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THE ORIGINS OF 'SNODENGAHAM' [NOTTINGHAM]

Started by M O'D, October 04, 2013, 07:25:01 PM

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M O'D

QuoteUnhappily the accounts of the origin of this place, like many others, (altho given by men of ingenuity, penetration, and much learning; and notwithstanding what hereafter may be written on such subjects) we may fear will remain in doubt and obscurity. The lapse of time has cast such a veil over the transactions of our early progenitors, that the venerable image of those distant times, which to view, through the medium of an unclouded sun, would be glorious, is covered with halituous vapour. Man with all his boasted acquirements, in such pursuits, often wanders from the smooth path way into the thicket, and from the thicket into a labyrinth of perplexity and confusion. Perhaps Deering is not much in the wrong, where he says "the farther an author retires into the dark recesses of antiquity the more he clouds his subject, and too often renders his veracity in other particulars suspected."


NOTTINGHAM. (Snodengaham).



Thoroton's early account of this place is as follows.

(fn. 1) John Rowse, canon of Osney, in his history written to King Henry the Seventh, faith, that King Ebranc builded Nottingham upon Trent upon a dolorous hill, so called from the grief of the Brytans, of whom King Humber made there a very great slaughter in the reign of Albanact.

If it was so the British name is utterly lost, for nothing can be more manifest than that this is of Saxon original, importing a woody, or (fn. 2) forest dwelling, or habitations in dens or Caves cut in the rock, whereof there are very many still to be seen.

This John Rowse, (who was also a monk of Warwick as well as canon of Osney,) whom Thoroton quotes, places the antiquity of Nottingham, so high as 980 years before the birth of Christ. Deering, to shew the improbability of Rowse's relation, reverts to the condition of the Britains in the time of Julius Cæsar, immediately preceding the birth of Christ; when they were found living in scattered huts of the simplest formation, and almost in a state of nature, particularly in the inland parts of this country. (fn. 3) This gentleman conjectures that on account of the convenient situation of that part of the forest, which lies near the town of Nottingham, or on the site of the present town, there might have been formed colonies of the Britons, "where they were cherished by a warm southern air as well as plentifully provided with water."

Other accounts, which have but little to support them, would have us understand that a British King, whose name was Coilus, was buried here about a thousand years before the Christian æra. However no one can doubt but that the rock-apartments which have been discovered near Nottingham, and those still visible, are monuments of men's labour at very distant ages.
(fn. 4)

Dr. Deering, in his introduction to the history of Nottingham informs us, that the then Lord Middleton, about the year 1740, from motives truly laudable, caused an hollow-way between two sand hills to be levelled, which stood near the entrance of the town on the Derby road. The labourers, having removed a great portion of sand from one of those eminences, found here and there a solid rock which, in some parts, appeared like partition walls of several rooms, cut out of the rock. "These," he says, "having no mark of Roman contrivance, nor any thing being found there to give room to suppose it, I take to be British." To support this conjecture he brings another not more plausible: which is that because the sand which covered these supposed rocky dwellings must have been carried hither, it was taken from the rock on which the town stands in forming the vaults, cellars, &c. of that place. The best support of his opinion, I think, is that where he says that these habitations, and others that have been discovered under similar hills, are all without the boundaries of the old wall, made in the Saxon's time by Edward the Elder, when he fortified this place. But this, till it be proved that those hollows in the rock, were ever human abodes, must rank with other opinions of writers, to use his own words, "who are fond of the marvellous," and "have recourse to the fertility of their own brains."

The rock-holes in the park, near Nottingham, close to the river Leen, are described thus by Stukeley. A representation of which is annexed.

"One may easily guess (says the Doctor) Nottingham to have been an ancient town of the Britons; as soon as they had proper tools they fell to work upon the rocks, which every where offer themselves so commodiously to make houses in, and I doubt not here was a considerable collection of colonies of this sort; that which I have described in plate 39. will give us an idea of them; 'tis in the Duke of Newcastle's park: What is visible at present, is not of so old a date as their time, yet I see no reason to doubt but it is formed upon theirs.—This is a ledge of perpendicular rock, hewn out into a church, houses, chambers, dove-houses, &c. The church is like those in the rocks of Bethlehem, and other places in the holy-land; the altar is natural rock, and there has been painting upon the wall, a steeple I suppose where a bell hung, and regular pillars; the river winding about makes a fortification to it, for it comes at both ends of the cliff, leaving a plain in the middle, the way into it was by a gate cut out of the rock, and with an oblique entrance for more safety; without is a plain with three niches, which I fancy their place of judicature, or the like; there is regularity in it, and it seems to resemble that square called the Temple in the Pictish castle, plate 38. in Scotland. Between this and the castle is an hermitage of like workmanship."

Various have been the opinions of this "ancient pile of building," as Deering is pleased to call it. These hollows in the rock are called by the people of Nottingham, generally, Papish-Holes, (fn. 5) they are formed, but not built, and have the appearance of a ruin of magnitude, destitute of design: they neither afford the mind an idea of grandeur nor simplicity. Here the chisel seems to have attempted something and there nothing. There is not any thing, upon the whole, to gratify or disgust. Art appears to have destroyed the effects of nature; or rather, together, they have formed an hermaphroditical rock on a site pictorial.—Of the town-wall and ditch Deering thus speaks.

Edward the elder for the better security and defence of this place, incircled it with a strong wall, about the year of Christ 910. And William I. in the second year of his reign did build a castle on the same rock where the old tower stood. The wall of the town did join the outer wall of the castle and thence ran Northward to Chappel Bar. Of this are manifest footsteps remaining. About the midway between the castle and Chappel-Bar in part of the ditch where now a reservoir is made, (of which in another place) are some ruins still to be seen of a postern which was erected in obedience to a precept of Henry III. dated October 18. 56 Henry III. whereby he commands "his bai liffs and burgesses of Nottingham without delay to make a postern in the wall of the said town, near the castle towards Lenton, of such a breadth and height that two armed horsemen carrying two lances on their shoulders might go in and out, where William Archbishop of York had appointed it, who made the King understand that it was expedient for him and his heirs, and for the castle and town." From this Postern a bridge went over the town ditch, which place though now filled up as well as the whole ditch between this and Chappel-Bar, bears to this day the name of Boston-Bridge a corruption of Postern Bridge. The ditch itself is now converted into kitchen gardens, and is called at this time Butt-Dyke, from some neighbouring butts where the townsmen used to exercise themselves, in shooting at a mark with bows and arrows.

From Chappel-Bar farther North and round to the East, the true ancient wall is not to be traced above ground, however, there are very old persons still living, who being labourers have within these 20 years, met when digging, with that old wall in different places, and by what they have shewn me, I may reasonably conjecture that from the Bar it went slanting through a close called Roper's close and the next to it, thence crossing the Mansfield road, along behind the North of the Backside, cross Boot-Lane by or under a summer-house called Dr. Greave's summer-house, through a close called Panier close cross the North road and Back-side excluding the House of Correction, along part of Coalpit-lane and through a cherry orchard at present the property of John Sherwin Esq. and on the outside of two closes belonging to the same gentleman, where a ditch is observed to run towards the Newark road, thence it mounted again and crossing at the end of Cartergate, extending Westward along the rock by the coal-yard to the HollowStone, where a portion of the wall was lately visible. The Hollow-Stone being a narrow passage cut out of the rock, the South entrance into the town, was secured by a strong port cullise, of which not long ago there were plain marks to be seen; within this gate on the left hand going up to the town, just turning the elbow of the Hollow-stone, there was a cavity cut into the rock, able to hold about 20 men, with a fire place in it and benches fixed, besides a stair-case cut out of the same rock; this had been a guard-house, and the stair case leading up to the top of the rock, was for centinels to spy the enemy at a distance; this no doubt was of good service to the parliament party during the civil war, if it was not contrived by them A little farther up the Hollow-stone, against and upon the rock there stood an house the property of his grace the Duke of Kingston, who upon application made to him, has given leave to the corporation to pull it down, being generously willing to forward their design of making the hollow-stone a more gradual descent and enlarging the South entrance into the town, so that two or more carriages may conveniently pass each other, to which purpose men were set to work on Tuesday the 17th of December 1740, and this useful and pleasant way into the town was compleated in a few weeks. On the top of the rocks on the left side of the passage into Nottingham town, the workmen met with a portion of the town-wall, the stones of which were so well cemented, that the mortar exceeded them in hardness. Hence the wall extended itself along Short-Hill and the High Pavement, at the lower end of which it runs down a hill called Brightmore-Hill, and at the bottom forms an acute angle, and runs again up Mont-lane, in a kind of a curve to the Week-day-Cross; both these passages are open, and it is difficult to guess how they were formerly secured, or whether they are of a more modern date, as well as the Long-stairs by Malin hill. The wall continued along behind the houses of the Middle Pavement and over against Bridlesmithgate, there stood an ancient postern, 'till within these 10 years, on the East side of which where now the Bull's head is, was a gatehouse, where a guard was kept, as is to this day plainly to be seen; on the West side stood an house formerly called Vout-Hall, (fn. 6) once the mansion house of the family of the Plumptre's, after in the possession of Alderman Drury, whose eldest son Mr. William Drury, sold it to Mr. Gawthern, the present proprietor. From this gate the wall goes to Lister gate the bottom of the Low-Pavement, where tho' built upon, it is still visible in divers places. Here, I mean at the end of Lister-gate, over against Peter-lane, in the remembrance of some old persons were to be seen the marks of a stone gate leading towards the river Leen. From hence the wall on account of the buildings in Castle gate is quite hid, but it seems more than probable, that it went along the South side of Castle gate, including St. Nicholas's church-yard, and so run upon the rock West to join the castle near Brewhouse-yard. Insomuch that Cartergate, Fishergate, the Narrow and Broad-Marsh, and all other streets and buildings, between the meadows and the South rock of the town, made a suburb. And this is what I have been able to gather concerning the ancient wall of this town, which was built so long ago as 830 years. But I should not forget to take notice of a wall of less antiquity which runs from Chappel Bar in a straight line Northward to Coalpit-lane and excluded part of the ground between Chappel-Bar and Broad-lane. This wall is plainly discernible, it serving for a foundation to many houses between the gate and Cow-lane, and where now a middle row of houses is built at the end of Cow-lane, there stood a gate facing the North, and the town wall is still to be seen in the cellars of these houses. Probably this wall was erected in Henry II. reign, after Robert Duke of Gloucester had demolished it, in the war between King Stephen and Empress Maud. Deering.

Before we pass to the history of times, in which we are less liable to be deceived either by artifice, conjecture, or romance, it may not be amiss to remark that there appears some injustice in opposing reason to relation, which is often done of transactions handed down to us of these remote times; particularly by those who live at this distant period. Have not the most wonderful things come to pass, in our day, which have astonished the world, that even nothing short of a supernatural power had the least reason to suspect? of such an enormity are they, of such a long continuance, and in such a rapid succession have they followed each other, that posterity will unwillingly give credit to the recital. And yet, forsooth, because we meet with some relations of antient times, in history or tradition, which agree not with our calm reasoning in a closet, we must reject them as romance or fable. Many things which we meet with in early story, were as much likely to have happened as the astonishing events which have recently taken place in Europe, the most enlightened part of the world, where philosophy was to have erected a paradise, and reason shut out crimes. But alas, what has it done? It has made a human slaughter house of one of its grand divisions, and destroyed the glorious fabric of religion; and with it those comforts which support declining life, in the prospect of a glorious eternity!

It undoubtedly appears strange, that men of the present day should possess art and sagacity, sufficient to give us better information of events, which happened a thousand years since, than those who lived five or six centuries ago, and who were undoubtedly as solicitous to come at truths perhaps as we are at present. What a clamour is sometimes raised up against Monks and other learned men, who have given us testimonies of certain facts they have related, from then accepted evidence, and often from their own knowledge. Truth, all must allow, is lovely and desirable; but, I am afraid, we have little less temptation and inclination to deviate from that desirable object than our ancestors. As to imposition, in this our boasted enlightened time, we find some men wittily apt at, and others as credulous in receiving, as those in days of yore. Witness the trick, a few years since, played off upon the learned body of Antiquaries with the Hardicanute-stone. I mean this as no reflection upon that body of gentlemen to whom the world, I am persuaded, are under considerable obligations. For my own part, I am confident, that I am possessed of too small a portion of antiquarian knowledge to oppose tricks of much less credibility.

Nottinghamshire, before the Roman invasion, constituted a part of the portion of Britain inhabited by a race of men called the Coritani.

Proceed we now to the times of the Romans, when this country became subject to imperial sway; leaving the uncertainty of prior events to the discussion of those, whose penetration makes rocks and mountains subservient to their will.

The learned Dr. Gale, Dean of York, in his Commentaries upon Antoninus' Itinerary thro' Britain, places Gausennæ at Nottingham. (fn. 7) This rout of Antoninus is from Duroliponte to Agelocum i. e. from Gormanchester to Littleburgh. Baxter places Grantham in this route instead of Nottingham, thus:

Antoninus.   Gale.   Baxter.
Duroliponte.   Gormanchester.   Gormanchester.
Durobrivis 35. M.   Brigcasterton 35. M.   Caster 22. M.
Causennis 30.   No tingham 30.   Grantham 24.
Lindom 26.   Lincoln 26.   Lincoln 26.
Agelocum 14.   Littleburgh 14.   Littleburgh 15.
Total 105.   105.   85.
Altho' Gale perfectly agrees with Antoninus, with respect to distance, and Baxter differs materially; yet distance is not at all times to be depended upon. But where distance nearly agrees with the Roman admeasurement, and the place fixed upon abounds with Roman relics; such as coins, pottery &c. there is but little reason to doubt of that being a station. But I cannot reconcile myself to Deering's opinion that "antiquarians should have some exact standard to go by, they should either insist upon distances and marks of antiquity together, or should at least hold to distances." This seems to carry absurdity on the face of it; the contrariety of judgement among the learned evince it; for some who have chosen distance as their infalliable guide, have been flatly contradicted by others, who regardless of distance, fix on places where nothing but marks of Roman antiquity are to be found to support their assertions, and vice versa. There is reason, doubtless, to support opinions where a place fixed on, is not at any considerable distance from the line of the route, and where evidences abound; but when a site is chosen which leaves the line at a material distance, with scarcely a single testimony of antiquity to support the choice, its agreeing with distance alone, will appear, to every unprejudiced mind, a weak foundation for opinion or conjecture: the superstructure built thereon, must fall with the first contending power. We may therefore reasonably conclude, that the pretensions of Nottingham to Roman honours are but slightly supported. Ingenuity and learning, when combined, are insufficient to impress the mind with ideas favourable to an hypothesis of this sort.

Thoroton observes, and perhaps justly, that if it were a place of note in times preceding the Saxons, its name must have been lost, for nothing, he observes, can be more manifest than that this places is of Saxon original, importing a woody, or forest dwelling or habitation in dens or caves cut in the rock, whereof there are very many still to be seen.

Deering, in his introduction to his history of Nottingham, says "I he Saxons who were next possessors of Britain, affords us a more satisfactory account concerning our town, and tho' history does not furnish us with the name of the founder, or the exact year it was begun to be built in; yet all our best historians agree, that it was a considerable place in the 8th century, provided with a strong tower, that it was called by the Saxons in the time of the Heptarchy Snoden-gaham as Dr. Thoroton has it, or rather Snottengaham from Snottenga Caves, and Ham Home or Dwelling place. Camden and others gives us a British translation of it, viz. Tui ogo bauc, or more rightly as Mr. Baxter has it, Din ogo vaiic or Din ogoboco, which however none pretends to be the ancient British name. This Saxon name was doubtless given to it by that people, from the condition they found the neighbourhood in, before they themselves made improvements by building. It belonged to the kingdom of Mercia, and a part of that kingdom took afterwards in King Alfred's reign, its name from this town Snottengabam-Scyre, now Nottinghamshire."

"Before I proceed to the time of the Saxon Kings of all England, I must take notice that in several parts of Nottingham, structures of a very considerable extent, arched in a regular manner, and supported by columns with carved capitals, &c. framed for places of worship, hewn out of the rock, have been discovered by workmen when digging for foundations, with very obscure entrances, hardly to be suspected, and also other apartments for lodging places, such were observed under diverse houses on the row, on the south-side of the great Market place called Timber-Hill, and one Edward Goddard, a bricklayer yet living, assures me, that when he was an apprentice being at work on the East-side of the Weekday-Cross, he there got into one of these subterraneous fabricks, which he found supported and adorned with pillars as has been mentioned, and that he made his way from one spacious place to another till he came as far as the upper end of Pilchergate, and under a small close at present the property of John Sherwin, Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices of the peace for the county of Nottingham at large, and opposite to his dwelling house: he the said Goddard says, that in one of these places, he found a wooden cup and a wooden can, which seemed to be found and whole, but that when he took hold of them, they mouldered into dust. These places being of the Gothic order, I conjecture to have been contrived in the time of the Heptarchy, when the Danes who were Pagans, made frequent inroads into the kingdom of Mercia, where they in a more extraordinary manner exercised their cruelty upon Nuns and Friars, and indeed Christian Priests of all kinds. To these they might in time of danger betake themselves as places of refuge, and where they might exercise their religious functions, without being exposed to the fury of those persecuting idolaters."

"Edward Senior, between 919 and 924 according to Marianus Scotus did build a Bridge over the Trent, and on the other side a little town over-against the old town of Nottingham, now called Bridgeford. (fn. 8) "

In another place in his introduction is this passage; "For my part if I consider that the Fosse way is on the South of the river Trent, and that the Romans always made their Vallum on the South-side and where the ground was rising, I can hardly forbear thinking that there was a station in that neighbourhood, where now West-Bridgeford stands, (almost directly over-against Nottingham,) a little town not built till many ages after, and that from the remarkableness of the many caves in the opposite rock they might give the station the name of Causennæ or Causennæ, and what seems to add to my conjecture, is what Dr. Stukely informs us of, that one Mr. Cooper, a man of 72 years of age, told him, that there was found at Wilford a pot of Roman coins, a town which lies on the same side of the river, and at a very little distance from Bridgeford, the high road only, parting the parishes."

We find in Dr Deering's appendix, page 286, some very sensible and judicious remarks, made by a gentleman relating to Dr. Gale's opinion, that Nottingham was a Roman Station, occasioned by his perusal of Deering's introduction. These remarks, altho' connected with them, there be some extra matter, I cannot withold from the public.

"Concerning Roman remains, I have never yet met with any thing to induce me to believe there are any. And Dr. Gale's endeavours to fix Antoninus's Causennæ at Nottingham have not at all been agreed to by later writers, viz. Baxter, Stukely, Salmon, Horsely. His subterraneous cavities you justly disallow to have any of the Roman taste in them; and there are no appearances of a Roman road leading from the southward to Nottingham, or from Lindum (Lincoln) northward. Nor perhaps has the doctor any advantage over Mr. Baxter, from the number of miles in the iter: If I understand you right, the miles you set down from Mr. Baxter are the present computed miles; and antiquaries by comparing these with miles in the itinerary in places about which there are no doubts, have found that the itinerary miles are to be computed most commonly at 4 to 3, but sometimes at 5 to 4, and according to this last reckoning 105 in the itinerary make 84 computed miles, which is within one of your number from Baxter."

"If by the arguments which have been brought against Dr. Gale, Nottingham be thrown out of the iter, they will hold equally strong against Bridgeford's being in the iter. And as to its having been a station, if ever it was one, it must have been only a statio æstiva, as it lies a considerable distance from any military way; but as there are no indications remaining of any station thereabouts, except the pot of money found at Wilford; the evidence seems too slight to prove one; and especially considering that Dr. Stukely is a man extremely liable to mistakes I have not his book here in the country, but I remember three from amongst several, that have fallen accidentally under my observation. In speaking of the garden in Stoney-street, he mentions it as belonging to one Hurst, a name never heard of there; he says that at Chester there are but four churches, when I was there, I had ten named to me, exclusive (I think) of St. Oswald's, which is in a cross-isle of the cathedral, separated from the rest by a flight partition; and in some editions of Camden's Britannia it is expressly said Chester has eleven parishes. In describing the famous inscription on Julius Vitallis's tomb stone at Bath, the doctor gives a reading of one part of it, which is not only different from what plainly appears there, but inconsistent with any sense of grammatical construction."

"These instances shew how superficial an observer he was; and therefore in this account of the pot of money, I should be glad of a little farther satisfaction, as whether the old man who told him of it, was one who could distinguish roman from any other ancient coin, and indeed whether he named any sort of coin at all, but upon its being found in a pot, the doctor's own strong imagination, full of antiquarian ideas, might presently convert the pot into an urn, and the money into roman coin."

"Upon which I took the liberty with all due submission to offer to that most judicious gentleman's farther consideration,—This Reply:"

"I readily agree that Dr. Stukely commits many errors, where he has only cast a transitory eye upon places and things, or not maturely weighed every circumstance. I could mention a number of mistakes, besides those you have pointed out, one only shall suffice at this time, which if it is not a wilful one, shews the utmost degree of indolence. He says p. 113. That below Rochester bridge there lie about 50 of our biggest first rate men of war: when by asking any common sailor he might have been informed, that we have but seven of that rate: Yet in other places where he has bestowed due attention, his observations are not to be slighted, which I take to be likewise your opinion of the doctor, since among other late writers you are pleased to make use of his name against the dean."

"For my part I always read him with caution, as appears by some of my notes, which probably may have escaped your notice. So much of the doctor."

I frankly confess I never yet could find any roman remains at Nottingham, (tho' I have seen a considerable number of roman coins, said to be found in the parish of Plumtre) but I may notwithstanding be allowed with some eminent antiquaries, Dr. Plot, Somner, and others, to be of opinion that distance, and the neighbourhood of military ways are not very slight proofs. All antiquaries agree that East-Bridgeford was a roman station; they also allow that the distance from one station to another is commonly observed to have been 8, 9 to 10 miles, this being granted, would not one reasonably conjecture our Bridgeford conveniently situated near the river Trent, and not quite 5 itinerary miles N. W. of the Fosse-way, and between 8 and 9 itinerary miles distant from the other Bridgeford, to have also been a station? The distance from the Fosse-way ought not to be looked upon as a great one, for the Romans did not always place their stations near their roads as is plainly apparent in Littleburgh, which lies upwards of 9 computed miles N. W. of the Roman highway, and would perhaps not have been made a station had it not been situated so near the river Trent, which same reason favours our Bridgeford, and if besides the pot of coin Dr. Stukey speaks of, should prove to have been Roman, our title will not be so weak as it may at first appear; nor is it very improbable, if we consider that the roman coins found about East-Bridgeford and elsewhere are most of them brass, pretty large, and thick, and the British and Saxon coins generally smaller and thinner, and most of the latter silver or mixed metal, and that they are commonly found scattered and in small quantities, and seldom in pots or urns; to which if we add, that upon finding this pot, doubtless divers people were acquainted with it, and the clergyman of the parish, or some person more knowing than the old man, might have told him that the coin was roman."

"As to what relates to the miles, you will find upon examination that Gale and Baxter use much the same measure, be they therefore itinerary or computed ones, the dean in this particular holds the same advantage over Baxter as before, and consequently it does not clearly appear that Nottingham is fairly thrown out of the iter."

"In order to be the better satisfied, which of these two learned gentlemen's conjecture is the best founded, it will not be amiss to let Mr. Baxter speak for himself: p. 65. he says:

Cantennis: Ita enim ausus sum reponere in Antonino pro vitioso Causennis vel Gausennis ut edidit simlerus, quod nihil esse necesse est. Solute quis scripseret cant en (vel an) isc, five embitus vel flexura aquæ. Hæc urbs bodie Grantham est in majoribus icenis five Lindensi conventu. Siquidem idem sonat Britannis Grant quod & Cant sicuti supr a docuimus in voce ad Tavum: Et Grantham etiam ibrida compositione profertur pro Grant avon. Amnis scilicet cur vatura."

"Now having set down the opinions of these two authors in their own words, the case stands thus:"

"Dr. Gale with a very small and allowable alteration, changes Causennas into Causennas, and without straining makes the etymology suit Nottingham, he supports this opinion by making his distances agree with the itinerary, besides which it may be said in favour of him, that the station, East-Bridgeford, is at a proper distance for Nottingham or West Bridgeford either, to be likewise one, and that the Fosse-way coming from Lindum (Lincoln) runs at an inconsiderable distance on the left hand of it, not to say one word of the pot of coin."

"Mr. Baxter assumes an authority, hardly (if at all) allowable, to make a very considerable alteration in the name, when in favour of his Grantham he turns Causennas into Cantennas, and from the turning of the river near Grantham and no other concurring circumstance, he positively affirms Cantennas to be Grantham, tho' there be no Roman road from Gormanchester to Grantham, at the same that, using the same measure of miles with Doctor Gale, he is no less than 20 miles short of the itinerary."

"You mention that later writers have not at all agreed with Dr. Gale, this (with humble submission) is pleading authority. I would willingly read these modern gentlemen with as little prejudice in their favour as I do those who have gone before them, especialiy when I find some of them commit grosser errors than their predecessors. I cannot help wondering to see such a palpable mistake as a certain dignified author in his additions to Camden makes, about the situation of Flawford church; speaking of Lenton he says: "At a little distance from hence there stands in a large field, a church with a spiresteeple, called Flawford church, the burying place of Ruddington a great country town above half a mile west from it, &c." whereas Lenton lies on the north side of Trent, and the church he speaks of stands near three miles south of that river, and that large country town is but a village: besides talking of Stanford, he immediately mentions its neighbour Clifton, which neighbour is at least between five and six statute miles distant from it. Another antiquary would fain make Lenton (a village a mile distant from Nottingham, known only for a priory of cluniac monks) the noted Lindum of the Romans; I wave bringing any more instances of this kind, tho' it were easy for me to produce a many. Some of the late writers of antiquities are strangely carried away by the fertility of their own imagination, all are highly beholden to the old ones for the solid foundation of their inquiries, and it is too frequently seen that when a new antiquary is at a loss for new discoveries in certain places, rather than be thought a meer transcriber of the labours of others, he racks his brain to advance something contradictory to what has been said by other men."

"That you have observed this in the course of your reading of authors of this class, I dare not doubt. What I have said upon this subject will I hope not draw upon me the imputation of being tenacious of my own opinion, for far from desiring that any one should acquiesce with what I offer unless upon good grounds; I am so fond of the beauty of truth in any respect, that I would at all times gladly embrace it, tho' it should lay open to me the vanity and fruitlessness of my application for seven years past, and that I do not only fancy myself so, but am really of that mind, I conclude from these signs: In the first place, that I can look upon things as yet with an unaltered eye, and take in objects as they really appear to the senses; and in the second place, that my imagination hitherto is not over-stock'd with antiquarian ideas, and that I see myself still at a vast distance from the enthusiasm of that study, which I look upon to be a great happiness."

That portion of the country, it may be just remarked, which the Romans called Coritani was afterwards included, in the Saxons time, in the kingdom of Mercia. But not intending to swell this section with things which belong more particularly to the history of England, than to this province, we will pass on to notice some events which happened at this place upon record.

In the year of Christ, 868, the Danes who had invaded the kindom of Mercia, and during the winter, had entrenched themselves at Nottingham, were besieged by Buthred, king of Mercia, and Ethelred, king of the west Saxons; but an accommodation took place without much blood-sheding. (fn. 9) Shortly after the Danes plundered this part of the kingdom of Mercia, in consequence Buthred the king retired to Rome where he died. (fn. 10) In 942 the Danes were in possession of Nottingham, Leicester, Lincoln, Stamford and Derby, which they held till king Edmund, in 944, retook them. But in 1017 these places, with the whole kingdom, became subject to the dominion of the Danes, under Canutus.

Doomsday Book, that pure source of knowledge of ancient things, like the luminary of the earth is beneficent. This testimony of long past times is highly propitious to provincial as well as national story: view it on a large scale, it is of the utmost national consequence and dignity; on a more contracted, or in its division, it is grand and benevolent. (fn. 11) Extracts that relate to Nottingham, from Doomsday Book, are both in Thoroton and Deering.

The former says "In the time of King Edward the confessour in the burrough of Snotingeham were one hundred seventy and three burgesses, and nineteen villains (or husbandmen). To this borough lay six carucats of land to (or for) the kings geld (or tax), and one meadow, and small wood six quarentens long, and five broad. This land was parted between thirty eight burgesses, and of the rate or rent [censu] of the land and of the works of the burgesses yielded 75s 7d. and of two minters [Monetar.] 40s. Within it had Earl Tosti one carucat of land, of the soc of which land the king was to have two-pence, and the earl himself the third. (Afterwards when William the conqueror surveyed) Hugh the sheriff, the son of (or Fitz) Baldric, found one hundred thirty six men dwelling there, (when Doomsday Book was made, towards the latter end of his reign) there were sixteen less. Yet that Hugh himself made thirteen dwellings or mansions in the land of the earl, in the new borough, which were not there before, putting them in the cense or rate of the old borough.

In Snottingham in the demesne of the king was one church, in which lay three mansions of the borough, and five bovats of land of the above said six carucats, with sac and soc, and to the same church five acres of land and half, of which the king had sac and soc. The burgesses had six carucats to plow, and twenty bordars, and fourteen carucats (plows, carts, draughts, teams, or plowlands.) They were wont to fish in the water of Trent, and at that time made complaint that they were prohibited to fish.

In the time of king Edward (the confessour) Snottingham yielded in rent 181. when Doomsday Book was made 30l. and 10l. of the mint, [de moneta.]

Roger de Busly had in Snottingham three mansions, in which were seated eleven houses. The rent 4s. 7d.

William Peverel had forty eight merchants houses (or tradesmens.) The rent 36s. and thirteen houses of knights (or horsemen) [equitum] and eight bordars.

Raph de Burun had thirteen houses of knights, in one of these dwelt one merchant.

Guilbert four houses.

Raph, son of (or Fitz-) Hubert, had eleven houses, in these remained (or dwelt) three merchants (shopkeepers or tradesmen.)

Goisfrid de Alselin had twenty one houses.

Acadus the priest [Presbyter] two houses. In the croft of the priest were sixty houses, and in these had the king sac and soc.

The church with all things which belonged to it, was 100s. per annum value.

Richard Fresle had four houses.

In the ditch [fossata] of the borough were seventeen houses, and other six houses.

The king granted to William Peverel ten acres of land to make an orchard.

In Snottingham had king Edward one carucat of land, with the geld. The land two carucats. There (when the survey of Doomsday Book was made) the king had eleven villains (or husbandmen) having four carucats, and twelve acres of meadow, in Demesne nothing. In the time of king Edward the confessor, and then likewise the value of this was 3l. which is now called Sneinton."

It appears also by this valuable book that in Snottinghamshire, if any person should plough or make a ditch in the king's highway, viz. the fosse road to York, within two perches, he should be fined 81. two thirds to the king and one to the earl whose office then was not only honorary but of great power. The Trent and the road was taken care of by Nottingham. It appears by this book also that the Trent was navigable before the conquest.

And now with the end "of the Saxon government in England, ended also the Saxon name of this town, being thenceforth called Nottingham i. e. from the time of William Peverel, natural son of William I. was made lord of it, who in his foundation deed of the priory of Lenton calls it by that name, where he gives to that monastery among other things of greater importance the tythe of the fish of the fishing of Nottingham. Some will have the alteration of the name of this town, taken from the vast quantity of hassels growing about and near this place, Nuttingham, nor does it seem very improbable, since we have a like instance in a neighbouring seat of Sir Charles Sedley, situated about three miles north-west of this town, which upon that acount, bears the name of Nuthall."

About the year of christ, A. D. 910, the town was fortified and enclosed with a strong wall, by the elder Edward. (fn. 12) On the rock whereon the castle stands, we are told, stood a grand tower, prior to the walling of the town. (fn. 13)

Thus briefly is shewn the state and condition of Nottingham prior to the conquest, from authorities, in general, which time has stamped with some degree of credit. A slight review of that period which has been noticed, in this introductory section; or rather a transient glance at the origin, condition, &c. of our ancestors, may not be considered as improper here, before we bring into view, particulars respecting Nottingham subsequent to the conquest:

The English are descended, it is known, from a variety of nations: the Aborigines of the land, the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans have respectively had a share in the propagation of that people, but none in so eminent a degree as the Saxons who were originally of the German race. The Welch in their native tongue still call them Saisons, the Scotch Sasons and the Irish Saxonach. (fn. 14) Their language is a medley of many; the Welch, only, retain that of the ancient Britons.

In war the Saxons were brave, they used the bowing broad-sword, a short shield and the cross-bow. (fn. 15) They sacrificed to and worshiped idols, antecedent to their receiving the christian faith. They counted time by nights from which practise we still retain the expression of sennight and fortnight. In doubtful cases they tried offenders by the ordeal, which was by combat, red-hot-iron, hot water, and cold; that of hot iron was the most severe: the party accused and denying the fact, was obliged to take up red-hot-iron with his bare hand, or be adjudged guilty. (fn. 16)

As Egbert the subduer of the seven petty kingdoms of the Saxons about the year 800 gave the name of England to all, so the great Alfred divided the whole into shires, and gave them appropriate names. This great man has the reputation of associating into small bodies, consisting of ten men each, all the freemen of the realm; who were mutually bound by an oath to inspect into the conduct, and answer for the crimes of each other. (fn. 17)

It appears that our Saxon ancestors distinguished the places of burial of those slain in battle from the ordinary ones by raising over their bodies clods and turves of earth, these places are visible in many counties in England, and are now called Burrows and by some Barrows. About a mile from Nottingham, at a place called Nottingham-hill, are some lines of fortification, between which are three or four of these fort of eminences, which are now called Burrows, in one of which have been found great quantities of human bones.

Of Saxon names still in frequent use among us we may include the following, Allin or Allen, Arnold, Baldwin, Barnard, Charles, Edmund, Edward, Eric or Herick, Everard, Franc, Frederyc, Gerard, Gilbert, Darman, Henry, Herbert, Hugh, Humfrey, Lambhart, or Lambart, Leonard, Osmund, Oswin, Richard, Robert, Roger, Rosamund, Rowland, Walter, Williams, Wine and many others, which in a great measure shews the influence and power of this people in Britain.

Of customs still remaining amongst us, whose origin may be said to be saxon one I will notice, but will not assert that it had its origin before the conquest.

"Shrive is an old Saxon word, of which Shrove is a corruption and signifies confession. Tuesday on which day all the people in every parish through England, during the Romish times, were obliged to confess their sins, one by one, to their own priest, and in his own parish church; and that this might be done the more regularly, the great bell in every parish was rung at ten o'clock, or perhaps sooner, that it might be heard by all, and that they might attend according to the custom then in use. And altho' the Romish religion has given way, in our opinion, to a much better, yet the custom of ringing the bell, in our ancient churches, at least in some of them, still remains, and has obtained by some means the name of pancake-bell. Perhaps after confession it might be customary for people, on that day, to refrain from meat, and dine on pancakes and fritters, or such like provisions, whence the custom of dining on pancakes on Shrove Tuesday still remains in many parts of England." (fn. 18)

Speaking of a religious ceremony leads me to say a word or two of our ancient church architecture. The sometimes beautiful, formal zigzagged semicircle arches, which are to be met with in our old churches, are generally attributed to our saxon ancestors; but many attribute them to Norman origin, be this as it may, they doubtless are indications of the highest church antiquity in this island. These, says Dr. Warton, in his pleasing specimen of local history, that of Kiddington in Oxfordshire, parochial churches, seldom consisted of more than one aisle or pace. In this I must differ in opinion from that gentleman, for in my visits to churches in this county, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Bedfordshire, I have seen several containing a nave and side aisles, built originally with the churches. To be sure some of them were not originally parish churches; but were members of religious houses, which have been, since the reformation, converted into parish churches. The series of rude grotesque ornaments, in stones, resembling the heads of terrific animals &c. is a strong mark of church antiquity. They are doubtless the sculpture of a remote period. And as our saxon ancestors built these churches, frequently, on the scites of heathen temples, so they might retain some imitation of their rude sculpture in the churches, as ornaments.

Of old fonts in churches, some of which are curious relics of early baptism, the largest, or rather the most capacious, within, are esteemed the most ancient. The total immersion of the infant was long in practice. In larger towns few of those remain; but very capacious ones are frequently to be seen in village churches, especially where the hand of what is called improvement has not removed them.

Footnotes

1    Ex Hist. J. Rows. Warwicens.
2    Diction. Sax. Someri.
3    How often, even at this distant period, do we meet with wretched dwellings in some of our villages, but little better than those described by Cæfar. Two parallel dirt walls, a dirt floor and thatched roof constitute the abode that shelters human forms, almost without cloathing, from the inclement seasons of each revolving year.
4    "Nottingham. The name is nothing but a soft contraction of the Saxon word Snottengaham, so called by the Saxons, from the caves and passages under ground, which the ancients for their retreat and habitation, mined under the steep rocks of the south parts, toward the river Lind, whence it is that affertion renders the Saxon word, Snotteng-ham, speluncarum domum, and in the British language it is tui ogo hanc which signifies the same, viz. a house of Dens." Deering.
5    In the time of the civil wars, in the last century, it is said, that the parliament's forces destroyed a part of them as being relics of popery, Dr. Salmon supposes them to have been British store-houses for grain.
6    It had its name from very large vaults which were under it, where in the time of the staple of Calais, great quantities of wool used to be lodged. In one of these vaults, in the reign of King Charles II the diffenters privately met for the exercise of their religion, as they did after the act of toleration publicly, in a house at the upper end of Pilchergate, which is since pulled down, and a new one built in its room, the property and present mansion house of John Sherwin, Esq. this place on account of Mr. Whitlock's and Reynold's (displaced minister of St. Mary's) officiating in it, obtained the by-name of Little St. Mary's.
7    Causenna itaq; lego, per illas autem intelligo Nottingham. De illa Cambdenus: "A præruptis Saxis in australi parte fluviol an Linum de spectatet Casturm sublime in rupe surget. Nec dubito quin operolæ illæ cryptæ, concamerationes, cavernæ subterraneæ è vivo Saxo excisæ, romanam loquantur magnificentiam, uti ut illæ aliæ quæ Devæ et Iscæ Silurtum celebrantui eosdem Authores habuerint, adde his supputationem distantiæ, â Causennis ad Durobrivas (Nottingham et Bridgcasterton) pulchrè cum numeris Antonini concordare, uti etiam cum illis quos. inter Causennas at Lindum locat. Causennis aliter Gausennis rectius Gosennis vel Govennis. Ceven et Govennæ et Covennæ sunt rupes conglomeratæ. In Comitatu Eboracensi rupes prope Ottely dicuntur the Cheven. In illo Cantii, oppidum Savennoc i. e. Chevennoc ito dicitur â vicinis collibus. Gevennus est tum mons tum fluvius in agro Monmouthensi unde Gobanium Antonino. Saxonibus suit oppidum hoc Snottengham Speluncarum Domus. Britannis in antiquis Kaff vel Kaou Caverna. Si itaq; minus arrideat conjectura nostra quæ Gauvennas a Ceven deduxit, originem istius dictionis a Kaff vel Kaou petas licet quod non minus nostram confirmabit Sententiam de situ hujus Stationis. Iter Britanniarum Commentariis illustratum. 1709. p. 95. 96. Gale.
8    Thoroton, p. 6z. seems to be somewhat too hasty in taking up Mr. Camden for saying it was Bridgeford which Edward the elder built over against Nottingham;—his words are these: "That might likely enough be, if that was not mistaken for some buildings, which may have been within Nottingham on the south side of Trent, where there is ground enough within the limits of it, near the Bridge-end for such a purpose; and I rather suspect it, because before the Saxon government was changed, I find Bridgeford a Member of Clifton soc and not of Nottingham, &c." Stow is express that Edward the elder, built a new town over against the old town of Nottingham, and a Bridge over the Trent, between the two towns. A few stragling houses which only may have been, cannot with any colour be called a town, and a town being built opposite to Nottingham, does no ways infer that it must needs belong to Nottingham, besides Nottingham has not ground enough to build a town upon near the end of the Trent-Bridge."
9    Saxon Ann.
10    ibid.
11    This book was, by the order of William the Conqueror in 1080 begun. It contains a survey of the lands, goods and chattels of all his subjects what each was wont to pay in the Saxons times. It was completed in 1086.
12    Nothing of this wall now remains. Its appendage, the ditch, is to be traced at this distant period, near the castle hill, to which it joined and extended northward towards Chapel bar.
13    See the next Section for an account of the castle.
14    Verstegan, on the original of nations.
15   Bow from boughs of trees of which bows were originally made.
16    Emma, the mother of king Edward the Confessor, was accused of adultry with Alwine, bishop of Winchester, she was in consequence, led blindfolded to a place where glowing hot irons were laid at certain distances, and passed over them bare-foot to prove her guilt or innocence. She having passed them all without injury was pronounced innocent.
17   English is supposed to be derived from the Teutonic tongue. If you ask a Dutchman how he would in his language call an angel like man, he would answer ein-English-man. The particular names of shires were given, many of them, from situations, as Buckinghamshire from Buken or Beachen, trees and Essex from the east Saxons.
Verstegan.
f. Ibbetson.
18    Gent. Mag.

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Section II
Nottingham Castle
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Thoroton's History of Nottinghamshire: volume 2: Republished with large additions by John Throsby

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1790
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17-33
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'Section II: Nottingham Castle', Thoroton's History of Nottinghamshire: volume 2: Republished with large additions by John Throsby (1790), pp. 17-33. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=76812 Date accessed: 04 October 2013.

SECTION II.
Its History and Antiquities till it became chartered, or governed by Mayors.
Nottingham Castle.

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SECTION II.

Its History and Antiquities till it became chartered, or governed by Mayors.

After the Norman conquest Nottinghamshire, as other counties were, was divided by King William amongst his kindred and those who had shared in his victory; among whom we find the name of Peverel, who had given him, in this county, 55 lordships and 48 tradesmen's houses in Nottingham. Thoroton has given us an account of the consequence of this family which it seems was seated here: it is as follows, under the history of

Nottingham Castle.

"There is no mention at all in this most exact survey," (Doomsday Book) of the Castle of Nottingham, (fn. 1) which is therefore concluded to be built by William Peverel, or King William the first, his father, though 'tis supposed there might have been some old fortress there before. He also builded the monastery at Lenton, as it seems he did another at, or near Northampton, dedicated to St. James, the registry whereof certifieth that he died the fifth of the kalends of Febr. 1113. 11 H. 1. and the Lady Adelina his wife the fourteenth of the kalends of February 1119. 18 H. 1. and that Sir William, son of the said William Peverel, died 16 kal. May, 1100. 12 William Rufus, (fn. 2) which cannot be true, except he had another son William, for I find that William Peverell, at the intreaty of his faithful wife Adelina, gave to the monastery of Lenton at (or nigh) the very foundation, the churches of Hecham and Randia: (fn. 3) to which deed were witnesses Robert de Ferrariis, Avenell de Haddon, Robert, son of Drogo, Robert, son of Warner, Raph Hanselin, &c. William Peverell his son, by ill advice, took them away for a long time, but repenting, he for love of the worship of God, and for the safety of the fouls of his said father and mother, by the consent of his heir William the younger, restored them again: (fn. 4) the witnesses to this deed were Hugh de Burun, William Avenell, Adam de Morteyn, Oddo de Boney, Robert de Heriz, Gilbert de Macuinci, Norman de St. Patricio, &c."

"In the fifth year of King Stephen, William Peverell of Nottingham gave account of 23l. 6s. 8d. of the pleas of the forest. (fn. 5) And the Sheriff in his account that year of the dane-geld, faith, that Adelina, the mother of William Peverell of Nottingham, was pardoned 18l. by the King's writ, which shows there is some error in that said register of St. James of Northampton, concerning the time of her death, as there is also a manifest one in the computation of the year of our Lord, and of the King's reign in all the three, which may justly lessen the credit of that part of it."

"Anno 1155 King Henry the second disinherited William Peverel, because of poyson given to Ranulph (Earl) of Chester." (fn. 6)

"About those times there were three Peverels of great note, viz. Peverel of Dover, and Peverel of London, and our Peverel of Nottingham, who is certainly intended by the last noted chronicle, as may further appear by an instrument (yet remaining in Sir John Cotton's library) sealed by Henry Duke of Normans, &c. (afterwards King Henry the second) being then at the Divises, to Ranulph Earl of Chester, wherein he gave him, besides the said Earl's own inheritance in Normandy and England, wholly as his ancestors ever had it (that in Normandy very particularly recited) the whole honour of Earl Roger Pictavensis where ever, and all the said Duke Henries honour of Blye, where-ever it was in England, and the honour of Eye, as Robert Malet, uncle of the said Earl Ranulph's mother ever had it. Moreover he gave him Stafford and Staffordesir, and the county (or earldom) of Stafford wholly whatever he had there in fee and inheritance, except the fee of the Bishop of Chester, and of Earl Robert de Ferrarlis, and of Hugh de Mortuomari, and of Gervas Paganell, and except the forest of Canoc, which he (the said Duke) then retained in his hand. He gave him the fee of Alan de Lincolne, who was (also) uncle of the said Earl's mother, and the fee of Ernis de Burun as his own inheritance, and the fee of Hugh de Scoteiney where-ever it was, and the fee of Robert de Chalz where-ever it was, and the whole fee of Robert Fitz- (or son of) Odo, and the whole fee of Norman de Verdun, and the fee of Robert de Stafford where-ever it was, and 30l. land which the said Duke Henry had in Grimesby he gave him, and Nottingham Castle, and the borough, and whatever the said Duke had in Nottingham in see and inheritance he gave to him and his heirs, and the whole fee of William Peverell where-ever it was, unless he could [dirationare se] clear himself in the said Duke's court of the wickedness and treason, except Hecham. And if Engelram de Albamarle would not take with the said Duke, nor Earl Simon, and he the said Duke could take the said Hecham by force, he would restore it to the said Earl Ranulph if he would have it, and Torchesei and Dswardehec Wapentac, and Derby, with all the appurtenances, and Maunsfeld with the Soc, and Roelar with the Socb, and Stanley by Coventre with the Soch, and of Belvar he would hold him right as soon as he should be able as of the said Earl's inheritance, and to the said Earl's six Barons he would give each an hundred pound land, which they should chuse of those which the said Duke should happen to get of his enemies, and to all the said Earl's friends, [parentibus] he would restore their inheritance, whereof he had power, &c. Howbeit the said Earl Ranulf of Chester did not enjoy any long possession of those places in this county, for the sheriffs answered to the King for the profits of the lands of William Peverell, and the scutages of the tenants of his fee, as in the pipe rolls of Henry the second, and the succeeding Kings may be seen, and in divers other places of this book for the rest."

"Margaret, the daughter and (at length) heir of William Peverell of Nottingham, was wife of William Earl of Ferrars and Derby, son of Robert the younger Earl of Ferrars and of Nottingham, and she had a son Robert Earl of Ferrars, who in the time of King Henry the second, perhaps, because he could not inherit, was the more willing to burn Nottingham, which he did it seems, together with his son William, grandson of the said William and Margaret, which said William Earl of Ferrars the grandson was outed of his earldoms of Nottingham and Derby by King Richard the first, who gave them to John Earl of Moreton (afterwards King) his brother, who thereupon 'tis like grew more willing to interest himself in these parts, which he did by granting a charter to this town of Nottingham, and some way or other pleasing of the gentry of the country so well, that he led the most of them into rebellion, as in sundry places of this book, concerning divers particular persons of them, may be observed."

"But of these Peverells I have found no more, saving that there was a fine in the King's court at Nottingham the Friday after the feast of St. Bartholomew, 4. Joh. before J. Bishop of Norwic, Hugh Bardulf, John de Gestling, Mr. Roger Arundell, Hugh de Bobi, the King's Justices, and others, then there present, between William Peverell, Petent, and Beatrice de Curcon, tenant, of two bovats of land in Palterton, thereby passed to her and her heirs, paying 6d. per annum, &c."

"'Tis certain then that from the beginning of the reign of Henry the second, this castle of Nottingham hath for the most part belonged to the crown, neither is there any place any thing near so far distant from London that I know of in all England, which hath so often given entertainment and residence to the Kings and Queens of this realm since the Norman conquest."

"It is said that in the year 1194, King Richard being first loosed from his bonds, the castles of Nottingham and Tykehull resisted with force, but the castles of Lancaster and Merleburgh, and Mount Michael rendered themselves." (fn. 7)

"King John in the sixth of his reign commanded Reginald de Clifton, that immediately upon sight of his letters he should deliver to Robert de Veteriponte the castle of Nottingham, &c. (fn. 8) The like command at that time had Hugh de Nevill for the castle of the Pec; William de Briewer for that of Bollesour; and Sampson de Straclee (Strelley) concerning the castle of Harceston."

"Raph Fitz-Nicholas, 10 H. 3. was warden of Nottingham castle (he was steward to William de Ferrariis Earl of Derby it seems.")

"King Henry the third being at Windsor, 29 April, 32 H. 3. committed to Robert le Vavassur the counties of Nottingham and Derby to be kept, paying to the King 100l. per annum at his exchequer for the issues of the said counties, besides fifty marks which he was to pay every year to the warden [custodi] of Nottingham castle for the keeping thereof." (fn. 9)

"After the battle at Lewes between King Henry the third, and the Barons, for determining the strife Edward the King's eldest son was delivered for pledge, and afterterwards was freed from that custody, for the safety of whom, and of the kingdom, the King, 49 H. 3. committed to his said son the castles of Dovor, of Scardeburgh, of Baumburgh, of Nottingham, and of Corff, as hostage for five years." (fn. 10)

"The same King Henry the third by his precept dated at Westminster, October 18, 56 H. 3. commanded his bayliffs and burgesses of Nottingham, without delay, to make a posterne in the wall of the said town near the castle towards Lenton, of such a breadth and height that two armed horsemen, carrying two lances on their shoulders, might go in and out, where W. Arch-bishop of York had appointed it, who made the King understand that it was expedient for him and his heirs, and for the castle and town."

"Now for that the castle, park, and medows belonging thereunto are not within the county of the town, I will express what I mean touching them in this place. When this castle was built I certainly find not, but doubtless it was by Peverell. In the record of Doomsday there is no mention of a castle, only I find there that William Peverell had licence from the King to include ten acres ad faciendum pomerium, which after the forest measure contains above fifty statute acres, and that I conceive to be near the proportion of the old park of Nottingham, but this is only my conjecture, which I will be bold to retain till some body tell me where those ten acres do lie after the measure of that time, which was long before the statute de terris mensurandis." (fn. 11)

"It appears, 1 H. 4. that Thomas Moubray Duke of Norfolk held 20l. rent out of Nottingham castle, with the stile and title of Earl of Nottingham, granted by King Richard (the second) and that Thomas Moubray, knight, son and heir of the said Duke, was then fourteen years old."

"The exactest survey I find of this castle, and the appurtenances to it, is the account of Jeffrey Knyveton, constable of the castle, and clark of the forest, 25 H. 6. First, twenty four acres of medow called the King's medow; a close called castle appleton; a close called the constable holme; a piece of medow called the milne damme; a piece of medow called the milne place; two pieces of medow lying by the King's bridge, and the roch-yard; the castle hills without the castle walls; the outer ward within the castle walls; the dove-coat; the pindage of the castle; the castle milnes; the conygarth which I conceive to be the old park; and the castle it self, which in that account answered nothing, being the habitation of the constable." (fn. 12)

"The castle and the park of Nottingham were granted to Francis Earl of Rutland, in the latter end of whose time many of the goodly buildings were pull'd down, and the iron, and other materials, sold; yet there was left enough at the beginning of the late rebellion, to make it chosen by King Charles the first, as the fittest place for the setting up his Royal Standard, which, as I remember, was there erected on Munday, August 22. anno Dom. 1642. but shortly after the King's departure Sir John Digby dismissed those souldiers of the trained bands of this county which only were left there, and so it soon became a garrison for the parliament, which it continued till the end of the war, after which the last governour Captain Thomas Poulton had orders and money given him to pull it down, yet some parts of it though ruinous were not utterly demolished at the return of King Charles the second, since when the Duke of Buckingham (whose mother the Dutchess was only daughter and heir of the said Francis Earl of Rutland) sold it to the Marquess of Newcastle, now also made Duke, who this present year 1674, though he be above eighty years of age, hath a great number of men at work pulling down and clearing the foundations of the old tower that he may build, at least, part of a new castle there. The park pale he repaired at his first entrance."

"The rectory of the castle of Nottingham was 6l. Now I find nothing of it, but the brewhouse yard is a constablery, wherein there are many houses, some in the rock, others out of it, all which, being now of no parish, are a great receptacle for fanaticks, and other like people, who would not live conformable to the laws."

Deering treats Dr. Thoroton's account of the castle with some degree of asperity. Some may think that the modest and doubtful account, of the founder of it, which he has given, is quite as well as the former's positive assertion, that it was built by William the conqueror "to secure a retreat in case of necessary, and to keep the town in awe." All writers agree that it was built about the time of the conquest, or an old castle, which stood on this bold rock, was then much enlarged and repaired. Very great additions both of strength and beauty it received by Edward the fourth and Richard the third. Those works done by the conqueror were called the old works those by the latter kings the new. (fn. 13)

Leland who visited the castle says "The bass court is large and mighty strong, and there is a stately bridge (with pillars bearing beasts and giants) over the ditch into the second ward, the front of which at the entrance is exceeding strong, with towers and port-cullices." (fn. 14) "Within is a fair green court fit for any princely exercise. The south-east parts of the castle are strong and well towered, within the old tower there is another court tho' somewhat less than the last mentioned," (fn. 15) "in the midst whereof there is a stair-case of stone, about six or seven feet above ground, in which there is a door to enter and steps to lead, (of late much worn) through the main rock to the foot thereof and the bank of the river Leen; by this passage (the keepers say) Edward the third's band came up through the rock and took Earl Mortimer prisoner. The dungeon or prison stands by south and east, and is extraordinary strong et natura loci et opera" (fn. 16) In the first court we go down many steps with a candle lighted into a vault under ground, and rooms cut and made out of the very stone, in the walls whereof the story of Christ's passion and other things are engraven, by David King of Scotland, (as they say) who was kept prisoner there."

In Leland's time it was partly in ruins.

Tradition informs us that there were three wells, three chapels, and a college of secular priests in the castle. In the time of Henry the third there was a chapel dedicated to St. Mary in the rock under the castle. (fn. 17) Deering has preserved a curious piece of information from "The accounts of Geffry Knyveton, constable of the castle and clerk of the forest, the 25th of Henry VI. which I have taken literatim from a forest book wrote for the use of the mayor of Nottingham, Robert Alvie, by his serjeant at mace William Marshal, in the year 1588, the 30th of queen Elizabeth, John Nody and Nicholas Sherwin being sheriffs."

"The accompte of Geffry Knyveton from the feast of St. Michaell tharchaungle in the xxvth. yeare of kinge Henry the sixth, unto the same feaste next followinge by one whole yeare for the castle of Nottingham."

"Ist. He gives accompte of xiil. 8s. cominge of xxiiii acres of meadow, lying in a meadow belonging to the castle of Nottingham called the king's-meadow. The price 3s. 2d. so letten this yeare."

"And of xivs. the latter agistment of the same meadow betwixt Michallmas and Martlemas happeninge."

"And of liiis. iiiid. of the farme of the close called castle-appleton."

"And of xxxvis. 8d. for the farme of another close called the constable-holme, so letten to the men of Nottingham."

"And of xxivs. of the farme of a pece of meadow called the milne-dame."

"And xiiis. of the farme of two peces of meadow lyeinge by the king's bridge and the rocke-yard."

"And viiis. of the castle-hills without the castle wall."

"And xxs. of the farme of the pindage of the castle so letten to the men of Nottingham."

"And of xs. of the farme of the outward, within the castle walls."

"And of the profit of the dove-cott nothing this year, but it was wont to give 3s. 4d."

"And of for the castle-miln."

"And of the 13s. 4d. of the farme of the coneygarth of the castle this year &c." (fn. 18)

Nottingham old castle it seems was in a ruinous state at the breaking out of the civil wars; at the restoration it was nearly demolished. A copy of a plan taken by Smithson in 1617, of Nottingham castle is preserved by Deering. From the present building was erected in 1683, (fn. 19) it was begun by William Cavendish, Marquis, and afterwards Duke of Newcastle, who purchased it of George Villiers, second Duke of Buckingham. It was finished by Henry his son, as appears by an inscription over a back door of the castle which was not legible in Deering's, but preserved by a servant in the household of Henry Duke of Newcastle.

"This house was begun by William, Duke of Newcastle, in the year 1674, (who died in the year 1676,) and according to his appointment by his last will and by the model he left was finished in the year 1679."

The founder of this noble edifice, it is said, intended it to be one of the most grand buildings, as a seat, in England, towards the accomplishing of which he devised the income of certain estates out of his domains. Deering says,

"The 1st Duke of Newcastle and founder of the present castle of Nottingham, was William Cavendish, son of Sir Charles Cavendish, (younger brother of William the first Earl of Devonshire) and Catherine daughter and heir to Cuthbert baron Ogle, married to him the 4th of Car. I."

"This William had a brother Sir Charles, who died without issue."

"He was the 8th of James I. made knight of the Bath at the creation of Henry prince of Wales. King Charles I. made him governor of the Prince his eldest son."

"In the year 1642 upon the great defection of the king's subjects the 18th of Car. I. he first manned and fortified the town of Newcastle and the castle of Tinmouth for the king's service, and afterwards levying other forces in the midst of winter, routed the greatest part of those rebels that had made head in Yorkshire, taking most of the strong holds in that county. His victories at Gainsborough in com. Linc. Chesterfield in com. Derb. Piercy-brigg, Secroft, Tankersley, Tadcaster, Sheffield, Rotheram, Yarum, Beverley, Cawood, Selby, Halifax, Leeds, and Bradford, all in Yorkshire, testify'd his courage and conduct, in the last of which, having vanquished their greatest northern army, (himself leading on) he took 22 cannons and many colours."

"In 1642 he received the queen at her landing at Bridlington in com. Ebor. who brought with her supplies of arms and ammunition, and conducted her safely to the King at Oxford, for which services he was by letters patents bearing date at Oxford the 19th of Car. I. created Marquis of Newcastle and Baron Cavendish."

"Afterwards he stoutly defended the city of York for three months space against three powerful armies, and at last upon the depression of the royal interest in England followed King Charles II. into banishment, during the continuance of the usurpation, by whom he was created knight of the garter, and soon after the restoration viz. the 17th of Charles II. anno 1664, advanced to the title of Duke of Newcastle and Earl of Ogle."

"He married two wives, 1st. Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir to William Basset of Blore in com. Stafford, Esq. widow of Henry Howard, a younger son of Thomas Earl of Suffolk, by whom he had issue."

"Charles, who married—,daughter to Richard Rogers of Brianston in com. Dorset, and died without issue in his father's life time."

"Henry his successor and three daughters. viz."

"Jane, wedded to Charles Cheney of Chesham-boys, in com. Bucks, Esq."

"Elizabeth, to John Eggerton Earl of Bridgwater; and

"Frances, to Oliver St. John, after Earl of Bolinbroke."

"He married to his second lady Margaret daughter to Thomas Lucas, of St. John's near Colchester in Essex, Esq. a very learned lady and philosopher, but by her had no issue."

"The second Duke of this family was

"Henry Cavendish, Duke, Marquis and Earl of Newcastle, Earl of Ogle, Viscount Mansfield, Baron Cavendish of Bolsover, Bothal and Hepple, also Baron Ogle and knight of the garter. He was in the reign of James II. one of the privy council and governor of Berwick, and Lord Lieutenant of the counties of Northumberland and Nottingham, and died 1691."

"He married Frances daughter of William Pierepont, second son of Robert Earl of Kingston, by her he had issue:

"Henry Cavendish, stiled Earl of Ogle, his only son, (of the privy council to King Charles II.) who married Elizabeth daughter and heir to Joceline Piercy Earl of Northumberland, whereupon he assumed her title and bore her arms, but died without issue at London 1680."

"The late Duke thus deprived of male issue, the ducal estate devolved to

"John Holles, fourth Earl of Clare, in right of his wife Margaret, 3d daughter of Henry Duke of Newcastle, This nobleman appeared with a spirit like his noble ancestors, and that with the earliest, in the just assertion of the liberties of these nations from the bondage of popery and tyranny; in consideration of which he was in the 6th year of King William and Queen Mary 1694, advanced to the dignity of Marquis of Clare and Duke of Newcastle, having been before sworn of their majesties most honourable privy council; also in the 10th of King William III. 1698, instalted knight of the most noble order of the garter."

"In the year 1700, when the Lords in parliament framed and passed an act: for authorizing certain commissioners to treat of a union with Scotland, his Grace was then nominated for one of them, but the treaty at that time not having its desired effect, he was in the 5th year of Queen Anne 1706, by commission under the great seal of England, again appointed or that number, under whole management that great and remarkable work was accomplished. By another act passed in the 4th of Queen Anne as lord privy seal, he was appointed one of the lords justices, 'till the arrival of a successor, and in the 7th of Queen Anne, upon the unhappy loss of George Prince of Denmark, was appointed one of the lords commissioners for holding the first parliament of Great - Britain, having before been constituted lord privy seal, and sworn of her Majesty's most honourable privy council; he was also lord lieutenant of the county, and of the county of the town of Nottingham, lord warden of the forest of Shirwood, lord lieutenant of the east and north ridings of the county of York, and governor of the town and fort of Kingston upon Hull. He had by this lady one only daughter, the lady Henrietta, now countess dowager of Oxford and countess of Mortimer. This Duke having likewise no issue male, settled the ducal eftate upon his nephew."

"Thomas Lord Pelham, eldest son of Thomas Lord Pelham and Grace his second lady, youngest sister of John Duke of Newcastle, was born the 21st of July, 1694. He had this large estate left him by the last will of his uncle, bearing date July 15th, 1711, and that he should bear the name and arms of Holles".

"The Pelhams are an ancient and renowned family; they took their name from the lordship of Pelham in Hartfordshire, and mention is made that the said lordship in the 21st of Edward I. was part of the possessions of Walter de Pelham; in the reign of King Edward III. John de Pelham gained great same, being with that King at the battle of Poictiers, which was sought on Monday September 19, 1356, the 30th of Edward III. He was competitor with Sir Roger de la Warr in taking John King of France prisoner in the battle, and tho' above ten other knights challenged the taking of that King, yet it was found that Sir Roger and Sir John de Pelham were most concerned, wherefore in memory of so signal an action, and that king's delivering his sword to them, Sir Roger had the champet or chape of his sword, for a badge of that honour, and John de Pelham afterwards knighted, had the buckle of a belt as a mark of the same honour, which was sometimes used as a seal manual, and at others on each side a cage, being the emblem of captivity of the said King, and was therefore borne for a crest; the buckles were likewise used by his defendants; and the second coat in his Grace's achievement is charged with two belts having buckles to them." (fn. 20) .

But to return to the castle. Whatever might be the intention of its noble founder in erecting this building cannot be certain. If for a family residence its situation is no ways fitted for that purpose; as an objeft of admiration to the surrounding country, in union with the rock on which it stands, it falls very short of our wishes and expectation. Could nature, in all her wanton sports, effected a better fire for a study of architectural harmony than this? Far and near it strikes the beholder with ideas of the sublime if not beautiful; when contrasted, at a near view, with the delightful meadows below, it is a venerable object, delectable from its apparent years. Art should here have been in effect as bold as nature: a lofty and massy pile towering towards the heavens, with turrets and embattled walls, the taste of ages past, placed on its brow, instead of the present formal and squat edifice, would have created a scene of splendour, not in seemingly irregular order.

The views from this rock abound in variety, some are extensive and others beautiful: The Trent forms a fine curve near Wilford; in its passage towards Cliston it presents a silvery broad bosom. On the Wollaton side, over the park, are a variety of attractions. A rich valley, interspersed with woodland, leads your eye into Derbyshire, where distance appears boundless. A vast space is seen hence between Ruddington hills and Colwick, in which Belvoir castle appears majestical. The bird's-eye view, over the town of Nottingham, is far from formal; the romantic scenery, just below, and many of the buildings create a pleasing variety. The town of Nottingham seen from the terrace at the southwardly angle forms a figure, taking in the little river Leen, nearly thus. See fig. 3. facing page 22.

The architect of this castle was March, a Lincolnshire man, whose name is now of no celebrity whatever it might have been. It stands on a rustic basement, the order corinthian. You approach the grand apartments over a double flight of steps. An equestrian statue of William Duke of Newcastle is placed over the door of the north east front, hewn out of a single block of stone, by one Wilson. (fn. 21) The area, or rather the court yard, is encompassed with a stone wall breast high, where the air blows briskly. "On the north side there is a spacious green court, much larger than that mentioned in the old works, because the structures of the new tower took up a great part of this ground, which is likewise encompassed by a stone wall, not so high as to hinder any prospect; in this court, facing the middle of the north front, is a wooden door opening into the park; about twenty odd yards west of this, there was a door leading by a stair-case cut in the rock, into the great and strong tower built by Edward IV. which tower was half an octagon, the walls of which were upwards of 12 feet thick; this passage Mr. Paramour remembred very well; besides the bridge which goes over that part of the ditch where the ancient fortified bridge once stood, another was built across the mote more directly opposite to the old gate of the outer ward, after this new palace was finished for the more convenient driving a coach up to the castle, but the foundation of this was so badly secured that the north side of it fell down some few years after; this has lately been made good with earth and is railed on each side and covered with green sods, and is now become a pleasant way into the green court, between which and the north front of the castle there are many steps leading from east to west down into a paved yard, by which, when his Grace and family are here, the trades people who serve the house with provisions can go into the kitchen and other offices under the main building; at the west end of this yard there goes a door out of the rock where his Grace the present Duke in the year 1720, caused a convenient slaughter-house to be built, whither oxen, sheep, deer, &c. were brought immediately from the park, and when dress'd, by the just mentioned door through this lower yard into the kitchen and store places; at the east end of this yard is to be seen a place walled up with brick, this opened the way into the dungeon of which Leland speaks, and also Mr. Camden, where those figures we have spoken of before were engraven on the walls. His grace when at Nottingham in the year 1720, as I am informed, had this place opened, in order to see whether any thing of them was yet to be found, but it being almost entirely filled up with rubbish, no discovery could be made." (fn. 22)

That celebrated passage in this rock, called Mortimer's-hole, is now much in the same condition as in Deering's time. Much credit appears to be due to the circumstantial account of it by Deering, and some other things appendages to the castle, which he carefully inspected, and by his industry has thrown much light on that dark tradition, that the passage noticed was cut as a hiding place for the favorite Mortimer. I therefore think it but justice due to his care that I insert here his account of it in preference of any relation I might substitute, observing only that this subterraneous passage leads through the body of the rock to the bank of the little river Leen.

"This vault undoubtedly must have been in a much better condition in Leland's, Camden's, and even in my anonymous author's time, than at present, wherefore I cannot help wondering at their incurious inspection of it, which has led them into diverse errors concerning the name it bears. This way through the rock was provided with no less than six gates, besides a side one on the left hand going down; the first was above ground leading from the turret down to the second, the place where the turret stood is now covered by part of the modern sabrick, and the passage to the second gate is filled and the gate itself walled up with stone, to this leads a new passage cut out of the rock since the building of the present castle, without the wall of the paved yard. The distance between the first and the second gate I take to have been about 16 yards; from this we step down 14 yards and meet with the marks of another, and 15 yards lower was a fourth; about 45 yards below this on the left hand we observed a gate bricked up, which with seven or eight steps did lead up into some works of the old tower, (as the late Mr. Jonathan Paramour informed me) in whose time it was bricked up; about eight yards below this stood a fifth, and the sixth and lowest which opened into the rock yard and is now also bricked up, is still about nine yards lower, so that the whole length of this once well secured subterraneous passage from the court of the old tower to the foot of the rock is 107 yards or 321 feet: This vault is 7 feet high and six wide, had all the way down broad steps cut in the rock, the which are at this time almost entirely worn out in the middle, but may plainly be perceived at the sides; there are all the way down till within 15 or 16 yards of the bottom, openings in the side of the rock to convey light into this passage, and to serve the soldiers to shoot their arrows through upon the enemy, in the upper part are cut out several regular port-holes, which shew, that during the civil war, cannons were planted there, which commanded all the meadows; there are besides in this part of the vault observable, many holes or excavarions about a foot in height, breadth and depth, these seem to have been made to lodge cannon-balls in, to prevent their rolling to the bottom."

"By this account taken from the present appearance of this place, it may easily be judged, that it was contrived for a much weightier purpose than to carry on a love-intrigue, as a certain author will have it, viz. that Mortimer ordered this passage to be cut out, for a private way to come to the Queen's apartments, and that from thence it got the name of Mortimer's-hole. A very ill grounded conjecture. What occasion had he to come privately to the Queen, when the posts and employments the Earl was in, during the minority of the King, not only furnished him with frequent opportunities of going publickly to her, but the urgency of affairs made it indispensably necessary that he: should often attend her Majesty".

"Had Mr. Camden been more exact in observing the place we are speaking of, he would hardly have fallen into the error of imagining that it got its name, "because Mortimer had it made to hide himself in, being afraid of himself out of a consciousness. of his own guilt." Is it not reasonable to suppose, if the Earl of March had ordered this place to be made for his concealment, he would likewise have taken care that it should have been made convenient for that end, whereas the whole vault is one continued stair-case without so much as one single shelf in the side of the rock for a person to sit down upon."

"Besides if we lay aside the consideration of the structure of this passage, the opinion, of Mr. Camden will hardly be approved by any thinking person, that that nobleman, generally known to live in the castle with the Queen, should chuse to hide himself in a rocky cave, when at the same time he could be in the royal apartment, and that with full as much safety, for the Queen had the keys of the castle delivered to her every night, and laid under her pillow; moreover the Earl of March when the place was surprized, was not found there but in the apartment of the Queen; in short had the Earl designed this vault for his security, it must be supposed he would have taken more particular care that it should be sufficiently guarded against any sudden surprize, whereas it seems no extraordinary care was taken of it, else it would have been out of the power even of the governor to have given King Edward the opportunity of coming into the castle that way".

"But there just now comes to my hand a manuscript English chronicle, which by the language seems to be wrote in the reign of King Henry VI. this positively affirms, that neither Mortimer nor the Queen knew any thing of this passage; these are the words: Chap. 222".

"And in hast ther came unto Kyng Edw. Sir William Montague, that he was in his castell and pryvelyche told him, that he ne none of his companions shulde not take the Mortimer without counsaile and helpe of William Eland, constabill of the same castell. Now certis quod Kyng Edward I leve you full well, and therefor I counsaill you that ye goo unto the saide constabill, and commaunde him in my name that he be your frende and your helper for to take the Mortimer, all things left uppon peyne of lyse and lymmbe. Sir quod Mountague my lorde graunte mercye. Tho went forth the saide Mountague and come to the constabill of the castell and told him the Kyng's wille, and he answered, the Kyng's wille shulde be done in all that he myght, and he wolde not spare for no manner of deth and so he swhore and made his othe. Tho saide Sir William Mountague to the constabill in herynge of all them that were helpyng to the quarrel. Now certis dere ffrendes us behoveth for to worche and done by your Queyntyse to take the Mortimer, fith ye be the keeper of the castell and have the kayes in your warde. Sir quod the constabill woll ye understonde that the yats of the castell beth loken with lokys, and Queen Isabell sent hidder by night for the kayes thereof, and they be layde under the chemsell of her beddis hede unto the morrow, and so I may not come into the castell by the yats no manner of wyse, but yet I know another weye by an aley that stretchith oute of the ward under the earthe into the castell that gooth into the west, which aley Queen Isabell, ne none of her meayne, ne the Mortimer ne none of his companye knowith it not, and so I shall lede you through the aley, and soye shall come into the castell without aspyes of any man that beth your enemies, &c."

"It is therefore much more probable, that as the King and his band came up this passage on purpose to seize Mortimer's person, and as the Earl after he was taken prisoner, was brought out of the castle through this very same passage, it was in remembrance of this event called Mortimer's-hole. There is no account when this vault was made which I have met with, except what Collins in his peerage quotes from Drayton's barons war, viz. "This wonderful passage had been hued and dug during the Danish invasion by some of the Saxon Kings for the better security in case of a siege". For my part if I consider how strongly this place was provided with gates, I cannot help thinking that it was designed to relieve the castle with men and provisions, in case an enemy should be in possession of the town, the opening of it being both without the town and castle walls, and the rock yard being covered with two round bastions, in the outer wall of the castle facing the south, of which a good part is yet standing, and that after the Norman conquest, it was made use of in time of peace to convey the meal and beer, which was ground (especially after the Leen was brought to run by the castle) and brewed for the garrison, the nearest way into the castle".

"The rock-yard into which the last and lowest gate in Mortimer's-hole opens, is called in old writings the brewhouse of the castle, and indeed it had no other houses in it but such as served for the conveniency of brewing for the garrison; until King James I. by a particular grant under the broad seal, separated it from the castle."

"This grant was made to one Edward Ferres, of London, mercer, and Francis Philips, of London, gent, exemplisy'd to John Mitten, and William Jackson, bearing date the 18th of King James of England, and the 55th of Scotland, anno dom. 1621; since which time a pretty many houses have been built in it, especially in the close, which in the grant is called Dovecoat close. In this yard stood also the mill of the castle, which used to grind all the corn for the support of the garrison."

"Farther west in the yard within a piece of ground now turned into a kitchen garden, are to be seen the remains of a stair case, opening to the east and leading up into the rock, wherein several rooms are formed with pretty even floors. Here formerly was the malt-office belonging to the castle, as appears plainly by the kiln, which to this day is to be seen".

"The brewhouse-yard was lately part of the jointure estate of Mrs. Collin, relict of the late John Collin, Esq; alderman of Nottingham, and mother of Langford Collin, Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices of the peace for the county of Nottingham; the kitchen garden and an house on the right hand going into Brewhouse-yard, only excepted, which house and garden were given by Mr. Peacock, to a society of people who formerly used to meet here and called themselves the family of love; these premises are at this time in the possession of master Ring, an infant, and grandson of the late Thomas Smith, Esq".

"It is a constablery which Dr. Thoroton with Mss J. M. is pleased to call a receptacle for sanaticks, and other like people, who would not live conformable to the laws. This censure seems to me too severe, inasmuch as it not only favours of a persecuting spirit, but is founded on a false supposition, as if this place (being in the county at large) were any more exempt from the obedience to the laws of the land, than any other place in the county, and that in a reign where no visible corner of the kingdom could shelter any number of persons from the rigorous execution of that coercive law the Act of Uniformity".

"From the bastion of the east corner of the Brewhouse-yard, the ruins of the outer walls of the castle run north, and over against a street called Castlegate are seen the ruins of the largest round bastion, in the middle between this and the outer gate in the wall which bends a little westward, a low gate is observed, which I dare venture to say was a sally-port. The main gate is placed between two bastilles: From hence the wall almost due west to the park, there, make an angle, and extending itself in a line northward did join the postern, of which notice has been taken.

"The outer-ward within the outer wall, is spacious, on the right hand of which was the pindage of the castle, and on the left where now a garden and nursery of trees is planted was the dove-coat, as I am informed by the above-mentioned Mr. Jonathan Paramour, who lived with duke William when the foundation of the new castle was laid".

"The ditch round the castle was a dry mote of a considerable depth and breadth, as may easily be discovered even at this time".

"On the other side of the ditch at the farther end of that part of the rock whereupon the new tower stood, there was till within these 18 or 20 years, an hole opening somewhat towards the east, called by the common-people James Scot's hole, which as the tradition goes, did lead across the park, under ground, quite to Lenton, a good mile in length; this being a vulgar error, I will here take an opportunity of clearing up the matter. Had such a passage ever been made, it would be hard to find out a use for it adequate to such an herculean labour, and whosoever considers how low the valley is between the castle rock and the high hill where Lenton stile is placed, will with much ado allow it possible to be done, but hardly deem it probable that such a piece of work should ever have been undertaken: To be short, let the reader but cast an eye upon the plan of the old castle here annexed, and he will readily be convinced that the truth of the matter is this: When by order of his Grace William Duke of Newcastle, the old works of the new tower were clearing, the labourers by flinging some pretty large stones down the side of the rock, beat in the ground and made accidentally this hole, which shewed the curious a way into the rock, this turning at first a little to the right and the quantity of rubbish rendering the going far into the rock very difficult, has made them fancy that passage went directly west and consequently to Lenton, tho' nobody has ever offered to shew any opening at Lenton, to answer this pretended subterraneous way, and the above mentioned plan clearly shews, that the hollow in that place was nothing else but a way into a range of cellars under the several royal apartments and buildings on the north and west part of the rock. The name of James Scot's hole proceeded from a mistake of the Scottish King David II. who is said to have been prisoner in this castle, which moves me to examine how far the story related of that King is well or ill-grounded".

"The dungeon or prison of the castle was widely distant from the hole we have been speaking of, for according to Leland it was south from the hole, i. e. under the first steps which lead up to the paved court of the present castle. That there were such rooms as Mr. Camden speaks of, many steps deep in the rock, into which persons were obliged to go with a candle light, and that these steps went from the first court, as also that the passion of our Saviour Christ and other things were engraven on the walls of those rooms, we may credit him who relates it as an eye-witness; but that those figures were made by David King of Scots, is not quite so clear: For that great antiquarian does not assert it directly, but with these cautionary words, (as they say). I will not deny that that King might be a prisoner in the castle of Nottingham, tho' Stow takes notice that he was brought to Westminster the 2d of January 1147, and thence in the sight of all the people conveyed to the tower, and there lodged in the black nuck near the constable's guard, and that he was afterwards removed to Oldisham castle, where he remained prisoner till ransomed; because as he was taken prisoner the 17th of October 1146, according to the same author, and could not be brought to London with the rest of the prisoners on account of his wounds in the head; it is very probable that he was brought to Nottingham and remained confined in the castle till he was able to travel: But all this is still so far from proving that King the author of the above-mentioned figures, that it rather creates a suspicion to the contrary, because his wounds in the head would not admit of such a work if they disabled him from travelling."

"On the north-side of the castle without the wall, is a close which takes in the major part of the castle hills, and went from thence by the name of the hill-close, in the middle of this on a flat and round spot was set up King Charles the 1st. standard, since which time it bore for many years the name of standard close, 'till of late some of the Nevil's having rented it, the town's people call it Nevil's-close; where the standard was fixed there stood a post for a considerable number of years, in the room of which when pulled up, the father of John Nevil, Esq. to perpetuate the memory of that remarkable event, planted several elms successively, none of which escaped the unruliness of the lads of the town."

"It is a commonly received error, that the royal standard was erected on a place called Derry-mount, a little farther north than the just mentioned close; for it is an artificial hill raised on purpose for a wind mill to stand upon, which formerly was there; besides this hill is not within the jurisdiction of the castle."

"This our castle when in its glory (says William of Newborough,) was made so strong both by nature and art, that it was esteemed impregnable except by famine, if it had a sussicient garrison in it, that it had never undergone the common fate of great castles, being never taken by downright storm; once it was besieged by Henry Duke of Anjou, but in vain, at which time the garrison had burnt down all the buildings about it; it was once also taken by surprize, by Robert count de Ferrariis, in the barons war, who burnt the town, and deprived the people of all they had."

Within the castle I found nothing to attract; the pictures, which once adorned the walls of the apartments, are removed, and the chief of the furniture. Here remains only some starved tapestry, in some of the rooms, that require notice. In the state bed-room I judge it to be most excellent. I remember being shewn a state bed in this apartment thirty or forty years ago, said to have been slept on by Queen Anne; but that has journeyed hence, probably to return no more. Some of the rooms I found occupied by a Miss Kirkby; lately a part of the castle was used as a boarding school.

Some eventful periods, respecting Nottingham castle, may be found under their respective dates.

The park belonging to the castle is small, and the surface very uneven, it is a great place of resort in the summer season. It has now no deer, and scarcely any trees in it. In 1793, the barracks thereon, was built by a grant from the Duke of Newcastle. Near the rock-holes, which are mentioned page 4, is a celebrated echo, "which repeats," Deering says, "every word distinctly, tho' beginning with a consonant, unless it be with an M, N, S, or V."

Nottingham Brindge may next claim our attention for its antiquity.

Gough, from MS Cott: Tit. A. xxiv, says, That it was antiently called Heithehithebridge. It at present consists of 20 irregu ararches apparently repaired at a variety of periods. This bridge spans the river Trent, which river Stow's chronicle informs us, was dried up in 1110. Knighton, also notices this event. There was a bridge built over the Trent so long back as the time of the elder Edward, which had stone piers and the rest wood; but it was in a great measure destroyed by the ice after a very severe frost which began in September, and lasted till the February following. In addition to what is noticed above of the name it anciently bare, it is spelt in old writings various ways, as Heathhet-bridge, Heathbethe brigg, Heathbet, and Hebethe-bridge. (fn. 23) Hereafter the reader will perceive that Thoroton mentions a chapel that formerly stood upon this bridge, an arch of which was remaining in his time. There have been many gifts and legacies towards the reparation of this bridge, now called Trent bridge; the crown also, it appears, have, at divers times, been bountiful in this respect. The corporation of Nottingham has the sole disposal of the money arising from these benefactions. The bridge now is much too narrow for the numerous passengers that go to and from Nottingham. (fn. 24)

Of eventful periods the following have been handed down by historians. Nottingham by Stow's account was nearly destroyed by fire in the year 1140, by the forces under the Earl of Gloucester, who plundered the town when the inhabitants were incapable of defence, flew many of them with the sword, and others he burnt in the churches, whither they had sled for safety. Henry, son of the Empress Maud, afterwards Henry II, in the year 1153, also besieged and took Nottingham castle, which place continued in the hands of the crown, till Robert Earl of Ferrers and Darby, being in the service of young Henry, against his father, came suddenly and drove the King's forces from thence, burnt the town, slew many of the inhabitants, and divided their goods amongst his soldiers.

Nottingham, after this afflicting circumstance, lay in ruin, until Henry II. was peaceably settled on his throne, by the death of his son. This monarch was exceedingly bountiful to the inhabitants; he not only made them considerable presents towards the rebuilding the town, but granted them a new charter, which is shewn in the next section.

In 1179, Henry, for the encouragement of the town, kept his Christmas here with William King of Scotland.' (fn. 25) John, the 4th son of Henry II. was in possession of the castle, and had the title of Earl of Nottingham; in which place he resided with regal dignity in the absence of his brother Richard I, who was gone to the holy wars; but aspiring to the crown he lost his power in this place. However, in the year 1193 he recovered it by force of arms (fn. 26) At Richard's return from the holy land he subdued John and his forces, and retook the castle in person, A. D. 1194. Here Richard called a parliament, and charged his brother John, and his adherents, with high crimes against himself and the state, and in consequence demanded immediate judgement against them. A proclamation being issued forth, that if Earl John and his adherents did not appear in forty days, that John should forfeit all his possessions, and his adherents should be subject to such penalties parliament should award against them. John not appearing he forfeited his possessions, and was judged incapable of succeeding to the crown. (fn. 27) At this parliament or counsel Eleanor, Queen mother, Henry IIs. widow, sat on the right hand of the King.

John, after the death of his brother Richard, being King, often honoured Nottingham with his presence. In 1212 he marched to Nottingham, and there hanged some hostages, which, but the year before, he had received from the Welsh who had offended him. John, ever timid and suspicious, the same year, shut himself up in the castle, with an hired armed force, in dread of a plot against him which he had received information of. Nottingham was a favorite place of this prince to which he was a considerable benefactor. Here he kept his Christmas feast in 1215. When the dauphin of France, contended with King John for the crown, Nottingham was highly in the King's interest.

Henry III. and Edward I. and II. were frequently at Nottingham; as have been also many of the prime nobility and distinguished persons of the land, at this early period of our history.

Footnotes

1    "A. D. 1068, William the conqueror with his army went to Nottingham, in his march against the Earls of Chester and Northumberland. and there built a castle."—Deering.
2    Reg. St Jac. de Northamp.
3    Reg de Lent. p 114.
4    ibid.
5    Rot. pip. 5 Steph.
6    Chron. Roff per Edm. de Haddenham.
7    Chron. Cestr.
8    Pat 6 Joh. mg.
9    Fin. 32 H. 3. m. 4.
10    Pat 49 H. 3, m. 87.
11    Anonymous M S.
12    ibid.
13   Camden and Hollenshed say that Nottingham castle was remarkable for strength and magnitude, and that it was built by the conqueror. Most of the places which had strong forts or castles in the time of the Romans, still retain the terminations Coster Cæster Chester &c. from which we may infer that Nottingham castle, or the fortisication on the rock where Nottingham castle stands, was probably founded either in the time of the Saxons or Normans.
14    Anonymous M S.
15    ibid.
16    Camb. Britt.
17    Tanner.
18    "This survey was taken three years before Henry the VI. made the town of Nottingham a county by itself, in which charter he excepts the king's-hall, and the castle of Nottingham, both which remain at this day in the county at large." Deering.
19    "An account of what Nottingham castle cost building, beginning February the 12th 1680, and ending April the 4th, 1683."
£   s.   d.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle paid with 500 b. of wood.   4731   11   5
And his Grace Henry Duke of Newcastle, Oct. 16. 1680.   7259   6   7
Feb. 5th. 1680   To Mr. Wright for cedar wood.   120   0   0
To ditto for marble chimney pieces.   52   0   0
To packing them.   3   13   4
12th.   For a saw for the cedar.   1   10   0
More paid from the 12th of Feb. 1680, to the 20th of Aug. 1681.   351   13   6
More paid from the 20th of August 1681, to the 12th of November following   552   14   5
More paid from the 12th of November 1681, to the 18th of February following.   253   2   11
From the 18th of Feb. 1681, to the 14th of April 1683.   677   5   7
Total   £. 14002   17   9
20   . "In the year 1714, the 26th of October, his Majesty King George I. was pleased to advance him (Thomas Lord Pelham above named) to the dignity of Earl of Clare in com. Suffolk, and Viscount Haughton m com Nottingham, with remainder to the honourable Henry Pelham his brother, and to his heirs male."
"He was on the 28th of October 1714, constituted Lord Lieutenant of the county of Nottingham, and Custos Rotulorum thereof, the 16th of November following.
"On the 10th of November 1714, he was constituted Custos Rotulorum of the county of Middlesex, and Lord Lieutenant of the said county, and of the city and liberty of Westminster the 28th of December following; also in the same year he was constituted steward, keeper and warden of the forest of Shirwood and park of Folewood in the county of Nottingham."
"And his Majesty farther considering his great merits and zeal to his service, was graciously pleased on the 2d of Auguft 1718, to create him Marquis and Duke of Newcastle with remainder to his brother the right honourable Henry Pelham. On the 13th of April 1717, he was declared lord chamberlain of the houshold, and sworn of the privy council the 16th of April; also at a chapter held at St. James's the 31st of March 1718, was elected one of the knights companions of the moft noble order of the garter, and installed at Windsor the 30th of April following. On the 22d of July his Grace was one of the peers commissioned by his Majesty who signed at the cockpit Whitehall, in conjunction with the imperial plenipotentiary and others the treaty of alliance between his Britannick majesty, the Emperor, and the King.of France, pursuant to a convention between his Majesty of Great-Britain and the French King."
"On the 19th of May 1719, he was declared one of the lords justices for the administration of the government, which honour he had like wise in 1720, 1723, 1725, and 1727."
"On the 4th of June 1719, being commissioned by the sovereign with Henry Grey, Duke of Kent, lord privy seal, and John Duke of Mountague; they installed at Windsor, Evelyn Pierrepont, Duke of Kingston, a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter. He was likewise in commission with the said Duke of Kingston the 24th of May 1720, and installed Charles Spencer Earl of Sunderland a knight companion of the said order; on the 2d of April 1724, his grace resigning his post of chamberlain of the houshold, was declared one of his Majefty's principal secretaries of state, and on the 8th of the same month took, his place at the board."
"In April 1726, he was chosen recorder of Nottingham. At his present Majesty's accession to the throne his Grace was continued in all his places, and sworn of his privy council. In July 1737, he was chosen high steward of Cambridge; and in 1740, he was one of the regents, during his Majesty's stay beyond the seas. Also in 1749 he was chose chancellor of the university of Cambridge."
The following is taken chiefly from the English Peerage in three quarto vols. printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, 1790.
"The Duke of Newcastle (to whom this edition of Thoroton is dedicated) Henry Fiennes Pelham Clinton, Duke of Newcastle under Line, Earl of Lincoln, knight of the garter, one of his Majesty's most honourable privy council, lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Nottingham, steward, keener and guardian of the forest of Shirwood and park of Folewood in the county of Nottingham, high steward of East-Retford in the county of Nottingham, auditor of the receipt of his Majesty's exchequer for life, comptroller of the customs in the port of London, high steward of Westminster, president of the Westminster hospital, doctor of laws, and fellow of the royal society."
"This nobleman was born the 20th of April 1720. He succeeded to the title of Earl of Lincoln, upon the death of his brother April 30, 1730. He succeeded to the title of Duke of Newcastle upon the death of Thomas Pelham Holles, Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the county of Northumberland, Marquis of Clare, Earl Clare, and Viscount Pelham, who by King George the II. was created Duke of Newcastle under Line, in the county of Stafford, with remainder to Henry Earl of Lincoln (now Duke of Newcastle) and died November 17, 1768."
"The Duke married October 16th, 1744, Catherine, daughter of the right honourable Henry Pelham, brother of Thomas Duke of Newcastle, by which lady, who died July 29th, 1760, he had issue. 1st. Henry Finnes Pelham, Earl of Lincoln, who married Frances, daughter of Francis Earl of Hortford; by which Lady, who died in 1760, he had issue. His Lordship died October 22d, 1778. 2d. Thomas Pelham Earl of Lincoln born in 1752, who had a chief command in America the last war, and John Pelham who died in 1781."
"The family of Clinton is descended from William Chamberlain of Normandy, whose three sons came over to England with William the conqueror. They took their name from the lordship of Climpton, now Glimpton in Oxfordshire." Their descendants have been long distinguished for their honourable alliances, their distinguished appointments as commanders by sea and land, and for holding, under the crown, high offices of trust.
Creations. Earl of the county of Lincoln 4th of May 1572. Duke of Newcastle under Line in the county of Stafford, 13th of November 1756. The chief seat Clumber park lodge in this county.
21    Wilson, Deering says was an ingenious artist, of whom it is remarkable that after this performance of his, he was for a time spoiled for a statuary; because a Leicestershire widow lady, the Lady Putsey, who was possessed of a very large jointure, falling deeply in love with him, got him knighted, and married him; but he living up to the extent of his apron-string estate, and his lady dying before him, Sir William returned to his former occupation, and the public recovered the loss of an eminent artist."
22    Deering. The figures here spoken of were the passion of our Saviour, made by David, king of the Scots, when a prisoner here.
23    Mr. Plumptre, a gentleman of learning, in Deering's time, conceives its derivation to be from the Saxon words heath, high and bath bath, so that in English it would be high-bath bridge, a name it might receive from an adjacent bathing place.
24    Whitlock mentions a sort to have been upon the bridge in the civil wars.
25    Magna Brit.
26    Stow.
27    Rapin.


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Section III:
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Quote
Its History and Antiquities, &c. under the government of Mayors, sucessively, down to the present time.

We come now to speak of the civil government of Nottingham, its successive grants, privileges, history, &c.

In pages 490 and 491 we find in Thoroton the following account.

QuoteSECTION III.

"It seems the Conquerour, or one of his sons, gave the Dominion of Nottingham, and the Forest, to William Peverel his Bastard son, and in that time it changed the name from Snotingham to Nottingham. For William Peverell in the Foundation of the Priory of Lenton (which was Founded in Henry the first his time, before the death of William, Henry the firsts son) where the words are, Pro salute Domini mei Henerici Regis, & Matildæ Reginæ uxoris ejus, & filii eorum Willielmi, & filiœ eorum Matildæ, he gives to this Monastery the Tythe of his Fish, of the Fishing of Nottingham; and further gives them (Concedente Domino meo Henrico) the Church of St. Mary, of the English Borough of Nottingham, the Church of St. Peter, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of Radford, with many others.

'The first Charter to this Ancient Borough appearing on Record, or that I could ever hear of, was made by Henry the second, and it is Burgensibus de Nottingham, and he thereby gives them all those Free Customs which they had in the time of King Henry his Grandfather, viz. Tholl, and Theme, and Infangtheise, and Tell from the (Ductu) way beyond Rempston unto Redford in le North, and from Thurmesien unto Newarke, of all passing the Trent; by the same Charter he grants to them, That all men coming ad forum de Nottingham cum quadrigis & summagiis suis a vespere diei veneris us, ue ed vesperum diet Sabbati non namentur nisi pro firma Regis.

'By all this it clearly appears they were a Corporation before, and had those Free Customs, kept a Market, and paid a Ferme to the Crown.

King John, when he was Earl Mortayne, had all Nottinghamshire, and the Forest, in a kind of Regal manner, and in that time he granted to the Burgesses of Nottingham a Charter of Liberties to the same effect, as he did in the first year of his Reign, for that when he was King hath relation to the Charter he granted, cum essemus Comes Mortayne; and I have seen that old Charter without a Seal. In his Charter as King, he grants them in effect, what his father had granted, and what they held in the time of his great Grandfather; and further gives them Gildam mercaoriam, and appoints that whoever should by them be constituted (Præpositus) Bayliff of that Borough, should pay the King's Ferme at his Exchequer at Easter and Michaelmas, and forbids the infringing of these Liberties upon forfeiture of ten pounds.

'In the Charter of Henry the third the Ferme is expressed to be 52l. blank, and for that Farm they had by that Charter the aforesaid Town given to them and their heirs (a phrase in that ancient time including Successors) and further that they should take Trouage, and have Coroners.

Edward the first granted unto them that they might elect a Major and two Bayliffs Secundum consuetudinem utriusque Burgi, and that their Major should be Escheator within the Borough. The distinction of the Boroughs continues to this day, and are called the English and French Borough. In the English Borough bloodshed is but 6s. 4d. in the French Borough it is 18s. And in the Plea Rolls of Common Pleas, M. 5 E. 2. there is a Custom within the English Borough of Nottingham, That Infants after fifteen years may sell their Lands as if they were of full age.

'From Edward the first till the 27 H. 6. they continued Burgesses in their Corporation, and then the King made the Borough a County, and turned the Bayliffs into Sheriffs, and incorporated them by the name of Major and Burgesses, in which plight they continue at this day."

In support of the above, Deering asserts that Nottingham was, doubtless, an ancient borough by prescription long before the conquest; and governed by a Reave or Bayliff (prepositus) for above the space of 200 years, reckoning no farther back than the conquest. Deering took much pains to procure a correct list of the mayors of this place; but his attempt was ineffectual, particularly of those who served prior to 1600. The first given in his list is

1302 Johannes fil de le Paumer. (fn. 1)

I am apprehensive that the intermediate years between Paumer and Ingram might be served by one or both of them, so on in other instances.

1314 Robert Ingram.

1330 Nicholas de Shelford.

This year Edward the III. held a parliament in this town.

1332 Lawrence de Spicer.

About this time the 5th of Edward III. a great council met here for the purpose of overthrowing the great favorite of the Queen Mother, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March; a story too well known to be recited here, particularly as the transaction is related in the description of Mortimer's hole, page 28. It appears however, upon good authority, that two of the Earl's friends were slain in the struggle when surprized: viz. Hugh de Turpliton knight, and John de Monmouth. The Earl himself died on a gallows called the Elms near Smithfield, on which his body hung two days and two nights, before interment.

1334 William de Amyas.

In 1337 a parliament was also held here in which an act was past favourable to the cloth trade, and great encouragement was given to foreigns in that business to settle in England. At this time also were obtained a grant of a tenth from the clergy and the citizens and burgesses of great towns, and likewise of those who dwelt out of large towns a fifteenth.

E 2

1334—5 Roger de Botchal.

1340 Ralph de Wolaton.

1367 John Samon.

1370 John Saumon.

1379 John de Plumtree.

1382 John de Samon.

1384 John de Samon.

1389 John de Croweshagh.

The 11th of Richard II. the King being offended with his last parliament, commanded all his justices, &c. to meet him at the castle of Nottingham on the morrow after St. Bartholemew day. Present the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Ireland, Earl Suffolk, the two chief Justices Trisilian and Belknapp, with others their brethren of the several Benches. Here many weighty matters were settled respecting his regal dignity.

1390 John de Croweshawe.

1391 Henry de Normanton.

1393 William Huntsman.

1394 John de Plumtree.

The 15th of Richard's reign also, that King held a great council here, and sent for some Londoners to lend him £1000. which they not only refused themselves; but beat and abused an Italian because he offered to lend the King the sum required. The King however soon humbled the pride and insolence of the citizens, for he seized their liberties and their power, appointed a governor of the city himself; and before they recovered their franchies he made them pay ten instead of one thousand pounds.

In 1397 the same King was at Nottingham on special business.

1399 John de Tannesley.

Here it may not be amiss to introduce, as set down in Thoroton, those transactions he has noticed respecting Nottingham, during the period we have been speaking in this section. In which, the reader will observe, several of the names, of the mayors above mentioned, recited; reserving his account of the religious houses and hospitals, and a further account of the corporation to be inserted in their respective places, to which they more immediately belong.

"There is a place on the high Pavement near the corner of St. Maries Church yard, called the Kings Hall, which is not within the County of the Town; in that Hall the Assizes, and Sessions, and other like businesses for the County are held, and under it, and by it is the Goal or Prison; but whether this be the Prison which King John erected at Nottingham, about the third year of his Reign, or that which is lower in the Street under the Towns Hall, where the Assizes, &c. for that County are kept, I cannot certainly determine."

"The Reparation of the Bridge of Nottingham, 10 Joh. was undertaken by the Bre thren of the Hospital of St. John in Nottingham."

"In the year 1241. Walter Grey Arch-bishop of York sent to Robert Alwin, Master of the Hospital of St. John Baptist at Nottingham, and to the Fathers there serving God, a Statute Rule for the Brethren and Sisters of that Hospital: first, that they should provide two or more Chaplains to celebrate Divine Service for ever, &c. This Master and Brethren, 36 H 3. were to have two Cart Loads of Wood out of the Woods of Hugh Nevil in Arnhall."

"The Lepers of the Hospital of St. Leonard at Nottingham, 10 H. 3. had reasonable Estover of dead Wood to be gathered in the Forest of Nottingham."

"The Jury, 30 E. 1. found it not to the Kings loss if he granted licence to John le Paumer of Nottingham, and to Alice his wife (who was sister and heir of Hugh de Stapleford, son of Robert de Stapleford of Nottingham) to give 6l. 13s. 5d. Rent, with the Appurtenances in Nottingham, to a certain Chaplain to celebrate Divine Offices for their Souls, &c. in the Chapel of St. Mary on Hethebethe Brigg, where there is one Arch, yet known by the name of Chappell Arch. This Alice out lived her Husband, who was called John le Palmer the elder, and had interest at Algarthcrp by Basford, as in that place may be observed."

"There have been many considerable persons resident in this Town, and many Traders and Officers here, from whom Families of good esteem and worship have sprung. From Raph Bugge of this place descended the Willoughbies of Wollaton and Risley; the Binghams, Bugges of West Leke; and I suppose Bigge of Stanford upon Sore, as in several places of this Book may be seen."

"The Jury, 32 E. 1. found it not to the Kings loss if he granted to Richard de Willughby, that he might give five Marks Rent, with the Appurtenances in Nottingham, held of the said Richard, to a Chaplain in the Church of St. Peter at Nottingham, &c."

"Bugge Hall in Nottingham descended to Sir Richard de Bingham, Knight, or which name some continued in this Town till the Reign of Edward the third, or after, whereof one Adam, son of Adam de Bingham of Nottingham, 13 E. 2. passed to Richard de Bingham of Nottingham his brother, a Messuage on the high Pavement, scituate between the Lane by St. Maries Church-yard, and a Tenement of Sir Richard de Willughbies, afterwards given to the Chantry of Sutton Passeyes; and John, son of Richard de Bingham of Nottingham, 21 E. 3. conveyed it to Henry de Baukewell, and Alice his wife, to whom Cicily and Alice, daughters of Richard de Bingham, and Robert, son and heir of Richard de Bingham, also, 22 E. 3. released it, so that afterwards it had the name of Bakewell Place, and 4 R. 2 was passed to Thomas de Betalle of Nottingham, whose son Mr. Roger Bottale, Arch-deacon of Cardygan, 3 H. 5 settled it on John Bottale his brother, and the heirs of his body, which John had a daughter called Joane Bureley, widow, who, together with William Molyneux, son and heir of Nicolas Molyneux, 37 H. 6. conveyed it to Richard Campyon, who, 1 E. 4. released it to John Hunt of Nottingham, Merchant, as did also, 5 E. 4. Richard Bingham the Judge, who had been enscoffed thereof, together with John Manchestre, then dead, by Thomas Kay, Son and Heir of Thomas Kay, sometime of Nottingham, from which John Hunt it came by Inheritance, according to the Descent in Hockerton to Gilbert Boun, Serjeant at Law, who made it his Mansion House from whence, after he had been imprisoned at Darby a year or more, by the first setters up of the late horrid Rebellion in these parts, he was, with the loss of all he had, violently expelled by the Governor of Nottingham."

"There was an House over against this, which in 17 E. 3. belonged to Robert Wolaton, and Alice his wife; and in 27 Eliz. is said to lie between the House of Nicolas Kinnersley, Gent, and Joane his wife (but since Sir Thomas Hutchinsons) and the Common Hall of the County, which said House was by Francis Leeke of Sutton in le Dale in the County of Darby, Esquire, then conveyed to John Boun, Father of the said Gilbert, who some years before the said Rebellion, gave it to be used by the Country at the Assizes as an Hall, for the more convenient Tryals of Nisi Prius, and it was made with Arches open to the Street on that side for that purpose, as it remains at this day, so that the other Hall adjoining, is free for Criminal Causes, or other business of the Crown."

"Beyond this new Hall was a pleasant little Garden, which the Lady Katherine Hutchinson (the relict of the said Sir Thomas) much affecting, about the Kings Return purchased of John Boun, Esquire, the Serjeants elder son, to enlarge her own, to which it was contiguous, as she did also (perhaps for the Gardens sake, wherein she takes great delight) the dwelling House, but that she shortly after sold to Robert White the present owner, who in the place of an old Barn or Stable hath built a pretty New Brick House sacing St. Maries Church-yard."

"There was a fine levyed at Nottingham the Munday next after the Feast of St. Martin, 3 E. 3. between Walter, son of Robert Ingram, Quer and Robert Ingram, Chivaler, and Orframma his wife, Deforc. of four Messuages, one Oven, forty Acres of Land, six Acres of Medow, and 100s. Rent, with the Appurtenances in Nottingham, which were then settled on the said Walter Ingram, and the heirs of his body; remainder to the said Robert, and Orsramma, and the heirs of Robert. John Ingram of Nottingham, 4 R. 2. conveyed to Sir Gervas Cliston, Knight, Hugh de Willughby, Raph de Adurley, Richard de Gifford of Nottingham, Thomas Martell, Thomas Whatton, Raph de Adurley, junior, and Thomas Ingram, Chaplain, all his Lands, Rents, and Services in Sneynton, and other where in England, &c. Edmund Ingram of Nottingham, 8 R. 2. passed all his Lands, Rents, and Services in Sneynton, to Sir Edmund Perepunte, Knight, and his heirs, and likewise the yearly Rent of eight Marks issuing out of all Lands and Tenements in Nottingham, and Willeford, and Whatton: The Witnesses were John Samon of Nottingham, John Croweshawe, of the same, Henry de Plumtre, then Bayliff of Nottingham, Robert de Watton, John de Burton, &c. I guess that my Lord Marquess of Dorchesters House, wherein his Grandfather Sir Henry Pirrepont dwelt, on the top of St. Mary Hill, was Sir Robert Ingrams, for in 13 E. 2. St. Mary Lane is said to lead from the Kings Hall to the Tenement of Robert Ingram, &c. he is named in Sneynton also, if that Robert was not his father, or other Ancestor, as by the time he should."

"Luke de Crophill, Clark, son of Gregory de Crophill, gave one Messuage in Nottingham, which William de Stoke sometime held of him, to the Priory of Thurgarton in pure Alms. William, son of Roger de Crophull, 5 E. 3. passed a Croft, &c. to William, son of William de Crophull in Nottingham of which place they were both then Inhabitants: The Witnesses were Laurence le Spicer, the Major, Robert de Morewode, Bayliff, Robert de Crophull of Nottingham, Roger de Botehale, Nicolas de Shelford, &c. On the Seal of Arms of Nicolas de Crophill of Nottingham, within the Circumscription of his name, 35 E. 3. is, A Lion Rampant, as there is on the Seal of John Crophull of Nottingham, Skinner, 16 H. 6. and at other times, empaling A Chevron between three Bulls heads Cabossed. Many of the chief men of Nottingham had Seals of Arms within a fair Circumscription of their names, as Hugh le Spicer, son of Laurence le Spicer of Nottingham, which Hugh married Joane, the daughter of William de Amyas, and had upon his Shield a Crosse Formie, and on a Chief three Palletts, 8 E. 3. As Robert de Morewode, 9 E. 3. had A Chevron between three Holly Leaves slipped erect. And Roger de Hopwelle of Nottingham also, 44 E. 3. had a Bend ingrailed between two Crossecrosletts. Richard Samon, and Thomas de Amyas, 5 E. 3. were Bayliffs of Nottingham, and 40 E. 3. John Samon was Major. These Samons had interest in Gotham, and some of them settled at Annesley Woodhouse, whereof I have found the Entry set down in the following Page."

"The Arms of this Family at length were. Three Samons in pale, which quartered with Arg. a Bend ingrailed Azure between a Mullet, and an Annulet Gules, which are in the South Window of St. Maries Church, and supposed to belong to St. Almond, or Samon of Nottingham."



[Pedigree]

It is said that Henry the 4th was some time at Nottingham when a combat was appointed to be determined here.

1404 Robert Glade.

1412 Robert Glade.

1415 Thomas Kay.

1422 Thomas Poge.

Henry the V. made the mayor, recorder and four others whom the mayor should chuse justices of the peace, and ordered the county magistrates, who, heretofore acted in the town, to discontinue that usage.

1425 William Stokes.

1427 John Plumtree.

1429 William Brooholme.

It has been seen above, in Thoroton's account, that Henry the VI. made the town of Nottingham a county of itself, and changed the bailiffs into sheriffs. He also gave power to the burgesses to chuse cut of themselves, seven aldermen one of which always to be mayor, and that such aldermen should all be justices of the peace, and wear scarlet gowns of the same fashion as the mayor and aldermen of London use to do. (fn. 2) In this state things remained till the reign of James I. (of which hereafter) altho' the town received confirmation of their charters by most of the Kings and Queens in that intermediate space of time.

1437 John Plumtree.

1438 William Webster.

1441 William Halisax.

1444 Thomas Alaster.

1447 Enalfrid Knyveten.

1449 Thomas Thurland.

1458 Thomas Thurland.

1467 John Hunt.

In continuation of Thoroton's account of respectable families of Nottingham, he says, "Besides these before mentioned many persons and Families of good note have been here resident, and sprung from this place, John de Tannesley and Thomas de Mapurley, named in Basford, flourished here in the latter part of the Reign of Richard the second. Galsr. Knyveton was Major 25 H. 6. And before that, viz. 19 H. 6. William Halyfax, on the back-side of whose House, now Ed. Holymans, is a blind Lane called I suppose from him Halyfax Lane. In 37 H. 6. Thomas Thurland was Major, and a great Merchant; his large House is now the Earl of Clares, as is also the Town of Gameleston, where some of his posterity are noted."

"Richard Mellors, Bell Founder, lived in the time of Edward the fourth, his wifes name was Agnes, and after his death stiled the Lady Mellors, and Dame Agnes Mellors, being a Vowess it seems; she gave to the Free School at Nottingham divers Lands and Tenements of good value; her son and heir Robert Mellors followed the same Trade, and was also a Benefactor to the School, to which by his last will bearing date 16 July, 1515, he gave a Close which he bought of one William Page lying in Basford Wong, and an House in Bridlesmithgate which he bought of the same person or else the money which should be gotten for it; but if the School should not be kept according to the Foundation as it was granted, his heirs should re-enter and have the said Close, with the Appurtenance, again. He was Burgess in Parliament for this Town, and had to wife Julian, daughter and heir of. . . Mapurley, after his death married to one Nicolas Quarneby; Elizabeth the only daughter and heir of this Robert Mellors, was married (perhaps by her Father-in-laws procurement) to (his Nephew) Humfrey Quarneby, who was son and heir of his brother Thomas Quarneby, and of Elizabeth his wife, one of the two daughters and co-heirs of Henry Tickhill, and Margaret his wife, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Thomas Pembrug, which said Henry Tickhill was son of Robert Tickhill, and Agnes his wife, daughter and heir of Henry Wychard of Chaddesden near Darby. This Humfrey Quarneby was also Alderman of this Town, and served for it as Burgess in Parliament; his son and heir Robert Quarneby had two daughters and heirs, Elizabeth, wife of John Kyme (descended from a branch of the House of Kyme of Friskeney in Lincolneshire) and Mary the wife of Thomas Blyth of Espley-Wood-Hall. John Kyme by his wife the said Elizabeth had two sons, John, who married Gertrude, the daughter of John Rosell of Radcliffe, Esquite, but had no issue; and Philip who died a Batchelor; and two daughters, Anne, wife of John Hunt of Aston in the County of Darby, who left no Child; and Mary, wife of George Alton, who had two daughters, Mary married to one John Major, who lived in London; and Elizabeth, whom her Grandfather the said John Kyme made his heir, and married to John Gregorie of Nottingham, Gent, son and heir of William Gregory, Alderman, who by Grazing raised a very considerable Estate from the lowest beginning, yet it seems he was descended from a younger branch of the Family of Gregory of Highhurst in the County of Lancaster, who bore for their Arms Party per pale Arg and Azure, two Lions Rampant averse (which some call endorsed, viz. back to back) Counterchanged; howbeit in the year 1662," when William Dugdale, Esquire, Norroy King of Arms, made his Visitation, George Gregorie, Esquire, son and heir of the said John and Elizabeth, not exhibiting such sufficient proof as since he hath, thought sit to take a grant of the Arms and Crest he now useth from the said Norroy, in relation to his Descent from the Antient Family of Kyme. He hath the last year, viz. 1674, rebuilt most of the old Mansion House, which is esteemed one of the best Seats in the whole Town, having also a pretty Close besides the Gardens adjoyning to it. His Grandfather the said George Alton, was son of John Alton an eminent Physitian in Nottingham, who had a daughter named Elen, wife of Thomas Bray of Eyam in the County of Derby, to whom she bore...., the wife of John Martin, Gent. a considerable owner in Nottingham, and Elizabeth, who having ten thousand pounds of her said Grandfather Dr. Alton's Estate to her Portion, was preferred in marriage to the Honourable Francis Pierreponte, Esquire, third son of Robert Earl of Kingston, which said Francis built a fair House, wherein he lived and died himself here at Nottingham, which remains the principal dwelling of Robert Pierrepont, Esquire, his son and heir. Humfrey Quarneby, before named, had a daughter called Margery, wife of John Gregorie, related to those of that name now seated at Barneby on Dun in Yorkeshire, Alderman also of this Town, whereof he was Major 29 Eliz. which John had a son William Gregory, who was Town-Clark, and served in Parliament as Burgess, and a daughter . . . . wife of William Greaves, who had Robert Greaves, Town-Clark also, and Burgess, who for his loyalty to King Charles the first, being in Newark Garrison, suffered great loss of his interests here; his brother William Greaves was Parson of Nutthall, and left three sons of good rank in this Town, William, who is Alderman and Register of the Arch-deacon's Court; John, and Edward Greaves the Apothecary; Humsrey their Uncle, brother of the said William the Parson and of Robert the Town-Clark, hath a son John Greaves, Parson of Whitwell in Darbyshire."



[Pedigree]

1469 Thomas Alestre.

1470 Robert Englishe.

King Edward was at Nottingham, while the castle was enlarging this year.

1471 Thomas Lockton.

1475 Thomas Hunt.

1486 William Hygin.

In 1483, Richard III. was at this town, in the month of August, whence he took a circuit, northward, while the murders of his nephews were accomplished. He also was here in 1485, with his brave little army, immediately before he fought the renowned battle of Bosworth, which cost him his crown and life. Hutton is of an opinion, that his army, when they marched from Nottingham, must have covered at least three miles of the road. His forces, chiefly consisting of foot, he separated into two divisions; the first marched five in rank, then followed his baggage, then himself upon a large white courser, richly caparisoned, attended by his body guards. The second division marched five abreast also. The horse formed the wings and kept the centre. Such was the manner that this great General, but murdering Prince, left Nottingham, and approached Leicester, on his passage to his grave.

1487 Richard Ody.

Henry the 7th was at Nottingham, immediately before the battle of Stoke, in this county.

Before the year 1503, there was no house in Nottingham, but what was thatched with straw or reed, and built of wood and plaster. This year the Unicorn Inn, the last house on the Long-row, was tiled, which circumstance is expressed in the writings of that house.

1506 Richard Melleurs.

No names occurring, in the list of Mayors, between the names of Ody and Melleurs, seems to militate against the opinion, page 35, that the intermediate time might be served by one or both of them.

1507 Richard Pickerde.

1522 Thomas Mellers.

Between the mayoralty of Pickarde and Mellers, is another unaccounted for space of years, respecting the list of Mayors. It is, however, no unpleasant thing to observe, that in this intermediate space of time, the widow of the opulent Bell-founder, Melleurs or Mellers, who was Mayor in 1506, founded a grammar school in this town, A. D. 1513. The indenture, by which this female, (who was a vowess, and often called lady Mellers) settled the free school, being of a curious nature, we give it a place here without scruple.

"To all christian people, to whose knowledge this present writing triplicate indented shall come to be seen or read, Agnes Meller, widow and vowess, sendeth greeting, in him that is the root of Jesse, produced to the salvation of all people."

"Whereas the most excellent and famous prince king Henry VIII. of his right blessed disposition and meer mercy, by his letters patents sealed under his great seal, has licensed, authorized and granted, to his well beloved counsellor Thomas Lovel, knight, treasurer of his most honourable houshold, and me the said Agnes, and to our executors, and to every one of us, license, power and authority, to begin, found and erect, unite, create and establish, one free-school, of one schoolmaster and one usher perpetually to be kept in the parish of our lady in the town of Nottingham, for evermore to endure after the ordering, institution and will of us the said Thomas and me the said Agnes, or one of us, our executors or assignes, or the executors of either of us hereafter to be made, and further things, as in the same letters patents more plainly appeareth."

"Know ye that I remembring how the universal faith catholick by clergy and commons most firmly corroborated. and by learning the public weale commonly is governed, ardently have designed to the honour of almighty God, laud and praise to the elect and chosen mother of mercy and virgin, our lady St. Mary, to accomplish the said virtuous and blessed Grant, and by force thereof, begin, erect, found, create, establish and make one free-school, of one master and one usher, to teach grammar, everlastingly to endure, and to be kept in the parish of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin a within the town of Nottingham, willing, ordaining and establishing, that the said school be evermore called the free-school of the town of Nottingham. And John Smith parson of Bilborow I make schoolmaster of the same, as long as it shall seem to me and the mayor of the said town of Nottingham for the time being convenient. And to my right trusty friends Mr. William English and William Barwell, I make deputies, and ordain guardians, keepers and surveyors of the said free-school during their lives: I will also, ordain and establish, that the mayor, aldermen and common-council of the said town of Nottingham and their successors, after the decease of the said Williams, shall yearly from year to year on the feast of the translation of St. Richard the bishop, chuse two discreet persons, bur gesses, to be chamberlains, guardians, keepers and surveyors of the lands and tenements and possessions, pertaining and bequeathed, given, or hereafter to be given and bequeathed and belonging to the said free-school, to rule, govern and support, the charges, payments and business, of the same, from the same feast of translation, to the said feast of St. Richard next following, at which feast or within eight days then next following, I will that the said guardians, now by me named, or hereafter to be named, made and elected, shall make account to the said mayor and aldermen, and their successors, of all things by them received or taken to the use of the said foundation, and after their accounts so made and finished, new guardians, or else the same, by the advice and discretion of the said mayor and aldermen to be elected and chosen, and that the same guardians, keepers and surveyors, by the name of the guardians of the free-school of Nottingham may plead and be impleaded before all judges of every court, and also writs and actions maintain and have. Moreover I will that the said mayor, aldermen and common-council of the said town of Nottingham, with the guardians that now be of the said school, or hereafter shall be, or eight of them at the least, whereof the mayor and guardians of the same free-school, I will, shall be three, after the decease of the said Mr. John Smith, parson of Bilborow, or after such time as it shall fortune that the said Mr. John Smith, shall leave or be removed from the said office of schoolmaster, shall conduct and hire one other able person of good and honest conversation, to be schoolmaster of the said freeschool, and one usher, at such time, and as soon as the lands and possessions given to the said free-school, will support the charge thereof, and the same school master and usher, for good and reasonable causes, or either of them, to amove and expel, and others in his or their stead, to take, retain, and put in, from time to time, as often, and when they shall think requisite and necessary."

"And furthermore I will and ordain, that the schoolmaster for the time being, and his usher, or one of them, shall daily when he keeps school cause the scholars every morning in their school-house e're they begin their learning, to say, with an high voice the whole credo in deum patrem, &c."

"Also I ordain and establish, that the guardians of the said free-school for the time being and their successors, shall yearly on the feast of the translation of St. Richard, which is the 16th of June, keep or, cause to be kept and done solemnly in the church of St. Mary in Nottingham, the obiit of the said Agnes Mellers, my husband's and mine after my decease, and give, pay and expend, of the rents, issues and profits, given and bequeathed, pertaining and belonging to the said free-school, for our soul's health 20s. in form following: That is to say, to the vicar of the said church, personally being present, from the beginning of the dirge and mass of the same obiit to the ending thereof, for his attendance, and for his lights at that time burning 3s. and if he occupy by deputy, then to have but 2s. and to every priest of the same church and either of the clarks of the said parish there also being, for such like time 4d. and also the mayor of the town of Nottingham, for the time, being personally present at the beginning and ending of the same mass and dirge. 6d. and to every alderman of the same town, there also being present, for such like time, 4d. and the mayor's clark and his two serjeants being and attending on their master and aldermen at the beginning of the said mass and dirge, and for serving such things as shall be prepared for them at the said obiit, to each of them 2d. and to the parish clarks for the great bells ringing eight peals, and after the accustomable length, 3s. and that the said guardians shall retain and keep in their own hands for either of them for their own use —for their business and attendance, in providing bread, ale and cheese, and towels, cups, pots, and necessary things at the said obiit; and there shall expend in bread, to be sent to the aldermen, &c. according to the custom in the church 2s. in cheese 8d. in ale 16d. and the residue remaining over this mine ordinance and will performed, if any be left, I will shall be distributed to the poorest scholars of the said free-school, to pray for our souls and all of our friends."

"I will also, ordain and establish and strictly enjoin, that the schoolmaster and usher nor any of them, have, make nor use, any potations, cock fightings, nor drinking, with his or their wife or wives, hostess or hostesses, but once or twice in the year, nor take any other gifts or vails, whereby the scholars or their friends should be charged, but at the pleasure of the friends of the scholars.------Wages to be paid by the said guardians."

"And here if it fortune the said mayor, aldermen and common-council, to be negligent and forgetful in finding and choosing of the schoolmaster and the usher, forty days next after such time as it shall fortune him to be amoved, or deceased, keeping and doing the obiit yearly, in manner and form above expressed in such like time; or the lands and tenements or hereditaments, and other possessions, or the yearly rent of them into other uses than finding of the said free school, to convert; then I will, ordain and establish, that the prior and convent of the monastery of the holy trinity of Lenton, for the time being, and their successors, shall have as a forfeiture, the rule, guiding and oversight, of the said lands, tenements, or hereditaments, &c. schoolmaster, with all other things to the premisses in any wife appertaining, to the intent above express'd, in as ample and large wife as the mayor and burgesses have or should have had the same, by this my present constitution and ordinance."

"Also I do ordain and establish, that the ordinances, statutes and establishments and constitutions, for the good governance and rule of the said free-school, by me made in my life, under my seal, by me determined, everlastingly to be kept, and each one of them stedfastly shall be holden, observed and kept for ever, without any diminution or abridgement, or changing of them or any of them any wife, and that it shall be lawful to the said mayor, aldermen and common council and their successors at all times hereafter, from time to time, at their liberty, other constitutions, statutes, and ordinances for the good governance and continuance of the said free-school to make, them or part of them by their discretion to repeal, and admit at their pleasures as often and whensoever they shall think it most necessary and convenient, so that such constitutions, statutes and ordinances, of new to be made, nor any of them, be in any wife contrary or repugnant to the statutes and establishments and ordinances by me, in my life, under my seal, made, written and determined. In witness whereof, &c. &c &c."

To the above have been added several gifts and benefactions, at various periods, besides those given by her son, mentioned by Thoroton, page 40. The school was repaired in 1689, and in 1708.

A curious bequest also took place in 1524, that of Mr. Thomas Willoughby, one of the aldermen of Nottingham, an abstract of which is inserted, in some measure, to shew the complection of the times, with respect to religious ceremonies. His gifts to his kindred, and things of less consequence to readers in general, I have purposely omitted.

"In the name of God Amen, the 4th day of the month September in the year of our Lord God 1524. I Thomas Willoughby of Nottingh. beinge in holle and perfect mind doe make my testament and last Will in manner of these articles following:"

"First. I bequeath my soule to almyghty God, and to our Saviour, St. Mary, and all the company of heaven and my body to be buried within the parish church of St. Mary's in Nottingham, by Ladies-Chappell nigh unto my seat, and my principal to be given after the laudable custom there used."

"Item. I will that myn executors shall give unto every priest of the said church being at my burial 6d. and to every estranger priest there being, 4d. and either of the freers if they come holle to my burial, 3sh. 4d."

"Item. I will have 13 torches born light at my burial and every torch-bearer 2d. and all other charges about my burial to bee done by the diseretion of myn executors."

"Item. I bequeath to the high alter for tythes and oblations forgotten, 10 sh."

"Item. I bequeath 28l. to be dispersed in manner following: That is to say, that myn executors shall have the keeping thereof and to give yearly to a priest to sing for my soule in St. Mary's church of Nottingh. for the space of six years next after my decease and every year 4l. 13th. 4d. to be given to the same priest. If it fortune my wife to marry and take an husband, then I will that the residue of this xxviii pound unto the prior and covent of the abby of Newsted, there to remain to find a priest as is aforesaid in the church of saint Mary's in Nott. and the said prior and covent to bee bounden to my executors by their covent seale for performeinge of the said priests findinge."

It has been said that Henry the VIII. was at Nottingham on an affair of gallantry; but to this little credit is due. Of this king, however, (whose attachment to the fair was generally, of short duration) the corporation have in their possession a note for £147. 13. 4. which he, by leave, obtained from the inhabitants, in and for the war against France and Scotland. (fn. 3) By this, it should seem, notwithstanding the immense riches, which he obtained from the plunder of the religious institutions, that he had not common honesty.

1544 John Plumbtree.

From Thomas Mellors to Plumbtree is another great vacuum in the list.

1548 Robert Lovat.

1551 Thomas Cockayne.

1557 William Atkinson.

Dr. Plot mentions a violent tempest which happened in this neighbourhood, in 1558, that was terrible in its consequence. All the houses of the little hamlet of Sneinton, which adjoins to Nottingham, and those of Gedling, with both their churches, were blown down; and the water and mud from the Trent, was carried a quarter of a mile and cast against some trees with such amazing force that they were torn up by the roots. Stow notices this event, and says it was on the 7th of July. A child, he says, was taken forth of a man's hand, two spear length high, and carried an hundred foot and then let fall, wherewith the arm was broke, and so died. Five or six men were also slain, by this tempest, and the hail stones that fell, during its existence, measured 15 inches round.

The 15th of Eliz. the mayor of Nottingham received a commission to muster the militia; but as this was common to most places, it is considered more a national than a provincial concern to relate.

In 1562, Sir Thomas Manners gave £5 per ann. to the poor of Nottingham for ever.

1571 John Gregory.

1574 Robert Burton.

1576 Henry Newton.

1577 Richard James.

1578 William Scot.

1580 Robert Alvey.

The inhabitants of Nottingham, as well as those in other places in the kingdom, about this time, were tinctured with religious frenzy. Reports were every where spread abroad that the pope and the king of Spain had conspired to conquer England. Disputant catholics in consequence challenged protestants, and protestants personally abused the catholics, in a manner not justifiable to a fallen enemy. A proclamation as harsh, as some of the sanguinary laws of France at this period, were issued forth at length, forbidding any one to harbour any jesuit or popish priest on pain of being punished as rebels.

1581 Robert Burton.

1584 Peter Clark.

1585 William Scot.

1586 John Gregory.

The family of Gregory was of considerable import, long in Nottingham.

1587 Robert Alvey.

William Willoughby, by will this year, gave a sum of money to buy gowns for four poor persons, and 20s each to six poor men every five years for ever.

1588 Robert March.

1589, the year after the defeat of the Spanish armada, the stocking frame, which has brought such wealth to the inhabitants of this place, was invented. Deering says:

"The inventor of the Stocking Frame was one Mr. William Lee, M. A. of St. John's College, in Cambridge, born at Woodborough, a village in Nottinghamshire, about seven miles from the town of Nottingham. He was heir to a pretty freehold estate; of whom the traditional story says: That he was deeply in love with a young townswoman of his, whom he courted for a wife, but she, whenever he went to visit her, seemed always more mindful of her knitting, than the addresses of her admirer; this slight created such an aversion in Mr. Lee, against knitting by hand, that he determined to contrive a machine, that should turn out work enough to render the common knitting a gainless employment: Accordingly he set about it, and having an excellent mechanical head, he brought his design to bear, in the year 1589; after he had worked a while, he taught his brother and several relations to work under him. Having for some years practised this his new art, at Calverton, a village about five miles from Nottingham; either himself or his brother James, worked before Queen Elizabeth, in order to shew an experiment of this kind of workmanship, offering at the same time this discovery of his to his countrymen, who instead of accepting the offer, despised him, and discouraged his invention: Being thus discountenanced by his native country, and soon after invited over to France wich promise of great rewards, priviledges and honour, by King Henry IV. he embraced the seeming fair opportunity, and went himself, with nine workmen his servants, and as many frames, to the city of Roan in Normandy, where they wrought with so great applause from the French, that in all likelihood the trade was to have been settled in that country for ever, had not the sudden murder of that monarch disappointed Mr. Lee, of his expected grant of priviledge, and the succeeding intestine troubles of that kingdom, delay'd his renewed suit, and at last frustrated all his hopes, at which seized with grief, he ended his life at Paris. After his death seven of his workmen, (being left to shift for themselves) returned with their frames to England, two only remaining behind."

"These seven with one Aston, who had been an apprentice to Mr. Lee, and by him was before left at home, and who also added something to his master's invention, did lay the foundation of this manufacture in England, and in the space of fifty years, this art was so improved, and the number of able workmen became so great; that the heads among them thought it necessary for the better regulating their members, and keeping this valuable business from spreading abroad, to petition Oliver Cromwell, to constitute them a body corporate, which however, for what reason I cannot tell, they did not obtain at that time."

"King Charles II. after the restoration granted them at last a charter, by which their jurisdiction extended to ten miles round London."

"In process of time, when the trade spread farther into the country, they also in proportion stretch'd their authority and established commissioners in the several principal towns in the county where this trade was exercised, there they held courts, at which they obliged the country framework-knitters, to bind and make free, &c. whereby, they, (for many years) drew great sums of money, till some person of more spirit than others in Nottingham brought their authority in question and a trial ensuing, the company was cast, since that time the stocking manufacture has continued entirely open in the country."

1590 John Bronlow.

About this time the burgesses of Nottingham began to benefit by the bounty of Sir Thomas White. This Gentleman, whose good intentions to posterity has far exceeded his most fanguine wishes, was a citizen of London, and once lord mayor of that place. He belonged to the merchant taylors company. In the year 1546, he placed into the hands of the mayor and commonalty of the city of Coventry, £1400, to purchase lands, the rents of which he was to receive for life, and after his death it was to be applied, agreeable with his will, as under. This sum of £1400, bought land which brought him in £70 per annum. Sir Thomas dying in 1556, it was found that his will directed the whole to be applied to charitable uses. Out of this £70 per annum, £40 the will ordered to be paid to four young men of Coventry, £10 each, who could find security for the money, free of interest for nine years. After the expiration of the nine years the said trust was directed to pay to two young men, free of Coventry, the like sum to be continued for thirty years, each holding the money for nine years as in the first instance. After this the towns of Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham, and Warwick, respectively were to receive the £40, as in the first case. He willed also that no person should receive this benefit twice. The income now to each of these places is amazingly increased, and it is lent out instead of £10 as heretofore, in sums of £40 and £50 to each person.

In the town-hall parlour, in Leicester, is a portrait of Sir Thomas White, in his alderman's gown. Under his arms in the same place is written:

Lo! here a ship a merchant royal fraught, With store of wealth from whose rich sides unsought, Plenty of metal hath been largely given; White's name, White's gifts, White's soul, White's saint in Heaven.

Whose arms wee (least wee shew ourselves ingrate) Properly blazoned here do celebrate; The which eternal monument shall be Of White's renown to all posterity. Die then and rot and stink ye hulks of shame, Who charg'd with wealth have nothing but a name Of dying rich, whose tombs shall never speak Your praises, one White shall all your credit break.

1591 Peter Clark.

1592 William Stot.

In 1591 there was an uncommon drought, which was exceedingly injurious to vegetation, particularly on the sandy grounds about Nottingham. It being succeeded, this summer, by strong westerly winds and little rain, the Trent and other rivers were almost without water. The Thames, historians say, was so dried up that a man might ride over it, on horse-back, near London-bridge.

1593 William Trott.

1594 Robert Alvey.

1595 Robert Hurt.

1596 Richard Morehaghe.

1597 Peter Clark.

As a parochial matter, I will just mention, that an act of parliament, this year, passed for erecting workhouses for the poor.

1598 Anker Jackson.

Below this date, the reader will perceive, that the list of the chief magistrates, of Nottingham, is nearly regular.

1600 Humphrey Bonner.

1601 —

As another parish concern, I mention that an act of parliament passed which provided, especially, for the relief of the poor and appointing overseers.

1602 Richard Hurt.

1603 Richard Morehage.

Alderman John Parker, by will, this year left 20s annually, to buy bread for the poor for ever; and 20s for the minister of St. Mary's, for preaching a sermon on christian love and charity, on Good Friday.

1604 Richard Welsh.

1605 Anker Jackson.

In commemoration of the gunpowder plot, which was discovered this year, and the deliverance from the Spanish Armada, in the former reign, a Mr. Jackson of London, left 40s annually, for a sermon to be preached on each of those days on the occasion, at St. Peter's Church. To the poor of this parish he was also a benefactor.

1606 William Freeman.

1607 Humphrey Bonner.

In the reign of James I. a great dispute arose about the disposal of the town's money. The aldermen contending that they had a right to fit in council and vote at the disposal of all bridge money, and school lands, &c. The councel opposed that practice as being contrary to antient usage. The business was at length left to the opinion of the judges, who determined it that the aldermen had no right to vote on those occasions. At this time the number of the council was reduced to 24, of which, six was to be elected by the burgesses at large: these are called junior council.

1609 Richard Hurt.

1610 Richard Morehage.

1611 Richard Welch.

1612 Anker Jackson.

1613 William Freeman.

1614 Marmud Gregory.

1615 Robert Stapels.

King James I. was six several times at Nottingham. His queen also visited this place. (fn. 4)

1616 Thomas Nix.

1617 Leonard Nix.

1618 —

This year the county or shire hall was built. See Sect. 6.

1619 Anker Jackson.

1620 Marmaduse Gregory.

In imitation of Sir Thomas White's charity, a Mr. Parkes gave £30 to be lent, without interest, to six young burgesses £5 each, for seven years. And so on, in like manner, at the expiration of that time, to six others for ever.

1621 Richard Parker.

1622 Robert Stapels.

1623 Robert Sherwin.

1624 Leonard Nix.

Of the respectable family of Skeffington, was one, named William, who was an inhabitant of Nottingham, of whom Thoroton says:

"William Skeffington, Esquire, and Elizabeth his wife, the relict of Francis Thornhaugh, reside in this Town in an House on St. Mary Hill, purchased of Thomas Mucklow of Broughton Sulney, who had it by the marriage of one of the daughters and heirs of Alderman Parker, of which name and kindred there are now two John Parkers Aldermen, the one a Mercer, the other an Apothecary, of which Trade there were lately above twenty more than formerly have been, when the gains and employment were greater, whereof Adrian Gardiner was the oldest, who brought up many sons very well, his eldest is Mr. Robert Gardiner of Sleeford in Lincolneshire; his two youngest, which were by a latter wife, were Doctors, Joseph of Physick, who died at Nottingham, and James of Divinity, who is now Subdeane of Lincolne, and Chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Monmouth. Thomas Charleton, Esquire, named in Cbillewell, married Tabitha, the daughter of William Nix, Alderman, whose House in Bridlesmith Gate is now the dwelling of the said Thomas, who hath built there, as Mr. Samuel Stables (named in Maperley) who was successour of Alderman Stables hath done, nigh the Swine Greene."

1625 Stephen Hill.

1626 Peter Parker.

1627 John James.

1628 Richard Parker.

1629 Alexander Stapels.

1630 Robert Sherwin.

1631 Leonard Nix.

Mr. Richard Stapels, this year, gave to the mayor and burgesses, and their successors, £40 to be lent to eight young men £5 each, in like manner as Parker's above, A. D. 1620. The £5 to be held only six years.

1632 William Gregory.

1633 Robert Parker.

Charles the first visited this place in the month of August on his return from Scotland, where he was entertained, by the then Earl of Newcastle, in a most sumptuous and splendid manner. Prior to this he was also entertained, at Nottingham, by the said Earl, on his journey to Scotland. When Prince of Wales, it is said, he was twice at Nottingham.

1634 John James.

1635 Richard Hardmeat.

This year brought £100 to the poor of Nottingham, (the interest of which was to be paid them annually) from the bounty of Sir Richard Peckham, a physician; this considerate gentleman was a Roman Catholic. Lilly, the astrologer, gives the following account of him. "In the year 1634, I taught Sir George Peckham, Knight, astrology, that part which concerns sickness, wherein he so profited in two or three months, he would give a very true discovery of any disease, only by figures. He practiced at Nottingham, but unfortunately died in 1635, at St. Winsrid's Well, in Wales; in which he continued so long mumbling his pater noster and Sancta Winefreda or a pro me, that the cold struck into his body, and after his coming forth of the well he never spoke more."

1636 William Nix.

1637 Robert Sherwin.

1638 Robert Burton.

Anthony Acham this year left a rent charge of £5 per ann. to the poor of Nottingham.

1639 William Gregory.

1640 William Drury.

1641 John James.

A petition, this year, was sent to parliament from Nottinghamshire and Lancashire against the hierachy.

1642 Richard Hardmeat.

Altho I have not room here to detail the various methods made use of, about this time, some to irritate and others to conciliate the minds of the people, by the different parties which agitated this then unhappy kingdom, and which was about to deluge it in the blood of its inhabitants; yet I judge it an incumbent duty, to insert, from its mode ration and good sense, the following letter to the Knights of the Shire for the county a Nottingham, to shew the opinions then held by its principal inhabitants.

A Copy of a Letter sent from divers Knights and Gentlemen of Nottinghamshire to the Knights serving for that County in Parliament. July 1st, 1642.

——N. B. His Majesty's declaration to the Lords and others of the PrivyCouncil attending his Majesty at York, bears date the 13th of June, 1642.

To our much honoured Friends Sir Thomas Hutchinson, Knight, and Robert Sutton, Esq; Knights of the Shire for the County of Nottingham.

Gentlemen,
"Finding to our great grief (by divers printed declarations) the unhappy differences betwixt his Majesty and his Parliament and from thence apprehending great fear of farther distractions, we have thought fit to impart our hearts freely unto you, as men chosen by us and intrusted for us to represent us and our desires in your honourable house of Commons: Where in the 1st place, upon all occasions we desire you to tender the acknowledgement of our humble and hearty thanks for the many good laws which by their care and wisdom together with his Majesty's grace and favour have been obtained for us both for the securing us in the point of our property, and also for the freeing us from the unlimited power of arbitrary government: and herein his Majesty having concurred with you in all that we could expect or can desire both for our persons and estates, and at several times promised to join with his parliament for the reforming and reducing both the doctrine and discipline of the church to the best and purest times since the reformation; and if this were done, what others would expect we know not, we desire no more."

"And now we cannot but stand amazed to fee the King, the Lords and Commons agree in all that we can think necessary for reformation, and for securing us hereafter to be governed according to the good laws of the land in force, and yet such great distraction amongst those three estates."

"We heard long since reports and saw printed papers of the great dangers of papists, and that even in our own country, but believe there was no truth nor ground of any such."

"We heard great rumour of a foraigne force from France and Denmark; but thanks be to God we see no such danger: and yet under these pretences, there is great preparation of putting us in a posture of defence and a great necessity pretended of settling the militia: but we see more cause to fear the remedy, than the disease, for this posture (as you call it) of defence does carry a face of war with it, even among ourselves, and concerning it, we are distracted with contrary commands. The House of Parliament command one thing, the King forbids that command, and we are at a stand and yet we are ever ready to yield obedience to all the known laws of the land, and we have ever been taught, that all those laws made in parliament consist of three estates, the Commons, Lords and King, and we think it dangerous to untwist that triple cord; and we hold it our greatest privilege that the King and Lords whom we have heard some time in council joined could not make a law to bind us without our consent in parliament, and by the same reason, we cannot expect that the Commons with the Lords should make a law or ordinance of the force of a law to bind without the King, especially against the King. And as we do not yield any act of obedience to the King's command simply but as it is warranted by law, made by his authority with the consent of both Houses, so we shall not conceive ourselves bound to obey one or both Houses without the King, but in such things as are according to the known laws of the land."

"When the King by his writ gave us power to chuse you it was to treat de quibusdam arduiis &c: We never conceived your only votes should be our law, nor conceived we had such a power to confer upon you, and we require you not to consent to lay any such command upon us, nor to engage us in a civil war for the maintenance of such votes, under colour of priviledges against our lawful King, to whom many of us by the appointment of the law have taken the oath of supremacy, and allegiance, to which all of us are bound. And beside, we have at the command of both Houses taken the late protestation, wherein we have vowed to maintain the doctrine of the church of England, his Majefty's royal person, honour and estate, the priviledges of Parliament and the liberties of the subject: and we shall endeavour to maintain every part and clause thereor respectively with our lives and fortunes. And we conceive our best directions therein to be the known laws, the maintenance whereof we account our liberty and defence. And we account the surest way to enjoy the benefit of these laws, is to join and comply with his Majesty, under whose protection next under God we can only hope to enjoy the benefit thereof; especially his Majesty having since this parliament, joined in the making as good laws as ever any King has done, and made so gracious promises of his future government according to the laws, and given abundant satisfaction for some unhappy accidents in his past government, that we conceive great cause to return him cheerful thankfulness for these laws, and to yield him faithful obedience, and to confide in him for the future."

"This is the clear expression of our hearts, this is that we desire you to consent in for us. And we shall heartily pray that we might be an example to many others to make the like expressions. And then we should not doubt but this would bring a right understanding betwixt the King and his people, and take away all fears and jealousies, and settle a firm peace amongst us."

We should gladly and with all humility have petitioned your honourable House, but still to this purpose. And we understand some countries have done so which has been displeasing unto them because contrary to their sense; and we perhaps through ignorance might fall into the same errour. Yet we hope it will not be displeasing unto you, that we give you our sense freely, for you are us, and we hope you will not be unwilling to follow our sense, so far as you conceive it to be the sense of your county whose you are and for whom you serve. And so we rest your very loving friends and countrymen."

JOHN DIGBY, High Sherifr.

John Byron,

Richard Parkins,

William Appleton,

Robert Pilson,

George Lascells,

Matthew Palmer,

Roger Cooper,

Isham Parkins,

John Wood,

G. Hollis,

Richard Byron,

John Nevile,

Edmund Hastings,

Edward Andrewes,

Thomas Blackwall,

William Sandes,

Thomas Longford,

Jervas Sanford,

Richard Harper,

Gabriel Armstrong,

Act. Burnell,

Samuel Bolles,

Rowland Pand,

John Odingsells,

George Milford,

John Caldecott,

Robert Eyre,

Parke Crefly,

Thomas Houlder,

Robert Saunderson,

John Walker,

Thomas Fox,

John Bolles,

Gri. Dwall,

William Smiths,

Nich. Stoyt,

Thomas Hollwell,

Richard Draper,

Thomas Atkinson,

Lancelot Rolston,

Thomas Newton,

William Wild,

Herbert Leek,

Thomas Brown,

William Smythson,

John Gosling,

William Oglethorp,

George Lascells,

John Clay,

Anthony Gilby,

Richard Boyer,

William Needham,

Richard Brough,

John Butterworth,

Thomas Poole,

John Lee,

John Worsdale,

William Shipman,

Charles Leek,

William Apsley,

Francis Cavendish,

Charles North,

Matthew Palmer,

Richard Holliwell,

Roger Jackson,

John Leeke,

Richard Simman,

Stephen Broome,

William Colby,

John Newport,

Edward Holland,

Henry Broome,

William Hacker

James Forbeny,

Job Holden,

William Poclington,

Henry Green.

The King came to Nottingham July the 10th following, and there promised to act according to the protestation at York; and in August 22 he erected his standard at Nottingham. (fn. 5)

"Nalson in his trial of King Charles I. mentions the evidence of one Samuel Lawson, of Nottingham, maltster, who deposed that about August 1642, he saw the King's standard brought forth of Nottingham castle borne upon divers gentlemen's shoulders, (who as the report was) were noblemen, that he saw the same by them carried into the hill-close adjoining to the castle, with an herald before it, and there the said standard was erected, with great shouting, acclamations and found of drums and trumpets, and that when the said standard was so erected, there was a proclamation made, and that he saw the King present at the erecting of it, &c."

"This difference of time and place may easily be reconciled by the unquestionable tradition of persons yet living, who heard their fathers say, that the standard was first erected on the highest turret of the old tower, (which Thoroton attests as his own remembrance, to have been the 22d of August, in the castle,) but that after a few days, people not resorting to it according to expectation, it was judged that upon the account of the castle being a garrison, where every body had not so free access to the standard as if it was erected in an open place, it might be proper to remove it out of the castle, which was accordingly done on the 25th of August, into the close adjoining to the north side of the wall of the outer-ward of the castle, then called the Hill close, and afterwards for many years Standard Close."

"One remarkable accident happened at the first setting up of this standard in the just mentioned close, viz. That the weather grew so tempestuous that it was blown down soon after it was erected, and could not be fixed again in a day or two. This (as Rushworth, Hooper, and some others take notice,) was looked upon by many melancholy people as a fatal presage of the war."

"The following other particulars remarkable, happened during the king's stay at Nottingham"

"The day after his arrival at Nottingham he reviewed his horse, which were 800, and no sooner was this review over but the king received information that two regiments of foot were marching to Coventry by the earl of Essex's order; whereupon he hasted thither with his cavalry, in hopes of preventing the parliament's forces, and possessing himself of that city, before which he accordingly arrived a day before the two regiments, but the mayor of the city, tho' without a garrison, shut the gates against him, and fired upon his men; the king was very sensibly touched with this indignity, but as there was no remedy he was forced to return to Nottingham, leaving the command of his cavalry to commissary-general Wilmot; Rapin adds from Clarendon: that on the 2d of August the king imagined that setting up his standard at Nottingham would draw great numbers of people, thither, but was very much disappointed; he had with him but 300 foot and some trained bands, drawn together by Sir John Digby, sheriff of the county; his horse (as has been said) consisted only of 800; his artillery was still at York, from whence it was difficult to bring it, many things being yet wanting to prepare and form it for marching; nevertheless he had given out many commissions and ordered his forces to repair to Nottingham; he expected them in that town, tho' not without danger, the parliament having at Coventry, 5000 foot, and 1500 horse."

"The king was certainly in great danger at Nottingham, the town was not in a condition to resist long, the king having scarce any forces and the parliament troops were not above twenty miles off, which had they marched directly to Nottingham, the king must either have retired with dishonour to York, or else have hazarded his being made prisoner; this danger was evident, and yet quitting Nottingham could not be very prejudicial to him: He was therefore advised to send a message to both houses with some overture to incline them to a treaty; the king refused it, was offended at it, and broke up the council: the next day the same motion was renewed, but under a different view, i.e. it was advised to send a message to both houses only to gain time, the king was still reluctant, but upon it being represented to him that very likely both houses would reject the offer, they would thereby render themselves odious to the people, who were desirous of peace, and who would be the more inclinable to serve his majesty for his endeavours to procure it, that if the overture was accepted, the king would have an opportunity of demonstrating that the war on his part was purely defensive; in short, that the bare offer of peace would of course recard the preparations of the parliament, because men's minds would be in suspence, whilst the king's levies might be continued by virtue of the commissions already sent out: The king yielded to these reasons, and on the 25th of August three days after the setting up of the standard [within the castle] a message was sent by Thomas Wriothesley earl of Southampton, Sir John Culpepper, the earl of Dorset and Sir William Uvedale, knight." (fn. 6)

This overture, every one knows, was rejected with indignation. While the king was at Nottingham, this year, he sent a letter to the mayor and corporation of Leicester dis owning his having any knowledge of a letter sent by his nephew, Prince Rupert to that body demanding a loan from them of £2000. (fn. 7) The kings letter.

"Trusty and well-beloved we greete you well. We have seen a warrant under o'r nephew Rupert's hand dated ye 6th of this month, requiring from you and other Inhabitants of our Towne of Leicester ye loan of £2000, wih as wee doe utterly disavow and dislike, as being written without our priority or consent. Soe wee doe hereby absolutely free and discharge you and that our Towne from yeelding any obedience to the same, and by our owne letters to our said Nephew wee have written to him to rebuke ye same, as being an act very displeasing to Us: Wee indeede gave him directions to disarm such persons as appeared to be disaffected to our Person and Government, or the peace of this our kingdome, and should have taken it well from any of our Subjects that would voluntarily assist us with ye Loane of Armes or Money, but it is soe farr from our hartt or intentions by Menaces to compel any to it, as wee abhor ye thought of it; and of this truth our accions shall bear testimony."

"Given att our Court att Nottingham, 8 Septbris, 1642."

The demand of Rupert and the gentle hint, at nearly the conclusion of this letter, that a voluntary loan would be taken well, shews that the king began the war with empty coffers.

1643 William Nix.

Nottingham was in the hands of parliament, and so continued to the end of the war. A notable prisoner, John Hotham, governor of Hull, was sent to Nottingham castle this year, as a place of safety; but he found means to escape thence. (fn. 8)

1644 William Nix.

1645 Thomas Gamble.

1646 John James.

Henry Hanley Esq. by deed dated 1646, and by will dated 1650, left the annual rent of £120 for charitable and pious purposes, chiefly to this town: £20 of which sum he left for a lecture to be preached, weekly, at St. Mary's church.

1647 William Drury.

I may observe that, during these unpleasant times, the Elector Palatine and his brother, prince Rupert, were several times at Nottingham.

1648 William Richards.

1649 William Nix.

Money was so scarce, about this time, that tradesmen, of note, coined their own money. This fort of cash was chiefly of brass, with the names of the owners thereon, called tradesmen's tokens. The plate, subjoined, contains copies of many of those made for the use of the respectivè tradesmen &c. of Nottingham. This collection was made by Mr. William Stretton of Nottingham, for this history, (to whom I acknowledge myself beholden, also, for other favours in the prosecution of this work) none are earlier than 1648, nor of a later date than 1672.

1650 Thomas Gamble.

Exemplification of the King's ancient possessions in Nottingham in the time of the Civil War.

Parcell possess. antiq. Coron. Angl.

Villa Nott.increment infrascrip val. in

"Increm. reddit. reservat pro fœda firma vil. Nott. et pro diversis franchesiis et libertatibus p. litter as patentes Henrici quondam regis Anglie sexti anno regni sui XXIX. majori, hominibus et burgensibus ville predicte XIII sh. IIII d. concessis five confirmatis p. ann."

"I find the above said rent of XIIIs. IIIId. per annum upon the mayor, men and burgesses of the town of Nottingham; became first charged in the annual roll of the exchequer, the 33d year of Henry VI. since which time the same rent has continued so charged in the subsequent annual rolls, but the date of the letters patents or the days, time and place when and where the same rent is reserved payable, I cannot certify for that I have not seen the letters patents or any copy or inrollment thereof.

vill. Nott. redit. infra script. val. in.

"Annual, redit, de censu domorum plurimorum in vill. Nott. per annum XXIIIsh. VId. solubit et de Tostis monetariorum cum incremento p. annum IXsh. solubit. p. homines vill Nott. prout p. magnum rotulum scaccarii de anno VII Johannis quondam regis Angl. et annual. rotul. scaccarii subsequend viz. XXXIIsh. VId."

"I find that the last abovesaid premises became first charged in the annual roll of the exchequer of the 6th year of Richard I."

"But cannot further explain or set forth the particulars out of which the said XXXIIsh. VId. p. ann. do arise, neither can I find any grant or further improvement made thereof or therefore."

"But I find by the annual roll of the 20th year of Henry III. that the men of Nottingham were discharged of VIsh. VIIId. p. ann. by the King's writ, for the house of one William Jourdan, which the King had assigned to Reginald of Mendec and Esolot his wife in recompence of their house by the ditch of the barbican of the castle of Nottingham, and that VIsh. VIIId. p. ann should be every year computed to the bailiffs of Nottingham out of the XXXIIsh. VId. p. ann. de censu demorum, which has been allowed yearly unto the men of Nottingham ever since. But I have not seen the said writ. Whether the same ought to be allowed so hereafter, is offered to consideration."

Ex. Hen. Crcke.

Vill. Nott. redit infra script. val in

"Annual. redit. reservat de tenemento illo quod fuit Mosei de de Suabur, Judei et de tenemento illo in eadem villa quod fuit Peytengu quondam Judei Nott. et Eliæ filii ejus et de domo illa que fuit schola judeorum in eadem villa, p. literas patentes Eduardi quondam regis Anglie Imi. gerent. datum quinto die maji anno regni sui XX. Hugoni Putrell de Thurmeston et heredibus suis imperpetuum concess. reddend. eidem summam die sancti Michaelis p. manus ballivorum Nott. qui pro tempore suer. p. ann. — — 1d."

"I have made these five particulars by order from the honourable trustees according to an act of parliament of March 1649, for the sale of Feofarm rents, &c. belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince."

27th of April 1650. "Exp. Hen. Croke. Cl. Pipe."

1651 Richard Dring.

Dr. Calamy gives an account of three clergymen who settled at this place, this year, who, while living, studied together, lived together and preached together. One of them of the name of Whitlock, a dissenting minister, died in 1708, aged 83. Reynolds and Barret, the other two, settled at Nottingham, in consequence of an invitation from the churchwardens and some of the principal inhabitants of St. Mary's parish. In 1660 they were indicted for not reading the common prayer of the church, and Reynolds was excommunicated. After this they were seized at a meeting-house at Colwick, near Nottingham, and again in 1665. In 1685, on the Duke of Monmouth's landing, they were imprisoned. In 1697–8, Reynolds died peaceably at Nottingham, aged 73. Barret, during the troubles, was some time minister of St. Peter's church, where he met with much opposition. We have no account of his death. We may readily give the Doctor credit for his assertion that these three puritans studied together, and lived together (perhaps in one house) but what he means by their preaching together is not easily accounted for.

1652 William Drury.

1653 Francis Toplady.

1654 John Parker, Mercer.

1655 Thomas Huthwait.

During Cromwell's usurpation the framework-knitters addressed him by petition that they might be incorporated, by charter, under the great seal of England. This request was couched in strong and manly language; but it did not succeed.

1656 William Richards.

1657 Thomas Gamble.

1658 Richard Dring.

That accomplished general, accomplished hypocrite, and accomplished tyrant, Oliver Cromwell, died Sep. 3, 1658.

1659 William Drury.

1660 Francis Toplady.

1661 John Parker.

1662 Christopher Hall.

On St. Bartholomew's day, this year, on which the act of uniformity was to take place, two thousand presbyterians, conscientious ministers, chose rather to give up their livings than submit to the conditions of the act. Several of these were from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

1663 William Greaves.

1664 Ralph Edge.

1665 William Jackson.

1666 Richard Hodgekins.

1667 Joseph Wright.

This year Nottingham was visited by the plague. It is worthy remark, that it made much greater ravages in the higher than in the lower part of the town; this was attributed to the effluvia from the tanyards, in the lower part of Nottingham, where there were then, in number, 47.

1668 John Parker.

1669 Christopher Hall.

1670 William Greaves.

1671 Ralph Edge

1672 William Jackson.

A good old blacksmith, Barneby Wartnaby, of Nottingham, willed, at this time, some considerable property to a numerous kindred. Besides which he left a token of his affection to the poor of Nottingham, Lincoln, and Newark, noticed in the 4th Section.

1673 Richard Hodgekins.

1674 Joseph Wright.

1675 John Parker.

1676 Christopher Hall.

1677 William Greaves.

1678 Ralph Edge.

1679 John Parker.

1680 Gervas Rippon.

1681 Gervas Wyld.

About this time a surrender of corporate charters was attempted by the crown; in many places it was effected, but here there was a considerable contest. The burgesses were in general much against the measure; but the mayor, and his party put the corporation seal to an instrument of that purport, August 12th, 1681. In consequence a new charter was sent down on Michaelmas day following. On the succeeding choice of mayor, the new charter-men elected William Toplady and the old William Greaves. In the issue, after much riotous behaviour, those friendly to the new charter succeed. In 2684 a trial came on before Judge Jefferies, in Westminster-hall, against William Sachaverel, Esq. and others, for a riot, where all were sined and bound to keep the peace for twelve months. Sachaverel's fine was 500 marks.

1682 William Toplady.

1683 Christopher Hall.

1684 William Petty.

1685 Robert Wortley.

1686 John Parker.

1687 Gervas Rippon.

John Sherwin.

George Langford.

James II by unwarrantable means attempted to new model the corporation, in which he reserved to himself a power of placing and displacing the members of that body. He sent his Duo Warranto, this year, to the town, which turned out of office, Gervas Rippon, and the five preceding gentlemen, in the above list, and replaced them with John Sherwin, George Langford, Charles Harvey,—Hyde, and—Crisp. John Sherwin died in his mayoralty, George Langford was in office the succeeding year. In the succeeding reign this town received a full confirmation of all their rights, privileges, and immunities.

1688 George Langford.

George Langford, the mayor, was a diffenter, firm and manly, but respectful to his sovereign in those trying times, when a great and extraordinary event was upon the eve of presenting itself to Europe, the revolution of 1688, which dethron'd a native prince, and brought an alien, without a pretence to hereditary claim, to weild his septre.

On the 20th of November, the earl of Devonshire, at the head of a great number of gentlemen, at Derby, declared for a free parliament, agreeable to the prince of Orange's declaration. On the 23d the nobility, gentry and commonalty, who had collected in considerable force, from all the northern counties, in the interest of that prince, subscribed to a declaration to join the prince of Orange, "whom they hoped God Almighty had sent to rescue themselves and their posterity from the tyranny of a jesuitical privy council and an arbitrary government."

Deering, whose book was published in 1751, says, "There are men still living in this town who well remember, that above ten days before the foregoing declaration was made public, the duke of Devonshire, the earl of Stamford, the lord How, and other noblemen, and abundance of gentry of the county of Nottingham, resorted to this town and went to meet one another at their respective inns, daily increasing in number, and continued at Nottingham till the arrival of lord Delamere, with between 4 and 500 horse; this nobleman quartered at the feather's inn, whither all the rest of the noblemen and gentlemen came to meet him; and 'till this time the people of the town were unacquainted with the result of these frequent consultations, when the above-mentioned lord, after he had staid a while in the town, having a mind to try the disposition of the populace, on a sudden ordered the trumpets to found to arms, giving cut that the king's forces were within four miles of Nottingham, whereupon the whole town was in alarm, multitudes who had horses mounted and accoutred themselves with such arms as they had, whilst others in vast numbers on foot appeared, some with fire locks, some with swords, some with other weapons, even pitchforks not excepted, and being told of the necessity of securing the passage over the Trent, they immediately diew all the boats that then were near at hand, to the north bank of that river, and with them, and some timber and boards on the wharf, with barrels, and all the frames of the market-stalls, barricaded the north side of the Trent. My lord Delamere and his party, well pleased with the readiness of the people to give their assistance, his lordship sent his men and some officers to the prince of Orange, but himself with a few officers staid till the next day, being Saturday, which is the principal market-day, when he, the duke of Devonshire, the lord How, &c. appeared at the malt-cross, and in the face of a full market, the lord Delamere in a speech declared to the people, the danger their religion and liberty were in under the arbitrary proceedings of the king, and that providence had sent his highness the prince of Orange, under God, to deliver them from popery and slavery, for which reason according to the prince his declaration, they were for a free parliament and hoped their concurrence; this was seconded by a speech of the duke of Devonshire, and also of the lord How, which was followed by the shouts of the people, who cryed out a free parliament! a free parliament! This done lord Delamere departed to follow his troops, whilst the duke and lord How, made it known that they were for raising horse in defence of their liberty, and would list such as were willing to be entertained, whereupon upwards of an hundred men who offered themselves, were entered that same day.

In this month of November, princess Anne privately withdrew from court, leaving a letter to the queen behind her, to shew the reasons of her retreat, which if it had not been produced, the king's own guard would in all probability have joined the enraged mob, and have torn the popish party to pieces, upon a surmise that they had either made away with her or confined her to the tower. This princess with the lady Churchill and the lady Berkeley, took coach privately at the bishop of London's house and went directly to Nottingham, attended by that prelate, the earl of Dorset, and about 40 horsemen; but there the earl of Devonshire (after she had staid several days in Nottingham) gave her a guard of 200, from whence she retired to Oxford, where prince George soon after met her, with a detachment of the prince of Orange's forces."

"Some days before her departure it was reported that the queen had treated her very rudely, and proceeded so far as to strike her, which probably might cause that suspicion in the mob, and excite them to go to Whitehall."

1689 Charles Harvey.

Henry Martin, this year, settled a rent charge of £3 per annum, to apprentice a poor boy annually for ever.

1690 John Hawkin.

1691 Joseph Turpin.

1692 William Greaves.

William and Mary, at this time, renewed the town's charter, and granted the town an indemnity for what had past.

1693 Thomas Trigge.

John Parker, alderman, by will dated this year among other things, gave £9 every other year to put poor boys to trades. The lady also of Sir Thomas Grantham gave £200, the interest of which to be applied to the same benevolent purposes.

1694 Arthur Richards.

1695 John Hoe.

1696 Francis Samon.

1697 Samuel Leland.

1698 William Greaves.

1699 Thomas Collin.

1700 Samuel Watkinson.

1701 John Rickards.

1702 John Peake.

1703 Samuel Smith.

Mr. Robinson by indenture, this year, gave the interest of £100 towards the support of the poor in bread, for ever.

1704 William Barke.

The benevolent Abel Collin, by will, this year, amongst a variety of bequests, gave the interest of £20 towards apprenticing poor boys and girls, £55 to buy coals for the poor, one shilling weekly to the debtors in the town and county jails, and a £100 to be distributed amongst the poor. He also left the remainder of his personal estate towards the building and endowing an hospital. See Sect. 4.

1705 John Shipman.

1706 Francis Samon.

1707 William Drury.

Queen Ann granted a patent to Sir Thomas Willoughby, Bart. and his heirs, the high stewardship of the ancient Peverel court, which was formerly held in Nottingham.

1708 Samuel Watkinson.

1709 John Peake.

A William Lees, at this time, in a fit of inebriation (to which he was addicted) leaped into a well, 23 yards deep, out of which, he was soon after taken, without receiving any material injury.

1710 Samuel Smith.

1711 Benjamin Green.

Mr. Thomas Sanderson left 40s per annum to the poor of Nottingham.

1712 William Barke.

1713 John Collin.

In this mayoralty the destructive appellations of the English and French boroughs, where before this time separate juries were impannelled, were disused. (fn. 9)

A great flood, this year, placed many of the houses, near the river Leen, under water.

1714 John Shipman.

Anthony Walker, a traveller, gave by will to the poor of the parish where he might die, £6 annually in bread. He died in the parish of St. Nicholas.

1715 Thomas Hawkesley.

Samuel Watkinson.

The former was displaced in March, after he was chosen. This, like all occurrences of this nature, occasioned ill will, disgust, and bickerings.

1716 John Sherwin.

1717 Thomas Trigge.

1718 Marmaduke Pennel.

1719 Richard Bearn.

A man, named Rook, had a most miraculous escape from death in this mayoralty. He being employed to clean a well, at the Cock, in high pavement, which was thirty yards deep, and being in the well, those above who were employed in drawing up the bucket, by carelesness let it fall, when it was near the top; in consequence its velocity, in going down, drew after it the barrel, about which the rope was wound; the man perceiving his danger cast both his arms over his head, as a guard, they receiving the violent shock saved him from destruction. He was, however, as might be expected, very much bruised.

1720 William Bilbie.

A miraculous escape from death also happened in the month of July, this year. John Chambers, a gingerbread baker, got very much in liquor while the duke of Newcastle kept open house at the castle; but he made a shift to ramble from the paved yard upon the rock, in a frolic, whence he fell backwards, down the precipice, about 133 feet, almost perpendicular, into a garden, near the Leen river, and escaped with but little injury.

1721 Benjamin Green.

William Gregory and John his son gave 2s a week to be laid out in bread for the poor of St. Mary's parish for ever. Also Hannah and Elizabeth Metham left a rentcharge of £50 yearly to be laid out in bread for the poor of the same parish for ever.

1722 Alexander Burden.

A man of loyalty, about this time, whose name was Thorp, left 10s. per ann to the vicar of St. Mary's to preach a sermon on the 29th of May.

1723 Thomas Trigge.

1724 Marmaduke Pennel.

1725 Richard Bearn.

1726 William Bilbie.

1727 Joseph Walters.

Dr. Deering, page 84, tells a long and ridiculous story of a Langford Collin, Esq. who lived at York, about this time, who heard three loud knocks at his door, in the dead of the night, exactly at the time that his cousin, Thomas Smith, of Nottingham, died in London. More likely the knocks of a Bacchanalian spirit than that of a messenger from heaven. The knocks were given it is said " as if done with a sledge hammer."

Another story Dr. D. tells of the said Collin of a piece with the former with respect to knocking; only the latter was like the driving of nails into a coffin; this was about three years after the former, and happened at the exact time, we are told, of the death of his brother.

1728 Benjamin Green.

1729 Alexander Burden.

1730 William Trigge.

1731 Thomas Trigge.

1732 John Huthwait.

August the 15th, this year, a woman named Eleanor Beare, was tried at Derby assize for such a complication of shocking crimes scarcely ever heard of; upon whose trial it came out that she once went to Nottingham to destroy the fœtus of a girl with child there, for which practice she was secretly famed.

This wretch was tried upon three misdemeanors, first. in endeavouring to persuade a man to poison his wife, secondly, for destroying the fœtus in the womb of Grace Belfort, by putting an iron instrument up into her body and thereby causing her to miscarry. And thirdly, On whom it was satisfactorily proved, was principally instrumental, to the persuading of her servant maid, to be an accomplice in a murder, for which she was executed the preceding March, by whose confession these horrid scenes of wickedness were brought to light. (fn. 10)

1733 Thomas Langford.

1734 William Bilbie.

1735 Benjamin Green.

1736 Alexander Burden.

By a flood, in July, the ground floors, in the houses near the Leen, were two feet deep in water.

Henry Ward died this year, at the advanced age of 109. This man was made a burgess of Nottingham, in 1733.

About this period, Deering informs us, that a child fell into a well at the end of Narrow-Marsh, and that three men, successively, went down into the well in search of it; the first could not find it; the second, the child's father, after finding and bringing it up in his arms, great part of the way, let it fall in again, from an extraordinary agitation of mind; the third brought the child out alive, which was perfectly recovered the next day.

The small-pox raged, at this time, with great violence, at Nottingham, in the month of May. There were buried at St. Mary's, in that short period, 104 souls. The burials this year exceeded the births by 380.

1737 William Trigge.

1738 John Newton.

George Tacy died about this time at the age of 100 years.

1739 James Huthwaite.

An high toned address, or rather instructions, was sent from a part of the burgesses and freeholders of this place, to their representatives, Borlace Warren, and John Plumtre, Eqrs. on the score of placemen and pensioners of the crown, in which they speak of their bleeding hearts in consequence of the great and dangerous influence of such men.

Mary Riley, commonly called Goody Riley, died at the age of 100. This woman was a pauper, and till within a few years of her death travelled to London, on foot, to fee her friends.

1740 Thomas Langford.

This gentleman was chosen alderman while he was sheriff; and when he was mayor the second time, was high sheriff for the county.

One Crampton died, at this time, aged 100.

1741 Alexander Burden.

A Mrs. Freeland died this year aged 99.

1742 William Trigge.

John Rolleston, who lay ill of a violent fever, in a garret, in Barker gate, in a delirious fit, threw himself from a window of his room, into the yard; thence he ran into the street and jumped into a well, where he remained up to the chin in water about an hour before he was taken out. He was then put to bed, and in a short time got well, and married soon after. This man was living in Deering's time.

1743 John Hornbuckle.

Chapel-bar was pulled down this year.

1744 John Burton.

In June, the boot-catcher, at the Crown inn, in his sleep, got up from bed and fell from a window four stories high, upon the pavement, and received no fracture from the fall. He was however otherwise much hurt.

1745 Henry Butler.

Of the rebellion, which happened at this time, but little occured here more than in other places, near which the forces of prince Charles approached. Some however were panic struck at their so extraordinarily advancing into the heart of the country, and others, friendly to the cause, shewed signs of friendly intentions, but very few of them indications of courage; very few joined this daring little host of Scotchmen.

During the rebellion, three butchers of Nottingham, then in the duke of Kingston's regiment, killed, at the battle of Culloden, fourteen rebels. (fn. 11)

1746 James Huthwaite.

1747 Thomas Langford.

1748 William Trigge.

1749 John Hornbuckle.

May 15, in Nottingham, and in many parts of the county; in Derbyshire and Leicestershire, fell an extraordinary storm of hail, many of the stones measured 4 inches round. It destroyed fruit trees, broke many windows, and killed several rooks in Donnington park.

1750 John Burton.

At Nottingham, in particular, and Retford, Tuxford, and many other places in the county, was felt a severe shock of an earthquake, on Thursday the 23d of August, about 7 in the morning; but no material damage was done in consequence: it was a remarkable calm day before and after the shock.

1751 Henry Butler.

1752 James Huthwaite.

1753 Thomas Langford.

1754 William Trigge.

1755 Samuel Fellows.

About this time strong northern lights appeared here, and in many parts of England called the Aurora Borealis. These lights, people have imagined, portend some approaching calamity to the places where they are most visible, and some say that they were never seen in England, till March 1715. In contradiction to the latter opinion, Matthew Westminster has given many instances of similar appearances. His words on what happened in 743, are "Visi sunt in acre ictus ignei, quales nunquam mortales illius avi viderunt, Kal. Jan." That on the first of January, certain fiery streamers were seen in the air, such as the men then living had never beheld before. Mr. Whiston would have us believe that those lights are more frequent since 1715, and that they are intended to indicate the approach of the good event of the restoration of the Jews, and the commencement of the millennium.

1756 John Burton.

1757 Cornelius Huthwaite.

1758 Henry Butler.

1759 Isaac Wylde and Thomas Langford.

William Andrew Horne, of Butterley hall, Derbyshire, Esq. aged 74, was executed at Nottingham, December 11, for the murder of an illegitimate male child, three days old; which crime was committed thirty-five years before! He was convicted the preceding summer assize, before the Right Hon. Lord Chief Baron Parker; but respited from time to time, on account of the extraordinary circumstances attending his case. The principal evidence was Mr. Horne's brother, who had some share in the transaction, and disgraceful to tell, it appeared upon the trial, had repeatedly threatened the sufferer that he would hang him if he refused him money, as often as he wanted it. He had, however, some years before the murder came to light, seemingly, conscientiously, applied to a magistrate, and related the whole transaction, who persuaded him, for the credit of his family, not to reveal a crime of that heinous nature done so many years before. It appeared upon the trial, that the crime was committed in the following manner. Mr. Horne took the child from its mother, carried it to a remote farm-yard (in Nottinghamshire) and there covered it with straw, under a hay stack, by which it was smothered. It was discovered in this position, next morning, by a servant man who stuck the prongs of his fork into its body. The man of course was terrified at the discovery of the child. Much pains was taken at that time to discover the perpetrators of this soul deed, but in vain. Old Horne, died almost insensible to his awful exit. The crowds of people attending his execution were immense.

1760 Robert Huish.

1761 James Hornbuckle.

1762 Humphrey Hollins.

There is an old adage of the biter being bit. It was never more verified than in the following relation.

A stocking-maker, who lived near Nottingham, bought a piece of veal, some time in May 1762, in Nottingham market, took it home, and desired his wife to dress it for dinner, by 12 o'clock. The veal, the obedient wife cooked accordingly; but the husband being not punctual to his time, the wife being somewhat ill, set it by without tasting it. The wily husband returned about 4 o'clock, and brought with him some beef-steaks, which he would have cooked for his dinner. The poor woman fried the steaks with the veal dripping; the man ate his dinner; but was almost instantly taken ill. The man being alarmed, questioned his wife about the cooking of the veal, from which he soon learnt that the steaks had been fried with the veal dripping, upon which he said that he was a dead man. He then confessed that he had rubbed the veal all over with arsenic to poison his wife, and soon after expired. The surgeon who examined the veal, declared that it retained as much poison as would destroy a hundred persons. (fn. 12)

1763 Cornelius Huthwaite.

1764 Henry Butler.

In June, there was the most dreadful flashes of lightning and thunder ever remembered at Nottingham. And in the succeeding month fell the heaviest rain ever known there, attended with thunder and lightning, from which several people were stricken to the ground, but none killed.

1765 William Cooper.

1766 Robie Swan.

July 21st, a ball of fire struck the house of a Mr. Cox, in Back-side, now Parliamentstreet, which tore the window frames, where there was iron, in sunder, and damaged other parts of the house; but it struck none of the inhabitants therein. At Goose fair this year a man was shot fitting by his cheese, during the riots about the high price of that article.

1767 James Hornbuckle.

1768 William Foulds.

1769 Humphrey Hollins.

In May, one of the most heavy storms of hail fell here, and in several parts of the county, ever known. It dashed to pieces the windows of many houses, broke the glass also in the windows of many gentlemen's hot houses, gardener's hand glasses, &c. &c. In the preceding April died a Mrs. Butler, in Narrow Marsh, aged 92, where, it is remarkable, she had lived all her life time.

1770 Richard Butler.

January 27. About 10 o'clock at night, after a very warm day, a remarkable vivid flash of lightning immediately succeeded by a tremendous clap of thunder, shook the houses to such a degree in Nottingham, that the people apprehended it to have been an earthquake. The lightning was seen as a general conflagration for some moments.

In June, this year, one Dominick Lazarus walked 25 times round Nottingham race ground, for a wager of 4 guineas. He began at 6 o'clock in the morning, and finished a quarter before 5 in the evening. This was looked upon as a very extraordinary performance.

1771 Cornelius Huthwaite.

1772 Henry Butler and Richard Butler.

In February, several people perished, in the forest, going from market, in consequence of extreme cold and a great fall of snow. Many sheep also perished.

1773 Thomas Oldknow.

In July, a woman of the name of Toplis, went to a well, in Backside, to draw water, in which attempt her cloaths by some accident got fastened to the rope and chain, by which means she was dragged into the well, and killed.

1774 John Carruthers.

1775 John Fellows.

August 11, died in Nottingham, John Collin, gent. a descendant of Law. Collin, appointed by Oliver Cromwell, to the command of a company doing duty at Nottingham castle, from whom deseended Abel Collin, founder of the hospital which bare his name. He died a batchelor. In March, this year, a young man of the name of Voce was hanged for the murder of Mary Dusty, a washer-woman. He was an inhabitant of Sneinton, near which the murder was committed.

1776 Thomas Sands.

1777 Richard Butler.

This year the first stone of the grand stand was laid, on the race ground, by Mr. Stretton, an eminent builder, and one of the undertakers. Mr. John Carr, of York, architect. It is doubtless one of the finest buildings of the sort in the kingdom.

A remarkable occurrence happened about this time at a place called Derry Mount. As some workmen were clearing a way the rubbish at this place, they discovered several human bones but little injured by remaining in the ground. In a scull there was the appearance of a bullet hole. A dagger was likewise found with the skeletons, 5 in number, and a piece of silver coin about the size of a shilling, the legend not legible; also a copper-coin, called a tradesman's token, on which was Thomas Cheshire at the King's Head, Fore street, 1669, his halfpenny. It is imagined that these things had lain here ever since the days of Cromwell.

1778 Thomas Oldknow.

1779 William Huthwaite.

In August, John Spencer was executed at Nottingham gallows, for the murder of William Yeadon, toll collector, and his mother at Scrooby turnpike, and was afterwards hung in chains near the spot. He confessed that he accomplished the horrid deed in the following manner: That he knocked at the door of the turnpike house in the dead of the night and said that he had some beasts to go through, and that when the young man opened it he knocked him down with a hedge stake; then went up stairs, where the mother lay asleep in bed, and with the same weapon he killed her also. The young man was found on the road nearly dead by the drivers of two Yorkshire waggons. A watch the murderer stole from the house led to the discovery of the murderer.

1780 John Smellie.

February 12, the foundation stone of the infirmary was laid. See Sect. 4.

1781 John Carruthers.

1782 John Fellows.

March 27, Cooper Hall, who was convicted at the preceding assize for robbing the mail, was executed at Nottingham gallows pursuant to his sentence; which was also that his body should be afterwards hung in chains; but this part of his sentence was not carried into execution, on account of his former good character and ingenuous confession that he made. It appeared on the trial that Hall set off from Newark where he lived, on the night of the 24th of November to meet the post boy, which he did, and persuaded him to take him into his cart as a poor traveller, cold, tired, and benighted. The weather being severe, he easily persuaded the post-boy to take a dram of spirituous liquor which he had in his pocket, which was mixed with opium for the purpose of accomplishing his design. This liquor operated on the boy as Hall would have it: it laid him down in a found sleep, while the robber stole five bags of letters which he carried home; but in endeavouring to negociate the bills, his booty, he was detected.

1783 Richard Butler.

1784 William Howitt.

1785 William Huthwaite.

1786 John Carruthers.

September 27, died at Nottingham, Mr. Matthew Unwin, author of a small volume of poems, sacred and evangelical, 1783.

November 4, died Mr. Charles Wilkinson, formerly that eminent master of the academy at Nottingham, which he resigned a few years before his death to the Rev. J. Blanchard. His industry in his prosession was scarcely ever equalled; his mathematical knowledge was eminently great, and he excelled in penmanship and drawing. The duties of his prosession he discharged in a way honourable to himself, and satisfactory to the parents of the youth he was intrusted to educate. He was sanctioned and applauded by the learned and ingenious as a teacher of the highest class.

1787 Joseph Lowe.

1788 William Howitt.

Lieutenant and surgeon Bright, of the Nottinghamshire militia, after having spent the evening on the 7th of June with his brother officers of the regiment, left them to go to bed; in his room, by some accident the candle flame caught his shirt, and thence communicated to the other parts of his cloathing; he was so shockingly burnt before he could be assisted in extinguishing the fire, that he lingered about thirty hours, and then died.

1789 William Smith and Richard Butler.

The latter gentleman was chosen mayor, agreeable to a writ of mandamus issued from the court of king's bench. The burgesses at large insisted upon their right to vote; but were over-ruled by reading the charter of Henry VI.

1790 John Fellows.

1791 William Huthwaite.

The town-hall rebuilt.

1792 Joseph Oldknow.

March 2, An alarming shock of an earthquake was felt in several of the midland counties; but particularly at Nottingham, where many of the inhabitants fled from their houses into the streets, expecting their habitations to fall upon them. The shock was preceded by a rumbling noise like the rolling of a cannon ball on a boarded floor. This shock happened 20 minutes before 9 o'clock in the evening.

May 12, a riot of an alarming nature broke out on account of the high price of butchers meat. The people in a frantic fit broke the doors, shutters, &c. of the shambles, and the books they found in the shops they destroyed by fire, in the market-place; but by the well-timed order of the magistrates to the military, peace was restored for that time; but on the Sunday and Monday following, symptoms of the same disorder appeared, which was prevented coming to a serious head by the vigilance of the magiftrates.

An extraordinary occurrence happened this year in St. Mary's church yard. It was found necessary to improve the passage by the side of the church yard leading to the county hall, which could not be effected without taking down some houses, and the church yard wall which stood on the south side the church; and the better to widen the road it was also necessary to use a part of the church yard. The ground being much higher here than in the street, when the sence wall was removed, there happened, one night, a heavy shower of rain, which washed away a considerable portion of the earth from the church yard, in consequence several coffins were left bare of covering, and some removed; amongst which was one that contained the remains of Mr. William Moore, who sometime lived at the sign of the Black Swan, near the church, and who had been buried about 12 years. The coffin being broken there was found in his remains a concretion not unlike a pumice stone, but rather whiter, and as large as the liver of an ox, pieces of which are in the possession of several people of Nottingham. Mr. Moore was a remarkable man for having a large belly, which projected more on one side than the other. He often observed to his friends that he perceived a hard substance forming within him when he was only 22 years of age, which grew slowly while he lived. He died about the age of 70. He has been also heard to say that he felt but little pain from this substance; but found it troublesome. It may be worthy remark that the ribs, on that side it grew, were much bowed outwards. Doctors Hodges, Nevil, and Ford, had examined him while living, several times; to the survivor of whom he had promised his body to be opened when dead; but he happening to survive those gentlemen, his body was interred without being opened. Nothing, says my informant (fn. 13) would have brought this curious phenomenon to light had it not been for this accidental discovery.

In plate page 176 is a representation of a piece of this substance, which Mr. Walker gave me. The piece I have is very porous and weighs about two ounces.

In May, this year, the canal bill passed, in consequence of which there was great rejoicings at Nottingham. It forms a junction with the Cromford thro a country inexhaustible in coal and iron.

In the same month a very serious riot happened about the price of butchers meat.

1793 Henry Green.

Was shot by his own son, Francis Walsh, shoe-maker, on the evening of the king's birth-day. The youth wantonly discharged his piece close to the shoulders of his father with a view to frighten him; but the wadding pierced his shoulder, and could never be extracted. He died in the infirmary in great agonies.

1794 Thomas Caunt.

This year is marked by the loyalty of the inhabitants of the town and county, in support of that constitution which Englishmen admire. Four troops of gentlemen Yeomanry and Cavalry were raised out of the most respectable of the inhabitants, similar to what was done in other places; their cloathing scarlet and buff; their commander Anthony Hardolph Eyre, Esq. of Grove, near Retford. None shewed more loyalty on this occasion, by way of subscription, than a club in Nottingham called the Loyal society.

British gratitude was also shewn this year by a liberal subscription at this place, and in the county for extra warm cloathing for the British troops on the continent.

In May, an act for improving the navigation of the river Trent was obtained, and for making a navigable canal to join the Nottingham canal.

July the 2d, towards evening, a serious disturbance took place, in this town, in consequence of some people, evil affected, shewing signs of pleasure on the arrival of some disagreeable news from the continent, wearing in their hats, emblems, "the meaning of their hearts." (fn. 14) A party, composed of royalists, in consequence, ducked several supposed disaffected people in the river Leen. But not stopping here, the mob at night set fire to some outworks of Mr. Denison's cotton mill, where some Jacobins, as they were called, had taken shelter, whence some shot were fired. The vigilance of the magistrates and their friends, however, and the light horse, from Nottingham barracks, prevented further mischief than burning some premises which were suffered to blaze out. The next day also was a day of ducking and disorder.

1795 Benjamin Hornbuckle.

This year will be memorable, in this place, on account of the great flood which happened on Sunday February the 7th, after a frost of nearly 7 weeks, which was succeeded by a rapid thaw, which, in two or three days, occasioned the greatest flood ever remembered by the oldest person living, and, we fear, has caused the greatest damage to individual property that was ever sustained in so short a time. "So awful, so sudden a visitation, worked upon the feelings of all descriptions of people; the rich and the poor, in different places, were all alike involved in the general catastrophe; each one endeavoured to save his own from the perishable and destructive elementary fluid; but the condition of those unhappy sufferers who reside in the newly-built houses in the Meadow plat, was truly afflicting, for their 'little all' were literally swimming away!—As yet, no idea can be adequately formed of the calamities that have happened; we are afraid the mournful catalogue we shall have to present to our readers the ensuing week will develope scenes that will agonize every humane breast. The assluent, no doubt, on this sad occasion, will be ready to afford consolation and assistance to the indigent sufferers.—The accounts we have for the present, are, that many families, not only in this town, but in all the villages bordering upon the Trent, have been very great sufferers, in the loss of cattle drowned, and goods damaged;—the new gravel road from hence to the Trentbridge, which was heightened and improved at different times, at a considerable expence; the beautiful canal cut, which forms a collateral branch with the Leen, have received such immense fractures, as will make their repairs amount to a considerable sum on the whole;—the new Leen-bridge, the arches to drain off the water from the road, are also materially injured; but, by the timely exertions of the corporation, in setting a number of hands belonging to the Grantham canal immediately to work, under the direction of Mr. Oldknow, bridge-master, and Mr. Green, surveyor, it is hoped part of the damage will be repaired, so as to admit passengers in a day or two.—The mail, which should have arrived on Tuesday, did not arrive till this morning (Friday) which also brought the bags for Wednesday and Thursday." (fn. 15)

On Wednesday March 25th, was executed at Nottingham gallows, David Proctor, for a rape on his daughter-in-law; what is remarkable, he denied the charge with his last breath.

April the 19th, a mob arose in consequence of the high price of provisions; but no very serious consequences attended this tumult. The troops of Nottingham gentlemen Yeomen assembled on this occasion, fully accoutred, with a troop of heavy Dragoons, who secured about 13 of the ringleaders, which restored peace to the town.

Footnotes

1    The derivation of this title of office, Mayor, is from the Teutonick, and is used to signify a chief officer not only in most of the cities and corporate towns in England, but in France, the Netherlands, and other places, Alderman, anciently written Edldorman signifying a senior, was such in effect says Verstegan, among our ancestors as was Tribinnus Plebis with the Romans, one that had a chief jurisdiction among the Romans.
2    Deering.
3    Deering.
4    This Mr. Deering was informed of from his anonymous correspondence, which he often quotes.
5    Clarendon and Rapin have it the 25th, and that the standard was erected by the King's order on a turret of the castel. The King's declaration, on this important day, was, after setting up his standard, and his military arms were blest, that he would govern according to the known laws of the land; and if he failed in these things he would expect no relief from man nor protection from heaven.
6    Deering.
7    He obtained only £500 of the money. Rupert's army, when he demanded the money, lay at Queeneborough, 6 miles from Leicester.
8    The things that particularly regard this place, at this important period of our national history, are as follow, collected chiefly by Deering from Rushworth, Whitlock and other writers. "The same year about Christmass, Colonel Hutchinson, governor of Nottingham castle, acquainted the parliament with an offer of the Earl of Newcastle to pay him 10,000l. and to make him a Lord and governor of the castle, to him and his heirs, if he would deliver it to him for the king, which Hutchinson refused."
"A. D 1644. In June Colonel Hutchinson, governor of Nottingham met with a party of Newarkers, flew Captain Thimbleby, and took 50 of them; the same party from Nottingham the next day took more of the Newarkers, 20 gentlemen and officers and 60 of their horse and furniture."
"The latter end of this year Colonel Thorney with a party from Nottingham, took a garrison of the King's near Newark, and in it the master of the house, Sir Roger Cooper and his brother, and 50 other prisoners, with their arms."
"The same year a party of the king's forces from Newark came forth to gather contribution, and took prisoners some countrymen that were in arrears; the committee of Nottingham having notice thereof sent forth a party who pursuing those of Newark they left their prisoners and five or six of their men behind, and hasted to their quarters; the Nottingham men followed them close, and so far, that another party of Newark forces came forth upon them, routed them, recovered their prisoners, and took of the parliament party, Major Meldrum, Lieutenant Smith and about 28 Soldiers with their arms and horses."
A. D. 1645. The committee and the governor of Nottingham disagreed so much, that the parliament referred the difference to a committee April the 17th, and on the 21st of April Colonel Hutchinson, governor of Nottingham, a member of the house, informed them that a party of horse from Newark had stormed a fort upon Trent bridge near this garrison, and became masters of it, and put about 40 to the sword. It was referred to the committee of both houses to compose the differences between the governor and the commit tee, and to take care of the safety of the place."
"The 5th of May some Leicester and Nottingham forces marching to regain Trent bridge, the King's forces in it fled away at night, carrying with them what they could and set fire to the rest."
"The 20th of June the Scots army being at Nottingham and Sir Thomas Fairfax at Leicester, it was referred to a committee of both kingdoms, to manage the armies to the best improvement of the public service. (The Scots were afterwards ordered to sit down before Newark.")
"The 30th of June Colonel Hutchinson took 60 horse and 48 prisoners, Officers and arms."
"The 4th of October 1000l. was ordered to the Nottingham horse who sought gallantly at the late fight at Chester, and other sums for others of his forces"
"A. D. 1645. March the 18th. Nottinghamshire having been highly oppressed by the armies lying before Newark, the house ordered to take it into consideration."
"1646. July 11th. Order for reducement of the forces of Nottingham, and for money for that work, and for the losses and damages of that county."
"A. D. 1646. February the 13th. The King was brought to Nottingham, having been the 3d of the same month delivered to the English commissioners at Newcastle. Sir Thomas Fairfax went and met the King, who stopt his horse, Sir Thomas alighted and kissed his Majesty's hand, and afterwards mounted and discoursed with the King as they passed to Nottingham: The King said to one of the commissioners: That the General was a man of honour and kept his word with him."
"A. D. 1647. July the 15th. The forces in the north and the horse quartered in Nottingham sided with the army, and published a declaration of their adherence to the army commanded by General Fairfax."
"A. D. 1648. June the 13th. The parliament was acquainted with a design to surprize Nottingham castle, but that the governor Captain Poulton surprized and took prisoners the complotters, which were Sir Marmaduke Langdale, with ten more gentlemen in disguise."
"The 18th of December a Sheriff of Nottinghamshire was chosen."
"A. D. 1648. The 27th of January, the garrison of Nottingham castle was mustered, by which it appears that then it consisted only of one company of foot, of 100 private men exclusive of drummers, commanded by Captain Poulton, Governor."
"At this time one Lawrence Collin was gunner of the castle, of whom 'tis remarkable, that after the garrison was disbanded, he chose to stay at Nottingham, in order to follow his former occupation, which was wool-combing, but the corporation offering to give him disturbance he petitioned Cromwell, which occasioned the following order to be sent to the governor, which accidentally dropt into my hands, viz."
"Sir,
His Highness the Lord Protector having heard the petition of Laurence Collin, which is here enclosed, is pleased to recommend it unto you to speak to the mayor and other magistrates of Nottingham, to know the reason why they will not suffer the petitioner to set up his trade in the town. And if there be no other cause of exception, but that he is not a freeman, in regard he has faithfully served the commonwealth, his highness does think it sit that he should continue in the town, and be admitted to follow his calling for the maintenance of himself and family. Which is all I am commanded to communicate to you from his highness by the hands of
Whitehall, this 17th of July.
"Sir
your very humble and faithful servant,
LISLE LONG."
"After this he lived in quiet and laid the foundation for a thriving family in Nottingham, which at this time is very considerable, being strengthened by the intermarriage into the family of George Langford, Esq. one who had not only been an eminent surgeon, but also bore a commission in the parliament army, and was mayor of Nottingham at the revolution. Laurence lived to the 91st year of his age, as appears by his grave stone in St. Nicholas's church."
"A. D. 1650. The latter end of May or beginning of June, the General Sir Thomas Fairfax, his regiment, and the train of artillery were at Nottingham, in their march to the north."
"A. D. 1656. In March Colonel Hacker had apprehended several of the conspirators against Cromwell in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, and kept them all in awe. The conspiracy against the protector began in March 1655; first at Salisbury, then Exeter, Northumberland, &c. a strong declaration was published by the title of:
"The Declaration of the free and well affected People of England now in Arms against the Tyrant Cromwell."
9    It was after the Norman conquest that this division was made, the east part of the town meadows and fields were in the English, and the west part of the town &c. was the French's.
10    This traniaction is circumstantially related in the Gent. Magazine, 1732.
11    Hind's discipline, page 6.
12    Gentleman's Magazine.
13    Mr. Walker, a respectable builder in Nottingham, under whose immediate inspection the fact happened.
14   Nottingham Journal.
15   Nottingham Journal.—I have been lately informed that an estimate of the damage done by this very extraordinary flood, to bridges, water-works, and individual property, in this kingdom, amounts to upwards of a million of money.
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