THE Survey and antiquity OF THE town OF STAMFORD. In the County of Lincoln. With its ancient Foundation, Grants, privileges, and several Donations thereunto belonging. Also a List of the aldermen's names, and the time when they were chosen. With the Names of 10 Lord Majors (of the Hon: City of London) borne in the foresaid County of Lincoln.  
Written By RICHARD BUTCHER Gent. Sometimes town-clerk of the same town.  
Caput & membra sunt una persona.  Thom. Aquinas. 
LONDON, Printed by THO: FORCET, dwelling in Old-Fishstreet in Heydon-Court. 1646.   

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.  
(TO All the worthy Citizens of LONDON, Borne in the town of STAMFORD in the County of Lincoln, that have been or intend to be Benefactors to the same: And more especially to those two worthy Brothers and members of that City, Mr. Robert Bullack, and Mr. John Bullack, who have not only been Pious and charitable Benefactors to their said Native town; but also liberal and indulgent encouragers to this present Survey thereof).  
GEntlemen, I here present unto you for a new-year's gift, the Survey of your Cradle-places; a work upon which I fixed my first thoughts by the motion which some of you by letter made unto others, who either not at leisure, or not willing; or hindered by some other impediment, I know not what, forbore the enterprise: Which I perceiving (though the unfittest of many others) have presumed to set my Pen on work, rather than your desires should be altogether frustrate, or that I should conceal what I know; have heard, or read of my Native town. As it is homely, so I hope it is harmless; if it appear not worthy of your applause, yet I hope it will no way appear worthy of your displeasures; take it therefore as it is meant, not as it might have been made better by me, for it is the best that my poor Invention, observation, or reading can afford, or the treasury of my notebook can render.  
It had come to your views some months before this, had not the troubles of these Times hindered my intended speed: Yet glad I am I have finished it at the end of the Old year, hoping it would have been published at the beginning of the new. If it be thought useful for the public, I desire for the public good it may be published, and that what Errors have escaped my Pen, may by the Corrector be amended, by the Reader pardoned, and the whole substance of this Survey be by you kindly accepted; From him who is and ever will be a lover of you and your Native place whilst he is  
Your Friend, Richard Butcher. Stamford the 1. of January, 1646.   


Viro doctrinâ, et pietate in Patriam eximio RICHARDO BUTCHER.  
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}: qui Librum edis doctéque pi●que,  
Arteque pertingis, quò stimulavit Amor.  
Qui negat alterutrum; non noverit ille, necesse est,  
Scribendi causas: Patria nempe tua est.  
Scribendive modum: parsisti nempe labori  
Tu nulli; pietas quô tua docta foret:  
Nec frustrà sudasse liquet; quod quilibet alter  
Agnoscet mecum, qui tua scripta lege●.  
B. H. Med: Doctor.   

ROBERT BULLACKE, chirurgeon. In laudem Authoris, & contra Zoilum.  

WHen first I moved in the terrestrial sphere  
Of your Sol's influence, I doubted not my dear  
Friend, of your love, your care, pains and sincerity  
Which Stamford must cognize to all posterity:  
Of this our author's book, I say but this  
(For that is Praise enough) that it is his:  
Nor all the Muses, nor Apollo's lays  
Can sing his worth, be his own lines his praise  
Against the Zoilus, who's fraught with spite,  
I send this old Convoy on him to light:   

Cum tua non edas carpis mea carmina Leli  
Carpere vel noli nostra, vel ede tua.   

Sloth sits and censures, what th' industrious teach;  
Foxes dispraise the Grapes they cannot reach.    

INto the little volume of this book,  
With judgements eye who so shall please to look;  
Such various Learning he therein shall find,  
As shall express the Authors glorious mind:  
The scite of Stamford, in rhetoric strain,  
Set forth; demonstrateth unto us plain  
His Eloquence; his knowing Antiquity,  
The substance of this book do●h testify:  
Then for his Skill in ancient History,  
And likewise in the art of Heraldry;  
Such copious matter it to us affords,  
As possible can be declared in words:  
His Poetry like golden veins appear,  
Throughout this work, as scattered here and there:  
This learned labour from his painful hands,  
Shall last whilst Welland runs, and Stamford stands.  
THO: SEAMER.   

DARES and HOMER long ago did write  
The greeks and Trojans bloody dismal Fight;  
Our Author seldom dips his Pen in blood,  
Yet by this Story may be understood,  
How Stamford flourished both in Art and Trade,  
And then again, how she was wretched made  
By bloody Mars; who all her sta●ely Towers  
Erst in a moment, Fire and Sword devours:  
Her various fortune, he here let's us know,  
Which like the Ocean oft did ebb and flow:  
And this into our memory, fresh brings  
Wo●lds frailty, and Vicessi●ude of things.  
In wealth and glory much she once did thrive,  
What time she was the sacred muse's hive;  
And then her glory fell into decay,  
When as those painful Bees did fly away.  
But now again, methinks she mend● her state,  
By that which here our Author doth relate:  
Then Stamford love the man that honours thee,  
Or much unworthy thou wilt seem to be  
Of such a town-clerk: Who to thy great glory,  
Sets forth herein thy true and ancient Story.  
E. A.    

THE Survey and Antiquity of the town of STAMFORD.  
CHAP. I.  
The several Appellations, Foundation, situation, and form● of Stamford, with the erection and dissolution of the university there.  
THe town of Stamford alias Stantford, alias Stampford, (for by so many several names the same is called in divers Records) is situated upon the furthest point West in the County of Lincoln, on the confines of the Counties of Rutland and Northampton: the same and Stamford-Baron adjoining, are placed in a very healthful pleasant, and temperate air, which in the form thereof doth frame the figure of a Roman T. It is watered on the South parts with the River of Welland, which hath the original Spring in the County of Leicester, towards the West not far from the town of Harborow. From whence extending her stream she devideth by her channel in the beginning of her course the Counties of Leicester and Northampton; and so gliding with her silver current Eastward in her journey proves a fruitful Parent making herself the rich Mother of green-hew, and many several coloured flowers which she brings forth upon the fruitful meadows enameling the same therewith all along as she passeth de●iding before she come at Stamford the Counties of Rutland and North-hampton, and then arriving there, with her fragrant stream she devideth the same from the town and Parish of Stamford-Baron, in the County of Northampton; a place though not subject to the Mace of Stamfords government, yet joined to the same in all Taxes, Subsidies, fifteens▪ and other payments to the State amounting to a fifth part of a full mul●t, and so subjugating herself to pass under the stony yoke of a Bridge of five Arches, she holds on her constant travel towards the East, thence making a separation betwixt the Counties of Lincoln and Northampton, till she comes to the town of Crowland, where she drowneth herself and name in the fens of Holland and pays the tribute of her waves to the Monarch Neptune by delivering her waters towards Lynne in the County of Norfolk into the grand Ocean.  
This town of Stamford is of great antiquity, and was built (as the tradition goes) 863 years before the Incarnation of Christ by Bladud a King of the Britain's, who being himself a great Philosopher endeavoured at this town to plant the study of Philosophy▪ in emulation or imitation of the ancient Athenian schools, and drawing hither the learnedst and gravest men of that Science that were to be found in the whole World, it flourished in all manner of Heathenish learning till the time of K. Lucius, who was the first that here embraced the Christian Faith by the Preaching of Fugatius and Damianus, sent hither into Britain by Eleutherus Bishop of Rome; and as before it was ●ery famous through the world for the great proficiency of ethnic learning▪ so in that blessed time when England was first enlightened with the glorious beams of the gospel, it much more flourished with Learned▪ Holy and Religious men, who very devoutly taught the soul-saving knowledge of CHRIST; Insomuch that in a short time (according to the Devotion of those times) in and about Stamford eight Houses of Religion, thirteen Parish Churches, and three chapels, all of them in or near the same town were erected, (as shall hereafter in the proper place be more particularly named) the same being furnished with the Learnedest and gra●est men of that Age: the fame of whose Piety and Learning caused many of the Christian Princes and other Great men neighbouring upon the Isles of Britain, to send their sons and Friends hither to be taught and educated by those pious Masters▪ whereby it in those days attained to the name and honour of an University. But as no glory is permanent in this transitory life, so in time the lustre of this bright shining tapor of Fame began to wax d●mme and to decline by the foggy and pestiferous mists of heresy and errors; like mortal Diseases breeding in a body long enured with Peace, health and quietness, which caused the Stamford●an University to be dissolved by the Decree and Power of Gregory then Bishop of Rome, about the year after the Incarnation of Christ, 727.   

CHAP. II.  
Stamford ruinated by the Danes, re-edified and the Bridge over Welland builded by Aliren the second King of Denmark, the Castle and Wa●●s built by Edmund Jronside a Saxon King; with the names of the Gates, the names and uses of the Watch-towers, the situation of the Castle, the number of the Streets and Lanes, with the Conduits and Wells which water the same: Together with the Churches and houses of Religion, in and about the same.  
ABout the year after the Incarnation of Christ 116, Canu●us the heathen King of Denmark invading England with a potent Army, amongst other of his spoils and rapines laid wast the town of Stamford, which not long after was by Aliren the second his successor, re-edified and a Bridge of Stone built over the River of Welland leading into Stamford-Baron, it remained without Castle or Walls till the time of Edmund Ironside a Saxon King, about 200 years before the Norman Conquest, who built the Castle and compassed the town with a wall of Stone of an indifferent height, for the better defence against the Danes invasion, garnishing the same with Five strong and stately Watch-towers, two towards the waterside for the discovery and defence against the Enemy towards the South, the one called Béesfort, the other Holme-towes: The other three bulwarks or Watch-towers are towards the East, North, and West, for the discovery and defence against the Enemy on those parts, called carp-tower, White-tower, and North bulwark.  
The Walls have in them Five principal Gates or entries, Peter-gate on the West St. Clements-gate on the North, Paul-gate, and St. Georges-gate toward the East, and the Bridge gate towards the South: To these may be added a Sixth standing North-east called the Newgate, but made long since the ancient Gates were erected all the rest appearing to have slips of strong portculliss, which Newgate wanteth. Besides there is toward the South, two ancient Posterne-gates which seem as ancient as the Walls themselves, the one joining to the Bridge-gate▪ the other not far from St. Georges-gate, leading into the Tenter-Meadowes.  
But as the length of time corrupteth not only manners and good Government from the ancient intent and integrity thereof but also Stone walls from their true use and sufficiency, so hath it brought to pass in these more modern Times, that the manners of good and careful government of magistrates becoming corrupted, either by self-seeking covetousness, or friendly partiality, have so far corrupted these very walls of Stone that they have lost the true use and strength of them contrary to the intent and wise meaning of the first-Founders, by permitting the adjacent Inhabitants within them to make backdoors out of them: ●o that one may say, so many Tenements as border upon them so many new posterns are made out of them, serving for no other purpose then for the letting in and out at unlawful hours' nightwalkers and suspected persons, which fear to appear in the presence of a Watch, or to be seen in the heart of a town, or to come within the compass of the awful eye of the public magistrate, things of no small and dangerous consequence in the times either of Peace or war, especially where they are permitted to the backsides of Victualing-houses, as too many of them are.  
The Castle was situated whilst it stood upon the side of an Hill (as indeed all the town stands upon the rising of an hill) but the Castle-hill appears somewhat artificial, being cast up round and higher than the ordinary degree, standing well towards the midst of the town and somewhat South-west, facing the River with a very pleasant prospect.  

* Cum Edwardus Senior ●ustrales fluminum ripas contra Danos et Aquilone irruentes communi●et è regione etiam hujus i● Australi ●ipa (que nun● Stamford-Baron vocatur) firmissimam arcem construxisse. Nusquam tamen hodie apparet nae● quod intestino bello Stephanus contra Henricum Andegavensem firmavit in ipso oppido fuisse et firma obtin●● ipsius area etiamnum ostendit. Camden Britt. in Com. Lincoln.  Mr. Camden makes mention of another Castle sometimes standing in Stamford-Baron, built by Edward the Elder a Saxon King, as a Fortification against the Danes, which was destroyed in the wars betwixt King Stephen and Henry the second; and indeed the very ruins thereof are now come to ruin for no place there appears to give evidence where it stood.  
To manifest the profitable and pleasant situation of this town, the Munkes, friars, and nuns of those superstitious times (like so many Rats or Mice, which make choice to reed of the daintie●● Cheese) made choice of this place to build here several receptacles, as one observes of them.  
They plant themselves in fairest plots  
For Pasture, Wood and spring:  
No grief, nor care, comes to their lots,  
When others sigh they sing.  
For in and about this town they had no less than Eight several Cells or monasteries; as namely, the Gray-Fryers, the whitefriars, the Blackfriars, the Augustine-Fryers, St. Leonar's (being a Cell belonging to the Abbey of Durham) Newsted monastery, the Hermitage (being the place where now the Spittle-house standeth) and a house of nuns in Stamford-Baron.  
Here hath been likewise in former times (as I said before) thirteen Parish Churches besides three chapels, namely St Mary's, All-Saints, St. Thomas, St. Michael's, St John's, Trinity Church, Paul's Church, Peter Church, St. George's, St. Andrews, Clement Church, St. Stephens, and St. martin's, in Stamford-Baron.  
Also Benet chapel, St. Thomas chapel, and Magdaline chapel. These are now all reduced into five Parishes within the liberties, and St. Martin's without, namely, St. Mary's, All-Saints, St. Michael's, St. John's, and St. Georges; and yet none of all these six Parishes (excepting All-Saints) hath so much maintenance belonging to any of them as will competently maintain a Minister in them, a thing which may seem very strange when sixteen several Benefices are reduced to the number of five, or 6. But I conceive the reason to be here as it is in the University of Cambridge, which hath in it (as I take it) 15 Parish Churches, and yet not any one of them of any competent maintenance; because the fellows of the several colleges do officiate in those several cures for the better exercise and practice of their ministry, as having their chiefest maintenance from the colleges: even so the Munks of the several monasteries in this place (Whilst those monasteries stood) did officiate in the several Parishes here, having their principal maintenance from the monasteries; which being dissolved most of these Parishes became united (especially those that had any maintenance unto them) for the support of the future ministry, and those that had merely nothing were totally ruinated.  
This Town hath in it to the number of a Eleven indifferent fair Streets, and 10 small streets or Lanes, well replenished with houses, but in former times (as appears by the ruins of many ancient buildings) it was much more populous than now it is (the reason of which hereafter appeareth in the proper pl●●e). The names of the Streets and Lanes are as followeth Peter-hill Street St. Mary's Street, Paul's Street, S. Michael's Street▪ S. Geo●ges Street, Clement-hill (where the Friday market-cross s●●nds) Clip●●ill St. Mary's Market Street, All-Hallowes gate the Bridge-street the Market-street, Clement Lane, Star Lane goldsmith's Lane, mannerly Lane, Chenie Lane, S. Thomas Lane, S. John's Lane's, S. Mary's Lane, Castle-dike, and pillory-nook, where the white meat Market is kept.  
The town is watered by two common Conduits▪ as namely by St. Michael's and Paul's Conduits, besides it hath four common wheel-Wells belonging thereunto, All-Hallowes Well, St▪ George's Well Poule Well and Clement Well: the Conduits are fed by pipes of lead which descend from a spring called the Conduit-head, being twelvescore or thereabouts without the Walls, upon the North-east of the Town in the common field, and hath the Land next adjoining to it for the benefit both of the Spring and Conduit.   

CHAP. III.  
The Antiquities, ancient privileges and ancient owners of the town of Stamford.  
MAster Cambden in his learned Britania in the County of Lincoln describes the situation, 
Cambden Britta● 〈…〉.  stctruure, and general privileges, anciently used in this Town in these words. In limit ad Wellandum fluminun Stamford sed et è Saxo structili unde et nomen aedificatum oppi●um frequens et varijs immunitatibus 〈◊〉, muroque firmatum Geldum per duodecem hundredis, et dimidi● dedit in exercitu navigio et Dane-gelt, ibique fuerunt sex custodiae. With this in part agrees the book of Crowland which makes mention of Stamford and Stamford-shire.  
Moreover John Stow in his Chronicle reports, 
Stow, pag. 131.  that in the time of King Athelstone before the conquest, there was a Mint for the coining of Money in Stamford-Baron; so that without doubt the limits of the jurisdiction and liberties of Stamford have been far beyond what now they are.  
The ancient owners of this Town have been many, but all holding from the Crown in chief, the Tower roll makes mention that King John gave the Castle and Town of Stamford to William Earl Warren, after the death of which Earl Warren, Henry the third seized the Castle and town, and gave the same to Edward his son who held them, and when he came to be King he gave the same to John Earl Warren; John Earl Warren ga●e amongst other things the said Castle and Town again to the King after his death▪ the said John died the 21th of Edward the third seized of the said Castle and Town for life, the remainder to the King as appears by the inquisition upon the Tower Roll taken after the death of the said John in the 21th year of the said King Edward the third. Edward the third, after the death of the said John Earl Warren, gave the said Castle and town to William de B●hume Earl of Northampton, and to his heirs males, and in default of such issue, the remainder to the King.  
The said William Earl of Northampton died without heirs Males, whereupon the reversion of the said Castle and Town did again return into the Crown and so continued till the first of Edward the fourth, in which said first year by Letters Patents, bearing date the 1. of June, the said King Edward the 4th granted the said Town and Castle to his Mother Cicely Duchess of York for the term of her life, the remainder to the King and his heirs, after the death of the said Cicely Duchess of York, the same remained in the Crown till the time of Queen Elizabeth, at what time William Cecell then newly made Lord Burleigh, a man great in the State and also lately become great in possessions in and about Stamford, being trusted by the Townsmen for the obtaining of the fee-farm thereof for the use of the Corporation, he obtained the same for himself, in whose posterity it as yet remaineth to the great disadvantage of the said Town.   

CHAP. iv.  
The ancient Government of Stamford, the first Incorporating thereof by Letters Patents; the reason why the Kings of this Land have from time to time nourished and cherished Corporations, the privileges and immunities of Stamford by the new Grants and late Charters, the Power given them there to make laws for the better regulating the same, and the laws made particularly set down.  
THe Government of Stamford was long before their written Charter held, and used amongst themselves by an ancient Prescription, which was called the Aldermanry of the Guild, as strong and as large (if not more strong than now the same is settled by the Charters of the first and 15th of Edward the 4th, who was the first that did incorporate the Town by Letters Patents). For it appeareth upon the Tower-Roll in the third year of King Edward the first, Per veredictum duodec●m minorum Ville de Stamford R●tul. hundred. Lincoln. ibi fuerunt duodecem qui vocantur LEGEMANI qui sic vocabantur quia ab antiqu● fuerunt Iudices legum in eadem villa. Whereby it is manifest, that in those days there were Twelve men in Stamford which were called Legemani, because they were judges of the Law, and had the law in their hands for the Government of this town.  
Edward the 4th in the first year of his reign Anno Dom. 1461. by his Charter directed to George Chapman, the first incorporate Alderman, and others both of the upper and lower Bench, then called the Comburgesses and Capitall-burgesses (being then the first and second Twelve, as they are more particularly named in the said Charter, but since enlarged by a later Charter, To the Alderman and twelve Comburgesses, and to the number of 24 capital Burgesses) did incorporate the said town both in Name and Deed by the name of the Alderman and Burgesses of Stamford, and thereby gave or rather confirmed unto the same many great and profitable privileges; as to be freed from the sheriff's jurisdiction, and from being put on Inquests out of the town, to have the return of all Writs, to be freed from all Lords Lieutenants; or their Deputies in respect of taking of Musters; as touching the Militia of the said town, making the Alderman for the time being the King's immediate Lieutenant within his Liberties and jurisdiction, and to be within the same the second man within the kingdom; to have one or more Mace or Maces of Gold or Silver at his choice to be carried before him for his greater honour and dignity; to have a common seal at arms, and for the more honour thereof, the same are allowed to be the arms of England, both in Field, colour, and posture without difference, impaled with the checkie Coat, Or and Azure of Earl Warren, the ancient Lord (as hath been said) of this town; and further, to do and execute within the same and Liberties thereof, Vt ab antiquo usu fuerunt, as of ancient time they had been accustomed▪ which makes it evident that this Charter is but a new Confirmation of more ancient privileges.  
The Naturalists report, that the Viperous brood are procreated by the destruction of both the Parents; the Male destroyed in the act of generation, the Female at the time of bringing forth: Such a generation of Vipers have from time to time unfortunately been gotten and brought forth in this Town, I mean, men who have been begotten into prime O●fices by the votes and suffrages of others, by which very act they have proved the ruin of those which begat them, and being conceived in the womb of their Offices, to make themselves a Birth to their better benefit and greater prefe●ment, have torn out the bowels of this their nourishing Mother, by purloining from her, her ancient Records. Charters, and miniments, rending to the death and destruction of this Corporation, only to advance their private designs, together with the designs of the towns common enemy; whereby our ancient Immunities appear no otherwise, then scatteringly hear and there upon the Tower Roll little better than mere circumstances; yet pregnant Evidences of more ancient privileges: So that at this day we ca● show none under any authentic warrant beyond the first year of the reign of King Edward the fourth.  
But to proceed since the obtaining of this first Charter, the same hath been Confirmed by divers juspeccimusses from all the succeeding Kings and Queens that have been sovereigns to the time of King CHARLES that now is, and divers new Grants added; as the Monday Market, the three fairs of Simon and Jude, green-goose fair, and St. James fair, having formerly but the Friday Market, and the great Mid-lent Mart, the profits of which only belong to the Lord, these later to the Corporation.  
By a late Inspeccimus, there is granted to the Alderman and Burgesses, to hold a Court of Pleas of all actions real, personal or mixed, to the value of 40. l. And to hold Sessions and goal delivery, for all criminal actions perpetrated and done within the Liberty (high Treason and petty Treason only excepted.)  
This town hath (as many other ancient boroughs of England have) a power to send up two Burgesses to every Parliament: So that they have not only the power to execute laws, but also a share in making of laws: And here is to be observed the reason, why the Princes and policy of England have had a regard, as it were to the fencing and hedging about the Cities and ancient Boroughs of this Land with privileges and Immunities, for the stronger defence, preservation and maintenance of the same, and that for divers great and weighty ends and purposes. In the time of William the conqueror it is constitured by the said King in these words; Item nullum Mercatum vel forum sit nec fieri permittatur nisi in Civitatibus Regni nostri & in Burgis clausis & muto vallatis & Castellis, & locis tutissimus ubi consuetudines Regni nostri & jus nostrum commune & dignitates Coronae nostrae quae constitutae sunt a bonis Praedecessoribus nostris deperire non possunt nec defraudari, nec viol●ri, sed omnia rite & ●er judicium & justiciam fieri debent: Et ideo Castilia & Burgi & Civitates sunt & fundatae & edificata scilicet ad tuitionem gentium & populorum Regni, & ad defencionem Regni & idcirco observari debent cum omne libertate et integritate et ratione.  
So as by this it appears, 
Lamb. fol. 125.  that Cities and ancient Boroughs (as this town is) were instituted for three purposes.  

First, the conservation of the customs of the kingdom, and the common Right and Dignity of the crown.  
2. For the defence of the Nation, and the people of the kingdom.  
3. And as for the defence of the kingdom, so for the conservation of the laws thereof, by which laws every man enjoys his own in Peace; for tuition and defence of the King's subjects, and for the keeping of the King's peace in time of sudden uproars; and finally for the Defence of the realm against outward and inward hostility.   
And indeed the grants of Kings and sovereign Princes, either to Counties, Cities, or towns corporate, makes such Counties, Cities, and towns corporate▪ as it were small County Palatines within themselves, in giving them power for the better Government of such places, to have Magistrates of their own members; and for their more ample Authority and peculiar rule to make laws, constitutions and ordinances, to bind themselves and every member within their jurisdiction.  
When the conqueror created Hugh Lupus Earl of Chester, he made that Shire a County Palatine, upon which Creation Henry Bradshaw a Munk in Chester, about the beginning of King Henry the 8. speaking of the manner of the conquerors grant to the said Hugh, hath these following Verses, which in part do resemble the free and large liberties and grants to inferior Corporations.  

Bradshaw in vitae Wirburg. cap. 16. — The King gave him for his Inheritance  
The County of Chester, with the appurtenance;  
Made a sure Charter to him and his succession:  
By the sword of Dignity to hold it by might,  
And to call a Parliament to his will and fight;  
To order his Subjects after true justice,  
As a praeporent Prince, and statutes to devise.  
This Hugh Lupus for the better aiding of him in his Government and for the more completing of him in his Parliament, which shou●d be the fountain of his laws to rule by, substituted and made under him these Eight Barons; That is to say,— 

1 Robertus filius Hugonis, Baron de Malpas.  
2 Richardus de Vernon, Baron de Shibbrooke.  
3 Willielm●● Malbanc, Baron de Nampwich.  
4 Willielmus filius Nig●lli, Baron de Halton.  
5 Hamo de Mascy, Baron de Dunham.  
6 Gilbertus de Venables, Baron de Kilb●rton.  
7 Hugo filius Normandi, Baron de Hawardin,  
8 Nicholas de Stock-port, Baron de Stock-port.    
In like manner, as this Earl and his Barons assembled in the great Hall in his Castle of Chester, had the power to make laws and Constitutions for the government of that his County, so hath this lesser body aggregate (the survey of which I now write) a power within themselves in their common Hall assembled, to make laws as peculiar and proper rules for their better Government, the said assembly being a little Court of Parliament (if it be lawful for me to compare small things with great, or like a Cosmographer to frame a model of the great World in one small skin of Parchment; for in this small model is a representation of the highest and greatest Government;) For here the Alderman as the chiefest Magistrate represents the person of the King, his Brethren the Comburgesses sitting round about him as so many peers of the upper house, the capital Burgesses which we here call the 24▪ being Senatores minorum gentium, are the representative Body of the whole town, and in their place do symbolize with the lower house of Parliament; The Recorder (being the mouth of the Court) doth represent the Speaker in this Michrocosme; the town-clark, the Register or clerk of the same; The gilded Mace-bearer, the sergeant at arms, and the jailor (being the arresting sergeant in the Liberty) the Knight of the Black rod.  
Now in pursuance of that power given to this Corporation for the making of good and wholesome laws for the better government of the same. Richard Wolphe Gent. Alderman of the said town, at a common Court or Hall there held the 15th day of March, in the Sixth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord King CHARLES that now is, &c. With the advice and consent of the Comburgesses and capital Burgesses in the Common Hall assembled; Did ordain and constitute as followeth:  
I.  
THat no new Habitation shall be erected in the said Town, unless it be made fit for the dwelling of such person or persons, as shall be Cessed or fit to be cessed in the subsidy at xx. s. in Land, or iij.l. in Goods at the least (excepting Hospitals and houses of Correction) upon pain to forfeit to the Alderman and Burgesses, or their successors the sum of x.s. for every month, that such Cottage or new building shall be used for habitation.  
2 That no barns or other houses shall be converted into Tenements, and no ancient Tenement shall be divided into sundry habitations (except the same so divided shall be made fit for the dwelling of subsidy men of xx. s. lands, or iij.l. goods, the erecter to forfeit x.s. Monthly and the tenant v.s. monthly to the use aforesaid.  
3 That such who take in Inmates, shall forfeit x.s. monthly to the use aforesaid.  
4 That none shall let or assign any Tenement to any one not assessed or fit to be assessed at xx. s. lands, or iij.l. goods (except to Fréemen that have not discontinued from the town with their family by the space of one year before) unless the Landlord become bound with the tenant or one other sufficient suerty in 40. l. to save the town harmless, upon peine of five pound forfeit for the contempt, and x.s. monthly for the continuance by the Landlord, and v.s. monthly by the tenant, to the use aforesaid.  
5 That these orders extend not to any that take in tenants of xx. s. land or iij.l. goods in the subsidy (except they be Inmates.)  
6 That the Alderman for the time being with two of the 〈◊〉 Camburgesses to the place (not being offenders) shall be judges, whether such erections be meet for the habitation of such Subsidy men.  
7 That the streets and Lanes in the said town be cleansed every Saturday by the adjacent Inhabitants, or the parties delinquent to forfeit for every offence vj.d. and the Constables in that precinct, to forfeit for not presenting every offence at the next Sessions after the same is committed ij.s.vj.d. to the use aforesaid.  
8 That no Alderman shall presume to make any a freeman out of the Town-hall, unless the same be granted in the open Hall, and the fine for such freedoms there assessed▪ upon pain to forfeit v.l. to the use aforesaid.  
9 That no Tradesman whatsoever (except Fréemen by birth or service) shall presume to open any shop, or to sell any wares until they have agreed for their freedoms, upon pain of forfeiting x.s. for every Month they shall so do, to the use aforesaid.  
10 That all the Conduits, common Wells, and Pumps about the said Town shall from time to time be repaired, at the Town charge upon pain of forfeiture of vi. s.viij.d. a piece by the two Chamberlains, to the use aforesaid.  
11 That so many of the Comburgesses, or capital Burgesses as shall be dwelling within the parish where the Alderman or his Deputy for the time being shall dwell (having no lawful excuse to the contrary) shall attend upon the said Alderman or his deputy to and from his parish Church upon every Lord's day both before noon and after noon▪ if there be any Sermon at the said Church▪ upon pain for every one offending, to forfeit for every offence the sum of iiij. d. to the use aforesaid.  
12 That all such as have built upon the Town walls or upon the rampire thereof, or made any doors, or gates, out of the said walls within the space of 40 years before these ordinances, shall take Leases from the Town, of the said passages; or shall forfeit twelve. d. for every Month they shall continue the same without Leases, to the use aforesaid.  
13 That the pinner of the said Town shall impound and take i.d. for every beast that he finds in the Town streets and in the liberties thereof, not put before the common Heard.  
14 That all the forfeitures aforesaid, shall be paid to the chamberlains for the time being, who in default of payment shall recover and leavie the same by action or actions of debt, or by distress of the goods and chattels of the offenders, which distress being taken shall be impounded until the penalty for which it was taken be fully paid, or else for nonpayment by the space of six days after the taking, and not in the mean time repleavied, the same to be apprized by two indifferent persons to be chosen by the Alderman for the time being, and by the chamberlains sold for the satisfaction of the said penalties, and the overplus to be delivered to the owner or owners of the said goods.  
15 That the several sums hereafter to be paid, recovered or levied by virtue of these Ordinances or any of them, shall be from time to time employed to and for the good of the poor of the said town of Stamford, and no otherwise.  
These laws, Constitutions and Ordinances, were in the same year viewed, approved and confirmed under the hands and seals of Sir Richard Hutton Knight, than one of the justices of his majesty's Court of Common-pleas, and Sir George Crook Knight, one of his majesty's justices of the Court of Kings-bench, being the two judges of Assizes for the County of Lincoln (in which County the said Corporation of Stamford standeth) and thereby made laws according to the form of the Statute in that case made and provided, 
19 Hen. 7. cap 7.  and are set up in the council-chamber of the said town fairly written in Parchment and fixed in a wooden frame.  
But these laws how good soever in themselves remain but as so many linelesse letters for want of that quickening spirit which the authority of the magistrate ought to put into them by the just and impartial execution of them. For as in cases criminal▪ the Death of a malefactor is the life of the Law, so in all offences of a less nature the due punishment of the offender, shows the instrument of the living Law in the hand of the justicer; and therefore such Magistrates as have good rules prescribed, but in regard either of negligence, idleness or ignorance, forbear to do their duties, are like to counterfeit mankins set upon Corn lands, only to fright away the birds, and the offender perceiving such a one what he is, is by him rather encouraged than made afraid to offend▪ because he knows he may offend without control, having for his governor but Aesopes' dead beam flung into the water, upon which every base Frog, in contempt and derision will hop and trample on.  
What shall I call such blockish Justices?  
They are like round ciphers which have neither the figures of Justice, Judgement, Equity, Courage, nor the fear of God before their eyes: or like the picture of St. George on horseback, threatening with his Sword to kill the Dragon, but never hits him; Therefore to finish the Character of this Sin-suffering beast with this Chapter, the poet's definition fits him.  
Mild Magistrates are Winters too to warm, 
Du-Bart●●   
Which neither chill the Weed, nor kill the Worm.   

CHAP. V.  
The dignity and antiquity of the word and title Alderman described.  
NOw since this Town hath for her principal Magistrate an Alderman, I conceive it will not be amiss nor out of order or method, before I set down the manner of election and inaugeration of this prepotent Officer, somewhat to vindicate the dignity and antiquity of the word Alderman itself, with the large extent and ancient power thereof; here in England long before the Norman conquest, far beyond that of Major or any other name of Magistrate at this time appointed, for the rule or government of a City or Town incorporate, though the conceit and opinion of these more modern times seem to be otherwise; Sed non fuit sic ab initio: and I am sure the best Antiquities prefer an ancient dignity though by time neglected, before new invented title though never so much for the present adored; so likewise do the best Heralds prefer an ancient family (retaining the old 〈◊〉, though declined in estate) before a new and upstart house though never so much glittering for the present in wealth, pomp, and prosperity: for we know that though many times a black cloud interposeth itself betwixt us and the sun's brightness, yet the Sun still remaineth to be the same both in heat and splendour though seeming darkened, cooled, and obscured to dull conceits and thick capacities: So, though time and use like an absco●ding veil or curtain, draws itself betwixt us and the former ancient lustre and extent of Government, appropriate unto the name and dignity of the word Alderman, yet the same still remains as at the first g●orious and splendidious in itself. For it is to be noted, that in all old Saxon titles, the word Alderman or Duke (as Selden observes) was one and the same, for authority whereof, he citys an instrument made by Ethelread and Ethelfled▪ The Aldermen, Dukes or Lords of Mercia, to Werfred Bishop of Worcester, in the year 904 for the profit and benefit of that Church, and (as the book of the Church of Worcester saith) the name Alderman is sometimes expressed by sub. Regulus & Regulus, 
Camden B●●tan. pa. 368.  sometimes by Patricius, Princeps, Dux, Comes & consul, nor is this without example, that they are called Reges. There was an old inscription at the abbey of R●●sey in ancient time, of one Alwin, who being of the blood royal was Alderman, of all England under King Athel●●on and founder of that abbey, as there appears by the Epi●aph upon his Tomb in these words: 

Ob●●● anno Christi 9●2.  
Col Ramsy in Ar●hi vi● Scaccarij.  
Hic requiescit Alwinu●in●liti regis Edgari cognatu●●●tius Anglia Aldermanus et huius sacri coe●●bij miraculos ● fundatur.  
Here lies Alwin kinsman to King Edgar Alderman of all England and the miraculous founder of this sacred Cell.  
The word Elderman (saith Hovenden) in England is the same with Senior or Senator in Latin,  not so much so called propter senectutem sed propter sapientiam▪ not so much for their age as for their wisdom, and divers others have it to the same purpose in other words by way of notation, observing that those whom the Saxons formerly called, and now we call Eldermen or Earls, the Romans called Senators. Et similiter ●lim apud Britanes ●emporibus 〈◊〉 in Reg●● isto Britania vocabantur 〈◊〉 qui ●oste● 〈◊〉 Sax●num vocabantur Aldermani, non propter aetat●m sed propter sapientiam & dignitatem, cum quidem adolecentes essent Iurisp●riti tamen & super hoc experti. And likewise in times past amongst the Britain's, in the time of the Romans in this kingdom of Britain, they were called Senators which afterwards in the time of the Saxons, were called Aldermen, not so much for their age as for their wisdom, &c.   
So that it appears hereby, that the Antiquity, dignity, and the extent of authority of the name or title Alderman▪ surpasseth that of Major, Provost, bailiff, or Warden, by which several titles given to the chief Magistrates, divers▪ Cities and Corporate towns are governed.   

CHAP. VI.  
The manner of the choosing the Alderman of Stamford, with other subordinate Officers in that Corporation, as how the said body by the Charter is from time to time kept in life and being.  
IN the next place follows in order, the original grant and present practice according to that grant in the election and choosing of this prime Magistrate, and the other subordinate Officers under him; for (as I said before) King Edward the 4th in the first year of his reign, directed his Letters patents to George Chapman and others, by the name of the Alderman and Comburgesses of Stamford, and to twelve more of an inferior rank, by the name of the capital Burgesses of Stamford, which second 12 have been by a later Charter augmented to the number of 24: So as King Edward the 4th creating this body by his Princely power, by his wisdom and policy gave rules and directions to the same, how it should from time to time be preserved in a perpetual life, and being by a continued succession; and therefore when any of the first number do decease or leave their place, the Alderman with the rest of his company (and the second company in their common hall assembled) do elect and chose out of the second number such a meet and able man as they shall think fi● for the supply of the vacant▪ the said election being only made in the private chamber of the council by the Alderman and those with him of the first number, and this by the major number of voices (the Alderman having in this as in all other votes a double or casting voice. And when any of the second number happen to decease or to be displaced, both Companies joining together by the major number of voyce●, chose out of the body of the whole Town such a descreet able and sufficient man as shall be thought convenient to supply the then vacant place.  
Both companies thus completely furnished being congregated in their common Hall upon the first Thursday after the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, every year, do elect two out of the first number, who have not been Alderman by the space of two years then past, to the end that one of these two, the first Thursday in the clean week next after the feast of St. Michael the archangel, then following, may by the major suffrages of both the companies be chosen to be Alderman for the year then to come, which party thus elected, is brought and presented by his predecessor to the Steward of the Court Leete in the open Court after Proclamation made in solemn manner to that purpose: The ceremony of which day is as followeth.  
The former Alderman attended by the first and second companies, the first company in their Robes of purple faced with foins (such as the second Robe of London i●) and the second company in their decent gowns of black fit for such an Assembly, do repair to the house of the new elected Alderman, where after a short banqu●t, they all do pass in order to the Castle-yard where the Leet i● kept, and there being presented, (as is aforesaid) he is solemnly sworn by the Steward of the Leet, first taking the oath of supremacy and allegiance, next the oath of justice of the peace and Alderman of the Corporation, and having a tippet of black velvet taken from the neck of his predecessor, and by the hands of his said predecessor put upon his, he than is seated on the right hand of the Steward, where he sits till the charge be given, and then attended by the several Companies, they go to the Church of St Mary's in Stamford, where they hear a Sermon, which being finished, the new Alderman passeth to his house with the two Maces, the one of Gold the other of Silver, born before him, and attended by the several Companies as is aforesaid, with the loud music of the Town, playing before them, and in divers places as they pass the scholars of the free grammar school do pronounce before them several Orations in Greek and Latin.  
After which the Alderman at his own house (for the most part) and at his own cost and charges, doth make a great Feast to the Town, and to as many of the Gentry of the Country as upon solemn invitation think good to be present.  
This solemnity being finished, presently after he keeps his first Court (which is called a Hall) where he swears all his first company to be faithful unto him, and truly to counsel him in the execution of his Office, and likewise, he than swears the second company to be aiding and assisting unto him in all things that appertain to the Aldermanry, during the time of his Office, at the hall; 〈◊〉 likewise takes an oath of the Town Clark, for the true executing of his Office, and likewise he than swears, the Coroner of the Town for the year to come, (who is by custom) the same party that was Alderman the year before.  
Also he than swears the two chamberlains and ten or twelve Constables, at least, Searchers for the Corn, Flesh, and Fish Markets, sealers and searchers of leather, are at this time likewise sworn, and all other inferior Officers, as the bailiff of the liberty, the Sergeant of the Mace, such as are needfu●l and necessary for the aid and support of the Towns government, are at this Hall chosen and sworn, well and faithfully to perform and execute their several Offices during the year than next following.   

CHAP. VII.  
Memorable things happening at several times in and about Stamford.  
Mr: Camden out of 
* Cum (ut habet Hunting donensu) Picti & Scoti, omnem regionem ad Stamfordiam usque ●●ripuissent, ubi Hengistus noster cum sub Saxonibus in 〈◊〉 eximia fortitud●ne furentibu● baba●is ita iter occusit ut plurimis peremp●is, pluribus cap●i●, reliqua fugam und●que capesserunt. Camd. in Briton. i● Com. Lincoln.  Huntington reports, that when the whole Nations of the Picts and Scots, had invaded the North of England and were come Southwards as far as Stamford, that Hengist (which was as I take it, the first Saxon King that here reigned) came against them with his Saxons, with such unwearied great strength and fortitude, that he there so stopped the journey of these barbarous invadors that most of them were slain and taken, the rest which were put to flight were drowned in the water.  
I have read in the story of Ingulphus, that at what time the Danes invaded England, 
Ingulphus.  had burnt the Abbey of Crowland, and put to the sword all the Monks in the same, and marching towards Stamford, the than Baron of Easindine, with the men of Stamford gave them battle near unto the said town and beat them back for that time▪ though afterwards they recruited to the destruction of the same, as formerly hath been related.  
In anno Dom. 1153, King Stephen holding the Castle of Stamford against Henry Fitz-Empris, that is Henry the second, the said Castle was besieged and won by the said Henry.  
In anno Dom. 1189. all the Jews that then repaired to the Midlent-Mart at Stamford from all parts, were spoiled of their goods and murdered.  
In Anno 1227. there was a great Meeting at Stamford of divers Lords, about plotting of the Rebellion against King Henry the 3. called the Baron's wars.  
In Anno 1293. 1300. 1311. general chapters called Itinere mino●●● were held at Stamford: Afterwards in the reign of Richard the 2. anno Dom. 1392. there was a meeting at Stamford called C●●silium Sta●fordiensem Prelatorum, at which meeting King Richard himself was present by the Command of Pope Boniface the 9 about the suppressing of Wycliff's opinions.  
In anno Dom. 1334. by reason of a bloody Difference happening betwixt the Southern and Northern Students in the University of Oxford, part of that University being the whole Northern faction removed itself to Stamford, whereby was accomplished a for●●● ancient Prophecy which followeth in these wor●●●  

Hoc magnum studium qui nunc est ad vada bonum  
Tempore futuro celebrabitur ad vada Saxi.   

As Oxford where Learning now doth flourish,  
In time to come the Stony ford shall nourish.   
Mr. Camden in his learned Britannia, confirms this faction at Oxford and the settling for a time of the Northern Students here ●Stamford; For (saith he) Regnante Edwardo tertio caepta hîc Academia & bonarum literarum professo (quod sue gloriae imprimis ducunt cives. Cum enim Oxoniae inter studiosos Boreales & Australes omnia litibus feruerent, magnus studiosorum numerus huc concessit: But here they stayed not long, for saith the same Camden, Paulo ta●en post Oxoniam reversi Academiae huic orienti ut initium ita finem 〈◊〉 posuerunt. Yet this separation occasioned that ever since, that Uni●ersity when any of their members are to take any Degree, they gi●e them an Oath never to read logic in Stamford, (strangely conceiving that either the foresaid Prophecy is not yet fulfilled, or else that their policy can prevent the Decree of eternity, when as we see that God when he pleaseth brings the same thing to pass by the same means whereby fond man goes about to prevent it;) For saith. Camden further, Cautumque deinceps in revirando ne quis Oxoni●●sis publicè Stamfordiae praelegeret.  
This town of Stamford nevertheless flourished for some time afterwards in trade and merchandise until the wars happened unhappily, betwixt the two families of York and Lancaster, in which intestin● strife the Northern soldiers breaking into the Town, burnt down the houses, and so far destroyed all things here, that never since this Town could fully recover her ancient dignity; for saith Cambden (speaking of the Town after the removal of the Oxford Students,) Nihilominus illa Mercimonijs floruit, donce ardente inter familiam Lancastrense● & Eboracensem civili bello, Boreales milites irrumpentes aedibus, & incendijs omnia miscuerint; nec inde verò dignitatem pristinam plenè recuperare potuit.  
The Castle of Stamford was overthrown and quite demolished in the time of Richard the third, the materials thereof taken away to repair the White-friars' in Stamford.  
Edward the 4th. came to Stamford in anno 1462 the year after he had incorporated the Town by letters Patents.  
Henry the 8th. came to Stamford at his progress into Lincolnshire in anno Dom. 1532, where he was Royally welcomed by Henry Lacie Gentleman then Alderman, as his predecessor Edward the 4th. was before received by John Brow●e Esquire, then Alderman.  
In anno 1469 Sir Thomas De-la-Band, and Sir Thomas Dimock were executed for Treason at Stamford, Thomas Royston then being Alderman.  
The townhouse or common-Hall over the Bridge-gate in Stamford, was newly built by John Haughton Alderman in Anno Dom. 1558.  
In anno Dom. 1565. Queen Elizabeth passed through Stamford and dined in the White-friars', in her progress into Lincolnshire, Godfrey Dawson then being Alderman.  
In anno Dom. 1594. Robert meadows then being Alderman, a great tumult was raised at the inn called the Bull in Stamford, by Mullene●x of Nottinghamshire, and Terwil of Lincolnshire of the one side, and one Rockwood a Gentleman of Suffolk of the other party, the occasion began upon a trifle. A footboy drying himself in the evening by the kitchen fire, (where his Master Ro●kwoods supper was making ready) Mollene●x and Terwil fitting at 〈…〉 drinking near to the fire, took exceptions against the boy 〈…〉 him because he did not stand uncovered before them, the 〈…〉 complaint thereof to other of his Master's servants the● 〈…〉, divers of them came down to revenge the boys wrong 〈◊〉 with naked swords so affronted the foresaid Gentlemen, that at 〈…〉 the Gentlemen and servants on both sides became to be 〈◊〉.  Flumina magna vides parvis de fontibus ●rta. 
And a great stream of blood might have issued from this small original had not the same been wisely prevented by the valour and 〈◊〉 o● that honourable soldier Peregrim, Lord Willoughby of Grimsebory, who living then in Stamford and hearing that the said Alderman (though he used his best endeavour for the appea●●ng of the said stir) could not prevail. Armed himself and his followers, and on his warlike courser entered himself into the midst of the throng, and like a right valiant person and wise Commander pacified the uproar before any mortal wound was given; so serving her Majesty by the procuring of her peace, and saving the lives of many, who otherwise were in danger to have perished in that tumult, and by his wisdom and discretion before he parted from them made them all friends.  
In anno Dom. 1633 King Charles lay in Stamford-Baron one night as he passed into Scotland there to receive the Crown of that Kingdom, and then passed through the Corporation of Stamford in state, John Atton the then Alderm. bearing the Mace before him, the said Alderman and all the first Company mounted upon horse back and riding in their Robes upon their foot clothes.  
In anno 1634. King Charles and his Queen in their progress Northward, lodged two nights at the Earl of westmerland's at Ap●thorpe five miles from Stamford, but when they removed from thence they passed in State through the Town, Edward Camocke then Alderman bearing the Mace before them.  
In April 1641. by the means of great rain and the wind then being full West, the River of Welland so far swelled above the banks▪ that the flood so far prevailed as it went over the North end of Stamford Bridge▪ and flowed up St. Maries-hill, the midway to St Mary's Church, drowning the lower rooms and Sellers on both sides the Street, and on the South side it drowned the lower rooms of the New-bead-house, and both the yard and the lower rooms of the inn called the George, insomuch that some horses were then, and there drowned in the stables and the walls and roof over one of the Stables thrown down by the violence of the water the flood being so high all over the yard that a horse might have swam therein. It drowned all the lower rooms in the houses that stand in the Water Street of Stamford-Baron: yet though this flood did rise so high upon the sudden, upon the East and West of of the River of Welland, flowing over all the lower rooms by which 〈◊〉 passed, and carrying down the ●●ream both cattle. Timber and all that lay within the compass thereof, yet (thanks be to God) I could never hear of Man, Woman nor child, that perished thereby,   

CHAP. VIII.  
Such Ancient Monuments as are to be seen in and about Stamford and Stamford-Baron, as well without as within the said Town.  
THere is an ancient dike appeareth here and there in divers place; betwixt Stamford and Lincoln, and (being obscured by ruinating time some miles from Stamford) some part of it appears again upon the North side of the Town betwixt Stamford and Brig●asterton, and comes almost to the Town Wall toward Peter-gate but after it appears no more Southward (for as much as I could ever perceive) this is vulgarly called the High-dike▪ but Camden in his Britania, calls it, Via militaris Romanorum and brings it to Stamford in the same place as I have here related it; Licet non nulla (saith he) antiquitati● judi●ia hic supersint tractumque oli● suisse Via militaris Romanorum, qua statim te ex ●ppid● in Bore●m proficientem excipit satis declaret.  
Not far from hence upon the North side of the Town near unto York highway, and about twelvescore from the Town gate, which is called Clement-gate, stands an ancient cross of free stone of a 〈◊〉 ●●●ious fabric, having many ancient scutcheons of arms ●●s●ulped in the store, about it; as the arms of Castil● and L●●n, ●ua●●ered; being the paternal coat of the King of Spain, and divers other Hatchments belonging to that Crown, which envious time hath so defaced, that only the ruins appear to my eye, and therefore not to be described by my pen.  
This cross is called the queens-cross, and was erected in this place by King Edward the first▪ about Anno Dom. 1293. The occasion of this erection was in memory of El●nor daughter to Fardinand the third of that name King of Castil●, and wife of the said King Edward the first, a most Religious, chaste and virtuous Lady, who (as the story goes) when her husband was wounded with an envenomed arrow at the wars in Palestine, with her own mouth she sucked the poison out of the wound and so healed her Lord, when all his chirurgeons & physicians had left the wound for mor●●ll. This Queen fal●ing sick at H●rdeley beyond Lincoln, there died the 9th. of November 1290 and her corpses being brought from thence to be buried at Westminster, in every place whne the same rested by the way, King Edward the first shortly after caused in memory of her a most sumptuous cross of stone to be erected near the place, some of which are standing and remaining (if not lately destroyed) till this day as at Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford, Waltham, and Charingcross near unto Westminster yet appeareth.  
At the upper end of the middle choir of this Church of St. Mary's in Stamford, 
St. Mryes.  there stands a monument more curious for the workmanship then for the matter whereof it is framed having no superscription nor arms, to de●ote unto us who the party was that it was made for▪ He lieth in Armour Cap●pe. The tradition is that he was a Knight who went by the name of Sir Daniel Phillips, a great man for Henry Earl of Richmond in the battle against the Tyrant Richard the third. But I suppose he was one of a more higher rank and of the blood royal, for at his feet there is a lion Co●chant and round about the tomb Roses (the colour not perceived) supported by a Grayhound and a Dragon, being hatchments of honour appertaining to the Crown of England.  
At the upper end of the middle quite in the glass window, did stand (before they were lately defaced) three Scu●chions of arms, the first Gules a ●esse betwixt six cross Crossees de Or, being the coat armour of B●●champ, sometimes Earl of Warwick; likewise another coat viz●. Argent a Pesse, between three crescents Gules, which is the coat of ogle of Pinchback in the County of Lincoln, from which family as to me appears, the Baron Oagles of the North are descended, because these Oagles of Lincolnshire bear the paternal coat without difference▪ the third is Azure● cross fitched between 2. eagle's wing▪ Or in the middle window on the South side of the said Church (before the same was defaced) there stood the coat armour of Shelton of Norfolk, viz●. Azure a cross Or.  
Upon the North side of the golden choir in this Church in the Wall of the fame, there is a Monument lying in armour Cap●pe, but having neither scutcheon not superscription s●●ing that in the glass window near to the same there sometimes (and but lately) their stood a shield of arms Sable, three lion's pawe●▪ cupped and erected Argent, armed Gules; which Coat belongs to the name of usher, and this makes me to conceive, that this party was of that Family.  
In the midst of the flore of the said golden choir lies buried under a fair stone of blue Marble, plated very curiously with brass work William Hi●km●n sometimes Alderman of Stamford, who at hi● own cost and ch●●ges did gild over the roof of the said choir; the full portraiture both of him and his wife in brass, did lately lie fixed upon the same stone.  

St. George's  In the upper window of the choir of St. George's Church▪ are portrayed kneeling (as in St. George's chapel at Windsor before the picture of that Saint) Edward the third, his Queen, the Prince of Wales, and Henry Duke of L●ncaster, all in their Robes of the Order of the Garter, and in the windows on each side the said choir are portrayed, acco●ding to the first institution the first Knights of that Order that were made kneeling in their Garter Robes upon their Surcoates of arms, which said Order was unded by the said Edward the third, the names of the first Knights of this Order are set down in order.  

Edward the third,  
Edward Prince of Wales,  
Henry Duke of Lancaster,  
〈◊〉 Earl of Warwick,  
Cap●tain● De Bouch●,  
●aphe Earl of Stafford,  
William de Mount●ac●te, Earl of Salisbury.  
Roger de Mortimer Earl of March.  
John de I●sula,  
Bartholomew Burwash,  
John de-Belle Campo,  
John de Mohum.  
Hugh Courtney,  
Thomas Holland,  
John Gray,  
Richard Fitz-Symon,  
Miles Stapleton,  
Thomas Walle,  
Hugh Wrothesley,  
Nigellus Loring,  
John Chandos,  
James Audley,  
Otho Holland.  
Henry Eme,  
Zachetus Dabridgcourt  
William Paganell.   
In the windows of the said Church in sundry places appears the Coat armour of divers ancient and Noble Families; there is the Coat of Earl Warren the ancient Lord and owner of Stamford, Checkie Or and Azure.  
There is likewise the arms of Sapcote, who bears Sable a pigeon Coat erected Argent.  
The arms of Le Grosse, being Or a Ccheverne betwixt three Roses Gules, is likewise placed in the lower Window of the said Church towards the South.  
There is likewise in an other window on the same side, the Coat armour of Molene●x of Haughton in the County of Nottingham, who bears Azure, A cross Moly●e quarter pierced Argent. Which several Monuments of arms were here placed, either in regard the bearers of them were benefactors to this Church, or had Lands and possessions in the same Parish.  
In this Church of All-Saints, I observe not any Monument of Stone worth the noting, 
All-Saints  and very few Monuments of arms in the windows.  
The arms of the Town of Stamford, Gules three lions passant Or, impaled to Earl Warren, Or and Azure Checky, stands on the North side of the lowest window West, on the South side of the same window, stands the arms of the merchants of the Staple being Nebile of six pieces Argent and Sable, a chief Azure charged with a lion passant Argent: my conjectural reason is touching the placing of these arms in this window, that the said window was first built at the joint charge of the Town and of William Brown, who was (as hereafter shall appear) a great benefactor to this Church, and was a merchant of the Staple.  

St. John's and St. Michael's.  For the parishes of St. John's and St. Michael's in Stamford, I do not observe any Mon●ment worth the noting▪ neither in the quires, bodies or windows of the said Churches.  

S. Ma●tins in stamford-baron  There is in the upper end of the middle choir of this Church of S. Martin's near Stamford, a stately Mausolean Monument built in the memory of William Cecell Lord Burley, standing just over the Vault in which his body lies interred, upon the North side of the North choir of the said Chu●ch, up against the Wall is erected a reasonable fair Monument in the memory of Richard ●ecel Esquire and Jane his wife, the Father and Mother of the said William Lord Burley▪ though the statue of the said Richard there stands yet his body lies buried in St. Margaret's Church in Westminster, but the body of the said Jane lies in the Vault by her said Son William Lord Burley.  
Both in the uppermost window of the choir of this Church and in many of the windows and stonework in the body of the same, stands the paternal Coat of Trigg, viz. Azure two Chevernels Or, betwixt three Roses Argent, whereby it seems that the ancestors of that Family have been good benefactors, as well to the windows as to the rest of the fabric of this Church.  
There is in the same windows, the Coat armour of the Family of Vincents, who were the ancient Lords of Barneck near Stamford being Azure three Gray-hounds Heads cupped Or.  
Also the arms of Matthew Parker som●time Archbishop of Canterbury, being Verte three Cunnyes Argent the same impaled to the arms of the A●chbishoprick.  
There is in the same windows▪ an ancient Coat of arms attributed by some Heralds, to be born by Egbert a Saxon King, the Field is Jupiter a cross patence Sol, which demonstrateth the Antiquity of this Church, and the charity of the pious Benefactors to the same.  
But glass and Stone in time decay  
Yet virtue's fame, shall lo●t always.   

CHAP. ix..  
The Names and pious Deeds of such as have been Benefactors to Stamford, either to the Corporation in general, or to particular Parishes in the same, with the several uses of those good deeds described.  
IT now follows, that I here set down the names of such as have from time to time been Benefactors to the said town of Stamford generally or particularly: And in the first place I can●ot but acknowledge that the Lord and giver of all good gifts the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth, hath not only inspired many worthy and religeous persons who by their Charity and almsdeeds have from time to time, and till the end of ●ime given allowment, either to the general or particular members thereof; but also by his provident care (whereby all things do subsist) with a preventing knowledge did possess the first Founders of this town with such a foresight, that for the better preservation thereof to all Posterity▪ they situated it in such a place that the most skilful Engineers, which in these present civil wars have surveyed the same on both sides, nor the plots or practices of those who without judgement would have canonised it▪ could never find the way to make it a town ren●ble either for offence or defence▪ which yet hitherto hath caused the same (though much weakened by the free Quartering of passing and repassing of Companies) not to suffer such miserable spoils as other neighbour Cities and towns have undergone, by the taking and retaking of them on both sides, to the utter ruin and destruction of the harmless Inhabitants: In which regard it were impiety in me, if i should not acknowledge our great and good God to be the prime and best benefactor to us at Stamford.  
Our late sovereign Lord K. Edward the 4th, upon the incorporating of this town, gave the Lands of Gown Southerope (which were confiscated to the crown) to the Alderman and Burgesses of Stamford for ever.  
The late most pious and gracious Prince King Edward the 6. gave the Lands and Tenements formerly belonging to the dissolved Gild or Fraternity of Corpus Christi in Stamford, to the Alderman and Burgesses and their Successors for ever, which are worth to the town at present 160. l. per annum, being the greatest and chiefest revenue the town hath in lands at this time.  
William Ratcliff Esquire, having been Alderman of Stamford four times, in anno Dom. 1530. gave all his messages, Lands and Tenements in Stamford, for the perpetual maintenance of a Free grammar-school in that town, which Land (as it stands) for the present improved, yields to the head schoolmaster and Usher 30. l. per annum or thereabouts: For the augmentation of which stipend William Cecell late Lord Burleigh, gave (or pretended to give) 4. l. per annum, to the said school for ever, issuing out of a depopulated Town near Stamford called Pickworth, but in regard the heirs of the said Lord Burleigh when they let the last Leases of the said manor of Pickworth, for the better advancement of the Fines, pretended to the Tenants that they should hold their farms tithe-free, but no sooner were their Leases made, sealed and delivered, when as the said heir presented a chaplain of his own to the Parsonage thereof▪ the same having neither town nor Church standing▪ only the ruins of both appearing: So that the Parson making good the Title and Tithes from the Tenants, they have ever since refused to pay the said 4 l. per annum, to the use of the said school.  
William Browne merchant of the Staple, and sometime Alderman of Stamford erected in anno Dom. 1493. the old Bead-house there called Browne's Beadhouse incorporating the same of a Warden, Confrater and 12 poor Old-men, and one woman for a Nurse unto them: Gave to the same the manor of Swayfield, 7. miles from Stamford worth 400. l. per annum, besides divers great farms messages, lands, and tenements in Stamford, Pil●gate, Eas●on, Northluffenham, and other places of good value; a very pious and liberal gift, though (the more is the pity, as many of the like nature are) much abused by the avarice and misemployment of the governors thereof.  
Mrs. Jane Cecell widow in anno Dom. 1561, at her own costs and charges leaded and paved the Fryday-Market cross in Stamford.  
In anno Dom. 1570, the North end of the Town-Bridge in Stamford being born down by the violence of a great Hood, was re-edified at the cost and charges of William Cecell then Lord Burley, and good reason, for he and his heirs do raise 100 l. per annum. for the ●ollage of the said Bridge, and out of the fairs and markets of Stamford.  
Francis Trigg clerk in anno Dom. 1585., gave 4. l. per 〈◊〉 forever, to buy barley to make Bread for the poor of Stamford.  
George Trigg Gentleman in anno Dom. 1586, gave 400. l. in Money to be lent out for ever upon good security, to poor young Tradesmen and Artificers in Stamford, without interest.  
William Lord Burley in anno Dom. 1597, erected an hospital at the South end of Stamford Bridge, in a place where formerly stood a Religious house, the Lands and Tenements to the same belonging he obtained of Queen Elizabeth, and gave a perpetual 〈◊〉 to the said hospital, issuing out of Cliffe-Park● near Stamford, for the maintenance of a Warden and 12 poor men, the Warden receiving 3. s. 4. d. weekly, and each poor man 2. s. 4. d. weekly, with yearly allowance of wood, and blue Cloth to make each of them a Gown; and the said Lord Burley did appoint the Alderman of Stamford for the time being, to have the nomination of four of the said poor men, when any of the said places shall happen to f●ll void.  
In anno Dom. 1588., the foresaid Mrs. Jane Cecell by her last Will and Testament, gave 50. l. to be lent out for ever without interest to poor Tradesmen and Artificers in Stamford and Stamford-Baron, the same to be disposed of by certain Feoffers nominated in hersaid Will.  
Richard Sn●●de● Clarke and Parson of St. John's in Stamford by his last will in anno Dom. 1604, gave certain Lands and Tenements for ever in Stamford (after the decease of his wife) fo● seven poor widows of the age of 60 years and upwards the profits whereof doth afford each widow 7. d a week and a house to dwell in, and by the said will it is appointed that the Alderman of Stamford, for the time being, shall appoint them to their places when any place shall fall void.  
Jane K●shey late of Stamford widow, the same year by her last Will▪ gave 8. l. for ever to be put forth to interest and the profits thereof to go to the use of the poor of Stamford.  
Sir Robert Wingfield late of Vpton in the County of Northampton Knight, being one of the Comburgesses of Stamford, and likewise one of the Burgesses of the Parliament, the same ye●re, obtained of King James the pardon and remittance of two fifteens for Stamford and Stamford-Baron, amounting to the sum of 84. l. 8. s. 4. d.  
The same Sir Robert Wingfield in anno Dom. 1605, obtained pardon and remittance of the said King James, for Stamford and Stamford-Baron of six entire fifteens, amounting to the sum of 254. l. 6. s.  
Anno Dom. 1609, the right honourable Thomas late Earl of Ex●ter, a right pious and charitable person, a man (as we of Stamford may say) fixed in his generation▪ as our Saviour Christ was in his passion, betwixt two, &c. gave a perpetual ann●ety of 41. l. 1. s. 8. d. per annum▪ issuing out of certain Lands in Lincolnshire, for the putting forth of poor children Apprentizes (such as should be born in the Town of Stamford) and towards other charitable use●, besides the Town did often receive from him (whilst it was blessed with his life) many great and beneficial favours.  
Hugh Allington late of Timwell in the County of Rutland Esqu. by his last will gave 40. l. forever, to be lent to the poor artificers in Stamford and Stamford-Baron, without interest, by certain Feoffers named in his said will.  
Roger manors of Vffington in the County of Lincoln Esquire, by his last will gave to the use of the poor of Stamford 20. l. for ever to be put forth to interest, the profit whereof to be bestowed in C●les amongst the said poor yearly, by the dis●retion of the Alderman, for the time being.  
The reverend and pious Prelate Robert Johnson of Northluffing●●, in the County of Rutland, late Arch Deacon of L●icester amongst other his pious works to Stamford whilst he lived, gave a Bible of the largest size to pass from Alderman to Alderman and the ●id on the alderman's cushion before him in the Church, every Lord's day or at other times when he goeth to Church.  
Antony Ash●● Gentleman, by his last Will gave 5. l. per annum, for ever to the use of the poor in Stamford.  
Mr. Edward Welles gave a house which yields 3. l. 10. s. per annum and three acres of Land, to be paid to a petty schoolmaster in Stamford, to teach poor free-mens' children of that Town to read English.  
Anno Dom. 1638, William Beanell late of Chasterton in the County of Huntingdon Esquire, by his last Will gave to the use of the poor of Stamford 80. l. the interest whereof to be distribut●d amongst the said poor by the discretion of the Alderman for the time being.  

St. Mary's.  
William Hickham Alderman of Stamford, anno Dom. 1467 at his own cost and charges built the gilded choir on the North side of the chancel of the said Church, and both he and his wife lie buried under a fair stone of blue Marble (as aforesaid) in the mistd of the same choir.  
Richard Banister late of the same parish Gentleman, erected at his own charges in the South choir of St. Mary's aforesaid, a p●●sique Library and gave some Books to the same, as Gall●●s works and some other books both of physic and chirurgery, and at hi● death gave 10. l. in Money, the interest of which sum is yearly to be bestowed in books for the increase of the said Library, such as the Minister of that his Parish shall think most fit.  
Mr. Robert Bullack sometime of this Parish, was a good benefactor to the same in setting the poor children (not only of this parish, but of the town in general) at work to the knitting of Jersey.  
Mr. John West Citizen and Butcher of London born in this Parish, gave 4. l. to the said Parish, the interest of which is yearly to be bestowed upon the poor of the same.  
Robert Bullack● of London chirurgeon, giveth 3. l. to be added to the 4. l. his uncle Ioh● West giveth for the use of the poor, the interest to buy Bread the Sabath a●ore and after Christ-t●d● yearly for ever, to be distributed in the Church to needful poor, by the Officers of the said Parish.  
John Bullack of London Butcher, giveth 3. l. to make the aforesaid 7. l. 10. l. and the interest of the said 10. l. to be given monthly, or at the discretions of the Elders or churchwardens.  
Edward Robinson Citizen and White-Baker of London gave 11. l. 6. s. 8. d. per annum to the said Parish, during the term of certain years yet to come in a lease which he had at the time of his death. of the inn called the White-Horse in Fetter-lane London, part of which said sum is to buy Books for the said Library, and the rest to be for the repairing and adorning of the said Curch.  
John L●is● one of the Comburgesses of Stamford, and ●re an inhabitant of this Parish gave 20. l. the interest whereof, to be for the repairers of the said Church.  
One Mr. Greene who lately sojorned in this Parish, and here died gave very liberally towards the building of a very fair Pulpit in this Church, and towards a rich Velvet Pulpit-cloth for the same.  
Mr. Martial Citizen and White-Baker of London, gave 3. l. and Mr. Thomas Harrison Citizen and Vintner of London, gave 2. l.  
The said Master Harrison likewise, gave for the use of the said Parish two pewter flagons (very fair ones) for Communion Wine▪ and a Pewter 〈◊〉 to carry the Bread from Communicant to Communicant, likewise he gave to the said Parish, a gilt alchemy basin to gather collection in the Church for the poor.  
There is 6. s. 8. d. per annum▪ paid to St. Mary's for the repairers of the Church, being the small ●ene of a shop in Stamford-Baron but who gave the same to the Church I cannot find.   

All-Saints.  
Mr. Martial Citizen and White-Baker of London gave 10. l. to this Parish the interest of which sum to be to the use of the poor of this parish, also the said Mr. Martial gave 20 marks per annum for a weekly Lecture in this Parish, which for a time was maintained, but the lecture ceasing, the money was ●nd still is detained.  
Mr. John D●●ham gave 5. l. to this Parish, the interest whereof yearly to be to the use of the poor of the same.  
Mr. Robert Warner gave 5. l. to the said Parish, the interest to be to the use of the poor thereof.  
Mrs. Winifred Browne, the wife and Executrixe of John Browne late of this parish Esquire, gave 10. l. the interest of which sum to be to the use of the poor of the said Parish.  
William Fisher late of Bourne in the County of Lincoln Gentleman, gave Six pence a week for ever, to be given in br●ad for the use of the poor of this Parish.  
William Browne merchant of the Staple, 200 years or there about● now past, at his own proper costs built the Steeple belonging to this Church, being a very curious and excellent fabric, likewise he built a great part of the Church itself, and both he and his wife lie buried in a chapel proper to his Family, on the North side of the said Church towards the choir.  
The Lady Bu●● gave the sum of 20. l. to this Parish, the interest of which sum is yearly to be distributed to the poor of the same.   

St. George's.  
Mrs. Jane Cecell widow, Mother to William Lord Burley, ●ave 15. l. for ever, the interest of which to be to the use of the poor ●f this Parish.  
John Chir●● late of Stamford-Baron, Gentlem●n gave 20. ●. per annum, for ever to the use of the poor of ●●is Parish, the 〈◊〉 to be paid to them every quarter.  
William C●●e Esquire now living at the Black-Fryer●, in the same Parish, hath given 40. s. per annum for ever to the said parish, to provide bread and Wine for a Communion to be ministered upon the first Lord's day of every Month in the year.  
The foresaid William Fisher, gave to this Parish 12. d. a week for ever, to be distributed to the poor of the same in Bread.  
There is belonging to this Parish 7. l. per annum, being the rent so divers Tenements in the same, but I can not learn who gave the same to this Church.   

St. John's.  
The foresaid Lady Bucke gave 20 l. to this Parish, the interest whereof to be yearly distributed amongst the poor of the same.  
There was a Tenement given to the Parson of this Parish and his successors for ever by Mr. George Trigge, upon this condition, that the said Parson and his successors should yearly distribute to the poor of this Parish the sum of 27. s.   

St. Michael's.  
I cannot learn that there ever was any Benefactor either to the Church or to the poor of this Parish.   

St. Martin's in Stamford-Baron.  
The Lady Dorothy Cecell gave Lands forever of the yearly value of 12. l. 6. s. 8. d. to this Parish to the uses following. That is to say, part thereof to be paid to the putting forth of poor children of the said Parish, to be Apprentizes, an other part to be weekly allowed to some honest person which shall teach the poor children of this parish to read English; a● other part thereof for the buying of wool, Flax and He●p to set both young and old poor people of this Parish to work; an other part thereof to be allowed to some honest person to teach the said poor people to work: and also 20▪ s. to be yearly allowed out of the profits of the said Land to the Vicar and churchwardens of this Parish for them to join with the overseers for the poor to see the said poor kept at work, and that the overplus (if any be) shall be bestowed weekly upon the poorer sort who (though endeavouring themselves) are not able to find themselves by their labours.  
The foresaid Lady Bucke gave 20. l. to this Parish, the interest of the same to be yearly distributed amongst the poor of the said Parish.  
Lord send us Mercy, Truth, and Peace,  
That benefactors may increase:  
That when a new Edition's made,  
More Pious people I may add.    

CHAP. X.  
The ancient and public sports of Stamford.  
AS touching the ancient and public Sports used at this Town they are not many; in all but two and to many by one. The one a sport savouring of Manhood and Gentry, and of a ●oncourse of Noblemen and Gentlemen meeting together in mirth▪ peace, and amity, for the exercise of their swift running Horses every Thusday in March. The prize they run for is a silver and gilt Cup with a cover, to the value of seven or eight pounds, provided by the care of the Alderman for the time being, but the Money is raised out of the interest of a stock formerly made up by the Nobility and Gentry which are neighbours or wellwishers to the Town.  
The second sport though more ancient than the former yet more beastlike than any: It is their Bull-running a sport of no pleasure except to such as take a pleasure in beastliness and mischief. It is performed just the day six weeks before Christmas. The Butchers of the Town at their own charge against the time: provide the wildest Bull they can get, this Bull over night is had in to some Stable or barn belonging to the Alderman the next morning proclamation is made by the common bellman of the Town, round about the same, that each one shut up their shops-doo●es and gates, and that none upon pain of Imprisonment offer to do any violence to Strangers, for the preventing whereof (the Town being a great thoroughfare and then being in termtime) a guard is appointed for the passing of Travellers through the same (without hurt.) That none have any ●ron upon their Bull-clubs or other ●●affe which they pursue the Bull with. Which proclamation made and the Gates all shut up, the Bull is turned out of the alderman's house, and then hivie, skivi●, tag and rag, Men, Women and children of all sorts and sizes, with all the Dogs in the Town promiscuously running after him with their Bull-clubs spattering dirt in each others faces that one would think them to be so many Furies started out of Hell for the punishment of Cerbor●●. as when Thes●●● and Perillus conquered the place (as Ovid describes it.) 
A ragged troop of boys and girls  
Do pellow him with stones:  
With Clubs, with whips, and many nips,  
they part his skin from bones.  And (which is the greater shame) I have seen both Senatores majoran gentium & matr●●● de eodem gradu, following this Bulling business.  
I can say no more of it but only to set forth the Antiquity thereof, (as the tradition goes) William Earl Warren, the first Lord of this Town in the time of K. John, standing upon his Castle walls in Stamford, viewing the fair prospe●● of the River and meadows under the same, saw two Bulls fighting for one Cow, a Butcher of the Town the owner of one of th●se Bulls with a great ●asti●●e Dog accidentally coming by, set his Dog upon his own Bull, who forced the same Bull up into the town, which no sooner was come within the same but all the butcher's Dogs both great and small followed in the pursuit of the Bull, which by this time made stark mad with the noise of the people and the fierceness of the Dogs, ran over Man, woman and child that stood in his way, this caused all the Butchers and others in the Town to rise up as it were in a tumult, making such an hideous noise that the sound thereof came into the Castle into the ears of Earl Warren, who presently thereupon mounted on Horseback, rid into the Town to see the business, which then appearing (to his humour) very delightful, he gave all those meadows in which the two Bulls were at the first found fighting (which we now call the Castle meadows) perpetually as a Common to the Butchers of the Town (after the first grass is eaten) to keep their Ca●tle in till the time of slaughter: Upon this Condition, that as upon that Day on which this sport first began, which was (as i said before) that day six weeks before Christmas) the Butchers of the town should from time to time yearly for ever, find a mad Bull for the continuance of that sport.  
An ominous thing to the town, for some of the Lords of the same of his succession (though not of his Descent) have since upon their horns of greatness, tossed the best of the Burgesses out of their gowns, and why? Because the Burgesses were no● Foxes, otherwise they would not have suffered themselves to have been so abused by such bulls, whose eare● were longer than their horns.  
And so much for the sports of Stamford.   

CHAP. XI.  
A list of the Names and Succession of the Aldermen of Stamford, since the time of the ●irst incorporation of that town by Letters Patents in order, according to the year of our Lord in which each of them governed.  
 Anno  1 1461 George Chapman.  1462 John Browne Esquire. 1 1463 John Gregory. 1 1464 William Hickman. 1 1465 Robert Haunce. 1 1466 William Browne Esquire. 2 1467 William Hickman. 2 1468 George Chapman.  1469 Thomas Rayston. 2 1470 William Browne Esquire. 2 1471 John Gregory. 2 1472 Robert Haunce.  1473 John Neale.  1474 Alexander Dye●.  1475 John Gibbes. 1 1476 John Dick●ns Esquire. 1 1477 Henry Cook Esquire.  1478 Robert Skinner. 3 1479 William Hickman. 3 1480 George Chapman. 3 1481 Robert Haunce. 1 1482 Christopher Browne Esq. 2 1483 John Dick●ns Esquire.  1484 David Malpas.  1485 John steed.  1486 Thomas Keyston. 2 1487 Henry Cook Esquire.  1488 John Freebarne. 1 1489 Thomas Philip.  1490 William Gaywood. 2 1491 Christopher Brown Esq. 1 1492 Nicholas Bilsden. 3 1493 John Dickons Esquire. 1 1494 Thomas Edwards Esq.  1495 William Ratcliff Esq.  1496 John Cleypoole,  1497 Richard Cannell.  1498 Robert Crant. 2 1499 Thomas Philip. 2 1500 Jeffery Hampton. 3 1501 Nicholas Bilsden. 2 1502 Christopher Brown Esq. 1 1503 William Ratcliff Esq.  1504 David Cecell Esquire.  1505 Nicholas Trigge Gent. 1 1506 Thomas La●y Gent. 1 1507 John Cobbe.  1508 John Hardgrave. 1509 John Tyard.  1510 Richard Wastling Esq.  1511 Robert Martingdale. 3 1512 William Ratcliff Esq. 1 1513 John Lea: Gent.  1514 William Rankell. 2 1515 David Cecell Esquire. 2 1516 John Cobbe. 1 1517 Maurice Johnson. 1 1518 Thomas cross.  1519 John Thomas. 2 1520 John Hardgrave Esquire 1 1521 Henry Lacie Gent. 4 1522 William Ratcliff Esq. 2 1523 John Lea Gent. 1 1524 Andrew Canne.  1525 Edward Browne Esq. 3 1526 David Cecell Esquire. 2 1527 Maurice Johnson. 3 1528 John Hardgrave Esq. 2 1529 Thomas cross. 3 1530 John Lea Gent. 2 1531 Henry Lacie Gent. 1 1532 Thomas Watson.  1533 Richard Engham. 1 1534 Roger Beale.  1535 Thomas Gedney.  1536 Robert Hand. 2 1537 Andrew Canne. 3 1538 Maurice Johnson. 2 1539 He●ry Lacie Gent. 2 1540 Thomas Watson.  1541 John Fenton. 1 1542 John Allen. 2 1543 Roger Beale.  1544 William Button.  1545 Robert Winwick 1 1546 Nicholas Wiles.  1547 Henry Lea Gent.  1548 William Wiles. 3 1549 Thomas Watson.  1550 Andrew S●arre.  1551 William Fenton. 1 1552 William Camponet. 2 1553 John Allen. 1 1554 Ralph Harrup.  1555 Henry Ta●pian. 2 1556 Nicholas Wiles,  1557 Francis Thorney, 1 1558 John Haughton,  1559 John Ryder.  1560 William Bagget, 1 1561 Henry Inman,  1562 Thomas Ball, 2 1563 Ralph Harrup, 2 1564 William Camponet, 1 1565 Godfrey Dawson, 2 1566 John Haughton,  1567. Gregory Burton,  1568 Alexander Antony, 1 1569 Reynold Harrison, 2 1570 Henry Inman,  1571 John Backhouse,  1572 Richard Barton,  1573 William Lacie Gent.  1574 John Hawkins, 3 1575. John Haughton, 3 1576 William Camponet, 2 1577 Godfrey Dawson, 1 1578 John Elmes Gent. 1579 Richard Eveley,  1580 John Wimblesby, 4 1581. John Haughton, 2 1582 Reynald Harrison, 1 1583 Richard Shute Gent. 1 1584. Robert meadows, 1 1585. William Clarke,  1586 Lawrence Wilsbey, 1 1587. Toby Loveday,  1588. Anthony Gu●son,  1589 Robert Langton, 1 1590. Robert Ramsden, 2 1591. Richard Shute Gent. 3 1592. Richard Shute Gent. ib.  1593. William Watson, 2 1594 Robert Mead●wes,  1595 Cutb●rt Greenbury, 2 1596 William Clarke, 1 1597 Lyonel Fetherston,  1598. Nicholas Lamb, 2 1599 John Elmes Gent. 3 1600 Robert meadows, 2 1601 Toby Loveday, 1 1602 William Salter Gent.  1603 Reynald Waters Gent. 2 1604 William Salter Gent. 3 1605 William Clarke,  1606 John Loveday, 2 1607 Robert Ramsden, 1 1608 John Browne Esquire. 2 1609 Lionel Fetherston, 1 1610 Thomas jack-son, 1 1611 Robert Whatton,  1612 Francis Cole,  1613 Robert faucet, 3 1614 Toby Loveday,  1615 Thomas Watson Gent.  1616 Toby Aslocke, 1 1617. Edmund Corker. 3 1618. William Salter Gent. 2 1619 John Browne Esquire. 2 1620 Thomas Grason. 2 1621. Thomas Jackson. 2 1622 Robert Whatton. 1 1623. Peter Fullwood, 1 1624. Henry Rastell Gent.  1625 Vincent Hall,  1626. Henry D●the Gent. 2 1627. Nicholas Lamb, 2 1628. Peter Fullwood, 2 1629 Edmund Corker. 2 1630 Richard Wolphe,  1631 Vincent Hall,  1632 John Atton,  1633 Edward Cammocke,  1634 Thomas Palmer,  1635 Abraham Fdlkener. 2 1636 Henry Eldred 2 1637 Henry Rastell Gent.  1638 Richard Wolphe,  1639 Leonard Cole,  1640 Jeremy Cole,  1641 Richard Langton Gent. 2 1642 Robert Cammocke, 3 1643 Edward Cammocke.  1644 Vincent Hall  1645 Richard Damalt●▪   

CHAP. XII-  
The Names of such Lincolnshire-men as have borne the honourable Office of Lord Majors of the City of London, since the time of the Norman Conquest till Anno Dom. 1633 And here is to be noted, that no one County of England can say so much as this County, in regard of the number of L. mayor's of London as have descended out of the same, as hereafter appeareth.  
IT will be no great digression nor much from the purpose, if I now walk a little out of Stamford into the County of Lincoln, in which County this town standeth, and since I have in their order and succession set down the Names of the prime magistrates as they have successively borne Office in this town: give me leave in the next place to set forth such as this County of Lincoln● hath from time to time sent up to London, who have borne the head Office in that mighty City. It is true this County hath received back as it were by way of exchange, two Families of Gentry which are descended from Majors of London▪ and have planted their houses in this County.  
In the first place I find the Family of the Grantham's▪ which from John Grantham Grocer, Major of London in the third year of the reign of K. Edward the 3. (which was in Anno Dom. 1328.) are descended and ever since settled in the County of Lincoln, as appears by the arms of that John Grantham▪ borne by the Grantham's of this County at this day.  
The next Family which London hath lent to this County to garnish the same with the flowers of her Gentry, is the illustrious Family of the Askewes of Lincolnshire, which from Sir Christopher Askew Draper the Son of John Askew of Edmonton in the County of Middlesex, being Major of London in anno Dom. 1534 (being in the 26 year of the reign of K. Henry the 8.) are descended as appears by the same Coat-armour borne by the Askewes of Lincolnshire at this day.  
It is true, this town of Stamford hath never been so fortunate as to have any Major of London descended out of the same, but what this place hath been defective in, the County hath given a larger supply than any one County of England, having sent up Tenn● Majors besides other Aldermen and sheriffs to that City.  
I.  
First, in Anno Dom. 1470. which was in the 10th year of King Edward the 4th, Sir John Stockdon Mercer, the son of Richard Stockdon of Bratoft in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London at what time the Bastard Falconbridge assaulted the City at Algate, and at the Bridge-gate, who for his Valour in the defence of the same, with a XI. more of his Brethren the Aldermen, and Urswick the then Recorder of London, were then Knighted in the field by the said King Edward the fourth.  
II. Sir Nicholas Alwin Mercer, son to Richard Alwin of Spalding in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in anno Dom. 1500, in the 15th year of King Henry the 7th, he gave twelve. d. a piece to 3000, poor people in and about Spaulding, and to as many more in and about London.  
III. William R●mington Fishmonger, son of Robert Remington of Boston in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in anno Dom. 1501. which was in the 16th year of King Henry the 7th.  
IV. William Foreman Haberdasher, son to William Foreman of Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in anno Dom. 1539, which was in the 21th year of ●ing Henry the 8th.  
V. Sir Henry Hubberthorne Marchant-Taylo● son to ●●●●stopher Hubberthorne of Wadingsworth i● the County o●Lincolne, was Major of London, anno Dom. 154●. which was in 〈…〉 of K. Henry the 8.  
VI. Henry A●coles Fishmonger, son of William A●coles of Astrap, in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in anno Dom. 1549, which was in the second year of Edward the 6th.  
VII. Sir John Langley Goldsmith, son to Robert Langley of Althorpe, in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in anno Dom. 1577, which was in the 19th year of Queen Elizabeth.  
VIII. Sir Nicholas Moseley Clothworker, son to Edward Moseley of Hough, in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in anno Dom. 1600, which was the 42th year of Queen Elizabeth.  
Ix.. Sir George Bowles Grocer, son of Thomas Bowles of Newbold, in the County of Leicester, descended from the bowls of Lincolnshire, (as by his Coat of arms agreeable with those appeareth) was Major of London in anno Dom. 1618., which was in the 16th year of King James.  
X. Sir Nicholas Raynton Haberdasher, son of Robert Raynton of Highinton, in the County of Lincoln, was Major of London in Anno Dom. 1633, which was in the 9th year of King CHARLES.   

The Conclusion.  
Thus have I at the length brought this Survey to the wished end according to my poor ability.  
THrough times of trouble, Prisonment and all  
Distractions, which can wretched man befall:  
I have at length (through my creator's aid)  
The town of Stamford, seriously surveyed.  
And by the pain of my now wearied Pen,  
It lies apparent to the view of Men:  
Who first the building of the same contrived,  
And when in time it grew more longer lived,  
With what disasters it was then turmoiled  
By heretics undone, by Danes much sacked and spoiled.  
Yet at the length her ruins were redressed  
By Kings and Friends, her enemies suppressed:  
In strength and state with walls and Castle proud,  
With Grants and privileges great endowed,  
She flourished under governors discreet  
Till the whole Land with civil wars did meet:  
When York and Lancaster their Swords out drew,  
And like mad lions keen their kindred slew:  
The Northern soldiers all with rage incensed,  
With quenchless flames they Stamford glory quenched,  
Who never since her towering-crest could raise  
To former greatness, as in former days;  
Though our fourth Edward by his Charter kind,  
Did show his Princely love, his royal mind  
For Stamfords good; and his Posterity  
Confirmed and added What was necessary:  
Yet what's the Cause as yet I cannot tell,  
Great odds there is twixt us, and being well.  
God send the kingdom better for to fare,  
And then I hope Stamford will have a share  
In that Well being: Let us all repent,  
Than God no doubt in mercy will relent,  
And make our Cities and our towns to shine  
Again in glory, Earthly and Divine▪  
Heaven grant the same 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 day,  
That Stamford and the rest may rest in Joy. Amen.  
FINIS.   

 

  

  

  

 
Hov●ndes pag. 607. Poly hron. Polidor. Virgil inter leg●● 〈◊〉.