be exposed upon the liighway, 
 or in the most populous of om- cities, without any danger of being stolen. So rigid 
 and efficient a measure of police might comport with the state of society in Anglo- 
 Saxon times, but it would be wholly incompatible 'tvith the freedom of locomotion in 
 modern days, when, by the rapicHty of our movements, and the frequent change of 
 place and residence, no registration would be sufficient to ascertain to what tithing 
 we belonged. 
 
 in the division of Britain into counties, the south-western portion of the Brigan- 
 tine territory of the Romans, and of the Northumbrian kingdom of the Saxons, was 
 named Loncaj-tep|-cype, or Lonkeshire, from the capital Loncaster, the castle 
 on the Lone, or Luue. South Lancashire was thrided into six hundreds, 
 wliich have since undergone some alteration. The designation of each of these 
 hundreds was derived from the principal place in the division, in the reign of 
 Alfred ; and those names now serve to indicate the mutations to wliich places as well 
 as persons are exposed. The Lancaslui-e liunckeds of our Saxon ancestors were 
 Derbei, Newtone, Walmtune (Warrington), Blackeburne, Salford, and Lailand. 
 Of the names of the Lancashii-e titliings we have no distinct remains; but the nearest 
 approximation to them may be found in each ten of our modern townships. Tlie 
 Wittenagemot, or Assembly of Wise-men, as the name of the Anglo-Saxon parlia- 
 ment imports, was an institution earlier than the days of Alii-ed ; and the earls, the 
 prelates, the aldennen, and the great landed proprietors, of which that body consisted, 
 were called upon to concur in these early reforms. 
 
 Hitherto the administration of justice was confided to a species of provisional 
 prefects, but in the time of Alfred the functions of these officers were divided into 
 those of judges and sheriffs. The institution of juries belongs to the same period; 
 and so tenacious was Alfred of the faithful discharge of the judicial office in penal 
 judgments, that he caused forty-four justices to be executed as murderers, because 
 they had exceeded their duty, and condemned to death unjustly the persons they
 
 Counti) ^Jalntint of ilancagUr* 49 
 
 judged.* Alfred compiled a code of laws, (the Dom-Boc) wliich he enlarged with chap. 
 his own hand, and of which he lumself says : 
 
 " lt?rnrr I, Uing ^Ifrrti. gatftrrrti ttjrsf togrtftrr. anS romman&rti iiirtny of 
 tifou to fir iDiittrn DoUJit luijirf) our forrfatljrrs olisrnifiJ— tl)O0e tofjir!) I lifefft,— 
 aria tljosr UJtjiri) I aiO not lifer, fij? ti}e aUOirr of my CiLlttait I ttjrrU) aeitrr. jFor 
 J Duret not omtnrr to ert trolun in Uirittng obrr many of mi? oUm, ssincr E 
 fenrU) not Urfjat among tfjrm toouia plraer tl)oer UjJjo stjoulU comr aftrr U0. 
 JiJut tt)09r totjirl) I mrt Uiiti) ritfjrr of tljrlraiig of mr, mp feinsiman, or of ©ffa, 
 feing of iMrrrta, or of iati)rH)rrf)t, tutjo toae tfjr fir^t of tf)r ISnglieJ) U3l)0 
 trrrioro fiaptiem— ti)O0r Ujftirf) apprarrtr to mr tfjr justrst— 5 l)abr Jjrrr 
 roUrrtrtr, antr aliantionrO tijr otijrre. Cftrn I, aifrrlr, feing of tfjr mxc^t 
 5&aions, sljotorrr tl)r0r to all top aciitan, ana tijrp tDrn sain tl)at tljrp lurrr all 
 UJilling to oflsrrtir tfjrm." 
 
 Laws of Alfred, yrom Price's MSS. 
 
 Amongst his other legal institutions, it is perfectly cleai- that he had none corre- 
 sponding with our Com-t of Chancery, since it appears that he hastened the decision 
 of causes, and allowed no delay exceeding fifteen days.f 
 
 Death deprived the world of this most brilliant luminary at the age of Death 
 fifty-two years. He was a pattern for kings in the time of extremity; a bright ^.d. ooo 
 star in the history of mankind. Living a century after Charlemagne, he was, 
 perhaps, a gTeater man, in a cncle happily more limited.^ Power was with liim 
 but the servant of his reason, and the instrument of his virtue. Of the many 
 humane ti'aits in Ms character, one is mentioned, which serves to show that our 
 popidar Lancasliire tradition of the Eagle and Child is of the date of several 
 centuries earlier than the time of the De Lathoms : — " One day, as Alfr-ed was Early tra- 
 
 , , , Till' d'tion of 
 
 hunting m a wood, he heard the cry of a httle infant m a ti'ee, and ordered Ins the Eagle 
 huntsmen to examine the place. They ascended the branches, and found at the top, 
 in an eagle's nest, a beautiful child (kessed in purple, with golden bracelets, the 
 marks of nobility, on his arms. The king had liim brought down, and baptized, and 
 well educated ; from the accident, he named the foundling Nestingum. His grand- 
 son's daughter is stated to have been one of the laches for whom Edgar indulged an 
 improper passion." The question here arises, if, for Edgar we may not read 
 Oscital, the Danish prince, and thus complete the pai'aUel. 
 
 Though the life of Alfred exhibited a series of indefatigable exertions, both 
 bocUly and mental, it was literally a life of disease. The ficus molested him severely 
 in liis cliiltlliood.§ " Quod genus infestissimi doloris etiam ab infantia habuit." This, 
 
 * Mirroir des Justices, cap. ii. sec. 3. X Herder's Outlines, p. 245. 
 
 t Mirroir, p. 245. % Asser, p. 4. 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 50 
 
 Cf)t W^tov]} of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 II. 
 
 The tenth 
 century. 
 
 EthelBe- 
 <ia, daugh- 
 ter of 
 Alfred. 
 
 after distressing him many yeai-s, disappeared; but at tlie age of twenty was succeeded 
 by another disease, of the most tormenting nature. Its seat was internal and 
 iimsible, but its agony Avas incessant. The skill of the Saxon physicians was unable 
 to detect its nature, or to alleviate its pain, (probably an internal cancer.) Alfred 
 had to endui-e it unrelieved, but, as if born to subdue all (HfEcidties, coi-poreal, 
 mental, and political, his activity suffered no interruption in the midst of all this 
 bodily affliction; and if any thing can add to the magnanimity of his character, it is 
 the consideration, that all liis Airtues were exercised, and all his patriotic deeds 
 performed, amidst the spirit-subduing power of almost perpetual agony. 
 
 In the century which succeeded the death of Alfred, there is little to relieve the 
 contests of ambition, which so generally prevailed. Lancaslme and the whole 
 Northumbrian temtory had, by the clemency of Alfred, become a species of Danish 
 colony. There the resident Danes concocted their schemes of ambition and aggi-es- 
 sion against the Saxon power; and, upon the shores of Yorksliire and of Lancasliire, 
 fresh swarms of invaders effected theii- lanthng, and found succour and support. 
 Edward the Elder succeeded to the power of his father; but liis title was disputed by 
 Ethelwald, son of king Ethelbert, who established liis head-quarters in York, and 
 was joined l)y the Northumbrians in liis rebellion. The insurgents, quitting their 
 strong hold in the north, marched hito Kent, where a sanguinary battle ensued, and 
 Ethelwald fell in the action, when liis followers sought their safety in flight. 
 Unsubdued, though vanquished, the Northumbrians penetrated again into Wessex, 
 where they were again defeated, aud pursued with gi'eat slaughter into their own 
 country. Following up liis successes, he subdued the two next princes of Northum- 
 berland, Reginald and Sidoc, and acquired the dominion of that province. In his 
 wai's between the Mersey and the Hmnber, the king was assisted by liis sister 
 Ethelfleda, the widow of Ethelbert, earl of Mercia, Avho, after her husband's death, 
 had retained the possession of the government of that province. This princess is 
 extolled by the early British historians as the wisest lady in Britain, the very emblem 
 of her illustrious father, Alfred; and to her munificence the Mercians were indebted 
 for the rebuilding of the city of Chester, while her royal brother biult the ancient 
 city of Thelwall, on the southern bank of the Mersey, and placed a gan-ison there.* 
 The princess, Ethelfleda, who had been reduced to exti'emities in child-birth, 
 persisted, that it cUd not become a king's daughter to piu'sue any pleasm-e that 
 endangered her life, or interfered with her usefulness, and decHned afterwards all 
 chance of a repetition of such danger. The poets, like the historians, were loud in 
 her praise ; and Huntingdon, combining the tno characters in the ardour of his 
 admiration, has thus celebrated her fame : — 
 
 • Saxon Chron. A.D. 923.
 
 Counti.) ^aalatmc of Eaitfasttr. 5i 
 
 " O iElfleda potens! O terror virgo virorum ! CHAP. 
 Victiix naturtE, nomine ditrna viri ! ' 
 
 Tu quoque splendidior fecit natura puellam, 
 Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri. 
 Te miitare decet, sed solum nomine, sexus ; 
 Tu regina potens, rexque trophea parens. 
 Jam nee Ceesarei tantum meruere triumph! : 
 Csesare splendidior, virgo, virago, vale !" 
 
 ' Jilfleda great, though thou a virgin art, 
 Thou strik'st a terror in each manly heart. 
 Thou nature dost so conquer and refine, 
 Thy virtue makes thee more than masculine. 
 A royal changeling thou, only the name ; 
 A queen in that, a king in worth and fame : 
 The virtues of each sex in thee are found ; 
 Farewell, brave dame, than Caesar more renowned." 
 
 Tlie more effectually to maintaiu liis doimuion over the province of Nortlmmbria, 
 tlie king collected an army in Mercia, Avliich he ordered to march to Manchester, 
 which place he repaired and garrisoned.* 
 
 In the excess of antiquarian disputation, a controversy has arisen, whether, in the The south 
 era of the Saxon heptarchy, the country between the Mersey and the Ribble, compre- siiire in 
 bending the southern part of Lancashire, was included in the kingdom of Northum- bria,notin 
 bria ; and Dr. Wliitaker, with his usual tone of decision, maintains that tliis district, 
 under the heptarchy, fonned a portion, not of Northumbria, but of Mercia. Tliis 
 ai'gument he rests principally on the authority of the Status de Blachbiirnshire, from 
 which it appears, that the parish of Whalley was from the earliest times a portion 
 of the diocese of Litchfield, which diocese, as he contends, never passed the Mercian 
 kiugtlom. It is further urged, that the peculiar dialect of the Northumbrian king- 
 dom ceases on the confines of the parish of Whalley, Avhere the Mercian dialect 
 commences. On the first of these points, (the historical argument, as it is called,) it 
 is well known, that in the early ecclesiastical division of Britain there was gi'eat 
 eccentricity, and that it is extremely difficult to fix the limits of the respective dioceses 
 at this cUstaut period ; and on the second, it woitld be unsafe to draw a conclusion of 
 tliis nature from the variety of dialects in the different parts of Noiihumbria, seeing 
 that there is a still more marked difference between the dialects of the North and 
 the West Riding of Yorkshire, than exists between those to the north and to the 
 south of the Ribble. To these theories are opposed the generally received opuiion, 
 that the kingdom of Mercia was terminated on its north-western boundary by the 
 
 ' Saxon Chron. A.D. 923. 
 H 2
 
 52 €\)t ?f?iStorp of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, river Mersey ; and the positive fact, that in the Saxon Clu-onicle, the highest existing 
 " authority perhaps upon this subject, Mancliester is said to be in Northiunbria. Tlie 
 
 A.D. 923. passage is conchisive upon this point : — " Tliis year went king Edwai-d ^ith an 
 army, late in the harvest, to Thehvall ; and ordered the borough to be repaired, and 
 inhabited, and manned. And he ordered another anny also from the population of 
 Mercia, the while he sat there, to go to Manchester, in Northumbria, to repaii- and 
 
 to man it." 
 
 An. DCCCCXXIII. l2ep on ))y)-f-um jeape pop Gabpeapb cynm^ mib 
 pypbe. on upan hEeppept.co Djelpasle. -J het jepypcan Jia buph. "J jepettan. :| 
 jemannian. anb het o^pe pypb eac op GQypcna Jieobe. }a hpile fe he Jjasp pset. 
 jepapan CDanije-ceaptep on Nop^-hymbpan. ^ hie jebetan •] jemannian. 
 
 To contend, in opposition to this evidence, that the Saxon Chroniclers did not 
 know the limits of theii- oAvn kingdom within nearly a degree of latitude, and to 
 compare then- records mth the vague notions of certain of the uninformed inhabit- 
 ants of the south of England, who call all persons born north of the Trent, 
 Yorksliii-emen, is to push a favomite theory to the confines of absurchty. A line in 
 Nennius would seem to favour a conclusion of quite an opposite nature, by repre- 
 senting Mercia as included in Northiunbria : 
 
 " Pendor primus separavit regnum Merciorura a regno Nordorum."* 
 
 But it would be as unjust to appropriate Mercia to Deira, on this unsupported 
 evidence, as it is to appropriate the most important part of the county of Lancaster to 
 Mercia, on the authority of a vague ecclesiastical lUrision, which might, or might not, 
 be co-extensive with the civil jurisdiction of that kingdom. 
 FirstEng- The asccudancy of the Danish power in Northumbria, owing to their coloniza- 
 Imrcr tion in that kingdom by Alfred, subjected this part of Britain to a frequent recur- 
 rence of the hoiTors of war, when all the other parts of the island were at peace. In 
 order to extinguish the spirit of rebellion, and to give security to liis throne, 
 Athelstan marched into Northumbria, and after a signal -victory, gained at Bruns- 
 bury, he united Northumbria to the rest of his Idugdom ; and in that way acquired 
 the title of the first English monarch, thus eclipsing the fame of Alfred, who had 
 suffered the Danes to divide the kingdom with him, by apportioning to them 
 Northmnbria and East Anglia. Athelstan, whose mind and education rose 
 superior to the age in whicli he lived, liberalized liis institutions; and it is men- 
 tioned as honourable to liis general policy, that, amongst the laws passed by liis 
 authority, it was enacted. That any merchant who should make tlu-ee voyages over 
 A. D. 9S5. the sea Avith his own manufactures, should have the right of a thane,t that is, should 
 rank with the priATleged orders. By this means encouragement was given to manu- 
 * Pao-e 117. t Wilkin's Leges Anglo-Sax. p. 71.
 
 Cotint)) palatine of tanrastfr. 
 
 53 
 
 factures and commerce at tlie same time ; and that agi-iciilture might enjoy its share chap. 
 of the royal favour, any ceorl who had five liides of his own land, a church, a ^^' 
 kitchen, a bell-house, and a separate office m the Idng's hall, also became a thane. 
 
 Tlie Danish Northumbrians, still impatient of the Saxon rule, broke out again Keign of 
 into rebellion, in the reign of Edmund, the successor of Athelstan, and chose Anlaf, '''''""""'• 
 of Ireland, as their king ;* but Edmund, marcliing suddenly into the southern part 
 of Northumbria, (Lancaslm-e and Yorkshii-e,) overtlu-ew the malcontents, who, to 
 appease his indignation, and to conciliate liis confidence, offered to embrace the 
 Cluistian religion, and to abandon their idolatry. The king also conquered Cmn- 
 berland, and confen-ed that temtory on Malcohn, king of Scotland, by the following 
 gi-ant, which is amongst the most ancient m the records of British history: — 
 " Edmundus rex totam Cumberland praedavit, et contrivit, et commendavit earn 
 Malcolmo regi ScotiaB, hoc pacto quod in auxilio sibi foret terra et mari." The sliort a.d. 946. 
 but glorious reign of Echnund Avas terminated by the hand of Leolf, a notorious 
 robber, who had obtruded liimself into the royal presence, and who resented the 
 king's rebukes by plunging his dagger into liis heart. His memory and his deeds 
 are perpetuated in the annals of his country in the foUoAving strain : — 
 
 An. DCCCCXLII. rSep 
 Gabmunb cyninj. 
 Gnjla J)eoben. 
 maja munb-bojia. 
 OOypce je-eobe. 
 bype bseb-jrpuma. 
 j-pabop j'cabe^ 
 hpitan pyllej- 3eaC 
 ■J l^umbpa ea"- 
 bpaba bpym-j-tpeam. 
 buphja pipe. 
 Lijopa-ceapcep. 
 *] Linbcyhie. 
 ■3" Snotinjaham. 
 pylce Stanpopb eac 
 "i Deopaby :• 
 Dene paspon asp", 
 unbep Nop^mannum 
 nybe jebejbe. 
 
 * Saxon Cliron. 
 
 A.D. 942. Here 
 Echnund king, 
 of Angles lord, 
 protector of friends, 
 author and framer 
 of du'eful deeds, 
 o'erran with speed 
 the Mercian land, 
 where'er the course 
 of Whitwell-spring, 
 or Humber deep, 
 the broad brim-stream, 
 divides five towns, — 
 Leicester and Lincoln, 
 Nottingham and Stamford, 
 and Derby eke. 
 In tln-aldom long 
 to Norman Danes 
 they bowed through need, 
 A.D. 941
 
 54 m)t W^tOV}} of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. on hsejienpa and cbagged the chains 
 
 " hasj-te-clommum of heathen men ; 
 
 lanje Jipaje. till, to Ids glory, 
 
 oS ^e hie alyfbe great Edward's lieii 
 
 epc pop hip peop^-pcype. Edmund the king, 
 
 pijjenbpa hleo. refuge of warriors, 
 
 apopa Gabpeapbep. their fetters broke. 
 Gabmunb cynmj:- 
 
 Wars in From the middle to the end of the tenth century, the Anglo-Saxon Clironicles 
 
 bria. are almost entii-ely occupied by the wars in Northumbria, and the changes in the 
 monastic orders, Avhich were then taking place, under the influence of the ambitious 
 Dunstan, abbot of Glastonbury. Under the auspices of Dunstan, the Benedictine 
 rule was introduced into nearly fifty monasteries south of tlie Trent ; but notwith- 
 standing Wilfrid's endeavours in former times, and Dunstan's energies and activity 
 in the present day, there was not, before the Norman conquest, a single monk in all 
 the Northumbrian territory.* The tribute of Danegeld, a tax upon the people to 
 repel the ravages of the Danes, was imposed for the fii'st time in the year 991, and 
 was at first of the amount of £10,000.1 AH the land in the county contributed to 
 tliis impost by a rateable assessment, except the lands of the church, which were 
 exempt on account of the efficacy of the prayers of the clergy, which were supposed 
 to fonn an equivalent for theii* contributions. " Tlie payment of Danegeld was first 
 ordained on account of the pii-ates ; for in their ravages of our country, they did all 
 they could to desolate it. To check their insolence, Danegeld was levied annually, 
 I2d. on every hide throughout the country, to hire men to oppose the pirates. From 
 this tax every church, and every estate held in property by the chiuxh, wheresoever 
 it lay, was exempted, contributing nothing towards tliis payment, because more 
 dependence was placed on the prayers of the church than on the defence of arms."! 
 The produce of this tax, wliich was at first employed in resisting the Danes, was 
 afterwards used to purchase theu- forbearance. Their irruptions and exactions 
 became continually more oppressive, and in the year 1010 the base expedient was 
 resorted to, of purchasing peace fi'om them by the payment of £48,000. 
 
 Lanca- It is remarkable, that in the whole of the Saxon Clu-onicles, the term " Lanca- 
 
 sliire" never once occurs, though the neighbouring counties, in the kingdom of 
 Northmnbria, are mentioned in those ancient annals several times. Hence it is said, 
 
 des™' A.D. 966, " Tliis year Thored, the son of Gunner, plundered Westmoreland; and the 
 same year Ostac took the aldermansliip." In A. D. 1000, " This year the king 
 * Sim. Dunelm, A.D. 1074. f Saxon. Chron. A.D. 991. : Camden, vol. i. p. 177. 
 
 shire not 
 mentioned 
 in the 
 Saxoc
 
 s 
 
 Countj) palatine of ^anrasttr, 66 
 
 Ethelred, tlie uui'eady, went into Cumberland, and neai'ly laid waste the whole of it chap. 
 witli his army, Avhile liis navy sailed ahout Chester, consequently near to the ' 
 
 Lancasliire coast, Avdth the intention of co-operating with liis land forces, part of 
 which were probably quai-tered in the latter county. It is also remai-kable, that the 
 name of Lancasliii-e is not to be found in the Domesday Book of William the 
 Conqueror, though the manors and lands are described in that imperishable record, 
 with the usual accuracy and precision. 
 
 Dr. Kuerden, in Ids impublished preface to his History of Lancasliii'e, depo- 
 sited in the Chetham Library at Manchester, says — 
 
 " King Egljert, after his victorious conquests, having reduced the Saxon Kuerden 
 Heptarchy into a monarchy, and called it England, he thvided his new acquisits into shire.'' 
 seueral portions and shares, and for the preseruation of a future peace, set over each 
 of them a Comes, to rule them, whence each portion or bailiwick was styled Comita- 
 tus, a scjTe or county, sc. an earldome. So that the kingdome of Northmnbria, 
 which extended ii'om the riuer Humber and the riuer Mersey, on the south part, to 
 the riuer Tweed upon the north, wliich was the begiiuiing of Scotland ; — this region 
 was divided into diners schyres or prouinces. 
 
 " 1. The prouince of York upon the East part from the riuer Humber to the Division 
 riuer Tese. He styled it Evrvckshyre, or Yorksliii-e, in wliich were 22 hundreds umbria. 
 or Wapentakes. 
 
 " 2. And from the Tese to the riuer Tyne, the prouince of the Bishoprick of 
 Durham. This he cald Durohmschire. 
 
 " 3. And fi-om the riuer Tyne to the riuer Tweed, he cald it Northumbria, or 
 the shyre of Northumberland. 
 
 " 4. And on the west part, from the riuer Sol way to the riuer Duden on the 
 South. This he cald Carliershire or Cumberland. 
 
 " 5. And Avhat lay upon the West on Durham and Lancashyre he cald Apleby- 
 SCHYRE or Westmorland. 
 
 "6. And from the riuer Duden to the riuer Mersey upon the south, was styled 
 Lancasterschyre. 
 
 " In whych schyi'e or Prouince contains wdtliin it five lessor schyi-es, sc. West 
 Derbyschyre, Salfordscyi-e, Leylandscyre, and Blackburnscyre, Amundernes and 
 the territory of Lancaster. Thes now are cald Hnnckeds or Wapentakes. 
 
 " Ouer euery scyre, as hath been said, he placed a Comes to rvle and gouern it Eari. 
 according to the Lawes and customes of the country, who, together with the Byshop Byshop. 
 of the Diocess, were to instruct and rule the people, the one declaring to them the 
 laws of God, and the other the laws of the land ; and they had likewise vnder them 
 a Heretoge chosen by the people in a.folcmote, who had the power to raise the Heretoge.
 
 66 Cftf lisitoii) of tfje 
 
 CHAP, people, to compell the otliermse disobedient to obedience, or to inflict chastisement 
 " for offences, by fines or imprisonment.* 
 
 " King Ahired, grandchild to the said Egbert, to check the evils occasioned by 
 the Danish pyi-ats making inroads upon the people, and the dissolut caryage of his 
 owne subjects, by filching and stealing clandestinely, upon deliberat aduize (tlivided 
 the country) into centmys or Hundi-eds, and to euery century appointed to defend 
 them as occasion required, from such theifs and robbers. 
 
 " And every such century or hundred he subdivided into Ty things or Fred- 
 bui'ges, to respond for the good behaviour of one another. 
 
 " And as Moses, whom God set over the Isralits, aduised by Jethro his father- 
 in-law, for his better ease, to constitute Judges ouer Tribes, Hundreds and fiftyes, to 
 whom he committed power to determine lesser matters, euer reseruing thos of 
 gi'eatest Importance to his own ^^isdom and definitive sentence, so did King Alured 
 constitute his companions,t to wliom he bestowed such territory or schp-e, to sit in 
 courts of Judicature with the Byshop, to take care of the people's Interest, and for 
 the better defence of the realm. 
 
 " And the Byshop was an assistant to the Comes, to se the Interest of the 
 Church not to be diminished, but ordered according to the lawes of God. 
 
 " And the Heretogen, upon all occasions, endowed likewise with power to 
 
 compell all refi'actory people to ther obedience to the Laws as Justice dictated, as 
 
 Sheriff. now the Vicecomes (sheriff), vdth his posse comitatus, acts the same. 
 
 Coroner. " Tlie Corouor likewise is chosen by the people, and assigned super visum 
 
 corporis mortui, and to give account to the King of the loss of his subject, and what 
 
 deodands do accrue to the King thereby."! 
 
 This quaint, but comprehensive and interesting passage is, no doubt, substantially 
 
 correct ; but it would have been more satisfactory, had the learned antiquaiian quoted 
 
 his authority for asserting that king Egbert styled the country fi-om the river Duden 
 
 to the river Mersey Lancasterschyre. That authority, if it exists, would at once 
 
 have decided two disputed points — first, whether the country between the Ribble and 
 
 the Mersey did, in Saxon times, form part of the kingdom of Mercia; and, second, 
 
 at what period the county of Lancaster first obtained its present designation. 
 
 Passes The long and inglorious reign of Ethelred was perpetually tlistracted by the 
 
 Danish ^ iuvasious of the .Danes, fii"st under Sweyn, and afterwards under Canute, liis son 
 
 '"'"*'^' and successor ; and in the reign of Echnond Ironside, the king was obliged to 
 
 surrender up one-half his Idngdom, by awarcUng to Canute, Mercia, East Auglia, 
 
 and Northumbria, which he had entii'ely subdued. The unfortunate Edmond 
 
 * Heretoch — a Saxon word, literally meaning the leader of an army. 
 
 t Comitates, literally companions. I Kuerden's MS. 4to. f. 229.
 
 Countj) |3alatint of ilanrastcr. 67 
 
 survived the treaty by which liis Idngdom was dismembered, only a month, having chap. 
 been mm'dered at Oxford by two of liis chamberlains ; and in tliis way the succession 
 
 of Canute, the Dane, to the throne of England, was secured. 
 
 In order to gi'atify the ambition of the chief of the English nobility, and to 
 attach them to liis interest, Canute created Thurkill earl or viceroy of East Anglia, 
 Eric earl of Nortluunbria, and Ediic earl of Mercia, reserving to himself only the 
 govermnent of Wessex : but this power of the eai-ls was of short duration ; Thurkill 
 and Eric were soon expelled from the kmgdom, and Canute became sole monarch 
 of Eno-land. Finding liimself firmly seated on liis tlu-one, he restored the Saxon 
 customs, to wliich the people were attached, in a general assembly of the states ; 
 justice was administered with impartiality ; the lives and property of all the people 
 were protected, and the Danes were gi'adually incorporated with liis subjects. 
 Canute, the gi-eatest sovereign of liis age, had the fame to reign over six kingdoms,* 
 and yet such was liis humility, that ha^dng in a moment of intemperance killed one 
 of his soldiers, and by that criminal deed >'iolated the law, he confessed his crime in 
 the presence of liis assembled army, and fined himself three huncked and sixty 
 talents, as a punislimeut for his ofiience — the punisliment for homicide being in that 
 age forty talents .t Surrounded as he was with courtiers and flatterers, his mind Subiime 
 
 . . . . reproof 
 
 might have swelled into presumption, and, like Alexander, he nught have felt more given to 
 disposed to rank liimself amongst the gods than amongst mortals. But ^vith all his sjcophan- 
 power, he felt that he was a mere creature, as impotent as the humblest of his 
 subjects, when opposed to the gi-eat operations of nature, under the control of that 
 Being, who has said to the ocean Avith effect, " Hitherto slialt thou come, but no 
 further; and here shall thy proud Avaves be stayed." To communicate this 
 reverential sentuneiit to those who were accustomed to off"er to liim the incense 
 of their servile adiUation, the king ordered a chaii- to be placed on the sea- 
 shore on the approach of the tide, and, seating liimself upon it, vntii an aii' of 
 command he exclaimed — " Ocean ! the island on wliich I sit is mine, and thou art 
 a part of my dominions. None of my subjects dare to resist my orders, I therefore 
 command thee that thou ascend not my coasts, nor presume to wet the borders of 
 my robes. Tlius far shalt thou advance, but no further." In vain the royal man- 
 date was issued. Every wave drew nearer, till the general elevation of the waters 
 thi-eatened to immerse the chaii- of state and its royal occupant in its iiidiscrimi- 
 natuig embrace; when, arising from liis seat, he thus expressed the sublime 
 sentiment wliich filled liis mind — " Let every dweller upon the earth confess, that 
 the power of kuigs is frivolous and vain. God only is the great supreme ; let liim 
 only be honoured with the name of Majesty, whose everlasting laws, the heavens, 
 * Saxo 196. t Encom. Emmse, 492. 
 
 VOL. I. 1
 
 58 €i)t In'SitOl-l) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, and the eai-tli, and the sea, with all their hosts, ohey." In confonnity with this 
 
 __J exalted feeling, Canute would never afterwards weai- liis crown.* 
 
 Canute in The closest conuexion subsisted between Northumbria and Scotland, in the reign 
 shire. of Canute, and even Cumberland was subject to Malcohn, the Scotch king. This 
 division of his kingdom was inconsistent with the policy of Canute, who, after 
 marcliing through Lancashii*e at the head of a formidable army, took possession of 
 Cvunberland, and placed Duncan, the gi-andson of Malcolm, in possession of that 
 province, subject to the throne of England. 
 A.D. 1033. Cimute, by a treaty mth Richard Duke of Nonnandy, had stipulated that his 
 Harold I. cliilih-en by Emma, the sister of that prince, should succeed to the tin-one of England; 
 but, in violation of that engagement, he appointed Harold, sumamed Harefoot for 
 the swiftness of his speed, as his successor, instead of Hardicanute, the son of that 
 princess. A short and disturbed reign was terminated by the succession of Hardi- 
 canute, wlio appointed Siwai'd, duke of Northumbria, along with God^\in, duke of 
 Wessex, and Leofric, duke of Mercia, to put down the insui-rection wliich prevailed 
 against his government. 
 A.D.104]. In an age when the benefit of the right of undisturbed hereditary claims was but 
 Edward imperfectly understood, Edward the Confessor succeeded to the throne, to tlie pre- 
 fessor. judice of Sweyu, king of Norway, the eldest son of Canute. The EngUsh flat- 
 tered themselves, that by the succession of Edwai-d they were delivered for ever from 
 the dominion of the Danes, and theii" rejoicings were unbounded; but the court was 
 soon filled with Normans, to the prejudice of the Anglo-Saxon nobility, and the 
 language and the fashions of France v/ere very generally introduced. This circum- 
 stance gave gi-eat offience to the native nobles, who, with God^vin at their head, 
 supported by his three sons, Gurth, Sweyn, and Tosti, rose in rebellion against 
 the king. 
 Candi- On the death of duke Godwin, one of the most powerful nobles of his time, his 
 
 (lutes for _ 
 
 the throne, son Harold aspired to the English tlu'one, and was joined by Macbeth, an ambi- 
 tious Scotch nobleman, who had put to death liis sovereign, Duncan king of Scotland, 
 and usurped his tlu'oue. In the wai-s which ensued, the men of Lancasliire were 
 deeply engaged, and Siward, duke of Northmnberland, resisted the usurper with all 
 his force. To defeat the ambitious progi'ess of Harold, the king cast his eye towards 
 liis kinsman, William, duke of Nonnandy, as liis successor. Tliis prince was the 
 natural son of Robert, duke of Normandy, by Harlotta, daughter of a tanner in 
 Falaise.f The character of the young prince qualified liim for the duties of govern- 
 ment in the age in which he lived, and to a courage the most intrepid he added a 
 severity the most inflexible. During a visit paid by Harold to Rouen, William 
 * Matt, of West, p. 409. and Hen. of Hunt. p. 367. f Brompton, p. 910.
 
 Count)) ^3alnti'ne of Slaiirasitfi'. 69 
 
 disclosed to him the intentions of Edward, and prevailed upon hun, by an offer of one chap. 
 
 of his daughters in maniage, and by other motives of fear and reward, to promise that '. 
 
 he would support liis claims to the throne of England. Not satisfied Anth a promise, 
 on which he had little reUauce, William required Harold to take an oath in ratification 
 of that engagement; and, in order to give increased solemnity to the pledge, he 
 secretly conveyed under the altar, on which Harold agreed to swear, the reliques of 
 some of the most revered martyrs. Not>vithstanding tliis solemn engagement, 
 which Hai'old considered as extorted, and therefore not binding, on liis return to 
 England he resorted to every means witliiu liis power to strengthen liis influence. 
 Eail Tosti, a tyraunical piince, the brother of Harold, who had been created duke 
 of Northumberland, acted wdth so much cruelty and injustice in the counties of York 
 and Lancaster, that the inhabitants, headed by the thanes, rose in rebellion against 
 liim, and expelled him fi-om his government. Morcar and Edwin, the sons of duke 
 Leofric, who possessed gi-eat powers in this part of the kingdom, concui-red m the 
 insurrection; and the former, being elected duke, advanced from York with an army, 
 collected on the north of the Mersey and of the Humber, to oppose Harold, who had, 
 tkrough the royal favour, been appointed governor of Wessex, and who was commis- 
 sioned by the king, on the representation of Tosti, to reduce and chastise the Northum- 
 brians. Morcar, " advancing south with all the sliire, and with Nottinghamsliire, and Expulsion 
 
 of Eflrl 
 
 Derbysliii'e, and Lancashii-e,"* marched to Northampton. Here they were met by Tosti. 
 Harold, at the head of the king's forces, and a desperate battle appeared inevitable ; 
 but Morcar, wisliing fii'st to appeal to Harold's generosity and sense of justice, rather 
 than to the issue of arms, represented to him that Tosti had acted with so much 
 injustice and oppression in liis government, that the inhabitants of Yorkshu'e and of 
 Lancasliire, with those of Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmore- Early as- 
 land, being accustomed to the government of the law, and being determined to sup- liberty in 
 port their bii-th-right, preferred death to slavery, and had taken the field, determined siilre." 
 to perish rather than to submit to the iron yoke of the tyi-ant. After coimnunicating 
 with the king, Harold abandoned the cause of his brother, and obtained a royal 
 amnesty for the insurgents, who returned to their homes as conquerors, chiving 
 before them all the cattle they could collect, amounting to many thousands. Morcar 
 was fi-om this time confirmed in his government of Northumbria; and Harold, instead 
 of consiunmating the family alliance contracted with the daughter of William of 
 Noi-mandy, man-ied the daughter of duke Morcar. The death of Edwai-d speedily 
 followed the suppression of the great nortliern insurrection, and his body was interred 
 in the abbey of Westminster, " wliich he had liimself erected, to the honour of God 
 and St. Peter, and all God's saints.| The reUgious zeal of tliis sovereign, with whom 
 * Saxon Chron. A. D. 1065. t Saxon. Chron.
 
 ous star. 
 
 60 CIk listoi'i) of tl)e 
 
 CHAP, the Saxon line of English sovereigns terminated, procured him the name of the 
 ' Confessor; and liis love of justice induced liim to complete a code of laws from the 
 works of Ethelbert, Ina, and Alfred, though tliose which pass under liis name were, 
 accor(Hug to Su- Henry Spebnan, composed after liis deatli. Tliis sovereign was 
 the first who touched for the king's e^il — a superstition wliich maintamed its hold of 
 public credulity through six centuiies, and was not discontinued tUl the tune of the 
 Stuarts. 
 
 Harold Though, by the will of Edward, William of Normandy was appomted his successor, 
 
 Harold stepped into the vacant tlu'one without hesitation, ha\-ing fii-st been cro\vned 
 at York, where he was residing at the tune of the king's death, by Aldi'ed the 
 ai'chbishop, nor did he quit tliis part of the kingdom till four months afterwards, 
 when he repaired to London,* havmg been every where received in liis progi'ess 
 
 Portent- ^^th the most joyous acclamation. The appearance in the heaven of a phenomenon 
 of malign influence at this juncture, filled men's minds with apprehension. " Then 
 was over aU England," say the Saxon Chroniclers, " such a token as no man saw 
 before. Some men said it was the comet-star, wliich others denominated the long- 
 haii'ed star. He appeai'ed fii'st on the eve called Litania major, tliat is, on the 8th 
 before the calends of May, and so shone all the week." Harold's danger, however, 
 consisted not in the heavenly, but in eartUy bodies. Earl Tosti, who had taken 
 refuge in Flanders Avith earl Baldwin, liis father-in-law, on his expulsion from 
 Lancasliire, collected a lai'ge fleet, and endeavoured to regain liis forfeited possession 
 by sailing up the Humber, and penetrating into Northumbria. Finding liis power 
 ineffectual, he associated himself %vith Hai'old Halfagar, Idng of Norway, who with 
 300 ships assembled in the Isle of W ight, and there remained all the summer. 
 
 On the approach of autumn, Halfagar appeared off the Yorksliire coast with his 
 
 uinbria." 300 sliips, and was joined by eai'l Tosti, who had replenished liis force amongst the 
 Danish Northumbrians, and, alter entermg the Humber, they sailed up the Ouse 
 towards York. On receiving tliia intelligence, Harold, whose anny was collected in 
 the south, under the expectation of an invasion undertaken by the Normans, hastened 
 to the north by forced marches. But before liis arrival, Edwin, earl of Mercia, 
 and Morcar, earl of Northumberland, had gathered fi'om Lancasliii'e, and other parts 
 of the earldoms, a considerable force, with the intention of repeUing the invaders. 
 
 Sangui- Ou their anival at Apud Fulford, a \illage south of York, a sanguinary battle ensued, 
 
 tie, Sept. in wliich the slaughter was so great, that the Norwegians traversed the marshes 
 
 2nth. 
 
 invasion 
 of North 
 
 on the bocUes of the fallen,^ and in wliich Morcar and Edwin were obhged to seek 
 
 safety in flight, leaving the invaders in possession of the field. After demancUng 
 
 hostages and prisoners from the inhabitants of York, the " Northmen" marched to 
 
 * Saxon Chron. A. D. 1066. + Snorre, p. 1.55. Ork. Saga, p. 95.
 
 Countj) ^3alatinc of Slanraeitfr. 61 
 
 Stamfordbriilge, where they were surprised by Harokl, at the head of the largest chap. 
 
 force ever collected hi England. Before the battle conuneuced, a proposal was sent 
 
 by Hai-eld to his brother, offering to re-mstate hun iu tlie government of Northum- Sept.2.-.th. 
 bria if he would \\'itlKh-aw from the field. To Aviiich Tosti, m the insolence of his 
 spu-it, replied, " Last winter such a message might have spared much blood ; but now 
 what do you offer for the king my ally?' " Seven feet of gi'ound," said the Saxon 
 general.* The die was cast. For some time the passage of the bridge was chsputed 
 by one of the Norwegians, who, owing to the narrowness of the bridge, withstood the 
 " Eno-lish folk,"t so that they could not pass. In vain did they aun at lum their 
 javeluis, he still maintained his gi-ound, till a soldier came under the bridge, and 
 pierced liim ten-ibly inwards, under the coat of mail. Tliis unpethment, which, by 
 the operations of modern warfare, would have been speedily removed, no longer 
 intervening, Harold marched over tlie bridge, at the head of liis anny, when a di'ead- 
 ful slaughter ensued, both of the Norwegians and the Flemings, ui wliich was slaui 
 Halfagar, the faii'-haired king of Norway, and Tosti, the expatriated earl of North- 
 lunbria. The fleet of the Norwegians fell also into the hands of Harold, Avho allowed Expulsion 
 
 . . . of the 
 
 prince Olave, the son of Halfagar, to depai-t the kingdom, with twenty of his vessels, invaders. 
 taking with liim the wreck of the Norwegian and Flemish army. This act of gene- 
 rosity, as historians are accustomed to consider it, was not unmixed ^\ith policy. A 
 still more formidable invasion was approaching, and Harold wislied to be freed from 
 one body of his enemies before he had to encounter another. The shouts of victory 
 were heai'd across the island, from the Humber to the Mersey ; but scarcely had 
 those shouts subsided, before intelligence was received, that William of Normandy Landing 
 had landed at Pevensey, at the head of 60,000 men, supported by a fleet of 3,000 sail, J the Cea'^ 
 and was constructmg a castle at the port of Hastings. As William was landing ''"*™''" 
 from liis sliip, he stumbled and fell. In those days of superstition, the incident was 
 uiterpreted into an omen of disaster, but the panic was checked by an artful soldier, Sept. 28th. 
 who raised William from the gi-ound. Seeing liis hands full of mud, he exclaimed — 
 "Fortunate general! You have already taken England j its earth is in your 
 liands."§ Harold received the news of William's landing without any emotions of 
 dismay, wliile he was at dinner m liis favourite city of York. Hastening to London 
 at the head of his anny, wliich had been duninished.by the battle of Stamfordbridge, 
 and wliich was discontented by being denied a share of the spoil, he received a mes- 
 sage from duke William, who offered Harold liis choice of three proposals — to reign in 
 fealty under William, wliom he had sworn to serve ; or to decide the cUspute by 
 single combat; or to submit the cause to the arbitration of the pope: to wliich Harold 
 
 * Snorre, p. 160. t Saxon Chron. 
 
 J The " Roman de Row" says 696, which is more probable. | Matt, of West. p. 435.
 
 62 U)t ?l?isitxii-p Of tl)e 
 
 CHAP, replied, that the god of battles should be the ai-bitrator, and decide the differences 
 ' between them. Yielding to the impetuosity of his o\vn temper, instead of listening 
 
 to the wise counsels of his brother Gurth, he marched fi-om London without due 
 prepai-ation, in the vain hope of surprising the Normans in the south, as he had 
 surprised the Nonvegians in the north. Tlie night before the battle of Hastings was 
 passed by the invaders in prepaiations and in prayer,* while the English devoted 
 their hours to festivity and jojful anticipations. Tlie fate of England himg on the 
 
 Oct. 14th. issue of the day. Before the battle commenced, WiUiam joined in the solemnity of 
 religious worsliip, and received the sacrament at the hands of the bishop ; and to give 
 increased effect to these solemnities, he hung round his neck the reliques on which 
 Harold had sworn to support his claims to the English throne.f He divided his 
 
 Battle of army into three bodies. In front he placed his light infantry, armed with arrows 
 ^'"'^^' and balistae, led by Montgomery. The second division, commanded by Martel, 
 consisted of Ms heavy-armed battalions. His cavalry, at whose head he stood in 
 person, formed the tliird line, and were so disposed, that they sti'etched beyond the 
 infantiy, and flanked each wing of the army. To stimulate their courage, he 
 addressed them in words to this effect: — " Remember RoUo, the founder of your 
 nation, and the glorious achievements of your ancestors. You have now a rich 
 booty before you. If / become the king of England, you will be the owners of the 
 land; vengeance and plunder are alike before you. You are to punish the peijmy 
 of the English. They massacred om- kinsmen, the Danes and the Normans. 
 Harold, their king, has been guilty of the basest perjury. You are to fight, not only 
 for victory, but for life. If you are idctorious, glory and wealth are your rewards ; 
 if you ai"e defeated, a cruel death, or hopeless captinty, await you. Escape there is 
 none. On one side, an unknown and hostile country; on the other, the blockading 
 sea. Would it not be a disgi'ace to be vanquished by a nation accustomed to be 
 conquered; a nation without aiTOws, and without military warriors? Raise, sokUers, 
 your standai'd. Let the lightning of yoiu- glory shine resplendent from the east to 
 the west."J Still further to incite their ardour, Taillefer, a Norman minstrel, 
 inflamed the mai-tial ardour of the men of Britany, of Normandy, and of Poictou, 
 by singing the song of Roland and Charlemagne : 
 
 " Taillefer qui mout bien chantout, 
 Sur un cheval qui tost alout, 
 Devant euls aloit chantant, 
 De Kallemaigne et de RouUant, 
 Et d' Olivier et de Vassaux 
 Qui moururent en Rains clievaux."^ 
 
 * Will, of Malms, p. 101. t Guil. Pict. p. 201 I Hen. of Hunt. p. 368. §Lanc. p. 461.
 
 Coimtj) IBalatme of ILanrasitfr. 63 
 
 The English army, chiefly iufantry, were an-aiiged by Harold in the form of a chap 
 
 wedge, meant to be impenetrable. Their sliields covered their bodies ; their anns 
 
 melded the battle-axe. Harold, whose corn-age was equal to his station, quitted his horse, 
 to shai'e the danger and the glory on foot. His brothers, Gurth and Sweyn, accompa- 
 nied him, and Ms banner, in wliich the figure of a man in combat, woven simiptuously 
 with gold and jewels, sliining conspicuous, was planted near liim.* Tlie English, 
 occupying the liigh gi-ound, wliich was flanked by a wood, not only received the 
 dischai'o-e of the Norman weapons with patient valour, but returned the attack with 
 their battle-axes and ancient weapons %\'ith so much effect, that the foot and the 
 cavalry of Bretagne, and all the other allies of William on the left wing, gave way. 
 Tlie impression extended along the whole line, and was increased by a rumour, that 
 the duke had fallen. Dismay began to unnerve liis anny; and a general flight 
 seemed about to ensue.f William, to arrest the progi-ess of the panic, and to 
 con\ince his soldiers of his safety, rushed amongst the fugitives, and, with his helmet 
 thrown fromliis head, exclaimed, " Behold me — I Uvej and will conquer yet, with 
 God's assistance. What madness influences you to fly ? What way can be found 
 for your escape ? They whom, if you choose, you may kill like cattle, are driving 
 and desti'oying you. You fly from victory — from deatliless honour. You run 
 upon rum and everlasting disgi'ace. If you continue to retreat, every one of you 
 •will perish."! '^'^'^ Normans rallied, and made a desperate onset ; but the English, 
 forming a wall of courageous soldiery, remained unbroken. William, finding all his 
 efibrts to penetrate their ranks fruitless, resolved to hazard a feigned retreat. A 
 body of a thousand horse were entrusted with this critical operation. Having 
 rushed upon the EngUsh with a horrible outcry, they suddenly checked themselves, 
 as if panic-struck, and affected a hasty flight. The English entered eagerly on 
 tlie pursuit with apparent success ; for the Nonnans, having retired upon an excava- 
 tion somewhat concealed, fell into then- own trap ; many of them perished, and some 
 of the English shared the same fate. Wliile this manoeuvTe was occupying their atten- 
 tion, the duke's main body rushed between the pursuers and the rest of then- army. 
 Tlie English endeavoured to regain their position : the cavalry turned upon them, 
 and, thus enclosed, many of them fell victims to the skilful movements of then- 
 adversaries. At length they rallied and regained then- position, but, uninstructed by 
 experience, they suffered themselves to be twice afterwards decoyed to a repetition 
 of the same artifice. In the heat of tlie struggle, twenty Nonnans confederated to 
 attack and carry off" the English standard. Tliis service they effected, though not 
 without the loss of many of then- number.§ 
 
 * Will, of Malm. p. 101. 1 Guild. Pict. 202. 
 
 t Guild. Pict. 202. § Brompt. p. 9G0.
 
 Defeat 
 and death 
 of Harold. 
 
 64 €i)t S^istorp of tfte 
 
 CHAP. The battle continued through the day with frequent changes of fortune. Harold 
 
 ' was more distinguished for the bravery of a soldier than for the skill of a general. 
 William united the two characters. He had tlu-ee horses killed under him. Wliile 
 Harold lived, liis valorous countrymen seemed invincible. Feilile in expedients, 
 the duke chrected his archers not to fire dii-ectly at the English, but to dischaa-ge 
 their arrows vigorously upwards towards the sky. The random shafts descended 
 into the EngUsh ranks like impetuous hail, and one of them pierced the gallant 
 Harold in the eye,* and, penetrating the brain, terminated liis life. A furious charge 
 of the Noi-man horse increased the disorder. Panic scattered the English, and the 
 Normans vigorously pursued tliem tlu'ough the broken gi-ound. A part of the 
 fugitives rallied, and, indignant at the prospect of siuTcndering their country to 
 foreigners, they sought to renew the contest. William, perceiving that the critical 
 moment for sealing the victory had arrived, ordered Count Eustace and liis soldiers 
 to the attack. The duke, with a vigour and energy pecuHar to hiaiself, joined in 
 the final conflict, and secured the victory of Hastings and the crown of England. 
 The body of Harold was found by his mistress, EcUth, " the Lady of the Swan 
 Neck," near those of liis two brothers, who were also slain in the battle, and was 
 sent, at the request of liis mother, for intennent, to the monastery of Waltham, which 
 he had founded. 
 Extinc- The battle of Hastings terminated the Saxon dynasty in England, after a 
 
 Saxon ^ continuance, with occasional inteiTuptions, of sis liimcbed yeai's. Duiing this 
 long period the foundations of some of the most important of our public institutions 
 were laid, and it may be interesting, even for the illustration of local liistory, shortly 
 to advert to then* nature and origin. 
 Saxon in- 111 the Saxou period, the mechanical arts, so closely interwoven with the 
 interests of society, met ■with liberal encouragement : the wisest of their monarchs 
 invited from all quarters sldlfiil and industrious foreigners ; they encoiu'aged manu- 
 factm'es of every kind, and prompted men of activity to betake themselves to naviga- 
 tion, and to push commerce into the most remote countries. As an indication of an 
 approach towards a state of free traflic, and of the increase of commerce, it is 
 mentioned, that Canute, about the year 1028, established mints for the coinage of 
 money, in thirty-seven cities and towns of England, of wliich number the town of 
 Manchester was one. A silver penny, coined at York about the year 630, and 
 marked with the name of Edv\in, the Northumbrian monarch, is supposed to be the 
 earliest specimen of coinage in tliis island, after the abdication of the Romans. Tlie 
 king and liis barons enfrancliised the principal towns, to encourage the progress of 
 manufactures, and Manchester was of the favoured number. 
 
 * Henry of Hunt. p. 368. Will, of Malms, p. 101. 
 
 line. 
 
 stitutions.
 
 Coimt)) ^Palatmr of aanrastrr. 
 
 65 
 
 It must be admitted, however, that whatever progress oui- Anglo-Saxon ances- chap. 
 
 tors had made in conuuerce and in manufactures, since the time of the Roman 
 
 sway in Britain, this couutiy had reti-ogi-aded deplorably in the practice of the fine 
 arts. As early as the reign of Severus, the sculpture and the painting of Rome 
 had obtained a liigh degree of perfection ; but in the Saxon times these accom- 
 plislunents Avere almost extinct in the island, and the coinage of Northumbria, in the 
 reigns of Edelstan, of Harold, surnamed Harefoot, and of Edward the Confessor, as 
 exliibited in the folloAraig specimens, serve sufficiently to prove the lamentable 
 deterioration : — 
 
 The Anglo-Saxons were divided into four classes: — men of birth — men of 
 
 property freemen — and serviles. Then- money was in pounds, sliillings, and pence; 
 
 twenty slullings constituted a pound, and twelve pence a slulling, as at present, 
 with this difference, however, that twenty shillings weighed a pound troy— and 
 hence the term pound. Guilds, or communities of mutual protection, were formed 
 by persons engaged in trade, which sought at once to protect the interests of those 
 branches of business, and to proAide for the members of their fraternities in sickness 
 and old age.* Markets and fairs were pretty generally establislied ; attention was 
 paid to agricultm-e ; and the yeoman was held in deserved estimation. Their 
 monarchy was partly hereditary, and partly elective; and the power of their 
 sovereigns not absolute, but limited. Their Witena-Gemot of " wise men" formed 
 the gi-eat council of the nation, and was a body, the foundation of our parliaments, 
 tliat at once enacted laws and administered justice. Besides the trial by jury, they 
 had the trial by ordeal of water and of iron : by the iron ordeal, the accused carried a 
 piece of red-hot iron, tlu-ee feet, or nine feet, according to the magnitude of the 
 offence ; in the water ordeal, he plunged his hand into a vessel of boiling-hot water 
 up to the wiist in some cases, and to the elbow in others ; the hand was then bound 
 up, and sealed for thi-ee days, at the end of wliich time the bandage and seal were 
 removed ; when, if the hand was found clean, he was pronounced innocent, if foul, 
 guilty.f This Avas a trial, not a punishment, and it was perfonned before the priest, 
 in the presence of two Avitnesses, after due preparation. Sometimes the party 
 choosiug this mode of trial prepared liis own hand, to endure the fiery trial ; and 
 
 * Eden on the Poor Laws. t Wilk. Leg. Inae, p. 27. 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 66 CIk ?f)fetm-p of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, sometimes probably prepared the hand of the priest, and thus induced liim to abate 
 ' the height of the temperature. There was anotlier ordeal by water : the culprit, 
 having a rope tied about liim, was plunged into a river two ells and a half deep; if 
 he sunk, he was acquitted; but if he floated, being considered deficient in weight of 
 goodness, he was condemned.* The punishments were various, and consisted of 
 banislmieut, slavery, branding, amputation of limb, mutUation of the nose, ears, and 
 lips, plucking out the eyes, stoning, or hanging. The trial by jury was a rational 
 and enlightened inquiry. The Saxoas have the merit of having introduced tliis 
 invaluable mstitution into England; and some authors contend, that it originated in 
 the tune of Alfred, but it is certain that it was in use amongst the earUest Saxon 
 colonists.t The trial by jury tlid not at ouce attain perfection, and it is probable 
 that Alfred matured and perfected the institution. Originally a man was cleai'ed of 
 an accusation, if twelve persons came forward, and swore that they behoved liim to be 
 innocent of the alleged crime.J This was a jury in its earhest fonn. Afterwards it 
 became necessary that twelve men, peers or equals of the litigants, should hear the 
 evidence on both sides, and that they on then- oaths should say whether the accused 
 was guilty or innocent. 
 
 Feudal The Feodttl System rose in England during the Saxon dynasty, and for 
 
 many ages exercised an influence and conti'ol over society, not only in tliis 
 country, but over the whole of the western nations of the world. Though the 
 system was inti'oduced into tliis country by the Anglo-Saxon, it was not tUl the 
 Norman conquest that it received its complete consummation. In the heat of the 
 battle of Hastings, William had promised liis followers that tlie lands of England 
 should be theu's, if victory crowned their- eiForts ; and the possessions of eai-1 Tosti, 
 as well as the other Saxon barons, between the Mersey and the Ribble, and to the 
 north of the latter river, speedily became the laiights' fees of the houses of Lacie 
 and Pictavensis. In the partition of the spoil, the most considerable share fell to the 
 Idng. These lands became the subject of feudal tenures ; the king conferred them 
 upon liis favourites in capite, on the condition that they should faithfully serve him 
 in war and in peace, and on payment of a certain annual fine ; and they again 
 granted their Lancashii'e manors to Goisfridus, WUlielmus, Tetbaldus, and others, as 
 then- feudatories. Tliese thanes had tlieii- socmen and Adllams — in other words, then* 
 ianners and their slaves — some holding by miUtary, and others by nistic obhgations ; 
 but all, from the liighest to the lowest, under feudal tenures. The whole frame of 
 society was involved in tliis comprehensive system, wliich Dr. Kuerden has, in his 
 unpublished MS. of the History of Lancashii-e, arranged under the foUovnng heads, 
 taldng for liis text-book Sir Henry Spehnan's Glossarium Archaiologicum : — 
 * Textus Roffensis. f Black. Com. cap. xxiii. { Turner's Ang. Sax. iv. 337. 
 
 system.
 
 CountP palatine of 2Lanra<5tn% 67 
 
 " Regal Franchises.* — The Kinpf or soueraigne Goucrnour of the Reiilm, firom chap. 
 wliom all fi-ancliises are deriued, being the most exceleut and woitliicst part or " 
 
 member of the body of the conunonwelth, next nnto God, because, as Braclon Koyai 
 sayth, the law doth make liim a Idng, and as the head of a natural body, doth with a 
 prouident care look about for the safety and preseruation of euery member of the 
 same body, even so, the king being head of the coimuonwelth, doth not only cary a 
 watclifuU eye to the preseruasion of peace and quietness at home amongst his own 
 subjects, but also to keep them in peace and quietness from euery forreign 
 Inuasion. 
 
 " And hereupon the Law doth allow liim sufferein jurisdiction, not only through 
 the whole land, but also to the midst of the sea, encompassing the whol retdm ; and 
 for the same cause, the Lawes do attribut to the king all Honor, Dignity, Preroga- 
 tive, and Pre-eminence. — Bracton, lib. ii. cap. 24. 
 
 " Like^-ise, the king hath certain proper priiuleges by the canon law, that he shal 
 only haue thos tilings wldch by the Lawes of Nature ought to be the finders, as 
 Treasm-e troue. Wrecks of the Sea, Great fishes, as Whales, Stm-geons, &c. 
 
 " And waifes, wliich are said to be the goods of another man, therefore the king, 
 by his prerogative, shal have them. 
 
 " He ought also, by the comon law, to have in his own possession, such things 
 as by the law ought to be comon, as wild beasts, fowls that are not tame, but are 
 made proper by possession, and taking of them as by Fowling, Hunting, or the 
 like. 
 
 " And by the law the king may enter into the grounds of any of his subjects wher- 
 soever ther are any mynes of gold or siluer to be found, and dig the land at his 
 pleasure for the same mines, and carry them away, for that they ai'C tilings that do 
 only belong unto the king, for gold and siluer are tilings of most excelency that are 
 upon the Earth ; and therefore when they are found, the law doth attribut them for 
 their Excellency to belong unto the king as the most excellent person. 
 
 " And in like manner, wild beasts of Venery, and beasts of chace and waren, being 
 things of excellent recreation, they are meetest for the dignity of a prince for liis 
 pastime and delight, and thence it is not lawful for any man witliin his own fee, to 
 make any chase or pai'k, or waren, without the king's warrant so to do. 
 
 " And although men may kill such wild beasts in ther wildns when they ai'e found 
 wandering, being out of the forest park, or chase, or waren ; yet no man hath any 
 property in them until they have kild them, for during the time of ther wildnes they 
 are nitlUus in rebus, and they must needs be said to be in manu Domini Regis, m 
 the king's possession. 
 
 * Kuerden's MS. Manchester College Library, fo. 330. 
 k2
 
 68 C!)e fmtov^ of t])t 
 
 CHAP. " And so in some measure, Treasure troue, waifs, esti'ays, the goods of fellons and 
 
 ' fugitives, thos being out of any man's right, the thre fii'st their owners being 
 
 Royal unknown, and the 2 later as confiscated, ther owners being convicted, or not daring 
 
 privileges. , 
 
 to justify themselues by law, when they remaui as proper escheats vnto the king as 
 owner. 
 
 " And as Countyes, Hundi-eds, Honors, wards. Gaols, chief cityes, and sea-port 
 towns, with ther cheifest manors, these rights kings only assmned antiently, as 
 belonging to the crown, where justice might most regularly be executed, malefactors 
 most surely kept in custody, and the king preseriiing thereby his subjects better in 
 peace, more nobly maintained, and keep of liis Landing. 
 
 " All those great prerogatives were confinned upon our EngUsh monarch, the 
 famous Egbert, by his subdued Heptarchy, and euer since duly and justly claimed, 
 and enjoyed by his successors, the Saxon, Danish, and Norman Kings and Queens 
 of England. 
 
 " Hence may be obserued, whereas the king did chstribut the gi'eater fees capitaneis 
 Regiis (royal cliiefs,) sc. to Archbyshops, Byshops, Palatines, Abbots, Abbesses, 
 under gi-eater Francliises or privileges, wliich are cald regalia, to Dukes, Maixliions, 
 and Earls. 
 
 " And thes again may be reduced into lesser fees, when any of thos capitanei do 
 distiibut any pari, of them to their vassals and clients with sunilar priuiledges, and 
 thos are cald Hegij vel regis Valvasores, or capitanei. medii.* The former were cald 
 regal chgnities, quod regis splendoris radios quosdam obtinent fruebantur olim 
 juribus plerumque regalibus, which are called Serjantia majora, or greater 
 Serjantyes. 
 
 " But the feoda capitanea media, are thos that are granted not imechately from the 
 prince himself, but from some of this capitanorum regis to ther clients, as from a 
 count palatine to thcii- Barons, Valvasores, or Castellani. 
 
 " And thes capitanei medij, or Valvasores, may lilvewise distribut yet smaller fees, 
 called feoda militaria,-\^ sunply, which are neither given from the Prince, nor from 
 any of the capitanei Regni,\ but from the medij capitanei, or Valvasores, Bai'ons, or 
 some meaner Lords, to thefr Knights, or Valvasivi minores, and thos fees are cald 
 feoda militum, ox feoda militaria. 
 
 " Hence became various feocUsts or comites, Palatini, Vicecomites, Eails, Dukes, 
 Heretocliij, Hundi'edarij, Holdcastellani, Titliingmeu. 
 
 " Hence it appears, that it is not lawful to all to give a fee, so likewise it is not 
 lawful for al to receive one for iguobl persons, and of seruile condition, ai-e forbidden, 
 
 * Middle chiefs. f Knight's fees. X Chiefs of the kingdom.
 
 Countp ^3alatmt of itanrasitfr. 69 
 
 and, according to the manor received in Heroick Ages, to undertake military offices, chap. 
 munera suhire militaria. 
 
 " Therefore, only nohl persons wer susceptibl of receiiiing fees, wliich are esteemed 
 much before rusticks, and iguobles being unfit, ad urma tractanda reffcndaque 
 militiam* and in compensation of this his coi-poral seruice ther fees wer given 
 them indued with the said priiiiledges, and so made fre a trihutis rusticis, so. Tallage 
 and subsidyes. 
 
 " But the nobilia Ula feoda (noble fees) at length were bestowed upon the 
 Biu-gesses and ig-nobl persons nisi auspice rege, and moneys offered into the 
 Exchecq. to obtain that liberty, becaus that accipientis personam nohilitavit, this 
 ennobles the person of the receiuer. 
 
 " "Now feodum ignobile et vulgare'\ is opposed io feodum nobile, and is properly 
 called that which belongs ignohilibus et rusticis, adorns with no feodal priuUedges, 
 but the name of a fee in tliis latter age, perperam auspicatum. 
 
 " We call it Soccage, and some call it feodum Burgense ;\ and hence it comes 
 about that cUuers franchises and priuUedges have been granted to corporations, 
 together vA\h markets and fayi-es. 
 
 " How Fees first Instituted.^ — The more antient Ages of the world labouring sore institu- 
 on each syde with gi'eat warrs. Emperors, kings, and piinces, more advisedly guiding fee"." 
 ther afTayi'es, did cUstribut and bestow whol regions, and especially thos that bordered 
 and were exposed to the enemy, upon ther patiites and gi'eat persons they cald 
 capitanei, not so possessing them iutii-ely might reape benefit thereby, but that being 
 seuered into fitting portions of a fee, and each placed out stipendij nomine to several 
 knights and soldiers, a respect being had to persons, and so such bemg cald ui)on 
 unanimously might defend the country, having taken the oath of fealty might come 
 to the assistance of that waning prince, and thereupon the necessity of waning 
 brought forth the Invention of fees. 
 
 " Tlie Germans brought forth the feodal rytes and customes, and propagated the 
 same by long usage. 
 
 " It was in antient time anexed to the Lord's power, that where they pleased they 
 might take back that had been given already by them, but afterwards it was estab- 
 lished, that it should continue to the faitlifuU for his life, but not to his cliildi'en to 
 belong by any hereditary right. 
 
 " Afterward it came to pass, that their gift held finn only for a year, yet it so pro- 
 ceeded, that it might come to their sons, sc. to him whom the Lord was pleased to 
 confirm the grant. 
 
 * To carry arms, and to command an army. I Bought fee or tenure. 
 
 t A vulgar and ignoble fee. ^ MS. fo. 130.
 
 nors. 
 
 70 C6e ??istJ3tt) of tfif 
 
 CHAP. " Conrade, passing to Rome, (lid confirm it to gi-anchildren. Sons did not succeed 
 
 " collateral, ultra fratres patruelles ;* but in a short time after it did extend to the next 
 
 degree. — Jo Faber saith, Ducatus, Countys, Baronys, &c. were made perpetual 
 
 hereditary, and nobles thereupon began to taie themselves syniames from ther chief 
 
 denomination of ther fees.f 
 
 f)fma- " First Institutions of 3Ianors. — 1. In the first place (the Lord) designed 
 
 a fitting place for his own habitation, and to it was a messuage fit uberiores ad 
 
 familiam suam alendam conscripsit fundos qui hodie terrce dominica;, cald demaine 
 
 lauds. 
 
 " 2. Another part he bestowed dientibus quot alere videatur milites oh siibsidium 
 in bello, such poitions are cald feoda mihtaiia Kts' fees, but if any portion was not 
 sufficient of itself, ad militem alendum,\ yet according to its quantity, partem pactum 
 contribuit,\ sc. one half, one tliii'd, a fourth pt, a 100 pt, vel tantillo levior esset 
 sumptus Domini militaris, (or so much less as the Lord's military charges were the 
 lighter.) 
 
 " 3. Tertiapartem colonis — who were called socmanni — elocat decernitque ut pro 
 tenementorum suorum ratione frumenti vel vestis aliquid, juxta Taciturn, aut obsonii 
 aliorumque necessariorum reddant faciantque,^ — and after he placed and sorteth out 
 a tliird part to husbandmen, who are called socmanni, that proportionably to their 
 tenements they should render, or cans sometliiug of fruit or gannents and victuals, 
 and other necessaries (according to Tacitus) et preterea ad (cdes Domini et suapradia, 
 as rustic and servile labours. They shal till the Lord's gi-ound, plow, sow, reap, 
 cut his corn and hay, tluash, ditch, and hedg, et greges et indicta singula exe- 
 quantur. 
 
 " 4. Neither in the Interim were they forgetful of God, for they dedicated a place 
 for the chiu'ch and priest, ut concilia volunt AgricoUs — pauperibus suis qui famdice 
 navant opera latam fundi portionem cedit quo eorum rictus nutriantur animaUa 
 Solent nominare.% 
 
 " Tliis distribution of land, which since ut visit e domino beneficentia ejus etiam 
 paruit voluntati, and was governed by such laws as the lord imposed, ut de Germanis 
 Tacitus AgricoUs suis jus — huic jurisdictioni prcetorium, (as Tacitus says, in liis 
 
 * Beyond brother's cousins on the fathers' side. 
 
 t In no county in England do the names of the lands so much correspond with the surnames of 
 their owners, as in Lancashire. 
 
 I To support a knight. ^ He finished the portion agreed upon. 
 
 II Towards their maintenance and cultivation. 
 H As the councils will. To their poor husbandmen, who industriously laboured for their families, 
 
 they granted a broad portion of ground (common) by which they might furnish food for themselves 
 and cattle.
 
 Coiuiti? |3alatine of ^Lanrasstfi*. 71 
 
 works on tlie manners of the Germans — the pra;torium in this jurisdiction,) was chap. 
 
 • II 
 
 the lord's house, sometimes thereupon cal'd aula (a hall), otherwise curia tenebatur _ 
 
 ejus cUcntela rebus ita postulaniibus, (a court, wluch was held on affairs hetween the 
 lord and his tenants so reqiiii-ing it), each 3 weeks here the most, but more general 
 sub festo anmmtiationis B.M. et St. MichaeUs, at our lady day and St. Michael, 
 fi-om whom the coui'ts at this day are called generally. 
 
 " Of the Value and various Qualities of a KnighCs Fee. — Tlie antient yearly value 
 of a fee may be gathered from the reHef payd, for the most part were alike. 
 
 " The antient relief mth us was 5lb. and afterwards, about H. 3 time, he that 
 enjoyed 251b. in lands ought to be cald ad dignitatem militia;, (to the honor of 
 knighthood) as then the estimation of that was set upon a knight's fee. 
 " Yet afterwards in E, 2. 251b. and afterwards 401b. 
 
 " Thos that possest an estate of 1 5lb. 37H. 3. were cald out ad militia; dignitatem,* 
 and Ed. 201b. and in Rastal, Title, Knights, who possest 10 libratas terra, (ten 
 librates of land) were cald to the dignity of knighthood, or to be fyned 1256. 
 41 H. 3. 
 
 " Quantity of a Knight'' s Fee. — 1 MS. A certain book of the Abbot of Mamsbury a knight's 
 sayth that 
 
 " A vigrate of Land containeth 24 acres, 
 " 4 \dgrates make a Hyde, and 
 
 " 5 Hydes makes a knight's fee, the relief thereof lOOsh. 
 " 2 MS. says, that, according to antient custome, 
 "10 acres make a fardell, 
 " 4 fardels makes a vu"gat, 
 " 4 Vu'gats makes a Hyde, 
 " 4 Hydes malies a knight's fee. 
 " 3 MS. So that the Book of Mamesbury sayth 16 virgats makes a whole knight's 
 fee, and when taxed at 6s. 4d. makes the sum of lOOsh. Therfor a knight's fee, 
 according to the first, contauis 480 acres, and this agrees with the thii-d MS. If a 
 vii-gate with 2d MS. be 40 acres ; but if, as the fii-st hath it, only 24 acres, it differs 
 much from both, yet not above 484 recknd masse. 
 
 " But after some time, according to the goodness of the ground, is less, and other 
 times of larger extent for the baii-ness therof. 
 
 " And ther is a respect to be had to the Lord's bounty, or parcimony, sometimes 
 gi\Tng more sparingly, and others more profusely, as also the sendees imposed upon 
 fees, sometimes according to the customes more easUy, other tunes ex pacto 
 graviora. 
 
 " To the honour of knia,hthood.
 
 72 Wl)t 5]i6torj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. " Tlie Various Parts of a Knight's Fee. — 1. Hifla or Hyde is a portion of land 
 
 " wliicli is set apart for the alimony of the family, or that will yeai-ly mamtayn one 
 plow, so that Hide is sometimes taken for a mansion, as when it is sayd in the charter 
 of kino- Ethelbert, or about the year 845, that each 10th mansion should belong to 
 the seruice of God.* W. of Mamsbery sayth, that to the end of the world that the 
 10 Hide should be to cloath and feed the poore. 
 
 " 2. Taken for a family, for what Beda caldy'amiZ/a, other Authors and the Saxon 
 Interpreters call a hyde, or hydilandes. 
 
 " 3. Taken for a carucat of land sufficient yearly to maintain a plow. 
 
 " Tlie quantity of a hyde is disputable, for Gervis of Tilbery says, a Hyde in its 
 original institution did consist of 100 acres, but by W. of Mamsbery 96 acres.f 
 
 " The Annals of Waverly, An. 1083. The king sent 5 of liis Justitiai-yes tlu-ough- 
 out England to inquii-e upon oath, how many hydes, i. e. jugera, might be sufficient 
 in each Town yearly to maintain a plow. 
 
 " And the same Mathew Paris addes the same year, how many cattel might he 
 sufficient for the village of one Hyde. 
 
 " Domesday book in fine Cestreshire, (Land between the Ribble and the Mersey,) 
 Tit. Derbei Hunched. 
 
 " In the Hundi-ed of Derbei vi. carucates make a Hyde. 
 
 " Regis Inee, cap. 24. by the name of Hydes, are known thos 12 portions which 
 are reported to be given to the companions of Joseph of Aramathea in the territory 
 of the monastery of Glastonbury. 
 
 " Hydare is as much as to taxe the land by Hydes. 
 
 " Hydatus is taken for land that is to be taxed by Hyde,|: 
 
 " Hydage is a tribut that is gathered fi-om each Hyde. 
 
 " And in paying of taxes the antient maner was to describe the kingdom by Hydes; 
 and king Edelred, to oppose the Danes, caused each 320 hydes to send a slup, and 
 each 8 to give a coat of male and Helmet. 
 
 " W. C. (WiUiam I.) received from each Hyde, A. D. 1084, 3 sh.§ W. Rufiis 
 from each Hyde 4sh. 
 
 " H. I. for maii-yiug his daughter to the Emperor, A. D. 1110, from each 
 Hyde 3sh. 
 
 " Carucata Terrte, a carucate of land, is such a portion of land as is designed for 
 the work of a plow, or plow land, with Math. Paris a Hyde. 
 
 * The charter says, that every tenth mansion shall be devoted to the servants of God (Famulis 
 Dei) which is a very different thing. 
 
 t Not William of Malmesbury, but the Malmsb. MS. 
 I Hidata (not hidatus) is land that is actually taxed, and hidanda, land to be taxed. § 6 solidi, or shillings.
 
 Countp ^aalatiitf of iLantasitfC* 73 
 
 " A carucate of land is sajd to be so much land as a plow can work in seasonable chap. 
 time, containing 120 acres, yet various as the gi-oimd was more easy, or harder, or ' 
 troublesome to be tild. 
 
 " Vityata Terrce. — 3. Virgata Terrte, yapt) land, (yard land) sc. mensuree 
 quantitas pro rations loci diversi, in some places 20, in others 24, in others 30 acres. 
 
 " 4. Fer Ungate. — 10 acres makes a ferlingate. 
 " 4 ferlingates makes a vii-gate, 
 " 4 vii-gates makes a hyde, 
 " 5 hydes makes a knight's fee. 
 
 " Carucat. TeiTse. The Abbot of Rochester demanded against Albereda de Basin- 
 burn 8 car. terrae and 2 bovats of land, ut jus Ecclesite, of which each carucat of land 
 contained 8 bovats terr(B mensuratce. 27 H. 3. Rot. 1. 
 
 " Rob. Constable gave his Lordship of Therlesthorpe, whereof 8 carucates makes a 
 knight's fee. 
 
 " Herbert de St. Quintin gave 3 bovats of land, whereof 48 carucates makes a 
 knight's fee. 
 
 " H. fil. Sywardi de Kerden gave 3 bovat of land in maritagio. 
 
 " Rijil. Adce de Blackburn unde 16 bovats — sint cequales de forinscco. 
 
 " Caruagio and Carucagio, a tribut imposed upon plows. In charters of pri\Tledges 
 many being fi-ee from the Tributs tenned quieti a carucagio, when the R doth taxe 
 his land by carucates. 
 
 " JugumTerrcB. — 5. as much gi-ound as a yoke of joyned oxen can plow in a day. 
 It appears that at fii'st a manor was divided into various portions sufficient for the 
 nourishment of so many country familyes, together with the yoaks of oxen, and from 
 thence they were cald juga, or yoaks. 
 
 " Jugatio is said to be a tribut that is payd a singulis jugis. 
 
 " Bouata Terr<s, or Oxgangs. — 6. It is sayd to be as much ground as one oxe can 
 till ; but in an antient MS. 8 bovats of land doth make a carucate, and 8 carucates a 
 kt's fee. 18 acres makes a bovat of land. An oxegang, as much as serves the 
 neck of an oxe, but tliis must be understood of oxen joyned, or a yoak of oxen. 
 
 " Ferdella Terra. — 7. Out of an old MS. is the 4t part of a vii-gate of land, for 
 saying that 10 acres makes a vii-gate, and 4 wgates makes a hyde, and 4 hydes 
 a kt's fee. 
 
 " Ferdendeal, or farandeal, with Cowil, is the 4t part of an acre, which we call a 
 road, or rood. Crompton sayth Quadrans is the 4t part of a penny, and obulus the 
 half, and the sliilliug contains 12 pennyes, and a pound 20 shUHngs, and that in the 
 originall Quadrata, ohulata, denariata, librata terrce, sc. J of an acre, J of an acre, 
 the acre itself, solidata, 12 acres, librata 12 tunes 20 acres, sc. 240. 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 74 COe In'stori) of tht 
 
 CHAP. " Hence the word fardella is rather to be understood of the 4t jjart of a \irgate of 
 '- land, and to contain 5 acres, or sometimes more. 
 
 " Acre. — 8. Acra from aceji, or ager ; it is a measured part of land formerly 
 uncertain, but now by Stat, of 31 Ed. I. contains 8 score perchs, and by some is 
 cald jugerum. Cmit II. cap. 14, if any deny to give liis Tyth as the comon 
 use of al is, that is 10th acre, as the plow passeth over. 
 
 " Ancinga. — 9. Is conceived to be a portion of land, 4 perches broad, and 
 40 long, but this respects 10 feet Roman, or oui* acre. 
 
 " Selio Terra. — 10. A part of land containing some imcertain fiiiTows. 
 Sciant prces. 3Iarg. f. W. de Rylela (1) dedl Em f. mece 1 acra terrte, sc. 
 6 seliones et dimid'm, (Know by these presents, that I Mai'garet, daughter of 
 William de Ruly, give to my daughter Emma, one acre of land, namely six fiu'- 
 rows and a half.) 
 
 " Variety of Possessions. — 1. Tofta* is taken to be a place, where, in times past, 
 stood mansio rustica, or country hous called Messuagium. And Reinerus sayth est 
 genus lucis jmrmd: seu loci coiisiti arboribus minusculis. Hence we may observe, 
 that Toftiuanni were either natives, or smal cottagers, or burgess, that had some little 
 pai'cel of land belonging to their bm-gage, for we find it generally in some corporations 
 thos Tofts to be under an acre of land, most comonly to be a 4t of an acre or therabout, 
 on wliich, in al probability, in former times was the site of some smal hous. unto 
 which was annexed some smal paixel of land, as afterwards cald a Toft, though at 
 present the hous hath suffered dilapidation, or demolishment, and often in sucli 
 ground remans the relics of some fruit trees or gai'den shrubs, of rose, curres, 
 gosberye, in the hedges or the like. 
 
 " Messuagium. — 2. Messuagiimi, or Massuagium, is Avhere Messce vel Masste 
 negotium agitur domesticum (household affaii-s are conducted) for Massa est terree 
 portio certis constans jugeribus, puta 20, {Mas, an old French law-term, is a portion 
 of land, consisting of a certain number of acres, say 20), and messuagium chffers a 
 massd ut pars a tola, (from massa, as a part from the whole), or as situs manerij a 
 manerio est sella mansi, (the site of the manor from the manor itself.) Though 
 Messuagium is properly sedes Massce (seat of the Mas) and ti'ansfen-ed ad hones- 
 turn quoddam Domicilium sire prtedio (to some decent dwelling or farm) whence 
 liliewise cedes urbicce (town residences) ai'e called 3Iessuagia. It is domus 
 habitationis (a house of residence), but it is more remai'kable, habitatio cum aliquo 
 fundo adjacentis, set apai't for the use tlierof. 
 
 " Curtis. — 3. Sometimes taken pro area circa cedes — dommn novum curte et 
 cedificijs. 
 
 * A small p-ove.
 
 Countj) ^3alatine of iCanragtcr. 75 
 
 " Curtilagium. — 4. It is curtis, mansio v. manerhmi inhabifanda, with lands, chap. 
 
 ... II. 
 
 possessions, and other emohmieuts, to such a manor belonging. It is said to be ' 
 
 adjunctus tali curti, ubi leguntur herha et olera, so cald from curtis and lego pro 
 
 colligere. 
 
 " Cassata, Cassamenta. — 5. It is habitaculiim cum terra idonea ad unam fami- 
 liam calendam, (a Uttle dwelling-house, •m\\\ land suitable for the maintenance of a 
 single family.) 
 
 " Cassamenta est agreste habitacidum palis, grandiorihus virgidtisque contextum 
 qidbus posset tueri a vifrigoris, as an Irish crate. 
 
 " Cassati ai-e such as inliabit Cassatam, a.s well liberi as seri:i vassali Domini, and 
 ai'e those that have suas (edes, suamfamiliam, sua peculia servos sen subserves quam- 
 vis Domino lucrantes. 
 
 " Haga. — 6. Domus in urbe vel oppido, qd. ex complicatis viminibus instar cratis 
 rel sepis, fabricata, liaj. Saxonich sepes, Gal. hag, j in y conversa. (A house in 
 the city or town, and so called because built with twisted osier twigs, wickers, or 
 rods, like fences. Hag, a fence in Anglo-Saxon, becomes hag in French, the g 
 being converted into g.) 
 
 " Hamlet, Hall, Villa, Ham or Villa, — 7. Ham, often taken for house or 
 suigl habitation, and likewise signifies plurium conjunctiones (the jouiing togetlier of 
 many), for as the ancient Germans diversi colentes et discreti, (tilling separate and 
 apart,) as Tacitus noteth, cald each several of their habitations a ham, and tin \)(ini, 
 (o home, in modern German.) 
 
 " But afterwards cohabiting together, they attributed that single word to a multi- 
 tude, and so made use of ham and heim for \illa, oppido, ui-be, (village, town, city,) 
 as now Pemvortham, Nottingham. 
 
 " 8. Hamlet may be properly taken for part or member of a gi-eater villa, than for 
 any vrUula per se existens* Observe the statute Exonise, 14 Ed. I. concerning the 
 names of all Aillas and hamletts, cc. and a little afterwards. 
 
 " That they order and make to come before them, which ai-e in each wapentake, 
 hundi-ed, or francliises, out of every intu-e Aolla eight men, and out of every half ^iUa 
 six men, and each hamlet four men, of the more sage and loyal men, and to declare 
 befor the Lords of tlios WUas, demie lilies, and hamlets. 
 
 " Villa intcgra et just a (a perfect and just villa) was the same -iritli Friburgiun, 
 wliich contained at least ten capital Burgesses' pledges ; and a Demi villa either 
 contained the half, or at least was less than a friburgum, but a Hamlet reached not 
 the half of a free Burgum, where five capital pledges were not to be found. 
 
 * Villa frequently signifies a town ; here, however, it is a village, and villula is the diminutive of 
 villa. 
 
 1,2
 
 76 Cftr H^isitorj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. " Villa, vill, ^vith the antient Saxons, seems to be taken Romaiio sensii pro prcedio 
 
 ' tinius aUcitjus in rtire cum idoneis tsdibus ad reponend. ejusdem fnictus honestato, 
 (in the Roman acceptation of the word, for some one's farm, with proper buildings to 
 lay up the produce,) but now pro midtarum mansionum connexione quod in oppidis 
 erpetendum, (for the connection of many mansions or buildings, which is to be sought 
 for in towns.) 
 
 " Services and Trihuts incident to Fees. — Tenere per Servitium (to hold 
 by service) is, when any man Servitium Do suo Superiori, (owes service to his 
 superior lord.) 
 
 Serjantia, Seijeanty. 
 
 MUitaris, Knights. 
 
 " This service is either . . ^ s^^j^annei. Service of Soccomani. 
 
 Elemosynariae, Elemosynaiy. 
 
 " Serjantia, amongst the feodal services, is the chief and most illustrious, which 
 owns no other patron but the kuig, and is either Grand or Petit Seijanty. 
 
 " 1. Grand Seijanty is servitium militare (knight's service), whereby any one 
 prcedia tenet de rege in capite, (holds of the king in chief,) on that condition, that 
 some honorable service be perfonned by the person of the man either by himself or 
 some other in his behalf, and is cald servitium militare, not because it is always 
 performed in the wars, but after maner of military service, it ckawes hceredis custodia, 
 maritagium et relevium, (wardsliip of the hen-, maritage, and relief), and of this 
 sort are, 
 
 " 1. To lead the king's army. 
 
 " 2. To caiTy signum vexillum, hastam in ejus acie, (to caiTy the king's standard, 
 banner, and spear in his anny.) 
 
 " 3. To undergo the office of the king's marschal, constabl, or cliampion. 
 
 "4. Vexillum regis infra 4 maria sequi, to attend the king's staudai'd into 
 [upon] 4 maria (seas). 
 
 -' Al degi-ees of peers, sc. Dukes, Marqs, Earls, Vicont, Barons, hoc tenentur 
 servitio, (are held by this service,) nor are the lesser dutyes and offices which are 
 performed to the king m the grand solemnity of the coronation, as 
 
 " 1. To bare the king's sword, or other ensigns. 
 
 " 2. To execut the office of senescal, camerarii (chamberlain), pincemts (butler), 
 and other illustrious munera. Ther are many Seijantys that respect private persons, 
 and not the king liimself, as those who ought to ride with the Lord from manor to 
 manor, and thes are cald Rad-knights or Radmans.
 
 Counti) palati'nt of 3lanra6tci-. 77 
 
 " 2. Petit Serjanty is muubered among those services that are caWed. Soccaffia, as chai'. 
 
 when one owe a yearly bond to bestow upon the long some smal tilings, ad appara- '_ 
 
 turn bellicum ; as Arcum, gladium, pugionem, hastam, chirothecas ferreas, calcaria 
 aurata, sagittam, falcem, a bow, a sword, a dagger, a lance, gauntlet, gilded spurs, 
 a barbed ai'row, or a quiver, etc. 
 
 " Radnights. — 1. Thes were manyfeodal vassals, who were attendant on horsback, 
 and solely to attend the Lord, and wayt upon him. Tlios Avere clients on horsback 
 who did wayt upon his Lord and his Lady by compact agreed upon, and did attend 
 upon liim as his guard cald by the Saxons Radknights, or attendants on horsback, 
 as such at this day we call Reteyners. 
 
 "2. But to greater Lordships, Baronys, and Manors, did antiently belong not only 
 Radmans, but likewis Dapiferi, SenescalU, Camerarij, Pincerrue, Coqui, Bordarij, 
 ViUari, Soc'tj et ancillcs. 
 
 " Servitmm MUitare. — Milites sen Liberi Tenentes de feodo militare debent, 
 (Knights, or Free Tenants by Knight's fee) ought, 
 
 " 1. Esse in custodia, (to be in wardsliip,) if under age, ad 21 years. 
 
 " 2. Relevare terrain, to pay relief after theu* farthere deues. 
 
 " 3. Homagium facere, to perform homage and fidelity to their Lord. 
 
 " 4. Maritari per dominum, to be marryd by the Lord's approbation. 
 
 " 5. Dotari de tertio, to be endowed with the tliirds of theii* husband's estate. 
 
 " 6. Soccagia prcestare, to perform their fealty and other dutys. 
 
 " 7. Primogenitus succedit in toto. Tlie eldest son succeeds in the whole 
 estate. 
 
 " Tlios milites of gi'eater peers are sayd to hold their gi-eat fees in feodo Hauber- 
 tico, and were to attend the king in liis wars, armed cap-e-pe. 
 
 " Or, in feodo Loricato, according to the custom* of Nonnandy, and were com- 
 manded to attend ad Banmim et Retrobannum, with perfect armes, i.e. a horse, his 
 coat of mayle, his target, his lance, sword, and helmet, in the king's domaines for 
 40 days, but of late times so long without the kingdom, and within, for 3 months, 
 at theii" own charg. And such attendance and furniture was said of thos that 
 found a Demi Lance. But whosoever in hostem bannitus fuerit, (was summoned 
 against the enemy,) and did not come accordingly, payd liis full Heribannmn, soil. 
 60s., or was to deliver liimself up ptro Vadio in the prince's service, until liis mult 
 was satisfied, and retrobannimi was a 2d summons to the warrs. 
 
 " Other milites hold ther fees in feodo scut agio, and cald thos that are of the 
 Valvasinorum, and held j)er servitmm scuti, sc. per scutagiimi, (namely, by scutage,) 
 and are not only cald scutiferi, but also armigeri quod Loricas induebant, and so 
 
 * Kuerden has written custody.
 
 78 Clje W^tovn of m 
 
 CHAP, were also cald Loricati, and were to attend tlie greater as Esquires, and beai- Ids 
 armour, thence cald arinigeri. 
 
 " For, observe in the Heriots of such Lords what provisions martial they provided 
 for such attendance, and if thos made defect m then- attend, they payd their scuta- 
 ffium to their Lord as a mulct for then* chsohecUonce. 
 
 " Lorica was annulis ferreis conserta, (the armour cald Lorica was composed of 
 iron rings,) and was cald Haubergeon quasi armatura milites, cald Hauerber, and 
 transferd to al coats, by French coats of maile. Likewise ther was another sort of 
 thos milites that held per feodum vexilare, (by banner-fee.) Such were Knight 
 Banerets. 
 
 " (Kniffht Banneret.) — Tliis knight was to appear in the army, ha\dng liis banner. 
 He shal be led betwixt 2 other kts. before the K. or General, bearing his penon of 
 armes in his owne hand, in the presence of the nobility and other captans. Then 
 the Herald shal say to the K. or Gen. 
 
 " May it pleas your Grace to understand, that this Gentleman hath shewed 
 " himself in the field, and for so doing desei'veth to be advanced to the degi'ee of 
 " a kt. baneret, as worthy from henceforth to beare a banner in the warrs." 
 
 " Tlien the Idng shal cause the points of liis penon or guydon to be rent, and the 
 new made shal go to Ids Tent between 2 other kts., the Trumpetts sounding al the 
 way before him, ther to receive (qu. to pay) fees, \ddel : to the Herald 31. 6s. 8d., or 
 if before he were a knight bachelor, then to pay also unto the Trumpetts 20s. Then 
 ndght at least 25 knights attend on Idra. 
 
 " A Baneret, and every Estate above him, may beai'e Ids Banner displayed, if he 
 be a Captain, and set Ids annes therein. 
 
 " A Banno Retrobanno. — Bannum, sometimes talcen for an EtUct or 
 Proclamation towai'd the wars, is an order to the contrary for sm'cessing of the 
 wars. 
 
 " Heribannum, Haribannum, — Here signifyeth Exercitus, a mulct, when 
 necessity compels Avars to be proclaimed against an enemy. 
 
 " Heribannitus. — Amongst the Franks and Gemians it was a law, when the 
 day and place were comanded, and accorchngly each man cald out to make Idmself 
 ready, the tenant according to the custom of Ids fee, prepai'ed with horse and arms, 
 lest for his absence he might be punished with the loss of Ids fee, al under the 
 penalty of both, wldcli if he payd not in servitium jrrincipis mancipali sunt donee 
 satisfaceret, (in the sendee of the Prince, Ids right and title should be suspended
 
 Coiinti) ^3alatmr of SLancaeitrr. 79 
 
 until he gives satisfaction.) The full heribaunum was only payd hy thos who 61s. chap. 
 aestimatus est (valued at £6.) and who were esteemed at 31s. payd only 30sh., and ' 
 
 2ls. 20sh., of liiin esteemed at 20s. paid only 5s. 
 
 " Arribannum, RETROBANNuai, was a mulct for being called ud bannum, 2nd 
 time, sc. iterato erocato (again called out.) 
 
 " SocMANRiA, or SOCMANNIA, — Is SO cald a Soca, qiue privilegium immunitatem 
 et libertatem significat, unde venit terrarum ilia tenura apud nos possessionis soccagia 
 dicta. Sumat hoc nomine qd. terra eo modo possessa sub certis scil. et nominatis servitijs 
 aqtiibus cum aliis oneribus immunis fit et libera, (from soca, wliich signifies privilege, 
 immunity, and liberty, whence comes that tenure of lands amongst us, called Soccage 
 of the possession. Land possessed in tliis manner, and under tliis name, is exempt 
 and free from certain named sendees, and other burdens.) 
 
 " Libera Socmanria, and all such tenants, L [Noii] possunt dare vel vendere 
 sed ad voluntatem Dni. (may [not] give or sell, but at the Lord's will.) 2. Nan 
 aUenare certa servitia, (may not alienate sei-vices that are ascertained.) 3. Averinm 
 masculum non vendere, (may not sell a male animal.) 4. Filiam non maritare nisi dat 
 domino merchetam, sc. 3s. 4d. not to marry then- daughter, unless they gift the lord 
 for merchet, 3s. 4d. 5. Filium omnino nonfacere clericum, (not to make their son a 
 clergyman.) 
 
 " Thes tenants are cald Free Socmanni. 1. They cannot give or sell without 
 the Lord's good liking, lest the sen ices due to the Lord be extinguished, the tenant 
 being reduced to poverty. 2. He cannot enfeof another by any other teniu-e or title 
 than he hath, lest the senices be so extinguished. 3. He or his heir cannot be made 
 a clergjnnau, nor take a religious vow, for then he cannot observe his fidelity to the 
 Lord for defect of freedom. 
 
 " Tributs incident to Knight Service Tenure. Heriot, or Herigate, 
 ought to be payd or rendered back unto the Lord, the Tenements being now 
 deprived of a person to attend the Lord in waiT, so that the tenant is now requii-ed 
 to deliver up Ms wariike furniture, the better to provide liimself in the Interim, and 
 not to be unfurnished; and when a new tenant is fit for service, to be reclaimed 
 unto liira. 
 
 " Warda. — Fees may return unto the Lord's hand for defect of service, as not 
 to go to batl with tiie Lord, or for breach of fidelity. 
 
 " Probatio iETATis, (Trial of Age.)* Assysa Com. Derby. Each person of the 
 Town of Derby, of the age of 15 years, according to the custome time out of mind, 
 may sell or give thefr tenement, and shal be esteemed of full age, when he knows 
 
 * Previous to the abolition of wards and liveries, it was customary to try whether a king's tenant 
 was of full age, by a writ of ^tate Probanda.
 
 80 Cftf ?Sie!toi-j) of tf)f 
 
 CHAP, how to count 20sli. or measiu-e cloath, or weigh merchandise, and the like custome 
 "• for a woman. Rot. 5 PI. de T. Pasc. Claus. G. E. I. 
 
 " AssiGNATio DoTis. — DotaUum est usuj'ructus partis terrcB et bonorum mariti 
 quam uxori propter miplias ut eo post suam mortem alatur. (DoAviy is the enjoy- 
 ment of a portion of tlie land and goods of the liusband given to the wife in conse- 
 quence of the marriage, that she may be maintained after his death.) 
 
 " Maritagium — is sayd to be that the pupil or ward depends upon his feudal 
 Lord for license to contract maryage or nuptialls Avitli any one. By reason of the 
 feudal Lord having the wardship of an Infant, ought not to have a husband intro- 
 duced to liis charg tliat might p'liaps be liis enemy; therefore he ought to give 
 license or approbation for sucli tenant to marry. 
 
 " Releuium. — Ingress or Introitus into the estate is when some honorable gift 
 or perfoiTuance that a new tenant of fuU age, if he has been ward after the death of 
 his ancestor, bestowed upon liis feodal, for obtaining of liis new inheritance ; becaxise 
 at the death of the tenant the lands or fees seemed decidisse se, to ha-v e been taken 
 into the Lord's hands until again redeemed with some small gift bestowed upon the 
 Lord in token of subjection, that it might be lawful for heirs to new tenements to 
 take up their a ill. 
 Feudal " Fealty. — Particular fealty amongst tho English doth individually concentrat 
 
 al tenui'es and dismissions for the shortest term, and now a days it is more spaiingly 
 exercised, yet it can by no means be released sine tenuree interitu, (mthout the 
 destruction of the tenure.) 
 
 Ancient Oath of Fidelity (St. Edw, Conf. cap. 35.) — 
 
 " Thou shalt swear from this day forward, thou shalt be faithful and loyal to our Sovereign 
 " Lord the King and his heirs, and thou shalt owe to him faith and loyalty, of life and limb, and 
 " al worldly honor, and thou shalt know neither of any evil or damage wliich thou to thy power 
 " shalt not prevent. So help thee God." 
 
 The Oath of Fidelity wliich all Tenants by reason of their fee shall take : — 
 
 " I swear by God's Evangelists, that from this day forward I will bear faith to him as a 
 " vassall to the Lord ; nor any thing that under the name of fealty is commanded of me will I 
 " disclose to others to his detriment, to the best of my knowledge." 
 
 " These six things included in the oath, according to those two verses, explaned. 
 
 " Incolume et tutum ; sicut utile semper honestum ; 
 " Possibile et facile ; et consule adfer opem." 
 
 " Homage — Is a solemn, strict, and humble kind of service, that a man, by 
 reason of liis tenure or fee, performeth to liis Lord. Each new successor into a 
 feodal inheritance, is bound witliin a yeai- to appear before liis Lord, and unarmed. 
 
 oaths.
 
 Countp palatine of Sanrastfr. 8i 
 
 bai-eheaded, and falling down upon his knees, and liis hands held together within the chai*. 
 
 hands of his Lord, sitting down as if he would worsliip him, shall speake to lum '. — 
 
 after tliis manner : — 
 
 " I become your man from tliis day forward, of life and limb, and terrene honour, I shal be 
 " true and faithfuU to you, and I shal bear faith to you for the lands I hold of you, saving the 
 " faith to our Soverain Lord the King and his heirs." 
 
 " This having spoken, the Lord kissetli him, and the vassall standeth up forth- 
 with. The tenant's hands being closed within the Lord's hands, signifyeth, as 
 Bracton saith, lib. 2 cap. 35., on the Lord's part protection, defending, waranty, and 
 on the Tenant's part reverence and subjection. 
 
 " Civil Services — Is L to a])pear at the Lord's Manor Court, amongst other Civic ser- 
 of his tenants. 2. To take recognizance of the affayres of the lordship. 3. Censum 
 reddere (to pay liis rents). 4. Auxilia, operas, consuetudines usitatas prcestare, 
 to pay liis rents, and to perform the aydes, boons, and usual customs. But care is to 
 be taken in the statute of 18 Edw. I. tliat none after that time shall give lands to be 
 held of hunself, but of tlie superior lord of the same, from the time that clause, scil. de 
 vie et haredibus meis (namely, of me and my heirs) Avas no longer to be found in 
 Charters. 
 
 " Marcheta Mulierum. — Merch, in the Cimbric language, signifyed a daugh- Marcheta. 
 ter or woman, and March, what is paid for the daughter's marriage. Alluding to 
 the custom of Scotland, that both noble servants and mercenary women payd ther 
 marchet — her maixhet shall be one heifer, or 3 slullings et rectum servieiiti, (and 
 what is proper for the servant). The daughter of a freeman, not Lord of a Manor, 
 shal pay one Cow or 6 slullings, servient. 3d. 2. Merchet of a Thain, 2 Cowes or 
 12 sh., servient. 12d. 3. Eai'l's daughter, 12 Cowes to the Queen. Skenaeus sayth 
 the Margat of a thein's or ogethern daughter, is twakids, or 12d. sc. 2 httle goats. 
 This marchet or mulct by litle and litle spread over England, upon the maiiag of a 
 bonchnan's daughter, but did not belong to any freeman's daughter.* 
 
 ScuTAGiUM, EscuAGE. — The service as equally due unto inferior Lords, as to 
 the King, obliging his tenants to attend the Lord, against the Welsh, Scotch, or 
 French, in his wars for a certain munber of days at liis own expense ; and if not, a 
 pecuniaiy ayd to be contributed, but who attended the K. were in pai-dons or par- 
 
 * Kuerden, or rather Spelman, speaks in allusion to the custom of Scotland, which is thus 
 described by Buchanan: Malcolm, who reigned in 1057, is said to have procured, at the entreaty of 
 his wife, that law of king Eugenius, by which nobles were entitled to sleep with the bride of his vassal 
 on the wedding night, and obtained for the husband the privilege of redeeming it by paying half a 
 mark of silver, a fine still called Mercheta Mulierum, payable to the lord on the marriage of a tenant's 
 daughter. — Hist. Rer. Scot. lib. vii. cap. 21. 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 82 €i)t 1l?i5torp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, doned, and were to have a Scutagium from tlie tenants. Tliey were scutiferi, and 
 ' attended not on the Lord in the field. 
 
 " Libera Socmanria. — The Oath of Fealty for Soccage Tenui-e, 17 Edw. IL 
 was as follows : — 
 
 " Hear me, my Lord K., I, A. B. will bear faith and loyalty to you for the lands I hold of 
 " you, and I will justly performe the Customes which I ought to do to you at times appointed. 
 " So help me God, and his holy Angels." And so shall kisse the Book. 
 
 " Socmanria, Coteria, Customarij. — Curtillum est parva curtis prcedictam 
 signat rusticam cum adscriptitis pr<Bdijs, (Curtillum is a small cm-tis (house) Tvith 
 lands attached to it.) Curtis est mansio ad inhalntandum cum tcrris et imssessionihus 
 pcrtinenfihus, (is a small house to dwell in, with lands and possessions belonging to 
 it.) And the inhabitants are cald cottarij or nativi, who have country habitations at 
 the Lord's pleasure, and ai"e cald customary tenants, and hold in Bondagio per 
 voluntatem curice seu manerij, (in Bondage by the will of the Court or Manor,) or in 
 villenage, wliich properly signify the service due from a villain, i.e. conditloni colo- 
 nario pro vel vide adscriptio glebes* 
 
 " Nativus — Is taken from liim that is born Servus. 
 
 " BoNDi — Are those qui pactionis vinculo se astrinxerunt in servitutem, (who 
 have tied themselves to servitude by a bond of agreement,) for Bondi, in Latin, 
 vinculum (a bond), Bondi are quasi astricti nuncupantur, (are so called as if bound.) 
 Extent. teiT. et tent Dom. D. Lane, 26. Edw. 3. Altcar. 
 
 " Villani — are those qui glehce ascripti, (who being ascribed, enrolled, or 
 registered of the glebe,) till the Lord's domains ; nor can depart from thence without 
 the Lord's pennission. They ai-e called villani from their Uying in the country, and 
 they for the most part are exercised in operibus sordidis. 
 
 " Nativi. — Most of the nati\i held a small quantity of land, thereupon cald 
 cotarij (cottagers), for wliich yeai-ly they paid a rent, as likewise jjro operibus falca- 
 tione pratormn Domini, (for performing services in mowing the Lord's meadows,) 
 and pro focali ad donium seu aulam Di, pro casis ad maremium pro cBdificiis domorum 
 aut castri dni, (for firing (fuel) to the house or haU [to bring] timber for the building 
 of the Lord's house or castle) ; neither cold they many theii* daughter, or suffer their 
 son to be shorn a monk — he shall be praepositus (perhaps overlooker, in this place) 
 of liis Lord's manor rustic, when he is elected thereunto, requiiing nothing for his 
 pay. They are to plow, haiTow, reape the Lord's corn, and bring it to liis barn, and 
 pay marchet for theii* daughter's marriage. 
 Drenches. " DRENCHES ad soccagium pertinent, (Drenches belong to soccage,) Domesday 
 Book, Cestrescer, (between Ribble and Mersey.) Rogerius Pictavensis tenuit 
 
 * Not intelligibly quoted.
 
 Coiintp ^aalatinr of aanrastrr. 83 
 
 Newton- Hnjtis manerii aliam terram XV homines quos Drenches vocabunt. chap. 
 
 In villa de Walinton, and to that Manor, belong 34 berewicks. It is manifest, L 
 
 that these Drengs were e grege rassallonnn et servorum domeslicorum, (of the 
 tribe of domestic vassals and serfs,) wliich at tliis day are called amongst the 
 Danes in the singular number Dreng, and in the plund Drenge. According to 
 Tacitus, Drenges were not inconsiderable persons. Each of them in Domesday 
 Book possessed a Manor.* Edwin de Sliii-burne, and some others, who were ejected 
 e terris suis (from then- lands), went to the Conqueror, and told liim that they, 
 neither before the conquest, nor afterwards, did oppose the King by then- counsel or 
 aid, but kept themselves in peace, and this tliey were ready to prove. Whereupon 
 the king caused an inquirendum to be made thi'oughout all England, whether it was 
 so ; and indeed it was proved. Whereupon the king commanded that they should 
 be restored to theu- lands, and doni[inatlon^es adeo integre et in pace nt unquam 
 habuerunt vel teniierunt ante conquestum suum. Et quod ipsi in poster umvocarentur 
 Drenges. (Domains as completely and peaceably as ever they had or held them before 
 the conquest. And that they (the owners) should for the future be called Drengs. 
 But it is to be understood, that all they and their ancestors, who were of the class 
 of Drengs, either held by Drengage tenure, or had dwelt upon then- paternal estates 
 previous to the coming in of the Normans. These Drenches held each a manor, called, 
 " Bereuuica, or Berewick. — Bereuuicha, Berewicka, Berewichus, Berewick, 
 all signify the same, and most of them a Manor, or rather part of a Manor, a corpore 
 dissitum (distinct from the body), Villida vel Hamleta Manerij seu Domiuij (the 
 village or hamlet of a Manor or Domain), a lesser Manor belonging to a gi'eater. 
 Berewichi were not placed in the heart of a Manor, but either on the confines, or 
 sometimes they were Manors disjoined. Sometunes they seemed to be Manors stiis 
 partibus absoluta (perfect in theii- own parts), and containing many carucates of land, 
 various ser\ices, many liheri homines, socmanni, BordariJ, vil Ian i, according to Domes- 
 day Book. And to some capital Manors belonged many Berewicks, Domes. ' Our 
 King held Chideminster with 18 Berewicks.' Domesday, Titulo Cestreshire (between 
 Ribble and Mersey). Rog. Pictavensis Newton; hiijus Manerij aliam terram 15 
 homines quos Drenches vocabunt pro 15 manerij tenebant, sed hijtis manerij Bere- 
 wicks erant, (Roger de Poictou held Newton. Fifteen men, whom they called 
 Drenches, held other land of tliis manor, for fifteen manors, but they were Bere- 
 wicks of this manor.) From wliich it appears, that splenchd Manors qiiee a majori 
 aliquo tenebantur, (wliich were held from some ancestor,) were called Berewicks, and 
 had sometimes within themselves maneria minorum, sc. Dominicorum sedes et 
 patrimonia, (manors of the smaller domams, viz: — seats and patiimonies.) 
 
 * See Newton Hundred, Domesday. 
 31 2
 
 84 CI)f Historp of tfje 
 
 CHAP. " Those fanners of these Berewicks resembled those foster-fathers, or niu'se- 
 
 " dads, as they are called in the country parts. The custom of Drengage tenure 
 being to provide meat and drink or food for their Lords, nurse cliildi-en, wash 
 horses and dogs, and for this duty might well, according to the Saxon language, be 
 styled Drenches, like nursing-fathers; and so might these Berewicks in some 
 measure resemble releefs. These Drenches were a kiud of Socmanni, having land 
 set apart for them as husbandmen, who proportionally, according to their tenements, 
 should render unto their Lord some fruits of then- labours, sc. corn, vestments, and 
 victuals, and other necessaries for tlieir Lord's use ; and in time of war, victuals and 
 clotliing for the soldiers, and were so freed from military services in their own 
 person, wliich gave occasion to the Conqueror to restore their lands, having not any 
 wise opposed biTn before or after the Conquest."* 
 
 * For the Capitanei Regni, and the offices and duties belonging to theii' fees, see Chapter III. ; 
 and for the Earls Palatine, the Counts Palatine, the Shyregereve or Sheriffs, see Chapter IV.
 
 Countj) |3alatiite of I.ancaeittr< 
 
 85 
 
 Cijap, Mh 
 
 Conduct of the Conqueror. — Unsuccessful revolt m the North against his authority.— York superior 
 to London (Note). — Proscriptions. — Early manners. — Renewed insurrection. — City and cathedral 
 of York destroyed. — William marches again to the North. — Fate of Earls Morcar and Edwin. — 
 Tremendous infliction.— Royal grant.— The Conqueror's dealings with the clergy.— Domesday 
 
 survey. How formed. — ^The name of Lancashire not in the Domesday Book. — Perpetual use of 
 
 this memorable survey. — Latin and English versions of it. — Observations of the Domesday Book. — 
 
 ■jlianes. Ethlino-s. — Aldermen.— The honor of Lancaster. — ^The Norman barons of Lancashire. — 
 
 Their stations. Pedigree of Roger de Poictou, the first Norman baron of the honor. — The 
 
 honor forfeited by Roger. — Conferred on Ranulf, the third earl of Chester. 
 
 CHAP. 
 III. 
 
 O sooner was the Norman conqueror seated on the 
 throne of England, than he hegan to exercise the 
 power of conquest with all the rigour wliicli the Conduct 
 jealousy of liis own niind, and the insubordinate queror. 
 disposition of his new subjects, dictated. The doc- 
 trines inciUcated by Macluavel, in liis instructions to 
 conquering princes, were practised by William of 
 Normandy in England, five centuries before they 
 were promulgated by the Italian poUtician. He left 
 no art untried, to root out the ancient nobility, to 
 
 curb the power of the established clergy, or to reduce the commonalty to the 
 
 lowest state of penury and dependence. 
 
 Earls Morcar and Edwin, who had so successfully resisted the tyrannical power Unsuc- 
 
 rp • cessful re- 
 
 of earl Tosti, were among the first to revolt from the yoke of the tyi-ant. 1 o give voit in the 
 eflFect to their resistance, they raised forces in Lancashire and Cheshire, as well 
 as in the other northern counties, and fixed upon the celebrated Northumbrian 
 capital, the city of York, then amongst the fii-st cities in the kingdom, superior even
 
 86 
 
 €l)t W^tOYv of tht 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 III. 
 
 Proscrip- 
 tiuns. 
 
 Early 
 manners. 
 
 to London,* as their strong hold. This alanning revolt the Conqueror hastened to 
 subdue ; and such was the violence of his rage, that, on liis way to the north, he 
 swore repeatedly, by the " splendour of God," that he would not leave a soul of the 
 insui'gents alive. The strength of the Saxon barons was increased by the junction 
 of a hu'ge force under Betliwm, king of North Wales. Preliminary to liis amval, 
 WUHam had suspended Morcar, and appointed Robert de Comyn, a Norman baron, 
 to the eai-ldom of Northiunberland. The orders given to Robert were, to subdue 
 the refractory spiiit of the people, without regard to the shedding of blood ;* and a 
 guard of seven huncked men was placed around his person. The intrepid Northmn- 
 brians, roused by a sense of theii- own wrongs, and by the incUgnity offered to the 
 eai-1 Morcar, rose in open insurrection, and put to death the Norman, with every 
 incUvidual composing his guard. The first measure taken by William, on liis arrival 
 at York , was, to offer mercy to the insurgents, on then- submission to liis authority ; 
 and the chiefs, finding themselves unequal to contend Avith the power that was 
 brought against them, accepted the proffered clemency. The eai'ls Morcar and 
 Edwin, accompanied by Gospatric, and Edgai* Atheling, theii' lawfid prince, fled into 
 Scotland under the protection of king Malcolm. 
 
 Unmindfid of that general amnesty wluch he had offered, the Conqueror directed 
 the most sevei'e proscription against the Saxon inliabitants of these regions, hundreds 
 of whom fell under the cruel inflictions of the Normans. The Saxon Clironicle, in 
 recording the iiitercom'se which arose between the members of the fugitive English 
 nobles and the Scotch court, exhibits a striking instance of the manners of the 
 times. " Then," say the clu'oniclers, " began king Malcolm to yearn after the cliild's 
 sister Margaret to wife, (that is, the sister of Edgar Atheling,) but Atheling and all 
 his men long refused ; and she also herself Avas averse, and said, that she would 
 neither have him, nor any one else, if the supreme Power would gi-ant, that she, in 
 her maidenhood, might please the Almighty Lord, Avitli a carnal heart in this short 
 life, in pure continence. The king, however, earnestly urged her brother, till he 
 answered. Yea. And indeed he durst do no otherways, for they were come into his 
 kingdom * * * * Tlie kmg, therefore, received her, though it was against 
 her will, and was pleased with her manners, and thanked God, who in liis might 
 
 * " Ye shaul understaund, that in those dayes the Cyte of London had much building from 
 Ludgate towards Westminster, and little or non wher these or part of the Cyte is now, except that in 
 diverse places stoode housing ; but they stoode out of ordere. So many Townes or Cytes as York, 
 Canterbury, and diverse othere in Englande, passed London for buylding in those dayes, but after 
 the conquest it increased, and shortly aftere passed all others." — J. Haudynge, floruit temp. 
 Hen. V. 
 
 * Wal. Hemingford, Canon of Gisburgh.
 
 Couutj) palatine of i.anrasitn% 87 
 
 had given him such a match. He wisely bethought himself, as he was a prudent chap. 
 man, and turned liimself to God, and renounced all impiety ; accordingly, as the " 
 
 apostle Paid, the teacher of the Gentiles, saith, ' Salvabitur vu- infidelis per mulierem 
 fidelem; sic et muUer iniideUs per \ii-um fidelem,' &c. Tliis queen aforesaid 
 perforaied many useful deeds in tliis land to the glory of God, and also in her royal 
 estate she well conducted herself, as her natui-e was. Of a faithfid and nohle king 
 was she sprung. Her father was Edward AtheUng, son of king Edmund ; and her 
 maternal kindi'ed goeth to the emperor Henry, who had the sovereignty over Rome ; 
 and from tliis man-iage a long race of Scottish Idngs of Great Britain, lineally 
 descended." 
 
 To guard against a sui-prise, the Conqueror caused numerous castles to be 
 erected in the north of England ; and in the city of York two castles sprung up 
 under the direction of the Normans. These precautious were not confined to inland 
 fortifications; they extended also to the coast, and the castles of Lancaster and of a.d.ioto. 
 Liverpool, on the Lune and the Mersey, were both erected diu-ing the early part of Lancaster 
 the Conqueror's reign, by Roger de Poictou, one of the most cUstinguished amongst pooi^'cas" 
 the Norman bai-ons. Notwithstanding the severity practised by William on the g^f '^''*'^'" 
 suppression of the first insurrection, he allowed the earls Morcar and Edwin to 
 retain their estates in Lancasliire, Yorksliii-e, and Cheshire, though he extended the 
 rigours of confiscation over the lands of many of their followers. The forfeitures, 
 attainders, and other acts of violence, soon produced another insurrection. The 
 inhabitants of York, rising in arms, slew Robert Fitz-Richard, the governor,* and Renewed 
 besieged in the castle WilUam Mallet, on whom the command had devolved. At tion. 
 this jmicture two of the sons of king Sweyne, A\itli two huncbed and forty ships, 
 anived from Demnark, under the command of duke Osborne, brother to the king. 
 Tlie troops disembarked on the bank of the Humber, where they were met by Edgar 
 AtheUng, and eaids Waltheof and Gospatric, Anth large le\ies of Northumbrians 
 from Yorksliire, Lancasliire, Cumberland, and Durham, " riding and marcliing," 
 says the Saxon Chi-onicle, " full menily, towards York." 
 
 The Nonnan governor, that he might the better provide for the secmity of the a.d.iogo. 
 citadel, and prevent the insurgents from finding a lodgment under the walls, set fu"e The city of 
 to the subiu-bs. The consequences of this liazardous expedient Avere most tenific. stioyed. 
 The wind wafted the flames to the city, and the conflagi'ation spread with such 
 uncontrollable fury, that a great number of the houses were consumed. The ancient 
 cathedi-al, amongst the most renowned in the kingdom, was burnt to the ground ; and 
 with it was consumed, to the in-eparable loss of learaing, the celebrated library, accu- 
 mulated by the learned Alcuin, about the year 800, under the auspices of arch- 
 
 * Order. Vital, p. 512.
 
 88 Clje ?i)l£itOl-J) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, bishop Eebert. On this fatal day, the ancient splendour of York was obscured, and 
 III . 
 
 ' the sun of that city's glory has never since shone forth with its former brightness. 
 
 The enraged inhabitants, incited to desperation by this incendiary act, rose against 
 the governor ; and, being joined by the Danes, and the insurgents from the adjoin- 
 ing countiy, who were already at the gates, they carried tlie castle by assault, and 
 put all the garrison, consisting of tlu'ee thousand men, to the sword. The flame of 
 insurrection, lighted up amongst the brave Northimibrians, spread into other parts of 
 the kingdom ; but the king, well aware that the most imminent danger existed in the 
 William counties of Yorkslm-e and Lancasliire, determined to march once more against them, 
 again to and, placing himself at the head of a 2)owerful ai-my, he left London, to take his 
 revenge upon the insurgents. By common consent, earl Waltheof was appointed 
 governor of the city of York by the Saxon biu'ons, while the Danish general took 
 up his intrencliments between the Humber and the Trent, in order to keep the 
 Normans in check. 
 
 On the arrival of WUliam and liis army before York, he sent his summons to the 
 governor, offering liim clemency, if he sm-rendered promptly ; but threatening the 
 most terrible vengeance, if he attempted to witlistand liis authority. 
 
 Finthng himself placed between two armies, the Danes and the Anglo-Saxons, 
 he had recourse to an expedient; and, by tlie force of bribes offered to Osborn, the 
 Danish general, accompanied by a permission to plunder the people on the coast, 
 whom he had come to protect, the perfidious Dane was induced to re-embark, and to 
 retiu-n with his aimy to liis own countiy. Deserted by his allies, Waltheof was left 
 to rely solely upon the valour and constancy of his own men, and upon such supplies 
 as they could obtain secretly from the surrouncUng country. AVilliam pushed on the 
 siege with Aigour, and was not less vigorously resisted. A breach ha\Tng been made 
 in the walls by the engines of the besiegers, the governor himself being a man of 
 prodigious might and strength, stood single in the breach, and cut off the heads of 
 several Normans who attempted to enter.* For six months the siege was sustained, 
 and the struggle was sanguinaay and exliausting ; and it was not till William had 
 reinforced the besieging army again and again, that he gained possession of the 
 city. Famine at length effected what force could not achieve; and William not only 
 promised forgiveness to the governor, but also the most reasonable tenns to liis troops, 
 on the condition of surrender. Under the influence of that atlmiration which bravery 
 inspu-es amongst the brave, the Conqueror gave to Waltheof liis niece Judith, 
 daughter of the countess Albemarle, in maniage, and created lum also earl of 
 Northumberland. The reconciliation was only temporary. William, impatient of 
 oiiposition, brought the gallant earl to the block, on account of another conspiracy, 
 
 * William of Malmsbury.
 
 Comitp ^3alatinc of Sanragtn-, 89 
 
 and this was the first nobleman whose life was terminated in England by deca- chap. 
 pitation. 
 
 Eai-ls Morcar and Edwin, no longer able to sustain their own dignity, or Fate of 
 to preserve the public rights, quitted the seats of their eai'ldoms in Northum- rarand"'' 
 bria and Mercia. Edwin, in attempting to make his escape into Scotland, 
 was betrayed by some of liis followers, and killed by a party of Nonnans, to the 
 deep affliction of the men of Lancasliii-e and Cheshu-e, where the ardour of his 
 patriotism, and his personal accomplishments, had gained all heai-ts; while earl 
 Morcai- was throwii into prison, and consigned to future obscurity. Lucia, the sister 
 of the earls Morcar and Ed^rin, was presented in marriage to Ivo Talbois, the first 
 baron of Kendal, who came over -with the Conqueror. Tliis baron was distin- 
 guished by the favour of his prince, who granted to him that part of Lancasliire 
 which adjoins to Westmoreland, as well as the confiscated lands of his wife's brother 
 in Lincolusliii'e. 
 
 William viewed the inhabitants of this district as the most fonrddable Tremen- 
 enemies to liis power; and in order to satiate liis rage, and to prevent further flictio'n. 
 resistance, he razed the city of York to the ground; and with it fell many of 
 the principal nobUity and gentry, as well as the humbler inhabitants. Nor did 
 his implacable vengeance rest here ; he laid waste the whole of the fertile countiy 
 between the Hiunber and the Tees, a distance of sixty miles, so that, for nine 
 years afterwards, neither spade nor plough was put hito the gi'ound.* If any of 
 the wi-etched inhabitants escaped, they were reserved for a more lingering fate, 
 being forced through famine to eat dogs and cats, horses, and even human flesh. 
 So unsparing was the destniction, that the inhabitants could scarcely recognize 
 then- o^vn lands ; and when the Domesday Book was compiled, though the survey 
 was not conunenced till ten years afterwards, many townships remained uncul- 
 tivated, wliich is the reason why Wasta so often occurs in the Domesday .Survey 
 of Yorkshu-e. In that part of tliis ancient document which concerns Lancasliii-e, 
 the returns are principally made, though not under the head of a distinct county ; 
 and a presumption naturally arises, that the Conqueror's severity was practised 
 with less rigour between the Mersey and the Duddon, than between the Humber 
 and tlife Tees. In the north of Lancashire, included within the ancient hmits 
 of Richmondshu-e, several vacancies are found; and in the south-eastern pail 
 of the district, between the Kibble and the Mersey, the scanty return of names 
 may be accounted for, by the vicinity of that part of Salfordsliii-e to the devoted 
 county of York. 
 
 * Malms, p. 103. Knighton. Ingulf, p. 79. Sim. of Diir. p. 199. 
 VOL. I. jj
 
 90 
 
 Cftf ?}isttirp of tbe 
 
 CHAP. 
 III. 
 
 Royal 
 L'rant. 
 
 An act of state, issued by the Conqueror while he was in this part of the king- 
 dom, is alike curious for the freedom of style, and the comprehensive brevity of the 
 conveyance. The gi'ant is in these words : — 
 
 " i^go ©ulirlinuis, rognomtnr ^Sastarlruis, tro rt ronrrtio tifit ^latto, nrpoti 
 mro, Ijritanir rontitt, ft i)rrrtitliu0 tui0 in prrprtuum, omnrsi iUiie Uillae 
 rt tnra0, que nuprr furruiit romttte iSiiluini in iSIioraeriria ; rum forttis 
 ittelitum rt rrrlrsiiie, rt altisi lifirrtatttme rt ron0urtittrtnttiu0, ita liftrrr 
 rt i)cnorifirr strut i&rni l£liU)tnu$ ra truuit.— dat. in oftsitiionr roram 
 riDttatr ijdorari." 
 
 m iiiiin 
 
 
 In this way nearly two hunch'ed manors and to\vaisliips were transfeiTed, by a dash 
 of the pen, and an impression of the seals,* from the unfortunate Edwin earl of 
 Mercia, to Alan earl of Britany, and afterwards of Richmond. 
 
 It is due to the fidelity of lustory to observe, that tlie epithet " Ego Gulielmus, 
 cognomine Bastardus," casts a suspicion on the authenticity of this grant, tliough 
 adopted by Camden and Sir William Dugdale, as well as by all our early antiqua- 
 ries, and the learned Roger Gale does not hesitate to pronounce it a monkish fabri- 
 cation.-j- In confinnation of the uiternal evidence of forgerv, it will be remarked, 
 
 * It was the practice of the Conqueror to use two seals, one of them indicating his sovereign 
 power in England, and the other his ducal authority in Normandy. 
 
 t Et in lautre Tanfeld devant le Conquest, avoit Torkil une manoir, Ic quel apres le temps dii 
 Conquest avoir et tenoit Alan Fergant, Conte de Bretagne et de Richmonde, par voie de Conquest, 
 a soit quod onque, nulle chastelle estoit en lieu ou ore est Richmonde assise : mais le lieu estoit 
 appeller les terres de Fountenay, avec tout le territoire par les boundes ou la villa est au present. 
 Apres Alan son frere et heir founda et edifia une chastel et lappella Richemont. — Gale Hon. de Rich. 
 App. p. (31.
 
 Counti) ^aalatiiif of ILaiuasitfr. 91 
 
 that the alleged act of state gTaiits the lands " ita libere ct honorifice" as the chap. 
 fonuer possessor had them, though, during the Saxon period, they had been L_ 
 
 geldahle, and they were now exonerated from all burthens. The conduct of the 
 Conqueror towards the English priesthood had probably stunulated the original 
 inventor of the document to resent the severity practised towards liis order, by 
 attacliing a tenn of opprobrium to his name ; and the error has been perpetuated 
 by the supposition, that the first earl Avas the same person as Alan Fergeaunt, dulie 
 of Bretagne. The frequent occurrence of the name of Alan, which appears thrice in 
 the pedigree of this family, within two generations, has tended materiidly to increase 
 the perplexity; but, accorchng to Gale, Alan Fergeaunt liad no interest in the 
 earldom of Richmond. He had, however, a brother Eudo, who had six sons, all of 
 whom, excepting Geofiiey, the eldest, appears either to have accompanied the 
 Conqueror in liis expedition to England, or, being then too young, subsequently 
 partook of liis bounty, or that of their elder brethren. 
 
 Whatever suspicion may attach to the grant made to the Earl of Richmond, it is 
 clear that the Conqueror placed all the land of the kingdom imder that system of feudal 
 tenure, which had already been partially introduced under the Saxon dynasty. These 
 possessions, Avith very few exceptions besides the royal demesnes, were divided into 
 baronies, wliich were conferred, Avith the reservation of stated services and payments, 
 on the most considerable of the Normans. The great barons, Avho held of the crown, 
 shared out a large part of the lands to other foreigners, avIio bore tlie names of 
 knights or vassals, and who paid tlieu' lord the same duty and submission in peace 
 and in war, which he himself OAved to liis sovereign. The whole kingdom contained 
 about seven hundred cliief tenants, and 60,215 knights' fees;* and as none of the 
 English Avere admitted into the fii-st rank, the few who retained theii' landed posses- 
 sions were glad to be received under the protection of some poAverful Norman baron, 
 though at the cost of an oppressive burden on those estates which they had received 
 as a free inheritance from tlieii* ancestors.f 
 
 Having broken the spiiit of the laity, the Conqueror now proceeded to aj^propriate The Con- 
 a large share of the enormous property of the clergy to his own use. The first step deaiTn'gs 
 he took for the attainment of this object, was to seize not only all tlie richesj and dergy!'*' 
 valuable effects Avhich the English had lodged in the religious houses tliroughout the 
 kingdom duruig the troubles; but even the charters, sluines, and treasures belonging 
 to the monasteries themselves, resolving at the same time that none of the English 
 
 * Order Vitalis, p. 523. 
 
 t The drenches mentioned in the Domesday Book, " Newton Hundred," were probably of this 
 number. 
 
 t Sim. of Dur. Ann. of Waver. Chron. Spot. p. 114.
 
 92 €i)t li£it£ll|) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP monks or clergy should ever be preferred to any of the vacant sees, and that those 
 ' who already possessed them should l)e stripped of then- dignities. In consequence 
 of tliis resolution, Stigand, ai'chbishop of Canterbury, was removed fi-om his episcopal 
 office on various groundless pretences, but without the colour of justice. Adch'ng 
 cruelty to injustice, William imprisoned the deprived prelates, and kept them in con- 
 finement all the rest of then* lives. In our province, the Idng, during the feast of 
 Pentecost, named Thomas, a canon of Baieux, to the see of York. The principles he 
 had adopted in Normandy he introduced into England, and seemed quite ready to 
 act upon the determination he had made in the former country, namely, " that if any 
 monk, who was liis subject, should dispute liis will, he would cause liim to be hanged 
 forthwith." In Saxon tunes, the clergy, not only in this province, but througliout tlie 
 nation generally, held their lands and possessions by a different tenure from the 
 laity, called Frank- Almolgne, subject to no secular service, to no rents or imposi- 
 tions, but such as they consented to lay upon themselves in their councils or sjaiods, 
 which privilege they had extorted, as we have already seen, from the superstition of 
 Ethelwulf.* Their estates, derived fi'om the bounty of the Saxon kings and their 
 nobles, were so gi-eat, that they possessed more than a third pai't of the kingdom ; 
 the computation being that of the 60,215 knights' fees, the clergy held 28,015,'|' 
 exclusive of their plate, jewels, and various other treasures. With such enormous 
 riches at their disposal, they became unduly powerful ; and William, jealous of that 
 power, and suspicious of their fidelity, reduced all their lands to the common tenure 
 of knight's service and barony. The new prelates were required to take an oath of 
 fealty, and to do homage to the king, belbre they could be achnitted to their tempo- 
 ralities ; they were also subject to an attendance upon tlie king in liis court baron, to 
 follow him in his wars with then" knights and quota of solcHers, to pay liim their usual 
 aids, and to perfonn all the other services incident to the feudal tenures. Tlie 
 clergy remonstrated most bitterly against this new revolution, equalled only by tlie 
 revolution which took place in church property and ecclesiastical power, in this 
 country, five centuries afterwards; but WUliam, like Henry, was inexorable, and 
 consigned to prison or to banishment all who opposed liis will. Wliile the power 
 of the clergy was thus curtailed, that of the barons, who were now cliiefly Nor- 
 man, was increased. In theii- manors they had absolute jurisdiction; tliey gave 
 laws and achiimistered justice in their courts baron to their vassals; and suits 
 between the tenants of (hfferent lords were tried in their hundred, or county 
 courts, whUe the king's courts took cognizance only of those between the barons 
 themselves. I 
 
 * See chap. ii. p. 44. t T. Sprott. Chron. p. 114. 
 
 I Carte's Hist. vol. i. p. 421.
 
 Coiintp palattnr of aamaster. 93 
 
 By a synod held in Loudon, the precedency of the hishops was settled, accordin"f chaf. 
 
 Ill 
 to the priority of then- consecration, except ^rith regard to such sees as had particular '__ 
 
 pri\-ileges annexed to them. Hitherto the hishops had resided in small towns or a.d. 1075. 
 
 \-illages, for the purpose, as was alleged, of sacred retirement ; hut at this synod it 
 
 was determined, that the see of Litchfield, in Avhich chocese the county of Lancaster 
 
 was at that time included, should be removed to Chester. It was now ordained for 
 
 the first time, " that no bishop, abbot, or clergpuau, should judge any person to the 
 
 loss of life or limb, or give lus vote or countenance to any otlier for that pui-pose;'' 
 
 and to comply with tliis canon, tlie prelates have ever since mthdi-awn from the 
 
 House of Lords in such cases, satisfnng themselves with entering a protest in favour 
 
 of their right, mthout exercising it.* 
 
 The actirity of William's mind suggested to him a great national work, wliicli xiie 
 ^vill be held tluoughout all ages as a redeeming feature in his life, and mtII serve to sur"e^^^ 
 ti-ansmit his memory with veneration to posterity. " After the syiiod," says the 
 Saxon Clu-ouicle, " the king held a large meeting, and very deep consultation \rith 
 the council, about this laud ; how it was occupied, and by what sort of men. Then 
 sent he liis men over all England into each sliu'e, coimnissioning them to find out — 
 ' How many hundreds of hides were in the shii-e, what lands the king liimself had, 
 and what stock upon the land ; or what dues he ought to have by the year from the 
 shii'e.' Also, he commissioned them to record in wiiting, ' How much land liis 
 ai'chbishops had, and liis diocesan bishops, and his abbots, and his eai'ls ; what or how 
 much each man had, who was an occupier of land in England, either in land or 
 stock, and how much money it was worth.' So very narrowly, mdeed, cUd he com- 
 mission them to trace it out, that there was not one single hide, nor a yard of land ; 
 nay, moreover, (it is shameful to tell, thougli he thought it no shame to do it,) not 
 even an ox, nor a cow, nor a swine, was there left, that was not set down in his 
 writ. And all the recorded particulars were afterwards brought to liim." 
 
 That uotliing might be wanted to render this record complete, and its authority How 
 pei-petual, the survey was executed by NoiTuan commissioners, called " the king's '^"'■'"*^'*- 
 justiciai-ies," consisting of nobles and bishops, actmg under royal appointment, and 
 associated, probably, ^ith some of the principal men of each sliii-e. The inquisitors, 
 upon the oaths of the sheriffs, the lord of each manor, the presbyters of every chmxli, 
 the reves of every huncbed, the bailiffs and sLx villains of every A-illage, were to 
 inquii-e into the name of the place, Avho held it in the time of Idng Edwai-d, who was 
 the present possessor, how many liides in the manor, how many carucates in 
 demesne, how many homagers, how many villains, how many cotarii, how many 
 servi, what free-men, how many tenants in soccage; what quantity of wood, how much 
 
 * Brist. Monast. p. 33.
 
 94 CI)f W^tovv of tl)r 
 
 CHAP. mca<low and pasture, what mills and fish-ponds ; how much added or taken away, 
 ' wliat tlie gi'oss value in king Edward's time, and how much eacli free-man or soc- 
 man had or has. All this was to he triply estimated : first, as the estate was held in 
 the time of the Confessor; then, as it was bestowed by king William; and, tliirdly, 
 as its value stood at the formation of the survey. The jurors were moreover to state, 
 whether any advance could be made in the value. 
 
 The exact time occujiied in taking the whole survey of the kingdom is differently 
 stated by historians; hut tlie probability is, that it was commenced A.D. 1080; and it 
 is evident, from the insertion at the end of the second volume, that it was completed 
 in 1086.* The following passage from the register of St. Mary, Worcester, pre- 
 served amono'st the Cotton MSS. exhibits the manner in which the returns were 
 collected and made : — 
 
 " In vicecomitatu Wiraceastre habet S. Maria de Wimceastre unum hundi-e- 
 dum, quod vocatur Osvaldeslaii, in quo jacent 300 hida;, &c. Hoc testimonium 
 totus vicecomitatus Wiraceastre, dato sacramento jusjurandi firmavit, exhortante et 
 adlaborante piissuno et prudentissimo patre D. Wolstano episcopo tempore regis 
 WUlielmi senioris, coram principibus ejusdem regis, Remigio scilicet Lincolniensi 
 episcopo, et comite Walters Giffardo, et Henrico de Feriers, et Ada fi'atre Eudonis 
 dapiferi regis, qui ad inquirendas et describendas professiones, et consuetudines 
 tam regis quam principum suormn, in hac provincid, et in plurimis aliis, ab ipso 
 rege destinati sunt eo tempore quo totam AngUam rex describi fecit, &c." 
 The name It is remarkable, that in this survey the name of Lancasliire does not occur ; but 
 shire not that part of it which lies between the Ribble and the Mersey is surveyed in Cheshire, 
 day."""'^' wliile the northern part of the county, incluchng Amounderness and the Hundred 
 of Lonsdale, north and south of the Sands, is comprehended in Yorksliire. It has 
 already been stated, that Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Dur- 
 ham, are not described in the Domesday Book ; but the south of Westmoreland, and 
 part of Cumberland, are included in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The devasta- 
 tion made by the Conqueror in the three most northern counties of England, 
 rendered it impossible to take an exact survey of that (Ustrict ; and the retura in 
 Amounderness, that " sixteen of the villages in this hundred have few inhabitants, 
 (how many is not known,) and tlie rest are waste," sufficiently indicates that the 
 hand of the spoiler had lain heavy upon this Hundred. The absence of a return for 
 
 * Anno Millesimo Octogesimo Sexto. Ab 
 Incarnatione Dni. Vigesimo V° Regni 
 Wifti Facta Est Ista Descriptio. Non 
 Solvm P Hos Tres Comitatvs. Sed &ia 
 ¥ Alios
 
 Coimtp palatine of iLanrasitrr. 95 
 
 the county of Diu'ham has been accounted for, from the lands between the Tees and chap. 
 
 . . . . HI. 
 
 the Tyne having been conferred by Allied on the bishop of the see, and from this ' 
 
 county being, at the coming in of the Conqueror, a reputed county palatuie. These 
 do not appear to afford sufficient reasons for the omission. The property of the 
 bishops, as tenants in capile, in other counties, is specified, and Cliesliii-e is mcluded 
 in the survey, thougli that county, ajs well as Diuliam, was at the time a county 
 palatine. Lancasliu'e had not at the Conquest attained to tliis distinction, though 
 Roger de Poictou is stated to have exercised jjalatinate privileges. 
 
 By the Domesday return, the king acquired an exact knowledge of all the Use of 
 possessions of the crown. It furnished liim with the means of ascertaining boX '^^ 
 the strength of the country, pointed out the possibility of increasing the revenue 
 in certain districts, and formed a perpetual register of appeal for those wliose titles 
 to then- estates might in future be tUsputed. This purpose it has served ever since 
 its completion ; and even now, at the end of nearly eight hundred years, such is the 
 credit of this document, that if a question arises whether a manor, parish, or lands, 
 be ancient demesne, the issue must be tried by tliis book, whence there is no appeal. 
 The two volimies which contain the survey are now, by common consent, called xhe name. 
 Domesday Book, from Dome (census), and Boc (book). It has, however, borne 
 other designations, and has been known as Rotulus Wmtonice, Scriptura Thesauri 
 Regis, Liber de Wintonia, and Liber Regis. Sir Henry Spelman adds. Liber Judi- 
 ciarius, Censualis Anglic, Anglice Notitia et Luslratio, and Rotula Regis. 
 
 A document so unportant cannot be presented mth too much particularity in a 
 County History, and the following literal transcript from this " Book of JucUcial 
 Verdict," so far as it regards the county of Lancaster, is therefore accompanied by a 
 translation.* 
 
 * The Latin version is a copy from the Domesday Book, pubHshed under tiie direction of his 
 Majesty's Commissioners of Public Records ; and the English translation is from the pen of the 
 Rev. William Bavedwen, with a few verbal corrections.
 
 Ci)e ligtoi-p of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 "I- ' INT RIPA 7 MERSHAM.* 
 
 Terra infra Scripta Tenvit Rogerp pictavensis. 
 
 JNTER RlPA 7 MeRSHAM. In DeRBEI HVNDRET. 
 
 ^ BI Habuit Rex Edward^ un CD Derbei nominatO. 
 
 "• ", 
 
 cu . VI . Bereuuicti . Ibi . irii . hidae . Tra . c . xv . car . Foresta 
 
 . II . leuu Ig . 7 una lat . 7 aira Accipitris. 
 
 V ctred^ tent) . vi . Maner . Rabil Chenulueslei . Cherchebi 
 
 Crosebi . Magele . Achetun . Ibi . 11 . hidjE 
 
 SiluEB . II. leuu Ig . 7 lat . 7 II . airs accipitr. 
 
 Dot teneb Hitune 7 Torboc . Ibi . i . hida q'eta ab omi csuetud praet 
 
 geld . Tra . e . iiii . car . Valb . xx . sot. l^ Reddeb , iiii . solid. 
 
 h H I •, h 
 
 Bernulf teneb Stochestede . Ibi . i. uirg trse 7 dimid caruc trae. 
 Stainulf tenb Stochestede . Ibi . i . virg tre . 7 dimid car tre . Vtb 
 Quinq^, taini tenb Sextone . Ibi . i . hida . Valb . xvi . sol. [mi . sot. 
 Vctred^ tenb Chirchedele . Ibi dimid hida q'eta ab omi csuetud 
 pt geld . Valb . X . solid. [viii . sot. 
 
 Winestan teneb Waletone . Ibi . 11 . car tre 7 iii . boiiats . Valb 
 Elmger tenb Liderlant . Ibi dimid hida . Valb . viii . sot. 
 Tres taini teneb Hinne p . in . CD . Ibi dimid hida . Valb . viii . sot. 
 Ascha tenb Torentun . Ibi dimid hida . Valb . viii . sot. 
 
 ^ Ibi dimid' hida. 
 
 Tres taini tenb mele .p.m. maner.|Valb . viii . sot. 
 
 h '- h 
 
 Vctred tenb Vluentune . Ibi . 11 . car trae . 7 dimid leuu silus. 
 
 II ^ 
 Edelmund^ teneb Esmedvne . Ibi una [Valb . lxii . den. 
 
 car trae . Valb . xxxii . denar. [viii . sot. 
 
 Tres taini teneb Alretune . p . in . CD . Ibi dimid hida . Valb 
 
 Vctred tenb Spec . Ibi . 11 . caruc trae . Valb . lxiiii . denar. 
 
 Quattuor radmans tenb Cildeuuelle p . iiii . CD . Ibi dimid 
 
 hida . Valb . viii . sot . Ibi pbr erat hns dimid car trjE in elemos. 
 
 VIbt tenb Wibaldeslei . Ibi . 11 . caruc trge . Valb . lxiiii . den. 
 
 Duo taini teneb Vuetone p . 11 . CD . Ibi . i . car trje . Vlb . xxx . den. 
 
 * This Survey is inserted under the head Cestrescire, fo. 269 b.
 
 Coimtj) palatine of 3lanfa£{tti% 97 
 
 CHAP 
 
 ROGERDEPOICTOU iil" 
 
 HELD THE FOLLOWING LANDS BETWEEN THE RIBBLE AND THE MERSEY. 
 
 In Drrtiy itt?untirrti. 
 
 King Edward (the Confessor) had there one manor called Derbei, with six Bere- 
 nicks. There are four hides, land to (or sufficient to employ) fifteen ploughs ; a 
 forest two miles long and one broad ; and an aerie of Hawks. 
 
 C/c^rec? held six inanors, Rahil (Roby), Chenulucslei (Knowsley), Cherchebi 
 (Kirkby), Crosebi (Crosby), Magele (Maghull), and Achetun (Aughton). 
 There were two liides of land : a wood two miles, &c. and two aeries of hawks. 
 
 Dot held Hitune (Huyton) and Torboc (Torbock) : there was one liide 
 discharged from the pajTuent of all customary duties except geldam, or (danegeld.) 
 There is land to four ploughs, and it was worth twenty shillings. 
 
 Bernulf held Stochestede (Toxteth). There was one virgate of land and half 
 a plough : it paid four slullings. 
 
 Stainulf held Stochestede (Toxteth). There is one vii'gate of land and half a 
 carucate or plough land : it was worth four slullings. 
 
 Five Tlianes held Sextone (Sefton). There is one liide : it was worth sixteen 
 slulUngs. 
 
 Uctred held Ckirchedele (Kirkdale). There is half a hide quit from all 
 custom except the tax : it was worth ten slullings. 
 
 Winestan lield Waletone (Walton). There are two carucates of land and three 
 hovates : it was worth eigrht slullings, 
 
 Elmtsr held Lidei-lant (Litherland). There was half a hide: it was worth 
 eight shillings. 
 
 T7u-ee Tlianes held Hinne (Ince Blundell) for three manors. There is half 
 a liide : it was worth eight slullings. 
 
 Ascha held Torentun (Thornton). There is half a hide: it was worth eight 
 shillings. 
 
 Three Tlianes held Mele (Meols) for three manors. Tliere is half a liide : it 
 was worth eight sliiUings. 
 
 Uctred held Uluentune (Woolton). There are two carucates of land, and 
 half a mUe of wood : it was worth sixty-four pence. 
 
 Edelniund held Esmedune (Smedone, now Liverpool, or Litherpole). 
 There is one carucate of land : it was worth thirty-two pence. 
 
 Three Thanes held Alretune (Allerton) for three manors. There is half a 
 hide : it was worth eight shilUngs. 
 
 Uctred held Spec (Speke). There are two cai-ucates of land: it was worth 
 sixty-foiu' pence. ' 
 
 'Four Rad mans, or Knight Riders, lield CildeuueUe(CmhDWALL) for four manors. 
 There is half a liide : it was worth eight shillings. — There was a priest there having 
 half a camcate of land, held in ahns. 
 
 Ulbert held Wibaldeslei (Winstanley). There are two carucates of land : it 
 was worth sixty-four pence. 
 
 Two Thanes held Uuetone (Woolton) for two manors. There is one carucate 
 of land : it was worth tluity pence. 
 
 vol. I. o
 
 III. 
 
 98 Cfie lisitoiT) of t\)t 
 
 ^Vu^' Leuing^ tenb Wauretreu . Ibi . ii . caruc trae . Valb . lxiiii . den. 
 
 Quattuor taini tenb Boltelai p . iiii . CD . Ibi . ii . car tr£e. 
 Valb . LXIIII . den . Pbr habb . i . car trse ad aecctam Waletone. 
 Vctred teneb Achetun . Ibi . i . car tree . Valb . xxxii . denaf. 
 Tres taini tenb Fornebei . p . iii . CD . Ibi . mi . car trae . Valb 
 Tres taini teneb Emuluesdel . Ibi . ii . car trae. [x . sol. 
 
 Valb . LXIIII . denar. 
 
 Stemulf tenb Holland . Ibi . ii . car trae . Valb . lxiiii . den. 
 Vctred teneb Daltone . Ibi . i . caruc tre . Valb . xxxii . denar. 
 Isd Vctred Schelmeresdele . Ibi . i . car trae . Valb . xxxii . den. 
 
 h h h 
 
 Isd Vctred tenb Literland . Ibi . i . caruc trse . Valb . xxxii . den. 
 
 <, '7 
 Wibt^ tenb Erengermeles . Ibi . 11 . car trs . Valb . viii . sol. 
 
 H tra q'eta fuit pt geld. 
 
 Quinq,, taini tenb Otegrimele . Ibi dim hida . Valb . x . sot. 
 
 Vctred^ tenb Latvne . cu . i . bereuuicti . Ibi dimid hida. 
 h , _ h i 
 
 Silua . I . leuu Ig . 7 dimid lat . Valb . x . sot 7 viii . denar. 
 
 "7 
 Vctred tenb Hirletun 7 dimid Merretun . Ibi dim hida. 
 
 Valb . X . sot . 7 VIII . denar. l^ 7 dimid leuu lat . Valb . x . sot. 
 
 Godeue tenb Melinge . Ibi . 11 . car trae . Silua . i . leuu Ig. 
 
 Vctred tenb Leiate . Ibi . vi . bouat trse . Silua . i . leuu Ig. 
 
 7 II . q^ lat. Valb . lxiiii . denar. l^ . 11 . solid. 
 
 Duo taini tenb . vi . bouat trae p . 11 . CO in Holand . Valb 
 
 Vctred teneb Acrer . Ibi dimid car trae . Wasta fuit. 
 
 Teos teneb Bartune . Ibi . i . caruc trae . Valb . xxxii . den. 
 
 "> ', 
 Chetel teneb Heleshale . Ibi . 11 . caruc trae . Valb . viii . sot. 
 
 /^ Oinis ti tra geldab . 7 xv . Maner . nil reddeb nisi geld R.E. 
 
 Hoc CD Derbei cu his supdictis hid reddeb regi . E. 
 
 de firma . xxvi . lib 7 11 . solid . Ex his . in . hid^ eraA^ 
 
 libere . quar censu pdonauit teinis qui eas teneb, 
 
 Istae reddeb . iiii . lib . 7 xiiii . solid . 7 viii . denar. 
 
 Ofiis isti taini habuer csuetud redde . 11 . oras denariox 
 
 de unaqq^ caruc trse . 7 facieb p csuetud domos regis
 
 Countj) ^3alatine of i^anraeitn-, 99 
 
 Leuingus held Wauretreu (Way^rtkee). There ai'e two cai'ucates of land : it chap. 
 was worth sixty-four pence. i"- 
 
 Four Thanes hekl Boltclal (Bootle) as four manors. Tliere are two carucates 
 of land : it was worth sixty-four pence. — A priest had a carucate of land helongiug 
 to the chui-ch of Waletonc (Walton). 
 
 Uctrcd held Aclietun (Ashton or Aughton). There is a carucate of land : it 
 was worth thii'ty-two pence. 
 
 Tliree Thanes held Fornehei (Formby) as three manors. There are four 
 cai'ucates of land : it was worth ten sliillmgs. 
 
 TTiree Thanes held Emuluesdel (Ainsdale). There are two carucates of land: 
 it was worth sixty-four pence. 
 
 Slcinul/'hekl Holland (Holla-nd). There are two carucates of land: it was 
 worth sixty-four pence. 
 
 Uctred hold Daltone (Dalton). There is one carucate of land : it was worth 
 tliiity-two jjence. 
 
 The same Uctred held Schelmercsdele (Skelmersdale). There is one carucate 
 of land : it was worth thirty -two pence. 
 
 The same Uctred held Literland (Litherland). Tliere is one carucate of 
 land : it was worth tliirty-two pence. 
 
 Wihert held Erengermeles (Ravens Meols). There are two carucates of 
 land : it was worth eight shillings. Tliis land was exempt from all duties except 
 danegeld. 
 
 Five Tlianes held Otegrimele (Orrell). There is half a liide : it was worth 
 ten shillings. 
 
 Uctred held Latune (Lytiiam) with one berewick. Tliere is half a liide of 
 land : wood one mile long and half a mile broad : it was worth ten shillnigs and 
 eight pence. 
 
 Uctred held Hirletun (Tarleton) and half of 3Ierretun (Martin). Tliere is 
 half a liide : it was worth ten shillings and eight pence. 
 
 Godeue held Mellnge (Melling). There are two carucates of land; wood one 
 mile long, and half a mile broad : it was worth ten shillings. 
 
 Uctred held Leiate (Lidiate). There are six bovates of land; wood one mile 
 long, and two quarentens broad : it was worth sixty-four pence. 
 
 Two Thanes held six bovates of land for two manors in Holand (Holland). 
 The value was two sliillings. 
 
 Uctred held Acrer (Altcar). There is half a carucate of land : it was waste. 
 
 Teos held Bartiine (Barton). There is one carucate of land : it was worth 
 tliiily-two pence. 
 
 Chetel held Heleshale (Halsall). There are two carucates of land : it was 
 worth eight shillings. 
 
 AH this land was liable to pay danegeld ; and fifteen manors paid King Edward 
 nothing but danegeld. 
 
 This manor of Derhei (West Derby), with the hides above-mentioned, paid 
 King Edward for rent twenty-six pounds two sliilluigs ; of these, three hides were 
 exempt, the rent of wliich was granted to the thanes that held them ; these paid four 
 pounds fourteen shillings and eight-pence. 
 
 All these thanes were accustomed to pay two ores of pennies for each carucate of 
 land : and by custom they built the king's houses with then* appurtenances, as the 
 
 o2
 
 100 CTje In'Storj) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. 7 quJE ibi ptineb sic uitti . 7 piscarias . 7 in silua haias 
 
 in. 
 
 7 stabilituras . 7 qui ad hgec n ibat q.do debeb . 11 . sot emdab. 
 7 postea ad op^ uenieb 7 opabat donee pfect erat. 
 Vn^ quisq,, eoa uno die in Augusto mitteb messores 
 suos secare segetes regis . Si non r' p . 11 . sot emdabat. 
 /^ Siq's lib ho faceret furtu . Aut forestel aut heinfara. 
 aut pace regis infringeb ^ xl . sot efndabat. 
 
 r_ _ qui 
 
 Siq's facieb sanguine aut raptu de lemina. uel|re 
 
 maneb de siremot sine rationabili excusatione :' 
 
 p . X . solid emdab. /^ Si de Hund remaneb . aut ii ibat 
 
 ad placit ubi pposit^ jubeb :^ p . v. sot emdab. 
 i^ Si cui jubeb in suu seruitiu ire 7 n ibatr'iiii . sot emdab. 
 /^ Siq's de tra regis recede uoleb . dab . xl . sot 7 ibat quo uoleb. 
 //^ Siq's tra patris sui mortui habe uoleb :' xl . solid releuabat. 
 J^ Qui noleb r 7 tra 7 omem pecunia patris mortui rex habeb. 
 //^ Vctred^ tenuit Crosebi 7 Chirchedele p . i . hida . 7 erat q'eta 
 
 ab omi csuetud pt has . vi . pace infracta . Forestel . Heinfara. 
 
 post ^ . /-, . 
 
 7 pugna quaB|sacramtu factu remaneb . 7 si constrict^ justicia 
 
 si ij _ _ 
 
 ppositi alicui debit solueb . 7|tminu a pposito dat n attendeb. 
 H p . XL . sot emdab . Geldu u regis sic hoes patriee solueb. 
 l^ In Otringemele 7 Herleshala . 7 Hiretun . erant . in • hid^e q'etfe 
 a geldo carucatar trse . 7 a forisfactura sanguinis . 7 femine 
 
 o 
 
 uiolentia . Alias u csuetud reddeb oms. 
 
 e isto CD Derbei ten modo dono Rog pictau hi hoes tra. 
 Goisfrid^ . 11 . hid 7 dimid car . Roger^ . i . hid 7 dimid . Witts una 
 hid 7 dimid . Warin^ dimid hid . Goisfrid^ . i . hid . Tetbald^ hida 
 7 dimid . Robert^ . 11 . car trae . Gislebt-^ . i . caruc trae. 
 Hi hiit in diiio . iiii . car . 7 xlvi . uitt .71. radnian 7 lxii . bord. 
 7 II . seruos 7 in . ancitt. Int oms hnt. xxiiii . car. 
 Silua eoj^ . in . leuu 7 dim long .71. leuu 7 dim 7 xl . ptic latit. 
 7 ibi . Ill . airae accipitr.
 
 Countp ^aalatmr of Sanrasiten loi 
 
 villains tlid ; and at the fislieries, and at the hays and stands (the fences and stalls) chah. 
 in the wood ; and whosoever did not attend this service when he ought was fined two ^^^' 
 shillings, and afterwai-ds was obliged to attend and to work till the business was 
 completed : every one of them moreover sent theii- reapers for one day in August to 
 cut the king's com, and if he failed be was amerced in two shillings. 
 
 If any freeman committed a theft, obstructed the way, enticed a servant away, or 
 broke the king's peace, he was fined forty shillings. 
 
 If any one wounded a person, or ravished a woman, or absented liimself from 
 the shii'e mote without a reasonable excuse, he was fined ten shillings. 
 
 If he absented himself fi'om the hundred court, or went not to the place of 
 pleading dii-ected by the proper officer, he forfeited five sliillings. 
 
 If he ordered a person to go upon a service, and he did not, he was fined four 
 sliillings. 
 
 If any one had a mind to withdi-aw himself from the king's land, he gave 40s. 
 and then he was at liberty to go where he would. 
 
 If any one had a mind, on the death of Ms father, to succeed to liis land, he paid 
 a relief of forty sliillings. 
 
 If he was not inclined, then the king had the land and all the money of the father 
 deceased. 
 
 Uctred held Crosebi (Crosby) and Chirchedele (Kirkdale) for one liide, and 
 it was exempt fi'om all forfeitures but these six — breach of peace, obstructing the 
 way, inveigling of servants, desertion after enlisting, and if the sheriff had adjudged 
 a debt to be paid at a certain day, and the defendant did not keep the time given 
 liim, he was to be amerced forty sliillings. As for danegeld, this they paid like 
 other men of the country. 
 
 In Otringemelc (Orrell) and Herleshahi (Hals all) anAHiretini (Evert ot^), 
 there were tlu-ee liides exempt from paying danegeld, fine for wounding and for 
 rape ; but they were liable to other customs. 
 
 By the gi'ant of Roger de Poictou, the following men now hold the land of this 
 manor of Derbei : — Goisfrid held two liides and half a carucate, Roger one hide 
 and a half, William one liide and a half, Warin half a hide, Goisfrid one hide, 
 Tetbald one liide and a half, Robert two carucates of land, Gislebert one carucate of 
 land. These have four carucates in demesne, and forty-six villains, and one radman, 
 and sixty-two bordars, and two bondmen and tliree bondwomen ; they have twenty- 
 four carucates amongst them : their wood is three miles and a half long, and one 
 mile and a half and forty perches broad ; and there are three aeries of hawks. The
 
 CHAP. 
 IIT. 
 
 102 Wl)t M^tonj of tftr 
 
 In unaqq^ hida . sua^ . vi . caruc trae. 
 Dnium u huj^ CQ qd tenefe Rogers . ual . viii . lib . Sujv ibi m in 
 diiio . Ill . car 7 vi . bouar . 7 un^ radman 7 vii . uitti. 
 In Neweton . T.R.E . fuer . v . hidse. In Neweton HD. 
 
 Ex his una erat in diiio . ^ccta ipsi^ CID habeb . x . caruc trse. 
 7 Scs Osuuold^ de ipsa uilla . 11 . caruc tre habeft q'etas p oma. 
 Huj^ CID alia tram . xv . hoes quos drenchs uocabant p . xv . CD. 
 teneb . sed huj^ GD bereuuich erant . 7 int oms xxx . solid reddb. 
 Silua ibi . x . leuu Ig . 7 vi . leuu 7 11 . qrent lat . 7 ibi airse accipit. 
 
 ■■y '; <, OS 
 
 xluj^ HVND hoes libi pt . 11 . eraAr in ead csuetud qua hoes derberiae. 
 
 7 plus illis . II . dieb} in Augusto meteba^v in culturis regis. 
 
 lUi duo habeb . v . carucat trte . 7 forisfactura sanguinis 7 feminae 
 
 uiolentia passse . 7 pasnagiu suo^ hominu . Alias habeb rex. 
 
 Tot hoc 5S reddeb de firma regi . x . lib . 7 x . solid. 
 
 Modo sunt ibi . vi . drenghs .7 xii . uiHi 7 mi . bord . Int oms . ix . car 
 
 hrit . Valet . iiii . lib . hoc dnium. In WalINTVNE HVND. 
 
 rVex . E . tenuit Walintvne . cu . iii . Bereuuich . Ibi . i . hida. 
 
 Ad ipsu CD ptineb . xxxiiii . drengh . 7 totid CD habeb. 
 
 In quib} erant xl.ii . carucatEe tree . 7 una hida 7 dimidia. 
 
 Scs Elfin teneb . i . caruc traa q'eta ab omi csuetud pt geldu. 
 
 Tot CD cu HVND reddeb regi de firma . xv . lib . 11 . sot min^. 
 
 Modo sunt in diiio . 11 . car . 7 viii . hoes cu . i . car. 
 
 Hoes isti ten ibi tra . Roger^ . i . caruc trae . Tetbald-^ . carucat 
 
 7 dimid . Warin^ . i . car . RaduLf^ . v . car .Witts . 11 . hid 7 iiii . car ti-«. 
 
 L I, 1, 
 
 Adelard^ . i . hid 7 dimid caruc . Osmund^ . i . car trae. 
 
 Vat hoc tot . IIII . lib 7 X . sot . Diiium uat . iii . lib 7 x . sot. ^ 
 
 RT D lUfND. 
 
 ex . E . tenuit Blachebvrne . Ibi . 11 . hidge In IjlACHEBVRN 
 
 7 II . caruc tree . ^ccta habeb habeb . 11 . bouatas de hac tra. f csuetud. 
 
 7 aeccta S' mari^ habeb in Wallei . 11 . caruc trae . q'etas ab omi 
 
 In eod CD Silua . i . leuu Ig . 7 tntd lat . 7 ibi erat aira accipitris. 
 
 Ad hoc CD uel HVND . adjaceb . xxviii . libi hoes . tenentes 
 
 V . hid 7 dimid 7 xl . carucat trae j) . xxviii . Manerijs.
 
 Countj) ^3alntmf of tnnrasitrr. 103 
 
 whole is wortb eight pounds twelve shUlmgs : in each liide there are six carucates chap. 
 of laud. " 
 
 Tlie demesne of this manor, held by Roger, is worth eight pounds. Tliere 
 are now in demesne tlu-ee ploughs, six neatherds, one rathnan, and seven villains. 
 
 In Krluton Jt^unUrctt. 
 
 In the time of King Edward (the Confessor) there were five liides in Neweton 
 (Nevpton) : one of these was held in demesne. The chiuxh of tliis manor had one 
 carucate of land : and Saint Oswald of lliis village had two carucates exempt from 
 all taxation. 
 
 Fifteen men called Drenchs held the other land of this manor for fifteen manors ; 
 but they were here wicks of this manor, and they paid altogether tliirty shillings. 
 Tliere is wood ten miles long, and six miles and two quarentens broad ; and there 
 are aeries of hawks. 
 
 The freemen of this hundred, except two, had the same customs as the men of 
 Derbei: they reaped the Idug's fields two days more in August. Those two had five 
 carucates of land, and the forfeiture for bloodshed and ravishment, and the homaa-e 
 of theii- tenants or vassals — the king had the others. — The whole manor of Neweton 
 paid to the king ten pounds ten shillings. There are six cbenghs, twelve villains, 
 and four bordars : amongst them they had nine carucates or ploughs. This demesne is 
 valued at foui* pounds. 
 
 In Slffllairtiigton ?^unt»rrD. 
 
 King Edward held Walintune (Warrington) with thi'ee berewicks, and there is 
 one liide. To this manor belonged thiity-four di-enghs, and they had as many 
 manors : m these there were forty-two carucates of land, and one liide and a 
 half. Sainl Elfin held one carucate of land, free fi'om all custom but danegeld. Tlie 
 whole manor and hundi-ed paid to the king for rent fifteen pounds save two shil- 
 lings. There are now two ploughs in the demesne, and eight vassals ^\-ith one plough. 
 
 The following held land there, viz. Roger one carucate of land, Tetbald one 
 carucate and a half, Warin one carucate, Radulf five carucates, William two hides 
 and four carucates, Adelard one hide and half a carucate, Osmund one carucate of 
 land. The whole of this is valued at four pounds ten sliillings ; the demesne at three 
 pounds ten shillings. 
 
 Jn iJIarfefiutn ?^unDrrlr. 
 
 King Edward \\e\i\. Blachehurne(Bh\CKBVR^). There are two liides and two 
 caiTicates of land: the church had two bovates of tliis laud; and the church of 
 St. Mary's had in Wlialley two carucates of land, free from all custom. In the same 
 manor there is a wood one mile in length and the same in breadth, and there was an 
 aerie of hawks. — To this manor or hundred belonged twenty-eight freemen, holding 
 five hides and a half and forty carucates of land for twenty-eight manors adjoining.
 
 101 Cftf 5)i6tori) of tin 
 
 ^m^' Silua ibi . vi . leiiu Ig . 7 iiii . leuu lat . 7 era.v in siipdictis 
 
 csuetudinib^. 
 
 In eod HVND habeft rex . E . Hunnicot de . 11 . car tre . 7 Wale 
 
 tune de . II . car . tr^e . 7 Peniltune de dimid hida. 
 
 Tot CD cu HVND reddeb regi de firma . xxxii . lib 7 11 . solid. 
 
 Hanc tra tota ded Rogerius pictauensis Rogerio de Busli. 
 
 7 Albto Greslet. 7 ibi sunt tot hoEs qui hilt, xi . car 7 dimid. 
 
 quos ipsi ccesser . ee . q'etos usq^ ad . in . annos . 7 ido n appciat m. 
 
 Rex . E . tenuit Salford . Ibi . in . bids. In SalfoRD HVND. 
 
 7 XII . caruc tr£E Wastae . 7 Foresta . in . leuu Ig . 7 tntd lat. 
 
 7 ibi plures haise 7 aira accipitris. [ad Salford. 
 
 Radecliue teneb rex . E . p CID . Ibi . i . hida . 7 aha hid ptinefi 
 
 ^ccta S' MARIE . 7 aeccta S' Michael teneb in Mamecestre. 
 
 h h _. _ 'i 
 
 una caruc trs . q'eta ab omi csuetud pt geld. 
 
 Ad hoc CD uel HVND ptineb . xxi . bereuuicll . teneb 
 
 totid taini p totid Maner . In quib} era^r . xi . hidffi 7 dimid. 
 
 7 x . caruc trae 7 dimid. 
 
 Siluae ibi . ix . leuu 7 dim Ig . 7 v . leuu 7 una qrent lat. 
 
 Vn^ eoa Gamel tenen' . n . hid in Recedha . habeb suas csue 
 
 tudines q'etas . pter . vi . has . Furtu . Heinfare . Forestel. 
 
 Pace| infracta . tminu fractu apposito stabilitu . pugna 
 
 post sacramtu factu remanents . H eiiidab . xl . solid. 
 
 Aliquae haru traru eraAc q'etae ab omi csuetud pt geld. 
 
 7 aliqtae a geldo su.v q'etas. 
 
 Tot G5 Salford cu HVND reddeb . xxx.vii . lib 7 iiii . sol. 
 
 Modo sunt in CD in dnio . n . car . 7 vin . serui . 7 n . uitt cu . i . car 
 
 Valet . c . solid hoc dnium. 
 
 De hac tra hui^ GD ten milites dono Rogerij pictau. 
 
 Nigellus . Ill . hid . 7 dimid caruc trs . Warin^ . n . car tree. 
 
 7 alt Warin^ . i . caruc 7 dimid . Goisfrid^ .1 . caruc trae . Gamel 
 
 i. If 7ix.bord'. 
 
 .11 . car trae . In his sunt . in . taini . 7 xxx . uitli 7 pbr 7 x. 
 serui . Int onis hnt . xxii . car . Valet . vii . lib. 
 
 r
 
 III. 
 
 Countj) palatine of 2Lanfa6tn% los 
 
 There is wood six mUes long aiid foiu- broad, and there were the above-said chap. 
 customs. 
 
 In the same hundi'ed King Edward had Hunnicot (Huncote) with two caru- 
 cates of land, Walehme (Walton) with two carucates of land, Peniltune (Pendle- 
 ton) half a hide. The whole manor, with the hundi-ed, paid to the king for rent 
 tliirtj-two pounds two sliillings. 
 
 Roger de Poidou gave aU this land to Roger de BusU and Albert Greslet, and 
 there are as many men who have eleven carucates and a half ; they allowed these 
 to be exempt for three years, and therefore they are not rated. 
 
 King Edward held Salford. There were thi'ee liides and twelve cai-ucates of 
 waste land; forest thi-ee miles long and the same broad; and there are many 
 hedges, and an aerie of hawks. 
 
 Edward held Radecliue (Radcliffe) for a manor. There is one hide, and 
 another belonging to Salford. The church of St. Mary's and the chm'cli of 
 St. Michael's held uii)/a»teee.s7re (Manchester) one carucate of land, free from all 
 duties or rents except danegeld. 
 
 To tliis manor or hundi'ed there belonged twenty-one beremcks, wliich were held 
 by as many thanes for as many manors ; in wliich there were eleven hides and a half 
 and ten cai'ucates and a half of land, with wood nine miles and a half long, and five 
 and a quarenten broad. 
 
 One of these thanes, called Gamel, holding two hides of land in Recedham, 
 (Rochdale), had them free trom all duties but the following six, viz. theft, 
 inveigling of servants, obstinicting the king's road, breach of peace, removal of 
 boundary, and desertion after enlisting; the fines for these offences were forty 
 shillings. The rest of these lands were free from all customs except danegeld, and 
 they are partly free from danegeld. 
 
 The whole manor vdih tlie Imucb'ed of Salford, paid thirty-seven pounds four 
 shillings. Tliere are now in the manor, in the demesne, two carucates and eight 
 bondmen, and two vUlains with one carucate. Tliis demesne is valued at a 
 hundi-ed sliillings. 
 
 The knights hold the land of this manor by the gift of Roger de Poictou : 
 Nigel three hides and half a carucate of land, Warin two cai'ucates, and another 
 Warin one carucate and a half, Goisfrid one carucate, Gamel two cai'ucates. 
 In these lands there are three thanes and tliirty villains, nine bordars, one priest, 
 and ten bondmen : amongst them they had twenty-two carucates. It is valued at 
 seven pounds. 
 
 vol. I. p
 
 106 ClK lisitoii) of t\)e 
 
 ^Wr- Rex . E . tenuit Lailand . Ibi . i . hida In Lailand HVND. 
 
 ' I, I, h h h 
 
 7 II . caruc trse . Silua . ii . leuu Ig .-7 una lat . 7 aira Accipitr. 
 
 Ad hoc CD ptineb . xii . trae quas teneb . xii . hoes libi pro 
 
 totid Maner . In his . vi . hidae . 7 viii . caruc trae. 
 
 Siluae ibi . vi . leuu Ig . 7 iii . leuu 7 una qrent lat. 
 
 Hoes huj^ CB 7 de Salford ii opabant p csuetud ad aula regis. 
 
 ^ o 
 
 neq,, metebaw in Augusto . Tantm . i . haia in silua facieb. 
 
 7 habeb sanguinis forisfactura . 7 femin« passse uiolent. 
 
 De alijs csuetudinib} aliox supio^ Manerio^ era// csortes. 
 
 Tot CD Lailand cu H VND reddeb de firma regi . xix . lib. 
 
 7 XVIII . solid 7 II . denar. 
 
 De hac tra huj^ CD ten Girard^ hid 7 dimid . Robt^ . iii . car trae. 
 
 Radulf^ . II . car tree . Roger^ . 11 . car trae . Walter^ . i . car tras. 
 
 Ibi sunt . nil . radmans . pbr 7 xiiii . uifti 7 vi . bord . 7 11 . bouar. 
 
 Int oms hnt . viii . car . SUua . iii . leuu Ig . 7 11 . leuu lat. 
 
 7 ibi . nil . au-« Accipitru . Valet tot . l . solid . Ex parte . e wasta. 
 
 JCVex . E . tenuit Peneverdant . Ibi . 11 . car trae . 7 reddb . x . den. 
 
 Modo . e ibi castellu . 7 11 . car sunt in diiio . 7 vi . burgses . 7 in. 
 
 radmans . 7 viii . uitti 7 iiii . bouar . Int oms hnt . iiii . car . Ibi 
 
 dimid piscaria . Silua 7 airae accipitru . sic T.R.E . Val . 111 . lib. 
 
 In his . VI . HVND Derbie Neutone Walintune . Blacheburne 
 
 a i, ti 7 octo 
 
 Salford 7 Lailand sunt . c . qt . xx|Manerij . In q'b} sunt 
 
 qt XX . hidae geld una min"^. 
 
 T.R.E . ualb . cxLv . lib 7 11 . solid 7 11 . denar. 
 
 Q'do Rogeii^ pictauensis de rege recepr' ualb . cxx . lib. 
 
 Modo tenet Rex . 7 ht in dnio . xii . car . 7 ix . milites 
 
 feudu tenentes . Int eos 7 eo^ hoes . sunt . cxv . car 7 in . boues. 
 
 Diiium qd tenuit Rogeriusr' appciat . xxiii . lib 7 x . solid. 
 
 Qd dedit militib}:' xx lib 7 xi . solid appciatuR.
 
 Couiitp palatine of Santasitfr. 107 
 
 In ILrj)lanti fBunttrrlr. 
 
 Kinff Edward held Leyland, where he had one hide and two carucates of land, a 
 wood two miles long and one broad, and an aerie of hawks. To this manor belonged 
 twelve carucates of land, wliich twelve freemen held as twelve manors : in these are 
 six hides and eight carucates: there are woods six miles long, and tliree and a 
 quarenten broad. The men of this manor and of »S'ff//brfZ did not work as customary for 
 the king at the haU, nor tUd they reap in August ; they only made one hedge in the 
 wood: they were subject to fines for wounding and rajie, and had all the other 
 customs of the other superior manors. The whole of the manor of Leyland, with 
 the hundred, rendered to the king nineteen poimds eighteen shilliugs and two 
 pence. Of the land in tins manor Girard holds one hide and a half, Robert three 
 carucates, Radulph two canicates, Roger two carucates, Walter one carucate. 
 There are foiu: radmans, a priest, and fourteen villains, and six bordars, and 
 two neatherds : between them they have eight carucates, wood tlii'ee miles long and 
 two miles broad, and four aeries of hawks. The whole is worth fifty shUlings — 
 part is waste land. 
 
 King Edward held Peneverdant (Penwortham), where there are two carucates 
 of land, wliich rendered ten pence. There is now a castle there ; and there are two 
 carucates in the demesne, six burgesses, three radmans, eight villains, and four 
 neatherds ; between all they have four cai'ucates ; there is half a fishery, a wood, 
 and aeries of hawks. As in the time of King Edward it is valued at three 
 pounds. 
 
 In these six hundreds, Derby, Newton, Warrington, Blackburn, Salford, and 
 Leyland, there ai"e one hundred foui-score and eight manors, in which there are 
 fourscore liides, save one, to be taxed. In the time of King Edward they were valued 
 at one hundred and forty-five pounds two shillings and two pence. When Roger de 
 Poictou received them from tlie king, they were valued at one hundi'ed and twenty 
 pounds. The king now holds them, and has ui the demesne twelve cai'ucates, and 
 nine knights holding: a fee : between them and their vassals there are one hundred 
 and fifteen carucates and three oxen. The demesne wliich Roger held is valued 
 at twenty-three pounds ten sliiUings, and what he gave to the knights at twenty 
 pounds eleven shillings. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 III. 
 
 p 2
 
 CHAH. 
 III. 
 
 108 COt In&tOVlJ of tftf 
 
 IAgemvndrenesse. * 
 n Prestvne . comes Tosti . vi . car ad gld • Ibi ptin he trtE. 
 
 II.C* i.c' l.C .ii.c' .II.C* IIII.C' VI.C' 
 
 Estun . Lea . Saleuuic . Clistun . Neutime . Frecheltun . Rigbi. 
 
 IIII.C' n.c' II.C* ii.c' .111.0' -II.C' .jjii.c' 
 
 Chicheham . Treueles . Westbi . Pluntun . Widetun . Pies . Wartiin. 
 
 .ii.c' .TI.C* .VI. VI.C' IIII.C' .\HIC' 
 
 Lidun . Meretun . Latun . Staininghe . Carlentun . Biscopham. 
 
 II.C' II.C VI.C' .II.C' .VI.C' III.C' 
 
 Rushale . Brune . Torentun . Poltun . Singletun . Greneholf. 
 
 .IIII.C' II.C' III.C' II.C I.c' I.C' 
 
 Eglestun . alia Eglestun . Edelesuuic . Inscip . Sorbi , Aschebi. 
 
 .I.C .II.C .II.C' .I.c' -v.c' 
 
 Michelescherche . Catrehala . Clactune . Neuhuse . Pluntun. 
 
 .I.c' .II.C' III.C' .I.c' .I.c' 
 
 Broctun . Witingheham . Bartun . Gusansarghe . Halctun. 
 
 .I.c' .I.c' III.C' .1.0' .I.c' .II.C' 
 
 Trelefelt . Watelei . Chipinden . Actun . Fiscuic . Grimesarge. 
 
 ii.c' ii.c .i.c* .1.C' -I.c 
 
 Ribelcastre . Bileuurde . Suenesat . Fortune . Crimeles . Che 
 
 vie' ii.c' .ii.c' h .iii.c' .ii.c' 
 
 restanc. Rodeclif. alia Rodeclif" .tcia Rodeclif. Hameltune. 
 
 ini.o' vLc* I.c' 
 
 Stalmine , Pressouede . Midehope. 
 
 0ms h^ uille iacent ad Prestune . 7 iii . eccte . Ex his . xvi. 
 a paucis incolunr . S3 quot sint habitantes ignoratur. 
 Reliqua sunt wasta . Rog pict habuit. 
 
 f6ln HALTVN . habuit comes Tosti . vi . car tr^e ad gld. 
 
 I lie' lie' iC vi.o' ii.c' 
 
 n Aldeclif . Tiernun . Hillun . Loncastre . Chercaloncastre. 
 
 ii.c' .ii.c' mi.c' .iiii C iiii.o' IIII.C' 
 
 Hotun . Neutun . Ouretun . Middeltun . Hietune . Hessam. 
 
 ii.c' ii.c' -li.c' VI. c' Ii.c' VI.C 
 
 Oxeneclif . Poltune . Toredholme . Schertune . Bare . Sline. 
 
 liii.c' VI.O' .11.0' .II.C' ii.c' 
 
 Bodeltone . Chellet . Stopeltierne . Neuhuse . Chreneforde. 
 
 _ h 
 
 Oms hae uillae ptin ad Haltune. 
 
 CD J n WiTETVNE . tib comes Tosti . vi . car tre ad gld. 
 
 II.C* vi.o' ii.c' III.C' .III.C* 
 
 In Neutune . Ergune . Ghersinctune . Hotun . Cantesfelt. 
 
 III.C' III.C' III.C' IIII.C' .I.c' VI.C' 
 
 Irebi . Borch . Lech . Borctune . Bernulfesuuic . Inglestune. 
 
 III.C' III.C' I. II.C' vi.c' 
 
 Castretune . Berebrune . Sedberge . Tiernebi. 
 Oms ha2 uillae ptin ad Witetune. 
 
 * This Survey is inserted under the head Evrvicscire, fo. 301 b. and 302 a.
 
 Count)) |)alatme of Hanrasitn'. 109 
 
 ailtOUniirrnr0S*, mulcr En-vic-sdre. CHAP. 
 
 In Prcstvne (Prkston) Earl Tosti had six carucates to be taxed. These lands belong thereto : — III. 
 
 Estun (Ashton) two carucates ; Lea (Lea) one carucate ; Saleunic (Salwick) one carucate ; 
 
 Cliston (Cliftox) two carucates ; Neuiune (Newton) two carucates ; Frecliellvti (Freckelton) 
 four carucates; Rigbi (Ribby) six carucates. 
 
 CAjc/je/mra (Kirkham) four carucates ; TreMeZes (Treales) two carucates; IFesiSi (Westby) 
 two carucates ; Pluntun (Plumpton) two carucates; Widetun (Weeton) three carucates; Pres 
 (Preese) two carucates ; Wartun (Warton) four carucates. 
 
 Lidun (Lytham) two carucates ; Meretim (Marton) six carucates ; Latiin (Layton) six caru- 
 cates ; Staininghe (Staining) six carucates ; Carlentun (Carlton) four carucates ; Biscopham 
 (Bispham) eight carucates. 
 
 iJ«s/mZe (Rossall) two carucates ; Brtiwe (Brining) two carucates ; Torcntun {TnonsTOn) six 
 carucates; Poltun (Poulton) two carucates; Singletun (Singleton) six carucates; Greneholf 
 (Greenhalgh) three carucates. 
 
 Eglestun (Eccleston) four carucates ; another Eglestun (Eccleston) two carucates ; Edelesuuic 
 (Elswick) three carucates; Inscip (Inksip) two carucates; Sorbi (Sowerby) one carucate; 
 Aschebi (Nateby) one carucate. 
 
 Michelescherche or Michael's Church, one carucate ; Catrehala (Catterall) two carucates ; 
 Clactune (Claughton) two carucates ; Neiihuse (Newsham) one carucate ; Pluntun (Plumpton) 
 five carucates. 
 
 Brocton (Broughton) one carucate ; Witingheham (Whittingham) two carucates ; Bartun 
 (Barton) three carucates : Gusansarghe (Goosnargh) one carucate ; Halctun (Haighton) one 
 carucate. 
 
 Trelefelt (Threlfield) one carucate ; Watelei (Whalley) one carucate ; Chipinden (Chip- 
 ping) three carucates; ^ciun (Alston) one carucate; Fiscuic (Fishwick) one carucate ; Grime- 
 sarge (Grimsaigh) two carucates. 
 
 iJt6eZcas/re (Ribchester) two carucates ; JSi'/eirarrfe (Billsborough, two carucates ; Suenesat 
 (Swainset) one carucate ; Fortune (Forton) one carucate ; Crimeles (Crimbles) one carucate ; 
 Cherestanc (Garstang) six carucates ; Rodecliff (Rawcliffe) two carucates ; another Rodeclif 
 (Rawcliffe) two carucates ; a third ditto, tliree carucates ; Hameltune (Hambleton) two carucates. 
 
 Stalmine (Stalmin) four carucates ; Pressouede (Preesall) six carucates ; Midehope (Mithope 
 or Midhope) one carucate. 
 
 All these villages and three churches belong to Prestune (Preston) ; of these sixteen have few 
 inhabitants — but how many inhabitants there may be is not known. 
 
 The rest are waste. Roger de Poictou had it. 
 
 In aonsaalf Vale. 
 
 Manor. In Haltun (Halton) Earl Tosti had six carucates of land to be taxed. 
 
 In Aldeclif {\\,viC\AYe) two carucates ; Tiernun (Thurnham) two carucates ; Hillim (Hillhaji) 
 one carucate ; Loncastre (Lancaster) six carucates ; Chercaloncastre (Kirby'-Lancaster) two 
 farucates. 
 
 Hotun (Hutton) two carucates ; Neutun (Newton) two carucates ; Oiiretun (Overton) four 
 carucates; Middeltun (Middleton) four carucates; //e'eZttne (Heaton) four carucates; Hessam 
 (Heysham) four carucates. 
 
 Oxeneclif (O^c^T-vv) ivio carucates; Po/^^ine (Poulton) two carucates ; Toredholme (Torris- 
 uolme) two carucates; Schertune (Skerton) six carucates; Bare (Bare) two carucates; Sline 
 (Sly'ne) six carucates. 
 
 Bodeltone (Bolton) four carucates ; Chellet (Kellet) six carucates ; Stopeltierne (Stapleton- 
 therne) two carucates; Neuhuse (Newsome) two carucates ; Chreneforde (CAnvFomn) two carucates. 
 
 All these villages belong to Haltune (Halton.) 
 
 Manor. In Witetvne (Whittington) Earl Tosti had six carucates of land to be taxed. 
 
 In iVeuZttree (Newton) two carucates ; Ergune (Arum orARKHOLME) six carucates ; Ghersinc- 
 tune (Gressingham) two carucates ; Hotun (Hutton) three carucates ; Cantesfelt (Gansfield) 
 three carucates. 
 
 /r^ii (I rebt) three carucates ; BorcA (Burrow) three carucates ; iec^ (Leck) three carucates ; 
 (all in Lancashire.) i?orc<M«e (Burton in Lonsdale) four carucates; £ern?((/esMuic (Barnolds- 
 wick) one carucate ; Inglestune (Ingleton) six carucates. 
 
 Castretune (Casterton) three carucates; Berebrune (Barbon) three carucates; Sedberge 
 (Sedberg) three carucates; Tiernebi (Tuirnby or Tiiornby) six carucates. 
 
 All these villages belong to Whitune (Whittington.)
 
 110 C!k 5ji£itorj) of t\)t 
 
 '^^u'' t^ In OrsTEvric . 7 Heldetune . Clapeham . Middeltun . Manz 
 
 serge . Cherchebi . Lupetun . Prestun . Holme . Bortun . Hotune. 
 
 Wartun . Clactun . Catun . Haec habuit Torfin . p xii . Maner. 
 In his sunt xl.iii . carucate ad gld. 
 ^ In Benetain . Wininctune . Tathaim . Fareltun . Tunestalle. 
 
 Chetel lib . nil . 515 . 7 sunt in eis . xviii . car ad gld . 7 iii . Eecdae. 
 OD In HOFGrNAih comes Tosti . iiii . car tre ad gld. 
 
 _ iiic- .lll.c- .liii.c' ii.C il.c- »i.c' 
 
 In Chiluestreuic . Sourebi . Hietun . Daltune . Warte . Neutun. 
 
 VIC' II.C lie' TI.C IlC TIC' T "■'^ 
 
 Walletun . Suntun . Fordebodele . Rosse . Hert . Lies . aha Lies. 
 
 ILc' II.C' llll.c' .III.C' DIII.C II.c' 
 
 Glassertun . Steintun . CUuertun . Ouregraue . Meretun . Penni 
 
 lie' TIC' iiiiC nil.C line' 
 
 getun . Gerleuuorde . Borch . Berretseige . Witingha . Bodele. 
 
 .LC' .TI.C' 
 
 Santacherche . Hougenai . 0ms has uUIeb iacent ad Hougun. 
 ^ In Stercaland . Mimet . Cherchebi . Helsingetune. 
 
 Steintun . Bodelforde . Hotun . Bortun . Daltun . Patun. 
 
 H habuit Gilemichel . In his suat . xx . car trae ad gld. 
 515 In Cherchebi . Duuan . vi . car ad gld. 
 55 In Aldingha . Ernulf . vi . car ad gld. 
 
 CD In Vlurestun . Turulf . vi . car ad gld. 
 In Bodeltun . vi . car . In Dene . i . car. 
 
 ItJCRAVE* h 
 
 CQln Mellinge 7 Hornebi 7 Wennigetun . Vlf . ix . car ad gld. 
 ■• ', ^ 
 
 B Ibide hb Orme . i . car 7 dim ad gld. 
 
 .11. x 
 
 ^ In Lanesdale . 7 Cocreha . hbr Vlf 7 Machel 
 
 II . car ad gld. 
 
 .III.T h 
 
 ^ In EsTVN . Cliber . Machern 7 Ghilemichel hbr . vi . car 
 
 ad gld . In Ellhale . 11 . car . In Scozforde . 11 . car. 
 Q5 in Biedvn. hb comes Tosti . vi . car ad gld . Nc ht Rog 
 
 ij pb'r _ iiii.c' .iiii.c' .iiLc' 
 
 pictau . 7 Ernuin sub eo . In jalant . Fareltun . prestun. 
 
 II.C' II.c' II.c' II.C' 
 
 Bereuuic . Hennecastre . Eureshaim . Lefuenes. 
 
 * This Survey is also inserted under the head Evrvicscire (West Reding), fo. 301 b. and 
 fo. 332 a.
 
 Countp ^3«ilatinc of Sancasitfr. in 
 
 Twelve manors. In Ovstevvic and Heldetune (Austwick and ), Clapeham CHAP. 
 
 (Clapham), 3Iiddeltun (Middleton), Manzserge (Mansergm), Cherchehi (Kirkby-Lons- HI- 
 
 dale), Lupetun (Lupton), Prestun (Preston), Holme (Holm), Bortun (Burton), 
 
 Hotline (Hutton Roof.) 
 
 IFartun (Wharton), Clactun (Claugiiton), Catun (Caton). These Torfin had for 
 twelve manors. 
 
 In these are forty-three carucates to be taxed. 
 
 Four manors. In Benetain (Bentham), TVininctune (Winnington), Tathaim 
 (Tatham), Fareltun (Farlton), Tunestalle (Tunstall). 
 
 Chetel had four manors, and there are in them eighteen carucates to be taxed, and three 
 churches. 
 
 Manor. In Hovgvn (Furness, Low) Earl Tosti had four carucates of land to be 
 taxed. 
 
 In Chiliiesti'euic (qu. Woodlands) three carucates ; Sourehi (Sowerby) three caru- 
 cates ; Hietun (Heaton) four carucates ; Daltune (Dalton) two carucates ; JVarte 
 (Svvarth) two carucates ; Neiitun (Newton) six carucates. 
 
 Walletun (Walton) six carucates ; Suntun (Santon) two carucates ; Fordebodele 
 ( ) two carucates ; Rosse { ) six carucates ; Hert (Hest) two carucates ; 
 
 Lies ( ) six carucates ; another Lies ( ) two carucates. 
 
 Glasserfun (Gleaston) two carucates ; Steintun (Stenton) two carucates ; Cliuertun 
 (Crinleton) four carucates ; Ouregraue (Orgrave) now called Titeup, three carucates; 
 Meretun (Marton, alias Martin) fovir carucates ; Pennigetun (Pennington) two caru- 
 cates ; Gerleuuorde (Irelith Kirkby) two carucates ; Borch (Burrow) six carucates ; 
 Berretseige (Bardsey) four carucates ; Witiugliam (Whitingham) four carucates ; Bodele 
 (Bothil, alias Bootle) four carucates. 
 
 Santacherche (Santonkirk) one carucate ; Hougenai (Furness, High) six carucates. 
 All these villages lie to Hougun (Furness, High). 
 
 Manor in Stercalaud (Strickland), 3Iimet (Mint), Chercliebi (Kirkby Kendal), 
 Helsingetune (Helsington). 
 
 Steintun (Stainton), Bodelforde ( ), Hotun (Old Hutton), Bortun (Burton in 
 
 Kendal), Daltun (Dalton), Patiin (Patton). 
 
 Gilemichel had these. In these are twenty carucates of land to be taxed. 
 
 Manor. In Cherchehi (Kirkby Kendal) Dituan had six carucates to be taxed. 
 
 Manor. In Aldingham (Aldingham) Erniilf \vaA six carucates to be taxed. 
 
 Manor. In Vlurestun (Ulverston) Turulf ho-Ci six carucates to be taxed. 
 
 In Bodeltun (Bolton) six carucates to be taxed ; in Dene (Dean, alias Dbyn) one 
 carucate. 
 
 5it C^tabrtt, ffiSMrst Ititiing, !»orfe0f)irr. 
 
 Manor. In Mellinge (Melling), Hornehi (Hornby), and fVenningetun (Wenning- 
 ton), ?7//'had nine carucates to be taxed. 
 
 Berewick. In the same place Orme had one carucate and a half to be taxed. 
 
 Two Manors. In Lanesdale and Cocrehain (Lonsdale and Cockerham) Ulf and 
 Machel had two carucates to be taxed. 
 
 Three Manors. In Estun (Ashton), Cliber, Machern, and Ghilemichel, had six 
 carucates to be taxed ; in Ellhale (Ellill) two carucates ; in Scozforde (Scotforth) two 
 carucates. 
 
 Manor. In Biedun (Beetham) Earl Tosti had six carucates to be taxed; 
 Roger of Poictou now has it, and Ernuin the priest under him ; in Jalant (Yea- 
 land) four carucates ; in Fareltun (Farlton) four carucates ; in Prestun (Preston) 
 tliree carucates. 
 
 In Bereuuic (Borwick) two carucates ; in Hennecastre (Hincaster) two carucates ; in 
 Eureshaim (Haversham) two carucates ; in Lefuenes (Levbns) two carucates. 
 
 Yealand and Borwick only in Lancaster, tlie rest in TVestmoreland.
 
 112 Cftr l^t£itoii> of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. Tlie oTeat baroiiial proprietors, both Saxon and Nonnan, of the " Honor of 
 
 ^^^' Lancaster " were amongst the most unfortunate of theii- order. Tlie earls Morcar 
 and Tosti had suffered the fate so common to men in exalted stations in those turbu- 
 lent times ; and Roger de Poictou, the thii-d son of Roger de Montgomery, though 
 endowed ^vith three hundred and ninety-eight manors, as the reward of the sei-vices 
 rendered by his family to the Conqueror, was doomed to sun-ender them all as the 
 price of liis rebellion. Tlie proprietors, at the time of taking the survey, had greatly 
 increased in number, and the manners and customs of the people, as developed in 
 the survey of the six hundi-eds between the Mersey and the Ribble, form the most 
 valuable feature of this ancient record.* The tenure by which the thanes held the 
 land in the hundred of Derby was — two ores of pennies for a carucate : this must 
 have been most indulgent as far as the rent was concerned, but the obligation to 
 build the king's houses, to attend his fisheries, to repak his fences, and to reap his 
 Thanes, harvest, would add not a little to the pressure upon the thanes. Tliere were two 
 classes of thanes, — the ecclesiastic, called in Saxon, Mass-Thanes, and the temporal 
 or secular thanes. Both of these were again divided into two classes ; the greater 
 thanes were next in rank to earls, being the king's thanes, and called Barones Regis. 
 The inferior the Saxons called the less thanes, without any addition, as the smaller 
 barons, such as lords of manors, the less valvasores, and freeholders. After the 
 invasion of the Normans, many military men of that rank and appellation, endowed 
 vfith the title of knight, were called by the name of thanes, and afterwards of 
 milites or equites — laiights. Such was the inequality of the laws in these times, 
 that in some disti-icts — Oirel, Halsall, and Everton, for instance — the occupiers were 
 exempt not only from the principal tax (dane-geld), but they were exonerated fi'om 
 the punislmaent justly due to some crimes of the greatest enormity ; wlule in other 
 places, the oflfence of ravisliing a woman, and of the tenant absenting liimself fi"om 
 the slure-mote or hundi'ed court, were to be punished with the same severity, viz., 
 a fine of ten sliillings ! It appears also that there were in tliese six hundreds one 
 luuwhed and eighty-eight manors, and that then- annual value, when Roger de 
 Poictou received them from the king, was scarcely equal to that of a small estate in 
 our times. The conti-ast between the nature of landed possessions in this district, in 
 the time when the dane-geld tax was enforced in 1086, and the time when the 
 
 * The appellation Christis Crofte was anciently given to this tract, and it is celebrated as a place 
 of securitY in troublesome times, in the following metrical prophecy : — 
 
 " When all England is alofte. 
 
 Safe are they that are in Christis Crofte ; 
 And where should Christis Crofte be 
 But between Ribble and Mersey."
 
 Coiintp llalatmr of iLaiuastrr. ii3 
 
 property tax existed in 1814, is most strikiug; in the former all the lands between chap. 
 
 Mersey and Ribble were valued at £120, — in the latter at £2,569.761. Allowing L_ 
 
 for the tlifference in the value of money at the two periods, the statement will stand 
 thus : — 
 
 Annual value in 1086 £120, x 110 = £13,200 
 In 1814 2,569,761 
 
 Increased value . . £2,556,561 
 
 Of the different ranks of men mentioned in the Domesday Survey, the Bai'ons, 
 the Thanes, the Free-men, the Radmen, the Drenches,* the Bordars, the Bond- 
 men, and the Villains, the dissertation on Feudal Tenures, already inserted, will 
 afford general information, while the measure of land, and the value of money, in 
 those times, will be collected from the same source. 
 
 The Saxon titles consisted of EtlUing, Duke, Earl, and Comes, but they all Titles. 
 merged at the Conquest into the more general and comprehensive title of Norman 
 Baron. At the head of the Capitanei Regni, or cliiefs of the realm, in the earlier of 
 these periods, stood the Ethlings. These were noble persons of the first rank, as 
 princes sprung from the blood royal, and were endowed accordingly Avith great fees 
 and offices in the kingdom. Of this description was Edgar Ethling, but the Conquest 
 deprived liim of his inheritance. 
 
 Amongst the Saxons were certain magisti'ates called Aldermen. These were Aldermen. 
 princes and governors of provinces. Earls, Presidents, Senators, Tribunes, and the 
 like. They were of different ranks, as Aldermannus totius Anglice, (the Aldei'man 
 of all England), in later times imagined to be capitalis Anglice Justiciarius, (chief 
 justice of England) ; Aldermannus Regis (king's alderman), so called because he was 
 constituted by the king, or that he exercised regal authority in the province com- 
 mitted to his charge ; Aldermannus Comitatus (of a county), sometimes taken pro 
 Schyreman et ipso Comite, (for the sliireman and the comes himself). 
 
 The office of Alderman was to inspect the county's arms, and to raise forces 
 witliin his jurisdiction ; to repress the refractory, and to promote public justice. The 
 Bishops were nobles inferior in rank to Earls. By the laws of Alfred and Athelstan, 
 the lives of the dignitaries, both in the church and state, were valued, and the rate 
 at wloich their heads were estunated serves to show thefr relative dignity. The 
 head of the Archbishop, the Earl, or Satrap, was valued at 15,000 thrymses; 
 the bishop and alderman, at 8,000 ; the Belli Tmperator et summus propositus, (the 
 conunander and chief officer of war,) or vice-comes (sheriff), at 4,000 thrymses. 
 From which it appears that the alderman held the middle station between the earl 
 
 * See Chap. iii. p. 82. 
 VOL. I, Q
 
 114 Ci)e 5?i£itori) of tl)f 
 
 CHAP, aiij the sheriff. After the Conquest, the alderman's office grew out of use, and was 
 
 superseded almost entii-ely by the sheriff. 
 
 Honors were hereditable before the Conquest by earls and barons, and for the 
 most pai't to such as were of the blood-royal ; hence the honor of Lancaster had 
 been possessed successively by earls Tosti and Morcar. By the Norman law, honors 
 became a feudal patrimony of any of the liigh bai'ons, generally adjoined to the 
 principal seat of the baron. The great baron of Lancashii-e, Roger de Poictou, so 
 called from having manied Akuodis of Poictou, ranked amongst the Capitales 
 Bai'ones, holding immecUately from the crown. The barons who held of him were 
 called Bai-ones Comitatus (barons of the county), and held free courts for all pleas 
 and complaints, except those belonging to the earl's sword. Tlie ancient barons in 
 tliefr lordships or baronies took cognizance of litigation and robberies, and employed 
 the privileges which are called sac, soc, tol, theam, infangthef, outfangthef, feiias, et 
 marketas.* The distinction between an honor and a manor consists principally in the 
 much greater extent of the former, and in the courts held in each. We have 
 already seen that a manor is composed of demesne and services, to which belong 
 a tlu'ee weeks' Court or Berry, where the freeholders, being tenants of the manor, 
 sit covered, and give judgment in all suits that are there pleading. But an honor 
 has either a castle, as at Lancaster, or at least the site of a castle, or some principal 
 house of state, consisting of demesnes and services, to wliich a number of manors 
 and lordships, with aU their appurtenances and other regalities, are annexed. To 
 every manor a Court Baron is attached. In an honor, an honourable Berry or 
 Court is kept, once every year at least, and oftener if requu-ed ; at wliich court all 
 the freeholders of aU the manors which stand united to the honor, make their appear- 
 ance, and in which suitors do not sit, but stand bai'eheaded. Over that court should 
 be hung a cloth of state, Avith a chair ,of state, upon whicli chair should be laid a 
 cushion made of cloth of gold, or what is becoming and decent for a place of honour, 
 and upon which there ought to be embroidered the arms belonging to the honor. 
 
 The barons of the Honor of Lancaster, in the time of the Conqueror, are thus 
 exliibited in Kenion's MSS, 
 
 * Soc was the power of administering justice ; Sac, of hearing and determining causes and 
 disputes, with the power of levying forfeitures or fines ; Tol, an acquittance from payment of duties 
 or tolls in every part of the kingdom ; Theam, a royalty granted over their villain tenants, as well as 
 over their wives, and children, and goods, to dispose of them at pleasure. Spelmau calls it, a right 
 of trying their bondmen and serfs. Infangthef weis the privilege of trying thieves taken within their 
 lordship ; Outfangthef, a royalty granted by the king, with power to try and punish a thief dwelling 
 out of the baron's liberty or fee, for a theft committed out of his jurisdiction, if he be taken 
 within it.
 
 Countj) t^alatine of Sanraster. 
 
 115 
 
 " List of Barons Cosi. Lanc. uuder Roger de Poictou. 
 
 " Godefiidus, Vicecomes eius de Derby — Yardfridus, Baro de Widnes — 
 Paganus Villers, Bai-o de Wan-intou — Albertus Grelle, Baro de Manchester — 
 Burin, Baro de Ratcliale and Totingten — Ilbert Lacy, Baro de Clithero — War- 
 linus Banish-e, Baro de Newton — Waninua Bushel, Baro de Penwortham — Roger 
 de Montbegon, Baro de Hornby — William Mai-shall, Baro de Cartmel — Michael 
 riemingus, Baro de Glaston — William de Lancaster and Robert de Fumes, Barones 
 de Ulverston — Wil de Lancaster, Baro de Nethei-wii-esdal — Theobaldus Walter, Baro 
 de Weeton." — N.B. Another copy says, " Tlieob. Pincerna." 
 
 In tracing the bai'ony of Lancaster, we find the founder of this illustrious house 
 to have been Ivo de Talebois, otherwise TaUlebois, otherwise Talboys, of the house 
 of Anjou, who came over with the Conqueror, and who, in virtue of his marriage 
 with Lucy, the sister of the Saxon earls Edwin and Morcar, seconded by the favour 
 of liis prince, obtained a lai-ge portion of the north of Lancashii-e, and so much of 
 Westmoreland as comes mider the designation of tlie bai'ony of Kendal. The 
 Richmond Fee, the Marquis Fee, and the Lmnley Fee, fonned portions of tliis 
 barony, and William, the gi-eat gi-andson of Ivo de Talebois, first caused himself, by 
 royal license, to be called William de Lancaster and bai-on of Kendal, before the 
 king in parliament. The descents of this famUy are thus given in Kuerden's MSS. 
 under the head 
 
 CHAP. 
 III. 
 
 Baron of 
 the honor 
 of Lancas- 
 ter. 
 
 BARONY OF WILLIAM DE LANCASTER. 
 
 1. John Talboys I^J Lucia J^ Rog. de Roman. 
 
 2. Ethelbert- 
 
 W. de Romana. 
 Co. Bedford. 
 
 r 
 
 J 
 
 4. Will, de Lanc- 
 
 Ros- 
 
 5. Will, de Lanc. 
 
 Girard- 
 
 Albert Grelle- 
 
 Aylward 
 
 Chetil 1^3 3. Gilb. de Furnesio — , Reinfrid — ^ Ralph 
 Alex. 
 
 R. de Meschines — ^ Rob. — > Em. f(3?§<I Orm. 
 
 ' r' r^ 
 
 r 
 
 J 
 
 6. Gilbert- 
 
 D 
 
 Ralph - 
 
 Hu. 
 
 Ranulf. 
 
 7. W. de Lanc. 
 
 I 
 
 Albert. Rog. -p Orm. 
 
 Rog. de Ashton 
 
 ] 
 
 Raf.- 
 
 Alex. 
 
 r 
 
 Rog. de Kirby. 
 
 Q2
 
 tions. 
 
 116 COf S?isitoii) of ti)e 
 
 CHAP. " Succession of the Barons of Lancashire* — 1. Vicecomes de Derby, 
 
 Til 
 
 1_ Goclfi-id, Peverel, Fen-ers. 2. Castellanus de Liverpool, Molineiix. 3. Baro de 
 
 Widness, divided between Lacy and Grelly. 4. Baro de Warington, Paganus, 
 afterwards Butler. 5. Baro de Newton, Langton. 6. Baro de Manchester, 
 Grelly, West, Moseley. 7. Baro de Rochdale, afterwards Byron. 8. Baro de 
 Cliderow, Lacy, the Crown, Monk, Montague. 9. Baro de Penwortham, Bussel, 
 Lacy, the Priory, Fleetwood. 10. Baro de Hornby, Roger de Montbegon. 
 11. Bai'o de Fumes, Michael Flemings. 12. Baro de Wii-esdale, W. de Lancas- 
 ter. 13. Baro de Weeton and Amounderness, Theobald Walter." 
 
 ^heir sta- " STATIONS OF THE Ancient Barons.-j" — Roger de Poictou, Earl of Lancas- 
 ter, prudently stationed liis barons in the most vulnerable places, to preserve his 
 earldom in quiet: — 1. He built a castle at Liverpool against the passage over the 
 water fi-om Cheshire, and there placed his trusty friend, ViAdan MoUneux, to be 
 governor and castellanus in the utmost limits of his earldom ;| and for his gi'eater 
 assistance he placed neai* liim at Derby his vicecomes, Godefridus ; and not far 
 above, at or opposite Runcorn, being another passage out of Cheshii'e, he fixed 
 Yardfrid, another baron, at Widnes ; and a little above that, at Warrington another 
 passage, and near unto the church was the seat of another barony, given to Paganus 
 VUlers, to defend the ford at Latcliford, before a bridge was made at Warrington ; 
 and a little distance, at Newton, was the seat of the Banisters, a barony in king John's 
 time, to strengthen the former, and opposite a liigh ford or boat called Holyn Fare 
 Passage, out of Cheshii-e, at Straitford ; as well as to keep guard against another 
 Cheshii-e barony, called Stockport, he placed Albertus Grelle, an eminent baron ; 
 then approacliing the hiUy mountain fiom Yorksliii-e, at a different passage fi-om 
 Rotchdale, an ancient bai-ony, afterwards succeeded by Lord Buryn, the present 
 baron thereof ; then ascending easterly among those hills at Clidero, he placed Ilbert 
 Lacy, a baron, near the adjacent passage into Yorkshii'e ; and more northward, not 
 far fi"om his own castle at Lancaster, at Hornby, he placed Roger de Montbegon. 
 
 * From Percival's MSS. f From Kenion's MSS. 
 
 I A castellanus is the prefect or governor of a castle, acting there in place of the lord, and 
 sometimes called castaldus, gastaldius ; his office is called castaldia, castallanea being first the 
 name of an office, and afterwards of a dignity. These castellans were appointed by dukes and earls, 
 who enjoyed vast territories, and in some fortified places stationed military guards or garrisons, to repel 
 enemies. Tliey were also civil judges, to determine the disputes of the people. Having become 
 powerful, and the sons often succeeding to their father's office, they at last obtained from the lords 
 the right of holding office in fee; and by little and little passing the bounds of their jurisdiction, 
 they transformed the wand of an inferior justice into the swurd of the superior, making the force of 
 the dignity to consist more in the fulness of baronial power, than in the mere name of baron.* 
 
 * Spelman, p. 128, voce Castellanus.
 
 Count)) ^^alatint of tanrastfr. 117 
 
 Then upon the northern Ijoundary, from the Scots in Cumberland, was placed, at chap 
 
 Gleston, Michael Flandrensis; and shortly after, the abbot of Furnes, 4th W. Rufus, L 
 
 placed upon the west pai't, possessing the Foldra and Walney, who convened with 
 William de Lancaster ; and long afterwards the king bestowed the same upon Inge- 
 lianus de Guyas in marriage Avith his sister ; afterwards it was alienated, and came to 
 the possession of the families of Kirkby and Tells. From thence returning south- 
 ward to Kartmel, which in king John's time came to William de Marshall, governor 
 to king Henry III. and proceeding southward on the river Wyre, one side guarded 
 by William de Lancaster, lord of that part of the barony of Netherwyrsdal, belonging 
 likewise to the lords of Furness, and the other side environed with the barony of 
 Weeton, wliicli temp. W. Rufus was an appendant to the barony of Penwortham, 
 and bestowed upon Abardus Bussell, brother of Warinus Bussell, and continued in 
 the renowned noble family of Theobaldus Pincerna, from whom proceeded the duke 
 of Ormond. And lastly, on that famous estuary of Riblde, at Penwortham, Avhere 
 remained an ancient castle fi'om the time of the Saxons, here was placed the barony 
 given to Waiiiius Bussell, who had this place bestowed upon him temp. William 
 the Conqueror, tliough it liad then no baron. Leyland and great part of Amounder- 
 ness did anciently belong to the Bussells, for in the survey temp. WUl. I. I find one 
 Prog, de Busby and Albert Gresley, who had Blackburn hundred, and afterwards, 
 upon division between them, Grelley had part of Leyland hundred, as Brindle, 
 
 Wortliington, &c and a knight's fee m Dalton, Wrightington, and P. ... * 
 
 which he gave in marriage with a daughter to one Orme, the son of Edward, and 
 Ashton-under-Line. Montbegon had another part of Leyland luuKked, wliich he 
 held as annexed to Hornby as most part of Croston parish, viz. : — Croston, Madeley, 
 Chorley, Haskenmore, Tarlton, and Hole, formerly part of Warinus's Barony, 
 belonged to the Villers, and afterwards to Montbegon, as likewise Sherington, 
 Welchwallet, and Chernoe, Gogard Adlington, and Duxby, belonged to Grelley. 
 N.B. The baron of Warington had divers territories in Derl)y hundred to be 
 assistant to the baron of Derby, and a fee or two in the huncbed of Amoundemess, as 
 the baron of Manchester held divers fees in the hundred of Leyland; the baron of 
 Newton a knight's fee in Blackburn hundred," &c. 
 
 The more particular succession of the bai'ons of Lancashire Avill be most advan- 
 tageously treated m the hunckeds to wliich the baronies belong, but the rise of the 
 honor into a duchy, and the achievements of the noble and royal house of Lancaster, 
 fi-om the Conquest to the period when they attained the consummation of their 
 dignity, by giving a sovereign to the tlu-one of England, belong to this portion of 
 our liistory. 
 
 * Probably Parbold.
 
 118 CI;r lisitoi-p of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. The castle of Lancaster, built by Roger de Poictou, not only served as a military 
 
 ' foitress to preserve the power of liis royal benefactor, but it was used also as the 
 bai'onial residence. It appears from the " Bai-onia de Manchester," that Robert 
 Bush held Blackbm'n hundred on a temporaiy tenure only, per tres annos, idea non 
 appropriatur, before Lacy was its lord; and the probabUity is, that he held under 
 de Poictou. In the reign of Rufus, Roger de Poictou granted a charter to our lady 
 of Lancaster, to which Albert Grelley, the fii-st baron of Manchester, was a witness.* 
 Tiie In tlie interval between the first cUiisiou of jn'operty, under the Noi-man dynasty 
 
 forfeited and the Domesday survey, the possessions of Roger were forfeited to the crown, 
 Poicfou. by his defection from the royal cause. The honour of Lancaster was, however, 
 A.D.1102. restored to him in the time of WiUiam Rufas, but it was finally alienated on the 
 banishment of Roger, in the 2d Henry I. From that time it remained in the 
 Conferred cro^vii, till it was bcstowed on Ranulf de Bricasard, the tliii'd earl of Chester. The 
 third earl precise time when tliis grant was made, and the circiunstances wliicli called for 
 so sti'ong a manifestation of the royal bounty, ai-e not ascertained, but the follo^\ing 
 translation of an almost illegible chaiter in the British Musemu sufficiently authen- 
 ticates the fact.f 
 
 " Ranulf, Earl of Chester, to his constable, dapifei', justiciaries, sheriffs, 
 and bailifi", that are betwixt Ribble and Mersey, and to all his 
 men, French and English, health. 
 " Know me to have gi-anted and coufii-med to the Abbot of Evesham, and Monks 
 serving God, all possessions, lauds, and tenements, and all liberties given and 
 gi-anted by Waiin and Albert Buissel in all tilings; and also that they may have their 
 comts in HocA\dce of all then- tenants, as truly as I have mine at Penwortham, for 
 him and all liis tenants, household and hayhold, for building or burning, and useful 
 for all other his necessities, without disturbance, or my being, or of any other what- 
 soever. I also ivill and fuinly command, that no man against the same monks con- 
 cerning my gi-ant and confirmation shall interfere upon any occasion, exaction, or 
 confii-mation. I will warrant the aforesaid Abbot, Convent, and then- successors, 
 Avitliout fine or demand, for fear and my forfeiture, but they shall hold the same freely 
 and honourably in all places; and I, Ranulf, and my lieii"s, tlie aforesaid concession 
 and confinnation to the aforesaid Abbot and their successors, with wairant and 
 without fine. — Teste meipso." 
 
 * Kuerden's MSS. folio 271. f Harl. MSS. cod. 7386.
 
 CountP ^3alatin( of tanraEitn-. 
 
 121 
 
 Cftap. ]IF» 
 
 Lands between Ribble and Mersey — Possessed by the earls of Chester — Descend to the Ferrers, earls 
 of Derby. — Earldom of Lancaster. — Tliomas, earl of Lancaster — His opposition to the royal 
 favourite, Piers Gaviston — To the Despensers — Heads the barons against the king — His fate — 
 His reputed miracles after death. — The king's mandate — Marriage of his widow — Forfeits part of 
 her dowry. — Early manners. — Henry, earl of Lancaster — Henry, his son — His military renown — 
 Created duke of Lancaster — Chancery court of Lancaster instituted — County made palatme. — 
 " The good duke of Lancaster's" deeds of arms — Holy relic — His charities to the " black 
 liverys" — To Whalley abbey — To Leicester college. — His death — His issue. — John of Gaunt — 
 His marriage — His possessions — Created duke of Lancaster — His achievements in arms — Obtains 
 the grant of chancery in the duchy and palatine privileges in the county of Lancaster — Advocates 
 the cause of WicklifFe, " the morning star of the Reformation" — Privileges conceded to him at 
 court — Obtains a grant of treasury in the duchy of Lancaster — Demolition of his house by the 
 followers of Wat Tyler — Magnanimity shewn towards and by the duke in Scotland — Charged with 
 a design to usurp the throne — His foreign wars — Extension of the duchy privileges — Espouses 
 Catherine Swinford, his concubine — Legitimatizes her children. — The duke's death and 
 character. 
 
 URING the distui'bed reign of Stephen, Ranulf, the 
 fourth earl of Chester, possessed himself of a tliii-d part of 
 the whole realm of England,* and amongst his posses- 
 sions were the lands ceded to his father between the 
 Ribble and the Mersey. From Ranulf, the son, they 
 descended to Hugh de Kevelioc, and Ranulf, surnamed 
 de Blundeville, son and grandson of the foiTuer. Ranulf 
 de Blundevdlle, in 13 Henry IH. had a confirmation 
 from the king of all his lands between the Ribble and the 
 Mersey, and was made cliief lord, under the king, of the whole county of Lancaster, 
 with all its forests, hays, homages, and other appurtenances. At the same time he exe- 
 
 Nichols's Leicestershire, to which we have been much indebted for the historical materials 
 relating to the illustrious house of Lancaster. 
 
 VOL. I. R 
 
 CHAP. 
 IV. 
 
 Lands 
 
 between 
 
 Ribble 
 
 and 
 
 Mersey. 
 
 A.D. 1228. 
 
 Possessed 
 by the 
 earls of 
 Chester.
 
 122 Cljt ??ieitorp of tl)e 
 
 CHAP, cuted the office of sheriff by his deputies in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth of that 
 ^^' kino-. Ranulf paid down forty marks of silver for these lands to Roger de Maresey, 
 and afterwai-ds two hundred marks more ; and agi-eed further to render annually, at 
 Easter, a pair of wliite gloves, or one penny, for all services whatsoever. This earl, 
 after enjoying his possessions fifty-one years, died in 1252; and, leaving no issue, his 
 Avliole inheritance was shared by liis four sisters and coheiresses. Maud, tlie eldest, 
 man-ied David, earl of Huntingdon, brother to William, Idug of Scots ; Mabil, the 
 nest, mai-ried William de Albini, earl of Arundel ; Agnes, the third sister, married 
 William, earl of FeiTers, the sixth in lineal descent fi-om Robert de Ferrers, raised 
 by lung Stephen to the earldom of Derby, for liis prowess at the battle of the Stan- 
 Descend dard, iu the tliii'd year of the king. The heu's of the first earl of Derby were 
 Ferrers, usually Called eai'ls of Ferrers, though they were likewise earls of Derby. Tliis 
 Deiby.^ Agucs had the castle of Chartley, in Staffordsliii-e, and the lands in that part of 
 Wales called Powis; and also the manor of West Derby, and all earl Rauulf's lands 
 between the Ribble and Mersey; with Buckbrock, in Nortliamptonshire, and Navenby, 
 in Lincolnsliii'e. In the eighth year of Henry III., William, earl of Fen-ers, was 
 constituted governor of the castle and honor of Lancaster;* and the next year 
 he executed the sheriff's office for this county for tlu-ee parts of the year, as he did 
 likewise for the whole of the tenth and the eleventh years of the king's reign. In 
 addition to £50 for the relief of the lands of liis wife's inheritance, he and she were 
 bound to pay yearly a goshawk, or fifty sliillings, into the Idng's exchequer, as had 
 A.D.1241. been usual for lauds lying between the rivers Ribble and Mersey. In 26 Henry III. 
 he gave a fine of £100 to the king for the livery of the three hundreds of West 
 Derby, Leyland, and Salford, which had been seized into the king's hands for 
 certain misdemeanors of liis bailiffs. This earl (Hed on the 20th of September, 
 1247, and liis countess survived liim only one month — they having lived together as 
 man and wife seventy-seven years ! 
 
 William, earl of Ferrers, son and heir of the above earl and countess, had hvery 
 of liis lands and castle in the year 1247 ; and the next year he obtained a mandate 
 to the sheriff of Lancashire for the enjoyment of such lands between Ribble and 
 Mersey as liis uncle Ranulf, earl of Chester, fonnerly possessed. He also obtained 
 a charter for free wai'ren, for himself and Ids heii's, in all liis demesne, tlu'oughout 
 his lordships in Lancashii'e and elsewhercj" Three years afterwards he procured a 
 
 * Dugdale's Baron, ex Pat. 8 Hen. III. m. 12. 
 
 t Ranulfus, consul Cestrie, constabulario, dapifero, baronibus, justiciariis, vicecomitibus, ministris, 
 
 & ballivis, quicunque fuerint, inter Ribbam et Mersam, & omnibus liominibus suis, Francis & Anglis, 
 
 salutem. Sciatis me concessisse Deo & Sancte Marie, & monachis de Evesham, eleemosinam 
 
 suam de Hocwicce, ita bene & libere, & quiets, & lionorific^, sicut meliils tenuerunt tempore comitis
 
 Countp |3alatine of SLanrasfttr. 123 
 
 special gi-aiit from the king of such officers, for conservation of the peace between chap. 
 
 Ribble and Mersey, as Ranulf, earl of Chester, formerly had; wliich officers were L_ 
 
 maintained at the expense of the inhabitants. By Margaret, his second ^\ife, one of 
 the daughters and cohcii'esses of Roger de Quencey, earl of Winchester, he had two 
 sons; Robert succeeded liim in the earldom of Derby, and settled at Groley, in 
 Leicestershire. This unfortunate earl took part with Simon de Montfort, and was 
 deprived of liis earldom and all Ids estates in 1265 ; among wliich were all his lands 
 between Ribble and Mersey. These possessions Henry III. united ^ntli the honor 
 of Lancaster, and gave to Edmund Croucliback, liis youngest son, who, by that 
 king's creation, was the first Earl of Lancaster. 
 
 ^arls of UmxtmUv. 
 
 Ethnund Croucliback was the distinguished favomite of liis father; and on St. 
 Luke's day, in the year 1253, the king convened many of his nobles, along with the 
 bishop of Romania, who came to liim fi-om pope Innocent IV., and, having brought 
 a ring from his Holiness, used it as a symbol to invest Edmund Avith the dominion of 
 SicUy and Apulia, whereupon he had the title of king of Sicily. Tliis grant produced 
 some of the most important events in our history ; amongst others, the association of 
 the barons against Hemy HI. ; the a2)pointing of conservators of the peace in this 
 and the other counties of England; and the settling of the democratical part of our 
 constitution on a pennanent basis by Sunon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, while the 
 king was liis prisoner. Piince Echuund, about the same time that he took the title 
 of king of Sicily, was made eai-1 of Chester. Upon Innocent's death, Alexander IV. 
 confirmed prince Edmund in the grant of the kingdom of Sicily in due form ; but 
 pope Urban IV. by a bull in 1263, revoked the deed, and Edmund renounced the 
 claim to the crown of that kingdom. The prince was amply compensated for the 
 
 Rogeri Pictavensis, & tempore Ranulfi patris mei, & sicut decet eleemosinam fiabere sancta ecclesia. 
 Ita quod nuUus super monachos predictos se intromittat de predict^ eleemosina, nee de operationibus, 
 nee de aliis exactionibus, nee de occasione aliquS, aliquis eos vel eorum eleemosinam, super timorem 
 meum & super forisfactum meum, inquietet ; sed honorifice teneant in terris, & decimis, & pasturis, 
 & in bosco, & in piano, & in aquis, & in molendinis, & piscariis, & in omnibus aliis locis. Testibus, 
 Eustachio constabulario Cestrie, & Hugone Ostvero, & Serlone venatore, & Richardo Buissel, 
 Richardo Pine', apud Molas warini. — Du^da/e, Mon. Ang. 1. p. 361.
 
 CHAP. 
 IV. 
 
 Earldom 
 of Lan- 
 caster. 
 
 124 
 
 m)t I^i'sitori? of t\)t 
 
 loss of that imaginary power; for on the 4th of August, 1265, his brother Edward 
 havino- defeated the Earl of Leicester and his atlherents iu the battle of Evesham, 
 the kino-, by his letters patent, beai'ing date the 25th of October, created him earl of 
 Leicester; giving him therewith the honor of Hinckley, and the stewardsliip of 
 England. The next year he received from liis noble benefactor the honor, to^vn, 
 and castle of Derby, with all the effects belonging to Robert de Ferrers, earl of 
 Derby. In addition to other grants, he received also the honor, earldom, castle, 
 and town of Lancaster, with the forests of Wiresdale and Lonesdale.* 
 
 * ROYAL GRANT TO EDMUND CROUCHBACK, 
 
 51 Henry III. 
 
 " Rex concessit Edmundo filio suo castrum de Kenilleworth. Habend' sibi & heredibus de 
 corpore. Et quod liberam chaceam & liberam warrennara in omnibus dnicis terris & boscis pertin' 
 ad castrum. 
 
 " Rex concessit prefato Edmundo honorem, castrum, & manerium de Monemouth, cum pertin". 
 Habend' sibi & hered' de corpor'. 
 
 " Rex concessit prefato Edmundo castra de Grossemunde, Skenefrithe, & Blaunchastel. Habend' 
 ut supra. 
 
 " Henricus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie, dominus Hibemie, & dux Aquitanie, archiepiscopis, &c. 
 salutem. Sciatis nos dedisse, concessisse, & hac carta nostra confirmasse Edmundo filio nostro 
 carissimo, honorem, com', castrum, & villam de Lancastr', cum vaccariis & forestis de Wiresdel & 
 Lonnedsdall, & Novum castrum subtus Lynam. Et manerium, castrum, & forestam de Pykering. 
 Et villam nostram de Gounemecestr'. Et redditum nostrum villate de Huntindon, cum omnibus 
 pertin' suis. Habenda & tenenda eidem Edmundo, & heredibus suis de corpore suo legitime procreat', 
 de nobis & heredibus nostris, cum feodis militum, advocationibus ecclesiarum, chartis, libertatibus, 
 consuetudinibus, & aliis omnibus ad honorem, com', castra, villas, dominica, vaccaria, forestas, & 
 redditum predictum pertinentibus. Faciendo nobis & hered' nostris servicia inde debita & consueta. 
 Ita quod prefatum Edmundum vel heredes sues predictos inde non disseissiemus, nee disseisiri permit- 
 temus; donee sibi excambium rationabile fecerimus in aliis terris nostris ad valorem honoris, comitat', 
 castrorum, villarum, dominicorum, vaccar', forestarum, & reddituum predictorum. Ita etiam quod si 
 prefatus Edmundus sine heredibus de corpore suo legitime procreat' decesserit, honor', com', castra, 
 ville, dominica, vaccarie, foreste, & redditus predict' cum pertin', ad nos vel heredes nostros integr^ 
 revtantur. Quare volumus ^& firmiter precepimus, pro nobis & heredibus nostris, quod dictus 
 Edmundus & heredes sui predicti imperpetuum habeant & teneant honorem, com', castra, maner', 
 villas, dominica, vaccar', forestas, & redditus predict', cum feodis militum, advocationibus ecclesiarum, 
 chartis, libertatibus, consuetudinibus, & omnibus aliis ad eadem pertin', faciendo nobis & heredibus 
 nostris servitia inde debita & consueta. Ita quod prefatum Edmundum vel heredes suos predictos 
 inde non disseisiemus, nee disseisiri permittemus, donee escambium rationabile sibi fecerimus in aliis 
 terris nostris ad valenciam honoris, comitatus, castr', maneriorum, villarum, dominicorum, vaccar', 
 forestar', & reddituum predictorum. Ita etiam, quod si prefatus Edmundus sine heredibus de corpore
 
 Coimtp palatine of 2Lantagten 125 
 
 The foUomng year the king announced to his knights, vassals, and other tenants chap. 
 of the Honor of Lancaster, that he had given to liis son Echnund that honor, Avith 
 
 tlie wards, reUefs, and escheats, attached to it.* In the same year, during the ad. 129-2. 
 king's residence at York, he issued a royal mandate, from wliich it appears, that, 
 although he granted the possessions in the county of Lancaster to his son Edmund 
 for liis sustentation, that grant was not to operate to the injury of Roger de Lancas- 
 ter.! The royal hounty was still further extended in the foUomng year, by a grant 
 jfrom the Idng, of possessions forfeited by the treason of Simon de Montfort.J In 
 the year 1284, Edward I. in an inspeximus, dated at Lincoln, on the 15th of 
 
 suo legitime procreatis decesserit, honor', comitat', castra, maneria, villa, dominica, vaccarie, foreste, & 
 redditus predict', cum pertinen', ad nos & heredes nostros integre revertantur, sicut predictum est, 
 " Hiis testibus, 
 
 " JoHANNE DE Warexna comite Surr', 
 " Humfr' de Bohun comite Hereford & Essex, 
 " Phillippo Basset, 
 " rogero de somery, 
 " Aland la Rusche, 
 " Stephano de Eddeworthe, 
 " Bartholomew le Bigod & aliis. 
 " Dat' per manum nostram apud Sanctum Paulum, London', tricesimo die Junii, anno regni 
 nostri quinquagesirao prime." 
 
 * ROYAL MANDATE, 
 52 Henry HL 
 " Rex militibus, liberis hominibus, et omnibus aliis ten' de honore Lancastr', salutem. Cum 
 dudum dederimus Edmundo filio nostro honorem predictum, cum wardis, releviis, escaetis, et omnibus 
 aliis rebus pertinent', ad ipsum honorem spectantibus ; habend sibi et heredibus suis de corpore suo 
 legitime'procreand'imperpetuum. Vobis mandamus quod eidem Edmundo et heredibus suis, sicut pre- 
 dictum est, in omnibus que ad dictum honorem pertinent de cetero sitis intendentes et respondentes. 
 " Teste rege apud Westm', octavo die Februarii, anno regni sui quinquagesimo secundo." 
 
 t GUARANTEE TO ROGER DE LANCASTER, 
 
 52 Henry HL 
 
 " Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Cum nuper commisserimus dilecto et fideli nostro Rogero 
 de Lancastr' comitat' nrm Lancastr' cum pertinentiis, custod' quod vixerit ; ita quod reddet nobis 
 inde per ann. centum marcas ad Seem nostrum. Et postmodum com' ilium cum pertin' Edmundo 
 filio nostro cino ad sustentacionem suam concesserimus. Nos volentes eidem Rogero in hac parte 
 nostram facere specialem promittiinus ei bona fide, quod ipsum in premissis conservabimus indempnis 
 temporibus oportunis. In cujus, &c. 
 
 " Teste rege apud Ebor', decimo quinto die Septembris, anno regni sui lijdo." 
 
 I FURTHER GRANT TO PRINCE EDMUND, 
 
 53 Henry III. 
 
 " Rex omnibus ballivis, &c. salutem. Cum per cartam nostram dederimus et concesserimus 
 Edmundo filio nostro honorem, villam, castrum Leyc', et omnes terras et ten' ejusdem honoris, cum
 
 126 Clje iSt'sitorp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. August, confirmed the grant of the Honor of Lancaster made by Hemy III. to liis 
 ^^' brother Ecbnund, and forbids the sheriifs of Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincoln, Northamp- 
 ton, Leicester, Derby, York, Rutland, and Stafford, or their officers, from entering 
 the Honor of Lancaster.* 
 
 These vast possessions laid the foundation of the future greatness of the house of 
 Lancaster; the power and influence of which increased to such a magnitude as 
 ultimately to seat the family on the tlu'one of these realms. In 21 Edwai-d I. prince 
 Edmund procured license to make a castle of his house, in the ptii-ish of St. Clement 
 Danes, in the county of Middlesex, called the Savoy j and he founded that house of 
 
 feodis militum et aliis pertinentibus suis, qucumque nomine censeri possint, que fuerunt quondam 
 Simonis de Monteforti comitis Leyc', inimici nostri, et que secundum legem et consuetudi- 
 nem regni nostri, per guerram quam contra nos, ad coheredacoem iiram, in regno nro exci- 
 tavit, et bellaque contra nos, in quorum altero, apud Evesham tanquam inimicus noster inter- 
 fectus fuerat, commisit, ad nos tanquam escaeta iira per pdcra forisfactum deveuerunt ; habend' 
 et tenend' eidem Edmundo et heredibus suis de corpore legitime procreatis imperpetuum. Nos, 
 eidem filio gratiam facere volentes uberiorem concessimus ei senescalciam Anglie, quam idem 
 Simon quondam habuit, habend' et tenend' ad totam vitam ipsius Edraundi, cum omnibus ad senes- 
 calciam illam pertinentibus, de gratia nra speciali. In cujus, &c. 
 
 " Teste rege, apud Winds', none die Maii, anno regni sui 53°." 
 
 * CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF HENRY III., 
 13 Edward I. 
 " Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Inspeximus literas quas Celebris memorie dominus 
 Henricus pater iir fecit carissimo fratri nro Edmundo comiti Lane', m hec verba : ' Henricus, dei 
 gratia. Rex Anglie, dhus Hibernie, & dux Aquitan', vicecomitibus Norff', Suff', Lincoln', Notting', 
 Leyc', Derb', Eboru, Rotel', & Staff', & omnibus aliis vicecom', & senescall' in quorum bal- 
 livis honor Lancastr' consistit, salutem. Sciatis quod per cartam nram concessimus & dedimus 
 Edmundo filio nostro carissimo honorem predictum, cum omnibus homagiis, wardis, releviis, 
 escaetiis, redditibus, & omnibus aliis ad honorem ilium pertin', habend' sibi & heredibus suis de 
 corpore suo legitime procreand' imperpetuum. Et ideo vobis precipimus, firmiter injungentes, 
 quod de honore illo, aut hominibus illius honoris, seu aliquibus aliis ad ilium honorem spectantibus, 
 in nullo vos intromittatis aut ballivos vros intromittere permittatis, sicut vultis vos ipsos indempnes 
 conservare, nisi de ballivis prefati filii nri fueritis requisiti. Et si aliqui vrm vel ballivorum vrorum 
 aliquid de hiis que ad ipsum honorem spectant reperitis, id sine dilatione predicto filio nro vel 
 ballivis reddi faciatis. Distringatis etiam tenentes de predicto honore, quotiens, a ballivis predictis 
 fueritis requisiti, quod eisdem balhvis de cetero sint intendentes & respondentes in omnibus predic- 
 tum honorem tangentibus in forma predicta. Ita quod non oporteat nos pro defectu vestri super 
 negotio predicto soUicitari. In cujus rei testimonium has literas nras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste 
 meipso apud Lincoln' decimo, octavo die Augusti, anno regni nri quinquagesimo secundo.' Nos 
 autem tras illas acceptamus pro nobis & heredibus iiris in forma predicta. In cujus, &c. 
 
 r • " Teste, ut supra." :■''
 
 Coimtj) |3alatint of Eaitrastcr. 127 
 
 nuns of the order of St. Clara, called the Minoresses, without Aldgate, in London, chap. 
 He also was the cliief builder of the Grey-fiiars house in Preston, in this county. ' 
 
 Tliis gi-eat earl, by Blanch, his second wife, daughter of Robert, earl of Artois, (tlmxl 
 son of Lewis VIIL king of France) and widow of Henry of Navan-e, had three 
 sons — Thomas, Henry, and John, and a daughter. lu 24 Edward L beuig sent Avith 
 the earl of Lincoln and twenty-six bannerets into Gascony, they sat down before 
 Bourdeaux; but, seeing no likelihood of its surrender, they marched to Bayonne. 
 Here their army began to dissolve, on account of thek treasure being exhausted, and 
 prince Edmund became so much affected by the embarrassments of their situation, 
 that he fell sick and died, about the feast of Pentecost, 1296. By Ms will he 
 directed that liis body should not be buried till Ids debts were paid; and it was not 
 till after the truce of that year that liis corpse was carried into England, and buried 
 in the abbey church of Westminster, where a splendid monument is erected to liis 
 memory.* 
 
 Thoma.s, earl of Lancaster, the eldest son and immetliate successor of prince A.D.1297. 
 Edmimd, chd homage in 26 Edward L and had livery of Ids lands, except the Thomas, 
 dowry of Blanch, Ids mother. After this ceremony, he marched into Scotland Lancaster. 
 through Lancashii-e, the king himself bemg in the expecUtion. Being sheriff of 
 Lancashire by inheritance, he appointed Richard de Hoghton his deputy in that 
 office; and in the next year he was summoned to parliament by the king. In 
 4 Edwai'd H. he mamed Alice, the sole daughter of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, a.d.isio. 
 and, in virtue of that marriage, became possessed of the castles and lands belonging 
 to that (Ustinguished house. With tlds accession of property, the earl of Lancaster 
 became the most opulent, as well as the most powerful subject in England, and 
 possessed in his own right, and that of Ids wife, no fewer than six earldoms, attended 
 with all the jurisdictions and power, which in that age, and under the feudal system, 
 were annexed to landed possessions. Li the following year he was the chief of 
 those nobles who entered into a combination against Piers de Ga\iston, the king's 
 Gascon favourite, with the avowed intention of defenchng the religion of the state, 
 and restoring the people's liberties. Being made choice of by the barons for their His oppo- 
 general, the earl of Lancaster sent messengers to the king, requu'ing the delivery of the rojai 
 Piers into their hands, or that he should be bamshed the reahn. Such was the Piers 
 inveteracy of the nobles against the royal favourite, that it is said that Henry de 
 Lacy charged the earl of Lancaster upon his death-bed, that he should maintam his 
 quarrel against Gaviston. Tlds injunction the earl faithfully obeyed, and, after a 
 protracted sti'uggle with the king, the earls of Lancaster, Hereford, and Arundel, 
 
 * See Gough's " Sepulchral Monuments of Great Britain," and Nichols's History of Leicester- 
 shire, vol. i. p. 222.
 
 128 Cftf liJStOfJ) of tftf 
 
 CHAP. haviii<T seized GaAiston in the castle of Warwick, struck off his head without the 
 
 IV. 
 
 formality of a trial. 
 
 Tliis act of disloyalty, both to the king and to the laws, awakened in the mind of 
 
 Edwai'd a determination to execute vengeance upon the offenders ; but, being less 
 
 constant in liis enmities than in liis fi'iendships, he soon after hearkened to terms of 
 
 accommodation, and granted to the earl of Lancaster, and to the other delinquent 
 
 bai'ons, pardon of their offence, stipulating only that they should, on their knees, 
 
 ask liis forgiveness in public* With these mild conditions they very cheerfully 
 
 complied, and, having made their submission, they were again received into the 
 
 royal favour. It was the misfortune of the reign of Edward to be disturbed by 
 
 favouritism on the part of the king, and discontent on the part of the people, or 
 
 To the rather of the barons. Gaviston was succeeded in the royal confidence by Hugh 
 
 sers. le Despenser, or Spenser, and by his father, a venerable nobleman, whose wisdom 
 
 and moderation were not sufficient to check the opposite qualities in his son. No 
 
 sooner was Edward's attachment declared for the Spensers, than the tm-bulent 
 
 barons, headed again by the earl of Lancaster, concerted plans for their ruin, and 
 
 manifested theu* discontent by fldthdr'awing from parliament. The Spensers were 
 
 accused of having committed injustice on the barons of Audley and Ammori, who 
 
 possessed considerable estates in the marshes of Wales, and also on the heir of 
 
 William de Braose, lord of Gower, who had made a settlement of liis estate on 
 
 Jolm de Mo«:bray, liis son-in-law ; and, in case of failiu'e of that nobleman and his 
 
 issue, had substituted the earl of Hereford in the succession to the barony of Gower. 
 
 Mowbray, on the decease of liis father-in-law, entered immediately into possession 
 
 of the estate, without the fonuality of taking " livery and seisin from the crown." 
 
 From tliis infonnality the younger Spenser, who coveted that barony, persuaded the 
 
 king to put in execution the rigour of the feudal law, to seize Gower as escheated 
 
 Heads the to the crowu, aud to confer it upon liim. This gi'oss act of injustice so alai'med the 
 
 against earl of Hereford, that he complained to Thomas earl of Lancaster, who thereupon 
 
 '"^' mustered a number of the barons, with their adherents, at Sliii-eburne ; and from 
 
 thence marched armed, and with banners, to St. Alban's, with the determination to 
 
 reform the administration of the government. After remaining in this place for 
 
 three days, the earl of Lancaster sent the bishops of Ely, Hereford, and Cliichester, 
 
 to the Idng, then in London, requiring tliat he should banish the Spensers, as 
 
 persons highly obnoxious to the people for vaiious acts of unposition and oppression. 
 
 Scarcely afforcUng time to ascertain the success of this negociation, the earl and his 
 
 adherents fell upon the lands of the younger Spenser, wliich they pillaged and laid 
 
 waste ; murdered liis servants, drove off liis cattle, and burnt his houses. They 
 
 * Ryley, p. 538.
 
 Coimtj) ^3alatmt of iLaiuasitn-, 129 
 
 then proceeded to commit similar devastations on the estates of his father, and, chap. 
 having formed aii association among themselves, they marched to London with all ' 
 
 theii- forces, stationed themselves in the neighbourhood of that city, and exliibited 
 before the parliament, which was then sitting, charges against the Spongers, who 
 were both of them at that time absent from the country. These chai'ges the lay- 
 bai'ons declared to he proved, and passed a sentence of attainder and perpetnal 
 exUe against the ministers. Tlie conunons, though now an estate in parliament, 
 were yet so little considered, that their assent was not required ; and even the votes 
 of the prelates were dispensed Avith on the present occasion. To secure themselves 
 against consequences, the barons obtained from the king an indemnity for their 
 illegal proceedings.* The foUoinng year the king raised a powerful anny, with 
 which he marched into Wales, and so far recovered confidence in liis o^vn strength, 
 as to recall the Speusers. Many of the barons, considering their cause hopeless, 
 sent in their submission ; but thg. earl of Lancaster, in order to prevent the total 
 ruin of his party, summoned together Ms vassals and retainers, and, having received 
 the promise of reinforcements, advanced with liis forces against the king, who had 
 collected an army of tlm-ty thousand men. The earl, being aware of the inferiority 
 of Ids own force, despatched into Lancashii-e Sir Robert de Holland, whom he had 
 advanced from the humble office of liis butler to the dignity of knighthood, Avith a 
 stipend of two thousand marks per annum, to bring up fi^e huucked men out of that 
 coimty. The requu'ed force was raised without difficulty, but the perfidious knight, 
 instead of bringing them to the earl, conducted them to the king. Finding himself 
 disappointed of his levies, the earl marched to his castle at Pontefract, the ancient 
 seat of the Lacies. Having called a council of the bai'ons by whom he was sur- 
 rounded, wliich sat in the Black-friars in Pontefract, they advised liim to march to 
 Dunstanburgh," iu Northumberland ; but this adnce he declined, and I'esolved to 
 remain at Pontefract ; Avhereupon Sir Roger de Clifibrd, one of his knights, drawing 
 out liis dagger, swore that he would plunge it into the breast of the earl, if he would 
 not submit to the counsel that had been given to liim. Under the influence of these 
 cogent arguments, the earl quitted Pontefract, and marched to Boroughbridge, where, 
 finding the country-people in arms, and William, lord Latimer, then governor of the 
 city of York, and Sn Andrew de Harcla, warden of Carlisle and the Marches, ready 
 to encounter liim, the battle commenced without delay. The first thscharge of arrows His Fate. 
 from the archers of the royal army proved so fatal to the Lancasterian force, that 
 the earl betook himself to a chapel, wliich he refused to jield to Harcla, though he 
 saw liis force partly dispersed and partly destroyed. Looking on the crucifix in the 
 chapel, he spid :— " Good Lord, I render myself to thee, and put myself into thy 
 
 * Tottle's Collect, part ii. p. 54. 
 VOL. I. S .
 
 130 CI)f iJtsitorL) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, mercy." His prayers were unavailing ; the royal forces entered the chapel, and 
 ' the earl was made prisoner. To add indignity to liis misfortune, liis enemies took 
 off liis coat of armour, and, putting upon liim one of liis men's liveries, they cai-ried 
 him fii-st to York, and afterwards to Pontefract, where he was pelted hy the mob, 
 and confined in the tower of the castle. " Being brought into the hall, in the 
 presence of the Idng, he had sentence of death by these justices, viz., Aymer, earl of 
 Pembroke, Echuund earl of Kent, John de Bretaigne, and Sii- Robert Malmethorpe. 
 His defence was not listened to by liis judges, and the earl, in the bitterness of his 
 complaint, exclaimed — " Shall I die without answer ?" After quitting the com't, he 
 was exposed to fresh insults, and being set upon a wretched horse, without bridle, 
 he Avas paraded through the streets with a friar's liood upon his head. On his way 
 to the j)lace of execution, he cried — ' King of heaven, have mercy on me ! for the 
 king of the earth nous ad guerthi.' Having arrived at a liill without the iowa, he 
 knelt down towards the east, until Hugiii de Mustoii caused liim to turn his face 
 toward Scotland, when an executioner from Loudon cut off his head." 
 
 A number of the earl's followers were afterwards condemned and executed ; 
 others fled beyond the seas, and, for a time, the public tranquillity was restored. 
 His character is chfferently estmiated. His partisans represented liim as a saint ; 
 his enemies, as a sinner, and that of no ordinary magnitude : by the former he is 
 said to have wrought miracles after his death; by the latter he is described as a 
 turbulent subject, an arbitrary master, and a faithless husband. The just way to 
 estmiate his character is to make due allowance for the prejudices both of liis 
 friends and liis enemies; and the conclusion mil then be, that he was a munificent 
 benefactor to the poor, a devoted adherent to liis own order, and a man of more than 
 orthnary mental powers; while, at the same time, he was ambitious, incontinent, and 
 disloyal. 
 His re- Many mkacles were reported to have been wrought at the tomb of this earl of 
 
 lacics af- Lancaster ; and the people flocked in great numbers to the place of his execution, 
 till the Idng, at the instance of the Spensers, set guards to restrain them. So great 
 indeed was the veneration paid to liim, that they worsliipped liis picture, which, with 
 other tilings, was painted on a tablet in St. Paul's cathech-al, London, till the king, 
 by liis special letters to the bishop, dated from York, inhibited them from so doing. 
 The royal mandate, which is highly chai'acteristic of the age, and forms a striking- 
 proof of the estimation in which this earl of Lancaster was held, is subjoined in a 
 translation : — 
 
 The king's " The king to the venerable father in Christ, Stephen, by the same grace bishop 
 of London, gTcetuig. It hath been thundered in our ears, to our severe afiliction, 
 that many of the people of God, committed to your direction, being imposed upon by 
 
 tei- death. 
 
 mandate.
 
 Countp ^3alatinf of 2:nnfa6tfi% I3i 
 
 a tliabolical fraud, foolishly approaching a certain picture in your church of St. Paul's, chap. 
 London, on wliich are depicted certain statues, sculptures, or images of divers " 
 
 persons, and, among the rest, the effigies of Thomas, formerly earl of Lancaster, an 
 enemy and rebel to us, worship and adore it, ^\ithout the authority of the cliurch of 
 Rome, as if it Avere a holy tiling, asserting that miracles are worked there, to the 
 shame of the whole church, to our and your dishonour, the manifest danger of the 
 souls of the people aforesaid, and a pernicious example to others ; and wliich 
 you, knomng that these abuses prevail among the people entrusted to you, have 
 permitted to be done, or rather pretended to be done, for the salie of gain or filthy 
 lucre, by wluch we are not a little (Usturbed : We, therefore, command and strongly 
 enjoin you, that you consider well the above premises, and observe that the above 
 church is of our patrmiony, and that as, by reason of fidelity you owe to us, you wish 
 to keep our honour safe, and to prevent our dishonour, you by all means prohibit the 
 said people to approach the picture aforesaid, nor let them, witliout authority from the 
 church of Rome, presume to make prayers, offerings, or any tiling else tencUng to 
 divine worship, as you know to be your duty, according to canonical sanctions, in such 
 wise conducting yourself on tliis behalf, that you may avoid our indignation and the 
 wi'ath of God ; and the people aforesaid, being profitably instructed by the prudence 
 of your doctrines, may wholly desist from the aforesaid abuses, that the renown of your 
 praise may be spread among the same people, and that we may justly continue the 
 benevolence conceived towards you and the aforesaid church. And what you shall 
 resolve to do in this matter, describe in your letters to us without loss of time. 
 
 " Witness the king, at York, 28th June, 16th year of his reign." 
 
 Notwithstanding this inliibition, the memory of the deceased earl was cherished 
 with the deepest veneration; and it was generally believed, in that age of super- 
 stition, that, in addition to other miracles, blood issued from his tomb. In the reign 
 of Edward I. the king, in compliance AA-ith the wishes of liis subjects, presented 
 a petition to the pope, beseecliing liim to gi-ant canonization to the departed earl 
 Thomas;* but it does not appear that tliis saint was ever added to the calendar. 
 
 Ancient slander asserts that Alice, the wife of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, Maniage 
 
 of Ills 
 
 was repudiated by her husband on account of her familiarity with Ebulo Le Strange, widow. 
 a younger son of lord Strange, of Knockin. However this may be, after the 
 death of her husband, she was manied by Ebulo without the king's license; 
 and all the lands of her inheritance, which were held of the king in capite, Avere Foifeits 
 seized and detained. This confiscation Avas not relaxed till she delivered up dowry. 
 those lands wliich lay in the counties of Lancaster, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, and gave 
 * Rot. Rom. et Franc. 1 Edw. III. n. 4. in Turr. Lend. 
 S 2
 
 manners. 
 
 132 €l)t ?)l£itOll) Of U)t 
 
 CHAP, tlie castle and lordsliip of Denbigh, in Wales, and also the castle of Biilliugbrook, 
 ^^' in the county of Lincoln, and other parts of the kingdom, unto Hugh le Despenser, 
 the royal favomite. After being divested of these immense possessions, the lands 
 which she still held amounted to no less a sum in annual value than -3000 marks. 
 At the death of tliis lady, which occun-ed in the year 1348, all the lands of that 
 oi-eat inheritance, which descended to her from Henry de Lacy, late eaii of Lincoln, 
 by virtue of the grant made by her father, and by the gi-ant of king Edward I. came 
 to Henry, earl of Lancaster, afterwards the duke of Lancaster; which lands lay in 
 Blackbumsliii-e, Rochdale, Tottington, and Penwortham, in thecounty of Lancaster; 
 Halton, in the county of Chester; Bowland and Snaith, in the county of York; and 
 divers other parts of the kingdom. 
 
 Early A household book of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, preserved in the record of 
 
 Pontefract, and quoted by Stow, exhibits a curious illustration of the manners 
 and customs of the early part of the fourteenth century. This book, kept by Henry 
 Leicester, liis cofferer, shows the amount of the disbursements of Tliomas, earl of 
 Lancaster, in liis domestic expenses, for tlie year 1313, which were no less than 
 £7359. 13s. 0|f/. At that time sUver was of the value of one sliilling and eight- 
 pence the ounce, or 20s. the lb. troy: his total expense, therefore, in one year, 
 amounted in our money to about twenty-two thousand pounds — an inmiense 
 amount, when the great dispaiity in the price of provisions between that tune and 
 this is considered. 
 
 ii^ciu0rf)oltr laooft of ^Tijonia^, i5arl of Itanraetfr, in tftc Wcav 1313. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 Charge of the pantry, butteiy, and Idtchen 3405 
 
 To 184 tuns, 1 pipe, of red or claret wine, and 2 tuns of 
 
 white Avine 104 17 6 
 
 Togi-ocery 180 17 
 
 To 6 ban-els of sturgeon 1900 
 
 To 6800 stock-fishes, so called, and for dried fislies of all 
 
 sorts, as lings, haberchnes, (kc 4167 
 
 To 1714 pounds of wax, vermilion, and turpentine . . . 314 7 4^ 
 To 2319 pounds of taUow-candles for the household, and 
 
 1870 of lights for Palis candles called perchers . . . 31 14 3 
 
 *To charge of the earl's great horses and servants' wages . 486 4 Si 
 
 To linen for the earl and liis chaplains, and for the paiitiy . 43 17 
 
 To 129 dozen of paixhment, and ink 4 8 3J 
 
 * The number of the earl's horses was generally about 1 ,500.
 
 Countp ^3a!atinc of aanfa^trr. 133 
 
 To 2 clotlis of scai-let for the earl's use; one of russet for tlie £. s. d. chap. 
 
 bishop of Anjou; 70 of bUie for the knights ; 28 for the L_ 
 
 esquii-es; 15 of mecUey for the clerks; 15 for the ofEcers; 
 19 for the gi-ooms; 5 for the archers; 4 for the minstrels 
 and carpenters, with the sharing and carnage for the 
 
 eail's liveries at Christinas 460 15 
 
 To 7 furs of variable miniver, or powdered ermine, 7 hoods 
 of purple, 395 furs of budge for the liveries of barons, 
 knights, and clerks; 123 furs of lamb, bought at Christ- 
 mas for the esquu-es 147 17 8 
 
 To 65 saf&on-coloured cloths for the barons and knights 
 in summer; 12 red cloths for the clerks; 26 ray cloths 
 for the esquires, 1 for the ofEcers; and 4 ray cloths for 
 
 carpets in the hall 345 13 8 
 
 To 100 pieces of gi-een silk for the kniglits; 14 budge furs 
 for surcoats; 13 hoods of budge for clerks; 75 furs of 
 lambs for liveries in summer, with canvass and cords to 
 
 truss them 72 19 
 
 To saddles for the lord's summer liveries 51 6 8 
 
 To 1 saddle for the eai'l, of the prince's aims 2 
 
 To several items [the pai-ticulars in the account defaced] . 24114 U 
 
 To horses lost in the service of the earl 8 6 8 
 
 To fees paid to earls, barons, knights, and esquires . . . 623 15 5 
 To gifts to knights of France, the queen of England's 
 nurses, to the Countess of Wan-en, esquii-es, minstrels, 
 
 messengers, and riders 92 14 
 
 To 168 yards of russet cloth, and 24 coats for poor men, 
 
 with money given the poor on Maucdv Thursday ... 8167 
 To 24 silver dishes; 24 saucers; 24 cups; 1 pair of pater- 
 nosters; 1 sUver coifer; all bought this year .... 103 5 6 
 To diverse messengers about tlie earl's business .... 34 19 8 
 
 To sunchy things in the earl's chamber 5 
 
 To several old debts paid tliis year 88 16 Oi 
 
 The expenses of the countess at Pickering, in the pantry, 
 
 buttery, kitchen, &c 285 13 4 i 
 
 In wine, wax, spices, cloths, furs, &c. for the countess's 
 
 wai-cb-obe 154 7 4i 
 
 Total £7359 13 Oj
 
 CHAP. 
 IV. 
 
 134 m)t JnstOll) Of tt)t 
 
 A Maximum on the price of provisions was established by a royal proclamation 
 in 1314, by which the following rates were fixed : — 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 The best gi'ass-fed ox alive 0160 
 
 The best giain-fed ox 14 
 
 Tlie best cow alive and fat 12 
 
 The best hog of two-years old 034 
 
 Tlie best shorn mutton 012 
 
 The best goose 003 
 
 Tlie best cajwn 2J 
 
 The best hen 1| 
 
 The best cliickens, 2 for U 
 
 The best young pigeons, 3 for 1 
 
 20 eggs 1 
 
 Henry, 
 earl of 
 Lancas 
 ter. 
 
 Tliis maximum, after existing for twelve yeai"s, was repealed in the year 1326. 
 
 Henry, brother and heir of Tliomas eai'l of Lancaster, obtained a gi'ant of the 
 custody of the castles and honor of Lancaster, Tutbuiy, and Pickering, 20 Edw. II., 
 and in the followuig year an act was passed for reversing the attainder of his unfor- 
 A.D.1326. tunate brother ; Avhereupon he became possessed of all the lands and lordships 
 which had been seized on the death of liis brother, namely, the earldoms of Lancas- 
 ter and Leicester, and all the other lauds of winch Edmund liis father, and Thomas 
 liis brother, were formerly possessed. This document, which is preserved in the 
 national archives in the Tower of London, serves to shed much light upon the 
 local liistory of the age.* The life of tliis earl was not remarkable for any 
 
 A. D. 1327, 
 An. 1 Edw. III. 
 
 Claus. 1 Edw. III. 
 p. I. m. 3. in Turr. Lond. 
 
 * ACT OF RESTITUTION. 
 
 " Rex dilecto sibi, Adas de Boghier, nuper firmario manerii de Berleye, 
 in comitatu Eborum, salutem. Cum ceperimus homagium dilecti consanguinei 
 & fidelis nostri, Heniici comitis Lancastr' & Leyc', fratris & haeredis Thomse, 
 nuper comitis Lancastr', defuncti, de omnibus terris & tenementis, que idem 
 Thomas, frater suus, tenuit de domino E., nuper rege Anglise, patre nostro, in capite, die quo 
 obiit, & ei terras illas & tenementa reddiderimus, eaque sibi mandaverimus liberari. 
 
 " Nos, volentes eidem comiti gratiam in hac parte facere specialem, concessimas ei omnes exitus & 
 arreragia firmarum, de terris & tenementis, quee fuerunt praedicti Tliomas die quo obiit, provenientes, 
 de quibus preedicto patri nostro, aut nobis, nondum est responsum, habend' de nono nostro. 
 
 " Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod eidem comiti exitus, & arreragia hujusmodi de tempore quo 
 firmarius dicti manerii, quod fuit preedicti Thomse die quo obiit, fuistis (si quse in custodia vestra 
 existant) liberetis, habendos in forma prsedicta ; volumus enim vos, de eisdem firmis & arreragiis, erga 
 nos exonerari. " Teste rege, apud Staunford, xxiii die Aprilis. 
 
 " Per ipsum Regem.
 
 CountL' |3nlntmc of aaitwsfttr. 135 
 
 great political event connected with tlie house of Lancaster. He left issue, by cmai' 
 Maud, his wife, Henry, Ins son and heir, and six daugliters : Maud, married ^^' 
 to William de Burgh, earl of Ulster, and afterwards to Ralph, son and lieir of Henry, 
 the earl of Suffolk ; Blanch, to the lord Wake ; Eleanor, to Richard, eari of *"'' '°"" 
 Arundel, having the pope's tlispensatiou for the same, on account of their affinity, 
 and likewise because in his tender years he had contracted matrimony with Isabel, 
 the daughter of Hugh le Despenser, liis kinswoman in the second deo-ree of con- 
 sanguinity ; Isabel, prioress of Ambressbury ; Jane, married to lord Mowbray ; 
 and Maiy, to lord Percy. 
 
 " Eodem modo mandatum est subscriptis ; videlicet, 
 
 " JoHANNi DE Lancastria, ciistodi hoiioris Lancastriae. 
 
 " Galfrido de Werburton, vicecomiti Lancastriae. 
 
 " Johanni de Kylvynton, ciistodi honoris de Pykervno-. 
 
 " Roberto Foncher, custodi de IVlelebourne & fiimariis honoris de Tutlebury. 
 
 " WiLLiELMo David seniori, Roberto de Hilton, & sociis suis, firmariis vill de Tutlebury. 
 
 " Thom;e de Rolleston, firmario vill de Rolleston. 
 
 " Philipo de Somervill, firmario manerii de Barton. 
 
 " Richardo de Wythenhull, Nicholao de Salopia, & sociis suis, firmariis manerii 
 
 de Adgersleye. 
 " Roberto le Hunte, Johanni de Verney, & sociis suis, firmariis manerii de Utoxhather. 
 " WiLLtELMO David, firmario manerii de Yoxhale. 
 " Johanni de Kynardeseye, firmario manerii de Marchinton. 
 " Prior, de Tutlebury, firmario manerii de Scropton. 
 
 " HugonideMeinell seniori, Roberto FoucH,&sociis suis, firmariis hundredideAppeltre. 
 ' Roberto Fouch, Johanni de Denum, & sociis suis, firmariis maneriorum de Beaurepeir, 
 
 Dofteld', Heigheg', Holebrok, Suthewode, Wyneleye, Holond, Wevvebiggynge, 
 
 Edricheshay, Alrewasseleic, & Coldebrok, cum membris. 
 " Johanni de Kynardeseye, Waltero Walteshef, & sociis suis, firmariis wapentachii 
 
 de Wirkesworth & Assebourne, cum membris. 
 " Laurentio Coterell & sociis suis, firmariis miners Plumbi ejusdem wapentachii. 
 " Nicholao de Hungerford, firmario quarerse de Rovfeclif. 
 " Thom;e de Radeclive, Henrico de Bek, firmariis manerii de Spoudon. 
 " WiLLiELMO Cokeny, firmario burgi de Asshebourne. 
 " GiLBERTo Henry de Yoxhale, firmario hundredi de Grescleie. 
 " Edmundo de Assheby, custodi feodorum honoris Lancastrise, in comitatu Lin', Notyng- 
 
 ham, StafFord', & Eborum, & maneriorum de Wadinton & Alkeberugh. 
 " Johanni de Wyvill, firmario manerii de Ridelinton. 
 " Riciiardo de Whatton, nuper firmario curiarum de Bothenieshull & Crophull, in 
 
 comitatu Notingham. 
 " Marine comitissse PEMBROCHia;, pro manerio de Hegham. 
 " WillielmoTrussel, escaetori citra Trentam. 
 " SiMONi ioE Grymesby, cscaetori ultra Trentam. 
 " Odoni de Stok, nuper custodi castri de Kenilworth."
 
 136 , ■' Wl)t W^tovv Of tl)r 
 
 CHAP. Heniy, son and lieii- of Hemy, sumamed Giismoud, from the place of bis bii-tli, 
 
 ^^" obtained, in 7 Edwai'd III. a grant ft-om liis fatber, dated at Kenilwortb, 28tb Decem- 
 
 A.D.1333. ber, of the castle and town of Kidwelly, Avith tbe wbole territory of Carnwartbland, 
 &c. and in tbe 9 Edward III. be was in the expecUtion to Scotland, at Avbicb time 
 he o'avp such proof of bis valour and military skill, that be obtained from tbe long a 
 oi-ant of certain lands at Berivick-upon-Tweed, which bad belonged to Peter de 
 Kymeringbam. On tbe 7tli of April, in tbe year ensuing, be was made captain- 
 o-eueral of tbe king's ai-my in that realm; and in May following be received tbe title 
 of banneret. Two years afterwards he was advanced to the title and dignity of the 
 earl of Derby ; liaving, besides tbe annual fee of £20 per amium, (usually given in 
 lieu of tbe tcrtium denarium de placitis comitaius, which tbe earls anciently bad,) a 
 pension of 1000 marks, to be received yearly during bis father's life, out of tbe 
 customs of London, Boston, and Kingstou-upon-HuU, untU the king should other- 
 wise provide for him in lands, or rents, of tliat value. Shortly after tliis, lung 
 Edward, designing to clear the Isle of Cagant of tbe ganison which the French had 
 placed there, sent over this earl ^vith considerable forces ; where, upon the first 
 encounter, the gallant earl of Derby advanced so fai', that he was struck down, when, 
 by tbe valour of the famous Sir Walter Manney, he was raised up, and placed out 
 of danger ; the gallant knight crying, " Lancaster for tbe earl of Derby."* 
 Hismiii- lu 16 Edwaxd III. the earl was in another expedition into France, having with 
 
 novvn. lum of liis rctiuue 5 bannerets, 50 knights, 144 esquires, and 200 archers on horse- 
 back ; and bad for his wages in that service, an assignation of a hundred and eighty 
 sacks of Avool ; taking for himself eight shillings per diem ; for every banneret, four 
 slullings; every knight, two shillings; every esquii-e, one shilling ; and every aixber, 
 sixpence. He had also tbe same year an assignation of 1000 marks for guarding 
 the mai-cbes of Scotland. In 18 Edward III. tlie earl of Lancaster was engaged in 
 another expedition to tbe south of France, and, according to Walsingbam, after 
 taking tbe strong iovra of Brigerac, be subjected no less than fifty-six cities and 
 places of note to tbe dominion of king Edwai'd; and such Avas the terror of liis name, 
 that the cry of " A Derby !" " A Derby!" carried dismay into the enemy's camp. 
 In tliis year of his gi-eat exploits, bis father died, as already mentioned, on wliich the 
 earl of Derby succeeded to the honor, castle, and eai-ldom of Lancaster. Tlie famous 
 order of the Garter was first instituted in 1.349 ; of wliich, next to the Idng, prince 
 Edward was the first knight-companion, and the earl of Lancaster the second.f 
 
 * Sir John Froissart's Chronicles, liv. i. chap. 30. 
 t The number received into this order consists of twenty-five persons, besides the sovereign ; and 
 as It has never been enlarged, the value of this badge of honourable distinction continues unimpaired. 
 Tlie particular cause of its origin is unknown ; but a story prevails, that the mistress of king Edward, at
 
 Count!) ^3alatint of iianrasitrr. 137 
 
 After the siege of Poictiers, of wliicli the earl of Lancaster, Derln', aud Leicester chap. 
 
 was the hero, he was ai^pointed by the Idug, together with WiUiam de Clinton, 
 
 earl of Huntingdon, Renaud de Cohham, sii- Walter Manney, William Lovell, and 
 Stephen de Consintone, to hear and determine all disputes relating to aims. At this 
 tune he had of his own retinue 800 men at anns, and 2,000 archers, with 30 banners, 
 and kept such hospitality, that he spent a huncked pounds a day. After the ti'uce, 
 it was found also that he had expended, in those wars of France m which the battles 
 of Crecy and of Poictiers were fought, about seventeen thousand pounds sterling, 
 besides the pay which he had from the king. In consideration whereof he obtained 
 a gi-ant, beaiing date fi'om the camp before Calais, 21 Edwai'd IIL to liimself and a.d.i348. 
 liis heii's male, of the castle and town of Brigerac, wliich was one of the places he 
 had taken by strong assault; likeAvise of aU the lands and goods wliich he had taken 
 at St. John d'Angelyn, until their ransom were satisfied ; and soon after he procured 
 another grant to himself and his heii's male, of Horeston castle, in the county of 
 Derby, and the annual rent of forty pounds, issuing out of the town of Derby. Soon 
 after this he was constituted the king's lieutenant and captain-general in the parts of 
 Poictou ; and, to cro^^^l his (Ugnities, and to reward liis merit, the title of DUKE Created 
 OF LANCASTER was conferred upon him by the king. Lancaster. 
 
 29ufec0 ot IBLammttv* 
 
 Henry, the first duke of Lancaster, having received liis title to the dukedom by 
 the general consent of all the prelates and peers then sitting in parliament at West- 
 minster, for his life, he was invested therewith by cincture of a sword ; with power chancery 
 to have a chancery in the county of Lancaster, and to issue out writs there, under Lancaster 
 liis own seal, as well touching pleas of the crown as any other relating to the com- 
 mon laws of this realm ; as also to enjoy all other liberties and regalities belonging county 
 to a county palatine, in as ample a manner as the earl of Chester was known to have palatine. 
 
 a court ball, dropped her garter , and the king, taking it up, observed some of the courtiers to smile signi- 
 ficantly, as if they thought he had not obtained the favour by accident : upon which he exclaimed, 
 Honi soit qui mal y pense, (Evil to him that evil thinks) ; which was adopted as the motto of the 
 order. 
 
 VOL. I. T
 
 138 CI)f ?i?i6torj) of tfK 
 
 CHAP, within that county.* About this time likewise he was constituted admiral of the 
 
 '- — king's whole fleet, from the Thames westwai-d. 
 
 In the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum,']" a document is jneserved, con- 
 taining the names of some of the principal and subordinate officers of the Duchy of 
 Lancaster, on the fii-st institution of the duchy, 'svith a list of the salaries paid for 
 theii- services, of wliich the follo^vdng is a ti-anslation : — 
 
 Fees and Wayes of the Officers within the King's Duchy of Lancaster, made in the 
 ■ 22d of the Reign of Edward III. 
 
 Lancaster, with its Members. 
 Richard, duke of Gloucester, head stewai'd there, per ann. 
 Thomas Molineux, constable of the castle of Liverpool . . 
 The same, head-forester of Simon's wood, and king's parker 
 
 of Croxteth 
 
 The same, liigh-steward of West Derbyshire and Salfordsliire 
 Thomas lord Stanley, receiver of the county Lane, per ann. 
 
 Hugh Worthing-ton, forester of Querumore 
 
 Two foresters of Wii-esdale, each of them per ann. 30s. 4d. 
 Richai-d Pilkington, keeper of the park of Hyde and Ful- 
 
 wood, per ann 
 
 Tliomas, lord Stanley, pai-ker of the park of Toxtetli . . 
 Thomas Richardson, 1 forester of the wood of Mirescough . 
 John Adamson, another forester of the same wood, per ann. 
 
 Two foresters in Blesedale, per ann 
 
 Su' James Harrington, knt., senescal of Lonsdale and 
 
 Amounderness 4l. 4s. Od. 
 
 * CREATION OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 25 Edward III. 
 " Rex, de assensu parliament!, creavit Henricum com' Lane' diicem Lancastr' ; & con- 
 cessit prefato duci, ad totam vitam suam, quod habeat infra eundem com' cancellariam suam, 
 & Br'ia sua sub sigillo sue pro officio cancellar' deputand', consignand' justiciar' sues tam ad placita 
 corone quam alia coem legem tangent', ac cognitiones eorundem quascunque executiones per fer'ia sua 
 & ministros suos ibidem fac', & quascunque alia lititates & jura regalia ad comitem palatinum 
 pertin', adeo integre, &c. sicut comes Cestri' infra com' Cestr' dinoscitur optinere ; decimis & aliis 
 quotis concessis per clerum, pardonationibus vite & membrorum, potestate corrigendi ea que in cur' 
 suis ibidem erronic^ facta sunt, &c. semper salvis. Et quod ad mandatum regis mittat ad parlia- 
 mentum duos milites & burgenses, &c. 
 
 t Cod. 433. fo. 317 a. 
 
 Ql. 
 
 13s. 
 
 4d. 
 
 61. 
 
 13s. 
 
 4d. 
 
 
 70s. 
 
 4d. 
 
 
 100s. 
 
 
 61. 
 
 13s. 
 
 4d. 
 
 41. 
 
 lis. 
 
 Od. 
 
 
 60s. 
 
 8d. 
 
 
 30s. 
 
 4d. 
 
 
 60s. 
 
 8d. 
 
 
 60s. 
 
 Sd. 
 
 
 60s. 
 
 8d. 
 
 
 30s. 
 
 4d.
 
 Coimtp IJalatinr of ilancaeiUr. 
 
 The same, Sir James, keeper of the park of Quernmore, p. an. 45s. Qd. 
 
 Ths. Thwayte, chancellor of the coimty palatine of Lane. . 40/. Os. Od. 
 
 Sir H. Fairfax, knt., cli. justice of the king at Lane. p. ann. 261. 13s. 4d. 
 
 Richard Pigot, another king's justice at Lane, per ann. . 231. 6s. 8d. 
 
 John Hawardyn, king's attorney-gen. at law there, p. ann. 61. 13s. 4d. 
 
 John Lake, clerk of crown pleas 40s. Od. 
 
 John Bradford, clerk of common pleas 40s. Od. 
 
 Jolm Lake, William Bradford, and John Bradford, clerks of 
 the crown in the county of Lane, in the time of sessions, 
 for their wages for 40 days, each of them 2s. per day . 6/. Os. Od. 
 
 Ranulphus Holcrofte, baron of the King's Bench at Lan- 
 caster, per ann 4Z. Os. Od. 
 
 Thomas Bolrou, crier of all sessions and courts of the king, 
 
 within the county of Lane, per ann 40s. Od. 
 
 Thomas Ratclitf, Esq., constable of the king's castle of Lan- 
 caster, per ann 13/. 6s. 8d. 
 
 Thomas Barowe, master-mason of the king's castles, ivithin 
 
 the counties of Lancaster and Chester 121. 3s. 4d. 
 
 Peter Wraton, king's cai-penter at Lancaster, and clerk of the 
 king's works there 7Z. 3s. 8d. 
 
 Total £200 18s. 2d. 
 
 139 
 
 CHAP. 
 IV. 
 
 Clyderowe, with its Members. 
 
 Richard, duke of Gloucester, stewai-d of the lordsliip of Pen 
 wortham . 
 
 Thomas, lord Stanley, receiver of the lordship of Clyderowe 
 
 Brian Talbot, constable of the castle of Clyderowe . . 
 
 Roger Banaster, porter of the castle there, per ann. 
 
 John Cays, parker of the park of Musbury, per ann. 
 
 John Talbot, parker of the pai-k of IgletunhuU, per ann. 
 
 Robert Harington, parker of the park of Radam, per ann. 
 
 John Hunter, keeper of the chace of Trowdon, per ann. 
 
 Richard Sluobury, keeper of the pai-k of Lathegi'yne, and 
 paler of the same . 
 
 6/. 
 10/. 
 
 20s. Od. 
 
 13s. 4d. 
 
 Os. Od. 
 
 40s. 8d. 
 
 30s. 4d. 
 
 40s. 8d. 
 
 30s. 4d. 
 
 40s. 8d. 
 
 45s. 6d. 
 
 Total 
 
 £22. Is. 6d. 
 
 T 2
 
 140 Cf)f 2)l£itOll) Of tftf 
 
 CHAP. The duke of Lancaster, deeply imbued with the chivali-ous s])ii-it of tlie age in 
 
 ^^' which he Uved, obtained a license ti-om the king to proceed to Sp-acuse, to fight against 
 The duke the infidels. To guard against the possible consequences of tliis crusade, he obtained 
 ter'sX'^^s a royal grant, providing, that in case he should depart this life before liis return, his 
 of arms, g^gg^^oj-g should retain all his estates, castles, manors, and lands in then- possession, 
 untU his debts were (hschai-ged. On his journey he was taken prisoner in Germany, 
 and constrained to give three thousand scutes of gold for liis liberty. This sui-prisal 
 was made at the instance of the duke of Brunswick ; and learning, before he came to 
 his destination, that the Christians and the pagans had made a truce, he returned to 
 Coloone, where he obsei-ved, " that it did not belong to a person of the duke of 
 Brunswick's rank to deal ^ritli a stranger in the manner that the duke had dealt 
 with him ; that he had never offended liim ; and that if the duke thought proper to 
 interfere ^ith his concerns, he woidd find liim ready to play a sokUer's part." Tliis 
 conversation having been conununicated to the duke of Brunswick, he sent the duke 
 of Lancaster a letter of challenge to meet him at Calais in single combat. Tlie 
 duke of Lancaster accepted this challenge with alacrity, and, taking with liim fifty 
 knio-hts and a large retinue, he proceeded towards the scene of action. A rencoun- 
 ter between two personages of so much distinction excited the deepest interest both 
 in France and England ; and gi-eat efforts were made, but without success, to recon- 
 cile the combatants without an appeal to arms. On the appointed day they entered 
 the lists, and, having taken the usual oaths, mounted their horses for the combat. 
 In the moment of triiil, the courage of the duke of BrunsAdck failed him, and he 
 quitted the quarrel, and submitted himself to the award of the king of France. The 
 king and Ids court, who were to have witnessed the combat, now became the media- 
 tors, and at a great feast reconciled the dukes to each other. 
 Having effected this object, the king exhibited to the duke of Lan- 
 caster a great variety of rare and costly oniaments, wliich he pre- 
 Hoiy sented for his acceptance ; but the duke selected only one of the 
 many cmiosities wliich were laid before him, and that was a relic, 
 in those days higldy venerated, namely, a thorn out of the crown 
 of our Saviour, wliich he brought to England, and deposited in the 
 collegiate chiu-ch of our lady at Leicester.* 
 
 Tliis heroic duke, who, for liis deeds of piety, was styled the " Good Duke of 
 Lancaster," out of his devout respect to the canons of the collegiate chm-ch at 
 Leicester, pennitted the priests to enclose their woods, and stored them Avith deer 
 out of liis own parks. After tliis time he received special command from the king 
 to keep a strict guard upon the sea-coasts of Lancashire, and to aim all the lanciers 
 * This sketch of the holy relic is from Nichols's History of Leicestershire. 
 
 relic.
 
 Coimtp |3alatinr of ILancasitiT. ui 
 
 who were raised in bis tonitories for the jiiihlic serncc. In 31 Edward III. char 
 
 John king of France, having been taken prisoner by Edwai-d tlie Black Prince, was 
 
 brought into tliis country. The captive monarch became the guest of Henry duke A.D.1337. 
 of Lancaster, in his stately palace in the Savoy, which he had completed at the 
 expense of fifty-two thousand marks, obtained at the taking of Brigerac. 
 
 Tlie duke of Lancaster, ha\ing terminated liis cai-eer of military renown, devoted Hischari- 
 liimself to works of piety ; and amongst Ids other acts of munificence, was the gift "^' 
 of a certain livery to the two recluses in the house of St. Helen, at Pontefract, called To the 
 the " black Hverys," which appertained to liis donation as Lord of the Honor of yen's/' 
 Pontefract, to be paid every day out of the hospital of St. Nicholas there, for the 
 finding of a priest to celebrate divine service in the cliapel of St. Helen for ever. 
 
 By a deed, bearing date the 2nd of Jauuaiy, in the 35th of Edward III., he gave a.d.ugi. 
 to the monks at Whalley, in tliis county, and to theii- successors, two cottages. To whai- 
 seven acres of land, one huncked and eighty-thi-ee acres of pasture, two hundred ^ '^^" 
 acres of wood, called Ramsgi'ove, aU Ij^ng in the chase of Blackburn; Hke^-ise two 
 messuages, a huncfred and twenty-six acres of land, twenty-six acres of meadow, and 
 a hundred and tliii'ty acres of pasture called Standen, Holcroft, and Grenelache, 
 Ijiug within tlie townships of Penhulton and Clitheroe, Arith the fold and foldage of 
 Standen, to support and maintain two recluses in a certain place within the churcli- 
 yai-d of the parochial church of Whalley, and tlieii- successors recluses tliere ; as 
 also two women-servants to attend them there, to pray for the soul of him the said 
 duke, his ancestors and heu"s ; that is to say, to find them every week thi'oughout 
 the year seventeen loaves of bread, such as usually were made in theu* convent, 
 each of them weighing fifty shillings sterling ; and seven loaves of the second sort, of 
 the same weight ; and also eight gallons of then- better sort of beer ; and threepence 
 for their food. Moreover, every year, at the feast of All Saints, to provide for them 
 ten large fishes, called stock-fish ; and one bushel of oatmeal for pottage ; one 
 bushel of rye ; two gallons of oil for then* lamps ; one pound of tallow for candles ; 
 six loads of tiu'f, and one load of faggots, for theii- food ; likeA\ise to repau' their- 
 habitations ; and to find a chaplain, with a clerk, to sing mass, in the chapel belong- 
 ing to these recluses, every day; and also all vestments, and other utensils and 
 ornaments, for the same chapel ; the nomination of successors, upon deaths, to be in 
 the duke and his heirs. 
 
 This " good duke of Lancaster" completed the hospital begun by liis father, at 
 Leicester, wherein were maintained a hundred infinn poor persons. Within tlie 
 precincts also of the Newark, he founded a most magnificent and goodly college, ToLeices- 
 and set over it a dean, twelve canons, tliii'teen vicars choral, thi-ee clerks, six lege, 
 choristers, and one merger ; all of wliom were sufiiciently proAided Avith revenues.
 
 142 €i)t ?l)istorj) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. Both the hosi:)ital and college continued the gi-eatest ornaments of the tomi of 
 " Leicester tUl the general dissolution of religious houses at the Reformation. By his 
 
 A.D.1361. ivill, bearing date at the castle of Leicester, the 15th of March, 35 Edward III., 
 wherein he styles liimself Duke of Lancaster, Eail of Derby, Lincoln, and Leices- 
 ter, steward of England, and Lord of Brigerac and Beauford, he bequeathed liis body 
 to be bui-ied in the collegiate church of our lady of Leicester. He only siu'vived the 
 making of tliis testament nine days. At that time a plague raged in England, which. 
 
 His death, in allusion to the great plague in 1349, Bai'nes calls the " second plague, notliing 
 near," says he, " so dismal and universal as the former, but much more destructive 
 to the nobility and prelacy." Thus died a man most worthy to live for ever, even the 
 great, valiant, and liberal piince Hemy Plantagenet, March twenty-four, 1361. 
 
 His issue. He left issue by Isabel, his wife, daughter of Henry lord Beaumont, two daugh- 
 
 ters, his heirs : Maud, twenty-two years old, first married to Ralph, son and heir of 
 Ralph lord Stafford ; and after to William of Bavaria, son of Lewis the emperor ; 
 
 John of and Blanch, nineteen years old, married to John of Gaunt, earl of Richmond, fourth 
 son of king Edward III. Maud, the elder, had for her pui-pai'ty an assignment of 
 the manors in the counties of Berks, Leicester, Northampton, Rutland, and Hunt- 
 ingdon, and also the lordsliip of Beauford and Nogent in France. And to John 
 eail of Riclmiond, and Blanch his wife, " whose homage was then taken by reason 
 
 His pos- of issue between them, the castle and town of Pontefract ; the manors of Bradeform, 
 Almanbuiy, Altofts, Wamfeld, Rothewell, Ledes, Roundehay, Scoles, Berewyck, 
 Kepax, Aberford, Knottingley, with the mills there ; Beghale, Kamsale, Ouston, 
 Elmesdale, Akworth, and Staincros ; the baihwick and honor of Pontefi'act ; a certain 
 rent, called castlefenne, with the pleas and perquisites, also the manors of Kiiteling 
 and Barlay ; except such lands therein as were held for life, (the reversion to the 
 said duke,) the castle of Pickering, with the soke and all its members ; the manors 
 of Es}-ngwold and Scalby, with the members, all in the county of York ; the wapen- 
 takes (or rather hunckeds) of Leyland, Amunderness, and Lonsdale ; the manors of 
 Oves-walton, Preston, Shingleton, Riggeby and Wra, Overton, Skirton ; the towns 
 of Lancaster and Sh^le ; the royal bailiwick of Blackbm-nshire, the office of master- 
 forester beyond Ribbel ; the viccary of Wyi-esdale, likewise the manors of Penwor- 
 tham, Totyngton, and Rachedale ; the wapentake of Clyderhowe, with the demesne 
 lands there ; the lordship of Bowland, the \'iccary of Bowlaud and Blackburnshire ; 
 the forest of Blackbm-nshire and the park of Ightenhull, Avith the appmlenances hi 
 Blackburnshu'e ; all in the county of Lancaster. The castle and manor of Dun- 
 stamburgh, with the manors of Shoplaye, Stamford, Bm-ton, and Emeldon ; also the 
 fishing of Tweed, in the county of Northumberland. The manor of Hinckley, with 
 the bailiwick there, in the county of Leicester ; the castle and manor of Kenilworth, 
 
 sessions.
 
 Counti) ^Jalatinr of iLnitrastrr. 143 
 
 will the pool and mill there ; the manors of Wotton, Shrewle, Radesle, and Ashtul, chap. 
 
 with then- appurtenances, in the county of Wai-wick ; the manors of Halton, Ron- 1 
 
 kore, More, Whitelawe, Congleton, Keleshole, and Bedestan ; the bailiwick of 
 Halton ; the town of Wyndenes, serjeantry of Wyndes, in the county of Chester. 
 In adcHtion to these gi'eat lordships and lands, there was a farther assignment made 
 unto the eai-1 of Richmond, and Blanch liis Avife, of the manors of Coggleshul, Cride- 
 lyng, Bailey, Kilbom-ne, Toresholme, Marthesdon, Swanyngton, Passenham: lilie- 
 wise certain lands in Daventre and Hinkele, with the mUls of Lillebom ; also the 
 manor of Uggele, in the county of Essex."* 
 
 John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was born at Gaunt (Ghent) in Flanders, His his- 
 between the 25th and 31st of March, 1340, from whence he derived liis surname; '"'^' 
 and on the 20th of September, 1343, he was created earl of Richmond, having 
 therewith a gi'ant in tail general of all the castles, manors, and lands belonging to 
 that eai'ldom, and all the prerogatives and royalties which John, late duke of Britany 
 and Richmond, enjoyed.f In 1355 he attended the king, his father, on an expedi- 
 tion into Flanders, and in 1357 had a gi-ant in special tail of the castle and lordsliip 
 of Lydell, in the county of Northumberland. 
 
 Having obtained a special dispensation from Rome, he was married at Reading, His 
 in Berkshire, to his cousin, the lady Blanch, second daughter and co-heir of Henry 
 Plantagenet, duke of Lancaster. In 1361 he obtained a special charter for divers 
 privileges to liimself, and his heirs by Blanch his wife, namely, return of writs, 
 pleas of Withernam,^ felon's goods, &c. in all the lordsliips and lands whereof he 
 was then possessed, with freedom for himself and his heirs, and all the tenants and 
 residents upon the lands, and fees which belonged to Henry, eail of Lancaster, from 
 all manner of tolls of what kind soever, throughout the whole kuigdom. The same 
 year, having issue by his wife, and doing his homage, he had an assignation of her 
 property in all the lands whereof her father died possessed. And by virtue of the 
 king's license, he obtained a further grant from John bishop of Luicoln, Richard earl 
 of Ai'undel, and others, to himself, liis wife, and then- issue, of the castle of Boling- 
 broke, with the park, knights' fees, and advowsons of the churches thereto belonging, 
 together with other manors in the counties of Stafford, Northumberland, and Derby. 
 
 In 1362, upon the death of Maud, the vndow of William, duke of Bavaria, Vastac- 
 
 ii-fTiTiii f^pssion of 
 
 mthout issue, he had, in right of the said Blanch, the sister and hen- ol Maud, all ,veaitii 
 the possessions appertaining to her moiety of the estate of Henry, duke of Lancaster, 
 
 * In the enumeration of these splendid possessions, the ancient orthography is preserved, 
 t Cart, in officina ducatus Lancastriee. 
 
 t When a distress is removed out of the county, and the sheriff, upon a replevin, cannot make 
 deliverance to the party distressed.
 
 144 ClK S}l6t0lJ) Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, deceased. Whereupon he was in parUament declared duke of Lancaster,* m riglit 
 ^^" of liis wife Blanch ; and the king girt him with a sword, and set on his head a cap of 
 Created fuT and a ciixlet of gold, ^vitli pearls therein ; and created liim duke of Lancaster, 
 LMca°^- with all the liberties and regalities of an earl palatine ; as also earl of Leicester, 
 pnLtint Lincoln, and Derby, with the office of liigh steward of England, 
 privileges. j^^ 1366, after having been empowered to vest several of liis estates in feoffees, 
 in order to make a settlement on his lady, and to discharge some pecuniary incum- 
 brances, the duke of Lancaster joined his brother, prince Edward, at Bourdeaux, on 
 behalf of Don Pedro, king of Castile, who, owing to an insurrection of his subjects, 
 fled into Gascony for aid. On breach of the truce in 1369, he was sent with a consi- 
 derable force to give battle to the French ; being retained to serve the king for half 
 a yeai- with 300 men at arms, 500 archers, 3 bannerets, 80 knights, and 216 esquires; 
 but owino- to sickness amongst his soldiers, he did not venture to make the attack. 
 On his return from Calais to England, he found that liis wife, the lady Blanch, had 
 
 * CREATION OF JOHN OF GAUNT DUKE OF LANCASTER, 
 
 36 Edw. III. 
 
 " Edwardus, Dei gratia, rex Aiiglie, dominus Hibemie et Aquit,' archiepiscopis, abbatibus, 
 prioribus, comitibus, baronibus, justic,' vie ecomitibus prepositis, ministris, & omnibus ballivis & 
 fidelibus suis, salutem. Sciatis nos, considerant strenuitatem excrescentem & gestum laudabilem, 
 quos in cariss'imo filio nro Johanna comite Lancastrie vigere conspicimus, ac volentes provide 
 personam suam juxta claritatem generis sui ac morum suorum, merita, ut per ipsius potentiam & 
 prudentiam regale sceptrum fulceatur, ad exaltationem & detentiam status sui honorare; eidem 
 comiti nomen & honorem ducis dedimus, et ipsum in ducem Lancastr' prefecimus, ac de eisdem 
 nomine & honore per cincturam gladii & appositionem cappe suo capiti investimus ; habend' & tenend 
 eadem nomen & honorem ducis Lancastrie sibi & heredibus suis masculis de corpore suo legitime 
 procreatis imperpetuum : Quare voUunus & firmiter precipimus, pro nobis & heredibus iiris, quod 
 predictus filius iir nomen & honorem ducis Lancastrie habeat & teneat sibi & heredibus suis masculis 
 de corpore suo legitime procreatis imperpetuum, sicut predictum est. Hiis testibus venerabilibiis 
 prioribus : 
 
 SIMONE archiepiscope Cantuar', totius Anglie primatfe ; 
 W. WYNTON' cancellar', 
 S. ELIEN' thes' iiris, episcopis ; 
 RICARDO comite Arundell, 
 ROBERTO Suff', 
 THOMA de Veer Oxon' camerario iiro comitibus ; 
 EDWARDO le Despenser 
 RADULFO de NeviU 
 JOHANNE de Nevill 
 JOHANNE atte Lee, senescallo hospitii iiri; & aliis. 
 
 Dat' per manum iiram, in pleno parliamento, apud Westm', decimo tertio die Novembris, 
 anno regni nri tricesimo sexto.
 
 Coutttp |3nlatinc of aanrasttr. 145 
 
 been talven off by the great pestilence, and that she had been interred witli great chap. 
 funeral pomp in St. Paul's cathedral. '■ — 
 
 In 1370, the duke of Lancaster was again engaged in an expedition into 
 Gascony; and Peter the cruel, Idng of Castile and Leon, whom Edward, prince of 
 Wales, had invested in his kingdom, having left at his death two daughters, who, to 
 avoid the usurper, their uncle, had taken refuge in Gascony, he married Constance, 
 the elder of the sisters. Soon afterwards he assumed tlie title of king of Castile 
 and Leon, and supported his claim by force of arms, but without success. He 
 impaled also the arms of Castile and Leon with his ducal coat. On his return to 
 England, in 1372, the duke was empowered to surrender to the king liis father liis 
 earldom of Richmond, with all the castles, manors, &c. to the same belonging, in 
 exchange for numerous other manors in the counties of York, Norfolk, Suffolk, 
 Huntingdon, and Sussex. Soon afterwai'ds he headed two formidable expeditions 
 against France, both of which failed. In 1377, he obtained the manors of Grenested, 
 Seford, and Leighton, ^nth several privileges in the same, and the castle and honor 
 of Tildiill. He had license also to give his lordsliips of Gryngeleye and Wlieteley 
 to Catharine Swinford, liis concubine (widow of Su- Hugh Swinford, knight, and 
 daughter of Sir Paen Roet, knight, guyen king of arms) for life. 
 
 During this year he procured the gi-ant of a chancery in liis dukedom of Lan- Grant of 
 caster, with all other royalties pertaining to a county palatine, to hold in as ample a in the 
 
 . ,,..»■,. duchy of 
 
 manner as the earl of Chester ever enjoyed the same ; with an obhgation of sending Lancas- 
 
 /• 'sr, and of 
 
 two knights to parliament as representatives of the commonalty oi the county oi palatine 
 Lancaster, with two burgesses for every borough within the said county.* He had for the 
 
 county. 
 
 * CHARTER OF DUCHY AND COUNTY PALATINE. 
 51 Edward HI. 
 " Rex omnibus, ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod si nos, debits consideratione pensantes 
 gestus magnificos cunctorum, qui nobis in guerris nostris laudabiliter et strenu^ servierunt, ipsos 
 desideramus honoribus attollere, et pro viribus, juxta merita, prEemiare; quanto magis filios nostras, 
 quos, tam in sapientia quara in gestu nobili, alios prsecellare conspicimus, et qui nobis locum tenerunt 
 et tenere poterunt potiorem, nos convenit majoribus honoribus et gratiis prorogare? 
 
 " Considerantes itaque probitatem strenuam et sapientiam prsecellentem, carissimi filii nostn 
 Johannis Regis Castellee et Legionis, ducis Lancastrise, qui laboribus et expensis semper se nobis 
 obsequiosum exhibuit, pro nobis pluri^s, in necessitatibus, intrepid^ se guerrarum discriminibus 
 exponendo ; 
 
 " Et volentes, eo praetextu, ac desiderantes eundem filium nostrum aliquali comodo et honors 
 ad praesens, licet non ad plenum, prout digna merita exposcunt, remunerare, ex certi scienti^ nostra 
 et teto corde, de assensu praelatorum et procerum, in instanti parliamento nostro, apud Westmonas- 
 terium convocato, existentium, concessimus pro nobis et hseredibus nostris, praefato filio nostro quod 
 ipse, ad totam vitam suam, habeat, infra comitatum Lancastriae, cancellariam suam, ac brevia sua 
 sub sigillo suo pro officio cancellariae deputando consignanda, justiciarios suos, tam ad placita 
 VOL. T. U
 
 146 
 
 €i)t InstOlT) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 IV. 
 
 Advocates 
 the cause 
 of Wick- 
 Jirte, the 
 reformer. 
 
 license also to coin money for the space of two years, from the 12th of June, in the 
 city of Bayonne, or the castle of Guyssen, or any other place within the seneschalcy 
 of Landere, of gold, silver, or any other metal whatsoever. 
 
 In tliis year John WicklifTe, the most eminent of all the LoUards of that time — the 
 " morning star of the Reformation," as he lias heen beautifully called — being convened 
 before the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishop of London, John duke of Lancaster, 
 and lord Percy, at the Black Friars, in London, the duke had the magnanmiity to 
 speak in favour of WicklifTe, and to make some strong observations upon the 
 bishops. So unusual a departure fi-om tlie orthodoxy of the day gave gi-eat offence 
 to the episcopal bench, and produced so much discontent among the citizens, that 
 they rose m tumult, and detennined to murder the duke, and to set fire to his house 
 in the Savoy. Tliis tumult, the bishop of London, mucli to his honour, succeeded 
 in quelling ; but the duke of Lancaster was obliged to seek liis safety in fhght, and 
 it was not tiU after the death of liis father that a reconciliation was effected between 
 biin and the citizens of London, under the mediation of Richard II. 
 
 After the death of Edwai'd III. consultation being had about the solemnity of 
 the coronation of kmg Richard II. Jolm, king of Castile and Leon, duke of Lancas- 
 
 coronae quam ad qusecumque alia placita communem legem tangentia tenendum, ac cognitiones 
 eorundem, et quascumque execuliones, per brevia sua et ministros suos ibidem, faciendum, et quse- 
 cumque alia libertates et jura regalia, ad comitem palatinum pertinentia, adeo integre et libere sicut 
 comes Cestrise, infra eundem comitatum Cestrias, dignoscitur obtinere : 
 
 " Decimis, quintisdecimis, et aliis quotis et subsidiis, nobis et hseredibus nostris, per communi- 
 tatem regni nostri, et decimis et aliis quotis, per clerum ejusdem regni, nobis concessis, et imposte- 
 rfim concedendis, aut eidem clero per sedem apostolicam impositis et imponendis ; ac pardonationi- 
 bus vitas et membrorum, in casu quo aliquis, ejusdem comitates, aut alius, in eodem comitatu, pro 
 aliquo delicto, vitam vel membrum amittere debeat ; ac etiam superioritate et potestate corrigendi 
 ea, quae in curiis ejusdem filii nostri ibidem erronicfe facta fuerint ; vel si idem filius noster, aut 
 ministri sui, in justitia, in curiis ejusdem filii nostri, inibi facienda defecerint, semper salvis : 
 
 " Et est intentionis nostree quod idem filius noster, ad mandata nostra et hseredum nostrorum, ad 
 parliamenta et concilia nostra duos milites, pro comunitate comitates prsedicti, et duos burgenses de 
 quolibet burgo ejusdem comitatils, ad tractandum, cum aliis de communitate dicti regni nostri, ad 
 eadem parliamenta et concilia venientibus, de negotiis dicti regni nostri, in eisdem parliamentis et 
 conciliis exponendis, mittere teneatur. 
 
 " Et quod idem filius noster certos homines, fideles et sufficientes, ad hujusmodi decimas et 
 quintasdecimas, subsidia, et alia quota, quotiens ea nobis seu hseredibus nostris in parliamentis seu 
 conciliis concedi contigerit, coUigenda assignet ; ita quod nobis et haeredibus nostris de sic concessis 
 respondeatur per eosdem. In cujus, &c. 
 
 " Teste Rege, apud Westm', xxviii. die Februarii. 
 
 " Per ipsum Regem de assensu totius parliamenti." 
 
 Rymeu, torn. iii. p. iii. p. 1073. Ed. recent.
 
 Count!) ^3alatinr of ?Xanrn6tri% 147 
 
 ter, appeared before the king in council, and claimed, as earl of Leicester, the office chap. 
 
 IV. 
 
 of seneschal of England ; as duke of Lancaster, the right of bearing tlie principal 
 sword, called the curtana, on the day of the coronation ; and as earl of Lincoln, to I'riviieges 
 cai've for the king sitting at table on the day of his coronation. Diligent examina- <iuke of 
 tion being made before certain of the king's council, concerning these demands, it at the c" 
 sufficiently appeared that the duke, as holding by the law of England, after the 
 death of Blanch his wife, had established his claim ; and it was agreed, that he 
 should exercise the offices by himself, or proper deputies, and receive the fees there- 
 unto belonging. Accordingly, on the Thursday before the coronation, wliich was on 
 the Thursday following, by order of the king, he sat judicially, and kept liis court in 
 the Whitehall of the king's palace at Westminster, and there received the bills and 
 petitions of all such of the nobility and others as, by reason of then- tenure, or other- 
 wise, claimed to do service at the new king's coronation, and to receive the accus- 
 tomed fees and allowances.* He was also, with Edmund earl of Cambridge, and 
 certain bishops, appointed one of the protectors of the king during his minority. 
 
 In 2d Richai'd II. the duke obtained authority to establish a trea.sury, with Grant of a 
 barons and otlier proper officers, within his duchy of Lancaster.-}" irthrdu- 
 
 " A portrait of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, in this capacity, is preserved in the Cottonian 
 MSS. in the British Museum, a copy of which is exhibited in the initial letter to this chapter of our 
 history. 
 
 t CONFIRMATION AND AMPLIFICATION OF CHARTER, 
 
 2 Rig. II. 
 
 R. II. Inspeximus cartam & E. III. p quern dedisset & concessisset canssimo Avunculo nostro 
 JoKi nomen & honorem ducis Lane' & ipsum in duce Lane' pfecisset & de eisdem nomine & honore p 
 cinctura gladii & appositione cappe suo capiti investivisset fiend' ead' nomen & honor' Ducis Lane' 
 sibi & heredibus suis masculis de corpore suo legitime procreatis nu|) ips'. 
 
 R. II. concessit pro se & heredibus suis pfato Avunculo quod ipse ad totam vitam suam haberet 
 infra comit' Lane' cancellarium suii ad brevia sua sub sigillo suo pro offic' cancell' deputand' consig- 
 nand' justiciar' tam ad placita corone quam ad quecunque alia placita coinunem legem tangentia 
 tenendum ac cognitiones eorum & quascunq alias libertates & jura regalia ad comit' palatin' ptinent' 
 adeo libere & integre sicut comes Cestriae infra eundem comit' Cestrie dignoscitur ptinere. 
 
 Decimis quintisdecimis & aliis quotis subsidiis eidem Ave nostro & heredibus suis per coitatem regni 
 sui & decimis & ahis quoties p clerum ejusdem regni tunc concessis & extunc concedend' aut eidem 
 clero p sede Apostolica imposit' & imponend' ac pardonationibus vite & membrorii in casu quo aliquis 
 ejusdem comit' aut aliquis in eodm comit' pro aliquo delicto vitam vel membrii amittere deberet ac 
 etiam superioritatem & potestatem corrigendi ea que in curiis ejusdem Avunculi nri ifim erronice facta 
 fuerint vel idem Avunculus noster aut ministri sui in justicia in curia sua faciend' defecerint semper 
 salvis. 
 
 Et quod Avuncultis habet duos milites pro comitatu & duos burgenses de quolibet burgo in 
 parliamento nostro. 
 
 V 2 
 
 chy of 
 Lancaster.
 
 148 Ci)e ?^iEittirp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. In this early period of our history, personal slavery prevailed to a greater extent 
 
 ' in England than in any other country of Europe.* The harons had sti'uggled for 
 
 liberty, and had, to a certain extent, secured its possession from the crown by the 
 
 deed of Magna Chai'ta, extorted from Idng Jolm, and confirmed by Henry III. and 
 
 Edward I. But this liberty was almost exclusively enjoyed by the privileged 
 
 Slavery of classes, who tlicmselves exercised despotic power over theii" vassals. The rights of 
 
 lish. those who tilled the gi'ound, and perfonned the other duties of hiunble citizens, were 
 
 imperfectly understood, and subject to daUy violation ; and so unequal was the 
 
 pressure of taxation, that the rich and the poor were confounded together in one 
 
 Poll-tax. indiscriminate mass, and called upon to pay a poll-tax, amounting to tlu'ee groats on 
 
 every iudivddual throughout the land, male and female, above the age of fifteen 
 
 "^^^Jy- years. The collection of tliis unequal and odious impost produced a rebellion, 
 
 surrec- excited by Jolm Ball, a popular preacher, and led by Wat Tyler, Jack Straw, and 
 
 Duke of others. The duke of Lancaster, one of the king's ministers, and who was supposed 
 
 to'Thouse ^*^ ^^ ^^^^ principal adviser, became extremely unpopular ; and the insurgents, liaA^ing 
 
 destroyed, ijrokeu iiito the city of Loudon, burnt down the duke of Lancaster's palace of the 
 
 " Et quod idem Avunculus noster certos homines fideles & sufficientes ad hujusmodi decimas & 
 quintasdecimas subsidia & alia quota quotiens ea eidem Avo nostro seu heredibus nostris in parlia- 
 ment' & consiliis concedi contigerit assignaiet. Ita quod Avo nro de sic concessis concederetur p 
 eosdem. Et quod habeat justiciarios itinerantes & ad placita foresta infra comit' pd'. Et ulterius 
 de gratia nostra special! cocesserimus pro nobis & heredibus nostris quod ipse scaccarium suum in 
 dicto comitat' & barones & alios ministros in eodem scaccario necessarios necnon jurisdiccoes execu- 
 tiones & consuetudines quascunque in scaccario Anglie rationabiliter usitatis habeat in eodem 
 scaccario sii & eis ibidem gaudeat & rationabiliter utatur. Et voluerimus quod omnia verba generalia 
 in concessione Avunculi nostri pdicta contenta in suo robore gmaneant durante vita Avunculi nostri 
 supradict' declarat' concessiones pdict' non obstantibus prout in cartis & literis pdictis plenius conti- 
 nentur. Quare volumus & firmiter pcipimus quod idem Avunculus noster & heredes sui pdict' 
 habeant & teneant omnia & singula libertates & de constituend' justic' ad placit' forest' exceptis 
 placitis ubi rex pars est ac decimis & quintisdecimis & aliis quot & quoties subsidiis nobis & heredibus 
 nostris & aliis quotis g clerum ejusdem regni concessi ac pardonacionibus vit' & membr' in casu quo 
 aliquis ejusdem comitat' aut alius in eodem comitat' p delicto aliquo vitam vel membrum amittere 
 debeat & privilegia scaccarii sui & jura regalia & alia supradicta una cum dictis nomine & honore 
 ducis Lancastrie exceptis preexceptis eidem modo ac adeo libere & Integra sicut idem Avunculus 
 noster ea ad ipsura habet & tenet in perpetuum sicut pdictum est. His testibus, 
 " Abps. Cant' & York, 
 
 " Bps. London & Winton' (the Chancellor,) Edw. Ebor', Thomas Gloucester, 
 " Ducibus Avunculis nostris, Comssis, Ric' Arundell, Willm Sarum, Hen' Northume', 
 comitibus, Ric' le Scrope, Johannis Devereux, senescall' hospitii nostri & aliis. 
 Dat' Westmonast' p manus nostros xvj' Feb' ano regni xiij." 
 
 * Froissart, liv. ii. chap. 74.
 
 CoimtP ^3alntint of aanrnstm 149 
 
 Savoy, and cut off the heads of a niunher of gentlemen who attempted to resist their chap. 
 lawless outrages ; amongst whom was Simon Sudhury, the primate and chancellor of " 
 
 England, and Sii- Robert Hales, the liigh-treasurer. Tliis insuiTection was sup- 
 pressed by the determined conduct of Walworth, the lord mayor of London, who 
 resented the insolence shown towards the long on the part of Wat Tyler, by a violent 
 blow with his sword, which brought liim to the gi-ound, where he was soon despatched 
 by others of the king's attendants. Richard, taking advantage of the temporary 
 panic, contrived to conciliate the people, and, by liis wisdom and moderation, pre- 
 vailed upon them to (Usperse. During this insurrection, the duke of Lancaster was Treatmeot 
 in Scotland, negociating a peace, in winch he happUy succeeded. On this occasion, dukrin 
 WilUam earl of Douglas, inth a degree of generous forbeai-ance which seldom fails ^'"""'■""'' 
 to obtain its reward, told the duke that he had been acquainted from the first with the 
 distracted state of England, but was so far from wisliing to take advantao-e of the 
 critical situation in which the duke and liis country Avere placed, either for carrvino- 
 on the war, or extorting more favourable terms of peace, that he might remain in 
 Scotland as their guest, until the insurrection should cease ; or, if he chose to return, 
 he might have an escort of five hundred horsemen. The duke expressed his 
 acknowledgments, but declined the offer. On his return to England, beino- 
 excluded from Berwick by the governor, he accepted the earl's pledge of honour, 
 and returned into Scotland, where he remained until the popular tumult had 
 subsided. 
 
 In 1384 the duke of Lancaster was despatched, yni\\ a powerful miUtary and Hi; 
 naval force, to Scotland, to avenge the injuries which the English had received, 
 and to prevent a repetition of them, by some memorable act of chastisement. The 
 duke advanced to E(Unbui-gh, and at the same time the fleet was despatched to 
 ravage the coast of Fife. His sohhers strongly urged him to burn the capital, but 
 the duke, cherisliing a gi-ateful remembrance of the hospitality which he had expe- 
 rienced tlu-ee years before, preserved the city from destruction.* So extensive was 
 the popular indignation against the measures of the king and his ministers during 
 the rebellion of Tyler and Straw, that the lady Constance, wife of the duke of 
 Lancaster, hastened from Leicester to the castle at Pontefract, for refuge, expecting 
 security there ; but when she arrived at Pontefract, her otvii servants durst not 
 pennit her to enter the place, and she was constrained to go seven miles by torch- 
 light to Knaresborough castle, where she contmued till the violence of the storm 
 subsided, and till the duke returned from Scotland. 
 
 A little before Easter in 1.384, John Latimer, an Irish Carmelite friar, charged The duke 
 the duke of Lancaster with an intention to destroy the king, and to usurp the with^high 
 
 treason. 
 * Buchanan : Rerum Scotiarum Historia, lib. ix. cap. 45. 
 
 iis re 
 turn.
 
 150 €i)t ??is!toii) of tfte 
 
 CHAP, crown; but on being summoned to meet tliis accusation, the duke completely 
 ^^' established his loyalty. The king, being under the guidance of evil coimsellors. 
 
 conspired the death of the duke of Lancaster ; but private information ha\ing reached 
 The fo- liim from one of those that were in the j^lot, he retired to his castle at Pontefract, 
 ware. and througli the mecUation of the princess Joan, mother of the king, a perfect recon- 
 ciliation took place. The next year he desii-ed leave of the king, and also of the 
 lords and coimnons in parliament, to go into Spain for the recovery of liis %vife's 
 inheritance ; and ordained liis son, Henry eai'l of Derby, his lieutenant of all he had 
 in England, placing around liim a safe and judicious council. When he took his 
 leave, the Idng presented him Avith a coronet of gold, and the queen gave another to 
 his wife ; orders were also given that he should be addi'essed by the title of " King 
 of Spain." His train consisted of no less than a thousand spears of knights and 
 esquii'es, two thousand archers, and a thousand tall yeomen. Ha™ig landed in 
 Britany, near the castle of Brest, he was resisted by two of the forts, m the assault 
 of which he lost many of his men ; but he ultimately triumphed, and, having sailed 
 with his fleet to the Garonne, he marched to the Spanish frontier, and carried the 
 town of Bayonne. After tliis, the king of Castile sent to him to treat of a marriage 
 between his daughter and the duke's son ; and through the mediation of the duke of 
 Berry, a truce Avas concluded. In 1388 the duke was appointed lieutenant of 
 Aquitaine. 
 Claims to The thsputes wliich had so long existed in Spain, concerning the right to the 
 
 of Spain, kingdom of Castile and Leon, Avere at length amicably settled by an agi'eement that 
 Henry, eldest son of John, king of Castile and Leon, and of Portugal, should marry 
 Catheidne, the duke's only daughter, by his vnie Constance ; and that the duke 
 should quit liis claim to Spain, on concHtion of receiving, for liis owti and daughter's 
 life, a yearly payment of 16,000 marks, and, in case his wife should survive him, that 
 she should have annually 12,000 marks. The duke returned to England in Novem- 
 ber, 1389, with much treasure; for, it is said, that he had forty-seven mules laden 
 with chests of gold for liis second payment ; and several gi'eat men of Spain, as 
 guarantees for his future annuity. On his return he relieved Brest, in Britany, 
 then besieged by the French. In the folloAving year he Avas created duke 
 of Aquitaine by the consent of the lords and commons of England, on wliich 
 occasion a splencHd cap Avas put upon liis head, and a rod of gold Avas given 
 to him, to hold his neAV dignity of the lung of England, as Idng of the realm of 
 France. 
 A.D.1390. lu 13 Richard II. he obtained a further confirmation of the privileges of his 
 duchy of Lancaster, in the appointment of a chancery court there, AA-ith the poAver 
 to issue Aviits under his ow^l seal; likcAvise an exchequer, AA-ith bai-ons and other
 
 €ouuti) |3alntinr of Sanrasitn-. 151 
 
 necessary officers, and power to make justices itinerant for the pleas of tlie chah 
 forest, &c * "' 
 
 His attachment to his favourite Catharine Swinford remained unaltered, not- 'f'"''""'' 
 
 ' duchy 
 
 withstancUng the disparity of their stations; and, after the death of his second wife, P^-^'i^ges. 
 Constance, he married her at Lincoln, on the octaves of the Epiphany, at which, Catiiarine 
 say the Chi-oniclers, there was no little admiration in regard of her low birth. " This ^"""'^""'■ 
 woman was born in Henault, daughter of a knight of that country. She was brought A.D.1395. 
 up in her youth in the duke of Lancaster's house, and attended on liis first wife, the 
 duchess Blanche of Lancaster ; and in the days of his second wife, the duchess Con- 
 stance, he kept the aforesaid Catharine as his concubine, who afterwards was 
 married to a knight of England, named Swinford, that was now deceased. Before 
 she was mamed, the duke had by her three children, two sons and a daughter. One 
 of the sons was named Thomas de Beaufort ; and the other, Henrie, who was brought 
 up at Aken, in Almaine, proved a good lawyer, and was afterwards bishop of Win- 
 chester. For the love that the duke had to these liis chUcbeu, he married their 
 mother, the said Catharine Smnford, being now a widow, whereof men marvelled 
 much, considering her mean estate was far unmeet to match with his liiglmess, and 
 nothing comparable in honour to his other two former wives. And indeed, the great 
 laches of England, as the duchess of Gloucester, the countesses of Derby, Arundel, 
 and others, descended of the blood royal, gi-eatly disdained that she shoidd be matched 
 with the duke of Lancaster, and Ijy that means be accounted second person in the 
 realm, and prefen-ed in room before them, and thereof they said that they would 
 not come in any place where she slioidd be present, for it should be a shame to tliem 
 that a woman of so base a birth, and concubine to the duke in his other wife's days, 
 should go and have place before them. The duke of Gloucester also, being a man of 
 an liigh mind and a stout stomach, misliked liis brother matching so meanly; but 
 the didve of York bare it well enough; and verily the lady herself was a Avoman of 
 such bringing up and honourable demeanour, that envy could not in the end but give 
 place to well deserving."! Three years after his marriage, in a parliament convened 
 at London, he procured an act for legitiinatizing the chilcb-en whom he had by 
 
 * FURTHER DUCHY PRIVILEGES. 
 13 Ric. II. 
 " Rex, de assensu parliament!, concessit prefato avunculo suo Johanni duci Lancastr', quod 
 ipse & heiedes sui masculi de corpore suo procreati habeant infra com' Lancastr' cancellariam 
 suam, &c. & quecunque alia libertates & jura regalia ad com' palatinum pertin', & seem suum, &c. 
 lit in annis precedentibus, sicut ea ad presens habuit, pro termino vite sue. 
 •) 
 
 t Holinshed, p. 485.
 
 152 CJk W^tov^ of tftf 
 
 CHAP. Catharine Swinford; and in another parliament, held in Septemher in the same year, 
 " called the great pai-liament, the earl of Arundel was, by the duke of Lancaster, who 
 sat that day as high steward, condemned of treason, and beheaded on Tower-hill. 
 During this parliament the earl of Derby Avas created duke of Hereford. 
 
 Soon after the duke of Lancaster attended king Richai-d into France, being wth 
 liim at Guynes, upon the meeting then had with the king of that realm, when 
 peace was made by Richard IL maiTying Isabel, daughter of the king of France, 
 then only eight years old. In the same year, the duke of Lancaster had a renewal 
 and amplification of the privileges of his duchy of Lancaster.* He also obtained 
 the hunch-eds of Southgi'enhowe and Laundishe, in the county of Norfolk, which had 
 come into the king's hands by the attainder of the earl of Arundel. In 1398, after 
 obtaining from the king an ample renunciation of all claim on ajiy part of his inherit- 
 ance, with a confirmation of the dower of the castles of Knaresbrough and TickhiU 
 to Catharine liis Avife, and a settlement of the manor of Bradford and Ahnondbury 
 on his sou John Beaufort, marquis of Dorset, he was constituted heutenant in the 
 marches toward Scotland, from the beginning of the twenty-eight years' truce 
 between that country and England. In October, Henry of Bolingbroke, the duke's 
 son, received sente'nce of banishment ; and fi'om that period, tliis disgi'ace produced 
 the most pimgent soitow in the mind of his venerable father, who was soon afterwards 
 seized Avith a fatal illness, and died. His death was much lamented by his friends; 
 but neither the king nor the people sympathized in then' sorrow. He was inteiTcd 
 with great funeral pomp near the body of Blanch, his fii-st wife, for whom, and for 
 
 * CONFIRMATION OF DUCHY PRIVILEGES, 
 
 20 Ric. II. 
 
 " Exemplificatio & confirmatio ampla cartarum precedentium, sicut in anno primo. Et 
 rex, volens eidem duci gratiam facere iiberiorem, concessit prefato duci quod de cetero predictis 
 concessionibus, libertatibus, &c. plene gaudeat, &c. licet ipse aliquibus earum hactenus usus non 
 fueiit. Et ulterius, pro majori securitate ipsius ducis, rex declaravit & concessit prefato duci, quod 
 ipse ad totam vitam habeat omnes fines pro transgr', &c. pro licentia concordandi, & omnes exitus & 
 forisfactos de omnibus hominibus & tenentibus & residentibus in terris & feodis suis; & quascunque 
 forisfactur', annum, diem, & vastum, in quibuscunque curiis regis, &c. & quod per manus minis- 
 trorum suorum possit levare fines & amerciamenta predict'. Et quod habeat in terris & feodis pre- 
 dictis assisam panis, vini, & cervisie, &c. & aliorum ad officium clerici mercati pertin' & fines, &c. 
 inde provenientia, ita quod clericus mercati regis non ingrediatur. Et quod habeat catalla felonum 
 & fugitivorum. Et quod habeat retorna omnium brevium, summonitionum, preceptorum regis, &c. & 
 executionem eorundem, ita quod nuUus minister regis ingrediatur. Et quod si contigerit ministros 
 dicti ducis in curiis regis propter negligentia amerciari, &c. hujusmodi fines & amerciamenti sint pre- 
 fati ducis. Et quod habeat catalla vocat' wayfe & streye, deodand', thesaurum inventum, & catalla 
 vocat' manuopera," &c. 
 
 The 
 
 duke's 
 
 death
 
 Countp llalatine of XanrnsfUr, 153 
 
 himself, he had erected, soon after her decease, a sumptuous monument, surmounted chap. 
 with the ducal arms, and with the folio winj? inscription on a pensile tablet: — 
 
 IV. 
 
 " Hic IN Domino obdormivit, 
 JOANNES GANDAVENSIS, 
 
 Vulgo de Gaunt, a Gandavo Flandriae urbe, loco natali, ita denominatus; 
 
 Edwardi Tertii regis Anglise filius ; 
 
 a patre comitis Richmondise titulo ordinatus. 
 
 Tres sibi uxores in matrimonio duxit ; 
 
 primam Blancheam, filiam & hseredem Henrici ducis Lancastriee, 
 
 per quam amplissimam adiit hereditatem. 
 
 Nee sohim dux Lancastrie, sed etiam Leicestria, Lincolniee, & Derbeise comes effectus ; 
 
 ^ cujus sobole imperatores, reges, piincipes, & proceres, propagati sunt plurimi. 
 
 Alteram habuit uxorem Constantiam (quae hic contumulatur), filiam & hseredem Petri regis Castilise 
 
 & Legionis; cujus jure optimo titulo regis Castilise & Legionis usus est. 
 
 Hsec unicam illi peperit filiam Catharinam, ex qua ab Henrico reges Hispaniae sunt propagati. 
 
 Tertiam vero uxorem Catharinam, ex equestri familia, & eximia pulchritudine fceminam ; 
 
 ex qua numerosam suscepit prolem, unde genus ex matre duxit Henricus Septimus, rex Angliae 
 
 prudentissimus ; 
 
 cujus felicissimo conjugio cum Elizabetha Edwardi quarti regis filia e stirpe Eboracensi, regise illiae 
 
 Lancastriensium & Eboracensium familise ad exoptatissimam Anglise pacem coaluerunt. 
 
 Illustrissimus hic princeps Johannes, cognomento Plantagenet, 
 
 rex Castilise & Legionis, dux Lancastrise, comes Richmondise, Leicestrise, Lincolniee, & Derbeise, 
 
 locum tenens Aquitaniee, magnus seneschallus Angliae, 
 
 Obiit anno XXIL regni regis Ricardi Secundi, 
 
 annoque Domini MCCCXCIX." 
 
 In " An ancient and large [MS.] Chronicle in the English Tongue, from the Death of 
 beginning of the Raigne of King Edward I. continued to the 9" yeare of King Gaunt. 
 Henry VI." preserved in the British Museum,* the death and interment of John of 
 Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, is thus recorded : — 
 
 " In the 20th of Rich* II, a parliament was held at Westminster, which was 
 " clepid the gpete plement," and at which so many noblemen attended ^ith theii' 
 armed retainers, as to fill the town and neighbourhood. — " And all pes gpete 
 nombpe and multytude of this pepil come ynne to London in one day, that eury 
 stpete and eiiy lane in London, in all pe subbarbes wepen full of hem, logged and so 
 forth X or xj myles euy way about London. 
 
 " And yn this same zere deid John of Gaunte, the kynges uncle, and duke of 20 r. ii. 
 Lancastpe, in the Byshopes ynne of Ely in Holborne, and was bpought from 
 
 • Harl. Coll. cod. 266. fo. 107. 
 VOL. I. X
 
 154 €t)t SiStoi-p of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, thennes into London, to Seint Paulys, pe' the kynge made hys terment well and 
 ^^' wortliely, w' all liis lordes and coues to reuerens and worship of the hye lynage and 
 berthe that he come of, and for the hye and gpete and peuerent estate that he all way 
 aforne hadde and ben ynne, and ys beryed pe' yn the chupche of Seint Paulys in 
 London, be sydes Dame Blaunche liis wyfe, that was doujter and heire to the goode 
 Henry that was duke of Lancastpe." 
 
 The bequests of John, duke of Lancaster, were numerous and munificent; but 
 the largest portion of his estates descended to his only surviving son and heir by 
 Blanch of Lancaster. Throughout his life, the duke of Lancaster surpassed all the great 
 men of liis age in power and fortune; but he was not so universally respected as liis 
 Henry of brother, the Black Prince, the good duke of Lancaster, or Ids eldest son, Henry of 
 brokef Bolingbroko, eai'l of Derby. Some defects in the moral character of John of Gaunt, 
 his haughty carnage towai-ds inferiors, and his public support of Wickliffe, the 
 refonner, added to his want of success in arms, contributed to lower bun in the 
 pubhc estimation, though liis readiness on all occasions to apply his ample fortune 
 in the discharge of his public duties, and liis zeal in the cause of his country, served 
 to rank liim amongst the most illustrious of her benefactors. 
 
 The ducal famUy of the house of Lancaster, had, by its man-iage alliances, 
 become connected with many of the most powerful barons of the kingdom, as will 
 appear from the subjoined pedigrees, and Henry of BoHngbroke, the representative 
 of this house after the death of his father, John of Gaunt, impelled partly by his 
 wi'ongs, but principally by his ambition, was about to wrest the sceptre from the 
 feeble hands of liis royal cousin, and to ascend the throne of England almost Avithout 
 a sti-uggle. By tliis act of usui-pation the seed was sown for the long and sangui- 
 nary intestine wars between the rival houses of Lancaster and York, wliich served 
 for so many years to deluge the country with blood.
 
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 IV. 
 
 These Descents and Alliances of the noble House of Lancaster, derived from the 
 most correct sources, are confirmed by tlie indubitable evidence of tlie best 
 historians, and the heraldic illustrations are amongst the earliest efforts in tliis 
 country, of men learned in " the Antient usage of Honour commonly called 
 Arms," of which our distinguished Herald, Sir William Dugdale, Garter 
 Principal King of Arms, the worthy scion of a Lancastrian stock, has said : — 
 
 " That these Ensigns of Honour, as are commonly call'd Arms, which of later 
 times have been cliiefly used for distinction of families, had their original from the 
 practice of great Commanders in War, is not imkno^vn to the learned. For certain 
 it is, that the faces of all gi-eat military Officers, being obscured by such Hoods and 
 Helmets as were antiently worn in times of Battel ; it was espechent, that by some 
 other means then- persons should be notified to their friends and followers. Necessity 
 therefore requiring it, they depicted upon their Sheilds (wliich were bom for the 
 defence of their bocUes) as also upon theii- Surcotes of silk. Banners, Penons, (Sfc. 
 certain Badges, tliat might make them known at a distance from each other. Of 
 which sort those, that were most conspicuous ; viz. Crosses, Bends, Fesses, Cheve- 
 rons, Saltiers, ^c. (all single charges) being ever held the best. 
 
 " In bearing whereof (as appeareth by divers old Rolls of Arms) such order was 
 observed, that none might assume anothers mark ; but that there should be a plain 
 and apparent diflference in each man's Shield, Surcote, Banner, Penon, &^c. to the 
 end, that upon any disorder the common Souldier might know his Leader, and the 
 better repair to his succour in case of danger. 
 
 " But these latter times having devised other sorts of Armour and weapons both 
 for offence and defence, then of old were used ; those marks and Badges in Shields, 
 Surcotes, S^c. have been for (Uvers past ages, as to any such military purpose, 
 totally layed aside; and since meerly retained as honourary Ensigns by the 
 Nobility and Gentry ; especially to difference themselves and theii' families from the 
 vulgar, and one from another ; as also to distinguish the collaterals from those of 
 the principal stock. In all wluch the Kings of Arms, in their respective Provinces, 
 were to see due order observed."
 
 Countp ^alattnt of SLanragtrr. 
 
 159 
 
 Cftap. F. 
 
 Character of Henry Plantagenet — His marriage, and summons to parliament by the title of Earl of 
 Derby^Created duke of Hereford — His quarrel with the duke of Norfolk — Wager of Battel — 
 Great preparations for the contest — The dukes separated in the moment of the on-set— Both 
 sentenced to banishment — The duke of Hereford quits the country amidst the general lamenta- 
 tion of the people. — Elevated to the dignity of duke of Lancaster on the death of his father, 
 John of Gaunt — Returns to England — Expels Richard 11. from the throne. — Elevation of the 
 noble House of Lancaster to the royal dignity — Allusion, on ascending the throne, to the tradi- 
 tion, that Edmund Crouchback was superseded by his younger brother. — Ancient tradition, that 
 John of Gaunt was a foundling — Original letter on that subject. — Possessions of the Duchy of ' 
 Lancaster separated from the crown possessions. — Establishment of the duchy court. — Abolition 
 of the duchy court of star chamber. — Augmentation of the duchy po.ssessions. — Early archives 
 of the duchy. — Inquisitions post mortem, and pleadings in the duchy court. — Incorporation and 
 confiscation of the duchy. — Act of Philip and Mary for restoring the duchy possessions. — Ancient 
 duchy book, revenues, fees, &c. — Abolition of the feudal system. — Administration of the affairs 
 of the duchy, and appropriation of the revenues under the Commonwealth. — Chancellors of the 
 duchy of Lancaster, from the creation of the duchy to the present time.— Duchy records, their 
 nature described, and the places of their deposit stated. — Officers of the duchy as they at 
 present exist. — The duchy seal. — Origin and use of seals. — Ducatus Lancastriae, from the 
 Harleian MSS. 
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 ENRY Plantagenet, surnamed of Boliiigbroke,from 
 the place of liis birth, was, in character, cliainctrically 
 the reverse of his sovereign, king Richard II. His Henry 
 talents were of a superior order ; his manners were net. ° 
 popular, and even fascinating; and his ambition led 
 him to aspire to a higher station than tliat of the 
 fii-st subject in the realm, wliich his father had so 
 long occupied. 
 
 In the fourth j^ear of Uie reign of Richard II., Henry His mar- 
 was betrothed, with the consent of the king, to Mary de Bohun, the younger daughter "^^*' 
 and coheiress of Himiplrrey de Bohun, late earl of Essex, Hereford, and North- 
 ampton, and herecUtary constable of England. In 1385, he was summoned to 
 pai-liament by the title of Henry, earl of Derby. In the eleventh yeai- of the reign, 
 Henry was engaged with the duke of Gloucester, in the combination against the
 
 160 Cftf lisitoii) of tin 
 
 CHAP, king's ministers, at which his majesty took gi-eat offence ; but Ricliard was afterwards 
 
 _^J reconciled to liim, and in the 21st year of liis reign wo find the king "sitting in 
 
 royal majesty, holding in liis hand a rod, and making his cousin, sir Henry of Lan- 
 caster, earl of Derby, a duke, by the title of Duke of Hereford." 
 Quarrel Tliis reconciliation was, however, short-lived ; a violent quan-el having arisen 
 
 dillVof' between the duke of Hereford and the duke of Norfolk, which terminated in an 
 Norfolk, j^ppgj^] to arms, the king availed himself of this opportunity, with the advice of his 
 council, of which the duke of Lancaster, father of the duke of Hereford, was at the 
 head, to send them both into exile. The circumstances of tliis memorable quarrel 
 and combat, in which all England, as well as all the knights of Chi-istendom, felt 
 the most lively interest, are related with gi-eat particularity in the following docu- 
 ment, extracted from a MS. entitled, " The Originall of Herehawghtes," in the British 
 Museum.* In some of the versions relating to this memorable duel, it is repre- 
 sented, that Henry, duke of Hereford, lodged the information against Thomas, duke 
 of Norfolk; but sir John Froissart, a contemporary wi-iter, states the matter differ- 
 ently, and more probably, by representing, that the secret of the confidential conver- 
 sation between the duke of Hereford and the duke of Norfolk was divulged by the 
 latter ; and this construction is supported by the more severe sentence passed upon 
 that duke, " because he had sowen sediciou in this realme by his woordes, whereof 
 he could make no profe." 
 
 " A Comhate to hefowglde bcUvlvt ye Duke of Hereforde and Tliomas Mowhraye, 
 Jyrst Duke of Northefolke and 3farshall of Enylande. 
 
 Cause of " Henry, Eai-le of Darbeye, (sonne of John of Gaunte, duke of Lancaster, and 
 
 ^^equar- £Q^yj.^]jg |,pgQ^^gjj gonne of Edwarde y' thirde) being but a little before created Duke 
 of Hereforde, a prudente and politiq' psonue, beganne to consider howe that Kinge 
 Richarde, liis cousyne gerinaine did litle regard the counseile of his vncles, or other 
 gi'aue psonnes, but did set his wille and appetite in steade of Law and Reasonne ; on 
 a daye being in y'' compaignye of Thomas Mowhraye, firste duke of Northefolke, 
 beganne to breake his mynde vnto liim, (rather lamentinge on the behalfe of his 
 cousine germame the king, then for anye malice that he bare vnto bun) tellinge 
 him, that the kinge little estemed or regarded the nobles and princes of his Realme, 
 but that he soughte occasions (as much as in him did lye) to destroye the greater pte 
 of them, nothinge esteeminge the blotte of honor, the damage of the weale publique, 
 the murmuiinge of the nobility, the gi'udge of the comons, nor the wonderinge of 
 all men, at his ATiprincely doinge, desii'ed the Duke of Northefolke, (w"'' was one 
 
 * Harl. MSS. No. 6079. fo. 29—31.
 
 Countj) ^Jalatiiie of iLamneitfr. ifii 
 
 of the kinges priuey counsaile, and well harde w"' him,) to aduertise ye Idnge to chap. 
 
 tourue the leafe, and to take a better lesson. '. 
 
 " When the Duke of Northefolke had harde his deuice at fiille, he toke it not in 
 good parte, but rekened that he had got a praye, by w"'" he shoulde obtaine gieater 
 fauoure of the kinge then euer he had, so at that time dissembled the matter, (as he 
 was in deede a deepe dissembler,) and hauiuge fytte opportunitye, opened the whole 
 matter vnto the king, and (aggi'auatinge the same to make yt appeare vnto him 
 more hajTious,) broughte the kinge in gTeat dislikinge w"' the Dulve of Hereforde. 
 Neueilhelesse his furye beinge somewhat appeased, he detenniiied to hear bothe 
 ptyes indifferently, aikl called vnto liim the Duke of Lancaster, and his counsaile, 
 and also the Dukes of Hereforde and Northefolke, and caused the accuser to reporte 
 openly the woorde to him declarde, w'*" rehersed them againe, as he had before 
 related them to the kinge. Wlieu Duke Henry harde the tale othermse reported 
 then he either thought or sayde, (somwhat disquieted w* y' \aitrewthe of y' matter) 
 besoughte y* kinge that he would not conceaue any euil opinion of him vntUl he 
 vnderstoode more of y' matter ; and tourninge him to his accuser, declared woorde 
 and woorde what he had saide, and shewed the cause whereupon he spake them, 
 affirminge, that if the kinge wolde pmitte and suffer him, he wolde pue his accuser 
 a false forger of seditious tales, by the stroke of a speare, and dynte of a sworde. 
 The Duke of Northefolke afhnned constantly his sayeinge to be trewe, and refused 
 not the combate. The kinge demaunded of them bothe if they wolde agi-ee betweene 
 themselves, vf"^ they bothe refused ; and then he grauuted them the battell, and 
 assigned them y' place to be at Coventree citye, in y' monethe of Auguste next 
 ensueinge, wliere he caused a sumpteous theatre, and hste roiall, to be prepared. 
 
 " At the daye appoynted, the 2. valiaunte dukes came to Coventree, accompaig- Prepara- 
 nied w* y' nobles and gentries of theii-e linages, w'^'" encouraged them to y" tiiTcom- 
 vttei-moste. At y" daye of combate and fighte, the Duke of Aumai-le that daye 
 liighe marshall, entred into the lyste w"" a gi-eate compaignie of men, apparailed in 
 silke sendale, embroudered w"" siluer both richly and curiouslye, euery man havinge 
 a tipped staffe to keepe y" field in order. About the tyme of prime, came to the The com- 
 barriers of the liste, the Duke of Hereford, mounted upon a wliite courser, barbed enter the 
 with blewe and green velute, embroudered sompteouslye, w"" swannes and ante- 
 loppes of goldesmithes woorke, armed at all pointes. The constal)le and marshall 
 came to y^ barriers demaundinge of liim what he was, who answered, " I am Henrye 
 of Lancaster, Duke of Hereforde, w'''' am come hether to doe my deuoyre againste 
 Thomas Mowbraye, Duke of Northefolke, as a traitor vntrewe to God, the kinge. 
 Ids realme, and me." Then incontiuente he sware vpon the Holy Evangeliste, that 
 liis quan-el was iuste and trewe, and therupon, he desired that he myghte enter the 
 VOL. I. y
 
 162 Cftf 5)i5ton) of tl)r 
 
 CHAP liste. Then he put vp his sworde, (w^'' before he helde naked in his hande,) and put 
 ^- down liis -siser, and made a crosse in his foreheade, and, av"' speare in his hande, 
 entred into y" liste, and descended from liis horse, and set him downe in a chaire of 
 oreene velute, w'"' Avas set in a traues of greene and blewe velute, at thone ende of 
 the liste, and there reposed himselfe, expectinge the cominge of his aduersarye. 
 Soone after liim entred into y' field w"" greate pompe. King Ricliarde, accopaned 
 w"' all v" pieres of liis realme ; and tliere came w* him also the Erie of St. Paule, 
 who came in poste oute of Fraunce, to see thys challenge pformed. The kinge had 
 aboue ten thousande men in hai-nesse, lest some fraye or tumult myghte rise 
 amongest his nobles by parte taldnge, or quarrellinge. When the kinge was set on 
 his stage, w'" was richely hanged, and pleasantly adourned, a kinge of ai-mes 
 made open pclamation, pliibitinge all men, in y' kynges name, and y' high con- 
 stable and marshalls names, vpo paine of deathe, not to enterprise, to approche any 
 parte of y' listes, excepte suche as were appointed to order and marshall y'' fielde. 
 Wliiche pclamation ended, another haraulde cryed, " Beholde here Henrye of Lan- 
 caster, Duke of Hereforde appealante, w'" is entred into y' Lystes royall, to doe his 
 deuoyi-e againste Thomas Mowbraye, Duke of Northefolke, defendante, vpon paine 
 to be pved false and recreante." The Duke of Northefolke houered on horsebacke ; 
 at the entrye of y' Lyste Ms horse beinge barbed wth crimson velute, embroudered 
 w* Lyons of syluer and mulbery trees. And when he had made his othe before 
 the constable and marshaU, that liis quarell was iuste and trewe, he entered y' 
 fielde manfully, sayinge aloude, " God ayde him that hathe y' right;" and then he 
 dismounted from his horse, and sate downe in his chaii'e, which was crimson velute, 
 curtened aboute w"' wliite and red damaske. 
 Prepare " The L. Marshall vewed theyre speares to see that they were at one equall 
 
 for action. jgj-|g^-[^g^ ^^^^ deliucred thone speare liimselfe to the Duke of Hereforde, and sent 
 thotber speare to the Duke of Northefolke by aknighte. Then y' haraulde pclaimed, 
 that y" trauesses and cliaiers of y' champions shoulde be remoued, comaundinge them, 
 on y' kinges behalf, to mounte on horsebacke, and to addresse themselues to y'' 
 battayle and combate. The Duke of Hereforde was quicklye horsed, and closed his 
 bauier, and cast his speare into y* reste, and (when ye trompet sounded) set 
 forwardes courageouslye towai'de his enemy .6. or .7. paces. The Duke of Northe- 
 folke was not fully set forwarde, when y° kinge caste downe his warder, and the 
 separa- haraulde cried " Ho ! Ho !" The kinge then caused theire speares to be taken 
 comb'a-*'^^ from them, and comaunded them to repaire vnto their chaires, where they remained 
 .2. longe howres, wiiile y" king and his counsaile deliberately consulted, what waye 
 was best to be taken in so waighty a case. 
 
 " Then the haraulde cried Silence, and Sr John Borcye, secretary to the kinge, 
 
 tants,
 
 Coimtp ^alattnf of Sanrastrr. 163 
 
 reade y^ sentence and determination of the kinge and his counsaile, in a loiige c;h.vp. 
 roUe, pnouucinge it in this nianr. " My Lordes and masters, I intimate and notifie ' 
 
 \aito you hy y" kinges ma"% and liis honorable counsayle, that Henrye of Lancas- Sentence 
 ter, appealante, and Tliomas, Duke of Northefolke, defendante, have honorably and king. 
 valiantly appeared here w*"" in the lists royall this daye, and haue bene ready to 
 darraine to battaile, like .2. valiante knyghtes and hardye champions, but because y' 
 matter is greate and waighty between those .2. greate prynces, the kinge and his 
 counsaile haue taken this order : Firste, that Henrye, Duke of Hereforde, for diners 
 considerations, and because he hath displeased the Idnge, shall, w"' in XV. dayes 
 next foUowinge, depte oute of the realme, for terme of X. yeares, \v"' oute retoiu'ninge, 
 excepte he be by the kinge repealed againe, vpony' paine of deathe." The harauld 
 then again cryed " O Yes," and then y' secretary pnounced, " That Thomas Mow- 
 braye, Duke of Northefolke, by thordinaunce of the kinge and liis counsaile, because 
 he had sowen sedicion in tliis realme, by his woordes wherof he coulde make no 
 profe, shall auoyde the realme of Englande, and dwell in Hungrye, Boeame, Pruce, 
 or where he Idve, and neuer retourne againe into England, nor approche y' borders 
 or confines of y' same, vpon paine of deathe, and that y'' lunge wolde stay y' 
 pfites and reuenewes of hys landes in liis owne hand, vntill he had receaued suche 
 somes of money as the Didie had taken vp of the kinges treasoui'er for the wages 
 of y' garison of Callyce, w''' weare styll vnpaied." 
 
 " ^Vlien these iudgementes were thus deuulged, the kinge called before liim 
 those two exiles, and made them sweare, that thone shoulde neur come w"" in sem into 
 place where thother was (willingely), or keepe compaignye, to go there in any 
 forrayne regione, w'*" othe they humbly receaued, and depted fi'om y' Lystes. It 
 was supposed that the kinge mistrusted, that if they two shoulde ioyne in one 
 againe, and conspii'e to be reuenged againste liim, that they mighte woorke him 
 muche trouble, and for that cause to haue deuised this othe. Then the Dulce of 
 Northefolke (w'^'" supposed he should have been borne oute by y" kinge) repented 
 sore of liis enterpryse, and depted sorowfuUy oute of the realme, into Almayne, and 
 at the last came to Hungre, where (through thought and melancholy) he deceassed. 
 The Duke of Hereforde tooke liis leave of y° kinge at Elsham, whiche there released 
 .4. yeares of liis banislunent; and so he toke his iourneye to Callice, and so into 
 Fraunce, where hauinge gotten estimation w"' Charles the Frenche kinge, had like 
 (by y' helpe of y' said kinge) to have maryed thonly dawghter of John duke of 
 Berye, vncle to the Frenche kinge, if kinge Richarde (for feare of y" miscliiefe that 
 therby mighte ensue ^nto liis psonne, if the duke were so strongly alyed, because y' 
 comons of Englande loued him dearely, and greatly desired Ins retourne) had not 
 cast a stoppe in liis waye." ******* 
 
 y 2
 
 164 
 
 Cf)C jMEitori) of tf)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 Arrival 
 at the 
 French 
 court. 
 
 Becomes 
 duke of 
 Lancaster 
 on his 
 father's 
 death. 
 
 The 
 
 duke s re- 
 turn to 
 England. 
 
 The nation was highly incensed by the king's behaviour to the duke of Hereford, 
 ivho was the darling of the principal peers, of the city of London, and of the people. 
 Tliey held that he had committed no crime, and had been condemned without trial; 
 that by his banishment they were deprived of their best protector; and tliey thought 
 themselves by that event exposed to all the malice and indignation of an incensed 
 and vincUctive tyrant. As the duke passed through the city of London on horseback, 
 on his leaving the kingdom, he was followed by more than 40,000 people, who cried 
 after liim, and bcAvailed his fate and their owa in the most moA'ing manner. He 
 was accompanied on tliis occasion by trumpets and instruments of music, and with 
 the more melting sounds of universal lamentation. The mayor of London, and others 
 of the principal citizens, followed him to Deptford; and some accompanied liim as far 
 as Dover, in his way to Calais. 
 
 On the duke's an-ival at Paris, he was very graciously received by the court of 
 France; where he was soon offered in maniage the only daughter of the duke 
 of Berry, uncle of Charles VL To prevent this union, king Richard sent the earl of 
 Salisbury, liis ambassador to the court of France, where the earl represented the 
 duke of Hereford as a person guilty of traitorous designs against liis prince ; upon 
 which the treaty of marriage proceeded no fai-ther. 
 
 After liis departure, he received letters from his father, advising him rather to go 
 into Castile than into Hungaay; but the duke of Lancaster becoming sick, his son 
 continued in Paris, where the news reached him of liis father's death. The king 
 avaihng liim self of the exile of the duke of Hereford, now become duke of Lancaster, 
 seized the possessions of liis father, John of Gaunt, into his owa hands, and lavished 
 them with his usual profusion upon liis favourites. Shortly after this time, the king 
 was obliged to embarli for Ireland, to suppress a rebellion wliich had arisen in that 
 oppressed country; and, during his absence, England fell into great distraction. In 
 this exigency, the people of London sent for theii' favourite Henry, duke of Lan- 
 caster, promising him their assistance, if he woidd accept of the government.* 
 With such encouragement, and aided by the duke of Britany, he took shipping at 
 Le Port Blanc, and landed at Ravenspur, at the mouth of the Humber, in 
 Yorkshire, where he Avas met by a number of nobles in the north, and their followers. 
 On liis arrival at Doncaster, he found himself at the head of a considerable army, 
 and the common people in all places gi-eeting liis retimi with enthusiasm. The 
 injustice practised towards him by the king, in first banishing him from the realm 
 without proof of guilt, and then seizing upon his patrimonial inheritance, in yiolation 
 of his letters patent, excited the intUgnation of the nation towards the oppressor, 
 and their sympathy and enthusiasm in favour of the oppressed. His march tlirough 
 
 * Froissart.
 
 Countp palatine of Xaucasftfr, 165 
 
 the country was a triumph ; every where the castles yielded to liis summons, and, chap. 
 on liis arrival at Bristol, his forces were augmented to 60,000. To oppose this ' 
 
 formidable force, the duke of York, Avho had been left viceroy of the kingdom during 
 the king's absence, assembled an ai-my of 40,000 men at St. Alban's; but their 
 attaclmient to the royal cause was so lukewai-m, that they attached themselves to 
 the duke of Lancaster, on his representation that he sought not the subversion of the 
 throne, but the recovery of liis paternal possessions, which the king had seized, on 
 the death of liis illustrious fatlier. Tlie intelligence of tliis invasion reached the king 
 when he was in Dublin, on wliicli he hasted back into England, and landed in Wales; 
 whei'e, finding that he was almost totally forsaken, he went on to Conway castle, 
 in the county of Carnarvon. The duke, on hearing of the king's arrival, miuxhed 
 to Chester. From thence he despatched the earl of Northumberland to the king, 
 who proposed that a parliament shoiUd be called, to remove the grievances of wliich 
 the country complained, and particularly to arbitrate between the king and the duke 
 of Lancaster. 
 
 Richard, scarcely aware of the danger by which he was menaced, consented to Elevation 
 an interAdew with tlie duke of Lancaster. In tliis way he became Ms prisoner, and bie house 
 was, under various pretences of friendship and loyalty, conducted to London. To caster to 
 give an air of justice to the lUtunate designs of the duke, he caused a parliament to dignity.* 
 be convened under the authority of Richard, by Avliich parliament the king was 
 declared to have forfeited Ms throne by extortion, rapine, and injustice. Being 
 thus deposed by the suffi-ages of two estates of the realm, the throne was declared 
 vacant, and the head of the noble house of Lancaster ascended the throne of these 
 realms, by the stile and title of Henry IV. On receiving this dignity before the 
 assembled parhament, the new monarch crossed liimself on the forehead, and, calling 
 upon the name of Christ, said — 
 
 " In the name of Fadlier, Son, and Holy Ghost, I Henry of Lancaster, 
 " challenge tliis rewme of Yngland, and the croun, irith all the membres, and 
 " the appurtenances ; als I that am descencht by riglit line of the blode, coming 
 " fro the gude King Hemy therde, and throge that right that God of Ms grace 
 " hath sent me, mth help of kyn, and of my frendes to recover it; the wliich 
 " rewme was in poynt to be ondone by defaut of governance, and undoing of 
 " the gude lawes."* 
 
 A tradition had prevailed amongst the vulgar, that Edmond Crouchback, eaid of 
 
 Lancaster, son of Henry III. was really the eldest brother of Edward I., but that, 
 
 owing to some defonnity in Ms person, he had been supplanted in the succession by 
 
 his younger brother ; and as the present duke of Lancaster inherited from Edmond 
 
 ' * Knyghton, p. 2757.
 
 166 €i)t W^tOV}} of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, by liis mother, tliis genealogy constituted liiin the true heir to the throne. This Avas, 
 ' however, a topic rather to be insinuated than dechu-ed, and the best grounds of 
 Henry's claim wei'e the misrule of his predecessor, and the aflections of the people 
 over whom he was himself called to govern. 
 
 A similar story of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, is told by that ancient 
 gossip, Dame Alice Pierce,* the concubine of king Edward III., and retailed by 
 John Stowe, the annalist, on which subject we find the following original letter, in the 
 British Museum, (Harl.MSS. Cod. 374. DeRebus Literariis,Politicis,Domest.fol.23.) 
 " Letter to Stowe, the Historian. 
 " Mr. Stowe, — I hartely coiriend me vnto yow, and like well your Anuales, and 
 gi-eat payues taken therin. My fownder is bound to yow, but that tale of Alice 
 Peers is slannderous, and in my conscience most vntrue, nether hath Thomas Wal- 
 singam, nor Froisard, nor any writer the same, but yow note of a nameless 
 munck of St. Albans, and the addition to Polycrouico per nescio quern, and D. Har- 
 pisfeld doth confute yt. The like tale that queue Pliilip should vtter in confession 
 to B. Wikam, and B. Wikam to the Parlement, to witt, yt the duke of Lancaster 
 was a chaingelinge ; that also is most vntrewe. And yet I know Monach^ Alban^ 
 hath yt. In these tlu'ee poynts I must dispute wt yow, therefore provide your 
 selfe against the next Time, for I will defend the negative in euery one ; as likewise 
 that B. Wikam was neuer a banished man beyonde the seas. And yet some hold 
 that he was there in banishment vij yeres, and some that he was then- but iij yers, 
 and some yt he was the whiles in Normandy, some in Pariss, and all most vntruly ; 
 nether can I fynde that Skipwith did euer precede to iudgment of the bannishment 
 against him, but only to the deprivation of the temperalties of his bishopwricke. My 
 sone, this beai'er, shall give yow a token to have me in remembrance in the premis- 
 ses, by Your most assured friend, 
 
 (Superscribed) " Thomas Martyn." 
 
 " To my wel-beloved and very kind Mr. Stowe, at liis howse, 
 beyonde London hall in London, give these." 
 
 * The character of this Dame Alice Pierce, and of royal mistresses in later times, may be 
 collected from the account given of her by Stowe himself, who says : — 
 
 " at tf)t tinre tfie ISings sirSnesac inrrwsta, anti IpJigsirians trgati to Bispagrr o£ ^is vtfobcrg. alfdougli tf)c 
 forenanitJ) iaiift, tosftficr toitb featitll, ficr Baiig1)trr, Bi& lie tj; f)tm rbcrn nigftt. • » • ijfiitg noto Bottatitflji 
 tafem toitf) tf)c flag of Ijts fltatfi, fir 6rgan to fiabr manifest sigurs tt)ncof: tojat aiire T^icvte tfirn flifl. am man 
 map iuflgc. altfiougfi tot srt tljnn not Dotonr in hiriting, for as soonr as Bl)f sato tljc King l)ati srt footr tuitljin Oratfis 
 floorf, sfjc bctliouglit Ijcr of flugfit. jjft ttforr sfic tocnt Ifiat all mm miglit frrrribr tfiat stir lobrfl not tf)f litng for 
 Jimsclfr, but foe tl)at tofiirfi teas i)is, sftc tooftc tfic rings from fiis fingers, tofiirlj for tfic rojialtir of Ijis ftlaicstir f)rc teas 
 tDont to tocarc. Cf)uB jjttlBtng fjim surf) tfianliffl for Ijis benrfitts, eljrc bafl ftim aflicto, anO so tottfjBrciii fier srlfc from 
 
 Jim." Stowe's Atinales, pp. 272, 270.
 
 Count!) ^3alatinr of ilanrasitfr. 167 
 
 To return. Heury duke of Lancaster being now seated upon the throne of chap 
 England, the unfortunate Richard was sent to the duke's castle at Pontefract. ' 
 
 Here he was detained in confinement for sonic time; but so short is the distance 
 between the throne and the grave of a deposed monarch, that his life was speecHly 
 terminated, either by the hand of the assassin, or the more protracted misery of 
 famine. Richard's reign being thus teraiinated — 
 
 " Post breve tempus 
 Exiiit insigni sese diademate, sceptrum 
 Henrico Lancastrensi regale relinquens" — 
 
 his successor turned his attention to the appointment of his new officers. Tlie oflSce Appoint- 
 of high-steward, which he possessed in right of his earldom of Leicester, derived public 
 fi-om the Lacys, he confeiTed upon his second son, Lord Thomas, Avhose incapacity, 
 from his non-age, was supplied by the earl of Worcester, wliile the office of chan- 
 cellor of the duchy of Lancaster was given to John Wateringe, a divine of consi- 
 derable influence with his royal master. Mr. Justice Blackstone, in liis Com- 
 mentaries,* observes, that " the County Palatine, or duchy of Lancaster, was the 
 property of Henry Bolingbroke, the son of John of Gaunt, at the time when he 
 ^vi-ested the crown from king Richard IL and assmned the title of Idng Henry IV." 
 But this is a mode of expression at variance with the usual accuracy of that dis- 
 tinguished Amter's style, and would seem to imply, that the county palatine of 
 Lancaster and the duchy of Lancaster are co-extensive, and that the terms are con- 
 vertible. Tliis, however, is by no means the case, the county palatine being confined to 
 the county, while the duchy of Lancaster, as we have already intimated, and as we 
 shall speedily shew more specifically, comprehends not only the county of Lancaster, 
 but many other portions of the kingdom. It has been justly observed by Plowden,t 
 in the celebrated " Duchy of Lancaster Case," 4 Elizabeth, and by Sir Edward 
 Coke,| in liis fourth Institute, that the new monarch was well aware, that " he held 
 the duchy of Lancaster by sure and mdefeasible title, but that his title to the crown 
 was not so assured : for that, after the decease of Richard II. the right of the crown 
 wa.s in the heir of Lionel, duke of Clarence, second son of Edward III.; John of 
 Gaunt, father of Hemy IV. being but the fourth son." One of his fii-st measures confers 
 after ascending the throne was, therefore, to pass an act, sanctioned by parliament, duke of 
 ordaining that his eldest son Henry should have and bear the name and title of on his 
 duke of Lancaster, in addition to liis other titles ; and that neither the inheritance 
 of liis duchy of Lancaster, or its liberties, should be changed, transferred, or 
 diminished, through his assumption of the royal dignity ; but that they should retain 
 their distinctive character and privileges, and be governed in like manner, as if he 
 * Vol. i. Intro, sect. 4. p. 118. t P- 215. X p. 205.
 
 168 Cl;f Jnstorj) of tl)c 
 
 CHAP, had never attained the royal dignity* It was further dii-ected, that all ecclesiastical 
 
 ^' benefices in the said duchy should be conferred by liimself and his heirs, so that the 
 
 The duchy (lord) chancellor, ti'easurer, or other officers of tlie state, sliould not interfere, by 
 
 from the rcasou of tliciv respective offices, with the collection or preservation, or even with 
 
 crown. ^j^^ visitation, of benefices within the duchy; and that all receivers, bailiffs, and other 
 
 servants of the duchy, &c. should appear before certain special auditors and ministers, 
 
 and not before the treasurer and barons of the king's exchequer, and account and 
 
 answer for profits and benefits of the duchy, without any interference of the treasurer 
 
 and barons. 
 
 * " ACT RENDERING THE INHERITANCE OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER 
 INDEPENDENT OF THE POSSESSION OF THE CROWN. 
 
 1 Hen. IV. 
 
 " Item fire dit seignoiir le roi, considerant coment luy Dieu tout puissant de sa grande grace luy 
 admys en honourable estat du roy, & per tant il ne poet mesme pur certeine cause porter le nom 
 de due de Lancastr' en son estile : Et auxi mesme fire seignour le roi, considerant coment cet 
 honourable nom & estat de due ad este mesnez & governez moelt honourablement en honourable 
 persone de son pier qi Dieu assoile & des pleusours ses honourable ancestres. Et veuUant sur ceo q 
 le dit nom de due Lancastre soit continuez en honur come affiert ; de ladvis & assent des toutz les 
 segnours espirituelx & temporelx & de les coes avauntditz ad ordeignes, q Henry son eisnex fitz ait 
 & porte le nom de due de Lancastr' & qil soit nomez Prince de Gales, due d' Aquitaine, de Lancastr', 
 & de Cornewaill, & count de Cestr'. Et outre ceo messme fire seign' le roy, considerant coment 
 diverses libtees & franchises aient este gntes devant ces heures, sifen a son dit pier come as autres ses 
 auncestres dues & countz de Lane' voet & gnte de ladvys & assent avauntditz, q mesme les libtees 
 & franchises soient & demorgent a son dit eisnez fitz & ses heires dues de Lane', dissevez fitz de la 
 corone d' Engleterre, qui teinent & entierment solonc leflfect & purport de les gntes avaundites; & sur 
 ceo monstra una chartre en parlement ent fait, & la bailla a son eisnez fitz avauntdit. 
 
 " Post amplissiman cartarum precedentium repetitionem & exemplificationem. Rex, nolens 
 hereditatera suam ducatus sni Lancastr' aut libertates ejusdem, occasione assumptionis regalis status, 
 in aliquo mutari, transferri, seu diminui ; sed eandem hereditatem, cum juribus & libertatibus suis pre- 
 concessis, eisdem modo, forma, conditione, & statu, quibus sibi descenderunt & evenerunt, ac cum 
 omnibus & singulis talibus libertatibus & franchesiis, &c. quibus Johannes dux Lancastr', pater regis, 
 dum vixit, earn ad terminum vite sue habuit & tenuit, sibi & heredibus suis, in cartis predictis nomi- 
 natis, plenari^ & integr^ conservari & continuari ; voluit & ordinavit, de assensu parliamenti quod tam 
 ducatus suus Lancastr', quam universa alia comitat', honor', castr', maner', feoda, advocaticnes, pos- 
 sessiones, &c. quecunque, sibi ante adoptionem dignitatis regis quatrcumque descensa, &c. sibi & 
 dictis hered' suis, &c. remaneant ; & tali modo, & per tales ofiiciarios deducantur & gubernentur, &c. 
 sicut remanere & gubernari deberent si ad culmen dignitatis regie assumptus non esset ; & quod talia 
 & hujusmodi libertates, jura regalia, &c. in eisdem in omnibus habeantur & continuentur, &c. qualia 
 & cujusmodi uti & haberi consueverunt temporibus dictorum patris sui & aliorum antecessorum 
 suorum. Volens ulterius quod singuli tenentes de ducat', com', honor', &c. predict' libere & illese 
 conditionis sint, tam in ingressibus post mortem antecessorum suorum quam in tenuris suis, &c. sicut 
 esse deberent si dicta dignitas regia non accessisset. Proviso semper quod tenentes infra com'
 
 Count)) ^Jalatmr of aanradtfr. 169 
 
 Steadily pursumg the jjiiuciple here laid down, it was by a subsequent act* chap. 
 ordained, tliat the right of succession to the duchy of Lancaster after the king's ' 
 death, should belong to his eldest son, Henry, prince of Wales, and his heirs ; and 
 in default of heirs to Thomas, his second son, and that the ancient rights, statutes, 
 and customs of the duchy, should be maintained and observed inviolate. Having 
 thus fixed the succession to the property of the duchy by all the force of legislative 
 enactments, the next cai-e of the king was to establish a court, called the ducliy Estabiisi.- 
 court of Lancaster, in Avliich all questions of revenue and council, affecting the duchy the'c'iuchy 
 possessions, might be decided. This court is now held at the duchy office in West- '^"""' 
 minster ; thence issue all patents and commissions of office or dignities, all orders 
 and gi'ants affecting flie lunits and revenues, and all acts of authority within the 
 duchy. It is also a court of appeal from the chancery of the county palatine of 
 Lancaster, which court is a court of equity for matters of equity arising Avithin the 
 county of Lancaster,"!" ^"^^ i*^ ^^^^^ ^t Preston. The record-office of the duchy 
 of Lancaster, where the deeds are deposited, has been frequently changed : witliin 
 living memory, Gray's-Iun, Somerset-House, and Great George's-street, has each 
 in succession afforded them a depository ; but the office now seems permanently 
 fixed within the precinct of the ancient ducal residence of the Savoy, in Lancaster- 
 place, Waterloo-bridge, London, of which bridge the southern arch abuts against 
 liis Majesty's inheritance of the duchy of Cornwall, and the northern against his 
 inheritance of the duchy of Lancaster. The duchy chambers at Westminster, being 
 within the precincts described in old statutes as a royal residence, the proceedings 
 are dated before his majesty, " at his palace at Westminster," and not, as other 
 royal acts, at the personal residence of the monarch. In tliis court he is not only 
 presumed to be present, as in others, but to be personally acting by the advice of his 
 chancellor, and other ministers, for the affairs of liis duchy. 
 
 When that intolerable nuisance, the court of star-chamber, existed, in contra- Aboiitimi 
 vention of the provisions of Magna Charta, which direct that no freeman shall be court of 
 deprived of his liberty or property but by lawful judgment of liis peers, the duchy of ciiambei. 
 
 palatin' Lane' hereditates suas, &c. extra manum regis prosequantur per liberationem in cancellar' 
 regalitatis ibidem, ut est moris, &c. Voluit insuper rex, &c. quod singula beneficia ecclesiastica ad 
 hereditatem predict' spectant' per ipsum & heredes suos predict' conferantur ; ita quod cancellar' vel 
 thes' Anglie, vel alius officiarius regius, de coUatione vel presentatione, seu etiani de visitatione benefi- 
 ciorum hujusmodi ratione officiorum suorum non intromittant. Voluit insuper quod omnes receptores, 
 firmarii, ballivi, & quicunque alii ministri sui predictorum ducatus, honorum, castrorum, mane- 
 riorum, &c. de singulis denariis & proficuis, &c. de eisdem ducat', honor', &c. provenient', coram 
 certis specialibus auditor' & ministris, & non coram thes' & baron', socio regis, coniputent aut respon- 
 deant; ita quod thes' & barones predict' in aliquo premissorum se non intromittant." 
 
 * 8 Hen. IV. f 2 Lev. 24. 
 
 VOL. ]. Z
 
 170 
 
 Ei)t ?l)i5toii) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 Augmeu- 
 tation of 
 thediichv. 
 
 Confirma- 
 tion of 
 former 
 acts. 
 
 Further 
 augmen- 
 tation of 
 the duchy. 
 
 Lancaster had also its star-chamber, antl the chaiiceUor of the duchy and council of 
 his court, punished without law, and decreed without authority ; but tliis power was 
 .swept away by the act 16 Car. I., which ordained, that from the 1st of August, 
 1641, tliis power should be aboli.shed in every court witliin the realm, and that from 
 henceforth no couil should exercise the juristliction of star-chamber.* 
 
 Two years after the succession had been settled upon prince Henry and liis 
 heirs, the manor of Brotilby, and fee of La Haye, in the county of Lincoln, with the 
 wardship of the castle of Lincoln, formerly in the possession of Thomas, earl of 
 Lancaster, and wliich now remained in the hands of the king, through the forfeiture 
 of Thomas, son of Thomas, earl of Kent, was incorporated with his inheritance of 
 Lancaster, as parcel of the duchy; and it was ordained, that it should descend to 
 liis heirs, and that all the tenants of these possessions should be governed in the 
 same manner, and by such officers as the other lordships and manors of the 
 inheritance.t 
 
 Soon after Henry V. ascended the throne, he confirmed the acts of his royal 
 father with regard to the duchy of Lancaster ; and it was dii'ected, with the sanction 
 of parliament, that all the liberties and franchises of tliis duchy should in all things 
 be maintained and exercised for ever, according to the tenor of the charters already 
 gi-anted-, and that the seal hitherto used in the duchy, and all matters under that 
 seal which had hitherto been given and gi'anted, should have force, without the 
 reclamation of the king, or his officers ; and that the seal of the duchy should be 
 used for ever, in transacting the business of the duchy. As several honors, castles, 
 and manors, wdiich were the inheritance of Mary, one of the daughters and heiresses 
 of Hmnplu-ey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, Essex, and Northampton, whose heir the 
 Idng was, had descended to liun by hereditary right ; the king separated all these 
 possessions from the crown, and incorporated them with his duchy of Lancaster, 
 appointing that they should be administered by the officers of the duchy, as they had 
 been accustomed to be ; and that the vassals and tenants of tliis inheritance, and 
 the resiants witliin the same, should enjoy the liberties and franchise of the duchy. 
 He also ordained, that all ecclesiastical benefices attached to the duchy inheritance, 
 should be conferred under the seal of the duchy without the interference of the 
 chancellor and treasurer of England. To render tliis ordinance complete, it was 
 further dii-ected, that all the castles, honors, and lands, which had come into 
 possession of the king's father, Henry IV., in consequence of a grant made in the 
 first year of his reign, as to escheats, forfeitures, and recovery, should be incorporated 
 with the duchy, and that any other honors, castles, or manors, wliich had come 
 by escheats, forfeitures, or recovery, should also be joined to the duchy, and that 
 • Rot. Pari. 16 Car. p. 2. nu. 6. t Act of 10 Henry IV.
 
 Counti.) palatine of iLancastrr. i7i 
 
 they should l)e ruled and governed by the officers and ministers of the duchy, chap. 
 under the sanction of the duchy seal.* 
 
 In the tliiid year of the reiern of Henry V. it was dii*ected, that two of the chief Appoint- 
 seneschals of liis inheritance for the tune being, besides the number of guardians senes- 
 limited by form of statutes, should act in all the counties of his kingdom, and that 
 they should exercise their office of seneschal iu all commissions of the peace, 
 and that no donations, pardons, or releases, whicli concerned in any manner the 
 ducliy of Lancaster, or that emanated therefrom, should be valid, except under 
 the seal designed for the duchy. Two other acts, the fii-st passed in the ninth 
 year of Henry V. and the second in the first of Henry VI. annex other possessions 
 of the Bohun family to the duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 It Avas the misfortune of Henry VI. to be deeply involved in debt; and his Mortgage 
 expectation that two Lancashire knights would remove all lus embarrassments, by duchy 
 
 posses- 
 
 the discovery of the philosopher's stone ! was not sufficient to prevent liis creditors sions. 
 from urging their demands in a tone little suited to the refinement of a coui't. To 
 satisfy these demands, he was diiven to the expedient of mortgaging for five years 
 the revenues of the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, and the tenns of this mort- 
 gage, as given in the 18th Henry VI. sufficiently incUcate the importunity of the 
 royal creditors, aud the petulancy of the king under theii' demands. 
 
 " For so muclie," says this act, " as the king oure soverayn lord liaving know- 
 liche of gi-eate mui-mour and clamour that shold be in lus roiahne of England, for 
 nonpaiment of the dispensis of his houshold ; willing of his good grace paiement to 
 his liege people to be made for the (Hspensis of the same houshold, gi'anteth and 
 ordeineth, bi thassent of the lords spmtuell and temporell, and the coramones of tliis 
 roialiue, in this present parliimient assembled, and bi auctorite of the same parle- 
 meiit, that all the profits, issues, revenues, customes, and commodites, comynge or for 
 to come, of all the castles, honours, manors, lordsliips, landes, tenementes, rentes, 
 reversions, services, franchises, libertees, viewes of francjileg, hundredis, letis, courtis, 
 and all other inheritances and possessions of the duchie of Lancaster remayuing in 
 liis liaiide, and of the duchie of Cornewaille while the same duchie shall be in liis 
 hande, from the fest of Seint Michell the archaugell last passed, except all fees, 
 wages, annuyteis, reparations, and other chai-ges necessary goinge out of the same, 
 be ordeined, applied, and emploied, to the dispensis of his said houshold, and dely- 
 vered by the receyvours generall of the said duchies for the tyniie being, to the 
 tresourer of liis said houshold for tlie tyme being, by indenturs, thereof betwene 
 tliaym to be made; and that the recepours generall of the said duducs, upon theu-e 
 accompte, allewayes shall liave allowance and discharge of theii'e payementz, made 
 
 * Act 2. Henry V.
 
 172 Cfte llistor)) of tf)t 
 
 CHAP, by suche endeiitures ; and yf the same receyvours make payement in any otherwise 
 ' than in forme aforesaid, that then tlierof they be disalowed ujion theii-e accompt. 
 Saviuge to all the Idnge's lieges theire title, right, and interesse that they have in 
 the siiid ducliies, or iu any parcelle therof, tliis acte notwithstandinge ; and that tliis 
 ordinance endure to the ende of five yere next ensuinge." 
 Officers of The reveuues of the duchy having reverted to the Idng, as duke of Lancaster, an 
 '^ ""^ ■' act was passed in the 39 Henry VI. appointing that there should appertain to 
 the duchy one cliief steward and one auditor in the northern parts, and one other 
 chief steward and one other auditor in the southern parts, with one chancellor, one 
 receiver general, and one attorney-general in and of all the duchy, with one chief 
 steward, and one attorney-general in the county palatine of Lancaster. Wlule the 
 mortgage existed, several new offices had been created, but by this act those offices 
 were abolished as burdensome in fees, and unnecessary for use. 
 Early Hitherto the archives of the duchy had been lodged in the church and priory of 
 
 of the Saint Bartholomew, in West Smithfield, London, much to the annoyance of the 
 ""^ ^ prior and liis convent. On a representation that the church had become much 
 occupied and encumbered with " divers great chests containing the books" of the 
 duchy of Lancaster, and that iHvine service was interrupted by the enti'ance of 
 ministers, under colour of an exiunination of the books, and that no little disturbance 
 was created thereby, the king du-ected that the prior and convent, and their suc- 
 cessors, should be exonerated from the custody of the said books and documents; and 
 the officers of the duchy were ordered to remove their chests, with then- contents, out 
 of the priory into the tower of London, or into such other place as might be found 
 convenient to deposit them,* 
 
 Although the court of the duchy of Lancaster was instituted in the cai-ly part of 
 the reign of Henry IV., no post mortem inquisitions are registered in this court earlier 
 Taken than the first of Henry V. The duty of collecting and arranging the inquisitions 
 "uthoiity*^ has been performed by the direction of his majesty's coromissioners of public records, 
 "luchy and a list of these inquisitions is published along with a list of the pleachngs, con- 
 Lancaster. sistiug of bUls, answers, depositions, and surveys, relating to the suits in that court, 
 Ducatus in two volumes, entitled " Ducatus Lancastriae." Tliese volumes ai'e thus described 
 trice. by the persons charged mth the duty of collecting and arranging the materials : 
 
 " According to the returns made to the select committee of the house of com- 
 mons in the year 1800, the INQUISITIONS POST MORTEM in tliis 
 repository then found amounted to 2400, beginning with the first year of king 
 Henry V. (1413,) and ending with the eighteenth year of long Charles the 
 First, (1042.) A more recent investigation has shewn then." nmnber to 
 
 * 39 Hem7 VI.
 
 Counti> |3alatint of i!.anca£itn-. 173 
 
 amount to 3569 ; wliicli it has also been found necessary to put in a better chap. 
 
 state of arrangement, and to clean, repair, and bind them in volumes. The 
 
 PLEADINGS consist of bills, answers, and depositions and surveys, in 
 suits, exldbited in the duchy court, commencing Avith the first year of king 
 Henry VII. and are continued to the present time. 
 
 (Signed) " R. J- Harper, John Caley, Wm. Minchin. 
 
 Dated " Office of the Duchy of Lancaster, 1823." 
 
 Tlie Inquisitions and PleacUngs contain a great fund of local information; but 
 they would, ui the most condensed form, occupy an inconveniently large space in 
 our coimty history ; and the necessity for theii- insertion is materially dhninished 
 since the Ducatus, thanks to the hberality of parliament, is presented to many of the 
 pubUc Ubrai-ies in this kingdom, and is therefore easily accessible : suffice it to 
 say, that the records, of wliich the Ducatus exlubits little more than an mdex, are to 
 be found in the duchy record office, in London ; and theii- number, as fai* as regai'ds 
 the county palatme of Lancaster, stands thus: 
 
 Inquisitions Post Mortem, m Vol. 1 3105 
 
 In Vol. II. (Nil) . . 
 
 Pleadings in Vol. 1 1594 
 
 In Vol. II 1589 
 
 3183 
 
 The hostility of the house of York to the house of Lancaster did not extend to Confirma- 
 the revenues of the duchy, for no sooner had Edward IV. ascended the throne charters of 
 
 , •' !• T ^ c T .the duchv. 
 
 than he confirmed all the charters and liberties of the duchy ol Lancaster, m a 
 manner the most ample, except that he joined the duchy inheritance to the 
 crown.* Henry VII. not to be outstripped by a member of the rival house, 
 
 • AN ACT FOR INCORPORATING AND ALSO FOR CONFISCATING THE DUCHY 
 OF LANCASTER TO THE CROWN OF ENGLAND FOR EVER. 
 
 1 Edward IV. 
 " It is declared and adjudged by the assent and advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and 
 oi' the Commons, being in this present parliament, and by the authority of the same, that the same 
 Henry, late called King Henry the Sixth, for the considerations of the great, heinous, and detestable 
 matterl and offences before specified by him, committed against his faith and ligeance to our said liege 
 Lord King Edward the Fourth, his true, righteous, and natural liege Lord, offended and hurt unjustly 
 and unlawfully the Royal Majesty of our said Sovereign Lord, stand by the advice and assent con- 
 victed and attainted of High Treason. And that it be ordained and established by the same advice, 
 assent, and authority, that he the same Henry forfeit unto the same our Liege Lord Edward the 
 Fourth, and to his heirs, and to the said Crown of England, all Castles, Manors, Lordships, Towns,
 
 174 8nf)f W^tor^ of tf)e 
 
 CHAP, enacted, in the first year of liis reign, that all the lauds of the duchy of Lancaster, 
 ^' which had heen alienated from that inheritance in the reign of Edward IV. should 
 he re-invested in the king and liis heii's for ever, as amply and largely, and in like 
 manner, fonn, and coniUtion, separate from the crown of England, and possessions of 
 the same, as the tkree Henries, or Edward IV. or any of them, had and held the 
 same. Ever since the period when Henry IV. mounted the throne of England, 
 the duchy of Lancaster has indeed always been considered by the reigning monarch 
 as one of the richest gems in the crown, though for state purposes it has heen kept 
 separate and distinct from the regal revenues and possessions. When the act for 
 reo-ulating the order of wai-ds and liveries was passed, a special proviso was 
 introduced, to guard against the royalties, liberties, and jurisdictions of the county 
 
 Townships, Honours, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Services, Fee-Farms, Knights'-Fees, Advowsons 
 Hereditaments, and Possessions, with their appurtenances, which he or any other to his use had the 
 third day of March last past, being of the Dutchy of Lancaster, or that were any parcel or member of 
 the same Dutchy, or thereunto annexed or united in the first year of the reign of Henry, late called 
 King Henry the fifth, or at any time since. And that it be ordained and established by the same advice, 
 assent, and authority, that the same Manors, Castles, Lordships, Honours, Towns, Townships, Lands, 
 Tenements, Rents, Services, Fee-Farms, Knights'-Fees, Advowsons, Hereditaments, and Possessions, 
 with their appurtenances in England, Wales, and Calais, and the Marches thereof, make, and from the 
 said day of March be to the said Dutchy of Lancaster corporate, and be called the Dutchy of Lan- 
 caster. And that our said sovereign Lord King Edward the fourth have, seize, take, hold, enjoy, 
 and inherit all the said Manors and Castles, and other the Premisses with their appurtenances, by 
 the same name of Dutchy, from all other his inheritances separate, from the said fourth day of March, 
 to him and to his heirs Kings of England perpetually, and that the County of Lancaster be a County 
 Palatine : And that our Liege and Sovereign Lord King Edward the fourth and his heirs have, 
 as parcel of the said Dutchy, the same County of Lancaster and County Palatine, and a Seal, 
 Chancellor, Judges, and Officers for the same ; and all manner of Liberties, Customs, Laws Royal, 
 and Franchises in the same County Palatine lawfully and rightfully used, and over that, another 
 Seal, called the Seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and a Chancellor for the keeping thereof, Officers 
 and Counsellors for the guiding and governance of the same Dutchy, and of the particular officers, 
 ministers, tenants and inhabitants thereof, in as great, ample, and large form as Henry, calling 
 himself Henry the fifth, at any time therein had, used, and enjoyed lawfully. And by the same 
 authority the said officers and ministers, and also the said tenants and inhabitants of and in the same 
 Dutchy have, use, exercise and enjoy such and all Liberties, Privileges and Customs, as the Officers, 
 ministers, tenants and inhabitants of the same Dutchy had, used, exercised or enjoyed lawfully in the 
 time of the same Henry, calling himself King Henry the fifth ; and that also in the same Dutchy be 
 used, had, and occupied all such Freedoms, Liberties, Franchises, Privileges, Customs and Jurisdic- 
 tions, as were used therein lawfully before the said fourth day of March. And the Officers, minis- 
 ters, tenants, and inhabitants of or in the said Dutchy be entreated and demeaned according to the 
 same Freedoms, Liberties, Franchises, Customs, Privileges and Jurisdictions, and not distrained, 
 arcted, nor compelled to the contrary in anywise."
 
 Countj) ^alati'm of ^Lantaster. 175 
 
 palatine and the duchy of Lancaster suffering prejudice; and when Henry VIII. had chap. 
 impaired the revenues of the duchy of Lancaster by a number of gifts, gi-ants, and 
 
 sales, indemnity against the consequences of these alienations was found for the si Henry 
 king, as duke of Lancaster, by a gi-ant from parliament of the manor of Ripon and 
 its dependencies, in the county of York, and of the viccary, in the forest of Aslie- 
 downe, with its rents and manors, in the county of Sussex, botli of wliich were 
 attached to the duchy, and the revenues received and accounted for as duchy lands. 37 Hemy 
 
 VIII, 
 
 The example set by the father was closely and speedily imitated by his chiklien ; and 
 in the time of Philip and Mary the duchy possessions were restored to their fonuer 
 extent, by an act expressed in these very significant terms ; 
 
 " An Act for thenlargyng of the Duchie of Lancastree. 
 
 " Forasmuche as tlie Kyng and Queue our sovereigne Lorde and Ladyie, con- Act of 
 sideling and regarding the state of the Ducliie of Lancastree, being one of the and Mary, 
 most famous Princeliest and Stateliest peeces of our said Sovereigne Ladie the 
 Queues auncyent Enheritance, doo pceyve and consider that the Possessions and 
 yerely Revenues of the stiid Duchie arre and have been of late greatlye diminished, 
 as well by reason of Sundry Giftes, Grant' and Sales, made by the late Kinges of 
 famous memorye, Henry theight and Edoarde the Sixte, late Kings of Englande, 
 Father and Brother to our said Sovereigne Ladie the Queues Higlmes, as also by 
 reason of suncbie Exchainges made w"" dyvers their loving Subjectes, of Sundry 
 Manors, Landes, Tentes, Possessions, and Hereditaments, lately belonging to tlie 
 same Duchie ; and the Mano", Landes, Tentes, Possessions, and Hereditaments, 
 being recey\'ed and taken in recompence of the said Exclianges, bee not annexed to 
 the said Duchie, but been in thorder svey and governance of other Courtes and 
 Places, so by theyr Highnes taken and receyved in Excliange ; And forasmuche 
 also as thejT Ma"" doo niynde and intende to jn-eserve, avaunce, majTitaine, and 
 contynue thauncient and honorable Estate of the said Ducliie ; Our said Sovereigne 
 Lord and Ladye therfore bee pleased and contented that yt lie enacted, ordeyned, 
 and estabUshed by their Ma"'', w'" thassent of the Lordes Spuall and Temporal!, 
 and the Comons in tliis pnte pliament assembled, and by tliauctoritee of tlie same, 
 That all Hono", Castels, Lordeshippes, Mauo", Landes, Tenementes, Possessions, 
 and Hereditamentes w"'hi this Realme of Englande, w'^'" at any tyme synce the 
 xxiij"" daye of Januarie, in the first yere of the Reigne of our said late Sovereigne 
 Lorde Kynge Edoarde the Sixte, were prell of the Possessions of the said Duclue 
 of Lancastre, or w'" were united and annexed to the said Duchie by aucthorite of 
 pliament tres Paitentes or otherways, and w'"" at any time since tlie sayd xxxiij daye
 
 CHAP. 
 
 176 Cf)C ?)l£itmi) of tl)t 
 
 of Jauuaiie, have beeu given, gi-anted, alyenated, bargayned, solde, exchanged, or 
 ^- otherwayse severed from the said Duchie, by our said late Sovereigne Lorde King 
 Edoai'dc the Sixte, or by our said Sovereigne Lady the Quene that now ys, or by 
 oui" Sovereigne Lorde and Ladie the King and Queues Ma"" that now bee, to or 
 w"" any pson or psons, and w''' sayd Hono", Castles, Lordshippes, Mano", Lande, 
 Tente, and Hereditamente, since such Giftes, Grants, Alienacons, Bargaynes, Sales, 
 Exchanges, or Severance thereof so made as is aforesaid, been, comon, or retm-ned 
 agayn to thandes of our said late Sovereigne Lorde Kyng Edwarde the Sixte, or to 
 thaudes of om- said Sovereigne Ladie the Quene, or to thandes of our Sovereigiie 
 Lord and Ladie the King and Quene, or to thandes of her M"% lier heires, and 
 successors, in Possession, Revercon, Remainder, or other ways,' and w"*" now bee or 
 remain in thandes of our said Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King^ and Quenes 
 Ma"'', of any estate of inheritance, shall from the time the same came^reverted agam 
 to thandes of our said late Sovereygne Lorde Kinge Edward the Sixte, or to 
 thaudes of our said Sovereigne Lady the Quene, or * thandes of our said Sove- 
 reyne Lord and Ladye the Kiug and Quene, by aucthoritee and force of tliis Acte 
 bee united and annexed for ever uuto the sayd Duchye of Lancastree, and shalbe 
 adjudged, demed, and taken for ever for, and as peels and membres of the said 
 Duchie of Lancastre," &c. 
 
 In the following reign a systematic return was made of the fees, pri\Tleges, ^viits, 
 and advowsons, attached to the duchy of Lancaster and its officers, a copy of wliich 
 has been preserved, and is as follows : — 
 
 ^ere liesinnetl) ti)e Mott 
 
 Which is known by the name of and Treating of the Fees, Privileges, 
 Writts, Advowsons, and other Officers that belong to the Duchy 
 and County Palatine of Lancaster [about 1588]. 
 
 Fees of the Dutchei/. 
 
 The chancellor's fee of the £. s. d. lying in London, as much £. s. d. 
 
 Dutchey 238 16 4 more as makes both theii- sa- 
 
 The attorney of the Dutchey . 66 5 4 laries amount to, £76 17 3.] 
 
 The auditor for the north partes 68 13 4 The sum of all the payments 
 
 The auditor for the south partes 68 3 4 which are paid to all the offi- 
 
 [Besides to both of them mur- cers, or allowed as salarys in 
 
 rey cloth, green cloth for the dutchey, in the whole 
 
 their tables and for their amount to 641 3 4
 
 £400 
 
 
 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 
 
 900 
 
 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cotintp ^3alatme of iLaiuastm 177 
 
 An Estimate of the Revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster, collected hy the chap. 
 particular Receivers of the Honors belonging to the said Duchy, and yearly " 
 paid by the Receiver-General. 
 
 Revenues of the Dutchey per annum. 
 
 The receiver of Cliderhow and £. s. d. The i-eceiver of Leicester . 
 
 Halton, payeth to the general The receiver of Furness 
 
 Receiver of the dutchy . . I7OO The receiver of Bullingbroke 
 
 The receiver of Pomfrett and Augmentation of Lancaster 
 
 Knasbrough, com. 69 annis . 1800 The receiver of the colledge and 
 
 The receiver of Tickhull . . 500 chantry rents in the county 
 
 The receiver of Piclieringleigh 350 of Stafford and Derby . . 40 
 
 The receiver of Duntanborough 80 
 
 The receiver of Tutbury, p.ann. 1500 £8600 
 
 The receiver of Longberington 80 
 
 South Division. 
 
 The receiver of Higham Fe- £. s. d. The receiver of Essex and Hart- £. s. d. 
 
 rars 80000 ford 1000 
 
 The receiver of Norfolk and Suf- The receiver of the marches of 
 
 folk 200 Wales and Monmouth . . 100 
 
 The receiver of Sussex . . . 300 The receiver of Kilwaldid . . 100 
 
 The receiver of the south 
 
 parts 1000 £4800 
 
 So that the whole receipts of the general receiver of the Dutchy, one year £. s. d. 
 
 with another, amounteth to * 14,000 
 
 The receiver is to pay to the treasurer of his Majesties most £. s. d. 
 
 honourable chamber 4000 
 
 And to the cofferer of his Majesties household /OOO 
 
 For fees to the court officers . . 641 3 4 
 
 For expenses of the mass songs, and others, per ann. . . 100 
 
 Total disbursements . . . 11,741 3 4 
 So that remains communihus annis, in the custody of the general receiver, 
 to be disposed oif according to his majesty's use, upon Mr. Chancellor, 
 Sir Francis Walsinghamf 2258 16 8 
 
 £14,000 
 
 * It may be presumed, that the statement of Revenue this year is not equal to the average year, 
 as the figures do not correspond with this amount. 
 
 t Sir Francis Walsingham was chancellor in 1588. — See list. This fixes the period when this account 
 was taken, or the rates affixed, concurring with the Entry of the Fees of the " Justices of the Queen's 
 Bench." 
 
 VOL. I. 2 A
 
 178 
 
 mn ?§i6toi-p of ti)f 
 
 CHAP. A Declaration of all the Forests, Chases, and Parkes, belonging to the 
 ^" DuTCHY of Lancaster, out of Avhich the Chancellor, Attorney-General, 
 
 Receiver-General, and two Auditors, are to have deer summer and winter. 
 
 Iti Comit. Lancastrian. 
 The forest of Bolland. 
 The forest of Wiersdale. 
 The forest of Bleasdale. 
 Legrame parke. 
 Mierscough parke. 
 Toxteth parke. 
 Quernmore parke. 
 
 In Comit. Cestrice. 
 Halton parke. 
 
 In Comit. Stcvffbrdie. 
 Yoxalward parke. 
 Agardesley parke. 
 
 Rolleiitou parke. 
 MarchiDgton ward. 
 Tutbury parke. 
 Hockeley paike. 
 Rowley parke. 
 High Lenis parke. 
 
 Hcec sunt in Comit. Derbie. 
 High Peak forest. 
 Shattell parke. 
 Melbure parke 
 Mansfield parke. 
 Morley parke. 
 Posterne parke. 
 Ravensdale parke 
 
 I71 Comit. Leicestri. 
 
 The forest of Leicester. 
 Castle Donnington parke. 
 Barnes parke. 
 New parke of Leicester. 
 Tonley parke. 
 Pekelton parke. 
 
 In Comit. Wilts. 
 
 Loxley parke. 
 Alborne chace. 
 Everley parke. 
 
 Parks and Chases. 
 
 In Hamshire, Kingsomburne parke. — ^The chace of Holt, and the parke com. Dorset.- 
 Kirby parke, in com. Lincolniae. — Higham Ferrers, in com. Nortbamtoniae. 
 
 In Comit. York. 
 
 Poulfret parke. 
 Cridlinge parke. 
 Kepax parke. 
 Blausby parke. 
 
 Pickeringly forest. Havery parke. 
 
 Billon parke. Coinsbrough parke. 
 
 The old parke of Wakefield. Altafts parke. 
 Hay parke. Acworth parke, 
 
 and the New parke of Wakefield. 
 
 In Comit. Sttssex. 
 Hunsde parke. 
 The forest of Ashdowne. 
 Weecks parke. 
 
 In Comit. Essex. 
 The great parke of Plashey. 
 The little parke there. 
 Coppedhull parke. 
 
 Two other parkes there are in Highester parke there. 
 Suffolk. Eyste parke there 
 also. 
 
 In Com. Hartford. 
 Hartingfordbury parke. 
 Two more parkes in do. 
 Kingslaugby parke, do. 
 Oldney park, Buckingham- 
 shire. 
 Hungerford park, Berkshire.
 
 Counti? |3alatmt of 2[ancaeitn% 
 
 " Fees due per Annum to these Officers. 
 
 179 
 
 Bailiffe of the manor of Salford 
 Bailiffe of Derby wapentake 
 Bailiffe of man' of West Derby . 
 M' of the forest of Wiers- 
 
 dale 
 
 IVf of Amounderness forest 
 The escheator of county palatine 
 The sheriff of Lane, hath for 
 
 allowance 
 
 The constable of Liverpool castle 
 
 The maister of Symondwood 
 
 forest and keeper of Toxteth 
 
 parke hath for his fees, per 
 
 annum 
 
 Steward of the wapentake of 
 
 Derby and Salford . 
 The receiver of the co. palat 
 Porter of Lancaster castle 
 Steward of Amounderness 
 Steward of Lonsdale . 
 Keeper of Quernmore parke 
 M' of the forest wood of Myers- 
 cough 
 
 Maister of Wiresdale et Quern- 
 
 £. s. 
 
 d. 
 
 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 ..50 
 
 
 
 . . 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 . . 4 11 
 
 
 
 ..20 
 
 
 
 ..20 
 
 
 
 . 2 5 
 
 6 
 
 4 11 
 
 The chancellor's fee of the 
 county palatine, per annum . 
 
 The justice of the queen'' s bench 
 for his office in county pala- 
 tine 
 
 And for dyett 
 
 To another justice for his office 
 in county palatine, and dyett 
 too 
 
 Att^ of County palatine . . . 
 
 Gierke of y^ crown for county . 
 
 Clerk of the common pleas . . 
 
 Clerk of crown and pleas . . . 
 
 Barons of the exchequer there . 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 36 13 
 
 4 
 
 13 6 
 
 8 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Cryer of the sessions at Lan- 
 caster 
 
 Master of Bolland forest . . . 
 Steward of ponds for his fee . . 
 Receiver of Clitheroe .... 
 Steward of Blackburn, Totting- 
 ton, and Clederhow, for his 
 
 fee 
 
 Constable of Clitherow castle . 
 The keeper and porter of the 
 geole in the castle of Clithe- 
 row 
 
 Messenger of the dutchy . . . 
 The keeper of the parkes' fees . 
 Fee of the bailive of Ormskirk . 
 Bailif of Burscough fee . . . 
 The under steward of Ormskirk 
 appointed by the Earl of 
 
 Derby 
 
 Fee of the clerk of the court 
 
 there 
 
 The fee of the auditor . . . 
 The fee of the receiver per annum 16 
 The reward of the said receiver 13 
 The fee for Furness .... 
 The baylives of Dalton's fee . . 
 The ditto of Hawkshead's fee . 
 The ditto of Beamond and Bol- 
 ton 
 
 Fee of all the manors pertaining 
 
 to Furness monastery 
 Fee of the receiver there . 
 Clerk of the court there . . . 
 Baylive of Furness liberty . . 
 Keeper of woods in plane of 
 
 Furness 2 
 
 Reward of the auditor 
 The stipend of a clerk to serve 
 in the chapel at Farnworth . 3 
 
 a2 
 
 
 d. 
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 £. s. 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 15 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 3 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 2 5 
 
 8 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 2 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 28 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 2 10 
 
 26 13 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 6 13 
 
 4 
 
 12 10
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 180 CI)f i^istorp of tf)f 
 
 £. s. d. £. s. d 
 
 The stipend of a clerk to serve in The stipend of a clerke and 
 
 the chapel at Litherpoole . . 4 17 5 school maister at Manchester, 
 
 The fee of a clerk and schoole per annum 4 2 
 
 m' of Walton, per annum . 5 13 4 Clerke of Beconshawe chapell . 2 16 5 
 The clerk's stipend at Black- The stipend of a clerk and school- 
 
 j.Q(les 44I3 master at Leyland . . . . 3 17 10 
 
 The clerk of Clitherow stipend . 3 9 1 The stipend of a clerk and scliool- 
 The stipend of the clerk of Pa- master at Preston .... 2 
 
 diham chappel 6 19 2 Clerke and steward of Wigan . 5 
 
 The Chaplin's fee in the chap- The clerke of Crostons stipend . 3 
 
 pel of Harewood, per annum 4 6 6 The payment made unto seven 
 The clerk in the chappel of weomen praying within the 
 
 Whalley 4 8 11 late coUedge, called Knowles's 
 
 The stipend of a clerke to Alms house, per annum . . 35 15 
 
 serve in the chappel of Ruf- Payd to two persons and the 
 
 ford, per annum 3 2 2 surveyor thereof 5 10 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 9 
 
 " A Note of all the Benefices and Spiritual Living belonging to the Dutchy 
 
 OF Lancaster. 
 
 ('■) 
 Comit. Berks. 
 Henton Rectory .... 
 
 In Comitat. Ebor. 
 Methley rectory clare . . . 
 Darrington viccaria, per ann. 
 Ackeworth rectoria, per ann. 
 Croston rectoria, per ann. . 
 Slaitborne rectoria, per ann. 
 Kirkbram with rectoria . . 
 Ouston vicaria, per ann. 
 Castleford rectoria, per ann. 
 Bradford vicaria .... 
 Berwickes of Elemitt . . . 
 In Com. Essex. 
 Stamford rivers rectoria . . 
 
 Munden (v) 
 
 Dedham {v) per ann. . . . 
 Essex (v) per ann. . . . 
 Longton (v) per ann. . 
 Laugham viccaria sen rectoria 
 
 for rectory- 
 
 23 7 5 
 
 25 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 n 
 
 20 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 33 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 26 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 -(11) for vikai'age. 
 
 Gloucester. 
 
 Tiberton Rectoria 
 
 Hartford. 
 Saint Andrews with St. Nicholas 
 
 In Com. Lincoln. 
 Hartringfordbury (r) . . . . 
 
 Ounley (>■) clere 
 
 Whittingham {?•) 
 
 Hantley (c) per ann 
 
 Stoopings parva (»•) .... 
 
 Norcot (r) 
 
 South Somersetes (r) . 
 
 Bennington {11) 
 
 Salt Thetby (r) 
 
 Southreston (r) 
 
 Morningerby [r) 
 
 Thoresby (/•) 
 
 In Comit Lancastrie. 
 Pennington Don clear (r) . . 
 Dalton {v) and clear . . . . 
 
 7 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 19 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 8. 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 8
 
 Countp palatine of ilancasJten 
 
 181 
 
 In Com. Leicester. 
 
 Hathurend {v) 12 
 
 St. Peter, Leicester {v) . . . 2 
 
 Desford (r) 2 
 
 Wliitwicke vie 9 
 
 Viccaria de pembe valet, per ann. 6 
 Mandeoallocke sene Mono- 
 
 bon(v) 9 
 
 Swafield (r) 6 
 
 Mamelly vie. valet, per ann. . 6 
 
 Shibden (v) 9 
 
 Trunche (r) 10 
 
 Southropes (r) 6 
 
 Sydestrond (r) 5 
 
 Northrope (r) 
 
 Mondesley (r) 8 
 
 In Comit. Norfolk. 
 
 Themingham rector .... 6 
 
 Withrope (r) 5 
 
 Malilaske (/■) 5 
 
 Beeston {r) 16 
 
 Plumbstead (r) 5 
 
 In Comit. Northump. 
 
 Inchester {v) 8 
 
 d. £. 
 
 Passenham (r) 20 
 
 Preston {v) 15 
 
 Widd {v) 3 
 
 Bethome {v) clear 13 17 
 
 Millome {v) 8 
 
 Urswick {v) sunt Richmondsha 7 
 
 In Com. Stafford. 
 
 Tudbury {v) 7 
 
 Rolston (r) 13 
 
 Tatenhill rectory .... 26 
 
 Wolstanton (r) 32 
 
 In Com. Suffolk. 
 
 Clare (vie.) 4 
 
 Eyken (f) 6 
 
 Holmesett (v) cleare .... 
 
 Stratford 13 
 
 Somersham (r) 8 
 
 Hunden (v) 7 
 
 In Co. TVilts. 
 
 Poole (/•) 17 
 
 Ashley (r) 9 
 
 In Co. Westmoreland. 
 Orton (v) 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 s. 
 
 
 d. CHAP. 
 
 ^• 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 18 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 17 4 
 
 " The valuation of some parsonages and vicarages mtliin the dutchy appeareth 
 not in the records remaining in the dutchy office, but may be found in the office of 
 the fii-st-fruits, where the same are best known." — Birch's MSS. 
 
 From the time of queen Elizabeth to the reign of Charles II. no material change 
 took place in the duchy court of Lancaster, with the exception of the abolition of the 
 duchy court of star-chamber already noticed; but in the twelfth year of that monarch, 
 the last remaining vestige of the feudal system, after having existed in tliis country for 
 at least six hundred years, was swept* away, and with it the privileges of wards Abolition 
 and liveries attached to the duchy of Lancaster, although those privileges had been feudal 
 thought worthy of special protection a century before. The progi-ess of Imowledge ^^' "'"■ 
 had burst the bonds of vassalage, and although the system introduced, or completed, 
 by the Norman conquerors, had taken deep root, and identified itself with the whole 
 
 • Rot. Pari. 12 Car. II. p. 3. nu. 4.
 
 182 
 
 €i)t ^^I'Stoi-p of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 V 
 
 16 & 17 
 Car. II. 
 
 Chancel- 
 lors of the 
 Duchy. 
 
 frame of society,* the tenures in capite, and knights' service, were now declared 
 " more biii-thensome, giievous, and prejudicial to the Idugdom, than beneficial to the 
 king," and they were, therefore, for ever abolished. 
 
 During the interval between the year 1642, when the public treasmy passed into 
 the hands of the pai'liament, and the yeai' 1660, when Charles II. obtained the royal 
 inheritance, the revenues of the duchy of Lancaster were applied to the exigencies of 
 the state, first under the administration of Lord Newbm-gh, and subsequently under 
 the chancellorsliips of William Lenthall, speaker of the house of commons, John (Pre- 
 sident) Bradshawe, Thomas Fell, and Sir Gilbert Gerard, Bart. ; the latter of whom 
 was displaced at the Restoration by Francis lord Seymoiu-, who, as a mark of the royal 
 favoiu-, obtained tliis lucrative appointment, for his attacliment to the House of Stuart. 
 
 To facilitate the proceedings in the duchy court, an act was passed in the 16th 
 and 17th Charles II. empowering the chancellor of the duchy to grant commissions 
 for taking affidavits vntian the county palatine of Lancaster, and other places in 
 the several counties of the kingdom within the survey of the duchy court, whereby 
 the same validity was given to those affidavits, as if they had been sworn, as liitherto 
 in the duchy chamber at Westminster, and to render these proceedings, in the 
 incipient state, as little burthensome as possible, it was directed that the very 
 moderate fee of twelve pence, and no more, should be received by the person 
 empowered to take the affidavits. 
 
 From the first creation of the duchy of Lancaster, in 1351, to the present time, 
 1831, there have been eighty-three chancellors of the duchy. The following is a 
 complete list of those officers, obligingly furnished by the duchy office : — 
 
 Chancellors of the Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster, from the 
 first Creation of the Dukedom in 1351, to the present time, June 1831. 
 
 34 Edward III. Sir Henry de Haydok 
 
 46 Edward III. 
 51 Edward III. 
 
 1 Richard II. 
 6 Richard II. 
 
 6 Richard H. 
 
 7 Richard II. 
 1 Henry IV. 
 1 Henry IV. 
 
 Ralph de Ergham, clerk. 
 Thomas de Thelwall, clerk 
 
 Sir John de Yerborough, clerk. 
 Sir Thomas Stanley. 
 Sir Thomas Scarle. 
 Sir William Okey. 
 John de Wakering. 
 William Burgoyne, Esq. 
 
 Chancellor of Henry, first Duke of 
 
 Lancaster. 
 Bishop of Sarum. 
 Created Chancellor of the County 
 
 Palatine, 16th of April, 
 
 November 10th, pro temp. 
 November 29th , 
 October. 
 
 See vol. 1. c. 2. p. 66^84.
 
 Coiintj) ^alatint of iLnnragtrn 
 
 183 
 
 6 Henry IV. 
 11 Henry IV. 
 1 Henry V. 
 
 1 Henry VI. 
 
 2 Henry VI. 
 9 Henry VI. 
 17 Henry VI. 
 
 20 Henry VI. 
 
 26 Henry VI. 
 
 27 Henry VI. 
 
 I Edward IV. 
 
 II Edward IV. 
 
 17 Edward IV. 
 
 18 Edward IV. 
 1 Richard III. 
 1 Henry VII. 
 
 19 Henry Vll. 
 
 21 Henry VII. 
 1 Henry VOL 
 14 Henry VHI. 
 17 Henry VIII. 
 
 Sir Thomas Stanley. 
 John Springthorpe, clerk. 
 John Woodhouse. 
 John Woodhouse, contd. 
 William Troutbecke, Esq. 
 Walter Sherington, clerk. 
 
 William Tresham. 
 William Tresham. 
 John Say, Esq. 
 John Say, Esq. contd. 
 Sir Richard Fowler, Kt. 
 Sir John Say, Kt. 
 Thomas Thwaites. 
 Thomas Metcalfe. 
 Sir Reginald Bray, Knt. 
 Sir John Mordant, Knt. 
 Sir Richard Empson, Knt. 
 Sir Henry Marny, Knt. 
 Sir Richard Wingfield, Knt. 
 Sir Thomas Moore, Knt. 
 
 21 Henry VHI. Sir' William Fitzwilliams, Knt. 
 
 35 Henry VIII. 
 1 Edward VI. 
 6 Edward VI. 
 1 Queen Mary. 
 4&5 Phil. & Mary 
 1 Elizabeth. 
 10 Elizabeth. 
 19 Elizabeth. 
 32 Elizabeth. 
 37 Elizabeth. 
 43 Elizabeth. 
 
 13 James I. 
 
 14 James I. 
 
 15 James I. 
 6 Charles I. 
 Feb. 10, 1644. 
 
 Sir John Gage, Knt. 
 
 Sir William Pagett, Knt. 
 
 Sir John Gate, Knt. 
 
 Sir Robert Rochester, Knt. 
 
 Sir Edward Walgrave, Knt. 
 
 Sir Ambrose Cave, Knt. 
 
 Sir Ralph Sadler, Knt. 
 
 Sir Francis Walsingham, Knt. 
 
 Sir Thomas Henage, Knt. 
 
 Sir Robert Cecil, Knt. 
 
 Sir John Fortescue, Knt 
 
 Sir Thomas Parry, Knt. and John 
 
 Daccomb, Esq. 
 Sir John Daccombe, Knt. 
 Sir Humphrey May, Knt. 
 Edward Lord Newburgh. 
 William Lord Grey of Wake and 
 
 William Lenthall, Esq. 
 
 May 15th. 
 
 March 30th. 
 
 4th April. 
 
 20tli of January. 
 
 10th of June. 
 
 16th of February. 
 
 7th of May, Chancellor for life. 
 
 3d of July, Chancellor in reversion. 
 
 1st of November. 
 
 10th of June. 
 
 16th of June. 
 
 10th of June, also Chan, of Excheq. 
 
 3rd of November. 
 
 2d of April, also Chan, of Excheq. 
 
 7th of July. 
 
 13th of September. 
 
 24th of June. 
 
 3d of October. 
 
 14th of May. 
 
 14th of April. 
 
 31st of Dec. made Chancellor of 
 
 England. 
 3d of Nov. afterwards Earl of 
 
 Southampton. 
 10th of May 
 1st of July. 
 7th of July. 
 
 22d of June. 
 
 16th of May. 
 15th of June. 
 
 7th of October. 
 16th of September. 
 27th of May. 
 
 5th of June. 
 23d of March. 
 16th of April, 
 
 CHAP. 
 V.
 
 184 
 
 Cfte listtorp of tt)t 
 
 CHAP. 1649. 
 
 John Bradshawe 
 
 1st of August. 
 
 ^- 1655. 
 
 Thomas Fell 
 
 
 1659. 
 
 Sir Gilbert Gerard, Bart. 
 
 14th of May. 
 
 12 Charles 11. 
 
 Francis Lord Seymour. 
 
 9th of July. 
 
 16 Charles 11. 
 
 Sir Thomas Ingram, Kt. 
 
 21st of July. 
 
 23 Charles 11. 
 
 Sir Robert Carr, Bart. 
 
 22d of February. 
 
 34 Charles 11. 
 
 Sir Thomas Chicheley, Kt. 
 
 21st of November. 
 
 1 Wm. and Mary. 
 
 Robert LordWilloughby, of Ersby. 
 
 21st of March. 
 
 9 William lU. 
 
 Thomas Earl of Stamford. 
 
 4th of May. 
 
 1 Queen Anne. 
 
 Sir John Leveson Gower, Bart. 
 
 12th of May. 
 
 5 Queen Anne. 
 
 James Earl of Derby. 
 
 10th of June. 
 
 9 Queen Anne. 
 
 William Lord Berkeley, of Stratton, 
 
 , 21st of September. 
 
 1 George 1. 
 
 Henage, Earl of Aylesford. 
 
 6th of November. 
 
 2 George I. 
 
 Richard Earl of Scarborough. 
 
 12th of March. 
 
 3 George I. 
 
 Nicholas Lechemere, Esq. 
 
 19th of June. 
 
 1 Geo. 11. 
 
 John Duke of Rutland. 
 
 July 17th. 
 
 8 Geo. II. 
 
 George Earl of Cholmondeley. 
 
 May. 
 
 16 Geo. II. 
 
 Richard Lord Edgecumbe. 
 
 December 22nd. 
 
 34 Geo. 11. 
 
 Thomas Earl of KinnouU. 
 
 27th of February. 
 
 3 Geo. 111. 
 
 James Lord Strange. 
 
 13th of December. 
 
 11 Geo. 111. 
 
 Thomas Lord Hyde, afterwards 
 
 
 
 Earl of Clarendon. 
 
 14th of June. 
 
 22 Geo. 111. 
 
 John Lord Ashburton. 
 
 17th of April. 
 
 23 Geo. III. 
 
 Edward Earl of Derby. 
 
 29th of August. 
 
 24 Geo. III. 
 
 Thomas Earl of Clarendon. 
 
 31st of December. 
 
 27 Geo. III. 
 
 Charles Lord Hawkesbury. 
 
 6th of September. 
 
 44 Geo. III. 
 
 Thomas Lord Pelham. 
 
 11th of November. 
 
 44 Geo. 111. 
 
 Lord Mulgrave. 
 
 6th of June. 
 
 45 Geo. 111. 
 
 Earl of Buckinghamshire. 
 
 14th of January. 
 
 45 Geo. III. 
 
 Dudley Lord Harrowby. 
 
 10th of July. 
 
 46 Geo. ni. 
 
 Edward Earl of Derby. 
 
 12th of February. 
 
 47 Geo. 111. 
 
 The Right Hon. Spencer Perceval. 
 
 30th of March. 
 
 62 Geo. 111. 
 
 The Earl of Buckinghamshire. 
 
 25th of May. 
 
 52 Geo. III. 
 
 The Right Hon. Charles Bathurst 
 
 23d of June. 
 
 4 Geo. IV. 
 
 Nicholas Lord Bexley 
 
 13th of February. 
 
 9 Geo. IV. 
 
 The Earl of Aberdeen, K.T. 
 
 26th of January. 
 
 9 Geo. IV. 
 
 The Rt. Hon. Charles Arbuthnot 
 
 2d of June. 
 
 1 V^iUiam IV. 
 
 Lord Holland 
 
 25th of November. 
 
 We have thus sketched, with a rapid hand, principally from official documents, a 
 connected and authentic liistory of tlie duchy of Lancaster, one of " the most famous, 
 princeliest, and stateliest of inheritances." The connexion of the duchy Avith the
 
 Coiintp ^3alatmt of S.ancngtfn i85 
 
 ducal and royal House of Lancaster is too close to adinit of separation. Tliey serAe chap 
 to illustrate and to ennoble each other, and to have exliibited them apart would ' 
 
 have derogated from the tUguity of both. In each successive reign, from the period 
 when Hemy of Bolingbroke ascended the throne of tliis kingdom, to the present 
 time, Avith the exception of the inteiTegnam of the commonwealth, the kings 
 of England have enjoyed the title of duke, and the revenues of the duchy of 
 Lancaster, both of which are now in possession of om- gracious sovereign 
 William IV., and mil descend as an inalienable inheritance to liis royal 
 successors. 
 
 The proceedings of the duchy court during a period of four huncked and thirty 
 years, are full of interest in all the counties of the kingdom to wliich the duchy 
 extends, but in the county palatine of Lancaster they have a peculiar claim to that 
 distinction ; and it may tend essentially to the convenience of those who at present, 
 or in future times, may have occasion to consult the records of that duchy, to be 
 presented with the follo\ving authentic information, both as to then- nature, and as to 
 their places of deposit. 
 
 Ci)e Hue!)]) 3i^rcortis» 
 
 " Return from the deputy Clerk of the council, and keeper of the Records in 
 the Duchy of Lancaster, to the Committee on the Public Records of tliis 
 Kingdom, made in vii'tue of an order from the select Committee, with 
 an answer to the enquiry. Whether all the Records of the Duchy are 
 open to jjublic inspection? 
 
 " In obedience to your Order of the 21st February last, I herewith return 
 answers to the several Queries put to me, with respect to the Records of this Office, 
 under the Custody of the Clerk of the Council, and the two Auditors, to whom I, in 
 tliis respect, act as deputy ; but beg leave at tlie same Tune to state, that such only 
 are considered as public, and open for public Inspection, as in any wise relate to or 
 concern Judicial Proceedings, the remainder being collected for the purpose of 
 better managing and improving the Inheritance of his Majesty's Possessions m 
 right of liis Duchy of Lancaster; and the Officers of the Duchy think themselves at 
 liberty to withhold them from public Inspection, except for the purposes before 
 mentioned, or by command of his Majesty, as Duke of Lancaster, signified by his 
 chancellor of the Duchy. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 B
 
 186 Cfje ?^isitori) of tbe 
 
 CHAP. " Tlie Answer to the Fii-st Question, is contained in the foUowino; list of Records 
 
 V. 
 
 1_ in the Office of the Duchy of Lancaster : — 
 
 Records. " Account of the puichase Money arising fi-om the Sale of Rents under the several 
 
 acts of Parliament, — 29 Geo. III. 1 780, to tlie present time. 
 " Awards for inclosures, in wliich the Duchy Property has been concerned, — 
 
 27 Geo. II. 1754, to the present Time. 
 " BUls and Answers and Depositions in the Duchy Court of Lancaster, and of such 
 
 as liave been transmitted from the County Palatine to be heai'd in the Duchy 
 
 Court, — 1 Hen. VII. 1487, to the present Time. 
 " Charters and Grants of various Kings imder the Great Seal, as well as of private 
 
 Persons (remaining in Boxes), to the King's Sons, and to Ecclesiastical 
 
 Persons, of Lands A^ithin tlie Surveys of the Duchy, — 1 King Stephen, 1135, 
 
 to 10 Queen Elizabeth, 1558. 
 " Charters and Grants in Fee Farm, some of wliich ai'e em-oUed in the Office, and 
 
 others remain on Pai'chment, with the Royal Sign Manual. The original 
 
 Charters of the Duchy and County Palatine to the King's Son, and Grants of 
 
 Lands to Individuals of the possessions of the Duchy, — 51 Ed. III. 1377, to 
 
 1 Queen Anne, 1702. 
 " Court Rolls of such Manors as formerly belonged to the Duchy, and have suice 
 
 been granted away, and of such as are at present demised by Leases under the 
 
 Duchy Seal, — 1283, to the present Time. 
 " Decrees of the Duchy Court inrolled in Books, and some drafts with the Attorney 
 
 General's Signature, — 1 Hen. VII. 1487, to the present Time. 
 " Grants of Rents under the several Acts, to enable the Chancellor and Council to 
 
 dispose of the Fee Farm and otlier Rents, and to enfranchise Copyhold 
 
 Estates,— 20 Geo. III. 1780, to the present Time. 
 " Inquisitions Post Mortem, consisting of 2,400 of various Lands and Tenements, 
 
 within all the Counties in England, — 1 Hen. V. 1413, to 18 Cha. I. 1642. 
 " Leases, Drafts, and lurolments, of such as have passed the Duchy Seal, of Land 
 
 and Tenements, Parcel of the Possessions of the Duchy, — 1 Hen. VIII. 1510, 
 
 to the present Time. 
 " Ministers and Receivers Accounts of the Rents and Revenues of the Duchy, — 
 
 1135, to the present Time. 
 " Patents of Offices granted under the Duchy Seal,— 1 Hen. VIII. 1510, to the 
 
 present Time. 
 "Presentations to Livings under the Duchy Seal^ — 1 Hen. VIII. 1510, to the 
 
 present Tune.
 
 Countp ^aalatine of 2Lanrae!tn% 187 
 
 " Rentals and Particulars of Lands belonging to the Duchy, collected together in chap. 
 Bags and Presses, and consisting of various other documents, of such Descrip- [ 
 
 tions, that they cannot he comprised under one Head, registered mto Counties, Records. 
 
 and in the Catalogue are the Names of places alphabetically arranged, — 
 
 51 Ed. III. 1377, to the present Time. 
 " Reo-isters of Leases, Warrants, Grants, and other Docmnents, under Royal 
 
 Signs Manual, inroUed in Books, of John Duke of Lancaster, in tlie Time of 
 
 Edw. the Tliii'd, and of various Kings, relating to the Possessions of the 
 
 Duchy,— 51 Edw. IIL 1377, to 8 Hen. VI. 1430. 
 " Revenue ProceecUngs in Duchy Court inrolled in Books, — 6 Cha. I. 1630, to 
 
 the present time. 
 " Special Commissions of Sewers, and to survey estates belonging to the Duchy, — 
 
 23 Eliz. to the present Time. 
 " Privy Seals and Bills, being the particulars prepared previous to the gi-anting 
 
 any Leases or Offices under the Duchy Seal, — 1 James I. to the present Time. 
 " The Building wherein the Records are kept is situate on the East Side of 
 Somerset Place,* is in good Condition and Security, with respect to the Rooms where 
 the Records are deposited ; but many of them have been obliged to be lately removed 
 from the lower part on account of the Dry Rot, which has affected the Casement 
 Story. As the Records yearly increase, more Room will be wanted at some future 
 Pei-iod, for the Accommodation of them. The Office was appropriated to the use of 
 the Duchy of Lancaster under the Act for erectuig the Buildings at Somerset 
 House, and is therefore public Property. But tliis office was given to the Duchy in 
 consideration of Accommodations and Concessions made by his Majesty in right of 
 liis Duchy, from such parts of the manor of Savoy as belonged to the Duchy. 
 
 " The Records, except those of very ancient Date, (wliich were, in some degi-ee, 
 destroyed by the vennin in the late ofiice,) are in good preservation; and such as 
 are not contained in Books are arranged in Presses, according to their Dates, tied 
 up with paper and string, and numerically indorsed ; and in the course of every 
 summer a person is employed to remove the Dust from them, and put new paper 
 and string to such as want it. Tlie Books are deposited in Closets, indorsed accord- 
 ing to their dates and Subjects. 
 
 " There are correct general Indexes, Repertories, and Calendars, of all the 
 Records in the Office, with reference to the particular Subjects wliich they contain; 
 and as fresh Records are transmitted to the Office, they are continued to be entered 
 in existing Calendars; and these additions are minutely attended to, without any 
 Expense on that account being borne, by the King as Duke of Lancaster. 
 * The Records are now removed to Lancaster-place. 
 2b 2
 
 188 Cf)e W^tov)] of tfte 
 
 CHAP. " Several Years ago, according to what I have been infonned, a Fii-e happened at 
 
 " the Duchy's Office, Gray's Inn, by wliich accident several Records were destroyed, 
 Henords. and some ai-e supposed to have been stolen. Some of these have been recovered 
 from persons, wlio have voluntarily sun-endered them; and some few Indexes and 
 Cataloanies, wliich had been made for the use of the officers who had the care of the 
 Records; but I know of none now existing in any place, from Avhence they ai-e lOvely 
 to be regained ; and such ample Repertories have since been made, and the Records 
 aiTanged in such order, that they would hardly be of use if recovered. 
 
 " I am employed iu the arrangements of the Records myself, and a clerk assists 
 me in placing and replacing them, for which no Salary or allowance whatever is paid, 
 but a fee of 8s. 6d. is chai'ged for the production of each Record, which is the sole 
 allowance, as well for the trouble and producing them, as for arranging them and 
 keeping them in proper preservation, and for making the Indexes, Repertories, and 
 Calendars, and the further some of Is. is chai-ged per foUo for Copies, or \6cl. if there 
 is any considerable difficulty arising from the Antiquity or Language of the Record. 
 Attendance with the Records themselves is so seldom demanded, that no Fee has 
 been regularly settied for that purpose; but if in London, a charge is made of one 
 guinea, besides the coach-hire ; and if in the country, two guineas a day, with the 
 travelhng chai-ges, and all other expenses, would be expected. No account has 
 been kept of the profits derived by seai'ches for public Records, independent of those 
 where fees have been received for other searches, firom whence any average can 
 be taken, 
 
 " The answer to the Sixth Question is, I presume, contained in the answer to the 
 foregoing questions. 
 
 " I am not apprised of any regulation that can be made, for rendering the use of 
 the said Records more convenient for proper Inspection. 
 
 " R. J. Harper. 
 " May 8, 1800." " Deputy Clerk of tlie Council. 
 
 " Several Fee Farm Rolls of this Duchy have been lately transfen-ed to this 
 Office, from the Augmentation Office." 
 
 " Return to a further Question to the Clerk of the Council and Keeper of the 
 Records of the Duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 " Query. Are there in yom- custody, as such Officer, any Calendars, or Indexes, 
 to the Inquisitions Post Mortem mentioned in your Return to this Committee, and 
 upon what plan are they formed — and are they in a state sufficiently coiTect for
 
 Countt) |3alatmc of aanrn^ter* 
 
 189 
 
 publication, if it should be thought to conduce to the benefit of tlie Public to have chai' 
 the same printed?" L_ 
 
 " Answer. There are, as stated in my former Return, several Inquisitions Post Records. 
 Mortem, Traverses, and other Inquisitions of divers kinds, remaining in this Office 
 under my care, cormuencing in the beginning of the Reign of Henry V. and 
 finisliing 18 Charles I. amounting to nearly 24,000 in number, some of which consist 
 of many large Skins of Parclunent put on Files, in several bundles, secured from 
 futm-e injuries by strong covers, and to wliich there is a regular Alphabetical Index 
 and Calendar, in one Volume, divided into the several Reigns of the Kings before 
 mentioned, and containing the names of Persons, and all places mentioned in each 
 Inquisition, oniittuig none that are legible. The first dii'ecting immediately to the 
 several lands eacli person died possessed of; the other refemng to each Inquisition, 
 in which any particular Lands are to be found. 
 
 " I know of no objection to pnbHsliing the above Index, if it should be thought 
 conducive to the public benefit; and understand it \\ill fill about 90 Pages when 
 printed. 
 
 " R. J. Harper. 
 « June 27, 1810." " Deputy Clerk of the Council. 
 
 The following is an Abstract from the public records relating to the Depositories 
 of the Duchy of Lancaster : — 
 
 DEPOSITORIES OF THE DUCHY RECORDS. 
 
 Records mid other Instruments. 
 
 Charters and Grants : 
 
 Under the great Seal of Duchy Lands . . . 
 
 Of various Kings 
 
 Grants in Fee Farm, some enrolled, others not, 
 
 Confirmation of privileges 
 
 Copies of Charter relating to the Duchy . . 
 Exemplification of the grant of creation of the "^ 
 County Palatine, and creation of Duke . . 3 
 Patents of Offices under the Duchy seal . . 
 
 Grants of Rent under Statutes . . • . . 
 
 Date. 
 
 th .-J 
 
 nne* 
 
 Stephen to Elizabetl 
 1135 to 1558 
 51 Edw. III. to Ann 
 2 Henry V. . . . 
 Henry IV. to Edw. I V.^ 
 
 1 Edw. IV. • • •( 
 
 I Henry Vlll. to the ^ 
 present time. . . ^ 
 
 1780 to the presents 
 time ' 
 
 Where kept. 
 
 Duchy office. 
 Bodleian library. 
 Ashmolean Museum. 
 
 Bodleian Library. 
 Duchy Office. 
 
 Where <le- 
 positeii.
 
 190 
 
 C6c lisitorp of tfie 
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 Records and other Instruments. 
 
 Inquisitions, Post Mortem 
 
 Records. Transcripts of, for Duchy Lands in Western^ 
 
 Where de- Counties, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, Hants .3 
 
 posited. 
 
 Sewers — Special Commissions 
 
 Surveys : — Of Woods and Underwoods . . . 
 Feoda Militum Regis Caroli Ducis Lancastrise 
 Privy Seals and Bills 
 
 Awards for Inclosures 
 
 Presentations to livings under the Duchy Seal 
 
 Court Rolls, 
 
 Of manors formerly of the Duchy and of those "1 
 
 now in demise ( 
 
 Leases, 
 
 Registers of, together with warrants and other 
 
 documents, under the sign Manu; 
 Drafts and inrolments of . 
 
 ts and other "1 
 aal . . .\ 
 
 Rentals and Particulars : 
 
 Of Duchy Lands, alphabetically arranged . . 
 
 Fee Farm Rent Rolls during the Commonwealth 
 Knight's fees therein belong to Charles L . ."^ 
 General Rental Tempo. Interregni . . . .^ 
 The like for Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Hants 
 Of ministers and receivers . 
 
 Of money arising by sales under statutes . . 
 
 Of receiver in the County of Lancaster, and"j 
 annexed lands of Clithero, Furneis, and > 
 
 Houlton ^ 
 
 Forests, Pleas of 
 
 Pleading and Decrees, by Bill and answer . . 
 
 Books of decrees and orders .... 
 
 Revenue Proceedings . . . . . . 
 
 A few Records concerning the Duchy . . . 
 
 Date. 
 
 1 Henry 
 
 V. to Car. L 
 
 16 Car. 
 
 [. . 
 
 . . . 
 
 23 Eliz. 
 
 to the 
 
 present 
 
 time 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 1575 . 
 
 , , 
 
 * 
 
 Car. L 
 
 
 
 1 Jac. L 
 
 to the 
 
 present 
 
 time 
 
 . . 
 
 . . 
 
 1754 to 
 
 the 
 
 present 
 
 time 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 1510 to 
 
 the 
 
 present 
 
 time 
 
 , , 
 
 
 1283 to the present 
 time 
 
 51Ed. Ul.toSH. VL 
 
 1 Hen. VHI. to the 
 present time 
 
 51 Edw. III. to the 
 
 present time 
 Car. I and II. 
 
 1648 . . 
 
 1636 to 1640 
 1135 to the 
 
 time . 
 1780 to the 
 
 time . . 
 
 present 
 
 present 
 
 Date wanting 
 
 8 Edw. III. 
 1 Henry VII. 
 
 present time 
 1487 to the 
 
 time . 
 1630 to the 
 
 time . . 
 
 to the^ 
 present 
 present 
 
 Where kept. 
 
 Bodleian Library. 
 
 University Lib. Camb. 
 
 Duchy Office. 
 
 Augmentation Office. 
 University Lib. Camb. 
 
 Duchy Office. 
 
 University Lib. Camb. 
 King's Rememb. Office. 
 
 Duchy Office. 
 
 Auditor's Office Land 
 Revenue.
 
 Cotmtp |3alatinf of aanfasften I9i 
 
 The Seal of the Duchy of Lancaster is as ancient as the duchy itself; as is also chap. 
 
 the Seal of the County Palatine. The Seal of the Duchy remains with the chancel- '. 
 
 lor of the duchy at Westminster ; that of the county palatine is deposited in a 
 chest in the county of Lancaster, under the safe custody of the keeper of the seal. 
 All grants and leases of land, tenements, and offices, in the county palatine of 37 Hen. 
 Lancaster, in order to render them valid, must pass under the seal of the county c. le. 
 palatine, and no other ; and all gi-ants and leases of lands, tenements, and offices, 
 out of the comity palatine, and within the survey of the ducliy, must pass under 
 the seal of the duchy, and no other seal.* The custom, however, is, to seal all 
 deeds of lands, &c. Avitliin the county palatine, mtli hoth tlie duchy and the county 
 palatine seals, and all mthout the county, but witliin the survey of the duchy of 
 Lancaster, A\dth the duchy seal only. 
 
 These seals are essentially the same as those that have been used since tlie days 
 of John of Gaunt, but new seals are engi-aved in eacli successive dukedom. Those 
 at present in use are extremely splendid, and may rank amongst the first efforts 
 of art in this department, as will be seen on reference to the annexed plate, in 
 which they are correctly delineated. 
 
 THE DUCHY SEAL 
 
 Represents the King seated on his Tlu'one in Royal Robes, wearing the Collar Duchy 
 of tlie Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Imperial Crown. In his right 
 hand he holds the Royal Sceptre, and his left is placed on the Orb and Cross 
 on his left knee. On the dexter side of the Throne, on a compartment adorned with 
 the Union Badge of the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock, is placed a Lion sejant 
 croAvned with the Imperial Cro^vn, and supporting between the Paws a Banner of 
 the Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ; and on the sinister 
 side of the Tlu'one, on a lilce compartment, is a Unicorn sejant and addorsed, gorged 
 with a Prince's Crown, and supporting a banner of the Arms of the Duchy of 
 Lancaster, viz. Gules, 3 Lions passant guardant Or, a label of three points, each 
 charged with three fieurs de lis. The ground of the Seal is diapered, and round 
 it is the Royal Style, 
 
 iiSiiUrlmuft Quartu0 ari gratia ISritanntarum Ilex, jFibei Btfen^ov. 
 
 ) 
 
 * Sir Edward Coke's Fourth Part of the Institutes of the Laws of England, fo. 210.
 
 192 CljC iJlSltOip Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. On the Reverse is an antique Shield of the Arms of the Duchy, placed in 
 
 ^' hend dexter, between two Ostrich Feathers erect Ermine, each issuant from an 
 Escrol. The Sliield is pendent by a belt from a Helmet, fi-om which flows the 
 Lambrequin, and on the Helmet rests the Crest, being upon a Chapeau, turned up 
 Ermine, a Lion statant guardant, gorged with a Label of three points, each charged 
 Tvith thi-ee fleurs de lis. 
 
 The Seal is cuxumscribed mth the inscription 
 
 «6i0iUum Bncatm lianrastrhT. 
 
 THE COUNTY PALATINE SEAL, 
 
 County The ground of which is diapered, represents the King on Horseback in AiTQOur, upon 
 Seal'"'' a Mount in base, with the right arm elevated, and branchshiug a sword. Upon the 
 King's Helmet is placed the Crest, being on a chapeau, a Lion statant guardant. 
 On the dexter side, under the upraised Arm, is a Rose ensigned by a Prince's 
 Coronet. The Caparisons of the Horse are ornamented with the letter £,, ensigned 
 with a like Coronet, and with the Royal Motto, Dieu et Mon Droit. On the Mount, 
 near the dexter foot of the King, is a Talbot Dog courant, gorged with a coUar. 
 The whole is cu'cumscribed 
 
 ^igillum CTomitat: iJalatin: Uanrastnap. 
 
 The Reverse of tliis Seal is also diapered, and bears a Shield of the Arms of 
 the Duchy, as above described, pendant by a belt fr-om a Coronet, composed of 
 Crosses patee and fleurs de lis, occupying the upper part of the Seal. On a Moimt, 
 in base, are represented, on each side of the Shield, two Talbots addorsed, each 
 collared, and supporting an Ostrich Feather issuant fi-om an Escrol, 
 The Seal is thus cfrcumscribed, 
 
 <ffiuUelmu0 (iuattu0 Uri grat. JSritanniarum Utx: dFiU: Drf: 
 
 Although the ofiices of the duchy, and the county palatine, except that of the 
 chancellor's, are little subject to political changes, the list of ofiicers is fr-equently 
 varying by the inevitable operations of time. At present, Jime, 1831, these lists 
 stand thus : —
 
 S(ai oi the (County palatini ci ^ancaeter. 
 
 Sfttl oi tk IBmbp oi ^amaBtet, 
 
 Engraved ly H MclviUe, liom Uir Modiri..
 
 ■^ 
 
 ^
 
 Cotintp palatmt of Hancnsfttr. 
 
 193 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER. 
 
 CHAP. 
 V. 
 
 Chancellor — Lord Holland. 
 Attorney-General — William Walton, Esq. 
 King's Sergeant — R. G. Cecil Fane, Esq. 
 King's Counsellors — F. A. Roe, Esq. and 
 
 Robert Palk, Esq. 
 Receiver-General — Sir William Knighton, 
 
 Bart. G.C.H. 
 Auditor — Sir George Harrison, K.C.H. 
 Clerk of the Council and Registrar — 
 
 Fredk. D. Dan vers, Esq. 
 
 Clerk in Court in Causes — W.Minchin,Esq. 
 Surveyor of Lands and Woods South of 
 
 Trent — Robert Smirke, jun. Esq. 
 Surveyor of Lands North of Trent — John 
 
 Bower, Esq. Ferrybridge. 
 Surveyor of Woods North of Trent — R. I. 
 
 Harper, Esq. 
 Usher of the Duchy Court — Mr. Richard 
 
 Edwards. 
 Messenger — Charles Coggins. 
 
 Receivers of the Rents. 
 
 Lancashire — Wm. Eccles, Esq. Manchester. 
 Yorkshire and Notts — Thos. Lack, Esq. 
 Leicestershire and Northamptonshire — Tho- 
 mas Freer, Esq. 
 
 Staffordshire — Thomas Lack, Esq. 
 Monmouthshire — William Davies, Esq. 
 Essex and Hertford — T. Hinckley, Esq. 
 Derbyshire — Rd. Hinckley, Esq. Lichfield. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY PALATINE. 
 
 Chancellor — Lord Holland. 
 Vice-Chancellor — Francis L. Holt, Esq. 
 Secretary — Robt. J. Harper, Esq. 
 Attorney-General — John Crosse, Esq. 
 Constable of Lancaster Castle — William 
 
 Hulton, Esq. 
 Registrar, Examiner, and First Clerk — 
 
 Wm. Shawe, Esq. 
 Seal Keeper — Robt. Wm. Hopkins, Esq. 
 
 Cursitors and Clerks of the Chancery - 
 William Wilson, Nicholas 
 Grimshaw, Christopher B. 
 Walker, Robert R. Hopkins 
 Charles Birch, Esqrs. 
 
 Acting Cursitor — N. Grimshaw, Esq. 
 
 Prothonotary — Earl of Clarendon. 
 
 Deputy — 
 
 Clerk of the Crown— J. T. Batt, Esq. 
 
 Clerks of the Peace — Edw. Gorst, Esq. 
 Thos. Birchall, Esq. 
 
 Messenger — Charles Coggms. 
 
 The use of seals is of very ancient date. The Romans, during the four centui-ies Antiquity 
 
 •' "of seals. 
 
 that they occupied tliis country, had them in constant use ; but Ave do not find that 
 in Lancashu-e, or in any other part of the kingdom, that they were used by our Saxon 
 ancestors. — Tlie Normans again introduced them ; and the progress of the use of 
 seals, till they became almost universal, is exliihited with considerable precision in 
 a paper on that subject, in the Harleian MSS.* in the British Museiun, of which the 
 following is a copy : — 
 
 * Harl. MSS. no. 6079, fo. 109. 
 VOL. r. 2 c
 
 194 €f)t ?^iston) of tfte 
 
 CHAP. « PARTICULER VSE OF SEALES. 
 
 V. 
 
 " Fii'st, y Kinge only. 
 
 " At fii'st, y^ kinge oulye, and a few other of y' nobilitye besides hym vsed y' seale. 
 " Then Nohleme, and none other. 
 
 " Afterwai'des nohleme for y" moste parte, and none other. As a man maye 
 see in y' Historye of Battell Ahbaye, where Richard Lucye, chiefs Justice of Eng- 
 lande in y' tyme of kinge Hen. y" seconde, ys reported to have blamed a meane 
 Subiecte, for that he vsed a pryvate seale, wher as that ptayned (as he saide) to 
 y' kinge and nobilitye onlye. 
 
 " At this tyme also (as John Rosse noteth) they vsed to engi'aue in theyre 
 
 scales Tlieire owne picktm-es, and Counterfaytes couered w'*' a long coate ouer 
 
 theire Armours. 
 
 " Vse of sealinge by Gentileme of y" better Sorte. 
 
 " After this y' Gentilemen of y" better sorte toke vp y' fasliion. And 
 because they were not all Warriours, they made seales engraved with their 
 seueral coates or sliieldes of Armes, for (HfTerence sake, as y' same Author 
 reporteth. 
 
 " Common vse of Sealinge. 
 
 " At lengthe aboute y'' tyme of kinge Edwai-de y' tliirde, seales became 
 verye comon ; so that not only suche as bore ai-mes vsed y' seale, but other 
 me fashioned to themselues signets of theu-e owiie deuice. Some takinge y' letters 
 of theii-e owne names, some flowres, some knotts and flowrishes, some byrdes or 
 beastes, or some other thinges, as now be helde daylye in vse. 
 
 " Other maner of Sealinges diiferinge from those aboue mentioned, 
 
 as foUoweth : — 
 " Some other manors of sealinge besids these have bene hai-de of amongst vs, a.s 
 namely, that of kinge Edwarde y= thyi-de, by w"' he gave vnto Norma y° Hunter, 
 y' Hop et y' Hopto^v^le, w"' all ye boundes vsiddowne, and in A^itnesse it was soothe. 
 He byt y' waxe w"' liis fore Toothe. 
 
 " Tlie like was William y" conqueroirrr. 
 
 " I Willia kinge geve to thee, Powsen Roydeu, my Hope et my hope 
 " Landes, w"" y' boundes A-p and downe, from heaven to earthe, 
 " from earthe to hell, for thee et thyne to dwelle, from me and 
 " myne to thee et thyne, for a bo we and a broade arrowe when I come 
 " to hunt vpo yaiTOW ; in Avitnesse this is his soothe, I byt this waxe 
 " Av"" my toothe, in the presence of Magg. Mawde and Margary, 
 " and of my thii'de sonne Henry."
 
 (Counti? ^3alntine of ilanrasitfr. 195 
 
 " Another forme is, that of Aherii-ke de Veer conteyiiinge y' donation of chap. 
 
 Hatfielde, to y' w"'' lie affixed a short black hafted knife, like to an olde halfpenny 
 
 whyttell, in steede of a seale, w"' dyueres snche like. 
 
 " Some phappes will thinke that these latter were receaued in comon vse and 
 custome, and that they were not rather deuices and pleasures of a fewe singular 
 psoimes. Suche are no lesse deceaued the they that deeme euery charter that 
 hathe no seale annexed to be as aunciente as y' conquest ; wheras in deede sealinge 
 was not comonly vsed, vntyl y' tyme of kinge Edwarde y' thii-de." 
 
 From the institution of the duchy of Lancaster, seals were, no doubt, in use, and 
 the words, " The seal hitherto used," m the act above quoted, serves to prove that it 
 was not now introduced for the first time. 
 
 In the British Museum* there is a manuscript entitled " Ducatus Lancastriae," 
 on the subject of the honors and dignities of the dukedom of Lancaster, written in 
 the age of Elizabeth, and attributed to Sii- William Fleetwood, recorder of London, 
 one of the worthies of Lancasliii'e, wliich supplies an hiatus in the early period of 
 the history of the Honor of Lancaster, wherein the learned civilian scrutinizes the 
 claims of Edmund Crouchback, to the title of Earl of Lancaster, Avith as little 
 ceremony as he was accustomed to use in scrutinizing the representations of the 
 suitors in the recorder's court. 
 
 « DUCATUS LANCASTRI^. 
 
 " Hitherto I have trauelled to declare, how Lancaster is an antieut Honor, and Honors 
 the rather for that the Dukedome of Lancaster is made and incorporated of a num- nities be- 
 ber of honors. Tliis sunple DiscoATse may serue for a declaration of all y^ honors conq^uest. 
 belonging to y' same ; and fiulher, y' honors were dignities before the conquest, wee 
 may gather y" same to bee soe by the agi'eement y' Avas made betweene King 
 Stephen and Henry Duke of Normandy, sonne to Maude j' Empresse, for succes- 
 sion of the crowne. This Stephen was sonne to Adela, daughter to y conqueror. 
 Thus much may suffice as soue'eign of the Honor of Lancaster. 
 
 " How after y' death of K. Stephen, Henry Plantagenet, (filz de Empresse) 
 was king of England, and how he had issue Heiny, Avhom bee croAAiied king in his 
 life tyme ; and after Richai'd Cceur de Lyon, Geffiiey Duke of Brittaine, and after 
 John, Counte Sanns Terre, and lastly, Isabella. Tliis Henry y" 2'' had greate 
 discomfort of his cluldren ; for Henry, his second sonne, being croAvned King of 
 this realme in his fathers life tyme, did take part w"' y" french king in open battaUe 
 against his ovme father," &c. 
 
 * Harl. Coll. No. 2077. 
 2 c2
 
 196 €l)t lisitorj) of tftf 
 
 CHAP. " Hemy, through greefe of myiid, departed tliis life ; Rich. Coeur de Lyon was 
 
 ^' crowned king, and did penance for his rebellion against liis father. The King 
 
 How Lan- Richard did create John Counte Sanns Ten-e Earle of Lancaster, and tonne and 
 
 held. ten-itory of Bristole, y Prouinces of Nottingham, Devonshii-e, and CornewaU, but 
 
 alsoe w"' many other stately things. To bee short, tliis now earle of Lancaster, his 
 
 sayd brother, kinge Richard, being in the holy land m the wan-es against y' 
 
 enemies of Christ, did enjoye the crowne and kingdome very unnaturally, having 
 
 been so lately aduanced to so great dignitie and yearly reuenues by his brother. 
 
 Well, suche was the successe of tyme that he dyed withoute issue, and leaning 
 
 yong Arthur- and liis sister, the cliildren of Jeffrey, liis next brother and heire. 
 
 John neuerthelesse was crowned king of Englaude, whoe had issue Henry and 
 
 Richard, besydes 4 daughters. Jolm dyeth, Henry, his eldest sonne, is crowned 
 
 kino-. The w'" Henry gi-aunteth to his brother y' earledome of CornewaU. Hee 
 
 gi-aunted vnto him gi-eate and ample possessions. Tliis king Henry did marry 
 
 Helinor, y' daughter of Raymon, y' earle of Proumce. In y' 26"' yeare of y' 
 
 kino- there came into England an auntieut noble man, Peirs of Savoi. This noble 
 
 man fuit "vdr multo prudeutissimus quo Rex Henr 3. famUiai-iter est usus, hunc 
 
 ppter gravitate prudentiamque rex himianiter accepit lumcque in consilio in rebus 
 
 agendis. Vnto y' noble man did y' king [give] the whole earledome of Lancaster, 
 
 pell of w'^'' earldome is y' Savoy, a place w"" out y° Bai-res of the new temple, London, 
 
 y' w'"' in those dayes were knomi by y* name of a Vanaforia, and sithence hath 
 
 bene named Manor Mori Templi, att this day, the Savoy, pcU of the possessions of 
 
 y' dukedome of Lancaster ; y' sayd Pierce of Savoy did build him a liouse there, and 
 
 did calle y' by y*" name of y" countrye from Avhenc hee came, vizi, y' Savoy ; y' 
 
 Piers groweing into gi-eate Age, being earle of Lancaster, his heii-e being an alien 
 
 borne, could not inheritt y" earldome of Lancaster for y' cause, y' did Escheate vnto 
 
 y= king, as y' may appere by Magna Charta 31., and y' being vestid in y" crowne. 
 
 Hereafter yo" shall [know or learn] how kinge Henry the 3'' disposed of y* same. 
 
 King Henry hauing issue 6 sonnes and twoe daughters, vizi. John, Rich., W"'., 
 
 Hem-y, whoe dyed w"' out issue, Edward y" prince, after king by succession, and 
 
 likewise Edmund, surnamed Crouchebacke, of whom is descended y' famiiie and 
 
 right no"' house of Lancaster. The names of liis daughters were Margi-ett queene 
 
 of Scotts, and Beatrice dutchesse of Brittaine. The said king Henry y' 3^ ad exhal- 
 
 tacolm sanguinis sin, did by liis Lores Patents, dated att Ljiicolne y' 8'*" daye of 
 
 August, on y' 22'' yeai-e of his raigne, grante vnto his dearely beloved sonne 
 
 Edmund honorem de Lancaster, cu olB ho. wardis releuijs Escaet redd et oilj 
 
 alijs ad honor ptinent ad hend. sibi et haer suis de coi-pe suo Item pocr impptuu. 
 
 The same king alsoe gi-aunted and confirmed vnto his sonne Edmund ad honor de
 
 Coimtp laalati'nt of Sniirastfr. 197 
 
 Leycester, cum ollj lio. vt supra. Dat 17" Juuij, a" 55 regui sui p' liend sibi et chap. 
 hsered. suis. '. — 
 
 " Before I proceede any further I am to note in y' place, y' I haue not sett 
 downe any manner of proofe or record, y' euer y' said Edmunde was created earle 
 either of Lancaster or Leycester, therefore many one y' hath a quii-ke mil moue y' 
 question vnto Avhomsoever shall hee good grace chancelor of y' Dutchie, how cometh 
 it to passe, that Edmund Crouchehacke shoiUd he earle of Lancaster, and after earle 
 of Leycester, and carry y' name and stUe and (hgnitie, and y' there is not any 
 manner of record or proof extant y' euer hee was created either earle of Lancaster or 
 Leycester ;* according to antient lawes of y' crowne vsed for y* creation of dukes, 
 marquesses, and earles in y' behalf. For the truth is, y' if y' please her Ma"' to 
 graunt vnto W™ Fleetwood, S'jeant att Lawe and Recorder of Loudon,! and his 
 heii'es, euer y' honor of Tutbury, w"" y' appurtenances, by y' gi-ant y° said W"' is 
 not a wliitt att all of better dignitie than hee was before, but yo" must weighe in 
 your mynd y' there is a natural earle, and an earle artificiall, and earle artificiall is 
 an earle created, fi-amed, made, ordeined by Lrs. Patents fi'om y" king, w"" y" cere- 
 monie tlierevnto belonging ; but an earle natural is euermore a king's sonne, who, 
 by his bii'tli right, is an earle borne by reason, y' by y' lawes of the crowne evly 
 king's sonne is an earle borne, &c. 
 
 " And as I said before of king John, whoe was named by y^ whoU world John 
 Counte Sans Terre, vntil sometyme as y' pleased y" king Richard to gi-aunt liim y' 
 aforesaid Honno"^ of Lane, and then hee was named earle of Lancaster, not by crea- 
 tion but by bii'th right. Euen soe doe I say y' y" said Edmund Croucliebacke being a 
 kings sonne, and alsoe a covnte Sans TeiTe vnto whom y'' king had [ad] Exlialtacom 
 sanguis sui, first did grante y'^ sayd Honor of Leycester, and by those places hee 
 was named y^ earle of Lancaster, A-izl. The earle of Lancaster and Leycester. 
 Here alsoe may gi-owe a question, first, in w' countreyes y' said honors did extend, 
 and then whether y^ whole dukedome of Lancaster did concist upon these honors ; 
 yea or noe. Fii'st, the honor of Lancaster, as by Record y* doth appere, doth extend 
 cheifly vnto Lane. Middlesex, Norf. Sufi". Lyncoln, Nottingham, Derby, Ebor. 
 Rotell. and Staff, and into (Uuers other countries. 
 
 " This Echnund Crouchehacke behig, as I said, y° 2* sonne of king Henry 
 y' 3'^, and being alsoe aduanced to the aforesaid honors and dignities, had 2 sonnes, 
 Thomas and Henry, and after dyed. Tliis Tho. erroniously attainted in Parliam' 
 
 * No assertion can be more erroneous than this ; Prince Edmund was created earl of Leicester by 
 letters patent, 49 Hen. III., and earl of Lancaster 51 Hen. III., both which patents are still extant. 
 
 t The supposed author of this MS.
 
 V. 
 
 198 €i)t i^isitory of tht 
 
 CHAP, holden by K. E. f 2. by y' poUicie of Hugh Spencer y" father, and Hugh Spencer 
 y' Sonne, and was putt to deathe at Pomfrett, but aftr y" deathe of Edward y' 2^ in 
 a parliam' holden a° 1° E. 3, y^ said erronious judgem' was reuersed, and y' said 
 earles doomes and possessions restored to y^ next heire, w'^'" was y' said Henry, 
 brother of y'^ said Thomas, wliereby y' king, botli earle of Lane, and Leycester. 
 His issue, whoe, by lineal descent, was not only earle of Lane, and Leycester, butt 
 alsoe Heritor to cUuers other earldomes, honors, manors, and dominions, y w"'' to 
 recite were too long. The said Henry was afterwards created duke of Lancas- 
 ter, by king E. y' S"*. The said Henry then created Duke of Lancaster, had 
 issue one onlie daughter named Blanch, was afterwards mai-ried to John of Gant, 
 by means whereof y* said John was created Duke of Lane, and by y" assent 
 of y" lady Blanch liis wife, all y' possessions of y' said dukedome, by circumstance 
 of lawe, were lawfully conueyed to the said John Duke of Lancaster and y^ said 
 Lady Blanch, and to y' heii-es of y" body of y' said John Duke of Lane, lawefully 
 begotten, after w""" y° said John Duke of Lane, had issue of y° said Blanch, Henry 
 of Bullingbrooke, whoe was afterwards king by name of H. y" 4"', wlioe had 
 issue H. 5. H. y' 5"' had issue King H. y° 6"', founder of Eton College, neai'e 
 Windsor, and also founder of y' Kings college, Cambridge, w'"" H. y° the 6"" had 
 issue, after whose death y" right and title of y' said Dukedome by force of j' said 
 Eutaille, vnto John Earle of Somersett, sonne of y^ said John Earle of Lane, begot- 
 ten of Katherine Swineford, y' 3* wife of y* Duke of Lane, w"'" John earle of Somer- 
 sett had issue Margi-ett, y* countesse of Richmond and Derby, w'*" Margrett had 
 issue H. j' 7"", who married Elizabeth, y* eldest daughter of Edward y' 4"', by 
 whom he had issue K. H. y* 8'\ who had issue oure Soueraigne lady y" Queene 
 Elizabeth, in whose sacred person are conteyned y" twoe houses of Lancaster and 
 Yorke. 
 
 " Here in tliis place it is my intention to sett downe what became of y" Duke- 
 dome of Lancaster, and of all Franchises thereunto belonging att y'^ instant when 
 Henry y'^ BuUingbrooke did take up the kingdome of England, so y' I see y' y^ lawe 
 is cleere y' y° said Dukedome and dignitie, and all y° preleminaries as well m 
 name as in stUe and title to all intents and purposes were extinguished and deter- 
 mined, and then y' was not further a dukedome of Lancaster, but y' was refoi-med 
 to one."
 
 Counti) |3alatmc of 2.anra5trr. 
 
 199 
 
 Creation of the county palatine. — Dr. Kuerden's letter on its antiquity. — Reasons for conferring the 
 palatine privileges. — Form of legal processes in the county. — Mode of electing the sheriff. — 
 List of sheriffs from the earliest records to the present time. — Violation of the liberty and pro- 
 perty of the subject. — Ancient petition to parliament. — Punishment of outlaws. — Prohibition of 
 liveries. — Exigent.— Appointment of sheriff during the civil wars. — His oath. — Courts of the 
 county palatine. — Ecclesiastical courts. — Synopsis. — Description of the various courts. — Con- 
 templated removal of the assizes. — Ancient indictment of the high sheriff. — Inferior courts of 
 the county palatine. — Public records of the county palatine, civil and ecclesiastical. 
 
 LOSELY connected witli tlie duchy of Lancaster 
 are the courts and pri\Tileges of tlie county palatine. 
 Upon the subject of the palatinate privileges, Selden 
 observes, " that the counties of Chester and Durham 
 are such by prescription or immemorial custom, or, at 
 least, as old as the Norman conquest ; but tliat 
 Lancashire, as a palatine county, is of more modern 
 date, and was so created by Edward IIL after it 
 became a duchy, in favour of Henry Plantagenet, 
 first earl and then duke of Lancaster, Avliose heiress being married to John of Gaunt, 
 the king's son, the franchise was greatly enlarged and confirmed in parliament, to 
 honour John of Gaunt himself, whom, on the deatli of his father-in-law, the king 
 had also created Duke of Lancaster."* 
 
 Upon this subject, the authorities are conflicting : Lancashire appears to have 
 enjoyed palatine jurisdiction under earl Morcar, before the Nonnan conquest ; but 
 after that event, which changed the whole frame of society, these privileges remained 
 in abeyance tUl they Avere partially revived in the early part of the twelfth century, and 
 fully confirmed in the time of " the good duke of Lancaster," and of Jolm of Gaunt. 
 Tlie folloAving original letter from Dr. " Kuerden, in his own hand," to his 
 brother, both in law and in pursuits, Mr. Randle Holme, is found in the Harleiau 
 Collection in the Britisli Museum :t 
 
 * Tit. Honour, part ii. sec. 8. p. 677. t Cod. 2,042. 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 Creation 
 of the 
 county pa- 
 latine. 
 
 Henry 
 
 Plantau;e- 
 net.
 
 200 Wi)t llSitOip of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. " Brother Hulme, " Preston, 20'" Jan. 1664. 
 
 ^' " Being so unfortunate in my necessitous occasions as not being permitted to 
 
 visit you at Chester, I could do no less than salute you by my friend, Mr. King, who 
 is to be in your city at 1 2 of tliis Instant, at Mr. Greg's, as I conceive. I hope my 
 sister Holme and your little ones are all in good health. I desbe, if your leisure 
 •will permit, to send me by this bearer, my townsman, what you have of CoU. Wor- 
 den's descent, and likewise an old role or bundle of transcripts I left Anth you long 
 agoe, concerning Fazakerley and Walton lands nere Liverpoole. Mr. To^vnly and 
 myseK are in hott pursuit of our coutryes aifaires, and in retriuing the glory of our 
 Palatinate out of monumetal ashes, and are able by tliis time to prove our county a 
 Dr. Kuer- Palatinate Jurischction under Rog. Pictavensis, before the gi-and survey of Dooms- 
 county ^ day's Record in y' Echq' and forfeted before that time, restored again in WiH the 
 pa a me. gg^j^^^pg \{^q^ forfeited againe by Pictavensis at the battell of Teuerchbuy, in the 
 beginning of Hemy the first, bestowed then on Stephen before he was king, and 
 continuated for his reigne in his son, W. Comes Bolomse et Moritoniae, till about the 
 5"" of Richard the first, then giuen to J° Earl Moreton, afterwards to P. of Savoy, 
 and by Henry 3'' confened on Echnund Crouchback, our fu'st earl by charter, though 
 some of these latter had not their Jura Regalia as at first. S", I am troublesome in 
 tliis discourse, and, therefore, in hast shal rest and subscribe, 
 
 " Your Brother, " Ric. Kuerdc. 
 
 " For M' Handle Holme, over against the Twoo Churches, in Chester, Thes." 
 
 County Counties palatine are so called a palatio, because the owners thereof, the earl of 
 
 pa atme. (^j^gg^^^.^ ^^^ bisliop of Durham, and the duke of Lancaster, had in those counties jwra 
 regalia as fully as the king had in his palace ; regalem potestatem in omnibus* The 
 peculiar jurisdiction and form of proceedings of the courts of law, in the county 
 palatine of Lancaster, are the result of those privileges which were gi-anted to its 
 Reason early earls and dukes, to induce them to be more than ordinarily watchful against 
 granted, the predatory incursions from the Scotch border, and to prevent their tenants fi-om 
 leaving the territory defenceless and exposed to hostile aggressions, while seeking 
 redress at the more distant tribunals of the realm.f Law was to be adminis- 
 tered by the officers and ministers of the duke, and under his seal, and anciently 
 
 * Bracton, lib. iii. c. 8. sec. 4. 
 t Upon this account there were formerly two other counties palatine, border counties, as they 
 were called, Pembrokeshire and Hexhamshire; the latter now united with Northumberland; but these 
 were abolished by parliament; the former, 27 Henry VIII. ; the latter, 14 Elizabeth. By the first 
 mentioned of these acts, the powers of owners of counties palatine were much abridged, the reason for 
 their continuance having in a manner ceased, though still all writs are witnessed in their names, and 
 all forfeitures for treason by the common law accrue to them.
 
 CoiintP t^tilatiiif of ^Lanrastrr, 201 
 
 all offences were said to be against his peace, liis sword and dignity, and not chai'. 
 
 as now " against the peace of om- lord the king, his crown and dignity." '. 
 
 Tlie king's orilinary writs for redi-ess of private grievances, or the punishment of 
 offences between man and man, were not available within the county palatine, sucli 
 AVTits then ran in the name of the duke; but in matters between the king and the 
 subject, tlie palatine privileges could not contravene tlie exercise of tlie sovereign 
 power, and the prerogative Avrits were of force, lest injuries to the state should be Form of 
 remediless. Since 27 Henry VIII. all ^viits have run in the name of the king, and cess in the 
 axe tes'd before the owner of the franchise. Hence it is that all ordinary ^lits palatine of 
 out of the king's court at Westminster, for service in tliis county, are adtb'essed to the 
 cliancellor of the duchy, commanding lum to chrect the sheriff to execute them, and 
 that all processes to that officer, out of the chancery of the county palatine, are not 
 tes'd before the king or his justices at Westminster, as iu other counties. The 
 franchise and revenue of the duchy being under (Ufferent guiding and governance 
 from those of the crown, all honours and immunities and all redress mthin this 
 county, Anth very few exceptions, must be derived from the chancellor of the duchy, 
 as the principal minister of the Idng, in his capacity of duke of Lancaster. Justices 
 of assize, of gaol delivery, and of the peace, are, and, ever since the creation of the 
 county palatme of Lancaster, have been made and assigned by cormnission, under the 
 seal of the coimty palatine,* and the sheriffs for tlie county of Lancaster are 
 appointed in the same way. The election of sheriff for tliis county palatine, in 1824, 
 fonned an exception to the general rule. The practice is to date the vrvit before liis 
 majesty, " at Ids palace at Westminster;" but on this occasion, when John Entwistle, 
 Esq. of Foxholes, was appointed, that dociunent was dated from " the palace of 28 Ed. i. 
 Brighton." Anciently slieriffs, like coroners, were chosen by the freeholders;! but 9 Ed. ii. 
 popular elections gro'ning tumultuous, this practice was abolished. 
 
 Tlie choice of the sheriffs in the palatine counties is conducted hi a different Sherins of 
 manner from that of the choice of these officers in the other counties of the kingdom, shire. 
 The usual mode of election is for the judges, having met in the exchequer chamber 
 on the morrow of St. Martin, to return for each of the counties, not palatine, the 
 names of three persons, residents in each county, to the king — and for the king, mtli 
 a small instrument, to prick the name of one of the three, usually the first upon the 
 list, as sheriff. But for the county of Lancaster, tlie chancellor of the duchy selects 
 the three names, wjiich he sulimits to the king, as duke of Lancaster, usually on 
 some day between the 1st and the 20th of February in each yeai-; and the king 
 chooses one of the three, generally that at the head of the list. In the early 
 periods of British history, the sheriffs continued iu office for a number of years, 
 * Coke's 4th Institute, p. 205. t Coke's 2d Institute, p. 174. 
 
 VOL. I. 2d
 
 202 
 
 Wl)t fMsitorp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 High 
 sheriffs 
 of Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 as will be seen in the folloM-ing list, and some for the whole term of theii- life ; but 
 since the twenty-eighth Edward III. tlie office can only be held legally for one yeai-. 
 Nor was it unusual in early times to elect to tliis office the most exalted peers of the 
 realm. Before the Conquest, the county of Lancaster, ^ith some other jurisdictions, 
 Avere committed to the Comes Northiunbriae, in the large sense, and sometimes to the 
 Comes Deii-ae, being the more southern part of that kingdom or province. The last 
 of these comites in the Saxon times were earls Tosti and Morcar, whose possessions 
 are noted in Domesday Book. 
 
 The following list is compiled from the manuscripts of Mr. Hopkinson, compai-ed 
 by the late Mattliew Gregson, Esq. with that of the late George Kenyon, Esq. which 
 we have collated with and corrected fi-om a MS. (No. 259.) in the British Museum, 
 indorsed, " Nomina Vicecomitum coUecta ex Rotulis Pellium recepta apud West- 
 monasterium. De Tennins MichaeUs, anno piimo Regis Edwardi piimi." 
 
 SHERIFFS OF LANCASHIRE, 
 
 FROM THE EARLIEST RECORDS TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 
 Norman Linje. 
 
 1177. 
 
 Robt. fil. Bernardi. Rad. fil. Bernard. 
 
 
 Will. H. 
 
 1178 ■ 
 
 ) 
 
 1087. 
 
 Galfridus was sheriff, and the onlj' 
 
 to 
 
 \ Radulphus fil. Bernardi. 
 
 
 one named until 1156. Probably 
 
 1183. 
 
 j 
 
 
 the person called Goisfrid in the 
 
 1184.' 
 
 Gilbert Pipard and Hugo. 
 
 
 Domesday Survey. " Inter Rip a 
 
 
 Gilbert Pipard, 
 
 
 7 Mersham."* 
 
 1185. 
 
 Frater ejus pro eo. Alan Valans. 
 
 
 Plantagjenet of Anjou. 
 
 86. 
 
 Gilbertus Pipard and Petrus frater 
 
 
 Henry II. 
 
 
 ejus pro eo. Gilbert. Pipard. 
 
 1156. 
 
 Rad. Vigot, for four 1/ ears. 
 
 87. 
 
 Gilbertus Pipard and Petrus. 
 
 1160. 
 
 Robt. de Montaltop, for three years. 
 
 88. 
 
 Gilbertus Pipard. 
 
 63. 
 
 Hugh de Owra. 
 
 
 Richard I. 
 
 64. 
 
 Galfr. de Valoniis. 
 
 1189. 
 
 Gilbertus Pipard. 
 
 1165. 
 
 Galfridus de Valoniis. 
 
 1190. 
 
 Henry de Cornhill. 
 
 66. 
 
 William Vesci. 
 
 91. 
 
 Idem. 
 
 67. 
 
 Willielmus de Vescye. 
 
 92. 
 
 Rad. de Cornhill. 
 
 68. 
 
 Rogerus de Herlebeck. Herlebergo. 
 
 93. 
 
 Idem. 
 
 1170. 
 
 Idem. 
 
 94. 
 
 Theobald Walter and Wm. Rad- 
 
 71. 
 
 Herlebeck. 
 
 
 cliffe pro eo, Theobald Walter. 
 
 72. 
 
 Rad. fil. Bernard 
 
 95. 
 
 Idem Theobald and Bendictus Gar- 
 
 73. 
 
 Idem. 
 
 
 net pro eo. 
 
 74. 
 
 Rad. fil. Bernardi. Rad. de Glanvill. 
 
 96. 
 
 Idem. idem. 
 
 75. 
 
 Radulphus fil. Bernardi. 
 
 1197. 
 
 Idem Theobald and Robertus Va- 
 
 76. 
 
 Radulphus fil. Bernardi. 
 
 
 vasor pro eo. 
 
 
 * See chap. 
 
 iii. p. 100.
 
 Countp ^alatinr of ilanrneitfr. 
 
 203 
 
 1198. Theobald Walter and Nicholas Pin- 
 cerna pro eo. 
 
 1199. 
 1200. 
 
 1. 
 2. 
 
 3. 
 
 1206. 
 
 1206. 
 
 1207. 
 
 i 
 
 John. 
 
 Theobald Walter. 
 Rob. de Tattershall. 
 
 Rob. de Toteshal. 
 
 Ricardus Vernon. 
 
 8. 
 
 1209 
 
 to 
 
 1216, 
 
 /'Roger Lacy. Cons Cest. Robt. 
 y Walensis, Rich. Vernon. 
 J William Vernon. Gilbertus fil. 
 V_ Roger and Rich. 
 
 Idem. Roger, Walter Marshall, Gil- 
 bertus fil. Reynfridi. 
 Adam fil. Roger pro eo. 
 
 Roger Lascy. 
 Roger Lacy, Robert Wallensis, 
 Gilbert fil. Reynfridi, Adam fil. 
 Rogrio pro eo. 
 Gilbert fil. Reynfridi and Adam fil. 
 Rog. pro eo. 
 
 Gilbert fil. Reinford. 
 r Idem. Gilbert and Adam, durante 
 
 i 
 
 vita Jobs, regis. 
 Idem. 
 
 1216. 
 17. 
 
 18. 
 
 1223. 
 
 24. 
 
 25. 
 
 26. 
 
 Henry IH. 
 
 R. Comes Cestra. 
 
 RamUfus Comes Cestra and Jor- 
 
 danus fil. 
 Idem. Ranulfus and Jordanus, for 
 
 five years the same. 
 Idem. Ranulfus and Jordanus. 
 
 William Ferrars Comes. 
 Idem. Ranulfus and Jordanus, and 
 
 Will. Ferrars Comes. 
 Robertus Montjoy pro eo. 
 Idem. Wills, and Roberts. Custos 
 
 pro eo. 
 Idem. Willielmus, and Gerardus 
 
 Etwell pro eo. 
 
 1227. 
 
 28. 
 
 1233. 
 
 34. 
 
 35. 
 36. 
 
 37. 
 
 43. 
 
 44. 
 45. 
 
 46. 
 
 47., 
 48. 
 
 49. 
 
 1256. 
 
 59. 
 
 1260. 
 
 61. 
 
 62. 
 63. 
 
 12/2. 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 of Lanca 
 shire. 
 
 Adam de Eland, Cust. pro Will. com. 
 
 Adam de Yeland. ____ 
 
 Idem, (same person appointed five High 
 years more, Eland of Ebor.) 
 
 Johannes Byron Mills, Will, de Lan- 
 caster. Other accounts say, Wil- 
 liam de Lancaster only. 
 
 Gilbert Westby pro eo. 
 
 William Lancaster, et Simo de 
 Thornton, pro eo. 
 
 Idem, Willielmus et Simo. 
 
 Robertus de Latham, idem Will, and 
 Simo pro eo. 
 
 Same William and Simeon for six 
 years. 
 
 William Lancaster et Richard But- 
 ler pro eo. 
 
 Willielmus Lancaster. 
 
 Idem. William and Matthew Red- 
 main. 
 
 ■ Idem. 
 
 Idem. Mathews and Robert Latham, 
 
 half-year. 
 Robert Latham. 
 Ditto, for seven years further. 
 
 ■ Patricius de Ulvesby, for three years. 
 ' Ult. an junct. Will, de Pincerna de 
 
 Bewsey. 
 
 Patricius de Ulvesby. 
 Galf. de Chetham ut Firmarius. 
 Idem. Galfridus for two years. 
 Idem. Galf. Radulus Dacre and 
 
 Gal. de Chetham, half-year. 
 Idem, Galf. and Adam de Montalto. 
 Idem, Adam and Robert de Latham. 
 
 Adam de Montalto. 
 Randulphus Dacre. 
 
 Saxon Line restored. 
 Edward I. Rex. 
 
 73. Thos. Travers. 
 
 74. William Gentyl.
 
 204 
 
 €i)t 5}igtorj) of tftc 
 
 CH.\l>. 
 VI. 
 
 High 
 sherili's 
 of Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 12/5. 
 
 76. 
 77. 
 78. 
 79. 
 1280. 
 81. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84.- 
 85.. 
 86. 
 
 87. 
 88. 
 89. 
 1290. 
 91. 
 92. 
 
 1292 
 
 to 
 
 1298. 
 
 99. 
 
 I 
 
 1300. 
 1. 
 2. 
 
 Ramilphiis de Daker. 
 
 Nichus (le Le. 
 
 Henry de Lea, or, Hen. dii Lee. 
 
 Gilbert de Clifton. 
 
 Rog. de Lancaster. 
 
 Ractus de Montjoy. 
 
 Thomas Banester. 
 
 Rich, de Hoghton. 
 
 Thos. de Lancaster. 
 
 Henry de Lea. 
 
 Robert Latham and Gilbert Clifton 
 pro eo. or, Gilbert Clifton alone. 
 
 Gilbert Clifton. 
 
 Robert de Leyborne. 
 
 Gilbert Clifton. 
 
 Roger de Lancaster. 
 
 Radus Montjoy. 
 
 Richard Hoghton and Rads. de 
 Montegaudeo, or Montjoy. 
 
 Idem Radulphus Montegaudeo, or 
 Montjoy. 
 
 Edmund Comes Lancaster and 
 
 Richard Hoghton pro eo. 
 Thomas Lancaster, by inheritance 
 
 with Rich. Hoghton. 
 Richard Hoghton for two years. 
 Thos. Travers and Richard Hoghton. 
 Thos. Travers. 
 
 Edward H. 
 
 1303 ) 
 
 to 'Thos. Earl of Lancaster. 
 1306. j 
 
 1309. Willielmus Gentyl. 
 10. Thos. Earl of Lancaster. 
 
 1) 
 VRic 
 
 131 
 
 to VRichard de Bickerstath. 
 1320. j 
 
 21. Gilbertus South worth. 
 
 Wm. le Gentyl. 
 23. John d' Arcy. 
 
 1328. 
 
 29. 
 1330. 
 
 31. 
 
 32. 
 1333. 
 
 34. 
 
 35. 
 1339. 
 
 40. 
 
 44. 
 
 45. 
 
 48. 
 1355. 
 
 58. 
 
 59. 
 13(50. 
 
 63. 
 
 Edward HI. 
 
 Wm. Gentyl. 
 
 Joftes de Hambury. 
 
 Johes de Burghton. 
 
 Johes de Hambury and Galfrus de 
 
 Warburton. 
 Johes de Denon. 
 
 y Robertus Foucher, others Toucher. 
 Willielmus Clapham. 
 
 ^1 
 
 1371 
 
 1375 
 1376 
 
 Robertus Radcliffe, of Ordsall. 
 
 Stephanus Ireton. 
 
 Johes le Blount. 
 
 Johannes Cockayne. 
 
 Ricardus Radcliffe. 
 
 Willielmus Radcliffe. 
 
 Johannes Ipree. 
 
 Willielmus Radcliffe. 
 
 Johannes Ipree, vice-sheriff, (no 
 
 sheriff's name found.) 
 Galfrus de Chetham. 
 
 175.7 
 
 76. S 
 
 Richard Townley. 
 
 Richard II. 
 1377- Richard Townley. 
 
 78. Thos. de Bobbeham. 
 
 79. Nicholas Harrington, for six years. 
 1385. Rads. Radcliffe, for three years. 
 
 89. Robertus Standish. 
 1392. Rads. Standish, miles. 
 93. Johannes Butler de Rawcliffe, miles, 
 
 for two years more. 
 97. Ricardus Mollineux. 
 
 HoDSE OF Lancaster. 
 
 Henry IV. 
 
 1400. Thomas Gerard. 
 1. Johannes Butler. 
 
 4. Johannes Butler. 
 
 5. Radulfus Radcliffe.
 
 Coimti) ^3alatiue of aanrastfi*. 
 
 205 
 
 1406. 
 
 7. 
 
 1410. 
 
 11. 
 
 12. 
 
 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 15. 
 18. 
 19. 
 1420. 
 21. 
 
 23. 
 
 27. 
 
 29. 
 1441. 
 
 42. 
 1459. 
 
 Radulfus Radcliffe, miles. 
 Johannes Bold. 
 Johannes Bold, miles. 
 
 Radulfus Stanley, miles. 
 
 Henry V. 
 
 Rads. Stanley, miles, and Nicholas 
 
 Longford. 
 William Bradshaw 
 
 Longford. 
 
 Robertas Urswick, 
 
 and Robert 
 
 7 
 
 s 
 
 Robertus Lawrence. 
 
 > Ricardus Radcliffe. 
 
 Henry VI. 
 
 Ricardus Radcliffe, for three years, 
 
 > Robertus Lawrence. 
 
 i Johannes Byron, Knt. 
 Nichus Byron. 
 
 House of York. 
 
 Edward IV. 
 1462. Johannes Broughton. 
 
 ^'\ Thomas Pilkington. 
 
 65. > 
 
 66. Robtus Urswick, miles. 
 1473. Thos. Pilkington, arm. 
 
 76. Thos. Molineux, arm. 
 1482. Thos. Pilkington, miles. 
 
 Union of York and Lancaster. 
 Henry VH. 
 
 1501 
 8, 
 
 ■ > Edward Stanley, miles. 
 
 ■ J 
 
 House of Tudor. 
 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 12. Edwardus Stanley, miles. 
 
 14. Idem, Postea Dom. Monteagle. 
 
 1520.7 o , 
 
 ryj > Edwardus Stanley. 
 
 28. Alex. Osbaldeston, miles. 
 
 1532. Johes Townley, miles. 
 
 42. Thos. Southworth miles. 
 
 46. Alex. Radcliffe, miles. 
 
 CHAT. 
 VI. 
 
 High 
 sherifls 
 of Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 Edward VI. 
 
 47. Alexander Radcliffe, miles. 
 
 Richard Radcliffe. 
 
 48. Thomas Gerrard, miles. 
 
 49. Robert Worsley, miles. 
 
 T. Gerrard. 
 1550. Peter Legh, miles. 
 
 R. Worsley, miles. 
 
 51. John Atherton, miles. 
 
 Peter Leigh de Lime, mil. John 
 Atherton. 
 
 52. Thomas Talbot, miles. 
 
 53. Thomas Gerrard, miles. 
 
 Mary. 
 
 1554. Marmaduke Tunstall, mil. 
 
 55. John Atherton, miles. 
 
 56. Thomas Langton, miles. 
 
 57. Edmund Trafford, miles. 
 
 58. Thomas Gerrard, miles. 
 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 59. John Talbot, Esq. 
 1560. Robert Worseley, Knt. 
 
 61. John Atherton, Knt. 
 
 62. John Southworth, Knt. 
 
 63. Thomas Hesketh, Knt. 
 
 64. Thomas Hoghton, Esq. 
 
 65. Edmund Trafford. 
 
 66. Richard Molineux, Knt. 
 
 67. Thomas Langton, Knt. 
 
 68. Edward Holland, Esq. 
 
 69. John Preston, Esq. of the Manor. 
 1570. Thomas Butler, Esq. 
 
 71. Edmund Trafford, Esq.
 
 206 
 
 €l)t il^isitorp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 High 
 shcrifls 
 of Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 1572. 
 
 John Byron, Esq. 
 
 1607. 
 
 73. 
 
 Richard Holland, Esq. 
 
 8. 
 
 74. 
 
 William Booth, Esq. 
 
 9. 
 
 75. 
 
 Francis Holt, Esq. 
 
 1610. 
 
 76. 
 
 Richard Bold, Esq. 
 
 
 77 
 
 Robert Dalton, Esq. 
 
 11. 
 
 78. 
 
 John Fleetwood, Esq. 
 
 12. 
 
 79. 
 
 Ralfe Ashton, Esq. 
 
 13. 
 
 1580. 
 
 Edmund Trafford, Knt. 
 
 
 81. 
 
 John Birom, Knt. 
 
 14. 
 
 82. 
 
 Richard Holland, Esq. 
 
 
 83. 
 
 John Atherton, Esq. 
 
 15. 
 
 84. 
 
 Edmund Trafford. 
 
 Thomas Preston. 
 
 16. 
 
 85. 
 
 Thomas Preston, Esq. Richard 
 
 17. 
 
 
 Asheton, Esq. 
 
 18. 
 
 86. 
 
 Richard Asheton, Richard Bold, 
 
 19. 
 
 
 Esqs. 
 
 1620. 
 
 87. 
 
 John Fleetwood, Esq. 
 
 
 88. 
 
 Thomas Talbot, of Bashall, Esq. 
 
 21. 
 
 89. 
 
 Richard Molineux, Knt. 
 
 22. 
 
 1590. 
 
 Richard Bold, Esq. 
 
 23. 
 
 91. 
 
 James Asheton, Esq. 
 
 24. 
 
 92. 
 
 Edward Fitton, Esq. 
 
 
 93. 
 
 Richard Asheton, Esq. 
 
 
 94. 
 
 Ralph Ashton, Esq. 
 
 1625. 
 
 95. 
 
 Thomas Talbot, Esq. 
 
 26. 
 
 96. 
 
 Richard Holland, Esq. 
 
 27. 
 
 97. 
 
 Richard Molyneux, Knt. 
 
 28. 
 
 98. 
 
 Richard Asheton, Esq. 
 
 29. 
 
 99. 
 
 Richard Hoghton, Knt. 
 
 1630. 
 
 1600. 
 
 Robert Hesketh, Esq. 
 
 31. 
 
 1601. 
 
 Cuthbert Halsall, Esq. 
 
 32. 
 
 2. 
 
 Edmund Trafford, Knt. 
 
 33. 
 
 House of Stu-\rt. 
 
 James I. 
 1603 John Ireland, Esq. 
 4. Nicholas Moseley, Knt. 
 5 Ralph Barton, Esq. Rand. Barton, 
 
 Esq. 
 6. Edmund Fleetwood, Esq. 
 
 34. 
 35. 
 
 36. 
 
 37. 
 
 38 
 
 39. 
 
 1640. 
 
 Richard Ashton, Knt. 
 Robert Hesketh, Esq. 
 Edmund Trafford, Knt. 
 Roger Nowell, Esq. 
 
 Roger A. Nowell, Esq. 
 John Fleming, Esq. 
 Cuthbert Halsall, Knt. 
 Robert Bindloss, Esq. 
 
 RobertBinloss. A. Berwick, Esq. 
 Richard Sherborne, Esq. 
 
 Rich. Sherburne, Stonyhurst. 
 Edmund Stanley, Esq. 
 Rowland Moseley, Esq. 
 
 Robert Moseley. 
 Edmiuul Trafford, Knt. 
 Richard Shuttleworth, Esq. 
 John Holt, Esq. 
 Leonard Ashawe, Esq. 
 
 Leonard Ashall, or Ashow. 
 Edmund Moore, Esq. 
 Gilbert Ireland, Esq. 
 Sir George Booth, Knt. and Baronet. 
 Sir Rafe Asheton, Baronet. 
 
 Charles I. 
 Richard (or Edward) Holland, Esq. 
 Roger Kirkby, Esq. 
 Sir Edward Stanley, Baronet. 
 Edmund Ashton, Esq. 
 Edward Rawsthorne, Esq. 
 Thomas Hesketh, Esq. 
 Richard Bold, Esq. 
 Nicholas (or Richard) Townley, Esq. 
 Rafe Ashton, Esq. 
 Ralph Standish, Esq. 
 Humfry Chetham, Esq. (Benefac- 
 tor) Manchester. 
 William Farrington, Esq. 
 Richard Shuttleworth, Esq. 
 Roger Kirkby, Esq. 
 Sir Edward Stanley, Baronet. 
 Robert Holt, Esq. or Ri. Holt.
 
 Countp ^alatutr of Sanrastrr. 
 
 207 
 
 1 64 1 . Peter Egerton , Esq. 
 
 42. John Girlington, Knt. 
 
 43. Gilbert Hoghton, Esq. 
 
 44. 
 
 45 
 
 46 
 
 47- 
 
 
 John Bradshavv, Esq. 
 
 1648. 
 
 49. 
 
 C0MM0NWEAI.TH. 
 
 Gilbert Ireland, Knt. until May 
 1649. 
 
 John Hartley, of Strangeways, gen- 
 tleman, until December 1649. 
 
 1674. 
 75. 
 7G. 
 
 77- 
 
 78. 
 
 79. 
 
 1680. 
 
 81. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84. 
 
 1650. 
 
 Edward Hopvvood,of Hopwood,Esq. 
 
 
 51. 
 
 Henry Wrigley, gentleman. Cham- 
 
 1685. 
 
 
 ber Hall. A. Wrigley. 
 
 86. 
 
 52. 
 
 Alexander Barlow, of Barlow, Esq. 
 
 
 53. 
 
 John Parker, of Entwistle, Esq. 
 
 88. 
 
 54. 
 
 Peter Bold, of Bold, Esq. 
 
 
 1655. 
 
 John Atherton, of Chowbent, Esq. 
 
 
 56. 
 
 John Starkie, of Huntroyd, Esq. 
 
 
 57. 
 
 Hugh Cooper, of Chorley, Esq. 
 
 1689. 
 
 58. 
 
 Robert Bindloss, Esq. 
 
 1690. 
 
 59. 
 
 Sir Richard Hoghton, Baronet. 
 
 91. 
 
 
 Restoration. 
 
 92. 
 
 
 Charles H. 
 
 93. 
 
 1660. 
 
 George Chetham, Esq. 
 
 94. 
 
 61. 
 62. 
 
 > Sir George Middleton Baronet. 
 
 95. 
 
 96. 
 
 63. 
 
 J. Girlington, Esq. 
 
 97. 
 
 64. 
 
 Thomas Preston, Esq. 
 
 98. 
 
 65. 
 66. 
 
 > William Spencer, Esq. two years. 
 
 99. 
 
 67. 
 
 John Arden, Esq. 
 
 1700. 
 
 68.7 Thomas Greenhalgh, Brandlesome, 
 
 
 69. 
 
 > Esq. 
 
 1. 
 
 70. 
 
 Christopher Banister, Esq. 
 
 
 71. 
 
 Henry Slater, Knt. 
 
 
 72. 
 
 73. 
 
 > Sir Robert Bindloss, Baronet. 
 
 1702. 
 3. 
 
 Peter Brooks, Knt. 
 
 Alexander Butterworth, Esq. 
 
 Idem. Alexander Rigbj', Esq. 
 
 Alexander Rigby, Esq. 
 
 Idem, of Layton. 
 
 Sir Roger Bradshaw, Baronet. 
 
 William Johnson, Esq. of Rishton 
 
 Grange. William Sjiencer. 
 Lawrence Rosthorn, Esq. 
 Idem. Thomas Leigh, Esq. 
 Thomas Leigh, jun. Esq. 
 Idem. Peter Shakerley, Esq. 
 
 James II. 
 
 Peter Shakerley. 
 
 William Spencer, Esq. two years. 
 
 Peter Shakerley. 
 Thomas Richardson, of Rawnhead, 
 
 nominated, but not sworn in. 
 
 William and Mary. 
 
 Jas. Birch, Esq. 
 
 Peter Bold, Esq. Alexander Rigby. 
 
 Alexander Rigby, Esq. Layton, 
 Lindley. 
 
 Francis Livey, Esq. Lindley. Tho- 
 mas Rigby. 
 
 Thomas Rigby, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Ashurst, of Ashurst, Esq. 
 
 Richard Spencer, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Norris, Esq. 
 
 Roger Manwaring, Esq. 
 
 Wm. West, Esq. 
 
 Robert Duckenfield, Esq. Thomas 
 Rigby, of Middleton. 
 
 Thomas Rigby, Esq. Hulm, of 
 Davy Hulme. 
 
 William Hulm, Esq. 
 
 Anne. 
 Roger Nowel, of Read, Esq. 
 Peter Egerton, of Shaw, Esq, 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 HiRh 
 
 sheriffs 
 of Lanca- 
 shire.
 
 208 
 
 Cf)f %}i&toiv of tfif 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 High 
 sheriffs 
 of Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 1704. 
 
 1705. 
 6. 
 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 
 1710. 
 11. 
 
 12. 
 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 1715. 
 16. 
 
 17. 
 18. 
 
 19. 
 1720. 
 
 21. 
 22. 
 23. 
 
 24. 
 
 1725. 
 
 26. 
 
 1727. 
 
 28. 
 
 George Birch, of Birch Hall, Esq. 1729. 
 Succeeded by his brother, Tho- 
 mas Birch. 1730. 
 
 Richard Spencer, of Preston, Esq. 31. 
 
 Christojjher Dauntesey, of Agecroft. 32. 
 
 Edmund Cole, of Lancaster and Cote. 33. 
 
 Miles Sandes, of Graythwaite, Esq. 
 
 Roger Kirkby (ob. this year). Sue- 34. 
 
 ceeded by Alexander Hesketh. 35. 
 Esq. 
 
 Roger Parker, of Extwisle, Esq. 36. 
 
 Sir Thomas Standish, of Duxbury, 
 
 Bart. 37. 
 
 Wm. Rawsthorne, of Preston, Esq. 38. 
 
 Richard Valantine, of Preston and 39. 
 Bentclift'e, Esq. 
 
 William Farrington, of Werden, Esq. 1 740. 
 
 41. 
 
 House of Brunswick. 42. 
 
 43. 
 
 George I. 44. 
 
 Jonathan Blackburne, of Orford, Esq. 45. 
 
 Thomas Crisp, Esq. Wigan and 
 
 Parbold. 46. 
 
 Samuel Crooke, of Crooke, Esq. 47. 
 
 Richard Norris, of Liverpool and 48. 
 
 Speke, Esq. 49. 
 
 Thomas Stanley, of Clithero, Esq. 1750. 
 
 Robert Mavvdesley, of Mawdesley, 51. 
 
 Esq. 52. 
 
 Benjamin Hoghton, Esq. 
 
 Benjamin Gregg,Esq. Chamber Hall. 53. 
 
 Sir Edward Stanley, of Bickersteth, 54. 
 
 Bart. 55. 
 
 William Tatham, Esq. Over Hall. 
 
 Miles Sandys, of Graithwait, Esq. 56. 
 
 Edmund Hopwood, of Hopwood, 57. 
 
 Esq. 58. 
 George H. 
 
 Dr. Daniel Wilson, of Dalham Tower. 59. 
 
 Joseph Yates, of Peel, near Man- 
 chester, Esq. 1760. 
 
 William Greenhalgh, of Myerscough, 
 
 Esq. 
 James Chetham, of Smedley, Esq. 
 William Leigh, of West Houghton. 
 John Parker, of Breightmet, Esq. 
 John Greaves, of Kilshaw, Esq. or 
 
 Culchith. 
 Dr. Bushel, of Preston, M.D. 
 Arthur Hambleton, of Liverpool, 
 
 Esq. 
 Darcey Lever, of Alkrington, Knt. 
 
 LL.D. 
 Thos. Horton, of Chadderton, Esq. 
 Samuel Chetham, of Castleton, Esq. 
 Sir Ralph Asheton, of Middleton, 
 
 Bart. 
 Roger Hesketh, of Meols, Esq. 
 Robert Diickenfield, of Manchester. 
 Robert Bankes, of Winstanley. 
 John Blackburne, of Orford, Esq. 
 Robert Radcliffe, of Toxdenton,Esq. 
 Daniel Willis, of Red Hall, Esij. 
 
 (now Halstenliead.) 
 William Shaw, of Preston, Esq. 
 Sam. Birche, of Ardwicke, Esq. 
 Geo. Clarke, of Hyde, Esq. 
 Rigby Molineux, of Preston, Esq. 
 Charles Stanley, Esq. Cross Hall. 
 James Fenton, of Lancaster, Esq. 
 Richard Townley, jun. of Belfield, 
 
 Esq. 
 John Bradshaw, of Manchester, Esq. 
 Thomas Hesketh, of Rufford, Esq. 
 Thomas Jolmson, of Manchester, 
 
 Esq. 
 James Barton, of Penwortham, Esq. 
 James Bailey, of Withington, Esq. 
 Robert Gibson, of Myerscough 
 
 Planks, Esq. 
 Edward Whitehead, of Claughton, 
 
 Esq. 
 Sanmel Hilton, of Pennington, Escj.
 
 Countp ^Salatuif of aanrnstfr. 
 
 209 
 
 George III. I788. 
 
 I76I. Sir William Farington, of Shawe 
 
 Hall, Kilt. 89. 
 
 62. Thomas Braddle, of Conishead, Esq. 1790. 
 
 63. Thomas Blackburne, of Hale, Esq. 
 
 64. Sir William Horton, of Chaderton, 91. 
 
 Bart. 92. 
 
 65. John Walmesley, of Wigan, Esq. 
 
 66. Edward Gregg, of Chamber Hall, 93. 
 
 Esq. 
 
 67. Alexander Butler, of Kirkland, Esq. 94. 
 
 68. Thomas Butterworth Baylej^, of 
 
 Hope, Esq. 95. 
 
 69. Doming Rasbotham, of Birch House, 
 
 Esq. 96. 
 
 1770. Nicholas Ashton, of Liverpool, ^. 
 
 Esq. 
 
 71. Sir Ashton Lever, of Alkrington, 98. 
 
 Knt. 99. 
 
 72. William Cunliffe Shaw, Esq. Pres- 1800. 
 
 ton. 1. 
 
 73. Thomas Patten, Esq. Warrington. 
 
 74. Geoffrey Hornby, of Preston, Esq. 2. 
 1775. Sir Watts Horton, of Chadderton, 
 
 Bart. 3. 
 
 76. Lawrence Rawsthorne, Preston, Esq. 4. 
 
 "77 • Samuel Clowes, of Chorlton, Esq. 
 
 78. Wilson Gale Bradyall, Esq. Conis- 5. 
 
 head. 6. 
 
 79. John Clayton, of Carr, Esq. or Little 
 
 Harwood. 7. 
 
 1780. John Atherton, Esq. Walton Hall, 
 
 Liverpool. 8. 
 
 81. John Blackburne, Esq. Orford, now 9. 
 
 Hale. 
 
 82. Sir Frank Standish, Duxbury, Bart. 1810. 
 
 83. James Whalley, Esq. Clerk Hill, H. 
 
 Whalley. 
 
 84. Wm. Bankes, of Winstanley, Esq. 12. 
 
 85. John Sparling, Esq. Liverpool. 13. 
 
 86. Sir John Parker Mosely, of Ancoats, 
 
 Bart. 14. 
 
 87. William Bamford, of Bamford, Esq. 
 VOL. I. 2 E 
 
 Edward Falkner, of Faii-field, near cHAP. 
 
 Liverpool, Esq. ^'^• 
 
 William Hulton, of Hulton, Esq. High 
 Charles Gibson, Esq. of Lancaster, of Lanca- 
 
 now Quernmore. '*' 
 
 James Starkie, of Heywood, Esq. 
 William Asheton, of Cuerdale, Esq. 
 
 now Downham. 
 Thomas Townley Parker, of Cuer- 
 
 den, Esq. 
 Sir Henry Philip Hoghton, of Wal- 
 ton, Bart. 
 Robinson Shuttleworth, of Preston, 
 
 Esq. 
 Richard Gwillym, Bewsey, Esq. 
 Bold Fleetwood Hesketh, of Ros- 
 
 sall, Esq. 
 John Eiitwistle, of Foxholes, Esq. 
 Joseph Starkie, of Royton, Esq. 
 James Ackers, of Lark Hill, Esq. 
 Sir Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh,Bart. 
 
 Rufford. 
 Robert Gregg Hopwood, of Hop- 
 wood, Esq. 
 Isaac Blackburne, Esq. 
 Thomas Lister Parker, of Brows- 
 holme, Esq. 
 Meyrick Bankes, of Winstanley, Esq. 
 Le Gendre Pierce Starkie, of Hunt- 
 
 royd, Esq. 
 Richard (Cross) Legh, of Shawe Hill 
 
 and Adlington, Esq. 
 Thomas Clayton, of Carr Hall, Esq. 
 Samuel Clowes, of Broughton, Man- 
 chester, Esq. 
 William Hulton, of Hulton, Esq. 
 Sam. Chetham Hilton, of RIoston 
 
 Hall, Esq. 
 Edmund Greaves, of Culcheth, Esq. 
 William Farington, of Shawe Hall, 
 
 Esq. 
 Lawrence Rawsthorne, Penwortham, 
 Esq.
 
 210 
 
 mn lisstorj) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 Violation 
 of the li- 
 berty and 
 property 
 of the 
 subject. 
 
 1815. 
 
 16. 
 17. 
 
 18. 
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 
 22. 
 
 23. 
 
 Le Gendre Pierce Starkie, Hunt- 
 
 royd, Esq. 
 William Townley, Townhead, Esq. 
 Robert Townley Parlcer, of Cuerden, 
 
 Esq. 
 Joseph Feilden, Wetton House, Esq. 
 John Walmesley, Castle Mere, Esq. 
 Robt. Hesketh, Rossal, Esq. 
 Tliomas Richard Gale Braddyll, 
 
 Conishead Priory, Esq. 
 James Shuttleworth, Barton Lodge, 
 
 Esq. 
 Thomas Greene, Slyne, Esq. 
 
 1824. John Entwistle, Foxholes, Esq. 
 
 25. John Hargreaves, Ormerod House, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 26. James Penny Machell, Penny Bridge, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 27. Chas. Gibson, Quernmore Park, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 28. Edmund Hornby, Dalton Hall, Esq. 
 
 29. Henry Bold Hoghton, Bold Hall 
 
 and Hoghton Tower, Esq. 
 1830. Peter Hesketh, Rossal Hall, Esq. 
 31. Peregrine Edw'' Towneley, of 
 Towneley, Esq. 
 
 The county palatine of Lancaster is parcel of the duchy of Lancaster, and the 
 king has a seal, chancellor, and other officers, for the county palatine, and others for 
 the duchy, both of which are managed separately from the possessions of the king.* 
 It is one of the privileges of a county palatine, that none of its inhabitants can be 
 summoned out of their own county, except in case of treason, or error, by any writ 
 or process .f 
 
 In the eai'ly periods of the palatine privileges in Lancashire, these distmctions of 
 law were not so well understood as at present ; hence a number of legal harpies 
 were in the daily habit of seizing the mhabitants and their property, and conveying 
 them away under form of law, though they had no juristHction whatever in the 
 county. These violent and illegal proceedings kept those parts of tlie county 
 wherein they were practised in a coutmual ferment. Large assemblies of the people 
 rose, to resist the intruders ; and riots, and even miu'ders, frequently ensued. So 
 intolerable an evil called for a strong remedy, which the law had not then provided, 
 hut in 28 Hemy VI. an act was passed, by which it was ordained, that if any 
 " misruled" persons, under colour of law, made a distress where they had no fee, 
 seigniory, or cause, to take such distress in the counties and seigniories in Wales, or 
 in the duchy of Lancaster, they should be adjudged guilty of felony, and punished 
 accordingly.;!: An ancient petition to pai'Uament from the inhabitants of this county 
 has been preserved in the Tower of London, wherein that protection was loudly called 
 for, wliich the legisla.ture were not slow to gi-ant: — 
 
 * Plow. Com. p. 219. on the duchy of Lancaster case, so elaborately argued, by which it was 
 decided, that a lease under the duchy seal of land, parcel of the duchy of Lancaster, made by 
 Edw. VI. in his nonage, to commence after the end of a former lease in esse, was good, and not 
 avoidable by reason of his nonage. 
 
 t Coke's 4th Institute, p. 411. I Statutes of the Realm, vol. ii. p. 356.
 
 Countp |3alatine of ilnnrastfiv 211 
 
 " Soit bailie as Sfs. vi. 
 
 " To the discrete Corayns of this pseut Parliament. Please it your Tvdsdomes petition. 
 aud liigh discrecions teuilii-ly to consicke, that diverse misgoverned persones of the 
 Shu-es, Lordesliippes Roialx, in Walys, and of the Ducherie of Lancastre in the seid 
 parties, dayly taken and use to take, diverse persones, goodcs and catelx in the 
 seid Shii'es, Duchie and Lordeshippes, by the name and untke colour of distresse, 
 where thei have noo maner Fee, Lordesliip, ne cause to take such disti'esse, but 
 feynen accions and quarelx, to gi-eve and destrye the trewe pepiU of the seid Shii'es, 
 Ducfiie and Lordeshippes, ayenste lawe, reason and conscience ; and the seid psones, 
 goodes and catelx soo taken, leden and carien out of the Slm-es, Diictiie and Lorde- 
 shippes where thei ben talven, into other diverse places in England and Walys : And 
 oft tyme for suche disti'esse takjiig, and in resistens therof, ther is gi-ete assembles 
 of pepill, notes, mayhemmys, and murdi'es doon aud hadde, and if it be not in hasty 
 tyme remedyed, like to folowe therof other inconvenientise ; of the which takynges, 
 ledynges and cariynges, there is in that partie no dewe punishment, cause wlierof 
 the pepill of the seid parties dayly habundeth and encreseth in misgovnaunce. Tliat 
 it please youre said high discreciouns to consicbe thees pmisses, and to praye the 
 Kynge oure Sovereigne Lorde, by advise of liis Lordes Spuelx and Tempelx in this 
 present Pai'liament assembled, and by auctorite of the same Pai'liament, to ordeigue 
 and stablish ; that if eny psone take eny goodes, catelx or persons, in eny of the seid 
 Shii'es, Duchie or Lordeshippes, and them lede or caiye into eny places out of eny 
 of the seid Shires, DucWe or Lordeshippes, wherin thei ben taken, into eny other 
 places, that all manner suche takynges, ledying, or carying, be hadde aud demyd 
 Felonye; And if eny person therof be atteint in eny wyse, that he have execucion as 
 a Felon shulde have. And that noo maner person in the seid Shii'es, Duchie or 
 Lordesliippes, ne in no other places in Walys, arettyd, accused or endited of Felonye, 
 in eny wise be admitted to disclajone out of the seid Sliii-e, Duchie or Lordeship, 
 where he is soo enchted, accused or aretted. Pm-veyd alway, that noo person for 
 distresse takyng within his Fee, or for eny maner cause wherfore distresse is lawfuU 
 by the comyn lawe of England, by this Ordinaunce be hui'te or greved: And also 
 purveyd, that tliis Acte be not prejudicial to eny psone Englyshe boren in Enge- 
 lond; and that in the onour of God, and in the wey of charite. 
 
 Responsio. " Le Roy s'advisera." 
 A most extraordinary piece of legislation relating to the county palatine of Punish- 
 
 1 /• raent of 
 
 Lancaster, took place four years after this, by which an act, made tor a temporary outlaws. 
 purpose, was declared perpetual. By this act it was ordained, that if any person
 
 212 
 
 €l)t liEftorp of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 31 Hen. 
 VI. 
 
 .■)3 Hen. 
 VI. 
 
 Rot. pari. 
 7 Hen. 
 VII. 
 
 111. 8. . 
 
 Prohibi- 
 tion of 
 liveries. 
 
 should be ovitlawed in the county palatine of Lancaster, he should forfeit such of his 
 land and goods as were found in that county, hut in no other ;* and that this should 
 be the extent of his punishment, however aggravated might be his offence. The 
 effect of such a law was to encourage crime to an alarming extent, for if any 
 " foreigner" came into the county palatine of Lancaster, and committed any treason, 
 murder, or robbery, or made and violated any contract, the sole rech-ess for the 
 injured party was against liis lands and effects in the county, which generally were 
 of no value. The pernicious consequence of tliis law soon became too palpable to be 
 endured, and, two years after it had been made " perpetual," it was repealed.-|' 
 
 The defeat of this insidious measure did not prevent its repetition in the seventh 
 year of the reign of Henry VIL when, in the absence of the " knights of the sliii-e, 
 and otlier noble persons of the county," an act of parliament Avas obtained, at the 
 instance, and by the influence, of a single individual, probably one of the adherents of 
 the deposed tyrant, Richai-d, by wliich it was ordained, that persons resichng out of 
 the county should neither be liable to process in the county of Lancaster, nor should 
 forfeit, for their offences in the county, any goods but such as were to be found 
 within its limits. It may easily be conceived, that no long time Avas necessaiy to 
 discover this legislative error; and, accorcUngly, we find that, in the very same par- 
 liament, an act was passed, which, after reciting, " That the Countie of Lancastre is 
 and of long tyme hath byn a Countie Palantyne, made and ordeyned for gi-ete 
 consideracion, and within the same hath byn had and used Jurisdiccion Roiall, and 
 all things to a Countie Palantjnie belonging, in the dayes of the noble Progenitours 
 of our Soverayn Lord the King, unto the begynnyng of this present Parliament," 
 proceeds to enact, " that the said Countie Palatyne, and every parte of the Juris- 
 diccion therof, be in every poynt touching all Processes, Forfaitures, and other 
 tliinges, as large, and of like force and effecte, as it was the day next before the fii-st 
 day of this psent Parliament, and as if the said Acte had not bin made." 
 
 The wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster stUl agitated the 
 country. The madness of party raged with Its utmost violence, and men of fortune 
 and influence were accustomed to equip their partisans in Uveries, and to furnish 
 them Avith badges of distinction incUcating to wliich house they belonged. The 
 natural consequence of this conduct was to increase the general agitation, and to 
 embarrass the administration of the laws. It is probable also, that there were local 
 feuds mixed up Avith these elements of general discord, wliich so far exceeded the 
 corrective power of the police, that a law was enacted, by which it Avas declared, that 
 no person should give liveries or badges, or retain, as their menial servants, officers, 
 or men learned either in civil or ecclesiastical laAV, by any oath or promise, under 
 * Stat, of the Realm, vol. ii. p. 356. t Ibid. vol. ii. p. 365.
 
 Counti) |3alatme of ^Lancasittn 213 
 
 the penalty of one luuKli-ed shillings per mouth for every person so retained, to he chap. 
 recovered before the justices at then- usual sessions of oyer and terminer, or before ^' ' 
 the king's justices in the counties palatine of Lancaster and Chester.* 
 
 The palatine privilege had in the reign of Edw. VI. been perverted to the injury Prodama- 
 of the inhabitants, by subjecting them to the consequences of outlawry without their aTexi-"" 
 knowledge. As the Idng's vrnt of proclamation awarded upon an exigent ao-ainst ^'"'' 
 any mhabitaut of Lancashii-e, in any action involving the process of outlawry, did not 
 run in Lancasliii-e, it was necessarily sent to the sheritf of an adjoining county, and 
 the consequence was, that many persons were outlawed without tlieii- own know- 
 ledge. When the trade and commerce of the county began to be extended, tliis 
 gi-ievance manifested itself so frequently, that an act was passed, whereby it was c Ed. vi. 
 enacted, that whenever any writ or exigent fi'om the court of king's bench or 
 common jjleas, should issue against any person residing in Lancasliire, a writ of 
 proclamation should be awarded to the sheriff of the county palatme of Lancaster, 
 and not to the sheriff of any adjoining county ; and that the sheriff of Lancasliii-e 
 .should make and return the proclamation accordingly. 
 
 During the civU wars between prerogative and privilege, when Charles L had the .Sheriff of 
 nominal authority of the sovereign, but when the two houses of parliament exer- siiire dm- 
 cised the royal functions, the powers of the duke of Lancaster, like those of the king dfn wars. 
 of England, were assumed by the founders of the commonwealth ; and an ordinance 
 remains upon record, by which John Bradshaw, of Bradshaw, in the county of Lan- 
 caster, Esq. was appointed to the office of sheriff of this county, which office he held 
 for four successive years, in contravention of tlie act of 28 Edw. IIL till the king 
 was deposed, and until he, the sheriff of the county palatine of Lancaster, in the capa- 
 city of president of the parliamentary tribunal, consigned his monaixh to the block. 
 This ordinance is of the date of the 10th of February, 1644, and is thus expressed:— 
 
 " The Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, do order and ordain, and 
 " be it ordered and ordained, that William Lcnthall, Esq. Speaker of tlie House of 
 " Commons, shall have power, and is hereby authorized to put in use the duchy 
 " seal, for the constituting and maldng of sheriffs and justices of peace witliin the 
 " county of Lancaster, and to issue out all writs and processes, and to do and perfonn 
 " all acts and tilings necessary for the benefit of the said county, in as ample 
 " manner as any Chancellor of the Duchy heretofore hath done, or ought to do; and 
 " tliis ordinance to continue and be in force, until both houses take further order; 
 " and whatsoever the said William I,ord Grey, of Mark, and W'" Lenthall, shall do 
 " in pursuance hereof, they shall be saved harmlesse by both houses of pariiament : 
 
 * Stat, of the Realm, vol. ii. p. 426.
 
 VI 
 
 214 €i)t ?i)i6toii> of t\)t 
 
 ;hap. " and it is further ordered and ordained, that tlie officers belonging to the Duchy 
 " Couil do prei)are a patent for to make Jolm Bradshaw, of Bradshaw, Esquu-e, 
 " Sheiiff of the said County, who is to take the oath of Sheiiff hereinto annexed : — 
 
 " THE OATH OF THE SHERIFF OF LANCASTER." 
 
 " Yee shall Swear, Tliat well and ti-uly ye shall serve the King in the Office of 
 the Sheriff of Lancaster, and do the King's profits in all things tliat helongeth you 
 to do by way of your Office ; As much as you can or may, ye shall not respite the 
 Kings Debts, for any gift or favoui-, where you may raise them without gi-eat 
 gi-ievance of the Debtors : Yee shall ti-uly and rightfully treat the people of your 
 Sheriffwick, and do right, as well to Poor as to Rich, in all that helongeth to your 
 office ; Yee shall do no wrong unto any man for any gift or promise of goods, nor 
 favom- nor hate: Yee shall disturb no man's Right; yee shall truly Accompt before 
 the Auditor of the Dutchy of Lancaster ; of all them of whom yee shall any thing 
 receive of the King's Debts : Yee shall nothing take whereby the King may loose, 
 or whereby that Right may be tUsturbed, letted or the Kings Debts delayed : Yee 
 
 shall truly retm-n, and truly serve all the Jungs Writs, as far forth as it shall be 
 
 ********** 
 m your cunnmg : 
 
 Also, yee shall utterly testify and declai-e in your conscience, that the said Kings 
 Highnesse is the onely Supream Governour of this Realm, and of all other His 
 Highnesses Dominions and Countries, aswell in all Spuituall and Ecclesiastical 
 things or causes, as Temporall; and that no FoiTaign Prince, Person, Prelate, 
 State or Potentate, hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superioiity, Pre- 
 heminency or Authority, Ecclesiasticall or Spliituall witliin tliis Realm; and there- 
 fore yee shall truly renounce and forsake aU Forraign Jurisdictions, Power, Superio- 
 rities, and Authorities, and shall promise, that fi-om henceforth yee shall beare 
 Faith and true Allegiance to the said Kings Highnesse, His Heirs and Lawfull 
 Successors ; and to your power, shall Assist and defend all JurisiUctions, Privileges, 
 Preheminences, gi-anted or belonging to the said King's Highnesse, His Heirs and 
 Successors, or Vnited or annexed to the Imperiall Crown of this Realm : So help 
 you God, and by the holy Contents of this Book." 
 
 " H. Elsynge, Cler. Pari. D. Com." 
 
 With the restoration in 1660, the authority and the revenues of the duke of 
 Lancaster reverted to the king. In order to secure the ducal prerogatives, and the 
 ancient privileges of the county, a number of courts have, in the succession of ages, 
 risen up in Lancashire, involving the jurisprudence of the county. The reason of
 
 tical 
 courts. 
 
 Count)) |3alatinc of Saiuast^n 215 
 
 these inununities, as assigned by Sir Edward Coke, is, " for that the county of Lan- chai- 
 
 caster is a county palatine, and the duke," at its institution, "had jura ret/alia," or 1 
 
 royal prerogatives, within the county — " to exercise all manner of jui-isdiction, liigh, 
 mean, and low." " This county palatine (of Lancaster) adds Sir Edward, was the 
 youngest brother, and yet best beloved of all other, for it hath more honors, manors, 
 and lands annexed unto it than any of the rest, by tlie house of Lancaster, and by 
 Henry VIII. and Queen Mary, albeit tliey were descended also of the house of 
 York, viz. from Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV." The nature of the 
 courts in the duchy and county palatine of Lancaster, ecclesiastical, civil, and 
 criminal, have already been exliibited in a connected form,* in combination with the 
 other courts, which liave a concurrent jurisdiction in the county ; and it is only 
 necessary in tliis place to repeat this information, and somewhat to amplify the 
 details : — 
 
 The Ecclesiastical Courts are. 
 The Prerogative Court of York, -nitliin which province tliis county lies ; the Court Ectiesi.s- 
 for the Archdeaconry of Chester ; and the Court for the Archdeaconry of Rich- 
 mond. Probates of wUh and letters of administi-ation, of persons dying witliin the 
 archdeacomy of Richmond, are usually granted in the ecclesiastical comt of Rich- 
 mond, and the original wills, with the registers of other proceedings, are deposited 
 at Lancaster, where the court for the Lancashire portion of that arclideaconry is 
 held ; wliile the wills and letters of acbninistration, as to persons dying within the 
 archdeaconry of Chester, must be proved in, or gi-anted by, the ecclesiastical court 
 of Chester, held in that city, m whicli case the wills are there deposited. But 
 dm-ing the year of triennial visitation, the jiu-isdiction of the archdeaconry of Rich- 
 mond ceases, and the proceedings throughout tlie whole county of Lancaster are 
 then registered at Chester. Tlie widows of mtestates, dying ^vithin the archdea- 
 conry of Riclunond, obtain, by the custom of the province of York, sanctioned by the 
 statute of distributions, a greater shai-e of theii- iiusbands' personal estates than that 
 to which those ai-e entitled, by the statute, whose husbands die ^-ithin the arclidea- 
 conry of Chester, where such custom does not prevail, Chester not being governed 
 by any custom but by statute law. UntU the institution of the bishopric of Chester, 
 at the period of the Reformation, Lancasliii-e lay within the dioceses of Lichfield and 
 Coventry, and ^vills proved from this county, at that time, were deposited at Lichfield, 
 where those ^vills now remain. The river Ribble generally forms the boimdary of ^'"'' 
 tJie two archdeacomies— places to the North of the Ribble being in the archdeaconry 
 of Riclunond ; and tliose to the South of that river, in the archdeaconry of Chester. 
 Tliis definition is, however, subject to one exception ; the whole of the extensive 
 
 * Baines's Lancashire, edit. 1824. vol. 1. p. 128 — 138. 
 
 32 Hen.
 
 216 
 
 Cije ?l]i6ttii-p of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, parish of Wlialley is in the archdeacomy of Chester, though the townsliip of Bow- 
 land- with-Leagi'am, in this parish, is on the north side of the Rihble. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Synopsis. 
 
 INFERIOR COURTS. < 
 
 Of Record. 
 
 The Courts of Law are, 
 
 f *The High Court of Chancery. 
 *The Exchequer. 
 Tlie Chancery of the Duchy. 
 The Chancery of the County Palatine. 
 superior courts. «( *The King's Bench. 
 
 *The Common Pleas at Westminster. 
 The Common Pleas at Lancaster. 
 Tlie Judges Commission of all manner of Pleas. 
 The Commission of Oyer and Terminer. 
 
 Cruuinal. C Sessions 
 
 I" For the County 
 
 and 
 !.For Boroughs. 
 Coroner's Court. 
 
 {For the County 
 and 
 For Boroughs. 
 rFor Hundreds 
 Leets^ and 
 
 (. For Manors. 
 C Borough Coiu'ts. 
 < Piedpoudre Courts. 
 ' Courts of Requests. 
 C By Justicias. 
 \ By Replevin. 
 (By Plaint, 
 f By Replevin. 
 ^ By Plaint, 
 spyhold. 
 Customary. 
 r Copyhold. 
 For Manors. < Customary. 
 ( By Plaint. 
 
 The Courts marked thus * have a general jurisdiction, and are not peculiar to this county. 
 
 w 
 
 •< 
 
 Z 
 
 V. o 
 
 in 
 
 CO 
 
 Not of Record. 
 
 Civil. 
 
 County. 
 
 For 
 Hundi-eds. 
 
 For Honors. 
 
 (Cus
 
 Count|) palatinf of tniunsitcr. 217 
 
 The High Colrt of Chancery,* and the Court of Exchequer, chap.- 
 
 VI. 
 
 have coucuiTent jurisiliction in tliis county with the Chanceries of the Duchy, and 
 
 the county Palatine, m all matters requiring the interference of equity to i-emedy the <-'""'•' "f 
 defects, or mitigate the rigours, of law. But in affaii-s Avhere the authority is derived 
 by statute, or commission from the crown, as in bankruptcy and matters of a fiscal 
 nature, the lord chancellor has an exclusive jurisdiction, and the barons of the 
 exchequer paramount authority. 
 
 The Chancery of the Duchy of Lancaster 
 is not a mixed court of law and equity. It has cognizance of matters of an equitable chancery 
 nature, whether they relate to the county palatine, or to the duchy, and of all chy. 
 questions of revenue and council, affecting the ducal i)ossessions. The proceedings 
 in this court, as in the comi of chancery, ai-e by EngUsli bill and decree. The process 
 is by privy seal and attachment, as in the chancery. All patents, and commissions 
 of officers, or dignitaries, all orders, and gi-ants affecting the lands and revenues, 
 and all similar acts of authority mthin the duchy, issue from hence. It is also 
 a court of appeal from the chancery of the county jmlatine ; and the archive of all 
 records aifecting the francliise. It is held at the duchy office in Westminster, from 
 which all processes issuing out of this court are dated. 
 
 The Chancery of the County Palatine of Lancaster 
 is an original and independent court, as ancient as the 50th of Edward III. and the 
 proceedings are earned on by Enghsh bill and decree. The office is at Preston, chancery 
 and the court sits four times a year, at least ; namely, once at each assize at Lancas- {"atine. ''*' 
 ter, and once at Preston in the interval of each assize. The process of the court is 
 by subpcEna, attachment, attachment with proclamations, commission of rebellion, 
 sequestration, and writ of assistance, &c.; and the general practice of the court, except 
 in some particular cases where it is governed by its own particular rules, is similar 
 to the practice of the high court of chancery in almost every tiling, except in 
 despatch and expense. The chancery of Lancasliire has concurrent jurisdiction with 
 the liigh com"t of chancery, and the court of exchequer, in all matters of equity, 
 whether concerning lands lying witliin the palatine, or concerning transitory 
 
 * The chancery is called of Chancelli, because they examine matters within places endorsed with 
 partitions of cross-barrs ; or rather, from the chancellours cancelling or dashing out, wt cross lines 
 lattice-wise, commissions, warrants, and decrees, passed against all law or right. They (the chancel- 
 lors) were in England before the Conquest, and then, and now, are reputed the second persons in 
 the Kingdom.— Fragmenta Historipolitica Miscellanea, Harl. MSS. no. 980. fo. 59. 
 VOL. I. 2 f
 
 218 €l)t 5}isitiDr|) of tfte 
 
 CHAP, suits, its cogmzance of wliich depends on the person or lands of the defendant being 
 ' amenable to the process of this court; but its jurisdiction is exclusive of all other 
 courts of equity, when both the subject of the suit, and the residence of the parties 
 litigant, are Avitlun the county, and in such case a defendant may insist on liis right 
 to be sued in this chancery by demurrer or plea to any other equitable process. 
 This court seems to be entirely independent of the liigh court of chancery, the latter 
 court not assuming any jurisdiction or power over it ; for an appeal from the chan- 
 cery of Lancashire lies to the duchy cliamber at Westminster, and from thence to 
 the king in parliament ; and no instance can be remembered, nor any precedent 
 adduced, when the Iiigh court of chancery has evei' in any manner attempted to 
 interfere in the process or proceedings of the court of chancery of Lancasliii-e, or 
 to remove the cause or matter in dispute from its jurisdiction. 
 
 The court in point of fact exercises a concurrent jurisdiction with the high court 
 of chancery m all matters of equity within the county palatine, particularly in matters 
 of account, fraud, mistake, trusts, foreclosures, tithes, infants, partition, and specific 
 performance of contracts and agTeements. It also interferes to restrain parties from 
 proceeding m actions at law, and for that j^urjiose grants tlie writ of injunction. And 
 it also issues injunctions to stay waste and trespass in cases where in-eparable mis- 
 chief might arise, unless the parties were immediately resti-ained from doing the acts 
 complained of. It is likewise auxiliiuy or assistant to the jurisdiction of courts of 
 law, as by remo-ving legal impedunents to the fan- decision of a question depenchng, 
 either by compelling a discovery wliich may enable them to decide, or by perpetuating 
 testimony when in danger of being lost, before the matter to wliich it relates can be 
 made the subject of judicial investigation. It also has jurisdiction, on ex-parte appU- 
 cations, in appointing guardians for infants, and in allowing them a competent main- 
 tenance out of their property, and in enabUng them to make conveyances of their 
 trust, and mortgaged estates, for the benefit of the parties beneficially entitled. It 
 also claims the care of all lunatics and itUots within the county palatine, and grants 
 commissions in the nature of the WTit de Lunatico rel Id'tota probanda, for the 
 purpose of inquiring into the state of mind and circumstances of the parties against 
 whom the commission of lunacy or idiocy is prayed. And on the inquisition 
 beiiig returned, it grants admiuistration of the persons and estates of lunatics and 
 idiots to committees or guartUans appointed for tlie purpose, under the directions of 
 the court. If the suit is on behalf of a private inchvidual, the bUl of complaint is 
 addressed to the chancellor of the duchy in the name of the party complaining, and 
 if the suit is instituted on behalf of the crown, or of those who partake of its preroga- 
 tive, or whose rights are under its peculiar protection, as the objects of a pubhc 
 charity, &c. the matter of complaint is offered to the cliancellor of the duchy by way
 
 Coimtp ^Jalntiitf of i!.anrns:t(i% 219 
 
 of information, in the name of the attorney general of the county palatine. The chap. 
 proceedings ai'e afterwards carried on, except in little points of practice arising fi-oni " 
 
 local circumstances, as in suits originally commenced in the high court of chancery. 
 Although the hills are adch-essed to the chancellor of the duchy, the vice-chancellor 
 of the county palatine is the judge of the court, and the causes and all motions and 
 petitions are set down, and heard before him. The chancellor of the duchy, assisted 
 hy the two judges in commission for the county palatine, sits to hear causes at West- 
 minster, either commenced originally in the duchy chamber, or which have been 
 transmitted there by way of appeal from the court of chancery of the county 
 palatine. 
 
 ■ All original writs within the county palatine issue from the chancery of Lanca- 
 shire, and writs from the courts at Westminster are directed to the chancellor of the 
 duchy, who makes out his mandate to the sheriif of the county, to execute, and return 
 them into the chancery. Tlie officers of the court are — the chancellor of the duchy, 
 the vice-chancellor, the registrar, examiner, and first clerk, the five cursitors and 
 clerks in court, who are the attorneys of the court, the seal-keeper, and the 
 messenger. 
 
 The Court of King's Bench and the Court of Common Pleas at 
 
 Westminster, 
 have concurrent jurisdiction with the court of common pleas, for the county palatine Courts of 
 of Lancaster, in almost all cases ; and will enforce their jurisdiction over personal bench ana 
 actions, unless conusance of the cause be claimed, or the palatinate jurisdiction be p™ 
 pleaded, or eiTor be brought, after judgment by default, mth the venue laid in Lan- 
 cashire, and the want of an original be assigned for error. In the two first 
 instances, the superior courts cannot refuse to allow the privilege, when properly 
 claimed; and in the last, the want of jurisdiction becomes apparent, from the circum- 
 stance of there being, in the chancery at Westminster, cui-sitors for the issuing 
 of wits into every county but the counties palatine, and therefore, upon a cause of 
 action arising in Lancashire, there is no proper officer from whom an original could 
 have been obtained, to wan-ant the subsequent proceedings in the court at Westmin- 
 ster. The cases where the jurisdiction of the courts above is excluded, and that of 
 the common pleas at Lancaster must be adopted, are chiefly pleas of lands wdtliin the 
 county; actions against corporations existing in Lancashire; or suits in wliich a 
 defendant residing there must be aiTested for less than £20. All writs out of the 
 courts at Westminster (except Habeas Corpus and Mittimus) are directed to the 
 chancellor, knd not to the sheriff, in the first instance; and, where execution of them 
 must be done by the sheriff, the chancellor issues his mandate to that officer, and, on 
 
 2f 2 
 
 common 
 
 (leas.
 
 tine. 
 
 220 m)t iJlEitOll) Of tftf 
 
 CHAP, recemnff liis return, certifies, in his ovra name, to the court above, that the writ lias 
 
 VI. 
 
 " been duly executed; and if the chancellor return, that he commanded the sheriff, and 
 has received from him no answer, the court above will rule the sheriff to return the 
 mandate. There is only one li-anchise in the county having the execution of writs 
 by its own officer, viz. the Liberty of Furness, to the bailiff of which the sheriff dii-ects 
 his precepts, and receives from him the requisite returns. 
 
 The Court of Common Pleas for the County Palatine of 
 
 Lancaster, 
 Common is an original superior Court of Record at Common Law, having jurisdiction over 
 the paia- all real actions for lands, and in all actions against coi-porations within the county, 
 as well as over all personal actions where the defendant resides m Lancashire, 
 although the cause of action may have ai'isen elsewhere ; but this court has no juris- 
 diction beyond the limits of the county. The judges of this court are appointed by 
 commission from the king, under the seal of the duchy of Lancaster, but in the name 
 of the king, pursuant to the statute of 27 Hen. VIIL The judges, according to the 
 present usage, are only two, being the judges appointed on the northern circuit, 
 whose commission continues in force so long as the same judges continue to be 
 appointed to that circuit. Its returns are on the fii'st Wednesday in every month. 
 The office of the prothouotary is at Preston, where the records for the preceding 
 twenty years are kept, and those for previous years are deposited at Lancaster, where 
 the court sits every assizes before one of the two judges of the courts at Westminster 
 who have chosen the northern circuit, and who are half-yearly commissioned, the 
 one as the cliief justice, and the other as one of the "justices of the common pleas at 
 Lancaster." The patent of the judges for the common pleas at Lancaster also 
 appoints one of the judges " cliief justice, and the other', one of the justices of all 
 manner of pleas within the county pidatine," and under this the causes sent by 
 mittimus from the courts at Westminster ai-e tried at bar ; but as there is no clause 
 of nisi prius in the jury process by mittimus to Lancaster (it being out of the 
 ordinary circuit of the judges,) they camiot be assisted by a sergeant on the civil side 
 as in other coimties. By the same commission ai-e tried at bar all pleas of the 
 crown, whether removed by certiorari, or otherwise directed so to be tried. Tliis 
 court is a great advantage to the commercial county of Lancaster, as well because 
 its process for arrests to any amount reaches to all parts of the county, and may be 
 had ^vithout the delay of sending to London, as from the celerity and excellency of its 
 practice. A gi'eat majority of the causes now tried at Lancaster are brought in the 
 common pleas of the county palatine, and in point of importance are equal to those sent 
 down for trial there fi-om the courts at Westminster. In tliis court, actions may be
 
 Coimti.) ^alatint of 2Laiirnsitfn 221 
 
 brought mtliiu about three weeks from tlie time of hohliug the assizes ; and exe- chap. 
 cution may be had after trial, as soon as the assizes tenninate, without waiting till ' 
 
 the following term, which, at the siumner assizes especially, embraces a considerable 
 period. The advantage of tliis promptitude in legal processes in Lancashu-e, has 
 been so strongly felt, that the principle is now extended to the general law of the 
 country ; and still furtlier improved, by an act of parliament passed in the early 
 part of the year 1831, for the more speedy judgment and execution in actions i wiii. 
 brought in his majesty's courts at Westminster ; and the proceedings in the court 
 of common pleas of the county palatine of Lancaster, have been facilitated by making 
 all writs of inquiry or damage returnable on the first Wednesday in every month, 
 (in adcUtion to the fii'st and last days of each assize,) in lieu of being returnable, as 
 liitherto, on any of the return days in Easter and Michaelmas terms respectively. 
 The general official business of the court of common pleas in Lancashii-e, is 
 transacted by the deputy of the prothonotary. The office of prothonotaiy is a patent 
 office, in the gift of the crown, in right of the duchy of Lancaster. Jolm Crosse, Esq. 
 is the attorney-general ; and Wm. Walton, and M. F. A. Aiuslie, Esqrs. ai'e king's 
 counsel for the palatinate. The attorney-general for the county is an officer of this 
 circuit, and there are also two king's counsel for the palatinate. 
 
 It is not witliin the province of this work to enter into the subject of fees, and other 
 details of legal practice, but the foUo^ving order of court, issued by the judges 
 upwards of two hunched years ago, may sei"ve as a piece of legal lore : — 
 
 " Orders made at Lanc : 
 
 By S. James Altham, Bar. of Ecq. 
 S. Edw. Bromley, Bar. of Ech. 
 By assent of Tho. Tidsley, Attorn, of Cout. Pal. and Vicechancelor of the same, at 
 
 the assizes at Lanc. 
 
 29th July. Jac. 9. 
 
 " That Attorneys admonish there clients, both dwel: in the couty, to trie in the 
 
 couty. 
 " If Attura \vill not be refoiTQed, then to them in any foren court ace. to 
 
 Stat. 4 H. 4. if it seeme good to the Justices. 
 " Euery writ made by the Attorn, shall cost 2^ for euery 12'' the proton, hath. 
 " The Atturney shall have liis fee in euery action 3' 4'' for euery assize. 
 •' Tlie Sherif shall return at the first Distr: suff: issues upon euery Freholdi- that 
 
 shall be sued, and double the same til the fi-eeholder appere to the suit.
 
 222 
 
 <U)t %)Mov^ Of tlje 
 
 CH\P. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Under euery action of debt of 201s. or upward, the debtor sliall put in special 
 
 bayle if the plantifs Attor. do require, unles good cans to the couti'ary. 
 Tlie Protonot. shall not accept of any writs wherupon any fines or recou. are to be 
 
 sued wlier above 3 or 4 cognisors are named, being not joynt ten a ten in cou. 
 
 without spec: direct: from the Justices of Assizes. 
 No recouery brought to the Proton, but under the hand of some Attorney of the 
 
 said court. 
 Euery Attorney shall bring liis orig. writs and mean proces wher any exigent is 
 
 awarded of the Ass. precedent H"*. All cost be the Assise subseq. to be fUed 
 
 with the Proton. 
 Or else to pay for euery such writ returned the assise before, he bring the same 
 
 for the post diem 4"*. 
 If they file any writts of any fomier Assis after the said Ass. subseq . begin then to 
 
 pay for each 12'' for a post a»ssis. Attorney may receiue of there o^vn use ^ of 
 
 al fines due upon orig. writs, and wi'its of couents, and writs of Entryes for 
 
 reco. only excepted. 
 
 Assizts. 
 
 Contem- 
 plated re- 
 moval of 
 the as- 
 
 sizeH. 
 
 Previous to every assize, commissions of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol 
 Delivery are issued, under which the senior judge presides in the crown court, and 
 delivers Lancaster castle. The official proceedings in criminal cases \\dtliin the 
 county are conducted by the clerk of the crown, or liis deputy.* The office of clerk 
 of the crown is in the gift of the chancellor of the duchy for the tune being, and he is 
 assisted by a deputy, on whom the duty principally devolves. The office is held at 
 Preston. At the end of the assizes, three copies are made of the calendar of the 
 prisoners ; one of wliich is signed by the senior judge, and delivered to the clerk of 
 the crown, in whose custody it is kept ; another copy is signed by the clerk of the 
 crown, and kept by the judge ; and a tliii'd, signed by the same officer, is left with the 
 high sheriif or the gaoler. Under this authority, and without any special wan-ant, 
 all executions take place. The judge writes the word " reprieved" or " respited", 
 opposite to the name of each convict sentenced to die, but not left for execution ; and 
 such as have not either of these words written opposite their names, are hanged. On 
 behalf of those who are reprieved, the judge addresses a letter, called " the Circuit 
 Letter" to the king, recommending them to mercy on the grounds therein specified, 
 which letter is transmitted to the office of the secretary of state, and generally, indeed 
 invariably, produces a commutation of punislunent. 
 
 Tlie assizes are held half-yearly at Lancaster, but strenuous efforts have, from 
 time to time, been made by the more populous part of the county, to obtain an 
 * Appendix to Evans on the Court of Common Pleas of the County Palatine of Lancaster.
 
 Coimtp |]alattnf of Eanra^tfr. 223 
 
 adjournment of each assize from the county town to Preston, Manchester, and Liver- chai' 
 
 pool, on the grounds — that as it is a principle of the gi'cat charter, that justice ought L 
 
 not to be delayed, it is in consonance with that principle, that it ought not to be remote. 
 It is alleged that nine-tenths of the civil causes, and four-fifths of the criminal 
 prosecutions, tried at Lancaster, are from the three most distant hunch-eds of >Salford, 
 West Derby, and Blackbura, which contain neai-ly nine-tenths of the inhabitants of the 
 county ; and that, by the proposed adjournments, the saving to prosecutors and suitors, 
 both in time and travelling expenses, would be immense. The cogency of these 
 representations arrested the attention of the magistracy of the county, and in the 
 report of a committee appointed by that body at their annual general sessions of the 
 peace in 1820, which report was made in 1822, the conunittee earnestly recoimnend, 
 that at the county assizes at Lancaster, the two judges should " both proceed upon 
 the trial of prisoner's, and afterwards upon the trial of all cases ii'om the north of the 
 county, as usual, and then adjourn to Preston, and there proceed with the causes from 
 all other parts of the county." By this arrangement, the committee " estimate the 
 saving to the county to amount to at least £10,000 a year," but they discountenance 
 the idea of^djourning the a,ssizes to Manchester and Liverpool, and deem it to be 
 a measure fraught " with serious inconvenience and mischief." 
 
 The subject being thus brought under the consideration of the whole bench, it 
 became necessary to pronounce a decision upon it ; aiid in a report of the magistracy, 
 subsequently made, they negative the proposition in toto : first, because they agree 
 %vith the committee, that it would be attended with serious inconvenience and mis- 
 chief to adjourn the assizes to Manchester and Liverpool ; and second, because an 
 adjournment to Preston would only shorten the distance of travelling about twenty 
 miles, and is not estimated to save more than £10,000 a year — a consideration 
 which they do not think sufficiently powerful to justify the adjournment of the 
 assizes from the place where justice has been well administered for centuries past, 
 and which is entitled to have the assize held in it by the charters of many kings. 
 Liverpool took a strong interest hi this question, and at a public meeting of the 
 inhabitants, held on the 11th of Apiil, 1823, at which the mayor presided, it was 
 determmed to present a memorial to the lord liigh chancellor, the chancellor of the 
 duchy of Lancaster, and the Right Hon. Robert Peel, secretary of state for the home 
 department, urging the measure upon their consideration. To tliis memorial an 
 answer was returned by Mr. Secretary Peel, on the 3d of March, 1824, to the effect 
 " That the memorial relative to an adjournment of the assizes to the towns of Liver- 
 pool and Manchester, or the neighbourhood thereof, having been fully considered, 
 and the arguments weighed in support of that measure, with those which have been 
 urged from several quarters against the proposed adjournments, he is dii-ected to
 
 224 €i)t ?l?i6toi-p of tf;e 
 
 CHAP, acquaint the memorialists, that the pailies memorialized are of opinion that it is not 
 
 ^^" expedient for the government to take measures for adjouining the assizes from the 
 
 town of Lancaster, at wliich they have been liolden for a long series of years." 
 
 Subsequent efforts have been made for the attainment of this object, but hithei'to with 
 
 no better success. 
 
 On tliis subject, the commissioners appointed by liis majesty to inquu-e into the 
 practice and proceedings of the supreme courts of law, in their report made to the 
 king on the 18tli of February, 1829, say — " Tlie increased population of the county 
 of Lancaster, amoimting to more than one mUHou of inhabitants, has augmented the 
 business of that county to such a degi'ee as to render a subdivision of it necessary. 
 Accordingly, a regulation has been found expedient, and has beeu established for 
 many years past, under the authority of the judges on that circuit, by wliich the 
 causes are divided into three separate lists, appropriated to three different portions 
 of the county, viz.: 
 
 " L Tlie three northern hundreds of Lonsdale, Amouuderness, and Blackburn. 
 
 " IL The bundled of West Derby, including the town of Liverpool and the 
 hundi-ed of Leyland. 
 
 " III. Salford hundred, including Manchester. 
 
 " The causes entered for trial were as follows, viz.: 
 
 Last fourteen Ciicuits. Last seven Circuits. 
 
 1st List . . 
 
 . 377 
 
 average 
 
 27 
 
 1st List . . 
 
 . 227 
 
 average 
 
 32 
 
 2d . . . 
 
 . 919 
 
 • • ■ 
 
 65|- 
 
 2d . . . 
 
 . 573 
 
 . 
 
 82 
 
 3d . . . 
 
 . 807 
 
 . . . 
 
 57i 
 
 3d . . . 
 
 . 491 
 
 . . . 
 
 70 
 
 150 184 
 
 " Hence it is evident, that the entry of causes is on the increase; and that the 
 number for Manchester and Salford may be taken at 65 at the least. The distances 
 of the hundreds of West Derby and Salford fi-om Lancaster have been found incon- 
 venient in the highest degree, not only on account of the actual nmnber of miles from 
 Livei-pool and Manchester, and other populous towns of Lancaster, but from the 
 incommodious approach to that place by the road to the north of Preston. The 
 population of Liverpool and West Derby hundred, which amounts to more than 
 270,000 inhabitants, and, with the hundred of Leyland, to more than 300,000, and 
 that of Manchester and Salford huncked, which also amounts to more than the latter 
 number, makes it not only expecUent but just, towards those places, that separate 
 assizes should be held mthin them."
 
 enor 
 courts. 
 
 CoiintL) pnlntinr of aanradtn*. 225 
 
 To promote this act of justice, it is proposed by the commissioners, that Manchester, chap. 
 
 •\vith the rest of the huudi-ed of Salford, should be comprehended within an additional 1_ 
 
 ciiTuit proposed to be established, to comprehend Staffordshire and Salop, the two 
 north Welsh (Ushicts, the district of Chester, including Flintshire and the western 
 part of Denbighsliire. But this scheme, wliich involves a strange subchvision of 
 counties, only cures half the alleged evil, and leaves Liverpool, with the other parts 
 of West Derby, and tlie whole of Leyland, subject to " the unjust degi'ee of 
 inconvenience." 
 
 The Courts of Inferior Jurisdiction, 
 
 are either Courts, which, upon recording their judgment, can award that tlie party infi 
 condemned shall be fined, or imprisoned, or they are Courts not of record, and, 
 consequently, not possessing the power to make such an award. Of the fonuer class, 
 some are more conversant in matters of criminal, and others of ci^-il nature. The 
 Criminal Courts of Record are — the General Sessions, held, annually and quarterly. Sessions, 
 before the justices of the peace for the county. The Annual Sessions are held in 
 July, at Preston, and afterwards, by various adjournments, until the numerous 
 county affairs, placed, by various statutes, under the peculiar cognizance of this court, 
 are transacted. These ai'e annually accumulating; and the matters of county finance 
 have now become so much the objects of magisterial care and public interest, that its 
 sittings bear no very cUstant resemblance to those of parliament. 
 
 The General Quarter Sessions 
 
 are now held, according to statute, the first week after the 11th of October; the first i AViiiiam 
 week after the 20th of December; the first week after the 31st of March; and the 
 first week after the 24th of June, in each year. The multifarious matters under the 
 cognizance of this court are too well known to requii'e enumeration. A very consi- 
 derable number of barristers attend the last adjournments ; and many judicious 
 an-angemeuts have been made, which evince the anxious desire of the magistrates 
 to reduce, as much as possible, the time consimied, and the enonnous sums annually 
 expended, in the prosecution of offenders. The bench have the power, and, in some 
 cases exercise it, to effect a further saving of both, by (Uvidiug the sessions, and 
 trying indictments and appeals in different courts at the same time ; wliich, especially 
 in parish matters, would be a gi-eat public advantage. 
 
 Similar sessions are held in the boroughs of Lancaster, Preston, Clitheroe, Boroush 
 Wigan, and Livei-pool, before the local magistrates, agi-eeably to the respective 
 vol. I. 2 G
 
 220 mn ?i)i£itorj) of tin 
 
 CHAP, cliarters, or to inuuemorial prescription, wliicli presupposes sucli a charter anciently 
 
 ' granted, and now lost or decayed. 
 Coroner's Another court of record of criminal judicature, is the coroner's court, rapidly 
 
 assembled on the discovery of any dead body, and composed of the officer, and a jury 
 selected by the constables of the four townships next adjoining to that spot on Avhich 
 the corpse was first found. The name of the officer is supposed to be derived from 
 the circumstance of Ms examination of the witnesses, and pronouncing of sentence, 
 being in a ring or cii'cle of people assembled round the deceased, or in corona populi. 
 He is elected by the freeholders, upon a Avrit requiring the sheriff to hold a county 
 court for the election, and returned into chancery. In this county there are six 
 coroners, each of Avhom has full power to act through Lancashire; but the exercise of 
 such power is limited, by private agreement, and for mutual convenience, to the 
 hundred or neighboui'hood of theii* respective residence. The coroner is bound by 
 law to discharge his office in person, to come Avhen sent for, and to view the body in 
 the presence of the jury; and if the coi-pse cainiot be found, no inquest can be held. 
 He must also inquire of every death in prison, whether naturally or by misfortune. 
 There are other duties attached to the office, such as the execution of process wliere 
 the sherifT is party, or in contempt; the taking and entering of appeals of murder, 
 rape, and robbery, &;c.; the judgment on the writs of outlawry; the inquests of 
 ■WTeck, and treasui'e-trove ; and others of less frequent occurrence, and less public 
 concernment, than its ordinary painful and unpleasant task : the office is of high 
 antiquity, and great public utility, when executed according to the spirit, and for the 
 end, of its original institution. The principal officers of the corporate boroughs are 
 usually coroners within the precincts of their jurisdiction. The coroner is a conser- 
 vator of the peace, at common law, virtute ojficii. 
 Courts The remaining court of record, for the punishment of offences, is the Leet. 
 
 Formerly the sheriff perambulated the county, and held his criminal court in every 
 hundred. This was called the Torn, or Towrn; but A\]ieu the delay, inconvenience, 
 and expense of that officer " taking a turu" tlu'ough so extensive a (hstrict became 
 manifest, this court was made stationary in every hundi-ed, and was held, as at present, 
 before the steward of the hundred. 
 Ancient A singiilar instance occurs, as early as the time of Edward H., of the exactions to 
 
 ment wliicli the inhabitants of Lancashire were subjected, h\ the itmerant visits of some of 
 
 the high tlie ostentatious sheriffs in their periodical towrns through the county ; but to tliese 
 grievances they cUd not tamely submit, as appears from an ancient indictment pre- 
 sented by the grand juiy, of which the following is a translation :* — 
 
 * Rot. plac. coram R. 17 Edw. 11. m. 72. 
 
 sheriir.
 
 CountP |3alatinc of Snnrastcr* 227 
 
 ( The Grand Jury of the Wapentake of West Derby present chap. 
 " LANCASTER ' . -^ ^ ,v 
 
 * i tliat ' Willielinus le Gent'd,' at the time when he was sheriff, " 
 
 and when he hekl his Towrn in the said Wajn'iitake, ought to have remained no 
 
 longer in the Wapentake tlian three nights with tlu-ee or four horses, Avhereas he 
 
 remained there at least nine days with eight liorses, to tlie oj^pression of the people ; 
 
 and that he quartered himself one night at the house of ' Dns de Turbat,' and 
 
 another night at the house of one ' Bobeiius de Bold,'' auotlier at the house of 
 
 ' Rohcrtus de Grenlmj,' and elsewliere, according to his wUl, at tlie cost of the men 
 
 of the Wapentake." 
 
 For tliis offence, and for another of a more extraordinary kind, which will be 
 exliibited in the parliamentary history of the county, the sheriff was placed in duress ; 
 but the record goes on to say, that " the said ' Willielinus GentiV is enlarged upon 
 the manucaption of four manucaptors." ' 
 
 At the period when the comes or earls divested themselves of the charge of the 
 counties that duly devolved upon the sheriffs, as the name shire-reeve, or bailiff of the 
 shii'e, unports ; and, ui like manner, when tlie Inindredors ceased to govern the 
 divisions styled humh-eds, their office was sujiplied by the steward, i.e. stede-ward, 
 or governor of the place. This officer is one of those conservators of the peace who 
 still remain sucli by virtue of his office. The six hundreds in Lancashire, viz. 
 Lonsdale, Amounderness, Blackburn, Leyland, West Derby, and Salford, were 
 anciently styled shires. Thus Leland, temp: Henry VIII. speaks of Manchester 
 standing in Salfordslm-e ; and, in common with all the hundreds north of the Trent, 
 they bear the synonymous name of wapentakes, from the ancient custom of the heads 
 of families assembling armed, upon the summons of the hunch-edor, and touching his 
 weapon, to testify their fealty. In many parts of this county, lands and manors are 
 held by suit to the hundred leet, of which ser\'ice this was probably the sign and 
 symbol, and such are called humh-ed lands. The leet must be held at least twice in 
 every year, and within a month of Easter and Michaelmas, respectively. It is held 
 before the steward of the hundred, or his deputy, and a jury impannelled by him. 
 The amercements are limited only by the assessment of at least two men, accordino- 
 to the measure of the fault, agi-eeably to a provision of magna cliarta. Anterior to 
 the statues which have given to the sessions concurrent jurisdiction, its duties 
 embraced every offence, from eaves-dropping and vagrancy, to higli treason ; but, 
 although contrary to several very learned chcta, every statute affecting it has pre- 
 served, and none has dhninished, its powers, Avhich are seldom called into exercise, 
 except to abate nuisances, punish deficient measures, and appoint the high and petty 
 constables, and other municipal officers. Its proceecHngs have two singular diarac- 
 teristics — the entire absence of fees and lawyers. The increase of population, and the 
 
 2g2
 
 request. 
 
 228 m)t %mtOV]y of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, influence of feudal lords, gave rise to manorial leets, which were jn-anted, to obviate tlie 
 
 VI. . o J 
 
 '. necessity of tlie tenants of a particular manor being obliged to attend tlie torn, or 
 
 general leet of the hundred, before the stewai'ds of the several lords of manors, or their 
 deputies ; and, by custom, the leets of several manors may be held at once in some 
 certain place within one of the manors. 
 
 The Inferior Courts of Record of Civil Judicature, 
 
 Boroiigii are, 1st, the Courts of Boroughs, usually held before the princii^al corporate officer, 
 
 and the recorder or steward, and having jurisdiction, in personal actions, to an 
 
 unlimited amount. 8uch is the Court of Passage at Liverpool, the Borough Court of 
 
 Preston, and others, as numerous and as various as tlie respective charters or pre- 
 
 Piedpoii- scriptions. 2nd, The Piedpoudrc Court is a court of Record, having unlimited 
 
 (he court. ..... .. .. ... ».,^ 
 
 jurisdiction over all contracts arising witluii a lair, before the lord or owner, or lus 
 stewai'd or clerk of the fair. It was the lowest and most speedy court in the realm, 
 except one now extinct, called the Court of Trail-baton, Avliere the judge Avas bound 
 to decide whilst the bailiff drew his staff, or trailed his baton, round the room. 3rd, 
 
 Courts of Almost equal to these, in the raj)id admhiistration of justice, are the Courts of 
 Request, which the legislature has, at various periods, established in Liverjjool, 
 Manchester, Ashton-under-Line, and Poulton in the Fylde. Under various regu- 
 lations, and chiefly before a certain number of commissioners, assembling by rota- 
 tion, they determine, in a summary manner, at a small expense, and without lawyers, 
 such matters as are allowed by their respective statutes, under forty slulUngs, or five 
 pounds. 
 
 The Inferior Courts, not of Record, 
 are all calculated for the redress of civil, and not of criminal, injuries. It has been 
 seen that the sheriff had a court leet called tlie torn, Avliich was the criminal court of 
 the county ; he had also his court baron or civil court, Avhich formerly tra\ elled round 
 the county, in the same manner as the torn. The same complaint of expense, delay, 
 
 County and inconvenience, attended this rotary process ; and long before the torn was localized 
 in the hundreds, the eonntij court, or sheriffs court, became stationary in the county 
 town, and its jurisdiction Avas limited to those suits in which the parties dwelt in 
 several hundi'eds. In l)oth hundred and county courts, matters to any amount were 
 originally determined, until the statute of Gloucester directed that no suits should be 
 commenced without the king's writ, unless the cause of action did not exceed 40s. 
 Since that time, a device has been adopted, to give the county court jurisdiction in 
 matters above 40.s. without breach of this statute. A plaintiff sues forth out of 
 chancery aAmt, alleging that he is clamorous for defect of right, before the Mng, and 
 commanding the sherifT to do hun justice. This is held to be in the nature of a 
 
 court.
 
 Count}) |9alntinf of laufasiten 229 
 
 commission to the sheriff to try the cause in the county court, and the defendant is i;hai'. 
 
 summoned to answer the coniphiint before the sheriff, by virtue of his majesty's '. — 
 
 writ of justicias. The jurisdiction under this commission is unhmited in amount, 
 except by the faciHty of removing the suit by merely lodging a writ, Avithout security 
 that it shall be proceeded in, when the suit is for £10 or upwards; Avliich vii-tually 
 limits the county court to that sum. It has also unlimited juristhction in replevins 
 of property unlawfully lUstrained, subject to the like removal. The Lancasliire county 
 court, so far as relates to the recovery of small demands, ju'obably possesses gi'eater 
 practice and efficiency than any other similar' court ; owing to an act of parliament,* 
 (peculiar to the county palatine of Lancaster) prohibiting the removal of causes 
 mthout bail, where the debt or damage is under £10, and to the excellent rules of 
 practice since introduced, in conjunction vniii the cu'ciunstance that process may be 
 issued at Preston, from the chancery of the duchy, at a much smaller expense, and 
 more speedily, than it can be in orcUnary cases, where it must be had from the high 
 court of chancery. Very much delay (incident to proceedings in county courts in 
 general) is likewise obviated in this court, by entries being permitted to be made at 
 the sheriff's office in the intervals between the regular monthly court days, as if they 
 had been entered at the previous court day. Accorthng to umnemorial usage, the 
 court has been held every Tuesday month, at Preston, but latterly, in addition to this, 
 it has regularly adjourned its monthly sittuigs from thence to Manchester, on the 
 Thursday following, in order to obviate the expense and loss of time incurred, 
 through so many witnesses having to travel from that populous chstrict as far as to 
 Preston. Of late years too, the sheriff has retained a barrister, to preside in the court, 
 in which the number of actions commenced may be stated at from 4 to 5,000 annually: 
 from 1 to 2,000 being for sums under 40s., but the greater proj)ortion being for sums 
 above that amount. 
 
 The Hundred Courts 
 have concurrent jurisdiction with the county court in certain personal actions under Humhed 
 40s. in value, and are held from three weeks to three weeks, before the steAvard of 
 the hundi'ed, or his deputy, and a jury, within the respective jurisdictions. One of the 
 deputy stewards of Salford huntked is a barrister, James Norris, Es(|. of Manchester, 
 Avho has presided for above twenty years. No suit can be removed by the del'endant, 
 before judgment, without bad, to the satisfaction of the court ; nor by the losing party, 
 after judgment, without similar security in double the amount of the judgment. 
 
 There is in tliis county, one Honor or Superior Manor, having numerous 
 dependent manors under it. It is the Honor of CUtheroe, the jurisdiction of which ho 
 is very extensive. It has courts in the nature of courts leet, at which the lords of the 
 
 ■• 35 Geo. III. 
 
 ionor 
 courts.
 
 230 €i)t 5;>t6tori) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, iuferior manors owe suit; and others in the nature of copyhokl courts, for the 
 ^^' admittance of tenants hy copy of court roll, under the various forfeited manors within 
 the honor. 
 
 Manor Thcrc are also numerous other Manors in various parts of the county ; some 
 
 of which have copyhold courts, and others only courts haron for the reckess of the 
 tenants' grievances; some have courts leet, and some kw courts for the recovery of 
 debts and damages under 40s. held according to their- various local customs. 
 
 It has been comjjlained of as a defect of the superior courts, that their sittings 
 and offices are at too great a (hstauce fi'om the centre of business, and the mass of 
 the population. The evil of the inferior judicatures of a civil nature is, that, owing 
 to the restrictions upon the amount of the sums sought to be recovered, and the 
 diminished value of money, the time of respectable juries, and professional men, are 
 wasted upon trifling suits, wheu they might be advantageously applied to ease the 
 superior courts of those matters whicli are too small to deserve their cognizance, and 
 yet too gi'eat to pass remediless, save at the risk and ruin of individuals. Several 
 unsuccessful attempts have been made to remedy both these grievances. Tlie 
 answer to such has been, that it is dangerous to render more easy, cheap, and speedy 
 the administration of justice, lest the people should contract a love of litigation, 
 which would injure them more than the delay or denial of retbess. 
 
 I^ccortis of tlje Couutp i^alattue* 
 
 I'uiiiic The principal public records, connected Anth the jurisprudence of the county 
 
 of the palatine of Lancaster, may be classed under tln-ee heads : 1 st. Those in the depart- 
 ment of the deputy clerk of the crown at Lancaster. 2d. Those in tlie department 
 of the prothonotary of his majesty's coiu't of common pleas for the county of Lan- 
 caster; and, 3d. Those in the department of the register of the court of chancery 
 of Lancashire. Soon after the appointment by his majesty of the commissioners of 
 puljlic records, issued in virtue of a recommendatio)i of the two houses of parliament, 
 in the year 1800, the commissioners instituted inquiries into the nature of these 
 records, and the places of theii" deposit; and from the answers retui'ued to those 
 inquiries it appears — 
 In the First, That the public records, rolls, instruments, and manuscript books and 
 
 the clerk papers, iu the custody of the clerk of the crown for the county palatine of Lancaster, 
 consist of instruments and other criminal proceethngs in the crown office for the 
 county palatine ; the records of such instruments and proceedings, and different books 
 of entries, though not very numerous, are supposed to he all that have been pre- 
 served. These records (except the jn-oceedings at two or three preceding assizes, 
 
 of the 
 crown
 
 Countp ^alatiiif of itancn^ter. 231 
 
 wbicli are kept in the office of the deputy clerk of the crown in Preston) are chap. 
 deposited in the new office or room that has been filted up in Lancaster castle, lor '' 
 the reception of these and other records of the county ; Lancaster castle beino- sup- 
 posed to be the property of the crown, in riglit of the duchy of Lancaster. For 
 eighty or ninety years past, the indictments, &c. are so far arranged, that any pro- 
 ceeding inquired for, may be easily referred to ; antecedent to that period, such as 
 have been preserved are promiscuously placed together in no regular order, but are 
 in tolerable preservation. All tlie proceecUngs at each assizes, within the period first 
 mentioned, ai-e entered or docketed in books, by referring to which, the proceetUnn-s 
 in each prosecution may be known ; but there are no other indexes or cataloo-ues, 
 except that, upon some of the older rolls, the contents are endorsed. All searches 
 are made by or in the presence of the deputy clerk of the crown, or liis confidential 
 clerks, who are employed in the custody and arrangements of the records, and give 
 attendance as occasion may requii-e, without any remuneration from the public. 
 Office copies of records are charged after the rate of eight-pence for each sheet, 
 consisting of seventy-two words, and the usual fee upon a search is 6s. 8d. and the 
 deputy clerk of the croA\-n charges for attending at Lancaster during the assizes, 
 with a record, a guinea. The searches in this office are very rare, and, of course, 
 the fees upon them very inconsiderable. 
 
 Second. The public records, rolls, instruments, and manuscript books and of the 
 papers, in the custody of the deputy prothouotary of the court of common pleas, in faiyl'""°" 
 and for the county palatine of Lancaster, consist of fines and recoveries, records, 
 writs, minutes, papers, and proceedings in real, personal, and mixed actions, insti- 
 tuted in tliis court along with some few enrolments of deeds; and they are supposed 
 to be the whole of tlie records or papers relating to tliis court since its creation. 
 Tliese records and other documents, for a period of upwards of fiftv vears, are 
 lodged at the office of the deputy prothouotary, which (with 'i-ie other principal law 
 officers of this county palatine) is held at Preston, on account of its central situation. 
 All the early records and documents are now lodged in an ancient tower or chamber 
 within the castle of Lancaster, which has been very commodiously fitted up for their 
 reception, at the expense of the county. The records and other dociunents are 
 methocUcaUy arranged in separate compartments, accordhig to theii- dates, and are in 
 general in very good preservation. There are docket rolls, or indexes, to all the 
 records, containing the names of the parties to the fines, recoveries, and suits 
 recorded at each assizes. As the records of tliis court are kept at a distance of 
 twenty-two miles from the office, a person is appointed at Lancaster by the deputy 
 prothouotary, vulgarly called citstos rotulorum, avIio is entrusted with the care of the 
 records, &c. whose duty it is to attend every search, and to take care that everj
 
 232 Cftr Snsitor)) of tOe 
 
 CHAP, record he duly and safely restored to its proper place, for which a fee of one shilling 
 ' is due for each king's reign into wliich a searcli is made, hesides a salary of three 
 guineas, payable by the deputy prothonotary. But all searches are made by or in 
 the presence of the deputy prothonotary, or liis confidential clerks, who are employed 
 in the custody and arrangement of the records, and give attendance as occasion 
 requires, without any salary paid by the public in respect of such custody. Accord- 
 ing to the table of fees payable to the prothonotary, 6s. 8d. is paid on a seai'ch for 
 each reign, and to the cust. rot. one sliilling. For an office copy for each sheet of 
 seventy-two words, and duty, one sliilling ; and for a certificate of a copy, if required, 
 3s. 6d. Searches among the records kept at Lancaster are usually made dining 
 the time of the assizes, when the prothonotary's office is held at Lancaster ; but 
 when a search is required at any other time, the deputy prothonotary charges a 
 reasonable extra sum for his journey and expenses. If a record is to be produced 
 in the court at Lancaster, tlie deputy prothonotary, or his clerk, attends upon a 
 subpoena, and charges a guinea for each attendance. If any proceeding is to ])e pro- 
 duced elsewliere, he diarges a reasonable sum for his journey and attendance, accord- 
 ing to cii-cumstances. The nett annual amount to the protlionotary's office of these fees, 
 upon an average of years, after deducting the salary, &c. of the custos rotulorum, 
 was stated in 1800 not to exceed £10, wliich siun, it is added, is barely equal to the 
 rent of the rooms occupied by the records and public papers of the office at Preston.* 
 Of the re- Third. The public records, &c. in the custody of the register of the court of chan- 
 tile''^chan- ccij of the couuty palatine of Lancaster, consist of bills, answers, and otlier pleadings, 
 cou'nt^ pa- depositions, order-books, decrees, decree-books, and otiier books for entries in causes, 
 latine. ^^^ j ^^j^^^, yj^ttcrs instituted in that court ; and ai-e supposed to be the whole of the records 
 or papers that have been preserved since its creation. These documents, anterior to the 
 year 1 740, were kept in a room or chamber in the castle of Lancaster ; such as ai"e 
 subsequent to that period are at the office of the deputy register in Preston, which is 
 the private property of the deputy-register. The old records are deposited in an 
 office fitted up in the early part of the present century in Lancaster castle for their 
 reception, at the expense of the county. The bills, answers, and depositions, cSic. are 
 upon different files, mth the respective years in which they are filed marked upon 
 labels affixed to them; but neither these, nor the other books or proceedings, appear 
 ever to have been well aiTanged ; many of them are much defaced, and almost, if not 
 wholly, unintelligible. The bUls, answers, depositions, &c. have usually been 
 indexed (or entered in a pye-book) when brought to tlie register's office to be filed : 
 there are no indexes of the other proceedings, and many of the indexes first 
 
 * Return made by William Cross, Esq. deputy prothonotary to the commissioners of Public 
 Records.
 
 Counti) ^3alatine of 5i.anrn£(tn% 
 
 233 
 
 mentioned have been lost, and the reniamdor arc not accurate. Various circuni- chap. 
 
 VI 
 
 stances have caused these records or papers to be at different times removed. All L. 
 
 searches in tliis office are made by, or in the presence of, the deputy register, or his Records, 
 confidential clerks, who are employed in the custody and arrangement of the records, 
 and give attendance as occasion requu-es, without any salaries or emoluments paid by 
 the public. The charge for copies of proceecUngs in this office is fourpencc for each 
 sheet, consisting of seventy-eight words ; and the usual fee for a search is 6s. 8d. ; 
 should a search be required at Lancaster, the deputy register charges a reasonable 
 extra sum for his journey and expenses. But owing to the ii-regodai' state of the 
 records, few searches are made. 
 
 The places of dejjosit of the records of the county palatine may be summarily 
 stated as follows : — 
 
 Records and other Instruments. 
 
 Date. 
 
 Where kept. 
 
 County Palatine of Lancaster. 
 Chancery : 
 
 Bills, Pleadings, Depositions, Orders, and C 
 Decrees i 
 
 1740 to 1800. Dates 
 wanting before 1740; 
 1135 to 1558. 
 
 Register of the County 
 Palatine Duchy Office. 
 
 Charters and grants of various kinds . . . 
 Common Pleas : 
 
 1136 to 1558. . . 
 
 
 Fines and Recoveries, Writs, Minutes, Pro- 
 ceedings in Actions, and Inrolment of 
 Deeds 
 
 Geo. Ill 
 
 Dates wanting . . . 
 
 Prothonotary's Office, at 
 Preston. 
 
 The Records before his present Majesty's Reign 
 Pleas of the Crown : 
 
 ) 
 
 Indictments and other Criminal proceedings, 
 and Books of Entries 
 
 About 50 years before 
 
 y Castle, Lancaster. 
 ) 
 
 Collectanea relating to the History and Antiqui- 
 ties thereof, made by the three Holmes . . 
 Collection of Names of the King's Castles, Man- 
 
 1800 
 
 British Museum. 
 
 sions, Parks, Forests, Chases, &c. within the 
 
 
 
 survey of the Duchy of Lancaster .... 
 Iter Forestae 
 
 8 Edward III. . . . 
 15 Edward III. . . 
 26 Henry VIII. . . 
 
 University Library, Carab. 
 Lincoln's Inn Library. 
 King's Rememb. Office. 
 First Fruit's Office. 
 
 Nona Roll 
 
 Ecclesiastical Survey (a copy) 
 
 Survey of Estates therein not granted in Fee 
 
 Farm 
 
 1629 
 
 Temp. Interregni. 
 
 University Library, Camb 
 
 Catalogue of Charters throughout England and 
 Wales 
 
 Fee Farm, Rolis of 
 
 Augmentation Office. 
 
 VOL. 1. 
 
 2h
 
 CHAP 
 VI. 
 
 of the ec 
 clesiasti- 
 cal courts. 
 
 234 Cfte ?)i^tor)) of tl)t 
 
 The arcliives of tlie ecclesiastical courts, so far as they concern the county of 
 Lancaster, are to he fountl at LicMekl, from the earliest period of their preservation 
 Archives up to the year 1590, in the custody of the registrar of the diocese of Liclifield and 
 Coventry; and since that period, in the custody of the deputy registrar of the diocese 
 of Chester ; the deputy registrar of the consistory court of the archdeaconry of Rich- 
 mond; and the deputy registrar of the five several deaneries of Amoundeniess, 
 Copeland, Lonsdale, Kendal, and Furness. These depositories may be classed 
 under four heads : — 
 In the First. There are in the custody of the registrar of the diocese of Lichfield and 
 
 Lkhfieid!*^ Coventry, in right of the hishop's see, original manuscripts, or episcopal registers, or 
 acts, of the bishops of Lichfield and Coventry, from the year 1298, except that there 
 are some chasms in several of the bishops' tunes. These registers contain acts on 
 institutions of rectors and vicars, and some entries of appropriations of rectories and 
 endowments of vicarages in the diocese. There ai'e also books of the judicial 
 proceedings in causes in the court, from about the year 1450. Original Avills, and 
 ffrants of letters of administration, from 1526 to 1590, when the ecclesiastical 
 arclrives belonging to the diocese of Chester ceased to be kept at Lichfield. 
 In the re- Second. There are deposited in the public episcopal registry at Chester, in 
 ('hSe°. which diocese the county of Lancaster is situated, original wills or copies thereof 
 proved there, from the year 1590 to the present time, and bonds given by persons 
 administering to the effects of persons dying intestate. Sundry pleadings and pro- 
 ceedings exhibited in causes in the consistory court of Chester, and books of the acts 
 in the same causes. Nine folio volumes, commencing in the year 1525, containing 
 entries of sentences of consecrations, of churches, chapels, and burial grounds, in the 
 diocese, faculties for rebuilding and improving churches, chapels, and parsonage- 
 houses, confirmation of seats, and other ecclesiastical commissions and faculties. 
 Proceedings on the installations of bishops, patents of the officers of the vicar 
 general, and official principal commissaries; rural deans, registrars, proctors, and 
 apparitors. Three books, commencing in 1500, containing entries of presentations 
 or institutions to ecclesiastical benefices within the (hocese. Four books, com- 
 mencing in 1752, containing entries of institutions, licenses to curacies, orduiations, 
 and other episcopal acts. Several books of subscriptions to the liturgy, and the 
 articles of the church of England, by persons ordained, and clergymen admitted to 
 benefices or cures. A volume usually called Bridgman''s Ledger, having been 
 chiefly collected by Dr. John Bridgman, who was appointed bishop of Chester in 
 1619, containing copies of various appropriations, endowments, compositions, grants, 
 agreements, leases, charters, orders by the crown, rentals of synodals, procurations, 
 pensions, tenths, and subsidies ; patents and statutes of grammar schools. A volume
 
 Count|) ^3alatinc of ?tanra£iUr» 235 
 
 usually called GastreWs Notitia, being conipUed by Dr. Francis Gastrell, elected chap. 
 
 lord bishop of Chester, in 1714, containing an account of the then population of '. — 
 
 each parish, number of families, Catholics, Dissenters, families of note, patrons, 
 wardens, schools, endowments, charities, and several other particulars of each pai-ish 
 and chapeli-y in the diocese; entries of licenses of mai-riagc; probates of wills, and 
 letters of administration ; names of the clergy ; church and chapel wardens ; account 
 of exhibits at episcopal visitations, and correction books ; original presentation to 
 benefices, and nominations to curacies and schools, and terriers and parish and chapel 
 reoisters. There are two other registries in the archdeaconry of Riclunond, within 
 the diocese of Chester, at Lancaster and Richmond. All the foregoing records ai-e 
 deposited in the public episcopal registry in Chester, which is a stone building, 
 slated, and commocHously fitted up for the safcand convenient preservation of the 
 records and papers deposited therein. The records and papers are in general in 
 o-ood preservation, except the most ancient part; from time or inevitable accident, 
 They are in many parts imperfect before the year 1650, and for ten years follomng 
 quite deficient. From that period, the ^dlls, and most of the registries and entries, 
 are reo-ular and correct. There are complete indexes to the wills, registries, and 
 entries of institutions, from then- commencement, except in the parts before men- 
 tioned to be deficient. There are several manuscript volumes in the possession of 
 the bishop of the diocese, containing a particular account of the extent and popula- 
 tion of the diocese; number of Catholics and Dissenters, state of parsonage-houses, 
 residence of clergy, schools, charities, and several other particidars relative to the 
 diocese, being answers to queries addi-essed by different bishops to the clergy of the 
 diocese. The number of parishes in the diocese of Chester was, in the year 1800, 
 two hundi-ed and sixty-two. 
 
 Third. The records, instruments, and papers, in the custody of the deputy in the 
 registrar of the consistory court of the archdeaconry of Richmond, in the diocese of conry of 
 Chester, consist entii'ely of original wills; bonds talven upon the issuing of letters of 
 administration, tuition, and curation ; afiidavits and bonds relative to marriage 
 licences; proceedings in ecclesiastical suits; enrolments of faculties for pews and 
 galleries in churches and chapels; teniers and duplicates of parish registers; and 
 such other matters as relate to the oflice and juriscUction of the commissary of the 
 said archdeaconry of Richmond, but do not comprehend any record or instrument 
 of any other nature or description. From the most ancient of the said records, to 
 tlie year 17.50, they compromise the wills, administration and tuition bonds, which 
 have arisen from every part of the said archdeaconry of Richmond ; but since tliat 
 year, a division took place, and the wUls, and other papers and records not relating 
 to such business as is usually called contentions, arising ^vitliin the five deaneries of 
 
 2h 2 
 
 Rich-
 
 236 €ht f>MtOV}] Of tI)C 
 
 CHAP. Amoundeniess, Keiulal, Copeland, Lonsdale, and Furness, part of the said ardi- 
 
 '. deacouiy, are deposited in the parish chiu'ch of Lancaster, under the custody of 
 
 another officer there. From the most remote period, the dujjlicates of parish regis- 
 ters, teniers, and all other records, proceecUngs, and papers (except those of a con- 
 tentious natui-e, and the wills, &c. of the period first before mentioned) of the five 
 deaneries, are also deposited at Lancaster ; Avhilst all other wills, papers, and records, 
 arising within this archdeaconry, have continued to be deposited, and remain in the 
 registry of the consistory court at Richmond. The registry at Richmond is part of 
 the ancient chapel, called Trinity Chapel, in the centre of the market-i^lace of the 
 borough of Richmond, sufficiently large and commodious, and in most respects secure ; 
 but having sevei'al dwelling-houses and shops, wherein fires are du-ectly underneath, 
 as well as adjoining to it, it is in some measure exposed to danger. The state of 
 preservation of the records, &c. at Richmond, is in general very good, though some 
 few of the ancient wiUs have sufifered by the access of moisture in certain places, 
 particularly in the corners of the roof, which are now perfectly repaii-ed ; and all 
 increase of decay is prevented as much as possible. The wills are arranged alpha- 
 betically in biincUes of ten years each; the terriers and paiish registers in parcels, 
 according to the different parishes; and all the rest of the records, with sufficient 
 regularity to answer the purposes of those who require searches to be made. There 
 is no regular catalogue, schedule, or repertory of the records, nor any index, except 
 of the terriers and faculties, and of such of the avtUs and administrations as have 
 arisen mthin the present centmy, mthin the three deaneries of Riclmaond, Cat- 
 terick, and Boroughbridge, commonly called the three Yorkshire deaneries. 
 
 In the five FouRTH. The Original wills within the five deaneries of Amounderness, Cope- 
 deaneries. " 
 
 land, Lonsdale, Kendal, and Furness, within the archdeaconry of Riclunond in the 
 diocese of Chester, preserved and kept at Lancaster, proved and approved before the 
 worsliipful commissary (for the time being) of the said archdeaconry, or his sm-ro- 
 gates ; or before the vicai'-general, or his surrogates respectively, since the fii'st of 
 November, 1748, are registered, deposited, and kept in a convenient room, called 
 the registry of the east end, of and Avitliin the parish church of Lancaster ; where ai-e 
 also deposited all bonds taken on granting letters of administration, curation, tuition, 
 and marriage licenses, within these five deaneries. And in the same place are also 
 deposited and kept, copies of the parochial registers delivered in by the chmxh and 
 chapel Avardens, \Nitlun the five deaneries at each visitation. The register, or place of 
 deposit, is deemed very secure, and well accommodated for the keeping of the several 
 instruments. The several A\ills and instruments are well preserved, and the wills 
 and administration, curation, and tuition bonds, belonging to each of the said 
 deaneries, ai-e kept separate and apart from each other ; and those of each deanery
 
 Coiinti.) |[)alatinc of tanrasttr. 
 
 237 
 
 aiTanged annually, and also decennially, in alphabetical order. Tlie bonds ou 
 granting marriage licenses are arranged in numerical order. There are distinct 
 alphabetical books for each of the deaneries, called " Act Books," in each of wliich 
 are entered schedules containing a short entry of the probate of each will, and of 
 every administration, curation, and tuition, gi-anted within each of the deaneries 
 respectively ; to each of which act books is prefixed or amiesed an alphabetical index 
 of contents. 
 
 The following exhibits a condensed view of the places of deposit of the records, 
 and other instrimients, connected with the ecclesiastical affairs of the county of 
 Lancaster : — 
 
 CHAl>, 
 VI. 
 
 Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Records and other Instrmnents. 
 
 Diocese of Chester : 
 
 Installations of Bishops, Patents of Officers 
 
 &c 
 
 Terriers and Parish and Chapel Registers . 
 Presentation to Benefices, Nominations to 
 
 Curacies and Schools 
 
 Appropriations, Endowments, Compositions, 
 
 Grants, Agreements, Leases, Orders, &c. . 
 Licenses of Marriage, Probates of Wills, and 
 
 Letters of Administration 
 
 Proceedings in causes, and Books of Acts of 
 
 the Consistory Court 
 
 Presentations and Institutions to Ecclesiastical 
 
 Benefices 
 
 Consecrations of Churches, Chapels, &c. and 
 
 Faculties for rebuilding Churches . . . . 
 
 Original Wills, or Copies of 
 
 Population of Parishes, Account of ... . 
 Richmond Archdeaconry, Consistory Court : 
 
 Wills, Original 
 
 Bonds on granting Letters of Administration, 
 
 &c 
 
 Marriage Licenses and Affidavits thereon . . 
 
 Parochial Registers, copies of 
 
 Act Books, containing Entries of Probates 
 
 Proceedings in Suits 
 
 Inrolment of Faculties for Pews, &c. . . . 
 
 Terriers 
 
 Duplicates of Parish Registers 
 
 Date. 
 
 Where kept. 
 
 Bishop's Registry, 
 Chester. 
 
 Commencing 1500 . 
 
 ^^^■5") to the present 
 1590 
 
 1714 
 
 s 
 
 tmie 
 
 Consistory Registry 
 Richmond.
 
 238 
 
 €i)t lieitoiT? of tl)r 
 
 CHAP. 
 VI. 
 
 Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Records and other Instruments. 
 
 Wills, Original 
 
 Administration, Curation, and Tuition Bonds . 
 
 Act Books, containing Entries of Probates . . 
 The earliest date — 
 
 Chester 
 
 Lichfield and Coventry Diocese : 
 
 Ecclesiastical Survey 
 
 Terriers of Rectories and Vicarages .... 
 
 Registers, containing Institutions of Rectors 
 and Vicars, Appropriation of Rectories, and 
 Endowments of Vicarages 
 
 Judicial Proceedings in Causes .... 
 
 Wills and Grants 1 
 
 Administration, Letters of ^ 
 
 Licenses 
 
 Registers of Parishes 
 
 Date. 
 
 i 
 
 1748 to the present 
 time. 
 
 1500 . . . 
 26 Hen. VIIL 
 
 1298 to the present 
 time, with Chasms 
 
 1450- 
 15261 
 
 Where kept. 
 
 'topresenttime. 
 
 1660- 
 
 Commissary Registry, 
 Lancaster. 
 
 Registry, Chester. 
 First Fruit's Office. 
 
 Bishop's Registry, Lich- 
 field. 
 
 [A number of original documents Ulustrative of the liistory of the duchy and 
 county palatine of Lancaster, accompanied by a succinct unpublislied liistory of the 
 duchy, from the pen of Villiers, Lord Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, here 
 press for admission ; but as the supplemental collection is not yet complete, they 
 must be reserved for an Appendix.]
 
 Counti? |3alntmc of ilancaeittr. 
 
 243 
 
 €im. Fur. 
 
 The antiquity of the county. — The Earldom possessed by King John.— The crusades.— 
 Privileges granted to the honor of Lancaster in the articles of Magna Charta.— Ratification of 
 Magna Charta.— The Forest Laws.— Assize of the Forest at Lancaster.— King William's 
 letter.— Abolition of the ordeals of fire and water.— Grant of land between Mersey and 
 Ribble.— Origin of the representative system in England.— The Barons' Wars, and their effect on 
 the honors and inheritances of the house of Lancaster.— War with Wales.— Ancient Lancashire 
 wood-cutters.— First Military Summons extant addiessed to the sheriff of Lancashire.— Wages of 
 labourers, their uniform adaptation through successive ages to the price of grain.— Chronological 
 table of the standards of value for six centuries.— Coals first used for fuel.— Ancient loyalty loan.— 
 Summonses of military service .-Conquest of Wales. -Reference to Pope Nicholas' Valor.-Wars 
 with Scotland.— Lancashire newsmongers denounced.— Scotland conquered.— Renewed struggles 
 under William Wallace and Robert Bruce.— Large drain for men and money on Lancashire.— 
 Effectsof war.— Commission of Trailbaston.— Edward I. in Lancashire. -His death at Carlisle.— 
 Fresh wars.— Increase of crime and misery.— Adam de Banistre takes the field against the earl of 
 Lancaster.-Hisfate.-Renewedwars of the barons; headed by Thomas, earl of Lancaster.— 
 His fate.— Interest taken in Lancashire in the Barons' Wars.— Charge of aiding Thomas, earl of 
 Lancaster.— Edward II. dethroned.— Placed in the custody of the earl of Lancaster.— His cruel 
 death.— Tlie Testa de Nevill analyzed, so far as regards the landed possessions in the county of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 Error of 
 Selden. 
 
 ESUMING the chronological order of our Mstory chap 
 
 from the period at wliich it had arrived when we com 
 
 menced the history of the dukes and duchy of Lan- 
 caster, it is proper to correct an eiTor into wliich 
 the learned Selden has fallen, when he says, " That 
 Lancashire, till Henry III. created his youngest son 
 Ednnmd, Crookback, carl of it, (A.D. 1266,) I think 
 was no county ; for in one of our old year hooks a 
 learned judge* affirms that in tliis Henry's time 
 was the fii-st sheriff's turn held there." 
 
 That sheriffs were elected for this county upwards of a century before 
 Henry IH. ascended the throne of these realms, is already abundantly clear. In 
 the Domesday Survey of the date of 1086, the county of Lancaster, as we have 
 
 * Thorp, 17 Edward III. fol. 566.
 
 244 
 
 ClK 5)isitori) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 Early 
 mention of 
 Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 already seen, and as the ancient map of the county, now presented for the first 
 time, wUl make stUl more obvious, is surveyed as portions of the adjoining counties of 
 Yorksliire and Chesliii'e, but it is not named in that survey; and after a diligent 
 examination of the public records, the fii-st mention we find of the county is in 
 the Pipe Roll in the Exchequer office, seventy-eight yeai's after that survey was com- 
 pleted. The entry consists of a return made to the king's ti-easiuy by the sherifi", in 
 11 Hemy II. A. D. 1164, and the words of the record are these: — 
 
 LANCASTRE. 
 
 Gaufr de Valoniis redd Comp de firma de Lancast* de. cc.ti. 
 
 In th. lit5a\T[t in. ij. taft. Et Quiet^ est. 
 Id redd Comp de. lij. li. 7. xvj. s. 7. viij. d. de Ex^citu Walie, 
 
 In th. xxxiiij. ti. 7. iij. s. 7. iiij. d. 
 Et Inpdoii p l5r. R. x. Mil q fuerU in Ex'icitu cu Rege. 
 
 X. ill. Et Ric Pincne. viij. in. Et Henf de Laci. v. in, 
 Et deb. V. fii. Et Id redd Comp de Eod debito. 
 
 In th. xl. s. p. Coiii Hug p Ernaldo Rufo. Et deb. ij. rii. 
 
 The Pipe Rolls commence with 5 Stephen, and contaiu returns from a gi-eat 
 munber of the sheriffs of other counties, but tlie name of Lancashire does not occur 
 till eleven years afterwards, as will be seen from the foUo^nug enumeration of tlie first 
 nineteen returns : — 
 
 PIPE ROLLS ENTRIES. 
 
 5 Stephen. NU in Lancaster. 
 
 1 Henry 
 
 II. This Roll is missing. 
 
 2 . . . 
 
 Nil in Lancaster. 
 
 3 . . . 
 
 
 4 . . 
 
 
 5 . . 
 
 
 6 . . 
 
 
 7 . . 
 
 
 8 . . 
 
 This roll is missing. 
 
 9 . . 
 
 Nd in Lancaster. 
 
 10 . . 
 
 
 11 . . 
 
 Lancaster, Memb. 6. 
 
 12 . . 
 
 Lancaster, Memb. 1. 
 
 13 . . 
 
 Lancaster, Memb. 5. 
 
 In turgo
 
 Countj) ^3alatinr of ilanrasitn-. 245 
 
 14. . . Lancaster, Memb. 11. In turgo. chap. 
 
 15 . . . Lancaster, Memb. 9. ... 
 
 16 . . . Lancaster, Memb. .3. ... 
 
 17 . . . Lancaster, Memb. 2. ... 
 
 18 . . . Lancaster, Memb. 5. ... 
 
 It is tlius manifest tbat Seklen is in eiTor, in supposing that Lancashire 
 was " no county" till the time of Henry III. and that it had no sheriff till 
 1266, when Edmund Crouchback was created earl of Lancaster. The records in 
 the office of the duchy of Lancaster are stated by Mr. Harper to be of as early a 
 date as the first of Stephen, but those do not of course apply to the duchy, wliicli 
 was not created till more than one hundred years afterwards ; nor have we found 
 any traces of records so early in that depository, relating to the county of 
 Lancaster, as even the time of the second Henry. 
 
 In the Chapter House, at Westminster, there is amongst its immense circular 
 documental stories, a bag of Lancashire fines, marked " Lancastria," in which 
 several ancient deeds are deposited, of the date of 7 Richard I. relating to 
 ecclesiastical affairs, and one of which, on the advowson of the church of Kirkham, 
 in the hundred of Amounderness, and the archdeaconry of Riclmiond, will be intro- 
 duced in its proper place in these volumes. 
 
 In the reign of John, the men of Lancashire, complained that their privileges 
 Avere infringed by Theobald Walter, who had abridged their supply of fuel, and by 
 Roo-er Poer, who had deprived them of more than a huncb-ed acres of wood and 
 forest land, which they had been accustomed to enjoy as pasturage: — 
 
 " Lanc. ") Loquendmn cu Dno Rege de hoib} Land qui non possut ut dicut 
 John, j ftere lifetates suas sicut p illis hendis fine fccerut in Noi-mand 
 p Theobald Walteri, & de hoib3 de Sutton qui queruntur de Rogo le Poer qd cepit 
 ad se injuste post mortem Hero Rs patris plusqm lOO'"" acras tam de bosco 
 qfn de landa de Foresta Dfii Rs in quo bosco solvunt habere commune pastura." — 
 rot 1. Abbrev. Placit. p. 24. 
 
 The complaint of the men of Lancashire was made with peculiar propriety to The eaii- 
 king John, who, though he was suniamed Sansterre, possessed the earldom and honor of 
 honor of Lancaster, wliich were confeiTed upon him as an inheritance, wliile he was possessed ' 
 earl of Morton, by his brother Richard I. in the excess of liis bounty. The retm-n of Morton, 
 made by John was suitable to his character; when Richard was on his return from ^^a^ds 
 the Holy Land, where he had been vigorously engaged in the crusades, John con- ^ingJohn. 
 
 VOL. T. 2 I
 
 246 C()t SKSitOlT? Of n)t 
 
 CHAP. sj)ired with Pliilip, kiug of France, to deprive liiiu of liis throne, and thus to unite 
 
 VII 
 
 prematurely tlie honor of Lancaster with the croAvn of England. Tlie escape of 
 Richard from the Austrian prison in Avhich he had been immured, alarmed the con- 
 federated princes 5 but such was Ids indulgence toward his brother's faults, that, though 
 Pliilip apprised John of the king's escape in these expressive terms, " Take care of 
 yourself, the devil has broken loose," Richard was induced, on the mtercession of his 
 mother, queen Eleanor, to restore John to liis favour ^vith tliis mild rebuke — 
 " I forgive you ; and I hope I shall as speedily forget my injuries as you will my 
 pardon." 
 The The death of Richard soon after opened the way to the throne for John, who did 
 
 not hesitate to assume the possession by imbruing liis hands in the blood of liis nephew 
 Artliur. During the reign of Richard, the spuit of crusading had been at its height; 
 not only tlie flower of the most distinguished families in Lancashire, but in every part 
 of Cluistendom, embai-kedin these holy wars ^vith the utmost enthusiasm; and though 
 a few splinters from the wood of the real cross were purchased by the sacrifice of more 
 than 300,000 men, such was the excitation of the times, that a knight templai- seldom 
 failed to rank amongst the first of public benefactors. To these wars future ages are 
 indebted for the introduction of coats of amis, by wliich the incased knights were 
 distinguished on the plains of Palestine, and since which time illusti'ious families have 
 used them, to adorn their pedigrees.* 
 Privileges When the great bulwark of British freedom. Magna Charta, was wrested from 
 shire in kJ^g Jolm ou the field of RumijTnede, by the intrepid barons, special pri^oleges were 
 cies of gi'anted to the honor of Lancaster by name ; and it was provided in the articles 
 ChTte. appendent to that charter, that " if any one should hold any escheat as the honor of 
 Walingeford, Notiugeham, Bonon, and Lankastr', and of other escheats which are 
 in the king's hands, and are baronies, and he die, his heii* shall not give any other 
 relief, or perform any other service, to the king, than he should perfonn to the baron; 
 and that the king hold it in the same manner as the baron." The Charter of Forests 
 was scarcely less appreciated in Lancasliii-e than Magna Charta. The number and 
 extent of the forests in this county made the severity of the laws by which they were 
 protected oppressive in the extreme, (though the rigour of the laws had already been 
 relaxed in their favoui-,)f and the immunities conferred on the people by these memor- 
 able charters would have unmortalized the memory of the king, had they flowed 
 spontaneously from the royal bounty, instead of having been dictated by an imperious 
 necessity, over which he had no control. Extorted refonns produce weakness to 
 governments; voluntary ones, strength. This is a distinction which monaixhs should 
 never lose sight of, and which applies with equal force in all ages. 
 * Seep. 158. t See p. 240.
 
 Couiitp ^alatinr of ilanrasitfr* 247 
 
 The Forest Laws are of gi-eat antiquity in this country; they are of Saxon origin; chap 
 and, like the laws of Draco, they ai'e written in Wood. A charter of forests was 1 
 
 granted hy Canute, in the year 1016, called " Tlie Charter and Constitution of The forest 
 Forests," introduced hy tliis royal declaration : — " These are the Constitutions of 
 " the Forest, Avliich I Canute, king, Mith the adnce of my nol)les, do make and Canute's 
 " stablish, tliat both peace and justice may be done to all the churches of our king- 
 " dom of England, and that every offender may suffer according to his quality, and 
 " the manner of his offence." By this charter, four of the best freemen, (Poegened) 
 were appointed in every pronnce of the Idngdom, to distribute justice, called " The 
 Chief men of the Forest." There were placed, under each of these, four men of 
 middle sort, (LcspegendJ, to take upon themselves the care and charge by day, " as 
 well of the vert as of the venison."* Under each of these, two of the meaner sort of 
 men, Tinemen, were appointed to take care of the vert and the venison by night. 
 These officers were supported at the cost of the state, the first class receiving a 
 stipend of two hundred sliillings a year, the second of sixty, and the third of fifteen 
 each, with certain equipments and immunities. " Tlie chief men of the Forest" 
 were clothed with royal powers, in the administi'ation of the laws of the forest. If 
 any man offered violence to one of these chief men, if a fi-eeman, he was to lose liis 
 fi-eedom, and all that he had; and if a villain, liis right hand was to be cut off, for the 
 fii-st offence; for the second he suffered death, whether a fi-eeman or a slave. Offences 
 in the forest were punished according to the manner and quahty of the offender: any 
 freeman, either casually or wilfully chasing or hunting a beast of the forest, so that 
 by swiftness of the course the beast pant for breath, was to forfeit ten sliillings to the 
 king; if not a freeman, twenty; if a bondman, to lose his skin! If the beast chased 
 be a royal beast, (a staggon), and he shall pant and be out of breath, the fi-eeman to 
 lose his liberty for a year, the bondman for two years, and the villain to be outlawed. 
 A fi-eeman or a bondman killing any beast of the forest, to pay double its value for 
 the fii-st offence, the same for the second, and for the third to forfeit all that he 
 possesses. Bishops, abbots, and barons, not to be challenged for hunting in the 
 forests, except they kill royal beasts, and then to make restitution to the king. 
 Every freeman to be allowed to take his own vert, or venison, in the pm-Heus of the 
 forest, or when himting in liis own gi-ound, but he must refi-am from the king's vener}'. 
 Freemen only to keep the dogs called gi-eyhounds, and the knees of those dogs to 
 be cut before the chief men, unless they be removed, and kept ten nules from the 
 bounds, of the royal forest. Vellerons, or Langerans, small dogs, as Avell as Ram- 
 
 * The vert is the covert, the trees, and the herbage of the forest ; and, according to Sir Edward 
 Coke, whatever beast of the forest is for the food of man, is venison, and therewith agreeth Virgil, 
 describing a feast — " Implentur veteris Bacchi pinguisque ferinas." 
 
 2 i2
 
 248 Ci)c Instorp of tf)r 
 
 CHAP, hundt, might be kept without cutting their knees. If a dog became mad, and bit a 
 '__ beast of the forest, the owner was requii-ed to make a recompense according to the 
 
 the Cou 
 queror. 
 
 price of a freeman, that is, twelve times two hundred shillings; but if a royal beast 
 was bitten by a mad dog, then the owner was to answer as for the greatest offence in 
 the forest, namely, with his own life! Such substantially were the forest laws of 
 Canute the Dane. 
 No forest WiUiam the Norman, another royal Nimrod, did not relax the severity of these 
 
 committed laws; but, by afforestuig large tracts of land, very much extended the field of then- 
 shires"'" operation. Tliough the Conqueror displayed a large share of his sanguinary and 
 rapacious character in the north, there is no reason to suppose that he deprived any 
 man of Ins possessions, to enlarge the forests of Lancasliii-e. It is said of him, how- 
 ever, by Mapes, perhaps with some monkish exaggeration, that in afforesting the 
 New Forest, in Harapsliire, for the free enjoyment of the chase, " he took away 
 much land from God and man, and converted it to the use of wild beasts, and the 
 sport of his dogs, for which he demolished thirty-six churches, and extermmated the 
 Retribu- inhabitants."* The retribution which followed was speedy and signal; three of the 
 *"""■ iimnediate descendants of the gi-eat spoliator lost their lives while engaged in the 
 
 chase in tliis forest, amongst whom was William Rufus, who fell by the arrow of his 
 bow-bearer, Sii- Walter Tprell — 
 
 " He draws his bow with right good-will, 
 " The shaft, if it go true, must kill ; 
 
 " Back leaps the sounding string : 
 " Missed of the deer, the whistling reed, 
 " A nobler prey was doomed to bleed, 
 
 " No less than England's king." 
 
 Forest Richard I. was much addicted to the pleasures of the chase, and, as one of the 
 
 privileges ]j|gijggt favours he could bestow upon his brother John, earl of Morton, he gave bun, 
 
 and^free- ^^ """^ ^^^'^ ^^^1'°' ^^*^ ^^°'^*''^' °^ Lancaster, and the royal prerogatives of forest in this 
 
 holders of countv. Jolm, ha%-ing received so much from liis sovereign, felt disposed to allow the 
 
 shire. knights, thanes, and freeholders of the county of Lancaster to share in the royal 
 
 bounty; and for this purpose he gi-anted them a charter, whereby they and their 
 
 heirs, without challenge of him and his heirs, were allowed to fell, sell, and give, at 
 
 their will, thefr forest woods, without being subject to the forest regulations, 
 
 and to hunt and take hares, rabbits, and all kinds of ^vild beasts, except deer, 
 
 bisse (wild oxen), goats, and wild hogs, in all parts within his forests and demesne 
 
 hays of the county. 
 
 * Lib. de Script. Brit. 187. c. 159.
 
 Countj) palatine oC aaurasitn-, 249 
 
 Johes Comes Morton Justi? Vicecoib3 Battis Miuistris f omib} chap. 
 
 fidelib} f amicis suis Francis f Anglicis qui sunt f qui venturi L_ 
 
 LANCASTR' sunt sattm sciatis me concessisse f hac Carta mea confinnasse 
 
 omil)3 militis f omib3 thengis f omib} libe tenetib} qui manet in 
 
 foresta mea de Honore de Laucastf qd Possint nemora sua ppa 
 assartare vende f dare f in eis lierbergiare p voluntate sua sicut in feodo suo f de 
 eis suas voluntates face absq^ omn cahipnia mei vt fiedum nieor vt Ballior nieor 
 concessi et eis quietancia rewardi de Foresta pretea concessi eis canes suos f venatu 
 leporis f Vvlpis f ominii alia? bestiar (ptqm cervi f cerve f porci silvestf f 
 laye f capriot) per totam dcam forestam ext\ dnicas hayas meas Quare volo f finnit 
 pcipio qd omes p'dci milites tliengi et libe tenetes f ftedes sui post ipos omes 
 p> dcas lifetates heant de me f hered. meis fere f in pace Et pliibeo ne quis Ballior 
 meor vel aliq's alius eos inde desturbet Et p hac mea concessione dederut 
 Michi Quingentas libf ai'genti. 
 
 T. Rogo de plan Witto de Buchet, Rogo de novo Burgo Ingamo de 
 
 Praeles, Jolie de NevUl David Walens Magro P. do Littelbur 
 
 apud Saleford. 
 [Extract from the Rolls of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rot. f. 12.] 
 
 Tliis charter he confirmed to them in the fii-st year of his reign, before the celebrated carta de 
 " Carta de Foresta," for ameliorating the rigours of the forest laws, was sketched ; 
 and Ids successor, Hem-y III., confinned these franchises to the lieges of Lan- Rot. Par. 
 
 18 Edw 
 
 cashu-e four years after he had signed that charter. These gi'ants, so ratified and n. 17. 
 confirmed, were not sufficient to protect " the lieges" against the annoyance of the 
 royal foresters, and on the 18th of Edw. II. we find them presenting a petition to the 
 king, praying that they may enjoy their chartered privileges without molestation.* 
 
 * Ex Pet. in Pari. 18 Edward II. No. 17. 
 A.D. 1324 \ A n're Seigneur le Roi monstre ses liges de Counte de Lancaster, qe com le Roi 
 18 Ed II i Johan, tant com il estoit Conte de Moieton, par sa Chartre las graunta, qe eus e lour 
 
 heires, sans chalenge de luy e de ses heires, lour propres Boys poient assarter, vendre, e 
 Lancashire doner, a lour voluntez, e qe eus fuissent quitts de reward de Forest ; e ensement q 'il 
 
 puissent chaser e prendre Levre, e Gupyl, e chescune manere de beste de salvagine, 
 f'orpris Cerf, e Bisse, e Chevereil, e Pork salvage, tutes partes dedeinz sa Forest en le dit Counte, 
 de hors ses demeynes hayes. Et puys apres, mesmes cele chartre en le primer an de son regne 
 conferma. E ensement, le Roy Henry, 1' an de son regne trezisme, les dites Chartres recita e con- 
 firma. Dount il prient a nre Seigneur le Roi, q 'il luy pleise celes Chartres confermer, e commander 
 J) Bref a ces Ministres en celes parties, qe eus ne soient sur les ditz pointz grevez ne chalengez. 
 
 Responsio.] Veignent en Chauncellerie, & monstrent lur Chartres & les Confermements, et le 
 Roy se avisera. Coram Rege.
 
 250 Cf)c S^istorp of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. Tlie parks, forests, and chases* of Lancashire, in the time of the Edwards, 
 ;_ according to the records in the duchy office, were — 
 
 Wyresdale, Amoundemess, Fidlwood, Croxteth, 
 
 Lonsdale, Blesdale, Symoneswood, Toxteth; 
 
 Quernmore, Derbysliire, Lancaster, 
 
 and inchided in the general term of the Forest of Lancaster, were the forests of 
 Bowland, Blackbiu'nshii'e, Pendle, Trawden, Accrington, and Rossendale ; in a word, 
 the high region on the eastern side of the county, the successive possessions of the 
 houses of Lacy and of Lancaster. 
 
 Though the " Carta de Foresta" and the " Assiza et Consuetudines Forestae," of 
 Forest the 6th Edward I. had so far relaxed the rigour of the forest laws, as no longer 
 to allow the life of a man to he put on a level with the life of a stag, yet assizes 
 of forests were statedly held in this county, at wliich the Justices in Eyre north of 
 the Trent presided, and where offences committed against " the vert and the 
 venison" were visited with heavy penalties. 
 
 The first of these ancient coimnissions we find, is in the records of the duchy of 
 Lancaster, and the document, hitherto mipubUshed, is at once curious for its anti- 
 quity, and interesting for its details.f 
 
 FOREST ASSIZE HELD AT LANCASTER, 
 15 Edward I. a.d. 1286. 
 
 UNDER THE JURA REGALIA OF PRINCE EDMUND, EARL OF LANCASTER. 
 
 assize. 
 
 Due. Rot. Placita apud Lane 
 
 1.5Edw. I. ,. 1 ,. 
 
 F. 12. die lune a die 
 
 Pasche in xv dies 
 Anno r r Edwardi 
 quinto decimo. 
 
 " Coram diiis Willmo de Vesey, Thorn, de NormauA-ill 
 " et Rico de Creppyng Justic diii Reg itimantibis ad plicita 
 " foreste de Lane de fnsgi'ssionib} fcis in eadem foresta ab 
 " anno Regni Reg Henr xlvij usq3 ad annu Regni ejusde 
 " Reg Ij p quinq} annos usq5 ad temp"' quo pdca foresta 
 " data fuit dfio Edmuudo fi-i Reg qui nue est placitata p 
 " forestar f \ii-ida subsptos ■sidclt p." 
 
 * The legal distinction between a forest and a chase is this: the latter is under the common law, 
 the former under the forest law. 
 
 t When a deer was found dead, either in the forest or in the purlieus, a kind of inquest was held, 
 at which the Viridors acted as coroner, to ascertain the cause of its death. The swainmote, an 
 inferior court, then sat in judgment upon the accused ; but it was only " The Justice Seat" that could 
 inflict punishment.
 
 Coiintj) ^Jalatine of ^.ancasitfr, 251 
 
 " Fore STAR. Thorn, de Gersino-hm forestar feod f Willm de Dacre qui despon- chap. 
 
 savit filiam f herede Benedti Gernet qui tuc rpris fiut forestar feod '__ 
 
 f p Rogin de Lane. 
 
 " ViRiDAR. Joliem de Oxclyve Adam de Brokholes lierede Rogi de Brok- 
 holes, Joliem de Barton fil f ftedem Witti de Barton, Tliofn Bolrun 
 fil f hedem, Radi Bolrun f p xxiiij jur loco viiidar electos f eisde 
 adjuctos videlt Joliem de Tatlim nillite Tliom Travers, Johem Gentyl 
 Gilbtiii de Lane clicum Robtm de Pratis, Robtm de Syngelton, Rogm 
 de Wedacre, Robtm de Holaund, Joliem de Ryggemayden, Ad de 
 Hocliton, juniore, WiHm de Wytingham clicum Henr le Botiller, 
 Robtm de Eccleston, Robtm de Hudersale, Williii de Carleton, Rogm 
 de Byllesburg, Johem de Tiinstall, Willfii fil Symois de Boulton, 
 Rogm de Stodard, Willm de Clachton, Joheiii de Paries, Willm de 
 Hoton, WUlm Banes, f Johem de Eston. 
 
 " Presentatu est f convictu n forestar f viridai- q'' Adam de Carleton, Rogs fil Venacio 
 
 . , . _ 1 ano. r H. 
 
 Rogi de media Routlieclyve f Ricus fi-at ejus qui obijt ceput tres bissas cu lepar xivij. 
 Rici le Botiller in foresta dfii Reg sup mossam de Pelyn, Anno R. R. H. xlvij" f 
 venacoem portaverit ad domu Rogi ppoiti qui obiit Qui pdcus Adam venit coram 
 Justic f sup hoc convict^ lifeatur jv'sone f educf de pJsona est redeptus ad j m f 
 iiivenit sex sufficietes man de redepcoe sua f qd deceto? no forisfac in aliq" foresta diii 
 Reg put patet in rotto manucaptor. Et pjdcus Rogus fil Rogi no venit nee phis 
 attach fuit 33 testat est qd manct in eode com jo. p'ceptf est vie qd heat corpus ejus 
 hie de die in die &c. Postea venit p'dcus Rogus fil Rogi cora justic f sup hoc con li. 
 p'. f qdou} p aia R. q} paup f invenit maiiuc ut p5, &c. 
 
 " Present est f con &c qd Nichus de Lee Johcs fil. S\Tnonis Jolies de Arkel- 
 beck mortuus Rogus frat ejus Witts fil. Juliane de Heysam Walts Gernet supif 
 redept^ Ricus fil Wltti de Hoton fuernt in foresta dfii Reg infra duicas hayas anno 
 pdco ad malefaciend de venacoe f cepnt cervos f bissas cu arcub} sagitt f leporar 
 qm pdci Nichis f Johes fil. Symois venerut coram Justic f sup hoc con li. p 
 Postea venerut f sunt redepH Nicliu ad j fil f Johes fil. Symois ad xl. d. f quilt 
 eore invenit manue ut patet &^ fsentatu est f con Sif qd pdci Nichus f alij J. m. xi. d. 
 cepnt Lu foresta anno pdco damos f damas cu Arcub} sagitt f lepar ext'. diiicas 
 hayas diii Reg qm pdcus Nichus venit f dicit qd bu advocac capcoem pdcor 
 damor f damar in foresta capt ext. diiicas hayas diii Reg ut pdcm est cii mani- 
 festu sit qd tam milites q tliengi f libe tenetes Com pdci possmt cape omiodas 
 fera.s silvestr except cervo f bissa capriolo Porco silvesti^ f laya put contuiet". in
 
 In r. ex. 
 
 xl. d. 
 xl. d. 
 
 252 C&e %)i^tov^ of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. Carta dfii. Reg quam ijde Milites f libe tenetes com pdci cofa justiciar ptiilerut 
 ^^^' et 05 iuvcutu est ^ rotlos ultimi itinSis foreste Robti de Nevill qd p*dci milites f 
 libe tenetes hoc ide clamavarut f tiic in respem ponebatur jo ad p sens ponir. in 
 respeu. Et test? est qd Rogus de Arkclbek no he nee scit" nee aliquis &^ jo exig. 
 Et pdci Witts fil. Juliane f Ricus fil. Witii no venut nee p'us &'. S3 test? est qd 
 manet in eode Com Jo p''. vie &^ Postea venit Witts til. Juliane coram Justic 
 f sup capcoe dcore Cernore f biss con li p' f est redeptus ad xl. d f im^eii maniic ut 
 patet Sc"". Postea testat? est qd Ricus fil. Willi de Hoton no ht n'^ scif" &^ n" aliqs 
 &" Jo ex' Postea veS ide Riciis apud NotjTigh coq^ f sup hoc con U p> f est redepf 
 ad xl. d. f inuen man Henr de Kyghele f Thom Travers &'. de redempconc 
 sua tin." 
 
 This ancient document discloses pretty fully the system of forest jurisprudence. 
 We have here the Justices in Eyre, " Justiciarii Itineiantes," north of the Trent, 
 assisted by the Foresters of the Fee, in their ministerial capacity, for they had no 
 judicial office. To these were added the Vmdors, who presided in the forest courts 
 of attacluuent and swainemote, as a kind of initiative tribunal, leaving it to the 
 judges to ratify or to annul their decisions. To complete the judicial array, there 
 were added twenty-fom- Regardors, or jurors, knights of the forest, chosen by viilue 
 of the king s writ, and elected, like the Viridors, by the freeholders in full county. 
 The presentments for killing and taldng deer are in the usual style, and amounted 
 at this assize to forty-eight in number, a few of which we have selected, as a 
 specimen of the remainder. The most remarkable is, the plea set up by Nich. de 
 Lee, who, in justification of his conduct, urges the chartered privileges of the 
 knights and freeholders of Lancashire,* one of whom he doubtless was. Tliese pro- 
 ceedings are so perfectly intelligible as to call only for one observation, and it is this, 
 the sanguinary character of the forest laws had been gradually amehorated ever 
 since the time of Canute, by the charters of king John, Henry IIL, and Edward I.; 
 and, instead of expatriation and death, we find the hea^-iest punishment inflicted at 
 this memorable assize, to consist of fine and imprisonment, and those of a very 
 moderate nature. In a word, the forest laws, so severely condemned, were less 
 rigorous under the Plantagenets than are the game laws of modern times. 
 
 The delights of the chase were enjoyed mth a liigh zest by our ancestors; and 
 the following vivid description of the costume and armour of an ancient forester, 
 by Chaucer, may be supposed, without any great stretch of imagination, to have 
 been suggested on entering upon the chase, in the Forest of Lancaster, during one 
 of Ms visits to the bai'onial castle of liis gi-eat benefactor, John of Gaunt, whose 
 
 * See John's Charter, p. 2-15.
 
 Couixtj) palatine of 2.aitra£(tei% 253 
 
 singular felicity it was, not only to have been the intrepid advocate of John de Wick- chap. 
 
 liffe, the first English reformer, but also the munificent patron of Geoffrey Chaucer, L. 
 
 the first English poet : — 
 
 " And he was clad in Cote and Hode of Grene ; Chaucer's 
 
 " A shaft of Pecocke Arwes bright and kene, tion'of'the 
 
 " Under his Belt he bare full thriftily, costume of 
 
 an ancient 
 " Well coude he dresse his takel yemanly ; forester. 
 
 " His Armes drooped not with Fetheres lowe, 
 
 " And in his Hande he bare a mighty Bowe ; 
 
 " A not-hed had he with a broune visage, 
 
 " Of Wood-crafte could he well all the usage. 
 
 " Upon his Arm he bare a gay Bracer, 
 
 " And by his Side a Sword and a Bokeler, 
 
 " A Christopher on his Brest of Silver Shene, 
 
 " A Home he bare, the Baudrick was of grene, 
 
 " A Forister was he sothly, as I gesse." 
 
 Prol. to the Cant. Tales. 
 
 The Lancaster forests, in days of yore, answer with great accuracy to the oescrip- 
 description given by Manwood, the elaborate writer on the Forest Laws, when he forest, 
 says — " A forest is a certaine territory of woody gi'ounds and pastures, privileged for 
 wild beasts and fowls of forest, chase, and warren, to rest and abide in under the 
 protection of the king, for his pleasure and recreation." The forest laws of Lan- 
 caster and of Pickering are quoted by this authority, as the most perfect model of 
 forest jirrisprudence. *' The earl of Lancaster," says he, " in the time of Edward IL 
 and Edward III. had a forest in the counties of Lancaster and York, in the wliich lie 
 did execute the forest laws as largely as any king in tliis realm did. And even at 
 this day, (A. D. 1580,) there are no records so much followed as those which were 
 executed by the said earl in liis forests."* 
 
 In much later times we have had an English monarch cUsplaying liis solicitude 
 for the preservation of the " vert and venison" in the forests of Lancashu'e. Tlie fol- 
 lowing royal warrant, adtkessed to the Master Foresters, Bow-bearers, and Keepers 
 of the Forests, Parks, and Chases, in the county palatme of Lancaster, and in other 
 parts of the duchy, bearing the signature of king William III. and countersigned by 
 the chancellor and the auiUtor of the duchy, will form not an inapt conclusion to the 
 (Ugi-ession into wliich we have been betrayed, by the alluring influence of the 
 chase : — 
 
 * See " Manwood on the Forest Laws," p. 72, a work which may be consulted with advantage by 
 those who wish to obtain more than a popular acquaintance with this subject. 
 VOL. I. 2 K
 
 254 
 
 €\)t l^isitorj) of tlje 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 Due. Rot. 
 66. 17. 
 
 (M^PCttdlSi Complaint has been made to Us that great Destruction lias 
 been made of Our Deer m severall of Our Forre.sts, Chaces & Parks 
 Avitliin Oiu' Duchy & County Palatine of Lancaster, and that some of you 
 have refused to give an Account thereof. Our Royall Will and Pleasure is, 
 that you and every of you, do from time to time, as often as it shall be requii-ed 
 of you, give a true and just Account To Our Right Trusty and Right Well- 
 beloved Cozen & Counsellor Thomas Eaile of Stamford, Chancellor of Our 
 Duchy & County Palatine of Lancaster, or Chancellor for the Tune being, 
 Of All Our Deer witliin the FoiTests, Chases & Pai'ks where you are respect- 
 ively concerned, and of what Destruction has been made thereof. And at the 
 Close of every Season you also give a particular and true Account what Num- 
 ber of Our Deer have been killed, by whom, for whom, and by whose Order or 
 Authority, and of what Stock is or shall be remaining in Our FoiTests, Chases, 
 and Parks wherein you are concerned as aforesaid, that all abuses and ill 
 practices may be remedied, and Our Deer better preserved for the future. 
 And hereof you are not to faile, as you will answer the contrary at your Perill. 
 
 Given at Our Court at Kensington the 23d day of December, 1697, and 
 in the Ninth year of Our Reign. 
 
 Jl 
 
 ^Pu AM 
 
 ■<4fA\/-vrrui^^^' 
 
 Irrotulatur in Officio Auditoris Dni Regis nunc Ducat, sui Lane, in partib^. Austral 
 Vicesimo quarto die Decembris Anno Regni dni Regis nunc Willi tertij Nono Anno 
 y9 Domini 1697. 
 
 p Jo. Bennett, And. 
 
 To all Rangers, Master Forresters, Bowbearers, Keepers, &c. of all and 
 singular Our Forrests, Chaces, or Parks in the County Palatine, or in any 
 part or parcell of Our Duchy of Lancaster.
 
 Countp |)alatii« of Sniuasttr. 355 
 
 nr CHAl' 
 VII. 
 
 Gilbert de Lancastre (son of Reynfr') who had been placed in confinement by kin 
 John, found it necessaiy, in order to satisfy the cupidity of the king, to deliver up his 
 castles of Hirhull and Kii-kley;* and yet so slow was his persecutor to relax his Gilbert de 
 severity, that it was not till two years after tliis surrender, that his prisoner was set at a.d!?2u.' 
 liberty-t In tiie following reign this Gilbert was appointed a commissioner, on the 
 man-iage of the king's sister to Alexander, king of Scotland. 
 
 The act of Magna Charta, so recently gi-anted by John, was confirmed Ratifica- 
 and ratified by Henry III., to whom an aid of one-fifteenth of all the moveables Ma"gna 
 of his people was given by parliament in return for this favour, with the rcser- Hen! nif 
 vation, that those only who paid the fifteenth should be entitled to the liberties 
 and privileges of the charter. To give increased stability to the oblioations of 
 tliis engagement between the king and his people, all the prelates and abbots 
 were assembled, with burning tapers in their hands, and the great charter beino- 
 raised in their presence, they denounced the sentence of excommunication against 
 all who should henceforth violate this fundamental law. Then, thro^ving down 
 their tapers on the gi'ound, they exclaimed — " May the soul of every one who 
 incurs this sentence, so stink and corrupt in hell !" To which the king, who took 
 part in the ceremony, added — " So help me God. I will keep these articles invio- 
 late, as I am a man, as I am a christian, as I am a knight, and as I am a king 
 cro^vued and anointed."')' 
 
 The trial by ordeal, introduced by the Saxons, and continued through so many Abolition 
 successive ages, to the outrage of justice, and the scandal of the nation, could now deais^of ' 
 no longer be tolerated. The church of Rome, never prone to innovation, was the fvater.' 
 first to protest against a standard so fallible. And accordingly we find royal letters 
 of the reign of Henry III., addressed to the itinerant judges in the counties of 
 Lancaster, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, the north-western circuit of that day, Pat. 
 announcing to the judges, that, because it was not detennined previous to the opening m. .5^."Turr 
 of the cu'cuit, what form of trial they should undergo who were charged ■with robbery, "" ' 
 murder, arson, and the like, " since the ordeal of fire and water had been prohibited by 
 the Roman church," it had been provided, by the king in council, that tlie judges should 
 proceed in the folloiving manner with persons accused of these crimes : — viz. Tliat 
 those charged with the greater crime, and to whom violent suspicion attached, 
 should be held and safely confined m prison, but not in such a manner as to incur 
 peril of life or limb : That persons accused of other crunes, and to whom, had it not 
 been proliibited, the ordeal of fire and water might have been sufl[icient, should be 
 
 1 
 
 * Foedera, vol. i. p. 136. f Foedera, vol. i. p. 146. 
 
 I Matt, of Paris, p. 580. 
 2k 2
 
 256 CJ)f M^tov^ Of t&e 
 
 CHAP, reqiiii-ed to quit tlie realm : And that those charged with minor offences shouhl be 
 ^^'' liberated on bail. These directions, it was felt, were very vague and general ; but 
 
 as they were all that the council could at the time provide, the judges were left at 
 
 liberty to follow theii' own discretion, and to act according to the chelates of tlieu- 
 
 consciences.* 
 Lands be- In this reign the undisputed possession of that great mass of Lancashire pro- 
 Mersey perty, the lands between Ribble and Mersey, was conveyed by the family of 
 Me. ' Roger de Maresey to lord Randulf, earl of Chester, in virtue of a compact already 
 
 adverted to (see p. 121.), and which is expressed in the following terms : — 
 
 Circa " HiBC est couveutio facta inter dominum Ranulfum comitem Cestrise et Lin- 
 
 15 H. III." colnise, et Rogerum de Maresey; videlicet, quod cHcti comes et Rogerus tradi- 
 
 derunt domino Radulfo de Bray in aequali manu quach-egenta maixas ai-genti, et 
 
 chartam quam dictus Rogerus fecit dommo comiti de vencUtione et dimissione 
 
 omnium terrarum suarum, quas habuit vel habere potuit inter Ribble et Mersey : 
 
 • 3 HENRY III. 
 
 " Rex dilectis et fidelibis suis Philippe de UUetot, & sociis suis, justiciariis itinerantibus 
 in coniitatibus Cumberland', Westmerland', & Lancastrise, salutem. 
 
 " Quia dubitatum fuit & non deterrainatum, ante inceptionis itineris vestri, quo judicio deducendi 
 sunt illi qui rectati sunt de latrocinio, murdro, incendio & hiis similibus, cum prohibitum sit per 
 ecclesiam Romanam judicium ignis & aquoe, provisum est a concilio nostro, ad praesens, ut, in hoc 
 itinera vestro, sic fietde rectatis de hujusmodi excessibus. 
 
 " Videlicet, quod illi, qui rectati sunt de criminibus praedictis majoribus, & de eis habeatur 
 suspicio quod culpabiles sint de eo unde rectati sunt, de quibus etiam, licet regnum nostrum abju- 
 rarent, adhuc suspicio esset quod posted malefacerent, teneantur in prisona nostra & salvo custo- 
 diantur ; ita quod non incurrant periculum vitae vel membrorum occasione personae nostrse. 
 
 ' Illi vero, qui mediis criminibus rectati fuerint, & quibus competeret judicium ignis vel aqua; 
 si non esset prohibitum, & de quibus, si regnum nostrum abjurent, nulla fuerit postea mal^ faciendi 
 suspicio, regnum nostrum abjurent. 
 
 " Illi vero, qui minoribus rectati fuerint criminibus, nee de eis fuerit mali suspicio, salvos & 
 secures plegios inveniant de fidelitate & pace nostra conservanda, & sic dimittantur in terra 
 nostra. 
 
 " Cum igitur nichil certius providerit in hac parte concilium nostr\mi ad prtesens, relinquimus 
 discretioni vestree hunc ordinem prsedictum observandum in hoc itinera vestro, ut, qui personas homi- 
 num, formam delicti, & ipsarum rerum veritatem meliiis cognoscere poteritis, hoc ordine, secundum 
 discretiones & conscientias vestras, in hujusmodi procedatis. 
 " Et in hujus rei testimonium, &c. 
 " Teste domino P. Winton, 
 
 " apud West', vicesimo sexto die Januarii, anno regni nostri tertio. 
 " Per eundem & H. de Burgo justiciarium."
 
 Counti) palatine of Sancasitfr. 257 
 
 Ita scilicet quod Rogerus sine dilatioiie iturus est inter Ribbel ct Mersey ad depo- chap. 
 nendum se de dicta terra, et ad Jaciendmn omnes illos (qui de ipso ibidem tenuerunt) ' 
 
 liomagia sua facere dicto domino comiti, vel fidelitatem ejus ballivis loco suo consti- 
 tutis : et etiam seisinam de Boultou cum omnibus pertinentiis dicto comiti facien- 
 dam : Quo facto dictus Radulfus de Bray saspe-dicto comiti chartam jkm dictam 
 reddet, et eidem Rogero dictas quadraginta marcas: Et si condngat, qudd tenentes 
 de dictis tenuris ad hoc quod prsedictum est, domino comiti faciendum per ipsum 
 Rogerum adesse noluerunt, saepe-dictus comes, vel ballivi sui, ipsos compellent ad 
 hoc faciendum. Et dictus Rogerus ad sumptus domini comitis itinerabit un^ cum 
 ballivis comitis, quousque negotium istud, secundum quod prsedictum est, fuerit con- 
 summatum. Et ad majorem hujus rei securitatem uterque illorum prsesenti scripto, 
 more cheii'ographi, sigillum suum apposuit. 
 
 " Hiis testibus, domino Waltero abbate Cestriae, domino Willielmo de Vernon 
 justiciavio Cestrise, Radulfo de Bray, Waltero Dayvill, Ricardo de Biron, Johanne 
 de Lexington, Simone et Johanne, clericis." 
 
 [From the Couchir Book of the Duchy Office, Lancaster Place, London, tom. i. 
 Comitatus Laucastriae, fol. 77. nmu. 70.] 
 
 Notwithstanding the ratification of Magna Charta, the nation continued much 
 agitated, by the intrigues of the nobles witliin, and the hostility of the bordering 
 countries from without. To meet tliis emergency, a proclamation Avas issued to the 
 sheriflTs of the counties of Lancaster, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, ordering 
 them to assemble all those, in their respective jurisdictions, who held of the king in 
 cliief to the amount of a knight's fee, to be prepai-ed with horses and arms, to march 
 with the king from Chester, on an expedition into Wales, against Llewelyn, and 
 other rebels. 
 
 The barons, in the mean time, more anxious about the redress of their own Origin of 
 grievances, than the incursions of the Welsh, assembled in supreme council, at sent'ali've 
 Oxford, under Simon de Mountfort, earl of Leicester, and, after insisting upon the zngUnl 
 strict fulfilment of the ailicles of Magna Charta, demanded, that four knights should be 
 chosen by the freeholders from each county in the kingdom, to make inquiries into 
 the complaints of the inhabitants, and to present them at the next parhament. They 
 also resolved, that three parliaments should be held in every year, including 
 burgesses, as well as barons and ecclesiastical dignitaries, the two latter of whom 
 had alone been liitherto summoned; that the sheriffs should be annually chosen in each 
 county by the freeholders ; that the sheriffs should have no power to fine the barons; 
 that no heii-s should be committed to the wardsliip of foreigners ; that no new war- 
 rens or forests should be created ; nor the revenues of any counties or lumdreds let
 
 258 
 
 CI;e f?is!torp of tfte 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 The lia- 
 rons' 
 wars. 
 A.D. 12C3. 
 
 Accession 
 of wealth 
 and ho- 
 nours to 
 the house 
 of Lancas- 
 ter from 
 the ba- 
 rons' 
 wars. 
 
 to farai. Tlie king, feeling that the tendency of these extensive measures of reform 
 was to abridge the royal power, strenuously opposed their introduction, and the 
 matter was finally referred to the pope, by whose decision the gi-eat charter was 
 ratified, but the ordinances of the supreme council of Oxford were annulled. 
 The barons did not hesitate to resist the award of liis holiness by force of arms, and 
 Robert de Ferrars, earl of Derby, was amongst the most distinguished of the insur- 
 gents. An association was formed in the city of Worcester, consisting of the popu- 
 lace and the leaders of the insurgents, amongst whom were eighteen of the gi'eat 
 barons, headed by the earls of Leicester, Gloucester, and Derby, with le Despenser, 
 the cliief justiciary. By the terms of their compact they were never to make peace 
 with the king but by common consent, and with such securities for then- liberties 
 and privileges as those which were contained in the convention of Oxford. A long 
 and sanguinary civil war ensued, during which the king was taken prisoner by the 
 barons, and obliged to ratify the obnoxious convention. Subsequently, Simon 
 de Mountlbrt, earl of Leicester, fell in the contest, and the eaid of Derby 
 was taken prisoner. Tliis struggle was, however, essentially conducive to the 
 establisluuent of the public liberties, and laid the foundation of our representative 
 system of government. The defeat of the barons elevated the house of Lancaster. 
 Tlie forfeited title and possessions of Simon de Mountfort devolved by royal favour 
 upon Edmund Crouchback, the second son of Henry IIL, and the estates of Robert 
 de Ferrai-s, eai'l of Derby, were also conferred upon hmi by the king,* ^vith a grant 
 of the possession of the county of Lancaster, but not to the prejudice of Roger 
 de Lancastre. 
 
 Llewelyn, piince of Wales, had been deeply implicated with the barons of 
 England in theii- wai's against their sovereign, Henry HL, and when Edwai-d L 
 ascended the throne, one of the fii"st acts of his government was, to summon 
 the Welsh prince to do homage in person to the new king. With this mandate 
 Llewelyn refused to comply, except upon the condition, that the king's son, and 
 other noblemen, should be delivered to the Welsh court as hostages for his safe 
 custody. Edward was in no temper for parley, and, accordingly, we find a summons 
 from the king, calling upon Roger de Lancastre to attend upon liis majesty, to 
 proceed against the Welsh, who are represented as having risen in rebellion. This 
 royal order was followed by a writ of military simmions from the king to Edmmid, 
 earl of Lancaster, and the sheriff of the county, announcing, that Llewelyn, son of 
 Griffin, prince of Wales, and liis rebellious associates, had invaded the land of the 
 lieges in the Marches, and committed murders, and other enormous damages, and 
 commanding, that the sheriff do forthmth assemble all that are capable of bearing 
 
 * See p. 124.
 
 Counti? palatine of Sancaeittr. 259 
 
 arms in the liundieds, boroughs, and market towns, of his slirievalty, to march to chap. 
 Worcester, in the octaves of St. John the Baptist, prepared with liorses and 
 
 VII. 
 
 ages. 
 
 The war was continued, with some intermissions, througli several successive Wai «iti, 
 years ; and in order to clear a passage into Wales, it appears that a mandate was 
 issued by the Idng in tlie year 1282, to the sheriff of Lancasliire, ordering liim to 
 provide two hundred woodcutters (coupiatoribus), to cut away the wood, and thereby The Lan- 
 to open passes into Wales. These men were to be powerful and active, and each of coupiato- 
 them was to come provided with a large hatchet, to cut down the trees. They were '*'*" 
 to be chosen in the presence of William de Percy, who was sent specially into the 
 county for that purpose; and were to muster at Chester, on Satui-day on the 
 octaves of the feast of St. Peter. For this service, the sheriff was to pay, from the Their 
 issues of his bailiwick, into the hands of each hewer, three-pence per diem for his '^'^^'''" 
 wages.-]" 
 
 At the time when these Lancasliire husbauchuen, of extraordinary powers, were Wages of 
 receiving thi-ee-pence a day for their labour, the price of wheat was nine-pence per g^uia"ed'by 
 bushel, and, taking the average of wages in England for the six hundred years ^oU^UeZ 
 following, it will be found, (unfavourable seasons apart,) that the wages of labour '" ''" 
 have generally been in the proportion of a peck of wheat per day. In large towns 
 the price of manufacturing labour has often been higher, and in some cases, espe- 
 cially amongst the weavers, much lower; but as a standard, none can approach nearer 
 than the one wliich is here suggested. Much of obscurity is thrown over liistorical 
 and topogi-aphical works on the subject of money, for want of some standard of 
 value to which the sums mentioned in different ages may be refeiTed. No standard 
 will be found so uneiTing as the prices of wheat and of laboui-, wliich, on being com- 
 
 • This first form of military summons extant, addressed to the sheriff of Lancashire, we present 
 entire, as claiming a place in the antiquarian stores of the county : — 
 
 " Forma de exfcitu R sum in Walt. 
 " Edwardus Dei gfa Rex Angt Dns HyBn T; Dux Aquit dilecto f ri T, fideli suo Edmiido Com 
 Lancastr satm. Quia Lewelinus fit Griflfini P'nceps Wallie T; complices sui rebelles nri Pras nras 1 
 fidelium nroj in ^tihy Marchie invaseriit T; de die in diem invadiit T; homicidia T, alia dampna enormia 
 ibidem gpet'runt. Et idem Lewelin^ nol5 put deBet obedire, cotempsit T; cotempnit in nri p^judicium 
 T; contemptii T; vfi T; alioj fidelium nro|i grave dapnu T; exftradacoem maifestam, p qit jam exPcitum 
 nrm sum fecimus qd sit apd Wygorn in Octal) Sci Joliis Bapte px' futur ad rebellione dci 
 Lewelini T, fautor suoj rep'mendam : voB mandamus qd dcis die T; loco intstis cii equis T; armis cii 
 Servico vro nolj debito pati nofecu exinde pfiscisci in expedicoem nram cont° pdcra Lewet 1 coplices 
 suos rebellos nros. T. me ipo apd Wind xii die Decemb anno r. f.. q'nto." 
 
 Rot. Claus. 5 Ed. I. m. 12. d. in Turr. Lond. 
 t Foedera, vol.ii. p. 611.
 
 nes, 
 
 260 Cfte 5?i«>ti3ll) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, pared in times past vnth the price of those articles in our day, wUl ahvays convey to 
 
 VII . * . 
 L. the mind some definite notion, when smus of money ai-e mentioned, of the value of 
 
 those sums at the period under consideration. With tliis view, the following table, 
 
 extracted from the records in the exchequer, and collated with Paris, Walsingham, 
 
 Stowe, Fleetwood, and others, is constructed : — 
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, 
 
 SHEWING THE PRICE AT WHICH THE ARTICLES, THEREIN MENTIONED, SOLD IN 
 
 THE YEARS SPECIFIED. 
 
 £. S. d. 
 
 Table of A.D. 1202. Wheat (rainy season) 12 per quarter. 
 
 tixTelZ- 1248. Thirty-seven sheep for the King 18 4 
 
 1253. Wheat fell to 2 6 per quarter. 
 
 1256. Brewers ordered to sell three gallons of ale in the country for a penny. 
 
 12/2. A Labourer's wages OOIJ per day. 
 
 A Harvest Man 2 do. 
 
 1274. A Bible in nine vols, with a Comment . . . 33 6 8 
 
 1275. Rent of the Lord Mayor's House 10 0a year. 
 
 1280. The Chancellor's Salary 40 do. 
 
 1283. An English Slave and his Family sold for .. 13 4 •' 
 
 1285. Grinding Wheat OJ per quarter. 
 
 1286. Wheat, after a great storm 16 per quarter. 
 
 1288. fell to 18 do. 
 
 1294. Wheat (a grievous famine) 10 do. 
 
 Wheat, average in the 13th century, about ..060 do. 
 1300. Wheat and Barley 3 4 do. 
 
 Oats 18 do. 
 
 A Primer for the Prince of Wales, now 15 years 1 1 months old, £2 0. 
 1302. A Cow 060 
 
 A fat Sheep 10 
 
 A Cock or Hen . • . IJ each. 
 
 1309. A Pair of Shoes 004 
 
 1314. Prices fixed by Parliament,— A fat Ox ... 16 
 
 A Cow £0 12s. Od. 
 
 A fat Hog .... £0 3s. 4d. 
 Pair of Chickens . . £0 Os. Id. 
 
 A Sheep .... 1 2 
 
 A fat Goose . . . 2i 
 
 Eggs OJ per dozen. 
 
 This Maxhmim increased the scarcity which it was intended to remove. The growers 
 would not bring in provisions, and what was sold was dearer than before. The act 
 was therefore repealed in 1315.
 
 A.D. 1315. 
 1326. 
 
 1338. 
 
 1342. 
 1347. 
 1348. 
 
 1357. 
 1360. 
 
 1379. 
 1385. 
 1390. 
 
 1407. 
 
 1414. 
 
 1482. 
 1495. 
 
 1547. 
 1562. 
 
 1576. 
 1576. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 Coiintp |3alatinf of Eantasttr. 
 
 £. s. 
 
 Salt (an unheard of price) 2 
 
 Yearly Rent of Arable Land in Kent, 3d. to . 
 
 Pasture Land 
 
 Meadow Land, 4d. to ... 
 Allowance from Edward III. to 32 Students at 
 
 Cambridge 
 
 Wool taken by the King (a forced price) ..02 
 
 Wine 
 
 King's Apothecary, a pension for life ... 
 
 A year of pestilence, — a Horse 6 
 
 a fat Ox 4 
 
 a Cow 1 
 
 a Heifer 
 
 Ransom of David, King of Scotland . . 100,000 
 
 of John, King of France . . 500,000 
 
 A horse for military service 10 
 
 A Master Carpenter, 4d. — his Journeyman ..00 
 
 Wine, white, 6d. ;— Red 
 
 Assistant Clerk of Parliament 5 
 
 Kendal Cloth, from 3s. 4d. to 6 
 
 Wheat, average in the 14th century, about ..06 
 
 Salt 
 
 A Plough 
 
 Wages of a Thresher 
 
 A Priest's stipend, with cure of souls .... 5 6 
 
 without 4 13 
 
 220 Draught horses for 100 
 
 Allowance to Edward the Fourth's Daughter . 1 
 
 for her eight servants 51 11 
 
 Oats 2 
 
 Wheat 6 
 
 Wheat, average in 15th century, as estimated for 
 
 rent, about 7 
 
 Income of the poor churches in York ... 1 6 
 
 Wlieat conversion price 8 
 
 Ale, when Malt was 8s. per quarter .... 
 
 Beef and Mutton 
 
 Veal, eight pence to 1 
 
 Wlieat, average in the 16th century, about . 1 1 
 Labour of a husbandman per week, in the 16th 
 
 century 5 
 
 2 L 
 
 261 
 
 d. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 6 
 
 a bushel. ^''' 
 
 6 
 
 per acre. 
 
 1 
 
 do. 
 
 10 
 
 do. 
 
 2 
 
 per diem. 
 
 
 
 perstoneof 141b. 
 
 4 
 
 per gallon. 
 
 6 
 
 per day. 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 per day. 
 
 4 
 
 per gallon. 
 
 
 
 a year. 
 
 
 
 a piece. 
 
 
 
 per quarter. 
 
 7i 
 
 per bushel. 
 
 10 
 
 
 2 
 
 per day. 
 
 8 
 
 a year. 
 
 4 
 
 do. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a week. 
 
 8 
 
 a year. 
 
 
 
 a quarter. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 a year. 
 
 
 
 per quarter. 
 
 2 
 
 per gallon. 
 
 6 
 
 a stone. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 per quarter.
 
 263 
 
 €f)t lisitort) of t])t 
 
 Average Price of Wheat and Malt per quarter, at Windsor. 
 
 From 1671 to 1680 . 
 1681 to 1690 
 1691 to 1700 . 
 1701 to 1710 . 
 1711 to 1720 . 
 1721 to 1731 . 
 
 Labour of a husbandman per week, in the 17th century 
 
 These prices of wheat are from the Eton Books, and are for the best grain ; the 
 measure also is above the legal standard, so that 7-9ths of the preceding quotations will 
 form about the average price of all England. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 ^ve 
 
 VII. 
 
 From 1611 to 1620 
 
 
 1621 to 1630 
 
 
 1631 to 1640 
 
 
 1641 to 1650 
 
 
 1651 to 1660 
 
 
 1661 to 1670 
 
 £2 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 10^ 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 lOi 
 
 £2 10 
 
 8i 
 
 1 19 
 
 U 
 
 2 16 
 
 lOi 
 
 2 3 
 
 2i 
 
 2 4 
 
 11 
 
 2 1 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 Average London Price in January:- 
 
 From 
 
 From 
 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 1732 to 1740 . 
 
 . £1 8 10 
 
 1741 to 1750 . 
 
 . 1 5 8i 
 
 1751 to 1760 . 
 
 . 1 13 3 
 
 1761 to 1770 . 
 
 . 1 13 llj 
 
 Average Price in 
 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 1771 to 1775 . 
 
 . £2 10 
 
 1776 to 1780 . 
 
 . 1 19 
 
 1781 to 1785 . 
 
 .292 
 
 1786 to 1790 . 
 
 . 2 5 10 
 
 1791 to 1795 . 
 
 . 2 12 11 
 
 1796 to 1800 . 
 
 . 3 12 3| 
 
 Barley. 
 
 £0 15 \l 
 
 14 3 
 
 17 11 
 
 1 2 
 
 and Wales. 
 
 Barley. 
 
 £16 9 
 
 1 
 
 1 4 41 
 
 1 3 51 
 
 1 10 11 i 
 
 1 17 8 
 
 Oats 
 
 
 £0 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 101 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 \n 
 
 Oats. 
 
 Labour of a husbandman per week, in the 18th century 
 
 £0 16 
 
 lOj 
 
 16 
 
 6^ 
 
 16 
 
 10 
 
 17 
 
 01 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 1 5 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 AVERAGE PRICE OF WHEAT IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 
 
 In each year from 1801 to 1830 inclusive , from the official returns. 
 
 In 1801 . £5 18 3i In 1809 .£4 15 2 
 
 In 1817.£4 14 4i In 1825. £3 6 5^ 
 
 1802 . 
 
 3 7 
 
 4 
 
 1810 . 
 
 5 6 
 
 2i 
 
 1818 . 
 
 4 4 
 
 2i 
 
 1826 . 
 
 2 17 3f 
 
 1803 . 
 
 2 16 
 
 5i 
 
 1811 . 
 
 4 14 
 
 11 
 
 1819 . 
 
 3 13 
 
 0* 
 
 1827 . 
 
 2 16 10 
 
 1804 . 
 
 3 1 
 
 7 
 
 1812 . 
 
 6 5 
 
 6 
 
 1820 
 
 3 5 
 
 6 
 
 1828 
 
 3 11 lOf 
 
 1805 . 
 
 4 7 
 
 n 
 
 1813 . 
 
 5 8 
 
 5 
 
 1821 . 
 
 2 14 
 
 4 
 
 1829 . 
 
 3 16 10 
 
 1806 . 
 
 4 
 
 n 
 
 1814 . 
 
 3 14 
 
 Oi 
 
 1822 . 
 
 2 3 
 
 H 
 
 1830 . 
 
 3 14 6 
 
 1807 
 
 3 12 
 
 Al 
 
 1815 . 
 
 3 4 
 
 ^ 
 
 1823 
 
 2 11 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 1808 
 
 inur 0I 
 
 3 19 
 
 a hush 
 
 2 
 
 an dm a 
 
 1816 
 
 n npr wee 
 
 3 15 
 
 k. in th 
 
 5i 
 e 19th c 
 
 1824 
 enturv 
 
 2 17 
 
 
 
 ■ • • 
 
 12
 
 Countp ^3alatint of SLaufastrn 
 
 263 
 
 COINAGE. 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 For a further illustration of the Scale of Prices in successive ages, it is necessary to 
 show how many pounds, shillings, and pennies have been coined out of a pound troy of 
 silver, at different times in England ; and also the degree of fineness of the standard, and 
 the times at which the several alterations have taken place. 
 
 Fine Silver 
 Before A.D. 1300 a pound of "^ oz. dwt. 
 standard silver contained, j 11 2 
 
 28 Edward 1 11 
 
 18 Edward III 11 
 
 20 Edward III 11 
 
 27 Edward III 11 
 
 13 Henry IV 11 
 
 4 Edward IV 11 
 
 18 Henry VIII. . . .11 
 34 Henry VIII 10 
 
 36 Henry VIII 6 
 
 37 Henry VIII 4 
 
 3 Edward VI 6 
 
 5 Edward VI 3 
 
 end of 1552. 6 Edw. VI. . 11 
 
 1 Mary 11 
 
 2 Elizabeth 11 
 
 43 Elizabeth 11 
 
 1300. 
 1344. 
 1346. 
 1353. 
 1412. 
 1464. 
 1527. 
 1543. 
 1545. 
 1546. 
 1549. 
 1551. 
 1551, 
 1553. 
 1560. 
 1601. 
 1816. 
 
 2 
 2 
 2 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 56 George III 11 
 
 Alloy. 
 
 oz. 
 
 dwt 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 £. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 0* 
 
 These Rates of English Money, except the last, are taken by Mr. Folkes, from the 
 indentures made with the masters of the mint, and consequently may be depended upon 
 as authentic ; the last is from the act 56 George III. cap. 68. 
 
 The mines of Lancashire were yet unexplored ; and the most imj^ortant of all coai first 
 its minerals, as constituting the principal source of its manufacturing gi-eatness, had "uei! ^ 
 lain undisturbed in the bowels of the earth till the reign of Henry III., when coals 
 were, for the first time, used as fuel in England. From that period to the present, 
 the great coal fields in the south and in the centre of the county of Lancaster have 
 continued to be worked, but the full extent of their capacity and utility were not 
 
 A.D.1260. 
 
 * In 1816, the pound of bullion was first coined into sixty-six shillings, of which, however, only 
 sixty-two were issued ; four shillings being kept at the mint as a seignorage.
 
 264 
 
 mn ^Mi^toi\) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 Honour of 
 knight- 
 hood. 
 
 Rot. 
 Claus. 
 r, Edw. I. 
 rn.8. d. 
 Turr. 
 Lond. 
 
 Rot. Fin. 
 21 Edw. I. 
 m. i'5. 
 
 Rot. 
 
 Claus. 34 
 Edw. I. 
 ni. IC. d. 
 
 Commis- 
 sions. 
 
 Rot. Pat. 
 7 Edw. I, 
 m. lU. 
 
 shown till the middle of the eighteenth century, when the agency of steam began to 
 be brought into general operation under the powerful geniuses of Crompton, 
 Arkwriglit, and Watt, aided by the sldll, enterprise, and capital of Peel, and 
 a hundred other names that might be mentioned. 
 
 In the early ages of our history, the honom- of knighthood, with the military services 
 to which it was incident under the feudal system, was often forced upon the subject, 
 and hence we find that, in the year 1278, a writ was addi'essed to the sheriff of Lan- 
 casliii'e, commanding him to distrain upon all persons seized of land of the value of 
 £20 per annum, whether held of the king in capite, or of any other lord, who ought 
 to be knights, and were not, and all such were ordered forthwitli to talve out their 
 patent of knighthood. Fom'teen years after this, a writ was issued, wherein the 
 qualification was raised to double the amount, and a writ, dated the 6th of February, 
 1292, was issued to the sheiiff of Lancasliire, along ■n'ith other sheriffs, proclaiming 
 that all persons holding lands in fee, or of inheritance, of the value of £40 per annum, 
 must take the order of knighthood before Cluistmas in that year. One of the pre- 
 rogatives of the crown was to relax and to vary these services, and hence a writ, 
 addi'essed to the sheriff of Lancashire, was issued, reciting " that the commonality of 
 England haraig performed good services against the Welsh, the king excuses 
 persons, not hokhng lands of the value of £100 per aunimi, from taking the order of 
 knighthood;" but in this writ it was directed, that all holding above that amount, and 
 not taking that order before the Nativity of the Vu-gin, are to be distrained upon. 
 Subsequently, injunctions were addressed to the sheriff, commanding him to make 
 extents on the lands of those who refuse to take the order of knighthood, and to hold 
 them for the king until further orders. It must not be supposed that this honour was 
 always declined, or that no man's ambition led liim to aspii'e to the distinction. Such 
 a conclusion would be eiToneous ; for we find a writ to the sheriff of Lancasliire, of 
 the date of the 6th of April, 1305, directing liim to proclaim, that aU who should 
 become knights, and are not, must repaii- to lioudon before Whit-Sunday next, to 
 receive that distinction, if properly qualified. 
 
 While the contest continued between England and Wales, a number of public 
 officers were appointed, called commissioners of aiTay, (arralatores,) whose duty it 
 was to aiTay the troops engaged in the war, to preserve the peace in the midst of so 
 much agitation, and to communicate the views and intentions of the government to 
 the people. Roger de Mortimer, who enjoyed a large share of the royal favour, 
 received tlie appointment of conservator of Lampaderoour, in West Whales, which 
 appointment was amiounced by letter to the prelates and clergy, in Lancashii'e, thi-ough 
 the medium of Reginald de Grey, the captain, in Chester and Flintsliire. 
 
 The necessities of the public treasury, in 1282, obliged the king to demand an
 
 Countp |3nlatme of 2.nnr(TStfi% 265 
 
 aid by way of loan from the religious houses, and from all the merchants in the chap. 
 kingdom, and John dc Ku'keby Avas empowered to declare certain difficult and ^^' 
 
 important matters with which he was entrusted, explanatory, no doubt, of the Idng's j^Jli'ity' 
 necessities, to the people of Lancaslm-e. SpeedOj after^^-ards, letters patent were '"''"' 
 adch-essed to Robert de Harington, Jolm Byron, and Robert de Holland, appointintv loEdw.L 
 them conservators of the peace, pursuant to the statute of Winton, and writs of Venire Rot Pat 
 were issued for that purpose.* ^ ^^'■''- '• 
 
 During the contest with Wales, several summonses for military seri'ice were sum- 
 issued in Lancashire, the number of which was probably increased by its vicinity to for"f,iil. 
 the seat of war. On the 26th of May a writ was sent to the sheriff, reciting an '"j^e '*'^' 
 ordinance in council, Avhereby every person holding laud or rents of the value of £.30 Rot. Waii. 
 a year, was required to provide liimself with a horse and suitable armour, and to join i" g.^'ck''" 
 the king's forces against the Welsh, and even persons unfit for military service were Ko' ^vaii. 
 requii-ed to find and to equip substitutes. On the 30th of July, in the same yeai-, a m- 4. 
 docket of commission issued, empowering William de Butiller, de Werenton. to press 
 1,000 men, capable of bearing anns, into the king's service; from wliich, it woidd 
 appear, that the obnoxious practice of imj)ressing men for the navy in latter times 
 extended then to the army. The contest with Wales was now at its crisis. On the 
 24tli of November, a writ was addressed to the sheriff of Lancashire, requiring liiin to 
 send all men capable of bearing arms to march against the Welsh; and Edmund, 
 earl of Lancaster, was required to furnisli from his lands in Lancasliire 200 soldiers. 
 Early in the following year anotlier levy was called for; and the earl, on the summons 
 of the king, was requii-ed to repair with horse and aims to Montgomery: a similar sum- Rot. de 
 mens to arms was also addressed to Roger de Lancastre; and to supply the necessary nEdw""!' 
 ways and means for this vast expenditure of the government, a commission was '"' ^' 
 issued, constituting Henry de Newark and others collectors of the levy of the 30th. 
 
 The skill and perseverance of Edward, seconded by the zeal and constancy of his Conquest 
 subjects, at length reduced the Welsh nation to the gi'eatest extremities. Llewelyn, 
 finding all liis resources exhausted, his country almost depopulated by the length 
 and severity of the contest, and famine rapidly completing the destruction wliich the 
 sword had commenced, was obliged to submit to the conqueror ; and the ancient 
 Cambrians, after having for 800 years maintained their national independence, 
 passed under the English yoke. The title of " Prince of Wales" was now confen'ed 
 for the first time on a " foreign prince," and the eldest son of the king of England 
 has ever since that period borne this designation. 
 
 * By the statute of Winton, (^Winchester,) passed 13 Edward I. it is, amongst a number of other 
 important enactments, provided, that evefy hundred shall be answerable for the robberies and other 
 offences committed within its jurisdiction. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 31
 
 266 €i)t ilK'storj) of tbe 
 
 CKAP. The wars of the crusades, in which England took so large a share, had served to 
 
 di'ain the treasury, and the cost of these holy contests seemed especially to helong 
 
 Jfthe''"" to the church. Pope Nicholas IV. to whom, as the head of the see of Rome, the 
 belfefices fii'st-fruits and tenths of all English henefices were payable, granted to Idng Edward I. 
 PopefNi-*^ the tenths of tliese henefices for six years, towards defraying the expenses of the cru- 
 cUoias. sades. In order to ascertain the full value of the livings, and ultunately to enrich the 
 church, his holiness caused a siu'vey to he made, usually called " Pope Nicholas's 
 Valor," wliich was completed in the province of Canterbury in 1291, and in the pro- 
 vince of York in the following yeai', under the cUrection of the bishops of Winchester 
 and Lincoln. This valuable and cmious document is still preserved ; and its con- 
 tents, so far as regards the county of Lancaster, will be introduced in that depai't- 
 ment of our work which relates to the ecclesiastical liistoiy of the county. How 
 far this exhibition of the wealth of the church of England influenced the mind of 
 the king, it is impossible now to ascertain; hut in tliis reign the celebrated statute of 
 mortmain was passed, by which the clergy were prevented by law from making 
 new acquisitions of land for the use of the church. 
 New This county had scarcely recovered from the drain made upon its blood and 
 
 treasure by the war with the neighbouring princiiJality of Wales, when it was called 
 upon, in common with the other parts of England, to engage in another contest, still 
 more formidable, against the combined power of Scotland and France. The causes 
 of these long and sanguinary wars, it is not the pro^'ince of tliis liistory to investigate; 
 but it may be observed, that the war Avith Scotland originated in a wish on the pai't 
 of the English monarch to render that country a tributary state; and that the war* 
 with France arose out of the failure of a negociation conducted with the court of 
 Paris by Edmund Crouchback, earl of Lancaster, originating in a quarrel between 
 two seamen, a Norman and an Englishman, to determine which of them should take 
 the precedency in supplying his boat with water from a spring on the baidis of 
 the Adour. 
 Fresh OiT the breaking out of the war, v\Tits of military service were issued to the 
 
 lIiTcI-" sheriffs, announchig that the king was about to set out for Gascony, to protect liis 
 *'"■'''■ inheritance from the kinsr of France ; and all knip-hts, abbots, and priors, holding in 
 
 Rot. Vase. . .. . . . 
 
 2iEdw.i. chief by military tenure, or serjanty, were required to meet the king at Portsmouth, 
 Rot. Pat. to embark in this expedition. In the same year, letters patent were sent to the knights 
 m. 2!^"^ '' ^"'^ freeholders in Lancashire, announcing that collectors were appointed, of the 
 tenths in aid of the war : writs were issued in the early part of the folloA\ing year, to 
 sixty-eight persons about to embark with Edmund, earl of Lancaster, to Gascony, 
 exempting their goods from the pajanent of tliis impost, and, as a matter of precaution, 
 orders from the Idng were issued to the sheriff of Lancashire, reciting, that through
 
 Counfj) ^3alatine of Sanra£itn% 267 
 
 some religious foreigners, as v.e\\ Normans as others, residing in this kingdom, and chap 
 
 dwelling on the sea coasts, not a little danger had arisen to the safety of the state; L_ 
 
 he was, therefore, commanded to cause such jiersons to remove to the interior Avithont 
 delay, and to give up their places to religious English. The sheriffs were also 
 conunanded further to ckaw to land all theii' sliips and hoats, wherever they might find 
 them, in the sea or any other water, and to cause all their furniture and cargoes to 
 he wholly removed, so that the vessels might be of no use. 
 
 The commissioners for assessing and collecting the tenth and the seventh this Rot 
 year were, " Magr. Rich, de Hoghton, clerk," and " Rad de Mansfield, clerk;" 24Ed«. i. 
 and that the returns might be duly made, Ric'' de Hoghton and John Gentyl were 
 earnestly requu-ed to appear in tlieii' proper persons, before the treasurer and the 
 barons of the exchequer, on the feast of St. Nicholas ensuing, to do and execute 
 those matters which should be mote fully explained to them ; and this they were to 
 do as they regarded the king's honour, aiad their own loss of all things, both lands 
 and tenements, goods and chattels, and as they M'ould avoid the king's peii^etual 
 wrath.* Tlie exactions of the king to carry on the war became burdensome in the Importu- 
 extreme ; the tii-st peers of the realm murmured against Ms demands upon their mands for 
 purse, and upon theii- personal serAaces ; and to such an excess did their altercations 
 arise, that the Idng, in requii'ing the reluctant services in Flanders of his constable, 
 Humphrey Bohun, earl of Hereford, and one of the founders of the duchy posses- 
 sions, exclaimed — " Sir Earl; by God, you shall either go, or hang!" was answered 
 by the earl Avitli equal determination — " By God, sir king, I will neither go, nor 
 hang !"t The clergy Avere not more disposed to acquiesce in the arbitraiy exactions 
 of the liing and his ministers, than the laity ; in consequence of wliich, numbers of 
 them were put out of the protection of the law ; but in order at once to stimulate 
 their loyalty, and inflame their fears, Aviits were issued to John de Lancastre, and to Rot. Pat. 
 the sheriffs, empowering them to appoint commissioners to reverse the recognizances m. 12. 
 of such of the clergy as wished to receive the king's protection, and to arrest and 
 imprison all those who liad promulgated excommunications and ecclesiastical 
 censures against his ministers. 
 
 * Lancastr. — R dilco t fideli suo Magro Ric de Hogliton, ctco sattem. Mandam® volS in fide 
 "X dilecoe quib3 noB tenemini firmil; injungentes qd sitis in ppria psona vra coram Thes T; Baronibj 
 nris de SccMo octavo die post festO Sci Niclii |)ximo futur ad ultimu, ad faciend t exequenct ea 
 que iidem Thes T; Baron, vot5 tuc ibidem dicent T; injungent plenius ex jjte nra. Et hoc sicut 
 honorem nrm T vrm amissionem ijium frag 1 ten bonog 1^ catallosS que in Regno nro tenetis, et 
 indignacoem nram ppetuam vitare volGitis nuUo mode omittatis. Et fieatis ibi hoc bre. T. ft apud 
 Scpi Edm. XV. die Nov. 
 
 t Rymer's Fcedera, vol. ii. p. 783.
 
 2G8 
 
 CfK |)i6torj) of tl)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 News- 
 mongers 
 denoun- 
 ced. 
 
 IMarcli (if 
 the A^'rlsli 
 tlnoiigli 
 Lanca- 
 shire 
 against 
 the 
 Scotch. 
 
 Kot. Pat. 
 2.5 Edw. I. 
 p. 2. m. 
 
 Dawn of 
 the com- 
 mercial 
 and ma- 
 nufactur- 
 ing great- 
 ness of the 
 county. 
 A.D.1216. 
 
 Rot. Pat. 
 25 Edw. I. 
 p. 2. m. 
 
 At this early period of our liistory, newspaper.? were unknown, and prosecutions 
 against the public press had of course no existence, hut in the 25 Edwai-d I. the 
 khig adch-essed a mandate to John de Lancastre, sheriff of the county, announcing, 
 that his majesty had learnt, that newsmongers (" froueurs de norelles,'" as they are 
 called,) were going about the country, sowing discord amongst the prelates, earls, 
 and barons, as well as others of his subjects, endeavouring thereby to chsturb the 
 pul:)lic peace, and to subvert the good order of the realm ; which said offences, the 
 sheriffs were required to inquire into, and to take order for bringing the delinquents 
 to justice. 
 
 From enemies the Welsh had been converted into alUes ; and while the king ivas 
 engaged in the French war, an army from Wales was appointed to march against 
 the Scots, to carry hostilities into their country. That no interruption might be 
 given to that force, letters were adckessed by the king to the sheriffs of Lancashire 
 and Yorkshu-e, as well as to those of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshu-e, directing 
 them, at their peril, to take care that all bakers and brewers should have a sufficient 
 supply of bread and beer in the towns through which the Welsh army had to pass, 
 on their march " against the Scottish rebels." In the course of this year, no fewer 
 than three rates were imposed : the first, of an eighth ; the second, of a fifth ; and 
 the tliu'd, of a ninth of the moveables of the subject ; and William de Quinton and 
 Geoffry de Hothaui were appointed assessors and collectors for the county of York, 
 while Rob', de Hoyland, Allan le Norreys, John Gcntyl, and Hugh de Clydcrhau, 
 with the sheriff of the county, were appointed assessors and collectors for the county 
 of Lancaster. To reconcile the people to these accumulated impositions, and to 
 assuage the popular discontent, letters were addressed to the sheriff of Lancashire, 
 and the sheriffs of the other counties, threcting them to take means for the redi'ess 
 of public grievances, the most intolerable of which jjrobably was that of excessive 
 taxation. 
 
 At tliis time the resources of the government were principally derived from the 
 landed possessions of the people ; but commerce and manufactures, to which in 
 future ages the state was to stand so much indebted for its supplies, now l)egan to 
 dawn upon the country, and the establishment of the famous commercial society of 
 " ]\Ierchant Adventurers," with the partial introduction of the staple manufacture of 
 woollens, both in the west and in the north of England, laid the foundation of those 
 mighty resources, whicli we shall have occasion, in the future progress of our labours, 
 more fully to develop, and which in modern days disthiguish the county of Lancaster 
 from all other districts of the world. 
 
 In the time of tlie Edwards of the Plantagenet line, the population of Lancashire 
 must have been veiy considerable ; for in this year, the commissioners of array, in
 
 Count)) |3nlntinf of annra^tfr. 269 
 
 their precepts to Will, de Ormesby, the lung's justiciary, directed, that a levy of chap. 
 tlu-ee thousand foot sokUers should he raised in Lancashire, and sent to Newcastle- 1_ 
 
 upon-Tyue, by the feast of St. Nicholas, to be placed under the command of Levy of 
 Rob', de Clili'ord, warder of the Scotch marches, adjoining to Ciunberland. The Iiiois in 
 following year a writ was directed to John de Warren, earl of Surrey, directing him siiire to 
 to march forthwith to Scotland, at the head of the troops raised in Lancashire and in Scotland. 
 the neighbouring counties. 
 
 The wai' %nth France having been brought to an end by the mediation of his Tiie king 
 holiness the pope, and the peace consimamated by a double marriage, that of Edward \,;mseU at 
 himself Avith Margaret, the sister of Philip, Idng of France, and that of the prmce of If'thrfif- 
 Wales with Isabella, the daughter of the same monarch, the king was left at liberty Itm"^ 
 to turn his un(Uvided attention to the conquest of Scotland ; and for the purpose of Rot. Pat. 
 infusing fresh vigour into the operations against that country, Edmund determined m!i<j."' " 
 to place himself at the heatl of the English army. No fewer than tlu-ee successive 
 Avrits of military summons were issued during the year 1297, to the authorities of 
 the county of Lancaster ; the first to the sheriff, the second to Thomas earl of 
 Lancastre, and the third to Henry baron de Laucastre, calling upon the levies to 
 meet the king at Carlisle, and appointing Rob', de Clifford, the king's lieutenant Rot. Pat. 
 (" cheventain") of Lancasliire, Cumberland, and Westmoreland. The spirit of Scot- m. n. 
 land sunli under the mighty array that was proceeding against that country, headed 
 by a monarch accustomed to conquer. Rb'. Bruce, father and son, along 
 with several other nobles, made their- submission to Edward, but John Baliol, 
 the king, assembled the flower of the Scotch nobility, together with a large 
 portion of the military force of the kingdom, hoping by one mighty effort to expel 
 the invaders, and to liberate their country. For this purpose, they made a general 
 and simultaneous attack upon the English, under the earl Warrenne, who were at 
 that tune besieging Dunbar with a force of twelve thousand men. Undismayed by Scotland 
 
 iT-iTi 1 1 • . subdued. 
 
 superior numbers, the English general advanced to receive them, and a sanguinary 
 battle ensued, which issued in the total defeat of the Scotch army, with a loss of 
 twenty thousand men. One of the first consequences of this victory was the surren- 
 der of Dunbar, and the other fortresses of Scotland soon followed the example. 
 Baliol, the king, despairing of his country's cause, resigned his crown into the 
 hands of the English monarch, who, on his return from Scotland, conveyed with 
 liim the ancient stone of inauguration, which had for so many ages been deposited at 
 Scone, aud to which tradition attached the belief, that wherever that stone was 
 placed, the monarch in possession of it would govern Scotland. 
 
 Though subdued, the spirit of the Scotch nation was not wholly broken. The 
 severity of the English justiciary, Ormesby, and the exactions of the treasurer.
 
 270 
 
 Zht $)lS!tOll) Of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 A^ illiam 
 M allace 
 relieves 
 the for- 
 tresses 
 of liis 
 country. 
 
 129S-9. 
 
 Writs of 
 military 
 summons. 
 
 Rot. 
 Claus. 
 28Edw.I, 
 ra. 14. d. 
 
 Cressiiigliam, rendered the joke of the conqueror intolerable ; and AVilliam Wallace, 
 the descendant of an ancient family, whose valour and skill will be remembered 
 thi-ough all time in Scotch history, reanimated the spiiits and rallied the scattered 
 forces of liis country. The Enghsh army under WaiTenne, consisting of forty thou- 
 sand men, having obtained a victory at Anuandale, pushed forward to Stirling, where 
 they were encountered by Wallace, on the banks of the Forth, and the greatest jmrt 
 of theu" number was pushed into the river at the edge of the sword. After this signal 
 victory, Wallace, in liis turn, became the invader ; and the north of England, as far 
 as the borders of the county of Lancaster, was laid waste with fire and sword. The 
 Idng, on receiving tlds cUsastrous news in Flanders, hastened back to England ; and 
 having placed himself at the head of one hundred thousand men, of which our county 
 furnished its full complement, he chased the invaders into Scotland, and inflicted 
 upon them a signal overtluow at Falkirk. AVaUace, aided by the son of Robert 
 Bruce, still kept the field, and, by a kind of predatory warfare, rendered the conquest 
 of Scotland any thing but secure. 
 
 No cessation was allowed to the efforts, military and pecuniary, of the inhabitants 
 of the north of England ; for, in the two following years, eight writs of military 
 ser\-ice were issued, appertaining to the county of Lancaster. Tlie first directed 
 the sheriff to proclaim the prorogation of tlie general military summons of the 26th 
 September preceding : the second was a writ of military summons to Thomas, eai'l 
 of Lancaster, requiring liim to aj^pear at York on the moiTOW of St. Martin : the 
 thii-d, addressed to the commissioners of array, ordeiing them to raise two thousand 
 foot soldiers in Lancashii-e, to meet at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the eve of St. 
 Katharine, to march against the Scots : the fourth, was a Avrit to the commissioners 
 of aiTay, indicating the deteriorated state of the coinage, in which it was announced, 
 that if the sohUers le^•ied by the preceding commissions should be unwilling to march 
 on account of the bad money then current, (p t malcnn monetam,) or from the 
 severity of the weather, the commissioners were to provide them a premium in 
 adcUtion to, theu" pay : the fifth, was a summons to Henry earl of Lancaster to repaii- 
 to the army : the sixth, a writ to Thomas de Banastre to raise two thousand infantry 
 in Lancasliii-e, to meet the king at Ber^^-ick-upon-Tweed : the seventh, a vrr'ii to the 
 sheriff of Lancashire, directing that all prelates and other priests, and all ^ridows 
 and other women holding of the king, should send substitutes to Carlisle : and the 
 eighth, a summons to Thomas, John, and Hemy de Lancasti'e, to meet the king, to 
 proceed against the Scots. 
 
 In the following year, commissions were addressed to the sheriff of Lancashii'e, 
 impowering lum to siunmons all persons holding lands or rents of the value of forty 
 pounds per annum and upwards, to meet the king at Carlisle ; and iu the same year.
 
 CountP palatuif of Sanrn*rtrr, 271 
 
 the commissioners of array called by various wTits upon Robert de Holand, Matliew chap. 
 de Redman, Allan Norreys, John Gentyl, and Robert de Non-eys, to raise in Lanca- L_ 
 
 shire, by separate leAies, three tliousand men, to meet the Iving at Carlisle on the 
 Nativity of St. John Baptist, on the day after the Assumption. The oppressive 
 nature of these ancient conscriptions may be collected from the royal proclamations 
 of the same period, by which Jehan de Seint Jelian, (the king's lieutenant and 
 and cheventayne,) in all matters relating to deeds of arms in Lancashire, SiC, Avas 
 impowered, along with the earl de Abindon, to amerce those refractory persons who 
 refused to perfonn sei-vices, either in defence of the marches, or to act against 
 the Scots. 
 
 The writs to the sheriff of Lancasliire, in the two following years, relate i)rinci- Rot. ciaus. 
 
 2'J Edw. I. 
 
 pally to the assessment and collection of the fifteenths, which both the clergy and m. 5. d. 
 the laity were called upon to pay to the knights appointed to make the collections. 
 
 Jehan de Seint Jehan having been superseded in his lieutenancy in Lancashire Rot. I'at. 
 by John Butterte, letters of credence were addressed to the inhabitants, clerical and ,„. 41"^' 
 laical, requiring them to give full faith to the king's clerk, Ralph de Mounton, and 
 to Richard le Brun, who were commissioned to declare to them certain weighty Rot. pat. 
 matters touching the safety of the country, not explained in the letters of credence, m. 28. 
 but wliich, it appears, related to the Idng's determination to undertake a fresh 
 expedition against Scotland. One of the first consequences of this confidential 
 conununication was a call upon the commissioners of array, William de Dacre, Rot. Pat. 
 Henry de Kygheley, and Robert de Hephale, requiring them to raise seven hundred m. 28. 
 men in Lancashire, and to send them to Lancaster after the feast of the Invention 
 of the Cross ; and all prelates, women, and others unfit to bear arms, but who were 
 willing to pay the fine, (twenty pounds for a knight's fee, and so on in proportion 
 to theii' possessions,) for the senices done to the lung in Scotland, were to appear 
 before the treasurer at York on the morrow of the Ascension ; or otherwise, by sub- 
 stitute, with horse and arms, at Berwick. Aided by a large army, and a no less 
 powerful fleet, Edward marched victoriously through Scotland, and laid the country 
 at his feet. Amongst liis tropliies, the gallant William Wallace became his prisoner, 
 and, instead of obtaining that resj)ect to which he was entitled by his courage and 
 patriotism, he was conveyed in chains to London, where he Avas tried and executed 
 as a traitor. 
 
 The disorganization of society produced by so much intestine wai", exhibited Effects of 
 itself on every hand. Crimes were greatly nudtiplied, and Peter de Badbate, 
 Etlmund Deyncount, William de Vavasour, John de Island, and Adam de MidiUeton, Commis- 
 were judges under a commission of Trailhnston, appointed to hear and detenmne all traiibas- 
 offences against the peace in the counties of Lancaster and Westmoreland, as well
 
 272 €ht %ti^toi-\y of tfte 
 
 CHAi'. as in eight other counties. The number of offenders rendered necessary the utmost 
 
 promptitude in the achmnistration of justice ; and the proceedings of the judges, under 
 
 these commissions, ai-e said to have been so smimiary, as not to exceed the time 
 in which their staff of justice, or hasten, couhl he trailed round the room.* 
 Robert One formidable enemy still remained in Scotland, viz. Robert Bruce, the 
 
 grandson of that Robert who, in the tune of Bahol, was a competitor for the crown. 
 Animated by those principles of resistance to foreign sway wliich had hispired the 
 breasts of so many of his countrymen, this ambitious young nobleman collected a 
 strong army in Scotland, by means of which he was enabled to expel a large portion 
 of the English from tliat country, and to drive their principal army across the 
 borders. Edward, roused to desperation by this renewed revolt, when he considered 
 his conquest secure, determined to take signal vengeance upon the Scottish nation. 
 Edward I. On his march to the north, he took the route of Lancasliii-e, and for some time fixed 
 
 atPres- , . , , -n t^ 
 
 ton. his head-quarters at Preston. From this place the king addressed a letter to his 
 
 holiness the pope, complainmg of the wi'ongs he had sustained from the aixlibishop 
 of Canterbury, and claiming reckess. 
 
 Rot. The ticHngs of a new war were communicated to John de Lancastre, by a rat. 
 
 Clans ^ *' ' 
 
 34 Ed W.I. dated the 5th of April, which recites, that " Robertas de Brus," late earl of 
 Carrick, and his accomplices, have raised war against the king, with the intention 
 of usurping the kingdom of Scotland. To resist tliis aggression, Henry de Percy was 
 appointed commander-in-chief under the king, and John de Lancastre was required 
 Rot. to assist liim with all tlie horses and arms in his power. At the same time, two 
 
 34Edw.i. writs were adcbessed to the sheriff of Lancaster: the first, requii-ing liim to make 
 purveyance of corn, &c. for the king's army, at the public cost ; and the second, a 
 letter to the sheriff, archbishops, and other prelates, as well as to women who owed 
 military sernce, ordering them to send their substitutes to Carlisle, in fifteen days 
 from the Nativity of St. John Baptist, or to appear at the exchequer, and make fine 
 for the same. 
 
 * According to Sir Edward Coke, the judges of trailbaston were a sort of Justices in Eyre; and 
 it is said, they had a baston, or staff, delivered to them as the badge of their office ; so that whoever 
 was brought before them was iraile ad baston, iraditus ad baculum ; whereupon they had the name 
 of justices de trail baston, or justiciarii ad tradendum offendentes ad baculum vel baston. Their 
 office was to make inquisition through the kingdom on all officers and others, touching extortion, 
 bribery, and such like grievances ; of intruders into other men's lands, barretors, robbers, and 
 breakers of the peace, and divers other offenders ; by means of which inquisitions, some were 
 punished with death, many by ransom, and the rest flying the realm, the land was quieted, and the 
 king gained riches tovs^ards the support of his wars. Mat. Westm. anno 1305.— A commission of 
 trailbaston vfas granted to Roger de Gray, and others, his associates, in the reign of king Ed. III. 
 Spelm. 
 
 11 in.
 
 Coimtp ^3nlntmc of iCnnrnstcr. 273 
 
 In the Dilclst of all tliis hostility, the Scots and the English were not inrlisposed chap. 
 
 to indulge in then- ancient games of the jousts and the toiu'naincnts. Tlie indulgence L_ 
 
 in these pastimes was thought hy the Idng to indicate a degi-ee of le\ily and fami- 
 liarity inconsistent ■with the relative situation of the two countries; and hence two 
 proclamations Avere addressed to the sheriff of Lancashu'C, requiring liim to 
 announce, that any persons who should engage in these sports until the Scottish war Rot. 
 was terminated, would be liable to ai-rest, and that their lands and goods would be 34 i:.iw. i. 
 
 T • 1 1 • 1 1 1 ni. 5. cl. 
 
 seized mto the iang s liantls. 
 
 From Preston the king marched at the head of one of the most powerful annies Marches 
 ever seen in Laucashii'e, to Carlisle, and from thence into Scotland. The final con- Scotland. 
 flict now approached. Bruce, Avho had procured himself to be proclaimed king, 
 and had been crowned in the abbey of Scone by the bishop of St. Anih-ews, met 
 the English army at Methven, iu Perthsliire, where a general engagement took Conquers 
 place, which ended in the entire overthrow and cUspersion oi the Scots. A number try. 
 of the most distinguished men in the country were taken by the English, and 
 executed by order of Edward, as traitors ; but Robert Bruce escaped with his life, 
 and took shelter, along with a few of his followers, in the Western Isles. 
 
 To complete the conquest of Scotland, Robert de Lathum, Nicholas de Leyburn, 
 Will. Gentill, Alan le Norreys, and John de Kirlveby, clerk, commissioners of array 
 for the county of Lancaster, were ordered to levy one thousand foot sohliers in this 
 county, one hunched and fifty of them from the liberty of Blackburushire, and the 
 remainder from the other parts of the county. This force, when collected, was 
 ordered to advance in pursuit of Robt. de Brus, into the marches of Scotland, 
 Avhere he was lurking. But iu the mean time, the king, in the midst of all liis glory. Death of 
 was seized with a mortal siclmess at Carlisle, and there he sun-endered hmiseli to in iiie 
 
 north. 
 
 the universal conqueror. 
 
 One of the legacies left by Edward I. to his successor, was the recently subdued Rot. Pat. 
 Idngdom of Scotland ; and, amongst the first acts of the neAv monarch, we find Avrits p. i. in. an. 
 of miUtary service addressed to the sheriffs of the counties of Lancaster, Westmore- 
 land, Cumberland, and Northumberland, as well within their francliise as without, 
 commanding them to assist the custos, Johannes de Britannia, earl of Riclimond, 
 the king's lieutenaut in Scotlaud, with horses and arms, for the purpose of resisting 
 the malice and insolence of " Robertus de Brus," and his accomplices. Summonses Rot. Scoc. 
 
 2 Ed. II. 
 
 of a still more urgent nature were addressed in the following year to " VVulielmus m. is. d. 
 de Acre," " Mattheus de Redeman," and the sheriff of the county of Lancaster, 
 urging them to assemble together, with the men of the county, as well horse as foot, 
 and to take order for the defence of the Scotch marches, imder the command of 
 " GUbertus de Clare," earl of Gloucester and Hereford, 
 vol.. I. 2n 
 
 m 12.
 
 274 
 
 €i)t i^isitorj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 Kot. Scoc. 
 4 Ed. II. 
 ni. 13. 
 
 Fresh mi- 
 litary le- 
 vies de- 
 manded 
 from Lan- 
 cashire. 
 Hot. Scoc. 
 7 Ed. II. 
 m. 4. 
 
 Preva- 
 lence of 
 crime in 
 the coun- 
 ty- 
 Rot. Pat. 
 7 Ed. 11. 
 p. 2. m. 6. 
 
 Rot. 
 Claus. 
 8 Ed. II. 
 m. 14. d. 
 
 The pay of the forces was made with so much iiTegularity as to dismcline the 
 conscripts to the service; but in the year 1310, a commission of array was adthessed 
 to " Robertus de Leyburne" and " Mattheus de Redman," along with the sheriff of 
 the county, ordering, that three hunch-ed foot sohUers should be " elected," to muster 
 on the feast of the Nativity of the Vii-gin at Berwick -upon-T^^•eed, and from thence to 
 inarch against the Scots ; their wages to be paid to them by the sheriff, from the day 
 that they maixhed from the county of Lancaster, until then- arrival at the place of 
 muster. 
 
 The war with the Scots, so long protracted, was now drawing to a crisis. 
 Edward II. had placed himself at the head of the English army, and the commissioners 
 of aiTay called upon the inhabitants of Lancashii-e for a fresh levy of five hundred 
 men, while Yorkshii-e was required to contribute foiu- thousand, Derbyshire one 
 thousand, Nottinghamshii-e one thousand, Northumberland two thousand five hun- 
 cU-ed, and the other comities in a similar proportion, regulated, no doubt, 
 in some degi-ee, by their wealth and population. After due preparation, the 
 two armies met at Bannockburn. At first the event of the contest seemed dubious, 
 but the English having got involved amongst a number of covered pits prepiu-ed by 
 Bruce for their reception, theii- forces fell into disorder ; and the disasters of years, 
 suffered by the Scots during the reign of the first Edward, were retrieved in a single 
 day. The throne of Scotland was re-e.stabli.shed by this remarkable ^■ictory, Robert 
 Bruce reaped the reward of his valour in the loyalty and affection of his people, 
 and Edward returned to London to coerce his refi-actory barons, who appeared as 
 little cUsposed to submit to liis sway, as were the people he had so lately left in the 
 north. 
 
 The description given of the state of the county of Lancaster, as well as of other 
 parts of the country, at this period, in the royal proclamations, serves to shew to 
 what an extent insuborchnation and lawless outrage were carried. According to these 
 documents, malefactors of all classes, as well knights as others, were accustomed to 
 assemble unlawfully by day and by night, in large bodies, and to commit assaults, 
 and even murders, with impunity. To put an end to these excesses, commissioners 
 were appointed in Laucasliire, under the designation of conservators of the peace ; 
 and as a healing measure, a letter of credence was issued by the government to 
 " Nigellus Owhanlam," chief of escheats, requu-ing liun to obtain full faith for 
 " Edmundus le Botiller," justiciar, " Ricardus de Beresford," chancellor, and 
 " Magister Walterus de Jeslep," ti'easm-er of Ireland, who were empowered to 
 explain to the principal inhabitants certain matters relating to the king and the 
 kingdom. Similar letters were also addressed to " Walterus de Lacy," " Hugo de 
 Lacy," " Thomas Botiller," and others, whose influence was necessary to maintain
 
 ter. 
 
 Counti.) ^3alnttne of aanrastcr. 275 
 
 the public peace, under the combined pressure of war and of famine, with both of chai'. 
 which the county was at that time afflicted. 
 
 Tlie tide of invasion seemed now about to pour fi'om the north to the south, 
 and, instead of the levies being raised to march into Scotland, a commission was 
 appointed, whereby " Johannes de Maubray" was empowered to raise all the able- Hot. 
 bodied men in Lancaslm-e, between the ages of sixteen and sixty, for the purpose of lo Ed. ii. 
 resisting the Scots, in case they should invade tliis kingdom. Shortly after tlie 
 institution of this commission, a command was issued to " Thomas" carl of Lan- Rot. 
 castre, and to one hunch-ed and twenty-eight other individuals, usually considered lo Ed. u. 
 barons, or tenants in capite, ordering them to appear at Newcastle, prepared with 
 horses and arms, to proceed against " Rol^ertus de Brus." In the same year, a Rot. 
 writ of summons was addressed to Tliomas earl of Lancastre, and twelve other lo Ed. ii. 
 barons, convening them to meet at Nottingham, to hold a colloquium, to deliberate "' 
 upon matters of state vrith the pope's legate. 
 
 The state of society in Lancasjiire at this juncture called loudly for the appoint- Adam de 
 ment and intervention of conservators of the public peace. A species of civU war takes the 
 existed in the heart of the county. Adam de Banistre, of the house and family of against 
 Thomas earl of Lancaster, in order to ingi-atiate liimself with the king, and to avert Lancas- 
 the consequences of his own crimes, invaded the lands of the earl. Having erected 
 the royal standard between the Ribble and the Mersey, in opposition to his feudal 
 lord, he declared that the earl ■wished to control the king in the choice of his 
 ministers, wliich he disapproved ; and numbers of others, friends to higli prerogative, 
 embarked in his cause. Having entered the earl's castles, they supplied themselves 
 with money and arms, wliich had been deposited there for the use of the soldiers 
 who were appointed to march against the Scots. In this way about eight huncked 
 aimed men Avere collected, when the earl, hearing of the hostile enterprise, inune- 
 diately ordered his knights and vassals into the field. This force did not exceed six 
 hundi-ed men ; but they marched vvitliout delay against the insurgents, and, having 
 come up with them in the neighbourhood of Preston, they divided themselves into 
 two bodies. The force under De Banistre did not wait to be attacked, but fell 
 furiously upon tlie first division of the earl's men, which began to give way, when, 
 the second division coming up, the fortune of the day Avas clianged, and Adam 
 and his followers took to flight, many of them having been killed by wounds in then- 
 back, received in their precipitate retreat. For some tune, De Banistre, their 
 leader, concealed himself in his barn; but being closely beset by liis enemies, and 
 abandoning all hope of escape, he took courage from despaii-, and boldly opposed 
 himself to his foes, of whom he killed several, and desperately wounded many 
 others ; at length, finding it impossible to take liuu alive, his assailants slew 
 
 2 n2
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 His fate. 
 
 Rot. Scoc. 
 12 Ed. II. 
 m. 6. 
 
 Fresh 
 writs of 
 railitary 
 service. 
 
 Rot. 
 Claus. 
 13 Kd. II. 
 m. 20. d. 
 
 Rot. 
 Claus. 
 13 Ed. II. 
 m. 15. 
 
 Rut. Fin. 
 13 Ed. II. 
 
 m. 0. 
 
 War of 
 the liarons 
 under 
 'J'liumas 
 earl of 
 Lancas- 
 ter. 
 
 Rot. Pat. 
 15 Ed. II. 
 p. 2. m. 25. 
 
 276 €\)t ?l)i5torj) of t\)t 
 
 liiin, and, liaviiig cut oflF liis head, jn-esented it to the earl as a trophy. 
 Accorchno- to aii ancient indictment, hereafter to be inserted, the battle between 
 Adam de Bauistre and liis adherents, and the adherents of the earl of Lancaster, 
 took place near Preston, in the valley of the Ribble ; and the victors so far 
 foro-ot their duty to their lord, and then- allegiance to the king, that they entered 
 the hundred of Leylaud, and robbed and despoiled various of the inhabitants, 
 of property to the amount of five thousand pounds — an uumense sum in the four- 
 teenth century, when, as we have seen, a bushel of wheat sold for nine-pence, and 
 the yearly value of good arable land did not exceed sixpence per acre. 
 
 The necessities of the state still continued urgent, and a commission of array 
 Avas issued, for levying the follov. ing bodies of foot soldiers in the north : — 
 
 In Lancashii-e 1000 
 
 Cumberland 1000 
 
 Northiunberland 2000 
 
 Westmoreland 1000 
 
 Yoik.sliire 10,000 
 
 To support these enormous levies, it became necessary to resort to extraordinary 
 means, and writs were addressed to tlie mayors of Lancaster, Preston, and Wigan, 
 as well as to all the other principal towns hi tlie kingdom, soHcitiug them to send 
 the king as much money as they conld possibly afford, to carry on the almost 
 interminable war with Scotland. Tliis corporate contribution, or " Loyalty Loan," 
 as it was probably called in that day, was independent of the collection of the 
 eighteenths, wliich was proceeding along with it contemporaneously ; for we find in 
 the records a Avrit, addressed to the collectors and assessors of the rates, directing 
 them to stay the collection in Lancasliii-e, as to those persons who had thek property 
 destroyed from the invasion of the Scots, but specifically providing that they alone 
 should be exempted. The levy for the scutage, in respect of the general summons 
 of the array against the Scots, was also continued, and fixed at the rate of two 
 marks for each shield or knight's fee, in Lancashii'e. 
 
 In the turbulent and disastrous reign of the second Edwai'd, the invasion of the 
 enemy fi'om without was aggravated by the wars of the barons du-ected against the 
 royal favourites within the kingdom. We have already seen,* in that department of 
 our history of Lancasliii-e which relates to its ancient barons, that Thomas earl of 
 Lancaster, after having headed tlie barons against Piers Gaviston, made a further 
 attempt, by force of arms, to remove the De Spencers fi-om the royal councils. 
 While this war was pending, a commission was issued to ai-rest and take " Thomas" 
 earl of Lancaster, and ten others, liis principal associates in rebellion ; and a Anit 
 
 * Paffe 127—130.
 
 Countj) ^3alatnie of iCancnstfr. 277 
 
 was at the same time addressed by the king to the sheriffs of Nottingham and chai'. 
 Derby, commancUng him to raise the " hue-and-cry" against the earls of Lancaster ^ 
 and Hereford, and other rebels, then- adherents, and to biing them to condign Rot. 
 p\mishment. Tlie fatal battle of Boroughbridge siin-endered the earl of Lancaster, islEd. ii. 
 and his followers, into the Idng's possession ; and the hand of the executioner, with 
 the dehnquent's face turned to Scotland, to incUcate that he Avas in league vrilh the His fate. 
 Scotch rebels, terminated his career, witliout allaying the general discontent. 
 
 Although it does not appear that the county of Lancaster was the actual scene 
 of any of the conflicts between the barons and the king's forces, yet levies of troops 
 were called for in the county, to aid the earl's enterprise ; and, in a memorandmn 
 of the delivery of the prisoners confined in the king's niarshalsea, and in the castle 
 of York, some of whom had been taken in ai-ms against the king, and others had 
 sun'endered at discretion, in all about two hundred principal men, it is stated, that 
 " Nicholas de Longford," of the county of Lancaster, was fined two hundi'ed 
 marks, and that " Ricardus de Pontefracte," " Robertus de Holand," " Johannes de 
 Holand," and " Ricardus de Holand," found security for their good behaviour. 
 Tiiere is also preserved an ancient inquisition, taken at Wigan, of which the follow- 
 ing is a copy, tending stUl furtlier to shew, that neither the laity nor the clergy of 
 the county of Lancaster were indifferent spectators of the contest by which the 
 kingdom was at that time agitated : — 
 
 R^'iNrdi"'^''™™') Inquisition taken before the king at Wigan, in the county of 
 '^2^n"i "' 5 Lancaster, in his presence, and at his command. 
 
 West Derby. — Tlie jurors of the Wapentake present, that, " GilbeHiis de 
 Suthen-oriJi," 15Ed. H., sent two men at anus at his own expense, to help the i32i 
 Earl of Lancaster against the King; viz. "Johannes filius lioberti le TaUlour de 
 Wynequik" and " Ricardus de Plnmpton," and that he also abetted many other 
 persons in aiding the Earl against the Kuig. 
 
 The said " Gilbcrtus," being in court, puts liimself upon the country, and is 
 acquitted by the jury. 
 
 The jurors present, that, "Robertus de Cliderhou,"' parson of tlie Church of 
 Wygan, who, for thii-ty years, was a clerk of the Chancery, and afterwards Eschea- 
 tor " citra Trentam," has committed the following offences : — 
 
 Tliat he sent two men-at-arms, well armed, atIz. " Adam de Clidcrhou," his son, 
 and "Johannes fil. Johannis de Knolle," to assist the Earl of Lancaster 
 against the King, and with them four able-bodied foot soldiers, armed with
 
 278 Clje li'stoii) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. sAVords, daggers, bows and an-ovvs. That, on a certain high festival, he preached 
 
 ^^ ' to liis parishioners and others, in his Church at Wigan, before all the people, 
 
 tellino- them that they were the liege men of the Earl, and bound to assist 
 him against the King, the cause of the Earl being just, and that of the King 
 unjust. By means of which harangues, many persons were incited to turn 
 against the King, avIio otherAnse would not have done so. 
 
 And the said " Robertus,'" being present in Court, and arraigned, says, that on a 
 certain feast day, when preaching in his Church, he exhorted his parishioners to 
 pray for the King, and for the peace of the kingdom, and for the Earls and 
 Barons of the land; and lie denies sending any men at arms or foot soldiers ; 
 and he puts himself upon the Country, — he is found guilty by the Jury, of the 
 offences charged in the indictment, — and is committed to prison. 
 
 Afterwards, thirteen Manucaptors undertake to produce Imn on Monday after the 
 Octaves oj St. Martin, under the penalty of 1,000 marks, and they also under- 
 take to answer for any fine, &c. 
 
 On Avhich day, the said " Robertus" appears in court, and submits to a fine of 
 £200. 
 
 Though a truce had been concluded between England and Scotland, the war was 
 
 continued with little intermission ; and in a commission for raising fresh levies in 
 
 this and the other counties, it is said, that, after the conclusion of the truce, the Scots 
 
 had invaded the kingdom, and that Thomas, late earl of Lancaster, and his adlierents, 
 
 (" whose malice is now quelled,") had entered into treasonable conspiracy with 
 
 Rot. Pat. them. The commissioners of array for the county of Lancaster, under the com- 
 
 p"u t.^.^: mission, were, " Richard de Hoghton," " Johan Travors," and " Thomas de 
 
 Lathum," to whom the duty was confided of anning the forces of the county, and 
 
 marching them to their destination. 
 
 ijot. The disorders of the tunes had filled the prisons of Lancashire with inmates, and 
 
 iT^iid. II. writs were addressed from Kii-kham, to the constables of the castles of Liverpool, 
 
 111. 40. <i. jj(jj.jji)y^ fi^(j Clithcroe, (but not of Lancaster,) chrecting them to keep the 
 
 17 Ed. li. prisoners in their respective castles, in safe custody. At the same time a commis- 
 
 (i- sion was issued, under the royal seal, whereby Johannes do AVeston, jun., marshal 
 
 of the household, was empowered to pursue, arrest, and take " Willielmus de Brad- 
 
 shagh" and " Ricardus de Holland," the leaders of chsorderly bodies of armed men, 
 
 who committed gi-eat depredations in the county of Lancaster. This Willielmus de 
 
 Bradshagh soon after appears to have been restored to the royal favour ; for in the 
 
 Rot. Vas. foUoAving year we find a writ addressed to him, stating, that the king has ordained, 
 
 ■n. iiVd. ' that " Johan," earl of Warrenne, and others, shall proceed to Lancashire with an
 
 Coimtp ^alatnif of aanraeitcr, 279 
 
 armed force, for its protection, (against the Scotch invaders, no doubt,) and that chai'. 
 
 " Bradshagh" sliall be one of the commissioners of public protection, " 
 
 The return of the sheriff to a ^mt issued for that purpose, serves to shew, that 
 
 the great landed proi)rietors were, at tlie early part of tlie fourteenth century, very 
 
 few in number : it is as follows : — 
 
 ,, T T 1 • < 1 3 Knights and 
 
 " In Lancaslure, ' ° 
 
 (.51 Men at arms. 
 " All the above hold lands to the amount of £15 per annum." 
 
 According to a presentment made in the hundred of West Derby, it would Present- 
 appear that the sheriffs, in these days, were often remiss in their duty, and that against 
 " WUhelmus de Gentil," and " Henricus de Maltou," his predecessor in office, 
 suffered certain notorious thieves to be set at liberty upon manucajjtion, though their 
 crimes were not mainpernable accorcUng to the law ; and that 0T\'ing to the laxity of 
 tlieir administration of the law, several persons in the wapentake avoided making pre- 
 sentment of other notorious thieves, to the injury of the peace, and the danger of the 
 property of then- honest and well-disposed neiglibours. Norwas this all ; they returned 
 ceitain persons as jurors, and on inquests, without giving them warning; and " Gentil" Rot. piac. 
 so far presumed upon his office, as to arrogate to himself the election of knights of the m. 72. 
 shire ; " whereas," as the instrument charging him Avith these manifold delinquen- 
 cies very properly observes, " they ought to have been elected by the county." 
 
 The intrigues of the barons were still actively at work against the king and the 
 royal favourites, the De Spencers ; and Henry, earl of Lancaster, the brother and 
 heu- of earl Thomas, entered into that conspiracy by which Edward was 
 dethroned. The ill fortune of this weak monarch having precipitated him from The king 
 a throne to a prison, the earl of Lancaster became his gaoler in the castle of ed. 
 Kenilworth. The mildness and humanity of the earl's character iU suited him fiie caii 
 
 . of Lan- 
 
 for this office, wluch he was ordered by Mortimer, the gallant of the perficUous caster 
 queen, to surrender into the hands of Mautravers and Gournay, under whose direc- 
 tion, if not actually by their hands, the wretched Edward, after having been exj)osed 
 to every possible insult and privation, was throAvii upon a bed, and a red-hot iron Edward 
 having been forced up his body, he was consigned to death, under agonies so excru- rousiy" 
 elating, that Ids shrieks proclaimed the atrocious deed to all the guards of the castle. """'''^''^''• 
 
 One of the first acts of Edward IIL was, to reverse the attainder of Thomas 
 earl of Lancaster, and to place his brother Henry in possession of the princely 
 inheritance of that illustrious house.* 
 
 But here we must pause, to take a survey of the landed property of the county 
 of Lancaster, and the tenures l)y wliich it was held in tlie early part of the fourteenth 
 ' * See page 134.
 
 280 CI)f 2?i5torj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, century, as deduced in tlie "Testa de Nevill." Of this book it is said, in the 
 ^"' Records published by liis majesty's commissioners, that "in the khig's remembran- 
 cer's office of the court of exchequer, are preserved two ancient books, called the 
 Testa de Nevill, or Liber Feodorum, which contain principally an account — 
 
 " 1st. Of fees holden either immediately of the Iving, or of others who held of the 
 king in caplte. 
 
 " 2d. Of serjeanties holden of the king. 
 
 " 3d. Of widows and heiresses of tenants iw capite, whose mai'riages were in the 
 gift of the king. 
 
 " 4th. Of churches in the gift of the Idng, and in whose hands they were. 
 
 " 5th. Of escheats, as well of the lands of Normans as others, in whose hands 
 the same were. 
 
 " 6th. Of thanage, forestry, and other peculiar services and tenures. 
 
 " Tlie entries specifically entitled Testa de Nevill, foi-m comparatively a very 
 small part of the whole. A part of a roU, bearing that name, is extant in the 
 chapter-house at Westminster, consisting of five small membranes, containing ten 
 counties, of which Lancashire is one. The roll appears to be of the age of Edwd. L, 
 and these books to have been compiled neai* the close of the reign of Edwd. IL, or 
 the commencement of that of Edward III., pai-tly from inquests on presentments, 
 and partly from inquisitions on vmifi to sherifl"s." 
 
 The following is a tolerably copious extract and analysis of the contents of the 
 Testa de Neville, so far as relates to the county of Lancaster, which may answer 
 any popular pui"pose, reser\'ing the oflicial return itself for the Appendix to these 
 volumes : — 
 
 \. Fees held in chief of the King, &c. 
 
 Fees in " Agiies de Clopwayt, in Blothelay, Alex de Kyrkeby, Ormus de Kelet, Henr. de 
 
 jiig^i'j,^ Waleton, in TFaleton, Adam Girard, Luke Pointus de Dereby, in Dereby, Adam de Hehne- 
 lesdal, in Crossehy, Quenilda de Kirkdale, in Fornehy, Robert Banastr, Robert de Cl3rton, 
 in Ley land Hundred, Ahi'ard de Aldholm, in Vernet, Hug. le Norrays, in Blakerode, 
 Edwin Carpentar, in Kadewaldesir, Rich de Hilton, in Salford Hundred, Alan de Singleton, 
 in Blackhurn Hundred, and Amoundernesse, Rich. Fitz Ralph, in Singleton, John de 
 Oxeclive, in O.vcumhe, Roger Carpentar, in Lancaster, Robert Seertne, in Sutherton, Ra. 
 Barun, John Oxecli\'e, Oxeclive, Robert, the constable of Hoiferton, in Hofferton, Adam 
 Fitz Gilemichel, in Sclitie, Rog. Carpentar, in Lancaster, Rob. de Shertnay, in Skerton, 
 Rad. Balrun, in Balrun, W. Gardinar, in Lancaster, Walter Smith, in Hefeld, Rog. 
 Gernet, in Hulton, Will. Gernet, in Heschin, Will. & Benedict de Gersingham, in 
 Gressingham, Margery, widow of Barnard Fitz Barnard, in Gressinglium.
 
 Coimti) palatine of Stanrastn-. 281 
 
 " The Earl of Ferars, in the wapentake of Derhij, (and he has sub-tenants,) Almaric CHAP. 
 Butler, who has the following sub-tenants — Gilb. de Kulchet, in Culcheth, Alan de Rixton, '__ 
 
 in Richston and Astley, Will, de Aderton, in Atherton, Robt. de Mamelisbury, in Sonky, Fees in 
 Roger de Sonky, in Penketh, Earl de Ferrars in Hole Hulesale and IVymlul, Will, de thrkinR. 
 Waleton & Will, de Lydyathe in Lydiate & Hekagard, Rich. Blundea in Hyms and 
 Barton, Ad. de Molinous & Robt. Fitz Robt. in Thorinton; the heir of Robert Banaster in 
 Makerfeld, Wuleton §• Blakehiirnsliire, and has sub-tenants; Will, de Lanton & Rich, de 
 Golborn in Langton, Kejium & Herhury ; the Earl of Lincoln (Randolph Earl of Chester) 
 in Appleton & Crouton, of the Earl Ferar's fee; of the same fee are, Will, de Rerisbury 
 in Sutton & Eccleston, Robt. de Lathun in Knowsley, Hityton, and Torhock, Ad. de Moli- 
 neus in Little Crossly, Robt. de Rokeport, Rog. Gernet and Thorn de Bethem in Kyrkehy, 
 Sim. de Halsale in 3laghitl, Will, de Waleton in Kirhdale, Will, le Koudre in N^orth 
 Meols, Thom de Bethum & Robt. de Stokeport in Raven 3Ieols. 
 
 " Waren de Waleton in TFaleton, Ric. Banastre, Walt, de Hole, Ric. de Thorp, Will, 
 de Brexin, Thom de Gerstun, Sim. del Pul in Bretherton, Robt. de Cleyton in Clayton & 
 Pemvortham, the abbot of Cokersand in Hutton, Robt. Russel in Langton, Leyland, & 
 Eccleston, Robt. Banastre's heir in Shevington, Charnock, and Welch Whittle. 
 
 " John Punchardim in Little Mitton, Ad. de Blakeburn in TFisewall and Hapton, Henr. 
 Gedleng in Tunley, Caldcoats, & " Sn. Odiswrtli'," Ad. de Preston in Enttuistle, Ra. de 
 Mitten in Altham, Mearley, & Livesay, Robt. de Cestr' in Boiunham, John de Grigleston 
 in Kokerig, Will. Marshall in Little Mearley, Gilb. Fitz Henry in Rushton, Hugo Fitun in 
 Harewood, Thos. de Bethum in Warton, Will. Deps' in Preesall & Newton; Ric. de Fre- 
 kelton in Frekelfon, Qidntinghay, Newton & Eccleston, Gilb. de Moels, Rog. de Nettelag 
 & Will, de Pul in Freckelton, Alan de Singilton & Iwan de Frekelton in Freckelton,Wa.ren 
 de Quitinghay & Robt. de Rutton in Quitinghay, Alan de Singilton in Quitinghay, 
 Newton, & Elswick, Warin de Wytingham in Elswick — The heir of Theobald Walter in 
 JVytheton & Trevele, John de Thornbul, Will, de Prees, Rog. de Notesage, Ad. de Brete- 
 kirke. Will, de Kyrkeym, Robt. Fitz Thomas, & Will. Fitz William in Thisteldon, Preesall, 
 & Greenhalgh. Will, de Merton in Marlon ; Rog. Gernet, Thos. de Bethun, and Robt. 
 Stokeport in Bustard Rising. 
 
 " Adam de Bury in Bury, Robt. de Midelton in Middleton,Gilh. de Warton in Atherton, 
 the heir of Rich. Hilton in Pendleton ; Thomas de Gretley's tenants, Gilbert Barton in 
 Barton, Matthew Haversage in mt langton, Robt. de Lathum in Childwall, Parhold, and 
 TFrightington, Rich, le Pierpoint in Rumivorth, Will, de Worthinton in TVorthington, 
 Rog. de Pilkinton in Pilkington, Thos. le Grettley in Lindeshcy, in the honor of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 " Will, de Lancaster in Ulverston, Matthew de Redeman & Robt. de Kymyers in Yeland, 
 Lambert le Muleton in Roiitheclive, Rog. Gernet in Little Farleton, Robt. de Stokeport 
 in Gt. Farlton, Ad. de Eccliston, Will, de Molineus, Hug. de Mitton, Ric. de Katherale, 
 Hen. de Longeford in Eccleston, Leyrebreck, and Catterall, Ad. de Werninton in JVen- 
 nington. Hug. de Morwyc in Farleton & Cansfield, Henr. de Melling in Melling, Rich, de 
 Bikerstat in Helmes & Stotfaldechage; Adam Fitz Richard in Bold & Lawerke, Rich. Fitz 
 VOL. I. 2 O
 
 ties, 
 
 282 CfK llEitflfp Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. Martin in Ditton, Rich. Fitz Thurstan in T/iingwall, Tlios. de Bethum in Bootle, Rich, de 
 
 " Frequelton in Thorp, Rog. de Lacy, 5 knts. fees of the fee of Ciithero, Walter Fitz Osbert, 
 
 Fees in Will, de Wynewyck, Peter de Stalum, Elya de Hoton, the heir of Rog. de Hoton, Alan 
 
 the king. Fitz Richard & John de Billesburgh, tenants of the king, hut no place mentioned; Will. 
 
 de Nevilla in Kaskenemor, Morferth de Hulton in Pendleton, Ric. de Midleton in 
 
 Chetham, Edwin Carpentar in Cadwalesate, Ada de Prest^vych in Prestivych Sf 
 
 Failesworth, Hugh de Blakerode, by charter in Blakerode, Elias de Pennelbury in 
 
 Pendlehury and Chaddertoti, Robt. de Clifton in Clifton, Gospatric de Cherleton in 
 
 Chorleton, Henry de Chetham in Chetham, Will, de Bothelton, Gilbt. de Tonge in 
 
 Tonge, Rich, de Edburgham, the Abbot of Furness in Furness, Ad. Fitz Orm in Mid- 
 
 dleton, Walt, de Paries in Pulton, Will, de Hest in Middleton, the Prior of Lancaster 
 
 in Newton & Aldcliff, the Burgesses of Lane, in Lancaster, Nich. de Verdon in Kirkby, 
 
 Jarnord de Hilton in Pendleton.* 
 
 2. Serjeanties holden of the King. 
 
 Serjean- " Omi de Kellet, in Kellet, Rich, de Hulton, Wapentake of Salford, Roger Carpentar in 
 
 Lancaster, Roger Gernet in Fishivick, Lonesdale, & Wapent. of Derby, Alan de Singleton, 
 Will, de Newton; Ad. Fitz Orm in Kellet, Thos. Gernet in Hesham, John de Oxeclive in 
 OxcUffe, Robt. de Overton in Overton, Rog. de Skerton, Rog. Blundus in Lancaster, 
 le Gardiner in Lancaster, Rad. de Bollern in Bolrun, Thos. Fitz Ada in Gersingham, 
 Will. & Benedict, in Gersingham, Margery, widow of Bernard Fitz Bernard ; Walter 
 Underwater holds Milnejlet. Ad. Fitz Richard, in Singleton, by serjean ty of Amounder- 
 iiess, " Willoch' & Neuton" in Newton, Ad. de Kelleth, son of Orm in Kellet, Henr. de 
 Waleton in Walton, Wavertree & Newsham's, Edwin Carpentar in Cadwalslete, Hamo de 
 Macy & Hugo de Stotford in Scotforth, Rog. White & Gilbert Fitz Matthew in Lancaster, 
 Will. Fitz Dolfin & Will. Fitz Gilbert in Gersingham. The places are not mentioned after 
 the following names : Henry Fitz Siward, Robt. de Middleton, Rich. Fitz Henry, Gilbt. 
 de Croft, Hugo de Croft, Robt. Pierpoint, Adam de Relloc, & Rog. Fitz John ; Roger 
 Gernet in Halton, Rog. le Clerk in Fishivick, Baldewin de Preston in Fishwick, John Fitz 
 John in Fishwick, Alan and Rich, de la More in Fishwick, Rog. Fitz Viman in Hesham, 
 Tliomas Gernet in Hesham, John de Toroldesholm in Torrisholm, Adam Gerold in Derby, 
 Ad. de Moldhal in Crosby, Robert de Curton in Querton, Rog. de Assart in Fishivick, Will. 
 Wachet in Fishwick, Will. & Agnes de Ferar, Salford, Clayton, and Neivshcmis, Gervas 
 Fitz Simon in Oaxlifi'e, Abbot of Cockersand in Bolrun, Brothers of St. Leonard at York 
 in Bolrun, the widow Christiana de Gersingham, Robt. & Will, de Bolrun the Prior of 
 Lancaster, Will, le Gardiner & Adam Gernet in J5o/n<H, Rog. Fitz William, Will. Fitz 
 Thomas, Will. & Matilda de Paries in Torrisholme, Rad. Bolun in BoV, Margery del 
 Beck in Halghton, Robert Seertne in Sutherton. 
 
 ' The " Testa de Nevill" mentions several tenants in chief, whose lands, though held of the 
 honor, are not in the county of Lancaster, and which are omitted here.
 
 Countp palatine of 3i.anca£itfi» 
 
 283 
 
 3. Widows and Heieesses of Tenants in capite, whose Marriages chap. 
 WERE in the Gift of the King.* 
 
 " Alicia dr. of Galfr. de Gersinarham, Christiana dr. of same Alicia & Thomas de Ger- Widows 
 singham, Lady Elevvisa de Stutevill, Oliva, wid. of Rog. Montbegon, Queiulda wid. resses at 
 Rich. Walens, Margaret wid. Ad. de Gerstan, Waltania, wid. Rich. Bold, Beatrix de jjgposar 
 Milton, Quenilda, wid. Rog. Gernet, Matilda de Thorneton, Avicia wid. Henr. de Stotford, 
 Avicia wid. Rog. de Midelton, Eugenia wid. Will, de Routhclive, Eva de Halt, Matilda 
 dr. Nicholas de Thoroldeholm, Alicia the wid. of Nicholas, Emma the wid. of Nicholas, 
 Sarra de Boterhelton, Alicia wid. Rich. Fitz Robert, Cecilia wid. Turstan Banastr, 
 Quenilda dr. Richd. Fitz Roger, Matilda de Stokeport, Lady Ada de Furneys; wid. of 
 Gamell de Boelton, Matilda de Kellet, Agnes de Hesham, widow of Hugo de Oxeclive, 
 wid. Will. Gernet. 
 
 4. Churches in the Gift of the King, &c. 
 
 " Lancaster ; earl Roger de Poictiers gave it to the Abbot of Sees. 
 
 " Preston ; King John gave it to Peter Rossinol, who died, and the present King Henry 
 
 gave it to Henry nephew of the Bishop of Winton. Worth 59 marks per an. 
 " St. Michael upon Wyre ; the son of Count de Salvata had it by gift of the present King, 
 
 and he says, that he is elected into a bishopwrick, and that the church is vacant, and 
 
 worth 30 marks per an. 
 " Kyrkeham ; King John gave 2 parts of it to Simon Blundell, on account of his custody 
 
 of the son and heir of Theobald Walter. Worth 24 marks. 
 
 Churches 
 in the 
 king's 
 
 Rift. 
 
 5. Escheats of the Lands of Normans and others. Escheats. 
 
 " Merton, Aston, ' Henry de Nesketon holds of the king's escheats in the counties of 
 Warwick & Leicester, Nottingham and Derby, Lancashire, Cumberland, Westmorland 
 and Northumberland.' Fourteen bovates of land in Haskesmores, which Willm. de Nevill 
 held as escheats of our lord the king. 
 
 " Hugo le Norreys holds a carucate of land in Blakerode, which is an escheat of the 
 king, to whom he pays a yearly rent of 20s. 
 
 * See Chap. II. on Feudal Tenures, " Marcheta Mulierum," p. 81. — If the land-holder left only 
 daughters, the king had the profits of relief and wardship ; and had also, if they were under the age 
 of fourteen, the tight of disposing of them in marriage. This power was said to be vested in the 
 king, in order to prevent the heiresses that were his tenants, from marrying persons that were of 
 doubtful affection to him, or that were incapable and unfit to do the services belonging to the land. He 
 had also a power of disposing of his male wards in marriage, whose parents had died when they were 
 under twenty-one, though without such good reasons for it. But this power of disposing of wards 
 of either sex in marriage, as well as the right of wardships, was afterwards very much abused, and 
 was therefore taken away by the statute of 12 Car. II., together with the tenure itself by military, or 
 (as it was usually called) knight's service. 
 
 2o2
 
 284 
 
 €l)t fd^tov^ of tl)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 VII. 
 
 Peculiar 
 services 
 and te- 
 nures. 
 
 6. Thanage,* Forestry, and other peculiar Services and Tenures. 
 
 " Thomas & Alicia de Gersingham, by keeping the king's hawks in Lonsdale ; Luke 
 Pierpoint, by keeping an aery; Adam de Hemelesdale, by constabulary at Crosby; 
 Quenilda de Kirkdale, by conducting royal treasure ; Richd. Fitz Ralph, by constabulary 
 of Singleton ; John de Oxeclive, by being carpenter in Lancaster castle ; Adam Fitz Gil- 
 mighel, by being the king's carpenter ; Roger Carpentar, by being carpenter in Lancaster 
 castle ; Rad. Barun, by being mason in Lancaster castle ; Rad. Babrun, the same ; Walter, 
 son of Walter Smith, by forging iron instruments ; Roger Gernet, by being chief forester ; 
 Willm. Gernet, by the service of meeting the king on the borders of the county with his horse 
 and white rod, and conducting him into and out of the county ; he holds 2 carucates of land 
 in Heskin; Willm. & Benedict de Gersingham, by forestry; Gilbert Fitz Orm, by paying 
 annually 3d., or some spurs to Benedict Gernett, the heir of Roger de Heton, in thanage ; 
 
 * Thanage Service. — Thane, from the Saxon thenian, ministrare, was the title of those who 
 attended the Saxon kings in their courts, and who held their lands immediately of those kings ; and 
 therefore they were promiscuously called thani et servientes regis, though, not long after the Con- 
 quest, the word was disused ; and instead thereof, those men were called Barones Regis, who, 
 as to their dignity, were inferior to earls, and took place after bishops, abbots, barons, and knights. 
 There were also thani minores, and these were likewise called barons : these were, lords of manors, 
 who had a particular jurisdiction within their limits, and over their own tenants in their own courts, 
 which to this day are called Courts Baron : but the word signifies sometimes a nobleman, some- 
 times a freeman, sometimes a magistrate, but, more properly, an officer or minister of the king. 
 " Edward King grete mine Biscops, and mine Earles, and all mine Thynes, on that shiren, v/lier 
 mine Prestes in Paulus Minister habband land." — Chart. Edw. Conf. Pat. 18 H. VI. m. 9. 
 per Inspect. 
 
 In an Anglo-Saxon writ of William the First, quoted by Spelman from an Abbotsbury MS. the 
 term Thegena occurs in the same sense. 
 
 In thanage of the king, signified a certain part of the king's lands or property, whereof the ruler 
 or governor was called thane. — Cowell. 
 
 Buchanan says. In former times there was no name of honour higher than the order of knighthood, 
 except that of thane, which meant the prefect or governor of a country, and judge of capital oflFences ; 
 which, I understand, is still observed by the Danes. — Hist. Scot.fol. 59. 20. 
 
 In the early periods of the history of this country, the payments of the thanes were made regularly 
 into tlie public treasury by the sherifl's, distinctly in the name of this class ; hence we find, that in 
 13 Henry III. the thanes of the county of Lancaster, through the sheriff, paid a composition of fifty 
 marks, to be excused from the tailliage or assessment, which the king, in the exercise of his absolute 
 authority, had imposed upon his people. — Thayni de Comitatu Lancastriae, reddunt compotum de 
 1 marcis, ut quieti sint hac vice de tallagio, quod Rex super eos assidere prsecepit. Mag. Rot. 
 13 Hen. III. titulo Lancastr (ia). Idem Vicecomes (sc. Willelnius de Vesci) reddit compotum de 
 quater xx. & xvi. libris, de Dono Militum & Tainorum. Mag. Rot. 5 Hen. II. Rot. 2. h. Tit. 
 Northumberland Nova Placita & Novoe Conventiones. In 3 John, the " Theigni and fermarii" of 
 the honor of Lancaster, had paid a composition of fifty marks to be exonerated from crossing the sea. 
 (Mag. Rot. 3 John. Rot. 20. a.)
 
 CountL' ^3alntinr of annragtrr. 285 
 
 Heir of Robt. Fitz Barnard, in thanagc ; Rog. de Leycester, by paying 8s. & 2 arrows CHAF. 
 
 yearly; Adam Fitz Rice & Alan Fitz Hagemuiul, in drengage ; Riclid. de Gerardin, in 
 drengage ;* Gillemuth de Halitton, in drengage; Adam de Glothic, Will, do Nevilla, Rey- 
 ner de Wambwallc, Gilbert de Norton, Rog. de Midelton, Adam de Pikinton, Will, de 
 Redeelive, Adam de Prestwich, Elias de Penilbury, Will. & Rog. Fitz William, Henr. de 
 Chatham, Alured de Ives, Thomas de Burnul, Adam de Pemberton, Adam de Railing, 
 Gilbert de Croft, Gilbert de Kelleth, Matell de Kelleth, Thos. Gerneth, William de Hest, 
 and William, son of Rich, de Tatham, all in thanage ; John de Thoroldesholm, by larde- 
 nery; Rog. de Skerton, by provostry ; Robt. de Oveston, by provostry ; Rog. White and 
 Edward Carpenter, by Carpentry ; Roger Fitz John, by making the king's iron ploughs ; 
 Will. Fitz Matthew, by gardenry; Rad. de Botran, by masonry; the burgesses of Lan- 
 caster, in free-burgage and by royal charter ; the Prior and monks of Seaton, by roj"al 
 charter ; Thomas Fitz Adam, Will. Fitz Dolfin, & Willm. Fitz Gilbert, by forestry ; 
 Peter de Mundevill, by service of one "berachet" of one colour ; prior of Wingal, by he 
 knows not what service ; Lady Hillaria Trussebut, by no service, and she knows not by 
 what warrant ; Henr. de Waleton, by being head Serjeant or bailiff of the hundred of 
 Derbj'shire ; Galfr. Balistrar', by presenting two cross-bows to the king ; Will. Fitz 
 William, by presenting one hrachet, one velosa, and two lintheamina ; the serjeanty of 
 Hetham, Avhich Roger Fitz Vivian holds, by blowing the horn before the king at his 
 entrance and exit from the county of Lancaster ; Thomas Gernet, in Hesham, by sounding 
 the horn on meeting the king on his arrival in those parts ; Will. Gresle, by presenting a 
 bow without string, a quiver, twelve arrows, and one buzon ; Will. Fitz Waukelin, by 
 presenting one soaring hawk ; Hervi Gorge, by presenting one plough, one Unthola, one 
 velusa, and one auricular ; Roger and Hugh de Auberville, by keeping one hawk." 
 
 In addition to these peculiar services and tenures of the feudal times, many of 
 Avhicli sound strangely in modern ears, several religious bouses are enumerated 
 whicli held in pure frank alms ; and a still larger number of persons wbo held by 
 donation, in consideration of annual rents, as will be seen on reference to the 
 " Testa de Nevill." 
 
 See chapter on Feudal Tenures, " Drenches," p. 82. 
 
 VII.
 
 286 
 
 C&e %}i^tov\> of tin 
 
 Representative history of the county of Lancaster — Hitherto neglected. — Ancient constitution of 
 Parhaments. — The dawn of parhanientary representation. — The reform parliament of Oxford, called 
 parliamenlum insanwn. — First appointment of knights of the shire. — Constitution of the parliament 
 of Oxford. — Its acts. — First writ for the payment of members of parliament. — Opposition given 
 to the ancient parliamentary reform. — Borough members first sent to parliament. — How elected. — 
 First members for the county of Lancaster, and for its boroughs. — First parliamentary return for 
 Lancashire, extant. — First parliamentary writ of summons for Lancashire, extant. — Returns in the 
 reign of Edward L — Number of counties, boroughs, &c. then returning members. — Duration of 
 the session of parliament. — Frequent parliaments. — Members returned for the county of Lan- 
 caster in the reign of Edward II. — Lancashire borough returns in this reign. — ^The high sheriff" of 
 Lancashire assumes the power to elect members for the county. — Presentment against him for this 
 and other ofTences. — Lancashire county members in the reign of Edward III. — The duration of 
 parliaments. — False return for the county made by the under-sheriflPs. — The king, and not the com- 
 mons, decides on disputed elections. — Peers of parliament temporal and spiritual. — The boroughs 
 of Lancashire cease to return members. — The reason assigned. — Payment of the wages of mem- 
 bers of parliament. — Returns in the reign of Richard II. — Writ of summons, not to the 
 sheriff, but to John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. — Members for the county in the reign of Henry 
 IV. — The lack-learning parliament. — Lancashire members in the reign of Henry V. — of Henry 
 VI. — Qualification of electors for knights of the shire fixed. — County members in the reign of 
 Edward IV. — Returns lost from 17 Edward IV. to 33 Henry VIII. — County members from 
 1 Edward VI. to 16 Charles I. — The ancient Lancashire boroughs, consisting of Lancaster, 
 Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan, resume the elective franchise 1 Edward VI. — Newton and 
 Clitheroe added to the boroughs of Lancashire. — Nomination boroughs. — Dame Packington's 
 nominees. — Claim of the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster to nominate members for Leicester. 
 — Representation of Lancashire during the commonwealth. List of knights of the shire for the 
 county of Lancaster, from the Restoration to the present time. Political character of the county 
 representation. Alterations made in the representation of the county and boroughs of Lancashire 
 by the Reform Bill of 1831. 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 Repre- 
 sentative 
 history of 
 Lanca- 
 shire 
 hitherto 
 neglected. 
 
 E have now arrived at tliat period when the 
 representative system began to prevail in the 
 English parliament, and when this county, by 
 its freeholders and burgesses, obtained the 
 privilege of returning members to the senate, 
 tharged with the duty of making known the 
 public will in that assembly, in order to promote 
 the interest of the gi-eat commimity for wliich 
 it legislates. None of the English counties 
 presents a more interesting representative his- 
 tory than the county of Lancaster; and yet tliis subject has liitherto been either 
 entirely neglected, or has been treated in so vague and desultory a manner,
 
 Counti.' |3alntmr of aanrnstrr. 287 
 
 as to have neither uniformity nor connexion. To supply this deficiency, much chai». 
 
 . . VIII 
 
 laboui- has been required in cxamiuhig and collating the public records; but L 
 
 that labour has been amply rewarded by the mass of facts which these documents 
 contain, and by the satisfaction wliich is generally found to flow from the fouutahi 
 head of authentic information. 
 
 So early as the Saxon heptarchy, a species of parliament existed, as Ave have Ancient 
 already seen, under the designation of the Witena-Gemot, or " Council of Wise ment's. 
 Men," by whom the laws were enacted. This assembly consisted of the comites or 
 eaiis, the herecUtary representatives of counties, assisted by the prelates and abbots, 
 and the tenants in capite of the crown by knight's ser^dce. Tlie disposition of such 
 an assembly would naturally incline them to sanction the edicts of the sovereign; and 
 it is highly probable that liis Avill generally served as theii* law. 
 
 After the Conquest, the first William, and his immediate descendants, called to 
 then* " Great Council," the Norman barons and the dignified clergy, Avith tlie 
 mihtary tenants. This council, or " King's Court," as it Avas called, (the tenn 
 Parliament not having then come into use,) assembled tlu-ee times in the year, 
 namely, at Christmas, Easter, and Wliitsuntide. 
 
 The barons and other tenants in chief of the king, enimierated in Domesday 
 Book, amount to about scAcn huucbed. These persons possessed all the land of 
 England in baronies, except that part which the king reserved in liis OAvn hands, and 
 which was called " Terra Regis," and has since been called the " ancient demesne" 
 of the crown. Tliese tenants in chief, per baroniam, as well the few w'ho held in 
 socage as those Avho held by military serA^ce, composed the gi-eat council, or parlia- 
 ment, in those times ; and Avere summoned by the king, though they had a right to 
 attend Avithout summons. The landoAATiers of the second, thu-d, and other inferior 
 classes, being all tenants, or vassals, of this upper class of landholders, though by 
 free and honourable tenures, similar to those by Avhich then- lords themselves held of 
 the king, were bound by the decisions of their upper lords. The landed interest 
 alone was represented in the national councils; there were at that time no representa- 
 tives, either of the cities, or boroughs, or of the trading interest, Avhich were consi- 
 dered too insignificant to be represented in the great council.* The representation 
 of such places was an innovation introduced iu the early part of the fourteenth 
 century by Simon de Montfort, and the reforming barons of Ins day. 
 
 It is true that these barons Avere actuated in some degi-ee by ambitious motives, The first 
 and that then- conduct partook of the revolutionary turbulence of the age in Avhich padia-°*^ 
 they lived; but they were the legitimate descendants of those illustrious pahiots, who rXm^ 
 AA-rung fiom king John the charter of British freedom. Tlie reforms they introduced 
 
 * Aichreologia, vol. ii. p. 310.
 
 288 
 
 CI)f W^tov^ of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, were parts of the same system; the one the natm-al efTect of the other, and both 
 
 VIII. 
 
 L flowing from tliat spiiit of " popular encroachment," which does not, and which 
 
 ought not, to rest, till its fair claims are satisfied. In this way the dictation of the 
 barons, and the discontents of the suhortHnate orders of society, were overcome ; and, 
 though in an age of comparative darkness, Edward I., the " Justinian of England," 
 whose sagacity enabled him to mark the signs of the times, did not hesitate to declare 
 in his Wilts to the sheriffs for the return of burgesses to parliament, " that it was 
 a most equitable rule, that that wliich concerns all should be approved of by all." The 
 best security against undue democratical encroachment, is to be found in the conces- 
 sion of those reasonable immunities which time and cuxumstances render necessary 
 to the improved state of society. By this temperate extension of the popular rights, 
 the Aisionary projects of John Ball and Wat Tyler, which soon after arose, were 
 defeated; and the representative system of England has remained ever since essen- 
 tially unaltered, till an enlargement of the elective franchise Avas rendered necessary 
 b}' the altered state of society in commerce and in manufactures. That five 
 centuries more will pass over before any new change will be required in the 
 constitution of parliament, it would be presumptuous to declare ; but all history 
 bears out the fact, that the best security against frequent changes is to be found in 
 those large and liberal grants to pojjular claims, which satisfy the reasonable, and 
 ■withcU'aw from the schemes of the visionary all the support they derive from public 
 sympathy, when mixed up with real and generally admitted giievances. It is 
 equally demonstrable from liistorical experience, that danger to the stability of a 
 government never arises from timely reforms, cheerfully acquiesced in on the part 
 of the governing powers, but that the great danger consists in a pertinacious resistance 
 of those ameliorations. 
 
 If the ancient house of Lancaster, instead of aiding the bai'ons in their efforts to 
 establish the representative system in England, seized upon and appropriated the 
 estates of the principal of them (the earl of Leicester and the earl of Derby,) to their 
 own use; it must be admitted that the modern duke of Lancaster has done more, and 
 with a better grace, than any monarch that ever swayed the British sceptre, to 
 extend and consolidate that system. 
 
 In the time of Henry III. abuses in the government had been suffered to accu- 
 mulate, tin, according to the contemporaiy liistorians, " justice itself was banished 
 from the realm; for the wicked devoured the righteous, the courtier the rustic, the 
 oppressor the innocent, the fraudulent the plain man, and yet all these tilings 
 remained unpunished. Evil counsellors wliispered into the ears of the princes, that 
 they were not amenable to the laws. The subject was oppressed in vaiious ways, 
 and, as if these sycophants had conspired the death of the king, and the destruction 
 
 Accumu- 
 lated 
 abuses in 
 the go- 
 vernment.
 
 Count!) ^aalatint of aanrasitfr* 289 
 
 of Ms throne, they encouraged him to disregard the devotion of liis people, and to chap. 
 incur their hatred rather than to enjoy their alfection,"* In adcUtion to tliese ^^^^' 
 grievances, the kingdom was deeply involved in deht, and the king stood in need of 
 fresh contrihutions to carry on liis wars, wliich the barons refused to gi-ant till the 
 public grievances were redressed. 
 
 Overwhelmed with difBcnlties, Henry issued his mandate for holding a parlia- The re- 
 ment at Oxford. Of this parliament, so celebrated in history, and particularly in Hamenrof 
 the representative liistory of England, it is recorded, that " the grandees of the ^^^°'"^' 
 realm, major and minor, with horses and arms, were convened at Oxford, together June n, 
 with the clergy, to make pro^dsion and reformation, and ordination of the realm: and '^'^' 
 on theii- oath of fidelity were exhibited the articles, which in the said realm stood in 
 need of coi-rection." This parliament, owing to the popular excitation under wliich 
 it was assembled, and to all the members coming di'essed in armour, and mounted as 
 for battle, obtained the name of parliamenium insanum ; but there was a method in their 
 machiess, and one of their first acts was to ordain, that four knights should be chosen First ap- 
 by each county, whose duty it should be to inquire into the giievances of the people, of 'knTghts 
 in order that they might be redi-essed, and that they should be returned to the next shhe! 
 parliament, to give infonnation as to the state of their respective counties, and to 
 co-operate in enactmg such laws as might best conduce to the public good. Some 
 approach had been made towards this state of things in the time of king John, when 
 the knights were appointed to meet in their several counties, and to present a detail 
 of the state of those counties to the great council ; but here they were not only to 
 present their complaints, but, by being made a component part of the legislative body, 
 they were to contribute from their local knowledge to the removal of those wi'ongs 
 which it was then- duty to present. 
 
 In this parliament at Oxford, twenty-four persons were elected; twelve on the Constitu- 
 part of the king, and as many on the pail of the community, for the refonnation of p'ariia- 
 public abuses, and the amendment of the state of the realm. Oxford. 
 
 " The elected on the part of the king " Tlie elected on the part of the barons 
 were — were — 
 
 The lord bishop of London, The lord bishop of Worcester, 
 
 The lord elect of Winton, Su- Simon, earl of Leicester, 
 
 Sfr Henry, son of the king of Almaine, Sir- Richard, earl of Gloucester, 
 
 Sii- John, earl of WaiTcnne, Su- Humplu-ey, eail of Hereford, 
 
 Sii- Guy de Lesignan, Sir Roger Mareschal, 
 
 * Ann. Burton, anno 1258, p. 424. 
 
 VOL. r. 2 p
 
 290 3EfK i^i^toi-j) of tftf 
 
 CHAP. Sii- Wm. (le Valence, Sii- Roger de Mortimer, 
 
 '^"^- Sir Jolin, earl of Wai-wick, Sii- Geoffiy Fitz-Geoflfry, 
 
 Sii- John Mansel, Sir Hugh le Bigot, 
 
 Friai- John de Derlinglon, Su- Richard le Grey, 
 
 Tlie ab])ot of Westminster, Su- WiUiam Bardulf, 
 
 Sii- Hugh de Wengham, Sii- Peter de Montfort, 
 
 [The twelfth is wanting.] Sir Hugh Despenser." 
 
 Their acts. Amongst a vai-iety of other decrees, the twenty-four enacted that the state of the 
 holy church be amended ; that a justiciar be appointed for one year, to be answerable 
 to the kino- and his council during liis term of oflSce ; that a treasurer of the exche- 
 quer be also appointed, to render account at the end of the year ; that the chancellor 
 shall also answer for liis trust; that sliii-e-reeves be pronded in every county, 
 trusty persons, freeholders, and vavasors,* of property and consequence in the 
 county, who shall faithfully and honestly ti-eat the people of the county, and render 
 their accounts to the excliequer once every yeai- ; and that neither they, nor theii- 
 bailiffs, take any hii-e ; that good escheators be appointed, and that they take notliing 
 from the goods of the deceased out of the lands which ought to be in the king's 
 hands ; that the exchange of London be amended, as well as all the other cities of 
 the king, which had been brought to disgrace and ruin by talliages, and other 
 extortions ; and that the household of the king and queen be amended. t 
 Of the parliaments, they ordaiu : — 
 
 " That there be tlu-ee pai-liaments in the yeai-: the fii-st, upon the octave of 
 St. Michael ; the second, on the mon-ow of Candlemas ; the third, on the first day 
 of June. To these three pai-liaments shall come, the counsellors elect of the king, 
 though they be not commanded, to see the state of the realm, and to manage the 
 common business of the realm, when there shall be need, by the command of the 
 king." 
 
 " That the community do choose twelve prode men (opulent persons), who 
 shall go to the parliaments, and attend at other times when there shall be need, 
 when the king or liis council shall command, to manage the business of the king, 
 and of the realm ; and that the community hold for stable that which these twelve 
 shall do ; and this to spare the cost of the commons. Fifteen shall be named by 
 the earl mai-eschal, tiie earl of Wai-wick, Hugh le Bigot, and John Mansel, who are 
 elected by the twenty-four, to name the aforesaid fifteen, who shall be of council of 
 
 * Vavasors were persons who held lands by military tenure of other persons than the king. 
 
 t See cap. vii. p. 257.
 
 Countj) |3alatinf of aniun^tcr. 291 
 
 tlie king ; and they shall be confirmed by them, or by the greater part of them ; and chap. 
 
 they shall have power from the king to give them counsel in good faith concerning 1_ 
 
 the government of the realm, and all tilings belonging to the king and kingdom ; 
 and to amend and re(kess all things which they shall see want to be amended 
 and redi-essed, and be over the high justiciar, and over all other persons ; and if they 
 cannot all be present, that which the gx-eater pail shall do, shall be firm and 
 stable." 
 
 The unconstitutional power assumed, of choosing the responsible ministers of the 
 crown — for in no other light can the functions of these " twelve prode men" be consi- 
 dered — gi-adually fell into disuse, though the time when that authority ceased is not 
 very accm-ately defined in liistory. In November of the same year, after the disso- 
 lution of the memorable parliament of Oxford, writs were issued from the king's 
 chancery to the sheriffs of England, commanding them respectively to pay First writ 
 " reasonable wages" to the knights delegate for their journey to parliament, upon payment 
 the affaii's touching their several counties. This is the first known writ " de e.rpensis,'" bers' cx- 
 and it is of the same tenure as that of subsequent times, when it became essential to p^°^**" 
 parliament to have in it the representatives of the counties, chosen by the freeholders ; 
 but the writ for Lancasliire, issued on this occasion, is lost, and ^lith it the names of 
 the knights returned for the county. 
 
 The Idng and Ids courtiers, headed by liis brothers, and countenanced by his son opposi- 
 
 ,, -iiiii 1 ''<"! giveu 
 
 lidward, the heu'-apparent oi the crown, resisted, to blood, the attempts made to to the re- 
 reform the parliament, and to redi'ess the public grievances, accomj^anied, as these of Henry 
 attempts were, vriih measures for subverting the royal prerogative, and establisliing 
 an aristocratical oligarchy. Tlie progi'ess of refoim in the constitution of parlia- 
 ment was not, however, materially retarded by tliis resistance. It had always been 
 the avowed intention of Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, and Robert de Ferrers, 
 earl of Derby, to confine the executive power within the limits of the law, and to 
 have all the acts of the king confirmed as well by the representatives of the county, 
 as by the barons spiritual and temporal ;* and in the parliament of Worcester, called 
 " Montfort's PaiUament," held in 49 Henry III., it was enacted, that each sheriff, a.d.i2C4. 
 throughout England, shoiUd cause to be sent to the parliament two knights (not 
 four,) elected by the fi'eeholders, with two citizens fi-om each of the cities, and two Borougii 
 
 1 niembers 
 
 burgesses from each of the boroughs, throughout England. By these means, the first sent 
 respective orders in the state had an opportunity of expressing the public will ; and mem. 
 in an assembly so constituted, and of wliicli the lords spiritual and temporal formed a 
 
 * According to Selden, there were, in 1262, one hundred and fifty temporal, and fifty spiritual 
 barons, summoned to parliament to perform tlie service due to their tenures. 
 
 2 p 2
 
 292 COf ?i}i£(torj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, part, the due consideration of the public good was effectually secured.* It hap- 
 1_ pened, however, that in these early parliaments the expense incurred by the com- 
 munities of the counties, cities, and boroughs, from the attendance of their members 
 in pai'liameut, was often considered oppressive ; and hence we find, that many poor 
 boroughs, particularly in the county of Lancaster, had no members ; the reason 
 alleged being, that they were unable to pay their expenses, on account of their 
 debility and poverty. 
 Hon- The boroughs for which returns were made were principally " walled towns," 
 held of the king in ancient demesne ; and the only places in Lancashire entitled to 
 the privilege, if that could be considered a privilege which was felt as a 'public 
 burden, were, Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan. The inhabitants of the 
 borouglis, under the feudal system, were, for the most part, villeins, either in gi'oss, 
 or in relation to the manor in which the town stood, and belonged to some lord.f 
 The former held houses, called burgage tenui'es, at the will of the lord, and carried 
 on some trade, such as cai'penter, smith, butcher, baker, clothier, or tailor, and the 
 election of members was in the inhabitants of the burgage tenures, so far as they 
 were free agents. There were also in these boroughs, certain free inhabitants who 
 held burgages, and were in consequence invested with the elective franchise. In 
 incorporated cities and boroughs, the right of election was generally in the corporate 
 body, or freemen, as they Avere called, subject to such limitations, however, as the 
 charters imposed. When the wages of the members representing the cities or 
 boroughs were paid out of the rates, the election was in the inhabitant householders 
 pa^-ing those rates, and the riglit of election was hence designated " scot and lot 
 sufii'age." 
 The sub- lu treating the subject of the county representation from the fii'st return 
 treated! to parliament made by the sheriff of Lancashire to the present time, the most 
 clear and satisfactory mode will be to take the reign of each of the early kings 
 separately, and connect with the Hsts in each reign such other liistorical matter as 
 may be presented on the subject : and 1st. Of the parliamentaiy history of the 
 reign of 
 
 * In former times, both lords and commons sat together in one house in parliament, says 
 Sir Edward Coke, in his 4th Institute, 23; but this is clearly a mistake, as is shewn by Sir Robert 
 Cotton and others, and as is decidedly proved by 6 Edward III. n. 3. Pari. Rol., where it is said — 
 " The bishops by themselves, the lords by themselves, and the commons by themselves, consulted, 
 and advised the king touching the war with Scotland." So that in reality the early parliaments of 
 England consisted not of one house, but of three houses. 
 
 t Archeeologia, vol. ii. p. 31.5.
 
 CtiimtL) |3alatmf of Saiuasitrn 293 
 
 Edward I. 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 Although the return of liuights aud burgesses summoned to parliament by ■\mt, 
 commenced as eai-ly as 49 Henry III.,* no original return made by the sheriff for a.d. 1204. 
 this county, or for its boroughs, is found in any of the public records till 23 Edw. I. a.u. 1-295. 
 The first return of members for this county is to the parliament at Westminster, 
 appointed to assemble on Sunday next after the feast of St. Martin; and it First 
 announces, that " Matthew de Redman," and " John de E^^yas," were elected for the 
 knights for the county of Lancaster, by the consent of the whole county, who have auj'bo- 
 full and sufficient power to do for themselves, and for the commonality of the county Lanca- " 
 aforesaid, what our lord the king shall ordain by his coimcil. **"'*■ 
 
 " That the aforesaid Matthew was guaranteed to come on the day contained in 
 tlie writ, by Thomas, son of Thomas de Yeland ; Thomas Fitz Hall ; William 
 Fitz Adam; and William son of Dake," (in confinnation of wliich they affix their 
 marks, the manucaptors, or sureties, for the members not + 
 
 being able, probably to write their own names) . -I- 
 
 " And that the aforesaid John was guaranteed by John de Singleton, Richard de 
 Grenel, Roger de Boulton, and Adam de Grenehulles." 
 
 The sheriff's return adds, " There is no city in the county of Lancaster." Borousii 
 It then proceeds to say, " That Lambert le Despenser and William le Despenser, ter. 
 burgesses of Lancaster, are elected burgesses for the borough of Lancaster, in 
 manner above said. And the aforesaid Lambert is guaranteed by Adam de le 
 Grene and John de Overton; aud the aforesaid William is guaranteed by Tliomas 
 Molenduiar and Hugh le Barker." 
 
 That " William Fitz Paul, and Adam Russel, burgesses of Preston, are elected Borougi. 
 for the borough of Preston in Amounderness ; and the aforesaid WilHam is guaran- ton. 
 teed to come as above by Richard Banaster and Richard Pelle. And the aforesaid 
 Adam is guaranteed by Henry Fitz Baldwin, and Robert Kegelpin." 
 
 That " William le Teinterer, and Henry le Bocker, burgesses of Wigan, are Borough 
 elected for the borough of Wygan in the manner above said. And they are giiai-an- 
 teed to come by John le Preston of Wygan, Adam de Cotiler, Roger Fitz Orme, and 
 Richard Fitz Elys." 
 
 That " Adam Fitz Richai-d and Robert I inklowe, burgesses of Liverpool, ai'e Borough 
 elected for the borough of Liverpool. And they are guai-anteed to come, in the tune pool. 
 
 * Prynne."s Enlargement of his 4th Institute.
 
 294 €i)t W^tov}} of tOe 
 
 CHAP, specified iii the ^mt, by John de la More, Hugh de Molendino, William Fitz Richard, 
 
 and Elias le Baxster."* 
 
 Rot. Pari. There is a copy of a writ and return, in 1294, for Cumberland, and amongst the 
 
 22Edw.i. .gjjjjg retui-ned for that year are — Matthew de Redman-j and Richard de Preston, 
 
 as knights of the sliii'e. 
 First Par- The first parliamentary wi'it extant, addressed to the sheriff of Lancasliii-e, is of 
 tory writ the date of 25 Edward I. in the Tower of London, and requires that knights only 
 monTfor (uot citizcus and burgesses) shall be sent from this county to parliament, for the 
 the coun- ^QQfjj.jjjj^ti(jn of Magna Charta, and the Charter of Forests. Tliis Avi-it, wliich is of 
 the nature of a bargain between the king and his people, recites, that in relief of all 
 
 » FIRST PARLIAMENTARY RETURN FOR LANCASHIRE, &c. 
 
 *f " Matheus de Redman T; Johes de Ewyas Milites sunt electi pro Comitatu Lancastr per consen- 
 
 Lanc. sum totius Comitatus, qui plenam '\ sufficientem potestatem pro se 1 communitate Comitatus prse- 
 
 dicti habent ad faciend quod Dominus Rex de communi consilio sue ordinabit. 
 
 " ^ Et prsedictus Matheus manucaptus est veniendi ad diem in brevi contentum per Thomam 
 filium Thomse de Yelond. Thom fit Haft Wiftm filium Adae T, + 
 
 Wiitm filium Dake + 
 
 " uT- Et praedictus JoKes manucaptus est per Joliem de Singleton Ricm de Grenel Rogerum de 
 Boulton T; Adam de Grenehulles." 
 
 " Nulla Civitas est in Com Lancastr. 
 Burgusde " Lambertus le Despenser T; Willms le Chaunter Burgens Lancastr electi sunt pro Burgo 
 
 I'»°<=' Lancastr modo supradicto. 
 
 " Et preedictus Lambertus manuc est per Adam de le Grene T, JoRem de Overton. 
 " Et praedictus Wiftus manuc est per Thomam Molendinar T; Hugonem le Barker. 
 Burgusde " Willius Jilius Pauli T; Adam Russel Burgenses de Preston electi sunt pro Burgo de Preston in 
 
 Preston. Amounderness modo proedicto. 
 
 " Et preedictus Willius manucaptus est veniendi ut supra per Ricardum Banaster T; Ricuni 
 Pelle. 
 
 " Et praedictus Adam manucaptus est per Hen? filium Baldwin! 1 RoTjtum Kegelpin. 
 Burgusde " Willius le Teinterer T; Henr le Backer Burgenses de Wygan electi sunt pro Burgo de Wygan 
 
 Wigan. modo supradicto. 
 
 " Et manucapti sunt veniendi per Johannem le Prestun de Wygan , Adam le Cotiler , Rogerum 
 filium Ormi , T; Ricum filium Elys. 
 Burgusde " Adam ^lius Richardi '\ Robtus Pinklowe Burgenses de Liverpol e>lecti sijt pro Burgo de 
 
 Liverpol. ^.yerpoZe. 
 
 " Et manucapti sunt veniendi in brevi contentum per Johannem de la More , Hugonem de 
 Molendino , Wiftm filium Rici , T; Eliam le Baxster." 
 
 Petit MSS. vol. 15. fol. 88. Inner Temple Libr. 
 
 t This is probably the same person that was returned for Lancashire in the following
 
 Coimti? ^anlatme of Sanraeiter. 295 
 
 the inhabitants and people of the kingdom for the eighth of all the goods of every chap. 
 
 layman, and the most urgent necessity of the kingdom, the king has agi'eed to con- !_ 
 
 firai the gi-eat charter of the liberties of England, and the charter of the liberties of 
 the forest; and to grant, by letters patent, that the said levy of the eightli shall not 
 operate to the prejudice of his people, or to the infringement of their liberties; and 
 he commands and firmly enjoins the sheriff, that he cause to be elected, without 
 delay, two of the most able and legal knights of the county of Lancaster, and send 
 them mth full powers from the whole community of the said county, to liis dearest 
 son Edward, his lieutenant in England, (the king being then abroad, engaged in the 
 Avar with France,) on the octaves of St. Michael next ensuing, to receive the said 
 charters and the king's letters patent for the said county.* 
 
 In the parliament of 1296, no original writ for Lancasliire appears, nor is there Returns in 
 
 the reicn 
 
 any enrolment of writs de expensis for this county on the rolls. of Edw. i. 
 
 The members returned in the parliament of 1297, were " Henricus de Kigheley" 
 and " Henricus le Botiller," vel " Botiler." 
 
 In the parliament of 1298, the return in the original writ is " Henricus de 
 Kigheley," and " Joannes Denyes," knights of the slm-e. 
 
 The parliament of the following year produces no original writ, nor any wiit de 
 
 * FIRST WRIT EXTANT TO THE SHERIFF OF LANCASTER, FOR THE 
 CONFIRMATION OF THE CHARTERS. 
 
 " Edwatidus Dei gra Rex Aug! Dtis Hiba T^ Dux Aquit Vic Lancastr sattm. Quia in releva- De veni- 
 
 ^..,n ,• .~. ^., .... ^'i ~ endo pro 
 
 cionem omium incolaj t populi regni nn p octava omium bonog singulo^ laicofi ,p totni iciem regnu p confirma- 
 
 urgentissima nuc dci regni cont" Gallicos necessitate levandas concessimus j> notj T lierecl nris con- ^j°°^ 
 
 firmare T; firmiP teii fa8e magnam cartam de lifeertatib3 AngtT; cartam de liBtatib3 foreste T; concedere Carte. 
 
 oiTiib3 et singulis ejusdem regni Iras nras patentes qd dee octave levacio no cedet eisde in 
 
 pjudiciu Svitutem exheredacoem usu vel consuetudine in futuru tibi jJcipim® tirmiP injugentes qd 
 
 sine ditone aliq* duos de j)biorib3 T; legaliorib3 militib3 com tui eligi 1 eos plenam potestatem ^ ipis 
 
 T; tota coitate dci Com lientes ad Edwardii filiii nrm carissimu tenetem in Angl locu nrm venire fac 
 
 ita qd sint London ad eunde filiu nrm mod oIb3 in Octat) Sci Micliis pro.xTo futuf ad ultimii carta3 g Oct. 
 
 j?dicta3 p 1 1fas nras su dca concessione p ipa coitate in forma fJdicta recepturi % fcuri ulfius qd ^^^''• 
 
 f) diem filiCi T; consiliu nrm ibidem j?dit ordinatum. Et hoc nullo modo omittas T; tieas hoc bi^e. is Sept. 
 
 '^ *, ^j . . . 1297 
 
 T. Edwardo filio nro apud Scm Paulu, London, xv die Sept anno r. n. vicesimo qumto. 
 
 " Rot. Claus. 25 Ed. I. m. 6. d. Orig. in Turn Lond." 
 
 " In dorso, 
 Elegi feci p assensu toti® Com Hens de Kigheleye T^ Henr le Botiller qui plenam potestatem Kent 
 |iut in bri cotinef, 
 Pleg p'dci Henr de Kigheley ven § Rogus de Boulton T: Ad de Stodlehurst, 
 
 Pleg Henr le Botiler ven § AVilts fit Simonis deCanterhale Wilts Gormond de eadm."
 
 296 
 
 CI;e 5?i^toii) of tfie 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 Number 
 of places 
 returning 
 members. 
 
 Duration 
 of session 
 of parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 expensls, for this county. The same observation applies to the parliaments of May, 
 1300 and 1305, and to the two parliaments in 1306. 
 
 To the parliament of January, 1300, " Henricus de Kigheley" and " Tliomas 
 Travers" were returned for this countyj in September, 1302, " WilUelmus de 
 Chfton" and " Gilbertus de Singleton;" in 1304, " WilUelmus de CUfton," vel 
 " de Clyffedone," and " Willielmus Banastre," were elected to the same honour. 
 These retui-ns to the frequent parliaments,* in the latter part of the reign of 
 Edward I. complete the writs for that period, so far as regards this county. During 
 the same reign, four returns were made to parliament of members for the borough of 
 Lancaster, two for the borough of Liverpool, five for Preston, and two for Wigan ; 
 each of which Tvill be treated of in its proper place. 
 
 The number of counties, cities, and boroughs, making returns to parliament at 
 this time amounted to one hundred and forty-nine, t in the list of which we find ten 
 members for Lancashii-e; namely, two for the county, and two for each of the above- 
 named boroughs. In the 24 Henry VI. the number of members was reduced to 
 274, all the boroughs of Lancasliiie having then disappeared from the list, and the 
 only members returned for this county consisting of the knights of the shire. 
 
 Although these eai-ly parliaments Avere fr-equent, the period of then- sitting was 
 of short duration. In 49 Henry HI. the pai-Hament which assembled to settle the 
 peace of the kingdom, after the barons' wars, accomplished its duty in thirty-two 
 days, and then dissolved; and yet this was reputed an increchble delay. The parlia- 
 ment 28 Edwai-d I. which confinned the great charter, and made arthuU super 
 cartas, was summoned to meet on the second Sunday in Lent, and ended the 20th 
 day of March, on which day the writs for the knights' and burgesses' expenses were 
 dated, malving a session of three weeks. The famous parliament at Lincoln, 
 28 Edward I. Avherein the king and nobles wi'ote their memorable letters to pope 
 Boniface, claiming homage fi-om the lungs of Scotland to the kings of England, sat 
 but ten days. The parliament of 35 Edward I. was summoned to meet at Carlisle, 
 on the 20th of January, when the king expected cardinal Sabines ; but the cardinal 
 not arriving, as was expected, the king prorogued this parliament by another writ, 
 till the_ Sunday next after Mid-lent, and on Palm Sunday the parliament ended, 
 having sat only fourteen days, whereof thi-ee were Sundays,]; it being in those times 
 
 * It is evident that no fixed rule was adhered to in summoning these parliaments, except that 
 which arose out of the king's want of either money or counsel, or both. The order of the parliament 
 of Oxford, that three parliaments should be held in one year, does not appear ever to have been acted 
 upon with uniformity, and this enactment was probably intended only to fix the times at which the 
 parliaments were to assemble, till the reforms then contemplated were completed. 
 
 t Prynne's Brev. Pari. t Prynne's Enlargement of his 4th Institute.
 
 Coimti) ^Jalatiiif of iLaiuassttr. 297 
 
 the general practice to assemble the pai-liameiits on the Sunday, and so far to dis- chap. 
 regard the Sahbath, as to hold theii- sittings contmuously, without any intermission, ^"'" 
 on that day. 
 
 Edward II. 
 
 No fewer than tlmly-two parliaments were held during the twenty years' reign Frequent 
 of Edward II. There are no waits extant for Lancashu-e in eleven of that number: mentt." 
 namely, in 1308 and 1309; in 1311; in the two parliaments of 1312, the fii-st in 
 February and the latter in July; in the parliaments of 1313 and 1316; and m those 
 of 1317, 1318, 1319, and 1323. 
 
 Mr. Palgi-ave, in liis second volume of Parhamentary Writs and Writs of MiKtary 
 Summons, published by chi-ection of the commissioners of public records, has given a 
 very complete list of the returns made to parliament, by the sheriflf of Lancashu-e, 
 during tliis reign; and from that source the follo>ving retimis, from 1307 to 1327, 
 are derived. 
 
 In 1307, it appears from the original wit for this county, that " Matheus de Members 
 Reddeman, miles," and " Willielmus le Gentyl, miles," were returned.* foJX"' 
 
 In 1311, "Thomas deBethune," vel " Bethum, miles," and " Williehnus le """''^• 
 Gentylle," vel " Gentyl, miles," were returned to the parliament on the 8th of 
 August. The wiit de espensis for the attendance at parliament, from the return day 
 until the feast of St. Dionysius, together v.'iih. their chai-ges coming and returning, is 
 tested at London, on the 11th of October. It is remarkable, that an individual, 
 named Thomas de Bethun, or Bethom, is also returned for Westmoreland in the 
 same parliament; and it is liighly probable, that the electors in some cases econo- 
 mized theii- expenses, by returning the same member to represent two counties. 
 This parliament is remarkable for the desertion of its public duty, from a cause 
 which strikingly indicates that ancient members of parliament had much less patience 
 than theii' successors of the present day. So exhausted were the lords, the king's 
 
 * This parliament was held at Northampton, and the nature of the business there to be transacted 
 is indicated in the following writ of summons to Thomas, earl of Lancaster : — 
 
 Rot. claus. 1 Edw. II. m. 19. d. 
 
 Writ docketed " De veniendo ad parliamentum Regis," addressed to " Thomas," earl of 
 Lancaster and others. — " The King is desirous to hold a special ' Colloquium' with the Earl, the 
 Prelates, and the Magnates of the Kingdom, concerning the celebration of the funeral of the late 
 King his father, and also the solemnization of his own espousals and coronation. The Earl is 
 therefore commanded, ' in fide et dilectione,' to be in person at Northampton, on the Qiiintaine of 
 St. Michael, 13 Oct. in order to treat and advise on the said affairs with the King, and with the 
 Prelates and Magnates of the Kingdom." — Tlie writ contains the Premunientes clause for the clergy 
 of the diocese. Orig. in Turr. Lond. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 Q
 
 298 €l)t ?Si£iti3ri) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, counsel, the limgbts, aud the burgesses, by theii- sitting of nine weeks, tliat most ol' 
 
 L them departed from parliament without license, as the wTits aud summons attest, and 
 
 the remainder petitioned the king to adjourn, and tlms obtained license to return to 
 their homes. 
 
 Tlie original writ for the county of Lancaster, in the parliament of August, 
 1312, retm-ns " Henricus de Trafforde, miles," and " Ricardus le Moliueaux de 
 Croseley, rmles." No enrolment of writ de expensis ajjpears on the rolls, but the 
 entries of such writs are incomplete. 
 
 " Dominus "VVillielmus de Bradeschagh, miles," and " Dominus Edmundus de 
 Dacre, miles," are returned in the original writ of March 18, 1313. In the writ of 
 July 8, in the same year, " Radulphus de Bykerstathe, miles," and " Willielmus de 
 Slene, miles," are returned. No manucaptors were found by these knights. To the 
 parKameilt of the 23d of September, in tlie same year, " Henricus de Fegliirby vei 
 Fegherby, miles," and " Thomas de Thornton vel Thorneton, miles," are returned. 
 The writ de expensis for " Henricus de Fegherby," and " Thomas de Thorneton," 
 for attendance at parliament, from tlie retiu'u day, (September 23), uutU Thursday 
 next after the feast of St. Michael (November 15) amounts to £21. 125. at the rate 
 of four shillings each per diem, together with then- chai-ges coming and returning. 
 
 In the pai-liament of Sej)tember, 1314, " Thomas Banastr', mUes," and " WUliel- 
 mus de Slene, nules," ajjpear in the original writ, as well as in the writ de 
 expensis. 
 
 " Willielmus de Bradeshagh, miles," and " Adam de Halghton, miles," are 
 returned, 1395, and £19. 4s., at the rate of four sliillings each per diem, as awarded 
 to them by the writ de expensis. 
 
 In the following year, "Johannes de Lancastrie," and " Willielmus de Walton," 
 are returned on the 27th of January. 
 
 " Rogerus de Pilketon, miles," and " Johannes de Pilketon, miles," aj-e returned 
 by the original writ of 29th July, in the same year, and their chai-ges allowed at the 
 usual rate in the writ de expensis. 
 
 " Edmundus de Ne\-iir, miles," and " Johannes de Horneby, miles," are 
 retm-ned by tlie original writ of 1318, on which it is observed, that no manucaptors 
 were found by these knights. At tliis period an advance took place in the wages 
 allowed to the comity members for then- services in parliament, and the allowance 
 in the writ de expensis is five sliillings each per diem, instead of four, as liitherto. 
 
 In the following year, " Willielmus de Walton, miles," and " Willielmus de 
 Slene, miles," are returned in the origuial writ for the county ; but it is much torn 
 and defaced, and rendered almost illegible. From some cause, the members' wages 
 were again reduced to four sliillings each per diem.
 
 Coimtp palatine of ilanrasiter* 299 
 
 " Gilbertus clc Haydok, miles," and " Thomas de Thornton, miles," appear hi chap. 
 
 the original writ, and in the writ de expensis ; but it was alleged, that they Avere L 
 
 returned by WiUielmus le Gentil, the sheiiflf, on his own authority, and without the 
 assent of the county. 
 
 No original writ for this county is found for the parliament of 1321, but the 
 names of " Johannes de Horneby, junior," and " Gilbertus de Heydok," are inserted 
 in the writ de expensis, tested at Westminster on the 22d of August. 
 
 " Edmimdus de Nerill, miles," and "Johannes de Lancastria, miles," were 
 returned to the parliament of 1322. By this writ, the sum of one hundi-ed and seven 
 shillings and fom-peuce is awarded to the two knights for seventeen days' attendance 
 in parliament at York, and six days coming and returning ; Edmundus de Ne\-ille 
 receiving sixty-nine sliillings, at the rate of three shillings per diem, and Johannes 
 de Lancastria tliirty-eight shillings, at the rate of twenty pence per diem ; but why 
 the latter received lower wages than the fonner for his parliamentary services 
 is not stated. It may be presumed, however, that the surplus fourpence wliich 
 remained after tliis inequitable division was made, was allotted to Johannes de 
 Lancastria. 
 
 In the original writs of election and proclamation for this county, in the 
 parliament siimmoned to meet at Ripon on the 14th of November, 1322, (altered 
 aftei-wards to York,) " Richard de Hoghton, miles," and " Gilbertus de Singilton' 
 vel Sengilton, miles," were returned. From the writ de expensis it appears, that 
 the original rate of wages was re-estabUshed, and the sum of £8. 8s. for fifteen days' 
 attendance in parliament, and three days coming, and three days returning, was 
 awarded to the kniglits. 
 
 In 1324, the original writ for this county returns the names of "Edmundus de 
 Neviir, miles," and " Gilbertus de Haidok, miles." The names of " Edmundus de 
 Nevyir " and " Thomas de Lathum," p. iiri dies, are entered on the original pawn 
 or docket, as knights appearing for this county. The writ de expensis dii-ects, that 
 sixteen mai'ks for twenty days' attendance at parliament, and four days coming, and 
 four days returning, at the rate of thi-ee sliillings and fourpence each per diem, 
 should be paid to the knights. No reason is assigned for the substitution of the 
 name of " Thomas de Lathum" for that of Gilbert de Haidok. 
 
 " Wilhelmus de Slene, miles," and " Nicholaus le Non-ays vel Norreys, miles," 
 appear in the original writ for this county, returned by Gilbertus de [Sothejworth, 
 sheriff. No manucaptors were found by these Itnights. In the writ de expensis, 
 £7. 15s. is awarded to the members for twenty-one days' attendance in parliament, 
 and five days coming, and five days returning, at tlie rate of two sliillings and six- 
 pence each per cUem. There is a peculiarity hi tliis original vait. Usually the 
 
 2q2
 
 300 
 
 €l)t fiMov^ of tf)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire bo- 
 rough re- 
 turns in 
 this reign. 
 
 The high 
 sheriff of 
 Lanca- 
 shire as- 
 sumes the 
 power to 
 elect 
 members. 
 
 citizens and burgesses of the county are rcquii-ed to send members ; but in this case, 
 tlic summons is confined to knights of the shire. 
 
 In 1325, " Willielmus de Bradeshaghe, miles," and " Johannes de Horneby vel 
 Hornby," are returned. No manucaptors Avere found by these knights. In the vnit 
 de expensis, £7. 14s. is awarded for twenty-two days' attendance in pai-liament, 
 inchiding coming and returning ; " Willielmus de Bradeshaghe" to be paid at the 
 rate of four shillings per diem, a knight's wages, and " Johannes de Horneby," at 
 the rate of three shillings per diem, an inferior rate of wages. 
 
 In 1326-7, " Ednmndus de Nevyll, miles," and " Ricardus de Hoghton, 
 miles," appear in the writ of expenses, the original vn-'it not being found. 
 The sum awarded to the two knights is £28. 8s. for seventy-one days attend- 
 ance in parliament, coming and returning, at the rate of four sliillkigs each 
 per diem. 
 
 During tliis reign, four returns are made for the borough of Lancaster, and two 
 for the borough of Preston, but none for either Liverpool or Wigan. The rate of 
 wages paid to the borough members appears to have been fixed at two shillings each 
 per diem. 
 
 By an assumption of power which is scarcely to be credited, the high sheriff of 
 the county, in 17 EdAvard II., aiTOgated to liimself, as we have already seen, the 
 right of superseding the privileges of the electors, and returning members for the 
 county by his own appointment. The presentation made to the grand jury of 
 the hundred of West Derby, against this ostentatious and arbitrary sheriff, has 
 already been referred to, but it may not be unacceptable to have the document 
 entu'e : — 
 
 Rot. Plac. 
 cov. R. 
 17 Ed. II. 
 m. 72. 
 
 Present- 
 ment 
 against 
 the high 
 sheriff. 
 
 LANCASTER. 
 
 " The Grand Jury of the Wapeulalie of West Derby, pre- 
 sent, That ' Willielmus le Gentil,' at the time when he was 
 Sheriff, and when he held his Towrn in the said Wajientake, 
 ought to have remained no longer in the Wapentake than 
 three nights with three or four horses, whereas he remained 
 there at least nine days with eight horses, to the oppression of the people ; and that 
 he quartered himself one night at the house of ' Diis de Tiirbat," and another 
 night at the house of one ' Rohcrtiis de Bold,' another at the house of ' Rohertus de 
 Grenlay,' and elsewhere, according to his \\ill, at the cost of the men of the 
 Wapentake. 
 
 " They also present, that the said ' WUlielmus' allowed one ' Henricus fil. 
 Roberti le fiercer,' indicted of a notorious theft, to be let out upon manucaption ; 
 whereas he was not mainpernable according to the law ; in consequence of whicli
 
 Coiinti? ^Jalatiuf of iLanrasstrr. 301 
 
 the men of tlie Wapentake avoided maldng presentments of notorious tliieves ; and chap. 
 that ' Henricus de Malton' did the same when lie was sheiifF. ^"^- 
 
 " Tliat the said ' WilUehnus' and ' Henricus returned certain persons on inquests 
 and jmies, without giving them warning. 
 
 " Tliat the said ' Williehiius le GcntU,' when sheriff, had returned ' GiJhcrtus de 
 Haijdol-,' and ' TJiomas de Tliornton,'' knights of the shii-c, (14 Edward II.) without 
 
 the assent of the County, whereas they ought to have been elected by the County ; 
 
 and had ieided twenty pounds for theii* expenses ; whereas the County could, by 
 then- o^vn election, have found two good and sufficient men, who would have gone 
 to Parliament for ten marks or ten pounds, and the sheriff's bailiffs levied as much 
 for theu" own use as they had leA"ied for the knights. 
 
 " Also, that ' Henricus de Malton,' when he was sheriff, had returned 
 ' WilUehnus de Slene,' and ' Willielmus de Walton,'' as knights, (12 Edwai-d II.) 
 in the same manner. 
 
 " The said ' Willielmus GentiV is enlarged, upon the manucaption of four 
 manucaptors." 
 
 Edward III. 
 
 In the fii-st parliament of Edward III. " Michael de Haverington," and " Willus Lanca- 
 Lawi-ence, ' were returned knights of the shire for the county of Lancaster. members 
 
 " Nichus le Norreys" and " Henricus de Haydock," were elected in the reigt'^of 
 following year, and were succeeded by " Thomas de Thornton," and " John de inJ^"'' 
 Hornby," who were succeeded in the same year by " Willus de Bradshaigh," and 
 " Edras de Nevill." 
 
 In the following year, " Nicholaus de Non-eys," and " Henry de Haydok," 
 attended the adjourned parliament, and were succeeded by " Willus de Bradeshawe," 
 and " Johes de Lancastria." 
 
 " Willus de Saperton," and " Henry de Haydok," were their successors in the 
 year 1330. At the election of these members the sheriff, by order of the king, pro- 
 claimed that if any person in the county had suffered wi'ong from any of the servants 
 of the crown, they were to come to the nest parUament, and make known their 
 complamts. 
 
 " Willus de Bradshawe," and " Oliverus de Stanesfield," were retm'ued 
 in 1331. 
 
 " Robertus de Dalton," and " Johes de Horneby," were elected in 1332, 
 and in the same year " Adam Banastre," and " Robertus de Dalton," were 
 returned.
 
 302 
 
 C&e ?l}i^tori) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 Duration 
 of parlia- 
 ments. 
 
 In 1333, " Edo.s clc Nevill," and " Johannes de Horneby," were electedj and In 
 the MTits de expensis it appeal's, that the wages of the knights were then foui- sliillings 
 per diem. 
 
 " Robertas de Radeclyf," and " Henricus de Haydock," were returned in the 
 follo^nng yeai", and they were succeeded in the same year by " Echuundus de Nevill," 
 and " Robertus de Dalton." 
 
 " In 1335, " Robertus de Slm-bui-n," and " Edmundus de NeviU," were 
 elected. 
 
 In 1336, " Johannes de Horneby," and " Henricus de Haydok," were returned; 
 and in the same year " Johannes de Shii-bum," and " Henricus de Haydok." 
 
 . In the following year, " Robertus de Irland," and " Henricus de Haydok," were 
 returned, and they were succeeded in the same year by " Ricus de Hoghton," and 
 " Edmundus de Nevill." 
 
 The changes made in the county members seem at this period to have been very 
 frequent, but whether that ai'ose from tlie fickleness of the constituents, from the 
 inadequate payments made to the knights of the shire, or from the unproductive 
 natui'e of parliamentary influence, and the very diminutive size of the pension list, 
 does not appear. 
 
 The return to the ^vi-it of summons, in the year 1338, contained the names of 
 " Johannes de Hornby," and " Johannes de Clyderhowe," as knights of the 
 shii-e, to whom, by the writ de expensis, dated at Northampton, on the 2d of August, 
 the sum of £7. 4s. was awarded for coming to, remaining in parliament, and 
 returning to their houses, being a payment of four sliillings each per diem for 
 eighteen days. 
 
 The writ for 1339, was issued by the guai-dian of the kingdom, and the king's 
 council, in his majesty's absence; and the knights returned to parliament for the 
 county of Lancaster were " Robertus de Clyderhowe," and " Henricus de Biker- 
 stath." In the same year, " Nichus de Hulm," and " Robertus de Prestecote," 
 were returned. 
 
 " Robertus de Dalton," and " Johannes de Dalton," were returned in 1340; 
 and in the same year " Johannes de Radecliife," and " Robertus de Radecliff," were 
 elected, and returned to parliament, with the usual allowance of four shillings 
 per diem. 
 
 During the remainder of this reign, the parliaments continued to be held almost 
 every year; and it is clear, from the continually varying names retimied for the 
 county of Lancaster, that each session was a new, and not an adjourned parliament. 
 It is equally clear, that no argument in favour of any precise duration of parliament 
 can be founded upon the practice of these early times, seeing that there was fre-
 
 Johes de Haverington, 
 Johes Ungton, 
 
 Clatis. 17 E. III. P. 1. 771. 1. dorso. 
 
 f Westminster, Monday, 15 7 
 
 1 days of Easter. J ^13. 12s. for 34 days. 
 
 Claus. 17 E. III. P. 1. 711. 1. dor 
 
 Niclius le Botiller, ^ Westminster, Monday after "> 
 
 WiUus fil. Rob. de Radeciiff, | Octaves of Holy Trinity. 3 ^^^- ^^^- ^"'^ ^^ ^^'^'^• 
 
 Claus. 18 E. III. P. 2. m. 26. 
 
 Johes de Cliderhowe, C Westminster, Monday after "> 
 
 Adam de Bredekirk, { Feast of Nat. Blessed Mary. > ^'^- ^^- ^°^ ^^ ^^y^' 
 
 Claus. 20 E. in. P. 2. m. 14. d. 
 
 „,,,,, ^ c Westminster, Monday after ^ 
 
 Robt. de Plesyngton, V ^ . . ',,.,,,_ . ) 
 
 R bt d Pre tcote I Domniic. day Middle Quad- K £9. 4s. for 23 days. 
 
 ^ ragesima. J 
 
 Claus. 22 E. III. P. 1. »». 24. d. 
 
 Adam de Hoghton, C Westminster, Morrow of St. ") 
 
 Johes Cokayn, ^ Hillary. ] £15. 4s. for 38 days. 
 
 Claus. 22 E. III. P. 1. m. 33. doi 
 Otto de Halsale, C Westminster, Octaves of the ^ 
 
 Willus de Radeclif. { Purification. S °^^^' ^'" ^°'" ^^ ^^^' 
 
 Claus. 25 E. III. Pars tinica m. 27- dorso. 
 
 No writ found. 
 
 C Westminster, Tuesday, Feast ") 
 I St. Hillary. j 
 
 Coimt|) |3alatine of Saiirasittn aos 
 
 queutly more than one parliament in the year ; and that at other times, the assem- chap. 
 
 bling of parliament was intermitted for two, three, or four yeai's. L 
 
 In the 4th of Edward III. it was enacted, that parUaments should be held once a 
 year, and oftener, if necessary. The 36 Edward VI. requu'cs a pailiameut to be 
 held every year. By 16 Charles II. it is enacted, that pailiaments shall be trien- 
 nial ; confirmed by 6 William and Mary ; but by 1 George I. the time of theii* 
 continuance, if considered necessary by the king and his advisers, was rendered 
 septennial. So that our parliamentaiy history affords all tlie precedents from three 
 parliaments in the yeai' to one parliament in seven years. 
 
 The following is a list of the members for the county of Lancaster dming the 
 remainder of the reign of Edward III., with the date of the parliaments in which 
 they sat, and the amount of wages they received from the county : — 
 
 Members, (Knights.) Parliament at Wages. 
 
 26 E. III.
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 304 
 
 Members, (Knights.) 
 Johes de Haveryngton, 
 
 Willus Careles, 
 ("Duchy of Lane") 
 
 Willus Careles, 
 Ricus Nowell, 
 
 mn l^igtorj) of tlje 
 
 Parliament at 
 C Westminster, Morrow* of "^ 
 
 Wages. 
 
 £4. 4s. for 21 days. 
 
 ^ the Assumption. 3 
 
 Claus. 26 E. III. m. 10. d. 
 
 (■Westminster, Monday after 7 
 
 I St. Matthi. Apost. 1^6. for 30 days. 
 
 Claus. 27 E. III. m. 5. d. 
 
 C Westminster, Monday after 7 „ „, , 
 
 \ c. AT 1 IT t ^13. 12s. for 34 days. 
 
 ^ St. Mark Evang. y •' 
 
 Clmis. 28 E. in. m. 21. rf. 
 
 Rog. de Farndon. 
 Robt. de Horneby, 
 
 Vrits ad- 
 dressed to 
 the duke 
 of Lan- 
 caster. 
 
 f Westminster, Monday after 7 ,„ , 
 
 1 St. Edmm.d, Martyr. j ^^^ ^^^ ^or 19 days. 
 
 Claus. 29 E. III. Pars unica, m. 3. d. 
 
 „, . ,^ , .> £1. 12s. for John for 38 
 
 Westminster, Monday seven I , ^ ^ t, ^ ^ nn a 
 
 ' -^ N days, and for Robt. £6. 4s. 
 
 weeks after Easter. i r oi i 
 
 J tor 31 days. 
 
 (Addressed to the Duke.) Clam. 31 E. III. m. 19. d. 
 
 John de Haveringtou, 
 Robt. de Singleton, 
 
 1 
 
 The writs de expensis for the knights of the sliire for the county of Lancaster 
 ai"e directed, not to the sheriff, but to the duke of Lancaster himself. 
 
 The knights for the counties generally had two distinct writs, some of them for 
 six, others for seven, and one for eight days' expenses ; but the ^\Tits for Lancashbe 
 were issued to the duke of Lancaster himself, by the title of Duke and Duchy of 
 Lancaster : — 
 
 Members, (Knights.) 
 
 Roger de Farjmgdon, 
 Robert de Horneby, 
 
 Willus de Radecly, 
 Ricus de Tounley, 
 
 Parliament, at 
 
 Wages. 
 
 C Westminster, Monday after 7 
 
 I Purification B.M. j ^13- 12s. for 34 days. 
 
 Claus. ^2 E. in. m.3\.d. 
 
 C Westminster, Sunday after 7 
 
 { Conversion of St. Paul, j <£15. 4s. for 38 days. 
 Claus. 35 E. Ill m. 38 d. 
 
 No Writ for Lancashire in ^ Westminster, 15 days of St. 
 
 Prynne. 
 
 I 
 
 Michael. 
 
 } 
 
 36 E. in. 
 
 * This was called the " Great Council" for " settling the Staple" or manufacture of the kingdom, 
 to which Lancashire sent only one member for the county, and none for its boroughs; but were 
 such a council to be held in the present day, it is highly probable that this county would return, at 
 least, its full complement of members.
 
 Counti? |3alatiiie of S.anrastcr. 305 
 
 At this period, a singular piece of presumption was practised in the return to parlia- chav. 
 
 rnent of members for the county of Lancaster. The deputy sherifls, instead of returning L 
 
 the members elected by the county, returned themselves, concealing the writ, and levy- 
 ing the expenses, wliich they appropriated to their own use. Upon complaint made to 
 
 False 
 return 
 made by 
 
 the king, he issued two \\Tits : the first to the sheriff of Lancasliire, and the second 't'' V"***^'" 
 
 <=' ' sheiifls. 
 
 to the justices of the peace of the county, directing them to examine into the merits 
 of the election, and to certify the facts to him in chancery ; in the mean time, the 
 levying of the expenses Avas suspended tUl further orders upon these " unparalleled 
 Avrits," as they are called by Prynne. 
 
 In the writ to the sheriff, that officer is informed, that the greatest agitation exists 
 in Lancasliire respecting the election of the knights for that county in the last parlia- 
 ment; and his majesty, wishing to be more fully informed about the election, com- 
 mands the sheriff to assemble tlie knights and other good men of the commons of 
 the said county, and to make inquiiy, whether " Edrus Laurence" and " Matthew 
 Risheton," who have been returned in the writ to parliament as knights of the said 
 county, or other persons, were duly elected ; and if, upon deliberation and iufonna- 
 tion, he should find them to have been elected by the common assent of the county, 
 then to cause the said Edi-us and Matthew to have £18. 16s. for their expenses 
 incuiTed in coming to the parliament, remaining there, and then returning; that is to 
 say, for forty-seven days, each of the aforesaid Edrus and Laurence receiving four 
 shillings per diem ; but if other persons have been elected knights of the said county, 
 then the sheriff is to render information of their names under his seal, into the king's 
 chancery, and to remit the writ to his majesty, conformably to the du-ections 
 already given.* 
 
 * " Rex vie. Lancastr. Salutem Quia super electione facta de Militibus pro Communitate Com. CI. 36. 
 praedicti pro ultimo Pailiamento nostro in Comprsedicto venientibus maxima altercatio facta existit, f.'&\'.' "'' 
 Nos ea de causa volentes super electione prsdicta plenius certiorari, tibi precipimus, quod habita in dorso. 
 plenoCom. tuo super electione prsedicta cum Militibus et aliis probis hominibus de Communitate dicti 
 Com. deliberatione et informatione diligentibus utrum, viz. Edrus Laurence & Mattheus de Risheton, 
 qui in Brevi nostro de Parliamento prsedicto tibi directo retornati fuerunt, pro Militibus dicti Com. 
 electi fuerint, an alii ; et si per deliberationem et informationem hujusmodi inveneris ipsos de communi 
 assensu totius Com. prsed. pro Milit. dicti Com. electos fuisse tunc hab. fac. eisdem Edro et Matthao 
 decern et octo lib. sexdecim solidos pro Expensis suis venieudo ad Parliamentum prsedictum, ibidem 
 morando et exinde ad propria redeundo, videlicet, pro quadraginta et septem diebus ; utroque prsedic- 
 tomm Edri et Laurentii* capiente per diem quatuor solidos : et si alii pro Militibus ejusdem Com. 
 electi fuerint, tunc Nos de nominibus illorum sub sigillo tuo in Cancellaria nostra reddas certiores, hoc 
 breve nobis remittens. Teste Rege, apud Westm. 17 Nov. 
 
 ] " Per ipsum Regem." 
 
 * An error, for Matthcei. 
 VOL. I. 2 R
 
 306 
 
 CIjc Insitorj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 The king, 
 and not 
 the com- 
 mons, de- 
 cided upon 
 disputed 
 elections. 
 
 Tlie king's writ to the justices is adch-essed to his beloved and faithful Godefr. 
 Foleiamhe, and his fellow-justices of the peace, in the county of Lancaster, on the 
 5th of February following ; and it states roundly, that the said Edus and Matthew, 
 who are the sheriff's lieutenants, have made a false and deceptive return ; in conse- 
 quence of which, the jurors ai'e requii'ed to call before them, at their next session, 
 the knights and other good men of the same county, and take diligent information 
 and inquisition on the above premises, and to return the same into the king's chan- 
 cery; the sheriff of Lancasliire being at the same time commanded to supersede the 
 levy of the wages, until he shall have further dii'ections from the king in liis mandate 
 respecting them. The result was, that the election was declai-ed void, and the 
 sheriff's lieutenants were unseated by the king's authority. 
 
 The proceedings under these memorable %vi-its, wliich were the first of the kind 
 that were issued, serve to shew that the Idng in these early times, and not the com- 
 mons house of parliament, examined and determined on disputed elections ; and that 
 the king, by special wi-it issued to the sheriff, or to the justices of the peace, caused 
 the mei-its of the elections to be inquii-ed into, and certificate to be made of their 
 legality or illegality. 
 
 But, to resume the returns of the list of members for the county : — 
 
 Knights. Parliament at Wages. 
 
 Adam de Hoghton, 
 Roger de Pylkyngton, 
 
 C Westm. Octaves of St. Hil- 1 „ „ , 
 
 I , I £17. 4s. for 43 davs. 
 
 t lary. > 
 
 CI. 39 E. III. m. 31 d. 
 
 Job. le Botiller, C ^^'*^^- ^^°''^''^' ^^'^ °'°^- 
 
 Will. fil. Robti de Radeclyf, ) 
 
 ^ Cross 
 
 c < row of the Invention of the S £8. 16s. for 22 days. 
 
 -i 
 
 Rog. de Pylkynton, 
 Rog. de Radeclyf, sen. 
 
 Johes de Dalton, 
 Johes de Ipre, 
 
 Johes de Ipre, 
 Ricus de Tounley, 
 
 Johes de Ipre, 
 
 C 7 
 
 I Westm. 1st of May. J 
 
 a. 40 E. III. m. 23 d. 
 
 £14. for 35 days. 
 
 CI. 42 E. in. m. 14 rf. 
 
 ] Westm. Octaves of Trmity. f £8. 16s. for 22 days. 
 
 CI. 43 E. Ill m. 13 rf. 
 
 f Westm. Monday, Feast of^ ^ ^ ,^ , ^, , 
 1 St.Miehael. j £l9. 12s. for 51 days. 
 
 CI. Ab E. III. m. 34 rf. 
 
 C Wvnton, Mondav in Octaves 7 
 
 1 of Trinity. j £4. 4s. for 21 days. 
 
 CI. 45 E. Ill m. 22 rf.
 
 Knights. 
 
 Nich. de Haveryntoii, 
 
 Willus de Atherton, 
 Jolies de Holcroft, 
 
 Johes Bottiler, Chivaler, 
 Rog. de Brokhols, 
 
 Johes Botiller, 
 Rog. Pilkington, 
 
 County palatine of aancasiten 
 
 Parliament at 
 
 307 
 
 Wages. 
 
 CHAP 
 VIII. 
 
 CWestm. Morrow of All") 
 
 I Souls. 1 ^6- 12b. for 33 days. 
 
 CI. 46 E. III. m. 4 d. 
 
 f Westni. Morrow of St. Ed- } 
 
 I mund. S ^^^" ^'' '"°' ^^ '^^^''• 
 
 CI. 47 E. III. m. 1 d. 
 i Westm. Monday after St. > 
 I Gregory. j ^^4. 8s. for 86 days. 
 
 CI. 50 E. III. P. 2. m. 23 rf. 
 
 f Westm. in fifteen days of "J 
 
 ^ St. Hillai-y. S ^^^- ^^'- ^°' ^'^ '^''^''• 
 
 CI. 51 25. ///. »«. 12 rf. 
 
 In the 20 Edward III. the nmnher of the temporal peers summoned to the Peers of 
 
 parliament held at Westmuister, at the head of whom stood Henry, duke of Lan- 
 caster, amounted only to fifty-four, from wliich it may be inferred, that tlie hundred 
 and fifty barons in parliament of 47 Henry III. mentioned by Selden, included the 
 minor barons, at that time the only representatives of the commonality of the land; 
 and that not by delegation, but by a common interest. The fixed number of abbots 
 and priors to be summoned to parliament was determined in the reign of Edward III. 
 but it will be seen by the foUowuig list, that of the twenty-six religious houses to 
 
 parlia- 
 ment, tem- 
 poral and 
 spiritnal. 
 
 which this privilege wa.s 
 included : — 
 
 adjudged, none of the Lancashire monasteries ai'e 
 
 1. St. Albans, 
 
 2. Glastonbury, 
 
 8. Evesham, 15. Shrewsbury, 22. Malmesbury, 
 
 9. Winchelcomb, 16. Gloucester, 23. Cirencester, 
 
 3. St. Austin's, Cant. 10. Crowland, 
 
 4. Westminster, 11. BatteU, 
 
 5. St. Echnondsbury, 12. Reading, 
 
 6. Peterborough, 13. Abingdon, 
 
 7. Colchester, 14. Waltham, 
 
 17. Barchiey, 24. St. Mary, York, 
 
 18. BenetinHohn, 25. Selby, 
 
 19. Thorney, 26. Prior of St. John 
 
 20. Ramsey, of Jerusalem, first 
 
 21. Hide, baron of England. 
 
 Although the boroughs of Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan, all The bo- 
 returned burgesses to represent them in parliament in the reign of Edward I., only Lanca- 
 the t^vo former of these places sent members in the reign of the second Edward, cease to 
 and so early as the ninth year of Edward III. we find the return made by the sheriff members, 
 of the county, in answer to the parHamentary writ of summons, states that, There is 
 not any city or borough in his baiHwick [or county]. Non est aliqua civitas neque 
 
 2k2
 
 308 ti)t i]i£(torj) of tht 
 
 CHAP, biu'o-us in Balliva mea. It is to be observed, that the writs do uot particulai-ize the 
 ^"^" borouo-hs that are to return members, but merely requii-e tlie sheriff to return two 
 
 citizens for each city, and two burgesses for each borough, within his county. 
 
 In the 36 of Edward III. the sheriff, in his return, writes upon the writ. There is 
 not any city or borough in his county from which citizens or burgesses ought, or are 
 accustomed, to come as tliis wiit requbes.- — Et non est aliqua civitas nee aliquis 
 Bui'gus infi-a Com : prsBilict unde Gives sen Bui'genses venii-e debent sen solent 
 prout breve istud requiiit. 
 Tiie rea- In the 38th of Edward III. the reason for this negative return is rendered — 
 
 signed. There are not any cities or boroughs (in Lancasliire) that ought, or are wont, to 
 come to the said parliament, on account of tlieii- debility or poverty. — Et non sunt 
 aliqui Civitates sen Burgi infra Com : de quibus ahqui Cives sen Burgenses ad 
 dictum Parliamentum veniie debent sen solent, propter eorum debilitatem seu 
 paupertatem. 
 
 In the following year the case is still more strongly put — There is not any city 
 or borouo-h fi'om wliich any citizens or burgesses are able, or accustomed, to come, 
 according to the tenure of the vnii, by reason of their debility and poverty. — Et non 
 est aliqua Civitas seu aliquod Burgum de quibus aliqui Cives seu Burgenses venire pos- 
 sunt seu solent secundum tenorem bre\is, propter eorum debilitatem & paupertatem. 
 
 In the 2nd of Richard II., when the parliamentary writs were addressed to the 
 duke of Lancaster, this plea of debility is not confined to the county, but is extended 
 to the whole duchy ; and it is stated, that there are not any burgesses in the duchy 
 of Lancaster who were accustomed to come to our lord the king's parliament, through 
 their poverty.— Et non sunt aliqui Cives seu Burgenses in Ducatu praedict. qui ad 
 aliquod Parliamentum venire solebant, propter eorum paupertatem. 
 
 In the last year of tliis lung's reign, the plea of poverty is again reduced within 
 
 the limits of the county, and it is said — ^That there are not any citizens or burgesses 
 
 within the county of Lancaster, who have been accustomed in times past to come to 
 
 On the any pai-liaments. Our ancestors, so far fi-om aspuing to an increase in then- boroughs, 
 
 of 11™"°' were anxious, in the language of modern legislation, to merge those they had in 
 
 membe^*^ sclicdule A., concciviug the cost of their borough members, though limited to the 
 
 men"''*" ^'^ry moderate sum of two shillings a day during parliaments of comparatively short 
 
 duration, not sufficiently repaid by the support of then- local interests. On the 
 
 subject of the payment of wages to the members of parliament, considerable light is 
 
 shed by a petition presented to the king in 8 Henry VI. by the commons, and 
 
 Rot. Pari, which is expressod in these words — " The Commons pray, that all cities, boroughs, 
 
 8 Hen. VI. ^g^yj^g ^ud hamlcts, and the residents within them, except the lords spiritual and 
 
 temporal coming to parliament, and the ecclesiastics, and those cities and boroughs
 
 Countp ^3alatinr of i^anrnsitfr. 309 
 
 wliicli fiutl citizeus or burgesses for pailiament, shall henceforth for ever contribute chap. 
 to the expenses of the knights elected, or to be elected, to parliaments." '_ 
 
 For two hundred and fifty years, that is, from the end of the thirteenth to the 
 middle of the sixteenth century, about one hundred and twenty, or one hundi'ed and 
 tliii-ty, cities and boroughs in England, returned members pretty constantly to 
 parliament ; and about thirty others returned them only occasionally, amongst 
 which were the Lancashiie boroughs, the sheriffs having taken upon themselves to 
 dispense with the attendance of members for those boroughs, for the reasons stated in 
 the wi-its. 
 
 Tlie following petition, presented by the commons to the king m the same year, 
 shews that the very moderate remuneration of the members was witliheld, to their 
 impoverishment, and to the detriment of the state : — 
 
 " Wliereas the Citizens and Bui'gesses elected to Parliament, have, fi"om antient 
 time, been accustomed to have of right, for wages and expenses each day during the 
 sitting of parliament, two shillings ; and for which wages, each of them had from 
 antient time, and of right ought to have, their ^vrit to the sheriffs of the county 
 where such cities or boroughs are, for them to levy and deliver to them the said 
 wages, in the same manner as the knights of shires have had and used. And 
 whereas these wages are now witliheld, and divers notable and wise persons, elected 
 to Parliament, cannot attend without their utter ruin, and the national loss ; the 
 Commons of this present Parliament pray the king to grant them tlie said wages, 
 of two shillings each, ever}^ day, during the Session of Parliament." 
 
 Prynne has preserved a register of the time allowed to members of parliament 
 for travelling from Lancashire to certain places, when the parliaments were -held in 
 those cities ; from which it appears, that two, and sometimes three days, were 
 allowed for travelling to York, four days to Coventry, and five or six to London, in 
 ordinary seasons ; but in a snow or " foul weather" eight days was the maximum 
 allowance for travelling from hence to a parliament sitting at Westminster. It may 
 be presumed, that these honourable and right honourable gentlemen had not, in those 
 days, to legislate upon bills for the construction of railways. 
 
 In the 7th of Henry VI. it is asserted in the shei-ifTs return, notwithstanding 
 the fact to the contrary, that there is not any city or borough within the county of 
 Lancaster, wliich was accustomed in times past to send any citizens or burgesses 
 to parliament, on account of theu* poverty and want of means, and therefore no 
 mention is made of citizens and burgesses, as appears in the indenture annexed to 
 the writ. Similar langiiage is held in all the returns from Lancashij-e till
 
 310 €i)t SjisitorL) of tfte 
 
 CHAP. 1 Edward VI., when Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan, resumed their 
 ^^"- elective franchise ; and in 1 Elizabeth, Nekton and Clitheroe were added to the 
 borouohs of the county. During the Commonwealth two returns were made by 
 Manchester, but tliat town ceased to return members at the Restoration. 
 
 Richard IL 
 
 Rfturuo In the fii-st year of the reign of Richard II. the king, in his writ of summons 
 
 rei"n%f for the duchy of Lancaster, addressed to John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, 
 and kino- of Castile and Leon, after announcing that Charles of France had 
 overrun Flanders, and was mecUtating an attack upon the English city of Calais, 
 informed his beloved uncle, that, for the better defence of his kingdom, and of the 
 Writs of Ano-lican church, and to afford succour to his allies, he designed to embark for 
 TdT^^sed the continent ; and for the good government of the Idngdom while he was absent, 
 rheviff,b'.t the duke was commanded to send from his duchy two knights from the county 
 Oatnt""*^ palatine of Lancaster, two citizens fi-om each city, and two burgesses from 
 Lancaster, each borough, ^-itliin the same, to parliament, having full power, from the com- 
 mons of the duchy, to talvC the necessary measures therein. Tliis ^^rnt is preserved 
 in the archives of the duchy of Lancaster, and the following copy is derived from 
 that source : — 
 
 Richard 
 II 
 
 D. venire facieud 
 ad pliamentu. 
 
 Anno Regalitatis Johannis Regis Castelle et Legionis 
 Ducis Lane Com sui palatuii sexto incipiente. 
 
 " R. carissimo Avunculo suo Johi Regi CasteU f legionis 
 Duci Lancastr vel ejus Cancellar in Ducatu p^dco saltm 
 Quia referente fama publica ad firm pvenit c^titudinalit intellectum qd Karolus 
 advlsar nr? FranS principalis subjugata sibi maxima pai-te Fland^ que de amicitia 
 nra existebat ad obsidend jam villam nram Cales f alia mala dampna f gvamina nob 
 f regno nro Angt undiq3 mfereud f fieri pcurand totis virib3 se festinat omiqj 
 diligencia machiua? nos malicie dci advlsarij firi resiste f hujusmocU obsidionem 
 sique ibidem quod absit fieret in eventu favente dfio removere necnon cuxa 
 recupacoem juris firi qd ad coronam f regnu Franc^ notorie optinem? ac cii'ca defen- 
 sionem dci regni ilri f ecctie AngHcane meliorem laborai-e f intendere relevamenq} 
 f succursum amicis f fidelil)5 nris cii-cumquaq;, fac'e f pbere cupientes de concilio f 
 assensu qmplurm prelatorl pcum magnatu duor? militu Bmgensiu f ihcatori dci 
 regni mi ad Consiliu nrfii ex hac causa euocator? sumus in pposito in ppria psona 
 nra ad pai'tes tnsmar cum comitiua pdum magnatum f nobilin plurimorl manu forti
 
 Coimtj) ^3alatiue of 2.anra£(tn\ 311 
 
 volent diio pficisti Et ut hujusmocli jipositum firm filiccm sorciat csscm ac nob in chap. 
 
 remotis agentib} p expedienti f uecessario regiuiiue dci regiii firi debite f)\-ideaV f L 
 
 intrmi tarn iniinicis iiris Ispanu qifi alijs quibuscumqs siqiii regem m-m pdcm hostilit 
 invadere p^sumpseimt foitit f virilit ut oportet f put maxinie invidet cordi nro 
 resistar disposimuP de consilio f assensu pdcis die lune in tcia septimana quadia- 
 gesime px futur quoddam pliamentu iirm apud Westfii tenere f cum Prelatis p&b} 
 dfiis f coitate dci regni mi sup pjmissis f alijs urgentib} causis nos statum regnu f 
 houorem iira concuentib} coUoqum here f tractatum vob igit? in fide f dilectoe quib3 
 nob tenemum mandamus qd de ducatu pJdico duos milites gladijs cinctos magis 
 idoneos f discretes de qualibet ciuitate Ducatus illius duos cjuesf de quolibet Burgo 
 duos Burgenses de discreciorib} f magis su£Bcientib5 eligi f eos ad dcos diem f 
 locum venire fac Ita qd ijdem milites jjlenam f sufficieutem potestatejn p se f Coitate 
 Ducatus illius f dci Cjues f Burgenses p se f coitatib3 cunctatu f Burgori pdcoi-? 
 diuisum ad ipis lieant ad faciend f consenciend hijs que tunc ibidem de eor consilio 
 regni inri favente dno contig'it ordinari sup negocijs antedcTs sic qd p defectu potes- 
 tatis hujiismodi sou ppt improndam electoem militu cium aut Burgensiu pdcor' dca 
 negocia infecta non remaneant quouis modo Et heatis ibi noia pdcor' militum cium f 
 Burgensiu t hoc bre T R. apud Westm vij die Jauuar Anno sexto." 
 
 Extract from Roll A. 6. — \Qth membrane Duchy Records. 
 
 The members returned to parliament as knights of the shii'e for the county of 
 Lancaster, in virtue of the ivTit, were " Johes Boteler" and " Nich. de Haver- 
 yngton," who, after a session of sixty-six days, received a wi-it de expensis to the 
 amount of £26. 8s. ; but no citizens or burgesses were returned from any city or 
 borough of the duchy or county of Lancaster. In the 2d year of Richai'd II. 
 " Johes Botiller, Chivaler," and " Radus de Ipre," were returned for the county of 
 Lancaster, as appears fi-om the Roll, CI. 2 Rich. II. m. 22 d. on which Prynne 
 observes, that the wiit in tliis roll was issued to the duke of Lancaster, and to his 
 vicegerent, for the knights of the duchy ; that in the writ to the duke, tliis clause, tarn 
 infra libertates quam extra, is omitted, and tliis clause of exception, (inserted in all 
 other writs for knights' expenses in other counties,) Civitatibtis et Burgis de quibus 
 Gives ^ Burgenses ad Parliamentum nostrum apud, S(c. venerunt, duntojcat 
 Exceptes, because the sheriffs of Lancashu'e then and before returned, Non est 
 aliqua Civitas vel aliquis Burgxis infra Ball, de quibus aliqui Gives vel Burgenses ad 
 dictum Parliamentum venire debent, sen fio\eni,propter eorum debilitatem seu pauper- 
 tarn. And in tliis very year made tliis return, Et non sunt aliqui cives vel Bur- 
 genses in Ducatu pradicto, qui ad aliquod Parliamentum venire solebant, propter 
 eorum paupertatem ^ debilitatem.
 
 312 
 
 m)t ®i5tori> of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. The other knights of the sliire returned for the county of Lancaster, during the 
 
 ^^^^' reign of Richard II. are enumerated in tlie following list : — 
 
 Knights. 
 
 Parliament at 
 
 Wages. 
 
 Johes Botiller, Chivaler, f Westminster, Monday after 
 Thos. Setheworth, Chivaler, (_ St. Hillary. 
 
 Johi Botiller, Chivaler, y Northampton, Monday after 
 
 Thos. deSuthworth, Chivaler, ^ All Saints. 
 
 Will, de Athirton, 
 Robt. de Ureewyk, 
 
 ^ Westminster, Morrow of All 
 ^ Saints. 
 
 Roger dePylkynton,Chivaler, f Westminster, Morrow of St. 
 
 Robt.de Clifton, 
 
 Johes Assheton, 
 Robt. Usewick, 
 
 Ricus de Hoghton, 
 Robt. de Clifton, 
 
 John Holcroft, 
 (Name obliterated.) 
 
 Roger de Pilkington, 
 Thos. Gerard, 
 
 I 
 
 John. 
 
 ^ Westminster, Monday, Oc- 
 ^ taves of St. Michael. 
 
 C Westminster, Monday, three 
 i_ weeks of Quadragesima. 
 
 ( Westminster, Monday before 
 I All Saints. 
 
 t New Sarum, Friday after 
 I. St. Mark. 
 
 Robt. Ursewick, Chivaler, C Westminster, Morrow of 
 Will, de Tunstall, Chivaler, | St. Martin. 
 
 Robt. Ursewyk, Chivaler, C Westminster, Friday after 
 Thos. de Radecliffi, I St. Luke. 
 
 Nic.de Haveryngton,Chivaler ^ 
 
 Robt. de Workesley, 
 
 ^ 
 
 Westminster, 1st October. 
 
 £24. for 60 days. 
 
 C1.3R. II. m. 18 f/. 
 
 £19. 12s. for 49 days. 
 CI. 4 R. II. m. 20 d. 
 
 £38. 8s. for 96 days. 
 CI. 5 i?. //. m. 22 d. 
 
 £10. for 25 days. 
 
 CI. 5 R. IL m. 5 d. 
 
 £10. 16s. for 27 days. 
 CI. 6 It. Up. l.ni. 17 d. 
 
 £10. 8s. for 36 days. 
 CI. 6 R. II p. 2. m. 13 d. 
 
 £8. 16s. for 40 days. 
 CI. 7 R. II. m. 23 d. 
 
 £16. for 40 days. 
 
 CI. 7 R. II. VI. 1 d. 
 
 £18. for 45 days. 
 
 CI. 8 R. II 7/1. 27 d. 
 
 £23. 4s.' for 58 days. 
 CI. 9 R. IL m. 22 d. 
 
 £28. for 71 days. 
 
 CI. \QR. II. m. 16(/. 
 
 Joh. le Botiller de Weryng ( ") 
 
 ton, Chivaler, \ Westminster, Morrow of the » ^^^ ^^^ j 
 
 Thos. Gerard, ( Purification, B. Mary. j 
 
 15 days. 
 
 11 R.H.
 
 Countj) |3alatinc of Sanrastfr. 
 
 313 
 
 Knights. 
 
 Parliament at 
 
 Joh.de Asheton, "^Chiva- ^ Cantebrigge, Morrow of Nat. 
 Job. de Crofts, j lers, \ B. Mary. 
 
 Rad.de Ipres, "^Chiva- ^Westminster, Monday after 
 Job. de Asheton, 3 lers, |^ St. Hillary. 
 
 Job. de Urse-ivjdv, Chivaler, ^ Westminster, Morrow of St. 
 Job. de Croft, Chivaler, ^ Martin. 
 
 Kobt. de Ursewike, Chivaler, ij Westminster, Morrow of All 
 Robt. de Workesley, i^ Souls. 
 
 Robt. de Ursewik, Chivaler, ^ Wynton, Octaves of St. 
 Rad. de Ipre, Chivaler, |^ Hillary. 
 
 Robt. deUrsewyke, Chivaler, ^Westminster, five days of 
 Thos. Gerard, Chivaler, ^ St. Hillary. 
 
 Robt. de Ursewike, Chivaler, ^ Westminster, five days of 
 Thos. de Radeclifi", I St. Hillary. 
 
 Robt. deUrsewyke, Chivaler, C Westminster, Feast of St. 
 Ric. Molyneux, ^ Vincent. 
 
 Wages. 
 
 £18. 8s. for 46 days. 
 a. 12 R. IT. m. 14 d. 
 
 £22. for 56 days. 
 CI. 13 JR. II. p. 2. m. 7 d. 
 
 £30. 12s. for 34 days. ^ 
 a. 14 R. II. m. 30 d. 
 
 £1/. for 40 days. 
 
 CI. 15 R. II. m. 26 d. 
 £23. for 38 days. 
 
 Cl.mR.ll.m. 19 rf. 
 
 £21. for 71 days. 
 
 CI. 17 R. II. m. 9 d. 
 
 £12. 16s. for 32 days. 
 CI 18 R. II. m. 6 d. 
 
 CHAI'. 
 VIII. 
 
 £30. 12s. for 34 days. 
 
 Cl.20R.ll. p. 2. 7,1.2 d. 
 
 Job. Botiller de Weryngton, r Westminster, Monday after "J 
 
 Chivaler, \ Exalt, of Cross, and ad- \ £16. 8s. for 41 
 
 CI. 21 7?. II. p. 2. m. 9 d. 
 
 Rad. de Radecliff, 
 
 ( journed to Salop. 
 
 days. 
 
 Henry IV. 
 
 The ducliy of Lancaster being now united with the crown, by the duke having Members 
 become king of England, the parliamentary writs of summons, in the first and second county in 
 years of the reign of Henry IV. were addressed to the sheriff of Lancaster, and not of'nem^ 
 to the duke. The members for the county returned in this reign were : — 
 
 IV. 
 
 Knights. 
 
 Wages. 
 
 Parliament at 
 
 r, , ^ J TT 1 -^ /-.I • ( Westminster, Morrow of St.1 
 
 Kobt. de Ursewjk, ) Chiva- »,,.,, f 
 
 „ J TT 1 . J 1 i Michael, summoned by > <£26. 16s. for / 1 days. 
 
 Hen. de Hoghton, 3 lers. t u._^ j „ S 
 
 Claiis. 1 Heti. IF. P.\.7n.2l.d. 
 
 Richard H. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 2S
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 314 Win ijigtjjii) of ti)e 
 
 Knights. Parliament at Wages. 
 
 Robt. de Ursewyks, 7 Chiva- f Westminster, five days of^ 
 
 > , ^ „, ,T-ii I £oi. 16s. for DO days. 
 
 Nich. de Atherton, > lers. ^ St. Hillary. 3 •' 
 
 Clmts.2 H.IF. P.I. m3. d. 
 Rich, de Hoghton, ") Chiva- ^ Westminster, Morrow of St. 
 
 NicdeHaverington, 3 lers. ^ 
 
 Michael. •} ^27. for 69 days. 
 
 Clam. 4 H. IF. m. 34. d. 
 
 Rad. de Radeclyff, Chivaler, C Westminster, Morrow of St. 7 „„, ,„ ^ ^„ , 
 ^ , ^ < „.,, > ct31. 12s. for 69 days. 
 
 Robt. Lawrence, (. Hillary. 3 ^ 
 
 Claus. 5 H. IF. P. m. 10. d. 
 
 Jac Harryngton, | Chiva- | ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^. ^^ 
 
 Rad. Staneley, 3 lers. 3 
 
 C7«i«. 6 H. IF. m. 5. d. 
 
 Will. Botiller, 
 Robt. Lawrence, 
 
 I Westminster, 1st of March. ^ 
 Adjom-ned to 16th April. ■ 
 Adjourned to 19th June. \ £j\ . I2s. for 189 days. 
 Adjourned to 25th Oct. i 
 Adjourned to 22d Deer, j 
 
 Claus. 8 H. IP', m. J. d. 
 
 Henr Hoghton, | Chiva- > ^^^^^^^^^^^ 20th October. ^21 . 12s' for 54 days. 
 
 Rad. de Staveley, 3 lers. 3 
 
 Claus. 9 //. IF. m. 8. d. 
 
 The lack- To the parliament lield at Coventry in the 6th year of this monarch's reign, the 
 pariia" sheriffs were couunanded by tlie king not to return any lawj^ers — persons learned 
 in the law ; and hence this parliament Avas called, " The Lack-learning Parlia- 
 ment." — Parliamentum Indoctum. 
 
 Henry V. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire 
 members 
 in the 
 reign of 
 Henry V. 
 
 The fii'st return made in this reign, of the knights of the shire for Lancasliire, 
 transmits the names of " Joh. Assheton and Joh. de Stanley, chivelers." By a 
 striking singularity, the indenture mentions only the name of Sir* John Stanley, and 
 entirely omits that of his colleague, stating, that Nich. Longford, knight, and all 
 others named in the indenture after him, with unanimous consent and agreement, 
 have made a free election, and given to John Stanley, the younger, full power to 
 become a knight in the parliament to be held at Westminster, to answer for them-
 
 County ^alatint of aanrnstfr. 315 
 
 selves, and all theirs, and for all the commons in the county of Lancaster, in tliose chap. 
 
 matters wliich, under favour of the king, shall happen to be ordained in par- 
 
 liament.* 
 
 The corresponding indenture is lost. 
 
 In the next parliament, " Rad. de RadclifT" and " Nich. BlundcU," are returned CI.2H.V. 
 
 m. 10. d. 
 
 as knights of the shire for this county. 
 
 2 Henry V. Johannes de Stanley, Rohertus Lawrence, per indent. 
 8 Henry V. Henry de Hoghton, Radus de Stanley. 
 
 Henry VL 
 
 The members returned to represent the county of Lancaster in this reign Members 
 
 in the 
 
 were : — reign of 
 
 7 Henry VL JotiesByi'on, Rohertus fil. Roberti Laurence, knights, j:>e/-?n(/e«/. vi. 
 
 25 Henry VL Thomas Stanley, kn'. Thomas Hariington, Esq. per indent. 
 
 27 Henry VL The same persons. 
 
 28 Henry VL Thomas Stanley, Jolies Butler, knights, jyer indent. 
 
 29 Henry VI. Thomas Stanley, Thomas Harrington, knights, per indent. 
 33 Henry VI. Thomas Stanley, Alexander Radcliff, knights. 
 
 38 Henry VI. (At Leicester.) Richus Harrington, knight, Henry Hal.sall, 
 
 j)er indent. 
 
 39 Henry VI. — — - Richd. Haryng-ton, knt., and Henry Halsall. 
 
 In the 7th year of tliis king's reign, the qualification of electors for counties, Quaiifi. 
 which had hitherto been undefined, was fixed by an act of parliament, which ordains e?ec°ors 
 that " tlie knights shall be chosen in every county by people dwelling and residing in kni'h^s of 
 the same county, whereof every one of them shall have land or tenement of the gxed!"'^''' 
 value of forty slullings by the year, at the least, over and above all charges," which 
 is explained, by an act of the 10th of the same king, to mean, freeholds of that 
 value, A\'ithin the county for Avliich the election is to be made. Hitherto all the 
 freeliolders, without exception, had claimed the right of voting for county members, 
 
 * I HENRY V. 
 
 " Heec Indentura testatur, inter Radum de Stanley V. C. Lane, ex una parte, et Nicum 
 Longford Clihs. et omnes alios post se infra istas indentures nominat. Quiquidem Nicus et omnes 
 alii post se unanirai concessu et assensu eligi fecerunt liberam electionem, dant Johi de Stanley, 
 juniori, plenam potestatem pro seipsis et omnibus suis essend. Militeni in Parlianiento Domini 
 Regis prox. tenend apud Westm. die lunse, &c. ad respondend. pro seipsis et omnibus suis et pro 
 omnibus commiinitatibus Com. Lane, ad ea quse in dicto Parliamento favente domino ordinari con- 
 tingeret. In cujus rei testimonium sigilla sua alternatim apposuerunt." 
 
 2s2
 
 316 
 
 CiK ?l)i6ton) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, in consequence of which, it is alleged, gi-eat outrages had arisen, " wliereby luan- 
 
 1_ slaughter, riots, batteries, and divisions among the gentlemen and otlier people of the 
 
 said counties, shall very likely arise and be, unless convenient and due remedy be 
 provided in this behalf." From the reign of Henry VI. to the present time, no 
 change has been judged necessary in this qualification, though the value of money 
 has in the mean time increased tenfold. 
 
 The agitation of the Idngdom at this period, arising out of the wars between the 
 houses of York and Lancaster, seems to have given rise to a violent stretch of the 
 royal prerogative, — the king having, of liis own authority, summoned members to 
 parliament; and hence an act of indemnity was passed 23 Henry VI., wliich provides, 
 " that all such knights of any county, as are returned to tlie parliament by virtue of 
 the king's letters, without any other election, shall be good, and that no sheriff, for 
 returning them, do incur the pains therefore provided."* 
 
 Edward IV. 
 
 County 
 members 
 in the 
 reign of 
 Kdw. IV. 
 
 The members returned for the county of Lancaster in tliis reign were : — 
 
 7 Ed. IV. 1467. James Haryngtou, kut., and WUliam Haryngton, knt. 
 12 Ed. IV. 1472. Robert Harynton and John Asshton. 
 17 Ed. IV. 1477. George Stanley, knt., and James Haryngton, knt. 
 From the 17th of Edward IV. to 33 Henry VIII. all the returns are lost; and 
 in the latter year, though a parliament was held, no return for this county appears 
 amongst the records. From that period to tlie 16th of Charles I. the writs are 
 regular, and the following are the members returned as knights of the shire for this 
 countv : — 
 
 County 
 
 members 
 
 from 
 
 1 Ed. VI. 
 
 to 16 
 
 Char. II. 
 
 1 Edw. VI. 
 
 7 
 
 1 Mary. 
 
 
 1547. 
 1552-3. 
 
 1553. 
 
 
 1 ... 
 
 
 1554. 
 
 
 1 & 2 Philip 
 
 & Mai 
 
 •y. 1554. 
 
 
 2&3 
 
 
 1555. 
 
 
 4&5 
 
 . 
 
 1557. 
 
 
 1 Elizabeth. 
 
 
 1558-9. 
 
 13 
 
 Thurst Tyldesley, Esq. — John Kechyn, Esq. 
 
 Richard Houghton, (in whose place Robert Worsley, Knt. 
 Tho. Butler, Esq. 
 
 Rob. Sherborne, Knt. — John Rygmayden, Esq. 
 
 Tho. Stanley, Knt. — Tho. Langton, Knt. 
 
 Tho. Stanlej', Knt. — John Holcroft, Knt. 
 
 Tho. Stanley, Knt. — Will. Stanley, Knt. 
 
 Tho. Talbot, Knt. — John Holcroft, senr. Knt. 
 
 John Atherton, Knt. — Rob. Worseley, Knt. 
 1563. Tho. Gerard, Knt. — John Southworth, Knt. 
 1571. Tho. Butler— John Radclitfe, Esq. 
 
 * Sir Robert Cotton's Abridgment, p. 664.
 
 Coimtp |3nlatinf of i!.anra£>tn-. 
 
 317 
 
 14 Elizabeth 
 
 1572. 
 
 27 ... 
 
 1585. 
 
 28 ... 
 
 1586. 
 
 31 ... 
 
 1588. 
 
 35 
 
 1592. 
 
 39 ... 
 
 1597. 
 
 43 ... 
 
 1601. 
 
 1 James I. 
 
 1603. 
 
 12 ... 
 
 1614. 
 
 18 ... 
 
 1620. 
 
 21 ... 
 
 1623. 
 
 1 Charles I. 
 
 1625. 
 
 1 ... 
 
 1625. 
 
 3 ... 
 
 1628. 
 
 15 ... 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 ... 
 
 1640. 
 
 John Radcliff, Esq. — Edm. Trafford, Esq. 
 
 Gilbert Gerard, Knt. — Rich. Molineux. 
 
 John Atherton, Esq. — Rich. Holland, Esq. 
 
 Tho. Gerard, son of Sir Gilbert Gerard, Knt. — Tho. Wahiis- 
 
 ley, sergeant at law. 
 Tho. Molineux, Knt. — Tho. Gerard, jun. Knt. 
 Ric. Houghton, Knt. — Tho. Gerrard, Knt. 
 Rich. Houghton, Knt. — Tho. Hesketh, attorney of the Court 
 
 of Wards. 
 Rich. Molineux, Knt. — Rich. Houghton, Knt. 
 Gilbert Houghton, Knt. — Jolni Radcliff, Knt. 
 John Radcliff, Knt. — Gilbert Houghton, Knt. 
 John Radcliff, Knt. — Tho. Walmisley, Knt. 
 Rich. Molineux, Bart. — John Radcliff, Knt. 
 Rob. Stanley, Esq. — Gilbert Houghton. 
 Rich. Molineux, Knt. and Bart. — Ale.K. Radcliff", Knight of 
 
 the Bath. 
 Gilbert Houghton, Knt. and Bart. — Will. Farrington, Esq. 
 Ralph Ashton, Esq.— Roger Kirby, Esq. — Rich. Houghton, 
 
 Bart. 
 
 CHAP. 
 VIII. 
 
 In 1.5tli of HemyVIII. Sir Thomas More, then chancellor of the duchy of 
 Lancaster, held the office of speaker of the house of commons. The learned 
 chancellor's connexion A\dth the duchy has led to the mistake that he repre- 
 sented the county of Lancashire in parliament, and consequently that tliis county 
 has had the honotir to supply a member to the speaker's chair; but this is an 
 error. 
 
 In the 1st of Edward VI. writs of parliamentary summons were re-issued to Lan- 
 caster, Preston, Liveqwol, and Wigan ; and each of these places at that period 
 resumed, by royal authority, the elective franchise. Queen Elizabetli, in tlie first 
 year of her majesty's reign, made a further accession to the Lancasliire boroughs, by 
 the adtlition of Newton and Clitheroe ; and all tliese six boroughs have ever since 
 that time regularly returned members to parliament. 
 
 It appears that nomination boroughs were perfectly familiar so early as the reign 
 of Elizabeth ; and it is probable, that both Newton and Clitlieroe have always 
 2)artaken of this character : but tlie most flagrant instance of the kind upon record 
 in these early times, is to be found in a bundle of returns of parliamentary writs in 
 the 1 1th of Queen Elizabeth, wliicli, though unconnected with the county of Lan- 
 caster, may not inaptly be introduced in tliis place. Tlie document is in tlie cliapel 
 of the rolls, and is expressed in the following terms : — 
 
 Sir Thos. 
 More, 
 member 
 for Lanca- 
 shire, anj 
 speaker of 
 the house 
 of com- 
 
 The an- 
 cient Lan- 
 cashire 
 borou^'hs 
 resume 
 the exer- 
 cise of 
 their elec- 
 tive fran- 
 chise. 
 
 New ho- 
 rou^hs. 
 
 Nomina- 
 tion bo- 
 roughs in 
 the reign 
 of Queen 
 Elizabeth.
 
 318 ClK ©ISitOll) of tftf 
 
 CHAP. " To all Clnistian people to whom this present Writing shall come. I, Dame 
 
 VIII. 
 
 " Dorothy Packlngton, "niclow, late ■wife of Sir John Paclington, Kt., Lord 
 Dame " and Owiier of the Town oi Aylesbury, send greeting. Know ye, Me, the said 
 
 ton's no- " Dame Dorothy Packington, to have chosen, named, and appointed my trusty 
 
 niinees. 
 
 " and well-beloved Thomas Lichfield and George Burden, Esqrs. to be my 
 " Burgesses of my said town of Aylsbury. And whatsoever the said Thomas 
 " and George, Burgesses, shall do in the Service of the Queen's Highness 
 " in that present Pai-liament, to be liolden at Westminster the Eighth Day of 
 " 3Iay next ensuing the Date hereof, I the same Dorothy Packington, do 
 " ratify and approve to be my own Act, as fully and wholly as if I were or 
 " might be present there. In witness whereof to these presents, I have 
 " set my Seal this Fourth Day of 3Iay, in the Fourteenth Year of the Reign of 
 " our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the Grace of God of England, France, 
 " and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c." 
 
 The Chan- Jn the 26th year of tliis queen's reign, a very extraordinary claim was set up to 
 the duchy parliamentary nomination by Sir Ralph Sadler, " eques notae viitutis," ui virtue of 
 ter claims liis office of chaucellor of the duchy of Lancaster, which was no less than the right 
 to nomi- to nominate both the members to rejiresent the borough of Leicester in pai'liameut. 
 bers for The accouut givcii in the archives of the borough, of this claim, and of the manner in 
 rough of which it was disposed of, is as follows : — 
 
 Leicester ,, Nov. 12, 26 Eliz. — At a coiiimou hall, the slieriflF's precept being read, and 
 
 after that sii- Ralph Sadler's letter for nomination of both our burgesses, and other 
 letters; it is agTced, that sir Ralph Sadler, knight, chancellor of the duchy of Lan- 
 caster, shall have the nomination of one of the burgesses; who thereupon nominated 
 Henry Skipwith, esq. ; and the other chosen was Thomas Jolmson, one of her 
 majesty's seijeants at arms; and either of them promised to bear their own charges." 
 
 On what authority the chancellor grounded his pretensions to nominate members 
 for this borough, except that it is within the duchy of Lancaster, does not appear, 
 nor does it appear that any similar claim was ever made by any other chancellor, 
 either before or since. It may be inferred from the corporation record, that members 
 began about this time to serve without wages; and, it is probable, that the practice 
 was gi-adually discontinued, till at length it wholly ceased. 
 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 The following are the names of the members for the county of Lancaster, elected 
 during the Commonwealth : —
 
 Countj) ^Jalatmt of 2Lanra£iUi% 3i9 
 
 1653. Will. West, John Sawiy, Rob. Cunliss. chap. 
 
 [The name of " Praise God Barebone," occurs iu this parliament in the _ 
 
 list of Loudon members.] 
 
 1654. Rich. Holland, Gilbert Ireland, Rich. Standish, Will. Ashurst. 
 
 1656. Sir Rich. Houghton, bart. Col. Gilbert Ireland, Col. Rich. Holland, Col. 
 
 Rich. Sandish. 
 1658-9. George Book, bart. Alex. Rigby, esq. 
 
 11 Charles II.* to 2 William IV. 
 The parliament of 1653 was a packed parliament, returned by Cromwell, the 
 lord protector, and consisted only of one hundi-ed and twenty-one members, of whom Repre- 
 one hundi-ed and ten were for England, five each for Scotland and Ireland, and one of Lanca- 
 for Wales. In 1654, the right of election was again partially restored, the number of h'g the"' 
 members being augmented to four hundred, of whom two hundi-ed and seventy were ^eXh!" 
 chosen by the counties; the remainder were elected by London and other considerable 
 corporations and towns, Manchester and Leeds being amongst the number. To the 
 pai-liament of 1653, neither Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, Wigan, or Clitheroe, sent 
 any members, but the county returned three; to those of 1654 and 1656, Lancaster, 
 Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan, sent each one member, and the county four. To 
 thepariiament of 1658-9, Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, Wigan, and Newton, sent 
 two members each, and the county two; but no return was made for Clitheroe during 
 the whole period of the Commonwealth. Though the government professed to be 
 popular, the elective franchise was very much abridged during tliis period, and an 
 estate of two hundred pounds value was necessary to confer the right of voting. In 
 other respects, the elections were unobjectionable, except that all those who had 
 carried arms against the parliament, as well as their sons, were proliibited from voting 
 at the elections. 
 
 List of the knights of the sliire for the county of Lancaster, from the Restoration 
 
 to the present time : — 
 
 11 Charles II. 1660. Sir Roger Bradsliaw— Edward Stanley. 
 
 12 Charles II. 1661. The same. The same. 
 29 Charles 11. 1678. Peter Bold— Charles Gerrard. 
 
 32 Charles 11. 1681. Sir Charles Houghton— The same. 
 
 36 Charles II. 1685. Sir Roger Bradshaw— James Holt. 
 
 3 James II. 1688. Lord Brandon— Sir Charles Houghton. 
 
 * The reign of Charles II. is dated from the death of his royal father, in 1649, in the calendars; 
 and that chronology is adopted in this list, thougli his reign did not commence de facto till 1660.
 
 320 
 
 Cftr il?i£(ti3ii) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 1 William & Mary 
 
 1690. 
 
 James Stanley, 
 
 
 Ralph Ashton. 
 
 VIII. 7 William III. 
 
 1695. 
 
 1698. 
 
 The same, 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 10 
 
 Fitton Garrerd. 
 
 .13 
 
 1701. 
 
 Tlie same, 
 
 
 Robert Bold. 
 
 14 
 
 1/02. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 3 Anne 
 
 1705. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 Richard Shuttleworth. 
 
 6 ... 
 
 1708. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 8 . . . 
 
 1710. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 11 .. . 
 
 1713. 
 
 Sir John Bland, 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 12 . . . 
 
 1714. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 8 George I. 
 
 1722. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 13 . .. 
 
 1727. 
 
 Sir Edward Stanley, 
 
 The same. 
 
 7 George II. 
 
 1734. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 14 . .. 
 
 1741. 
 
 Lord Strange. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 20 ... 
 
 1747. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 27 ... 
 
 1754. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 Peter Bold. 
 
 1 George III. 
 
 1761. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 James Shuttleworth. 
 
 2 ... 
 
 1762. 
 
 J. Smith, (Lord 
 
 Strange), 
 
 James Shuttleworth, Esq. 
 
 8 ... 
 
 1768. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 Lord Arch. Hamilton. 
 
 
 
 Richard L. V. Molyneux, 
 
 Sir Thos. Egerton, Bart. 
 
 14 ... 
 
 1774. 
 
 E. Smith, (Lord Stanley,) 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 
 Hon. Thomas St 
 
 anley. 
 
 
 
 
 Thomas Stanley, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 
 20 ... 
 
 1780. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 Sir Thomas Egerton, Bart. 
 
 24 ... 
 
 1784. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 John Blackburn, Esq. 
 
 30 ... 
 
 1790. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 36 ... 
 
 1796. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 41 ... 
 
 1801. 
 
 The same, 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 42 .. 
 
 1802. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 46 ... 
 
 1806. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 47 ... 
 
 1807 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 53 ... 
 
 1812. 
 
 Lord Stanley, 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 59 ... 
 
 1819. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 1 George IV. 
 
 1820. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 7 ... 
 
 1826. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 The same. 
 
 1 William IV. 
 
 1830. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 John Wilson Patten, Esq. 
 
 1 ... 
 
 1831. 
 
 The same. 
 
 
 Benjamin Heywood, Esq. 
 
 Of all the Lancashire boroughs, Liverpool alone has risen into eminence; and for 
 tliis distinction it seems indebted rather to the local advantages of its marine 
 situation, than to its chartered privileges. Preston has at all times occupied a high 
 station amongst the to^viis of the county ; but for several centuries it was perfectly
 
 Count)) ^^alatiue of ^Lanrndtfr. 321 
 
 stationary In its wealth and population ; and it was not till its corporate restrictions chap. 
 
 were materially relaxed, that it began to increase in either. The other boroughs of 
 
 the county have not undergone any material changes in the lapse of ages, Avhile a 
 number of the other towns of Lancashii-e have been increasing within the last cen- 
 tiuy in a ratio altogether unexampled. 
 
 For many years, and, indeed, for some ages, the political character of the county I'oiiticai 
 
 ITT 1 I'lr- f • • c ^ <• 1 cliaiacter 
 
 representation had displayed itselt m a division oi the return of members between the of the re- 
 Stanley family, as the head of the Whig party, and the Tory interest, of which Jolin tion of 
 Blackburne, esq., the venerable proprietor of Hale Hall, was the organ ; but at the silire. 
 general election in 1831, the disposition of the county in favour of the then pending 
 Reform Bill, (of which the most conspicuous features were its disfranchising the 
 decayed boroughs, and conferring the elective francliise on many of the popidous 
 unrepresented towns of the country,) was so strong, that this tacit arrangement was 
 no longer acted upon, but tAVO members were returned, both of them in favour of the 
 new system. 
 
 The alteration made by the Reform Act, in tlie representation of the county of Alteration 
 Lancaster in parliament, is more considerable than in any other county in tlie king- presenia- 
 dom ; the princijjle of the elective franchise being property and population, and county 
 both property and population having increased more in this than in any other roughs of 
 county since the representative system Avas first settled in the reign of Edward I. shTre by 
 That "poverty and debihty" which for so long a period induced the inliabitants of lilfnlTn'ta- 
 all the parliamentary boroughs in the county of Lancaster to suffer their elective Act'^of"'^'" 
 rights to sink into abeyance, now no longer exist, but have given place to an amount '^*^' 
 of wealth and population, whicli fully entitles most of those boroughs, and several 
 other towns in the county, to send their representatives to the national councils. 
 By the provisions of this memorable act, entitled, " An Act to amend tlie Rcpresen- Passed 
 tation of the People in England and Wales," and the act " To settle and describe 1832. ' 
 the Divisions of the Counties, and the Lunits of Cities and Borouglis," consequent J'assed 
 upon it, the privilege of senchng four members to parliament as kniglits of the sliire, i832. 
 instead of two, is conferred upon the county of Lancaster. For the convenience 
 of the electors, the county is separated into two parts — the northern and the 
 southern: — for the northern division, consisting of the Avhole of the hunch-eds of 
 Lonsdale, Amounderness, Leyland, and Blackburn, the election is to be held in 
 the borough of Lancaster ; and for the southern division, consisting of the whole of 
 the hundreds of Salford and West Derby, the election is to be held in the town of 
 Newton. 
 
 By schedule A, of the Reform Act, the borough of Newton, in this county, is dis- 
 franchised; and by scliedule B, the borough of Clitlieroe, instead of sending two
 
 322 Cbe Instoii) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, members to parliament, is allowed only to return one. By schedule C, Manchester, 
 
 ^'"'' Bolton, Blackburn, and Oldliam, are erected into boroughs, with the privilege of 
 
 sending two members each to parliament; and by schedule D, Ashton-under-Lyne, 
 
 Bury, Rochdale, Salford, and Warrington, are also created boroughs, Avith the privilege 
 
 of sending one member each. 
 
 The number of members sent by Lancaster, Liverpool, Preston, and Wigan, 
 remains unaltered, so that an actual increase of two members is made to the knights 
 of the shire, and ten members to the borough representation of the county. 
 
 The Boroughs in the Northern Division are — 
 
 Blackburn — which sends Two Members. 
 
 Clitheroe One Member. 
 
 Lancaster Two Members. 
 
 Preston Two Members. 
 
 The Boroughs of the Southern Division are — 
 
 Ashton-under-Lyne — which sends .... One Member. 
 
 Bolton-le-Moors Two Members. 
 
 Bury One Member. 
 
 Liverpool Two Members. 
 
 Manchester Two Membei's. 
 
 Oldham Two Members. 
 
 Rochdale One Member. 
 
 Salford One Member. 
 
 Warrington One Member. 
 
 Wigan Two Members.* 
 
 In the early periods of the representative history of this county, the members 
 returned for the boroughs were chosen out of the respective communities wldch they 
 were sent to represent, namely, the merchants and other principal inhabitants ; and 
 one gi'eat object of the recent changes in the constitution of the lower house of 
 parliament, has been to revive this system in large, commercial, and manufacturing 
 toivns, though it is probable tliat the principle Mill not be carried, in those places, to 
 the extent of the entire exclusion of men of eminent talent and worth, who may 
 possess no claim on the ground of local connexion. 
 
 * The boundary of each borough of the county, as defined in the act 2 and 3 William IV. cap. 64. 
 will he inserted in the history of that borough.
 
 £ounti) |3alcitinc of iLaurastfr. 
 
 323 
 
 Cfjap, if. 
 
 Important period in Lancashire history. — Royal clemency towards the adherents of Thomas, earl of 
 Lancaster — Attainder reversed. — Battle-roll of Boroughbridge. — Scotch invasion. — Lancashire 
 banditti. — Redress of public grievances. — Levies in the county. — Cattle removed into the south. — 
 The invaders punished. — Subsidy in Lancashire on the marriage of the king's sister. — Talliages 
 in the county, shewing the relative importance of the principal towns. — Statute of Winton 
 enforced in Lancashire. — Consequences in the county of renewed wars. — Splendid naval victory. 
 — Fresh levies in the county. — Flocks and herds again driven. — Signal overthrow of the Scots, — 
 Their king made prisoner. — Pestilence. — Creation of the first duke of Lancaster. — On the origin 
 of the title of Duke. — Heavy imposts on the people of the duchy. — Impressment of ships. — 
 Maximum of agricultural wages.— Death of the first duke of Lancaster — His will— His posses- 
 sions. — Administration of the first duke, from the rolls of the Duchy.— Renewal of the dukedom 
 in the person of John of Gaunt. — Papal bull. — Levy of ships at Liverpool. — Non-exportation 
 from thence. — Renewed alarm of invasion. — Parish tax. — Exchange of Richmondshire for other 
 possessions. — The franchise of jura regalia confirmed, and extended in favour of the duke of 
 Lancaster. — Letters of protection to Lancashire men. — No restrictions on the importation of 
 e:rain in these early times. — Continuance of the royal bounty to the house of Lancaster. 
 
 IvE of the most spirit-stirring periods in the early chap. 
 
 annals of Lancashire, is that comprehentlecl in the 
 long reign of Ed^vard III., at which, in the order of 
 our history, we have now arrived. In this reign, the 
 estates of the house of Lancaster, forfeited by the 
 defection of the head of that house, were restored and 
 augmented; the ducal dignity was confeiTed upon 
 Henry, the first duke of Lancaster, and the second 
 duke created in England ; the county was erected into 
 a palatinate jiiristUction, with jura regalia, and John 
 of Gaunt, the chstinguished ornament of the ducal house, flourished in princely 
 splendour in the exercise of regal functions. To add to the interest of tliis portion 
 of our liistorr the public records of the kingdom abound with authentic materials ; 
 and our dilBculty has arisen, not from the deficiency, but from the redundancy of 
 those materials, which, being too copious to be published in detail, can only be 
 
 2x2 
 
 IX. 
 
 Important 
 period in 
 Lanca- 
 shire liis- 
 tory.
 
 324 €i)t il?teitJ3ri) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, presented iu selection, and often by close abridgment. An ordinary-sized volume 
 ^^' would scarcely contain all the interesting documents belonging to the liistory of 
 
 Lancashire in this reign ; and in the researches of that rich dej^ository, the office of 
 
 the duchy of Lancaster, we have found extreme difficulty, as will be perceived in 
 
 the course of the present chapter, in keeping within those bounds which the limits 
 
 of this work necessarily prescribe. 
 
 Royal cie- One of the first acts of Edward IIL, on ascending the tlu'one, was to relax the 
 
 wards t'he severity of those decrees, under which Thomas earl of Lancaster, by the advice of 
 
 of Thomas the viudictivc Despensers, had been doomed to the block, and the estates of the earl, 
 
 Lancaster, ^s Well as of his foUowcrs, to coufiscatiou. Edmund de Ne\ill, by petition laid 
 
 before the king in coimcil, humbly represented, that at the command of Thomas, 
 
 earl of Lancaster, in whose service he was, he had arrayed certain persons to arrest 
 
 Hugh le Despenser, and others of the counsellors of the late Idng, for which offence 
 
 he had been fined one hundred marks ; of tliis fine he had paid thu-ty marks into tlie 
 
 exchequer, which he prayed might be accepted in discharge of his fine, and which 
 
 request the king was pleased graciously to gi-ant.* 
 
 Another petition was presented by the wardens of the temporalities of the bishop 
 of Hereford, who alleged, that in the quan-el of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, the 
 venerable father had adhered to Roger de Mortimer, of Wygmore, and sent certain 
 men at arms to assist in that quarrel, for which liis lands had been declai-ed forfeited, 
 but that he now repented of liis errors, and prayed that liis possessions might be 
 restored ; wliich prayer was also granted.f 
 
 An order from his majesty in council, to the sheriff of Lancasliii'e, issued this 
 year, directs, that the lands of Richard de Holaud, who had been engaged in the 
 quarrel of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, against the Despensers, should be restored, 
 and delivered into his hands ; and the king, by the assent of parhament, ordered 
 writs to be directed to the treasurer and barons of the exchequer, for releasing 
 fi-om fines and confiscation, those who had joined Thomas, earl of Lancaster, 
 against his majesty's deceased father, in the battle of Boroughbridge.| 
 Reversal But the Consummation of all this clemency was in the reversal of the attainder, 
 
 ."lilder!'" and the cessation of all proceedings against Thomas, earl of Lancaster, on the peti- 
 tion of liis brother and heii-, Henry, the now earl, to whom all the estates, forfeited 
 by his deceased brother, were restored by a special act of gi-ace, dated the 3d of 
 March, 1328. The order of restoration of the lands, profits, castle, and honor 
 
 * 1 Edw. III. p. 1. m.21. TuiT. Lond. t Ibid. m. 13. 
 
 t The roll of the battle of Boroughbridge, in possession of C. W. W. Wynn, Esq., published in 
 Division II. of the Parliamentary Writs, and Writs of Summons, (Append. 188.) serves to 
 shew the extent of this rebellion, and the quality of the rebels. No fewer than three hundred and
 
 Coimti) IJalntmr of itanrastfr. 
 
 325 
 
 of Lancaster, to Henry, eail of Lancaster, is directed to John de Lancaster, warden 
 or keeper of the honor of Lancaster ; Geofrey de Werhurton, sheriff of Lancaster ; 
 Edmund de Assheby, keeper of the fees of the honor of Lancaster ; and to the 
 various other officers of tliat honor.* 
 
 As if it had been intended to propitiate the manes of the deceased earl, a brief was 
 issued fi-om York, to Robert de Weryington, clerk, enabling hhn to collect alms 
 in various parts of the kingdom, to defray the cost of the erection of a cliapel, to be 
 built on the site where Thomas, eai-1 of Lancaster, had been recently beheaded. 
 
 CHAP. 
 IX. 
 
 fifty barons and knights had arrayed themselves under the banners of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, in 
 this memorable insurrection, of whom the following were killed or taken prisoners, exclusive of a 
 great nuniljer of knights of somewhat inferior note, who were captured, and their lands confiscated 
 by Edward II., but principally restored by his successor : — 
 
 " Les nouns des g^untz mortz a Borghbrigge le Marsdy 1 le Meherdy apres la feste Saint Gre- 
 (joire I'an du regne le Roi EDWARD fiz. au Roi EDWARD quinzisme ' q furent cotf le Roy.' 
 
 " Le Comte de Hereford. 
 
 " Sire William de Suleye. 
 
 " Sire Rog. de Berefeld. 
 
 " Sire Hug. Lovel, e treis Esquyers. 
 
 " ' Sir Raiif de Elington.' 
 
 " Sir Rog. Dammory, fust mort un poy devaunt a ' Tottebury.' 
 
 " Banneretz priz a Borghbrigge T; aillours ' en memes el temps.' 
 
 " Le Counte de Lancastre fust de ' colec' 
 
 " Sire Jofm de Wylington, 
 
 " Sire Gilb'. Taillebot, 
 
 " Sire Phelip Davey, 
 
 " Sire Robt. de Wadeville, 
 
 " Sire Adl de SwylintoTi, 
 
 " Sire Rog. de Clifford, 
 
 " Sire Will. Touchet, 
 
 " Sire Henr Tyeys, 
 
 " Si? John Giffard. 
 
 " Sire Earth de Bedlesm'e. 
 
 " Sire John de Moubray, 
 
 " Sire Waryn del Idle, 
 
 " Sire Thorn. Maudyut, 
 
 " ' Sir Willejiz Willi, le fiz.' " 
 
 Iceux furent treynez '\ penduz 
 ' ' de Banerez.' " 
 
 2 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 18. Turr. Lond.
 
 326 
 
 JTIje fii^tovi] of t])t 
 
 CHAP. 
 IX. 
 
 Inciir- 
 siuns uf 
 the Scotch 
 into the 
 northern 
 counties 
 signally 
 punished. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire 
 banditti. 
 
 I'rocla- 
 mation for 
 the redress 
 of public 
 "rongs. 
 
 Tlie Avar witli Scotland still continued, and the incursions of the Scots exposed 
 the inhabitants of the northern counties of England to the most severe suffering. 
 The young king, anxious to avenge the AATongs committed upon his subjects, j^laced 
 himself at the head of liis anny ; to increase which, he dii-ected his mandate to the 
 commissioners of array of cavalry and infantry, in the county of Lancaster, 
 announcing that the Scots were preparing to invade the kingdom, and ordering them 
 to prepare with arms all the men in the county, between the ages of sixteen and 
 sixty, to join the king at Durham.* The effect of this expedition was to free the 
 country from the invaders, by the overtlu'ow of the Scots army ; and the death of 
 Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, ^ hich occurred on the 7th of June, 1 329, prevented 
 any further active hostility between the two countries for some years. 
 
 At tliis time the county of Lancaster was much disturbed ; large bodies of 
 armed men assembled in the hundreds of Salford and West Derby, to the alarm 
 of the peaceable inhabitants, and the insecurity of their property and lives. To put 
 an end to tliis state of tilings, the king adckessed liis waiTant to the sheriff of Lanca- 
 shire, commanding him to make public proclamation, that whoever should in future 
 assemble in this way, would be subject to imprisonment and the loss of their anns.f 
 
 This measure does not appear to have had the desired effect. It was found 
 necessary in the following year to appoint a commission, consisting of John de 
 Haryngton, Thomas de Lathom, Richard de Houghton, Richai'd de Kigheley, and 
 Gilbert de Wai-burton, as guai'dians of the public peace. In the proclamation by 
 which this commission was accompanied, it is stated, that great multitudes of vaga- 
 bonds and others assemble illegally together, by day and by night, watcliing the 
 passes through woods and other places, both public and private, and that these ban- 
 ditti way-lay travellers, beating, wounding, and abusing them; Idlling some of them, 
 maiming others, and robbing all of them of their property. The functions of the 
 guardians of the peace were very extensive; they were no less than the powers of 
 inquiring into offences, and of correcting and punishing the offenders at then- own 
 discretion. 
 
 While the government were punishing the outrages of the lawless, they were 
 not unmindful of the oppressions and delinquencies practised by their own ser- 
 vants; and hence Ave find that, in the folloAnng year, a Anit was issued by the 
 king's authority to the sheriff of Lancaslme, reciting, that in consequence of the 
 representation that divers oppressions and hardsliips had been inflicted on the inha- 
 bitants by men in authority, he was to make proclamation, that whoever had sufTered 
 oppression and hijustice, contrary to the laws and usages of the realm, should make 
 
 Rot. Scot. 1 Edw. III. m. 4. Turr. Lend. 
 
 t Claus. 2 Edw. III. m. 20 d. Tuir. Lond.
 
 eotmtp ^Jalatiiif of i.anra5tn% 327 
 
 known tliek grievances to the next pavliaracut, tlirough the two knights of the shire, chap. 
 to be sent from this county to that parliament.* 
 
 The county was now tlu-eatened ^rith a fresh wai-. The regency, by wliich the Fresh 
 Scotch nation was governed during the minority of the prince, declined to recognize Lanca-" 
 the claims of Edward Baliol, whose cause the English king had espoused, and 
 taillage Avas levied of a fifteenth, to enable him to carry on the war, of wliich William 
 de Denum, Thomas de Baneuburgh, and Robert de Tughole, were appointed the 
 assessors in the northern counties of Lancashii-e, Nortluunberland, Cumberland, and 
 Westmoreland ; while Henry de Percy was appointed warden of the marches. The 
 demands upon Lancashii'e Avere not confined to money; a levy of four hundred 
 archers and one hunch-ed hohelers, very strong and able-bodied men, fully accoutred, 
 were requii-ed from this county, and John de Denum, Edward Neril, and Robert de 
 Shii-eburn, were appointed to array the levy.t At the same tune, a writ of summons 
 was addressed to Henry, earl of Lancaster, dii-ecting him to join the king at New- 
 castle-upon-Tyne, on the Feast of the Holy Trinity. 
 
 In the mean time, the Scots forces had penetrated into the northern counties, and Removal 
 
 . . . , of cattle, 
 
 spread so much alarm by their homicides and devastations, that a WTit was issued to c^c. out of 
 
 . . •<■! • e ^ • -x ""^ countv 
 
 the sheriff of Lancasliire, announcing that the king, for the protection oi the mha- into the 
 bitants, permitted them to Aritlubaw themselves, with their goods and cattle, out of 
 the county into the southern parts of the Idngdom, and there to remain wherever they 
 chose in the king's woods, forests, and pastures, during their pleasure, and to graze 
 their cattle in the same Arithout making any payment for so doing. It Avas also 
 announced that sunilar commands had been given to the bishop of Durham, and to 
 the sheriffs of Northumberland, Nottingham, and Derby .J 
 
 Signal and speedy vengeance was inflicted upon the Scots for this violation of The in- 
 the English territory. The king, who Avas then at Pontefract, at the head of a again 
 powerful army, on his Avay to the north, marched forward to Berwick, in wliich 
 garrison the regent Douglas had fortified himself. After a protracted siege, a 
 general battle ensued, in which Douglas Avas killed, and nearly tliirty thousand of 
 the Scotch troops fell in the action, in which, according to Knyghton, the loss of the 
 English amounted only to one knight, one squire, and thirteen private soldiers ! — 
 a loss, as the liistorian Hume observes, so small as almost to be increcUble. 
 
 The tailliage, or tallage, collected in tliis reign, as mentioned above, was a kind Taiiiiage 
 
 . , . _ , . in Lanca- 
 
 of occasional property rtax. In the 1 1 Henry III. a taiUiage Avas made m Ijancaslure, shire, 
 which serves as a barometer by Avliich to measure the relative importance of the the reia° 
 
 tive im- 
 
 portance 
 of its 
 
 Clans. 4 Edw. III. m. 18 d. Turr. Lond. t Pat. 6 Edw. III. p. 3. m. IS. Turr. Lond. [^^3. " 
 
 : Claus. 7 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 18. Turr. Lond.
 
 328 Ci)f ?i?i^txirj? of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, principal towns of the county, in the tliii-teenth century. Tlie impost was ■ 
 " assessed by " Master Alexander de Dorsete and Simon de Hal," and the payments 
 
 were for — 
 
 Marks. s. d. 
 
 Tlie town of Lancaster xiij. 
 
 The town of Liverpool xj. vij. viii. 
 
 The town of West Derby vij. iiii, iiij. 
 
 The town of Preston xv. — vj. 
 
 The tenants in theinage paid x marks to liave respite, that they might not be 
 
 tailliaged.* It is remarkable that neither Manchester nor Salford are mentioned in 
 
 tliis early return to liis majesty's exchequer, and that Wigan, though one of the 
 
 ancient boroughs of the county, is also omitted. 
 
 Subsidy On the marriage of the king's sister Alionora to the earl of Gerl*, an order was 
 
 the county issued to the abbot of Furness, and to the priors of Burscough, Up-Holland, and 
 
 mairiase Homby, as Well as to the abbot of Whalley and to the priors of Kertmell and 
 
 king's sis- Coningsliead, requiring them to levy the subsidy on their respective houses, towards 
 
 '*"■ the maritagium, an impost of early times, wliich ceased -nitli the feudal system.f 
 
 This order the priests were slow to obey, in consequence of which another letter was 
 
 issued by the king from Pontefract, reminding them of their neglect, and ordering 
 
 them to communicate their intention to the proper authority. No further documents 
 
 appear on the subject; and it may be presumed that this second application produced 
 
 the desired effect. The abbot of Peterborough, in order to shew his attachment to 
 
 the king, and to secure the favour of the noble family wliose influence at this time 
 
 Service of prevailed in his majesty's councils, presented Edward with a splendid service of plate, 
 
 ^' Lancas- amougst which was a silver gilt cup with a scuchon, on which was engi-aved the 
 
 ter arms." 
 
 arms of " Lancaster." 
 
 Statute of The danger of invasion from the Scotch, which prevailed so fi-equently during 
 
 Winton t • r t-> t • a ./ o 
 
 enforced the rcigu of Eward IIL, induced that monarch to issue an order to Robert de 
 shire. Sliireburn and Echuund de Ne-ville, directing them to enforce, in the county of 
 
 Lancaster, the statute of Winton, for arming and arraying the inhabitants according 
 
 to their respective estates in land. \ 
 
 * " Tallagium per Magistrum Alexandrum de Dorsete & Simonem de Hal. Villata de Lankastre 
 r. c. de xiij marcis de eodem. Villata de Liverpul r. c. de xj marcis & vijs. & viijd de eodem. 
 Vellatade Westderby r. c. de vij marcis & vij s. & viijd de eodem. Tenentes inTheinnagio (debent) 
 X marcas, pro habenda respectu ne talientur. Villata de Preston r. c. de xv marcis & vjd de eodem 
 (taillagio,) with several other towns." Mag. Rot. 11 H. III. Rot. 1. a. Lankastre. 
 
 t Claus. 7 Edw. Til. p. 1. m. 23. Turr. Lond. 
 
 t The statute of Winton, passed 13 Edward I. requires that persons possessing fifteen pounds in 
 land or upwards, and chattels of the value of forty marks, shall provide themselves with a halbert
 
 County |3alntinf of aanrasti^r. 329 
 
 England being again involved in war ^\-itli France, the king deterniiued to chai'. 
 embark for the continent, partly to du-ect its operations, but principally to animate _1J__ 
 
 by his presence, that extensive confederacy wliich he had organized against Philip, ReneweJ 
 the French king. This intention was announced in Lancashire by a writ, dii'ected theu'con- 
 to John de Haryngton, Edmund de Nevill, and Richard dc Houghton, knights, by fnLanca- 
 which they were directed, along \rith other knights, to be in their proper persons ^elh ' 
 " present before the king in council at Westminster, the day after Easter, to hear '*'"^^" 
 what he had to expound to them for theu* conduct, during his absence on most urgent 
 business, in parts across the sea," and with the further purpose of receiving instruc- 
 tions, to preserve the peace inviolate during his absence.* Although parliaments 
 had then been only very recently instituted upou the model of popular representa- 
 tion, the royal influence began already to exert itself, to obtain the return of such 
 members to the house of commons as would best secure the king's purpose, by 
 gi-anting liim large supplies out of the public revenue ; and this appears to have 
 been the object of Edward, in summoning these knights by the authority of Ids own 
 writ. The parliament which was convened on the recommendation of tliis council, 
 made a gi-aut for two years of the ninth sheaf of corn, and the ninth lamb and fleece, 
 on then* estates ; and fi-om the burgesses, of a ninth of their moveables, at the true 
 value. The same parliament also granted a duty of forty shillings on each sack of 
 wool exported, on each three hundred woolfells, and on each last of leather, for the 
 same term, declaring, however, tliat tliis grant was not to be di-a^Ti into a precedent. 
 But in order to facilitate the supply, and to meet the king's urgent necessities, they 
 agi"eed that he shoidd be allowed twenty thousand sacks of wool, the amount to be 
 deducted fi'om the moveables when they were levied. Local treasuries became 
 necessary, as deposits for the sums collected in the respective counties, and the 
 abbot of Furness accordingly received a conunaud to pronde a suitable house in liis 
 abbey, for " the custody of the king's pence." A writ of summons was at the same 
 time directed to the sheriff" of Lancashu'e, ordering him to arrest the ships in the 
 ports, and to man and equip them for action."]" With the fleet, consisting of two 
 
 (haberjonem), an iron cap, a sword, a cultel, and a horse; often pounds in land, and chattels 
 value twenty marks, a halbert, sword, and cultel ; of one hundred shillings in land, a purpoint iron 
 cap, sword, and cultel ; of forty shillings in land, and more up to a liundred shillings, a sword, a 
 bow, arrows, and cultel ; and he who had less than forty shillings in land, to be sworn. Persons to 
 have arms and armour in their houses, according to the quality of their lands and goods. This sta- 
 tute also provides, that the people of every hundred shall be answerable to the sufferers for the 
 robberies and other offences committed in their respective hundreds. 
 
 * Claus. 12 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 37. d. Turr. Lond. 
 
 t Rot. Aleman. 12 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 23. Turr. Lond. 
 VOL. I. 2 u
 
 330 CJk S)isitxiri) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, bimcked aud forty sail, principally collected in this wav, the splendid victory of 
 _^_J__ Sluisse was obtained hy Edward over the navy of France, in which two hunth-ed and 
 Splendid thirty French ships were taken, and thirty thousand Frenchmen killed, alons Avith 
 
 ii(ivB.I vic- 
 
 tory. theii' two admirals, while the loss of the English was comparatively inconsiderable.* 
 
 Fiesh le- Although this sig-nal victory had given to the navy of England a superiority 
 
 Lanca" wliich it has never since lost, the alarm of invasion spread very generally, and, 
 
 ^ ""^' amongst other prepai'ations made to repel the invaders, it was ordered, that fifty 
 
 men at arms, tlu'ee liundred anned men, and three hundred archers, should be 
 
 raised in this county, of which number, twenty-five men at arms, and one Imncked 
 
 and twenty archers, were to be contributed by the following gentlemen if — 
 
 Monsr Johan de Harragton, pur lui 7 v i -v. t o vt »- 
 
 •> o ' L i -^ homes a armes & XL arcnrs. 
 
 & son pier 3 
 
 Robt de Radeclif, V homes d' armes & XL archrs. 
 
 Henry de Trafford, X homes d' armes & XL archrs. 
 
 The warlike spivit of the king had involved him in hostilities both with Scotland 
 and France ; and in the foUowmg year a writ of military simimons was issued to 
 Gilbert de Clyderowe and to Robert de Radeclyf, ordering them to assemble the 
 men at aims, and ai'chers, under their command, to meet the king at Carlisle, by 
 Quadi-agesima Sunday, to repel the invasion of the Scots.J At the same time, 
 John de Helleker, the king's receiver for Lancashu-e, was ordered to send money to 
 Carlisle, towai-ds repairmg the fortresses of that city, and the abbot of Furness was 
 commanded to proAide a suitable house in liis abbey for the custody of the king's 
 pence. To the joy of the people, a proclamation was tliis year received in Lanca- 
 sliii-e, and in the other counties of England, commanding the sheriff to publish a 
 truce between the king and Philip de Valois, and between the English and the 
 Scotch. 
 
 Little reliance, however, appears to have been placed upon the permanent restora- 
 tion of tranquillity, for in the following year the sheriff of Lancashire was ordered to 
 provide one hundred bows and one thousand sheaves of arrows, for the expetUtion 
 into France.§ This was speedily followed by another order to the sheriff, directing 
 
 * Froissard, liv. i. chap. .51. f Rot. Pail. 13 Edw. III. vol. ii. p. 110. 
 
 t Rolls of Pail. vol. ii. p. 110. 13 Edw. III. No. 33. 
 
 ^ The price of bows is fixed in the goveniment order at one shilling each, which sum is also to be 
 allowed for a sheaf of arrows, except when they are guarded with steel (aceratse), and then the charge 
 js to be one shilling and twopeiice.
 
 Coiintj) ^3tilatine of Sanrasitrr. 331 
 
 him to provide a tliousaud sheaves of steel-headed arrows, and a thousand bow- chap. 
 
 IX. 
 
 strings. 
 
 In the war with France, wliicli was speedily renewed, Henry, eail of Derby, son 
 of the earl of Lancaster, gi-eatly distinguished himself;* and the events of this war, 
 in wliich tlie French king was taken prisoner, shed an imperishable renown on the 
 military character of England. For the prosecution of the contest, large lenes were 
 raised in all the counties of the kingdom ; and an order was cUrected by the king to 
 the sheriff of Lancasliii-e, commantUng him to make proclamation, that all barons, 
 bannerets, knights, and esquires, in the county, within the age of sixteen and sixty, 
 should be forthwith prepared with horses and arms, to attend the king across tlie 
 sea, to enable him to put a speedy and successful termination to the war.f Not 
 only the noble, but the ignoble also were embarked in this service, and the sheriff 
 received soon after a writ of military service, commanchng him to make public 
 proclamation, that all persons in his county who had been foimd guilty of felonies, 
 liomicides, robberies, and other offences, and had been pardoned by the king's 
 clemency, should pro\ide tliemselves with arms and acoutrements, and march to join 
 the royal army on its embarkation at Portsmouth for France. 
 
 Tlie Scots, under David Bruce, availing themselves of the opportunity whicli xiie flocks 
 the absence of the English forces afforded, prepared to invade the northern counties ; of the'^" ° 
 on which a ^vi-it was addi-essed by the king to the sheriff of Lancashire, announcing ag"in^ 
 the danger of the country, and ordering him to make proclamation, that all the men seerpro- 
 of the county sliould remo^•e their live stock to the forest of Galtres, in the county of ''^'^''''"■ 
 York, where tliey might be preserved in safety, and wliere the flocks and lierds 
 would enjoy pasturage free of c]iarge.| 
 
 The king of England being engaged in the Frencli wars, aided by his son, tlie signal 
 Black Prince, and Ijy the earl of Derby, queen Pliilippa assembled a body of onhe''™^'^ 
 soldiers, to repel tlie Scotch invaders. This force, under the command of lord Percy, a^n,'^.'' 
 met at Neville's Cross, with the determination to revenge the insults which liad been 
 offered to the country, and to put an end to the violations which liad been committed 
 upon the property of the iuliabitants. Animated, in that chivalrous age, to the 
 higliest pitch of enthusiasm by the presence of the queen, who rode along their ranks 
 previous to the battle, tlie English troops, though not numerically amounting to 
 one-fourth of the number of the Scotcli, fought like lions. Tlie enemy Avas broken 
 and chiven off the field, and fifteen thousand of them were made to bite tlie dust, 
 amongst whom was the earl marshal of Scotland. To crown tliis niemoralile victory, 
 David Bruce, the Scotch king, was made prisoner, and conveyed to London, along 
 
 * See c. iv. p. 136. + Rot. Fiaiir. 10 Edw. III. p. 2. m. 12. Tiirr. Lond. 
 
 I Claus. 19 Edw. 111. p. 2. in. 10. d. Tun. Lond, 
 2u 2
 
 332 
 
 mjt ?^i£(tori) of tiit 
 
 CHAP. 
 IX. 
 
 Dasid 
 Bruce 
 taken 
 prisoner. 
 
 Impress- 
 ment of 
 ships in 
 Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 Dreadful 
 
 pestilence 
 in the 
 county. 
 
 Tlie first 
 diilcedom 
 of Lancas- 
 ter, the re- 
 ward of 
 splendid 
 public 
 services. 
 
 The first 
 creation of 
 dukes. 
 
 •nitli a number of Ids captive nobles, in triumph.* Tlie number of prisoners taken 
 in tliis battle was so large as to fill all the prisons of Lancashire. The inhabitants, 
 in order to relieve themselves from the burden of the support of so many prisoners, 
 liberated a number of them, in the hope that they would return to their own country, 
 but instead of pursuing this course, they began to commit depredations ; on which the 
 government instituted a commission, consisting of Thomas de Latham, .John de 
 Haryngton the younger, and Nicholas le Botiller, to make inquisition into the 
 alleged liberations, and to announce that the persons guilty of this oflfence against 
 the public safety would be liable to the forfeiture of life and limbs.t 
 
 In order to reinstate the English navy in its former strength, after the splendid 
 victory of Suisse, a tax somewhat resembling that attempted to he imposed by 
 Charles L though unattended by its disastrous consequences, was levied in the sea- 
 ports of Liverpool and Chester, under the authority of an order from the king, by 
 wliich the collectors of the sliip-money were directed to collect the subsidy of two 
 shillings the sack on wool, and sixpence Hie pound on moveables, for sixty large 
 ships of war (grossis navibus de guerra,) and to deliver the money so assessed to the 
 admiral of the fleet of those ports. A contribution was also made in Lancasliire, 
 in favour of Echuund Baliol, king of Scotland, the nominee of Edward, king of 
 England; and Richard Molineaux and his associates, collectors of the triennial 
 tenths recently gi'anted to tlie king, were ordered to transmit one hundred and 
 eighty-four pounds, in two instalments, out of the sums collected for the king's 
 exchequer.! 
 
 At this time a pestilence of the most fatal character raged in the county of Lan- 
 caster, and indeed in all the other counties of the kingdom; and so malignant were 
 its effects, that one-third of the inhabitants became its victims. According to Stowe, 
 the annalist, fifty thousand persons died of tliis plague in the city of Norwich, and an 
 equal number were interred in one bm-ial-ground in the city of London. 
 
 The brilliant career pm-sued in France by Henry, earl of Lancaster and Derby, 
 determined the king to confer upon liim a signal mark of the royal favour, by 
 creating him duke of Lancaster.^ The origin of tliis title is thus represented by the 
 heralds : — 
 
 " The first creation of the title of duke, as chstinct from that of eai'l (for in the elder 
 times they were oft synonymous with us) was in the eleventh year of Edward the 
 Thud, when in parliament he conferred upon his eldest sou, being then earl of 
 Chester, the title of duke of Cornwidl. The investiture of this fii'st duke was only 
 by girding him with the sword, although some learned men, confounding, it seems. 
 
 * Froissard, liv. i. c. 139. 
 
 X 23 Edw. III. 
 
 t Rot. Scot. 20 Edw. III. m. 4d. Turr. Lend. 
 ^ 25 Edw. III. 1351.
 
 Countj,) ^alatint of XanrasJttr. 333 
 
 the ceremonies of his being afterwards made prince of Wales, with this creation into chap. 
 the title of duke, say he was invested by a ring, a rod, and a coronet, all of which " 
 
 indeed together ai-e mentioned in some patents of the following times, that seem to 
 create the eldest sons dukes of Cornwall, as well as princes of Wales, and earls of 
 Chester. The same investiture also, by the sword ouly, is mentioned in the creation 
 of Henry, the first duke of Lancaster, about fourteen years after tliis first creation of 
 the duke of Cornwall. He was created for life in parliament, and the clause of 
 investiture, in the charter, is only nomen ducis Lancastriae, imponimus S^ ipsum de 
 nomine ducis dicti loci, per cincturam gladii praesentiaUter investimiis ; and the 
 county of Lancaster as a county palatine, with reference to tliat of Chester, for 
 example of jurisdiction, is given to him as the body of liis duchy * Afterward, in 
 36 Edw. III. on the last day of the pailiament, Lionel, duke of Clarence, and John, 
 duke of Lancaster, both sons to the king, were honoured with those titles, Lionel 
 being then in Ireland ; but the other being present, had investiture by the king's 
 girding him with a sword, and his putting him on a cap of fur, desus in cercle d'or 
 ^ de petvs, as the roU says, that is, under a coronet of gold and stone.s." 
 
 Soon after the first establishment of the duchy of Lancaster, heavy complaints Heavy 
 ■were made by the inhabitants, in consequence of the two-fold pressure of taxation; the''peniX 
 fii-st, for the support of the state, and, next, for the maintenance of the institutions of duchy. 
 the duchy. To alleviate tlieix* burdens, the king addi-essed a mandate to the duke 
 of Lancaster, or to his lieutenant and chancellor, wherein it was directed, that all 
 general inquisitions concerning felonies and trespasses in every part of the kingdom 
 should cease, so long as the people remained peaceable, and particularly that the 
 people in the duchy of Lancaster, who had been impeded in their business, and 
 reduced to great poverty, by the inquisitions made in the duchy, should no longer be 
 burdened in this way. The duke was therefore ordered to supersede all such pro- 
 ceedings within liis duchy, and to achninister the law in the same manner as in 
 other parts of the kingdom. 
 
 Tlie same year the king addi-essed a proclamation to all admirals, their lieutenants Further 
 and sheriffs, appointing Roger del Wych, John Syword, John Cruys, and William Te^nTof 
 son of Adam de Lyverpol, to ai-rest as many ships in Liverpool and Chester, and" the'ports 
 other ports, as were necessary to convey Thomas de Roclieby, the king's justiciary shi^^e*""^^ 
 of Ireland, into that country. ","'' •^''«'- 
 
 ' •' shire. 
 
 Tlie difficulty of procuring labourers in husbandry after the country had been iMaxim,,,,, 
 so much thinned of its population by the plague, disinclined the working classes 
 to take the usual rate of wages for then* labour, and an act was in consequence 
 passed " to restrain the malice of servants," who insisted upon extravagant wages, 
 
 • Seec. iv. p. 138. 
 
 of af;ricul- 
 
 tural 
 
 labour.
 
 334 Cfte S)i^tor|) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, (outrageouses loivers.) The standard of wages, fixed by this act, was that which had 
 '^' prevailed vokmtaiily before the plague broke out, when com was tenpence a bushel, 
 and wages fifteen pence a week. This law being in opposition to the general principle 
 of trade, which causes the supply and the demand to regulate the price, failed iu its 
 object, and the labourers left then- usual places of abode, to seek more profitable 
 emplojTnent, wliich they easily found from home. The strong arm of the law was 
 ao-ain called in, and it was enacted, that no servant should in summer go out of the 
 tOAvn or parish where lie usually dwelt in winter, if he could obtain employment 
 there, with an exception in favour of the labourers in the counties of Lancaster, 
 Staflbrd, and Derby, and in the districts of Craven and the marches of Wales, who 
 were allowed to go in the month of August, the season of harvest, to work in 
 other counties; and persons refusing to obey this proclamation were to be put in the 
 stocks, by the lords and stewai'ds, or, if that discipline did not prove sufiicient, they 
 were to be sent to the next prison, and there confined for three days.* 
 
 During the king's absence in France, Hemy, duke of Lancaster, was summoned 
 
 to attend the council, which duty he performed with liis usual fidelity. This was 
 
 Death of amongst the last public acts of tliat venerable peer; for in tlie mouth of March, in the 
 
 o/La'n-*^ following year, 1361, he expired, without male heir, on wliicli liis honours and his 
 
 caster. 
 
 sessions. 
 
 princely possessions descended to his two daughters, Maud and Blanch, whose names, 
 however, are not even mentioned in his ^^"ill. 
 
 Will of Henry, Duke of Laixcaster. 
 
 His will. " En le nom del Piere, del Fitz, et del Seint Espirit. Nous Hemy, Due de 
 
 Hispos- Lancastre, Comte de Derby, de Nichol, et de Leicestr', Seneschal d'Engletere, 
 Seigneur de Bruggerak, et de Beufort, le xv jour del mois de Mai-z I'an de gi-ace 
 mill ccc. et Ix a n're chastel de Leic' devisons et fesons n're testament en manere qe 
 s' ensuit. Enprimes nous recommaundons et devisons n're alme a Dieu, et devisons 
 n're corps a estre ensevellitz en I'eglise coUegiale del annimciation n're Dame de 
 Leicestr' dautrepart le antiere on le coi-ps n're seign'r et piere qe cUeu assoile est 
 enten-ez. Et voloms q' n're corps ne demeorge desenterrez outre troies symaynes 
 apres le departu- del alme. Et volons q' si nous devious a Leic' que n're corps soit 
 porte a I'eglise parocliiele le tiers jour de-\ant I'euterrement, et q' illeoq's soiont faites 
 les divines services, tiels come appartieut, ove xxiii torches, et qe les douze torches 
 demoergent a I'eglise et deux draps d'or ; les cureez de la dite eglise aient n're 
 melior chivall ou les pris en noun de principal, et q' n're cori)s soit porteez d'Hleoqes 
 tanqe a I'eglise collegial de n're Dame avant dite, et Uloqes enterrez come desus est 
 
 * Claus. 33 Edw. III. m. .5 d. Tuir. Lond.
 
 Coimtj) ^Jalatmc of iLanfastrr, 335 
 
 dit; issint q'il ny ait chose voine ne de bobaunce, come des homes armeez, ne des chap. 
 
 chivals couvertz, ny autres choses veines, nes une berce ove cyiik cierges, chescuue 
 cierge de ceutz lb, et liii graimtz mortiers, et c torches entoiir les corps. Et qe 
 cynqainte poures soient vestus, rait et cynk de blauk et xxv de blew, portaiit les 
 ditz torches. Et voloiis q' n're Seigii'r le Roy et ma Dame le Reyne soient garniz 
 de n're ent' rement, et Monsr' le Prince, et mes seigu'rs ses fi-eres, et madame Dame 
 Isabell, et nos seors et nos freres lo'r seigneurs, et les auti'es grauntes de n're saunk. 
 Et devisons cynqaunt linges por departu- es poures bosoignouses en temps environ 
 n're enterement en manere come nous avous charge de bouche les uuz de nos 
 executors, si tauntz des poures y soeint. Et ne volons una q' uulles costages soeint 
 faitz le jour de n're enteiTement pour pestre les gentz del pais nes les coes de la 
 viUe, et volons q' religionses soient bien regardez. Et volons q' si nous devious 
 aillors qu'a Leic' q'n're corps soit menez al eglise de n're dame collegial avauntdite 
 et illeoqes ensteiTez en manere come desus est dit. Et volons et devisons q' toute 
 la cire et touz les di-apes d'or demoergent a la dite eglise collegial, et devisons a la 
 chte eglise entierement n're chapele ove touz les aouruementz et touz nos reliqes. 
 Et devisons touz nos biens, vessell d'argent, et touz lez autres moebles a aquiter noz 
 dettes et guer doner noz poures servauutz, qe ne sount mie ungore guerdone, 
 chescun solom lour dessert, et solom lour estat, a la disposicion de nos executors, et 
 a perfaii-e la dite eglise collegial et touz les autres maisons devisez et ordeignez 
 entom- la dite eglise. Et volons qe si nos executours puissent estre enfourmes en 
 verite qe nous tenoins terre qe fuist d'autruy, et qe nous ne avoms tiel estat qe uos 
 heires puissent de bone foi le tenir, q'il persueut a nos heires de rendre les ten-es a 
 ceux ou a cely a queux ou a qy eles devient ou doit estre de droit. Et auxint qe si 
 nos executours puissent estre enforme qe nous eions euz d'autri a tort, q'ils facent 
 gTee en descharge de n're alme. E a toutes cestes choses pleniement perfaire et 
 acumplir solom n're volunte et devys suschtz, nous ordeignouus et fesons nos 
 executors le rev'rent piere en Dieu John evesq' de Nichol, le honorable home de 
 seinte religion, AVilliam abbe de Leic', n're ti-eschiere soer la Dame Wak, n're 
 tres chiere cosyne de WalkjTiton, Monsieui- Rob't la Mare, Mens' John de Boke- 
 londe, Su-e John de Charnele, Sire Want' Power, Sinkyn Simeon, et John de 
 Neumarche; douaunt pleine poeraeux et a chescun de eux toutes les choses suschtes 
 pleinement perfaii-e et accomplir en la manere suscHte. Et en cas qe nuUe chose 
 soit endoubte et nemye desclare en le dit testament, eient nos ditz executors pleine 
 poer totes choses en mesme le testament desclai-er solom ceo q'ils senterent qesoit 
 plus a pleisance de Dieu, al profit de n're alme, accordaunt a n're volunte et a 
 resoun. Item nous devisons touz noz biens qe remenent outre noz dettes et outre 
 ceo qe seiTa donez pur reward a noz servauntz, et a perfaiie n're dite eglise 
 
 IX.
 
 336 ClK l^lStJJll) Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, colleo-ial de Leic' et en eide de performii- et accomplii- les maisous qe uous avoius 
 
 IX. 
 
 ordeioTiez illoeqes, d'estre inys al profit de n're aliue par ^a^^s et assent de uoz ditz 
 executors. En tesmoigne de queles choses nous avions a cest n're testament mys 
 n're seal ensemblement ove n're signet ; escript le jour, lu, et an susditz. 
 
 " Probatio dicti Testament!, 3 Kal. April, A.D. 1361, in castro Leycestr' 
 
 coram Jolianne Liucoln Ep'o. 
 " Alia probatio diet' Testament! coram D'n'm Will' mum de Witleseye, 
 
 Official' Cm-' Cant'. Dat' London, 7 Idus Mali, A.D. 1361. 
 " Regist' Islip. fol. 172. a. b. in the Arcliiepiscopal Registry at 
 Lambeth." 
 
 The extent and magnitude of the possessions of the fii'st duke of Lancaster, 
 forming as they do the principal part of the duchy, may be in some degi-ee estimated 
 from the following enumeration exhibited in the Inquisition Post Mortem in the 
 records of the Tower of London, taken in 36 Edw. III. 
 
 INQUISITION POST MORTEM 
 
 OF THE POSSESSIONS OF THE FIRST DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 " In the County of Lancaster. — Lancastr' castrum & honor — Placita comitatus 
 Lancastr' — Westderbysliire ballia — Lonesdale wapeutac' — Lancastr' atH' — Lone 
 aqua piscar' juxta Prestwait — Overton maner' — Slyne villa — Skerton terr', &c. — 
 Quernemore pai-cus — Wiresdale vaccar' — Blesdale vaccar' — Cakb-e vaccar' — Gris- 
 dale vaxjcar' — ^Amimderness wapeutac' — Preston — Siugleton — Riggeby villa cum le 
 Wray — Hydilparke — CacHlegh — Fulwode bosc' — Kylaneshalghe — Broughton — 
 Mii-estagh parens — Wiggehalgh — Baggerburgh — Clyderhoo ca-str' — Blakebornsliire 
 wapentac' — Ighterhall maner' — Colne maner' cum membris — Woxtou — Penhalton 
 vill' — Chatebume vill' — Acrinton vill' — Huncotes — Haselingden vill' — PenhuU 
 chacea— Trogden chacea — Rossendale chacea — Totinton maner' & chacea — Hod- 
 desden bosc' — Rachedale maner' — Penwortham maner' — Widnes maner' — Ulles- 
 Walton maner' — Eccleston y\\Y — Leylond vill'— LyverpoU castr' — Westderby 
 maner' & Salford maner' (ut de honore de Tuttebury)- Horneby castr' & maner' — 
 Werington maner' — Laton maner'. 
 
 " In the Count 1/ of Leicester. — Leycestr' castr' & honor extent' — Frithe bosc' — 
 Hynkeley maner' extent'— Schelton maner' extent' — Derford maner' extent' — 
 Selby quinque visus franc' pleg' Carleton quatuor \isus franc' pleg' — Schulton 
 duo visus franc' pleg' — Derford duo ^^sus franc' pleg' — Hynkeley duo -visus franc' 
 pleg'.
 
 Coiintj) ^3alatiiie of tanrastfr. 337 
 
 " In the County of Dorset— Kyngeston Lacy maner'— Winteiboru Minster— cfiAi'. 
 AVimbourne Holt cliacea— Bradbury huiidrecr — Shapwj^k mauer' — Maiden Neuton ^^' 
 hundred'. 
 
 " In the Counft/ of Southampton. — Kyngesomborne maner' — Pernholt bosc' & 
 cliacea — La Lond bosc' — Staunden — Earle — EUeden — Huld — Pernholt — Tymbre- 
 bury — Conipton Houghton — Siunborne Parva — Upsomborne (ter, &c.) — Stockbrigo- 
 ^•il^ — Laugestoke maner' — Weston maner' juxta' Odiam — Herteley maner', 
 
 " In the County of Wanvic." — Keiiehvorth castr' and maner' extent' — AsthuU 
 maner' — Wotton reddit' — Waddesley, Lapwortli reddit' — Mershton Boteler — 
 Brinkelowe (terr' & ten') — Ilmedon visus franc' pleg'. 
 
 "In the County of Wiltes. — Colingborne maner' extent' — Everlee maner' 
 extent' — ^Lavyngton maner' extent'. 
 
 " In the County of i?e/7is'.— Esgarston maner' extent' — Poghele — Hungerford 
 — Sandon — & Kentebury (terr. &c.) 
 
 " In the County of DerV . — Melborne castr' & maner'. 
 
 " In the County of York. — Pontefract castr' & honor cum membris viz' — 
 Slaikeborne maner' — Bowland maner' cum foresta — Snaith villa cum soca — Pvker- 
 ing castr' vill' & honor — Scalby maner' — Hoby maner' — Esingwald maner' — Brade- 
 ford maner' — ^Almanby maner' — Ledes maner' — Berewyke maner' — Roundhaye 
 maner' — Scoles maner' — Hjqjax maner' — Allerton maner' — Rothewell maner' — 
 Altoftes maner' — Warnefield mauer' — Ackworth maner' — Elmesdale maner' — 
 Camesale maner' — Custou' — Tanshelfe maner' — Knottingleye maner'^Boghall 
 maner' — cum libera curia de Pontefracto — Divers terr' et ten' &c. in Maningham 
 Barnboghe — Woodhouse — Potterton — Hillum — Saxton — Roundhay — Secroft — 
 Tliornore — Scole — Muston — Kypax maner' — Ledeston — Allerton. — ^Ayer pisca- 
 ria — Rothewell — Flete molend' — Wridelesford — Kildre piscaria. Divers' terr & 
 ten, &c. Warnefeld — Crofton — Akeworth — Elmcsle — Kerkeby Mensthrop — 
 Suthelmsale — Coteyerd — Ellerker — Camesale— Balnehoke — Hargincrofte Bernes- 
 dale — Custon — Holnhirst — Carleton Castelford molend' — Hardewike — Knoting- 
 ley — Beghale — Beglielker — Beghallund. 
 
 ^ " Omnia jyredicta pertinent honori de Pontefriet.' 
 " Slaykeborne in Boiiland cum forest' — Bremund pastur' — Roudon — Up Ald- 
 ington — Maukholes — Crombewell — Holme — Baxsterhay — Browesholme — Berk- 
 holme — Eghes — Latheringi-ime Bernardseless — Nicolshey — Wardeslegh — Hoge- 
 king — Heigh e — Crepiugwarde — Benteley Close — Graistanley — Lekherst — Pein- 
 leghes — Coswayne — Chipping Crosdale — Neuton — Hamerton Witton — Grimling- 
 ton — Salley molend' — Bradeford in Bouland — Blakshelfe in Mitton — Witliikill — 
 Smitliecrofte — Cowyke \alla pertin' soce de Snaythe — Roucliffe mora — Acre aqua 
 VOL. I. 2 X
 
 338 CIjc Sji6tor|) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, piscai- Pikering castr' forest' &c. cum feodis pertin' viz' — Middleton — Leves- 
 
 ^^' ijaiu Finhilwode — Gotherland — Aleiutoftes — Thwaite— Lingtliwaite — Rumbald — 
 Haretoft — Folketon maiisc' — Ednesmershe — Brumpton — Scalby — Hobye — Esing- 
 wolde — Credeling manei'.' Divers reddit ^- repris exeunt de maner j)redict\ 
 
 " In the County of Northumberland. — Duiistauburgh castr' — Staunford baronia 
 cum membris suis vidlt, Emeldon — Dunstau — Buiton — Wanadam — Sliipplay — 
 Crauncesti-e — Fenton — Newton super Moram & Cartington. 
 
 " In the County of Huntingdon. — Huntingdon reddit' — Gomecestre reddit'. 
 
 " In the County of Rutland". — Tye due lete — Casterton Magna due lete. 
 
 " In the County of Northampton. — Higham Fen-ers — Raimdes vill' — Russhe- 
 den \air — Irchestre vill' — Hegliam hundr' ut de honor e de Tuttebury — Davintre 
 maner' — Esthaddon due lete — Helmingden — Lylleborne — Dodeford due lete — 
 Wedonbeck ut de honore de Leycestr'. 
 
 " In the County of Surrey. — Erwell ten' vocat' Hertegrave. 
 
 " In the County of Middlesex. — London' mess' vocat' — Savoye cum shop' & 
 reddit peitin'. 
 
 " In the County of Lincoln. — Lincoln' comitat 14 feed' in eodem pertin' castro 
 de Lancastr' — Retrecombe curia. 
 
 " In the County of Stafford. — Novum Castrum subtus Lynam maner' castr' & 
 burgus cum membris vidlt, Clayton vill' — Wolstanton — Sbelton vill' — mere pas- 
 sas' — Stoke advoc' ecclie — Cliff bosc' — Bradenef terr' & ten'. 
 
 " In the County of Hereford' &^ Marches of Wales. — Monemouthe castr' \ill' & 
 domin' — Grossemont castr' — Skenfrithe terr' &c. — Album Castriun & domin' — 
 Karakenmyn castr' — Oggemore castr' — Ebbothe maner' — Iskennin comot' — Ked- 
 wellye dominium — Carnwathlon dominium. 
 
 " In the County of Glouc ^ Marches of Wales. — Roddell maner' — Eccelowe — 
 Minsterworthe maner' — Monemuthe castr' — Bertonterr' &c. — Blakmorles pastur' — 
 Kedwelly castr' vill & domiuimu. 
 
 " In the Counties of Gloucester, Hereford, ^ Marches of Wales. — Cai-newath- 
 lan dominium — Lananthu- ^dll' — Kaerkennyn castr' — Iskennyn comet' — Ogemore 
 castr' & dominium — Ebbothe maner' — Shen castr' cum Barton — Albiun castr' cum 
 Barton — Tyburton maner' — Minsti'eworth maner' — Rodleye maner' — Monemouthe 
 castr' & domin' — Grosmonde castr' <Sc domin' — WliitcasteU castr' & domin' — 
 Kedwelly domin' — Carnwathlan domin' — Ogemore castr' — Ebbothe maner'. 
 
 Feoda. 
 
 " In the County of Bucks'. — Tappelowe — Chalflmnt Sancti Petri — Saundes- 
 dron — Weston Tui-^Ue — Broughton Parva — Penua.
 
 Counti) ^aalatme of Xanrasitn-. 339 
 
 " In the County of BcdforcV . — SiUlinmlne — Middeltou Erueys. chap 
 
 " In the County of Cambriilye. — Giauucete. ' 
 
 " In the County of Worcester. — Biuites Morton. 
 
 " In the County of Lincoln. — Duodecim feoda railitiim quorum quodlibet reddit' 
 p aim' 10' ad wai-dam castri de Lancastr'. 
 
 " In the County of Somerset'. — Redene — North Overe. 
 
 " In the County of Dorset'. — Shape^vilie — Smuetolre — Maydeu N)'T\'etou — 
 Upsydeliuge. 
 
 " In the County of Kent. — Strode — Godwineston — Clyve Hastinglegli — Bra- 
 borue — Chelefeld mauer' — Horton — Caulstoke Hasslie. 
 
 " In the County of Sussex. — Sclieffeld Parva — Kirstede — Kiudale — Charlax- 
 lou — Flecchiug — Chiffeld — Hotliore — Est Griiistede^ — Hertefelde -Claverham — 
 Erlington — Raketou — Torrenge — Westdeue — Megliam — Bethington — Telton — 
 Cheleworth — Chiffield mauer' in Fleccliing — Folyiigton — Wemioke — Excete — 
 Rattoii. 
 
 " In the County of O.roH.— CliurcliuU— Clapwell— Dene— Chalkeford— Fyflf- 
 hyde — Cliadlyngton — Brougbton — Ny wenton — Lylliugeston — Bagerugg — Pyiitou 
 — Hasele — Tbomele — Brigbtwell — Slniptou super Chai-ewell — Blecbdon — Wight- 
 hull — Lyuliam — Cbildeston & Sewell juxta Goldnorton. 
 
 " In the County of Berks. — FyiTeliide — Kiugeston — Southdeucbesworth — 
 Lokiiig — Cherleton juxta Wantynge — Stauuden — Hanrethe — Staunford — Westliil- 
 desle — Wolbampton — ^Northstanden capella — Hungerford capella Sancti Johis. 
 
 " In the County of Wiltes\ — Choldringtou dimid' feed' — Chitterue dimid' feod' 
 — Elcomb dimid' feod' — Merevedene mi' feod — Wrichford dimid' feod' — Hordene- 
 buuislie un' feod' — Cbeckelowe uu' feod — Berewike maner' uu feod'. 
 
 " In the County of Southampton. — Clialghton — Katerington — Erleston — Som- 
 borne — Fyffliide juxta Audover — Scbalden — Bellum Avenetum — Hertele — Lau- 
 gestoke — Weston — Estden — Semborne. 
 
 " In the County of Devon. — Hemly — Portheleg — Sliillingford — Ferdon — Ker- 
 dogis — Ivelegb — Cliilton — Coleton Ralegh — Fursan — Whitbem — Wliiston — Hod- 
 desworth — Maneton — Prank arswike — South wyk — Spray ton — Woreslegh — Whit- 
 neslegh — Wollegh — Wrixston — Godelee — Kippingiscote — Uppecote — Witherige — 
 Hole Meleford — Clompton — Clift Sancti Laurencij — Hordeliswortli — Milleford — 
 Deandou — Bourdoulistou — Yowe — Hogeland & Heanis. 
 
 " In the Counties of Gloucester, Hereford', Sf Marches of Wales. — Landingate 
 — Longehope — Dounameney — Huntelege — Wisham — Walbykney — Parthir — Dile 
 — Cunstoue — Dixton — Novum CastiHim — Cotliitliam — Monimoutlie — Garthe — 
 Rakeuill — Holywell Grosemound — Chesterton — Asperton — Maynestou — Lanwar- 
 
 2x2
 
 CHAP. 
 IX. 
 
 340 €ln M^tOY^ Of tfte 
 
 tliiu Laiikuetliin iu domiuio de Kedwelly — Penbray — Witewike — Hope Maloisell, 
 
 Llaaeltliye ecclia, Saiicti Ismaelis ecclia, Laucouar ecclia — In domiuio de Og- 
 more feoda subsciipta vidlt — Doureiien — Deyiiell — Pyncote — Lauforte — Colemu- 
 gtone — Frogg Castell — E^yerdon — Puttes — Lc Wilje — Soutlidoiie & Saiicta 
 Brigitta. 
 
 " In the County of Lancastr . — Walton in Blakebornshii-e — Crouiton — Apulton 
 — Sutton — Eccleston — Rainbull — Knowselegh — Torbok — Hyton — Maghull — 
 Crosseby Pai'va — Kirkeby e — Kirkedale — Noithmeles — Argameles — Ulues waklen 
 — Bretberton — Hogbton — Ckaitou — Wlielton cum Heparge — Wytherbull cum 
 Botbelesworthe — Hoton — Longeton — LeiJond — Enkeston — Cbenington — Cber- 
 uoke — Walsbewbitbull — Wailon iu Amouuderuesse — Prees — Neuton — Frekelton — 
 Witiuo-liam — ^Etheleswike — Bura iu Salfordshire — Middleton cum membris — Clia- 
 tberton — Totinton — Milton Parva — ^Wiswall — Hapton — Townlay Coldecotes — 
 Suoddewortbe — Twiseltou — Extwisell — Agbton — Merlaye — Lyvesay — Douuom 
 Fobiio-o-e — Merlave Parva — Rossbeton — Billingtou — Aluetbau — Clayton — Hare- 
 ^yode — Crofton Horneby — Ulideston — Wartou in Louesdale — Gairstang cum 
 membris — Tbiselton — Prees — Kelgrimesargbe — Briniuge — Merton Magna — Mid- 
 delton iu Louesdale — Neuton — Makerfeld — Lauton — Keinan — Erbury — Golde- 
 burne — Sefton — Tborneton — Kerdon — Halglitou — Burgli — Lee — Fisbwicke — Dal- 
 ton in Furness — Stayuiuge — Midliope — Cberuoke. 
 
 " Feoda suhscrlpta tenentur de konore de Tuttebunj. — Hagb Parva — Bolton — ■ 
 Brigbtmet — Compton — Burgbtou — Cbilderwell — Barton in Salfordsliire — Aspbull 
 — Broklioles— Dalton— Perbald— Witbington— Lostok— Romwortbe — Pilldnton— 
 Wortliington — Hoton subtus Herewicbe — Tildeslegb — Sultliitbe — RLxton — Asteley 
 Atberton — Sonky — Penkythe — Ives— Blundell— Barton — Halsale— Wiudebulle — 
 Lydegate — Egergartbe — Lancastr' priorat' advoc' — Saucti Micbis super Wire 
 ecclia — Preston ecclia — Marie Magdalene capella— Cbypin ecclia — Ribcaster ecclia 
 — Wballey abbia de. 
 
 " Pro Decano et capitulo Ecclie Marie de Leicestr'. Preston 
 advoc' ecclie. 
 
 " Pro Abbt'e & conventu de Whalley. Romesgi-ene in cliacea de Bou- 
 land juxta Blakebone terr' & ten'— PenbuUon terr' & ten'— Cliderbow ten' vocat' 
 Standen— Hulcrofte & Grenelacbe— Standen laltag' terr' &c.— Cliderboo maner' 
 ten-' &c. ut de castro de Lancastr'." 
 
 Adminis- ^Yq ^jj-g inquisition, we are enabled to add a condensed transcription, from tbe 
 
 tration of i ' ill 
 
 the duke Rolls of tlic Ducliv of Lancaster, (not before published,) extending through tlie 
 
 from the *' ^ '■ ' ITl* 
 
 rolls of the ^vbole ucriod of the first ducal administration, and which, while it slieds much lignt 
 
 duchy. -^
 
 IX. 
 
 Counti) ^Jalntiitf of aancastrr, 341 
 
 upon the early liistorv, as well as upou the landed possessions in the county, serves chap. 
 to illustrate the nature of the jura regalia exercised hy the dukes of Lancaster in 
 this " kingdom within a kingdom :" — 
 
 Anno 1 Ducatus, 26 Edward III. 
 
 {Office Reference AI.) 
 
 " Plita apud Preston de tribus sessiouib3 Justic dni 
 " Ducis Lane anno Ducat ejusd dni Ducis nunc p)mo. 
 " Berewyk." 
 
 Intituled, 
 
 This roll contains the essoigns taken at Preston, before Hugh de Berewyk, and a.d.i35-.' 
 his associates, justices of our lord the duke of Lancaster, Wednesday next before 
 the feast of St. Margaret the Virgin, in the year of his duchy the 1st. 
 
 It contains pleatlings of lands between pai'ties, plaintiffs and defendants, plead- 
 ings of assize mortis ante cessoris, novel disseisin, pleas of debt, account, and 
 trespass, and other claims to liberties, rights, &c., all as arising in the county pala- 
 tine of Lancaster, with the judgnnents thereof given {int. alia as follows) : — 
 
 " Jolies de Wjii^vyk psona ecclie de Wygan et Dns Burgi de Wygan po. 
 " so. lo. suo Rohm de Prestecote vel Johem de Lanfeld ad petand calumpni et "Lauc." 
 " psequend ofnes libtates suas ville et Burgi de Wygan sedm forma carte dni 
 " Regis sibi inde confecti." 
 On the second portion of the roll, and on the first skin of such roll, after reciting 
 the grant by king Edward III., in the 25th year of his reign, to Henry, duke of 
 Lancaster, earl of Derby, Lincoln, and Leicester, and steward of England of his 
 dukedom of Lancaster, as therein set forth ai'e recorded, the letters patent to Hugh 
 de Berewyk, and others, by the said Henry, appointing them justices of assize for 
 his said duchy, and of pleas as well of the crown, as others within the said duchy, 
 to hold, hear, and determine, according to the law and custom of the kingdom of 
 England, saving to him amercements, &c. Tested at the Savoy, 7th March, in the 
 first year of his said duchy. 
 
 In contmuatiou of the roll aa-e recorded a multiplicity of pleadings between vari- 
 ous parties, to the following effect : — 
 Anglicized from the roll. 
 
 " John Molyneux ags'. John Blundell, of Crosseby, touching the lands upon 
 marriage. 
 
 " John Knody, of Cliderow, ags'. William de Horneby, parson of the church 
 of Ribchester, touching lands in Cliderowe.
 
 342 
 
 €i)t %}i&tOV^ Of tf)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 IX. 
 
 A. l.a. 
 36 Ed. 3d, 
 
 A. 2. 
 
 A. 2. a. 
 
 A. 2. b. 
 
 " John Blounte of Hazlewood, Robert Legh, and Thos. Strangewayes, came 
 
 on tlieir recognizance, at the suit of Jolm Radclif, touching a tenement and 
 
 lands in Salford. John Blounte answeiing that the premises were of the 
 
 manor of Ordesale, and that Hemy, late earl of Lancaster, father of Henry 
 
 the duke, was seized of the lands, and gi-anted the same by charter to the 
 
 said John Blounte, as of the manor of Ordesale." 
 
 And thus the pleadings are continued tlu'oughout the entire roll; and as 
 
 evidences of that early period ai-e applicable to the most considerable part of the 
 
 places and manors in the county palatine of Lancaster, and the early possessors' 
 
 riglits and premises there. 
 
 There is a second roll distinguished A. 1. a. and contauiing the essoigns, taken 
 at Preston before William de Fynche, or Fjnichedeu, and Ids associates, justices of 
 the said duke de Banco, in the 10th year of liis dukedom, and in its nature similar to 
 the preceding roll. 
 
 Anno 2 and 3 Ducatus, 
 
 Contains pleadings and essoigns, taken at Preston before Hugh de Berewyk and 
 
 others, in the 2d year of the said duke, and of the same nature and effect as those of the 
 
 preceding rolls, and is A'ery copious, the proceedings in many cases being fully set out. 
 
 Contains pleadings and essoigns of the like nature, as taken both at Lancaster 
 
 and Preston, in the 4th year of the same duke. 
 
 Is properly considered as a roll of fines, letters, close and patent, and as con- 
 taining charters of the 4th year of Henry, duke of Lancaster, being the 29th year of 
 the reign of king Edward HI. And, the follo\^•ing outline comjjrises the general 
 matters, or subjects, with several of the names of persons and places applicable 
 thereto: — 
 
 Numbered 
 on the Roll. 
 
 Principal Matters. 
 
 Proceedings before the 
 Justices at Preston, as 
 to Right of Fisliing. 
 
 Persons. 
 
 Richard Aghton ag" Ro- 
 ger Boudesson and 
 John Stelle, the De- 
 fendants justifying in 
 right of William de 
 Heskayth, Tliomas de 
 Litherland, the Prior of 
 Burscogh, the Abbot 
 of Cockersand, and 
 Richai'd de Aghton. 
 
 Places. 
 
 Merton Meer, Le 
 Wyck, Nortluneles.
 
 Numbered 
 on the Roll. 
 
 Countj) |3alatinf of ILanrastfr. 
 
 Principal Matters. 
 
 343 
 
 Account of Fines paid to 
 the Duke as Lord, for 
 Writs of Assize. 
 
 William Jerard and Wife. 
 
 Peter Jerard and Wife. 
 
 William Careles. 
 
 William Lawrence. 
 
 Persons. 
 
 John de Hatonshou. 
 Richard Bradshagh. 
 
 Henry de Ditton. 
 William de Excestre,^ 
 Parson of Crofton > 
 Church. ) 
 
 John Culpeper. 
 Grants hy 
 
 The Duke to William de Heglifield, in pei-petuity, 
 28 Acres of Land, at 14s. Rent, and Tenants 
 to do suit at the Lord's Mill. 
 
 Places. 
 
 CHAP. 
 IX. 
 
 Hamelton. 
 Perhald. 
 
 Asheton in Maker- 
 field. 
 ^Vyndhull Manor. 
 i.Raynhull Manor. 
 
 'Torhok Manor. 
 
 WalshwittellManor. 
 i Dalton Manor. 
 
 Wright}iiton, 
 
 Cophull. 
 ''Thonieton. 
 
 Laton Magna. 
 
 Laton Parva. 
 
 Ribleton Manor. 
 
 Asheton, near Pres- 
 ton Manor. 
 ^Ditton, 
 
 North Meyles. 
 
 Maincestre. 
 
 Salford Waste. 
 
 Several other grants were made to persons specified, but cancelled, as the 
 premises became leased by the duke's charter to John de Radeclif. 
 
 4. A fine of 3s. 4d. to the duke as lord for a Writ of Pone, concerning an 
 
 agreement — Cicilia Orulshagh and Hugh de lues. 
 
 5. Tlie duke to Richard de Walton, the duke's approver in the parts of 
 
 Blackburnshire.
 
 344 Cfte ?I^i£itoii) Of t!)e 
 
 c}jxv. " Grant of a messuage and lands in Colne and Merclesden, held by tlie 
 
 ;_■ custom of the manor and castle of Clithero, and other premises in 
 
 Trowden Mithum and Trowdeu Chace. 
 Fines to the Lord for Writs. 
 
 6. " John de Radeclif, parson of the cliurch of Bury, to the duke— Half a mark 
 for lands in Asheton-under-Lime. 
 " Robert de Legh and Matilda his wife to the Duke — 13s. 4d. for the moiety 
 
 of the manor of Flixton. 
 " Clarissa de Bolton to the Duke — Half a mark for tenements in Newton in 
 
 Makerfield and Walton in the Dale. 
 " Robert de Legh and Matilda his wife to the Duke — 13s. 4d. for the manor 
 of Ordeshale." 
 This course is pursued through tliiileen other instances of fines of the like nature, 
 paid by various persons in different places in the county palatine. 
 
 De Anno 4'° Ducatus (in dorso.) 
 Recognizances of Debts. 
 
 Otho de Halsale and John de Radeclif 
 
 Richard de Rixton John de Asheton ""•' "" 100 marks. 
 
 John, son of Adam Su- Adam de Hoghton, 
 
 de Claxton Knt. 1 7 marks. 
 
 Otho de Halsale The Duke 100 marks. 
 
 Grants, &c. 
 
 The Duke to Geoffry de Langholt and Robert de Gikellswyk, of Tadecastre, 
 for the Abbot and Convent of Sallay. • 
 
 Licence to Alien in Mortmain Lands, in Bradeford in Bouland, held in 
 socage by fealty and ser\dce, and as by inqmsition taken by the Duke's 
 command. 
 The Duke to Adam de Hoghton. 
 
 Acquittance of serraig on juries, &c. 
 ^Tlie Duke to John de Haverington of Farleton. 
 
 Lease of the Manor of Horneby and its demesnes, the Castle Deer and 
 Chace of Rebrundale, (Advowsons, &c. excepted.) 
 The Duke to Matthew de Southeworth. 
 
 Pardon of a Debt owing to the Duke's Father, Henry, Earl of Lancaster. 
 The Duke to John de Dyneley and Heirs. 
 
 Grant of Dunham Manor by Homage and Fealty, and £12, 6s. 7d. per 
 Ann. with 2s. for the Ward of Lancaster Castle. 
 
 The above are all tested at Preston.
 
 Coimti.) ^Jalntme of Eanrnsftn-* 345 
 
 The Duke to the King. chap. 
 
 Precept to John Cokayn and others to levy in the Dnchy the remainder of 
 Aid, granted hy Parliament to King Edward III. to Knight, his chlest 
 sou, according to the King's Mandate, and also a Mandate of the Sheriff 
 of Lancaster to assist therein. 
 As tested at Lancaster. 
 William do Stoldegh and Avisia de Bretargh. 
 lurolment of a Deed of the Manor of Hyton. 
 Tested at Preston. 
 Pleadings at Lancaster of a similar nature to A. 2. 
 
 IX. 
 
 o 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Other Grants, from the Ath to the Wth Henry, Duke of Lancaster, comprising 
 29th Edward III. 1356, and 36th Edward III. 1363. 
 
 The Duke to William de Heghfeld and liis Heirs. 
 
 Grant of 23 Acres of Waste in Salford, at a Rent of IP C"" reserved, As con- 
 tained m 
 
 and remainder to Thomas Strangwas. the close 
 
 ° Roll. 
 
 Tested by Henry de Walton, Archdeacon of Richmond, Lieutenant a. 3 a. 
 of the Duchy of Lancaster. 
 The Duke to Richard de Dynesargh, of Liverpool, and his Heirs. 
 
 Grant of a Messuage and Appurtenances in Castle Street, Liverpool, which 
 formerly belonged to Benedict le Stedemen, late Constable of Liverpool Castle, 
 at 4' Rent p ann., and by Services, as the other Tenants of that Town did for 
 theii" Messuages. 
 The Duke to Henry le Norreys. 
 
 Grant of Free Warren in Speek. 
 The Duke to John del Monkes. 
 
 Grant of the Wardship and Lands of Henry de Croft. 
 Divers Fines to the Lord for Writs of Assize. 
 
 For Lands and Tenements in Hopton, Tildesley, Ditton near Torhok, and 
 in Chorlegh. 
 The Duke to John de Perhurn. 
 
 Letters of Protection while abroad with the Duke in the King's Service, 
 
 and similar Letters of Protection to various other Persons. 
 
 Among numerous other entries on the Roll ai-e various instriunents by licence, 
 
 wai-rant, writ, gi-ant, or appointment, ^ddzt: For holding pleas and complaints; for 
 
 keeping the statute of weights and measures; the statutes of seiTauts, ailificers, &c., 
 
 VOL. I. 2 Y
 
 346 ' €i)t |?i£itxirj) of tfje 
 
 CHAP, aud the record of various fines for ^\Tits of assize, &c., and therein the Writ de 
 
 L_ Conspiratioue. 
 
 A Writ, diem clausit extremum, ,of the Lands of John de Rigmayden, in the 
 Duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 An ExempHfication of the Proceedings hetween Thomas de Ahnay, of the High 
 Peake, and Thurstau de Holand, of Salfordshire, returned in the Duke's Chancery, 
 concerning the Manor of Denton under Downeshagh. 
 
 A Mandate to John Haverington and others, to equip tlie Men at Arms in the 
 Duchy, with 300 Archers and others, to be dispatched to Newcastle-upon-TjTie, to 
 march with the King against the Scotch. 
 
 Another Mandate on behalf of the King, as to the Alienations and Possessions of 
 Lancaster Priory, taken with other Alien Priories, by reason of the War Avith 
 France. 
 
 Appointments to the Office of Escheator, inquiries of the conduct of Bailiffs of 
 the Wapentakes, appointment of Justices to hear and determine Trespasses within 
 the Duchy, and Mandates to the Sheriff to assist in all such Premises. 
 A Lease of the Herbage of Musbury Park . 
 
 Grant of the Hospital of St. Leonard's at Lancaster, to be annexed to the Priory 
 of Seton, if the Burgesses of Lancaster consented. 
 The Appointments of Keeperships of Forests. 
 Pardon of a Suit by the Duke for an Assault committed. 
 
 Grant and Confirmation of the Advowson of Wygan Church, and Letters of 
 Protection to various Persons, while staying with the Duke in the King's Service in 
 the Parts of Brittany. 
 
 Anno T Ducatus. 
 Divers Fines for Writs of Assize of Lands and Tenements in Longtre, Hepay, 
 and Dokesbury, Great Penhulton, Great Merley, Bury, Middleton, and Penhulton, 
 in Salfordslme. 
 
 Grant of Land and Turbary in Salford, and divers Fines for Premises in West- 
 legh, Flixton, Whitton, Weryugton, Sonckey, Penlieth, Burtonwood and Laton, 
 Great Merton, Bispham, Pynington, Bold, Lydiat, Thorneton near Sefton, Cul- 
 cheth, TUdesley, Glasebi'ook, Bedeford, Halsale, WyndhuU, lues near Crosby, and 
 Ines Blundell, including the Writs Post Dissesin forma Donationes, Dedimus Potes- 
 tatem, and the Writ de Ingi'essu. 
 
 A Mandate by the Duke for the King, to William de Horneby and Richard de 
 Townley, to collect and levy the lOths and ISths A\ithin the Ducliy of Lancaster. 
 
 A Pardon by the Duke of the Suit of Peace against Hugh le Machon, of 
 Abingham, indicted for Housebreaking at Chorley.
 
 CmintL> IJalatinc of itanrasitfi-* 347 
 
 Anno 8° Ducatus. 
 
 The Duke's Mandate to Justices assigned to try certain Malefactors, ag" 
 whom the Parson of the Churcli of Wygan, and the Lord of the Town, had com- 
 plained regarding- the hindi'ance of liis Bailiffs in the pcrfomiance of their Duties, 
 and liis INIandate to the Sheriff of the Duchy to assist therein. 
 
 Divers Fines for Writs de Conventione, &c. concerning Lands in Culcheth, 
 Maucesti'e Manor, and the Advowsons of the Churches of Mancestre and Assheton ; 
 Lands in Chippyn, Eggeworth Manor ; Lands in Liverpool, Penhulton in Salford- 
 shire, Culchitli and Hyndelegh Manors, Croxteth Park, Flixton Manor, Kenyan, 
 and the Manor of Huyton. 
 
 A Grant of the Herbage of the Foss of Lancaster Castle, and of the place called 
 Bernyard in Lancaster. 
 
 An Acquittance of serving the Office of Juror, Escheator, Coroner, or Bailiff. 
 
 A Release of Rent for Lands held by John Baret in Derby, Liverpool, Everton, 
 and elsewhere witliiu the Duchy. 
 
 A Pardon by the Duke to John de Etlieleston, indicted for extorting money and 
 other oflFences, and a Pardon to William del Twjs, of Transgressions. 
 
 A Lease of the Fishery in the River Ribble at Penwortham, with the Meadows 
 there. 
 
 Tested by the Duke at Preston. 
 
 Anno 9" Ducatus. 
 
 Appointment of Justices in Eyi-e for Pleas of the Forests. 
 
 Precepts to the Sheriff to make a Proclamation for holding Sessions at Preston, 
 and to summon Persons to attend before the Justices there. 
 
 Pardons for Trespasses of Vert and Venison in Duchy Forests, and other 
 Trespasses. 
 
 Grant of Free Warren in Halsal and Rynecres. 
 
 Lease of the Herbage called Veden and Mufden. 
 
 Grant of a Yearly Rent of 20' to William de Liverpool, out of the Manor of 
 West Derby. 
 
 Licence to take Gorse from Toxteth Park. 
 
 Pardons for Trespasses in the Duchy Forests, and in Toxteth Park. 
 
 Pai-don upon Indictment for Offences against the Statutes of Servants and 
 Labourers, i 
 
 Divers Fines upon Writs for Lands in various places. 
 
 2 Y 2 
 
 CHAP. 
 IX.
 
 348 ClK i^isitJjrj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. The Duke, iu behalf of Roger La Waire. Commissioners appointed to inquire 
 
 IX. 
 
 into the said Roger's Petition, shewing, that he held the Town of Mancestre as a 
 Boro' and Market Town, and enjoyed certain Liberties there, and in the Manor 
 and Hamlets, and that the Duke's Bailiffs had interfered to levy Amerciaments, &c. 
 
 A Licence to Alien in Mortmain Lands in Lancaster. 
 
 Grant of Lands in Salford to Thomas del Olers, and others. 
 
 Grant of a Messuage in Preston escheated to Henry, earl of Lancaster, by 
 Felony. 
 
 A Mandate to the Escheator of the Duchy to interfere no further in a Chapel 
 and Lands in Andreton, Avliich had been seized into the Duke's hands by the late 
 Escheator, it being found by Inquisition, that the Church of Standish was endowed 
 therewith. 
 
 Anno 10™° Ducatus. 
 
 The Duke to Adam de Skilpigcom. 
 
 Licence to take with him a Body Guard within the Duchy of Lancaster, for the 
 Defence and Protection of Ids Person. 
 
 Pai'don to Agnes del Birches, for producing a forged Chai'ter before the 
 Justices, in an Action concerning Tenements in Astelegh. 
 
 Grant of Lands in Penhulton. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator of the Duchy for Livery of Seizin of Lands 
 held by an Outlaw for Felony iu ChipjTi, the Duke haAing had liis Year, Day, 
 and Waste. 
 
 Mandate to Collect and Levy A^itlun the Duchy the 10th and 15th, granted by 
 Parliament, to defray the Expences of War. 
 
 Appointment of BaiHff of the Manor of Derby for Life, at two pence a day for 
 his Wages. 
 
 Appointment of Keeper of Toxteth Park for Life, mth tlie Grant of Skeryorde- 
 rock ^itliin the Sea, to construct a Fishery there. 
 
 Mandate to the Duchy Escheator to interfere no further as to Land iu Kirden, 
 seized into the Duke's hands ujion Felony. 
 
 Appointment of Keeper of Quernmore Park. 
 
 Mandate to the Duchy Escheator to deliver Lands which had been seized into 
 the Duke's hands upon the Mamage of one of the Duke's Maidens, a legal Divorce 
 having subsequently taken place. 
 
 A Pai-don upon Indictment, for catching Fish at Heton Norres. 
 
 Fines for Lands iii Hunersfeld and Stalmyn.
 
 Conntp |3alatinf of HanrasJttr. 349 
 
 Grant of a Messnas^e and Lands in Salfoid, whicli came to the Duke's hands chap. 
 
 ... IX. 
 
 by tlie deatli of Richard de Tetlowc, who was a Bastard, and died without Heii' — .^_LL_ 
 Remainder to Tliomas de Strangwas. 
 
 Grant of Lands in Ingoll. 
 
 Grant of an Escheat in Salibrd. 
 
 Divers Fines for Writs de Attincta, Writs of Assize, and the Wiit de 
 Debito. 
 
 Grant of 20 Marks yearly, out of the Manor of West Derby. 
 
 Grant of Wardsliip and Marriage of William de Warton. 
 
 Appointment of Justices to try Malefactors for Trespasses in the Chases of Bow- 
 land, PenhuU, Trowdcn, Rochdale, Rossendale, and Romesgrene. 
 
 Grant of the Wardship and Marriage of Thomas de Haverington. 
 
 Grant of Lands and Tenements in Gosenargh Escheated by Felony. 
 
 Lease for 20 Years of the Foreign Wood of Myerscough. 
 
 Mandate to the Duchy Escheator to interfere no further in Premises at Ribble- 
 chester, seized into the Duke's Hands on the Felony of Roger de Allele. 
 
 An Indenture of Agreenaent concerning Tenements in Romesgrene and the 
 Towns of Penhulton and Cliderowe, between the Duke and the Abbot and Convent 
 of Whalley. 
 
 Grant of the BailiAnck of Derby WapentalvC for Life. 
 
 Mandate to the Duchy Escheator not to interfere further as to Messuages and 
 Lands in Asteley and Kyndeley, seized into the Duke's Hands by reason of the 
 Felony of Richard de Athertou. 
 
 On the back and in continuation of this Roll to the following effect. a. 3. a. 
 
 ° continued. 
 
 The Duke to Adam Skillingcorn. 
 
 A Lease of a Place called Hoddesdone for 12 Years, at £2. 6s. 8d. per Ann. 
 Henry Le Norres, of Speek, and others, for the Duke. 
 
 Recognizance of Debts and divers other Recognizances of Debts. 
 
 A Lease by the Duke to William, sou of Adam, of Ly\erpull, and More de No. 3. 
 LtvctouU and others deLyverpull, of the Town, with all the Mills of the same Town, guishedun 
 
 the hiiciv 
 
 toorether with the Rents and Services, and the Passage of the Water of Merese, with of the 
 
 R tl 
 
 the Turbary of Toxteth Park and the stallages as therein particularized. 
 
 The Instrument, as enrolled, is very obscure. It is Tested, Henry do Walton, 
 Lieutenant of the Duchy, at Lancaster, 24th March, lltli Year of the said 
 Duke. 
 
 Mandate to John Haverington and others, to raise Soldiers, Men at Anns, and 
 Archers, in the Wapentakes of Amounderness, Fourneys, and Lonsdale, within the 
 Duchy, to march against the Scotch. And like Mandates to others for Derbyshii-e,
 
 350 C&e iK^tnrj) of t\)c 
 
 CHAP. Salfordsliire, Blalvcbnrnslure, and Leyloiulsliire Wapentakes, witli a distinct Man- 
 _____ date to the Sheriff to assist. 
 
 Grant of a yearly Rent of £10 to Henry Dittou out of the Lands of Tliomas 
 Dittou. 
 
 Grant of Wardship and Lands and Marriage of William the Son of Robert 
 de Frees. 
 
 The Duke's Pardon of Suit for Trespass and Hunting at Blakelegh Park. 
 
 Grant of Holtefeld in Salford. 
 
 Pardon of Peace to the Vicar of Kirkham Church for Mal-Adniinistration in his 
 Office of Dean of Amouuderness. 
 
 Mandates to raise 300 Archers, to accompany the Duke to Brittany, from the 
 various Wapentakes. 
 
 Grant of a Paviage for Preston, and for Customs on Merchandize in aid 
 thereof. 
 
 Admissions of Attorneys to plead in the Ducln* Courts. 
 
 Justices assigned for observing the Statute of Weights and Measures. 
 
 Permission to inquu-e of Lands in Hornclyx e. 
 
 Grant of the Wardship of Lands of Adam de Mondesley. 
 
 Paviage for the Town of Lperpull for 2 Years. 
 
 Mandate to the Duchy Escheator for Livery of Seizin of Lands in Radeclif, as 
 forfeited by Felony, the Duke having had year, day, and waste. 
 
 Confirmation of a Grant of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, to William Norreys, of 
 Lands in Derby. 
 
 Writ of the Disseisin of Dokesbury Manor. 
 
 The like of Lands in Chorley. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator for Laud in Fenwortham, seized for mthdraiiving of 
 the service of a Boat over the River Ribble. 
 
 Writ of the Disseisin for Lands in Ellale. 
 
 Grant of the Site of Ulneswalton Manor to Richard de Hibernia, the Duke's 
 Physician, with Liberty to be Toll free and Hoper free at the Duke's Mills. 
 
 Grant of Allowance to the Town of Overton to grind Corn at the Duke's Mill 
 at Lone. 
 
 Grant of the Custody of St. Mary's Chapel at Syngleton. 
 
 Pardon for Trespasses in the Duchy Forests. 
 
 Pardon for Non-Appearance in Court. 
 
 Justices assigned to keep the Waters, in which Salmons are caught. 
 
 Justices to inquire of Stoppages in the Duchy Rivers, and chiefly tlie Ribble, to 
 tlie injury of Fenwortham Fishery.
 
 CoimtP palatine of aanrasttr. 351 
 
 Appointments of Stewai-dsliips. chap. 
 
 Pardon of a Fine pro Licentia Concordanili, as to Tenements in Mancestre. ' 
 
 Inquisition and Letters Patent touching the Manor of Mancestre as a Mai-ket 
 To^ii and Boro' with the Hamlets thereto. 
 
 The Duke to Thomas de Lathum and Wife. 
 
 Licence to hokl Knouselegh Park. 
 
 Agreement touching the Wardship of Lands and the Mairiage of Richard de 
 Molyneux of Sefton. 
 
 Divers Letters of Protection for Persons serving the King abroad. 
 
 Confirmation of a Lease of the Manor of Ahleclif to the Prior of Lan- 
 caster. 
 
 WaiTant to levy 520 Marks from the Freeholders of Quernemore Forest and 
 the Natives of Lonsdale, as theii- portion of £1000 Fine for Trespasses against 
 the Assize of the Forest. 
 
 Several Mandates to the Escheators concerning various Lands seized. 
 
 Divers Pardons for Trespasses and Assaults. 
 
 Exemplification of Procee(hngs touching the Intail of tlic Manor of Bury. 
 
 Tlie like as to Lands in Harewode, the Water of Hyndehurue, and Clayton on 
 the Mores. 
 
 The other Records of the Annals of the Duchy are marked A. 1. and A. 5., and 
 are similai' in their contents to A. 1. These Rolls terminate the Records of the 
 first Duke, who died in the year 1361, without male issue. 
 
 So rich an inheritance as the dukedom of Lancaster could not remain long in Revival of 
 abeyance. The maniage of John of Gaunt, the fourth son of the reigning monarch (jom i" the 
 of England, to Lady Blanch, the youngest daugliter of the deceased duke, produced jo'hn of' 
 the almost immediate revival of the title; and the subsequent death of lady Maude, ^"'"'' 
 mtliout issue, invested duke John with the whole of those extensive possessions 
 which the fii'st duke had left to liis children. The confidence reposed by the king- 
 in this, liis favourite and most higldy gifted son, conferred upon liim every thing but 
 sovereign power ; and his second marriage with Constance, the eldest daugliter of 
 Peter the Cruel, obtained for him the title of King of Castile and Leon. In this 
 character he obtained the i-ight to coin money, and several pieces were struck bearing 
 his superscription. Tlie wars in wliich he was engaged have already been adverted 
 to,* and the history of this munificent duke shortly portrayed. His claim to the 
 tlu*one of Sicily, founded on no just pretension, produced a strong remonstrance on 
 the pai't of liis holiness. Pope Urban V., who issued on the occasion one of those 
 
 * See chap. iv. p. 145.
 
 352 C!)c i^iistory of the 
 
 CHAP. Bulls, at the bare name of wliicli piiuces and kings were accustomed to tremble. 
 ^^' This Bull is still in-eserA^ed, tbougb divested of its seal, and is couched in the follow- 
 ing terms : — 
 
 BULLA URBANI V. FAPJE. 
 
 Papal " Urbauus episcopus, servus serAorum Dei, carissi- 
 
 A.D. 1367. ™^' ^^- salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. 
 
 An. 41 Edw. III. " Insonuit, fili caiissime, liiis diebus, riunor impla- 
 
 T cidus, incomitatu Proviuciae, ad caiissimam in Christo 
 
 In Thesau" Cur filiam nostram Johannam Reginam SiciUiae Ulustrem, 
 
 Recent. Scacc. pro regno SiciJliae nostram et ecclesise Romanae vas- 
 
 salam, spectans, et jam usque ad nostram audientiam 
 
 est perlatus, qu6d, dilectus filius, nobilis vii-, Johannes 
 dux Lancastriae, natus tuns, intendit, comminatur, et parat se praedictum comitatum 
 
 invadere : 
 
 " De quo, nescientes quo jiu-e vel titulo hoc agere Aaleat, mii-amur plurimum et 
 dolemus, maxime quia, cum olun de hoc aliqua suspicio praecessissit, quidam nun- 
 cius tuus, ex parte tui\, litteras portans credentiae, nobis retiUit, quod hoc nequaquam 
 permitteret fieri regia celsitudo, nisi prius praecedente requisitione legitima, et in 
 justitiae defectu, quod nondiim noscitur esse factum. 
 
 " Cum itaque memorata Regina parata sit, super omnibus, quae idem dux ab ea 
 vellet petere, stare juri, quod etiam nos offerimus pro eadem, serenitatem tuam aflfec- 
 tuosfe rogamus, et obsecramus in Domino, quatenus hujusmodi iuvasionem, quae 
 omnes illas partes, Deo juvante pacificas conturbaret, multaque pericula, animarum 
 et corporum ac renim dispendia generaret indubi^, fieri non permittas, maximfe quia 
 prffifatus dux, tenendo A-iam istam, rationabilem, justitiam suam, si quam habeat, 
 facilius et houorabilius consequetur. 
 
 " Super quibus, eidem serenitati pleuius exponendis, dilectum filium, magistrum 
 Johannem de Cabrespino, cauonicum Narbonensem, decretorimi doctorem, apostolicae 
 sedis nuncium, latorem prssentium, ad tuam prajsentiam destinamus, cui super hiis, 
 qua; tibi de prsemissis, ex parte nostra, nan-averit, fidem velis credulam adhibere. 
 " Dat. Viterbii, vii. kal. Augusti, pontificates nostri anno quinto. 
 
 " BARTHOLOM.i:U.S." 
 
 (Slgillo avulso.) 
 
 The inquiry upon Avhat legitimate gi-ound the duke of Lancaster founded liis 
 pretensions to the kingdom of Sicily, he was not able to answer to the pope's nuncio, 
 and from that time this claim seems to have been abandoned.
 
 Coiintj) ^aalatmr of ilancnsittn 353 
 
 The continental wai-s in which the English were engaged, did not prevent them chap. 
 fi-om emharking on a crusade against Ireland, that iinfortmiate country, whicli has ^^' 
 for so many centuries been the scene of oppression and misgovemment. In a writ, 
 addi-essed to tlie sheriff of Lancasliire hy the king, the Irish people are characteiized 
 as " our enemies, and rebels ;" and it is announced to the sheriff, that Lionel, duke 
 of Clai'euce, the king's son, is on his way to Ireland, to coerce the •' rebels" into 
 subjection, and the ports of Livei-pool and Chester are requu-ed to send sliips, pro- Levy of 
 perly manned, to support the expedition.* That the object of this armament was Liverpool 
 not very speedily accomplished, may be infeiTed fi-om the fact, that, two years after- against 
 wai'ds, a proclamation was issued by the king for seizing eighty ships, of thirty tons 
 burden and upwards, wherever they could be found, on the western coast between 
 Bristol, in Somersetshu-e, and Funaess, in Lancashu-e, which ships were to be sent 
 to Lyvei-pole, before the fii-st of St. Peter ad Vincula, to assist prince Lionel in 
 caiTying on the war against Ireland. At that tune, the exports of Livei-pool were Non-ex- 
 veiy subject to the restrictions of orders in council ; in the year 1.3G2 the bailiffs of {lomU- 
 Liverpool, and John, duke of Lancaster, both received orders from tlie govermnent '^'''""'* 
 to i^rohibit the exportation of provisions of various kinds, as well as of dye wares 
 and other commochties, which prohibition extended to cloths called " worstedes," 
 and to sea-coal, then recently discovered as an article of fuel ; and similar inter- 
 dicts, soon after issued, extended the prohibition to horses, linen, woollen yarns, 
 jewels, and the precious metals. Liverpool was at that period rising, though 
 slowly, into importance; and an order was issued by the king to the admiral on the 
 station, as well as to the sheriff of the county, and the mayor and bailiffs of the 
 borough, to rebuild (de novo construere) a bridge over the Mersey within their 
 lordship. 
 
 The alanii of invasion was again spread with gi-eat assiduity, and the royal pro- Renewed 
 clamations of the year 1369 dOigeutly propagated these apprehensions, in order to invasion 
 quicken the transmission of the public supplies. Adam de Hoghton, Roger de shire. 
 Pilkinton, WUliam de Atherton, Pachard de Radclyf, and Matthew de Rixton, com- 
 missioners of aiTay for the county of Lancaster, were appointed, by royal mandate, 
 to press and enj-ol four hundred archers in Lancaslm-e, to accompany John, duke of 
 Lancaster, to Aquitaine ;t and the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, dukes, mar- 
 quisses, earls, barons, and castellans, were informed, that the king liad appointed 
 his son, the duke of Lancaster, his captain and lieutenant in " Guynes and Caleys." 
 In the following month, the sheriff of Lancaster was commanded to an-ay, by him- 
 self or his deputies, all men in the county capable of beaiing arms, between the 
 ages of sixteen and sixty yeais, and to cause them to be in readiness, and properly 
 
 • Pat. 35 Edw. III. p. 2. m. 24. Turr. Lond. t Rot. Vascon. 43 Edw. III. m. 5. Turr. Lond. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 z
 
 354 CIk listorj) of tfie 
 
 CHAP, equipped, to resist the French, who tlu'eatened to invade England, to ohstnict the 
 ^^' passage of merchants and merchandise, and to abolish the English language !* By 
 a subsequent proclamation it was ordained, that the men at arms, Jtobelers, and 
 archers, in the county of Lancaster, should be in complete reatliness by Palm 
 Sunday (1370), and William de Risseby, John Blake, clerk, Matthew de Rixtou, 
 and Richard ap Llewellin Vaughan, had confided to them the power to arrest all 
 ships, from twelve to forty tons burthen, in the ports of LyverpuU, and all other 
 places from thence to Chester, that port included, and to send them to the ports of 
 Southampton and Plymouth, by Sunday next before the feast of Pentecost, with a 
 sufficient equipment of sailors for the passage, to embark in the expedition of John, 
 duke of Lancaster, and others in his company, going to Gascony.t 
 Parish To prosecute all these hostile operations, the long, this year, by the authority of 
 
 '^^' parliament, le\ied upon the parishes of England a tax of fifty thousand pounds, 
 
 each parish being requii-ed to pay five pounds fifteen shillmgs, the gi-eater to help 
 the less. From this return it appears, that there were then eight thousand six 
 hundi-ed and thirty-two parishes in England, and that the contribution of 
 
 Lancasliire, for its 58 parishes, was . ... £336 8 
 
 Westmoreland, 32 185 12 
 
 Cumberland, 96 556 16 
 
 Middlesex, exclusive of London, 63 parishes . . . 365 8 
 
 London, 110 parishes 638 
 
 Yorkshire, 540 3132 
 
 Exchange By an indenture, made in the following year, between the king and liis son John, 
 
 mond-'' duke of Lancaster, king of Castile and Leon, the duke gi-ants to liis father the 
 
 foi-'^th^r"' county, castle, town, and honor of Riclunond, in exchange for the castle, manor, and 
 
 srons?" honor of Tykhill, castle and manor of High Peak, with knights' fees, together with 
 
 the advowson of the churches of Steyndrop and Brannspath, the free chapels of Tyk- 
 
 liill and High Peak, the church and free chapel of Marsfeld, the fiee chapel of 
 
 Pevenese, the priory of Wylmyngdon, the priory of Whitiham, and the house of 
 
 St. Robert of Kuaresborough, with the castle, manor, and honor of Knaresborough, the 
 
 hunch-ed or wapentake of StajTicliff, in Yorkshire, and the manor of Grjnigeley and 
 
 Whetebury.J At the same time, an order was issued by the king to the freemen, 
 
 and all other tenants on the exchanged possessions, ordering them to obey John, 
 
 dulie of Lancaster ; and sunilar orders were given by the duke " to the venerable 
 
 * Rot. Vascon. 43 Edw. III. m. 3. Turr. Lond. f Rot. Franc. 44 Edw. III. m. 25. Tiirr. Lond. 
 I Rot. Pat. 1 Rich. II. p. ). m. 11 per inspex. Turr. Lond.
 
 Countj) ^3alntmf of iCauwstn-. 355 
 
 fathers, all and singular his archhishops, bishops, and other prelates of churches, chap. 
 and to his earls, viscounts, barons, and others, hokUng of the castle, honor, and ^' 
 county of Richmond," announcing, that he had gi-auted to his royal father and lord 
 the couuty of Richuiond, and commaniling, that all vassals and feodataries should 
 perform homage, fealty, and all other ser\ices and duties to the king.* 
 
 The prerogatives of jura reyalia conferred upon John of Gaunt, in liis duchy and The fran- 
 county palatine of Lancaster, were gi'eatly enlarged by the royal bounty, by which jurTrega- 
 he was appointed the lung's especial lieutenant and captain-general of " oiu- king- ,"',1™° '"^' 
 dom of France," and in Aquitaine, and the parts beyond the sea.f This authority oaun t*^ 
 Avas still further enlarged by the memorable charter, granted to the duke in the early 
 part of the reign of his royal uncle, of which charter the following is a free 
 translation : — 
 
 POWERS GIVEN TO THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 " The king to all who shall see or hear these letters, health : Know that we, fully 
 confiding in the understanding, loyalty, and wisdom of our dearest uncle John, by 
 the grace of God, king of Castile and Leon, Duke of Lancaster, have made and 
 ordained, and do make and ordain, liim, as well on the sea as in our kingdom of 
 France and our lordship of Aquitaine, and elsewhere in all parts beyond the sea, our in parts 
 lieutenant, principal cliieftain, and general, as well of the constable and marshal as the sea. 
 our admirals for the time being, counts, barons, captains, knights, esquii-es, men at 
 arms and archers, and others, of what nation, tongue, or conchtion soever they may 
 be, present and to come, sustaimng and maintaining the war in our quarrel which 
 we have with our adversary of France, his adherents, or allies, 
 
 " Giving and committing to our said uncle and lieutenant, by the tenor of these 
 presents, authority and plenary power of convoking and assembling the constable 
 and marshall, admirals for the time being, counts, barons, captains, knights and 
 esqimes, men at arms, archers, aiid others howsoever denominated, 
 
 " And them to lead, together or in parts, and govern in all places, as well on 
 the sea as by land, in whatsoever manner it shall seem good to liim for the expedition 
 of oiu' wai's. 
 
 Of coiTecting, chastising, and punisliing those persons, or any of them, as well 
 officers as others, of whatsoever estate or condition they may be, according to the 
 excesses and deserts, and according to the quality of the fault and the rank of the 
 persons, whether it be high treason, or any other crime or misdemeanor, 
 
 * Ex. origin, in Turr, Lond. f Rot. Franc. 47 Edw. III. m. 19. Turr. Lond.
 
 356 C!)f iJiEitxiri) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. " Of exercising, and causing to be exercised, all manners of jurisdiction, high, 
 
 '^' mean, and low, whether they be of marine or mixed empii-e, according to the laws 
 used both by sea and laud, in such manner as we should do, if we were there present 
 (si avant come Nous le purrons faire si nous fcurons presenles,) 
 
 " Of likewise commanding, in all the places aforesaid, and of causing towns, 
 cities, castles, and forti-esses, to be well maintained, repaired, and kept in good 
 condition, and those castles and fortresses to be razed and demolished, or others to 
 be erected anew, if it shall seem for the advantage and peace of us and our subjects 
 of the parts aforesaid, 
 
 " And, moreover, of taking and receiving in our name and by our authority, into 
 our peace, grace, obedience, aiid subjection, all the cities, towns, boroughs, castles, 
 fortresses, and places of the aforesaid parts, and their inhabitants and residents, who 
 wish to come or return to our peace, gi-ace, obedience, and subjection, and to dismiss 
 and pardon, in consequence of pity and mercy, all manner of misdeeds, trespasses, 
 outrages, ai-sons, homicides, and all other manners of horrible crimes, or treasons, 
 whether generally or specially done or committed, or for wliatsoever cause, 
 
 " And also of utterly taking away and repealing all banishments and exiles, which 
 have been or are pronovmced or published against them or any of them, 
 
 " And to re-establish and restore to them all their property wliich they had or 
 have forfeited on account of the banishments and forfeitures aforesaid, 
 
 " And further, to remove the mark or note of their infamy or disgrace, and to 
 restore them or any of them to their former estate and fame, and their possessions, places, 
 and countries, and as entii-ely as they had in any time past, together with their 
 antient privileges, such as they were accustomed to exercise reasonably in former 
 times, 
 
 " Of gi-anting, in heritage, or for life, or for a term of years, to those who shall 
 have well deserved, as shall seem fit to him, towns, castles, fortresses, lands, rents, 
 or homages, nobilities, (noblesces,) jurisdictions, droits, and all theii- antient 
 appurtenances, 
 
 " Saving the droit of any one that belongs him by power of the ordinance made 
 on the Conquest, and those cities, castles, fortresses, lands, rents, antiently belonging 
 to our own Domain and royal patrimony, 
 
 " Of granting and presenting suitable persons to dignities, and all benefices of 
 the Holy Church vacant, or which shall hereafter be vacant, as well to Cathedral, 
 collegiate Churches, as to other Churches, so that they shall pertain to us, and so to 
 act for the good government of the benefices aforesaid, and for the maintenance of 
 their rights, so that by defect of good government, the alms of the parisliioners do 
 not perish.
 
 Countj) ^alatint of ^Laiuasstfr, 357 
 
 " And of taking and receiving from our subjects of the parts beyond seas, chap. 
 homage and oath of fealty, such as it behoves them to perform, _____ 
 
 " And to establish seneschalls, constables, chancellors, treasurers, commanders 
 over our castellans, captains, advocates, proctors, and all other officers and ministers, 
 who ai'e placed by us, or oui- authority, in all the places of the said parts, who shall 
 seem to our said uncle to be profitable for the good government of the subjects of the 
 parts aforesaid, 
 
 " And the ministers, appointed by them, or by any others, (save by us or of our 
 authority) placed and established, to remove and oust from then- office, and to put 
 and establish others in the place of them, or of the dead, if any should be, at the 
 accustomed wages and fees, 
 
 " And of causing and gi-anting respect to the same the officers and ministers, 
 
 " Of commanding our treasurer and receiver of those parts to make the pay- 
 ments with wliich our said uncle shall charge them as often as it shall please 
 him, 
 
 " Ordering and commancUng all the auditors of our accompts, that they make due 
 allowance of all tlie sums, wliich shall be paid by the letters or mandates of our uncle 
 aforesaid, 
 
 " And, moreover, of puttmg and imposing contributions and impositions for the 
 support of the wars, and to demand and require subsitUes and aids on account of 
 the wars, of all the prelates, nobles, and commons of the cities and towns of the 
 parts aforesaid, 
 
 " And those subsicUes, impositions, and contributions, to levy and collect, 
 
 " Of coining, stamping, and maldng new money of gold and silver, and other 
 metals, when and as often as shall seem good to liim, 
 
 " Of ennobUng persons not noble, 
 
 " And of legitimatizing, as to heritages and all other things, bastards and all 
 others who are born out of true matrimony, 
 
 " Of creating and making scribes and notaries, of a convenient number, 
 
 " Of giving such letters of safe-conduct and guard, of our banners, penons, 
 and standards, as shall seem good to liim. 
 
 " Of making truces, and treating of peace and accord Avith our enemies and 
 rebels, then- allies and adlierents, of whatsoever estate, condition, or degi-ee they 
 may be, 
 
 " And of conciliating and pacifying on all debates, contentions, and tliscords, 
 
 " And to those truces, leagues, peaces, and treaties, to affirm and assent in 
 our name, by oath, faith, obligations, and sm-eties, to have before hand, on that 
 treaty of peace, the accord and assent of us and our couucd.
 
 358 €i)t 5?l<jtOll) Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. " Of causing and granting, on all tlie remissions, pai-dous, restitutions, pre- 
 
 ^^' sentations, collations, donations, safe-conducts, safe-guai-ds, privileges, and other 
 tilings, to the prelates, nohles, and commonalties of the cities and towns, and other 
 singulai' persons whosoever, privileges, charters, muniments, and letters under liis 
 seal, which we wiU, shall have as much vigour and force, as if they had been sealed 
 with our ovm proper seal. 
 
 " And, lastly, of doing and expediting all other tilings, necessary or suitable to 
 the tilings aforesaid, as we should ourselves do, if we were present in our OAvn 
 proper person, 
 
 " Ordering and commanding the said constable and marshals, admirals, all 
 prelates, nobles, and commonalties of cities, towns, castles, fortresses, and places, and 
 to all our ministers, officers, and others our subjects, of whatsoever estate, con(htion, 
 or degree they may be, as well on the sea, as on the parts beyond sea aforesaid, on 
 forfeiture of whatever they can foi'feit to us, that tliey and each of them obey and 
 diligently observe, as shall pertain to any of them, or as they shall be required, 
 our said dearest uncle and his lieutenant, and his commissaries and deputies, 
 in doing the things aforesaid, and any of them. 
 
 " Given at Westminster, the 12th day of June, (1379,) 
 
 " By the King himself." 
 
 Letters of The pcrsous embarked with the duke in his foreign expeditions, were privileged 
 
 to Lane™ hy royal authority, and letters of protection were granted by the king, dii-ecting, that 
 
 shire men. ^jj noblemeu, and others attached to the expedition, should cross the sea without 
 
 delay, so that none of them should be found in this country after the approaching 
 
 feast of St. John the Baptist. Amongst others engaged in this expecHtion, and to 
 
 whom letters of protection were adcbessed, Ave find the names of Robert, son of 
 
 William de Clyfton, William de Barton, of Ridale, Adam del Darn, Hemy Fitz- 
 
 henry, son of Thomas de Alkerynglon, John de Ribelton, of Preston, in Amonder- 
 
 nesse, Hugh de Tyldesley, JohuRedeman, and Adam, son of Adam de Lancaster. 
 
 Expedi- Ireland was still treated as a conquered country, and each successive lord- 
 
 ireiand lieutenant, instead of sailiug for that island in the chai-acter of a messenger of peace, 
 
 was anned with a strong naval and military force, as if embai'king against a hostile 
 
 state. Accordingly, Ave find an order from the king to the sheriffs, announcing, that 
 
 he had appointed Simon Chanvelton, clerk, and Walton de Eure, to arrest sliips of 
 
 from tAventy to tAvo huncked tons burthen, m Bristol, and the other western ports as 
 
 far as LyA'ei-pole, at Avhich latter place they were to rendezvous, for the passage of 
 
 William de Wyndesore, " governor and warden of the land of Ireland."* 
 
 * Pat. 47 Edw. III. p. 2. m. 24. Turr. Lond. 
 
 renewed.
 
 Countp |)alntine of 2anras(Ui% 359 
 
 In these eaily days, amongst all the restrictions on commerce, we find no laws chap 
 against the importation of grain, but there are frequent interdicts against the expor- ^^- 
 tation of that article ; and hence we have, in the year 1375, a precept to the sheriff No le- 
 
 . . , strictions 
 
 of the county of Lancaster, dii'ectmg him not to allow the exportation of wheat, on the im- 
 
 • <■ 1 • portation 
 
 bai'ley, or other gram, trom tins county. of corn in 
 
 The reign of Edward III., though a period of war and military renown, teiini- century. 
 nated in peace. For the restoration of tliis blessing, the country was indebted to 
 John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, who, in virtue of the powers with wliich he was 
 invested, concluded a treaty of peace with Flanders, and also a truce with France, 
 which, after having been prorogued from time to time, terminated finally in an Royal 
 adjustment of the cHfierences between the two nations. In the last year of this the iiouse 
 king's reign, a grant, as we have already seen, of chancery in the county palatine of 
 Lancaster was made to the duke of Lancaster,-]" and tlie reign concluded, as it 
 had begun, with favoui's and privileges to the ducal house, which had long held 
 the first station amongst the peers of the realm, and was speedily to be advanced 
 to sovereign power. 
 
 * See Chap. iv. p. 145. 
 
 ofLancas-
 
 360 
 
 €i)t ??isstori) of ti)t 
 
 CI)ap. f. 
 
 Power of the duke of Lancaster — Lancashire men at the coronation of Richard IL — Courts of law 
 closed by the insurrection of Wat Tyler. — State of public morals in Lancashire. — Invasions of the 
 Scots. — Murder of Latimer, the accuser of the duke of Lancaster. — The duke's expedition to 
 Spain. — Submission of award. — Renewed Scotch invasion. — Larger measure in Lancashire than 
 any other part of the kingdom. — Ancient salmon fisheries of Lancashire. — Alleged claim to the 
 throne made by John of Gaunt for his son. — Accusation of the duke against Sir Thomas Talbot. — 
 Legitimation of the duke's children by Catherine Swinford. — Accession of the House of Lancaster 
 to the throne. — Grant of the Isle of Man, first to Henry earl of Northumberland, and afterwards 
 to Sir John Stanley, knight. — Annals of the duchy. — Charters of the duchy. — John of Gaunt's 
 illustrious descent. — His children. — Hostility of France. — Contest for the papacy. — Will of 
 Henry IV. — Henry V. ascends the throne. — The Lollards. — Union of the county of Here- 
 ford to the duchy of Lancaster. — Battle of Agincourt. — Commissions of array.— The crown 
 jewels pledged to carry on the war. — Death of Henry V. — His bequest of the duchy of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Power of 
 the Duke 
 of Lancas- 
 ter. 
 
 OHN of Gaunt, diike of Lancaster, had now attained 
 his mericUan power, and the reign of Richard II. may 
 not inaptly he called the regency and ^ice-royalty of 
 the duke. Though the king swayed the sceptre, his 
 nohle uncle guided the arm that melded it ; and all 
 the principal measures of his reign were supposed hy 
 the people, and not \N'ithout cause, to emanate fi'om 
 the palace of the Savoy, or the castle of Lancaster. 
 No suhject of the realm had hy any means equal 
 power in this kingdom ; and, as the representative of 
 the king in foreign countries, he exercised prerogatives seldom confided to a suhject. 
 The wealth of the duke was immense, but the splendour and state which he main- 
 tained absorbed, and even anticipated, his prmcely income. The arts were then 
 slowly emerging from the night of the middle ages ; the dogmas of the schools, and
 
 Counti.) |3alatn« of ilnmnstfn 36 1 
 
 the superstition of the monasteries were shaken by tlio rising sjiuit of inquiry; chap 
 poetry, hitherto ahnost unknown in this island, except in the elfusions of the Welsh ^' 
 bards, began to be cultivated ; and " time-honoured Lancaster" was amongst the 
 most munificent patrons of genius in liis age and nation. 
 
 In the " process and ceremony of the coronation" of Richard IL, who was now Lanca- 
 but eleven years of age, we find the names of John, duke of Lancaster, Roger le at"tite"co- 
 Strange de Knokyn, John la Warre, Henry de Grey de Wilton, and Archibald de ""'''*■'""'■ 
 Grelly, all names comiected with the county of Lancaster, and attached, for the 
 purposes of this ceremony at least, to the king's court. This " process" John, king 
 of Castile and Leon, duke of Lancaster, and high steward of England, delivered 
 with his own hand into the king's court of chancery.* The liigli reputation of the 
 duke pointed him out as the mediator of (hfferences, whether of a national or a 
 domestic land ; and after having settled the quarrel with France and with Belgiimi, 
 we find him appointed a coimuissiouer, to compose the ancient differences between 
 the gallant eai'ls of Northumberland and Douglas.'l 
 
 In 1-378 the prerogatives oi jura regalia wexe renewed in favour of "King 
 John," duke of Lancaster, as he was called, on going abroad, and rendered as 
 extensive as they were in the time of king Edward III. The privilege of coining 
 money in the city of Bayoune, and other places, was at the same time rcnewed.| 
 The followhig year, plenary power was given to the duke in the marches of Scotland. 
 While clothed Avith these powers, the duke concluded a peace with Scotland, wliich 
 was confirmed by the king, his nephew, at Northampton, and proclauned in this 
 county, under the designation of the " Great Truce," by the sheiiflF of Lancaster, at 
 the end of the year 1380. 
 
 The insurrection of Wat Tyler and his confederates, in which the house of the courts of 
 duke of Lancaster, situated in the Savoy in London, was destroyed,§ inteiTupted by"iiii"i^n^ 
 the proceedings of the court of justice at Westminster ; on which occasion a procla- „" "vat'"° 
 mation was issued by the king to the duke of Lancaster, ordaining, that, on account '^5''"'- 
 of the unheard-of and horrible commotions and insurrections of the people in the 
 kingdom of England, and for averting the dangers arising from the incursions of 
 foreign enemies, as well as for other reasons, all the pleadings in the court of king's 
 bench stood adjourned ; and all writs and mandates delivered to the duke, to his 
 chancellors, justiciaries, sheriffs, or other ministers, within the county of Lancaster, 
 
 * 1 Richard II. claus. 1. m. 44. f Scot. I Richard II. ni. 7. 
 
 I 2 Richard II. Vase. 3. R. 
 
 I See chap. iv. 148. The Savoy palace was built by Peter, earl of Savoy and Richmond, on 
 whose death it escheated to the crown ; and Henry III. conferred it on his son, Edmund Crouch- 
 back, through whom it became a possession of the earls of Lancaster. 
 VOL. 1. 3 A
 
 362 ClK S^tsitciri) of ti}t 
 
 CHAP. sboiUJ he returned on the octaves of St. Michael, instead of at the usual period.* 
 _JJ_ Tlie seditions Avhich originated in the neighbourhood of London, spread into the 
 provinces ; and rumours were very extensively circulated, that these disturbances 
 were fomented by the duke of Lancaster and other peers, in order to procure the 
 deposition of the king, that they might usurp the royal authority. To t])ese rumoui's 
 it was judged proper to give the most positive and solemn contradiction ; in conse- 
 quence of which, a proclamation was issued by the king to all archbishops, prelates, 
 and others, wherein it was announced, that a hateful rumour, wliich wounded and 
 gi-ieved the royal heart beyond measure, had been diffused throughout divers pai'ts 
 of the kingdom, representing, that the detestable disturbance in certain counties of 
 England, against their allegiance to the king, and the public peace, had been insti- 
 gated by John, duke of Lancaster, and certain others, prelates and faithful subjects ; 
 wliich rumours the proclamation denounced as wicked inventions, and declared, that 
 the duke had always been faithful and zealous for the honour and safety of the 
 country .-j" These sinister rumours, notwithstanding, at length became so prevalent 
 as to endanger the personal safety of the duke ; and a proclamation was in conse- 
 quence issued to Henry de Percy, eai'l of Northumberland, and to John, lord de 
 Nevyll, appointing them to raise a body-guard for the duke, with all possible 
 despatch, both men at arms and archers, to protect him against the violence of his 
 enemies. The duke was at the same time appointed the king's justiciary, to 
 inquu-e, on oath, within the counties in his duchy, and the county palatine of Lancas- 
 ter, into depredations, robberies, homicides, burnings, and rapes, with power to 
 punish tlie offenders. 
 
 That these crimes had attained to a frightful magnitude in Lancashii-e, may be 
 state of inferred from a species of royal proclamation issued by the " king and duke" (king of 
 morals. CastUe and duke of Lancaster) to the sheriff of the county of Lancaster, pre- 
 served in the arcliives of the duchy,| in which, after ordaining, that the " holy 
 Anglican Mother Church" shall have all its liberties whole and unimpaired, and fully 
 enjoy and use the same, and that tlie gi-eat charter and forest charter shall, according 
 to the statute 6 Rich. IL, be firmly observed, proceeds to say, that so licentious had 
 become the public manners, that the female chai-acter was treated ivith the greatest 
 disrespect, and "ladies, and other noble maids and women," were frequently 
 violated by force, and that the resentment of the persons subject to these outrages 
 was so slight, that numbers of them married theii- ra\ishers ; for remedy of which it 
 was ordained, that if, after such outrage, the parties contracted marriage, they 
 should both of them be disabled, ipso facto, from maintaining any inheritance, 
 
 * Claus. 4 Richard II. m. 1. + Pat. 5 Richard II. p. 1. m. 32. I Roll A. 6, m. 16.
 
 Countp ^Jalatmt of aanrastn-. 363 
 
 dowi-y, or conjoiut feoffament, or from receiving any bequest from their ancestors, chap. 
 and that the iaheritance should descend to the next in blood.* 
 
 For the purpose of interposing a barrier against the progress of the Scots in invasions 
 then- future attempts to mvade the northern counties of England, a treaty was Scots, 
 entered into and ratified between Jolm of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and Henry de 
 Percy, earl of Northumberland, in which it was stipulated, that the freemen of the 
 counties of Lancaster and Durham should be charged by the lord to assemble, and 
 come with all theii' power, whenever proclamation was made by the earl of Northum- 
 berland that the Scots had laid siege to any castle in the allegiance of the king.t 
 The stipulations of tliis treaty were soon brought into active operation. The Scots, 
 aided by a body of French cavalry, renewed their incursions into Cumberland, West- 
 moreland, and Lancashire, where they committed the most extensive outrages. On 
 which the king of England, having assembled an army of 60,000 men, issued an 
 order to the duke of Lancaster to meet liim with horse and anns at Newcastle, on 
 the 14th of Jidy.| With tliis army the young king penetrated into Scotland, and, Retrii)u. 
 after having burnt the capital, and laid waste all the towaa and villages through 
 which he had to pass, advanced as far as Dundee. Tliis signal act of retributive 
 justice put an end to tlie invasions of the Scots, and restored peace to the two 
 countries. 
 
 • DE STATUTO PCLAMAND. 
 
 " Item, cont." malefcores & raptores dnar & filial nobilium alicirq3 mulier violentius & plus 
 solito hijs dieb3 quasi in oiiii parte regni pdci invalescentes /'ordinatum est & statutfi qit ubicumq3 
 & quandocumq3 hujusmodi diie filie & alie mulieres pdce decePo rapiant® & post hujusmodi 
 raptum iaptorib3 hujusmodi consenserint qd tam raptores sive rapientes qin rapte & eor quitt 
 deceto inhabilitent & inhabiles sint ip5 fco ad omem hereditatem dotem sive conjunctfl feoffa- 
 mentu post mortem virof & antecessor suor bend vel vendicanct et qd statim in hoc casu dx 
 de sanguine eordem rapiencii? & raptar cui hereditas dos seu conjunctum feofFaraentum descendere 
 revti remanere vel accidere deberet post mortem rapientis vel rapte beat titulC in mediate 
 statim scitt post raptum intrandi sup rapientem vel raptam ac eor assign! & ?re tenentes 
 in eisdem hereditate dote seu conjuncto feoffamento & ilia hereditar tenend & qd viri hujus- 
 modi mulier si viros tiuerint vel si viros non buerint supstites qd tunc pres vel alij de sanguine 
 ear ppinquiores decePo lieant sectam |)sequendi & sequi po?unt v^sus eosdem malefcores & 
 raptores in hac parte & illos inde qu^vis eedem mulieres post hujusmodi raptum dcis raptorib3 
 consenserint de vita & membro convinccndi Et ulPius concordatum est qd defendens in hoc 
 casu ad duellum vadianct minime recipiat Immo rei vtas inde p inquisicoem prie triet salvis 
 semp diio Regi & cetis diiis regni j?dci de raptorib3 illis si foitassis inde convincant in oinib3 
 escaetis suis." 
 
 t Scot. 7. Richard II. m. 1. j Claus. 8. Richard II. m. 3. d. 
 
 3 A 2
 
 364 €i)t %H^tov\) Of tl)e 
 
 CHAP. A charge of high treason, in compassing the death of the king, and usurping liis 
 
 " throne, was this year made, as we have already seen, by John Latimer, B.D. an 
 
 Murder of Iiish friar of the Franciscan order, against the duke of Lancaster, \^ hich charge the 
 
 theac-' duke positively denied, and requu-ed to he confronted with liis accuser; but on the 
 
 the duke eve of the trial, according to Kennett,'* " Lord Jolui Holland and Sir Henry Green, 
 
 caster" two of the duke's friends, entered the friar's lodgings, and cruelly put him to death 
 
 ^\ith theii- own hands, by hanging him up by the neck and privy members, and 
 
 laying a great stone upon his breast, which broke his neck ; and, as if they had 
 
 perpetrated this enormity by public authority, they drew his dead body through the 
 
 streets the next day, as being deservedly punished as a traitor. This cruel action 
 
 brought upon the duke much dishonour, and, though it ridded him of a false accuser, 
 
 as was thought till tlie friar was so illegally put to death, yet it rendered his inno- 
 
 cency more suspicious than before; and many believed liim really guilty, who before 
 
 thought liim falsely accused." This, to be sure, was a monstrous infraction of law 
 
 and justice, and might well subject the duke to suspicion, if the fact could have been 
 
 established that he was a party to the murder, in which liglit the punishment of the 
 
 friar must be viewed; but we do not find in the records of the day any evidence of 
 
 this fact. 
 
 The The war with Scotland being ended, and the duke of Lancaster feeling that his i)os- 
 
 pedition to sessious in the duchy and county palatine were secure, he prepared to enforce liis chum, 
 
 ^'"°' in right of his wife, to his inheritance in Spain,! leaving his son Henry, earl of Derby, 
 
 as his locum tcnens in his absence. In this expethtion, the most splenchd of the age, he 
 
 was accompanied by his chancellor, WilUani de Ashton, esq. Tliomas de Ashton, esq. 
 
 John de Eccleston, of Lyverpole, esq. and Thomas Holcroft, esq. all of tlie county of 
 
 Lancaster, to whom letters of protection were given by the king. Previous to his 
 
 departure, the duke entered into an engagement with the king liis nephew, that he 
 
 would not make any treaty with the crown of Spain, unless upon the condition that 
 
 the king of Spain should pay to the king of England 20,000 gold doubloons; and the 
 
 duke further engaged that he would repay to the king 20,000 marks, which he had 
 
 borrowed to defray the expenses incident to the fitting out of this expedition. Of 
 
 tliis mission, the following account is given in an ancient manuscript chronicle in the 
 
 Harleian collection, in the British Museum.J 
 
 " And in the xi zere of pe pegne of kynge Richapde H. S"' John of Gaunte, Duke 
 of Lancastpe, wente ouep the see into Spayne to chalenge his piglite pat he hap by 
 his wyfes titell to the cpowne of Spayne w' a gpete oost of peple, of lordes, and 
 
 * Vol. i. p. 252. + See chap. iv. p. 150. % Hail. MSS. Cod. 2G6. fo. 98. b.
 
 Countj) |3alatint of ?Laitrastci% 365 
 
 kiiyjtes, and squyepes, men of apmes and apchers, and liadde the duches his wyfe chap. 
 
 and his iij doughtejien oiLie the see with hym in Spayne and pe"' pei Avepcn a U 
 
 gpete whyle tylle at laste the kyngc of Spayne gan tpete with the dnke of Lan- 
 castpe, and as thei wepe accorded to getliepe porogh hop sope counsailles p' the 
 kyuge of Spayne shiikle and wedde the dukes dougliter of Lancastjie pat was hipe 
 to Spayne and the kynge of Spayne jafe to the duke of Lancastpe of golde and 
 syluep that wepe caste into gpete yngotts as moche as viij charietes myjt capye 
 and manye ope'e piche jewelles and jiftes and eitiy zere after, dupyng the lyfe 
 of the duke of Lancastpe and of tlie duches his wyfe x. m' mapke of gohl and pat 
 by her owne aveutupe, costages and cliapges thei of Spapie shukle hjiyngt thes - 
 X m' niapke euejiy zere zerely into Bayone to the dukes assignes by sujiete made. 
 And tlie duke of Lancastpe wedded anop'e doughter of his vnto the kynge of Por- 
 tyngale well and worthely, and lefte p'e his ij doughters with her lordes her 
 liusbondes, and come hym home ajen into Engelande with the gode lady his wyffe 
 Duchesse of Lancastpe." 
 
 During the duke's absence in Spain, " a submission of award" was entered into Submis- 
 between the honourable " Prince, King, and Duke," as he is designated in this docu- award. 
 ment,* on the one part, and William Pargrave and Igden Slingsby, esq. on the other 
 part, relating to the manors of Scotton, Breareton, and Thonge, in the county of 
 York, to determine how far the latter parties, in right of their wives, the daughters 
 of William de Westfield, were entitled to certain privileges in these manors ; the aAvard 
 to be made by twenty knights and esquires, the most sufficient that could be found 
 near to the manors in litigation. 
 
 In the year 1388, the alarm of Scotch invasion was again very prevalent in this Renewed 
 country, on which the Idug issued a proclamation to the duke of Lancaster, or his invasion. 
 chancellor, announcing that the Scots and their adherents had assembled a great 
 army, and had hastily invaded the kingdom of England, burning, destroying, and 
 horribly slaying men, women, and children, and had almost advanced to the gates of 
 York. To repel this ci'uel invasion, the duke was required to make proclamation in 
 all cities, boroughs, and market towns, and other places in the county and duchy of 
 Lancaster, that all lords, knights, esquires, and others competent to bear arms, 
 should repair with all speed to join the king's army.-f Before the return of the duke 
 from Spain, in 1389, the Scots were driven into their own country, but the public 
 mind still continued agitated in the extreme by the intrigues of the duke of 
 Gloucester and liis adherents, who souglit to usurp the royal prerogatives, and to use 
 them for theii- own aggi-andizement. The presence of the duke of Lancaster served 
 
 * Harl. MSS. Cod. 266. fo. 50. t Claus. 12 Rich. II. m. 43.
 
 366 
 
 CI)e S^i'gtor]) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Establish- 
 ment of a 
 standard 
 of weights 
 and mea- 
 
 Exempt 
 in Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 Ancient 
 salmon 
 ftslieries 
 of Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 Alleged 
 claim of 
 John of 
 Gaunt to 
 the throne 
 for his 
 
 to check the tiirhiilent and ambitious spirit of liis brother of Gloucester, and to restore 
 tranquillity to the state. 
 
 Although by Magna Charta it was declared that uniform weights and measures 
 should be used throughout the whole kingdom, to guard agauist those impositions to 
 wliich the people were exposed from the arts of fraudulent dealers, the provisions of 
 the charter had liithcrto not been enforced; but it was now ordained by the authority 
 of the king, on petition of the commons, that a standard measure and weight should 
 be established for the whole kingdom ; and that any person convicted of using any 
 other should not only make satisfaction to the aggrieved parties, but should also be 
 imprisoned for six months without bail. The county of Lancaster was, however, 
 exempt from tliis enactment, " because," as the king says in his answer to the 
 commons, " there has always been a larger measure used in Lancashii-e than in any 
 other part of the kingdom."* 
 
 The earliest enactments in the statutes of the realm for regulating the salmon 
 fisheries of this kingdom, relate to the Lancashire rivers of the Lune, the Wyre, the 
 Mersey, and the Ribble: and by a statute, 13 Richard IL c. 19. it is enacted, " That 
 no young salmon be taken or destroyed by ne s, at mills, dams, or other places, from 
 the middle of April till the Nativity of St. John Baptist;" and " it is ordained and 
 assented, that the waters of Lon, Wyre, Mersee, Ribbyl, and all other waters in the 
 county of Lancaster, be put in defence, as to the taking of salmons, from Michaelmas 
 Day to the Purification of our Lady, and in no other time of the year, because that 
 salmons be not seasonable in the said waters in the time aforesaid; and in the, parts 
 where such rivers be, there shall be assigned and sworn good and sufficient conser- 
 vators of tliis statute." This act was amended by the 17 Richard IL c. 9. which 
 enacts, " that the justices of the peace shall be conservators of the recited statute, 
 with under conservators appointed by them, and that the said justices shall inquire 
 into the due execution of the law at their sessions ;" and further amended by 
 1 Eliz. c. 17. wliich, amongst other things, provides that the meshes of the nets used 
 in taliing salmon shall be two inches and a half broad, and that the fish shall not be 
 taken by any other means.")" 
 
 The history of these times presents many rumours, but no well-authenticated 
 facts, tending to shew that John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was inflamed by that 
 ambition which points to the throne, and is little scrupulous of the means of grati- 
 fying the tliii-st for regal power. These rumours impute to the duke a desire also to 
 place the crown of England upon the head of his son, Henry of Bolingbroke; and 
 
 * Rot. Pari. vol. iii. p. 270. 
 
 t The subsequent statutes for the regulation of these fisheries are 4 and .5 of Anne, c. 21. 
 1 George I. slat. ii. c. 18. 23 George II. c. 26. 43 George III. c. 61.
 
 Count!) t^alatinc of iCancnsitfr. 367 
 
 tlie venerable Lelaucl asserts, that " in a parliament held at London 19 Rich, II. the chai'. 
 
 duke moved that liis son Henry might be adjudged lieii- to the kingdom of England, 
 
 as being the son of Blancli, daughter of Henry, duke of Lancaster, gi-andson of 
 Edmund, first carl of Lancaster, who, he pretended, was eldest brother to Idug 
 Edwai'd I. but put by tlie crown by king Henry III. because of the deformity of a 
 broken back, and therefore named Crouchback: Avliich argument of his was contra- 
 dicted by Roger Mortimer, earl of March, who made it appear to the contrary, and 
 alleged that it belonged to him as son of Pliilippa, only daughter and heir of Liouell, 
 duke of Clarence, second surviving son of Edward III. who, not allowing Henry's 
 pretended succession from an eldest son of Henry III. was to be preferred before 
 the son of John, duke of Lancaster, being younger than Lionell. It was tliis spark 
 which his son Henry of Bolingbroke afterwards blew into a flame, which continued 
 burning in the royal families of Lancaster and York, till, having well nigh consumed 
 botli, it became quenched with the effusion of much princely blood."* 
 
 From what source this information is derived, we are at a loss to conjecture ; 
 certain it is, that no English parliament was held in London, or elsewhere, in 
 19 Richard II.; nor does it appear, either from the rolls of parliament, or from the 
 records in the Tower, that any such claim was advanced for his son by John of 
 Gaunt, though, in the speech made by Henry IV. to his parliament on ascending 
 the throne, he evidently alludes to the tradition upon which this story is fabricated. f 
 
 Two years before this, " John, didte of Lancaster, son of the king of England, 
 duke of Guienne, earl of Derby, Lincoln, and Leicester, and steward of England," 
 as he is styled in the parliamentary records, and Thomas, duke of Gloucester, con- 
 stable of England, " complained to the king that su' Thomas Talbot, knight, with 
 others Ids adherents, conspu'ed the deaths of the said dukes in divers parts of Cheshire, 
 as tlie same was confessed and well known; and the dukes prayed that parliament 
 might judge of the fault. Whereupon the king and the lords in parliament adjudged Accusa- 
 the said Thomas Talbot guUty of liigh treason, and awarded two writs, the one to against sir 
 the sheriffs of York, and the other to the sheriffs of Derby, to take the body of the Taibot. 
 said sir Thomas, returnable in the King's Bench, in the month of Easter then 
 ensuing: and open proclamation was made in Westminster Hall, that upon the 
 sheriffs' return at the next coming in of the said sir Thomas, he should be con- 
 victed of treason, and incur the loss and penalty of the same."J 
 
 Notwithstanding all these court intrigues, the honours and privileges of the 
 duke of Lancaster continued to accumulate; and by an act of royal favour, he was 
 allowed to hold Aquitaine in liege homage of the king; and all prelates, earls, 
 
 * Sandford's Genealogical History, book 4. c. 1 . f See chap. v. p. 165 
 
 t Sir Robert Cotton's Coll. p. 354. 17 Rich. 11.
 
 368 Cftf ??tsitori) of tlje 
 
 CHAP, viscounts, aucl others, were conunanded to pay homage to tlie duke. The viceroyalty 
 ^_ll__ of Picardy was soon after conferred upon hhn, at Avhich time the privilege was con- 
 
 ceded to him of importing sixty casks of AAinc, duty free, for the use of his househohl.* 
 Legitima- The scandal raised at court hy the marriage of John of Gaunt, the king's uncle, 
 
 the duke's to liis uiistress, Catherine Smnford,! was somewhat abated by tlie king's patent, 
 by Cathe- whicli legitimatized her four children by the duke. These chilth-en were surnamed 
 fird. "'" Beauford, from the place of their birth; and the patent of legitimation, wliich bears 
 date on the 10th of February, 1397,| may be thus rendered: — 
 
 " Be it remembered, That on Tuesday the fifteenth day of Parliament, the 
 
 Chancellor, by the King's command, declared how our Holy Father tlio Pope had, 
 
 in reverence of the most excellent person of the King, and of his honourable uncle 
 
 the Duke of Guyenne and of Lancaster, and of his blood, enabled [habliez] and 
 
 legithnatized Sir John de Beauford, his brothers and his sister, and that therefore 
 
 our Lord the King, as entire Sovereign [entier Emperor] of his Realm of England, 
 
 for the honour of his blood, wills, and hath of his full royal power enabled, and of 
 
 liis own proper authority made, the said John, liis said brotliers and sisters, viuUers,^ 
 
 and also pronounced and published the abUity [l' abilite] and legitimatization, 
 
 according to the form of the King's charter thereof made. The wliich charter was 
 
 read in full Parliament, and delivered to the said diilie, father of the said John, and 
 
 his said brotliers and sister, the tenor of Avhicli charter ensueth : — Richard, by the 
 
 Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, to our most dear 
 
 cousins the noblemen, John the Knight, Henry the Clerk, Thomas ' Domicello,' and 
 
 to our beloved the noble woman Joan Beauford ' Domicelle,' the most dear relatives 
 
 of our uncle the noble John Duke of Lancaster, born our lieges, greeting, and the 
 
 favour of our royal majesty. Whilst internally considering how incessantly, and 
 
 with what honours we are gi-aced by the very useful and sincere affection of our 
 
 aforesaid uncle, and by the Avisdom of his counsel, we think it proper and fit, that, 
 
 for the sake of his merits, and in contemplation of Ins favours, we should enrich you 
 
 (who are endowed by nature Avith great probity and honesty of life and behaviour, and 
 
 ai'e begotten of royal blood, and by the divine gift ai'e adorned with many virtues) 
 
 ■vntli the strength of our royal prerogative of favour and grace. Hence it is, that, 
 
 yielding to the entreaties of our said uncle, your father, we do, in the fullness of 
 
 our royal power, and by the assent of Parliament, by the tenor of these presents, 
 
 * The duty on wine at this time was 3s. per cask, with an ad valorem duty of 5 per cent, upon its 
 introduction into the port of London. 
 
 t See chap. iv. p. 151. I Rot. Pari. vol. iii. p. 343. 
 
 § Mulier — A son born in wedlock of a mother, who had borne a former son to the father before 
 marriage. When conipiued, they are designated thus — " Bastard eigne et Mulier puisne."
 
 Coimtj) ^alatiitf of SnncnjJtm 309 
 
 empower you, Avho, as it is asserted, suffer from the want of biilhriglit, (notwilh- chai 
 standing such defect, which, and the qualities thereof, we take to be in these pre- — L_ 
 seuts sufficiently expressed,) to be raised, promoted, elected, assume, and be 
 ■admitted to all honours, cUgnities, [except to the royal cUriniti/*] preeminences, 
 estates, degrees, and offices, public and private whatsoever, as well perpetual as 
 temporal, and feodal and noble, by wliatsoever names they may be designated, 
 whether they be Duchies, Principahties, Earldoms, Baronies, or other fees, and 
 whether they depend, or are holden of us mediately or immechately, and to receive, 
 retain, bear, and exercise the same as freely and lawfully as if ye were born in law- 
 ful matrimony, and you and every of you do restore and legitunatize : any statutes 
 or customs of oiu* realm of England to the contrary tliereof, made or observed 
 (which we consider to be herein fully expressed) in anywise notwithstanding. 
 
 " Witnessed by the King at Westminster, the 10th day of February." 
 
 In the following year, the quarrel between Henry of Bolingbroke, duke of Here- 
 ford, and Thomas Mowbray, first duke of Norfolk, which tenninated in the banish- 
 ment of both these knights, took place.f The death of the illustrious and venerable 
 duke of Lancaster was precipitated by tliis event ;| and the deposition of Richard H. 
 
 " unking'd by Bolingbroke," 
 
 speedily followed. § On the death of his father, the duke of Hereford returned to 
 England, ostensibly to claim bis paternal inheritance of the duchy of Lancaster, but 
 really, through the pubUc power, and his own daring, to assume the stUl higher 
 possession of the throne. 
 
 Amongst the most powerful of the adherents of the duke of Lancaster, was 
 Henry de Percy, earl of Northumberland, and his son, Henry Hotspur, to whose 
 services he was essentially indebted for his elevation : 
 
 " Northumberland, thou ladder, by the which 
 " Bolingbroke ascends the throne ;" 
 
 and one of the first acts of the new king's reign was, to present that nobleman witli isie of 
 a gi-ant of the Isle of Man, to be held by the feudal service of bearing the curtana, granted 
 called the " Lancaster Sword," on the day of the coronation, || at the left Eari^of 
 shoulder of the king and liis heirs, which sword had been borne by .Tolni of Gaunt blriind!" 
 at the coronation of Richard II. This grant is represented, in the document by 
 
 • The words " excepta dignitate regali" are not in the original grant, but have been interpolated 
 in the copy on the Patent Rolls, 20 Rich. II. p. 2. m. 6. 
 
 t See chap. v. p. 160. % p. 1,52. ^ p. 165. || Pat. 1 Hen. IV. p. 5. m. 35. 
 
 VOL. I. 3b
 
 Stanley. 
 
 370 <li)t W^tov^ Of tfte 
 
 CHAP, which it is made, as the inadequate reward of the earl's magnificent and faithful 
 
 ■y 
 
 __1_L_ services to the state. The island, castle, peel, and lordship of Man, the possession 
 of William le Scroop, earl of WUtshii-e, had been seized by the king, on the execu- 
 tion of the eai-1, for misgoverning the kingdom in the time of Richard II. ; and the 
 whole of these possessions, together with the regalia, royal jurisdictions, franchises, 
 liberties, and the patronage of the bishoprick, as well as the goods and chattels of 
 the unfortunate earl, were conferred upon the eai-1 of Northumberland in pei-petuity. 
 The restless spirit of Northumberland, who thought himself inadequately rewarded 
 by the Isle of Man, while he had secured for his sovereign the kingdom of England, 
 urged him on to acts of rebellion against king Henry, as he had before rebelled 
 against his predecessor. Less fortunate in liis second than in liis first revolt, the 
 reward of his perfidy to Richard overtook him, and he lost, in the sequel, liis son 
 young Hotspur, his possessions, and liis life. 
 Subse- By the attainder of the earl of Northumberland, the Isle of Man, after six yeai's, 
 
 Sir John again fell into the possession of the crown, and was seized for the king's use 
 by Sir William and Sir John Stanley ;* on which the king, by letters patent, of his 
 especial grace and favour, granted to Sir John Stanley the island, castle, peel, and 
 lordship of the Isle of Man, and all the islands and lordsliips thereto belonging, 
 together ^yiih regalia, regalities, franchises, and liberties, and all other profits and 
 commodities annexed thereto, to have and to hold for the term of liis life.f 
 
 DE INSULA MANNIiE CONCESSA. 
 
 A.D.1405. " Rex, dUecto & fideli suo, Willlelmo Stanley, Cliivaler, vel ejus Locumtenenti 
 in Insula de Man, Salutem. 
 " Licet nuper, per Literas nostras Patentes, commiserimus vobis, ac, dUecto & 
 fideli nostro, Johanni Stanley, Cliivaler, Insulam, Castrum, Pelam, & Dominium 
 de Man, ac omnia Insulas & Dominia eidem Insulte de Man pertinentia, una cum 
 Regaliis, Regalitatibus, Franchesiis, & Libertatibus, ac omnibus aliis Proficuis & 
 Conunoditatibus, in dictis Literis nostris sjiecificatis, ad opus nostrum salvo & 
 secure, quamdiu nobis placuerit, Custodieiida, 
 
 " Quia tamen postmodum, per alias Literas nostras de Gratia nostra speciali, 
 Concessimus eidem Johanni Insulam, Castrum, Pelam, <Sc Dominium prsedicta, 
 ac omnia Insulas & Dominia eidem Insulae de Man pertinentia, un^ cum Regaliis, 
 Regalitatibus, Franchesiis, & Libertatibus, ac omnibus aliis Proficuis & Coimnodita- 
 tibus, eisdem Insulae, Castro, Pelae & Doiuinio qualltercumque spectaiitibus 
 * Writs dated Pountfreyt Castle, 3 July, 6 Hen. IV. t Claus. 7 Henry IV. m. 42.
 
 CciuntL> IJalatinc of Sancnsitfr. 37 1 
 
 sive pertineiitibus, Habenda pro Termino Vitse suae, prout in dictis ultiiiiis Literis chap 
 nostris, eidem Jolianui factis, plenius contiiietur, - 
 
 " VoLis, sub Fide & Ligeantia vestris, districtius quo possumus, Injungiinus 
 & Mandamus qu5d eidem Johanni, aut ejus in hac parte Attornato, Insulam, Cas- 
 truni, Pelam & Dominium pnedicta, ac Insulas & Dominia eidem Insula? de Man 
 pertinentia, un^ cum Regaliis, Regalitatibus, Franchesiis, & Libertatibus, ac 
 omnibus aliis Proficuis & Commoditatibus praedictis, liberetis, &; ipsum Ula 
 habere permittatis, juxta Tenorem dictarum ultimarum Literarum nostrarum, 
 sibi sic ind^ confectarum ; vos ind^, contra Tenorem eorundem, nullatenus intro- 
 mittentes ; 
 
 " Volumus enim vos iudfe erga Nos exonerari. 
 
 Teste Rege apud , Quarto die Octobris." 
 
 " Per ipsum Regem." 
 
 On tbe 6th of April, in the follomng year, the king so far extended liis bounty 
 as to grant the Isle of Man to Sir John Stanley in perpetuity, in as full and ample a 
 manner as it had been held by any former lord of the crown of England, per homa- 
 gimn legium, but altering the tenure, which was now, instead of bearing the Lan- 
 caster sword at the coronation, to pay to the king a cast of falcons at the coronation, 
 after homage made in lieu of all demands and customs. 
 
 To return from tliis digression. The annals of the duchy, during the whole period Annals of 
 
 ° , . . the 
 
 of the life of John of Gaunt, will at all times rank amongst the most mterestmg Duchy, 
 records in the early history of the county palatine of Lancaster; but though they are 
 all before us, they are much too voluminous to be inserted in detail, and can only be 
 given in summary, with such references as may enable those who wish to consult 
 particular documents to find them with facility. These annals being resumed from 
 the period of the death of the first duke of Lancaster, and brought down to the 
 demise of the last subject duke, comprehend the whole period of the history of the 
 duchy, fi'om its creation to the time when it merged in the crown, not indeed by 
 absolute union, for the duchy of Lancaster has always been considered a separate 
 inheritance, but by actual possession — the kings of England and the dukes of Lancaster 
 having been the same persons ever since the time when Henry of Bolingbroke 
 ascended the throne, to the present day. 
 
 3 B 2
 
 372 
 
 Cl;e i^isitoi-p of tOe 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM CLOSE ROLL A. 6. 
 John Duke of Lancaster — viz* 1377, 51 Edw. IIL to 1389, 12 Rich. IL 
 
 From the Duchy Records in the Office of the Duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 Extract 
 from Close 
 Roll A. 6. 
 
 D'procla- 
 niaiido. 
 
 Tlie two mti'oductory instruments are as follows : — 
 
 51 Edw. in. 
 John the Duke to Thomas de 
 Thelwall. 
 
 Also, the Duke to the Sheriff 
 of the County. 
 1. John Hodelleston and Wife to the 
 Duke. 
 Nicholas de Syiigleton to the Duke. 
 
 *Appointment of Chancellor of the Duchy 
 and County Palatine, and delivery of 
 the Great Seal of the Royalty. 
 
 Proclamation of Pleadings of Assize, &c. 
 
 Fine for Writ of Assize de Nov. Dis. 20s. 
 
 paid to the Hanaper. 
 Fine of 10s. for a Writ de Conventione. 
 
 * APPOINTMENT OF CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY AND COUNTY 
 
 PALATINE, &c. 
 
 " cimo septimo die Apiilis, Anno Regni Regis E. rcij a conquestu Angt quin- 
 
 quagesirao prime apud le Westm Johes Rex Castelle & Legionis Dux Lancastr in 
 
 psencia Rofeti de Wylyngton Militis Thome de Hungjford Militis & alio? de Familia iplus Regis 
 ibide ©senciu vidett in capella infra Mansu dci loci constructa constituit Thoma de Thelwall cticuni 
 Cancellariu suu infra Ducatu & Comitatu Lancastrie & capto Sacro sue idem Rex magnii SigillQ suu 
 |) regimine Regalitatis Comitatus Palatini ibidem ordinatu manu sua j)pria pfato Thome libavit juxta 
 Officij sui debitu custodiend. 
 
 " Et postmodu |yfatus Cancellar recepto eodem sigillo consignavit vidett vicesimo die Aprit 
 extunc ^x sequente quoddam bre quod irrotulat sub hac forma. 
 
 C" " Johes dei gra Rex Castelle & Legionis Dux Lancastr vie Lane Saltm Scias qd assignavim' 
 ^ dilcos & fideles nros Willm de Skipwyth Rogju de Fulthorp & Willin de Nessefeld JustiS nros ad 
 omia ptita nra tam Corone qm ?re assisar juratar & fitificaconu & orhioda plita in Com p'dco qua- 
 liPcuq enMgencia & ad Comite Palatinu spectancia tenend & eisde Justifi die Lune px post festu 
 Ascencionis Diii ^x futur ad Sessiones suas apud Lancastre hijs occbnib3 incipienct de avisamento 
 Consiiij nri duxim' pfigend. Et ideo tibi jJcipim' qd in pleno Com tuo & alijs lonis nijcatorijs ubi 
 expedire videris publice pclamari fa8 qd omes & singti negocia vel ptita sua cora eisdem Justi8 ^isequi 
 volentes ibidem inPsint ad diem illu & ulPius venire fa8 tunc ibidem xxiiij de cliscrec5rib3 Iegaliorib3 
 & |)biorib3 hoib3 cujuslibet wapentachij sive Hundri dco Com ad faciend ultius quod ex pte nra 
 P p'fatos Justi8 nr5s hfiint in Mandatis. Et heas ibi noTa p'dco? xxiiij & hoc bre. T. meipo apud 
 Lancastr xx die Aprit anno Regalitatis nri Comitatus Palatini primo."
 
 Countp |3alatin(r of Sanrasitcr. 
 
 373 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 2. The King aiid Duke for Robert, son 
 
 of Sii- John de Hanyngton, knt. 
 
 3. The King and Duke for Henry de 
 
 Ferrarijs. 
 
 4. Tlie King and Duke for Walter 
 
 Pedwai'dyne and others. 
 
 5. The King and Duke for William de 
 
 Brottiieux Ellalle, Scotforde, 
 Assheton, and others. 
 
 6. The King and Duke for the Duke : 
 
 Adaiu de Hoghton, Keeper of 
 Quernemore Forest. 
 
 7. The King and Duke for the Duke. 
 
 8. Various Fines paid for Writs. 
 
 9. The King and Duke for the Duke. 
 
 10. Tlie Kiug and Duke for John Boteler 
 and Nicholas de Haveryngton. 
 
 11. 
 
 Tlie Kuig 
 Ricliard. 
 
 and Duke for 
 
 King 
 
 12. The King and Duke for the Prior 
 
 and Convent 
 Leicester. 
 
 of St. Mary's, 
 
 Mandate to Roger de Brokholes, the Extract 
 
 . from Close 
 
 Duke's Escheator, for delivery of RoUA. o. 
 
 T T /• 1 T 1 1 • /-( • continued. 
 
 Lianus lonnerly held in Lapite. 
 Mandate to the Escheator to deliver 
 
 Lands formerly held in Capite. 
 Like Mandate for Advowsons of Churches, 
 
 &c. Conyngshead Priory and Whai-ton 
 
 Church. 
 The like for delivery of a Moiety of 
 
 Knights' Fee and Appurtenances in 
 
 Right of Thomas de Thvreng. 
 WaiTant to cut Timber for Repairs of 
 
 Lancaster Castle. 
 
 Precept to the Mayor and Bailiffs of 
 Lancaster, and other Persons, to pro- 
 claim prohibition against Persons con- 
 gregating Avith an armed power to 
 impede the Sessions at Lancaster. 
 
 Writ to the Escheator to seize the Lands 
 of Nicholas de Prestwyche. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff for pa}ing them 
 £26. 8s. as Knights elect for the Com- 
 monalty of the Duchy, for Expences 
 
 to the 
 
 Kuig's 
 
 Pariia- 
 
 lU couui 
 ment. 
 
 Precept for Proclamation that all Foreign 
 Mendicant Friars within tlie Ducliy 
 quit the Realm, accortUng to the King's 
 Mandate. 
 
 Precept to the Escheator not to interfere 
 in the Manors and Possessions of the 
 Abbey of St. JNIary de Pratis, during 
 the avoidance of the Abbot's death. 
 Here ends the first Yeai- of the Royalty on the 1st side of the Roll.
 
 374 
 
 €l)t ^I'sitoii) Of tf)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Extract 
 from Close 
 Roll A. 0. 
 continued. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 13 
 
 John, King of Castile, &c. for the 
 Abbot of Furnes. 
 
 Precept to the Slieriff, commanding the 
 Executors of John Raton to pay £55. 
 to the Abbot. 
 
 14. Fines paid to the Duke for various Writs, and attested by the Custos Regalitiitis, 
 
 "William Wetherley, Vicar of Blakeburn Church. 
 
 15. The King and Duke for the Abbot Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer 
 of Evesham. concerning the Fishery of Hoghwyk, 
 
 in the River Ribble, claimed by the 
 Abbot, and seized by the Deputy Ste- 
 ward of the Manor of Penwortham. 
 
 Mandate to the SIieriflF to Levy Aid, 
 according to the Statute, to make his 
 eldest Son a Knight. 
 
 Letters to the Abbots of Furneys, Whal- 
 ley, Cockersand, and other Abbots, 
 Priors, Archdeacons, and Proctors, to 
 offer prayers and sacrifices to God, for 
 the success of the Expedition. 
 
 Mandate to the Duke's Escheator, to 
 seize the Lauds, &c. of Otho de Hal- 
 sale. 
 
 Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer 
 to pay his Account of Chai'ges for 
 Parclunent, &c. 
 
 Precept to tlie Sheriff to pay the Knights 
 elected for tlie Commonalty of the 
 Duchy £16. for their Expences in 
 coming to Parliament at Gloucester. 
 This ends the 2d Year of the Royalty. 
 2 Rich. II. 
 
 The King and Duke for Alan Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer 
 WUkeson and Wife. to enquii-e of a Messuage and Lands 
 
 seized into the Duke's Hands, for the 
 Felony of John de Leyland at Kirkeby, 
 in Derbyshire. 
 22. Various Fines paid to the Duke for Writs. 
 
 16. The same for the King and Duke. 
 
 17. The same for the Dulve and other 
 Magnates of his Retinue going 
 abroad in the King's service. 
 
 18. The same for the Duke. 
 
 19. Tlie same for Richard de Townelay 
 Sheriff. 
 
 20 
 
 The same for John 
 Ralph de Ypre. 
 
 Boteler and 
 
 21
 
 Coiint{) |)alatme of ^.anrasJter. 
 
 PERSONS. MATTERS. 
 
 375 
 
 23. Tlie Kins and Duke for tlie Duke. 
 
 24. The same for the Abbot of Whalley. 
 
 25. The same for the King. 
 
 26. The same for Nicholas de Haryng- 
 
 ton and Rol)ert de Wiswyk. 
 
 27. The same for the Duke. 
 
 28. The same for tlie Duke. 
 
 29. The King and Duke, for John de 
 
 Eccleston. 
 
 30. The same for the Abbot of Evesham 
 
 Monastery. 
 
 31. The same, for the same. 
 
 32. The same for tlie Duke. 
 
 Mandate to the Justices to adjourn 
 Sessions. 
 
 Mandate to the Barons to inquire of 
 Tithes seized l)y the Escheator, as be- 
 longing to William Talbot, an Outlaw, 
 touching the Tithes of the Church of 
 All Saints of Whalley, at Alnetham. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to proclaim within 
 the Duchy the Ordinance made as to 
 the Goldsmith's mark. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to pay the Knights 
 of the Commonalty their Expences to 
 Parliament at Westminster. 
 
 Precept to tlie Sheriff to elect a Coroner 
 in the room of Thomas de Fasakereley. 
 
 Precept to elect Verderors for Derbyshire, 
 Amounderness, and Lonsdale. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to give Seizin of a 
 Messuage and Lands taken by the 
 Duke for the Felony of Robert de 
 RaynhuU. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator to deliver 
 Temporalities to Roger de Yatton, 
 Abbot elect. 
 
 Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer, 
 to surcease demands upon the Abbot, 
 and to answer for the Issues according 
 to the Award of the Great Council. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator, to seize the 
 Lands, &c. of Sii* Thomas Bannastre, 
 Kut. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Extract 
 from Close 
 Koli A. «. 
 continued. 
 
 Tlie end of the S"' Year of the Royalty. 
 
 33. 3 Rich. IL The King and Duke, 
 for the Duke. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff for election of a 
 Coroner.
 
 376 
 
 €l)t ?^t£(torit) of m 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Close Roll 
 A. 6. con- 
 tinued. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 34. Tlie same, for John de Boteler and 
 Thomas de Sonthworth. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to pay them as 
 kniglits for the Commonalty, £24, for 
 Expences in coming to Parliament at 
 
 Westminster. 
 
 Anno Quarto Regalitatis John Duke of Lancaster. 
 3 Ric. II. 
 
 35. Fines paid to the Lord for "Writs. 
 
 36. The King and Duke for John de 
 
 Haydock. 
 
 37. Tlie same, for John Botiller. 
 
 38. The same, for the Duke. 
 
 39. The same, for Gilbert de Gorford- 
 
 syche. 
 
 40. The like, for the Tenants ofWorston 
 
 Township. 
 
 41. The same, for John Botiller and 
 Tliomas de SoutliAvorth. 
 
 Precept to the Escheator, to give seizin 
 of the Lands of WU1"\ BotUler in 
 Laton Magna, Laton Parva, Bispham 
 Warthebrek, and Great Merton; and 
 Rents in Atherton, Westlegh, Py- 
 myngton, Bolde, Lydegate, Thornton, 
 Culcheth, Egergarth, Tildeslegh, 
 Glassebroke, Bedford, Halsall, Ives, 
 and WyndhuU ; Great Sonkey Manor 
 and Werington Manor. 
 
 Precept to give seizin of Lands and Mill 
 in Burt on wood, and the Manor of 
 Weryngton, with Advowson of the 
 Church. 
 
 Precept to seize the Lands of William 
 Botiller. 
 
 The like of John Byron. 
 
 The lilie of Richard Radclif. 
 
 Writ of Re-Disseisin as to the Turbaiy 
 in Scaresbrek. 
 
 Mandate to the Barons of the Exche- 
 quer, relating to the Tenants of Wor- 
 ston, and Pasturage of Common and 
 the Inclosure by William Nowel. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriffs to pay Knights 
 for the Commonalty of the Duchy, 
 £19. 12s., theii- Expences in coming 
 to Parliam'. at Northampton.
 
 Countj) IJalatint of iLanrasUn 
 
 PERSONS. MATTERS. 
 
 377 
 
 42. The King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 43. The same, for Jolin Radeclif. 
 
 44. The same, for Isabella Bradeshagh. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator, to seize the 
 Lands and Tenements of Peter Gerard. 
 
 The lilve of Ellen de Bu-ewayth. 
 
 The like of W'\ de Bradshagh of Hagh. 
 
 The like of Rich", de Caterall. 
 
 The like of Gilbert de Kyghley. 
 
 Tlie like of Isabella de Eton. 
 
 Mandate to give Seizin of the Manor of 
 Urdesale, 3 parts of Moiety of the 
 Town of Flixton, Tenements in Le 
 Hope, Shoresworth, Le Holynhed, in 
 Tokholes, Salford, the Bailiwick of 
 Rochdale, and I of moiety of tlie Town 
 of Flixton. 
 
 Mandate to assign Dower of Lands seized 
 into the Duke's Hands, by reason of 
 the minority of Thomas Bradeshagh. 
 
 CHA1> 
 X. 
 
 Close Roll 
 A. 6. con- 
 tinued. 
 
 Writs of Diem Clausit Extremum. 
 
 45. The King and Duke, for the Duke. Mandate to the Escheator, to take the 
 
 Lands of John de Skerton. 
 
 And the like Mandate for several others 
 upon deaths. 
 
 Writ of Post Disseisin to the Sheiiif for 
 a Tenement in Rediche. 
 
 Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer 
 to enquire of Rent of Lands in Mel- 
 lyug, held by Henry Chaderton, as 
 seized for Debt. 
 
 48. Fines paid for various Writs to the Duke, as acknowledged by William 
 Horneby, Clerk of the Hanaper. 
 
 Precept to the SheriflF to take William 
 GrcnliU, an Outlaw m the King's 
 Court within the Duchy, according to 
 
 46. The same, for Sir- Roger Pilking- 
 
 ton, Knt. 
 
 47. The King and Duke, for the Abbot 
 
 of Cokersand. 
 
 49. The King and Duke, for the King. 
 
 the King's Mandate therem recited. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 3 c
 
 378 
 
 C&f Snsitorj) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 Close Roll 50. Tlie same, for same. 
 
 A. 6. 
 
 . con 
 tinned 
 
 Precept to the Mayor and Bailiffs of 
 Livei-pool to proclaim the King's Man- 
 date, prohibiting Exportation of Corn. 
 
 Anno Sej'to 
 51. The King and Duke, for John de 
 Warren. 
 
 52. The same, for William de Atherton 
 and Robert de Urcewyk. 
 
 53. The King and Duke, for the King. 
 
 54. The King and Duke, for the King 
 of Scotland. 
 
 55. The same, for the King of England 
 
 56. The same, for Sir Roger de Pilking- 
 ton, Kn'. and Robert de Clifton. 
 
 57. Fines to the King and Duke for Wr 
 
 Regalitatis. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator, to give Seizin 
 of Wood Plumpton Manor, as in Fee, 
 by Sir John Davenport, Knt. to Robert 
 de Eton. 
 
 Precept to the Sheiiff to pay the Knights 
 of the Commonalty of the Duchy, for 
 therr Expences to Parliament at West- 
 minster. 
 
 Precept to the Mayor and Bailiffs of 
 Livei-pool, to proclaim the King's Man- 
 date touching the Exportation of Com. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff, to distrain Per- 
 sons in Liverpool possessing several 
 Casks of Wine taken in the Port of 
 Inchgalle by some Persons in the 
 County of Chester, contraiy to the 
 Truce with Scotland, and to pay 10 
 Marks for each Cask. 
 
 Precept to the Sheiiff, to publish the 
 King's Proclamation \\-itliin the Du- 
 chy, relative to Chai-ters of Pai'don by 
 the King's Subjects, (except certain 
 Persons named, and the Men of the 
 City of Canterbury, of the Towus of 
 Cambridge, Bridgwater, St. Edmund's, 
 Beverley, and Scarboro). 
 
 Precept to pay the Knights elected for 
 the Duchy Commonalty £10. for their 
 Expences to Paiiiament at Westmin- 
 ster, 
 its.
 
 Cutmtj) ^Jnlntint of aanrasitn'. 
 
 379 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 68. The King luid Duke, for the King 
 
 of England. 
 
 Precept to Livei"pool, as to Exportation close Roii 
 
 e r^ A. 0. con- 
 
 01 Corn. tinued. 
 
 Writs of Diem Chiusit Extremura. 
 
 59. Tlie King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 60. The King and Duke, for the King 
 
 of England. 
 
 6 1 . The same, for the Poor Fishermen in 
 
 the Duchy. 
 
 62. The same, for Matilda Waryng. 
 
 63. The same, for Thomas de Knoll. 
 
 64. The King of England, for the King. 
 
 65. The King and Duke, for the King. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator, to take the 
 Lands of Edward Lawrence, and the 
 Land of Thomas Lathum. 
 
 Precept to Liverpool as before. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff, to publish the 
 King's Prohibition against preventing 
 the Fishermen from setting then* Nets 
 in the Sea, and catching Fish for their 
 Livelihood. 
 
 Writ of Re-Disseisin to the Sheriff, of a 
 Messuage and Lauds in Chippyn. 
 
 Mandate to the Barons of the Exchequer, 
 to inquire of Lauds in Chippendale, 
 seized into the Duke's hands on the 
 Felony of John de Knoll, as purchased 
 after the King's Charter of Pardon. 
 
 Writ addressed to the King of CastUe 
 and Duke of Lancaster, to cause to be 
 elected, and to come to Parliament, 
 2 Knights for the Commonalty of the 
 Duchy, and of every City 2 Citizens, 
 and of every Boro' two Burgesses. 
 Witness the King at Westminster, 
 7th January, 6 Ric. II. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff, to make Proclama- 
 tion of the Statutes and Ordinances 
 made in the Parliam'. of the 6"' Year 
 of King Richard, as recited in the 
 King's Mandate addressed to the Duke 
 of Lancaster, or his Lieutenant. 
 
 Witness the King at Lancaster, 
 8'" Febiy. 
 
 3c2
 
 380 
 
 CJk Sjisitorp of tht 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Close Roll 
 A. 6. con- 
 tinued. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 BIATTERS. 
 
 60. 
 
 67. 
 
 The Kiug and Duke, for Margery 
 
 Baunastre. 
 The same, for the OwTiers of the 
 
 Ship called Cai-ralv, To-ecked on 
 
 the Duchy Coast. 
 
 Writ of Post Disseisin, as to Dower ef 
 Lands in Walton in le Dale. 
 
 Precept to the Slieriff to make Proclama- 
 tion, that all the Duke's Officers, Mi- 
 nisters, and Tenants of the Duchy, ab- 
 stain from taking the Goods of the said 
 Ship, the Crew having escaped alive. 
 Anno Septimo ReyaUtatls. 
 
 Writ of Diem Clausit Extremum, upon 
 
 the death of John de Kii'kby, Cliivaler. 
 The like, upon death of David de Irland. 
 Precept to the Sheriff to elect a Verdurer 
 
 for Amoundemess, instead of Adam 
 
 Bratlkiik. 
 The like for Derbyshire, vice Richard de 
 
 Aynscough. 
 D°. to elect a Coroner for the County, 
 
 vice Adam de Skylicorne. 
 D°. to give Seizin of Lauds in Billynge, 
 
 seized by King Edward for the Felony 
 
 of WiUiam de FaljTigge. 
 
 74. Fines to the King and Duke for Writs. 
 
 75. The King and Duke, for Richard de Writ of Re-Disseizin concerning Lands 
 
 Bareweford and Agnes, liis Wife. 
 
 76. Fines to the Kins: and Duke for Writs. 
 
 68. The King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 69. The same, for same. 
 
 70. The same, for same. 
 
 71. The like. 
 
 72. The lUve. 
 
 73. The same, for the Abbot of Cocker- 
 
 sand. 
 
 at Chorlegh. 
 
 77. The King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 78. The King and Duke, 
 
 kington and Wii'e. 
 
 79. The same, for same. 
 
 for John Pil- 
 
 80. Fines paid to the Duke for Writs. 
 
 Writ of Diem Clausit, &'. dii-ected to 
 
 Robert de Ursewyk, on the death of 
 
 Hugh de Bradshagh. 
 Writ de Dote Assignando directed to the 
 
 Esclieator, for Margaret de Bradshagh. 
 Writ of Diem Clausit Extremmn, upon 
 
 the death of Hugh de Dacre. 
 D°. onthedeathof Thomas deRigmay den. 
 D°. of Thomas de Lathiun. 
 D°. of Richard de Balderstou.
 
 County |3alatme of iLanrastrr, 
 
 381 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 Anno Octavo Reyalilatis. 
 81. The King and Duke, for the Duke- 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Close Kull 
 A. 5. con- 
 tinued. 
 
 82. The same, for Adam de Prestall, of 
 
 Salfordshke. 
 
 83. The same, for Johanna Rigmayden. 
 
 84. The King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 85. Fines paid to the King and Duke for 
 
 86. Tlie King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 87. The same, for John Daunport. 
 
 88. Fines paid to the King and Duke for 
 
 89. The King and Duke, for the King 
 
 of England. 
 
 90. Tlie same, for the Abhot of Cocker- 
 sand. 
 
 91. The King and Duke, for Isabella 
 
 Lathum. 
 
 92. Fines paid to the King and Duke for 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff for Proclamation, 
 that all tlie Men of the Duke's retinue 
 meet liim at Newcastle upon Tyne, to 
 mai'ch into Scotland. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff not to put the said 
 Adam on Juries, &'., he being deaf. 
 
 Writ de Dote Assignanda, addressed to 
 the Escheator. 
 
 Writ of Diem Clausit Extremom, on the 
 death of Matthew de Twi.siIton. 
 
 of John Kekwyk, of Derby. 
 
 of William Barton. 
 
 Writs. 
 
 Mandamus to the Escheator, upon the 
 death of Thomas de Rigmayden. 
 
 of Thomas Banaster. 
 
 of Edward Banastre. 
 
 Mandate to WUli;un de Horneby, Re- 
 ceiver of the County of Lancaster, to 
 pay the secondary Justice in the Du- 
 chy 20 Marks, for liis Fee of 20s. for 
 his Clerk for two last Sessions. 
 Writs. 
 
 Precept to the Slieriffto get ready tlie 
 Men at Arms and Bomnen witliin the 
 Duchy, to mai-ch ags* the Scotch, 
 according to the King's Mandate. 
 
 Precept to give Seizin of Lands in Bil- 
 lynge, as seized into King Edward's 
 Hands for the Felony of William de 
 Falyng. 
 
 Writ de Dote Assignanda, out of La- 
 thum Manor. 
 Writs.
 
 382 
 
 Cfie l^i^torp of tht 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Close Roll 
 A. con- 
 tinued. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 93. The King and Duke, for Roger ile 
 Fazaclvrelegh and Wife. 
 
 94. The same, for Johanna Kekewyk. 
 
 95. The same, for the Duke. 
 
 Writ de Procedendo in an Assize of 
 Novel Disseizin before the Justices, as 
 to Tenements in Knowselegli, Child- 
 wall, Roby, and Anlasargh. 
 
 Writ de Dote Assignanda. 
 
 Mandamus to the Escheator, upon the 
 death of Tliomas de Latlium. 
 
 Hie incipit Annus 
 96. The King and Duke, for the King 
 and Duke. 
 
 97. The same, for the Duke. 
 
 98. Fines paid to the Lord for Writs. 
 
 99. The King and Duke, for John de 
 
 Pilkyngton, Parson of the Church 
 of Bmy. 
 
 100. The King and Duke, for the King. 
 
 Nonns RegaUtatis. 
 
 Writ of Diem Clausit, &'. on the death 
 of Hemy de Dyneley. 
 
 Geoflrey Workesley. 
 
 Adam de Hoghton. 
 
 Precept to elect a Coroner for the County 
 of Lancaster, vice John Skilicorn, de- 
 ceased. 
 
 Writ of Re-Disseizin as to the Manors 
 of Le Lee, Grymsargh, Hoghton, 
 Quylton, Ravenemeles, and Wliytyng- 
 ham, and Messuages and Lands in 
 Lee, Goosnargh, Assheton, GrJ^ne- 
 sargh, Quytyngham, Freldlton, Cate- 
 rall, Hoghton, QuUton, Withenhall, 
 Hephay, Lynesey, Plesyngton, 
 Wrightyngton, Ravenmeles, Gold- 
 bum, Preston, Sourby, Wliitlull in 
 the Wodes, Walshwhittill, Eccleston, 
 Chernock Richard, and Ribchester ; 
 and Moieties of Chernok Richai'd 
 Manor and Wliittill in the Wodes ; 
 two parts of Asheton and Gosenargh 
 Manors, and the 4'" part of CateraU 
 and Wrightynton Manors. 
 
 Mandate to the Justices to adjourn Ses- 
 sions.
 
 Coimti) |3alatinf of lanrasitfr* 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 383 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 101. The same, for the Duke. 
 
 102. Fmes paid to the Lord for Writs. 
 
 103. Tlie King and Duke, for Isabella 
 
 Latlium. 
 
 104. Fines paid to the Lord for Writs. 
 
 105. John de Radclif to the Duke. 
 
 106. The King and Duke, for Margaret 
 de Ines. 
 
 107. The same, for Jas. Botiller, Earl of 
 Ormond. 
 
 108. The same, for Roger Fazackerledi. 
 
 Mandate to the Escheator to seize into the 
 Hands of the King and Duke, the 
 Lands of Thomas Banastre in Ethels- 
 wyk, Frccidton, Claughtou in Amound'. 
 Billesburgh, Halghton, Syngleton 
 Parva, Thornton le Holmes, Sowerby, 
 Hamylton, Stalmyn, Crofton, Far- 
 ryugton, Tliorpe, and Brethirton. 
 
 hike Mandate for the Lands of Edniond 
 Banastre in Dilworth, Broghton, Pres- 
 ton in Amounderness, Wodeplumpton, 
 with the More Hall and Gosenargh. 
 
 Precept to the Slieriff to give Seizin of 
 Tenements in Lathum Manor, viz'. 
 Horskarre, Demedowe near Rughford, 
 Robynfeld de Hojskarre, Calverliay, 
 Watton, Ryding, and 8 Marks Rent 
 of Freehold' in Newburgli. 
 
 Recognizance for Rent of Lands in Old- 
 am, Cliatherton, and Wytton, near 
 Plesjaigton. 
 
 Writ of Assignment of Dower to Marga- 
 ret Bradeshagli, of a Water Mill in 
 Westlegli, in tlie Duke's Hands by 
 Minority of the Heir. 
 
 Precept to the Escheator for Seizin of 
 Rent of the Manor of Wethcrton, not- 
 withstanding no Process as to proof of 
 Age, nor his being called on the Inqui- 
 sition taken. 
 
 Mandate to the Justices of the Bench, to 
 proceed on Novel Disseizin as to Te- 
 nements of Sir Tliomas Lathum, Kn'. 
 in Knowslegh, Childwall, Roby, and 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 Close Roll 
 A. G. con- 
 tinued.
 
 384 
 
 ClK li^torj) of tfte 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 Extract 108. Continued. 
 
 from Close 
 Roll A. 6. 
 continued. 
 
 Anhlesaigh, and on no Acco' to give 
 Judmi' witlio' the Duke's advice. 
 
 Anno Decimo Regalitatis. 
 
 109. Fines paid to the King and Duke. 
 
 110. The King and Duke for Margaiet 
 
 de Radclif. 
 
 111. The same for Robert de Barton. 
 
 112. Fines paid to the King and Duke. 
 11.3. The King and Duke for the Duke. 
 
 Precept to the Receiver of the Duchy to 
 pay a yearly Rent for Lands in Oklom, 
 Chatherton, and Wittou, near Ples- 
 iugton. 
 
 Writ of Re-disseizin for Messuages and 
 Lands in Lathum. 
 
 Precept to the SheriflF to Levy £20. of 
 the Lands of John de Radclif in 
 Oldom, Chatherton, and Wytton, for 
 Arrears. 
 
 Witnessed by Henry, Earl of Derby, 
 Custos of the Duchy. 
 
 Anno Undecimo Regalitatis. 
 
 115. The King and Duke for William 
 
 Ward. 
 
 116. The King and Duke for the Duke. 
 
 114. Fines paid to the King and Duke for Writs. 
 
 Writ to Walter de Urswyk, Keeper of 
 Lancaster Forest, to accept Bail for the 
 said William, detained in Lancaster 
 Castle, for a Trespass on the Forest. 
 Writ of Diem Clausit Extremimi upon 
 the death of Tno. de Wareyn, 
 Thomas Strangways, 
 Thomas Sotheworth, 
 Richard Torbock, 
 Thomas Holand, 
 William Tinistall, 
 Petronilla Banastre, 
 Thomas Molyneux, 
 WUliam Aghtou.
 
 Countj) ^aalatine of aaiuasiter. 
 
 386 
 
 PERSONS. 
 
 MATTERS. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 117. The same, for same. 
 
 1 18. The same, for same. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to elect a Coroner, Extract 
 
 _-, , , _ from Close 
 
 Vice ±ichvarcl Irere. 
 
 119. 
 120. 
 
 Do. ^dce Hugli de Ines, they being both 
 incompetent to theii- Offices. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to elect a Verduror 
 for Quernmore and Wyresdale, vice 
 John Croft, made Steward of Lonsdale. 
 
 The like, vice Robt. Caiincefeld, he being 
 in Spain Avith the Duke. 
 Fines paid to the King and Dulie for Writs. 
 
 Roll A. G. 
 continued. 
 
 Ralph de Radclif, Sheriff of Lan- 
 caster, for the King and Duke. 
 
 121. The same, for same. 
 
 122. The King and Duke, for John de 
 
 Ines. 
 
 Recognizance of Debt for the Sheriff to 
 pay £80. for his Office for one Year. 
 
 Like Recognizance for a faithful Account 
 of Ids Profits. 
 
 Precept to the Escheator to supersede 
 the demand of £34. 14s. 4d. of Lands, 
 &c. in Wytliyngton and Harewode, 
 and other Monies, till the next Ses- 
 sions. 
 
 Anno Duodecimo Regalitatis. 
 123. Fines paid to the King and Duke for Writs. 
 
 124. The King and Duke, for the Duke. 
 
 125. The same, for same. 
 
 126. The same, for MUicent de Aghton. 
 
 Mandate to the Justices to adjourn Ses- 
 sions. 
 
 Writs of Diem Clausit Extremum upon 
 the death of Jno. de Haydok, 
 
 Alice de Legh, 
 
 .John de Nevill. 
 
 Writ to the Escheator for Assignment of 
 Dower. 
 127. Fines paid to the King and Duke for Writs. 
 
 128. The King and Duke for Ralph de 
 Ne\T]l. 
 
 Precept to the Escheator for Livery of 
 seizin of the Advowson of Prescote 
 Church, and for Payment of Relief 
 and for Respite of Homage, till the 
 Duke's return to England. 
 
 VOL. r. 
 
 3 D
 
 386 
 
 ClK i^lgtOll) Ot U)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 DUCHY OF LANCASTER. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF ABSTRACT OF THE CLOSE ROLL A. 6. 1st to 12th YEAR OF 
 THE ROYALTY OF JOHN OF GAUNT, DUKE OF LANCASTER; 
 
 THE INTERIOR PART OF THE ROLL HAVING BEEN ALREADY ABSTRACTED, THE 
 FOLLOWING ARE FROM THE SAME ROLL IN TERGO. 
 
 First Year. 
 
 Grantors and others. 
 
 Grantees and others. 
 
 Matters and Premises. 
 
 A. 6. in 
 
 Tergo. 
 
 No. 1. Ecbnund, son of 
 dors. Alau de Folifayt. 
 
 No. 2. John de Asslieton- 
 dors. under-Liine. 
 
 No. 3. Thomas Lathum. 
 dors. 
 
 Edmund Lorence, son of 
 John La^vi'ence, of Assh- 
 don. 
 
 John de Kirkeby. 
 
 Robert de Breton, Vicar of 
 the Church of Huyton, 
 and Tliomas de Ryding, 
 Chaplain. 
 
 Annus Secundus. In Teryo. 
 
 No. 4. 
 xlors. 
 
 Robert de 
 shington 
 others. 
 
 Was- 
 and 
 
 For William de Horneby, 
 Parson of the Chuixh of 
 St. Michael-upon-Wyre. 
 
 Enrolment of the Deed of 
 Release and Quit Claun 
 of all Right to the Manor 
 of Folifayt, near Tadcas- 
 ter, 50 Ed. III. 
 
 The like of Lands wliich 
 Elizabeth FoUfayt, widow, 
 held in dower, 51 Ed.IIL 
 Other Deeds relative to 
 the Manor. 
 
 Recognizance of the Re- 
 ceipt of £40. in part pay- 
 ment of a Debt of 140 
 Marks, 1 Ric. II. Other 
 Deeds relating thereto. 
 
 Em-ohneut of Deed by Re- 
 lease and Quit Claim at 
 Crossechalle, in Lathum, 
 and all other Lands grant- 
 ed in Lancashire, 49 Ed. 
 III. 
 
 Recognizance of Debt of 
 
 £8. 
 
 A" -2^" Regalitatis.
 
 County |)alatinr of Sancasiten 387 
 
 Grantors and others. Grantees and others. Matters and Premises. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Thomas de Lam- 
 
 For Echnund Lorence. 
 
 Recognizance of Debt, 
 
 dors. 
 
 plogh and others. 
 
 
 £40. 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 Adam of Lancas- 
 
 For Thomas Min-eson, of 
 
 Recognizance of Debt, 
 
 dors. 
 
 ter. 
 
 Lancaster. 
 
 £10. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 William deHeton. 
 
 Ralph de Ipre and Peter 
 
 Enrolment of Grant of 
 
 dors. 
 
 
 de Bobrun. 
 
 Lands in Heton, Broune, 
 Molebek, Urwike, and 
 Lancaster. 51 Edw. III. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 Richard de Massy, 
 
 For John de la Pole, Jus- 
 
 Recognizance of Debt of 
 
 dors. 
 
 Kut. 
 
 tice of Chester. 
 
 £5. — Witness, Henry, 
 Earl of Derby, Custos of 
 the Royalty. 
 
 
 
 And various other Recognizances of Debts. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 A. 6. in 
 
 Teigo, 
 continued. 
 
 No. 9. 
 dors. 
 
 Annus Tertius. In Tergo. 
 John de Pies- Hugh de Dacre, Knt. Lord 
 of Gillesland. 
 
 No. 10. 
 dors. 
 
 No. 11. 
 dors. 
 
 yngton. 
 
 Enrolment of Grant of the 
 Manors of Halton in 
 Lonesdale, and Eccleston 
 in Leylandshire, in Coin 
 Lane, with all their Mem- 
 bers and Appurtenances. 
 2 Rich. II. 
 Release and Quit Claim by Feoffees. 
 
 Annus Quartus. In Tergo. 
 Various Recognizances of Debt. 
 
 Annus Quintus. In Tergo. 
 
 John Botiller, Knt. 
 
 Hemy de Bispham and 
 Richard de Carleton, 
 Chaplains. 
 
 3 D 2 
 
 Enrolment of the Grant of 
 the Manor of Great La- 
 ton, Little Laton, Bisp- 
 ham, and Wardebrek, 
 Lands in Great Merton, 
 and the wliole Lordsliip 
 of Merton Town. 
 
 4 Rich. II.
 
 388 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 A. 6. in 
 
 Tergo, 
 
 continued. 
 
 Grantors and others. 
 
 ClK S)isittiri) of t\)t 
 
 Grantees and others. 
 
 Matters and Premises. 
 
 No. 12. 
 dors. 
 
 No. 13. 
 
 dors. 
 No. 14. 
 
 dors. 
 
 No. 15. 
 dors. 
 
 No. 16. 
 dors. 
 
 No. 17, 
 dors. 
 
 Henry de Bisp- 
 ham aud Rich- 
 ard de Carleton 
 
 Annus SeMus 
 
 John Botiller, Knt. 
 Alice his wife. 
 
 and 
 
 In Tergo. 
 
 Recognizances of Debts. 
 
 Robert de Was- 
 shyngton, 
 
 Roger de 
 creley. 
 
 Fasa- 
 
 For William de Hornby, 
 Parson of St. Michael- 
 upon-Wyre, and William 
 le Ducton. 
 
 Edward de Lathnm, Henry 
 de Scai'esbreck and others. 
 
 For the King and Duke. 
 
 Adam de Hogh- 
 
 ton, Chiv"^, 
 Nicholas de Har- 
 
 yngton, Chiv% 
 And Richard, son 
 of Adam de 
 Hoghton, 
 
 Annus Oct aims. In Tergo. 
 
 For WUIiam de Horneby, 
 Parson of St. Michael- 
 upon-Wire. 
 
 Richard de Hogh- 
 ton. 
 
 No. 18. The King 
 dors. Dnke. 
 
 and 
 
 For Jolm Nowell. 
 
 Enrolment of Grant of the 
 above Manors, Lands, and 
 Lordsliip, in Fee Tail 
 special. 4 Ric. H. 
 
 Em-olment of Grant of 
 Lands, &c. in Carleton in 
 Amounderness, for a Rose 
 Rent per Ann. 8 Years, 
 and increased Rent £20 
 per Ann. 5 Ric. II. 
 
 Memorandum of Agree- 
 ment as to Dower of Tene- 
 ments in Wrightiuton. 
 
 Recognizance of Debt of 
 200 Marks, upon a sei- 
 zure into the Duke's 
 hands, on the death of 
 James Botiller, Earl of 
 Ormond. 
 
 Em-olment of Grant of the 
 Wardship of Lands of 
 Henry de Kighley, Knt. 
 m Lancashire and York- 
 shii'e, and the Marriage of 
 his Son. 7 Rich. II. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to 
 supersede taking the Body 
 of John Nowell, to answer 
 before the Justices of the 
 Duchy for the death of 
 John de Holden, upon 
 Appeal of Murder.
 
 County palatine of Sanrasiter. 389 
 
 Grantors and others. Grantees and others. Matters and Premises. 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 The like. The King and William de Rigniaydcn. 
 dors. Duke, 
 
 No. 19. The King and 
 dors. Duke, 
 
 No. 20. The King and 
 dors. Duke, 
 
 No. 21. The King and 
 dors. Duke, 
 
 For Hugh, son of John de 
 Pai't3Tigton, of Irurlham. 
 
 For Adain de Hoghton 
 and others. 
 
 For Thomas Smith Nayller, 
 of Cholle. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to a. o. in 
 supersede the Outlawry continued 
 for Trespasses in the 
 Duchy Chases. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff to 
 supersede an Outlawry, 
 King Richard II. having 
 granted him pardon. 
 
 Similar Writs for William 
 Crist and John de Ley- 
 lond, Souter, of Wigan. 
 
 Precept to the Escheator 
 to supersede Levy of 
 Rent of 100 Marks out of 
 Wetheton Manor. 
 
 Precept to the Sheriff, to 
 supersede Outlawry, De- 
 fendant havdng found Bail 
 to appear at Sessions. 
 
 Annus Nonns. In Tergo. 
 Various Recognizances of Debts and Writs de Supersedendo, addressed to 
 the Sheriff. 
 
 No. 22. 
 dors. 
 
 No. 23. 
 dors. 
 
 Annus Decimus. In Tc 
 
 John de Walton. 
 
 ergo. 
 
 Recognizances of Debts, &c. 
 Robert de Saureby and 
 
 John de Birkeheved, 
 
 Chaplains. 
 
 Robert de Saureby 
 and John de 
 Birkeheved, 
 ) Chaplains. 
 
 John de Walton and Rosa 
 his Wife. 
 
 Enrolment of Grant of 
 Iiands, &c. in Lancaster, 
 Bare, and Kertraell. 
 
 9 Ric. XL 
 
 Grant of the above Lands, 
 &c. in Fee Tail, special.
 
 390 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 A. 0. in 
 
 Tergo, 
 
 continued. 
 
 Grantors and others. 
 
 m)t I]i^txin> of tf)f 
 
 Grantees and others. 
 
 Matters and Premises. 
 
 No. 24. Agues Banasrte, 
 dors. 
 
 For William de Horneby, 
 Parson of the Cliurcb of 
 St. Micliael-upon-Wp-e. 
 
 Recognizance of Debt of 
 500 Marks for lufeoflBment 
 of Lands, seized into tbe 
 Duke's bauds by tbe 
 minority of Constance 
 Bauastre. 
 
 Annus Undecimus. In Tergo. 
 Recoouizances of Debts and Writs de Supersedendo as to Debts. 
 
 No. 25. 
 dors. 
 
 William de Dut- 
 tou, 
 
 For William Molon, Ro- 
 bert DyrjTig, John de 
 Cornay, and others, Chap- 
 lains. 
 
 Annus Duodechnus. In Tergo. 
 
 No. 26. 
 dors. 
 
 Gilbert de Halsall 
 and others. 
 
 No. 27. 'Robert de Stan- 
 dors, dyssh and others, 
 
 For the King and Duke. 
 
 For the King and Duke. 
 
 Enrolment of Grant of 
 Lands, &c. of William de 
 Dutton in Ribchesetr, 
 Bispham, and Northe- 
 brok, and all his Bur- 
 gages and Lands and 
 Tenements in Preston, 
 in Amounderness. 
 
 11 Rich. IL 
 
 Recognizance of Debt of 
 £700 for payment to Wil- 
 liam de Hornby, Re- 
 ceiver of £237. 14s. Oid. 
 for his Account of the 
 Time he was Sheriff. 
 Witness, Henry, Earl of 
 Derby, Custos of the 
 Duchy, 12 Rich. II. 
 
 Recognizance of Debt of 
 £200 for the said Robert, 
 to render Account of his 
 Office of Sheriff. 
 
 " From tbe 7th year of King Richai-d II. there are no Books nor Rolls extant 
 to the 1st of Hemy IV."— £ Libro Great Ayloffe, 1692; page 159, in John of 
 Gaunfs Chancery of the Duchy.
 
 Cotmtp ^Balntuif of aanraettiv 391 
 
 In the " Originalia Memoranda," on the Lord Treasm-er's side of the Exchequer, chap. 
 
 we find the foUoAving Records relating to the county and duchy of Lancaster, from 
 
 the period when the ducal house first rose into (hstiuction, to the time when the third Luncas- 
 
 r TT TAT 1 ^'"'*'" 
 
 duke of Lancaster ascended the throne, with the letters patent of Henry IV. and charter. 
 
 Henry V. 
 
 LANCASTER.— The duke of Lancaster's charter, enrolled in Memoranda 
 
 9 Edw. I.; and Records of St. Hilary 19 Edw. H. 
 
 Chart, of Henry, E. of Lane, enrolled, Recs. St. Hil. 6 Edw. IH.— Roll. 
 
 D. of Lane's liberty of replevying to the INIorrow of Easter Term, in Co. York— 
 Recs. St. Mich. 26 Edw. IH. Roll. 
 
 Unjust claun of Henry, late E. of Lane, duke of Lane, in Co. Derby— Recs. 
 St. Hil. 26 Edw. IH. Roll. 
 
 Charter of Duke of Lane, respecting divers liberties gi-anted to Mm in the city of 
 London— Recs. Hil. 27 Edw. IH. Roll. 
 
 Chai-ter of the D. of Lane, for receiving £40. under the Honor of the Earl of 
 Derby and Lincoln, in equal parts, in Co. Leicester. Mich. Records 28 Edw. IH. 
 
 Roll. 
 
 Duke of Lancaster's claim, in Co. Leicester, Easter Recs. 28Edw.in. RoU 1. 
 
 Charter of D. of Lane, in Co. Leicester, enrolled Mich. Recs. 29 Edw. HL Roll. 
 
 Cognizance of Rich. Michel, sheriff of Not. and Derby, for the D. of Lane, in 
 Co. Derby, HU. Recs. 32 Edw. IH. Roll. 
 
 D. of Lane's claun in Co. Line, for workmg fines. Mich. Recs. 33 Edw. III. Roll. 
 
 Charter of John, D. of Lane. Mich. Recs. 38 Edw. III. RoU 24. 
 
 Charter of John Duke of Lancaster. Mich. Recs. 38 Edw. HI. 21. 
 
 Record sent to the King's chancellor in the county of Lancaster. Mich. Recs. 
 38 Edw. III. Roll. 
 
 Charter of J. D. of L. for liberties gTanted to liim. Hil. Recs. 39 Edw. III. 
 
 Roll 16. 
 
 D. of Lane's claim of divers sums. Mich. Recs. 42 Edw. III. Roll 20. 
 
 D. of Lane's Charter, 57 Edw. III. Roll. 
 
 Chai-ters of John, Kg. of Cast, and Leon, D. of Lane, enrolled Mich. Recs. 
 1 Ric. II. Roll 2. 
 
 Charter of John, D. of Aquitaine and Lane, of liberties gi-anted to Mm by the 
 king. Mich. Recs. 21 Ric. II. Roll 13. 
 
 The Duke of Lancaster's claim of divers smns charged upon the sheriffs of the 
 Counties of Somerset, Dorset, Lincoln, and York. Mich. Recs. 21 Ric. II. Roll 20. 
 
 John Duke of Lancaster's claim of divers sums charged upon the sheriff of the 
 County of Line. Mich. Recs. 22 Ric. II. Roll 34.
 
 392 Cfte W^tov^ of tin 
 
 CHAP. The claim of John D. of L. for divers sums. Mich. Recs. 21 Ric. II Roll 21. 
 
 ^" The claim of John D. of Lane, for clivers sums upon the sheriff of Lincoln's 
 
 accountant. Mich. 23 Rich. II. Roll 34. 
 
 The King's Letters Patent touching the Duchy of Lane, enrolled Mich. Recs. 
 
 1 Hen. IV. Roll 14. 
 
 ****** 
 
 Two Letters Patent, made to John Leventhorp, under the Seal of the Duchy of 
 
 Lancaster, enrolled. Mich. Recs. 1 Henr. IV. Roll 15. 
 
 ****** 
 
 Divers sums claimed by our Lord the King's Attorney Gen. of his Ducliy of 
 Lane, to be placed to the same King as for his Duchy of Lane, in Co. Derby and 
 
 elsewhere. Trinity Records, 5 Henr. IV. Roll 16. 
 
 ****** 
 
 The King's Letters under his privy seal of the Duchy of Lane, enrolled Mich. 
 
 Recs. 6 Hen. V. Roll 19. 
 
 The Of the illiistrious John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, it has been observed, that 
 
 illustrious he was the son of a king, the father of a king, and the uncle of a king, and could have 
 
 said as much as Charles of Valois, had he been the brother of a king. His children 
 
 were as follows: — 
 
 By Blanch, his first Wife — 
 His chii- Henry of Lancaster, surnamed Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV. of England. 
 
 The first king of the Lancasterian line. 
 
 Philippa of Lancaster, queen of Portugal. 
 Elizabeth of Lancaster, duchess of Exeter. 
 
 By Constance, his second Wife — 
 Katherine of Lancaster, queen of Castile and Leon. 
 
 By Catharine Svvinford, afterwards third Wife — 
 » John Beaufort, earl of Somerset. 
 
 Henry Beaufort, cardinal of St. Eusebius, and bishop of Winchester. 
 Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter and earl of Dorset. 
 Joan Beaufort, countess of Westmoreland. 
 
 The reign of Henry IV. son of John of Gaunt, was short and agitated. The 
 insurrection of the earls of Rutland, Kent, and Huntingdon, was followed by an 
 Insurrection in Wales; and a royal proclamation, addressed to the " Chancellor of 
 the King's County Palatine of Lancaster," announced that Owyn Glendourdy, and 
 other rebels, had lately risen against the king in great numbers, to resist whom tlie 
 chancellor was required to proclaim within his jurisdiction, that all knights and 
 esquires able to bear arms in person, and archers who received annual fees from the 
 
 Uren
 
 Countj; ^3alattnr of 2Lanrastfr« 393 
 
 king, should repair to Worcester by the 1st of October, to join the other levies raised chap. 
 to put down this insurrection.* A long and sanguinary civU war ensued, in which ^" 
 Henry had In- turns tofiglit against his English subjects, under the earl of Northum- 
 berland, who from being his friend had become his deadly enemy; the Welsh under 
 theii- native princes, and the Scotch under Richard III. of tliat kingdom; but by liis 
 corn-age, sldll, and prudence, lie overcame liis enemies, and established that throne 
 by the power of the sword, which appeared at first to have been erected upon the 
 affections of his people. The writ to raise troops in the county of Lancaster was 
 followed by another, adckessed to the chancellor of the duchy, commandiu"- him to 
 proclaim that William Adherton and Edmund de Dacre were appointed to collect 
 the reasonable aid of twenty shillings for the marriage portion of Blanche of Lan- 
 caster, the king's eldest daughter, to die duke of Bavaria.f 
 
 The wounds inflicted upon the pride of France by the conquests made in that Threat of 
 country by the Black Prince, and the earl of Derby, son of Henry earl of Lancas- hosunty. 
 ter, formed a never-ending source of hostility between the French and English 
 nations ; and the duke of Orleans did not faU to avail liimself of the difiiculties by 
 which Henry IV. was surrounded. His attacks were directed against the English 
 castles and fortresses, both in the south and north of France, at Bourdeaux and at 
 Calais. To prevent these possessions from falUng into the hands of the French, tlie 
 king issued a proclamation to the chancellor of the duchy, and of the county pala- 
 tine of Lancaster, as well as to the sheriffs of other counties, commanding him to 
 proclaim in all proper places within his jurisdiction, that all knights, esquii-es, 
 valets, and other persons competent for defence, having any fees or annuities, lands, 
 tenements, gifts or grants, or other donations, held by gift of the Idng or liis 
 progenitors, should personally appear in the king's presence at London, ^nthin 
 fifteen days from the date of the proclamation.! These demonstrations were of 
 themselves sufficient to preserve the English possessions without stiiking a blow; 
 and the contest between the duke of Burgundy and the duke of Orleans, in which 
 the king of England, in a proclamation to the chancellor of the county palatine of 
 Lancaster, inhibited the people of England from taking any part, so much engaged 
 the French armies, that they would not prosecute their hostility against the English 
 cities of France.§ 
 
 That the commerce of this county, in its infant state, was at this period greatly Hostile 
 injured and impeded by the depredations of the hostile powers by wliich England tionfon 
 was assailed, may be infen-ed from a petition to the commons house of parliament, I'^f L^iTca- 
 from tlie inliab-itauts of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Cumberland, in which they *''''^^'^'^- 
 
 * Claus. 2 Henry IV. p. 2. m. 1. d. t Fin. 3 Henry IV. m. 16. 
 
 t Clans. 8 Henry IV. m. 17. d. § Claus. 13 Henry IV. m. 22. d. 
 
 VOL. I. 3 E
 
 for tbe 
 
 papacy 
 
 394 ClK Sn'stxirp of tin 
 
 CHAP, alleo-e, that several robberies and depredations have been committed on their coast 
 '^" by their enemies of France and Scothuid, and by tlie rebels of Wales, who have 
 seized and taken their vessels, o^^ing, as they allege, to no achuiral or keeper of the 
 seas beino- upon this station, to the gi-eat destruction, ruin, and oppression, of the 
 said counties J for remedy whereof, tliey pray that protection may be afforded to them. 
 To which petition the king replied, that an admiral should be appointed for the safe- 
 sruard of the seas of tlie north-western coast.* 
 
 Contest The contest for the papacy, Avhich at this time agitated all Christendom, was felt 
 
 so strongly in England, that a proclamation was issued by the king to the sheriff of 
 the county of Lancaster, and to other counties, whereui it was announced, that 
 Peter de Luna, alias Benedict xiij. and Angelo Corario, alias Gregory xij. were 
 raslJy contending for the papal cliair, and both of them being pronounced and 
 declared notorious heretics and schismatics by the definitive sentence of the holy and 
 universal sjaiod canonically congregated at Pisa, the most reverend father in 
 Christ, the lord Petro de Candias, on account of his merits, was elected by the same 
 authority to the pontificate, by the title of Alexander V., and the sheriff was com- 
 manded to make proclamation in all places within his jurisdiction, that the said 
 Alexander V. was the true Roman pontifex."!' 
 
 The life of king Henry IV., though only in the meridian of his years, was now 
 drawing fast to a termination. Tlie scenes through wliich he had passed in his way 
 to the throne, and tlie disquietude vnt\i Avliich he was assailed from so many quarters, 
 wliile in the possession of that giddy eminence, preyed upon liis constitution, and 
 shortened his days. Had it been his fate to remain in the sufficiently elevated, 
 but more humble station of duke of Lancaster, it is highly probable that liis life 
 would have been more happy, and his death less early. 
 
 " Heaven knows, my son, 
 By what by-paths, and indirect crook'd ways, 
 I met this crown ; and I myself know well. 
 How troublesome it sat upon my head : 
 To thee it shall descend with better quiet, 
 Better opinion, better confirmation, 
 For all the soil of the achievement goes 
 With me into the earth." 
 
 Sii.AKSPEARE — Henry IV. 2d Part, Act 4. Scene 4. 
 
 By his wUl, which breathes a spirit of remorse, characteristic of the state of the 
 royal mind, he bequeathed the duchy of Lancaster as an endoAAinent to his consort 
 the queen. Tliis document forms a favourable specimen of the state of the English 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 11 Henry IV. item 5-2. t Claus. 11 Henry IV. m. 31. dors.
 
 County ^aalatine of Sanrasittr. 395 
 
 language in the early ixiit of the fifteenth century, and, being of unquestionahle chap. 
 authority, may with jiropriety be inserted here : — 
 
 WILL OF HENRY IV. 
 
 " In tlie name of God, Fader, and Son, and Holy Gost, tlu-e persons and ou 
 
 God. I Henry, sinful wretch, be the Grace of God, Kyng of England, and of 
 
 Fraunce, and Lord of Irlaud, being in myne hole niynd, mak my testament in 
 
 manere and forme that sayth : First, I bequcth to Almyghty God my sinful soul, 
 
 tlie whiche had never be Avorthy to be man, but tlu-ougli hys mercy and hys gi-ase, 
 
 Avhich lyffe I haxe mispendyd, whereof I put me whollily in his gi'ase and his 
 
 mercy, with all myn herte. And what tym hit liketh hmi of hys mercy for to tak 
 
 me to hym, the body for to be beryed in tlie chii'ch of Caunterbury, aftyr the discre- 
 
 cion of my cousin the Archbyshcopp of Caunterbury. And also, I tliank all my 
 
 lordis and trew peple for the trewe servise that they liave done to me, and y ask hem 
 
 forgiveness if I have myssentreted hem in any Avyse. And als far as they have 
 
 ofFendyd me in wordis, or in dedis in any wyse, I prey God forgeve hem hit, and 
 
 y do. Also y devys and ordeyn, that ther be a chauntre perpetually of twey 
 
 preestis, for to sing and prey for my soul in the aforseyd chirch of Caunterbury, in 
 
 soch a plase, and aftyr soch orcUnaunce, as it seemeth best to my aforseyd cousin of 
 
 Caunterbury. Also y ordeyne and devise, that of my goodcHs restitution be made 
 
 to all hem that y have WTonfully grevyed, or any good had of theirs without just 
 
 tytle. Also I will and ordeyne, that of my gooddis all my debtes be paied in all 
 
 hast possible, and that my servants be rewardyd aftyr their uede and desert of 
 
 service, and in especyal Wilkin, John Warren, and William Tliorpe, gromes of my 
 
 chambre. Also y will, that all those that in eny Avyse be bond in any debt that y 
 
 owe in eny wise, or have undertake to any man for eny debt that y owe, or that they 
 
 can dewlye shewe liit, that oil soche persons be kept harmlysse. Also I will, that all 
 
 fees and wages that are not paied be paied, and in especiall to my servaunts of my 
 
 houshold before eny oder. And also, that all myn annuityes, fees and donacions, 
 
 granted by me before this tym, be my lettres patents, be kept and paid aftyr the 
 
 effeit of the forseyd letters patents ; and jTi especiall to all hem that have bene 
 
 trewe servants to me and toward me alway. Also, y will and prey my sou that he 
 
 have recommendyd Thomas de la Crois, that hath well and trewly servyed me, and 
 
 also in the same wyse Jacob Raysh and Halley. Also, I will that the Queue bee 
 
 endowyd of the Duche of Laucastre. Also, I ysiW that all my officers, both of 
 
 houshold and other, the which nedeth to have pardon of eny thing that touch here 
 
 offices both of losse and oder thing, they have pardon therof in scm1)able manere, as 
 
 3e2
 
 396 Cfie %}i$tov^ of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. I of my grase liave be wont to do befor this tym. And for to execut this testament 
 
 — U well and ti-uelich, for gi-ete tryst that I have on my son the Prince, y ordeyne and 
 
 mak him my execntor of my testament foreseyd, kalling to him soche as him 
 tliinkyth in his discrecion, that can and will labour to the sonnest spcde of my will, 
 compreliended in this myn testament. And to fulill trewly all things foresaid, y 
 charge my foresaid son upon my blessyng. Wetnessying my wel-belovyd cousins 
 Thomas archbyshop of Caunterbury foreseyde, and Edward duke of Yorke. Tliomas 
 bishchop of Daresme, Richard the Lord Grey my chamberlayne, John Tiptoft 
 m}ai treasurer of Englond, Jolni Prophete wardeine of my privie seal ; Thomas 
 Erpingliam, John Norbery, Robert Waterton, and many oder being present. 
 
 " In witnessyug whereof, my privy seele be my commandment is set to tliis my 
 
 testament. 
 " lyeve at my manere of Greenwich, the xxi day of the moneth of Janver, in tlie 
 year of Lord Mccccviii, and of our reigne the tenth." 
 
 The reign of Henry V. the second British king of the Lancastrian line, presents 
 one of the most splendid periods in the military annals of England. During this 
 short but eventful reign, France was once more laid prostrate at the feet of her 
 ancient rival, and the capital of that kingdom, as well as the power of its government, 
 was held by the British monarch with a tenacity which was not relaxed even in the 
 hour of death. At home all was tranquillity; the cabals of the court, Avhich had 
 embittered the last days of Henry IV. were hushed by the frank and fascinating 
 chai'acter of his once profligate son, and the scenes of domestic discontent were 
 confined altogether to the contests between the early reformers and the church of 
 Rome. 
 The Loi- The first English martjT in the cause of the Lollards was William Sautre, rector 
 
 of Osythes, in London, Avho was consigned to the flames in 1401, at the instance of the 
 church, in virtue of a writ issued by Henry IV., whose father, John of Gaunt, had been 
 the early patron and firm friend of John Wickliffe, the founder of the obnoxious sect in 
 England. Henry V., more influenced probably by a wish to preserve the peace and 
 harmony of his kingdom, than by any strong predilections, espoused the cause of the 
 church of Rome; and it should appear from a royal proclamation, issued in the fii'st 
 year of his reign to the sheriff" of the county palatine of Lancaster, that the new 
 schismatics had spread into this county — " Those who have turned the world upside 
 down have come here also." In this proclamation the king announced that certain 
 preachers, not privileged by law, or licensed by the diocesan of the place, or per- 
 mitted by the church, of the new sect of Lollards, preach in public places, contrary 
 to the ordinances of the church, and, under colour of preaching the Avord of God, 
 
 lards.
 
 Count)) |3nlntine of Sanrasttn 397 
 
 foment and disseminate discord among the people, and tlie pestiferous seed of evil chap. 
 doctrine. For remedy of wliicli, and to protect the catholic faith, the sheriff is com- ' 
 
 manded to make proclamation that no chaplain shall hold, dogmatize, preach, or 
 defend this heresy and error, under pain of imprisonment and forfeiture of goods; 
 and if any persons shall he found puhlicly or privately infringing these orders, l)y 
 holding conventicles, or congregations, or receiving the preachers of the ohnoxious 
 doctrines, or shall be really and vehemently suspected of so doing, they shall be 
 committed to prison without delay, to remain there until they shall obey the man- 
 dates of the diocesan in whose diocese they liaAe preached, to be certified by the 
 diocesan himself.* The demand for reformation in the doctrine and the discipUne 
 of the church was far too loud and too Avidely extended to be silenced by proclama- 
 tions ; and hence we find fi-om anotlier royal mandate addressed to the chancellor of 
 the county palatine of Lancaster in the following year, that divers of the liege subjects 
 of the king, on the incitement and instigation " of a most cunning and subtle enemy," Lord Cob- 
 sir John Oldcastle (lord Cobham), holding and teaching various opinions manifestly 
 contrary and obnoxious to the catholic faith, and to sound doctrine, stood charged 
 with wickedly imagining aAd conspiring the king's death, because he and his coun- 
 sellors would not assent to these doctrines. The accused parties, too conscientious to 
 plead not guilty of an offence Avhich they had actually committed, or under some other 
 influence Avhich it is now difficult to (hscover, confessed their guilt ; and the king of his 
 special gi-ace pardoned all the offenders, except lord Cobham, sir Thomas Talbot, 
 knight, and ten other persons of inferior station. This pardon the chancellor was 
 requu-ed to proclaim through the whole of his jurisdiction ; and the reformers, Avith 
 the above exceptions, some of whom had taken refuge in the places of sanctuary — ■ 
 Manchester and Lancaster being of that number — were allowed to plead the royal 
 pardon before the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist next ensuing.f A 
 number of tlie Lollards forfeited their lives to the dictates of their consciences ; for 
 it is impossible to impute to the gi-eat mass of them any sinister motive; and lord 
 Cobliam, the most zealous and distinguished of their number, was hung up by tlie 
 middle, upon a gallows erected in St. George's Fields, where he was consumed alive 
 in the fire, praising God with his last breath. 
 
 These terrible examples checked for a time the spread of Lollardy ; but the fires 
 only smouldered ; and, in the reign of Henry VIII. under sanction of the king, they 
 burst forth with a force so iii-esistible, as to destroy the whole power of the " holy 
 Anglican mother church." 
 
 At this period a large accession of wealth and power was made to the duchy of 
 
 ' * Claus. 1 Hen. V. f Clans. 2 Henry V. m. 24.
 
 398 CI)c jK'sitorp of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. Lancaster, by the union of the rights and possessions of the county of Hereford to 
 the duchy, under the sanction of the following royal ordinance : — 
 
 Union of 
 the county 
 of Here- 
 ford to the 
 
 " Tlie Imig, hy the assent of parliament, declares, grants, and ordains, that all 
 duchy of |],g honors, castles, hundreds, manors, lands, tenements, reversions, rents, services, 
 
 Lancaster. ' ' , , , ; , , ; 
 
 AD 1414, fees, advowsons, possessions, and lordships, as well witliin the kingdom of England 
 as in parts of Wales and other places, ^rithin the king's lordships, which have 
 descended, or shall descend inheritahly to the king, after the death of Dame 
 Maria, one of the daughters and heiis of Humphrey de Bohun, formerly Earl of 
 Hereford, Essex, and Northampton, and Constable of England, as to tlie son and 
 heii- of that Dame Mary; also, that all the rights, liberties, franchises, and frank 
 customs, to the same inheritance appertaining or regarding, be severed from the 
 crown of England, and adjoined, annexed, luiited, and incorporated, to and vnth the 
 said Idng's duchy of Lancaster, perpetually to remain to the same Idng, as being so 
 adjoined, united, annexed, and incorporated; and furtlier, that all the honors, castles, 
 hundreds, wapentakes, manors, lands, tenements, and reversions aforesaid, and all 
 other things to the said inheritance regarding, and the vassals and tenants to it apper- 
 taining, he also entirely enfranchised, and by the officers treated, guarded, and 
 governed, in all respects, as possessions to the said duchy appertaining, and the 
 vassals and tenants to the same duchy regarding, are enfranchised, treated, guarded, 
 and governed, for ever; and this, accorchng to the form, force, and effect of the words 
 contained in a schedule passed in this pai-liament; and by the king, with the assent of 
 the Lords aforesaid, and the authority aforesaid, fully affiinned." 
 
 Then follows an enumeration of the possessions at great length.* 
 Scarcely had the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster proclaimed, by royal 
 command, the truce between England and Castile and Leon, when the king of Eng- 
 land embarked for France with an army of six thousand cavalry, and tAventy-foiir 
 thousand foot, principally archers. After carrpng the garrison of Harfaur, and 
 leaving a number of his troops to defend that fortress, Henry, at the head of his 
 The battle troops, marched for Calais, but on liis way he was interrupted by a hostile army of 
 courF. fourteen thousand cavalry and forty thousand infantry, under the command of the 
 constable of France, and obliged to come to battle on the phiins of Agincourt. 
 
 * Rot. Pari. vol. iv. p. 46. While speaking of this act, Sir Edward Coke says — " For the great 
 roialties, liberties, privileges, immunities, quitances, and freedoms, which the duke of Lancaster had 
 for him and his men and tenants, see Rot. Pari, die Lunse post octav. Sancti Martini an. 2 Henry V. 
 all which are established, ratified, and continued by authority of parliament, necessary to be known 
 by such as have any of these possessions." Fourth Institute, p. 210.
 
 Counti? ^alatmc of %m(n^tn\ 399 
 
 Here the glories of Cressy and Poictiers were renewed, and the cry of " a Derby" en \i 
 
 or " an Edward," was not more piercing in the ears of the discomfited Frencli army L 
 
 on those fields of EngUsh glory, than was the cry of " a Henry" on the field of 
 Agincourt : — 
 
 " Tliis note doth tell me of ten thousand French, 
 That in the field lie slain : of princes, in this number, 
 And nobles bearing banners, there lie dead 
 One hundred twenty six : added to these, 
 Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen, 
 Eight thousand and four hundred ; of the which 
 Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights : 
 So that, in these ten thousand they have lost, 
 There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries ; 
 The rest are — princes, barons, lords, knights, 'squires, 
 And gentlemen of blood and quality." 
 
 Shakspeare — King Henry V. Act 4. Scene 8. 
 
 The loss of the English in this memorable battle, which destroyed the military 
 power of France, was incredibly small ; some of the contemporary authorities say, 
 not exceeding forty men, amongst whom Avere Edward duke of York and the earl of 
 Suffolk. That this number is much underrated cannot be doubted, and if the nature 
 of the engagement did not establish that fact, it might be inferred from the proclama- 
 tion to the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, issued by the king soon afterwards, 
 for the purpose of recruiting his army, by wliich all knights, esquires, and valets, 
 holding fees or annuities of the khig for term of years, or for hfe, were required, 
 under forfeiture of the same, to appear in their own persons at Southampton, to 
 cross the seas to France, an-ayed and furnislied with supplies for three mouths* 
 
 Before the departure of the king for France, he instituted commissions of array Coramis- 
 in this and the other counties of England, to take a review of all the freemen able to array. 
 bear arms, and to didde them into companies, that they might be kept in readiness 
 to resist aji enemy. "This," says Mr. Hmne, " was the fii'st comiuission of array 
 wliich we meet with in English history." How a writer of so much research 
 should have fallen into the error of supposing that there had existed in England no 
 commission of array till the time of Henry V. it is not easy to imagine ; commis- 
 sions of tliis nature had been instituted two centuries before, and the number of 
 them in oi)eration in the reigns of the Edwards, in the county of Lancaster alone, it 
 is difficult to estimate. 
 
 * Claus. 4 Hen. V. m. 21. d.
 
 400 
 
 m)t n^i'stxirj) of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 X. 
 
 The 
 
 crown 
 
 jewels 
 
 pledged, 
 
 to carry 
 
 on the 
 
 war. 
 
 Redeem- 
 ed. 
 
 Death of 
 Henry V. 
 
 The necessities of the state had plunged the king into great pecuniary difficulties ; 
 and although the county of Hereford, with its land revenues, had recently been 
 added to liis hereditary possessions, he was obliged, before he could embark his 
 troops for France, to raise supplies by pledging the crown jewels. The loans 
 obtained in this way had been contracted for with so much precipitation, and the 
 regalia had been so widely dispersed, that a proclamation was issued by the king 
 to the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Avherein it Avas announced, that 
 certain royal jewels, of no little value, had been committed and pledged, for the 
 greater expedition of the king's voyage lately made to France, to certain of his 
 liege subjects retained in the expedition, for the payment of their wages, which 
 jewels it was now proper should be restored; the chancellor was therefore com- 
 manded to proclaim, that all persons within his jurisdiction, who had received such 
 pledged jewels, should present them in person at the public treasury, in order that 
 they might be redeemed ; in default whereof, the offending parties were rendered 
 liable to forfeit all theii- goods.* 
 
 The career of king Henry V. Avas as short as it was brilliant ; a mortal malady 
 seized him at tlie age of thirty-four years, and consigned the conqueror of France to 
 the tomb. His principal care in Ids last illness, was to provide for the secure 
 possession of his French conquest, to his infant son, Henry VL, then but nine 
 months old, — little suspecting, that this unfortunate child would not, in his mature 
 yeai-s, be able to maintain even liis English possessions, and that, in his person, the 
 Lancaster line would be pushed from tlie throne of his fathers. 
 
 The Will of Henry V. bears date tlu-ee years before his mai-riage to the princess 
 Catharine, and four years before the birth of his only son. By that Will, the royal 
 testator bequeaths his duchy of Lancaster to liis two brothers, John duke of Bedford, 
 and Humphrey duke of Gloucester, in these terms : — 
 
 Royal 
 Will. 
 
 " I wol and pray ye forsaid feffez, yat first my dettes paiet, and plain and entiere 
 execucion of my last wille daen, ye forsaid feffez in ye forsaid castils and manoirs of 
 Halton and Cliderhow, and in alle othir lordships, manoirs, landes, tenementz, 
 rentes, services, and other possessions, in my forsaid lettres patentes, with ye forsaid 
 castils of Halton and Clyderhow especifet, do departe as evenly as yay may in two 
 parties egales ye same castils and lordsliips, manoirs, landes, tenementz, rentes, 
 services, and other possessions, Avith ye said castils of Halton and Cliderhow, 
 expresset in ye same my lettres patentes : And in as much as yai may godely, ye 
 forsaid feffez do assigne in ye toon of ye said two par-ties, castils, lordsliips, manores, 
 landes, tenementz, rentes, services, and other possessions, in the South costees ; and 
 
 * Claus. 4 Henry V. mil. dors.
 
 Cotmtj) ^alatint of iCancasitfi. 40i 
 
 in ye totliir of ye said two parties, ye said feffez do assigne castils, lordships, manoirs, chai', 
 laudes, teuementz, rentes, services, and otliir possessions in ye North costees of ^' 
 Yngland ; and such departison maad by ye said feffez, I wol and pray hem yet in 
 alle ye said castils, manoirs, landes, tenementz, rentes, services, and other posses- 
 sions, Avith alle yaire appurtenances yat shal in ye foi-me before said be assignet in 
 said North costees of Yngland, ye said feffez do enfeffe my brotliir John due of 
 Beford, to have and to hold to hym and to his heii-s mals of his body comyno- :" 
 * * * * * * * "And allso I wol and pray ye forsaid 
 feffez, yat in alle ye forsaid castils, lordsliips, manoirs, landes, tenementz, rentes, 
 services, and other possessions, A^-ith alle yair appurtenances yat shal in ye forme 
 aforesaid be assignet in ye said South costees of Yngland, ye said feffez do enfeffe 
 my brother Umfray due of Gloucestre, to have and to hold to hym and to his heirs 
 mals of his body comyng."* 
 
 J34p 
 
 • This was the last Will of Henry V., but the subsequent birth of a son abrogated its principal 
 bequests, and the whole duchy of Lancaster descended to Henry VI. 
 
 VOL. I. 3 F
 
 402 
 
 Cftc iljisitoij) of ti)t 
 
 C&ap, p. 
 
 Scarcity of records for history during the Wars of the Roses. — Marriage of Henry VI. — Lancaster 
 Herald. — Witchcraft. — The Lancashire alchymists, Sir Edmund TrafTord and Sir Thomas Ashton. 
 — Their patent. — Claims of the rival houses of York and Lancaster to the throne. — Their official 
 pedigrees. — Wars of the Roses. — Letter from the earl of Marche and the earl of Rutland, sons 
 of the duke of York, (with fac-simile.) — Badges of the house of Lancaster. — Declaration against 
 Lord Stanley. — State of public morals. — Unsuccessful attempt to compromise the difference 
 between the rival houses. — Henry VL dethroned by Edward IV. — Henry seeks an asylum in 
 Lancashire. — ^Taken by Sir John Talbot. — Sir John's grant for this service. — Catastrophe of the 
 Lancastrian family. — Edward V. murdered in the Tower. — Coronation of Richard III. — Letters 
 patent granted by him. — His warrant for seizing a rebel's land in Lancashire. — The king's jealousy 
 towards the duke of Richmond, son-in-law of Lord Stanley, extends to his lordship. — Attainder 
 of Lady Stanley, countess of Richmond.— Landing of the duke of Richmond in England. — 
 Battle of Bosworth field. — Confiscation of Lancashire estates. — Union of the houses of York 
 and Lancaster. — Sweating sickness. — Lambert Simnell and Perkin Warbeck, pretenders to the 
 throne. — Fatal consequences of the civil wars to the duke of York's family, (note.) — Sir 
 William Stanley accused of high treason. — Condemned and executed. — Henry VII. 's royal 
 progress to Lancashire. — Letter of the countess of Derby and Richmond, (fac-simile.) — 
 Execution of Edward, earl of Warwick, the last male of the Plantagenet line. — Death of 
 Henry VII. 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 Defici- 
 ency of 
 public 
 records 
 during the 
 wars of 
 the roses. 
 
 LTHOUGH few periods in English history afford so 
 many materials for the pen of the general and local 
 historian, as that comprehended in the reigns of 
 Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III., during 
 which time the wars hetween the houses of York and 
 Lancaster raged mth so much fury ; and that of the 
 reign of Henry VII., when these intestine hroils were 
 happily composed by the union of the rival houses in 
 the persons of Henry VII. and liis queen ; yet there 
 is no time, from the reign of king Stephen, so destitute 
 as this of authentic records. The savage and murderous contests of tlie court and 
 of the people, appear so to have disorganized society, that the usual communications 
 between the authorities in the provinces and the government were neglected ; or if 
 proclamations and edicts were issued in the several counties, they perished ^vith
 
 Countj) palatine of ?LaiuaeiUr, 403 
 
 many of those to whom they were addi-essed, the usual depositories being found chap. 
 almost entirely destitute of these documents. This paucity of official information is " 
 
 the more extraordinaiy, seeing that the art of printing, tliat gi'cat engine of multi- 
 plication, was introduced into England by WiUiam Caxton, in 1471, during the 
 wars of the roses. 
 
 Many of the conquests made in France by Henry V. were lost during the 
 regency appointed for the government of England, in the nonage of his successor, 
 who, in his twenty-thuxl year, contracted marriage with Margaret of Anjou, daugliter Marriage 
 of Regnier, tituku" king of Sicily, Naples, and Jerusalem. The commanchug and Henry vi. 
 masculine talents of Ids royal consort would, it was conceived, compensate for the 
 weakness and effeminacy of the king ; and though she brought no possessions, the 
 French province of the Main, then a pai*t of the English territory, was, by a seci'et 
 treaty, ceded to Charles, her uncle, on the consummation of the royal mai-riage. 
 By a singidar coincidence, the king had, seven years before this event, changed 
 tlie title of " Anjou king of arms," in the English heralds' college, to that of 
 " Lancaster king of arms ;" and in a list of new year's gifts presented by king Heralds 
 Henry VI., in 1436, to the Lancaster herald, as well as to a person who was then 
 created a j)ursuivant of arms, by the title of Collar, there is a silver bell each, but 
 for Avhat purpose it is cUfficult to comprehend. Tliis list is preserved, Avith many 
 otliers of a sunilar Idnd, in the Cottonian MSS.* in the British Museum, and the 
 entiy refeiTed to is thus expressed : — 
 
 " Item, delivd by your saide comaundefht, the erles of Warewyke and Stafford, 
 and your chamb'leyn beyng p sent at that same tyme, that is to say, on Allehalo wen- 
 day laste, at Merton, wlianne ye wer crowned,| ye gaf to an heraude kynge of armes 
 afore tliat tjane called Aunyoye, and thanne at that fest lus name changed by yow 
 and called Lancastre, j belle of sylver weyng xvj unc, and an other belle of sylver 
 at that tyme delived to oon that Avas made pursevant, and thanne called Color, the 
 which weyed viij unc. 
 
 " W. Phelyp, Chaumblein." 
 
 No sooner had the queen arrived in the English court, than she entered into 
 all the intrigues by which it Avas agitated. The duke of Gloucester, uncle to tlie 
 king, having become obnoxious to the predominant party, at the head of Avliich stood 
 Cai-dinal Winchester and the dulies of Bucldngham, Somerset, and Suffolk, he was 
 marked out as their A-ictim, The duchess of Gloucester, Eleanor, the daughter of 
 
 * Cleop. F. iv. fo. 103, (Orig.) f i. e. wearing the crown. 
 
 3 F 2
 
 404 Cf)f ?f?l£itOll> Of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, lord Cobham, a lady of liauglity carriage and ambitious mind, being attached to the 
 
 . prevailing superstitions of the day, was accused of the crime of witchcraft ; and it 
 
 Tiie was alleged against her and her associate, Sir Roger Bolingbroke, a priest, and 
 
 duchess o o J. ' 
 
 ofGioii- Margery Jourdain, the witcli of Eye, tliat they had in tlieir possession a wax 
 
 ("ester 
 
 charged figure of the Iving, which th.ey melted by a magical dence before a slow fire, Avith 
 witch- the intention of wasting away his force and vigour by insensible degi-ees. Tliis story 
 partakes of the nature of the kindred superstition which prevailed a century and a 
 half afterwards, and of whicli Fernando, earl of Derby, was the subject, if not the 
 victim : and as we have traced the popular Lancashire tratUtion of the eagle and 
 cliild up to the time of Alfred, we now find that the Avax figure in witchcraft takes 
 its date at a period antecedent to the wars of the houses of York and Lancaster. 
 The imbecile mind of Henry was sensibly afTetted by this wicked invention ; and 
 the duchess, on being brouglit to trial, and found giiUty of the design to destroy the 
 king and his ministers by the agency of witchcraft was sentenced to do public 
 penance, and to suffer perpetual imjirisonment while her confederates were con- 
 demned to death, and executed. After enduring the ignominy of her public penance, 
 rendered peculiarly severe by the exalted station from wliich she had fallen, the 
 Hanished ducliess was banished to the Isle of Man, where she was placed under the ward of 
 
 to the Isle _ i 
 
 of Mail. Sir Thomas Stanley. On her way to the place of exile, she was confined for some 
 time, first in Leeds castle, and afterwards in the castle of Liverpool.* — Events so 
 congenial with the imagination of our great dramatic poet, could scarcely fail to find 
 their way into his historical plays ; and hence we find, in the second part of his 
 Henry VL, a small stream of historical fact running through an ample meadoAv of 
 poetic fiction, in which the duchess is exhibited and detected in the midst of these 
 works of darkness-t After remaining in the Isle of Man some years, it would 
 appear that this unfortmiate lady was transferred to Calais, under the ward of 
 Sir John Steward, or, as he describes himself, "Johannes Seneschallus, miles, filius 
 Johannis Seneschalli, aliter dicti Scot Angli." From the Will of this knight, it 
 appears that he was a resident, and had an important command in Calais, in the 
 mother church of which town he desires to be buried. He names John Roos as 
 liis confessor ; bequeaths to his eldest son, Thomas, all his harness of war, and his 
 ship, the Giace de Dieu, which his master, the duke of Bedford, had given him, 
 together with liis lands in the marches of Calais. To Sir Thomas Criell he 
 leaves " a ring wUh a diamond, which Eleanor Cobham, duchess of Gloucester, 
 (fare me nliile she lived with me as my prisoner." 
 
 " Wilhehni Wyrcestrii Annales Reiiini Anglicaruni, pp. 460, 461. 
 t Shakespeare, Henry VI. part ii. act 1. scene 4.
 
 Coimtj) palatine of SanraiStfr* 405 
 
 Tlie duke of Gloucester, if possible, more unfortunate than his lady, was accused .chap. 
 
 XI. 
 
 of liigh ti'eason, in aspiring to the throne, and summoned to take his trial before the 
 liigh court of parliament at Bury St. Edmond's ; but, on the eve of the investigation, Tiie 
 
 fill It #*^ 
 
 he was found dead in his bed, without marks of violence, though by no means f„te. 
 without strong suspicion that he had fallen a victuu to the cruel devices of his 
 relentless persecutors. 
 
 While the duchess of Gloucester and sir Roger Bolingbroke were employed in 
 the prosecution of their magical arts, two Lancashire knights at the head of the 
 principal families in tlie county, were actively engaged in the equally delusive, though 
 less criminal, science of alchjnny, and transmutation of metals — that ifjnisfatuus which 
 has conducted so many ingenious men to their ruin. The Idng had on a former 1458. 
 occasion commissioned three philosophers to make the precious metals, without 
 receiving any return from them in gold and silver : his credulity, however, like that 
 of many Aviser men, was unshaken by disappointment, and he issued a pompous 
 grant in fa-^our of three otlier alchymists, who boasted that they could not only trans- 
 mute the inferior metals into gold and silver, but that they could also impart to man 
 perpetual youth, with unimpaired poAvers of mind and body, by means of a specific, 
 called — The Mother and Queen of Medicines — The inestimable Glory — The Quint- 
 essence, or, Tlie Elixir of Life. In favour of these tlu'ee " lovers of trutli and 
 haters of deception," as they modestly styled themselves, Henry dispensed with the 
 law passed by his royal grandfather,* — a very unnecessary law, against the undue 
 multiplication of gold and silver, and empowered, not enabled, them to transmute the 
 inferior into precious metals. This extraordinary commission had the sanction of 
 parliament, and two out of the three commissioners were Sir Tliomas Ashton, of -piie Lan- 
 Ashton-under-Luae, and Sir Edmund Trafford, of TrafTordj the latter of whom had ^^l^"'^ 
 assisted at the coronation of the king, and received the honour of Knight of the Bath ""*'^- 
 on that occasion. Tliese sages, miposing probably upon themselves as Avell as upon 
 otliers, kept the Idng's expectations Avound up to the highest pitch, and, in the fol- 
 lowing year, he actually informed liis people, that the hour Avas approacliing, Avhen, 
 by the means of the stone, he should be enabled to pay off all liis debts ! It is scai'cely 
 necessary to ajdd, that this plulosopher's stone never gave forth its expected A-irtues ; 
 and tlie Idng's debts must have remained unpaid, had his majesty not paAvned the 
 revenue of tlie duchy of Lancaster, to satisfy the demands of liis clamorous creditors. 
 The patent for transmuting the inferior metals into gold and sUver was granted by the 
 Idng to these tAVO Lancashire alchymists in the 24th year of his reign, in Avliich they 
 Avere encouraged to prosecute their experiments, and by Avhich aU the king's servants 
 and subjects Avere interdicted from giving them any molestation. 
 
 * 5 Henry IV. c. 4.
 
 406 €\)t i^isitorj) of tin 
 
 CHAP. „ Patent to Sir Edmund Trafford and Sir Thomas Ashton, 
 • Pat. 2. Num. 14. in Turr. Lon. 
 
 " Rex omnibus ad quos &c. Salutem, — Sciatis quod cum dilecti & fidelesnostri 
 Edmuudus de TrafTord Miles & Thomas Asliton Miles nobis per quandam supplica- 
 tionem monstraverint quod quamns ipsi super certis metallis per ai'tem sive scien- 
 tiam Pliilosopliiae operari vellent, metalla imperfecta de suo proprio genere transferre, 
 et tunc ea per dictam artem sive scientiam in aurum sive argentmn perfectmn tran- 
 substantiare ad omnimodas probationes & examiiiatioues, sicut aliquod aurum sive 
 aro-entum in aliqua miuera crescens, expectandum, Sc indurandum, ut dicunt, niliilo- 
 miuus certa; persona;, illis malevolentes, & malignantes, supponunt ipsos per artem 
 illicitam operari, & sic ipsos in probatione dictae artis sive scientiae impedire & per- 
 turbare possunt; nos, praemissa considerantes, & conclusiouem dictse operationis sive 
 scientia; scire volentes, de Gratia nostra speciali concessimus, & Licentiam dedimus 
 eisdem Edmundo & Thomse, & ipsorum servientibus quod ipsi artem sive scientiam 
 prffidictam operari, & probare possint licite & impune absque impetitione nostra vel 
 Ofiiciariorum uostrorum quorumcunque, aliqua Statuta, Acto, Ordinatione, sive 
 Provisione in contrarium fact: ordinat: sive provis: non obstant: In cujus, &c. 
 " Test: Rege apud West: 7 die Apr: 1446." 
 
 The madness of party rage rendered the government of England indifferent to 
 the retention of foreign possessions ; and the whole province of Bayonne, wliich had 
 been obtained three centuries before, at the price of so much blood and treasure, was 
 ceded to France, with as little ceremony as in modern times a gold snuff-box would 
 be presented to a plenipotentiary. The indifference of the com-t was not shared by 
 the people. They beheld this curtailment of their ancient possessions with that 
 diso-ust wliich it was so well calculated to excite. The embers of discontent were 
 easily blown into a flame by the duke of York and his adherents. And the duke of 
 Suffolk, the favourite of the Idng, and the reputed paramour of the queen, after 
 having been unpeached on a charge of ceding the province of the Main to Cliai-les of 
 Anjou, without authority, and suiTendering the province of Bayonne without a 
 struffole, was banished the kingdom. To prevent the duke, whose friends were 
 numerous and powerful, from ever again resuming the helm of state, he was seized 
 by a band of pii-ates, employed by his enemies on liis voyage to the Continent, and 
 his head struck off and thrown into the sea. The popular insurrection of Jack 
 Cade was a part of the same system of hostility towards the house of Lancaster; and 
 the duke of York at length openly advanced his clauns to that sceptre which the 
 feeble representative of the house of Lancaster was unable to A\-ield. 
 
 Trial and 
 execution 
 of the 
 king's 
 minister.
 
 €ount|) |3alatmc of Sancasften 407 
 
 The seeds of this contest, though apparently sown in the time of king chap 
 Edward III., may, in fact, be traced back to the tune of Henry III., wlio died a " 
 
 centuiy before, leaving two sons, Edward I., and Edmund Crouchback, earl of Houses of 
 Lancaster, the founder of that house, whose inheritance afterwards, in a fourth Lancaster, 
 descent, fell on Blanch, married to John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III., 
 who, in right of his wife, was duke of Lancaster ; and whose son, Henry of Boling- 
 broke, afterwards Henry IV., dethroned Richard II., pretending, amongst other 
 tilings, that Edmund Crouchback was the elder son of Henry III., and unjustly set 
 aside from the crown, because he was crook-backed. The crown remained, as we 
 have seen, in the house of Lancaster, for three descents, when Richard, duke of 
 York, descended from Edmund Langley, younger brother of John of Gaunt, made 
 claim to the crown, by title of his grandmother, who was heii- of Lionell, duke of 
 Clarence, elder brother of John of Gaunt. The pedigrees of these rival claimants 
 have at all times fonned matter of discussion in English history ; and one of our best 
 historians, Mr. Hume, has fallen into some errors on this subject ; this is the more 
 to be wondered at, as the descents are exliibited with gi'eat clearness and perspi- 
 cuity in the Rolls of Parliament, 1 Edward IV., No. 8, from which the following is 
 an extract : — 
 
 " FoRSOMOcn as it is notarie, openly and CA'ydently knowen, that the right noble 
 and worthy Prynce, Henry Kyng of England the thii-de, had issue Edward his first official 
 goten son, born at Westmynster, the xv kalende of Juyll, in the VigUle of Seint of'^Thr 
 Marce and Marcellian, the yere of oure Lord mccxxxix : and Echnund liis secund r°J^' , 
 
 ' •' ' houses of 
 
 goten son, born on Saint Marcell' day, the yere of oure Lord mccxlv. The wliich y°'^ ^"^[ 
 Edward, after the deth of the seid Kyng Henry liis Fader, entitled and called Kyng 
 Edward the furst, had issue his furst goten Son, entitled and called, after the decesse 
 of the same Edward the furst his Fader, Kyng Edward the secund ; which had 
 issue the right noble and honorable Prynce Kyng Edward the tliii'd, ti'ue and 
 undented Kyng of England and of Fraunce, and Lord of Irlond ; which Edward the 
 tliird, had issue Edward his furst goten Son, Prynce of Wales, William Hatfeld, 
 secund goten Son, Leonell thu'd goten Son Due of Clarence, John of Gaunt, fourth 
 goten Son Due of Lancastr', Edmund Langley the fift goten Son Due of York, 
 Thomas Wodestoke the sixt goten Son Due of Gloucestr', and Wilhani W\Tidesore 
 the yii"' goten Son. And the seid Edward Prynce of Wales, Avliicli dyed in the lyf 
 of the seid Kyng Edward the third liis Fader, had issue Richard ; wluch, after the 
 deth of the same KjTig Edward the thii'd, as Cousyn and heii-e to hym, that is to sey, 
 Son to the seid Edward Prynce of Wales, Son nnto the seid Kyng Edward the 
 tliird, succeeded hym in Roiall estate and dignitee, lawfully entitled and called Kyng
 
 408 Cftf S^lSitOtT) Of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. Richard the secuud, and dyed Tvdthoute issue. William Hatfeld, the secund goten 
 — 1_^ — Son of the seid Kyng Edward the tliii-d, dyed without issue. The seid Leonell 
 Due of Clarence, the third goten Son of the same Kyng Edward, had issue Philip' 
 liis oouly Daughter, and dyed ; and tlie same Philip', wedded unto Edmund Mor- 
 tymer, Erie of Marclie, had issue hy the same Edmund, Roger Mortpner, Erie of 
 Mai'che, iiir son and heire ; which Edmund and Philip' dyed ; the same Roger Erie 
 of Marche had issue Edmund MortjTiier Erie of Marche, Roger, Anne, and Alianore, 
 and dyed; and also the same Edmund and Roger, Sonnes of the forseid Roger, and 
 the said Alianore, dyed withoute issue ; and the same Anne wedded unto Richai'd 
 Erie of Camhrigge, the Son of the seid Edmund Langley, the lift goten Son of the 
 seid Kyng Edward the tliird, as it is afore specifyed, had issue that right nohle and 
 famous Pryuce, of full worthie memorie, Richard Plantagenet Due of York." 
 
 Tliis official pedigree proceeds to say, that the succession to the throne remained 
 undisturbed till the time that Henry of Bolingbroke, late earl of Derby, " Son of the 
 seid John of Gaunt, the fourth goten Son of the seid Kyng Edward the thu-d, and 
 yonger brother of the seid Leonell, temerously agenst rightMituess and justice, by 
 force and armes, agenst his faith and Liegeaunce, rered were at Flynte in Wales, 
 agenst the seid Kyng Richard, hym take and enprisoned in the Toure of London of 
 gi'ete violence ; and the same Kyng Richard soo beyug in Prison and lyving, usm'ped 
 and intruded upon the Roiall Power, Estate, Dignitie, Preemjnience, Possessions 
 and Lordsliip aforeseid, takyng upon hjnn usurpously the Coroune and name of 
 Kyng and Lord of the same Reame and Lordship ; and not therwith satisfyed or 
 content, but more gi*evous tliyng' attemptyng, wykidly of unnaturall, unmanly, and 
 cruell tyi'anny, the same Kyng Richard, Kyng enoynted, coroued, and consecrate, 
 and his Liege and moost liigli Lord in the erth, agenst Godds Lawe, Mannes 
 Liegeaunce, and otli of fidelite, with uttermost punicion attormentyng, murdred and 
 destroied, with moost vyle, heyuous, and lamentable deth ; wherof the heavy excla- 
 mation in the dome of every Cristen Man souudeth into Godds herying in heven, 
 not forgoteu in the erth, specially in tliis Reame of England, which therefore hath 
 sufFred the charge of intolerable persecution, punicion, and tribulation, wherof the 
 lyke hath not been seen or herde in any other Cristen Reame, by any memorie or 
 recorde ; then bejdng on lyve, the seid Edmund Mortyraer Erie of Marche, Son and 
 heire of the seid Roger, Son and heire of the said Philip', Daughter and heire to the 
 seid Leonell the third Son of the seid Kyng Edward the thii-d. To the which 
 Edmund, after the decesse of the seid Kyag Richard, the right and title of the 
 same Coroune and Lordship tlien by law, custume, and conscience, descended and 
 belonged."
 
 County) |3alatine of aniuastcr. 409 
 
 Upon this gi-ouml, the duke of York founded his claim, hy succession, to the chap. 
 throne of England, and was supported by a number of the most powerful nobles of " 
 
 the land.* Amongst his partisans, the duke had the fortune to lunnbcr the carl of Changes 
 War\\ick, a man of unbounded influence, combined with great decision of character, straiion. 
 and whose future achieA'ements in this memorable quarrel obtained for him tlie 
 name of the " king maker." The duke's first demand was for a refoim of abuses in 
 the administration of public affairs. An alarming disease by which the king was 
 attacked at tliis juncture, suggested the necessity of a regency ; and the duke of 
 York, by the authority of parliament, though in contravention of the ^Hshes of tlic 
 queen and her party, was appointed regent, under the designation of lieutenant of 
 the kiugdom. 
 
 * John Stowe, the annalist, has set up a replication against the claim of the house of York, and 
 in favour of the house of Lancaster, which is not much known, and which is too curious to be with- 
 held while treating on this subject. This document is contained in the Harl. MSS. Cod. 543, in the 
 hand-writing of Stowe, and is as follows : — 
 
 " Here followeth the Replication made agaynst the title and clayme by the Due 
 
 of Yorke to the crowne and Realmes of england and fraunce, which that the sayd 
 
 agaynst the o i j 
 
 Duke of Vorke. ^^^^ claymithe by the right and title of sir lionell the third sonne of Kynge Edward 
 the third, and by Philipe dowghter and heire to the sayd sir Lionell, whiche clayme 
 and tytle so made may be no true nor right wyse clayme nor title duringe the lyfe of Kinge Henry the 
 syxt and his heires lyvinge after hym as hereafter foUowinge, is more openly shewed and playnely 
 declared. 
 
 " Be it knowne to all well disposed people havynge will to vnderstond the truthe that thoughe it 
 
 so were the right of the crownes of england and of fraunce might descend vnto a woman as it may 
 
 not, which is sufficiently proved in the trete there of made by the old knight exiled, and alls it shuld 
 
 perteyne to the Kynge of Scotts, which descended of an elder stocke by a woman 
 
 L Chefe JusUce"' ^^^'^'^ ^^'"'^ Margaret dowghter of the Kynge of england, then any man now 
 
 of england. clayminge the crowne of england. but yet for the more declaration of truthe it is 
 
 to be had in mynd that Edward now occupienge the crowne of england by a 
 pretensed title, sayinge he is descended there vnto by the right of a woman called dame Philipe 
 dowghter as he saythe to sir lionell of Andewarpe elder brother to sir John of Gaunt, of whom is 
 linially descended the very true christen prince kynge Henry the syxt. The whiche Edward hath no 
 right to the sayd Crowne by the above sayd dame philipe. For it is playnly founde in the crownes 
 of fraunce and of holand, that the sayd dame Philipe was conseyved in addowtry, and gotten vpon 
 the wyffe of the above sayd leonill, by one S'' James of Audley, knight, which was steward of the Hows- 
 hold of the above sayd wyffe of S' leonell. The whiche S'' Leonell beinge absent by the space of one yere 
 and halfe from his wyffe before the byrthe of the sayde dame Philipe, which S'' James Audley afterward 
 for that offence was beheded, and S' leonell, duke of Clarence, devorsed by the law from the sayd dame 
 Philipe his wyffe. And after was wedded to the dowghter of the duke of melayne and in that contrie 
 dyed and in Pavy is buried not far from Melayne and sawe never his first wyfe dame Philipa after 
 with his eyne. And also she was exiled into yrland with his sayd dowghter Philipe, which Philipe 
 had never fote of land of the dutchy of Clarence nor bare the armes of England, ne none that 
 VOL. I. 3 G
 
 410 €l)t ilnsitcip of tin 
 
 CHAP. On the recovery of the king, the duke of York was expelled from the regency, 
 
 ^'' ijut his thii'st for regal power, combined with a consciousness of the legitimacy of 
 The duke liis lierethtary claims, fixed his wavering purpose; and Shakspeare has happily 
 ambittous^ expressed the cogitations of the ducal claimant, at this crisis of liis destiny : — 
 
 projects. 
 
 " York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts, 
 And change misdoubt to resolution ; 
 Be that thou hop'st to be ; or what thou art 
 Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying ; 
 Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man, 
 And find no harbour in a royal heart. 
 
 Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on thought ; 
 And not a thought but thinks on dignity. 
 My brain, more busy than the labouring spider. 
 
 Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. 
 
 ****** 
 
 I will stir up in England some black storm, 
 Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell ; 
 And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage 
 Until the golden circuit on my head. 
 Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams, 
 Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw." 
 
 First bat- Having levied an army in the north, the duke marched to St. Alban's, where 
 ^'"^ ^^\, the first battle between the houses of York and Lancaster took place. In this 
 
 tween the ^ 
 
 houses of |)attle, wliich was foug-ht on the 12th of May, the Lancastrians sufiered a severe 
 
 York and ' '^ "^ _ 
 
 Lancaster, defeat, and about five thousand of their troops remahied dead upon the field, amongst 
 whom were the duke of Somerset, the duke of Buckingham, the earls of Northumber- 
 land and Stafford, lord Clifford, and a number of other persons of distinction. 
 The king himself fell into the hands of the duke of York, who assumed the power 
 of governing the state, but rather in the capacity of regent than of sovereign. 
 
 descended from hir, by theyre right as they shuld have done if she had bene the dowghter of the 
 sayd leonell, which S'' leonell whan he was ded and the writts called diem clausit extremu were sent 
 out into all the Shires of england, they were all returned that the sayd S' leonell dyed without heire 
 or yssue of his body lawfully begotten, where fore kynge Edward the third toke all the lands of Sir 
 leonell into his own hands. And at a Parliament not long after declared this case above sayde vnto 
 all his people. In the which Parliament by thadvyse of all the lords and Comons of england, he 
 entayled the Crowne to his heires males. And for a perpetuall witnesse that his dowghters were 
 agreed vnto the same they cam all into the open parliament in theyr mantles of estate embrowdered 
 with tharmes of england and there openly dysclaymed and renounsed from them and theyre heirs all 
 the right and title that they had or might of possebylite have to the Crownes of england and of 
 fraunce. In record whereof they let of all theyr mantles there and departed out of the parliament in 
 their shirtes. So this is a sufficient declaration that thabove remembred Edward that now occupiethe 
 the crowne hath no right there to. Fol. 163, b.
 
 Countj) |)alatme of Kanrndtnv 411 
 
 A letter written by tlic sons of the duke of York, the earl of March, afterwards chap. 
 
 V I 
 
 Edward IV., and his brother Edmund, earl of Rutland, from Ludlow castle, serves to L_ 
 
 shew how deeply tliese young minds were already imbued with the spirit of tlie contest j^Jj'.'f ,1,^ 
 by which one of them Avas to be plunged into a premature grave, and the otlicr exalted ^,'J^'^j; "' 
 to a crowTi : — 
 
 " RVGHT HIEGH AND MyGHTY PrINCE, 
 
 " Our most worscliipfuli and gretely redoubted Lorde and Fader, in as lowcly 
 wyse as any sonnes can or may, we recomaunde us un to your good Lordscliip. 
 And plaese hit yoiu* hicglmesse to witte that we have ]'eceyved your worschipfult 
 tres yesturday by your sv'nt WilPm Cleton, ber^aig date at Yorke the xxix day of 
 May, by the wliiche WilPm & by the relaciou of John Milewaticr we conceyve your 
 worschipful & Aactorious spede ageniest your enemyse to ther gi'ete shame, and 
 to us the most comfortable tydings that we desired to hei'e. Where of we thanke 
 almyghty God of his yeste Besechyng hym hertely to geve youe that g"ce & 
 cotitUan fortune here aftur to knowe your enemyse & to have the victory of them. 
 And yef hit plaese your liieghnesse to luiowe of our wilfare at the makyng of tliis 
 tre We were in good helth of bodis thonked be God, Besechyng your good & 
 g'ciouse faderhode of your daily blessmg. And where ye comaunde us by your said 
 tres to attende specially to our lernyng in our yong age that schulde cause us to 
 growe to honor & worschip in our olde age, Plaese liit you liieghnesse to witte that 
 we have attended our lernyng sith we come heder. And schall hereafter, by the 
 whiche we trust to God your gi'aciouse Loi-deschip and good fadiirhode schall be 
 plaesid. Also we beseche your good Lordeschip that it may plaese youe to sende 
 us Harry Lovedeyne grome of your kechyii whos svice is to us ryght agitable And 
 we will sende youe John Boys to wayte on your good Lordscliip. Rieght hiegh 
 and myghty Prince our most worschipfull and gretely redoubted Lorde and Fader 
 we beseeche Almyghty God geve youe as good lyfe and long as your owne 
 Princely hert con best desire. Writen at your Castill of Lodelowe the iij day of 
 Jun (1454). 
 
 £\mrMc9/3- 
 
 y>n<)<f 
 
 "^^Mm^ 
 
 " To the right and mitie Prince our most worsMppfull and gretely redoubted Lord 
 ^ Father the Duke of Yorke ptectd" <?(• defenso' of England." 
 
 3g2
 
 412 
 
 €i)t 5]i£itorj) of t})t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 Badges of 
 the houses 
 of Lancas- 
 ter and 
 York. 
 
 The blood spilt iu the battle of St. Alban's was the fii'st that flowed in that fatal 
 contest, which was not terminated in less than thirty years — which was signalized by 
 thirteen pitched battles — and iu which the nobility of the land suffered more than any 
 other order iu the state. The people, lUvided in their aflections, or led by their 
 superiors, took cUfferent symbols of party ; the partisans of the house of Lancaster 
 chose the red rose as their badge, wliile those of York took the wliite rose as their 
 mark of tUstinction ; and the civil wars were known over Europe by the name of the 
 quarrel between the two roses. In addition to the red rose, the house of Lancaster 
 exhibited on state occasions a mound or sphere with the Lancaster arms emblazoned 
 in the upper part of the circle ; they had also a feather and scroll worn in the hats of 
 the more elevated classes, and broom-pods by those of the iuferior orders. The 
 paper manufactured for their use in their communications with each other, and for 
 their public documents, bore a peculiar water-mark, and it was only necessary to 
 look through the sheet on which the Lancastrians wrote, to discover wliich side of the 
 quarrel the writers had espoused. 
 
 The bai- The affairs of the conflicting parties had not yet proceeded to the last extremity ; 
 
 st"i?rin the nation was kept some time in suspense ; the vigour and spuit of queen Margaret, 
 suspense, supporting her small power, still proved a balance to the gi'eat authority of Richard,
 
 Countp ^3alntine of 3Lnnrasitn% 413 
 
 ■which was impaired by his ill-defiucd objects; sometimes aspiring to the umnediate chap 
 
 and at other tunes to the reversionary possession of the crown on the death of the _ 
 
 present king. Tlie parliament again appointed the duke of York protector, owing 
 to one of those relapses into mental intUsjjosition to wliicli Henry was subject ; but 
 the queen soon produced her husband before the house of lords, where he declared 
 his intention to put an end to the protectorate, and to resume the government. The 
 ai-chbisbop of Canterbury, in the discharge of his duty as a christian prelate, 
 endeavoured to mediate in the differences between the two houses, and thus to prevent 
 the further effusion of l)lood ; but tliough these attempts were received by both 
 parties with an appearance of cordiality, and though the duke of York passed in 
 procession through the streets of London hand in hand with queen Margaret to the 
 altar of St. Paul's, on wJiich the existing anuuosities were all to be sacrificed, it soon 
 became evident that the reconciliation was of the most transient kind, and a trifling 
 difference between one of tlie Idng's retinue and another of the earl of Warwick's, 
 which brought on a combat between theii- respective partisans, blew it all into air. 
 
 The duke of York, having joined his sons at Ludlow castle, was silently col- 
 lectins: forces to maintain his claims, when the earl of Salisbury, while on liis march to Battle of 
 
 " , B lore- 
 
 join the duke, was overtaken at Bloreheath in the county of Stafford, by lord AucUey, iieath. 
 
 at the head of a superior force of tlie Lancastrians. The battle, whicli was fought on 
 the 21st of September, was long and sanguinary, but victory at length declared in 1459- 
 favour of the Yorldsts, and the Lancastrians left two thousand four hundred men 
 dead on the field, many of whom were from Lancashire and Chesliire ; and amongst 
 the slain was sir R. Molyneux, of Sefton, son-in-law of sk Tliomas Stanley, the 
 king's cliamberlam. The duke of York had now openly declared his intention 
 to expel the princes of the Lancastrian line, and tliis Avas the first battle avowedly 
 fought for the crown. 
 
 The list of proscriptions which followed this battle, sufficiently indicates that the 
 men of Lancashire were by no means unanimous in their support of the house of 
 Lancaster. Parliament having assembled in six weeks after the battle Avas fought, 
 attainders Avere exhil)ited against Richard, duke of York, and his adherents, and 
 amongst the persons attainted of high treason for the part they took at Bloreheath, 
 Ave find the names of Thomas Nevill, John NoaiII, Thomas Haryngton, Thomas 
 Pan-e, and William Stanley, to Avhich list was added the name of Robert Boulde, the 
 brother of Harry Boulde, knight, accused Avith others of having industriously circu- 
 lated a report that the king Avas dead. It further appears, that the commons house 
 of parliament charged Thomas, the first lord Stanley, Avith certain heavy offences, 
 both of omission and commission, as set forth in the foUoAving declaratiou :* — 
 ] * Rot. Pail. 38 Hen. VI. vol. v. p. 369.
 
 414 Cfte in'storp of tf)t 
 
 CHAP. " To THE King our Soverayne Lord, 
 
 ' " Shewen, 
 
 Decia- " The Commens in tliis preseut Pariement assembled. That where it pleased 
 
 against youre Higluies to send to the Lord Stanley, by the servaunt of the same Lord fro 
 
 Stanley. Not^aigham, chargyng hym that upon his feyth and legeaunce, he slmld come to 
 
 youre Highnesse in all haste, Avith such felyshep as he myglit make. Tlie said Lord 
 
 Stanley, uotwithstondyng the said commaundement, come not to you ; but William 
 
 Stanley liis Brother went, with many of the seid Lordes Servauntz and Tenauntz, 
 
 grete nombre of people, to the Erie of Salesbury, whicli were with the same Erie at 
 
 the distressyng of youre true Liege people at Bloreheth. 
 
 " Also Avhere youre said Highues gaffe in commaundement to youre first begoten 
 sonne Edward Prynce of Wales, to assemble youre people and his Tenauntz, to 
 resiste the malice of youre Rebelles, and therupjwn the same noble Prynce sent to 
 the said Lord Stanley, to come to hym in all haste possible, ^vitli such felysliip as he 
 myght make. The said Lord Stanley, puttyng tlie seid mater m delay, feyntly 
 excused hym, seying he was not than redy. Howe be it of his owen confession, he 
 had before a commaundement fi'o youre Higlnies, to be redy to come to the same 
 with his said felysliip, upon a day warnyng ; wliich delay and absence was a grete 
 cause of the losse and distresse of your seid people, atte Bloreheth. 
 
 " Also where the seid Lord had sent liis servaunt to oure Soverapie Lady the 
 Queue, and to the seid noble Prynce of Wales and Chestre, seyiug that he slmld 
 come to theym in all haste ; and after that he sent to theyna Richard Hokesley 
 his servaunt, to Eggleshall, certifying them that he wold come to theyme in all 
 haste ; and desii'ed for asmoche as he understode that he was had in jelosye that lie 
 myght have the vaward asseyne the Erie of Salesbury, and his felyshej) ; and the 
 seid noble Prynce, be th' advice of his Counsell, consideryng that the felysliij^ of the 
 said Lord Stanley was fewer in nombre tlian the felysliip of the said Erie, willed 
 and desired hym to come to the said noble Prynce and his felysliip, that they beyng 
 all togedyr, myght come to have assisted youre Highnes, which was promysed 
 feithfuUy be his seid servaunt should be perfoimned in all haste ; which notmtli- 
 stondyng was not perfourmed, but in defaute therof, youre people were distressed at 
 Bloreheth aforesaid, as is well knoweu. Howe be hit that the seid Lord Stanley 
 was witliin VI mile of the said Heth the same tyme, accompanyed with H M. (2000) 
 men, and rested hym with the same felysliip, be the space of HI dayes after at Ncav- 
 castell, but VI myle out of Eggleshall, where the Queue and the Prynce then were ; 
 and the said Lord Stanley, on the morne next after the distresse at Bloreheth, sent 
 a letter for liis excuse to oure Soverapie Lady the Queue, and the said noble 
 Prynce ; wliich said letter, your said Highnes had sent to hym, commauudyiig hym
 
 Coimtj) |3alatine of SLanrnstm 415 
 
 by the same, to have come to youre said Highnes with liis felyship in all haste : chap. 
 
 which came nethir to youve Highness, to the Qnene, nor to the seitl Prynce, but soo _ 
 
 departed home agajme. 
 
 " Also Avhen the seid Erie of SiUesbiiry and liis felyship had distressed youre 
 said people at Bloreheth, the said Lord Stanley sent a letter to the said Erie to 
 Drayton, the same nyght, thank}nig God of the good spede of the said Erie, rejoys- 
 ing hym gretely of the same, trustyng to God tliat he should be with the same Erie 
 in other place, to stond hym in as good stede, as he shuld have doon yef he had 
 been Avith theym there ; which letter the seid Erie sent to Sii- Tliomas Haryngton, 
 and he shewed hit openly, sapng ; Sutos, be mery, for yet we have moo freudis. 
 
 " Also where as a Squii-e of tlie said Erles, on the Monday next after the said 
 distresse, told to a knyght of youres, which was taken prisoner by the felyship of the 
 seid Erie at Bloreheth, that a man of the Lord Stanleys had been mth the seid 
 Erie at Drayton, in the mornyng of the same day, and brought hym word fro the 
 seid Lord Stanley, that your Highnes had sent for hym, and that he wold ride to 
 you with liis felyship. And yef eny man wold resiste or lette the seid Erie to come 
 to your high presence, for his excuse, accordyng to th' entent of the said Erie ; that 
 than the said Lord Stanley and liis felysliip sliould lyve and dye with the said Erie, 
 
 agenst his resistours. 
 
 "Also where the said noble Prynce, in fuUfillyng of your liigh commaundement, sent 
 as wele for yom- people and liis Tenauntez, in Werall Hundred, as in Maxfeld Huncbed 
 in Chesliire; the said people and Tenauntez were lette by the seid Lord Stanley, so that 
 they myght not come to youre Highnes, nor to ye presence of the said noble Pr\Tice. 
 
 " Also where a Servauut and oon of the Cokys of the said Lorde Stanleys, was 
 hurte atte Bloreheth, beyng with William Stanley, in the felyship of the said Erie 
 of Salesbury, and left behjnide at Drayton ; declared openly to dpers Gentilmen of 
 the felyship of Tli' erlez of Slirewsbury, that he was sent to tlie said Erie of Sales- 
 bury, in the name of the said Lord Stanley, with moo of his felysliip. 
 
 " Also where certayne persons beyng of the lyvere & clothyng of the said Lord 
 Stanley, were take at the Forest of Morff in Shropschire ; the day afore theire deth 
 confessed, that they were commaunded in the name and behalve of tlie seid Lord 
 Stanley, to attend and awayte upon the seid William Stanley, to assiste the said 
 Erie in such matier as he intended to execute. 
 
 " Of all which matiers doon and commytted by the said Lord Stanley, we youre 
 said Commons accuse and enpeche hym ; and pray youre moost high Regalie, that 
 the same Lord be commytted to prison, there to abide after fournie of lawe." 
 
 To this petition, the king returned a refusal in the courtly terms of " Le Roy 
 s' advisera."
 
 416 ri)t 5}l5t0ll) of tfie 
 
 CHAP. It is remarkable, that altliougli the battles fought between the houses of York 
 
 " and Lancaster for tlie crown were so numerous, the county of Lancaster was not 
 
 llie scene of any one of these contests, autl hence the peaceable inhabitants of this 
 county escaped many of the horrors that intestine^wars never fail to inflict in the 
 State of immediate scene of their operation. The contamination of public morals was, 
 morals. however, felt here, as well as in other parts of the kingdom. AccortUng to a solemn 
 declaration of parliament, the complaints upon this subject were loudly made 
 tlu-oughout every part of the kingdom, of robberies, ranshments, extortions, oppres- 
 sions, riots, unlawful assemblies, and wrongful imprisonments. To aggi-avate these 
 evils, the oiTenders were aided and abetted by persons of station in the country, 
 whose badges or liveries they wore, and by whom the administration of justice was 
 continually interrupted. Amongst the most notorious of the offenders, five-and- 
 twenty are mentioned by name, and in this list we find " Robertus Pylkyngton, 
 nuper de Bury in Com. Lane', Armiger,"* and other persons of equal respectability. 
 These flagitious outrages originated with the civU wars, the greatest of all national 
 curses, and continued till those wars were at an end, when the laws resumed their 
 dominion. 
 
 Tlie defection of a large body of veteran troops brought over from Calais by the 
 eai"l of Warwick, which deserted to the royal standard, along with their commander. 
 Battle of sir Andrew Trollop, seemed for a time to extinguish the hopes of the Yorkists ; but 
 they speedily recovered, and met the king's forces at Northampton. Here a despe- 
 rate and sanguinary conflict took place, which was decided against the Lancastrians, 
 1040. owmg to the treachery of lord Grey of Ruthin, who conunanded king Henry's van, 
 and who deserted to the enemy. The loss on both sides amounted to ten thousand 
 men, comprehending a large proportion of the nobility and gentry, against wliom 
 the earl of Warwick and the earl of Marche principally directed then- hostility. 
 Unsuc- lu the session of parliament which followed, a kind of compromise of the con- 
 
 attempt to flictiug claims was adopted, under the sanction of the legislature, by which Henry, 
 m/sTthe ^^^^ ^^^^ been taken prisoner at the battle of Northampton, was to enjoy the crown 
 eiees be- ^^ England and the duchy of Lancaster for life, but at liis death they were to 
 tween the Jegceud to the duke of York, or to liis heirs, in perpetuity. Tlie queen could ill 
 houses. brook an arrangement by wliich the title of her only son to the crown of England 
 was extinguished. To support tliis title, she collected a numerous army from the 
 counties of Lancaster and Chester, and took up her station iu the neighbourhood of 
 Battle of Wakefield, in the countv of York. No sooner had the duke of York heard of this 
 
 Wake- _ " 
 
 field. formidable array of hostile troops, than he marched to the north, and took possession 
 of Sandal castle. Conceiving that his courage would be compromised if he refused 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 38 Henry VI. vol. v. p. 368. 
 
 North- 
 ampton 
 
 July 10,
 
 CountP ^Jalntmr of Xnnrnsittr. 417 
 
 to meet a woman in battle, he quitted bis strong station, and advanced into the chap. 
 plain, where the queen, aided by lord Clifford, had the skill to place his troops " 
 between two fii-es ; and thougli the duKe performed prodigies of valour, his army was 
 completely routed, and he himself was numbered amongst the slain. The queen, proud 
 of such a trophy, ordered the duke's head to be struck off, and placed upon the gates 
 of York, adorned -nith a paper crown, to incUcate the frailty of his claims, — 
 
 " Off with his head, and set it on York gates. 
 So York may overlook the town of York." 
 
 Lord Clifford, stUl more sanguinary than his royal mistress, plunged his sword, 
 after the battle was over, into the breast of the earl of Rutland, the duke's youngest 
 son, in revenge, as he alleged, for the death of his father, who fell in the battle of 
 St. Alban's, while fighting against the Yorkists. 
 
 From this time the scabbard was cast aside, and the earl of Marche, now become 
 duke of York, determined to avenge the death of liis father and brother, and to 
 obtain the crown, or to perish in the attempt. The battle of Mortimer's Cross, Baltic of 
 fouffht on the second of February, with the loss of four thousand men to the nier's 
 
 " . . . Cross. 
 
 Lancastrians, seemed to open the way to the gratification of young Edward's ambi- 
 tion ; but the second battle of St. Alban's, fought fifteen days afterwards, in which 
 Margai-et, attended by the king, held the command, and in which the earl of 
 Warwick was worsted, clianged the aspect of these ever-varying campaigns, though 
 it did not prevent Edward irom marcliing to London, and taking possession of the 
 throne. 
 
 Although Henry was dethroned, and Edward seated in his place, the civil wars ejw. iv. 
 
 . Ill-' f '•scends 
 
 were by no means at an end. Margaret having returned to her favourite county of the 
 York, assembled an army of sixty thousand men ; and king Edward, vA{\\ liis 
 celebrated general, the earl of Warwick, hastened into that county with forty thou- r.atiie of 
 sand, to give her battle. The hostile armies met at Towton, near Tadcaster, on Field, 
 
 ftlarch 29 
 
 Palm Sunday. In this memorable battle, while the Yorkists were advancing to the uoi. 
 charge, there happened a heavy fall of snow, accompanied by wind, which drove full 
 in the faces of the Lancastrians. Lord Falconberg, who led the van of Edward's 
 ai-my, improved this event by a stratagem ; he ordered a body of infantry to advance 
 before the line, and, after having sent a volley of flight arrows among the enemy, 
 immediately to retire. The Lancastrians, imagining that they had got within reach 
 of the opposite army, discharged all theii- arrows, which fell short of the Yorkists. 
 After then- quivers Avere emptied, Edward advanced his line, and did execution Avitli 
 unpunity on the dismayed Lancastrians. The bow was, however, soon laid aside, 
 and the sword decided the combat, which ended in the total overthrow of king 
 VOL. I. 3 H
 
 418 mn ?^(£{torj) of toe 
 
 CHAP. Henry's forces. Edwai'd had issued orders, before the battle, to give no qiiai'ter, 
 
 and the routed anny was pursued with cb'eadful slaughter. The fljdng troops shaped 
 
 theii- course to Tadcaster bridge, but, despairing of reaching it, they turned aside to 
 a place where the Cock, a small rivulet, discharges itself into the Wharf. This was 
 done with so much huny and confusion, that the bed of the river was soon filled with 
 dead bodies, which served as a bridge for the pursuers and the pursued to 2:)ass over. 
 The slaughter at tliis point was tremendous. According to the historians of the 
 period, thii'ty-six thousand seven hundred men fell in the liattle and pursuit, and the 
 waters of the Wliarf were deeply crimsoned with the blood of the victims. The 
 heralds who numbered the dead upon the field state the number of slain at twenty- 
 eight thousand, and under the sign manual of king Edward, they give the 
 follo^viue: — 
 
 'o 
 
 List of the Noblemen and Knights slain in the Battle of Towton. 
 
 noblemen. knights. . 
 
 Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, Sir Ralph Gray, 
 
 Thomas Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, Sir Richard Jeney, 
 
 William Beaumont, Viscount Beaumont, Sir Harry Bellingham, 
 John Clifford, Lord Clifford, Sii" Andrew Trollop, 
 
 John Neville, Lord Neville, With twenty-eight thousand num- 
 
 Lord Dacre, bered by the Heralds. 
 
 Lord Henry Stafford, of Buckingham, 
 Lionel Welles, Lord Welles, 
 Anthony Rivers, Lord Scales, 
 Richard Welles, Lord Willoughby, 
 Sir Ralph Bigot, Knt. Lord de Malley 
 
 Honors of Sccucs sucli as tliosc portrayed by the poet after this battle, though creations of 
 civi war. j^g ^^^^ inventive fancy, must have frequently occurred during the Wars of the 
 Roses : — 
 
 SCENE. Towton Field. 
 
 E^iter a Father, who has killed his So7i, tvith the Body in his ^4nns. 
 
 Fath. Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me. 
 Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; 
 For I have bought it with a hundred blows. — 
 But let me see : — is this our foeman's face ?
 
 Cotmtp ^3alatinf of Eanrasitfn 419 
 
 Ah, no, no, no; it is mine only son ! CHAP. 
 Ah, boy, if any life be left in thee, " 
 
 Throw up thine eye ; see, see, what showers arise. 
 Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, 
 Upon thy wounds, that kill mine eye and heart. 
 O, pity, God, this miserable age ! — 
 What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly. 
 Erroneous, mutinous, and unnatural. 
 This deadly quarrel daily doth beget! — 
 O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon, 
 And hath bereft thee of thy life too late! 
 
 King Henry. Woe above woe ! grief more than common grief ! 
 O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds ! — 
 O pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity ! — 
 The red rose and the ivhite are on his face, 
 The fatal colours of our striving houses : 
 The one, his purple blood right well resembles ; 
 The other, his pale cheeks, methinks, present : 
 Wither one rose, and let the other flourish ! 
 If you contend, a thousand lives must wither." 
 
 The parliament, which met on the 4th of Novemher, employed itself in the usual uei. 
 work of proscription, and " Henry of Derhie, otherwise duke of Lancaster, and the 
 heii-s of his body coming, were utterly disabled from enjoying any inheritance, estate, 
 or profits, Avitlun tliis realm or dominions of the same for ever." A number of 
 nol)lemen and gentlemen were attainted for the vague offence of being present at 
 the death of the duke of York, slain in the battle of Wakefield, amongst whom were 
 Richard Tuustall, Henry Bellingham, and Robert Wittingham, knights. By the 
 same parliament it was enacted, that the attainder of Henry VI. should subject liim 
 to tlie forfeiture of all the lands and possessions belonging to the duchy and cotmty 
 palatine of Lancaster; and that king Edward and his queen should enjoy the duchy 
 and liberties to the same belonging, separate from the crown ; and that the tenants 
 of the said duchy and county shoidd enjoy all then- liberties and fi-aucliises 
 unimpau'ed. 
 
 The battle of Towton Field seemed decisive of the wai's between the houses of 
 York and Lancaster. Henry escaped into Scotland, while liis more fortunate rival 
 repaired to London to meet his parliament, by wliich his title was recognized, and 
 he was declared king by right from the death of his father. Margaret, whose spirit 
 and perseverance remained unsubdued, sailed for France, to supplicate tlie French 
 monarch to grant her forces for the purpose of reasserting the claims of her house. 
 
 3h2
 
 420 Cf;e li£itor|) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. With this request Le\\ds so far comi)lied, as to place at her disposal two thousand 
 
 " troops, with wliich she embarked for England. Having inarched to Hexham, where 
 
 Battle of she Avas joined by a luimber of volunteers from Scotland, and from Lancashu-e, and 
 
 exham. ^^^ other northern counties of England, an engagement took place between the 
 
 April 25 qiieen's troops, and the Yorkists, now become the royal army, under Montague, wliich 
 
 '"'^- issued in the total defeat of the Lancastrians, and the capture of the duke of 
 
 Somerset and lords Roos and Hungerlbrd, Avho were all three tried by a court 
 
 martial, convicted of high treason, and immediately beheaded. " The fate of the 
 
 Depiora- unfortuuate royal family of the Lancastrian house after this defeat," says Mr. Hume, 
 
 ti.m oTthe " '^^^ singular. Margaret, flying with her son into a forest, where she endeavoured 
 
 femUyf'" ^'^ conceal herself, was beset, during the darkness of the night, by robbers, who, either 
 
 ignorant or regardless of her quality, despoiled her of her rings and jewels, and 
 
 treated her with the utmost ignominy. The partition of this rich booty raised a 
 
 quarrel amongst them; and while their attention was thus engaged, she took an 
 
 opportunity of making her escape A\ith her son into the thickest part of the forest, 
 
 where she wandered for some time, overspent with hiuiger and fatigue, and sunk 
 
 with terror and affliction. Wliile in this wretched condition, she saw a robber 
 
 approach with his naked sword, and, finthng that she had no means of escape, she 
 
 suddenly embraced the resolution of trusting entirely for protection to his faith and 
 
 generosity. She advanced towards him; and presenting to liim the young prince, 
 
 called out to liun, ' Here, my friend, I commit to youi" care the safety of your 
 
 king's son!' The man, whose humanity and generous spuit had been obscured, 
 
 not entii'ely lost, by his vicious course of life, struck with the singularity of the 
 
 event, was charmed with the confidence reposed in him, and vowed not only to 
 
 abstain from all injury against the princess, but to devote liimself entnely to her 
 
 service. By his means she dwelt some time concealed in the forest, and was 
 
 at last conducted to the sea -coast, when she made her escape into Flanders. 
 
 She passed thence into her father's court, Avhere she lived several years in privacy 
 
 and retirement. Her husband was not so fortunate, or so dexterous, in finding 
 
 Henry VI. ^^^ Hieaus of cscape. Some of his friends took him under their protection, and 
 
 Tefu^e in couvcyed him into Lancashii-e, where he remained concealed during a twehe- 
 
 sMre."^ month; but he was at last detected, delivered up to Edward, and thrown into the 
 
 Tower." The place of his concealment was Waddington Hall, in the parish 
 
 of Mitton Magna, in the north-eastern part of the county ; and the person by 
 
 whom he was betrayed was sir- John Talbot, who, as a reward for his perfidy, 
 
 received a grant of twenty marks a year from Edward IV., confirmed by his 
 
 successor, Richard IH., and made payable out of the revenues of the county 
 
 palatine of Lancaster.
 
 Counti.) |3alattne of anncastfr. 421 
 
 Royal Grant to John Talbot for taking Prisoner King Henry VI. ^^f^- 
 
 AT SaLESBURY. 
 
 " Recarilus Dei gi-acia Rex Anglie & Franciae, & Dominus Hibeniie, Omnibus 
 ad qiios presentcs liteie perveiierint, Salutem. Cum Domiiuis Edwavdus, inii)er 
 Rex Anglie, Frater nostov, in considevacione boni Sc fidolis fscrvicii quod Johannes 
 Talbot nuper de Salebuiy Armiger defunctus in captura magni Advcrsarii sui Hen- 
 rici, nuper de facto non de jure Regis Anglie, per Hteras suas paten tes concessit 
 eidem Johanni quandem annuitatem sive annualem feodum viginti niarcarmn 
 Habend : & percipiend: eidem Johanni & heredibus suis quousque sibi de tcrris vel 
 tcnementis ad valorem annuitatis predicti per ipsum Dominum Regem aut hercdes 
 suos recompensat: fuisset. Nos autem consideracione premisa, & pro bono Sc fideli 
 servicio quod dilectus nobis Johannes Talbot de Salebury, Miles, filius & heres 
 predicti Johannis, impendit & in futurum fideliter impendet, de gracia nostra special] 
 concessimus & per presentes concedimus eidem Johanni annuitatem sive annualem 
 feodum viginti marcarum Habend : & percipiendum eidem Johanni .& heredibus suis 
 quousque sibi & heredibus suis de terris vel tenementis ad annuum valorem annuitatis 
 predicte per nos aut heredes nostros recompensatus fuerit percipiend: annuitatem 
 predictam annuitatim de exitibus & revencionibus Comitatus nostri Palatini Lan- 
 caster: per manus Receptoris nostri Comitatus Palatini predicti pro tempore exis- 
 tentis. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Dat: sub 
 sigillo nostro Ducatns nostri Lancastr': apud Civitatem Ebor: vicesimo sexto die 
 Junii anno regni nostri secundo, 1484. 
 
 " Per literam sub signeto." [Seal much damaged.] 
 
 Considering himself noAV securely seated on the throne, Edward threw the reins 
 upon his inclinations, and sin-rendered himself up to those voluptuous pleasures, to 
 wliich he was naturally so much inclined. His vices did not prevent him from 
 meditating a marriage ^-ith Bona, the sister to the queen of France, and Warwick 
 was sent to negotiate the alliance. While the earl was engaged in this mission, 
 Edward became enamoured of the widow of sir John Gray, of Groby, whose husband 
 fell in the second battle of St. Alban's, while engaged on the side of the house of 
 Lancaster. FincUng that the only way to the lady's chamber was through the Edw. iv. 
 church, he was privately married to her ; and hence the remark " that he married "'<">-'«g«' 
 his wife because she Avould not become his mistress, and took the wife of another 
 man (Shore) as liis mistress." Warwick could not brook this insult; he complained R„p,,,, 
 loudly of the king's conduct towards him, and associated himself with such malcon- 'v'"' '^*'^^" 
 tents as seemed disposed to question and to overthrow the king's authority.
 
 422 
 
 ClK Sn'EitOlT) Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 Attempt to 
 raise a 
 rebellion 
 in Lan- 
 cashire 
 against 
 the house 
 of York. 
 
 Flight of 
 Edward. 
 
 Restora- 
 tion of 
 Henry. 
 
 Edward's 
 return. 
 
 April 11, 
 1471. 
 
 Battle of 
 Barnet. 
 
 Death of 
 Warwick. 
 
 The earl being joined by the duke of Clarence, they collected a number of their 
 adherents, and marched into Lancasliire, where they importuned lord Stanley, who 
 had married Eleonore, the earl of Warwick's sister, to embrace their cause. To tliis 
 application lord Stanley returned a peremptory refusal, and the project of j-ising in 
 arms to displace his royal master was for the present abandoned by the earl of 
 Warwick. The " king-maker" was, however, of a spirit too intrepid to be diverted 
 from his purpose by a disappointment of tliis nature ; in the month of September, in 
 the same year, the attempt was renewed, and the eai'l and the duke, availing them- 
 selves of the zeal of the Lancastrian pai'ty, and of the general discontent Avhich 
 Edward's extravagance and imprudence had excited, they raised the standard of 
 revolt in the centre of the Idngdom, supported by an army of 60,000 men. Edward 
 hastened to encounter this formidable enemy, and the two armies approached each 
 other near Nottingham. On tlie eve of the battle, Edward was surprised in the 
 nio-ht by the cry of " War!" when, supposing that all was lost, he fled into Norfolk, 
 by the advice of Ms chamberlain, and from thence escaped with difficulty to 
 Holland. 
 
 As a natural consequence of this royal panic and temporary abdication, 
 Henry VI. was taken from the Tower, and again seated on his precarious throne, 
 under the auspices of Clarence and Warwick, who did not fail to vest all the regal 
 power in their o^Ti hands as regents. Tlie adlierents of the house of York followed 
 the king's example ; and his queen, who had just been delivered of prince Edward, 
 was amongst the fugitives. Queen Margaret, who was stUl abroad, received the 
 intelligence of the improved prospects of her house with rapture ; but before the 
 winds, inconstant as her o-nn;! fortune, could waft lier to the shores of England, the 
 sun of the house of Lancaster had set, never more to rise in her family. 
 
 A supply of two thousand troops having been granted by the duke of Burgundy 
 to Edward, he returned to England, and disembarked, as Henry of BoUngbroke, 
 earl of Derby and duke of Lancaster, had done, at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire, 
 declaring, as that duke had done, that his object was not to challenge the throne, 
 but merely to obtain his paternal inheritance. By one of those unaccountable 
 anomalies, which the absence of records and the vagueness of contemporary liistory 
 disqualify us from explainmg, Edward was allowed, by the regents, to present 
 himself, without molestation, in considerable force before the gates of London, into 
 which be was admitted without a struggle, and to re-ascend the throne, Henry 
 haring, very peaceably, retired to the Tower. The battle of Barnet, fought three 
 days after the entrance of Edward into London, in which he commanded in 
 person, tei-minated fatally for the house of Lancaster; and Warwick himself, 
 after having perfonned prodigies of valour as a foot soldier, when he ought to
 
 Counti.) ^3alatine of Sanrafitrr* 423 
 
 liaA'e been dii'ccting the operations of Lis ai*my as a general, was numbered amongst chap. 
 the slain. ' 
 
 Queen Margaret reached the shores of England, accompauled by her son Edward, 
 now eighteen years of age, just in time to hear of the death of Warwick, and the 
 defeat of liis army, but not in time to prevent that catastrophe. This lion-liearted 
 woman seemed now to bow to her fate, and sought the privilege of sanctuary; but, 
 being urged by Tudor, earl of Pembroke, and others of the adherents of her house, 
 to make another effort for the throne, she marched through Devon, Somerset, and 
 Gloucester, to Tewkesbury, daily accmnulating fi-esh forces on her route : here she Battle of 
 
 Tewkes- 
 
 was overtaken by king Edward, and, after a sanguinary battle, ovcrtlu'owu. The bury. 
 queen and her son fell into the hands of the victors ; and, to consuimuate the cUsasters 
 of the royal house, Edward of Lancaster was mm-dered, in cold blood, by Edward Catas- 
 of York, and his sanguinary brothers, Gloucester and Clai-euce. His father, theLan- 
 Henry VI., died suddenly, a i&w days after, in the Tower, to which place Mai-garet family. 
 was committed as a state prisoner ; and, after remaining six years in confinement, 
 she was ransomed by Le\vis, king of France, at the price of fifty thousand crowns. 
 The queen survived her cajitivity fovu- years, having spent the evening of her liie in 
 solitude and exile. The courage and energy of this extraordinary princess, were 
 by no means inferior to those chsjdayed, in the following century, by queen Elizabeth, 
 whose character may not be unfitly compared to that of Margaret of Anjou : had 
 the latter lived in happier days, unencumbered by a husband wlio was fitter for the 
 cloister than for sovereign rule, she would have held a rank no way inferior to that 
 sustained by the conqueror of the " invincible armada." The reign of Edward, 
 after the overthrow of the house of Lancaster, presents no subjects connected with 
 the history of tliis county — with the exception of a fruitless expedition into France, 
 to regain the lost conquests of England, in wliicli lord Stanley, and several Lanca- 
 sliire knights, were engaged; but M'hich terminated in nothing better than an 
 ostentatious display of military strength. 
 
 It has been supposed, by Mr. Nicholls, the editor of a " Collection of all the King Ed- 
 Royal Wills now known to exist," that Edward IV. died intestate ; or, at least, that win. 
 his Will was surreptitiously destroyed diuing the usurpation of his brotlier, the duke 
 of Gloucester : this, liowever, is an error ; a copy of tliis prince's Will, made by 
 Rymer, is deposited in the Rolls chapel ;* by wliich document, the king directs, 
 " that all the revenues, issues, profl5ts, and commocHties comrayng and growing of 
 oui-e countie palatine of Lancastre, and of alle oure castelles, lordshippes, manoirs, 
 lands, tenements, rents, and ser\-ices in the countie palatine and shii-e of Lancastre, 
 parceU of oure said duchie of Lancastre, with then- membres and appertenances," &c. 
 
 * Excerpta Historica, p. 366.
 
 424 Cfte S^ieitoii) of tin 
 
 CHAP, shall be applied " towards the marriages of our doughtres." This will is of consi- 
 ^^' derable length, and bears date the 20th day of June, 1475. 
 
 1482. In the last year of the reign of Edward IV., a petition was presented to parlia- 
 
 ment, wliicli had been promoted in the south-eastern part of Lancashii-e, where the 
 The use of manufacture of hats has prevailed for many ages to a great extent. This document 
 nery. scrves to date, with tolerable accuracy, the period when alarms from the consequences 
 of improved machinery first began to manifest themselves in this county. The 
 allegations of the petition are in these terms : — 
 
 " Prayen youre Highnes the Comons of tliis present Pai'liament assembled. 
 That whereas Huers, Bonettes and Cappes, aswele seugle as double, were wonte 
 truly to be made, wrought, fulled and thikked by the myght and strength of men, 
 that is to sey, with hande and fote ; and they that have so made, wrought, fulled and 
 thikked such Huers, Bonettes, and Cappes, have well and honestly afore thys goten 
 their lyvyng therby, and therupon kept api)rentices, servauntes, and good housholdes. 
 It is so, that ther is a subtile mean founde noAve of late, by reason of a Fullyng 
 Mille, wherby mo Cappes may be fulled and tliikked in one day, than by the myght 
 and strenghe of xx men by hand and fote may be fulled and thikked, in the same 
 day : The wliich Huers, Bonettes and Cappes, so as it is aforesaid by the said 
 MUles fulled and thikked, ben brosed, brolcen and deceyvably wrought, and may in 
 no wise by the mean of eny MUle be truly made, to the grete hurt of your seid 
 Highnesse, and of all your subjetts which daily use and occupie the same, and to 
 the utter imdoyng of suche your subjettes, as ben tlie Makers of the same Huers, 
 Bonettes, and Cappes, and wolde and entende to lyve by the true making of the 
 same ; Avithoute youre most giacious helpe be shewed to theiin in this behalf." 
 
 The petitioners conclude A\ith a prayer, that parliament will interdict, for two 
 years at least, the use of these fulling-mills ; to which the reply is, " Le Roy le voet." 
 On the subject of improved machinery, by which manual labour is abridged, it may 
 be observed, that the use of such machinery, when first introduced, is frequently an 
 eyil, and sometimes ruinous to those engaged in the operative part of that particular 
 branch of manufacture to which the improvement is applied : but, viewed as a public 
 question, involving the interests of the nation, these improvements are beneficial ; 
 and to them, combined Avitli the capital and enterprise of the middle classes, and the 
 skill and industry of the workmen engaged in these pursuits, the manufacturing and 
 commercial gi-eatness of this nation is to be attributed. 
 
 Tlie intrigues of the court which followed on the death of Edward IV., were 
 unbounded. The ancient nobility, with the duke of Gloucester as protector, at their
 
 Countj) ^;3nlatine of Sancnstn*. 425 
 
 head, opposed, by every ineaus in their power, the relations of the queen, who were chap. 
 considered as aspiring upstarts ; and earl Rivers, her l)rother, su* Richard Gray, one ' 
 
 of her sons, and sir Thomas Vaughan, an officer in the king's household, were, by nanfdeeds 
 the authority of the duke, committed to Pontefract castle, for " setting variances edX'The 
 amongst the states, to subdue and destroy the noble blood of the realm;" on which qJou.?*^ 
 vague charge they were executed. Theii' real offence, however, consisted in stand- ''^'■• 
 iug in the way of the duke's assumption of the crown, and no qviantity of blood was 
 thought too large to be shed, for the purpose of removing the impechments to his 
 elevation. Lord-chamberlain Hastings shared the same fate, for venturing to doubt, 
 whether the protector's arm, which had been withered from his birth, Avas diseased 
 by the sorceries of liis queen-sister and Shore's wife. 
 
 Hast. " If they have done this deed, my noble lord, — 
 Glo. If! thou protector of this damn'd strumpet, 
 
 Talk'st thou to me of ifs ? Thou art a traitor — 
 
 Off with his head — now, by Saint Paul I swear, 
 
 I will not dine until I see the same — 
 
 Level and Catesby, look that it be done ; 
 
 The rest, that love me, rise, and follow me." 
 
 Lord Stanley escaped with difficulty, but not without a severe contusion ; a 
 murderous blow being levelled at his head by the ruffians introduced into the council 
 chamber, at Gloucester's bidcUug, to seize Hastings, and liurry him away to execu- 
 tion.* The duke had evidently fixed his eye upon the throne, and was determined 
 to ascend it, at whatever price. To consummate liis purpose, his two nephews, iMurder of 
 Edward V. and liis brother, Richard, duke of Yorlc, were smothered in the Tower, pHnJeT" 
 whilst sleeping in then- bed, by three assassins, of the name of Dighton, Forest, 
 and Slater, under the du-ection of su- James Tyrrel, a creature of the duke's ; and 
 thus was perpetrated, for the purposes of ambition, 
 
 " The most arch deed of piteous massacre 
 That ever yet the land was guilty of." 
 
 Having thus removed the obstacles in his way to power, the coronation, wliich 
 appeared to be preparing for Edward V., was appropriated by the duke of Gloucester 
 
 * According to sir William Dugdale, quoting from Stow, this catastrophe might have been 
 avoided, if lord Hastings had given heed to a dream of lord Stanley's, on the preceding night, in 
 which his lordship beheld a boar, Gloucester's crest, goring with his tusks Hastings and Stanley, till 
 the blood ran about their shoulders. 
 
 VOL. I. 3 I
 
 426 Cf)c W^tory of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, to Ids own pui-pose, and that of bis queen. The ceremony was of the most 
 
 " splendid kind, tliat the gorgeousness of the scene might conceal the blood which 
 
 tion^of contaminated the track to the throne. Lord Stanley, who had just been liberated 
 
 Rich. III. £j.Qjjj ^jjg Tower, was placed in the hmniliating situation of beaiing the mace before 
 
 the king, and the " Lady of Rychemond " bore the queen's train. Tlie other Lan- 
 
 casliii'e peers present were, lord Grey of Wilton, and lord Morley ; and among the 
 
 knights were, sir William Stanley, sir Edward Stanley, sii- Charles Pilkington, sir 
 
 Rafe Asbton, and sii* WilHam Norris.* 
 
 Letters Diuing the short reign of Richard ITL, a considerable number of letters patent 
 
 granted by ^^rc gi'anted by the king. These documents, in Latin and in English, are jn-e- 
 
 Rich. III. ggyygd ju ^vbat is styled " a very valuable book," belonging to the lord treasurer 
 
 Biu-gldey in the Harleian collection in the British Museum ; and the following are 
 
 their titles, so far as they relate to the county and duchy of Lancaster : — 
 
 Harl. MSS. Cod. 433. [Temp. Rich. IIL] 
 
 ART. 
 
 14 To John Howard, knt., the Office of Cliief Steward of the duchy of Lane. 
 South of Trent. 
 
 21 To Henry Stafford Duke of Buckinghm the offices of constable, steward, and 
 receiver of the castle, manor, and town of Monmouth, in S. Wales, and of 
 all the other castles, lordships, manors, towns, &c., wliich ai'e parcels of the 
 Duchy of Lane, in S. Wales. The duke is also appointed keeper or head 
 forester of the forest and chace of Hodeuake, and of all the other forests 
 and chaces being paixels of the Duchy afores"* in S. Wales. 
 
 43 To Sir Rich'' Huddlestone the office of receiver of the lordi" manors lands & 
 tenem*' in CumberP & Lancash' which were foimerly Tho' Grey's (Mar- 
 quis of Dorset.) 
 
 03 A Writ appoint" Guy Fairfax knt, & Milo Metcalf Chief Justiciaries of Lane. 
 
 70 Royal Letters for the advowson of the Parish church of Gayton, parcel of the 
 Duchy of Lane. 
 
 86 Letters Pat. to Tho' Metcalfe the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lane. 
 
 & the custody of the seal for the same office. 
 
 87 Ditto. 
 
 92 To Guy Fairfax knighte th' office of chieff Juge of Lancastre. 
 
 93 To Miles Metcalfe the office of one of the Juges at Lancastre. 
 
 94 To Thomas Molineux the office of king's Seijeant and Attorney at Lawe, in 
 
 all his coirrtes within the counte palatyne of L. 
 * Harl. MSS. 2115. f. 152.
 
 Countj) ^Jalatine of aanrasfter, 427 
 
 99 To Hemy Stafford, D. of Buck, the office of constable, stuarde, and receivour chap. 
 of the castles maunors & toi\Ties of Mounemouthe and Kydwelly, of all ^^' 
 castles lordshps townes &c. hi Wales, and the Marches pai-cels of the 
 Ducliie of Lane. & thoffice of Pananster ?* Forster and Maister of the 
 Game in all the forests and chaces of Wales and Maixhes of the same, 
 belonging to the said Duchie. 
 
 102 To John Howard D. of Norfolke the office of chief Steward of the Duchy of 
 
 Lane. South of Trent. 
 
 103 To Thomas Pylkyngtone knight, the office of Sheiiff of the county of Lane' & 
 
 the county Palatme. 
 
 106 To John Dudley Esq the office of Stew"" of the Duchy within tlie counties of 
 
 Berks and Southampton. 
 
 107 To Sir John le Scrop — chamberlain of the Duchy. 
 113 To Su" Ric'' Huddlestone receiver ut supr^. 
 
 116 To therle of Siiny the Stewardsh'' of the Ducliie. 
 
 130 To Thomas Kebell thoffice of Gencrall Attourney of the Duchie of Lane, in 
 
 EngP & Wales. 
 171 To W. Castby thoffice of Steward of Daventre Higham Ferys Paverells Fee, &c. 
 
 177 To Adam Nelsone th office of Messagere of the Duchie, and Ushere of the 
 
 councelle house ordeyned for the same. 
 
 1 78 To Ric'* Pottyere the Attorneyshp of the Duchie. 
 
 179 To therle of Surry ut supra. 
 
 276 To John Fitz Herbert the Baillieff of the newe Fraiichesie of the Duchie of 
 
 Lane, in the countie of Derby. 
 327 " To John Due of Norfolke thoffice of chieffe Steward," as above m the Latin 
 
 patent. 
 
 518 To Nicholas Gardyner tliexecutor of John Gardyner License to found a 
 
 chauntrie m our Ladie church of Lane. & to mortize 12 b. of land there. 
 
 519 To Morgan Kidwelly the Stewardshp of all the lordslips of the Duchy of 
 
 Lane, or otherwise belonging to the king in the co. of Dorset. 
 824 To Thom' L** Stanley Lord Strange many castles lordsbips and manou-s to 
 hold by knights service whereof part of them belonged to Roger Tocot, 
 Henry Stafford Due of Buckingham, &c. 
 1628 " Comission to the Lord Stanley constable of England to sease vnto the 
 Iduges use the Manoir of Briglitmeed in the counte of Lancaster that late 
 
 * This word is thus marked with the ( ? ) in the Harl. catalogue. There is no doubt of its accu- 
 racy, and that it is the name of the officer who superintended forest-panage. 
 
 3 I 2
 
 428 €i)t S?t£itorj) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. was of Thomas Seint Legere his rebelle. Yeven at London the 16'" day 
 of Dec. an° primo." Several other commissions to the same to seize 
 
 upon lauds belongiug to the above sir Thomas S' Leger and Henry 
 
 Stafford D. of Buckinghiun, are found here. 
 2001 Warrant for the Maire &c. of Lane, to reteigne 20 marks of the fee finne of 
 
 their towne which the king hath geven unto them. Yeven at Stoney Strat- 
 
 forde y= 6'" of Nov^ a" 2''°. 
 2210 Letter patent from Edw 5 to Tho' Kebeele for the attorneyship of the Duchy. 
 2366 Fees & Wages of officers. 
 2377 Fees payable to officers in the Rape of Pevensey and paixel of the Duchy of 
 
 Lancaster. 
 
 The following is the warrant, or commission, (niunbered 1628,) from Ricliard IIL 
 to lord Stanley, to seize the lands of sir Thomas St. Leger, who had mariied 
 Anne, the king's eldest sister; but who had revolted against his authority, and 
 suffered the punishment of death, in 1483. 
 
 Commission for seizing the Lands of a Rebel, in Lancashire. [1 Rich. III.] 
 
 The Lord "> " ^^*^'- '^'^ ^' right trusty f right welbeloued Cousin f Counsello' 
 
 Stanley. ^ tlie lord Stanley, Constable of England, gi-eting. We wil and charge 
 you and by these psentf yeue you fill auctorite f power to sease into 
 o' handf the manoir or Lordship of Brightmede in o' Countie of Lancastre 
 that late was of Th. Seintleger our Rebell and thisseues Rentf and Reuenues 
 f? of from Michelmesse last passed to take f pceyue to our vse f behavf , 
 yeuing straitly in coiiiaundement to the offics and tenauntf of the said maner 
 or lordship and to all others our offics treue liegeaunces f subjettf that vnto 
 you and yo"' assignees in thexecucion of the pmisses they be attending aiding 
 fauoling f assisting as it appteineth. Yeuen at London the xvj day of Dec 
 A° pmo. [Fol 134 b. 
 
 [Ten other commissions follow the above ; or, ratlier, ten memoranda of such 
 commissions ; addressed to *' The Lord Stanley," to seize lands and manors belong- 
 ing to sir Thomas St. Leger and the duke of Buckingham, forfeited by rebellion, 
 and situated in the counties of " Wilts, Warre Leuestre, Chester, Beds, Hertford, 
 Soms, Rutland, and Oxford."]
 
 Coiinti? |3alatmr of Sanca^tfr. 429 
 
 A Warrant, or Commission. [2 Rich. III.] 
 
 "A coniLSsion clii-ected to al knightf Squiers gentilmen and al 
 
 Strnle°y& ^ op the kiugf siibjecttf of the Coimte of Chester. Shewyng that 
 
 StrLge & ( the kmg hath deputed the lord Stanley, the lord Strannge and 
 
 S'^W'^Stanley. } S' Willm Stanley to have the Rule and leding of al psones 
 
 appointed to do the Idng §uice when they be warned ageinst the kyngf Rebellf 
 
 Charging them ^^fore to pvyde eflfectuel attendaunce. And if any Rebellf 
 
 arryue in thoos ptes pat than al pe power that they can make be redy tassist 
 
 the saide lorde and knight, Vpon theii-e feithes and legeauncf fc?. Yeuen at 
 
 Windesore the xiij day of Januer A° ij''°. 
 
 The same > " ^ Ijke Comission to the knightf Squiers gentilmen f o? of the 
 
 lorde. i Countie of Lancastre to geve their attendaunce vpon the lorde Stanley 
 
 f Strannge to doo the kiuge grace 9uice ageinst his Rebellf in 
 
 whatsoeu? place w'in this RojTue thay fortune tanyue, Vpon the feithe f 
 
 leigeaunces. Yeuen at Westni the xiij day of Januer. A° ij"*". 
 
 [Fol 201 h. 
 
 Harl. MSS. Cod. 592. 
 
 The first article in tliis volume is headed " Pro Ducatu Lancastrie," and 
 consists of a patent, by wliich the king (supposed to be Edward IV., though it is 
 not so expressed, the style being sknply " Edwardus Dei gratia," &c.) confimis to 
 hunself and heirs, being kings of England, in perpetuity, all the liberties, privileges, 
 customs, &c. of the county palatine and duchy of Lancaster, previously gi-anted by 
 his ancestors, kings of England, by charters, which are here recited. This article 
 is an Inspeximus, tested thus : — 
 
 " Teste Pr apud WestiS quaito die Novembris :" Witness the Idng at West- 
 minster, November 4. 
 
 No date of the dominical or regal year. It consists of twenty-four very large 
 folio pages. 
 
 In order to reconcile lord Stanley to Richard's usurpation, he was constituted 
 steward of Ins household, and constable of England, for life, being at the same time 
 invested ^-ith the most noble order of the garter. All these acts of royal favour 
 failed to extinguish the hatred wliich that nobleman bore to the tyi-ant, and to his 
 sanguinary deeds. Of tliis, the king, whose suspicions never slumbered, was fully 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI.
 
 430 
 
 €\)t W^tov^ oi tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 George 
 lord 
 Strange 
 detained 
 as a host- 
 age. 
 
 Attainder 
 of the 
 countess 
 of Rich- 
 mond. 
 
 a^ai-e ; and, that he might have the more secure hokl on the allegiance of lord 
 Stanley, and prevent him from exciting an insurrection in Lancasliire and Cheslm-e, 
 where his power and influence were almost unlimited, Richard insisted that George 
 lord Strange, the son and heir of the house of Stanley, should remain in liis hands 
 as a hostage. Tliese suspicions were increased hy the cii'cumstance of lord Stanley 
 hanng mamed for liis second wife Margaret, the widow of Echnund earl of Rich- 
 mond ; hy whom she had issue, Henry earl of Richmond ; the representative of the 
 house of Lancaster. 
 
 Richai-d's displeasure was subsequently marked by an act of attainder against 
 the countess of Riclunond, in which it is set forth, that " Forasmuch as Margaret 
 Countesse of Richmond, Mother to the Kyngs greate Rebelle & Traytour, Herry 
 Erie of Richemond, hath of late conspii-ed, confedered, & committed high Treason 
 agenst oure Soveraigne Lorde the King Richard the Tliird, in dyvers & sundry 
 wyses, & in especiall in sendyng messages, writyngs & tokens to the said Henry, 
 desiryng, procuryng, & stirryng hym by the same, to come into this Roialme, & 
 make Wen-e agenst oure said Soveraigne Lorde ; to the whiche desyi-e, procm-yng, 
 & stiiTjTige the said Henry applied hjm, as it appereth by experience by hym late 
 shewed in that behalf. Also the said Countesse made chevisancez of gi-eate somes 
 of money, as well within the Citee of London, as in other places of this Roialme to 
 be employed to the execution of the said Treason & malicious purpose ; & also the 
 said Countesse conspired, confedered & imagjoied the destruction of oure said 
 Soveraigne Lord, & was assentyng, knowyng & assistyng Henry, late Duke of 
 BuckjTigham." 
 
 Tlie tyrant, of his grace and favour, as he alleges, but under the influence of his 
 fears, as is more probable, and in consideration of the faithful services done and 
 intended to be done by Thomas, lord Stanley, husband of the countess, remitted the 
 gi-eat punislunent of treason — public execution. But at the same time he declared 
 all her property forfeited to the crown, whether in fee simple, fee tail, or otherwise ; 
 but not to the prejudice of Tliomas, lord Stanley, or any other person or persons, 
 with the exception of the countess of Richmond. How far the charges contained in 
 this act of attainder were founded, it is difficult at this time to detennine; but it is 
 liiglJy probalde that a descendant of the house of Lancaster would not be an unin- 
 terested spectator of the claims of her son to the crown, in opposition to those of a 
 prince, whose sanguinaiy crimes had rendered him universally obnoxious. It does 
 not appear that the countess was ever removed from Lathom house for trial, thougli 
 it was ordered that she should be kept in ward by her lord, in private apartments, 
 and not suffered to hold any communication with tlie king's enemies. One 
 of the fiist acts of the next reign was to aimul this act of attainder, and fully to
 
 Coiintp palatmt of aanrasitfr, 431 
 
 reinstate the " noble i)rincess Mai-garet, countess of Richmond, in all her pos- chap. 
 
 sessions."* 
 
 Maro-aret, countess of Richmond, was the only daughter of John, first duke of 
 Somerset, the gi-andson of John of Gaunt, and Catlierine Swinford, This lady had 
 married Edmund, cai-1 of Richmond, and Henry, the present earl, was the only 
 issue of that maniage. She had afterwards manied su- Henry Stafford, and, at his 
 death, espoused Thomas, lord Stanley. The present earl of Richmond had long 
 been a source of disquietude to the reigning family of the house of York, who had 
 spared no pains to obtain possession of his person, for the purpose of administering 
 those murderous remecHes for the cm'e of a disputed title, which they so well knew 
 how to apply. But, by providential interposition, he sur^■ived all then- machinations, 
 and an alliance suggested by the mai'quis of Dorset, and the bishop of Ely, between Proposal 
 the earl of Richmond and EHzabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV., promised the Roses, 
 to effect an union between the red and the wliite roses, for whicli the nation had 
 long panted with ardent desu-e. The first attempt to accompUsh tliis olyect by 
 the asencv of the duke of Buckingham failed, and the duke and a number of his 
 fiiends became the victims of the premature enterprise.'!' 
 
 Before the duke embarked for England, he addi-essed a letter to his friends, 
 couched in these teims :| — 
 
 " R' trusty, wor", & HoSble good Freinds & our Allyes I greet you well. Temp. 
 Being giuen to understand yom- good deuoir & intente to aduance me to y' further- 
 ance of my rightfuU claime, due & lineaU Inheritance of y' Crowne. And for y" 
 just depriuing of y' Homicide & unnaturall Tyrant w'^"' now unjustly beai-s Dominion 
 ouer you, I giue you to understand y' noe Cluistian heart can be more full of joye & 
 gladues, then y*^ heart of me yoJ poore exiled Friend, who wUl upon y° instance of 
 yom- sure Aduertise what powers y' will make ready, and what Captains & leaders 
 you gett to conduct be prepared to pass ouer y" Sea w"" such forces as my Friends 
 here are preparing for me. And if I haue such good speed and success as I wish 
 according to your desire, I shall ever be most forward to remember, & wholly to 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 1 Henry VII. vol. vi. page 286. 
 
 t Amongst others, a gentleman of the name of William Colingbourne, who had been high sherifFof 
 Wiltshire and Dorsetshire, suffered death for having written the following whimsical jeM d' esprit, in 
 allusion to the names of the two royal favourites, Ratcliffe and Catsby, and to the crest of Lovel, 
 which was a dog, and that of Richard, which was a boar : — 
 
 " Tlie Rat, the Cat, and Lovel the dog. 
 Rule all England under a Hog." 
 
 : Har. MS. Cod. 737, fo. 2 b.
 
 432 ■ CI)f ijistoi)) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, requite tliis jour gi-eat & most louinge kindness in my just quarrell. Yeouen under 
 
 XT 
 
 " our Signet, &c. 
 
 " I pray you giue credence to y'' Messenger of y' he shall impart to you." 
 
 Retarded in the attainment of his object by the failure of the duke Buckingham's 
 enterprise, but by no means discouraged from pursuing it, the earl of Richmond, 
 
 " England's hope," 
 
 Landing embarked from Normandy with a small army of two thousand men, with which he 
 
 duke" of landed at Milford Haven, where he was joined by sir Richard Rice ap Thomas, 
 
 i^'E.Tg"-'"' who had been entrusted with a command in Wales by the tyrant Richard. In Ms 
 
 '^"''" march into the interior of the country he Avas joined by the powerful family of 
 
 Shrewsbury, as well as by sir Thomas Bourcliier and sir Walter Hungerford, and a 
 
 large number of persons of inferior note. Richard, aware of the storm by which he 
 
 Avas menaced, had collected a well-appointed army in Nottinghamshire, and towards 
 
 this point the earl of Richmond du-ected his course. Having anived at Tamworth, 
 
 he addi-essed his followers in tenns, perhaps, less poetical, but not less inspiring, 
 
 than the following : — 
 
 Rich. " Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends, 
 Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny. 
 Thus far into the bowels of the land 
 Have we march'd on without impediment ; 
 And here receive we from our father Stanley 
 Lines of fair comfort and encouragement. 
 The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar. 
 That spoil'd your summer fields, and fruitful vines, 
 Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough 
 In your embowell'd bosoms ; this foul swine 
 Lies now even in the centre of this isle. 
 Near to the toun of Leicester, as we learn : 
 From Tamworth thither is but one day's march. 
 In God's name, cheerly on, courageous friends. 
 To reap the harvest of perpetual peace, 
 By this one bloody trial of sharp war." 
 
 Shakspeare's Rich. III. Act V. Scene II. 
 
 Richai-d, knowing that he had forfeited all claim to the confidence of his 
 people, that the enormities he had committed for the attainment of the throne 
 had withdrawn from him the flower of his nobility, and that those who feigned 
 allegiance to his person and goveniment, panted for an opportunity to betray
 
 Coimti.) |3alatinr of S-anrnstm 433 
 
 and desert him, became more suspicious of liis friends than alarmed by his enemies, chap 
 
 The persons of whom he entertained the gi-eatest suspicion, and those wlio had the 
 
 power more than any others to decide liis fate, Avere lord Stanley, and his brother, 
 sir William Stanley. By a policy that is only to be accounted for on the principle, 
 tliat those princes whom Providence has marked out for ruin, he first infatuates, the 
 king commissioned lord Stanlej' to raise an army in the counties of Lancaster and 
 Chester. The nmnber of soldiers under the command of the Stanleys was so consi- 
 derable, that the decision of the approaching battle, on wliich a kingdom depended, 
 was placed in their hands. The day before the battle commenced, Richai-d maixhed 
 to Leicester at the head of his army, and entered that town flith a countenance 
 strongly characteristic of the gloomy state of his mind. He took up his quarters 
 for the night at the principal inn,* and concentrated his outposts, in prepai'atiou for 
 the approaching engagement. 
 
 The dawn of the day found the two hostile armies on Bosworth field ; Richard in 
 the command of twelve thousand men, and Richmond with about half that number. 
 
 * Richard slept at the Blue Boar Inn, and the bedstead whereon he is supposed to have lain is 
 still preserved, and its history is thus handed down : — 
 
 " In the year 1613, Mrs. Clark, keeper of that inn, was robbed by her servant maid and seven 
 
 men, and the relation is thus given by sir Roger Twisden, who had it from peisons of undoubted 
 
 credit, who were not only inhabitants of Leicester, but saw the murderers executed : " When king 
 
 Richard III. marched into Leicestershire against Henry, earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII. 
 
 he lay at the Blue Boar Inn, in the town of Leicester, where was left a large wooden bedstead, gilded 
 
 in some places, which, after his defeat and death in the battle of Bosworth, was left, either through 
 
 haste, or as a thing of little value, (the bedding being all taken from it.) to the people of the house : 
 
 thenceforward, this old bedstead, which was boarded at the bottom, (as the manner was in those 
 
 days,) became a piece of standing furniture, and passed from tenant to tenant with the inn. In the 
 
 reign of queen Elizabeth, this house was kept by one Mr. Clark, who put a bed on this bedstead ; 
 
 which his wife going to make hastily, and jumbling the bedstead, a piece of gold dropped out. This 
 
 excited the woman's curiosity ; she narrowly examined this antiquated piece of furniture, and, finding 
 
 it had a double bottom, took off the uppermost with a chisel, upon which she discovered the space 
 
 between them filled with gold, part of it coined by Richard III. and the rest of it in earlier times. 
 
 Mr. Clark (her husband) concealed this piece of good fortune, though by degrees, the effects of it 
 
 made it known, for he became rich from a low condition, and, in the space of a few years, mayor of 
 
 the town ; and then the story of the bedstead came to be rumoured by the servants. At his death, he 
 
 left his estate to his wife, who still continued to keep the mn, though she was known to be very rich; 
 
 which put some wicked persons upon engaging the maid-servant to assist in robbing her. These 
 
 folks, to the number of seven, lodged in her house, plundered it, and carried off some horse-loads of 
 
 valuable things, and yet left a considerable quantity of valuables scattered about the floor. As for 
 
 Mi's. Clark herself, who was very fat, she endeavoured to cry out for help, upon which her maid 
 
 thrust her fingers down her throat, and choked her; for which fact she was burnt, and the seven men, 
 
 who were her accomplices, were hanged at Leicester some time in the year 1613." 
 
 VOL. I, 3 K
 
 434 
 
 m)t |f?ieitori) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 Aug. 22, 
 1485. 
 
 Battle of 
 Bosworth 
 Field. 
 
 loril Stanley had placed himself near the neighbouring village of Atherstone, six 
 miles from the field of battle, with a force differently estimated by historians, but 
 probably amounting to about five thousand men. Even now the determination which 
 liis lordship had taken was not generally known in the conflicting armies, though 
 the commanders, no doubt, had sagacity enough to discover that he had abandoned 
 Richard, and was determined to support his rival to the throne. The sword 
 suspended over the neck of lord Strange, Avho was in Richard's camp as a hostage, 
 hung only by a haii* ; but the policy of the king suffered it not to descend, that he 
 might still retain some hold upon the conduct of the noble father of tliis gallant 
 youth. 
 
 Addi-essing his soldiers, Richard exclaimed — " I hold the crown from you, and 
 you must maintain it. Who is our adversary ? An unknown Welslmian ; begotten 
 by a father less known than liimself ; and commanding a force consisting of banished 
 vagabonds, the very scum of the earth, and of beggarly Frenchmen, come here to 
 plunder your goods, to ravish your wives, and to murder your chilcken. When 
 fighting with such an enemy, success is certain. When the victory is obtained, you, 
 my followers, shall share the bounty of a generous prince. In the cause of your 
 king, you ^411 fight like Englishmen ; and as for myself, I will never quit the field but 
 as a conqueror." 
 
 Richmond, placing himself at the head of liis camp, demanded of liis soldiers if it 
 was not for the public weal that the tyrant to whom they were opposed should be 
 extii-pated — a man who had destroyed his own house by the effusion of innocent 
 blood, and defamed the mother who had given liim birth, to smooth liis way to the 
 throne. " The hour of retribution," said he, " has now ai'rived; and God's judgment, 
 though it has been deferred, will fall upon our adversary, who seeks, by the marriage 
 of princess Elizabeth, to add incest to liis other crimes. You ought not to be dis- 
 mayed by the superior numbers of the enemy; divine justice is at our side; his own 
 friends will desert the tyrant in the hour of his extremity; and already lord Stanley 
 has determined, with the forces under his command, to support the righteous cause. 
 If your efforts are crowned with victory, all the confiscated possessions of the enemy 
 shall be distributed amongst you ; but should you be defeated, you will fall into the 
 hands of him, who, not having spared his o^^ii blood, would infallibly consign you to 
 destruction. It is better to die with swords in your hands, than to become the 
 victims of a relentless tyrant: of myself, I shall only say, that I am the descendant of 
 the house of Lancaster, the glory of the kingdom they have ruled. All you can 
 expect from a soldier, and from a commander, you shall find in me ; and all I ask of 
 you is, to follow my example in the hour of battle." 
 
 Richard, extending his ti-oops as widely as possible, to hitimidate liis enemy by
 
 XI. 
 
 Coimty ^Jalatine of itanrasitfr. 435 
 
 an impression of the gi-eat strength of the army to wliich they were opposed, gave chap. 
 the command of the vangnard to tlie duke of Norfolk and the earl of Surrey; he him- 
 self led the centre, wliicli was guarded on the flanks by the horse, and led on by the 
 bowmen. Richmond having placed his bo\vmen in front, under the command of the 
 earl of Oxlbnl, gave the connuand of the right wing to sir Gilbert Talbot, and of the 
 left to sir John Savage. The command of the horse he took upon himself, aided by liis 
 uncle, the earl of Pembroke. Richmond having, by a successful manoeuvre, possessed 
 hunself of a path, wliicli intersected a swamp, and thrown the glare of the sun in the 
 face of the enemy, the battle commenced. The fii-st shock of the two armies shewed 
 sufBciently the cUlTerent spirit by which they were aniinated. For a whOe, however, 
 the contest hung in suspense; but the appearance of lord Stanley, the arbiter of the 
 battle of Bosworth Field, who declared in favour of his son-in-law, decided the fate 
 of the day. The king's forces fought mthout spii-it, and seemed more anxious to 
 secure their own safety than to obtain victory. In tliis emergency Richard was 
 advised to quit the field, and a horse was provided for the pm-pose ; but he had placed 
 his all upon the issue, and he fought lUve a hero. His only remaining hope was now 
 in the death of Richmond; and, in a desperate onset to accomplish that object, he slew 
 sir William Brandon, the eai-l's standard-bearer, with his own hands, and, at the 
 same moment, dismounted sir- John Cheyney. The commanders of the two armies 
 were now on the point of coming in personal collision, an event of wliich they both 
 seemed ambitious; but at the moment when the combat was about to take place, 
 sir William Stanley broke uito the line vnth liis troops, and surrounded Richard, who 
 still continued to fight with all the courage and desperation of his nature ; but at 
 length, sinking under the superior force by which he was assailed, fell dead on the 
 field, pierced witli innumerable wounds, and covered -nith gore. 
 
 The number of the slain in the battle of Bosworth Field, like the niuribers 
 engaged in the contest, are differently estimated; some accounts rate them as low as 
 a thousand, and others as high as four thousand. The loss, however, fell principally 
 upon the Yorkists, as sir William Talbot, in an account written to his friends imme- 
 diately after the battle, says that the number of slain on the part of the eai-1 of 
 Richmond did not exceed ten persons! The dulie of Norfolk, lord Ferrars of Chart- 
 ley, sir Robert Ratcliffe, sir Robert Picrcy, and sir Robert Brackenbury, were all 
 numbered ^-ith the dead; and sir William Catesby, the ready instrument of all 
 Richard's crimes, being taken prisoner, was beheaded ^^^th several others at Leicester 
 two days afterwards. After the battle, sir William Stanley, who, Anth his brother, 
 had contributed so nnich to the success of the day, took the crown from the tent of 
 Richard, and, placing it upon the head of the earl of Richmond, crowned him on the 
 field by the title of King Henry VH. A large portion of the spoils of the field fell 
 
 3k2
 
 436 C!)e ??is!toii) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, into the hands of sir William Stanley, and were allowed by the king's permission to 
 ^^- enrich that gallant knight. " Richard's body being stripped naked, all tugged and 
 torn and not so much as a clout left to cover liis shame, was trussed beliind a pur- 
 suivant at arms like a hog or a calf; his head and arms hung on one side the horse, 
 and his legs on the other, all besprinkled Avith mire and blood, and was so carried to 
 Leicester." " No king," says Mr. Hutton, " was ever so degi-aded a spectacle; 
 humanity and decency ought not to have suffered it," Mr. Carte says, " they tied 
 a rope about liis neck, more to insult the helpless dead than to fasten hun to the 
 horse." After lying exposed to the inspection and insults of the populace, the 
 tyrant's body, at the end of the second day, was taken to the church of the Grey 
 Friars, and there buried in a stone coffin."* 
 
 An ancient manuscript in the British Museum relates with so much precision 
 the part taken in those gi-eat events, by which the crown of England was finally 
 transferred from the house of York to the house of Lancaster, by the Stanley family, 
 and the men of Laucasliii-e, that it cannot be omitted in a history of this county. — 
 
 Harl. MSS. Cod. 542. [In Stoive's writing.'] 
 
 " Richard y' thu-d liis deathe by y' lord Staiiley borowyd of Henry Savyll. 
 
 " when henrie erle of Richmond cam in at mylford haven, he sayd thes words, 
 " O yngland, I am enteryd here to clayme myne heritage, Jhesu, y' dyed on 
 good friday, and mary his mothar, send me the love of y-^ lord Stanley ho hathe 
 maxied my mothar, it is longe sithe she saw me, I trust to Jesu, we shall mete, and 
 our brothar syr william Stanley." [let us leve henry, and speke of Richai-d in his 
 (Uo-nitie, f y' mysfortune y' hym befell, a ^vicked cownsell di-ew hym nye.] 
 Tlie lord Stanley, sterne f stowte he may be callyd flowe in liis countrye, and 
 y' was well sene at barwicke, when all y' lords of england let it be, y' castle 
 wightly cowlde he wine, than of kynge Richard toke he leve, f set good rule 
 amonge y' couwntie, but wicked cownsell drew Richai-d nye, thes was y= words 
 they sayd to him , ' Ave thinke yow worke vnwitily, In england, yf ye wold 
 contynew kynge, for bothe lord Stanley, lord strange, and y' chamberlayne the 
 iij may bringe agaynst yow on a day, y' no lords may in england far nor nere, 
 f y' sonns of y' mother y' are banished may caws yow short tyme to Avere 
 
 * A monument was subsequently erected to his memory, with his " picture," as Sandford calls it, 
 " ill alabaster;" and, ten years afterwards, Henry VII., on his Lancashire progress, paid £10. Is. to 
 James Keyley for this erection, which perished with the dissolution of the monastery in the following 
 reign.
 
 Count!.) |3nlatmc of 3!.anra£(tn\ 437 
 
 y' crowue.' Then K. Richard made owt mesengars far into y' west countrie, to chap. 
 y' lord Stanley to repayr to hym w' spede. Tlicn y' lord Stanley bowned hpn ^^' 
 toward Kjnig Rychard, but he fell sycke at nianchestar by y" waye as was y" 
 wyll of god, to y' lord strange then callyd he, and sayd thes wordes to hym, ' In 
 goodly haste boirae must ye to wyt y' will of Richard our kyng,' the tliis lord 
 sti-ange bowiiyd hjin to ryde to kynge Richard, wlicn he cam before hym f 
 knelyd downe, Kynge Richard sayd, ' welcome, lord strange f kynsman neare, 
 wher is any lord in england of auusytry sliuld be so trew to hys kynge.' 
 ther was no more of tliis to say, but to ward comandyd was he, and messengars 
 wer made into y' west country, to y" lord Stanley, thes wcr y" words they sayd 
 to hym : ' yow must rayse vp vndar yowr banuar to mayntayne Rycliard owr kynge, 
 for yondar comythe Richemond ovar y" flode w' many an alyaunt owt of far contry 
 to chalendge y" crowne of england, yow most reyse that vndar yowr bannar be, 
 w' y" noble powere that yow may brynge, or els y' lord strange yow moste nevar 
 se, that is in dangar of owr kynge.' In a studye still then y* lord dyd stond, and 
 sayd ' Jesu, how may this be, I take wittes of hym y' shope both se f sande, 
 I never delt w' traytorie. Richard is y° man y' bathe no mercye, he wolde me f 
 myne bondage bringc, therefor agajnist hym will I be.' Another messengar 
 came to william Stanley y' noble knyght, f sayd. ' K. Richard warethe y'^ to 
 bring thy royall rowt, liis liope Is holy therui.' Then answeryd y' noble knyght, 
 ' I marvayle of owr ^yng he bathe my nevyeu, my brothar's heire, a trcwar knyght 
 is not in cristinte, he shall repent by enythyng y' I can se, tell K. Richard 
 this, for all y" power y' he can bringe, he shall eythar fight or fie, or lose his lyfe 
 I make a vow, I shall give hym suche a brekefast on a day as nevar knyght gave 
 kynge, therefor byde hym aray hym f lus power for he shall ether fyght or fle 
 or lose his lyfe.' Then y' messengar rydes to y" kynge, and saythe ' in y^ contry 
 wher I have be, men so gi'evyd I nevar se, for y" lord strange sake y' in bale dothe 
 lye, they say they will cawse yow to fight or flye or els to lose your lyfe,' kynge 
 Richard smyled and swore by Jesu, when they be sembled all, I wold y* gr-et tui-ke 
 was agaynst me w' Pretor John, f y" sowdan of Surre w' all theyr powers for all 
 theyr manhod I wold be kynge,' he swore by Jesu f hys mothar, y' from y" towne of 
 laucastre to shrowsberye, knyght ne squire he wold leve none alyve, f he wold deale 
 theyr lands to his knyghtes, from y° holy heade to seyat david's land, wlieras ar 
 castells f towers bye. ' I shall make parkes f playne fields fritlie f forest fre, 
 they shall all repent y' evar he rose agaynst his kynge.' Then he sent out mes- 
 sengars, bothe far f nyghe, to deuke, earle, baron, knyght, f othar in ther 
 degi'e. part of theyr names shall yow here y' owne to Kynge Richard . The duke 
 of northfoike, y' erle of surrey liis hejTC, y' erle of kent, y' erle of shrowsbery,
 
 438 €l)t S]l6tOll) of tht 
 
 CHAP, y' erle of uortliumbarlaud, y' erle of westmerlaiid, Robert Ryclyssc, ser Robert 
 " o-vvtrege, ser John Huut}Tigton, f John wilnt, f John smalbv, i bryan of 
 stepletou, ser Avilliam liis cosen, y' lord hartley, y" heii's of hartley, y^ lord Fryn 
 # Grey, y' lord lovell chamhcrlayn of england, y' lord hughe liis cosyn, y' lord 
 scrope of Yposall, y' lord scrope of bolton, y' lord dakers raysed y' northcontrye, 
 y' lord owgle, y^ lord hower, y' lorde gi-aystoke, he browght a myghty many, 
 ser John blekynson, i Raffe harehotley, f wylliuu warde, syr archehald, w' y^ good 
 Rydley; syr nycholas nahogay was not awaye, # olyver of chasten, sir henry y' hyiid 
 horsay, £ John y' gi-ay, ser Tliomas y' mingmnbre, f Roger Standfort, i Robart 
 bracanberye, su- harry landiingaan, # Richard chowrlton, £ Raffe Rolle, f Thomas 
 marcomfild, f Rogar sandyll, f xpofer ward, f william beckfort, # John cowbwi-ne, 
 ■f Robart ploimton, f william gascoyne, i marmaduke constable, f william conyers, 
 £ mai-tyn of y' Fee, £ Robart Gilbard, f Richar heaton, i John lothes, f william 
 Ratclyff, f Thomas his brothar, i Willyam theyr brothar, £ xpofer y' mallyre, £ John 
 nortou, i Thomas y' mallperay, # Raffe dakers of y' northe, £ xpofer y" morys, 
 £ william musgrave, £ alexander haymor, £ george mortynfeild, f Thomas browghton, 
 £ xpofer Awayne, £ Richard tempest ont of y' dale, sir- willyam his cosyn, ser 
 Raffe of ashton, £ Roger long in arpenge, £ John pudsay, £ Robart of mydleton, 
 ser Thomas stiyckland, ser John neA-ill of bloodfullhye, £ John adlnigton, £ Rogar 
 hearon, ser James harryngton, ser Robart liis brothar, ser Thomas pilkylton, all 
 thes sware kynge Richard shuld were y" cro^vne. 
 
 " now shall I tell how henry of Richmond cam to y" crowne, The lorde Stanley 
 from lathom castle upon a day bownyed he, w' knyghts f esquiers in his company, 
 w' theyi- bannars, fearce to fyght, to mayutayn henry to be theyr Kynge. To the 
 new castell vndar lyne this lord toke y' way w' his noble men in company e, he 
 told them wagys the noble powere y' he dyd brynge. ser A\-illiam Stanley y' nol)le 
 knyght from y' castell of y' holt, to the Northwyche he rode, f told his men wagis, 
 all y' Northe Wayles y' moste parte, f y' flower of Chestar, w' he dyd brynge earlye 
 on a Souday at morne, syr -nilliam of Stanley removyd from y' Northewiche to y" 
 towne of stone, by then was henry come to Stafford, f a pre\-y messenge sent he 
 to hym w' a certayn parson, that noble knyght rod to Stafford toward y" kjnige, 
 when y' he saw y' prince in syght, he knelyd downe, f lient hym by y' hand f sayd 
 ' I am more glade of the then all y° gold in crystentye, I trust to y' lord my father 
 and y* that in england I shal be kynge.' then the othar sayd, ' welcom soveraygne 
 kynge henry, chalendge thye heritage f this land, loke thow fyght f nevar flye, 
 Remembar anothar day who dotlie for thee, yf thow be kynge, leve of y" prince tane, 
 he came agajaie, by y* lyght of y* day, vnto y' lytle towne of stone, early on a 
 Saturday, to lychfeld removyd old f yonge, at worsley bredge ther befome, they
 
 Countj) ^aalntiuf of i!.anrastn% 439 
 
 bad a syglit of henry y' shiikl be kynge. vnto lycbefild tbey ryde, a bairot of chai' 
 
 armes came to mirabar y* company y' was w' y" knygbt, it was a goodly sygbt. — 
 
 Gonnes in lycbefyld craked, glad was all y" cbevalry, y' was on benris party, 
 througbe owt lycbefyld rydes y' knygbt, f on y^ otber syd taryes be, tyll a message 
 cam to bjTii, and sayd ' lord Stanley is bis enemycs nye, tbey be bnt a lytle way a 
 twyne, be will figbt w' in tbes tbre boures w' Ricbard of england called kyng.' 
 ' Tbat wold I not, quod y" knygbt, for all y" gold in cristentie,' and toward 
 tanwortb be toke j" way, be cam to adarstone ere nyght, Avber y*" lord Stanley 
 lay in a dale, w' trompets, f a goodly copany all tbat nyglit tbey tbcr abode, 
 vpon sonday they bard masse, and to a i'ajr field toke y" way, the vawai-d lord 
 Stanley had, his brotbar syr wUliam in y' rereward, his sonne Edward in a 
 wynge. then came prince henry, it was agoodly sygbt to se y" metynge of them, 
 y" lorde f y' kynge, vpon a bay cowrsar was y' hynge, a lytle before y nyght. on 
 y" moiTOW when y'' larke gan synge, kjaige henry askyd y*^ waward, of y" lord 
 Stanley wliicbe be gi-awnted, f lent to hym iiij kuyghts to go w' b>Tn to y° vaward, 
 Gilbert Talboct, John Savage, ser hughe percivall f ser benri Stanley, tbes arayd 
 them to y' vaward w' y'' kynge. The lord Stanley y' second battaile bad syr ^illyam 
 Stanley be was y'' byndermoste at y" first settyng. then they removyd to a hygbe 
 mowntayne, and lookyng into a dale of v. myles compase they saw no sygbt for 
 annyd men f trapped steds in iiij battayles. The dwke of norfolke avansyd Ids 
 bannar so dyd youge erle of shrisberye f erle of Oxford.'^ the kyng Richard bad ^^j 
 score sargents y' wer cheyned f lockyd in a row, f as many bumbards, f tbowsands 
 of morys pyks, bagge bushes, f otb. Kyng Richard lookyd into a mowntayne bye, 
 f saw y" bannar of y° lord Stanley, f sayd, ' fetche y' lord strange to me, or els 
 be shall dye tliis day.' They brought y' lord vnto liis sygbt f be sayd ' for thy 
 deathe make y' redy.' then answeryd tbat noble Imyght f sayde, ' I cry god f y" 
 Avorld mercy, Jbesus I take to witnes y' I was nevar traytor to my kynge,' Vpon a 
 gentelman then called be latbome was liis name, ' and evar ye come into my contrie, 
 grete well my gentellmen f yemen, tbey bad a mastar, now have tbey none.' then 
 he drew a rynge of bis fingar, f sayd ' gyve tliis to my ladye. yf y' fild be lost on 
 owi- partye, take my sonne y' is mjnie beii-e, f fly into a far contryc.' Then came a 
 knygbt to kJ^lge Ricbai-d, and sayd, ' it is liigbe tyme to loke about, loke how yowr 
 vaward begynethe to fyght. when ye have y' father f sonne f y' yeman loke yow 
 what deathe y' they shall dye, ye may bead all at yoA\T own will.' w' y' fortunate 
 worde tbey counteryd togetbar full egarlye. whan y" vaward began to figbt kynge 
 henry dyd full manfully, so dyd y*" erle of oxford, so dyd syr John Savage, ser Gilbert 
 talbot dyd y"" lyke, ser hughe percivall also w' many otbar. Kynge Richard, in a 
 * " The erle of Oxford was on kyng Henry's syde."
 
 440 Cftc i?i£ittirj) of t])t 
 
 CHAF. man-is dytl stand uouabred to xx. thousand f thre vndar his bannar. Syr william 
 " Stanley remembringe y'' brekfast y' he promysyd hym, downe at a banke he hyed f set 
 fiersly on y^ kynge, they counteryd togethar sadly y' archers let tlieyr arrows flye, 
 they shot of goonnes, many a bannar began to show y' was on Richards party, 
 j> w' gi'ownde wepons they joyned, then dyed many a dowghty knyght. Then 
 to Kynge Richard ther cam a knyght, and sayd, ' I hold it tyme for ye to flye, youdar 
 stanlay his dynts be so sore agaynst them may no man stand, her is thy hors for to 
 ryde, an othar day ye may worshipe wyne.' he sayd ' bryng me my battayll axe in 
 my hand, and set y° crowne of gold on my hed so hye, for by hym y' shope bothe 
 se and sand kynge of england tliis day will I dye. one foote away I will not fle wliill 
 brethe wyll byde my brest w' in.' as he sayd so dyd he. he lost his lyffe. on his 
 standard then fast they did lyght. they hewyd y° cro^Tie of gold from hys hed w' 
 dowtfuU dents his deathe was dyght. the duke of norfolke dyd flye, y^ lord surrey 
 w' many othar mo, and boldly on here they dyd hym brynge and many a noble 
 knyght then lost tlieyi* lyffe w' Richai'd iheyr kynge. ther was slayn syr Richard 
 Ratclyf, one of kyng Richards cownsell, sp- william conyers, ser Robart of brackan- 
 bery, sjt Richard of Charruigton. Amongst all othar, I remembar tow, sir william 
 brand was y^ one of tho, kynge henrys standard he hev-yd on hye, f vaunsyd it tyll 
 w' deaths dent he was stryken downe, sp- Richard percivall, thurleball y'' othar bight, 
 Kynge Richards standard he kept on hyghe tyll bothe liis leggs wer cut hym fi-o yet 
 to y" gro^Mid. he wold not let it goo wliill brethe was in his brest. then they removyd 
 to a moiintayn hyghe, Anthe a voyce they cryed ' Kynge Henry.' the cro^nie of gold 
 was delperyd to y' lord Stanley, and vnto kjTige henry then went he and delperyd 
 it as to y' most worthe to were the crowne and be theyr kynge. They browght 
 kynge Richard thethar that nyght as nakyd as evar he was borne, and in y' new- 
 warke was he layd that many a man might se f cr." 
 
 FoL 31—33 a. 
 
 End of the Thus ended the wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, so far as the 
 twJen'^the members of the house of York were concerned, in which fi-om eighty to ninety thou- 
 YoTk'and sand Englislunen were slain. Thi-ee kings, several princes of the blood, sLxty-two 
 Lancaster, jj^^gg^ ^^^ hundred and tliirty-nine knights, four hundi-ed and forty-one esquii-es, 
 Conse- and six hundred and tliii-fy-eight of the gentry of the kingdom, fell in these memor- 
 ?he wars.^ able wars.* The contest between the rival houses was not, however, an ummxed 
 evil ; probably it was more beneficial in its remote consequences than injurious in its 
 
 * " In my remembrance," says Philip de Comines, " eighty princes of the blood royal of England 
 perished in these convulsions. Those that were spared by the sword renewed their sufferings in 
 foreign lands. I myself saw the duke of Exeter, the king's brother-in-law, walking barefoot after the
 
 Coimti) |3alntinr of aaurasiUr. 441 
 
 immecHate effects. Up to that time, the property, as well as the power of the nation, en uv 
 
 was chiefly cUvided amongst the Idng, the nobiUty, and the clergy. The gi-eat mass _ 
 
 of the people of England were slaves, dependent upon the will, and the absolute pro- 
 perty, of their lords, transferable lilce cattle, and held in nearly the same estimation. 
 Such was their degi-adation, that the honour of hazarding their lives to settle a 
 qnan-el between the red and the white roses was too great for tliem to enjoy: but as 
 every lord was obliged, by a land of moral necessity, to take part in this Avidely 
 extended contest, either on one side or the other, it became necessary for liis own 
 safety to seek the aid of his vassals; and before those vassals could be allowed to 
 take the field, it was necessary that they should be emancipated. In tliis way, the 
 feudal system, introduced before the Conquest, and consolidated by tlie Conqueror, 
 was shaken to its centre; trade and commerce hastened its downfall; villauage was 
 virtually at an end as early as the reign of Edward VI.; and in the twelfth year of 
 Chai-les II. the name itself was erased from the statute books. 
 
 One of the first acts of lung Henry VII. was to reverse the attainders passed First acts 
 
 ^^ of Htnrv 
 
 against the adherents of the house of Lancaster;* this was followed by an act of con- vii. 
 fiscation against the property of the adherents of the tyi-ant Richard, amongst whom c^^sj^fa- 
 were sir Thomas Pilkington, sir Robert Hariington, and sir James Harrington, all of Lanca- 
 the county of Lancaster, whose estates Avere principally awarded to the Stanley family, estates. 
 for their services at the battle of Bosworth-field. As a further reward. Ids lordsliip was 27th Oct. 
 created earl of Derby, elected a member of Ids majesty's privy council, and appointed 
 a commissioner for exercising the office of lord high steward of England. At the 
 same time an arrangement was concluded between the earl -and Ids wife, Margaret, 
 countess of Richmond and Derby, the king's mother, in recompense of her jointure 
 and dower, and ratified by the sanction of parliament.t A considerable augmenta- 
 tion was made to her possessions six years afterwards, by the grant of the lordships 
 and manors of Ambursbury and Winterbourne, in the county of Wilts, and the 
 manors of Henxstrigge and Charlton Cauvile, in the county of Somerset, of whicli 
 Henry VII. Avas seized, and which had been gi-anted to Henry Beaufort, then 
 cardinal Beaufort and bishop of Winchester.]: 
 
 During the short reign of Edward V., a mandate was issued from the lung to the ]^°I'J^; "f 
 sheriff of Lancaster, ordering him to proclaim within his bailiwick, tliat those who j.;™^^ 
 
 duke of Burgundy's train, and earning his bread by begging from door to door." Sir John Finn, in 
 his preface to Original Letters, written during the reign of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III., 
 savs, that every individual of two generations of the families of Somerset and Warwick fell on the 
 field, or on the scaffold, as victims of those bloody contests. 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 1 Hen. VII. vol. vi. p. "273. t Rot. Pari. 1 Hen. VII. vol. vi. p. 311. 
 
 I Rot. Pari. 7 Hen. VII. vol. vi. p. 446. 
 VOL. I. 3 L 
 
 on 
 men of 
 
 substance.
 
 442 
 
 CI)e i^i'gtoii) of tht 
 
 CHAP 
 XI. 
 
 held land or rents of the yearly value of £40, were to come into the king's presence 
 to receive the order of Ivnighthood ; and the sheriff was further ordered diligently to 
 inquire after the names of those who held possessions of tliis value, and to return 
 them into cljancery. 
 
 Henry VII., in compliance with the wishes of his peojile, at length espoused the 
 the roses, priucess Elizabctli, and thus was accomplished the union so long wished for bv an 
 exhausted nation, between the Jiouses of York and Lancaster. 
 
 Final 
 union of 
 
 Sweating! 
 sickncs^j. 
 
 1485. 
 
 S\nip- 
 toins. 
 
 Kenietlies. 
 
 Hoi. VII. " We will unite the white rose with the red : — 
 Smile, heaven, upon this fair conjunction, 
 That long hath frown'd upon their enmity! — 
 What traitor hears me, and says not, — Amen? 
 England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself; 
 The brother blindly shed the brother's blood, 
 The father rashly slaughter'd his own son, 
 The son, compell'd, been butcher to the sire; 
 All this divided York and Lancaster, 
 Divided, in their dire division. — 
 O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth, 
 The true succeeders of each royal house, 
 By God's fair ordinance conjoin together. 
 And let their heirs, (God, if thy will be so,) 
 Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace, 
 With smiling plenty, and fair prosperous days ! 
 Abate tlie edge of traitors, gracious Lord, 
 That would reduce these bloody days again. 
 And make poor England weep in streams of blood ! 
 Let them not live to taste this land's increase, 
 That would with treason wound this fair land's peace! 
 Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again ; 
 That she may long live here, God say — Amenl" 
 
 Rich. III. Act V. Scene IV. 
 
 A disease hitherto unknowni, which, from its symptoms, was called the " sweating 
 sickness," prevailed at this time in Lancasliire, and in other parts of the kingdom. 
 Happily, the malady, wliich was most fatal, was of short duration, having made its 
 appearance about the middle of September, and run its course before the end of 
 October in the same year. " The complaint was a pestilent fever," says lord 
 Verulam, " attended by a malign vapour, which flew to the heart, and seized the 
 vital spirits; which stiiied nature to strive to send it forth by an extreme sweat. It 
 the patient were kept in an equal temperature, botli tor clothes, fire, and drink.
 
 Coimti) |3alatme of 2Lanrasitfi% 443 
 
 moderately warm ^itli temperate cordials, whereby nature's work were neither chap. 
 irritated by heat, nor turned back by cold, he commonly recovered, and the danger "^ " 
 was considered as past in twentj^-four hours from the first attack. But infinite 
 persons died suddenly of it, before the manner of the cure and attendants were 
 known. It was conceived not to be an epidemical disease, but to proceed from a 
 malignity in the constitution of the aii-, gathered by the precUsposition of seasons; and 
 the speedy cessation declared as much." Fifteen yeai-s afterwards this county was piafrue iu 
 visited by the plague, which spread extreme alarm through the country, and the shire!* 
 king, to escape the danger of contagion, sailed with his family to Calais. 
 
 This sweating sickness had so completely subsided in London, that the cere- Creation 
 mony of the coronation, wliich had been fixed for the 30th of October, took place ° ^''"'" 
 according to appointment ; on which occasion, only two elevations, and one new 
 creation, were made in the peerage ; and the parties so honoured were, Jasper earl of 
 Pembroke, the king's uncle, created duke of Bedford ; Tliomas lord Stanley, created 
 earl of Derby ; and Edward Covertney, created eai-1 of Devon. 
 
 The partiality in favour of the house of York was still felt in the north of England, 
 and particularly in that city which gave its name to the party of the wliite rose. The The king's 
 king, to conciliate the affections of his subjects, determined to make a progi-ess into to'Jhr^* 
 the north of England. On his way thither, he learnt that viscount Lovel, with °'"^^' 
 sir- Humphrey Stafford, and Thomas his brother, had quitted the sanctuary at 
 Colchester, in wliich they had taken refuge, and were again in the field, at the head 
 of a body of insurgents. To meet the impencUng danger, a small force was immedi- 
 ately collected under the duke of Bedford, wliich lord Lovel, finding himself unable Level's re- 
 to resist, he cUspersed his army, and fled into Laucashke, where he took up liis 
 residence in secret, under the roof of sir Thomas Broughton, of Broughton, in 
 Furness. Having remained here for some time, and arranged a secret correspond- 
 ence with the knight, he at length embarked for Flanders, the seat of all the 
 intrigues against the existing English dynasty, carried on under the fostering care 
 of the duchess of Burgundy, widow of Charles the Bold. 
 
 An opinion prevailed, propagated by the malcontents, that one of the sons of 
 Edward IV., said to have been murdered in the Tower by order of his uncle, tlie 
 duke of Gloucester, still survived ; and that his murderers, smitten with remorse 
 when they had despatched one of the children, suffered tlie other to escape. Richard 
 Simon, a priest, living at Oxford, had as his pupil, the son of a baker, named Lambert 
 Lambert Simnel, of the age of about fifteen yeai's, a prepossessing youth, of princely pretender 
 presence, wliom Simon concluded would fitly personate the young prince,* To aid throne. 
 
 ** At one time he assumed the title of Edward Plantagenet, earl of Warwick, son of the late duke 
 of Clarence ; and at another, the title of Richard, duke of York, second son of Edward IV. 
 
 3l2
 
 444 
 
 CfK 2^i£itOll) Of t])t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 Lands at 
 the Pile of 
 Fouldrey. 
 
 Rattle of 
 
 Stoke- 
 
 field. 
 
 6th Ji'.ne, 
 1487. 
 
 the entei-prise, this juvenile pretender was sent over to Ireland, where he found many 
 supporters of his claims, and Avhere he was crowned as Edward VI. ; hut liis principal 
 friend was the duchess of Burgundy, whose hatred to the house of Lancaster was 
 implacable, and who, though possessed of many good qualities, seemed under the 
 restraint of no moral principle, when engaged in the subversion of the throne of 
 Henry VII. With the aid of the duchess, by whom Sunuel was provided with two 
 thousand troops, under the command of Martin Swart, he embarked for England hi 
 suitable vessels, commanded by captain Thomas Gerardine, and accompanied by a 
 large number of Irish adventurers, who seemed well inclined to forget the danger 
 to wliich they exposed themselves, when a crown was the prize to be gained by the 
 successful party in the contest. Simnel and his followers landed at the Pile of 
 Foukkey, in the bay of Morecambe, in the county of Lancaster ; here he encamped 
 on a common subsequently called Swart Moor, in Furness, where he chew together 
 a number of adherents, charmed with the cliivalrous character of the enterprise, and, 
 amongst others, sir Thomas Broughton, the friend and correspondent of lord Level. 
 On the breaking up of the camp, the insurgents, under John de la Pole, earl of 
 Lincoln, marched southward through Yorkshire into Nottinghamsliire, where they 
 were joined by lord Lovel, the devoted servant of the fallen tyi'ant, Richard III. 
 
 The king, Avith his usual promptitude and decision, hastened to give the insur- 
 gents battle ; and having been remforced by six thousand men, under the earl of 
 Shrewsbury and lord Strange, accompanied by seventy knights and persons of 
 distinction, the hostile army met at Stoke-field, near NcAvark. The battle, Avliich 
 Avas fought on the south side of the vUlage, Avas fierce and obstinate, and continued 
 for three hours, but at length A^ctory declared in favour of the Idng. All the leaders 
 in the rebel army were killed upon the field, including the earl of Lincoln, eaid 
 Kildare, Francis lord Lovel, Mai'tin SAvart, and su- Thomas Broughton. The 
 number of the rebel troops slain amounted to four tliousand, and of the king's forces 
 to about half that umuber.* Amongst the prisoners Avas the protended EdAvard 
 
 * It appears difficult to account for the death of so large a number as " eighty princes of blood," 
 said by Comines to have fallen in the wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, to which this 
 battle may not inaptly be considered supplemental ; but that difficulty will be in a great measure 
 removed, when the tragical history of the losses sustained in the person of one individual, Cecily, 
 duchess of York, the widow of the first duke, who laid claim to the throne in the reign of Henry VI. 
 is conside'-ed. This most unfortunate princess survived till 1487; and Brooke, in his " Observations 
 illustrative of the accounts given by the ancient historical writers of the battle of Stoke-field," says, 
 " her nephew, Humphrey, earl of Stafford, was slain at the first battle of St. Alban's, in 1455 ; his 
 father, Humphrey Stafford, duke of Buckingham, who married her sister, Anne Neville, perished in 
 1460, at the battle of Northampton; her husband, Richard Plantagenet, the great duke of York,
 
 XI. 
 
 Coiintj) |3alatmt of ?Lanrasitn% 445 
 
 Plautagenet, alias Lambert SLmiiel, and the Avily priest Simon, his tutor. The youtli, chai 
 beneath the resentment of Henry, found his level as an assistant-cook in the king's 
 kitchen, more happy, probably, than if he had worn the king's crown ; and as a 
 reward for liis merits, he was afterwards promoted to the office of one of liis majesty's 
 
 when the crown of England was almost within his grasp, and her nephew, sir Thomas Neville, (son of 
 her brother, Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury,) were slain in the same year, at the battle of Wakefield ; 
 her brother, the earl of Salisbury, was taken prisoner, and immediately beheaded by martial law ; and 
 her second son, Edmund, earl of Rutland, was, at the same time, butchered in cold blood by lord 
 Clifibrd ; her half-nephews, sir John Neville, and Ralph Neville, earl of Westmoreland, perished in 
 1461, the former at the skirmish of Ferrybridge, or Dintingdale, and the latter at the battle of Towton ; 
 her nephew, sir Henry Neville, (son of her brother, George Neville, lord Latimer,) was made prisoner, 
 and put to death, at the battle of Banbury, in 1469 ; John Tibtoft, earl of Worcester, who married 
 her niece, Cecily, (the widow of Henry de Beauchamp, duke of Warwick,) was executed on Tower- 
 hill, in 1470 ; her two nephews, Richard Neville, the great earl of Warwick, the " proud setter-up 
 and puller-down of kings," and John Neville, marquis of Montague, were slain at the battle of Barnet, 
 in 1471; Edward, prince of Wales, who married her great niece, Anne Neville, (daughter of her 
 nephew, the earl of Warwick,) was most barbarously murdered, after the battle of Tewksbury, in the 
 same year; her son George, duke of Clarence, was put to death in the Tower of London, in 1478, 
 his wife, who was her great-niece, having previously died, as was supposed, by poison ; her eldest son, 
 ' king Edward IV., abandoned a warlike and active life for pleasure and excesses, which cut him off in 
 the prime of manhood in 1483 ; William, lord Hastings, (the ancestor of the house of Hastings, earls 
 of Huntingdon,) who married her niece, Katherine Neville, was, a few weeks after that event, 
 beheaded, without even the form of a trial; her two grandsons, king Edward V. and Richard, duke 
 of York, were murdered in the Tower of London soon afterwards ; and her son-in-law, sir Thomas 
 St. Ledger, who married her daughter, Anne Plantagenet, (by whom he had a daughter, Anne, the 
 ancestress of the present family of Manners, dukes of Rutland,) was executed in the same year at 
 Exeter, for treason, in joining the unsuccessful rebellion of the great duke of Buckingham ; and the 
 duke, who was her great nephew, being deserted by his forces, and the place of his retreat discovered, 
 was about the same time taken and beheaded ; her grandson, Edward, prince of Wales, (son of king 
 Richard HI. and Queen Anne, her niece, through whom she naturally expected the honour of being 
 the ancestress of a long line of English monarchs,) died in 1484 ; and the childless queen, his mother, 
 a few months afterwards, followed him to the tomb; her youngest son, king Richard HI. an excel- 
 lent monarch and valiant soldier, but an ambitious and wicked man, was slain at the battle of 
 Bosworth, in 1485 ; and her grandson, John de la Pole, earl of Lincoln, perished in 1487, at the 
 battle of Stoke. She died in 1495 ; after three princes of her body had succeeded to the crown of 
 England, (without taking into account her grand-daughter, Elizabeth Plantagenet, queen of 
 Henry VII.) and four had been murdered; and, by her death, was saved the additional afHiction of 
 the loss of her grandson, Edward Plantagenet, earl of Warwick, the last male of the house of Plan- 
 tagenet, who was doomed to imprisonment for life, and was, at length, inhumanly put to death, under 
 the colour of a judicial proceeding, in 1499, by that cold, mean, and heartless usurper, Henry VII." 
 
 As to the historical facts contained in this interesting note, they are indubitable ; but had 
 Mr. Brooke lived in the fifteenth century, he would certainly have been a Yorkist, and a strong bias 
 towards tlie princes and sovereigns of that house pervades his " Observations."
 
 446 
 
 €\n ^l^isitoi-j) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 Confisca- 
 tion of sir 
 Thomas 
 Brougli- 
 ton's 
 estates. 
 
 falconers. As for Siinon, he was committed to prison, and doomed to perpetual 
 incarceration. The Idng rewarded tlie services of lord Strange hy conferring upon 
 his father, lord Stanley, the confiscated estates of sir Thomas Broughton. 
 
 " Stout Broughton, that had stood 
 With York even from the first, there lastly gave his blood 
 To that well-foughten field." 
 
 Dravton's Poi.y-Olbion. 
 
 Punish- 
 ment of 
 the rebels. 
 
 Confirma- 
 tion of 
 grant to 
 sir Wra. 
 Stanley. 
 
 Abduc- 
 tion. 
 
 " With this unhappy gentleman, the family of Broughton, which had flourished for 
 many centuries, and had contracted alliances ^ith most of tlie principal families in these 
 parts, was extinguished in Furness ; for Quicquid deUrant rcges plectuntur AcJiiri.''* 
 
 After the hattle of Stoke, the king made another journey into the northern 
 counties, but it was rather an itinerant circuit of justice, to try and sentence the 
 rebels, than a royal progress. Strict inquisition was made into the conduct of the 
 offenders, whether they had been principals or abettors in the late rebellion. Many 
 persons were sentenced to death, and executed, but the prevailing jiunishment was 
 by fine and confiscation, wliich spared life, but raised money — at all times the 
 distinguishing characteristic of king Henry's policy. 
 
 In the reign of Richard III. sir William Stanley became seized of certain 
 royal demesne lands, " as a fee of the manors of Pykhill, Sessewyke, and Bedewall, 
 the moite of the manors of Istoid, Hewlyngton, Cobham, Hem, Wrexham, Burton, 
 Alyngton, Esclusham, Eglosecle, Ruyaban, Abynbury, Dynull, Morton Fabror', 
 Minere, Osbaston, Sonford, Oseleston ; the moite of the castell, lordship and manor 
 of Dynesbram; castell, lordship and town of Lyone, othenvise called the Holte, the 
 moite of the lordship, manors and lands of Hewelyngton, Bromfeld, Yale, Wrex- 
 ham, and Almore, with the advoAvsons of the moite of the churche of Grefford, in 
 Wales, and marche of Wales, unto the countie of Shropshire adjoining." Tliis 
 grant was made to the gallant knight, partly, no doubt, of the royal bounty, but not 
 wholly so, as other manors and lands, as well as money, Avere given by liim to tlie 
 crown on the grant being ratified to sir William. After the change of the dynasty, 
 it became a matter of doubt, Avhether the gi'ant made by king Richai'd was of sufficient 
 validity to confer an undisputed title; and, for the purpose of remoraig all uncertainty 
 on the subject, an act was passed in the fourth year of the reign of Henry VII. 
 confirming the royal grant to sir William Stanley, and to his heirs for ever.f 
 
 The crime of abduction, rendered somewhat memorable in Lancashire in modern 
 times, prevailed as early as the reign of Henry VII., and, by an act of that monarch. 
 
 * West's Furness, synopsis of families, p. 210. + Rot. Pari. 4 Henry VII. vol. vi. p. 417.
 
 Coimtj) palatine of aanrastrr. 447 
 
 tlie taking and carrying away of a woman forcibly and against her will (except chap. 
 
 female wards and bond-women) was made a capital offence ; parliament conceiving, '. . 
 
 that tlie obtaining of a woman by force, whatever assent niigbt afterwards follow, was 
 but a rape drawn forth in length, because the first force drew on all the rest.* 
 
 The failure of the pretensions of Lambert Simnel served only to whet the inven- 
 tion of his noble patroness, the duchess of Burgundy, who, with an assiduity and 
 malignity that belonged to her character, got up a new tragedy, in which Perkin Perkin 
 Warbeck, an adroit youth, the son of a renegade Jew, was to act the prmcipal part, another 
 
 -,. 1 11 !!• !• pretender. 
 
 The reputed father of this new pretender to tlie throne hail, it appears, been m 
 favour Avith Edward IV. and was supposed to have surrendered his wife to the 
 embraces of that licentious prince; so that the extraordinary resemblance which 
 it is said young Perkin bore to Edwai'd, his godfather, was by no means mii-acu- 
 lous. Having found this treasure, the duchess of Burgundy kept him under her 
 tuition for a considerable time, polishing his manners up to the standard of court 
 refinement, and instructing luui in all the particulars that it concerned Richard 
 Plantageuet to know, regarding both his royal parents and his elder brother, and 
 his kinsfolk; with all which it was essential that he should be perfectly acquainted, 
 for the due acting of his princely part. To stimulate liis ambition, she set before 
 him the glories of a crown; and assured him, that if he should even fail in his 
 entei-prise, he should at all times find an asylum in her court. That the less 
 suspicion might attach to the " young prince," he was sent through Portugal to 
 Ireland, and disembarked at Cork. Here he announced Ids chums to the throne of 
 England, and, having paved his way, as he conceived, in that country, he embarked 
 for France, Avhere his court was attended by many of the leading persons in Paris. 
 From thence he returned into Flanders, for the purpose, as he pretended, of jjaying 
 a first visit to liis aunt of Burgundy. The duchess affected never to have seen him 
 before, and scrutinized liis claims with great severity, in order to discover whether he 
 was the real duke of York. The answers returned to her questions, which were 
 asked in the presence of a number of persons of her court, seemed to astonish the 
 inquu'er. She feigned to be quite transported with joy and wonder at the mira- 
 culous deliverances of her nephew; and having given expression to her feelings, she 
 conferred upon him the title of " The WJiite Rose of En(/la)i(f,'' ai)pointing him a 
 guard for his royal person. Attracted by the news of this regal star, wliich had risen 
 on the continent, sir Robert Clifford embarked for Flanders, to ascertain the identity 
 of the young prince ; and, after having examined him with great minuteness, he wi'ote 
 to England to say, that he knew Richard duke of York as well as he knew his own 
 son, and this was unquestionably that prince. Tlie Idng, though a silent, was by no 
 
 • Lord Verulam's history, p. 65.
 
 448 
 
 Cl)r l^isitori) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XI. 
 
 A number 
 of his 
 H'lherents 
 executed. 
 
 Sir Wm. 
 
 Stanley 
 
 accused. 
 
 Found 
 guilty, and 
 executed, 
 15 Feb. 
 1495. 
 
 means au inactive observer of tlie drama wliicli was acting, and in wliicli lie had so 
 deep ail interest. His inquiries at home, and his emissaries abroad, convinced him 
 that young Wai-beck was an impostor ; and he made an earnest representation to the 
 archduke Pliilip, by a si)ecial embassy, requiring that Perkin might be dismissed 
 from liis court in the same manner as pirates and other impostors were treated, 
 being accounted the common enemies of mankind. The reply to tliis application 
 was, that the archduke had no control over the possessions of the duchess dowager, 
 who was absolute in the lands of her dowry. 
 
 The king now determined to seize several of the persons in this country, by whose 
 aid the young pretender was partly upheld and supported. Amongst a number 
 of others, both of the laity and clergy, sir Simon Raddiife, lord Fitzwater, sir Simon 
 Mountford, sir Thomas Thwaites, and William Dawbigne}', were all brought to 
 trial ; and being found guilty of conspiring to dethrone the Idng, they were sentenced 
 to death, and beheaded. It was now ascertained that sii' Robert Clifford had been 
 induced to embark in the king's ser^dce as a state informer. On his return to 
 England from Flanders, he sought an audience of the king in council, and, affecting 
 gi-eat contrition, he fell do^Mi at his sovereign's feet, and besought his forgiveness — of 
 which he had already been assured. As a return for the royal clemency, he declared 
 his readiness to communicate all that be knew of the parties who had been in league 
 withWarbeck, and, amongst others, he accused sir William Stanley, the king's 
 chamberlain, who was at that moment in the royal presence. 
 
 The king received this information with amazement ! — that a man who had 
 served him so nobly, who bad rescued him from the most iuiminent peril in the hour 
 of battle, and who had crowned him in the field ; that a man who enjoyed by liis 
 favour so large a fortune, and such high elevation in the state, a man allied closely 
 with his royal master by family connexion, and to whom he had entrusted liis person, 
 should prove a traitor, — was incredible. Clifford was requested to reconsider his 
 charge, and Avarned of the consequences of repeating a false accusation : he persisted, 
 however, in liis assertions, and offered to justify liis accusation, upon his soul and 
 upon his life. The next day sir William was examined before the lords of the 
 council ; when he neither denied, or attempted to extenuate, his giult. His reliance 
 for pardon, it is said, rested principally upon his former services, and upon the inter- 
 cession of his brother, the earl of Derby ; but both these hopes failed him. In about 
 six weeks from the time when the accusation was first preferred by sii- Robert 
 Clifford, sir William Stanley was arraigned of high treason, and, being found guilty, 
 was condemned to suffer the utmost penalty of the law, and soon after beheaded. 
 The specific crime charged against sir William Stanley has never been satisfactorily 
 ascertained; but it is said, that, in a conversation with sir Robert Clifford, lie
 
 Coimtp ^alatmr of Saitrasitm 449 
 
 observed, " That if he were sure that Perkin Wavbeck was king Edward's son, he chap. 
 wouki neAer bear anns against him." Tliis tlie judges construed into conditional '■ 
 
 treason ; and the preference that the expression impUed, for tlie claims to the crown, of 
 the house of York, over that of the house of Lancaster, stung Henry to the quick. 
 Tlie true cause, however, of the extreme severity towards sir William Stanley was 
 probably his wealth, as he was one of the richest subjects in England, there having 
 been found in Ids castle of Holt forty thousand marks, exclusive of plate, jewels, and 
 other effects ; to which is to be added, three thousand pounds a year in land. This 
 was a temptation too alluring for a monai'ch of the king's cUspositiou to resist ; and 
 the general opinion is, that sir William Stanley was quite as much the victim of 
 Henry's cupifhty, as of his own alleged treason. Some disquietude, it is said, lurked 
 in the mind of su- Wilham, whose ambition had prompted him to aspire to the vacant 
 earldom of Chester, the ancient cUgnity of Rundle, viscount Bayeux,the Norman baron. 
 This request having been refused, his allegiance is supposed to have been shaken ; 
 and the king, having become suspicious that his love was turned into hate, was glad 
 of an occasion to remove from his court and person, one to whom he was under 
 infinite obHgation, 
 
 It is by no means clear that sir Robert Clifford, the state informer, was not from Equi\ocai 
 the beginning an emissary of the Idng, who maintained a widely extended system of of cnf- 
 espionage, and that he did not go over to Flanders with his consent, and by liis conniv- "' ' 
 ance. This supposition. Bacon (lord Verulam,) rejects, on the ground that su* Robert 
 never afterwards received that degree of confidence vvitli the king which he enjoyed 
 befoi'e he left England ; but tliis is a slender foundation on which to hazard the 
 conjecture, seeing that spies and their employers must, in the nature of tilings, 
 generally appear to stand in a state of alienation, if not of actual hostilit}-. The 
 parliament, which assembled in the same year, passed an act of attainder against 
 sir William Stanley, by wliicli all his honours, castles, manors, lordships, and other 
 possessions, were confiscated, and forfeited to the king, and thus swept into the 
 general mass of forfeitures which filled the royal coffers.* 
 
 In the midst of all the cares of state, Henry found sufficient leisure in the sum- The king's 
 mer, after the execution of su- William Stanley, to visit liis mother, for whom he Lanca- 
 always cherished the most affectionate regard, and his step-father, the eaii of ^^"^' 
 Derby, at Knowsley, and at Latham, in this county. So far was the earl from 
 expressing any hostility towards the king on account of the recent execution of his 
 brother, that he gave all possible effect to the royal progress, and entertauied his 
 guest with a sumptuous hospitality, such as has seldom been witnessed hi these 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 1 1 Henry VII. vol. vi. p. 503. 
 VOL. I. 3m
 
 450 CIk i^istxirj) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, parts. To promote tlie king's accommodation, tlie noble lord built a bridge over the 
 " river Mersey at Warrington, for the passage of liimself and liis suite ; which bridge 
 
 has been found of so much public utUity, as to afford a perpetual monument of the 
 ■visit of Henry VII. to Lancashire. The countess of Riclrmond and Derby not only 
 returned her son's affection, but she extended also her love to tlie queen and her 
 chilcken ; and the following letter, written by her to Thomas Boteler, earl of 
 Ormond, chamberlain to the queen, Avliile he was on a foreign embassy, is strongly 
 characteristic of her maternal affection : — 
 
 "My Lord Chambyrlayn,' 
 
 Letter of " Y thauko you hertyly that ye lyste soo sone remebyi- me w' my glovys the 
 
 teg's "oT" whyche wer rygtit good save they wer to myche for my hand, y thynke the ladyes 
 
 mMd y that partyes to giet ladyes all, and acordjnig to ther gi-et astate they have gi-et 
 
 personagf , as for newes her y ame seure ye shall have more seurte then y can send 
 
 yow, blessed be god the kyng the quenne and alt our suet chyldryn be yn good hele, 
 
 the queue hatlie be a lytytt erased, but now she ys well god be thankyd, her sykenes 
 
 ys soo good as y wuld but y truste hastyly yt shaft w' godd' gi-asse whom y pray 
 
 gyve yow good sped y your gi-et maters and brjaig you well and soone home, wrety 
 
 at Shene the xxv. day of aprett. 
 
 ^ -^Sy^tJt>-^^^^V-^^AAA^ 
 
 " To my lord 
 
 " The queuys chambyi'layii." 
 
 The progi-ess of the Idng on his northern tour to Lancashire commenced on the 
 20th of June, 1495, and terminated on the 3rd of October in the same year. In the 
 account of the " privy purse expenses of Henry VII." the chai-ges incurred on this 
 journey ai-e enumerated with gi-eat pailicularity, and the successive stages of the 
 royal route, both going and coming, ai-e marked Avith the king's accustomed precision, 
 in the following terras : — 
 
 "June 21. At Wicombe. 22. At Notley. 25. At Wodestok. 
 
 " 28. For making the King's bonefuyer, 10". 
 
 " July 1. At Cleping-norton. 
 
 " 2. At Evesham. 3. At Tukesbury. 4. At Wours. 
 
 "5. To Brom riding to Northamptonsliire and Ruteland with five lettres, 10'
 
 Coiintp ^alatint of aanrasftcr. 451 
 
 " 9, To a preste that Avas the King's scolemaster, £2. chap 
 
 " To a tumbler opon tlie rope in rewarde, 3% 4''. 
 
 "10. At Biewdeley. 12. At Ludlow. 15. At Shrewsbury. 
 
 " 16. At Cumbemcre Abbey. 
 
 " To an archer of th' archeduc in rewarde, £4. 
 
 " 17. At Holte. 18. At Chester. 
 
 " To TophflF the Juge of Ireland, £2. 
 
 " 23. To John Reding for vitailling, waging of four shipps at Fowey and 
 Pl}anouth, ^\^th 470 [men] for six weeks to be opon the sea, £350. 2\ 9''. 
 
 " For his costs ricUng theder with the money, £6. 13'. 4''. 
 
 " To Sii- Geffi-ey for vitadling, hiring of sliippes, liii-ing of horses, for liis olde 
 costs, & for Ms costs now, in grosse, £42. 1 7". 4''. 
 
 " To the Pycard of Chester liired for a moneth, to carry men into Ireland, 
 £4. 13'. 2". 
 
 " To a Spanyard for can-ying seventy men over into Irelande at onetyme, £10. 
 
 " To William Damport for four tun of here, with the carriage and empty pipes, 
 £4. IP. 2". 
 
 " At Vaile Roiall Abbey. 
 
 " To one that leped at Chestre, 6\ 8*. 
 
 " For the wags of eleven pety captanes for fourteen days, every of them 9' by 
 day, £5. 15'. 6\ 
 
 (Equal to about six shillings per day at the present time.) 
 
 " For their conduyt money, £1. 9'. 3\ 
 
 " To the wags of 149 fotemen for fourteen days, every of them 6^. by day, 
 £101. 10'. 6". 
 
 " To their condyt money, £26. 6'. 8*. 
 
 " For 142 jackets, at 1'. 6^ the pece, £13. 11*. 
 
 " To fifty-five cresset men, every of them V. £2. 15'. 
 
 "JM?y 28. AtWlionwick (Wiuwick). 
 
 " 20. At Lathom. 
 
 " To Sii- Richard Pole for 200 jacquetts, price of every pece P. 6^ £15. 
 
 Husband of Margaret Plantagenet, daughter of George Duke of Clai-ence» 
 and afterwards Countess of Salisbmy. 
 
 " For the wages of 100 horsemen for fourteen days, every of them 9* by day, 
 £52. 10'. 
 
 " For their conduyt for 3 days, every of the n 9'^ by day, £11. 5'. 
 
 " For the wages of 100 fotemen for fourteen days, every of them 6''. by day, 
 £35. 
 
 3m 2
 
 452 Cf)f ?ljlStXlip Of tl)t 
 
 XI. " To swell the King's retinue. 
 
 " For theii" conduyt for four clays, every of them 6''. by day, £10. 
 
 " For shipping, vitailliug, and setting over the see the foresaid 200 men with an 
 100 horses, £13. 6'. 8\ 
 
 " To the shirif awayting upon S' Sampson for the safe conduyt of the forsaid 
 souldeours, £2. 
 
 " Auff. 2. To Picard, a hen-aid of Fraunce, in rewarde, £6. 13'. 4^. 
 
 " To the women that songe before the Kinge and the Queue in reward, 6'. 8''. 
 From wliich it appeal's that the King was accompanied in this progress by 
 the Queen. 
 
 " 3. At Knowsley. 
 
 " 4. At Warington. 
 
 " 5. At Manchestre. 
 
 " 6. At Maxfeld, 8. At Newcastell. 10. At Strafford. 11. At Lychefeld. 
 12. At Burton. 13. At Derby. 28. At Lughburgh. 29. At Leye. 
 
 "31. To theubassador of Scotland. 
 
 " For charging and discharging, wacliing and attending upon the Kinges jewels 
 from Shene to Nottingham, £20. 
 
 " Se^y. 1. At Walsted. 
 
 " To the Erie of Kildare in reward, £6. 13'. 4*. 
 
 " For the costs and chai'ges of the Enbassador's horses at Nottuigham and Leye, 
 £8. 19'. l-*. 
 
 "4. At Colyweston. 11. At Rekyng. 
 
 "11. To James Keyley for King Richard [III.] tombe,£l0. P. 
 
 " 12. At Northampton. 
 
 " To David Malpas, for the reparacone done and made at Rokyngham Castell, 
 £6. 19' 9'. 
 
 " 16. AtBanbiu-y. 19. At Wodestok. 
 
 " 19. For gloves and Lantory cheese, 4'. 
 
 d 
 
 " 25. To the Juge of Ireland in rewarde, £3. &\ 8' 
 
 " 27. For five paire of gloves by Hugh Denes, P. 8''. 
 
 " 29. At Newelme. 
 
 " To Dr. Maye for finding of John Phelps at Oxon, £2. 
 
 " 33. At Birsham. Oct. 1. At Windesor. 
 
 " To the chiltken for the Kings spowres, 4'. 
 
 " Oct. 3. At Shene. 16. At Westminster."
 
 Counti.) |3alatuit of 2Lanca£Jtfr, 453 
 
 During the king's i-esidence at Latham, Perkin Wai'beck having collected a chap. 
 
 considerable armament, attempted a landing on the coast of Kent ; hnt this enterprise, U . 
 
 like all the others in wldch he embarked, utterly failed. He next sailed for Scotland, invasions 
 
 of M ar- 
 
 wliere he was received with gi'eat favour by the 8cotch king. Here he told liis i^e^k. 
 pathetic story with much effect, representing, that " one Henry Tudor, the son of 
 Edmund Tudor, had usui-ped that tlu'one, of which he had been deprived by liis 
 uncle, Richard of Gloucester. Henry, not content with displacing him from tlie throne, 
 had laboured to compass his death and ruin ; the justice of his cause, however, was 
 so manifest to his most christian majesty Charles, king of France, and to the lady 
 duchess of Burgundy, his dear aunt, that they not only acknowledged his title to the 
 English crown, but were ready to assist liim in obtaining it." The king so far 
 supported the claims of his interesting young guest, that he allowed liim to take to 
 ^ife Lady Katherine Gordon, daughter of the earl of Huntley, a lady of great beauty, 
 and of high accomplishments. The next step was to penetrate into England by the 
 northern borders, and to erect his standard in Northumberland. Here Perkin issued 
 a " royal proclamation,"* inviting all loyal subjects to repair' to his standard, and 
 holding out the most alluring promises to those who embraced his cause. All these 
 blancHshments failed of success. Tlie people were insensible to the demand made 
 upon their loyalty, and the expedition ended in a precipitate retreat, but not till the 
 Scotch had plundered and laid waste the county of Northumberland. 
 
 His next and final attempt was upon the coast of Cornwall, where a recent insur- 
 rection, which terminated in the defeat of the rebels upon Blackheath, seemed to 
 have prepared the people for his reception. The first appearance of Perkin was at 
 Bodmin, where he was joined by about three thousand of the inhabitants of that town 
 and the neighbouring district. Thus encouraged, he marched to the city of Exeter, 
 which he suramoned to suiTender in the name of " Richard IV., king of England." 
 Instead of dismay, tliis invasion excited nothing but joy and derision in the king's 
 court. Speaking of Perkin and his followers, who were many of them persons of 
 decayed fortune, and a number of others absolute felons, Henry said, " The king of 
 Rake-hells has landed in the west, and I hope I shtUl have the honour of an internew 
 with hiin." The king lost not a moment in despatcliiug the lord chamberlain, lord 
 Brook, and sir Rice ap Thomas, with a light force, to Exeter, to relieve the city, 
 charging them to announce that he was on liis march in person, at the head of the 
 royal ai'my. All these preparations were rendered unnecessary by the gentry of 
 the county having collected a force sufficient to alarm the invaders, who suddenly 
 raised the siege of Exeter, and marched to Taunton. From this place Perkin 
 Warbeck fled in the night, attended by about sLxty liorsemeu, to BeAvley, in the wafiili"!!. 
 ' • Sir Robert Cotton's MSS.
 
 454 €i)t i?is;toi|.) of tht 
 
 CHAP, New Forest, where he shut liimself up for safety in the sanctuary of that place, 
 
 ' alleging, that he foresaw the carnage that would ensue, and he could not endure to 
 
 see the blood of his subjects spilt! Lady Katheriue Gordon, who had followed the 
 
 fortunes of her husband, whom she tenderly loved, was captured at St. Michael's, in 
 
 Cornwall, by the king's troops, and, being taken to comt, she was treated by the 
 
 queen with gi'eat kindness, and even aifection. Her beauty was the theme of general 
 
 admiration, and, being extremely fail-, the title given to her husband by the duchess 
 
 of Burgundy was transferred to his lady, Avho was henceforth called " Hie ^V^nte. 
 
 Rose." The pretender, Perkin, on a promise of pardon from the king, surrendered 
 
 himself into liis hands. On bemg brought to London, he confessed the imposture, 
 
 and became an object of scorn rather than of loyal regard. Having formed a con- 
 
 spu'acy, as was alleged, with Edwai-d Plantagenet, earl of WarAvick, the eldest son 
 
 of the late duke of Clarence, who had been kept a prisoner in the Tower from liis 
 
 Execution iufaucy, he was brought to trial for higli treason, found guilty, and afterwards 
 
 male of the executed at Tyburn. The earl of Warwick, his accomplice, was also convicted, and 
 
 genets! beheaded on Tower Hill, in whom fell the last of the male line of the Plantagenets.* 
 
 The king, no longer exposed to the danger of losing his throne, smrendered 
 
 himself to that passion, wliich, when inordinately cherished, strengthens with age. 
 
 The king's and outlives all other vices.t The sums wliich flowed into the royal coffers from the 
 
 pii'ise. arbitrary exactions of Epsom and Dudley were immense j and the strictness with 
 
 which the account of the king's privy purse was kept is at once amusing and 
 
 instructive. In these accounts, from the year 1491 to 1505, amongst an immense 
 
 number of other items of expenditure, the following appear : — - 
 
 * Contemporary liistorians describe this young prince in their strong, but homely terms, as 
 reduced to the most abject state of imbecility by his long confinement, and by his almost entire 
 exclusion from human intercourse: " he was," says Holinshed, " a very innocent." Hall says, " being 
 kept for fifteen years without company of men, or sight of beasts, he could not discern a goose from 
 a capon." 
 
 t Among other modes of raising money, the king had frequently recourse to subsidies ; a levy of 
 this kind was made in 1496, when the persons appointed to be commissioners for Lancashire, along 
 with the justices of the peace, were 
 
 Edmundus Trafford Mil', Thomas Lawrence Arm' 
 
 JoHes Talbot Mil', Thomas Hesketh Arm'. 
 
 It is due to the king, however, to say, that he did from time to time award allowances from the 
 revenues of the duchy of Lancaster for the relief of the public burdens, as appears by the following 
 items in the acts of the first and eleventh years of his reign : — 
 j^85. First, of the General Receivour of the Duchieof Lancastre . . . mm. ccciiiti. xiriis. vd. oB. 
 
 j^gj First, oftheGenerallReceyvour of the Duchieof Lancastre . . . mm. ccciiiti. xiiii s. vid. o'b.
 
 Coimtj) palatine of £anrasitfr, 455 
 
 £. S. d. CHAP. 
 
 Money given to Sii* Wm. Stanley at his execution .... 10 " 
 
 Paid for Sir William Stanley's buryall at Syon 15 19 
 
 Paid to Simon Digby in full payment for tlie buriall of Sir 
 
 Wm. Stanley 200 
 
 Paid to Robert Suthewell for horses, sadells, and other neces- 
 
 sarys bought for the conveyance of my Lady Kateryn 
 
 Hunt-leye, (The White Rose) 7134 
 
 Paid to my Lord Strange in reward 40 
 
 Paid to Sir Edward Stiuiley in reward 26 13 4 
 
 Paid for making of the bonefuyer 200 
 
 Paid to Sir Gilbert Talbot going on an embassade to Rome, 
 
 for his costs 500 
 
 &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Towards the close of liis reign, the king displayed great anxiety to bring a Failure of 
 " celestial honour," as it was called, into the house of Lancaster. To accomplish to obtain 
 this object, he sent an embassy to Rome, to importune the new pope Julias IL to honour 
 canonize Henry VI. ; but upon what gi'ound, except that he had, when Henry VH. i^ous^of 
 was a boy, predicted that he should one day fill tlie throne of England, it is difficult ^""^^^ *'^" 
 to conjecture. His holiness referred the matter to certain cardinals, to take the 
 verification of the deceased monarch's holy acts and miracles; but these were not 
 sufficiently obvious to entitle him to the dignity of the calendar, and the negociation 
 was abandoned in despaii'. 
 
 A MS. in the Harleian Collection,* found amongst the papers of Fox the 
 Martyrologist, entitled " De Miracnlis Beatissimi M'lUtis Xpi Henrici F;,'' con- 
 sisting of about 150 folio closely written pages, contains an account of a vast number 
 of reputed mii-acles performed by this monarch, of which the following may be taken 
 as specimens. 
 
 " How Richard Whytby Priest of Mount St. Michaels was long ill of a Fever, & at last mira- 
 culously cured by journeying to the Tomb of Henry VI." [Folio 113 b.] 
 
 " John called Robynson, who had been blind ten years, recovered his sight by visiting Henry's 
 Tomb." [Folio 97 b.] 
 
 " How Henry Lancaster, afflicted with Fever, was miraculously cured in three days by the 
 appearance of that blessed Prince Henry VI. in the sky." [Folio 98.] 
 
 " How a girl called Joan Knyght who was nearly kilLd with a bone sticking in her throat, and 
 considered dead, on the by-standers invoking Henry VI. vomited the bone & was restored 
 to health." [Folio 119 b.] 
 
 • Cod. 423.
 
 456 CfK l?l£(t0lj) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. One of the last acts of the parliament of Henry VII. was to answer a demand 
 
 ^^" for two " reasonable aids;" the one for making a knight of his eldest son Arthur, 
 
 Reason- now deceased, and the other for the marriage of his eldest daughter (from which 
 marriage sprang the Stuart dynasty in England) to the king of Scotland, and also 
 for the " gi'eat and inestimable charges" which he had incurred for tlie defence of 
 the realm. Parliament having duly considered these demands, and being fully aware 
 of the difficulty and discontent which would aiise from the aids being levied according 
 to the ancient tenors of the kingdom, compounded for them by presenting the king 
 with forty thousand pounds, towards which sum the contribution for Lancashire, and 
 the coimnissioners employed in its collection, were as follow : — 
 
 Thomas Boteler, Knyght, 
 John Bothe, Knyght, 
 Pears Lee, Knyght, 
 1 Richard Bold, Knyght, 
 
 Jolm SoAvthworth, Knyght, 
 Thomas Laurence, Knyght, 
 William Thornborough, Esquyer, 
 Cutberd Clyfton, Esquyer, 
 
 Immense The death of the king put the usual termination to the accumulation of wealth. 
 
 wealth of a jjg ^eh,'' says lord Verulam, " mostly in secret places, vnder his owne Key and 
 keeping, at Richmond, treasui-e of store, that amounted (as by Tradition it is reported 
 to have done) %aito the Summe of neare Eighteene hundred thousand pounds 
 Sterling; a huge Masse oi Money, even for these tunes," 
 
 From the time of Henry VII. the distinction of the Roses, as a badge of party, 
 fell entirely into disuse. The origin of tliis distinction may be traced back to the 
 time of John of Gaunt, whose device was a red rose, and Edmund of Langley, whose 
 device was a white rose. " Tliese two factions," says Selden, " afterwards, as for 
 cognizance of their descent and inclinations, were by the same flowers cUstinguished," 
 till the wliite rose and the red were united, on the marriage of Henry VII. with the 
 princess Elizabeth. 
 
 , cccxviiiti. IIS. iiid. ob. q.
 
 Cdimti) l^Mint of ILnnrasitfr. 
 
 457 
 
 CJ)ap. ^M- 
 
 The 16th century.— Henry VIII. ascends the throne.— Invasion of England by the Scots.— Battle 
 of Flodden Field—The king's letter of thanks to sir Edward Stanley, &c.— Lord-lieutenants first 
 appointed.— Proclamation to the sheriff of Lancaster on menaced Scotch invasion.— The Reforma- 
 tion.— Religious persecution.— Visitation of the monasteries.— Deplorable ignorance of the 
 clergy.— Report of the commissioners on the Lancashire monasteries.— Dissolution of the lesser 
 monasteries.-Original certificate of the value of certain monasteries in Lancashire.- Progress of 
 a suffragan in Lancashire.-Insurrections produced by the dissolution of the monasteries.-The 
 pilgrimage of grace.-Letter from the king to the archbishop of York and lord Darcy.-Or.g.nal 
 warrants (fac similes) from the king to sir Roger Bradshawe and sir Thomas Langton, kn.ghts.- 
 Dispersion of the rebel army.-Reassemble.-Final dispersion. -Letter from the earl of Derby to 
 the king, on the taking of Whalley abbey.-First draught of Henry Vin.'s letter to the earl of 
 Sussex on the rebellion in the north, &c.-Renewed rebellion in the north.-Execution of the 
 abbot of Whalley and others.-Dissolution of the larger monasteries.-First pubhcation of the 
 Bible in En-lish.-Excommunication of the king.-List of Lancashire monasteries.-Their revenues 
 administered by the duchy.-Aggregate value of the dissolved monasteries.-Bishopnc of Chester 
 &c. erected.-List of chantries in Lancashire.-Decayed towns in Lancashire. -Privdege of 
 sanctuary.— The king's death. 
 
 HE skteentli century, during almost the whole of 
 wliich period the throne of England was occupied by 
 Henry VHI. and liis cliildren, affords abundant 
 materials for both the general and the local history of 
 the county of Lancaster. The reformation of the 
 estabUshed church, by which so many of the religious 
 institutions of the country were dissolved, and the 
 erection of a new bishopric, in which this coimty was 
 included, could not fail materially to affect our eccle- 
 
 siastical institutions ; wliile the persecutions on account 
 
 of the ever-varying religion of the state, created a degree of public excitement that 
 has seldom had a parallel in British history. In the north, the impression produced 
 by these memorable changes was deeper than in the south; and in Lancashii-e, where 
 the recusants were more numerous than in any other county, both the clergy and the 
 laity awaited the result of the contest of the rival churches of England and Rome 
 with an anxiety fully commensurate with the unportant interests it involved. Nor 
 
 VOL. I. 3 N 
 
 CH\I' 
 XII. 
 
 The leth 
 century.
 
 458 
 
 ClK 5}i£ituii) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XII. 
 
 Henry 
 VIII. as- 
 cends the 
 throne. 
 
 Invasion 
 of Eng- 
 land by 
 the Scots. 
 
 Battle of 
 Flodden 
 Field. 
 Sept. 0, 
 1513. 
 
 were the military and naval events of this period less interesting. The battle of 
 Flodden Field, the wars with France, the almost incessant contests with Ireland, and 
 the menaced invasion of this country by Spain, which terminated in the destruction 
 of the " invincible armada," filled the whole nation with military ardour; and the 
 amj)le official correspondence between the lieutenancy in the county of Lancaster and 
 the successive ministers of state, shews that tliis county took its full share in the great 
 events, by which the destiny of the nation was fixed, and its independence for ever 
 secured. 
 
 No prince ever ascended the throne of England under circumstances more 
 auspicious than those which attended the elevation of Henry VIII. At peace with 
 foreign nations, in the enjoyment of an undisputed title to the tlu-one, Avith a treasury 
 fuU almost to repletion, and in possession of the affections of his people, he had 
 nothing to wish for, and nothing to dread, except the impetuosity of his own passions. 
 His venerable gi-andmother, the countess of Richmond and Derby, had survived her 
 son, Hemy VII., and offered her valuable council and assistance in tlie formation of 
 the young king's cabinet, at the head of which stood the archbishop of Canterbury. 
 The countess lived to see the hope of her old age married lo Catherine of Arragon, 
 the " A-irgiu widow" of his deceased brother Arthur, and died soon after the consum- 
 mation of that unhappy union. 
 
 A few years served to engage the king in a war with France, and to awaken the 
 doiTaant feelings of hostility entertained towards England by the Scottish nation. To 
 prosecute his operations with success, James IV., king of Scotland, passed the English 
 frontier at the head of fifty thousand men,* and menaced the adjoining shores with 
 his invading army. To repel this formidable invasion, large levies, principally of 
 the tenantry of the great landed proprietors, were raised in the counties of Lancaster, 
 Chester, York, and Westmoreland, which were placed, by the dii-ection of the queen 
 regent,t under the command of Thomas Howard, eail of Sm-rey, and which, with the 
 addition of five thousand regular ti'oops, swelled the amount of the English ai-my to 
 twenty-six thousand men. The earl having marched from Pontefract by the route of 
 Bolton Castle, the two armies met on the field of Flodden, near the foot of the Cheviot 
 Hills, on the margin of the vale of Tweed. The earl of Sun-ey, having divided his 
 forces into two parts, confided the vanguard to the command of his son, lord Howard, 
 the lord achuii-al; and the reai- he headed liimself Su- Edmund Howard commanded 
 
 * The official account, written by the lord admiral, says eighty thousand; but numbers of these 
 were, no doubt, the hangers-on of the army, who had accompanied their friends, to partake of their 
 expected plunder. 
 
 t The king was at that time personally engaged in the wars in France, while Catherine, emulating 
 the example of queen Philippa, (see chap. ix. p. 331,) was left to repel the Scotch invaders.
 
 Countp palatine of aanrndtm 459 
 
 the right Aviu-, and sii- Edward Stanley the left whig of the English army. On chap. 
 
 leadin^g his followers to the field, the earl exclaimed, " Now, good feUows, do like 
 
 EngliSunen this day!" The right wing of the vanguard, under sir Edmund Howard, 
 overwhelmed by a large body of Scottish spearmen, commanded by lord Home, 
 narrowly escaped anniliilatiou by the timely anival of the Bastard Heron, ^Ndth a 
 numerous body of outlaws, Avho maintained a dubious contest, tiU the lord Dacre, 
 with a reserve of fifteen thousand horse, charged the spearmen, aiul put them to 
 flight. Tlie EngUsh vanguai-d, under the lord admii-al, fought like heroes, and, after 
 slapng the eai-ls of Enrol and Crawford, dispersed then- forces in every dii-ection. 
 Tli'e commanders of the conflicting annies, the earl of Surrey, and the Scottish king, 
 with the chosen waniors of theh- respective armies, were opposed to each other. 
 James fought on foot, sun-ounded by thousands of his men, cased in armour, which 
 resisted the ai-rows of the English archers : maixhing with a steady step towards the 
 royal standard of England, he conceived this trophy of victory to be almost within 
 liis grasp, and was congi-atulating himself on the glories that awaited him, when 
 sir- Edward Stanley, leading the left wing of the EngUsh army, composed principally 
 of the Lancasliire, Chesliire, and Yorkshire levies, defeated the earls of Argyle and 
 Lennox, and turned the fortune of the day. The Scotch ranks, hai-assed by the 
 murderous discharges of the archers, and the tremendous blows of the bill-men, feU 
 into disorder ; when Stanley, seizing the moment of panic, chased them over the 
 liill, and, wheeling to the right, led his followers against the rear of the main Scotch 
 army under king James, and thus placed hhn between two fii-es. In vain did the 
 gallant monarch endeavour to penetrate the hostUe ranks by wliich he was envi- 
 roned; the moment of his destiny was at hand, and he fell a lifeless corpse upon the 
 field, Within a spear's length of the feet of the earl of Suney. The battle, wliich 
 begJn about five o'clock in the afternoon, terminated at night-fall, and the pursuit 
 was continued for only four miles. On the part of the Scotch, ten thousand wairiors 
 were slain ; amongst whom were not only the king, but his natural son, the arch- 
 bishop of St. Andrews, with two other bishops, two abbots, twelve earls, thii-teen 
 barons, five eldest sons of barons, and fifty other men ot distinction.* Six thousand 
 horses were taken, with the Avhole park of the Scotch ai-tillery, and about eight 
 thousand prisoners. The gallantry of the Lancashire men at the memorable battle 
 of Flodden-field has, at all times, been a subject of exultation on the part of the 
 inhabitants of tliis county. That their favourite leader, sir Edward Stanley, should 
 have, by liis skill and courage, contributed so essentially to turn the fate of the day, 
 and 'that those other gallant knights, sir William Molineux of Scfton, sii- Edward 
 Norris of Speke, and sir- Richard Asshton of Middleton, should have co-operated 
 
 * Lord Thomas Howard's official account. 
 3 N 2
 
 460 €l)t 5?is(tor|) of ti)t 
 
 CHVP. SO efl5ciently with their leader, will long be mentioued mth praise, by those who 
 XII • . 
 
 " cherish the memory of gallant deeds at arms, and combme with them the localities 
 
 of the respective contingents. 
 
 The records of the day are full of the achievements of the heroes of Flodden- 
 
 field, which are celebrated in prose and in rhyme ; and an ancient MS. in the 
 
 Harleian collection in the British Museum, f records these valiant deeds in a strain 
 
 of eulogium, wliich it would be inexcusable wholly to omit. The poem is contained 
 
 in nine fits, or cantos, occupying sixty-six closely wiitten quai'to pages, and opens 
 
 ^ith the following ai'gument : — 
 
 " Heare is the Famous historie or Songe called Floodan Field, and in it shal be 
 " declare how whyle King Hemie the Eight was in France, the King of Scoots 
 " called James, the Fowerth of that name, Invaided the Realme of England, And 
 " how hee was Incountred w*^ all att a place called Branton, on Floodan HUl, By the 
 " Earle of Surry Live Tennant Generall for the Kinge, w*^ his sonne Lord Thomas 
 " Haworth, the great Achnii-all of England w* the Helpe of dyvers Lords & 
 " Knights in the North Countrie, As the Lord Dakers of the North the Lord Scrope 
 " of Bolton, w'" the most Con-agious Knight S' Edward Standley, whoe for his 
 " prowis and valliantnes shewed att the said Battell, was made Lord Mount Eagle 
 " as the Sequell declai'eth." 
 
 " Here followeth the first Fitt." 
 
 " Now will 1 cease, for to recyte 
 
 Kinge Henrie afFayres, in France so wyde, 
 
 And of domisticke warrs He writte 
 
 W'^'' in his abcence did betyd, 
 
 A fearefull field, in verce to Fraunce, 
 
 I meane if that to marke yee list 
 
 O Floodan Mounte, thy fearefull name 
 
 Doth sore affraye, my trimblinge Fist 
 
 Almightie Mars, Thou me adniitt 
 
 For to discowrs, w"' soundinge prayse 
 
 This Bloodie Field, this FearfuU Fight, 
 
 W'^'' fought was in our fathers days. 
 
 Yee Muses all," &c. 
 
 « ^ » ¥ « « « 
 
 " Then for the Earle of Surry hee sente, 
 And Regente of the North him made, 
 And bad him if the Scoots were bente 
 The Northern Borders to Invaid, 
 
 * Cod. 3526.
 
 Countj) ^aalatine of Sancasitfn 461 
 
 That he should Raise a Royall Band CHAP. 
 
 XII 
 
 In Yorkshire, and in Bushoppricke, '__ 
 
 In Westmerland and Comberland, 
 In Lancashire and Cheshire eake. 
 And if thou need North vmberl and, 
 Quoth hee theare is stronge men & stoute, 
 W''" will not sticke if need doe stand, 
 To fight on Horsebacke and on foote. 
 There is the doughtie Dakers, olde 
 Wardor of the West Marche is hee. 
 [ Fol. 4. ] There is the Bowes of Kendale bolde 
 
 •\ych fgjce will feight, and never flee. 
 There is S'' Edward Standley stowte 
 For Marshiall skill cleare w* out make, 
 Of Laytham Howse, by Lyne came out 
 Whose blood will never torne theire backe. 
 All Lancashire will live and dy, 
 W"* him, soe cheifly will Cheshire, 
 For through his fathers force quoth hee. 
 This kingdome first came to my Syre," &c. 
 " The 5"> Fitt followeth." 
 [ Fol. 34. ] " Now lyke a Captayne bould hee brought 
 
 A band of lustie ladds elecke. 
 Whose curious Cootts commily wrought 
 W* dreedfuU Dragons weare bedecte. 
 From Pennigant to Pendle Hill, 
 From Linton and long Addingham, 
 And all that Craven Crofts did till ; 
 They with the lustie Cliflford came, 
 
 All Stamcliffe hundred went w* him, 
 
 W"" striplings strong from wharledale. 
 
 And all that Hawton hills did dim, 
 
 W"" Longtrele eke and litle Dale, 
 
 Whose Milk Seeds fellowes Fillish breed. 
 
 Well band did sounding Bow vpe bend, 
 
 All such as Horton Fells had seed. 
 
 On Cliffords Banner did attend, &c. 
 [ Fol. 37. ] Next whome S"^ Wittam Pearcy prowd, 
 
 Whente w* the Earle Pearcie's power, 
 
 From Lancashire of lustie blood, 
 
 A Thousand Souldiers stiffe in stower. 
 
 Then the Earle himselfe cann vndertake 
 
 Of the reareguard the regimente 
 1 Whom Bartons bold did bravely backe. 
 
 And Southeren Souldiers seemly bente.
 
 463 CIjC ilneitori) of tfie 
 
 CHAP ' Next whome in place was nexed nere 
 
 XII. Lord Scroope of Bolton, sterne and stowte, 
 
 On horsebacks who had not his Peere, 
 Nor Englisheman Scootts more did doubt, 
 W"' him did weend all Wenstadale, 
 From Morton vnto Moysdall More, 
 All they that dvveld by the bankes of Smale 
 W"' him were bent in harnes store. 
 From wensley warrlyke weights did weend, 
 From Bushoppdale went bowmen bold. 
 From Coverdale to Cotterend, 
 And all to Bydstone Cawsey cold, 
 From Mawlerstange and Midleham, 
 And all from Maske and Mesonbie, 
 And all that dim the Mountayne came, 
 Whose growne from Frost is seldome free, 
 W"" lustie ladds and large of length, 
 
 W'' dweld on Sommer water syde," &c. 
 
 ******* 
 
 [ Fol. 39. ] " S' Edward Stanley stiff in slower, 
 
 He is the man on whome I meene, 
 W"' him did pass a mighty power, 
 Of Soildiers seemely to be seene. 
 Most liner ladds on Londsdale bred, 
 W* weapons of unwealdy weight. 
 All such as Tatham Fells had fedd 
 Went vnder Standleys streamer bright 
 From Boland Billmen bold weare bound 
 W"" such as Bretton bonkes did aide, &c. 
 All Lancashire for the most |)te 
 The lusty Standley stout can lead, 
 A stock of striplings stronge of heart 
 Brought vp from babes w"" beefe and bread. 
 From Warton vnto Warrington, 
 
 [ Fol. 40. ] From Wiggen vnto Wiresdale, 
 
 From Weddecon to Waddington, 
 From Ribchester vnto Rachdale, 
 From Poulton to Preston w"" pikes. 
 They w"" y' Standley howte forthe went. 
 From Pemberton and Pillin Dikes 
 For Battel! Bilmen bould were bent 
 W' fellowes fearce and freshe for feight 
 W*^'' Halton feilds did turne in foores 
 W"' lustie ladds liuer and light 
 From Blackborne and Bolton in y' Mdores
 
 CountP ^3(ilntinr of itanraistrr, 463 
 
 W"' children chosen fiora Cheshire CHAP. 
 
 In armor bold for battle drest, ^^^' 
 
 And many a gentleman and squire 
 Weare vnder Standley streamer prest," &c. &c. 
 
 The poet then naiTates the progress of the battle, and ends with celebrating the 
 victory. 
 
 Another poem in the Harleian MSS.* of a less authentic character, concludes 
 with the following singular invocation : — 
 
 " News God that was in Bethelem borne, 
 And for vs died vppon a Tree, 
 Save oure noble prince that wares the Crowne, 
 And shewe his mersye on the Erie of Derby." 
 
 After the battle, the victorious anny penetrated into Scotland; and Speke Hall, 
 the seat of sii' Edward Norris, has ever since been enriched vdth tropliies of this 
 memorable campaign, brought from the palace of the Scottish king. The English 
 monarch, who was then in France,'!" accompanied by Henry, earl of Derby, and 
 engaged in the great expedition in wliich Tournay was won, in the ardour of liis 
 gratitude, on liis return to England, addressed a congratulatory letter to sii- Edward 
 Stanley, expressed in the following terras : — 
 
 " Trusty and ivell-beloved, 
 
 " We greet you well, and understand as well by the report of our right trusty Letter 
 cousin and counsellor, the duke of Norfolk, as otherwise, what acceptable service king to sir 
 you amongst others lately chd unto us by your valiant towardnesse in the assisting of stanfey. 
 our said cousin against our gi'eat enemy, the late king of Scots; and how courageously 
 you, as a very lieaiiy loraig servant, acquitted yoiu'self for the overthrow of the said 
 king, and cUstressmg of his malice and power, to our great honour and the advancing 
 of your no little fame and praise : for wliich we have good cause to favoiu- and thank 
 you, and so we full heartily do, and assured may you be, that we shall in such 
 effectual wise remember your said service in any your reasonable pui'suits, as you 
 shall have cause to think the same right well employed to your comfort and weal 
 hereafter. 
 
 " Given under our signet at our castle at Windsor, the 27th of November." 
 
 • Cod. 395. 
 
 t The queen, in her letter to the king, announcmg the victory of Flodden Field, says — " The 
 victory has more honour than if he (the king) should win all the crown of France." — 1 Ellis's Original 
 Letters, p. 88.
 
 464 Cfte l^isitory of tOe 
 
 CHAP. Similar letters, mutatis mutandis, were sent to sir William Molineux, sii- Edward 
 
 ^^^' NoiTis, and sir Ricliard Ashton, and, as a stiU further mark of his majesty's gratitude, 
 
 sii- Edward Stanley, who was the fifth son of Tliomas, eai-1 of Derby, was created 
 
 lord Monteagle, in allusion to the family crest. The earl of Surrey was restored to 
 
 the family title of duke of Norfolk, wliile liis son, lord Howard, was honoured with 
 
 the title of the earl of SmTey. Wolsey, then the king's favourite minister, was 
 
 created bisliop of Lincoln j and lord Herbert obtained a step in the peerage as earl of 
 
 Worcester. 
 
 Lords About this period, the ancient commission of an-ay, for levying and organizing 
 
 nantsfirst troops ill the different counties of the kingdom, to guai'd against foreign invasion and 
 
 appointed, j^j^^gg^j^ tumult, began to be superseded by a new local authority, called the 
 
 lieutenancy,* at the head of which, in this county, was placed the duke of Norfolk, 
 
 who was succeeded in the office by the earl of Shi-ewsbmy, and, subsequently, by 
 
 Edward, eai-1 of Derby; and although not an hereditary honoui-, the office of lord 
 
 lieutenant of the county palatine of Lancaster has been filled almost ever since its 
 
 institution by the head of the Stanley family, 
 
 • Tlie baneful connection formed by Scotland and France served again to embroil 
 
 our nortliern neighbours in a fresh wai' witli England, and prepai'ations Avere made for 
 
 invading the northern counties. To repel this invasion, a royal mandate was issued 
 
 to the liigh sherifi" of the county of Lancaster, commanding liim to make proclamation 
 
 Procia- in these Avords : " Forasmuche as the King's Highnes has learned of an intention to 
 
 the 'sheH/r iuvadc England at or before the beginning of September, fonned by the Scots at the 
 
 shire on^ instigation of the French king; liis gi-ace, therefore, by advice of liis counsel, charges 
 
 ScotcrL all and singular his subjects, of whatsoever rank, &c. between the ages of 60 and 16, 
 
 Tasion. uiiiabitants witliin the county of Lancaster, that from henceforth they, uppon oon 
 
 Houi-es Warnyng, be in arred}Ties defensiblie aiTayed with Harnes and Wepyns 
 
 apte & mete for the WaiTes, to attend the Earl of Shrewsbmy, his Lieutent general 
 
 of the North against Scotland," Sect 
 
 The Scotch, sensible at length of the injustice of being so frequently called upon 
 to sacrifice their own peace and prosperity to foreign interests, expressed their reluc- 
 tance to advance into England ; and Albany, the French general, under whose 
 command the Scottish chiefs were to fight, obsernng this disinclination, concluded 
 a truce with lord D acres, warden of the English marches, which did not, however, 
 prevent Scotland from being entered by the earl of Surrey, at the head of his army, 
 who ravaged Merse and Teviotdale, and burnt the town of Jedburgh. From these 
 
 * 15 Rymer, 75. t Pat. 14, Hen. VIII. p. 2. m. 8. d.
 
 County ^Jnlatinr of ilanrnstrr. 465 
 
 terrible inflictions, the Scotch were glad to escape by an alliance witli England chai 
 
 formation. 
 
 XII. 
 
 instead of France, not without a remote expectation of a contract of marriage '- 
 
 between lady Maiy, heir presumptive to the throne of England, and the young 
 Scotch monarch, at that time in his nonage. 
 
 The seeds of the refonnation, which had been sown in the time of John of Gaunt, The Re- 
 duke of Lancaster, cherished by the Lollards in succeechng ages, and occasionally 
 moistened by their blood, attained to maturity in the time of Henry VIII. Martin 
 Luther, a monk of the order of St. Augustine, and a professor in the university of 
 Wittemberg, had raised the standard of reformation in Saxony, by preaching and 
 WTiting against the indulgences gi'anted, ^^ith so laA^sh a hand, by the church of 
 Rome ; and liis works had attracted sufficient notice to induce the king of England 
 to enter the polemical lists against him. Henry sent Ids answer in reply to Luther 
 to Leo X., and his holiness was so mucli gratified by its perusal, either from the 
 strength of the argument, or the dignity of the advocate, that he rewarded the royal 
 controversiahst with the appellation of " Defender of the Faith."* The fickleness of 
 the king's affections induced him, soon afterwards, to put the fiiendship of the head of 
 the church to a severe test. Doubts had been suggested, by the scrupulous, as to 
 the legality of the king's maniage i^ith Catherine of Ai'ragon, the widow of his bro- 
 ther ; and it wa.s held by them, that the degi-ee of consanguinity was such as to 
 vitiate the marriage. These scruples, as Henry alleged, began to (Usturb liis own 
 mind; and, to relieve himself from so great a burden, he ajiplied to Rome for a 
 divorce, which Clement VII., who now filled St. Peter's chair, was inclined to grant, 
 had not the fear of offending the emperor, Charles V., the nephew of Catherine, and 
 who wished to espouse Mary, the queen's daughter, restrained his inclinations. 
 Tlie unpetuosity of Henry's temper could ill brook the delay of episcopal hesitation, 
 and the beauty of Anne Boleyn, a maid of honour to the queen, to wliom he had 
 made an offer of his hand, induced liim to obtam, fi'om his own complpng jiarhament, 
 a cUssolution of the mamage with Catherine. His clergy, not less obedient to the 
 royal Avish than the laity, determined, in convocation, that an appeal to Rome was 
 unnecessary. Tlie parliament, when it next a.ssembled, constituted the ' Defender 
 of the Faith' the supreme head of the church, and thus dissolved the connexion 
 between the chmxh of England and the church of Rome. A nimiber of the clergy, 
 
 * King Henry's jester, finding his royal master transported with unusual joy, asked him the 
 cause of his hilarity ; to which the king replied, that the pope had honoured him with a style more 
 exalted than that of any of his ancestors — the title of " Defender of the Faith :" to which the fool 
 replied, " O good Harry, let thou and I defend one another, and let the faith alone to defend itself." The 
 copy of Henry's reply to Luther, sent by the king himself to the pope, with the royal autograph in the 
 title-page, is preserved in the Library of the Vatican, and exhibited amongst its literary curiosities. 
 VOL. I. 3 o
 
 466 CfK S)lSitOll) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, and many of tlie laity, amongst whom there was probably a majority in the county of 
 ' Lancaster, adhered to the faith of theii- fathers ; but the great body of the nation 
 were cUsposed to go much farther than the king : they acted upon jjrinciple ; he was 
 influenced by passion, and remained as much a fiiend to indulgences, after he had 
 espoused the beautiful maid of honour, as he was when he first mamed her mistress. 
 Neither the Catholics nor the Protestants satisfied liim ; in the plenitude of liis 
 power, and to gratify his sanguinaiy temper, he inflicted the punishment of death 
 upon persons of both persuasions, and he promoted the reformation only so far as it 
 could be made subservient to the gratification of his voluptuousness, and as it 
 administered to the demands of his procUgality. 
 Religious Such is the perverting influence of religious persecution, that sii- Thomas More, 
 
 tjoir*^" the mild, equitable, and enlightened chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, on liis 
 A.D. 1534. elevation to the chancellorship of England, mflicted the torture upon James Bain- 
 ham, a member of the Inner Temple, and finally consigned him to the flames in 
 Smitlifield, for no other ofience, but because he followed the example of the court by 
 favouring the doctrines of the refonnation. More himself haAing, a few years after, 
 refused to acknowledge the king's supremacy, — saying, that it was a two-edged 
 sword: if he was in favour of that doctrine, it would confound his soul; and if he was 
 against it, it would destroy his body — was, for this offence, brought to trial on a 
 charge of high treason, and, being found guilty, was beheaded on Tower Hill.* 
 Visitation In the twenty-sixth year of the king's reign, a royal commission was issued, to 
 
 nasteries? ascertain the value of all the ecclesiastical property, and the amount of all the benefices 
 in the kingdom ; the book containing the latter of these returns is called Liber Regis, 
 and is a beautiful manuscrij)t, transcribed, it is said, by a monk of Westminster, for the 
 king's library. Tlie office for the receipt of tenths, or first-fruits, was instituted upon 
 the visitation of these commissioners, whereby theDecimcB Decimorum were appomted 
 to be paid to the king of England, instead of being paid, as hitherto, to the Pope. 
 The report of the comixussioners forms a kind of ecclesiastical Doomsday Book.f 
 
 * State Trials, I. 59. 
 t The state of the inferior clergy in the county of Lancaster, as well as in the other parts of the 
 province of York, was at this time most deplorable, whether considered as to their acquirements, 
 or their stipends. According to archbishop Lee, in a letter addressed to Cromwell, " their 
 benefices were so exile, of £-1. 5s. 6d. per annum, that no learned man would take them. 
 Therefore they were fain to take such as were presented, so that they were of honest conversation, 
 and could competently understand what they read, and minister sacraments. In all his diocese, he 
 did not know twelve that could preach." The Irish clergy at the same time were in a still lower 
 condition ; their new archbishop wrote of them to the lord privy seal — " as for their secular orders, 
 they be in a manner as ignorant as the people, being not able to say a mass, or to pronounce the 
 words; they not knowing what they themselves say in the Roman tongue." So in 1530, " a bird 
 may be taught to speak with as much sense as several of them do in this country."
 
 Cointt|) l^alntine of anncaeitfr. 467 
 
 The great visitation of monasteries was commenced in tlie autumn of 1535, when chap. 
 
 XII 
 
 Cromwell, chancellor of the exchequer, and first secretary to the king, filled the L_ 
 
 office of vicegerent and vicar-general. The visitation of the Lancashii-e monasteries 
 was made hy Dr. Thomas Legh and Dr. Richard Laytou, and their original reports 
 are in the Record Office of the Court of Receipt at Westminster, under the custody 
 of the lord treasurer. The resolution to dissolve the monasteries had already been 
 taken. The spirit in which this visitation was made, clearly indicated that the reports 
 were meant to fonn the ground-work for the dissolution of those institutions, and 
 the consequent appropriation of their lauds and revenues to the use of the crown. It 
 cannot be denied that the monastic iustitutions were subject to gi'eat abuse; audtliat, 
 under the specious appearance of devotion to God, some of the fu'st duties to man 
 were neglected or perverted; but it must also be adirdtted, that the collecting of 
 ex-parte evidence by stipendiary emissaries, and the making of that evidence a ground 
 for plundering the property of tlie church, was a proceeding full of injustice, and an Report of 
 efXample that no future age can imitate mth impunity. The questions proposed l\v mission- 
 the royal commissioners on their Lancasliire ^ isitation were reduced to the folloA\iiig Lanca- "^ 
 
 1 1 _ shire mo- 
 
 neaciS ; nasteries. 
 
 1. As to the incontinence of the heads of each monastery : 2. Tlie name of the 
 founder: 3. The estate of the convents : 4. The superstitions practised in 
 them: 5. The debts they had incurred: And, 6. The names of the votaries 
 who wished to be dischai'ged from theu* vows. 
 
 On which the following report was made by the commissioners : — 
 
 Fdrness. 
 
 TRogerus Pele, abbas, cum duabus solutis. 
 
 T i- t- IJohannis Gayna, cum soluta. 
 Incontmentia. < tt 
 
 J Thomas Herneby, cum quinque fceminis. 
 
 (^Thomas Settle, cimi soluta. 
 
 Fundator, Dominus Rex. 
 
 _c li 
 
 Redditus annuus, ix . 
 
 Cartemell. 
 
 T i- 1- C Willehnus Pavell, cum diversis foeminis, et sex habet proles. 
 Incontmentia. } , ' . '■ 
 
 C Richardus Bakehouse, cum conjugata. 
 
 Fundator, Edwai-dus Gray, haeres Comitis Cane. 
 
 Redditus annuus, c '' 
 
 Debet Domus XL " 
 
 Superstitio. Et hie habent portionem Sanctse Crucis. 
 
 3o2
 
 468 
 
 CfK S?i6txir|) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP 
 XII. 
 
 CONISHED. 
 
 Cliristoplierus Peerson, cum sex fcemiuis. 
 
 Georgius Cornefurth, cum decem fceminis. 
 
 Incontinentia. < Thomas Backhouse, cum soluta. 
 
 Georgius Hardy, cum duahus solutis. 
 
 .Thomas Heysham, cum una conjugata, et altera soluta. 
 
 Nicliolaus WUlson, ■> ^ ^ ^ , . » ,. • 
 
 i petunt dissolvi a rehgione. 
 Georgius Hardy, 3 
 
 Fiuidator, Willielmus Peunyngton. 
 
 Redditus annuus, c xiii. '', 
 
 Superstitio. Et liic cingulum habent beats' 
 
 Marise, prsegnantibus (ut putatur) 
 
 Salutare. 
 
 COKERSAND. 
 
 Fundator Incertus. 
 Redditus annuus, c c " 
 Debet Domus, c '' 
 
 Whalley. 
 Fundator, Dominus Rex. 
 Redditus annuus, y xli ". 
 Lytham. 
 Fundator, dominus Rex. 
 Redditus annuus, lv '". 
 Debet domus, xr, '". 
 
 HORN'EBY. 
 
 Incontinentia. Willielmus Halliday, prior, cum tribus solutis. 
 Fundator, Dominus Montegle. 
 Redditus annuus, xvi ^. 
 
 Penwortham. 
 Incontinentia. Richardus Hawkesbury, prior, cum duabus foeminis. 
 Fundator, Dominus Rex. 
 Redditus annuus, xxvii ''. 
 
 Bristowgh. 
 Incontinentia. Hugo Wodhewer, cum una foemina. 
 Fundator, Comes Darby. 
 Redditus annuus, lxxxx ".
 
 Counti) ^3alatinr of ilanraetrr. 169 
 
 Up-Holland. chap. 
 
 -^ • . r ■ ■ XII. 
 
 . ,. ( Petrus Prestcoite, prior, cum loeimms. 
 
 Incontinentia, j .-. „. , 
 
 C Johannes CotUmge, cum soluta. 
 
 Fundator, Comes Darby. 
 
 Reclilitus annuus, lxv ''. 
 
 KiRSALL Cella. 
 Fundator, Dominus Rex. 
 Redditus annuus, ix ''. 
 Debet domus xx marcas. 
 
 Stanlowe. j,^jj„ 
 
 Fundator, Dominus Rex. Iwre*' 
 
 Redditus amiuus, x ''. 
 
 COLLEGIUBI MaNCHESTRI^. 
 
 Fundator, Thomas West, Dominus Delawer. 
 Redditus annuus, cc ''. 
 
 How far tliis deplorable picture of monastic life is faitliful, we have not the means 
 of discovering.* So far as the great monasteries are concerned, it is at vaiiance 
 with the declaration of an act of parliament passed in the following year, wherein it 
 is said, " that in divers and gi-eat solemn monasteries of tliis reahn, religion is right 
 well kept and observed." The gi-eat monastery of Furness does not appear to have 
 been entitled to this flattering character, if the report of the visitors is to be credited ; 
 and of Whalley, the particulai's are so few, as to convey no information on tliis head. 
 Tlie returns of the commissioners served as an apology for dissolving the lesser oissoiu- 
 
 ,.,,,. 1,. .. , . Ill i 'ion of "'^ 
 
 monasteries, to wluch the king and his immster, the vicai'-general, had a strong pre- lessei 
 disposition. In the following year, a bill Avas passed thi-ough parliament, with very 
 little deliberation, for dissolving all monastic establishments in England, whose clear 
 yearly income chd not exceed £200; in the preamble to wliich bill it is said, that 
 " forasmuch as manifest sin, vitious, carnal, and abominable living, is daily used and 
 
 * It is alleged by the Roman Catholics, that young men were employed to corrupt and to defame 
 the nuns. Fuller mentions a story, upon the authority of sir William Stanley, from which it appears 
 that two young gentlemen, under the pretence of the royal permission to visit a convent, remained 
 there three days and three nights, where they were received with that hospitality and decorum which 
 ought to have inspired in them nothing but gratitude ; but that, in return for these favours, they 
 falsely accused the nuns of licentiousness ; and in that way a pretence was obtained for dissolving the 
 convents. — Fuller's History of Abbeys, p. 315. 
 
 mo- 
 nasteries.
 
 470 COe ijisitori) oi tlje 
 
 CHAP, committed commonly in sucli little and small abbeys, priories, and other religious 
 ^^^- houses of monks, canons, and nuns, where the congregation of such religious persons 
 is under the number of twelve, whereby the governors of such religious houses and 
 their convent spoil, destroy, consume, and utterly waste, as well the churches, monas- 
 teries, priories, principal houses, fanns, granges, lands, tenements, hereditaments, as 
 the ornaments of the churches, and their goods and chattels, to the liigh displeasure 
 of Almighty God, slander of good reUgion, and to the great infamy of the king's 
 liighness and the realm, if redi-ess should not be had thereof. And, albeit, all 
 attempts at amendment have failed; so that, without such small houses be utterly 
 suppressed, and the religious therein committed to the gi'eat and honourable monas- 
 teries of rehgion in this realm, Avhere they may be compelled to live religiously for 
 reformation of theii* lives, there can else be no redress or reformation on that behalf. 
 In consideration whereof, the king's most royal majesty, daily studying and devising 
 the increase, advancement, and exaltation of true doctrine and virtue in the said 
 church, to the only glory and honour of God, and the total extirpation and destruction 
 of vice and sin, having knowledge that the premacies be true, as well by the compts of 
 his late visitations, as by sundry credable informations; considering also, that cUvers 
 and gi'eat solemn monasteries of this realm, wherein, thanks be to God, religion is 
 right well kept and observed, be destitute of such full numbers of religious persons 
 as they ought and may keep, have thought good that a plain declai'atiou should be 
 made of the premises; whereupon the lords and commons, by a gi'eat deliberation, 
 finally be resolved, that it is and shall be more to the pleasure of Almighty God, and 
 for the honour of this his realm, that the possessions of all such religious houses, not 
 being spent, spoiled, and wasted for increase of maintenance of sin, shall be used and 
 converted to better uses, and the unthrifty reHgious persons so spending the same be 
 compelled to reform then* lives; be it therefore enacted, that his majesty shall have to 
 himself and to his heiis for ever, all and singular monasteries, the yeai'ly value of 
 which do not amount to £200." 
 
 By this act, about three hundred and eighty communities were dissolved, and an 
 addition of tliii'ty-two thousand a year (of the value in our money of upwards of 
 £160,000,) was made to the royal revenue, exclusive of £100,000 in money, plate, 
 and jewels. According to Fuller, " ten thousand persons were, by this dissolution, 
 sent to seek their fortunes in the wide world : some had twenty shillings given 
 them at their ejection, and a new gown, wliich needed to be of strong cloth, to 
 last till they got another. Most were exposed to want ; and many a young nun 
 proved an old beggar."
 
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 472 CI)t ?§isitoii) of tfte 
 
 CHAP. The following progress of a suffi-agan, entitled " Progressus Dili Suffraganij," 
 
 ^^^' indicates the order in which the visitation of the Lancasliire monasteries, from the centre 
 to the northern part of the county, was made. From the obscurity of the writing, and 
 the manner in which the MS. is bound up with other papers in the Codex, the tran- 
 script lias been made with considerable difficulty, and, probably, with some inaccuracy, 
 on that account. The report is without date, but it appears to have been made about 
 the year 1538, to CromweU, the ^dcar-geueral, by one of the visitors.* 
 
 " In Couutie Lanchastre. 
 
 " Walley] It to Walley in Lanckersscheer of y" cystercyencf out of one dyocesys 
 vnder y' byschope of schestri y' wyche couet was fii-st foudyd in y" covnte of 
 schesther in a place called Stanlow by # Johen Lascy knyght f y' was in 
 y* yeer of our lord a. mt''c°lxxij. But aft lord Henry Lascy y' thyrd f 
 laste yeerle off lynckoUue off y' name remouyd y™ w' y° bodyes off hys 
 aAUcyterss Jobnes f Roger Lascy knight^ Walley outo y' was in y' yeer of 
 our lord m'° cc° nonagesimo ^j". Vmylysa p'ore.f 
 
 " Kockersand] Ir to Kockersand chanonss off y' pmonstrateucf off y" fudacon 
 off a certeyn Heremyt namyd Hew garthe in Kyng John^ tyme. xxiiij 
 myllys fi'o y" other. 
 
 " Lanchas?] I? to Lanchas? to y^ Fryer pcheers off y^ fudacon off f Hew 
 Haryngtone knygthe. v mylys fro y' iolpv. 
 
 " Cartmelle] It to cartmelle chanonss off seynt austeyne order off y' furst fudacon 
 off lord Wyllya Marchall yeerle of penbroke in y' yeer off our lord 
 a mi°cc° f ij° befor hys dethe xvij zeer iij° anno Regni Johis. x mylys of y. 
 
 " Connghevysched] It to connghevysched chanons off seynt austene off y' furst 
 fudacon off gamele penygton knyght whyche fudyd y'' a place of iij or iiij 
 chanons whyche whas in stryffe for a seasonne by reson y' the byldyd a 
 ponne y' Grownd off lord Wyllya lanchast barown of Kyi'bykendall 
 f ouerstonne but y'' furst fudacon. was in y" yeer off our lord A mt° Ixvij". 
 fro y* other v. mylys. 
 
 " F'nes] It to Furnees off y' cysterciencf off y' fudacon off lord Stephane y^" yeerle 
 of bolonne befor he was kyng off jTigland ix yeers f y* xx^j yeer off y^ 
 Reyne off Kyng Henry the furst — vt pat} p hoc seques 
 Fournesiu fudat hie Stephanus atq-j feciidat 
 Addens contenta membris cu vita intenta 
 Dat Laschastrum piscem pr — q5 Wagium 
 
 Anno milleno terq3 noneno. iiij miliaria a pcedente. 
 
 * Hail. MSS. Codex 604. t That is, from Salley.
 
 Count}) ^Jalatmr of iLniuasitfr. 473 
 
 Copirul.l It to cowcU-c off v° cysteix'ieucp off y" furst fudiicTou off lord Ravnald chap. 
 
 * _ " XII. 
 
 luestclijniue y"" lord off Copland y"' was in y* yecr off our lord a. m'" — '■ — '■— 
 c°xxxiiij° in Henrye y° furst tyme. xix niylj's fro y' for sayd place. 
 
 Ite to seynt bees monkf off y' order of seyut beuet off y" fudacon off 
 y° for sayd lord mestclijiine. V mylys fro y' other. 
 
 Fol. 106. 
 [Notes at, the End.] 
 
 " In All theys we liaue been in be syd dyuersse other mo bothe in 
 Durha byschopryke f allso early ell w' many good townf f vyllagys as 
 wele in my lordys grace lybert as in others f y'" Jhesu p)#ue your 
 masterschippe." 
 
 [In another hand.] 
 
 " Theis notes belonw vnto me Tho: Lovell. 1592." 
 
 o 
 
 Fol. lOS. 
 
 The religious feelings, as well as tlie temporal interests, of a large body of insurrec- 
 men were deeply involved in the suppression of the lesser monasteries, wliicli ducetfbi' 
 measure was considered, with much justice, as the precursor of a stUl more sweeping stractlon 
 appropriation of church property. The families of distinction, whose ancestors had nasteries! 
 founded monasteries, or whose sons were prorided for by spiritual offices, complained 
 of being deprived of their pati'onage and emoluments ; and the poor, for whom there 
 was tlien no parochial pronsiou in infancy or in old age, and whose wants had been 
 supplied at the doors of the convents, were equally loud in their complaints ; while 
 persons under the influence of higlier motives felt shocked and outraged by the 
 spoliation and overthrow of the altars of their fathers. The discontents of the people 
 first broke out in acts of open rebellion in Lincolnshire, Avhere Dr. Mackrel, friar 
 of Barlings, assuming the character of a mechanic, collected an army of twenty 
 thousand men, of wliicli he took the lead, under the assmned name of " The Captain 
 Cobbler." A proclamation of pardon from the king was found of sufficient force to 
 disperse tliis irregular anny; while the doctor liimself, and a number of its other 
 leaders, among whom was lord Hussey, Avere consigned to public execution. 
 
 A more formidable insurrection immediately afterwards sprung up in the northern The pii- 
 couuties, under the designation of the " pihjrimoge of grace,'' and Robert Aske, a gra™^.^'^" 
 gentleman of family, residing upon his patrimonial estate at Aughtou, in the East 
 Riding of the county of York, was placed at its head. The insun-ectionary spirit 
 spread far and wide, from the Tweed on the north, to the Humber and the Ribble 
 VOL. I. 3 p
 
 474 €l)t il^istoiy of tht 
 
 CHAP. Oil the east and the Avest. Tlie insurgents rendezvoused in Yorkshire, and, to 
 _; ;_ excite the enthusiasm of their followers, and to induce the j^eople to join their ranks, 
 
 a body of priests marched at their head with the banner of the cross, on which was 
 depicted the figure of the Saviour, with the chalice and the host. Each of the 
 soldiers wore on his sleeve, as the emblem of his holy cause, a representation of the 
 five wounds of Christ, with the name " Jesus" marked in the centre. An oath or 
 covenant was enjoined upon the pilgrims, by wliich they declared, " that they 
 entered into this pilgrimage for the love of God, the preservation of the king's 
 person and issue, the purifying the nobility, and driving away all base-born and ill 
 councillors ; and for no particular profit of their own, nor to do displeasure to any, 
 nor to kill any for envy ; but to take before them the cross of Christ, his faith, the 
 restitution of the churches, and the suppression of hereticks and their opinions." 
 Letter Having carried the town of Hull and the city of York, then- next operation was 
 
 H^enry to directed against the castle of Pontefract, which was in possession of Lee, the arch- 
 bisi.op of bishop of York, and lord Darcy, whose slumbering loyalty the king attempted to 
 awaken by the following letter written from Northampton : — 
 
 York and 
 
 lord 
 
 Darcy. 
 
 " By the Kingf 
 " Right trusty and wellbeloved we grete youe wel. And wheras It is comen 
 to our knowleage ptely by yo' adStisemtf and ptely otherwise that the multitude of 
 the traito?s and Rebelles assembled those pties haue been trayned in to their Rebel- 
 lion be certain most false and vntrue surmyses reaportf and suggestions noysed and 
 set furth amongf them by diSse most devilyshe and detestable psounes desuing no 
 thing ells but a general spoyle w' tlie destruction of the sjnuple and honest people. The 
 copie of whiche false reaport and most vntrue traiterous deuises and invencons neuer by 
 by vs or any of r counsail thought on moche lesste thenne determynne we sonde vnto 
 yo" lierew'. Albeit we haue in dede sent against them for then- repression in suche ter- 
 rible sorte as all the Avorld (if t' they shall remayn in tliis rebelUon) may take example 
 at their punish [inent]t suche mayiie Armye furnished w' ordennce and all thiiigf neces- 
 sary as for that pposeshalbe requisite to require and pray yo"and neuertheles toCoiiiand 
 yo" euiediatly vppon the sight herof to send Auto the said Rebelles and to declare 
 vnto tliem that forasmoche as yo" pceyve that this rebellion hath been attempted vppon 
 most traiterous slaunderous false and vntrue reaportf noysed setfurthe and bruted 
 ainongf them, Yo doo vppon yo' bono"; and fidelitie toAvardf God and the pill of yo' 
 soule assure them that all the said reaportf conteyned in the said copie sent 
 herw' be vttcrly false and vntrue neuer spoken nor thought on by vs or any of r 
 counsail But forged and falsely contryved by thuse divilyshe and most detestable 
 traito's Av'out any maner of gi-ounde or occasion Avherupon to buylde the same aswel
 
 Coimti? ^cilatine of iLnnrasitn-, 475 
 
 thcrfor Lamenting- tliat vppon sncho liolit and false runis they slnild Ije prone to cHAi>. 
 
 arryse and soe to offend <vod f vs tlieir kinge, f comaiuuling in r name all those 
 
 psones being on that assell purpose." 
 Indorsed. 
 
 " To the Lord Dacre and the byshop of York toucliinge the Rebellion 
 
 in y= Northe." [Had. MS8. Cod. 283. fol. 80. 
 
 The reports here alluded to, and so strongly denounced by the king, were con- 
 tained in a mandate issued by one of the rebel cliiefs, assuming the name of " the 
 Earl of Poverty," wliich alleged that the king and liis heretical ministers had deter- 
 mined first, that no infant should be baptized without a tribute to be paid to theldng; 
 second, that no man,Anth an income of less than £20 a year should either cat bread 
 made of wheat, or capons, or chickens, or goose, or pig, without pajing a tribute; 
 and, thiid, that for every plough land, the king would have a tribute. 
 
 The eai-1 of Shrewsbury, then resitUng at Sheffield castle, animated by a zeal 
 which outstripped the kmg's commands, raised a force to resist the progi-ess of the 
 rebellion; and the eari of Derby, and other noblemen, followed his example. On 
 arriving before Pontefract, the rebels summoned the castle ; with this summons, the 
 archbisliop of York and lord Darcy readily complied, by sun-endering the fortress 
 ^rithout resistance. On the 2d of October, a herald arrived at Pontefract ^vith a 
 proclamation from the king. This messenger was received by Aske, seated on a 
 kind of throne, with the archbishop of York on his right and lord Darcy on his left, 
 attended by sir Robert Constable, sir Christopher Danby, and others; but the 
 hopes of the rebel general were then too much elevated to wan-ant an expectation of 
 that submission which the proclamation required. Accorthng to WUfred Holme, a 
 writer of that age, resicUng at Huntington, near York, the following lines were often 
 recited by the pilgruns of gi-ace, from the antiquated quiddities of Meriiu:— 
 
 " Foorth shall come a worme, an Aske with one eye, 
 
 " He shall be the chiefe of the mainye; 
 
 " He shall gather of chivalrie a full faire flock 
 
 " Halfe capon and halfe cocke 
 
 " The chicken shall the capon slay 
 
 " And after that shall be no May." 
 
 From Pontefract the rebel anny marched to Scawsby Lees, near the left bank of oct. 20. 
 the river Don, with the intention of forcHng the river, and taking the ancient town 
 of Doncaster, then in possession of the duke of Norfolk, the leader of the vanguard 
 in the battle of Flodden-field, on whom the king had conferred the command of the 
 
 roval arniv. 
 
 3 P 2
 
 XII. 
 
 476 €i)t l^iStoi-p of tfte 
 
 CHAP. The ardour of the jniests and their devoted followers, in tliis northern rebellion, 
 
 was most striking-. The abbots of Whalley, Salley, Jervaux, Funiess, Fountain's, 
 and Rivaulx, with all the persons they could influence, either joiued the main army, 
 or made diversions in its favour in their respective districts. In a word, the whole of 
 the north of England was in a state of alarm and agitation. The king, in this 
 emergency, issued warrants to his devoted followers in Lancasliire, importuning 
 them to join the earl of Derby in his endeavours to repress tliis wide-spreading 
 rebellion. 
 
 The originals of two of these documents are preserved in the Harleian Collec- 
 tion,* and are expressed in the following terms : — 
 
 S^^^'^W 
 
 By the King. 
 
 " Trusty and welbeloued we grete you well. And forasmuche as we be credibly 
 aduertised how that most like a trew and feithfull subiect you haue assembled all 
 your Force and Joyned the same w' our right trusty and right Avelbeloued Cousin 
 therle of Derbye for the repssion of certajaie traitors and rebellf in those pties, like 
 as for the same we gyve vnto you our most hertie thankf . 800 we thought as well 
 covenyent to requier you to psist and contynue in your faithfuU towardnes in the 
 companey of our said cousin tyll the said traitors shalbe vtterly subdued, as to signifie 
 that we shall not onely considi'e your chai'ges therein. But likewise so remembre 
 your fuice in the same as you shall haue cause to saye you haue well emploied your 
 labours paynes and trayvaUlf in that behalf. Yeuen vnder our signett at our castell 
 of wyndsoure the xxviij"' day of octobre in the xxviij"" yere of o' reigne. 
 
 [Indorsed] 
 
 " To o' trusty and welbeloued -f tint 
 S'' Roger Bradshawe, knyght." 
 
 [Fol. 258. 
 
 MS. Cod. 283.
 
 Count)) ^Jalatme of Sancasitn-. 477 
 
 Another to Sii" Thomas Langton. chap. 
 
 " By the King. 
 
 " Trustie and Welbeloued we gi-ete you well. And Forasmuche as we liaue ])een 
 credeably adutised howe that lyke a moste true and faythfull Subgect you haue 
 assembled all your Force and Joyned the same w' o' Right trustye and Right wel- 
 beloued Cousyn Therle of Derbye for the Repressyon of certayne Traytours and 
 Rebelles in those ptf, lyke as we for the same gyve vnto you owr nioste liarty 
 thankf, So we thought as well convenient to Require yo" to psist and contynue in 
 your faytlifuU towardnes in the company of o"^ said Cousyn till the said Traytours 
 shalbe vtterly Subdued. As to signifie vnto you that we shall not onely consider 
 your charge therein But lykwise so Remebre yo'' Sruice in the same as you shall 
 haue causf to saye you haue well jnnployed your lal)ours paynes and travaille in that 
 behalf, yeven vncke o" Signet at o" Castell of Windeso' the xxviij"' day of Octobre in 
 the xxviij yere of o' Regne. 
 
 Indorsed, 
 
 " To o"' trusty and Melbeloved serunt 
 S' Thomas Langton knyght." [Fol. 259. 
 
 [The above are of the same date and in the same Aviiting, though tliey dilTe)- so 
 materially in the orthography.] 
 
 The warmth of the Idng's thanks for the service rendered to the royal cause by 
 sir Roger Bradshawe and sir Thomas Langton, and the solicitude expressed by him 
 that they should continue their services, sufficiently indicate the sense he entertained 
 of the danger attending tliis rebellion, not only to the peace and tranquillity of 
 the county of Lancaster, but also to the stability of his throne. The scene of hostile 
 operations in Lancashire was principally on the eastern boundary, adjoining to tlie 
 county of York; and the earl of Cumberland, emulating the example of the earls of 
 Shi-ewsbury and Derby, gallantly repulsed the rebels in an attack made upon 
 Skipton castle. 
 
 The main army of the insurgents now prepared to advance to the south ; and, with 
 that view, tliey proposed to ford the Don at the point where the earl of Shrewsbury 
 
 XII.
 
 sion of the 
 rebel 
 
 478 €i)t ?insitXlll) of t])t 
 
 CHAP, ^va-s posted by direction of the duke of Norfolk ; but a sudden rising of the waters of 
 ^"- ([y^^i river, tbouo-h proceeding from causes purely natural, served to awalien the 
 Disper- susceptible superstition of the followers of Aske, who, viemng tliis impediment as an 
 evil omen, were prevailed upon to disperse, partly to repair the deficiency in their 
 commissariat department, and partly to alTord time to conduct a negociation between 
 the government and the insurgent chiefs. The duke of Norfolk was placed in a 
 situation of great difficulty. The unpetuosity of the king's temper disinclined liim 
 to make any concessions to his subjects m arms; and the demands of the rebels were 
 such as to preclude his compliance with them, without compromising the royal 
 dio-nity. They claimed that a royal pardon should be granted, ^vithout exception of 
 persons; that a parliament should be held at York, and courts of justice established 
 tliere, so that no suitor on the north side of the Trent should be requii-ed to go to 
 London upon any suit at law. They further demanded a repeal of several acts of 
 parliament, specifymg particularly those for the last subsidy, and the statute of uses, 
 with the statute wliich made words without overt acts misprision of treason ; and the 
 statute requiring the clergy to pay their tenths and first-fruits to the king. They 
 farther desked that the princess Mary might be restored to her right of succession, 
 the pope to his wonted jurischction, and the monks to theii- houses again ; that the 
 Lutherans might be punished; that Audley, the lord chancellor, and Cromwell, the 
 lord privy seal, might be excluded from the next parliament; and that doctors Lee 
 and Langton, who had visited the northern monasteries, might be imprisoned for 
 bribery and extortion. 
 
 After an interval of a month, the pilgi-uns of gi-ace again assembled in gi-eater 
 strength than before, and once more prepared to ford the Don ; but again the waters 
 rose suddenly, and a second time prevented that operation. The negociations were 
 renewed under the management of sir- Ralph Ellerker and su- Robert Bowas, on the 
 side of the insurgents, and of the duke of Norfolk for the king. The duke was 
 empowered to offer pardon to all the rebels, ^nth the exception of ten ; six of them to 
 be named, and four unnamed; but tliis offer, from the uncertainty which it involved, 
 was refused. It was next proposed by the duke, that a kind of congress should 
 assemble at Doncaster, consisting of thi-ee hundi-ed representatives chosen from the 
 men of the different wapentakes, to negociate with the duke and the lord achniral, 
 Avho was a Fitzwilliam of Aldwark. For some time, the duke, by the dii-ection of the 
 privy council, insisted on the king exercising the right to except ten persons from 
 the general amnesty; but, finding it impossible to obtain these terms, he at length 
 agi-eed, that the royal clemency should be extended to the whole of the rebel army 
 Dec. 9. without exception. On these terms, the pilgi-image was dissolved; bat the king, on 
 the dispersion of the insurgents, read them a lecture, in a royal manifesto, of a nature
 
 Countj) |3nlntinf of aanrn5Stn% 479 
 
 which would, m these clays, rather have laised than suppressed a rebellion. In c;hai'. 
 answer to that part of their petition which related to the removal of his mhiisters, _ 
 
 who were chai'ged with a design to subvert the relioioii of the state, and to enslave 
 the people, the king says, " And we, yviili our whole council, think it right strange 
 that ye, who be but brutes and inexpert folk, do take upon you to appoint us, 
 who be meet or not for our council : we will therefore bear no such meddling at 
 your hands, it being inconsistent with the duty of good subjects to interfere in such 
 matters." 
 
 In the interval between the dispersion of the insurgent army of the nortli and 
 their re-assembling, an attemjit was made by the rebels to take the abbeys of 
 Whalley and Salley, which the earl of Derby was preparing to resist, when he 
 received the Idng's command at Preston to disperse liis forces. These orders he 
 obeyed, but finding, on the re-assembling of the rebels, that the danger was inmii- 
 nent, he again collected liis troops, and marched to Whalley, where he succeeded in 
 securing the monastery, and in restoring the public tranquillity. The following 
 despatch to the king from the earl was •mitten on the first of November, four days 
 after the repulse of the rebels from Skiptou Castle, and details the operations with 
 sufficient particularity.* 
 
 Letter of the Earl of Derby to the King Henry VIII., 
 ON the taking of Whalley Abbey. 
 
 " Pleas it your magestye to be adutysed That vpon Munday last past, I being at Letter 
 your town of preston in Lancasliir theii' accompanyed and in other townes and earl of 
 villages nere thereaboutf w' the moost part of your true f faithfull subiectf of the same the king. 
 Shir was then in aredynes to have avansed forward toward Salley to bane executed 
 your gTacf comanchnent. And the said Munday at nyght I had ai)poynted to haue 
 loged at the Abbey of Whalley whiche is but iiij myles from Salley. And abowt ix 
 of clok of the same Munday came on Berwyke your Herald at armes vnto me. And 
 hauing your Cote armure on liis body delyued me a £re dyrected vnto me fro mv 
 Lord the Erie of Slu-ewisbury your gees Ueutennt and my Lord of Rutland and my 
 Lord of Huntyngdon. Theffect of whiche £res w' this (they certifyed me by the 
 same y' my Lord of Norfolk and they had stayd the comous of Yorkshir and that 
 euy man was sparpoled and retjTed home vnto then- own howses. And that my said 
 
 * This despatch is deposited in the Chapter-house at Westminster, and forms part of the Codex 
 entitled, " Letters, Papers, &c, relating to the disturbances in the North of England."
 
 480 €i)t W^tiiv\) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. Lord of Norfolk was depted to your Highnes. And that they were informed from the 
 ^ '" Lord Darcy that I w' my retynue had appoynted to be on the said Muuday at 
 Whalley Abbey. And forsomoche as all thiugf was well stayd as they dyd write 
 therfor they desii-ed and prayd me and ueuertheles in yo' gi-acf name charget me 
 that I shuld sparple my said Cumpeny w'out doing any hurt or molestacon to the 
 saides conions or any of theym. And that I shuld not fayle herof as I wold answar 
 to your Highnes at my pill. And like charge your herald did giff vnto me in your 
 oracf name. And after the Receyt of the said £re f after Counsaill taken w' the 
 Lord Mountegle then present and w' a gi-et nomber of the gentlemen of the same 
 Sliir and w' their assentf I and they thynkyng the said £re f comandment to be in 
 effect as your comandment considermg it cam from yoiu- said lieutennt dyd imme- 
 diatly sparple the said Cumpeny so assembled as is aforsaid and soo departed whom- 
 wardf . And the same Munday in the moro the comons of the borders of Yorkeshir 
 nere to Salley w' sume of the borders of Lancashii- nere to theym assembled theym 
 together and w' force they vnkowen to me sodenly toke the said Abbey of Whalley 
 wher I liad intended to haue loged that nyght. And when they herd and knew how 
 y* I had receyved such a £re or comancbnent as is aforsaid tlien they sparpoled their 
 Cumpeny the same Daye. And truly all tlioghe the ways and passages to whalley 
 f Salley be vere cumberous strayt full of myi-e impedimentf by warters f otherwyse 
 Yet I w' the power of yo' true subgettf soo assembled wold haue put all o'^ bodyes 
 in the aventure to haue executed your former comandment if the said £re liad not 
 cumon to myhandf. And w' goddf gee I haue no dowt but in conclusion all tliogh 
 a great fray had therof inswed as it was lyke to haue byn venquyshed. And wlier 
 their hath hya lately an other insurreccon and Rebellion in the borders of Westimand 
 Cumbland and in that part of Lancasliir northward from yo' town of Lancaster and 
 now sparpoled who had intented as it is to be suspected and as I do verely beleue to 
 haue cumen thrugli this Sliir if they had not bpi afliayd of me and other your true 
 subgettf soo asseml)led as is aforsaid at Preston. The circiistancf wherof I feare 
 were to tedious for your grace here to put in w'tyng of all that I haue herd and 
 knowen therof w' the fals and feaned £res f deuyses that hath hyn feaned by that 
 assemble and other whiche £res f deuyses they sparple abrode amongf your 
 subiectf by settyng theym on Chnrche Dores and otherwise. Therfor I haue made 
 a byll of Artycles therof sumthing breifly made signed w' my hand whiche I delWd 
 to yo' flint Henry Acres who was w' me and eight persons w' h>in to haue fued 
 your grace in my Cumpeny And can insti-uct yo' grace therof. And in thise affairs 
 and all other accordyng to my bonden dutye I shall always during my liff as yo' true 
 subget be redy w' liert f hand to do you suche pore fues as lyeth in my power 
 w' asmoche obedyens as I can jTuagyn. As o' Lord god knoes who pfue your
 
 CountP ^3nlatinr of aaurnstcr. 48 1 
 
 magestye hi high hono"^ and excelleiicie. Written at my mano"^ of Latliom on all chap. 
 sainctf Daye abowt iiij of clok after none. ' 
 
 " Yo"^ most obcdyent seruaiit f suliiet 
 
 « EDWARD DERBYE.* 
 (In dorso) 
 
 " To the Kingf Magestye." 
 
 " My Lord of Derbye to the Kaugf higlmes certifjHing the king in what redynes 
 he was w"' Lancasliii-e against the Rebelles in the North." 
 
 The following documents cast still further light on these transactions, and serve 
 to shew to liow great an extent the religious houses in Lancashire, and their heads, 
 were implicated in this rebellion, one object of which was, to repossess the monks of 
 the monasteries : — 
 
 " Part of the first Draught of Henry VIII"'' Letter to the Earl of Sussex, &c., con- 
 ceruiug the Rebellion in the North. [It seems to be of Thomas Ci-umwell's 
 h3M^.—Harl. Ca/.]"t 
 
 [The signature, under the erased endorsement, is precisely the same as that wliich 
 appears on papers which are unquestionably in Cromwell's Avriting.] 
 
 " Right trusty and wellbeloued Cousins and trusty and wellbeloued [counsellors] The king's 
 we grete yo" wel. And lating yo" wit that havmg receyved yo'" sondry £res we doo JlJe'e'ari of 
 right wel pceyve by the contentf of the same y*^ cii'cuspecte proceedingf and diligent 
 endeuo'^s in the trial of our traito's and Rebelles of those ^ties and the trajTiing of 
 the rest of r affaires there to suche frame as maye be to r satisfaction for the wliiche we 
 geve vnto yow r most harty thankf . And to make vnto youe pticuler answers to the 
 pticuler poiutf of y"" said £res First forasmuche as by such examynacons as yo" have 
 sent vnto ts It appereth that Thabbot of Furnes and diuse of his monckf have not 
 been of that truthe toward^ vs that to their cUeuties apperteyned We desii-e and 
 pray yo" w' all the dexteritie yo" cann to deuise and excogitate to vse all the meanes 
 to yo" possible to enserche and trye out the veray truth of their proceding(;' and 
 w' whom they or any of them have had any IntelUgence, For we thinke veraylie that 
 yo" shall fynde therby such matier as shall shewe the light of many things yet 
 
 * Considerable intimacy seems to have existed between the earl of Derby and the king, owing, 
 probably, to the family connection; for we find the following item in Henry's privy purse expences : 
 ' Octobre iiij paid to henry webbe by the Kingf comaundment for to Cristene my lorde of derbye 
 Sonne iij li vj s viij d." 
 
 t Hari. MSS. Cod. 2S3. 
 
 VOL. I. 3 Q 
 
 Sussex.
 
 482 mn w^toi'v oi ti)t 
 
 CHAP, vnkiioweii. And r pleasure is that yo" shall vppon a further examynacon Comytt the 
 
 1_ said Abbot and suche of his Monkf as yo" shall suspecte to have been ofTendo'^s to 
 
 wai'de, their to remayn tyl yo" shall vppon the signification vnto vs of such other tliingf 
 as by yo*^ wisedome yo" shall trye out knowe further of r pleasure. Secunde we 
 sende vnto yo" herw' certain £res according to yo'' desire for the bestowinge of the 
 Monkf w' uj 01 uij Blankf to be directed to suche other houses as yo" sliall thinke 
 mete, w other Mom Neutheles we thinke it necessary that yo" shall not only duely 
 examyn them all befor yo" shall dismisse any of that sorte that shall goo to other 
 hotises, as well for that we thinke some of the houses mentioned in yo' bUl of then- 
 names be not wel liable to receyve their nomber set vpon them as for that the house 
 of Gervayse is in some daunger of suppression by like offence as hathe been comytted 
 [at or in] Whalley ; but also that yo" shall retayne John Estgate who Avoid goo to 
 Methe, tyl we may pceyve the cause whye he shuld desire to goo more to that place 
 thenne to any other. And as touching the rest that desire capacities if yo" shall 
 thinke them men mete to be suffred to goo abrode, we be content yo" shall give 
 them their Bedding and chamber stuff w' suche money as yo" shall hy yo' wisedoes 
 thinke mete, the capacities for whom we shall send vnto yo" by the next messenger. 
 Tliirde wheras yo" have sent vnto vs the copie of the £re Aviiten from r coushi of 
 Norff to the lord Daixye after his first dpture from Dancaster Wliiche yo" found in 
 the Vicar of Black Burnes chamber Forasmoche as by the same it ai>pereth that there 
 hathe been gi-eat Intelligence amongf sucJi psonnes as were of that naughty incli- 
 nacon entent and conspii-acye. We desire and praye yo" aswel by the straite examy- 
 nacon of the said Vicar as by all other meanes that yo" canne possibly deuise strongly 
 to enserche howe the said copie was conveyed thether Who was the Messenger 
 Who was of counsel and howe many £res or writings of that sorte or any other weir 
 in that tyme conveyed in to those pties to whom from whom and of what effect. For 
 in the ernest folowing of this matier yo" maye doo vnto vs as highe and as acceptable 
 #uice as canne be deuised. Finally we desire and pray yo" to sende V2)pe in sauftie 
 vnto vs Richai'd Estgate late Monke of Salleye. Our font s"^ Arthur Darcy hathe 
 writen that he doubtethe not to declare suche matier against him at his repa^T vnto 
 vs as shall conveye some tilings to r knowleage whiche for r affiEiii'es shalbe very 
 necessary to be knowen. Which thingf being ones conduced to some pfection we 
 shall signifie r pleasure vnto yo" touchiuge the returne of r cousin of Sussex to r 
 presence." [Indorsed] 
 
 " The Mynute of the £res to my Lord of Sussexe 
 
 xi"' Marcij xxviij yeare of H. 8." T. C. 
 
 [Fol. 76.
 
 Countp ^3alatint of Xanrastrr. 483 
 
 « The Answer of to certain articles administered to bim toucliing the same chap. 
 rehelUon, temp. Hen. VIII."* ^«''^- ^«^- ' 
 
 " Fower artycles wher^wn was to Answere vnto touchinge the Rebellyone in 
 
 the yeare of H. 8. 
 
 « 1. Firste whether yo" wrott any tres to the Prior of Conished or Cartemell or 
 to any Religeous persone. 
 
 " 2. Item, wliat motyon or at whose Requeste or interpellation yo" wTott them. 
 
 " 3. Item, of what tenor or forme such tres were that yo" wrotte. 
 
 " 4. Item, what daye or place yo" wrott them. 
 
 "1. To the firste I gi'aunte I wrott a letter to the priore of Cartemell as 
 herafter shalbe declared but neuer to the prior of Conishid or any other Religeous 
 pson touchinge any tliinge of the insurrection in my Ufe otherwise then is vnder- 
 
 written. 
 
 " 3. To the tliii-d I saye I Cannot perfectely remember the very tenor or forme 
 of the saide letter, for I kepte no Coppye therof, but as faiTO as I canne now 
 remember, it was of this effecte. That forasmuch as all religeouse psonnes in the 
 North pai-tes had entered theii- houses by puttynge in of the Cofhones, and as I am 
 enformed yo" meanynge the Prior of Cartemell bemg requu-ed so to enter doe 
 w'drawe y"^^selfe. I tbinke yo" may safly enter and doe as other doe keepinge yo'selfe 
 quiete for the season and to praye for tlie Kinge. And at the nexte Pai-liamente then 
 to doe as shalbe deteiTayned, and I haue no doubte but so domge yo" may contynewe 
 in the same w'^ the grace of god who keepinge yo" &c. And if I sawe the origenall 
 Letteres or a Coppie therof I would truly confesse my deede. 
 
 « 2. To the Second I say I wotte the sayd Letters to the Prior of Cartemell at 
 the requeste and desire of one CoUenes baylife of Kendall, W^" Collenes at my 
 beinge at pomfret shewed me that all the Chanones of Cai-temell Avere entered the 
 house excepte the foolishe Prior who would not goe to them onlie for his owne 
 profite desii-inge me to write a letter to liim to exhorte him to goe in like-ivise as 
 his bretheren had done : And I gi-aunted him to write the same ire when I Come to 
 yorke w'" was the morowe after the Conceptyon of our Ladye, and I defen-ed the 
 tj-me because I would hear howe the matteres proceeded in the Communication at 
 Donkester the meane space after that CoUines came to yorke eftesoones desiiinge 
 the same letter. At whose onlye mocon requeste and intei-pellacon I wrot the same 
 letter of suche effecte as is vnderwritten beinge the bouldere so to write for somuch 
 as at my departynge fiom pomfret it was openly procla^nned as I hard saye and also 
 
 * Harl. MSS. Cod. 283. 
 3 Q 2
 
 484 CI)e S!t6torp of tin 
 
 CHAP, at yorke when I Came there it was voyced in euevy manes mouth that the Abbeyes 
 
 " sliould stand in snche maner as they were put ni vnto the nexte parleamente and 
 
 after my coining liome to Kirkeby shortely after w"'in sixe dayes as I remember 
 M' Robarte Bowes in the presence of S' Henry Gascoine kniglit and other desired 
 me to exhorte suche of the vtiseste men as were Channones of S' Ageathes by 
 Richemonde whom I knewe to be contente (leste they or the Country shoidd tliinke 
 strange therat) to be put forthe of their houses by the kinges Authoritie, And to be 
 taken in againe by the same. And so to remaine vnto the determenacon of the 
 nexte paiieamente saing it was Conchided at the Communicacon at Dancaster it 
 should so be. At whose de[sire] I spake to one Coke prior of the same howse to be 
 contente w"" the premisses and lie promissed to be for liis parte, and to exhorte his 
 * bretheren to the same ; And this manner of puttynge out and tal^ynge in was comonly 
 spoken of to be true after our returne from Pomfret in all tliose partes asweU w"" 
 gentlemen as other vnto the Cominge of the Duke of Norfolke in these pai'ts as 
 farre as euer I hard of any man. 
 
 " 4. To the fourthe I save I wrot the said Ires at yorke the Satordaye or 
 
 Sondaye iinediatly followhige tlio Conceptyon of our lady w'^'' was vpon a fridaye 
 
 w'^'' daye I departed from Pomfiet homeward, one fortenyght before the publycacon 
 
 of the pardon av'^'' was published at Richemond iij myles from the place where I 
 
 Tiiese dwell on a market daye beinge Saturdaye the xxiij day of December and not 
 
 cMite- "'^ as I remember a letter concerniuge the insurrection I never wrot so 
 
 Ihe™^- ma ex[cepte] that the tlierof large w^" was w"'in of the 
 
 ""'■ firste beginninge of the Insurrectyon in Richemondslieire to the Abbot there M' Sig- 
 
 geswicke M' Witham gentlemen. And I all together wrotte letteres to the Abbotte 
 
 of Fountaines and other preestes for a poste horses, and one other to S' Cliris- 
 
 tofer Danby knight to desire liim to Subscribe his Name to his Letter, av^'' wee 
 
 receaved from him, the Coppie of w"'' letteres doe remayne yet as I suppose in 
 
 Jervaux abbaye aforesaid, and from the tyme of writyiige the said letteres vnto the 
 
 priore of Cartemell w^'' was w"'in two dayes after tlie conceptyon of o' Ladye as is 
 
 aboue Expressed nito tliis daye I never wrotte ne sonte xiito him any letter or 
 
 messuage for any thinge ne I haue hard any thiuge by worde or writynge from him 
 
 at any tyme sithen." [Fol. 85. 
 
 Renewed Tlic rebel amiy of the north was dispersed, but the cause of their discontent Avas 
 
 in the in no degree removed. Several of the monks and others, who liad repossessed them- 
 selves of the religious houses during the time of the insurrection, were again ejected, 
 and a fresh rebellion broke out on the northern exti'emity of Lancashire, under 
 Musgiave and Tilley. Tlie career of the insurgents was short and humiliating; and
 
 Counti.) |3alntinf of Sanrastfr, 485 
 
 tlieii' only military operation consisted in besieging tlie city of Carlisle, in wliicli they chap. 
 entiiely failed. The dnke of Norfolk, having put their army to flight, made prisoners '^"' 
 of all theii' officers, with the exception of Musgi-ave ; seventy of them were brought to 
 trial by martial law, and, being found guilty of treason and rebellion, they were all 
 executed on the walls of Carlisle. Similar risings took place at Hull, and in some 
 other places; and the king, in the heat of his indignation, seemed to consider these 
 fresh revolts as a justification for the uifi-action of the act of amnesty gi'anted by his 
 authority at Doncaster, though many of the accused, who afterwards became sufferers, 
 were not, and could not be, concerned in the latter rebellion. Aske, the leader of the 
 pilgrimage of gr-ace, was tried and executed ; as were also sir Robert Constable, sir 
 John Bulmer, sir John Percy, su- Stephen Hamilton, Nicholas Tempest, and William 
 Lumley ; many others were thrown into prison, and most of them shared the fate of 
 their leader. The plea of compulsion set up by lord Darcy for the surrender 
 of Pontefi-act did not avail him, neither did his advanced age of eighty years, though 
 many of them had been spent in the service of his country.* The inexorable 
 monarch, after his condemnation, refused to extend to hhn the royal clemency, and 
 he was executed on Tower HUl. " Being now satisfied witli punishing the rebels, 
 the king published anew," says lord Herbert, " a general pardon, to which he faith- 
 fiUly adhered; and he created a patent court of justice at York, for deciding on suits 
 in tlie northern counties; a demand which had been made by the rebels." It appears, 
 however, that the arm of justice Avas not yet stayed; for at the spring assizes at Lan- 
 caster, in 1537, John Paslew, D.D., abbot of Whalley, was sentenced to death for 
 high treason, on account of the part he had taken in the northern rebellion, and Execii- 
 suffered the exti-eme penalty of the law on a gallows, erected in front of the house of 
 his bii'th, in Whalley ; while William Trafford, abbot of Salley, and the prior of the 
 same place, were executed at Lancaster, two days before, along with John Castegate 
 and WUliam Haydocke, monks of Whalley. Adam Sudbury, abbot of Jervaux, 
 with Ashbeed, a monk of that house, and WUliam Wold, prior of Burlington, also 
 suffered death for the same offence. 
 
 * On being led to execution, lord Darcy accused the duke of Norfolk, the commander-in-chief of 
 the king's forces, of having encouraged the rebellion of the north ; but this charge was disregarded by 
 the king, and seems to have had no better foundation than the anxiety of the duke to spare the lives 
 of the rebels. Near the close of Henry's reign, the duke and his son, the earl of Surrey, fell into 
 disgrace, owing to the intrigues of their enemies at court, and to the fickleness of the king's disposi- 
 tion. The accomplished and lamented son perished on the scaffold; and his father was indebted for 
 his life rather to the death of the king than to the services he had rendered to his country, by his 
 achievements on the ocean, his gallantry in the battle of Flodden, and his still more distinguished 
 service in dispersing an army of 40,000 men without the effusion of blood.
 
 486 €i)t W^tov^ Of tbe 
 
 CHAP. Tlie part taken by the monks in the rebellion of the north, and the encourage- 
 
 ^"' ment they had given to theii- dependants and tenants to join in that insuiTection, 
 
 Dissoiu- served as a reason for the dissolution of the larger monasteries, of which it had been 
 i!rrge° mo- declared by pailiament, that " in divers of them religion was right well kept and 
 nasteries. Q|jggj.yg(j;' This character, however, did not save them from the rapacious grasp of 
 the spoiler ; and the sagacity wliich suggested that the dissolution of the smaller 
 monasteries would soon be succeeded by the sequestration of the property of the 
 laro-er establishments, was soon made manifest. A new commission, ^rith the earl of 
 Sussex at its head, was appomted, to investigate the conduct of the existing monas- 
 teries, and the commissioners spent nearly four years m going fi-om house to house, 
 by turns soliciting, and by turns compelling, the heads of those houses to suiTender 
 them, Avith their lands and revenues, into the hands of the king. Tliough these 
 appropriations were so numerous in the reign of Henry VITT., only one original 
 surrender of any religious house is to be found; and that is, the surrender of the 
 abbey of Furness, in the county of Lancaster. Tliis instrument is of the date of 
 the 9th of April, in the last year of the king's reign, from wliich it appears that the 
 annual value of the monastery was £960, and that tlmiy monks were attached to that 
 house. The surrender of Furness abbey will serve as a specimen of the proceedings 
 under tliis new commission.* 
 
 " All the members of the community, with the tenants and servants, were 
 successively examined in private; and the result of a protracted inquiiy was, that, 
 though two monks were committed to Lancaster ca.stle, notliing could be discovered 
 to criminate either the abbot or the brotherhood. Tlie commissioners proceeded to 
 Whalley, and a new smnmons compelled the abbot of Furness to reappear before 
 them. A second investigation was instituted, and the result was the same. In these 
 circumstances, says the earl, in a letter to Henry, which is still extant, ' devising with 
 myselfe, yf one way would not serve, how and by what means the said monks myght 
 be ryd from the said abbey, and consequently how the same might be at your 
 gi-acious pleasur, I detennined to assay liim as of myself, whether he would be con- 
 tented to surrender giff and gi-aunt unto (you) your heirs and assigaus the sayd 
 monastery; which tldng so opened to the abbot farely, we found liim of a very facile 
 and ready mynde to follow my advice in that behalf.' A deed was accordingly 
 offered him to signi, in wliich, having acknowledged ' the misorder and evil rule both 
 unto God and the kmg of the brethren of the said abbey,' he, in tUschai'ge of his con- 
 science, gave and surrendered to Henry all the title and interest wliich he possessed 
 in the monastery of Furness, its lauds and its revenues. Officers were immediately 
 
 * See original papers in the British Museum, Cleop. E. iv. Ill, 244, 246. See also AVest's 
 Furness, Appendix x. 4—7.
 
 Counti? ^3nlatmf of 2.anra£itfi% 487 
 
 despatched, to take possession in the name of the king; the commissioners followed chap. 
 
 XII. 
 
 mih. the abhot in their company; and in a few days the whole community ratified the 
 deed of its superior. The liistory of Furness is the liistory of Whalley, and of the 
 other great abbeys in the north. They were ^^sited under pretext of the late 
 rebeUion; and, by one expecUent or other, were successively wrested from then- 
 possessors, and transferred to the crown."* 
 
 As an inducement to theii" superiors to surrender their monasteries, tempting 
 offers of a permanent provision were made to the brotherhood; and to such as with- 
 held their consent, either no allowance whatever was granted, or that allowance so 
 small as to leave them in a state of abject penury.f 
 
 The progi'ess of the reformation kept pace with tlie dissolution of the papal Pubiica- 
 institutions; and in the year 1538, the scriptiu'es of the Old and New Testament BiUein' 
 were, for the first time, printed entu-e in Enghsh, under the sanction and authority °° '" '' 
 of the government. Pope Clement, incensed by all these acts of disobedience to the 
 Romish church, was at length induced to issue his celebrated bull of excommunication, 
 by which the king of England was declared an apostate, the Avhole kingdom was put 
 under an iuterdict, his subjects were requii'ed to rise up in arms against his authority, 
 foreign potentates were charged to make war upon liim, and he was expelled from 
 the pale of the holy catholic church. 
 
 So far were the thundei-s of the Vatican from arresting the king in liis sacrilegious Excom- 
 career, that, in the following year, a bill was brought into the EngUsh parliament, tion of the 
 vestuig in the crown all the moveable and unmoveable property of the monastic "'^' 
 institutions, wliicli either had already been, or should hereafter be, suppressed, 1539. 
 abohshed, or surrendered. The heads of the twenty-eight mitred abbeys, and the 
 two priors of Coventry and St. John of Jerusalem, having been divested of their 
 revenues, lost the seats which they had hitherto enjoyed in the house of peers ; but 
 the county of Lancaster cUd not in tliis way suff"er any diminution of parUamentaiy 
 influence, seeing that none of those highly -privileged houses were situated in this 
 county. The abbots, masters, and priors of the religious orders in Lancashire, 
 however, frequently received Avrits of summons to parliament; and it appears from 
 
 * Lingard, IV. 256. 
 
 t The pensions to the superiors varied from £266 to £6 per annum. The priors of cells received 
 generally £13. A few whose services had merited distinction obtained £20. To the other monks 
 were allotted pensions of six, four, or two pounds, with a small sum each as a departure fee, to provide 
 for his immediate wants. The pensions to nuns averaged about £4. " It should, however, be 
 observed," says Dr. Lingard, from whom we quote, " that these sums were not in reality so small as 
 they appear, as money was, probably, at that period of ten times more value than it is now." This, 
 however, is an over-estimate, taking the price of wheat as the criterion.
 
 488 Cfte ?l?tgtoti) of tin 
 
 CHAP, the Close Rolls, that from 49 Hemy III. to 23 Edwai'd IV. the heads of the Pre- 
 
 XII 
 
 ' monstratensian Abbey of Cockersand alone received upwards of one huudi'ed of these 
 
 parUameutary writs. 
 1540. From tliis period is to be dated the dissolution of all the monastic institutions 
 
 From the in the couutj of Lancaster; and the follo^ving is a concise history of theii' original 
 Mona's- foundation, the religious orders to Avhich they were attaclied, and their estimated 
 
 tica. 
 
 income, according to Dugdale and to Speed, at the time of the visitations, Avliich took 
 place in the interval between 1534 and 1540: — 
 Lanca- " At BuRSCOUGH was a Priory of Austin, or Black Canons, founded by Robert 
 
 shire mo- _ _ _ ci • 
 
 nasteries. Fitz-Heury, Lord of Lathom, in the reign of Richaixl I. St. Nicholas was the tutelar 
 saint of this house, Avliich had a prior, and five religious, and forty servants, and was 
 endowed at the dissolution Tvitli £80. 7s. 6d. per annum, according to Dugdale; 
 according to a second valuation, £122. 5s. 7d.; according to Mr. Speed, with 
 £129. Is. lOd. 
 
 " At CoKERHAM there was a Priory. 
 
 " At Cockersand, a Premonstratensian Abbey.* Here was first a hermitage, and 
 then an hospital for several infirm bretln-en, under the government of a prior, dedi- 
 cated to St. Mary, and subordinate to the Abbey of Leycestre, founded, or chiefly 
 endowed, by WUliam of Lancastre, in the time of Henry II.; but about the year 1 190, 
 it was changed into an Abbey of Premonstratensian Canons, to wliicli there seems to 
 have been united another abbey of the same order, which Theobald, brother to Hubert 
 Walter, archbishop of Canterbury, some years after, built, or designed to build, at 
 Pyliug, to the honoiu- of tlie blessed Vu-gin. The Abbey of Cockersand consisted, 
 about tlie time of the dissolution, of twenty-two religious, and fifty-seven servants, and 
 was then found to be worth £157. 14s. per annum, Dugd.; £228. 5s. 4d. Speed; 
 £282. 7s. 7d. according to a second valuation. The site was granted, 35 Henry VIII., 
 to John Kechin. 
 
 " At CoNiSHED, a Priory of Austin Canons. Gabriel Pennington built, in the 
 time of Henry II., upon the soil, and by the encouragement, of William of Lancastre, 
 Baron of Kendale (who Avas a very great benefactor) an hospital and priory of Black 
 Canons, to the honour of the blessed Virgin Mary ; wliich priory consisted of a prior, 
 and seven religious, and forty-eight servants, and was valued at £124. 2s. Id. per 
 annum. Speed; £97. Os. 2d. Dudg., which was the fii-st valuation ; but, upon a second 
 valuation, £161. 5s. 9d. 
 Near " At FuRNE s, a Cistertian Abbey. The monastery, begun at Tulket, A. D . 1 1 24, 
 
 for the monks of Savigny, in France, was, after three year's, viz. A.D. 1 127, removed 
 to this valley, then called Bekangesgill. Stephen, the earl of Morton and Boloigne, 
 • This monastery, by favour of the king, outlived for a short time the general dissolution.
 
 Counti) ^3alatine of aaiirasttr. 489 
 
 (afterward king of England) was the founder of tliis abbey, which was of the Cister- chap. 
 cian order, and commended to the patronage of the blessed Virgin Mary. It was ^^^' 
 endowed at the dissolution Avith £805. 16s. 5d. per annimi, Dugd. ; £766. 7s. lOd. 
 Speed. 
 
 " At Up Holand, a Benedictine Priory. Here was, in the chapel of St. Tliomas 
 the Martyr, a college or chantry, consisting of a dean and twelve secular priests, who 
 were changed, A. D. 1319, by Walter, lord bishop of Litchfield, at the petition of 
 sir Robert Holand, then patron, and, as I conceive, original founder, into a prior and 
 Benedictine monks. Here were, about the time of the suppression, five religious and 
 twenty-six servants. Tliis house was valued at £53. 3s. 4d. per annum, Dugd.; 
 £61. 3s. 4. Speed; and at £78. 12s. according to a second valuation. It was 
 granted 37 Henry VIII. to John Holcroft. 
 
 " At HoRNEBY, a Premonstrateusian Cell.* An hospital or cell of a prior and 
 thi'ee Premonstrateusian canons to the al)bey of Croxton, in Leicestershire, of the 
 foundation of the ancestors of sir Thomas Stanley, lord Monteagle, to whom the 
 site and domains of this priory (as parcel of Croxton) were granted, 36 Henry VIII. 
 It was dedicated to St. Wilfred, and endowed with lands to the value of £26 per 
 amium. 
 
 " At Kershall or Kyrkshawe, a Cluniac Cell. King Henry II. granted, 
 and King John, anno reg. I. confirmed, to the monastery of Nottinghamshii-e, the 
 hermitage here, which thereupon became a small house of Cluniac monks, and a 
 cell to that priory was gi-anted 32 Henry VIII. to Bahhvin Willoughl)y. 
 
 " At Kertmel or Cartmele, a Priory of Austin's Canons, William Mares- 
 chall, the elder earl of Pembroke, founded here A. D. 1188, a priory of regular 
 canons of the order of St. Austin, which Avas dedicated to the blessed Virgin, and 
 rated 26 Henry VIII. at £91. 6s. 3d. per annum, Dugd.; £124. 2s. Id. Speed; 
 £212. lis. lOd. second valuation. Herein, about the time of the dissolution, were 
 reckoned ten religious, and thirty-eight servants. The site of tliis monastery was 
 gianted 32 Hemy VIII. to Thomas Holcroft. 
 
 " At Lancaster, (1) an Alien Priory, earl Roger, of Poictiers, gave, A.D. 1094, 
 the church of St. Mary, with some other lands here, to the abbey of St. Martin de 
 Sagio, or Sees, in Normandy, whereupon a prior and five Benedictine monks were 
 placed here, who, with three priests, two clerks and servants, made up a small monas- 
 tery, subordinate to that foreign house, which was endowed with the yeai'ly revenue 
 of about £80 sterling. After the dissolution of the alien priories, this, with the land 
 thereunto belonging, was annexed by king Heniy V. or liis feoffees to the abbey of 
 Syon, in Middlesex. 
 
 * This cell was resigned before the visitation in 1535. 
 VOL. I. 3 R
 
 490 Win i)i6t0l|) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. " (2.) An hospital for a master chaplain and nine poor persons, whereof three to 
 
 XII 
 
 be lepers, was founded in tliis town by king John, while he was earl of Morton, 
 wliich was afterward, bj Henry duke of Lancaster, annexed to the nunnery of 
 Seton, in Cimiberland, about 30 Edward III. It was dedicated St. Leonard. 
 
 " (3.) A Priory for Black Friars. Here was a house of Dominican or Black 
 Friars, founded about 44 Henry III. by sir Hugh Harrington, Kuight, which was 
 granted 32 Henry VIII. to Thomas Holcroft. 
 
 " (4.) A Friary for Grey Friars. A Franciscan Convent near the bridge, 
 
 " Lanyricjh, now Longiidge. An ancient hospital under Longridge hills, of a 
 master and brethren, dedicated to the Vugin Mary and our Holy Saviour. 
 
 " At Lythom or Lethum, Benedictine Cell. Richard Fitz-Roger, in the latter 
 end of the reign of king Richard I. gave lands here to the church of Durham, with 
 intent that a prior and Benedictine monks might be settled here, to the honour of 
 St. Mary and St. Cuthbert. Its annual revenues at the suppression were worth 
 £48. 19s. 6d. Dugd.; £53. 15s. lOd. Speed. The site, as parcel of Durham, was 
 granted, 2 Mariae, to sir Thomas Holcroft. 
 
 " At Manchester. A College,* Thomas de la Ware, clerk, some time rector 
 of the parish church here, (having the bai'ony and estate of liis brother, Jolni Lord de 
 la Ware, without heu-s) obtained leave of the king, 9 Henry V., to make it collegiate, 
 to consist of a Avarden and a certain number of priests. It was dedicated to the 
 blessed Virgin, and endowed with revenues to the yearly value of £200, or, as they 
 were returned into the first-huits office, 26 Hemy VIII. £226. 12s. 5d. in the whole, 
 and £213. 10s. lid. clear. Tliis college was dissolved in 1547, by king Edward VI. 
 but re-founded, first, by queen Mary, and afterwards by queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1578, 
 and again by king Charles I. A.D. 1636, for a warden, four fellows, two chaplains, 
 four singing men, and four choristers, being incorporated, as they were before by 
 queen Elizabeth, by the name of ' the Warden and Fellows of Christ Churcli, in 
 Manchester.' 
 
 " At Penwortham, a Benedictine Priory. Warine Bussel, having given the 
 church and tithes of this place, with several other estates in tliis country, to the abbey 
 of Evesham, in Worcestersliire, in the time of William the Conqueror, here was 
 shortly after a priory erected, and several Benedictine monks from Evesham, placed 
 in it. This priory was decUcated to the Virgin Mary, and rated 26 Henry VIII. at 
 £29, 18s. 7d. jier annum, as Dugdale in one place, and £99, 5s. 3d. as he saith iu 
 another; and at £114. 16s. 9d, per annum, as Speed, The site was granted 
 34 Henry VIII., to Jolm Fleetwood. 
 
 • This college escaped the general dissolution, or was speedily restored.
 
 Coimtj) ^Oalatme of aanrastn% 491 
 
 " At Preston, (I.) an ancient Hospital, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, chap 
 occurs in the Lincoln taxation, A. D. 1291. The mastership was in the gift of " 
 
 the king. 
 
 " (2.) A Friary, for Grey Friars. The original builder of the Grey Friars' 
 College, on the north-^vest side of this town, was Ednmnd carl of Lancaster, son to 
 king Henry HL The site of which was granted, 32 Henry VIH., to Thomas 
 Holcroft. 
 
 " At Warrington, a Friary for Austin Friars. At the bridge end near this 
 town, was a priory of Augustine Friars, founded before A.D. 1370, which, 32 Henry 
 Vni., was granted to the often-mentioned Thomas Holcroft. 
 
 " At Whalley, an Abbey for Cistercians. Henry Lacy, earl of Lincoln, having 
 given the advowson of the parish to the White Monks of Stanlawe, in Cheshire, they 
 procured the same to be appropriated to them, whereupon, A.D. 1296, they removed 
 theu" abbey hither, and increased the number of theii- religious to sixty. There was 
 another removal proposed to a place called Tocstathe, by Thomas earl of Lancaster, 
 A. D. 1316, but it seems not to have taken effect. Whalley was dedicated to the 
 blessed Virgin Mary, and, at the suppression, had revenues to the yearly value of 
 £321. 9s. Id. Dugd.; £551. 4s. 6d. Speed. It was gi-anted to Richard Ashton and 
 John Braddyll, 7 Edward VI. 
 
 " At Wyersdale, a Cistercian Abbey. A colony of Cistercian monks from 
 Furnes, for some tune fixed here; but about A.D. 1188, they removed over into 
 Ireland, and founded the abbey of Wythney." 
 
 The lands and revenues of the monasteries of Furness, Cartmel, Conished, The re- 
 Burscough, and Up-Holland, were confided by parliament to the officers of the adminis- 
 duchy of Lancaster, to be administered for the king's use.* The king also annexed iii'/duchy. 
 to the duchy of Lancaster property of the yearly value of £796. 4s. 2^([., subject 
 to an annual pension to chantry piiests of £126. 2s. 4d. This appropria- 
 tion was made through the mecUum of the court of augmentation, which court 
 was established in the year 1535, for the purpose of ordering, surveying, 
 selUng, or letting, all manors, lands, tithes, and other property belonging to the 
 monasteries. 
 
 Tlie number of monasteries suppressed in England and Wales amounted in the Vaiue of 
 
 • tliG dis- 
 
 whole to six hundred and forty-five, exclusive of ninety-six colleges, two thousand solved 
 three hundi'cd and seveuty-four chantries and free chapels, and one huucU'ed and ten teries. 
 hospitals ;f the value of which property has been variously estimated, but, according 
 
 * 32 Henry VIII. c. 20. f Camden's Brit. i. cxci.
 
 492 €l)t ?gi£itorj) of tl)e 
 
 CHAP, to the Liber Regis, it jdelded aumially £142,914. 12s. 91d.,* wliich, taken at 
 ^"' twenty years' purchase, would produce £2,858,290; Avorth in our money £28,582,900. 
 The revenues of the church, before the dissokition of the monasteries, is said to have 
 equalled about one-fourth of the whole landed income of the kingdom.f According 
 to the records in the augmentation office,J the process pursued by the commissioners, 
 on the dissolution of each of the monasteries, was as follows : — 1st. The commis- 
 sioners broke its seal, and assigned pensions to the members. 2nd. The plate and 
 jewels were reserved for the king ; the furniture and goods were sold, and the 
 money was paid into the augmentation office. 3rd, The abbot's lodgings and the 
 offices were left standing, for the convenience of the next occupant ; the church, 
 cloisters, and apartments for the monlvs, were stripped of the lead and every other 
 saleable article, and then left to fall to ruins. 4th. The lands were by degi-ees 
 alienated from the crown by gift, sale, or exchange. 
 
 A revenue so immense as that yielded by the monasteries might, under juchcious 
 application, have extinguished all the public burdens both for the support of the 
 state and the relief of the poor, and expectations of this kind were held out to the 
 people ;§ but they were soon undeceived ; i)auperism became more extensive than 
 ever, and, within one year from the period of the last appropriation, a subsidy of two- 
 tenths, and another of two-fifteenths, were demanded by the king, and gi-anted by 
 parliament, to defray the expenses of reforming the religion of the state.|| Henry VIII., 
 like his predecessor, was rapacious, — with tliis ilifTerence, however, that the father 
 collected money to save, while the son amassed wealth to supply the demands of a 
 licentious profusion. Much of the church property was disposed of to the king's 
 favourites, by gi-ants or by indulgent sales, one of the conditions of which was, that 
 the new proprietors of the abbey lands should keep up the ancient hospitality ; but 
 
 Annual revenue of all the monastic houses classed in tlie orders. 
 
 No. of Houses. Orders. 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 No. of Houses. Orders. 
 
 Revenue. 
 
 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 186 ... 
 
 Benedictines . . . 
 
 65,877 14 
 
 3 ... 
 
 Fontevraud Nuns 
 
 825 8 6i 
 
 20 ... 
 
 Cluniacs . . . 
 
 4,972 9 2A 
 
 3 ... 
 
 Minoresses . . . 
 
 548 10 6 
 
 9 ... 
 
 Carthusians . . . 
 
 2,947 15 4i 
 
 1 ... 
 
 Bridgetines . . . 
 
 1731 8 9f 
 
 101 ... 
 
 Cistercians . . . 
 
 18,691 12 6 
 
 2 ... 
 
 Bonhommes . . . 
 
 859 5 11| 
 
 173 ... 
 
 Austins . . . 
 
 33,027 1 11 
 
 
 Knights Hospitallers 
 
 5,394 6 5i 
 
 32 ... 
 
 Premonstratensians 
 
 4,807 14 1 
 
 
 Fiiars . . . 
 
 809 11 8J- 
 
 25 ... 
 
 Gilbertus . . . 
 
 2,421 13 9 
 
 
 
 
 t Lord Herbert, p. 396. J Burnet's Records, I, 151. § Coke's Inst. iv. 44. 
 
 II Henry's enormous expenditure is easily accounted for by the fact, that his principal employment 
 was gambling. — Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VIII. p. xxiii.
 
 Couutj) IJalatine of JLanrasttr. 
 
 493 
 
 as this was in some degree voluntary, the practice soon fell into disuse. A portion 
 of the monastic revenues was appropriated to the advancement of religion, though 
 much less than the Idng originally intended. His first pui-pose, as appears from 
 documents under his own hand, was to found eighteen new hishoprics, but the 
 number declined from time to time, till it was at last reduced to six, viz. West- 
 minster, Oxford, Peterborougli, Bristol, Gloucester, and Chester, in the last of wliich 
 was included Lancashire and Richmondsliire. Anciently there had been a bishop's 
 see at Chester, but it had merged in the cUocese of Lichfield. At the same time 
 tlie king converted fourteen abbeys and priories into cathech-al and collegiate 
 churches, attaching to each a dean and a certain number of prebendaries, but none 
 of these were in this county. That the endo^vments might not be too ricli, each 
 chapter had imposed upon its ecclesiastical revenue the obligation of contributing 
 annually to the support of the resident poor, and to the repair of the highways.* 
 The order of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem, including the Knights Templar 
 and the Hospitallers, after ha\-ing existed for four hunih-ed and thirty-sLx yeai's, 
 were doomed to suppression by legislative enactment ; and the universities of Oxford 
 and Cambridge, happily for learning in future ages, escaped, though naiTowly, the 
 same fate. 
 
 The chantries, in the monasteries and churches of tliis county, were very 
 numei'ous at the period of the refonnation, as may be inferred from the following 
 List of Chantries, which we find in the records of the ofiice of the duchy of 
 Lancaster : — 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 xri. 
 
 Bishopric 
 of Cliester 
 erected. 
 
 1540. 
 
 1 . Warton Ecclesia stipend, no date. 
 
 2. Kirkeby Irelath. Cantaria. 
 
 3. Leverpole Capella. 
 
 4. Liverpole Capella. 
 
 5. Eccleston. Cantar. 
 Sefton. Cantar. 
 Croston. Cantar. 
 Manchester Colleg. Decimee. 
 Manchester Decimae in Moston, Norton, 
 
 Kidemanhulme, Cromeshall. 
 Burscoughe Priory, the Manor. 
 Ormskirke. Cantar. 
 
 12. Eccles. Cantar. 
 
 13. St. Michael's super Wyram. Cantar. 
 
 14. Manchester, Beckwith's. Cantar. 
 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 
 10. 
 11. 
 
 First por- 
 tion. 
 
 15. Manchester Colleg. Decimse de Trafford, Bundle U, 
 
 Stratford and Chollerton. 
 
 16. Halsal Ecclesia. Cantar. 
 
 17. Yerleth. Parcel Monaster de Fumes. 
 
 18. Beamonde. Parcel Monaster de Fumes. 
 
 19. St. Michael's super Wyram. Cantar. 
 
 20. Manchester Colleg. Decimae. Granor de 
 
 Bradford, Ardewick, and Openshaw. 
 
 21. Bailie. Cantar. in Capell infra Poch. de 
 
 Mitton. Ebor. 
 
 22. Cantaria, in Lancaster. 
 
 23. Hollingfare Capella, in Warrington. 
 
 24. Standish Ecclesia. Cantar. 
 
 25. Warrington Ecclesia. Butler's Cantar. 
 
 26. Halsall Ecclesia. Cantar. 
 
 Rymer, xv. 77.
 
 494 
 
 Cl)c W^tov^ Of tl)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 XII. 
 
 Decayed 
 towns in 
 Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 Privilege 
 of sanc- 
 tuary. 
 
 27. Preston Ecclesia. Scse Marise. Cantar. 
 
 28. Ribcliester Ecclesia. Cantar. 
 
 .52. Pickering Lythe pell. Maner in Com. Ebor. 
 Windell Capell in Prescot. Cantar. 
 
 53. Beckingshaw Capella in Croston et Tene- 
 ment in Preston, pcell. possession Colleg. 
 novi opis Leicest. 
 
 54. Silverdale, Boston, Hest pcell. Monast. tie 
 
 Cartmell. 
 
 55. Clitherow Capella, in Whalley Cantar. 
 
 56. Manchester Ecclesia, TrafFord's Chappel. 
 
 Cantar. 
 
 57. Eccles Church Colleg. Jesu. 
 
 The condition of the people appears to have suflfered with the suppression of the 
 monastic institutions ; no fewer than four sepai-ate statutes were passed between the 
 years 15-35 and 1544, setting forth lists of decayed cities and towns in different, and 
 in almost all, pai-ts of the kingdom, wherein it is declared — " That there hath been in 
 times past many beautiful houses in those places which are now falling into ruin," 
 and amongst the towns mentioned in the act of 1544, are, " Lancaster, Preston, 
 Lyi-epool, and Wigan, in Lancashire." 
 
 Tlie pri^•ilege of sanctucmj was one of the e\Tls of the monastic system, though 
 its date is anterior to the foundation of monasteries. In \irtue of tliis privilege, 
 certain places became cities of refuge — " seats of peace" as they were called ; and 
 the in\-iolability of these asylums in eai-ly times is sufficiently indicated by the 
 answer of cai-dinal Boughier, when importuned by the creatures of the duke of 
 Gloucester to bear away his ill-fated nephew, young Richard of York, from the 
 sanctuary of Westminster : — 
 
 " God in heaven forbid 
 We should infringe the holy privilege 
 Of blessed sanctuary ! not for all this land 
 Would I be guilty of so deep a sin." 
 
 Siiakspeare's Rich. III., Act III, Scene I. 
 
 " These sanctuaries were first instituted and designed for an asylum or place of 
 safety to such malefactors as were not guilty of any notorious crimes ; and were of 
 gi-eat antiquity in Greece; whence they were derived to the Romans; and had 
 perhaps then- originals from those cities of refuge appointed by Moses, by the 
 immediate command of God himself. There were many of them in tliis kingdom 
 before the Conquest; and they became so numerous after, and so scandalous, (divers 
 of them having obtained protection for those that were guilty of iiigh-treason, miu-der, 
 rape, felony, &c.) that, being complained of in parliament, 1540, immediately after 
 the dissolution of the religious houses, the gi-eatest part of them were suppressed, and 
 those few that remained reduced to tlieii- first institution."* Manchester was one 
 of the places of sanctuary in the county of Lancaster ; Lancaster was another ; and 
 
 * Burton's MSS.
 
 Coiintp |3alatinf of aanrastrr. 496 
 
 Chester, then called West Chester, a thii'd. When trade began to extend itself, the chap. 
 nuisance of a harbour for tliieves and other delinquents became intolerable, and, by ^^'' 
 an act passed 38 Henry VIII., Manchester was allowed to forego its privilege, and 
 to transport all the refugees within its jurisdiction to Chester. 
 
 The king survived the tlissolutiou of the monasteries seven years, but no event 
 occuiTcd, in that period, of public interest in the lustory of Laucashii-e. Duiing his 
 last sickness, he revoked his former ^ills, and ordained that, after his death, liis three 
 children, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth, should succeed liim in the sovereign power, 
 the son as male heir, and the daughters in the order of primogeniture.
 
 €i)t ?^isitor|) of ti)t 
 
 Cftap. mh 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Edw. VI. 
 
 Lancashire in the reign of Edward VI. — In the reign of queen Mary. — Lancashire martyrs: John 
 Rogers, John Bradford, George March. — Muster of soldiers in the county of Lancaster in Mary's 
 reign. — Lancashire in the reign of Elizabeth. — General muster of soldiers in Lancashire, in 1559. 
 — Ecclesiastical commission, consisting of the earl of Derby, the bishop of Chester, and others. — 
 State of Lancashire on the appointment of the commission. — Catholic recusants. — Mary queen of 
 Scots seeks an asylum in England — Placed in confinement. — Puritan recusants. — Rebellion in 
 the north to re-establish the Catholic religion — Suppressed. — Certificates of the levies of troops 
 in the county of Lancaster, with autographs of a number of the principal inhabitants. — Meetings 
 of the lieutenancy. — Original letter of Edward, earl of Derby, to the queen. — Letter of the earl of 
 Huntington to secretary Cecil, casting suspicion on the loyalty of the earl of Derby; proved to be 
 ill founded. — Part taken by Lancashire gentlemen to liberate Mary queen of Scots. — Comparative 
 military strength of the kingdom. — Muster of soldiers in Lancashire, in 1574. — Declaration of the 
 ancient tenth and fifteenth within the county of Lancaster. — Queen Elizabeth's visit to Dr. Dee, 
 the astrologer. — The ChaderLon MSS. relating to the affairs of the county of Lancaster. — Original 
 papers relating to the Lancashire recusants. — Lancashire contribution of oxen to queen Elizabeth's 
 table. — Fac-simile. — MS. of the Lancashire lieutenancy. — Lancashire loyal association against 
 Mary queen of Scots and her abettors. — Trial and execution of Mary queen of Scots. — The 
 Spanish armada. — Letter from the queen to the earl of Derby thereon. — Preparations in Lanca- 
 shire to resist — Destruction of. — Thanksgiving for national deliverance in Lancashire. — Memorable 
 and fatal feud. — Atrocious abduction. — Levies of troops in Lancashire for Ireland. — Suppression 
 of the rebellion there. — Death ot queen Elizabeth. — Loyal address of Lancashire gentry to her 
 successor James I. on his accession to the throne. 
 
 VERY year during tlie " infant reign" of Edward VI. 
 the refoiTOation continued to advance with a steady step ; 
 but no events of any distinguished public interest occur- 
 red witliin this period, connected with the county pala- 
 tine of Lancaster. In the first year of this reign, Fran- 
 cis, earl of Shrewsbmy, was constituted lord-lieutenant 
 of the counties of Lancaster, York, Chester, Derby, 
 Stafford, Salop, and Nottingham, and, in the following 
 year, he was made justice of the forests north of the 
 Trent.* Under the inhibition of a proclamation,! 
 issued by the lord protector, Somerset, in the name of the kuig, all places of public 
 worship belonging to dissenters, as well Protestant as Catholic, in this and the other 
 counties of England, were closed ; and any preacher, of whatsoever persuasion, who 
 took upon liimself to preach in an open audience, except such as were licensed by 
 * Lodge's Illustrations, I. p. xiv. t Dated September 23, 1548.
 
 Coimti) |3alatine oC 2Lanca£(tn-. 497 
 
 the lord protector, or by the archbishop of York, became obnoxious to tlie royal displca- chap. 
 
 sure. Tlie avowed olyect of this intolerant proclamation was, " to produce an uniform '__ 
 
 order throughout the realm, and to put an end to all controversies in religion." At 
 the same time there was a board of commission formed, for ;ul\ ancing the reforma- 
 tion, of wliich Edward, earl of Derby, was a conmiissioner. 
 
 Tliis document was founded upon an act of parliament, bv which the archbishop tiic litur- 
 of Canterbury, " with other learned and discreet bishops and divines," was directed 
 to draw up an order of divine Avorship, called a liturgy, or book of common prayer. 
 This duty hanng been performed to the satisfaction of the king and his parliament, 
 it was enacted, that from the feast of Whitsunday next, all di\ine ofliccs should i54s. 
 be performed according to the prescribed ritual, and tliat such of the clergy 
 as should refuse to conform, or should continue to officiate in any other man- 
 ner, should, upon conviction, be imprisoned six months, and forfeit a year's 
 profit of their benefices ; for the second offence, forfeit all church preferment, and 
 sulTer a year's imprisonment ; and for the third offence, suffer imprisonment during 
 life. And all that should Amte or print any thing against this liturgy, were to be 
 fined, for the first offence ten pounds, for the second tv/enty pounds, and for the 
 third, forfeit all their i)roperty, wth imprisonment for life. Against tliis act, the earl 
 of Derby, and eight of the bishops, entered their protest on the journals of the Lords. 
 
 In the same arbitrary spirit, a law was made against vagabonds, whicli was Vagrancy. 
 covertly meant to apply to mendicant priests, by whicli it was enacted, tliat any 
 persons avIio should be found, for three days together, loitering without ivork, or 
 without offering thcmsehes to work, or that should run away from work, and 
 resolve to live idly, should be seized on ; and whosoever sliould present them to a 
 justice of peace, was to have them adjudged to be slaves for two years, and they 
 were to be marked with the letter V imprinted with a hot iron on their breast. Two 
 years afterwards, this cruel statute was repealed, and provisions were made for 
 relieving the sick and the impotent, and for setting such of the poor as were able, to Vim poor 
 work ; on which law tlie celebrated statute of the 43d Elizabeth was grounded. 
 
 That the earl of Derby, and several of the bishops, should have protested against Eariypar- 
 the act of uniformity, and its impracticable provisions, which act presumptuously tar.v "ppo- 
 assumed " to be drawn up by the aid of the Holy Ghost," could not be matter of 
 wonder ; but why his lordship, and the earls of Rutland and Sussex, the viscount 
 Hereford, and lords Montcagle, Sands, Wharton, and Evcrs,* should enter a pretest 
 against an act i)assed prohibiting all simoniacjd pactions for reservation of pensions 
 out of benefices, and the granting of advowsons while the incumbent was yet alive, it 
 is difficult to discover, unless upon the supposition, that his lordsliip headed an oppo- 
 
 * Journals of the Lords, 1552. 
 
 vor,. I. 3 s
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Visitation 
 
 of the 
 duchy 
 
 498 €i)t i^i'Stoii) of tlje 
 
 sition alike hostile to all the measures of the existing administration, whether good 
 or bad. The act for legalizing the marriage of the clergy passed in the same year, 
 and was also protested against by the earl of Derby, by the earls of Shrewsbury, 
 Rutland, and Bath, and by the lords Abergavenny, Stourton, Monteagle, Sands, 
 Wliarton, and Evers. 
 
 Edward VI., or rather the regency by which his government was directed, 
 
 Mes.^''' imitating the example of his royal fatlier, instituted a visitation, by which the chan- 
 tries of Lancashire were inspected by two lay gentlemen appointed for that purpose, 
 and by a civilian, a divine, and a register, in order to ascertain the state of the 
 chantries, and to apply their revenues to the king's use, to be expended, as was 
 alleged, in the endowment of schools, the maintenance of the poor, and the erection 
 of colleges. These visitations became general throughout the provinces of Canter- 
 bury and York, and the suppression of chantries followed as a matter of course. 
 
 Degrada- Subsequently, lord Paget, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, was charged 
 
 'ha°iiceUor with having appropiiated large sums out of the revenues of the suppressed chantries 
 to his own use, and mth other acts of malversation j of Avliich charges he was con- 
 victed, on vague and unsatisfactory evidence, and fined in the enormous sum of six 
 thousand pounds. Nor did the severity of his lordsliip's sentence end here ; he 
 was degraded from liis rank as a knight of the order of the garter, because he 
 was not a gentleman by descent, either from his father or his mother. His real 
 offence, however, consisted in liis steady adherence to the fallen protector, the duke 
 of Somerset, by which he became obnoxious to his successful uncle, the duke of 
 Northumberland. 
 
 Council of " His Majesty's Council in the Northern Parts," an institution arisuig out of the 
 demands of the Pilgrims of Grace, for the purpose of facilitating the administration of 
 justice, without subjecting suitors in the north to the trouble and cost of repairing to 
 the metropolis, was organized in this reign, and the earl of Shrewsbury was 
 appointed to the office of lord president of the council. This court, which was in 
 some degi-ee vice-regal, consisted of a council, with the president at its head, assisted 
 by Henry eail of Westmoreland, Henry earl of Cumberland, Cuthbert bishop of 
 Durham, lord William Dacres of the north, John lord Conyers, Thomas lord Whar- 
 ton, John Hind, knt., one of his majesty's justices of the common pleas, Ethuuud 
 Moleneux, knt., sergeant-at-law, Henry Savel, knt., Pvobert Bowes, knt., Nicholas 
 Fairfax, knt., George Conyers, knt., Leonard Becquith, knt., William Babthorp, knt., 
 Anthony Nevill, knt., Thomas Gargrave, knt., Robert Mennell, sergeaut-at-law, 
 Anthony Bellasis, John Rokeby, doctor of law, Robert Chaloner, Richard Morton, 
 and Thomas Eynis, esqrs. The sum of a thousand pounds a year was granted to 
 the lord president, for the better entertainment of himself and his council, with divers 
 
 the north.
 
 Countj) ^3alattnc of Sanrasitfr. 499 
 
 revenues to the stipendiary members, who were requii'etl to be in continual attend- chap. 
 ance upon the council, except at such times as a certificate of absence was gi'anted to !_ 
 
 any of them by the lord president. The council was furnished with powers to decide 
 cases between pliuntiffs and defendants in their bill of complaint, without replication, 
 rejoiiuler. or other plea of delay, ^nth power and authority to punisli sucli persons, as 
 in any thing should neglect, contemn, or disobey thcLr coimnand, or the process of 
 the council : and all other that should speak seditious words, invent rumours, or 
 commit such lilie offences, (not being treason,) Avhereof any inconvenience might 
 gi'ow, by pillory, cutting the ears, wearing of papers, imprisonment, or otherwise, at 
 their discretion ; or to assess fines, of all persons who might be convicted of any 
 riot ; and to assess costs and damages, as well to the plaintiffs as to the defendants. 
 And for the more certain and brief determination of causes, it was ordained, that the 
 lord president and council should keep four general sessions or sittings in a year, 
 each of them to continue by the space of one month, one at York, another at Hidl, 
 the third at Newcastle, and the fourth at Durluun, withui the limits whereof the 
 matters arising there should be ordered and decreed.* In fixing upon these places 
 for holding the periodical sessions of the council, the convenience of the eastern, 
 rather than of the Avestern counties of the north, seems to have been consulted ; and 
 it is lUfficult to say, why Lancaster was not fixed upon in making the an-ange- 
 ment, in preference to either Durham or Newcastle. That the suitors might not be 
 oppressed with heavy bills of costs, it was dii-ected, " that no attorney should take, in 
 one sitting or sessions, above twelve pence, nor any counsellor more than twenty 
 pence, for one matter." 
 
 Amongst the most distinguished of the king's favourites was lord Sti'ange, by Proposed 
 whom it was suggested to Edward, that a marriage with lady Ann Seymour, thu'd ''' " " 
 daughter of the duke of Somerset, Avould conduce to his happiness, and to the peace- 
 ful settlement of the crown ; but this alliance was defeated by a counter-intrigue, the 
 object of which was to obtain for the king the hand of Elizabeth, the eldest daughter 
 of the French king. 
 
 A fatal malady soon afterwards seized the young monarch, who, in his last sick- Death of 
 
 !■ 1 • • /-w 1 1 /■ "'^ king. 
 
 ness, was entrusted to the charms and medicines of a female empu-ic. On the 6th ot 
 July he expired, with the reputation of liigh talents for government, had time suffered 
 them to be fully developed. He was succeeded, after an ineffectual effort in favour 
 of the unfortunate lady Jane Grey, the victim of the ambition of others, by liis sister, 
 the lady Mary, only daughter of Catherine of Arragon. 
 
 The reign of queen Mary is knowai in the liistory of Lancasliii'e, as it is in the Queen 
 other parts of the kingdom of England, more by the bloody persecution wliich 
 * Bishop Burnet's Collection of Records, booki. p. ii. No. 56. 
 
 3s2
 
 600 
 
 €i)t listmi) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Re-estab- 
 nient of 
 the Catho- 
 lic reli- 
 gion. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire 
 chantries. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire mar- 
 tyrs. 
 
 John 
 Rogers. 
 
 stained it, tliaii by any other circiunstance. The reproach of the loss of Calais, the 
 last remaining strongliold of England in France, is almost obliterated by the streams 
 of blood wliich flowed to satiate an embittered mind, the abode of superstition, and 
 the slave of priestly domination. A period of nearly three hundred years has scarcely 
 been found sufficient to wash away these sanguinary stains from the religious com- 
 munity to whom they attach ; though they were, the crime of the age in wliicli it was 
 the destiny of this unhappy queen to live, and though her father and her sister, both 
 of the reformed religion, shared her guilt in a mitigated degree. 
 
 One of the first acts of queen Mary was to re-establish the Roman Catholic reli- 
 gion in tliis kingdom as the religion of the state ; and in furtherance of that measure, 
 the abolished chantries were restored. Tlie following list contains the names of the 
 parish churches in Lancashire, whose chantries were restored in the first year of the 
 queen's reign, with stipends allowed to the chantry priests, which were from £1. 10s. 
 to £6. per annum: — Ashton-under-Line, Chddwal, Croston, (St. John and St. 
 Trinity,) Crofton, Goosnergh, Halsall, (St. Nicholas and St. Mary's,) Holme, Kirkby, 
 Kii'kham 2, Lancaster 2, Manchester collegiate church 7, Mawdline, St. Michael-on- 
 WjTC, Ormskirk, Prest^vich, Rufford, Blackburn, Tarleton, Standish 2, Tunstal, 
 Thurland Castle, Ulverstone, Walton 2, "Warrington 3, Warton, Wigan, and 
 Wiuwick 2. 
 
 During the life of her fathei', Mary had written a penitential letter, expressing 
 her contrition for not having submitted herself to his " most just and virtuous laws," 
 in the matter of the reformation, and putting her conscience under his royal and 
 paternal dii-ection. The letter is preserved in the Haideian Collection.* The sub- 
 sequent death of the king, and the possession of the royal power on the part of liis 
 daughter, obliterated the remembrance of these solemn protestations, and she became 
 still more fixed than before in her attaclmient to the ancient faith. Her matrimonial 
 alliance with Philip, king of Spain, strengthened her previous partialities ; and the 
 presence of cardinal Pole, legate of the pope, one of the most learned of the clergy, 
 and one of the most devoted disciples of the church of Rome, conspired ta fix this 
 attachment. 
 
 An act for reviving the statutes of Richard II., Henry IV., and Henry V., against 
 heretics (the Lollards) was hun-ied through the parliament, and gave the sanction 
 of laAV to the executions which speedily followed. The first mai-tyr in this reign 
 was John Rogers, one of the translators of the bible in the time of Henry VIII. jf a 
 Lancasliire man, educated at Cambridge, and one of the first theological scholars of 
 the age. The offence with which he was charged was that of hokUug a meeting near 
 
 * Cod. 283. See also Cotton. Lib. Otho, C.X, 
 
 t In the dedicatory epistle of that bible, this divine signs himself Thomas Mathevv.
 
 Countp palatine of aantagtcr. soi 
 
 Bow church, in London, Avhere a minister of the name of Ross had acbninistered the chai'. 
 
 communion according to the rites of the English book of service, and had 02)enly -J 
 
 prayed, that God woukl either change the heart of the queen, or take her out of the 
 world. The tribunal before which he was condemned sat on the 28th of Januaiy, 
 1555, and consisted of the bishops of Winchester, London, Durham, Salisbury^ 
 Norwich, and Cai'lisle ; and sentence was passed both upon Hooper, the silenced 
 bishop of Gloucester, and Rogers ; but the utmost severity of the law was only 
 executed on the latter, the former having at that time been merely degraded from 
 the order of the priesthood. 
 
 Seven days after the sentence of condemnation was passed, Rogers was called f'*'^- ^• 
 to make ready for Smithfield, where he was sentenced to be burnt at the stake for 
 heresy. When brought to Bonner's, bishop of London, to be degraded, he asked 
 permission to see his v.i(e, in order that he might, through her, convey his dying 
 blessing to his ten cliildi-en ; but the request was peremptorily refused, with the 
 insulting taunt, that he was a priest, and could not possibly have a wife. When 
 fastened to the stake, a pardon was brought, and offered to him, on the condition that 
 he would recant; but, \vith an intrepidity which nothing but religious principle can 
 inspire, he rejected the proffered clemency, and assumed the crown of martyixlom. 
 
 The next Lancasliire martyr executed in Smithfield was John Bradford, born at Jo''" 
 
 •^ . Biailfoid. 
 
 Manchester, who had in early life been a man of the world, and filled the office of 
 secretaiy to sir John Hanington, the treasurer of Henry VHI. and Edward VI. At 
 a subsequent period, he became a divine of exemplary piety,* of mild and diffident 
 manners, but of a character so decided, that he did not hesitate to lay dowTi his life 
 for the truth of that religion which he had embraced from strong conviction. To so 
 high a pitch had religious hostility attained, that Bourn, a canon of St. Paul's, and 
 afterwards bishop of Bath, while preaching a sermon in favour of the Catholic faith, 
 had a dagger hurled at him by one of the congregation. From tliis violence he was 
 happily rescued by Bradford, who assuaged the storm of popular tumult. But this 
 was made a charge against liim; and it was alleged, that his power to allay the 
 storm proved that he could direct the elements of which it was composed. Though 
 a prebendary of St. Paul's, he preached much in Lancaslure, his native county, 
 where his piety and his zeal rendered his ministry peculiarly acceptable. Being sent 
 to the King's Bench prison, he was tried along with Dr. Taylor, for denying the 
 doctrine of transubstantiation, or the corj^oreal presence of Christ in the sacrament, 
 and asserting that wicked men do not partake of Christ's body in that ordinance. In 
 
 * When he became religious, " he sold," says Simpson, his intimate friend, " his chains, rings, 
 brockets, and jewels of gold, which before he used to wear, and did bestow the price of this his former 
 vanity in the necessary relief of Christ's poor mehibers."
 
 502 CfK t?istory of tl)f 
 
 CHAP, vain was liis fear appealed to; he would admit of no tenets or practices but such as 
 
 L were contained in the holy scriptures; and being found " incorrigible," he was 
 
 deemed a heretic; first excommunicated, and then condemned. For some mouths he 
 was confined in Newgate, in the hope that he Avould retract his " heretical eiTors ;" 
 but instead of abjuring, he employed himself in promulgating them, particularly 
 amongst liis friends in Lancasliire; and the earl of Derby, in declaiming against 
 him in the house of lords, informed their lordships, that Bradford had done more hurt 
 by the letters he had written wliile he was in prison, than he could have done by 
 July, preaching, had he been at large, and at liberty to preach.* " With Bradford," says 
 bishop Burnet, " one John Lease, an apprentice of nineteen, was led out to be burnt, 
 who was also condemned upon his answers to the articles exhibited to him. When 
 they came to the stake, they both fell down and prayed. Then Bradford took a 
 faggot in his hands, and kissed it; and so likewise kissed the stake, exjiressing 
 thereby the joy he had in his sufierings; and cried, " O England, repent, repent, 
 beware of idolatry and false antichrist!" But the sheriff liindering hun from 
 speaking any more, he embraced his fellow-sufferer, and prayed him to be of good 
 comfort, for they should sup with Christ that night. His last words were, " Strait 
 is the way, and narrow is the gate, that leadeth into eternal life, and few there he that 
 find itr 
 George George Marsh, a native of the parish of Dean, was the third and last Lancashire 
 
 Marsh. . . 
 
 martyi', who suffered in tlie reign of queen Mary. This single-minded man had 
 been brought up as a farmer with his father, who was a Lancasliii'e yeoman, but he 
 afterwards embraced the profession of a divine, and to his duties of a ciu'ate added 
 those of an instructor of youth. Tlie obscurity of his station did not preserve him 
 from persecution ; he was charged with propagating heresy, and sowing the seeds of 
 sedition; and, finding that he had become the object of suspicion, he surrendered 
 himself to the earl of Derby, at Latliom House. Here he underwent various 
 
 * These letters breathed the most ardent spirit of piety, combined with an invincible heroism ; 
 and, in one of them, addressed to the inhabitants of " Lancashire and Cheshire," written from his 
 prison a short time before his martyrdom, he thus expresses himself: — " Turn unto the Lord, yet 
 once more, I heartily beseech thee, thou Manchester, thou Ashton-under-Line, thou Bolton, Bury, 
 Wigan, Liverpool, Mottrim, Stopport, Winsley, Eccles, Prestwich, Middleton, Radcliff, and thou 
 city of West-Chester, where I have truly taught and preached the word of God. Turn, I say unto 
 you all, and to all the inhabitants thereabouts; turn unto the Lord our God, and he will turn unto 
 you; he will say unto his angel, ' It is enough, put up the sword.' And that he do this, I humbly 
 beseech his goodness, for the precious blood sake of his dear Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Ah ! 
 good brethren, take in good part these my last words unto every one of you. Pardon me mine 
 offences and negligences in behaviour amongst you. The Lord of mercy pardon us all our ofl'ences, 
 for our Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."
 
 Coimtj) |3alatme of ii.anraE(tfi\ 503 
 
 examinations,* and several attempts were made to prevail upon him to espouse chap. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 the Catholic laitli, but, as they all proved unsuccessful, lie was at length connnit 
 ted hy his lordship to Lancaster castle, and confined in ii'ons with common felons. 
 While in this situation, endeavours were made to extract from him information, 
 wliereon to found charges against other persons in the county ; but no motives of 
 fear or reward could induce him to endanger the lives or liberties of liis fellow- 
 clmstians. After remaining some time in confinement at Lancaster, he was 
 removed to Chester, and placed in the bishop's liberty. Tlie bishop's (Dr. Cote's) 
 endeavours to " reclaim" liim having proved ineffectual, he was remanded back to 
 prison, and, in a few days, summoned before the spiritual court, assembled in the 
 cathedral church at Chester, where, in the presence of the mayor, the chancellor, and 
 the principal inhabitants of tlie city, he was accused of having preached most hereti- 
 cally and blasphemously in the parishes of Dean, Bury, and Eccles, as well as in 
 other parishes in the bishop's diocese, not only against the pope's authority, but 
 against the church of Rome, the holy mass, the sacraments of the altar, and the 
 articles of the Romish faith. To these charges he modestly answered, he had 
 preached neither heresy nor blashpemy, and that the doctrines wliich he believed and 
 had propagated were those sanctioned by royal authority in the reign of Edward VL 
 On the subject of the power of the pope, he did not hesitate to declare, that the 
 bishop of Rome ought to exercise no more authority in England than the archbishop 
 of Canterbury ought to exercise in Rome. This answer raised the bishoj) of Chester's 
 indignation to the highest possible pitch, and the torrents of his indignation flowed 
 out \nth so much fury, that he stigmatized his prisoner as " a most danmable, irre- 
 claimable, and unpardonable heretic." After some further endeavour made by the 
 chancellor to reclaim this " irreclaimable heretic," the bishop proceeded to j)ass 
 sentence upon him, and he was consigned to the Northgate prison, where he 1555 
 remained tDl the 4th of April. On this memorable day, he was led to execution 
 amidst a crowd of spectators, agitated by conflicting feelings. The scene of- this 
 liorrible tragedy was a precinct called Spital Broughton, within the liberties of the 
 city. After the exhibition of a conditional pardon, as was the prevailing practice, 
 from the queen by the vice-chancellor, Mr. Vawdrey, and the refusal of the maiijT 
 to retract his faith, the people, roused to indignation by the barbarous scene that 
 presented itself, attempted to rescue Marsh from the hands of his sanguinary mur- 
 derers, and sheriff Cowper, sharing the public feeling, joined in the attempt; but he 
 
 * In the course of one of these examinations, Marsh gave the earl the fallowing well-deserved 
 reproof: — " It is strange that your lordship, being of the honourable council of the late king 
 Edward, consenting and agreeing to acts concerning faith towards God and religion, should so soon 
 after consent to put poor men to a shameful death for embracing the same religion."
 
 504 
 
 €\)t W^tov)) Of tfte 
 
 CHAP 
 XIII. 
 
 was beaten off by the other sheriff and liis retainers. The most composed man in 
 tlie assembly was the victim, about to be sacrificed to his principles; he exhorted the 
 multitude to remain strong in the faith, and the faggots being lighted around him, 
 he sun-endered his spu-it into the hands of his Redeemer. 
 
 While these revolting scenes Avere acting in the north, the powers of persecution 
 raged in the south Avith undiminished fury, and the distinguished martyi% Cranmer, 
 Effects of archbishop of Canterbury, shared the fate of so many of his order. The effect of 
 these sanguinary persecutions was to spread the doctrines they were meant to 
 destroy; and it may be fairly doubted whether ever so many converts were made to 
 the Protestant faith in the same time as during those years, when the seeds of the 
 church were thus watered by the blood of the saints. 
 
 In the early part of this reign, a muster of soldiers was made in the county pala- 
 tine of Lancaster, from the respective hundreds, of which the follo\\dng is the 
 abridged record, from a MS. in the possession of Thomas Biixh, the younger, 
 armiger, of Bii-ch, temp. Eliz. 
 
 persecu 
 tion. 
 
 Lancashire 0iiliUt^ JHUfiter*— Mahy, 1553. 
 
 " Derby Hundred, to raise 430 men ; these were the commanders of them : — 
 " Edward Earl of Derby, Sir Richard Molyiieux, Sir Thomas Gerrard, Sir Peers Legh, 
 Sir John Holcroft, Sir John Atherton, Sir William Norris ; Thomas Butler, of Beiusey, 
 George Ireland, of Hale, William Tarbock, of Tarhock, Lawrence Ireland, of Lydiate, 
 Esquires. 
 
 " Salford Hundred — 350 men. 
 " Sir Edmund Trafford, Sir Wm. Ratcliffe, Sir Robert Longley, Sir Thomas Holt, Sir 
 Robert Worseley; Robert Barton, Edward Holland, Ralph Ashton, Esqs. 
 
 " Leyland Hundred — 170 men. 
 "Sir Thomas Hesketh; Edward Standish, John Fleetwood, Roger Bradshaw, John 
 Langtree, Peers Anderton, and John Wrightington, Esqs. 
 
 " Amounderness Hundred — 300 men. 
 " Sir Thomas Hesketh, Sir Richard Houghton ; George Brown, John Kitclien, Richard 
 Barton, William Wetbie, and Wm. Barton, Esqs. 
 
 " Blackburn Hundred — 400 men. 
 " Sir Richard Shireburn, Sir Thomas Langton, Sir Thomas Talbot, Sir John South- 
 worth; John Townley, Thomas Catterall, John Osbolston, Jolin Talbot, Esqs. 
 
 " Lonsdale Hundred — 350 men. 
 " The lord Monteagle, Sir Marmaduke Tunstall Thomas Carus, George Middleton, 
 Thomas Bradley, Hugh Dicconson, and Oliver Middleton, Esqs.
 
 County |3alatinc of aanrnsitcr. 
 
 505 
 
 The Parish of Ormskirk, men 28 
 Tlie Parish of North Meols . 9 
 The Parish of Aiighton . .12 
 The Parish of Altcar ... 9 
 The Parish of Hallsall . . 28 
 
 ' Hundred of West J 
 
 Uerby. 
 
 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 The Parish of Sefton . 
 
 . 30 
 . 36 
 
 The Parish of Leigh . . 
 The Parish of Warrington 
 
 . 36 
 . 25 
 
 XIII. 
 
 The Parish of Walton 
 
 
 The Parish of Wigan 
 
 . 52 
 
 The Parish of Childwell . 
 
 . 27 
 
 
 The Parish of Prescot 
 
 . 67 
 
 The Parish of Huyton . 
 
 . 16 
 
 
 The Parish of Winwick 
 
 . 34 
 
 
 
 
 " The Hundred op Leyland. 
 
 The Parishes of Leyland . 36 
 
 Brindle Parish, cum v 
 
 Ua . 
 
 14 
 
 Parochia de Eccleston . 
 
 . 19 
 
 The Parish of Croston 
 
 . . 36 
 
 Parochia de Chorley et vill. 
 
 9 
 
 Penwortham Parish . . 
 
 . 17 
 
 
 " The Hundred of Amounderness. 
 
 
 Warton 
 
 . 6 
 
 Pulton 
 
 3 
 
 Elston and Huddersall 
 
 . 5 
 
 Carleton . 
 
 . 8 
 
 Weton 
 
 . 3 
 
 Goosenargh 
 
 . 7 
 
 Hardhome c Clifton 
 
 . 8 
 
 Threleye 
 
 6 
 
 Much Singleton . 
 
 . 7 
 
 Much Eccleston 
 
 . 5 
 
 Houghton . 
 
 5 
 
 Whittington 
 
 . 5 
 
 Clifton 
 
 . 6 
 
 Little Eccleston and Larbreke 
 
 6 
 
 Haighton . 
 
 ■ 5 
 
 Bispham and Norbrek 
 
 e . 5 
 
 Upper Rawcliffe and Tornecard 1 
 
 Elson .... 
 
 . 2 
 
 Scalnew and Straynow 
 
 re . 7 
 
 Little Singleton and Grange 
 
 . 5 
 
 Fryswicke . 
 
 . 3 
 
 Freckleton 
 
 . 5 
 
 Westbye and Pkimbton 
 
 . 8 
 
 Grymsa^vre and Unkefall 
 
 . 5 
 
 Thilston . 
 
 . 8 
 
 Rigby and Wraye 
 
 . 8 
 
 Ribbleton . 
 
 . 3 
 
 Warton 
 
 . 4 
 
 Elliswicke . 
 
 . 5 
 
 Lea .... 
 
 . 3 
 
 Newton and Scales 
 
 . 3 
 
 Kelmyne and Brininge . 
 
 . 5 
 
 Plumpton . 
 
 . 11 
 
 Ashton, Inghill, and C 
 
 ottom 3 
 
 Kirkham 
 
 . 3 
 
 BiUesburghe 
 
 6 
 
 Out Rawcliffe . 
 
 . 4 
 
 Wassed 
 
 . 1 
 
 Barton's Newisame 
 
 . 2 
 
 Thornton . 
 
 . 8 
 
 Lithum 
 
 . 5 
 
 Parish of Garstang 
 
 . 45 
 
 Layton and Warbrick 
 
 . 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i< 
 
 The Hundred of Blackburn 
 
 e. 
 
 
 The Parish of Blackbu 
 
 m . 113 
 
 The Parish of Ribchester . 
 
 20 
 
 Rossendall Forest 
 
 36 
 
 The Parish of Whallej 
 
 . 175 
 
 Pendle Forest . 
 ' The Hundred of Lonsd 
 
 36 
 ale 
 
 
 
 Cockeram 
 
 . 8 
 
 Leisham .... 
 
 2 
 
 Carnford . • 
 
 . 3 
 
 Ellall 
 
 . 11 
 
 Overton 
 
 
 2 
 
 Marton 
 
 . 6 
 
 Wiersdale 
 
 . 6 
 
 Middleton 
 
 
 2 
 
 Silverdale 
 
 
 . 2 
 
 Wiremore . 
 
 . 4 
 
 Hayton and Oxcliffe 
 
 
 4 
 
 Healand . 
 
 
 . 4 
 
 Turnhani . 
 
 . 4 
 
 Halton and Aughton 
 
 
 5 
 
 Hutton 
 
 
 . 3 
 
 Ashton and Stodley 
 
 . 2 
 
 Sline and Heste 
 
 
 2 
 
 Dalton 
 
 
 . 3 
 
 Scotford . 
 
 . 7 
 
 Bolton 
 
 
 6 
 
 Gressingham 
 
 
 2 
 
 Buke and Alkelefe . 
 
 . 3 
 
 Nether Kellet . 
 
 
 5 
 
 Whittington 
 
 
 5 
 
 Lancaster . 
 
 . 7 
 
 Over Kellet 
 
 
 5 
 
 Newton 
 
 
 I 
 
 Skerton 
 
 . 2 
 
 Conpyne Wray . 
 
 
 1 
 
 Docker 
 
 
 1 
 
 Taisholme, Pulton, anc 
 
 Bare 4 
 
 Barwicke . 
 
 
 3 
 
 Tunstall . 
 
 
 1 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 
 3t 
 
 
 
 

 
 506 
 
 Cftf lisstorp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 Camffeild . 
 
 . 
 
 . 1 
 
 Bayliwicke of Millhwaye 
 
 8 
 
 Pennington 
 
 3 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Barrow 
 
 
 . 3 
 
 Ditto of Colton 
 
 8 
 
 Torwarbboth 
 
 7 
 
 
 Loeke 
 
 
 . 2 
 
 Ditto of Grisdale 
 
 7 
 
 Hamlet of Cromston . 
 
 4 
 
 
 Irebie 
 
 
 . 1 
 
 Ditto of Smithwick 
 
 10 
 
 Doversdale Brougliton 
 
 7 
 
 
 Thatum . 
 
 
 . 4 
 
 Ditto of Clayfe 
 
 7 
 
 Much Land 
 
 27 
 
 
 Hornbye . 
 
 
 . 7 
 
 Dalton in Furness 
 
 21 
 
 Broughton cum Membris, 
 
 
 
 Claughton 
 
 
 . 2 
 
 Bardsay . . . . 
 
 2 
 
 with Township of Cart- 
 
 
 
 Caton 
 
 
 . 5 
 
 Kirkby Irelith . 
 
 8 
 
 mall . . . . 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 Lanckewicke 
 
 5 
 
 Cartmell, Holcar, and Alith- 
 
 
 
 Furness. 
 
 
 Norland and Egton Ulverston 
 
 13 
 
 waite . . . . 
 
 15 
 
 
 Baylivvicke of Ha 
 
 wshead 
 
 . 17 
 
 Osmunderly 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 " Salford Hundred, no particular returns." 
 
 Loss of 
 Calais. 
 
 Scotch 
 invasion. 
 
 Foul' years afterwards, when England had become involved in that war which 
 expelled her from the continent of Europe, a royal proclamation was issued by the 
 king and queen to Nicholas, archbishop of York, chancellor of England, commanding 
 him to cause commissions to be issued under the great seal to the justices of the 
 peace and sheriffs of the counties of Lancaster, Suffolk, and Norfolk, with full powers 
 to array, inspect, and exercise all men at arms, and men capable of bearing arms, as 
 well archers as horse and foot men, so that from the present time, and in time to 
 come, they might be arrayed in arms ready to serve then- country.* All this pre- 
 pai'ation was unavailing; a siege of eight days, under the dulve of Guise, rendered the 
 French masters of Calais, a fortress which it had cost the conquerors of Cressy 
 eleven months to acquii'c, and wliich, for two hundred years, had been held by this 
 country as the key to the dominions of the French king. 
 
 Soon after the fall of Calais, the Scots, influenced by French councils, began 
 once more to move on their borders, and to threaten the northern counties of Eng- 
 land with invasion. At this juncture, the earl of Derby, as lord lieutenant of the 
 counties palatine of Lancaster and of Chester, addressed a despatch to the earl of 
 Shi'ewsbury, lord president of the north, apprising liis lordship of the measures that 
 had been taken to array the levies in Lancashire and in Cheshire against " the 
 Scottish doings," of the munber of the forces, and of the captains by whom they were 
 to be commanded. The despatch is of the date of the 29th of September, 1557, and 
 the following are the — 
 
 " Capteyns in the County of Lancaster. 
 
 " Sir- Richard Molynexe, K. or liis son & heire; a feeble man himself, cc • 
 " S' Thom"s Gei-i-ard, K cc 
 
 * Pat. 3 and 4. Phil, and Mary, p. 5. ni. 11 dors.
 
 Countj) ^palatine of 3lanrasttr» 507 
 
 « S^ Thom"s Talbot, K cc chap. 
 
 " S' Richard Hoglitoii, K. not liable himself, but A\ill furnish an liable L 
 
 Gent, to be Capteyn: Bycause he is not liable to goo himself 
 
 doth furnish but c 
 
 « S' Thom"s Hesketh, & others vath lijnn c 
 
 " S' ThonV's Langton, L. S'^ WiH"m Noressc, L. neyther of them 
 
 hable, but will furnislie an liable Capteyn c 
 
 " S' Wiir'm Radclif, or his son and heire Alex^ who is a hansome 
 
 Gent. & S' John Atherton joened w' him c 
 
 " Fraunc"s Tunstall, & others c 
 
 " S' John Holcroft, or his son and heire — Richard Asheton of Mydd, 
 
 & others c 
 
 " It"m, The rest appopited in Lancasliier be of my retynnue, 
 
 " Edw". Derby." 
 
 Disappointed in all her hopes, Mary's spirits sunk under her accumulated disas- Death of 
 ters, and at the age of forty-two years she descended childless to the gi-ave, leaving jiary. 
 the throne to the possession of her sister Elizabeth, whose masculine habits and dis- 
 cruninatmg mind much better fitted her to wield a sceptre. 
 
 Tlie death of queen Mary, on the 17th of November, 1558, found the lady Elizabeth 
 
 I •/ . ascends 
 
 Elizabeth, now become queen of England, at Hatfield; and a suimnons was unme- the throne. 
 diately sent by the queen's council to the marquis of Winchester, the earl of Shrews- 
 bury, the earl of Derby, and other noblemen, requiring them to repair tliither, to 
 conduct the queen to Loudon. Amongst the nobles assembled to perform this first 
 act of loyal duty, were the duke of Norfolk, lords Audley and Merley, lord Dacres 
 of the north, lord Monteagle, lord Vaux, lord Wharton, and many others. In par- 
 liament, the annunciation of Elizabeth by the archbishop of York Avas hailed with 
 acclamation, and the general cry of " God save queen Elizabeth," not merely from 
 the courtiers, but also from the patriots, gave promise that a new and more happy 
 era had already coimnenced. 
 
 Tlie state religion was soon destined to undergo another change ; but instead of The state 
 
 ^ 1 ^ c V religion 
 
 beins: rapid and violent, it was conducted with gi-eat prudence ; and that the leeluigs again 
 
 O 1 . . , . • 1 changed. 
 
 of the Catholics miglit not be outraged by a sudden transition, the queen retained a 
 number of her Catholic ministers, taldiig care to have a sufficient nmnber of the 
 reformed faith, to overrule their deliberations. 
 
 To further the si-eat work of ecclesiastical reform, the queen set on foot a royal Royal 
 
 " . . • • 1 J* visitation. 
 
 A-isitation throughout England, and appointed commissioners to Aisit each diocese, 
 whose business it was to inquire into the late persecutions ; to ascertain what -nTongs 
 
 3t 2
 
 508 
 
 COf i}isitori) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 June 24, 
 1559. 
 
 Commis- 
 sioners for 
 the north. 
 
 The 
 queen's 
 dislike to 
 political 
 sermons. 
 
 Oath of 
 suprema- 
 cy. 
 
 hatl been doue ; what blood had been shed ; and who were the persecutors. They 
 were further directed to minister the oath of recognition, and to enjoin the new book 
 of ser\ice, which was to come into general use on the festival of John the Baptist. 
 Another of their duties was, to examine such as were imprisoned and in bonds for 
 religion, though they had ah-eady been condemned, and to liberate them from prison. 
 Tlie commissioners for the north were, Francis earl of Shrewsbury, president of tlie 
 council in the north, Edward earl of Derby, Thomas eai"l of Northumberland, lord 
 warden of the East and Middle Marches, Thomas lord Evers, Henry Percy, Thomas 
 GaigTave, James Crofts, Henry Gates, knts., Edwin Sandys, D.D., Henry Har- 
 vey, LL.D., Richard Bowes, George Brown, Christopher Escot, and Richard 
 Kingsmel, esqrs. 
 
 The northern visitation connnenced at St. Mary's, Nottingham, on the 22nd of 
 August, and was continued tliroughout the dioceses of Lincoln, York, Chester, and 
 Durham. The commissioners received the complaints of many clergymen, who had 
 been ejected from their livings during the last reign for being manied ; and in 
 almost all cases they were restored. Dr. Sandys, one of the visitors for tlie northern 
 parts, preached against the primacy of the pope ; he also endeavoured to prepare the 
 clergy to take the oath of supremacy to the queen, which was required of them, and 
 to which most of them conformed, though in Lancashire there Avere many who 
 declined to take the oatli, and who stanclily supported .the doctrine of the real 
 presence in the sacrament. 
 
 In these tunes of religious and political excitement, the clergy were natm'ally 
 prone to mix up secular subjects in their discourses, and to convey to the royal 
 ear, when occasion presented itself, the views of the preachers on the administration 
 of government. This species of preaching, a certain great man at court (probably 
 Lord Burghley) writing to Dr. Chaderton, afterwards bishop of Chester, thought 
 proper to rebuke. " The queenes majestie," saith he, " doeth mislike that those who 
 preach before her should enter into matters properlie appertaining to matter of 
 government :" they were therefore required to abstain from such preacliing ; not 
 that her majesty wished to close her ears against the advice of those who were moved 
 to desne amendment in tilings properly belonging to herself, but, on the contrary, 
 was willing to hear any that should, either by speech or Aviiting, impart tlieir senti- 
 ments, but she cUd not wish to be lectured in public, nor to have the afl'airs of 
 government animadverted upon before the vulgar.* 
 
 It having been enacted, that the oath of supremacy should be taken to the queen, 
 her majesty issued a proclamation to su' Ambrose Cave, knt., chancellor of the 
 duchy of Lancaster, dated at Westminster, on the 23rd of May, 1559, directing, 
 * Chaderton's MS. fo. 32 a. Peck's Desid. Cur. p. 83.
 
 Coiinti) palatine of ILanra^tn*. soo 
 
 that this oath shoukl be taken throughout liis jurisdiction, both by ihc clergy and chap. 
 laity.* At the same time she clu-ccted, that all the chantries should conform them- _J L 
 
 selves to the practice of her own chapel, and in Uiat (though much of popish 
 ceremony was retained) she forbade that the host should be elevated, and com- 
 manded that the Lord's prayer, the creed, and the gospels should be read in the 
 vulgar tongue. In the following year, a number of new bisliops were consecrated, 
 amongst whom Avere Edward Scrambler, D.l)., for Peterborough j and James 
 Pilkington, B.D., both Lancasliire men, and both firm adherents of the reformed 
 religion. Soon after his inauguration, Dr. Pilldngton preached before the queen, at 
 Greenwich, on the mission of a fanatic, from the county of Lancaster, of the name 
 of EUys, calling himself Elias : the bishop of London had, however, so little regard 
 for the northern prophet, and his " warning voice," that he ordered liim three days 
 afterwai-ds to be put in the pillory in Cheapside, from whence he was committed to 
 Bridewell, Avhere he soon after died.f 
 
 The bishopric of Chester liaving become vacant, the queen issued her mandate 3 Eiiz. 
 to the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, announcing, that the dean and chapter, 
 with her majesty's license, had elected William Downham to be theii- bishop and ^'"'^ 
 pastor, and commanding the chancellor to cause to be delivered up without delay, 
 the temporalities belonging to the episcopal see %vithin his baUiwick, together \\ith 
 the issues and profits thereof, from the feast of St. Michael the archangel. 
 
 That the nation might be put in a jiosture of defence, a muster of troops was 
 ordered in the several counties of the kingdom ; and the following is the 
 
 (General iHuster, in famiarie 15594 
 
 CERTIFIED WITHIN y' CoUNTY of Lan?. 
 
 Blackeburne Hundred iiij. vij. harnised men, 
 
 c. 
 vnhaniised men iiij. vj. 
 c. 
 Amoundernes Hundred ij. xiij. harnised, 
 
 c. 
 vnharnised iij. Ixix. 
 c. 
 Londesdall Hundred iij. Ivj harnised, 
 
 vnharnised cxiiij. 
 
 Pi^f 1 Eliz. m. 32. dors. f Stiype's Ann. of y« Reformation. I. 506. 
 
 t Had. MSS. Cod. 1926. fo. 4 b.
 
 510 Clje ?^isitoii) of tbt 
 
 X X 
 
 E Hundred iiij 
 viiliai'iiised xxij. 
 
 CHAP, .?.^ 
 
 xiir. Leylonde Hundred iiij. harnised, 
 
 C. XI. 
 
 Saleforde Hundred iij. iiij. xiiij. harnised, 
 
 c. 
 vuharnised vj. xlix. 
 c._ 
 West Derby iiij. lix. harnised, 
 
 vnharuised iiij. xiij. 
 
 Suma Tottis of harnised men, 
 
 c. 
 M. ix. xix. 
 
 Suiiia Tottis of vnharnised men, 
 
 M.M.'^ Ixxiij. 
 
 HoUinsMorth says, "there was a sore sicknesse" in Lancashire" in 1565, which 
 was probably some remains of the plague contracted by the English army at New- 
 haven, in 1562; at which time, Stowe avers, that 17,404 persons cHed in London 
 alone in one year. 
 Decline of Although the progress of the reformation was rapid in many parts of the king- 
 formed re- dom, in the county of Lancaster it was retrograde. The Catholics multiplied ; the 
 Lanca-° mass was usually performed ; priests were harboured ; the book of common prayer, 
 and the service of the church established by law, were laid aside ; many of the 
 churches were shut up ; and the cures were unsupplied, unless by the ejected 
 Catholic priests. This was thought the more extraordinary, as the queen had iusti- 
 Ecciesias- tutcd an ccclesiastical commission, with the bishop of the diocese at its head, for the 
 
 tical com- . „ ,. . rri • i 
 
 mission, promotion 01 religion, lo stimulate the zeal of the prelate, the queen addressed to him 
 
 1567. a letter of remonstrance, couched in her usual tone of decision, reminding him of his 
 
 Royal re- duty, and requiring of him its more vigUant performance. " We tliink it," says 
 
 the bish- the queen, " not unknown, how, for the good opinion we conceived of yoiu- former 
 
 "''■ service, we admitted you to be bishop of tlie chocese, but now, upon crechble reports 
 
 of disorders and contempts, especially in the county of Lancaster, we find great lack 
 
 in you. In which matter of late we write to you, and other our commissioners 
 
 joined with you, to cause certain suspected persons to be apprehended, ivTitiug at the 
 
 same time to our right trusty and well beloved the earl of Der])y, for the aid of you 
 
 in that behalf. Since which time, and before the delivery of the said letters to the 
 
 earl of Derby, we be duly infonned that the said earl hath, upon small motions made 
 
 to him, caused such persons as have been required to be apprehended, and hath 
 
 shewn himself therein, according to our assured expectation, very faithful and
 
 Counti) palatine of Sancastn-, sii 
 
 careful of our ser\dce."* In conclusion, the bishop is required to make personal chap. 
 
 visitation, by repairing to the most remote parts of his diocese, and especially into 
 
 Lancashire, and to see to it, that the churches be provided Avith honest men and 
 leai-ned curates, and that there be no more cause to blame hhn for his inattention 
 and neglect. At a subsequent period, the lords of the councU WTote to the bishop, 
 complaining that many persons in the counties of Lancaster and Chester absented 
 themselves habitually from church, and from places of public prayer, and requesting 
 that the bishop would take measures to enforce their attendance. To this intimation 
 his lordship re^jlied, tliat he had made diligent inquisition into the matter of com- 
 plaint, that some of the gentry and others had promised to be more conformable in 
 future, but that others had disregarded his achnonitions, and that he had enclosed a 
 list certifying the names of those who remained obstinate, and of those who promised 
 to conform."!' 
 
 The zeal of the earl of Derby in favour of the reformed faith, so warmly eulogized 
 by the queen, was the zeal of a convert, and therefore perhaps the more lively. In 
 the last reign, his lordship embraced the cause of popery, and the committal of the 
 intrepid George Marsh to that dungeon from which he was liberated only to be con- 
 ducted to the stake, serves to shew that sudden changes in religious faith were not 
 confined to priests, but that they were extended to nobles, and to a certain extent 
 pervaded the Avhole people. In the county of Lancaster there was more of consistency 
 than in other parts of the kingdom ; and this is a principle which excites resj^ect, even 
 though it should be a consistency in error. 
 
 Tlie queen's admonitions to the bishop, as the head of the ecclesiastical commis- 
 sion, produced an immediate effect. The bishop entered upon his visitation with all 
 convenient despatch ; many of the popish recusants, as they were called, were detected 
 in plots to subvert the established religion, and to substitute their own in its stead ; 
 and the county was engaged in a land of religious warfare, which is described with 
 considerable animation, and probably with as much accuracy as can be expected, by 
 an author having a strong bias towards the Protestant cause :| — 
 
 " And first," says our author, " to give some account of the Bishop's Visitation. Descrip- 
 "Which proved thus, according to the Relation he made of it himself to tlie Secretary s'ta?e°of''^ 
 in a Letter to liim, dated Nov. 1, 1568, ' That he had the last Summer Aisited his ^i)"^ ^'t 
 whole Diocess, Avhich was of Length above six score MUes ; and had found the *'^'^ '""^* 
 People very tractable ; and no where more than in the farthest Parts bordering upon 
 Scotland. Where as he said, he had the most gentle Entertainment of the Wor- 
 sliipful to his gi-eat Comfort. That his Journey was very painful by reason of 
 
 • Pap. Office, Strype's, Ann. I. 544-5. t Harl. MSS. Cod. 286. fo. 28 
 
 t Strype's Ann. I. 546-552.
 
 Bhire. 
 
 512 Cf)e itji'story of tlje 
 
 CHAP, the extreme heat ; and if he had not received great Courtesy of the Gentlemen, he 
 
 L_ must have left the most of liis Horses by the way : Such Drought was never seen in 
 
 those Parts.' 
 Commis- " The Bishop also now sent up, by one of his Servants, a true Copy of all such 
 
 poi'ronthe Orders as he, and the rest of his Associates, in the Queen's Commission Ecclesias- 
 Lan^ca- tical, had taken with the Gentlemen of Lancashire. Who, (one only excepted, whose 
 Name was John Westby,) with most humble Submissions and like Thanks unto the 
 Queen's Majesty, and to her Honourable Council, received the same ; Promising, 
 that from thenceforth they would live in such sort, that they would never hereafter 
 give occasion of Offence in any tiling concerning their bounden Duty, as well towards 
 Religion, as then- Allegiance towards theii- Prince. But notwithstanding their 
 Promises, the Commissioners bound every of them in Recognizances in the simi of 
 an Hundi"ed Marks for their Appearances from time to time, as appeai'ed in the 
 abovesaid Orders, And certain Punishments infhcted upon some of them had done 
 so much good in the Country, that the Bishop hoped he should never be troubled 
 again with the lil^e. 
 
 " Nowel, Dean of S. Paul's, London, was a Lancashire man, and was now 
 down in that Country. Who with his continual preaching in tUvers Places in the 
 County, had brought many obstinate and wilful People unto Conformity and Obe- 
 dience, and had gotten great Commendation and Praise (as he was most worthy) 
 even of those that had been gi-eat Enemies to liis Religion. 
 
 " But now to set down particularly what had been detected and discovered 
 among these Lancashire Papists, and the Negligence, or Lothness of the Bisliop, to 
 prosecute them. Information was brought into the Bishop by one Mr. Glasier, a 
 Commissioner, and another named Edmund Ashton, that gi-eat Confederacies were 
 then In Lancashire. And that sunchy Papists were there lurking, Avho had stiiTed 
 divers Gentlemen to then.' Faction, and sworn them together, not to come to the 
 Church in the Service time, now set forth by the Queen's Authority, nor to receive 
 the Communion, nor to hear Sermons ; but to maintain the Mass and Papistry. 
 And after this Information, Glasier advised the Bishop to go to the Earl of Darby, 
 and to execute the Commission in Lancashire ; or else it could not be holpen but 
 many Church Doors must be shut up, and the Curates hindered to serve as it was 
 appointed to be used in the Church. And that this Confederacy was so great, that it 
 would gTowe to a Commotion, or Rebellion. The Bishop hereupon sent for those 
 Offenders by Precept, but declmed to go yet to execute the Commission in 
 Lancashire. 
 
 " Again, Sir Edward Fytton informed the Bishop, that Mr. Edmund Trafford 
 spake of these Matters before to liim as a Commissioner, for to have redi-ess thereof.
 
 Coimti) |3alatu« of ^.anrasittr, 613 
 
 Wliereupoii Mr. Gerrnrd said, that it' the Bishop would not go to Wygan iu Lancu- chap. 
 
 shire, or such like Place, and sit to execute the Commission, aud move the Earl 1 
 
 of Darby to be there, (who had assured them he would sit and assist,) he knew that 
 a Commotion would ensue ; and that he knew their Determination was thereunto. 
 For that his Kinsman and Alliance to his Remembrance (naming IMr. Wcsthy) had 
 told him. He would wiUlnyly lose his Blood in these 3Iatters. Also he said furtlier, 
 tliat from Warrington all along the Sea Coasts in Lancashire, the Gentlemen 
 (except Mr. Butler) were of the Faction, and withdrew themselves from Religion ; 
 as Mr. Ireland, Su" W'"- Norris, and many others more. So that there was such a 
 Likelihood of a Rebellion or Commotion speedily, that for his Part, if the Bishop 
 would not go to execute the Commission in Lancashire, he would himself within 
 twelve Days inform the Privy Council. And yet he had desired the Bishop to 
 deliver the Commission unto him, and Fytton to execute : but the Bishop refused, 
 saying, he would send for the Offenders. But afterward, the Bishop and Gerrard 
 signed Precepts for divers Papistical Priests and some Gentlemen, to appear before 
 the Commissioners concerning the Premisses. 
 
 " Again, one Edmund Holme made tliis Discovery ; That there was a Letter 
 \ratten from Dr. Saunders [Nicolas Saunders] to Sii* Richard MoUneux and Sir 
 William Noi-ris ; the Copy of which Letter was ready to be shewed. The Contents 
 of it, as it seems, were, to exhort them to own the Pope supreme Head of the 
 Church ; and that they should swear his Supremacy, and Obedience to him, before 
 some Priest or Priests appointed by his Authority ; who should also absolve them 
 that had taken any Oath to the Queen as supreme, or gone to Church and heai-d 
 Common Prayer. Hereupon Sir Richard 3Iolineux did make a vow unto one 
 Noi-rice, otherwise called Butcher, othermse called Fisher, of Formeby ; and unto 
 one Peyle, otherwise called Pyclc, (who reported that he had tlie Pope's Authority,) 
 that he would do all things according to the Words of the said Letter. And so did 
 receive Absolution at Pyck's hand ; And he did vow to the said Pyck, that he would 
 take the Pope to be the supreme Head of the Church. And the said 3Iolineux's 
 Daughters, Jane, Alice, and Anne, and liis son John, made the like Vow as their 
 Father had done. And then tliey took a Corporal Oath on a Book. Aud so did 
 John Mollin of the Wodde, and Robert Blundel of Inse, and Richard Blundel of 
 Christby, and Sir TJiomas Williamson, and Sir John Dervoyne, and John William- 
 son. These were some of those Popish Gentlemen of Lancashire ; and these were 
 their Doings. But the Commission Ecclesiastical, roundly managed, had pretty well 
 reduced them, as we heard before. 
 
 " In what Form the Submission ran, to wliich these Popish Gentlemen sub- 
 scribed, before they made their Peace, I know not. But I find this Year one Fonn 
 VOL. I. 3 u
 
 514 
 
 CIjc ?t)is;tnri) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Mary, 
 queen of 
 Scots. 
 
 15C8. 
 
 Conimen- 
 dam. 
 
 offered to Sii- John Soitthvorth, of these Parts, (who had entertained Priests, and 
 absented from the Church,) by order of the Privy Council ; whidi was as 
 followeth ; — 
 
 ". Whereas I, Sir John Southworth, Knt., forgetting my Duty towards God and the Queen's 
 " Majesty, in not considering my due Obedience for the Observation of the Ecclesiastical Laws and 
 " Orders of this Realm, had received into my House and Company, and there relieved certain Priests 
 "who have not only refused the Ministry, but also in my hearing have spoken against the present 
 " State of Religion, established by her Majesty and the States of her Realm in Parliament, and have 
 " also otherwise misbehaved myself in not resorting to my Parish Church at Common Prayer, nor 
 " receiving the Holy Communion so often times as I ought to have done. 
 
 " I do now, by these Presents, most humbly and unfeignedly submit myself to her Majesty, 
 " and am heartily sorry for mine Offence in this Behalf, both towards God and her Majesty. And 
 " do further promise to her Majesty from henceforth, to obey all her Majesty's Authority in all Matters 
 " of Religion and Orders Ecclesiastical ; and to behave myself therein as becometh a good, humble. 
 " and obedient Subject ; and shall not impugn any of the said Laws and Ordinances by any open 
 " Speech, or by Writing, or Act of mine own ; nor willingly suffer any such in my Company to 
 " offend, whom I may reasonably let, or disallow: Nor shall assist, maintain, relieve, or comfort any 
 " Person living out of this Realm, being known to be an Offender against the said Laws and Orders 
 " now established for godly Religion, as is aforesaid. And in this doing, I firmly trust to have her 
 " Majesty my gracious and good Lady, as hitherto I, and all other her Subjects, have marvellously 
 " tasted of her Mercy and Goodness." 
 
 " But this knight refused to subscribe the submission, any further than in that 
 point of maintaining no more those disordered persons." 
 
 Mary, queen of Scots, having at this time been expelled from her throne by her 
 subjects, under the authority of the earl of Murray, regent of the kingdom of Scot- 
 land, sought an asylimi in England ; but before she could be admitted to the court, 
 it became necessary that she should justify herself fi"om the charge of having been 
 accessory to the murder of her husband. In this she failed ; indeed, her agents 
 refused to proceed with the investigation, when the evidence of lier guilt became 
 conclusive ; and, instead of being admitted to the court of Elizabeth, she was ever 
 after kept as her prisoner, fii'st in Bolton castle, afterwards at the castle of Sheffield, 
 then at Tutbury, and finally at the castle of Fotheringhay. Several of Mary's 
 adherents now fled out of England from Lancasliire, and other parts of the kingdom, 
 and it was discovered in the course of this year, that sums of money were sent to 
 them from hence, to promote the invasion of England, and to re-establish the ancient 
 religion. 
 
 The recently created bishopric of Chester Avas amongst the lowest of the livings 
 in the English chiu-ch, not exceeding iu value three huncbed and fifty pounds a year; 
 and yet such was the ho.spitality at this time kept up by the bishops, that Dr. Down- 
 ham, in his application to the queen for the extension of his commendam, repre-
 
 Count|) ^3alatin« of aanraster, 515 
 
 sented, that he supported every day, in virtue of his office, " forty persons, yong chai'. 
 and old, besides comers and goers."* '_ 
 
 The bias of the queen's inind was towai-ds the ancient rehgion, with, all its forms The 
 and ceremonies, so far as was consistent with that supremacy whicli she claimed as bias!" " 
 the head of the church ; and though the real presence was denied by the reformed 
 church, she openly thanked one of her preachers for a sennon he had preached in 
 favour of that doctrine. f Celibacy in the ministers of religion was always newed 
 by her with favour ; and all the influence of her favourite minister, Cecil, was neces - 
 saiy, to prevent her from interchcting the marriage of the clergy. While this was 
 the disposition of the queen, several of her ministers conceived that the reform in 
 the religion of the state was by no means sufficiently radical; and not only CecU, but 
 Leicester, Knolles, Bedford, and Walsingham, favoured the Puritans, who derived The Pmi- 
 their origin from those exiled ministers that, during the reign of queen Mary, had 
 imbibed the opinions of Calvin, the reformer of Geneva. Tlieir historianj describes 
 the Puritans as objecting to the assumed supremacy of the bishops, and the jurisdic- 
 tion of the ecclesiastical court ; to the fi-equent repetition of the Lord's prayer in the 
 liturgy, to the responses of the people, and to the reading of the apocryphal lessons ; 
 to the sign of the cross, in the administration of baptism ; and to the ring, and the 
 terms of the conti'act, in maniage; to the observance of the festivals in the calendar, 
 the chaunt of the psalms, and the use of musical instruments in the cathedral services ; 
 and, above all, to the habits, " the very livery of the beast," enjoined to be worn by the 
 ministers during the celebration of divine services. 
 
 Dean Nowell, one of the queen's cliaplains, so celebrated for his preacliing in 
 Lancashire, his native county, was understood to favour the puritanical doctrines, 
 wliich was probably one of the causes of his popularity in tliis county ; and when, in 
 a sennon preached before his royal mistress, he spoke disparagingly of the sign of 
 the cross, she called aloud to him in the congregation, and ordered liim " to quit 
 that ungodly discussion, and to return to his text." 
 
 From this period, through a succession of ages, the county of Lancaster con- Lasting 
 tinned much divided on subjects of religion and politics; the Catholics assuming tlie in the""^ 
 high church, and the monarchical principles, and the Puritans the low church, and Lam:aster 
 democratic principles, Avliile the established church held the balance between the two, anrpoTi!" 
 by turns favouring the former or the latter, as best accorded with the objects and '"'"■ 
 views of the existing government ; and not unfrequently restraining, and even perse- 
 cuting both. In no county in the kingdom have the distinctions been so marked as 
 
 * Bishop Dovvnham's Letter to the Secretary of State, 1568. f Heylem, p. 124, 
 
 I Neal's History of the Puritans, c. iv. v. 
 
 3 u 2
 
 516 
 
 €l)t i}i£!torp of tiK 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Rebellion 
 in the 
 north. 
 
 ill Laucashii-e, and in none will tliis observation be i'ound so unerring an index 
 ■whereby to account for the local feuds, and for the party animosities. 
 
 Several of the leachng families of the north, anxious to re-establish the Catholic 
 relioion, and to place Mary, queen of Scots, on the throne of England, entered into 
 a conspu'acy for tliis purpose, at the head of wlucli stood the earls of Northumbei'- 
 land and Westmoreland. One of their first objects was to liberate Mary from her 
 confinement in Tutbury castle, and su- Thomas and sii- Edward Stanley, sons of the 
 earl of Derby, along with sir Thomas Gerrard, and other Lancasliii-e gentlemen, 
 favoured the enterprise. In furtherance of this object, the eai'ls of Northmnberland 
 and Westmoreland put forth the following proclamation : — 
 
 " The DECLARACON of the Earles at y^ RISING in y"^ NORTH. 
 
 " Wee Thomas Earle of Northumberland, & Charles Earle of Westmland, y' 
 Queenes ti'ue & faithfuU sub", to all y' came of y' old & Catholiq3 Rehgion, know ye 
 y* wee w"" many other well disposed persons as well of y" NobUitie as others, have 
 promised our Faith to y*^ Furtherance of this our good meaning. Forasmuch as diners 
 disordered & euUl disposed persons about the Qu' Ma'^" liaue by theyr subtill & 
 crafty deaUngs to aduance themselues, ouercome in this Realme y^ true & Catholicke 
 Religion towardes God, & by the same abused y" Queene, chsordered y Realme, and 
 now lastly seeke and procure the destruccon of y' NobiHty : Wee therefore haue 
 gathered our selues together to resist by force, & the rather by the helpe of God & 
 you good people, to see redi'ess of these things amiss, w"" y* restormg of all ancyent 
 customs Schbertyes to Gods Church, and this noble Realme; least if wee should not 
 doe it our selves, wee might bee reformed by strangers, to y" great hazai-d of y" state 
 of this our country, whereunto wee are all bounde. 
 
 " God sane y' Queene." 
 [Harl. 3ISS. Cod. 787. fo. 10 b.] 
 
 Nov. 27, 
 1569. 
 
 Earl of 
 Derby's 
 
 loyalty. 
 
 The influence of the leaders of the insm-rection, and the attachment of the people 
 to the Catholic faith, di-ew together an army of four thousand foot and six hundred 
 horse. To strengthen their force, the earls of Westmoreland and Northumberland 
 addi'essed a letter to the earl of Derby, requesting him to join theu" standard, and to 
 procure for them such aid and assistance as his lordship coidd collect, in " all parts 
 of his terrytoryes, to effect then" honorable and gotUy entei-prises."* 
 
 Seven days before the date of this despatch, the eai'l of Derby had received a 
 commission from the queen, appointing liim lord-lieutenant of the county of Lan- 
 
 * Burghley's State Papers, i. 564.
 
 Countp palatine of 2.anca£(tn% 517 
 
 caster; and, instead of listemn<? to their ti-easouable invitation, his lordship, without chap. 
 
 , . XIII. 
 
 loss of time, enclosed the letter of the rebel earls to the queen, accompanied by the 1_ 
 
 following despatch: — 
 
 " THE ERLE OF DERBY TO THE QUEENES MAJESTY. 
 
 " My moste humble and obedient dutie done. Hit iney pleace your Majestie, tunderstande, that 
 " this Dale being the 29th of this Monethe, one Walther Passeleiue brought to my Howse ane Letter 
 " tromTherles of Northumhei'land and Westemorlande, together v/ith a Protestacion of theyre unduty- 
 " full Meanyng and rebelliose Attempt (as may appere) whiche the saide Passelewe praied one of ray 
 " Servaunts, myghtbe delivered to me: The whiche after I had receyvede, persavyng the same to be 
 " unsealid, and, upon perusyng, fynding the matter to swarve so farre from the Dutie of any good 
 " Subjects, thought hit my Parte to give the same to be understandet of your Magestie, and so have 
 " sent theym enclosed as I receyved them. The Berrer, by cause I cold not savely send hym without 
 " Garde, I have sent to cume with more Leysure, but with as muche Spede as conveniently may be used. 
 " I founds with hym the lyke Letter and Protestacion sent to my Lord Mounteygle, which I have also 
 " sent enclosed. And restyng your Magesties assured at Commandment, beseechyng God long to 
 " prosper your Magestie, and make you victoriose over your Enmyes, I humblie take my Leave. 
 
 " From Lathom, my House, the 29th off November, 1569. 
 
 " Your Magesties most humhjll and obedyent Subyett and Sarvant, 
 
 " Edward Derby." 
 
 The queen and her councU, ever alive to their duty and the public safety, assem- Suppres- 
 bled an army of seven thousand men, at the head of which the earl of Sussex was rebenLm* 
 placed, attended by the earl of Rutland, and the lords Hunsdon, Evers, and Wil- 
 loughby. The royal army having overtaken the insurgent force in the bishopric of 
 Durham, the earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland retreated to Hexliam, 
 where, on hearing that the earl of Warmck and lord Clinton were advancing against 
 them, they dispersed their forces mthout striking a blow. Tliis abortive effort of 
 treason was succeeded soon after by another rebellion in the north, raised by Leonai'd 
 Dacres, which was suppressed by lord Hunsdon, at the head of the garrison of Ber- 
 wick, without any other assistance. Great severity was exercised against such as 
 had taken part in these rash enterprises. Sixty-six constables were hanged* for 
 neglect of duty, and no fewer than eight hundred persons are said to have suffered 
 by the hands of the public executioner. 
 
 Fifty-seven noblemen and gentlemen of the counties of Northumberland, York, 
 Durham, &c. implicated in tliis rebellion, were attainted by parliament in the follow- 
 ing year; but the list of proscriptions does not contain any Lancasliii-e names.! 
 
 To guard agamst the recurrence of rebellion, and speedily to suppress any 
 attempt to disturb the public ti-anquillity, the levies of troops, armour, and money 
 • Camden, p. 423. f Harl. MSS. Cod. 309. fo. 201 b.
 
 518 
 
 CIk l^i^tov^ of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Memora- 
 ble police 
 search. 
 
 Meeting 
 of lieute- 
 nancy. 
 
 were very abundant this year in tlie county of Lancaster; and, amongst the original 
 certificates preserved in these retimis, the following autograplis ajjpear: — 
 
 " Edward Derby, F. Stanley, Thomas Butler, Thos. Gerrard; HuncU-ed of West 
 Derby. — Thomas Hoghton, Cuthbert Clifton; Hunch-ed of Amounderness. — Tliomas 
 Hesketh, Edwarde Stand^sshe; Huncbed of Layland. — Rich. Shyrbum, Sir Rycliard 
 Assheton, John Braddyll; Hundred of Blackburne. — Wyllum Mountegle; Hundred 
 of Lonsdale. — Robert Worseley, Edmund Trafford, John Radclylf, Robt. Barton, 
 Edward Holand, Raffe Assheton, Francis Holt ; Hundred of Stdford." 
 
 In the course of the same year a memorable search had been instituted in the 
 county of Lancaster, by order of the lords of the council, wliich Avas simultaneously 
 made in the other parts of the kingdom, for vagrants, beggars, gamesters, rogues, or 
 gipsies, which was commenced at nine o'clock at night, on Sunday the 10th of July, 
 and continued till four o'clock in the afternoon of the folloA\'ing day, and which 
 resulted in the apprehension of the almost incredible number of tliirteen thousand 
 "masterless men,"* many of whom had no visible mode of living, "excep't that which 
 was derived from unlawful games, especially of bowlmg, and maintenance of archery, 
 and who were all passed to their own counties, under the direction of the magis- 
 trates." The effect of this vigorous measure of police, which was continued monthly 
 till the November following, was to diminish the numbers that would otherwise, in 
 these unsettled times, have swelled the insurgent force, and endangered the stability 
 of the government. 
 
 The earl of Derby, in the discharge of his duty, as the head of the lieutenancy 
 in the counties of Lancaster and Chester, assembled the justices of the peace in the 
 palatine counties, in then- respective divisions, for the purpose of arranging their 
 forces, and for adjusting the assessments to which they should respectively be 
 liable. These an-angements being completed, they were transmitted to the lords in 
 council, accompanied by the following despatch : — 
 
 ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE EARL OF DERBY. 
 
 " Right hono"'able my verrey good Lords Accordinge to the Queene her ma'" pleyso' vnto me 
 " and others signifyed by yo'' letters and articles, I have caused the SherifFf comyssioners of the 
 " musters and Justicf of the peace of the Counties of Lan9 f Chester, (where I am her ma'« lieu- 
 " tenant) to assemble in their accustomed devisions sundrye tymes for the execucon of the same, 
 " Who have made inquisicon as well towchinge such somes of money as haue byn assessed or taxed 
 " since the date of her ma'" laste comyssion for musters for provicon of armor weppons shotte and 
 " suche lyke : As also for taxacons colleccons f assessementf of money for the furniture of Soldio" 
 " for her ma" service -wyth other things in the said Ires f articles conteyned, And haue sente vnto 
 " yo'' L. herew"' the seid all Stifica'" of both Shiers, whereof the laste came to my haudf so latelye 
 
 Strype's Ann. vol. i. p. .572.
 
 Countj) |3alatuw ot Eanrajster. 519 
 
 " as vppon Fryday laste W'^'' was the cause of so longe tracte of tyme of both Stificatf Thus w"' CHAP. 
 " my verry hertye Cofnendacons vnto yo'' good L f take my leyve of youe From Lathom my howse ^'''• 
 " the vij* of Septembie, 1570. 
 
 " Yo'' good L. verrey lovinge 
 " Frende assured 
 
 " Edwaud Derby." 
 
 [Indorsed] " To my vJrey good Lordf of the Queue 
 " her ma'= hono'"able pvey Counsaill 
 " gyve theise." 
 [In another Hand] 1570 vij" 7''bris. 
 
 " Therle of Derbye to the Councell w"' certificate out of the 
 " counties of Lancaster f Chester towching money 
 " collected for ^vision of Armo"' f Weapons." 
 
 [Hail. MSS. Cod. 309. fo. 104.] 
 
 Devoted as the earl of Derby had shewn liimself to the service of the queen, yet 
 suspicion was entertained, and that in high quarters, that his loyalty was of a dubious 
 kind, and that it would scarcely withstand the temptations to wliich it was exposed, 
 from the wicked counsellors hy which he was surrounded. Under the hiiluence of Depiora- 
 these suspicions, it is probable that Mary, countess of Derby, the widow of Edward, of the 
 the late earl, had been apprehended, and placed in confinement ; for, from a letter of Derby, 
 addressed by her ladyship to IVIr. Secretary Walsingham, in the course of the present 
 year, it appears that she was a state prisoner, labouring under the accumulated 
 pressure of bodily affliction and pecuniary embarrassments. The suspicions against 
 the earl of Derby were communicated to the queen's secretary of state by the 
 earl of Huntingdon, in a letter, intended to have been consigned to the flames as 
 soon as it was read, but wliich has outlived its original destiny. A number of 
 suspicious ciiciunstances were accumulated against the earl of Derby, and, amongst 
 others, he was strongly suspected of keeping a conjuror in liis house ! The Letter 
 was in these terms : — 
 
 " THERLE OF HUNTYNGDON TO SECRETARY CECILL. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I am bolder to wryte to you of wayghtye Maters, then I dare be to sum others ; the 
 •' Cause I leave to your Consideration, and so to you onelye I am bolde to imparte that I heare. 
 " The Matter in shorte ys thys: Amongst the Papystes of Lankyshyre, Cheshyre, and the Cosynes, 
 " great Hope and Expectation theare ys, that Darby e wylle playe as fonde a Parte thys yeare, as the 
 " two Earles dyd the last Yeare. I hope better of hym for me Parte, and for mannye Respectes both 
 " generalle, and particular, I wyshe hym too doo better. I knowe he bathe hytherto ben loyall, and 
 " even the last Yeare, as you knowe, gave good Testimonye of hys Fidelytee, and of hys aune Dyspo-
 
 520 
 
 €])t ?§isittiri) of t\)e 
 
 CHAP " sition ; I thynk wylle doo so stylle ; but he may be drawne by evyll Counsayle, God kuovveth to 
 XIII. u what. I feaie he hatha even at thys Tyme mannye wycked Councellors, and sum to neare hym. 
 " Theaie ys one Browne a Conjerour in hys House, kepte secretely. Thear ys also one Uphalle, who 
 " was a Pyrate and had lately hys Pardon, that coulde telle sumwhat, as I heare, yf you coulde get 
 " hym : He that caryed my Lord Morley over was also theare wythyn thys Sennet kepte secretlie. 
 " He with his hole Famylye, never ragyd so muche agaynst Religion as they doo nowe ; he never 
 " came to comon Prayer for thys Quarter of thys Yeare, as I heare, neythyr dothe any of the Famylye 
 " except fyve or syxe Persons. I dare not wryte what more I heare, because I cannot justyfye and 
 " prove yt; but thys may'sufFyse for you in Tyme to loke to yt. And surelye, in my symple Opyn- 
 " yone, yf you send sum faythfulle and wyse Spye that woulde dyssemble to cum from D'Alva, and 
 " dyssemble Poperye, you might understand all ; for yf all be trewe that ys sayde, theare ys a verrye 
 " fonde Companye in the Housse at this Present. I doutte not but you cann and wylle use thys 
 " Matter, better then I can advyse you. Yet let me wish you to take heade to which of your Corapa- 
 " niones (tho you be now but fyve together) you utter thys Matter, ne forte yt be in Latham sooner 
 " than you wolde have yt, for sum of you have Men about you & Frendes attendynge on you, &c. 
 " that deale not alwayes well. I pray God save owre Elysaheth, and confounde all hyr Enemies ; and 
 " thus I take my leave, comyttyng you to God hys Tuycyon. 
 " From Ashbey the 24* of ^»^ms^ 1570. 
 
 " Your assured poor Frend, 
 
 " H. HUNTYNGDON." 
 
 " P.S. Because none theare shulde know of my Letter, I wolde not send yt by my Servant, but 
 " have desyred Mr. Ad to delyver yt to you in Secrete : When you have red yt I praye you to burne 
 " yt, and forgett the Name of the Wrytar. 
 
 " I praye God, I may not heare any more of your cumynge to " 
 
 [From Lord Burghley's State Papers, \. 603.] 
 
 The duke 
 
 of Nor- 
 folk's con- 
 spiracy. 
 
 1572. 
 
 Mary, 
 queen of 
 
 Scots. 
 
 The earl of Derby's loyalty remained unshaken through another ordeal. A 
 new conspu-acy was formed by the duke of Norfolk, in concun-ence with Mary, 
 queen of Scots, whom the duke proposed to marry, in wliich he was aided by the 
 duke of Alva, the Spanish general, and the court of Rome, the object of Avhich was, 
 to deprive Elizabeth of the throne, and to elevate Mary to that distinction. The 
 vigUance and sagacity of secretary CecU, now become lord Burghley, discovered the 
 treasonable confederacy, and the duke was brought to trial before a commission of 
 twenty-six peers, amongst whom were " Arthure Grey, Lord Wylton," and "William 
 West, Lord de lawai'e."* 
 
 An unanimous sentence of death passed against the duke, wliich was earned 
 into execution in the middle of the following year ; and the earl of Northumberland, 
 for the part he had taken in the northern rebellion, shared the same fate. Against 
 the queen of Scots, though her prisoner, Elizabeth did not venture yet to proceed to 
 the utmost extremity, but she sent lord Delawar, sir Ralph Sadler, su- Thomas 
 
 * Harl. MSS. Cod. 542. fo. 77.
 
 k> ". .V ^j- .•■\ ^\. J-- :',•( t..> 
 
 -A'...,, 
 
 
 ptO^^iH^^^ (7^fy,^^^^^^JL£^ ^ 
 
 -^',Ot^ft. •'^'/- / 
 
 ^=^^vL-V^twvr^ 
 
 ^fa 
 
 -^^^^ 
 
 
 c^^ 
 
 
 /^,:>^^l^ -i^^jfe-^^ 
 
 ^^>: f ^ -rT^.A. 
 
 ^^..-^h^n^a/^ ^{u^^ 
 
 :> 
 
 c <^»-» 
 
 c^-^?H^-/" 
 
 FISHER. SON, fe C? LONDON. 3832.
 
 Countj? palatine of 3!.ancasitn% 521 
 
 Bromlev, and Dr. Wilson, to expostulate with her on her intended clandestine chap. 
 
 marriage with the duke of Norfolk, on her concurrence in the northern rebellion, on _ 
 
 the encouragement she had given to Spain to invade England, and on the part she 
 had taken in procuring the pope's bull of excommunication against Elizabeth, and 
 particularly upon allo^ving her friends abroad to give to her the title of " Mary 
 Queen of England." These charges Mary denied, and justified herself either by 
 repelling the allegations, or by casting tlie blame on others over whom she had no 
 control.* The queen was by no means satisfied with these apologies ; and the temper 
 of parliament, as expressed in the application for the immediate trial and execution 
 of Mary, shewed that a storm was gathering, by which that unfortunate princess was 
 speedily to be overwhelmed. The evidence of the bishop of Ross, exhibited in the 
 Burghley State Papers,i" shews that Mary was, as early as the year 1571, in negocia- 
 tion with the ambassadors of both France and Spain, for her escape from Sheffield 
 castle to the continent, and that she was aided in her design by several Lancashii-e 
 gentlemen. The bishop says — the queen wrote a letter by a little priest of RoUes- 
 ton's, that su" Thomas Stanley, sir Thomas Gen'ard, and Rolleston, desired a " cifre 
 for her, and that they oflrid to convey her away, and willed this examiuate to ax the 
 duke (of Norfolk's) opinion herin." He furtlier says, that Hall told him, that if 
 the queen would get two men landed in Lancasliii'e, sir* Thomas Stanley and sir 
 Edward Stanley, along with sii* Thomas Gerrard and Rolleston,|; would assist her 
 escape to France or Flanders, and that the whole country would rise in her 
 I'avour. 
 
 The death of Edward, the munificent earl of Derby, with whom, says Camden, 
 " the glory of hospitality hath in a manner beene layd asleepe," took place at Lathom 
 house, on the 24th of Fel)ruary, in the year 1573 ; and he was succeeded in his title 
 and estates by lord Strange, a nobleman honoured vdih the special favour of queen 
 Elizabeth, and for whose family she entertained the highest regard.^ 
 
 The progress of public improvement in the county of Lancaster appears to have 
 been slow up to the time of Ehzabeth, as may be collected from an expression con- 
 tained in a petition from dean Nowel, the founder of the free-school of Middleton, 
 for the better encouragement of leai-ning and true Christianity, who, in speaking of 
 the people, designates them as " the inhabitants of the rude country of Lancashii'e." 
 
 During this reign, the military strength of the kingdom was taken -nitli great 
 accuracy, and the following — 
 
 • Camden, p. 442. + Vol. ii. p. 20, and 112. 
 
 t Sir Thomas Stanley, sir Thomas Gerrard, and Rolleston, were apprehended, and committed to 
 the Tower as State prisoners. — Lord Burghley' s Papers, II. 771. 
 § Burghley's State Papers, II. 184. 
 
 VOL. I. 3 X
 
 522 
 
 €i)t ??i£(tori) of tlje 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 ,7~ MILITARY MUSTER, 
 
 Blilitary 
 strength of 
 
 doni. Taken by Order of Government, and made in the Year 1574, serves to shew the Strength, while it 
 
 indicates the Population, oj" each County. 
 
 
 
 
 
 ARTIFICERS 
 
 
 
 
 
 ARMED 
 
 SELECTED 
 
 
 DEMI- 
 
 LIGHT 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 ABLE MEN. 
 
 
 
 AND 
 
 
 
 
 
 MEN. 
 
 MEN. 
 
 PYONEERS. 
 
 LAUNCES. 
 
 HORSE. 
 
 1 
 
 Cambridgeshire . 
 
 1080 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 19 
 
 22 
 
 Cornwall 
 
 6600 
 
 • • • • 
 
 400 
 
 
 
 
 Isle of Ely 
 
 600 
 
 • • • • 
 
 140 
 
 .... 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 66 
 
 Derbyshire 
 
 4000 
 
 
 500 
 
 .... 
 
 « • 
 
 66 
 
 Devonshire 
 
 10000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Exon 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 
 Sussex 
 
 6099 
 
 799 
 
 600 
 
 900 
 
 11 
 
 150 
 
 Lincolne 
 
 6111 
 
 716 
 
 800 
 
 1385 
 
 12 
 
 125 
 
 Somerset 
 
 6800 
 
 600 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 20 
 
 160 
 
 Hertford 
 
 2934 
 
 2828 
 
 330 
 
 1552 
 
 
 25 
 
 Worcester 
 
 1850 
 
 1850 
 
 
 
 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 8460 
 
 4132 
 
 2065 
 
 .... 
 
 28 
 
 184 
 
 Essex 
 
 1902 
 
 4264 
 
 • • • • 
 
 ■ • • ■ 
 
 64 
 
 139 
 
 Salop , . 
 
 3044 
 
 1369 
 
 24 
 
 120 
 
 2 
 
 53 
 
 Wilts 
 
 5334 
 
 2357 
 
 590 
 
 207 
 
 66 
 
 94 
 
 Leicester 
 
 1260 
 
 400 
 
 400 
 
 800 
 
 4 
 
 66 
 
 Oxon 
 
 6470 
 
 1232 
 
 480 
 
 291 
 
 2 
 9 
 
 66 
 73 
 
 Middlesex 
 
 Dorset 
 
 6407 
 
 2448 
 
 50 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 Surrey 
 
 6000 
 
 1800 
 
 • • . ■ 
 
 • > • • 
 
 96 
 
 
 Bucks 
 
 7253 
 
 • • ■ • 
 
 500 
 
 ■ a ■ ■ 
 
 12 
 
 28 
 
 Berks 
 
 1720 
 
 1720 
 
 .... 
 
 335 
 
 14 
 
 88 
 
 Kent 
 
 8960 
 
 6000 
 
 780 
 
 880 
 
 15 
 
 787 
 
 Bedford 
 
 
 ■ • • • 
 
 .... 
 
 • ■ > • 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 Stafford 
 
 1500 
 
 562 
 
 100 
 
 • • ■ • 
 
 7 
 
 44 
 
 Lichfield 
 
 80 
 
 46 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 Lancaster 
 
 6000 
 
 3600 
 
 .... 
 
 600 
 
 12 
 
 90 
 
 Hants 
 
 5889 
 
 5889 
 
 596 
 
 1238 
 
 4 
 
 180 
 
 Southampton . . . 
 
 495 
 
 420 
 
 
 
 
 
 Winton , . 
 
 90 
 
 66 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yorkshire 
 
 40187 
 
 7160 
 
 2000 
 
 3794 
 
 8 
 
 172 
 
 Warwick 
 
 300 
 
 978 
 
 • • ■ • 
 
 300 
 
 16 
 
 90 
 
 Cheshire 
 
 3600 
 
 1057 
 
 60 
 
 189 
 
 
 
 Herefordshire . . . 
 
 3812 
 
 1004 
 
 
 473 
 
 • • 
 
 68 
 
 Anglesey 
 
 372 
 
 • • • • 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 4 
 
 Flint 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 50 
 
 Denbigh 
 
 1000 
 
 400 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 50 
 
 Moutg-omery . . . . " 
 
 1000 
 
 400 
 
 
 
 
 
 47 
 
 Merioneth 
 
 700 
 
 300 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 8 
 
 Glamorgan 
 
 Summa totalis . . 
 
 600 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 30 
 
 158509 
 
 55597 
 
 11365 
 
 13105 
 
 429 
 
 3037
 
 Couittj) ^3alatint of ilamasiter. 623 
 
 From this table it appears, tliat Lancashire at this time ranked amongst the first chap. 
 counties of the kingdom in military strength, and that in number of able-bodied ^'"' 
 men it was only exceeded by Cornwall, Devonshire, Sussex, Somerset, Norfolk, 
 Oxford, Dorset, Kent, Yorkshire, and probably Middlesex, of which the return is 
 only partially given. The population of Yorkshire, when compared with Lanca- 
 shire, was then in the proportion of nearly seven to one, though now the population 
 of the two counties is so nearly equal, that the difference is scarcely perceptible. 
 Of the other counties, Lancasliire exceeds the highest of them, except the meh'opo- 
 litan county of Middlesex.* 
 
 MUSTER OF SOLDIERS IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER IN 1574. 
 
 [Had. MS. Cod. 1926.] 
 
 " The nubers of Dymylances, horses, geldings for lighte horsemen, armo', 
 muncon f weapons putt in ReadjTies w"'in the County of Lane, aswell by 
 fox'ce of the statute as graunted of good Will, by pswacon of the Cofnyssyores 
 of the geniall mvsters. And of the pticular names and S'names of them w"'' doe 
 furnishe, liaue f keepe the same for her Ma"" S'vyce w"'' were Certifyed vnto 
 her ho : privie Counsell, conioyned w"" the geroall musters by force of the 
 firste and Seconde Comissions of the saidde mvsters the monthe of Auguste 
 A" xyj'^ Eliz. Reginse." 
 
 I^un&rrti "at Drilipe. 
 
 Henrie Earle of Derbye furnished : — Dymylaunces (therof iii. to be horses) vi ; light horsemen fur- 
 nished X ; Corsletts xl ; Pykes xl ; Plate cotes and almon ryvetts xl ; long boes xxx ; Sheffe 
 of arroes xxx ; Steele cappes xxx ; Black billes xx ; Calivers xx; Murrens xx. 
 
 Sir Thomas Standley, Knt. to furnishe : — Geldinges for lighte horsemen ii ; Corseletts iii ; Pyks iii ; 
 Almon revetts iii ; Calivers iii ; Morrians iii ; Long boes iii ; Sheflfe arroes iii ; Steele cappes iii. 
 
 Sir Thomas Gerrard, Knt. to furnishe : — Dymylaunce i ; Light horsemene ii ; Corseletts x ; 
 Coates of Plate x ; Pykes x ; Long boes viii ; Sheffe of arrowes viii ; Calivers iii ; Morrians iii. 
 
 Richard Bolde, Esq. to furnishe — Dimilaunce i; Light horses ii ; Corseletts iii; Coates of Plate 
 iii ; Pykes iii ; Long boes iri ; Sheffe of arrowes iii ; Steele cappes iii ; Calivers ii ; Marians ii. 
 
 Thomas Butler, Esq. to furnishe : — Lighte horsemen ii ; Corseletts iii ; Coates of plate, or almone 
 revetts iii ; Pykes iii ; Long boes iii ; Seefe arrowes iii ; Steele cappes iii ; Calivers iii ; 
 Morrians iiii. 
 
 * By the population returns of 1831 the numbers stand thus : — 
 
 Inhabitants of Yorkshire 1,371,296. 
 
 1 Middlesex 1,358,541. 
 
 Lancashire 1,336.854. 
 
 3x2
 
 524 ClK ?i?is(tori) of tlje 
 
 CHAP. Sir John Holcrofte, Knt. to furnishe: — Lighte horsemen i; Corseletts i; Coates of Plate ii; Pyks ii; 
 '*"'''■ Longe bowes ii; Sheflfe of anowes ii; Steele cappes ii; Calivers i; Morriens i. 
 
 George Ireland, Esq. to furnishe: — Lighte horsemen ii; Corslelts ii; Coates of plate ii; Fykes ii; 
 
 Longe boes ii; ShefTe of arrowes ii ; Steele Cappes ii; Calliveri; Morrian i. 
 Henrie Halsall, Esq. to furnishe : — Dymylaunce i ; Lighte horses ii ; Corsletts iii ; Pyks iii ; Long 
 
 boes iii ; ShefFe arrowes iii ; Calivers ii ; Morrians ii. 
 Roger Bradshawe, Esq. to furnishe : — Lighte horsemen i ; Corsletts ii ; Almon ryvetts ii ; Pyks ii ; 
 
 Long boes ii ; ShefTe arrowes ii ; Steele cappes ii ; Callivers i ; Morrian i. 
 Edward Tyldesley, Esq. to furnishe: — Light horsemen i ; and the rest as Roger Bradshawe dothe 
 
 furnishe in all points. 
 Edw. Scaresbricke, Ar. In all things the lyke, savinge that he is chardged with almayne ryvetts 
 
 or plate coats. 
 William Gerrard, Esq. In lyke to Mr. Scaresbricke. 
 Edward Norrys, Esq. Richard Massye, Esq. Peter Stanley, Esq. Henry Ecclesby, Esq. John Byron, 
 
 Esq. the same as Wm. Gerrard, Esq. 
 John Moore, Esq. to furnishe : — Light horse i ; Corselett i ; Pyke i ; Morriane i. 
 Richard Blundell, Esq. John Kylshawe, Esq. the same as John Moore, Esq. 
 Barnabie Kytchen, to furnishe : — Almayne ryvetts i ; Pyke i ; Longe boe i ; Sheffe arrowes i ; Steel 
 
 cappe i ; Calliver i ; Morriane i. 
 John Bolde, Esq. Bartholomewe Hesketh, the same as Barnabie Kytchen, Esq. 
 Mr. Langton de Loe, to furnishe : — Light horse i ; Corslette i ; Pyke i ; Morriane i. 
 Adam Hawarden, to furnishe : — Light horse i. 
 Richard Ormestone, to furnishe : — Light horse i. 
 Edmund Hulme, (of Male,) to furnishe : — Light horse i. 
 Thomas Asshton, to furnishe : — Almayne ryvetts or coate plate i ; Pyke i; Longe bowe i ; Sheefe 
 
 arrowes i ; Steele cappe i ; Caliver i ; Morriane i. 
 J. Mollyneuxe, of Mellinge, GefFraye Holcrofte, Robert Blundell, of Ince, Thomas Lancaster, John 
 
 Rysley, the same as Thomas Asshton. 
 Hamlet Dytchfield, to furnishe : — Coate of plate i ; Pyke i ; Long bowe i ; SchefTe arrowes i ; Blacke 
 
 bill i ; Morriane i. 
 Humfrey Winstanley, to furnishe : — Coate plate i ; Pyke i ; Long bowe i ; SchefFe arrowes i ; Steele 
 
 cap i ; Blacke bill i ; Morriane i. 
 John Bretherton, Thomas Mollineux, John Ashton, Thomas Abrahame, Fraunces Bolde, Richard 
 
 Ettonhead, Roberte Fazeakerley, William Ashehurste, Lambert Tildesley, John Crosse, and 
 
 Elice Kigheley, the same as Humfrey Winstanley. 
 Nicholas Fleetecrofte, to furnishe : — Coate plate i ; Longe bowe i ; ShefFe arrowes i ; Scull bill i. 
 Richard Hollande to furnishe in lyke sort. 
 William Nayler, James Lea, William MoUineuxe, Adam Bolton, Richard Boulde, Richard Hawarde, 
 
 Rawffe Sekerston, Roberte Corbette, and Richard Mosse, the same as Nicholas Fleetecrofte. 
 Summary for the Hundred of Derbye. 
 
 ShefFe [of] Arrowes . 
 
 Dymilaunces iij 
 
 ix 
 
 Light horses iij . . 
 
 xxxix 
 
 Corslettes 
 
 Ixxxv 
 
 Almayne Ryvettes or plate coates 
 
 cxviij 
 
 Pykes 
 
 cxj 
 
 Longe Bowes . 
 
 cvj 
 
 Steele cappes or sculles 
 
 Calivers 
 
 Murrians 
 
 Billes 
 
 nij . X 
 hiij 
 Ixxj 
 
 xlv
 
 Countj) palatine of aancasiter. 525 
 
 ittjunHrrli of Urylonae. chap. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hesketh, Knt. to furnishe: — Dymylaunce i; Light horsemen ii ; Corseletts iii ; Almayne ■ 
 
 ryvetts or coates plate iii ; Pykes iii ; Long bowes iii ; Sheffe arrowes iii ; Steele cappes iii ; 
 
 Harquebutts ii ; Murians or salletts ii. 
 Edward Standishe, Esq. to furnishe : — Light horses ii; Corseletts ii; Almayne ryvetts or coats plate ii; 
 
 Pykes ii; Long bowes ii; ShefFe arrowes ii; Steele cappes ii; Calivers i; Morrione i. 
 Willm. Farington, Esq. for goods to furnishe: — Light horse i; Hargabut i; Longe bowe i; Sheffe 
 
 arrowes i. 
 Thomas Standish, Esq. pro terr. to furnishe lyke Mr. Farington. 
 Richard Lathome, Ar. to furnishe: — Light horse i. 
 
 Thomas Ashall, Robert Charnocke, Richard Ashton, to furnish same as Mr. Lathome. 
 Henry Banester, Ar. to furnishe : — Light horse i ; Hargabut i ; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arrowes i ; Scull i. 
 John Adlington to furnishe: — Light horse i; Harquebut i; Long bowe i ; Sheffe arrowes i; Scull i. 
 Peter Farington, Vx John Charnock, Wm. Chorley, John Wrightington, Gilbert Langtree, Edward 
 
 Worthington, Laurence Worthington, to furnishe the same as John Adlington. 
 Willm. Stopford, to furnishe: — Coate plate i; Longe bowe i; Sheffe arrowes i; Scull i. 
 John Butler to furnishe: — Long bowe i; Sheffe arrowes i; Scull i; Bill i. 
 And the following the same as John Butler: — 
 
 Thomas Stanynawght, George Norres, Richard Todde, Richard Jevum, Rich. Hoghe, John 
 Clayton, Tho. Solome, Wm. Tarleton, John Stones, John Stewerson, John Lightfbote, Wm. Forshawe, 
 Edmunde Parker, Willm. Tayler, Henry Farington, Rich. Foreste, Robert Cowdrye, Henry Sherdley, 
 Rawffe Caterall, Thomas Sharrocke, Thomas Gellibronde, Alexander Brerde, Roberte Farington, 
 Wm. Cowper, Oliver Garstange, John Guerdon, Robert Mollyneux, Edward Hodgson, Richard 
 Withrill, Laur. Garstange, Gilberte Howghton, James Browne, Thomas Dickonson, Laur. Finche, Vx 
 Thurston Hesketh, John Wakefielde, Seth Forester, James Tompson, Thomas Chisnall, Laur. Night- 
 gall, Vx Roberte Charnocke, Richard Nelson, James Prescote, Rich. Tompson, Robert Forster, John 
 Lawe, Roger Brodhurste. 
 
 Summary for the Hundred of Leylonde. 
 
 Dymylaunces 
 
 Light horses .... 
 Corselettes .... 
 Cotes of Plate, Brigund" or Almaine 
 Ryvettes .... 
 Pykes .... 
 
 j 
 
 Stronge Boes . 
 
 xj 
 
 Sheffes of Arrowes 
 
 V 
 
 Steele cappes or seniles 
 
 
 Culivers 
 
 xiiij 
 
 Morians 
 
 xiiij 
 
 Billes . 
 
 Ixx 
 Ixx 
 Ixx 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 xlix 
 
 Sir Rich. Shirburne, Knt. to furnishe : — Dymylaunce i ; Lighte horsemen ii ; Corseletts iii ; Coates of 
 plate iii; Pykes iii Long boes iii; Sheffe arrowes iii; Steele cappes iii; Calivers ii; Murrians ii. 
 
 John Towneley, Esq. to furnishe: — Dymilaunce i; Lighte horses ii ; Corsletts ii ; Coates of plate ii ; 
 Pykes ii; Long boes ii ; Sheffe of arrowes ii ; Steele cappes ii ; Caliver i ; Morrian i. 
 
 Sir J. SowthwOrth, Knt to furnishe : — Light horses ii ; Corsletts ii ; Coates of plate ii ; Pyks ii ; Long 
 bowes ii ; Sheffe of arrowes ii ; Steele cappes ii; Caliver i; Morrione i.
 
 526 
 
 Cfte W^tov^ ot tt)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 John Osbaldeston, Esq. to furnishe same as Sir John Sowthworth, saving he is chardged with almaine 
 ryvetts or cotts of plate, and this is the wholle difference. 
 
 Thomas Caterall, Esq. to furnishe: — Lighte Horse i; Harquebut i ; Longe bowe i; Sheffe of arrowes i; 
 Scull i. 
 
 Thomas Nowell, Esq. to furnishe the same as Mr. Caterall. 
 
 Richarde Ashton, Esq. to furnishe : — Lighte horse i ; Corsletts ii ; Coates of plate ii ; Pykes ii ; Long 
 bowes ii; Sheffe of arrowes ii ; Steele cappes ii; Caliver i; Morrione i. 
 
 John Talbot, Esq. to furnishe the same as Mr. Ashton, saving he is not chardged with any 
 Steele cappes. 
 
 Nicholas Banestar, Ar. to furnishe : — Lighte horse. 
 
 John Rishworth, Ar. to furnishe : — Lighte horse. 
 
 Richard Grymeshawe, Ar. to furnishe :^Coate of plate i ; Long bowe i ; Sheffe of arrowes i ; Caliver i ; 
 Scull i; Billi. 
 
 Thomas Walmysley, Ar. John Braddill, Ar. Henrie Towneley, Thomas Aynsworth, Nicholas Parker, 
 to furnishe the same as Mr. Grymeshawe. 
 
 Alex. Howghton, Gent, to furnishe : — Corslette i ; Cote of plate i ; Pyke i ; Long bowe i ; Sheffe of 
 arrowes i; Steele cappe i; Caliver i ; Morrione i. 
 
 Roger Nowell, Esq. to furnishe: — Coate of plate i; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arrowes i; Caliver i ; 
 Scull i; Bill i. 
 
 William Barecrofte, Henrie Banester, Thomas Watson, Ilvan Heydocke, Edward Starkie, Robert 
 Moreton, Olin Birtwisill, John Greenacre, Nicholas Hancocke, to furnishe the same as 
 Mr. Nowell. 
 
 Thomas Astley to furnishe : — Cote plate i ; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arrowes i ; Steele cappe i ; bill i. 
 
 Thomas Whittacre, George Shuttleworth, Fraunces Garsyde, to furnishe same as Mr. Astley. 
 
 Robert Smithe, to furnishe : — Long bowe i; Sheffe arrowes i ; Scull i ; Bill i. 
 
 John Ashowe, Nicholas Robinson, George Seller, Nicholas Halstidd, Wm. Langton, Bryan Parker, 
 Laurence Whitacre, John Ormrode, Rawffe Haworth, Richard Cunlyffe, Rich. Parker, Wm. 
 Barker, Adam Bolton, George Talbot, Thomas Lassell, Thomas Isherwoodde, Richard Haber- 
 iame, Wm. Starkye, Rich. Harrison, Rich. Crounlowe, Tho. Honghim, Rich. Shawe, Rich. 
 Bawden, Alexander Lyvesaye, William Churchlowe, Rawffe Talbotte, Edwarde Carter, Rich. 
 Woodde, Tho. Holliday, Roger Nowell, Hughe Shuttleworth, Hughe Halsted, Henry Speake, 
 Tho. Enot, Henrie Shawe, Peter Armerode, Thomas Walmysley, Thomas Dewhurst, Olin 
 Ormerode, John Nuttall, Gilberte Rishton, Nicholas Cunliff, Henrie Barecrofte, Laur. Blakey, 
 John Hargreue, James Fieldes, James Hartley, Thomas Ellys, Thurston Baron, Roberte Caruen, 
 George Elston, Barnarde Townley, Oliver Halsted, John Seller, John Pastlowe, John Whittacre, 
 John Aspinall, Roberte Cunliff, Richard Charneley, Geffrey Ryshton, Roberte Seede, Thurstone 
 Tompson, Richard Bawden, Tho. Osbaldeston, John Holden, Gyles Whitacre, Richard Tatter- 
 sall, Roberte Smithe, Nicholas Duckesburie, William Merser, to furnishe in everie respect the 
 same as Robert Smithe. 
 
 The following is the Summary for the Hundred of Blackeburne. 
 
 Dnnilaunces 
 
 ij 
 
 Sheffe of arr. 
 
 CXlJ 
 
 Light Horses . . . . 
 
 xiij 
 
 Steele cappes . 
 
 cix 
 
 Corslettes 
 
 xiiij 
 
 Calivers 
 
 xxvj 
 
 Cotes of Plate or Almaine Ryvettes 
 
 xxxiiij 
 
 Morrians 
 
 xxvij 
 
 Pykes 
 Large boes 
 
 xiiij 
 cxij 
 
 BiUes 
 
 XX 
 
 iiij . x
 
 Coiintp ^alatuw of ILantasitn-* 
 
 527 
 
 fl^un&rrti of amounaernr^^. 
 
 John Rigmaiden, Esq. to fumishe: — Lighte horse i; Corsletts ii; Coates plate ii ; Pyks ii ; Long 
 boes ii ; Sheffe arrowes ii ; Steele cappes ii; Caliver i ; Morrione i. 
 
 Cuthberte Clifton, Esq. to fumishe: — Light horse i; Coate plate i; Pyke i; Long bowes ii ; SheflF 
 arrowes ii; Steele cappes ii; Caliver i ; Morrione i. 
 
 John Westbie, Thomas Barton, Wm. Skillicome, to fumishe the same as Mr. Clyfton. 
 
 Richard Traves, to fumishe: — Coate plate i; Longe bowe i; sheffe arr. i ; sculls ii; Caliver i; Mor- 
 rione i ; Bill i. 
 
 James Massey, George Alane, to fumishe the same as Richard Travers. 
 
 Robert Mageall to fumishe : — Coate plate i ; Long bowe i ; Sheff arr. i ; sculls ; Bill i. 
 
 Thomas Ricson to fumishe the same as Robert Mageall. 
 
 Wm. Hodgkinson, to fumishe: — Coate plate i; Pyke i; Long bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i; Scull i ; Mor- 
 rione i ; Bill i. 
 
 William Banester, Thomas Breres, Roger Hodgkinson, Laur. Walles, to fur. the same as Wm. Hodg- 
 kinson doth. 
 
 William Hesketh to furnishe of good will: — Caliver i ; Morriane i. 
 
 Robert Plesington, Thomas Whyttingham, Wm. Singleton, John Veale, Evan Heydocke, William 
 Burrell, to fur. the same as Wm. Hesketh doth. 
 
 Henrie Kygley, to furnishe: — Coate plate i; Long bowe i; Sheffe arr. i. Scull i. 
 
 Summary for the Hundred of Amoundernes. 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Dimylaunces 
 
 i 
 
 Sheff arr. 
 
 xxij 
 
 Light horses 
 
 V 
 
 Steele Cappes 
 
 xxvij 
 
 Corselettes 
 
 ■J 
 
 Calivers 
 
 XV 
 
 Cotes of Plate or Almaine Ryvettes 
 
 xvij 
 
 Murrions 
 
 XX 
 
 Pykes 
 
 xi 
 
 Billes 
 
 X 
 
 Long bowes 
 
 xxij 
 
 
 
 l^ttntirrti of %ont^Xit\\. 
 
 Wm. Lord Monteagle, to furnishe: — Dimilaunces (thereof one to be an horse) ii ; Lighte Horsemen 
 
 iii ; Corseletts xx ; Cots of plate or almayne ryvetts xx; Pyks xx ; Long bowes xv ; Sheffe of 
 
 arrowes xv ; Steele cappes xv ; Calivers vi ; Morrians vi. 
 Roberte Dalton, Esq. to furnishe : — Dimilaunce i ; Light horse i ; Corseletts i ; Coats of plate or 
 
 almayne ryvetts ii ; Pyks iii ; Longe bowes iii ; Sheffe arrowes iii ; Steele capes iii ; Caliver i ; 
 
 Morrione i. 
 Francis Tunstall, Esq. to furnishe : — Light horses ii ; Corsletts ii ; Coate plate or briged ii ; Long 
 
 bowes ii ; Sheffe arrowes ii; Sculles ii ; Pyks ii ; Morryans ii ; Caliver i. 
 George Middleton, Esq. Roger Kirbie, Esq. to fumishe same as Francis Tunstall, Esq. 
 William Fleminge, to furnishe : — Lighte horse i ; Corselette i ; Coate plate i ; Pyke i ; Long bowes ii; 
 
 Sheffs of arr. ii ; Sculls ii ; Caliver i. 
 Thomas Carus, to furnishe : — Lighte horse i; Corslette i; Coate plate i; Pyke i ; Longe bowe i ; 
 
 Sheffe arr. i ; Calliver i ; Morrione i. 
 Robert Byndlowes, to furnishe same as Thomas Carus. 
 Thomas Curwen, a lighte horse furnished.
 
 628 
 
 CfK ?^lSittlll) Of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Wm. Thornborowe, a light horse furnished. 
 
 Gabriell Crofte, to furnishe : — Corslette i ; Steele coate i ; Longe bowe i ; Sheff arr. i ; Scull i ; 
 
 Caliver i ; Morrione i. 
 Nicholas Brudsey, to furnishe ;— Coate plate i; Longe bowe i; Sheffe arr. i; Pyke i; Steele cappe i; 
 
 Caliver i; Morrione i. 
 George Sowthworth, to furnishe :— Coate plate i ; Longe bowe i ; Shefte arr. i ; Scull i ; Caliver i ; 
 
 Morrione i. 
 James Ambrose, Wm. Redman, Marmaducke Blackburne, Anthonie Knype, Thomas Stanfilde, same 
 
 as Geo. Sowthworth. 
 John Preston, Esq. to furnishe : — Light horse i ; Corseletts ii ; Steele coats ii ; Fyks ii ; Longe bowes ii ; 
 
 ShefFe arr. ii ; Steele cappes ii ; Caliver i ; Morryane i. 
 Frauncis Tunstall, to furnishe:— Coate plate i; Longe bowe i; Sheffe arr. i ; Steele cappe i ; Cali- 
 ver i ; Morrione i. 
 Nicholas Hudleston, Richard Curwen, Rich. Redman, to fur. same as Francis Tunstall. 
 Edwarde Northe, to furnishe :— Coate plate i ; Long bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; Steele cappe i. 
 John Tompson, Robert Banz, Jun. John Gibson, Tho. Parker, Mr. Newton, of Whittingham, Thomas 
 
 Parker, to fur. same as Edward Corthe. 
 John Calvert, to furnishe :— Long bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; Scull i ; Bill i. 
 Richard Reder, Christopher Skerrowe, Richard Hynde, Elenor Singlet, Laur. Parkinson, Christopher 
 
 Thornton, John Proctor, Geffray Batson, Thomas Widder, W". Thornton, Christopher Battye, 
 
 to fur. the same as John Calverte. 
 
 Summary for the Hundred of Lonesdall. 
 
 Dimilaunces . 
 
 "J 
 
 Sheffes Arrowes 
 
 Light horses . 
 
 xvij 
 
 Steele Cappes 
 
 Corselettes 
 
 xxxiij 
 
 Calivers 
 
 Coates of Plate or Almaine Ryvetts 
 
 lij 
 
 Morryans 
 
 Pykes 
 
 XXXV 
 
 BiUes 
 
 Long bowes 
 
 Ivij 
 
 
 Ivij 
 
 XXV 
 XXX 
 
 xiij 
 
 i^untrwa tit S'alforU. 
 
 Edmunde Trafford, Esq. to furnishe: — Dimilaunce i; Light horses ii ; Corseletts x; Coates of 
 
 plate X ; Pyks x ; Longe bowes viii ; Sheffes arr. viii ; Steele cappes viii ; Calivers iii ; 
 
 Morrians iii. 
 John Radcliffe, Esq. to furnishe : — Dimilaunce i ; Lighte horses ii ; Corseletts iii ; Coates plate iii ; 
 
 Pykes iii ; Longe bowes iii ; Sheffes Arr. iii ; Steele cappes iii ; Calivers ii ; Morrians ii. 
 Robte Barton, Esq. to furnishe :— Light horses ii ; Corseletts ii ; Almaine ryvetts or plate cots ii ; 
 
 Pykes ii ; Long bowes ii ; Sheffe arr. ii ; Steele capps ii ; Caliver i ; Morrione i. 
 Richarde Hollande, Ar., Fraunce Holt, Ar., John Bothe, Ar. to furnishe same as Mr. Barton. 
 Edmund Prestwich, Ar. a light horse furnished. 
 Christopher Anderton, Roberte Worsley, Edward Rawstome, to furnish same as Mr. Preste- 
 
 wiche. 
 Charles Holte, Ar. to furnishe :— Lighte horse i ; Caliver i ; Morriane i ; Coate of plate i.
 
 CHAP. 
 
 County |3alntinc of aaiunstcr. 529 
 
 Edmunde Asshton, Ar. to furnishe : — Light horse i ; Calivcr i ; Morriane i. 
 
 Willm. Hylton, Ar., James Browne, Ar., Rawffe Ashton, Ar., T. Greenehalghe, Ar., Alex. Barlowe, XIII. 
 Ar., to furnishe same as Mr. Ashton. 
 
 John Orrell, Esq., to furnishe : — Light horse i ; Corslette i; Pyke i; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; 
 Morriane i ; Harq. i ; Scull i. 
 
 George Halghe, to furnishe :— Coate of plate i ; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; Steele cappe i ; 
 Bill i. 
 
 James Bradshawe, Allen Hilton, Edmund Hey wood, Roger Browne, Richard Leaver, Greorge 
 Longworth, to furnish same as George Halghe. 
 
 Bradshawe, of Bradshawe, in lyke, and a caliver furnished. 
 
 Alexander Warde, W"". HoUande, Thomas Massie, Robert Holte, Charles RadclifFe, Edw". Butter- 
 worth, Cuthbte. Scolefeld, Arthure Asshton, Tho. Lees, James Asshton, George Gregorie, Ellys 
 Aynsworth, Tho. Crompton, same as Bradshawe. 
 
 George Pylkington, to furnishe : — Corslette i ; Caliver i ; Morriane i. 
 
 James Hulme, to furnishe : — Coate plate i ; Long bowe i ; Sheffe arrowes i ; Steele cappe i ; Caliver i ; 
 Morryan i ; Bill i. 
 
 Richard Radcliffe to furnish the same as James Hulme. 
 
 Thomas Chatterton to furnishe :— Coate plate i ; Long bowes ii ; Sheffe arr. ii ; Sculles ii ; Caliver i ; 
 Murriane i ; Bill i. 
 
 Dame Eliz. Byron to furnishe : — Coate plate i ; Longe bowes ii ; Sheffe arr. ii ; Sculles ii ; Bill i ; 
 Morriane i. 
 
 Willm. Tatton, Ar. to fur : — Corslette i ; Caliver i ; Murriane i ; Longe bowe i; Sheffe arr. i ; Stele 
 cappe i ; Bill i. 
 
 Adam Hill to furnishe -.—Coate plate i ; Long bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; Steele cappe ; Bill ii. 
 
 Thomas Asshton, to furnishe :— Coate plate i; Long bowe i; Sheffe arrowes i ; Steele cappe i ; 
 Caliver i ; Murriane i; Bill i. 
 
 Morrys Asshton to fur. same as Thomas Asshton. 
 
 W"!. Ratcliffe, to furnishe : — Coate plate i ; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; Caliver i ; Steele cappe i ; 
 Bill i. 
 
 Laur. Tetlowe, W™. Hyde, Roberte Hyde, Rawffe Holme, Thomas Byron, Roberte Holme, Thomas 
 Willotte, Alexander Rigbie, to fur. same as W™. Ratcliffe. 
 
 John Sharpies, to furnish : — Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arrowes i ; Steele cappe i ; Bill i. 
 
 John Marten, John Bradshawe, Edward Hopkinson, William Browne, Hughe Westmonghe, Edmund 
 Brodhurste, Roger Hyndley, George Lathome, Tho. Valentyne, John Parre, Otes Hollande, 
 Edmund Sceadie, Henrie Tonge, Robert Hodge, John Nowell, Rawffe Cowoppe, James Ander- 
 ton, John Roberte, Rich. Meadowcrofte, Tho. Aynsworthe, Edmund Taylor, Roberte Barlowe, 
 John Wrighte, Richarde Livesaye, Huane Worthington, Thomas Buckley, Robert Haworthe, 
 Edmunde Whyteheade, John Chadwicke, Henrie Sledge, Ellis Chadwicke, Robert Butterworth, 
 Peter Heywoodd, Roger Houlte, W". Bamforde, Thomas Barlowe, Vx Edward Symond, Roger 
 Laye, Francis Barlowe, Thurston Hayner, Robert Blagnley, Anthonie Elcocke, Tliomas Birche, 
 Edwarde Saddell, Robert Skelmesden, Thomas Nicholson, Frauncis Pendleton, Humfrey Hough- 
 ton, W". Blagnley, George Birche, George Prowdlove, George Hollande, Laur. Robynson, 
 Nicholas Moseley, to fur. same as John Sharpies. 
 
 Adame Hill, to furnishe : — Coate plate i ; Longe bowe i ; Sheffe arr. i ; Bill i. 
 
 James Guillame, James Chetame, Edward Holme, to fur. same as Adame Hill. 
 VOL. I. 3 Y
 
 530 
 
 Cfte i^isituri) of tt)e 
 
 CHAP. The Towne of Manchester were contented of good will to fur. and have in ready nes ; 
 ^^^^' Pyks vi ; Curriers ii ; Morrians ii. 
 
 -Corseletts vi ; 
 
 Summary for the Hundred of Salford. 
 
 Dimilaunces 
 
 'J 
 
 SheflPes of Arrowes 
 
 Light Horses . 
 
 xxiiij 
 
 Steele Cappes . 
 
 Corselettes 
 
 XXX 
 
 Calivers 
 
 Coats of Plate or Almaine Ryvettes 
 
 Iviij 
 
 Morrians 
 
 Fykes 
 
 xxviij 
 
 Billes 
 
 Long bowes 
 
 Cxviij 
 
 
 Cxviij 
 
 Cxxiij 
 
 xxxiij 
 
 xxxv 
 
 Ixxxxvij 
 
 Sum of all the Furniture w"'in the Countie of Lane] appearethe here vnder written. 
 
 Dimilaunces 
 Light Horses 
 Corselettes 
 
 Coates of Plate cr Almaine Ryvettes 
 Pykes 
 
 Lan8 \ Long bowes 
 
 Shefies of Arrowes . 
 
 Steele Caps 
 Calivers 
 Morrians 
 Billes 
 
 xvuj. 
 Cviij. 
 
 Clix. 
 
 XX. 
 
 CCiiij. xiij. 
 
 C. XX. 
 
 iiij. iiij. x. 
 
 C. XX. 
 
 iiij. iiij. x. 
 
 C. XX. 
 
 iiij. iiij. x. 
 
 Clxiij. 
 
 Clxxiij . 
 
 CCClxv 
 
 Men furnished by the Statute and of good will the nijber of ni CCxxx''^. 
 
 [Fromfol. 5 tofol. 19 a.] 
 
 A Certificate of a geiJall Muster taken w'l'in the coiitie of Lane, in August aforesaid 
 A" xvj'° Eliz. Reginse wherin was certifyed on and besyde the m. CC. xxx. men furnished by force 
 
 C. C. XX. 
 
 of the Statute for Armo" the nQb' of mm iij. Ixxv. able men furnished by the cuntrey iiij. iiij. Ixxv. 
 
 c. 
 And also the niaber of mm. iiij. xv. able men to serue her Ma*'* and w'^'' be vnarmed. 
 
 Hundred de Derbye. 
 
 Archers, being able men furnished by the cCtreye w"' bowes, arrowes, f 
 
 Steele cappes, sword f dagger ,. .. .. ., .. ^Cxl. 
 
 Bill men beinge able men fur. by the Cuntrey w* Jacke, sallette, bill, ^ 
 
 sworde and dagger .. .. .. ., .. .. ^'llJ•xxlx 
 
 Archers beinge able men vnfurJ . . . . . . . . . . q^I 
 
 c. 
 
 V. Ixix. 
 
 Bill men beinge able men vnfurj 
 
 C. XX. ^V. 
 
 iij. iiij. X y
 
 Couiitp palatine of Eanrastcr, 531 
 
 Hundred of Leylande. CHAP. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 } 
 
 Archers beinge able men. fur. by the Cuntrey w"" bowes, Arrowes, 
 
 Steele cappes, sword f dagger . . . . . . . . . . 5 '" f /-.ri; . 
 
 Bill men beinge able men fur. by the Cuntrey w"" Jacke, Sallet, bill, ^qq 4 
 sword f dagger . . . . . . . . . . . . •' S 
 
 Archers beinge able men vnfur. . • . . . . . . . . xl ^ Cxxx 
 
 Bill men beinge vnfurnished . . . . . . . . . . . . Ixxxx 3 
 
 Hundred of Blackeborne. 
 Archers beinge able men fur. by the Countrey w"" bowes, arrowes, Steele"^ 
 
 cappes, sword f dagger 5 ^''^"' | iij. Ixxv 
 
 Bill men, beinge able men fur. by the Cutrey w"- Jacke, sallet, bill, "^ > 
 
 sworde f dagger . . . . . . . . • • • • • • 3 
 
 Archers beinge able men vnfur. . . . . . • • • • • xx -^ ^ 
 
 .9.: .. Jiiij. xxij 
 Bill men being able vnfur. .. .. .. •• •• •• uij. ij. J 
 
 Hundred de Lonesdall. 
 Archers beinge able men fur. by the Cuntrey w"> bowe, arrowes, Steele"^ 
 
 cappe, sword f dagger 3 ^'■' >iiH. Ivj 
 
 Bill men beinge able fur. by the cuntrey w'" Jacke, sallett, bill, sword "^ jy ^^-- ^ 
 
 f dagger . . • . . . . • • • • • • • • • J 
 
 Archers beinge able men vnfurnished Ixxvj ^.p- ^ 
 
 Bill men beinge able vnfurj . . . . • • • • • • • • CClxvij ) 
 
 Hundred de Amoundernes. 
 Archers beinge able men fur. by the countrey w'^ bowes, arrowes, Steele "^ 
 
 cappe, sword ^ dagger .. .. .. •• •• " S fm 
 
 Bill men beinge fur. by the cuntreye w'!" Jacke, sallette, bill, sword f^ >CClx 
 
 dagger . . . . . . • • • • • • • • • • 3 
 
 Archers beinge able vnfur. . . . . • • . • • • • • Cxx ^^- , . 
 
 c. J V. Ixxix 
 
 Bill men beinge able vnfur. '"J- ^'^ J 
 
 Hundred de Salforde 
 Archers being able men fur. w"> y' ciitrey w'h bowes, arr. Steele cappe, "^ 
 
 sworde and dagger .. .. .. .. •• •• 3 J?.-. ,■•• 
 
 Bill men beinge able fur. by the cutrey w"> Jacke, sallet, bill, sworde ")?.■ j??.- ^jjj. j"'" '"• 
 e das-ffer . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . 3 
 
 :xii ") 9/. ?. 
 
 i. ix 3 
 
 f dagger 
 
 Archers beinge able vnfur. . , . . . . . . . . . . Ixx 
 
 c. ' ?"J- '"> J 
 Bill men beinge able vnfur. . . . , . . . . . . . . iij- 
 
 c. 
 , Sum tottis of the men fur. w'*" Armes at the chardges of the Cuntrey m. m. iij. Ixxv. 
 
 " \ Sum tottis of the able men f beinge vnarmed certifyed in this gefiall ") .p.-. .=?.• 
 
 I ». o JO i.m. m. nij. nij. XV. 
 
 mvster . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • 3 
 
 c. 
 
 ' Vnd that there was certifyed Also of Laborers or Pyoffls vnarmed . . vj. 
 
 [Fol. 20.] 
 3 Y 2
 
 632 
 
 CiK ?t?i5tori) of tftc 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Ancient 
 Tenth and 
 Fifteenth. 
 
 In the same year that these returns were made, a declaration was promulgated 
 of the ancient tenth and fifteenth chargeable throughout the county, of which the 
 following is a summary: — 
 
 [Harl. MS. Cod. 1926.] 
 
 " A Declaracon of the Ancient Tenthe and xv"" chargeable av*'' in the contie of 
 Lane, w"' a note also of the Deduccons sett dowiie by S' Peter Leiglie and S' Peter 
 Gerrard K'", Thomas Kighley, Esq' and others ComissionSs for the same Deduccons 
 by utue and force of a Comission to them directed in the xxv"" yeare of the Raigne 
 of Kinge Henrye the vj"", w"' a noate also of the Remaine f Declaracon of the 
 certen x"' f xv"" nowe payable f chardgeable throwghe everie hundreth and pte of 
 the saidde Coiitie of Lane [xij Eliz. Reginae.] 
 
 Summary. 
 
 Leylonde Hundrethe 
 
 Blackeborne 
 
 Salforde 
 
 Derbye Hundred 
 
 Amoundernes 
 
 Louesdall Hundi'eth 
 
 Deduccons. Remaind' 
 
 d. 
 4 
 
 £. s. 
 36 X 
 
 48 8 6 
 
 48 9 4 
 
 125 8 7 
 
 66 17 
 
 50 18 2 
 
 £. 
 
 S- 
 
 d. 
 
 5 
 
 17 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 30 12 8 
 
 37 5 6 
 
 41 14 4 
 
 106 9 6 
 
 49 17 8 
 39 4 
 
 
 
 " Sum of the Auncient x'" f x"'" w"' in the countie of Lan? 
 as the same is before pticlerly sett downe f expressedde 
 amoviteth vnto the som of ..... 
 
 " Wlierof there was deducted by force of a Comission vnder 
 the great Seale of Englaude du'ected to the Comission's 
 before named bearinge date as before, the soiii of . 
 
 " And so Remayneth payable to the Queens Ma''' for a 
 Tenth f xv"' w"' in the said coutie of Lane, the soiTi of . 
 
 ccc Lxxvj" xj' xj"* ob. 
 
 Ixxj'' vij^ 3'' ob. 
 cccv'' 3' Aiij'' " 
 
 While these financial arrangements were proceechng, the county was much 
 agitated by religious feuds; and the ministers of rehgion were not only threatened 
 with, but actually exposed to, the dagger of the assassin.* 
 
 The queen at this time, and indeed from the period of her coronation, manifested 
 much regai-d for the arts of that celebrated astrologer, Dr. Dee, afterwards warden 
 
 * Warden Herle's letter to the lord treasurer on the wrongs of Manchester College, 1574.
 
 Coimtp IJalntme of iCanrasitfr. 533 
 
 of the collegiate church of Manchester, whicli living lie procured of her majesty's chai 
 
 XIII. 
 
 grace and favour. The doctor had hcen patronized by her royal brother, Edward VI. ; 
 but Elizabeth, more munificent, at least iu her promises, assured him, that where 
 Edward had " given him a crown, she would give him a noble." The queen, in her 
 condescension, frequently visited the astrologer at his house at Mortlake ; and as he 
 was employed to determine what would be the most fortunate day for her coronation, 
 and to counteract the ill effects wliich it was apprehended would befall her, fi-om a 
 waxen image of her majesty, stuck full of pins, having been picked up in Lincoln's 
 Inn Fields, it is not improbable that the " vu'gin queen" consulted the doctor, as 
 other virgins in humbler stations consult " wise men," upon the subject of her 
 matrimonial projects. 
 
 The voluminous correspondence of Dr. Chaderton, bishop of Chester, preserved Tiie 
 
 . Chaderton 
 
 by Mr. Peck, m Ins " Desiderata Curiosa, extending from tlie year 1580 to mss. 
 1586, details with considerable minuteness the pi'oceedings of the ecclesiastical com- 
 mission in the county of Lancaster during that period, and the object of wliich Ecciesi- 
 commission was to prevent the inhabitants from degenerating again into popery, as commis- 
 well as to punish those recusants, particularly of the leading families, who refused to 
 adhere to the reformed religion. These objects are stated in the following 
 
 " Letter from the Lords of the Queen's Council to Henry Hastings, 
 Earl of Huntington, [Lord President of the North.]* 
 
 " 1. After our right liartie comendatioiis unto youre good lordship. 
 
 " 2. Upon notice given unto her Majestie of the falling awaie in matters of reli- 
 gion in sundry of her subjects of good qualitie & others within the countie of Lan- 
 caster; for the avoiding of further inconveniences like to grow thereof, yf speedye 
 redresse be not had, shce hath thouglit meete at this present to gi-aunt out the eccle- 
 siastical! commission for the diocesse of Chester, directed to our verie good lords, the 
 lord archbishoppe of that province, the earl of Darbie, your lordsliip, the lord 
 bishoppe of Chester, and others; whereby you are auctorized to proceed with the 
 saide paities soe fallen away for the reducinge of them to conformitie, or to punishe 
 them accordiuge to such direction as you shall receive by the saide commission 
 waiTanted by the lawes of the realnie : 
 
 " 3. And forasmuch as this infection, the longer it shall be suffered to reigiie the 
 more yt will be spred & become dangerous; therefore yt behoveth that all expedition 
 be used in the execution of the said commission ; which, being prescntlye sent to the 
 earle of Dai'bie, her majesties pleasure is, 
 
 * Pock's Desid. Cur. p. 85.
 
 534 €l)t iJlEitXIll) Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. " 4. That youre lordsliip, with the saide eaile of Darhie & bishoppe of Chester, 
 
 _1 L doe forthwitli consider & take order for the time & place of your fii-ste meetinge ; & 
 
 thereof to geve knolege unto the rest of the commissioners, that they may he readie 
 to meete & assist you at the time & place to be appointed. 
 
 " 5. And as tliis defection is principallie hegunne by sundrye principal! gentle- 
 men of that countie, by whom the meaner sort of people ai-e ledd & seduced; soe it 
 is thought meter that in thexecution of the commission you begin first with the best 
 of the said recusants. For that we suppose, tliat the inferior people will thereby the 
 soner be reclaymed & brought to obedience; which, in oure opinions, wiQ be not a 
 little furthered, yf you shall, at the place of youre assemblies, cause some learned 
 minister to preach and instruct the saide people, duringe the time of youre staye in 
 those places. 
 
 6. And soe referinge the care and consederation of all other thinges that maye 
 appertaine to the furtherance of this her majesties service to the good consideration of 
 you the Commissioners, wee bid you right hai'teUe farewell. From the court at 
 Nonesuch, the x, of June 1580. 
 
 T. Bromley, Cane. A. Warwicke, Clu'. Hatton, 
 
 "VV. Burgheley, F. Bedford, James Crofte, 
 
 E. Lincoln, Ro. Lecester, Fra. Walsingham, 
 
 J. Sussex, Henry Huusdon, Tho. Wilson. 
 
 " To our verie good lord the eai'le of Himtington." 
 
 June 29, This dospatch is followed by two others ; the first of which dii'ects that no ques- 
 
 tion, whether this ecclesiastical commission supersedes the former, shall prevent them 
 from proceeding with theii- duty; and the latter dii'ects that the penalties against the 
 
 July 3. recusants for not coming to church shall be advanced, and that the chief of their 
 number shall be imprisoned in Halton castle, in the county of Chester, with the diet 
 to be allowed them after the manner of the Fleet prison in London. 
 
 July 15. The next communication from the lords of the council signifies, that the queen 
 
 having gi-auted the fines laid upon certain popish recusants in Lancashire to Mr. 
 Nicholas Annesley, and he having been obliged to take out a distringas on then- 
 lands and goods, the commissioners are to see that the said distringas is duly exe- 
 cuted by the sheriff, and the forfeitures paid to Mr. Annesley. 
 
 July Ti. This is followed by a letter from lord Burghley to Dr. Chaderton, touching the 
 
 ill state of Lancashii-e at the time when the high commission first repaired thither, in 
 wliich it is announced, that the queen has sent a letter of thanks to the earl of Derby, 
 for liis zeal in endeavouring to reform the county : liis lordship, at the same time.
 
 Countj) ^3alatinr of ilaiungtrr. 535 
 
 expresses his wish to obtain a proper person to wliom he may entrust the care of the chai>. 
 
 tenants of Manchester college ; and after giving the bishop hopes that liis fii'st fruits _ L 
 
 may be remitted, he gives him tliis statesman-like advice as to his behaviour, both to 
 great men and to poor: — " And nowe, good my lorde, that you are once entered into 
 the way of refonnation, remember S. Paul, tempestivi, intempestivh. Somewhere you 
 must be as a fatlier, somewhere [as] a lord. For so the diversitie of your flocke 
 Avill reqmre. With the meanest sort, courtesie will serve more than argument 3 with 
 the higher sort, auctoritie is a match." 
 
 From a subsequent despatch from the lords of the council to the bishop of Chester, July 20. 
 it appears that the people m Laucasliii'e had much disputing about the bread of the 
 holy sacrament — vdiether it should be common bread or of the wafer land ; on wliicli 
 point theii" lordships decided, that the communicants in each parish should use that 
 which they liked best, till the parhament had taken further order in the matter : to 
 the parhament was also refeiTed the question, whether fairs and mai-kets should be 
 continued on the sabbath days, or they should be discontinued. In a letter from sir JuK 31. 
 Francis Walsingham to the bishop of Chester, the quesn's resolution was commu- 
 nicated to deal with the recusants, and it was at the same time stated, that good 
 preachers were wanted in Lancasliire. In a despatch, of the 29th of September, from 
 the queen to the bishop of Chester, his lordship and the dean and chapter are requii-ed 
 to furnish out three light horsemen for Ireland; and, at the same time, the rectors of 
 Wigan, WinAvick, and Middleton are required by the council to furnish out three 
 more Ught horsemen, being each one. Two following despatches reqiiu"ed that certi- Nov. 12. 
 ficates of the recusants should be returned from Lancasliire, if not as perfect as pos- 
 sible, yet as perfect as they can be made. The prevaihng evil of young gentlemen 
 being educated abroad in popish countries is dwelt upon, and divers gentlemen in 
 the diocese are requii-ed to be called before the bishop, and to give bonds for calling 
 their chilch-en home in tlu'ee months. In a communication fi'om Edwin Sandys, lord 
 archbishop of York, to William Chaderton, lord bishop of Chester, an account is 
 given of an " exercise" lately held in Yorkshire, probably on account of the gi-eat 
 earthquake of the 6thof Apiil, 1580. 
 
 In the following year, the prosecutions against the popish recusants were still usi. 
 more strongly pressed by the lords of the council ; and sii- John Southworth, lady 
 Egerton, James Labourne, esq., John Townley, esq., sir Thomas Hesketh, the lady 
 of Mr. Bartholomew Hesketh, Campion the Jesuit, James Aspden, John Baxter, 
 Richard a priest, William Wickliffe, and Richai-d Massey, ai'e mentioned as of that 
 number; all of whom were placed in confinement, and subjected, as the coiTespon- 
 dence sufficiently indicates, to heavy penalties and to personal privations. As is 
 usual in times like these, pretenders to supernatural gifts were abroad in the county:
 
 536 €i)( W^tov^ of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, aiid one Elizabeth Ortou made no small stir by two feigned visions wliicli she pre- 
 
 L tended to have had, and accounts of which Avere spread abroad amongst the Cathohcs 
 
 July 22. and otlier ignorant people, to abuse the vulgar, and unsettle the minds of the well- 
 aflfected. This unfortunate giid was pubhcly wliipped, in order to extort from her a 
 confession; and the experiment at first succeeded; but she afterwaixls retracted her 
 declaration made before the bisliops and the other ecclesiastical commissioners : that 
 confession was, however, thought too valuable to be lost, and, notwithstanding her 
 retractation, it Avas publicly read in the parish church, and in other places where the 
 fame of her Aisions had been divulged. In addition to Halton castle, in the county 
 of Chester, the new Fleet at Manchester was used as a prison for the recusants ; and 
 sir John Southworth was kept in confinement there, under the wardship of 
 Mr. Worsley, an active public officer. 
 Dec. 7. In the course of tliis correspondence, the lord president of the north commends 
 
 the design of the bishop of Chester to live at Manchester, and wishes him to set up a 
 lecture there, to commence every morning at six o'clock, and every evening at seven 
 o'clock. Notwithstanding all this A-igOance, the lords of the council still comj^lained 
 Dec. 14. to Mr. Richard Holland, high sheriff of the county, that though an act had been 
 passed in the last session of parliament for all recusants to be proceeded against at 
 the quarter-sessions, yet nothing Avas done in Lancasliire ; and they requii-ed the justices 
 of the peace to meet, and cause the rural deans, ministers, and churchwardens to pre- 
 sent aU such recusants upon oath at the next quarter-sessions, or, in case of neglect, to 
 retiu'n the names of all absent justices, and other defaulters, to tlie privy council.* 
 
 Amongst the most distinguished of the recusants was father Edmund Campion, 
 tlie Jesuit, already mentioned,! who, after having passed through the counties of York 
 
 * The parliament of January, 1581, declared the crime of absolving or withdrawing others from 
 the established religion high treason, and adjudged that the penalty of saying mass should be 
 increased to two hundred marks and one year's imprisonment; of hearing mass, to one hundred marks, 
 and imprisonment for the same period ; that the fine for absence from church should be £20 a lunar 
 month ; and if extended to a year, the offender to find two sureties for his future good behaviour in 
 £200 each; and, to prevent the concealment of priests as tutors or schoolmasters in private families, 
 every person acting in such capacity, without the approbation of the ordinary, was liable to a year's 
 imprisonment, and the person who employed him to a fine of £10 per month. — 23 Eliz. c. 1 . 
 
 Koxii + ^ letter from Campion to the privy council, offering to avow and to prove his Catholic religion 
 
 MSS. by disputation, before the doctors and masters of both universities, concludes in a strain worthy of an 
 
 ancient martyr : " If," says he, " these my offers be refused, and my endeavours can take no place; 
 and I, having run thousands of miles to do you good, shall be rewarded with rigor, I have no more to 
 say, but to recommend your case and mine to Almighty God, the searcher of hearts, who send us of 
 his grace, and set us at accord, before the day of payment. To the end at last we may be friends in 
 heaven, where all injuries shall be forgotten."
 
 Coimtp ^3alatinr of aanragtfr. 537 
 
 and Lancaster, disseminating the Catholic doctrines, was appi-ehended in London, chap. 
 
 and committed to the Tower, wliere, by tlic ojieration of the rack, lie was brouglit to L 
 
 divulge the names of the jiersons by whom he had been entertained, and in which 
 
 number the following inhabitants of Lancashii-e appear: — " Talbot of , Esq.; 
 
 Thomas Southworth, Gent.; Bartholomew Hesketh, Gent.; Mrs. Allen, WidoAv; 
 
 Richard Hawghton, of the Park, Gent.; Westby, Gent.; Rygmaiden, 
 
 Gent." It further appeared, that he was in these places between Easter and Whit- 
 suntide last past; and that during that time he resided in Lancashire, at Mr. Tal])ot's, 
 and Mr. Southworth's. On the ISth of November, Campion was brought to triid in 
 London, along with seven other persons, before sir Christopher Wray, the lord chief 
 justice, charged with conspiring the death of the queen's majesty, the overthrow of 
 the religion now professed in England, and the subversion of the state. On the trial 
 a letter was produced, written by Campion, the prisoner, to a person of the name of isgi. 
 Pound, a Catholic, in which the writer said, " It gTieveth me much to have offended 
 the Catholic cause so liighly, as to confess the names of some gentlemen and friends, 
 in whose houses I have been entertained : yet in this I gi-eatly cherish and comfort 
 myself, that I never discovered any secrets there declared, and that I will not, come 
 rack, come rope." Though the prisoners, particularly Campion, defended themselves 
 with gi-eat ability, they were all found guilty, and the Jesuit, along with three of his 
 fellow-prisoners, namely, Thomas Cotton, Robert Johnson, and Luke Finley, were 
 executed.* 
 
 The lords of the council, in a despatch to Henry Stanley, earl of Derby, and 
 William Chaderton, lord bishop of Chester, thanked them in the queen's name for 
 theii- brisk proceedings against the recusants, and desii-ed them to go on; thanking 
 them also for removing such as were piisoncrs at Chester to the new Fleet, in Sal- 
 ford, and expressing their sorrow that priests were lurking about the country under 
 the name of schoolmasters, whom they wished to have apprehended, and brought to 
 punishment. In another despatch from the archbishop of York to the bishop of 
 Chester, the bishop is required to reform Mr. Wigington, a young puritanical 
 minister, or, if that is not practicable, to prevent liini from preaching in liis diocese. 
 The expense of supporting the recusant prisoners could not be defrayed out of the 
 monthly forfeitures levied in the diocese on the recusants, and therefore the collection 
 
 * According to the " Theatrum Crudelitatis Hsereticonim in Anglia," there were executed of 
 priests and others of the popish religion, in queen EUzabeth's reign, from 1.570 to 1587, thirty-one 
 priests and thirteen laymen. In Henry VIII. 's reign, from 1535 to 1543, according to the same 
 authority, there were executed fifty-two priests, including one cardinal, nine abbots, and three priors ; 
 besides thirty-two Franciscans, that died in several prisons ; in addition to which, there were six laics, 
 one of whom was sir Thomas More, late lord chancellor, and another the countess of Salisbury. 
 
 VOL. r. 3 z
 
 538 €l)t ?^l£iti3rp Of tin 
 
 CHAP, of eio-ht pence per week in every parish, allowed by the statute of the 14 Eliz. for 
 
 ^^^ '_ the relief of other poor prisoners, was ordered by the lords of the council to be con- 
 
 june 24, verted to this use, and letters were written to the earl of Derby, the bishop of Chester, 
 
 1582 
 
 and the justices of the peace in Cheshii'e and Lancasliire, to give orders for that col- 
 lection to be made forthwith. It was also ordered, that su' Edmond TrafTord, the late 
 sheriff of Chester, should pay the sum of one hundred marks, levied by way of fine in 
 his shrievalty on James Laborne, esq. a recusant, to Robert Worsley, keeper of the 
 new Fleet, in Manchester, for the diet and other charges of the priests, and other poor 
 June 30. rccusauts m that prison. To save charges, sir Francis Walsingham, in a letter to the 
 earl of Derby, requested that the most inoffensive poor recusants, as women and such 
 like, might be discharged upon their own bonds. The collection of tliis parish assess- 
 ment, though amounting to only eight pence weekly for each parish, appears to have 
 been attended with gi-eat difficulty; to obAiate which, Mr. Worsley ti-ansmitted a pro- 
 Dec. 3. posal to government, wherein he offered, if he might have a year's collection before- 
 hand, to erect a general workhouse for the Avhole county of Lancaster, there being 
 then none in existence. This scheme the lords of the council strongly approved, and 
 recommended that Mr. Worsley's proi)osal should be acceded to, both in Lancashire 
 and in Cheshire ; but the undertaldng seems to have failed. 
 
 1583. Lord Burgldey, and the other lords of the council, in a letter to the earl of 
 
 Derby and the bishop of Chester, thanked them in the queen's name, for the pains 
 they had taken in the examination of James Labourne, a layman, about whom they 
 had ordered the queen's council to consider how far he might be punished for his 
 lewd speeches, wliich punislunent speedily ensued. Labourne, baling been brought 
 to trial, was convicted and executed, on a charge of having conspired to subvert the 
 queen's government, and to overturn the religion of the state. The lords of the 
 council, though not disposed entii'ely to liberate either sii" John Southworth, or John 
 
 Feb. 22. Townley, esq., fi-om their confinement in the Fleet at Manchester, submitted to the 
 earl of Derby and the bishop of Chester whether they might not relax the severity 
 of their imprisonment. The expense of the prison establisluuent in Manchester at 
 
 July 6. this time was so considerable, that Mr. Worsley brought in a bill for the diet of six- 
 teen recusants to the amount of six hundred and fifty pounds, which neither the 
 fines, which were very large, nor the collections of eight pence per week from the 
 parish, which were very small, and deemed to be illegal, were equal to pay. The 
 justices of Lancashire, therefore, made an offer of a year's contribution to meet this 
 
 7 Oct expense, which example the lords of the council m-ged the justices of Chesliii'e to 
 imitate. At this time many Jesuits and other priests were abroad in the county of 
 Lancaster, the antidote for which pest, the lord-president of the council of the north 
 conceived, was best to be found in zealous protestant preachers, and, in particular.
 
 Counti) |3alatinr of tanrastrr. 539 
 
 he hoped a good one wovihl be placed at Preston, wliicli, being a central part of the cuw 
 county, it was desirable should be well supplied. '_ 
 
 At the same time, archbishop Sandys composed a monitory letter, ATliich he 
 addressed to Dr. Chaderton, and the other bishops of his province, urging them to 
 take the sword and armour of tlie Spirit, to defeat the common enemy, and to defend 
 the fmth even to blood and death. Tlie fibres of superstition had, he said, taken 
 deep root in the land ; to tliese he urged them to ai)p]y the sharp sickle of God's 
 word, to build up the walls of Jerusalem, and with all earnestness to shake down the 
 cruelty and tyranny of Anticlnist, to check the stubborn and contentious enemies 
 of the church Avith a rod of iron, and to I'estrain them from infecting the sound with 
 their leprosy.* 
 
 An obscure letter, from sir Francis Walsingham to the earl of Derby, commuui- Nov. so. 
 cated the fact, that Mr. Cartwriglit, a puritan minister, and a number of popish 
 recusants, were in Lancashire, for remedy of which he recommended good preacliers. 
 In this letter it is stated, that Somerville entertained the disloyal intention of assassi- 
 nating the queen, and that, in order to avert the consequences of liis treason, he had 
 feigned himself to be mad, but it appeared on examination, that he was not labouring 
 under any mental chstraction. 
 
 The parocliial weekly collection, though yiehUng little revenue, was still pressed 
 on by the lords of the council ; and those gentlemen who opposed it, especially 
 Mr. Bold, were ordered to be sent up to London, to enter into recognizances, to Dec. 2. 
 appear before the council, as well as those who subscribed their names both for it 
 and against it, and those who promised to join ^rith the earl of Derby and the bishop 
 of Chester, but yet forsook them. Ferdinand Stanley, lord Strange, in order to 
 shew his zeal in the prosecution of recusants, addressed a letter of congratulation to Dec. lo. 
 the bishop of Chester, on the good opinion entertained of his behaviour by the lords 
 of her majesty's council, and also on the good opinion they entertained of liis father, 
 the earl of Derby. 
 
 As a further act of grace to sir John Soutliworth, the lords of the council 23 Feb. 
 
 . 1584 
 
 adcU-essed a letter to the earl of Derby, the bishop of Chester, sir Jolni BvTon, 
 and sii- Edmund Tratford, signifying their wish, that sir John might, at the 
 instance of his son, have the liberty of certam walks which he had formerly been per- 
 mitted to take, but which Mr. Worsley had refused to gi'ant lum, on account of sir 
 John not being present at the saying of grace, and refusing to read the bible. By Marcii 22. 
 another despatch, permission was gi'anted to Mr. To^^niley, a prisoner for religion, at 
 Manchester, to repair to London for medical advice, at the request of dean Nowel, 
 Mr. To^Tiley's brother-in-law. In a succeeding despatch to the eai'l of Derby and w^ircb 22. 
 
 * Libr. Gonv. & Caius Col. 
 3 z 2
 
 540 €l)t l^lStOl'l) Of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, the bishop of Chester, the lords of the council signify, that tjiere being several popish 
 
 — L_ priests, now prisoners at Manchester, for perverting the queen's sul)jects from their 
 
 allegiance, it is thought good that they should be tried for the same, //* terrorem, at 
 the next assizes ; and that lay gentlemen recusants, their p^risoners, be made to pay 
 for their diet, or be put upon prison allowance. The zeal of the council against 
 Maj 2. the recusants was not confined to one sex ; for, in a letter addressed by sir Francis 
 Walsingham to the bishop of Chester, liis lordship is desired to cause Mr. Bartholo- 
 mew Hesketh's wife, a busy recusant, to be apprehended. He is also desired to 
 inquire into the reason why " sir John Southworth is minded to disinherit his son," 
 and to take care to prevent his so doing. Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, in a 
 June 5. letter to the bishop, expresses his approval of the recognizance of sir Tliomas Hes- 
 keth ; and intimates his intention shortly to visit liis cousin, the earl of Derby. It 
 appears, that some apology was thought necessary to be made by her majesty's 
 council to the ecclesiastical commissioners for the removal of sir John Southworth 
 and Mr. Townley from Manchester to London ; their lordships therefore stated to 
 the earl of Derby and the bishop of Chester, that these gentlemen, having paid their 
 fines according to the late statute, could not any longer remain justly committed, and 
 moreover, that they would do less mischief in London than in Lancasliire ; but that 
 if the commissioners thought it absolutely necessary for the ends of good policy, or 
 for their own sake, they should be sent back to Manchester. To turn the disloyalty 
 of the subject to the advantage of the state, the lords of the council wrote to the 
 sheriffs and justices of Lancashire, requiring the recusant gentlemen in that county 
 to set forth certain horsemen for the queen's service, or, in lieu thereof, to pay a 
 composition in money of twenty-four pounds for every horseman : and the queen, 
 whose zeal for the military service was not less active than that of her ministers, 
 addressed a letter to the sheriff of Lancashire, ordering liim to levy two hundred 
 foot-men in that county for the Irish service, without parade ; the said men to be 
 ready at three days' warning, to march under Edmund Trafford, esq., whom she had 
 appointed to be their captain, all furnished with cali^ ers, corslets, bows, and halberts, 
 to which were afterwards added, swords, daggers, doublets, hose, and cassocks. 
 June 25, In a letter from the lords of the council to Ferchnaud Stanley, lord Strange, the 
 
 bishop of Chester, and the justices of Lancasliire and Cheshire, it is signified, that 
 several libels having been formally published against the queen, and now a vile 
 book, [Leicester's Commonwealth] against Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, the 
 queen cannot forbear rebuking some for their gi-eat slackness in not suppressing 
 the former libels, and requiring them to be more diligent in taking care of tliis 
 last ; both the queen and they knowing the eai"l of Leicester to be clear of the 
 aspersions contained in it.
 
 County palatine of iLancasJten 
 
 541 
 
 Tlie last public letter in the series of the Chaderton MSS. is from the queen to 
 the bishop of Chester, signifying that her majesty, being resolved to assist the 
 Hollanders against the king of Spain mth a thousand horse, besides foot, and the 
 clergy, in case the Idug of Spain should prevail, being in as gi'eat danger as herself, 
 she had thought good that they should pro\ide some of the said horse, or allow 
 twenty-five pounds for each horse and furniture to buy them abroad ; the l)isliop of 
 Chester, and his clergy in particular, to fit out as many horse as directed in the 
 following schedule, sent witli the queen's letter : — 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Jan. 'li, 
 158(i. 
 
 1 . The bishoppe iii. 
 
 2. The deane i. 
 
 3. The chapter ii. 
 
 4. Edward Fleetwood, parson of 
 
 Wigan. i. 
 
 5. John Caldwell, parson of Wyn- 
 
 wicke ii. 
 
 6. Edward Ashton, parson of Mid- 
 
 dleton i. 
 
 7. John Nutter, prebendarie parson 
 of Seston, of Aughton, and Be- 
 
 bington 
 
 8 . R' Gerrard, prebendarie in South- 
 well, and parson of Stopport in 
 Cheshire 
 
 u. 
 
 xui. 
 
 recusant 
 papers, 
 Lanca- 
 shire. 
 
 In the Harleian collection of manuscripts* in the British Museum, we find a Original 
 number of original papers relating to " recusants and other religious criminals," 
 from wliich are made the following extracts relating to the county of Lancaster : — 
 
 PAPERS RELATING TO RECUSANTS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS CRIMINALS. 
 
 (Originals.) 
 
 This ys the names of all the bishopes doctors pristes that were prisoners in the flyte 'or 
 Fo. 76. religion synse the fyrste yere of the raygne of quene Elizabethe ano dom. 1558. 
 
 [There are 18 entries on this paper; of which the I?"' is MC Pryswytch g6tellma th' 16 
 gut.] • of Deseber 1562.] [Fol. 7 b. 
 
 Persons to be sought after. 
 [The names of these persons are written under each other in one column, and opposite most of 
 the names are remarks stating the quality and condition of the person, his haunts, &c. The follow- 
 ing appear to be Lancashire gentlemen, but there are no remarks:] 
 The Sonne of S'' Ths. Gerrard. 
 Bouth, gen" 
 Stanley, gen" 
 [The above seem to have been suspected of implication in Babbington's Plot ; for under one 
 remark is written " whereof the Suauntf of Babington can further shewe."] 
 
 Cod. 360.
 
 542 CI)e ?^is!torp of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 10 Sep. 1586. 
 
 XIII. ^ Collection of sondry persons as well Preestf as other ill affected to y' State. 
 
 N.B. There is no Lancashire gentleman under this head, but in the two following, which are lists 
 of names, and styled in the Catalogue, " Advertisements touching others," and " discovering more 
 of the same Gang," there are these — 
 M"' Charnock of Ashby 
 M-- Hilton of Hilton Park 
 S'" John Ratclyffe, a daungerous Temporiser 
 
 Burton, a Freest remayning w"" the wyfe of S^ Thomas Gerott's base sonne, being a 
 fleming borne, and a very great harborer of the ill affected gent, in those ptf : she 
 remayneth for the most pte at Checkerbent in the house of Ralfe Holme, a Recusant 
 M'' Standishe of Standishe 
 Fo. 14. M'' Haughton, of Haughton Tower 
 
 Henry Davys, sometyme very inward w"' Shelley. 
 
 Names of such as are detected for receiptinge of Priestf, Seminaries, ^8. in the Countie of Lancast. 
 
 This appeareth by the /' Jane Eyves of Fishiwicke widowe receipte the Sr Evan Banister an old 
 pnltm' of Rafe S'^iant j Prieste 
 
 Churchwarden of Wal- J S'' Richard Banister an old Prieste is receipted att the howse of one 
 ton in ledait ' Carter nere to Runcorn bote 
 
 This appeareth by the ^ q^^ ^^^^^ jj^^j^ j^i(,i^ard receipted att M' Rigmadens of Weddicar by 
 
 pflmt of y' Vicar of < 
 
 ■^ •' ) reporte 
 
 Garstange I. 
 
 This appeareth by the r ^ ^ , ,,■ i-oii i.- 
 
 „ „ ^ ■" , \ One Duckson an oulde priest contynueth in Samlesburye by comon 
 
 pnStm' of Law : ccker .{ ^ 
 
 c Tj -1 u ) Reporte 
 sworneman of Brihilt C 
 
 This appeareth by the ^ 
 
 pffitm's of the Curate \ Ro'bte Woodroof a seminarie Priest receipted att the house of Jenet 
 
 of Burneley and the ) Woodroof of Bancktopp in the .pishe of Burneley within this halfe yeare, 
 
 Churchewarden of the I by comon reporte 
 
 Churche v. 
 
 This appeareth by the r John Lawe a seminarie priest receipted in diflse ptes of Lancashire 
 
 pn!tm' of the Vicar of I as speciallie in the fishes of Ormeskirke Preston Blackborne f 
 
 Whaley (. Whalley 
 
 1: Henry Fairehurst of Winstanley yeoman 
 
 2: Thomas Oriell of Winstanley yeoman 
 
 3: Thomas Berchall of Billinge yeoman 
 
 4: James Winstanley of Billinge yeoman 
 
 5: John Roby of Orrell yeoman 
 
 6: Henrie Laithewaite of the Medowes gent. 
 
 7: John Culchethe of Abram gent. 
 
 8: 9: Myles Gerrerde of luce esquire f his wyfe 
 
 r
 
 Coimtp palatine of iLaiwasten 
 
 543 
 
 This appeareth by 
 pfftm"' of the |)son 
 of Wigan 
 
 This appeareth by the 
 
 pn!tm'<^ of the Curate 
 
 of Chippin 
 This appeareth by the 
 
 piitemt of the Vicar 
 
 of Deane 
 This appeareth by the 
 
 pfltem''^ of the Curate 
 
 of Sephton 
 
 Tliis appeareth by the 
 pn!tem*= of the Vicar 
 of Kirkhatn 
 
 This also appearethe by 
 the pn!tem'<' of the 
 Vicar of Kirkeham 
 
 These Persons are piJted (by greate and Comon fame f 
 reporte) to be receipto" of Priestf hereafter named, vz. 
 Bell: Burton: Mydleton 
 
 Alex: Gerrerde brother to Miles Gerrerdc of Innce esquier 
 James Foorde sonne to Alex Fourdc of Swindley gent : 
 John Gardner brother to Rotste GardfJ of Aspull gent : 
 Alex : Markelande sonne to Mathewe nijkelande of Wigan. 
 Pilkington borne in Standishe ^jishe 
 Worthington borne in the same Parishe 
 Stopforthe 
 
 ) Guile a Prieste receipted att the howse of James Dewhurst of Chippin 
 ^ by the reporte of John Salesburie of Chippin 
 
 ) Dyverse Priestf harbored att the howse of Ralphe Holme of Checker- 
 ( bente 
 
 } James Darwen a seminarie prieste receipted att the howse of Richard 
 
 (^ Blundell of Crosbye esq"^ by comon reporte 
 
 /- Richard Cadocke a seminarie priest also Deiv. Tytmouse conusante 
 
 \ in the Companie of twoo wydowes, vz. M"». Alice Clyfton f M«^ Jane 
 
 \ Clyfton aboute the first of October last 1580 by the reporte of James 
 
 {^ Burie 
 
 r Rychard Brittaine a prieste receypted in the howse of Wiltm Bennet 
 
 J of Westlye about the beginninge of June last from whence younge 
 
 J M"' Norrice of Speake conveighed the said Brettaine to the Speaks as 
 
 C the said Bennet hath reported 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 The said Brittaine remayneth now att the howse of Mr. Norrice of 
 the Speake as appearethe by the depowtion of John Osbaldston (by 
 coiiion reporte) 
 
 This appeareth by the 
 ptern'o of Tho: Sher- 
 ples. 
 
 Fo. 32 b. 
 
 f James Cowpe" a seminarie prieste receipted releived and mainteined att 
 the Lodge of S"^ John Sowthworthe in Samlesburie Parke by M' Tho : 
 Sowthworthe, one of the younger sonnes of the said S'' John And att 
 the howse of John Warde dwellinge in Samblesburie Parke syde. And 
 the said Prieste sayeth Masse att the said Lodge and att the said Wardf 
 howse. Whether resorte, M'' Sowthworthe, M"' An Sowthworthe, John 
 Walmesley servante to S" John Sowthworthe, Tho. Sowthworthe dwellinge 
 in the Parke, John Gerrerde, Svante to S"' John Sowthworthe, John Sin- 
 gleton, John Wrighte, James Sherples iunior, John Warde of Sambles- 
 burie, John Warde of Medler theldcr, Henrie Potter of Medler, John 
 Gouldon of Winwicke, Thomas Gouldon of the same, Ro'bte Anderton of 
 Samblesburie and John Sherples of Stanleyhurst in Samblesburie.
 
 544 
 
 COe W^tOY^ of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 This appeareth by the 
 pffltemt of Tho. Sher- 
 ples. 
 
 This also appearethe by 
 the pnJtem' of Tho. 
 Sherples. 
 
 Att the howse of WlHm Charnocke of Fulwoode gent, was a Masse 
 donne on o'' Ladle day in lente last by one Evan Bannister and these 
 |)sons were att yt, Wiftm Harrison of Fulwoode and his wife, Richard 
 Harrison f his wife, James Sudale of Haighton, Thomas Sudale and his 
 wiefe, George Berley and his wife, Jeffraye Wirdowe of Owes Walston 
 ^ and his wyefe. 
 
 Att the howse of James Sherples in Samblesburie was a Masse donne 
 on Candlemas day by one Henrie Dueson also Harrie Duckesson. And 
 these psons were att yt V3 : John Sherples of Stanleyhurst in Samblesburie 
 and his wyef and his sonne Thomas and his daughter An and Rodger 
 Sherples and his wyef f Richarde Sherples and the wyef of Harrie Sher- 
 ples and the wiefe of Hughe Welchman and Thomas Harrisson and the 
 wief of Thomas Welchman thelder The wyef of John Chitonie Robte 
 Blackehay Thomas Duckesson of Houghton James Duckeson The wyef of 
 Harrie Bonne. 
 
 Att the Lodge in Samblesburie Farke there be masses daylie and Seminaries dyffse 
 Resorte thither as James Cowpe, Harrisson Bell and such like, The like vnlawfull meet- 
 Fo. 33. ing^ are made daylie att the howse of John Warde by the Parke syde of Samblesburie 
 all wiche matters, masses, Resorte to Masses, receiptinge of Seminaries wilbe J ustifyed 
 by Mr. Adam Sowtheworthe Thomas Sherples and John Osbaldston. 
 
 " Dioc of Chester. 
 
 Com Lau8 "j Cuthfete Clifton Ar. 
 
 Amoundernes VJohn Westone ar. 
 
 Deanry. I Alexander Houghton gen 
 
 Leonard Houghton and his wief 
 
 M"' Burton Vid. 
 
 Thomas Burton her sonne 
 
 Wm. Skellicorne gen and his wief 
 
 Brigett Browne Vid 
 
 Garge Clarkson gen 
 
 John Hothersall gen 
 
 Thomas Dicconson gen. 
 
 Obstinate Willm. Hesketh gen. 
 George Walton gen 
 Thomas Coston and his wief 
 Wm. Hardock Junior and his wief 
 Wm. Easton gen 
 John Singleton gen 
 George Houghton gen. 
 James Eues 
 Richard Eues 
 
 George Butlo'' 
 
 John Hothersall Husbandman 
 
 Thomas Walmesley 
 
 Rogerson Vid. and her 
 children 
 Robte Midgeall gen 
 Conformable Arthur Houghton gen 
 
 vx. George Sothwortlie gen. 
 
 George Copell gent and his wief 
 Thomas Cowell 
 Thomas Cradon 
 Blagburne Deanry 
 
 John Sothworth knight and the ladie his wief 
 Thomas Sothworth his sonne and heire 
 
 Com Lane 
 Blagburne 
 Deanry 
 
 ! 
 
 John Sothworth gen sonne to John 
 
 Sothworth k. 
 Anne Sothworth his doughter 
 Dorothie Sothworth his sister 
 John Talbott ar. 
 John Townley ar. and his wief
 
 County IJalatiuf of a.ancasitn% 
 
 546 
 
 Tbo: Catlierall ar. and liis wief 
 Henrie Lowe J unior 
 m^garet Lowe Vid. 
 
 01)stinate James Hargreues 
 
 Lucie Townlie 
 
 John Yate sonne to John Town- 
 ley, ar. 
 
 EUm Bannister vx- Robte Banes- 
 ter gen 
 
 Anne Townley vx"^ Henrie Townley 
 gen 
 
 Jenet Paslowe vx' Frauncis Pas- 
 lowe gen 
 
 John Rishton gen 
 
 John Rishton Husbandman 
 
 Ran! Ferrand 
 
 Ri8 Wodde 
 
 Ri8 Hinley 
 
 * » « 
 
 Wm. Rishton gen and his wief 
 
 Conformable Ellen Rishton vid. 
 
 Gillet Rishton gen and his wief 
 Lun. Whittacre gen 
 
 Warrington Deanry 
 
 Hamlet Holcrofte gen and his wief 
 Dame rnjgaret Atherton Vid. 
 Tho : Mollinex gen 
 Matthewe Trauys 
 John Mollinex schalerffi 
 
 Obstinate Elizabeth Hesketh Vid. 
 Eiiz. Sutton Vid. 
 Eliz. Kighley gone 
 Stanley Vid and Anne her doughter 
 One Bineston her §unt [servant] 
 Wm. Fletcher 
 
 Kat. ni^sh vx' Hemfv. IVlTshre 
 Henrie Richardson 
 
 Conformable Edward Chawner 
 
 Manchester Deanery 
 
 W"" Hulton de -Pkear and his wief 
 obstinate 
 
 Several names follow, belonging to the county of 
 Chester, after which are — ] 
 
 Com Lan8 
 
 Item t John Sothworth knight 
 + Cuthbert Easton Esquier 
 t John Talbott esquier 
 t John Townley esquier 
 t Thom Caterall esquier 
 t Alexander Houghton gent 
 t Thomas Mollinex gen 
 t John Hothersall gen 
 t Matthewe Travis Yoman 
 
 Com Ces? John Whitmor esquier 
 W"" Houghe esquier 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 " Of all the rest theis xij* are mo' opinions of longest obstinacy against Religion and yf by yo'' LL. 
 good wisdomes theye cold be reclaymed we think the other wold as well foUowe their good example 
 in embrasinge the Queues Ma'« most godly ^cedinge as they haue followed their evill example in 
 contemprisinge their dutie in that behalf. ■ 
 
 [Indorsed] Feb. 9th [or 7th] 1575. 
 
 In the EHzabetliaii age, when taxation had not attained its present perfection, 
 the couutie.s Avere called upon to supply their monarch Avith the substantial viands 
 
 vor,. T. 
 
 There are only eleven names here. 
 4 A
 
 546 
 
 Ciie S^istori,) of tf)f 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Lanca- 
 shire con- 
 tribution 
 of oxen to 
 queen Eli- 
 zabetli's 
 table. 
 
 Jan. 10, 
 1.582. 
 
 which graced even the breakfast table of her majesty.* The county of Lancaster, 
 by an agi-eement entered into at Wigan by the earl of Derby, the bishop of Chester, 
 the lord Strange, and a number of the justices of the peace there assembled, com- 
 pounded on behalf of the inhabitants of the county, for the provision of oxen and 
 other cattle, for her majesty's household ; and sir Richard Sliiiburn, and Alexander 
 Rigby, esq., on their resort to London during the ensuing term, were authorized to 
 ratify the agi-eement \vith " Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Controwler, and Mr. Cofferer," 
 with whom it was agi'eed, that the county of Lancaster should yearly yield for that 
 purpose forty great oxen, at fifty-three shillings and fourpence apiece, to be deli- 
 
 * EXPENCES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S TABLE. 
 
 The Queenes Majesty's booke 
 
 signed with her hand. 
 
 The Queenes Majesty's dyett, 
 
 as she hath bene daylye servid. 
 
 Cheate and mancheate . 
 
 Ale and bare .... 
 
 Wine, 1 pt. . 
 
 Flesh for Pottage. 
 Mutton for the pott, 3 st. . 
 Longe bones, 2 st. 
 Ise bones, 2 st. 
 Chines of Beafe, 1 st. . 
 Short bones, 2 st. . 
 
 Chines of beafe, 1 st. 
 Connyes, 2 st. . 
 Butter, 6 dish 
 
 Breakfast. 
 
 6d. 
 
 3^d. 
 
 7d. 
 
 18d. 
 
 6d. 
 
 2d. 
 16d. 
 
 4d. 
 
 14d. 
 8d. 
 6d. 
 
 Cheate and mancheate, 8 
 
 Ale and bere, 6 g. . . 
 
 Wine, 1 p. 
 
 Flesh for Pottage. 
 Mutton for the pott, 4 st. 
 Long bones, 4 st. 
 Ise bones, 3 st. . 
 Chines of beef, 1 st. . 
 Chines of Mutton, 2st. . 
 Short bones, 1 st. 
 Chines of veal, 3st. 
 Chickens for grewell, 2 
 Veale, 2 st 
 
 Summa . . .8s. 6id. (rather 7s. Sjd.) 
 Surcharged . . .5s. 5d. 
 
 Chines of beafe, 1 . 
 Butter, 2 lb. 
 
 Summa 
 
 8d. 
 
 104d. 
 
 7d. 
 
 2s. 
 12d. 
 
 3d. 
 16d. 
 
 2 s. 
 
 2d. 
 
 6d. 
 
 7d. 
 
 2s. 
 
 16d. 
 8d. 
 
 13s. lUd.
 
 Coimtp IJalatint of iLanrasttr. 
 
 547 
 
 verecl at licr majesty's pasture at Crestow. Tliis gi-avc matter being adjusted, the chap. 
 following? awai'd was made from each hundred, iu ratification whereof the under- L 
 
 signed affix their hands :- 
 
 x\j" x^ 
 xvj" x', 
 
 Derbye huncketh . . xxvj'' 
 
 Amouudernes 
 
 Louesdall .... 
 
 Salford XAJ" x^ 
 
 Blackborn xvj'' x'. 
 
 Leylond huncb'eth . . viij'' 
 
 >C" 
 
 Yf the soiTi sliall coni to 
 more or lesse, the same 
 to be increased or abated 
 after this rate. 
 
 Richard Shirbui'ue. 
 John Byron. 
 Jolui Radclifle. 
 Richard Brereton. 
 Richard Holland. 
 
 H. Derbie. W. Cestr. 
 Fer. Straunge. 
 
 W". Faringtou. 
 
 James Asshton. 
 
 Edw. Tyldesley. 
 
 Richard Asshton. 
 
 Xpifer Andertou. 
 
 Robert Worsley. 
 Robert Langton, 
 Tho. Eccleston. 
 Nicholas Banester. 
 John Bradley. 
 
 For the Provicon of Oxen for the Queenes Ma"" Household. 
 
 These contributions, which were reduced to a money charge, having subsequently 
 fallen into arrear, a purveyor was sent down by government to execute the commis- 
 sion, by seizing the oxen in the county ; but the earl of Derby, aided by his trea- 
 surer, took order for enforcing the payment of the composition, and, in any case 
 where the money could not be had, the commissioners were directed to take in lieu 
 thereof, " for her ma'° provison. Bacon, and suche lyke thinges."* The exactions 
 of these purveyors " for her majesty's houshold and stables" had become so noto- 
 rious, that in the year 1590 a commission was instituted in Lancashii'e, to investi- 
 gate these delinquencies, and to certify the same to the queen's government. 
 
 A manuscript book of correspondence, relating to the heutenancy of the county Lie„fe. 
 of Lancaster, from the yeai- 1582 to the end of queen Elizabeth's reign, is deposited l^'^^ 
 in the Harleian collection in the British Museum,* and serves to shew with how 
 much diligence the affaii's of the queen were administered during that period. These 
 documents, though many of them highly interesting, and calculated to shed much 
 light upon the early history of tlie county, are too voluminous to be comprised in the 
 limits of a county history, and can therefore only be interwoven into the general 
 
 • Codex 1926. 
 4 A 2
 
 vice. 
 
 548 COe M&tov^ of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, liistory in abstract. In folio 54 of this manuscript, a despatch appears from the lords 
 
 L of the council, signed, 
 
 Tho. Bromley, Cauc. F. Bedford Wm. Burghley 
 
 E. Lyncoln Chr. Hatton F. Walsingham 
 
 R. Leicester J. Crofte R. Sadler 
 
 W. Myldmaye 
 
 Lanca- addressed " to the justices of the peace inhabiting Avithin the liundred of Salford," 
 
 shire _ _ . . . ■, . 
 
 levies for apprising them that her majesty's service in Ireland requu'es to be supplied with fifty 
 ty's ser- soldicrs fi-om tliis county, and du-ecting that the levdes be made, so that the men may 
 be at Livei-pool, ready to embark on the 15th of December, prepared with such arms 
 and accouti'eraents as are necessary for then* complete equipment, or that the sums 
 necessary for that purpose be forthcoming. The number of men to be provided from 
 the respective hundreds in the following quotas: — 
 
 " Men to be made fourthe of theis hundrethes followinge 
 
 Derbie hundrethe x men f an half Amoundernes vij men 
 
 Lonesdall ix men f an half Leylond iiij men f an half 
 
 Salford ixmen — xxxviij" viijs Sufii 1." 
 
 Blackburn ix men f an half 
 
 On the receipt of tliis mandate, a letter was addressed by " Ric Holland, Vic" from 
 Heaton House, summoning sii- Edmund TralTord, and the other justices of the county, 
 to meet at Ormsldrk, on Saturday 1st of December, to take the necessary order for 
 carrying her majesty's commands into effect.* 
 
 This series of official documents illustrates the con-espondence contained in 
 the Chaderton MS. and here we find the proceedings adopted against the i-ecusants, 
 as detailed in a despatch of the 20th of June, wherein the sheriff and justices of the 
 county of Lancaster are directed to proceed against the principal offenders, forbearing 
 for the present to prosecute those of the meaner sort, but to call before them, at their 
 quarter-sessions, recusants, being of the quality of gentlemen and upwards, and ladies 
 and gentlewomen widows, and to take bonds and securities of them for their personal 
 appearance at the next assizes for the county of Lancaster, that couAdction and 
 judgment may ensue. To guard against remissness in the discharge of this duty, 
 they are warned to take care to answer her majesty's expectations, and the trust com- 
 mitted unto them, seeing that the judges of assize have received directions to examine 
 and take account of then* doings, and to report the same in writing to the council. 
 
 In the following year her majesty's service in Ireland required that Lancashire, 
 instead of fifty, should send two hundi-ed able-bodied men to that country, to be in 
 
 * Cod. 1926, fo. 72 b.
 
 Coimtj) |]alatint of aanra£(tfi% 549 
 
 readiness to meet at Chester, on the 10th ol September, to embark from thence for chap. 
 Ireland.* To obviate a complaint that had beeii made to the queen and her council, '__ 
 
 to the effect that the men, when placed under the command of strangers, were not 
 treated with " that love and care" that appertained to them, her majesty by her 
 letters recommended that they should be placed under the son of sir Edmund Traf- 
 ford, and that they should be furnished with " swords and daggers, and lil^ewise con- 
 venient doublets and hose, and also a cassocke, or some motley or other sadd gi-eene 
 colour or russette." The hundred of Salford furnished one-fourtli of the whole 
 number, and the letter of sir Thomas Preston, siunmoning the levy to muster at 
 Preston, requii'ed that they should come provided with weapons as follows: — " xx 
 Av"' Calius. X w"" Corseletts f pykes. x w"' bowes f aiTowes. f x w"' halberdes or 
 good blacke billes." The urgency of the occasion is strongly indicated by the super- 
 scription of the letter, which runs thus: — 
 
 " A. DeUu this Lre to the next justice of peace of the hundrethe aforesaidde and 
 
 he to breake it oppe f aff" the pvsall tlierof to be sente from one justice to 
 
 another that no delaye be in the service w"'in contayned." 
 
 In the years 1585-6, the county was visited by a famine, and by a murrain amongst Famine, 
 cattle, which were felt with great severity in tlie north ; and her majesty, in her 
 royal solicitude, directed the lords of the council to address a letter to the sheriff 
 and justices of the peace in the counties of Lancaster and Chester,!" I'equiring that 
 the gentry of those counties should strictly abstain from killing and eating flesh in 
 the time of Lent, and other prohibited days, not only from the effect that the absti- 
 nence of their own families would produce, but from the benefit of the example 
 amongst those of a meaner sort. These orders were addressed to the sheriff of Lan- 
 cashii-e by the lords of the queen's council, and were generally diffused throughout 
 the county. 
 
 The violation of the sabbath liad long been complained of in the county of Lan- On the ob- 
 caster, and one of the objects of the ecclesiastical commission sent do^^ni by queen of the sab- 
 Elizabeth into this county, was to remedy these enormities. For the same purpose Lam!" 
 a letter was promulgated by the magistrates of the county, signed by 
 
 Jo. Byron Ric. Shu-born Edm. Trafforde Nicholas Banester 
 
 James Asshton Bryan pker Ric. Brereton Ric. Asshton 
 
 Edm. Hopwood Th. Talbotte John Bradshawe Alex. Rigbie 
 
 Robte Worsley Tho. Talbot J. Wrightiugton Edm. Fleetewoode. 
 
 * Harl. MSS. Cod. 1926, fo. 103, b. 
 
 t A letter of similar import addressed by the queen to the sheriff of Lancashire is contained in 
 the Chaderton MS. 
 
 shire.
 
 550 Cfte 5?is(turi) of tftr 
 
 CHAP. The complaint was, that the sahbatli was profaned by " Wakes, fayres, mkettf, 
 
 XIII. 
 
 bayrebayts, bull baits, Ales, Maygames, Resortlnge to Alehouses in tyme of devyne 
 ser\ice, pypiuge and dauneinge, huntinge f all maner of vnlaw" gamynge." For 
 reformation whereof, it was ordered to give in charge at the quarter-sessions to all 
 mayors, baiUffs, and constables, as well as to other civil officers, churchwardens, 
 &c., to suppress by all lawful means the said chsorders of the sabbath, and to pre- 
 sent the offenders at the quarter-sessions, that they might be dealt with for the 
 same according to law. It was also directed, that the minstrels, bearwards, and all 
 such disorderly persons, should be immediately apprehended, and brought before the 
 justices of the peace, and punished at then* discretion; that the churchwardens 
 should be enjoined to present at the sessions all those that neglected to attend divine 
 service upon the sabbath day, that they might be indicted, and fined in the penalty 
 of twelve pence for every offence ; that the number of alehouses should be abridged, 
 that the alesellers should utter a full quart of ale for a penny, and none of any less 
 size, and that they should sell no ale, or other victuals, in time of divine service; 
 that none should sell ale without a license; that the magistrates should be 
 enjoined not to grant any ale license, but in public sessions ; and that they should 
 examine the officers of the church and of the commonwealth, to learn whether they 
 made due presentment at the quarter-sessions, of all bastards born, or remaining 
 within then- several precincts ; and that thereupon a strict course should be taken for 
 the due punishment of the reputed parents, according to the statute ; as also for the 
 convenient keeping and relief of the infants.* This rigid moral discipline was much 
 complained of by some of the gentry, and still more by the labouring classes ; and 
 when, at a subsequent period, khig James, in his progress, visited the county of 
 Lancaster, he not only rescinded the orders, but he founded upon that act his book 
 of sabbath sports, the consequence of which was felt for succeeding ages ; but of 
 this, more in its proper place. 
 Early The plots against the queen, and against the established Protestant church of 
 
 Lanca- ^ , _ 
 
 siiire loyal England, botli foreign and domestic, awakened in the nation a spirit of fervent 
 
 associa- iii • • /• t • 
 
 tion. loyalty ; and an association of Lancashii-e gentlemen, on the model of the earl of 
 
 Leicester's association, was formed, for the defence of queen Elizabeth, against the 
 machinations of Mary, queen of Scots, and the other enemies of the state. In the 
 declaration promulgated by this association,! the doctrine of the divine right of 
 kings aud queens is strongly insisted upon, and the associators pledged themselves, 
 in the most solemn manner, to defend the queen against all her enemies, foreign and 
 domestic ; in confirmation of which, they took a solemn oath upon the holy Evange- 
 lists, and in witness whereof they affixed their hands and seals as follows : — 
 * Harl. MS. Cod. 1926. fol. 80. + Hail. MSS. Cod. 2219.
 
 Countj) ^alatmr of 2Lanra£itn% 
 
 551 
 
 Hen. Derby 
 W. Cestren 
 Fer. Stranghe 
 Rychard Sherburne 
 John Radclyffe 
 Thomas Houghton 
 Edward Butler 
 Rychard Ashton 
 Edward Norres 
 Thomas Holcroft 
 Edward Osbaldeston 
 Rychard Holland 
 Rychard Boolde 
 Edward Scaresbrecke 
 Thomas Hesketh 
 John Holcroft 
 Richard Mollineux 
 Rauffe Ashton 
 Robt. Langton 
 Myles Gerrard 
 Willm. More 
 
 Adam Langhe 
 Robt. Charnocke 
 Richard Ormeston 
 WiUm. Holton 
 William Thorneborowe 
 Edward Stanley 
 Edmund Chaderton 
 Gilbt Langtree 
 John Croft 
 Thomas Leighe 
 Edward Braddle 
 John Wrightington 
 Edward Rawstorne 
 James Browne 
 Barnabie Kilchin 
 Edward Halsall 
 Edward Tildisley 
 Henry Stanley, senior 
 Willm. Farrington 
 Henrye Stanley 
 John Byrome 
 
 Wilni. Massye 
 Edward Tarbucke 
 Peter Stanley 
 Thomas Talbott 
 John Bradley 
 John Culcheth 
 John Rysliley 
 George Ireland 
 Charles Holt 
 Thomas Goodlowe 
 Thomas Morley 
 Thomas Ashton 
 Alexander Barlowe 
 Fraunces Holt 
 James Ashton 
 Henry Eccleston 
 Alexander Rigbye 
 James Anderton 
 Barth. Hesketh 
 Lawrence Ireland 
 Thomas Lathome 
 
 John Grenalghe 
 Henry Banest' 
 Nycholas Banest' 
 Thomas Lancaster 
 Rychard Eltonheade 
 Robt. Holt 
 Edward Chaderton 
 Frances Tunstall 
 Willm. Skillicorne 
 Edmund Prestwiche 
 John Singleton 
 Henrye Butler 
 Thomas Brockholes 
 John Massye 
 William Redman 
 Alen Holton 
 Willm. Kirbye 
 William RadclyfFe 
 Edward Worthington 
 Thomas Woofall 
 
 CHAR 
 XIII. 
 
 Upon this declaration, an act of parliament was formed, by which, after reciting Act found- 
 that sundry wicked plots had lately been devised and laid, as well in foreign parts as 
 mthin this realm, to the great endangering of her majesty's royal person, and for the 
 utter ruin and suljversion of the commonwealth, ordained, that if at any time, after 
 the end of the present session of parliament, any open invasion or rebellion should be 
 had or made of her majesty's dominions, or any act attempted leading to the hurt of 
 her majesty's royal person, by or for any person that shall or may pretend title to the 
 crown of this realm, or if any thing be compassed or imagined tending to the hurt of 
 her majesty's royal person, by any person, or with the privity of any person tliat 
 shall or may pretend title to the crown, then, by her majesty's commission uudei' her 
 great seal, the lords and others of her majesty's privy council, and such other lonls of 
 parliament, to be named by her majesty, as Avith the said privy council shall come up 
 to the number of twenty-four at the least, shall, by virtue of this act, have authority 
 to examine all such offences, and thereupon to give sentence or judgment as upon 
 proof shall appear to them meet. 
 
 Mary, queen of Scots, had long been a prisoner in England; and it requii-ed no Maij, 
 sagacity to perceive, that this act was passed specially to bring her and her adherents scou""^ 
 to trial before a new species of tribunal. The occasion was not long wantuig. 
 Babmgton's conspiracy, formed in tlie year 1586, which had for its object to assas-
 
 552 €i)t itstxifj) of tin 
 
 CHAP, sinate Elizabeth, and to elevate Mary to the throne of England, followed so speedily 
 
 L upon the passing of the new act, as to raise the surmise that the plot had been 
 
 ai-ranged to promote the interest of Mary's enemies, rather than to advance her cause. 
 Babington, under the influence of that enthusiastic spirit which at this time existed 
 against the queen of England, not only in the courts of Rome, Madrid, and Paris, 
 but also amongst many of her Catholic subjects, found little difficulty in organizing 
 a band of assassins, animated by the persuasion, that they should render service both 
 to God and man, if success attended their efforts; and confidently assured, that if 
 they failed, and fell victims to the enterprise, a crown of martyi'dom awaited them. 
 At the head of these fanatics stood John Savage, a man of desperate courage, who 
 wished to monopolize the glory of despatching the heretical queen; next in order 
 followed Babington himself, and he had associated with him Barnwel, a man of noble 
 family in Ireland; Cliarnock, a gentleman of Lancashire; and Abington, whose father 
 had been cofferer to the queen's household. Walsingham, the queen's secretaiy, 
 whose vigilance never slept, and who had engaged Maud, a Catholic priest, and 
 a pai'ty in the plot, as his spy, became perfectly acquainted with all the proceedings 
 of the conspirators ; and when the proofs against Mary had sufficiently accumulated, 
 Her trial, she was arraigned and brought to trial, charged Avitli having, with others, compassed 
 I586." the queen's death, and tlie subversion of the established religion of the realm. To the 
 indictment, which was delivered to her by the lord chancellor Bromley, and lord la 
 Warre, she at first declined to plead, allegmg, that she was herself a sovereigni princess 
 in her own right, and that she was not subject to the laws of England, Avhere she had 
 sought an asylum, but liad for years been detained a prisoner. After much hesita- 
 tion, she consented at length to plead, and declared lierself not guilty. Amongst the 
 forty commissioners appointed, under the authority of the great seal, to sit in judgment 
 in this case, were sir Thomas Bromley, (lord chancellor,) the earl of Shrewsbury, the 
 earl of Derby, lord Grey de Wilton, and sir Raljjh Sadler, chancellor of the duchy of 
 Lancaster, witli sir Christopher Wray, the lord chief justice, and four other judges. 
 
 The correspondence of Babington and Mary, carried on in cipher, and proved 
 by her secretaries Nau and Curie, was laid before the commissioners, from Avhich it 
 appeared, that Babington had informed her of the designs laid for a foreign invasion, 
 the plan of an insurrection at home, the scheme for her deliverance, and the conspi- 
 racy for assassinating queen Elizabeth, by " six noble gentlemen," all of them his 
 private friends ; who, from the zeal which they owed to a Catholic church and 
 her majesty's service, would undertake the tragical deed. To this, Mary replied, 
 that she approved highly of the design, that the gentlemen might expect all the 
 rewards which it would be in her power to confer, and that the death of Elizabeth 
 was a necessary circumstance, before any attempts were made either for her own
 
 Countj) ^aalatiuf of aancagUn 553 
 
 deliverance, or lor an insurrection.* It was also proved, that she had allowed chap. 
 cardinal Allen, a native of Lancashire, but long resident in Rome, to treat her as L 
 
 Queen of England, and that she bad kept up a correspondence with lord Paget, for 
 the purpose of inducing the Spaniards to invade this kingdom. It was further 
 proved, tliat cardinal AUen, and Parsons, the Jesuit, had negociated by lier orders, at 
 Rome, the conditions of the transfer of the English crown to the king of Spain, and 
 of disinheriting her heretical son, James VI. of Scotland. 
 
 The trial, as might have been expected, terminated in the conviction of Mary ; Convic- 
 and on sentence of death being passed upon her, the queen of England hesitated 
 long whether to inflict the utmost sentence of the law, or to extend the ro^-al 
 clemency to her unfortunate kinswoman ; but the importxmity of parliament, and 
 probably the queen's own secret inclinations, at length decided that Mary should be 
 executed ; and the earl of Shi'ewsbury, the earl of Kent, the earl of Derby, and the 
 earl of Cumberland, attended by two executioners, were sent down to Fotheringhay, 
 charged with the melancholy duty of seeing the sentence of the law carried into 
 effect. Maiy received the fatal intelligence without dismay, and suffered witli a Execu- 
 degi'ee of heroism which proved that she considered herself rather as a martyr to the Feb. s, 
 holy Catholic religion, than as a traitor to the state. **^^' 
 
 While these ti-ansactions were pending, the alarm of Spanish invasion spread Alarm of 
 through the kingdom ; in a letter from the earl of Derby, as lord-lieutenant of the invasion 
 county of Lancaster, to the deputy-lieutenants, they were warned that advices 
 had been received from sundry parts beyond the seas, of foreign forces assembled to 
 invade this realm, and it was the special command of her majesty, that order should 
 be taken in every part of the county, that the principal inhabitants should furnish 
 themselves, without delay, with armour and weapons, and take cai'e that all theii- 
 tenants and followers be also provided, and in readiness to repel the common enemy. 
 By another despatch from his lordship, of the same date, addressed to the justices of 
 the county, they are charged to provide then- proper quota of horsemen, to be ready at 
 the shortest notice, to resist the invaders. 
 
 At this critical period, it became esseutial that the magistracy of the county The Lan- 
 
 CiisiiirG 
 
 should be sound and well affected ; and although the earl of Derby, in his confiding commis- 
 temper, did not conceive any material change to be necessary, the lord-treasurci", peace new 
 on the suggestion of the Rev. Edward Fleetwood, rector of Wigan, and others, 
 caused a new commission to be issued, in which the names of several fresh magis- 
 trates were introduced, and a considerable number of those who were thought 
 favour-able to the recusants, omitted. Tlie consequence was, that at the summer 
 assize in 1587, no fewer than six hundred recusants were presented on oath, eighty- 
 
 * State Trials, vol. 1. p. 123. 
 VOL, I. 4 B
 
 554 CJk i^tsitxiri) of tht 
 
 CHAP, seven of whom were indicted, and a notification was made of twenty-one vagrant 
 '^'"' priests usually received in Lancasliire, and twenty-five notorious houses of receipt 
 for them.* The puritans, though pursued with rigour, had hecome extremely 
 ohnoxious to the high-church party, and the works against the prelacy, clandestinely 
 issued from the press in IManchester at tliis period, under the assumed name of 
 Martin Marprelate, tended to aggravate the difference, and to excite the 
 animosity of the queen and her court. 
 
 The ambition of Philip, Idng of Spain, and his anxiety again to introduce the 
 Roman Catholic religion into England, liad involved the two countries in active 
 liostility, and preparations had for some time been making, by the Spanish govern- 
 ment, to invade this country. In the midst of these preparations and alanns, tlie 
 queen of England and the king of Spain contemplated the negociation of a peace ; 
 and the earl of Derby, lord Cobham, sir James Croft, and others, were appointed 
 commissioners on the part of England, to meet certain Spanish commissioners at 
 Bourbourg, near Calais. The negociations continued for some time, but without 
 any relaxation on the part of Philip for attack, or of Elizabeth for defence. The 
 The In- haughty Spaniard, having at length become impatient, ordered the " Invincible 
 Armada. Armada," by which presumptuous name his fleet was cUstuiguished, to prepare for 
 sea ; and although Santa Crux, by whom the fleet was commanded, objected to the 
 danger of navigating a narrow and tempestuous sea, without the possession of a 
 single harbour capable of afforcUng shelter ; and the duke of Panna, the commander 
 of the Spanish land-forces, Avished to reduce the port of Flushing previously to the 
 departure of tlie expedition ; their prudent counsel was rejected, as was also the 
 advice of sir William Stanley, who had devoted himself to the Spanish cause, and 
 had sacrificed his patriotism and his integrity by the sale of Deventer, and tlie 
 transfer of its garrison to the enemy.t The preparations of Spain were beyond all 
 former example, and the invading fleet consisted of seventy-two galliasers and gal- 
 lions, forty-seven second-rate sliips of war, and eleven pmnaces, carrying two 
 thousand eight hundred and forty-three pieces of ordnance, eight thousand and 
 ninety-four seamen, and eighteen thousand six hundi-ed ' and fifty-eight soldiers ; 
 Piepara- while the English fleet, by which tliis immense armament was to be resisted, con- 
 England sisted only of thirty-four ships of war, and a numbei- of vessels principally furnished 
 klce.' by opulent individuals and by communities, but by no means equal, in weight or 
 appointment, to those to which they were to be opposed. In this emergency, the 
 queen issued a proclamation to Henry earl of Derby, as lord-lieutenant of the 
 
 * See leUer of Edward Fleetwood, dated 7th September, in. Cotton MSS. 
 t The advice of sir William was to take possession of Ireland, as a preliminary measure for the 
 conquest of England.
 
 tion in 
 ncii- 
 shire. 
 
 Cointtp |3alatinc of 3!.anrast^i-» 555 
 
 county of Lancaster, urging his lordship, and the county over which he presided, hy chap. 
 
 every consideration of social and doin(\stic security, to call forth the uuitcd energies __! L. 
 
 of the county, in common with the country in general, to resist the meditated attack 
 upon the throne and the altars of their country. This proclamation is still pre- 
 served,* and is expressed in the following energetic terms : — 
 
 " By the Queene. 
 
 " Right trustie f welbeloved cozen f counsellour wee greete you well. The 
 
 " Wliereas hertofore vpon the Adutisem" from tyme to Tyme f from sundrie prociama- 
 places of the gTeatte pparatious of foraine forces w"' a full Intencon to invade this Lanca- 
 o'' Realm and other oure dominions, wee gave oure direccons vnto you for the 
 pparmge of o' S'iectC w"'in yo'' Livetenancy to he in readynes f defence againste 
 anie attempt that mighte he made against vs f oure Realm ; w'^'' oure direccons wee 
 fynde soe well pformed, as wee cannot but recejxe great contentm' therby, bothe in 
 respecte of youre carefuU proceedinge therin f also of the greatte willingiies of oure 
 people in genSall to the Accomplishm' of that whervnto they were Required Shewinge 
 therby theire gi-eatte Love f Loyaltie towardes vs, w"'' we Accepte most thankfully 
 at theii'e hands, acknowledginge o'selves Infinitelie l^ounde to almightie god in that 
 it hath pleased him to blesse vs w'" soe lovinge f dutifull subiectes. Soe would wee 
 have you make it knoweii vnto them. For as niuche as we fynde the same Inten- 
 con not only of invadinge but of makinge a conqueste alsoe of this oure Realm, 
 nowe constantlie moore f moore detectedd f confirmed as a matter fully resohcd on 
 (an Armye alreadie beinge putt to the seas for that purpose.) Althoughe wee dowbte not 
 but by godf goodnes the same shall proove frustrate, Avee have therfore thought meete to 
 will f require you furthw"' wi"' as muche convenient speede as you may to call together - 
 at some convenient place or places the beste sorte of gent, nuhr yo' Livetenancie, f to 
 declare vnto them that consid'inge theis gi-eat pparacons f threateuinges nowe burste 
 out in accon vpon the seaes tendinge to a pposed conqueste ; wherein eiiie mans 
 pticuler estate is in the highest degree to beTutched in respecte of cuntrey, Libertie, 
 wyfFe, cliildren, landf, lyffe, and that w"*" is especially to be regarded for the pser- 
 vacon of the true f syncere Religion of Christe, wee doe looke that the moste pte of 
 them should have vjion this instant extraordinarie occacon a lardger proporcon of 
 furniture bothe for horsemen f footemcn, but especially horsemen, then liath bene 
 certlfyed. Therby to be in theire beste strengtlie against anie Attempt whatsoeu, f 
 to be imployed bothe about our owne pson f otherwyse as they shall have knoAvledge 
 geven them. The nuber of w'''' lardger proporcon as soone as you shall knoAve wee 
 
 • Had. MSS. Cod. 1296. fo. 68 b. 
 4b2
 
 556 €\)t ?SlS!tOl1) Of tin 
 
 CHAP, require you to signify to o' privy coiisell. And hervnto as wee doubt not but by yo' 
 
 '— good indeavo" tbey ^Ailbe the rather conformable soe alsoe wee assure o' self that 
 
 almightie god will soe blesse theis theire loyall Hartes borne towardf vs theire lov- 
 inge souaigne C their naturall cuntrey, that all the Attempt? of anie enemyes what- 
 soeu shalbe made voide f fi'ustrate to theire Confusion, youre comfortes and godf 
 highe glorie. Geven vnder oure Signet at oure mauer of Greenewiche the xviij"' of 
 June 1588, in the xxx yeare of o' Raigne. 
 
 " To oure right Trustie and right welbeloued Cozen f Counselloure therle of 
 Derby Livetenate of o'' Coiities of Chest'' f Lane. And in his Absence to o' 
 right trustie C welbeloued the L. Strange." 
 
 Similar proclamations were sent to the lords-lieutenant in all the other shii'es, 
 and the country was animated to a degree of enthusiasm never before witnessed. 
 Lanca- The beacons in every part of the county were ordered by a mandate from Ferdinando, 
 beacons, lord Strange, to be kept in continual readiness; and it appears, from a note of taxa- 
 tion in the archives of the hundred of Salford, that the following charges were made 
 for watching the beacon at Rivington Pike, from the 10th of July to tlie 30th of 
 September, 1588: — 
 
 Manchester divicon 3" 8" x** ob "i Middleton divicon 46' x"* oh "i 
 
 Bolton divicon xl x^ x** ob "^ Sum v" ix' iiij'' 
 
 Amongst the precautionary measures for the defence of the kingdom was one of 
 considerable rigour, which the necessity of the times seemed to suggest. A letter 
 was addressed to the earl of Derby and the other lords-lieutenant of counties, and 
 commissioners of musters, requiring, that because the enemy made his boast that 
 he should have assistance of the Catholic subjects of this land, that all the horses 
 belonging to the recusants should be seized, and committed to the custody of some 
 AveU-affected gentlemen, their neighbours, that tlieir serrices might be used if there 
 should be occasion ; and in the mean time, that they should be kept and maintained 
 at the charge of the owners, to be restored again when the danger was past. This 
 document recommends that cai-e should be taken of the beacons, and tliat persons 
 who spread false rumours and reports should be arrested and committed to prison ; 
 and that assistance should be given to the clergy, whose special province it was to 
 find out a certain number of horse and foot, who were to meet for the guard and 
 defence of her majesty's person, because it might fall out that they should stand in 
 need of men to ride tlieir horses and to wear their armour. 
 
 Amongst other places mentioned for the landing of the invading army was the 
 Pile of Fouldrey, in the county of Lancaster, the place where Martin Swart landed
 
 Countj) |3alatint of Haiirndter. 
 
 557 
 
 with Perldn Wavbeck, in the reign of Henry VII. ; and tlie reason of this conjecture chap. 
 
 was, that it was the hest harbour for kirge shipping in all the western coast of Eng 
 
 land, that the deputy-steward of the Pile was Thomas Preston, a Catholic, and that 
 Dr. Allen, who was born at no great distance, and had infected the inhabitants 
 witii his tenets, was Ukely to cUrect the attention of the Spaniards to this harbour.* 
 
 Tlie magisti-ates, gentry, and freeholders of the county were required to meet 
 lord Strang^ at Preston, on the 13th of July, in order to complete the preparations 
 for the defence of the country j and in the mandate issued by liis lordship, in virtue of 
 orders from the queen, the very significant words are used of " fayle not at youre 
 vttermost peril." By means of these vigorous preparations, a force was collected of 
 one hunch-ed and one thousand and forty men, trained and untrained, in tlie (hfferent 
 divisions of the kingdom, including tlm-teen thousand eight hundred and tliirty-one 
 pioneers, lances, light horse, and petronells, of which Lancashire and Cheshire 
 furnished the foUovving numbers: — 
 
 " An Abstract of the Certificates returned fi-om the Leiuftenants of the able, 
 trayned, and furneshed men, in the seuerall Countis: vpon Letters from the Lordes 
 reduced into bandes vnder Captaines, and howe tliey were sourted, w' weapons in 
 Aprill an° dom 1588:— 
 
 Warre 
 
 1588 I Traind 
 
 Lancastre vn 
 
 I trained 
 
 Men 
 1170 
 
 Cheshire 
 
 Trained 
 
 vn 
 Trained 
 
 2189 
 
 siiott 
 
 700 Cat 
 
 ^ 420 Cat 
 I 39 music 
 
 Corslets 
 
 Bows 
 
 Bills 
 
 300 
 
 80 
 
 20 
 
 Launces 20 
 Light horse 50 
 
 The provisione of thesej-jg ^^^ Certefied 
 2 Counties >z<- 
 
 500 
 
 80 
 
 80 
 
 Launces 30 
 Light horse 50 
 
 " The Abstracte of the nombers of everie sorte of the armed men in the Countis 
 throughe y' Kingdom, taken an" 1588: — 
 
 Countis 
 
 Able men Armed 
 
 Trained 
 
 vntrained 
 
 Pioners 
 
 Launces 
 
 Ligln- 
 liors 
 
 Petronels 
 
 Lanckeshire 
 
 0000 
 
 1170 I 1170 I 0000 I 0000 
 
 64 
 
 265 
 
 000 
 
 Cheshire 
 
 0000 
 
 2189 
 
 2189 
 
 0000 
 
 0000 
 
 020 
 
 050 
 
 091 
 
 * Lansdiwne MSS. Cod. 56. endorsed " touchinge a place called the Pille, in Lancashire, a 
 dangerous place for Landinge."
 
 558 CiK ?^tSitOlJ) Of tfte 
 
 CHAP. In tlie midst of these preparations, the Spanish armada sailed from the Taaus, 
 
 XTII. ... o ' 
 
 — '— and, after encountering A-arious disasters, entered the English channel, and formed 
 
 Sailing in the shape of a crescent, the horns of wliich lay some miles asunder. Tlie sight 
 
 of the T • 1 , • 
 
 armada, was gi'and bejoud conception; hut the events which soon after followed were infinitely 
 
 more gratifying.* The command of the English fleet had been confided to lord 
 
 Howard, of Effingham, the lord high admiral, whose want of naval skill was supplied 
 
 by the earl of Cumberland, and the lords Henry Seymour, Thomas Howard, and 
 
 Edmund Sheffield, Avith sir William Winter, sir Francis Drake, sir Robert Southwell, 
 
 sir John Hawkins, sir Henry Palmer, su- Martin Furbusher, sir George Reeston, 
 
 and others. By this able council, the plan of operations was determined upon ; and 
 
 Arrives in before the Spanish fleet had been two hours arrayed in order of battle, the cannonade 
 
 lish Chan- was Commenced by the English with a spii-it wliich shewed that the determination 
 
 existed to save England, or, if she was to fall, to let her fleet be the fu'st sacrifice. 
 
 A succession of engagements took place, in all of Avhicli, though none of them deci- 
 
 Beaten sive, the advantage was on the side of England, till the finishing blow was given by 
 
 off. a masterly manoeuvre, practised on the 29th of July. On that memorable night, the 
 
 sea on a sudden became illuminated by the appearance of eight vessels in flames, 
 
 drifting rapidly in the direction of the armada, wliich was then moored off" Calais. 
 
 A loud cry of horror burst from the Sj)aniards on the appearance of these engines of 
 
 desti'uction ; and in the midst of the panic they cut their cables, and ran out to sea, 
 
 infUcting upon each other more damage than they had liitherto received from their 
 
 intrepid enemies. The fire-sliips burnt harmlessly on the edge of the beach, but a 
 
 furious gale blowing from the west, the armada was dispersed along the coast from 
 
 Totally Ostend to Calais, and the guns of the British fleet completed what the skill of their 
 
 defeated 
 
 manoeu\Tes and the fury of the elenlents had begun. The want of ammunition com- 
 pelled the English admiral to return to port; otherwise the Spanish fleet would have 
 been anniliilated. The shores of Scotland and Ireland, in Avhich direction the enemy 
 steered, Avere covered AA-ith the AATCcks of their vessels, and streAA^l AA^th the dead 
 bodies of theii* mariners ; and Avhen tlie duke of Medina, the successor of Santa Crux, 
 terminated his unfortunate voyage in the port of St. Andero, he acknoAvledged the 
 loss of thu'ty ships of the largest class, and 10,000 men. 
 
 The English nation was filled Avith exultation by tliis signal deliverance, and 
 most memoi"able victory. The expressions of thankfulness were not confined to the 
 
 * From a manuscript in the Harleian Coll. Cod. 286, it would appear that the first notice of the 
 sailing of the armada from Spain was communicated to the government by Homfrstye Brooke, a Liver- 
 pool merchant; but the dates do not correspond with the official details, and we are unable to 
 reconcile them. The document, however, is curious, and as such will be inserted in the West Derby 
 Hundred history, under the head of Liverpool.
 
 Couuti> ^3nlatinc of aanrastfr. 559 
 
 heroes by whom it was acliieved, but rose to tliat Being, without whose providential chap. 
 
 xiu. 
 
 aid all their efforts must have been in vain. Tlie nation, wisliing to bear in pei-pe- 
 tual memory " this signal deliverance from the malice, force, and cruelty of their Thanks- 
 enemies," celebrated a general thanksgiving by royal proclamation, which was Lanca- 
 announced to the county of Lancaster by the earl of Derby in the following terras : — victory. 
 
 " After my verie hartie coiiiendacons. Whereas I am creadiblie Infounned isss*. 
 that it hathe pleased god to contynue liis goodnes towardf our pryncc, Churche, f Thank«- 
 Cunti'ey as in the late outhrowe of o' Enemies taken vpon the costf of Irelande yt <iefeat 
 may appeare by this Calender herindosed. I have thought it expediente in rcspecte Spanish 
 of Christiane dutie we should fall to some godlie exercyse of thanks gevinge for the 
 same by prayer f preacliinge. Willinge you so to comende the busynes to the 
 clergie of youre hundi-ethe in theire seuall chardges, as cure god by mvtuall consente 
 may be praysed therefore. And tliis not to be omitted nor delayed in anie ^vyse, but 
 to be putt in Execucon att or before the next Sabotbe. And thus des}Tinge god to 
 blesse her ma"° w"' longe Lyffe f contynuall \'ictorie ou all her Enemyes bidde yo" 
 farewell. Lathome my howse this xxiiij"' of September, 1588. 
 
 " Yours assuredlye, 
 
 " H. Derby. 
 
 " To my verie lovinge frendes S' John Byron knighte one of ray deputy Live- 
 tenJtf for Lancasliire And to the reste of the Justicf of peace." 
 
 [Here follows a list of the " Shippes f men sunke t drowned lulled f taken, 
 vpou the coaste of Irelande," on the side of the Spaniards.] 
 
 Harl MSS. Cod. 1296./o. 88. 
 
 Although the pope, Sextus V. had fulminated a new bull of excoramunication Fidelity 
 against Elizabeth, absolving her subjects from their allegiance, and had published catholics. 
 a crusade against England, with pecuniary indulgences to any one that engaged in 
 the invasion; and although Dr. Allen had received a cardinal's cap, to qualify him as 
 legate to England, yet the Catholic subjects of the queen, both in this and other 
 counties, remained faithful to their allegiance, and were amongst the most active in 
 equipping ships, and placing them under protestant commanders to repel tlie 
 invaders.* Amongst a number of others, sir Thomas Gerrard, sir Thomas Vavasour, 
 and sir Charles Blount, distinguished themselves by their zealous and disinterested 
 service in their country's cause. 
 
 In Ireland the war seemed interminable, and lience, in the following year, an 
 order was issued, through sir Richard Sherburne and sir .Tohn Byron, to the magis- 
 
 * Stowe's Ann. p. 747.
 
 560 €i)t S}l£itl3r|) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, trates of Lancashire, requiring them to levy another hundred soldiers in addition to 
 
 xui. 
 
 those before sent, to proceed to Ireland, properly furnished and equipped, to assemble 
 Fresh at Cliorley, and to proceed from thence to their destination. In a subsequent letter, 
 Lanca-" the gentry and principal freeholders of the county are advertised, that all the demi- 
 ireiand!^ lauccs and light horse ^ntliiu the respective hundreds, are to appear before the lord- 
 lieutenant for liis inspection; which mandate awards to each the number he is to 
 furnish. It appears, that in the former year the inspection did not take place, and 
 the earl of Derby, in a communication of the 1 9th of February, notifies that it is the 
 queen's pleasure that they should be furnished and equipped, and ready at one hour's 
 warning, and that the money assessed for the le^des should be paid into the hands of 
 liis receiver, Richard Holland, esq. at his bouse at Heaton. 
 Memoia- The dominion of the law was at this time so little regarded in the county of 
 
 Lancaster, that the baron of Newton assembled on Sunday evening his tenants and 
 retainers, to the number of eighty, in fi-ont of the house of Mr. Hoghton, of Lea, in 
 the parish of Preston, and challenged him to combat, ostensibly, because he had 
 impounded a number of cattle belonging to the widow Singleton, but really to avenge 
 an ancient feud. Finding himself menaced in liis own mansion, he saUied forth at 
 the head of a band of thirty men, when a regular engagement ensued, in which 
 Mr. Hoghton and Richard Bawdwen, one of Ms followers, were left dead on the field. 
 The eai'l of Derby, as lord-lieutenant of the county, to vindicate his authority, caused 
 a watch to be instituted day and night, that the offenders might be detected, and 
 brought to justice ; and a species of magisterial assize was appointed to be held at 
 Preston, to inquire into the ciixumstances of the riot and murders. The magistrates 
 could only pursue one course, and that was, to dii'ect that all the parties engaged in 
 the homicides should be indicted at the ensuing assizes, on a charge of wilful murder. 
 The earl of Derby, foreseeing the consequences that Avould ensue, addressed an 
 earnest petition to lord Burghley, the queen's high-treasurer, beseeching liis lordsliip 
 to use liis influence to obtain a pardon from the queen, as very many of the ruder 
 sort engaged in the riot could not read, and, being unable to take the benefit of 
 clergy, must lose their lives; while those who were of more distinction must be 
 burnt in the hand, and thereby a dangerous quarrel would arise amongst the gentle- 
 men of the county, of an extent and duration that would involve the most serious 
 consequences. Tliis application, which was accompanied by a petition from forty- 
 seven of the offenders for the queen's pardon, and was supported by a petition from 
 the widow of Mr. Hoghton, seems so fai* to have prevailed, that the murder was 
 compromised, by the heir of the deceased gentleman receiving from the piincipal 
 offender, as a compensation for his father's death, the valuable estate and manor of 
 Walton-le-Dale, the future scene of one of Cromwell's most splenchd ^-ictories. Some
 
 Coimti) |3alatinc of ilaiuasur, 561 
 
 documents on this subject, characteristic of the tuues of Elizabeth, will be found in ch.vp. 
 theii" proper place in the Huncked History. L 
 
 In the preceding century, a less fatal but more licentious outrage was perpetrated Rape and 
 upon one of the principal families of Lancasliii-e : " On the Monday next after the 
 feast of St. James the Apostle," as the ofBcial documents express it, William Pullc, use. 
 of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, and of Wyrall, in the county of Chester, 
 gentleman, with a gi-eat number of others, repaired to the house of Isabell, tlie widow 
 of sir John Boteler, of Bewsey, and feloniously and most horribly ravished the said 
 widow, and carried her off hi a state of nudity, except " her kirtyll [petticoat] and 
 her Smokke," into the wild and desolate part of Wales, for which offence he was 
 indicted at Lancaster ; but of tins also more in its proper place. 
 
 The loyal conduct of the Catholics, when this country was menaced \\ith invasion, Persecu- 
 
 . . , . . ''ons of 
 
 did not stay the persecutions to which tliey were exposed; a commission under the the Catho- 
 lics. 
 great seal of England was issued, for the apprehension and discovery of seminary 
 
 priests and Jesuits, and for reducing the recusants to conformity. To give effect to isoi. 
 tliis commission, the churchwardens in the various parishes of Lancasliire were 
 requii'ed to meet the magistrates, and to bring with them lists in writing, containing 
 the Christian and surnames of all the householders in their respective parishes, both 
 men and women, with all theii- inmates above the age of sixteen yeai's, certifying 
 whether they repaired to the church to hear divine service, that, in case of neglect, 
 they might be dealt with accordingly. The rigorous proceedings against the Catholics, 
 not in this county only, but in the country generally, may be inferred fi-om the facts 
 mentioned by Challouer, who states, that for the vague oflences of harbouring priests, 
 or of receiving orchnation beyond the seas, or of admitting the supremacy of the 
 pope, and denying that of the queen, sixty-one priests, forty-seven laymen, and two 
 gentlewomen, suffered capital punislunents, by laws recently enacted, and unkiio\vn 
 to the ancient constitution of the country; and that in one night fifty Catliolic gentle- 
 men, in the county of Lancaster, were suddenly seized and committed to prison, on 
 account of the non-attendance at church. As a test of their fidelity to the reformed Test of the 
 faith, all the justices of the peace were required openly and publicly to take the oath t?at^es. 
 of supremacy in special sessions, and an order from the lords of the queen's council, 
 of the date of the 22d of October, 1592, addressed — 
 
 " To our verie Loraige frendf the highe Sheriffe f Custos Rotuloru of the 
 " Countie of Lancaster S' John Byron f S' Edward Fytton knightes, 
 " Richard A.sheton Richard Brereton f Richard Hollande esquier f to euie 
 " of them;"* 
 
 * Had. MSS. Cod. 1926. fo. 109 a. 
 VOL. I. 4 c
 
 562 €i)t ?§igtorj) of tfte 
 
 CHAP, directs that sessions of the peace shall be holden before the 20th day of November 
 
 . '__ next, at the accustomed places in the county, at Aviiicli every justice of the peace 
 
 present shall take the said oath, and that any person having hitherto filled that 
 office, who shall refuse or forbear to take the oath, shall be removed out of the com- 
 mission of the peace; or any justice of the peace, who does not repau- to the church 
 or chapel where the common prayer is used, or whose wife, liA-iug with her husband, 
 or son and heii-, living in liis father's house, or Avitliin the county where his father 
 dwells, refuses or does not usually go to church, tlie husband or father of such 
 recusant shall cease to exercise the office of justice of the peace during the time of 
 such recusancy. The high-sheriff and other persons named in the writ of Dedimus 
 Poiestatem are themselves first required to take the oath, and then to administer it 
 to the justices, saving that the lords of pai'liament are excepted, 
 x^eisecu- The puritaus, at least that pail of them called Browiiists, who deemed every 
 
 PuHtaas." specics of commuuiou with the established church unchristian, fai-ed little better 
 than the Catholics : five of them were aiTaigned in the year 1 593, on a chai'ge of 
 writing and publishing seditious libels; and though the publishers were spared, 
 Barrow and Greenwood, the writers, were condemned and executed, uotwithstauchng 
 then* plea, that the obnoxious passages were directed against the bishops, and not 
 against the queen. Penny, the " Martin Marprelate" of Manchester, was sen- 
 tenced to death, on a pretence that a number of papers, containing disjointed 
 sentences, intended as a petition to the queen, were treasonable ; and, to prevent the 
 populace from interposing any obstacles in the way of his execution, he was sud- 
 denly taken fi-om prison, and hanged at the door of sir Thomas Waterings. 
 
 The alarm of Spanish invasion was re\-ived in 1593, and the queen adckessed a 
 letter to the earl of Derby, as lord-lieutenant of the palatine counties of Lancaster 
 and Chester, announcing, that troubles had been stii-red up in Ireland, and that it 
 had come to the knowledge of her majesty's council, that certain Spanish ships of 
 war were to be sent, by the way of Scotland, to aid the insurgents in that country. 
 Spanish To repel this invasion, levies were to be made in the different counties of the king- 
 landed dom, and the comities of Lancaster and Chester were each requii-ed to furnish one 
 
 Ireland. 
 
 there. 
 
 Imndi-ed and thirty-eight able men, properly equipped, to proceed to Liverpool, or 
 Chester, to be embarked in that service. To enforce this order, a letter was 
 addressed by the earl of Derby to sir Richard Shirburn, knt., Richard Hollande, 
 esq., and the other deputy-Lieutenants of the county, in which his lordship was 
 Lanca- pleased to state, " that her majesty in her princely wisdom, having resolved, by 
 tierfor. God's assistance, to withstand and suppress tliis wicked force treacherously brought 
 against her highnesses most excellent and godly government," requh-ed that con- 
 sultation might be had, and the utmost promptitude used, in carrving the measures
 
 Countp IJalatine of aancasfttr. 563 
 
 into effect. A subsequent letter from liis lordsliip, dated on the 14tli of June in the chap. 
 
 same year, represents, tliat " general greffe and mislyke" lia\e l)ecn conceived in 
 
 the county, and not Avithout good cause, if he is rightly informed, from tlie manner 
 in which the county has been assessed for the Irish service. In consequence of 
 tliese alleged malversations the magistrates for the hundred of Salford were required 
 to assemble at Manchester, and to make out an account of the sums of money which 
 had been collected in theii- respective jurisdictions for this service, during the last 
 eight years, in order that justice might be done to the county. From tlie nature of 
 tliis official coiTespondence, it should appear, that the alai'm of invasion soon subsided, 
 for in tlie mouth of September in the same year, the lords of the council directed, that 
 the beacon-watches should be chscontinued, and that the inhabitants of the count}- of 
 Lancaster should forthwith be discharged fi'om the necessity of contributing to tliis 
 service. 
 
 At this period of our history, the liospitals of Chelsea and Chatham did not exist, Provision 
 
 ^ . . ^^^ pen- 
 
 neitlier tlid the chests out of which disabled soldiers and mariners, who have served sioners. 
 tlieir country, are relieved ; but unfortunate persons of this description, when they 
 were discharged from the public service, received a certificate, addressed to the 
 justices of the peace, in the counties where they were born, or had been impressed' 
 recommending them to the liumane consideration of the churchwardens and consta- 
 bles. Tliese certificates were given by men high in office, and, amongst others, we 
 find one signed by no fewer than nine members of her majesty's council, in favour 
 of Nicholas Whittacre, a poor soldier, ha\ing done good service, and bearing office 
 as a lieutenant in her majesty's wars, directing, that he might receive such benefit 
 from the general collections of the county of Lancaster, wliere he was horn, or 
 impressed, as was given to others of the same description. 
 
 An event which agitated the county of Lancaster — " the superstitious county of Popular 
 Lancaster" — in the most extraorchnary manner, happened to the head of its principal tion. * 
 family soon after, in the death of Henry earl of Derby. His son and successor, 
 Ferdinando, was seized " in the flower of his youth," vnth a violent sickness, at 
 Kuowsley, in the month of April, wliicli was attributed to witchcraft, botli by himself 
 and his attendants, and of which he died at Lathoni House, twelve days afterwards ; 
 but the documents upon this subject appertain rather to the history of the Stanley 
 famil)', and must be reserved for that portion of our work. 
 
 It appears that tliis country was visited, in the years 1595 and 1596, by a severe Famine, 
 dearth, amounting almost to famine, owing to a succession of unfavourable seasons. 
 In the following year, the lords of the council issued a letter to the justices of the 
 peace in the county of Lancaster, congratulating them on the return of plenty ; but 
 at the same time, directing them to cause diligent inquisition to be made in all the 
 
 4 c 2
 
 564 
 
 Wi)t ?l?is(tori) of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 The 
 
 queen's 
 
 expenses. 
 
 di^'isions of their county, for such persons as kept up the price of pro-vdsions, by 
 buying or bai-gaiuiug for corn or other victuals, except in open mai-ket, or for their 
 private use, and clii-ecting that they should apprehend all engi-ossers, and compel 
 them to revoke their bargains. 
 
 In the list of queen Elizabeth's annual expenses, cinl and military, in the year 
 1598, the following items occur : — 
 
 County 
 
 and 
 
 duchy. 
 
 Subjuga- 
 tion of 
 Ireland. 
 
 The Countie Palatine of Lancaster. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 Chamberlaine ; fee ... 20 
 
 Clark of the crown ; fee . . 40 
 And his dyet when he rydes 
 
 esteemed ..... 40 
 
 Clark of the pleas ; fee . . 40 
 
 Clark of the extreats ; fee . 20 
 Barons of the exchequer, 2; 
 
 fee apeece 40 
 
 Attorney j fee 6 13 4 
 
 Messenger ; fee ... . 200 
 
 And his ryding expences 
 
 Cryerjfee 2 
 
 The Duchie of Lancaster. 
 
 £. s. 
 Chancellor ; fee and allowance 
 of £4, for paper, parchment, 
 
 and ynck 142 10 
 
 Surveior; fee . . . . 66 13 
 
 Attorney ; fee and allowance 45 
 Receaver general; fee and 
 
 allowance . . . . 38 10 
 
 Clarke in the court of the du- 
 chie; fee and allowance . 27 10 
 Messenger; fee and liis charges 
 
 when he rydeth ... 40 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 The munerous levies that had been made for the queen's service in Ireland, 
 enabled the English general, Mountjoy, to effect the subjugation of that country, 
 though the rebels, so called, were aided by au invading army of six thousand 
 Spaniards. But the long and eventful reign of Elizabeth now drew to a close. The 
 queen, in the midst of all her splendour and success, fell into a state of irrecoverable 
 melancholy, and died in the seventieth year of her age, having bequeathed her 
 crown to her lawful successor, James the Sixth of Scotland, the eldest son of the 
 unfortunate Mary queen of Scots. 
 
 Immediately on the death of the queen, a letter was addi-essed by the lords of the 
 Eikabeth. council to the sheriff of Lancaster, (and the other sheriffs,) announcing, that " As 
 much as it has pleased God to take out of this life to his mercy our dearly beloved 
 sovereign queen Elizabeth, it has become necessary for the maintenance of the 
 safety of the realm, forthwith to proclaim James VI. king of Scotland, and now 
 James I. king of England, France, and Ireland." For this purpose, their lordships 
 had sent a proclamation, which the sheriff was requii'ed to publish in his county of 
 Lancaster, and which proclamation announced, that tlie imperial crown had, by the 
 
 Death of
 
 Coimtp ^3alatinc of aautastfr. 565 
 
 death of the high and mighty princess Elizabeth, descended on the high and mighty chap. 
 
 prince James, lineally and lawfiUly descended from the body of Margaret, daughter _J !_. 
 
 of the high and renowned prince Henry VII., king of England, liis gTeat- 
 gi-andfather, the said lady Margaret being the daughter of Elizabeth, daughter of 
 king Edward IV., by which happy conjunction, both the houses of York and Lan- 
 caster were united, to the joy unspeakable of this Idngdom, fonnerly rent and torn 
 by the large dissension of bloody and civil wars. 
 
 This proclamation met with a prompt, loyal, and dutiful response from the 
 principal gentry of the county of Lancaster, expressed in the following terms : — 
 
 " To the most highe f mightye prince James kinge of Scotland the Sixt Address 
 f of England Fraunce f Ireland the first our most gracious f dreede shire gen- 
 
 gT 1 * ''■y '" her 
 
 aigne Lord.* successor, 
 
 James I. 
 
 " Albeyt most gracious souraigne lord. That the Loyall bond of om- Allegeance 
 to your Ma'^'^ cannot receyve force from our Testimonye or approbacon But remayn- 
 eth in yt selfe firme f inviolable as dependinge in regard of your hyghnes vndoubted 
 right to be oiu' true f lawfull souragne imedyatlye vpon godf holye ordinance whoe 
 established the right of priucf in theyr Crownes f kingdoms for soe muclie yet as 
 the vmble acknowledgement of dutye ys some tymes thought not the gi'eatest yet not 
 the least grateful pte of dutye yt selfe and ys vpon soe just occacon as oportuiiitye 
 nowe ofFereth neyther improper nor vndewe Wee therefore yo' most vmble subiectes 
 w"'in the Countye Palleutye of Lancaster have out of the abundance of our Lovall 
 resolved hartf psumed to Comend hereby to your most gi-acious acceptance this 
 vmble Testimonye f acknowledgement of our Loyall dutyes f Allegeance Tliat 
 wheras the almightye god hayth to the manifold good f blessiuge of tliis our Nation 
 vowchesaved by knowne Course of Lyneall f lawfull discent to calle your Ma'" to 
 the kingly e governement of thes most noble Realmes of England Fraunce t Ireland 
 w"' open pclamacons f geniall applaus througheout our whole Countye wee doe 
 hereby ptest for our selves f oures That during-e our natural! lyves wee wUl f)forme 
 layth € obedience to your Ma'^^ as to our knowne vndoubted rightfuU souaigne, f be 
 eumore redye thoughe w"' the hazard of our estaytf f expence of our dearest blood 
 as well to ptect f defend you ma'" most Royall pson As also to w"'stand resist t 
 pursue to death all such as hereafter att any tyme shall interrupt impugne or gayne 
 saye your ma'" most just f and lawfull dame to the Impiall Crownes f (Ugiiityes of 
 thes afforsayd Realmes To the pformance whereof wee doe all of \s hereby joyntlye 
 conteste in the psence of our gi-eat god f in Testimonye of tliis our solemne act have 
 
 * Had. MSS. Cod. 2219. fo. 95 b.
 
 566 
 
 €l)t M&tov^ of tl)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 subscrybed thes psentes w"' our liandf the faithfull witnesses of our resolved hartf , 
 f psumed to put the same to your highnes by Artliure Aston your ina'" Svant w"' 
 our hvmble requeste in belialfe of the rest of the Inliabitantes of our Countye That 
 yo' highnes would vowchesafe gi'aciouslye to receyve by him the excuse of theyr nowe 
 absence and not subscrybinge. Given att Wigau the last of Marche in the first 
 yere of your gracious most happye reigne 
 
 " Your Ma"' most hvmble f Loyall subiectf 
 
 " John Ireland Vic 
 S' Rychard Mollineuxe 
 S' Rychard Hoghton 
 S"^ Cuthbert Halsall 
 S' Edward WaiTen 
 S' John Radclyffe 
 Tliomas Preston 
 Fraunces Tunstall 
 Randle Barton 
 Rychard Holland 
 Thomas Sothworth 
 Jolm Osbadelston 
 WiUm Thorneborrowe 
 George Preston 
 Edward Tarbucke 
 Alexander Standishe 
 James Ashton 
 John Middleton of Leyton 
 Willm Farrington 
 Rofet Dalton de Thurnam 
 Robt Dalton of Pillinge 
 Roger Bradshawe 
 Roger Nowell 
 Nycholas Banister 
 Myles GeiTard 
 Edwai-d Stanley 
 Barnabie Kitcliin 
 
 S" Nycholas Mosseley 
 
 Thomas Walmysley 
 
 Thomas Gerrard 
 
 Thomas Langton 
 
 John Townley 
 
 Richard Sherburne 
 
 James Anderton of Los- 
 tocke 
 
 James Anderton of Clay- 
 ton 
 
 Rofet Charnocke 
 
 Thomas Ashton 
 
 Rychai-d Fleetwood 
 
 Henrye Banister 
 
 Roger Kiikbye 
 
 Christopher Cams 
 
 John Cansfild 
 
 John Calvert 
 
 Edmund Fleetwood 
 
 Edward Rawstorne 
 
 Wiftm Hvlton 
 
 James Browne 
 
 Alexander Barlowe 
 
 John Greenhaughe 
 
 Alexander Reddishe 
 
 Edmund Hop wood 
 
 John BradcUll 
 
 Thomas Barton 
 James Westbye 
 John Massy e 
 Edward NoiTes 
 Richard Ashton 
 Rychard Bold 
 Raufe Ashton 
 Robt Hesketh 
 Edward Standishe 
 John Traves 
 Henry Butler 
 Edward Rigbie 
 Edward Langtrie 
 Robt More 
 Thomas Tildisley 
 Thomas Ireland 
 Alexander Standishe 
 Roger Downes 
 John Crosse 
 John Wrightington 
 Robt PiUiiugton 
 Thomas Gidlow 
 Wiftm Chorley 
 Rychard Ashton 
 Wittm Clayton 
 Roger Bradshawe 
 Winstanley."
 
 County ^aalatint of ilancaeiUr. 
 
 567 
 
 Cftap. ^'iv. 
 
 Ancient manners and customs of the county.-The chase.-Archery.-Dress.-Buildmgs.-Food.- 
 Coaches.— Progress of improvement. — Sports and pastimes.— The arts.— The laws.— Kmg 
 James's first progress.— Lancashire knights.— The plague.— The Gunpowder plot.— Letter to 
 lord Monteagle.— Cecil's account of the discovery.— Fate of the conspirators.— New dignity of 
 inheritance.— Lancashire baronets.— Lancashire witches.— Dr. Dee's petition .-Seer Edward Kel- 
 ley the necromancer.— History of Lancashire witchcraft. -Duchess of Gloucester.-The Stanley 
 fam'ily— Satanic possession. -Case of seven demoniacs in Mr. Starkie's family at Cleworth.- 
 Disposses.sed.— The conjurer hanged.— King James's daemonologie.- Witches of Pendle Forest.— 
 Their trial.-Fate.~Salmesbury witches.— Acquitted.— Second batch of Pendle Forest witches. 
 —The witch-finder's deposition.— Proved to be an impostor.— Examination of the Lancashire 
 witches before the king in council. -Deposition of Ann Johnson, one of the reputed witches.- 
 On the belief in witchcraft.-Case of a Lancashire witch in Worcestershire.-R.chard Dugdale, 
 the Lancashire demoniac.-His possession.-Dispossession .-Witchcraft exploded.-Progress of 
 kin.^ James through Lancashire.-Sunday sports.-The Book of Sports.-Further honours con- 
 ferred on Lancashire men.-Letter from king James to sir Richard Hoghton, with autograph.- 
 Letter from the king's council to the earl of Derby, lord-lieutenant of Lancashire and Cheshire. 
 
 UEEN ELIZABETH was no sooner consigned to <';^\af 
 
 the tomb of her royal progenitors, than her successor, 
 
 James I., entered upon liis progi-ess from Edinburgh, Andem 
 by way of York, to London. But, having now arrived a^i^cus- 
 at times comparatively modern, Ave shall pause, to take 
 a short retrospective view of the ancient manners and 
 customs of the people of Lancashire, and in some 
 degi-ee of the kingdom in general, which; on beuig 
 collated with the customs and manners of modern 
 times, will often afford instructive lessons, and exhibit 
 by turns striking contrasts and close resemblances. 
 
 From the tune of the Norman conquest, the inhabitants of the county of Lancas- 
 ter have been much addicted to the chase. The extent of their forests has attached 
 them to tliis pursuit ; and their skill in archery, for which they have been famed, 
 both in war and in their sports,* had given them a taste for the chase, which cUs- 
 
 * See chap. vii. 
 
 The 
 chase.
 
 568 Clje f^istoii) of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, played itself as early as the reign of king John, and was at its height in the reigu of 
 
 _J ;_ Henry VIII. The laurels gained on the field of Flodden by tJie levies under sii- 
 
 Edward Stanley, were principally owing to their dexterity in the use of the bow and 
 thebUl* . 
 
 Archery. According to Holinshed, the skill of the archers must have been in great 
 
 request, for, says he, " the whole countie of Lancaster hath beene forrest hereto- 
 fore ;" but tliis is an error of the venerable clu'onicler, as is shewn with sufficient 
 clearness, by the Domesday survey of William the conqueror.f It is true, that when 
 the Lacies, and the successors of 'the ducal house of Lancaster, sported over their 
 vast domain, from the castle of Clitheroe to the castle of Pontefract, the right of 
 fi'ee-warren was exercised over all the intervening country without control ; but it 
 is also true, that the track was studded with towns and villages, more nmnerous 
 even in the days of John of Gaunt than in the reign of Henry VIILJ 
 
 Hospita- The nobles of Lancasliire, in their baronial halls, were distinguished for the 
 
 ancient munificence ; and the successive barons, earls, and dukes of Lancaster, set 
 the example, for which Edward, earl of Derby, the model of hospitality, was cele- 
 brated. The knights, the gentry, and the yeomen, each in their station, were also 
 famed for their hospitality and manly exercises ; and Ctunden, speaking of the 
 Lancasliire men generally, without distinction of rank, says — " You may determine 
 the goodness of the country by the temperament of the inhabitants, who are extremely 
 comely."^ 
 
 Dress. The dress of the ladies in the time of the Ferrers, first earls of Derby, is 
 
 described as at once simple and graceful; they were clothed in modest, elegant habits, 
 consisting of a loose gown girdled round the waist, wliich reached to the gi'ound, and 
 was surmounted with a veil over the head ; the unmarried ladies were distinguished 
 by an additional robe over the gown, wliich hung down before, and resembled the 
 
 * Chap. xii. The English chiefly depended upon the force of their infantry, and the bravery 
 and expertness of the archers, which was as much relied upon in our ancient warfare, as is the 
 charge in modern British tactics. The archers were protected by body armour, the arms being left 
 perfectly free ; except when they wore a brigandine of mail, which came before them like an apron ; 
 their arms were, a long bow, a sheaf of arrows, a sword, and a small shield. The bill-men, so called 
 from their weapon, which resembled a small bill, or hooked axe, were sometimes armed in brigandines 
 of mail, but at other times they were scarcely protected at all by armour. 
 
 t See the Domesday Map of Lancashire. 
 
 I Description of England in the reign of Elizabeth, written by Wm. Harrison, and affixed to 
 Holinshed's Chronicles, new edit. p. 324. See also chap. vii. p. 268, of this work. 
 
 § Britannica, iii. 377.
 
 Coimtj) ^Jalatine of iLanrnistfr. 56y 
 
 sacerdotal robe. The di'ess of the men of the liighcr order was a flomng robe ; chap. 
 and the common people wore a kind of tunic girt round the loins, which seldom ^'^' 
 reached lower than to the knees. Nothing could be more vain and ridiculous than 
 the fashions which prevailed in the reign of the last sovereign of the Lancaster line, 
 and which seemed to combine all the fantastical costumes of former reigns. In the 
 reign of Henry VII. there was an affectation of feminine attire in the men, and 
 the lord chamberlain is described in the book of Kervjnige, as sayino-, — " warme 
 your soverayne hys petycote, his doublet, and Ids stomachere ; and then put on hys 
 hosen, and then his schone or slyppers, then stryke up his hosen manuerlve, and 
 tye them up, then lace his doublet hole by hole," &c. Of the garbs of the priests 
 just before the Protestant reformation, Harrison, an author of great fidelity, who 
 wrote iu that century, says, — " that they went either in diverse colors like plaiers, 
 or in gai-ments of light hew, as yellow, red, greene, &c., with theii* shoes piked, 
 their haire crisped, their gu'dles armed with silver ; their shooes, spun-es, bridles, 
 &c., buckled with like mettall ; then- apparell (for the most part) of sUke, and 
 richlie fun-ed, their cappes laced and buttoned with gold ; so that to meet a priest 
 in those dales, was to beholde a peacocke that spreadeth his taile when he danseth 
 before the lienne." These clerical beaux must have been the dignitaries of the 
 church, and not the inferior clergy of the county of Lancaster, who are described by 
 archbishop Lee, as in the possession of benefices not yielding them more than four 
 guineas per annum.* In the reign of Elizabeth, the dress of the clergy was more 
 becoming their sacred order, and the showy colours, the " piked" shoes, and the 
 glittering girdles were discarded. The head-ckess of the laity was as various as the 
 cut of theii- beai'ds, " which were some times shaven from the chin lilve tliose of Turks, 
 some times cut short like the beard of marques Otto, sometimes made round like a 
 rubbing brush, other with a pique clevant ; and now and then suffered to grow long.'' 
 As the men imitated the fashions of the women, so did the women imitate the 
 faslllbns of the men, to a degree offensive ahlie to good taste and to modesty ; and 
 Harrison, in describing the ladies of the ton in his days, says, " thus it is now come 
 to pass, that women are become men, and men are transformed into monsters." Randle 
 Holme, one of our county collectors, says, that, about the fortieth year of Elizabeth, 
 the old fashions, wliicli were used in the beginning of lier reign, were again revived 
 mth some few additions made thereto, as guises, double ruffs, &c.; the men likewise, 
 besides the double use of the cloak, had a certain kind of loose hanging garment, 
 called a mandeville, much like to our old jackets or jumps, but witliout sleeves, only 
 having holes to put the arms through; yet some were made with sleeves, but for no 
 other use than to hang on the back. Early in the reign of Elizabeth, the weaiing of 
 
 * See chap. xii. p. 466, note. 
 
 VOL. r. 4 D
 
 570 ClK i^lStXHl? Of tl)t 
 
 CHAP, o-reat breeches Avas carried to a Aery absurd and ridiculous length, together Avith the 
 ^^^" peas-cod doublets, as they Avere called. These sloops, or breeches, or trunk hose, it 
 Avas theii- custom to stuff Avith rags, or such like materials, till they brought them to 
 an enormous size; so enormous, that it Avas deemed necessary to legislate for their 
 regulation. The legislators themselves, hoAvever, seem to liaA-e fallen into the same 
 absurdity; for in the Harleian Collection, No. 980, a paper is preserved, from Avhich 
 it appears, that in the reign of EHzabeth a scaffold A\'as erected round the inside of 
 the house of counnons, for those members to sit in, Avho used the wearing of great 
 breeches stuffed Avith hair, and bulging out like Avoolsacks. Bulver, in his pedigree 
 of the " English Gallant," speaks of a man, Avhom the judges accused of Aveariug 
 breeches contrary to the laAv, AVJien he, for bis excuse, cU-oav out of Ins sloops the 
 contents — " as, first, a pair of sheets, tAVO table-cloths, ten napldns, four sliii-ts, a brush, 
 a glass, a comb, Avith night-caps," and other useful articles. The ladies, that they 
 might not be outdone in gi-otesqueness of attire, invented the large hoop fartliingales, 
 as a companion to the trunk hose, and the Avomen Avho could not purchase these 
 expensive commodities supplied their place Avith bum-rolls. 
 
 The description of a fine lady's di-ess in the tune of queen Elizabeth, as breathed 
 in the Avishes of Miss Margaret Hardman, AA-liile she Avas under the influence of 
 possession, (apparently by a spirit of pride,) in the house of Mr. Nicholas Starkie, of 
 Leigh, in the county of Lancaster, is too graphical to be Avithheld : " Come on, my 
 lad, said she, for so she called her familiar — come on, and set my partlett on the one 
 side, as I do the other. I AAill have a fine smock of silk, Avith a silk petticoat garded 
 a foot high; it shall be laid Avith good lace, it shall have a French body, not of A\'hale- 
 bone, for that is not stiff enough, but of borne, for that aa-UI hold it out ; it shall come 
 loAV before, to keep in my belly. I Avill have a French farthingale; I Avill haA'e it Ioav 
 before and high behind, and broad on either side, that I may lay my arms upon it. 
 My goAvn shall be black Avrought velvet ; I avtII have my sleeves set out Avith Avire, 
 for sticks Avill break, and are not stiff enough. I Avill have my pereAAincke so fine; I 
 Avill have my cap of black velvet A\ith a feather in it A\ith fleAves of gold, and my hair 
 shall be set Avith pearis. I Avill have a busk of Avhalebone; it shall be tied Avith tAvo 
 silk points; and I Avill have a draAven Avrought stomacher embossed Avith gold, and a 
 girdle of gold. I Avill have my hose of orange colour, this is in request; and my cork 
 shoes of red Spanish leather. I aaHI haA-e a scaif of red silk, Avith a gold lace about 
 the edge. I Avill have a fan Avith a silver steel, and a glass set in it. Bring me a 
 pair of gloves of the finest leather that may be, AA-ith tAVO gold laces about the thumb, 
 and a fringe on the top, Avith flewes and red silk underneath, tliat I may draAv them 
 through a gold ring, or else I Avill have none of them."* 
 
 * Tract of the Rev. Geo. More, published in 1600.
 
 Coimtj) palatinf of aanraetrr, 571 
 
 When Idug James came to the crown, most of the old fasliions used in the days chap. 
 
 of Elizaheth were again reWved, and the large breeches, with the hoop farthingales 
 amongst the rest, came once more into fashion. Expensive garters and curious shoe 
 roses were worn very generally, and the ladies kept pace with the other sex in costly 
 ornaments. In the comedy of the " City Madam," a lady says, " these roses would 
 shew well, an 'twere the fashion for the garters to be seen." But of all the ridiculous 
 fasliions, that of the men wearing stays was, perhaps, the most so; and the earl of 
 Somerset, when so equipped, may be supposed to have served as a model for men of 
 fashion of a much more recent period. The manufacturers were not much beliind 
 the courtiers, and the opulent clothier's widow, of Newbury, is thus described: — 
 " She came out of the kitchen in a fair train gown, stuck full of silver pins ; a white 
 cap on her head, with cuts of curious needlework under the same, and an apron 
 before her as Avhite as the driven snow;" while the spruce master tailor, her suitor, 
 wore " a new russet jerkin, and a tall sugar-loaf hat clapped on the side of his head." 
 The factory gu'ls of that day are thus described : — 
 
 " And in a chamber close beside 
 Two hundred maidens did abide, 
 In petticoats of flannel red, 
 And milk-white kerchers on their head, 
 Their smock sleeves like to winter's snow, 
 That on the western mountains flow, 
 And each sleeve with a silken band 
 Was fairly tied at the hand. 
 Which pretty maids did never lin, 
 But in that place all day did spin," &c. 
 
 The young gentleman was distinguished by liis gay suit of ai)parel, liis cloak, and 
 rapier; the merchant's dress at that time was a plain grave suit of clothes, with a 
 black cloak; and the rustic, when in liis Sunday attire, had a leathern doublet iritli 
 long points, and a pair of breeches primed up like pudchng bass, with yellow stocldugs, 
 and liis hat turned up with a sUver clasp on the leer side.* These fashions were not 
 confined to any particular district, they extended to the whole kingdom. " Tlie 
 manners and customs of the inhabitants of Lancasliii-e," says John De Brentford, 
 " are similai- to those of the neighbouring counties, except that the people eat with 
 two-pronged forks. The men are masculine, and in general well made; they ride 
 and hunt the same as in the most southern parts, but not with that grace, owing to 
 the Avhip being canied in the left hand. The women are most handsome, then- eyes 
 brown, black, hazel, blue, or gi'ey; their noses, if not inclined to the aquiline, are 
 • Strutt's Ancient Manners and Customs of the English, iii. 98. 
 
 4 D 2 
 
 XIV.
 
 572 ^i)t ?i?i£stcii|) Of tin 
 
 CHAP, mostly of the grecian form, which gives a most heautiful archness to the countenance, 
 ^^^' such indeed as is not easy to he descrihed. Their fascinating manners have long 
 procured them the name of Lancashire Witches.''* Leland says " the dress of the 
 men chiefly consists of woollen garments, while the women wear those of sUk, linen, 
 or stuff. Their usual colours are green, hlue, l)lack, and sometimes hrown. Tlie 
 military are dressed in red, which is vulgarly called scarlet." According to Randle 
 Holme, hats were not used in Lancasliire, nor indeed in England, till the time of 
 Charles II. This is obviously a chronological mistake ; the hatting business existed 
 in the south-east part of tliis county, in the time of Henry VI., and, probably, much 
 earlier, as we have a petition to parliament in that reign from the hatters, com- 
 plaining of the introduction of machinery into their business, and representing that 
 " hats, caps, &c. were wont" to be fulled by manual labour; but that, of late, fulling- 
 mills had been introduced, to effect this operation, to the prejudice of the workmen, 
 and the deterioration of the fabric. Silli stockings were not worn till the year 1560, 
 when queen Elizabeth, on being presented with a pair made by Mrs. Montague, 
 her silk woman, as a New Year's gift, declared that she liked them so well that 
 she would not wear any more cloth hosejt which persons of the highest distinction 
 had hitherto Avorn. 
 Build- In the reign of Elizabeth, there were few houses of stone in the county of Lan- 
 
 caster, except those of the nobility and the highest rank of gentry. The houses of 
 the middle and lower class were principally built with wood; those of the better order 
 had large porches at the principal entrance, with halls and parlours ; the fi-ame-work 
 was constructed with beams of timber, of such enormous size, that the materials of 
 one house, as they were then built, would make several of equal size in the present 
 mode of building: the common method of making walls was, to nail laths to the 
 timber frame, and strike them over with rough (clay) plaster, which was afterwards 
 whitened with fine mortar, and this last was after beautified with figures and other 
 curious devices.^ Some had houses built with bricks, but these were rare, and of 
 modern date. The inner walls were either hung with tajiestry, aiTas-work, or painted 
 cloth, whereon were difierent devices, or they were wainscoted with oak, and in that 
 way made warm and ornamental. Tlie cottages of the poor were slightly set up, 
 with a few posts, and plastered over vA\h clay, not very dissimilar to the rustic 
 cottages of the present day. The houses in the cities and towns were built each story 
 jutting over that beneath it, so that where the sti'eets were not wide, the people in the 
 top stories, from opposite houses, might not only converse with each other, but even 
 shake hands together. Tlie houses were covered with tiles, shingles, slates, or lead. 
 
 * Bodleian Collection, 1602. f Stow's Chronicle, fo. 867. 
 
 \ Harrison's Description of Britain. 
 
 ings
 
 Count),' ^Jalntiuf of annrastrr, 573 
 
 Tlie sti-cets of Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, and the other towns of the countv, chap. 
 
 were unpaved, and wore generally narrow, the smallness of the carriages and the L 
 
 diminutive intercourse not requiring spacious streets. At the period of the wars 
 between the houses of York and Lancaster, the windows principally consisted of 
 lattice or ^ickerwork, and sometimes of panes of horn; but in the reign of Elizabeth 
 glass had become plentiful, and was generally used in small squares set in lead. A 
 stni further improvement took place in the buildings about this period. Till the time 
 of Henry VIII. the houses were generally erected without chimneys; and, in many 
 of the first towns of the realm, not more than two or three chimneys were to be seen, 
 the fires being made in a recess in the wall, where the family dressed their victuals, 
 and left the smoke to make its escape as it does at present out of the Irish cabins. 
 Valleys were generally preferred for the sites of toAnis and villages; the buildings in 
 the early times of Britain being mostly of a consti'uctiou too slight to encounter the 
 boisterous elements of the climate to which they Avere exposed. The out-buUdings, 
 such as the dairy, stables, and brewhouse attached to the mansions, were at a little 
 distance from the house, and yet sufficiently near, says Harrison, " that the goodman 
 lieng in his bed may lightlie heare Avhat is donne in each of them with ease, and call 
 quicklie vnto his meinie if anie danger should attach him." 
 
 In the tune of Edward I., orchards and gardens were much in use, but they FooJ. 
 afterwards grew into neglect, so that from John of Gaunt's days to the end of the 
 reign of Hemy VII., little attention was paid to these delightful and ornamental 
 appendages to the gentlemen's mansions. This was owing to herbs, fruits, and 
 roots being little in use for the purpose of human food ; but in the beginning of the 
 reign of Henry VIII., not only the poor, but the rich, began to use melons, radishes, 
 skirets, parsneps, caiTOts, cabbages, turnips, and sallad herbs, the latter of which 
 were served as delicacies at the tables of the nobility, gentry, and merchants. Hops 
 in times past had been plentiful, but they also grew into disuse, and the cultivation 
 of them was neglected, till about the time of the Reformation ; and hence the 
 
 couplet — 
 
 Hops, Reformation, Bays, and Beer 
 Came into England all in a year. 
 
 Beer, however, had been in England long before, and was a favourite beverage 
 amongst the working classes, when they were all good Catholics. The number 
 of fasts in Catholic times somewhat tUminished the consumption of flesh-meat, 
 which would otherwise, as the sustenance of the people was cliiefly animal food 
 and milk, have been very gi-eat ; but when it became lawful for every man to feed 
 upon what he was able to purchase, except upon the weekly fast-days, which ^vere 
 observed by all long after the Refonnation, it was necessary to resort to herbs, loots.
 
 574 CftC $}t£itOri) Of tf)t 
 
 CHAP, and bread, to diminish the consumption of cattle. " In number of dishes and 
 
 XIV. 
 
 change of meat, the nobilitie of England," says Harrison, " doo most exceed, sitli 
 there is no daie in maner that passeth over their heads, wherein they have not 
 onelie b^efe, mutton, veale, lainbe, kid, porke, conie, capon, pig, or so manie of 
 these as the season yieldeth; but also some portion of the red or fallowe d6er, 
 beside great varietie of fish and wild foule, and sunckie other delicacies. The chiefe 
 pait of then- daily provision is brought in before them (commoulie) in siluer vessell, 
 if they be of the degi"6e of barons, bishops, and vpvvards, and placed on then- tables, 
 whereof, when they haue taken what it pleaseth them, the rest is reserued, and 
 afterwards sente downe to theii* seruing men and waiters, who f^ed thereon in like 
 sort with conuenient moderation, and their reuersion also being bestowed Tpou the 
 poore, which lie readie at their gates in great numbers to receiue the same." This 
 si)ecies of hospitality prevailed to a vast extent at Lathom House and Knowsley, in 
 the time of Edward, earl of Derby ; and the bishop of the diocese. Dr. Downham, 
 entertained every day forty persons, besides comers and goers.* To guard against 
 intemperance, each guest at the table of his noble host called for a cup of such 
 liquor as he preferred, which, when he had satisfied himself, he returned to the 
 servant. " By this device," says our author, " much idle tijiling is cut off, for 
 if the foil pot should continuallie stand at the elbow or near the trencher, diuers 
 would alwaies be dealing with it, whereas now they drinke seldome and onelie when 
 necessitie urgeth, and so auoid the note of gi-eat drinking, or often troubling of the 
 seruitours Avith filling of their bols. Neuerthelesse, in the noblemen's hals this 
 order is not vsed, niether in any man's house commonlie vnder the degi-ee of a 
 knight or esquire of great reunues. The gentlemen and merchants keepe much 
 about one rate, and each of them contenteth himselfe with foure, fine, or six dishes, 
 when they haue small resort, or peradventure with one or two, or thr^e at the most, 
 Avhen they haue no strangers to accompanie them at their tables." The potato 
 Avas not then known in England, though now so familiar, especially in Lancasliire, 
 except as a foreign root obtained with much difficulty and cost, and therefore the 
 more desii'ed. The wine most in estimation was called theologicmn, because it was 
 had from the clergy and religious men, whose cellars were well replenished. March 
 beer was also much esteemed at the tables of the nobility and gentry, but it was 
 required to be, at least, a year old. The household beer was not (hunk till after it 
 had been brewed a month. 
 
 The artificers and husbandmen had their festivities, as well as their betters, 
 " especiallie," says Harrison, " at Bridales, purifications of women, and such od 
 m^etmgs, where it is incredible to tell what meat is consumed and spent, ech one 
 
 * Chap. xiii. p. 515.
 
 Coimti? palatine of 2Laucasitn-. 575 
 
 brmoing such a cUsh, or so many, with him, as his wife and he doo cousult vpoii, chap. 
 
 hut dwaies Avith this consideration, that the leefr freend shall haue the better 
 
 proiiision. Tliis also is commonUe s^ene at their hankets, that the good man 
 of the house is not charged with any thing sauing bread, think, sauce, houseroome 
 and fire. But the artificers in cities and good tomies doale far otherwise, for 
 albeit that some of them doo suffer their iaws to go before their clawes, and diners 
 of them making good cheer doo liinder themselves and other men ; yet the wiser 
 sort can hancUe the matter well enough in these iunkettings, and therefore their 
 frugalitie deserueth commendation. Both the artificer aiid the husbanchnan are 
 sufEcientUe liberall and verie friendlie at their tables, and when they m^ete, they 
 are so merry without maUce, and plaine without inward Italian or French craft and 
 suhtiltie, that it would doo a man good to be in companie among them."* 
 
 The more opulent classes generally used wheaten bread at their owti tables, 
 while theh- household and poor neighbours were forced to content themselves with 
 rye or bai-ley, and in times of scarcity with beans, peas, or oaten bread, the latter of 
 wliich was then in general use amongst the middle and lower classes in Lancashire 
 and in Yorkshire, and is by no means entirely banished from these counties in the 
 present day. According to the same authority, the difference between summer and 
 winter wheat was not known in Ids time by the husbanthiien in many counties ; 
 but in the north, about Kendal, and we presume about Lancaster also, the spring 
 wheat was cultivated, and called Maixh wheat. In EUzabeth's time, the practice of 
 sitting long at meals grew into disuse, and two meals a day, chnner and supper, 
 were thought sufficient. The nobUity, gentry, and students usually dined at 
 eleven o'clock m the forenoon, and supped between five and six in the afternoon. 
 The merchants seldom dined before twelve at noon, and supped at six at night. 
 The husbandmen and artisans cHned at high noon, as they called it, and supped 
 at seven or eight. In the Universities, the students, out of term-time, dined at ten 
 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 In those early days, when coffee and tea, with various other slops, were unknown, 
 or not used in England, it was no uncommon thing for the chief lords and laches of 
 the court to breakfast, as we have already shewn,t upon a fine beefsteak and a cup 
 of ale, and that at eight o'clock in the morning ; and that the hour of supper was 
 early in queen Mary's time, may be inferred from Weston's promise to BratUbrd, 
 the Lancashire martyi", that he woidd see the queen, and speak to her on liis behalf, 
 after supper, but, adds he, " it is to be thought that the queen has almost supped at 
 present, for it is past six of the clock." In the reign of king James, early hours 
 were still kept by people of quahty, for we Icaru f];om the king's history of the 
 * Description of England. t See Chap. xiii. p. 546.
 
 576 
 
 CJk i^iStoiT) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIV. 
 
 Coaches. 
 1555. 
 
 Progress 
 of Im- 
 prove- 
 ment, 
 
 " Powder Plot," that the letter cautioning Lord Monteagle against going to parlia- 
 ment was delivered in the evening, between 6 and 7 o'clock, when his lordsliip was 
 just going to .supper. 
 
 According to Stow, the luxury of coaches was not introduced into England tUl 
 the reign of Mary, when Walter Ripon made a coach for the earl of Rutland ; and, 
 in the year 1564, the same artist made the first "hollow turning coach" mth pillars 
 and arches for Elizabeth ; in 1584 he made a chariot throne, with four pillars 
 beliind, to hear a canopy, surmounted with a crown imperial, and two pillai-s in front, 
 Avhereon stood a lion and di-agon, the supporters of the anus of England. Tlie 
 coach-box was not added till a long time after; " the coachman," says our authority, 
 " joineth a horse fixt to match a saddle-liorse, to the coach-tree, when he sitteth 
 upon the saddle ; and when there are four horses, he driveth those before him, 
 guiding them with a rean. Great persons are carried iu a coach, or hanging 
 waggon, with six horses, and two coaclimen (postilions) ; others ride in chariots 
 drawn by two horses onlj'." It is cleai", however, fi-om Stow's Survey of London 
 and Westminster, that wheeled carriages, of the coach kind, were introduced into 
 England nearly two centuries before this time. In the reign of Richard II. the 
 king, " being threatened by the rebels of Kent, rode from the Tower of London to 
 the Mile's-end, and with him, his mother, because she was sick and weak, in a 
 n-hirUcote * * * * But in the year next following, the said Richard took 
 to wife Anne, daughter to the Mug of Bohemia, who first brought hither the riding 
 iipon side-saddles ; and so was the ricUng in those whbiicotes and chariots forsaken, 
 except at coronations, and such like spectacles. But now, of late," continues he, 
 " the use of coaches, brought out of Germany, is taken up and made so common, as 
 there is neither distinction of time nor difference of persons observed ; for the world 
 runs on wheels with many whose pai-euts were glad to go on foot." 
 
 During the wars of the Roses, the domestic accommodations of the people, in 
 this and the other counties of the kingdom, were as scanty and deficient as their 
 historical records. " There are," says Harrison, " old men dwelling in the village 
 where I remaine, which have noted three things to be marvellouslie altered in 
 England Avithin theu* sound remembrance : One is, the multitude of cliimnies 
 latelie. erected, wheras in their yoong daies there were not above two or three, if so 
 manie, iu most \-planchsli townes of the realme, (the religious houses and manour 
 places of their lords alwaies excepted, and peraduenture some great personages,) 
 but ech one made his fire against a reredosse in the hall, where he dined and 
 di'essed his meat. The second is the gi-eat (although not generall) amendment of 
 lodging, for (said they) our fathers (yea and we our selues also) haue lien full oft 
 ^-pon straw pallets, on rough mats couered onelie with a sh^ct vnder couerlets made
 
 €i)t im^torj) of ti)t 577 
 
 of dagswam or liopliarlots (I vse their owne termes) and a good round log vnder chap. 
 
 their heads in steed of a bolster or pillow. If it were so that our fathers, or the good- L 
 
 man of the house, had ^-ithin seuen yeares after liis mariage purchased a matteres 
 or flockebed, and thereto a saclce of chaffe to rest his head vpon, he thought himselfe 
 to be as well lodged as the lord of the towne, that peraduenture laie seldonie in a 
 bed of downe or whole fethers ; so well were they contented, and ^\ith such base 
 kind of furniture ; wliich, also, is not verie much amended as yet in some parts of 
 Bedfordshii-e, and elsewhere further off from oui* southerne parts. Pillowes (said 
 they) were thought m6et onelie for women in cliildbed. As for seruants, if they had 
 anie sh^et aboue them it was well, for seldome had they anie vnder their bodies, 
 to keepe them from the pncking straws that ran oft through the canuajs of the 
 pallet, and rased their hai-dened liides. The third tiling they tell of, is the 
 exchange of vessell, as of treene platters into pewter, and wodden spoones into 
 siluer or tin. For so common were all sorts of treene stuffe in old time, that a 
 man should hardlie find foure pieces of pewter (of which one was peraduenture 
 a salt) in a good farmer's house, and yet for all this frugalitie (if it may so be iustly 
 called) they were scarse able to line and paie their rents at their dales without 
 selling of a cow, or an horse, or more, although they paide but foure pounds at the 
 vttermost by the yeare." 
 
 On the union of the houses of York and Lancaster under the prudent govern- 
 ment of Henry VII., the degrading and impoverishing feudal system having been 
 ^ii'tually abolished,* the condition of all classes began to improve ; and in the reign 
 of Elizabeth they attained to comparative opulence, as woidd appear from the same 
 authority. " The furniture of our houses," adds our author, " also exceedeth, and 
 is gi'owne in manor euen to passing delicacie ; and herein I doo not speake of the 
 nobilitie and gentrie oulie, but likemse of the lowest sort. Certes in noble men's 
 houses it is not rare to see abundance of Arras, rich hangings of tapistrie, siluer 
 vessell, and so much other plate, as may furnish sunth-ie cupbords to the summe 
 oftentimes of a thousand or two thousand pounds at the least ; whereby the value of 
 this and the rest of their stuffe dooth grow to be almost inestimable. Likewise in 
 the houses of kniglits, gentlemen, merchantmen, and some other wealthie citizens, 
 it is not geson to behold generallie their great prouision of tapistrie, Turkic worke, 
 pewter, brasse, fine linen, aud thereto costlie cupbords of plate, worth five or six 
 hundred or a thousand pounds, to be deemed by estimation. But as herein all these 
 sorts doo far exceed their elders aud predecessors, and in neatnesse and curiositie, 
 
 * " As for slaves and bondmen, we have none ; and if any come hither, so soon as they set foot 
 on land, they become so free of condition as their masters." — Description of England in Elizabeth's 
 Time. 
 
 VOL. r. 4 E
 
 578 mn i^isftorp of tfte 
 
 CHAP the merchant all other ; so in time past, the costlie furniture staled there, whereas 
 
 XIV 
 
 1_ now it is descended yet lower, euen vnto the inferiour artificers and mauie farmers, 
 
 who by vertue of their old and not of then- new leases liaue for the most pai-t learned 
 also to garnish their cupbords with plate, then* ioined beds with tapistrie and sUke 
 hangings, and theii" tables with carpets and tine uai)erie, whereby the wealth of our 
 countrie dootli infinitelie appeare." ' 
 
 Formerly, the accommodation at the principal inns, even in the towns, was very 
 deficient, but in tlie time of Elizabeth they had so much unproved as to become 
 great and sumptuous ; and Holinshed, in his Itinerary from Cockermouth to London, 
 enumerates, amongst these places, Kendale, Burton, Lancaster, Preston, Wigan, 
 and Wanington, where the inns were well furnished with " naj)ierie, bedchng, and 
 tapisserie. Each commer," says he, " is sure to lie in cleane sheets wherein no 
 man hath been lodged since they came fi'om the landresse. If the traueller haue an 
 horse, liis bed dooth cost liim nothing, but if he go on foot he is sure to paie a 
 penie for the same : but whether he be horseman or foote, if his chamber be once 
 appointed, he may carie the kaie with him, as of his owne house, so long as he 
 lodgeth there." It appears, however, that he was subject to great impositions at 
 these plausible houses of entertainment, and if he was not upon his guard, his 
 " budget" would be pillaged both by his host and by the servants. The penny for 
 the lodging, when the comparative value of money is considered, was pretty much 
 the same in amount in the time of Ehzabeth, as that which is now paid by travel- 
 lers for similar accommodation at respectable inns. Henry VIII. indeed had 
 debased the coinage so much as to unsettle its value, but Ehzabeth restored it by 
 utterly abolisliing the use of copper coin, which she made into cannon, and using 
 only silver even in her half-pence and fartliings, and silver groats were as common 
 in her day as silver shillings are in ours. 
 
 Sports and The sports and pastimes of our ancestors consisted of hawking, hunting, and 
 archery, to which the nobles added the justs and tournaments ; theatrical amusements 
 of various kinds, and music, were also in vogue, to which the rustics added bull-baiting 
 and bear-baiting, Avith their various gambols at the wakes and fau"s. The theatrical 
 performances consisted of sacred mysteries, derived from the holy scriptures; of 
 comedies ; and of masques, which prevailed in the time of Elizabeth, when Shakspeare 
 lived, and in the times of James I., when Ben Jonson composed liis celebrated 
 masques for the royal amusement. Up to tliis time the players were deemed 
 vagrants, and in 6 Edward III. it was ordained by parliament, tliat they should be 
 whipped out of London, notwithstancUng their endeavours to entertain prince Richard 
 and his uncle, the duke of Lancaster. Their dramas, though sacred, Avere so ridi- 
 culous as to bring the histories of the New Testament into contempt, and to encourage 
 
 pastimes.
 
 Count)) |3alatme of %mtafitn\ 579 
 
 libertinism and infidelity.* Tlie wakes, though arising from the dedication of chap. 
 churches, soon degenerated into a species of rustic fairs, often kept on the Sunday, ^^^' 
 but totally devoid of any religious character. The waits or wakes, who were a species 
 of nocturnal musicians, went through the streets at midnight about Christmas time, 
 plajing their music, which is still partially continued; but in earlier times they were 
 accustomed to sing carols and Christmas hymns. The ministrels were less stationary; 
 they strolled about the country to feasts, fairs, and weddings, and these cantabanqtii 
 were accustomed to mount upon benclies and barrel-heads, where they sang popular 
 songs for the amusement of the rustics, at the price of a groat a fit, or canto, their 
 matter being for the most part stories of past times.f Thus, in the Blind Beggar of 
 Bethnal Green is the following verse : — 
 
 " Then give me leave, nobles and gentles each one, 
 One song more to sing, and then I have done; 
 And if that it may not win good report, 
 Then do not give me a groat for my sport." 
 
 Tlie second Randle Holme, who seems to have been a better antiquary than 
 poet, has preserved the names of a number of the prevailing games of Lancashire in 
 the following metrical enumeration : — 
 
 " AUNTIENT CUSTOMS IN GAMES USED BY BOYS, AND GIRLES, MERILY SETT 
 
 OUT IN VERSE. 
 " Any they dare chalenge for to throvir the sledge, 
 To jumpe, or leape ovir ditch, or hedge ; 
 To wrastle, play at stoole ball, or to runne, 
 To pitch the barre, or to shoote of a gunne; 
 To play at loggets, nine holes, or ten pinnes. 
 To trye it out at foote ball, by the shinnes. 
 At tick tacke, seize nody, maw and ruffe. 
 At hot cokles, leap frogge, or blind-man's buffe : 
 To drink the halper pottes, or deale at the whole cann, 
 To play at chesse, or pue, and inke home; 
 To daunce the moris, play at barley brake, 
 At al exploits a man can think or speak: 
 At shrove groate, venter poynte, or cross and pile. 
 At beshrew him that's last at any stile ; 
 At leapinge over a Christmas bonfire, 
 Or at the drawynge dame out of the myer ; 
 At shoote cocke, Gregory, stoole ball, and what not; 
 Picke poynt, toppe and scourge to make him holt." 
 
 * The first stage performances were in the churches, and on the sabbath-day; but this profanation 
 cf the sacred edifices was interdicted by Bonner, bishop of London, in 1542. — Wartons Hint, of 
 Eng. Poetry. 
 
 t Puttenham's Art of English Poesy, p. 69. 
 
 4e 2
 
 580 Cfte ^fetovp of tfte 
 
 CHAP. The arts, as the couchers books of Whalley and Fiimess sufficiently shew, had 
 
 L- made considerable progress in the time of the first duke of Lancaster. The art of 
 
 The arts- engi'aviiig in wood and on copper had also advanced, as is evident from the remaining 
 prints of Anckea Mantegna; and we have already seen that these ornamental accom- 
 plishments were crowned by an invention, the most important of any age or country, 
 that of the art of printing, made by Guttemburg, at Mentz, and introduced by 
 Caxton, our countryman, into England.* In the reign of Henry VI. oil painting was 
 first practised in this country, and at that time was confined principally to scripture 
 subjects; but the Reformation gave a more free scope to genius; and Holbein 
 flourished under the patronage of Henry VIII. These early productions of the 
 pencil were only eclipsed by Rubens, and his pupil Vandyke,"!" who flourished in the 
 reign of Charles I. 
 The laws. The administration of the laws in these early tunes was often extremely lax, as 
 is instanced in the frequent and systematic arrests of the inhabitants of the county 
 and duchy of Lancaster, under the colom* of law, in the reign of Henry VI.; in the 
 abduction of lady Butler, in the same reign; and in the murder of Mr. Hoghton, at a 
 still later period. When vagrants, pedlars, and strumpets were to be dealt with, the 
 punishment was sufficiently severe and certain : the fii-st, on conviction, were doomed 
 to be grievously whipped, and burnt tlu'ough the gristle of the right hand with a hot 
 ii-on, of an inch square ; the next were condemned to the pillory, for the second 
 offence, against the monopolizing borough shop-keepers ; and the thii-d were 
 immersed by the ducking-stool, which was also apjn'opriated to the con-ection of those 
 domestic disturbers, known by the name of notorious scolds.J Trial by combat, or 
 wager of battle, so prevalent in these early days, served to encourage the strong 
 against the weak; tliis relic of a semi-barbai'ous age long outlived the trial by ordeal, 
 wliich, as we have shewn, was abolished on the northern cii"cuit,§ and, doubtless, in 
 all other cii'cuits in the kingdom, as early as the reign of Henry III. In the times 
 of religious persecution, the terrors of the rack were resorted to, for the purpose of 
 extorting confession for crimes that had sometimes never been committed; and as 
 the duchy of Lancaster had its star-chamber, so also it had its rack. Of tlie laws 
 
 * It is conjectured, though the fact cannot be ascertained with certainty, that Manchester was 
 the first town in Lancashire into which the printing press was introduced; and the works of Martin 
 Marprelate, printed in that town, favour this opinion. 
 
 t ITie portraits of James, earl of Derby, and Charlotte (Tremouille'), his countess, are amongst 
 the most successful efforts of this artist's pencil, 
 
 t The ducking-stool, though now wholly discarded, was in use in Manchester and in Preston, 
 within living memory. 
 
 § Chap. vii. p. 255.
 
 County ^alatint of Sanrastcr, 581 
 
 against witchcraft we shall have occasion to treat at some length; and it may suffice chai'. 
 
 to say in this place, that, in the administration of those laws in Lancashire, unpartial — 1- 
 
 justice and i-oyal clemency were of rare occurrence. 
 
 But we have heen hetrayed by this retrospect of the ancient manners and King 
 
 , . , T . 1 . 1 • James's 
 
 customs of our ancestors mto too long a cbgi-ession, and must now resume our his- progress. 
 tory ^nth the reign of James I. at the commencement of the seventeenth century. 
 On the Idng's arrival in York, on his first progress to London, he was met by persons 
 of distinction from all the northern counties of England, charged witli the duty 
 of declaring the loyalty and allegiance of those counties to his majesty, without 
 stipulating however for the loyalty of the king to the free institutions of the 
 country. From the county of Lancaster, sir Edmond TrafTord, and sir Thomas Hoi- Lanca- 
 croft, attended, both of whom received the honour of knighthood in the garden of knights. 
 the palace at York, on Sunday the seventeentli of April ; on the following day, his \oos. 
 majesty conferred the same honour on sir Thomas Gerrard, of Bryn, at Grimstone ; 
 and on the arrival of the royal suite at Worksop, sir John Bu'on, of Newstead Abbey, 
 in the county of Nottingham, and of Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, father of 
 John the fii'st lord Bu'ou, and sir Thomas Stanley, of Derbyshire, were also dubbed 
 kniffhts. After the kins's ai'rival in London, sir Thomas Hesketh, sir Thomas 
 Walmsley, sir Alexander Barlow, su- Edward Stanley, sir Thomas Langton, and 
 sir William Norris, all of the county of Lancaster, received the honour of knight- ioo4. 
 hood ; and in the following year, sii" Gilbert Hoghton, of Hoghton Tower, a distin- 
 guished favourite of the king, obtained the same honour. In this year, sir John 
 Fortescue, knight, cliaucellor of the duchy of Lancaster, was appointed a member of 
 a royal commission for the extermhiation of the Jesuits. 
 
 The plague which had bi'oken out in Loudon in the first year of the king's The 
 
 . . ... , ' . plague. 
 
 reign, and carried off thirty thousand of its inhabitants, when the whole population of 
 that city cHd not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand, spread the f()llowing year 
 into Lancashire, and became so extremely fatal, that in JManchester alone one 
 thousand of the inhabitants* died of that malady in 1605, wliich was probably equal 
 to one-sixth of its population. At tliis time it was not usual to inter the dead of the 
 lower class of people in coffins, and the bodies were probably often insufliciently 
 covered with earth, wliich might conduce to the sjiread of the pestilence ; indeed, as 
 late as 1628, it was no unusual thing to bury the poor without coffins. f 
 
 This pestilence having greatly subsided in Loudon, it was appointed that the loos. 
 first parliament in the new reign sliould assemble on the fifth of November ; but 
 while the preparations were making, a plot was discovered, the most atrocious that The gun- 
 " the tongue of man ever delivered, the ear of man ever heard, the heart of man plot. 
 * HoUinworth's Mancuniensis MS. . f Sir Henry Spelman's Treatise de Sepultura, p. 173.
 
 spiratois. 
 
 682 CI)e i^igtory of tl;e 
 
 CHAP, ever conceived, or the malice of devils ever practised"* — a plot which had for its 
 
 XIV 
 
 object, to destroy at one blow the king and the queen, and then- family, and the 
 
 lords and the commons of the realm congi-egated in parliament. Some of the actors in 
 this ti'emeudous di'ama stand connected with the county of Lancaster, but happily 
 
 Lanca- rather as conservators than destroyers. The letter by which the treason was 
 
 sliire men ^ • ^ 
 
 conserva- disclosod, IS supposed to liavc been wiitten by a lady, a descendant by the female 
 hue of su- Edward Stanley, the Lancashire hero of Flodden-field, to her brother, 
 Lord Monteagle, a Roman Catholict Overtures had been made by the conspira- 
 tors to sii- William Stanley, who was then in Flanders, to become a party in the 
 ti'eason, but su- William in some degree retrieved his character, by declining to take 
 part liimself, and by discountenancing an intended application to foreign Catholic 
 
 The con- powcrs to aid the conspiracy. The plot originated with Robert Catesby, a descend- 
 ant of the noted favourite of Richard III., a man of fortune, in the enjoyment of the 
 famUy estate at Ashby in Northamptonshire, and with Thomas Piercy, a gentleman- 
 pensioner to the king, and a descendant of the illustrious house of Northumberland, 
 both of them Roman Catholic recusants ; and its object was, to destroy the 
 Protestant reigning family, and to substitute a Catholic dynasty. HaWng increased 
 their numbers by the addition of Robert Winter, Thomas Winter, John Wright, and 
 Christopher Wright, and embarked Guido Faux, a Yorkshii'eman, passing under 
 the name of Johnsonne, in the entei-prise, Piercy, who had rented the vault under 
 the house of parliament as a fuel cellai", there accumulated thiity-six ban-els of 
 gunpowder, to perpetrate the intended explosion. Sir Everai-d Digby, Ambrose 
 Rookewood, esq., Francis Tresham, esq., Thomas Habington, esq., John Grant, and 
 Rol)ert Keys, gentleman, became also members of the conspiracy, though less 
 actively employed in the ti'eason.J To bind the conspirators to secrecy, and to 
 perseverance in the treasonable design, Gerrard, a Jesuit, administered an oath to 
 Catesby and Piercy, and to others of theii- fraternity, in these terms : — 
 
 " You shall swear by the blessed Trinity, and by the sacrament you now purpose to receive, never 
 " to disclose, directly or indirectly, byword or circumstance, the matter that shall be proposed 
 " to you to keep secret, nor desist from the execution thereof, until the rest give you leave." 
 
 Ten days before the time appointed for the assembling of parliament, Lord 
 Monteagle, son and heir to Lord Morley, being in his lodgings in London, ready to 
 
 * Sir Edward Philips's speech on the trial of the conspirators engaged in the gunpowder 
 treason. 
 
 t Father Juvenqi, in his Hist. Societatis Jesu, 1. xiii. s. 45, says, that " Tresham, one of the 
 conspirators, sent to lord Monteagle, his friend, the letter revealing the conspiracy." 
 
 X Works of king James I. p. 241.
 
 Cotmtp |3alatine of ilancaeitei-. 583 
 
 go to Slipper, between six and seven o'clock at night, one of liis footmen, on return- chai*. 
 
 ino- from an errand across the street, delivered to liim a letter, \nthout either date, !_ 
 
 signature, or superscription, which had been put into Ids hand in the dark by a man LordMo,,. 
 
 iniknown, who charged him to give it to Ids master, and wliich letter was expressed ''^*^''''' 
 in these terms : 
 
 " My Lorde, out of the Loue I beare to some of yo'' friendes, I haue care of yo'' preservation, and 
 " therefore I aduise yo" as yo" Tenders yo'^ Lyfe to dcuise some excuse to shifte of yo"^ attendance at 
 " the Parliamente, for god and good men haue concurrede to punishe the wickednese of this time, 
 " and thinke not sleightlie of yo"' Aduertisemente but Retire yo'' selfe into yo'' Countreye, wher yo" 
 " maye expecte the Evente in saftie, for thoiighe thear be no Apparence of any sture, yet I saye 
 " they shall receaue a terreble blovve this parlemente, and yet they therin shall not see who horte 
 "them. This Counsell is not to be contemnede, because it may doe yo" good, and Canne doe yo" 
 " no harme, for the daunger is paste so soone as yo" burne this letter, and I hope god will giue yo" 
 " grace to make good vse of it, to whose holly ptection I comitte yo"." 
 
 After pondering over the letter for some time, doubtful whether the writer was 
 in jest or in earnest. Ids lordship repaiied to the king's palace at Whiteliall, and 
 there delivered the letter to the earl of Salisbury, the principal secretary of state,* 
 who has himself given an account of what followed, and we prefer quoting his own 
 words, because tliey involve a point of history which has been misrepresented for the 
 purposes of courtly adulation. 
 
 " 'When I obserued the generalety of the aduertisement and the stile [of the letter] I could not Cecil's 
 " well distinguish whether it were a frenzee or sport. For, from any serious ground I could hardlie (|,j, jis^,,. 
 "be induced to beleeue that it proceeded for many reasons. First, because noe wiseman would verj of the 
 " thinke my Lo: to be so weake as to take any alarm to absent himself from Parliament vpon such 
 " a Loose Aduertisement. 
 
 " Secondly, I considered that if any such thing were really intended, that it was very improbable 
 " that onelie one Nobleman should be warned and none other. 
 
 " Neuertheless being loath to trust my owne iudgment alone, being alwayes inclyned to doe too 
 " much in such a Case as this, I imparted the £re to the Earle of SufF. Lo : Chamberlaine, to the 
 " end I might receaue his opinion. Whervpon pervsinge the wordes of the £re and observinge the 
 " writinge. That the blowe should come without knowledge whoe had hurt them, we both conceiued 
 " that it could not be more proj? then the tyme of Parlement ; Nor by any other way like to be • 
 "attempted, then with Powder whilst the King was sittinge in thassembly. Of which the Lo: 
 " Chamblaine [thought] y^ more probability Because there was a greate 'Vault vnder the said 
 " Chamber w"^*" was neuer vsed for anything but some wood and Cole belonginge to y"" Keeper of y' 
 " Old Palace. 
 
 " In which consideracon after wee had imparted the same to the Lo Admirall, the Earle of 
 " Worcester and the Earle of Norttiton and some others, We all thought fitt to forbeare to impart 
 " it to the King vntill some three or fower dayes before the Session. At which tyme we shewed his 
 
 * Letter from (Cecil) the Earl of Salisbury, dated November 9, 1605, to Sir Charles Cornewallyes. 
 Harl. MSS. Cod. 1875.
 
 584 
 
 C!k l&istoii) Of tf)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIV. 
 
 " Ma''« the £ie, rather as a thinge wee would not Conceale (because it was of such a nature) then 
 " any way pswading him to geve any further Credite to it, vntill the place had bene visited, where- 
 " vpon his Ma'" (whoe hath a naturall habite to Contemn all false feares and a Judgm' soe strong as 
 " neuer to doubt any thing which is not well warranted by reason) concurred onely thus farre with 
 " vs, That seeing such a matter was possible, That should bee donne which might prevent all danger 
 " or ells nothing at all. 
 
 " Herevpon it was moued, That till the night before his comeing nothinge should be donne to 
 " interrupt any purpose of theirs that had any such diuellish practice. But rather to suffer them to 
 " goe on till the Eve of the daye. 
 
 " And soe on Mondaye in the afternoone accordinglie the Lo: Chamberlaine whose office it is to 
 " see all places of Assembly put in readynes when the King's person should come, takeinge with him 
 " y" Lo: Mounteagle went to see all y^ places in y" Parliament House. And tooke alsoe aslight 
 " occasion to pervse that Vaulte, where finding onelie Piles of BilletC and faggotf heaped vpp, His 
 " Lopp fell into inquireinge onely who owed the same wood Observing the proporcon to be somewhat 
 " more than y' Howse keeper was likely to laye in for his owne vse. And when Aunswere was made 
 " That it belonged to one Mr. Percy His Lop streight conceiued some suspici5n in regard of his 
 "person; And the Lo: Mounteagle takeinge some notice that there were was greate profession 
 " between Percy and him from which some inferrence might be made that it [was] the warneinge of 
 " a friend. My Lord Chamberlaine resolued absolutely to proceede in a search though noe other 
 " matterialls were visible, f being returned to the Courte aboute fine a Clocke tooke me vpp with him 
 " to the King, and told him y' all though they were hard of beliefe that any such thing was thought 
 " of yet in such a Case as this whatsoefl was not donne (to put all out of doubt) was as good as 
 " nothinge. Wherevpon it was resolued by his Ma"* that this matter should be soe carryed as noe 
 " man should be scandalized by it, nor any alarm taken for any such purpose. 
 
 " For the better effectinge whereof The Lo Threr. the Lo: Admirall the Earle of Worcester and 
 " we twoe agreed That S"' Tho Kneuett should vnder a pretext of searchinge for stollen and imbezilled 
 " goodes both in that place and other houses thereaboutf , remoue all that wood, and soe to see the 
 " playne ground vnder it. 
 
 " S'' Tho. Kneuett goeinge thither (vnlooked for) about Midnight into the Vault found that fel- 
 " lowe Johnsonne [Faux] newly come out of the Vault, and without any more questions stayed him, 
 " And haueinge noe sooner remoued ihe wood, he perceaued the Barrels and soe bound y'' Caitiffe 
 " fast who made no difficultie to acknowledge the fact nor to Confesse clearely that the morrowe 
 " followinge it should haue bene effected. And thus haue you a true narracun from the begin- 
 " ninge," &c. 
 
 Historical From tliis letter it appears that the sagacity of first penetrating the mystery, 
 corrected. i™puted to the king by historians, and by senators,* and for Avhich he himself takes 
 credit in his Avork on the " Powder Treason, "f was not his. 
 
 * In the preamble to the act for public thanksgiving on the anniversary of the 5th of November, 
 it is said, that " the conspiracy would have turned to the utter ruin of this whole kingdom,had it not 
 pleased Almighty God, by inspiring the king's most excellent majesty with a divine spirit to interpret 
 some dark phrases of a letter, shewed to his majesty, above and beyond all ordinary construction, 
 thereby miraculously discovering this hidden treason." 
 
 f Works of King James L p. 227.
 
 commu- 
 nity. 
 
 Coimti) ^aalatme of iLnnrnsftfr* 585 
 
 After some delay, and ^\ith considerable difficulty, Faux, the incendiary, was chap. 
 
 brought to confess, in the presence of the i)rivy council, that the plot was first com- L 
 
 municated to liim about Easter, in the year 1604, when he was in the Low Coun- Fateoftiie 
 tries, by Thomas Winter, and that on his ai'rival in England he conferred upon it tors!'"™' 
 with Catesby, Piercy, and John Wriglit, and that they and he laboured in the mine 
 to penetrate from the adjoining house through the walls, into the vault under the 
 house of lords, which work was abandoned when Piercy got the vault itself into his 
 possession. 
 
 On the rumour of the discovery of the plot, several of the conspu'ators limTied 
 down into Warwickshire, Avhcre they made a fruitless attempt to raise an insurrec- 
 tion, in which Piercy and Catesby were IdUed, and Digby, Rookewood, and the 
 others, being talien prisoners, were brought to London, tried, and executed on the 
 thirtieth of January, along with Faux. i'''"'- 
 
 The Catholics, as well as the Protestants, condemned tliis diabolical treason in The trea- 
 the most unqualified terms; and so strongly ^\as the king impressed mth the con vie- uctof'a"'^ 
 tion, that it was the conspiracy of a few fanatical individuals, and not of a christian 
 community, that, in his speech at the opening of parliament, he deprecated the injus- 
 tice of involving the Roman Catholics, as a body, in such enormous barbarities. 
 
 Lord Monteagle, whose promptitude and undeviating loyalty had, through the 
 blessing of Providence, saved all the estates of the realm, was rewarded for his 
 communication, by a grant of crown lands and a pension ; and as a further mark of 
 the king's favour towards him, the hfe of his brother-in-law, Thomas Habiugton, 
 esq., of Hendlip, in Worcestersliii'e, the husband of the lady who is conjectured to 
 have written the mysterious letter wliich afforded the clue to the discovery, was 
 saved, on condition that he should not quit the county of Worcester. The debt of 
 public gratitude due to lord Monteagle from his country, has been thus comme- 
 morated : — 
 
 " Lo ! what my country should have done, (have raised 
 An obehsk, or column, to thy name, 
 ' Or, if she would but modestly have praised 
 
 Thy fact, in brass or marble writ the same,) 
 I, that am glad of thy great chance, here do ! 
 
 And, proud my work shall out-last common deeds, 
 Durst think it great and worthy wonder too ; — 
 But thine, for which I do't, so much exceeds. 
 My country's parents I have many known, 
 But saver of my country thee alone." 
 ) 
 
 Ben Jonson's Epigram on Lord Monteagle. 
 VOL. I. 4 F
 
 586 €l)t ?[]i£storj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP. Sir William Stanley, with two other popish recusants, of the names of Owen and 
 
 _1 L_ Baklttin, were placed under arrest at Brussels, on suspicion of liaving been concerned 
 
 S'f \^'- in the erunpowder treason ; but, in the cool lanf^uage of sir Thomas Edmonds, the 
 
 Stanley. . 
 
 Englisli ambassador, " Su* William was not yet so deeply charged concerning tliis last 
 treason," as to be put upon his trial. 
 Peter Accordiug to a monument in St. Ann's churcli, Aldersgate, London, Peter 
 
 esq. Heywood, esq., of Heywood, (then spelt Heiwood,) a magistrate of the county of 
 
 Lancaster, having probably accompanied sir Thomas Knevett, apprehended Guido 
 Faux, coming forth from the vault of the house of parliament on the eve of the gun- 
 powder treason ; and on the same authority it appears, that this vigilant magistrate was 
 stabbed in Westminster Hall, five-and-thirty years afterwards, by Jolm James, a 
 Dominican friar, for urging him to take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance.* 
 Stanley That the Stanley family stood in high estimation with the Idng, may be inferred 
 
 family. . ,•/■.! 
 
 from the fact of the mutual interchange of new-year s giftsj between his majesty 
 1006. and the earl of Derby, and from the present of plate given to the earl on tlie 
 christening of his son and lieii", James, the future earl of Derby, who was destined 
 to die on the scaffold in the cause of the Stuarts. 
 Lanca- A knightly cUgnity of inheritance, more elevated than that of the knights ban- 
 
 barouets. neret,| was instituted by the king, in 1611, for the ostensible purpose of defending 
 and reforming the province of Ulster, in Ireland. It was the boast of king James 
 and his courtiers, that he had done more in nine years towards ameliorating the 
 condition of the people of Ireland, than had been accom2)lished by his predecessors 
 in the four huncked and forty years which had ehipsed since the first conquest of that 
 country.§ To carry on these improvements, and to preserve the peace of the 
 country, the baronets Avere created, eacli of whom had a bloody hand, in a field 
 argent, (the arms of Ulster,) superadded to his family crest. The stipulations 
 entered into by the recipients of the new honour were, that they should be aiding 
 towards the building of cliurches, towns, and castles ; should hazard their lives and 
 fortunes in the performance of their duty; and that, when any spark of rebellion, or 
 other liostile invasion, should threaten to disturb the peace of the kingdom or pro- 
 vince, they should be ready to defend it ; and that each of them should mamtaui and 
 keep thirty foot sokUers there. None were at first admitted to the new honour, 
 except those descended, at least, from a grandfather, on the father's side, who had 
 
 * Stowe's Survey of London, vol. i. p. 605. Clarendon's Hist, of Reb. i. 387. 
 
 t Nichols's Progresses of King James I. vol. i. p. 593. 
 
 X The last knight banneret created was sir Ralph Sadler , chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, 
 on the field of Musselburgh, in the year 1547. 
 
 § King James's Works, p. 259.
 
 Coimtu ^Jalatmc of ^ianrasitn-. 587 
 
 borne arms, and who had a dear Income in land of £1000 per annum. At the chap. 
 
 XIV 
 
 institution of the order, it was intended that the number should not exceed two Imn- L 
 
 dred, that number to be filled up as the titles became extinct. In the first batcli of 
 baronets, created on the 22d of May, eighteen knights were honoured with this here- 
 ditary dcgi-ee, amongst whom were the names of sir Richard Molineux, of Sefton; 
 sir Richard Hoghton, of Hogliton Tower; and sir Thomas Gerrard, of Bryn,* all in 
 the county of Lancaster; and sir George Booth, of Denham Massy, in the county of 
 Chester. Up to this time, the honourable ancient dignities were only eleven in 
 number, but they were now increased to twelve, ranldng in the following order: — 
 Fii-st, the king; second, the prince; third, the duke; fourth, the marquis; fifth, the earl; 
 sixth, the viscount; seventh, the baron; and these seven are called princely, and 
 allowed to wear coronets. The other five are only noble: as first, the knight baronet; 
 second, tlie knight banneret; third, the knight bachelor ; fourth, the esquire ; and, 
 fifth, the gentleman. 
 
 This was the age of witclicraft ; and no county in the kingdom was more scan- Lanca- 
 dalized by the degi-ading superstition than the county of Lancaster. In the present ^uches. 
 day, when the term " Lancashire Witches" serves only to excite feelings of gaiety and 
 admii-atiou,! it is not possible to conceive how tUfferent were the sentiments produced 
 by those magical words in the seventeenth century, when the " Solomon of the 
 North" ascended the throne of England, and when, on the proclamation of a general 
 pardon, the crime of " wytchcrafte" was excepted from the common amnesty. 
 
 A petition from Dr. Dee, warden of the collegiate church of Manchester, of the date 
 of the 5tli of January, 1604, praying to be freed from tliis revolting imputation of witch- dv. Dee's 
 craft, even at the risk of a trial for his life, sufficiently indicates tlie horror excited by 
 the charge. " It has been afiii-med," says the doctor, " tliat your majesty's supplicant 
 was the conjurer belonging to the most honourable privy coimcil of your majesty's 
 predecessor, of famous memory, queen Elizabeth ; and that he is, or hath been, a 
 caller or invocater of devils, or damned spirits : these slanders, which have tended to 
 his utter undoing, can," he adds, " no longer be endured; and, if on trial he is found 
 guilty of the offence unputed to lum, he offers liimself willingly to the punishment of 
 death; yea, either to be stoned to death, or to be buried quick, or to be burned unmer- 
 cifully."! Conjurer or not, the reverend wai-den sported with conjurer's weapons ; 
 
 * Each baronet paid a patent fee of £1000 on his creation; but this sum was returned to sir 
 Thomas Gerrard, in consideration of his father's sufferings in the cause of the king's mother, Mary, 
 queen of Scots. 
 
 t Mackenzie mentions a case of a fine girl, condemned to die in Scotland for witchcraft, whose 
 crime in reality was, that she had attracted too great a share, in the lady's opinion, of the attention of 
 the laird. This in modern times would have been called a real Lancashire witch. 
 
 t Lansdowne MSS. Cod. 161. 
 
 4 F 2 
 
 petitiun.
 
 588 m)t ?^i£(tori) of the 
 
 CHAP, and his predictions on the fortunate day for the coronation of liis royal mistress, and 
 
 '__ liis pretensions to render innoxious the waxen effigy of queen Elizabetli, found in 
 
 Liucohi's-Inn-Fields, very naturally subjected him to those suspicions which, combined 
 Avith other circumstances, hereafter to be mentioned, proved his utter undoing. 
 seerEdw. The doctor's connections too were of the most suspicious land. For some years 
 
 Kellev, . . ^ . m ... 
 
 the necro- he was the friend and associate of Edward Kelley, alias Talbot, a distinguished 
 
 roancer. 
 
 English alchymist and necromancer, who, for his delinquencies, had his ears cut off 
 at Lancaster. It was the practice of Kelley to exhume and consult the dead, to 
 obtain a knowledge, as he pretended, of the fate of the living j and, upon a certain 
 night, in the park of Waltou-le-Dale, in tlae county of Lancaster, ^vith one Paul 
 Waring, his fellow-companion in such deeds of darkness, he invoked one of the infernal 
 regiment, to kuoAV certain passages in the life, as also what might be known by the 
 devil's foresight of the maimer and thne of the death of a noble young gentleman, as 
 then in his wardship.* This ceremony being ended, Kelley and his companion 
 repaired to the church-yard of Walton-le-D ale, sometimes called Law Church, where 
 they dug up the body of a poor old man recently interred, and whom, by then- incan- 
 tations, they made to deliver strange predictions concerning the same gentleman, who 
 was, probably, present, and anxious to read a page in the boolv of futurity. After 
 these feats, which were, no douljt, performed by a land of ventriloquism. Seer Edward 
 went abroad, accompanied by Dr. Dee, where they found the celebrated elixir, or 
 The piiiio- philosopher's stone, in the form of a powder, by which, amongst other transmutations, 
 
 snplier's iii r • • i*i i •• 
 
 stone. they converted the bottom of a warming pan into good silver, only by warming it at 
 the fire ! and, so plentiful were the precious metals, that their children played at quoits 
 with golden quoits! The fame of the alchymists having reached queen Elizabeth, 
 she sent a messenger, captain Peter Gwinne, secretly, for Kelley, who had got himself 
 immured in one of the prisons of the emperor Rodolphus II. in Prague ; but he 
 1595. was doomed to die in a foreign land, for, in an attempt to escape out of the window 
 of the castle, he received a mortal bruise — the elixir not being able, as it should 
 appear, to communicate immortality to its possessor. 
 
 Avitch- The first distinct charge of witchcraft, in any way connected with this county, 
 
 is that of the wife of the good duke Humphrey, duchess of Gloucester, the associate 
 1447. of Roger Bolingbroke, the priest, and Mai-garet Jourdan,| Avho, after having been 
 hurled by her ambition and inquisitive credulity, from the highest elevation to the 
 lowest degi'adation, became the prisoner of sir Thomas Stanley, in the Isle of Man, 
 and for some time suffered confinement in the castle of Liverpool. J The arts of the 
 145J. Lancashire alchymists, and sir Edward Ashton, though jjartaking of the nature of 
 
 * Weiver's Ancient Funeral Monuments, p. 45. 
 
 t Margaret Jourdan, the Witch of Eye, was burnt to death in Smithfield. | See chap. xi. p. 404.
 
 CountL) |3alatine oC iCanrnsitfr* 689 
 
 witchcraft, prefer no claim to supernatural agency, but maj- rank amongst the chap. 
 eccentric phenomena of the liuman mind.* — 1. 
 
 In the Stanley family, Edward earl of Derby liad tlie reputation, on the autho- i" the 
 rity of a minister of state, of entertaining a conjurer in his house ; and Margaret family. 
 Clifford, countess of Derby, lost the favour of queen Elizaljeth for a womanish 
 curiosity, (from which the queen herself was not entirely free) and constilting with 
 wizards or cunning-men ; wlule Ferdinando, earl of Derby, died, as we have seen, 
 under the impression that he was bewitched, in which belief " very many, and some 
 of them very learned men, concurred." During his last sickness, " a homelie wise- 
 woman, about fifty years old, was found mumbling in a corner in liis honour's 
 chamber, but what God knoweth * * * About midnight was found by Mr. Hal- 
 sail, an image of wax, with hair like unto tlie hair of his honour's head, twisted through 
 the belly thereof; and he fell twice into a trance, not able to move hand or foot, 
 when he Avould have talvcn phissicke to do him good. In the end, he cried out often 
 against all witches and -witchcraft, reposing his only hope of salvation upon the 
 merits of Christ Jesus his Saviour. "f 
 
 Connected with these impositions and this infatuation, was the doctrine and Satanic 
 practice of satanic possession and dispossession, on whicli subject an almost inter- sufn.*^^ 
 minable controversy arose, which divided public opinion in the county of Lancaster 
 for many years, and which, like witchcraft itself, was at length exploded by the 
 progress of luiowledge. 
 
 Amongst the first cases of this kind is that of " Ann Milner, a mayden of Chester 
 Chester, eighteen years of age," to whom an evil spirit appeared suddenly, on the '^^''' 
 16th of February, 1564, in the foi-m of a " wliite thing compassing her round 
 about," while she was bringing her father's kyne from the field. The followino- 
 morning she took her bed, where she fell into a succession of trances, from wliich she 
 was not recovered even by the prayers of " Maister John Prince," one of the canons 
 of the cathedral church of Chester, who attended her under this grievous visitation. 
 Maister Lane, another clergyman, was more successful. After witnessing her 
 tortures, which were so extreme that her head and her feet met, and she appeared in 
 the form of a hoop, he found that her pulse beat in good measure, as if she had been 
 in perfect health, on wliich the sage divine called for vinegar, which he poured into 
 her mouth, and blew into her nostrils. Roused by tliis stimulant, the possessed 
 exclaimed, "A Lady," "A Lady." He next advised her to call upon God and 
 the blood of Christ ; himself calling at the same time for more vinegar. But the 
 damsel having already had enough, exclaimed, " No ! No ! no more, for God's 
 salve." She then, on the bidding of Maister Lane, said the Lord's prayer and 
 * See chap. ii. p. 405. + Harl. MS. Cod. 247.
 
 690 CI)C 5?lgtOll> Of t\)t 
 
 CHAP. Te Deum, and was thus dispossessed, after more than a month's confinement. At 
 XIV . ... 
 1_ whicli the whole city stood astonished ; the judge of assize, John Throgmorton, esq., 
 
 liigh justice, Iieard a sermon from Maister Lane, on the occasion, and sir Wyllyam 
 Calverley, knight, Richard Harlestone, esq., and John Fisher, attested the ^'eracity 
 of the narrative.* 
 Seven Another case of demoniacal possession, much more extensive and varied in its 
 
 possessed circumstanccs, took place at Cleworth, now called Clayworth, in the parish of Leigh, 
 shire!°'^* in the county of Lancaster, thirty years afterwards. The facts are related by the 
 Rev. John DaiTell, a minister of religion, and himself a principal actor in the scene. 
 According to the naiTative published by this thvine, there lived in the year 1 594, at 
 Cleworth, one Nicholas Starkie, who had only two children, John and Ann; the 
 former ten, and the latter nine years of age; these children, according to our autho- 
 rity, became possessed with an evil spuit; and John Hartlay, a reputed conjurer, was 
 applied to, at the end of from two to three months, to give them relief, which he 
 effected by various charms, and the use of a magical cuxle with four crosses, cbawn 
 near Mr. Starkie's seat, at Huntroyd, in the parish of Whalley. Hartlay was con- 
 jurer enough to discover the difference between Mr. Starkie's table and his own, and 
 he contrived to fix lumself as a constant inmate in his benefactor's family for two or 
 three years. Being considered so essential to tlieir peace, he advanced in his demands, 
 till Mr. Starkie demurred, and a separation took place ; but not till five other persons, 
 three of them the female wards of Mr. Starkie, and two other females, had become 
 possessed through the agency of Hartlay, " and it Avas judged in the house, that whom- 
 soever he kissed, on them he breathed the devil." 
 Feats of According to the narrative, all the seven demoniacs sent forth such a strange 
 
 the demo- ^^^^ supernatural voice of loud shouting, as the Uke was never before heard at 
 Cleworth, nor in England. In this extremity. Dr. Dee, the warden of Manchester 
 college, was applied to, to exorcise the evil spirits; but he refused to interfere, advising 
 that they should call in some godly preachers, with whom he would, if they thought 
 proper, consult concerning a public or private fast ; at the same time he sharply 
 reproved Hai'tlay for liis fraudulent practices. Some remission of violence followed, 
 but the evil spirits soon returned, and Mr. Stai-kie's house became a perfect bedlam. 
 John Starkie the son, was " as fierce as a madman, or a mad dog ;" liis sister Anne 
 was little better; Margaret Hardman, a gay sprightly gii-1, was also troubled, and 
 aspired after all the splencHd attire of fashionable life, calling for one gay tiling after 
 another, and repeatetUy telling her lad, as she called her unseen familiar, that she 
 would be finer than liim. Elinor, her younger sister, and Ellen Holland, another of 
 
 * From a black-letter copy in the British Museum, transcribed, and obligingly furnished by 
 George Ormerod, esq. 
 
 macs.
 
 Counti? ^alatiiif of 3Lanrasitn-. 591 
 
 Mr. Starkie's wards, were also " troubled;" and Marpraret Byrom, of Sallbrd, a woman chap. 
 
 . XIV. 
 
 tliirty-three years of age, who was on a visit at Cleworth, became giddy, and partook 
 
 of the general malady. The young ladies fell down, as dead, while they were 
 dancing, and " singing and playing the minstrel," and talked at such a rate, that 
 nobody could be heard but themselves. 
 
 The preachers being called in, according to the advice of Dr. Dee, they inquired 
 how the young demoniacs were handled ? to wliich tlie possessed replied, that an 
 angel, like a dove, came from God, and said, that they must follow him to heaven, 
 which way soever he would lead them. Margaret Hardman then ran under a bed, 
 and began to make a hole, as she said, that her lad (her familiar) might get through 
 the wall to her; and, amongst other of her feats, she Avould have leapt out of the 
 window J the others were equally extravagant in their proceetUngs; but when they 
 had the use of their feet, the use of their tongues was taken away. The gu-ls were 
 so sagacious, that they foretold when their fits would come on. When they were 
 about any game, or sport, they seemed quite happy; but any godly exercise was a 
 ti'ouble to them. As to Margaret Byi'om, she was gi'ievously troubled; she thought 
 in her fits sometliing rolled in her belly lilce a calf, and lay ever on her left side, and 
 when it rose up towards her heart, she thought the head and nose thereof had been 
 full of nails, wherewith being pricked, she was compelled to shriek aloud with very 
 pain and fear ; sometimes she barked and howled, and at others she so much quaked, 
 that her teeth chattered in her head. At the sight of Hartlay she fell down speech- 
 less, and saw a gi'eat black dog, with a monstrous tail and a long chain, running at 
 her open-mouthed. Six times within six weeks the spirit would not suffer her to eat 
 or drink, and afterwards her senses were taken away, and she was as stiff as iron. 
 Two nights before the day of her examination against Hartlay, who was committed 
 to Lancaster castle, the devil appeared to her in his likeness, and told her to speak 
 the truth ! On the 16th of March, Maister George More, pastor of Cawlke, in 
 Derbysliire, and Maister Jon Darrell, afterwards preacher at St.Mary's iuNottingham, 
 came to Cleworth, Avhen they saw the girls grievously tormented. Jane Asliton, the 
 servant of Mr. Starkie, howled in a supernatural manner. Hartley having given her 
 kisses, and promised her marriage. The ministers having got all the seven into one 
 chamber, gave them spiritual advice; but on the bible being l)rought up to them, tlu'ee 
 or four of them began to scoff, and called it — " Bib-le, Bab-le, Bible Bablc." Tlie 
 next morning they were got into a large parlour and laid on couches, when Maister 
 More and Maister Dickens, a preacher (and their pastor,) along with Maister 
 Darrell, and thu'ty other persons, spent the day with them in prayer and fasting, and 
 hearing the word of God. All the parties afflicted remained in their fits the whole 
 of the day. Towards evening, every one of them, with voice and hands lifted up, cried
 
 592 C6e i}i£(tDr|) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, to God for mercy, and he was pleased to hear them, so that six of them were shortly 
 
 ' dispossessed, aud Jane Ashton in the course of tlie next day experienced the same 
 The devils deliverance. At the moment of ilispossession, some of them were miserably rent, and 
 the blood gushed out both at the nose and mouth. Margaret Byrom said, that she 
 felt the spii-it come up her throat, when it gave her a " sore lug" at the time of 
 quitting her, and went out of the window with a flash of fire, she only seeing it. 
 John Starlde said his spirit left him, like a man with a hunch on his back, very ill- 
 favoured; Elinor Hardman's was like an urcliiu; Margaret Byrom's like an ugly 
 black man with shoulders higher than his head; and the others were equally hideous. 
 Two or three days afterwards, the unclean spirits returned and would have re-entered, 
 had they not been resisted. When they could not succeed, either by bribes or 
 entreaties, they threw some of them violently do's™, and deprived others of the use of 
 their legs, and other members; but the victory was finally obtained by the preachers, 
 and aU the devUs banished from Mr. Starkie's household. 
 The con- lu this State of turmoil and confusion Mr. Starkie's house had been kept for 
 
 jurer 
 
 hanged, upwards of two years, but in the mean time Hartlay, the conjurer, who seems to have 
 been a designing knave, after undergoing an examination before two magistrates, was 
 committed to Lancaster castle, where he was convicted, on the evidence of Mr. Starkie 
 and his family, of witchcraft, and sentenced to be executed, principally, as it is stated, 
 for drawing the magical cu'cle, which seems to have been the least part of his oifence, 
 though the most obnoxious to the law. In this trial, spectral evidence was adduced 
 against the prisoner, and the experiment was tried of saying the Lord's prayer.* It 
 does not appear that any of the Lancashii'e A\itches or wizards were tried by swimming. 
 When it no longer served his purpose, he endeavoured to divest himself of the 
 character of a conjurer, and declared that he was not guilty of the crime for which he 
 was doomed to suffer; the law, however, was inexorable, and he was brought to 
 execution. On the scaffold, he persisted in declaring his innocence, but to no purpose; 
 the executioner did his duty, and the criminal was suspended. While in tins situa- 
 tion, the rope broke, Avhen he confessed his guUt ; and being again tied up, he died 
 the victim of his own craft, and of the infatuation of the age in which lie lived.t 
 
 On the appearance of Mr. Darrell's book, containing the relation of these mar- 
 vellous events, a long controversy ai'ose on the doctrine of Demonology, and it was 
 charged upon him by the Rev. Samuel Harsnet, afterwards bishop of Chichester, Nor- 
 wich, and York, that he made a trade of casting out devils, and that he instructed the 
 possessed how to conduct themselves, in order to aid liim in carrying on the imposition. 
 
 * Dr. Hutchinson's Historical Essay on Witchcraft, p. 33. 
 
 t Darrell's narrative of the strange and grievous vexation by the devil of seven persons in Lanca- 
 shire. One of his most famous acts of dispossession was exercised on William Somers, of Nottingham.
 
 Countj) ^aalatinf of 3Lamneitfi% 593 
 
 Mr. Dariell was afterwards examined by tlie queen's commissioners; and, by tlie full chap. 
 agreement of the whole court, he was condemned as a counterfeit, dejjosed from the '^'^" 
 
 ministiy, and committed to close confinement, there to remain for fiirtlier punishment. Oetec- 
 The clergy, in order to prevent the scandal brought upon the chuich by false preten- countlr-''" 
 sions to the power of dispossessing demons, soon after introduced a new canon into the '^^''' 
 ecclesiastical law, expressed in these terms : — " That no minister or ministers, without ifios. 
 " license and direction of the bishop, under his hand and seal obtained, attempt, 
 " upon any pretence whatsoever, either of possession or obsession, by fasting and 
 " prayer, to cast out any devil or devils, under pain of the imputation of imposture. Can. 72. 
 " or cozenage, and deposition from the ministry." 
 
 Some light is cast upon these mysterious transactions by " a discourse concerning iMr. 
 the possession and dispossession of seven persons in one family in Lancashire," chudren! 
 wi'itteu by George More, a Puritanical minister, who had engaged in exorcising the 
 legion of devils. Tliis discourse agrees substantially with Darrell's nan-ative, but 
 adds some facts that are worthy of mention; amongst others, that he, Mr. More, was 
 a prisoner in the Clhike for nearly two years, for justifying and bearing witness to the 
 facts stated by his fellow-minister. Speaking of Mr. Starkic's family, he says, that 
 Mr. Nicholas Starkie having married a gentlewoman, that was an inheritrix,* and of 
 whose kindred some where papists; these, partly for religion, and partly because the 
 estate descended not to heii's male, prayed for the perishing of her issue, and that four 
 sons pined awayin a strange manner; but thatMrs. Starkie, learning this cii-cumstance, 
 estated her lands on her husband, and his heirs, failing issue of her own body, after 
 wliich a son and daughter were born, Avho prospered well till they arrived at the age 
 of ten or twelve years. 
 
 In this disordered state of the public mind, a work of king James's, under the title Kins 
 " Daemonologie," alike distinguished for its vulgar credulity and for its sanguinary Da"mono- 
 demmciations, was issued from the press, and read mth avicUty. Tlie sapient author, infbiisii^i 
 after having imagined a fictitious crime, placed the miserable and friendless objects '" ^^^^' 
 of conviction beyond all hopes of royal clemency. The reader of this royal farrago 
 is told that " the feareful abounding, at this time, in this countrey, of those detestable 
 slaues of the Diuel, the Witches, or enchanters, hath moued the King to despatch, 
 in post, the following Treatise" not, as he protests, to shew his learning, but " to 
 resolve the doubting hearts of many, both that such assaults of Satan are certainly 
 practised, and that the instruments thereof merit most severely to be punished; against 
 the damnable opinions of those Avho are not ashamed in Publicke Print to deny that 
 there can be such a thing as witchcraft; and so maintain the old error of the Sad- 
 
 * Ann, widow of Thurston Barton, esq. of Smithells, and daughter and sole heiress of John Parr, 
 esq. of Kempnough, and Cleworth, in tiie county of Lancaster. — Ormcrod's Cheshire, vol. iii. p. 474. 
 VOL. I. 4 G
 
 594 Cftf i^tstori) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, ducees in the denving of spirits."* Tlie royal casuist then proceeds to prove from 
 \ I V * 
 
 J '_ the scriptures, that these unlawful arts have been and may be put in practice. The 
 
 arts of the necromancers, enchanters, or Avitclies, he says, may be divided into two 
 
 2)arts; the one called magic, or necromaucie, and the other sorcerie, or lAitchcraft. 
 
 As to the Avitches, they are servants or slaves to the devil, but the necromancers ai"e 
 
 his masters. There ai'e also two kinds of miracles; God's miracles, and the devil's 
 
 miracles. The devil's contract with the witches, he divides also into two parts; to the 
 
 baser sort of them, Satan obliges himself to appear on their calling upon liim, either 
 
 in the likeness of a dog, a cat, an ape, or such like other beast, or else to answer by 
 
 a voice only ; but to the more curious sort he will ojjlige himself to enter into a dead 
 
 body, and thereout to give answers relating to tlie events of battles and of matters 
 
 concerning the states and commonwealtlis ; on some he will be a continual attendant, 
 
 in the form of a page, or he wUl permit himself to be conveyed for the space of so 
 
 many years, either in a tablet or a ring, or such like thing, which they may easily 
 
 carry about them. His majesty then shews that witches may transport themselves 
 
 to places at a distance, by being carried either above tlie earth or aboAe tlie sea, unseen 
 
 to any but themselves, or that tliey may come to their conventions in the likeness of 
 
 a little beast or fowl, and that they can pierce througli any house or cluu-cli, though 
 
 all ordinary passages be closed. Assuming that there are twenty women of this craft 
 
 for one man, he accounts for this excess by saying, " for as that sexe is frailer then 
 
 man is, so it is easier to entrap them in these gi'osse snares of the divell, as was 
 
 ouer-well proued to be trew by the serpent's deceiving Eua at the beginning." As 
 
 to their arts, to some he teaclieth how to make pictures of wax or clay, that by the 
 
 wasting thereof the person that they beare the name of may be continually melted or 
 
 dried away by continual sickness : to some he gives such stones or powders as will 
 
 help to cure or to bring on diseases; and others he instructs in the use of poisons 
 
 which physicians do not understand. Armed with these powers, they can make men 
 
 and women to love or hate each other; can lay the sickness of one upon another; 
 
 and can raise storms and tempests in the air, upon sea or land. The treatise is 
 
 wound up with that whicli gi\es it its sanguinary and most mischievous character — 
 
 " On the trial and punishment of \vitches." As to their trial at the assizes, the king 
 
 says, that as -witchcraft is an act of treason against tlie prince, the evidence of " barnes 
 
 (children) or wives (weak women) or never so defamed persons (persons of never so 
 
 infamous character) may serve for sufficient witnesses against them; for, adds he, who 
 
 but witches can be provers, and so witnesses, of the doings of Avitches?" Besides 
 
 evidence, " there are two other good helps that may be used for their triall; the one 
 
 is, the finding of their marke and the trying the insensibleues tlierof : the other is the 
 
 * Preface to King James's Dsemonologie.
 
 Countj) ^alatmf of aanca^tn-. 595 
 
 fleeting on the water; for as in a secret murtlicr, if the dead carkasse hee at an.v chai'. 
 
 time thereafter handled hy the murtherer, it ^^ill gnsh out bloud as if the bloud were L 
 
 crying- to Heaven for revenge of the murtherer, God haA-ing appointed tliat secret 
 supernatural issue for triall of that secret vnatural crune! so it appcrirs tliat God hatli 
 appointed (for a supernatural signe of the monstrous impietie of ^ntches) that the 
 water shall refuse to receive them into her bosome, that have shaken off them the 
 sacred water of Baptisme, and wilfully refused the benefit thereof: No not so much 
 as tlieir eyes are able to shed teares, (tlu-eaten and torture them as ye please,) while 
 first they repent, (God not permitting theii- obstinacie in so horrible a crune) albeit 
 the woman-kind especially, be able otherwayes to shed teares at euery light occasion 
 when they avUI, yea, although it were cUssembling like the crococUles." Having thus 
 opened the door for the most unjust convictions, the royal fanatic adds, that all witches 
 ouo-ht to be put to death, without distinction of age, sex, or rank * 
 
 ° A few years after the author of this sanguinary commentary upon the demoniacal wiu;hes 
 code of Henry VHI. and Elizabeth ascended the English tlu-one, a cHscovery took forest. 
 place of an alleged convention of witches, held at Malkin Tower, in PencUe forest, 
 in the county of Lancaster. 
 
 It has been justly observed by Dr. Hibbert, that witchcraft was generally the 
 most life in wild and desolate parts of the country, and tliis observation is borne out 
 in Lancashiie, for no district in the county is more wild and desolate than certain 
 parts of the parish of Whalley, in wliich parish ahnost all the witch scenes of the 
 county have been perfomed. The persons accused of holding the convention at 
 Malkin Tower were, a poor wretched old woman, of the name of Southernes, and 
 Anne Whittle, each of them fourscore years of age and upwards— 
 
 So wither'd and so wild in their attire, 
 
 They look'd not like the inhabitants o'the earth, 
 
 with several of theii" neighbours and relations, all of the same rank. No fewer than 
 nineteen of these persons were tried at the assizes at Lancaster in the autumn of 1612, 
 charged with the ciime of witchcraft, of whom the following is a list:— 
 
 Witches of Pendle Forest. 
 
 Elizabeth Southernes, widow, alias Old Demdike, 
 
 Elizabeth Device, alias Young Demdike, her daughter, 
 
 » The infliction of death for witchcraft in England has been generally, if not universally, by 
 hanging; but in Scotland, in 1608, " some women were taken in Broughton as witches, and put to 
 an Tssize, and convicted; albeit they persevered constant to the end, yet they were burned quick 
 [alive] after such a cruel manner, that some of them died in despair, renouncing and blasphemmg 
 God; and others, half burnt, brake out of the fire, and were cast quick in it again, till they were 
 burnld to the death."— ^e Earl of Mar's declaration, quoted in Sir W. Scott's Demonology, p. 315. 
 
 4g 2
 
 596 Cftf %}istov^ Of tfje 
 
 CHAP. James Device, tlie son of Young Demclike, 
 
 XIV 
 
 ' Alizon Device, the daughter of Young Demclike, 
 
 Anne Whittle, widow, alias Chattox, alias Chatter-box, the rival Avitch of Old 
 Demdike, 
 
 Anne Redferne, daughter of Ann Chattox, 
 Alice Nutter, 
 
 Katherine Hewytt, alias Mould-heeles, 
 Jane Bulcock, of the Mosse End, 
 John Bulcock, her son, 
 Isabel Robey, 
 
 Margaret Pearson, of Padiham. 
 
 The last mentioned of whom was tried; 1st, for murder by witchcraft; 2d, for 
 bemtcliing a neighbour; 3d, for bewitching a horse; and, being acquitted of the 
 two former charges, was sentenced for the last to stand uj^on the pUlory, in the 
 markets of Clitheroe, Padiham, Colne, and Lancaster, for four successive market 
 days, with a printed paper upon her head, stating her oflfence. 
 
 Witches of Salmesbury. 
 Jennet Bierley, John Ramsden, Isabel Sidegraves, 
 
 Ellen Bierley, Elizabeth Astley, Lawi-ence Haye. 
 
 Jane Sowthworth, Alice Gray, 
 
 Their The seusatiou produced by these trials, in this and the neighbouring counties, was 
 
 gi-eat beyond all former example ;* and Thomas Potts, esq. the clerk of the court, 
 was du'ected by the judges of assize, sii' Edward Bromley, knight, and su* James 
 Altliam, knight, to collect and publish the endeuce, and other documents, connected 
 with the trial, under the revision of the judges themselves. According to this authority. 
 Old Demdilie, the principal actress in the tragedy, was a general agent for the devil, 
 in all these parts, no man escaping her, or her furies, that ever gave them occasion 
 of offence, or denied them any tiling they stood in need of. The justices of the peace 
 in this part of the country, Roger Nowel and Nicholas Bannister, having learnt that 
 Malkin Tower, in the forest of Pendle, the residence of Old Demdike and her 
 daughter, was the resort of the witches, had ventured so far to brave the danger of 
 tlieii' incantations, as to arrest their head, and a number of her followers, and to com- 
 mit them to the castle at Lancaster. Amongst the rest of the voluntary confessions 
 made by the witches, that of Dame Demdilie is preserved, and is to the following- 
 effect : — That about twenty years ago, as she was coming home from begging, she 
 was met near Gouldshey, in the forest of Pendle, by a spiiit, or devU, in the sliape 
 
 * Pottss Preface to the Trials of the Lancashire Witches, in 1612.
 
 \IV. 
 
 Countp ^3alntinf of il.«inrasitfr. 597 
 
 of a boy, the one half of his coat black and the otlier l)rown, who told her to stop, and chap 
 said, that if she would give him lier soul, she should have any thing she mshed for, 
 on wliich she asked Imn Ids name, and was told that Ids name was Tib ; she then 
 consented, from the hope of gain, to give him her soul. For several yeai-s she had 
 no occasion to make any application to her e^il spirit; but one " Sunday morning, 
 having a little child upon her knee, and she being in a slumber, the spirit appeared 
 to her in tlic likeness of a browni dog, and forced himself upon her knee, and begun 
 to suck her blood, under her left arm, on wliich she exclaimed, ' Jesus, save me,' and 
 the bro^vn dog vanished, lea^ing her almost stark mad for the space of eight weeks. 
 On another occasion, she was led, being blind, to the house of Richard Baldwyn, to 
 obtain payment for the services her daughter had performed at liis mill, when Bald- 
 wyn fell into a passion, and bid them to get off his gi-ouiid, upbraiding them ^-ith being 
 whores and witches, and said he would burn the one and hang the other; on which 
 Tib appeared, and they concerted matters to revenge themselves upon Baldwyn, but 
 it does not appear what was the nature of that revenge. Tins wretched creature, 
 who appears, lilie her compeer Chattox, to have been a poor mendicant pretender to 
 the powers of witchcraft, might have read the work of her sovereign king James, for hi 
 her examination she says, that the surest way of taking man's life by witchcraft is 
 to make a picture of clay, like unto the shape of the person meant to be killed, and 
 when they would have the object of theii- vengeance to suffer in any particular part of 
 his body, to take a thorn, or pin, and prick it into that part of the effigy; and when 
 they would have any of the body to consume away, then to take that part of the figure, 
 and Inu-n it; and when they would have the whole body to consume, then to take tlie 
 remainder of the picture, and burn it; by which means the afflicted will che. 
 
 A number of other examinations follow, principally those of the witches them- 
 selves, amounting in substance to this, that Old Demdike persuaded her daughter, 
 Elizabeth Device, to sell herself to the devil, and that she took her advice; and that 
 she, in her turn, initiated her daughter, Alizon Device, in her infernal arts. When 
 the old witcli had been sent to Lancaster castle, a gi-and convocation, consisting of 
 seventeen ■(vitches and three wizards, was held at Malkin Tower, on Good Friday, 
 which was by no means observed as a fast, and at wliich it was determined to kill 
 M'Covell, the governor of the castle, and to blow up the builcUng, for the pui-pose of 
 enabling the mtches to make their escape, Avliich certahily would have been a very 
 effectual way of accomplishing that object, seeing that the persons meant to be rescued 
 were in the building wliich it was intended to destroy ! The object of this witch- 
 council Avas threefold: first, to christen the familiar of Alizon DcAice, one of the 
 mtches wholhad been taken to Lancaster; second, to concert a plan for blowing up 
 the castle, and murdering the gaoler; and, third, foi- bewitching and murderino-
 
 598 CI)e i^isitory of tin 
 
 CHAP. Mr. Lister, a gentleman residing at Westby, in Craven, in Yorksliii-e. The business 
 ^^^" beino- ended, the witches, in quitting the meeting, Avalked out of tlie barn, wliich was 
 
 1612. 
 
 dioTiified with the name of a tower, in theii- proper shapes; but no sooner had they 
 reached the door, than they each mounted their spiiit, wliich was in the foi-m of a young 
 horse, and quickly vanished out of sight. 
 
 Before the assizes. Old Demdike, worn out by age and trouble, escaped the hands 
 of the executioner by her death in prison, but the other prisoners were brought to 
 trial.* 
 Aug. 18, The 'first person arraigned before sir Edward Bromley, who presided in the 
 
 ci-iminal court, was Ann Wliittle, alias Chattox, who is described by Mr. Potts as a very 
 old, withered-spent, and decrepit creature, eighty years of age, and nearly blind — a 
 dangerous witch of very long continuance, always opposed to Old DemdUie; for Avhom 
 the one favoured, the other hated deadly, and they envied and accused one another 
 in theii- examinations. Tliis witch was more ready to do mischief to men's goods than 
 to themselves, her lips ever chattered as she walked, (and hence, probably, lier name 
 .of Chattox or Chatter-box,) but no man Imew what she said; her abode was in the 
 forest of Pendle, amongst the Tvicked company of dangerous witches, where the woollen 
 trade was earned on, and she, in her younger days, was a carder of wool. !She was 
 indicted for having exercised various wicked and devilish arts called ^vitchcrafts, 
 enchantments, charms, and sorceries, upon one Robert Nutter, of Greenehead in the 
 forest of Pendle, and, by force of the said witchcraft, having feloniously killed the said 
 Robert Nutter. To establish this charge, her own examination was read, from which 
 it appeared, that, fom-teen or fifteen years ago, a tiling, like " a christian man," had 
 importuned her to sell her soul to the devil, and that she had complied with his 
 request, giving to her familiar the name oi Fancy j and on account of an insult ofiered 
 to her daughter, Redfern, by Robert Nutter, they two conspii-ed to place a bad wish 
 upon Nutter, of wliich he died. Amongst other charms, was that of an incantation 
 
 * UNIQUE PEDIGREE. 
 
 The following witch pedigree will explain the relationship in which several of the prisoners stood 
 to each other : — 
 
 Elizabeth Southernes, ats Old Demdike, dies in prison, 1612. 
 
 7 
 
 Eliz. Device, ats Young Demdike=John Device, bewitched to death by widow Chattox. 
 
 7 . 
 
 James Device, hanged at Alizon Device, hanged at Jannet Device, rai evidence against 
 
 Lancaster, in 1612. Lancaster, in 1612. her own mother, in 1612, con- 
 
 demned herself as a Pendle witch, 
 in 1633.
 
 Coimtj) |3alatmf of 2.anrastn% 599 
 
 used over drink, in the process of brewing, when it faUed to work; of which the fol- chap. 
 
 , . . XIV. 
 
 lowing IS a copy: — 
 
 " A CHARME. 
 
 " Three Biters hast thou bitten, 
 
 " The Hart, ill Eye, ill Tonge; 
 " Three bitter shall be thy Roote, 
 
 " Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, a God's name. 
 " Fine Pater-nosters, fine Auies, and a Creede, 
 
 " In worship of fiue wounds of our Lord," 
 
 It has been further deposed against the accused, that John Device agreed to give 
 Old Chattox a dole of meal yearly, if she would not hurt liini; and that when he 
 ceased to make tliis annual pajnnent, he took his bed and died. To wliich were added 
 two otlier crimes of smaller magnitude; first, that she had be^vitchcd the drink of 
 John Moore ; and, second, that she had, without the operation of the churn, produced 
 a quantity of butter from a dish of skimmed milk ! In the face of this evidence, and no 
 longer anxious about her own life, she acknowledged her guilt ; luit hinnbly prayed 
 tlie judges to be merciful to her daughter Anne Redfeame. Tliis prayer, so natural 
 from a mother, was vain. Bent, as was the court before wliich she was tried, on 
 blood, they knew not how to appreciate tliis touching trait of maternal magnanimity. 
 
 Against Elizabeth Device, the testimony of her own daughter, a child nine years 
 of age, was received, and the way in which her evidence was given, instead of filling 
 the court Avith lioiTor, seems to have excited their applause and achniration. Accord- 
 ing to our authority, the familiar of the prisoner was a dog, which went by tlie 
 name of Ball, and by whose agency she bewitched to death John Robinson,* James 
 Robinson, and James Mitton; the fii-st of the vietims having called her a strumpet, 
 and the last lia\^ug refused to give Old Demdike a penny when she asked her for 
 chai-ity. To render her daughter proficient in the art, the prisoner tauglit her two 
 prayers, by one of whicli she cured the bewitched, and by the other procured drink. 
 
 The prayer for drink was in these tenns: — " Crucijixus hoc signum vitam Eter- 
 nam. Amen." 
 
 The chaiTQ for curing the bewitched, thus : — 
 
 " A CHARME. 
 
 Vpon Good-Friday, I will fast while I 
 
 may, 
 Vntill I heare them knell 
 Our Lord's owne Bell, 
 Lord in his messe 
 With his twelue Apostles good, 
 
 What hath he in his hand ? 
 
 Ligh in leath wand : 
 
 What he in his other hand? 
 
 Heauen's doore key. 
 
 Open, open Heauen doore keyes, 
 
 Sneck, sneck hell doore," &c. 
 
 * The ancient Rabbins held that the devils most frequently appeared in the shape of Seghuirim, 
 rough and hairy goats; but none of the familiars of the Lancashire witches were of this classical 
 description.
 
 600 
 
 Clie ?l?i£(torj) of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIV. 
 
 Salmes- 
 
 bury 
 
 witches. 
 
 The person of Elizabeth Device, as described by the clerk of the court, seems to 
 have peculiarly qualified her for an ancient witch: " she was branded," says he, 
 " Avith a preposterous mark in nature; her left eye standing lower than her right, the 
 one looking dowa and the other up, at the same tune." Her process of destruction 
 was by modelling clay or marl figures, and wasting her victims away along with 
 them : — another proof of the king's sagacity, which, no doubt, the judges, who seem 
 to have been more solicitous to obtain the favour of their royal master than to admi- 
 nister impartial justice to his subjects, would not fail to make known at court. 
 
 James Device was convicted principally on the evidence of liis infant sister, of 
 bewitching and killing Mrs. Ann Toweuely, the wife of Mr. Henry Towenely, of the 
 Carr, by means of a picture of clay, and both he and liis sister were witnesses against 
 then* mother. Tliis wizard, whose spu'it was called Dandy, is described as a poor, 
 decrepit boy, apparently of weak intellect, and so infirm, that it was found necessary 
 to hold him up in court on his trial. 
 
 Upon evidence of tliis kind, no fewer than ten of these unfortunate people were 
 found guilty at Lancaster, and sentenced to suffer the punishment of death; eight 
 others were acquitted, though for what reason it is difficult to unagine, for the evidence 
 against some of them, at least, appears to have been equally strong; or, to speak more 
 properly, equally weak and absurd, as against those who were convicted. 
 
 The persons sentenced to death, aud afterwards executed, were Ann Whittle, 
 alias Chattox, Elizabeth Device, James Device, Ann Redferne, Alice Nutter, Cathe- 
 I'ine Hewytt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock, Alizon Device, and Isabel Robey. 
 
 Against Jane Bieiley, EUen Bierley, and Jane Southworth, of Salmesbury, charged 
 with having bewitched Grace Sowerbutts, at that place; the only material evidence 
 adduced, was that of Grace Sowerbutts herself, a girl of licentious and vagi-ant habits, 
 who swore that these women, one of them being her gi*andmother, tUd draw her by 
 the hah* of the head, and lay her upon the top of a hay-mow, and did take her senses 
 and memory from her ; that they appeared to her sometimes in their own likeness, 
 and sometimes lUie a black dog. She further deposed, that by theii' arts they pre- 
 vailed upon her to join their sisterhood; and that they Avere met from time to time 
 by " four black things going upright, and yet not like men in the face," who conveyed 
 them across the Ribble, where they danced with them, and then each retired to 
 hold dalliance with her familiar, conformable, no doubt, to the doctrine of Tnculn and 
 Succuhi, as promulgated by the royal demouologist. To consunnnate then' atrocities, 
 the prisoners bewitched and slew a cliild of Thomas Walshman's, by placing a nail 
 in its navel ; and after its burial, they took up the corpse, when they ate part of the 
 flesh, and made " an unxious ointment," by boiling the bones. This was more than 
 even the capacious credulity of the judge and jury could chgest; the Sahnesbury
 
 Countj) palatine of 2.aucae!Ui% ooi 
 
 witches were therefore acquitted, and a seminary priest, of the name of Thompson, chap. 
 
 alias Southworth, was suspected by two of tlic county mapjistratcs,* to whom the . 
 
 affair was afterwai-ds referred, of liaraig instigated Sowerbutts to make the charge ; 
 l)ut this imputation was not supported by any satisfactory evidence. John Ilamsden, 
 Elizabeth Astley, Alice Gray, Isabel Sidegraves, and Lawrence Haye, were all dis- 
 chai'ged without Uial. 
 
 The iudo-e, sir Edwai-d Bromley, in addressing the convicted prisoners, wlien sentences 
 sentence of death was passed upon them, made a pai-ade of clemency and impartial witches, 
 justice, which was only to be discovered in his words: — " You," said he, " of all peo- 
 ple, have the least cause of complaint; since on the trial for your lives there hath been 
 much care and pains taken; and what persons of your nature and condition were ever 
 arraigned and tried with, so much solemnity? Tlie court hath had great care to receive 
 nothing in evidence against you but matter of fact If As you stand sunply (yoiur 
 offences and bloody practices not considered) your fate would rather move compassion 
 than exasperate any man; for whom would not the ruin of so many poor creatures 
 at one time touch, as in appearance simple, and of little understanchug ? But the 
 blood of these innocent childi-en, and others his majesty's subjects, whom cruelly and 
 barbarously you have murdered and cut off, cries unto the Lord for vengeance. It 
 is impossible that you, who are stained with so much innocent blood, should either 
 prosper or continue in tliis world, or receive reward in the next." Having thus shut 
 the door of hope, both m this life and the life that is to come, the judge proceeded to 
 uro-e the victims of superstition to repentance! and concluded by sentencing them all 
 to be hanged. 
 
 It would, probably, have occurred to the judges, that persons possessed of the power 
 to lull their enemies, and endowed with a capacity of locomotion that enabled them 
 to fly over the land or the sea, might have slain their prosecutors, or mounted their 
 familiars, and taken flight, had not the dogma promulgated by king James answered 
 this objection in limine : " When the mtches are apprehended and detained by the 
 
 * The Rev. William Leigh, and Edward Chisnall, esq. 
 
 t Nothing but matter of fact .'—Why, to prove the guilt of one of the prisoners, evidence was 
 received, that it was the opinion of a man, not in court, that she had turned his beer sour; and to prove 
 the charge of murder, it was thought sufficient to attest, that a sick person had declared his belief 
 that he owed his approaching death to the maledictions of the prisoner. The bleeding of the corpse 
 on the touch of the sorceress, one of the absurd and now exploded superstitions insisted upon by king 
 James, was advanced on oath, on the trial of Jennet Preston, as an incontrovertible evidence of 
 guilt; and yet the judge upon the bench declares, that no evidence was received against the prisoners 
 but matter of fact. His lordship would have approached much nearer to the truth, if he had said that 
 nothing but fiction was heard in evidence. 
 
 VOL. I. 4 H
 
 602 Cftt S^igtoru of t\)t 
 
 CHAP, lawful niao-istrate," says the royal commeutator, " their power is then no jn'eater than 
 
 XIV. a ' •, ^ X O 
 
 _1 L_ before tliat ever they medcUed with these matters."* This, indeed, is a necessary 
 
 part of tlie doctrine, otherwise Elizabeth Device and her associates might as easily 
 and as invisibly have conveyed themselves from the bar of the castle at Lancaster, as 
 from the witch convention at Malkin Tower. 
 
 Their At the appointed tune, all these poor wretches died by the hands of the public 
 
 executioner — victims, no doubt, in part, of their own fraudulent arts, resorted to 
 for the purpose of eking out a miserable subsistence — but, much more, sacrifices 
 offered upon the altars of ignorance and superstition. 
 
 According to Gaule, who is quite an authority upon tliis subject, witch-conven- 
 tions, on the model of that held at the residence of Old Demdike's, at Malkin Tower, 
 and from thence adjourned, at the instance of Jennet Preston, to Romles-raoor, were 
 for the solemn initiation of the T^-itches, or for the baptism of their imps. Here the 
 new disciple of Satan was presented by a confederate, or familiar, to the prince of 
 darkness, sitting on a throne of infernal majesty, appearing in the form of man, but 
 labouring incessantly to hide his cloven feet with liis vesture : to whom, after bowing 
 and homage done in kissing his back parts, a petition was presented, praying to be 
 received into his association, and taken under liis protection. Tlie initiated was then 
 re-bai)tized in the devil's name; and during the ceremony, the infernal president was 
 
 Desciip- busy with his long nails scraping and scratching those places of the forehead where 
 
 vvitnhcon- the sigu of the cross had been made in Cluistian baptism, or where the chrisme was 
 laid ; in the place of which he impressed the mark of the beast, or the devil's flesh- 
 brand, upon some part of the body. The mtch was then taught, by her infernal 
 instructor, to make an oil, or ointment, of live infants stolen out of the cradle, as in 
 the case of Walshmaji's cliild, of Salmesbury, or of dead ones stolen out of their 
 gi'aves, which they were to boil to a jelly, and then drinking one part of the unctuous 
 preparation, and besmeaiing themselves A\-ith the other, they became from that 
 moment endowed mth the mystical ai't. " Further," says Gaule, " the witch or 
 wizard, for her or his part, vows, either by word of mouth, or peradventure by writing, 
 and that in her or liis own blood, to give both body and soul to the devil; to deny 
 and to defy God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; to attend the devil's 
 nocturnal conventicles, sabbaths, and sacrifices; to take him for her or liis god, and 
 to worship, invoke, and obey him; to devote her or his children to liim, as did Old 
 Dcmdike and Old Chattox, and to labour to bring others into the infernal confe- 
 deracy. The devil, on his part, promising to be always present witli his disciples, to 
 serve them at their beck ; to give them their will upon any body, and to bestow upon 
 them all the riches! honours! and pleasures! that they can desire, (an engagement 
 
 * King James's Dsenionologie, chap. vi. 
 
 vention.
 
 CH.\1». 
 XIV. 
 
 Coimti) |)alntmc of Sanrastfr. 603 
 
 that was most Aiitlilessly performed towards tlie Lancashire witches, who were 
 steeped in poverty and infamy.) An imp, or familiar, was tlien assigned to each of 
 them, in the shape of a dog, a cat, a mouse, or a rat, &c. ; and, after tlie}^ liad shaken 
 hands and emhraced, they fell to dancing and feasting, according to the banquet that 
 the devil, who was the founder of the feast, had provided for them. Sometimes the 
 ceremony was consummated by marrying them before they parted; either to himself or 
 to their familiars, or to one another. After that, tliey parted till the next gi-eat con- 
 vention, and were conveyed, sAvift as the winds, throngli the air. Tlie absentees 
 from these meetings were amersed in fines for their non-attendauce, beaten on tlie 
 palms of their feet ^vith rods of iron, or pinched and sucked by their familiars, till 
 theii- blood came, and till they repented of theii- sloath." 
 
 At the assizes at York, in the summer of the same year, Jennet Preston, of Trial and 
 Gisborn, was brought to trial before sir James Altham, charged with having attended of ^re-"" 
 the great witch-meeting at Malkin Tower, in Lancashire, on tlie Good Friday pre- ',',"!^h ,,t 
 ceding, and with having murdered Thomas Lister, esq. of Westby, in Craven, by '^"'''• 
 witchcraft. In support of these charges, it was deposed by Anne Robinson, probably 
 one of the family of the Lancashire witch-finders, that when Mr. Lister was lyino- in 
 extremity upon his death-bed, he cried out to them that stood about hun, " Jennet 
 Preston is in the house, look where she is! take hold of her; for God's sake, shut the 
 doors, and take her! Look about for her, and lay hold on her, for she is in 
 the house! and so crying, he departed tliis life." Other witnesses deposed, that 
 after Mr. Lister was dead, and laid out in his winding sheet, Jane Preston was 
 brought to touch the dead body, on Mhich fresh blood presently gushed out in the 
 presence of all those that were in the room.* This appears to have been the only 
 e\adence against the prisoner, except that which was contained in the examination 
 of James Device, the grandson of Old Demdike, Avho deposed before Roger Nowell 
 and Nicholas Bannister, two Lancasliii-e magistrates, that Jennet Preston, the prisoner, 
 was present at the great witch-meeting at Malkin Tower, on the memorable Good 
 Friday, and that she came to tlie meeting mounted upon a spirit like unto a white 
 foal, with a black spot in the forehead ; that at this meeting she asked the aid of the 
 witches and ^vizards assembled to kill Mr. Thomas Lister, and that they consented to 
 entangle him in the meshes of then.' net of enchantment, and, in the end, to destroy 
 him; on which she gave them an invitation to attend another witch feast on the next 
 Good Friday, on Romeles-moor, and then, mounting her spirit, she took flight through 
 the air, and became imisible. Tliis strange mass of absurdities satisfied the judge of 
 
 • It ought to be generally known that the blood is congealed in the liody for two or three days 
 after death ; and then becomes liquid again in its tendency to corruption ; and that the air being 
 heated by a number of persons coming into the room, the blood will flow, when murderers are absent 
 as well as when they are present. This test ought therefore to be exploded. 
 
 4 H 3
 
 604 
 
 Clje listoip of tf)e 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIV. 
 
 Second 
 batch of 
 Pendle 
 Forest 
 witches. 
 
 the prisoner's guilt, n-lio summed up the evidence, if evidence it could be called, 
 strongly against her; but the jury, somewhat more scrupulous, spent the greatest 
 part of the day in deliberation; in the end, however, they returned a verdict of guilty, 
 and the poor unfortunate wretch ended her life on the gallows, denying firmly her 
 guilt, and accusing, with a gi-eat deal of truth, her prosecutors of the crime of 
 murder. 
 
 It does not appear that the rack was resorted to in Lancashire, but, if the rack 
 was not applied, the gallows was in frequent use, and a man of the name of Uttey, a 
 reputed wizai-d, was hanged at Lancaster, about the year 1630, for having bewitched 
 to death Richard, the son of Ralph Assheton, esq. lord of Middleton.* 
 
 At the assizes at Lancaster, in 16-3.3, another batch of reputed witches, consisting 
 of seventeen in number, were brought to trial from the usual resort in Pendle forest. 
 The informations were laid before Richard Shuttleworth, esq. and John Starkie, esq. 
 on the 10th of February, 1G33, the latter of whom had figured as one of the possessed 
 amongst the seven demoniacs, at Cleworth, in the year 1595. The principal evidence 
 against the prisoners was Edward Robinson,t the son of Edmund Robinson, of 
 Pendle, mason, who deposed that two gi'eyhounds had been transformed into witches. 
 That one of the witches tliere, Dickenson's wife, had conveyed him before her on horse- 
 back to a meeting at Hoarestones, where a convocation of witches, amountuig to three- 
 score, or thereabout, had assembled to regale themselves; that one of them, Loyard's 
 wife, he had seen sitting upon a piece of cross wood in his father's chimney; that 
 afterwards he had met and fought with a boy, who turned out to have a cloven foot ; 
 that in a neighbouring barn he had seen three witches taking pictures, into which 
 they had stuck thorns, and that, at the meeting at Hoarestones, all the persons now 
 in confinement for witchcraft were present.]; The only evidence that appears in con- 
 
 * Dr. Whitaker's History of Whalley, p. 528. 
 
 t The prototype of Matthew Hopkins, the south country witch-finder. Sir Walter Scott, in his 
 preface to the Wonderful Discovery of Witches in Lancashire, in lord Somers's Tracts, has fallen into 
 an error by confounding the Pendle forest witches of 1612 with those of 1633. 
 
 I WITCHCRAFT. 
 Harl MSS. Cod. 6854, fo. 26 b. 
 " The Examination of Edward Robinson, sonne of Edmond Robinson of Pendle 
 Forest, mason, taken at Padian before Richard Shuttleworth and John Starkey, 
 Esquires, two of his Ma"" Justices of Peace w"'in the Countie of Lancaster, the 
 10th day of Februarie, Anno Dni 1633. 
 
 " Who informeth vpon oath beinge exammed touchinge the greate Meetinge of Witches in Pendle, 
 saith that vpon All Saintf day last past, he this Informer beinge w"" one Henrie Parker a neere doore- 
 neighbour to him in Wheatley Lane, who desired the said Parker to give him leave to get some
 
 Countp ^alatint of aanraeter. 605 
 
 firmatioii of this testimony is, that of Edimmd Robinson, tlie father, who had himself chap. 
 
 been a witness against the Lancashire witches of 1012, wliicli amounts merely to this — 
 that he heard his son cry pitifully, and that the boy told him all that was contained 
 in his deposition. 
 
 Bullas, w"^*" he did, in w*^"" tyme of gettinge Bullas hee sawe two grey hounds, vizt. a blacke and 
 a browne one come runninge over the next feildf towards him. Hee verilie thinketh the one to bee 
 Mr. Butters and the other to bee Mr. Robinsons, the said Mr. Butter and Mr. Robinson then have- 
 inge such like. And the said Grey Hounds came and fawned on him, they haveinge about their 
 neckf either of them a Coller, to cither of w"^'' Collers was tyed a strynge, w'''' Collers as this Informer 
 affirmeth, did shine like gold, and hee thinkinge that some either of Mr. Butters or Mr. Robinsons 
 familie should have followed them, but seeinge noe bodie to followe them, hee tooke the said Grey- 
 hounds thinkinge to hunte w"' them, and presentlie a hare did rise verie neere before him, at the sight 
 whereof he cryed ' Loo, loo, loo," but the doggs would not runn, wherevpon hee beinge verie angrie 
 tooke them, and w"' the stringf that were at their Collers tyed either of them to a litle bush at the 
 next hedge, and w"" a rodd that hee had in his hand hee beate them, and instead of the blacke grey- 
 hound one Dickensons wife stood vpp, a neighbour whom this Informer knoweth, and instead of the 
 browne Greyhound a litle Boy, whom this Informer knoweth not, at w"^** sight this Informer beinge 
 afrayd, endeavoured to runn awaie, but beinge stayd by the woeman, vizt. Dickensons wife, shee put 
 her hand into her pocket, and pulled forth a peece of silver much like to a fayre shillinge, and offered 
 to give him it to hold his tongue, and not to tell, w'^'^ hee refused, sayinge, ' nay, thou art a witch,' 
 wherevpon shee put her hand into her pocket againe, and pulled out a thinge like unto a Bridle that 
 gingled, w'''' shee put on the litle Boyes head w'^'" stood vpp in the browne Greyhounds stead, where- 
 vpon the said Boy stood vpp a white horse. Then ymediatlie the said Dickensons wife tooke this 
 Informer before her vpon the said horse, and carryed him to a newe howse called Houhlons, beinge a 
 quarter of a myle off, whether when they were come, there were diverse ^sons about the doore, and 
 hee sawe diverse others cominge rydeinge on horses of severall colours towards the said howse, w"^*" 
 tyed their horses to a hedge neere to the said howse to the number of sixtie or thereabout^ as this 
 Informer thinketh, where they had a fyre, and meate roastinge, and some other meate stirringe in the 
 said howse, whereof a young woeman whom this Informer knoweth not gave him flesh and bread vpon 
 a trencher, and drinke in a glasse, after the first tast, hee refused, and would have noe more, and said 
 it was nought, and psentlie after, seeinge diverse others of the said Companie, goinge to a Barne, 
 eere adioyninge hee followed after, and then hee sawe sixe of them kneelinge, and pullinge all six 
 severall ropes w'"" were fastened or tyed to the topp of the howse, at or w"' w'^'' pullinge there came in 
 this Informers sight fleshe smoakinge, butter in lumpes, and milke as it were syleinge from the said 
 ropes, all w'''^ fell into six basons w'''' were placed under the said ropes, and after that these sixe had 
 done, there came other six, w"^"" did soe likewise, and dureinge all the tyme of theire soe pullinge, they 
 made such fowle faces that they feared this Informer, soe as hee was glad to steale out and runn 
 home, who when they wanted some of their Companie runn after him to a place in the high way 
 called Boggard-hole, where hee this Informer mett two horsemen, at the sight whereof the said per- 
 sons left followinge him. And the foremost of w'^'' psons that followed, hee knewe to bee Loyardf wife, 
 w''^ said wife together w"' one Dickensons wife and one Jennet Davies hee hath scene since at severall 
 times in a croft or close adioyninge to his Fathers howse, w'^'' put him in greate feare: And further 
 this Informer saith, That vpon Thursdaie after new yeares daye last past, hee saw the said Loyards 
 
 XIV.
 
 coc 
 
 €i)t in^tov^ of tin 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIV. 
 
 Upon tliis evidence, all the seventeen prisoners were found guOtj, and sentenced 
 to be executed. But the judge very properly respited the execution; and, on the 
 Seventeen case being reported to the king in council, the bishop of Chester, Dr. Bridsman, was 
 
 convicted. .. ,. ™--- • O' 
 
 reqnii'ed to investigate the cu-cumstances. This mquiry was instituted at Chester, 
 and four of the contacted ■v\-itches, namely, Margaret Johnson, Frances Dickonson, 
 
 wife sittinge vpon a crosse peece of wood, beinge w^^'m tlie chymney of his Fathers dwellinge howse, 
 and hee callinge to her said ' Come downe thou Loyards wife,' and ymediatlie the said Loyards wife 
 went vpp out of his sight : And further this Informer saith, that after hee was come from the Companie 
 aforesaid to his Fathers howse, beinge towardf eveninge his Father bidd him goe and fetch home two 
 kyne to sell, and in the waie in a feild called the Oilers hee chanced to happen vpon a boy w'^'' began 
 to quarrell w"" him, and they fought together till the Informer had Lis eares made verie bloodie by 
 fightinge, and lookinge downe hee sawe the boy had a cloven foote, at w"^'' sight hee was afrayd, and 
 ran away from him to seeke the kyne, and in the way hee. sawe a light like a lanthorne, towards 
 w"='' hee made hast, supposinge it to bee carryed by some of Mr. Robinsons people, but when hee 
 came to the place hee onelie found a woeman standinge on the bridge, whom when hee sawe hee 
 knewe to bee Loyards wife, and knowinge her, hee turned backe againe, and ymediatlie hee met 
 w* the aforesaid boy, from whom hee offered to runn, w"^"" boy gave him a blow on the backe, which 
 made him cry. And hee further saith, when hee was in the Barne, hee sawe three women take three 
 pictures from the beame, in the w'='' pictures were manie thornes or such like thinges sticked in them, 
 and that Loyards wife tooke one of the said pictures downe, but the other two women that tooke 
 downe the other two, hee knoweth not. And beinge further asked what ^sons were at the meetings 
 aforesaid, hee nominated those |)sons foUowinge, vizt. 
 
 " Dickensons 
 Henrie Priestleyes wife and his ladd 
 Alice Hargrave, widdowe 
 Jane Davies (ats Jennet Device) 
 William Davies 
 
 The wife of Henrie Offe^ and her sonnes 
 John and Myles 
 The wife of Duckers 
 
 James Hargrave of Maresden 
 
 Loyards wife 
 
 James wife 
 
 Sanders wife, And as hee beleeveth 
 
 Lawnes wife 
 
 Sander Pynes wife of Baraford 
 
 One Foolegate and his wife 
 
 And Leonards of the West Close."* 
 
 " The Examination of Edmund Robinson of Pendle, the Father to the said Edward 
 Robinson, informeth vpon oath, and saith : 
 
 " That vpon All Saints Day last past, hee sent his sonne thaforesaid Informer to fetch home two 
 kyne to sell, and saith that his sonn staid longer then hee thought hee should have done, and hee 
 went to seeke him, and in seekeinge him hee heard him cry pitifullie and found him soe afrayd and 
 distracted that hee neither knew his Father nor did hee knowe where hee was, and soe contynued for 
 
 * This deposition differs, in some respects, from the copy in Dr. Whitaker's Whalley, and in 
 some others from the version given in Webster's Display of Witchcraft; but it is a correct transcript 
 {tarn the Harleian Collection. The discrepancies in the copies are principally clerical.
 
 Countj) ^3alatine of aaiuasitn-. 607 
 
 Mary Spencer, and tlie vnk of Hargi-aves, were sent to Loudon, and examined, first, chap 
 
 by the king's physicians and surgeons, and afterwai'ds hy the king himsoll'. 1_ 
 
 Charles I. less prone to credulity than his father, having satisfied liimself that tlie by X'"'"' 
 
 charge against these poor creatures was gi'oundless, extended to them the royal £^",^(,'1" 
 
 neere a quarter of an liower before hee came to himself, and hee told this Informer, his Father, all 
 the jjticuler passages that are before declared in the said Edward Robinson his sonnes Information. 
 
 " Richard Shuttleworth, '^ 
 
 i^„x, c-..^,.,^ >Justices of the Peace." 
 
 John starkie, k 
 
 " The Examination of Margaret Johnson taken at Padian before Richard Shuttle- 
 worth and John Starkey, Esquires, two of his Ma"'" Justices of peace w"'in 
 the Countie of Lancaster the second day of March Anno Regni Regis Caroli 
 nono annoy3 domini 1633. 
 " Margaret Johnson of Marsden widdowe beinge examined, confesseth and saith That betwixt 
 seaven or eight yeares since, shee beinge in her newe howse in Marsden in a great passion of anger 
 and discontent, and w'^'all pressed w"" some want, there appeared vnto her a spirit or divell in the 
 similitude and proportion of a man, apparelled in a suite of black, tyed about w'"" with silke pointC, 
 who oflered that if shee would give him her soule, hee would supplie all her wantf , and bringe to her 
 whatsoever shee did neede, and at her appointment would in revenge either kill or hurt whom or what 
 shee desired, were it man or beast. And saith, that after a salutation or two, shee contracted and 
 covenaunted w"" the said Divell for her soule, and that the said Divell or spirit bidd her call him by 
 the name of Mamillion, and when shee would have him to doe anie thinge for her, call in Maraillion, 
 and hee would bee readie to doe her will ; And saith, in all her talk and Conferense shee calleth her said 
 Divell Mamillion my god. And shee further saith, that the said Mamillion her Divell by her consent 
 did abuse and defyle her bodie, by comittinge wicked vncleanesse together. And saith, that shee 
 was not at the greate meetinge at Hartford in the Forrest of Pendle vpon All Saintf day last past, 
 but saith. That shee was at a second meetinge the Sunday next after All Saintf day at the place 
 aforesaid; where there were at that tyme betweene thirtie and fortie Witches, who did all ryde to the 
 said meetinge, and the end of theire meetinge was to consult for the killinge and hurtinge of men and 
 beastf , And that besid^ theire pticuler familiars or spirittf, there was one greate grand Divell or 
 spirit, more eminent then the rest, and yf anie have a desire to a more greater and more powerful! 
 Divell, whereby they may have power to hurt, they may then have such an one. And saith, that 
 such Witches as have sharpe bones given them by the Divell to pricke them w"", have noe pappes or 
 duggf where theire Divell may suck, but theire Divell suckf from the place pricked w"" the bone, and 
 they are more grand Witches then anie that have markes. Shee also saith that yf a Witch have but 
 one marke, shee hath but one spirit, yf two markes then two spirittf, yf three yet but two spirittf. 
 And saith that theire spirittf vsuallie have knowledge of theire bodies. And beinge to name such, as 
 shee knewe to be Witches, shee named these followinge, vizt. 
 
 One Pickerne and his wife both of Wyndwail, 
 
 Rawson of C'lore and his wife 
 
 Dutfice wife of Clorc by the water side 
 
 Cartmell the wife of Clore 
 
 And Jane of the hedgend in Maresden.
 
 608 CI;e i^istorj) of tf)t 
 
 CHAP, clemency, and so well was the case of those left behind represented by the unique 
 
 XIV 
 
 delegation, that all the seventeen received a free pardon. Scenes so congenial to the 
 imagination of the poet di-ew forth the talents of the comic muse, and the play of the 
 " Lancasliire Witches," the joint production of Thomas Heywood* and Richard 
 Browne, was brought forward, and performed with success at the Globe theatre, 
 in London, whUe the fate of the convicts was depending, as is shewn from the 
 following passage in the epilogue : — 
 
 " unto the Lawes 
 
 " We can but bring the Witches and their cause, 
 
 " And there we leave 'em, as their Divels did ; 
 
 <' Should we goe further with 'm? Wit forbid, 
 
 " What of their storie, further shall ensue, 
 
 " We must referre to time, our selves to you." 
 
 Another play of the Lancasliii-e witches, founded on the exploits of Old Demdike 
 and her weii'd sisterhood, was written eighty years after her death, by Shadwell, the 
 dramatist, and serves to shew that the memory of these fantastic scenes long outlived 
 the actors in the real di'ama. 
 
 It is not the least extraordinaiy pait of these most extraordinary transactions, that 
 pre^dous to the trial, Mai-garet Johnson, of Marsden, one of the prisoners, had been 
 so acted upon by the terrors of her situation, that she actually made a confession of 
 her OATO guilt, attended with circimistances, which would, if true, have ended in her 
 execution. According to tliis deposition, Johnson had sold her soid to a spirit, or 
 deiil, in the similitude of a man, to whom she gave the name of Mamilian, who had 
 promised to supply aU her wants. 
 
 It is difficult to imagine how voluntary confessions of crimes never committed, 
 
 " And yf they would torment a man, they bidd theire spirittf goe and torment them in anie 
 ^ticuler place. And that Good Friday is one Constant day for a yearlie generall meetinge of 
 Witches. And that on Good Fryday last they had a meetinge neere Pendle water side. Shee also 
 saith, That men Witches usualie have woemen spirittf and woemen witches men spirittf , and theire 
 Divells or spirittf give them notice of theire meetingf , and tell them the place and where it must bee. 
 And saith, yf they desire to bee in anie place vpon a suddaine theire Divell or spiritt will vpon a 
 redd dogg, or anie thinge also p'sentlie convey them thither yea into any roome of a mans howse, but 
 shee saith, it is not the substance of theire bodies, but theire spirit assumeth such forme of shape as 
 goes into such roomes. Shee also saith, that the Divell after hee beginnes to sucke, will make a papp 
 or dugg in short tyme, and the matter w"^*" hee sucketh is blood, And saith, that theire Divells can 
 cause fowle weather and stormes and soe did at theire meetingf Shee likewise saith, That when the 
 Divell did come to sucke her papp, hee vsuallie came to her in the likenes of a Catt, sometymes of 
 one Colour, and sometymes of an other. And that since this trouble befell her, her spiritt hath left 
 her, and shee never sawe him since." 
 
 * The author of an elegy on prince Henry, son of James I. and several other court poems.
 
 Counti? ^Jalntinc of iLanrastcr. 609 
 
 could be obtained from persons, avIio were liable to forfeit llieir lives, and frequently chap. 
 did forfeit them, on tlieii- o^\-u accusations. But the fact is undeniable. The deep "^'^" 
 ignorance in which the witches of Pcndle forest were sunk, their alarm at bein"- 
 brought to trial and to public execution, and their hopes of conciliating their accusers 
 by a confession of guilt, may have contributed to this moral plienomenon; especially 
 as the practice did not then prevail of iiKjuiring whether any offer of clemency, or 
 any otlier motive, had been presented to the accused, to induce such confessions. 
 Sir George Mackenzie, himself a believer in witchcraft, and Avho, as the king's 
 advocate, had conducted many trials in Scotland for that crime, speakino- upon the 
 judicial confession of the criminals themselves, says, " Those poor persons who are 
 ordinarily accused of this crime, are poor igiiorant creatures, and oft-times women, 
 who imderstaud not the nature of what they are accused of, and manv inistakino- 
 their own fears and apprehensions for witchcraft, when they are defamed, become so 
 confounded i^ith fear, and the close prison in which they are kept, and so stai'ved for 
 want of meat and sleep, (either of which wants is enough to disorder the strongest 
 reason,) that hardly wiser or more serious people than they would escape distraction; 
 and when persons are confounded with fear and apprehension, they will imagine 
 things very ricUculous and absurd. Most of these poor ci-eatures are tortured by their 
 keepers, who, being persuaded they do God good service, think it their- duty to vex 
 and torment poor prisoners. I went," continues sir- George, " when I was a justice- 
 depute, to examine some women, who had confessed judicially; and one of them, who 
 was a silly creature, told me under secrecy, that she had not contest because she was 
 guilty, but being a poor creature, who WTOUght for her meat, and being defamed for a 
 witch, she knew she would starve, for no person thereafter would either give her 
 meat or lodging, and that all men would beat her, and hound dogs at her, and that, 
 tlierefore, she desired to be out of the world; whereupon she wept most bitterly, and 
 upon her knees called God to witness what she said." 
 
 Tlie account of these transactions, given by Dr. Webster, in his " Display of Display <.f 
 Witchcraft," serves to shew the consternation and alarm which must have been felt wS^*^'' 
 in those days, particularly amongst the old and decrepit, fi-om the macliinations of the '™"' 
 witch-finders. Of the boy, Robinson, he says,* " Tliis said boy was brouo-ht 
 into the church, at I\ildwick, [in Yorkshii-e, on the confines of Lancashire,] a large 
 parish church, where I, being then curate there, was preacliing in the afternoon, and 
 was set upon a stool to look about him, which moved some little disturbance in the 
 congregation for a while. After prayers, I inquired what the matter was : the people 
 told me that it was the boy that discovered witches ; upon wliich I went to the house 
 where lie was to stay all night, where I found him and two very unlikely persons, that 
 
 * Webster's Display of Witchcraft, p. 276. 
 VOL. I. 1 I
 
 610 mn 5?tsitorj) of ti)t 
 
 CHAP, did conduct lilm, and manage the business. I desired to liaAe some discourse with 
 
 XIV. 
 
 the hoy in private; but tliat they utteily refused; then in the 2)resence of a great 
 many people I took tlie boy near me, and said, ' Good boy, tell me truly and in earnest, 
 didst thou see and hear such strange things at tlie meeting of witches as is reported 
 by immy that thou tUdst relate?' But the two men, not giving the boy leave to 
 answer, did pluck him from me, and said, he had been examined by two able justices 
 of the peace, and they did never ask him such a question. To whom I replied, the 
 persons accused had therefore the more wrong." 
 
 As government spies multiply traitors, so professional witch-finders create 
 witches. " The boy Robhison," says Dr. Webster, " in more mature years, 
 acknowledged that he had been instructed and suborned to make these accusations 
 against the accused persons, by his father and others, and that, of course, the whole was 
 a fraud. By such wicked means and unchristian practices, divers innocent persons lost 
 their lives; and these wicked rogues wanted not greater persons (even of the ministry 
 too) that did authorize and encourage them in then- diabolical courses : and the like 
 iu my time happened here in Lancasliire, Avhere divers, both men and women, were 
 accused of supposed witchcraft, and were so unchristianly and inhumanly hantUed, as 
 to be stiipt stark naked, and laid upon tables and beds to be searched, for their sup- 
 posed witch-marks, so barbarous and cruel acts doth cUabolical instigation, working 
 upon ignorance and superstition, produce."* Not only persons of the ministry, but 
 the Idng liimself, as we have seen in the last reign, authorized and encouraged these 
 diabolical courses, not omitting the witch-mark in his descriptions. It must not, how- 
 ever, be supposed that all who countenanced these impositions were themselves fools 
 or impostors, for amongst the judges of the land, who gave into the delusion, we find 
 the venerable name of sir Matthew Hale.t 
 Belief in In mucli more modern times, persons of superior minds ai-e found to give 
 
 craft. tlie sanction of their authority to the popular mythology of A^dtchcraft, and, amongst 
 others, the acute and profound Dr. Wliitaker, the author of the History of 
 
 * The cruel process was to strip the supposed witch naked, and thrust pins into various parts of 
 the body, to discover what the royal demonologist called the " witch-mark," or the devil's stigma; 
 that is, a part of the body insensible to pain, and which was supposed to be possessed by the devil, 
 as a sig'n of his sovereign power, and as the place at which the imps sucked! Sometimes the accused 
 v.ere thrown into a river, or pond, having their thumbs and toes tied together, where, if they sunk, 
 they were held innocent, but if they swam were dragged forth to prison. On other occasions, the 
 suspected witch was bound cross-legged on a stool, there to be watched, and kept without meat or 
 sleep for the space of four-and-twenty hours, within which time it was supposed that her imp would 
 make her a visit, and in that way betray her. 
 
 t At the assizes at Bury St. Edmond's, in 1664, Amy Dunny and Rose Cullender were tried 
 before sir Matthew, anil, being convicted, were hanged, both protesting that they were innocent.
 
 Counti) |3alatme of ILanrasitti-. 6ii 
 
 Whalley, wlio, after prcsciithig- his readers -vntli the depositions of Edward Rohinson chap 
 
 and Margaret Johnson, ■winds i\\) tliis part of liis liistory by saying, " Were I to behokl 
 mth my own eyes such circumstances as have often been related, or were they to be 
 reported to me by a philosophical observer, of perfect integi-ity, upon the evidence of 
 his senses, I know not upon what principles I could refuse my assent to the conclusion, 
 that they Avere really the efl'ects of diabolical power." And then, quoting l)ishop Hurd, 
 he adds, " That for any thhig we know, he (the devil) may still operate in the way 
 of possession, I do not see on what certain grounds any man can deny." Doubtless, 
 if Dr. Wliitaker had beheld with his own eyes such circumstances as have often been 
 related, and had, on careful investigation, found that no fraud had been practised 
 upon him, he would have been bound to believe in the reality of the effects of diabo- 
 lical power. But this is begging the question; no such mii-aculous circumstances 
 as those related have, in all probability, in modern times occuiTed; at least in all 
 cases where they have been submitted to the inquiry of a patient and philosopliical 
 observer, they have been stamped with the character of fraud, or ignorance, or of their 
 combined agency. The same observation applies to bishop Kurd's remark, that devils 
 may still operate in the way of possession. They may certainly, by divine permission ; 
 but tliat permission does not appear in our days ever to be granted.* There is other 
 evidence besides that contained in Dr. Wliitaker's published works, to shew that he 
 was a believer in the visitation of spirits, and in a MS. in the Doctor's hand-writing, 
 he represents, with that kind of gravity which indicates belief, that in the year 1742, 
 the spirit of a farmer of the name of Briercliffe, of Hecklehurst, who had lived a 
 dissolute life, appeared at the gate a little tlistance from his house, mounted beliind 
 another man on a black horse, about the moment when Briercliffe expired ! It is not 
 at all improbable that two men mounted upon a black horse might ride from the house 
 of Briercliffe about the time of liis dissolution, and that one of them might resemble 
 the deceased; but it is highly improbable that the parties were, as is meant to be 
 intimated, one of them the devil and the other the spirit that he was conducting to 
 perdition. The venerable and pious John Wesley was also a firm believer in witch- 
 craft; and in his usual strong way of expressing himself, he says, " that the giving 
 up Avitchcraft, is in effect giving up the bible." Sir* Matthew Hale had, in effect, 
 said the same thing at the Bury assizes; but they might as well have said that the 
 giving up modern miracles is, in effect, giving up the bible. The cases are very 
 similar. No Christian will doubt the reality of the miracles recorded in the scriptm'cs, 
 but very few will believe that any real miracles have been performed since the apostolic 
 
 * Doctor Hibbert, in his interesting Sketches on the Philosophy of Apparitions, has proved incon- 
 testably, thai spectral illusions may arise from a great variety of natural causes, and that one of the most 
 prevalent is a highly excited state of the feelings of the ghost-seer. 
 
 4i 2 
 
 XIV.
 
 612 
 
 C!k i)i5tor|) of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIV. 
 
 A Lanca- 
 shire 
 witch in 
 
 AVorces- 
 tershire. 
 
 ages, though there have been thousands of fictitious ones. In this belief, however, sir 
 M" Hale and Mr .Wesley had the sanction of the tUstinguished name of Martin Luther, 
 who was not only a believer in the agency of evi\ si)irits, but who had himself, according 
 to his firm comiction, maintained many severe personal conflicts with them. 
 
 One of the " Lancasliire Witches" having, as it appears, quitted her native 
 county, and Avandered into Worcestershire, in consequence of the distress occasioned 
 by the civil wars, which the poor are always the first to feel, this wretched mendicant, 
 a more fit object of compassion than of terror, was found by a wicked boy, who pro- 
 tested that she had by her sorceries deprived liim of speech. On what kind of evidence 
 this charge was raised will he seen below; and though the fate of the poor woman is 
 not distinctly stated, there is but too much reason to suppose, from the avidity Avith 
 which witches were in these times pursued, and the relentless cruelty with which they 
 Avere persecuted, that on this evidence she Avas tried and executed.* 
 
 * " A RELATION OF A LANCASHIRE AVITCH, 
 " Tryed at Worcester, in the Year 1649. 
 " At Droitwich in the county of Worcester, a poor Womans Boy in the Month oi May, looking 
 for his Mother's Cow, espied some Bushes in a Brake to shake, and supposing the Cow to be Brous- 
 ing- there, went to the Place, where he found no Cow, but an Old Woman, who upon his approach said 
 Boh! to him; whereupon he presently lost his speech, and could only make a Noise, but could not 
 speak any thing articulately so as could be understood : In this Condition he came home to his Mother, 
 made a great Noise, but nobody could understand what ailed him, or what he meant. A while after, 
 he ran out, and at Sir Edward Barret's door, found, about one a Clock, amongst other poor People, 
 the same old AVoman supping up a Mess of hot Pottage, and ran furiously upon her and threw her 
 Pottage in her Face, and offered some other violence to her. AVhereupon the Neighbours, wondering 
 at the Condition of the Boy and his rage against the old Woman, and suspecting that she had done 
 him some hurt. Apprehended her, and thereupon she was committed to the Prison, which they there 
 call the Checker. At Night the Boy's Mother lodged him in a Garret over her own Lodging; and in 
 the Morning hearing a great Bussle over her, ran up, and found the Boy gotten out of his Bed with 
 the Leg of a Form in his Hand, striking furiously at something in the Window; but saw nothing there 
 that he should strike at. The Boy presently put on his Cloaths, and ran down into the Street towards 
 the Prison, and as he was going, endeavouring to speak, found his Speech restored. AVhen he came 
 to the prison, he asked for the old Woman, and told the Gaoler how she had served him, and how his 
 speech came to him again in the way. The Gaoler in the mean time suspecting that she had 
 Bewitched the Boy, would not let her have either Meat or Drink, unless she would first say the Lord's 
 Prayer, and bid God bless the Boy; which at last her hunger forced her to do; and it appeared to be 
 at the same instant, as near as could be guessed, that the Boy had his Speech restored to him. The 
 Boy asked the Gaoler, why he did not keep her faster, but let her come out & trouble him ? The Gaoler 
 answered that he had kept her very safe. The Boy replied, No, he had not; for she came and sat in his 
 Chamber Window, and grinned at him; and that thereupon he took up a Form Leg, and therewith 
 gave her two good bangs upon the a — as she would have scutled from him, before she could get away. 
 Whereupon the Gaoler caused some Women to search her, who found the Marks of two such Strokes 
 upon her, as the Boy said he had given her. All this was sworn upon her Tryal by the Boy, his
 
 Coimtj) |3alatme of Santasttr. gi3 
 
 Altliough trials for ^ntchcraft were l)y no means unusual in the time of the com- chap- 
 
 monwealth, and tliough no fewer than three hunilrecl reputed witches were tried, and '__ 
 
 the major part of them executed, in the period hetween the deposition of Cliarles I. 
 and the death of liis son and successor, in the southern counties of England, yet we 
 only find two cases of this kind of judicial homicide in the county of Lancaster ,Avithin 
 tliat agitated period, and these are mentioned somewhat vaguely by Dr. Webster, 
 who says, " I myself have known two supposed witches to be put to death at Lan- 
 caster, Avithin these eighteen years,* that cUd utterly deny any league or covenant with 
 the devil, or even to have seen any visible devil at all ; and may not the confession of 
 those (who both died penitent) be as well creilited, as the confession of those that were 
 brought to such confessions by force, fraud, or cunning persuasion and allurement?" 
 
 But though we have no more cases of witchcraft in the county, Ave have a very oemonia- 
 memorable case of supposed demoniacal possession and dispossession in the close of the session. 
 same century, with which we shall conclude this very curious portion of our county 
 liistory. The case to Avhich Ave refer is, that of Richard Dugdale, the Surey demoniac; 
 and the story, though a very long one, may be told in a few sentences. Dugdale, it 
 appears, Avas a j'outh just rising into manhood, a gardener by trade, living Avith his 
 pai-ents at Surey, in the parish of Whalley, addicted to pleasure, and distinguished Memora- 
 even at school as a posture-master and ventriloquist. During his possession he Avas in ti,^ " ' 
 attended by six dissenting ministers; the Rev. Messrs. Thomas Jolly, Charles Sagar, ?vi,aiit". 
 Nicholas KershaAV, Robert Waddhigton, Thomas Whally, and John Carrington, Avho 
 Avere occasionally assisted at their meetings, held to exorcise the demon, by the Rev. 
 Mr. Frankland, Mr. Pendlebury, and the Rev. Oliver HeyAVOod. AccorcUng to the Aieetings 
 narration put forth, under the sanction of these names, Avhich is called, " An account ihe'^devii'.' 
 of Satan's acting in and about the body of Richard Dugdale, and of Satan's removal 
 thence tlu'ough the Lord's blessing of the within-mentioned Ministers and People," 
 when Dugdale Avas about nmcteen years of age, he Avas seized Avith an affliction early 
 in the year 1689, and from the strange fits, Avhich violently seized him, he was sup- 
 posed to be possessed by the devil. When the fit was upon him, " he sheA\ed great 
 despite," says the narrative, " against the ordinary of God, and raged, as if he had 
 been notlung but a devil in Richard's bodily shape; though, Avlien he Avas not in his 
 
 Mother, the Gaoler, and the Women. Upon Examination she was found to be a Lancashire Woman, 
 who upon the Scarcity in those parts, after the Defeat of Duke Hamilton, wandered abroad to get 
 Victuals." — A Collection of Moder/i Relations of Matter of Fact concerning Witches, ^x. Part i. 
 p. 50. 4to. Loud. 1693. 
 
 * The doctor's book is dated Feb. 23, 1673, so that it is probable the execution took place about 
 the year 1654. We have attempted, but without success, to ascertain the date from the Criminal 
 Records in Lancaster castle, which are very defective.
 
 614 mn m&tov^i of tt)t 
 
 CHAP, fits, ho manifested Q^ieat inclination to the word of God and praver ; for the exercise 
 XIV. . ' . . X . ' 
 
 . L_ of Avliicli in liis behalf, he desired that a day of fasting might be set apart, as the only 
 
 means from which he could expect help, seeing that he had tried all other means, 
 lawful and unlawful."* Meetings were accordingly appointed of the ministers, to 
 wliich the people crowded in vast numbers. These meetings began on the 8th of May, 
 and were continued about twice a month till the February follo^ving. At the first 
 meeting the parents of the demoniac were examined by the ministers, and they repre- 
 sented, " That at Whalley rush-burying (or wake) on the James's-tide, in July, 1688, 
 there was a great dancing and ckinkuig; when Richard offered himself to the devil, 
 on condition that he would make him the best dancer in Lancashire." After becoming 
 extremely drunk, he went home, where several apparitions appeared to him, and 
 presented to him all kinds of dainties and fine clothing, M'ith gold and precious tilings, 
 inviting him at the same time " to take liis fill of pleasure." In the course of the day, 
 some compact, or bond, was entered into between him and the devil, and after that liis 
 fits grew frequent and violent. Wlule in these fits, his body was often hurled about very 
 Conduct desperatelv,t and he abused the minister, and blasiihemed his Maker. Sometimes he 
 
 of the 
 
 demoniac, would ftUl iuto di'eadful fits; at other times he would talk Greek and Latin, though un- 
 taught. Sometuiies his voice was small and shrill, at others hollow and hideous. Now 
 he was as light as a bag of feathers, then as heavy as lead. At one time he upbraided 
 the ministers with tlieii* neglect, at others he said they had saved him from hell. He 
 was weather-^nse and money-wise, by turns; lie could tell when there would be rain, 
 and when he should receive presents. Sometuiies he would vomit stones an inch and 
 a half square, and in others of his trances there was a noise in his throat, as if he was 
 singing psalms inwardly. But the strongest mark of demoniacal possession consisted 
 in a lump, which rose from the tliick of his leg, about the size of a mole, and did work 
 up like such a creature towards the chest of his body, till it reached liis breast, when 
 it was as big as a man's fist, and uttered strange voices.| He opened his mouth at 
 the beginning of his fits so often, that it was thought spirits went in and out of him. 
 In agility he was unequalled, " especially in dancing, wherein he excelled all that the 
 Spectatours had seen, and all that mere mortals could perform; the Demoniac would 
 for six or seven times together leap up, so as that part of his Legs might be seen 
 shaking and quavering above tlie heads of the People, fi'om which heights he oft fell 
 doTvn on his knees, which he long shivered and traverst on the ground, at least as 
 nimbly as other men can twinckle or sparkle their Fingers, thence springing up in 
 to's high leaps again, and then falling on liis Feet, which seem'd to reach the Earth, 
 but with the gentlest and scarce perceivable touches, when he made his liighest leaps." 
 And yet the divines by whom he was attended most unjustly rallied the devil for the 
 * The Surey Demoniac, pp. 1,2. f Ibid, p. 4. | Ibid, p. 60.
 
 County ^alatint of SLanrngtrr. 015 
 
 Avaut of skill in his pupil, after this fashion : " Cease, Dancing Satan, and he pjone chap. 
 
 \iv. 
 
 from him," says the Rev. M. Ciu-rington, athbessing liimself to tlie devil, " eanst thou 
 Dance no better, Satan ? Ransack the old Records of all past times and places in thy 
 memory ; Canst thou not there find out some other way of finer trampling ? Pump 
 thine invention diy! Cannot that universal Seed-plot of subtle Wiles luid Stratagems 
 spring up one new metliod of cutting capers? Is this the top of skill and pride to 
 shuffle feet, and bramlisli knees thus, and to trip like a Doe, and skip like a Sipiirrel, 
 and wherein differs thy leapings from the hoppiugs of a Frog, or bounces of a Goat, 
 or friskiugs of a Dog, or gesticulations of a Monkey? And cannot a Palscy shake 
 such a loose Leg as that? Dost not thou twirle like a Calf that has the turn, and 
 twitch up thy Houghs just like a spring-hault titi'" In some of his last fits, he 
 announced that he must either be killed or cured before the 25th of March; this, says 
 the deposition of liis father and mother, and two of his sisters, proved true, for on the 
 24th of that month he had liis last fit, the de^il being no longer able to withstand the 
 means that were used with so much vigour and perseverance to expel him; one of the 
 most effectual of Avliich was a medicine, prescribed, in the way of his profession, by 
 Dr. Chew, a medical practitioner in the neighbourhood. 
 
 Mr. Zach. Taylor asserts, that the preachers, disappointed and mortified at their Finally 
 ill success in Dugdale's case, gave it out that some of his connexions were witches, se'sseci by 
 and in contract mth the devil, and that they supposed was the cause why they had cian'r' 
 not been able to relieve him. Under this impression, they procured some of the 
 family to be searched, that they might see if they had not teats, or the devil's mark, 
 and they tried them by the test of saying the Lord's prayer. Some remains of the 
 evil spirit seemed, however, still to have possessed Richard, for though after this he 
 had no fits, yet once, when he had got too much drink, he was after another manner 
 than druidven persons usually are.* In confirmation of wliich feats, not only the 
 eight ministers, but twenty respectable inhabitants, affixed their attestation to a 
 document prepared for the purpose ; and tlu-ee of the magistrates of the district, 
 namely, Hugh lord WUloughby, Ralph Egerton, esq., and Thomas Braddill, esq., 
 received depositions from the attesting parties. 
 
 Tliis monstrous mass of absurdity, superstition, and fraud, for it was beyond 
 doubt a compound of them all, was exposed with success by the Rev. Zach. Taylor, 
 the bishop of Chester's curate at Wigan, one of the king's preachers in the county 
 of Lancaster ; but the reverend divine mixed with his censures too much party 
 asperity, insisting, that the whole was an artifice of the nonconformist ministers, in 
 imitation of the pretended miracles of the Catholic priests, and likening it to tlie fictions 
 of John Darrell, B.A., which had been practised a century before upon the family of 
 
 * Surey Demoniac, ji. 62.
 
 610 Zl)t %n<itov\> of tl)t 
 
 CHAP. JNIr. Starkie, in the same county. Of the resemblance in many of its parts there 
 
 " can he no doubt that the names of the venerable Oliver Heywood and Thomas Jolly 
 
 form a sufficient guarantee against any imposition on their part; and the probability 
 
 is, that the ministers Avere the dupes of a popular superstition in the hands of a 
 
 dissolute and artful family. 
 
 Thecflects Within living memory, the superstitious terrors of witchcraft have prevailed in 
 
 of will h- ' . . _ ^ 
 
 craft. Lancashu-e to an extent that has imbittered the lives of the persons supposing them- 
 selves subject to this grievous visitation. These, however, were only the remaius of 
 the popular mythology. During the .sixteenth century, the whole region, in some 
 parts of the county, seemed contaminated with the presence of the witches ; men 
 and beasts were supposed to languish under their charm ; and the delusion, which 
 preyed alike on the learned and the vulgar, cUd not allow any family to suppose 
 that they were beyond the reach of the Avitch's wand. Was the family Aisited by 
 sickness, it was believed to be the work of an invisible agency, which in secret 
 wasted the image made in clay before the fire, or crumbled its various parts into dust ; 
 did the cattle sicken and die, the Antch and the wizard were the authors of the 
 calamity ; chd the yeast refuse to perform the oiEce of fermentation eitlier in the 
 bread or in the beer, it was the consequence of a bad 7vish ; cUd the butter refuse to 
 come, the familiar was in the charm ; tUd the sliip founder at sea, the wind of 
 Boreas was blown by the lungless hag, who had scarcely sufficient breath to cool 
 her own pottage ; did the Ribble overflow its banks, the floods descended from the 
 congregated sisterhood at Malkin Tower ; and the blight of the season, which con- 
 signed the crops of the farmer to destruction, was the saliva of the enchantress, or 
 the distillations from the blear-eyed dame, who flew by night over the field in search 
 of miscliief. To refuse an alms to a haggard mendicant, was to produce for the 
 family that had the temerity to make the experiment, an accumulation of the out- 
 pourings of the box of Pandora. To escape from terrors like these, no sacrifice was 
 thought too great. Superstitions begat cruelty and injustice ; the poor and the rich 
 were equally interested in obtaining a deliverance ; and the magistrate who resided in 
 his nansion at Read, and the peasant who occupied the humblest cot amongst the 
 hills of Cliviger, were alike interested in abating the common nuisance.* 
 
 * According to Gaule, there were eight classes of witches distinguished by their operations: first, 
 the diviner, gipsy, or fortune-telling witch ; second, the astrologian, star-gazing, planetary, prognos- 
 ticating witch; third, the chanting, canting, or calculating witch, who works by signs or numbers; 
 fourth, the venefick, or poisonous witch ; fifth, the exorcist, or conjuring witch; sixth, the gastro- 
 raantick witch; seventh, the magical, speculative, sciential, or arted witch; eighth, the necromancer. 
 " The Lancashire witches" were principally fortune-tellers and conjurers. The securities against 
 witchcraft were numerous, but the most popular was the horse-shoe ; and hence we see in Lancashire
 
 Coimtp |)alntine of annrasfttn 617 
 
 Nor was the situation of the witch more enviable than that of the individuals or chap. 
 the families over wliich she exerted her influence. Linked by a species of infernal _1 
 
 compact, to an imaginary imp, slie was shunned as a common pest, or caressed only 
 on the principle, that certiiin of the Indian tribes pay homage to the devil. Tlie 
 reputed Twitches themselves were frequently thsowned by their families, feai'ed and 
 detested by their neighbours, and hunted by the dogs as pernicious monsters. 
 ^Vlien in confinement, they were cast into the ponds, by way of trial ; punctured by 
 bodkins, to chscover their imp-marks ; subjected to deprivation of food, and kept in 
 pei-petual motion, till confessions were obtained from a distracted mind. On theii* 
 trials, they were listened to with incredulity and horror ; and consigned to the gallows 
 with as little pity as the basest of malefactors. Their imaginary crimes created a 
 tliirst for their blood ; and people in all stations, from the higliest to the lowest, 
 attended the trials at Lancaster, as we have seen from Mr. Potts' record of the 
 criminal proceedings there, with an intensity of interest that their mischievous 
 powers, now divested of their sting, so naturally excited. It is quaintly said, that 
 Avitchcraft and kingcraft in England came in with the Stuarts, and went out with 
 them. This, however, is not true ; the doctrine of necromancy was in universal 
 l)elief in the fourteenth and fifteenth century, and there was not, perhaps, a man in 
 Lancasliire, nor indeed in any part of England at that period, wlio doubted its 
 existence ; and as to kingcraft, the Tudors understood and practised that art quite 
 as well as the Stuarts, though they might insist less upon the abstract principle of 
 the " divine right of kings." 
 
 The belief in witchcraft and demoniacal possession was confined to no particular General 
 sect or persuasion : the Roman Catliolics,* the members of the established Cliurch of witdic'r"aft 
 England, the Presbyterians, and Independents, and even the Methodists, though a monoi'o'gj! 
 sect of more recent standing, have all fallen into this delusion ; and yet each deno- 
 mination has upbraided the other with gi'oss superstition, and not uufreqiiently vrith 
 wilful fraud. Since tlie light of general knowledge has chased away tlie mists of 
 
 so many thresholds ornamented with this counter-charm. Mr. Roby, in his "Traditions of Lanca- 
 shire," has treated the subject with great vivacity and spirit ; and his legendary tales serve to convey 
 to the mind a vivid impression of the effects of the popular superstition in other times. 
 
 * See the Bull of Pope Innocent VIII. to the inquisitors of Almain, empowering them to detect 
 and burn witches. The Romish church appointed penances for converted witches ; and Cranmer, 
 the Protestant archbishop of Canterbury, in his articles of visitation, directs his clergy, in 1549, to 
 inquire after any persons that use " charms, sorcery, enchantments, witchcraft, soothsaying, or any 
 like craft, invented by the devil ;" which instructions were renewed in Elizabeth's reign, with the 
 addition, " especially in time of women's travail." Richard Baxter, a divine in deserved estimation 
 amongst the nonconformists, was a firm believer in the possession and dispossession of devils, and his 
 " World of Spirits" abounds with proofs of his firm conviction of the reality of this popular delusion. 
 VOL. I. 4 K
 
 618 €i)t i^i'stoii' Of tbe 
 
 CHAP, this once generally prevailing error, we all smUe at these bitter criminations and 
 
 recriminations, which ought to guard us against the commission of similar faults. 
 
 It is due, however, to the ministers of the established church to say, tliat they Avere 
 amongst the first of our public writers to denounce the belief in witclicraft, A\ith all 
 its attendant mischiefs, and the names of Dr. Harsnet, afterwards archbishop of 
 York, Dr. John Webster, the detector of Robinson, the Pendle Forest witch-hunter, 
 of Zach. Taylor, one of the king's preachers for the county of Lancaster, and of 
 Dr. Hutchinson, chaplain in ordinary to his majesty George I., are aU entitled to 
 the public gratitude for their efforts to explode these pernicious superstitions, though 
 their merit is in some degree tarnished by an overweening solicitude to cast the 
 imputation of ignorant credulity from their own community, and to fix it exclusively 
 upon others. 
 Now ge- For upwards of a century, the sanguinary and superstitious laws of James I. 
 
 exptoded. disgi-aced the English statute-book j but in the 9tli year of George II. a law was 
 enacted, repealing the statute of James I., and prohibiting any prosecution, suit, or 
 proceeding against any person or persons for witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment, or con- 
 juration. In tliis Avay the doctrine of Avitchcraft, with all its attendant errors, was 
 finally exploded, excejit amongst the most ignorant of the vulgar.* 
 
 To return to the chronological order of our liistory. In the year 1617, James I. 
 on liis return fi-om Scotland to London, passed through the heart of Lancashire, and 
 there, in the midst of joy and hilarity, sowed the seeds of tliscontent so wide and deep 
 as to shake the stability of the throne. HaA-ing arrived at Brougham castle on the 
 6th of August, he proceeded by way of Appleby and Wliai'ton to Kendal ; here he 
 stopped two nights, when, entering Lancashii-e, he reached Hornby castlef on the 
 11th, and from thence proceeded to Ash ton Hall, the mansion of Thomas, first lord 
 Gerai-d; having remained here one night, he advanced to Myerscough, where the 
 
 * Code of Witchcraft.— By the 33 Henry VIII. cap. 8, (1562) persons practising witchcraft 
 are declared guilty of a capital felony. This act was repealed by 1 Edw. VI. By the 5th of Eliz. 
 cap. 16, (1562) persons using invocations of spirits, &c., by which death shall ensue, are made liable 
 to be punished with death; otherwise, liable to fine and imprisonment. By 1 James I. cap. 12, 
 (1603) persons invoking or consulting with evil spirits ; taking up dead bodies for purposes of witch- 
 craft, (Seer Edward Kelley's offence), or practising witchcraft, to the harm of others, are declared 
 guilty of a capital felony : by the 21st of the same king, cap. 28, (1623,) the crimes of declaring by 
 witchcraft where treasure is hidden, procuring unlawful love, or attempting to hurt cattle or persons, 
 are rendered punishable for the first offence by pillory, and for the second by death. By 9 Geo. II. 
 cap. 5, (1735) all the statutes against witchcraft are repealed. 
 
 t Mr. Nichols, in his " Progresses of King James I." has mistaken the ancient seat of the 
 Monteagles for Hornby castle in Yorkshire, the seat of the duke of Leeds, and described the latter 
 instead of the former.
 
 Counti) ^alatiuf of iLnncaeitci-» 619 
 
 royal ti-ain stopped two days, to enjoy the pleasures of the chase m the forest. Tlien chap. 
 
 taking the route through Preston, he went to Hoghtou Tower, where he sojooraed L 
 
 for three days; hence he proceeded to Lathoni House, where he became the guest 
 for two nights of the earl of Derby; and from thence proceeded by Bewsey and Vale 
 Royal, by^easy stages, to London. Of the royal tour througli Lancasliire, Nicholas 
 Asshe'ton, esq. of Dowuliam, hi the parish of Whalley, has preserved the following 
 account in his private journal : — 
 
 "Junel, Sunday. Mr. C. P. moved my brother [in laAv] Sherborne from 
 Sir Richard Houghton, to do him such favour, countenance, gi-ace and curtesie, as 
 to weai-e his clothe, and attend him at Houghton, at the King's comuig in August, 
 as divers other Gentlemen were moved and would. He likewise moved mee. I 
 answered I would bee willing, and retUe to doe Sir Richard anie service. 
 
 " Auo-ust 11. My brother Sherborne his taylor brought liim a suit of ajjparall, 
 and us two others, and a livery cloake from Sir- Richard Houghton, that we should 
 attend liim at the King's conjing, rather for his gi-ace and reputation, shoeing [show- 
 U10-] his neibors' love, then anie exacting of mean service.* 
 
 " August 12. Coz Towuley came and broke his fast at Dunuoe, and went 
 
 away. To Mirescough. Sfr Richard gone to meet the King ; we after liim to 
 
 There the King slipt into the Forest another way, and we after, and overtook him, 
 and went past to the Yate ; then Sii- Richard light [alighted] ; and when the King 
 came in his coach, Sii- Richard stept to his side, and tould him ther his Majesties 
 Fon-est began, and went some ten roodes to the left, and then to the Lodge. The 
 King hunted, and killed a buck. 
 
 " AuoTist 13. To Mirescough, the Comt. Cooz. Assheton came with as geutle- 
 manlie servants as any was ther, and liimself excellently well appointed. The Kmg 
 killed five bucks. The Kinge's speache about hbertie to pipeing and honest 
 recreation. We that were in Sii- Richard's livery had nothing to do but ritUug upp 
 
 and downe. 
 
 " August 14. Us three to Preston ; ther preparation made for Sir Gilbert 
 Hoghton, and other Knights. Wee were desyred to be menie, and at iiyght were 
 soe. Steeven Hamerton and wyffe, and Mrs. Doll Lyster supped with us att our 
 lodguig. AU Preston full. 
 
 " August 1.5. King came to Preston. Ther, at the Crosse, Mr. Beares the 
 
 * Although the gradations of society were then such that the gentry of England disdained 
 not, on occasions like the present, to wear the livery of the rank immediately above them, yet 
 there is an Evident anxiety in Mr. Assheton's mind to have it understood, that his appearing in 
 sir Richard Hoghton's livery was merely as a token for good-will. — Whitaker. 
 
 4 K 2
 
 620 €i)t Instorj) of tftt 
 
 CHAP, lawyer made a Speeche, and the Corporation presented liim with a bowle ; and then 
 
 _i the King Avent to a Banquet in tlie Town Hall, and so away to Houghton ; ther a 
 
 speech made." 
 
 After the delivery of the Speech, as Mr. Assheton continues, the King " hunted, 
 and Idlled a stag. Wee attend on the Lords' table. 
 
 'August 16. Houghton. The King hunting; a great companie; kiUed affore 
 dinner a brace of staggs. Verie hott ; soe he went in to dinner. Wee attend the 
 Lords' table, and about four o'clock the King went dowue to the allome-mjTies, and 
 Avas ther an hower, viewed them preciselie, and then went and shott at a stagg, and 
 missed. Then my Lord Compton had lodged two brace. The King shott again, 
 and brake the thigh bone. A dogg long in coming, and my Lord Compton shott 
 again, and killed liim [the stag] . Late in to supper. 
 
 " August 17. Houghton. Wee served the Lords Mith biskett, wyne, and 
 jellie. The Bushopp of Chester, Dr. Morton, preached before the King. To din- 
 ner. About four o'clock, ther was a rush-bearing and pipeing afore them, affore the 
 King in the Middle Court. Then to supp. Then, about ten or eleven o'clock a 
 a Maske of Noblemen, Knights, Gentlemen, and Courtiers, afore the King, in the 
 middle round in the garden. Some Speeches ; of the rest, dancing the Huckler, 
 Tom Bedlo, and the Cowp Justice of Peace. 
 
 " August 18. The King, [after knighting, at Hoghton Tower, Sir Arthur 
 Lake, of Middlesex ; and Sir Cecil Trafford, of Lancashire] went away about twelve 
 to Lathome. There was a man almost slayne with fighting. Wee back witli Sir 
 Richard. He to seller, and ckunk with us kindlie in all manner of frindlie speake. 
 Preston; as merrie as Robin Hood, and all his fellowes. — August 19. AU tliis 
 morning wee plaid the Bacchanalians." 
 
 At the seat of WiUiam, sixth earl of Derby, Lathom-house, the king rested two 
 nights; and on the 20th of August, before liis departure, knighted sii* William 
 Massy, sir Robert Bendloes, su* Gilbert Clifton, sir John Talbot, of Preston, sir 
 Gilbert Ireland, of the Hutt, and sir Edward Olbaston, all of Lancashu-e. 
 
 The king then proceeded to Bewsey Hall, the seat of Thomas Ireland, esq., on 
 whom his majesty, before liis departure, confeiTed knighthood, as he chd on sir Lewis 
 Pemberton, of Hertfordsliire. 
 
 After entering Chesliire on the 21st of August, a ride of two miles would bring 
 the king to the bridge of Warrington, then defended by works of considerable 
 strength, and from thence he would probably proceed doAvn the vale of the Mersey 
 to liis castle of Halton, formerly a residence of a line of powerful Cheshire barons, 
 and, after theii- extinction, united to the duchy of Lancaster. The picturesque ruins 
 which now crown Halton liill, and are visible from a vast district, formed at that
 
 Count)) ^alatiuf of Slnnrasitti-. 621 
 
 period part of a line of regular fortifications, wliicli in the ensuing troubles, not long chap. 
 withstood the forces of the parliamentarian garrison of Manchester. L. 
 
 From hence Webb conducts the king to Rock Savage, a dependency of Halton 
 barony, situated at a short distance west of the castle, at the point where the prospect 
 opens to the vale of Chester and the Welsh mountains, \nth the confluence of the 
 Weaver and the Mersey in the foreground.* 
 
 On that Sunday on which the king was at Hoghton tower, a petition was presented 
 to liis majesty, signed principally by the Lancashu-e peasants, tradespeople, and ser- 
 vants, representing, " that they were debai-red from lawful recreations upon Sunday, 
 after evening prayers, and upon holy days, and praying that the restrictions imposed in 
 the late reign might be wathdi'awn. The origin of tliis complaint, as we have seen,t 
 was laid in the tune of Elizabeth, who, in order to reform the manners of the people, 
 instituted a liigli commission in the year 1579. The commissioners were, Henry 
 earl of Derby, Henry earl of Himtington, William lord bishop of Chester, and 
 others ; and at their sittings, wliich were held at Manchester, they issued orders 
 throughout the county against " pipers and minstrels playing, making and frequent- 
 ino- bear-baiting and bull-baiting, on the Sabbath days, or upon any other days in 
 time of divine service ; and also against superstitious ringing of bells, wakes, and 
 common feasts ; drunkenness, gaming, and other vicious and unprofitable pursuits." 
 These restrictions the royal visitor thought incompatible with the pri\ilege of his 
 subjects, whose complaints, as he says — " We have heard Avith our own ears, and 
 which grievances we promised to redress." In the fulfilment of this pledge, he 
 issued a proclamation,]; setting forth, " that in liis progi-ess through Lancashire, he 
 found it necessary to rebulie some puritans and precise people, and took order that 
 the said unlawful carriage should not be used by any of them hereafter, in the 
 proliibitiug and unlawfully punishing of liis good people, for using their lawful 
 recreations, and honest exercises, upon Sundays after service." These puritans liis 
 majesty conceived were Jewisldy inchned, because they affected to call Sunday the 
 Sabbath-day. The proclamation proceeds to declare, that the king had found, that 
 two sorts of people, within his county of Lancaster, much infested that county, \\z., 
 papists and puritans, and that they had maliciously traduced and calmnniated his 
 just and honourable proceedings ; he had therefore thought proper to clear and 
 make liis pleasure manifest to all liis good people in tliese parts ; and his majesty's 
 pleasure was, that the bishop of the diocese should take strict order with all the 
 puritans and precisians within the county of Lancaster, and either constrain them to 
 conform themselves, or to leave the country, accorchng to the laws of this kingdom, 
 
 • Nichois's " Progresses of King James," vol. iii. p. 405. f Chap, xiii, p. 510, 550. 
 
 : May 24, 1618.
 
 622 €])t W^tOY^ Of tin 
 
 CHAP, and canons of tliis church; and as ior his good people's lawful recreation, his jileasure 
 
 XIV 
 
 was, that, after the end of divine service, they be not disturbed, letted, or discou- 
 raged, from any lawful recreation, such as dancing, either men or women ; archery 
 for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation ; nor from having 
 of May-games, Wliitson-ales, and Morice-dances, and the setting up of May-poles, 
 and other sports therewith used : so as the time be had in due and convenient 
 time, without impediment or neglect of divine service : and that women should have 
 leave to carry rushes to the church, for the decorating of it, according to their old 
 custom ; but, withal, his majesty did here account still as prohibited, all uidawfiU 
 games to be used, upon Sundays only, as bear and bull-baitings, interludes, and, at 
 all times, in the meaner sort of people, by law proliibited, bowling. And, like>nse, 
 did bar from tliis benefit and liberty all such known recusants, either men or women, 
 as did abstain from coming to church, or di\'ine service, they being unworthy of any 
 lawful recreation after the said service, that would not first come to the churcli, and 
 serve God : prohibiting, in like sort, the said recreations to any that, tliough 
 conformed in religion, were not present in the church at the service of God, before 
 their going to the said recreations!" 
 
 Subsequently, his majesty further said, " that his loyal subjects in all other parts 
 of the kingdom, did sutfer in the same kind, though perhaps not in the same degree 
 as in Lancashire, and he did therefore publish a declaration to all liis loving subjects, 
 concerning lawful sports to be used on Sundays and festivals," which was printed 
 and published by his royal command in the year 1618, under the title of " The Book 
 of Sports," whicli the bishops were ordered to cause to be read and published in all 
 the parish churches of their respective dioceses, on pain of punishment in the high 
 May 24, coimnission court. Against tliis profanation of the sanctuary. Abbot, the intrepid 
 archbishop of Canterbury, was amongst the first to enter his protest, and being at 
 Croydon on the day that it was first to be read in the churches, he positively forbade 
 the officiating minister to obey the royal command. 
 
 In the early part of the reign of Charles I. that monarch, uninstructed by events, 
 thought fit, " for the ease, comfort, and recreation of his well-deserving people, to 
 ratify and re-publish this his blessed father's declaration;" and the reason assigned 
 was, " because of late, in some counties of the kingdom, his majesty finds that, under 
 pretence of taking away abuses, there hath been a general forbidchng, not only of 
 ordinary meetings, but of the feasts of tlie decUcation of churches, commonly called 
 n-akes." His majesty therefore expressed his royal will and pleasure, that these feasts, 
 with others, should be observed; and that the justices of the peace, and the judges of 
 assize, should make known his gracious intentions, and that the bishops should cause 
 liis will to be published in all the parish churclies of their several and respective
 
 Countj) IJnlatiuf of Xnnragtcr. 623 
 
 dioceses. The disgust felt by some of the clergy and many of the laity in Lancasliire, chap. 
 
 and in all other pai'ts of the kingdom, at these reiterated injunctions to violate the _ 
 
 sanctity of the sabbath, was one of the causes of the civil wars, tlie approach of whicli 
 was already foreseen by men of political sagacity. By others, the license was hailed 
 as a privilege. The effects of the Book of Sports, at the end of two centuries, are still 
 \isible in Lancashire; and, as Dr. Wliitaker has truly observed, there is scarcely a 
 \ illage in the county which does not exhibit symptoms of obedience to the injunction 
 of " honest recreation." 
 
 In addition to the honours already mentioned, a.s conferred upon the gentry of the ^^^^^^^^^ 
 county of Lancaster by kino- James, that sovereign knighted sir Thomas Tildesley, conferred 
 on 15th of June, 1616, at Wimbleton; the same year sii- Hugh Parker, son of lord gentry of 
 
 . . Lanca- 
 
 Monteagle, was made a knight of the Bath, in honour of the creation ol pnnce shire. 
 Charles. Sir Gilbert Gerrard, of Harrow on the Hill, a junior branch of the family 
 of Gen-ard of Bryn, in Lancashire, was, in 1620, advanced to the rank of a baronet; 
 and sir Ralph Ashton of Lever, and sir John Boteler, attained the same honour in the 
 sununer of that year. For sir Richard Hoghton the king had the liighest esteem; the 
 name of tliis gentleman appears in many of the royal masques and pubhc entertain- 
 ments; and amongst the archives of the family, the following note, with the royal 
 autogi'aph, is preserved : — 
 
 " To our trustie and wel-beloved Sir [Richard Houghton, Bart. 
 
 " Trustie and wel-beloved, wee greet you well; whereas we have some occasion 
 " to speake with you personally, wee have thought fitt hereby to signifie o' pleasvre 
 " unto you, that forth^vith upon the sight of these o' I'rres you make yo' rcpaii-e unto 
 " o' Court, wheresoever it shalbe, where wee shall lett you know what wee have to 
 " say unto you. 
 
 " Given at our Court at Aldershott, the seventeenth day of August 1622." 
 
 It does not appear that the paternal government of king James, combined as it 
 was with the creation of the baronets of Ulster, had placed Ireland in a state of tran- 
 quillity, or even of security; for, near the end of this king's reign, we find the lords
 
 624 €l)t feiS^torj) of, ^c- 
 
 CHAP, of the council writing a letter to the earl of Derby, as lord lieutenant, requiring that 
 
 XIV 
 
 all Irishmen, passengers from any port in Lancashire or Cheshu'e,to their own country, 
 should take the oath of allegiance, on pain of being sent to London in safe custody 
 for contumacy.* 
 
 * " THE LORDS OF THE COUNCIL TO THE EARL OF DERBY. 
 
 [Harl. MSS. Cod. 2173. /o. 76 6.] 
 " Of Chester. 
 
 " To our very good lord the Earle of Darby h. maiestys lieftenant for the Countyes of 
 Cheshier and Lancashier theis. 
 " After our very harty Commendations to your lordshipp wheras his niaiesty hauing taken into 
 serious consideration the psent estate of the kingdome of Ireland doth is his princely wisdome obserue 
 how gretly the quiet therof f the safty of his louing subiects there Inhabitinge may be trebled f 
 endangered especially in theis doubtfull tymes, by Turbulent ,psons of the same nation ill affected in 
 religion f other vfays f more pticularly by such of them as haue byn or are Imployed in the seruice of 
 foraigne prinses wee doo herby pray f requier your lordshipp by his mai"" express Comand that wliat 
 so euer Irish shall come to Imbark him selph for Ireland in any of the Port Townes of Cheshier or 
 Lancashier the maiestrate of the place shall examin him from whence he Comith of what Condition he 
 is f how he hath spent his tyme f shall w"'all minister vnto him the othe of Allegance f if he shall 
 refuse to take the same they shall send him vp hither in safe custody to be further examined f proceded 
 w"" as wee .shall find cause f so we bid your lordshipp very hartyly farewell, from Whitehall 
 29 Aprell 1624. 
 
 " Your lordshipps very louing friends 
 
 " G CANT SAY 
 
 GRANDISON SUCKLING 
 
 EDMUNDS S WESTON 
 
 G CALUERT JU CiESAR" 
 MANDEUILE 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 LONDON: FISHER, SON, AND JACKSON, PRINTERS.
 
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