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THE 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES 
 
 OP 
 
 THORNE5 
 
 WITH 
 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE DRAINAGE 
 
 OP 
 
 HATFIELD CHASE, 
 
 " Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam, 
 His first, best country, ever is at home. 
 And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare, 
 And estimate the blessings which they share. 
 Though patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find 
 An equal portion dealt to all mankind.'* 
 
 Goldsmith. 
 
 THORNE : 
 PRmTED AND PUBLISHED BY S. V/HAL]?V. 
 
 \\ 1829. 
 

 T 
 
 ^W 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 if ^' 
 In compiling this little work, endeavours have 
 
 been used to collect all the interesting particulars 
 
 extant relating to Thorne, from the M'^orks of others^ 
 
 from the few manuscript documents that exist, as well 
 
 as from the kind communications of those friends 
 
 who have been disposed to assist in the design. 
 
 And as it is expected that the history of this town 
 
 and neighbourhood will principally come into the 
 
 liands of those whose connexion with, and local 
 
 knowledge of the district, may be supposed to 
 
 give them an interest in whatever relates to it : 
 
 further preface or apology for the introduction of 
 
 juatter, which in the cool judgment of a stranger 
 
 might appear unimportant, will be unnecessary. 
 
 A short sketch of the drainage of the level of 
 Hatfield Chase has been introduced, and should 
 the reader be desirous of obtaining more informa- 
 tion relative to that important undertaking, Hun- 
 ter's History and Topography of the Deanery of 
 Doncaster will furnish many further and highly 
 interesting particulars. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 SECTION PAGE 
 
 I. State of the Country previous to the Norman 
 
 Conquest 4 
 
 II . Ancient State of Thorne, and its Antiquities. . .... 10 
 
 III. Charters, &c. and Historical Events 52 
 
 IV. Biographical Sketches 71 
 
 V. Present state of Thorne 87 
 
 VI . The Turf Moors 109 
 
 VII. The River Don 125 
 
 VIII. The Drainage of the Level of Hatfield Chase .... 141 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES 
 
 OF 
 
 THORNE. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY PREVIOUS TO 
 THE NORMAN CONQUEST. 
 
 It is the observation of a very judicious and learned 
 antiquary, that " If the origin of the more learned 
 nations, Greeks and Romans, be uncertain, much 
 more is that of the Western parts ; and if national 
 antiquities be obscure, parochial, for sure, are more 
 uncertain/^ However, to commence a general ac- 
 count as early as can be asserted with safety : 
 
 The original inhabitants of the province in which 
 the town of Thorne is at present situated, were 
 the Brigantines, the most numerous and powerful 
 of all the British tribes that possessed the island 
 before the Roman conquest. Traces of their his- 
 tory are antecedent to the Christian era ; and 
 when Julius Csesar invaded this island, forty-five 
 years before the birth of Christ, he describes them 
 as occupying the northern districts, meaning the 
 
 B 
 
6 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 whole of the extensive region now divided into 
 the counties of Durham, York, Westm or eland;, 
 Cumberland, and Lancashire : their metropolis 
 was Isurium Brigantium, which is now only an 
 inconsiderable village, called Aldburgh, about 
 half a mile distant from Boroughbrid^e. The 
 Roman writers relate, that the Brigantines were 
 the most numerous and powerful of the native 
 tribes of Britain, inured to great hardships, and of 
 a brave and warlike character. They resisted the 
 Roman arms for a considerable period, and were 
 only overpowered by the invincible conquerors of 
 the then civilized world. 
 
 The Brigantines, situated towards the sea coast, 
 made a vigorous and protracted resistance against 
 their invaders, defending their towns with the most 
 desperate valour ; and it was not until after many 
 bloody conflicts that they submitted to the power of 
 the Roman arms. The propraetor Petilius Cerealis 
 received their submission in the reign of Vespasian, 
 A. D. 70. From that period, the Romans fixed their 
 principal station at Eboracum, or York, from which 
 central point their cohorts, stationed in every direc- 
 tion, retained the surrounding country in obedience. 
 
 ft does not appear that the Romans have left, in 
 the district to which this history is intended more 
 particularly to relate, any w^orks that might prove 
 their having had a settlement or camp within its 
 confines. The nearest of their works appears to 
 have been a vicinal way, that passed through the 
 old town of Pontefract, in a southerly direction^ to 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 7 
 
 Darrington, Wentbridge, Smeaton, Campsall, and 
 Hatfield. 
 
 The common road of the Romans out of the south 
 into the north, was from Lindam (Lincoln), to Sege- 
 locum (Littleborough, upon the Trent), and from 
 thence to Daniim (Doncaster), where they kept a 
 standing garrison of Crispinian horse. On the east 
 and north east of their road, between the two last 
 named towns, lay the borders of a great forest, the 
 retreat of numerous hordes of the unsubjected Bri- 
 tains, who were continually making sallies out of 
 their secluded holds, to intercept the provisions, 
 and take and destroy the carriages, and kill the 
 passengers and allies of the invaders of their 
 country. These proceedings at length so enraged 
 the Romans, that they resolved to destroy this 
 almost impenetrable fastness of the natives. That 
 they might do this more effectually, they marched 
 Tv ith a great army, and encamped upon a heath or 
 moor not far from Finningly ; the remains of their 
 camp are still visible between that place and 
 Austerfield, " where it is probable,'^ says A. de la 
 Pryme, " that a great battle ensued, for hard by 
 is a little town called Osterfield.* Now, as the 
 latter part of the word is never used to be 
 added to any other, but where there hath been 
 a battle ; so the former seems to tell us, what Ro- 
 
 * Dr. MilleiM'n his History of Doncastf rem^^ ., , s said 
 that a battle was fought here hetwee-u the Romans and Brifons 
 and that the village takes its name from it ; but 1 have examined 
 Tacitus, Camden, and Speed, and an find no account of such a 
 battle. Perhaps the village ta^ves its name from the Saxon 
 Oiesier (easterly) and Feldt C^ field), *^ 
 / 
 
8 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 man general it was who fought it, to wit, Ostonus^, 
 whom ail the Roman historians assure us was in 
 those parts. But who gained the victory is not so 
 easily to be judged of, though no doubt it was the 
 valiant Romans, who, beside the multitudes of Bri- 
 tains that they slew, drove the rest back into the 
 great forest and wood, that covered all this low 
 country. Whereupon the Romans, that they might 
 destroy it and the enemy the easier, took opportunity 
 of a strong south west wind, and set great fires 
 therein, which taking hold of the fir trees, burnt 
 like pitch, and consumed infinite numbers of them ; 
 then, when the fire had done what mischief and 
 execution it could, the Romans brought their army 
 nearer, and, with whole legions of captive Britains, 
 choped and cut down most of the trees that were 
 yet left standing, leaving only here and there some 
 great ones untouched, as monuments of their fury, 
 and unneedful of their labour, which being destitute 
 of the support of the underwood, and of their 
 neighbouring trees, were easily overthrown by the 
 strong ^vinds." 
 
 After the Romans had finally abandoned Britain, 
 little is recorded in history of the state of affairs 
 ill this district, until the year 633, during the Saxon 
 Heptarchy, when Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, 
 joined with Cadwallon, or Ceadwalla, the British 
 kin^" of Wales, tt> destroy the Christians and Saxons. 
 The kin«^ of Wales, according to the historian, was 
 j^agano sevior, more'^ cruel than a pagan, though 
 a nominal Christian ; ai^d yet more atrocious than 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 9 
 
 his ally, from the hatred he indulged against the 
 people and religion of the Anglians. Edwin, the 
 Saxon king of Deira, styled Edwin the Great, met 
 them at Haytefield, a village three miles from 
 Thorne, since corrupted to Hatfield, and in a most 
 bloody battle fought on the heath or lings, October 
 12, 633, lost his crown and life, after a peaceable 
 reign of seventeen years. The victory is reported 
 to have been attended with greater cruelty than any 
 in the monuments of history ; for whilst Penda en- 
 deavoured to root out the Christians, and Cadwallon 
 the Saxons, their fury was so great that it spared 
 neither age nor sex. OiFride*, Edwin's eldest son, 
 was slain in this battle. The head of Edwin was 
 buried in St. Gregory's porch, in his own church, at 
 York, but his body in the monastery at Whitby. 
 
 The internal police which prevailed through the 
 dominions of this prince was so vigilant, that it 
 became proverbial to say, '' That a w^oman with her 
 new born infant, might walk from sea to sea without 
 fear of insult.'' As in those days travelling was 
 difficult and tedious, and no places existed for the 
 entertainment of guests, it was an important and 
 kind convenience to his people, that he caused stakes 
 to be fixed in the highways where he had seen a 
 clear spring, and brazen dishes were chained to 
 them, to refresh the weary sojourner, from the 
 fatigues which Edwin had himself experience*]. In 
 another reign these would have been placed only 
 
 .*Rapin, B. 113. p. 49. 
 
10 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 to have been taken away ; but such was the dread 
 of his inquiring justice, or such the general affection 
 for his virtues, that no man misused them. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 THE ANCIENT STATE OF THORNE AND ITS 
 ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 Few materials are extant that will throw light on 
 the history of Thome so early as the conquest ; how- 
 ever it appears from Doem's-day Book*, or General 
 Survey of England, commenced in the 14th year of 
 the reign of William the Conqueror, and finished six 
 years afterwards (that is, between the years 1080 
 and 1086) that the village was then known by the 
 name it bears at present, which appears to be de- 
 rived from its marshy situation, and to correspond 
 with Thorney, in Cambridgeshire, and Thorney, on 
 the banks of the Thames, now Westminster, both of 
 which resemble it in name as well as in situation ; 
 although at the time of that survey, it is probable it 
 contained only a mansion, the temporary residence of 
 the lord of the manor or his feudal retainei-s, houses 
 
 * Dooms-day Book contains an exact surrey of the lands, 
 goods, and chattels of every person then living in England ; 
 with what he used to pay in the Saxon times ; how much he had 
 been taxed of late years since the conquest ; moreover what 
 stock each had of horses, cattle, sheep, &c. ; how much ready 
 money he had in his house; what he owed and what was owing 
 to him. All this was set down in great order, in a book called 
 Dooms-day Book; that is the book of the day of judgment ; 
 apparently to denote, that the means of the English were sifted 
 in that book as the actions of men will be at the last great day. 
 This general register was laid up in the Exchequer, or King's 
 Treasury, to be consulted on occasion. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 11 
 
 for the socmen and a few cottages for the poorer 
 villaines. 
 
 From this survey it appears, that William de 
 Warren, as lord of the manor of Thorne, had four 
 carucates* of land to be taxed, five socmen t, and 
 eleven villaines J, with four ploughs. 
 
 Drogo de Beurerc had also two carucates of land, 
 to be taxed §. 
 
 In the thirty-third year of the reign of Edward I. 
 (1305) William Gumbaudhad the manor of Thorne, 
 and the honour of Albemarl, 
 
 In the first year of the reign of Edward III. (1327) 
 John de Moubray had the manor; but in the twenty 
 first year of the same reign, John de Warren was in 
 the possession of t. 
 
 In the seventh year of the reign of Edward III, the 
 abbot of Selby had a trial with John Count of War- 
 ren and other tenants of his manors of Wakefield and 
 Thorne, and others, for eight hundred acres of land 
 in Eastoffelj. (1332). 
 
 In the ninth year of the reign of Edward III, the 
 
 * A carncate, or plough land, is as much arable land as could 
 be tilled m a year with one plough, and the beasts belonging 
 thereto; having meadow, pasture, and houses for the house- 
 holders thereto belonging ; though it appears to have been 
 different according to times and places. In the reign of Richard 
 I. at 180 acres. By statute, under William III, a plough land 
 is rated at 6£^50 per annum, and may contain houses, inroads, 
 mills, and pasture, &c. Ency. Brit, art Carucate. 
 
 f Socmen, orsokemen (socmanni), such tenants as held thoir 
 lands and tenements in socage; but the tenants in ancient de- 
 mesne seem most properly to be called socmans. 
 
 J Villain, was one who held lands in villenage, or on condition 
 of rendering base services to his lord. 
 
 § Bawdwen's Dooms-day Book, Vol. 1. 159. 
 II Calendaria Rotulorum Patencium, p. 1!7. 
 
12 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 king hath confirraed to Robert Browne, in fee, SO 
 acres of the crops of the manor of Thorne, in the 
 county of York, granted to him by John de Warren, 
 count of Surrey, for annual revenue of ten shillings. 
 
 In the tenth year of the reign of Edward III, the 
 king hath confirmed to John of Stainforth, in fee, 
 thirty -one acres and a half of the crops of corn in 
 the manors of Thorne, and Hatfield, and granted by 
 John of Warren, count of Surrey, for the annual 
 revenue of ten shillings. 
 
 In the tenth year of the reign of Edward TIT, the 
 king hath granted and confirmed to Richard of 
 Thorne, three tenements, with ten acres, thirteen 
 and eight acres of meadow, and four and a half acres 
 of moor, and forty acres of corn land in Hatfield and 
 Thorne, in the county of York, which John of War- 
 ren, count of Surrey, hath granted, &c. to be held by 
 the said Richard and his heirs, for the sum of twenty 
 eight shillings, nine pence, and one farthing. 
 
 The king hath granted and confirmed to John, son 
 of Peter, of Stainforth, thirty-one acres and a half 
 of corn land, of John of Warren, count of Surrey, in 
 Thorne and Hatfield, which the said count hath 
 granted, &c. to be held by the said John and his 
 heirs, from thence, for the annual revenue of ten 
 shillings and sixpence, and making a way for his 
 carriage to the mill of the said count*. 
 
 In the fourteenth year of the reign of Edward III, 
 John of Warren, count of Surrey, hath granted to 
 John of Brusely, in fee, twelve acres of corn, of his 
 * Abbreviatio Rotulorum Oirginalium, Vol. II, 110* 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. IS 
 
 corn land of Thorne, for the yearly revenue of three 
 shillings, which the king hath confirmed*. (1339). 
 
 The above grams will shew the rate at which 
 land was let at that period. 
 
 Hatfield andThorne^with many others, from John^ 
 count of Surrey, for the abbot of Roupe, Appendix, 
 19 Edward III. (1344.) 
 
 William, earl of AVarren, gave to the abbey of 
 Roch, the tithe of eels taken at his fishery, in this 
 territory. Burton's Monas. p. 323. 
 
 The following is a copy of the charter iy which 
 William, count of Warren, granted the tithe of 
 eels to the above abbey. 
 
 William, count Warren, in his manors of Brade- 
 mar, wishes safety : Know that I, of my own charity, 
 have granted to God and to the church of the Holy 
 Mary of Roupe, and to the monks there serving 
 God, a tenth of the whole residue of my eels, of all 
 my fisheries which are in the parishes of Hatfield, 
 Thorne, and Fishlake, besides the full tithing of my 
 eels which belong to the monks of Lewes, in pure 
 and perpetual alms. Wherefore I command you 
 that the aforesaid tenths be possessed by them year- 
 ly, with out any delay at the season. And in testimony 
 of which things, I send you these my letters patent, 
 Farewellt. 
 
 The monks of St. Martin's priory at Richmond, 
 had the third part of the tithes at Thurne. Burto 
 Mon.p. 274. 
 
 * Cal end arum Rotulorum Patentium, p. 137. 
 t Diigdale's Mon. Aug. Vol.1. 837. 
 
14 HISTORY OF TKORNE- 
 
 In order to elucidate the early history of Thorns 
 as much as possible, tlie following eliort sketches 
 of the lords of the manor are inserted, 
 
 WARREN, EARL OF SURREY. 
 
 Arms-*-CheGky, O. and Az. 
 William de Warren, first earl of Surrey, and lord 
 of the manor of Thorne, as mentioned in Dooms- 
 day Book, was so created, it is said, by William 
 Rufus*. He was earl Warren, in Normandy, and 
 nearly related to the Conqueror, whom he therefore 
 accompanied in his expedition iato England; in 
 which, as a joint adventurer, and for his signal 
 services, he was, after the battle of Hastings, re- 
 warded with divers considerable lordships in several 
 counties, among which was the barony of Lewes, 
 in Sussex, and the manoi^ of Carletune and Bening- 
 ton, in com. Line. ; together with so many other 
 great possessions, that he seemed more like a partner 
 in the spoils of England than a subject. He also 
 married Gundrcd,t the Conqueror's daughter ; with 
 whom, Brooke says, he obtained all Chirkland, 
 Broomfield, and Yale. He built the castle of Holt, 
 and founded the priory of Lewes, in Sussex, where, 
 at his death in 1089, he was interred in the chapter 
 
 * So Dugdale asserts, but R.Brooke, upon a very specious 
 authority, says, that he was constituted earl by Will. Conq. 
 
 + She died in Childbed, on the 24th May 1085, at Castle Acre, 
 in Norfolk, but was brought for ictermeut to Lewes, where the 
 lettered part of her monument (a fine black marble tablet) is 
 still preserved, through the liberality and antiquarian zeal of 8ir 
 William Burrell, baronet. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 25 
 
 house*. His issue, according to Dugclale, were two 
 sons, William and Reginald ; and two daughters, 
 viz, Edith, married, first, to Girard de Gornay ; and 
 after, to Drew de Moneeaux ; and Gundred wife of 
 Ernide de Colungis. 
 
 William, second earl Warren, and Surrey, harin^ 
 joined Robert de Belesme, earl of Arundel and 
 Shrewsbury, in farour of Robert Curthose. against 
 Henry I. forfeited his great English possessions, but 
 was afterwards restored to them ; and from, that 
 time he continued with zeal and fidelity ta adhere 
 to Henry I. He died in 1138^ and was also buried 
 at Lewes priory, His wife was Isabel, daughter to 
 Hugh, earl of Vermandois, (widow of Robert earl of 
 Mellent) by whom he had three sous ; viz, William, 
 his successor ; Reginald, lord -of Wirmgay ; and 
 Ralph ; also two daughters, namely, Gundred, mar- 
 ried to Roger, earl of Warwick ; and Adela, to 
 Henry, son of David king of Scots. 
 
 William, third earl, married Adela, daughter of 
 Robert, the turbulent earl of Belesmet. He was ono 
 of the most strenuous adherents that king Stephen 
 had, in the many perils and dangers which he experi- 
 enced ; and at the memorable battle of Lewes X^ 
 
 * Under a monumental jingle of Monkish rhyme, recited by 
 Dugdale, but which the muse of SternhoJd and Hopkins only; 
 could, in translation, do justice to the gothic ingenuity of these- 
 chiming hemistichs,this priory wai the burial place of the family^ 
 as the castle of Lewes was their fayourite residence ; though at 
 Castle Acre, in Norfolk, now in ruins ; and at Coningsburgh and 
 Sandal, in Yorkshire, they likewise had noble castles. 
 
 t In York's Union of Honour it is stated, that she was the- 
 daughter of William Talvace, earl of Ponthieu. 
 
 J This appears to be a mistake, as the battle of Lewes was 
 not fought until the year 1262. 
 
16 HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 
 
 was one of the chief leaders in the royal army. But 
 some of the king's troops having treacherously joined 
 the enemy, this earl, with divers other oiEcers of 
 rank, fled, though the king continued to perform the 
 part of a hero, and was only taken prisoner, after his 
 sword and battle axe were broken, in dealing de- 
 struction to his assailants. 
 
 In the year 1 147? this earl, in the sanguinary spirit 
 of crusade, which then pervaded the Christian worlds 
 accompanied Le-vis, king of France, in his expedition 
 against the Saracens, an expedition wherein the con- 
 secrated banners of the Christians fell into the hands 
 of the infidels. But whether the earl of Surrey 
 was slain in the general defeat of the holy army, or 
 was taken prisonre, and died in captivity, seems un- 
 certain. York says, he had issue, William, Patrick, 
 and Philip, who died young, and a daughter, Isabel, 
 who married, first, William de Blois ; and secondly, 
 Hameline Plantagenet, who in her right held the 
 earldom successively. 
 
 BLOIS, EAEL OF SURREY. 
 
 Arms— G, three Pallets varry, on a Chief, O, an Eagle 
 displayed, G. membered, Az. 
 
 William de Blois was earl of Moreton,ia Nor- 
 mandy, and a natural son of king Stephen. Upon 
 the reconciliation of his father and duke Henry 
 (son of Maud, the empress), he had granted to him 
 the lorcl .^ip of Norwich, all the honour of Pevensey, 
 with ( ivers other considerable inheritances ; and 
 having married Isabel, the daughter and heir (as 
 bc^'ore mentioned) of William, earl of Yf arren and 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 17 
 
 Surrey, he, in her right, eMJ03^ed those earldoms. 
 This earl William was of a gentle unambitious 
 disposition, which procured him, from Henry If. 
 more favour than suspicion ; so that in the situation 
 of a private nobleman, he was happier than if he 
 had been possessed of an enterprising spirit, and 
 succeeded to the disputed crown. Having attended 
 Henry H. to the siege of Thoulouse, he died S, P, 
 and was buried in that city, anno 1159. The king 
 for aw^hile retained these earldoms ; but in 1163, 
 
 PLANTAGENET EARL OF SURREY, 
 
 Arms— Semee of France and a Border of England, also 
 Cheeky O.andAz. (Warren.) 
 
 Hameline Plantagenet*. a natural son of Gcffery 
 
 earl of Anjou, and base brother to Henry IJ, having 
 
 married Isabel, relict of the late earl, had her 
 
 honours ; and the i2th of Henry II. certified his 
 
 knight's fees to be sixty. He survived his countess 
 
 four years, and for that time was tenant of her in- 
 
 * This seems to baye been at first no more than one of the 
 soubriquets, or nicknames, then so common ; whereof, according 
 to Skinner and Buck, the first that was so called v.as Fulk 
 Martel, earl of Anjou, in the tenth century. That lioblemnti is 
 said to have contrived the murder of his nephew, Drogo, eari of 
 Brittany, in order to succeed to that earldom ; in atoiTement for 
 which murder, his confessor sent him to Jerusalem, attended 
 only by two servants ; one of whom was to lead him by a halter 
 to the holy sepulchre, the other to strip and whip him there like 
 a common malefactor. Broom, in French, genet in Latin, 
 genista, being the only good whipping shrub in^Palestioe ; the 
 noble criminal was smartly disciplined with it; and, from the 
 instrument of his chastisement, called Planta^renista, plantage- 
 net, or broom plant, nunc vulgo, birch rob. Other derivations 
 are, however, also given for this celebrated surname. But be 
 the true origin of the name what it may, this Hameline, not 
 over anxious to retain any memorial of his father's family, bore 
 the arms and surname of Warren only, after his marriage with 
 the countess Isabel. Cat. of Hon. per H. Brooke. 
 
18 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 heritance by the courtesy of England. Aft^r which 
 he closed a long and honourable life, ia the year 
 1202, and was buried with his wife's ancestors in 
 Lewes priory, leaving a son and heir. 
 
 William, next earl Warren and Surrey, and sixth 
 Lord of Lewes. Tliis earl for a considerable time 
 adhered to king John af ainst the insurgent barons ; 
 and was one of the four nobles who -were sworn 
 vouchers for his performance of the degrading 
 conditions dictated to him by Pandulph, the 
 Pope's legate, in 1213 : but at last, disgusted with 
 the perfidy and despotism of that mean prince, 
 he joined Lewis, the French king's son, who wa« 
 invited over to assume the forfeited sovereignty 
 of the nation. However, on the death of king 
 John, he was induced to desert the French interest, 
 in favour of young Henry, his son ; who some 
 months before had been crowned at Gloucester. 
 This prince was weak, mean, and pusillanimous ; 
 dissembling and inprudent, like his father ; which 
 rendered the counsels of men of honour and pa- 
 triotism alike nugatory ; so that a confederacy among 
 the nobles (with whom the earl of Surrey joined) 
 was formed, to oblige him to subscribe to certain 
 regulations, which, if they had been observed by 
 
 * William earl Warren, lord of Stamford, co. Line. temp. 
 king John, standing upon the castle walls, saw two bulls fight- 
 ing, in the eastle meadow, till all the butchers' dogs pursued 
 one of the bulls (maddened with noise and multitude) quite 
 through the tOAvn. This sight so pleased the earl, that he gave 
 the castle meadows, where first tlie bulls began to fight for a 
 common to the butchers of the town, after the grass was mown, 
 on condition that they should find a mad bull the day six weeks 
 before Christmas day, for the continuance of that cruel sport for 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 19 
 
 tlie king, would have been a«5 beoeficial to himself 
 as to his subjects. This nobleraan died in the 24th 
 year of the reign of Henry HI, having been twice 
 married. His first wife was Maud, daughter of the 
 earl of Arundel, who died S. P. ; his second was also 
 named Maud, the daughter of William Marshal, the 
 elder, earl of Pembroke, and Widow of Hugh Bigot, 
 earl of Norfolk^ ; by whotn he had a daughter, 
 Isabel, who married Hugh, earl of Arundel, and a 
 son, John, then five years old ; which 
 
 John, the seventh eavl, was a long time under ward, 
 in order to benefit Peter de Savoy, the queen^s uncle, 
 who had the custody of his lands during that period. 
 This nobleman adhered to king Henry in all those 
 exactions and encroachments, which at last roused 
 the people to defend their rights and property with 
 the sword. He strenuously supported the royal side 
 at the battle of Lewes. John was of a temper re- 
 markably impettiouB and overbearing; as was 
 strongly evinced by his vehement attack in ¥/estmin- 
 ster Hall, upon Alan leZouche, the chief justice, and 
 Roger, his son ; both of whom, on gome conceit of 
 displeasure, he then most sorely wounded. After- 
 wards, when Edward I. issued the first writs of quo 
 warranto, and the earl of Surrey was questioned as to 
 the title to his possessions, he produced a rusty sword, 
 and said, ^^ That was his warranty for all he posses- 
 sed ; by that old family servant, his ancestors had won 
 their land as well as the conqueror himself; and 
 
 * Brooke mentions another daughter, Margaret, who married 
 the lord Percy ; but Dugdale only notices Isabel. 
 
20 HISTORY OF TKORNE. 
 
 with the same, their undegenerate descendant was 
 determined to maintain them/^ He married Alice^ 
 daughter of Hugh le Brun, and half sister, by the 
 mother, to Henry HL ; which lady brought him two 
 daughters, Eleanor and Isabel, whereof the former 
 married, first, Henry Lord Percy, and afterwards a 
 Scotch earl ; and the latter became the wife of 
 John Baliol, king of Scotland. Likewise a son, 
 William, a promising young man, who was slain in 
 his father's lifetime, at a tournament at Croydon, 
 in the twentieth year of his age ; leaving by Joane 
 his wife, daughter of Robert de Vere, earl of Ox- 
 ford, a posthumous son, John, of vdiom hereafter. 
 
 This great and boisterous nobleman, who pos- 
 sessed his paternal honours sixty-five years, to 
 which was added the earldom of Sussex, conferred 
 upon him by Henry III, died cire. an. 1304, aged 
 seventy, and was succeeded by 
 
 John, his grandson, before mentioned, who was one 
 of those 267 noble persons that were knighted with 
 prince Edward, afterwards Edward II, and was on^ 
 cf the peers who so justly resented that monarch's 
 partiality for Piers Gaveston ; though afterwards 
 he became one of those evil counsellors that sup- 
 ported the execrable meanness of Edward U, ; and 
 sanctioned the execution of the brave, noble-minded, 
 and accomplished earl of Lancaster, with his pa- 
 triotic confederates, at Pontefract. 
 
 Indeed, after vice and folly had rendered Edward 
 equally odious and contemptible to the rest of his 
 subjects; this nobleman still continued his adherence. 
 
HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 21 
 
 Yet he acted so prudently, that he preserved both 
 his life and his lands, in the midst of the arbitrary 
 forfeitures and proscriptions which attended the 
 deposition of that wretched and unhappy monarch. 
 He even was one of the governors appointed for 
 Edward III., during his minority ; and having sup- 
 ported that prince against Mortimer, he ever after 
 stood high in the royal favour. 
 
 The earl of Surrey and Sussex having, in the 
 lifetime of his first countess, Joan, daughter of the 
 earl of Barre, publicly kept Maud de Nereford, a 
 lady of good family in Norfolk, was compelled by 
 the archbishop of Canterbury to break off all con- 
 nexion with her ; but, nevertheless, though publicly 
 convicted of adultery and perjury, he obtained a 
 divorce from the countess, on the ground of a pre- 
 contract to Maud ; yet it does not appear that he 
 ever married that lady. He is said to have had a 
 second wife, Isabella de Holland * : which, whether 
 the fact or not, his nuptial bed proved barren, while 
 his illicit connexion was productive of male and 
 female progeny f. He died in 1347 ; and Alice, 
 
 * Dugdale's Baronage, Vol. I. p. 81-2. 
 t From this issue the Warrens of Poynton in Cheshire, are 
 considered to be descended. Ralph Brooke, however derives 
 them from a second marriage of John, seventh earl of Surrey, 
 with Joane, daughter of William lord Mowbray. A prolix and 
 sjDecious work, touching the true descent of these Warrens, is 
 published, called '' Watson's History of the Earls of Surrey,*' 
 m 2 vols. 4 to. Warrington : printed by Wiiliam Eyres, 1782. 
 These volumes are ornamented with a variety of prints of their 
 ancient castles and seals, with a portrait of the compiler. Dr. 
 Watson, who was a very learned antiquarian, and wrote " the 
 History and Antiquities of Halifax ;" and also some papers in 
 the ArchaBologia. The object of the above work was to prove 
 the late Sir George Warren, of Poynton, in Cheshire entitled to 
 the ancient earldom of Surrey. 
 
 C 
 
22 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 his sister, became his heir in blood, who married 
 Edmund Fitz-Alan, earl of Arundel. 
 
 FITZ-ALAN, EARL OF SURREY. 
 
 Arms— Gules, a Lion rajnpant, or. armed and langued, Azure, 
 
 The male ¥me of the house of Warren being 
 extinct in the person of the last earl, 
 
 Richard, son and heir of Edmund Fit z-Alan, earl 
 of Arundel, and the said Alice de Warren, his wife, 
 either by favour of king Edward, or suit at law, 
 became lord of Lewes, and earl of Surrey ; as did 
 
 Richard Fitz-Alan, earl of Arundel, his son and 
 heir; who was afterwards executed, and fell a 
 martjT in the cause of the people, in 1397, (21st 
 Richard n.) 
 
 HOLLAND, DUKE OF SURREY. 
 
 Thomas Holland, son and heir of Thomas, earl 
 of Kent, by Alice, sister of Richard Fitz-Alan, carl 
 of Arundel, &c., was, by Richard H. anno 21 of 
 his reign, created duke of Surrey ; but in the 1st of 
 Henry IV. he forfeited both his life and his honours ; 
 whereupon 
 
 Thomas Fitz-Alan, eldest son and heir of the last 
 earl Richard, was restored in blood, and invested 
 with all his hereditary honours and possessions ; 
 but dying S. P. 3d of Henry V., his three sisters 
 became his co-heirs ; of whom, Elizabeth married 
 John Moubray, duke of Norfolk. 
 
 (MOUBRAY, EARL OF SURREY,) 
 
 Arms— -Gules, a lion rampant, argent. 
 
 John de Moubray, son and heir of the said duke, 
 
 was created earl of Surrey and Warren, by Henry 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE 23 
 
 VI,* in the lifetime of his father ; and at his decease, 
 he became duke of Norfolk. He died anno 1475, 
 leaving an only daughter and heir, Ann, contracted 
 in marriage to 
 
 Richard Plantagenet, second son of Edward IV., 
 who thereupon was created duke of Norfolk, and 
 earl Surrey and Warren f. He was murdered, with 
 his brother, Edward V. J in the tower ; and thus, 
 according to the above statement, the manor de- 
 volved to the crown. 
 
 But the possessors of the manor, after the male 
 line of the Warrens of Coningsborough, became 
 extinct, in 1347, appear to be more correctly traced 
 in Hunter's History of the Deanery of Doncaster, 
 Vol. I. p. 110 ; his account (abridged) is as follows : 
 After the decease of John de Warren, in 1347, his 
 manors north of the Trent came to the crown, and 
 v^^ere settled on Edmund Langley, a younger son of 
 the king's, then not more than six years of age, and 
 his mother, queen Philippa, was allowed to receive 
 the profits, for the education of this and her younger 
 children. Edmund married, first, one of the 
 daughters of Peter, the cruel, king of Castile and 
 Leon, and afterwards, a daughter of Thomas Hol- 
 land, earl of Kent ; she outlived the duke, and after 
 his decease, married three husbands in succession. 
 Richard, a second son and issue of Edmund's mar- 
 riage with the princess of Castile, after the death 
 
 * Rot. Chart. ab.27thusq. S9thHen. VI. n. 33, 
 + Rot. Chart, loth to 22d Edward IV. no 13. 
 1 Vide Banks's Dormant and Extinct Baronage of England, 
 Voiail. p. C87-G94. 
 
24 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 of his elder brother, Edward, succeeded to these 
 estates. He married, first/ Anne Mortimer, and 
 afterwards, Maud Clifford. Richard, duke of York, 
 the issue of the first marriage, succeeded to the 
 manors in 1446. He married Cecily Nevil, a 
 daughter of the earl of Westmoreland ; some of 
 their offspring were horn at Hatfield. The. duke 
 was killed at the battle of Wakefield : and,his son, 
 the earl of March, after Richard's death, fought 
 the battle of Towton, in which the fortunes of the 
 house of York prevailed, and this earl became seated 
 on the throne, as Edward IV. ; and from that time 
 the manor of Thorne was held by the succeeding 
 kings of England, until sold by Charles I. to Cor- 
 nelius Vermuyden. Vermuyden afterwards sold 
 part of his purchase to Sir James Catts ; and he 
 and Catts afterwards sold the manors of Hatfield, 
 Thorne, Fishlake, Stainford, and Dowesthorpe, to 
 John Gibbons. 
 
 The manorial rights and royalty of the whole 
 chase were purchased of Gibbons, by Sir Arthur 
 Ingram ; his descendant, Charles, the ninth and last 
 viscount Irwin, bequeathed the manors to Isabella 
 lady Beauchamp ; In pursuance of which they are 
 all now the property of the most noble Isabella 
 dowager marchioness of Hertford, the above lady 
 Beauchamp. 
 
 The value of the manor of Thorne at the time of 
 the grant to Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, may be seen 
 from the following extract. 
 And also, all that our manor of Thorne, at Thorne, 
 
HISTORY OP THORNE. 25 
 
 in' the said county of York, with its rights, members, 
 and appurtenances universal ; and all lands, tene- 
 ments, rents, and hereditaments whatsoever, in the 
 said county, called or known by the name of the 
 manor of Thorne ; and all those our rents of assize 
 of free tenants there, at Lady-day and Michaelmas, 
 payable yearly by a particular thereof, amounting 
 to twenty-two pounds, nine shillings, and seven- 
 pence yearly ; and also all those our rents of service 
 tenants there, and rents for thirty-two binders at 
 bonds, and nine sticks of . . . payable at Lady- 
 day only, by a particular thereof, amounting to four 
 pounds five shillings one penny and a farthing ; and 
 also all those our rents issuing or reserved of or for 
 divers parcels of land of our waste and moors, with 
 one fishgate, at Fishgarth, in Sterker, at Sterkes, 
 within the said manor of Thorne, by a particular 
 thereof, amounting to six pounds nine shillings and 
 three-pence half-penny, by the year ; and also all 
 those new rents issuing or reserved of or for sundry 
 parcels of land of our waste there, in the tenures of 
 sundry persons, as they lie in sundry places and 
 fields of the town of Thorne aforesaid, by a parti- 
 cular thereof, amounting to seven shillings and nine- 
 pence three farthings per annum ; and also all those 
 other our new rents issuing or reserved of or for 
 divers other lands, parcel of our lands of our waste 
 there, in the tenures of sundry persons, as they lie in 
 divets places and fields of the said town, by a parti- 
 cular thereof, amounting to one and twenty pence 
 halfpenny per annum ; and also all that our new 
 
26 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 rent of four -pence per annum, issuing or reserving 
 of or for sundry parcels of land there ; and also all 
 that our new rent of one penny a year, issuing out of 
 certain other lands thei'e ; and also all those our new 
 rents of one halfpenny farthing a year issuing out of 
 two parcels of land there, one now or late in the 
 tenure of John Heyton, at one half penny a year ; 
 and the other now or late in the tenure of Thomas 
 Reder, at one farthing a year ; and also all that our 
 new rent of one halfpenny and one farthing a year, 
 issuing out of one parcel of land there ; and also 
 all that custom of four pence a year for pennage of 
 Logs of the tenants there, payable at Martinmas 
 only ; and also all our customs of the same tenants, 
 for twenty seven balls of lake, payable at Christmas 
 only, by a particular thereof, amounting to eighteen 
 shillings a year ; and also all our court there, with 
 the appurtenances, by a particular thereof, men- 
 tioned to be of the yearly rent of four shillings ; 
 and also all that our bakehouse within the said 
 manor of Thorne,by particular thereof mentioned, 
 to be of the yearly rent or value of six shillings 
 and eightpence ; and also all that our messuage or 
 chamber, called the King's Chamber ytheve^hy a par- 
 ticular thereof mentioned to be of the yearly value 
 or rent of three shillings ; and also all that our 
 stable there, now or late in the tenure or occupation 
 of John Willner, or his assigns ; and also all that 
 our chamber over the Outward Gate there, by a par- 
 ticular thereof mentioned to be of the yearly rent 
 or value of twelve pence ; and also all that our 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 27 
 
 fishery of Sandraught, in the water of Idle, at Joile, 
 within the said manor of Thorne, now or late in the 
 tenure or occupation of John Green, or his assigns, 
 by a particular thereof mentioned to be of the 
 yearly value or rent of five shillings ; and also all 
 that our fishery of Braithmere, at Thurmere, at 
 Countsmere, within the demesne of Hatfield and 
 Thorne, together with old and young swans there, 
 and the profits arising ; and all other profits, com- 
 modities, advantages, and emoluments belonging to 
 the said fishery, or anywise relating thereof, now 
 or late in the tenure or occupation of Edmund, earl 
 of Mulgrave, or his assigns, by a particular thereof 
 mentioned to be of the yearly rent or value of thir- 
 teen pounds eight shillings and four pence ; and also 
 all and singular perquisites and profits of the court 
 of our said manor of Thorne, and from time to time, 
 happening or arising, by a particular thereof, of one 
 year with another, valued at six pounds one shilling 
 and eleven pence half-penny yearly. 
 
 From the notice in the grant of the king's cham- 
 ber, and the chamber over the outer gate, the reader 
 will, no doubt, be desirous to know what part of the 
 town may be termed the royal, or court end of it. 
 Jn an old document, by which the rent to the lord 
 of the manor was collected, it appears, that " Gate 
 House'' was situated in Stone Gate, not far from 
 the church, the street most probably deriving its 
 name from that circumstance. This Gate House 
 appears to have been an entrance to the Hall. The 
 Hall Garth is a parcel of ground which extexids the 
 
28 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 whole length of Jacob Lane, and comprises part of 
 the land now occupied with buildings and gardens, 
 between that lane and the Church Lane. 
 
 The following curious entry, extracted from a 
 rental made in 1683, fifty-five years after Cornelius 
 Vermuyden purchased the manor of king Charles, 
 will shew the situation of the Hall and Chambers. 
 
 John Darling holds part of a capital messuage in 
 Stonegate, layte Wormleys, Smiths, Probeys, and 
 Sympsons, viz. from the north part of the Hall, and 
 Chambers over it, to the south part of the said mes- 
 suage, with a garding adjoining, part of tyth layth 
 balke, and a barne of five bayes next the field, with 
 ground and foldstead thereto belonging, and one 
 turf house on the west side of the street, with a 
 well and an orchard there, next the grounds of 
 Seth Sothell 
 
 In reference to the above property, and the 
 family of Wormley, it appears John de Wormley 
 was foreman on a jury at Hatfield, in 1340. This 
 family claimed descent from Sir Adam de New- 
 march ; and in 47 and 48 Henry HI. it is recorded, 
 that the manor of Thorne was seized into the king's 
 hands, with others that had belonged to the baron 
 Newmarch, who was heir of William Fitz-Raven ; 
 this would be about the year 1263, and it is not 
 improbable that the first hall, from which the Hall 
 Garth took its name, was built by this family. 
 
 The inestimable writer, Leland, has left us the 
 following particulars, which will throw some light 
 on the ancient state of the country. He collected 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 29 
 
 his antiquities in the twenty-fifth, or, as others 
 assert, in the thirty-fifih year of the reign of Henry 
 the VIII. that is in the year 1534, or according to 
 the latter date, 1544 ; he says, 
 
 " From Doncaster to Heathfield, by champayn 
 sandy ground a five miles ; the quarters about 
 Heathfeld be forest ground, and though wood be 
 scars there, yet there is great plentie of red deere 
 that haunt the fennes and the great mores there- 
 about, as to Axholm warde and Thurne* village. 
 From Heathfeld to Thurne village, two miles pas- 
 sing over an arm of the Dune. 
 
 '' By the chyrch garth of Thurne is a praty pile 
 or castelet, well diked, now used for a prison for 
 offenders in the forestes, but some tyme longging to 
 the Mulbrays as Thurne did. The ground al about 
 Thurne is other playn, more, or fenne. From 
 Thurne, by water, to the great lake caulled the 
 jMere, almost a mile over, a mile or more. This 
 mere is full of good fisch and foule. From thence 
 three miles in a small gut or lode (which, he 
 says) was named the Brier to Wrangton Cote, 
 where I came on land in the isle of Axholme about 
 a mile : so that from Wrangton there the water is 
 caulled Idille ; yet it is the same water that Bryer 
 ys (Brier is). The fenny part of Axholm bereth 
 much gallc, a low frutex, swete in burning. 
 
 " There is also a praty wood at Creole, a lord- 
 ship, a late longging to Selleby monasterie."t 
 
 * Thorne, also spelt Torne in Dooms-day Book, 
 + Leland's Itinerai'y, Vol. I. p. 38 lo 10. 
 
30 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 FEEL HILL. 
 
 The castle mentioned by Leland is at present 
 nearly obliterated, no traces of it remaining, except 
 the foundations on the top of the hill on which 
 it stood ; smile not, reader, at the appellation ; 
 many travellers have passed through Thorne with- 
 out noticing that there is a hilly situated in the im- 
 mediate neighbourhood of the town ; but although 
 the inhabitants cannot boast of 
 
 The windy suminits, wild and high, 
 Roughly rushing on the sky, 
 
 A little hill may nevertheless be worthy the atten- 
 tion of the curious. It does not appear that there 
 is any certain account of the time at which the 
 castle was erected ; although it is probable it Wvas 
 built at a very early period, perhaps soon after the 
 conquest. John de Mowbray had the manor of 
 Thorne in 1327, and, as the before mentioned 
 author (Leland) states it to have been " sum tyme 
 longging to the Mulbrays, as Thurne did,^' we may 
 infer, from the great exactness of his accounts, that, 
 although he could gather the name of its possessors, 
 he was not informed of the time of its erection; 
 that circumstance, most probably, then was not 
 generally known. The time of its demolition is 
 equally envelopped in obscurity ; tradition does not 
 even lay the charge to Oliver Cromwell, the reputed 
 destroyer of many a fine piece of architecture ; it 
 is equally uncertain, whether it was gradually dila- 
 pidated by the ravages of time, or was pulled down 
 by some mercenary hand for the sake of the mate- 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 31 
 
 rials/although the latter appears the most probable, 
 the stone of which it was constructed having been 
 generally removed, or buried in the moat below. 
 
 About sixty years ago the ground was in the 
 possession of Mordecai Cutts, Esq., who kept it in 
 pasture for his horses ; some years after, it came 
 into the occupation of Thomas Berriman, Esq., who 
 deepened the moat on the west side, and stocked it 
 with fish ; he also planted a colony of rabbits on 
 the hill, which very much spoiled the appearance 
 of the grounds, by burrowing. Soon after the moat 
 was deepened, a large portion of the hill slided 
 down into it, which circumstance caused a good 
 deal of sensation in the town at the time. The last 
 named occupant had a seat that turned on a pivot, 
 fixed on the top of tke hill, from which there is a 
 very extensive prospect over the surroundinsf 
 country. Tradition reports the centre of the hill 
 to be hollow,. or that it contains a dungeon or cell, 
 to which there was originally a door on the west 
 side, long since buried by the rubbish falling from 
 the top. 
 
 The place now bears the name of " Peel Hill,^^ 
 and is the property of the Marchioness of Hertford, 
 and was a few years aga occupied by John Benson, 
 Esq., by whom it was partly encircled with a high 
 wall. He also bared the foundations of the castle, 
 the top of them was found to be from four to five 
 feet thick, and composed of rounded stones and 
 cement. The diameter of the summit of the hill h 
 twenty-six yards, and the base is about twice that 
 
32 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 extent. The earth of which it was formed was 
 taken out of the ditch, and the top of the hill raised 
 afeoiit eight yards above the adjacent grounds. 
 The present occupant is "William Snow, a market 
 gardener. It is exceedingly to be regretted, that 
 the grassy turf with which the hill and grounds were 
 covered has been broken up, the hill considerably 
 lowered, and planted with gooseberry shrubs, part 
 of the foundations of the castle demolished, and the 
 whole rendered as distressing to the lover of anti- 
 quity as it possibly can be made. In turning up the 
 turf and lowering the mound, the present tenant 
 has found a few iron arrow heads, a piece of stained 
 glass, " such (he says) as they put in church win- 
 dows,'^ and several small brass coins, all of which 
 were sold to a gentleman who accidentally visited 
 the garden soon after they were dug up, except one 
 small coin, supposed to be Dutch, in good preser- 
 vation. This piece is the fac simile, on the obverse 
 side, of one mentioned by Peck, in his History of 
 Bawtry . and Thorne, page i 4, and of which he has 
 given an engraving. He states the one he notices 
 to have been found on digging the foundation for a 
 bridge over the river Idle at Bawtry.* 
 
 * " When the workmen were digi^in^ the foundation, it was 
 discovered, that at some distant period, the bed of the river, at 
 that place, had been covered with wood and gravel, as there 
 were piles of oak found live and six feet driven into the o^round, 
 upon them were placed beams of oak of great thickness, with 
 ofher cross pieces of wood, over them were laid a quantity of 
 gravel ; by which means a secure foundation had been obtained. 
 On digging stil' deeper, was found a great many coins (an 
 esjg-raving of oriC is here inserted) daggers, spurs, bridle bits, 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 83 
 
 It is very difflcult at present to form a correct 
 idea of the ground plan of the castle ; but by the 
 gardener^s description, it appears to have had three 
 large buttresses or outworks, pointing north-east, 
 west, and south-east, of which the remains of two 
 are standing above ground ; the other parts of the 
 wall, although a difficult task, from the hardness of 
 the cement, have been removed low enough to allow 
 the soil to be dug over with the spade, and in doing 
 this the hill has been lowered about two yards. 
 
 " The praty pile or castelet, well diked," as 
 Leland states, " now used for a prison for offenders 
 in the fores tes," appears, by his inserting the word 
 " now," to have had aforetime different inmates, 
 when 
 
 Knight, and page, and household squire, 
 
 Loiter 'd through the lofty hall, 
 Or crowded round the ample lire : 
 
 The stag hounds, weary with the chace, 
 Lay stretch'd upon the rushy floor, 
 
 And urg*d, in dreams, the forest chace, 
 On Hatfield heath, or Lindholme moor. 
 
 Lay of Last Minstrel. 
 
 The following extract from the Black Book of 
 
 the Forests, of a swanimote * and court held at 
 
 horse shoes, &c.; from which we may infer there had been a ford 
 there at an early period." 
 On the margin of the last named coin is 
 
 GOTES : SEGEN, MACHT, RECH 1 
 
 Obverse hanns krav winckelin mvr J 
 Obverse The same "(found on the 
 
 Reverse hevt-rodt, norgen, todtt J Peel Hill. 
 Two other pieces similar to these have been found in the town, 
 and one or two Roman coins. 
 
 * Swanimote, or swainmote, a court touching matters of the 
 forest, kept by the charter of the forest thrice in every year, 
 before the verderers, as judges. 
 
34 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 Hatfield^ in the 30th year of the reign of Henry 
 VIII.* will bring the reader acquainted with some 
 of these offenders in the forests, who were thus kept 
 in prison. 
 
 KEEPER OP BRODHOLME. 
 
 First, he saith that one Richard Emson and others, 
 
 servants to Sheffield, about six years past, did 
 
 kill three deer in Ingles , that is 
 
 to say, one hind and two hind calves, and were pu- 
 nished for the same. 
 
 KEEPER OF WROOT. 
 
 Item, he saith that he did find three deer four 
 several times slain of Miles Wynn, ground bailiff 
 of Armthorp ; which he thinks, was killed by the 
 said Miles Wynn, or by his servants, which was after 
 Christmas last. 
 
 Item, he saith that one William Garland, of 
 Haxey, did convey one hind calf from the king his 
 grounds, four years since, and not punished. 
 
 KEEPER OF CLONE. 
 
 Item, he saith that one stag was killed in Fishlake, 
 in v/inter last but by whom he knoweth not, 
 
 KEEPER OP WRENGSLS. 
 
 Item., he saith that one Richard Haywood, of 
 Sykehouse, two years since did kill on^ stag with 
 Ms crossbow, and not punished. 
 
 This court is as incident to a forest, as a court of pie powder 
 to a fair. 
 
 Its jurisdiction is to enquire into the grievances and oppres* 
 sions committed by the officers of the forest, and to receive and 
 try presentments certified from the conrt of attachments, against 
 offences in vert and venison. -—Rees. 
 * 5 June, 1538. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 35 
 
 Item, he saith that the TovTuship of Rocliffe, 
 Arymin, Howke, Gowle, and Holden did kill game 
 ia the Comocon time^xxxti. deer or thereabout. 
 Veredem Jurat 
 
 VILLAT (village) DE FISIILAKE. 
 
 First, they say, that the middle dike of Fishlake 
 goeth out of the right course, for as they think, it 
 should run hetwixt the honour of Pontefract, and 
 the Lordship of Hadefeld. 
 
 Item, they say that there is one fishgarth at 
 Torn brig, which doth stop the water and by occa- 
 sion thereof it drowneth all the common, which 
 fishgarth is now in the tenure and holding of Sir 
 William Dauneey, knight. 
 
 VILLAT DE HATFELD. 
 
 Item, they say that there is a close called Tud- 
 worth Green, which is inclosed by Marster Hastings, 
 that of right should be common, according to the old 
 custom of the chase. 
 
 Item, they say, that, there is one water sewer 
 betwixt Moss wood, and Crowle wood, that is stopped, 
 which drowned all the king his pastures. 
 
 VILLAT DE THORNE. 
 
 Item, they say that the tenants of Crowle do 
 grave (turves) upon the king his ground at one 
 place called Ingles mor«, and in sundry places 
 were they or any of them have no authority con- 
 trary to the ancient custom. 
 
 VILLAT DE DOWESTHORPE. 
 
 Item, all the whole body with the inhabitants of 
 every township sayeth, that this lordship is drowned 
 
36 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 in effect, by occasion of one fiBhgarth, at Torne brig"; 
 which stoppeth the water to the destruction of the 
 king his ganae and common, 
 
 VIIiLAT BE STAINFORD. 
 
 Item, they say that the tenants of Hepworth and 
 Belton doth grave the hills in the Wroo bank, by 
 the Torne bank, whereas the kings deer should have 
 the peaceable passage. 
 
 MEERE MEN. 
 
 Item, they say that one Master Plumpton, doth 
 keep, the king his swan, called acobbe,in several 
 grounds, and hath so continued this two years by 
 paste ; and the last year his fellow and he had 
 five signetts, and this year seven, which the king his 
 highness or any other his graces officers had or hath 
 no profit nor advantage thereby. 
 
 Item, the said Meres Men (otherwise called 
 Swanniers) say that one William Wood, of Everton, 
 hath marked one swan hen of the kings with his 
 own mark.* 
 
 The following ordinances made in a swainmote 
 court of the manor of Hatfield, will g^ive the reader 
 some idea of the attention that was paid to preserve 
 these birds. 
 
 I That every person having swans shall begin 
 yearly to mark or cause to be marked, the same on 
 Monday next after Trinity Sunday, and no persons 
 afore. But after as ihe company may, so that the 
 master of the king's game of swans or his deputy 
 
 * Examinat. et Concordat, cum original, per Car. S. Ellis, 
 prima Cleric, prae houorabil.Gcorg.Uose,Custod. Recordorum. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 37 
 
 be there present. And if any person or persons 
 take upon him or them in marking to the contrary, 
 to forfeit to the king ten pounds. 
 
 2. Item, it is ordained that no person or persons, 
 being swanherds, nor others, shall begin a marking 
 without the master of the king's game of swans, or 
 his deputy, be there present, without four or five of 
 the company of swanherds, upon pain to forfeit to 
 the king ten pounds. 
 
 3. Item, it is ordained, that no person take up any 
 cygnet or cygnets unmarked, nor make no sale of 
 them, but if the king's! swanherd or deputy, with 
 four other swanherds next adjoining, be present, or 
 have knowledge of the same ; upon pain to forfeit 
 to the king ten pounds. 
 
 4. Item, that the swanherd of the duchy of Lan- 
 caster, within the counties of York, Lincoln, &c. 
 nor within the liberties and franches of the same, 
 nor other for him nor by him, shall make sale, nor 
 take up no wares, nor mark them, within the said 
 duchy, without the king's swanherd or his deputy 
 be there present, upon pain to forfeit to the king 
 ten pounds ; and likewise it is ordained, that the 
 king's swanherd, nor the said swanherds of the 
 counties, nor the deputies, shall enter into the 
 duchy to take up any swans or cygnets, nor them to 
 mark, without the swanherd of the duchy be pre- 
 sent, upon pain to forfeit ten pounds. 
 
 5. Item, it is ordained, that if any swan or 
 cygnet be found without the duchy double marked, 
 or put out of the right marks, that then it shs^ll be 
 
 D 
 
38 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 seized for the king, and to be delivered to the 
 master of the king's game of swans, or his deputy, 
 and so to remain till that it be proved by four or 
 six sufficient swanherds to whom the said swans or 
 cygnets belong or appertain, so that the knowledge 
 of the same be had by the said swanherd ; and 
 before the delivery before the sessions of the swans 
 then next to be kept within the county where it shall 
 happen, the said swans or cygnets to be seized or 
 delivered in form aforesaid ; and if so be the pro- 
 perty of the said swans cannot be known by the 
 seizer, that then the king to be answered of the 
 value of the same swans or cygnets, on pain of ten 
 pounds. 
 
 6. Item, it is ordained, that if any person or per- 
 sons willingly put any swans from their nests when- 
 soever they breed, or else take up and destroy and 
 bear away the eggs of such swans, upon pain to for- 
 feit to the king ten pounds. 
 
 The Meres, at the time the manor was granted 
 by Charles I, to Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, were let 
 to Edmund, earl of Mulgrave, for the yearly rent 
 of thirteen pounds eight shillings and four pence ; 
 the largest of them, mentioned by Leland, over 
 which he appears to have passed, extended from 
 Double Bridge eastward on the Levels. This mere 
 or lake was formed by the waters of the Dun ; but, 
 on the course of that river being turned by Sir 
 Cornelius Vermuyden, it was drained, and the fishery 
 and svvannery destroyed. 
 
 From the low situation of the bed of the lake, 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 39 
 
 the inhabitants gave the ground the name of ^^ No 
 Man's Friend ;"its general unproductiveness having 
 nearly ruined some of the first occupiers ; although 
 it is now brought, by good management and the im- 
 proved state of the drainage, into fine cultivation. 
 
 THE CHURCH. 
 
 In the first century after the conijuest a church 
 or chapel was erected here, by the Warren family, 
 a considerable population being then collected at 
 Thorne. It was afterwards presented, with several 
 others, to the church of Lewes, by William de 
 Warren, in the following document. 
 
 A. A. 260 — Out of the Croucher, of the priory 
 of Lewes, com. Sussex, in the custody of Edward, 
 earl of Dorset, 1629 : 
 William de Warren, Earl of Surrey=Gundreda,. 
 
 Ralph Rainold William, Earl of Surrey *=Isabel. 
 
 " Know all, &c. That I, William, earl of Warren, 
 
 have endowed the church of St. Pancras, of Lewes, 
 
 and have thereof given saisin by the hairs of my 
 
 head, and of my brother Ralph de Warren, which 
 
 Henry, bishop of Winchester, cut of our heads with 
 
 a knife before the altar ; in Yorkshire, the churches 
 
 of Kuningsburgh, of Wakefield, of Bertune, Great 
 
 and Littk Sandale, of Hedfend, of Thorne, of Sillac, 
 
 of Hartille,ofDinnington,&c. Witnesses, Theobald, 
 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert, Bishop of Bath, 
 
 Asceline, Bishop of Rochester.'^ 
 
 * Hunter supposes this grant to have been made by the third 
 •arl, vide Hist, ofthe Deanery of Doncaster, p. 106. 
 D 2 
 
40 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 The first erection, although called a Capella^ ap- 
 pears to have been a building not to be distinguished 
 from a parish church, and in the reign of Edward 
 II. the inhabitants attempted to obtain the extension 
 of parochial rights to it. They directed a petition 
 to the archbishop and abbot of St. Mary, in which 
 they set forth the great inconvenience that was sus- 
 tained in consequence of their distance from the pa- 
 rish-church, and the difficulty of access to it. They 
 stated that a little time before, some of the people 
 of Thorne, were conveying a corpse for interment 
 at Hatfield, when a storm arose, and many persons 
 were drowned, and their bodies not found for seve- 
 ral days. They beg that their chapel, being old and 
 decayed, might be new built ; that their town might 
 be made a distinct parish, and their chapel a 
 capella parochialiSy free for the adminstration of the 
 sacrament and the sepulchre of the dead. The age 
 of the foundation of new parishes was passed. To 
 the other parts of the petition the archbishop lent 
 a favourable ear. He gave permission for the pei- 
 formance of the sacraments and granted forty days 
 relaxation of penance to all parishioners and others 
 of the diocese, being truly contrite, penitent, and 
 confessed, who should charitably contribute to the 
 repairs, building, and support of the chapel of 
 Thorne, witliin the parish of Hatfield. This was 
 done at Rossington, in 1320. 
 
 At the reformation the parochial chapels were left 
 untouched. Bat two chantries, one of St. Michael, 
 and the bther of our Lady, which had been founded 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE 41 
 
 in the chapel were suppressed. What the crown, 
 however, spared, the people were disposed to 
 take. In the reign of king Edward VI. persons had 
 begun to plunder and destroy the edifice ; which 
 moved the king", in the 7th of his reign, to appoint 
 twenty discreet persons, namely, Edward Steere, 
 Thomas Smith, William Foster, and others, to be 
 guardians of the possessions of the church of St. Ni- 
 cholas, of Thorne, making then a body corporate, 
 with perpetual succession. The service in the chapel 
 was to be continued as heretofore, at the expense 
 of the vicar of Hatfield, By the same letters pa- 
 tent he gave them liberty to purchase lands, to the 
 value of twenty pounds per annum, of the king, or 
 any other person, for the support of a grammar- 
 school. But no school was founded, no person be- 
 ing disposed to contribute to the design. 
 
 The present church is a good plain gothic building, 
 remarkably fresh and free from moss, and has suf- 
 fered little from the dilapidations of time. It ap- 
 pears to be substantially that which was erected ia 
 the reign of Edward III. The buttresses of the body 
 of the church are hewn stone, but the wall in many 
 of the compartments between them, is only composed 
 of rounded stone and cement, plastered over. This 
 plastering is frequently renewed, and the building 
 generally kept in good repair. 
 
 On each side of the opposite corner stones of the 
 porch is an inscription, and over the door is a shield 
 of arms, checkie, and an inescutcheon, with a rose 
 
42 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 or planet on each side ; which must be a memorial 
 of one of the Warrens, and probably of one of the 
 illegitimate sons of John, the last earl, to whom 
 grants of land were made in the neighbourhood. 
 
 The arch leading into the church is pointed Sa- 
 racenic or Gothic, very heavy ; the same may be said 
 of all the others that are visible within. They are 
 supported by plain massy pillars ; there are also a 
 few circular arches ; but modern improvements and 
 additions in ceiling, &c. seem to have given a very 
 diiFerent aspect to the building from that which the 
 interior must originally have had, before the arches 
 in the belfrey that support the tower were walled 
 up, and the wood screen placed in the situation it now 
 occupies ; of the windows it would be difficult to 
 give an accurate description, they are of so many 
 orders, sizes, shapes and dates. 
 
 The stone in some of the before mentioned arches 
 appears to have been carved, but the frequent ap- 
 plication of thick white-wash, has completely, de- 
 stroyed the labour of the sculptor, and will ere 
 long bury every trace of his workmanship. 
 
 The church is roofed with oak, and covered with 
 lead. On the top of the tower are many rude car- 
 vings, and a few names of visitors, who have been 
 upon its airy summit. 
 
 It may be interesting to some, to be made ac- 
 quainted with the leading features, of the three 
 different species of architecture, the Saxon, this 
 Norman, and the Saracenic, or that species vulgarly. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 43 
 
 though improperly, called Gothic, which was sup- 
 posed to be first introduced into Europe by some 
 persons returning from the crusades. * 
 
 In the oldest Saxon buildings, the pillars are large 
 and plain, the arches simple circular, and heavy; 
 and the roof of timber, covered with lead. The 
 early Norman architecture differed very little at first 
 from the Saxon. The general plan or disposition 
 of our later Saxon and earliest Norman churches 
 are the same. Edward the Confessor was educated 
 in Normady, and first introduced the Norman stile 
 of building, when he erected the abbey church of 
 Westminster. The Saxon churches were generally 
 of a moderate size, begun and finished in five or six 
 years. The works of the Normans were large and 
 magnificent: their whole design was laid at first ^ 
 scarcely, we may imagine, with a view of their ever 
 living to see it completed. They generally began 
 at the east end, or the choir part ; when that was 
 finished and covered in, the church was often con- 
 secrated ; the remainder carried on as far as they 
 were able, and then left to their sucessors to be 
 completed. 
 
 All our cathedrals, most of our abbey churches, 
 
 *Beiitham, in order to shew how improperly our buildings in 
 the second and third centuries are called Gothic, proves *' that 
 throughout all Syria, Arabia, &c. there is not a gothic building 
 to be found, except such as were raised by the Latin Christians 
 subsequent to the perfection of that stile of architecture in 
 Europe." What is erroneously called the gothic stile was not 
 invented until about six hundred years after the Goths disap- 
 peared from the theatre of the world. Milner. 
 
 The reader may find the rise and progress of the Saracenic 
 architecture in Captain Grove's Essay. 
 
44 HISTORY OP THORNE. 
 
 and a vast number of parochial churches, were 
 either rebuilt, or greatly improved, within a century 
 after the conquest ; and all of them by Norman 
 workmen introduced into this kingdom, as will 
 evidently appear, from examining the history of 
 theif several foundations. 
 
 ithe Saracenic or Gothic, by which term it is 
 usually designated, seems to have been introduced 
 into England about the reign of king John, and 
 as Rastall, in his history of Southwell, observes, 
 *^ to have prevailed, pretty generally, in that of his 
 son, Henry III., and to have continued, with little 
 variation, till the reign of Edward III., when a 
 considerable alteration took place in the construction 
 of the pillars and roofs. The roofs began to be 
 divided into several compartments by a kind of 
 ribs, meeting in the centre of the arch, and forming 
 triangular spaces on each side. These ribs and the 
 junctures of them were more or less ornamented, 
 according to the affluence of the builder, the skill 
 of the architect, or the purpose of the buildings. 
 
 The columns now began to take the form of a 
 cluster of small pillars, closely united, and forming 
 one compact and solid, but slender and elegant 
 support. The short round headed window of the 
 Saxons was lengthened into a narrow oblong form, 
 with a pointed top, in every respect much the shape 
 of a lancet, often decorated in the inside with slender 
 pillars, &c. This style commenced about the year 
 1200. In fine, after the most diligent enquiry, it 
 appears, that an arched or vaulted roof of stone, and 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 45 
 
 that species of ornament which goes under the de- 
 nomination of zig-zag, arc unequivocal signs of those 
 buildings which were erected soon after the con- 
 quest, and continued till the reign of Edward III., 
 when a lighter and more elegant stile took place." 
 There is nothing particularly striking, or what 
 would be termed elegant in the interior structure of 
 the church at Thorne ; ornament and decoration may, 
 however, with great propriety be dispensed with, as 
 tending rather to abstract the thoughts from the 
 author of all our blessings, than settle them in me- 
 ditation on Him, whose 
 
 Spirit, eyer brooding o'er our mind, 
 Sees the first wish to better hopes inclin'd ; 
 Marks the young dawn of every virtuous aim, 
 And fans the smoking flax into a flame. 
 
 Barbauld. 
 
 The Font appears to be very ancient ; it is com- 
 posed of free stone, but without date, at least, if 
 such there be, it is now covered over with paint ; 
 the bowl or hollow is suflSciently capacious to admit 
 of a child being completely immersed , 
 
 On the south side of the church, in a nich in the 
 wall, covered with a small circular arch, is a shallow 
 basin, cut out of the free-stone, about nine inches 
 in diameter, and four in depth, with a hole in the 
 bottom, to allow of water passing away into the wall. 
 This basin appears to have been designed to contain 
 the water accounted holy by the Romish priests, 
 and employed in some of the ceremonies of their 
 €hurch. 
 
4Q HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 MOXTTMENTS. 
 
 The martle tombs that rise on hi^h, 
 
 Whose dead in vaulted arches lie, 
 
 Whose pillars swell with sculptur'd stones. 
 
 Arms, angeis, epitaphs, and bones ; 
 
 These (all the poor remains of state) 
 
 Adorn the rich, or praise the great ; 
 
 Who while on eartli in fame they live, 
 
 Are senseless of the fame they give. 
 
 Ha ! while I gaze, pale Cynthia fades. 
 
 The bursting earth unveils the shades t 
 
 All^low, and wan, and wrapped with shrouds, 
 
 They rise in visionary crowds, 
 
 And all with sober accent cry, 
 
 " Think, mortal, what it is to die V* Parnell. 
 
 Perhaps one of the oldest to mh-s tones that is 
 legible, is on the north side of the chancel ; it re- 
 cords the name of Thomas Darlinge, who died anno 
 domini 1654, aged 75. 
 
 On a neat marble monument is inscribed, 
 
 " Near tlus place are deposited the remains of EdwardPoster, 
 Esquire, who died 11th January, A. D. 178L in the 75th year of 
 his age. This tribute to the memory of an aifectionate husband 
 and a sincere christian, was erected by his widow, JaneFoster, 
 1784." Arms, Sable, three pheons' heads; or, an escutcheon 
 of pretence argent* three etoils sable, fess sable. 
 
 On another marble momiment is the following 
 inscription, 
 
 '• Mordecai Cutts, Esq. who died April 27, 1787, aged 86; 
 and of Elizabeth Cutts, his sister, who died the 30th June, 1782, 
 Bged77." * 
 
 A large stone in the wall contains an inscription 
 to this effect, 
 
 " Here nigh this place lyeth the body of William Kent, Col. 
 Lincoln, Oxon, M.A. son of William Kent, Kimberworth. gent, 
 late curate ofThorne, who died 17th Jan, 1717, aged 30 years. 
 
 " Elizabeth, wife of Edward Canby, gent, daughter of 
 Hichard Elmhirst, of Houndhill, in the parish of Worsborough, 
 >gent, 1685, aged 48." 
 
 * Peck adds, •' 1 am informed, that Mr. Cutts fought under 
 duke William, at the battle of CuUoden, and that he was cele- 
 brated for his loyalty.'* 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 47 
 
 " Edward Canby, of Thorne, gent. 1702." 
 *' Rev. Thomas Tennant, 1743, aged 76." 
 *' Key. John Atkinson, 1789, aged 79." 
 ''Rev. Lancelot Todhiinter, 1802, aged 54." 
 
 And others. 
 
 The tower, or steeple, is ascended by ladders, 
 and contains three stories ; in the upper one are five 
 large hells and a small one ; the date on the largest 
 is 161 1, on another is OVR I67I5 and a third hears 
 the same date. From the top of the steeple is a 
 beautiful bird's eye view of the surrounding country, 
 with the riveis Humber, Trent, Ouse, Aire, Don, 
 and Went, and taking within its circuit as large and 
 productive a district as, perhaps, can be seen from 
 any single situation in England, of equal elevation. 
 
 Dr. Miller, in his account of the vicinity of 
 Doncaster, says, '^ There is nothing particular in 
 Thorne church, except that a psalmodic or barrel 
 organ has been lately put up in the gallery, with 
 psalm tunes adapted for every Sunday throughout 
 the year : also a hymn for Christmas day, one for 
 Easter, and two or three voluntaries. I have recom- 
 mended these organs (as the expence of them is 
 -small) in places where they cannot afford to pay 
 an organist's salary, and have also selected proper 
 music for the use.'' 
 
 The same writer, in giving a description of the 
 organ in Doncaster church, thus proceeds ; " The 
 reader may suppose what effect this fine instrument 
 had on the parishioners, when erected, in the year 
 1739, as the Rev. Mr. Fawkes, at that time curate, 
 thought it necessary to preach an appropriate 
 
m 
 
 HISTORY OF THORNE, 
 
 sermon on its being opened. Judge of the sub- 
 limity of this discourse by the following specimen. 
 After having wound up his imagination to the 
 highest pitch in praise of church music, speaking of 
 the organ, he said,^' But O what ! — O what ! shall 
 I call thee by ? thou divine box of sounds !" 
 
 According to Peck, Thorne church is dedicated 
 to St. Nicholas, and of the certified value of 
 £48. 17*. iOd, The late patron was the earl of 
 Portmore, who was also owner of the gr«at and 
 small tithes. H^ disposed of his rights to Sir Henry 
 Etheringten, of Hull, and, since his decease^ they 
 have been in the hands of Lord Deerhurst, in right 
 of his wife, the present patroo. 
 
 BENEFACTIONS TO THE CHURCH AND T^OR, 
 
 tvhich sums are paid out of the lands named. 
 
 Church. Poor. 
 
 Oct. 5, 
 1648 
 Julv28 
 1651 
 
 Oct.20, 
 1658 
 
 Dec. 8, 
 
 16G8 
 June 8, 
 
 1675 
 Der27, 
 
 1692 
 May 1, 
 
 1694 
 
 Robert Foster, one close in Land End, 
 railed Callis Croft, containing 1 acre 
 Alice Balland, two acres, near Hadds 
 
 Richard Dawy, three roods of moor 
 in Och Moors, now Dr. Heathcot's 
 
 R. Dawy, a house where S. Brook 
 lived, and now Mr. E. Poster's 
 
 D. Darling, two acres in Tweenbrig 
 Moor, now Thomas Candy '■ 
 
 P. Jackson, one acre in Nun Moors, 
 now the minister's .... 
 
 T. Stakey, see the surrender for the 
 said, W.Yates to T. Canby, gent 
 Inggs and other lands,now T.Foster's 
 
 Thomas Ballard, paid out of, now 
 Foster's ..... 
 
 S. Empring, paid out of three acres 
 moor, in Pighill Moor, now Foster's 
 
 S. Empring, close at Land End, Hop 
 Croft, now J. Ferrey's . 
 
 J. Broadbent, one acre in Broad- 
 bent Gate Moor, and half an acre in 
 the fields, now F.Hanson's 
 
 E. Jenniuff8,one acre in SandMoor, 
 now J. Bladworth'8 . . , • 
 
 15 
 5 
 
 - 15 
 ^ U 
 
 . 6 
 
 - 13 
 . 3 
 
 - 10 
 
 ^s. d. 
 
 4 - 
 
 6 - 
 
 5 - 
 
 15 . 
 
 1 10 
 
 6 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 - 15 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 49 
 
 Poor. 
 £ 8. d. 
 I . . 
 
 I - - 
 
 r - - 
 1 . - 
 
 1 - - 
 
 10 . 
 
 2 
 
 la 
 
 BENEFACTIONS — Continued 
 
 iChiirch. 
 
 J. Spirey, two closes in Sandally, \£ 8. d. 
 eight acres, now J. Box's 
 
 R. Deaman surrendered from J- 
 Box, 27th June, 1725 . • 
 
 J.MargraTe, one acre in Mill Balk, 
 one acre Old Inggs, now Margrave's - 10 - 
 
 Thomas Husling, now D.Heathcot's 
 
 M. Wormesley, seyeral lands at 
 Braifit, in Yarbrough 
 
 E. Ballard, one acre in Hadds, in a 
 close now R. Waitt's . . . - 10 
 
 J. Hussling, two acres in Hadds, in 
 aclosenowM. Foster's . 
 Mar. I, R. Darling, Hull, gentleman, nine 
 
 1726 parts of the tolls of the markets and 
 fairs of Thome - 10 
 
 Oct.24, W. Redwell, gentleman, five roods 
 
 1727 in the fields, for preaching a sermon 
 on every sacrament day through the 
 year . - 10 • 
 
 AV . Darling, one close, Land^s End 
 
 Thomas C. . . . . 
 
 Twenty pounds to he laid o«t in 
 land, the income to be for a sermon 
 on St.Thomas's day. 
 
 The Parish Register commences Id 1565. 
 
 In the church yard opposite to the south entrance 
 porch, is a stone coffin, now very much mutilated, 
 and without ornament or inscription. It was dug^ 
 up many years ago, and placed in its present situa- 
 tion by the sexton. 
 
 About twenty years ago, the antiquated remains, 
 of a yew tree were removed, from the situation 
 where it grew, nearly opposite the chancel door. 
 
 Antiquaries seem at a loss to determine at what 
 period this tree first obtained a place in church 
 yards. A statute passect in 1307, 35 Edward I. the 
 title of which is " Ne rector arbores in cemcterio 
 
50 HISTORY OF THORNE, 
 
 prosternat/' the rector must not fell any trees in the 
 church yard. Now if it be recollected that we seldom 
 see any other very large or ancient trees in a church 
 yard, except yew, this statute must have principally 
 related to this species of trees ; and consequently 
 their being planted in church yards is of much more 
 ancient date than A. D. 1307. 
 
 As to the use of these trees, possibly the most 
 respectable parishioners were buried under their 
 shade, before the improper custom was introduced 
 of burying within the body of the church, where 
 the living are to assemble. Deborah, Rebekah's 
 nurse, was buried under an oak ; probably the most 
 honourable place of interment next to the cave of 
 Machpelah, which seems to have been appropriated 
 to the remains of the patriarchal family alone. 
 
 The further use of yew trees by their thick 
 foliage, might be for a screen to churches from the 
 violence of the winds ; perhaps also for the pur- 
 poses of archery, the best long bows being made 
 of that material : and we do not hear that they are 
 planted in the church yards of any other parts of 
 Europe, where long bows were not so much in use. 
 They might also be placed to shelter the con- 
 gregation assembling before the church doors were 
 opened, and as an emblem of mortality, by their 
 funereal appearance. See Gil. White's Hist. Selborne. 
 
 Now from yon black and fun'ral yew. 
 That bathes the charnel-hoiise with dew, 
 Methinks I hear a voice begin ; 
 
 When men my sithe and darts supply, 
 How great a king of fears am 1 1 
 
HISTORY OF THORjXE^ 51 
 
 OLD HALL. 
 
 Dr. Miller, says, "' I was she^vn here (Thorne^ 
 the house in which Sir Cornelius Vermnyden lived^ 
 when he came with his workmen from Holland, in 
 the reign of Charles 1. to drain these Levels. The 
 house here referred to, m supposed to he the 
 present Old Hall, which was hull t in 1575, hy 
 Edward Stere ; there is a shield of arms, E. S., 
 and the ahove date over the door ; it is an irregular 
 building, partly stone and partly brick, and it is not 
 improbable that the materials of the Peel or Castle 
 have been used in its erection. 
 
 THE gqllegt:. 
 In a rental of the Parish, made and renewed in 
 1667, there is entered to George Sanderson, a 
 messuage, and a cottage, called a College, next the 
 church stile and church yard. The site is now oc- 
 cupied by buildings belonging to Jonathan Bleasby. 
 The old erection had a porch in front, but there 
 does not appear to be any record from which we can 
 ascertain whether it was ever endowed, or from what 
 cause it derived this name. 
 
 Jacob's well. 
 A little medicinal spring, that rose above the 
 surface of the ground on a small eminence at the 
 south end of the town, near the Wike Gate ; it is 
 generally supposed to have received the above name 
 from Jacob Lenard, who lived for some time at 
 Bradholm,not a great distance from the place whenL'e 
 it issued. Formerly, a stone trough, with a hole 
 through th't; centrcr of the bottom, and about the 
 
46 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 size of a mill stone, was placed over the spring, 
 above the edge of which the water trickled in all 
 seasons of the year. The water was very limpid, 
 and slightly sulphurous. Persons visiting the spring, 
 frequently put pins into the trough, to try the effect 
 of the water upon them. It does not appear that 
 it was ever analyzed. The site of this spring has 
 been destroyed by the cutting of the canal. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 CHARTERS, &c. AND HISTORICAL EVENTS. 
 
 In the Harleian M.S. No. 286, is a letter from 
 Sir Henry Lee, to Sir Francis Walsingham, dated 
 Tourne (Thorne) Feb. 23, 1586, amongst other 
 particulars, " desiring that her majesty would grant 
 the inhabitants of the town there, being her tenants, 
 a market and a fair, for their relief.^' 
 
 The following is a copy of the letter — 
 
 s^ 
 
 To whom I accownt myselfe most bounde. Im- 
 medyatly after my last waytyn^e on you, as a most 
 unfortunat man and forced by necessyt I came hither 
 to a small corner and quyete of my brotheres, ii 
 mylles from Hatfeld, wher at my request he is con- 
 tent to lyve : and iii dayes after my arryvynge here 
 I fell sycke of a contynuall fever, w*^^ h6lde me 
 XXII dayes, and hath brought me excetynge week ; 
 as to men not born to good, evil happes goo never 
 unaecompencd. But that which I canuot amen4> 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 53 
 
 by the grace of liym that gydes all, I will quietly 
 itidure, to satisfy her M*® and the worlde, to whom 
 1 am in dett, and to mak tyme ether the hilyer of 
 me, or the ende of me : a phisysyon that will cure 
 as well the happy as wreched att the last. I wryte 
 thys much hecause you shall understand my estat, 
 wher I am, and wher to fynd me, yf her majest. 
 inquire, and you command me if I may doe you 
 servys. 
 
 Sr, I have been often seyck, and long or thys 
 dede yf the helpe of doctor Astlowe had not bene. 
 Yf his estat or her majesty's favowre to me were 
 such that he myght he suffered to come to me for a 
 while, I showld the better be cleared of the drages 
 of my disseases .... contynew her trew and 
 faythefull owlde servant, that wyll serve her w^ my 
 prayer when other wayes I can not sho we better frutes 
 of my desyer. And thys parformed I \^yll be bounde 
 he shall ritorne,yf soo yt be her pleasure, unto the 
 place wher now he is. 
 
 I have howght of Sir An tone Sturley, as I ac- 
 quaynted you wt all, and by the favoure and fur- 
 theraunce of my lorde treasurere, the kepynge of a 
 castle of her majesty's in Wales, w^^^ cost me deare. 
 I grow owld. My yearcs ar many: and rather 
 ment yt w* the grace of her ma^ to the good of a 
 nevewe of myne who I have browght uppe and 
 muche love, and is better able to serve her than to 
 myselfc. Wherefore I umbli beseche you a mence to 
 hermageste some what for my comfort to joyne him 
 in pattent w* me, that my syster's sonne may supply 
 
54 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 my place when God shall calle me away. His name 
 is Owen Couke ; veiy honest and one I love much. If 
 her mat denyeme thys small favoure I may rightfully 
 wyshe I had never delt w^ all. For my own lyfFe 
 J wolde not geve one quarter of that I have payed. 
 But thus much I dyd presume of her most gracyous 
 goodness. For the bennyfit of her poure towne 
 ther and her tennants, my umhle sute is that it will 
 please her to grant them another markette and fayre ; 
 only for the relyf of them that hathe gret nede 
 thereof, I desyer yt. 
 
 . Sr, I would be glade hereafter as I see cause and 
 have more strength, and tyered w* many other in- 
 convenyenses, to have leve to goo over to see my 
 lorde of Lessyter ; ther to stay or retorne asl thynke 
 good, or yt shall please her ma^ from tyme to tyme 
 to commande me : never tarryyng att any one tyme 
 above ii monthes. 
 
 This S^', done I make my mone to you ; hope in 
 you ; and trouble you ; for w^h I can^ doo you no 
 gratfull servys: for w^ii I am sorry, for if I could 
 or may I will. And so I beseeche you to commaunde 
 me ; w* whyche I umbly take my leve. 
 
 Yours umble to command 
 From Thourne, the xxiii of Febuary. Henry Lee, 
 To the ryght honorable his very good frende Sr 
 Francis Wallsyngham, knyght, pryncypall secre- 
 tary to her mate : geve these. 
 But at the time this letter was written, the queen 
 (Elizabeth,) appears to have been too much en- 
 grossed with the weighty matters of state, and the 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 55 
 
 affairs of the unfortunate Mary, queen ^f Scots, to 
 listen to the suggestions of her counsellors for the 
 relief of her Thorne tenants, neither did she after- 
 wards attend to the request or grant them any 
 immunities. 
 
 In order to give a little more interest to this work, 
 a few anecdotes have been selected. The following, 
 illustrative of Elizabeth's jealousy of Mary, is thus 
 given by Sir James Melville, who was ambassador 
 from Mary, queen of Scots to the English court, in 
 his memoirs, ^^ The queen, my mistress, knowing 
 queen Elizabeth's humour, commanded me not to be 
 too much upon the reserve with her, and that my 
 conversation might not be tiresome, to be sometimes 
 upon the diverting strain ; wherefore one time giving 
 her an account of different modes of foreign customs, 
 I even mentioned the women's buskins. Upon which 
 she told me, that she had the dress of every country 
 and every fashion by her, and indeed she took after 
 that every day a different dress, some times after 
 the English, sometimes after the French, and some- 
 times after the Italian mode. At last she would know 
 of me which dress became her best ; I answered, in 
 my opinion, the Italian, which answer seemed not to 
 be displeasing to her ; for she loved exceedingly to 
 shew her fair hair ; so that a little Italian bonnet 
 was what pleased her best. Her hair was rather 
 of a yellowish colour, but with a beautiful curl, which 
 in appearance was natural. She asked me which 
 coloured hair was reckoned the handsomest, her's or 
 my queen's ; and seeing that I hesitated, she pressed 
 ^2 
 
56 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 me to declare upon this point. I told her she was 
 the finest queen in England, and mine in Scotland. 
 But this not satisfying her, I said they were both 
 the most charming women in their country ; that her 
 majesty was indeed the fairest, but that my queen 
 was also very lovely. She would still know which of 
 the two was the tallest ; to which I answered, my 
 queen. " Then,^' says she," she, must be too tall, 
 for I am neither too tall, nor too short." 
 
 To return to the history; what could not be 
 effected during the long and prosperous reign of 
 queen Elizabeth, was accomplished within the short 
 time 'that Richard Cromwell held the reins of go- 
 vernment, which was only two years from the death 
 of his predecessor ; the charter granted by Richard 
 Cromwell to the following fourteen inhabitants of 
 Thorne, to hold a market there on Thursday in 
 every week; was dated Dec.20th, 1658, and has Oliver 
 CromwelFs great seal affixed to it, viz. Thomas 
 Canby, Francis Hanson, Edward Foster, Thomas 
 Darling, William Darling, William Foster, George 
 Starkie, Seth Southwell, Thomas Middlebrooke, 
 Philip Holmes, Thomas Darlinge, the younger, Peter 
 Jackson, John Burr, and William Briggs, and their 
 heirs for ever, in trust for the inhabitants of Thorne, 
 for the time being. 
 
 From the date of the above, this charter appears 
 to have been granted little more than three months 
 after the death of Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 After the abdication of Richard Cromwell^ an 
 account is given of him by a Mr. Pennant, who lived 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 57 
 
 at Chelsea, he often used to see Richard at a coffee- 
 house, imagined to be Don Saltero's, and represents 
 hira then to be a little, and very neat, old man, with 
 a most placid countenance, the effect of his innocent 
 and unambitious life. 
 
 Richard Cromwell resided some time on the con- 
 tinent, and returned to England about the year 16S0. 
 His letters remaining amongst the family papers, 
 are numerous ; they are principally written to his 
 daughters ; they are expressed in the terms of the 
 most parental affection, though at times seemingly 
 disapproving their management of the family estate; 
 but no evidence of their unfeeling behaviour towards 
 him, discribed by some writers, is discoverable in 
 them. None of his letters are dated from any place ; 
 and the signatures to them are generally " C. R/' 
 reversing the initials of his name ; sometimes 
 " Richardson ,^^ sometimes " Crandbourn/' " Cran- 
 bury," "Cranmore.'^ 
 
 Richard's letters are of a devotional turn. Mr. 
 Neal, in his History of the Puritans, says of him, 
 that in his younger years he had not at all that zeal 
 for religion as was the fashion of the times, but 
 that those who knew him well in the latter part of 
 his life had assured him (Mr. Neal) that he was a 
 perfect gentleman in his behaviour ; well acquainted 
 with public affairs ; of great gravity, and real piety ; 
 but so very modest , that he would not be distinguished 
 or kno^wn by any name but the feigned one, of Mr. 
 Clark. He was born in 1626, and married in 1649, 
 he was therefore only twenty three years of age at 
 
58 HISTORY OF THORNS- 
 
 the time of his marriage, and the treaty of the 
 marriage appears to have commenced in 1647 ; not 
 leaving him much time for gallantry: nor does his 
 lather in his letters complain of his cpnduct in this 
 respect, hut those of disinclination to public business, 
 and a too expensive mode of living. The presump- 
 tion, therefore, seems to be, that he never was a 
 dissolute character. 
 
 He died in the year 1712, in the 86th, year of 
 his age, in, as it is said, and as is probable, sergeant 
 Pengelly's house, at Cheshunt, understood to be the 
 house next the church, called the rectory house, and 
 was buried in the chancel of the church of Hurstey, 
 in Hampshire. — Cromwell's Memoirs of Cromwell. 
 
 Such is the amiable character given of Richard 
 Cromwell, who may be considered to have been the 
 original patron of Thorne. 
 
 On the accession of Charles the second to the 
 throne, the charter granted by Richard Cromwell 
 was annulled, and another, of which the following is 
 a translation from the original (in Latin) granted. 
 
 Charles the second, by the Grace of God of Eng- 
 land, Scotland, France, and Ireland King, Defender 
 of the Faith, and so forth. To all to whom these 
 Letters shall come, greeting. Whereas by an in- 
 quiry and inquisition under our mandate taken at 
 the castle of York, in the county of York, certified 
 to our Court of Chancery, and theie remaning, on the 
 oath of twelve honest and lawful men of the county 
 aforesaid, it clearly appeared, that it would not be 
 to the hurt or prejudice of ourselves or others, if 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE* 59 
 
 we should grant to Edward Foster, gentleman, 
 Edward Canby, gentleman, Thomas Darling, senior, 
 gentleman, Thomas Darling, junior, gentleman 
 Francis Hanson, gentleman, William Darling, gentle- 
 man, Thomas Middlebrooke, gentleman John Myers, 
 John Burr, and Robert Preston, junior, and their 
 heirs, one market, to be held on Wednesday in every 
 week at the town of Thome, in the county aforesaid, 
 and two fairs in every year at the same town of Thorne, 
 namely, one of which to be held on the first Monday, 
 Tuesday, and Wednesday in June, and the other on 
 the fii^t Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in 
 every October, and that it should continue on all 
 these days for ever, and the tolls and profits thence 
 coming and arising to be taken to them and their 
 heirs, as by the inquisition aforesaid may more fully 
 be known and appear : Now know ye, That we of 
 our special grace and from our certain knowledge 
 and mere motion, have given and granted, and by 
 these presents for us, our heirs and successors, we 
 do give and grant to the aforesaid Edward Foster, 
 Edward Canby, Thomas Darling, senior, Thomas 
 Darling, junior, Francis Hanson, William Darling, 
 Thomas Middlebrooke, John Myers, John Burr, 
 and Robert Preston, junior, inhabitants of the town 
 aforesaid, their heirs and assigns, that they their 
 heirs and assigns for ever Ivereafter may have, hold, 
 and keep, ^.nd may and can have, hold, and keep a 
 market on Wednesday in every week unless the 
 feast of the birth of our Lord shall happen on that 
 day, and then and so often as it shall fall on that day, 
 it shall be held and kept for ever on the day next 
 
60 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 preceding Umt Feast^atthe town of Thorne afore- 
 said ; also, two fairs or marts to be held in every 
 year at that town, namely, one of the fairs or marts on 
 the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in every 
 month of June, and the other of the same fairs or 
 marts to be held on the first Monday, Tuesday, and 
 Wednesday in every month of October respectively ; 
 and during all those days respectively a common 
 Court of pie powder * shall be held and kept at 
 the times of the aforesaid market and several 
 fairs or marts aforesaid lespectively, and with all 
 liberties, free customs, tolls, duties, stallages, 
 pickages, fines, amercements, and all other pro- 
 fits, advantages, and emoluments whatsover to this 
 sort of market, fairs, or marts, and courts of pie 
 powder aforesaid, or to any of them in anywise be- 
 longing, appertaining, arising, or coming, or with the 
 same or any of them usually had, held, or enjoyed, 
 To have, hold, and enjoy the aforesaid, market, fairs, 
 or marts, liberties, free customs, tolls, stallages t 
 pickagcsjj courts of pie powder, fines ^ amercements, 
 and all and singular other the above premises, by 
 these presents granted to the aforesaid Edward 
 Foster, Edward Canby, Thomas Darling, senior, 
 Thomas Darling, junior, Francis Hanson, William 
 
 * Court of Pie Poudre, an ancient court mentioned ih many 
 of our statutes, to be held in fairs, for the rendering of justrre 
 to buyers and sellers, and the redress of grievances arising 
 therein. It is a court of record, held durin^^ the continuance of 
 the fairs. The steward who has the toll ot the market is the 
 judge; and the trial is by 3inierchsn*s and traders in the fair. 
 A writ of error lies to the conns of Westminster. ---Rees. 
 t Stallage, rr^oney paid for liberty to erect stalls. 
 % Piccage, money paid for breaking up ground to set stalls up. 
 
HISTORY OF THORx\E. 61 
 
 Darling, Thomas Middlebrooke, John Myers John 
 Burr, and Robert Preston, juifior, their heirs and 
 assigns for ever, to the only proper use and behoof 
 of them the said Edward Foster, Edward Canhy, 
 Thomas Darling, senior, Thomas Darling, junior, 
 Francis Hanson, William Darling, Thomas Middle- 
 brooke, John Myers, John Burr,and Robert Preston, 
 junior, their heirs and assigns for ever, and that 
 without composition or other matter therefore ren- 
 dered, paid, or done to us our heirs or successors. 
 Wherefore, We will and by these presents for us 
 our heirs and successors solemnly enjoining, do order 
 and command that the aforesaid Edward Foster, 
 Edward Canby, Thomas Darling, senior, Thomas 
 Darling, junior, Francis Hanson, William Darling, 
 Thomas Middlebrooke, John Myers, John Burr, and 
 Robert Preston, junior, their heirs and assigns by 
 virtue of these presents, fully, freely, lawfully, and 
 quietly do have, hold, and keep, and shall and may- 
 have, hold, and keep, forever at the aforesaid town 
 of Thorne, the markets, fairs, or marts, at and 
 upon all the respective days aforesaid, together 
 with all and every the liberties, customs, tolls, 
 and profits thence arising, or with the same, or any 
 of them enjoyed, according to the tenor and true 
 intent of these our letters patent, without the mo- 
 lestation, disturbance, burden, or contradiction of 
 us, our heirs or successors; or any of the sheriffs, 
 bailiffs, ofScers, or servants whatsover of us, our 
 heirs or successors ; and this without any warrant, 
 writ, or process from uS; our heirs or successors for 
 
62 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 that pui^pose ever procured or obtained : on account 
 that express mention is not made of the true annual 
 value, or of the certainty of the premises, or any of 
 them, or of any other gifts or grants by us or by any of 
 our progenitors, to the said Edward Foster, Edward 
 Canby, Thomas Darling, senior, Thomas Darling, 
 junior, Francis Hanson, William Darling, Thomas^ 
 Middlebrooke, John Myers, John Burr, and Robert 
 Preston, junior, their heirs and assigns, heretofore 
 made in these presents at least appears made, or of 
 any statute, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation, 
 or restriction to the contraiy thereof, heretofore 
 had, made, published, ordained, or provided, or any 
 other thing, cause or matters whatsoever in anywise 
 notwithstanding. In witness whereof. We have 
 
 granted these our letters patent. Witness ourselves 
 at Westminster, the twenty-ninth day of April, iu 
 the thirteenth year of our reign. 
 
 By the King himself, Howard. 
 In the margin of the charter is a miniature like- 
 ness of Charles IT. with his profusion of hair, the 
 seal * attached to it is of black wax, about five 
 
 * The use of seals is very ancient, as additions to persons 
 names in public writings, deeds, and pleadings, and their places 
 of residence, began, chiefly, to be inserted in the first year of 
 Henry V. King Edward, the confessor, upon his foundation of 
 "Westminster Abbey, was, as is reported, the first in England 
 who put his seal to his charter, according to the custom of the 
 J^ornians, with whom he was educated. And, for many years 
 after this period, the king only, and some of the nobility,, 
 used seals, chiefly with their imaji^es on horseback impressed 
 thereon; but about king Edward theTliird's reign, seals became 
 common. Before the subscribing names to arncient charters and 
 evidences, they were only signed with seals without any Lmpres- 
 aicn ; and the truth of this assertion appears from many pf the^ 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE 63 
 
 inches in diameter, but considerably damaged and 
 broken. 
 
 Charles the second, is represented when he came 
 to the throne to have been possessed of an agre-eable 
 person, an elegant address, and an engaging manner ; 
 but it was soon fonnd that these advantages were 
 merely superficial. His indolence and love of plea- 
 sure made him averse from all kinds of business ; his 
 familiarities were prostituted to the worst as well as 
 the best of his subjects ; and he took no care to 
 reward his former friends, as he had taken few steps 
 to be avenged of his former enemies. The folio wing^ 
 anecdote is related of this monarch. A young 
 gentleman of family and fortune, but of abandoned 
 principles, having long distinguished himself during 
 the reign of that monarch, by highway robberies, 
 and other desperate acts against society, was often 
 apprehended, and som.e times convicted, but, through 
 the interest of his friends, had always been par- 
 doned. He was at length tried for murder, and 
 condemned . Many of the nobility interceded in his 
 favour ; but to no effect ; the king was inexorable. 
 He had the pen in hi^ hand to sign the order for his 
 execution, when some of the courtiers threw a copy 
 of a pardon upon the table before him. The duchess 
 of Portsmouth, his chief favourite, standing at his 
 right shoulder, took his hand gently with her own, 
 
 small grants. However, to the honour af the Yorkshire ladies, 
 it is recorded, that Johanna Stutevilie, an heiress, at Hessle, 
 
 .Dear Hull, for the sake of modesty, first introduced the custpm 
 of riding sideways, therefore the impression on her seal was a 
 
 ♦wpjaaan ridipg sideways, with a bridle in her hand.— -Miller. 
 
64 HISTORY OF THOllNE. 
 
 and conducting it to the paper which had the pardon 
 written on it, guided his hand while he subscribed 
 his name, the king not making the least resistance ; 
 shaking his head, and smiling, he threw the pardon 
 to the nobleman who had interposed on the young 
 man's behalf, saying, ^' Take care you keep the 
 rascal out of my reach for the future/' When this 
 pardon was shewn to the lord chancellor Hyde, ob- 
 serving how badly the letters of the king's name 
 were formed, he wittily lemarked, that when his 
 majesty signed the pardon, ** Justice had been fight- 
 ing against mercy." 
 
 In the escape of Charles after his defeat at 
 Worcester, " he had on a white steeple crowned hat, 
 without any other lining besides grease, both sides 
 of the brim so doubled up with handling, that they 
 looked like two spouts ; a leather doublet, full of 
 holes, and almost black with grease about the 
 sleeves, collar, and waist, an old green woodriff's 
 coat, thread bare, and patched in most places ; with 
 a pair of breeches of the same cloth, and in the same 
 condition, the slops hanging down loose to the 
 middle of the leg ; hose and shoes of different pa- 
 rishes ; the hose were grey stirrups, much darned 
 and clouted, especially about the knees ; under 
 them he had a pair of flannel riding stockings of his 
 own, the tops of them cut off; his shoes had been 
 cobbled, being pieced both on the soles and seams, 
 and the upper leathers so cut and slashed to fit his 
 his feet, that they seemed quite unfit to defend him 
 either from water or dirt. This exotic and deformed 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE- 65 
 
 dress^ added to bis short hair, cut off to the ears, his 
 face coloured brovvn with walnut tree leaves, and a 
 rough crooked thorn stick in his hand, had so meta- 
 morphosed him, that it was hard, even for fhose who 
 had been before well acquainted with his person, 
 and conversant with him, to have discovered who 
 he was/' 
 
 Charles before his decense, expressed that he 
 was heartily sorry for the sins of his past life, and 
 particularly for having deferred his conversion so 
 long. He expressed the greatest kindness and ten- 
 derness for the duke of York that could possibly be 
 conceived. He owned, in the most public manner, 
 the sense he had of his brotherly affection during the 
 whole course of his life ; he commended his great 
 submission and constant obedience to all his com- 
 mands ; and asked his pardon aloud for the rigorous 
 treatment with w^hich he had so long exercised his 
 patience ; all this he said in so affectionate a manner, 
 as to draw floods of tears from all that w^ere present. 
 He spoke most tenderly of the queen too ; and, in 
 fine, left nothing unsaid or undone, that so small a 
 time would allow of, either to reconcile himself to his 
 maker, or to make satisfaction to those he had injured 
 upon earth, disposing himself to die with the piety 
 becoming a christian and the resolution becoming 
 a king : and then his senses beginning to fail him, 
 (which had continued perfect till about an hour be- 
 fore his death) he expired betwixt eleven and twelve 
 o'clock on Friday morning, 6th of Feb. 1684, — 
 James the Second's Memoirs. . 
 
66 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 It is presumed the foregoing accounts will not be 
 uninteresting to some readers, while the individualsof 
 whom they relate are connected with the history 
 Thorne. 
 
 In the year 1681, a ninth part or share in the 
 market place and tolls, &c. was sold by one of the 
 original proprietors mentioned in the charter af 
 Charles IF. then eight years after it had been granted, 
 for the sum of three pounds lawful English money. 
 
 In 1689, in the reign, of William and Mary, the 
 same share of a parcel of ground, called the market 
 place, in the graveship of Thorne, with its appur- 
 tenances,* was sold for the just sum of eight pounds 
 ten shillings of lawful English money. 
 
 The same share again changed hands in the year 
 1690, as the following abridgement of a curious 
 document will shew : 
 
 To all christian people to whom these presents 
 shall come, I,E.P. of Thorne, in the county of York, 
 &c. batcher, sendeth greeting, in our Lord God 
 everlasting. Whereas, our sovereign lord king 
 Charles the second, of blessed memory, &c. did 
 grant to Edward Forster, senior, gentleman, Edward 
 Cauby, gent. Thomas Darling, senior, gent, since 
 
 * A row of butchers* stalls or shambles formerly stood in a 
 line with the present row of posts ; they were built of wood and 
 tiled over: nearly a century has now elapsed since they were 
 removed. 
 
 A few years ago, a large iron ring was dug up from under that 
 part of the square which is now used for the corn market ; it had 
 most probably been placed there to fasten bulls to, for the in- 
 human purpose of baiting them* 
 
HISTORY OF THORIVE. 67 
 
 'deceased, Thomas Darlingjan.gent since deceased, 
 William Darling, jun. since deceased, Francis Han- 
 son, since deceased, Thomas Middlebrooke, since 
 deceased, John Myers, since deceased, John Burr, 
 since deceased, and Robert Preston, inhabitants of 
 the town of Thorne aforesaid, &c. Know ye, &c. !, 
 the saidE.P.forandin good cause there untomoving, 
 &c. and in consideration of binding my son John to 
 be an apprentice, have given, granted, &c. to W. B, 
 of Thoi'ne, tanner, all my light, &c. and that of my 
 wife, in the said market place, tolls, &c. to the said 
 W. B. and his heirs, &c. for ever. Dated 3d Feb. 
 1690. 
 
 From this document we learn, that seven out of 
 the ten original share holders were deceased at the 
 expiration of eighteen years after the granting of 
 the charter. 
 
 The last sale of the before mentioned share was 
 in 1,7©0, foi* the sum of twelve pounds. 
 
 The income from these shares, after the expences 
 *of collecting &c. are deducted, is very trifling to 
 the holders. 
 
 During the civil wars of the 17 th century, the king 
 ^Charles I.) is said to have passed the level of Hat- 
 field Chase twice. Once he passed from Rossington 
 Bridge to Armthorpe ; from thence to the towns of 
 Hatfield and Thorne. From Thorne he was con- 
 ducted by Thomas Canby, an old officer of the chase, 
 over the wild tract of country called John a More 
 Long, to Whitgift Ferry a long and dreary way. 
 The second time was when he passed from York to 
 
68 IlfSTORY OF TIIORNE. 
 
 Nottingham, nieMtiing to erect his standard there. 
 He crossed the ferry atWhitgift : proceeded to Goole ; 
 from thence he came along the great bank to Hat- 
 field. Pela Pryme, who collected these notices from 
 the old inhabitants of the neighbourhood, says, that 
 his majesty stopped at an alehouse at the north end 
 of the town where he refreshed himself, with a cup 
 of ale*. It was the king's intention to have gone 
 through the isle of Axholme to Gainsborough ; but 
 when he arrived at Sandtoft, he found the feeling 
 strong against him and that it would be unsafe to 
 venture that way: The disaffected were then in 
 arms to protect themselves against Robert Por- 
 tington, grandson to him who so violently op- 
 posed the drainage, who was then exerting himself 
 for the king. This induced him to change his route, 
 and he came down the great bank on the right hand, 
 to a place called Bull Hassocks ; and leaving 
 Haxey, and all the isle on the left, he passed on to 
 Stockwith, and so to Gainsborough. 
 
 He afterwards passed from Beverly to Doncaster, 
 in 1642, as appears from the Iter Carolinum. 
 
 * Corresponding with the above, in some circumstances, is a 
 tradition frequently recited by an elderly female of the name of 
 Siieppard, who died a few years ago, aged upwards of 90, '"that 
 king Charles I. passed through Thorne, on his route to Hull, the 
 time that he was refused admittance into that place; and that 
 the king when at Thorne, stayed a short time before the door of 
 an old mansion that was then standing near the entrance of the 
 Marshland road, where he had some refreshment." It appears 
 in the annals of Hull that king Charles 1. was refused admit- 
 tance into that place April 23, 1642, by the then governor. Sir 
 Jolai Hotham, James, Duke of York, and prince Rupert, being 
 at dinner in that town, at the very time. The old mansion above 
 alluded to was taken down about 50 years ago, and modern erec- 
 tiouii, on or near the same site, at present belong to Mr. J. !V1 ason. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 69 
 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax, after the defeat of Adderton 
 Bloor, wounded, dispirited, and fatigued^ endea- 
 voured to find his way across the Levels. He 
 crossed the Aire at Carlton Bridge, near Snaith, 
 then a ferry. From thence he passed to Thorne, 
 and then across the devizes of Hatfield to Crowle. 
 " It proved/' says Sir Thomas, in his Memoirs, " a 
 very troublesome and dangerous passage, having oft 
 interruptions from the enemy, sometimes in our front, 
 and sometimes in our rear." Colonel Robert Por- 
 tington, before mentioned, was the enemy he had to 
 dread. This was the darkest day in the life of that 
 gallant man. *^ I had been," says he, ^^ at least 
 twenty-four hours on horseback, after I was shot, 
 without any refreshment, and as many hours before. 
 And as a further addition to my afiliction, my 
 daughter, not above five years old, being carried 
 before her maid, endured all this retreat on horse- 
 back ; but nature, not able to hold out any longer, 
 she fell into frequent swoonings, and in appearance 
 was ready to expire at last." 
 
 The following old document purports to be a 
 description of an ancient custom of rendering 
 service to the lord of the manor, by his copyhold 
 tenants at Thorne, 
 
 The ancient usage and custom of election of a 
 Grave. — Lands lying in the fields of Thorne and 
 Tudworth, that pay sixpence an acre per annum to 
 the lord of the manor of Haitefield and Thorne ; the 
 whereof, are by ancient usage there, to serve the 
 lord in the office of the grave. And in that style 
 
70 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 forth, of which the Grave is to he chosen. All the 
 lands thst pay sixpence an acre lords rent, lying 
 in the fields of Thorne and Tudworth, and the 
 Ealands, which not long ago were within the hye-law 
 of the fields, and of late purchased or exchanged by 
 Francis Steer, and now in the possession of David 
 Poole, gent., served the said office of grave, when it 
 comes to its turn ; and Tudworth serves the said 
 office of grave, when it comes to its turn, two years 
 together ; as you may in this book hereafter find. 
 
 The ancient usage and custom of election of a 
 grave is on thiswise ; that is to say. 
 
 So tnvLch. land is to be taken out of the book, of 
 one caput, as comes to sixteen acres ; and such 
 person, he or she, that hath the most in that caput 
 of sixteen acres, must serve the grave for that year, 
 and all the rest must be contributors to him or her 
 that serveth the said office, and shall pay at Michael- 
 mas after, before a new grave is sworn, twenty-two 
 pence an acre, and so rateably for half acres, roods, 
 &c. ; and if all such as have land in any style forth 
 of which the grave is to be chosen, do not come into 
 the church yard on Michaelmas daiy, yearly, for that 
 purpose, having no lawful excuse to the contrary, 
 they have usually been taxed to so much money as 
 those who did come should think fit, to be em- 
 ployed at their discretion. The time of meeting 
 usually hath been at one of the clock after noon, 
 arid they may either do it there, or go to a place 
 where they please (the place of meeting optional.) 
 In case any difference arise, to go to the land for 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 71 
 
 better satisfaction, beginning at the land in Fur- 
 longs, from Amory Croft to Old Mill Balk, and so 
 forward, by the townside, until it come to the land 
 next the Gore, in the North Field, from whence it 
 goeth into the high Ealands, and from thence it be- 
 ginneth at the Gore Style, and goes on the low side 
 of the field, next Old Jngg to Wyke Row, and from 
 thence it goeth to Tudworth, when it stays two 
 years, and begins again at two years end, at the Fur- 
 longs next Amory Croft aforesaid. — (Old M.S.) 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 The following short accounts of a few of the 
 leading characters mentioned during the course of 
 this history, will perhaps be read with interest by 
 some ; whilst a regret, no doubt, will be felt, that 
 the whole of A. de la Pryme's works, relative to this 
 part of the country, were not published when in a 
 perfect state ; as many particulars, interesting to 
 the local inhabitants of the district, have either un- 
 dergone alterations, or have been in part mutilated 
 and destroyed. 
 
 SIR CORNELIUS VERMUYDEN, 
 
 The great improver, drainer, and benefactor of 
 this part of the country, appears to have built and 
 occupied what is called Grove House, on the Levels, 
 probably to be nearer to some of his warks. Peck 
 says/ little^an be gathered respecting this person^ 
 
72 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 and that little from his enemies. In a pamphlet 
 published, entitled, '^ The State of that part of 
 Yorkshire, adjoining the Level of Hatfield Cha^,"'^ 
 4to^I70l, he is represented as " a monster of a 
 man, whose natural qualities no one English epithet 
 can answer." Without doubt this colouring is much 
 overcharged ; and, with due deference to the pre- 
 judices of the old inhabitants, he rather deserved 
 their thanks for the improvements he caused to 
 cth country, A. de la Pryme gives the following ac- 
 count of Sir Cornelius's first becoming acquainted 
 with this district ; thus, " Prince Henry, eldest son 
 of James I. making a progress to York, hunted in 
 Hatfield Chase, and was entertained by Portington, 
 of Tudworth ; Vermuyden was with him, and thence 
 conceived the design of draining the Levels. 
 
 " This Hatfield Chase,'' Pryme further proceeds, 
 " Sir Cornelius Vermuyden purchases of Charles I. 
 in order to dischase, drain, and reduce it to constant 
 arable and pasture grounds. This, to the wonderful 
 surprise of the whole nation, and the vast advantage 
 of the whole country round about, which before was 
 but barbarously and thinly inhabited, poor and beg- 
 garly, and at the ijicredible labour and charges of 
 above £400,000, he at length bravely and effectually 
 performed ; whose name deserves a thousand times 
 more to be honourably mentioned and received in 
 all our histories, than Scaurus's was in those of 
 Rome, for draining a great lake in Italy, not quarter 
 so big as this."* 
 
 * Philosophical Transactions, Vol. IV, page 212, 
 
HISTORY OP THORNE. 73 
 
 The obloquy and hatred which he met with, may 
 l)e accounted for, in a great measure, by the natural 
 di^ike which the poorer commoners have shewn to 
 iticlosures at all times, and in all parts of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 Sir Cornelius Vermuyden after he left the Levels, 
 engaged in other speculations ; and about A.D.I 631, 
 he took a lease for thirty years of the Dove Gang 
 lead mine, near Wirksworth, reckoned the best in 
 the country, in conjunction with Sir Robert Heath ; 
 he also published a " Discourse touching the Drain- 
 age, and State of the Case," 4to, 1656. This treatise 
 Sir William Dugdale made use of in his ** Drayning 
 and Imbanking of divers Fenns and Marshes,'' 
 folio, 1662. 
 
 Where Vermuyden afterwards lived, and where 
 he died, (Peck says) I am equally uninformed ; 
 but, in a pamphlet, published by one who was very 
 much opposed to his proceedings in the drainage, it 
 is stated, that he *^ died miseiTibly poor in the 
 south.'' 
 
 ROGER PORTINGTON, OP TTTDViTORTtt, ESQ. 
 
 It will naturally be expected that some account 
 should be given of the person who entertained 
 Prince Henry, during the time he hunted on Hat- 
 field Chase : but before that is proceeded with, the 
 reader perhaps will not object toPryme's picturesque 
 d*escription of that day's hunting. 
 
 " When Henry, prince of Wales, visited Yorkshire 
 in 1609, he was entertained at Streethorpe, on the 
 
74 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 side of tlie chase towards Doncaster, the residence 
 of Sir Robert Swift. After one day spent in plain 
 stag-hunt the chief regarder of Thorne and R. Por- 
 tington, esquire, having promised to let the prince 
 see such sport as he never saw in his life, the prince 
 and his retinue went with them ; and being come to 
 Tudworth, where Mr. Portington lived, they all em- 
 barked themselves in almost 100 boats that were 
 provided there ready, and having frightened some 
 500 deer out of the woods, grounds and closes ad- 
 joining (which had been driven there the night 
 before,) they all, as they were commonly wont, took 
 to the water, and this royal navy pursuing them, 
 into that lower part of the Levels, called Thorne 
 Mere^and there being up to their very necks in water, 
 their horned heads raised seemed to represent a little 
 wood, and there being encompassed about with the 
 little fleet, some ventured amongst them, and feeling 
 such and such as were fattest, they immediately cut 
 their throats, and threw them up into the boats, or 
 else tying a strong rope to their heads, drew them to 
 land and killed them. Having thus taken several, 
 they returned in triumph with their boats to land, and 
 the prince dined with R. Portington, esquire, and 
 was very merry and well pleased at his day's work. 
 But longing to be at York, he came that night unto 
 Hatfield, and lodged there ; and there being atten- 
 ded wuth all the gentlemen that the country could on 
 a sudden afford, they waited on him at Doncaster, 
 and there taking their leaves returned home." 
 Robert Portington, of Tudworth, had originally 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 75 
 
 but little property, until the death of Sii Roger 
 Portingtou, of or uear Leeds, who left his whole 
 estate to the disposal of his wife, amounting to 
 £l»600 a year; they having no issue, she left it to 
 this same Roger Portington, of Tudworth, because 
 he was her husband's double namesake, though not 
 at all related. Soon after this he went to reside at 
 the manor hall, Hatfield, and lived there until the 
 breaking out of the civil war, in which he took the 
 king's part, was a captain, raised and maintained a 
 troop at his own cost; till at last, having spent 
 above £9,000, he was taken prisoner, and sent to 
 London, where they made him pay £1,890 more, as 
 a composition for his estate, and kept him in prison 
 eleven years, until the king's return ; after which, 
 he lived at Barnby-upon-Dun, and there died, and 
 was buried. As for his estate, what was left, he 
 bequeathed it to his wife, for her life, and after her 
 decease, to the Portingtons, of Portington, to whom, 
 Pryaie says," I think it went long ago, and is now 
 almost spent/' 
 
 ROBERT PORTINGTON, 
 
 Second brother to the above Roger Portington, was 
 major in Sir William SavilFs regiment, was a valiant 
 soldier, plundered the isle of Axholme, was in the 
 fight at Willoughby, there taken prisoner, and sent 
 to Hull, where he lay till the king was restored ; and 
 then coming over Booth ferry, or, as others say, 
 Whitgift, he there received in his hand the slight 
 bite of an ape, that was by chance in the boat, which 
 gangrened, and shortly after carried him to the 
 gravf3. 
 
76 HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 
 
 HENRY PORTINGTON, 
 
 The great royalist, was the son of Rohert For- 
 tington, esq. of Stayiiford, and nephew to the afore- 
 said Roger and Robert ; and dying without issue, 
 left what he had to a brother, named William, who 
 had a son, named Henry, who spent all. 
 
 ^^ All this I took some years ago, from , 
 
 before he died/^ — Extract, Pryme's Diary. 
 
 ROBERT PORTINGTON, 
 
 A descendant of the ancient family of the Por- 
 tingtons, of Portington,in the county of York, had a 
 considerable estate at Barnby-upon-Dun,whichcame 
 by his marriage with Elizabeth,daughter and heiress 
 of Robert Paslewe, of that place. His descendants, 
 for several generations, possessed the estate, and a 
 maiden lady of that family who died about the year 
 1798, was supposed to be the last of the family. 
 However, just after her decease, a person of the 
 name of Portington, arrived at Barnby-upon-Dun, 
 to claim the property. He went into the church, 
 and exultingly produced his coat of arms (gules 
 on a bend sable, three cornish coughs proper) which 
 he averred were exactly the same as those upon 
 Roger Portington's monument. The clerk of the 
 parish, a rough Yorkshire man, said, '^ Noa, noa, 
 maister, but they ben't, for yowre craws ha^ white 
 legs, and these ha' red ones.'' From this and other 
 circumstances, unable to make good his claim, he 
 left the town ; and the Portington estate was divided 
 between a person of the name of Addy and two 
 sisters of that of Vincent, related to the Portington 
 family. 
 
HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 77 
 
 THE FAMILY OF DE LA PRYME. 
 
 The ancient family of De la Pryrae is of conti- 
 nental origin. One branch possessed a chateau and 
 considerable d\'>Riaiti near Paderborn, in Hesse 
 Casscl, where they lived during the seven years war. 
 The other resided at Ypres, in French Flanders ; 
 and two of them remained there at a late period. 
 The name leaves no doubt that the latter is the ori- 
 ginal. A pedigree still in existence traces an ho- 
 nourable lineage to the year 1 100 : from this it ap- 
 pears, that some of them had been seized with the 
 madness of the times, and went to the Holy Land 
 with the crusades ; their descendants, however, paid 
 less deference to the papal authority, and had em- 
 braced the reformed religion in the sixteenth century. 
 The situation of its adherents, throughout the French 
 dominions, bad never been very safe or comfortable; 
 but during the war that Richelieu renewed against 
 them, and the desperate, though bopeless, resistance 
 at Rocbelle, it became every day more hazardous 
 and distressing. At this time zeal for their faith had 
 reduced many to the sad alternative of perferring, at 
 least for a time, their religion to their country. 
 Among these was Charles de la Pryme, who, with his 
 family, came over to England about 1628, and joined 
 with Sir C. Vermuyden and others of their country- 
 men, in draining tbe fens, of Hatfield chase ; the 
 knowledge derived from the similar situation of their 
 own country, rendered them peculiarly qualified 
 for such an undertaking. But, either through the 
 disadvantageous tei*ms of the contract, or unexpected 
 
78 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 difficulties in executing it, '' most of them were un* 
 , done ; and Charles de la Pryme lost many hundreds 
 of pounds hy it/** When he died is uncertain. He 
 left two sons; of Abraham nothing more is known 
 than that he died July 23, 1687, and was according 
 to the account of his nephew, '' an honest, learned, 
 pious, wise, and understanding man/' Mathias, the 
 other, was horn the 31st of August 1645, and mar- 
 ried, in April 1670, Sarah, daughter of Peter 
 Smaque, ^* a rich Frenchman, who, with his whole 
 family,were forced from Paris by persecution for his 
 faith, and who came to live in these levels." In 
 1680 he removed to Crowtrees hall,t a large house 
 built in the levels by Mynheer Van Valkenbroch, 
 one of the original drainers, where the family con- 
 tinued to reside till they quitted this part of the 
 country. Mathias died the 29th of July 1694 ; from 
 his epitaph, in which he is named Matthew, k might 
 be supposed he was born at Vpres, the ambiguous 
 expression may be accounted for by the natural at- 
 tachment those emigrants long cherished to the 
 place of their origin, and some idea of return. The 
 French and Dutch languages were preserved among 
 them, for at least two generations. And the De la 
 Prymes retained an estate in Flanders, which, after 
 the revocation of the edict of Nantz, one of the 
 family, who went over for that purpose, endeavoured 
 unsuccessfully to recover, 
 
 * Abraham de la Pryme's Diary of his own Life, torn, 1. p. 1. 
 t In the hall of this house divine service was performed, pre- 
 viously to the building of the chapel at Sandtoft. 
 
HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 79 
 
 Abraham, the eldest son of Mathias, was horn the 
 15th of January, 1671, not at Hull, (as Tickill in his 
 history of that place gratuitously supposes^) but at 
 his father's residence, about half way between Ep- 
 worth and Hatfield. His literary eminence may,p(»r- 
 haps, render a more detailed account of his life not 
 uninteresting, When only ten or twelve years old 
 he began to write what he calls ^* Ephemeris vita?, or 
 A Diary of my ow^n Life, containing an account, like- 
 wise, of the most observable and. remarkable things 
 that 1 have taken notice of from my youth up 
 hitherto/^ The MS. which is in two volumes folio, is 
 imperfect in many places, and. especially at the end ; 
 it contains, however, ample and authentic materials, 
 continued to within two years of his death. 
 
 Of his early education nothing appears, but that 
 insatiable eagerness after knowledge, which he ever 
 manifested. His father, who still leaned to the 
 presbyterian tenets of the Hugenots, wished to have 
 sent him to the university of Glasgow ; Abraham, 
 who inclined to high-church principles, gained, with 
 difficulty, a victory in favour of Cambridge ; where 
 he was admitted at St. John's college, in April 1690. 
 In addition to the usual classical and philosophical 
 studies, he applied himself to natural history, che- 
 mistry, and (\\ hat in the present age must be read 
 with a smile) magic. The ardent curiosity and in- 
 experience of young minds, made them yield easily 
 to the superstition of the times ; it seems to have 
 been then common among the more learned and 
 courageous students, nor were even several of the 
 
^0 HISTROY OF THORNE. 
 
 Fellows of the college superior to these delusions, 
 Abraham, with some of his friends, made several at- 
 tempts to hold intercourse with the world unknown, 
 and expresses his mortification, '^ That nothing ap- 
 peared quamvis omnia rite per acta J' His mind 
 however, soon became emancipated from every 
 species of superstition ; and, on a future occasion, he 
 took considerable pains to expose the improbability 
 of preternatural appearances. The utility of form- 
 ing more systematic and well-directed plans of study 
 induced him, in 1692, to begin a work which he calls 
 ^^ Directions for Travelling ; and Queries about 
 what is Memorable in all Countries.'^ In January 
 1694, he took the degree of B. A. and returned to 
 Hatfield in Mai-ch ; but finding that learning was 
 not so much esteemed there as he expected, he went 
 back to Cambridge in July, and occupied himself 
 in composing a volume which he entitles, " Curiosa 
 de se ; or. Private Thoughts of one inquisitive into 
 the Knowledge of Nature and Things/' Both these 
 works have probably been destroyed : he resided 
 there till he was ordained deacon in the following 
 winter. In June, 1695, he took the curacy of 
 Broughton, near Brigg, io Lincolnshire, where he 
 devoted himself to exploring the Roman and British 
 antiquities with which that neighbourhood abounded. 
 His diary contains a detailed account of these re- 
 searches, some of which are published in the Philo- 
 sophical Transactions. Having exhausted every 
 thing of this nature that the country afforded, about 
 the end of 1696 he came to live at Hatfield, '^ the 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 81 
 
 better to carry on his history of that place/'* where 
 he describes himself as" so exceedingly busy in old 
 deeds and charters, which they send me in on every 
 side, that I cannot take time to think or write of any 
 thing else/' 
 
 Having nearly completed it, the divinity reader- 
 ship of the High-Church at Hull was offered to him. 
 This office is a kind of prepetualcuracyjindependent 
 of the vicar. " It being my fate/' says he, " to stay 
 commonly no longer in one place than till I have got- 
 ten the antiquities thereof, and the view of what 
 MSS. and old deeds 1 can meet with, and having 
 heard that there were several at Hull, which would 
 be very acceptable to me, I removed thither/' in 
 September 1698. He soon went to York to take 
 priests' orders : the archbishop. Dr. Sharp, who had 
 seen a table of contents of his History of Hatfield, 
 expressed great approbation, with promises of pa- 
 tronage ; Dr. Gale, the celebrated antiquary, then 
 dean of that cathedral, having also seen the same, 
 expressed a great desire to be acquainted with him. 
 An interview accordingly took place, and they con- 
 tinued ever afterwards, in frequent correspondence 
 and strong friendship, 
 
 But his attention was now drawn away from all 
 his former studies by a religious imposture^ which 
 seems to have been deemed of great importance : 
 "There is at present,'' says he, " great noise in the 
 country, and many virulent books written, about one 
 
 * This is now in the British Museum, with his other works, but 
 all are mutilated and imperfect. 
 
82 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 Dugdale, of Surry, in Lancashire, who pretended 
 formerly to be possessed ; and the presbyterians 
 pretend that they, after a great many prayers and 
 fastings, cast the devil out/* He immediately en- 
 tered into a correspondence with the Rev. Zachary 
 Taylor, of Wigan, who had published a tract on the 
 subject, and some theological works. 
 
 The following are extracts from De la Pryme's 
 letters to him: " Being moved by your example and 
 my own duty, I have drawn up a letter, consisting of 
 several sheets, demonstrating the cessation of 
 miracles ; the nullity of demoniacs under the esta- 
 blished state of the gospel ; the palpableness of the 
 cheat at Surry, &c, several copies of which are al- 
 ready gone out of my hands.'^ October 25 1698. 
 From one of these it was afterwards surreptitiously 
 published.—" I cannot but wonder, sometimes, at the 
 fate of writers. Just as this very business has called 
 you from other weighty studies, even so has it hap- 
 pened to me : it being, in my eyes likely, to do more 
 mischief; not only among the mob, but also among 
 others that were superficially learned, and cannot 
 penetrate into the depth of the design, so that I 
 flung by my History and Antiquities of Hatfield ; 
 my History and Antiquities of Jerusalem, from its 
 first building unto this day ; my Introduction to the 
 Excellent Knowledge and Study of Antiquities ; my 
 Origin of Nations and Languages : some almost 
 finished.^^ November 25, 1698. 
 
 He soon however resumed his former pursuits 
 with increased eagerness. " After viewing, metho- 
 
HISTORY OF THORN E. 83 
 
 dizing, &c. tlie old records of Hull/' he completed, 
 during his residence there, " The History and 
 Antiquities of that town, and the six or seven villages 
 in the county thereof." The History of Headon, and 
 other works on the Topography of Yorkshire, men- 
 tioned by Gough, except the History of Hatfield, 
 seem, from his diary, to be only collections and me- 
 inoranda on these subjects. 
 
 Some of his papers, which had found their way 
 into the Philosophical Transactions, induced Sir 
 Hans Sloane to enter into a correspondence with him 
 on subjects of natural history, and particularly 
 marine petrefactions. This led him to attempt a 
 solution of their phenomenae, and of the Noachian 
 deludge ; which was inserted in that work, and is 
 quoted with approbation by Dr. Watson, Bishop of 
 LandafF.* 
 
 Having now gathered and gotten all the anti- 
 quities relating to " Hull and its neighbourhood,'* 
 as usual, " he began to grow somewhat weary there- 
 of," and anxious to obtain some preferment, that he 
 might retire from the hurry and laborious duty of his 
 large parish. The state of his finances was a still 
 more cogent reason. His father had indeed been 
 dead some time, and had left him an estate at Hat- 
 field, and another in Lincolnshire; which, with the 
 emoluments of his cure, produced a handsome income. 
 But his tours in every direction, and the expenses 
 his studies led him into, involved him in embarrass- 
 
 * Discourse to the Clergy of Archdeaconry of Ely, May 1780, 
 pubhshed in Watson's Sermons and Tracts, 8vo. 
 
84 HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 
 
 ments ; ^' My zeal/' says he, ^^ for old MSS. anti- 
 quities, coins and monuments, almost eats me up; 
 so that I am sometimes nearly melancholy, that I 
 cannot prosecute the search of them so much as I 
 would, I am at very great charges in carrying on 
 my study of antiquities in employing persons at Lon- 
 don, Oxford, &c. to search records, &c. even to the 
 danger and hazard of my own ruin, and the casting 
 <)f myself into great debts and melancholy/'* The 
 archbishop, though frequently reminded by De la 
 Pryme's zealous friend, Dr. Gale, rewarded him 
 only with specious promises and empty praise. The 
 corporation of Hull, however, who seemed better 
 judges, or at least better patrons, of literary merit, 
 exerted themslves most strenuously in his behalf ; 
 and in the latter end of I7OI, obtained for him the 
 living of Thorne, a donative in the gift of the duke 
 of Devonshire. About the same time he was elected 
 Fellow of the Royal Society ,an honour then bestowed 
 more sparingly and discretely than at present. He 
 did not long enjoy these acquisitions : a consumption, 
 occasioned probably by too intense study, is said to 
 have put a period to his useful labours, June 13-, 
 1704. He was never married ; nor does it appear 
 that his studies ever allowed him leisure to be in 
 love. 
 
 It may, at first sight, appear, that a man is not 
 the best delineator of his own character. Yet, in a 
 circumstantial narrative of his life, and an extensive 
 
 * Letters to Dr. Gale, 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 85 
 
 correspondence, he must inevitably and uninten- 
 tionally expose a variety of traits and gentinaents, 
 from which others may form an accurate estimate. 
 These sources of information shew that the praise 
 of his epitaph was not undeserved. They manifest 
 genuine and fervent piety ; great purity and sim- 
 plicity of heart ; warmth and sincerity in friend- 
 ship ; unassuming manners and singular modesty. 
 He entered into the church from disinterested at- 
 tachment ; amid the attractions of other pursuits, 
 he always devoted much time to theology, paid un- 
 remitting attention to his clerical duties, which, at 
 Hull, were extremely laborious. It must be ac- 
 knowledged that he seems to feel some bitter- 
 ness towards different religious persuasions ; yet 
 we should make allowance for the general intoler- 
 ance of those less enlightened times : and recol- 
 lect that the danger of that establishment he so 
 zealously admired, was then not imaginary. The 
 presbyterians, who had once overturned it, as well as 
 the catholics, were each striving to establish their 
 own in its stead. He embraced the high-church and 
 tory principles, and at one time adhered to the 
 Stuart cause, but soon was convinced of his error ; 
 yet he never much liked the government of William, 
 which seems, from his account;, to have been more 
 unpopular than is generally supposed. 
 
 He pos>sessed an acute discriminating judgement, 
 and an ardent mind ; great ingenuity and quickness 
 of apprehension, without much genius orimagination. 
 His poetry does not rise above mediocrity : but his 
 
 G 
 
86 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 habits of cautious research, and patient industry, 
 peculiarly fitted him for the other departments of 
 literature he pursued. That his celebrity has been 
 greatly inferior to his deserts arises from two causes ; 
 first, the publication of his larger works (which he 
 perpetually deferred in hopes of rendering them 
 more complete,) has never taken place. Secondly, 
 natural history and chemistry were then so com* 
 pletely in their infancy, that the essays of these times 
 and among them his papers in the Philosophical 
 Transactions, have been nearly superseded by recent 
 discoveries and more improved systems. Yet justice 
 requires us, while we admire the modern superstruc- 
 ture, not to forget the merits of those who laid the 
 early foundations ; or,^ by unsuccessful attempts, 
 shewed what parts of them were unsound. What 
 was right, formed the ground work of what has been 
 since done more accurately and completely: what 
 was wrong, by narrowing the limits of conjecture, 
 contributed to the discoveries of those, who might 
 otherwise have been occupied like them, in im- 
 perfect researches and in deducing erroneous 
 theories. 
 
 His diary is written with considerable naivete, in 
 a stile neat and perspicuous, without any attempt at 
 elegance. It contains,besides his antiquarian and topo- 
 graphical memoranda, much information on the state 
 of the country. It abounds with satirical pieces on 
 the leading parties of the day ; with illustrations 
 and anecdotes of the manners, politics, and history 
 of his own times ; and also of the civil wars, which 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 87 
 
 he had collected from actors in these disturbed 
 scenes.* 
 
 The following is on a tablet erected to his memory, 
 in Hatfield church. 
 
 '^ Here lies all that was mortal of Abraham de la 
 Pryme, F.R. S. minister of Thorne, in the county of 
 York, son of Matthew de la Pryme, and Sarah, his 
 mournful relict. He died June 13, 1704, aged 34. 
 
 Tho' snatch*d away in youth's fresh bloom, 
 
 Say not that he untimely fell, 
 He nothing owM the years to come, 
 
 And all that past was fair and well : 
 A painful priest, a faithful friend, 
 
 A virtuous soul, a candid breast. 
 Useful his life, and calm his end, 
 
 He now enjoys eternal rest.'* 
 
 Some further particulars of the descendants of the 
 Pryme family, may be found in Peck's work, as 
 stated below ; but as they are unconnected with the 
 history of Thorne, the insertion of them here seems 
 unnecessary. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 THE PRESENT STATE OP THORNE. 
 
 Thorne is in the West Riding of the county of 
 York, and in the lower division of the Wapentake 
 of Stafforth and Tickhill. It is 29 miles south by 
 east from York, 163 north by north from London, 
 6 miles from Crowle, 7 J from Snaith, 10 from Don- 
 caster, 13^ from Howden, and 14 from Bawtry. 
 
 * From Peck's Supplement to the Topographical Account of 
 Bawtry and Thorne, and compiled for that work by Qeorge 
 Pryme, eeq. of Barnwell Abbey, near Cambridge. 
 g2 
 
88 HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 
 
 The town is partly seated on tbe south-west side 
 of a small elevation, and the other part on the edge 
 of an extensive plain, which stretches for many miles 
 in every direction, until it is lost in light woods, or 
 bounded by the faint blue hills that skirt the distant 
 horizon ; and although there is nothing strikingly 
 bold or romantic to boast of in the surrounding 
 scenery, yet the heart of the observer must be in- 
 sensible to the mild beauties of nature, who can 
 look with indifference on such an expanse of luxuri- 
 ance and verdure, as is here extended on every side. 
 Perhaps there are few situation^ where trees and 
 hawthorn hedge rows assume a nqiore thriving or 
 vigorous appearance. By some the country around 
 is termed ^' flat and monotonous,^^ yet there are 
 views, from different situations about the town, that 
 are both extensive and interesting, although they 
 are not at all calculated to suit the taste or disposi- 
 tion of such as would adopt the following sentiments, 
 
 " England, thy beauties are tame and domestic, 
 For me, who have roam'd o'er the mountains afar. 
 
 Give me the rock that is bold and majestic, 
 The high frowning summits of dark Loch na Gar." 
 
 Byron. 
 
 The cutting of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal, 
 and the inclosureof the commons," have contributed 
 much to the prosperity of Thorne, which is now one 
 of the most thriving towns in the riding, inhabited 
 by an active and industrious population^ and con- 
 taining, according to the last census, 3,463 inhabi- 
 tants, at the town, the quay, and the few houses 
 inhabited by agriculturalists around.''* 
 
 * Hunter's History of the Deanery of Doncastcr. 
 
HfSTORY OF THORNE. 89 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 In 1801, the population was stated at 2,655, but 
 by the census of 1811, there then appeared to be 
 €35 houses, 2,713 inhabitants, viz. 1,219 males, and 
 1,494 females; and in 1821, the population was 
 3,463. Since that time to the present year, 1829, 
 both the number of houses and that of the inhabi- 
 tants has considerably increased ; of the latter there 
 are now supposed to be about 4,000, 
 
 /, LONG ROOM. 
 
 A part of the building forming the Red Lion Inn, 
 was purchased fo^r the use of the to\^ai in 1818; it 
 consists of thr^ie stories, the two upper ones are at 
 present let to the proprietor of the inn, and the lower 
 one, a neat and. spacious room, known by the above 
 title, is reserved for public meetings, for the use of 
 the magistrates, who meet here at short intervals, 
 to transact any local business that may be brought 
 before them ; and is also occupied as a Sunday 
 school. It is kept in good order, and being situated 
 near the market-place, is a great convenience to 
 the inhabitants, who before they became possessed 
 of this room, had no place in which to meet on public 
 occasions, except the vestry of the church. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 There are two endowed schools ; one of these 
 is supported out of two farms, situated on the 
 Levels, which contain 379 acres ; one in the Seve- 
 rails, containing 179 acres, and the other, in Wroot- 
 jort Carr, 200 acres ; they are rented by Mr. 
 Richard Kitching and Mr. William Jacques ; part 
 
90 HI3TORY OF THORNE. 
 
 of the rents go this school, and the remaining part 
 to two similar establishments, one at Hatfield, and 
 another at Wroot, with a provision for supplying the 
 scholars with bibles, testaments, prayer books, and 
 the Whole Duty of Man. This was the bequest of 
 a person of the name of Travis, and is usually called 
 " Travis's Charity." 
 
 The other is called Brooke's Charity ; the fol- 
 lowing is a copy of the donor's surrender ; 
 
 " Dec.l 8,1 704, William Brooke, of Thorns, tanner, 
 by the hands of William Darling, surrenders, houses 
 and lands as follows : To the use and behoof of 
 Edward Forster, gent. Thomas Canby, jun. gent. 
 William Darling, Benjamin Cutts, Richard Middle- 
 brooke, and Thomas Johnson, and their heirs and 
 assigns for ever, according to the custom of the manor 
 aforesaid, nevertheless to and for the several trusts, 
 intents, and purposes, that they the said Edward 
 Forster, Thomas Canby, William Darling, Benjamin 
 Cutts, Richard Middlebrooke, and Thomas Johnson, 
 their heirs and assigns, and the survivor or survivors 
 of them, and the heirs or assigns of such survivor or 
 survivors for ever, shall yearly and every year from 
 time to time, and at all times hereafter for ever, lay 
 out and employ, and yearly bestow and pay, the 
 whole clear rents and profits arising out of the said 
 land and premises, and every part and parcel there- 
 of, to and for the use, and to the perpetual main- 
 tenance and support of one able, sober, learned, 
 and sufficient schoolmaster, in the town of Thorne 
 aforesaid/Qi* the teaching and instructing of such chil- 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 91 
 
 dren as shall from time to time come to the said school 
 at Thorne, to be taught, but not as a free school ; 
 provided always, and upon condition, that every such 
 schoolmaster, from time to time, for ever hereafter, 
 so long as he shall or do continue schoolmaster there, 
 and receive the rents, issues, and profits of the fore- 
 mentioned premises, shall yearly, and every year, 
 teach and instruct ten of the poorest boys within the 
 said town of Thorne, as shall from time to time be 
 chosen by the minister and trustees, or any three of 
 them, whereof the minister ,be one, freely, without 
 reijuiring any stipend or reward for the same, accord- 
 ding to the true intent arid good meaning hereof/* 
 
 The following are the lands bequeathed by the 
 said William Brooke, taken from a tablet in the 
 vestry. 
 
 True Love, Croft, 
 
 One acre, in Kirton Croft. 
 
 Three ditto, in Sea Dyke Bank. 
 
 One messuage, late Steer's, and some land. 
 
 One acre, and part of a Toft, near Common Trod. 
 
 Two roods near Bromsley. 
 
 One ditto, in Bell Lane. 
 
 One ditto, in Houpe, 
 
 Three ditto, ditto. 
 
 Two ditto, in Bloomgate. 
 
 One ditto, ditto. 
 
 One ditto, in Gool. 
 
 Two ditto, in Bully Trees. 
 
 Three ditto, dittOo 
 
 Two ditto, in Old Inggs. 
 
92 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 One acre, Tween Bridge Moors. 
 
 One acre, one rood, Chadwick Djke. 
 
 One acre, one rood, Sprinor Spurn, 
 
 Four acres, one rood, Old Inggs. 
 H. Travis, gent, gave, 5th July, 1710, £15, out 
 of several farms in Hatfield, Thorne, and Wroot. 
 The revenue is now worth more than £100 a 
 year. — Peck. 
 
 MARKETS. 
 
 A market for provisions, &c. has been held weekly 
 at Thorne, since the year 1659 ; on which Hunter, 
 in his History of the Deanery of Doncaster, re- 
 marks, " That the recent conversion of the country 
 around, from an open and waste to an inclosed and 
 cultivated state, rendered the establishment of a 
 market somewhere in this district a measure of ob- 
 vious consequence ; and this probably contributed 
 in no small degree to maintain for Thorne, that su- 
 periority in population and commercial importance, 
 which it had. early obtained among the towns of the 
 level.'^ It was not, however, until the first Wednes- 
 day in March, 1818, by the active exertions of 
 several spirited individuals, that thii market was 
 opened for the sale of corn ; from, which time the 
 increase and improvement of the town has been 
 more decidedly apparent. 
 
 The following notice was circulated previously to 
 the opening of the market. 
 
 Corn Market, at Thorne.— We, the undersigned 
 Proprietors of Lands and Farms, in Thorne and the 
 surrounding Country, takings into consideration the 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 93 
 
 excellent situation of the said Town for a Corn 
 Market, both from the exemption of its Market from 
 Tolls, from the advantages of its Conveyance by 
 Water to all parts of the Country, and also from its 
 being in the centre of a great District, the most 
 abundant in all kinds of Grain, Do resolve and en- 
 gage to commence on the first Wednesday in March, 
 and so to continue on each succeeding Wednesday, 
 to expose for Sale in open Market, considerable 
 quantities of Corn, at favourable prices, and cheaper 
 than had we carried it, as before to Doncaster and 
 other distant Markets, 
 
 John Coulman, Levels 
 Richard Coulman, ditto 
 William Coulman, ditto 
 Richard Kitching, ditto 
 George Kitching, ditto 
 John Whitaker, ditto 
 Michael Askron, ditto 
 John Harnew, jun. ditto 
 John Marsdin, ditto 
 William Milman, ditto 
 Richard Jennings, ditto 
 William Rhodes, ditto 
 William Jaques, ditto 
 Richard Winter, ditto 
 Thomas Jennings, ditto 
 Peter East, ditto 
 Christopher Vause, ditto 
 John Winter, ditto 
 William Cawkwell, ditto 
 Joshua Smeaton, ditto 
 George Moore, ditto 
 Isaac Oldfield, ditto 
 
 Peter Bayes, ditto 
 John Marshal, Tudworth 
 JohnBladworthjStainfortli 
 William Marsdin, ditto 
 Thomas Kilham, ditto 
 Thomas Simpson, ditto 
 Edmund Godfrey, ditto 
 Josias Durham, Hatfield 
 Samuel Woodall, ditto 
 William Fietcher, ditto 
 John Chadburn, ditto 
 Thomas Outwin, ditto 
 Robert Morris, ditto 
 John Axe, ditto 
 John Reasbeck, ditto 
 John Woodyere, ditto 
 John Goodworth, ditto 
 R. Pullein, ditto 
 Robert Eardley, ditto 
 Robert Brooke, ditto 
 John Lyal, ditto 
 William Oliver, ditto 
 
 Marmaduke Scholey, do. John Oliver, ditto 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 R> P. Mllnes Thorne 
 Henry Godfrey, ditto 
 lyilliam Pilkington, do. 
 Richard Pearson, Thorne 
 \Vm Ma kins, ditto 
 Wm. Darley, ditto 
 Robert Darley, ditto 
 M. Casson, ditto, 
 M. Casson, jun. ditto 
 Thos. Brown, ditto 
 John Benson, ditto 
 Wm. Beckitt, ditto 
 R. Middlebrooke, ditto 
 John Wyatt, ditto 
 T. Fretwell, ditto 
 B. Hutchinson, ditto 
 Thos. Vause, ditto 
 B. England, ditto 
 R.England, ditto 
 S. Ainley, ditto 
 W« Dove, ditto 
 John Wade, ditto 
 Wm. Standering, ditto 
 Thos. Watson, ditto 
 George Kemp, ditto 
 John Wells, ditto 
 Richard Wraith, ditto 
 John Bleasby, ditto 
 Thomas Brears, ditto 
 John Butterwick, ditto 
 John Watson, ditto 
 John Ridgill, ditto 
 Thomas Barlev, ditto 
 H. Benson, Hatfield 
 
 Woodhouse 
 Wm. Johnson, ditto 
 Thomas Hootoii, ditto 
 
 Wm. Dobson, ditto 
 Wm. Kilham, ditto 
 Robert Battey, ditto 
 Wm. Ramsey, ditto 
 Joshua Moor, ditto 
 Thos. Chester, Huggin 
 John Walker, Park Lane 
 George O a twin, Parks 
 T. Sanderson, Dunscroft 
 Thos. Smith, ditto 
 Wm. Milman, Ditchmarsh 
 Charles Walker, ditto 
 Thomas Athy, Hadds 
 Thomas Best, ditto 
 Wm. Priestley, Bankside 
 John Priestley, jun. ditto 
 Henlock Young, ditto 
 John Cutler, Moorends 
 J. Foxton, ditto 
 John Bramley, ditto 
 George Airy, ditto 
 Francis Eadon, Snaith 
 Robt. Denby, ditto 
 Wm. Hankes, ditto 
 Wm. Dickenson, ditto 
 Thos. Townrow, ditto 
 RichardSykes,jun. Cowick 
 Peter Denby, ditto 
 John Rhodes, ditto 
 Robt. Scothorp, ditto 
 Wm. Dixon, ditto 
 Wm. Beachell, Rawcliffe 
 John Boulton, ditto 
 Joshua Tingle, ditto 
 Wm. Stennitt, ditto 
 John Walker, ditto 
 John Waller, ditto 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 IWm. Barker, ditto 
 Wm. Ellis, ditto 
 John Brooks, ditto 
 Wm. Ran field ditto 
 Thomas Walker, ditto 
 Thos. Sykes, Rawcliffe 
 
 Common 
 John Piiestley, ditto 
 H. Fenv/ick ditto 
 Thomas Chantry, ditto 
 Anthony Crosland, ditto 
 G.8miih,Airmin, Pastures 
 William Wade, ditto 
 John Chantry, ditto 
 J. Earnshaw, Goole 
 J. Empson, ditto 
 John Birks, ditto 
 William Clark, ditto 
 John Stanuell, ditto 
 T. Duckies, ditto 
 Thomas Thompson, 
 
 Goolefield Houses 
 Dennis Pepper, ditto 
 Robert Shores, ditto 
 R. Duckies, Hook 
 GervasSeaton, Swinefieet 
 Robert Vickers, ditto 
 Samuel Laverack, ditto 
 J. Little, Swinefieet 
 GeorgeBirkenshaw, ditto 
 J. Clarke, ditto 
 William Parker, ditto 
 WilliamMiddlebrooke, do 
 John Jackson, Waterton 
 
 Hall 
 Thomas Harsley, Crowle 
 John Read, ditto 
 
 95 
 
 John Crosby, Epworth 
 John Brunyee, ditto 
 Wm. \¥ain Wright, Crowle 
 Joseph Birks, Fishlake 
 John Hunt, ditto 
 William Newburn, ditto 
 Hugh Rowbotham, ditto 
 John Johnson, ditto 
 David Box, ditto 
 John Bedford Fenwick 
 
 Grange 
 John Lilleman, Sykehouse 
 John Hobson, ditto 
 Thomas Ainley, ditto 
 Thomas Barker, ditto 
 John Bunby, ditto 
 Richard Backhouse ditto 
 Thomas Himsworth, ditto 
 Paul Holme ditto 
 George Howcroft, ditto 
 John Tmeson, ditto 
 John Kay, ditto 
 Samuel Kay, ditto 
 John Nettleton, ditto 
 John Pearson, ditto 
 William Sayle, ditto 
 George Smith, ditto 
 Thomas Turner ditto 
 George W^ard, ditto 
 Wheatley Wood, ditto 
 Joseph Wood, ditto 
 Richard Himsworth, ditto 
 Benj. Ellison, Foster 
 
 Houses 
 Thomas Hall, ditto 
 Matthew A mery, ditto 
 John Thorp, ditto, 
 
96 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 Wid. Wates, ditto Richard Gray, ditto 
 
 John Carr, Wormley Hill John Hollin, ditto 
 John Harrison, ditto Henry Jubb, Westfield 
 
 Together with the lesser farmers in the same 
 districts, 
 
 Jan. 20, 1818. 
 This document is well worth preserving, as it not 
 only shews who were the promised supporters of the 
 market, but also records the names of many of the 
 most respectable farmers in the neighbourhood. 
 
 When the above notice was signed, a subscription 
 was entered into, to defray the expense of repaving 
 part of the market-place, and for the erection of 
 posts, to point out the situation where the different 
 qualities of grain were pitched, and to cover other 
 incidental expenses that might arise, such as adver- 
 tising the opening of the market for corn, &c. A 
 waggon belonging to an eccentric old gentleman of 
 Rawcliffe, of the name of Hirst, was the first that 
 came into the town loaded with corn, for that day's 
 market ; and on this occasion the driver was treated 
 with " his dinner and a tankard of stout ale/' with 
 which he seemed highly gratified. 
 
 The bells were rung merrily on the occasion, a 
 band of music paraded the streets, the town was 
 thronged with people, a new impulse was given to 
 business, and fresh energy and exhiliration of spirits 
 seemed to pervade every individual connected 
 with it. 
 
 The anniversary of the opening of the corn mar- 
 ket is still regularly observed, and a numerous 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 97 
 
 party of gentlemen and farmers interested in its 
 prosperity, regularly meet at the Red Lion inn, to 
 celebrate its return , on which occasion a lamb h^s 
 always been provided. 
 
 In recording these proceedingSjWilliam Guost, an 
 old veteran, must not pass unnoticed ; he had pre- 
 viously been presented with a new livery, and was 
 appointed to the office of summoning the market at 
 eleven, and announcing its close at one o'clock, by 
 ringing a bell. This office is still discharged by the 
 same individual, who also takes care of any sacks of 
 corn that may inadvertently be left after the market. 
 Since that time he has generally presented a peti- 
 tion to the gentlemen at the market table, and 
 others, on the anniversary of its opening, when a 
 collection has been made, to reward him for his 
 services, or to purchase a new livery, when the old 
 one has become unserviceable. In the present year, 
 1829^ a thorough new suit has been provided for 
 this officer : the livery is a blue coat and waistcoat, 
 faced with scarlet, scarlet cuffs and collar, and gold 
 buckle and girdle for his hat. 
 
 The markets are held on Wednesday ; they are 
 plentifully supplied with corn, provisions, pottery 
 ware, and a variety of other articles ; and a good 
 deal of business is transacted. The pig market is 
 held within the entrance of the Blue Boar yard, in 
 which pens are placed for the convenience of those 
 who attend it. 
 
 FAIRS. 
 
 Two fairs or marts are annually held here, on 
 
98 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after 
 the lith of June, and llth of October. Tuesday is 
 the day on which the horned cattle, horses, and sheep 
 are shewn. Of the former there is generally a large 
 collection ; and the number of horses and sheep 
 shewn at these fairs of late, has been considerably 
 larger than used formerly to be the case. 
 
 BRIDGES. 
 
 Of these very little can be said, except mentioning 
 their number, names and situations. The canal 
 bridge, which is situated at the western entrance of 
 the town, is a wooden structure, that turns upon a 
 pivot, and thus aifords a passage for vessels, on the 
 line of the canal, without the necessity of having 
 their masts lowered, A stone bridge * built over 
 the boating dyke in 1756, was taken down a few 
 years ago, and the present structure erected in its 
 place. This bridge is considerably wider than the 
 old one ; the street, also, leading to the town was at 
 the time the bridge was re-built, widened, and con-^ 
 siderably improved. 
 
 The School-house Bridge is another erection over 
 the boating dike ; it is situated north of the for- 
 mer, and was built mostly of brick in the year 1813, 
 but is now in a very ruinous state, with its battle- 
 ments throw^n nearly down. The Tempernacre 
 Bridge, erected in 1817? is composed mostly of 
 brick, and is situated to the south of the stone 
 
 * In the rebellion in 1745, a company of soldiers were stationed 
 to guard this entrance to the town. 'J'lie bridge OTer the boating 
 diiie was then a wood erection. 
 
HISTORY OP THORPE. 9& 
 
 bridge. The three last named bridges occupy the 
 sites of old wooden erections. 
 
 THE PRISON 
 
 The prison or jail, is situated in the field near the 
 church, it was adapted to the purpose for which it is at 
 present used, by forming two cells in the centre of 
 some cottages belonging to the town, with materials 
 spared in the alteration of the stone bridge, and by 
 erecting a porch in front of the cells as a day room. 
 Prisoners are seldom confined in it longer than a few 
 days. The cells are kept clean, they are furnished 
 with iron bedsteads, and the prison is considered very 
 secure. Although this building does not display a 
 very elegant exterior, it answers all the purposes for 
 which it was designed, while the economy displayed, 
 in its formation, might afford a useful lesson to those 
 modern jail builders, who lavish enormous sums of 
 public money, which has been extracted from the 
 pockets of the honest and industrious, in erecting 
 sumptuous structures, in which are to be immured 
 the murderer, the thief, and the breaker of every 
 moral law ; while at the same time, many who have 
 been reduced by misfortune to misery and want, are 
 suffered to wander houseless and unprotected. Can 
 these magnificent buildings be expected to present te 
 the eye of the stranger, or to hand down to posterity 
 any thing but a proof of the extent of crime, and the 
 weakness and folly of those concerned in their erection? 
 
 THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL. 
 
 This Chapel, which is a neat brick building, with 
 stone basement and cornice,is situated in King-street, 
 and was opened for public worship in 1826, 
 
 .LofC. 
 
100 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 THE BETHESDA CHAPEL. 
 
 The New Connexion of Methodists have also 
 lately erected a new and convenient place of worship, 
 adjoining Chapel-lane ; it was opened in 18 17. 
 
 THE FRIENDS^ MEETING HOUSE 
 
 Is the oldest dissenting meeting house in the town, 
 it is situated up a passage leading from the Church- 
 lane, and has a small neat burying ground attached 
 to it. The outside of this building looks old and 
 weather beaten, but the interior has been within a 
 few years considerably altered and Improved : it was 
 erected about the year 1750. 
 
 THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS* CHAPEL, 
 
 Is a small chapel situated backward from the 
 Green, it was opened for public worship in 1822. 
 
 THE UNITARIAN CHAPEL 
 
 Is situated at the foot of School-house bridge ; a 
 small stone in front bears the date of its erection in 
 1816. Adjoining to this cliapel there is a convenient 
 school-room, and also a small burial ground. 
 
 THE EBENEZER CHAPEL. 
 
 This Chapel belonging to the Independents or 
 Calvinists, is erected in a yard opening into the 
 Church-lane. [It is built of brick, and tiled, the ex- 
 terior presents nothing striking, but the interior is 
 neat and convenient ; this place for public worship 
 was opened in 1800. 
 
 A few of the followers of Johanna Southcot, 
 still meet in the town, at the house of one of their 
 sect ; they have no chapel. 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 There are five of these Schools, at which childrea 
 
HISTORY OF THORNB* lOl 
 
 are gratuitously instructed, and most of them are nu- 
 merously attended. 
 
 The one belonging to the establishment is taught 
 by the master of the free school, in a room belonging 
 to one of the charities. 
 
 The scholars of the Wesleyan Methodists meet 
 in the Long-room. 
 
 Those of the new connexion of Methodists in the 
 Bethesda chapel, Chapel-lane. 
 
 The Calvinists teach their school in the Ebenezer 
 chapel. 
 
 The Unitarian Sunday school is taught in the 
 school-room adjoining their chapel. 
 
 THE POOR HOUSE 
 
 Is a large brick building, erected in the year 1763, 
 as appears by large iron letters placed on the front 
 of it. 
 
 Parents, who know no children's love, dwell there ; 
 
 Heart broken matrons on their joyless bed, 
 
 Forsaken vvives, and mothers never wed ; 
 
 Dejected widows, with unheeded tears, 
 
 And crippled age, with more than childhood's fears ; 
 
 The lame, the blind, and, far the happiest they. 
 
 The moping idiot, and the madman gay. Crabbe. 
 
 The poor house is situated a short distance from 
 the town ; the poor in it are comfortably provided 
 for. Some years ago, part of them were employed 
 in the manufacture of worsted ; but latterly they 
 have had no regular indoor employment, except the 
 customary one of preparing oakum. Some of the 
 more able of the men are, however, employed in 
 cutting straw for cattle, and in other farming occu- 
 pations. A large and productive garden is attached 
 
 H 
 
102 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 to the premises ; and there is also some land be- 
 longing to the town, on which the master of the 
 house may keep two or three cows. 
 
 The paupers are at present provided for by con- 
 tract ; and a committee of the gentlemen of the 
 town is appointed to visit and inspect the house at 
 indefinite periods, to examine the quantity and qua- 
 lity of food allowed to the inmates. 
 
 TRADE AND MANUFACTURES. 
 
 A considerable trade is carried on in shipping ; 
 also in corn, timber, coals, and other commodities, 
 which is greatly facilitated by numerous vessels on 
 the line of the canal and the river Don, and by the 
 introduction of steam packets. 
 
 On the hank of the river Don, at Thorn e Quay, is 
 a ship-builders' yard, at which vessels of consider- 
 able burthen are sometimes launched. Several large 
 steam packets have also been constructed here ; 
 they are generally considered good sea vessels, and 
 have great speed ; a dry dock is attached to the 
 yard. 
 
 There are also by the side of the canal, three other 
 yards, at which vessels of 40, 50, and 60 tons bur- 
 then are built ; each of these yards is furnished 
 with a capstan and slip, by means of which vessels 
 can be drawm up out of the water to be repaired. 
 
 Some business is also done in the town in malting, 
 and in the brewery of ale and porter. There are 
 two places at which ropes are made ; two small 
 sacking manufactories ; and one of hats : but as the 
 inhabitants of the town are decidedly more inte- 
 
HISTORY OP THORNE. 103 
 
 rested in and acquainted with agricultural pursuits, 
 than manufacturing speculations^ small progress has 
 been made in the introduction of such businesses as 
 would require mechanical skill and local advantages 
 to foster them. 
 
 THE WIKE WELL, 
 
 Is a public bath belonging to the town ; it was 
 encircled with a high wall about the yeair 1763. The 
 spring inside is walled round and flagged, there 
 is a descent of stone steps to it, and it has the ac- 
 commodation of a dressing room, with a fire place in 
 it ; but from the intense coldness of the water, this 
 bath is seldom used, and is now very much dila- 
 pidated and out of repair. The spring affords a 
 plentiful supply of water, which is used by the 
 people living in its neighbourhood for domestic pur- 
 poses. It does not possess any medicinal properties ; 
 The water is, however, so much impregnated with 
 mineral substances, as to be rendered very hard. 
 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 The establishment of a public library in the town 
 had long been a desideratum with several of the 
 inhabitants, who were fully sensible of the many 
 advantages that might be derived, not only by them- 
 selves, but also by the rising generation, from a well 
 selected collection of books. It was not, however, 
 until the 20th of May, 1828, that a meeting was 
 held, and a committee appointed for making the 
 necessary arrangements, and for carrying so de- 
 sirable an object into effect. 
 
 h2 
 
104 HISTORY OP THORNE. 
 
 By the exertions of this committee, 57 subscribers 
 tvere induced to support the institution, a convenient 
 room was obtained in a central situation, as a depo- 
 sitory for the books, and within the short space of 
 eight months from the opening of the library, 500 
 volumes have been collected. 
 
 NEWS ROOM. 
 
 Several gentlemen, subscribers to the above in- 
 stitution, having expressed a wish that they might 
 be allowed the privilege of introducing some of the 
 - public journals into the library, the room has, since 
 Feb. 1829, been furnished with the following news- 
 papers, viz. the Times, the Observer, and the Far- 
 mer's Journal, London ; the Doncaster Gazette, th« 
 Hull Packet, the Leeds Mercury, and the Liverpool 
 Mercury. 
 
 THE HALL, 
 
 Is a good family mansion, the property of Henry 
 Ellison, Esq., but at present it is unoccupied. To^ 
 the house is attached a large well-walled garden, 
 hot-houses, lawn, and shrubberies ; and there are 
 convenient stabling, coach houses, &c. at a short 
 distance from the hall, 
 
 ROADS. 
 
 An act was obtained in 1793, for forming a turn- 
 pike road from Bawtry to Selby, through Thorne ; 
 which road is now much frequented, being a nearer 
 and easier route from Bawtry to York, than the 
 great north road by way of Doncaster. The Edin- 
 burgh mail travelled on this road for some time^ 
 
HISTORr OP THORNE. 105 
 
 but by the powerful interest of the resident gentry 
 and proprietors on the old line, it was taken off, 
 and a side, or bye-mail, from Doncaster to York, 
 substituted in its stead, which meets with good 
 encouragement. 
 
 Previously to the above road being made turn- 
 pike, it was difficult travelling through this part of 
 the country, especially in winter or wet weather.* 
 
 An act was passed in the sixth year of the reigu 
 of his present majesty George IV. intituled, " An 
 Act for making and maintaining a turnpike road 
 from Doncaster through Hatfield to Bain Croft 
 Barn, near Thorne, with one branch therefrom, in 
 the county of York."' This road is not yet com- 
 pleted, although an elegant lodge and a toll-gate 
 have been erected upon it near Doncaster. 
 
 THE CANAL. 
 
 In 1793, an act was passed to make a navigable 
 canal from Stainforth to Keadby, with one collateral 
 cut from the same at Thorne common, to communi- 
 cate with the river Don at Hangman Hill. 
 
 * There is an anecdote related of a gentleman, who had pro- 
 perty in Lincolnshire, fully corroborating this statement. On a 
 journey to visit his estates, this gentleman had to travel along 
 the Level banks, at a time when they were scarcely passible ; m 
 his progress, he met with an old farmer who resided in the 
 neighbourhood ; and no doubt feeling the difficulty of his situa- 
 tion, thus accosted him, "' Bad roads these, master ; very bad 
 roads indeed ?" '^ Not so bad neither," the farmer shrewdly- 
 replied, '' if a horse can get his foot out with one pull or two 
 pulls, we'en call it middling, middling; but when it takes him 
 three pulls to get it out, then we'en call it bad !'* The gentle- 
 man, it may be supposed, smiled at the consolation afforded him, 
 and got through tiie middling road as well as he could, Thes« 
 banks are now well gravelled, and in good repair. 
 
106 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 The canal was completed and opened about the 
 year 1797^ hut the collateral cut has never been 
 begun. This canal is a great convenience to the 
 town, and has enhanced the value of property in 
 its vicinity very considerably ; it also affords a 
 greater facility of drainage to the lower lands. 
 Should a contemplated communication be opened in 
 a direct line from this canal, above Thorne lock, to 
 the new cut from Goole to Knottingley, it would 
 open an immediate and easy route for the convey- 
 ance of corn, wool, and other productions of Lin- 
 colnshire and the adjacent counties, to the centre of 
 the manufacturing districts, and the markets of 
 Leeds and Wakefield, without the risk and loss of 
 time occasioned by the dangerous, and often tedious 
 passage, for vessels, round Trent Fall and Goole. 
 
 THE INCLGSURE. 
 
 Hatfield Chase, formerly the largest in England, 
 containing within its limits, 180,000* acres. A 
 bounder and perambulationf of which was made and 
 
 * This includes part of the inclosed land, over which the re- 
 garders of the chase claimed a right to follow the deer. 
 
 f The perambulation was performed by the regarders of the 
 chase, whose names follow. 
 
 Charles Wormley Robert Dowell John Storye 
 
 John Slifford William Smith John Banester 
 
 John West, major John Parker John Margrave 
 
 Richard Wrote John Norwell William Ridlington 
 
 HugoRaney William Smith William Allatt 
 
 Robert Stones Richard Dowing Thomas Wyatt 
 
 William Atkinson Edward Turre John Butler 
 
 Thomas Basacle John Tremingham John Fairbarne 
 The regarders aforenamed say that the common bounder of this 
 Chase beginneth at one place called Dycon Dyke End, where 
 there is one mere stone having one cross, and so betwixt the hard 
 ground and the soft ; and fr©m thencG to Holme Wathe, whicii 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 107 
 
 presented to a court held at Hatfield, 30th Htenry 
 VIII. pursuant to special instructions of Thomas 
 
 is commonly known and bounded with mere stones crossed in 
 eight several places ; and from the said wathe so going betwixt 
 the hard ground and the soft, to the east of Holme House 
 Close end ; and so forth by the dykes of tlie closes of the said 
 Holme House, to the west end of them; and so along by Holme 
 wood side to Gonall Close Nook, and so by the diche bank of 
 Gonall Close to the west end of the same, to one place called 
 Gonall Stile ; and from thence by one old dike betwixt Wan 
 Wayn and the soft ground ; and so going up one dike to one place 
 called Curston Weil; and from thence by one old dike to the 
 Parke Stile, otherwise called Park House Stile, and so by the 
 close dike to the Park end ; and so going north and west of the 
 said Parke House close, to the Parke House end; and so going 
 to the end of Doubleday Loyne, to one place called Smythe 
 Green, and so to the ^vater of Done, by the Grange close side; 
 and from the north part of the said water going to one dike called 
 Milne Dike, to the water of Done, going by Bramwith Marsh to 
 Stainforth Ings, and so by the water to the said Loyne end near 
 Stainforth ; and so going by one dike, called Green dike, going 
 betwixt the perishing of Pishlake upon the east part, and the 
 perishing of Bramwych upon the west part, unto one place called 
 Hell Wykked ; and from thence by one place called Flaxley Carr 
 End, to the Scurre Hills ; and so by one sike called Scutte Sike, 
 to Blandworth Field Dyke, between the perishing of Campsall; 
 and so by Scutte Loyne to one place called Sante Pytte, and of 
 the east end of Turne Hagge to the Parke dike ; and so going by 
 the ParkeDike to the land Erne towards the Stile dike,going by 
 Scutte Croft and Dowester field to Went; and so going by 
 Went to one place called Burgon Pitt, and so over the waste to 
 Burton Church, to the west end of Eastoft moore dike, and so 
 going by one syke, called Blake Syke, and so coming into the 
 Black water, where the old Done runneth, and so going by Done, 
 by one place gcalled the White Wathe to the east side of 
 Tokesletts; and so forth by Done to one place called Saunder 
 Garth, and so to one mere stone, at Dyrtensskye, which lieth 
 between the King his Ground, the earl of Derby's Ground, 
 and the Abbot of Selby's Ground ; and so down by Belton plain, 
 and Heppes, to the Boythe, and to Samson Lodge, and from 
 thence by Done betwixt Tiiorne Buskcar and the north toftes 
 into Idle ; and so by Idle to Sandtoft Ferry, towards the water 
 of Torne, and so by the said water to Wrootflete, to one place 
 called God'sCrosse ; and from thence by one place called Priest- 
 flete, to the west end of Cowbridge ; and so by the wood side to 
 the stone in Woolestoke, and from thence by the herde ground 
 and the soft to Nettleholme : and so going to the sound end of 
 the dike : Whereas the King his keepers may go and fetch in hiss 
 Grace's game, at all times into the herde ground ; and so going 
 
108 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 lord Crorawell, the lord privy seal, directed to Mat- 
 thew Boynton, William Thwaites, est[uires, and 
 others. 
 
 The level of this chase, comprising 73,515 acres, 
 being seized by king Charles I. a third part was by 
 him granted to Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, for dis- 
 chasing, draining, and cultivating the whole ; another 
 third part wa.s given to the inhabitants in lieu of 
 their claims, and as common pasturage ; and the re- 
 maining third part was reserved by the king. 
 
 Prior to 1811, there were in the several parishes 
 and townships of Hatfield, Thorne, Stainforth, Fish- 
 lake, and Sykehouse, parcels of this common and un- 
 inclosed land, to the amount of 2,328 acres or there- 
 abouts. The inhabitants of these parishes conceiving 
 the great advantage and utility that would arise from 
 the division and inclosure of so much nearly unpro- 
 ductive land, if brought into a proper state of cul- 
 tivation, made application to parliament, and an act 
 for inclosing these commons received the royal assent 
 11th of April, 1811 ; and in 1817, the lands in the 
 several parishes were allotted to the proprietors. 
 
 The advantages that have arisen to the inha- 
 bitants from the inclosure, the increase of buildings 
 in the town, and the improvement of the surrounding 
 
 to Haxey Yate to the west side of Mysterton Field, to Grin ley 
 Park Noke, and so to the water of Done at Wheteley, towards 
 VVeeland, going by the Water of Aire towards Rocliflp, and so to 
 Ayrmin, and from thence to Swinfleet, and so by Wiiynes Gate 
 intoTylehoiise Kytte, and from thence to Eastoft More Dyke, 
 &c. The meaning of the sides regarders is that this should be 
 nothing prejudicial to any gentleman's inheritance, but »nly for 
 the hunting-'iu ot the King's Game. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 109 
 
 country, must be perceptible to every one ; but to 
 persons, who may have been acquainted with this 
 district prior to the inclosure, and who afterwards 
 have not visited Thome until within a short period 
 of the present time, these alterations and improve- 
 ments appear more particularly striking. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 THE TURF MOORS. 
 
 The Turbary or Waste, comprising a tract of 
 about six thousand eight hundred acres, is situated 
 two miles east of the church, and is bounded on the 
 south by the Stainforth and Keadby canal, from 
 which it extends northward 4J miles, and its width in 
 some parts is 1^ miles. 
 
 A century ago the space covered by the morass was 
 much greater than it is at present, a portion on every 
 side having been cut yearly, and carried ofi'for fuel. 
 
 Under the whole of this extensive morass, lie 
 buried, oak, ash, fir, beech, yew, and willow trees, the 
 remains of an immense forest, which appears to 
 have covered at one period a large proportion of this 
 part of the country. Abraham de la Pryme, ap- 
 pears to be the first writer, who ascertained, by 
 personal observation, that a forest at one time grew 
 where these morasses are now formed, (vide Philo- 
 sophical Transactions, No. 275, p. 980,) and pos- 
 terity have borne testimony to the accuracy of his ob- 
 servations. Every one, who is acquainted with the 
 Roman or early British history, will perceive, with 
 
no HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 what obstinacy the native tribes disputed every inch 
 of ground with their Roman conquerors. Inaccessible 
 hills, impassible morasses, and impenetrable woods, 
 were generally their places of retreat; into these the 
 Romans durst not attempt to follow them. Desul- 
 tory warfare is a peculiar trait in the character of 
 all uncivilized nations ; unity of action and concen- 
 tration of force are only to be found in the reformed 
 state of modern tactics. Xiphiline, on the authority 
 of Dion (lib. Ixxxi, p. 866,) informs us, that the 
 emperor Severus, during his reign in this country, 
 complained of the difficulties, he, met vtdth in his 
 attempts to subdue the natives, and attributes the 
 cause to their mode of fighting, and means of defence. 
 It was their practice to take advantages pf his ad- 
 vanced guard, on foraging parties, cut them off, and 
 immediately retire into their fastnesses ; which so 
 enraged vSeverus, that he determined upon the de- 
 struction of their places of retreat, as far as was 
 practicable ; to accomplish which, he commenced 
 vnth fire, and followed with sword and axe, and in 
 this and the like undertakings, he had the mortifi- 
 cation to find his ranks thinned of 50,000 of his 
 men. 
 
 To this cause may be attributed the fall of the 
 wood in question. The trees when uncovered from 
 the peat, seem to have stood near to the places where 
 they now lie, as the remaining stump and adjoining 
 tree, where the axe has been employed, exactly cor- 
 respond. Tliose trees, which owe their fall to the 
 agency of fire, are not so easily identified, but 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. Ill 
 
 otherwise there are many remaining, especially of 
 oak, fir, birch, yew, wirethorn, willow, and ash, the 
 roots of all or most of which stand in the soil, in 
 their natural postures, as close together as they could 
 possibly grow. 
 
 These roots, when dug up, are now used, either 
 for fuel or for fencing ; when employed for the 
 latter purpose, they have a truly rustic appearance, 
 presenting various fantastic shapes, and they would, 
 on that account, in some situations be highly prized. 
 The oak roots are very durable. 
 
 Pryme says, in his paper before alluded to, " Oaks 
 have been found 20, 30, and 35, yards long, yet want- 
 ing many yards at the small end ; som.eof which have 
 been sold for £4, £S, £ 10, and £15, a piece ; which 
 are as black as ebony, and very lasting and durable. 
 The ash trees are as soft as earth, and are com- 
 monly cut in pieces by the work mens' spades, which 
 as soon as flung up into the open air, fall away into 
 dust ; but all the rest, even the willows themselves, 
 which are softer than the ash wood, preserve their 
 substance and texture to this day ;'' and it may be 
 added, to the present time, although it is now a cen- 
 tury later than when the above remark was written. 
 
 He further adds, that Mr. Edward Canby^' told 
 him, he found an oak tree within his moors, 40 yards 
 long, 4 yards in diameter at the great end, 3 yards 
 and a foot in the middle, and two yards over at the 
 
 * The Canby family, according to a rental of 1712, held land 
 both in Nun and Tweenbridge Moors ; their residence was at 
 the top of Jacob -lane. 
 
112 HISTORY OP THORNE. 
 
 small end ; (query, circumference) so that the tree 
 seems to have been as long again ; for which he was 
 offered £20. At another time, he found a fir tree 
 36 yards long, besides the computed length thereof, 
 which well might be 15 yards more." The largest 
 trees have no doubt been picked out for different pur- 
 poses by the inhabitants for several generations past, 
 yet there are men now living, who state, that they 
 have split up more than a thousand pales, four feet 
 in length, fit for park fencing, from a single tree, and 
 that they have seen trees a yard in diameter, for a 
 very considerable length, and as sound as if just cut 
 down. Some of the firs too are so fresh and sound 
 as to bear splitting into ceiling laths, for which pur- 
 pose they have been not unfrequently used. 
 
 This extensive forestbeing thrown down, in nearly 
 a level country, subject to floods, we may naturally 
 suppose, would impede the little drainage that had 
 before relieved it of the superabundant waters ; that 
 being once stopped, the accumulation of vegetable 
 matter would be very rapid, the branches and leaves 
 of trees and other wreck, with aquatic plants, and 
 moss, that gather on the stumps and branches of trees 
 in moist situations, not covered by water, would soon 
 shelter the main body of the trees from the action of 
 the sun and air, the vegetation of one summer 
 would be destroyed by the frost in winter ; the next 
 spring produces a succeeding crop of morassy vege- 
 tation ; this is again destroyed ; until returning 
 seasons have formed peat, to ihe height and consis- 
 tency we at present find it. The production of peat 
 
HISTORY OF THORINE. 113 
 
 is at first rapid, l)ut decreases in proportion as it 
 advances above the level of the country, and the 
 change in its solidity and vegetable production. 
 
 That the principal part of the wood had been thrown 
 down at one time, appears evident, from the sound 
 state in which the trees are generally found ; if they 
 had fallen from natural decay, they would have been 
 more decomposed ; if part only had been thrown 
 down, those left standing, could never, after the 
 peat began to accumulate, gain the horizontal posi- 
 tion in which they now lie. And another proof of 
 the correctness of the assertion may yet be adduced, 
 if the trees were sound when thrown down, and 
 afterwards exposed to the sun, wind, and air (as 
 scarcely any are completely buried in the subsoil) 
 they would have exhibted more evident signs of 
 decay ; especially the less durable kinds ; but when 
 we see the silvery bark of the birch, as bright as 
 when just stripped from a living tree, firs quite 
 enveloped in bark, acorns, hazel nuts, fir cones, 
 hips, oak, and other leaves, we are led to suppose,, 
 that as soon almost as the forest was overthrown, 
 the site must have been covered with water and by 
 this means the wood, &c. preserved from decompo- 
 sition and decay. 
 
 The peat is a substance composed of heath, moss, 
 and various morassy plants, which have undergone 
 but little disorganization, and are mixed with but a 
 very small quantity of earthy matter. It is very com- 
 bustible, and when submitted to the action of fire 
 in an iron retort, produces gas capable of supporting 
 
114 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 a clear white flame, tar, and an ainmonical liquor ; 
 the pipes through which turf gas has heen passed, 
 acquire a very peculiar smell, quite different from 
 j that emitted from coal gas, but not less pungent 
 
 and offensive. 
 
 Peat possesses two very peculiar properties, be- 
 sides its inflammability, viz. its antiseptic quality, 
 and power of resisting water. So great is its antiseptic 
 quality, that animal as well as vegetable substances 
 may remain for years in it, without undergoing pu- 
 trefaction. Anecdotes of the discovery of the re- 
 mains of animals, are related in almost every place 
 where peat abounds ; and there are a few instances 
 of human subjects having been thus preserved from 
 decomposition. " About 50 years ago," says Pryme, 
 " at the bottom of a turf pit, was found a man lay- 
 ing at his length, with his head upon his arm, as in a 
 common posture of sleep, whose skin being as it were 
 tanned by the moor water, preserved his shape en- 
 tire, but within, his flesh, and most of his bones, were 
 consumed and gone ; an arm of whom is now in the 
 possession of Dr. Nat. Johnson/' 
 
 Jn June, 1747, the body of a woman was discovered 
 six feet deep in a peat moor ; the antique sandals on 
 her feet, shewed she had. been buried for many ages. 
 Her hair and nails were as fresh as any person's living; 
 her skin w^as soft, of a tawny colour, and stretched 
 like a piece of doe leather, and was as strong*. 
 
 In the Times newspaper of Tuesday, the 5tli of 
 
 * Phil. Trans. 1747, Vol. xlh . page 575 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 115 
 
 March, 1S29, an account was given of the hody of a 
 man being found embedded in a bog in Ireland, which 
 from his dress, beinga cow'« hide, it is supposed must 
 have been buried a very great length of time. 
 
 Even the water found in the peat moors possesses 
 this antiseptic quality. The existence of putrid 
 water (however stagnant) is unknown in the peat 
 districts; and the men who dig the turf, suppose 
 that it is never injurious to them, even if they drink 
 it cold, when they are heated with labour and covered 
 with perspiration. 
 
 By means of an operation called warping, these 
 peat moors may be converted into very productive 
 land. This warping is an operation peculiar to the 
 low lands, that lie in the neighbourhood of the rivers 
 Don, Aire, Ouse, and Trent ; and has been the 
 means of eiiecting a very extensive and important 
 amelioration of the soil within the whole of that 
 district. The water of these rivers becomes ex- 
 tremely turbid on the rising of the tide, and as the 
 matter which gives it this appearance, is found to con- 
 gist of such a mixture of earthy and saline substances, 
 as forms a most luxuriant soil, plans have been 
 adopted to introduce the flood water upon the land, 
 and cause it to deposit there its enriching sediment, 
 which is called warp, or silt*. 
 
 The process of warping by which the land is thus 
 covered with a new soil is extremely simple. The 
 land to be warped (which must of course lie below 
 
 * The component parts of warp appear to be argillaceous 
 and silicious earths, with portions of mica, marine salt, and 
 miicilai^e. 
 
116 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 the level of high water) is first inclosed by a sub- 
 stantial bank, and a large water course or drain is 
 then made from the river ta the inclosed land, 
 which admits the water on the rising of the tide, 
 freely to flow over the whole inclosure ; that part 
 of the warping drain which penetrates through the 
 bank^of the river is walled on each side, and fur- 
 nished with a flood gate*. And when the tide has 
 attained its highest point this gate is shut and the 
 water is detained until the ebbing of the next tide ; 
 when having deposited its sediment, it is sufi'ered to 
 run off, as the water falls in the river. In a similar 
 manner the water of every alternate tide is admitted, 
 until a sufScient deposit of silt has been obtained, 
 and in many cases a new rich soil may be thus formed 
 in one season, of the thickness of from twelve to six- 
 teen inches. It has been found that this operation 
 of warping so enriches the soil, as to enable it to 
 produce abundant crops for several successive years 
 without any manure being applied. It is indeed 
 necessary that the land should be kept in a state of 
 tillage for six or seven years, as the salt, which, ov\ing 
 to the evaporation of the Avater, is deposited along 
 with the earthy sediment, is found at the first to be 
 prejudicial to grass seeds. 
 
 This highly beneficial method of improving land 
 is supposed to have been first adopted in the eastern 
 part of the district near the banks of the Aire and 
 Ouse, and was no doubt first suggested to the minds 
 of the inhabitants, by their observing the good 
 
 * This inlet through the hank of the river is called a elougk. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 117 
 
 effects produced by the occasional natural overflow- 
 ings of the rivers jwhich in some parts have produced 
 a warp soil of considerable thickness. Further par- 
 ticulars concerning this process may be obtained 
 by consulting a valuable communication made by 
 Ralph Creyke, esquire, of Rawcliffe-house, to the 
 Society for the Encouragement of Arts, and which is 
 contained in the 43d vol. of their Transactions. This 
 gentleman himself warped several hundred acres of 
 land, and received in consequence the large gold 
 medal of the Society, in 1825. 
 
 The depth of the morass near Thorne, in some 
 places is 20 feet, and in others, owing to the vari- 
 ation in the subsoil, not more than a few inches. 
 In different parts of its widely extended surface 
 may be seen, small clumps of stunted birch trees, 
 which draw a scanty nourishment from the peat, 
 whilst here and there a single tree, shew^s by a more 
 luxuriant foliage, that its roots have reached the soil 
 below. Near these, trees and in several other parts 
 of the morass, are large ponds or pits of dark co- 
 loured water, perfectly free from weeds and aquatic 
 plants, which are places of resort for the wild fowl 
 that frequent the moor. 
 
 Cranberries are sometimes collected on these 
 moors, although not in very large quantities, they are 
 considered fine flavoured, but are frequently ga- 
 thered by the poor people before they are fully ripe : 
 also black whortle berries grow in some of the driest 
 situations, but not in sufficient quantities to repay 
 the trouble of collecting. 
 
 I 
 
118 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 The Andromeda (polifolia glauca) with its beauti- 
 fully delicate wax like flower, is one of the prettiest 
 productions of the peat. The varieties of heath 
 (Erica) are not numerous. 
 
 Three specimens of the Sundew, (Drosera) may 
 be collected on the morass ; the sundew is a singular 
 little plant, furnished by nature with a glutinous 
 matter, that exudes from the tips of a number of 
 small red hair like glandular appendages with which 
 the surface of its leaves is covered, giving it the 
 appearance, when the sun shines, of being wet with 
 dew. If a fly or any other small insect alights upon 
 the plant, the tenacious quality of this transparent 
 fluid, prevents its escape. This plant is commended 
 by some as a great cordial, and good for consump- 
 tions, convulsions, and the plague. Formerly a cordial 
 water, in which this herb was a principal ingredient, 
 had great repute, under the name of rosa solis, 
 though now this specific is almost out of date.— 
 Miller's Bot. Off. 
 
 Eirophorum. L. The cotton grass, or cotton rush, 
 grows here in great abundance, its white downj^ 
 tuft, resembling the finest cotton wool, and from 
 which it has its name, presents a very curious ap- 
 pearance, when in full bloom, and gently undulated 
 by the wind. 
 
 Myrica. Gale, a strong aromatic shrub, frequently 
 recommended, as a preservative of woollens from the 
 ravages of the moth, may be found very plentiful 
 by the sides of most of the drains. 
 
 Of mosseS; there are on the peat an extensive va- 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 119 
 
 rietj', amongst others, some beautiful specimens of 
 coralloides may he collected, hut they should he 
 seen in their native situations, to form an adequate 
 idea of the delicacy of their structures, and the 
 brilliancy of their colours. 
 
 Formerly wild fowl resorted to the morass in im- 
 mense numbers, but now, with the exception of 
 geese at particular seasons, they are comparatively 
 scarce. A few curlews, mallards, teal, snipes, and 
 plovers are occasionally seen. 
 
 One species of the snipe tribe (Scolopax gallinago) 
 is generally termed the moorlamb, by the turf cutters, 
 from the bleating noise it makes, particularly in the 
 breeding season, when hovering at an almost imper- 
 ceptible height in the air; when these birds descend, 
 they dart down with great rapidity. The cock is 
 observed (while his mate sits on her eggs) to poise 
 himself on his wings, making sometimes a whistling 
 and sometimes a drumming noise. 
 
 The Heron (Ardea major) pays a periodical visit 
 
 to the drains in summer. The heron has a small 
 
 body, always lean and covered with a very thin skin, 
 
 it builds in trees, and sometimes in high cliffs over 
 
 the sea ; forms its nest of sticks, lined with wool, 
 
 and in the month of February lays five or six large 
 
 eggs, of a pale green colour. This bird was formerly 
 
 much esteemed as food ; it is remarkably long lived, 
 
 sometimes even exceeding the age of sixty years. 
 
 The male is a very elegant bird ; its forehead, crown, 
 
 and the upper part of its neck are white ; the head is 
 
 adorned with a pendant crest of long black feathers, 
 i2 
 
120 HISTORY OF THORNE- 
 
 beneath the wings there is a bed of black feathers \ 
 which are very long and soft, and were formerly used 
 as ornaments to the caps of the knights of the garter. 
 
 A few pairs of the moor buzzard, (Falco serugi- 
 nosus) yearly breed on the most unfrequented par's 
 of the morass. The cere of this bird is a greenish 
 yellow, body chocolate tinged with brown, legs yel- 
 low, long and slender, beak, and talons black, 
 weight twenty ounces, length twenty-one inches. 
 This bird is one of the most voracious of its tribe. 
 It is a well attested fact, that nine, nearly full grown 
 moor game (tetrix and rubra) were taken out of its 
 nest one day, and eight the next morning. The Oyr 
 falcon, is also sometimes seen sailing over the moor. 
 
 Vipers are very numerous in some parts of the 
 morass, but they seldom attempt to bite any one 
 unless when provoked ; instances have, however, oc- 
 curred of their attacking persons who have inadver- 
 tently approached too near their places of retreat. In 
 very hot weather they may frequently be seen bask- 
 ing on the edge of the drains, and sometimes even in 
 the foot paths. Dogs or cattle when bitten by these 
 reptiles appear to suffer very much, and will seldom 
 eat for several days ; yet in the larger animals, the 
 bite seldom proves fatal. The best and readiest known 
 remedy for the swelling caused by the bite of the 
 viper is olive oil. Many a poor harmless natrix or 
 common snake pays the forfeit of its life, under the 
 mistaken notion of its being venomous like the 
 viper ; but if the mouth of each of them be examined, 
 two fangs will be found on each side of the upper 
 
HISTORY OF THORISE. 121 
 
 jaw of the viper, these fangs are long, crooked, and 
 moveahle,and can be raised or depressed at pleasure, 
 they are hollow from near the point to the base, 
 near which is a gland, that secretes, prepares, and 
 lodges the poison ; and the same action that gives 
 the wound, forces from the gland through the tooth, 
 the poisonous juice into it. This reptile creeps 
 slowly, and never leaps like other serpents. 
 
 Harry Warburton was the last in this part of the 
 country, who made a profession of viper catching ; 
 he was an eccentric character, and earned part of his 
 livelihood by procuring vipers for the apothecaries 
 and druggists. Broth made from vipers was then 
 in repute as a strengthening aliment, and their 
 fat much in request for the cure of tender eyes, 
 Vinum Viperinum, or wine of vipers, was also ac- 
 counted a grand restorative* With a stout stick, 
 and an old stocking to put them in, Harry used 
 to sally forth to the moors in search of the reptiles, 
 and seldom returned without a capture. Vipers 
 being sold alive,it required no little skill and address 
 to secure them without being bitten. This man has 
 been known to turn a number of them down on the 
 flags in the church yard, to revive them in the sun, 
 and afterwards, safely re-secure the whole of his 
 hissing captives. 
 
 Of insects there are innumerable quantities on 
 the moors, small gnats, generally called midges, are 
 the most troublesome ; on a fine autumnal evening*, 
 when the wind is still, these little tormentors render 
 the houses in the neighbourhood of the peat almost 
 uninhabitable. 
 
122 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 THE TURF TRADE. 
 
 Should the improvements in drainage he con- 
 tinued with the same spirit and success, with which 
 thay have heen for the last twenty years, the aspect 
 of this country will gradually undergo a material 
 change ; and if the turhary or waste, now allotted 
 to the diiferent proprietors of the adjoining lands, 
 should become thoroughly drained and warped, as 
 is contemplated, the turf trade will be gradually lost. 
 On that account, to give here a few particulars of the 
 present and past state of this trade may be useful ; 
 and it is presumed that as many of the present in- 
 habitants of the town have never been to the morass, 
 a short description of the method of preparing the 
 peat for fuel, may not be uninteresting. Before the 
 Stainforth and Keadby canal was cut, an extensive 
 trade* was carried on, in which was employed be- 
 tween thirty and forty boats, and more than the lat- 
 ter number of families earned a comfortable subsist- 
 ence in cutting and preparing the peat, which they 
 transported by means of the peculiar boats used for 
 that purpose to the river Don ; there it was shipped 
 into larger vessels, for the supply of all the diifer- 
 ent towns on the banks of the Don, the Ouse, the 
 Trent, and Humber. 
 
 On arriving at the morass, the workman proceeds 
 with a sharp spade, adapted for the purpose, to 
 clear the surface of the peat from the heath and 
 other plants, with which it is covered ; he then 
 
 * From an account kept,, it appears, that upwards of 2000 
 boats laden with turf for shipment, passed the sluice in one year. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE 123 
 
 marks out a space, nine yards by one and a half, 
 which, when cut to the depth of five feet, is con- 
 sidered a day's work, and contains about a boat load 
 and a half. This space he divides into squares, each 
 of these he again subdivides, by cuttings of two feet 
 in depth into smaller squares, of about ten inches, 
 which gives an appearance similar to the cheques on 
 a draught board ; this done, he steps below, and by 
 five sharp strokes of his spade, one cut a space below 
 the other, nearly severs the mass, and with a sixth 
 stroke, sets it completely'at liberty. He next casts 
 it with the spade into the arms of a bearer, who 
 stands ready to receive and carry it to a short dis- 
 tance, there to be piled in rows to dry. 
 
 When the peat is very wet, the children who carry 
 it in their arms, are provided with thick aprons of 
 sacking or leather, down which the water from the 
 turf almost constantly trickles, and has a very cool- 
 ing appearance on a hot summer's day. The tanning 
 principle in the water, and the constant exposure to 
 the sun and weather, soon give the children a very 
 tawny complexion, which however is not permanent. 
 
 After the drying of the turf has been thoroughly 
 effected, the rows before mentioned are collected, 
 and formed into heaps or stacks, neatly piled, so as 
 preserve them from the wet, which can only be done 
 to perfection by those who have been brought up to 
 the business. After this, they are ready to be con- 
 veyed in boats along a new drain, (cut by order of 
 the commissioners of the inclosure, in 1815,) to the 
 canal, to be shipped to any part of the country; 
 
124 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 York and Hull are the principal markets for turf at 
 present, and several vessels are constantly employed 
 in the trade to the former place. 
 
 The ancient lines of the hoatino^ drains, by which 
 peat was formerly brought to the town, converged 
 to a point near a small cottage, lately built on the 
 moors for Harry Stocks, thence the boats proceeded 
 up the long drain to High Bridge, across the present 
 line of the canal to Double Bridge, where was a 
 small lock for holding up the water ; after again 
 crossing the line of the canal, near Jacob's Well, 
 at the Wike end, they proceeded close by the town 
 side to a sluice, taken up by order of the partici- 
 pants a few years ago, and thence into the river Don. 
 
 At the time this trade was in its greatest prospe- 
 rity, the boating dike was filled with clear water, 
 and was an ornament to the town, into which, it is 
 said,that the water intruded at times so far,that boats 
 have been seen up a wide open sewer that extended 
 across the market place, fastened to the houses at the 
 end of Church-lane. Since the removal of the sluice 
 before alluded to, the communication with the river 
 has been cut off, and this dike has become the com- 
 mon receptacle of filth, and a nuisance to the town. 
 
 The boats employed in transporting the turf from 
 the moors are clinker built, about 27 feet long, and 
 13| wide ; they are sharp at both ends, and made to 
 work either stem or stern foremost, the drains being 
 too narrow to allow the turning of such boats in 
 them. 
 
 Formerly, there were above thirty of these ves- 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 125 
 
 sels employed in this neighbourhood, but now there 
 are not more than eight or nine, which are chiefly 
 confined to the moors. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 THE RIVER DON. 
 
 The river Don, Dan, or Dun, so called, (says Cam- 
 den) because it is carried in a low, deep channel, for 
 that is the signification of the British word Dan. 
 
 " This river risethin the upper part of Pennystone 
 parish, near Lady's Crosse, which may be called our 
 Appeniiies, because the rain water that falleth, 
 sheddeth from sea to sea, cometh to Birchworth, so 
 to Pennystone, thence to Boleterstone by Medop, 
 leave th WarnclifFe chase (stored with roebuck**, 
 which are decayed since the great frost) on the north 
 belonging to Sir Francis Wortley,were he hath great 
 iron works. The said WarnclifFe affordeth 200 
 dozen of coal for ever to his said works. In the chase 
 he had red and fallow deer and roes ; and leaveth 
 Bethuns, a chase and tower of the earl of Salop, on 
 the south side. By Wortley to Waddsley, where, in 
 times past, Everinghara of Stainber had a park, 
 now disparked. Thence to Sheffield, where it wash- 
 eth the castle wall ; keepeth its course to Atter- 
 cliffe, where is an iron forge of the earl of Salop ; 
 from thence to Winklebank, Kymbervvorth, and 
 Eccles, where it entertayneth the Rother: cometh 
 presently to Rotherham, then to Aldwark Hall, the 
 
126 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 Fitzwilliams's ancient possessions; then toThribergh 
 parke, the seat of Reresbyes Knights ; then to 
 Mexborough, where hath been a castle ; then to 
 Conisborough parke and Castle of the earl of 
 Warrens, where there is a place called Horsa's 
 tomb. From thence to Sprotebrough, the ancient 
 seat of the famous family of Fitzwilliam, who have 
 flourished since the conquest. Thence to Newton to 
 Donceastre, Wheatley, and Kirk Sandal to Barnby 
 Dun, by Bramwitli and Stainfortli to Fishlake ;" it 
 then flows past Thorne Quay, about a mile north of 
 the town, where it begins to take a northern course, 
 and at Ne^v Bridge, four miles from Thorne, enters 
 a canal, commonly called the Dutch River, cut by 
 Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, and his Dutch and Flemish 
 followers, about the year 1630, and then flows north 
 east to the Ouse, into which it falls at Goole Bridge. 
 England presents few more beautiful scenes than 
 are to be found at several points in the early pro- 
 gress of the Don ; but when it has received all its 
 tributary waters, it loses its original character, and 
 becomes what the author of Ivanhoe describes it, 
 ^' a soft and gentle river.'' 
 
 Formerly ,the river divided at Stain forth into 
 several channels, the most considerable of these 
 joined the Aire at Turn Bridge, between Snaith and 
 Rawcliff, then a port town ; another branch flowed 
 by Seadike Bank to Tudworth ; and a third passed 
 close to the town of Thorne. The two last branches 
 united, and formed the old river Don, which flowed 
 by Crowle, Eastoft, Haldenby, and Fockerby, to 
 the Trent at Adlingflect. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 127 
 
 The diversion of this river from its ancient wind- 
 ing course, the original bed of which is still percep- 
 tible at the south end of the town of Thorne, also 
 on the Levels; and at Eastoft, and in various other, 
 places, being intimately connected with the drainage 
 of the level of Hatfield chase, an abridged account 
 of the progress in that undertaking is subjoined. 
 
 From time immemorial a large tract of country 
 in the counties of York, Lincoln, and Nottingham, 
 called the Level of Hatfield Chase, had been sub- 
 ject to be overflowed with water. 
 
 As early as the first of Edward III. (1327) the 
 inhabitants commenced the drainage, to improve the 
 land and general face of the country. In 26 E. 3*. 
 it appears, Raipe de Wilughby, Will. Basset, Will, 
 de Skipwith, Illard deUsflete, Robert de Haldanby, 
 John de Lasingcroft, and John de Flete, of Bul- 
 wiche, were constituted commissioners, to view and 
 repair the banks of the rivers Trent and Done, with- 
 in the hundred of CruUe (Crowle.) 
 
 And long after this, scil. in 5 E. 4,t Sir Thomas 
 Burghe, and Sir Robert Constable, knight, John 
 Nevill, Robert Sheffield, junior^ Thomas Moigne, 
 Richard Haunserd, of Ouresby, and others, were 
 appointed commissioners, for the ^iew and repair of 
 the banks and sewers throughout the isle, and also 
 betwixt Bykersdyke, on each side, in the county of 
 Nottingham, and the river Done, on both sides, in 
 the county of York; as also to impress so many 
 
 * Pat. 28. E. 3. p. 3. m. 22. in dorso. 
 t Pat. 5 C, 4-. p, 1. m, 2^. in dorso. 
 
128 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 labourers as they should think necessary for that 
 purpose, upon competent wages, in respect of the 
 great necessity for hastening thereof. 
 
 Several successive commissions were afterwards 
 appointed, in the succeeding reigns ; and soon after 
 the commencement of King Charles's reign, it is 
 stated, a commendable work was undertaken, not 
 only for draining of all the surrounded marshes of 
 the isle, but of the adjacent fenny grounds, laying in 
 Yorkshire ; viz. Hatfield Chase and Ditchmarsh ; for 
 at that time the overflowing of the fresh waters over 
 all that level was such, by reason, of obstructions iu 
 several parts of the rivers Jdel, .Bykersdyke, Turne, 
 Done, and Aire, with silt and other impediments, 
 chiefly contracted by the daily tides ; that, not only in 
 winter, but even in summer, boats laden with plaster 
 passed over the levels to a place called Holten bridge, 
 near Hatfield Woodhouse, the waters upon the 
 drowned grounds being about three feet deep : and 
 a fisher's house, called Steere's lodge, standing on 
 ground raised three or four feet above the level of 
 the country, often drowned, " insomuch as there was 
 no less than sixty thousand acres of land thus over- 
 flowed by the fresh waters.'^ 
 
 " The said king therefore, being seized of the 
 Level of Hatfield Chase and of divers lands and 
 waste grounds belonging to the same : as also of and 
 in the chase called Hatfield Chase ; with Dikes- 
 mrash, together vAth the lordships of Wroote and 
 
 * Ex diversis, depositionibiis, in lingula Breviuin de term, 
 Pascli. ^4). Caroli penes Kemcm. Scacc. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 129 
 
 Fiiiiiingley, in the county of Yorke, all lying upon 
 the same flat ; out of his royal and princely care 
 for the puhlick good in regaining so great a propor- 
 tion of surrounded land, which, at the best yielded 
 little or no profit to the commonwealth, but contrari- 
 wise nourished beggars and idle persons, and having 
 a chase of red deer though a good part of this fen, 
 which much annoyed and oppressed the residue ; 
 resolving by the advice of his counsel ; partly for 
 the easing of his chard ge, and increase of his rev- 
 enue^ and partly for the improving and reducing of 
 so great a quantity of drowned and boggy ground, 
 to be made good meadow, arable, and pasture, for 
 the general good ; did under the great seal of Eng- 
 land,contract with CorneliusVermuyden, then of the 
 city of London, esquire, by articles bearing date the 
 twenty fourth day of May, 1626 in the second year 
 of his reign, the substance whereof was as followeth. 
 
 First, That Sir Cornelius should, at his own 
 charge drain and lay the same dry ; beginning the 
 work within three months, after the king should have 
 agreed with those persons that had interest of com- 
 mon therein ; and finish it will all possible expediton. 
 
 Second. That Sir Cornelias, in consideration there- 
 of, should have to him and his heirs,for ever, one full 
 third part of the surrounded ground, to hold of the 
 king, his heirs and successors, as of his manor of 
 East Greenwiche in free and common socage. 
 
 Third. That Sir Cornelius should pay and satisfie 
 to the owners of all lands laying within the level, and 
 so surrounded, such summs of money, as the same 
 
130 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 should be thought worth by four commissioners ; 
 whereof two to be named by the lord treasurer of 
 England and the other two by Sir Cornelius 
 
 Fourth. That the work being finished, there 
 should be, for the better preservation thereof, a cor- 
 poration made, to make acts and ordinances to that 
 end, as occasion should require ; consisting of such 
 persons as he the said Cornelius and his heirs should 
 nominate. 
 
 Fifth. That within three years after that should 
 be finished, six Commissioners to be appointed ; viz. 
 three by the Lord Treasurer of England and three 
 by the same Cornelius, his heirs, &c. to view them, 
 and estimate what the future yearly charge might 
 amount unto, for the perpetual maintaining of them; 
 whereupon Sir Cornelius to convey and assure the 
 inheritance of lands to such a value, as might be 
 thought suflicient to support that charge.'" 
 
 On the 5th of February, in the fourth year of his 
 reigUj king Charles I. granted, for the consideration 
 of £10.000, to be paid by Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, 
 the manor of Hatfield, and also a third part of the 
 manor of Brampton, called Grates at Gate, the 
 park at Hatfield, the manors of Fishlake, Thorne, 
 Stainford,&c. Dowcethorpe, in the county of York ; 
 also all that parcel of waste, marsh, and moorish 
 land, described at that time to have been overflowed 
 with water, part of the manor of Hatfield, and 
 known by the several names of Dishmarsh, Haines, 
 Totlets, Nunmoore, Northtofts, Midlings, Smithy- 
 green, Bromwith Marsh, Broadhill, Stawker's Rush- 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 131 
 
 hills, Dartness, Moorside, Rainbutts, Uggin Carr, 
 and Uggin Lings, Raugh Carr, Alder's Carr, and 
 Thorne Carr, containing by estimation 10,206 acres^ 
 with divers messuages, houses, rents, services, roy- 
 alties, liberties, &c. particularly mentioned in the 
 letters patent, save some exceptions of or under the 
 annual rent of one hundred and fifty pounds. 
 
 An after clause thus proceeds. Sir Cornelius Ver- 
 muyden,or his heirs, shall hold the demesne or manor 
 of Hatfield, and the manors of Fishlake, Thorne, 
 Stainford, and Dowcethorpe, and the park, and so 
 forth ; together with our right of turbary, &c. &c, 
 and manor of Hatfield and Thorne, under the annual 
 rent of one hundred and ninety five pounds, three 
 shillings, and five pence halfpenny ; and an increased 
 rent of £425, at Midsummer and Christmas, by half 
 yearly payments ; and for the premises in Wroot, 
 an increased rent of £60, payable at the same time ; 
 old rents, £8. 6s. Sd. and a pair of gloves, or four 
 pence. 
 
 The rents reserved by the king were afterwards 
 granted by letters patent, bearing date the 9th day 
 of September, in the fifth year of his reign, to 
 Katharine, late Duchess of Buckingham, and Sir 
 George Manners, knight, afterwardsEarl of Rutland, 
 in trust for George Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 The king likewise granted, to John Gibbon and 
 J. Corcillis esquires, his third part of the drained 
 lands, on paying the fee farm rent of £1228. 17s. 
 to be paid to the crown for ever, which was after- 
 wards granted to the Duke of Buckingham. 
 
J 32 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 During the time Sir Cornelius Vermuyden was in 
 progi'ess with draining the Levels, his work was 
 frequently obstructed, and the foreigners who ac- 
 companied him insulted, by the neighbouring land- 
 holders. A description in M.S. of some of the pro- 
 ceedings, written by one of the original proprietors, 
 is as follows. 
 
 " Whilst this great projector was actively em- 
 ployed in his undertaking, he found himself 
 mightily annoyed by the gfiiats and flies, that is, 
 the common inhabitants, who began to look with 
 a jealous eye upon the large banks and mounds cast 
 up by the settlers ; suspecting that by these works 
 they were endeavouring to drain the water on the 
 higher land, to preserve their own improvements in 
 the lower grounds. The il habitants, therefore, en- 
 deavoured to obstruct the work, but not finding 
 their efforts of much avail, they collected together 
 all the carts, barrows, and working instruments 
 they could meet with belonging to Vcrmuyden's 
 party, and burnt them in large heaps by night; 
 upon which Sir Cornelius was obliged to eil'ect a 
 reconciliation, by purchasing lands for his drains 
 of the ancient owners, and satisfying the common 
 people, by giving them extraordinary wages. 
 
 Having by these means appeased the disaffected, 
 he purchased of the king the manor of Hatfield, and 
 other grounds, so that he and his partners became 
 possessed of most of the surrounded land ; upon 
 which, they stopped up the course of the river Dun, 
 running by Thorne ; with a great bank, or wall of 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 133 
 
 earth, of an extraordinary height, and turned the 
 waters out of their usual channel through the im- 
 proved lands '; into the grounds and houses of the old 
 inhabitants of Sykehouse,Fishlake, Stain ford, Bain, 
 and Pollington, to the utter ruin, both of the land 
 and the inhabitants. 
 
 The injured party therefore again obstructed the 
 work ; and, April the 10th, 1629, a complaint was 
 laid before the council board, Whitehall, by the At- 
 torney General and Sir C. Vermuyden, of the riotous 
 and rebellious carriage of Robert Portington, esq., 
 and others, in beating, wounding, and killing divers of 
 the workmen employed ip this undertaking ; and for 
 spoiling the walls made for the draining of the lands. 
 This business was heard and debated in the presence 
 of the king. Portington and othe.^s were bound to 
 their behaviour ; and Sir Cornelias left at liberty to 
 prosecute, he being required also to secure at his 
 own charge, the banks of Fisalake and Sykehouse, in 
 what was requisite for their safety. And whereas, 
 it was moved that Robert Portington (one of the per- 
 sons complained of) might be put out of commission 
 of being a justice of the peace for the west riding ; 
 it is ordered, that he shall continue in commission 
 so long as he behaveth himself v/ell. 
 
 In May, 1630, the inhabitants of Sykehouse, 
 Fishlake, Stainford, Cowick,Snaith, Bain, and Pol- 
 lington, exhibited their petition at the board, certi- 
 fied by divers justices of the peace, assembled at 
 the sessions,held at Pontefract, representing the infi- 
 nite lois they had sustained by the inundations af 
 
134 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 water, caused by the participant's new works, which 
 not only entered their houses, hut that their corn and 
 hay, both in barns and stacks, were utterly spoiled ; 
 their corn sown upon the ground washed away ; 
 their cattle lost, for want of food, the tilled lands 
 made unfit to be sown ; and thereby the inhabitants 
 much impoverished ; which overflowings were caused 
 by the banks raised by Sir Cornelius Vermuydeu and 
 others, to drain the lands in Hatfield Chase, by 
 turning the waters of the Dun and Air into channels 
 not capable to receive and carry them away ; 
 whereby that part of the country would become 
 uninhabitable, if some means of prevention was not 
 used. On the other side it was alledged, that the 
 losses were not such as were pretended, and that 
 the decay and lowness of the old banks belonging to 
 Sykehouse and Fishlake, over against the new walls 
 of the undertakers, were the true causes of the in- 
 conveniences complained of ; and that the under- 
 takers had cut a new channel, of sufficient breadth 
 and depth. That the substantial repairing and 
 raising of the old banks, according to a late order 
 of the board, would secure the country, and prevent 
 future damages. These allegations were deliberately 
 heard the king being present. 
 
 It was therefore ordered, that the inhabitants of 
 Sykehouse and Fishlake should contribute two hun- 
 dred pounds, to be paid to Sir Cornelius, and that 
 he, or his participants, should at their own charge 
 perfect the work, by making the banks of the old 
 wall, over against the new wall of the undertakers. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 135 
 
 as high and as broad as they anciently were, or^s 
 he or they should think fit for the safety of the 
 country, ^ 
 
 This order does not appear to have been attended 
 to ; and for many years afterwards disputes were 
 continually arising, to the great emolument of the 
 gentlemen of the law.* 
 
 About the year 1635, the board issued an ordei' 
 for lord Wentworth to tax the inhabitants of Syke- 
 house and Fishlake, with a yearly payment, for 
 maintaining the banks ; which he did in the annual 
 charge of ten pounds. But whilst the inhabitants 
 were thus called upon to contribute several sums of 
 money towards the repairs of the banks, the work 
 itself was shamefully neglected. Accordingly, se- 
 veral complaints were made to the board against Sir 
 Philibert Vernatti, baronet, and Sir Cornelius Ver- 
 muyden, knight, and others, for the loss sustained ; 
 which cause was ordered to be heard before the 
 council at York. Complaint was also made of the 
 stoppage of the river Don, running by Thorne, 
 which was alledged to be the cause of their damages ; 
 this was referred to the commissioners of sewers, 
 who ordered a noble sluice to be built at Goole, 
 that answered the purpose for which it was intended. 
 But after some years, this sluice was driven down 
 by the force of the tides, and never afterwards put 
 into sufficient repair. 
 
 * Several writers also exerted their talents in defence of the 
 different parties ; of one of them Mr. Goughhas a MS. in^ his 
 possession, entitled, '• Thorne Slouse, or the Deyil upon Dun," 
 set forth in the year of our Lord 1706. 
 
 k2 
 
136 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 The participants being now parted and most af 
 their families and adherents in disdain and poverty, 
 it made way for a new succession, most of whom 
 were the successful English of that memorable 
 age, who so managed the authority of the court of 
 sewers for their own ends, and the county not taking 
 timely notice of the evil consequences of it, that 
 what they then did for themselves is practicable 
 now and has come into good liking ever since. For 
 although the juries have brought in their present- 
 ment several times, upon their views, and laid 
 their defaults upon the participants : yet such pre- 
 sentments, not being agreeable to the court, have 
 been refused, and the juries had leave given them 
 to go home, who in such cases have aot been lawfully 
 discharged to this day. 
 
 Nay even the commissioners themselves, that are 
 participants, have acknowledged the ancient country 
 grievances, such as, they will tell you, they know 
 not how to help, and that is because they will not, 
 for they never yet redressed one petition or grievance 
 since the restoration ; though the country^s losses 
 grow every year more insupportable than the former. 
 But now that Goole sluice is so long since taken 
 away, and by that means the ancient passage warped 
 up, let them look back upon the arder of the council, 
 which says, that if it cannot be otherwise avoided, to 
 again open the river Dun, running by Thome. 
 
 And observe further, that though the going away 
 of Goole sluice has been of such dismal consequences 
 to the country, that we can evidence more than 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 137 
 
 [ twenty floods, that have been more destructive to 
 the ancient lands than the burthen of all the taxes 
 put together, since the revolution to this day (and 
 all their repeated losses by water, of more compu- 
 tation than if all their towns had been burnt by 
 fire) ; yet after all this, the other part of the order, 
 of tbe opening of the river again, is not even looked 
 upon, but is kept up so, that often times the ancient 
 land is overspread in most places, three miles at 
 least with water ; all which has not, in some parts 
 below, the passage of one hundred and ten yards, 
 and not above four feet deep, and that too repelled 
 frequently by violent tides. So that, by this you 
 may measure the oppression the ancient country lies 
 under, which has no manner of law for its support, 
 but prescription ; which, in this case, is of no man- 
 ner of authority, but with such tame fools as have 
 known no better ; for no man can conceive that the 
 country can be bound up to suffer these unsupportable 
 damages by any of the orders of council, made 12th 
 May, 1630, or that Fishlake and Sykehouse should 
 be included in that clause of the order, of inevi- 
 table and unforeseen accidents, when all our ancient 
 passages for conveyance are now clearly warped up, 
 and the river too, in such manner, that the banks, 
 now made against Fishlake,are higher than the cham- 
 ber floors of many of the ancient houses, nay, even 
 the eaves of some of them, and the sole of the church 
 low windows, whose foundation is upon the highest 
 ground, as usually all churches are. 
 
 And here you have an account of nine years and 
 
lo8 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 six days, in whicli the country was miserably spoiled 
 and wasted, the poor oppressed to the great pleasure 
 and vanity of a new nothing. Not long after this, 
 these chosen people forsook their entrenchments, 
 and lied ; having the favour to borrow craftily, and 
 spoil most of their neighbours. Sir Cornelius Ver- 
 muyden dies miserably poor in the south, and all the 
 rest, saving a few dispersed ; leaving their adven- 
 ture to a hopeful succession of managers, who would 
 raze the very rainbow out of the firmament of heaven, 
 were they but assured of an ark for their own 
 safety. But this with submission to all and every of 
 the honourable persons, sharers in the improvement, 
 not any of which were ever stained by any per- 
 sonally acting : and withal, among the commoners 
 there are many good men, who were not embarked 
 in so bad a bottom. 
 
 In perusing the foregoing pages, the reader will 
 perceive, that the writer, who stiles himself a lover 
 of his country, or in others words. 
 
 Some village Hampden, that, with dauntless breast, 
 The little tyrant of his fields withstood ; 
 
 appears to have been very much prejudiced against 
 the participants, and of course allowance must be 
 made, in the heavy charges produced against Sir 
 Cornelius Vermuyden and his coadjutors. 
 
 INUNDATIONS. 
 
 The indefatigable and enquiring mind of Abraham 
 de la Pryme, seems to have allowed no extraordinary 
 phenomenon of this part of the country, to have 
 esc?ip«d its observation. His account of the inun- 
 
HISTORY OF TIIORNE. 139 
 
 dations from the river Don, especially of the one by 
 which the Gore Stile Gime*, near Thorne Qaay was 
 formed, will be read with interest, it is as follows. 
 
 '^ Towards the end of this year (1687) there hap- 
 pened a great inundation on the levels, by means of 
 much rains that fell, and the high tides ; which 
 increased the waters so, that they broke the banks 
 and drowned the country for a vast many miles 
 about. My father, and every one in general that 
 dwelt there, lost very considerably in their winter 
 corn, besides the great expense they were put to by 
 boating their cattle to the hills, and firm lands, with 
 the trouble of keeping them there two or three months. 
 I have been several times upon these banks, (which 
 are about three yards in height,) when the water 
 has been full to the very tops, and nothing appeared 
 on that side but a terrible tempestuous sea. The 
 water remains about half a week, and sometimes a 
 week, at its full height, whose motions some hun- 
 dreds of people are watching night and day. But if 
 it chance to be so strong, as to drive away, as it 
 oftens does, any quantity of any of the banks, then 
 it drowns all before it, and makes a npjse by its 
 fall which is heard many miles before they perceive 
 the water ; and in the places where it precipitates 
 itself down, makes a huge pond or pit, sometimes 
 one hundred yards about, and a vast depth, so that 
 in that place, it being impossible for the bank to be 
 
 * Prom a copyhold rental, made in the year 1712— "Thomas 
 Canby,gent. one acre two roods and a half in the Gore, the re- 
 mainder, three roods, being taken away by the floods and breach 
 of the bank, nine peace three farthings.'* 
 
140 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 built ajSfaiD, they always build it half round, many of 
 which pits and banks may be seen beyond Thorne. 
 
 " On the 17th of December 1697, we had a very 
 great snow, which was on the level ground about two 
 foot and a half thick, after a pretty hard frost, which 
 froze over again for several days. On the 20th it 
 thawed exceedingly fast,upon which there came down 
 a great flood that the like was never known ; about 
 forty one years since there was the greatest flood 
 that was then ever remembered, but that was much 
 less than this : for this came roaring all of a sudden, 
 about eleven o'clock at night, on to Bramwith, Fish- 
 lake, Thorne, and other towns, upon which the people 
 rung all their bells backwards (as they commonly 
 do in case of a great Are,) but though this frightened 
 all to the banks, and bid them all look about them, 
 yet, nevertheless, the loss was very great. The 
 people of Sykehouse, and Fishlake, they had banks 
 to save them, yet it overtopt all : drowned the beasts 
 in their folds and destroyed their sheep ; several 
 men lost their lives ; the houses in Sykehouse and 
 Fishlake being drowned up to the very eaves ; so that 
 they reckon no less than £ 3,000 damage was done 
 by the same in the parish of Fishlake. It came 
 with such force against all the banks about Thorne, 
 which kept the waters 0^ the Levels, that every 
 body gave them over, there being no hopes to save 
 them, and ran over them all along, and the ground 
 being so hard they could not strike down stakes upon 
 the tops of their banks, to hinder the water from 
 running over. At last, it being impossible that sucb 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE 141 
 
 vast waters should be contained in such short small 
 bounds, it burst a huge gime close by Gore Style*, 
 near Thorne, where there had been a vast gime for- 
 merlyjand so drowned the whole levels to an exceeding 
 great depth, so that many people were kept so long 
 in the upper part of their houses that they were almost 
 pined , whilst all their beasts were drowned about them. 
 It was indeed a very sad thing to hear the oxen bel- 
 lowing and the sheep bleating, and the people crying 
 out for help round about as thy did,all over B ram with, 
 Syk«house, Stainford, and Fishlake,and undoubtedly 
 in other places, yet no one could get to save or help 
 them, it being about midnight; and so many poor 
 people were forced to remain, for several days to- 
 gether, some upon the tops of their houses, others 
 in the highest rooms, without meat or fire, until they 
 were almost starved/' 
 
 Since the time Pryme wrote, two or three floods 
 equally destructive with the one he last describes, 
 have deluged the districts on the north side of the 
 river Don. These disastrous events generally form 
 «ras in the local traditions of the country. 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 THE DRAINAGE OF THE LEVEL OP HATPIELD 
 CHASE. 
 
 The reader has now been made acquainted, under 
 
 the head River Don, with some of the proceedings 
 
 connected with the drainage of the Level of Hat- 
 
 ♦ End of the field, near the riv«r. 
 
142 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 field Chase, on the north and west side of the town 
 of Thome ; to elucidate the history of this drainage 
 in other parts, and to shew the desperate means that 
 were frequently resorted to hy the original inhabi- 
 tants of this part of the country, in opposition to the 
 improvements of the Dutch settlers, further inte- 
 resting particulars are subjoined. 
 
 But previously to entering upon the proceedings 
 connected with the settlers, it may be premised, 
 that this tract, which is aptly named the Levels, is 
 in most parts as level as the sea itself, and consider- 
 ably below the high water mark in the Trent ; and 
 besides the Don, of which a description has been 
 already given, there were a number of streamlets 
 which rose in or near the Level, some with and some 
 without a name ; but so altered is the face of the 
 country, in respect of its waters, by the labour of 
 the drainage, that few of the present inhabitants 
 know the situations of the Maden and the Gamson, 
 two of its native streams, sufficiently important to 
 have acquired a distinct appellation. 
 
 But though there were definite channels, and 
 some of them sufficiently deep to admit of the pas- 
 sage of vessels along them, yet there were also many 
 small lakes which were supplied by these river;s, the 
 waters of which were never exhausted even in the 
 dryest season. Between Tud worth and Thorne was 
 on extensive mere, yielding at the conquest an almost 
 incredible number of fish. The intercourse be- 
 tween Thorne and Hatfield was usually conducted 
 by boats. Of this the ecclesiastical history of the 
 
HISTORY OF THORN E. 143 
 
 parish of Hatfield affords a remarkable proof ; the 
 loss of a corpse with a company of mourners who 
 were proceeding with it in a boat to Hatfield for in- 
 terment, being urged by the inhabitants of Thome, 
 as a reason for the extension of the right of sepul- 
 chre to their chapel. When Leland visited this part 
 of the country, he passed to Tudworth Mere from 
 Thorne in a boat, and thence three miles along a small 
 gut, or syke, which, he says, was named Brier, to a 
 place called Wrangton Cote, and so to the isle of 
 Axholme ; at that time people used to go in boats, 
 over the Carrs between Lammas and Michaelmas, to 
 look after their swans. 
 
 Few if any trees were planted on this chase, or 
 even any where in the middle ages of our history, 
 yet Doomsday shows that there were in the levels, 
 as in other parts of the country, that species of 
 country denominated silva pascua ; and in a survey 
 of Hatfield made in 1607 four woods are mentioned, 
 Broadholtne, Uygin, Lindholme, and Brickhill. con- 
 taining respectively twenty nine, twelve and sixteen 
 oaks. 
 
 In a country like this, the inhabitants would natu- 
 rally be more devoted to field sports than to the 
 regular occupations of husbandry. The oppor- 
 tunities it afforded for enjoying the pleasures of 
 hunting, fowling, and fishing were unrivalled ; and 
 these were amusements in which, above all, the 
 ancient baron was accustomed to delight. The whole 
 of this district was one great chase. Hither the 
 
144 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 earls of WaiTen were accustomed to resort for the 
 enjoyment of these sports, and near the centre of 
 the chase, at what is now the village of Hatfield, 
 they had a house at which they might remain when, 
 fatigued with their day's exertion, they were un- 
 willing to return to Coningsborough. Near this 
 house w^as a park of five hundred acres, the memory 
 of which is still retained in the local nomenclature 
 of the district. This park was at all times well 
 stocked with deer, which were also to he seen roam- 
 ing at large through the whole limits of the chase. 
 
 When Edward Balliol, the ex-king of Scotland, 
 was residiijg at Wheatley, he amused himself with 
 sporting on these levels in the Fcedera, there is a 
 curious instrument dated^ Oct. 19, 1356, in which 
 pardon is granted him for the slaughter he had 
 committed. The amount of this slaughter is par- 
 ticularly described. In the chase he had killed 16 
 hinds, 6 does, 8 stags, 3 calves, and 6 kids ; in the 
 park 8 damas, 1 souram, 1 sourellum (a kind of 
 fallow deer) ; in the ponds, 2 pikes, of 3i feet in 
 length, 3 of 3 feet long, 20 of 2^ feet, 20 of 2 feet, 
 50 pickerels of 1| feet, 6 of 1 foot, 109 perch, 
 roach, tench, and skelys, and 6 breams and bremettes. 
 Robert de Mauley was at that time bailiff of Hatfield 
 and John de Aid wick his lieutenant. 
 
 The general superintendence of the chase was 
 vested in the chief justice in JE^re north of Trent, 
 which was held by successive chiefs of the house of 
 Shrewsbury. There was also an officer called the 
 master of the gamje, under these were numerous 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 145 
 
 under keepers. They had stations at the following 
 places. 
 
 Holme House, Eastoft, Gatewood, 
 
 Double daile, Sandal, Lindholm, 
 
 Brarawith, Crowle, Thoriie, 
 
 FJaxley, Bdton, Tudworth, 
 
 Bloudworth, Samson's Lodge, VVoodhouse, 
 
 Domsteinfield Sandtoft, Armthorpe. 
 Bawtry, 
 
 In the inquisition of 1607, it is said, the numher^ 
 of red deer amounts to about a thousand, and that 
 the herd is much impaired by the depredations of the 
 borderers. De la Pryme^ our interesting historian, 
 who might have known those that lived before the 
 drainage, gives a traditionary report, that deer were 
 as plentiful as sheep upon a hill, and venison as 
 abundant in a poor rnans kitchin as mutton was at 
 that time. 
 
 The fisheries were cultivated as well for profit as 
 pleasure at a time when the consumption of fish, 
 owing to the rigidness of religious observances, was 
 much greater than it is at present, and of course the 
 importance of the fisheries whether on the coast or on 
 the inland lakes was in proportion. On the mere at 
 Tud worth there were twenty distinct fisheries, at the 
 time of the conquest, each of which rendered a thou- 
 sand fish or eels (angullse) to the lord of Conings- 
 borough ; in the copyhold rentals of a later period, 
 fifty fisheries are mentioned at Thorne and Tud- 
 worth, one at the latter place is particularized a» 
 the Tench garth. During the late inclosure the 
 remains of a boat and the part of a staith were dug 
 up a little below the hill at Tudworth. 
 
146 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 The peasantry of a country abounding in game 
 will be less civilized and less tractable than where 
 there is not the same temptation to brave the ha- 
 zards which attend nocturnal depredations ; and to 
 the lawless spirit which such a mode of life would 
 generate, may be attributed the violence which th^ 
 natives of these regions opposed to the persons who 
 undertook to reclaim the flooded lands. 
 
 Having now sketched the state of the Chase 
 previously to the time of king Charles I., and 
 his grant to Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, and other 
 proceedings having been already given in a former 
 part of this work, a list of the proprietary as it 
 stood in the year 1635, will introduce the reader 
 to the worthy projectors of the improved state of 
 drainage in this district. 
 
 The lands late Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, ^ acres„ 
 now John Gibbons - - - ) 
 
 ! Andrew Bocard and John Corselis - - 3600 
 
 Sir Philibert Vernatti, kt. and bart. 3150 > 
 Abram Vernatti - - - - 5 50)^^^^ 
 Lucas van Valkenborch - - 1247 ^ 
 
 Marcus van Valkenborch - - 1146(3204 
 Matthew van Valkenborch - - 811) 
 Cornelius van Beueren at Dort - - 1300 
 Samuel van Peenin - - - - 1178 
 
 John van Baerle cum suis at Amsterdam 1000 
 William van Weely at Amsterdam 
 Philip Jacobson - - - 
 Isaac and Pieter van Peenin - - - 572 
 Pieter Cruypenninck at Amsterdam - 440 
 
 361 > 
 350 5 71 ^ 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 147 
 
 The Widow of Edward Busliop - - 400 
 
 Marcellus van Darin - - - - 400 
 
 SirJamesCambell, knight - - - 600 
 
 Sir John Ogle, knight - - - - 339 
 
 The Heirs of Derrick Semey ^f Amsterdam 300 
 
 Leonard Catts at Middleborch - - 200 
 
 Fabian Vliet, at the Hague - - ^ 200 
 
 Roelof and Sebastian Franken, at Dort - 200 
 
 The Widow of Michael Crayesteyn, at Dort 200 
 
 Abram Dolens 200 
 
 Abram Struys, at Dort - - - - 250 
 
 Tlje Widow of Dionysius Vandeal - - 160 
 
 Jacob Struys - - - - - 150 
 
 Charles de Bruxelles, at Dort - - J 00 
 
 Regnier Cornelisen Vos, at Dort - - lOO 
 
 Wouter Degelder, at Dort - - - 100 
 
 The Professor Goel - - - - 100 
 
 JohnVandimen - - - - - 100 
 
 The Heirs of Jacob Droogbroot, at Middle- 
 borch ------ 80 
 
 Sir James Catts, knight, at Dort - - 67 
 
 Acres - - 24,505 
 
 There were other foreigners, who had lands, or 
 who were living on these levels about that time. 
 
 Captain Graiff Bondervyn Clasen vanWar- 
 
 Dingman de Tries Sir Lucas Corselis [mont 
 
 Jacob de Witt Pieter Vangelder 
 
 Isaac Lombrach Heneric Kysteii 
 
 Gamaliel Vandernoen Nicholas Donsen 
 Thomas and William de Witt Pieter Ridder 
 
 Sir William Coiirten Edward Lyons 
 
 Jan Lemaire John Dercrl 
 
 Christian VanderTarl Robert Grinskins 
 
148 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 Some of these foreigners embarked in the design 
 with the intention of abandoning their own country ; 
 others considered it in the light of a means of em- 
 ploying their capital ; and the state of Holland at 
 that time was such^ both as regarded politics and 
 religion, as to make it desirable to numbers of the 
 proscribed party to seek an asylum in England. 
 
 A small congregation of these emigrants used to 
 meet, for the purpose of religious worship, in the 
 Hall, at Crowtrees, prior to the erection of a ehapel 
 at Sandtoft. In the fourteenth year of the reign of 
 Charles 1. they built a chapel, and a number of 
 houses there ; they also appointed a minister, with 
 a salary of eighty pounds a year, and the service was 
 read alternately in the French and Dutch languages. 
 It appears that there were then about two hundred 
 families of French and Walloon protestants con- 
 nected with this establishment. But Sandtoft had 
 before that time been the place of residence of one 
 religious, who had a cell there, founded by Roger 
 de Mowbray, under the abbey of St. Mary at York, 
 for whose defence a mastiff was constantly main- 
 tained *. 
 
 For about seven years the new settlers cultivated 
 their lands in peace.' A commission of the sewers 
 was appointed, in pursuance of the last order in 
 council, directed to disinterested and honourable 
 
 * Roger de Mowbray gave the isle called Sandtoft, and large 
 posessions with it,for a eell to the church cf St.Mary's,at York : 
 and William earl of Warren, gare Henes to the said monastery. 
 Thomas Plunketh was the first Prior of SaRdtoft and Henes. Na 
 valuation is attached to these gifts. Mon, Ang. v. ii. p. 1022. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 149 
 
 men, by whom the interests of the participants, their 
 tenants, and the old inhabitants, were equally pro- 
 tected. The completion of the Dutch riv.er had 
 taken away the cause of complaint from the inha- 
 bitants of Sykehouse and Fishlake ; and though iu 
 other parts of the level there were questions still 
 unsettled, yet little seemed left to disturb the peace 
 of the district. 
 
 However, at the beginning of the civil wars, a 
 committee sat at Lincoln, for the purpose of watch- 
 ing over the interests of the parliament in that 
 county ; Sir Ralph Hansby was at Doncaster ex- 
 ceedingly active and zealous in the royal cause, A 
 rumour, true or false, was circulated in Lincoln- 
 shire, that he intended to march to the Isle of 
 Axholme, the inhabitants of which were, for the 
 most part, disaffected to the king. To frustrate 
 this design the committee had recourse to the des- 
 perate means of defence which the Hollanders have 
 at times so successfully employed. They ordered 
 the flood gates of Snow-sewer to be pulled up ; in 
 consequence of which, the waters of the Trent"*" 
 
 * It appears, by Thackray's levels, that the high water of 
 spring tides in the Trent, at Keadby sluice, when the river is in 
 its usual state, rises to the height of about eight feet above the 
 general surface of the low lands in the chase ; but when the river 
 is flooded, the high water rises to the height of about eleven feet 
 above the surface. Low water of a spring tide in the Trent, 
 when the river is in its ordinary state, lies about five feet and a 
 a half below the general surface ; but when the river is flooded, 
 it is only about three feet below the surface. The ordinary neap 
 tides of the Trent, when unaifected by the land freshes, rise 
 about four feet above the surface of the low lands, and when the 
 land freshes are in theTrent,they rise more than seven feet above 
 the surface. The low water, in the former case, is about six feet 
 and a half, and in the latter, only about three feet below the 
 surface. L 
 
130 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 again spread themselves over a great part of these 
 levels. This was done in the beginning of the year 
 1642 ; and a guard of soldiers v/as stationed there 
 for seven weeks, to prevent the hreach being closed. 
 This company threatened that they would stay till 
 the whole level was drowned, and the inhabitants 
 forced to swim away like ducks. About the same 
 time, some of the inhabitants of Misterton pulled 
 down another sluice near that town, which occa- 
 sioned the river Trent to break the banks and 
 overflow the vdiole level, so that barns and stacks 
 of corn, in many situations, were immersed a yard 
 high in water. 
 
 Yet the inhabitants of the Isle of Axholme, not 
 Svatisfied with the mischief and damage that had 
 been already done, and the civil wars having re- 
 laxed the authority of the laws, in the autumn of 
 1645 they threw down great part of the banks, 
 filled up the ditches, and turned their cattle into 
 the pastures and standing corn of the poor suifering 
 adventurers. 
 
 The participants represented their case to par- 
 liament, in which they stated, that after expending 
 at least two hundred thousand pounds in those 
 works, the inhabitants of Epworth had drowned and 
 laid waste a portion of at least 70,000 acres of land, 
 and destroyed a great quantity of rape and growing 
 corn, by pasturing their cattle upon it ; that they 
 had also burnt several houses, destroyed their 
 ploughs and farming implements, beat and wounded 
 their labourers, and threatened to destroy their re- 
 main iag banks and sluices ; upon which, at the end 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 151 
 
 of the year 1645, an order was made, that the sheriff 
 of Lincolnshire should pursue the statute of 13 
 Henry IV. for suppressing riots, and call to his as- 
 sistance the trainbands of the country, and any 
 other parliamentary forces that might be there, to 
 protect the participants in repairing whatever had 
 been demolished, and that a deputy should be ap- 
 pointed to act within the limits of the levels, for 
 the immediate aid of the participants. 
 
 The commoners had now recourse to legal pro- 
 ceedings ; they applied for a reversal of Sir John 
 Bankes's decree. The question being again before 
 the courts, an order was issued to the sheriffs, to 
 put the participants in possession of the lands 
 assigned them by the decree, subject to the ulti- 
 mate decision of the court. But when the sheriff 
 arrived in the isle, he found himself forcibly ob- 
 structed by a body of four hundred men, with 
 Daniel Noddel, a solicitor, at their head. And when, 
 in 1650, the original decree was confirmed in the Ex- 
 chequer, riots more violent than the former occur- 
 red, in the course of which no fewer than eighty two 
 dweilinghouses of the foreign settlers were destroyed, 
 with the barns, stabling, windmill, and the growing 
 corn and rape on about 3400 acres ; these damages 
 were estimated at £80,000. The chapel at Sandtoft 
 was defaced with circumstances of brutality that 
 strongly mark the vulgar character of the assailants. 
 For ten days the isle men were in a state of open 
 rebellion. 
 
 During these disturbances two old parliamentary 
 
152 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 officers appeared in the isle. These were BJajor 
 John TYildman, who^ since the wars were over, had 
 betaken himself to the dangerous employment of 
 soliciting and managiiig suits ; and Colonel Lilburn, 
 at that time a most turbulent subject. 
 
 It is stated, that John Lilburn, the English repub- 
 lican, was not inferior to Cato in firmness of resolu- 
 tion and unyielding intrepidity. Perhaps there was 
 more of the restless and contentious mixed in his 
 disposition ; yet the differences between the two 
 characters may be chiefly ascribed to the difference 
 of their education and situation in life. John was 
 an apprentice in London when he first exhibited his 
 impatience of tyranny, by a complaint before the 
 chamberlain, against his master, for ill usage. He 
 then began to study the divinity of the times, which 
 mostly tended to controversial disputation, and he 
 became a zealous puritan, with all the austerity of 
 the sect. The Book of Martyrs inspired him with 
 an enthusiastic fervour for acting and suffering in 
 what he deemed the righteous cause. He was soon 
 called upon to suffer, and no one could go through 
 his trials with a more unsubdued spirit. His steadfast 
 appeals to the laws of his country and the privileges 
 of Englishmen, procured him great popularity with 
 the inferior classes, and the title of Freeborn John, 
 Lilburn passed a life of contest against power, in 
 every hand in which it was placed, of dispute with 
 all his superiors in command, and of virulent contro- 
 versy on civil and religious topics. He was a brave 
 soldierj but never found an authority under which 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 153 
 
 he could continue to act. He appears to have been 
 fond of contention for its own sake ; yet without 
 doubt there was much of principle in his constant 
 opposition to injustice and oppression ; and the event 
 often proved him to be in the right. That a kind 
 of ridicule is attached to his memory^ is perhaps 
 chiefly owing to the contemptible nature of many of 
 the disputes in which he was engaged, and the vul- 
 garity of his stile and manners. 
 
 To these men the people of Epworth agreed to 
 assign over 2000 acres of their moor, on condition 
 of being established in the whole 74,000 acres, 
 and being saved harmless touching all riots past. 
 They urged the people of Crowle, and even the old 
 inhabitants of the chase of Hatfield, to set up a 
 claim like their own to the commons. 
 
 At the making of these leases, Noddel insolently 
 declared " that he would bet 20 shillings with any 
 man, that as soon as Lilburn came to London, there 
 should be a new parliament ; and Lilburn should be 
 one of them, and call that parliament to account.*' 
 Further adding, " that they having now finished this 
 of Lincolnshire (meaning obtained the land from 
 the petitioners) they would go into Yorkshire (e.e. the 
 rest of the Level) and do the like there ; and then 
 they would give the attorney general work enough.*' 
 
 This Noddel at another time said, " that now they 
 had drawn their case, they would print it, and nail 
 it to the door of the parliament house ; and if they 
 would not do them justice, they would come up, and,, 
 making an outcry, pull them out by the ears/* 
 
154 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 So confidGiitwere they of final siiccess,that though 
 holding land which belonged to the participants, in 
 defiance of the law, they erected houses upon it ; 
 and Lilburn himself is said by Dugdale to have re- 
 paired the house at Sandtoft, which had been built 
 for the minister, and to have put his servant to re- 
 side in it, and, in the true spirit of his character, to 
 have employed the chapel as a stable or barn. 
 
 Jn the autumn of 1653, the council of state issued 
 an order, that the forces of the army quartered in 
 the level of Hatfield Chase, should aid the oj6Scers 
 of justice in settling the participants in possession 
 of the 74,000 acres, and in suppressing tumults ; and 
 that a commission of oyer and terminer should be 
 issued to try the rioters, and to punish them accord- 
 ing' to law and justice. And in 1656, Major-general 
 Whalley was appointed to superintend this part of 
 the levels : and he was instructed to aid the sheriffs 
 or the deputies of the court of sewers, in keeping the 
 peace, putting any legal decree into execution, 
 maintaining all persons in their rights, and especi- 
 ally the strangers, in the free exercise of their reli^ 
 gion at the accustomed place. 
 
 The first parliament after the restoration of 
 Charles II. were much occupied with the affairs of 
 the levels. It was proposed to exempt the persons 
 who had been engaged in defacing the chapel at 
 Sandtoft from the act of indemnity. Informations of 
 treason and murder were laid before parliament, and 
 orders issued to the justices of the king's bench to try 
 the accused^ and to the sheriffs to keep the peace. 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 155 
 
 ALout the year 1C50, Nathaniel Reading, esq. 
 visited these Levels ; he was appointed to col- 
 lect the arrears of rent granted by the king to the 
 duchess dowager of Buckingham, (relict of Villiers, 
 who was stabbed at Portsmouth by Felton) in trust 
 for the younger Villiers, the second duke. Being 
 an enterprising man, and one who had his fortune to 
 rnake^ he saw in these affairs a means by which he 
 might benefit his country and himself. He accord- 
 ingly, in 1655, agreed witk Sir Anthony Ingram and 
 other participants, to keep down the insurgents, for 
 a salary of £200 a year. 
 
 In a memorial, which in the latter part of his life 
 he presented to the court of sewers, he *Jays, *^ He 
 obtained several writs of assistance, and orders of 
 the house of lords, and deputations from the sheriffs 
 of the three counties, provided horses, and arms, 
 and necessaries, with twenty hired men, with twenty 
 pounds a year each, and their diet, with a chirurgeon 
 in ordinary ; and upon occasions he hired many 
 more ; and after thirty-two set battles, wherein se- 
 veral of his men were killed, divers others wounded, 
 and many lamed, and very many actions and hun- 
 dreds of indictments against him and his assistants, 
 and several years spent under inexpressible hazards 
 and difficulties ; besides loss of his practice, and 
 damage to his wife and chydren, never to be re- 
 paired, he subdued these monsters to obedience, 
 and quieted the crown and participants in their said 
 allotments, repaired the church, settled another mi- 
 nister, restored the congregation, and thereby made 
 
156 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 the said levels and tracts adjacent quiet, safe, and 
 flourishing." 
 
 In 1679 Reading was retained counsel by the 
 popish lords, and was accused of unfair tamper- 
 ing with the witnesses for the crown ; but the 
 Levels were the principal scene of his proceedings. 
 He built a house at Sandtoft, in which he usually 
 resided ; against this house the efforts of the rioters 
 were often directed. His corn and fences were at 
 one time destroyed by a mob ; many of the parties 
 being in disguise, headed by the wife of Robert Pop- 
 plewell. She and other rioters were indicted at the 
 Lentass]zes,forthe county of Lincoln,! 694, and bills 
 were found against them, Robert Popplewell applied 
 to colonel Whichcroft and colonel Pawnal, to inter- 
 cede with Mr. Reading ; and on the award of these 
 two gentlemen, Robert Popplewell paid a fine to Mr. 
 Reading of £600, in order to save his wife and some 
 others of his friends. But Reading having accepted 
 a lease of lands, in the manor of Epworth, for six 
 years, in lieu of £3000, stated to be due to him 
 from the participants, raised thereby a more vindic- 
 tive feeling against himself in the hearts of the com- 
 moners than ever. 
 
 In 1695 the whole family were on the verge 
 of destruction, the isle men, having laid waste his 
 lands and destroyed the houses of his tenants, and 
 in the dead of the night attacked his own. Their 
 intention was to fire it, and burn all who were within. 
 One of the sons, who was in the house at the time, 
 and used to speak of the circumstance, dwelt par- 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE. 157 
 
 ticularly on the consternation and despair of the in- 
 mates when making their way to the doors, they 
 found that the locks were filled with clay. The iron 
 staunchions of the windows had heen made unusually 
 strong and firm, as a protection against assailants 
 from without and they now proved eijually powerful 
 to resist the efforts of the people within. But at 
 last colonel Reading himself, who used to describe 
 the horror of that night, succeeded in wrenching 
 out one of the bars, and conveyed his aged pa- 
 rents through the opening, just at a moment when 
 the burning rafters of the building were ready to fall 
 upon their heads. For some time afterwards, the 
 people continued to commit fresh atrocities being 
 disguised and armed they destroyed a number of 
 houses and farm buildings, cut down fruit and other 
 trees, burnt the fences, and turned their cattle into 
 the corn. Some of the rioters were put in prison, 
 others outlawed, two of the principal ringleaders. 
 Peel and Spark absconded, and were never heard of 
 after. 
 
 Colonel Robert Reading was the son of Na- 
 thaniel and Arabela Churchill Reading, aunt to 
 our British hero John Duke of Malborough, and 
 sister to Sir John Winstan Churchill. Robert was 
 a lieutenant colonel in Clayton's regiment, and 
 behaved very well in his military capacity at the 
 battle of Dumblaine, in Scotland, against the Pre- 
 tender's forces, in the year 1715, and as commander 
 in chief at the fight of Glenshiel, the year following, 
 where he took 500 Spaniards prisoners. He also 
 
158 
 
 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 took the Pretender's plate, which he found walled 
 up in a cellar at Scone. 
 
 Man}' of the settlers on the levels were not 
 participants, but became tenants to them. Of these 
 it is possible to collect a pretty complete list from 
 the register of the chapel of Sandtoft, which was 
 carefully kept from 1641 to 1681, and is still in 
 existance, or lately was so. It was in the French 
 language. The following names occur in it. 
 
 Isaac Beharelle Anthony Massingarbe 
 
 David Letajle Charles Arebault 
 
 Peter Tyssen Anthony Merquelier 
 
 Abraham Beharelle Abrian Vanhouq 
 
 Andrew Clebaux 
 Matthias Priem 
 Isaac des Biens 
 Noah Matts 
 John Beharelle 
 Matthew Porree 
 Hosea Tafin 
 Custaw Legrand 
 John de Lannois 
 James Flahau 
 Isaac Amory 
 James Vienin 
 Anthony Dubois 
 Rowland Dubois 
 Charles Prime 
 Isaac Vennin 
 Adrian Vanhouge 
 Anthony le Roux 
 Nicholas Tyssen 
 Peter de la Gay 
 Charles Ranoy 
 David le Conte 
 
 Isaac Veniy 
 Christian Fontaine 
 Matthew Brugne 
 Josias Harlay 
 Isaac Clais 
 Charles Priam 
 Abraham Desquier 
 William Prime 
 Christian Samaque 
 Thomas Benitland 
 Isaac Hancar 
 Robert Taffin 
 Joel Delepiere 
 Isaac Vanplue 
 John de Roubay 
 Abraham Blique 
 Daniel Douverley 
 Jacob Liennar 
 Joel Lespirre 
 John Gougter 
 John Swart 
 Martin Dubliq 
 
HISTORY OF THORNE 159 
 
 Anthony Blancart Isaa»! Delanoy 
 
 Anthony Scanfaire James Harnew 
 
 Peter de la Hay Oser Legrand 
 
 Noah Ager James Dumoulin 
 
 Jesay Beamarm Anthony Blancar 
 
 John Lelew James Coquelar 
 
 James Leroy Abraham Egard 
 
 Simon Acfair David Morrilion 
 
 Francis Derik James Rammery 
 
 Anthony Leflour Peter Leliew 
 
 Peter Amory Isenhar Chavatte 
 
 James Kenard Mark de Coup 
 
 Christian Smaque Isaac Vanplue 
 
 Michael Lebrand Jacob Tyssen 
 Peter Descamps 
 
 The following were pastors of Sandtoft chapel. 
 
 Monsieur Berchett. He died in 1665, and was 
 buried at Crowle. His wife, dame Catharine Lecog, 
 was buried at Sandtoft, January 28, 1643. 
 
 Jean Deckerhuel was minister in 1659. 
 
 Monsieur de la Prix. 
 
 Samuel Lamber was h Te in 1664. 
 
 Jacques de la Porte was minister in 1676. 
 
 After him came M. Vaneley, who had no suc- 
 cessor; and the chapel itself did not long survive the 
 ministers. It was taken down, and cattle grazed upon 
 its site. There may be those to whom the informa- 
 tion may be acceptable, that it stood " on the north 
 side of the bank coming from Bean (Bear's) Wood 
 Green to New Idle Bank, nearly opposite Mr. 
 Reading's last new house, which stands on the south 
 side of the bank'' This is from the manuscript 
 of one who says, he can well remember part of the 
 
160 HISTORY OF THORNE. 
 
 walls of the cliurcli standing, and was in it about the 
 year 1680 or 1687. 
 
 Nathaniel Reading died at Belton, amongst hi? 
 inveterate enemies, aged abont 100 years. His 
 sons Thomas Reading and lieutenant colonel Robert 
 Reading, leased the isle lands of the participants at 
 £420 per annum, and were at very great expense in 
 inclosing and keeping the lands. About the year 
 1714, they had part of Clayton's regiment of foot 
 encamped upon Ross, to defend the inclosures, but 
 the act against riots being passed in the first year 
 of the reign of George I. put a stop to further out- 
 rageous proceedings in this part of the country. And 
 in 1710^ a bill of the commoners against the parti- 
 cipants being dismissed with costs, the spirit of 
 opposition which had so long rankled in the breasts 
 of the inhabitants, against the settlers and their im- 
 provements, was at length completely damped. From 
 that time the Levels have been in a gradual state of 
 improvement, and now p. jduce as abundant crops 
 as any similar district in Great Britain. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 WHALEY, PRINTER, THORNE. 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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