CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY m^\f F74» Cornell University Library The original of tlnis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104094986 J ©HIT KTRILE , e Itinere. <|y Hyginus, 285. |1 M. Paris, 598. 817. + Hyginusp. 281. §§ Id. 293, b3. 6 liiitij the bij'lows and dens on t!ie sides ol marsfiy roads ;* and when the latter were impassable in rainy seasons, pursued;t and also made nocturnal irrup- tions to devastate the country near the encray.§ Two thini^s, exactly coincident with the Roman accounts, occur in the thiiteenth century. The attack of the castle of Montalt in 1245 is similar, as to Tactics, to the account of Tacitus of the battle of Caractactrs and Ostorius, at Gaer-ditches. " The Welcli occupied the steeps of inaccessible mountains, in order to at- tack the English as they passed by, and threw down, immense stones and darts upon them :"^ the very plan, which they adopted with the troops of Ostorius : and if Suetonius Paidinus attacked the Druids who had retired to Anglesea, Matthew Paris tells us, that this island was in his time the nurse and refuge of all the Welch.ll As to the troops of C'aractacus they merely con- sisted of an armed Peasantry, who were to act against Regulars; and as appears by the battle of Galgaeus, the British Infantry was usually formed on the ter- races or slopes of hills, in tiers, and the chariots scoured the plain below : all which plans were easily baffled by the scientific evolutions, and movements in compact bodies of the Romans, in order to come * Id. 821. 311. t Id. 810. § Id. 569. f Id. 575. 11 Id. 599, into contact with them, Bondiiica or Boadicea, andCaiactacus, as is usual with Baibaiians, conceiv- ed warfare to consist in duels between the opposing soldiers ; and of course, fighting upon such Mob Tactics, Aveve easily defeated by troops, cased in heavy armour, who, by moving an interlinked wall of spiked shields against the unprotected bodies of the Bri- tons, threw them into confusion, and then easily pierced them with their short swords. Those of the Britons were the Highland broad swoids or Claymores, the " Gladii enormes" of Tacitus, useless in crowded action, and through their cutting downwards, the blow was received upon the upper rim of the shield, and the body left exposed to the Roman thrust.* "The Romans (says Tacitus) made very quick strokes, aimed at their mouths, and dug into their broad limbs and naked faces." The Roman sword was but 18 inches long. Such were the plans, which the Romans Lad to oppose; and when they fought with such barbarous nations, their rule was to drive them to one spot, and cut off their water, provisions, &c.f Tlie Britons when routed, used to fly to marshes, woods, and in- accessible places, known only to themselves, nor could ♦ These Tactics further appear in the battles of Brennus and his Gauls ; of Marius and the Cimbri ; and engravings by Mongez of the ancient Gaulish sword, supported by Xiphiline, Plutarch, &c. t Tacit, ann. iv, 49. 8 the Romans, through, their heavy armour, overtake them.* It was necessary therefore to coop them up. Thus the leading plan of Ostorius was (says Tacitus) to block up all Caractacus's means of retreat; and these desperate situations produced many gallant ef- forts on the side of the Britons ;-f and this circum- stance, united with the custom of Ostorius, not to attempt any thing new till he had secured his previous conquests,§ occasioned the war to be so protracted. When the Ordovices rebelled, and did not dare to fight upon level ground, Agricola, who, like Ostorius, gained all his battles by close action, stormed them personally at the head of his troops, and nearly ex- tirpated the whole vace;^ for in the wars of rude nations, every adult capable of bearing arms is forced into the field. Ostorius in like manner stormed the posts of Caractacus by means of the Testudo : but when the British general was concealed, it was against the Roman custom to invite action. These matters premised, and that being especially retained in memory, that the plan of Ostorius was, to cut ofT the retreats of Caractacus — let us take the British Camps and apply to them respectively those * Hist. August. Scriptor. iii. 280. f Obseptis effugiis, multa et clara faciuora fecerc, Tacit Ann. xii. 31. ^ Id. xii. 32, f Vit. Agric, 38. of lh« Romans adjacent. In short the whole warfare- consists in nothing more, than Ostorius endeavouring to bring Caractacns to close action, and the latter only chusing to fight from heights, and avoiding contact. It is also to be recollected, that Ostoiius could not recruit like Caractacus, and was therefore obliged to be very cautious, which implies delay. Thus we may with fair presumptions, though not actual evidence, now impossible, conjecture, where Caractacus took up his positions, and Ostorius blockaded him. The dominions of Caractacus extended into other couirties; but in tliis, he made his last and principal stand. As to his movements in various directions, it was matter of course, on account of seizing the strongest positions wherever occurring. It was a rule with the Romans, when theydid notfear the enemy and wish- ed to bring him to action, to encamp as near to him as possible ; and having done this, to lead the troops to battle immediately, unless they had to do with an enemy, whom, from his concealing himself in path- less places and lurking holes, it was of more advant- age to delay, than to conquer.* We may therefore infer, that where the Camps lie thick together, that tliere Caractacus was pushed; and barrows, not far off, will attest that a battle was fought. In making this sketch, it must be recollected, thai * Hyginus de cast)-. Roman, p. 135. 10 the time and line of march must be purely conjec- tural. The inferences are merely formed from the earthworks ; and these of course, do not furnish in- formation of a satisfactory kind on such points. The Romans always preferred a route however cir- cuitous to one through woods and close country. Thus Caesarf by information of Divitiacus, went more than forty miles out of his way, in order to go through an open country ; and on account of the in- tervention of the Forest, Ostorius probably passed the Severn at Aust. Besides, it is the general opinion of Antiquaries, that Portskewid is the first Camp ever made by the Romans in Wales : and it is well- known, that the Britons attempted to prevent tlic de- barkation of CjEsar. Probably therefore the first step taken by Caractacus, was the occupation of Ports- kewid, to oppose the landing of Ostorius : for nothing is more plain, than that there is an immense British work within the Roman lines ; which, by their fre- quent process of circumvallating, (as they called it,) were apparently thrown up to compel the enemy to surrender, or to cut his way out, § Nor was there any passage, then known over the Severn, where an enemy could pass, except at Aust and Beachiey. Where Caractacus went immediately afterwards does not appear ; only that in the Welch counties ad- t Bel!. Gall. L. i. c. 41. § Hygimis p. 131, 11 jacent, there are few or iio earthworks, which seem to denote his having gone there . The forts hereafter mentioned proceeding across the county from the Herefordshire Beacon, rather intimate that he went northwards, possibly he made a stand at the Little DowARD, a valuable relic of British Fortification; for how otherwise are the adjacent Roman Camps on the Great Doward and Symonds Yat to be accounted for ? Ostorius probably endeavoured to force him by the Great Doward, but apparently did not succeed; and being compelled to cross the river, encamped at Symonds Yat. This inference is drawn from the circumstance of the Gauls taking up a position, pro- tected by a river, where even Caesar declined action.* Before proceeding further, itis necessary, once for all, to repeat, that the Britons were ever obliged to retreat, when the Romans found the means of bring- ing them to close action : and this is the cause, why the earthworks are so numerous; as they could not oppose the Romans, but from heights at a distance. As to retreating, that was nothing; for Giraldus Cambrensis says, that the Welch passed days and nights in running over the tops of hills, and penetra- ting woods.f Henry the fifth, who was educated among them, was a capital runner.§ * Bell. Gall. L. v. c. 47. f p. 887. Ed. Frankf. § Tlio. de Elmhanjia vit Henr, v. c. 6. p. 12 12 Caractacus apparently makes his way across tliB country in a N. E. direction to his line of Fortresses, commencing at the Herefordshire Beacon. The Camps at Geer-cop, Caplar Hills, and Warrelocks, &c. are possibly connected with this movement: Ostorius taking np his positions, in order to bring him to action upon passing the river Wye. How- ever Caractacus, {doubtless by masterly manoeuvres) is presumed, on good grounds,|| to have reached the Herefordshire Beacon, a most perfect Camp. By this means he drew Ostorius into a more difficult country, with far less plain, and established his communication with Upperton, Netherton, Birden- bury, Thornbury, and Risbury, all Biitish Encamp- ments, forming a continued line : which began at Malvern Hills, and crossed this county. Ostorius seats himself at Wall's Hill, near Ledbury, by which he communicates with the road from Circutiof (Stret* ton-Granson); into which falls the Ikenilt street from Glevum (Gloucester); and by which former road from Stretton, he could pass into (he Walling street at Wigmore. Upon part of tliis road he establishes a station (now unidentified) at Black-C'aer-Dun. Thus he could receive reinforcements from his rear • and II Nasli's Worcestershire, &c", t It is presumed, that this road, as were the IlicniU and Watliug streets was first a British Trackwav 13 was acting upon the resources of ^ractacus. After some time he appears to have advanced upon sound military principles, for the Romans did every thin;.'-, secundum artem, along the summit of the Malvern Ridge, for the author in going that way to the Here- fordshire Beacon visited a Roman Camp on the north of Castleditch, but very slight, apparently a mere halting position for a night or a few days. In the morning he [)robably forced tiie camp of Carac- tacus, Jor that there veas a battle fought is to be inferred, from there having been found* a golden arm-bracelet, as there was at Gaer-dykes,-]- both being buried at the time, on account of the neces- sity of retreating. The British chieftain after being compelled through the danger, or consequences of close action, to evacuate the whole line of forts before mentioned, seemingly takes up his next position at Credenhil!, pronounced by Aubrey, not to be a Roman Camp, though from its size it gave the name of Magna CaUra to the subsequent adjoining station of Ken- * It was set witli Jewels. Nasli's Worcestershire, ii 143. Who also mentions a Celt, found in the vicinity. \ The arm was a distinguished part of the person. The official oath of tlie Britons was hy the Kinifs hand Powell's Wales, 353. 14 chesler. Ostorius Ihiows up blockading Camps at Buighill and Letton. Caractacus then apparently vMiKives to IviNGTON, a British position, to which were out-posts at War-hill, &c. Here probably were some serious actions, for the Romans seemingly stormed the position, in order to occupy it, which they manifestly did by their altering the form of the camp to their own model. After this there was an apparent conclusion of one of the campaigns ; for Cholstry near Leominster was anciently spelt Caerostrny, presumed from Ostorius ; and at Cursneh or Carne-hill, fosses and ramparts are discernible. The weakness too of some Roman Camps, as Dyndor or Oyster-hill (capable of being ploughed up to the area,) and the great finish of Oi-er-Amneh, or Bache Camp, imply that Ostorius was resting on his arms, perhaps employed in clear- ino- the country for further advance. In the mean while Caractacus seemingly took up his next position at Cp.oft Ambrey. Ostorius opposes to him ano- ther camp at Aymestre ; and a new campaign appa- rently commences by Caractacus relinquishing his post, and retiring to Weobi.y Ditches, near Lvon?hall, where aie remains of British Lanes, de- scending into marshy ground. Ostorius expels him ficn! hence; and the British general, evidently in a state of distress and exhaustion, resorts to stronger fortifications, and removes to WapleyCamp, where 15 he entrenches himself with five fold banks and ditches, except on one side. Being obliged to leave it, we now see a proof of the high genius of Carar- tacus, as a general. " Cingohim built by Labieniis, is, says Albert!,* a position which military nieu vehemently applaud : as upon other respects, so espe- cially because it avoids the evils attached to nearly all mountainous towns, that, when you have reached the top, the fighting is equal ; but here they are baffled by lengthened and precipitous rock : nor can the enemy by one excursion devastate the plain at option; nor block up all the entrances; nor have a safe retreat to camps placed anear; nor send out foraging' and watering parties without danger : but it is other- wiise with the besieged ; by means of the frequent hills and valhes, they may sally upon hira in various ways, and embrace every oppoitunity of crushing hira." "Caractacus therefore (as Tacitusf observes) made his last experiment, by chusing a spot, for battle, where every thing was difficult for his ene- mies, and safe for himself." As his object was to avoid close action, and to oppress the Romans from steeps and precipices, this place was a cluster of strong positions (near the junction of the Clun and. the Teme,) the " Montes ardui" of Tacitus, viz.. * Re Edjfic. fol. lii. 4to. Paris 1512 f Ann. xii. 33. 16 Borough hill, near Clunbury, between Ptiislow aad BasCoid, Tongley hill, or Bury ditches, (3 miles N. of the Gaer-ditches) Norton icalls, or Whettle- ton hilts, (near Onibury) and the Gaer-dykes or Coxall hill, all of which Caractacus fortified and oc- cupied, intending apparently to retreat from height to height, and preserve his advantage of distant action; for the Roman darts thrown up hill were of little or no effect. As he did, in fact, gall them terribly, when remote, the Legions formed the Testudo, stormed the works, where the ground was most accessible, and bringing the Britons to close action, drove and slaugh- tered them, till the remainder threw down their arms and fled. Ostorius had raised two camps at Leintwar- dine and Rrandnn, lint is presumed to have attacked from the last : and though (says Tacitus) he did not put an end to all fighting, yet he certainly spent the war.* The two barrows near Leintwardine refer to this last aclion. Caractacus after this defeat [ann. 53, or 54.] is said to have fled to a citadel, or palace, f near the famous Druidical College of Cerig-y-Druidian, in Denbigh- shire, probably for their friendly aid and advice. This palace is called Pen-Gwer-wyn, and is a hill, hooped with an earthen rampart below, and higher * Ann. xii. 39. f Nicholson, col, 35-J. 17 up with a wall, enclosing an area of four or five acres. How he was afterwards betrayed by Cartis- mandua is told in the Histories of England: Ostorius endeavoured to establish his conquest by fixing gar- risons among the Silures ; but though from ex- haustion of men and country, they never appeared in collected strength, after the time of Car'actacus, they cut off in detail the petty forces of Ostorius, and others,* which do not seem to have been support- ed by a covering army. Very soon after, the insurrec- tion of Boadicea, and others less important ensued ; so that the Silures could not be seriously checked, till about the year 72, when Julius Frontinus suc- ceeded in placing Roman Stations among them, apparently because his rear was secure, and he could * The sceaes of action, as the object was to prevent the establishmeat of the Stations, were probably on the roads to or in the vicinity of Keuchester, Stretton-Gran- son, and other Roman Towns, which were not pej^ma- nentiy established, till the time of frontinus. .4 b the Silares sallied cut in parties, from woods, bog-s and marshes (Sammes, 220,) which division of forces is incon- sistent with throwing up, or occupying' earthworks, be- cause such a measure would have defeated their purpose of concealment, no British Camps can be reasonably ascribed to this period, thoCglTsome of the Roman at a distance from these British positions, may be subaec(ueBt to the campaigns of Caractacus. c3 18 biing a sufliGient protecting army, enough to allow diaiights for garrisons, against a depopulated and ruined country. He was an excellent general, and no actions of moment are recorded, possibly through his good management. Soon afterwards Agricola, for the purpose of inuring the Britons to subjugation, in- troduced Roman arts and Luxury, under thename of Civilization. That he amply succeeded among the Sihues is evident not onlyfrom the fine remains found at Caerwent, Caeileon, &c. but a remarkable in- stance. The carpentry of Chepstow Bridge, very recently removed, was entirely formed upon a Roman inodtl. But Agricola added other measures. The refractory Biitons, who would not conform to Roman habits and dominion, he drove, says Tacitus, into Scotland, as into another island,* for so that country was considered many ages aflerwards.f The wall of Hadrian was purposely raised to divide Roman Brit- ain from these expelled malcontents, and the Romans observing the same policy as we do in the East Indies, nothing is moie clear, than that, after the time of Agricola, the wars in Britain, unconnected with the cabals of individuals for the imperial purple. * Between the friiiis of Ediaborough and Dunbritton, says Samnics, p. 311. \ Petr. Apiaii. Cosmograpli. fol. 44. 4to. Antw. 1545, ' Scotiiie InsiilLe Civitates" " Evoracumvuljo Vork,civitas" of Sfoilaad. 19 were merely insurrectionary, through governmental misconduct. Thus the first historical account of Ross and its vicinity, is that of a desert, wasted by a ruinous war ; indeed the greater part of Britain was then a mere forest, for, when Gordian was questor of Rome, he exhibited a picture of a wood, with two hundred stags and Britons intermixed :* and that this was a faithful representation is proved from Giraldus Cara- brensis, who states, that the Welch had vast quanti- ties of animals, yer« natur 2 O o H 2. 3 2 5- a: c ES •n « CD to a > s 3 o C g o 2 5" c o <» fin c — ' O i/3 ?8 o 3 2 o o" - 25 tJpon the large Maps of Herefordshire, especially Price's, the remains of the Roman road to Ken- Chester, may be traced, in a large portion of it, with certainty; for the author thinks, that roads actually made by the Romans, are not of easy destructibility ■while such as were mere repairs of British Trackways, not having the firm, elevated caaseway, have often tlecayed and become undistinguishable. The Romans often straitened British Trackways to expedite their abour; and then the strait line is the only clue, Stukeley, when he was ia danger of losing the Foss- ■way, says, " Upon every hill topi made an observa- tion of some remarkable object on the opposite high ground, which continued the right line ; so that, by going strait forwards, I never failed of meeting it again."* In some cases, this straitness of road is the only means of discovering a station. The same author says, that " at Brough, no Roman token was ■visible, except the remarkable straitness of all the ■roads and bye lanes thereabout."-f ♦ Itin. i. 107. t Icl, i. lot D Pretty much on the line of the Turn- pike road: LCelts have been found. 26 PRICE'S LARGEST MAP. 1 Castle end, 2 Bromesash, 3 Crowbill by Sandford, 4 By Wobach, 5 Old Goer, 6 How Caple, 7 Brockhampton — Strait line lost. 8 Caplar* Wood, 9 Ditto Camp, 10 The Rise, 11 Houlston, 12 Fownhope by the Tump, 13 Mordiford, 14 Longworth Hill, 15 Bartestre Chapel, IG Hell Hole. Turn short to the left. Strait line again appears. \ Strait for about a mile. From hence the Roman road is as apparent, as any existing; strait and a causeway, 17 Lugbridge, 18 Holme r, 19 Huntinton, 20 Stretton, 21 Kenchester. 22 Steps below Mansel Gamage, where tl* strait line ceases. Five miles strait. * Corrupted from Ostorius Scapula. 27 TAYLOR'S LARGE MAP. 1 Fidler's Cross, 2 Hartleton, 3 Foxall, 4 Sanford, 5 Crow Hill, 6 Grendon, 7 Old Goer, (sic) not Gore, 8 New House, 9 Snogsash Cross, 10 How Caple, 11 Rugden, 12 Ealson, 13 Fownhope, 14 Brewhouse, (winding a little on ac- count of the River and Hill,) 15 The Wear, 16 Mordiford, (by the Church, leaving Tidnor Cross on the left,) 17 Longworth, and so to Lugbridge, as on the other Map. 28 FROM ARICONIUM TO PRICE'S LARGE MAP. To Old Goer, as before, where it is lost, till we come io Hellens, Redding's end. Little Bfarcle. ■ About one mile strait. At Little Marcle, it falls into the road from Cir- cutio to Glevam (Gloucester) which goes on thus: Little Marcle, Brooks, Aylton, Pixley, Trumpet, MaynstoB, Asperton, Canon Froome, Strait for five miles oi thereabouts. Stretton-Grandison or Ciucutio« 29 CIRCVTIO cstretton-ghanson J TAYLOR'S MAP. On this Map, which is not so correct as the other of high excellence, are traces of another old way to Circutio; and it is mentioned here, because it was usual with the Romans to make roads parallel with British Trackways ; of which last this may have been one. How Caple, as before. Dean's Place, by the road between Barrell Hill and Yatton. Kinnaston, by Hall Court. Wonder. Putley, whence it proceeds till it appears to fall into the other road between Maynston and Asperton^ d3 30 Ariconium to LiDNEY, where was a Camp, or according to some writers, the Station Abone. At all events, the remains exceed those of a Camp.* By means of Lidney, Aiiconiiim had a proper mili- tary connection with the Via Julia, and so with Caer-went [Venta Silurum) Caeileon and other stations. Tiie roads in the Forest are obvionsly very diffi- cult to trace; but the Homans in making' such ways ever raoiasses, appear to have trenched the line of the Moss, which was destined to receive the road, ^ ery deeply on either side ; and the larger and more tolid plates of turf, which rose with the shovel from the lower parts of the trench, they laid upon the original face of the bog; and raised§ the level of it more than a yard in height. This eaiiseway con- struction and the straitness usual, might, by track- ing- the roads from Lidney, like radii from a centre, lead to discoveries. Traces uf vicinal ways, in connection with Arico- nium, appear iu two directions. * Antiquar. Repertory, i. 134. Big!and's Gloucestershire, i. 150. § Wliitaker's Manchester, i. 125. 31 I. ir. Michel Dean, ^^^'o^e t^ie Lea, Abbenhall Between Michel Dean and Raeideau, Between Seiridge Hill and Little Dean, Blakeney, Stockwell Green, Lidney. Lidney. By Kenchester, Aiiconium communicated with Gobannium (Abeigavenny) on the south ; and by Circutio ( Stretton-Giandison ) with Brannogenium (Worcestei) on the noith. These statements are made upon the authority of the best Maps ; and are founded upon the distinctive rectilinear character of Roman roads, and in the turns at angles, because their ways often fall into one another. It is an acknowledged rule, that the Itineraries do not show the shortest ways, but the roads which lay fittest for business, especially for the Roman Magistrates taking their progress through the several cities or colonies* As to the ways immediately on, or near the site of Ariconium, the author has to report the result of his survey on the spot. At the south angle of the field called the Cindries, represented as the principal part of the station, but in fact the extremity of it, runs * Moraat's Colcliester, p. It). 32 a lane, through Bury Bill, quite strait from the sta- tion, to a field called Lydiat Meadow. In the year 1819, the occupying tenant was mooting up the hedgerow on the western side, in order to throw the lane into the field. The eastern side of the meadow was fenced in by the hedge belonging to the road. From this meadow it crosses fields, ploughed up, and then appears again in a strait line terminating a little to the left of Castle end, a term used, either because it was the end of the station or fortress, (Richborough Castle, being still the appellation of that Roman station in Kent,) or perhaps of Eccles- wall Castle precincts. The farmers are said to have thrown into the fields numerous lanes ; one road is thought to have had a di- rect communication with Framilode Passage : and the Castle Tump at Dymock, seems to have been only a Specula or observatory tumulus, common on the sides of Roman roads ; for it is situated at the corner of four roads, one of which, the northern, was appa- rently part of the road from this station to Upton, the supposed Ypocessa of Ravennas, which joined the Ikenild street at Tewkesbury, To make this investi- gation complete it would be necessary to examine all the old lanes, and note down the strait pieces of them with their respective lengths, (for stations were in general remarkable for the straitness of all the roads 33 and bye lanes about them ;*) but it is a work of fedious tiaTelling, which it is not in the power of the author to execute. The second test of this being a station is the na- ture of the ground. It consists of gentle knolls, surrounded by heights in the distance. Caerwent and other stations are of similar character. The third proof is the Camp on Penyard. The Romans had a summer and winter station near each other.t The station Venones, near Bittesby in Not- tinghamshire afterwards called Cleycester was nearly a mile from the Camp.§ But whether this camp on the Chace or Penyard was the Estiva Castra of the station, in subsequent seras, or not, it was probably, (as the Romans did not go into action, without first throwing up a camp,||) the, spot from whence they went to found Aricon, and the fortification from which they protected it ; there being at Walford, a Cas- tellum or advanced post implying permanent occupa- tion to preserve the communication, and command a view of all the adjacent heights on the south. * See before, p. 25. f Hufchinson's Durham, ii. 399, note. § Thoroton's Nottinghamshire in Hichlin. Hyginus de Casfr. Romanor. p. 115. 34 The fourth proof is the denomination Bury Hill. This name often corrupted into Brill was that given lo the fortification made by Edward the elder at Tow- cester.* It was a common term of the Anglo-Saxons; and beyond the camp at Symonds Yat, on the road from hence towards Stanton, where runs a Roman way, is another Bury Hill ; and places without number are so called in various parts of the Empire. The fifth evidence is the word Archenjield, In the Saxon Chroniclef it is called Yrcinga-feld. Geoff'rey of Monmouth mentions " a nation, called Herglng upon the River Wye,"§ alluding plainly to the petty British Kingdom of Erching, mentioned hereafter; which Somner defines by Herinaceorum Mons, or hill of Hedge-hogs.|| In Doomsday book it is called Arcenefelde; and Bishop Gibson, who is copied verbatim by Lye^ defines it by Aricon-field : the latter term, not being limited by the Anglo- Saxons to its modern meaning, but also denoting a vast mountainous place. 4- * Stukeley'B Itiner. i. p. 41. f p. 105. § " In natione Herging super flurium Guaiae" as quo- ted in Abp. Usher's Eccles. Antiq. p. 34, II Chron. Sax. Nom. Loc. Explic, p. 33. Lei. Collect. IT. 141. ^ V. Yrcinga-feld. Chron. Sai. ub. supr. 4- Lye r. Felda. 36 The sixth attestation is the enormous quantity of coins discovered on the spot. The Saxon Chronicle says, •' In this year [418] the Romans collected all the treasures of Gold, which they had in Britain, and part they concealed in the ground, that no man might afterwards find them, and part they canied with them into Gaul."* From this passage the fol- lowing inference has been deduced. " We are to expect coins at such places as were of great note in the year 418, when the Romans on leaving the island hid their treasure : and the greater the towns were the treasure is so much the larger ; and consequently more coins are discovered in or about such towns as were of more considerable note. I" The seventh attestation is the great number of lanes and roads on or just around the spot. These were not only for the necessary purposes of commu- nication, like streets, but, that the garrison might not be exposed to danger. On the west side of the town of Ancaster was a road, for the convenience of those, who travelled when the Gates were shut.g It has been already said, that the farmers have thrown numerous lanes into the fields. * Chron. Sax. p. 10. t Bibl. Topogr. Brit. t. iv. p. p. 132. 133. !«. § Stukeley's Itin. i. 86. 36 The eighth proof is the situalion of Bromesash which gave name to the Hundred, in or close to the station: for Hundred Courts were to be held, on account of security, in fortified places.* Lastly, the Traditions on the spot affirm that the ancient city was very considerable, and extended at least over the whole space between Bollatree and Bromesash. The old inhabitants call it Rose Town; and the extent was upwards of twenty acres of land. The site bore precisely the appearance of Kenchester. It consisted of confused heaps of rubbish, with here and there walls, and was coveied with bushes from which hedgewood was cut. Mr. Merrick, a pro- prietor, not many years ago, first cleared the land of the stones. Remains of statues, heads, arms, &c. were found ; and such a quantity of pieces of bronze and coins, as when sold amounted to fifteen pounds. Such was the ignorance of the times, that the money wascalled Fairy-coins. Those exhibited to theauthor were of the later Emperors. It has been said, that a large bronze head with ram's horns was found. That the town was a Roman Birmingham, cannot be doubted, from the cinders of ore, which now remain: and the head of a battering ram might have been there cast. Upon digging the foundation of houses * Spelraamii Arcluvologus, p, 3C6. 37 are still found ; but the author could not hear from the traditions, preserved by the oldest inhabitants, that any other part of a building was ever found, than that of a vault with steps, discovered accidentally by some children. The site is forgotten, except that it was in a field, east of the Wynthfurlong', between the station and Bromesasb. Fragments of Urns, Vases, Pins, Fibulse, and other denotations of residence have been found; but no tesselated pavement, possi- bly because the part exploied has been merely the site of the manufactory. For by the dip of the ground at the Cindiies, it was probably situated at the lower or Proetorian end of the station, where was the vete- rinarium or workshops of arms, Sec. and if so, the ground above is the most likely spot for grand remains, because near the Ptcetorium. From the pre- ceding statements, it may be inferred that in the Roman and British ffira Ar'icon ov Ariconimn was the metropolis of a particular district, afterwards a British Kingdom called from its name, Ariconfield, or Archenfield :* that it was occupied bythe Romans, as a very convenient stage, between Glevum (Gloucester) * We shall see hereafter from the account of Dubrieius that originally Archenfield was a petty British Kingdom, extending from the western edge of the Forest of Dean, as far at least as Madley and Moccas one way. 38 andMagna,(Kenchester.) As also the vicinityabounded in wood, it appears, from the vast quantity of Scoriae still remaining, that they established Iron-works on the spot, as they did in the adjacent Forest of Dean, in order to assart the land, and thus render the coun- try more productive and profitable, as well as safer in a military view. — As to the Britons, those who inhabited cities were chiefly men engaged in com- merce, and their gieat Market day was Wednesday, from its dedication to Mercury the God of Trade.* The chief of these were no doubt Iron-workers; for Smithery was the staple trade of the whole adjacent country, for many ages after the Roman evacuation of Britain; After this period, the year 410, Britain was gov- erned by petty tyrants, of whom there were not less than thirty, so many being the number of indepen- dent states, and in each there was a Bishop. Tlie people in general were in two divisions, the free and the servile ; and the Magistrates were Decurions, a sort of Aldermen, and other subordinate officers.f Thus there was a constitution, both religious and civil, and we have evidences of the existence of both in this country. * M. Paris, p. 994. f Turner's Anglo-Saxons, 1, 135-6. 39 The prefix of Llan to the name of a place, as much denotes a church or religious house among the Brit- ons, as the mention of a Priest in Doomsday does in the Anglo-Saxon sera. There are near Ross, Llan- garran, Llanwarn, Llanfrother, Llandinabo, &c. all upon the western side of the Wye, and three of them; Llanwarn, Llanfrother and Llandinabo, are near Hentland, fouriniles onlyfromRoss, where was a large College of rehgious men, like the famous Monastery of Bangor. On the eastern side of the River the names of the places are chiefly Anglo-Saxon. In the vicinity is also a parish, called Saint Weonards, This holy man was a Hermit, for in the painted glass in the north window is or was S. Wenardus Heremita under the figure of an old man, holding a book in one hand and an axe in the other,* possibly because he was decapitated by the Anglo-Saxons.f The British Churches, were built on or near Druidical places of worship, and they were also dwelling places; but they were not stone-buildings, which were deem- ed almost miraculous. They were in the form however of old houses : the fronts always to the S. east, hav- * Cough's Camden in Herefordshire. t The author is nuable to refer to Capgrave, for ans:-' legend of him. e2 40 ing great windows opening that way.* At tlie time of Aureliiis Anibiosius, i. e. the fifth century, the slate of this country in a religious view, is detailei} as follows, in literal translation: " A certain petty King of the country of Ertic or Ercych,f called Pepiau, but in the British language, surnamed Clavorauc, which in Latin is interpreted Reumaticus, or Spumosus, having gone against his enemies upon an expedition, and retvuned to his own territory with a trophy, ordered his daughter, by name Eurdil to wash his head, on account of his fatigue in the battle. When she attempted to execute his command, the father perceived by her size§ that she was preg- nant. On this account, the King excessively angry, ordered her to be enclosed in a hide, and thrown into the )iver, in order that wheresoever fortune m%ht take her, she might be sunk in the deep of the river. Which thing, because it by no means pleased God, he was unable to effect. For, before the offspring ■which she had in her womb could be born, the Lord * Rowland's, Moca Antiqua. 158. 221. Script, post. Bed. 155. a. t The erroaeous versions of Wharton are well known, lu the Chronicles of Warwick quoted by Archbishop Usher Eccles. Antiq. p. 238 Ed. fol. it is" Regem jEjcJyni/. Pepiau nomine;" thus decisively proving the spot to be ytrc/jeii-field; the Hergyng of GeohVey of Bloumouth before quoted : The Yrcynga-feld of the Sa;son Chronicle, and Arcene-felde of Doomsday. § Gravitate. . 41 thought worthy by showing his mercy and protection, to exhibit of what merit it was about to be : since the mother could by no means be sunk in the water. For, as often as she was placed in the river, so many times she was carried again uninjured to the bank. Hence the indignant father, because he was unable to immerge her in the waves, ordered her to be burn- ed with fire ; at whose order a pile is immediately prepared for her destruction, and the terror of other girls ; into which the daughter of the aforesaid King, Eurdil, is put in burning flames. But on the morrow morning, whilst she was thought to hare been completely burnt in the fire, messengers having been sent by the father to enquire if any of her bones remained unburnt, they found her safe, and holding the son, whom she had brought forth in the midst of the fire, in her bosom, her clothes and hair being uninjured by the fire. For a very great stone was placed near the spot where she brought forth her son, in token of the birth of the boy. But the place, in which the boy was born was called in the British Tongue, Maismail Lochou by some, Matle by others, because the blessed little man* was born there : which place by the corruption of the English * Homuncio, rascal, scrubby fellow in the classical, interpretation, but this could not possibly be the mean- iug^of the Monkish author, e3 4^ idioms is named Medeley. [Madley near Hereford] But the boy, as soon as he obtained the laver of ieg;eii€ ration is called Dnbricius, and is immediately filled with the Holy Ghost : but who was his father remains unknown to the men of this time : and, there- fore, some mistaken people fabulously pretend, that he had no faiher." Through the utter impossibility of making any impression upon the barbarians of that age, by com- mon sense or reason, it was customary, upon the same principle as that of Columbus, when he affrighted the Indians by making a miracle of an Eclipse, to invent prodigies, which were executed by disguised human agency; and it was a common stratagem among the Greek and Roman Generals and Priests, the Crusaders, Jesuits and others.* Thus the unfortunate Princess was saved from drown- ing by an inflated hide, and from the fire by creep- ing under a stone or rock, placed there on purpose. To proceed: " When, therefore, the father of the aforesaid girl had heard from his officers what things the Lord had done towards her and her son, moreover the wonderful beauty and elegance of the tiny boy. * See Mills's History of the Crusades, i. 208, seq. Wadf3worth's English Spanish Pilgrim, p. K. 4to. 1680- ct alios. 43 and the grace of Goil very conspicious in him, Tery much desiring to see them, ordered them to bring his daughter with her new-born child immediately to him. Upon their being presented to him, immedi- ately embracing the child with paternal affection, he began afterwards to love him, above all his other children and grandchildren; and made him heir of that farm, where he was born, which was called Matle by the natives, i. e. good place, because the good, or blessed man, had been there born. Moreover after the course of a few years, the aforesaid King Pepiau made Dubricius heir of all this island, and ordered it to be called from that time Miserbdil, from the name of Eurdil his mother. From that time the little boy increased every day in age and wisdom : and having obtained seasonable time of learning, is deli- vered to be instructed in letters, who a little time after flourished famously in prudence, together with the knowledge of divine precepts. And although a youth in years, yet becoming in a short time a gray headed old man in understanding, and the virtue of knowledge in eloquence, likewise in skill in both the testaments, he was cried up with so celebrated a repu- tation through all Britain, that from neaily all the provinces of the whole kingdom, not only the ignorant but the informed, flocked to him for the sake of in- struction and edification, in a different dogma. Of whom the chief are knownj viz, S, Theliaous, Samson 44 his disciple, Ubeline and Aidan, with sixteen others, whose names we have not thought it fit to insert in this history ; besides another thousand clerks, whom he had detained for the term of seven years to be instructed in liberal disciplioe in the county, called Henlland,* which is seated near the River Wye, atFording to them in himself a form of religious life and perfect charity. Again the Doctor in like manner in the soil of his nativity, namely in the island of Miserbdil, near the bank of the river which is called Wye, chusing a situation, rich in wood and fish, fit for himself and the multitude of his disciples, remained in superintending that study to many, imposing upon the place the name of Moth-ros, or Moch-ros,'\ i. e. the place of Pigs.§ There he lived * From Hentland there runs a British Trackway to the Meend, theuce to Miret, theuce to Wi'.zon, thence to Whitfield, where it falls into the Turnpike road at Pencreck: but probably went further, for the author has been informed, that, in making- the present Turnpike road, a way apparently Roman was cut through. The present road from Welsh Newton to the Callow beyond Dewsall, appears to run upon an ancient line. t There is near Hereford a place called Mockes or Moccas. Because he dreamed that he should found a dwelling and church, where he discovered a white sow and pi ts f^ S :r tn SE o ft; o Money ace to the Pri 2. fe a* o K> pr C s a. P> * — y J > 5' o 1:^ p V = d atiou erpol ti ^ ::. a* T3 __ =3 ? 55 The Doomsday statement also shows, that Ross and the Vicinity were in a very fair state of culti- vation at the period of the Conquest, an effect, no doubt, in great part of the Roman occupation of Aricon. Csesar says, that the Maritime countries consisted chiefly of Agriculturists, while the in- landers principally subsisted on meat and milk, a state of things, which existed, in some places, till the days of Elizabeth. Dr. BuUeyn, who lived in that age, observes in his chapter of milk, that in Wales, Suffolk, Essex, and especially about Alston Moor, among the mountains in Durham, where there is little tillage, and so much bringing up of cattle, the people are all chiefly nourished with milk, and use little of any other drink.* Cut the Romans not onl}^ oppressed the Britons with the sword, but with the whip,§ reduced them to the most abject submission.f and made them rear corn * Book of Simples, fol. 84. quoted in Biogr. Brit. iii. 2. Ed. 2 § Gildas in xv. Scriptor. p. 4- Tacit. Agric. ■f The Saxon Conquest was owing to this enerfatiBg policy. The Romans draughted the British youth into foreign service, and suffered no others to learn the use of arms. They carried this policy to such extent, that the inhabitants of the Balearic lies petitioned Augustus to send them an army, in order to destroy a host of Hares and Rabbits, which threatened to consume their harvest. See Plin. N. H. SfC. viii. c. 55. and Dr. Robin- son, observes (' View of the State of Europe, Note v. J that Spain and Africa once very brave nations were so entirely enervated by subjection to the Romans, that a smull army of Vandals subdued them in a short time. 56 for the Annona or tribute; compelled them to bring it in, and often made them in mockery sit before the Granaries, buy the corn back again, or cart it away to a greater distance, where it would bring more money; for which reason the bye-ways and distances were carefully marked out.* The other existing memorials (not earthworks) of the aeras jnst discussed, are relicks of super- stition chiefly in their origin, both Pagan and Druidical. The Benedictine editors of Du Cange notices customs of the Rustics of Picardy, to which they can find no clue, from written authority, and fherefore ascribe them to Druidism ;t and the Delphin Annotators of Caesar, upon the passage, which notes the addiction of Gaul, where the estabhshed religion was Druidism, to superstition, quote Cicero, for the addition, that this nation despised all others systems. § " The original of ancient customs, says Johnson, is commonly unknown; for the practice often con- tinues, when the cause has ceased; and concerning superstitious ceremonies, it is vain to conjecture; for what reason did not dictate, reason cannot ex- plain." The attempt here made to illustrate theiji of course goes not beyond obvious analogies. * Tacit. Agric— Cicer. in Verr.— Lipsius, &c. t V. Apoielesmata. § L. vi. c. 15. 57 iVeio Christmas Day, and the first Monday in the year. — A woman must not come first into the house, otherwise there will be no lurk throughout the year. Janus observes in Ovid, that, " Omens attach to the beginning of all thing's:"§ and Phi- losophers know, that when the mind is strongly agitated by hope or fear, it naturally speculates in the future, and has a sensitive irritability, which warps events to the prevailing idea. But occur- sacula, i. e. presages from objects first met upon going abroad, were the subjects of particular books, written by Hippocrates (not the Physician) and Polios. It was very imlueky to meet a lame or bhnd man. Eunuch, Ape, &c. and move especi- ally the animal called Galk, whether it signified a weazle or cat, because says Artemidorus, it typifies a crafty bad-manriered woman, f and the term " old cat" is still contemptuously applied to ancient ill-natured females. In the north of Eng- land, it is custom.iry, when a child is taken to church to be christened, to engage a little boy to meet the infant, upon leaving the house, because it is deemed an unlucky omen, to encounter a § "OmraaprineipiisinquitinesseKolent" Fasti, i. lin. 178. t Ca-:a«b. in Theopyhrast. p. 290. See too the Scholiast oa the E;i-(U of Aristophanes, Lucian, and others, cou- csj'Uiii?' tlif Ocrursacula, 58 female first, for which service the boy receives a small present of a cake and Cheese, f wrapped in paper. On the first day of the year, it is also deemed very unfortunate, for a woman to enter the house first ; and therefore an enquiry is mostly made, whether a male has previously been there. It is certain that among all the northern nations, women were supposed to be endowed with a pro- phetic spirit, more or less, according to their age\\ and a tall Celtic woman and female Druid, sev- erally met Drusus and Alexander Severus, and pro- phecied the death of each.§ When Maximinus met a woman with disshevelled hair and mourn- ing habit, it was deemed an omen of his death :^ and among the ancient Scots, if a woman bare- foot crossed a road, before them, they seized her and drew blood from her forehead, as a charm against the omen,^ The women had too such enormous influence and authority among the Celts, that they excited the jealousy of the Druids, who t Rous ( Archoeolog. Attic, p. 212.) mentions from Aihenaeus, c. 2. "toasted pieces of Chersonesus Cheese, as common presents of the Greeks at the feast of name- ing their children." II Univ. Hist. vi. p. 67. not c. from Keysler. 4 Lampvidiusand Xiphilinein Hist^Aug. ii. 222. iii. 203. ^ Capitolin. in Id. ii. 233. 4- Antiqnit. Vulgar, p. 101. Ed. Brand. 59 found means to impose a check upon them.* Whether this superstition formed one of these means, or not, the Primitive Christians would not stop it, for ; in consequence of the Fall of Man, they denominated the Fair Sex, Gates of the Devil, resigners of the Tree of Life, and first deserters of the Divine Law.§ The only notice of this occursaculum in the Popular i\ntiquities is confined to the Churching of Women.f Old Christmas Day. No person must borrow fire, but purchase it, with some trifle, or other, for instance, a pin, A woman must not enter the house on this day. The restriction concerning the Fire, lasts during the twelve days. The Druids consecrated a solemn fire, from which that of all private houses was supplied. They extinguished all the other fires in the district till the tithes were paid, nor till this was done, could the fires be rekindled.il As to the Pin, Welch women still resort to a spring, called Nell's Point, on Holy Thursday, and drop pins into it for ofFerings.<([ The translation of this custom to Old Christmas Day, the Epiphany, when the fire might represent the * Univ. Hist, xviii. 563. § Tertullian p. 170. Ed. Rigalt " De cultu Femiuarum." t ii. p. n. {{ Borlase's Cornwall, p. 130.— Martin's Shetland isles^— De Valancey in Collect. Reb. Hybern N. ii. 64, 65. 105. ^ Hoare's Giraldns, J. 133. 60 star, which guided the Magi; and be puichased in allusion to their offerings, is a very fair sub- stitute, for the following reasons: "It was an auncient ordinaunce, that noo man sholde come to God, ne to the Kyng with a voyde honde, but that he brought some gyfte."t That the purchase of the Fire should last for the twelve days is also analogous to ancient customs; for the observalion of twelve days was connected with the Saturnalia ; and Hospinian says, that at Rome on New Year's Day, no one would suffer a neighbour to take fire out of his house, or any thing of iron, or lend any thing. It was a Heathen custom. [| On Twelfth Day also they make twelve Fires of straw, one large one to burn the old witch. They sing, drink and dance^ around it. With- out this festival, they think, that they should have no crop.^ On the same day in Ireland, f Golden Legend, fol. viii. a. I] Brand's Popular Antiquities, i. p. 11. ^ -neque ante Falcem maturis quisquam supponat aristis Quam Cererci toi-ta redimitus tempora cuercu Vet motus incompositos, et carmina dicaf. Virg-, Georg. L. i. v. 347. seq. 4- Sementivfe dies, were feasts after seed-times on no stated days. 61 they set up as high as they can, a sieve of oals, and in it a dozen candles, and in Ihe ceiUie one larger, all lighted. This is done in memory of our Saviour, and his Apostles, lights of the workl.* This custom had its origin in a j arable of the Druidical Beitine and the Roman Cerealia, and Paliha; the great light to burn the witch seem- ingly referring to Samhan, or Ealsab, the Drui- dical God of Death. To return, "After the fires are lit, the attendants, headed by the master of the family, pledge the company in old cyder, which circulates freely on these occasions. A circle is formed round the large fire, when a general shout and hallooing takes place, which you hear answered from all the adjacent villages and fields."f The Northern nations on addressiiig their riiiai deities, emptied on every invocation a cup in their honour.§ The hallooing is the " Cererem ciainora vocent in fecta" [Calling Ceres into the House] of Virgil, of which the Delphin Aniiotator observes. * Collect. Reb. Hybern. N. i. p, 12-1, f Popular Aiiticjritiss, 1. p. 2D. I Sir. Pennant (.Scotlaud, p. 91.) from OJaus Wora>ius, e 62 tliat Ceres being a synonym for Corn, it implies a wish that there may be a good crop brought iato the barns. " This being finished in the fields, the company return home, wliere the good housewife and her maids are preparing a good supper. A large cake is always provided with a hole in the middle. After supper the company all attend the BaihiT or head of tlie oxen to the wain house, where the following particulars are observed. The Master at the head of his friends fills the cup (generally of strong ale) and stands opposite the first or finest of the oxen. He then pledges him in a curious toast. The company follow his example with all the other oxen, addressing- each by his name. This being finished, the large cake is produced, and with much ceremony put on the hoin of the fiist Ox, through the hole above-men- tioned. The Ox is then tickled, to make him toss his head; if he throw the cake behind, then it is the mistress's [or female servant's] perquisite; if be- fore, (in what is teimed the boosy*] the bailiff himself claims the prize. The company then re- turns to the house, the doors of which they find locked, till some joyful songs are sung. On their ♦ ^i sta!!, from the Ancrlo-SaxonBc*)/, or Sosin, Prwsepe 63 gaining admittance, a scene of mirth and jollity ensues, which lasts the greatest part of the night." Thus the Popular Antiquities,* but the invoca- tion being omitted shall be suppliedf " Here is to you, Champion, with thy wbite horn" " God send our master a good crop of corn" « Both Wheat, Rye, and Barley, and all sorts of grain" " If we meet this time twelvemonth we'll drink to him agfain" "Thee eat thy povse^ and I -will drink my beer" " And the Lord send us a happy new year." Mr, Brand, in the excellent work quoted has not deduced the origin of this custom. It ap- pears to be a rude draught of one of the ancient Feriae Sementivse. The cake seems to have been put on the horn of the Ox, as a substitute for the crown or garland formerly used at these festi- vals, for TibuUus says "Loose the chains from the yokes; now the Oxen ought to stand at the full stalls with a croumed head.\\" The cakes allude to the offerings then made to Ceres and the Earth * i. p. 20. t From Rudge and Heath. ^ From the A, Sax. posa, scrip. [1 Solvite vincla jugis; nunc ad proesepia debent Plena r.oronato stare bores capite. El. ii. 1. p. 112. Ed. Bas. 1592. 62 G4 fiom their own corn,* and "the joyous ,songs" are the "Carraina" of Virgil before quoted. At Easter, tlie Rustics have a custom, called Co'in-shoiohig. Parties are made to pick cut Cockle from the Vv'heat. Before they set out they take with them Cake, Cyder, and says my infor- mant, a yard of toasted cheese. The first persoUj who picks the cockle from the wheat has the first kiss of the Maid, and the first slice of the Cake. This custom is not noticed in the Popular Antiquities. It is plainly another of the Ferice Semeniiva, as appears from the following line of Ovid."|| " Et careant loliis ocnlog vitiantibiis agri" [Let the fields be stripped of eye-diseasing cockle.] And held at the very season, prescribed by Virgil the beginning of spring. f It appears however to * Plaeentur matres fnignm Tellusque Ceresque Farre sue = Orld Fast. i. 670. Suns, according to Bryant retain the name and form of the sacred bread, which was offered to the Gods. Popular Antiq. i. 132, 133. 11 Fast. i. 691. •(■ ■ Annua magnae Sacra refer Cereri, Isetis operatus in herbis Sxtrema aub cusum hyemis jam rere sereno. Georg. i. v. 339. 65 have been mixed with other ancient customs. The Cockle is the unhappy Loliura of Virgil, described as so injurious to Corn, and if mixed with the bread was thought to bring on Vertigo and Head-ache.* Among the Romans the Runcatio Segetum or Corn-weeding took place in Mayf but the Feria Sementiva, says Ovid, had no fixed days, and April was the carousing month of the Anglo- Saxons,§ and the time of celebrating the festivals in honour of Venus, Ceres, Fort una Virilis, and Venus Verticordia. The Roman Rustics then went out to call Ceres home, as appears by the previous quotation from Virgil, and the kissing might be in honour of Venus ; indeed it was a want of courtesy, upon various occasions, not to kiss, females. Henry viii, says, in Shakespeare,, " It were unmaunerly to take you out . And uot to kiss you." The Harvest-home is undoubtedly derived from the worship of Ceres,|| or Vacuna,^ represented by the Straw figure. * Piutiauus in Plin. p. 485 ub. pi. f Calendar. Rusticum ap. Fleetwood p. 61. ^ From the curious Anglo-Saxon calendar in StruttV Hor«la i. 43. II So Dr. Clarke. Trav. iii, 286, % So Popul. Aatiq.i. 441. 66 The IVassailling Boivl is the mere Grace-cup of the Greeks and Romans. It has nothing to do with the meeting of Vortigern and Rowena for it is mentioned by Plautus, and occurs in France. The Anglo-Saxons however much liked it, for they introduced the custom of hard-drinking.* May-poles are still erected, but the May-games, the Roman Floralia anciently celebrated, even in this country, according to Ovid'sf description of them, are utterly lost, tippling and holiday idleness excepted. The Morris dance, kept up with great spirit, is deduced by Strutt, with probability, from the Fools dance at Christmas, part cf the ancient Feast of Fools and Saturnalia ;§ at least no better origin is assigned ; and Mr. Douce, who has very deeply investigated the subject admits a connexion with the Pyrrhic dance. The young peasantry have been known to adopt the idle classical superstition of Love-Philtres or Powders. What these were. Gay mentions in his Shepherd's week. * ArchiEologia xi. 419, 420. Seld. not. on Drayton's Polyolb. Song ix. f Scena joci morem liberioris habet. Fast. ir. 946. [The sport is carried to licentions lengths.] % Sports, &c. p. 171. 67 " These golden flies into his mugp I'l! throw And soon the swain with fervent love shall glow." Instead of these dangerous ingredients, a humo- rous Chemist in the vicinity, is said to have sold Emetics, and cunningly watched the amorous pur- chasers, to enjoy the jest of the operation. The anniversary honours and sports, described by Virgil, as celebrated at the barrow of Anchises, are also preserved. On the Wednesday in Whit- sun week, there is a large meeting for festivity, held upon a great barrow, called Capel Tump. Stukeley mentions a similar convivial assembly, held on Shipley Hill, also a large tumulus.* Cock-fighting is highly in vogue, to the great vexation of Philosophers, who know how much ferocity impedes the influence of Law, Morals, and Civilization, It is said to have originated with Themistocles, who instituted annual battles, because he had seen two Cocks fighting, and thus thought that he should encourage bravery. f From hence, says Pintianus,^ came the custom upon Shrove Tuesday of boys bringing Cocks to their masters, and under their controul, beholding the battle till dinner time, in the school, as noticed * Itiner. i. 108. t JElian Var. Hist. ii. 28, p. 67, f In. Plin. p. 194. by Strutt,* The Cocks were fed regularly. f Cock- fights appear upon the coins of Dardania, and under the presidency of love § The battles were often fought in the presence of the God Termi- nus (a Hermes among the Greeks) and the Palms, destined to the Conqueror were placed upon a pedestal. Upon a coin of Athens we see a Cock, crowned with Palm.H Polyarchus gave public funerals, and raised monuments, with Epitaphs to Ills Cocks.^ The sport passed from the Greeks to the Romans; and Caracalla and Geta were great Cock-fighters. I Quails were sometimes fought instead of Cocks.* A writer on the subject is mistaken in making the Gaffle, or metal spur modern. It is mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon Synod,§ and sometimes was of Brass. || Midlent or Mothering Sunday, rigidly observed, originated in the festival, held at this season, in honour of Cybele, the mother of the Gods, trans- ferred after the introduction of Christianity to the mother church, whence it is taken up in the Popular Antiquities.]^ * Gliggam. p. 210. f Plutarch de fratemitate. VStosoh Gemm. CI. ii. n. 606, 697. II Encycl, des Antiq. «[f JEMaa V. H. viii. 4. -1- Pierr: grav. du Due d' Orleans p. 172. * Popular Antiq. i. 479. eeq. § Lye v. Geaftaa. i Ducang« r Piedrum. ^ British Monacliiem, €9 Spinning and malting Home-made Linen, a custom as old as Penelope and the Grecian Heroines, is on the decline, from the superior cheapness of manufactured goods, and the intro- duction of Cotton. John Norlhhrooke, an old Puritan, who wrote in 1579 says, p, 35. " In olde time we reade, that there was usually caried before the Mayde, when she sholde be maried, and came to dwell in hir husbandes house, a Distaffe charged with Jiaxe and a Spyndle hanging at it, to the intente that shee might bee mindful to lyve by hir labour.* Singing psalms before the Corpse, on the way to the grave, is borrowed from the Heathens.f The Bandy, played by the boys is an imper- fect exhibition of the Roman Paganica, and our ancient GofF.§ The following customs appear to the author to have a Druidical origin. A certain day, which is a whole holiday for the waggoners is fixed for cutting the staves of Goads, There certainly was a regard paid by the ancients Popular Antiq. ii.60. f Macrobius, &c. in Id. ii. 172. ^ Strutt's Sports, p. 81. 70 to the age ot the moon in felling their timber;* but whether the custom alludes to this, or the Misletoe ceremony the author knows not, fVild Flowers, especially Snow-drops, brought into the house, prevent the first brood of chickens. St. Thomas's Day mumping, is the going a gooding or corning, which is presumed to have a connexion with the Druidical Hagmena, derived from "Au Guy V an neuf." i. e. To the Misletoe .this new year, or custom of going from house to house; for Paul Merula says, "The Druids were accustomed to send Iheir young men with the Misletoe from house to house, as a kind of present, and wish people a happy new year."f Neio Year's Gifls. The Peasantry send about on new year's day, a small pyramid, made of leaves, apples, nuts, &c. gilt, a custom no doubt derived from the Druidical Hagmena, mentioned in the last article. Collars of Mountain Ash are put upon the necks of cattle to keep off witches. This is a pure Celtic custom. An old * Popular Antiq. ii.477. t Popular Antiq. i. 350. seq. Bergerae, 4to ie&8, p. 46. Engl. Trans!, puts into the mouth of a Magician, on the continent, "I leach them to find the Misletoe of the new year." Fref. p. ixi. 71 statistical Scotch account says, " They fixed branches of Mountain Ash, or narrow-leaved ser- vice tree above the stakes of their cattle to pereevve them from the evil effects of Elves and Witches.* The religion of the Britons and Germans being' different, the Misletoe is repre- sented in the Edda, as a contemptible and mischie- vous plant. In the Gothic Mythology, if any tree seems to have been reg;arded with more particular attention than others, it is the Ash.f Befs are not sold, and a frying-pan is beat when they are swarming. It was a prejudice, that when Bees removed, or went away from their hives, the owner of them would die soon after; and in Devonshire, when any man made a purchase of Bees, the payment was never made in money, but in commodities, corn for instance, to the value of the sum agreed upon. And tiie Bees are never removed, but on a Good Friday || The TinkHng of the Pan is the substitute for the invocation to the old Celtic Fairy, Brownie ; for Boilase says, "The Cornish to this day invoke the spirit Browny, when their Bees swarm; and think their crying Browny, Browny, will prevent their returning into their former hive, and make them pitch and form a new colony," In after ages, the Tinkling was Id. pref. xx, t Cottle's Edda introd. p. x, 1] Popular Antiq. ii. 202. 72 deemed of use to let the neighbours know that the owneis had a swaim in the air, which they claimed, wherever it lighted. f The following are matters which the author ascribes to the middle ages, at least he can assign no earlier date. The first is the singular custom, now obsolete, of Siii-eathig. It appears, that so late as the seventeenth century, there was in the villages, adjoining to Wales, an old man, called the Sin-eater; and his office was, for a trifling compensation to pawn his own soul for the ease and rest of the soul departed; Ellis, the editor of the Popular Anti- quites has extracted the following curious passage from the Lansdowne Manuscripts, concerning a Sin-eater, who "lived iu a cottage, on Rosse highway." "la the county of Hereford was an old custom at Funerals to hire poor people, who were to take upon them the sinnes of the party deceased. One of them (he was a long, leant, ugly, lamen- table poor Rascal) I remember lived in a cottage on Rosse highway. The manner was, that when the Corps was brought out of the house, and layd ! id. ii, >VJ3, 73 On the Biere, a loafe of bread was broughl oai, and delivered to the Sinne-eater, over the Corws, as also a mazar bowl of maple, full of beer [whsca he was to drink up] atid sixpence in money, in consideration whereof lie took upoa him, ipai) Jaclo, all the sinnes of the defunct, and freed hira or her from walking after they were dead. This custome alludes methinks, something to the Scape- Goate in the old lavve, Ltvit. chap. svi. v. 21, 22. " And Aaron shall lay both his hands on tha head of the live Goate, and confesse over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all theij: transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the Goate, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wikiernes?. And the Goate shall bear upon him all their ini- quities unto a land not inhabited ; and he shall let the Goate goe into the wilderness," This custome (ihough rarely used in our day,-) yet by some people was observed, even in ihe strictest time of the Presbyterian Government, as at Dynder (volens nolens the Parson of the Paiish) the kindred of a woman deceased there had this ceremouie punctually performed according to her will; and also the like w^as done at tha ciiy of Hereford iu those times, where a woman kept, many years before her deatli, a mazard boivle for H 74 the Sinne-eater; and the like iu other places in this countie; as also in Brecon. I believe this custom was heretofore used all over Wales.* The Nine Holes is an ancient game of which the representation is kept up, in nine holes, cut in a flat stone, or excavated in the bare ground. This table dose not accord, with the real original game.f Formerly flowers were strewed before young couples, in their way to church. The author once saw a malicious caricature of this custom. Nose- gays of rue enclosing a piece of half-eaten bread and butter were dropt in the church-path and porch by a deserted female, iu order to denote an imhappy v.edding. Stephens, in his plaine Country Bridegroom, p. 353, says "He shews neere affinity betwixt Marriage and Hanging ; and to that purpose, he provides a great Nosegay, and shakes hands with every one he meets, as if he were now preparing for a condemned man's voyage,§ Foot-Ball is now the most common sport, es- pecially on Sunday afternoons; but Strutt is mistaken * Popular Antiq. ii. 156. f Detailed in Strutt's Sports, p. 237. See too Popular Antiq. ii. 397, 298. § Popular Autiq. ii. 48. 75 in saying that this game did not appear before the reign of Edw. III.* when bitter complaints were made of its infringements upon Archery.f It is now a mere rustic game, but in the reign of James, was played by Noblemen. § These are all the ancient superstitions and sports, which particularly distinguish the neighbotuhood, known to the author. i[ To proceed with Historical Matters. Had Ross been a walled and fortified town, the occupation of it by various contending parties would have doubtless rendered it a subject of frequent notice in English History ; but being ecclesiastical property and commanded by four Castles adjacent, Eccleswall, Penyard, Goodrich, and Wilton, it appears only as a convenient post- town (as we should now call it) much used by travellers to and from South Wales, * Strntt's SpoHs, p. 79. It is mentioned by Fitz. Stephen, who lived much earlier. Popular Antiq. i. p. 62. t Rym. Tied. vi. 417. § Howell's Letters, p. 211. II Strutt p. 81. h2 76 We are not however to suppose, (hat tlie present road fioni the Metropolis through Ross, by way of Monmouth and Abergavenny was that of our autestors. The old Roman road from the West cf Gloucestershire and part of South Wales to London, leading through Cirencester, Cricklade, and Wallingford was the great highway in use till King Henry V. built a bridge at Abingdon, and the roads about that town were greatly re- paired.* The route was then changed in the following direction, as appears by an old scarce black letter book of the date of James 1. From St. David's to Hereford, and Gloucester and so to London, 210 miles. • Rudder's Gloucedtershire, p. 518. 77 s ox 30*13 HI, A - B n 2 13 o ? £. ° fi !» ^ > K^ ft) 3- ^ , o o ?3 o 3 C o OT 10 CO i!!k a H ca r' ::? n ® o o _ L_l I— 1 t— ' >J 1— 1 I— ' 05 00 © _ la eo OT ci M ha Sh f >- o a a o O M O a o 3 I* OX a3M3HX o- ^~ o s o ffi O 2 ffi O > '^ c £, ? re o a- S g ^ g- =. 2 =■ -• © o< -^ <1 o )-< i-J to tS >|u. .U en O C« tS «£> I-' OS 0> IS o o 5 B H 3 78 As a Post-town, Ross first appears in the year 1131. Robert de Betun, Prior of Lantliony in Wales, was elected in that year. Bishop of Hereford; and Ross was the termination of his first day's journey: "Ross, says William of Wycomb in his Life of this Prelate, offered the first mansion to us travellers.* The slate of cultivation, in ivhith the country was at that time, is strongly indica- tive of the effect of the Roman Settlement in the Neighbourhood. The Biographei- describes the country between Ross and Gloucester, »s on the north a plain, on the south a wood, i. e^ the Forest of Dean. ' Though the Manor of Ross was in the See of Hereford, yet the political power of the whole district was vested in certain great Barons. At this time Pain Fitz-John and Milo, Earl of Here- ford, had occupied all the towns belonging to the church of Herefoid; and though the Bishop was restored to them for a short time; yet in the years 1138, and 1139, when the war broke out between Stephen and the Empress Maud, all the houses and estates of the Bishop were seized by the great Barons, chiefly Earl Milof Nor had the • Pfimam manBionem viahtibus Rossa obtulit, AngU Sacr. li. 305. t Id. ii. 313., 79 subsequent Bishops any power to influence political acts of moment. In 1165 William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke held Goodrich Castle, and sixty- five knight's fees, belonging to the honour of Chepstow;* and this family had the supremacy of the whole neighbourhood, for Henry III. was enabled to be crowned at Gloucester, because a succeeding William Marshall had the command of the whole country from Ross to Chepstow. f Robert de Betun, at that time. Bishop of Hereford, was an exemplary character, according to the phi- losophy of the times i. e. personal austerity and mortification, united with official action upon public principles. Clergymen then lived themselves, upon fish without sauce, and gave to the Laity, as much beef and mutton, as they liked ; because common sense was a crime in a saint, but none in a sinner. Still however solemn nonsense was the only possible means of biassing tlie ignorant Laity ; and public spirit, in every civil direction, was confined to the Clergy. Robert de Betun knew the barbarons state of the country, for he had travelled over bridges, which had broken down nnder him, and plunged * IJlj.NJg.Ecacc.i.lW, t Decern Scriploref col. J4J9. 80 him in the water; and wished to have relieved a poor female traveller, who had died for fear of her child, being devoured by the wolves.* Ross therefore, being cleared by the iron-works at Ariconiiim, and the vicinity; and being pre- viously at ler.st, a village, with a parish church, occupied by occasional residence of the Bishops, the goc:l Prelate obtained from King Stephen, a market weekly on Thursday. •[• When the clergy were unmarried, they had no fortunes to make for families, and instead of accumulating riches, or monied rapitol, ((he greatest possible advantage to the landed interest and governtnental necessities) expended their money upon buildings and other works, which, as making no productive return, should have been shared by common loss, or re- paid by tolls, and rates. Rose or Ross, for it is called by tradition. Rose Town,§ had been com- menced at the Brook-eud, from the Ruins of Ariconiiim, in the Anglo Saxon sera, and the Bishop (as presumed) had a residence at the spot. * Angl. Sacr. ii. 311. f Inform. Mr. T. Jenkins; % In the Exptanatio Vocum GeograpKicarum auAexed to Leland'e Commentary de Scriptorihus. published in 1709, is the following article " Rosina Vallis, the Vale of Boase, i» agro Penrbrochien*. 8r where Chest's Mill, now stands.* When the old Church of Ross was destroyed, as presumed, in the wars of Stephen, (of which hereafter) this worthy Bishop is supposed, upon good grounds, to have commenced the foundation of the pre- sent Church, and the Episcopal Palace in the Prospect-field adjacent. It has been before said, that this Palace was probably a Foleia, or Summer- house; and this is more likely because, in Here- fordshire, one of the Military tenants of Adam de Port in 1150, was denominated Richard (>f the Folly. (Ricardus de la Folic. )f From this time, to use the words of the ancient people, the town crept gradually up the hill. This Pleasure-House of the Bishop's stood in the north end of the Prospect. It was for the most part a timber building', and bad a large Gateway and Porter's Lodge, annexed to it, at the principal entrance, which was between the Pounds House, and the Prospect. The Pounds House itself was part of the out-buildings. Some Ruins of the Mansion were remaining, till near the close of the seventeenth century ; and sug- gested the plan of a building with wings, fronting the north and vfest, having a large hall, and a * iKform, Mr. T. JeukiM. f Lib. Nigf. Scsee. i. 151. 82 room eastwards, more perfect, than the rest, with remains in that room of wood and stone sculpture, in handsome old style, partly painted and gilt. South of this, in the inclosure was a Dovecote of curious appearance* There was also a Prisonf belonging to the Bishops, ecclesiastical or feudal jurisdiction or both. It stood at the top of the Old or Low Town, and at the bottom of the New or High Town ; near the lower corner of Mr. Amos Jones's house, now occupied by Mr, Merrick, a wool-stapler. It was a small round building with a dungeon. The stone work of it was but little above ground, and the upper part was timber. It was standing so lately, as between three and four score years past, when being greatly decayed and dangerous, it was pulled down altogether.! The original form of this building may be seen with almost the assurance of Fac-Simile, in the wood cuts, pub- lished by Mr. Douce, in his Illustrations of Shakspeare. There the round stone work below forms a cage, and the upper wooden work, a circular pillory. Fabrics of this sort, a cage at bottom and pillory at top were to be seen but a few years back in various country-towns. » Inform. Mr. T. Jenkins. f Guugh's Camden. ^ Inform. Mr. T. Jenkins, 83 Another ancient appendage of the Town was the Cross at the junction of the four Roads, called Cob's Cross, a corruption of Corpus Christi Cross. There were various crosses annexed to most towns, all of which had- one general object, that of being a check upon a worldly spirit. The particular intention of erecting crosses on the high roads was for stations, when the ways were visited in processions, for halting places in the conveyance of corpses to interment, and for calling the thoughts of the passenger to a sense of religion, and to restrain the predatory incursions of robbers.* The distin- guishing appellation of Corpus Christi Cross might arise from other circumstances, viz. a figure of Christ crucified, at the top of the cross. In the Wood-Cuts of Barclay's Ship of FooIes,t is such a one of wood, with Christ on the Cross, under a Pentice, and a large arm and hand, issuing from the side, as an index to the road. It might also derive its name from the performance here of the annual Corpus Christi pageant. This was a festival instituted by Urban IV, and consisted of a play, which lasted eight days, and treated every subject in scripture from the creation. The actors * Brittoa oa Stone Crosses, p. 30.' 32, in Architect. Antiquities. t F**'- 31. 84 were the tradesmen of the towns. It was aboiished by James I.* There is pvery reason to think, that there was anciently one, if not more, good Inns in Ross. That was assuredly of some consideration, where Henry of Bolingbroke afterwards Henry IV. slept on his way to Monmouth, through Goodrich. It bore the sig^n of the Griffin ; and stood, where is now Mr, Cope's, a Grocer, and the back part of it running into the church lane was afterwards known by the sign of the Rose and Crown. f The Market House, a building in very bad style was erected, in the reign of James I. by John Abel,§ probably it occupies the site of a preceding cluster of booths and shambles. Ecclesiastical Antiquities will be mentioned elsewhere. If Ross be thus poor in ancient remains it is not less so in Historical incidents. Except the triSing circumstances of Henry IV. twice sleeping * See Coryatt'a Crudities, i. 36 Gold. Leg. itxiii. Stfift'i Gliy^aro. 118. Weever'a Funer. Mor.um. 405. Ed. fol. ArohseoE. Libr. i. 161. Phillip's Shrewsbnry, 202. et alior. t Inform, Mr. T. .Jeokin*. i, NichoUou, ol. 1131 85 here, once as before mentioned, the next time in 1399,* when the King was on his road lo Here- ford ; nothing occurs, till the commencement of the Civil wars in the time of Charles I. It will render the paragraphs more interesting to state a short account of the parlies mentioned. Colonel Min was a noble character, killed in his Majesty's service, and ancestor to the Ladies of the Rev, Thomas Underwood, Rector of Ross, and Richard Evans, M. D. of tlie same place. Sir John Winter was a Papist, but a zealous friend of the Monarchy, and killed also in the service. Colonel Massie was the Governor of Gloucester, and very highly celebrated for his Military Talents. Sir William Waller lay at Rosse, upon Sunday night ; on Tuesday morning he marched to Gond- rich Castle, from thence intending to goe for Monmouth or Ragland Castle. Mercurius Anlicus, April, 2 — 9. Col. Min (Anno 1G44) upon the advance of the enemy to seek him out, falling back from * Holinshed ii. 855. 86 Newent, hastened to Ross, wlftre he "began to fortify the Church with his own, and Sir John Winter's Regimerits.t A party of the rebel forces, [from Gloucester] marched towards Ross to prevent the joining of Col. Min (now made Commander in chief in the room of Sir William Vavasour) with Sir John Winter and the Welch forces, as also to raise money for the garrison, out of the remoter parts, to enlarge their own quarters, engage the country with them, or to lie ready for all occasions of service. There (i. e. at Ross) their Horse and Foot arrived, with two pieces of Ordnance, and found Wilton Bridge guarded by Captain Cassie, and thirty Musketeers from Gudridge Castle : a party of their Horse advanced upon the guard, forced the River, and got beyond them ; after some dispute beat them off, wounded and took the Cap- tain, slew many of his men, and took the rest in the chase almost up to the Castle [of Gudridge.] The Rebels rested here [at Ross] a few days, and summoned the country to appear, it being their governor's (Massey's) constant endeavour to add daily, friends unto the parliament, and to put the country into such a posture, that upon all alarms, t Corbett's Military Government of Gloucester p. I 87 they might gather to an head, &c. and hereupon mapy came in and declared themselves, by taking tl^e covenant. Whilst the engagement of the coun- t(y was thus prosecuted, sorne emergent occasions called the governor to Gloucester, wherefore he drew from Rosse wilhout delay,* Cpl, Min, together with Sir John Winter's forces, taking tidvantage of the rebels' weakness , advanced from Ross, (where he quartered his Regiment) withip a half a piile of the city of Gloucester, droy^ away t\\e country cattle and took the persons of wany.t Massie with his forces, marching to the relief of Pembridge Castle, passed through Ross, but fourid [Wilton] Bridge broken down, and the river made unpassable, by the sinking of boats on the other side, and a guard of Horse to defend it. Here was a dispute for tyro days, and Ma^sie's object failed. § [The Bridge was broken on the Wilton side, ?i measure ascribed to William Rudhall (the erec^ man in Rosg chprch.) The rehuilt arch is very digtin- guish^ible,] * Id. p. 90. t Id, 100. ^ Id. 118, I 2 . 88 Col, Massie tampering with the country people, drew back to Ross, and after expostulating (as seeiBs) with the parliamentary committee on the state of his forces, marched from Ross and passed the Severne towards Berkeley, purposing to join with Sir William Waller.* The unfortunate Charles I. slept here in 1645, on his way from Ragland Castle : not at the same house as Henry IV. but at Gabriel Hill's Great inn, on the opposite side of the Church Lane. The old chamber, where he slept, (now divided into two) was a few years since publicly identified by a procession of the Blue-Coat School. This room, not the other, is the real "King's Chamber" of Gough's Camden. A small piece of the oak bedstead on which the poor King is reported to have lain, is preserved at the School-House. At the Restoration the loyalty of the town was thus celebrated. Ross, June \st, " Upon Wednesday being the happy day of his Majestie's birth, as well as of his and the Common Prayer books restoration, the most and most con- siderable persons in Ross in Herefordshire, thought • Id. IS9. 89 it not efiough to celebrate the day with praise and prayer, as well as a sermon, but to express their inward joy of heart the better, they caused a face of wood to be cut, which bein^ dressed with a long mantle and a cape, with the solemn league md cqv^fiant upon his breast, was carried on a pole by a chimney-sweeper, (instead of a hangman) dressed in his holyday apparel, that is, as black as could be; two of the same quality, carried Up his train, and in this triumphant manner, after ^yening prayer he was solemnly carried quite through the town, the drummer and guard of Musqueteers, besides the pike-men, attending him ; till at last be was brought to the market place, fixed in the ground, the covenant having this inscription : " Who set three kingdoms on a flame, " 'Tis just, ehonlrl perish by the same." and so burned to ashes, with acclamations of great joy, not easily to be paralleled, and that nothing might be wanting to shew their detestation to that foul murdering path, because Jonathan Smith* the Thrum Vicar, sometime an apprentice in Canter- bury to a Tailor, and afterwards a broken Draper * Of him, see Incumbents. 1 3. 90 or Stocking-seller at Sattdwitch, upon the day of his Majestie's unhappy loss and danger at Worcester, did celebrate the memory of it with cake and ale, some of the spear-men with a cake at the spears end, held up the wood to this pernicious oath, till that and the head to which it was fitted were burned to ashes, and all this to shew their affec- tion to his Majesty and the ecclesiastical govern- ment, under which they and their ancestors lived so happily, to God's glory and their own comfort." Mercuriiis Puhlkus, May 30, — June 6, 166 J. 91 REi bonjE vel vestigia delectant PHiEDRUS. The family of Crul appear to have been settled in the neighbourhood of Ross, as early as the thirteenth century ; but the Pedigree is not con- nected, and as communicated to Heath,* is mani- festly most unsatisfactory; for instance Walter Crdll of the Hull, mentioned in 1485, is appre- hended to be father of two sons, Walter and James, born in the reign of King Henry VH. [i. e. between 1485, and 1509] which James was not- withstanding High Sheriff of the county in 1629; and if so, must have been at least 120 years old ! — The following part of it may be correct. James Kyrle, = Ann dauprViter of Robert of Waif ord Court, I Waller of Beaconsfieldf Hig h Sheriff, 1629. | and Sister of the Poet. I I I RoBEKT of Walter, a Barrister at Law, = Alios (5 Walford Court. ob. Feb. 10. 1650. | les ue. I John, the MAN of ROSS, born | at the White House, in the Parish Walter, of Dymock, in Gloucestershire, May 22. 1637. * p. 17. t Her mother was sister to the famous John Hampdeu. % Daughter and heiress of John Mallet of Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, ob. Mar. 24, 1662. according to the pedigree in Heath; she had been saecegsiTely widow of Walter Carwardioe, and Gilee Wtntor, 92 It is most certain, that B^vington, a farm in the parish of Berkeley did descend after the death of John Mallet, to Alice his daughter and heir, ex- pressly said by Mr. Smyth to be wife of Walter Kyrle, Esq.* This estate was bought, it is said, of the Man of Ross, by the family of Hicks of Berkeley. The origin from Crull, has also been thrown into doubt, by the following remark of Mr. Dallaway, (very high authority) who says " This family ori- ginally from Flanders, obtained a settlement in Herefordshire, during the reign of King Henry VII. (1485) and changed their paternal name from Crl/les to Kyrle.f " The best method of showing the union or distinction of ancient families of similar name, is by the Heraldry ; and by this it will appear, that both the accounts are nght. There were at least two early families of the name of Cry.ll, not at all related. * Berkeley Chief Rents M. S, penes the late William Veele, Esq. fol. 18, In Berkeley Church-yard is a Memo- rial for William Kyrle, of Upper Wicli in that parish, who died 23. Nov. 1770 tet. 60, aud Mary his wife, who ^iedW.Jan. 1K4 8M.72. Bigland's Gloucestershire i.I7S. ., .,.-;.. t Quftted .by Heatji. 93 ONR FAMILY BORE. 1. Per. Chevron Azure and Gules Three Eagles Arg. armed Gules for Crull. Or ) Crule 2. Azure Three Doves > or Arg. 3 Cruell. 3. Or Three Eagles displ. Sable. Kirhele-Kirkhill Here the Birds show the identity of this family, which had no connection with that of the Man of Ross. The Coats of the other Crulls, will show the cer- tain consanguinity between Crull, C'riell, or Crill, and Kyrle, 1. Vert on a chevr. Arg. Three Cinquefoils Gules. 2. Az. a chev. Gul. betw. Three ' Cinquefoils pierced Arg. 3. Az. on chevr. Or. Three Cinque- foils pierced Gules. 4. Sab. on a fess, between Three ^ Criel Fleurs de lis arg. Three Mullets of the V or first. S ^"^^• 5. Vert on a chevron Or betw. Three . Flears de lis of the second, a Cinque- ^ Kerle. foil Gules. Crull. 6. Azure a chevron between Three i Fleurs de lis Or. . . ' Kyrle 94 Here the Bearings are customary family variations, aijd show the progress of the name from Crull to Criel, or Crill, and thence to Kerle and K,yrle; the Cinquefoils disappearing with Kerle. There was a third family of Kyrell, or Kyriell, who bore bars or bends with a Canton, not related to either of the preceding. JOHN KYRLE Esq. [The Man of Ross] who wlas intended for the Bar, was entered a Gentleman Commoner of Baliol College, Oxford, Apr, 21. 1654. On his admission he presented a piece of plate to the College, with a promise, that when any persQO gave a better, he would enlarge his present. It seems, that this promise was afterwards ful^lled, ; for it appears upon record, that this plate in 1654 weighed 18oz. lOdwts. and in 1670 was improw4 to 61oz. lOdwts. ; and this, it is presamed, is the Tankard still in use there.* He was sometime in the commissioti of the pp9C?} but decline^ acting. His property in Ross, was, at first, little more than his dwelling house, and a few pieces of land, which his Father had purchased of one Fecknam. To this possession he repeatedly added by purchases, made after his fallages in Dymock Wood. » Rudge's Abridged Gloucestershire i. civ. 95 khdtxt a Century and a Tialf ago, he biiHi flfe hbUsfe, where jWr. James, the Grocer, riow Jires; anB, in digging in an adjoining passage, the skeleton of a 'Main was found in the Rock; a curious circumstance, Jvr it lAay denote that here was once a British plaice of Burial; and a British Villa in the vale beneath.* In his person rather tall — thin — and well shaped ; he enjoyed remarkable health, till within a short period of his dissolution. His usual dress was a suit of brown Dittos, and a King William's wig, all in the costume of his day. He declined much company, except in the present custom of dinnering his friends upon the Market and Fair-days. This is to be understood — of set company, or formal visiting; for, in another view, he may be said to have kept a constant public table, there being scarcely a day, but some one or other called and dined with him. He was, indeed, par- ticularly pleased with his neighbours dropping in. — Loved a long evening, — enjoyed a merry tale, — and appeared always discomposed when 'twas time to part. Thus Mr. Jenkins. In the Popular Antiqui- ties, the following anecdote is told. • The Celtic Britons had houses in rallies, and family barrows or burial places, on the sides of the einiuettce» above, a custom still existing' in Scbtlatld, 06 Our Ancestors, when they found a difficully in car- ving a Goose, Hare, or other dish, used to say, jestingly that they should hit the joint, if they could think on the name of a cuckold. The explanation is thus given : Thomas Webb, a Carver to a Lord Mayor of London, in C. 1st. reign, was famous for being a cuckold, as vitW as for his dexterity in car- ving; therefore, what became a proverb was used first, as an invocation, when any body took upon him to carve — Mr. Kyrle had always company to dine with him on a Market day, and a Goose, if it could be -procured, was one of the dishes, which he claimed the privilege of carving himself. When any Guest, ignorant of the etiquette of the table, offered to save him that trouble, he vvoidd exclaim, " Hold your hand, Man, if I am good for any thing, it is for hitting cuckold's joints. Geese are still favourite dishes.* The number he chose at his invitation dinners was nine, eleven, or thirteen, including himself and his kinswoman. Miss Bubb ; and he never cared to sit down to table, on such occasions, till he had as many as made one of those numbers. Seven is now reckoned the best number for a party. More dividts the conversation. ♦ PopaHar Aati 'luiiies i. 397. ii. 118. 97 His dishes were generally plain, and according to I'he season. Malt liquor and cider were the only Ijeveiage itttroduced, and there was no roast beef in his house, throughout the year, but on a Chfistmas day. At his kitchen fire-place was a large block of wood for poor people to sit on, and a piece of boiled b^ef, and three pecks of f;o«r, in bread, were given to the poor every Sunday. His hobby, namely. Horticulture and Planting, was truly Silurian ; and in all respects, he was a genuine Herefordshire Man. " With a spade or his shoulder, and a glass bottle of iiquor in his hand, tie used to walk from his house (afterwards an Inn, but now occupied by Mr. Brookes a Surgeon, and others,) to his fields and back again several times a day." In addition to his glass bottle and spade, may be mentioned his watering pot, which he fre- quently carried, and with his own hands watered th* trees he had newly set. Mr. Kyrle was a daihj altendani at church. At the chiraing of the bells, all business ceased with him, — he washed his hands, and retired. Every body has heard of Pope's Eulogium on the Man of Ross. Tlje verses are now for the first tiin" properly illustrated ; and the public are indebted to Mr. Jenkins, long resident in the town, for the fol- lowing valuable and interesting elucidation, K 98 " Pope used to visit a Roman Catliolic Family, then living at Old Oveross in the parish of Ross. He was thus in the way of correct information, as to the character and acts of Mr. Kyrle. Possibly too, the old Gentleman himself might have been a neigh- bourly visitor, or at the same house; for it is certain, that he was very averse to bell-ringing and bonfires on the fifth of November."* The Poem commences with " But all our praises, why should Lords engross ? Hise honest Muse, and sing the " MAN of KOSS.^' BIr. Kyrle was not denominated the " 31an of Ross" from the Poem. It was an appellation given him by a country friend, by which he was long known in his life time, and in which he delighted much, as conveying a notion of plain honest dealing, and unaffected hospitality. There was a point too in his practice, which gave extensive currency to the title of " Man of Ross." Bad roads and bad accommodations for the Traveller weT.ir Topigrispf-ics! details. THE LAST THIRTY YEARS: A VoUins's Ode to the Passions. When Re^olutiou, fidler blind, was young-, (While yet in modern France he sun^) The Democrats to hear him sing' Thronged around the Tuig-ar ring- ; Exulting, trembling, raging-, fainting, Fuddl'd, beyond the Muse's paiutinjj; By turns they felt a moou-struck mind; To Castle-building much inclined ; With fresh supplies of Gin then tired, Fill'd with fury, rapt, inspired ; They saatch'd from the surrounding boys Their various instruments of noise : 110 AnJ, as they oft had heard apart From thieves, the signal whistle's art; Each, for madness rul'd the hour, Would prove his own seditious power. First Hardy* came his skill to try Amongst the corresponding' trade; And back reeoilM — he well knew why— Of neck-extension sore afraid. Tom Paine, conbustible most dire, Next made the rich Stockholders sweat; The hangman to his fail set fire,t And otF he scamper'd, deep in debt. In Purley's meadows, John Horne Tooke With parts of speech his grief beguil'd ;§ The Verbo-philosophic book By fits was fine, by starts was wild. But thou, O Fox, with speech so fair, What was thy opposing measure? Still it whisper'd pension'd pleasure, * Secretary to the corresponding society, and fried for treason. f The Age of Reason was burnt by the common hangman. ^ The " Diversions of Purley" which reduce the parts of speech to only the noun and verb. Ill And bade the places good at distance hail; Still would his touch the strain prolong-, And from the India bill's sad tale, He called on Westminster through all the eong-: And when to toast the Sov'reigu mob he cliose, His title lostjj he mourned at every close ; And Fox neg^lected wept, and wav'd his pig-tail'd hair ; Vet longer had he sung- — but with a frown, BUEpETT impatient rose; And threw his bmmet rouge in thunder down ; And -with his Palace-Yardian look. The mob-collecting trumpet took; And blew a blast so loud and dread. Ne'er were the Cornish Burghs so full of woe; And ever and anon he beat. The CoBBET Drum with furious heat ; And though at times, each dreary pause between, Th' Attorney General at his side, His soul-subduing voice applied, Yet still he kept his wild unalter'd mien Till in the Tow'r close shopp'd he laid his aching head. Tby numbers CocunANE to the Funds were fix'd. Sad proof of thy distressful state; Of war and politics the theme was mix'd. J Mr. Fox's name was erased from the privy- council for this toast. 112 Add now he wooMeraploy, uow raving' called ouLate. With eyes uprais'd, as one inspii'd, Pitt in the Treasury sat retir'd; And from his snug official seat, la notes, by Lucre made more sweet, Ponr'd through the Commons' House his wluning soul; From Opposition Rocks aroua>d Burke jump'd away and hail'd the sound; Through corp'rate tOYtTis the safety-measures stole, And o'er the bottle's talk with fond delay, Jacks in office port-wine boozing, Constitution toasts difi'using. At civic banquets drank away. But Oh ! how alter'd was its marching tone, When Government, a nymph of brawny hue With Habeas Corpus o'er her shoulder flung And Volunteers in buskins gemmed with dew, Blew an inspiring air, that inn and pot-house mng. The soldier's call, to tippling idlers known; The Cyprian fair, and their dram-drinking queen, Crammers and corporals were seen. Peeping from forth our alleys green; Pipe-clay'd Militia-men rejoic'd to hear. And six-foot tailors grasp'd the sergeant's spear- Last came Finance's dubious trial, He wTth the income-tax advancing; 113 First to the yellow Gold his hand address'd: But soon he saw the Bank-restriction viol Whose more prolific notes he lov'd the best; They would have thought, who heard the strain, They saw in Lombard street the Bankers mad, All bills discounting, whether good or bad; To rising Stock perpetual dancing; While, as his flying- fingers kiss'd the strings, Pitt and the Bank framed a fantastic round ; Loose were her tresses seen, her zone unbound, And he amidst iiis frolic play, As if he would one time or other pay, Exchequer bills shook from his paper wings-. Oh ! Money, earth-extracted maid 1 The lender's loss, the bon-ower's aid, Say, Goddess, why to us denied Layest thou prices high aside; As in that loaf-in-seven-days year* When things were most confounded dear ; Liuk'd arm in arm, O Nymph endear'd Thou hast with strumpets forg'd appear'd — Where is thy native form unlying. Scales and weights and dirt defying? Arise as in that elder time, Sweated and clipp'd, but still sublime; * Some years back the consumption of bread was rettrkted to a quartern loaf per week. 114 Thy wonders in that g-olden age Fill Engfland's Bubsidizing page. 'Tis said, (and I believe the tale) That Guineas yfere expos'd to sale ; And that our last best cask of beer The Sinking Fund was tapp'd this year ; Pitt, I with weeping say, seduc'd The Bank, and left her much reduo'd; Scarce left her bare back clothes enough, And made her Fame a Lottery PuiTj Abortive drugs were given by Pitt— But now laid in, she bears gold yet. That there was a Church at Ross, before the Conquest, is evident from the mention of a Priest in Doomsday. This first Church is presumed to have stood in tliat part of the town, which is called the Brookend ; and to have had a small Monastic esta- blishment attached to it. The site of these was a modern court where stands a house, now called the Wool-house, and an adjoining tenement, occupied by Mr. Badham, and late Lodge. The consecrated inclosure comprised the outlet and garden behind, in the latter of which human bones have been repeat- edly excavated, within the memory of persons, now living. The Religious are understood to have con- tinued there for some ages, after the removal of the Church. It appears from the Life of Robert de Betun,* that during the wars of Stephen and the Empress Maud, in the years 1138, 1139, the con- tending parties plundered and burned the smaller Churches, and made use of the larger and stronger, for Castles for themselves. Wilton Castle, was found- ed in this reign;t and it is possible, that the Church * Angl, Sacr. ii.313. t Lelandi Collectanea. 116 was then destroyed, for the sake of the materials. As to the establishment, it can alone be historically explained by records, into which it is not the plan of the author to enter, as Mr. Duncombe will render it superfluous. It is not liowever improbable, should it even be unnoticed in these ancient authorites. For, in the Anglo-Saxon sera, it was usual to have a Mother Church collegiate with various subordinale chapels, which custom disappeared soon after the Conquest, by the chapels becoming' parochial, or decaying. This was the case at S. Oswald's (Glou- cester) Berkeley and other Churches, and very probably at Ross, for it had various chapels, as Brampton Abbots and Weston, now converted into Livings. Many of the Pensions in the valor of Pope Nicholas, originated in the decay of these chapels, and transfer of the endowments, the chief instrument of their ruin being the great Monasteries, who made it a rule to absorb petty estates — Of the existing representative, rather than remains of this Church, it can only be said, that there are but a few feet of walling, with a window and door way, not older, than the reign of Henry VII. now extant, but the building stood east and west. Tradition and Pre- aumption are the sole authorities for the opiniens heie given which is fairly subject to doubt. There was also a very ancient chapel at Horn Gieen, a small parallelogram, of which the ground 117 plan may be conspiciously traced. It had a monthly service by the Vicar of Ross. Among' the Harleian Manuscripts is an account of Herefordshire parochially digested. The article, Ross, has been kindly commiiicated by the Rev. John Webb, Rector of Tretyre. Unfortunately, there is nothing in it earlier than the fourteenth century, and in the present Church there is not the smallest trace of Anglo-Saxon, or Norman work. The Manu- script only says " In the Chancelle are the cells of an ancient Quire and over them towards the body of the Church an Organ Loft." The cells are the pews of the Rector and others; and the Organ Loft, should be, a^ Mr. Webb judiciously observes, the Rood Loft. Of course the tradition concerning the Brookend Church rests solely upon its own founda- tion, and the human bones excavated. The Manu- script was written about the year 1658. It is thought, that there was an especial reason for placing Churches upon eminences, namely that the Towers migiit be used for Beacons.* Mr Jenkins is of opinion, ih^t the foundation on the spot is to be ascribed to Rob. de Betun, but if so he proceeded very little with the work; for only the Chancel can possibly be ascribed to him; end that part of the fabric certainly assimilates the Church of * Bibl. Topogr, Brit. vii. p. 69, 118 Merton in Surry, known to be of the twelfth cen- tury* the aera of Rob. de Betun. But he seem- ingly did not finish it, for William de Ablaniat, who was Rector in 1287, bestowed much cost on this Chancel,"f at which time the present body of the Church was probably building, for the broad exter- nal form resembles Wells Cathedral, founded by Bishop Josceline, between the years 1204 and 1242.-- In the Chancel Window is a figure of Thomas de Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford, in the act of giving the Benediction. He was canonized in the begin- ning of the fourteenth century, and the Altars in the Church were dedicated on the 6. Id. Mali 1316. The figure of the Prelate would not have been erec- ted in the stained Glass, if he had not been a Bene- factor to the fabric. It may therefore be inferred, that the Church was not completed till the year abovementioned. A search in the Archives of Here- ford concerning the sera of consecrating the Church, might ascertain the question historically, but with- out a complete calendar, tabling the contents, the difficulty is enormous. Ross is a Rural Deanery. The Rectory till the Vicarage was consolidated with it by act of parlia- ment, in the reign of Charles II. was a sinecure of * Lysons's Envir. i. 346. t Mr. Jeakins from the Cathedral Archive*. 119 gieater value, than the Vicarage, which included the chapels of Weston-under-Penyaid, and Brampton Abbots. The Bishop of Hereford was Patron of both Rectory and Vicarage. The Rectory has a Manor, consisting, no doubt, of the Carucates, mentioned in Doomsday Book. A Court Baron is held; the Glebe is the Demesn; £tnd the Manor consists of divers messuages, lands, and tenements, in the two capital Manors of Ross Bo- rough and Foreign, producing several little chief rents, amounting in the whole, to 40s. p. ann. be- besides offerings of Rosemary and Marigolds, The Dean and Precentor of Hereford Cathedral are endowed with two thirds of the Great Tithes of the heretofore Episcopal Demesn Lands in Ross. These Tithes are in lease to the Rev. Hugh Hanmer Morgan and under-let by him to the Rector. In the district, called the Cleeve Tithing, the Bishop of Hereford is owner of two thirds of the Great Tithes generally, except a few Mease places, where he has no claim, and except a specialty, as lo a few meadows, in the Chapelry of Wilton, where he has only one half of the Great Tithes. All other Tithes in the parish belong to the Rector — The Bishop's portion is in lease to the Horn Lacy family, and tenanted by Mr. Amos Jones. Mr. Jenkins was 120 informed that the half, not belonging to the Bishop owed its exemption to being parcel of the foreign abbey of Lyre in Normandy, who had rights in the Chapehy of Wilton. The Chapeliy lies in the two parishes of Ross and Bridstow. Mr, Jenkins has made the following collection of Incumbents, but in a few instances has not been able to discriminate between the Rectors and Vicars, both having usually been Dignitaries of the Cathedral of •Hereford, 1287. William de Ablaniat, Rector. 1290. John de Shelving, Rector. 1303. John de Kemmes. 1307. John Coci, [son of Thomas de Coci] of Ross, and 1308. James Henlee, collated Priests of the Church of Ross. 1312. John de Rosse, Rector. Of him Mr, Webb's manuscript speaks thus, from Godwin. " John de Rosse, a Doctor of Lawe was thrust by the Pope into the Bishoprick of Cariisle without any election, and was consecjated anno 1318 and died 1331. He being born in this towne and taking his name from it, left a memoriale of himself, now almost deleted, which you may understand by this— 1329, March 24. " At Ross, Walter de 121 Morton, Priest, was admitted to the Chantry, found- ed (ordinatam) in the Church of Ross by John de Ros, Bishop of Carlisle, vacant and belonging to the presentation and nomination of the same father {in God] to which the said Walter has obtained letters of institution and induction directed to the [Rural] Dean of Ros. — 35. Ed. 1. license to John de Ros of assigning seventy-four acres in Ross and Walford {to the support of the above Chantry.] 1320. Thomas Talbot, Rector. [Of hira below] 1332. William de Rosse, Rector: also Arch- deacon. Here Mr. Jenlcins is at a loss, for some years. The following extract from Mr. Webb's communication, explains the cause. 1348, Feb. 9. The Bishop of Hereford admitted Lord Thomas de Mercer, Priest, to the Vicarage of Ross, upon the presentation of Lord Thomas Talbots, Rector of the Church of Ross. This Rosse Parson- a"-e or Rectory was an Honorary, and see disposable to a layman, who was Lord of the Parsonage, and presented to the Vicaridge. Reg. Trillec p. 2L 1414. John Stanway, Rector. [Dean of Hereford] 1420. Thomas Yonge, Vicar. 1430. Richard Roth«ram S. T. P. Rector. 122 He was Confessor to tlie Bishop of Hereford, and built the Chancel at Hentland ; probably therefore Vicar of Lugwardine. 1438. Robert Jordan, Rector or Vicar, 1453.' John Davyes, Vicar. 1463. Hugh Ragoun, Rector or Vicar. A query has been started, whether John Berewe did not hold the Rectory at this period. It seems pretty clear, that a person named Berewe was a Donor to the Chantry at Ross, and that the House, now the Nag's Head Inn, was the property, judged to have been given, and which was of old commonly called Eerewe's hm. A John Berewe was first promoted in the Cathedral of Hereford in 1429, and died Dean in 1462. 1486. Thomas Chippenham, A. M. Perpetoal Vicar of this Church and Parish. At his instance a curious and beautiful Rood Loft was erected in the Church (after the fashion of the Rood Loft at Ledbury) at a pubhc charge. 1510. Thomas Moreton, L. L. B. Rector. He was Archdeacon of Hereford. 1511. Richard Judde, Rector. 1516. Richard Parkhurst, Vicar. He is under- stood to have been the immediate successor of Chip- penham. 1522. William Webbe, Rector. Archdeacon of 123 Hereford, and said to have been kinsman of Bishop Mayew. He died 1522, and lies buried in Hereford Cathedral. Here Mr, Jenkins is at some loss. One Thomas Qeale seems to have been a minister of Ross in the time of Queen Elizabeth. But Mr. J. thinks that the first protestant incumbent vras 1563. Thomas Lewis, Vicar — buried at Ross. 1591. Ludovicus or Levi-is Williams, Vicar- In his time the following entry was made in the old Re- gister " 1585, on the 30th of August was buried in the Cathedral of Hereford, John Scorey the -iinwor- ihy Bishop of that See" [Of Scorey hereafter] — 1594. John Watkins, A. M. Rector. Dean of Hereford, buried at Ross in 1594, much lamented. 1615. Bernard Bennett, Vicar — ^buried at Ross. 1642. Henry Hacket, A. M. Rector. He reside.d, died, and was buried at Ross, leaving an admirable cl)aract«r. His daughter Mary was married to Thomas Cocks of Castledilch Esq. She died in 1675 and hes buried at Eastnor. In Mr* Hacket's time, Nathaniel Hill, of Ross, A. M. was a celebrated Preacher. He died in 1652, and was buried in the Chancel. Hill's grave was casually opened in 1775, when his body, though it had lain there 143 years vfas found but partially de- . cay«di and the beard and mustachoes perfect. 124 1646. Phillippe (sic] Price, Vicar. He is believed to have been the successor of Mr. Bennett in the Vi- carage, and VOLS deprived for his loyalty in 164f5. He died, and was privately buried, Mr, J. thinks, in the Chancel at Ross in 1663. Divers Licenses to invalids and lying-in womeD,, to eat flesh on Fish-days in Lent were registered by Phillippe Prite, Vicar. [Under the rebel government, the Rectory, then a Sinecure, was usurped by one John Tombes, B. D. an Anabaptist. He was a Theologist of some note in bis day, and the same Man> who held a public disputation with Baxter in the Temple Church, London, in the event of which, their disciples — the Saints present, proceeded to fighting. This Man seems to have resigned the Rectory in 1658, and as is said, was ultimately reconciled to the Church. He died and was buried at Sahsbury. The Vicarage of Ross was also then held by one Jonathan Smith; and there being two Jonathan Smiths contemporaries, it is fit to note, that they appear to have been father and son^ or uncle and nephew, the former being the mock vicar. In Rudder's Gloucestershire (p. 696) is a long Epitaph of this man, stating that he was born at Rochester 16. April, 1609, was educated in Ireland, [It is omitted, that he was apprenticed to a Taylor 1^ in Canterbury, and was a banlaupt hosier at Sand- \yich, see before p. 89] officiated at Ross twelve years, was expelled by the return of the King, and, died anno 1670, aged 62. His Epitaph purely makes a Merit of a vehement propensity to preaching. Whe- ther he talked sense or nonsense was of no moment, because Enthusiasm ascribes to feelings. only, the honour justly due to Labour and Learning; and thus deprives the public of edification and instruction.' [U is noted by Walker in his sufferings of the Clergy, that these obscure persons represented themselves and their brethren, as in rank Apostles, mimicking the phrases applied to, and used in Scripture, by these Holy Persons, although void of their grand credentials. Prophecy and Miracle. This remark may illustrate the pompous nonsense of the above Epitaph, and-that of his son or nephew as presumed, who was buried at Ross, in a garden, formerly a burying ground of the Quakers, Sep. 18. 1678 ast. 45. His sole claim to honour is that of preaching.] 1660. John Nekton, D. D. Vicar. [ Of him further on] — 1671. John Cooke, Rector. 1699. Thomas Brome, A. M. 1711. Charles Whiting, D. D. 1745. Robert Morgan, D. D. 1771, John Egerton, D. D. [Gf him further on.] 126 1775. Theophilus Meredith, A. M. [He was pre- sented by the King, died at the Hotwelis, Bristol, and was buried at Ross.] 1779. Charles Morgan, M. A resigning. 1801. Hugh Morgau, D. D. resigning. Thomas Underwood, A. M. the present Rector. The last Eight have been Rectors, after consolidation of the Rectory and VfcarJge; and making Weston and Brampton Abbots independent parishes. An account shall now be given of two very emi- nent Rectors, viz. D/. Newton and Bishop Egerton. John Newton was the grandson of John Newton ofAxmouthin Devonshire, and son of Humphry Newton of Oundle in Northamptonshire. He was born at Oundle in 1622, and was entered a Commoner of St. Edmund Hall Oxford in 1637 He took the de- gree of D. D. in 1641, and the year following wag created Master in precedence to several Gentlemen, that belonged to the King and Court, then residing in the University, on account of his distinguished tal- ents in the higher branches of Science. His Genius being inclined to Astronomy and Mathematics, be made great proficiency in these sciences, which he found of service during the time of the Usurpation, when he continued stedfast to his legal Sovereign. After the Restoration he was created D. D, of Ox- 127 ford. In Sep. 1661 he was made one of the Kings Chaplains being Vicar of Ross in the place of one Jonathan Smith, ejected for Nonconformity. He held that Living till his death, which happened at Ross Dec. 26. 1678. Wood gives him the character of a <:apricious and humourous person ; but, however that be, his writings are sufficient monuments of his genius and skill in the Mathematics. These wri- tings consist of various works in Astronomy, Tri- gonometry, Gauging, Interest of Money, Logarithms, Rhetoric, Arithmetic and Geography.* The following are the particulars, f which were mentioned of Dr. Newton in the town, by aged per- sons. He will be called eccentric by those, who do not know that Philosophers live for the indulgence of various abstract pleasures and inclinations, which the vulgar cannot at all comprehend, and which their superiors often misunderstand. When he was M. A. he published his Trigonometria Britannica(folio 1C58) and dedicated it to Richard Cromwell, a time-serving action, of which the Doctor could never afterwards endure to be reminded. He was in pei-son, rather under than over the middle stature, did not appear without his gown, did net shave the whole of his beard, was sprightly, somewhat whimsical, and very » Chatmer's Biogr. Diction, xxiil. 118. t Comrounicftted by Mr, T. Jenkia*. 128 fonJ of Musk and Singing, in which he himself taught some of the Church Singers. He was fond of going on a pleasant day to seuve Brampton Chur<;h; he used to ramble about We&tfield by night star- gazirig, now and then measured spites and trees, fixed and altered Sun-dials, was prone to give judg- ment about the weather, would frequently attend to his own brewing, had a chest of tools in his study and worked and wrote daily. There is more in this than meets the eye; for this mixture of Mechanie.^I and abstract pursuits appears in the Life of Sir Isaac Newton, and was probably a fashion of the day. He and his family went to Church every day. He was a fine preacher, and remarkably beloved through- out the parish ; was very particular as to not incurring debt, but poor, through hospitality and charity. In his personal habits he was frugal; amiable in his family and very attentive to his duties, as a Clergyman.* Over the Doctor's Grave, in the Chance], is a large Table bearing the following inscription, written by Dr. Robert Morgan, Rector, and renewed by the present Rector, Mr. Canon Underwood. • Inform. Mr. T. Jenkins.. . 129 lu Sacello hoc Sub rudi lapide obscur^ latet, Qui vivus per literatum orbem inclaruit; Quantus Vir! et quo non Monumento diguua! JOHANNES NEWTON S. T. P. Insignis Mathematicus! Orator Felix! Et quod in Tabelli iiac preecipu^ notaudum e«t; Ecclesiee liujus, Non solum Pastor nuperus, plurimnm dtlectBRj S«d et Benefactor perpetuus, semper memoraadus : Quippe Cujus cousilio, operie, impensis prsecipu^ tribuendura est Quod Ecclesife hujus patrimoninm (pro oneris amplitudine Nimis olim exile et parcum) Decimis majoiibus tandem Aucforitate publica auctum sit A. D. 1671. Quo Ccepto felicitdr consummato, Supremum diem clausit A'ir Beneficns et doctus VII Kal. Jau. A. D. 1678. Eo libentius ut credibile est in cceUim migranii Qnod in terris Boni operis sui fructum non percepisset. Abi Lector! Et si publico Commodo iavigilare gaudes, Magis quam tuo: Kinc sume exemplum. R. M. Hane Tahulam, animo non sine grata redimtegravii Thomat Undervipo^, Rector, A. P, 1813. 130 John Egeeton, (Bishop of Durham) was son of Henry Egerton, Bishop of Hereford, fifth son of John, third Earl of Bridgewater. He was born in London Nov. 30. 1721, and educated at Eton and Oriel Colleges. He was ordained in 1745, and be- came successively Rector of Ross (in 1745) Canon of Cublington in the Cathedral of Hereford (1746) Chaplain in ordinary to the King (1749) Dean of Hereford (1750) Bishop of Bangor (1756) of Litch- field and Coventry 17G8, of Durham 1771. In 1748 he married Lady Amelia Sophia daughter of Henry de Grey, Doke of Kent, and at his death in 1787, left issue a daughter, lady of Sir Abraham Hume, Bart, and two sons; John William, who on the death of Francis third Duke of Bridgewcter, became seventh Earl; and the Hon. and Rev. Francis Egerton, Prebendary of Durham and Rector of Whitchurch, in Shropshire. The Bishop was remarkable, besides an excellent character in other respects, for tact and singular dex- terity in evading embarrassments. The foltowing are instances among many that might be mentioned. A Gentleman asked his Lordship, what he inherited . from his Father ? j4nswer. Not so much as I expected. Not satisfied with this rebuff, the Gentleman put a second question, viz. What was his wife's fortune ? 131 ■Answer, Not so much as was reported. The toiraenting investigator theu ventured a third specimen of ill breeding, as follows. What is the val'ue of your living of Ross ? Answer. More than I make of it. Of course, infinite amusement arose from the Querist's impertinence, or the conversation would not have been recorded and circulated. Another anecdote is reported of the Bishop's adroitness — ^ " A Gentleman requiring of him the renewal of a Lease, upon terms far short of its real value, and the Bishop refusing, the Gentleman assigned as a reason, why the proposal ought to be accepted, that bis Lordship was in such a declining state of health that his life was very precarious. Upon this the Bishop very readily remarked " Since tnat was the case, the Gentleman must be convinced, that his own interest was but a secondary consideration to him, and his principal object must be to do no injury to bis successors."* There were other institutions connected with the Church. One of them very ancient is clearly recog- • Htzed in the following extract from the Register of * Lives of Thomas Egerton, Lord Ellesmore, &c. &c. by the Hoa. & Rev. Fr. Egerton— Chalmer's Biograph. Dictionary, &c. &c. 152 Bishop Gilbeit * In 1377 John Gilbert, Bishop of Hereford, unites and annects together the Chantt-y founded by John Rosse, Bishop of Carliol, who was borne and buried in Rosse, because of the exility of the lands by the malevolency of intruders and the scarcity of husbandmen, occasioned by the last plague, with a certain society or fraternily in the village of Rosse anciently founded, which being joyned together, one priest shall celebrate raasse for the soules of the founders of each, which frater- nity was dedicated of late dayes to the memoryes of- the B. Virgine and S. Thomas the Martyr. Here then is an evident condensation of the preceding collegi- ate institutions, into one form, for the Harliean Manuscript quoted f says, " There were two chant- ries of our Lady, the one founded by the foremen- tioned John de Rosse, both well endowed : another chantry for the service of St, George." Mr. Jenkins thinks, that there vpas also an altar of S. Margaret, and he adds, that in an obscure account of the here- tofore benefactions to the Church of Ross, occur the names of Walter de la Pole, and Isabella de la Pole, widow. Isabella Mercer widow, also by will in 14S2, after usual oblations to the Mother Church of Here- ford, the high altar, &c. gave or charged her lands in Blacknorle to devout uses in this Church. — The fact is, that in every town in the kingdom petty donations * p. J— Mr. Weljb. t Mr. Webb. 133 of this kind occur, from lights to chantries, accord- ing to the circumstances of (he parties, all of ihem customs derived from the Heathens. Chantries were endowments for cerlnin ministers to pray for the souls of the founders, but not till after they had first done so for those of the Kings who had licensed the foundation, and the majority, if not ih.e whole of these licenses are abstracted by Vincent, in a M. S. now remaining in the College of Arms. As the priests too were not allowed to celebiate their private masses at the high altar, (hose numerous structures and chapels, of which we read in our an- cient Churches, were devoted to this purpose, that they might not disturb each other.* Such iastitu- j^P tions were common, because alms were deemed ^:'. expiations of sins. The Church, as it existed in the year 1658 is thus described. " In the Chancelle are the cells of an ancient K"' Quire, and over them towards the body of tiie Church an Organ Loft. [Rood Loft]" "On the south sidfi of the Church are the monuments of the Rudhalls of Rudhall in this parish, of which there be divers — first is of * Fosljroke's Gloucester, p. p. 340. 331, 134 William Rudhall and his Wife Margarett the daughter of Sir JaHies Croft, temp. Regin. Elizab. with three ■enquarterings." O. on a bend B. [Az.] 3 Catherine wheels A. by the name of Rudhall [or Rid- dall. F.] G. Cheveron int. 3 escallops A. Slilborne. G. frettea A. [ JSea«c7(a»ip, Bevyham, Hodleston,Wms- wolO,. F.] B. A bend int. 6. trefoils Or. [.(Jsfore betw.8. tref. F.J G. Fesse cheeky O. & B. — IVhittington. G. Flowers de lis A. [afield, seme de lys, is either the Kingdom of France, or with the field Arg. the codit of Pvlyn or Pelevin. G. afl.de iWArg. is borne by AguiUoti, and three fl. de lis by Gordon and Can- tebors: six Or by Mimlefe- lant. At all events, it is a bearing; of foreign ori- gin. F.] A. a cheveron B. int. 3 foxes heads erased G. [Fair-fax^ Fox, Foxall. jP.] S. a lyon rampart int. crosses filched crosslet. A. A. a lyon ramp, cross crosslet filched. S. [The blazonry is imperfect, but the coat appears to be Fong^s. One similar be- longed to Hantvill. F.] S. a cross ingrailed int. 4 (blazonry imperfect. F.) A. 3 barrs wavy B. {Sand- ford but Champney, Valby Lovell, Polmeroy, &c.bore similar ordinaries. F.] S. 3SwannesA. { Fazalterley, Kihnesson, Kihnessayne ; the Swans Or. jBrowie. F.] " Next to William is the tombe of John Rudhall the Sonne of William, who married the Lady Cholke, with her effigies alsoe though alive; next to these is a statue erect in armour of William brother to John last mentioned, who both died leaving no issue from them to succeed them, and soo the estate came to be divided amongst the children of the sisters of William and John, who had married into these families, the 135 Pies, Westfalings, Bioughtons, Prices, Auberys and Morgans.*" [Most of these monuments were probably erected during the life-time of the parties, for such was a fashion of the sera, of which numerous instances might be quoted. The sculpture of some of them is allowed to be very fine. Mr. Dallaway, speaks thus of the erect figure of the loyal General Wilham Rud- hall. In the reigns of Elizabeth, James and Charles I. very expensive monuments, executed by Foreigners were in vogue : and in Westminster Abbey is a sit- ting figure in a Roman mihtary costume, upon a circular altar. It is erected for Francis Holies a young officer. The fashion is repeated at Ross in Herefordshire in a military figure of one of the Rudhall family. The intention was to produce a strong effect by entirely insulating the figure, and leaving it without accompaniment. f] Among these monuments is a bust of the late Tiiomas Brereton, Esq. who took the name of Westfaling, from marrying Mary the heir general of the Rudhall family. Upon the pedestal is inscribed the following epitaph in elegant latinity, written by the present Bishop of St. Asaph. * Harl. M.S.S.— Mr. Webb. t Gent's Magaz. June 1818 p. 492. N 2 ■• 136 M. S. Thom!« FUii Reverendi viri Ricliardi Brerefon, e comitatu GlocestWensi, Qui Mariam, Uuicam ex illustri Familia de Westfaling' ha;redem TJxorem liabuit, et nomeu illius sibi assumpsit, Natu3 die IV Idus Maii A. D. MDCCLX. Mortuus die XIV Kalendas Junii A. D. MDCCCIV. Vir fide autiqua, atque incorrupta, Animi in omnia, quibns faveret consilliis, acerrimi, ea tamen morum benignifate castigati, Ut eorum etiam, qui uon idem sentirent, Amicitiara et benevolentiam sibi conciiiaretr Qualis fuit iu pauperibua sublevandis, Qualis in eorum liberis erudiendis, Pauperum lachrymse testaiitur; Quam jucuudus in Amicitia, societati utilis, Quam hujusce vicinise et delicise et ornamentum Ex hoc marmore scias, Quod Amoris, qualecunque s.it, et desiderii testimonium, Talis viri non jmmemores Susnptu sue Fcsii cnravernnt A'liici, SociJ, Vjcini. 137 A window of stained glass, recently erected behind these monuments, exhibits them in very chaste, and interesting effect. Glass of this kind may be so con- trived, as to show off objects under the light of dawn— midday— or evening — in proportion as yellow, crimson, or blue colours abound in the painting. " Neare to these" [Rudhall Monuments] conti- nues the Harleian Manuscript, is a chappie in the ile of the Church south called the Lord Greyes chappie, in which in the east window is to be seen G. 3 miters proper, a very and this eoat is 3 or 4 times ancient painting- (See of in tlie cimrfli. (Ifthehorns Chester. F.) are Bugle horns these are A. on acheveronint. Sliorns the arras of Forester or S. 3 pheons of the first ; Furster. F.) In a window in the north end of thebody w€stwards. Barry of sixe A. & B. a label! of five points G — Grey. In the next window above it are A. lion ramp. G. bordure 3 flowers de lis. Ccmtelupe S. Bezantes. C'omewell of and See of Hereford. Birrington. 5 Cheyeronells (Deanery of 3 lyons heads reversed jessant Hereford. F.) In a window of a small chappie at the east end of the north lie. [Of this chappie no vestiges remain.] A. afe9Beint.3 diamonds B. A. fesse int. 3 diamonds B. Parry, impaled with Barry Parry A : 3. . . .S. impaled of six A. &B. over them 3 with A: fesse int. 3 dia- crescents S. ( Grey, the monds B. Parry. crescents for dififereiice. F) A : a fesse int. 3 diamonds B. impaled with B. a fesse iat. 3 Bwyers. O. 138 In the east window five clitveronells. So far the old i\I. S. — The Churcli, which crowns tlie Apex of the Promontory has the eS'ect of a Greek Acropolis with respect to the town imderneath. On the S. and \V. it appears highly picturesque, rising' amidst tall elms; and is unobstructed by buildings. From the London entrance on the N. E. it towers, like the Parthenon at Athens, over the biick houses, and never loses grandeur, but when viewed closely from the north side of the Church-yard. Th« gene- ral fine effect is owing to a lofty well-proportioned spire, and a belt of majestic elms planted in 1085 by the Man of Ross. The pinnacles of the Tower weje also planned by him. Unfortunately for the close view, the windows have been deprived of their mul- lions; and as these are apt to decay, it is to be regretted, that they are not in general resupplied by Fac-similes in cast iron. The east window is taste- fully adorned with stained glass, and the light so corrected by curtains, as to give it a lich dimness; what ought to be denominated a proper Church light; not an insipid vvhite lustre, like a manufactory, per- forated with sashes. The ancient Rood-loft is said to have contained an Organ. In the east window of of th« N. He two young trees spring from an old root without. The original Tree was planted with the other elms by Mr. Kyrle. An old Altar hangings of blue velvet is preserved, having the Crucifix and 139 several ang^elic and apostolic figures worked with silver. The Organ was opened Oct. 18. 1726, Tlie front of it is said to have originally belonged to Salis- bury Cathedral. The pipe of the Stove runs under an old window between the church and chancel, whieh window was intended to convey without, the sound of the Saint's bell rung at the elevation of the Host, in order that all persons within hearing might fall on their knees. In the year 177G, Lady Betty Dupplin having left a sum of money for erecting a monument to the memory of the Man of Ross, it was accordingly done, in a rich style with a medallion of Mr. Kyrle upon it. The Lady merits the gratitude of philoso- pers, for Polybius refers, in a great measure, the cause of the higher qualities, and the superiority of the Romans over their enemies, to the custom of ho- nouring excellence even after life, because it excites the emulation of the rising, as well as existing gene- ration.* There has also been erected not long ago a tablet in elegant latinity to the memory of a daughter of the Rev. John V/ebb, Rector of Tretyre, to whom this little work is indebted for a valuable communi- cation — It is as follows, * Sir W, Gell's Pompeiana p. 87. 140 Annse. Francescre. Filioe. tJnicte Qusp. Octavum. Agens. Aimum. Egregia. Indole. Cum. Parentales. Animos. Spe. Pasceret. Eheu. Inani. Fato. Acerbo. Pi-ferepta. Sic. D. O. M. Visum. Oecidit. Maii. VIII. Die. A. D. M. DCCC.VII. Mcerentes Posuerunt Joannes. Webb. A. M. In Hac. Ecclesia. Aliquandin. S. V. M Et. Sara. Uxor. In. Diuturnam Sui. Desiderii. Et. Puellse. Amabilis. Memoriam The Punctuation is in the aid Classical Form, of which see Gruter, Fleetwood and others. As to the Church-yard, Dr. Clarke observe.s, con- cerning' certain tombs of Telmessus, that a Soros above answered the purpose of a Cenotaph, for whenever the ground was sufficiently cleared around them there appeared between the Soroi a vault. Such a mode of interment, he says, is still exhibited in all our English Cemeteries. It is a practice, derived from the Romans, and the fonn of their Sarcophagus, may be noticed in almost every Church-yard of our island.* There is a singularity however in this Church-yard. The north side is crouded with tombs, whereas in most other places, the South was the fa- vourite spot, on account of having the benefit of Paters and Aves from the parishioners, when coming to church. * Travels iij. 305, 141 In the Church-yard is a Cross, commemorating the lavages of the Plague. Tradition says, that the Market was then held on Wilton Bridee. The Money was passed through a tub of water, and the goods were laid down to be conveyed away — The following account of the Births and Deaths for three years is recorded. 1635. Births 63.. Burials 34 "i In this last Year 34 were ^buried Mar. 25. to July 31. 1636. Do. 46... Do. 72 > I" Aug. 107. In Sep. 99. In I Oct. 46. From Nov. to Mar. 1637. Do. 23. . . Do. 315 ^ -5. 29 Total 315. Upon the Church-Tower is a Clock, Sundials were not unusual upon Tombs. Trimalchion in Petronius orders his monument to be surmounted by a Sundial, that the eye of the Traveller willing or unwiUing might be attracted to the inscription, recording his name &c. — The motive is now different. Formerly the Church was surrounded by the Bishop's palace in the Prospect, the Rector's in the meadow below, and the Vicar's on the other end of the Church. The residence of the Chantry priests oc- cupied the site of the School on the north side.* Of 'he Bishops palace before. The Vicarage (now the Rectory) still subsists. In 1635 it consisted of a House, Garden, Barn, Stable and Fold. The dwell- ing contained a hall, two parlours, kitchen, and sixteen other rooms and chambers, besides offices. f * Mr. Jeukius. f !M. S. pen. Chr, Eoud, Xissj. 142 The Parsonage (a smaller building) was taken down in 1793. After the Reformation, a Grammar school was kept in the Chantry House, or old Church House. These were, in some places, a sort pf Alms-houses erected for the benefit of poor religious persons, who were to lead a devout life, and attend regularly the service of the Church, particularly that of the Chantry, and to offer up frequent prayers for the souls of the Founders. At the Reformation, these pious Edi- fices, not being considered in the number of religious houses, strictly so called, were either appropriated to the service of the ministers of their respective parishes, or used for schools, or retained as Alms-houses.* In other accounts, it is said, that these houses were intended, the lower rooms, as habitations for the poor; the upper rooms ( large ) for holding Law and the Manerial Courts, Vestries, and Markets every Sun- day morning, where all kinds of provisions were sold, as Butcher's Meat, Meal, Cheese, Butter, and other necessaries. Here also the inhabitants had their Music and Dancing, as often as they pleased.f * Watkini^'s Bideford p. 63. t WiUiams's Jlowaouthshire app. p. 93, The old Manuscript says, Rosse or Roos, signifies a Rock or ClifFe." Mr. Webb very properly disputes this etymon, for, in fact, roos, signifies no more than red, the colour of the rock and soil. It appears (says Mr. Webb) that the Bishops had a wood of very considerable extent in the neighbour- hood, for it was destroyed for one mile in length by fire. They had also the Chace, and the boundary Was somewhere upon Penyard, which latter apper- tained in the reign of King Edward I. to the King's Forests. I presume, that the Chace extended over the Goodrich road down towards the river, for you have Harbour Hill, so called to this day. They had also pools of some size ; for besides the Extract from Triilec's Register I have seen a roll of Bp. Swinfield's in which mention is made of the large pool.* Thus Mr. Webb. Harbour was the term applied to favourite resorts of Deerf and there were persons employed in hart-hunting called Harbourers, who * Letter to the author. t Guillim's Heraldry p, 166. 144 were fo find out these harbours or places of conceal- ment, so as to unharbour the deer, for casting them ofF before the hounds.* Of the hunting of Bishops, nothing need be said. The large pool was probably that between Ross and 01 ton Court, not far from the earlier residence of the Bishops. The earliest notice in the "Harleian M. S. is the following extract from the Register of Bishop Richard Swinfieid. It. md. quod cum Dns Eps esset apud Ros die lune pxime ante festum sci Mat- thi Apli anno Dui 1286 ve- nator ejus cumquibusdam hominibus suis cucurrerunt in Chacia sua ibidem in Peniard et ceperunt ibi- dem juyeneni cervum et cum de cervo ipso et de loco in quo captus erat inter eos- dera venatores et forestarios re^is esset disseutio, post- modum in absencia dni fac- ta fuit inquisitio cujus transcriptum inferius con- tinetur. Inquisitio . facta apud Hule CnoUe in die Jovis prox ant. festum sei iTcyn. That when the Lord Bishop was at Ros on the Monday next before the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, in the year of our Lord 1286, his huntsman with some of his men run in the Chace there inPeu- yard, and took there a young stag, and since a dispute ensued concerning that stag-, and the place, in which it was taken, between the same huntsmen and the King-'.s Foresters, afterwards in the Lord (Bishops) ab- sence an Inquisition was taken of which a transcript is contained below— Inqui- * Gentleman's Recreation p. p. 72. 145 Mattha:! anno R. R. Edw. sition taken at Hule Cuolle XIV. Imprimis, Walford, on the Thuvsday next before Cocton, Heckenoore, Ru- the feast of St. Matthew in warden, Hope Maloysel!, the year of King Edward Longehope, Ecclesv/all, [first] the fosrteenth. Irn Dene, et ex eis dnodecim primis VValford, Cocton, hoies legales electi et ex- Heckenoore, Ruwarden> amiaati p. Grumbald Paun- Hope Maloyssl, Longhope, «evot, et viridar. et alios Eccleawall, Dene and out luinistros et jurat, de Fo- of them twelve men legally resta si ille cervus de quo elected, and examined by inquisitio fit si captus fuerat Grumbald Pauucevot, and infra Forestam an non? Et the Verdurers and other oies hoies jurat, et exaniinat. ministers aud jurovs of the dixerunt p. sacramentnm Forest, whether that deer quod captus esset extra fo- concerning which the inqui- restam, ubi chacea Dni Epi sition was held, -i^as taken semper ee consueverat, et below the Forest, or not? yillat. concordaverunt et xii And all the men being sworn electi inde in oibus : unde and examined said upon oath Grimbaldus expostulavit qui that it was taken where the fuerant ad illam venaciouem Chace of the Lord Bishop illius bestise et villat. dixe- had been always accustomed runt qd. nescierunt sed Fo- to be-, and the villagers restarii dixerunt W. de Che- agreed aud the twelve men Tening etVenator V.Carecuag elected out of th«m in all •et I. de Herley. Reg. M. S. points; from whence Grim- Mici Sv-ritf. Epi. p. 37. bald enquired, who were at the hunting of that beast, and the villagers said that they did not know ; but the Foresters said, William de Chevening, the huntsman, V. Caret uag, and John de a Herley. 146 A Chace was a spot of ground, where animals were preserved for the sake of hunting, and legally- recognized by Royal Grant, Privilege, or prescription. It differed from a Park, in being uninclosed ; and from a Forest in smaller extent : the latter of which belonged to the Kings only.* If the Deer had not been killed within the Bishop's precincts, he would have been severely fined. In 1353 the Bishop had a trial with Walter Moton, because he vi et armis liberam chaceam entered by force the free ipsius Epi apud Rosse in- Chace of the Bishop at Ross, troivit et in ea sine licencia and in it, without licence et Toluntate sua. fugarit et and permission, hunted, took feras cepit et asportavit et and carried off the animals, dna enormia ei intulit ad and did enormous mischief to grave dampnum &c. et feras it, taking- atray five hundred Tidelet quing-ent cervos, et stags and harts, and as many cervas, quing-ent damos et bucks and does, and three damas trescent. capriolos et hundred Roes to the value capriolas cepit asportavit of £100. The Jury tiud et dampnum habet ad valenc. -Walter Moton guilty of this 0. lib. Meg. Trillec p. iii. transgression to the damage of foure pounds to the said Bishop. There was good reason for then keeping Roes, " The venison of a Roe, (says the Gentleman's Recreationf ) is never out of season being never fat. * Spelm. V. Chacea—Foresta. f P- ^5- Ed. 1577. 147 and therefore they are to be hunted at any time" — but the sport went out of vogue," There are (says the same work) no Roe-deer in England, but there are plenty of them in Scot land. -f" There was a quarrel between this Walter and the Bishop, for such aggressions were common vindictive actions, and the Bishop at the same time§ sued hira for taking away fish, viz. Pikes, Trultes, Roches, Perches, Dares, Angitilles, (Eels) &c. to the value of £20. The Jury find him guilty to the amount of £4 to the Bishop. In 1383 John Gilbert, then Bishop excommu- nicates — tjuonim persoBEe spiritu certain persons, who inilain- diabolico inSammati animas ed by the spirit of the devil eorumin sponsas spi creatas did not fear to sell their preciosissime vendere con souls most preciously crea- Terentes. arbores et ligna ted to be brides of Christy de silva nostra de Rosse and cut down and carried coatraclarunt, asportarnut oiF trees and wood, from abstulerunt et boscos ejus- his wood of Ross, and set em silvae per spacium unius fire to it for the space of a miiiaris igne cremacdo con- mile, to the heavy danger snmpsernnt, in grave ani- of their own souls, a per- raarnm suarum periculum nicioas example to others, alionim perniciosum exem- and great loss and dam- plum et nrum prejudiciuro. age to the sTaid Bishop. ct dampnumnon modicum et gravamen &c. Reg Trillec p 19. t !d.p. 85. ^Plac.ad. Westm.27.Ed.iii.rol.29.de Banco. 148 In 13S8 the Bishop has confirmation of free warren in Uoos, &c. and in the years following, the Dean and Chapter of Hereford have assize of Bread and Beer, and other hberties in Roos, &c.* The Harleian Manuscript thus proceeds. "The' Royalty and Demesnes of Ross did of long time nppertfllne unto the See of Hereford, and was a paicell of the lands of the Bishopricke, but it is j-eported that Queene Elizabeth did take it from the Bishopricke by exchange, which since hath apper- tained to the Devereaxes Earls of Essex, and Vis- •counts Hereford, till within these 12 years by the death of the late Robert Eail of Essex, [who died Sep. 14. lG46f ] for want of issue of his body it went tohis sisters by one of which it came to the Marquesse of Hartford. It is a large manour; in it is How Caple, and Walford." Thus the account taken in the year 1658. Bishop Scory is said to have been the person, who resigned it to the Crown. Fuller says of him " Sure I am he began veiy well; being an Exi/e axid Conjessour [a Confessor is a Saint without Martyrdom. F.] in the dayes of Queen Mary, but is accused afterwards to be guilty of Oppressions, Extortions and Symonics, * Reg. Trellic. p. p. 10. 18, 19. t Dagd. Baronage ii. 180. Mr. Webb. 149 so that Jones A. Esq. Tudormlle. Gloucester-road. \ Noiirse Mrs. New-house. Cooke J. Esq. Chace-house. i Palmer Miss, Duxmore. Harvey Mrs. Orer-ross. S Russel E. Esq. Ross Villa. Hill Jos. Esq. imcoZn. I Searle — Esq. Horn-lodge. Holder Rev. R. K. i Trusted Mrs. Springfield. * This branch of the .Joneses of Garth^enan, settled here within the last century, by a marriag-e with the heiress of Yonge — is lineally descended, in the male line, from Tndor Trevor, Earl (if March and Hereford, and through him from the heretofore Kings of Powis and of Wales. The family Pedigree, now in possession of Mr. John Yonge Jones, begins with Cadell Deyrnllug, King of Powis, who is stated io have built and refolded at Whittiugton Castle, near Oswestry. 160 Walford. The author chuses, from knowing that nothing authentic can possibly be given respect- ing descent of property, without access to record, to confine himself to unpublished and genuine matter. The Bishops of Hereford were before the conquest, the undoubted Lords of this Hamlet of Ross; but at the compilation of Doomsday survey, there was not a Gentleman in the place. The Tenure by Knight's Service however implies this rank; and presuming, with the learned Roger Gale, that Richard de Bei- mels, Bishop of Loudon, who died May 4th, 1162, compiled the Black Book of the Exchequer;* publish- ed by Hearne;-f Hugo de Walford, who at that time held a Knight's fee under the Bishop, was the first person of gentilitial rank in the place. There was however one subordinate contemporary family; the Yeemes ( as in Old Deeds) not Yems. They are stated, in an Epitaph in the Church, to have held the Howl Estate (now belonging lo Mr. Thomas Williams) for Several hundred years, and the Male line to have terminated on the death of Edmund Yem in 1707, who left an only daughter Elizabeth, Robert Kyrle appears in the Chancery Deed of 1614, the only Kyrle dignified with the title of Esquire, if the inscription quoted be correct. He * Biogr. Britann. ii. 153. Ed. 2. f i. p. 15(1. 161 had a son, or leliit'ive of the same name, tk. Robert Kyrle, Esq, Loril of the Manor ( as says a flat-stone) who was buried Oct. 2nd, 1669 aged 51, whereas the Pedigree before quoted, * mentions a James Kyrle of Watford Court, High Sheriff of the County in 1629, although the Chancery Deed speaks of only Robert Kyrle, Esq. and William Kyrle, Gent, as living in the place; and (/"Robert Kyrle died in 1669 aged 51, f and the inscription be correct, he could not be the Robert Kyrle of 1614. It appears to the author, that the various branches of the Kyrles, have been jumbled all together into one line. Of one fact he is certain, that the Parish Registers were not consulted; for a blank is left for the christian name of the second wife of Robert Kyrle, and under June 22, 1662, is this entry of Burial " Mildred, wife of Robert Kyrle, Esq." Ad- mitting the ancientry of the Kyrles, (first Crull) at Walford, of which there is little reason to doubt, the Abstract of the Title-deeds of Walford Court say, that the estate passed by failure of Heirs male, after 1689, to the Gwyllims of Langston, through a female- heir ;§ that in 1747 an Act was passed for sale of th& * Heath p. 17. f There is no such burial in the Register. § The Parish Register says — 1689 Sep. 12. William Gwyllim Jun. of the Parish of Llaugarren, Gent., and Madam Elizabeth Kyrle were married per-licenf p3 162 estates of Robert Gwyllim, Sen. and Robert his son, in virtue of which the estate was sold 10 Aug. 1751, to certain Trustees for John Clarke of the Hill, with Goodrich ferry, &c. &c. and thus descended to Mrs. Jane Clarke of very amiable and liberal memory. — Alice, daughter and heir of aW alter Kyrle is said to have taken the Old Hill in marriage to Christopher Clarke. This is very probable ; but the deed of 1614 proves the estate to have been incon- siderable. Success ( according to tradition ) of speculation in Clover seed, introduced into England by Sir Richard Sutton in 1652, enabled the Clarkes to realize a fortune, by which they successively enlarged their estate to a considerable amount. Walford Court was certainly at one time a superb residence. Tradition says, that it was for- tified by Col. Kyrle; (of whom elsewhere*) in the civil wars of Charles I, It is still a very curious spe- cimen of a residence well adapted to resist a coup de main. It consists of a succession of walled courts commanding each other, and there is no approach to the house, but under direct and flanking fires, from behind walls, and out-houses. In tlie orchard, be- hind the house, is a mount, probably once hollow, as at Oxford, for a magazine, upon which a cannon might be placed for discharging grape. At present it is a mere fuimus ; and has yielded its ancient * Wye Tour. 163 glory to a large mansion called New Hill Court, built by the hospitable and benevolent family of Clarke. The next considerable estate is that of Bishop's Wood. In the year 1614, in conse- quence of an altercation, a decree of Chancery was made, of which the followina; is the substance. Bishop's Wood, containing by estimation 2000 acres, was formerly part of the waste lands of the Manor of Ross Foreign, which Manor, in the year mentioned, belonged to the Earl of Clanricard, Lady Frances his wife, and Robert Earl of Essex, and the free- holders of Walford enjoyed the right of common of pasture and estovers thereon. In the same year, an agreement was made between the said noble parties, and the freeholders, by which the former took one half of the common in lieu of their manerial rights, free from all right of common and estovers thereon j and released to the freeholders, the other moiety, as their absolute property, instead of their commonable rights on the whole, free from all claims of themselves and all other owners of the Manor of Ross Foreign, Inter alia, the decree says " that the free- holders shall have, hold, and enjoy the other half and residue of the said ground or wood, called Bu shoppers Wood, and the wood thereupon growing 164 with the appurtenances, without the left or inler- ruption of the complainantes or any claiming from, by, or under thena, or any of them." This agree- ment was confirmed by decree in Chancery made in Trinity Term 1614. The part in severalty now belongs to John Partridge, Esq. who has elegantly ornamented a mansion in a sequestered spot, now occupied by Mrs. Ives, the mother of his Lady. The common or Freeholders' portion has been lost, by surreptitious enclosures of the poor. But old vestry books show manerial rights to have been exercised by the Freeholders. The Chancery deed recites the names of the Freeholders in 1614, Sir John Scu- damore, of Homlacey, Knight; John Rudhall, of Rudhall, Esq.; Robert Kyrle, of Walford, Esq.; William Scudamore, of Ballingham, Esq.; John Stratford, of Walford, Esq.; John Markey, of Walford, Gent.; William Kyrle, of Walford, Gent.; John Dewe, and Luraley Dewe, of Walford, Gents.; Anthony Stratford, of Walford, Gent.; Margarett Rudhall, the younger, of Rudhall; Richard Clarke, Edmond Yeeme, Walter Harris, James Hardwicke, James Smith, John Croose, Thomas Griffiths, Robert Richardes, John Sipprance, John Morton, and John Seymor all of Walford, Yeomen; i. e. mostly Old English Yeomen, occupying their own estates, and living in plenty and hospitality. Only two or three; were tenants. 165 CoWBURT (or Colbry) the next considerable estate, long in the Bonds, passed with Elizabeth only child of Richard Bond in 1736 to her husband Gabriel Hanger; and was sold by their son John Lord Coleraine in 1775, to Charles Trusted father of Imtnanuel Trusted, who resold in 1813 to Henry Barnett, Esq. who has built a handsome house, and resides here. „ „ _ „ Ann daug'hfer nf — Rye Henry Barnett Esq. == E,q. ^^r^. at Bathwick. Frances. Elizabeth. Thomas. William. Aun. Frederick. Henry, twins. ALL BAPTIZED AT WALFORD. But the chief family in blood, and public benefac- tions was the Stratfords* John Stratford, summoned to Parliament 13. Ed. ii. ann. 1320 was father of Sir Stephen Stratford, who by Elizabeth daughter of Robert Lord Mon- chaust of Ireland, was father of John, who by Maud, daughter of Sir Henry Guy of Nottinghamshire, was father of Henry, who by Marg. daughter and heir of Ralph Loudaine, Esq. (whose mother was Isabel daughter and heir of Sir Richard Barwell) was father of John, who by Elizabeth daughter of John Stenmarch of b'taffordshire Esq. was father of John,, who by Catherine daughter and heir of Henry * The same family, as Stratford of Farneste in Glon. cestershire : but the Pedigree here quoted supplies tb© earlier descents, wanting in M. S. Harl. 6174. 166 Eaton, Esq. (by Catharine daughter and co-heir of Thomas Langley 2nd. son of Sir H. Langley Knight) was father of Robert, who by Ann daughter of Richard Atwood of Staffordshire, Esq. was father of Richard who by Frances daughter of Thomas Kirkeby Esq. was father of John, who by Marg. daughter of Richard Howell, Esq. was father of William (2nd. son) who by Joyce daughter of Richard de Laniott, was father of AVilliam, father of Ferdi- nando of Walford, who by Ursula dr. and coheir of John Hereford, Esq. was father of John, who by Barbara daughter of Edmund Rous Esq. was father of Robert of Walford, who by Hester daughter of Robert Williams, 'E,s({. first wife had issue William, who died young, and Ann wife of John Hooke of Crooks, Gloucestershire, and by Martha daughter of William Strachy Sen. 2ud. wife, had issue. John, ■Martha, Hester, Mary, and Elizabeth.* Robert Stratford, Esq. died 1G76 ; and his son John, bapt. May 21, 1664, (William Collins Gent, of Upton Bishop, having married Mary third sister of this John Stratford) devised the Whithall Estate by will dated 27 May, 1736, to the issue of his sister by the above William Collins, in whose descendants it still remains. One of whom has been High Sheriff for the County. The old Mansion still exists and has manifest relics of ancient dignity. * Trom au illuminated Pedigree penes J. S. Collin?, Esq, 167 The BoLLEN and Coughton anciently the estate of the Chinns and Seymours, now belongs to Mrs. Nourse, an ancient family in the Neighbourhood. The BoUeu Farra-Houseis a respectable old dwelling of delightful situation. A good house at Coughton is occupied by Miss Charlotte Strong, sister of the Rev. Robert Strong, Rector of Crampton Abbots. New House is the property of S. W. Compton, Esq. and has been recently purchased of Thomas Trouncer, Gent, the lessee of the impropriation. Christ. Bond, Esq. of the ancient and opulent family of Bond, of Newland in Gloucestershire, resides here, and has an only daughter Marianne. The Paddock was the estate of the old Free- holders the Crooses. Harris's was sold about ten years ago. Old Hill, the old residence of the Clarkes is now tenanted by John Dean, Esq. There is a Castellum, or Exploratory Post near Howl Farm to the Camp at Penyard on the Chase. On Feb. 17, 1813 the Church-spire was destroyed by a tremendous storm of Lightning. The support- ing tower remains, and stands on one side of tlie Church, apparently because it was erected subse- quently to the Nave, with the existing West end of which, it was not deemed desirable to interfere. A Chapel at Coughton was pulled down not many years ago, and near Coughton Turnpike was a Cross, 168 Ant man who chuses it has as much right to mention himself in a book upon paper as in a Church upon marble. I shall not trouble my children wilh the latter expence, but after the example of other County Historians, correct and enlarge the account pubhshed in the History of Gloucestershire, Vol. 1. p. 407. ii. Emendations. In Staffordshire is an ancient village or hamlet, called Forsbrooke, or Foss-broc, and in or about the year 1802, there still subsitted at that place in obscurity, a family of the name of Forsbrooke, of Forsbrooke, manifestly descended from the very earliest ancestors. In an ancient charter* which mentions the donation of the church of Wolleford to the Priory of Roucester, in the county of Staf- ford, by William Basset, three of the witnesses are Osbert de Fofesbroc, and Walter his brothers. The t is probably a typographical mistake for r,f and the name should under that circumstance be corrected into Foresbroc, as the name of the Village is Fors- brooke, which again was synonymous with Fosbroke. In the Epitaph of John Fosbroke, Esq. of 1602, and the Parish Register of Diddltbiiry under the years 1584, 1585, and 1591 the name is spelt Fosbroke but in 1635 Forstbrooke occurs, and again Fosbrooke- a barbarism, like Pembrooke for Pembroke. B«t * Dugdale's Mouasticon ii. 209. Ed. 1st. t In the pag-e quoted the Church is called at ton Walkiom, below VVorfeford. ' 160 ihere is a strong circumstantial evidence, that tliis Osbert and his brothers were the ancestors of the subsequent Fosbrokes. Their attestation to the Charter quoted, shows, that they were niembeiS of the establishment of this William Basset. Now the Northamptonshire Estates hereafter mentioned, were held under Ralph Basset of Diaiton, and the Pa- ramountship passed to the StafFords ; Thomas, Earl of Stafford, being-, 14 Ric. ii. (anno. 1390) found one of the coheirs of Ralph, last Lord Basset of Draiton, being son of Hugh, son of Ralph, son of Margaret, sister of Ralph Basset, father of Ralph, father of the said Ralph, who died llie preceding year* In these early periods, it may be laid down as a rule, subject to very few exceptions, that (as in the Scotch and Irifch Clans,) the menibers of noble esta- blishments, were allied to the head of the family, and mostly derived the estates, of which they were subinfeudists, by donation as being relatives; for younger brothers lived servants to the elder. There was then little or no purchasing, except by the Abbies and Bishops, who might be said to have been the only monied capilalists in the realm. t * Inquis. p. mort. in Campbell's Stafford Feeiage p. . 91, 03. 170 Through this early connexion with the Basset fa- mily, and the probable enfeoffment by them of the Fosbrokes, on the Basset Northharaptonshire estates, the principal branch of the family removed to Crunford St. Andrews, in the county mentioned. Accordingly, in 1392, Richard Clowne and John Fossebrok, are found to hold of Thomas, Earl of Stafford, two knights fees in Barton Segrave, Rauntes and Cranford.* This John Fossebrok presented to the living in 1391, and a Margaret Fossebrok in 1403. She was, (heiefore, in all probability, widow of John. This John Fossebrok left issue, another John Fossebrok. In 1412 Johi Touwre ol' Barton Segrave, re- leased to John, son and heir of John Fossebrok and Maud his wife, and their heirs, all his right to the lands and tenements in Cranford and Barton Segrave, which the said John Fossebrok the father possessed, by grant of Richard Clowne and Agnes his mother.f He, John Fossebrok the son, died in 1418, He married Matilda or Maud, a lady of the noble house * Inq. p. raort. Tho. Earl of Stafford, 16 Ric. ii._ Bridg-es's Northamptonshire p. 227. t Close rolls 14. Hccr. ir. m. 10.— Corrccily quoted, aa appears from search, by Bririg-es. 171 of Stafford, Dukes of Bnckiiighani,* who was, after her husband's death, [dry] nurse to King Henry VI^ Humphry Earl of Stafford being one of that King's Guardians. She was then in her widowhood. She presented to the living in 14'38, and lies buried with her husband at Cranford. It was formerly a matter of strict etiquette to have for royal infants a nobly descended nurse, and the practice is said to have been first waved in the case of his late Majesty, Geo, Hl.f The efKgies of her husband in armour, and herself in elegant costume, still appear on a brasa plate in the Church of Cranford, with an Epitaph, printed in Bridges, stating the above particulars, and now almost obliterated. The above John and Maud had issue, Edward, or Gerrard, of Cranford.^ This Edward, or Gerrard, married Dorothy, daughter of Robert Drexcell, of Little Gedding, CO. Huntingdon, and by her had issue RobertW [net John, as Bridges, Sec] » Informal, of the Rev. Stebbiag Shaw, Historian of Staffordshire, and the Claimants of the Stafford Barouy. t Percy Anecdotes p. 8. Joinville (i. 116) says, that the King's nurses in sickness were ladies. ^ Visitat. of Northamptonshire for 1566, in the College of Arms p. 39. Harl. M. S. S. 1467 fol. 27. b. and 1553 fol. 38. II Harl. M. S. S. and Bridges, ubi supra. 172 In the inquisiiion post mortem taken on the death of John, eldest son and heir of this Rolerl, is the fol- lowing account of the marriage and issue of Robert, ncorrectly stated in the Harleian M. S. S. and Bridges. Robert FosERoKEr=:Ei,ENA Boveton* I afterwards Assheton dr, of John Boveion [ of Fiodon 1 CO. Northampton, "written a Hoveton in some parts of I the Reco rd ,] — John, Robert, Richard, and others, died 7, Apr. brother, and ]0. Hen.viii, heir of John, S. P. aged 21, and upwards . The Inquisition ftuiher recites, that John, the son of Robert, died seized of several Messuages or Lands in Cranford, with the Manor named Curson's Blanor, and (he Advowson of St. Andrew's Church. f One of ihe younger Urothers' mentioned in the record, was settled as a Yeoman at Diddlebury, co. Salop. Prior to the year 1521; as appears from an old family book, containing, inter alia, a copy of '' The Ancient Cu.stom Money for Tithe Hay, taken anno. 1521," kindly restored to me by the Lord Bishop of Worcester. * Button in Bridges erroneously, t laq. p. mort. 10 Hen. VIII. n. 78. abstracted by T Foster, Esq. Eman. Coll, Cambridge, and collated with. Bridges nbi, supra. 173 The above Robert the father and Ellen, had issue Richard M\A Henry, which Richard was the surviv- ing brother and heir of John and Robert. This Richard died 7. Aug. 1541. (33. Hen. VIII.) He married Juliana daughter of William Kynnesman of Lodington, co. Northampton. In 1542 she pre- sented William Fosbroke to the living of Cranford ; presumed to be another son of Rchcrt and Ellen,, and uncle of her husband Richard* This Richard and Juliana had issue John and William. S. P. This John, was sixteen years old at the time of his fathers decease (6 Jan. 1541.) He married first, Dorothy daughter of Robert Dreivell, of Little Gedding, co. Huntingdon : She brought liim four sons and four daughters. Secondly, Audrey, daughter of Robert Lenton, of Woodford, co. Norlhampton:f she bore him four sons and twelve daughters, and died in 1589. — ^In the Chancel of the Church of Cranford, upon a brass plate, is a Man, dressed in the costume of an Esquire of those days, with a female figure on each side, for his two wives, with the following inscription : * Inq. p. mort. 33. Hen. VIII. searched by Mr. Foster., and fridges. t Harl. M. S. S. and Bridges q3 174 " Here lyeth John Foshroke, Esq. who departed this life the 12th of March, anno. 1002, about the age of 80, who buried before him two wives; by the first he had issue 4 soniies and 4 daughters; and the last whos name was Audre, died in anno. 1589, having issue by him 4 sonnes and 12 daughters, being in her hfe time bountiful to the poore, and esterainge no time well spent wherin she did not some good either to poore or lich. He saw issue of his Children by both his wives above 70 Grand- children; to 18 of his Children he gave portions and relieved his Grandchildren. Yet He was. zealous of God's Glorye, loved the Saints, relieved the Poore, and defended the Help'es, and hath laid up in store a sure foundation in Heaven."* The eldest son of Rohert and Dorothy was- William, Lord of the Manor of Cranford, &c.f In the reign of Charles XL or thereabouts, Cranford being sold, the elde.st branch of the family removed to Shardlow Hall, co. Derby, where it still continues with ample possessions. § * From a Copy, made by the Rev. B. Hutchinson, Rector of Craiifoi-d, 3Iay, 1820, from the Brass. t Harl. M.S.S. and Bridges. ^ Informal. T. Fosbrook, Esq. who says " My Graiid- f-ither Francis Fosbrook died>..about 50 years ag;o, ag-ed upwards of Ninety. His Father came from Norlhamp- tonshire with the family of which he was a younger 175 • Richard second son of John and Dorothy his wife,* one of the eighteen children portioned off, was bred an Armourer, and for some time carried on his pro- fession in the Tower of London; but visiting his relatives at Diddlebury, there formed a matrimonial connexion with a widow of fortune, named Elizabeth Street, whom he married June IG. 1584, and set- tling in that village, was father by her of Juliana, Michael, John, (named fi-om her bapt. Feb. 27. bapt. Apr. 11. great Grandmother,) 1587. S. P- ISOlf bapt. Apr. 7. 158.5. John, surviving son and heir, declined a Baronetcy, when James I. offered for sale the Ulster Patents, observing, that he had rather be a wealthy yeoman, than a poor knight. There was much truth in this remark, for Shakspeare says, in the speech of the Duke of York to Queen Margaret: " Thy father bears the type of King of Naples, Of both tlie Sicils and Jerusalem, Yet not so wealthy as an Enqlisli Yeoman ^ Hen. VI. P.'iii. A. i. Sc. 6i branch, and settled at Shardlowe in the reign of Charles II. Letter dated 29. Dec. 1820.— The name till the 17th' Century was spelt Fosbroke, and so should have conti- nued, because it is the orthography of the Cranford Brass, Glover's Ordinary of Arms, the early Parish Re- gisters of Diddlebury, &c. The Shardlow branch has generally used FosJrooA. e. g. Edward Fosbrook, Esq. is described as Patron of the living of Castle Donning- ton, CO. Leic. in Nichols's Collections. Bibl; Topogr., Brit. No. X. p. 644. * Harl. M. S. S. t Parish Register of Diddlebury.— Family accounts. 17() Holinsheil also says " Our ancient Yeomen were wealthy and sent their sons to the University."* He married daughter of ... . Baldwin of Aquilate and Diddlebury, a very ancient family descended from the Baldwins, Kings of Jerusalem and Earls of Flanders, a royal descent, attested by Collin's Baron- age, V. 43.t Tins John was living in 1635 and was father of Edward, Samuel, and Timothy. One of these was a Clergyman, (presumed Edward )§ and was imprisoned in Hereford Jail for praying for Charles I^ He was father of William, born about 1650. This William was matriculated at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, Mar. 31. 1671, and took the degree of M. A. July 3. 1677.11 He was Vicar of Diddlebury, and Kector of Acton Scott, co. Salop; in which Church, behind the Chancel door, is the following memorial. * i. p. 275. Ed. 4to. — lu Herefordshire there still re- main strongs traces of the wealth and respectability of the Old English Yeomanry; real fine manly characters. f The Communion Plate now in use at Diddlebury, was given by the Baldwins and Fosbrokes. § The Parish Registers are lost. The authOTJtics are family accounts, and an old lease, 11 Archly. Univ. Oxon, 177 " In Memory of the Reverend and Learned William Fosbrooke, M. A. Vicar of Diddlebuvy, and Rector of Acton Scott, wlio departed this life, the 10th. of July, 1726, aged 75. A curious circumstance accompanies this Epitaph. An entry of Burial occurs in the Registers of both the Parishes, of which he was incumbent, though one must be purely an entry of memorial. It was customary to perform the Burial Service in more churches than one, with regard to persons connected with those churches, or public characters : and this practice has given occasion to numerous mistakes, concerning the actual places of interment. This William was a very exemplary Clergyman, according to the fashion of his day : he prayed most sincerely for the conversion of the Papists and Ma- hometans; was a violent Tory in Politics; lived with half his mind in the other world ; read only divinity ; wore a large wig, and full black ; fasted every sacra- ment day, had daily prayers, and endured a scolding wife with patience. He was a good classic ; and his memory is still respectfully remembered in his neigh- bourhood. He married two wives, one of whom was a sister of Admiral Caldwell, a name well knowji ia the Navy. 178 Pf-S-O 3 §'2 SO-"' S —4 CO a; "■; . c . CD a o S r^ P. . *-Kr'i "•I c a o -J" -So'" "S £ -a oj piU.J o g jB a "•= ! ^'^^-^ ' ^ ay ,. o ° S ?■ 2 "s Eh ^ au ■a t^ o s 'O CO ~S 5 O J5 V a ^:2 a c ba"i|'^ o" a oj £ ■S.g £ o I S ^4) a !8 o 179 An unusual circumstance attached to this pedigree is, that all the parties of the name are descended from one stem only : and that men of fortune, belonging to it, avowed this fact, contrary to the practice of the rest of mankind, who would fain persuade every body, that they have no poor relations, a monstrous absurdity.* The author can particularize hnea! de- scendants of our most ancient existing Dukes, who are, or were. Mechanics and Day-labourers, and bear- ing the family names. In one regiment are, or were, two Honourables, Privates. One half of the House of Peers is descended from mothers who were City-fortunes, children of obscure persons; and most fortunate it is for them, that they have this descent. It is now philosophically ascertained, that such is the havock of the constitution, made by continued luxu- rious living, that Insanity, Fatuity, Impolency, or Sterility, would ensue in high life, were there not occasional renovations from mothers of more tempe- rate and inferior classes.-j- Godwin in his Population (p. 08.) quotes Blackstone on Consanguinity, as saying, * " A Gentleman of fortune a very intelligent man of the name of Fosbrook, a perfect stranger, called npon me about thirty years ago, apologizing for the liberty, as he termed it, merely to know if I were a relation, for he never found one of the name, but were so. After half an hour's conversation, we soon were relations." Lett, of T, Fosbrook, Esq. of the Shardlow Line, f See a note in the " Gentleman" a Poem. 180 " So many different bloods is a man said to contain in his veins, as he has lineal ancestors," and, ac- cording to the rules of our Celtic and later Fore- fathers, it is besides further noticed, that Stature is essential to dignity. All these principles are con- sulted in the breed of Horses; and as Marriage for Money is a naere affair of convenience, it has nothing to do with the lavvs of nature ; and, without cautious considerations, founded upon health and size, the most illustrious line might terminate in Pigmies, Fools, and Lunatics. These are not only jocose, but serious medical truths; and, in the world of nature, " Family, as Johnson says, is not merely Hereditary Wealth;" but, judiciously considered, in- volves also, good person, good health, and intellec- tual powers. It is manifest, that all these ought to be comprised in a great man, to make him com- plete. The incidents in the Life of a reading Man are few. I was educated under the R.ev. Mr. Milward, of Billericay in Essex, and at Petersfield in Hamp- shire, until I was nine years old. I was then trans- ferred to St. Paul's School, London, from whence I removed to Pembroke College, Oxford: the High Master of St, Paul's (Dr. Roberts) having offered me a Teasdale Scholarship in that amiable and friendly Society. It had been suggested, and in some degree acted upon, that I should become a Special Pleader, 181 but it was my father's dying wish, that I should be placed in the Church, because it was a family cus- tom; although a profession, which extinguishes all power of rising in the world by personal means. I took the degrees of B. and M. A. and Holy Orders, in the course usual; and, in 1796, published the " Economy of Monastic Life" a poem in Spense- rean Measure and style, written upon Darwin's doc- trine, of using only precise ideas of picturesque effect, chiefly founded upon the sense of Vision. The Reviews were favourable; and, in 1799, I was elected F. A, S. I then devoted myself to Archaeology, (including the Saxon language) and studied eight, or more hours, every day. According to a rule, which I have uniformly observed, of following only the best patterns in every science, I determined to publish only records, manuscripls, or other matters, new to the public. Upon this plan, T compiled my British Monachism from the rich stores of the Britisli Mu- seum and the Bodleian Library. Messrs. Nichols purchased the Copy-right, and the work appeared in 1802, in two volumes octavo. All the Reviews were flattering, without a single exception. I was at the same time, warmly solicited to undertake an Original History of the County of Gloucester. The first thing known of the kind, was a Manuscript Copy of the Inquisitions post Mortem, complete, down to the reign of Richard III. copied for the use R 182 of Henry Lord Stafford ; and the providential coin- cidence of thus being indebted for the main support of my book to that family, was an exquisite gratification. My labour being then importantly eased, I was enabled sooner to perfect my collections from the public offices and libraries; the subscription was warmly encouraged by the Nobility and Gentry, and an opposition was vainly attempted. The publica- tion of this work introduced me to a young man of good family and considerable estate, who offered me a living in his gift, worth £. 500 a year. Through heedlessness of expence, he became involved, and I voluntarily permitted him to dispose of the living, that he might not curtail his estates. He proposed to present me with a £1000 instead; but bad com- pany and misfortunes both prevented that, and the continuance of the connexion. About the same time, I declined an annuity of £. 200 a year from a female friend of fashion, because I was fearful that it might involve me, as an author, in publications not com- patible with my clerical profession. Of both these acts of self-denial, the relinquishment of the living and annuity, which I might have honourably secured by management, to the eventual service of the parties, as well as myself, I have had ample time to repent. Upon the conclusion of the County History, I was engaged by an eminent Bookseller upon terms of six guineas per sheet, and an Encyclopsedia of Antiquities at two hundred and fifty pounds, with 183 promises of other profitable engagements. In 1810 he failed ; and I determined to relinquish my situation in a very refined and opulent neighbourhood, for the execution, in rural retirement of humble plans, ren- dered necessary for the interests of an increasing family; and I accordingly removed to Walford in Herefordshire. Soon afterwards I had the honour of iili -trating the unpublished Statues in Mr, Hope's Collection; and was offered a Chaplaincy in the Forces, but was obliged to decline it, because I must have gone abroad, and left my children unedu- cated. In 1814 I published and stereotyped an Abridgment of Whitby's Commentary on the New Testament, for which I received the unsolicited praise of Dr. Napleton, Chancellor of Hereford and other Dignitaries. In 1815 the British Monachism having risen to double the sale price, a splendid edition was published in quarto, and the work was respect- fully quoted by Sir Walter Scott, in his novel of the . Monastery, and favourably noticed in the Quarterly Review. In 1819 1 finished the History of the City of Gloucester, another handsome quarto, and have now in the press, " Extracts of Smith's Lives of the Berkeleys," which will complete my fifth quarto, and attest my obligations to a kind public, and, some excellent friends of distinction. r2 The Places will be expressed alphabetically, for easier reference; and are those, not situate within the line of the Wye Tour, from Ross to Chepstow. Acornhury. A large Roman Camp, according to Gougb. it is only parted by a valley from Dyndor Hill, (or Oyster Hill, from Ostorius.) These camps were undoubtedly connected with the campaigns of Caractacus, apparently after a retreat of the latter, and occupied for security against surprize. Acorn- bury was formerly a forest, and King John gave it to Margery, wife of Walter de Lacy, for the founda- , tion of a Nunnery of the Augustinian Order.* Aston-Tngham. Rev. Charles Whatley, Rectory, C'apt. Nugent. Brampton Abbots. Rev. Robert Strong, Rectory. Spencer Comptony Esq. Netherton Lodge. * Tanner. 185 Bridstow. Rev. Love Robertson, Vicarage House, a handsome tasteful fabric. Moraston. Whaley Armitage, Esq. the Steward's House, of the estates of Guy's Hospital. Moorwood Cottage. E. Bevan, M. D. Wilton Castle. Guy Hill, Esq, Wilton. Capt. Loo. C. Biss, Esq, Mrs. Piatt. C. Prosser, Esq. Brockhampton. This place had a deep concern: in the campaigns of Caractacus. Upon Caplar Hill,, (from Ostorius Scapula) is a camp called Woldbury, doubly trenched, nearly half a mile, long- and narrovi^. Between Brockhampton and Fownhope lies another camp, square and nameless.-f; There are also other camps near, as the Geer Cops, the Warrelocks, &c. Caplar Hill is doubly trenched, a thing unusual with the Romans, unless they were pressed, and it was also a common strata- gem with those warriors, in order to make the enemy fight in a-bad position, to pitch a camp about a mile off, with a river between, and so under pretence of retreat, to allure them across it.§ Caractacus was seemingly making for the fords by way of Cra- f Gongh. § Cies. Bell. Gall, L, Ti. c. 7. r3 186 dock, and engaged by Ostorius, who was repulsed, and obliged to entrench himself strongly npOn Caplar. Caple, (How) Two fine views from the Church and Turnpike road. Principal landed proprietor Mrs, Stackhouse of Bath. Rectory. Rev. H. A. Stillingfleet. Caple. (Kings) Edmund Jones, Esq. of Poulson. Of the Tump before.|| Mr. Jones of Poulson thinks, that it may have been used as a Beacon to give liotice of any Welch Invasion. The parish is noted by Phillips for its Cyder. Some Churches are said to have been built long and naiiow in imitation of Noah's Ark; and this is very like one of them. Parish Chests are very ancient,J and here is one very curious, hewn out of solid v/ood, John Cooke, Esq. Mrs. Roberts. Eaton Tregoes, William Clifford, Esq. of /*<;;- rystovc. Rev. John Jones of Foy. Faicley. William Elliot, Esq. Fownhope. J. S. Lechmere, Esq. of the Nmk. II p. S7. 1 Diicaiige V. .Vu?;';>!V?«— Sc-ii[), p. Bed. lo5. i Esq. 0/d Hall. 189 Ptitky. Mrs. Jane Stock. Sellack and Foy, Cradock is a fine old mansion built by one of the Scudamores about the reign of Elizabeth — The east window of the Church is finely decorated with stained glass, the gift of the Pen- gethly family, bearing the date of 1630— A fine old British Highway runs down to the Church towards the ford. Pengelhly is the handsome seat of the Rev. T. P. Symonds. Rev. T. James, of Sellack. Upton Bishop. Josiafi Newman, Esq. Pearhill. Rev. Geo, H. L. Gretton of the Vicarage. JVeston-Under-Penyard. The Roman Camp is presumed to have been the spot, where is now the Round Tree field. The Castle of Penyard belonged to the Talbots 10. Ric. ii. anno. 1386,^ and the remains, a few walls, have been recently pulled down by the present proprietor, John Partridge, Esq. for materials of a seat, which he is proposing to build at Weston. He also possesses a fine estate here, including the magnificent wood. Bollatree is the handsome mansion of William Palmer, Esq, The family of Swain, has been long known here, (for more than a century,) and possesses handsome estate f GoHgh's Camden ii. 449. Ed. 1789 J 90 in the vicinity. The Rectori/ is an excellent house. Rev. R. Wallond, Treasurer of Hereford Cathedral, &c. Rector. Thomas Winnall, William Rudge, Esquires, and Charles Burmester, Barrister at Law, reside here. The Town of Ross being a Central Communication between Gloucester, Monmouth, Hereford, and Led- bury, is very useful, as a source of general supply, for the adjacent Neighbourhood, and as such, there are Shops and Inns, not inferior to those of Cities. The following Catalogue will both show the state of Business, and serve for **v^^<^iM^** DIRECTORY. MAGISTRATES RESIDENT. Rev. Thomas Underwood, Canon of Hereford, Recfor.&c, Richard Evans, M. D. PROFESSIONAL MEN. Physicians. Evans Richard, Lewis William. CLERGYMAN. Mills James, M. A. Curate. SURGEONS, APOTHECARIES. Aveline George, Brookes Samuel Philpot, Gyttings William, Rootes George, Wilmot Edward. SOLICITORS, ATTORNIES. Collins John Stratford, Cooke John, Holder John, Hooper William, Harris John, Rudge Thomas, Scrivens John. MERCANTILE MEN. BANKERS ; RossOldEank. Newman Josiah and Prichard Edward. Ross and Archenfield Bank. Jones John, Jones Richard, and Morgan Nathaniel. WooUtaplers. Lloyd and Sous, Merrick and Co. 192 COMMERCIAL, 4r. Auciioneers. Morgan Joha, Sharp Charles, Tristram John. Sakert. Bi^g;s Richard, Biscoe Thomas, Faiilke John, Jones Thomas, Jones Charles, Preece James. Basket Makers. Evans James, Newton W^illiam. Blacksmiths. Harris George, Preece William, Turner John. Boarding School. Williams Miss Theodosia. Booktellers, Stationers, ^ Bookbinders. Farror William, Powle Benjamin. Breeches Maker. Thomas Evan. Broker. Williams George. Builders. Hughes James, Morris Walter, Seymour James, Tristram Joan. Butchers. Blevrett Ephraim, Dally James, Jones Thomas, Robinson Thomas. Cabinetmaker . Morgan John. Carpenters. Deakins George, Vobes Thomas. Carriers. Deely William, Williams William. Confectioners. Blakeway John, Jones Thomas, Sherman Thomas, Coopers. Davis John, Steele Richard, Williams George. Corn-factors. Bussel Henry, Wheeler Thomas. Curriers. Blakeway James, Jackson Richard, Matthews Thomas, Sprake Thomas. 193 Drapers. Cross John, Etheridge Thomas, Green Joseph, Howell William, Morgan Nathaniel, Penner Edward, Partridge James, Roberts James. Druggist. Cooke Thomas. Plax-dreiser. Newton Joseph. Glaziers. Hill Elizabeth, Hill James, Phipps Richard. Glover. Jenkins Mary. Grocers. Beunet John, Bright Hannah, Cope and Son, Dew John, Harris Richard, James James, Kibble James, Lloyd Timothy, Roberts John, Thomas and Son. Gunsmiths. Andrews Benjamin, Hardwick John. Hair-dressers. Edwards Joseph, Hutton Charles, North Joseph. Hauliers. Dally John, Dovy John, Tingle James. Hatter. Hybert Thomas. Heel-cutter. Layton Jolin. Inn-keepers. Bird James, Horse and Jockey ; Deely William, Green Dragon; Evans George, Nag's Head; Green John, Swan and King''s Arms Hotel; Hope William, Barrel; Jenkins Benjamin, Saracen's Head; Mayo John, Lamb; Norman William, Plough; Partridge James, Pounds; Pritchard Thomas Green, George; Pritchard William, Butcher's Arms; Sterrey Charles, Crown and Sceptre; Tippins Thomas, Royal Oak; Waring Edmund, King's Head; Wellington John, JVcn) Inn. Ironmongers. Hardwick John, Rudge Elizabeth, Wall Samuel. Letter-press 4- Copper-plate Printer. Farror William. Maltsters. Boughton Elizabeth, Frere James, Layton 194 JUasons. Clarke John,' Clarke Robert, Hopkins William ) Jarvis John, Jarvis Richard, Knight John. Millers. Hart Thomas, Humphryes William. MiUincrs Sj- Dress JHaTters.. Edwards Mary, Lee Alicia, Powles Elizabeth, Thackwell Margery, Tyndale Mary. Painters. Biggs James, DaTis Rowland, Hicks Joseph, Phillips John Hayne, Wahvyn Thomas. Pawnbrokers. Barnard and Levi. Plaisierers. Griffiths Thomas, Jackson Josiali, Lewis John, Mynett Thomas, Walwyn Thomas. Plumbers, See Glaziers. Pumpmalicrs. Sevan John, Phipps Thomas, Phipps John. Saddlers. Georges William, Merrick George, Preece John, Rogers James. Rudge James, Seedsmen. Lewis William, Reynolds James. Slwemahcrs. Bennet James, Collins Daniel, Collins Richard, Chamberliu William, Moiris John, Parry Richard, Potter Providence, Waits William, Watkins Walter. Skinner. Tranter John. Silversmiths. Cross Joseph, Thackwell Martha. Straw Hat manufacturers. Barry Elizabeth, Gardner Elizabeth, Tyndaie Mary. Schoolmasters. Collins Thomas, Davis Thomas, Vaughau John. Of Charity Schools, Hill William, Hill James, &c. Tailors. Evans Philip, Hardwick John, Jones James, Lewis Jonathan, Morgan Thomas, Tyndale Emanuel, Wear Job. Tanners. Boughton Elizabeth, Frere James. Timber Slerchants. Taylor Richard and John. * Veterinary .'surgeons, Badham Richard, Buckman J«hn, Halford John. 195 Vmbrella Manufacturer. Morgan Jamei!^ Watchtnaheri, Barrow .(ohOi Jones William, Tliom&s Charles. Weavir. Baldwin Isaac. Wheelwright. Matthews Thomas. Whiie-smUht. Pye William, Rudg-e Elizabetii, Wail Samnd. Wine and Spirit Merchants. Deely William, Edwards Joseph, Green Joseph, Nugent J. R. Purchas Thoma* Wittlesey, Sharp Charles. Wire-worker. Hicks Samuel. PtJBHC OFFICES. tlerk to the Ta.t Office. Gardner William. Com-nUsioners for taking Special Bail. .>rorRan John; hbberts DaTid, Sharp Charles. Postmaster. Bee Richard. Stamps, Distributor of. Roberts David. OFFICERS OF POLICE FOR THE BOROUGH. Serjeant at Mace-^-Foar Constables — ^Two Searchers and Sealers of Leather— A Fish and Flesh Taster— Two Market Keepers — A Hayward — Two Scavengers — These Officers are chosen at the October Court Lpef in manner following; the old Officer returns three persons fit to serve, who are approved by the Steward, and then the Jury elect one of the three. There are also, Two Constables and a Hayward. for that part of the Parish of Ross not within the Borough, called Ross Foreign. Inhabited Houses. InhabitaiUs. CBHtllB 0», 1831 585 2957 Printed by W. Farror, Ro»s. '■ 1 a'JtYsa r Jf^'. :^^^- ^:^. T V;-- >- 2sli ^' fQii^' /:mM,- :*»!•::::> • •. •' ^r ^ ■•*•:■ .%vi