THE 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE ANTIENT TOWN OF 
 
 CIRENCESTER, 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 \ THE ANTIENT STATE. jj 
 
 » — ^ i 
 
 \ PART II. j 
 
 \ THE MODERN AND PRESENT STATE, 4 
 
 ^ WITH APPROPRIATE OBSERVATIONS, AND ILLUSTRATED 
 
 \ WITH PLATES. j) 
 
 > ■ i 
 
 , More rightly if you know, the Fa& difcufs ; . 
 If not, with Candor own the Truth's with us, 
 
 \ SECOND EDITION, I 
 
 \ A 
 
 Printed and fold by S. Rudder, Dyer-ftreer, Cire.ncefter: 
 
 Sold alfo byT. Stevens, in the Market-place, » 
 
 \ . j 
 
 \ M D CCC. t 
 
 Price 6 s. Half-bound, and 5 s, 6d, in Uoards, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 X HE following is the hiftory of a town of high 
 antiquity. The Britons called it a City before 
 the Roman invafion, It became afterwards an emi- 
 nent ftation of the Romans* and has fince been the 
 fcene of many important tranfa&ions. A fhort 
 account of it was publifhed in the year 1780, from 
 fome of the papers which compofe this volume ; but 
 that edition has been long fince fold off. 
 
 Since that time the materials have been greatly 
 augmented, under a variety 'of heads. A court of 
 juftice and equity, taking cognizance of caufes arif- 
 ing not only within the borough, but alfo in a large 
 diftri6l of furrounding country, has been ere&ed, 
 by a£t of parliament, which a£t our readers will 
 find under the proper head : A re-difcovery has been 
 made of a large fubterraneous Roman building, of 
 which we have feen no authentic account in any of 
 
 A 2 the 
 
IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 the writings of our Antiquaries and Topographers, 
 except in Mr. Rudder's Hiftory of Gloucefterftiire, 
 which is too large and expenfive for the pockets of 
 the generality of readers. Sir Robert Atkyns, and 
 the learned and curious doctor Stukely, had indeed 
 taken fome notice of it. before, but their relations 
 were given from hearfay and conjecture, and are 
 conlequently very erroneous; and what we have feen 
 of others is altogether unworthy of notice. An ac- 
 curate drawing of it has been taken, and we have 
 given a plate from it to illuftrate the defcription, 
 wherein we have endeavoured to inveftigate and af- 
 certain its original defign and ufe. There are ftill 
 confiderable remains of this antient Roman ftru&ure, 
 and as we know not that anything exa&ly like it has 
 been found elfewhere in Great Britain, that alone is 
 a circumftance fufficient to excite the attention 
 of the curious and inquifitive reader. 
 
 We have had eafy accefs to whatever the inhabi- 
 tants could communicate, and both the antient and 
 modern hiftory of the town are confiderajbly enlarged 
 and improved. 
 
 The Yellow School charity is a benefaction fo 
 noble and ample, as but few pariflies can boaft of: 
 and we have inveftigated the ftate of it, from the 
 books, to a degree of minutenefs which we hope will 
 have beneficial effects, and anfwer a better purpofe 
 than merely to fatisfy the reader's curiofity. 
 
 Treating 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 v 
 
 Treating of the market, we have fubrnitted a few 
 thoughts on the great dearth in 1795, and on the 
 mode of marketing by Sample ; and we are truly 
 forry to experience, in the prefent year, another in- 
 ftance of the like calamity, to which our obfervations 
 will equally apply. 
 
 In our account of the tithings, we have introduced 
 the method of floating meadow lands. In diflemi- 
 nating this branch of knowledge we hope to be ufefuf, 
 as the method we have defcribed is by many judicious 
 perfons efteemed to be preferable to all others ; yet 
 it has unaccountably happened, that Mr. Marfh.aU 
 has taken no notice of it in his Rural Economy of 
 Gloucefterfhire, tho' it has been pra&ifed as long,* 
 upon as rational principles, and with as beneficial 
 effe&s, there, as in any part of the kingdom. 
 
 In the facts which we have related, great regard 
 has been paid to accuracy and fidelity, without which 
 hiftory would be of no value; and we have even 
 taken care to copy the monumental infcriptions 
 corre&ly, the want of which, in a pompous and ex- 
 penfive work, in part only delivered to the public, 
 has been juftly complained of. 
 
 Various obfervations and reflections arifing out of 
 the fubje&s are occafionally interfperfed. Thefe 
 
 * Mr. Wright's method of Floating Meadows, 1799. 
 
 will 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 will prove more or lefs acceptable, in proportion as 
 they are juft and interefting, and as they are con- 
 formable to the reader's tafte, and habits of thinking 
 and acting; for no perfon, of the fmalleft knowledge 
 in mankind, can entertain a doubt of the great 
 influence of habit and ufage on the human mind. 
 The operation of reafon is confiderably obftrutled 
 in forming a right judgment of our own a&ions, to 
 which we have bqen long habituated. A fmall obli- 
 quity in the conduct of others, becomes familiar, 
 and lefs offenfive, by frequent iteration ; and modes 
 of thinking, however unjuft, having long paffed 
 current, are in fome meafure fanctioned by time. 
 If we have combated any fuch veteran attachments, 
 in treating of the borough, and election practices, 
 we fubmit our arguments to the candid and well in- 
 formed. If we elfewhere deviate from commonly 
 received notions, and our opinions are found at vari- 
 ance with the reader's, he will do us the juftice to 
 believe, that they are offered with the belt intentions, 
 and with a diffidence becoming the relation in which 
 we ftand. 
 
 We hope to be held excufable, at leaft, for our 
 endeavours at moral improvement as opportunity 
 prefented. Should this be productive of no further 
 or other benefit, it may perhaps contribute fomething 
 more than the generality of topographical writings, 
 to the entertainment of other readers, befides thofe 
 of the place which has given occafion to them. 
 
 In 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vii 
 
 In a multifarious undertaking, embracing fo many 
 fubjcfts, perfection is not to be expected; but we can 
 truly fay, that nothing is wilfully mifreprefented; :«r,d 
 if at any time we fhould be found tripping, the candid 
 reader will be mindful, that to err is the common faii- 
 iiw of human nature, from which no mortal is exempt. 
 
 In faying thus much, we hope not to be charg- 
 ed with indecorum, tho' we are fenfible of the juftnefs 
 of the observation of one of our befi poets, " That 
 " it is a hard and nice fubject for an author to fpeak 
 " of his work. It grates his own heart to fay any- 
 <: thing of difparagement, and the reader's ears to 
 <c hear anything like felf-commendation." 
 
 Our title-page does not announce the author's 
 name, but it is not witheld from motives which actu- 
 ated the editor of the Spectator, who tells his 
 readers, " that he affumed fo many fictitious cha- 
 <c ratters becaufe he would extort a little praife from 
 
 " fuch WHO WILL NEVER APPLAUD ANYTHING 
 " WHOSE AUTHOR IS KNOWN AND CERTAIN." 
 
 There feems to be no great occafion to declare 
 our motives to publication ; but hnce others have 
 done fo. we have no objection to follow their exam- 
 ple. Let it fuffice, then, to fay, that having col- 
 lected materials, and arranged them in fome order 
 for our own amufement, we feel a certain gratification 
 
 in 
 
viii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 in communicating to others the information which 
 has given us fome pleafure in collecting; and that 
 gratification will be further heightend, in proportion 
 as the reader may be rationally entertained, and as 
 our endeavours may find a favourable reception. 
 January i6tb, 1800. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
ix 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 The Antient State. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 CHAP. I. Of the name, and great events, - - - 3 
 
 CHAP. II. Of the city walls, 33 
 
 Roman Hypocauft, with a plate, - - - 43 
 
 Teflelated Pavements, &c. with a plate, - 60 
 
 The Bullring, a jufting place, - - - . -> 69 
 
 Grifmund's tower, and urns found there, 1 , 
 with fome account of urn- burial, J 
 
 CHAP. III. Of the collegiate and abbey churches, - - 86 
 Catalogue of abbats, ------105 
 
 Scite of the abbey granted to Richard } 
 Mafter, Efq; with fome account of that £ 1 12 
 family, and their antient hofpitality, * 
 Antient crofles 
 
 CHAP. IV. Of the antient hundred of Cirencefter, 
 
 "5 
 118 
 
 PART II. 
 
 The Modern and Prefent State. 
 
 CHAP. I. Salubrity of the town, - _ - ,_ 
 
 Earl Bathurft's Seat, with a plate, - - 128 
 
 Oakley- woods, with a plate, - - - - 132 
 
 Streets, buildings, &c. with a plan, - - j 3 y 
 
 Great 
 
x CONTENTS. 
 
 Pages 
 
 Great roads, frage-coaches, with a ftric- 1 
 lure on furious driving. - - - - 3 
 
 CHAP. II. Markets, fairs, trade, banks, with a diL ? 
 
 > 149 
 
 fertation on the dearth in 1795, J 
 Manor houfes deferted, a great evil, - - 179 
 
 CHAP.III.The hundred of Cirencefter, in its prefent (late, 180 
 Couit of requefts, with the ad of par- t 
 liament for creating it, - - - - J 1 
 
 CHAP. IV. Of the borough, and right of voting, 205 
 
 The duties and indifpenfable qualifica- 7 2 
 
 tions of a parliament rnan, * 
 
 Delufions and falfe notions detected, 215 
 
 Apoflrophe to candidates and electors, - - 218 
 Thefe obfervations not written for fuch 1 
 
 venal boroughs as Malmefbury, Bed- r 2I 9 
 win, and Shaftefbury, - _ - - 
 
 Lift of burgefles, ------- 220 
 
 CHAP. V. Of the manor and other eftates, - - 223 
 
 Short account of Earl Bathurft'a family, 226 
 
 Tithinffs, The method of floating; ) 
 
 . . c 2 37 
 
 meadow lands there, with three plates, ) 
 
 CHAP. VI. Of the church, with an infide view of) 
 
 r 2 45 
 
 the curious fouth perch, - - - j 
 Monuments, and Infcriptions, - - - 262 
 Reflections on the obituary, - - - - 299 
 
 CHAP. VII. Charitable inltitutions, magiftracy, mili- ) 
 tary aflbciation, and population, * 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY of CIRENCESTER. 
 
 PART I. 
 The A NT IE NT STATE. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 i. Of the Name. 2. Great Events, &c. 
 
 ClRENCESTER is a market and borough 
 town in the county of Gloucefter, iituated in latitude 
 5 10 1 3 3°" longitude 90 miles weftward from Lon- 
 don. It is 36 eaftward from Briftol, 33 north eaftward 
 from Bath, and 17 fouth eaftward from Gloucefter. 
 
 The town Hands on the fouth-eaft confines of 
 Gloucefterihire, in a parifh of the fame name, ad- 
 joining to the north part of Wiltfhire. It is watered 
 by the river Churn, antiently called by the feveral 
 
 B names 
 
4 The Name. 
 
 names of Ctrl, Cori,- and Corin 1 , and takes its name 
 from that river, for the Britons called it Caer Ceri m , 
 and Caer Cori " ; in whofe language Caer, which, in 
 its genuine fenfe, mould be tranflated a Wall or 
 Fortrefs, came at length, when ufed in the compofi- 
 tion of the names of places, to fignify a Fortified 
 Town. 
 
 Ptolemy calls the town Polls Corlnlon, and the 
 Roman name of it, as found in Ravennas is Corlnlum; 
 but it is written Duro-Cornovlum in Antoninus's Iti- 
 nerary, which, however, we conceive to have hap- 
 pened by the miftake of fome tranferiber. and that 
 in the original it was moft probably Duro -Corlnlum ; 
 for Cornovlum^ in the fame Itinerary, is the name of 
 Conway, in North-walcs. Thus confidered, Duro- 
 Corlnlum' feems to be no other than the Britifti word 
 Dwr, water, and Corln the name of the river, a little 
 lengthened out with a Roman termination. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxons, either from the Britifh or from 
 the Roman name, called the town Eonneceajrne, 
 Euninecea prne, Eynenceapqie ; upon which it 
 may be'obferved, that ceaprne, fr° m tri e Latin Caf- 
 trum, is nothing more than a tranflation of the Britifh 
 
 1 Coryn in the Britifh language fignifies the top, very 
 properly applied to this river, which is the higheft fource of 
 the Thames. 
 
 m Cirrenceaftre adiit, qui Britannice Cairceri nbminatur, 
 quae eft in meridiana parte Huicciorum. AlTer de rebus geftis 
 iElfredi. Ed. Wife, p. 35. 
 
 * Lombard's defcription of England. 
 
 word 
 
The Name. 5 
 
 word Caer into the Anglo-Saxon language. But in 
 a deed of the date of 1360, the name is written 
 Cearncefter, and from thefe feveral forms, the ortho- 
 graphy has varied, down to the prefent time, according 
 to the learning or fancy of different writers. For fome 
 ages paft, it has been fettled as it ftands at the head 
 of this account; but in modern, vulgar, and collo- 
 quial language, the town is commonly called Ciceter. 
 
 It is faid to have been an antient city, built by the 
 Britons before the Roman invafion ; and in a manu- 
 fcript defcription of England, in the Sloan-library, 
 (No. 2596) written by William Smith, a purfuivant 
 at arms, it is afferted, that " Cirenceftef, commonly 
 *' called Ciceter, ftandith uppon the river Churn, 
 " which is the principalleft head that the Thamife 
 " hath, and fpringeth in Cotefwold out of Cobberly 
 " poole, fix miles ell from Glocefter. It is 8 myles 
 <; directly weft from Lechlade, and was in tymes paft 
 " a goodly cittie before Glocefter was builded." 
 
 Confiftently with this writer, and with the accounts 
 of many others of the beft credit, and greateft anti- 
 quity, we find it to be a place of great refort and con- 
 fequence, even before the Roman invafion, with roads 
 branching from it every way, which probably recom- 
 mended it to the Romans for one of their military 
 ftations. Yet when thefe writers fpeak of it as a city, 
 it is at this time uncertain what idea we fhould. form 
 of it : for in Casfar's time, the Britons had no cities 
 nor towns, in the fenfe we now underftand thefe terms. 
 Their cottages, according to Tacitus, were made of 
 B 2 flakes 
 
6 
 
 The Name. 
 
 ftakes driven into the ground, and wattled. And an 
 affemblage of thefe, in their woods, fortified round 
 with a kind of rampart and ditch, conftituted their 
 cities and towns. Casfar fpeaks of them thus : Op- 
 pidum autem Britanni vocant, quum filvas impeditas 
 vallo atque foffa munierunt, L. 5. 1. 17. The 
 Britons call that a town, when they have furrounded 
 and fenced about their thick woods with a bank and 
 ditch. 
 
 Xiphilin, fpeaking of the Mseatae, or inhabitants 
 of the now moft northern counties of England, alferts, 
 that they had neither walls nor cities : And we learn 
 from Strabo, that what paffed under the name of cities 
 in Britain, were no other than groves. Thefe are alfo 
 very refpeclable authorities, which arc not produced 
 to impeach our antient writers, but that the reader 
 may duly weigh the circumftances on both fides ; 
 when they will probably be of our opinion, that the 
 difagreement lies wholly in the different acceptations 
 of the words Town and City ; for thefe difcordancies 
 only mow, that the Britons applied thofe terms to 
 places which the Romans thought undeferving of 
 them. 
 
 After the Romans had eftablifhed themfelves in 
 Britain, they divided it into Britannia Prima, and 
 Britannia Secunda ; and thefe again were fubdivided 
 into fmaller diftricts, which were called after the 
 names of their refpective inhabitants. Gloucefter- 
 fhire and Oxfordfhire conftituted one of thefe diftri6ts, 
 and was called the country of the JDobuni, becaufe in- 
 habited 
 
Memorable Events. 7 
 
 habited by a people of that name. And tho* we find 
 it not fo eafy to afcertain the degree of eminence 
 which Cirencefter fuftained before the invafion by the 
 Romans, we may venture to fay, that after they were 
 fettled here, they built and fortified it in their own 
 manner, and that it became the chief place * in the 
 before mentioned diftri6t of the Dobuni. 
 
 Being the metropolis of the diftrift, it was called 
 Corinium Dobunorum, and became a very eminent 
 ftation for the Roman army. Antoninus places it at 
 the diftance of fourteen miles from Glevum, or Glou- 
 cefter, in the thirteenth iter from Ifca, now Caerleon 
 in Monmouthfhire, to Calleva, which doctor Gale will 
 have to be Henly, the Calleva Attrebatum, or chief 
 city of the Attrebatii. 
 
 2. Memorable Events. 
 
 SOME fay that the emperor Conftantine was crown- 
 ed king of the Britons at this place, whilft others in- 
 fill, that York has a better claim to that honour. 
 However, Cirencefter was undoubtedly a very coh- 
 fiderable place in that emperor's time. 
 
 For a feries of many ages after the Romans left 
 Britain, that defpicable dynafty, called the Heptar- 
 
 * Eorum vero [i. e. Dobunorum] prima civitas fuit Cori- 
 nium, a Corinio fiuvio vicino appellata. — Corinium was the 
 chief city of the Dobuni ; and it was fo called from the river 
 Conn, upon which it fhnds. Leland's Itinerary v. 9, p. 32. 
 
 chy, 
 
8 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 chy, fcarcely produced a man of letters, or a rational 
 divine, venerable Bede excepted. There were no 
 writers in thofe turbulent and barbarous ages, to at- 
 tend to topography, and hiftory; and we know very 
 few particulars of the tranfaclions which happened in 
 them. The very few which have reached us, are to 
 be found chiefly in the fcanty hiftoric remains of fuc- 
 ceeding and ignorant ages, couched in the dry and 
 detached manner of a journal, to which*, therefore, 
 we muft have recourfe. 
 
 According to the Saxon chronicle, in the year 
 577, Cuthwin and Ccawlin obtained a great viclory 
 at Dyrham (near Chipping- Sodbury) over three 
 Britifh kings, Commail, Condidan, and Farinmail, 
 who had defended themfelves in thofe parts with great 
 bravery againft the Weft-Saxons, but were then flain 
 in battle, and the three cities of Gleawancefter, 
 Cyrencefter, and Bathancefter, fell into the hands 
 of the conquerors. And it may be added, from 
 another authority, that Cirencefter was foon after- 
 wards made a frontier garrifon againft the Mercians. 
 
 But this place was of fo great confequence, that 
 in the year 628, Penda, king of Mercia, endeavoured 
 to recover it from the Weft-Saxons. . And meeting 
 Cynegils and Cwicheim (the king and his fon) near 
 the city, with great forces on both fides, a bloody 
 conflict enfucd ; when, according to Huntingdon, 
 both armies having abjured flight, the battle ceafed 
 only from the darknefs of the night ; and the event 
 not being much in favour of either party, they made 
 
 peace 
 
Memorable Events. ^ 
 
 peace the next morning. But the Weft-Saxons re- 
 mained matters of Cirencefter, till Peada, the firft 
 chriftian king of Mercia, and fon of Penda, won it 
 from them in 656. 
 
 From that time, tho' it is hardly credible that 
 nothing interefting mould have happened here, for 
 the fpace of two hundred years, yet we find little 
 worthy notice till the year 878, when the Danes, un- 
 der their king and leader Godrum, having been totally 
 routed by king Alfred at Ethandune, now Edinton 
 in Wiltfhire, made peace, on condition that he and 
 thirty of his chofen followers, would be baptized, and 
 that his whole army mould immediately leave the 
 kingdom. Accordingly Godrum fet out from Chip- 
 penham, and came to Cirencefter, which was then a 
 part of Wiccia f, in the year 879, where they con- 
 tinued for one year. 
 
 We are almoft ready to conclude that this was the 
 fame perfon whom Polydore Virgil and fome other 
 monkifli writers allude to by the names of Gormon, 
 Gothrum, Gurmund, and Godrum, calling him an 
 African tyrant, of whom they relate this wonderful 
 ftory : That in antient times, without faying when, 
 he befieged this city with a great army for feveral 
 years in vain : but fucceeded at laflt by the following 
 
 ftratagem He ordered a number of fparrows to 
 
 be caught, and wildfire and combuftible matter being 
 
 t Cirrenceaftre, qui Britannice Cair-Ccri nominator, qua; 
 eft in meridiana parte Huicciorum. After vit. iElfredi. Ed. 
 Wife, p. 35. 
 
 tied 
 
lO 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 tied to their tails, they were immediately fet at li- 
 berty, and lighting on the houfes, fet the city on fire, 
 at which time he entered and took it in the confufion. 
 This ftory however, could not^be true of Godrum 
 the Dane, if the teftimony of Alfer, and the Saxon 
 chronicle may be relied on *, who mention nothing 
 of the fiege, and fay pofitively that he remained here 
 only one year. And indeed the ftory feems to have 
 been fabricated after the model of Sampfon's Fire- 
 brands; yet, to give it the better colour, a large tu- 
 mulus or mount in lord Bathurft's park has been 
 called Grifmund's-tower, and Chriftmas-tower, which 
 we mail take notice of hereafter. We have not been 
 able to trace this ftory up to its origin ; but Giraldus 
 Cambrenfts, a credulous ilio' ingenious writer of the 
 1 2th century, takes occafion hence to call Cirencefter 
 the city of fparrows. And Alexander Necham, one 
 of the moft celebrated wits of the 13th century, 
 writes of it thus : 
 
 Urbs vires experta tuas, Gurmunde, per annos 
 
 Septem. 
 
 A city that experienced Gurmund's power 
 For feven long years. 
 
 * Anno 879, praefatus paganorum exercitus de Cippan- 
 hamme ut promiferat, confurgens, Cirrenceaftre adiit, qui 
 Britannice Cairceri nominatur, quae eft in meridiana parte 
 Huicciorum; ibique per unum annum manfit. AfTer de Reb. 
 Geft. JElfredi. Ed. Wife. 
 
 But 
 
Memorable Events. 
 
 i I 
 
 But tho' Necham was a learned man, and a good 
 poet *, we muft acknowledge that poetic authority is 
 not in the higheft eftimation with us; and notwith- 
 ftanding what Girald and fame other writers from him 
 have faid concerning this long fiege and cunning 
 ftratagem, we think the whole a pleafant ficiion only ; 
 For which we have affigned further reafons under our 
 account of Grifmund's-tower, at the clofe of Roman 
 and other antiquities. 
 
 This town has been honoured with the temporary 
 refidence of princes; for in the year 1020 we find it 
 recorded in the Saxon chronicle, that king Canute, 
 upon his return into England, held a mycelgemot, or 
 great council, at Cyrncefter, when duke ^Ethelword 
 was outlawed. It was a place of confiderable ftrength 
 and fecurity, and befides its walls, of which we mall 
 have occafion to fpeak hereafter, it had a caftle, which 
 flood on the fouth-weft fide of the town. And tho* 
 it does not appear when, or by whom it was built, we 
 have a certain account of its deftruclion : For in the 
 reign of king Stephen, Robert earl of Gloucefter, 
 one of the moft eminent perfons of his time, amongft 
 his great exertions to reftore the emprefs Maud to the 
 throne, muftered all his forces near this place, and 
 garrifoned the caftle 3 but the king came fo fuddenly 
 and unexpectedly upon him, that he furprifed the 
 garrifon, took the caftle, and burnt it. This earl 
 
 * Plato banifhed poets from his commonwealth, becaufe 
 they corrupt the truth with lies. Hakewell p. 235. 
 
 G Robert 
 
12 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 Robert was natural fon of king Henry the Firft, and 
 fo half brother to the emprefs. He is fometimes called 
 Conful, and was a perfon, above all others of that 
 time, of fuch undaunted fpirit, as never to be dejected 
 by misfortunes. He was efteemed a prudent, brave, 
 and valiant prince; learned himfelf, and a patron of 
 learning * ; qualities rare at all times in a nobleman 
 of his high rank • but particularly in an age when 
 knowledge and valour were thought incompatible ; 
 and not to be able to read, was a mark of nobility. 
 When king Stephen was taken prifoner, in the year 
 
 1 140, he would furrender to none but this earl. And 
 when the earl of Gloucefter was taken prifoner in 
 
 1141, and by William de Ypre fent to Rochefter 
 caftle, tho' an offer was foon made to releafe him for 
 
 - the 
 
 * The character of this great perfonage will be particularly 
 interefting and acceptable to fuch of our readers who are not 
 acquainted with it. His mother was Nefta, the beautiful 
 daughter of Rhees ap Tudor, or Theodore, prince of South 
 W ales. He was made firft earl of Gloucefter after the con- 
 queft, and married Sibil, the eldeft daughter of Robert Fitz- 
 Haman, with whom he was enriched with great poiTeflions. 
 Lord Lyttelton, in his Life of H. 2. fpeaks of him thus : ' He 
 
 * was unqueftionably the wifeft man of thofe times ; and his 
 
 * virtue was fuch, that even thofe times could not corrupt it . 
 e If, when the nation was grown equally tired of Matilda and 
 ' of Stephen, he had afpired to obtain the crown for himfelf, 
 < he might very poflibly have gained it from both ; but he 
 
 * thought it lefs glorious to be a king, than to preferve his 
 
 * fidelity and honour inviolate. He feems to have a£ted only 
 
 from 
 
Memorable Events. ig 
 
 the king, he would not hearken to it, without the 
 emprefs's confent. At length, after fix months im- 
 prifonment, the emprefs agreed that the king and he 
 mould be fet at liberty, and this exchange, one for 
 the other, was deemed equal. According to Mr. 
 Tyrrel, his father left him 60,000/. in cafli by his 
 will, a prodigious fum in thofe days. He built the 
 caftles of Briftol and Cardiff, and feveral religious 
 houfes, and died at Gloucefter of a fever. After his 
 death, the emprefs's caufe declined very faft, the 
 chief fupport being gone. But we return to the caftle. 
 
 It has been juft obferved, that king Stephen fur- 
 prized and burnt it ; but it was repaired very foon 
 afterwards; far we find it in the poffeflion of the earl 
 of Leicefter, whofe conftable, William de Dive, held 
 it out againft the king for fome time, but at length 
 furrendered it, to procure better terms for his mafter 
 upon his fubmiffion. 
 
 This caftle was afterwards garrifoned by the barons 
 who took up arms againft king Henry the Third; but 
 
 ' from the pureft and nobleft principles of juftice and duty, 
 
 * without pride, without pafllon, without any private views 
 « or felfifh ambition ; and to this admirable temper of mind, 
 
 * he joined all the addrefs and extenfive abilities that are 
 
 * peculiarly neceffary for the head of a party, who muft con- 
 ' necl: and keep together great numbers of independent per- 
 
 * fons, held by no regular bond of obedience ; conciliate their 
 e different paflions and interefts, endure their abfurdities, 
 
 * foothe their ill humour, manage their pride, and eftablifh 
 
 * an abfolute authority over them, without feeming to exer- 
 cife any but that of perfuafion.' p. 344. 
 
 the 
 
Memorable Events, 
 
 the king foon recovered it, and by his warrant in the 
 firft year of his reign, caufed it to be entirely de- 
 molifhed. 
 
 Notwithstanding the demolition of this fortrefs, 
 Cirencefter was {till confidered as a place of ftrength 
 and refpectability. And when king John, by op- 
 prefion and unprincipled conduct, had alienated the 
 ^ffe&ions of his fubjefts, and many of the gteat 
 barons took up arms againft him; * that kiri^ affem- 
 bled a large army here to oppofe them, in the fix- 
 teenth year of his reign. 
 
 Again, 
 
 * To revenge himfelf of his barons, whom he had pro- 
 voked to refift him, he fent a bafemeflage to Murmeline king 
 of Morocco, a mahomedan prince, poffeffing a great part of 
 Spain, and exceedingly powerful, offering, if he would fend 
 him fuccour, to hold the kingdom of England of him as a 
 vaffal, and to receive the law of Mahomet. The moor, of- 
 fended at this offer, told the ambafTadors, ' That he had lately 
 
 * read Paul's epiftles, which for the matter he liked very well, 
 
 * fave only, that Paul had renounced that faith wherein he 
 
 * was born, wherefore he flighted John, as one devoid both 
 
 * of piety and policy, and who valued liberty at a higher rate 
 
 * than his religion.' 
 
 It is faid, that in this reign the firfl: (landing military force 
 was eftablifhed in Britain, alluding to the garrifon of Dover- 
 caftle. All our hiftorians agree in the character of this prince, 
 which is the very contrail, to that of Robert earl of Gloucefter. 
 John was devoid of all principle, proud, cruel, and vindictive; 
 perfidious, cowardly, libidinous and inconftant ; infolent in 
 profperity, and dejedted in adverfity. He laughed at every 
 thing which mankind in general look on as facred j and Mat- 
 thew 
 
Memorable Events, 15 
 
 Again, in the year 1322, we find this the tempo- 
 rary refidence of that unhappy prince king Edward 
 the Second, who, according to Walfingham, kept 
 his Chriftmas at Cirencefter, attended with an im- 
 menfe number of nobles, knights, bowmen, &c. at 
 which time he convened hither the great men of the 
 realm, to confult of meafures to crufh the confederacy 
 formed by the earl of Lancafter, and the lords of the 
 marches, againft Hugh le Defpencer, who was the 
 king's favourite; and foon after the whole royal army 
 was affembled here. But it appears by the hiftory of 
 this reign that the king was as unfuccefsful as perfe- 
 vering. He and his party were oppofed by the queen 
 and prince of Wales with a large body of Englifh, 
 aflifted by a great foreign force, who at length took 
 him prifoner and lodged him in Berkeley caftle, where 
 he was murdered. Orlton, bifhop of Hereford is 
 charged with promoting the king's death, by fending 
 to the keeper of the caftle the following ambiguous 
 fentence : 
 
 Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum eft. 
 The ambiguity is well preferved in the following tran- 
 
 thew Paris, who lived in this reign, and was an excellent and 
 faithful hiftorian, finifhes his chara&er in three words : 
 ' Faedatur Johanne Gehenna :' that is, in plain Englifh, 
 6 Hell felt herfelf defiled by John's admiflion.' In ftiort, a 
 worfe prince fcarce ever difgraced any throne. Yet after all, 
 we muft allow him the merit of being the firft Englifh king 
 who perfected the coinage of pure fterling money. 
 
 C 3 flation 
 
i6 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 flation, taken from Dr. Gibfon's edition of Camden's 
 Britannia ; 
 
 To feek to fhed king Edward's blood, 
 
 Refufe to fear I think it good. 
 The fate of this king may ferve for a leflbn to all 
 princes againft favoritifm, to which, as men, they are 
 more particularly expofed. 
 
 But this place is mod remarkable for the fuppreffion 
 of the rebellion raifed by the dukes of Aumerle, 
 Surry and Exeter, the earls of Gloucefter and Salif- 
 bury, and their adherents, in the firft year of the 
 reign of king Henry the Fourth." It was an exploit 
 full of heroic enterprife. and executed by the townf- 
 men only. Thefe noblemen had formed a horrid 
 confpiracy to feize and alfaffinate the king at a tour- 
 nament at Oxford, to which he was invited. The 
 plot was committed to writing, and each confpirator 
 had a copy figned and fealed by all the confederates. 
 And Aumerle being at dinner with his father, the 
 duke of York, and having the writing in his bofom, 
 the duke difcovered and feized it, and having read 
 the contents, ordered his horfe to be faddled irame- 
 diatety. Sufpe&ing his father's intention, Aumerle 
 rode full fpeed to the king at Windfor, and difcovering 
 the confpiracy, obtained his pardon before the duke 
 of York arrived. The other confpirators fufpecling 
 the difcovery, raifed a numerous army to furprife the 
 king at Windfor. But Henry having alfo aflembled 
 20,000 men, marched to give them battle, which fo 
 difcouraged them, that they retreated to Cirencefter, 
 
 and 
 
Memorable Events. 17 
 
 and encamped without the gates. The chiefs quar- 
 tered in the town. But the mayor perceiving that the 
 gates and avenues were unguarded, affembled 400 
 men in the night, feized the gates, and attacked the 
 four noblemen and their attendants in their quarters. 
 The duke of Surry and earl of Salifbury efcaped for 
 fhelter to the abbey, where they were taken and be- 
 headed on the fpot ; but the duke of Exeter and the 
 earl of Gloucefter efcaped by the tops of the houfes 
 to the camp, which the foldiers had abandoned, and 
 fled. For the troops hearing a great noife and tumult 
 of fighting in the town, which had been fet on fire by 
 the rebel party, and concluding that a detachment of 
 the king's troops had entered another way, were feized 
 with a panic and betook themfelves to flight. 
 
 The duke of Exeter and earl of Gloucefter were 
 taken fome time after, and loft their heads in the fe- 
 quel. The heads of Surry and Salifbury were fent to 
 London, their bodies having been buried in Ciren- 
 cefter abbey church; but the head of the latter was 
 reftored, and his body removed to Buftlefham, now 
 Bifham, in Berkfhire, where he had founded a priory 
 for canons of the order of Su Auftin, dedicated to 
 Chrift Jefus and the virgin Mary, and valued at the 
 diffolution at 327/. 45. 6d. 
 
 The king, for this great fervice done him by the 
 men of Cirencefter, granted them all the rebels goods 
 found in the town, and four does in feafon out of his 
 foreft of Bredon, and one hogfhead of^wine out of his 
 port of Briftol. And to the women, he granted fix 
 
 bucks 
 
i8 
 
 Memorable Events, 
 
 bucks in right feafon, and one hogfhead of wine out 
 of the fame port : as may be feen more at large in 
 the grants themfelves. 
 
 King Henry the Fourth's Grant to the Men, &c> of Glrencejler. 
 
 THE king, to all unto whom thefe prefents (hall come, 
 greeting. Know ye that of our fpecial grace, and for 
 the good and laudable and acceptable fervices which the men 
 of the town of Ciceter have performed, in refilling the mali- 
 cious attempts of Thomas late earl of Kent, and John late earl 
 of Salifbury, and other traitors and rebels, who had traiteroufly 
 taken up arms againft us and our crown, contrary to their 
 allegiance ; we do give and grant to the men aforefaid, all the 
 goods and chattels, in whofe hands foever they may be found, 
 which did belong to the faid late earls, and the other traitors, 
 and were found in the faid town when the faid earls and other 
 traitors were there arretted by the men aforefaid; excepting all 
 gold and filver, and money, and veffels of gold or filver, or 
 guilded, and except all jewels of all kinds ; to hold unto the 
 faid men of our gift. In witnefs whereof, &c. 
 
 Given at Weftminfter the twenty eighth day of February, 
 1H.4. 
 
 The Second Grant. 
 
 THE king to all unto whom thefe prefents (hall come, 
 greeting. Know ye that of our efpecial grace, and for 
 the good fervice which our beloved liege-people and commons 
 of the town of Cirencefter, as well men as women, have per- 
 formed unto us, in the taking of the earls of Kent and Salifbury, 
 and of others their followers, in the late rebellion, do grant 
 unto the men four does in feafon, to be delivered unto them by 
 our chief forefter, for the time being, or his deputy, out of our 
 foreft of Bradon s and alfo one hogftiead of wine, to be re- 
 ceived 
 
Memorable Events. ig 
 
 ceived every year out of the port of our town of Briftol, by the 
 hand of our officer therein for the time being. We alfo grant 
 unto the women aforefaid fix bucks, to be delivered them in 
 right feafon, by our chief forefter aforefaid, or his deputy, out 
 of the foreft aforefaid; and alfo one hogfhead of wine, to be 
 delivered to them out of the port of our faid town of Briftol, 
 by the hands of our officer therein for the time being. This 
 grant to continue during our pleafure. In witnefs whereof, kc- 
 
 Afterwards, in the 4th year of the fame reign, the 
 king granted to the town a court of Staple for mer- 
 chandize, ere&ing a corporation of a mayor and two 
 conftables, and others the commonalty, for the en- 
 couragement of trade, by the execution of the Statute 
 Merchant. But this charter, after a long fuit in the 
 exchequer, was decreed to be cancelled 37 Eliz. 
 
 When we confider the magnitude of this great fer- 
 vice, in its objecl and confequence, we cannot but 
 think it infinitely under-rated by the reward, and the 
 king's dignity as much degraded by the grant. 
 
 All thefe events {hew that the town was of good ac- 
 count in the times we have been reviewing; and as 
 we draw nearer to our own, we mall find that it has 
 been the fcene of other remarkable trarifa&ions. 
 
 Here, as it is in Corbet's Hi/lory of the Military 
 Government of Gloucefler, was the firft forcible oppo- 
 fition to king Charles the Firft, in the year 1641, by 
 infulting lord Chandois, then lieutenant of the county, 
 who was executing the commiffion of array. The 
 
 D people 
 
20 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 people encompaffed him, and forced him to fign a 
 paper, promifing that he would no more attempt to 
 put it in execution. His lordfhip efcaped unhurt in 
 his perfon, but his coach was cut in pieces. 
 
 This place was garrifoned foon after by the parlia- 
 ment's forces, and we prefent our readers with the 
 following account of the fiege and taking of Ciren- 
 cefter, publilhed by prince Rupert's chaplain. 
 
 On the 21ft of January, 1642, prince Rupert 
 marched from Oxford, with five regiments of horfe, 
 his own troop of life-guards, and a confiderable body 
 of dragoons and foot, and took with him four field- 
 pieces to fecure his march. His defign was to relieve 
 colonel Haftings, who was befieged in his own houfe 
 at Alhby de la Zouch, in Leicefterfhire; but hearing 
 in his march that the fiege was raifed, the prince turned 
 his thoughts on Cirencefter, which had been fortified 
 by the parliament, and was provided with a good gar- 
 rifon, commanded by colonel Fettiplace. This town, 
 by reafon of its fituation, had much ftreightened the 
 king's quarters, and was of great confequence at that 
 time. This little army not being thought equal to the 
 new enterprize, the king was applied to for a rein- 
 forcement, and fome battering cannon; and till thofe 
 could be brought up, his highnefs, by eafy marches, 
 palled through Warwickshire into Gloucefterfhire. 
 On Monday morning the 30th of January, the van 
 of the army paffed by Sudley caftle, which was pof- 
 
 feffed 
 
Memorable Events. 
 
 2 i 
 
 fefTed but two days before by a detachment from the 
 garrifon of Cirencefter, and which was thought to be 
 fo dependent on the fortune of that town, that the 
 prince refolved to purfue his firft purpofe, and if he 
 mould be fuccefsful, to leave the caftle to come in 
 afterwards. This day, however, the prince ported 
 his own regiment, with lieutenant-colonel O'Neal, 
 and a ftrong party of dragoons, to keep watch on the 
 Cirencefter fide of the caftle ; and at night when the 
 main body of the army came up, the parties were all 
 drawn off, and the whole army lay in the open fields 
 near Hawling, about two miles from the caftle. 
 
 On Thurfday morning the prince received a rein- 
 forcement of dragoons, and a regiment of horfe under 
 colonel Slater, with two eighteen pounders, and a 
 mortar-piece to throw grenades. All thefe joined him 
 at the rendezvous near Cirencefter. After his hish- 
 nefs had reconnoitred the north fide of the town about 
 Spital-gate, colonel Lunsford, with his dragoons, was 
 appointed to attack that quarter, and lord Carnarvon's 
 regiment of horfe was to fecond him, whilft Monfieur 
 la Roche planted his mortar-piece within one hundred 
 and fifty paces of Spital-gate, to act in conjunction 
 with them. Things being thus difpofed on the part 
 of the army, it may not be amifs, before we come to 
 blows, to,fpeak a word or two of the fituation of the 
 befieged. 
 
 The town being pretty large, and efteemed the key 
 of Gloucefterfhire, fome diligence had been ufed in 
 fortifying it, which was indeed ftrong in its natural 
 D 2 fituation 
 
22 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 fituation, being about half way round encompaffed 
 with water, a great part with a high wall, and the re- 
 mainder fecured by ftrong works. The gardens were 
 divided by many low dry ftone walls, which may be 
 confidered as a kind of breaft-works. The ftreets 
 were barricaded with chains, harrows, and waggons. 
 Each end of the high or main ftreet leading through 
 the town was fecured againft the horfe with ftrong 
 turnpikes. They had ere&ed two batteries, one of 
 which was of two fix-pounders, on the fouth-weft cor- 
 ner, which commanded Cricklade way. In Sir 
 William Mafters's [the abbey] garden, which is on 
 the north fide of the town, they oppofed a brafs faker 
 to the mortar in colonel Lunsford's quarter, as was 
 before obferved. And in the market-place they 
 mounted an iron fix-pounder; which five were all 
 their ordnance. 
 
 The Barton-houfe, then called Giffard's, and a 
 fquare high garden wall lined with mufketry, was 
 another ftrong port of the befieged, at the north-weft 
 end of the town. On the left hand of the Barton 
 ftands a water mill, and about four hundred yards up 
 the river Churn, at the lower end of Gloucefter ftreet, 
 flood another. Both thefe mills had been ftrength- 
 ened with walls and other works. 
 
 The chief officers were colonel Fettiplace, (a coun- 
 try gentleman) the governor, and lieutenant-colonel 
 Carr, a Scotchman, on whom it feems was the prin- 
 cipal dependance ; and who is faid to have declared, 
 the day before the attack, that he would keep the 
 town againft 20.000 men. The 
 
Memorable Events. 23 
 
 The prince leaving Lunsford at the Spital-gate, 
 marched the main body to the Barton-field, on the 
 north-weft end of the town, and after the neceflary 
 difpofitions, gave the command of the right wing, 
 confiding of four regiments of dragoons, fupported 
 by Sir Thomas Byron, with the prince of Wales's 
 regiment of horfe, to lord Wentworth. The left wing, 
 compofed of colonel UfTer's'regiment, and about 400 
 men, brought in that morning by colonel W entworth, 
 feconded by prince Rupert's own regiment, and his 
 life-guards under the refpeftive commands of lieu- 
 tenant-colonel O'Neal, and Sir Richard Crane, his 
 highnefs took himfelf : and the command of the cen- 
 tre, confiding of a body of 500 well-difciplined men, 
 with colonel Lewis Kirke at their head, fupported by 
 prince Maurice's regiment, was given to lieutenant- 
 general Wilmot. The referve was committed to Sir 
 John Byron, who with his regiment of horfe was to 
 guard the rear. ■ 
 
 T-he word was QUEEN MARY, which given, the 
 order of affault was thus : A forlorn-hope of thirty 
 mufketeers, drawn out of colonel Kirke's men, and 
 headed by lieutenant St. John, were marched along 
 by lieutenant-general Wilmot, who was to direct, them 
 where to attack, between the Barton-houfe and the 
 great manor * houfe, which was then belonging to 
 the Poole's family, and being come almoft to the 
 hedge of a clofe ground which flood between the gar- 
 
 * Lord Balhurft's houfe now flands on the fcite of it. 
 
 dens 
 
2 4 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 dens of thefe houfes, the general fent a meflenger to 
 the prince, to defire the canon might be advanced, 
 faying, ' that they were already almofl: in the hedge/ 
 At that hedge, and the low wall beyond it, the fldr- 
 fnifh began. Here lieutenant St. John was mot in 
 the leg, and rendered incapable of advancing any 
 further, but his men maintained a good fire againft 
 the enemy ; and foon after, fixty men of the fame 
 corps coming to the affiftance of the firft thirty, and 
 thefe being again followed by another reinforcement 
 under lieutenant-colonel Layton, after a few hot vol- 
 lies, the townfmen were beaten from the hedge to the 
 Barton garden-wall, and were purfued by the king's 
 troops, who running clofe under the wall, flung (tones 
 over upon the enemy. 
 
 Whilft this was doing, lieutenant-general Wilmot 
 led Kirke's whole regiment down the hill to the Bar- 
 ton-houfe and garden-wall ; and colonel UfTer, with 
 400 men befides his own regiment, was fent by the 
 prince to fecond him, who together attacked the houfe 
 on every fide. The pike-men marching forwards to 
 the lane, cleared the avenue which was obftrucled by 
 a heap of bufhes, and fo entered the yard ; whilft 
 colonel UfTer perceiving the garden wall (within which 
 the enemy's mufketry flood) too high to be climbed 
 on the front, found means to enter the garden on the 
 back fide, where, and from the windows of the houfe, 
 the enemy were {till firing at Kirke's men. At their 
 entrance the king's men killed about fourteen, the 
 reft ran away. Thus got to the houfe, the colonel, 
 
 with 
 
Memorable Events. 25 
 
 with a fire-pike in his hand, fet fire to it ; and the fol- 
 diers fired the ftacks of* hay and corn that flood about 
 it, which made the place too hot and fmoaky to be 
 tenable. The townlinen beaten out of the houfe, 
 garden and works, retired with more hafte than order, 
 by Cicely-hill, to their firft turnpike j the king's men 
 purfuing clofely at their heels, made a confiderable 
 flaughter. 
 
 All this while lord Wentworth was warmly engaged 
 in another quarter. His poft was to have fallen to 
 the fouthward, on the right hand of Poole's mount * ; 
 but mifled by the guide, they fell into the clofe to the 
 left hand of the mount, where they were both flanked 
 by the battery, and annoyed by the mufketry from 
 the high wall before them. The officers thinking it 
 very difficult to force this wall, drew to the left into 
 the lane, and there joined colonel Kirke'smen, and 
 with them entered the turnpike together ; for the 
 enemy having been juft beaten from the fide-works 
 that guarded it, the king's troops had burft it open, 
 and made the paflage clear. 
 
 Colonel UfTer marched thro' this turnpike, and 
 placing a guard upon the bridge at the bottom of 
 Cicely-hill, turned on the left up the mill-bank, to 
 come at a body of the enemy collected together at 
 another work ; but upon his approach, they fled and 
 forfook their colours. 
 
 * Now called Grifmund's tower, over the ice-houfe, in 
 lord Bathurft's park. 
 
 The 
 
26 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 The foot thus engaged, the horfe kept their ftatiorr. 
 at the end of the town, where they were annoyed 
 from Poole's battery, which played upon them incef- 
 fantly. But colonel Innes having fent the prince 
 notice that the turnpike was won, his highnefs order- 
 ed colonel Scrimfour, with a fmall party of his own 
 life-guards, to pufh into the town, who were imme- 
 diately followed by the whole troop, which fell in 
 before the foot, and drove all before them, killing 
 many as they pafled. In the market-place, they found 
 about 300 foot and 50 horfe, who fled upon the fpur. 
 The foot getting into the houfes, fired out at the win- 
 dows. The market-place thus cleared, and Sir Richard 
 Crane advancing eaftward downDyer-ftreet, aSpanifh 
 gunner ran out of the King's-head inn, to fire a piece 
 of ordnance full upon the croops of the prince's troop; 
 but was prevented by a gentleman that rode in be- 
 tween the Spaniard and his piece, and piftolled him. 
 
 The life-guards then pairing on to another turnpike 
 at the end of Dyer-ftreet, difcovered a body of be- 
 tween 2 and 300 of the enemy, in a walled clofe on 
 the left; but the wall not permitting the horfe to come 
 at them, Sir Richard Crane, fufpecling they might 
 have fome near way to get into the market-place, and 
 cut off* his retreat, retired thither himfelf, and made 
 that part good till the foot came up. In his way he 
 cut down many that appeared in the ftreet; and the 
 foot coming in, they fearched the houfes, and fome 
 of thofe they found were killed, the reft made prison- 
 ers. Colonel Fettiplace, captain Warneford, and 
 
 Mr. 
 
Memorable Events. 27 
 
 Mr. George, one of the members of the borough, 
 were among' the latter. 
 
 Hitherto the ftrong poft at the water mills, on the 
 left of the Barton-hotife, where the enemy had placed 
 a pair of colours, had not been attempted; but feeing 
 the town was taken another way, they pulled down 
 their colours, and retreated inwards to a bridge and 
 chain. The horfe purfued them, but not being able 
 to pafs the chain, the enemy faced about, gave them 
 a volley, and kept their ground, till they were driven 
 from thence by a body of foot who came to the affif- 
 tance of the horfe. Here Mr. Payne, * a clothier in 
 the town party, was killed with the colours in his hand. 
 
 All this while, the garrifon were fkirmiming with 
 colonel Lunsford and lord Carnarvon, at the Spital- 
 gate ; but hearing of the town's being taken, they 
 flung down their arms, and ran away with thofe whom 
 Sir Richard Crane had left in the walled clofe. 
 Colonel Lunsford forced the Spital-gate, and Sir 
 Charles Lucas entered by a turnpike. 
 
 At firft entering the town, the cannoniers and muf- 
 quetiers fled from Poole's battery, leaving their 
 colours {landing, which the prince ordered to be 
 taken down ; and it is faid, that caiptain Seymour and 
 his company forfook their guard and colours, at 
 George's battery, before ever they had feen an enemy. 
 
 Lord Carnarvon purfued the fuigitives to the fouth- 
 ward, killed a few, and made many prifoners. Sir. 
 
 * There is a punning epitaph for Ihin n the church. 
 
 E John 
 
28 Memorable Events. 
 
 John Byron followed thofe that fled towards Crick- 
 lade, killed above a hundred, and made as many pri- 
 foners; among the latter, two clergymen, Mr. Stan- 
 field and Mr. Gregory, minifter of Cirencefter. 
 Prince Maurice purfued thofe that fled from Poole's 
 battery, and fome of thofe that were firft overtaken 
 were killed; but it being enough to proftrate to 
 a lion, about three hundred of them falling before 
 the prince's feet, bis mercy pleafed itfelf with making 
 them prifoners. 
 
 Great numbers of arms were taken in the houfes, 
 and drawn out of the rivers, where they were thrown 
 to prevent their falling into the hands of the con- 
 querors, to the amount of 3000. All the five pieces 
 of ordnance were found Handing in their places. 
 
 On the part of the king, major Hutchifon and about 
 twenty private men were killed, and lieutenant St. 
 John fhot in the leg. On that of the town, the loweft 
 computation is 300 killed, and 1200 taken prifoners, 
 of whom 160 were wounded, to whom the prince fent 
 his furgeon, doftor, and chaplains, the next day, to 
 drefs and vifit them. In this affair, general Wilmot 
 diftinguifhcd his judgment and valour. Colonel 
 Layton's horfe was (hot through the neck, and major 
 Windebank's was killed under him. 
 
 It is obfervable that this account takes notice of 
 only one perfon having been wounded of the royal 
 party. That there fhould have been no more is very 
 improbable, but, if true, fo much the better. We 
 
 have 
 
Memorable Events. 29 
 
 have no pleafure in recording the deeds of blood and 
 (laughter, and we fhudder to reflecl on cool and de- 
 liberate carnage. What thinking mortal can read the 
 detail of a battle, without lamenting the fate of thofe 
 who fell ! without fympathizing with thofe who have 
 loft their parents, their children, their hufbands, their 
 brothers, and friends ! 
 
 Quis talia fando 
 
 Temperet a lachrymis ! - - - - 
 We confider war in general as the fcourge of man- 
 kind, wholly incompatible with rationality, and the 
 chriftian fyftem ; and we lament, alas ! that princes 
 fo frequently appeal to the decifion of power, fo dif- 
 cordant to equity and juftice ! But to proceed : 
 
 The town was afterwards made quarters, fometimes 
 for the king's army, at others for the parliament's; and 
 after the raifing of the fiege of Gloucefter, in 1643, tne 
 earl of Effex beat up the king's quarters here, and 
 drove Sir Nicholas Crifp and colonel Spencer, with 
 their two regiments of horfe, out of the town, and 
 in that action took 400 horfe and thirty cart loads of 
 provifions, which were a feafonable fupply to his 
 army. But we have feen no particular account of 
 any fkirmilh between the two parties, fubfequent to 
 the fiege. There is reafon to believe, however, that 
 the (laughter was much greater than here reprefented. 
 In Auguft, 1793, heaps of dead bodies, with the 
 bones not much decayed, fuppofed to be fome of 
 thofe who fell in flight at the fiege, were found about 
 two feet under ground, on the fide of the road at 
 
 Watermore 
 
30 Memorable Events. 
 
 Watermore, juft without the town, leading to 
 Cricklade. 
 
 The Revolution is defervedly confidered as a moft 
 interefting epoch in the annals of Britain : And it is 
 not a little remarkable, that this place is particularly 
 diftinguifhed on that occafion alfo. As here was the 
 firft oppofition in the county, at the breaking out of 
 the civil war, fo here, likewife, in the year 1688, 
 was the firft bloodfhed on account of the revolution ; 
 when lord Lovelace, being on his march to join the 
 prince of Orange, with a party of horfe, was attacked 
 by a captain Lorange, of the county militia, animated 
 by the duke of Beaufort, who was very zealoufly at- 
 tached to king James. 
 
 The captain was proprietor of Haymes, near 
 Tewkefbury, in Gloucefterfhire ; and tho' both he 
 and his fon loft their lives in the conflict, his men 
 overpowered lord Lovelace, and carried him prifoner 
 to Gloucefter jail, having flain fome unfortunate gen- 
 tlemen at the fame time. Captain Lorange made 
 choice of this town particularly, for the ground on 
 which to attack the prince's party, knowing that the 
 greater part of the inhabitants were implicit followers 
 in the Beaufort train, and had imbibed the court 
 principles of indefeafible right, and non-refiftance. 
 And it has been remarked, that fome of their defen- 
 dants and fuccefTors have diftinguifhed themfelves 
 fince that time in the intereft of the Stewart family. 
 Their attachment was ftrong in the year 1745, when 
 
 they 
 
Memorable Events. 
 
 they openly avowed their principles, and eftablifhed 
 a fociety to further their views, which, however, were 
 fruftrated in the defeat of the pretender's army at 
 Culloden. 
 
 Thefe facts, as well as others which have hap- 
 pened on both fides the Tweed, as it were but yefte'r- 
 day, may ferve to mow, what dangers men will face, 
 and what rifques they will run, who are a&uated by 
 real principle. To have the ftrongeft effecl, it is not 
 neceffary that fuch principle be good and virtuous. 
 It is fufficient to fuch effect, whether good or bad, 
 right or wrong, that a man thinks it right; and if he 
 be really fo perfuaded, his paflions in either cafe will 
 be raifed to the fame pitch of enthufiafm. 
 
 It was neceffary to notice thefe fa&s, as the hiftory 
 of a place includes that of its inhabitants. It has been 
 faid, but how juftly it is not neceffary at prefent to 
 enquire, that the avowal of truth can do no injury, 
 tho' the witholding of it may ; and as the clofing of 
 this tophic here, might leave a falfe impreffion upon 
 the mind of the reader, it is but candid to add, that 
 the attachment of the inhabitants of this town to the 
 Stewart family, has been long fince done away ; and 
 that the few now living, who were then under its in- 
 fluence, as well as the defendants of fuch of them 
 who have paid the debt of nature, are fall friends to 
 his prefent majefty. 
 
 To attribute this change to a verfatile and un- 
 fteady difpofition, would be to injure their character. 
 Abandoning firft received principles, and firft leaders, 
 
 tho' 
 
3 2 
 
 Memorable Events. 
 
 tlio' on convi£Kon of error, has been, and perhaps 
 always may be, loudly condemned by defigning men, 
 when it oppofes their interefts, and thwarts their de- 
 figns ; and this has occafioned it to be too commonly 
 underftood, by the ignorant vulgar, to be a kind of 
 criminal defertion; tho' in faft, upon fuch conviclion, 
 it is a moil diftinguifhing mark of a candid and vi- 
 gorous mind. 
 
 Men commonly form their religious and political 
 principles upon the model of their parents and pre- 
 ceptors, at a period of life but little devoted to think- 
 ing. Things are taken much upon truft and confi- 
 dence : And at maturer age, to examine what with 
 fo much care and trouble has been taught, and has 
 fo long patted for fterling; and to learn, if neceffary, 
 fomething very different, feems a double and difficult 
 talk, and requires more fortitude than falls to every 
 perfon's (hare to accomplilh : Yet it is certainly our 
 duty to examine principles, and to aft from convic- 
 tion, with moderation and temper. This is not 
 meant as a particular apology for the people of Ciren- 
 cefter, who upon that account Hand in need of none; 
 but are general fentiments which we flatter ourfelves 
 will apply in all cafes. 
 
 We juft now obferved that a political club or fo- 
 ciety was formed here in the year 1745. This foci- 
 ety ft ill exifts, tho' with very different views, in a fuc- 
 ceffion for the moft part of new men. And it affords 
 a linking inftance of the prevalence of cuftom, to 
 which men often adhere after the caufe is done away: 
 
 And 
 
Memorable Events. 33 
 
 And thus it happens, that tho' the exifting members 
 are {launch advocates for the prefent adminiftration, 
 one of their original fentiments, A fpeedy end to all 
 our greivances, (ftrongly marking difapprobation of 
 men and things) ft ill continues to be given at their 
 weekly meetings ; and The duke of Beaufort, as for- 
 merly, is a Handing toaft among them. But to re- 
 turn from men to things : 
 
 We fliall clofe our account under this head, by 
 obferving, that the fummer alfizes for the county, in 
 1679, was ne ld here, by lord chief juftice Scrogs 
 and Sir Robert Atkyns, on account of the plague or 
 fome peflilential diftemper being then at Gloucefter. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the City Walls, Roman Hypocaust, 
 Pavements, and other Antiquities. 
 
 The walls of the city were built by the 
 Romans, as appears by the feveral latin infcriptions 
 on fome of the ftones, mentioned by Leland. They 
 were about two miles in circumference, and remained 
 entire in the reign of king H. 4. but were razed foon 
 
 afterwards. 
 
34 The City Walls, &c. 
 
 afterwards. Leland traced the foundations round in 
 the time of king Henry the Eighth, but even then 
 there were but few veftiges remaining, upon which 
 occafion he fell in with this melancholy reflection, in 
 the words of the poet, 
 
 ------- - Sic omnia fatis 
 
 In pejus mere, ac retro fublapfa referri. Virg„ 
 
 By fates decreed, to ruin all things run, 
 And back to priftine atoms lapfe again. 
 
 Leland was one of the vifitors fent by king Henry the 
 Eighth to examine into the ftate of the monafteries, 
 previous to their diffolution. He was a man of let*- 
 ters, and a very judicious and inquifitive antiquary, 
 to whom moft fubfequent writers on antiquities are 
 much indebted for information, which the lapfe of 
 time and the cjeftruction of papers would have ren- 
 dered it impoflible by their own induftry to obtain. 
 
 His language is a little antiquated, and often inter- 
 mixed with Latin, but for the fake of fuch of our 
 readers who may not underftand that language, we 
 have given the Englifh. Speaking of the antiquities 
 of the place, he fays, ' A man may yet, walking on 
 
 * the bank of Churne, evidently perceyve the com- 
 ' pace of foundation of towers fumtyme (landing in 
 ' the waul. And nere to the place wher the right 
 
 * goodly clothing mylle was fet up a late by the ab- 
 4 bate, was broken down the ruine of an old tower 
 
 ( toward 
 
And other Antiquities. 
 
 35 
 
 * toward making of the mylle waulles, in the which 
 ' place was fownd a quadrate (tone fawllen downe 
 ' afore, but broken in aliquot frujlra, [in fundry 
 
 pieces] wherin was a Roman inscription, of the 
 c which, one fcantlie letterd that faw yt, told me, that 
 
 * he might perceyve Pont. Max. Among divers 
 
 * numifmata [coins] fownd frequently there, Diode- 
 ' fian's be mod faireft ; but I cannot adfirme the in- 
 ' fcription to have bene dedicate onto hym. In the 
 
 * middes of the old town, in a medow, was found a 
 c flore de tcjfellis verficoloribus, [a pavement of dice- 
 ' like bricks of fundry colours;] and by the town, 
 ' nojlris temporibus, [in our time,] was fownd a 
 ' broken {hank bone of a horfe, the mouth clofed 
 ' with a pegge; the which taken owt, a fhepard found 
 ' yt fillid nummis argenteis. [with filver money.] In 
 6 the fowth-fouth-weft fide of the waul be lykelyhod 
 
 * hath bene a cartel, or fum other great building, the 
 
 * hilles and diches yet remayne. The place is now a 
 c waren for conys, and therin hath be fownd mennes 
 ' bones infolitce magnitudinis [of uncommon fize ;] 
 
 * alfo to fepulchres ex fecto lapide [of hewn ftone.] 
 e In one was a round veffel of leade covered, and in 
 
 * it afhes and peaces of bones. Lei. Itin. v. 5, p. 65." 
 And the fame author, in his Collections, obferves, 
 
 that the abbat told him, he had found in the ruins of 
 the old walls, ' Arcuatos lapides infculptos majufcuks 
 
 * Uteris Romanis that is, in plain Englifh, * Arched 
 
 * ftones engraven with large Roman letters/ 
 
 F 
 
 Doctor 
 
3« 
 
 The City Walls, 
 
 Do£lor Stukeley vifited this place in the year 1723, 
 and fancied that he could even then trace the old city 
 walls quite round the town, of which we have no 
 doubt; but antiquities give way to modern improve- 
 ments, fo that all which remains of the wall at prefent, 
 lies on the eaft and fouth fides, about a mile in length, 
 covered with earth and rubbifli in fome places about 
 ten feet high. A fmall part being uncovered in the 
 year 1774, it was found to be eight feet thick, and 
 what then remained of it, about three feet high, built 
 with hewn (tone, ftrongly cemented with lime, fand, 
 and gravel. 
 
 A little within the old city wall, on the fouth-eaft 
 fide of the town, is a pretty large tracl; of ground 
 called the Leaufes, now garden grounds and corn- 
 fields, belonging to Thomas Mafter, efq; where for 
 many ages paft have been found antient carvings, 
 inscriptions on ftones, pieces of Roman pottery, and 
 teffellated pavements; with great abundance of coins, 
 rings, and intaglio's, which have been long fince dif- 
 perfed. From thefe circumftances, together with the 
 name, do6lor Stukeley fuppofed the Leaufes to have 
 been the Roman Przetorium; for Llis in the Britim 
 language, fays he, fignifies a Court. The doctor's 
 conjecture, that in this place was the Prsetorium, 
 feems not altogether improbable, tho' he may be 
 miftaken in his etymology ; for, in our opinion, the 
 word Leaufes is only a flight variation from Leajes, 
 which in the diale6t of this part of the country, is the 
 
 fame 
 
And other Antiquities. 37 
 
 fame with Leafues, or Leafows, as ufed in other parts, 
 from the Anglo-Saxon Lerpe, and pretty generally 
 underftood to fignify certain pafture grounds, all 
 ever England. 
 
 Several authors have mentioned, and indeed they 
 have only barely mentioned, thefe antiquities j but 
 their accounts (of the Hypocauft in particular) feem 
 to be collected from report and hearfay ; nor have 
 they tranfmitted down to us fo many particulars as the 
 fubje£ts deferved. We fhall, however, collecl from 
 them what they have left us, and then fubjoin the 
 refult of our own enquiry and obfervation, after a 
 diligent furvey. 
 
 Leland has left us no more than what we have al- 
 ready quoted ; and Mr. Thomas Hearne f , his labo- 
 rious editor, juft takes notice, in the 8th vol. of his 
 edition of Leland's Itinerary, that he had feen < feveral 
 ( coins which were found at Cirencefter, having a 
 ■ figure with a Patera * in the right hand, and a palm 
 ( branch in the left; and that fome time before the 
 
 • year 1711, he had received an account of a Roman 
 
 * pavement de tejfellis verjicoloribus, that had been dif- 
 ' covered there fome time before.' 
 
 t The following epigram on this man, ftrongly marks his 
 tafte and induftry : 
 
 Pox on't, quoth Time to Thomas Hearne, 
 Whatever I forget, you learn. 
 
 * The Patera was a veJTel to drink out of, ufed at public 
 feafts and facrifices, 
 
 Fa • Sir 
 
38 The City Walls, 
 
 Sir Robert Atkyns follows next in order. ' Here,' 
 fays that gentleman, in his account of Cirencefter, 
 
 * are often dug up in old foundations, a great many 
 
 * anjjl great variety of Roman coins. There was ac- 
 e cidentally difcovered, in a meadow near the town, 
 g an antient building under ground. It was 50 foot 
 
 * long and 40 broad, and about 4 foot high ; fup- 
 ' ported by 100 brick pillars; inlaid very curioufty 
 
 * with tefferaick work, with ftones of divers colours, 
 4 little bigger than dice : It is fuppofed to have been 
 
 a bathing place of the Romans.' This is all Sir 
 Robert fays, from whofe account the reader will not 
 very readily underftand what part was fo curioufly 
 inlaid ; whether the pillars, the whole building, or 
 (as is moft likely) the pavement only. 
 
 Then comes do6tor Stukeley, who has not compli- 
 mented the good people of Cirencefter on their tafte 
 for works of antiquity. c Large quantities of carved 
 
 * ftones, fays he, are carried off yearly in carts 
 
 * [meaning from the Leazes or Leaufes] to mend the 
 
 * highways, befides what are ufeful in building. A 
 ' fine mofaic pavement was dug up here in September 
 « 1723, with many coins. I bought a little head, 
 ' which had been broken off from a baffo-relievo, 
 
 * and feems by the tiara, of a very odd fhape, like 
 
 * fortification-work, to have been the genius of a city, 
 4 or fome of the Dea? Matres which are in old infcrip- 
 6 tions, fuch like in Gruter, p. 92. The gardener 
 
 * told me he had lately found a little brafs image, I 
 
 s . fuppofe 
 
And other Antiquities. 
 
 39 
 
 * fuppofe one of the Lares * ; but upon diligent fcru- 
 4 tiny, his children had played it away. Mr. Richar4 
 ' Bifhop, owner of the garden, on a hillock near his 
 
 * houfe< dug up a vault fixteen feet long, and twelve 
 4 broad, fupported with fquare pillars of Roman 
 4 brick, three feet and a half high, and on it a ftrong 
 4 floor of terras. There are now feveral more vaults 
 4 near it, on which grow cherry-trees, like the hang- 
 4 ing gardens of Babylon. I fuppofe thefe the foun- 
 4 dations of a temple, for in the fame place, they 
 4 found feveral {tones of the {hafts of pillars, fix feet 
 4 long, and bafes of ftone near as big in compafs as 
 4 his fummer-houfe adjoining, as he expreiTed him- 
 4 felf; thefe, with cornices very handfomely moulded, 
 4 and carved with modillions and like ornaments, 
 4 were converted into fwine-troughs. Some of the 
 4 ftones of the bafes were fattened together with 
 4 cramps of iron, fo that they were forced to employ 
 
 * The Lares, or houfehold-gods, among the Romans, 
 were fo called, becaufe they were fuppofed to protect men's 
 houfcs ; for Lar is fometimes taken for a houfe itfelf. They 
 were reprefented in the form of a dog, as refembling that ani- 
 mal in difpofition, fierce and angry towards {hangers, but 
 gentle and kind to thofe of their own houfehold. The Romans 
 facrificed to them, and it was the cuftom to eat up all that was 
 left of the offering, how much foever it might be, for it was 
 thought infamous to fend any part of it to their friends, or the 
 poor. And in allufion to this cuftom, when a gluttonous per- 
 fbaeats all that is fet before him, he is faid Lari facrificare y 
 that is, he facrifices to hisjioufehold-god. 
 
 horfes 
 
4° The City Walls, 
 
 * horfes to draw them afunder, and they now lie be- 
 
 * fore the door of his houfe as a pavement. Capitals 
 
 * of thefe pillars were likewife found, and a crooked 
 ' cramp of iron, ten or twelve feet long, which pro- 
 
 * bably was for the architraves of a circular portico. 
 ' A mofaic pavement near it, and intire, is now the 
 
 * floor of his privy vault, 
 
 * Sometimes', continues the doctor, « they dig up 
 ' ftones as big as a milling, with ftamps on them. I 
 ' conjeBure they are counterfeit dies to caft money 
 ' in. We faw a monumental infcription', [fee the 
 margin] < upon a ftone of Mr. Ifaac Tibbot's, in 
 
 * Caftle-ftreet, in very large letters, four inches 
 ' long t. It was 
 c found at a place 
 i half a mile weft of 
 4 the town, upon the 
 ' north fide of the 
 ' Fofs-road, called 
 ' the Querns, || from 
 
 * the quarries of 
 ' ftone thereabouts. 
 ' Five fuch ftones 
 < lay flatwife upon two walls, in a row, end to end, 
 « and underneath were the corpfes of that family, as 
 
 * we may fuppofe. He keeps Julia Cafta's fkull in 
 
 t This ftone is now in a garden wall of Mr. Stevens's 
 houfe, in Caftle-ftreet. 
 
 || The Querns lie on the fouth fide of the road to Tetbury. 
 
 1 his 
 
 D -v- M 
 IVLIAE CASTAE 
 CONIVGI -v- VIX 
 ANN XXXIII 
 
And other Antiquities. 
 
 41 
 
 * his fummer-houfe, but people have ftole all her 
 « teeth out for amulets againft the ague. Another of 
 
 * the ftones ferves for a table in his garden; 'tis hand- 
 
 * fomely fquared, five feet long, and three and a half 
 ' broad, without any infcription. Another is laid for 
 
 * a bridge over a channel near the crofs in Caftle 
 
 * ftreet. There were but two of them which had in- 
 
 * fcriptions; the other infcription perifhed, being un- 
 
 * luckily expofed to the wet in a frofty feafon, pro- 
 
 * bably of the hufband. Several urns have been 
 ' found thereabouts, being a common burying-place. 
 4 I fuppofe them buried here after chriftianity.* 
 Stukeky's Itineraria Curiofa. 
 
 Thus for docior Stukeley, who was certainly mif- 
 taken in fuppofing thefe vaults to be the foundations 
 of a temple, as our readers will be prefently con- 
 vinced, when they come to our account of the late 
 difcoveries; but we thought proper to prefent them 
 with the various opinions which we have met with on 
 the fubje&. Here, without doubt, was a large, hand- 
 fome clwelling-houfe, or houfes, or perhaps fome 
 public building ; and the pillars with capitals, and 
 cornices with mouldings, modillions, and like orna- 
 ments, may be mutilated parts of them : But it is no 
 uncommon thing for great antiquaries, of whom the 
 docior was a Very eminent one, to indulge in chimeras. 
 And whether or not it be literally fact that fuch orna- 
 mented ftones have, as the do£ior was informed per- 
 haps, been converted to the before-mentioned bafe 
 
 purpofes, 
 
42 
 
 The City Walls, 
 
 purpofes, is not our prefent purpofe to enquire; but 
 we find ourfelves difpofed to offer an apology, if it 
 may be admitted, for the poor townfmen of Ciren- 
 cefter, long fince configned to their graves. 
 
 We are really very forry for whatever inattention 
 has happened to the antiquities of the place. Many 
 valuable remains might have been preferved, which 
 feem, by the do&or's account, to have been appro- 
 priated to vulgar ufes. 
 
 Will it avail, in excufe to fay, that all men are 
 not Stukelies ; and that what we fee in abundance 
 every day, becomes lefs curious from frequency, and 
 lefs valuable from plenty ? From fuch things we part 
 with eafe and indifference ; whilft others, to whom 
 they are rare, purchafe them with avidity, receive 
 them with rapture, and treafure them up with folici- 
 tude and care. 
 
 Every thing has its time, and every day its fafhions. 
 Our forefathers lived in an age diffimilar to the doc- 
 tor's, as well as to our own. It is now fafhionable 
 to affe£t a particular attention to any old fragment. 
 And fince men of real judgement have noticed re- 
 liques of antiquity, which in their hands have ferved 
 to illuftrate antient manners and hiftory; others now- 
 a-days, forfooth, think they difplay great judgement, 
 by an over-weening fondnefs for trifles. Hence it is, 
 that fo many pot/herds and mutilated fragments, with 
 nothing either in their materials, ufe, or conforma- 
 tion to recommend them, are continually accumu- 
 lated by thofe who want judgement to make a proper 
 
 felection. 
 
And Hypocaust. 43 
 
 fele&ion. This is not the refult of good tafte, but 
 an affectation of it. It pretends to difcern beauties, 
 excellencies, and curious circumftances unobferved 
 by others, and which, in fact, have no exiftence. 
 Thefe are a complete contrail to our forefathers. 
 Error always lies in the extreme; and if, on one 
 hand, it be a culpaple indifference, and a diftinguifh- 
 ing token of ignorance, to neglect and undervalue 
 noble monuments of antiquity ; it is, on the other, a 
 folly to affect to admire deformity, and to prize 
 things of no value. 
 
 The Hypocaust, &c. 
 
 WhEN we compare the foregoing accounts 
 with each other, it feems probable, that the antient 
 building mentioned by Sir Robert Atkyns, was the 
 fame that, according to a manufcript which we have 
 feen, was difcovered in the year 1683; ana " that it 
 was the identical building, which was afterwards found 
 and in part deftroyed, as related by the gardener to 
 doctor Stukeley. The doctor's ideas were modelled 
 from the other's information and notions ; for it is 
 altogether improbable, from the foregoing account; 
 as well as from what we have ftill to offer, that he 
 ever faw the remains and foundations, of which he 
 heard fo much from the gardener ; or without doubt 
 he would have given.an accurate description of them. 
 
 G It 
 
3£ The Hypocaust. 
 
 It feeras, therefore, that they had been covered over 
 again with earth, and planted upon in the ordinary 
 way, before the time of the doctor's vifit. 
 
 From that time, it does not appear that there had 
 been any attempt towards a further and more parti- 
 cular examination, fo that at length the place where 
 they lay was entirely forgotton, 'till the year 1780, 
 the remains of thefe antiquities, as there is reafon to 
 fuppofe, were again accidentally hit upon, by the 
 workmen in the garden. The men had frequently 
 heard ftrange ftories of coins and other curiofities 
 having been found in abundance hereabout, and dig- 
 ging upon a fpot about fixteen yards * from a wich- 
 elm then growing in the fouth-weft wall, turned up 
 feveral flat bricks, very unlike any they had ever feen 
 before. This awakened their curiofity and attention, 
 and clearing away the earth with fome care and cau- 
 tion, to make an opening, in fearch of things ftill 
 more curious and valuable, at the depth of about three 
 feet and a half below the furface, they came to a very 
 fmooth floor of terras, made of coarfe, ftrong mortar, 
 diftinguifhed in the annexed plate by the letter A. 
 
 Proceeding to remove the rubbifli from the furface 
 of this floor, towards the north-eaft, they found it 
 difcontinued and broken down, as at B. 
 
 Clearing away the earth from the broken edge B, 
 another floor F prefented itfelf, about four feet and 
 
 * We notice the wich-elm, that mould the Hypocauft be 
 covered again, it may be readily found hereafter. 
 
 a half 
 
The Hypocaust. 45 
 
 a half below the furface of the firft, and made of the 
 fame kind of materials. This was covered over with 
 rubbifh. 
 
 The next obje6l was to fee how far this latter ex- 
 tended every way ; and proceeding in the fame di- 
 rection, they were very foon flopped by a wall of 
 hewn ftone G, about fifteen feet north-eaftward from 
 the broken edge B, of the upper floor. 
 
 In the further profecution of this bufinefs, they 
 met with another obftruclion from a kind of brick- 
 work L, Handing as it were ifolated upon the laft dif- 
 covered floor F. This was a fmall piece of walling, 
 about fix feet long, with an arched opening through 
 it, about eighteen inches wide, as reprefented in the 
 plate. And removing the loofe earth which lay about 
 it, a very large cavity was then firft obferved between 
 the two floors. This was a very important difcovery; 
 and upon examination it appeared, that what remained 
 unbroken of the floor A, was fupported by rows of 
 brick pillars, ftanding upon F, the floor beneath. 
 
 Continuing the fcrutiny, another wall D, was 
 found, on the fouth-eaft fide, joining in a right angle 
 with the former; and the crowns of two arches M M, 
 of very large ftones, were obferved in the walls, with 
 a very fmall part of the cavities of the arches appear- 
 ing above the floor F. In order to examine the cavi- 
 ties under the arches, a fmall portion of the floor F 
 was broken up, clofe to the fides of the walls, and 
 finking to the depth of thirty -four inches, a third very 
 ftrong floor of terras, mark'd K in the plate, was dif- 
 G 2 covered, 
 
46 The Hypocaust. 
 
 covered, running all the way under the fecond, the 
 fpace between being filled with rough ftones and rub- 
 bifh thrown together in a promifcuous manner- This 
 floor K extended under the arched cavities, and 
 ferved as a hearth to them, where long continued fires 
 had been made, as appeared by a bed of wood-afhes, 
 about two inches thick, found at the bottom, after 
 the rubbifh had been removed out of the cavities. 
 
 The next bufinefs was to examine whether this 
 fubterraneous building extended beyond the laft dif- 
 covered wall; and for that purpofe a hole E was made 
 through it, not without a confiderable degree of 
 labour, for it was forty inches thick. This wall proved 
 to be a partition, to feparate the vault already dil- 
 covered from a fimilar one on the other fide, with 
 floors and brick pillars on the fame level, and, as 
 there is reafon to fuppofe, exaftly correfponding with 
 thofe in the vault before-mentioned, tho' now in a 
 very imperfeft ftate; for here the vaulting had been 
 deftroyed, but fome of the brick pillars remained. 
 
 In this wall, twenty feet diftant from the angle 
 made with the wall C, is a deep opening I, three feet 
 wide, with fquare quoins, which give it the appearance 
 of a door- way. This probably ferved for a communi- 
 cation between the two fitting rooms of the building 
 immediately over thefe vaults; but the height of the 
 door-way, as we fhall now venture to call it, cannot 
 be afcertained, as the arch or lintel which covered it 
 had been broken down. At the diftance of four feet 
 from the door-way, are two arches, one on each fide, 
 
 marked 
 
The Hypocaust. 47 
 
 marked H H in the plate. Thefe have alfo large 
 many ftones in their crown, and ftand on a level with 
 the other arches already noticed. It is uncertain how 
 far this partition-wall extended 3 as all beyond P is 
 deftroyed. However, the door-way (landing exaclly 
 in the midft between the two arches H H, Teems to 
 indicate a regular building, and fuggefts an idea, that 
 when it was entire, there may have been another arch, 
 at a correfponding diftance from the door-wav, with 
 that on the other fide of it at M ; and upon this fup- 
 pofition, the length of the partition-wall muft have 
 been forty-three feet. But the reader will pleafe to 
 obferve, that this is only conjeclure, founded upon 
 the foregoing circumftances. 
 
 Thus have we mown, in confiderable detail, how 
 this extraordinary fubterraneous building was re-dif- 
 covered, and the feveral parts of it progreffively laid 
 open ; and there can be no longer any doubt con- 
 cerning its nature and ufe. As foon as the rubbifh 
 was cleared away, and the parts fwept, we took a 
 drawing of it, from which the annexed plate was en- 
 graven, which will elucidate the fubjecl much better 
 than verbal defcription. And we think thefe remains 
 deferve to be ranked among the rareft and moft 
 curious r clicks of Roman antiquities in Britain. 
 
 We mail now fubjoin a few remarks oafome of the 
 parts of this extraordinary building. It has been ob- 
 ferved that what remains of the upper floor A is fup- 
 
 ported 
 
4 8 
 
 The HypocAusT. 
 
 ported by brick pillars, and it is evident that, when 
 entire, it extended all over the floor F, fupported 
 every where by fimilar pillars and brick-work {land- 
 ing upon the latter floor. The wall C rifes within two 
 feet of the furface of the garden, and is built of courfes 
 of ftones about five inches thick. It is faced on the 
 infide only, the back part againft the earth being 
 rough, and filled up with rubbifh, which is a proof 
 that it was the boundary of the building on that fide. 
 
 The upper floor, which refts upon the pillars, is 
 fourteen inches thick, made, as before obferved, with 
 three coats of coarfe, ftrong mortar. The pillars 
 which fupport it are thirty-nine inches high, and eight 
 inches fquare, made of courfes of entire bricks of the 
 fame fuperficial dimenfions, and about an inch and 
 three quarters thick. Thefe pillars have each a large 
 brick of eleven inches fquare for a bafe, and another 
 of the fame fize by way of capital. They ftand in 
 rows, at irregular diftances, fome not more than 
 eighteen inches, whilft others are as much as two feet 
 afunder. The capitals are covered with brick tiles 
 of two feet fquare, upon which the terras refts. But 
 feveral of the pillars which flood under the prefent 
 remains of the floor A are wanting, which gave us 
 an opportunity of pairing upon our hands and knees, 
 tho' not without fome difficulty, among thofe which 
 are left. We counted only twenty-two pillars Hand- 
 ing, which were arranged in fix rows; but there had 
 been feven in each. In feveral of the vacancies the 
 gardener has very carefully propped the floor with 
 
 round 
 
The Hypocaust. 
 
 49 
 
 round poles cut to the height of the pillars, which 
 help to fupport it very well. 
 
 All the pillars, with their broad bafes, and the floor 
 or hearth upon which they ftand, are very much 
 burnt, fo that but few of the former are perfeft. This 
 was occasioned in fome meafure by the force of long 
 continued fires; but mod probably they have fufFered 
 much injury by other accidents alfo, fuch as the 
 knocking off pieces from the fides and angles with 
 iron inftruments, in ftirring the fire, and placing the 
 fuel, which are cafualties that muft fometimes un- 
 avoidably have happened. 
 
 There were found difperfed all over the floor F, 
 which we have called the hearth, a very confiderable 
 quantity of wood-allies, intermixed with coals, and 
 confolidated, by length of time and natural humidity, 
 into a hard mafs ; whence it evidently appears, that 
 fires have been kept burning uniformly all over the 
 hearth. 
 
 ' The coals and afhes, the vifible effe&s of fire upon 
 the hearth, and the burnt ftate of the pillars which 
 ftand upon it, are circumftances which leave not the 
 fmalleft doubt concerning the nature and ufe of this 
 building. It was unqueftionably a Roman Hypocauft; 
 but not one appropriated to bathing, as we fhall 
 prefently be able to fhow j but which Sir Robert 
 Atkyns fuppofed it to be. And we flatter ourfelves, 
 after this detailed account, our readers will be equally 
 fatisfied, that dodor Stukely was as much, miftaken, 
 (if thefe remains are what he fpeaks of) in fuppofing 
 them to be the ruins of a Roman temple. But 
 
50 The Hypocaust. 
 
 But there is another conjecture, formed, it may 
 feem, fmce the late difcoveries, and for which the 
 author befpeaks a more than ordinary degree of credit, 
 as being, he fays, the mojl probable ; and therefore 
 we mould be thought unpardonably negligent to pafs 
 it over unnoticed. The paiTage alluded to appears in 
 Mr. Bigland's Qolieftions. We know nothing of the 
 writer, who is generally underftood not to be Mr. Big- 
 land, but fome perfon employed by him in that com- 
 pilation. Taking notice of the before-mentioned ob- 
 fervations of doctor Stukeley, he fubjoins, by way 
 of note, that 
 
 " A few years fince thefe difcoveries were further 
 " inveftigated. — The mod probable conjecture is, 
 " that IT was an Ojficina, or kiln, where the lejferce 
 " were prepared," &c. 
 
 What this writer's IT refers to, we might leave to 
 others to determine; but without criticiling on gram- 
 matical inaccuracies, we will fuppofe it to have a re- 
 ference to the foregoing difcoveries ; and from what 
 he fays, we are difpofed to think the reader will join 
 us in opinion, that he never faw them. Muft we fay, 
 then, that it was eafier to conjeBure than to know ? 
 But what if it mould appear, that he was in the daily 
 habit of confulting a work, * from which he might 
 have derived authentic information, and to which he 
 is much indebted, without making the fmalleft ac- 
 knowledgment ? Does it not juftify an obfervation, 
 
 * Rudder's Gloucefterfhire. 
 
 that 
 
The Hypocaust. 51 
 
 that there are perfons fo unaccountably affecled to 
 Angularity, as to delight more in wandering alone in 
 the dark and dubious region of wild fancy, than to 
 tread with others in the plain and fober walk of truth 
 and reafon ? Such difpohtions have their objefts and 
 gratifications; and if it will afford this writer the 
 fmalleft pleafure, we hefitate not to declare our 
 opinion, that his Ojjicina Conjetlure is original, and 
 that it was undoubtedly manufactured in his own 
 work/Jiop. 
 
 Hypocaufts were common with the Greeks and 
 Romans. The name is derived from two Greek words, 
 v7to, fub, under ; and xaico, incendo, I burn ; and, for 
 any thing we perceive, might be applied to any build- 
 ing having ftoves or fire-places in the lower part, for 
 heating the parts above. In this fenfe our malt-kiln 
 may not improperly be termed a Hypocauft. How- 
 ever, the name was ufed in a more limited fenfe. 
 
 The antients had feveral forts of fuch buildings, 
 which paffed under different denominations. 
 
 To one fort Cicero gives the name of Vaporarium, 
 whilft others call it Laconiiim, and Sudatio. This fort 
 was an artificial warm bath, made by fire under large 
 veffels, commonly of brafs, and denominated Cali- 
 darium and Tepidarium, according to the heat they 
 communicated, and the quantity of water they con- 
 tained. This might be fomething of the kind which 
 Sir Robert Atkyns alluded to. 
 
 II 
 
 Palladio 
 
£2 The Hypocaust. 
 
 Palladio has given a defcription of another fort, 
 and becaufe it is fhort, and may ferve to illuftrate 
 fome appearances in our Hypocauft, we have fub- 
 joined it, for the fatisfa&ion of the reader. It runs 
 thus : 
 
 Veteres in fubterraneo fornice non magno, cujus 
 extrema pars extra domum muro terminabitur, unum 
 ignem incendebant. Ab hoc canales plurimi, variae 
 magnitudinis, intimis fabricae parietibus inclufi, ut 
 hodie aquarum et fentinarum fiftulae, ad fummam 
 contignationem permeabant. His fingulis nares erant 
 ad os fornicis domus parietibus adjun&um, per quas 
 calor inter parietes afcendens, ad oecos, triclinia, 
 tablina manabat, et ad omnia loca quibus calorem 
 procurare vellent. Quemadmodum vim ignis per 
 canaliculos quofdam alembicum penetrare vidimus : 
 ubi ignis quidem longiffime diftat ab ore vitri, quod 
 tamen non minus calet, quam ilia vafis pars, quam 
 ignis proxime calefacit. Calor ille adeo aequabiliter 
 in omnes partes fe diffudit ut totum habitaculum im- 
 pleret. Non ita camini, quibus fi propius ftes, seftuas ; 
 li longius friges. I Hie vero aer mitiffimus fe circum- 
 fudit, ut cameram, cui caminus in adverfo muri 
 latere collocatus eft, accenfus ignis paulatim et leniter 
 tepefacit. Canales illi qui calorem difpenfabant, 
 patulas fauces non habuerunt ; quare nec flammam 
 nec fumum, fed calidum tantum vaporem, et per- 
 petuum teporem emiferunt. Ignis in fornice parvulus, 
 modo continuus, locis adeo occlufus vaporandis fuf- 
 
 fecit. 
 
The Hypocaust. 
 
 53 
 
 fecit. Ad os fornicis edulia parabant. Quaquaverfum 
 in muro vafa et ollae collocatae funt, aquis ferventibus 
 repletae, quae dapes calidas fervarent. 
 
 Commodum fine fumptu maximum! nullo periculo, 
 rkllis fbrdibus, non fumo turbatum ; mille incom- 
 modis folutum, quae reliqua focorum genera comi- 
 tantur. Non illic fumariolis, ignitabulis vel thermo- 
 cliniis, tot malorum caufis, opus fuit : non variis in- 
 ftrumentis ad frigus domandum, et fovenda calore 
 corpora. Sed in fingulis cameris per omne fpatium 
 aequalis tepor et molliflimus aer fe difFudit. Canales 
 plus minus calebant, ut ratio temporum poftulabat. 
 Peritiffimi enim in calore moderando veteres fuerunt; 
 uti lenis aure refrigeratione, qualem organorum folles 
 fpirant, quee non minus fuavis et placida eft, quam 
 ilia acuta eft, vehemens, et faeda, quam fabrorum 
 folles ejeclant. 
 
 Si divites et principes viri qui aedes fibi aedificant 
 exemplo adeo commodo uterentur, rem facerent dig- 
 niffimam, quam omnes impleaerentur, et quae mi- 
 nore cum fumptu innumeris aerumnis nos expediret. 
 Palladio de Focis Vetcrum,. in fine Ubri cui titulus Anti- 
 quitates urbis Romce. ltd. & Lat. Oxonii, 1709 Svo. 
 
 The fenfe of which the Englifh reader may under- 
 ftand as follows : 
 
 '« The antients (fays he) made a fire in a fmall 
 " fubterraneous vault, from which many funnels of 
 " various fizes were carried to the feveral rooms of 
 " the houfe, or whatever places they chofe to warm, 
 
 H 2 " and 
 
54 
 
 The Hypocaust* 
 
 " and the heat afcended in them in the fame manner 
 " as it is found to pafs through the narrow neck of 
 " an alembic ; one end of which, tho' very diftant 
 <£ from the fire, is not lefs warm than the part neareft 
 * c to it. Thus the heat fo equably diffufcs itfelf into 
 " all parts that it fills the whole houfc. This is not 
 " the cafe with chimney-hearths, near which if you 
 " ftand, you are fcalded ; if at a diftance, you are 
 " chilled ; but where thefe pipes are carried, a mild 
 " air diffufes itfelf around. Thefe funnels which con- 
 " veyed the heat had not open mouths, fo they did 
 " not emit flame nor fmoak, but only a hot vapour 
 " and perpetual warmth. A fmall fire in the vault, 
 " provided it were continual, was fufficient. At the 
 " mouth of the vault they dreffed their victuals. Pots 
 <: and veffels were placed on every fide in the walls, 
 " full of hot water, to keep their victuals warm ; a 
 <c very great advantage, without expence, liable to 
 " no danger, no filth nor fmoak, and free from a 
 " thoufand inconveniences which accompany other 
 " kinds of fires." Thus far Palladio. 
 
 But there was another fort of Hypocaufts, very 
 different from the foregoing, and fimilar to that of 
 which we have been defcribing the remains. They 
 were ufed to warm the parlours and fitting rooms, 
 more particularly, which lay immediately over them. 
 Some of thefe indeed had pipes and funnels to con- 
 vey warm air to other apartments, as defcribed by 
 Palladio ; and it is probable that in every fort there 
 
 was 
 
The Hypocaust. 
 
 55 
 
 was fome diverfity, according to the fancy of the 
 proprietor. 
 
 As our winters in this country are much colder than 
 in Italy, fo doubtlefs the Romans in Britain found it 
 neceffary to make their vaults and fires larger than 
 thofe commonly ufed there : But two fides of our 
 Hypocauft being deftroyed, it is impoffible to afcer- 
 tain the extent of it, tho' from what has been de- 
 livered, it feems to have been very large. 
 
 There muft have been fomewhere a mouth or 
 opening to it, as fuch a converiiency was indifpenfibly 
 neceffary for managing the fire, and fupplying it with 
 fuel ; but as the remains exhibit no appearance of any 
 fuch thing, we are compelled, as it were, to conjec- 
 ture, that there were apertures on the fides marked 
 N and P in the plate, now deftroyed, at which the 
 attendant might convey fuel to the interftices between 
 the pillars, and whence the fmoak might efcape; and 
 it is probable that they were fhut up occasionally, as 
 at night, like the mouth of our ovens. 
 
 In our detail of thefe difcoveries we have taken 
 notice of four arches in the walls, of which the two 
 marked M M in the plate have been opened and ex- 
 amined; but it remains to beobferved, that in feveral 
 parts of the partition-wall, and particularly in the 
 large (tones of thefe arches, are a great many holes, 
 in which were fixed iron hooks and hold-fafts, and 
 fome of thofe irons {till remain to be feen. Many 
 fragments of earthen funnels have been found among 
 the ruins, and one in particular with the cavity entire, 
 . • ' fix 
 
5 6 
 
 The Hypocaust. 
 
 fix inches by four, and who can entertain a doubt 
 that the hooks and hold-fafts were to fupport the 
 earthen funnels, which were carried from the fire- 
 hearths to the upper rooms and apartments, to warm 
 them with heated air, as defcribed by Palladio ? 
 
 But there are circumftances which convince us, 
 that neither the floor K, nor the arches of which we 
 have been fpeaking, are to be confidered as neceflary 
 parts of our Hypocauft; for it is evident, by what 
 we have faid of them, and by their appearance in the 
 plate, that this floor was .entirely covered over with 
 Hones and rubbifh, and that not more than about an 
 inch and a half of the upper cavity of the arches ap- 
 pears above the hearth upon which the pillars (land, 
 being the only communication they had with it, and 
 which was by much too fmali to be of any real ufe in 
 that ftate of things. How then, it will be afked, are 
 thefe circumftances to be accounted for ? If the floor 
 and arches in queftion have no relation to the other 
 remains, can it be fhown what ufes they were origi- 
 nally intended for ? 
 
 Thefe queftions can be anfwered by conjecture 
 only. We have repeatedly obferved that the floor 
 K was built upon, and entirely covered over, to the 
 thicknefsof thirty-four inches, with the hearth of the 
 Hypocauft; yet in breaking up a fmall part of the 
 hearth F, to examine the cavity of the arches, it is 
 obfervable, that the wall C is faced all the way down 
 to the floor K, which latter is of the fame materials 
 and level with the bottom of the arches. It will be 
 
 remem- 
 
The Hypocaust. 
 
 57 
 
 remembered too, that there was a confiderable depth 
 of aflies found in the arches, which mows that they 
 have been ufed as fire-places; but that muft have been 
 prior to the laying of the hearth F, which made them 
 totally inacceffible and ufelefs. Is it not probable, 
 therefore, that the covered floor and arches, all on 
 the fame level, are the hearth and fire places which 
 belonged to a former Hypocauft ; and that, either 
 from its falling to decay, being thought too low, or 
 otherwife difapproved, it was rebuilt with fome altera- 
 tion in the plan, and particularly with the hearth raifed 
 nearly three feet higher than K, the former one ? 
 This accounts for all the prefent appearances, and 
 we think the conjecture probable ; but our readers 
 will judge for themfelves. 
 
 Fragments of Roman pottery, and fmall cubical 
 ftones of different colours, which we fhall prefently 
 fhow were the tejferce of fome ornamented pavement, 
 are continually found in thefe gardens ; but it does 
 not appear that the upper floor of the Hypocauft was 
 teflelated. 
 
 A portion of a large pillar, and the capital of a 
 pillafter, both of ftone, and of very mean workman- 
 ftiip, which were formerly dug up there, among other 
 ornamental parts of building, were lately in good 
 prefervation in the wall of the late Mr. BuhYs garden 
 in Cirencefter. The (haft of the pillar, when entire, 
 muft have been eight or ten feet long, independent 
 
 of 
 
58 
 
 Roman Antiquities. 
 
 of the capital and other members. Perhaps thefe are 
 the very pieces mentioned by doctor Stukeley. 
 
 There was a fine figure of Apollo, in brafs, about 
 the height of eighteen inches, found in the fame gar- 
 dens, about forty years fince, and we have been in- 
 formed that it is now in the Bodleian library at Ox- 
 ford, having been prefented to the univerfity by 
 Mr. Mafter, the prefent proprietor of thefe gardens. 
 
 We have feen 51 fmall {tone altar, of coarfe work- 
 manftrip, and about the height of feven inches, then 
 in the poffeflion of the late Mr. Bum, and which was 
 found a few years before amongft the rubbifh and 
 ruins at this place. It had no infcription, and was 
 probably the portable altar of fome poor man, to be 
 ufed in the offering of incenfe or fait flour, fuch as 
 Camden mentions in his account of Lancafhire; ad- 
 ding, that the Romans raifed altars not only to their 
 gods, but out of a fervile flattery to their emperors 
 likewife, under the impious title of ' Numini Maje/latique 
 eorum. At thefe they fell on their knees and worfhip- 
 ped, thefe they embraced and prayed to; before thefe 
 they took their oaths, and to be fhort, in thefe and 
 their facrifices the whole of their religion confifted ; 
 fo that thofe among them who had no altar, were 
 fuppofed to have no religion, and to acknowledge no 
 deity. 
 
 Th ere is alfo a monumental ftone placed in a 
 building in the garden belonging to Siddington-houfe, 
 about a mile hence, which was dug up thirty or forty 
 years fince, at Watermore common, juft without 
 
 the 
 
Roman Antiquities. §g 
 
 the city wall, on the fouth fide of the town. It has 
 a pediment with a 
 crefcent in low re- 
 lief, and an infcrip- 
 tion as in the mar- 
 gin *. Lying by the 
 {tone, was an urn, 
 with allies and bones 
 half burnt. This 
 ftone may be refer- 
 red to the fame age 
 with that taken notice of by doctor Stukeley. 
 
 There was alfo a glafs urn, of a green colour, dug 
 up about the fame time in Kingfmead, about half a 
 mile from the town wall, on the fame fide This urn, 
 which contained much afhes, and many pieces of 
 burnt bones, was placed in the cavity of a ftone, 
 chiflelled out to receive it, and a flat ftone covered 
 the top. All thefe were depofited in the midft of a 
 piece of ground about twenty feet fquare, and in- 
 clofed with a ftone wall which lay below the furface 
 of the ground ; and they were further fecured by a 
 pavement fpringing from the wall on every fide, and 
 
 * Mr. Bi»land's editor has erroneoufly reprefented this in- 
 fcription to be D. M. P. VICANAE CONIV. p. 342 of his 
 Collections. And at the end of the fame paragraph, is a faife 
 quotation from William of Worcefter, making the poor monk 
 fay what he never intended, and then the editor very candidly 
 reprobates him, as a writer not fit to be credited. 
 
 I rifing 
 
 D M 
 P VICANAE 
 P V I T A L I S 
 C O N I V X 
 
60 Tessellated Pavements, &c. 
 
 rifing in the middle over the urn, in the form of a 
 very obtufe cone. Thefe were undoubtedly Roman, 
 but unaccompanied with coins, unlefs the workmen 
 concealed them on the fir ft difcovery. 
 
 Teffellated Pavements. 
 
 AMONGST other remains of that once great 
 people, the Romans, (great in the fenfe of powerful 
 only, as doctor Hakewel * has abundantly mown, 
 but whofe moral and national character few thinking 
 men admire) mention has been made in the extracts 
 from Leland and doctor Stukeley, of their orna- 
 mented pavements. 
 
 Leland, and his editor Thomas Hearne, both fpeak 
 of one of thofe pavements that had been found in a 
 meadow in the midft of the old town. This is the 
 fame place which do&or Stukeley calls the Leaufes, 
 and which are at prefent known by that name. Leland 
 does not defcribe it particularly, but calls it a flore 
 de tejfellis verficoloribus, in a ftrange kind of mixture 
 or hotch-potch of latin with englifh, which was for- 
 merly the manner of writing with fome learned men, 
 and which, perhaps, in honour of Leland, who was 
 indeed a very learned and judicious perfon, has been 
 adopted by certain individuals ever firice his time, for 
 
 * Apology for the power of God in the government of the 
 world. 
 
 the 
 
Tessellated Pavements. 
 
 61 
 
 the true and genuine antiquarian ftile. But this by 
 the bye only* 1* has been fhown, that Sir Robert 
 Atkyns alfo fpeaks very obfcurely of this work, calling 
 it a building under ground, inlaid with tefferaic work. 
 But doclor Stukeley more exprefsly fays that a fine 
 raofaic * pavement was dug up there in September, 
 1723. Hence it may be obferved, that thefe gentle- 
 men probably fpeak of the fame pavement, whofe 
 ruins and dice-like ftones we faw fcattered amongft 
 heaps of bricks and pottery, as mentioned in our ac- 
 count of the Hypocauft, and therefore it is unnecef- 
 fary to fay any more of it here. But many other 
 fuch pavements have been fince difcovered in dif- 
 ferent parts of the prefent town. 
 
 We are credibly informed, that a very fine one 
 was dug up in the garden belonging to doctor Small's 
 houfe in Dyer-ftreet, called Archibald's ; and that 
 another was found, fomething more than twenty years 
 ago, in digging the vault under the fhambles at the 
 Boothall. But of two others, having feen them, we 
 can fpeak with the greateft certainty. 
 
 One of them was difcovered in May 1777, in dig- 
 ging a cellar under the prefent warehoufe belonging 
 
 * Mofaic (from the French mofaiques, fuppofed to be cor- 
 rupted from the Latin mufaus) is a kind of painting in fmail 
 pebbles, bricks, cockles, and fliells of fundry colours ; and of 
 late days Hkewife with pieces of glafs, figured at pleafure; an 
 ornament of much beauty and long continuance; but of mod 
 ufe in pavements and floorings. 
 
 I 2 to 
 
62 
 
 Tessellated Pavements. 
 
 to Meff. Robert and William Croome, in Dyer-Mreet. 
 It was about fixteen or eighteen feet fquare, of which 
 the workmen had deftroyed nearly half before it was 
 obferved. The remainder was in good prefervation, 
 and being well cleanfed, was expofed for a few days 
 to public view. It had a chequered border round it, 
 of fourteen inches breadth, compofed of blue and 
 white ftones of about three quarters of a'n inch fquare. 
 The pavement was divided into four equal compart- 
 ments, by the artful arrangement and difpofition of 
 the different coloured materials, into lines of hearts 
 linked together, or rather interlaced fretwife, which 
 had a very pretty efFeft. There was a central piece, 
 confifting of an oclagon wreathed border, inclofing a 
 ftar with wavy ray s, directed to the angles of the oc- 
 tagon; and it had alfo a fmall figure, of the fame kind, 
 in the middle of each compartment. All befides, 
 within the borders and compartments, coniifted of 
 chequered-work, compofed of fquare blue and white 
 ftones and red bricks, but much fmaller than thofe of 
 which the borders confifted. The whole together 
 refembled a rich carpet, the firft idea of which was 
 moft probably fuggefted by a work of this kind. 
 Mr. Croome had the central piece taken up, and it 
 remained for fome time entire at the entrance into 
 the garden from his dwelling-houfe, where it ferved 
 for a part of the pavement; but being much expofed 
 to the weather, it was gradually broken and deftroyed. 
 
 The pavement, which lay about fix feet below the 
 fur Face oF the ftreet, was accompanied by the plaif- 
 
 tered 
 
Tessellated Pavements. 63 
 
 tered walls of the room to which it belonged, and 
 which evidently appeared to have been painted; but 
 the figures were fo decayed, perhaps fourteen hundred 
 years old, that no idea of the fubjeft could be formed. 
 It is very remarkable, that the fide of the pavement 
 which had the fmalleft obliquity with Dyer-ftreet 
 formed an angle with it of about thirty degrees. 
 Eight or ten yards north-eaftward of this pavement, 
 the workmen found an old road, upon a level with 
 it, and running parallel with two fides of it. From 
 this circumftance it appears, that antiently the ftreet 
 lay much lower than it now does, and in a very dif- 
 ferent direction from that of Dyer-ftreet at prefent. 
 
 Another of thefe pavements was difcovered in dig- 
 ging a cellar to a houfe in the fame. ftreet, formerly 
 belonging to the refpe&able family of the Georges, 
 but now the property and refidence of Mrs. Smith, 
 relict of John Smith, efq. Part of this is ftill pre- 
 ferved, and the proprietor very politely permits it to 
 be feen at proper times by curious ftrangers. An exa£t 
 engraving of what remains of it is here annexed, 
 which renders verbal defcription unneceffary. In 
 fcveral places, within three or four miles of the town, 
 where the Romans are fuppofed to have had out-pofts, 
 feveral other fuch pavements have been found; in the 
 year 1636, one was difcovered by people at plow in 
 Hocbury-field, in the parifh of Rodmarton, as we 
 have feen it recorded in the parifh-regifter ; and 
 another lately at a place called Ainge's-afti, in Oak- 
 lev-wood, 
 
64 
 
 Tessellated Pavements. 
 
 ;ley-wood, about three miles from the town; and un 
 doubtedly more of them, with other antiquities, are 
 left within and without the town for future ages to 
 difcover. 
 
 Antiquaries divide thefe ornamented pavements 
 into two claffes. The nobler fort, which have ufually 
 the figure of Apollo, or fome other deity, reprefented 
 on them, are called Magalographia, and make the 
 firft clafs. The other clafs, called Ropographia, con- 
 flicts of thofe on which are reprefentations of inferior 
 beings, and devices, fuch as thofe which we have 
 been juft now defcribing. They were the floors of 
 the halls and principal rooms of the chief magiftrates 
 and great men, formerly refident in the places where 
 they are found. 
 
 We have been the more minute on this fubjeel, in 
 order to fhow that Cirencefler was a place of great 
 confequence in the time of the Romans, as appears 
 by thefe remains, which could belong to the houfes 
 of perfons of eminence only. And if befides the 
 before mentioned, we make a proper allowance for 
 other ornamented pavements, which in the courfe of 
 fo many ages may have been deftroyed, and for fome 
 which may {till remain undifcovered ; thofe which 
 have come to our knowledge may not be a tenth part 
 of what the Romans left behind them. 
 
 The learned authors before-mentioned fpeak much 
 of the Roman coins which have been found here, 
 
 chiefly 
 
 « 
 
Roman or Consular Ways. 65 
 
 chiefly of Antoninus, Dioclefian andConftantine; and 
 obferve that moft of thefe, with abundance of rings and 
 intaglio's, areloft; but it isneither abfurd norunreafon- 
 able to fuppofe, as we think the fa£t really is, that the 
 greater part are ftill preferved in the cabinets of the 
 curious ; but throught length of time, which cafts a 
 veil over every thing, their relation to this place, as 
 having been found here, may neither appear in writ- 
 ing, nor be conveyed down to us by tradition. 
 
 Of four Roman or Confular Ways. 
 
 FOUR great Roman * ways meet here, of 
 which we (hall take occafion to make only a few fhort 
 remarks. We begin with 
 
 1. The Fofs, fo called by way of eminence, as 
 being of greater extent than any other. It proceeds 
 from Scotland, and palling fouthward, enters Glou- 
 cefterfhire at the village of Lemington; and proceed- 
 ing onwards in the fame direction thro' Morton-hen- 
 Marfli, and Stow-on-the-Wold, leaves Bourton-on- 
 the- Water about half a mile on the eaftward. It 
 paffes by Northleach, and crofling the little river 
 
 * The Fofs, on the weft of Cirencefter, as far as Bath, is 
 by fome writers called the Acmanftreet-way, and thusLeland 
 makes the number of the Roman ways meeting at Cirencefter 
 to be four. See Itinerary, iftv. p. 119. 
 
 Coin 
 
66 Roman or Consular Ways. 
 
 Coin at a place called Fofs-bridge, falls into the 
 Ickenild-way about half a mile eaftward from Ciren- 
 cefter. For a great part of its courfe through Glou- 
 cefterfhire, it is (till confpicuous in a broad and high 
 ridge of durable materials, to which its prefervation 
 may be attributed, rather than to the prudent care of 
 thofe who refide in the neighbourhood of its courfe, 
 and who moft ufe it. 
 
 2. The Ickenild-way. This antient road crofleth 
 Oxfordfhire, and coming to Broadwell-grove, where 
 it is high and very perfect, enters Gloucefterfhire at 
 the parifti of Eaftleach. Proceeding in a ftraight di- 
 rection, it receives the great Fofs-way, which falls in 
 with it about half a mile eaftward of Cirencefter, as 
 already obferved. 
 
 3. The Acmanftreet is that part of the Fofs lead- 
 ing weftward from Cirencefter, and four miles diftant 
 from the town, croffes a little hollow, vulgarly called 
 Jacaman's-bottom, but more truly Acman's-bottom. 
 At a fmall diftance from thence it enters Wiltfhire, 
 near Kemble, in its ftraight courfe to Bath, the Ac- 
 mancefter * of the Saxons. 
 
 4. The Irminftreet is another of the great Roman 
 ways. There is fome doubt with topographers con- 
 cerning it ; but moft are of opinion that it is that 
 which leads from Caerleon, in Monmoutfhire, thro* 
 
 * Acemannes-ceaftre, Acmanni civitas. Sic didte. quafi 
 urbs hominum aegrotantium ; a valetudinariorum ad thermas 
 concurfu, hodie Bathe, in agro Sumurfaetenfi. Explanation 
 of names in Sax. Chron. 
 
 Gloucefter, 
 
Roman or Consular Ways. 67 
 
 Gloucefter, Cirencefter and Cricklade, and fo on to 
 Southampton *. This road, in many parts for about 
 ten miles from Cirencefter towards Gloucefter, main- 
 tains a great degree of its original prominent and 
 convex form ; but the remainder of it, from the bot- 
 tom of Birdlip-hill to Gloucefter, has been fo cut 
 through and deftroyed, that there is little or nothing 
 of it to be feen. This part, however, is remarkably 
 ftraight, but in other refpecls a perfect contrail to the 
 
 * In an eiTay concerning the four great Roman ways, at the 
 end of the 6th vol. of Leland's Itinerary, Mr. Camden is 
 quoted for his obfervation, (p. 240) that 4 Several towns lye 
 ' on and near the laft mentioned caufeway, that retain the 
 1 word Sarn in their names, as Sharncote and South Sarney, be- 
 ' tween Creeklade and Cirencefter, and North Sarney about 
 
 * two miles above the latter upon the river Churn, and Sharnton 
 ' about three miles from Gloucefter. All which have taken 
 1 their appellations from the Britifti word Sarn, which imports 
 
 * Jlratum, or pavhnentum, and in Wales we have fuch an one 
 
 * called Sarn Helen to this day.' But we differ in opinion 
 from that learned antiquary, refpe£ting the names of the above 
 places. The Cerneys were antiently written, as they now are, 
 with C, and not with S, and we apprehend the name to have 
 taken its origin from the river Corin or Churn, and to fignify 
 the fame as Churn-ey, or the Churn-water, for they are both 
 feated on the river Churn, one fouth of Cirencefter, as the 
 other is north of the fame town. And as to Sharncote, which 
 is adjoining to South Cerney, on the contrary fide of it from 
 the Roman road, we fuppofe it to be nothing more than 
 Cerney-coed, fo called from the Britifti word coed, which figni- 
 fies wood, as having been antiently a woody place, 
 
 K Roman 
 
68 Roman or Consular Ways. 
 
 Roman model. It is a mere ditch and wafh-way, and 
 fometimes almoft impaflable for a considerable length, 
 which is the more remarkable, as there is a great deal 
 of travelling, and much money collected upon it, being 
 the turnpike-road from Gloucefter to London, and 
 to Cirencefter; and it muft be acknowledged, that 
 thecommiflioners have had ample time and experience 
 for repairing it, fince the firft turnpike aft for that 
 purpofe parTed as long ago as 1698. This is not faid 
 invidioufly, but as a hint to them, that a fmall part 
 ought to be widened, and the whole raifed in the 
 middle to keep it dry, with a paffage for the water 
 on one or both fides of it. 
 
 The notion which fome have entertained of thefe 
 roads having been thrown up by one Mulmutius, be- 
 fore the birth of Chrift, has been long fince exploded. 
 Ifidore gives teftimony, that highways were made almoft 
 all over ' the world by the Romans, in which they em- 
 ployed the foldiery and the people, to prevent their 
 growing factious, which in a conquered country com- 
 monly happens during a feries of tranquility and eafe. 
 And there are antient records which ftate, that in the 
 days of Honorius and Arcadius, highways were made 
 in Britain from fea to fea. This was not the work of 
 a day, but induftrioufly profecuted under feveral 
 reigns. Tacitus relates, that whilft Agricola governed 
 Britain, feveral of their ways were made for a com- 
 munication between their ftations and wintering 
 places, and that the Britons complained that the 
 
 Romans 
 
The Bull-Ring. 
 
 6 9 
 
 Romans wore them out with fatigue, in clearing of 
 woods, and paving the fens, which was enforced with 
 a thoufand ftripes and reproachful indignities. 
 
 And here it may be proper to obferve, that we. de- 
 rive the cuftom of placing mile-ftones on our turn- 
 pike-roads from the Romans; for at the end of every 
 mile along their great roads, pillars were erected, with 
 figures cut in them to fignify the number of miles 
 from one place to another. Hence thefe lines in Si- 
 donius Apollinaris: 
 
 Antiquus till nec teratur agger, 
 Cujus per fpatium Jatis vdvjlis 
 Nomen Ccsfareum viret columnis. 
 Nor let the antient caufey be defaced, 
 Where, in old pillars, Caefar's name's exprefs'd. 
 By the fides of them were the graves and monu- 
 ments of famous men, to remind the traveller of his 
 own mortality; whence arofe that ufual apoftrophe, 
 Sijle viator, on monumental inscriptions in churches, 
 an expreflion not altogether appofite to the Situation. 
 
 Confidently with our purpofe of treating of the 
 Roman antiquities diftinftly from others, it will be 
 proper here to take notice of a place in the Querns, 
 juft without the town, on the fouth-weft fide, called 
 
 The Bull-Ring. 
 
 THIS is an area, of an elliptical form, inclofed 
 with a mound or wall of earth, of the height of about 
 
 K 2 twenty 
 
7° 
 
 The Bull-Ring. 
 
 twenty feet, very regularly floped on the infide with 
 rows of feats, like fteps, one below another from top 
 to bottom. They are (till viable, but over-grown with 
 herbage, and fomething defaced by time. The longeft 
 diameter of the area is about fixty-three yards, the 
 other forty-fix. It has one avenue to it on the eaft fide, 
 and another on the weft; and there is alfo a ftraight 
 approach to it under ground, on the fouth fide, be- 
 tween ftone walls, about two feet and a half afunder. 
 It points to the center of the area, and feems to 
 be of late addition. This is fo exaclly coincident 
 with the amphitheatre of the antients, that if it be 
 not a Roman work, (and the materials of which it is 
 compofed furnifli no reafonable doubt againft fuch a 
 eonje£ture) it was evidently intended for public fpec- 
 tacles and exhibitions, fuch as tilts and tournaments, 
 antient ftage-plays, and public diverfions. But tradi- 
 tion is entirely filent about it, nor has any topographer 
 taken the leaft: notice of it. From the name, how- 
 ever, it may be inferred, that it has fometimes been 
 ufed for that barbarous diverfion of bull-baiting, now 
 fo juftly exploded and laid afide; but that could not 
 be the ufe of it in the firft intention. Mr. Whitfield 
 preached to a numerous audience in this place, when 
 he was fo much followed in this country about the 
 year J 742; and certainly there could not be found 
 a more commodious fpot for his purpofe. 
 
 A Rofi- 
 
A Rosicrusian Story. 
 
 7 l 
 
 A Roficrufian Story. 
 
 THUS far have we accompanied the reader 
 thro' a dark labyrinth of Roman antiquities, dif- 
 tinguifhing, to the beft of our judgment, between 
 idle fiftion, and what ought to be received for hiftoric 
 verity. And here we might dole the account of 
 Roman affairs; but under this head we are tempted to 
 add one article more, from the very extraordinary 
 circumftances of the narrative, which is preferved in 
 the Bodleian library, among the papers of doclor 
 Richard Parfons *. 
 
 The paper alluded to, as appears at the foot of it, 
 was printed for William Budden, near Fleet Bridge, 
 1685, and is intitled, A wonderful Difcovery newly made 
 of Houfes under Ground, at Colion-field, in Gloucefkr- 
 Jhire ; and thus it runs : 
 
 " In a piece of ground within two miles of Ciren- 
 cefter, in the county of Gloucester, commonly known 
 by the name of Colton's-field, as two labourers were 
 digging a gravel-pit at the foot of a hill, which they 
 Tiad now funk four yards deep, they obferved the 
 
 * He was chancellor of the diocefe of Gloucefter, and vicar 
 of Driffield, a village about four miles from Cirencefter; and 
 having made fome Hiftorical Colledions concerning the civil 
 and ecclefiailical ftate of his diocefe, died in the year 171 1. 
 
 ground 
 
72 
 
 A Rosicrusian Story. 
 
 ground on that fide next the hill to be loofe, and 
 prefently difcovered an entrance into the belly of the 
 hill; which appearing very ftrange to them, and rather 
 the work of art than nature, one of them ventured 
 a little way in, and by the light from the hole, dif- 
 covered a large cavity, whereupon they got a lan- 
 thorn and candle, to make a further fearch into it. 
 By the advantage of this light, the firft place they 
 entered appeared to have been a hall, which was large, 
 and in it two long tables, with benches on each fide, 
 which they no fooner touched to feel their fubflance, 
 but they crumbled into duft. 
 
 From thence they faw a palfage into another room, 
 which by the furniture had been a kitchen. Several 
 utenfils proper to it, as pots, kettles, &c. being of 
 brafs or iron, continued fomewhat firm, but eaten 
 through with ruft, and canker. 
 
 Beyond the hall, they went into a parlour, fur- 
 nilhed according to the falhion of thofe times, with 
 carpets richly wrought, and other furniture agreeable. 
 Thefe alfo fell to pieces upon their touching them. 
 At one corner of this room, there appeared to have 
 been a pair of flairs, but the earth had fallen in, and 
 'ftopt the afcent. 
 
 Going back into the hall, they obferved another 
 opening, which led them into a fquare room, orna- 
 mented with carved work in feveral parts, fuppofed 
 to have been a place of worfhip and devotion, by 
 images in the wall; and at the upper end of it, they 
 found feveral urns, fome of which had only afhes in' 
 
 them, 
 
A Rosicrusian Story. 
 
 73 
 
 them, others were filled with coins and medals of gold, 
 filver and brafs, with latin infcriptions, and heads of 
 feveral Roman emperors. 
 
 As they went fearching about this room, they fpy'd 
 a door, which had been ftrongly patched with iron, 
 but the wood being rotten, with a little force it fell 
 a-pieces; and looking in, to their great aftonifhment, 
 they faw the image of a man in full proportion, with 
 a truncheon in his hand, and a light in a glafs, like a 
 lamp, burning before him. This very much affrighted 
 them at firft, imagining it to be the devil in that fhape, 
 or a guardian fpirit fet there to defend fome hidden 
 treafure ; the hopes whereof lo far encouraged them 
 at 1 aft, that one of them ventured a ftep in. But 
 upon his firft defcent, the image feemed to ftrike at 
 him, at which they were both fo terrified, that they 
 durft proceed no further; but went back, and taking 
 many of the medals and coins with them out of the 
 urns, at night acquainted a gentleman, who is a famous 
 antiquary, with the difcovery they had made, what 
 they had feen, and the money they had found, {hew- 
 ing him feveral pieces; upon which he ordered them 
 to keep the matter private, promifing to go with them 
 the next morning, which he accordingly did. 
 
 After he had viewed the other rooms with wonder 
 and delight, they conducted him to the place whe"re 
 the image was, which he fuppofed might, by fome 
 great artift, be made to ftrike at certain times; there- 
 fore, without any appreheniion of danger, went in ; 
 and as before, uoon his firft ftep the image made an 
 
 offer 
 
74 A Rosicrusian Story. 
 
 offer to ftrike; fo at the fecond ftep, but with a greater 
 force. At the third ftep, it ftruck a violent blow on 
 the glafs where the light was, which broke it in pieces, 
 and quite extinguished it, [the light] that had they 
 not been furnifhed with a lanthorn and candle, their 
 condition would have been defperate. 
 
 The image appeared to have been the effigy of 
 fome Roman general, by thofe enfigns of martial 
 honour which lay at his feet. On the left hand lay 
 two heads embalmed. The flefh was fhrivelled up, 
 and looked like parchment fcorched, of a dark com- 
 plexion. They had long hair on the chin; one feemed 
 to be red, the other black. 
 
 Upon further fearch, were found feveral other paf- 
 fages leading to other houfes, or different rooms of 
 the fame houfe; but a hollow voice, like a deep figh 
 or groan, prevented any other difcovery. Our ad- 
 venturers haftily quitted thofe dark apartments, which 
 they had no fooner done, than the hill funk down, 
 and buried all the rarities, except thofe medals and 
 coins taken out the night before, which are now mown 
 for the fatisfa&ion of the curious and ingenious, who 
 in great numbers flock to fee them, and purchafe them 
 at great rates, as moft valuable relicks of antiquity." 
 
 Whatever refpe&ability this narrative may be 
 thought to derive from being found amongft the doc- 
 tor's papers, and treafured up with them in a great 
 repofitory of learning, yet we have given it room in 
 our pages, only as an extraordinary ftory; and muft 
 
 obferve 
 
A Rosicrusian Story. 75 
 
 obferve, that the circumftance of the burning lamp 
 is particularly objectionable. And tho' fome late very 
 extraordinary pieces of mechanifm may difpofe us to 
 think that what is here faid of the ftriking automaton, 
 may be within the pale of poffibility, yet it is the lefs 
 credible for being found in bad company. We have 
 found no traces of the facts either in tradition orhiftory, 
 except only that in the 379th number of the Spectator 
 there is a fabulous account of Roficrucius's fepulchre, 
 with a man in armour, and a lamp before him, de- 
 fcribed nearly after the tenor of our ftory, but a little 
 abbreviated. However, if any perfon mould be dif- 
 pofed to apply any of the circumftances to a large 
 and lofty tumulus near the town, called Tor-barrow- 
 hill, which was opened about a dozen years ago, and 
 nothing found in it but a fmall coin and a large fquare 
 ftone, and mould therefore think that it had been for- 
 merly explored, and its contents taken away; it may 
 be objected, that the name of the field in which the 
 tumulus ftands, and the diftance from the town 
 (about a quarter of a mile) are difcordant with the 
 diftance and name of the field in the printed paper. 
 
 Some account has been given of monumental 
 {tones and urns found weftward of the town in a piece 
 of uneven ground adjoining to it, called the Querns, 
 which doctor Stukeley on that account feems to think 
 was antiently the common burying place. And to 
 this we will fubjoin, that about forty years fince a 
 large ftone coffin was dug up, juft without the fame 
 
 L piece 
 
76 
 
 Of Grismond's Tower, 
 
 piece of ground, on the fide of the road leading to 
 Tetbury, in which was found a human (keleton, with 
 the head between the legs, and a fword placed on the 
 right fide. 
 
 Tho' Mr. Camden has fhewn that large heaps of 
 ftones, confufedly piled up together, are common in 
 many parts of our ifland ; and is of opinion, that 
 moft of them were intended for memorials of the 
 dead, becaufe it was antiently the cuftom to throw up 
 large heaps of ftones for fepulchral monuments; yet 
 we are far from thinking that the heaps of ftones and 
 rubbifh in the Querns are fo many funeral piles ; but 
 rather that they were raifed in digging materials, per- 
 haps for the city wall, as well as other large buildings, 
 which required vaft quantities of ftone. However, 
 thefe heaps appear to have given name to the place, 
 for Kameu, Karned-heu, and Kairn, in the Britifti 
 language fignify a heap of fiones. — We {hall only add, 
 that whenfoever, or by what means, or by what peo- 
 ple, or for what purpofe foever thefe. hillocks were 
 formed, they have been long fince covered with ver- 
 dure, and are now depaftured upon by cattle. 
 
 Grifmond's Tower, &c. 
 
 About a quarter of a mile weftward of the 
 town, a little within earl Bathurft's park, is Grifmond's 
 Tower, vulgarly called Christmas Tower. It is a large 
 round tumulus, thrown up to the height of about 
 
 twenty 
 
And some Remarks on Urn-Burial. 77 
 
 twenty feet. Beneath this mount, Allen lord Bathurft 
 dug an ice-houfe, more than twenty years ago ; 
 but the tumulus had been opened fome years before, 
 when feveral very large urns, full of afhes and burnt 
 bones, were found within it, and the earth and ftones 
 very much burnt for a confiderable fpace about. 
 
 On fuch an event, a thinking inquifitive mind is em- 
 ployed to inveftigate who were the proprietaries of 
 the bones, and what bodies the afhes were a part of.. 
 It interefts itfelf in the time, the occafion, and all cir- 
 cumftances of the aweful depofite. But where neither 
 hiftory nor tradition gives light, knowledge mult be 
 imperfect; and we ma ft flop at probability and con- 
 jecture, when certainty is not attainable. 
 
 In Britain, urn-burial, or burning the dead, was 
 not confined tothe Romans, for we learn from Pom- 
 ponius, that the Druids ufed to burn and bury; and 
 it is affirmed that Bellinus, brother to Brennus, was 
 burnt. The Saxons, Jutes, and Angles came from 
 parts where burning was antiently praclifed; and ac- 
 cording to Tacitus the Germans ufed it, from whom 
 they defcended. Caefar fays that burning was prac- 
 tifed in Gaul. The Romans adopted the practice of 
 urn-burial from the Greeks, and fo it came into ufe 
 among the Celtce, in the weftern world. 
 
 In Denmark and Norway, many urns have been 
 found, but very different from thofe ufed by the 
 Romans, as may be feen in Wormius; whence it 
 mould feem that the Danes very antiently burned the 
 dead. Indeed Frotho the Great made a law, that 
 L 2 princes 
 
78 Of Grismond's Tower, 
 
 princes and great commanders fhould be committed 
 to the fire, tho' the common ranks had grave-inter- 
 ment. It was alfo the cuftom of thofe people to dif- 
 tinguifh the remains of the mod noble among them, 
 by placing (tones in circles about them. 
 
 Since, therefore, the practice of burning the dead 
 was in fome ufe among the Britons; and common to 
 the Romans, Saxons and Danes, by whom at dif- 
 ferent periods this country has been over-run; it may 
 be doubtful to which of them thefe remains belong. 
 In order the better to determine that matter, it may 
 be proper to enquire when it began, and when it 
 ceafed. 
 
 The praHice of burning is very antient. Homer 
 has given many beautiful defcriptions of the funeral 
 obfequies of Patroclus, Achilles, Heclor, and other 
 chiefs among the Greeks and Trojans. But when, 
 and with what nation or people, it originated, we 
 have not been able to difcover; and perhaps the pre- 
 cife time of its ceafing in Europe is not altogether 
 certain. Macrobius affirms, that it was difufed in his 
 days; and in Minutius's time, it was objected againft 
 the chriftians, that tho' they did not hefitate, for the 
 caufe of religion, to give their bodies to be burnt 
 when alive, yet they condemned the practice of 
 burning after death ; fo that it may with great pro- 
 bability be concluded, that the practice ceafed about 
 the time of converfion to chriftianity. And it is pretty 
 generally agreed, that it was difcontinued among the 
 Romans, after the reign of thofe emperors who af- 
 
 fumed 
 
And some Remarks on Urn-Burial, yg 
 
 fumed the name of Antoninus; but whether then left 
 off by the emperors and great perfons, or about Rome 
 only, and not in other provinces, there is perhaps 
 no authentic account. 
 
 We have fhewn that burning the dead was in fome 
 ufe even among the Britons, and that it was common 
 with the Romans, Saxons and Danes, by whom, at 
 different times, this country has been over-run. This 
 was neceffary, in order to inveftigate to what people 
 thefe relicks belong. But tho' fome inftances are 
 mentioned of the Druids adopting that mode of inter- 
 ment, we apprehend that it was never prevalent with 
 our countrymen, for there is no hiflorical evidence 
 of their conforming to the Roman ufage of urn- 
 burial, whilft that people continued among them. And 
 fince it may be prefumed, from what we have mown, 
 that it had ceafed here, before either the Saxons or 
 Danes had gained any fettlement in this country; we 
 cannot attribute thefe remains to either of thofe peo- 
 ple. But the fituation of the tumulus, which is only 
 at a fmall diftance from the town, where was a Roman 
 garrifon, is a circumftance which furniflies no obfeure 
 conjecture, that they belonged to the Romans: And 
 the earth being fo much burnt for a great fpace about, 
 affords reafonable ground to fuppofe, that this was 
 the Ustrina, or burning place, where the urns, with 
 the remains of fome perfons of eminence among them, 
 were depofited. 
 
 What gave rife to the practice of burning the 
 dead is not altogether certain; but as all cuftoms are 
 
 * L founded 
 
So . Of Gr ismon d's Tower, 
 
 founded .upon fome reafon, Jo various grounds arc 
 affigned for this. Quintilian fays, it was becaufe by 
 fuch means the body may be prefently confumed. 
 Others have thought it an expedient to avoid a de- 
 generation into worms, and to preferve, in their 
 afhes, a lafting part of their compoiition ; whilft others 
 fay, that it was to difappoint the cruelty of enemies, 
 to whom the bodies of the dead not unfrequently be- 
 came objects of implacable revenge. This was a con- 
 fideration with Sylla, who having abufed the corfe of 
 Marius, could not but fear a retaliation upon his own. 
 But the Indian who is faid to have burnt himfelf at 
 Athens, thought it the nobleft way to end his days, 
 as appears by his laft words upon the pyre, Thus I 
 make my/elf immortal, which, according to Nich. 
 Damafcenfis, was infcribed on his tomb. 
 
 The friends of great princes affeft great monuments 
 for them, and we conjecture, that the fairer and larger 
 urns contained the afhes of no vulgar perfons, which 
 makes that difparity in the capacity of thofe found 
 among us. Some contain more than two gallons, 
 others not one. Many are red, fome of a dark 
 colour, fmoothifh, and of a dull found, as tho' they 
 had not been burnt, but only baked in an oven, or 
 dried in the fun. They are of various ftiapes, but 
 moltly of a circular form. We have mentioned one 
 found at Kingfmead, (p. 59) a little without Ciren* 
 cefter town-wall, which was carefully arched over; 
 hut fome are covered with tiles, or Roman bricks, and 
 others have proper earthen covers adapted to them. 
 
 They 
 
And some Remarks on. Urn-Burial. 8i 
 
 They are fometimes attended with lachrymatories, 
 or tear-botties, lamps, rings, coins, chalices, darts, 
 and pieces of broken armour; and indeed with various 
 other things, which it is fuppofed the dead perfon 
 greatly valued when alive. It has been conjectured 
 that the -money was intended as a fee for old Charon, 
 who, according to heathen mythology, was to carry 
 men's fouls in his boat over the Stygian lake. But 
 whatever was the defign, the depofiting coins in urns, 
 and the prefent practice of burying money in the 
 foundations of noble buildings, are laudable means 
 of chronological difcovery, and pofterity will ap- 
 plaud them. 
 
 It has been obferved, that the extraordinary fize 
 of urns may be attributed to the dignity of the per- 
 fons whole afhes they contain, but not always fo, for 
 it is obvious, that it may be fometimes merely cafual, 
 according to the fancy of the potter, and indeed other 
 circumftances may operate as a caufe. Some large 
 urns contained the afhes of feveral bodies. The allies 
 of Domitian were mingled with thofe of Julia *.; of 
 Achilles with thofe of Patroclus. With confufed 
 burnings they affeclionately compounded the bones 
 of their friends, and paffionatelv endeavoured to 
 continue their union. And it is faid that when diftance 
 of place at the time of death precluded fuch con- 
 junctions, they fometimes put the names of deceafed 
 friends into urns, and their extraordinary affections 
 
 * Suetonius in the life of Domitian. 
 
 * L 2 conceived 
 
82 
 
 Of Grismond's Tower, 
 
 conceived fome gratification in fo placing them urn 
 by urn, and fo making them neighbours in the grave. 
 And many were fo anxious to preferve a connexion 
 with relations after death, that they had large family 
 urns f , wherein the afhes of their neareft friends and 
 kindred might fucceflively be received, whilft their 
 memorials were placed near about them. 
 
 The honour of cremation was denied to infants 
 before they cut their teeth, to fuch as killed them- 
 felves, to fuch as were killed by lightning, and to 
 traitors. The concern of the living for the dead 
 feems to be an appendage of humanity, for fomething 
 of it is found among all the inhabitants of the earth. 
 Abraham purchafed a burying place where he was 
 buried with Sarah his wife. The Otaheitans have 
 their morais ; the modern Europeans their family 
 vaults exclufive from ftrangers. 
 
 With the Romans, at the approach of death, it 
 was cuftomary for the neareft relation to fuck in the 
 laft breath of an expiring friend, from an opinion 
 that the foul paffed out that way, and to {how how 
 unwillingly they parted with their friends. They kept 
 the body feven days, wafhing it every day with warm 
 water, that if not quite dead, it might by fuch means 
 revive. Upon the eighth day a cryer fummoned the 
 people to the folemnization of the funeral, and the 
 corpfe was carried out upon a bed by the next of kin, 
 a trumpeter going before the company, and the 
 
 -f Cafaubon upon Antoninus, 
 
 mourning 
 
And some Remarks on Urn-Burial. 83 
 
 mourning-women, called Prceficce, following after, 
 finging fongs in praife of the deceafed. If the defuncl 
 were a man who had been a fenator, or great officer, 
 enfigns of honour, and waxen images of his prede- 
 celfors, were carried on poles before him ; and his 
 manumifed fervants, accompanied the mourners, la- 
 menting his death. The corpfe, followed by the 
 children of the deceafed, and the neareft relations and 
 friends, was carried to the rostra, or oratory, where 
 one of the kindred made a funeral oration in praife 
 of the defunct. When that was over, it was laid 
 upon a heap of wood, neatly piled up, which they 
 called the pyra, its eyes were then opened towards 
 heaven, and a piece of money called jV^z^m Charontis, 
 put into its mouth, which, according to their mytho- 
 logy, was Charon's fee for ferrying the foul over the 
 Styx. The next of kin then kindled the fire with a 
 torch, turning his face the contrary way, as a token 
 of unwilling miniftration : and the body being burnt, 
 the remains of the bones, wafhed with milk and wine, 
 together with fome of the afhes, were put into urns. 
 The prieft then fprinkled the company thrice with 
 clean water, and the eldeft of the mourning-women 
 with a loud voice pronounced the word Illicet, [for 
 ire UceQ difmiffing the company ; but before they 
 departed, they pronounced a folemn valediction in 
 thefe words : Vale, vale, vale ! ! ! Nos te ordine quo 
 natura permiferit fequemur. Farewell Farewell Fare- 
 wel ! We mall follow thee in time and manner as 
 nature fliall direct. 
 
 This 
 
Of Grismond's Tower, 
 
 This valediction, thrice uttered, bears fome analogy 
 to the cuftom, among us, of throwing earth three 
 times upon the corpfe in the grave, at a particular 
 paflage in the burial fervice. But to return : 
 
 It is faid that they threw on the funeral pyre 
 branches of larynx, yew, cyprefs and fir, which 
 having perpetual verdure, are thought to bear fome 
 allufion to the immortality of the foul. They ufed 
 mufic to alleviate the affliction of friends who were 
 prefent; and to prevent exceffive lamentation, it was 
 flrongly inculcated, and became a generally received 
 opinion, that deep forrow difturbed the manes of the 
 deceafed; but furviving friends kindled no fire in 
 their houfes for fome days after, as a token of af- 
 fliction. Wives were expected to mourn for their huf- 
 bands ten months, within which time it was reckoned 
 infamous for widows to marry. After the funeral ob- 
 fequies, the company were invited to a feaft, where 
 they drank a delicious kind of wine called Murrhina; 
 but in procefs of time that cuftom was forbidden by 
 the law of the twelve Tables, on account of the ex- 
 pence. In this refpeft the people of our own country 
 have followed their example; and in fome parts, even 
 at this time, it is not unufual for the guefts to affemble 
 ' at the houfe from whence the corpfe had jufl been 
 taken, and to debauch with drinking in a fhamcful 
 manner. We believe, however, that this abominable 
 practice is much lefs frequent than formerly. 
 
 From 
 
And some Remarks on Urn-Bqrial. 85 
 
 From this account of pagan ceremonies and cuf- 
 toms, which we have drawn from the pureft fources, 
 it is manifeft that they had a faint expectancy of fome 
 kind of intellectual ftate after this. In treating on a 
 fubjeQ; fo folemn and awful, we found it impoffible 
 to avoid fimilar reflections with thofe who have gone 
 over the fame ground before us; but we forbear to 
 trouble the reader with them, as it might be thought 
 a deviation from our profeffed defign. 
 
 To fum up all, our refearch amounts to this, that 
 Grifmond's Tower is a large tumulus, and that the 
 urns which were found under it, were placed there 
 by the Romans, and probably contained the remains 
 of fome eminent perfons of that nation, who belonged 
 to the Roman ftation here. This we think a warrant- 
 able conjecture; but as we have no account of thofe 
 who died in the garrifon, to go further, and to guefs 
 whofe remains they were, without any leading prin- 
 ciple, would be arrogance and folly. 
 
 Of 
 
The 
 
 Collegiate Church. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the antient Collegiate Church. 
 
 H ERE was a rich college of prebendaries be- 
 fore the Norman conqueft, but all our refearches to 
 difcover the founder of it have proved abortive. 
 Leland, as before obferved, was one of the king's 
 vifitors at the fuppreflion of monafteries, whofe bufi- 
 nefs, as well as tafte and inclination, led him to make 
 a ftri6t enquiry into the original foundation and en- 
 dowment of all religious houfes, and who had better 
 opportunities of doing it at that time, than any per- 
 fon fince. He takes notice of this, as of Saxon inftitu- 
 tion, and adds, but of what Saxon foundation no man 
 can tell. 
 
 Before the Norman conqueft, one Rumbaldus, 
 Reimbaldus, or Reinbaldus, as the name has been 
 varioufly written, was a prieft and dean of this col- 
 legiate church. He was a very eminent perfon of 
 that time, and chancellor to king Edward the Con- 
 fefTor; and as fuch, fet his hand to witnefs the charter 
 of privileges granted by that king to the abbey of 
 Weftminfter. Befides his ecclefiaftical and other pre- 
 ferments, he had large poffeffions in various parts of 
 
 the 
 
The Collegiate Church. 87 
 
 the kingdom, but particularly in Gloucefterfhire, and 
 at a confiderable time after his deceafe they were 
 given to this church, as will more particularly appear 
 by the charter of king Henry the Firft. 
 
 In Domefday-book, which contains a furvey and 
 regifter of all the landed property in the kingdom, 
 (except four northern counties) made foon after 
 William the Norman found himfelf pretty well fet- 
 tled here, the pofTeffions of this church which lay in 
 Gloucefterfhire, with thofe of Rembald the dean, in 
 the fame county, are thus particularly enumerated : 
 
 TERRA ECCL'E DE CIRECESTRE. 
 
 In CIRECESTRE Hund. Eccl'a de CIRECES- 
 TRE ten. de rege ii hid. in Elemofina Sc de reee E. 
 Tenuit quietas ab om'i confuetudine. Ibi funt vi ac. 
 p'ti. Val. & valuit hoc xl fol. In hac t 'ra [i. e. de 
 "Wiche] ten. S. Maria de Cireceftre i vill'm et partem 
 filve. Hoc conceflit ei W. rex. Val. x fol. 
 
 TERRA RENBALDI PR'BI. 
 
 In GERSDONES Hund. Reinbaldus ten. 
 OMENIE de rege. Godricus tenuit T. R. E. Ibi 
 iiii hide & una v\ In d'nio ii car. & viii villi & i 
 bord. cum vi car. & p'bro. Ibi viii fervi & ii molini 
 de x folid. & xx ac. p'ti. Val. & valuit c folid. 
 
 Ifd. Reinbaldus ten. DRIFELLE. Elaf tenuit 
 de Comite Tofti. Ibi vii hide. In d nio iiii car. 8c 
 viii villi & ii bord. & p br cum v car. Ibi xv fervi 
 M & moiin. 
 
88 
 
 The Collegiate Church. 
 
 & molin. de v folid. & xx ac. p'ti. Val. & valuit 
 viii lib. 
 
 In CIRECESTRE Hund. Ifd. Rainbaldus ten. 
 in NORTCOTE i hid. Godricus tenuit T. R. E. 
 In d'nio eft una car. & ii villi & ii bord. cum ii car. 
 Ibi vi fervi. Val. xl folid. Hie tainus poterat ire 
 quo valebat. 
 
 Ifd. Rainb. ten. PRESTETUNE. Elaf tenuit 
 T. R. E. Ibi viii hide geld, p'ter d'nium. In d'nio 
 funt iiii car. Sc vii villi & vi bord. cum vi car. Ibi 
 viiii fervi & xii ac. p'ti. Val. & valuit viii lib. Ipfe 
 Elaf poterat ire quo voleb. 
 
 The foregoing may be rendered into Englifh thus: 
 
 The land of the Church of Cireceftre. 
 
 In Cireceftre hundred the church of Cireceftre 
 holds of the king two hides in elemofinage, and it 
 held them of king Edward, quit from all cuftom. 
 There are fix acres of meadow. It is now worth, 
 and was worth [in the time of king Edward the Con- 
 feffor] forty fhillings. St. Mary of Cireceftre holds 
 one villain and part of a wood in this eftate [Wiche, 
 or Painfwick.] It was given to her by king William. 
 It is worth ten fhillings [rent.] 
 
 The land of Reinbald the pjrieft. 
 In Gerfdones hundred, [part of the prefent hun- 
 dred of Crowthorne and Minety] Reinbald holds 
 Omenie of the king. Godric held it in the time of 
 king Edward. There are four hides and one yard 
 
 land. 
 
The Collegiate Church. 89 
 
 land. In demean are two plow tillages, and eight 
 villains, and one bordar, with fix plow tillages, and 
 aprieft. There are eight fervi, and two mills of ten 
 millings value [rent,] and twenty acres of meadow. It 
 is now worth, and was worth a hundred {hillings [rent.] 
 
 The fame Reinbald holds Drifelle. Elaf held it 
 of earl Tofti. There are fey en hides. In demean 
 four plow tillages and eight villains and two bordars, 
 and a prieft with five plow tillages. There are fifteen 
 firm and a miff of five millings rent, and twenty acres 
 of meadow. It is worth and was worth eight pounds. 
 
 In Cireceftre hundred the fame Rainbald holds one 
 hide in Nortcote. Godric held it in the time of king 
 Edward. There is one plow tillage in demean, and 
 two villains and two bordars with two plow tillages. 
 There are fix. fervi. It is worth forty millings rent. 
 This thane might go wherever he pleafed. 
 
 The fame Rainbald holds Preftetune. Elaf held 
 it in the time of king Edward. There are eight hides 
 taxed befides the demean. There are four plow til- 
 lages in demean, and feven villains, and fix bordars 
 with fix plow tillages. There are nine fervi, and 
 twelve acres of meadow. It is now worth and was 
 worth eight pounds [rent.] This Elaf had a right to 
 go where he pleafed. 
 
 Before we proceed, it may not be amifsto obferve, 
 that the meaning of the laft pafTage, is, that Elaf was 
 a free man, whereas at that time the bulk of the oc- 
 cupiers of land were attached to it, and fo a kind of 
 
 M 2. property 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 property belonging to the lords of the refpeaive 
 manors upon which they lived. 
 
 Thefe were large poffeffions, but it may be difficult 
 at this time to eftimate the quantity of land, becaufe 
 we are not fufficiently acquainted with the land 
 meafures ufed by our anceftors, to compare them 
 with our own. According to Spelman, eight virgce, 
 or yirgates, made a hide ; but the virga, or virgate 
 of land, was an uncertain meafure, becaufe it was 
 different in different places. It fometimes confifted 
 of 24 acres, fometimes of 30, 40, and fometimes 
 only of 20, or lefs. A farthing land was, like the 
 other meafures of our anceftors, very various; fome- 
 times confifting of 10 acres, and fometimes of 30. 
 But tho', at this time, we cannot afcertain the exact 
 quantity of land in a hide, yet Rumbald's eftate muft 
 have been great, at the loweft computation. At the 
 death of this great man, all his eftates devolved to 
 the crown, the particulars of which are enumerated 
 in the charter of king Henry the Firft, which is re- 
 cited in the charter of confirmation by king Edward 
 the Third, to the abbey, which comes next under 
 confideration. 
 
 Of the Abbey of St. Mary, Cirencefter. 
 
 K.ING Henry the Firft founded a noble abbey 
 here, upon the abolition of the collegiate-church. He 
 
 began 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 91 
 
 began to build the abbey church in the year 1117, 
 and it was completely finifhed in fourteen years. 
 
 This was a mitred abbey. The abbat was fum- 
 moned to parliament in the forty-third year of king 
 Henry the Third, but the heads of this houfe had 
 not a ftated feat there, 'till William Belt obtained the 
 mitre, and a feat among the barons, for himfelf and 
 fucceffors, in the year 1416. 
 
 The arms of the abbey were, Gules, on a chevron 
 argent, three rams heads cabofJied fable, attired or. And 
 they are now to be feen at the entrance on the weft 
 fide of the tower of the prefent parilh church. 
 
 Some have conjectured that the abbat had the pri- 
 vilege of coining money, which notion probably 
 arofe from fome fmall brafs pieces having been found 
 here at different times, (tho' rarely) one of which 
 we have feen. It was dug up in Mr. Matter's garden, 
 within the precin&s of the abbey, in the year 1772, 
 and had on one fide three rams heads, (part of the 
 arms of the abbey) and round them this infeription, 
 KVE • CDARIS • GRACIS • PLEN. On the 
 reverfe, a crofs Jlory between four fcurs de lis ; with 
 the letters G ' • X • • G ' ' S. round the quarters, 
 intended, as we conjecture, for George, abbas; and 
 if fo, it was imprelTed between the years 1445 and 
 1461, during which time William George * was ab* 
 
 bat. 
 
 * 48 It was certainly," fays one of Bigland's compilers, 
 " the coinage of Beft, Wotton, or George, but of which it 
 
 44 cannot 
 
9 2 
 
 The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 bat. Thefe pieces however, if not current money, 
 were probably checks, which were formerly in ufe by 
 monaftic focieties. 
 
 Leland, who faw the abbey church, has left us the 
 following particulars diftinguifhed in Italics, and ex- 
 actly copied from the Itinerary, vol, 5, p. 62. The 
 Eft part of the Chirch Jhewith to be of a very old build- 
 ing. The Weft part, from the Tranfeptum, [the great 
 crofs ailej is but new Work to fpeke of In the Body of 
 the [abbey] Chirch, in a Sepulchre Croffe of -white Mar- 
 ble is this [infcription,] Hie jacet Rembaldus Prefbyier 
 quondam hujus Ecclefiar Dccanus [&? Tempore Edwardi 
 Regis Anglice Cancellarius."] Ther ly 2 Noblemen of S. 
 Amandes buried withyn the Prcjbyterie of Cirencestrc 
 Abb ay Church. And there is buried the Hart of Sentia, 
 Wife to Richard King of [the] Romains, and Erie of 
 Cornwcdle. 
 
 The dimenfions of the abbey church are preferved 
 in William of Worcefter's manufcript, in Bennet 
 college Cambridge, where it is faid, ' The length of 
 ' the great church contains 140 fteppys, the breadth 
 c of the nave of the church with two ailes, 41 fteppys, 
 
 " cannot be poffibly faid." — We reply, that the letters on the 
 reverie (a common method of notation) very ftrongly indicate 
 the piece to have been ftruck when William George was ab- 
 hat : Indeed the letter G can refer to no other name but that 
 of George, in the whole lift of abbats. And perhaps that 
 compiler will find it difficult to affign any other reafon for lug- 
 ging in the names of Beft and Wotton. To us it feems to 
 proceed from an affectation of Angularity and diflenfion. 
 
 f or 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 93 
 
 ! or 24 yards. The chapel of the bleffed Mary on 
 ' the fouth part of the church contains 41 yards, with 
 c an aile adjoining. The breadth of the faid antient 
 < chapel contains 2 1 gra/fus, with the anlient aile. 
 4 The length of the cloifter 52 grajfus. The length 
 c of the chapter-houle 14 yards, and 10 yards in 
 1 breadth.' — The grajfus or ftep is. fomething more 
 than two feet. 
 
 This church was dedicated to St. Mary, on the 
 Lord's-day, the- 16th of the calends of November, by 
 Bartholomew bifhop-of Exeter, in the prefcnce of 
 the king, who placed regular canons therein ; and 
 having obtained pope Innocent's licence, and the 
 confent and approbation of the archbifhops, biihops, 
 princes, and barons of the kingdom, as it is expreffed 
 in the exemplification of his charter, endowed it, 
 amongft other things^ with all Rembald's eftates. And 
 king Richard the Firft further increafed its revenues, 
 in the 9th year of his reign, by annexing to it the 
 jurisdiction of the Seven Hundreds, as appears by the 
 exemplification of that king's charter 4 H. 4. an ab- 
 ftract. of which is given in the account of the Seven 
 Hundreds. And king John, in the firft year of his 
 reign, confirmed all thefe grants to the abbey, by his 
 charter, as the reader will fee hereafter. 
 
 The lands. of William of Cirencefter, in Minety, 
 were granted to this monaftery in the 5th year of the 
 reign of king John ; and a new farm was granted to 
 it in the 17th year of the fame reign. 
 
 This 
 
94 
 
 The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 This monaftery obtained a grant of a fair in the 
 town of Cirencefter 17th John, and it had another 
 grant of fairs 37 H 3. and of markets there, and in 
 the Seven Hundreds, in the 42d year of the fame 
 reign. 
 
 A writ of Quo warranto was brought againft the ab- 
 bat, to fhew his right to the Seven Hundreds, 15 E. 1. 
 But this was probably a vexatious proceeding, not un- 
 frequently in life, to extort money from the fubjeft 
 for new grants, which were thought neceflary in thofe 
 days, when, by cafualties in the civil wars, or other- 
 wife, any of the pofleiTor's deeds and evidences hap- 
 pened to be loft or deftroyed. 
 
 The townfmen and the religious of this monaftery 
 falling out afterwards, a ftritt inquifition iflued againft 
 the abbat, at the inftigation of the townfmen, 1 H. 4. 
 for ufurping divers privileges in the towns of Ciren- 
 cefter and Minety, and in the Seven Hundreds. 
 
 The abbat of Cirenceftre held Crinclewood, con- 
 taining 30 acres 9 E. 2. And Walter Wrilock and 
 others granted two mefluages, one toft, twenty-fix 
 acres, a yard-land, four acres of meadow, with other 
 particulars, to the abbey, 13 E. 2. And William 
 Erchebald and others, for the church of Cirencefter, 
 were feized of feventeen mefluages and twenty acres 
 in Cirencefter 16 R. 2. Efch. 
 
 The abbat paid 30/. a year, by tale, into the king's 
 exchequer at Michaelmas, for his farm of the manor 
 of Cirencefter and the Seven Hundreds. \_Mag. Rot. 
 9R. l.J And this rent was afterwards fettled by king 
 
 Edward 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. q§ 
 
 Edward the Firft on queen Margaret, as part of her 
 dower. The reader will obferve that this rent is ex- 
 prefsly mentioned to be paid by tale, for the money, 
 in this and the preceding reigns, had been fo clipped 
 and reduced, that there was a great difference between 
 payments made by tale and by zveight. The pound 
 of money at that time, undiminished as it came out 
 of the mint, was a pound troy-weight of Giver. And 
 it was not unufual, in thefe early times, to ftipulate 
 in grants and leafes, (which were in Latin,) how the 
 rents and confiderations mould be paid ; if by tale, 
 in the common currency, the pound was called libra 
 numerata, ad nimerum, or de numero ; if by weight, 
 it was then called libra fienfata, or ad penfum. And 
 when payment was to be made in this manner, the 
 deficiency by tale was to be made up to the compleat 
 weight. But payments were always underftood to be 
 by tale, unlefs expreffed in the deed to the contrary. 
 
 As to other out-goings, it appears [Mag. Rot. 29 
 H. 3] that the abbat paid xx/. for an aid to the king, 
 upon the marriage of the king's eldeft daughter. And 
 upon a tallage made upon the king's manors, and 
 upon the burgeffes, by William bifhop of Hereford, 
 and others, 7 Ric. 1. the burgeffes of Cirencefter 
 are certified to have paid the fum of xL Mag. Rot. 
 7 R. 1. 
 
 There was a deed made in the year 1305, between 
 the abbat and John de Latton, an anceftor of the 
 family of that name, who refided fome time fince at 
 
 N Kingfton 
 
g6 The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 Kingfton Bagpaze, in Berkfhire, which deed is re- 
 markable for the abbat' s conceffions, and the follow- 
 ing is 'a tranflation of it, which we have inferted for 
 the entertainment of fuch of our readers as are cu- 
 rious that way. 
 
 A Grant from Henry de Hamptonel, Abbat of Cirencejler, to John 
 tie Latton. 
 
 all chriftian people who (hail either fee or hear this 
 prefentdeed, Henry by divine permiffion, abbat of Ciren- 
 cefter, and the convent of that place, fend health in our Lord. 
 Know ye that we have granted to John de Latton and Ifabel 
 his wife, in form and under condition following, thefe feveral 
 things hereafter fpecified, to receive every week, fo long as 
 they fhall jointly live, Fourteen white loaves and nine gallons 
 of beer, whereof five gallons of the beer fhall be fuch as the 
 convent ufeth, and the other four gallons fhall be of the chap- 
 lains beer, and they fhall receive one mefs every day out of 
 our kitchen, in like manner as our day officers do receive it 
 from our houfe. Provided that if the faid Ifabel fhall furvive, 
 that then and immediately from the death of the faid John, 
 one moiety of all above granted fhall altogether ceafe. And 
 in confideration of the aforefaid grant, the aforefaid John hath 
 wholly releafed to us and to our church, and hath quit claimed 
 for himfelf and his heirs for ever, all right and claim which 
 he had or any way can have, with the reverfion thereof, in all 
 the lands and tenements, with all their appertenancies, which 
 Walter father of the faid John did hold by leafe from us in 
 Latton. And the faid John and his heirs fhall fully and intirely 
 warrant the faid lands and tenements to us and to our church, 
 without any diminution whatfoever. And if it mould happen, 
 which we hope will never be, that the faid John and Ifabel 
 
 fhall 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 97 
 
 fhall any way be deficient in the faid warranty, or fliould lay 
 claim, or pretend any right to the faid tenements, that from 
 thenceforth the faid abbat and convent fhall be for ever dif- 
 charged from the performance of every part of this grant, 
 without any pretence whatfoever. In witnefs whereof the 
 parties abovefaid have interchangeably fet their feals to this 
 indenture. 
 
 Given at Cirencefter, at the feaft of the purification of the 
 bleffed Virgin, in the thirty third year of the reign of king 
 Edward, fon of king Henry. 
 
 The abbat had Come rights in the manor court of 
 Hatherop, particularly fpecified and mutually fettled 
 and agreed, by a compofition between Hugh the ab- 
 bat and the convent of Cirencefter, and Wymark the 
 priorefs, and the convent of Lay cock in Wiltfhire, 
 to whom that manor belonged; which compofition is 
 preferved in the Appendix to Stevens's Supplement to the 
 Monasticon, No. 445. 
 
 To give the reader a more competent idea of the 
 revenues of this houfe, we have fubjoined tranflations 
 of fuch of the charters, as have come to our hands, 
 as follow : 
 
 The Charter of King Edward the Md, reciting the Foundation of 
 the Priory" of Cirencejler in the County of Gloucejier, and con- 
 firming the fame. 
 
 rpHE king to archbifhops, &c. We have mfpefted the 
 charter of Henry the Firft, of famous memory, heretofore 
 king of England, our progenitor, in thefe words : Henry king 
 
 N 2 °- 
 
The Abbey op St. Mary, 
 
 of England, to archbifhops, bifhops, abbats, priors, carls, 
 barons, juftices, fheriffs, and all the fons of holy church 
 eftablifhed throughout England, greeting : Know all men, 
 that I, by the confent and authority of r^ope Innocent, of pious 
 memory, and by the advice and common approbation of the 
 archtimops and bifhops, princes and barons of my. kingdom, 
 have given to God and the church of the blefied Mary of 
 Cirer.cefter, of which I was the unworthy founder, for the 
 good of the fouls of my parents and anceftors, and for the re- 
 miffion of my fins, and for the welfare and fafety of my king- 
 dom, and to Serlo the firft abbat, and to all his fucceffors, and 
 to the regular canons ferving God in that place, in pure alms, 
 all th; eftate of Reimbald the prieft, in lands and churches, 
 and other things as followeth ; to wit, two hides of land in 
 the town of Cirencefter, and the third part of the tolls of the 
 market, which is held on Sunday in the feveral ftreets ; and 
 two parts of the tithes of the demefnes of Cirencefter, and 
 the whole tithe of all the reft of the parifh; in Gloucefterfhire, 
 eight hides of land in Prefton, and the church thereof; one 
 hide of land in Norcott, feven hides in Drifeild, four hides 
 and one yard land in Amney, and the church thereof; two 
 hides in Walle, which did belong to Balchi Daci, one hide 
 in Elnundeftan, one yard land and a wood in Wik, the church 
 of Chiltenham, with the land thereof, and the mill, and the 
 chapeis, and all other appertenancies to the faid church belong- 
 ing ; in Wiltfhire, nine hides in Latton and Eify, and the 
 churches of both thofe places with their land, and the chapel 
 of Eaion which belongs to the church of Eify ; three houfes 
 in the town of Cricklade, and the church of Pevefy, with the 
 lands, tithes and cuftoms appertaining to the faid church; the 
 church in Avebiry, with the lands, chapels, tithes and cuftoms 
 appertaining to the faid church ; in Somerfetfhire, the church 
 of Melborn, with the lands, chapels, tithes and other things 
 belonging to the faid church ; the church of Frome, with the 
 
 lands? 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 99 
 
 Sands, chapels, tithes and all other things, whether woods or 
 plains, appertaining to the faid church; the church of Walon, 
 with the lands, chapels, tithes and all cuftoms, whether woods 
 or plains, appertaining to the faid church; in Dorfetfhire, ten 
 hides of land in woods and meadow in Puley ; in Berkfhire, 
 the church of Scriveham, with the lands, chapels, tithes, and 
 all other cuftoms appertaining to the faid church; the church 
 of Cocheham, with the lands, chapels, tithes, and all other 
 things appertaining to the faid church ; the church of Bray, 
 with the lands, chapels, tithes, and all things appertaining to 
 the faid church j ten hides in Efton ; eleven hides and three 
 yard lands in Hatcheburne, and the church of the fame, with 
 the chapels and tithes of the other Hatcheburne; in Oxford- 
 mire, one hide of land in wood and plains, and one mill in 
 Boicot; the church of Paffeham in Buckinghamshire, with the 
 lands, tithes and all things appertaining to the faid church; in 
 Northamptonfhire, the church of Rowel, with the lands, 
 chapels, tithes, and all cuftoms belonging to the faid church ; 
 the church of Briftoke, with the lands, chapels, tithes, and 
 all cuftoms, whether in woods or plains, appertaining to the 
 faid churclv; three houfes in Winton : And I have further" 
 granted to the faid church of Cirencefter, of my own demefnes, 
 for ever, one hide of land in Cirencefter, called Scereve-Hide, 
 to make orchards, copfes, and a place for a water-mill ; and 
 the abbat, Serlo, with my licence, has exchanged two mef- 
 fuages of that hide with the burgeffes of Cirencefter, for the 
 conveniency of the priefts: I have alfo granted a water-courfe, 
 and the wood called Acley, with the foreft, and all its lands; 
 and I retain to myfelf nothing out of the wood befides my 
 hunting, and the abbat may not plow up any part of it. 
 
 We moreover ordain, concerning the eftates belonging to 
 Reimbald, that whatfoever part the bifhop of Salifbury 
 hath, fhall remain to him during his life, but after his death 
 it fhall return to the proper ufe and demefne of the canons 
 
 regular :' 
 
loo The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 regular: We ordain the like concerning the lands held by 
 William Fitz Warin the fherifF ; and the like of the lands 
 held by Nicholas, nephew of the bifhop of Winton; and the 
 like concerning the lands which the fecular canons held by 
 their prebends : We do alfo grant to the faid church, through- 
 out all their poffeffions, foe and fac, toll, theam, infang-theof, 
 and all other liberties, immunities, cuftoms and privileges, in 
 as free manner as the faid church held the fame in the reign of 
 king Edward the confeflbr, or in the reign of my father or 
 brother, or in my time; and as free as any other eleemofynary 
 lands in the kingdom are held ; therefore I approve, and by 
 my royal authority do corroborate this my grant and conceffion, 
 and by the power given to me by God, I decree, that the faid 
 church fhall for ever enjoy the fame ; and I declare that I re- 
 ferve thofe lands fo given in alms, in my own hand, and un- 
 der my protection, as if thofe alms-lands had been my own 
 proper gift. 
 
 Witneffes, William, archbifhop of Canterbury ; Turftan, 
 archbifhop of York ; Roger, bifhop of Salifbury ; Henry, 
 bifhop of Winchefter; Alexander, bifhop of Lincoln; JeofFry, 
 bifhop of Durham ; Nigell, bifhop of Ely ; Robert, bifhop 
 of Hereford ; John, bifhop of Rochefter ; Robert, keeper of 
 the feal; Robert de Vere, Miles Gloec. Robert Doiley, Hugh 
 Bigott, Robert de Curcy, and Pagan, the fon of John ; and 
 Eufhce and William his brothers; and William de Albia 
 Britone. 
 
 Done at Burne, as I was crofling the feas, in the year of 
 our Lord 1 1 33, and in the 33d year of our reign. 
 
 We therefore the faid grants, &c. do confirm, &c. 
 
 Given under the hand of the king at Berwick upon Tweed, 
 on the firft day of July. 
 
 King Henry's grants were confirmed by king John, 
 as follows : 
 
 Thi 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 101 
 
 The Confirmation of the Grants to the Abbey of Cirencejler by 
 King John. 
 
 JOHN, by the grace of God, king of England, kc. to 
 archbifliops, &c. greeting : It is becoming our dignity, and 
 is neceffary for our falvation, that we fliould defend, keep and 
 preferve thofe holy and religious places which were founded 
 by our great grandfather, king Henry the Firft, and were 
 confirmed by king Henry the Second, our father ; therefore 
 we give and grant, and by this prefent charter confirm to God, 
 and to the holy church of St. Mary of Cirencefter, and to 
 the canons regular ferving God in that place, in free and per- 
 petual alms, for the good of the foul of the aforefaid king 
 Henry, who was founder thereof, and for the foul of our father 
 aforementioned, and for the fouls of king Richard our brother, 
 and queen Anne our mother, and of our brethren and all others 
 departed this life in the true faith, all our manor of Cirencefter, 
 with all its appertenancies; with the town of Minchey, which 
 is a member of the faid manor, with the feven hundreds be- 
 longing to the faid manor and farm, with all their appertenan- 
 cies ; to hold of us and our fucceffors, yielding and paying 30/. 
 yearly for all fervices, at our exchequer, at the feaft of St. 
 Michael : And know ye, that for the good of our foul, and 
 all others above mentioned, we have given, releafed, and 
 quit claimed, in perpetual alms, to the honour of St. Mary, 
 and to our faid canons of Cirencefter ferving God, forty fhil- 
 iings yea rly rent, which the faid manor was accuftomed to 
 pay, fo that for the future they fhall pay only a rent of 30/. as 
 aforefaid; and this we have done, that the canons of our de- 
 mefnes, who are fo named herein, may the more freely, 
 quietly and fafely ferve God, in praying for us, for our father, 
 and the reft abovementioned ; wherefore we will, &c. We 
 will alfo and command, that they enjoy that manor as fully 
 and quietly, with all its liberties and free cuftoms, as king 
 
 Richard 
 
102 
 
 The Abbey oi St. Mary. 
 
 Richard, our brother, enjoyed the fame, when it was in his 
 hands, except pleas of the crown, and our foreft of Minchy, 
 which we referve to ourfelves, as the charter of king Richard,' 
 our brother, can teftify. 
 
 Witnefles, Robert, earl of Leicefterj William, earl of 
 Pembroke j William de Albeniaco, Garine de Glapum, Peter 
 Eftokes, and many others. 
 
 This monaftery was very richly endowed, as ap- 
 pears by the recited grants and charters ; but its re- 
 venues were not much increafed at any time after- 
 wards. Indeed the ecclefiastics were envied for their 
 riches and grandeur by the nobility and gentry; and 
 as early as the feventh year of the reign of Edward 
 the Firft, the ftatute of Mortmain was ena&ed, by 
 which all religious perfons were incapacitated from 
 buying or accepting any fees, or freeholds, without 
 licence of the chief lords, upon pain of forfeiture. 
 There were feveral laws made to prevent this, for 
 (as Frederick the abbat of Canterbury told William 
 the Conqueror) the lands, which were for the main- 
 tenance of martial men, were converted to pious ufes, 
 and bellowed on holy votaries. By thefe means the 
 military fervices, necelfary for the defence of the 
 kingdom, were withdrawn ; and the chief lords loft 
 their efcheats, wardfhips, and reliefs. To prevent 
 thefe evils, at the creation of a feigniory, this claufe 
 was often inferted, Quod licitum fit donatori rem dona- 
 tam dare vel vendere cui voluerit, exceptis viris religiojis 
 ctjudeis. Lord Coke (2 Inft. c. 36) has fhewn how 
 many ways the religious had to evade this law, of 
 
 which 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 which they complained; and to fupply the lofs of new- 
 benefactions, they procured penfions, exemptions 
 from tithes, and impropriations. 
 
 In the reign of king Henry the Fourth, and that 
 of king Henry the Fifth, were two feveral attempts 
 upon the temporal poffeffions of the church ; which 
 were in great meafure fet afide by archbifhop Arundel, 
 and archbiftiop Chicheley, tho' in the fecond year of 
 the laft mentioned reign, the parliament, held at 
 Leicefter, gave all the alien priories to the king, with 
 their lands and houfes, except fuch as were con- 
 ventual. In the fucceeding reigns, the monks grew 
 more and more difliked by the laity, who had been 
 witneffes to the loofe and vicious lives which fome of 
 them led, 'till at length the reformation began to take 
 place in the reign of king Henry the Eighth. By an 
 aft of parliament in the 27th year of that reign, all 
 monafteries not having 200/. a year were diffolved, 
 and all their lands, rents, and houfes, with their 
 flocks, of cattle, corn, and other effects, given to the 
 king. And in the 31ft year of the fame reign, all the 
 great abbies, to the number of 645, met with the 
 fame fate. The next year, the houfes, lands, and 
 goods of the knights of St. John of Jerufalem were 
 feized by the ciown ; as were 90 colleges, 110 hof- 
 pitals, and 2370 chanteries and free chapels, in the 
 37th year of that reign, which put a final period to 
 the monaftic ftate in this kingdom. 
 
 O 
 
 What 
 
ioa The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 What very much promoted this cataftrophe, was 
 the fending out vifitors to all the monalleries in the 
 kingdom, with inftru6tions to enquire concerning 
 their revenues, and the lives and converfation of the 
 monks and nuns. And the vifitors found in many 
 places monftrous diforders ; the fin of Sodom in 
 feveral houfes; great factions and cruelties in others, 
 and in fome they found tools for coining. The re- 
 port of the vifitors contained many abominable things 
 not fit to be mentioned; but it was read in both houfes 
 of parliament, which difpofed the members to great 
 eafinefs in the matter. And in that parliament which 
 was fummoned in 1539, and which confirmed all re- 
 fignations of religious houfes, already made, or to 
 be made, though twenty abbats fat in perfon, not one 
 of them protefted againft it. 
 
 In this general wreck fell the abbey of Cirencefter, 
 which was furrendered to the commiffioners the 29th 
 of December, 1539, 31 H. 8. It's annual revenues 
 had been valued in 1535, at 1051/. 75. id. ob. ac- 
 cording to both the copies of the valuation of re- 
 ligious houfes, one by Mr. Burton or Mr. Speed, 
 taken from the original by the commiffioners ; the 
 other by Sir William Dugdale, taken out of the Cot- 
 ton library, which two accounts feldom agree. But 
 the monafteries were much richer than appeared from 
 the rent-roll of their eftates ; for it was the practice 
 to let them at their firft rates, tho* the value of lands 
 \yas much enhanced; and inftead of raifing rents, they 
 exacted great fin.es from their tenants upon the re- 
 newal 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. ior, 
 
 newal of leafes ; fo that fome houfes rated only at 
 200/. a year, were really worth many thoufands. 
 
 The valued rents of the abbey lands, as they were 
 then let, was 132,607/. 65. 4 J. but this was not one 
 tenth of the real value. The king had then in his 
 hands the greateft advantage that ever king of England 
 had. The people were given to understand, that with 
 all this wealth, the kingdom mould be ftrengthened 
 with an army of 40,000 men, the navy put on a more 
 refpe£table footing, and that, for the future, they 
 fliould never be charged with fubfidies, loans, or com- 
 mon aids. But fuch was the king's extravagance, that 
 all this melted away in a few years, and the people 
 were difappointed in their expectations. 
 
 The following is a List of the Abbals, from Mr. Willis's 
 Hiftory of the Mitred Parliamentary Abbies. 
 
 1. Serlo, the fourth dean of Salifbury, was made the fir ft 
 abbat after the foundation, anno 1117. He died anno 1 147, 
 and was fucceeded by 
 
 2. Andrew, who died anno 1176, and had for his fuccefTor, 
 
 3. Adam, prior of Bardney. He died anno 1183, and 
 
 4. Robert, canon of Cirencefter, fucceeded ; who dying 
 the fame year, the convent elected another 
 
 5. Robert for their abbat; upon \vhofe death, which hap- 
 pened anno 1 187, 
 
 6. Richard, prior of St. Gregory's, Canterbury, fucceeded. 
 He died anno 1213 j in which year, 
 
 7. Alexander Nequam, alias Neccham, was made abbat. 
 Weever fays he was buried in St. Alban's abbey, tho', with 
 better authority, other hiftorians mention his interment in the 
 
 O 2 cloyfters 
 
io6 The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 cloyfters of the cathedral church at Worcefter, with this 
 rhymiig epitaph : 
 
 Ecclypfim patitur fapientia, fol fepelitur, 
 
 6)ui dam vivebat Jludii genus omne vigebat. 
 
 Solvitur in cineres Neccham. Cui ft foret hares 
 
 In t err is units, minus ejfet flebile funus. 
 
 Thus englished, 
 Wifdom juffers an eclipfe. The fun is buried, who being aTtve., 
 every kind of learning fourijhed. Neccham is reduced to ajhes ! 
 Were there one left in the country to fucceed bun, his death would 
 
 be- lefs to be lamented.- All agree that Neccham was a very 
 
 learned man, an excellent poet, and a great proficient, for his 
 time, in all forts of literature. See an account of him in 
 Leland, and in Bale De Scriptoribus . The year after his death, 
 which happened anno 1227, or, as in Willis, 1217, 
 
 8. Walter, or, as fome records have it, Richard* was 
 elected abbat. He died 1230, whereupon 
 
 9. Hugh de Bampton, alias Bathon, who is elfewhere cal- 
 led Henry, fucceeded. He died anno 1238, and was fuc- 
 ceeded by 
 
 10. Roger de Rodmarton. He died anno 1266, and was 
 fucceeded by 
 
 1 1 . Henry de Munden, to whofe election the king confented 
 Oct. 10, 1266. I don't find when he died, but anno 1281, 
 
 12. Henry de Hamptonel was made abbat. He died Nov. 
 2, 1307, eleven days after which, 
 
 13. Adam Brokenbury was elected abbat ; but his eleclion 
 was vacated 'till the 3d of December, at which time he ob- 
 tained a confirmation of it. He died anno 1319, and was fuc- 
 ceeded by 
 
 14. Richard de Charleton, on whofe refignation, anno 1334, 
 
 15. William Hereward was admitted abbat. He died Apr. 
 25, 1352, and was fucceeded by 
 
 16. Ralph de Eftcote, who dying anno 1357, was fucceeded 
 by 17. William 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 107 
 
 17. William de Marteley, or Martelege. He died anno 
 1361, and was fucceeded by 
 
 iS. William de Dinton, who dying anno 1363, was fuc- 
 ceeded by 
 
 19. Nicholas de Ameney, who dying anno 1394, was fuc- 
 
 ceeded by 
 
 20. John Lekhampton. His fucceffor was 
 
 21. William Beft, anno 1416. He procured to himfelf and 
 fucceffors, the ufe of the mitre and pontificals, and dying 1429, 
 
 22. William Wotton obtained the benediction, Mar. 5, 
 1429. On his death, 1440, 
 
 23. John Taunton was confecrated abbat the fame year, 
 and dying anno 1445, had for his fucceffor, 
 
 24. William George, who received the benediaion April 
 10, 1445, at Perfhore. He died anno 1461, whereupon 
 
 25. John Solbury, or Sadbury, received the benediaion at 
 Alnchurch, Oa. 13, 1461. I find not when he died, but 
 anno 1478, 
 
 26. Thomas Compton occurs abbat. He died Oa. 11, 
 1481, and was fucceeded by 
 
 27. Richard Clyve, elefled Oa. 25, and confirmed Nov. 
 5, 1481. He was fucceeded 1488, by 
 
 28. Thomas Afton, confirmed abbat, in the bifhop of 
 Worcefter's chapel in the Strand, London, Oaober 22, 1488. 
 He refiVned anno 1504, and was fucceeded by 
 
 29. John Hakeborne, or Haukebourne, who was confirmed 
 abbat December 7, 1504; of whom Anthony a Wood tells 
 us, that in the year 1 500, being then prior of St. Mary's col- 
 lege in Oxford, he commenced Bachelor of Divinity, and 
 afterwards Doaor, and dying about the year 1522, was fuc- 
 ceeded by 
 
 30. John Blake, the laft abbat. In the year 1534, he fub- 
 fcribed to the king's fupremacy, with Richard Ciceter, prior, 
 Will. Cerney, and other monks of his houfe, in number 
 fixteen. Qnc 
 
io8 
 
 The Abbey of St. Mary, 
 
 One head in the inftructions to the vifitors of mo- 
 nafteries is now particularly neceiTary to be taken 
 notice of. They were enjoined to find out how many 
 of the religious would return to a fecular life ; and 
 were direded, at their difcretion, to appoint penfions 
 to the abbats, priors, and fome of the moft refpe&able 
 monks, during life. 
 
 To the laft abbat, and to fome of the religious of 
 his houfe, the commiflioners appointed the following 
 penfions. < To John Blake, late abbat, 250/. 
 « Richard Woodwall, late prior, 13/. 65. 8d. Wil- 
 
 • Ham Warbot, late cellerer, 8/. William Philips, 
 « vicar of the parifh church of Circe aer, nihil; de- 
 
 claratur in pede. Thomas Fifher, Thomas Hedde, 
 1 John Ruffel, John Walle, William More, Richard 
 ' Bolle, John Straunge, Thomas Logger, Anthony 
 
 * Chilcoke, Henry Hawks, James Plebeien, William 
 Smyth, 61. 335. 4 d. each. Richard Lane, 5/. 6 s. 
 
 6d.> Memorandum, That William Philippes 
 
 abovenamed, is affigned to the Vicarage & Cure of 
 the Parifh of Circefter, with the hole Tithes of 
 Woolle, Lambe, Hey, Oblations, Alterages and 
 all other Profitts bilonging to the fame Churche : 
 The Tithes of the Domayne- Lands, latelie being 
 in Occupation of the late Abbot and Convent there, 
 only excepted. Yeldinge, therefore, unto the King's 
 Majeftie, in Confideration, the fame Vicar mail be 
 charged with the finding of three Preifts befydes 
 hymfelf to mynifter there, alfo mall finde Wyne 
 and Wax at his propre Cofts and Charges Yerely, 
 
 6 isb 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary, 109 
 
 * 535. 4 of. And fo the faid Vicar mall have a reafon- 
 
 * able Living and a convenyant Portion of the Pro- 
 4 fitts of the faid Churche, the Quantitie of the Cure 
 ' there Duelie confidered.' 
 
 Robert Southwell. John London. 
 Edward Carne. Ry chard Poulet. 
 Ric. Gwent. Will. Berners. 
 
 In the refervations in the grant of the fcite of the 
 abbey, made to Roger Baffinge, efq; by king .Henry 
 the Eighth, the king commands that all the edifices 
 within the fcite and precincts of the monafterv mould 
 be pulled dow>n and carried away; and the royal man- 
 date was fo punctually obeyed, and the materials fo 
 totally removed, that the precife fpot where the abbey 
 church flood was quickly forgotton. Mr. Willis, 
 who was a curious fearcher after fuch things, con-i 
 je&ures, that the abbey flood on the north fide of the 
 parifh church. And the parifh church, fays he, was 
 no doubt fet within part of the abbey cemetery. We 
 think Mr. Willis is perfe&ly right in the latter affer- 
 tion, tho' he has not affigned a reafon. But we will 
 give ours, and that is, that the parifh church had no 
 cemetery belonging to it, 'till the lafl century. All 
 that now remains of the abbey buildings, confifls only 
 of two antient gate-ways, the Almery-gate and the 
 Spital-gate, and one very large barn. How thefe 
 came to efcape is very uncertain. 
 
 Soon after this revolution in church-affairs, tho' it 
 appeared to be fo much to the wifhes of all ranks of 
 
 the 
 
1 io 
 
 The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 the laity, and of fome of the clergy, the monks were 
 almoft as much pitied as they were hated before. Ten 
 thoufands of the religious were fent to feek their for- 
 tunes, with a gown and forty millings a man. But 
 there were other difcontents. The nobility and gentry, 
 who had provided for their younger children and 
 friends, by putting them in monasteries, were fenfible 
 of their lofs. And the people who had been fed at 
 the abbats tables, as they travelled over the country, 
 and found the abbies to be receptacles for Grangers, 
 faw what they were to lofe. 
 
 To remove this prevalent difcontent, lord chan- 
 cellor Cromwell advifed the king to fell the abbey 
 lands to the nobility and gentry, at very eafy rates, 
 and to oblige them to keep up the wonted hofpitality. 
 This, it was imagined, would be grateful to them, and 
 in cafe of difturbance engage them to affift the crown 
 in the maintenance of the changes that had been 
 made, with whofe intereft their own would be thus 
 interwoven. And the common people, whofe grudges 
 lay chiefly in their ftomachs, would be eafily pacified, 
 by hofpitality. Cromwell's advice was followed, which 
 accounts for the fmall and inadequate confiderations 
 paid to the crown for abbey lands. Hofpitality was 
 kept up for a time, proportionate to the generofity 
 of the purchafers, their defcendants and fucceffors. 
 
 By letters patent dated the nth day of May, 32 
 H. 8. the king granted to Roger Baflinge, efq; the 
 fcite of the late diffolved monaftery of Cirencefter, 
 with all edifices, buildings, dove-houfes, courts, yards, 
 
 orchards, 
 
The Abb£y of St. Mary. iii 
 
 orchards, gardens, waters, ponds, mills, lands and 
 grounds, within the fcite and precin&s of the fame 
 monaftery ; and all the grange of Spyringate, alias 
 Spitle-grange, with the appertenancies ; and all the 
 grange called the Almery-grange, with the apper- 
 tenancies; and twenty-one acres of meadow, lying in 
 meadows called the Almery-clole, St. John's mead, 
 Pulham's barn, Dolemead, Clyff, and Kingfmead : 
 Except all timber-trees and woods growing upon the 
 v premifes, and all fuch edifices within the fcite and 
 precinct of the faid monaftery which the king had 
 commanded to be pulled down, and to be carried 
 away. Rent 32/. 105. 8d. ob. 
 
 One hundred and fifty-two meffuages lying in the 
 town of Cirencefter, and which formerly belonged to 
 the abbey, were granted to John Pollard and William 
 Birt, 36 H. 8. And St. Mary's mill, {now taken down, 
 but which stood at the first bridge from the church'] and 
 Barton-mill, formerly belonging to the abbey,, were 
 granted to James Woodford and Thomas Woodford, 
 2 Eliz. 
 
 Thefe meffuages are now the property of various 
 proprietors, and are held according to the cuftom of 
 the manor of Cirencefter, by copy of the court-roll, 
 fubjeft: to very fmall annual chief-rents, (none we 
 believe more than 55.) and defcend like freeholds to 
 the heir at law. Alienations are made by furrender 
 into the hands of the fteward of the manor at a court- 
 halimote, in the prefence of two benchers or tenants 
 at leaft, and by the admittance of the purchafer. I ii 
 
 P this 
 
112 
 
 The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 this court fines are levied, and recoveries fuffered, 
 and the tenure is efteemed by the inhabitants to be <of 
 equal value with freehold. But it. is a bafe holding, 
 by fuit and fervice, and altogether incompatible with 
 the condition of a free people. 
 
 The fcite of the abbey was granted Aug. 19, 1 E. 6. 
 to Thomas lord Seymour, with lands in fifteen coun- 
 ties, to be held in capite by the fervice of one knightt's 
 fee, paying 1/. 15. 8i. But at that nobleman's at- 
 tainder, all reverted £0 the crown. Fuller's History of > 
 Abbies. And 
 
 In the 6th year of E. 6. by letters patent dated 
 the 21ft of September, the king demifed the fcite of 
 the monaftery of Cirencefter, two granges, &c. to 
 Sir Anthony Kingfton, knight, then his fervant, at 
 the rent of 19/. 13 s. 10 d. cb. 
 
 And by letters patent dated the 6th of January, 
 -7 Eliz. the queen, for the confideration of 590/. 165. 
 3 d. gave and granted to Richard Matter, efq; the 
 reverfion of the fcite of the faid monaftery, &c. with 
 the granges and lands thereto belonging, except all 
 the bells, and all the lead upon the premifes; and all 
 advowfons of the reclories, vicarages and churches. 
 
 From the before-mentioned Richard Matter, the 
 abbey-eftate has defcended in a direcl line down to 
 Thomas Matter, efq; * the prefent proprietor, who 
 
 has 
 
 * Richard Matter of Cirencefter, anceftor to the prefent 
 poffeflbr, was defcended from the family of Matter in Kent. 
 
 He 
 
The Abbey of St. Mary. 
 
 has a handfome houfe, built in 1776, with good gar- 
 dens, and fpacious lawns, on the fcite of the abbey, 
 and feveral large eftates in the neighbouring villages, 
 and other parts of Gioucefterfhire, Wiltftiire, &c. 
 
 It has been obferved, that on the alienation of 
 abbey-lands by the crown, the purchafers were en- 
 joined to keep up hofpitality; and we have reafon to 
 believe that it was continued here as long as any 
 
 where. 
 
 He was phyfician to queen Elizabeth, and married Elizabeth 
 
 daughter of Tunnely of Lincolnshire. 
 
 George Mafter, efq; fon of Richard, married Bridget, 
 daughter and heirefs of John Cornwall, of Marlborough in 
 Wiltftiire. 
 
 Sir William Mafter, fon of George, married Alice dauglrter 
 of Edward Eftcourt, of Salifbury, efq. He was high ftierifF 
 of Gioucefterfhire 3 Car. i, 1627, and was a perfon of great 
 worth and loyalty. He ferved in parliament for the borough 
 of Cirencefter, and lies buried in the church of that place. 
 King Charles I. pafled one night at Sir William Mafters's at 
 Cirencefter, in his march from Briftol to Oxford in Auguft 
 1643, and another in 1644, i n ms return from Bath. 
 
 Thomas Mafter, efq; fon of fir William, married Elizabeth 
 fifter of fir Thomas Dyke, of SufTex. On the 27th of Aug. 
 1702, Queen Anne lay at his houfe, as it is in the parifli re- 
 gifter. He died 1680, and lies buried near his father in Ciren- 
 cefter church. He alfo ferved in parliament for that borough. 
 
 Thomas Mafter, fon of Thomas, married Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter and heirefs of John Driver, of Afton, and has likewife fer- 
 ved in parliament for the faid borough. 
 
 P 2 Thomas 
 
114 The Abbey of St. Mary, 
 
 where. Even in the prefent century, here was a kind 
 of open houfe-keeping at Chriftmas for twelve days 
 together. And we have heard from thofe who have 
 been prefent, and partakers of the entertainment, 
 that amongft plenty of good old-fafhion viands, a large 
 quantity of plumb-porridge was a very favorite difli. 
 And what greatly enhanced the value of the treat, 
 the mafter and miftrefs of the entertainment thought 
 it no degradation to join in the fong, and the dance, 
 
 Thomas Mafter, fon of the iaft Thomas, married Joan, 
 daughter and heirefs of Jafper Chapman, of Stratton, efq; who 
 before his death gave this eftate to his fon, 
 
 Thomas Mafter, efq; who married Elizabeth, daughter and 
 heirefs of fir Thomas Cann, bar 1 , and dying the latter end of 
 May, 1749, left iflue by the faid Elizabeth, twofons, Thomas 
 and Richard, and one daughter Elizabeth. 
 
 Thomas Mafter, fon of the laft mentioned Thomas and 
 Elizabeth, the prefent proprietor of the abbey-eftate, ferved 
 in two fucceffive parliaments for the county of Gloucefter; 
 but prefering a private life, declined the honor which the 
 county would have conferred upon him a third time. He 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of James-Lenox Dutton, of 
 Sherbourn in the fame county, efq; the iflue of which marriage 
 were, 1. Thomas, who commanded a troop of Britifh light 
 dragoons in the Low-countries in the prefent war, and having 
 fignalized himfelf in feveral actions with the French, was pro- 
 moted to a majority. His health being much impaired by the 
 feverity of winter-campaigns, he returned home to reinftate it, 
 but died in 1797. 1. Jane, 3. Mary- Anne, who are both liv- 
 ing. His arms are, Gules, a lion rampant gardant, his tail double, 
 Or, holding in his paw a rofe argent. See feveral memorials for 
 this family in the account of St. Mary's chapel. 
 
 and 
 
And Antient Crosses. ti$ 
 
 and, with the better fort of the company, to partake 
 in the feftivity of the meeting. And the reader will 
 credit us, when we alfert, that they were beloved and 
 adored. There was nothing poffible to their neigh- 
 bours in which they would not have been ferved. 
 Thefe were the good old manners of the age, from 
 which we have too far refined. In thofe days Lon- 
 don and Bath were lefs acceffible from this part of the 
 country, and lefs frequented. Brighton, Weymouth, 
 &c. as places of dilTipation ? were unknown, and we 
 could wifh * * * * but what avails ? 
 
 When pleafure lures, and votaries purfue, 
 Pity we may, — but what can Pity do ? 
 Like death, {he comes when all the mifchief 's paft; 
 Of all our friends, the tardieft and the laft. 
 
 Antient Crojfes. 
 
 The antient croffes have a claim to our notice. 
 There were veftiges of at leaft fix of them, within 
 the recollection of many perfons now living, but not 
 one entire. 
 
 The principal of them was called the High Cross. 
 It flood upon a bafe of about jo feet fquare, with 
 four fteps on each fide, gradually diminifhing from 
 the loweft to the uppermoft. From the middle of the 
 bafe rofe an oftangular column or pillar, fupporting 
 a capital, much defaced and broken before our time ; 
 
 but 
 
n6 
 
 Antient Crosses. 
 
 but it appeared to have been ornamented with carv- 
 ings, of which the fubjefl: could not be diftinguifhed. 
 We fuppofe it, however, to have been a very curious 
 piece of workmanfhip, as more than ordinary care 
 had been taken to preferve what remained of it. It 
 was encompafled with an iron collar, from the fides 
 of which four bars proceeded to the upper fteps, and 
 thus it was fupported upon the column or pillar of the 
 crofs. Over this capital the crofs was fixed, of which 
 we believe no perfon living had any remembrance. 
 In a deed dated 1413, this was called Nova Crux, [the 
 new crofTJ fo that there were others at that time more 
 antient than this. The whole being in a very muti- 
 lated flate, and occupying a large fpace in the open- 
 ing nearly oppofite to the Ram inn, it was taken down 
 about fourteen or fifteen years ago. 
 
 A fecond ftood in the open part of Dyer-ftreet, 
 where the pig-market is, and was thence called the 
 pig-crofs. Inftead of a crofs, we remember a fun- 
 dial fixed on the pillar. The crofs had been deftroyed, 
 and the whole was taken down, before the removal 
 of the High Crofs. 
 
 A third ftood in the church-yard, but was not en- 
 tire within memory. The relics were difplaced be- 
 fore the two already mentioned. 
 
 A fourth flood near the crofTing of Caftle-ftreet 
 with Sheep-ftreet and the lane leading to the free- 
 fchool. We remember no more of it than the round 
 pedeftal on which it flood, which is now removed. 
 
 A fifth 
 
Antient Crosses. 117 
 
 A fifth flood near the extremity of the borough, 
 at the firft ftream of water at the end of Dyer-ftrcet. 
 The round pedeftal of it remains there ftill. 
 
 A fixth was erefted at the croffing of Leaufe-lane 
 with Cricklade-ftreet, where the round pedeftal of it 
 is ftill to be feen. 
 
 Perhaps it will afford but little information to many 
 of our readers, yet it is pertinent to our fubjecl, to 
 obferve, that our anceftors ere&ed croffes in the moil 
 frequented parts of towns and villages, and at the 
 croffing and junction of great roads, to put perfons 
 in mind of Chrift's crucifixion, and to excite their de- 
 votion. At length, thro' the extreme ignorance of 
 the people, and mifguidance of their inftruclors, crof- 
 fes, images, and grofs reprefentations of the deity, 
 became real objects of worfhip. This gave great of- 
 fence to many worthy perfons, and after the reforma- 
 tion, they were fome of the points very warmly agi- 
 tated in religious eontroverfy between protectants and 
 catholics; but ftill moft of thofe things remained en- 
 tire where they had been fixt, 'till the great civil war, 
 in the reign of king Charles the Firft. The catholics 
 in general adhered to the king ; but were moreover 
 obnoxious on account of religion to the parliament's 
 party, who were ftrict and rigid protectants. The latter 
 prevailing, demolifhed moft of the croffes and images 
 wherever they found them, which accounts for nothing 
 remaining of the former, except the pedeftals and a 
 few of the pillars on which the croffes flood. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
 ■ 
 
1 1 8 The Antient Hundred of Cirencester. 
 
 CHAP IV. 
 
 Of the antient Hundred of Cirencejler. 
 
 This place very antiently gave denomination 
 to a hundred, which at different times was more or lefs 
 extenfive. Soon after the conqueft, as we find in 
 Domefday-book, it included the following places, viz. 
 Achelie, Benwedene, Circestre, Duntefborne, Hunlafefed, 
 Nortcote, Penneberie, Prestetune, Stratone, Sudintone, 
 Torentune, and Turfterie, which are all villages in the 
 neighbourhood of the town. But the hundred was 
 confiderably altered before the ninth year of the reign 
 of king Edward the Firft, when the fheriff of the 
 county returned, that in the hundred of Cirencefter 
 are the underwritten vills, viz. Baudinton, Cirencester, 
 Cotes, Daglinworth, Down Ampney, Dryfeild, Duntef- 
 bur'ne, Hampton Moyfey, Preston, Sodington, South Cer- 
 ney, and Upampney. 
 
 By comparing thefe two accounts it will be ob- 
 ferved that Cotes is a new name, and ftands, in the 
 fheriff 's return, in the room of Hunlafefed, Torentune, 
 and Turfberie, as fet down in Domefday. Achelie, 
 Nortcote, and Penneberie, are not mentioned by the 
 fheriff, becaufe at that time they were members of, 
 and included in, Cirencester, Preston, and Duntefbourne. 
 
 Daglingworth 
 
The Antient Hundred of Cirencester, 
 
 Daglingworth alfo at that time feems to include 
 Str atone, and hence it may be concluded, that they 
 were both reputed to be one vill, fometimes paffing 
 by one name, and fometimes by the other, 'till they 
 were afterwards divided into two parifhes. 'Tis alfo 
 obfervable, that the Amncys, Dryfcild, and Hampton 
 Meyfey, which in Domefday-book are placed in 
 Gerfdon hundred, are returned by the fheriff as be- 
 longing to that of Cirencefter. 
 
 Afterwards another very material alteration took 
 place in this hundred. When the townfmen of Ciren- 
 cefter fuppreffed the rebellion againft king Henry the 
 Fourth, as already related under the head of military 
 affairs, they petitioned the king to be incorporated j 
 whereupon the king directed his writ to the efchealer, 
 to inquire what damage others might fuftain in con- 
 fequence. And the efcheater returned the inquifition, 
 taken at Gloucefter, 4 H. 4. into the court of Chan- 
 cery, from which the following particulars are ex- 
 tracted. * The jurors fay, that the town of Ciren- 
 cefter and the town of Mynety, with the apper- 
 4 tenancies, make and are the manor of Cirencefter, 
 4 and were fo in the time of king Richard the Firft. 
 4 That the church of St. Mary of Cirencefter is of 
 ' the foundation of king Henry the Firft, and within 
 4 his patronage. That king Richard the Firft gave 
 4 to God and the church of St. Mary of Cirencefter 
 ' his whole manor of Cirencefter, with all and lingular 
 ' appertenancies, and with the town of Mynetie, 
 f which is a member of the faid manor, and with the 
 
 Q * feven 
 
120 The Antient Hundred of Cirencester. 
 
 1 feven hundreds to the fame manor, and to his farm 
 
 ' belonging, and with all other the appertenancies, to 
 
 c be holden of the laid king and his fucceflbrs for 
 
 ' ever, at the rent of 30/. a year, with Soca, Saca, 
 
 ' Thol, Them, Infangtheof, and Outfangtheof, Ham- 
 
 ( foca, and Girthbriche, Blodewite, Murder, Fore- 
 
 « ftall, Flemsfleet, Ordeal, and Oreft * 5 within time 
 
 * and without, and in all places and with all caufes 
 
 * which may be. And that the rent of aflize of the 
 
 < faid 
 
 * Thefe terms are by antient writers thus explained : 
 
 Soc, That is, the fuing of men in their own court, ac- 
 cording to the cuftom of the kingdom. 
 
 Sac is the power of impleading and punifhing tranfgref- 
 fors in their court, becaufe fake in Englijh fignifies enchefon in 
 French, (which is occafwi, caufe y or reafon,) and it is faid for 
 fiche fake (that is for fuch fake or reafon) being the fame as quele 
 enchefon, and fake is faid for forfeit. 
 
 Tol imports,, that you, and all your men, throughout all 
 your homage lands, be exempt in all markets from toll, for 
 things bought or fold. 
 
 Theam, This is, that you have all the generation of your 
 villains, with their fervices and chatties, wherefoever they fhall 
 be found in England: excepting if any one born in fervitude, 
 fhall continue for a year and a day undifturbed in any privi- 
 ledged town, fo that he be received into their company, or 
 gild, and as one of them, by the fame he fhall be exempted 
 from villainage. 
 
 Infangethef is, that thieves or robbers, taken in your 
 lordfhip, or fee, and convi&ed of their theft, be adjudg'd in 
 your court. 
 
 Out- 
 
The Antient Hundred of Cirencester. 121 
 
 • faid manor of Cirencefter is 143/. 4 5 - yearly, 
 < payable to the abbat *. And that the faid feven 
 
 ' hundreds 
 
 Outfangethef is, that thieves or robbers, which belong 
 to your land, or fee, if taken with a robbery out of your land 
 or fee, be brought back to your court, and there try'd. 
 
 Hamsokene, That is, that you be exempt from amercia- 
 ments for entering houfes violently and without leave, againft 
 the peace of our lord the king, and that you hold pleas of this 
 fort of tranfgreffion committed on your land, in your court. 
 
 Grythebriche, That is, the breach of the king's peace, 
 for gryth in Englijh, is pax in Latin. 
 
 Blodwyte, That is, that you be exempt from amercia- 
 ment for blood fpilt, and that you hold pleas thereupon in your 
 court, and that you have the amerciament arifing from thence j 
 becaufe wyte in Englijh, is the fame as injuria in Latin. 
 
 Flemenesfrith is, that you have the chatties or amer- 
 ciaments of a fugitive. 
 
 Porstall is, that you be exempt from amerciaments for 
 chatties feized, either within or without your lands, and that 
 you have and hold pleas concerning fuch cafes fo arrefted with- 
 in your lands, in your court, and the amerciaments arifing 
 from the fame. 
 
 Schot is, that you be exempt from a certain cuftom, as 
 of the common toll impos'd by the fheriff or his bailiffs. 
 
 Horngelde and Lestage, That is, exempt from a duty 
 exacted at fairs and markets. 
 
 Stallage is exempt from a duty exaded for ftandings 
 taken or affign'd in fairs and markets. 
 
 Burgbriche is difcharg'd from any paffing thro' cities 
 or boroughs, againft the peace. 
 
 * Rents of affize were certain rents paid by freeholders and 
 antient copyholders, which had their origin in this manner. 
 
 Q. 2 0a 
 
122 The Antient Hundred of Cirencester. 
 
 e hundreds are but as one hundred, and time out of 
 4 man's memory have been ufed as one hundred be- 
 
 * fore the making the aforefaid deed, and belonging 
 
 * to the faid manor of Cirencefter, and are holden 
 
 * at the town of Cirencefter, from three weeks to three 
 
 On the ruins of the Roman empire, all Europe foon fell into 
 flavery. The large proprietors of lands generally built catties 
 on their own eftates, and became petty tyrants over their 
 tenants and dependants. The inhabitants of towns were 
 chiefly tradefmen and mechanics, of fervile condition; but by 
 induftry, became at length enabled to purchafe certain privi- 
 leges ; fuch as, that they might difpofe of their daughters in 
 marriage without the confent of their lord ; that they might 
 leave their effeds to whom they pleafed by will; and that,°at 
 their deceafe without will, their own children mould fucceed 
 to them, and not their lord. Thefe privileges were purchafed 
 of the great lords, who had various other methods of extort- 
 ing money. Tradefmen and mechanics were men of low con- 
 dition, who travelled thro' the country with their goods, like 
 our hawkers and pedlars; and they were obliged to pay a frnall 
 tax for paffing thro* certain manors, and over certain bridges; 
 and for ereding a booth or ftall in a fair. Thefe impofitionl 
 were refpedively called pafage, pontage, lajage, and /tallage. 
 Sometimes the king or great lord, who claimed thefe taxes, 
 would grant an exemption from them to particular perfons, 
 for certain annual payments ; 'till at length, all thofe which 
 were paid by the burgefTes of a whole town being eftimated 
 together, were let to farm, fometimes to the fheriff of the 
 county, and fometimes to other perfons or incorporate bodies. 
 And as the payment became annual and certain, they were 
 called \ Rents of Jffize, or fixt rents, in oppofition to Redcutus 
 Mobihs, 
 
 * weeks 
 
The Antient Hundred of Cirencester. 123 
 
 c weeks, at a certain houfe called the Tolfede *, 
 * fituate in the middle of the faid town. That the 
 c manor of Cirencefter is the antient demean of the 
 ' crown, and that to the faid manor belong two free 
 ' tenants, William Erchbald and the holder of the 
 ' court, and that all other tenants to the faid manor, 
 1 in the aforefaid town of Cirencefter and Mynetie 
 4 belonging, hold all their lands and tenements ac- 
 c cording to the cuftom of the manor of Cirencefter/ 
 
 In confequence of this return, and the king being 
 much difpofed to reward the townfmen, in their own 
 way, for their loyalty, and fignal fervices, he caufed 
 the town to be ere£ted into a corporation, in the 
 fourth year of his reign, and made it a feparate hun- 
 dred, with two chief conftables, whereby it became 
 a diftinft jurifdiction, of which hereafter. Before this, 
 the entire antient hundred was the property of the 
 aboat, who was probably difpleafed at its being thus 
 difmembered. And tho' he could not withftand the 
 king's pleafure, had fufficient intereft to procure that 
 the abbey and its precincts fhould go with the before- 
 mentioned villages, and with them be confidered as 
 a diftinct. hundred. 
 
 And becaufe the Torn, or court, for the new jurif- 
 diction or town-hundred, was held within the town, 
 and that for the abbey and villages in fome part Out 
 
 * The Tolfede is now converted into a dwelling-houfe and 
 grocer's fhep, in the Butter-row, now in the occupation of 
 
 Mr. John Garland. 
 
 ' of 
 
124 The Antient Hundred of Cirencester, 
 
 of the town, the latter was ftiled the Out Torn and 
 Minety, for the village of Minety was a member, tho' 
 lying at a confiderable diftance, and fevered from it 
 by the interference of another jurifdiftion ; and this 
 we conceive to be the reafon of its making a part of 
 the name of the hundred, called from thence Th' Out 
 Torn and Minety, but fince corrupted into the un- 
 meaning appellation of Crowthorne and Minety, as it 
 is now written in proceffes and precepts. Thus the 
 abbey, and all its precinfts and offices became diftinct. 
 from the borough, and have continued fo ever fince. 
 
 It appears by the juft recited efcheater's inquifition, 
 that the antient hundred court was held from three 
 weeks to three weeks ; — and it has been fo held ever 
 fince, for trying caufes of debt not exceeding Forty 
 Shillings, down to the year 1792. But in that year, 
 at the inftance of the late earl Bathurft, lord of the 
 Seven hundreds, this antient court was aboliflied, and 
 another ere£ted in its ftead, by authority of parlia- 
 ment, with other powers, of which a full account is 
 given in the Second Part, which treats of the town 
 in its prefent ftate. And to that part alfo the reader 
 is referred, for the defcent of the manor and hundreds, 
 which are fo intimately blended in the records, as not 
 to be treated of diftinclly without much repetition. 
 
 Thus have we taken a furvey of the antiquities of 
 the town. We now proceed to make our obfervations 
 on the more modern and prefent ftate of it. 
 
 End of the First Part. 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY of CIRENCESTER 
 
 PART II. 
 The MODERN STATE. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 Salubrity, Air, Water, &c. 
 
 T HE bearings and diftances of the town from 
 London, and other places, are laid down in the Firft 
 Part; from which, by this time, the reader may have 
 formed fome idea of the antient extent and importance 
 of it. It now remains to fay fomething of its modern 
 and prefent ftate ; and we fhall clofe our account with 
 fome particulars of the parifh in general: Mean while, 
 it may be obferved, that the parifh confifts of a due 
 proportion of arable, meadow and pafture, with a 
 
 large 
 
126 
 
 Salubrity, Air, Sec. 
 
 large tract of woodland. In feveral places it joins to 
 the north part of Wiltfhire, which, with Gloucefter- 
 fhire, is fo defervediy efteemed for its fine pafturage, 
 and excellent cheefe. The parim is about four miles 
 and a Half long, and two and a half broad; and the 
 town, of which we are firft to fpeak, is feated towards 
 the fouth-eaitern limit of it. 
 
 The air is pure and falubrious, and not fo thin and 
 cold as in more expofed fituations; for on a near ap- 
 proach to the town, there is a gradual defcent every- 
 way, except from the fouthward j yet it is not a flat, 
 low fituation, where the waters ftagnate, and where 
 putrid effluvia floating in the air produce agues and 
 other diforders, which carry off the inhabitants at 
 premature age. 
 
 The water is fweet and pteafant, rifing out of a fine 
 gravel, from about fifteen to twenty feet below the 
 furface, and almoft every houfe has a pump. So 
 great a plenty of this neceffary element conduces 
 much to cleanlinefs, and is in fome degree a fecurity 
 againft the ravages of fire, from which no town has 
 more providentially efcaped. 
 
 To the healthinefs of the place, if any mould ob- 
 ject, the prefent medical inhabitants may witnefs; but 
 mean while, take the teftimony of an honeft North 
 Briton, who fettled here fome years ago in the cha- 
 racter of a phyfician ; and after continuing here, and 
 traverfing the neighbourhood, for a time fufficient, as 
 he thought, to eftimate future fuccefs, with an em- 
 phatical execration, pronounced it impoflible to get 
 
 a main- 
 
Salubrity, Air, Sec. 
 
 a maintenance by his profeffion, and fo quitted the 
 place. And we remember four other phyfkians, all 
 men of. reputation in their time, who made the ex- 
 periment after him. One of them died here, but the 
 other three, like the honeft Scot, very prudently 
 abandoned the place that would not afford them food 
 and raiment. 
 
 Befides the advantages of fine healthy air and ex- 
 cellent water, the opportunities for walking, fo de- 
 firable as well for health as pleafure, are fcarcely to 
 be equalled. To fay nothing of the fields about the 
 town, which are very pleafant, earl Bathurft's park 
 and fine plantations are not above a quarter of a mile 
 diftant. But we muft not be underftood to induce a 
 public and unlimitted ufe of thefe walks and pleafure- 
 grounds. We only mean to reprefent his lordfhip's 
 goodnefs and condefcenfion in permitting creditable 
 perfons, whether of the town or otherwife, to walk 
 there at Rated times every day. And here we can- 
 not avoid exprefling our indignation at the wanton, 
 licentious, and outrageous behaviour of fome who 
 have been admitted to this favour, in fcrawling upon 
 the walls and breaking the windows of the buildings 
 and retting places in this delightful place. 
 
 As thefe are celebrated objecls, particularly the 
 park and woods, which people of fafhion and curiofity 
 who come to the town feldom fail to vifit, we fhall 
 fubjoin a fhort account of them. 
 
 R 
 
 The 
 
328 
 
 Earl Bathcrst's Seat. 
 
 The Seat of Earl Bathurft. 
 
 Wh ERE the prefent manfion-houfe ftands, 
 was a large one formerly built by lord Danby, about 
 two centuries ago, in the improved ftile'of that age, 
 which, together with a fmall eftate, was purchafed in 
 the year 1695, by Sir Peter Bathurft, great grand- 
 father to the prefent earl. In addition to this, Allen 
 firft lord Bathurft, foon after the death of his father 
 Sir Peter, purchafed a very large eftate, contiguous 
 to his own, of Sir Robert Atkyns, and taking down 
 the old houfe, of which we have been fpeaking, built 
 the prefent manfion upon the fite of it. 
 
 The eaft front is of free ftone. It is of confider- 
 able extent, and looks towards the weft end of the 
 town, at the fmall diftance of about a hundred vards: 
 but the view from thence is intercepted by a high wall 
 lined with trees and evergreens. The approach is by 
 a flight of fteps from the fide of a gravel walk extend- 
 ing at a proper diftance for the whole length of the 
 houfe, which has a lawn before it. The weft front 
 next the park is ftuccoed. It has been confiderably 
 lengthened and improved fince the firft building,, by 
 the addition of two wings and a portico. Views of 
 both fronts are exhibited in the annexed plate, 
 for which we are obliged to the late earl Bathurft. 
 But this feat is more particularly diftinguiftied by its 
 parks, woods, and extenfive plantations, upwards of 
 
 four 
 
Earl Bathurst's Seat. 129 
 
 four miles in length, from the manfion-houfe. In 
 thefe, Allen lord Bathurft, pretty early in life, and 
 in his firft effays, difcovered a fine tafte, and on that 
 account his intimate friend Mr. Pope has juftly cele- 
 brated him in his unrivalled verfe. 
 
 The entrance to the houfe and park from the town 
 is at a lodge on the north fide, by a fpacious gravel 
 walk, between rows of (lately elms. At a fmall dif- 
 tance from this entrance, to the left, is an oblique 
 profpeft: of the weft front of the manfion, with a fine 
 fweep of lawn before it, and a grove of lofty trees 
 on either fide. Turning to the right from the fame 
 fpot, the walk divides;, one branch leading to the ter- 
 race, the other running by the fide of it, in a ferpen- 
 tine direction above a mile in length, finely arched 
 over and (haded by a thick plantation of firs, beech, 
 and other woods, through which it paffes. At fuitable 
 diftances it communicates with the terrace, where are 
 feveral buildings and benches, for the convenience of 
 fhelter and reft. About the mid-way in length, the 
 ferpentine walk is interrupted at a building called the 
 Hexagon, to which you afcend by a flight of half a 
 dozen fteps. It faces a vifta, which crolfes the park 
 at right angles with the terrace, and terminates with 
 another little ftruft ure called the Horfc-templc . At the 
 end of the ferpentine walk is a fmall building called 
 Pope's Seat, perhaps becaufe that great genius fre- 
 quently retired thither when he vifited his noble friend 
 at Cirencefter. There is a lawn before it, where eight 
 viftas concentre, and direct to profpe&s of neighbour- 
 ly 2 ing 
 
130 Earl Bathurst's Seat. 
 
 ing churches, and other agreeable objects. One of 
 thofe objects is a fine lofty column in the midft of the 
 deer-park, fupporting a coloffal ftatue of queen Anne. 
 This column is near a mile diftant from the houfe, 
 about three hundred yards behind which ftands the 
 beautiful tower of the parifh church of Cirencefter, 
 fo direclly in the centre of it, with their fronts parallel 
 to each other, that an obferver at the pillar might he 
 eafily induced to believe the tower to be a part of his 
 lordfhip's houfe, were it not of a different colour. 
 
 The terrace is fheltered on the north by flowering 
 fhrubs and ever-greens, completely covering for their 
 height the thick plantation, thro' whofe fhady arcades 
 and bowers the ferpentine walk meanders. It is fe- 
 parated from the Deer-park, to the fouthward, by a 
 low cut hedge and foffe, over which it commands a 
 diftant profpeB of the north of Wiltfhire; and it ter- 
 minates at a handfome building called the Octagon, 
 about a mile from the manfion-houfe. 
 
 About the middle' of the terrace is a little edifice 
 called, the Venetian- houfe, and not far from it, a pair 
 of gates, for a communication between the Deer and 
 Lodge-parks. At thefe gates there is a profpeel of a 
 large piece of water, a little to the right of the houfe, 
 which looks like part of a confiderable river; but 'tis 
 only a pleafing deception, for nature, as to that ele- 
 ment, hath dealt her favours to this place with fo 
 fparing a hand, that there is not perhaps a perennial 
 fpring to be found within it. This agreeable decep- 
 tion is produced by planting clumps of trees to con- 
 ceal 
 
Earl Bathurst's Seat, 
 
 ceal the extremities of the lake, and it is one of the 
 numberlefs inftances of that judgment and tafte every 
 where to be feen in thefe plantations, all laid out and 
 perfected nearly as we now fee them, in the life-time 
 of the late Allen earl Bathurft. The eye is nowhere 
 offended with the appearance of naked walls, nor can 
 it judge of the extent of the park, as the country on 
 one fide is taken into view over foffes and boundaries, 
 very artfully concealed. 
 
 Mr. Pope had his eye upon this feat, when he paid 
 the noble proprietor that fine compliment in the fol- 
 lowing ftanza : 
 
 " Who then (hall grace, or who improve the foil? 
 " Who plants like Bathurft, and who builds like 
 Boyle ?" 
 
 Windfor, Richmond, and Stow, have been cele- 
 brated by their refpeclive bards ; and his lordfhip's 
 feat is the fubject of a fhort defcriptive poem, by the 
 late Mr. Edward Stephens.*, not deflituie of fenti- 
 ment and merit. Annexed, are two views of the 
 man/ion- houfe, and a plan of the home-park. 
 
 * In a voluminous work publifhing in numbers, there io 
 alfo a profc defcription of this feat, remarkable for its inaccu- 
 racies in terms as well as fafls. 
 
 Oakley 
 
132 
 
 Oakley Woods, Sec. 
 
 Oakley Woods, and Alfred's Hall. 
 
 Adjoi NING to the deer-park weft ward, is 
 the Lodge-park, to which the entrance is at a large 
 pair of gates near the Round Tower; and about a 
 mile further weftward are Oakley Woods. Thefe 
 woods merit our particular notice. Near the middle 
 of them, on a rifing ground, is the point from which, 
 like fo many radii, ten cuts or ridings iffue. The 
 largeft of them is about fifty yards wide, and the view 
 from it is terminated by the lofty tower of Cirencefter 
 church, at the diftance of three or four miles. Others 
 of them are directed to various diftant objecls, and 
 produce a very agreeable effeft. 
 
 Concealed as it were in the wood, ftands Alfred's- 
 hall, a building that has the appearance of great an- 
 tiquity, with a bowling-green, and many beautiful 
 lawns and agreeable walks about it. 
 
 In the fummer feafon fomething more than twenty 
 years ago, a few of the townfmen who were lovers of 
 raufic, and of themfelves made a refpe&able little 
 band, met on this delightful fpot. by the permiffion 
 of Allen lord Bathurft, to play a few pieces of miific 
 for their own entertainment. Their refreshments 
 were fpread beneath the delightful made which this 
 little paradife affords. And it was a day of fo much 
 pleafure and enjoyment, that they refolved to repeat 
 
 their 
 
Oakley Woods, &c. 133 
 
 their vifit every year. In two or three years this little 
 meeting began to be known and talked of by the 
 name of the Woodhouse Concert, tho' as yet it 
 continued to be felect and private; but it was a Fete 
 too delicious to continue fo. Strangers requefted to 
 have tickets of admittance, and they could not be re- 
 fufed. It was indeed a compliment to the performers; 
 and befides, in pleafures of this fort, the individual's 
 (hare is augmented by encreafing the number of par- 
 takers. And thus in five or fix years the Woodhoufe 
 Concert was a high day with the nobility and gentry 
 in this part of the country. A cold collation was 
 provided, and every thing conducted with great pro- 
 priety. All was harmony, every body pleafed, and 
 each fucceeding year out-rivalled the former. The 
 band was gradually improved, and at length aug- 
 mented with fome of the beft performers from Bath 
 and Oxford, and by fuch affiftance, it was expecled 
 to increafe the celebrity of the meeting, and to enfure 
 its duration : But the very means by which the 
 managers expecled to promote it, had the contrary 
 effeft. The contributions of the company were very 
 confiderable, but unequal to the demands and exceffes 
 of thofe hired performers. Therefore, equally un- 
 willing to be impofed on, as to fit down at a lofs, the 
 condu&ors of this moft agreeable entertainment fuf- 
 fered it to drop abruptly about a dozen years ago. 
 
 Upon this occafion, we acknowledge ourfelves to 
 be of Dryden's opinion, who thought the merits of 
 
 fidlers 
 
1^4 Oakley Woods, &c. 
 
 hollers and fingers much over-rated, as appears by 
 the following lines : 
 
 Now look into the mufic-mafter's gains, 
 Where noble youth at vaft expence are taught, 
 But eloquence not valued at a groat. 
 
 Were Dryden now living, with how much more 
 reafon might he complain, when fuch vaft fums of 
 money, furpafling any thing of the kind in his days, 
 are beftowed on mufical performers, many of them 
 foreigners too, and at a time when the exigencies of 
 the ftate are provided for with difficulty. We our- 
 felves have been highly entertained with mufic, but 
 few, we think, have been benefited by it; perhaps, 
 in a moral fenfe, none at all. We have beftowed a 
 few thoughts on the fubjeet, and the refult in fhort, 
 is this; that mufic fafcinates the ear, and exercifes an 
 imperious fway over the paffions. It propels and pre- 
 cipitates the will without convincing the judgment. 
 It is of an intoxicating nature, and has no reftraining 
 powers : Hence the dangers to which its votaries are 
 ever expofed, when purfued with avidity as it now is; 
 and even its greateft advocates muft allow, that it is 
 at leaft a very heavy tax on their time and finances. 
 But to return : 
 
 The concert was performed in Alfred's-hall, on 
 which we (hall now make a few obfervations. 
 
 On the infide, over the dooroppofite to the fouth 
 entrance, is the following infeription in the Saxon 
 character and language. 
 
Oakley Woods, &c. 
 
 *35 
 
 Dip if f ppyK ¥ sippet) cynmn^-j ^ySpun 
 cynninj ^ eallep anjekynnep piran. ealpeo 
 Seob J?e on eaptenjlum be oj? ealle jecpben 
 habbaj? rait) ajnim gepsepepcnot) pop hi pelpe 
 -3 pop heopa jmjpan. 36 pop gebopene pop 
 unjebopene Se gobep railrpe pecce o»e upe ■ 
 
 JEjieyc ymb upe lanb^emaepa up on temepe 
 -j Sonne up on lijan *j anblang li^an oj? hipe 
 aspylm Sonne on jepihre to bet)anpopt)a Son 
 -up on upan oj? paetlingapqiset ; 
 
 Over the fouth door is the following Latin tranflation: 
 
 FOEDUS quod JEljredus Gythrunus reges, omnes 
 Angli fapientes, 6? quicunq; Angliam incolebant orienta- 
 km, fericrunt; 6? non folum de feipfis, vcrum ttiam de 
 natisfuis, ac nondum in lucemeditis, quotquot mifericor- 
 dia divines aut regice velint ejfe participes jurejurando 
 fanxerunt. 
 
 . Primo ditionis nostra? fines ad Thamefin evehuniitr, 
 hide ad Learn ufq; ad Jontem ejus ; turn refla ad Bed- 
 fordiaito, ac deniq; per Ufam ad viam Vetelingiamm. 
 
 There is a ruin behind this building, with a ftone 
 over the chimney-piece, on which, in antient charac- 
 ters relieved, is this infeription :» 
 
 IN • MEM • ALFR GDI • 
 R6G • R6ZTAVR: 
 ANO • DO * 1085. 
 
 S The 
 
i s 6 
 
 Oakley Woods, &c. 
 
 The name, the infeription, and the writing over 
 the doors, of the convention between the good kins 
 and his pagan enemies, were probably all fuggefted 
 by the fimilarity of Achelie, the antient name of this 
 place, to JEcgka *, where king Alfred refted with his 
 army the night before he attacked the Danifh camp 
 at Ethandun, and at length forced Godrum to make 
 fuch convention. 
 
 The topographer would have been remifs and in- 
 excufable in paffing by fo curious a place without 
 notice ; but the hiftorian would be equally culpable 
 who mould not inform the reader, that this building 
 is an excellent imitation of antient ruins. We mall 
 clofe our account of it with a well-known ftory. A 
 traveller on his vifit to this place, being attended by 
 an old woman who refided here for many years, 
 having exprelfed a degree of pleafure and furprize at 
 the great antiquity of this fecluded building; O dear, 
 Sir, replied the poor woman, my Lord intends to 
 build another houfe fliortly, two hundred years older. 
 
 The truffle is a vegetable production, found in con- 
 fiderable abundance in Oakley woods; and perhaps 
 
 * Diluculo fequenti illucefcente, rex inde caftra com- 
 movejis, venit ad locum qui dicitur Mcglea, et ibi una nocte 
 caftrametatus eft. Inde, fequenti mane illucefcente, vexilla 
 commovens, ad locum qui dicitur Ethandun venit ; et contra 
 univerfum paganorum exercitum, cum denfa teftitudine, atro- 
 citer belligerans, animofeque diu perfiftens, divino nutu tan- 
 dem viaoria potiOis, &c. Ajferim d§ Rebus Ge/lis Mlfredi. 
 Editio T. Wife, p. 34, 
 
 there 
 
Streets, Buildings, Sec. 
 
 *37 
 
 there may be other curious plants to attract the notice 
 of the botanift, but we are not prepared to give a 
 catalogue of them. 
 
 Annexed is a plan of Oakley woods, and two views 
 of Alfred's-hall. 
 
 Of the Streets, Buildings, &c. 
 
 THE town confifls of eleven ftreets befides 
 lanes, as appears by the plan annexed, and they are 
 as follow : 
 
 1. Dyer-street, but more antiently Chepyng-street, 
 and Chipping-street, fo called becaufe the market was 
 held in it, is that by which you enter the town from 
 London and Oxford. From the round ftone near 
 the bottom of it, to the other extremity, at the crof- 
 fing of the four principal ftreets, it meafures 549 yards. 
 
 2. Cricklfide-street. This is fo called becaufe it 
 leads to the antient town whofe name it bears. A 
 branch of the river Churn formerly ran down this 
 ftreet to Watermore. From a ftone which was the 
 pedeftal of a crofs, and ftands where the roads inter- 
 fe& at the bottom of the ftreet, to the other extremity, 
 it meafures 360 yards. 
 
 3. Castle-street, antiently Battle-street, fo called 
 from its pointing to the antient caftle. It is that which 
 leads to Tetbury, Briftol and Bath ; and from the 
 
 S 2 crofting; 
 
i 3 8 
 
 Streets, Buildings, &c. 
 
 croffing of the road at the bottom of it, where flood 
 another crofs, to the other extremity in the middle of 
 the town, is 274 yards. 
 
 4. Gofdkch-street, corrupted from Fojfe-dyche-street, 
 fo called, becaufe it led to the Fofs-road for Glou- 
 cefter, and becaufe it was alfo a deep ditch and waters 
 way along which the river Churn antiently ran, in its 
 paflage through the town, but long fince filled up. 
 That a branch of the Churn ran along this ftreet by 
 the Ram-inn, is not only probable, from what Leland 
 fays of it ; [Be lykehood, fays he, yn times past cults 
 were made that partes of Churne streame might cum 
 thorow the citte, and fo to returne to their great bottom. 
 Itin. v. 5.] but appears to be a fafit, from the tefti- 
 mony of a deed dated 1413, in which the late Rev. 
 Mr. Collinfon found this expreffion, Nova crux jicxta 
 flumcn, the new crofs clofe by the river; which crofs 
 we have already mown flood nearly oppofite to the 
 eafl front of the Ram-inn. And we ourfelves re- 
 member that when the vault was dug under the ftreet 
 oppofite Mr. Gregory's houfe, Hones fet up edgeways, 
 like thofe commonly placed in water- courfes for 
 people in croffing to ftep on, were found about fix or 
 feven feet below the level of the ftreet, and the earth 
 at that depth was uncommonly moift. The courfe of 
 this branch of the river muft therefore have been for- 
 merly along this ftreet and down Cricklade-ftre^t, 
 and fo on to join another branch at Watermore. 
 From the end of this ftreet, at the corner of Mr. Gre- 
 gory's houfe, to the firft bridge at the abbey-mill dam, 
 is 180 yards. 5. Dollar- 
 
Streets, Buildings, &c. 
 
 *39 
 
 5. Dollar-street was called in antient deeds Le Fojfe, 
 becaufe it was a continuation of the laft-mentioned 
 ftreet. It commences at the bridge where that ends, 
 and extends to the fecond bridge towards Gloucefter, 1 
 and is 190 yards long. 
 
 6. Saint Lawrence-street, otherwife Gloucester-street. 
 It was fo called becaufe the church Of St. Lawrence 
 Hood in it, and becaufe it leads to Gloucefter. This 
 ftreet, from the fecond bridge, where Dollar-street 
 ends, is 427 yards long. A part of the river Churn 
 ran along it for the whole length, and for a part of 
 the way, in a channel of four or five feet below the 
 foot-path on each fide of it, and the water was dis- 
 charged into another branch of the river at the fecond 
 bridge ; but the" current was Hopped, and the whole 
 channel filled up, about twenty years fince, at the 
 expenfe of Mr. Blackwell, who was at that time one 
 of the reprefentatives of the borough. This hollow 
 way was really a nuifance to the inhabitants, and a 
 difagreeable entrance for travellers ; and without 
 doubt was a part of the channel in which the water 
 anticntly ran thro' the town, as juft before obferved. 
 
 7. Cecily-street, or Cecily-hill, called alfo Inchstropp- 
 street in a court-roll 16 R. 2. and in another 7 H. 6. 
 It took its name from the church of St. Cecilia which 
 antiently flood in it, where, according to William of 
 'Worcefter, king Arthur was crowned; but the church 
 has been long fince taken down. The length of this 
 ftreet is 196 yards. 
 
 8. Black* 
 
140 
 
 Streets, B.uildings, &c. 
 
 8. Black-jack-street, now fo called, we apprehend 
 to be the fame with St. Johns -street as mentioned in 
 0 deed of 1509. This commences at the bottom of 
 Cecily-street, and leads towards the parifh church of 
 St. John, 'till it falls in with G of ditch- street, and is 300 
 yards in length. 
 
 9. Silver -street, making a communication between 
 Black-jack- street and Castle-street, is 75 yards long. 
 
 10. Coxwell-street, was fo called from the name of 
 a perfon of confiderable family and property who 
 lived in it; but it was more antiently called Abbat- 
 street, becaufe it led to the abbey. It is 221 yards 
 long. 
 
 11. Saint Thomas-street had its appellation from 
 St. Thomas's hofpital ftanding in it; and extending 
 from Groomftole-bridge to one end of Dollar- street, 
 is in length 227 yards. 
 
 Befides thefe ftreets, there are 
 Shoe-lane, fo called from the fhoemakers formerly 
 fettling there. 
 
 The Butter-row, and 
 
 The Butxher-row, erroneoufly fo called. No place 
 could be more inconvenient for butchers. It is by 
 far the narrowed and molt confined part of the town, 
 whereas the bufinefs of a butcher requires room and 
 air. The proper name of it, as we find in the re- 
 gifter-book of St. Mary's chapel, belonging to the 
 prefent parifh church, is Bocherewe, that is, the Tay~ 
 hr's-row. Shakefpeare, fpeaking of a perfon in his 
 play of All's well that ends well, fays, He was a bot- 
 cher's 
 
Stiieets. Buildings, &c. 
 
 141 
 
 cher's prentice in Paris> from whence he was whipt 
 for getting the fheriff's fool with child. Even at this 
 time taylors are called botchers in derilion. 
 
 Sheep -street-lane, on the fouth-weft fide of the town. 
 A part of this name feems redundant. 
 
 Spttal-gate-lane, or corruptly, Spiring ate- lane, 011 
 the north fide of it. 
 
 Law- ditch- lane, on the weft fide. And in the be- 
 fore-mentioned regifter-book mention is made of 
 New-street, Sloter- street, and Raton-row ; but where 
 they were fituated is to us uncertain. 
 
 Like molt old towns, fome of the ftreets are nar- 
 row. The buildings are chiefly of ftone, and a great 
 number of houfes are very refpe&able, but they ftand 
 too difperfedly to attach the traveller's notice. Were 
 they arranged together, they would form a handfome 
 affemblase of buildings which few countrv towns could 
 
 o o ✓ 
 
 equal. But there are alfo fome mean houfes in moft 
 of the ftreets, confiding chiefly of thofe which our 
 well-difpofed anceftors left in truft for charitable ufes. 
 Thefe are moftly leafed out on lives, with uncertain 
 fines at renewal, which accounts for their retaining 
 their antient form, and disfigure the town, as in 
 general the tenants attempt no improvements beyond 
 g.bfolute convenience. And indeed what prudent 
 man will build at great expenfe, on a tenure fo un- 
 certain, where the terms of renewal are at the will of 
 the leffor ? We wifh the truftees to apply to parlia- 
 ment for a power to fell the fee of all houfes in mort- 
 main, 
 
142 
 
 Great Roads, &p. 
 
 main, and to lay out the produce on lands, or 
 government fecurities; the town would then be im- 
 proved, and the chanties benefited. 
 
 Great Roads, Stage Coaches, &c* 
 
 Seven great turnpike-roads diverge from the 
 town, which makes it a great thorough-fare. Two 
 of them are directed eaftward, of which one leads 
 thro' Burford and Oxford to London; but the other, 
 which is the moft frequented, leads to the metropolis, 
 through Lechlade, Farringdon, and Abingdon. A 
 third leads fouthward to a part of Berkfhire, North- 
 Wiltfhire, and Hampfhire. A fourth points weftward, 
 and at about four miles diftance, branches off to the 
 left for Malmefbury, Chippenham, and Devizes ; 
 whilft the other, and moft frequented branch, leads 
 thro' Tetbury to Bath and Briftol, and fo onwards to 
 the weftern counties. A fifth is directed north-weft- 
 ward to Minchin- Hampton, Stroud, and the great 
 Gloucefterlhire clothing country. A fixth leads more 
 northward to Gloucefter, Monmouthfhire, and Here- 
 fordfhire; but at the diftance of ten miles, it branches 
 to the right for Cheltenham, Tewkefbury, Worcefter, 
 and Birmingham. And the feventh leads directly 
 north to Stow-on-the-Wold, and fo on to Warwick- 
 fhire, Leicefterfliire, &c. See the annexed map of 
 Gloucefterfhire, 
 
 Upon 
 
Great Roads, &c. . 143 
 
 Upon thefe roads feveral carriages keeping their 
 regular ftages, open a commodious intercourfe be- 
 tween this town and many great manufacturing places, 
 which is a great convenience to the inhabitants; and 
 fo many roads centering here neceflTarily occafions a 
 great deal of travelling, fo that next to Gloucefter it 
 maintains the firft rank among the market-towns in 
 the county. 
 
 The vaft labour and expenfe which the Romans 
 bellowed upon their roads, evince, that they thought 
 good roads efTentially connected with the welfare of 
 a country. But notwithstanding the example which 
 they left behind 4;hem, it is probable that the public 
 roads fell into neglect, foon after they withdrew from 
 Britain; for little is the intereft of a country attended 
 to, during a ftate of warfare and internal commotion, 
 fuch as this was involved in, immediately upon that 
 event. The wretched inhabitants were plundered 
 and murdered, at different times, by pretended friends 
 as well as enemies; by Saxons, Danes, and Normans; 
 and the miferies of civil dilfentions and religious 
 bigotry have ever fince been entailed on us, 'till within 
 a few ages paft, when we began to emerge from dark- 
 nefs, and to attend to arts, manufactures, and inter- 
 nal improvements: but the public roads feem to have 
 been taken laft into confideration. 
 
 The firft effort of Englifh legiflation on a fubjeft 
 fo much connected with the profperity of a people, 
 is an act of Edward the Firft, in 1285, for enlarging 
 
 T the 
 
344. Great Roads, &c. 
 
 the breadth of highways from one market-town to 
 another, which was however intended rather to pre- 
 vent robbery, than otherwife to facilitate travelling, 
 And afterward the roads of particular diftricls were 
 amended by feveral laws in the reign of king Henry 
 the Eighth. The firft general law which obliged 
 every parifh, by four days labour of its inhabitants, 
 to repair its own roads, paffed in the 2d and 3d year;* 
 of the reign of Philip and Mary, where it is recited 
 that the highways were noifome and tedious to travel 
 in, and dangerous to paffengers and carriages. And 
 it is certain that even within memory it was three 
 good days journey for a horfe or coach from this town 
 to London. 
 
 Our pleafures are chiefly derived from prefent en- 
 joyments and future profpects; but it is no lefs agree- 
 able than ufeful to take a retrofpeclive view of things, 
 and to mark the various Iteps to gradual improve- 
 ment in their progrefs to perfection. 
 
 About a century ago turnpikes were erected, thinly 
 'erected, in various parts of the kingdom ; but to whole 
 good fenfe we are indebted for the thought, we have 
 never been informed. It met, however, at firft, with 
 the common fate of mod endeavours at improvement. 
 The turnpike-fcheme was exploded with the odious 
 term of innovation; and wlio does not know how 
 powerfully the minds of unthinking pepple are in- 
 fluenced by ambiguous words, ill underftood, or not 
 at all underftood, which defigning perfons make uie 
 of, to attach the giddy multitude to their defigrs 3 
 
 Sot.c 
 
Great Roads, Stage Coaches, &c. 145 
 
 Some of the firft erected gates were forcibly levelled, 
 by mobs of colliers, labourers, and people of various 
 defcriptions, for which a few met their fate at the 
 gallows. 
 
 The great London road from this town to St. John's 
 Bridge, a ftretch of about fourteen miles, was often 
 impaffible. But an act. of parliament was obtained 
 in the 13th year of George the Firft, for erecting 
 turnpikes on that diftrict, by which means travelling 
 became more practicable. And die road gradually 
 tho' flowly improving, an enterprifing perfon, with 
 fpirited exertions, fet up a ftage-coach to ply from this 
 town. to the metropolis, in two days. It was certainly 
 a very convenient and ufeful inftitution, and feems 
 to have been much encouraged ; for not long after- 
 ward, the coach performed this journey in one day, 
 and from its great expedition it became very famous, 
 and was faid to Jly, and fo obtained the name of the 
 Cirencester Flying Coach. If it be considered that 
 coaches in thofe days were clumfy machines, and 
 drawn by a fpecies of ca-rt-horfes, this will indeed ap- 
 peartobe a greatperformance. The carriage was above 
 twenty hours upon the road, but this expedition was 
 thought impracticable during the winter half year, 
 during which it was two days upon the road, and then 
 it was faid not to fly. And this was the ftate of things 
 'till about thirty years fince. 
 
 There are now feveral regular coaches palling 
 through the town to and from London on the one 
 hand; and to and from Briftol, Bath, Tetbury and 
 Stroud, on the other, T 2 The 
 
146 
 
 Stage Coaches, &c. 
 
 The firft we fhall mention keeps its courfe alike 
 throughout the year, and fets out at Six o'clock on 
 Monday, Wednefday and Friday evenings, from the 
 Bell Savage Inn, Ludgate-Hill, London, and arrives 
 here at Ten the mornings following; and after a fhort 
 Hay to refrefh, proceeds for Stroud, where it arrives 
 at One. Returning from thence at Three, on Tuef- 
 days, Thurfdays and Sundays, after a fhort ftay here 
 to change horfes and refrefh, it fets off at Six, and 
 arrives in London about Ten the following mornings. 
 This is called the Stroud Coach. 
 
 Another coach fets out from the fame London-inn, 
 in the winter feafon only, on Monday and W ednef- 
 day evenings, at Six ; and the mornings following 
 arrives here at Ten. and at Tetburv at Twelve* From 
 Tetbury it returns thro' Cirencefter the fame days, 
 and fets out hence at Six in the evening for London. 
 
 Both thefe, it may be obferved, are evening 
 coaches, travelling all night. But in the fummer 
 feafon there is a morning coach, which many prefer. 
 It fets out from the fame London-inn, on Monday, 
 Wednefday and Friday mornings, at Four; arrives 
 here at Six in the evening ; and after a fhort ftay, 
 proceeds for, and reaches Tetbury, at Eight. From 
 thence it returns on Tuefday, Thurfday and Satur- 
 day mornings, at Four; and paffes thro' Cirencefter, 
 a little before Six, in its way to London, where it 
 arrives about Eight the fame evening. The prefent 
 fare, in each, from Cirencefter to London, is 255. 
 
 Befide 
 
Stage Coaches,, Slc. 
 
 147 
 
 Betide thefe, a mail coach from London, through 
 Oxford, to Bath and Briftol, arrives here every day 
 at Ten in the morning j and is here again upon its 
 return to Oxford and London between Three and 
 Four in the Afternoon. 
 
 It has been obferved that in the fummer the old 
 Flying Coach was upwards of twenty hours upon the 
 road from hence to London ; but it appears by this 
 account, that the prefent coaches perform the fame 
 journey, with a very fmali variation thro' the year, 
 in fixteen. This difference arifes from the improve- 
 ment of roads, and from driving lighter and more 
 active cattle j but we mention this circumftance as 
 nothing extraordinary, for we believe that fome others 
 make greater expedition. Nor would we be under- 
 stood to approve of the great celerity with which fome 
 carriages travel ; for tho' reafonable fpeed is com- 
 mendable, yet every day prefents exceffes in that 
 way, fufficient to excite our indignation at the fuffer- 
 ings of that Noble and generous Animal the 
 Horse. If we have his fervices, he is entr.led to 
 our humanity and care. But alas ! he experiences a 
 cruel lot in the hands of modilh and unthinking travel- 
 lers. Is it to distinguish them/elves that this poor ani- 
 mal is put to the utmoft diftrefs, without the fmalleft 
 occafion ? In this, we truft they will not be envied, 
 and we hope not imitated. Who does not feel for 
 that generous animal, driven by the whip to exertions 
 which nature is unable to bear ! Who does not fhud- 
 der at the mere relation of his limbs dropping off at 
 
 the 
 
148 
 
 Stage Coaches, &c. 
 
 the joints, from exceffive labour ! And who can bear 
 to behold his fufferings, panting, and at length ex- 
 piring, upon the road with fatigue ! — Such things we 
 have all heard of, many have feen, and too many alas! 
 have been acceffary to. How {hall we account for 
 this condu£t on rational principles ? Surely it is not, 
 that in proportion as men rife in the ranks of life, 
 they fink in the fcale of humanity. Nor will we ven- 
 ture to fay that this kind of orientation is a part of 
 that fyftem of fhow and externals, by which alone 
 fome people are able to attract public notice. — Cruel, 
 ungrateful man ! know that diftinclion thus acquired 
 is highly difreputable ; that every fpecies of cruelty 
 to animals is totally incompatible with a generous 
 mind; and that no perfon of fenfibility can behold it 
 with indifference. Should any think that we have 
 unneceffarily enlarged on this difagreeable fubjecl, 
 which however fell naturally in our way, they will 
 candidly confider, that the ftri&ures are general, and 
 point at no individual. Our intentions are perfectly 
 pure, and if the fentiments are juft, there needs no 
 apology to plead for the innocent, the injured, and 
 oppreft. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Markets, &c. 
 
 1 49 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Markets and Fairs, Trade, &c. 
 
 < H ERE are two markets in the week, one on 
 Monday, the other on Friday. In fome old deeds 
 we read of the cheefe-market, grafs-market, meal- 
 market, and wool-market. Where the two former 
 were held is uncertain. The meal-market was kept 
 in that open fpace a little on the north fide of the 
 church ; which however has ceafed long fince to be 
 appropriated to that particular purpofe. The wool- 
 market was held at the Boothall, where were large 
 rooms to (low the wool, of which within memory, 
 vaft quantities out of Buckinghamshire, Berkfihire, 
 Northamptonfhire and Oxfordfhire, were brought 
 weekly; and the principal ftreet was fo thronged with 
 wool-waggons about forty years ago, that it was dif- 
 ficult for other carriages to pafs. The market for 
 wool was on Friday ; but the wool-dealers travelling 
 the country, and buying that commodity at the farm- 
 houfes, foon reduced the market for it to a mere nul- 
 lity, and there has been none fold here for many 
 years. But this day's market is ft ill held for other 
 commodities, fuch as poultry, eggs, butter, and but- 
 cher's-meat, 
 
 Monday's 
 
i£0 Markets, &c. 
 
 Monday's market is general for all commodities ; 
 and the fituation of the town makes it very much fre- 
 quented; for to the eaftward and north-eaftward are 
 great corn countries, and weftward is a large and 
 populous diftricl full of clothing manufacturers, where 
 very little corn grows, and great quantities are con- 
 fumed. It is this midway fituation, between fellers 
 and buyers, which makes it particularly convenient 
 to both, and in a great meafure compenfates for the 
 want of a navigable river ;. fo that this corn-market 
 is thought to equal, at lealt, and by fome to exceed, 
 that of Gloucefler, notwithstanding its advantage from 
 the navigation of the Severn. It may be added, that 
 the city of Briftol frequently avails herfelf of this mar- 
 ket, particularly for barley. The cuftomary meafure 
 here, upon an average, is nine gallons and a pint to 
 the bufhel; and the load of wheat is underftood to be 
 forty bufhels, or ten facks. 
 
 Not even in the London markets have we feen 
 better beef, mutton, pork, and veal ; but with fifli 
 the town is ferved with a fparing hand. A few trout, 
 jack, eel, and fmall fifti, are brought hither from the 
 Thames and the neighbouring little rivers, very ex- 
 cellent indeed, but at eightpence and tenpence a 
 pound; falmon at various prices. In the height of 
 the feafon, it is commonly fupplied with that excel- 
 lent fifti from the Severn, at fixpence and fevenpence 
 a pound. But we had almoft forgot to mention, that 
 the city of Bath, in return for the beft butter and 
 poultry of this market, which (he obtains by means 
 
 of 
 
Markets, &c. 151 
 
 of higlers and foreftallers, condefcends, by the fame 
 hands, to fpare the town a few fuperfluous foals, lob- 
 fters, and crabs, perhaps a little before they get of- 
 fenfive. Barrel oifters come from London ; large 
 lean oifters from Briftol and Pill; and we have heard, 
 at leaft in the ftreets,, of frefh mackerel, from we 
 know not where. 
 
 Before we quit this fubject., it may not be improper 
 to obferve, that we have fomething to blame, as well 
 as fomething to commend. Of the vaft quantities of 
 grain of all forts fold here every week, not a fack is 
 pitched in the market. The farmer, in his pocket, 
 brings about half a pint in a purfe for a fample, bv 
 which, if he like the market-price, he fells the load 
 or quantity; if not, he has only to carry back the 
 fample as he brought it. And thus the e.xpenfes of 
 porterage and houfage are avoided. 
 
 Tho' this topic has not been unfrequently difcuffed, 
 yet, as we conceive very curforily, and now falling 
 in our way, as incidental to the market, we prefume 
 to offer a few confiderations on it. 
 
 Whether the practice of felling com in a market 
 by fample be lawful, is not our prefent purpofe to en- 
 quire. We fhall content ourfelves with enumerating 
 fome of the principal effe&s of it. The practice may 
 in fome meafure be neceffary in London, tho' cer- 
 tainly not in the country; and we are of opinion that 
 it has been very injurious to the public. Within 
 memory, all corn was brought in bulk, and pitched 
 in this market, where private families purchafed im- 
 
 U mediately 
 
1£& Markets, &cu 
 
 mediately of the farmer. But felling by fample de- 
 prives them of that opportunity. The farmer fells 
 Xi o fmall quantities, and thus private families are 
 thrown into the hands of the mealman and baker, 
 who are middle men between the grower and con- 
 fumer. It has been afferted, that thefe middle men 
 can fell flour and bread, with a due profit from each, 
 as cheap or cheaper than families make them from 
 corn. Of this we'have our doubts; but for the prefent 
 we will only afk, Whether they really do fo ? To 
 this queftion we anfwer pofitively, No ; fubjoining 
 our reafons. 
 
 The fame bread, as to quality and quantity, which 
 the Cirencefter baker fells to his poor neighbours for 
 a milling, ready money, he fends to the diftance of 
 ten or a dozen miles from home, burthened with the 
 expenfes of a horfe, a fervant, and turnpikes, and 
 there fells it upon credit for elevenpence. And taking 
 intereft of money and rilk into the account, the dif- 
 ference between ready money and credit, in favour, 
 however, of the latter, (can you believe it reader ?) 
 is about twenty per cent) Now, to fay nothing of his 
 wholefale cuftomer, from whom he muft be fuppofed 
 to derive fome profit, we believe nobody will con- 
 tend, that the baker's fuperior {kill can enable him to 
 fell bread as cheap as private families might make it 
 from corn. Another inconvenience is, that if an in- 
 duftrious family mould be difpofed to eat a browner 
 bread, full as nutritive and relifhable, and confider- 
 ably cheaper, they are thus deprived of the means. 
 
 But 
 
Markets, &c. 
 
 *53 
 
 But laftly, there is fomething in the prance of fample 
 marketing which gives the feller an advantage over 
 the buyer: The latter, unable to eftimate the num- 
 ber of famples in the fellers pockets, tho' he might 
 judge of the quantity if pitched in the bulk, is thus 
 deprived of the benefit refulting from the appearance 
 of a full market. And this advantage, againft the 
 public, we conceive to be impolitic as well as unjuft. 
 
 This advantage was never more apparent than in 
 the markets of the three or four laft months preceding 
 the harveft of 1795. The buyers were neceflitated 
 to hunt for famples of wheat and flour, and to folicit 
 the price as a favour; whilft the fellers availed them- 
 felves of the numbers and neceffities of their cus- 
 tomers. But the farmers, the mealmen and jobbers, 
 in this trying time, were themfelves under no fmall 
 difficulty. It was not eafy for them to determine 
 whether their inordinate defires might be beft gratified 
 by making .fare, at the prefent moment, of a price 
 by much too high, as their own phrafe was; or whether 
 hunger and neceffity might not impel the people to 
 give a more exorbitant one. To effect the latter 
 purpofe, they had only for a fhort fpace to keep the 
 corn at home. Such refervation, indeed, might ex- 
 pofe them to tumultuous outrage, but many hazarded 
 the experiment; and againft two well-known adages, 
 have found, that neceffity has been regulated by law; 
 and. that it is not invariably true, that Hunger breaks 
 thro stone-walls: for notwithftanding many confider- 
 able well-timed donations to the poor about the clofe 
 
 U 2 of 
 
154 
 
 Markets, &c. 
 
 of the winter, the want of employment fobn left them 
 pennylefs, and very feverely prefled with hunger; 
 whilft every neceffary of life was fo rapidly advancing, 
 that in a fhort time wheat fold in this market for a 
 guinea a buihel : and yet we have heard of only one 
 ihftance of any farmer or mealman, or even jobber, 
 in Gloucefterfhire, having had a handful of property 
 either taken away or deftroyed. And all circum- 
 ftances confidered, it muft be acknowledged, that 
 during this extreme dearth, the poor in general have 
 behaved peaceably and orderly throughout the king- 
 dom. 
 
 Here it may not be amifs to ftate two or three facts 
 concerning the produce of the harveft, and the ftate 
 of the markets in 1795. Of barley, beans, peafe, 
 and oats, it is generally agreed, that more abundant 
 crops have fcarcely been remembered in one year; 
 the wheat crop, was not fo good as, whilft growing, 
 the-public were made to believe, and muft be rated 
 rather under mediocrity ; yet, notwithftanding the 
 nneft harveft that ever was known, (which fitted the 
 grain very foon for grinding) and under the influence 
 of a general pra&ice of mixing barley, potatoes and 
 other fubftitutes with wheat, and a prodigious im- 
 portation of foreign corn, old wheat fold, during the 
 months of September and O&ober, at 12 and 13 s, 
 and new at 10 and 11s. the buihel, in this market; 
 and flour, for apart of that time, at 3/. 155. the fack, 
 containing five bufhels, of 561b. each, 
 
 The 
 
Markets, &c. 155 
 
 The exorbitant price of all other goods may either 
 be alleviated or avoided by the ufe of fubftitutes, or 
 by fhifting without them for a time. But this was a 
 monopoly * of a cruel nature, for what is the fubfti- 
 tute for bread ? And what procraftinating argument 
 can avail againit the loud calls of a hungry belly ? It 
 muft be repeatedly recruited at any rate, and at fhort 
 intervals; and it is this neceffity alone which constitutes 
 the vaft difference, fo much overlooked, between a 
 monopoly of corn and that of any other property ; 
 It is this which -empowers the fellers, when but few 
 of them, to make their own prices. 
 
 Perhaps, as we have hinted in the preceding note, 
 the farmers and dealers in corn and flour, have only 
 availed themfelves of the times, as other tradeffnen 
 have fometimes done, without infringing the exifting 
 laws. But the reader already perceives the difparity 
 between the power of the farmer to advance the price 
 
 * Dr. Adam Smith contends, that of all commodities corn 
 is the lead liable to be engrolTed and monopolized, as it lies 
 in a great number of hands, who can never be collected into 
 one place, to enter into any general combination. This we 
 readily allow, but abundant experience proves, that a natural 
 difpofition in all mankind, and not more ftrongly implanted 
 in the growers of corn than others, to advance their property, 
 when aided by a fcanty ftock, will always advance grain to an 
 exorbitant and difproportionate'price. And without any ac- 
 tual agreement, the fame ill confequences will refult from fuch 
 circumftances, and the public neceffity, as from the ftricteft 
 and raoft oppreffive combination. * 
 
 of 
 
156 "Markets, Sec. 
 
 of wheat, in times of fcarcity, and that of any tradef- 
 man in pofTeflion of a monoplized commodity. The 
 cafes are vaftly diffimilar. He who wants a new coat 
 when cloth is extravagantly dear, may fhift longer 
 without one; but no perfon in a time of dearth, can 
 fall for two or three weeks together. A monopoly 
 of corn differs, therefore, from that of all other things. 
 And the difference lies in the necejfity from hunger, 
 which obliges every body to buy to eat, be the price 
 of corn what it may. 
 
 Thus the poor inhabitants of this kingdom, in com- 
 mon with thofe of others, have experienced (we thank 
 God, for a fhort time only) the pinching hand of hun- 
 ger ; but there may come a time, when thofe whofe. 
 care extends over the whole community, may take 
 due meafures to reftrain the exorbitant price of corn *. 
 They may think it incompatible with the general good, 
 to leave one fet of men any longer poireffed of the 
 power, who have been found not to want the will, to 
 fatiate their exorbitant paflion for gain at the expenfe 
 of their benefactors ; at the expenfe of that public, 
 who, to encourage hufbandry, and thofe engaged in 
 
 * In the houfe of commons, Dec. 1 1, 1795, Lord Sheffield 
 in one part of his fpeech, is faid to have delivered himfelf 
 thus : " It will be fortunate if the prefent fcarcity fliould turn 
 <e the attention of the legiflature to fome great meafure, which 
 *' may prevent in future a precarious dependance on foreign 
 " countries for our fubfiftence," 
 
 it s 
 
Markets, Sec. 
 
 *57 
 
 it, have paid many millions f in bounties for the ex- 
 portation of grain. Saying this, we mean not in the 
 lead to reflect on the farmer, as a man. In felling 
 his property to the beft advantage, he has probably 
 done no more than any other man in the fame fitua- 
 tion would have done : Yet, fince human nature is 
 more or lefs tinBured with a felfifh principle, it may 
 be expedient, in a matter of fuch general importance, 
 by fome effeaual means to reftrain the exorbitant 
 price of grain. 
 
 The bounty on exportation not only advances the 
 price in plentiful years, but prevents the redundancy 
 of one year from relieving the fcarcity of another; 
 and of this fcarcity the growers and dealers have not 
 failed to take the utmoft advantage : whereas the 
 equity of the cafe feems to require, that as the public, 
 bv paving thofe bounties, have fecured a better price 
 to the farmer * in times of the greateft plenty; fo, 
 in return, the latter, in juftice, ought to be content 
 with a reafonable profit in times of fcarcity. 
 
 Thefe 
 
 t The bouncy on the exportation of corn was firft granted 
 by parliament in 1689. And from that time to the end of the 
 year 1764, 14,332,435 quarters and 3 bufhels of wheat; 
 2,543,096 quaiters of barley; 13,653,186 quarters and I 
 buftiel Of malt; and 2,288,321 quarters and 7 bufhels of rye, 
 have been exported with the bounty, amounting in the whole 
 to the fum of £.6,658,702 10 j. nd. 
 
 * Some perfons have fuppofed this country to have been 
 greatly benefited by the bounty on the exportation of corn ; 
 
 and 
 
158 Markets, &c. 
 
 Thefe obfervations were introduced by expofing 
 fome of the difadvantages fuftained by the public 
 from corn not being brought in bulk to the market. 
 But that is not the only irregularity to be complained 
 of. There mould be a time fixed for the beginning 
 
 of 
 
 and alledge, perhaps juftly,- that the average price has fallen 
 fince the bounties have been eftabliftied. But if this may not 
 be improperly given in argument, yet it is far from a con- 
 vincing proof; for this event rauft have happened notwith- 
 iianding the bounties, as it has happened in France during 
 the fame period, where there was no bounty. And Dr. Adam 
 Smith, in his elaborate Enquiry concerning the Nature and 
 Caufes of the Wealth of Nations, from which the fubftance 
 of this note is extracted, has pretty clearly mown, that this 
 country is really injured by the bounty. It is a very heavy tax 
 on the public two ways, firft in paying the bounty itfelf, and 
 fecondly in its confequences. For fuppofe the bounty of 5*. 
 for every quarter of wheat exported mould raife the price of 
 the home confumption only 6d. the bufliel, one year with 
 another; the public will then pay 4*. uppn every quarter they 
 confume. And as the well-informed author of the Tradts 
 upon the corn-trade makes the home confumption to be thirty 
 one times more than the quantity exported; confequently, for 
 every 5*. paid in bounty, the public pays 61. 45. advance by 
 reafon of it. So very heavy a tax upon the firft neceffary of 
 life rauft either render the poor lefs able to bring up their 
 children, and fo it reftrains population : or, by occafioning 
 fome augmentation in their pecuniary wages, and fhortening 
 the ability of others to employ fo many hands as they might 
 otherwife do, it reftrains the induftry of the country. The 
 extraordinary exportation with bounty, by reftraining popu- 
 lation;, 
 
Markets, Set. 159 
 
 of the market, or notice of it given by the ringing 
 of a bell. The higler and regrater ought to be re- 
 ftrained. But in this market buyers obferve neither 
 mode nor time. No perfon can complain of the fmal- 
 left restraint. Butcher buys of butcher, badger of 
 
 badger, 
 
 Jation, and checking induftry, diminiflics the home confump- 
 tion juft as much as it extends the foreign market; and tends, 
 in the long run, rather to leffen than to augment the whole 
 confumption of corn: For the real effect of the bounty is not 
 fo much to raife the real value of corn, as to degrade the real 
 value of filver, and all home-made commodities ; fince the 
 money price of corn regulates that of labour, of grafs, hay, 
 butcher's-meat, land-carriage, and ail manufactures, and in 
 fhort of the greater part of the inland commerce of the country. 
 
 And if, in.confequence of the bountv, the farmer mould, 
 fell his corn at 41. inftead of 3J. 6cl. the bufhel, and pay his 
 landlord a money-rent in proportion, yet that 4*. will at length 
 purchafe no more home-made goods than 35. 6d. would have 
 done before; and the farmer will not be able to cultivate much 
 better, nor the landlord to live handfomer for the bounty. It 
 puts, indeed, a little more money into the pockets of both ; 
 but it raifes the price of labour, provifions, &c. and tho' fome 
 of them may think themfelves the richer, yet the rife in the 
 money-price of all commodities tends to make every body the 
 poorer. The rife of corn, by bounty on exportation, is not 
 a rife in its real value, which no country can advance, being 
 always equal to a certain quantity of labour and of commo- 
 dities for which it can be exchanged. And when the country 
 gentlemen in parliament obtained a bounty upon the exporta- 
 tion of corn, they did not, as they imagined, increafe the real 
 value Of that commodity; but loaded the public with a very 
 
 X heavy 
 
i6o 
 
 Fairs and Mops. 
 
 badger, and the purchafed articles may pafs thro' a 
 dozen hands in the fame day and place with impunity. 
 The inhabitants forego their rights, and tho' they are 
 guarded and fecured by good laws, the officers of the 
 town give themfelves no trouble to carry them into 
 execution. 
 
 Fairs and Mops. 
 
 HERE are three fairs in the year. The prin- 
 cipal of them is held on Eafter-tuefday ; the others 
 on the 8th of July, and the 8th of November. And 
 there are befides two ftatute-markets, commonly cal- 
 led mops in this country, held on the Monday pre- 
 ceding, and the Monday following, the 10th of Oc- 
 tober ; and when that day of the month falls on a 
 Monday, it is a mop-day alfo, and then there are 
 
 heavy tax. By lowering the real value of filver, the general 
 induftry of the country is in fom.e degree difcouraged, and in- 
 ftead of advancing, it really more or lefs retards, the improve- 
 ment of their lands. But further, exportation of corn under 
 bounty tends to enable foreigners to eat bread cheaper than 
 our own inhabitants, and fo to underfell us not only in foreign 
 markets, but even in our own. And according to this very 
 ienfible author, who, in the fecond volume of the before- 
 mentioned work, has difculTed this important fubjecl at large, 
 the many millions which this country has paid in fuch bounties, 
 have really had a very difadvantageous effect. 
 
 three 
 
Races, Sec. 
 
 three that year. Thefe markets are prodigioufly 
 thronged by two claffes of people. The lower Tort 
 {land In the principal ftreet to be hired for fervants, 
 with bits of whipcord, wool, cow-hair, or other badge 
 in the hat or bofom, to denote themfelves candidates 
 for the refpe&ive fervices of carter, fhepherd, dairy- 
 maid, or in fome other line of country buhnefs. The 
 other clafs are mafters and miftreffes, chiefly in the 
 farming bufxnefs, who come to hire them. 
 
 Races-. 
 
 ABOUT forty years ago, a fubfeription was fet 
 on foot to eftablifh an annual race here; and certainly 
 few country towns afford better accommodation, and 
 but few race-grounds are firmer and more commo- 
 dious. But the queftion upon the general utility of 
 races feems to be determined in the negative here, 
 by the difcontinuance of the town fubfeription. For 
 a few years there were three days fport, then they 
 dwindled into two, and for the laft fix or feven years, 
 they have not been conftant, but only held here and 
 at Tetbury alternately. 
 
 Navigation, Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 NAVIGATION and manufaBures are the two 
 principal means by which places commonly rife to 
 X 2 eminence. 
 
l62 
 
 Navigation, &c. 
 
 eminence. In a book * printed more than a century 
 back, we have read a project which had been formed, 
 for joining the Thames with the Severn; and it feems 
 to have been difcuffed, and kept alive in the public 
 prints, 'till at length, by authority of parliament, in 
 the year 1775, a canal for a part of a line between 
 thofe great rivers was begun, and not long afterwards 
 compleated, from a place called Framilode, on the 
 eaft bank of the Severn, to Walbridge, near the town 
 of Stroud. And by an a a which paffed in 1783, the 
 other part of the line from Walbridge to Lechlade 
 was fet about and finimed in 1789, which made a com- 
 pleat junQion of thofe two great rivers. This was 
 effeaed by the intervention of the Cirencefter water, 
 by means of which alfo there is a navigable cut of 
 about a mile in length from the direa line of the canal 
 to a quay on the fouth fide very near to the town : 
 And on this quay the company of proprietors have a 
 proper warehoufe and other conveniences fuitable to 
 their undertaking. Whether this may ultimately turn 
 out much to the advantage of the town, we are not 
 inclined to hazard a conjeaure. But the Shropfhire 
 and Staffordshire coals, which conftitute the great 
 bulk of carriage upon this canal, are not as yet 
 rendered cheaper to the town than they were when 
 brought by land from Gloucefter. Hope however 
 kindly whifpers in the ear, that when the Newport 
 
 "arrantorCs England's Improvement by Sea and Land. 
 
 canal 
 
Trade and Manufactures. 163 
 
 canal is finimed, the town and neighbourhood of 
 Cirencefter will get the Monmouthfhire coals, which 
 are faid to be as good at leaft as thofe of Newcaftle; 
 and that they may be rendered as cheap or cheaper 
 than the inferior forts they now ufe. 
 
 Formerly, as old writers fay, the clothing bufinefs 
 flourimed here. By a record quoted in Madox's 
 Firma Burgi, p. 273, it appears, that feveral mer- 
 chants (as they are called) of Amiens, of the names 
 of Giles Beaupigne, Henry Beaupigne, John de 
 Sancto Finciano, and Robert his brother, fettled here 
 in the ninth year of king Edward the Second; but 
 we fuppofe them to be dealers in wool, rather than 
 clothiers, for the year 1331 marks the firft arrival of 
 Walloon manufacturers from abroad, when Edward 
 III. wifely determined to invite foreigners into 
 England, to inftruct his fubjects in the ufeful arts. 
 And as early as 1337, it was enacted, that no wool 
 fhould be exported; and that no clothes made beyond 
 fea mould be imported ; that foreign cloth-workers 
 might come into the king's dominions, and fhould 
 have franchifes granted them. Before this time, fays 
 De Wit, when tumults in Flanders obliged manufac- 
 turers to take fhelter in other countries, the Englifh 
 were little more than (hepherds and wool-fellers. But 
 henceforward manufactures became the object of le- 
 giflation; and it is probable that the clothing bufinefs 
 was fettled in this town about that time. At leaft here 
 was a company of weavers who had regulated their 
 trade as early as the beginning of the reign of king 
 
 Henry 
 
164 Charter of the Weavers Company. 
 
 Henry IV. and fir William Nottingham, the kang's 
 attorney-general, founded a hall for them, with four 
 habitations for the poorer fort of that fraternity, by 
 the name of St. Thomas's hofpital, and endowed it 
 with a fmall revenue, as we fhall mow hereafter. And 
 king Philip and queen Mary granted them a charter, 
 which was recited and confirmed by queen Elizabeth 
 in the following infpeximus. 
 
 The Charter of the Weavers Company. 
 
 Elizabeth by the grace of God of Ensgland, 
 France and Ii eland queen, defender of the faith, &c. To 
 all to whom thefe prefent letters fhall come, greeting. We 
 have feen the letters patent of our lord and lady Philip and 
 Mary, late king and queen of England, fealed with the great 
 feal of England, in thefe words. PHILIP and MARY by 
 the grace of God king and queen of England, of the Spains, 
 France, both the Sicilies, Jerufalem and Ireland, defenders 
 of the faith, &c. To all to whom thefe letters may come, 
 health. We have feen certain cuftoms and antient conftitu- 
 tions to the myftery or occupation of weavers within the town 
 of Cirencefter in the county of Gloucefter, antiently refpe&ing 
 and belonging, written on parchment in thefe words : 
 
 HEREAFTER followeth the cuftomes and constitutions 
 of olde antiquytie oute of tyme and mynde belonginge to the 
 crafte and occupation of weavers in the towne of Cyfceter, in 
 the county of Gloucefter. FIRST, the cuftom is, that within 
 the faid towne of Cyfceter, there fhall be for ever two of the 
 moft difcreeteft and wifeft men of the myfterie of weavers freli e 
 chofen and appoynted amonge themfelves, in place con- 
 venyente, to be mafters and wardens of the faid occupation; 
 
 which 
 
Charter of the Weavers Company. 165 
 
 which fo being chofen, fhall contynue and exercife that office 
 and roome, for one yere only. ALSO the cuftome is, that 
 all the occupation of the crafte of weavers within the faid 
 towne, upon lawful fummons and warnin'ge to them geven, 
 by the faid maifters or wardens for the tyme beinge, {hall once 
 every yere appeare and affemble themfelves together : That 
 is to fay, upon the eve or day of Saint Katheryne, or bothe, 
 in fuch convenyente place within the faid towne where the 
 faid maifters fhall appoynte, afwell to elefte and chofe newe 
 maifters or wardens to the faid nomber of two for the yere 
 folowinge, as to heare the accompte of the old wardens; and 
 for all fuch things, rents, or cuftumable and ordinarie fommes 
 of money, which they have receyved to the ufe and for mayn- 
 tenance of the faid occupation there, duringe theire faid yere. 
 And any man fo warned, being within the faid towne, and 
 not appearinge as aforefaid., to forfitt for his or theire defaulte, 
 three millings fourepence. ALSO the cuftome is, that the 
 newe wardens and maifters, immediatlye after theire election 
 in the faid place, where they be elected upon the faid eve or 
 day of Sainte Katheryne as aforefaid, fhall yerely likewife re- 
 ceyve and take the faid accomptes of the faid olde maifters or 
 wardens, in the hearinge of the faid occupation of weavers 
 then prefente ; and that after the faid accompte fynifhed and 
 ended, the faid olde maifters and wardens fhall then and there 
 yelde and delyver up into the hands of the faid newe maifters, 
 all and all manner of writinges, evidences, courte rolles, in- 
 dentures of prentizes, and other myniments and efcriptes 
 whatfoever, which they have in theire kepinge and cuftody, 
 concernynge the faid occupation of weavers. And yf they 
 fayle to make the faid accompte, and will not accompte in 
 manner and forme aforefaid, nor will delyver up the faid 
 writinges in manner and forme aforefaid, that then every of 
 them to forfeit for his or theire defaulte, twentie millings. 
 ALSO the cuftome is, that the maifters or wardens for the 
 
 tyme 
 
166 Charter of the Weaver's Company. 
 
 tyme beinge, fhall have au&ority, and fhall duely fee and 
 provide, that all the cuftoms and orders herein conteyned, or 
 any other hereafter to be by them the faid maifters with the 
 refte of their company made, well and trulie to be obferved 
 and kepte by all and every of the companye of weavers, the 
 prentifes, and fervants, and they with other of the auncientes 
 of the faid crafte, at all tymes, and from tyme to tyme duringe 
 theire yere fhall aflemble themfelves in places convenyente, 
 as well for the redrefie and amendments of any thinge amyfle 
 amonge the faid companye of weavers, as for the makinge of 
 any other good, honeft, and lawfull order, for the better 
 maynetenaunce of the Tame. ALSO the cuftom is, that no 
 man fhall take a Prentife unto the faid crafte, withoute the 
 licence of the faid maifters or wardens, to the intente that 
 they fhall fee that the faid prentife fhall be bounde to fuche 
 one, as fhal be able to inftri&e and teache hym the arte of 
 weavinge, and able to performe all promifes and agrementes 
 conteyned in the Indentures of Prentisfhip, to be made be- 
 tween his maifter and hym. And that none fhal be bounde 
 prentife within the faid towne, withoute fufficient fuerties to 
 be bounde for hym to the faid maifters or wardens there for 
 the tyme beinge, afwell to difcharge and pay all fuch fynes and 
 duties hereafter conteyned in this cuftumary, which he ought 
 to paye, as to be obedyente duringe the tyme of his prentifhip 
 to the faid maifters or wardens, and to'kepe all honefte orders 
 and cuftomes concerninge the faid occupation. And the faid 
 maifters or wardens, upon complaynte to them made by the 
 faid prentife or his freindes, to fee the faid prentife to have all 
 manner of dutyes to hym promifed by his maifter, accordinge 
 to the agremente and true meninge declared in the faid Inden- 
 tures of Prentisfhip. ALSO the cuftome is, that no man 
 fhall fet up any lombe within the faid towne to his owne ufe, 
 withoute the licence of the faid maifters or wardens for the 
 tyme beinge, and before he hath agreed with them therefore, 
 
 and 
 
Charter of the Weavers Company. 167 
 
 and upon his agreament promifed to fulfil, obferve, and kepe 
 all the cuftomes and orders concerninge the faid occupation, 
 for the better maynetenance of the crafte, as hath ben and is 
 accuftomed. And that the faid maifters or wardens mail li- 
 cence none to fette up any fuch lombes, unles he that fhall fo 
 fett upp be worth fyve poundes in moveable or unmoveable 
 fubftance, or hath landes to the yerely value of twentie mil- 
 lings. ALSO the like cuftome and ordynance fhal be for all 
 forreners and oute commers, which fo fubmyttinge themfelves, 
 and agreinge with the faid maifters in manner and forme afore- 
 faid, mail have fuch freedoms as though they had ben prentifed 
 in the faid towne. ALSO the cuftome is, that no jurneyman 
 or other covenante fervante, havinge not ben before prentife 
 in the faid towne, fhall worke in the arte or occupacion of 
 weavinge there, withoute licence or agreament of the faid 
 maifters or wardens for the tyme beinge. And if any of the 
 faid occupacion fett them a worke contrarie to this order, he 
 fhall forfeit for every tyme fo dpinge, three fhillinges foure- 
 pence. ALSO the cuftome is, that if the faid maifters or 
 wardens fhall at any tyme or tymes within theire yere, laufullie 
 fommon or fende for all or fomme of the faid fellowfhipp of 
 weavers, for any reformacion to be had concerninge their faid 
 crafte, yf he that is fo warned or fente for be within the faid 
 towne, and come not at the faid warning, havinge no lawfuil 
 excufe, therefore fhall forfeit to the faid fellowfhip, for every 
 fuch defaulte, three fhillinges four pence. ALSO the cuftome 
 is, that for all manner of fynes, amercyamentes and forfayturcs, 
 which fhall happen to be forfayted for the breche of any order 
 or cuftome before or after coriteyned in theis prefents, or 
 otherwife, the faid maifters or wardens for the tyme being, for 
 lacke of payment thereof, fhall at aM tymes and from tyme to 
 tyme diftreyne pott, panne, or any other the proper goods or 
 cattals of hym which fhal be fo fy,ned and amerced, which 
 they or any of them fhall fynde in bis howfe that is amerced, 
 
 Y 
 
 or 
 
i68 Charter of the Weavers Company. 
 
 or els where, and the diftreffes fo by them taken, fafely e to 
 retayne and kepe, until! they be fully thereof contented and 
 payed. PROVIDED alwayes, that they fhall take the con- 
 ftable or ferjiaunte of the faid towne with them at every fluch 
 tyme to take fuch diftreffes, yf they can gette hym, or either 
 of them, allowinge hym or them for his or theire paynes; for 
 that tyme, four pence, or elfe to do it themfelves. ALSO 
 IT IS accuftomed, that yf any jornyman or prentices of the 
 faid occupacion be difobediente to his or theire maifter, and 
 will not be ruled, that then his or theire maifter for his lanxfull 
 remedye in that behalfe, fhall complayne to the faid malfters 
 or wardens of the faid weavers for the tyme beinge, who, upon 
 the faid complaynte fo to them made, fhall forthewith fende 
 for the faid jornyman, and upon exarmnacion had, yf they 
 fynde hym faultye, they fhall ftreight admonyfhe hym to be 
 of better behavior towardes his faid maifter. And yf eftfonnes 
 he fhall offende therein contrarie to this order, then at the 
 fecond tyme, the faid maifters or wardens mail forthwith geve 
 order and charge to all the occupacion within the faid towne, 
 that none of them fhall fctt hym that hath fo offended a worke, 
 or fuffer hym to lye or boorde in their howfe or howfes with- 
 out e the fpecial licence or confente of the faid maifters or war- 
 dens, upon payne that whofoever fhall do the contrarie after 
 fuch charge fo geven, fhall forfette for every time fix fhillinges 
 eight pence. And yf he be a prentice, he fhall be likewife 
 fente for as aforefaid, and upon examination had, yf they fhall 
 « fynde hym faultie, or that he will not be ruled, they fhall alio 
 gentlie admonifhe hym to amend. And yf he offende therein 
 againe, notwithfb.nding the faid warninge, the fecond tyme, 
 then he fhall forfette for every fuche offence two millings fix- 
 pence, the fame to be payde forthwith by the maifter of the 
 faid apprentice, of the money which fhall be to hym due by 
 his faid maifter at the ende of his yeres; befides that he fhall 
 be fcourged, and have fuch lauful correccion for his offences, 
 
 as 
 
Charter of the Weavers Company. 169 
 
 as contrarie to the faid admonyfhmente, as by the faid maifters 
 or wardens flial be thought mete and convenyent. ALSO it 
 is accuftomed and ordeyned, that no weaver within the faid 
 towne, (hall fett two of his or their apprentices at any tyme 
 to weave together in one lombe, upon payne of forfeit for 
 every tyme fo doinge fix fhiilings eight pence. ALSO it is 
 accuflomed, that yf anv prentice lacke meate, drinke, or ray- 
 ment, or any other thinge, which that his maifter is bounde 
 to hym for, or that his maifter doth myfufe hym or unfeafon- 
 ably handle hym, then for his lauful remedye and redreffe 
 thereof, he (hall complavne unto the faid maifters of the crafte, 
 who (hall fee a remedye for yt. And yf yt fo be that the maifter 
 of the faid apprentice will not ufe his prentice no othervvife, 
 after his monition by the maifters or wardens, then by this faid 
 cuftom, the faid maifters or wardens (hall take the faid prentife, 
 and putt from hym the fame prentife to one other of the faid 
 occupacion, where they fhall thinke convenyent to ferve oute 
 his yeres then to come, by reafon of his indenture. And fur 
 ther, the faid maifiers or wardens fhall caufe the maifter of the 
 faid prentife, to pay fo much of the porcion of -money due to 
 the faid prentife, for the tyme that he hath ben with hym in 
 fervice. AND ALSO it is accuflomed, that all the occupa- 
 cion of weavers, and every one of the fame arte, prentife or 
 other, fhal be obedient to the faid mayfters or wardens of the 
 crafte for the tyme beinge. And not to checke neither 
 comptrolle them, or any of them, at any tyme beinge, in the 
 office or executinge the fame, upon the payne that for every 
 tyme fo doinge, to forfeit to the faid maifiers and crafte three 
 fhiliings foure pence. And alfo that there fhall noe perfon, 
 weaver or maifter of the faid crafte of weavers within the faid 
 towne, take any cloth to weave of any clothier within the faid 
 towne, or withoute, that doth warpe or fpole the faid cloth in 
 his owne howfe before it commeth to the howfe of the weaver 
 that fhall weave the faid cloth, excepte the faid clothier were 
 
 Y 2 a prexv 
 
170 Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 a prentife to the faid crafte of weavingc before, uppon the 
 payne to forfeyt for every fuche cloth fo taken to weave con- 
 trarie to the meaninge aforefaid, at any time to the faid crafte 
 fix {hillings eightpence. ALSO it is agreed, that yerely upon 
 the election of the newe wardens, after they have taken the 
 faid roome uppon them, and have alfo taken all the faid ac- 
 compts of the old wardens in manner and forme aforefaid, that 
 ymmediatelye after, before they departe oute of the faid place 
 where fuche election and accompte is made, they the faid newe 
 maifters or wardens {hall then and there openly reade or caufe 
 to be redde and publifhed, all the faid ftatuts herein conteyned, 
 or any other hereafter to be made in forme aforefaid, to the 
 whole companye of weavers then prefent, theire prentifes and 
 fervants. And that none of them of the faid occupacion of 
 weavers, their fervants or prentifes, ftiall departe or be abfente 
 duringe the tyme or publifhinge thereof, uppon payne to for- 
 feyt for every fuch departynge or abfence by them, or any of 
 them, two (hillings. In teftimony whereof, we have made 
 thefe our letters patent. Witnefs ourfelf, at Weftminfter, the 
 eighteenth day of February, in the eighth year of our reign. 
 
 t- • ju {Richard Rede, , 
 Examined by us, } Jqhn Jderks. 
 
 This company is ftill in being, and in virtue of their 
 charter, continue to meet annually on the eve of St. 
 Catherine's, in their Hall in St. Thomas's hofpital, 
 which is an antient, low building, {landing in a ftreet 
 to which it gives name. To this meeting all the mem- 
 bers are fummoned, and regaled with cakes and ale, 
 at the expenfe of the company. Here they read over 
 the charter, and the accounts of the old wardens, and 
 eleel: new ones. They admit new members at pleafure, 
 
 without 
 
Trade and Manufactures. 171 
 
 without regard to their line of bufinefs; and in fhort, 
 not any of the company's tranfa&ions have the leaft 
 relation to weaving. 
 
 The inftitution at prefent is valuable only for a 
 rent-charge of 61. 18 s. 8 d. paid out of an eftate at 
 Thornbury, in Gloucefterfhire ; and for the above- 
 mentioned hofpital, wherein are four little tenements 
 for fuch four of the poor fraternity of weavers as the 
 company may eleft, betwixt whom the rent-charge 
 is equally divided. 
 
 We have obferved that fome old writers reprefent 
 that a great ftroke of clothing has formerly been done 
 here; and indeed it might feem fo to them. What 
 in their time might appear a great bufinefs would now 
 be confidered as trifling. They fay the fame of 
 Tewkefbury, Newent, and Northleach; but the truth 
 feems to be, that all thefe places were incapable of 
 doing much bufinefs, for want of rivulets on which 
 to erect fulling-mills. And it was probably this de- 
 fed which ultimately occafioned the decline of their 
 manufafture in thofe places: Demands increafing 
 beyond what the clothier could fupply, he naturally 
 quits his refidence, and fettles where mills might be 
 creded. 
 
 There is at prefent only one clothing-houfe in this 
 town, which employs the fame ftock-mill that Leland 
 mentions to have been built by John Blake, the laft 
 abbat of Cirencefler, befides another feven or eight 
 miles diftant ; and we are difpofed to think that the 
 bufinefs was never greater here than at prefent. 
 
 To 
 
172 Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 To encourage this manufacture, the town former!? 
 obtained a grant of two cloth-fairs annually, one of 
 which was in the week before Palm-funday; the other 
 in the week before the feaft of St. Bartholomew; but 
 they are both discontinued. Fairs, indeed, for ths 
 fale of manufactures, are every where much on de- 
 cline, fince travelling for orders became fo general, 
 as Briftol, Chefter, and other places, will teftify. They 
 are at prefent chiefly in ufe for the fale of the natural 
 productions of the country, as cattle, &c. of which 
 no pattern can be given, nor judgment formed from 
 defcription. And even in thofe commodities there 
 are dealers who buy them on the fpot, to the detri- 
 ment, I had almofl; faid injury, of fairs and markets, 
 and of the general trade andintereft of market-towns. 
 
 Within the fpace of a few years, here were many 
 wealthy woolftaplers, who drove very confiderable 
 trades in breaking and forting of wool, into the 
 various fineneffes and qualities which the fleece af- 
 fords. A very ufeful and necefTary let of tradefmen. 
 The woolftapler Amplifies the clothier's bufinefs by 
 fupplying him with that particular fort of wool which 
 his trade requires ; for there are but few clothiers 
 who ufe all forts. And it is the woolftapler's purfe 
 which bears part of the burthen of the clothier's (lock, 
 in its progrefs from the fheep's back to the draper's 
 warehoufe ; and thus enables, the manufacturer to do 
 more bufinefs than his own capital commands. 
 
 This bufinefs does not employ many hands, but is 
 an extenfive concern. The woolftaplers here were 
 
 not 
 
Trade and Manufactures. 173 
 
 not confined to the manufactures of Gloucefterfhire, 
 but were connected with Wiltfhire, Somerfetfhire and 
 Devon, and indeed with raoft places where the woollen 
 manufactures flourished. 
 
 Moll of thofe tradefmen drove alfo a very con- 
 fiderable trade in fpinning of woollen yarn, for the 
 ufe of thofe who made cloth for the eaft-india com- 
 pany. It was a very lucrative branch, and good for- 
 tunes have been made in it, tho' almoft as fimple as 
 can be imagined. The wool employed in this branch 
 was of the coarfer kinds. At firft it was a little hol- 
 lowed and cleanfed from dull, by tearing it afunder 
 in a coarfe machine called a wool-mill, and then 
 iprinkled over with rape-oil, to make the woolly 
 fibres flip eafily in drawing out the thread. This was 
 all that was done in the tradefman's houfe. Thus 
 prepared, the wool was fent to the adjacent villages, 
 and diftributed by weight among poor families, where 
 the women and children carded and fpun it, and then 
 made up the yarn into fkeins of an indefinite weight. 
 At ftated times, when the work was fuppofed to be 
 done, the tradefman's fervant revifited the villages, 
 and received the yarn by weight, making an allow- 
 ance for necefiary wade ; and afterwards delivered 
 out freffi work. And thus the whole procefs was re- 
 peated. 
 
 Profits are generally governed by a combination 
 of circuraftances. A trade admitting of large returns,' 
 eafily underftood, and the cuftomary credit not par- 
 ticularly long, is ufually carried on with moderate 
 
 profits. 
 
i/4 
 
 Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 profits. But in this bufinefs we have a particular ex- 
 ception. For a considerable length of time, it yielded 
 a profit of thirty per cent, and yarn was of fo ready 
 a fale, that the buyer often importuned for it without 
 fuccefs. Had the yarn-maker confulted his per- 
 manent intereft, the trade might have been of longer 
 duration : But avarice, always eager in purfuit, not 
 unfrequently overfhoots the obje& of its wifhes. Yarn 
 was fold by weight, and a pound of Oil being of lefs 
 value than the fame weight of wool, it became at 
 length a pretty general praftice, to ufe twice or thrice 
 as much of it as was neceffary ; for tho' it increafed 
 the weight of the yarn, yet it was loft in the fulling, 
 and added nothing to the cloth. Hence it was, that 
 the clothiers of the beft property were induced to 
 make their own yarn, and confequently this trade 
 very rapidly declined. 
 
 About the time, too, when the wealthy clothier 
 began to make yarn, (we fay the wealthy clothier, 
 for the circumftances of fome would not admit of it) 
 a machine for fpinning was brought into ufe in York- 
 fhire, and having found its way into thefe parts, al- 
 moft totally fuperceded the former practice of fpin- 
 ning by the fingle thread. This gave a fatal blow to 
 the yarn-bufinefs at Cirencefter, and proves, we fear, 
 an irreparable lofs to the induftrious inhabitants of 
 the villages round about, to whom it had furniflied 
 conftant employment, and a comfortable main- 
 tenance. We are forry to add, alfo, that by the 
 death of fome of the principal woolftaplers, their 
 
 numbers 
 
Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 *75 
 
 number is very much reduced; but the fiirvivors 
 carry on bufinefs with reputation. We have beftowed 
 a few lines, (we hope not unneccflari ly) in defcribing 
 the fpinning bufinefs, merely to expofe the effe6t of 
 covetoufnefs, in a cafe of fa6l, which may ferve for 
 a falutary monition in other concerns. 
 
 Forty or fifty years ago, the town enjoyed a con- 
 fiderable {hare in the wool-combing b ufinefs, and there 
 are numerous veftiges of the combers' wool-lofts ftill 
 to be feen in fome of their old houfes, diftinguifhed 
 by doors in the garret-walls, for the conveniency of 
 taking in wool-packs. But that bufinefs has been 
 long in decline, and is now at its laft gafp, under the 
 preffure of the war with France. 
 
 Here is a fmall carpet-manufaBure, where that 
 ufeful and ornamental kind of furniture is executed 
 in a confiderable variety of patterns, and in a hand- 
 fome and improved manner. 
 
 Here, too, are a few makers of moreens, harateens 
 and cheneys, in the upholftery line; of boulting cloths, 
 for the ufe of millers to fift their meal; of light fluffs, 
 girth-webs, gartering and bindings. 
 
 We now come to notice a favoured manufacture, 
 which, under proper management, might long fince 
 have rivalled all the others put together. It is that 
 of frame-work knitting. It was fet on foot above 
 fixty years ago, in purfuance of. the will of Mrs. 
 Rebecca Powell*, with a houfe built at about 1200/. 
 expenfe, and a large annual income to initiate lads in 
 
 See Benefa&ions, p. 31L 
 
 the 
 
Trade an d 
 
 Man ufactures. 
 
 the bufincfs, and to fet them up in it with a frame and 
 a fmall portion of materials to begin trade for them- 
 felves. By this charity, fome children have been 
 maintained and clothed, taught to read, write, and call 
 accounts, and, we hope, have received the benefit of 
 religious inftru£Uon; but of all the lads brought up in 
 this nurfery, we know of but four who do anything to 
 the trade in the town, three of whom have but lately 
 begun ; and, except in the particulars juft mentioned, 
 we verily believe that 'till within about half a fcore 
 years, this noble inftitution has contributed but little, 
 if at all, to the general good. The matter who was 
 firft chofen to teach the lads frame-work knitting, and 
 who continued in that employment for more than thir- 
 ty years, tho' we believe him to have been an honed 
 man, appears to have been indolent and ignorant in 
 the nature of trade; and he was fucceeded by perfons 
 flill lefs capable or lefs attentive. Hence an enor- 
 mous fum and much time have been expended, without 
 adequate fuccefs. At length, the experience of half a 
 century evinced, that things had run in a wrong chan- 
 nel, and therefore the governors, about a dozen years 
 ago, appointed the prefent matter, with an able per- 
 fon to inftrua the lads; and we are happy to find., 
 that diligent attention has been given to the bufinefs 
 ever fince, and that now they manufaBure hofe 
 with fo much credit, particularly in the lambs - 
 wool and cotton branches, that orders are more 
 abundant than can always be fupplied. Expeaation 
 
 is 
 
Trade and Manufactures. 177 
 
 is-on tip-toe, andwcaredifpofedtoadd our opinion, 
 coincident with the general wifh, that fince the grand 
 obftacle is removed, there are no improvements in 
 this charity and manufaaure, which the public may 
 not expeei from the vigilance and good difpofition of 
 ' the prefent truftee. So far as thefe faQs may be 
 thought to bear hard on individuals who are now no 
 more^, we avow with reluciance; and nothing but an 
 inviolable regard to truth and reBitude, and a defire 
 of awakening public attention to charities, mould 
 have forced them from us. 
 
 Here is alfo, and has been for many years paft, a 
 fmaU manufaaure of heavy edge-tools in general, 
 which are held in great reputation, but the knives 
 which curriers ufe for (having leather deferve parti- 
 cular notice. They find a market all over Europe 
 and America, and are made at three or four houfes 
 here, and one at Gloucefter, and no where elfe in 
 this kingdom. The manufacturers at Birmingham, 
 Sheffield, and fome other places, have ftruck at this 
 branch, but without fuccefs. Thefe knives are about 
 eleven inches long, and of various breadths, have 
 two ftraight parallel edges, and are eafily formed, but 
 the difficulty lies in , the temper. They muft carry 
 an edge as ftrong and as fharp as a razor, and of fo 
 tough and even a temperature, as to bear turning for 
 the whole length whilft cold, by rubbing and gradual 
 preffure on one fide with a fmooth fteel inftrument, 
 without fuffering the fmalleft crack or flaw, till brought 
 to ftand at a right angle with the fide of the blade. 
 
 Z a And. 
 
17B Trade and Manufacture*. 
 
 And this requires fo nice a temperature, as might be 
 difficult for even the ingenious Mr. Hartley to give. 
 
 Here are at prefent two breweries for porter, ale, 
 and table-beer. Other fmaller manufaaures we for- 
 bear to enumerate, as not having an equal claim to 
 notice, from their being commonly found in moft 
 market towns. 
 
 Banks. 
 
 As gentlemen and tradefmen of good property 
 fometimes ftand in need of temporary affifiance, here 
 are two well eftablifhed Banks for that purpofe, fup- 
 ported by large property, and coiiduQed with great 
 regularity and prudence, whofe notes have confe- 
 quently a free and extenfive circulation. 
 
 F rom thefe manufaaures and other trades, together 
 with the common labour incidental to market towns, 
 the inhabitants find employment, and the town main- 
 tains its population, fo that there is fcarce a tenement 
 void. The inns are well fupported by the great 
 travelling thro' the town, and the fhopkeepers and 
 retailers have very confiderable dealings with the in- 
 habitants of the circumjacent towns and villages who 
 frequent this large market, and have moreover a ne- 
 ceflarv trade and intercourfe with their own townfmen, 
 which together enable them to live handfomely, and 
 
 fome 
 
Trade anb Manufactures. 
 
 *79 
 
 fome have made good fortunes. But they very fen- 
 iibly feel for the abfence of the gentry from their ufual 
 places of refidence. Rendcombe, Compton, Stowell, 
 the Amnies, Driffield, Amton, Somerford, Oakfey, 
 Sapperton, Pinbury, Side, and Miferden, are all vil- 
 lages within the boundaries of a fmall circle round 
 the town, which have to lament the want of houfe- 
 keeping in their refpe&ive manor houfes. In raoft of 
 thefe, within memory, the tradefman found a valuable 
 cuflomer, the farmer a friend and advifer, and the 
 poor inhabitants hofpitality and charity. This de- 
 fection has been varioufly occafioned, and it would 
 be fortunate were it peculiar to thefe parts. It has 
 been owing not only to unavoidable accidents, but td 
 falhionable diflipation. It were much better for the 
 gentry themfelves, as well as for the country in 
 general, were they more feldom feen at public and 
 private gaming-houfes ; at Bath, Brighton, New- 
 market, and other places of public meeting. There 
 the young, the gay, and unthinking of both fexes are 
 initiated in the myfteries of gaming and intrigue; and 
 to thefe may be attributed the numerous inftances of 
 incontinence, fo much and fo frequently expofed in 
 our courts of juftice; and the alienation of fo many 
 family eftates as foon as the heirs come into pofTeffion. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
i8o 
 
 The Hundred. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 1. Of the Hundred, in its prefent State. 
 
 2. The Court of Requefls, &c. 
 
 i. The Hundred in its prefent State a 
 
 It has been fhown at fome length, p. 118, 
 that the antient hundred included many circumjacent 
 villages: and that, in the beginning of the reign of 
 king Henry the Fourth, the town was made a feparate 
 and diftin£l hundred, excluding the abbey, the 
 A!mery,~and Spiringate-lane, and fo it has continued 
 ever fince. Two high conftables are annually ap* 
 pointed over it at the leet, by the fleward of the 
 manor. 
 
 The hundred is divided into feven wards, viz, 
 
 1. Dyer-ward. 
 
 2. Cricklade-ward. 
 
 3. Caftle-ward. 
 
 4. Gofditch-ward. 
 
 5. Dollar-ward. 
 
 6. Saint Lawrence-ward. 
 
 7. Inftrip (formerly Inchftrop) ward, 
 
 • To- 
 
The Hundred. *8i 
 
 To each of thefe wards, two wardfmen or petty 
 conftables are alfo appointed by the fteward at the 
 annual leet; at which time he makes choice of fuch 
 other officers as are neceffary for examining weights 
 and meafures, the ftate of the rivers, and doing other 
 public matters within the jurifdiaion of the hundred. 
 And not only fuch nuifances and offences as are pre- 
 fentable at other leets are cognizable here, but about 
 a dosen or fourteen years ago, we were favoured with 
 the fight of a notable preferment of one of the leet 
 juries, wh6, in the plenitude of their wifdom, ex- 
 ceeded all others we ever heard of. They prefented 
 as nuifances, all waggons that Jhouldjland in the Jlreets 
 on Sundays, from the then prefent court-day 'till the next 
 year's court. This was no ordinary ftretch of power. 
 It was taking cognizance of what was not then know- 
 able, and pr.efenting what was not in ejfe. For the 
 credit of the court, we hope this prefentment does 
 not ftand on record. 
 
 There was antiently a court held in this hundred, 
 from three weeks to three weeks, for taking cogni- 
 zance of all debts arifing within it not exceeding the 
 value of forty (hillings, which right "was continued 
 and exercifed from its firft initiation down to the 
 year 1792, when it was abolilhed by an aft of par- 
 liament, [32 G. 3] by which another court was 
 eftablilhed in its ftead, under the title of 
 
 ?,» The 
 
i8» 
 
 The Court or Requests. 
 
 2. The Court of Rcquefts, for the Manor 
 
 1 HE aa which eflablifhes this court pafTed 
 32 G. 3, and is entitled, An AB for the more eafy and 
 Jpeedy Recovery of fmall Debts within the Hundred; of 
 Cirencefter, Crowthorne and Minety, Brightwells 
 Barrow, Rapfgate, Bradley, Bifley and Longlree, 
 commonly called The Seven Hundreds of Cirencefter, 
 in the County of Gioucefter : And is as follows : 
 
 ^yHEREAS the Right Honourable Henry Earl Bathurft is 
 lord of the manor and Seven Hundreds of Cirencefter, in 
 the county of Gloucefter, comprizing the hundreds oS Cirencefter, 
 Crowthorne and Minety, Brightwells Barrow, Rapfgate, Bradley, 
 Bijley and Longtree : ' 
 
 And whereas there is a Hundred Court held from three 
 weeks to three weeks, within and for the faid Seven Hundreds 
 of Cirencefter, by the deputy or fteward of the lord of the faid 
 manor and hundreds, for that purpofe appointed, taking cog- 
 nizance of all perfonal a&ions where the debt or damage does 
 not amount to Forty Shillings : 
 
 And whereas the proceedings in the faid court in fuch ac- 
 tions have been found to be vexatious, expenfive, and dilatory: 
 For remedy whereof, and for the more eafy and fpeedy re- 
 covery of fmall debts within the faid divifion or diftrift called 
 the Seven Hundreds of Cirencefter: 
 
 May it pleafe Your MAJESTY, 
 That it may be enaded $ And be it euaded by the KING'S 
 moil excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and confent 
 
 of 
 
Court of Requests. 
 
 183 
 
 of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this 
 prefent parliament affembled, and by authority of the fame, 
 That the reverend John Alleyne, of North Cerney, clerk, John 
 Raymond Barker, of Fairford, efquire, Michael Hicks Beach, of 
 Williamflrip, efquire, Jofeph Borton, of Cirencejler, grocer, John 
 Brown, of Cirencejler% Tallow Chandler, Heny Burgh, of Siroud, 
 efquire, Charles Ballinger, of Chalford, clothier, Archer Black- 
 well^ of Chalford, clothier, Roberi Croome fenior, of Cirencejler, 
 cheefe factor, William Croome, of Cirencejler, cheefe fad-tor, 
 Edward Cripps, of Cirencejler, efquire, Jofeph Cripps, of Ciren- 
 cejler, efquir e, John Cripps, of Cirencejl-er, efquire, the reverend 
 Charles Coxwell, James Fielder Croome, of Cirencejler, Robert 
 Croome junior, of Cirencejler, the reverend D. Cumberland, of 
 Driffield, James Edwards, of Fairford, clerk, John Edmonds, of 
 Welford, mealman, the reverend Edward Hawkins, of Bifley, 
 clerk, Edward Haines, of Badgingdon, gentleman, John Haines, 
 of Baunton, gentleman, John Howes, of Winfon, gentleman, 
 the reverend Thomas Tyndale Jayne, of Rendcombe, clerk, John 
 Jafper, of Cirencejler, diftiller, John Ingram, of Coin Saint 
 Aldwins, efquire, Thomas Jones, of Cirencejler, gentleman, 
 Thomas Majler, of Cirencejler, efquire, Thomas Majler junior, 
 of Cirencejler, efquire, Richard Mafier, efquire, William Tarnton 
 Mills, of Bifley, efquire, Timothy Stevens, of Cirencejler, ftationer, 
 William Stevens, of Cirencejler, filverfmith, John Saunders, of 
 Cirencejler, innholder, Thomas Strong, of Cirencejler, mercer, 
 Thomas Vaifey fenior, of Cirencejler, gentleman, Thomas Vaifey 
 junior, of Cirencejler, gentleman, Samuel Walbank, of Chalford, 
 efquire, being the Firft Lift : And John Canter, of Cirencejler, 
 plumber, the reverend James Daubeny, of Stratton, Thomas 
 Forder fenior, of Cirencejler, William Hall, of Cirencejler, efquire, 
 Giles Haines, of Daglingworth, gentleman, John Treble, of Fair- 
 ford, clerk, William Kimber, of North Cerney, gentleman, 
 William Lawrence, of Cirencejler, furgeon, John Smith, of Ci- 
 rencejler, gentleman, George Lewis, of Cirencejler, gentleman, 
 
 A a Charles 
 
184 Court of Requests. 
 
 Charles Tyrrel Morgan, of Fairjord, efquire, John Millingun\ 
 of Coin Rogers, gentleman, Jofeph Pitt, of Cirencejler, gentle- 
 man, William Peacey, gentleman, fir George Onefiphorus Paul, 
 of Rodborough, baronet, Samuel Rudder, of Cirencejler, printer, 
 John Chaunler Ready, of Cirencejler, *efquire, John Roberts 
 junior, of Cirencejler, ironmonger, Richard Selfe, of Cirencejler, 
 efquire, Robert Sandford, of Cirencejler, efquire, John Smith, 
 of Cirencejler, efquire, Thomas Smith, of Cirencejler, efquire, 
 Robert Timbrell, of Cirencejler, efquire, William Turner, of 
 Cirencejler, gentleman, Thomas Turner, of Cirencejler, mercer, 
 , Robert Thompfon, of Cirencejler, gentleman, William Tombs, of 
 Coates, gentleman, William Tyndale, of North Cerney, efquire, 
 the reverend John Wajhbourne, of Cirencejler, D. D. the re- 
 verend William Shippen Willes, of Cirencejler, clerk, the re- 
 verend William Wilkins, of Cirencejler, Samuel Webb, of Ciren- 
 cejler, malfter, John White, of Cirencejler, cutler, John Wil- 
 liamfon, of Cirencejler, mercer, William Wilkins, of Cirencejler, 
 efquire, Edward Wilbraham, of Horjley, efquire, and Thomas 
 Tarnold, of Cirencejler, gentleman, being the Second Lift: all 
 being inhabitants houfeholders^ and refident within the limits 
 of this act, (hall be and they are hereby declared, conftituted, 
 and appointed commiffioners to hear and determine all fuch 
 caufes and matters of debt as are hereinafter mentioned ; and 
 fuch commiffioners and their fucceffors are hereby conftituted 
 a Court of Juftice, by the name and ftile of £c The Court of 
 <£ Requefts for the Manor and Seven Hundreds of Cirencejler^ 
 " in the County of Gloucejler and they the faid commif- 
 fioners, or any Three or more of them, fhall and they are 
 hereby authorized, impowered, and required to aflemble, fit, 
 and hold the faid com t in and for the faid manor' and hundreds 
 in the town of Cirencejler, on Thurjday in every week, and 
 oftener if there fhall be occafion, in a court houfe or fome 
 convenient place to be appointed in the faid town by the major 
 part of the faid commiffioners, who ihall be afienibled at a 
 
 general 
 
Court of Requests. 185 
 
 general meeting to be held for that purpofe, which general 
 meeting fliaU be on the fifth tlay of July one thoufand feven 
 hundred and ninety-two. 
 
 Provided neverthelefs, That in cafe Three or more of the 
 faid commiffioners appointed or to be appointed by virtue of 
 this Act, fhall neglect or refufe to aflemble on any of the days 
 appointed for holding the faid court, that then it fhall be law- 
 ful for the clerk of the faid court, and he is hereby required 
 to adjourn the faid court to the next general court day, on 
 which the faid court ought to be held. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That no perfon mall be capable 
 of acYmg as a commiffioner in the execution of this acl, unlefs 
 at the time of his acting he fhall be an inhabitant houfeholder, 
 and refident within the limits of this aft, and fhall be in the 
 actual poffeflion and enjoyment of a real eftate of the clear 
 yearly value of Twenty Pounds, above reprifes, or be poffeffed 
 of a perfonal eftate to the amount or value of Five hundred 
 pounds, nor until he fhall have taken an oath in the words or 
 to the effect following; (that is to fay) 
 
 " Ii B. do fwear, That I will faithfully, impartially, 
 " and honeftly, according to the beft of my judgment, 
 " hear and determine all fuch matters and caufes as 
 4J/ fhall be brought before me, by virtue of an act, 
 " patted in the thirty-fecond year of the reign of king 
 " George the Third, for, &c. [Here fet forth the title 
 <e of the aft] without favour or affection, prejudice or 
 ts malice, to either party, 
 
 « So help me GOD." 
 
 Which oath the clerk of the faid court, or any of the com- 
 miffioners who fhall have taken fuch oath, is and are hereby 
 impowered and required to adminifter in open, court j and the 
 cjerk of the faid court fhall enter, or caufe a memorial thereof 
 
 A a 2 to 
 
i86 
 
 Court of Requests. 
 
 to be entered in the regifter of the faid court j and if any per- 
 fon, not being qualified asaforefaid, (hall neverthelefs prefume 
 to a£r as a commiffioner in the execution of this act, every 
 fuch perfon mall, for every fuch offence, forfeit and pay the 
 fum of Ten Pounds to any perfon who fhall fue for the fame 
 in any of his Majefty's courts of record at Wejimlnfier^ wherein 
 no eflbign, protection, wager of law, or more than one im- 
 parlance, fiiall be allowed ; and the perfon profecuted fhall 
 prove that he is qualified as aforefaid, or otherwife fhall pay 
 th faid penalty, without any other proof on the part of the 
 profecucor than that fuch perfon hath acted as a commiflioner 
 in the execution of this act. 
 
 A. id be it further enacted, That from time to time, and as 
 often as it fhall be necefiary, either by the death of any of the 
 faid commiflioners hereinbefore particularly named in the firft 
 lift, or any of their fucceflbrs to be appointed in manner here- 
 inafter mentioned, or by his or their refufing or negkaing, 
 for the fpace of twelve months, to aa herein, or by his or 
 their ceafing to be a houfeholder, or removing out of the limits 
 of this aa, it fhall be lawful for the owner or owners, pro- 
 prietor or proprietors, of the faid manor and Seven Hundreds 
 for the time being, at any time after fuch death, refufal, ne- 
 glea, or removal, ;o appoint a cqmmiffioner in the ftead and 
 place of each fuch commiffioner fo dying, or negleding or re- 
 fufing to aa, or rem wing as afoiefaid ; and every fuch com- 
 miflio e o appointed lhall be and is hereby enabled to aa in 
 the execution of this aa, as fully and effeaually, to all intents 
 and purpofes, as if he had been particularly named in this aa. 
 
 And be it further enaaed, That from time to time, and as 
 often as it fhall be necefiary, either by the death of any of the 
 faid commiffioners named in the faid fecond lift, or any of their 
 fucceflbrs to be appointed in manner hereinafter mentioned, or 
 by his or their refufing or negleaing, for the fpace of twelve 
 months, to aft herein, or by his or their ceafing to be a houfe- 
 holder* 
 
Court or Requests. 
 
 187 
 
 holder, or removing out of the limits of this act, it {hall be law- 
 ful for the faid commiffioners named in the faid fecond lift, or 
 any five or more of them, in court aflembled for that purpofe, 
 at any time after fuch death, refufal, neglect, or removal, to « 
 appoint a commiflioner in the ftead and place of each fuch 
 commiffioner fo dying, or negle&ing or refufing to act, or re- 
 moving as aforefaid, and every fuch commiffioner fo appointed 
 lhall be and is hereby enabled to act in the execution of this 
 act as fully and effectually, to all intents and purpofes, as if he 
 had been particularly named in this act : Provided always, 
 that no appointment of commiffioners lhall be made by the 
 faid commiffioners as aforefaid, unlefs fourteen days notice be 
 given of the court at which fuch appointment is to be made, 
 by advertifement in fome newfpaper printed in the county of 
 Gloucester, if any be fo printed, but if no fuch paper be printed, 
 then in fome newfpaper generally circulated in the faid county. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That the commiffioners fo named 
 and appointed, and their fucceffors to be appointed in manner 
 as herein is mentioned, or any Three or more of them, from 
 time to time aflembled as aforefaid, fhall have power and 
 authority, by virtue of this act, to hear and determine all fuch 
 caufes and matters of debt as (hall be brought before them, in 
 manner as hereinafter is mentioned, and to give fuch judg- 
 ments, and to make fuch interlocutory and final orders and 
 decrees therein, and to award fuch execution thereupon, with 
 cofts, both againft the bodies and the goods and chattels of all 
 and every the perfon and perfons againft whom they fhall give 
 or make any fuch judgment or decree, as to them fhall feem 
 juftj and moft agreeable to equity and good confcience j and 
 if the commiffioners fo aflembled fhall happen to be equally 
 divided upon any queftion that may come before them, the 
 commiffioner prefent whofe name ftands firft on the lift of 
 commiffioners directed to be kept in the court houfe or place 
 where they fhall refpectively meet, fhall have the cafting vote. 
 
 Provided 
 
i88 The Court -of Requests. 
 
 Provided always, That none of the faid commiffioners, nor 
 any perfon who fhall keep any viaualling houfe, alehoufe, or 
 other houfe of public entertainment, or who fhall fell any wine, 
 cyder, beer, ale, fpirituous or other ftrong liquors, by retail, 
 fhall be capable of holding any place of profit belonging to the 
 faid court. 
 
 And be it further enaaed, /That Jofepb Pitt, gentleman, 
 fhall be and is hereby conftituted and appointed clerk of the 
 faid Court of Requefts ; and that Richard Pearce fhall be and 
 he is hereby appointed ferjeant of the faid court, who fhall 
 continue clerk and ferjeant of the faid court fo long as they 
 fhall behave themfelves well in their refpeclive offices. 
 
 And be it further enaaed, That it fhall be lawful for the 
 clerk to the faid commiffioners for the time being, by writing 
 under his hand, to appoint a fit and proper perfon to be his 
 deputy, for tranfaaing the bufinefs of the faid court, and fuch 
 deputy fhall have the fame powers and authorities, and be 
 under the fame reftriaions, rules, and direaions, and fubjeft 
 to the fame penalties, in every refpea, as the clerk by whom 
 he fhall be fo appointed is hereby inverted with, or declared 
 to be under and fubjea to. 
 
 And whereas the faid Henry earl Bathurst hath the right of 
 nominating and appointing the fteward and bailiff of the faid! 
 court, which is now and hath been ufually held within and for 
 the faid manor and Seven Hundreds j Be it therefore further 
 enaaed, That from time to time, whenever it fhall happera 
 that the place of clerk or ferjeant of the faid court fhall be- 
 come vacant, either by death, removal, or refignation, the 
 faid earl Bathurst^ his heirs and afligns, being the owner or 
 owners of the faid manor and Seven Hundreds of Cirencester, 
 and every other perfon who fhall for the time being be the 
 owner of the faid manor and hundreds, fhall and he or they 
 are hereby direaed and impowered to nominate and appoint 
 another fit perfon to be clerk or ferjeant of the faid court, to 
 
 continue 
 
Court of Requests, 
 
 189 
 
 continue ia their refpecYive offices during his and their good 
 behaviour. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That the clerk hereinbefore 
 named, and his fucceffors, fo from time to time to be nomi- 
 nated and appointed, or his lawful deputy, fhall make, and 
 caufe to be fixed up in fome convenient part of the faid court 
 houfe, fair and compfeat lifts in writing of the commiflioners 
 herein named and appointed, or to be nominated and appointed 
 as aforefaid; and mail alfo, and is hereby impowered and re- 
 quired to iflue or caufe to be iflued out ail fummonfes, attach- 
 ments, warrants, fubpcenas, and precepts, and to regifter and 
 center, or caufe to be regiftered and entered, all caufes, orders, 
 tlecreees, and judgments, and other acts and proceedings of the 
 faid court, in proper books to be provided by him, and kept for 
 that purpofe ; and that the ferjeant hereinbefore named, or 
 from time to time to be nominated and appointed as aforefaid, 
 fhall and is hereby impowered and required to ferve and ex- 
 ecute, or caufe to be ferved and executed, all.fuch fummonfes, 
 orders, attachments, warrants, fubpcenas, executions, and 
 precepts, and to do and perform all fuch acts, matters, and 
 things as are herein directed and appointed to be done by them 
 refpectively. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That from and after the firft.day 
 of July one thoufand feven hundred and ninety-two, it fhall 
 be lawful for all and every perfon and perfons whomfbever, 
 who now hath or have, or who fhall or may hereafter have, 
 any debt or debts, not amounting to the fum of Forty Shillings, 
 due or owing to him, her, or them, in his, her, or their own 
 right, or as executor, adminiftrator, guardian, or truftee, by 
 or from any other perfon or perfons whomfbever, inhabiting 
 or refiding within the faid manor and hundreds, or trading and 
 dealing or feeking a livelihood therein, to apply to the clerk 
 of the court, who mail immediately make an entry in his book 
 of the caufe, exprriHng the names of the parties and the fum 
 
 demanded, 
 
igo 
 
 Court of Requests. 
 
 demanded, and fhall alfo thereupon make out and deliver a 
 fummons in writing under his hand, directed to fuch debtor 
 or debtors, expreffing the fum demanded of him, her, or them, 
 and the name or names of fuch party or parties demanding the 
 fame, thereby requiring and commanding fuch debtor or 
 debtors to appear at a certain time and place before the com- 
 xniffioners of the faid court, to anfwer fuch demand; and the 
 ferjeant fhall forthwith caufe fuch fummons to be ferved on 
 fuch debtor or debtors, either perfonaHy or by leaving the fame 
 at the dwelling houfe or place of abode, lodging, fhop, fhed, 
 ftall, ftand, or other place of dealing or working of fuch debtor 
 or debtors, within the manor and hundreds aforefaid; and the 
 faid commimoners, or any Three or more of them, lhall, upon 
 proof made of the fervice of fuch fummons, have full power 
 and authority, by virtue of this a&, to make due enquiry con- 
 cerning fuch demands,, and to pronounce and give fuch final 
 fentence or judgment, and to make fuch interlocutory or final 
 orders and decrees therein, as to them fhall feem mod juft 
 and equitable. 
 
 And, for the better regulating the proceedings of the faid 
 court, and rendering this acl: effe&ual for the purpofes thereof, 
 Be it further ena&ed, That the faid commimoners, or any 
 Five or more of them, being a majority of the commiflioners 
 affembled in court as aforefaid, fhall have full power and 
 authority, by virtue of this a£t, from time to time, and as 
 often as they fhall fee occafion, at any of the faid courts, to 
 make fuch rules or orders for the better regulating the practice 
 of the faid court, as to them fhall feem neceffary, and con- 
 ducive to the purpofes of this aft, fo as they fhall be confiftent 
 with equity, and do not tend to leiTen, abridge, or alter the 
 fees hereinafter allowed by this &6t to be taken by the clerk 
 and ferjeant or officer of the faid court for the time being, or 
 to the exercife of any jurifdi&ion inconfiftent with the true 
 intent and meaning of this acl, and do relate to the procefs, 
 
 pradtice, 
 
1 
 
 Court of Requests. igi 
 
 practice, and method of proceeding of and in the faid court 
 only ; according to which rules and orders, fo from time to 
 time to be made, the faid commiflioners, or any Three or 
 more of them, fhall have full power and authority, by virtue 
 of this act, to proceed upon, and' to hear and determine all 
 matters of debt, not amounting to the faid fum of Forty Shil- 
 lings, which fhall be brought before them by virtue of this 
 acl:, and to make and pronounce fuch judgments and decrees 
 concerning the fame, and the cofts of fuit, as to them fhall 
 feem agreeable to equity and good confcience. 
 
 And, for the better difcovery of the truth, and for the more 
 folemn determination of all the caufes and matters which fhall 
 be depending in the faid court, Be it further enacted, That it 
 fhall be lawful for the faid commiflioners, or arty Three or 
 more of them, afTembled in court, and they are hereby im- 
 powered to adminifter an oath to the party or parties, plaintiff 
 or plaintiffs, defendant or defendants, and alfo to fuch witnefs 
 or witneffes as fhall be produced by either party, and alfo to 
 the officers of the court, and to any perfon or perfons whom- 
 foever, whofe evidence fhall to the faid commiflioners, or to 
 the major part of them afTembled at the faid court, appear 
 neceffary. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That if any debtor or debtors, 
 who fhall have been duly fummoned as aforefaid, fhall, with- 
 out fome good caufe to be allowed by the faid court, refufe or 
 neglect to appear in the faid court at the time mentioned in the 
 faid fummons, then it fhall be lawful for the faid commif- 
 fioners, or any Three or more of them, upon proof being 
 made on oath of the fervice of the faid fummons in manner 
 before directed, to proceed to hear the caufe on the part of the 
 plaintiff or plaintiffs only, and to make fuch order, decree, or 
 judgment therein, and to award fuch cofts of fuit, as to them 
 fhall feem meet. 
 
 And 
 
1 9 2 
 
 Court of Requests. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That if upon the day of the re- 
 turn of the fummons, or at any continuation or adjournment 
 of the faid court, the plaintiff or plaintiffs mall not appear, or 
 appearing fhall not make proof of his, her, or their debt or 
 demand, to the fatisfaction of the faid court, then and in every 
 fuch cafe it fhall be lawful for the faid commiflioners, or any 
 Three or more of them, to award to the defendant or defen- 
 dants reafonable cofts, and to order and compel the plaintiff 
 or plaintiffs to pay the fame, by fuch ways and means as are 
 herein provided for the enforcing the payment of debts and 
 cofts ordered and decreed to be paid by the faid court. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That in cafe the faid commif- 
 fioners, or any Three or more of them, mail have made any 
 order or decree for the payment of any money, it fhall be law- 
 ful for the faid commiflioners, or any Three or more of them, 
 to award execution either againft the body or goods of the faid 
 party or parties againft whom fuch order or decree fhall be 
 made; and thereupon it fhall be lawful for the clerk of the faid 
 court, at the requeft of the party or parties profecuting fuch 
 order or decree, to iffue a precept under his hand and feal to 
 the ferjeant of the faid court, who, by virtue of any fuch pre- 
 cept iffued upon the execution awarded againft the body or 
 bodies of fuch party or parties, fhall and may, and is hereby 
 impowered and required to take and apprehend, or caufe to 
 be taken and apprehended, fuch party or parties, being within 
 the faid manor and Seven Hundreds, and to convey him, her, 
 or them to fome common gaol or houfe of correction within 
 the faid county of Gloncejler, there to remain until he, fhe, or 
 they fhall perform and obey fuch order, decree, or judgment, 
 ib as no perfon fhall remain in confinement under fuch execu- 
 tion for any longer fpace of time than twenty days where the 
 debt does not exceed Twenty Shillings, nor for any longer 
 time than forty days where the debt exceeds Twenty Shillings ; 
 and fuch imprifonment fhall be deemed to be a full difcharge 
 
 and 
 
Court of Requests. igg 
 
 and extinguifhment of the faid debt and cofts; and every per- 
 fon fo iniprifoned fhall be difcharged at the expiration of the 
 term for which he fhall be committed, without paying any fees 
 or other reward or gratuity to the gaoler or keeper of the faid 
 gaol or houfe of correction : And fuch ferjeant, by virtue of any 
 fuch precept, ifiued upon the execution awarded againft the 
 goods of fuch party, fhall and may, and he is hereby em- 
 powered to levy, by diftrefs and fale of the goods of fuch party, 
 being within the manor and feven hundreds aforefaid, fuch 
 fum and fums of money, and cofts, as fhall be fo ordered and 
 decreed ; and if the party againft whofe body or goods fuch 
 execution fhall be awarded, and fuch procefs fhall iffue there- 
 upon, fhall by abfconding, or by fecretingor removing his, her, 
 or their goods, or by any other means, prevent or evade the 
 fervice or effect of any fuch execution, it fhall be lawful for 
 the faid. commiffioners, or any Three or more of them, upon 
 due proof thereof made to them by the oath of fuch ferjeant, 
 or of One or more credible \vitnefs or witneffes, at their dif- 
 cretion, to award execution, either againft the body or goods 
 of fuch party or parties, and procefs fhall iffue thereupon, and 
 be executed by the ferjeant in manner aforefaid, until the party 
 or parties at whofe fuiit fuch execution fhall be ifiued fhall be 
 fully paid and fatisfiedi, 
 
 ; And be it further enacted, That in cafe the faid commif- 
 fioners, or any Three or more of them, fhall at any time, 
 upon the requeft and f<or the eafe and convenience of the de- 
 fendant or defendants, order and decree the debt due to the 
 plaintiff or plaintiffs to be paid at feveral payments (which 
 they are hereby impowered to do) then upon the firft default 
 or failure of any of the faid payments fo ordered and decreed, 
 the faid commiffioners, or any Three or more of them, af- 
 fembled in court, fhall and may, at the inftance of the plaintiff 
 or plaintiffs, and upon due proof of the faid default or failure, 
 award execution for the whole debt, or fuch part thereof as 
 
 B b 2 fhall 
 
194 The Court of Requests. 
 
 {hall then remain unpaid, together with fuch further cofts is 
 to them fhall feem reafonable, to be recovered by the fane 
 procefs, and in like manner, as is hereinbefore provided for 
 recovery of the debts and cofts firft deceed, the former order 
 or decree to the contrary thereof notw thftanding. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That in every precept to be ifTujd 
 on any execution awai.ded againft the body or goods of aiy . 
 perfon or perfons whatsoever, the cleric who ifFues the fane 
 {hall exprefs and fet down in writing thefum or fums of money, 
 and cofts, fo ordered and decreed to be paid ; and if the party 
 or parties againft whom fuch execution (hall be awarded fhall, 
 before any actual fale of his, her, or their goods, or before 
 he, {he, or they is, are, or fhall be taken and apprehended, 
 or before the expiration of the term or terms of his, her, or 
 their imprifonment, pay, orcaufe to be paid or tendered, unto 
 the clerk of the court, who (hall ifiue fuch precept, fuch fum 
 or fums of money, and cofts, together with One Shilling as 
 a reward for his trouble in receiving and paying over fuch debt ' 
 and cofts to the plaintiff" or plaintiffs, and entering acknow- 
 ledgment of fatisfa£Hon in the book or regifter of the faid court 
 for fuch debt and cofts, and alfo the fum of Five Shillings for 
 gaol fees, in cafe fuch party or parties fhall have been com- 
 mitted to prifon, then and in fuch cafe and cafes the execution 
 fhall be fuperfeded, and the body or bodies, and goods, of fuch 
 party and parties fhall be difcharged and fet at liberty. 
 
 Provided always, and be it further ena&ed, That in cafe it 
 fhall at any time, during the pending of any caufe in the faid 
 court, appear to the faid commiflioners, or any Three or more 
 of them, upon proof by the oath of any credible witnefs, that 
 -the defendant or defendants therein fhall by ficknefs, poverty, 
 or otherwife, be rendered incapable of paying the debt or de- 
 mand for which fuch caufe fhall have been inftituted, then the 
 faid commiifioners, or any Three or more of them, fhall and 
 may fufpend or fuperfede the proceedings in fuch caufe until it 
 
 fhall, 
 
Court of Requests. 
 
 *95 
 
 lhall, upon like proof as aforefaid, appear to the court that 
 fuch defendant or defendants fhall be able to pay fuch debt or 
 demand in the whole, or by feparate payments, and then to 
 proceed again therein in manner aforefaid, any thing in this 
 a& to the contrary hereof nctwithftanding. 
 
 And be it further enacled, That if the ferjeant of the faid 
 court, or any deputy or ck-puiies under him, who fhall be em- 
 ployed to ferve or levy any execution, fhall by wilful conni- 
 vance or negle£t, caufe or fuSer the party againft whom fuch 
 execution fhall be awarded, to efcape or abfcond, dr the goods 
 of fuch party or parties to be carried away or fecreted, fo that 
 fuch execution mail not have its due effeel, it fhall be lawful 
 for the faid commiffioners, any 7'hree or more of them, 
 affembled in court, upon conplaint and due proof made upon 
 the oath or oaths of ome or more credible witnefs or witneffes, 
 to order fuch principal ferjeant to pay the fum Or fums of 
 money for which the ffaid exe:ution was awarded, to the party 
 complaining, and to enforce che payment thereof by the fame 
 method and means as are heieinbefore provided for the pay- 
 ment of other debts. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That the feveral fees hereinafter 
 limi;ed and expreffed, and no others, fhall be taken by the 
 clerk and ferjeant for the time being, for their feveral and re- 
 fpe&ive fervices in the execution of this ad j (that is to fay) 
 
 To the CLERK. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 For entering every caufe - _ _ - - — 6 
 
 For iffuing every fummons _ ■ . 6 
 
 For every fubpeena - - - - _ _ — 6 
 For calling every plaintiff or defendant before the court — 3 
 For every hearing or trial - —-6 
 For every oath adminiftcred in court - - - — 3 
 . For every order, judgment, or decree - — i 6 
 
 For 
 
l 9 6 
 
 Court of Requests. 
 
 For entering thereof - 5 
 
 For a nonfuit ;., 5 
 
 For every fearch in the books - - _ _ ^ 
 
 For paying money into court fix-pence ; and if by in- 
 
 ftalments, one fhilling in the pound more 
 For taking money out of court, or acknowledging fatif- 
 
 faclion in the clerk's books - - _ 6 
 
 For every attachment, - - _ 5 
 
 For every execution - 6 
 
 For every warrant of commitment - - - — 6 
 
 For every warrant to difcharge a prifoner out of cuftody — 6 
 
 To the SERJEANT. 
 For the fervice of every fummons, order, or fubpcena, 
 if within the faid town or parifh of CirenceJIer, and 
 attending the court with the return thereof, one mil- 
 ling; and if it be out of the faid town or parifh, then, 
 in addition to the faid one fhilling, two-pence per 
 mile, for every mile which fhall be reafonably travel- 
 led, as well in going as retnrning, in order to ferve 
 fuch fummons, order, or fubpcena : 
 For executing every attachment, execution, or warrant, 
 againft the body or goods two millings and fix-pence, 
 if the fame be in the faid town or parifh of CirenceJIer \ 
 but if it be out of the faid town or parifh, then, in 
 addition to the faid two (hillings and fix- pence, two- 
 pence per mile, for every mile which fhall be reafon- 
 ably travelled, as well in going as returning, in order 
 to execute fuch attachment, execution, or warrant 
 againft the body or goods : 
 For carrying every defendant or delinquent to prifon $s. 
 A table of which fees fhall from time to time be hung up by 
 the clerk of the faid court, in fome confpicuous part or parts 
 of the faid court houfe or place where the faid commiflioners 
 
 fhall 
 
Court of Requests. 
 
 *97 
 
 mall meet, fo that all perfons concerned may fee and examine 
 the fame. . 
 
 And be it further enadled, That if the clerk or ferjeant of 
 the faid court fhall take or demand any greater fees or rewards 
 than what are herein before mentioned, for their fervice in the 
 execution of this act, they mall for every fuch offence forfeit 
 and pay fuch fine, not exceeding the fum of Forty Shillings, 
 nor lefs than Ten Shillings, as the faid commiffioners, or any 
 Three or more of them, fhall affefs or impofe, to be levied, 
 if not immediately paid, by diftrefs and fale of the offender's 
 goods, by warrant under the hands and feals of the faid com- 
 miffioners, or any Seven or more of them; which fine, when 
 paid or levied, fhall be applied to the ufe of the poor of the 
 parifli where the offence fhall be committed. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That if the faid clerk or ferjeant 
 fhall be guilty of amy mifbeha/iour, either by neglect or breach 
 of duty, or taking greater :ees than before mentioned, or 
 otherwife, in the execution of their refpective offices, that then, 
 upon complaint and due proof made thereof upon oath in open, 
 court, it mail be lawful for the faid Henry earl Batburji, and 
 his heirs or afdgns, being the owner or owners, proprietor or 
 proprietors of the faid manor and feven hundreds, and he is 
 hereby required to difmifs cr remove fuch clerk or ferjeant 
 from his refpective office, and to appoint another in manner 
 hereinbefore directed. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That if any commlffioner of the 
 faid court for the time being (hall be party to, or interefted in 
 any caufe depending in the faid court, fuch perfon fhall not be 
 capable of acting as commiflioner in the hearing and deter- 
 mining of fuch caufe, or making any order, decree, or judg- 
 ment therein, but, after being heard in the faid caufe, fhall 
 withdraw from the faid court till the fame is finally determined ; 
 and if the clerk or his deputy, or ferjeant of the faid court for 
 the- time being, fhall be a party to, or interefted in any caufe 
 
 depending 
 
Court of Requests. 
 
 depending in the faid court, fuch clerk, deputy, or ferjean? 
 mall not exercife his office in the faid caufe, or in any thin? 
 relating thereto, but the faid commiffioners, or any Three or 
 more of them, aflembled at fuch court, (hall and may depute 
 and appoint another perfon to exercife the faid office of clerk 
 or ferjeant refpectively, in all things relative to fuch caufe. 
 
 And, for the better enforcing the orders and decrees from 
 time to time by the faid commiffioners, and that the commif- 
 fioners, and the clerk and officers of the faid court, may be 
 inverted with proper power and authority, and be free and ex- 
 empt from infult and abufe ; Be it further enacted, That if 
 any perfon or perfons mall affront, infult, or abufe all or any 
 one or more of the commiffioners, or the clerk, ferjeant, or 
 officers, of the faid court for the time being, during their fit- 
 ting in the faid court, or in going to or returning from the fame, 
 or fhall interrupt the proceedings of the faid court, or at any 
 time mail infult, affront or abufe, hinder or obftrudt, or at- 
 tempt or threaten to hinder or obftrudt, the clerk or ferjeant 
 in the lawful execution of their refpective offices, then and in 
 every fuch cafe it fhall be lawful for the faid commiffioners, 
 or any Three or more of them then fitting, or if not then fit- 
 ting, at the next, or fecond, or third court to be held after 
 fuch offence committed, to caufe a warrant to be iffued by the 
 clerk of the faid court, directing fuch ferjeant to apprehend and 
 take, or caufe fuch perfon or perfons fo offending as aforefaid 
 to be apprehended and taken, before fome juftice or juftices 
 of the peace for the faid county of Gloucejier^ and upon the fact 
 alledged being proved, by the oath of one or more credible 
 witnefs or wirneffes, the faid juftice or juftices is and are here- 
 by impowered and directed to punifh fuch perfon or perfons fo 
 offepding as aforefaid, by fine, not exceeding the fum of Forty 
 Shillings, nor lefs than Five Shillings, which fhall be imme- 
 diately paid into the hands of the faid juftice or juftices before 
 whom fuch offender or offenders (hall be convicted, and be 
 
 paid 
 
Court of Requests. 199 
 
 paid and applied in like manner as the fines herein before men- 
 tioned are dire&ed to be applied ; and if the faid offender or 
 offenders mail not pay the faid fine in manner aforefaid, it mall 
 be lawful for the faid juftice or juftices, and he and they is and 
 are hereby required, by warrant under his and their hand and 
 feal or hands and feals, to caufe the fame to be levied by dif- 
 trefs and fale of the offender's goods, or to commit fuch per- 
 fon or perfons fo offending as aforefaid to fome common gaol 
 or houfe of correction in the faid county of Gloucefter, there 
 to remain for any fpace of time not exceeding one calendar 
 month, or until he, fhe, or they fhall pay the faid fine. 
 
 Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the cl gr k 
 of the faid court fhall fix, or caufe to be fixed or truck up, in 
 fome public part in the faid court houfe, tfr other place where 
 the faid commiffioners meet, a true copy of the laft preceding 
 claufe of this act, to the end that no perfon or perfons fhall 
 or may plead ignorance thereof. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That the refpedtive keepers for 
 the time being of the common gaols or houfes of correction, 
 within the faid county of Gloucejhr^ fhall and may, and they are 
 hereby required and commanded to receive and take into their 
 cuftody reflectively, all and every perfon and perfons' who fhall 
 be committed or ordered to ftand committed by any Three or 
 more of the faid commilEoners prefent in court, or by virtue 
 of any warrant, attachment, execution, or other procefs ii- 
 fuing out of the faid. Court of Requefts; and in cafe the keeper 
 or keepers of fuch gaol or houfes of correction, fhall neglect 
 or refufe to receive and take into his and their cuftody, any 
 perfon or perfons committed by virtue of this act, or, before 
 the expiration of the time for which any perfon or perfons fhall 
 be fo committed to his or their cuftody, fhall difcharge fuch 
 perfon or perfons, or wilfully permit or.fuffer fuch perfon or 
 perfons to go at large, without a warrant, order, or authority 
 for that purpofe in writing, figned in court by Three or more 
 
 Cc of 
 
200 Court of Requests. 
 
 of the faid commiffioners, every keeper offending in any of 
 the cafes aforefaid, and being 1 thereof convicted before one or 
 more of his Majefty's juftices of the peace for the faid county 
 of Gloucejter, upon the oath or oaths of one or more credible 
 witnefs or witneffes, or on his or their own confeffion, mail 
 forfeit and pay for every fuch offence any mm not exceeding 
 Five Pounds, nor lefs than Forty Shillings, at the difcretion 
 of iuch juftice or jujices, and fuch fum mall be immediately 
 paid by the perfon or perfons fo offending, into the hands of 
 ■^-V-r^^nejufticeorjuftices before whom he or they mall be con- 
 " VicSted, or in default thereof mall and may be levied by diftrefs 
 an4 fale of the offender's goods and chattels, by warrant under 
 the hand and feal or hands and feals of fuch juftice or juftices, 
 and which fum, when paid or levied, mail be applied in like 
 manner as the fines herein before mentioned are directed to 
 be paid and applied. 
 
 And be it further ena&ed, That no action or fuit for. any 
 debt not amounting to the fum of Forty Shillings, and recover- 
 able by virtue of this aa in the faid Court of Requefts, fliall 
 be brought againft any perfon or perfons refiding or inhabiting 
 within the jurifdiaion thereof, in any of the king's courts at 
 WeJlminJIer, or any other courts whatsoever, or elfewhere out 
 of the faid Court of Requefts ; and no fuit that mail be com- 
 menced in the faid Court of Requefts, in pursuance of this 
 aa, nor any proceedings therein, mall or may be removed 
 into any fuperior court, but that judgments, decrees, and pro- 
 ceedings of the faid court mail be final and conclufive to all 
 intents and purpofes. 
 
 And be it further enaaed, That this a&j or any thing herein 
 contained, fhajl not extend to any debt for rent upon any leafe 
 or contraa, where the title of any lands, tenements, or he- 
 reditaments can or may come in queftion, or in or upon any 
 other real contraa, nor to any debt which mall arife upon or 
 by reafon of any caufe concerning any laft will or teftament, 
 
 or 
 
Court of Requests. 
 
 201 
 
 or matrimony, or any thing properly belonging to the eccle- 
 fiaftical courts, nor to any debt for money won at or by means 
 of any horfe race, cock match, wager, or any kind of gaming 
 or play, nor for any forfeiture upon any penal ftatute or by-law, 
 nor to any debt whereof there hath not been a contract, ac- 
 knowledgment, undertaking, or promife to pay, within fix 
 years before the taking out of the fummons for the fame, al- 
 though fuch debt (hould not amount to the fum of Forty 
 Shillings. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That in cafe any perfon or per- 
 fons, making oath or giving evidence in any caufe or matter 
 whatfoever, depending. in the faid Court of Requefts, fhall 
 commit wilful and corrupt perjury, and be thereof duly con- 
 victed according to law, fuch perfon or perfons {hall incur and 
 fuffer the like pains and penalties as any other perfon or per~ 
 fons convicted of wilful and corrupt' perjury is or are liable to, 
 or fhall be fubject to by the laws and Ifatutes of this realm. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That in cafe any perfon refiding x 
 within the faid manor and hundreds, who fhall be duly ferved 
 with a fubpoena or fummons, to be ilTued out of the faid Court 
 of Requefts, to give evidence on behalf of any plaintiff" or de- 
 fendant, fhall neglect or refufe to appear, purfuant to fuch fub- 
 poena or fummons, at the time and place therein mentioned, 
 and due proof (hall be made of the fervice of fuch fubpoena or 
 fummons, and no caufe of abfence be (hewn or affigned, to 
 the fatisfaction of the commiffioners prefent at the court to 
 which fuch perfon fhall be by fuch fubpoena or fummons re- 
 quired to appear, and oath fhall be made before the faid com' 
 miffioners, by the party at whofe inftance, and on whofe be - 
 half, fuch fubpoena or fummons iflued, that the perfon ferved 
 therewith was a material witnefs for fuch party, it fhall be 
 lawful for the faid commifTioners, or any Three or more of 
 them afTembled at fuch court, to impofe and lay a fine, not 
 exceeding Fifty' Shillings, nor lefs than Five Shillings, to be 
 
 levied, 
 
202 
 
 Court of Requests. 
 
 levied, if not. immediately paid on demand, by diftrefs and 
 fale of the offender's goods, by warrant under the hands and 
 feals of the faid commiffioners, or any Three or more of tlhem ; 
 which fine, when paid or levied, fhall be paid over to the party 
 at whofe inftance fuch fubpoena or fummons iflued. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That no attorney at law, or 
 Solicitor, being ferved with a procefs of the faid Court of Re- 
 quefts, or appearing in the fame court, mall be allowed to 
 plead or maintain any privilege a-gainft the procefs, authority, 
 jurifdidtion, or judgment thereof. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That whenever any perfon fhall 
 be committed to prifon by virtue of any execution or procefs 
 iflued in purfuance of this aft, for the recovery of any debt or 
 coils, the perfon or perfons at whofe fuit fuch execution or 
 procefs mail ifluc, fhall pay and allow to the perfon commit- 
 ted, the fum of Three-pence a day, for every day he or fhe 
 mall continue in prifon upon the fame execution or procefs, 
 towards his or her fubfiftence, the fame to be paid to the gaoler 
 or keeper of the place where fuch perfon fhall be confined, or 
 left at his houfe, for the ufe of the perfon fo committed ; and 
 in cafe any default fhall be made in the payment of the faid 
 fum of Three-pence a day, for any one or more day or days, 
 and due proof on oath of fuch default fhall be made, to the 
 fatisfaction of any juftice of the peace for the county of Glou- 
 ce/ier, (who is hereby authorized and impowered to adminifter 
 fuch oath) then it fhall be lawful for the faid juftice to order 
 and direct fuch prifoner to be forthwith fet at liberty, and fuch 
 perfon fhall accordingly be fet at liberty, without paying any 
 fees or other reward or gratuity to the gaoler or keeper of the 
 faid prifon or houfe of correction, and fhall be difcharged from 
 the payment of the money for which he or fhe fhall have been 
 fo committed. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That no action or fuit fhall be 
 brought or commenced againft any of the faid commiffioners, 
 
 or 
 
Court of Reoue^st-s. 
 
 or any other perfon or perfons, for any tlhingdone in purfuance 
 of this ad, until twenty-one days prevuous notice thereof fliall 
 have been given to or left at the ufual place of abode of the 
 perfon or perfons againft whom fuch action or fuit mail be in- 
 tended to be brought, thereby fetting forth the particular caufe 
 of action, or after tender of fufficient amends mall have been 
 made to the party aggrieved, nor unlefs fuch action or fuit be 
 commenced within fix calendar months next after the caufe of 
 action mail have arifen, and the venue fhall be laid in the 
 county of Glouce/Ier, and not elfewhere; and the defendant or • 
 defendants in fuch aftion or fuit mail and may plead the general 
 iffue, and give this act and the fpecial matter in evidence at 
 any trial to be had thereupon, and that the fame was done in 
 purfuance and by the authority of this act ; and if the fame 
 fhall appear to have been fo done, or if any fuch action or fuit 
 fhall be brought before the expiration of twenty-one days next 
 after fuch notice fhall have been given as aforefaid, or after 
 tender of fufficient amends fhall have been made to the party 
 or parties aggrieved, or after the time before limited for bring- 
 ing the fame, or fhall be laid in any other place than as afore- 
 faid, then, and in either or any of thefaid cafes, the jury fhall 
 find for the defendant or defendants ; and -upon fuch verdict, 
 or if the plaintiff or plaintiffs fhall be nonfuited, or fuffer a 
 difcontinuance of his or their action or fuit after the defendant 
 or defendants fliall have appeared, of if, upon demurrer, judg- 
 ment fhall be given againft the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the de- 
 fendant or defendants fhall have treble cofts, and fhall have 
 fuch remedy for the fame as any defendant hath for cofts of 
 fuit in other cafes by law. 
 
 Provided always, That no plaintiff, in any action or fuit 
 which fhall be brought for any thing done in purfuance of this 
 act as aforefaid, fhall be permitted to produce evidence of any 
 other caufe of action than fuch as fhall be fet forth in the notice 
 to be given as aforefaid, or fhall recover any verdict againft 
 
 '■ the 
 
204 
 
 Court of Requests. 
 
 the defendant or defendants in fuch aftion or fuit, unlets fuch 
 plaintiff ftiall prove on the trial that fuch notice was given as 
 aforefaid; and in default of fuch proof, the defendant or de- 
 fendants fliall recover a verdi& and cofts as before mentioned ; 
 and that in cafe any perfon, againft whom any fuch a&ion or 
 fuit mall be brought, mail have neglected to tender amends, 
 or mail have tendered infufficient amends, before the adion 
 or fuit mall be commenced, it mall be lawful for him, by leave 
 of the court wherein fuch adion or fuit mail be depending, at 
 any time before iflue joined, to pay into court fuch fum of 
 money as he (hall think proper, whereupon fuch proceeding, 
 order, and judgment mall be had, made, and given, in and 
 by fuch court, as in other cafes where defendants are allowed 
 to pay money into court. 
 
 And be it further enacled, That this, aft mail be d eemed, 
 adjudged, and taken to be a Public A&, and mall be judicially 
 taken notice of as fuch by ail judges, juftices, and other per- 
 fons, without fpecially pleading the fame. 
 
 It appears by the preamble to this act, that the pro- 
 ceedings in the old court were vexatious, expenfive, and, 
 dilatory; but we have the pleafure to fay, that in the 
 Court of Requefts they have been fcfupuloufly exact 
 from its firft inftitution; and that the decifions appear 
 to have been made with the ftricteft regard to modera- 
 tion and juftice. We therefore fincerely congratu- 
 late the public on the beneficial effects of it, which 
 have been felt and acknowledged throughout the large 
 diftrict of country over which its jurifdietion extends. 
 And it is much to be wifhed, that its powers were en- 
 larged to try debts to the amount of Five Pounds, a 
 fum at this time much inferior in real value to Thirty- 
 nine 
 
The Borough. 205 
 
 nine Shillings and Eleven-pence, at the time when 
 the old court and many other hundred and county- 
 courts were firft inftituted. 
 
 This court is held at prefent at Eleven in the fore- 
 noon of every other Thurfday, in a large room, now 
 called the Town-hall. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 .The Borough. 
 
 Where prepoifeffion warps the du&ile mind; 
 Wher^e blindfold education leads the blind; 
 Where intereft biafles, ill cuftoms guide, 
 And ftrong defires pour on us like a tide; 
 Say, can cool virtue here dilfuade from ill ? 
 Or exiled reafon. — pander to the will ? Pope. 
 
 1 HIS is a parliamentary borough, but not a 
 corporation. The borough and the hundred are 
 commenfurate. It elecls two reprefeatatives to par- 
 liament, and fent reprefentatives to £ great council 
 as early as 11 E. 3, but did not acquire the per- 
 manent right of elecling two Iburgeffes, 'till by grant 
 in the thirteenth year of the reign of queen Elizabeth. 
 
 We 
 
2o6 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 We fliall row endeavour to fhow who have and 
 who have not a right to vote at elections here. ' 
 
 At firft the free burgeffes only were the eleBors ; 
 but after a contefted election in the reign of James 
 the Firft, it was determined, That the inhabitants hoife- 
 holders, not receiving alms, fhould make the election. But 
 fince, the right of voting has been varioufly modified 
 and abridged. 
 
 On the 4th of November, 1690, thehoufe of com- 
 mons refolved, That the inhabitants of the borough of 
 Cirencefier, being inmates, have no right to vote in elect- 
 ing burgeffes to ferve in parliament. 
 
 And their refolution of Dec. 1, 1709, The in- 
 habitants of the Abbey, the Emery, and the Spiringate- 
 lane, have not a right to vote in fuch election. The reafon . 
 of this was, that the abbey and its precin&s are not 
 within the hundred and borough. 
 
 By 26 G. 3. c. 100, it is enafted, That from and 
 after the 21st of Aug. 1786, no perfon JJiall be admitted 
 to vote for members to ferve in parliament, for any city 
 or borough of England or Wales, as an inhabitant paying 
 fcot and lot, inhabitant houfeholder, houfekeeper, and pot- 
 waller, legally fettled, or as inhabitant houfeholder, houfe- 
 keeper, and pot-waller, or as inhabitant houfeholder re- 
 ft ant, or as inhabitant of fuch city or borough, unlefs he 
 ftiall have been actually bona fide an inhabitant paying 
 fcot and lot, or an inhabitant houfeholder , houfekeeper, 
 and pot-waller, legally fettled, or an inhabitant houfeholder, 
 houfekeeper , and pot-waller, { or an inhabitant houfeholder 
 refiant, or an inhabitant within fuch city or borough, fix 
 
 * ■ calendar 
 
The Borough. 
 
 207 
 
 calendar months previous to the day of the election, at 
 which he JJiall tender his vote : and if any per/on Jhall 
 vote at any fuck election contrary to the true intent and 
 meaning of this act, his vote fhall be deemed njdl and void, 
 and he Jhall forfeit to any perfon who fhall fue for the 
 fame 20 li. and in every action brought on this account, the 
 proof of inhabitancy fhall lie upon the perfon against whom 
 the fame Jhall be brought. Action to commence within fix 
 calendar months. This act not to' extend to any perfon 
 acquiring the pojfejfion of any houfe in any city or borough, 
 by defcent, devife, marriage, marriage Jettlement, or pro- 
 motion to any office or benefice. Nor to any other defcrip- 
 tion of perfons claiming to vote by any other title, or fup er- 
 added qualification. 
 
 In a committee of the houfe, March 28, 1792, 
 chofen to try the petition of Robert Prefton, efq; 
 againft Richard Mafter, efq; for undue election for 
 this borough, in 1790, It was refolved, That it is the 
 opinion of the, committee, that no perfon can be deemed a 
 1 houfeholder, who does not poffefs an exclufive right to the 
 ufe of the outward door of the building, altho' by taking 
 inmates he may have relinquiJJied for a Time the exercife 
 of that exclufive right. Neither can a perfon whofe habi- 
 tation is compofed of more apartments than one, be deemed 
 a houfeholder, unlefs he alfo pojfejfei an exclufive right to 
 the ufe of the stair-cafe, door-way, or other pajfage, that 
 forms the means of communication between the fever al 
 apartments, altho' by tailing inmates he may have likewife 
 relinquiflied for a time the exercife of that right. 
 
 The original right to an exclufive ufe, is then the point 
 D d of 
 
2o8 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 of difriminatwn between the houfe holder on the one har.d, 
 and the inmate on the other. 
 
 The term Outward door of the building, does not 
 include within its meaning the gate or outward door of a 
 court, or a paffage open to the Jky. 
 
 A houfe may contain but a Jingle apartment; yet it dies 
 not follow, as a neceffary conclufion, that a fingle apart- 
 ment, thd fumifhed with a feparate outward door, will 
 confaiute a houfe ; for a Jliop or JJied, unlefs it is ufed as 
 a dwelling, is certainly not a houfe. 
 
 And on the 29th of March, the fame committee 
 refolved, That, in the opinion of this committee, the legal 
 meaning of the term Houfeholders, and Inmates, mufi 
 be determined on the general principle of the law of the 
 land, and not on any ideas fuggested by legal ufage. 
 
 If a paffage is confidered as a street-pajfage, tho 
 covered, all the houfes that have feparate outward doors 
 opening to that paffage, give good votes. 
 
 We may be allowed jufl: to obferve, that thefe re- 
 folutions are moftly of a negative nature. It* was 
 much eafier for the committee to define what is not, 
 than what is a houfe, that gives a right of voting in this 
 borough. And it appeared by the pleadings of the 
 counfel on the huttings, in a contefted election here 
 in the year 1796, that the latter fttll remains in fome 
 meafure doubtful and undefined. 
 
 To fend reprefentatives to parliament is certainly 
 a Privilege, and was originally an Honor; but by the 
 
 prefent 
 
The Borough. 209 
 
 prefent mode of elections, and the principles upon 
 which oppositions arife, this Privilege becomes an 
 Evil, and the Honor is doubtful. In the generality 
 of contefted elections, a candidate is feldom received 
 or oppofed on account of fitnefs or unfitnefs, which 
 ought to be the principal, if not the only, considera- 
 tion. He is often embraced, as an inftrument to 
 gratify refentment; or oppofed, from diflike to thofe 
 who efpoufe him. Thus oppofitions more frequently 
 happen from enmity amongft the electors themfelv^s, 
 than from any diflike to, or approbation of candidates. 
 Of all rcafons this is the mod unreafonable. Society 
 is one of the greatell bleffings of human nature, arifing 
 from friendly communications, mutual good offices 
 and benevolence. But elections on fuch principles 
 feed animofities, diffolve friendships, and furr.ifh op- 
 portunities for illiberality, obloquy, and abufe; and 
 as few individuals efcape them," there cannot be a 
 greater obftacle to the peace and happinefs of a place, 
 than the fomenting and cherifhing' of party diflinc- 
 tions, which poifon all the amiable affections of the 
 mind. Thefe evils are alfo furthered by the ambition 
 of candidates, who obtrude themfelves on electors, 
 and furnifh the means of gratifying their ill humours. 
 They were not felt when boroughs paid their repre- 
 fentatives, and were obliged to thofe who fat for them. 
 
 General prevalency and long habits make things 
 lefs Unking; but if, on examination, thefe reflections 
 are found to be juft, they certainly merit the ferious 
 attention of the good people cof England. 
 
 D d 2 The 
 
210 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 The franchife of electing reprefentatives to fer/e 
 in parliament., tho' configned to individuals, muft 3e 
 corfidered as a part of the public ftock; and the hw 
 againft bribery and corruption at elections, is a fetof 
 reftrictive rules to be obferved in the exercife of it. 
 It is fo fully and aptly exprefled againft all kinds of 
 undue influence, that it would be difficult to put a 
 cafe which it would not reach ; and fo clear and per- 
 fpicuous, as to be impoffible to miftake the true fpirit 
 ami meaning of it. 
 
 This franchife is intrufted with the elector to be 
 confcientioully ufed for the belt intereft of his country. 
 He cannot difpofe of it for money, place, penfion, 
 emolument, nor for the promife of any fuch thing, 
 without violating that law, arjd incurring very heavy 
 penalties. It cannot be lawfully bartered for private 
 profpects, nor paft benefits. Every man muft be 
 grateful, but his private obligations ought not to be 
 difcharged by proftituting a facred truft. Thefe things 
 are contrary to the fpirit of our laws, and forbidden 
 by the duties we owe to our country. 
 
 Our laws require elections to be perfectly free. 
 And hence it may be clearly inferred, that to opprefs 
 an elector for having freely and confcientioufly ufed 
 his franchife, or in other words, for doing his duty, 
 is a fpecies of grofs injuftice, which, if notreftramed 
 by law, cannot be excufed or palliated by exarr.p'e. 
 We lament its frequency ; but ufage and rectitude 
 are too often at variance; and ten thoufand reiterated 
 
 inftances 
 
The Borough. 
 
 £11 
 
 inftances of wrong-doing can never alter tth<e naature 
 ©f it. 
 
 It has been obferved that paupers, inmates, and 
 lodgers are excluded from voting, not only here:, but 
 in moft other parliamentary boroughs: And the reafon 
 feems to be, becaufe indigent people are moft expofed 
 to feduction. 
 
 If fome of the lower order of electors fall under 
 powerful temptations and delufive fuggeftions, they 
 are infinitely lefs culpable than more independent and 
 better informed individuals, who pretend to be ad- 
 mirers of our excellent conftitution, whilft they prefs 
 electors to confider on -which of the contending parties 
 their interest lies, and who is most capable offerving them. 
 This is an argument not more frequent than bafe; for 
 certainly there cannot be a ftronger intimation that 
 all is to be refolved into private intereft. To aft, or 
 advife to aft, on fuch foul, felfifti, and corrupt prin- 
 ciples, is as derogatory to the true fpirit of the law, 
 and of our conftitution, as to vote for money. It 
 precludes all difcrimination of character, and fets the 
 merits of a candidate at nought. It places knavery 
 and honefty, folly and cultivated underftanding 
 upon a level ; for private intereft may happen to 
 favour the undeferving candidate, and is frequently 
 the means of fending improper perfons to parliament. 
 We are perfuaded that many well meaning perfons 
 have fallen into this error for want of due comfider- 
 ation, and that to fuch, a ftiort hint will convince; them 
 of the impropriety of fuch conduct. 
 
 Having 
 
212 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 Having mown, by the beft authorities to be pro- 
 duced, who have a right to vote in this borough; and 
 by a few, and we hope convincing, arguments, how 
 de&ors ought to exercife their franchise; it may, in 
 the next place, be ufeful to take a curfory view of the 
 duties and bufinefs of a parliament-man, whence it 
 may be feen who is a proper objeft of choice. 
 
 The two houfes of parliament are the king's grand 
 council : It is therefore no inconfiderable truft to be 
 fent to parliament. It is the bufinefs of a reprefenta- 
 tive, wherever chofen, to keep his attention to the 
 general good. He mould underftand the interefts of 
 the feveral courts of Europe, and the true principles 
 of government and of commerce, as he will have to 
 affift in new modelling old laws, and framing new, for 
 regulating our vaft commercial concerns with all the 
 world, and for the internal government of a free 
 people. He muft join in taxation for the fupport of 
 government, and be watchful that the public money 
 is frugally and properly expended. — He muft be care- 
 ful that no branch of the legiflature encroaches on the 
 others, and that the liberty and property of the fub- 
 je£t are not violated. He muft have a competen t 
 ihare of general knowledge, without which no man 
 can judge of meafures. The ignorant may gape and 
 acquiefce; and if they mean right, 'tis mere chance 
 that the event is not wrong. He muft give due at- 
 tendance on his duty, for without it knowledge would 
 
 be 
 
The Borough. 
 
 be ufelefs. His duty will be tedious, fatiguing *, and 
 expenfive ; and if all be right, not a penny can be 
 reimburfed him. 
 
 To discharge with propriety fo great a truft, he 
 mud be inflexibly honeft, of good parts, folid judg- 
 ment, and of a competent fhare of learning. To be 
 honeft is not fufficient, without a good underftanding; 
 for an honeft man may be very filly. On the other 
 hand, 'tis not enough to be fenfible and learned, with- 
 out integrity. 
 
 If a parliament-man be materially deficient in 
 either of thefe, he has obtruded into an important 
 trufl to the great injury of his country. In the judg- 
 ment, therefore, of fober, thinking men, to offer as a 
 candidate for the people's choice, implies no fmall de- 
 gree of confidence ; a confidence of pofteffing thofe 
 qualifications which are not often to be found. And 
 let this be indelibly fixt on the minds of electors, That 
 to the indifcreet and mad choice of unqualified re- 
 prefentatives, are to be attributed mo ft of the real 
 evils with which the nation has to ftruggle. 
 
 There are thofe, it feems, who deem any gentleman 
 of fortune, proper enough to be fen-t to parliament ; 
 but let fuch confider what fort of perfon they would 
 
 * Formerly the parliamentary writs directed the electors to 
 choofe not only the wifeft, but the ftouteft men, [potentiores 
 ad laborandum] that they mi^ht be able to endure the fatigue 
 >of the journey, and cf clofe attendance. In thofe days, the 
 knights of the mire were paid 4.J. and the burgefles 2s. a day, 
 by their conftituents, for their attendance. 
 
 make 
 
214 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 make choice of for an agent in their own private con- 
 cerns, and let us fuppofe the bufinefs to require the 
 abilities and qualifications of a lawyer. Would they 
 appoint a man of very moderate underftanding, tho" 
 perfe&ly honeft ? No. — Would they choofe a gentle-- 
 man of the army or navy, who never turned his back 
 to the enemy? No, not merely as fuch. — No man of 
 common underftanding would wifli either of thefe 9 
 or any other, to be his agent, without the requifite 
 endowments. The application is eafy. A good fol- 
 dier or failor, a good landlord or neighbour, may 
 want the proper qualifications for a fenator ; for 
 nothing can be more evident than that a perfon 
 eminently qualified for one fituation, may be al- 
 together unfit for another. Mifapplications of this 
 nature have fometimes happened by the inordinate 
 zeal of miftaken men, who have thought they were 
 rewarding a deferving and efteemed character by 
 choofmg him to parliament; but they ought to know, 
 that the duties of a fenator are burthenfome, and that 
 his fituation is by no means of the nature of a reward. 
 It is indeed a great honour to be freely ele&ed to 
 parliament, implying public efteem on one hand, and 
 diftinguifhed abilities on the other; but to fend a per- 
 fon to parliament incapable of filling with propriety 
 the fituation to which he is chofen, expofes him to 
 contempt and difgrace, of which a fmall degree of 
 difcernment muft make him fenfible. 
 
 Since then the private affairs of an individual are 
 of trifling confideration when put in competition with 
 
 the 
 
The Borough. 
 
 215 
 
 the great bufinefs of the nation, would i| not Be worfe 
 than madnefs to be negligent in this important matter? 
 And would not the fending a reprefentative to parlia- 
 ment, tho' an honeft man, but in other refpefts un- 
 qualified for the truft, be facrificing the deareft in- 
 terefts of the country to the fond confiderations of 
 . friendfhip, and acquaintance ; or to the vain difplay 
 of influence and power ? 
 
 But alas ! how little is the fitnefs or unfitnefs of a 
 candidate confidered and underftood! — Where elec- 
 tors are numerous, many, from prejudice and habit, 
 are captivated by mere noife and mow. Thoufands 
 have determined their choice by the nonfenfical cries 
 of Blue and Yellow ; and the correfpondent flags at 
 elections have attracted more ignorant followers than 
 ever fought under the antient Saxon Refan. 
 
 But there are other delufions. It is curious tho* 
 melancholy to obferve, how artfully the public atten- 
 tion is drawn afide from its proper object, to fix it on 
 any trifling circumftance, which may happen to fuit 
 the condition of a candidate. — He is the fon of fome 
 nobleman. — He comes in the intereft of fome great 
 man. — He is of an antient family . — Is a neighbour. — 
 Will fpend a great deal of money in the borough.— 
 Will fuffer the electors to kill game in his manors, — 
 cum multis aliis. — 
 
 Let us now briefly confider one or two of thefe 
 cafes, which are thought to have the greateft weight. 
 A candidate is the fon of a great nobleman, or comes 
 recommended by him. To judge of the propriety 
 
 E e of 
 
The Borougi, 
 
 of fuch recommendation, and of he weight it fhoird 
 have with the electors, it mould >e confidered, that 
 -the peers derive their honours, ami the great privilege 
 of being perpetual fenators, fron the crown, under 
 which many of them hold places of great profit. For 
 thefe reafons, the law deems it hghly improper for 
 peers to interfere in the choice of members of the 
 other houfe. Judge Blackftone (onfiders them par- 
 ticularly as guardians of the rights and prerogatives 
 of the crown ; whereas the comnons are and ought 
 to be guardians of the rights of the Deople, and jealous 
 of encroachments upon public liberty, by the two 
 other branches of the legiflature. It would therefore 
 be improper to elect perfons reconmended by mem- 
 bers of the houfe of peers, who might unduly in- 
 fluence and feduce them from theirduty. And electors 
 devoting themfelves to fuch recommendation, would 
 in effect transfer the choice of members of the lower 
 houfe of parliament to the members of the upper 
 houfe, who, by our conftitution, ought not to inter- 
 fere at elections. 
 
 But what if a candidate offer himfelf in the intereji 
 offome other great man?- 7 -To form a proper judgment 
 in this cafe, we mu'ft confider what is meant by a great 
 mans intereji? And it will be found to be only another * 
 name for his influence and power. If he podefs any 
 number of burgages, the occupation of which gives 
 a right of- voting at a borough election, he is laid to 
 have an intereji there ; that is, he has the power of 
 turning out luch tenants as refufe to comply with his 
 
 willies, 
 
The Borough. 
 
 wifhes, and of replacing them with fuch as will. But 
 there are other modes of intereft, which may be all 
 comprehended in having a farter , no matter how, of 
 offering the private interest of debtors. 
 
 Hence it is evident, that tho' a candidate who comes 
 with the recommendation of a perfon of great intereft 
 in a borough, may himfelf be a very worthy perfon, 
 yet he is not the more, but really the lefs acceptable 
 to electors on account of fuch recommendation, fince 
 the interference of power tends to violate the freedom 
 of choice. Such eleclors, therefore, who have valued 
 their freedom, have commonly united to check natural 
 interest, upon the principle that it proves fatal to in- 
 dependence, grafps at all in its power, and ultimately 
 reduces the ele&oirs to implicit inftruments of ambition 
 and lucre. 
 
 The remaining topics of recommendation, with a 
 hundred other fuch flimfy and nonfenfical confeder- 
 ations put together, are mere fhadows without; fub- 
 ftance, and fall infinitely fhort of reafons for chufing 
 a reprefentative in parliament. Only it may be ob- 
 ferved, that of two candidates, equally qualified, the 
 neighbour feems to have a kind of natural preference 
 to the ftranger. 
 
 But the moft powerful influence with good men re- 
 fults from a combination of good fenfe, amiable af- 
 fability, inflexible juftice, charity and beneficence. 
 Such a character, if known, can have no enemy, and 
 will become irrefiflible every where, but in a corrupt 
 and rotten borough. 
 
 E e % Ye 
 
2l8 
 
 The Borough, 
 
 Ye numerous tribe of candida es, behold the ar- 
 duous truft ! Inflexible probity, great ability, and 
 perfeverance, are the qualifications. To be materially 
 deficient in either, would prove you more confident 
 than fit. 
 
 Ye worthy electors, to love your country is to love 
 yourfelves ! If ye have hitherto proceeded on wrong 
 principles, at length hearken to the voice of reafon ! 
 Hearken to the diftreffing calls of your dear country ! 
 Look beyond the prefent moment. Contemn a little 
 fenfual enjoyment. Lay afide perfonal refentment. 
 Abandon an overweening attachmentof acquaintance, 
 and the more feducing consideration of private in- 
 tereft. Chufe reprefentatives properly qualified, fo 
 mall they be illuftrious in the fenate, the pride and 
 honour of their constituents, and the glory and fal- 
 vation of their country. 
 
 In the prefent ftate of things, when men's judg- 
 ments are warped by intereft and habit, a fudden and 
 total change is not to be effected ; yet the moft dif- 
 ficult things may be atchievedby adequate exertions. 
 
 We are not fo vain as to expeclt our fentiments to 
 be honoured with general approbation, but we think 
 they will be more approved tran javowed, and more 
 avowed than carried into pra&icce ; for men more 
 readily admit rules of conduct for others than for 
 themfelves. Should we fuccced in convincing the 
 mind, we entertain fome hope. 1 thait amendment may 
 
 follow ; 
 
The Borough. 219 
 
 follow; but fince to convince is not always to reform, 
 our hopes are limited. 
 
 Worn out the fubjeft, dull the manner, and the 
 truths unwelcome, all endeavours will be thrown away 
 upon thole who have been long hacknied in venality. 
 To fuch, not character and ability in Candidates, but 
 the price they give is the only confideration. We can 
 fancy our book in the hands of a group of them, 
 fimpering with a leer of defiance, peculiar to hardened 
 impenitence. Of fuch we have no hopes. We write 
 not for M — fb — y nor B — w — n ; our book will be 
 equally unwelcome at S— ts— y ; condemned every 
 where by thofe who have large borough intereft, and 
 perhaps burnt in Corawal by the common hangman. 
 It is not to the felfift, and biaffed opinion of thofe 
 who would fell their country for a few guineas, a 
 dinner and a bottle, that we fubmit our unreferved 
 thoughts; but to thatof every judicious honeft man, 
 who has at heart ith; welfare of his country. Our 
 ftrictures and obferwations are general, and apply to 
 all places which fenid reprefentatives to parliament; 
 and tho' the evils of uhich we complain are by far lefs 
 forcibly felt here thanin moft other boroughs, yet they 
 certainly exift in iforie degree, and we deem them 
 fair game wherever f>und. 
 
 The fteward and biiliff of the borough for the time 
 being, who are appontcd by the lord of the manor, 
 are the returning coficers. The prefent fteward is 
 Jofeph Pitt, efq; amc Robert Thompfon, gentleman, 
 is the bailiff. The 
 
220 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 The reprefentatives are eleded in the town-hall, 
 unlefsin cafe of oppofition; and then, after opening 
 the bufmefs in the hall, the poll is ufually adjourned 
 to a ftage or temporary huftings in the market-place. 
 
 The number of eleaors varies, but may be averaged 
 at about five hundred. 
 
 A List of the Burgeffes who have ferved in Parliament 
 for this Borough. 
 
 1571, Gabriel Blike, efq. Thomas Poole, gent. 
 
 1572, Thomas Powle, Thomas Strange, gent. 
 J 5$5> Tho. Poole, jun r . efq. William Eftcourt, gent. 
 1586, Charles Danvers, efq. Geo. Matters', gent. 
 1588, Charles Danvers, efq. Geo. Matters, gent. 
 1592, Ol iver St. John, Henry Kerrys, gent. 
 J 59 6 > James Wroughton, efq. Henry Powle. 
 
 1 601, Rich. Browne, efq. Rich. George, efq. 
 
 1603, Rich. Marten, efq. Arnold Oldifworth, efq. 
 
 Edw. Jones, k'. in Marten's place, and 
 Anth. Mannye, k 1 . in Jones's place, dec d . 
 
 1 6 14, Lord Newborough, Tho. Rowe. 
 
 1620, Tho. Roe, knight, Tho. Nicholas, efq. 
 
 1623, William Matters, k l . Hen. Pool, efq. 
 
 1625, Miles Sandys, k c . Hen. Pool, efq. 
 
 1625, Nevill Poole, k l . John George, efq. 
 
 1628, Giles Eftcourt, k f , & bar'. John George, efq. 
 
 1640, Hen Pool, efq. John George, efq. 
 
 1641, Theobald Gorges, k ( . John George, efq. In the-ir 
 places, Thomas Fairfax, k c . Nath. Rich, efq. 
 
 J ^53» TheLittleParliament. No boroughs fent reprefentatives 
 J 654> J°hn Stone, of Friday -ftreet, London, efq. 
 1656, John Stone, efq. of Weftminfter. 
 
 1658-9, John 
 
The Borough. 
 
 221 
 
 1658-9, John Stone, efq. 
 
 Rich. Southby, ef^. 
 
 Th 
 
 efe three laft were the Common Wealth Parliaments. 
 
 1 660, 
 
 Richard Honour, 
 
 John George. 
 
 
 This was called the 
 
 Convention Parliament. 
 
 166 1, 
 
 Rich. Honour, 
 
 John George. 
 
 1678, 
 
 Hen. Powle, 
 
 Sir Robert Atkyns. 
 
 1680, 
 
 Hen. Powle, 
 
 Sir Robert Atkyns. 
 
 1680- 
 
 1, Hen. Powle, 
 
 Sir Robert Atkyns. 
 
 1685, 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 Earl of Newburgh, 
 
 1688, 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 John Howe. 
 
 1689, 
 
 John Howe, 
 
 Rich. Howe.' 
 
 1695, 
 
 John Howe, 
 
 Rich. Howe. 
 
 1698, 
 
 Hen. Ireton, 
 
 Charles Coxe. 
 
 1700, 
 
 Char. Coxe, 
 
 James Thynne. 
 
 1701, 
 
 Char. Coxe, 
 
 William Mafter. 
 
 1702, 
 
 Char. Coxe, 
 
 William Mafter. 
 
 I 7°5> 
 
 Allen Bathurfft, 
 
 Hen. Ireton. 
 
 1707, 
 
 Allen Bathurfft, 
 
 Hen. Ireton. 
 
 1708, 
 
 Allen. Bathurift, 
 
 Charles Coxe. 
 
 1 7 10, 
 
 Charles Coxe, 
 
 Thomas Mafter. 
 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 Benj. Bathurft. 
 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 Benj. Bathurft. 
 
 1722, 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 Benj, Bathurft. 
 
 1727, 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 Peter Bathurft. 
 
 !734> 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 William Wodehoufe. 
 
 1741, 
 
 Tho. Mafter, 
 
 Henry Bathurft. 
 
 i747» 
 
 Thomas Mafter, 
 
 Henry Bathurft. 
 
 But Thomas Mafter dying in 1748, John Coxe was elected 
 
 I754» 
 
 John Dawney, 
 
 Benjamin Bathurft. 
 
 1761, 
 
 John Dawney, 
 
 James Whitftied. 
 
 1768, 
 
 James Whitftied, 
 
 Eftcourt Creffwell. 
 
 1775* 
 
 James Whitftied, 
 
 Samuel Blackwell. 
 
 178* 
 
 Lord Apfley was chofen without oppofition in July 
 
 James Whitftied having vacated his feat. 
 
 1783, . The 
 
222 
 
 The Borough. 
 
 1783, The fame, re-elected on his appointment to be one of 
 
 the lords of the admiralty. 
 
 1784, The fame. Samuel Blackwell, efq. 
 
 1785, The fame. Richard Mafter, efq. 
 
 1789, The fame, re-elecled, on being appointed one of the 
 
 lords of the treafury. 
 
 1790, The fame, being appointed one of the tellers of the 
 
 exchequer. 
 
 1790, The fame. Richard Mafter, efq. 
 
 1792, The fame. Robert Prefton, efq. who 
 
 had ftood a poll in 1790, and on his petition to par- 
 liament againft Richard Mafter, for undue election, 
 obtained his feat. 
 
 1794, Michael Hicks Beach, efq. upon lord Apfley (then 
 earl Bathurft) taking his feat in the houfe of peers. 
 
 1796, The fame. Robert Prefton, efq. 
 
 The arms of the town are faid to be A Phcenix in 
 Flames, as reprefented in the margin, 
 alluding to the old town having been 
 burnt by fparrows, and this rifing out 
 of its afhes, as the young Phoenix is 
 fabled to proceed from the afhes of 
 the old one. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Manor and Estates. 
 
 223 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of the Manor and other EJlates, 
 
 I HE manor of Cirencefter is of the antient 
 demeans of the crown, of which domefday-book gives 
 the following particulars. 
 
 In Cireceftre Hund. habuit rex E. quinq. hid. t 're. 
 Ibi in d'nio v car.. 8c xxxi vill'ni cum x car. Ibi xiii 
 fervi & x bord. 8c iii molini de xxx folid. prata & ii 
 filvas de 1. fol. & ibi ii lib 1 ho'es ii car. h'ntes lanam 
 o'nium regina habeb. T. R. E. reddeb. hoc m. iii 
 modios frumenti & dimid. 8c braifi iii mod. & melL 
 lex fextar. & dimid. & ix lib. & v fol. & ter mille 
 pan. canibus. Modo redd, xx lib. 8c v. fol. & xx 
 vaccas xx pore. & pro pan. xvi fol. 8c de novo foro 
 xx fol. quorum h't S Maria t'cium den. 
 
 In Cireceftre unus lib. ho. tteneb. ii hid. t're 8c red- 
 deb. xx fol. in firma & per tofcam Angliam vicecomiti 
 fervrtium faciebat. 
 
 Will's Com. hanc t'ram mifit ext. firmam & cuidam 
 fuo ho'i dedit earn. 
 
 In Cireceftre Hund. Will's filius Baderon tenuit 
 ii hid. in Cireceftre & Hugo ten. de ea. In d'nio 
 eft una car. 8c unus vill's & dimid. 8c xiii bord- cum 
 
 F f i car. 
 
224 Manor, and Estates. 
 
 i car. Ibi ii fervi. Valuit c folid. modo Ixx folid. 
 Aluui tenuit hane t 'ram. 
 
 Thus trariflattd : 
 
 King Edward had five hides of land in Cireceiftre 
 hundred. There are five plow-tillages in demean, 
 and thirty-one villeins, with ten plow-tillages. There 
 are thirteen fervi, and ten bordars, and three rmills 
 of 305. fome meadow, and two woods of 505. And 
 there are two free men who have two plow-tillages. 
 The queen had the wool of all the fheep. In the 
 time of king Edward this manor paid three bufhiels 
 and a half of bread corn and three bufhels of barley 
 and fix fextaries and a half of honey and 9/. 55. and 
 three thoufand loaves for the dogs. It now pays 
 20/. 5s. and twenty cows and twenty hogs, and 1.65. 
 in lieu of the loaves, and 20J. for the new market, 
 of which St. Mary hath the third penny. 
 
 A free man held two hides of land in Cireceffrre, 
 and paid 205. for the farm, and did fervice to the 
 IherifF throughout all England. Earl William put 
 this land out to farm, and gave it to one of his "men. 
 
 William the fon of Baderon held two hides in 
 Cireceftre~, and Hugh holds them of him. There is 
 one plow-tillage in demean, and one villein and a h alf. 
 and four bordars with one plow-tillage. There are 
 two fervi. It was worth 1005, now 705. Aluui h eld 
 this land. 
 
 It 
 
Manor and Estates. 22s 
 
 It appears by the charter to the abbey of Ciren- 
 ceftcr, that king Richard the Firft granted the jurif- 
 diftion of the feven hundreds, with all his lands in 
 Cirencefter, to that abbey, which continued to be 
 part of the poffeffions of the abbey (the hundred of 
 the town excepted) till the diflblution of religious 
 houfes. 
 
 i 
 
 The hundred of Cirencefter, Crother, Bright- 
 waldes-barrowe, Refpegate, Bradley, Langtre, and 
 Myntye, and the feven hundreds of Cirencefter, were 
 afterwards granted to fir Thomas Seymour, lord Sey- 
 mour of Sudley, as it is recited in a fubfequent grant 
 of all thefe particulars to fir Anthony Kingftone, 
 6 E. 6. 
 
 Sir John Danvers died feized of the manor 37 Eliz. 
 and was fucceeded by his fon Henry Danvers earl of 
 Danby, who built a large houfe on -the fpot where 
 earl Bathurft's prefent houfe ftands, and made the 
 famous phyfic-garden, for the public ufe of the uni- 
 verfity of Oxford. The manor and hundred were 
 afterwards fold to Henry Poole, whofe fon and heir 
 fir William Poole, in 1645, affigned them, with their 
 appertenancies, and levied a fine thereof to the lady 
 Poole, his mother, (in lieu of dower) for her life ; 
 and after her death, to her daughter Anne Pooled 
 and her heirs; which Anne was married to James earl 
 of Newburgh, and previoufly thereto, and in con- 
 fideration thereof, me releafed to him the manor, 
 borough, and town of Cirencefter, with their apper- 
 tenancies and franchifes, to the ufe of him and his 
 
 heirs. 
 
226 
 
 Manor and Estates. 
 
 heirs. Charles was his heir. He married Frances 
 
 t who furvived him, to whom he left the pre- 
 
 mifes in fee. She fold them in the year 1695, to fir 
 Benjamin Bathurft, great-grandfather of earl Bat- 
 hurft *, the prefent proprietor. 
 
 The 
 
 — — ■ \ 
 
 * According to Mr. Jacob, there is reafon to think that the 
 family of Bathurft was of great antiquity in Limburg, in Ger- 
 many, where its anceftors were feated. The fpot of their re- 
 fidence was called Batters, and they, according to the cuftom 
 of thofedays, were denominated De Batters; and one or two 
 of them coming into England in the time of the Saxons, 
 gained a fettlement in Suffex, which they named Batter's Hurft, 
 i. e. Batter's Grove. This appellation was at length con- 
 tradled to Bathurft ; and the wood upon the fpot ftill retains 
 the name of Bathurft Wood. How long the eftate had been 
 in the family cannot now be ascertained, but it appears that 
 Lawrence Bathurft, in whofe poffeffiori it was, became deprived 
 of it in confequence of the difpute between the houfes of York 
 and Lancafter. His father Lawrence who had engaged in the 
 caufe of Henry the Sixth, had loft his life in the battle of St. 
 Albans in 1461, and his fon adhering to the fame caufe, Ed- 
 ward the Fourth took from him his antient inheritance, and 
 gave it to Battle Abbey, which was in the fame neighbour- 
 hood. Lawrence Bathurft, however, ftill retained family ef- 
 tates in Staplehurft, Canterbury and Cranebrook in Kent, and 
 making Cranebrook his chief feat, paffed the remainder of his 
 days in tranquility. He left iflue three fons, Edward, anceftor 
 to the earl of Bathurft; Robert, of Horfemanden in Kent; 
 and John, who had lands in Staplehurft, by his father's gift. 
 Edward, the eldeft fon of Lawrence Bathurft, was feated 
 
 at Staplehurft, and among other children, had . 
 
 r Launcelot 
 
Manor and Estates. 227 
 
 The other eftates in Cirencefter, mentioned in 
 domefday-book, have fince been divided amongft a 
 
 variety 
 
 Launcelot Bathurft, alderman of London, who, in the be- 
 ginning of the reign of queen Elizabeth, was poffeffed of the 
 manor of Franks, in the county of Kent. He married Judith, 
 daughter of Richard kandolph, of London, by whom he had 
 ifTue four fons and three daughters, Randolph, Launcelot, 
 Edward, and George Bathurft ; Elizabeth, married to John 
 Brown, cfq; Mary, wedded to Edmund Pefhall, efqj and 
 Sufan, efooufed to Robert Owen, efq. From the eldeft fon, 
 Randolph Bathurft, the family at Franks defcended, now ex- 
 tinct in the male line. 
 
 George Bathurft, youngeft fon of the faid Launcelot, in the 
 year 1610, married Elizabeth Villiers, daughter and coheir of 
 Edward Villiers, of Howthorp, in com. Northampton, de- 
 fended from an anceftor of George Villiers duke of Buckings 
 ham, and had with her the faid manor of Howthorp, where 
 he fettled, and had iflue twelve fons and four daughters. Several 
 of the fons died in the fervice of king Charles the Firft, during 
 the civil war. Thofe who furvived were Ralph, Villiers, 
 Henry, Mofes, and fir Benjamin. Ralph was educated at 
 Trinity college in Oxford, for a divine, but during the civil 
 war ftudied phyfic, and was employed as a phyfician in the 
 navy. At the reftoration, refuming his former function, he 
 became fellow of the Royal Society, prefident of Trinity- 
 college, and one of the king's chaplains ; and on June 28, 
 1670, was inftalled dean of Wells. He died on the 14th of 
 June, 1704, and was buried in the chapel of Trinity-college, 
 which he built at his own expenfe, and was highly efteemed 
 
 for his learning. Villiers Bathurft was judge-advocate of 
 
 the navy, in the reigns of king Charles the Second, and king 
 
 William 
 
228 
 
 Manor and Estates. 
 
 variety of proprietors. Jeffry de Erchebald, a de- 
 fendant of the free-man in domefday-book, held an 
 
 eftate 
 
 William and queen Mary, and died in the fame poft in the 
 
 reign of queen Anne. Henry was attorney-general of 
 
 Munfter, and recorder of Cork and Kinfale; but he and Mofes 
 dying without hTue, their eftates defcended to their younger 
 brother, 
 
 Sir Benjamin Bathurft, who, in the reign of king Charles 
 the Second, was elected governor of the Royal African Com- 
 pany, under his Royal .Highnefs James duke of York; alfo 
 governor of the Eaft India Company, in the years 1688, 1689. 
 He was afterwards treafurer of the houfhold to the princefs 
 Anne of Denmark, on the eftabliftiment of it, and was ap- 
 pointed cofferer when (lie acceded to the crown. Sir Benjamin 
 died Aug. 27, 1704, and wa3 buried at Pauler's Pury in Nor- 
 thamptonfhire, leaving iffue, by Frances his wife, daughter 
 of fir Allen Apfley, of Apfley in SufTex, knight, three fons, 
 Allen, Peter, and Benjamin ; and one daughter, Anne, wed- 
 ded to Henry Pye, of Farringdon in Berkfliire, efq. 
 
 Allen, the eldeft fon of fir Benjamin Bathurft, ferved in par- 
 liament for the borough of Cirencefter, from the year 1705, 
 'till queen Anne, in confideration of his own great merit, and 
 the long fervices of his father, was pleafed to advance him to 
 the dignity of a peer of Great Britain, by letters patent dated 
 Dec. 31, 171 1. In the year 1742, his lordfhip was fworn one 
 of the privy council, and the fame day appointed captain of 
 the band of gentlemen pensioners, but refigned his office in 
 1744. In 1757, he was conftituted treafurer to his prefent 
 majefty, then prince of Wales, at whofe acceflion to the 
 throne, he was continued in the lift of privy counsellors, but 
 declined accepting of any employment, on account of his great 
 
 age. 
 
Manor and Estates. 229 
 
 cftate in Cirencefter 36 H. 3. And William Erch- 
 bald was found by the efcheator's inquifition to be a 
 free tenant here, 4 H. 4. 
 
 The 
 
 age. In confideration of his lordfhip's great merits, his 
 majefty was pleafed to advance him to the dignity of an earl, 
 by the tide of Earl of Bathurft, of Bathurft in Suffex, by 
 letters patents dated Aug. 12, 1772. 
 
 Lord Bathurft's wit, tafte, and learning led him to feek the 
 acquaintance of men of genius, and made him intimately cou- 
 riered with bifhop Atterbury, do&or Friend, Mr. Congreve, 
 fir John Vanburgh, d 0 a 0 r Swift, Prior, Rowe, Addifon, Pope] 
 Gay, do&or Arbuthnot, Sterne, and other men of eminence 
 for learning. His friendfhips were not confined to particular 
 party or profeffions. Mr. Parry, a diffenting clergyman of 
 Cirencefter, who was a gentleman of confiderable learning and 
 tafte, and who joined with the decorum of his character a 
 liberality of fentiment an<i manners, and a fprightly and ami- 
 able temper, was honoured with lord Bathurft's particular re- 
 gard. How well his lordfhip underftood the proper application 
 of a large fortune j s happily exprefTed by Mr. Pope in his 
 epiftle to his lordfhip on the ufe of riches : 
 
 The fenfe to value riches, with the art 
 
 T' enjoy them, and the virtue to impart 
 
 Not meanly, nor ambitioufly purfued, 
 
 Not funk by floth, nor raifed by fervitude; 
 
 To balance fortune by a juft expenfe, 
 
 Join with ceconomy magnificence; 
 
 With fplendor, charity; with plenty, health; 
 
 Oh teach us, Bathurft! yet unfpoiled by wealth! 
 
 That fecret rare, b'etween th' extremes to move, 
 
 Of mad good -nature, and of mean felf-love, 
 
 His 
 
230 Manor and Estates. 
 
 The manor-place, or manfion-houfe of Arch- 
 bawld's, which is now the property of Jofeph Small, 
 D. D. as leffee under Thomas Mailer, efq; together 
 
 with 
 
 His lordfhip preferved, to the clofe of his life, his natural 
 chearfulnefs and vivacity, and was always acceflible, hofpitable 
 and beneficent. Till within a month of his death, he con- 
 ftantly rode out on horfeback two hours in the morning, and 
 drank his bottle of wine after dinner. After a few day's ill— 
 nefs, his lordfhip died at his feat at Cirencefter, in the year 
 1775, and in the 91ft year of his age. His lordfhip married 
 Catherine, daughter and heir of fir Peter Apflcy, fon and heir 
 of fir Allen aforementioned, by whom he had iflfue four fons 
 and five daughters. Her ladyfhip died in the year 1768, aged 
 79, and was buried in a vault in Cirencefter church j where 
 his lordfhip's remains were alfo depofited ; for whom the reader 
 will find appropriate infcriptions in the fubfequent account of 
 the church. 
 
 Benjamin, their eldeft fon, born Aug. 12, 1711, married 
 Elizabeth, fecond daughter to Charles lord Bruce. He was 
 chofcn one of the knights of the (hire for the county of Glou- 
 cefter, in the 8th parliament of Great Britain, and was alfo 
 chofen one of the members for the borough of Cirencefter, in 
 the year 1754. He died without ifTue Jan. 23, 1767; and his 
 lady died Nov. 11, 1771, and both are buried at Siddington 
 
 St. Peter. -Henry Bathurft, was his lordfhip's fecond fon, 
 
 of whom hereafter. — John Bathurft, the third fon, died un- 
 married.— Allen, the fourth fon, was fellow of New-college, 
 Oxford, and rector of Beverftone and Saperton in this county. 
 
 He died unmarried, in the year 1768. His lordfhip's five 
 
 daughters were 1. Frances, married firft to William Wood- 
 houfc, efq; who died knight of the (hire for Norfolk, May 31, 
 
 1735; 
 
Manor and Estates. 
 
 with the manor, and divers lands, meadows and paf- 
 tures belonging, patted by grant 13 H. 6. to John 
 Gerveys and Alice his wife; whofe fon, Robert Ger- 
 veys, fold them by the name of his Mannor in Cif- 
 fetour called Archebolds, to Richard Ofmond, 3 H 8. 
 Robert Ofmond, fon of Richard, had a daughter 
 
 Mary, 
 
 1735; fecondly, to James Whitlhed, of Hampton Court in 
 Middlefex, efq; feveral times clefted to be one of the repre- 
 fentatives of this borough.— 2.. Catherine, married to Henry- 
 Reginald Courtney, efq; brother to fir William Courtney, 
 bar', afterwards created vifcount Courtney. — 3. Jane, married 
 to John Buller, of Morvall, in Cornwall, efq; and knight in 
 
 parliament for that county. 4. Leonora, married to colonel 
 
 Edward Urmftone, of the firft xegiment of foot-guards, and a 
 major-general.— And 5. Anne, married to the reverend James 
 Benfon, LL. D. late chancellor of the diocefe of Gloucefter. 
 
 Which faid Henry Bathurft, his lordmip's fecond fon, on 
 the death of his father, fucceeded to the title and eftate. Ap- 
 plying himfelf to the ftudy of the law, he foon became 
 eminent in his ptofeflion, and was fucceffively appointed foli- 
 citor-general and attorney-general to Frederick prince of 
 Wales. On the 2d of May, 1754, he was made a ferjeant at 
 law, artd one of the juftices of the court of common pleas; 'till 
 when, by fucceffive te-ele£ions, he had fat in parliament for 
 the borough of Cirencefter from the year 1735. In 1770, he 
 was appointed one of the lords commiffioners of the great feal; 
 and his maj efty was alfo pleafed to advance him to the dignity 
 of a baron, by the title of baron ApHey on the 22d day of 
 January, 1771 ; having on the 12th day of the fame month, ap- 
 pointed him to the important office of lord high chancellor 
 of Great Britain 3 which office he difcharged with great abili- 
 
 G g t' 1 ^ 
 
23 2 Manor and Estates. 
 
 Mary, who carried this eftate by marriage to Richard 
 Smyth, of Hawford in Warwickfhire, yeoman; who 
 with his wife, by their deed dated Jan. n, 5 Eli Z . 
 fold the fame to William Childe and John Childe* 
 who conveyed them Feb. 7i 8 Eliz. to William 
 ^Bavand and the faid William Childe. And thefe two, 
 N by their deed dated 11 Feb. in the fame year, fold 
 them for 210/. to Richard Matter, of London, efq; 
 from whom they have defcended to Thomas Mafter, 
 of the abbey-houfe in Cirencefter, the prefent owner! 
 
 ties and honour. His lordfhip married, firft, Anne, daughter 
 
 and heir of James, efq. This lady dying without hTue, 
 
 he wedded, fecondly, Tryphena, daughter of Thomas Scawen, 
 of Maid well, in Northamptonfhire, by whom he had iffue two 
 Tons, viz. Henry, commonly called lord Apfley, and Apfiey; 
 and four daughters, viz. the ladies Tryphena, Catherine, 
 Selina, and Sufanna. His lordfhip died in the year 1794, and 
 was fucceeded by his eldeft fon, 
 
 Henry the prefent earl Bathurft. When his lordfhip came 
 of age, he was chofen one of the reprefentatives of the borough 
 of Cirencefter, on Mr. Whitftied's vacating his feat in parlia- 
 ment in the year 1 783, and has been feven times re-chofen on 
 various occafions as may be feen in our lift of the reprefent- 
 atives. His lordfhip wedded Georgina one of the daughters of 
 lord George-Henry Lennox, brother to his grace the duke of 
 Richmond, by whom he has iffue three fons, viz. Henry- 
 George, William-Lennox, and Seymour-Thomas; and two 
 daughters, Gcorgina-Louifa, and Emily-Charlotte, all minors. 
 
 His Jordfhip's asms are, Sable, two bars ermine, in chief three 
 creffes pattee Or. Crest. On a wreath, a dexter arm in mail 
 embowed, holding a club with /pikes, all proper. Supporters. 
 Two stags argent, each gorged with a collar gemel ermine. Motto. 
 TIEN TA FOY. t&j • 
 
 1 ithings 
 
TlTHINGS, &.C. 
 
 2 33 
 
 Tithings and Hamlets. 
 
 1 HERE are five tithings in the parifh. all ly- 
 ing in the Out-torne and Minety, vulgarly written 
 Crowthorne and Minety, viz. 
 
 1. Spital-gate, corruptly called Spiring-gate tithing. 
 
 2. Wiggold. 
 
 3. Chefterton. 
 
 4. Barton. 
 
 5. Oakley. 
 
 1. Spital-gatc tithing. The abbey of Cirencefler 
 had its hofpitmm, for the entertainment of ftrangers, 
 and the entrance on that fide of the abbey was at a 
 large gate-way, with a circular arch, called Spital- 
 gate. The gate-way is now {landing, with one of the 
 large abbey barns near it. And this gate gave de- 
 nomination to the tithing and the adjoining farm. 
 There are other lands in this tithing which belonged 
 to the abbey, called the Almery-farm, from the Almery 
 of the abbey to which the farm belonged. The almery- 
 gate is ftill {landing, and thefe are all the buildings 
 which at this time remain of the antient abbey. Both 
 thefe farms were granted to Richard Mailer,, 6 Eliz. 
 and are now the property of Thomas Matter, efq; 
 lineally defcended from the firft proprietor of that 
 name. 
 
 2. Wiggold. This tithing lies on the north-eaft of 
 the town, beyond the forementioned tithing. There 
 was a chapel here fubfervient to Cirencefter. Cart. 
 
 1 7 Ed, 
 
234 TlTHINGS AND HAMLETS. 
 
 17 Ed. 3. JobrrBiflet, chief forefter of England, 
 died feized of Wiggold 25 H. 3. . His wife Alice 
 furvived him, and held Wiggold in dower. After her 
 death, the manor defcended to his four daughters; 
 Margaret, married to Richard de Rivers; Ela, Ifabel, 
 and Edith; which laft was called Edith lady of Wig- 
 gold. Roger Normand purchafed a charter of free- 
 warren in this manor 9 E. 3, which was confirmed 
 15 R. 2. William Boys and others held lands in 
 Wiggold and Cirencefter 32 E. 3. Sir William Not- 
 tingham was feized of this manor 1 R. 3, and Wil- 
 liam Pole and Anne his wife levied a fine of it to 
 George Prater 3 E. 6. Mr. Talbot and Mr. Town- 
 fend fucceeded them, but Jofeph Cripps, efq; by pur- 
 chafe, is the prefent owner of this manor and eftate. 
 The tithes of Wiggold, belonging formerly to the ab- 
 bey of Cirencefter, were granted to Thomas Erfkyn, 
 vifcount Fenton, 5 Jac. but Thomas Matter, efq; is 
 the prefent impropriator. The tithe of hay, and all 
 privy tithes, belong to the minifter of the parifh. 
 
 3. Chefterton, fituated on the fouth and fouth-eaft 
 of the town. The name is from the Saxon Ceastre, 
 and that from the Latin Castrum. The Roman 
 antiquities mentioned to be in the Leaufes are in this 
 tithing, of which already, under the Firft Part. Earl 
 Bathurft is the impropriator of this tithing by pur- 
 chafe of fir John Nelthrop. Tithe of hay and privy 
 tithes belong to the vicar. Earl Bathurft, Thomas 
 Mafter, efq; and Robert Sandford, efq; have con- 
 fiderable eftates in this tithing. 
 
 4. Barton- 
 
TlTHINGS AND HAMLETS. 
 
 2 35 
 
 4. Barton-tithing includes a large tra6t of land on 
 the well: fide of the town, befides Barton-farm. This 
 farm belonged to the abbey, and was granted to 
 Richard Berners 36 H. 8. It was veiled in fir Ri- 
 chard Onflow, fpeaker of the houfe of commons 
 during part of queen Anne's reign, who fold it to 
 Allen the firft lord Bathurft, from whom it defcended 
 to the prefent earl Bathurft, whofe deer-park lies in 
 this tithing. 
 
 5. Oakley-tithing lies north weftward of the town. 
 Of this, Domefday gives the following account. 
 
 Ifd. Rog. [Roger de Laci] ten. ACHELIE. Ibi 
 i hida & dimid. Leuuinus tenuit, modo ten. Giraldus 
 de Rog. In d'nio funt ii car. & ii vill'i cum p'bro 
 h'ntes ii car. & dimid. Ibi viii fervi. Valuit iiii lib. 
 modo iii lib. 
 
 In Cireceftre Hund. Giflebertus filius Turoldi ten, 
 in ACHELIE i hid. de rege et Ofulfus de eo. Kene- 
 ward tenuit T. R. E. In d'nio funt ii car. et iii bord. 
 ct vi fervi. Valuit xl folid. modo xxx folid. 
 
 In Cireceftre Hund. Turften fil. Rolfi ten. in 
 Achelie unam hid. Bri&ric tenuit pro manerio de 
 rege E. In d'nio eft una car. & iii vill'i cum iii car. 
 Ibi vi fervi & iiii ac. p'ti. Val. & valuit 1 fol. Girvius 
 ten. de Turftino. 
 
 Thus engli/Jied: 
 
 Roger de Laci holds Achelie. There is one hide 
 and a half. Leuuinus held it, now Girald holds it of 
 Roger, There are two plow-tillages in demean, and 
 
 two 
 
236 
 
 TlTTKINGS AND HAMLETS. 
 
 two villeins, with a prieft, having two plow-tillages 
 and a half. There are nine fervi. It was worth 4.L 
 now 3/. 
 
 Giflebert the fon of Turold holds one hide in 
 Achelie of the king, and Ofulf holds it of him. Ke- 
 neward held it in the time of king Edward. There 
 are two plow-tillages in demean, and three bordars, 
 and fix fervi. It was worth 40s. now [only] 305. 
 
 Turftin the fon of Rolf holds one hide in Achelie. 
 Bri&ric held it for a manor of king Edward. There 
 is one plow-tillage in demean, and three villeins with 
 three plow-tillages. There are fix fervi, and four 
 acres of meadow. It was worth and is now worth 50 s» 
 Girvius holds it of Turftin. 
 
 This eftate was part of the poffeffions of the abbey, 
 'till that houfe was diffolved. Oakley-woods were 
 granted 2 Eliz. to fir Thomas Parry, from whom they 
 defcended to his fon, and they were fold by his family 
 to fir John Danvers. They were afterwards purchafed 
 by fir Henry Poole, whofe fon fir William Poole fold 
 them to fir Robert Atkyns of Saperton, of whom they 
 were bought by Allen firft lord Bathurft, from whom 
 they defcended to his grandfon Henry earl Bathurft, 
 the prefent proprietor of the woods and of the whole 
 tithing. 
 
 We have already attempted a defcription of thefe 
 woods, the wood-houfe, and beautifully fequeftered 
 lawns, as appendages to the pleafure-walks of the 
 deer-park, to which the reader is referred. 
 
 In 
 
Method or Watering Meadows. 237 
 
 In the tithings of Chefte'rton and Barton, the 
 Farmers have been long in the very lucrative practice 
 of watering their meadows by art, and from a defire 
 of making this publication of as much real Aility as 
 poffible, we mall fubjoinan account of the method 
 of doing it. 
 
 We know the praaice is growing into ufe, but it 
 can't be too generally known. 
 
 AJhort Account of the Method of Watering 
 Meadows. 
 
 BEFORE we proceed to the method, three 
 things muft be confidered. Will the ftream of water 
 intended for this purpofe admit of a temporary wear 
 or dam acrofs it ? Can the water be dammed up a 
 few inches higher than the meadow to be watered, 
 without injuring the neighbouring lands ? And can 
 the water be drawn off the meadow as quick as brought 
 on ? If free from all objeaions on thefe accounts, 
 proceed in the following manner. 
 
 Having taken an accurate level of the ground, and 
 compared it with that of the river, as near as may be 
 at the dam, cut a deep wide ditch, to convey the water 
 direaiy to the higheft part of the meadow, keeping 
 the fides or banks of the ditch (which we mail call the 
 work) of an equal height, and about three inches 
 higher than the general furface of the meadow. In 
 
 a large 
 
238 
 
 Method of Watering Meadows, 
 
 a large meadow, with an uneven furface, fometimes 
 three works are neceffary in different dire6tions, each 
 five feet wide, if the meadow contains fifteen acres, 
 and if *e higheft part of it be the fartheft from the 
 ftream. In general, a ditch or work of ten feet wide, 
 and three deep, will water ten^ acres of land. When 
 there are three works in a meadow, and flood-hatches 
 at the mouth of each, and the water is not fufficient 
 to afford a compleat covering for the whole at once, 
 the meadow may be watered at three different times, 
 by taking out one of the hatches, and keeping the 
 others in. In this cafe, when the water has run over 
 one divifion of the land for ten days, it may be taken 
 off that, and turned over another, by taking up 
 another hatch, and letting down the firft; and thus 
 the three divifions may enjoy the water alternately, 
 and each reap equal benefit. The bottom of the firft 
 . work, or mafter-feeder, ought to be as deep as the 
 bottom of the river, when the fall in the meadow will 
 admit of it ; for the deeper you draw the water, the 
 more mud it carries along with it. 
 
 From the works, or mafter-feeder, cut fmaller 
 ditches or troughs at right angles, of breadths pro- 
 portioned to the diftance to which fome part of the 
 water is to be carried, and their diftance from each 
 other to be about twelve yards. A trough of two 
 feet wide, and one deep, will water a furface of twelve 
 yards wide, and forty long. In each trough, as well 
 as in the mafter-feeder, place frequent flops or ob- 
 ftruaions, efpecially when the water is rapid, to keep 
 
Method of Watering Meadows. 209; 
 
 k high enough to flow through forae notches to be cut 
 in their banks, or to run over their fides, at conve- 
 nient diftances, for the whole length of fuch troughs. 
 The width of each work or feeder, as well as of the 
 trough, is to be gradually contracted as the quantity 
 of water is continually decreafing the farther it runs. 
 Between every two troughs, cut a drain parallel to 
 them, and as deep as you pleafe, and wide enough to 
 receive all the water that runs over the two adjoining 
 beds, or plots of ground on each fide, and to carry- 
 it off into the mafter-drain, with fuch currency as to 
 keep the whole fheet of water in conftant motion ; 
 and, if poffible, not to fuffer a drop to ftagnate upori 
 the whole meadow. A ftagnation rots the turf, foaks 
 into and ftarves the land, and produces coarfe grafs 
 and aquatic weeds. 
 
 When a meadow lies cold, flat, and fwampy, the 
 width of the bed, by which is meant the diftance be- 
 tween the trough and drain, ought to be very finally 
 never exceeding fix yards ; indeed in this cafe, the 
 land can fcarcely be cut too much, provided water is 
 plentiful, for the more cuts the more water is required. 
 The fall of the bed in every meadow, mould be half 
 an inch in a foot; lefs will do, but more is deniable; 
 for when the draught is quick, the herbage is always 
 fine and fweet. The water ought never to flow more 
 than two inches deep, nor lefs than an inch, except- 
 in the warm months. 
 
 Sometimes it is neceffary, in a large meadow, to 
 convey the water that has been ufed under the works' 
 
 H h andf 
 
240 Method of Watering Meadows. 
 
 and troughs, and then the water above is fupported 
 by means of boards and planks, which we call a carry- 
 bridge. Sometimes, the better to regulate the couife " 
 of the water on the furface, efpecially in the fpring, 
 narrow trenches are dug, and the mould and turf laid 
 by the fide of them, in order to be reftored to their 
 former place when watering is finimed for the feafon. 
 The earth and mud thrown out, in cleanfing and 
 paring the ditches, mould be carried to fill up the low, 
 hollow parts of the meadow, and trodden down to 
 an even furface, which may eafily be done with the 
 water on, the workman being always provided with a 
 ftrong pair of water-proof boots. If the mould thus 
 ufed has a good turf on it, place it uppermoft, but if 
 coarfe and fedgy, turn it under, and the water, if it 
 runs quick, will foon produce a fine herbage. 
 
 The grounds moft eafily and moft effefiually 
 watered, are fuch as have been plowed, and ridged 
 up in lands, about twelve yards wide. The water is 
 eafily carried along the ridge by means of a fmall 
 ditch or trough cut along its fummit ; and then by 
 means of the flops, it is made to run down the fides 
 or beds into the furrows, and carried into the mafter- 
 drain, which empties itfelf into the river. Every 
 meadow, before it is well watered, mud be brought 
 into a form fomething refembling a ridged field of 
 arable land. 
 
 The ftruBure of flood- hatches is fo fimple, and fo 
 well underftood by a common carpenter, that it may 
 be deemed unnecetfary to defcribe them. One hint 
 
 mail 
 
Method of Watering Meadows. 241 
 
 fhall fuffice. Let their bafis be deep, and firmly fixed 
 and {scared with ftone and clay, to prevent their being 
 blown up by the force of the water. 
 
 The water fhould be let in upon the meadow in 
 November, when the firfl; great rains make the river 
 muddy; for then it is full of a rich fediment. brought 
 down from circumjacent lands; and warned into it by 
 the rain; and as the fediment brought by the firft 
 floods is the richeft, the carriages and drains of the 
 meadow mould all be fcoured clean, and put in order, 
 before thefe floods come. 
 
 In December and January, be careful to keep the 
 land fheltered by the water from the feverity of frofty 
 nights. But it is neceffary, through the winter, every 
 ten days or fortnight, to give the land air for a few 
 days, by taking the water entirely off. otherwife it 
 would rot the roots of the grafs. And every meadow 
 fhould be furveyed twice a week to fee that the water 
 is equally diftributed, and to remove hurtful obftruc- 
 tions from flicks and weeds. 
 
 In February, much caution is neceffary. If the 
 water remain on the meadow for many days without 
 intermiffion, it will generate a white fcum, very de- 
 ftru&ive to the grafs. On the other hand, if it be 
 taken off, and the land expofed to a fevere frofty 
 night, without being previoufly dried for a whole day, 
 it will cut off much of the tender grafs. To avoid 
 thefe injuries, take the water off by day, to prevent 
 the fcum; and turn it over at night, to guard againft 
 the froft; or both may be avoided, by taking the water 
 H h 2 off 
 
24 2 Method of Watering Meadows. 
 
 off entirely for a few days and nights, provided the 
 day on which it is taken off be dry; for after one fine 
 drying day, a froft at night will do the grafs little or 
 no injury. Towards the middle of this month, ufe 
 Only about half as much water as in the winter. Rather 
 wet than water; for at this feafon, it is only neceffary 
 to keep the land in a warm humid ftate, to force ve- 
 getation. 
 
 At the beginning of March, there is generally on 
 fuch meadows abundant pafturage for all kinds of 
 flock. But the water mould be taken off for* nearly 
 a week before heavy cattle are turned on, and if the 
 feafon be cold, 'tis proper, during the firft week, to 
 give the flock a little hay at night. 
 
 Some perfons eat off the fpring-feqd with ewes and 
 lambs, by inciofing them with flakes or hurdles in a 
 certain portion of it every day, giving hay at the 
 fame time. This is certainly making the moft of the 
 grafs, and an excellent method to fine and fweeten 
 the future herbage. In March and April, the grafs 
 may be eaten as fhort and dole as poffible, but never 
 Jater. If the month of May be trefpaffed on for only 
 a week, it will very materially impair the hay-crop ; 
 the grafs will be foft and woolly, like latter-math. 
 
 When fpring-feeding is finifhed, the water is again 
 neceffary for a few days, by way of wetting. 
 
 It is remarkable, that watering in autumn, winter 
 and fpring, will not occafion the rot in fheep; but 
 has been known to remove the caufe from meadows 
 which had rotted. But if the water be ufed, tho' only 
 
 for 
 
Method of Watering Meadows. 243 
 
 for a few days, in any of the fummer months, the 
 pafturage will be unfafe for fheep. Take one inftance. 
 At the beginning of July, the bay being off, and the 
 river very muddy from abundant rain, the water was 
 thrown over a meadow for ten days. In about a 
 month, the ground was covered with an uncommon 
 luxuriancy of herbage, into which eight found young 
 ewes, and two lambs, were turned to departure. The 
 lambs were killed fix weeks afterwards, and had 
 fymptoms of rottennefs ; and in about a month or 
 fix weeks more, the ewes were alfo killed, and tho* 
 they were very fat, their livers were putrid, and re- 
 plete with the infect called the Fluke, or'Weevil. This 
 experiment afcertains the event, and at the fame time 
 proves, that muddy water in the fummer is much 
 richer than in autumn or winter; and may be very 
 advantageoufly ufed, for a week at leafl every wet 
 fummer, notwithstanding this inconvenience as to 
 fheep. 
 
 All objeftions to watering meadows after this 
 method, fuch as cutting the ground, faying out a 
 meadow, and other expenfes; that nay thus produced 
 is inferior to up-land hay, &c. are abundantly 
 countervailed by the advantage^. The coarfenefs of 
 the hay is obviated by cutting early, when it will be 
 excellent. But thofe who are covetous of having 
 nearly three tons to the acre, muft be content with 
 long, coarfe hay. 
 
 The advantages are, the land and herbage are con- 
 tinually improving, without manure; the crop is not 
 
 only 
 
244 Met hod of Watering Meadows. 
 
 only full and certain, but 'tis alfo early. And who is 
 not fenfible of the aftonifhing effe&s of early grafs on 
 all forts of cattle, but particularly (heep and Iambs ? 
 With thefe advantages, it is furprifing that the praQice 
 has not long fince become general throughout the 
 kingdom. In this neighbourhood the moft infignifi- 
 cant fpring or rivulet is not fuffered to pafs unftrained; 
 and wherever a fudden fhower ufually occafions a 
 temporary flood, proper ditches are made to receive 
 the water, and to fpread it equally over the land; but 
 there is no ftream or river on which a mill is or can 
 be erected, but what may be made very enriching to 
 a certain quantity, if not to a large tracl of land. 
 
 This extract is taken from the Rev. Mr. Wright's 
 fecond edition of Advantages and Method of Wdtering 
 Meadows by Art, with the author's approbation; who, 
 from the moft difinterefted principles has, upon ap- 
 plication, fent experienced men from South Cerney, 
 about four miles hence, to lay out meadows in diftant 
 countries, by whom the bufinefs is done more ef- 
 fectually than it can be learnt from books. They 
 commonly charge a guinea a week. One of thole 
 people is now employed in Scotland by their truly 
 patriotic agricultural fociety. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
The Church. 245 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of the Church. 
 
 1 HE church is a vicarage, in the deanery of 
 Cirencefter. The bifhop of the diocere is patron. 
 With various augmentations and perquifites it is now 
 worth about 200/. a year. The particulars of the 
 feveral donations to it ftand under the head Benefac- 
 tions. The rectory of Cirencefter, and the advowfon 
 of the vicarage, were granted to fir Thomas Treftiam 
 and George Trefham 5 E. 6. William Bourchier of 
 Barnfley died feized of the rectory in the beginning 
 of queen Elizabeth's reign, and livery of it was granted 
 to his fon Thomas the fame year. A portion of tithes 
 called Archebald's, formerly belonging to the abbey 
 of Cirencefter, were granted to Francis Philips and 
 Richard Moor 6 Jac. And it has been already ihown 
 who are the prefent impropriators, under the tithings 
 of Chefterlon and Wiggold. 
 
 There have been three parifti churches here, of 
 which one was dedicated to St. Cecilia, and intirely 
 demolifhed in Leland's time. Another to St. Law- 
 rence, and it now Hands on the eaft fide of the ftreet 
 of that name, but has been long fince converted into 
 
 fmall 
 
246 
 
 The Church. 
 
 fmali tenements. It is an antient ftru&ure, of which 
 the ^oof is fupported by pillars, half buried under 
 ground, by railing the floor to the level of the ftreeL 
 This, with the college of houfes adjoining, is called 
 the Pean, but what the name fignifies, we cannot* fo 
 much as conjecture. 
 
 The third is the prefent parifh church. This 
 church is dedicated to St. John the Evangelift. 
 It is a magnificent and fumptuous building, confifting 
 of the nave, two large ailes, five chapels, a large 
 wainfcotted chancel, formerly fitted up with flails, 
 which are now removed, and three handfome galleries-. 
 It has a lofty and well-proportioned pinnacled and 
 embattled tower of Gothic architecture, with a peal of 
 twelve bells and a clock, at the weft end; and the 
 fouth porch is a beautiful Gothic ftructure, fronting the 
 market-place. See the annexed plate. 
 
 The roof of the church is fupported by two rows 
 of handfome cluflered pillars, of which there are five 
 and two pillafters in each row. And immediately 
 over them are cherubic figures, with the fcutcheons, 
 arms, initials, and devices of the feveral benefactors 
 to the building. Thefe ornaments are continually 
 filling up and fuffering injury from white-wafhing. 
 This is the cafe not only here, but in moft churches, 
 to prevent which the church-wardens mould be par- 
 ticularly attentive. 
 
 On the north fide within the nave, are the follow- 
 ing arms and devices: 1. A crofs encircled. — 2. A 
 erofs engrailed between four martlets. On a chief 
 
 quarterly 
 
t The Church. 247 
 
 quarterly two rofes (talked, impaled with the fee of 
 Durham, for Thomas Rowthale*, bifhop of Durham, 
 who was a native of Cirencefter. 
 
 3. On a chevron three rams heads cabofhed, the 
 arms of the abbey of Cirencefter. 
 
 4. Quarterly, iftand4th, a lion rampant between 
 three helmets; 2d and 3d, a chevron within a bordure 
 charged with roundlets, for Thomas Compton, who 
 was abbat in 1478. 
 
 5. A device with the initials R.R. Robert Rowthale. 
 
 6. A device with the initials H. G. Hugh Garftang. 
 Returning from the weft end, over the pillars on 
 
 the fouth fide, are 
 
 * This prelate preceded cardinal Wolfey in the fee of Dur- 
 ham, in the reign of king H. 8. He was in great favour with 
 that monarch, who ordered him to draw up an account of the 
 royal revenues, which he accordingly did, and at the fame 
 time took an eftimate of his own riches. The papers were 
 bound up feparately in vellum, and laid together; but unfor- 
 tunately for him, when Henry fent cardinal Wolfey for the 
 royal eftimate, the fervant who was to fetch the book, by mif- 
 take delivered the bifhop's; and the cardinal, tho' he was ap- 
 prized of the miftake,- being jealous of the prelate, prefented 
 it to the king, telling him it would inform him where to apply 
 when he wanted money; for the bifhop was one of the richeft 
 fubjects in the kingdom, it appearing by this account that he 
 was worth One hundred thqufand pounds, a vaft fum for a 
 private perfon to poflefs at that time. When the bifhop dif- 
 covered the error which his fervant had committed, it had fo 
 great an efFedf. upon him, as to throw him into a diforder which 
 put a period to his life. Nobles Dijfertatiom on the Mint of the 
 Epifcopal Palatine of Durham. 
 
 I i 1. Three 
 
248 The Church. 
 
 1. Three greyhounds courant in pale. 
 
 2. A crofs patonce with I. P. for John Pratt, a 
 chantry prieft. 
 
 3. A lion and wivern combatant. 
 
 4. A crofier enfigned with a mitre I. H. for John 
 Hakeborne, who was confirmed abbat in 1504. 
 
 5. A crofs between four lions rampant. 
 
 A phenix m flames (faid to be the arms of the town) 
 is over one of the pillars, with various other devices, 
 particularly a crown of thorns and inftruments of cru- 
 cifixion, arranged over the arches. There are, be- 
 fides thefe, many other armorial bearings and per- 
 fonal diftinctions over the pillars on the fides next the 
 north and fouth ailes, all placed with the fame defign, 
 to commemorate the charity of thofe who contributed 
 to the rebuilding of this part of the church : a work 
 which feems to have been in contemplation a con- 
 fiderable time before it was carried into execution. 
 We have not found any memorandum when it was 
 done, yet we think it may be limited between the 
 years 1504 and 1522, which was the duration of ab- 
 bat Hakebourne's government, whofe initials with the 
 crofier and mitre mark him for a benefactor. 
 
 Leland fays, Ther is nowe but one Paroch Chirch in 
 al Cirecester ; but that is very jayre. The body of the 
 Chirch is all new worke, to which Ruthall Bijliop of Dur- 
 ham, borne and brought up yn Cirecestre. promifed much, 
 but preventid with deth gave nothing. , I Lin. v. 2d. We 
 have a great opinion of Leland's accuracy, but as to 
 this particular he may have been mifinformed ; for 
 
 the 
 
The Church. 249 
 
 the arms of bifhop Ruthall placed among thofe of the 
 benefactors to the church, is a ftrong prefumptive 
 proof of his having contributed to the rebuilding of it. 
 
 We apprehend that all the windows were curioufly 
 painted, but having fuffered much by cafual accidents 
 and bungling workmen, the greater part of the painted 
 glafs was lately taken out of them, and placed at a 
 confiderable expenfe to ornament a beautiful and well 
 proportioned window at the weft end in the tower. 
 Having taken fome memorandums before the figures 
 were removed, it will be proper to defcribe them as 
 they originally flood. 
 
 The windows on the fouth fide were beft preferred, 
 and the great one on the right as you enter the church 
 was mod entire. It confided of three ranges of figures 
 of four compartments each. The principal figures in 
 the uppermoft were three of the antient fathers of the 
 chriftian church, and pope Gregory the Tenth, in 
 the following order, 1ft St. Augustine, 2d St. Jerom, 
 3d the pope, 4U1 St. Ambrofe. The names of the 
 fathers were written beneath the refpeclive figures, 
 but the pope was diftinguifhed only by his tiara, or 
 triple crown. Under St. Auguftine, in the fame com- 
 partment, was a figure kneeling, with a writing on a 
 fcroll round his head, Sc's Augustinus ora pro nobis, 
 [not Sc'e Auguiline ;] and the name of this votary, 
 Willm Hampton, flood at the foot, to denote that he 
 was the donor of that light, or compartment, of the 
 window. There were alfo figures at the feet of the 
 
 I i 2 others, 
 
250 The Church. 
 
 others, with their names upon fcrolls thus written, 
 lohes Hampton & ux. tv . — Willm Okyn &? Iohana ux. 
 eiufd.- — Will. Col/burn Bower 6? Alicia Iohana. — Thefe 
 may be prefumed to have given the refpe6live com- 
 partments in which they were placed. The principal 
 figures in the fecond range were, lft St. Catherine, 
 2d St. Margaret, 3d St. Dorothy, 4th defaced, dif- 
 tinguiflied by their names in writing. Thefe had all 
 fcrolls round them, with portions of fcripture in Latin; 
 and the donor of each compartment, with his name, 
 was placed, as already defcribed, under the principal 
 figure. We come now to the lower range, where 
 
 were the following, lft Sc's de Beulaco, 2d 
 
 Ioh'es de Beulaco, 3d Will. Eberaco, 4th 5 Ofmund 
 
 de Sarr. with fcrolls bearing paffages of fcripture 
 round them. In the fmaller lights at the top, were 
 various figures and reprefentations, lft of the Trinity, 
 in a triangular form, as commonly exprefied. 2d of 
 the virgin mother. 3d On an efcutcheon argent, an 
 efcallop gules, impaling azure, a chevron gules, for 
 Prelatte. 4th A device with P. G. and the arms, 
 Azure, three mafcles Or, a chief argent within a bor- 
 dure engrailed gules, for Garftang. It is faid that 
 this window exhibited figures in the habits of every 
 order in the Romifh church. 
 
 In the window on the other fide of the fouth door, 
 the compartments were ornamented in a fimilar man- 
 ner with the figures of perfons canonized in the Roman 
 calendar, and thofe of the benefactors to the light 
 wherein they flood, with the names of the latter; viz. 
 
 Ioh'es 
 
The Church. 251 
 
 loh'es Roto t hale M'garet & Alio ux. in one compart- 
 ment; lohanes Langek'm another; and Iohana Whyt 
 in a third, with a fcroll round the head, on which was 
 written Se a Batildii iota pro nobis, which difcovers the 
 name of the faint ftanding above; but who the others 
 were is uncertain. 
 
 The other windows on the fame fide of the church 
 were decorated in like manner, with canonized faints, 
 and portions of fcripture in Latin, written on fcrolls 
 round their heads, and fmaller figures of their votaries 
 praying with up-lifted hands beneath; but they were 
 fo mutilated that no certain particulars can be given 
 of them. 
 
 The mod perfect of all thefe figures have been 
 lately taken down, as before obferved, from their 
 original fituations, and joined together, to decorate 
 a large and well proportioned window at the weft end, 
 together with fuch other parts from the windows in 
 the north fide of the church as were thought to anfwer 
 the defign. They are certainly well difpofed, and 
 form a very beautiful group, with a greater appear- 
 ance of fymmetry and order than could have been 
 expected from fuch detached fubje&s, and the work 
 has been very much admired. The mind is not apt 
 to contemplate objects which have been long familiar- 
 ifed to the fenfes. Thefe figures have the fan&ion of 
 antiquity, and have obtained a kind of reverence from 
 being affociated with a place of worfhip, where they 
 were placed when popery was the prevailing religion 
 of the country : But a perfon with a fcrupulous regard 
 
 to 
 
The Organ. 
 
 to externals and appearances, may poffibly think that 
 there is a kind of incongruity in placing up anew, in 
 a proteftant church, the figures of a pope, a cardinal, 
 and votaries praying to popifll faints. We are con- 
 fident, however, that no ill effects from them can be 
 reafonably apprehended. 
 
 The Organ. 
 
 BETWEEN the choir and the body of the 
 church is a gallery or fcreen-work, upon which an 
 organ was ere&ed in the year 1683. After great ex- 
 penfcs in repairing and enlarging it, at various times, 
 it was taken down, about feven years fince, and a new 
 one, built by Mr. Green of Chelfea, with all the Hops 
 ufually found in the beft inftruments of this kind, was 
 placed in its ftead. It is feldom ufed but on Sundays, 
 the falary for the organift being inadequate to conftant 
 attendance, for here are prayers every day in the 
 week, and many occafional fermons. And perhaps 
 the truly devout part of the congregation would gladly 
 excufe a more fparing ufe of it. 
 
 The organ is faid to have been introduced into 
 churches about a thoufand years ago, in one of the 
 darkeft ages of chriftianity, under the notion of railing 
 or affifting devotion; but it is much to be queftioned 
 whether it is capable of any fuch effeQ:. There can 
 be no devotion without the exercife of the understand- 
 ing, 
 
The Organ. 
 
 ing, and that can be employed only about precife 
 ideas, which mufical founds without words are inca- 
 pable of exciting. A religious frame is that of feri- 
 oufnefs and gravity, as totally different from melan- 
 choly on one hand, as repugnant to the airy modu- 
 lations of the voluntary, and the unnatural fugues 
 of the anthem, on the other. In all cafes where art 
 is to alfift nature, her manner mould be natural, other- 
 wife fhe will be no afliftant, but a difturber ; not a 
 friend, but an enemy. There is much truth in the 
 following obfervation made on church-muficians by 
 one of our belt Englifh writers. <c They have in- 
 " troduced in their farewel voluntaries, a fort of mufic 
 " quite foreign to the defign of church-fervices, to 
 " the great prejudice of well-difpofed people. Thefe 
 <£ fingering gentlemen mould be informed, that they 
 <: ought to fuit their airs to the place and bufinefs ; 
 " and that the mufician is obliged to keep to the text 
 " as much as the preacher. For want of this I have 
 " found by experience a great deal of mifchief: for 
 (i when the preacher has often, with great piety and 
 " art enough, handled his fubje6t, and the judicious 
 " clerk has with much diligence culled out two ftaves 
 " proper to the difcourfe, and I have found in my- 
 " felf and in the reft of the pew good thoughts and 
 " difpofitions, they have been all in a moment dif- 
 (i fipated by a merry jig from the organ-loft This 
 airy mode of playing was gradually introduced by 
 
 * Spedator, N°. 338. 
 
 accompliflied 
 
254 
 
 Chapels, &c. 
 
 accomplifhed performers to fhew their (kill, and catch 
 the applaufe of the audience, which might have been 
 well earned and defervedly beftowed at a concert. 
 It grew by degrees more and more into ufe like fomc 
 other externals ; and nothing perhaps but long con- 
 tinued habit prevents people from feeing the impro- 
 priety' of it. But we muft not difmifs this fubje£t, 
 without fome apology. — Will thefe fentiments dif- 
 pleafe the lovers of mufic, the gay and young? That 
 was never intended. — Shall we be confidered as 
 having irreverently touched the things belonging to 
 another order ? Not irreverently, fince we plead for 
 more reverence, more folemnity, and more order. So 
 far pretty well anfwered perhaps ; but there is ftill a 
 charge to which we are confeffedly liable. We have 
 touched on a fubjecl: which may fuffer from our pen; 
 however, we fubmit our opinions to fair examination, 
 and if reafon dilapprove, we have no wifh to have 
 them adopted. 
 
 The Chapels, Tower, &c. 
 
 H ERE are five chapels, viz. 1. Jefus' chapel. 
 2. St. John's. 3. St. Catherine's. 4. St. Mary's. 
 5. Trinity chapel. Of which in their order. Note, 
 The monuments and infcriptions in them, together 
 with thofe in the chancel, and in the body of the 
 church, will be found under the head of Monuments 
 and Infcriptions, towards the clofe of this chapter. 
 
 1. Jefus' 
 
The Ch\jrch. 
 
 2 55 
 
 1. Jefus chapel, at the eaft end of the fouth aile. 
 It is very fmall, only 12 feet long, and 9 broad, built 
 of Iriih oak, and is nothing more than a kind of lofty 
 pew, being without a roof or covering. Round the 
 top, or cornice^ are feveral fhields with the coat- 
 armour of families who have been benefactors to the 
 church and poor; as 1. of Bathurft, 2. Mafter, 3. 
 Monox, 4. Atkyns, 5. Cox, 6. Coxwell, 7. Smyth, 
 impaling Mafter, and 8. Or, a fefs between three wolves 
 heads erafed fable, for How, of Guiting. 
 
 2. St. John's chapel, on the . fouth fide of the choir, 
 or chancel. It is 34 feet long and 24 broad, and 
 has an oratory in the fouth wall. 
 
 3. St. Catherine's chapel. This ftands on the north 
 fide of the choir, and is 34 feet long and 13 broad. 
 The roof is very curioufly arched with ftone, and 
 ornamented with arms, knots and devices, 1. Quarterly 
 France and England. 2. Three ostrich's feathers iffuing 
 out of a ducal coronet. 3. A rofe enfigned with a coronet. 
 4. The letters I. H. feveral times repeated, for John 
 Hakebourne, already mown to be abbat of Cirencefter 
 from 1504 to 1522, during whofe government this 
 chapel was thus roofed, as appears further by the date 
 1508 in figures. And it is faid that this abbat and 
 bifhop Ruthale were at the expenfe of it. But Richard 
 Ofmund, who was purfer to abbat Robert, is faid to 
 have founded the chapeh And his effigy in ftone, 
 with the head refting on a pillow, and a purfe at his 
 girdle, lies along under an arch in the wall. 
 
 The 
 
256 
 
 The Church. 
 
 The figure of St. Catherine with her wheel, and 
 feveral votaries at her feet, is rudely painted near the 
 window againft the fouth wall, and has been formerly 
 covered with white-wafh. 
 
 ,4. St. Mary's, ■ which ftands on the north fide of 
 St. Catherine's, and is 74 feet long, and 21 broad. 
 This was formerly endowed with confiderable re- 
 venues. A regifter-book of this chapel, bearing date 
 1460, and containing all the grants to it, a rental of 
 the lands, and a catalogue of the ornaments belong- 
 ing to it, is preferved among Dugdale's manuscripts 
 in the Afhmolean library. 
 
 5. Trinity chapel ftands on the north of the north 
 aile. The windows of this chapel are faid to have 
 been very beautiful. In the eaft window were the 
 figures of Peter king of Caftile, Richard duke of York, 
 Thomas duke of Surry, Richard earl of Saliftmry, 
 and of fir John Jeneville, but thofe figures have been 
 long fince defaced, Atkyns, In the wall at the eaft 
 end are the following arms of benefactors. 
 
 1. Gules, a chevron between three mullets Or, for 
 Danvers of Cirencefter. 
 
 2. Argent, on a bena 1 gules three martlets Or, for 
 another Danvers. 
 
 3. Gules, two bars Or, in chief two stags heads caboJJied 
 of the fecond. 
 
 4. Argent, on a bend gules three cinque/oils Or, for 
 Stradling. 
 
 5. Gules, a chevron between 10 crojfes patees argent, 
 for Berkeley. . 
 
 6. Gules, 
 
The Church. 257 
 
 6. Gules, 3 crojfes- patees Or, in chief a label of 3 
 points. 
 
 7. Argent, a fefs between 3 crojfes patees fable, for 
 Garnon. 
 
 8. Sable, c clofs argent. 
 
 9. Gules, 3 couple clofes argent, for Avery. 
 
 10. Cheeky Or and gules, a fefs ermine, for Thorpe. 
 
 11. Argent, a chevron between 3 cref cents Or, for 
 Bafkerolles. 
 
 12. Nebule Or and gules, for Dantefey. 
 
 13. Argent a chief indented fable, for Babent. 
 
 14. Sable, 6 doves argent, for Arundel. 
 
 15. Argent, a bend Or, in chief a label, for Car- 
 minowe. 
 
 16. Ermine, on a crofs gales 5 martlets Or, for 
 Leftock. 
 
 1 7. Cheeky Or and fable, a chief argent guttee du fang, 
 for ColefhiU. 
 
 18. Argent, fretty gules, for Blackminfter. 
 
 19. Gules, fretty argent, a canton of the fecond in 
 the dexter chief, for Hewifh. 
 
 Note, the names are applied to the arms from a 
 manufcript of the Rev. Mr. Carles, formerly minifter 
 of Cirencefter. 
 
 In a niche in the wall without, at the eaft end of this 
 chapel, are the effigies in ftone of the virgin Mary, 
 with the infant Jefus in her arms. 
 
 K k 2 
 
 The, 
 
The Tower, 
 
 The Tower 
 
 Stands at the weft end of the church. It is 134 
 feet high, well-proportioned and beautiful, with pin- 
 nacles and battlements. On the right hand of the 
 entrance on a fcutcheon, A chevron three rams heads 
 cabofhed, being the arms of the abbey, as before ob- 
 ferved. And on the other fide of the door, Quarterly, 
 France (semie of Jleurs de lis) and England. — From this 
 manner of bearing the fleurs de lis, which it is faid 
 has not been ufed (2. e. by heralds) fince the time of 
 our king H. 4, it has been cpnje&ured that the tower 
 was built before 1416, which was the laft year of his, 
 reign; but all fculptors are not heralds, and as it is 
 not impoffible, however erroneous, but the fame may 
 have been ignorantly ufed fince that time, this circum- 
 ftance proves little or nothing. In fhort, we have 
 come to no certainty as to the time of the building. 
 It is a piece of excellent mafonry, and very judi- 
 cioufly fecured by fpurs and buttreffes, as indeed it 
 ought to be to bear the {hock of fo many bells in vi- 
 bration at the great height of the bell-loft. When the 
 larger bells are ringing, the rocking motion of the 
 tower may be very fenfibly felt by a perfon in the loft, 
 but as yet the building does not appear to have fuf- 
 tained any injury from it; yet it would be advifeable 
 perhaps to reftrain the ringers from finking all the 
 bells together, as they fojnetimes do at rejoicings. 
 
 Here 
 
South Porch. 
 
 2 59 
 
 Here are twelve bells, the tenor weighing about 37 
 hundred weight, and there are but very few inftances 
 of a peal of the fame number in the kingdom out of 
 London, where we believe are four peals of twelve. 
 In a niche at the fouth-weft angle is a ftatue of St. 
 John, as large as life, to whom the church is dedi- 
 cated. Another figure Hands at the north-weft angle. 
 
 The South Porch 
 
 Is a fine Gothic ftruclure fronting the market- 
 place, thirty-eight feet in front, and fifty high. It is 
 richly ornamented with pinnacles and battlements of 
 tabernacle-work, and with a great variety of carvings 
 of dragons, beafts, and monftruous figures. There are 
 twelve empty niches in the front where the twelve 
 apoftles originally ftood, but the rigorous principles 
 of the times in the great civil war would not permit 
 them to remain. Over the porch is the town-hall, 
 now ufed on parilh-meetings and public bufinefs, but 
 formerly the general feffions of the county have been 
 held there, which we apprehend gave occafion to the 
 placing of the figure of Juftice over the door at the 
 bottom of the ftairs. The beautiful arched cieling of 
 this porch has induced us to give a plate of it. Alice 
 Aveling, or de Avening, aunt to bifhop Ruthale by 
 the mother, gave one hundred marks towards the 
 building of the porch, and his mother and other pa- 
 rifhioners contributed to the finifhing of it. Leland. 
 
 There 
 
260 
 
 South Porch. 
 
 There is a meeting ufually at Whitfuntide in fome 
 of the villages in this part of the country, called a 
 Whitfun-AIe. It is a burlefque reprefentation of the 
 ftate of a great man and his family in antient times. 
 The Dramatis Perfona are the lord, his lady, the 
 fteward, fword-bearer, mace-bearer, mufician, fool, 
 with other fervants occafionally, and a large concourfe 
 of people. To fill thefe characters they pitch upon 
 a perfon of refpectable appearance for the lord ; the 
 lady is to be finely dreft, but need not be very modeft; 
 the fool, an active, flippant fellow, in a jack-pudding 
 drefs, with a good deal of ribaldry; he carries a whip 
 with a fox's brufh for the lafli; the mufic a tabor and 
 pipe, &c. &c. The fcene is the lord's hall, which is 
 commonly a barn; and near it a may-pole is erected 
 on the occafion. — Thefe meetings are numeroufly 
 attended by the neighbouring young people of both 
 fexes. The young men chufe each a lady, and each 
 prefents her with a ribband. And there they dance, 
 or otherwife amufe themfelves, and are diverted with 
 the frequent vifits and converfation of the actors, of 
 whom the fool feems to be principally attended to. — 
 Of all thefe characters there is a curious reprefent- 
 ation in low relief on the outfide of the parapet wall 
 on the north of the nave of the church, to be com- 
 modioufly feen from the leaded roof of St. Mary's 
 chapel. The lord wears a cap and feather, and holds 
 a fcroll, on which is written, in antient Saxon cha- 
 racters, B6 CD6RRI6; and the fteward has a purfe 
 at his girdle. We have given a fhort defcription of 
 
 the 
 
South Porch. 
 
 261 
 
 the Whitfun-ale, as neceffary to explain thefe figures. 
 And we believe the cuflom to be almoft peculiar to 
 this part of the country. 
 
 There were feveral chantries and religious offices 
 eftabliftied in this church, viz. 
 
 1. The chantry of St. Mary. 
 
 2. The chantry of Jefus. 
 
 3. The chantry of St. Chriftopher, whereof Thomas 
 Edmonds was the laft chaplain, and had a penfion, at 
 the diffolution, of 4/. The lands belonging to thefe 
 three chantrres were granted to fir Oliver Cromwell 
 5 Jac. 
 
 4. The chantry of the Holy Trinity, whereof 
 William Painter was the laft incumbent, and had a 
 penfion of 4/. The lands belonging to it were granted 
 to - Skevington, in the reign of E. 6. 
 
 5. The fervice of the Holy Trinity, of which 
 Thomas Marihal was the laft incumbent, and had a 
 penfion of 5/. 
 
 6. The chantry of St. Catherine. 
 
 7. The office of St. Thomas the Martyr, founded 
 by fir William Nottingham, baron of the exchequer, 
 whereof Thomas Neal was the laft incumbent. See 
 a curious infeription in Trinity chapel. 
 
 8. The chantry of St. Anthony. 
 
 9. The chantry founded by John Jones. 
 
 10. The fervice of St. John. 
 
 11. Robert Richards's chantry, whereof William 
 Wilfon was die laft incumbent, and had a penfion 
 of 4^ 12. Alice 
 
262 Monuments, Sec. 
 
 12. Alice Avening's chantry, whereof Henry Jones 
 was the laft chaplain, and had a penfion of 5/. 
 
 13. The fraternity of St. Catherine, and 
 
 14. The fraternity of St. John the Baptift. 
 
 Monuments and Infcriptions. 
 
 1. Thofe in the Body of the Church. 2. In Jefus Chapel. 
 3. In St. Johns Chapel. 4. In the Choir, or Chancel. 
 5. In St. Catherines Chapel 6. In St. Marys Chapel. 
 7. In Trinity Chapel. 8. In the Church-yard. 
 
 1. In the Body of the Church. 
 In the fouth aile, on a flat ftone, engraved on a brafs 
 plate are the figures of a man and- woman, and on 
 labels proceeding from their mouths it is written, 
 Mercy God of my mifdeede. 
 Lady help at my moft neede. 
 And on a brafs plate under their feet, in black 
 character, 
 
 Reyfe gracious Ihu to endles lyfe, at thy grete 
 dome where all fchall Apere Hughe Norys Groc Sc 
 Iohan hys wyf nowe dede in graue Sc beryed here 
 yo' p'yers defyryng There foules for chere the x day 
 of Iuly the yere our lord god MCCCCCXXIX.— 
 The above rhymes are engraved in a continued form like 
 
 prose. T 
 * In 
 
Monuments, &c. 263 
 
 In the paffage before the chapels are the effigies of 
 a man and woman engraved on a brafs plate, and this 
 infcription in old characters: 
 
 Orate pro aiabus Willi Nottingham et Criftine 
 uxoris ejus qui quidem Willms obiit xxi° die menfis 
 Nouembris Anno d'ni Milimo CCCO XXVII 0 . Et 
 predict. Criftijia obiit iiij 0 -die Iulij A°Dni M°CCCC° 
 XX XII I J°. q°r aiab' p'piciet. deus Amen.— Clofe by, 
 on another stone {lately removed) was written, 
 
 Munde vale tibi ve, fugiens me dum fequerer te, 
 Tu fequeris; modo me, munde vale tibi ve. 
 
 Under the figu re of an ecclefiaftic, engraven on brafs, 
 Orate pro anima dni Radulphi Parfons quondam 
 capellani p'petue cantarie Ste trinitatis in hac ecclefia 
 fundate, qui obiit xxix 0 die augufti a 0 dni Mcccclxxviii 
 Cuj. aie p'piciet' deus Amen. 
 
 Near the laft o n a brafs plate, fixed to a flat ftone. 
 Cum Ian a Uxore, Radulphus Willet, 
 In dandis Confiliis Sapiens, 
 In expediendis negotiis Promptus, 
 In cornponendis Litibus Prudens, 
 Et ira omnibus animi motibus 
 yEqualiter temperandis 
 Supra modum fcelix, 
 Hie fepultus eft. 
 
 L 1 Upon 
 
264 Monuments 
 
 Upon a fmall brafs plate in the fouth aile is the fol- 
 lowing punning epitaph, on one who was killed at the 
 taking of Cirencefter. 
 
 HERE lyeth bvried y e Body of Hodgkinson 
 Paine, Clothier, who died y e 3d of Feb. 1642. 
 
 The Poore's Supplie his life '& calling grac't 
 'till warre s made rent & PAINE from poore difplac't. 
 But what made poore vnfortunate PAINE bleft, 
 by warre they loft their PAINE, yet found noe reft, 
 Hee loofeing quiet by Warre yet gained eafe, 
 by it PAINE's life began, and paine did ceafe; 
 And from y e troubles here him God did fever, 
 by death to life, by Warre to peace for ever. 
 / ■■ » 
 
 And at a fmall diftance from it, 
 
 Here lieth the body of Elizabeth Paine deceafed 
 the 8th day of Ianuary An. Do. 1668. 
 
 One was our thought One life wee fought, 
 One reft wee both jntended ; 
 Our bodies haue To fleepe one graue, 
 Our foules to God afcended. 
 
 On a flat ftone before the chancel, Azure, a lion 
 rampant argent, in chief three efcalops of the fecond. And 
 this memorial beneath : 
 
 Near this place are interred the Remains of Mr. 
 James Clutter buck. Born Oa. 1 1, 1673. Dyed June 
 30, 1722, and Sufanna (Daughter of John and Su- 
 
 fanna 
 
And Inscriptions. 
 
 265 
 
 farina Willet) his Wife. She was born Iune ii, 1671, 
 Dyed Feb^ 4, 1757. 
 
 f d , ward ? their Sons 5 ^ 8 91 ("Apr. 17, 1728. 
 
 J°l n ( born jOa. 8, i6 97 / d iNov.27, 1699. 
 John J C Jan. 21, 1700 f ' 1 July 2,1701. 
 
 Mary their Daugh r . Jan. 1,1711,} (.Jan. 11,1711. 
 
 On the left hand under the organ-loft, 
 
 Near this place was interred 
 the body of Mr. JAMES CLUTTERBUCK, 
 who died June 30th 1722. aged 49. 
 He left to the care of his wife Sufanna Clutter-buck 
 a numerous family, 
 which {he brought up with paternal tendernefs, 
 evincing her affection for her hufband, 
 by a conftant attention to the truft repofed in her 
 till fhe departed this life February 4th, 1757, 
 in the 86th year of her age. 
 
 Of their children three died in their infancy, 
 Edward died April 17th, 1728, aged 39. 
 Sarah . Dec r . 8th, 1771, 68. 
 Willet June 24th, 1773, 66. 
 James Nov r . 26th, 1776, 72. 
 
 Sufanna May 10th, 1788, 79. 
 
 ELIZABETH their youngeft daughter having been 
 firft married to Mr. Somerset Draper of London, 
 and after his death to Mr. JOHN CRIPPS 
 an inhabitant of this Town, 
 died February 29th 1784. 
 
 L 1 2 On 
 
2 66 
 
 Monuments 
 
 On the right hand under the organ-loft, on a mar- 
 ble tablet, 
 
 To the Memory 
 ' of the Rev". JOHN WILLET, 
 only fon of JOHN and SUSANNA WILLET, 
 inhabitants of this Town, 
 He was many years vicar of W ADHURST in SuJJex, 
 and among other exemplary qualities, exhibited 
 a ftriking inftance of the goodnefs of his heart 
 in his attention to his twin fitter 
 SUSANNA CLUTTERBUCK, 
 who was left a widow, with fix children. 
 His tender regard for them and their welfare 
 ceafed not but at his death, which happened 
 Jan r/ 30th, 1742, in the 70th year of his age. 
 When his remains were depofited in his own 
 Parifli Church at WADHURST. 
 
 This and the correfponding monument 
 was erected by the executors of 
 Mrs. ELIZABETH CRIPPS 
 in purfuance of her will. 
 
 On an oval marble tablet againft the fouth wall, 
 
 Near this Place 
 reft the Remains of 
 SARAH the Wife of TIM y STEVENS, 
 who died Sept r . 4th, 1784, Aged 30. 
 
 On 
 
And Inscriptions. 267 
 
 On a marble table next the above, 
 Near this Place 
 reft the Remains of 
 THOMAS GALE and MARY his Wife. 
 He departed this life June the 25th, 1789, 
 Aged 75 Years. 
 She September the 22d, 1791, Aged 59 Years. 
 Alfo 
 
 of THOMAS and ANN, Son and Daughter 
 of THOMAS and MARY GALE. 
 He died January the 7th, 1791, Aged 33 Years. 
 She died May the 13th, 1785, Aged 31 Years. 
 WILLIAM GALE, the Son of 
 The above THOMAS and MARY GALE, 
 Departed this life on the 6th day of 
 Auguft 1795, aged 40 Years, 
 and lies interred near this place. 
 
 On a fmall marble table againft the fame wall, 
 Gules, a lion rampant regardant Or. And under, it is 
 thus infcribed : 
 
 Non procul hinc repofitum eft quod fuit mortale 
 Bridgidiae, JACOBI SMALL Fili as natu maximal. 
 Inter Laudandas Laude nonnulla dignae: Matrimonio 
 conjunaa fuit JACOBO PENRY, de Aberfenny in 
 Agro Breconienfi Clerico, Cui peperit Annam Filio- 
 lam, in eodem Sepulchro contentam. 
 f Haec ~\ Decimo 
 Ob r . j > Die Sept. Anno Dom. 1735, 
 > Ilia 3 Vicefimo quarto. 
 
 Againft 
 
2 68 
 
 Monuments 
 
 A gain ft the wall at the weft end, 
 Hie prope fitum eft 
 quod mortale fuit Thomas Deacon, 
 Opidani utilis et amati, 
 Viri quidem fcientis, 
 Nec non munere erga Deum et homines Fungentis, 
 Multum deploratus obijt 
 
 . a ti a f Salutis 1661. 
 4 l ° Au § U Anno i ^tatis 46. 
 
 Illi 
 
 (poft annos circiter Viginti novem 
 
 pura et fan&a Viduitate elapfos) 
 
 Accefferunt exuvias Margeriae 
 
 ejufdem Thomas Deacon 
 
 Vxoris praeftantiflimas. 
 
 Hanc mortalitatem exuit 
 
 a/t •• a f Salutis 1600, 
 19- Maij Anno \ ^ is ? » 
 
 Upon a flat ftone near the belfry, thefe arms, A 
 erofs cotifed between four lions rampant, in chief three 
 rofes. And below, inferibed, 
 
 Underneath are depofited the Remains of 
 THOMAS DEACON, of Elmftree, in the Parifli 
 of Tetbury, Gent. And likewife of ANNE his 
 fecond Daughter. The Father departed this Life 
 Sept. y e 30th, 1723, aged 78 Years. The Daughter 
 y e 19th of Dec. following, aged 36 Years. 
 
 They with the other Relations here interr'd all dy-* 
 ing in a well grounded Hope of a joyful Refurrection. 
 
 On 
 
And Inscriptions. 269 
 On a mural monument on the weft fide, 
 
 Near this place lie the bodies of 
 Nicholas Edwards, Mercer, who departed 
 this life the 13th of Auguft, 1711, 
 Aged 31 years. 
 And Elizabeth his Wife, who departed 
 this life the 27th of September, 1712, 
 Aged 30 years. 
 And of their Daughter Elizabeth 
 who died Nov. 29, 1726, 
 Aged 21 years. 
 
 Againft the north wall, on a piain table of white 
 marble, 
 
 .This marble is placed here in memory of Mr. John 
 Gastrell, 
 
 Who died th<e 18 th day of Iune, 1767, in his 45 th Year, 
 And is buried in the North Weft Corner 
 Of the Church -Yard of St. Mary k Strand in the County of 
 Middle/ex. 
 He was a Native of this Town ; 
 And after a liberal Education in Winchejler School, 
 Served an Apprenticefhip in the Parifh of St. Mary le Strand, 
 Where he was foon after admitted to a mare of the Bufynefs, 
 And by diligence, fweetnefs of manners, & an unblemifht 
 
 conduct, 
 
 Obtained the good will of all ranks of People, 
 
 Acquired a decent Fortune, 
 And bequeathed it to his Relations & Friends 
 With a clear Head & benevolent Heart. 
 
 His 
 
270 
 
 Monuments 
 
 His Father RichaUd Gastrell Gent. 
 Difcharged the office of Steward of the Manor of Cirencejier 
 For many Years, 
 With proper dignity, much judgment, k great candour j 
 Was eminent & juftly efteemed as an Attorney iff Conveyancer^ 
 And remarkable for being more attentive 
 To the advantage of his numerous Clients, 
 Than to the rewards which his (kill & fuccefs' 
 Entitled him to expect or demand. 
 He departed this Life the 27 th day of February, 1736, 
 Aged 57, 
 
 And lieth interred in the Parifti Church of CrudweU 
 In the County of Wilts. 
 
 Over the door at the north entrance, on a fmall 
 marble tablet : 
 
 In grateful Remembrance 
 of the Liberality 
 of 
 
 Mrs. SUSANNA RAWES 
 who in the Year 
 
 *793 
 Repaired and reftored, 
 
 At her fole Coft, 
 
 The Battlements on 
 
 The middle Aifle of this Church* 
 
 At 
 
And Inscriptions. 2^1 
 
 At the entrance juft without St. Catherine's chapel, 
 on a plain marble table, 
 
 Jofeph Kilner 
 of Merton college in the univerfity of Oxford, 
 
 fometime fellow, and fmce beneficiary, 
 after a life of infirmity raoft gracioufly alleviated, 
 and wonderfully lengthened out to more than 72 years, 
 
 died the 3d day of June 1793, 
 proftrate to the will of God, and to the riches of his 
 
 mercy, 
 
 in this end to fin, and way to immortality 
 through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. 
 
 2. In Jefus' Chapel. 
 
 A handfome marble monument. The bufts at top 
 of a lady between two gentlemen, with their arms: 
 
 1. Argent, afefs gules between three faukons with wings 
 difplay'd azure, beaked and bell'd Or, for Georges. 2. 
 Gules, three fleurs de lis Or, on a chief argent a lion of 
 thefirfl. 3. Party per fefs Or and argent, a lion ram- 
 pant gules, for Powell. On the table this infcription : 
 
 To the Lafting Remembrance 
 of 
 
 WILLIAM GEORGES, Efq; 
 This Monument was erected 
 
 >y 
 
 REBECCA his Rem. 
 
 M m Who 
 
Monuments 
 
 Who being afterwards married to 
 THOMAS POWELL, Efq; 
 Ordered that his Memory alio mould be 
 Herein tranfmitted to Pofterity. 
 WILLIAM GEORGES, Efq; 
 Was underneath interred, Iune the 18th 1707, 
 In the 81ft Year of his Age. 
 By his Body was depofited That of 
 THOMAS POWELL, Efq; Sept. the 13th 1718, 
 In the 67th Year of his Age. 
 To their Remains were added Thofe of 
 REBECCA, 
 Nov. y e 8th 1722, in y e 80th Year of her Age : 
 Whofe Bequeft, out of y e Eftate devifcd to her by 
 W. G. did, at Lady-Day, 1728, amount to 2400/. 
 and 200/. a year, for Erecting & Endowing a Charity- 
 School, or Schools, in this Town. The other Pious 
 and Charitable Gifts of R. P. and alfo of W. G. & 
 T. P. are recorded in y c Catalogue of Benefactions 
 to this Parilh. 
 
 In the arch of this chapel, was this infcription : 
 Orate pro aia dhi Ioh'is Pratt quondam Capellani 
 p'petue cantarii beate Marie in ecclia Sti Joins Bap- 
 tiftse Cirenceftr, qui obiit A 0 . Dni M°CCCCLXX. 
 Cujus aia p'pitietur Deus. 
 
 , 3. In St. John's Chapel. 
 Here is a handfome raifed monument of black and 
 white marble. Over the arch are the following arms, 
 
 viz, 
 
And Inscriptions. 273 
 
 viz. Parted per pale, baron and femme, 1. Argent, on 
 a chevron fable between three oak leaves proper as many 
 befants ; on a chief gules a fea-metu betxveen two anchors 
 eretled of the. firjl, for Monox. 2. Argent, on, a bend 
 fable three pears Or, in the chief point a trefoil, for Perry. 
 Under the arch are the figures of a man and woman 
 kneeling, with their refpective arms over their heads, 
 as above, and between them a table, with the follow- 
 ing infcription in gold capital letters : 
 
 Memorise Sacrvm Georgij Monox Armig. Ciren- 
 
 CESTRIJE NATI, QVI (POST PLVRIMOS ANNOS IN MeRCAN- 
 DIZIS LABORIOSE & PRVDENTER PERIMPLE VER At) AD 
 GRADVM & DIGNITATEM OFFICIJ VICECOMITIS LoNDI- 
 NENSIS VNANIMI OPTIMATVM CONSEtfSV, FV1T VOCATUS. 
 
 Magnas denariorvm svmmas separalib' LOCIS IN PIOS 
 
 VSVS LEGAVITj & VT SINGULAREM AMOREM QVO NAT ALE 
 SOLVM VIWS AMAVIT FVTVRIS SJECVLIS M ANIFESTARET, 
 CENTVM LIBRAS IN PECVNIIS NVMERATIS, & TENEMENTA 
 ANNVI VALORIS VIGINTI LIBRARUM PRO MELIORI HVIVS 
 VlLLJE PAVPERVM SVSTENTACIONE, &LECTURA HAC Ec- 
 CLESIA SINGVLIS MENSIBVS PRiEDICANDA IN PERPETVVM 
 
 assignavit. Maria vxor moeftiffima (ex qua folas duas 
 filias fuperftites fufcepit) Viro CharifTimo, pietatis, amoris, et 
 obferuantiae ergo pofuit. 
 
 Obijt 26 0 die Ivnij anno Dies mortis aterna: vitcs 
 salutis 1638, iETATis sv^E (68.) natalis eft. 
 
 Under are the figures of the two daughters, one of 
 them with the arms as on the dexter fide above-men- 
 tioned; the other, Baron and femme, i. Vert, a chevron 
 undy between three griphons rampant Or. 2. Monox, 
 as above. 
 
 M m 2 On 
 
2/4 MON.UMENTS 
 
 On a grave-ftone, 
 
 Here refteth the body of Mary Olive, a pretty 
 little tender branch of Robert and Eizabeth Olive, 
 who departed this life October the 30:h; 1701. 
 
 4. In the Chancel. 
 
 Immediately before the fteps leading to the com- 
 munion table, on two lozenges of whte marble fixed 
 to a large flat (tone, are memorials, with only the 
 initials and dates [J. H. 1753. C. H. 1733] ^ in ~ 
 dee.d they may be fo called, the brevity of which 
 without explanation would foon defeat the purpofe. 
 We therefore think it neceffary to ooferve that the 
 initials ftand for jofeph Harrifon, U. A. late vicar 
 of this church, and Catherine his wife. And clofe 
 on another marble table is this infcription : 
 
 S r . THOMAS HARRISON, Kn'. 
 Chamberlain of the City of London, 
 youngeft Son of Jofeph Harrifon Clerk, 
 late Minifter of this Parifh, 
 died the 2d of January 1765, aged 64. 
 Dame DOROTHEA HARRISON, Relia of 
 Sir Thomas Harrifon, died Jan 7 . 8th 1773, aged 71. 
 
 On a flat ftone, 
 
 M. S. 
 Rogeri Burgoyne 
 M. D. ' 
 Qui pofl 
 
 Prudentem, 
 
And Inscriptions. 275 
 
 Prudentem, piam, profperam 
 Facultatis Medicae 
 (Annos circiter Viginti) 
 Adminiftrationem, 
 
 tandem, 
 Debilitato Corpore, 
 Subita fed non improvisa morte 
 Occubuit, 
 Decembris 2i m °, 
 
 l6 74, 
 ./Etatis fuae 46. 
 
 At top, Panted per pale baron and femme, 1. A 
 
 chevron between .three talbots, on a chief embattled three 
 
 martlets. 2. Six roundlets, 3, 2, 1. on a chief alionpajfant. 
 
 Next to the altar, on the right hand, on a mural 
 monument, the figure of Chrift afcending in the 
 clouds, and under, this infcription r 
 NEAR this place are depofited the Remains of 
 
 DOROTHEA WILLES 
 fecond Daughter of FRANCIS CAPPER, ReBor 
 
 of Earl Sobam, in the County of Suffolk; 
 And Wife to WILLIAM SHIPPEN WILLES, 
 
 Perpetual Curate of this Parifh. 
 She was born March 7, 1769: Married Apr. 8, 1794: 
 And having bleffed her Hufband for the fhort 
 Period of eleven Months, 
 She died February 19th, 1795. 
 
 Who hath found a Virtuous Woman ? Her Price is 
 far above Rubies. 
 
 The 
 
276 
 
 MON UMENTS 
 
 The Heart of her Hufband fhall fafcly truft her. 
 She will do him Good, and not Evil, all the Days 
 of her Life. 
 
 She openeth her Mouth with Wifdom, and in her 
 
 Tongue is the Law of Kindnefs. 
 She looketh well to the Ways of her Houfehold, and 
 
 eateth not the Bread of Idlenefs. 
 She ftretcheth out her Hand to the Poor, yea flie 
 
 reacheth forth her Hand to the Needy. 
 Favour is deceitful, and Beauty vain ; but fuch a 
 Woman who feareth the Lord mall be exalted. 
 God mall reward her for the Fruit of her Faith, 
 And through the Merits of her REDEEMER, fhe 
 mail be praifed in the Gates. 
 
 Prov. Chap. xxxi. 
 
 Near the laft, on a marble tablet, 
 
 H. S. E. 
 Juxta cariffimum Fratrem, 
 Vix ipfe fratri fuperftes, 
 SAMUEL SELFE, Johann. et Eliz. 
 
 Filius natu maximus. 
 Cui nihil unquam amicis defideratum 
 Preter Et&tem diuturniorem. 
 Dolemus ut Homines, 
 Ut Chriftiani laetamur. 
 Optimis quippe conditionibus natus, 
 Annum agens viccfimum, 
 Ccelo maturus, 
 
 Vitam 
 
And Inscriptions. 277 
 
 Vitam asterna caducam 
 
 Feliciter permutavit 
 D. Feb. 5. A. S. 1759. 
 
 M. S. 
 
 Egregii Juvenis * 
 Radulph. Willet Selfe, 
 Ioannis et Elizabethan Selfe Fil. fecund. 
 Vultu honefto, 
 Pe&ore generofo, 
 Moribus placidiffimis ; 
 Annum agens decimum fextum 
 Carus Parentibus, 
 Carus Pi'seceptoribus, 
 Virtute quam annis maturior. 
 Diem obiit fupremum 
 XI Kal. Feb. 
 MDCCLVI1I. . 
 Vale Anima dulciffima ! 
 
 Near this Place lies 
 The Body of John Selfe, Clothier, 
 Who was a moft kind and affectionate Hufband, 
 An indulgent and good Father, 
 A good Mafter and a faithful Friend. 
 He departed this Life on the 28th of Jan. • 
 In the year of our Lord 1763, 
 And in the 56th Year of his Age. 
 E. S. died July y e 29th, 1766, aged 49 Years. 
 
 At 
 
278 
 
 Monuments 
 
 At bottom, Ermine, three chevronels gules; on a 
 fcutcheon of pretence, harry of twelve pieces fable and 
 argent, on a chief of the fecond three lioncels rampant 
 of the firfl, for Willet. 
 
 Againft the lame wall, 
 
 Near this place refteth the Body of 
 M rs . ELIZABETH CRIPPS, Wife of M r . John Cripps jun r 
 who departed this Life Feb^. 3 d 1758, Aged 41 Years. 
 Alfo of Edward their Son who died Feb. 9, 1758, 
 Aged g Years. 
 
 And alfo John & Henry their Sons, both Born Decem r . 3 d , 
 And both died the 10 th of y e fame Month, in the Year 1743. 
 To thefe are added 
 the Remains of the above named M r . JOHN CRIPPS, 
 who died the 7 th day of May, 1771, aged 49 Years. 
 
 Near the laft, 
 IN 
 
 This Chancel 
 With religious Care are Deposited 
 The Mortal Remains 
 of JOHN CRIPPS, Esq. 
 of this Place 
 who 
 
 After a long Illness which he bore 
 with cheerful Resignation to the Will of 
 
 God, 
 
 And the comfortable Hope of a .blessed Im- 
 mortality, 
 
 Re^ 
 
And Inscriptions. 279 
 
 Resigned his Soul 
 
 Into the Hands 
 of Him who gave It 
 on the 24TH Day of March 1793, 
 Aged 47 Years. 
 Amor is et Desiderii ergo 
 Dilecto Conjugi 
 Marmor hoc posuit 
 Vidua merens. 
 At top, Or, on a chevron vert three horfeJJioes of 
 the field, for Cripps ;'impaling, quarterly, 1st and 4th 
 argent three chevronels gules, for Selfe; 2d and 3d, harry 
 of twelve pieces fable and argent, on a chief of the fecond 
 three lions rampant of the first. Willet. 
 
 Left hand next the altar. On a fmall marble tablet 
 againfl the wall, 
 
 To the Memory 
 of the Rev d . SAMUEL JOHNSON, M. A 
 Sometime Student of Chrift Church Oxon, 
 One of the Vicars of Bampton 
 And for more than 24 Years 
 Minifter of this Parifii, 
 The laborious Duties of which he difcharged 
 with exemplary Zeal and Pun&uality. 
 He departed this life at Bampton 
 
 Full of Faith, 
 March 9th 1784, Aged 59 Years. 
 And lies buried with his Anceftors 
 at Laycock in the County of Wilts, 
 
 N n Near 
 
s8o 
 
 Monuments 
 
 Near the laft : 
 
 In Memory of 
 Mrs. BRIDGET HUGHES 
 Who died March the 19th i77,4> 
 Aged 77, 
 Alfo Mrs. ELIZABETH HUGHES 
 who died July the 5th 1776, 
 Aged 85, Daughters of the 
 Rev d Mr. JOHN HUGHES 
 Late Re&or of Coin 
 Saint Dennis. 
 
 North wall. On a fmall marble table, 
 In Memory of 
 EDWARD WILBRAHAM, Woolftapler, 
 who departed this Life the 10th of OBo r . 1771, 
 aged 60 Years. 
 Alfo of MARY his firft Wife, 
 who died the 14th of April, 1753, Aged 57. 
 
 A Hone, with the Following infcriptions, lay where 
 Mr. Harrifon's is, viz. 
 
 H. S. 
 
 Thomas Carles, Art. M r . 
 De Cirencefter Paftor 1 n - n :/r 
 De Barnfley ReBor S Ulg 1 ' 
 Vtriufq; Ornamentum, 
 Mortuus Trifle Defideriura. 
 
 Vir 
 
And Inscriptions. 
 
 Vir 
 
 Intcgritate vitas, 
 Suavitate raorum, 
 Ingenii Dotibus, 
 Concionandi venuftate 
 Adeo infignis, 
 Vt non fine ingenti 
 Totius Diocsefeos luetu 
 
 Deceflerit, 
 Oft. 7, Ann. v£t s . 50, 
 
 Dom. 1675. 
 
 H. R. J. P. 
 
 Depofitum Subditi fidelis Ecclefise Anglicanre, 
 Filij morigeri et Artis Chirurgiac peritiffimi, 
 Gulielmi Freame, Generofi, 
 Qui obijt Oft. 24 0 Ann. Dom. 1678, ^Etat. 58. 
 Side Viator, 
 Mortuus Loquor, 
 
 Audi ; 
 Morte mca cecidi, 
 Chrifti virtute Refurgam : 
 Ergo et tu. 
 
 5. In St. Catherine's Chapel. 
 
 On a flat ftone, under two figures engraved on 
 brafs, is this infcription : 
 
 Mr. Iohn Gunter and Alice his wife, being fuel 
 as of ye ares so of bovnty and charity, are gather- 
 ed to their fathers in peace. shee was here 
 
 BURYEB 
 
282 Monuments 
 
 §VRYED l8° MARTIJ A 0 DnI 1626 AGED 86 YEARES. HfiE 
 WAS BVRYED AT KyNTBURY IN THE COUNTY OF BERKS 
 WITH THE LIKE MONVMENT 2 do IaNUARIJ A°. DnI 1624 
 AGED 89 YEARES. Io s . PLATT Ar. EORUND m . GENER ET 
 EXEC r . HOC POSVIT. 
 
 On a handfome mural monument of white marble, 
 Near this Place lie the Remains of 
 
 Mr. JOSEPH CRIPPS, 
 A perfon eminently diftinguifhed 
 By many great, and good Qualities. 
 He was 
 
 Uniformly affe&ionate, as a Hufband; 
 Prudently indulgent, as a Father; 
 Difcreetly kind, as a Mafter ; 
 Amiably free, as a Friend. 
 In his extenfive Bufinefs, he was able, upright and 
 fuccefsful. 
 
 After the moft earneft endeavour to acquire, 
 At length he effectually attained 
 That happy frame of Mind, that Spirit of Refignation, 
 
 which rendered him fuperior 
 To the changes, and chances of this mortal State ; 
 To the repeated attacks of a tedious and painful illnefs, 
 And to the Stroke of Diffolution. 
 Ob. Maii 28, A. D. 1782, Mt. 53. 
 Arms. — Or, on a chevron vert 5 horjejlioes of the 
 jield, for Cripps ; — impaling, Arg, three talbots heads 
 erafed t between 9 cro/j cro/lets, yabk, for Hall. 
 
 A fmall 
 
And Inscriptions. 283 
 
 A fmall oval tablet bears this infcription : 
 
 In Memory of 
 ALBERT EYLES, 
 late an Apothecary 
 of this Town, 
 Who died March 14, A. D. 1782, 
 Aged 55 Years, 
 And lies interred near 
 this Marble. 
 
 A flat Hone. On a bend ermine three leopards, hea,ds 
 cabojhed: And underneath, 
 
 Hie requiefcit 
 ^Erumnarum portu et meta Salutis 
 quicquid terreftre fuit 
 Thomse Kemble, Gen. 
 Cujus anima 
 Ad Superos evolavit 
 14 Cal. Auf. 
 
 Anno \ ^ tat * ^ U3e 7 1 ' 
 
 'I JEjT2s. Chriftianse 1710. 
 
 Anne Kemble, Daughter of Anthony Kemble, was 
 
 buried the 14th day of Dec. 1733. 
 
 William Kemble, Gent, obiit June 226. 1745. 
 
 On a flat blue {tone : A fefs embattled between three 
 pears ; and under, 
 
 Here lyeth interred the body of Mr. Thomas 
 Perry, who departed this life y c 20th day of March 
 1706-7, in the 75th year of his age, 
 
 And 
 
284 Monuments 
 
 And alfo the body of Mrs. Mercy Perry the Wife 
 of Thomas Perry, who was interred the 15th day of 
 June, 1668. 
 
 In Memory of 
 The wife of John Price, who died the 29th of March, 
 
 1734. 
 
 On a flat ftone, 
 In Memory of John Saunders. He died June the 
 14th, 1765, aged 45 Years. Alfo of Mary his Wife, 
 who died January 1780, aged 62 Years. 
 
 In this chapel were the two following memorials: 
 Sub hoc tumulo requiefcunt corpora Iohanis 
 Avening et Alicie uxoris ejus qui obierunt xiiii die 
 
 Aprilis anno Dni 1501. Alice Avening founded a 
 
 chantry in this church. 
 
 Pray for the fouls of Iohn George, efq; and Alice 
 his wife, who were buried here, which Iohn decefiid 
 the 8th day of O&ober 1556. And the-faid Alice 
 deceflid the 3d day of May 1557, and had four fons 
 
 and eight daughters. He was lord of the manor of 
 
 • Baunton, 
 
 In this chapel was formerly the following pleafing 
 memorial, written by Mr. Carles the minifter, on 
 Mercy Danfey, daughter of Jonathan Danfey. 
 
 Loe cruel death hath hurryed hence 
 
 A little world of innocence. 
 
 Thus 
 
And Inscriptions. 285 
 
 Thus early fruits are often found, 
 Like her, betimes, dropt to the ground. 
 
 Mercy's not loft ; here's only one 
 
 From mifery to mercy gone. 
 
 Pofuit T. C. 
 
 6. In St. Marys Chapel. 
 At the entrance to this chapel, againft the wall, on 
 a brafs plate, is the effigy of an old man in a gown, 
 with a taylor's ftiears over his head, and a dog at his 
 feet. At bottom, 
 
 In Lent by will a fermon hee deuifed 
 
 And yerely precher with a noble prifed 
 
 Seuen nobles hee did geue y e poore for to defend 
 
 And 80/. to xvi men did lend 
 
 In Cicefter Burford Abington & Tetburie 
 
 Euer to be to them a ftocke Yerrly. 
 
 Phillip Marner who died in the yeare 1587. 
 
 Under a free-ftone arch are the effigies of a man 
 in the habit of a lawyer, and of a woman in the gen- 
 teel drefs of her time, lying along, with their hands 
 in a praying pofture. On a table this memorial : 
 
 H ere lyeth the bodies of Humfry Bridges and Eliza- 
 beth his wife, He dyed the 17 of April 1598. Shee 
 dyed the 6 of Iuly 1620. They had both fonnes and 
 daught 5 . He gaue 40s. yeerly for ever to the poore 
 of this towne. Shee gave 6 habitations for 6 poore 
 widdowes with 6s. weekly for ever. 
 
 Over 
 
286 Monuments 
 
 Over the figure of a young man kneeling at the 
 head, 
 
 Humfrid 5 . Fit* fen. de Medio Templo obijt 2° De- 
 cemb. 1610. 
 Over a like figure kneeling at the feet, 
 Anthon. Fil. jun. de Medio Templo obijt 2 0 Aug. 
 . 1617. 
 
 At bottom are the figures in miniature of one fon 
 and eight daughters, with books in their hands. The 
 whole monument is in -good prefervation, with iron 
 palifadoes round it. 
 
 Againft the fouth wall is an elegant white marble 
 monument for fir William Matter. He is reprefented 
 in a cumbent pofture, leaning on his left elbow, and 
 over him, on a table, this infcription : 
 
 Quos Deus conjunxit feparat tantum 
 non repudiat Mors. 
 Memorise Sacrum 
 Fidifiimi ferui dei et Regis fubditi 
 Patriseque amantilfimi fuse, 
 Gulielmi Master apud Corinios 
 Equitis Aurati • 
 Qui Martyrem Regem mcerens Martyr 
 Semimortuus, vixitidiu ; 
 Citius dominum fecutus, ni morbo paralytico 
 Reftitiffet firma fides 
 Reftituendi Regis InfignifTimi, 
 Caroli Secundi ; 
 
 Vtcunq; 
 
And Inscription's. 
 
 287 
 
 Vtcunq; apud Vigorniam, fufi. 
 Voti tandem, ac vaticinij compos facius, 
 Tantiq; pignoris, Juftorum refurre&ionis. 
 Vitam mortalem exuit ; immortali deo 
 Ccelitum choro gratias aclurus, 
 Anno Dom: 1661 (^Etatis6i) Mens: Mart: die 3. 
 
 He married Alice one of y e daught". of S r . Edw: 
 Eftcowrt of Newnton in y e county of Wiltes K*. by 
 whome he had ifiue 6 Sonns and 6 daught: A Lady 
 highly eminent both for her partes and pietie who 
 haveing by y e bleffing of God paffed through y e 
 troubles of an interline warr, & liued to fee her 
 Children bred up, refigned her Soule to God, whofe 
 body lyes here interred waiting for y e refurre&ion of 
 y c Iuft. Sept. 5: 1660. 
 
 Under his figure are four other tables, with infcrip- 
 tions. Upon the firft is written, 
 
 M. S. 
 
 Elizabeth ae Uxoris Thomas M after, 
 Thomae Filii, 
 
 QU32 
 
 (Variolarum morbo contra&o) 
 Proxime a puerperio obiens, 
 Una cum infantulo 
 Hie jacet Sepulta: 
 Ob nativam comitatem, 
 
 Ingenij Elegantiam, 
 Singularem modeftiam, 
 Omncfque; alias, quae feminam, uxorem, 
 
 Oo Aut 
 
2 88 
 
 Monuments 
 
 Aut Matrem exornant virtutes 
 Maxime deflenda : praefertim Conjugi, 
 Cui, in Solatium tanti doloris, 
 Et ad Supplendas amicitiae vices 
 (a fato Solum diffolvendas) 
 Infantes duos Tho: et Elizab. 
 * Chariffima Amoris Pignora 
 Legavit A. D. 1691, jEt. 26. 
 
 Upon the fecond, 
 
 Hie fubtus Depofitum eft 
 Quicquid mortale fuit 
 ELIZ. MASTER, THO. & EL1Z. filiae, 
 Immortalem fi requiras partem, 
 Ad patriam Coeleftem redijt, 
 
 Itineris terreni maculis 
 Quam minimum inquinata : 
 In qua Ingenij Elegantia, Geftus 
 Suavis, Compofitus, Decorus, 
 Omnes deniq; enituere virtutes, 
 Quibus indoles optima 
 Ad pietatem, prudentiam, 
 Et Mores pudicos Formata, 
 Inftrui et Ornari poflit, 
 Adeo ut licet ^Etas fit imperfecta, 
 Vita tamen illi perfe£la. 
 Obijt Aug. 15 A 0 Dom. 1705 M. 16. 
 
 Upon 
 
And Inscriptions. 
 
 289 
 
 Upon the third, 
 
 M. S. 
 
 ELIZ. MASTER, Tho: Mafter Arm. vidua?, 
 Et THO: DYKE de Horebam 
 In Agro Suflexife Arm. Filiae, 
 Quae fe 
 
 Morum elegantiae, Integritatis purae, 
 Temperantiae, & Modeftiae feverae, 
 Candoris eximij, & Pietatis fincerie, 
 Omnibus imitandum Exemplum praebuit. 
 His Animi dotibus acceffit 
 Valetudo ad Extremam 
 Seneclutem Integra: 
 
 Quae fi tibi contingant Le&or, 
 Summam hujus Vitas 
 Faelicitatem Confequeris, 
 Et Futurae Gloriam expe£les. 
 Obijt Ian: 28: A°: Dom: 1703-4. M. 83. 
 
 Upon the fourth, 
 
 P. H. M. 
 
 Filius Unicus 
 In memoriam Patris Optimi, 
 THOMiE MASTER Armigeri, 
 In quo 
 
 Morum gravitas, humanitate condita, 
 Animus pie liberalis, 
 Indoles vere generofa, 
 Quicquid demum aut Virum probum, 
 Aut ornatum decebat, 
 
 Oo 2 Surame 
 
2Q0 
 
 MON UM EN TS 
 
 Summe cmicuit. 
 Virtutes has imitare Leflor, 
 Ut has Deo et hominibus chains. 
 Obijt A. D. 1680, iEt. 56. 
 
 7. In Trinity Chapel. 
 
 At the north end of this chapel is a marble monu- 
 ment with the bufts of Allen earl Bathurft and his 
 lady, and a weeping genius between them. Upon 
 the tablet is this infcription : 
 
 Near this ?lace are depofited the Remains of 
 Allen Earl Bathurst, and Catherine Lady 
 Bath u rst. 
 In the Legiflative & Judicial department 
 of the great Council of the Nation he ferved his 
 Country 69 Years with honour, ability & diligence. 
 Judgment and tafte directed his learning, 
 Humanity tempered his Wit, 
 Benevolence guided all his Actions. 
 He died regretted by molt, & praifed by all, 
 The 16th day of September, 1775, aged 91. 
 
 Catherine his Confort, by her milder Virtues 
 added Luftre to his great Qualities ; 
 Her domeftic Oeconomy extended his Liberality, 
 Her judicious charity his Munificence, 
 Her prudent government of her family, his hofpitality . 
 She received the reward of her Exemplary life 
 The 8th day of June 1768, aged 79. 
 Married July the 6th, 1704. 
 
And Inscriptions. 291 
 
 Beneath the table are the following arms, Quarterly, 
 1st and 4th Bathurft ; 2d and 3d. Argent, on a crofs 
 of Saint' George gules Jive efcallops Or, for Villiers. A 
 fcutcheon of pretence, Quarterly 1st and Barry 
 of Jix argent and gules, a canton ermine, for Apfley ; 
 2d and 3d Gules, a bend between two efcallops Or, for 
 Petre. For creft, fupporters and motto, fee p. 232. 
 
 Clofe to the above, is a mural monument of white 
 marble, with a buft at top, for Lord Chancellor 
 Bathurft, and on the tablet this infcription : 
 
 In Memory of HENRY Earl BATHURST 
 Son and Heir of ALLEN Earl BATHURST, 
 And Dame CATHERINE his Wife. 
 His Ambition was to render himfelf not 
 unworthy of fuch Parents. 
 He was born on the fecond day of May 1714, O. S. 
 And died on the fixth day of Auguft, 1794, N. S. 
 
 Office of St. Thomas a Beekct. 
 This office Hands at the eaft end of the aforefaid 
 chapel, and is a little raifed above, and railed off 
 from the other part. Againft the north wall, there 
 is a painting of a bifhop, habited in his mitre, in a 
 cumbent pofture, reprefenting Thomas a Becket, 
 archbifhop of Canterbury. The cataftrophe of that 
 haughty ecclcfiaftic, at the height of papal tyranny, 
 
 every 
 
2Q2 Monuments 
 
 every body the lead read in Englifli hiftory mud be 
 acquainted with. He was murdered in his own ca- 
 thedral, and afterwards canonized, on account of his 
 great zeal for papal authority. Under the figure, in 
 the rude orthography of the 14th or 15th centry, is 
 the following, copied exactly from the original : 
 
 TX 7HAT ma othir woma worfcip' this holi feint Biffchop & 
 mart 1- e'irv funday that btth in the yere w* a pat r n r & 6 
 aue Othir ony almus geueth to a poor ma or bring ony candill 
 lyght lafTor more he fchall haue v yifftis grauntid of god The 
 firfte is he fchall haue reyfonabil gode to his lyues ende The 
 feconde is that hys enimyes fchall haue no pouir to do hym no 
 bodely harme nor dyfefe The iij is what reyfonabil thynge 
 that he will afke of god & that holy fent h l fchall be graunt' 
 The iiij that he fchall be onbourdnd of all his tribulacion & 
 dyfefe The v is that in his lafte hide haue fchrift (||) & 
 houflill (*) & grete repentaunce & facramete of an newnt- 
 inge (f) & the he may come to that blyfle that neuer hath 
 ende amen. 
 
 The above infcription is a kind of Directory, or 
 praaical fyftem of religion, very unlike to chriftianity. 
 It is aftonifhing that the chriftian religion could have 
 been fo debafed and corrupted. An inordinate 
 defire of wealth and power had made it the policy 
 of the Romifh church to keep the people in the 
 grolfeit ignorance. To that end, public worfhip 
 was performed in Latin, which very few underftood, 
 and the bible was not fuffered to be tranflated into 
 the vulgar tongue. By fuch means, reduced to a 
 
 (I) Confeffion. (*) The eucharift. (f) Extreme undion. 
 
 ftate 
 
And Inscriptions. 
 
 2 93 
 
 ftate of ignorance in religion, the people were 
 brought to believe that it confided in a few trifling 
 externals, and to place an implicit faith in whatever 
 their clergy taught, who feldom failed to improve 
 that confidence to their own advantage. 
 
 Thofe who firft taught people to pray to faints, 
 and to rely on their merits, intended to deferve well 
 of the licentious part of mankind. It was {hewing 
 them a trick how to go to heaven by proxy, by get- 
 ting others to do their work for them. It was grati- 
 fying to flefii and blood, but it fet afide the neceflity 
 of a holy life, and fubverted true religion. Such as 
 led profligate lives were glad to get rid of the diffi- 
 culties and reftraints which the fincere practice of 
 true religion is attended with, when they were taught 
 a way of fhifting the burthen from their own moul- 
 ders, and oif making their purfe compound for all 
 their vice and wickednefs. 
 
 As, on one hand, the above doclrine excites pity 
 for the times of ignorance when it was broached, 
 as well as horror at the impiety of addreffing pray- 
 ers to the dead bifhop, as a kind of partner with 
 the deity; fo on the other, it gives occafion to reflect 
 on the prefent more happy condition of ourfelves 
 and others, to whom the fcriptures are acceffible, 
 their doclrines explained, and fuitable practice en- 
 forced, in the writings and difcourfes of an order of 
 learned and pious men, fet apart for the public 
 fervice. 
 
 In 
 
294 
 
 Monuments 
 
 In this chapel are feveral very antient flat Clones 
 of grey marble, with infcriptions on brafs plates, and 
 others whole plates are now gone. On one of the 
 former is the figure of a man with a lady on each 
 fide, and this memorial in old characters : 
 
 Hie fepeliuntur Willms Prelatte Armiger fpe- 
 cialiflim' benefactor huj* Capelle Agnes nup' uxor 
 Iohannis Martyn et lohana filia et heres Ricardi de 
 Cobyndon Relifta Iohannis Twynyho de Cayforde 
 in Comkatu Soms. Armigeri uxores ip 'ius Willi qui 
 quidem Willms Prelatte obiit in vigilia Afcencionis 
 d'nice xxvi 0 die maij Anno d'ni M°CCCC°lxij. quor' 
 a Tabus p'piciet' de' a. 
 
 On another ftone, whereon are the effigies of a 
 man and woman and fourteen children, was this in- 
 fcription, now in part torn off : 
 
 Hie jacet Robertus Pagge cum Margareta fibi fponfa 
 prole fecunda 
 Vicinis gratus fuerat mercator amatus 
 Pacificus plenis manibus fubventor egenis 
 Ecclefiifq; viis ornator et his reparator 
 
 Mill C quater quater et anno fed Aprilis 
 
 O&ava luce mortem pertranfiit ipfe 
 Celi folamen De' ill i conferat Amen. 
 On a label, ijfuing out of the woman's mouth, 
 That to the Trinite for us pray fynge or rede. 
 
 On 
 
And Inscriptions. 295 
 
 On the brafs fixed to another ftone, are the figures 
 of a man, his two wives, and eight children, and it 
 is thus infcribed : 
 
 Orate pro aiabus Iohannis Benett et 
 
 Agnetis uxor' fuarum qui quidem Iohannes obiit 
 decimo nono die menfis Iulii Anno Domini Millimo 
 CCCC 0 nonagefimo feptimo quor' animabus 
 
 On a fcroll over his first wife's head is written, ' 
 
 Spiritus f'&e de' miferere nobis. 
 Over his head, 
 
 Safta Trinitas unus Deus miferere nobis. 
 Over his other wife's head [now torn off) was written, 
 Fili redemptor mundi miferere nobis. 
 
 On the brafs plate of another {tone are reprefent- 
 ations of a man and his four wives, two on each fide, 
 and beneath the figures, 
 
 Hie jacent Reginaldus Spycer quondam m'cator 
 ifti' ville qui obiit ix° die Iulij Anno dni Mill'mo 
 CCCC 0 xlij 0 et Margareta Iuliana Margareta ac Iohna 
 uxores ej' quor' aiab' p'picietur d's Amen. 
 
 On another, is the effigy of a man in armour, with 
 fpurs on, and a fword by his fide, in the pomel of 
 which are thefe arms, A pile, over all a chevron. Round 
 the ftpne, on brafs, it was written, but now imperfeft, 
 
 Hie jacet Richardas Dixton Armiger qui obiit die 
 fanQi Laurencii martyris Anno dni MCCCCxxxviii a 
 cujus anime propicietur de' Amen, 
 
 Pp On 
 
2 .g-5 Monuments 
 
 On a brafs plate, fixed to a grey marble, a man in 
 armour, and round the edges, 
 
 Merton Armiger qui obiit die 
 
 St, Laurentii MCCCXXXVIII cujus anime pro- 
 picietur Deus. Amen. 
 
 On a plain marble table againft the wall, 
 In remembrance 
 of Mr. William Turner, late of this place : 
 and of Catharine, (for more than fifty -fix years) 
 his entirely beloved wife. 
 He was the youngeft fon of the reverend John Turner 
 of Somerford Keynes in the county of Wilts : 
 and died the 21 st of Auguft 1769, aged feventy-fix years. 
 She was the fecond daughter of the reverend Jofeph Harrifon, 
 more than fixty-three years minifter of this parifh : 
 and died four months after her hufband, 
 and of the fame age. 
 They were a very humane and exemplary pair : 
 acknowledged the most high in every difpenfation : 
 and kept through life the ferious thought of death. 
 
 Another tablet is thus infcribed : 
 Near this Place 
 reft the Remains of 
 Mrs. JANE NICHOLLS, 
 
 Daughter of 
 Mr. WILLIAM TURNER 
 of this Town, deceafed. She died 
 Decern. 19th, 1773, Aged 47. 
 
 THO 
 
And Inscriptions. 297 
 
 THOMAS, the Son of 
 THOMAS and JANE NICHOLLS, 
 died June 19th, 1782, Aged 32. 
 
 On a fmall tablet of white marble, 
 
 Ere&ed to the Memory of 
 WILLIAM HEWER 
 Common Brewer of this Town, 
 Whofe Remains were depofited near this Place. 
 He died Jam 24th, 1792, 
 Aged 57 Years. 
 
 A table of white marble, polled up at one corner 
 like a (kin of parchment, bears this infcription : 
 JONATHAN SKINN 
 who living was efteemed, 
 and whole Death was regretted 
 by all who knew him, 
 was buried near this Place 
 the 27th day of Jan^ 1791. 
 
 Againft the wall in the fouth porch is this hum- 
 ble memorial : 
 
 Under your Feet lyeth the Body of William 
 Cletherow, Gent, an humble Penitent, who thoughte 
 himfelfe unworthy of the loweft Place in the Houle 
 of God. He departed this Life the 8th day of 
 November 1680. 
 
 P p 2 The 
 
2 9 8 
 
 Monuments 
 
 The tradition is, tlmt Mr. Cletherow had killed a 
 man, and was unhappy ever afterwards. 
 
 In the church-yard, on a handfome raifed tomb, 
 defended by iron palifadoes, 
 
 Huic Turnulo mandati funt Cineres 
 Ioannis Adye Generofi 
 Filii Edvardi & Efteree Adye 
 Quorum exuviae juxta requiefcunt, 
 innocui, probi, bonis Literis inbuti, 
 Turbamq; fugientis. 
 Obiit 26 0 Martii A. D. 1745 ^Etatis fuae 68. 
 Hie etiam fepulta eft Maria 
 Ioannis Adye uxor chariffima 
 Et Edvardi Foyle de Somerford Keyns in Agro 
 Wiltonienfi Arm. 
 Filia valde deplbranda : 
 E vita exceflit 24 0 Februarii A. D. 1724 ^Etatis 
 
 fuae 43. 
 
 Idem quoque Tumulus continet 
 Quicquid mortale fuit Mariae Ainge 
 Uxoris Ricardi Ainge de Lechlade in Comitatu 
 Gloceftrienfi Generofi 
 Et Ioannis Adye fororis non indignae 
 Obiit 30 0 Maii A. D. 1744 ^Etatis fuae ft. 
 
 On the north fide of the tomb, 
 Confanguineorum Affiniumq; juxta Exuvias 
 voluerunt et fuasjacere 
 Richmondus Day 
 
 de 
 
 * 
 
And Inscriptions. 299 
 
 de Civitate Briftolienfi Mercator eximius 
 Vir Iuftitice pertinax, fidufq; Ecclefiae Anglican^ 
 Difcipulus, 
 Et Maria Conjux ejus dileaiffima 
 Unicaq; Ricardi & Mariae Ainge 
 et nequaquam impar Filia 
 Hos Animo, Pietate Morumq; Suavitate pares 
 Annis plufquam quadraginta 
 domefticas Virtutes exercendo 
 et Amore mutuo peraftis 
 Mors eodem fere Tempore corripuit : 
 Uxor a vita deceffit 29 0 Iunii A. D, 1758 ^Etatis 
 
 fuae 63. 
 
 Maritus 190 Augufti A. D. 1758 JEtztls 
 
 fuse 70. 
 Hunc Tumulum 
 Parentibus indulgentiffimis Confanguineifq; facrum 
 Filius, Nepos, juffit extrui 
 
 The Arms of Adey are, Azure, a fefs dancetty be- 
 tween three cherubims difplay'd Or.—Ange. Azure, a 
 chevron ermine between three croffes formy argent. — 
 Day. Ermine, on a chief indented azure two eaglets 
 difplay'd Or, 
 
 ******** 
 
 Thus ends our Obituary. It is obfervable, that 
 
 the greater part among the better conditions in life 
 procure interment in churches ; but the Greeks and 
 Romans, and according to St. Chyfoftom, the an- 
 
 tient 
 
goo Of Burying in Churches, Sec. 
 
 tient Chriflians, would not fuffer the dead to be 
 buried even within their cities. At length, terrified 
 with the idea of their bodies lying in the open fields 
 after death, the people defired interment within the 
 city walls, then in church-yards, and Conftantine 
 the Great was peculiarly favored to be interred in 
 the church-porch- 
 
 When afterwards the do&rine of Purgatory got 
 footing, fome fanciful Chriftians entertained an opi- 
 nion> that the fouls of the deceafed might receive 
 fome alleviation of pain in that intermediate ftate, 
 as it was feigned, by their refpe&ive bodies lying in 
 the church ; and the notion was not difcountenanced 
 by thofe who derived emoluments from the practice. 
 But becoming more and more in ufe, fome were 
 greatly offended, as thinking it altogether incongru- 
 ous for the dead to lie where the living occafionally 
 affemhled ; and it was at length decreed in feveral 
 ecclefiaftical councils, and by one of arch-bifhop 
 Lanfranc's canons, " That the bodies of the deceafed be 
 not buried in churches." But this prohibition, pro- 
 bably, was neither long nor ftriclly obferved ; for 
 the fuperftition was flattering, and carried with it a 
 diftinBion for which the rich were williug to pay, 
 and fo by degrees it has pretty generally prevailed. 
 
 Some of the old Latin inferiptions, before the re- 
 formation, begin with Ora pro nobis, — Ora pro anima, 
 13c. And fome Englifii ones run in the fame drain, 
 as, Pray for the foul [of fuch a one.] This arofe 
 
 from 
 
Occasional Reflections. 301 
 
 ■from a principle held by the Romifh church, that 
 prayers for the dead are availing. 
 
 The memorials which we have felefted bear a very 
 fmall proportion to the whole; and it may be diffi- 
 cult in fome instances to affign the rule which deter- 
 mined our choice. Some have recommended them- 
 felves by their antiquity,— -by the family arms which 
 accompany them, — by the importance of the de- 
 ceafed when living,, and a few, indeed a very few, 
 by other circumftances. Perhaps there are fome 
 drawn with the warm pencil of confanguinity and 
 friendfhip, and exhibit very flattering characters of 
 the deceafed, but even fuch are ufeful lcffons to the 
 living ; — they ferve at leaft to (how us What manner 
 of men we ougilit to be. 
 
 Mankind are everywhere folicitous to perpetuate 
 the memory of the dead : Some have attempted to 
 preferve trie body, others to keep alive the name ; 
 but in vain do we guard againfl: oblivion, for there 
 is no antidote againfl the opiate of time. Of the 
 former, the Egyptians perhaps have made the boldeft 
 attempts, but those mummies which time and Cam- 
 by fes have fpared, avarice hath confumed; mummy 
 becomes merchandife, Mizraim cures wounds, and 
 Pharaoh is fold for balfams. 
 
 Duration in name depends fo much on accident, 
 that all expedients muft ultimately fail. To fucceed- 
 ing ages, the greater part of mankind muft fiiortly 
 
 be 
 
302 Occasional Reflections." 
 
 be as tho" they had never been, — happy to have 
 their names found in the Book of Life, the regiftcr 
 of God, tho' not in the record of man. Fair deferts 
 and noble a£ls are the beft monuments ; but to be 
 content that futurity mould barely know that there 
 once lived fuch a perfon, feems a frigid ambition. 
 
 Monuments and memorials indicate refpect for the 
 dead, and gratify the living, but are of little or no 
 eftimation in Chriftianity ; for the Chriftian religion 
 infures that Personal Perpetuity, compared 
 with which all memorials dwindle into nothing. We 
 have palled over the bulk of them, confifting of mere 
 names, and dates of coming into the world and go- 
 ing out of it, which we think would contribute very 
 little to the reader's entertainment : But thofe which 
 we have fele&ed are fufficient to imprefs the mind 
 that is not wholly torpid and infenfible, with this 
 very important and aweful Truth, (fcr" That 
 
 IT CANNOT BE LONG ERE THE EYE WHICH SHALL 
 HEREAFTER READ THIS, AS WELL AS THE HAND 
 WHICH NOW WRITES IT, MUST MINGLE WITH 
 THE DEAD, AMD MOULDER INTO DUSt!!! 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 
 
 3°3 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 — «S-*t@iSME— 
 
 Of Charitable Inflitutions, Taxes, Popu- 
 lation, &c. 
 
 T 
 
 HE many charitable donations to the inhabitants 
 of this place induce poor perfons to gain fettlements 
 here. The feveral benefa&ions are arranged under 
 the following heads:-— 1. For augmenting the bene- 
 fice, repairing and ornamenting the church, for read- 
 ing prayers every day, for occafional fermons, &c. 
 2. Free Schools,— 3. Hofpitals,— 4. Gifts to the poor. 
 
 1 . For Augmenting the Curacy, Repairing and Or- 
 namenting the Church, for Catechifing, Sermons, 
 
 Dr. William Clarke, formerly dean of Winchefter, 
 having devifed certain lands and tithes in the parifh of 
 Tillingham, in the county of EfTex, in truft, among 
 other things, to augment ten fmall ecclefiaftical 
 benefices with 30 /. per ann. each for ever; and 
 Dr. Henry Com p ton, bilhop of London, and the 
 dean and chapter of St. Paul's, having the nomi- 
 nation of fix of thofe benefices, declared they would 
 affign this charity to fuch market-towns as 'would 
 Q q fettle 
 
304 CiiaritablE'Institutions, &c. 
 
 fettle an equal revenue on their minifter. And the 
 inhabitants of the town of Cirencefter, with the 
 affiftance of others, having raifed the fum of 619/. 
 115. 8 d. by free contribution, and with 600/. of the 
 faid money purchafed an annuity for their minifter 
 of 30/. a year, charged on the tithing of Oakley, in 
 this parifti; the faid truftees then appointed Cirencef- 
 ter to be one of tftofe benefices fo to be augmented, 
 by an instrument dated Jan. 17th, 1698. But by a 
 deficiency in the profits of the truft eftate, from 
 inundations and other accidents, the annual payments 
 to the refpettive minifters, from the firft commence- 
 ment in 1699, have fometimes fallen under, tho' 
 ibmetimes exceeded, 15/. a year. The furplus of 
 the money (19/. us. 8d.) was given to the minifter 
 towards defraying his expenfes in fettling the 
 augmentation. The principal contributors to this 
 laudable benefaaion, were Sir Robert Atkyns jun. 
 knight, who gave 100/. Thomas Mafter, efq; 
 100/. Mrs. Bridget Smith, a daughter of fir William 
 Mafter, knight, 100/. Mrs. Winifred Mafter, 50/. 
 Mrs. Anne Williams, 43/. Sir Benjamin Bathurft, 
 knight, 20/. Sir Jonathan Raymond, knight, 20/. 
 Sir Richard Onflow, baronet, 10/. Sir Richard 
 ilowe, baronet, 10/. John Willet, clothier, 20/. 
 Bernard Ballinger, 20/. John Coxe, clerk, re&or 
 of North Cerney, 10/. Ralph Willet, clerk, re&or 
 of Stratton, 10/. Robert Brereton, gent. 10/. 
 Other contributions were from 5/. to 10s. each. 
 
 'Till 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 305 
 
 'Till about this time there was no vicarage-boufe. 
 The inhabitants firft pnrchafed a leafe of the prefent 
 houfe; afterwards William George, efq; gave the quit 
 rent of it, and in the year 1708, Mrs. Rebecca 
 George, his widow, gave the fee of it for ever. 
 
 To the Church, &?c. 
 
 The large, Tiandfome Gallery, on the north fide 
 of the church, was built, in 1706, at the cxpenfe of 
 Allen Bathurft, efq; afterwards Earl Bathurft. That 
 at the entrance of St. Catharine's chapel was erected 
 by fir Anthony Hungerford. 
 
 The Organ was purchafed with the contributions 
 of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood. 
 
 The two large Silver Flaggons, ufed at the com- 
 munion, were given by Edward Dixon, efq; in the 
 year 1434; William George, efq; and his wife, 
 gave the two Plates for collecting the offerings; Mr. 
 John Adye gave the gilt drainer for the chalice; and 
 Mrs. Bridget Smith, and others (whofe names are 
 either forgotten, or who chofe to conceal them) 
 furniflied the remainder of i«e noble fervice of plate 
 with which this church is accommodated. 
 
 The beft bible and common prayer book were 
 given by Thomas Powell, efq; and his wife; and the 
 marble font was prefented by the female inhabitants 
 of the town. 
 
 For the ornamenting and repairing of the church, 
 there is a revenue of 67/. 95. 4^. a year, This 
 
 p q 2 revenue 
 
306 Charitable Institutions, Sec. 
 
 revenue arifes chiefly from houfes within the town, 
 and a clofe in the tithing of Chefterton, given by 
 John Jones, and other benefactors, whofe names have 
 not been tranfmitted down to us ; about 22/. of which 
 is laid out in repairs, and the remainder expended in 
 falaries, except 4/. paid to the minifter, and 8/. to 
 the mafter of the free Grammar School, as directed 
 by a decree in chancery 1 Jac. 1. 
 
 Mrs, Catherine Cripps, who died in 1790, by her 
 will, left 50 /. for ornamenting the church, which 
 fum was foon after expended in collecting the painted 
 glafs from feveral of the mutilated windows, and, 
 (together with fuch new painted glafs as was neceffary 
 to complete the defign) arranging and placing the 
 figures in the beautiful great window at the weft end. 
 That being fo generally admired, 
 
 Mrs. Williams, relict of the late John Williams, 
 of Panthowell, in the county of Carmarthen, efq; 
 (whofe furviving daughter and heirefs married the 
 Rev. William-Shippen Willes, perpetual curate of 
 this parifh) is now employing workmen, at her own 
 expenfe, to ornament the great chancel window, in 
 like manner, with the painted glafs which remained 
 difnerfed in the other windows. 
 
 For Sermons, Prayers, and Cakchijing. 
 
 1587, Philip Marner gave 65. Sd. for ever, for a 
 fermon on the firft Friday in clear Lent. 
 
 1607, Sir Giles Fettiplace gave an annuity of 205. 
 out of lands in Eaftington; half for a fermon on the 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 307 
 
 5th of November, and half for ringing on the 
 fame day, and for mending the ropes. 
 
 John Coxwell, efq; gave 205. a year for two fer- 
 mons in Chriftmas tide and Lent. 
 
 1618, Jeffry Bath, who had been bailiff of the 
 town, gave 6 s. Sd. for a fermon on Afcention-day. 
 
 1637, Sir Thomas Roe, ofCranford in Middlefex, 
 gave 2/. for a fermon or prayers on the 13th of 
 September, for ever. 
 
 1639, George Monox, efq; gave 8/. per am. for 
 a fermon on the firft Wednefday in every month. 
 
 1681, Mrs. Mapfon, a native of the town, gave 
 10s. for a fermon on St. Andrew's day. 
 
 1695, John Matter, M. D. gave 200/. one half of 
 the income of which to the minifter for ever, for 
 reading morning prayers; the other half to poor 
 houfe-keepers not receiving alms. 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Powell gave 10/. a year to the 
 minifter, for catechifing the children, and for ex- 
 pounding the catechifm; and 2/. a year to provide 
 candles neceffary for that fervice. 
 
 Mrs. Hannah AQiwell gave 10/. the intereft 
 whereof for a fermon on the 30th of January for 
 ever; but the principal money is now loft. She 
 alfo gave 10/. more, the intereft whereof to be di- 
 vided between the minifter and parifli clerk, for a 
 pfalm, with Gloria Patri, to be fung every Monday 
 at Morning Prayers. 
 
 Nicholas Edwards gave to the minifter the intereft 
 of c/. for ever. 
 
3 o8 
 
 Charitable Institutions, Sec. 
 
 The large Engine for extinguifhing fire was given 
 by fir Benjamin Bathurft. That of a more modern 
 conftruction, built by Newfham, was prefented to 
 the town by the two reprefentatives, the Honoura- 
 ble Mr. Henry Bathurft, (afterwards earl Bathurft, 
 and Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain) and 
 Thomas Mafter, efq. The fmall one was purchafed 
 by the inhabitants of the town. 
 
 4 2. Free Schools. 
 
 Here are three Free Schools ; a Grammar-fceool, 
 a Blue-coat fchool, and a Yellow-coat fchool. 
 
 The Free Grammar School. 
 
 Thomas Ruthall, bifliop of Durham, a native of 
 this town, whom we have already noticed to have 
 been a benefactor to the church, built and founded 
 this fchool. The mafter has a good houfe kept in 
 repair for him, and befides 8/. a year paid out of a 
 houfe, (late the George inn, in Gofditch ward) as 
 directed by a decree in chancery i. Jac. i. queen 
 Mary endowed the fchool with 20/. a year out of 
 the exchequer, which bounty was afterwards con- 
 firmed by qeen Elizabeth. . The mafter was formerly 
 appointed by feoffees, but about forty years ago, at 
 the time of a violent contcft in electing reprefen- 
 tatives for the borough, a grant of the mafterfhip 
 was procured from the lord chancellor, and the 
 mafter, who had been appointed by the feoffees as 
 ufual, was expelled, and the office has been filled 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 309 
 
 by the lord chancellor ever fince, but with what 
 propriety we pretend not to determine. However, 
 we are credibly informed, that the very perfons who 
 were inftrumental in fetting afide the feoffees choice, 
 have fince greatly doubted, at leaft, of the rectitude 
 of the meafure. The Rev. John Wafhbourn, D. D. 
 is the prefent mafter, who refides in the houfe, and 
 receives the falary, but we are forry to fay that he 
 has not had a fcholar for a long courfe of time. 
 JFor feveral years after his appointment, the fchool 
 was of good reputation, and well attended, and 
 tho' it is our duty to notice this great change, we 
 affign no pofitive caufe, left we fhould he miftaken. 
 It may be fafer, perhaps, to take the negative fide ; 
 and in juftice to the mafter, on one hand, we can 
 truly fay, that it happens not from his want of 
 abilities; nor, on the other, does it appear to us to 
 proceed from an indifference to learning in the in- 
 habitants, who are defirous of giving their children 
 education, and who now fend them to other fchools. 
 Whatever may be the caufe, we lament that this 
 little feminary of learning mould by any means be 
 rendered ufelefs, in a place where the want of fchool 
 education is fo difcernable in the rifing generation. 
 Without making any particular application, we fub- 
 join a very fenfible obfervation of Mr. Hutton's, who, 
 fpeaking of the Blue School at Birmingham, fays, 
 " it is fupported by annual contribution, and by 
 " collection made after fermon twice a year. And 
 u it is worthy of remark, that thofe inftitutions 
 
 which 
 
310 Charitable Institutions, &c. 
 
 '* which are immediately upheld by the temporary 
 
 " hand of the giver, flourifh in continual fpring, and 
 
 " become real benefits to fociety; whilft thofe which 
 
 " enjoy a perpetual income, are often tinctured 
 
 " with fupinenefs, and dwindle into obfcurity. The 
 
 " firft ufually anfwer the purpofe of the living, the 
 
 s< latter feldom that of the dead." 
 
 The Blue School. 
 This fchool, for cloathing twenty boys and twenty 
 girls, and teaching them to read and to write, was fet 
 up in 1714, with monies which had been given at 
 feveral times to teach children to read, by the in- 
 habitants of the town and their friends: But Thomas 
 Powell, efq; and Rebecca his wife, were the principal 
 benefactors. In the year 1718, he endowed 
 it with 15/. a year, part of an annuity for 
 99 years, paid out of the exchequer; and a moiety 
 of the profits of Mafkelyne's Ham, in Cricklade. 
 And the court of chancery, in the year 1737, 
 appropriated 20/. a year, out of the eftates bequeath- 
 ed to Mrs. Powell for erecting and endowing a 
 charity fchool or fchools in this parifh, for the 
 fupport of this fchool; and in 1744, appointed the 
 produce of 562/. 75. 6d. to be paid yearly for the 
 benefit of this fchool, as a provfional fupply, after 
 the expiration of the annuity out of the exchequer. 
 The children are elected into it by the minifter for 
 the time being, feldom under eight years old, or 
 above eleven, and they continue in it not more 
 than three years. The 
 
Charitable Institutions, Sec. 311 
 
 The Yellow School. 
 This fchool was erected and endowed in virtue 
 of the will of Airs. Rebecca Powell, and under the 
 direction of the court of chancery, for the cloth- 
 ing, maintenance, and teaching to read and can: 
 accounts, and for the bringing up of Twenty boys 
 inhabitants of the town of Cirencefter, in the art of 
 frame-work knitting; and for clothing Twenty 
 girls, and teaching them to read, fay their catechifm 
 and prayers, and to fpln; 
 
 Mrs. Powell died in the year 1722, and for the 
 confirmation of her will, and the better carrying of 
 it into execution, her truftees applied for the direc- 
 tion of the court of chancery, and a decree was 
 obtained on the 1 4th of March, 1727. But frefh 
 difficulties arifing, the court was applied to a fecond 
 time, and the truftees laid a fcheme for ereaing'this 
 fchool before Mr. Thurfton, one of the matters in 
 that court, and alfo a Schedule of the particulars 
 and value of the teftatrix's refiduary eftate, both 
 real and perfonal, devifed and fubjeft to charities. 
 And after expending 53 1/. 95. 2d. of the truft money, 
 and a lapfe of about nine years from the firft decree, 
 the faid mafter, to whom the caufe had been refer- 
 red, on the 13th of July, 1737, made his report, 
 " That not altogether approving the truftees fcheme, 
 he had framed another." The mailer's fcheme was ap- 
 proved arid confirmed by the court; and as we think 
 the nature of the inftitution cannot be better ex- 
 
 R r plained 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 
 
 plained than by the report itfelf, we have fubjoined 
 it as follows ; 
 
 J?irjf, That a convenient ftrong houfe in the town of Ciren- 
 cefter, in the county of Gloucefter, be purchafed, which, 
 with the neceffary alterations, and proper embellifhments to 
 perpetuate the memory of the benefa&refs, together with the 
 furniture, and the frames hereafter mentioned, may eoft 
 about iooo/. which mall be fit and convenient for the lodging, 
 maintenance, and education of Twenty boys inhabitants of 
 the faid town, who are propo'fed to be bred up and inftruaed 
 in the art and myftery of weaving worfted {lockings; in order 
 for which there mall be a matter appointed, to teach them to 
 write and qlft accounts, and there mall. be bought a fufficient 
 number of frames, and a proper perfon employed to inftrua 
 them in the faid trade ; and after they are become perfea 
 therein, to fet up in the faid town at leaft one boy in every 
 year, by giving him a frame and a certain quantity of wor- 
 fted to begin with, not exceeding the value of 5/. and that 
 fuch boy be obliged to take an apprentice out of the town 
 workhoufe, on fuch terms as the truflecs and governors fhall 
 think proper; and fhall alfo give a bond to them, or to whom 
 they mail appoint, to take no other apprentice, nor to difpofe 
 of his frame for feven years, and to remain in the town during 
 that time. The truftees and governors to find worfted, and 
 the produce of the work of thefe children to be from time to 
 time accounted for, and applied for buying frames and worfted 
 for the boys that are to be fet up, and then as they think 
 proper towards augmenting the charity. 
 
 Secondly, That every boy who, after a fufficient time of 
 trial, fhall be found unfit to profecute the faid trade, mall be 
 bound out apprentice to hufbandry by the truftees and 
 governors, out of the charity money, and another boy imme- 
 diately 
 
Charitable Institutiont, &c. 313 
 
 diatety defied into the fchool in his ftead. And the placing out 
 every fuch boy, including all expences-, fliall not exceed 5/. 
 
 Thirdly, That there'fhall be clothed, and taught to read, 
 fay their catechifm and prayers, and to fpin, at the expence 
 of the faid charity, by a dame properly qualified, Twenty 
 girls inhabitants of the faid town. 
 
 Fourthly, That the lord of the manor of Cirencefter for 
 the time being, Thomas Mafter, efq ; the Honourable Henry 
 Bathurft, efq ; -the prefent members of parliament for the faid 
 town, the churchwardens of the parifh, and the two chief 
 conftables of Cirencefter for the time being, together with 
 the truftees themfelves, be conftituted and appointed govern- 
 ors of the faid charity ; and that upon the death of the faid 
 Thomas Mafter and Henry Bathurft, or either of them, the 
 other governors (hall, within one month after their refpec"tive 
 deaths, elect: a new governor or governors in his or their 
 place or room ; and that the age, qualification, election, re- 
 moval, putting out apprentice, letting up, and difmiffion of 
 the boys, intended to be maintained, educated, and inftrucled 
 in the faid art and myftery as aforefaTd, and of the twenty girls 
 who are to be taught to read, fay their catechifm and prayers, 
 and to fpin ; the mafter, dames, and other teachers and 
 fervants, the economy of the houfe and fchools; and the 
 methods of keeping the accounts and manner of making 
 and altering rules and orders for the good government of the 
 whole, "fliall be vefted in the faid truftees and governors, or a 
 major part of them, prefent at any meeting for that purpoie. 
 
 Fifthht That it (hall be the duty of the fteward, at the 
 defue of any three of the truftees and governors, fignified in 
 writing under their hands, to fummons all the governors to 
 the fchool upon any efpecial oceafion, and to give timely 
 notice of the day and time of their meeting j but the 17th 
 day of September, the day of the date of the will of the 
 
 R r 2 foundrefs 
 
Charitable Institutiqns, Sec. 
 
 foundrefs, or when that falls upon a Sunday, the 
 Tuefday- following, at Eleven o'Clock, fhall be the day and 
 hour of the annual meeting of the governors for auditing the 
 accounts of the year, and for examining into and adjufting 
 all other affairs relating to the. charity. 
 
 Sixthly, And that the two Schedules hereto annexed, may* 
 be taken and confidered as part of the faid fcheme. All 
 which I humbly certify and fubnjit to the judgment of this 
 honourable court. 
 
 The full Schedule to which my report refers. 
 
 Real Eftate. 
 
 Northcot Farm, in the parifli of Prefton,-) 
 leafed out for a term of years of which two I 
 only are to come, fubjecl: to all repairs and (* 
 payments. Yearly rent, - - - J 
 
 North Mead, in the parifli of Cricklade, ~) 
 let for three years fubjecT: to all payments, j 
 
 An eftate at Eaftington, leafed out for 
 three lives, of which one is dead, under the 
 referved rent of - 
 
 Two tenements in the fame parifli leafed 7 
 out for three lives. Rent, - - - - 5 
 
 Two other tenements in the fame parifli 
 let from year to year, fubje£r. to repairs. 
 Rent, - - - - 
 
 A houfe and garden, little clofe, and two "j 
 or three acres of common field land, in the / 
 parifli of Badginton, leafed out for three f" 
 lives, of which only one is living. Re- J 
 ferved Rent, 
 
 Thirteen houfes in Cirencefter, leafed \ 
 out for lives, renewable upon a ftated fine, > 28 12 10 
 the referved rents of which come to J 
 
 Seven houfes and fix little fhops in the ~i 
 faid town, leafed out fome for lives and > .20 11 03 
 fome for years abfolute, the rents come to J 
 
 Twenty feven other tenements in the 1 
 faid town fubjecl: to all payments and re- > 9 2 J 7 00 
 pairs, the rents of which come to j ' 
 
 £• 
 
 s. 
 
 D. 
 
 62 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 16 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 08 
 
 0 
 
 12 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 0 
 
 04 
 
 ' 00 
 
 Carried forward, 225 03 09 
 
Charitable Institutions. Sec. 
 
 Brought over 
 A garden in the great Churchyard. Rent, 
 The little Churchyard, Jet out in feveial 
 parts upon long leafes. Rents, 
 
 Sec. 
 
 3 
 
 
 £. 
 
 s. 
 
 D. 
 
 225 
 
 03 
 
 09 
 
 ,0 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 0 
 
 r 3 
 
 06 
 
 226 
 
 07 
 
 03 
 
 there 
 
 are 
 
 ten 
 
 Over and above what are before fet down, 
 {mall parcels of land in the parifti of IVIaifey Hampton leafed 
 out for upwards of 900 years to come, for which a couple 
 of Rent Fowls yearly is only payable. And alfo the ground 
 on which lately flood a dwelling houfe in Dyer-ftreet, in Ci- 
 rencefter : with a garden and clofe adjoining, Copyhold of 
 Inheritance. 
 
 Perfonal Eftate. 
 In the hands* of the defendant Harrifon, 
 and the executors of the late truftee Charles 
 Cox, Efq; deceafed, in money and fecuri- > 3906 I 
 ties, as appears by the mafter's Report made 
 in thefe caufes the iff. of December, 1735, 
 Arrears of rent due at Lady Day, 1735, 
 Growing rents from Lady Day, 1735, to 
 Lady Day 1738, fuppofing no, loffes, will 
 
 amount to 
 
 Intereft money upon the fecurities to 
 the fame time, -------- 
 
 Out of which faid fum of 5443/. 1 3 s. yd. 
 the fum of 1000/. to be laid out for purchaf- 
 ing the houfe, fitting up the fame, and for 
 furniture and frames for the boys, according 
 to the faid fcheme : and alfd to be deducted 
 out of the faid perfonal eftate the fum of 
 468 /. 10 s. 10 d. to pay a legacy and intereft, 
 of the truftees remaining unpaid, and allow- 
 ing for the payment of the cofts of thefe fuits 
 the fum of 531/. 9 s. 2d. making together 
 the fum of - - - 
 
 Then the total of the perfonal eftate will be 
 
 546 01 09 
 676 01 09 
 
 315 00 00 
 5443 *3 07 
 
 2000 00. 00 
 
 3443 i*3 °7 
 Which 
 
316 Charitable Institutions, Sec. 
 
 Which faid fum of 3443 /. 13 s. 7 d. being 1 L. S. D. 
 "placed out at Intereft at four per cent, per > 137 12 00 
 ann. will bring in yearly ----- J 
 
 Real Ettate per ann. as above, 226 07 03 
 
 363 19 03 
 
 Out of which Income is to be yearly paid " 
 for catechifing and candles, and to the fix 
 almfwomen, according to the will or Mrs A jg 0 ^ 02 
 Powell, 18 /. a year, and to the manors of 
 Cirencefter and Eaftington, 9 s. 2 d. J 
 
 Remains for anfwering the Scheme, - - 345 10 01 
 
 The fecond Schedule to which my Report annexed refers, 
 containing an account how the annual fum of 345 /. 10 s. 1 d. 
 mentioned to be remaining in the firft Schedule, is to be 
 applied. 
 
 For the maintenance of twenty boys, in- ? Q g 00 
 
 eluding a matter and miftrefs - - - J 
 
 For the clothing of the twenty boys 22 10 00 
 
 For a man and his wife, the man to teach * 
 the children to write and caft accounts, to 
 keep the accounts of the houfe, and act K QQ QQ 
 
 under the truftees and governors as fteward » 
 to the eftates, and the woman to buy 
 provifions and loolc after the houfe, 
 
 To a dame for teaching twenty girls to 1 
 read, fay their catechifm and prayers, and > 6 oo co 
 toipin, at 1 6 d. .per quarter, ) 
 
 For the clothing twenty girls, 22 10 
 
 To buy books for the ufe of the fchool, 3 00 
 
 To a mailer to teach the boys to weave 7 ^ Q QQ 0Q 
 ftockings, - --- ----- j 
 
 For placing out two apprentices yearly to 1 
 hufbandry, out of boys intra&abJe to the V 
 ftocking bufinefs, - - - "3 
 
 To a woman to be afliftant in cleaning 7 
 the houfe, and dreffing meat, 5 
 
 Carried forward, 248 08 00 
 Brought 
 
 00 
 00 
 
 10 00 00 
 10 00 co 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 317 
 
 £. S. D. 
 
 Brought over 248 08 00 
 
 To the churchwardens for the time being, 
 to be added to the other ftanding bene- 
 factions already given for poor children's 
 fchooling in the town, 
 
 1 
 
 20 00 00 
 
 For the entertainment of the governors at ) 
 their annual meetings, 3 
 
 Remains for repairs, taxes, payments, "l 
 and all other incidents, lofies and expences, > 
 befides fines for filling up leafes, ) 
 
 2 IO 00 
 
 27O l8 OO 
 
 74 12 OI 
 
 345 10 01 
 
 Agreeable to this fcheme, it appears by the go- 
 vernors books, that twenty boys were admitted into 
 the fchool, a mafter provided to teach them the bufi- 
 nefs, and all the other offices filled, in the year 
 1740. The bufinefs commenced with only one de- 
 viation from the fcheme. As there is no charge for 
 worfted in the firft accounts, we apprehend that the 
 mafter provided it, and for fome years had the be- 
 nefit of the work. This deviation from the propofed 
 fcheme was very judicious, for thus it became the 
 intereft as well as the duty of the mafter to take 
 care to have the goods well made, and to find a 
 market for them. 
 
 The firft entry in the books, to the - 
 credit of the charity for the boys work, 
 is in 1748, in that year, and for the 
 four fucceeding ones, the mafter paid 
 10/. a year. J 
 
 The next eight years from 1753 to 
 1 760, nothing paid. 
 
 £■ 5. J. 
 
 5O OO OO 
 
 Brought 
 
318 Charitable Institutions, Sec. 
 
 £. S. D. 
 
 Brought over 50 00 00 
 
 For four years, from 1761 to 1764 7 n 
 20/. a year, ------- \ 80 00 00 
 
 In 1765 nothing paid. 
 
 For fix years, from 1766 to 17717 
 inclufive, 126/. a year, J75 6 °o 00 
 
 For two years, viz. 1772 and? 
 1773, 100/. a year, - - - 5 200 00 00 
 
 For part of 1774, when the ma- 7 
 fterdicd, - - - 1 . } 90 15 09 
 
 The reafon of this irregularity does 
 not appear. 
 
 11 7 6 *5 09 
 
 The firft mafter continued in that office for thirty 
 four years. During this period the rents of the real 
 eftates were fomething improved ; but the perfonals, 
 notwithftanding an aid of near twelve hundred 
 pounds for work, were reduced; the lads brought up 
 in the fchool fought their bread in other places, and 
 fome by other means. In fhort, the profpe£t was 
 unpromifing, and the town became diffatisfled. 
 
 Two other mafters were appointed in fucceffion, 
 under whofe management, from indolence and igno- 
 rance, things grew worfe, and the goods were much 
 complained of. It may hardly be credited, tho' true 
 it is, that in thirteen years, from 1776 inclufive, the 
 value of all the goods worked up by the mafter and 
 boys, and brought to account, over and above the 
 charges for dying, fpinning, and the raw materials 
 for making them, does not amount to 50 /. a year, 
 on the average* whilft the mafter received above 
 
 30/. 
 
. Charitable institutions, <&c. 319 
 
 30/. a year for bis falary. A rare in/lance of 
 
 Jndujlry in a majlcr and twenty boys ! — Hence the go- 
 vernors found it neceffary to procure better affiftance. 
 
 At length in 1788, Mr. Samuel Webb was choien, 
 Who is the prefent matter; and we can with pieafure 
 fay, that the manufacture is brought into the greateft 
 credit, and the income confiderably improved. The 
 rents of the real eftate are advanced to 378/. 125. 
 per ann. and the yearly produce of the perfonals to 
 115/. 135. 2d. making together 494/. 155. 2d. and 
 under the aufpices of the governors, and the good 
 conducl; of the fame mafter, there is reafon to ex- 
 pea Mill greater improvements. Increafed rents, 
 and fines for renewing leafes, may do fomething, 
 but it is clearly demonftrable, that the maximum, Or 
 higheft extent of improvement, is to be attained 
 only by extending the manufaaure : and now it 
 has acquired great credit, with a continuation of the 
 fame exertions, and a trifling expenfe, but with a 
 little modification, it will almoft naturally rife to its 
 utmofl limit, and that expenfe will be repaid, with 
 great intereft, in a very fhort time. 
 
 Oat of the. prefent income, deduaing 44/. for 
 catechizing, candles and charities, as fpecified in the 
 fchedule, there remain 450/. 55. Sd. befides fines 
 for renewing leafes, to fupport this noble eftablifli- 
 ment, and for defraying taxes and repairs. 
 
 There are at prefent only ten boys in the houfe at 
 the bufinefs. Other ten are clothed and edu- 
 
 S s cated 
 
g-2o Charitable Institutions, &c. 
 
 cated, but not maintained. And as often as one 
 goes out of the working clafs, one of the other ten, 
 or one newly admitted, is taken to the bufinefs to 
 keep up the number. We fuppofe this meafure 
 was adopted, from a notion that the putting of 
 twenty to the bufinefs would increafe the expenfes ; 
 but with good inftruction and good looking after, 
 which are always prefumed, the contrary would be 
 the cafe. 
 
 Hofpitals and Almflionfes. 
 
 Saint John's HofpitaL 
 This HofpitaL dedicated to St. John the Evan- 
 gelift, was founded by king Henry the Firft, foon 
 after he had completed the building of the ftately 
 abbey of Cirencelter : and king Edward III. by his 
 charter baring date the 17th year of his reign, an- 
 nexed the mafterihip of it to the abbat and convent, 
 and their fucceflbrs for ever. It is fituated in a 
 place called the Pane, or Pean, on the north eaft 
 fide of Gloucefter-ftreet, and is a curious antient 
 ftruaure/ fupported by arches fpringing from round 
 pillars, half buried under ground, not by the pillar* 
 finking, as we apprehend, but from the floor on 
 which they (land having been raifed, from time to 
 time, to prevent the place from- being flooded from 
 the ftreet, along which a branch of the river Churn 
 formerly ran. Thomas Cobham, bifhop of Wor- 
 cester, granted a licenfe for creeling a chantry in it, 
 
 where 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 32* 
 
 where divine fervice was performed, and it had a bell, 
 which we take to have been the fervice-bell, hang- 
 ing in it within our memory; but the bell was a 
 ftronger temptation to avarice than it could wkhftand, 
 and was taken down and fold by the mailer of the 
 hofpitaUmany years ago. From the fe circumftances, 
 joined with the authority of Leland, we have elle- 
 where confidered this building as one of the three 
 churches mentioned by that great antiquary, to have 
 belonged to the town. 
 
 The hofpital confifts of various appartments, fix 
 of which have been ufualy referved for the hofpital- 
 lers or almsfolks. and the reft let out at a rent; but 
 the whole building having been unfortunately ne- 
 glected, and fuffered to fall into a. ruinous condition,, 
 it was thought advifable by the truftees, in the year 
 1792, to borrow a fum of money to enable them 
 to build fix new cottages, upon the hofpital land, 
 lying contiguous on the north bank of the rivulet in 
 Spitalgate Lane. Thefe cottages, as foon as the 
 debt is paid off, are to be appropriated to the ac- 
 commodation of the almfpeople, but thefe, as well as- 
 an upper appartment in the antient building, are at 
 prefent let out at annual rents. 
 
 The revenues of the hofpital at prefent amount to 
 between thirty and forty pounds a year, arifing 
 chiefly from the referved rents of houfes in the town 
 of Cirencefter; but there belong to it alfo, fix acres 
 of land in the parifh of Prefton, one acre in St, 
 John's meadow, and about three acres of meadow 
 
 S s 2 called 
 
322 Charitable Institutions, Sec. 
 
 called Eafington's Clofe, both in the parifh of Ciren- 
 cefter, twenty-three acres in Stratton-field, and three 
 very fmall pieces of ground, viz. one in Calmefden, 
 one in Bifley, and one in Ewen : and both the lands 
 and houfes are leafed out on lives, at referved rents. 
 
 About half a century ago, a gentleman of the 
 town of Cirencefter furreptitioufly obtained a grant 
 of the mafterfhip of this hofpital under the privy 
 feal, fubvertihg, for a time, the government of it 
 by truftees, as eftablifhed by antient ufage. He it 
 was who fold the fervice-berl, as already mentioned; 
 and not twenty years ago, he alfo granted a leafe of 
 the ground called Eafington's Clofe, receiving a 
 large fine, which might have been fufficient to have 
 put the Hofpital in good repair, but we are left to 
 conjecture what became of the money, as there is 
 no entry of it in the books. After the death of thai 
 gentleman, a caveat was entered againft any fubfe- 
 quent appointment by government, and the manage- 
 ment of this little charity is again reverted to truftees 
 as formerly, who are the minifter, churchwardens, 
 and overfeers of the parifh. Each of the poor 
 people receives 4/. 95. per annum. 
 
 Saint Lawrence *s Hq/pital. 
 This hofpital is faid to have been founded for two 
 poor widows, by Edith, lady of the manor of Wig- 
 gold, but at what time is uncertain. It is fituated on 
 the weft fide of Gloucefter-ftreet, and gave name to 
 the ward in which it ftands. It confifted originally 
 1 of 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c, 3^3 
 
 of two cottages, to which another, and a much more 
 eligible one, has been lately added by the late Earl 
 Bathurft, who was tfre governor. This latter was built 
 •with monies raifed by fines for the renewal of leafes 
 of lands and houfes held under the hofpital, and it 
 is endowed, like the two others, for the benefit of a 
 third widow. 
 
 There was a furvey of the lands and tenements 
 belonging to this charity in 1722, when the parti- 
 cular eftates belonging to it were entered in a book, 
 of which the following is a fhort account: 
 
 One piece of meadow land, about an acre, adjoin- 
 ing to the brook running from Eaunton on one 
 fide, and lands of Thomas Matter, Efq; near the 
 old bowling-green on the other fides. 
 
 Land in Baunton-field, in lieu of which, at the 
 inclofing of that field fince the furvey, two acres, 
 two roods, and twenty perches, adjoining to the 
 Whiteway, have been allotted to it. 
 
 Lands in Stratton-field, in lieu of which, when the 
 inclofing took place, alfo fince the furvey, eight 
 acres and one rood adjoining to Overly wood, were 
 alfo allottee- to the hofpital. 
 
 And there are two acres of arable land, (thirty 
 perches long and ten broad) in the Barton field, 
 oppofite the mile-ftone in the road leading from 
 Cirencefter to Minchin Hampton, fet apart for the 
 hofpital, in lieu of feveral little pieces of land lying 
 difperfedly in the fame field. 
 
 > There 
 
324 Charitable Institutions, &c. 
 
 There are, befides, two gardens and twenty one 
 houfes in the town of Cirencefler, all which pre- 
 mifes.are leafed out on lives and referved rents, which, 
 at the time of the faid furvey, amounted to 10/. 75. 
 but are fince increafed to 18/. 13s. per annum. 
 Earl Bathurft is the prefent governor. The grants 
 run in the name of the Governor and fjiers of the 
 hofpital of St. Lawrence. The three fillers receive 
 5/. 25. 6 each per annum. 
 
 > ,—— — " — ~~ m 
 
 St. Thomas's Hofpital. 
 This Hofpital was ere&ed by fir William Not- 
 tingham, who lived in the reign of king Henry the 
 Fourth, and endowed it with a rent-charge of 
 6/. 18 s. Sd. per annum, out of an eftate in the parifh 
 of Thornbury, in the county of Gloucefter, which 
 is divided between four poor weavers ; and three of 
 them have each a little dwelling or appartment, in 
 the hofpital, which is a ftrong, low ftone building 
 in St. Thomas Street.. See P. 164. 
 
 Almftioufcs. 
 
 In the year 1620, Mrs. Elizabeth Bridges gave 
 an atmlhoufe in Dollar-ftreet for fix poor widows, 
 and is.\ piece weekly for ever. 
 
 William George, efq; and Rebecca his wife, in 
 the year 1702, gave fix tenements and gardens in 
 Leaufe-lane, for fix poor widows; and afiigned two 
 other tenements in Cricklade-ftreet, one charged 
 with 61. a year to buy garments for the widows, and 
 
 what 
 
Charitable Institutions, &c. 325 
 
 what remains of the produce of them to keep the 
 houfes in repair* 
 
 Thomas Powell, efq; gave a moiety of the rent 
 of Mafkelyne's Ham to the fame widows; and 
 Rebecca his widow gave them 205. a year each, to 
 buy them firing. 
 
 John Morfe gave two dwellings in Gloucefter- 
 flreet for two poor widows. 
 
 For apprenticing Children. 
 
 Sir Thomas Roe gave a rent-charge of 25^ a 
 year out of lands at Moufwell in this county, 40s. 
 of which for a fermon, as already mentioned, the 
 reft to put out poor children of this parifh appren- 
 tices, on the 13th of September annually; and once ' 
 in three or four years, a boy out of the parifh of 
 Rendcombe, if prefented. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Perry gave 100/.. and his fon Mr. 
 Timothy Perry gave 12/. which fums were laid out 
 -in the purchafe of a freehold eftate in the parifh of 
 Upton St. Leonard, near Gloucefter. 
 
 Richard George, efq; gave a rent-charge of 3^ 
 a year, out of a houfe in Gloucefter-ftreet; William 
 Forder, late of Amney Crucis, gave 20/. Thomas 
 Powell, efq; gave 40/. James Clutterbuck, late 
 citizen of Exeter, gave 100/. James Shewell, iiilk- 
 man, gave 10/. and Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards, in 
 1726, gave 100/. the annual produce of all which 
 to be apply 'd to the putting out poor children 
 apprentices. 
 
 7> 
 
 I 
 
326 Charitable Institutions, 8ct. 
 
 To be given or lent in Money to the Poo h 
 In the year 1587, Philip Marner gave 20/. and 
 in 1613, Henry Bill ga$e 30/. to be lent to tradefmen 
 without intereft. 
 
 The fame Philip Marner, in 1587, gave a rent- 
 charge of 3/. 13s. 4d. on a houfe in Abbat-ftreet; 
 6 s. Sd. of which to the Minifter, as aforefaid, the 
 reft to the poor. Alice Avening, in 1498, gave a 
 houfe in Dollar-ftreet, of 405. a year; John Weobley 
 the fame year, gave a houfe, fince exchanged for 
 an annuity of 1/. 6s. Sd. charged on the houfe in 
 Dyer-ftreet, late the Greyhound inn; William 
 Hooper, in 1605, g ave a houfe in Little Silver- 
 ftreet, of 2L 45. rent; Jeffry Bathe in 161.8, gave 
 2.1 a year out of a houfe in Cricklade-ftreet, viz. 
 6 s. Sd. to the minifter as aforefaid, and 1/. 135. 4^. 
 to the poor. John Chandler, in 1632, gave a houfe 
 in Cicely-ftreet of 2I. a year; Mr. Humphry 
 Bridges gave a houfe in Cricklade-ftreet, of 2L a 
 year; George Monox, efq; in 1639, gave five houfes 
 in this town, which let at 23/. 10s. the produce of 
 which (except 8/. a year for a monthly fermon, and 
 6s. Sd. to be fpent) to be given in money to the 
 poor. John Pathe, butcher, in 1641, gave a rent- 
 charge of 4I. on a houfe in Dollar-ftreet, half to 
 decayed butchers and half to the other poor. Row- 
 land Freeman, in 1658, gave a rent-charge of 405. 
 on a houle and land now incorporated with earl 
 Bathurft's park. Thefe rents were all given to 
 the ufe .of the poor. 
 
 The 
 
Method of watering Meadows. ^245 
 Since the foregoing exact was printed, it occured to us, 
 that the following may be ufeful. 
 
 To make a wear Or dam acrofs a river, as In plates II. and III. 
 Take two pieces of any rough timber, long enough to reach 
 acrofs the river, and cut a deep groove in one of them from * 
 one end to the other. Lay this acrofs the bottom of the 
 river under water, with the groove uppermoft. Lav the 
 other piece acrofs above the water, fo that its fide next the 
 approaching current may be exadly over the groove in the 
 lower piece, and let each beam be firmly fixed in the bank 
 on each fide of the river. Drive flakes, with one end pre- 
 vioufly fitted, into the faid groove, and nail the other end of 
 the flakes to the upper beam; then fix rough boards or other: 
 materials to the flakes fo clofe together as to flop the water, 
 and the dam is fini&ed. 
 
 If the higheft part of the land to be floated be diftant from 
 the river, the fides ef the ditch or work which introduces 
 the water mould be raifed for the whole diftance, very gradu- 
 ally defending from the beginning, to carry the water to the 
 highefl part of the land. If the diftance be a hundred yards, 
 and the fall four inches, then give one inch fall to each twenty 
 yards. 
 
 Place the earth thrown out in digging the floating gutters, 
 (mark'd F. G. in Plate I.) on each fide of them, fo as to make 
 a regular defcent over the beds, and to conftitute a ridge as 
 in plate I. figure 2. Ufe as little defcent as you well can in 
 the gutters, referving the greater part for the fides of the ridge, 
 for 'tis more neceffary that the water flaould flow quickly over 
 the beds than in the gutters, tho' in them it fhould never 
 ft agnate. 
 
 In cutting the works, if any low part or ditch obftrucl the 
 progrefs, carry the water over it, by making a continuation 
 of the feeder or gutter with a few boards nailed together. 
 And if a road, or fmall eminence obftru&, the water may be 
 conveyed underneath, by a trunk of four boards nailed toge- 
 ther, or a hollow tree, leaving a paffage fufHcient for a free 
 current. ^ 
 
*2^6 Method of watering Meadows. 
 
 The Plates explained. 
 
 PLATE I. reprefents a meadow regular in its furface, with 
 the current of the river, but too high to be floated from the 
 part of the ftream immediately oppofite to it. In order, there- 
 fore, to gain a fall, the water is taken out at a higher part of 
 the ftream by a conductor, as at C, into the feeder, which 
 is cut along the higheft part of the meadow, and has a flood 
 hatch in the mouth of it, to admit or exclude the water at 
 pleafure. This condu&or we will fuppofe, for the fake of 
 illuftration, has only four inches defcent in its whole length, 
 but the ftream in the fame length falls ten inches, therefore fix 
 inches of power are gained by means of the conductor, which 
 ' Is a fall abundantly fufficient, for floating the meadow. By 
 this mode of gaining defcent, thoufands of acres may be 
 floated, which fome would think impofirole to be done. 
 
 Figure i. and 2. reprefent a tranfverfe fection of two ridges 
 with their fides or beds an inclined plane. See. P. 240. 
 The floating gutters or troughs, as we fometimes call them, 
 (marked F. G.) are drawn with double lines, and the 
 ftops in the fe and the feeder are 1 marked with fmall circles 
 and the letter S. The drain cuts are made with Angle lines. 
 
 PLATE II. reprefents a floated meadow which had three 
 parts confiderably higher than the general furface of the land. 
 In order to throw the water over the higher parts, it was ne- 
 ceflary that each mould be accommodated with a feperate 
 feeder, as fhewn in Fi. F2. F3. with its ftops, gutters, 
 notches, and drains. In this meadow the floating may be 
 alternate thro' the winter. See p. 238. 
 
 PLATE III. reprefents a fort of floating commonly called 
 catch-work, where the ditches are made at a diftance below 
 each other ac/ofs the declivity, to catch the water, again and 
 again, from the top to the bottom of the meadow. It is evi- 
 dent that the upper beds' muft receive more than their fhare 
 of the nutriment that is depofited. This method fhould never 
 be ufed but where the declivity is too great to admit the float- 
 ing gutters to point down the defcent, as in the other 
 method. CHAP. 
 
Charitable Institutions, &g. 327 
 
 The following fums were alfo given that the an- 
 nual intereft of them may be apply'd to the fame uie. 
 • In 1625, Samuel Coxwell, gent, gave 50/. 
 1639, George Monox, efq; gave 100/. 1645, Sir 
 Henry Pratt, of London, baronet, gave 100./. 
 William Blomer, of Hatherop, gent. 40/. Mrs. 
 Chambers gave 50/. Others, in fmall contributions, 
 gave 53/. Which fums were all laid out in the 
 purchafe of land in South Cerney, except 20L part 
 of Mr. Blomer'sgift, with 10./. of which a houfe in 
 Gloucefter-ftreet was purchafed for the poor. 
 
 Thomas Damfel gave 100/. In 1620, £ man who 
 had a lottery here, 40/. Mr. Thomas Shermore, of 
 London, 20/. Mr. John Stone 20/. Robert George, 
 efq; 10/. the heirs of, Robert Strange, efq; 10/. 
 Mr. Edward Pratt, jun. 10/. 1606, Thomas Smith 
 20/. — 1615, John May, of Amney St. Mary, 10/. 
 Robert Stech, butcher, 10/. Edward Church, 20/. 
 —1669, Lady Atkynfon, of Stowel, 10/. 1679, John 
 Oates, clothier, 10/. — 1680, William Kerby, of 
 London, falter, 10/. John Coxwell, efq ; 100/. The 
 reverend Mr. William Mailer, 50/. — 1706, Mrs. 
 Winifred Matter 60/. Other benefactions, in 
 fmaller fums, amounted to 22/. 105. Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Edwards gave 30/. and four tenements in Caftle- 
 ftreet, (which were fold for 60/. about the year 
 1729) the intereft to be diftributed yearly among 
 four poor families, but thefe fums, with 100/, be- 
 fore mentioned to have been given by her for 
 
 T t the 
 
328 Charitable Institutions, &c. 
 
 apprenticing children, were laid out in the purchafe of 
 the church-yard. 
 
 In 1774 Jane Overbury gave 50/. the intereft of 
 which to be given to the poor. In 1784; Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Cripps, by her will, gave 500 /. old 
 South Sea annuities, the intereft of which to be 
 equally divided at Chriftmas between ten widows, 
 or old unmarried women, who do not receive alms 
 • of the parifh. 
 
 John Day, Efq; by his deed December 21, 1779, 
 gave to truftees therein named and their fucceffors 
 for ever, 90 acres of land in Pinkney in the county 
 of Wilts, and the great and fmall tythes belonging 
 to the re&ory or parfonage of Pinkney impropriate, 
 then in polfeffion of William Deverell, in truft, 
 (after difcharging the land-tax, and all expences) to 
 pay 1/. 125. on the lft of February yearly, to the 
 churchwardens of Eafton Gray, for the poor of that 
 parifh; and the reft of the rents and profits of the 
 faid eftate to be by the truftees diftributed among 
 fuch poor decaied houfe keepers, of the parifhes of 
 Cirencefter and Minchin-Hampton, or either of 
 them, profeffing the religion of the church of Eng- 
 land, and not receiving alms, in fuch proportion 
 as the faid John Day mould direct; but fo that fuch 
 diftribution be made not fewer than four times a 
 year, no perfon to receive lefs than 3/. nor more 
 than 15/. a year. 
 
 Eliz. 
 
Magistracy, Population, &c. 329 
 
 Eliz. Gurney gave 20/. the intereft to be dif- 
 tributed to the poor of the prefbyterian perfuafion. 
 Benjamin Gurney left 20/. for the like ufe. 
 
 The following charities are to provide clothing 
 for the poor. 
 
 In 1642, Sir Anthony Hungerford gave Weft- 
 Mead in Amney Crucis. Thomas Perry, fenior, 
 in 1673, gave 20J. Edward King, in 1692, gave 
 a rent-charge of 2/. 9s. on two houfes in Coxwell- 
 ftreet. Anne Peters gave 20I. Nicholas Edwards 
 40/. Sarah Humphris 10/. and Frances Peek 5/. 
 
 The interft of the following donations is to be an- 
 nually given to the poor in bread. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Chambers, daughter of Mr Monox, 
 gave 50/. Mr. Fettiplace 20/. Nicholas Edwards 
 10/. Elizabeth, his widow, 5/. and Ifaac Tibbet, 
 her father, 20/. 
 
 Magijlracy. 
 
 Earl Bathurft and Thomas Mafter, efq; are De- 
 puty Lieutenants and juftices of the peace for the 
 county of Gloucefter; and Jofeph Cripps and Robert 
 Timbrell, efq 13 - and William-Shippen Willes, clerk, 
 are juftices of the peace for the faid county, and 
 refident in the borough. They hold a feflions on 
 the firft Monday in the Month, and Richard Selfe, 
 of Amney Crucis, and William Veel, of Cotes- 
 wold- Houfe, efq rs - both juftices of the peace 
 within the fame divifion, ufually attend the feffion. 
 
 T t 2 Affociation, 
 
Magistracy, Population, &c. 
 
 Ajfociation. 
 
 The youger part of the principal inhabitants 
 of the borough, with fome others, having obtained 
 his Majefty's approbation, formed themfelves into a 
 Military Affociation in the year 1798, con- 
 fifting of a corps of upwards of a hundred 
 privates, including fergeants, ' &c. and put 
 themfelves under the command of a captain, and 
 proper fubaltern officers. They have no pay, and 
 are at the expenfe of their uniform, which is very 
 handfome, but government provides arms and ac- 
 coutrements. This corps is well difciplined, and they 
 make a very military appearance. Their object, re- 
 sults from a very laudable principle, to prevent and 
 fupprels tumult and riot, and to preferve peace 
 and order within the borough and neighbourhood. 
 The officers are, 
 
 Jofeph Cripps, efq; Captain. 
 
 Edward Cripps, efq; Lieutenant. 
 
 Tohn Mailers, gent. > _ _ 
 Jir-ii- c {Enfigns. 
 William Stevens, gent. * 0 
 
 David Whatley, gent. Adjutant. 
 
 Population. 
 
 At the begining of the eighteenth century, ac- 
 cording to Sir Robert AtkynS, there were near 800 
 houfes and about 4000 inhabitants in this parifh. 
 after the fmall pox had left the town in the year 
 1741, the inhabitants were found to be 3797: arid 
 
 after 
 
Magistracy, Population, &c. 331 
 
 after a fcvere vifitation of the fame kind in the year 
 1758, the people were numbered at 3458. In 1775, 
 an exacl account having been taken, the houfholders 
 were 838, and the inhabitants 3878, befides 110 in 
 the workho-ufe, making together '3988, fomething 
 more than four perfons and a half to a houfe. We 
 don't find that the people have been numbered fince, 
 but it is fuppofed that population continues pretty- 
 much the fame with the laft mentioned ftatement, 
 notwithstanding the war, and other caufes of emigra- 
 tion, for there is fcarcely a void tenement in 
 the borough. 
 
 SOLI DEO GLORIA. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 31 line 20, for tophic read topic. 
 
 41 1. 14, for/or x.far. 
 
 42 1. 22 and 30, for judgement r. judgment. 
 65 1. 6, for throught r. through. 
 
 139 1. 7, {ox church x. hofpital. 
 
 Printed by £. Rudder, Dyer-ftreet, Cirencejler.