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If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Antiquities of Bridgnorth - -Author: George Bellett - -Release Date: December 30, 2020 [eBook #64179] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Paul Marshall and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANTIQUITIES OF BRIDGNORTH *** - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - - Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ - in the original text. - Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= - in the original text. - Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. - Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. - Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. - Typographical errors have been silently corrected. - The TOC entry “The Acquittal of the Seven Bishops celebrated in - Bridgnorth” was changed from 186 to 199. - On page 156 there is small text above numbers. These have been - represented here as: {xxxx/999}, eg. {either/224}. - - - - -[Illustration: BRIDGNORTH.] - - - - - THE - ANTIQUITIES - OF - BRIDGNORTH; - - - WITH - _Some Historical Notices of the Town and Castle._ - - BY - THE REV. G. BELLETT, A.M. - INCUMBENT OF ST. LEONARD’S. - - Bridgnorth: - W. J. ROWLEY, BOOKSELLER, HIGH STREET. - LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. - MDCCCLVI. - - BRIDGENORTH: - W. J. ROWLEY, PRINTER, HIGH STREET. - - TO THE MAYOR, AND CORPORATION, - AND INHABITANTS, - OF THE - BOROUGH OF BRIDGNORTH, - THE - FOLLOWING WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, - BY THEIR FAITHFUL SERVANT, - - G. BELLETT. - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -The Substance of the following pages was given in two lectures, which -I delivered last year to the Members of “The Society for Promoting -Religious and Useful Knowledge.” Since then I have collected a few more -facts relating to the early history of Bridgnorth, which I have here -given to the reader, and I have also added an Appendix, containing -some matter not altogether, I hope, undeserving of attention, although -some of it is only remotely connected with my subject. The public -documents relating to the town, such as the Terms of Capitulation, -and the Proclamation of Charles II., it has been thought desirable to -give entire, as but few copies of them, especially of the latter, are -extant. - -It would seem superfluous for me, after the many quotations which I -have taken from his learned work on “The Antiquities of Shropshire,” to -make any acknowledgement of my obligations to the Rev. Robert Eyton. -But I owe him much more than is indicated by these quotations. He very -kindly directed my attention to sources of information respecting -Bridgnorth, which have been of the greatest service to me, particularly -the Blakeway Papers, in the Bodleian Library, besides allowing me to -refer to his better judgment and more extensive information, on any -difficulty that occurred to me. - -I am very much indebted also to Mr. Whitmore, of Apley, for his -kindness in giving me the free use of his own collection of historical -notices of our town and neighbourhood, from the MSS. in his possession. -I would gladly avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my thanks -likewise to the Town Clerk, for allowing me to consult the Common Hall -Order Books, and other documents belonging to the Corporation; and to -Mr. Hubert Smith for giving me his valuable assistance in decyphering -them. Nor should I omit to offer my thanks to the Rev. G. L. Wasey, for -some interesting particulars which he communicated to me, respecting -the early history of Quatford; and to Mr. S. Sidney Smith, from whose -antiquarian lore I have, on several points, derived much valuable -information. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE. - The Foundation of Bridgnorth 3 - The site of Ethelfleda’s Castle 9 - The Castle and Church of Quatford 11 - Bridgnorth Castle built by Robert de Belesme 22 - The First Siege, by Henry I. 27 - The Second Siege, by Henry II. 32 - Wooden Fortifications of the Town in the time of King John 42 - Charter for St. Luke’s Fair 44 - Charter of the Borough 45 - The Visit of Prince Edward to Bridgnorth Castle, - after the Battle of Evesham 48 - The Siege of Bridgnorth by Edward II. 50 - His taking refuge in it when pursued by the Rebels 53 - The Church of St. Mary Magdalene 55 - Notice of William of Wykeham 63 - The Church of St. Leonard 68 - The Hermitage of Athelardestan 78 - The Hospital of St. John 80 - The Leper Hospital of St. James 83 - The Friars 87 - Bridgnorth Hobelers in the Army of Edward III. 105 - Henry IV. at Bridgnorth, before the Battle of Shrewsbury 110 - Thomas Hoord, Member for Bridgnorth, and the Duke of York 113 - Suppression of the Religious Houses 120 - The Cappers of Bridgnorth 126 - The Transfer of the Castle of Bridgnorth to - Sir W. Whitmore 127 - The Great Rebellion 128 - Charles I. Visits to Bridgnorth 135 - Narrow escape of Oliver Cromwell at Bridgnorth 149 - Two Letters of King Charles’s written from Bridgnorth 155 - Encounter between the King’s Troops and the Roundheads 158 - The Final Siege of Bridgnorth 163 - The Skirmish in St. Leonard’s Church Yard 164 - The Destruction of the Town by Fire 167 - The Surrender of the Castle 173 - Richard Baxter 182 - Collection made to Rebuild the Town 188 - The Town Hall 190 - Proclamation of Charles II. 194 - The Acquittal of the Seven Bishops celebrated - in Bridgnorth 199 - Conclusion 202 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - VIEW OF BRIDGNORTH (_Frontispiece_) PAGE - DANISH BURIAL GROUND 5 - ANCIENT OAK, SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO THE FOREST OF MORFE 18 - THE POSTERN GATE 25 - THE OLD CHURCH OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE 55 - THE FIGURE OF A KNIGHT IN ARMOUR, ON A PAINTED WINDOW, - IN SAINT LEONARD’S CHURCH 71 - THE HERMITAGE 77 - THE SEAL OF THE FRIARS 90 - VIEW OF QUATFORD 103 - THE WEST (OR HUNGRY) GATE 145 - SAINT LEONARD’S CHURCH 168 - THE REMAINS OF THE CASTLE 174 - OLD TIMBER HOUSE IN THE CARTWAY 185 - THE TOWN HALL 192 - COPY OF AN OLD MAP OF THE BOROUGH 206 - - - - -THE ANTIQUITIES OF BRIDGNORTH. - - - - -PART I. - - - - -THE ANTIQUITIES &c. - - -The first thing which naturally engages our attention, in considering -the Antiquities of Bridgnorth, is the origin of its name. This, as -well as other names just as simple and intelligible, has afforded -matter for the ingenious speculations of etymologists, who, by a sort -of alchemy, of which they only are the masters, have transmuted it -into a form totally different from its own. For instance, some have -made it out that the name signifies the tower or castle on Morfe, -and that it was originally _Burgmorfe_, the first syllable of which, -“Burg,” being derived from the Greek word πυργος, ‘a tower’, the other -being the Saxon name of the neighbouring forest, which extended over -the large district still so called. But it is not easy to conceive, -how “Burg” should have been transmuted into “Bridge,” and still less -so, how “Morfe” should have been corrupted into “North.” The name is -a very plain one, and just as plain is its etymology; _Bridgnorth i. -e._ the north Bridge, or the bridge lying to the north of some other -bridge. In every ancient record it is called “_Brugge_” or “_Brug_,” -the Saxon form of the word “Bridge,” and there is no instance, I am -informed, of the syllable “North” being added to it, at least in any -public document, earlier than the reign of Edward I. Bridges in early -times were not so common as they are now, and therefore a place, which -had a bridge or bridges of any size, often took its name from this -circumstance. Thus Bruges, a town in Flanders, was so named, from the -numerous bridges over the canals, which intersect it; and Bridgetown, -near which the famous battle of the Boyne was fought, was so called -on account of the bridge, which there crosses the river. So our town -received its first name of “_Brug_” from the bridge, which here spanned -the Severn; and was afterwards called “_Bridgnorth_,” to distinguish it -from a bridge lower down the Severn, at Quatford.[1] - -[1] There can be no doubt that there was in ancient times a bridge at -Quatford, for it is called in old writers, “Cwatbridge.” It was very -likely a wooden bridge, one pier of which stood on an islet in the -stream. In the very ancient map of Bridgnorth, and of its immediate -neighbourhood, which is in possession of the Corporation, (a copy of -which will be found in the present volume) this islet is marked out, -and called “Brugg Bylett,” or Island Bridge. The present Ferryman, -Richard Turley, very well recollects this bylet, and his having played -on it when a boy: it was nearly a quarter of an acre in size, and -covered with alders and willows. An old villager told the late Mr. -Smallman that he remembered beams of wood being raised from that part -of the river. - -After the origin of the name, the next thing to consider is the -first foundation of Bridgnorth. There is no doubt that this is very -ancient, probably as ancient as the age of Alfred the Great. The -Saxon chroniclers inform us that Ethelfleda, the daughter of Alfred, -who inherited the magnanimity which has made her father’s name so -illustrious in the page of history, aided her brother Edward in -resisting the incursions of the Danes; and for this purpose erected -several forts and castles in different parts of the country, and among -these one at Bridgnorth. - -It appears that the Danes, in A.D. 896, having been driven from their -settlements on the banks of the Thames, and their fleet having been -destroyed, retreated northward, and at last made their way to the -Forest of Morfe, adjacent to Quatford, where, as some writers record, -they entrenched themselves in a strong fortification.[2] We have proof -of their having been in this neighbourhood, from the fact that a place -between Bridgnorth and Quatford still bears the name of _Danesford_, -marking the spot, where no doubt these wild marauders found a passage -across the Severn, which passage they no doubt used in carrying on -their depredations on the east side of the stream. There is supposed -to be other local evidence of the Danes having settled for a time in -this neighbourhood, which is not without its interest. I refer to the -discovery, made by Mr. Stackhouse, formerly Incumbent of St. Mary’s, -of an ancient burial ground upon Morfe, which from its character he -supposed to be Danish.[3] The following account of it, together with -the subjoined sketch, is given in the 460th Number of the Philosophical -Transactions. - -[2] “Aliâ excursione celeriter factâ in occiduas Angliæ partes -in oppido ad Sabrinam, nomine Quatbrigia (forte Quatfordia prope -Bridgnortham) quantâ poterant celeritate maximâ vallum sibi -conficiunt.”—_Spelman’s Life of Alfred the Great, B._ 1, 94. - -“In great haste they departed their fortress, leaving their wives and -children to the mercy of the English, neither stayed they till they -came into the borders of Wales, where at Quatbridge upon Severn, they -built another castle.”—_Speed, B. VII., c._ 34. - -[3] Mr. Hartshorne, in his _Salopia Antiqua_, (_pp. 91 and 101_) -expresses the opinion, that these tumuli were the work of the ancient -Britons, and not of the Danes. However, the same writer considers Burf -Castle, an earthwork situated on the summit of a hill, about a mile and -half east of Quatford, to be certainly Danish. (_pp. 210-12._) - -[Illustration] - -“In July, 1740, I observed upon Morfe the tumuli as above represented, -where the soil is a strong gravel. Mountfaucon tells us that the old -Cimbri, [the Danes,] were wont to throw up gravel on their graves, and -the more remarkable the persons were, the larger the tumuli over them. -I therefore imagined that this might possibly be the burying place of -the Danes. For satisfaction, I caused the middle and largest of these -tumuli to be dug from north to south, (a.a.) supposing that by that -method I might cross the site of the body that may have been laid -there. We dug about seven feet deep, even to the solid rock, without -meeting anything remarkable but an iron shell, in the shape of an -egg, with a round hole at one end; but so cankered and decayed, that -it easily broke into small pieces. This we judged to be the boss of a -sword. However, on viewing the trench that we had dug, we perceived on -the west side of it a hollow in the gravel, which upon trial extended -horizontally four or five feet; and under this hollow (b.b.) we found -one of the large vertebræ of the loins, with its processes pretty -perfect, but thoroughly petrified; and upon further search, several -portions of bones, all alike petrified, but so disguised that we could -not discover to what part of the body they belonged. We afterwards -opened one of the lesser tumuli, (c.c.) and found what is thought to -be the os sacrum, and many other small pieces of bone, in a petrified -state. It was great odds that we found nothing at all, but nature -favoured us by preserving some few tokens of antiquity.” Mr. Stackhouse -seems to have been disturbed in his archeological researches; for he -mentions that the people of Bridgnorth flocked in great numbers to the -spot, expecting to see great wonders, and to prevent further concourse, -he was glad to fill up the trenches, and to leave the other tumuli -unexamined. - -From local and historical evidence then, it would appear that the Danes -took refuge amidst the forests[4] which then covered that extensive -district, and continued to hold possession of them for some time. But -this was the last scene of their struggle against the Saxons, during -the reign of Alfred. They were compelled after a while to leave these -fastnesses upon Morfe; and Shropshire, and soon after the whole of -England, was delivered from their rule. Then it was that Ethelfleda, -in concert with her brother Edward, in order to guard against any -attempts the Danes might make to regain their footing in the country, -built castles in those places which were most liable to be attacked. -One of these, as has been already mentioned, was erected at Bridgnorth, -or, as it was then called, “Brugge.” This establishes the fact, that -our town, whatever may have been its exact size and situation, existed -long before the Norman conquest, and that its foundation reaches back -more than nine hundred years. But it is a higher honor to the town -of Bridgnorth than even the great antiquity of its foundation, that -it is thus associated in its early history with the name of this -great princess—a name which poets and historians have justly made -illustrious—and that amid the dangers which threatened the nation, she -took such special means to provide for its defence. - -[4] Vide Appendix A. - -But what was the site of the castle which she erected at Bridgnorth? -This is a question of very great interest. Most of those who have -enquired into the subject have supposed it to be the eminence now -known by the name of _The Castle Hill_; but Mr. Eyton, (_Antiquities -of Shropshire, Vol. 1, part 4, pp. 131, 132_) whose sagacity equals -his learning on antiquarian subjects, has assigned to it a different -site, and has most probably discovered its true locality. Every one -has noticed, on looking westward from the Castle Walk, a very singular -mound of earth, about two hundred yards distant, the regular shape -of which plainly proves it to be artificial. It is now known by the -name of “Pam-pudding Hill.” This Mr. Eyton considers to be the site -of Ethelfleda’s castle, and supports his assertion on the following -grounds. A document is extant, of the date of Edward I., in which the -road beneath this hill is called the road underneath “the Old Castle.” -Now the castle on what is at present called the Castle Hill, was in -the time of Edward I. the existent and garrisoned castle of the town: -so that the “Old Castle” must have been a term denoting some fortress -of a more ancient date; and as we have no record of any earlier castle -but that built by Ethelfleda, this, which bore in the reign of Edward -I. the title of the “Old Castle,” must have been hers. It is to be -observed also, that the hill, called “Pam-pudding Hill,” is situate in -the parish of Oldbury, a word which plainly signifies “_Old Borough_;” -and as Ethelfleda attached a borough to the castles which she built, -there can be no doubt that the neighbouring village of Oldbury, however -small its circumference at present, has the honor of being the original -borough, having the site of the ancient castle erected by this Saxon -princess within its borders; and that Bridgnorth at the time was little -better than an appendage to it.[5] - -[5] That Oldbury is more ancient than Bridgnorth appears from the fact, -that the former is mentioned in Domesday Book, and the latter is not -noticed. - -But in less than two centuries after the erection of this fortress, -Bridgnorth became a place of consequence; the commanding position on -which it stood, and the strong natural defences of the place, marking -it out to the eye of a very bold and ambitious nobleman of the day, as -a situation eminently fitted for a fortified castle. This nobleman was -Robert de Belesme, the son and eventual successor to the English titles -and estates of Roger de Montgomery, first Earl of Shrewsbury. Roger was -a kinsman of William the Conqueror, as well as a very faithful vassal; -and when William became possessed by conquest of this fair realm of -England, he liberally rewarded his services by the grant of a very -large share of territory in the conquered kingdom. He conferred on him -the Earldom of Shrewsbury, with a feoff of four hundred and six manors, -in which Quatford is included.—(_Blakeway’s History of Shrewsbury, Vol. -1, p. 37, note 3._) This he appears to have chosen as his favourite -place of residence, perhaps on account of the opportunity it afforded -him of indulging his Norman propensity for hunting; for the forest of -Morfe was close adjacent to it. Here he not only built a castle,[6] -but also built and endowed a Collegiate Church, and founded a borough. -All these however, the privileges of the borough, the garrison of -the castle, and the chief endowments of the church, his son Robert -de Belesme transferred to Bridgnorth. But the foundation of Quatford -Church is an historical event of so much interest, and is so intimately -connected with the early history of Bridgnorth, that it deserves more -than a passing reference. - -[6] The remains of this castle were still standing when Leland visited -Shropshire, in the time of Henry VIII.—“Quatford is by S. E. from -Bridgnorth on Severne, where as yett appeare great Tokens of a Pyle -or Manour Place, longing that tyme to Robert de Belesme.”—_Leland’s -Itinerary, Vol. IV., pp. 103, 104._ - -The following is the substance of the narrative of the event given -by John Brompton, an ancient chronicler, who lived in the reign of -King John:—In the year 1082 Roger de Montgomery married his second -wife, Adelissa, daughter of Ebrard de Pusey, one of the chief nobles -of France. As she was sailing into England to join her husband, she -was overtaken by a dreadful tempest, from which the mariners thought -there could be no escape. In the midst of this furious storm one of -the ecclesiastics, who accompanied her, wearied with watching, fell -asleep; and in his sleep he dreamed that a female appeared to him, and -thus addressed him:—“If thy lady would wish to save herself, and her -attendants from the present danger of the sea, let her make a vow to -God, and faithfully promise to build a church in honour of the blessed -Mary Magdalene, on the spot where she may first happen to meet her -husband, the Earl, in England; especially where groweth a hollow oak, -and the wild swine have shelter.” The story goes on to state, that, -when he awoke from sleep, he communicated to his lady the particulars -of this singular dream, and that she at once made the prescribed vow. -The tempest soon calmed, and she and her attendants landed safely in -some port in England, from whence she immediately made her journey to -her husband’s estates in Shropshire; and just on the top of Quatford -hill, which was at that time in the outskirts of the Earl’s hunting -ground, and near a spot where an oak tree was growing, she met him, -engaged in his favorite pastime: and there at her request, in -fulfilment of her vow, he built a church and richly endowed it.[7] - -[7] This narrative may possibly be somewhat tinctured with the -superstition which prevailed at the time; but there is no reason to -doubt the general truth of it. Mr. Eyton, to whom I am indebted for -my acquaintance with it, after giving the whole of the narrative in -detail, in Vol. 1, part 2, p. 107, of his Antiquities of Shropshire, -makes this comment on it:—“The whole of this narrative is credible in -itself, and minutely consistent with other ascertained facts; nor need -we take exception even to the Priest’s dream, for who knows not that -the feverish sleep of over fatigue will invest our hopes and anxieties -with some garb of life-like reality. Moreover this priest lived at a -time when priests were taught to believe in and to expect such special -revelations of the divine will.” - -“Parts of this story nevertheless, require explanation; and the whole -of it must be tested by other facts and dates before we admit it to -that credence, which the details of a legend most seldom deserve.” - -He has applied such tests, and has been fully satisfied with the result. - -There are now on the high ground just above the church at Quatford, -several oaks whose gnarled and knotted trunks seem to have borne the -brunt of many centuries. They are evidently of a very ancient date. No -one can attentively observe them, without seeing that they must have -outlived several generations of men; and there can be but little doubt -that they are right in their conjecture, who suppose them to belong -to the original forest of Morfe. The supposition, that trees which -flourished in the time of William Rufus may be still standing, need not -be considered extravagant; for the history of the oak and yew tree[8] -in England furnishes many instances of equal longevity. “Among the -most remarkable of such trees,” says Mr. Wright, in his _History of -Ludlow_, p. 181, “in the neighbourhood of Ludlow, may be mentioned the -aged oak on the brow of the hill of Nonupton, or Nuns’ Upton, near the -village of Little Hereford, which was probably standing there previous -to the Conquest.... The tree is hollowed by decay, and its branches -mutilated by the effects of time.” An oak is at present growing in -Chepstowe Park, called the Parliamentary Oak, from the fact that Edward -I. convened his Parliament under it in 1290. Mr. Gilpin mentions a more -remarkable instance: “Close by the gate of the water walk at Magdalene -College, in Oxford, grew an oak, which perhaps stood a sapling when -Alfred founded the University. That period only includes nine hundred -years, no great age,” writes Mr. Gilpin, “for an oak. This oak could -almost produce historical evidence for its age. About five hundred -years after Alfred’s time, William of Wainfleet expressly ordered his -College to be founded near _the great oak_; and an oak could not well -be less than five hundred years old, to merit that title. In the summer -of 1788 it fell.” (_Gilpin’s Forest Scenery, Vol. 1, p. 141._) But a -much more ancient oak than even this a short time since was standing in -Stirling, one which there is reason to believe existed in the time of -the Druids, and which was so much decayed in the thirteenth century, -that William Wallace and several of his officers used to take shelter -at night in its hollow trunk. (_Forest Trees of Britain, by Rev. C.A. -Johns, pp. 80, 81._) - -[8] There is a yew tree known to the writer, at present growing in the -church yard of Sampford Arundel, in the county of Somerset, but now -hollowed by age, respecting which there is certain evidence, that more -than a century has passed over it, without producing seemingly any -change whatever in its state of decay; it is now, to all appearance, as -it was more than a hundred years ago. - -These facts are sufficient to show that it is by no means improbable, -that the oaks now standing in Quatford were originally trees in the -Forest of Morfe; if so, one of them may be the very tree which marked -out to the Countess Adelissa the spot, adjacent to which she was to -build the Church. Now among these oaks, one is of a very remarkable -character. Time has so completely decayed the middle part of the tree, -that the two portions of the trunk which remain have fallen asunder -one from the other, and thus appear at first sight as two separate and -distinct trees[9]—indeed, they are generally supposed to be so—but a -closer examination will disprove this. It will be noticed that the -bark is very much curled up, and if this could be unrolled, it would -be found to belong to a trunk, the circumference of which would include -the two parts now remaining. - -[9] That a single tree may be so decayed by time as to be divided into -parts, and that these living parts may have the appearance of separate -trees, we have a remarkable proof in the famous chestnut on Mount Etna, -which was alive in the close of the last century. - -Gilpin in his “Forest Scenery” has the following description of -it:—“It is still alive (1791), but it has lost much of its original -dignity. Many travellers take notice of it. Brydone was the last who -saw it. His account is dated about sixteen or seventeen years ago. It -hath the appearance of five distinct trees. The space within them, he -was assured, had been filled up with solid timber, where the whole -formed only one tree. The possibility of this he could not at first -conceive, for the five trees together contained a space of 204 feet in -diameter. At length he was convinced, not only by the testimony of the -country and the accurate examination of the Canon Recufero, a learned -naturalist in those parts, but by the appearance of the trees, none -of which had any bark on the inside. This chestnut is of such renown, -that Brydone tells us he had seen it marked in an old map of Sicily, -published an hundred years ago.”—(_B. 1., p. 135._) - -[Illustration] - -The above is a sketch of the tree in its present condition. Of course -it would be very absurd, as well as unwarrantable, to assert that -this is the hollow oak referred to in the narrative; but it is very -likely, from its appearance, that the tree has been hollow for very -many centuries; and this gives a degree of shadowy probability to -the conjecture, enough to invest the speculation with some amount of -interest. - -The church which now tops the neighbouring hill is an object that -strikes every visitor of this district; and among the churches of -our native land there are few that rival it in beauty of situation. -But it is an object of great interest, not only on this account, but -also because it is, in some parts of the structure at least, the very -church which was built very nearly eight hundred years ago by Roger -de Montgomery, in ratification of his wife’s vow; and stands at this -distant day, a monument of the faithfulness of her promise. Those who -are skilled in archeological researches entertain no doubt, both from -its form and from the nature of the material used in its construction, -that a part of the chancel belongs to the ancient church of Quatford, -of the eleventh century. - -It was a wild and unfrequented spot on which it stood when first -erected; but on the day of its consecration, this sequestered scene -was thronged with a vast concourse of people, and must have exhibited -a most imposing spectacle: for we learn from an ancient document, -that there assisted at the ceremony three Bishops, Woolstan, Bishop -of Worcester, then above eighty years of age; the Bishop of Hereford, -and the Bishop of Chester; six Archdeacons from neighbouring dioceses, -and other ecclesiastics; besides several nobles of high degree, each -with their accustomed attendants; and many officials and retainers of -the Earl of Shrewsbury. And when we remember the gorgeous manner in -which ceremonials of this kind were got up in the middle ages: when -knights and ecclesiastics, barons and prelates, each in his appropriate -costume, walked in solemn procession; when the pomp of heraldry and the -sacred insignia of the Church were united to do honor to the occasion, -we may judge what a striking and impressive scene was witnessed on the -day of the dedication of this church on the hill of Quatford. The Earl -richly endowed this church, constituted it a collegiate establishment, -built a castle[10] somewhere contiguous to it, and made a borough of -the surrounding district; but the borough, castle, and collegiate -establishment were soon after his death transferred to Bridgnorth; and -in this way the history of Quatford is connected with the early history -of our town. - -[10] There is little doubt that this castle stood on the picturesque -rock which overhangs the Severn, near the Ferry. A few years since, -the late Mr. Smallman opened the trench which partly surrounds it, and -removed from it three hundred cart loads of rubbish; the whole of which -had evidently been thrown in from the inside, the strata lying in that -slanting direction; and underneath he found several Norman relics, and -fragments of the same stone of which the church was built; and as this -stone was brought from Gloucestershire, it affords a pretty plain proof -that the building of the church and castle were cotemporaneous. - -We now come to consider more particularly the cause of this transfer, -and the building, fortifying, and garrisoning the Castle of Bridgnorth, -in the year A.D. 1102, by Robert de Belesme, the successor of Roger -first Earl of Shrewsbury. This nobleman was of a most restless and -ambitious spirit, and immediately after the death of William II. -entered into a confederacy with other Normans to dethrone Henry I, -and to set up his brother Robert Duke of Normandy in his stead, who -landed in England in order to further their undertaking. The scheme -was defeated by the promptitude and sagacity of the king, who came -to an accommodation with his brother, and induced him to return to -Normandy; and then he turned his hand against the chief conspirators. -After citing Robert de Belesme to appear before him, he publicly -proclaimed him an outlaw, and proceeded against him as such; first -laying siege to his castle at Arundel in Sussex. Meanwhile Belesme -had not been idle, but had set about building and fortifying a castle -in Bridgnorth.[11] He considered our hill rising in the midst of the -valley of the Severn, and strongly fortified on most sides by natural -defences, and commanding the adjacent country, as a fine military -position, entrenched within which, he might for a long time, at least -till succour was sent him by the confederates, hold out against the -royal forces. He therefore engaged in this work with great vigour, and -accomplished it with incredible speed. He had indeed no time to lose; -but he completed the work in less than a year, before the king could -disengage himself from his other enterprises, so as to allow of his -following him to Bridgnorth. Florence of Worcester, in his Chronicle, -states that he hastened the completion of this work, carrying it on -night and day, and that he excited the Welshmen, who were in subjection -to him, to the more faithful and speedy performance of his wishes, by -awarding to them with a liberal hand, honours, lands, horses, asses, -and all sorts of gifts. (_p. 324_, A. D. 1803, _English Translation_.) -When we consider the strength of the Castle, and the solidity of its -structure, it is quite marvellous that it could have been raised and -fortified within so short a space of time. We may judge of the solid -character of the building, by the only fragment which now remains of -it, which is of the most massive kind of masonry. - -[11] Appendix B. - -It is difficult at this time to ascertain the exact dimensions of the -castle; but this description of it by Leland, an antiquary of the time -of Henry VIII, may give us some conception of what it was originally. -“The Castle standeth on the south part of the town, and is fortified -by east with the profound valley instead of a ditch. The walls of -it be of great height. There were two or three stronge wardes in the -castle, that now goe totally to ruine. I count the castle to be more in -compasse than a third part of the town. There is one mighty gate by the -north of it, now stopped up; and a little postern made by force thereby -through the wall, to enter into the castle. The castle ground, and -especially the base court, hath many dwelling houses of timber in it, -newly erected.” It occupied, no doubt, a large portion of what is now -called the Castle Hill; but its outworks and walls must have extended -much farther. It is very likely that the gully, which now forms the -passage of the Stony Way, was originally an artificial fosse or ditch, -made for its defence in that direction. It is also in the memory of -many, that there stood, on or near the site of the new Town Hall, a -part of an ancient arch, which was evidently connected with the old -castle, and perhaps formed its northern gateway, or the smaller postern -which Leland mentions: so that its extent must have been considerable, -and its different appendages have occupied a large space of ground. - -[Illustration] - -The above is a representation of the arch referred to, as it stood some -years ago, and I believe very faithfully portrays it. - -But nothing perhaps can give us a truer notion of the extent of the -Castle of Bridgnorth, and of the magnitude of the building, than the -great sums of money which were from time to time expended on its -repair. We may thus judge of the cost of its first erection. There are -existing documents, which shew that from the reign of Henry II. to -that of Henry III., there was a sum of money laid out in additions and -repairs, amounting to more than £14,000 of modern currency. - -It must indeed have been a most noble structure; and standing on such -a commanding eminence, overlooking the course of the Severn in both -directions, must have been almost without its equal. The traveller, -as he came suddenly on the view of it from the Hermitage Hill, must -have been struck with the beauty of the scene, in which it formed so -prominent an object; and an enemy approaching it, from almost any -quarter, might well be daunted by the remarkable strength of its -position. One cannot but deeply regret the unnecessary and wanton -demolition of it by the Parliamentary forces, in the Civil Wars. Had -the ruthless soldiers of Cromwell been contented with dismantling it -and taking away its defences, and reducing it as a fortress, it would -still, crowning the hill, have formed, in its dismantled condition, -one of the most picturesque ruins in England, and made our town a -centre of attraction to the lovers of antiquity. The sole remaining -fragment of this noble castle is indeed one of the curiosities of -Bridgnorth, for, like the leaning tower of Pisa, it is considerably -out of the perpendicular; but the chief interest belonging to it, is -its being the last relic of the famous feudal fortress of Robert de -Belesme, and its having been not only a military garrison, but also a -royal residence at several eventful periods of English history. - -After Belesme had with such astonishing dispatch built and fortified -this castle, he garrisoned it with stipendiary soldiers, and placed -it under the command of Roger, son of Corbat; but he himself, on the -approach of the King, retired to Shrewsbury, where he prepared to -make a vigorous resistance. The King advanced on Bridgnorth, and laid -siege to the castle. It is plain, from the numerous forces which he -collected on the occasion, that he considered this enterprise one of -some difficulty. The Saxon chronicle states that “he went _with all -his army_ to Bridgnorth, and resided there till he had the Castle.” -(_English Translation, p. 146._) And Florence, of Worcester, records -the same event in these words: “he himself besieged Bridgnorth, with -_the army of nearly all England_.” Even if we take these words in -a qualified sense, they shew what vast preparations the King made -for this siege, and what a large military array the fields around -Bridgnorth must have exhibited on this occasion: nearly all the -forces which the sovereign could assemble—legions of Norman and Saxon -soldiers—hosts of infantry, horsemen, spearmen, and archers—accompanied -by siege trains, such as were then in use—led on also by gallant -knights, the flower of England’s chivalry—and animated by the presence -of the King himself. The little garrison within the Castle, when they -looked down from their walls on this formidable host, as they were -crossing the Severn, or winding their way beneath the base of the hill, -must have felt great confidence in the strength of their position, -not to have been ready to surrender on the first summons. But they -held out for three weeks, when an incident occurred which for a while -interrupted the siege. - -The nobles who followed the King were unwilling that he should crush -so powerful a feudal Lord as Belesme, lest the regal power over the -vassal nobility might become excessive. On a day, therefore, when the -siege had made some progress, they held a meeting, in a field where -the royal army was encamped, and advancing to the King, proposed -that he should offer terms of accommodation to the Earl. But their -purpose had transpired, and the country gentlemen of Shropshire, -manifesting a spirit of loyalty, which happily has been transmitted -to their descendants, assembled on one of the hills which surrounded -the King’s camp, to the number of three thousand, and lifting up their -voice, as the old chronicler relates, exclaimed, “Sir King, regard not -what these traitors say: remember the repeated treason of this your -enemy—how often he has conspired against your life—and lay not aside -your purpose: storm the town. We will support you, and never leave -you till your foe is brought alive or dead to your feet.” Encouraged -by their loyalty, the King at once adopted vigorous measures, which -succeeded. He summoned Corbat and the other governors before him, and -swore, in the presence of his court, that if within three days they -did not surrender the castle, he would hang the whole of the garrison. -These threats had the desired effect. The garrison agreed to surrender: -they shut up the stipendiaries in one part of the castle, and opened -their gates to the King, who entered amid the acclamations of the -townspeople. Soon after the capture of the castle, the King set out for -Shrewsbury, in pursuit of Robert de Belesme; and having surmounted the -dangerous pass, as it was then considered, of Wenlock Edge, and cut his -way through the entangling forest which lay at its base, he laid siege -to Shrewsbury. But Belesme, alarmed at the bold and energetic movements -of the King, surrendered himself to his mercy.[12] His life was spared; -but he was banished to Normandy, and all his English estates became -forfeit to the crown. His history was afterwards marked by many -disasters, and at length he died in a prison at Warham Castle, where he -had languished some years in miserable captivity. Such was the wretched -issue of treachery and rebellion—such the bitter fruits of “vaulting -ambition”—such the consequence of setting aside that divine principle, -which is alike the safeguard of personal peace, as well as of public -tranquillity, “Fear God, honor the King.” - -[12] “However odious Robert had now become; though his turbulent -and vindictive character had left him but few friends, the scene -which followed must have been affecting to those who could reflect, -if such there were, on the instability of human grandeur. On the -King’s approach to Shrewsbury, the Earl quitted the town, perhaps -for the last time; bearing himself the keys of the gates, he threw -himself at the Victor’s feet, acknowledging his treason, and sued for -mercy.”—_Blakeway’s History of Shrewsbury, Vol. 1, pp. 58-9._ - -The castle of Bridgnorth, after its surrender, became one of the -Royal Castles of England, and was occasionally made the residence of -Henry I. This is ascertained from the fact of some charters, granted -by him, being dated at “Brug”—Bridgnorth—and also from the Sheriff -of the County, by the King’s order, sending a quantity of wine into -the castle—a circumstance which was anticipatory of a royal visit. -(_Eyton’s Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1., pp. 246-7._) - -But after an interval of about sixty years, Bridgnorth Castle sustained -a second siege, in the reign of Henry II, conducted by the King in -person. It was at this time in the possession of Hugh de Mortimer, one -of the adherents of the late usurper, King Stephen. On the accession -of the new monarch, he caballed against him, and having fortified his -three Castles of Wigmore, Cleobury, and Bridgnorth, prepared to bid -defiance to the royal arms. The Castle of Cleobury was soon taken -and destroyed, but the Castle of Bridgnorth held out for more than -two months, when it was compelled to surrender to the besiegers. Two -circumstances are connected with the narrative of this siege, which are -not without interest. Some charters were granted by the King while the -siege was carrying on, the subscribing names of the witnesses to which -shew that Henry on this occasion was attended by many persons of high -rank, both civil and ecclesiastical. Among these appears the name of -one, who is as conspicuous in the annals of English history as perhaps -any other individual, and who by his ambitious pretensions, seconded -by abilities of a very high order, and a dauntless spirit, disturbed -the reign of Henry II. more than all his foreign enemies, and for the -murder of whom the King was obliged to perform the most humiliating -penance at his tomb—the famous Thomas á Becket. A charter granted to -Stoneleigh Abbey, and dated, “Apud Brugiam in obsidione”—at Bridgnorth -during the siege—is signed by Thomas á Becket, as one of the witnesses; -(_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, pp. 249-50_) so that if any of -our townsmen should make a pilgrimage of curiosity to his shrine at -Canterbury, it may add somewhat to its interest to know, that this -renowned ecclesiastic was present with the royal forces at Bridgnorth, -during the second investment of the Castle. - -The other circumstance to which I refer is an act of devoted loyalty -on the part of one of King Henry’s attendants, which is said to have -taken place at this siege. While the King was directing the operations -of the assault, one of the garrison from the walls of the castle -aimed an arrow at him. The shaft sprung from the bow, and was so well -directed, that it would have pierced the breast of the King, had not a -Knight,[13] observing the danger, and seeing no other mode of averting -it, immediately stepped before the King, and received the arrow in his -own body, and died at the feet of his sovereign:[14] an instance of -generous valour, which is not without its parallel in modern history. I -refer to an incident which took place at the battle of Ferozeshaw, in -India, about ten years since. The Commander-in-chief, the noble hearted -Lord Gough, seeing a part of his line stagger under the fire of the -enemy, bethought him if he could direct even a portion of the cannonade -for a few moments to another point, the crisis of the battle would be -passed. He forthwith rode forward, attended by a single aid-de-camp, -and making himself prominently conspicuous to the Sikh gunners, -moved slowly to one side, as if for the purpose of reconnoitering the -entrenchments close at hand. In an instant almost every gun in the -battery was turned upon him. The shot ploughed up the dust about him, -so as well nigh to hide both himself and his horse from the enemy’s -view, yet not one took effect; and so complete was the diversion, that -the line of infantry felt as if relieved, and with a shout sprang -forward. The next moment saw the redoubt, with all the artillery which -it contained, in their possession. (_Quarterly Review, No._ CLV, _p. -205_) The heart of this British General at the battle of Ferozeshaw, -and of the Norman Knight at the siege of Bridgnorth, were animated with -the same spirit of dauntless gallantry. They were both cast in the same -mould of ancient chivalry. - -[13] It is generally supposed that this Knight was Hugh de St. Clare; -but Mr. Eyton proves that it could not have been he, if the transaction -took place at the second siege of Bridgnorth Castle, as his death did -not occur till after that date.—_Vol 1, p. 248, note 19._ - -[14] It is very remarkable that King Henry II. was saved from death -on another occasion by a singular accident, as he was entering the -town of Limeoges, in Normandy. “From the Castle,” Daniel narrates, “is -shot a barbed arrow, which had tooke him directly in the brest, had -not his horse, by the sudden lifting up his head, received it in his -forehead.”—_Collection of the Historie of England, p. 91._ - -There are no public documents, I believe, of much interest, which -refer to Bridgnorth during the reign of Richard I; but there are very -frequent notices of it in the reign of his successor King John. He -visited the town on several occasions. It has been observed respecting -this king, that nothing could show more plainly the unsettled state -of the realm of England during his reign than his moving about so -continually, as he did, from one part of the kingdom to another; for -during the whole of the eighteen years of his reign he scarcely ever -remained more than a few days in one place. (_Wyld’s History of Ludlow, -p. 134._) - -The frequent disturbances which occurred on the Welsh borders drew -him into Shropshire, and it was on these occasions that he visited -Bridgnorth. He was here, for instance, in the year 1200; and again -four years afterwards. On the latter occasion he was attended by a -splendid retinue. There were in his train the Bishops of Lincoln and -of Hereford—the Earls of Essex, Pembroke, Chester, Salisbury, Warren, -Lancaster, Warwick, and Hereford: also the Provost of Beverley, and -Hugh de Nevil, and William Briwere; and it may give us some idea of -the extent of Bridgnorth Castle in those days, that it could afford -accommodation not only to the King and his immediate attendants, but to -so large a train of noblemen and knights, and lodge within its walls -the retainers of so numerous a Court. King John had not at this, -or at any other period of his reign, much occasion for holding high -festivities, yet it appears that he indulged in them at this visit to -Bridgnorth Castle; for although the visit lasted but three days it cost -the King, what in our currency would amount to £2000. There is a writ -extant, dated 1204, by which the King orders his treasurer to pay back -that sum to the Sheriff of the County, for expenses incurred during his -visit at Bridgnorth.—(_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 265._) - -He was again at Bridgnorth in the month of August, 1212—a very -calamitous period of his reign—when the kingdom was placed under -the Papal Interdict, and his subjects absolved from their oath of -allegiance; and the extraordinary rapidity of his movements in -various directions at this time—almost incredible if it were not -fully authenticated—shews the restless anxiety of his mind under the -embarrassing circumstances in which he was placed. For instance, in the -month of May he was in Hampshire; two months later, we find him at -Bristol, July 26th; on the 27th, at Devizes, in Wiltshire; on the 29th, -at Winchester; at Marlborough on the same day; at Tewkesbury on the -day following; the next day at Worcester; the next day at Bridgnorth; -in the heart of Powis land on the 2nd, where he stormed and levelled -to the ground the famous Castle of Mathraval; and then back again to -Bridgnorth. These expeditious movements and energetic exploits of King -John shewed that he inherited some of the vigour which characterized -the noble race of the Plantagenets, to which he belonged, though -usually this native energy was kept in abeyance, probably by an almost -unceasing consciousness of crime. (_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, -pp. 268-9._) - -In this hurried journey of the King from Worcester to the Welch -borders, through Bridgnorth, it is curious to notice the variety of -things which he thought it necessary to have conveyed with him, most -of which, however, he was obliged to leave behind him in Bridgnorth -Castle. First it is mentioned, that the sumpter horse, which carried -the King’s bed on this occasion, failed, and not being able to -proceed further, was left here. Also there were in his train two -valets—grooms of his bed chamber, with their horses and attendants—the -King’s falconer, with his hawks—and two carters and four sumpterers, -who carried the King’s wardrobe. All these accompanied his march no -further. It also appears that some coffers, containing certain sacred -relics, which accompanied the Court on all ordinary journeys, were left -at Bridgnorth on this occasion. One certainly would not have thought -it at all likely, that the King on this important expedition—pursuing -his Welch enemies in such eager chase—would have provided himself -before setting out with means for engaging in the less warlike sport of -hawking; or that he would have thought of any kind of pastime, when he -had such weighty business on hand. And when his sumpter men and horses, -so well laden, halted at Bridgnorth, it must have somewhat astonished -the loyal people of the town, to see such large appliances and means -for the King’s amusement, under the perilous circumstances of the -times. - -It was more however in character with this King, that he should -have brought along with him in his march the religious relics above -referred to; and that he should have given directions for them to be -treated with superstitious reverence. A document is extant, which -shews that over these, during the three days that they remained at -Bridgnorth, wax candles were burnt at the King’s expense.—(_Antiquities -of Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 269._) In King John, as in the case of many -others, there was a strange combination of the most immoral principles, -nay, of the most criminal passions, with the strictest regard to -superstitious observances. At the very time that he was pursuing a -course of wickedness, which made his name hateful to his subjects, he -was practising severe austerities on himself, which he would not allow -himself to omit, without making atonement for the neglect,[15] and -going through a round of rites and ceremonies, with all the zeal of an -earnest devotee. It was but a short time after his visit to Bridgnorth, -where he had observed this childish ceremony of illuminating these -relics with wax candles—supposing he was thereby offering to God -acceptable service—that he committed that merciless act of cruelty in -the town of Nottingham, of sentencing to death thirty-two of the Welch -hostages, which had been delivered him at the late peace; and such an -eager desire for vengeance did he manifest on the occasion, that he -would not taste of food till he was assured that the bloody deed was -done. - -[15] One of the days on which King John was at Bridgnorth happened -to be a fast day, notwithstanding which, he, being wearied most -probably with his incessant marches, ate twice; for which supposed -offence he atoned by feeding a hundred paupers with bread, fish, -and beer.—(_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 269._) His -scrupulosity in this matter is the more remarkable from the fact, -that however important the scriptural exercise of fasting may be on -certain occasions, yet it has always been dispensed with under the -circumstances in which John was then placed—viz: taking a fatiguing -journey.—(_Bishop Taylor’s Works, Vol. 3, p. 170._) - -King John was again at Bridgnorth, two months after the memorable event -of his signing _Magna Charta_. This great constitutional charter of -England’s liberties the Barons had compelled the King to grant; but the -faithless monarch no sooner thought that he could do so with impunity, -than he revoked it; the Pope acting as an accomplice of his perfidy, -by absolving him from his oath. This threw the kingdom into a state -of universal confusion, and civil war raged from one end of it to the -other. It was about this time that the Burgesses of Bridgnorth began to -fortify their town with a wooden rampart, (a caution suggested no doubt -by the troubles of the time) and a large allowance of timber from the -Forest of Morfe was made to them for that purpose.[16] Historians give -a dreadful picture of the state of the nation at this period. The King -having levied a band of mercenaries, commenced hostilities against his -own subjects, and marching through the whole extent of his kingdom laid -waste the provinces on each side of him, and by fire and sword made as -wide a devastation in England as if it had been an enemy’s country. -It was towards the close of this destructive progress, and about two -months before his death, that King John visited Bridgnorth for the last -time. During his short stay of two days he issued several charters, -and then proceeded to Worcester, afterwards to Gloucester, and from -thence to Newark; where—either from the pressure of extreme fatigue, or -great anxiety of mind, or as some naturally enough suppose, from the -effects of poison—this unhappy monarch died, and “freed his kingdom,” -as the historian well observes, “from the dangers to which it was -equally exposed, by his success, or by his misfortune.” [_Hume, Vol. 2, -p. 92._] - -[16] Appendix C. - -In the reign of his son and successor Henry III., Bridgnorth was as -frequently honored by a royal visit, as it had been in the previous -reign. Henry III. had frequent occasion to come into Shropshire, on -account of the dispute which had arisen between him and Llewelyn, -Prince of Wales: sometimes for the purpose of entering into negotiations -with him, and sometimes for the purpose of repelling his incursions -by force of arms. It was on one of these occasions, September 1st, -1226, that the King, who had just left Bridgnorth, issued a royal -edict at Kidderminster—one not of any historic interest, but of great -local value; and one which the people of Bridgnorth, and of the -neighbourhood, are glad at this day to take advantage of—viz: an edict -which established St. Luke’s Fair in this borough. It ran in these -words, “The King grants, till he come of age, that the men of Bruges -may have an annual fair, to last for three days—viz: the vigil, the -day, and the morrow of St. Luke the Evangelist.”—[_Antiquities of -Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 302._] So that those who assemble at this annual -mart of butter and cheese, to make their purchases for the winter, may -bear in mind that they do so in virtue of a royal edict passed in the -thirteenth century, and that the fair which they keep is consequently -of more than six hundred years standing. - -In the month of April of the following year, 1227, King Henry renewed -to the Burgesses of Bridgnorth the Charter[17] which had passed -the Great Seal in the previous reign; but on the 20th of June in -the same year, he granted them a totally new one, which differed -from the original charter principally in this, that it conferred -on the Corporation the fee-farm of Pendlestone Mills, or, as they -are now called, “The Town’s Mills.” The clause in the charter -which made over this property to the Corporation of Bridgnorth, is -as follows:—“Moreover we have granted to our aforesaid Burgesses, -that they and their heirs may hold in fee-farm for ever our Mill at -Pendlestone, without the town of Bruges, upon the river Wurgh, with -suit of the town of Bruges, and all other its appurtenances; rendering -therefore to us and to our heirs yearly, by their own hand, at our -Exchequer £10—viz: at the feast of St. Michael, one hundred shillings, -and at Easter, one hundred shillings.”—[_Antiquities of Shropshire, -Vol. 1, p. 303._] In virtue of this clause in the ancient charter -of Henry III, the Town’s Mills are the property of the Borough, the -Corporation being the Landlords of them, and the custom of paying a -yearly rent to the Crown is still continued. - -[17] Appendix D. - -In the year 1265 Bridgnorth was visited by King Henry, and his -gallant son Prince Edward, afterwards Edward I, on a very memorable -occasion, and one connected with events of such historic interest that -it deserves particular notice. The reign of Henry III was greatly -disturbed by the rebellious proceedings of Simon de Montfort, son of a -well known Italian nobleman of that name, who had rendered himself so -famous by his cruel crusades against the Albigenses. Simon de Montfort, -the younger, came into England to take possession of the estates, which -his father had left him, about the middle of Henry’s reign, and he -was graciously received by the King; but although the King shewed him -many favors, and united him in marriage to one of the royal family, -he soon raised a rebellion against him, and threw the kingdom into -the same state of miserable confusion, which prevailed during the -previous reign. In a successful battle, which he fought at Lewes, he -got possession of the persons of the King and Prince Edward, and in -consequence became virtually master of the whole realm. But during -this eclipse of the King’s fortunes Shropshire faithfully adhered to -the royal cause, and maintained throughout this disastrous period its -character for loyalty. - -Among the Barons, who proved their fidelity to the King’s declining -cause, the Constable of Bridgnorth, Hamo de Strange, was pre-eminent. -He held the Castle in spite of de Montfort’s imperious summons to -surrender; and though repeatedly commanded by the usurper in the -King’s name to yield, and to leave the kingdom, he bade defiance to -the mandate, and bravely maintained his post, till the great victory -at Evesham over the rebels restored the monarchy.—[_Antiquities of -Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 285._] In this famous battle Prince Edward, who -had a short time before escaped from the hands of de Montfort, led the -army of the Royalists, and by his consummate military skill, as well -as by his signal valour, completely routed the rebels. De Montfort, -their leader, observing the skilful disposition of the Prince’s forces, -is reported to have exclaimed, in utter despair of the fortunes of -the day, “The Lord have mercy on our souls, for I see our bodies -are the Prince’s.” These gloomy forebodings were fully verified. In -the fierce encounter, which ensued, De Montfort was slain with his -eldest son, and about a hundred and sixty knights, and many other -gentlemen of his party, and his army put completely to the rout, so -that the Prince was left undisputed master of the field. It was not -long after this memorable action, that the people of Bridgnorth, and -their loyal constable, had the high honor of receiving into their town -the King, the Queen, the gallant Prince, and other members of the -royal household. It appears from some ancient documents, that great -preparations were made for their reception on this occasion; and that -the grand victory of Evesham, which brought about the restoration -of the Monarchy, and the overthrow of a tyrannical usurpation, was -celebrated within our Castle walls with festive rejoicings.—[_p. 258._] -It also appears that the loyalty of the Burgesses during the season -of the adverse fortunes of the King, and the losses which they had -incurred in consequence, did not pass unnoticed. The King liberally -rewarded them. The official papers which attest this, allege as the -reason for the royal bounty “the losses which they [the Burgesses of -Bridgnorth] had sustained in the time when the kingdom was disturbed, -and because they faithfully adhered to the King, and to Edward, his -son, in the time aforesaid.”—[_p. 309._] - -The wise and energetic measures, which Edward adopted, when he -succeeded to the throne, put an end to the civil dissensions by which -the kingdom had been so long distracted; and this circumstance, as well -as his having finally annexed the Principality of Wales to the British -crown, prevented the necessity of his making those military expeditions -into the border counties, which had been so customary in the reigns of -his predecessors. But Edward II. proved as feeble as his father had -been vigorous in his government of the kingdom, and the consequence -was, that in a short time after his accession the realm was disturbed -by a renewal of intestine feuds, and rebellion soon raged from one end -of the kingdom to the other. A second confederacy of the Barons against -the king, which was formed for the purpose of enforcing on him the -banishment of his favorites, the Despencers, took place in the year -1321, and this brought about another siege of Bridgnorth Castle. - -The circumstances which led to it were these:—The Earl of Baddlesmere, -who owed all his honors, and the largest part of his ample estates -to the bounty of the king, joined the factious Barons in their -rebellion, and, adding insolence to ingratitude, proceeded so far as to -countenance a great affront offered to the queen. She having occasion -to pass his Castle of Leeds, in Kent, desired a night’s lodgings within -its walls, and was refused admittance, and some of her attendants -were wantonly killed before the gate. Edward shewed more promptitude -and energy in revenging this wrong, than in any other action of his -reign. He marched immediately with some forces to Leeds Castle, which -he took, and executed the governor, and having secured Baddlesmere’s -treasures, pursued him to his estates in Wiltshire, and from thence, -after a while, to his estates near Shiffnal. The confederate Barons, -taking alarm at the victorious progress of the King, assembled their -forces to besiege Bridgnorth. They burnt part of the town and took the -Castle, in the hope, that being masters of this important post, they -would be able to check the further advance of the royal army. But they -did not long keep possession of it. The King came here in person at the -head of his army, and after a brief siege retook the fortress from the -rebels, and from thence marched in triumph to Shrewsbury, where the -Burgesses, to grace the triumph of their sovereign, came forth to meet -him, clad in armour, and where the chiefs of the insurgent Barons, the -two Mortimers, were obliged, as humble supplicants at his feet, to sue -for mercy. - -Five years after the date of this triumph the King was here again, but -under very different circumstances. The aspect of his fortunes had -become completely clouded, and the hopes, that had flushed his breast -as he crossed the Severn in pursuit of his discomfited enemies, were -exchanged for bitter disappointment and anxious forebodings; and he -entered our Castle on this occasion, not as a victorious general, or an -acknowledged king, but as a fugitive and an outlaw, on whose devoted -head a price was set. His faithless Queen, who added political treason -to private criminality, had joined in a conspiracy with Mortimer and -other disaffected Barons, and had summoned a parliament for the purpose -of deposing her husband. The act of deposition was easily passed. The -king was virtually dethroned, and feeling, as well he might, that his -life was in jeopardy, he anxiously looked out for some place of refuge, -where he might remain in safety till his friends brought him succour; -and judging from its position and its strong natural defences, that -Bridgnorth Castle would afford him a secure retreat, he took refuge -in it. This circumstance is recorded by an ancient historian,[18] -who mentions that in this dangerous crisis of his affairs, when he -had reason to dread personal violence from his enemies, the unhappy -monarch resolved to betake himself to some well fortified place, where -he might be safe till his friends should send him succour; and that -he chose Bridgnorth as admirably adapted to the purpose. Therefore, -after nightfall, he left his place of concealment, wherever that may -have been, and entered into a small boat with a few of his attendants, -and having crossed the Severn took refuge in our Castle. How long -our loyal fortress shielded him from the conspirators is not known; -but, after a time, they discovered his retreat, and dragged him from -it—took him prisoner first to Kenilworth, thence to Berkley Castle, in -Gloucestershire. The sequel is well known to every reader of English -history. After suffering from those, in whose custody he was placed, -every kind of indignity and insult which their malice could heap on -him, he died under the hands of merciless assassins, whom they hired to -despatch him, a death of extreme torture. - -[18] Cum ad extremum omnia timeret, nec quicquam tam calamitosum -putaret quod non in suam fortunam cadere posse videretur, statuit in -locum aliquem munitum se abdere, ibidemque expectare, dum amici opera -et armis juvarent: itaque noctu cum paucis suorum per Sabrinam noviculo -vectus ad oppidum Brygnorthum in arcem, quæ ibidem egregie posita est, -clam recepit. _Polydore Virgil._ _Lib._ XVIII, _p. 357_. - -Such was the catastrophe which closed the reign of Edward II.—a -reign so signalized by troubles, and so saddened by the personal -sorrows of the sovereign, as well as by public calamities, that the -affecting words, which Shakspeare has put into the mouth of one who -after a short time was the successor both of his honors and of his -misfortunes, might well have been adopted by Edward as his own:— - - “In Winter’s tedious nights sit by the fire - With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales - Of woeful ages long ago betid; - And ere thou bid good night to quit their grief, - Tell thou the lamentable fall of me, - And send the hearers weeping to their beds.” - _Richard II._, _Act_ V., _Scene 1_. - -It must add to the interest with which we regard the remaining ruin of -our Castle, to reflect that when its walls and battlements were still -standing, it afforded shelter to the unhappy Edward in his hour of -need; and that Bridgnorth was the last place in his realm, where he -received the homage due to royalty, even in ruins. - - - - -ANCIENT ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS. - - -It is now time to turn the attention of the reader to the Churches, -and other ecclesiastical establishments, which existed in former times -in the Borough of Bridgnorth. They were of great antiquity. The most -ancient of them was - -[Illustration: The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene.[19]] - -[19] The above sketch of the old Church of Saint Mary Magdalene is -taken from a print in the Taylor’s Buildings, Oxford. - -This Church originally stood within the walls of the Castle, and was -a Collegiate Church, the members of which were five Prebendaries and -a Dean. “The which Deanery and Prebends,” to quote the words of John -Brompton, “the King indeed conferreth of his own right and custom; -although in nearly all other Collegiate Chapels the Deans, being -installed by the Sheriff at the King’s collation, and inducted into -corporal possession of the Deaneries, confer all Prebends in the same -Chapels, and install, induct, and visit the Prebendaries. But in the -aforesaid Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene, the Dean confers no Prebend, -nor visits Prebend or Prebendary; but each in the corps of his own -Prebend, hath and exerciseth plenary jurisdiction, as well in things -spiritual, as in things temporal;” so that it was in an especial sense -a Royal Chapel; and the whole ecclesiastical district connected with -it, and subject to its Prebendaries, bore the title, which it still -retains, of _The Royal Peculiar and Exempt Jurisdiction of the Deanery -of Bridgnorth_. It was first founded, as has been already noticed, -at Quatford, and from thence transferred, with all its rights and -privileges, and the chief part of its endowments, to Bridgnorth, in the -latter part of the reign of William Rufus, or early in the reign of -his successor; so that it is a very ancient foundation—nearly seven -hundred and fifty years old. - -The privileges connected with it were considered very important, and -were guarded with the strictest jealousy from all encroachments, not -only by the members of the chapter, but by the Crown. So much was -this the case, that in the year 1241, when some delegates of the Pope -attempted to levy contributions in the Deanery of Bridgnorth, as well -as elsewhere, for the See of Rome, they were opposed, as interfering -with the prerogatives of the Royal Peculiar; and this opposition the -Pope himself was obliged to sanction and ratify; for on the complaint -of the King, he issued two Bulls at Lyons, in which he recognises -the rights of the King’s free Chapel at Bridgnorth, and forbids all -attempts made to levy procurations from it. - -The Deanery of Bridgnorth at this time was held by Peter de Rivallis, -of whom (although his course reflected no honor on his sacred calling) -it may be well to take a passing notice, inasmuch as his name stands -connected, not only with the early history of Bridgnorth, as being -Dean of the Peculiar, but with some of the important events in the -reign of Henry III. Peter de Rivallis was born at Poictou, and through -the influence of his uncle, the Bishop of Winchester, was introduced -into the English court, and was made Treasurer of the Chamber in the -King’s Household. He soon became a great favorite with his master, who -invested him, notwithstanding his clerical calling, with all the Royal -Castles in Shropshire. The confidence placed in him was unbounded, and -the favors heaped upon him almost without a parallel; for while he was -Dean of Bridgnorth and Constable of the Castle, a grant was made to -him of the Shrievalties of Shropshire and Staffordshire for life; also -of the counties of York, Berks, Gloucester, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, -Lancaster, Northumberland, Essex, Hants, Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk, and -Kent. These, and such like favors, profusely heaped upon his foreign -courtiers, tended to alienate the minds of his English subjects from -the King, and were specially resisted by Richard Marshall, Earl of -Pembroke. He and other English nobles entered into a confederacy with -Llewelin, Prince of Wales, and laid waste the county of Salop to a -considerable extent; and carrying their forage as far as the gates -of Shrewsbury, pillaged and burnt part of the town. This illustrious -nobleman who is called by ancient historians “the flower of chivalry,” -and who was more than a match for his enemies in the field, was at last -cut off by a base act of treachery, in which the Dean of Bridgnorth -bore the chief part. He, with others, forged a letter, as if sanctioned -by the King, and sent it to Ireland, announcing the forfeiture of the -Earl’s Irish estates, and promising a partition of them amongst those -who would arrest his person. This document however was not sufficient -to satisfy the Irish nobles, and they dispatched messengers, requiring -the King’s sealed charter on the subject. Peter de Rivallis forged the -required document, and attached the great seal to it; and the plan -completely succeeded. The Earl’s Irish possessions were invaded; in -consequence of which he crossed the Channel in order to protect them, -but in a skirmish, after having manfully maintained his ground against -fearful odds, he fell mortally wounded; and died in the hands of his -enemies, subjected in his last moments to every species of cruelty and -insult. - -For this murder of the noble Earl of Pembroke (for it was nothing -less) the Dean of Bridgnorth was arraigned before the King and his -Justiciaries. He appeared on this occasion strangely habited for an -ecclesiastical dignitary; for he wore a corslet underneath his clerical -garment, and had a dagger suspended from his girdle, and appeared half -soldier, half priest. The King, assuming an appearance of anger which -he did not feel, for he secretly rejoiced at the death of the Earl, -accosted the Dean in very furious language, calling him a traitor, and -accusing him of having entered into plots which had brought damage and -disgrace on his kingdom. The Dean was sentenced to be committed to the -Tower; and when he pleaded his clerical orders, as a reason why he -should not be given up to the custody of a layman, the King answered, -reasonably enough, that he had always demeaned himself as a layman, and -as a layman he was now required to give an account of his stewardship: -and forthwith gave orders that all his lay possessions should be -confiscated.[20] His name certainly confers no honor on the Royal -Peculiar of Bridgnorth, of which he was Dean; but I thought it well to -give this brief sketch of his history, as reflecting the manners of -the age in which he lived, and as shewing in a very striking way the -miserable condition in which the Church was sunk at that period. It was -not then as it was afterwards, in Puritan times, when, according to the -lively author of _Hudibras_, - -[20] This account of Peter de Rivallis, given by Mr. Eyton (in his -_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, pp. 330, 334_), is collected from -the historian, Matthew Paris. - - “The pulpit, drum ecclesiastic, - Was beat with fist, instead of a stick.” - -Sharper and more formidable weapons were wielded in those days by men -in holy orders, and wielded at times to some purpose. It was doubtless -a sad perversion of the right order of things, when soldiers in -Cromwell’s army took upon them the office of divines; but it was a far -worse perversion, when divines became soldiers—when the tonsure was -covered with a plumed helm—when Bishops and Deans, like this famed Dean -of Bridgnorth, hid a coat of mail underneath their cassock, and wore -a dagger at their girdle—when Dignitaries of the highest rank, as was -not seldom the case, led out armies to the field, and, sword in hand, -mingled in the thickest of the fight. - -But the case above referred to, of Peter de Rivallis, is not the only -one, which affords evidence of the existence of such a state of things, -in early times, in the Deanery of Bridgnorth. In the reign of Edward -III, one Henry De Harley, upon a false report of the death of the Dean, -Thomas de Eyton, obtained a grant of the Deanery from the king. Thomas -de Eyton however making his appearance some time afterwards in the -King’s presence, the grant to De Harley was of course withdrawn, and a -special mandate given for restoring the rightful Dean. But the ejected -Dignitary, not willing to resign the benefice so easily, flew to arms, -resolved to support his claim at any cost. His opponent was equally -vigorous in the measures which he adopted for the establishment of his -rights. They both raised a body of armed men, in order to decide the -matter in dispute by the sword; nor was the unseemly strife put an end -to, but by the interposition of the sovereign. (_Dukes’ Antiquities of -Shropshire, p. 49._) - -But about this time there was one connected with the Collegiate Church -of Saint Mary Magdalene of Bridgnorth, whose name would cast a lustre -on any church in any age; and it is pleasant to turn from these -indecent scenes of ambitious strife among ecclesiastics, to contemplate -a character so truly exalted as his. The individual, to whom I refer, -was one whose influence on the Church and State was very considerable -in his day, having been twice entrusted with the Great Seal of England, -both in the reign of Edward III. and Richard II; and Bishop of one -of the most extensive dioceses in the kingdom—yet one, whose virtues -were more eminent than his rank or talents, and to whom, it should be -added, the Church of England owes more, perhaps, than to any other -individual, for the sound and learned education of her clergy—the -memorable William of Wykeham. He was Prebendary of Saint Mary’s[21] -in the year 1360; and it is no little honor to our town, that the -name of this great and good man is thus connected with it. This may -justify my introducing here a few particulars respecting him; for it -seems desirable that none of the readers, for whom these pages are -chiefly intended, should be unacquainted with one who was by far the -most illustrious person ever connected with the Collegiate Church of -Bridgnorth. - -[21] In the certificate, made to the Archbishop of Canterbury, of -the benefices of William of Wykeham, is the following entry:—“Item -the aforesaid Sir William of Wykeham, at the time of the date of the -aforesaid monition, by collation of our Lord, the illustrious King of -England, the canonry and Prebend of Alnthle, (Alveley) in the aforesaid -our Lord the King’s free Chapel of Bruggenorth.”—_Lowth’s Life of -Wykeham, p. 34._ - -Wykeham, early in life, before taking orders, was introduced into -the Court of Edward III., and recommended himself to the King by his -great skill in architecture. He was made surveyor of his works; and -to him it is chiefly that the Royal Family of England are indebted -for by far the noblest of their palaces—Windsor Castle. He grew into -such favour with his sovereign, that he heaped preferments upon him, -both civil and ecclesiastical, till at length he advanced him to the -important See of Winchester. In the government of his Diocese he -was a great reformer, and most zealously set himself to correct the -ecclesiastical abuses which he discovered; and by the purity of his -own life, as well as by the strict and vigilant discipline which he -exercised, brought about a great improvement in the condition of the -clergy. Through the royal bounty, wealth flowed in on him in great -abundance; but he was only intent on finding channels for the useful -distribution of it. His munificence was unbounded, so that it is -doubtful whether any sovereign Prince ever expended so large a revenue -on others, as he did in his public and private charities.[22] Among -other works, which attest the largeness of his heart in this respect, -may be mentioned his maintaining twenty-four poor persons in his own -family—his building and restoring churches, and erecting residences -for his clergy, at his own expense—and his rebuilding at an immense -cost the nave of his own Cathedral Church at Winchester, which stands -at this day a noble monument, not only of his princely munificence, -but of his architectural taste; for there are few ecclesiastical -buildings in England that equal it in dignity and grandeur. But the -chief works which have rendered his name illustrious as a benefactor, -are the building and endowing two noble Colleges, one at Winchester, -and the other in Oxford; the former of which he designed as a nursery -for the latter. These he enriched by very large and liberal endowments, -and enriched them still more by the treasures of wise counsels and -wholesome laws which he introduced into the statutes, which are so -admirable—“drawn up with such judgment and reach of thought,” as -Collier observes, “that they have been transcribed for the benefit -of other houses; and served as it were as a pattern to the principal -Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge;” (_Ecclesiastical History_, _Book_ -VII, _p. 270_) so that it is no hazardous assertion to make, that -no one person in modern or ancient times has done more—perhaps none -so much—for the sound education of the clergy of England as William -of Wykeham, some time Prebendary of St. Mary’s, Bridgnorth. At this -very time, after the lapse of nearly five hundred years, Bridgnorth -is receiving the benefit of his noble institutions; for the present -Head Master[23] of Bridgnorth Grammar School is a Wykehamite, taught, -and trained, and nurtured in Winchester and New College. His fitness -for the important post he at present occupies, he owes, in part at -least, to William of Wykeham: so that whatever Wykeham in ancient times -received as Prebendary in the Deanery of Bridgnorth, he is now paying -back to its inhabitants, in the good instruction which is given to -their children in Bridgnorth Grammar School. - -[22] “Whosoever considers the vast buildings and rich endowments made -by this prelate, beside his expense in repairing the Cathedral at -Winchester, will conclude such achievements impossible for a subject, -until he reflect on his vast offices of preferments.”—_Fuller’s Church -History_, _B._ IV., _Cent._ XIV. - -[23] The Rev. H.G. Merriman, M.A. - - -_The Church of Saint Leonard._ - -The other Church of Bridgnorth, Saint Leonard’s, is, in all -probability, nearly as ancient in its foundation as Saint Mary’s. -No document exists which gives us the exact date of its foundation, -but there is reason to believe it is coeval, or nearly so, with the -foundation of the Borough; for Leland, who visited Bridgnorth in the -reign of Henry VIII., states that Saint Leonard’s was the sole Parish -Church of the town; and as it is not to be supposed that so important a -Borough would have been without a Parochial Church even in its infancy, -a very early date must be assigned to it. Mr. Eyton, who suggests this -strong argument for the antiquity of its foundation, subjoins to it -however the remark, that “as yet no architectural evidence occurs to -strengthen this assertion.” But he was not aware, when he made this -observation, of the fact, that in making some repairs in the chancel, a -few years since, the workmen came upon a stone carved with a moulding -which is supposed to be of Norman character; affording very probable -evidence that the building, of which it was a part, belonged to the -early period to which Mr. Eyton refers. - -The earliest written notice which can be referred to respecting St. -Leonard’s, though it implies the pre-existence of the Church, cannot -itself be ascribed to an older period than the middle of the thirteenth -century. It occurs in a legal document, and is as follows:—“Roger, -son of Richard Irish, (Hybernensis) sells to Walter Palmer, for 6s., -a rent of 6d., issuing from certain field-land without the cemetery -of Saint Leonard, which land William Sholton held of the Vendor, by -the same rent.” (_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 341._) It is -also ascertained from existing documents, that two chantries, or side -chapels, were set up in Saint Leonard’s; the one in the time of Edward -II, the other in the time of Edward III. This latter was founded by -William de la Hulle, who “assigns his messuage in Bridgnorth, (lying -between the conduit and a tenement belonging to Richard Brown) also -thirty acres of land, and sixty shillings there, to three chaplains, -who were to pray daily in the Church of Saint Leonard’s, for the souls -of his father and mother, and for his own soul, and those of his two -wives and children.“ (_Dukes’ Antiquities_, XXXVII.) I cannot but -think that there still exists in Saint Leonard’s Church some remains -of one of these ancient chapels. In the south wall of the nave there -may be seen a Piscina, about six feet above the level of the present -floor: the height of it proves that the wall, in which it is placed, -formed part of a former structure, the floor of which must have stood -a good deal higher than the present one, for the usual height of a -Piscina from the ground was about two or three feet. A Piscina also, -it is to be noticed, was an appendage to an altar, and was never built -but in connection with one; so that there must have been an altar, -and consequently a chapel, in this part of Saint Leonard’s Church, of -which the present south wall formed a part; and we have no reason for -supposing this to be any other than that attached to the parish Church, -in the reign of Edward II, or Edward III. - -[Illustration] - -John Leland represents Saint Leonard’s Church in his time (A.D. 1536) -as one of great beauty, and there can be no doubt that originally it -was a large and magnificent building; for as late as the year 1645, -when Symonds, an officer in Charles’s army, visited Bridgnorth, it was -still “a noble structure,” ornamented with painted windows. He has -given a sketch of the figures on several of these. One of them, here -given, was that of an ancient Knight in armour, with his sword girded -on his right thigh, and his cross-shield painted beside him. It is -supposed to be Adam de Molineux,[24] who lived in the reign of King -Henry III. - -[24] “Grandson of Robert de Villiers, Lord of Little Crossby. This is -supposed to be the knight, who was pourtrayed in the glass of three -windows, in the upper part of Bridgnorth Church, in Com, Salop, in -antique mail, cloathed with a surcoat, and girt with his sword and -spurs: over which is an equilateral triangular shield, in which the -arms of Molineux are depicted.”—_Baronetage_, 1741, _in voce_. - -Symonds also gives a description of some Altar Tombs, situate in the -north aisle (an aisle unhappily no longer in existence), on one of -which “lay a man in armour and a woman, with many painted escutcheons, -belonging to the Hoord family, of Hoord’s Park. Another in the same -aisle, the statue of a woman, fayrlie gilt, in alabaster, with this -inscription circumscribed, and coats of arms.” - - “HERE LYETH THE BODY OF - =_FFrancis FFermer_,= - DAUGHTER OF THOMAS HOORD, ESQ., - AND - WIFE OF THOMAS FERMER, ESQ., - WHO DYED - 10 DAY OF JULY, 1570.”[25] - -[25] Symonds’s Diary, a M.S. in the British Museum, p. 45. - -The present Church of Saint Leonard’s, parts of which belonged no doubt -to the original building, forms, in the condition in which it now -stands, a sad contrast to the “fayre church” of John Leland’s time. -Perhaps the future inhabitants of the town and of the surrounding -district, all of whom have more or less an interest in it, may feel an -earnest zeal for this house of God, and may possess the means as well -as the desire, of compleating the restoration of it, which was begun -a few years since, but was discontinued for want of funds. It is a -pity, even in an architectural point of view, to see it in its present -decayed condition; for it stands on as fine a platform, perhaps, as -any ecclesiastical building in England, and might be made, without any -considerable cost, both externally and within, a noble temple. Its -ancient Church Yard too, the burying place of so many generations, -will, it is to be hoped, ere long, be rescued from the dishonoured -state in which it lies. There sleep the dead of many centuries. A -few feet below the level of the present graves lie the remains of -those, who died in the period of the great Rebellion—some of them -slain, perhaps, fighting for what they deemed the cause of God, and -of their country. A few feet deeper rest the ashes of men, who were -co-temporary with Cranmer and Ridley, and who witnessed the progress -of the glorious Reformation. Deeper still lie those who died in the -stormy times of York and Lancaster. Lower still would be found the dust -of those, who belonged to the age of the great Plantagenets; and on a -still lower bed sleep those who lived when the sceptre of England was -swayed by Kings of Norman blood. Reverence then for the dead, who were -buried there ages long since, as well as reverence for those who have -been laid there in our own time, should make us anxious to see restored -to a higher degree of decency and order than at present marks its -condition, the ancient Cemetery of Saint Leonard’s Church. - -I greatly regret that the historical notices of Saint Leonard’s Church -are so very scanty; for loving as I do, the very stones of the old -building, I should have been glad to associate it with any interesting -traditions of an early date. But these are wanting. However, in the -_Blakeway Papers_, in the Bodleian Library, there is preserved the -narrative of one incident that occurred in Saint Leonard’s Church, -which is indeed worthy of a memorial. It is of too private a nature to -find its way into the page of history; yet, by those who are familiar -with the locality where it took place, and who find pleasure in the -manifestation of nobleness of disposition and magnanimity, even in the -youngest, it will not be read without interest. - -The manuscript from which I copied it is as follows:—“Mr. Leighton told -me a story connected with this church, which is worth relating, though -I can assign no date or name to it. Two boys were at play in the upper -part of Saint Leonard’s Church, when some of the beams or joists, on -which they were standing, gave way. One of the boys had just time to -catch hold of the beams with his arms, and the other boy slipping over -his body caught hold of the other boys legs. There they hung for some -time calling for help: but no one heard them. At length the upper boy -said he could hold no longer. The lower boy said, “Do you think you -could save yourself if I were to loose you.” “Yes,” said the other, -“I think I could.” “Well then,” said he, “God bless you,” and loosing -his hold was instantly dashed to pieces. The upper boy got up upon the -beams, and either climbed to a place of safety, or remained till some -one came to his assistance.” This was heroism of the noblest type; nor -did the knight in Roman story, who is described as leaping into the -gulph in the Forum, evince more true intrepidity of mind, or a more -generous spirit of self-sacrifice, than did this poor youth, when he -thus quietly loosened his only hold on life, to secure his companion’s -safety, and calmly wished him well in the name of God, as he was about -to make that fearful fall, which would indeed be life to his friend, -but inevitable death to himself. If his name were known, and the exact -spot where this affecting incident occurred, they would have been well -worthy of being put on record on a mural tablet, in Saint Leonard’s -Church. - - * * * * * - -Besides the Collegiate Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, and the -Parochial Church of Saint Leonard, there were several other religious -establishments in Bridgnorth, previous to the Reformation. But before I -enter on any account of these, it is right that I should take a passing -notice of something far more ancient than any of them; which, though -standing within the parish of Worfield, is locally connected with our -town, and associated with its religious history—namely, - -[Illustration: _The Hermitage_.] - -On ascending the very steep hill, which leads out of the town towards -Wolverhampton, every one has observed, on the right hand side of the -road, a cave hollowed out of the sand-stone rock, which on examination -is found more extensive than might at first be supposed. This, there -is reason to believe, was in old time the solitary dwelling place of -one of the Saxon Princes, a brother of King Athelstan; and hither it -is believed he had fled, both that he might enjoy religious solitude, -and also screen himself from the violence and treachery to which his -Brother Edwin had fallen a prey. Documents are extant, which shew that -there was a Hermitage here in the reign of Edward III., under the -patronage of the Crown, and that it bore the name of Athelardestan—a -Saxon word, which signifies “the rock” or “stone of Ethelward.”[26] -Thus documentary testimony supports the ancient tradition, that this -cave, amidst the seclusion of Morfe Forest, was the cell of a royal -anchorite—one who turned his back on the intrigues and fascinations -of a court, and sought in this deep retirement a course of life more -congenial to his feelings. No doubt it was a mistaken sense of duty, -which made such men bury themselves in these dark solitudes; for it is -far nobler to encounter the world, and to overcome it, than to retire -from the conflict—better amidst its corruptions and cares, its trials -and temptations, to keep ourselves unspotted by it, than to seek an -escape from its evils by deserting the sphere of our appointed duties. -It is difficult for us, perhaps, to realize the position of serious -and peaceful minds in times of lawlessness and violence, yet at all -times the best exercise of self denial and mortification[27] is to be -found in the common path of daily life—in intercourse with our fellow -men—not in seclusion from them; and that must be a mistaken piety, -which seeks to please God by forsaking the responsibilities of our -station, and cutting ourselves off from the sympathies and charities -of life; still we must not scorn such piety, even though we detect its -errors, and lament its weakness; but willingly cherish the hope, that -its mistakes and deficiencies were pardoned by Him who is not extreme -to mark what is done amiss, and that many an occupant of a solitary -hermitage, like this of Ethelward, in the secret preference of his -heart, chose the good part which shall not be taken from him. - -[26] See the subject discussed by Mr. Eyton, in _Vol. 1, p. 353, -Antiquities of Shropshire_. - -[27] There is a store of practical wisdom on this subject in these two -verses of the Morning Hymn in the “Christian Year,” - - “We need not bid for cloister’d cell, - Our neighbour, and our work farewell; - Nor strive to wind ourselves too high - For sinful man beneath the sky. - - The trivial round, the common task, - Would furnish all we ought to ask: - Room to deny ourselves; a road - To bring us, daily, nearer God.” - - -_Hospital of Saint John._ - -We now come to consider the Ecclesiastical Establishments before -referred to, and first that which is usually called the Hospital of -Saint John, though it was also dedicated to the Holy Trinity and the -Virgin Mary. It was founded by Ralph de Strange, Lord of Alveley, -in the reign of Richard I. Such hospitals, though they became after -a while a refuge for the poor and destitute generally, yet were -originally designed for the entertainment of travellers, and especially -of pilgrims, and therefore were built by the way side, that so they -might be as accessible as possible, and that the tired traveller might -not have far to go for rest and refreshment.[28] Saint John’s hospital -was well situated for this purpose. Standing within the angle formed -by Mill Street and Saint John’s Street, it commanded every highway -by which travellers entered the town from places lying eastward of -the Severn. The roads from Quatford and Claverley, and Worfield, and -Shiffnal, all converging to a point on that side of the Bridge, passed -close to its gate; and no doubt many a wayfaring man, wearied with -threading his way through the mazes of Morfe Forest was glad, when he -had descended the hill, to rest under its friendly roof. - -[28] Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, p. XXVIII, note. - -The earliest royal recognition of this Hospital bears date March 9th, -1223. It is a mandate of Henry III., by which he directs Hugh Fitz -Robert, Forester of Shropshire, to give the Brethren of the Hospital -of St. John twelve cart loads of dry wood in Morf Forest. There is -another, about two years later, by which King Henry III., being then -at Bridgnorth, commands the same Hugh Fitz Robert to allow the Master -and Brethren of the Hospital of the Holy Trinity of Bruges to have -three oak trees in Morf Forest for their fire, of the King’s gift. -There is also a record of a trial, which took place at the Assizes in -Shrewsbury, in the close of the same century, between the Crown and the -Prior of this Hospital, respecting some land in the parish of Alveley, -claimed by the Prior as part of the endowment of the establishment -by Ralph Le Strange. The claim was disputed by the King’s Attorney, -who set forth the royal title as by descent from Henry II. The Jurors -however found upon their oath, that “the Master had greater right to -hold the land as he held it, than the King to have it as he claimed -it.” The members of this Religious House were a Prior, or Master, and -several Lay Brethren; and the Mastership of it was in the reign of -Edward IV. annexed to the Abbey of Lilleshall.[29] - -[29] Tanner’s Notitia Monastica, p. 451. - - -_The Hospital of Saint James._ - -This was an establishment of a very different kind. It was designed -only as a place of refuge for persons afflicted with severe or -contagious diseases, and was termed in legal documents _Domus -Leprosorum Jacobi_, or as _Maladria Sancti Jacobi_.[30] It stood -outside the town, east of the road which led from Saint John’s Hospital -to Quatford. Its founders were, probably, the community of the Borough -of Bridgnorth, and such an establishment may be considered as one of -the sanitary measures which they adopted for the benefit of the town. -Many of the large towns in England had establishments of this nature in -the thirteenth century; and there is evidence to prove, that the Leper -House of Saint James, in Bridgnorth, was founded previously to 1224; -for on the 22nd of September of that year, Henry III., who was then at -Bridgnorth Castle, issued the following mandate to Hugh Fitz Robert, -“Know that for the reverence of God, and for the health of our soul, -and the soul of the Lord King John our Father, we have granted to the -Leprous Brethren of the Hospital of Saint James, at Bruges, that they -may have one horse, daily plying in our Forest of Morf, to collect dry -stumps and dead wood for their fires, until we come of age.” There -is also a very early charter of the thirteenth century, now in the -possession of T. C. Whitmore, Esq., of Apley, bearing the Seal of the -Hospital of Saint James, by which it would appear that this society was -constituted without any superior of its own body, and that it acted -under the guidance, and with the consent of the good men of the town, -and that its members were of both sexes. (_Antiquities of Shropshire, -Vol. 1, p. 349._) - -[30] Mr. Eyton mentions that there was a Maladrerie near Bridgnorth of -older date than this, being described in deeds as “Vetus Maladria.” -It was situated on the Oldbury side of the town, and abutted on two -water-courses, called “Reymund’s Ditch,” and the “Ditch towards -Aldebur.”—_Charter at Apley Park._ - -These two establishments, the Hospital of Saint John and that of Saint -James, the one for the relief of the indigent, and the refreshment of -travellers, the other for the relief of diseased persons, were swept -away by the Act for the dissolution of Monasteries and Religious -Houses, which passed in the reign of Henry VIII. What now answers to -these two in our town, are the Union Poor House and the Infirmary. I am -not about to institute a comparison between the modern institutions, -and those of olden times; and I most willingly bear testimony, that -the indigent and invalids, who are admitted into the Poor House and -Infirmary of Bridgnorth, receive the kindest and tenderest treatment; -at the same time we ought to be aware, that the ancient Religious -Houses of this Country, two of which were connected with our Borough, -afforded to the sick and needy substantial relief, and that, whatever -defects might belong to the system on which they were carried on, -they were for a time of essential service. Abuses did creep into them -no doubt—abuses of so flagrant a character, as called loudly for -reform—nevertheless, they afforded a shelter for houseless poverty, -a retreat for old age, and a refuge for disease, not to be found -elsewhere; and when a rapacious and mercenary law[31] decreed their -dissolution, confiscated their property, uprooted their establishments, -and swept them from the land, it left the poor unbefriended, and -subjected them to the severest sufferings, by casting them for relief -on the precarious supply that private charity afforded. The late -Professor Blunt, of Cambridge, in his valuable work on the Reformation, -gives the following description of the ancient Religious Houses, which -is as true as it is graphic. “They had been the Almshouses, where -the aged dependants of more opulent families, the decrepit servant, -the decayed artificer, retired as to a home, neither uncomfortable -nor humiliating. They had been the County Dispensaries, a knowledge -of medicines, and of the virtues of herbs, being a part of Monkish -learning. They had been foundling asylums, relieving the state of many -orphan and outcast children, and ministering to their necessities, -God’s ravens in the wilderness, bread and flesh in the morning, and -bread and flesh in the evening. They had been Inns to the wayfaring -man, who heard from afar the sound of the vesper bell, at once inviting -him to repose and devotion, and who might sing his matins with the -morning star, and go on his way rejoicing.” (_p. 141._) - -[31] It is a very common opinion, that the suppression of the Religious -Houses in the reign of Henry VIII. was universally countenanced and -encouraged by the Reformers; and Roman Catholic writers are very -anxious to give this opinion currency; but it is wholly groundless. -Almost all the Bishops of the new learning, as the Reformers were -called, were against the misapplication of the Abbey lands; and Queen -Anne Boleyn, though so strong a favourer of the Reformation, is said -to have been so averse to the measure, that she put up Bishop Latimer -upon preaching against it before the King. On the other hand, the -measure found very strong advocates among the Roman Catholics, Laity -and Clergy; and of these one of the most conspicuous was the famous -Bishop Gardener, who is said to have been as busy as any in declaiming -against the Religious Houses, and to have commended the King in many of -his sermons for suppressing them.—See some curious statements on the -subject in _Tanner’s Notitia Monastica_, _p._ XL, _notes_. - - -_The Friars._ - -This was a House of Franciscan or Grey Friars,[32] an order that -was founded by Francis of Assisi, early in the thirteenth century, -and introduced into this country in the reign of Henry III. About -the middle of that reign, a branch of this fraternity settled in -Bridgnorth, and fixed their residence by the Severn side, on a site -now occupied by Messrs. Southwell’s Carpet Manufactory. There they -built both a Friary and a Church. The great Hall, or Refectory, which -belonged to this establishment is still standing, and its oak-pannelled -ceiling and stone fire-place have not yielded to the wear of time, but, -after the lapse of six hundred years, are still in good preservation. -Some years ago, a few skeletons were dug up near this spot, and very -lately several others have been found; the place where they lay marking -out, no doubt, the situation of the Cemetery, which belonged to the -Church of the Friars. - -[32] They were called Grey Friars from their habit, which was a loose -garment of a grey colour, reaching down to their ankles.—_Notitia -Monastica_, _p._ XXI. - -There is a record of a curious trial at Shrewsbury Assizes, bearing -date 1272, which brings the Friars of Bridgnorth under notice. They -were charged with having enclosed the King’s highway on the bank of -the Severn, thereby damaging the King’s revenue. It was stated on this -trial, that “they take stones and rubbish from the bank of the Severn, -and throw them into the river, whereby they have realised to themselves -a piece of ground, one hundred and fifty feet long, and fifty feet -wide, and this they have enclosed. By which process the bank causes -the water to pound upon the King’s Mills, the damage whereunto is -five merks per annum, and this was done sixteen years back.” I must -leave it to engineers to determine, whether or not there is any trace -of this artificial bank still remaining, and whether it is owing to -the construction of it, that the Eastern side of the river, near -Bridgnorth, is now so much more easily flooded than the Western: if so -the inhabitants of the Low Town owe a grudge to the Grey Friars of the -thirteenth century. - -But some of the brethren of this community were, I doubt not, often -employed in much more important work than in banking up the Severn, and -gaining ground by encroaching on its channel. By the ancient seal of -their foundation, an engraving of which is given on the following page, -it may be seen that they were “_prædicatores_”—preachers. It was a dark -age in which they discharged this office, and some blessed truths, -which hold a prominent place in the system of the Gospel of Christ, -were unknown to them, or known very indistinctly. Nevertheless, many -a hooded Friar, in those days of darkness, did the best he could, with -the little light he had, to enlighten the ignorant around him; and He -who does “not despise the day of small things,” would not suffer his -labour to be altogether in vain. - -[Illustration] - -The Monks and Friars of former times have so bad a name among -Protestants, (and indeed there is too much reason for it) that it may -seem strange that I should express a hope, that the establishment of -this Friary of Franciscans in Bridgnorth, should have answered any good -purpose; yet I venture to do so. No doubt such establishments became -in later years exceedingly corrupt—almost as corrupt as those who -profited by their dissolution wished to make out. Often they harboured -evils within them of an enormous magnitude. Nevertheless, they at times -numbered among their members some most earnest and devoted servants of -our Lord, who, in the retirement of their closets, meditated devoutly -on His Word, and went forth from thence with a burning zeal to preach -it to others. In expressing an opinion, that piety of the highest order -might be found among the inhabitants of a cloister, however corrupt -the system may have been with which they were outwardly connected, I -am glad to be able to fortify myself by so great an authority, and so -unsuspected a witness, as Archbishop Leighton. His biographer states, -that although he was no friend to monastic seclusion, and regarded -the greater number of the regular Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church -as “_ignavi fures_,” yet at the same time “he recognized among them a -few specimens of extraordinary growth in religion; and thought he had -discovered in the piety of some conventual recluses a peculiar and -celestial flavour, which could hardly be met with elsewhere. Of their -sublime devotion he often spake with an admiration approaching to -rapture.”[33] On such a topic I cannot refrain from quoting also the -following striking passage from Dr. Maitland, whose acute and learned -researches into the state of religion in the middle ages, entitle his -opinion to the greatest weight. “I feel no doubt, that, in the darkest -age, there were many true and accepted worshippers of God. Not formed -into churches, and eminently bearing their testimony in corporate -capacities _as_ churches, against the See of Rome (for then I think -we should have heard more about them); but as the sheep of Christ, -dispersed abroad in the midst of this naughty world—known, perhaps, by -this or that name of reproach—or, perhaps, the obscure and unknown, -whose names were never written anywhere but in Heaven. I doubt not that -there were such, living a life of faith and prayer and communion with -God; overlooked in the bustle of cities, and the solitude of cottages, -and even shut up in what some modern systems require us to consider as -the strongholds of Antichrist—the cell and the cloister. I will not -shrink from avowing my belief, that many a tonsured head now rests in -Abraham’s bosom; and that many a frail body, bowed down with voluntary -humility, and wasted with unprofitable will-worship—clothed in rags, -and girt with a bell-rope—was a temple of the Holy Ghost; and that one -day—a day when the follies of system, and the sins of party, and man’s -judgment of his fellows, will have come to an end—these, her unknown -children, will be revealed to the astonishment of a church, accustomed -to look back with a mixture of pride and shame to the days of her -barrenness. She may ask, ‘Who hath brought up these? Behold I was left -alone; these, where have they been?’—but she will have learned to know -the seal of the living God, she will embrace them as her sons, and -will find better matter of discourse, than their superstition and her -illumination. In the mean time, however, they are hidden—perhaps more -completely hidden than they need be, if due pains were taken to look -after them, and gather what might be known.”[34] - -[33] Pearson’s Life of Archbishop Leighton, prefixed to his works, pp. -CXVII, CXVIII. - -[34] Facts and documents, illustrative, &c. of the Albigenses and -Waldenses, 1832, p. 45. - -We have happily an instance, to which, without going out of our way, we -can refer, in proof that the spirit of sincere and devoted piety may be -found in a monk or friar of ancient days. It is that of a Shropshire -monk of the twelfth century—Ordericus, the original historian of -our county, to whose records we are indebted for some of the facts -connected with the early history of Bridgnorth, related in the -foregoing pages. In the close of his history he subjoins an account of -himself, which breathes throughout a deep-seated humility, and ardent -gratitude, which it would be well indeed if we, with our clearer views -and larger knowledge, could catch the spirit of. The whole of it is -well worthy a perusal, but I can only find room for the concluding -passage. - -“Thus, thus, O Lord God, Thou who didst fashion me, and didst breathe -into my nostrils the breath of life, hast Thou, through these various -gradations, imparted to me Thy gifts, and formed my years to Thy -service. In all the places to which Thou hast led me, Thou hast caused -me to be beloved, by Thy bounty, not by my own deserving. For all Thy -benefits, O merciful Father, I thank Thee. I laud and bless Thee: for -my numberless offences, with tears I implore Thy mercy. For the praise -of Thy unwearied goodness look upon Thy creature, and blot out all -my sins. Grant me the will to persist in Thy service, and strength -to withstand the attacks of Satan, till I attain, by Thy grace, the -inheritance of everlasting life. And what I have prayed for myself, I -pray, O God, for my friends, and well-wishers. The same also I pray -for all the faithful: and forasmuch as the efficacy of our own merits -cannot suffice to obtain those eternal gifts, after which the desires -of the perfect aspire,— - -“O Lord God, Almighty Father, Creator and Ruler of the Angels, Thou -true hope, and eternal blessedness of the righteous, may the glorious -intercession of the Holy Virgin and Mother Mary, and all Saints, aid us -in Thy sight, with the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer of all -men, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, -world without end.”[35] - -[35] Blakeway’s History of Shrewsbury, Vol. I, pp. 69, 70. - -The concluding passage of this prayer is slightly tinged with that -superstition, which afterwards appeared in a still more objectionable -form, and now so deeply stains the worship of the Church of Rome -with the foul blot of idolatry; but with Ordericus the evil was but -superficial, and though it does sully the beauty of his devotion, -yet it is not deep enough to hide its intrinsic piety. His godly -sincerity is still conspicuous, notwithstanding the error with which -it was connected; for, as Milner well observes in his Church History, -a measure of superstition is compatible with real godliness. We may -hope that there were men of like spirit with Ordericus in the ancient -Friary of Bridgnorth, and if so, Christ was not without a witness here, -even in the darkness of the middle ages; and His holy name, though -pronounced by faltering lips, and a stammering tongue, would bring -salvation; and His truth, though taught obscurely and defectively, -would be sufficient to guide the feet of wandering sinners into the way -of peace, and to conduct the weary and heavy laden to their rest. - - * * * * * - -The historical notices of Bridgnorth which I have thus brought before -the reader, will not, I hope, be considered wholly devoid of interest, -at least not by those who are locally connected with the place. They -are scanty indeed, but sufficient to shew them that the town, in which -it is their lot to live, not only is one whose foundation is of very -ancient date, and the Borough belonging to it one of the earliest -in the kingdom, subsequent to the Norman Conquest, but that it has -been at times the theatre of events of some importance in history; -that the scenes with which they are daily familiar, and which are -now comparatively so quiet and peaceful, have again and again been -scenes of active warfare, where the besiegers and the besieged have -confronted each other in deadly combat, and where, on more than one -occasion, the Monarchs of England have appeared in person to vindicate -the prerogatives of their crown, and loyalty and rebellion have striven -valiantly and fiercely for the mastery. The rude hand of time has -indeed swept away almost every memorial of these things, and scarcely a -monument is left standing to mark the spot where they occurred; so that -they who take their customary walk around the Castle Hill, or stroll -along the towing path by the Severn side, see little or nothing to -remind them of the furious combats which once signalized these scenes. -The hill rises so peacefully in the midst of the valley, that it does -not look as if it had ever been the object of a military assault, nor -is it easy to imagine, when we look on the gentle flow of the river, -that its waters were ever reddened by human blood. The contrast between -what now is, and what has been in other days, is so great, that the -beautiful lines which Sir Walter Scott has addressed to the Teviot, -might, with little alteration, be accommodated to the Severn: - - “Sweet Teviot, on thy silver tide - The glaring bale-fires blaze no more: - No longer steel-clad warriors ride - Along thy wild and willow’d shore: - Where’er thou wind’st, by dale or hill, - All, all is peaceful, all is still, - As if thy waves, since time was born, - Since first they roll’d upon the Tweed, - Had only heard the shepherd’s reed, - Nor started at the bugle horn.” - - _Introduction to Canto IV of the_ - _Lay of the Last Minstrel._ - - - - -THE ANTIQUITIES OF BRIDGNORTH. - -PART II. - - -[Illustration: QUATFORD.] - - - - -THE ANTIQUITIES, &c. - - -In the foregoing pages I have brought before the reader many historical -notices of Bridgnorth from a very early period down to the reign of -Edward III; but I regret that I have been able to collect only a very -few from the commencement of that reign to the era of the Reformation, -and still fewer between that period and the time of the Civil Wars; but -the few which I have been able to collect respecting these intervals, -though of minor importance, may not be without their interest, inasmuch -as they serve to connect our town, however slightly, with some of the -memorable events in English history. - -The reign of Edward III. is one of the most brilliant in the annals of -England. The military prowess of the nation, directed by the genius -and intrepidity of the King himself, and by the youthful heroism of -his son Edward, the Black Prince, acquired a fame which has never -since been eclipsed. This enterprising monarch had not been many years -on the throne before he invaded the territories of France, and there -obtained triumphs, so marvellous, when the superiority of the enemy’s -forces is considered, that the names of his victories, _Cressy and -Poictiers_, are “household words” with Englishmen, even in this day. -It is very possible that some of the men of Bridgnorth may have taken -part in these famous battles; for it appears from a public document, -that just before the invasion of France by King Edward, a writ was sent -to Bridgnorth, as well as to other towns in Shropshire, for raising a -small contingent to the war. In this document it is stated that “Sir -Roger de Strange of Knockin, John Aston and others, as chief persons -within the County of Salop, were summoned to raise 40 men at arms, -within the said County, and 30 Hobelers within the town of Salop; 10 -Hobelers in Ludlow; 6 in Wenlock; 10 in Bridgnorth; 4 in Newport; -and 40 in the rest of the County.”—(_History of Shrewsbury, p. 163, -note 1._) The _men at arms_ were horsemen who wore a complete suit -of armour, and were mounted on strong war horses, answering to our -heavy dragoons; the _hobelers_ were light-armed horsemen, who rode on -“hobbies,” or small fleet horses, and were in the armies of the ancient -English what the troops of light cavalry are in ours. They served the -same purpose for Edward in his French campaign that our light brigade -did for us in the famous charge at Balaklava. I do not know whether any -man from Bridgnorth was among those gallant 600; but I know that some -of our townsmen were exposed to other perils in the Crimean campaign, -and met them with a fortitude that did no dishonour to their ancestors, -who were enrolled under the banner of the Black Prince. - -I have not been able to find out any other fact of any particular -interest respecting Bridgnorth, during the reign of Edward III, except -that the Burgesses of the town petitioned him, that they might have -the use of his chapel, within the Castle, as a parish church. Hitherto -this chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene had been exclusively allotted to -the Castle, and perhaps was used solely by the garrison, and Saint -Leonard’s was the only parochial church belonging to the town; but -now, the Burgesses wishing for larger church accommodation, on account -perhaps of the increase of population, or for some other cause which -made it desirable, laid their petition before the King, that he would -grant them the use of his royal chapel. Whether or not they succeeded -in their object does not appear.[36] - -[36] Dukes’ Antiquities of Shropshire, Appendix XXXVI. - -About twenty years after this, in the same reign, the population was -fearfully diminished by a pestilence, which twice swept over England, -as well as the rest of Europe, and which was so destructive in its -ravages, that it is computed that a third part of the inhabitants of -every county was taken off by it. Shropshire suffered very severely. -We have no record of its progress in Bridgnorth; if we had, it would -doubtless afford us as many narratives of an interesting, though -painful, character, as the visitation of the cholera did a few years -since. This fact the historian Walsingham relates, that eighteen -out of every twenty in the Friaries and Abbeys fell victims to the -disease.[37] This may be in part accounted for by so many living -together in the same house, among whom a contagious disease would be -likely to spread with fatal rapidity. Others attribute the remarkable -amount of mortality among the ecclesiastics at this time[38] to their -frequent visitations of the sick—their constant intercourse with the -diseased and dying. If this be a true account of the matter we may -infer that the members of the religious houses in Bridgnorth—who, like -their brethren elsewhere, perished in numbers—were thus charitably -employed during this visitation, and sacrificed their lives to this -ministry of mercy, imparting as far as they were able to do so, the -consolations of the Gospel of Christ to the sufferers around them. - -[37] Hume, Vol. 2, p. 423 - -[38] The Diocesan Registers of Lichfield and Hereford shew a very high -average of mortality among the Clergy of Shropshire at this period, and -these were not exposed to the danger of contagion from the circumstance -above referred to. - -On the death of Edward III., the reins of government were committed -into the feeble hands of Richard II., who, after a disastrous reign -of twenty-two years, (during which I find no historical notice of our -town worth mentioning) was deposed by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, -Duke of Lancaster. Henry, who assumed the sovereignty, under the -title of Henry IV, was frequently in Shropshire, on account of the -insurrectionary movements which took place among the Welsh, during the -early part of his reign. Under the leadership of the hot-headed and -enterprising _Owen Glendwyr_, they ravaged the border counties to a -considerable extent; and, in consequence of this, the Council issued an -order, that all the Castles on the borders—and Bridgnorth Castle was -one of them—should be strengthened and put in a state of defence, to -resist the incursions of the rebels. But previously to this, an act of -Parliament had been passed, which had special reference to Bridgnorth, -with other towns in our County, forbidding them to allow any one -born in Wales, and descended from Welsh parents, to become a member -of their corporations, or even to purchase land within the Borough. -These restrictions, however severe they may appear, were considered -necessary, on account of the spirit of disaffection, which so generally -prevailed in the Principality. - -But, notwithstanding these civil enactments and military preparations, -the cause of the Welsh chieftain continued to gain ground, till it -suddenly received unexpected support, from the accession to his party -of the Duke of Northumberland, and his valiant son Harry Hotspur, -who at the head of a formidable army of English and Scotch, marched -towards the borders. He, as quickly as possible, united his forces to -those of Glendwyr, and the combined rebel army encountering the royal -forces, led on by the King in person, and Henry Prince of Wales, fought -a great battle, well known to the readers of English History as the -famous _Battle of Shrewsbury_; for it was fought under the walls of -our county town. If we may rely on Shakespeare in this matter, who -indeed is often, even in minute circumstances, an excellent historical -authority, we may conclude that Bridgnorth was the place appointed -by King Henry for the rendezvous of his army on the eve of this -great battle. In the first part of the Play of Henry IV, the king is -represented as addressing the chief leaders of his army, and giving -instructions as to the mustering of his forces, in these words:— - - “The Earl of Westmorland set forth to-day; - With him, my son, lord John of Lancaster; - On Wednesday next, Harry, thou shalt set forward; - On Thursday, we ourselves will march: - Our meeting is Bridgnorth: and, Harry, you - Shall march through Glostershire; by which account - Our business valued, some twelve days hence - Our general forces at Bridgnorth shall meet.” - -If our dramatist had any warrant for this representation, of which -I have no doubt, the town of Bridgnorth must have witnessed on this -occasion a fine military muster, and have had the privilege of -receiving into its Castle one who has been ranked among the greatest -of England’s heroes—Henry, Prince of Wales. He was just at that time -beginning to emerge from the state of wild and thoughtless profligacy -in which he had wasted his early years, and was about to exhibit those -qualities, which have since made his name so illustrious in English -History. The battle of Shrewsbury, at which he did some service, was -very decisive; and the confederate army of the rebels, under Glendwyr, -Hotspur, and Douglas, was completely routed. Nevertheless our county -continued for years after to be ravaged by the Welsh insurgents, nor -was it till the reign of Henry V., when the death of Glendwyr took -place, that there was any security for life and property in the Borders. - -In the succeeding reign of Henry VI. commenced that most destructive -series of Civil Wars, known by the name of the Wars of the Roses, -between the rival houses of York and Lancaster, which laid waste for -many years the fairest provinces of the land. “It was not finished in -less than a course of thirty years: was signalized by twelve pitched -battles: opened a scene of extraordinary violence: is computed to have -cost the lives of eighty Princes of the blood, and to have almost -entirely annihilated the ancient nobility of England.”—_History of -Shrewsbury, Vol. 1, p. 166._ - -Shropshire was necessarily embroiled in these contests, and I have -lighted upon one fact, which shows, I think, that Bridgnorth, as well -as the neighbouring town of Shrewsbury, assumed the badge of the _White -Rose_, espousing the cause of the house of York. The fact referred to, -though a trifling one in itself, seems to me to connect Bridgnorth with -the great leader of that party—Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. This -nobleman, who had doubtless a clearer title to the crown of England -than the reigning monarch, held the Castle of Ludlow, and was naturally -very anxious to associate the people of Shrewsbury with his party, and -to make them his adherents. He therefore entered into communication -with them; and on one occasion, when a matter of some consequence was -to be considered, the Bailiffs of Shrewsbury appointed a gentleman of -Bridgnorth, the representative of this Borough, in company with others, -to treat with the Duke at his castle of Ludlow. The following extract -from the accounts of the Bailiffs of Shrewsbury, A.D. 1457, refers to -this fact:—“Paid for a breakfast to Thomas Acton and Thomas Hoord, for -their good council, touching the return of a precept to the Duke of -York, directed to the Bailiffs for surety of the peace.” Again. “Money -paid for the expenses of Thomas Hoord, and William Lyster, riding to -the Lord Duke of York at Ludlow, to get the said precept dissolved.” -(_History of Shrewsbury, Vol. 1, p._ 224.) This Thomas Acton was of -Aldenham, and ancestor to the present baronet of that name; and Thomas -Hoord was of _Hoord Park_, now called Park Farm, adjacent to our town, -a gentleman of ancient lineage. He was member of Parliament for our -Borough, and therefore it is not likely that he would have engaged -himself to treat with the Duke of York, if he had not been aware that -his constituents at Bridgnorth were well affected to his party, which -was now growing formidable. - -I have not had access to any records which shew whether our town took -any very active part, or in what measure they suffered in consequence, -in this fatal and disastrous strife; but it is scarcely possible that -such great battles should have been fought in this and the adjoining -counties, as _Mortimer’s Cross_, _Tewksbury_, and _Ludlow_, without -Bridgnorth being more or less affected by them. I have little doubt -that the state of decay and ruin, in which parts of the town were found -some years afterwards, is to be traced to these civil contests. This is -noticed in an Act of Parliament, passed in the year 1535. It recites -that “many houses, messuages, and tenements of habitation, in the town -of Bridgnorth, now are, and have of a long time been, in great ruin and -decay, and specially in the principal and chief streets there being; -in the which chief streets in time passed have been beautiful dwelling -houses there, well inhabited, which at this day much part thereof is -desolate and void grounds, with pits, cellars, and vaults lying open -and uncovered, very perilous for people to go by in the night, without -jeopardy of life, which things are to the great impoverishing and -hindrance of the said town.” (_History of Shrewsbury, Vol. 1, p. 318._) - -These wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, which spread such -ruin over the land, did not cease till after the battle of Bosworth -Field, and the accession of the house of Tudor to the throne, in the -person of Henry VII; and with this latter event, a very important one -in English history, Bridgnorth was accidentally connected. - -The Duke of Buckingham was the chief instrument of raising the Earl of -Richmond, afterwards Henry VII, to the throne of England, and this was -occasioned, the historian Hall relates,[39] by a casual circumstance -which occurred in the neighbourhood of our town. This Duke had large -estates in Shropshire, in consequence of his being the representative -of the ancient family of Corbet, and among these he had certain -tenements in Bridgnorth. (_Dukes’ Antiquities of Shropshire, p. 31._) -His possession of this property was perhaps the cause of his visiting -our town, in the summer of 1483. It was just at this time that he was -plotting the overthrow of the government of Richard III, but feeling -uncertain as to the person whom he should endeavour to make sovereign -in his stead, when riding one day between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster, -he accidentally met the Countess of Richmond, better known by the -name of _the Lady Margaret_. This casual interview suggested to his -mind the young and enterprising Earl of Richmond, as the fittest heir -to the English throne; and he immediately set himself to raise an -insurrection in these, and other parts of the kingdom, in his favour. -The insurrection succeeded, though Buckingham himself perished in -the enterprise; and the Earl of Richmond, became Henry VII, king of -England. On so accidental a circumstance depended the accession of -the house of Tudor to the English throne, and the consequences, which -followed it, so important to the interests of this great empire. - -[39] The Duke of Buckingham, in his communication with the Bishop of -Ely, is represented by Hall, (an historian of the 16th century) as -thus expressing himself in reference to this matter:—“But whether God -so ordeyned, or by fortune it so chanced, while I was in a mase, other -to conclude sodaynlye on thys litte, and to sette it open amongeste -the common people, or to kepe it secrete awhile, so the chaunce was I -rode between Worcester and Bridgenorth, I encountered wyth the Ladye -Margaret, Contesse of Richmond, now wyfe to the Lorde Stanley, whych -is the very daughter and sole heyre to Lorde John, Duke of Somersett, -my grandfather’s elder brother: whych was a cleare out of my mynde -as though I had never seen her; so that she and her sonne the Earle -of Richmonde be both bulwarke and portcolies, and the gate to enter -into the majestie royall, and gettynge the crowne. And when we had -commoned a little concernynge her sonne, as I shall shewe after, -and were departed, she to our Ladye of Worcester, and I towards -Shrewsburie, I then changed, and in a manner began to dispute wyth -myself.”—_Chronicle, 2nd yeare of Ric._ III, _fol._ xj. - -It was during the sovereignty of the house of Tudor that one of the -most important events in the history of our country took place, viz., -_the Reformation_, commencing in the reign of Henry VIII., and being -completed in that of Elizabeth. I greatly regret not having been able -to collect any information respecting our town during this eventful -and interesting period. One would like to know how it was affected -by the great movement which was then taking place, and whether -the pulpits of St. Mary’s and St. Leonard’s were late or early in -announcing those glorious truths, which at that time began to stir -the depths of people’s minds, and caused such a mighty revolution in -the land—whether here, as well as elsewhere, there were men who stood -up as fearless defenders of the truth, ready to seal their advocacy -of it with their blood. We have no details on the subject; but we -learn that the spirit of reformation was awakened in Shropshire as far -back as the fourteenth century. A very remarkable Poem of that date, -entitled “_The Visions of Piers the Ploughman_,” whose uncouth rhymes -seem to have produced a wonderful effect on the popular mind, was -written by an inhabitant of the neighbouring town of Cleobury Mortimer. -(_History of Salop, p. 202, note 1._) We also know that our county town -had a courageous advocate of the cause in the reign of Henry IV in -William Thorpe; who ascending the pulpit of Saint Chad’s, vehemently -denounced the errors of the Church of Rome, and in consequence suffered -imprisonment. It is not likely that such things should have gone on in -the neighbourhood of Bridgnorth without our townspeople being more or -less affected by them; but we have no particulars—none, I mean, that -my very limited search could discover—respecting the progress which the -Reformation made among them. - -There is one document, however, which shews that the accession of -Queen Mary was received by the inhabitants of Bridgnorth and its -neighbourhood with great demonstrations of joy; but it is of course -doubtful whether this resulted from their loyalty to the person of -one whom they rightly regarded as the heir to the throne, or from -attachment to those religious opinions of which she was known to be a -patron. The document I refer to is an extract from the Register of Sir -Thomas Boteler, Vicar of Much Wenlock, beginning November 26th, 1538, -ending September 20th, 1562. “1553 Memorandum. That as some say King -Edward VI, by the grace of God, &c., died the 6th day of this instant -month of July, in the year of our Lord God as it is above written, and -as some say he died on the 4th of May last proceeding in the same year -of our Lord; and upon Mary Magdalene’s day, which is the 22nd day of -this instant month, at Bridgnorth in the fair there was proclaimed -Lady Mary, Queen of England, &c., after which proclamation finished, -the people made great joy, casting up their caps and hats, lauding, -thanking, and praising God Almighty, with ringing of bells, and making -of bonfires in every street. And so was she proclaimed Queen on the -same day, and at the Battle field in the same evening, with the like -joy of the people, and triumphal solemnity made in Shrewsbury, and also -in this Borough of Much Wenlock.” - -The Act for the dissolution of Monasteries and other Religious Houses -took effect here of course, and consequently the _Friary_ and the -Hospitals of _St. John_ and _St. James_ were all suppressed, and their -property confiscated. The Brethren of Grey Friars seem at that time to -have been in very reduced circumstances, so that the spoils obtained -from them were hardly worth the seizure. The King’s Commissioners came -here on the 5th of August, 1538, and the following note, which was -signed by the Bailiffs of the town, shows the indigent condition in -which this religious establishment was found—a plain proof of what -little hold at that time the orders of monks and friars had upon the -affections of the people. “Memorandum. This V daye of Auguste, in ye -XXX yeare of Kynge Henry the VIIJth, that Rycharde bysehope of Dovor, -and vesytor under the Lorde Prevy Seale for ye Kynge’s grace, was in -Bryggenorthe, wher that the warden and heys Bredren in the presens -of Master Thomas Hall, and Master Randolphe Rodes, Balys of the sayd -towne gave the howse, with all the purtenans into the vesytores handdes -to the Kynge’s use; for sayd warden and brethren sayd that they war -not abull to live, for the charyte off the pepulle was so small, that -in IIJ yeares they had not receyvyd in almes in redy mony to the sum -of Xs. by yere, but only leve by a serves that they had in the town -in a chapell[40] on the bryge. Thus the sayd vesytor receyveyd the -sayd howse, with the purtenans to the kynge’s use, and by indentures -delyveryd yt to us the sayd Balys to kepe to the kynge’s use, till the -kynges plesur was further known. Thys wyttenes we the sayd balys with -other. - - per me Thomam Halle. - per me Randull Rowdes.” - (_Wright’s History of Ludlow, p. 342._) - -[40] This was a Chapel, built on the piers of the Bridge, dedicated -to St Osyth, wife of the king of East Anglia, afterwards Abbess of -a Monastic Church in Essex. According to tradition she suffered -martyrdom, A.D. 870.—_See Butler, Vol. 2, p. 661._ - -An incidental proof of the state of penury to which these poor Friars -of Bridgnorth were reduced, may be gathered from a note kept among the -records of the town of Shrewsbury, of the expenses which were incurred -by Roger Thomas, their senior Bailiff, and Thomas Bromley, afterwards -Lord Chancellor, in a journey which they made from Shrewsbury to -Bewdley on important business. On their return they stopped at -Bridgnorth, and had their dinner at the principal inn, and this is the -note of their expenses:—“Dener at Bruggenorth 3s. 4d.; to Shepay the -frere 1d.” This Shepay was no doubt a member of the Grey Friars, who -waited upon the travellers at their inn, to beg alms for his house. -(_History of Shrewsbury, p. 302._) - -It might have been expected that when Queen Mary came to the throne -she would have restored all the religious houses in England to their -original use; but on the contrary, pressed by strong political motives, -she confirmed by her own acts the confiscation, which had been made in -the reign of Henry VIII., of the property belonging to them; and thus -under a Popish sovereign it became irrecoverably alienated from the -Church.[41] - -[41] Appendix E. - -The Hospital of St. James, Bridgnorth, affords a striking example of -this. In the year 1566, the Queen, in conjunction with her husband -Philip, made over to Sir J. Parrott, in consideration of £184 15s., -and for his faithful services, all the property belonging to this -Hospital.[42] In the year following, Sir J. Parrott transferred the -same to Mr. R. Smith of Morville. In the following reign of Elizabeth, -it was transferred to William Tupper and Robert Dawes; and the -property, after passing through the various families of Smith, Dovy, -Kinnersly, Nevitt, Tyner, and Bach, came into the family of _Stanier_, -and now, by another turn in the wheel of time, the name of _Smith_ is -again connected with the property. There was an order in Council at one -time, that this estate should pay to Bridgnorth Church a yearly sum of -twenty nobles—equal to £6 13s. 4d. This order was lost out of the town -chest, and afterwards recovered; but in one of the wars it was burnt, -after which the property rendered nothing but a pound of frankincense -every Easter, to be burnt in the Church of the High Town: but this last -customary payment has long been discontinued. - -[42] Dukes’ Antiquities, Appendix IX. - -What may have been the value of this pound of frankincense I do not -know, but whatever it may have been, it is certain that the Incumbents -of Bridgnorth receive from the present owners of St. James’s, in their -liberal support of the religious institutions of the town, something -far more valuable than this former impost upon their property. - -We now enter on the era of Elizabeth. There is perhaps no period in -the history of our country to which Englishmen are accustomed to look -back with more satisfaction. Whatever may have been her faults and -foibles as a woman, she was undoubtedly a great Queen, and swayed the -sceptre of this realm with such a steady and vigorous hand, as made her -revered by her subjects, and dreaded by her enemies. She contributed -more perhaps than any sovereign that preceded her, to raise the -character of our country, and place it high in the scale of European -nations. Besides, she was under God, the great means of strengthening -the cause of the reformed faith, and resisting the colossal power of -the Church of Rome. - -It would have been very gratifying to find any record which would have -connected the history of our town with the public events which took -place in the reign of this great princess; but I have not been able to -find any, none at least but what are of a very trivial nature. I find, -for instance, that in the singular proclamation which she issued, for -the purpose of compelling every one in her realm to wear _woollen -caps_, except the nobility, she mentions Bridgnorth, as a place where -the company of cappers used to flourish;[43] which seems to indicate -that the people now enjoyed a considerable share of quietness, and -were acquiring wealth by their trade and industry. Again I find that -when her great favorite, the Earl of Leicester, visited Shrewsbury, -and where preparations were made to receive him with an honour, little -short of that which would have been offered to the Queen herself, one -of the three who were appointed to address him on the occasion, was -a Bridgnorth youth, Richard Hoord, son of John Hoord, of Hoord Park; -no slight distinction, considering the almost royal dignity which was -attached to the person of the Earl of Leicester. But it is only in -circumstances of this nature, and not in matters of weightier import, -that I can find any reference to Bridgnorth in this reign. I ought -not however to be disappointed at this, for one who had far better -opportunity for making researches of this kind, than I have, and far -greater aptitude for the task, has stated that “from the 27th year of -Henry VIII till the year 1629, he could discover no historical notice -of the Town or Castle of Bridgnorth.”[44] - -[43] Appendix F. - -[44] The late Mr. Hardwick. - -This latter date brings us to a very remarkable period in the history -of our town. In that year, viz, the 4th of King Charles I., and on the -2nd day of October, the King made a grant of the Castle, to Gilbert -North, Esq., one of the Gentlemen of the Privy Bed Chamber. It had been -a royal castle from the time that it was taken by Henry I. from Robert -de Belesme—a period of more than five hundred years. But now, perhaps -on account of the cost of keeping it in repair, it was transferred to -the possession of a gentleman belonging to the King’s household, who -by a subsequent deed of the same year, transferred it to Sir William -Whitmore, Knight, in whose family it has continued ever since.[45] It -is indeed greatly to be regretted that its present possessor should -have so small a remnant of it to call his own, and that the leaning -tower on Castle Hill, as it is popularly called, should be all that is -left of this once noble fortress of the middle ages. But how it came -to be thus reduced to utter ruin, is the subject which must now occupy -our attention; and it is one which is intimately connected with the -stirring events of that period. - -[45] Apley MSS. - -At the time in which Bridgnorth Castle was transferred to the Whitmore -family, the nation was in a great state of political disquietude. The -King was disposed to carry his royal prerogative beyond the limit -which the law had assigned to it; and many members of the Houses of -Parliament in resisting the encroachment, were tempted to invade the -rights of legitimate authority, and became in the struggle fierce and -unrelenting enemies to the Crown. This contest of prerogative on the -one hand, and the spirit of liberty on the other, brought about the -Great Rebellion; and this fair land was once more destined to be the -scene of civil strife, in which was shed the best and noblest blood -of England. Of the two parties into which our countrymen were then -divided, the Royalists and Roundheads, it is not my province to say -much; I know to which of the two, had I lived at the time, my feelings -and principles would have attached me; yet I feel bound to acknowledge, -that while I regard some of the opinions and some of the acts of the -insurgent party with a feeling nothing short of abhorrence, there were -among them, both among their soldiers and their divines, men of the -highest character, and whose minds were cast in the finest mould; nor -am I unwilling to allow that England is in a great measure indebted to -this party for the present freedom of her institutions.[46] Respecting, -however, the great leader of the party, Oliver Cromwell, I cannot agree -with some late writers, who have endeavoured to canonize his memory, -and who try to represent him as a pure and unselfish patriot. He was -indeed a man of great qualities, of fearless fortitude, and untiring -energy; and perhaps at the commencement of his public course he was -upright and single hearted in his intentions: but there can be no -question of it, that he became ambitious of earthly power; and the -religious phraseology, which was once perhaps the sincere expression of -his feelings, he afterwards employed as a crafty instrument to further -his designs, and to conceal their evil character.[47] Nor must we, if -we would form a just estimate of him, lose sight of the fact that while -he was a subject he was an enthusiast on the side of liberty, but when -he himself was placed on the seat of power, no Stuart or Plantagenet -was ever more despotic in his rule. - -[46] See the whole subject treated very ably by Professor Smyth, of -Cambridge, in his Lectures on Modern History, Vol. 1, Lect. XIV. - -[47] The Cambridge Professor of History, though a strong advocate -of the cause of liberty in opposition to prerogative, thus writes -of Cromwell:—“Cromwell had to subdue not only the Royalists, but -the Presbyterians; and this not merely by force, but by the most -extraordinary performance of cant and hypocrisy that human nature ever -exhibited.”—_Vol. 1, Lect._ XVII. - -(See Vide Appendix G.) - -In this great intestine struggle, the inhabitants of Bridgnorth, as -was natural from their hereditary loyalty, espoused heartily the cause -of Charles I., as that of their legitimate sovereign; and suffered -severely for their allegiance. In the year 1642, preparations were -made throughout the country for the commencement of hostilities; and -in consequence, the authorities here thought it necessary to put the -town, as far as possible, in a state of defence: and the Corporation -have still in their possession some interesting records, containing the -Common Hall orders which were made on this occasion. The first is as -follows:—Bridgnorth. At a Comon Hall in the said towne, the XXVI day of -August, Aᵒ. R. Caroli Angl, &c., XVIIIº Aᵒ Dⁿⁱ 1642, John Harryson and -Robert Richards, Gents, being Bailiffs. - - “_Concerninge the makinge of a draw Bridge upon the - Bridg over Severn in Bridgnorth aforesaid, and other - things for the defence of the said towne, upon a - warrant from John Weld, Esq., High Sheriff of this - county of Salop, in respect of the extreame danger - which is now come neare unto us._ - - It is agreed, That the makinge of a draw Bridge shall - be respited untill further consideration; and that for - the present necessity, Posts and Chaines shall be made - at the two ends of the Low Towne, viz., At the farther - end of the Mill Strette, and at the farther end of St. - John’s Streete, and at other needfule places in the - said Towne; and also that the Gates of the said Towne - shall be repayred, and made stronge with chaynes and - otherwise, as shall be convenient for strength and - defence of the said Towne.” - -But very early in the year, the Bailiffs had projected another means of -defence. They had petitioned Thomas Corbett, Esq., of Longnor, in this -county, to exercise the young men of the town, and of the immediate -neighbourhood, in the practice of arms and military tactics, that so -they might be ready to repel any attack which might be suddenly made -by the rebel forces. The following is the letter which Mr. Corbett -addressed to Sir Francis Ottley, Governor of Shrewsbury, on this -occasion:— - - “1642. Noble Sir, - The Bayliffs of Bridgnorth, in behalf of the town, - having been importunate with me to take upon me the - exercising of the young men in this town, and others - in the country neare adjoining, for the defence of the - towne upon any needfull design, I have been persuaded - by them to take the same upon me; and they having shewn - me a letter which they intend to present unto the high - Sheriff, for a warrant unto me in that behalf, I pray - be pleased to consider thereto, and impart your advice - unto me, and further Mr. Sheriff’s directions therein, - as you in your wisdom shall think most convenient, and - you will oblige - Your respective kinsman, - and friend who truly - Honoureth you, - THOS. CORBETT. - Bridgnorth, 5 Feb., 1642. - - To my noble friend and kinsman Sir Francis Ottly, - Knight, at Shrewsbury House.” - (_Blakeway Papers, Bodleian Lib._) - -No time indeed was to be lost, for four days before the date of -the order above referred to, the King had set up his standard at -Nottingham, and the parliamentary forces were in the field, under the -command of the Earl of Essex. On the 20th of the following month, the -King removed into this county, and Clarendon states, that “a more -general and passionate expression of affection cannot be imagined, -than he received by the people of Shropshire, or a better reception -than he met at Shrewsbury.” (_History of the Rebellion, Vol. 2, p. -18._) But on his march thither he heard of the rebel army advancing -towards Worcester, and in order to watch their motions, and if possible -to check their progress, he dispatched his nephew Prince Rupert with -all his horse across the Severn; and it was most likely on his return -from this expedition, that the Prince passed through our town, and -took up his residence for the night at _Cann Hall_. He had conducted -the expedition with that intrepid gallantry which characterized all -his military movements; he had with a handful of men attacked a large -body of the enemy as they were defiling out of a narrow lane near the -city of Worcester, and completely routed them in the first onset, -slaying several of their number, and taking the commanding officer -prisoner; (_History of the Rebellion, Vol. 2, p. 25_) so that he came -to Bridgnorth, flushed with the first victory which was gained in -these civil wars. While he was here he addressed a letter to the Jury -appointed to choose a Bailiff, dated September, 21st, 1642. It is as -follows:— - - You Gentlemen of the Jury, who are to have voices in - this election, these are to entreat you, out of a tender - care both of his Majesty’s service and your own happiness - and welfare, that in the present election you make choice - of such men for your Bailiffs as you are sure are well - affected for his Majesty’s service. By which you will - oblige me to remain, - - Your Loving Friend, - RUPERT. - -The Bailiffs chosen were Thomas Dudley and John Farr, ancestors most -likely of some of our townsmen who now bear these names; and there is -no doubt, from the choice made of them at this critical time, that -they possessed those qualifications for being Chief Magistrates of the -Borough which Prince Rupert described. - -On the 12th of October the King left Shrewsbury, and quartered for -the night at Bridgnorth, where, Clarendon observes, “there was a -rendezvous of the whole army, which appeared very cheerful.” [_Vol. 2, -p. 42._] Here the king stayed three days; and I am one of those who -feel, that our town and Castle were never so honoured by a royal visit -as on this occasion. Many of the Monarchs of England have been here; -many crowned heads have entered the portals of our Castle, and rested -within its walls—Normans, Plantagenets, and Lancastrians—but to none -of them, in my mind, attaches the same deep interest, and to none is -due the same tribute of veneration, as to this unhappy monarch of the -House of Stuart. Not only was he by far the most accomplished Prince -that ever sat on the English throne, and endowed with considerable -intellectual powers,[48] as his successful controversy with Henderson, -the Presbyterian Minister, clearly proved; but he was distinguished -in all the relations of private life by the highest moral principle: -by a purity, fidelity, and love, which are rarely seen in king’s -courts, and have seldom been equalled in retired domestic circles; and -these virtues in him were combined with a deep-seated reverence for -religion. He was not blameless in his public conduct; far from it. -There was a weakness and want of stability in him, which justly exposed -him to the charge of inconstancy, if not of insincerity. He was subtle -and evasive, and it may be at times, under the pressure of very trying -circumstances, disingenuous in his transactions with his opponents, so -that they complained that they could not depend upon him. But he was -refined in the furnace of affliction. “Sweet” to him, as they have been -to others, were “the uses of adversity”; so that when his end drew -nigh,[49] there appeared in him, as his enemies allow, a calm heroic -fortitude—saintly magnanimity—a firmness, combined with a gentleness -and forgiving love—which we do not often find surpassed even in the -early Martyrologies. No memorial then connected with our Castle, is to -me of equal interest to that of its having been occasionally, during -his declining fortunes, the residence of Charles I. - -[48] In proof of the intellectual power of Charles, additional to -that of his successful controversy with Henderson, the following -statement may be given in the words of Mr Tytler:—“In the two months’ -negotiations which followed, Charles, unassisted, carried on a contest -of argument on arduous political topics with these fifteen of the -ablest senators of the day; and the commissioners were not more -struck with the ravages which persecution and suffering had wrought -in his appearance, (his hair had become entirely grey) than with the -clearness of intellect, the readiness of elocution, and the dignity of -deportment, which he displayed at these important conferences.”—_Trials -of Charles I., p. 8._ - -[49] The conduct and demeanour of Charles, at his trial, and on the -scaffold, have drawn even from the pen of Mr. Macaulay a passage -expressive of his admiration, and a passage so eloquent as to shine -even in his brilliant pages. But it is not more just, perhaps not more -eloquent, than the following description which is given of Charles in -the hour of adversity, by Professor Smyth:—“With what sentiment do we -now behold him?... it is the monarch unsubdued by adversity—it is the -hero unappalled by death—it is the Christian sublimed by piety and -hope—it is these that occupy our imagination and our memory. It is the -tribunal of violence—it is the scaffold of blood—that banish from our -minds all indignation but against his destroyers—all terrors but of -the licentiousness of the people: that render all regular estimation -of his character odious and impossible; and that leave nothing in the -heart of the generous and humane, but compassion for his misfortunes, -and reverence for his virtues.”—_Lectures on Modern History, Vol. 1, p. -441._ - -It was on one of these visits that he passed that eulogium, so well -known, and, in the opinion of many, so well deserved, on our Castle -Walk; namely, that it was the finest walk in his dominions. We can -easily picture him to our minds, (for there is no King with whose -lineaments we seem to be so familiar, in consequence of the many -inimitable paintings of him by Vandyke) we can easily picture him, with -measured step and pensive aspect, taking his walk along this terrace, -and his face for a moment lighted up with pleasure at the fair scene -which burst upon him; each step as he advanced bringing into view some -new and striking object—the bold front of the High Rock—the wooded -declivities of Apley—the graceful winding of the Severn, with its -“margent green,” and the sloping uplands on either side of it. But -he could not give free indulgence to such pleasurable emotions, for -a heavy burden of care lay upon his mind, which did not admit of his -thoughts being long diverted to anything else. - -He left Bridgnorth on the 15th of October, and eight days after was -fought the famous Battle of Edge Hill,[50] in Warwickshire, where, if -it had not been for the fiery impetuosity of Prince Rupert, such a -signal victory might have been gained by the King over the forces of -the rebels, as to decide the fate of the campaign in his favour. Then -followed the taking of Banbury Castle, the march of the King’s army -to Oxford and Reading, and the capture of the town of Marlborough. -These military operations in different parts of the country convinced -the authorities of Bridgnorth of the necessity of making further -preparations for the defence of the town, and we find a Common Hall -order was passed for this purpose, dated November 29th, 1642:—“Watch -and ward shall be duly set day and night in all convenient places of -the towne where the Bayliffs shall think fit, and the open places -within the said towne to be made up as the Bailiffs shall find -expedient; and such as are minded for their own safety, and the safety -of the towne, to bear arms, they are desired with all convenient -expedition to provide arms at the general charge of the towne.” - -[50] It appears that the King was exposed to great personal hazard -in this battle, and owed his deliverance to the prompt and intrepid -conduct of Adam Hill, Esq., of Spaldwick. When Prince Rupert, by his -rash pursuit of the enemy’s cavalry, had thrown the royal army into a -state of disorder, the King was at one time in danger of being taken -prisoner, when this brave officer, by rallying a troop of horse, of -which he was in command, checked the advance of the enemy, and thus -averted the King’s danger. Charles shewed his sense of this gallant -feat of arms, and his gratitude for this service, by investing him on -the field of battle with his own royal scarf. This gorgeous scarf, -the material and workmanship of which is peculiarly beautiful, having -descended as an heirloom to Peter Denny, a grandson of Adam Hill’s by -his daughter Cordelia, is now in the possession of Sir Edward Denny, -Bart, of Tralee.—_“Royal Presents to the Denny’s” by Rev. A. B. Rowan, -p. 3._ - -But in the beginning of the next year they deemed it necessary to -introduce a few horse soldiers into the town, as appears from a Common -Hall order, dated January 25th, 1643; by which it was agreed that nine -dragoons should be maintained at the general charge of the said town. -Towards the charge of the said nine dragoons, it is stated that Mr. -Thomas Corbett undertook to lend a horse and provide a rider, so that -the town should bear the charge of the horse and rider. Thomas Glover -undertook to provide two horses, saddles, and bridles, at 1s. per day -for the hire of each horse. Several other persons furnished a horse -and sword, and a bandolier each. Captains of the watch and ward were -appointed, with orders that the said watch and ward be from Six o’clock -in the morning until Six o’clock in the evening, and from Six o’clock -in the evening until Six o’clock in the morning; and it was appointed -that eight men should watch in the night, and six men in the day. - -In the beginning of this year, the King had made Lord Capel, Lieutenant -Governour of our county, than whom there is not one in either -party during those troubled times that bore a more honoured name—a -loyal-hearted servant of the crown—a dutiful and devout member of the -Church of England—one of the firmest, as well as noblest, champions -that the royal cause could boast of.[51] While exercising his function -as Lieutenant Governor of Shropshire, he was not unmindful of so -important a post as Bridgnorth, but adopted means for its security, -as we find by an order of the Common Hall, of May 23rd, 1643:—“The -Right Honorable the Lord Capel, Lieutenant General to the Prince -his Highness, of his Majesty’s forces in the countyes of Worcester, -Salop, and Chester, and the six northern countyes of Wales, hath -appointed Sir Thomas Wolrich, Knight and Bart., to draw his forces of -the trayned band of this county which are under his command, to this -towne and neighbourhood hereabouts of Bridgnorth; it is agreed that -fortifications be made in all fords and places about this towne, and -the liberties thereof, where the said Thomas Wolrich shall think good -to appoint, and that all the men of this towne shall come themselves, -or send labourers to this work, with all speed; unto which work Edward -Cressett, Esq., and Edward Acton, Esq., justices of peace of the said -county, being present, do promise to send labourers and workmen out of -the country. Secondly, whosoever has volunteered will bear arms for -the defence of this towne, and the neighbourhood hereabouts, shall -be listed, and attend the service of training weekly, upon every -Tuesday, to be exercised therein, whose teaching and training for that -service Lieutenant Billingsley (at the towne’s entreaty) is pleased to -undertake.” - -[51] Clarendon, who has given a sketch of the character of this -cavalier, and an affecting account of his execution, and of the -christian courage with which he submitted to it, thus sums up his -description of him:—“In a word, he was a man, that whoever shall after -him deserve best of the English nation, he can never think himself -undervalued when he shall hear that his courage, virtue, and fidelity -is laid in the balance with, and compared to that of Lord Capel.” ... -_Vol._ III, _p. 273_. - -The year 1644 was a disastrous one to the royal cause, in consequence -of the signal victory, which Cromwell gained over Prince Rupert at -Marston Moor, July 2nd; and the following year opened very gloomily on -the fortunes of the king; but the people of Bridgnorth did not desert -the cause of their sovereign, though recent events had proved it to be -a failing one, but they made further preparations for resisting the -insurgents, and for holding out against them. - -It appears that a Committee had been formed for the purpose of -hastening forward the works, and for putting the town in as good a -posture of defence as the circumstances would allow. The following is a -copy of another order made by them, dated May 21st, 1645:— - - “Commissioners present, - Sir Lewis Kirke, Governor. - Sir Edward Acton, Bart. - Edward Cressett, Esq. - Francis Billingsley, Lieutenant Colonel. - Thomas Wynde, Lieutenant Colonel. - John Bromley, Esq. - Arthur Weaver. - Edward Latham. - -It is ordered that with all convenient speed Colonel Billingsley shall -place soldiers and arms in the North Gate, in Whitburn and in the -Hungry Gates, and that the barns without the works be pulled down, -and that the prisoners who are there be taken thence and disposed of -elsewhere, by Mr. Bailiffs, and that the Towne Walls on both sides -North Gate, and the works about the towne, be presently made up, and -the Towne Hall and New House pulled down, and for the making of the -said wall the treasurer to lay out money not exceeding £10 for workmen, -to be repaid out of the first money raised out of the delinquents’ -Estates. _Copia vera._” - -[Illustration: _The West (or Hungry) Gate._ - -From a Sketch in the Bodleian Library.] - -On the 10th of June there was a farther order on the subject. “At a -Comon Hall it was agreed that the Chamberlain of the towne should cause -the Towne Hall to be taken down with all convenient speed according -to the foregoing order from Sir Lewis Kirke, governor of the said -towne, and other above-named Commissioners, and that the Chamberlain -shall make sale thereof for the most benefit of the towne, and what -they cannot sell thereof, to cause the timber which shall remain to be -carried into the church, there to remain until further use shall be -for the same for the towne. And the New House is in the like manner -to be taken down if needs require. And it is further also agreed that -the Towne’s Bonds and writings concerning the towne, which are in the -New House, shall be left with the Towne Clerk, or in any other place -which the Bailiffs and he shall think fit. And if they shall happen -to be taken from them the towne is to bear the loss of them, and not -they, because they are not able to warrant them, nor anything else that -they have of their own, as it is very well known both to the towne and -country, whereof they are all very sensible, this towne being every day -in danger of being taken.” The Town Hall, which, as it appears by a -deed, dated Oct. 20th, 1645, stood upon the site of the old Poor House, -of St. Leonard’s Parish, outside the North Gate, was accordingly pulled -down forthwith, and in the month following, July, 1645, the New House -was also pulled down. [_Apley Papers._] - -Four days after the date of this order, was fought another great -battle, at Naseby in Northamptonshire—fatal to the fortunes of the -King; for here again, through the impetuous and fiery temper of Prince -Rupert, who could brook no delay when an enemy was in sight, and listen -to no counsel that was not prompted by a spirit as daring as his own, -the King’s troops were hurried on prematurely to the attack, and though -they displayed a courage worthy of the Cavalier who led them, they -were eventually routed, and suffered a signal defeat. All the cannon, -ammunition, and baggage, were taken, and the whole of the infantry -made prisoners. The King in person had the command of the main body, -and, as Whitelock observes, “displayed in this action all the conduct -of a prudent general, and all the valour of a stout soldier;” [_Hume, -Vol._ VII, _p. 54_.] but he was forced at last by the solicitations of -his friends to retire, leaving the insurgents masters of the field. -He retreated to Lichfield, thence to Bewdley, thence to Raglan and -Chepstow Castles, and afterwards to Wales, uncertain as to the best -place for collecting the remnant of his army, and for providing for his -own personal safety. - -But an incident took place at Bridgnorth, about a month after the -Battle of Naseby, which might have changed the whole aspect of the -affairs of the kingdom, and restored Charles to the throne; but -Providence designed it otherwise. Cromwell was near meeting his death -beneath the walls of our town; and if the Bridgnorth soldier had been a -little better marksman, we should never have heard of the Protectorate -of Oliver Cromwell, or possibly of the Commonwealth of England. - -The account of this incident may be found among the _Blakeway Papers_, -in the Bodleian Library, and is as follows:—“1645. Weekly Account. -Tuesday, July 15th. Lieutenant General Cromwell riding within twice -pistole shot of the town of Bridgnorth, on Friday last, to view it, -making some stand to speak with his officers that were with him, a -brace of musquet bulletts, shot from the enemies works, hit a Cornet -of his regiment with whom the Lieutenant General was then talking, but -blessed be God the person aimed at escaped without any hurt.” - -Amidst the disaffection which prevailed at this time in so many parts -of the kingdom, Shropshire still continued firm in its allegiance -to the King; and therefore it was thought advisable, when he was -about to take up his winter quarters at Worcester, that he should -pass through our county, as affording him the safest line of march; -and this route brought him again to Bridgnorth. It is thus noticed -by Clarendon:—“Prince Maurice waited on his Majesty, [at Denbigh] -with 800 horse. And now being thus strengthened, they less apprehend -the enemy; yet continued their march without resting, till fording -the Severn, they came to Bridgnorth, the place designed.” (_Vol. 2, -p. 714._) There are also several entries in a Diary, called “_Iter -Carolinum_,” which state that Charles was here occasionally about the -same time; but it is not easy to make out an exact correspondence -between the dates which it gives, and those referred to by Clarendon. -The Diary, which is one of much interest, bears the following -title:—“Iter Carolinum: being a succint relation of the necessitated -marches, retreats, and sufferings of his Majesty Charles the First, -from Jan. 1641, till the time of his death in 1648. Collected by a -daily attendant upon his sacred Majesty during all the said time.”[52] -From this Diary I have copied the following entries:— - -[52] This tract is printed in Gutch’s Collectanea Coriosa, Oxford 1781. -The Author, John Thomas Manby. - - “_October 12, 1642._ To Bridgnorth. - August, 1645. - _Wednesday, the 6th._ To Gurnevil. Sir - Henry Williams’. Dinner. - Supper, Yeoman’s House. 18 miles. - The Court dispersed.” - - “_Thursday, the 7th._ To Ludlow Castle to dinner. - Colonel Woodhouse. 14 miles.” - - “_Friday, the Great Fast, the 8th._ To Bridgnorth, - Sir Lewis Kirke, Governor. 14 miles.” - “_Sunday, the 10th._ Dinner near Wolverhampton, - in campis. At Litchfield supper, the Governor’s - in the Close. 22 miles.” - - “September, 1645.” - - “_Monday, the 29th._ Dinner at Chirk Castle. - Supper at Halton, in Montgomeryshire. - Mr. Lloyd’s. 26 miles.” - - “_Tuesday, the last._ in camp. - Supper at Bridgnorth, the Governor’s. 30 miles.” - -The King on, this occasion staid here two nights, and on Thursday, the -2nd. of October, moved to Lichfield, stopping for dinner on the way at -Rudge Heath. - -In the Diary[53] kept by Captain Symmonds, which has already been -referred to, there are entries which afford additional proof of King -Charles being at Bridgnorth, at different intervals during this -critical juncture, and of our town being a scene of much military -bustle at the time. - -[53] This MS. Diary, which is in the British Museum, is entitled -“A Continuation of the Marches and Actions of the Royall Army, His -Majestie being personally present. From the 17 of August, 1645. Liber -Ricardi Symonds.” - - “_Sunday, September 28th._ About One of the Clock, - Afternoon, ye King marched through Ruthvyn, where there - is a large castle, and fortified, to Chirk Castle, - County of Denbigh. Here Prince Maurice mett us with his - troupe, and those of Prince Rupert’s horse that came - from Bristoll. His horse in tᵒ 6 or 700.” - - “_Munday, 29th. September._ To Llandicilio and - Llandernes, Co. Montgommery.” - - “_Tuesday_. From thence early at day breake marched, - leaving Shrewsbury [at this time in the hands of the - rebels] 3 myle on the left hand: that night, late and - tediously, to Bridgnorth; ye rear guard gott to Wenlock - Magna, Com, Salop. In this march, 3 or 4 alarmes by - Shrewsbury horse, and 5 or 6 of them crosst the way, - and killed and tooke some.” (_p. 59._) - - “_Thursday, October 2nd_. Ye King marched to Lichfield. - This day Generall Goard’s Regiment returned from the - Rendevous, quite tired, to have some refreshments under - Bridgnorth garrison. Ego etiam.” (_p. 60._) - - “_20th. October._ Sevrall Colonels with their Regiments - were in Bridgnorth: - - FOOT. - Sir Lewis Kirke’s Governor. - Col. Jo. Corbett’s. - Col. Billingsley’s, ye trayned band and his Regiment in the town. - Col. Sir Mich. Earnley’s one company of ym. - Sir Cha. Lloyd’s, come here from ye Devises. - Foot, about in all, of all sorts, 260. - - HORSE. - Sir Fra. Ottley, ye High Sheriff. - Sir Edw. Acton. 10. - Governor’s troope. 60. - - Horse not 100.” - “_Wednesday, October 22nd._ Lieut. Col. Slaugher - marched out of Bridgnorth about 2 of ye Clock, - afternoon. Governor’s troop, commanded by Cap. Singe, - 40. That night by 8 to High Arcall. Thence marched, 30 - horse and 20 drag. with us, about 12 of ye Clock that - night. By 9 next day to Chirk.” - - “_Thursday, December 18th._ Sir W. V. drew out the - horse he had with him afore, and some from Dudley - and Ludlow. 6 or 700 horse, commanded by Col. Smyth. - Horse 5 or 600. Marched from Bridgnorth, and had a - Rendevous towards S. Friday morning came intelligence - to Bridgnorth that Hereford was lost.”[54] - -[54] In this Diary there are two or three curious entries, which, -though not referring to any matter of public importance, it may be as -well to transcribe: one, detailing a singular occurrence, is connected -with a name well known in Bridgnorth. “Monday, Oct. 13. Captn. -_Gatacre_, of this County, (Salop) killed in Bridgnorth by a Quarter -Master, and the Quarter Master killed too by him.” “Friday, Oct. 17. A -Scott was tryed at Bridgenorth, at a Council of Warre, that he put on -his hatt before his Majestie, and being reprehend for it by the Govr., -he told them he was equal to all but the Govr., and they committed him -for it.” - -There are extant two letters[55] of King Charles’s, written to his -Secretary Nicholas, from Bridgnorth. They contain nothing of any great -moment; but the fact of their being written from our town, under the -peculiar circumstances in which he was then placed, invests them with a -certain degree of interest. The first is dated October 1st.: the year -is not given, but it was most probably 1642,[56] as we find from the -“_Iter Carolinum_” that he was here in the October of that year. - -[55] I am indebted to Mrs. Stackhouse Acton for the copy of these two -letters of King Charles’s. They are found in an 8vo. Vol. of King -Charles’s letters to his Secretary Nicholas, in which the ciphers are -explained as above. I owe to her kindness also my acquaintance with the -“Iter Carolinum” and “Symmonds’ Diary.” - -[56] The only difficulty that there is in assigning to this letter the -date of October, 1642, is that the king speaks in it of Lord Goring -being in command of his horse; whereas, we learn from Whitelock, that -Lord Goring, in the Autumn of that year, took ship from Portsmouth, -where he was closely besieged by the Parliamentary army, and fled to -Holland. (_Memorials, p. 62._) But Whitelock does not give the exact -date of the siege of Portsmouth, so that the King may have written this -letter to his Secretary Nicholas from Bridgnorth, before it took place, -or at least before he had received any tidings of it. - - “Bridgenorthe, 1st. Oct. - Nicholas, - None of the letters have hitherto miscarried, - this day having receaved ye 12th. by Pyteford, and - shall at the tyme more insist upon letting you know of - my desynes, and giving you directions, than in answers, - having commanded your fellow Secretary to supply that. - First then, (that you may know whether to send to me) - I intend my course towards Newarke, where I shall - take further resolutions, according to occasions. - Understanding that my horse, under Goring, is likely to - be {either/224} {beaten/173} or {starved/36} : 3 : 380. - where they are: I have comand him to breake through - to me. Now they must passe by or near Oxen, when my - pleasure is {that/288} : {you/110} . 232 . {take/226} : - {that/443} opportunity {to/290} : {send/264} {Duke/125} - : {of/231} : {Yorke/541} : {to/290} : {me/213} : for - since it is the fashion to {yielde/314} : {townes/54} - : basely, none can blame me for venturing my children - in an army, rather than to be besieged. I have no more - to say, but that I approve of all ye advyse in your - last, and meanes to follow them. One of the enclosed is - for {Queen/247} : {of/231} : {England/360}. The other - speakes itself; so I rest, - C. R.” - -The other letter was written three years later by the King to his -Secretary, the day after his arrival at Bridgnorth, on his march from -Ludlow to Lichfield. - - “Bridgenorth, 9th. August, 1645. - Nicholas, - This morning I receaved yrs of the 30th. of July, - which requyres no answer, but thankes for yr often - advertisements: and particularly for those which are of - moste freedome. In answer to which, I shall desyre you - (with ye lyke freeness) to take heede that {Digby’s/358} - : {friends/376} make not much of suspicion * * * * * for - {I/174} : 111 : {cannot/29} : {con/18} : 115 ceale {from/148} - {you/316} : {that/276} : 358. [erased] perfectly—and - all that are believed to be his particular friends; - and I assure you that there is no dispatch yet come to - me from —— For newes I refer you to your friendes, - only I must tell you that tomorrow I intend to march - to Lichfield, and so to Newarke ye next day; but if ye - Irish be come, then I turne to Chester. My laste was - from Cardiffe, which was written in such haste, that I - forgot to bid you sende me worde (which now I earnestly - desyre you not to forget to doe) how my printed - letters, &c., have been receaved at Oxfd. by the - severall sorts of people, according to their dyverse - humours. This is all at this tyme from yrs - C. R.” - -Soon after the date of this letter, the King set out for Newark, from -whence, after a while, he retreated towards Oxford, where he arrived on -the 7th. of November, “having finished,” as Clarendon writes, “the most -tedious and grievous march that ever King was exercised in: having been -almost in perpetual motion from the loss of the Battle of Naseby to -this hour, with such a variety of dismal accidents, as must have broken -the spirits of any man who was not truly magnanimous.” (_Vol. 2, p. -713._) - -While the King was being exposed to these personal hazards and -distresses, many towns and cities in his interest, in different parts -of the country, had been obliged to submit to the parliament, and among -these Bridgnorth; which, after a vigorous resistance, and holding out -boldly for three weeks, was compelled at length to surrender. - -It appears, however, that long previous to the final siege and capture -of Bridgnorth, the rebels had on one occasion got possession of it -for a short time. The following letter, which refers to this fact, -and which describes a sharp encounter between the rebel and royalist -forces, will be read with some interest; though it is probable that the -facts are somewhat distorted by the strong party feeling of the writer. - - 1642, Oct. 5. Letter from Bridgnorth to - Dudley Norton. - Exceeding joyful news from his Ex. Earl of E. - Sir, - Having received so many favors from you in this - kinde, I have thought it requisite to inform you what hath - happened here at Bridgnorth since my last letter. His - E. his Qr. Master General came hither on Sunday, the 2 - of Octr.[57] and by virtue of a Commission from his Ex. - provided billeting for 10 regiments of horse, and near - 6000 foot, with us and in our neighbour villages. Now, - by the way, I must inform you that a great many having - been lately oppressed by his Majesty’s forces, seemed - somewhat unwilling to give entertainment to any more - souldiers, but to be short they must do it, or else - deservedly suffer under the censure of a malignant - party, and so be in danger of having their houses - plundered by souldiers, who take upon them to execute - justice without or feare or law, or religion, esteeming - all those papists, or favourers of papists that doe not - desist from countenancing such uncivil actions, but - deny to be assistant in the performance; wherefore, - after the necessity was well examined, they were - resolved rather to put all into the hands of Almighty - God, then any way to seem averse, which would not only - bring ruine to the estate, but presents. [_sic._] - - On Thursday, at night, we expected his Ex. would have - made Bridgnorth his quarters, but before noone we heard - the echoing notes of the shrill trumpet, which caused - to think his Ex. had been neare, but having sent out - scouts to descry the truth, and give us notice, they - brought us word that Duke Maurice, the Lord Strange, - Marquisse Hartford, the Lord Paulet, M. Hastings, of - Leicestershire, S. John Biron, with a very considerable - army, were upon a march to our town, which news began - to startle us: instantly an alarm was given, every man - from 16 to 50, and upwards, got himself into such arms - as they could presently attaine, or could imagine be - conduceable, for the defence of the towne. - - Likewise we had 5 field pieces and 3 troups of horse, - which came to guard them from Worcester, in our town, - being come the night before; those we mounted upon the - church, and the rest in the best places where we could - conceive we might prejudice the enemy. Our troups of - horse made good a passage where they were to pass over - before they could attaine to the towne. Our foote made - good severall other marches and entrances, according - to our utmost skill and best endeavours. The Lord - Strange feeling himself thus defeated, and having been - gauled twice or thrice with our pieces from the top of - the church, made a stand and drew up some companies - of foote under the covert of a grove of willows, who, - with their muskets, played upon our troups of horse - and beat them from their passage, wounding neare 20, - inasmuch that they began to wade the foard,[58] which - being descried, we, with our bowes and arrowes, sent to - them, which did so gaul them, being unarmed men, (only - offensive armies) that with their utmost speed they did - retreat, striving to renew the shelter of the grove to - hide them from us. - - During this conflict, his Ex. with severall regiments - of horse drewe neare the towne; which caused the Lord - Strange to draw into a champayn field between our towne - and him, endeavouring to intercept his passage, having - got intelligence that his grosse body was about 3 hours - march behind. Notwithstanding the Lord Strange his - armie was very considerable both of horse and foote, - yet the forces under the command of the Earle of Essex - were so eager to fall on, that maugre all perswasions - they would not stay till that the foote marcht up to - second them; but having received directions from the - Earle, they charged them boldly with their carbine - shot, deviding so their troups, that at one onset both - van and reare were charged so fiercely that, spight of - all the cavalier’s discretion, they lost their order, - and in a confused manner retreated basely. - - In this confusion many men were lost and hurt on both - sides, but which side most, is not yet apparently - knowne; and amongst them my Lord Paulet[59] was noosed, - who, as it was reported, made a wise speach at the head - of the armie before the skirmish, animating them on to - bloody crueltie, and we doubt not but that he shall in - some measure taste of the same dish he hath provided - for others. - - The next day a messenger was sent to Shrewsbury, to - desire that Captain Winget, who was taken prisoner - before Worcester, might be exchanged for one of the - others; but what return wee shall have is not yet - knowne. - - It is conceived there was about 80 killed and 45 - wounded on both sides, but which side lost most I - cannot say; onely we ought to give God thanks that - during the space of five hours bickering, no more blood - should be shed. This is the truth of our proceedings. - At my next opportunity I shall send to you. Fare well. - - JOHN NORCROFT. - - B. N., Oct. 5, 1642. - -[57] If the right date has been assigned to the first letter of King -Charles’, given above, he must have left the town the day before the -rebel forces entered it; and they could have remained here but a few -days, as he returned on the 12th. - -[58] This probably was the ford near the “Shearing Bush,” and the -“champayn field” mentioned afterwards may very likely have been the -flat extensive pasture-field opposite St. James’s. - -[59] Lord Paulet, though made prisoner on this occasion, regained his -liberty afterwards by some means, for he is mentioned as one of those -who were engaged in the siege of Lyme, in 1644. - -We learn also from the following extract from a Puritan tract, entitled -“_The Burning Bush not consumed_,” that in the Autumn of the year 1645, -that is, about half-a-year before the capture of the town and castle, -a detachment from the garrison of Shrewsbury [at that time in the -hands of the rebels] made an attempt on Bridgnorth, which partially -succeeded:—“About the 12th. inst., (_i. e._ 12th. Sept., 1645) we -received certain intelligence by letters from _Shrewsbury_, that the -valiant and victorious forces of that brave and most active garrison, -having intelligence in what posture the enemy lay at _Bridgenorth_, -they suddenly and silently marched thither, and undiscovered fell upon -the sentinels, soone surprized them, carried the town itself, and then -fell upon the enemy, drove them into the Castle, slew some of them, -and tooke some prisoners that the enemy had of theirs, tooke about 180 -horse, and some good pillage; all which they safely brought away, and -returned triumphantly to _Shrewsbury_ againe.” (_Part_ IV, _p. 268_.) - -It is, however, the final siege and capture of Bridgnorth that is -the matter of chief interest to us, and fortunately we have a very -detailed account of what then took place.[60] The Parliamentary -Committee of Shrewsbury, after the surrender of the garrison of High -Ercall, despatched a party of horse and foot against Bridgnorth. -But these being delayed longer than was anticipated, on account of -the length of the march, and the fatigue which they had suffered in -consequence, the inhabitants received notice of their design, and had -time to make some preparations against the attack. Nevertheless the day -following, _i. e._ March 31, 1646, they were summoned to surrender. -Colonel Billingsley, who commanded the town, made no reply to the -summons, and Colonel Howard, who held the Castle, sent a peremptory -answer of defiance. On this the Parliamentary forces formed themselves -into three divisions, and determined to storm the town. The cavalry -approached the North Gate by the Broseley Road; that part of it, lying -between the present Turnpike Gate and the Innage Lane, being then a -very deep and narrow defile, in some places 80 feet deep. At this point -they suffered severely; for the King’s troops, taking advantage of -the nature of the ground, killed many of them, not only by shot, but -by rolling down large stones upon them from the summit of the rock. A -body of infantry, however, made their approach by a path considerably -to the left of this, most probably by the fields adjoining the old -Rope Walk, and from thence by Love Lane they advanced against Saint -Leonard’s Church Yard. Into this they easily forced an entrance, as it -was only slightly fenced by palisades. There a sharp encounter ensued -between them and a body of the King’s troops, and before the fight was -done many were left companions of the dead, on whose graves they had -so fiercely fought. Among these was the gallant Colonel Billingsley, -the leader of the Royalists. The sword which he used on the occasion, -is now in the possession of a descendant of the family, in the parish -of Astley Abbots, by whom it is preserved with all the reverent care, -which is due to so valuable an heirloom. It had often been drawn by -this brave cavalier in the cause of his rightful sovereign, and it did -its last service in one of the consecrated enclosures of that church, -which he, as well as other noble soldiers of his time, felt it both -his duty, and one of the privileges of his birthright, to defend. He -lies buried in the Church Yard of Astley Abbots, his native parish; but -the parish of Saint Leonard has reaped a benefit from its Church Yard -having been the scene of the last gallant action which he performed; -for it was partly at least on this account, that a connection of -Colonel Billingsley founded and endowed the Hospital for ten poor -widows, which stands on the south side of Saint Leonard’s Church. The -inscription over the gate bears witness to this. It is as follows.— - -“Anno Domini, MDCLXXXVII. - -These ALMES HOUSES, for ten poor Widdows of this upper Town, were Built -and Endowed by FRANCIS PALMER, late RECTOR of SANDY, in the County of -Bedford, who had an affection to this Place, his Mother being buried -in this Church, and was Sister to Colonel FRANCIS BILLINGSLEY, late -of Abbots Astley, slain in this Church Yard, in the Service of KING -CHARLES ye first.” - -[60] These particulars I have collected partly from the Blakeway -Papers, and partly from the puritan tract of “The Burning Bush not -consumed.” - -But it is time to return to the narrative of the siege. The infantry -of the Parliamentary forces having succeeded in the encounter with -the King’s troops in the Church Yard, immediately opened the North -Gate, and gave admittance to the cavalry; and before this combined -body of horse and foot, the Royalists were compelled to retreat into -the Castle. On their way they were annoyed by the inhabitants of the -town, who hurled stones and other missiles on them, from the stalls and -piazzas which lined the High Street. It is evident that a bad feeling -had sprung up between them, from what cause is not exactly known. I -have seen documents which clearly prove that some Roundheads had been -for a time in the town, secretly plotting against the cause of the -King; and these very likely stirred up ill will between the soldiers -and the inhabitants, which, as other documents clearly prove, was -aggravated by the rude license which soldiers under such circumstances -often give themselves.[61] Whitelock states (_p. 206_) that the town -had refused to bring in a month’s provisions for the troops, which -had been expected, and this was a wrong which no doubt deepened the -feeling of resentment already existing. To this, some suppose is to -be attributed the destruction of the town by fire, which the King’s -troops effected after getting into the Castle. This act on their part, -however, may have been, one, simply of self defence; for they very -probably thought, that if the enemy obtained possession of the town as -it stood, it would give them great advantage in carrying on the siege -of the Castle, and of this advantage they were determined to deprive -them. They therefore at once set fire to the town. The first house that -caught fire was one in Listley Street, which stood near the northern -postern of the Castle, and from this it spread till it reached the -middle of High Street; there it was extinguished by the exertions of -the Parliamentary troops. The garrison of the Castle made a second -attempt on Easter Tuesday, and completely succeeded. Unhappily for the -ancient Church of St. Leonard’s, the rebel army had converted it into -a powder magazine—for in the rude time of war but little respect is -paid to the consecrated houses of God, provided they can be turned to -any advantage; and they who scrupled not to make Worcester Cathedral a -stable for their cavalry horses, would not hesitate to turn the Parish -Church of St. Leonard’s into an ammunition store. But it proved fatal -to the building; for the Governor of the Castle, Sir Lewis Kirke, -hearing of the circumstance, caused a cannon to be mounted on a round -tower on the North East side of the Castle, and from thence bombarded -the Church, and set fire to it. The wind being high, the flames quickly -spread to the adjoining College and Almshouses, and at last consumed -all that remained of the High Town.[62] The soldiers belonging to the -army of the Parliament endeavoured to arrest the progress of the fire, -but they were so galled by shots fired from the walls of the Castle, -that they were obliged to give over the attempt; so that the flames -spread in every direction without resistance, and soon accomplished -the work of destruction. Thus was our ancient town laid in ruins: -scarcely anything belonging to it was spared. Private houses and -public offices—the receipt of custom and the hall of justice—the -mart of merchandise and the sanctuary of God—alike had become a prey -to the devouring element; and little or nothing was left but bare -walls, blackened and defaced by fire. The misery of the inhabitants -is described as having been most severe. Rich and poor alike (for it -was one of those visitations which levels all distinctions) were left -houseless, and sought shelter where they could, in the fields around -the town, in thickets, and under rocks: all their household property -destroyed, and their life itself in jeopardy. Many a wretched invalid, -wholly unfit to be moved, would be hurried from his bed to escape the -flames—those at least who had any to care for them; while some, no -doubt, in the confusion and alarm would be forgotten, and left to die a -more awful death than they had looked for—their own bed becoming their -funeral pile. He surely brings on himself a fearful responsibility -who heedlessly evokes the spirit of war, and without an imperative -necessity draws the sword to do its dreadful work. - -[61] Appendix H. - -[62] Appendix I. - -[Illustration: _Saint Leonard’s Church._] - -The Parliamentary army were not deterred from the purpose on which they -were sent, by the horrors that surrounded them (for they were dauntless -men); but laid close siege to the Castle. They directed their attack -against the Close, which was a place within the inner Castle adjoining -the Great Tower, and containing within it the Governor’s house. They -chose Pam-pudding Hill as the best platform on which to erect their -battery, and from thence they bombarded the Castle for three weeks; but -to no purpose. No breach was effected. The garrison, from the great -eminence on which they stood, quite overlooked the besieging party; -and their cannonade from the tower was so effective as to overpower -that of the enemy. A singular incident is related as having taken -place while this cannonade was going on. “The battery on Pam-pudding -Hill played very furiously on the besieged: the cannoneer, answering -them very smartly from the town, sent his ball in the clear, or bore, -of one of the great guns, burst it, and killed the engineer and many -others.” It is curious that an exactly similar circumstance is said to -have occurred in an early stage of the siege of Sebastopol. A Russian -artilleryman, making answer to one of ours, sent a ball directly into -the mouth of the English gun, and a splinter from the gun struck our -poor artilleryman dead. - -The leader of the Parliamentary army, seeing how fruitless the -operations were which he had hitherto engaged in, devised another mode -of assault. He determined to sap the Castle; and for this purpose -employed a party, under Colonel Lavingstone, to make a large opening on -the South side of the hill, intending to lay a Mine immediately under -Saint Mary’s Church, where the garrison had stored their ammunition. -They commenced their excavations, and the opening which they made is -still visible. It may be seen in the face of the rock which stands to -the right of the New Road, before you ascend the hill, and it still -bears the name of “Lavingstone’s Hole.” The enemy had no occasion -to proceed far with this mine; for the Governor, Colonel Howard, -perceiving what inevitable destruction it would cause to the Castle and -the garrison, if the mine were sprung, surrendered to the enemy, to -prevent an unnecessary waste of human life. - -The terms of Capitulation have been preserved.[63] They were honourable -to the brave men, who had with such valour, and with such true fidelity -to the king, maintained this post so long in his name, and adhered to -his cause so firmly amidst the disheartening events which were daily -taking place. The Castle on its surrender came into the possession of -the Parliamentary party, who, a few months after the seizure, entirely -demolished it, and gradually removed all its ruins, except that one -lonely fragment of it, which stands on the south east side of the -Castle Hill. - -[63] Appendix K. - -Such was the end of this famous fortress—a stronghold indeed, made so -by nature, as well as by engineering skill, around whose walls the -storm of war had so often and so fiercely raged—a royal castle also, -over which the banner of the Kings of England had floated for more -than five hundred years, and which now sank into rain cotemporaneously -with the overthrow of the monarchy. - -[Illustration: _The Remains of the Castle._] - -It may perhaps be a matter of surprise that in the account which has -been given of Bridgnorth during the civil wars, and of the town and -fortress, no mention has been made of the name of “Whitmore,” although -Sir William Whitmore at this time was the owner of the Castle; but the -fact is, that he had business enough on his hands in endeavouring to -defend his own residence at Apley from the attacks of the insurgents, -so that he had no time to devote to other interests. He maintained -possession of Apley till the spring of 1644, when it was taken by a -party of Roundheads, under the command of Sir John Price,[64] and Sir -William himself made prisoner. An attempt was made to recover it in the -month of June, of the following year, by some of the King’s forces from -Worcester, Lichfield, and other garrisons; but they were encountered by -a detachment of the opposite party from Shrewsbury, and four hundred of -them taken prisoners; and Sir William Crofts, of Hereford, was among -the slain. (_History of Shrewsbury, Vol. 1, p. 460, note 2._) - -[64] “A party of Sir William Brereton’s, under Sir John Price, a -Member of Parliament, took Apseley House in Shropshire, and in it Sir -William Whitmore, Sir Francis Oatley, Mr. Owen, and other Commissioners -of Array there sitting, and about 60 common soldiers.” _Whitelock’s -Memorials, p. 134._ - -The property of Sir William Whitmore, like that of other Royalists, -was forfeited, and became the spoil of the Parliamentary party: all -his personal goods and chattels were sequestrated, and sold for -the benefit of the State, for the sum of £583 3s. 2d. His estates -were siezed, and he was afterwards allowed to compound for them by -paying the sum of £5,000.[65] This was the common lot of such, as in -those troubled times stood for the defence of their King, and were -loyal to the last. Their personal property was put into the hands of -Parliamentary sequestrators, and sold as forfeit to the State; and -their landed estates were bought back by their rightful owners at a -considerable sacrifice. A register was kept, and afterwards published, -of the names of those who thus suffered in the cause of loyalty, with -the sum, for which they compounded, affixed to each. It is entitled, “A -Catalogue of the Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, that have compounded -for their Estates. _London, printed 1655._”[66] In it are to be found -the familiar Shropshire names of Whitmore, Wolwryche, Acton, Corbett, -Ottley, Billingsley, Littleton, Eyton, Newport, Weld, Pigot, &c.; -and certainly it detracts nothing from the honour which belongs to -these ancient families, that their names are inscribed in this “black -legend,” as it was very fitly termed. On the blank leaf of the copy -which I have seen is the following entry in manuscript:— - -[65] Appendix L. - -[66] A copy of this very scarce and curious book is in the possession -of Mr. S. Sydney Smith, who very kindly permitted me to make the above -extract from it. Perhaps I may be allowed to express the satisfaction -which I felt, on finding in this list of loyal sufferers the names of -two of my own kindred, belonging to a branch of our family who had -early settled in the county of Chester. “Bellett, John, Senior, and -John his son, of Morton, Com. Chest., Esq., 1005. 05: 00.” - - “Total Fines £1,275,667 - Value of Annuities, at 10 years 90,000 - ___________ - Amount of Money at the period - of exaction 1,365,667 - Equal in money of the present - period, 1842, to four times - the amount £5,462,668 - -But under the government of Cromwell, not only laymen who drew the -sword in defence of the crown, but clergymen who maintained and taught -the principles of loyalty, and who were too honest to abandon them when -they became unpopular, were deprived of their revenues. It is computed -that the number of ministers in the Church, who were ejected from -their livings on this account, were above 9000; and the sufferings -which many of them underwent, in consequence, form materials for the -most deeply affecting narratives.[67] I am sorry to say that the -minister of Saint Leonard’s was not found among those who were faithful -to their principles. While Shiffnal, and Wellington, and Chetton, and -Sidbury, and Kemberton, and Cleobury, and Highley, and others could -boast of pastors, who willingly endured persecution for conscience -sake, _Gilbert Walden_, Minister of Saint Leonard’s, Bridgnorth, was -found unfaithful in the day of trial, and seems to have sacrificed his -principles to his interest. His name is found in the Parish Register -as minister, within a year of the date of the siege, when the town was -in the hands of the Royalists; then it disappears from it, when it -was evident that the fortunes of that party were declining; and then -appears again, when the town was in possession of the Parliamentary -party. So that it is to be feared that he professed allegiance to the -King and Church when he thought their cause likely to prosper, but when -it declined he attached himself to the Roundheads. - -[67] Appendix M. - -Indeed this is scarcely a mere matter of inference, as the reader may -judge for himself from an entry, still remaining in the books of the -Corporation. It is as follows:—Bridgnorth. Aᵒ Dⁿⁱ 1644. “At the Court -Leete held in the said Town of Bridgnorth, the VIIᵗʰ day of May. Aᵒ -Caroli Augᵗ XXº Richard Synge and Willᵐ Bradley, gent, being Bayliffs. -At this Leete it was moted by the Bayliffs and others, That forsomuch -as Mr. Gilbert Walden, the late publiq Preacher of the said Town, is -recesste and gon out of the said Town, and hath deserted his place -ever sithence aboute a moneth before Easter last. That one Mr. Thomas -Laughton, Master of Artes, a Preacher (who is recommended to the place -by Sʳ Lewis Kirke, Knight, Governoʳ of the said Towne, and whoe hath -supplyed the place since Mr. Walden’s goeing away) shold be accepted -by the Town in the said Mr. Walden’s place, to be publiq Preacher of -the said Town, wᵗʰ the profitte and allowance thereunto belonginge; -unto wh. all that were here present at this Leete agree, and nominate -him, the said Mr. Laughton, publiq Preacher of the said Town, with -all such proffits and allowance as the said Mr. Walden had of the -Town’s allowance in that behalfe, Soe as he preach two Sundayes at the -High Church, and the third at the Low Church, as Mr. Walden did. And -this to be further confirmed at a Common Hall, yf it be desired.” The -Parliament were not unmindful of Gilbert Walden, but in reward for his -desertion of the Royalists, placed him again in his office as Minister -of Saint Leonard’s, and restored to him all its emoluments. But far -happier were they who stood firm in the evil day, and had the Christian -courage to brave the consequences—and with such sainted men as Hall, -and Usher, and Hammond, and Jeremy Taylor, submitted to the penalties -of sequestration, poverty, imprisonment, and exile, rather than desert -what they believed the cause of God and of His Truth. - -But it must not be supposed, from anything that I have said on this -subject, that I regard as evil-minded, and unprincipled men, all -the Ministers of religion, who in those difficult and trying times -sided with Cromwell and the Parliamentary party. This would not only -be a most uncharitable opinion, but one formed in direct opposition -to the plainest historical evidence. There were men of deep piety -and extensive learning, who unhappily lent their countenance to -the usurpation of Cromwell—men who afterwards suffered persecution -themselves for conscience sake, and whose Christian worth was such, -that we may safely say of them, what Dr. Johnson says of Watts—that -they were to be imitated in everything except in their nonconformity. -Nothing indeed can be said in justification of the line of conduct -which they pursued, but they were prompted to it by pure and not by -corrupt motives, and so far they are to be respected. Among the great -and good men who were allied to the Parliamentary party, I should -especially name one, on account of his connection with Bridgnorth, -namely, _Richard Baxter_. It appears that he began his ministry in -this town, in the Church of St. Leonard’s; but left it after some -time, with, I am sorry to say, a very unfavourable impression as to -the character of our townsmen of that day. It is said that on leaving -them he shook off the dust of his feet against them, and declared -that their hearts were harder than the rock on which their town was -built. But his disappointment at the want of success in his ministry -here did not estrange his mind from the inhabitants of a place, where -he had commenced his course; but he felt, after years of absence, the -strongest desires for their welfare. A very pleasing proof we have of -this, in an old edition of his work, entitled “The Saint’s Rest” (A. -D. 1654); for there we find the following dedication to the people of -Bridgnorth:— - - TO MY DEARLY BELOVED FRIENDS - THE INHABITANTS OF - BRIDGNORTH, - BOTH MAGISTRATES AND PEOPLE, - - RICHARD BAXTER - - DEVOTETH THIS PART OF THIS TREATISE, - IN TESTIMONY OF HIS UNFEIGNED LOVE TO - THEM, WHO WERE THE FIRST TO WHOM HE - WAS SENT (AS FIXED) TO PUBLISH THE - GOSPEL; AND IN THANKFULNESS TO THE - DIVINE MAJESTY, WHO THERE PRIVILEGED - AND PROTECTED HIM. - -It has been already stated that the fire, which took place during -the siege of the Castle, entirely destroyed the High Town, and -left it a heap of ruins. A few houses indeed survived the general -destruction.[68] One of these, which is still standing, deserves -a passing notice, as being the birthplace of Dr. Percy, Bishop of -Dromore, the well known author of “The Reliques of Ancient English -Poetry.”[69] It stands at the bottom of the Cartway, adjoining -Underhill Street, and is conspicuous among the dwellings which surround -it, not only from its size, but from its picturesque appearance, being -ornamented with several pointed gables, and being constructed partly -of solid beams of oak, in some places curiously carved, and partly of -masonry. It was built in the latter end of the sixteenth century, as -the following embossed inscription in the entrance hall informs us:— - -[68] One could wish, as a mere matter of curiosity, that a remarkable -building, called “Forester’s Folly,” had been amongst those which -escaped the fire; for it was built by Richard Forester, the private -secretary of no less famous a person than Bishop Bonner, and bore the -above appellation most likely on account of the cost of its erection. -William Baxter, the Antiquary, who was a descendant of Forester, has -the following passage in his life referring to the circumstance:— - -“Proavus meus Richardus de isto matrimonio susceptus uxorem habuit -Annam Richardi dicti Forestarii filiam: qui quidem Richardus filius -erat natu minor prænobilis familiæ Forestariorum. (olim Regiorum -Vigorniensis saltûs custodum) & famoso Episcopo Bonnero a-Secretis Hic -Suttanum Madoci incolebat, & egregias ædes posuit in urbicula dicta -Brugge, sive ad Pontem vel hodie dictas Forestarii Dementiam.”—_Autoris -Vita._ - -[69] Appendix N. - -“EXCEPT THE LORD BViLD THE OWSE, THE LABOURERS THEREOF EVAIL NOTHING. -ERECTED BY R. FOR [Qy Foster] 1580.” - -It was a large and stately mansion, and when the Cartway was the -principal entrance to the town it was well situated, and must have been -regarded as a dwelling of some importance. It is now in a neglected -condition, a large part of the building is untenanted, a part of the -premises is used for an iron foundry, and another part for a huckster’s -shop. But even in its present rude and decayed condition, a certain -degree of interest attaches to it, as being one of the few surviving -relics of our old town; which interest is further enhanced, from its -having been, about an hundred years ago, the birth place of one, whose -literary attainments may be supposed to reflect no little honor on -Bridgnorth. - -[Illustration] - -It remains for us to consider how the town recovered from the state of -almost total ruin in which it had been left, and was made habitable -again. It appears that in the same year in which it was destroyed, -the Bailiffs and others forwarded a Petition to the House of Commons, -setting forth in strong terms the miserable condition to which the -inhabitants had been reduced, and praying for relief. They state -that the loss sustained by them amounted to £90,000, or thereabouts; -that upwards of three hundred poor families had been “inforced” by -the loss of their goods, their trade, and habitations, “to disperse -into severall parts of the country, for harbour and for subsistence, -many among them crying aloud for bread”: and they humbly beseech the -Parliament to authorize a general collection to be made for them -throughout the country, or in some other way, to afford relief to -their necessities. The Rev. Gilbert Walden, who has been referred to -before, took this petition to London, and by his zeal and diligence -obtained a favorable answer to it; as appears from the following -extract in the Common Hall Order Book:—“Bridgnorth. At a Comon hall -of the said Town of Bridgnorth, the 27th. of January, Aᵒ Dⁿⁱ 1647. -Francis Burne and Richard Synge, Gent., being Bailiffs, &c. * * * * At -this Comon hall, Mr. Gilbert Walden, Minister of this Town, and Publiq -Preacher, returning to the Town from London, 25th. of this January -Instant, came into this comon hall in his own pson, & acquainted the -Town with his great care & paynes in solliciting the Parliament with -a peticion from the Town, for some repaire of their great loss by the -late burning of the High Town of Bridgnorth, when the Church, Colledg, -and Almshouses were burnt with the said Town. All the losses thereby -sustynedd amounting to 90,000£, as by the said Peticion was set forth -and certified: and the said Mr. Walden pducing lres pattents, under -the great seale of England, for a general collecion thorough out all -England, for rebuilding of the said Town, and repayringe the said -losses, and moving for some course to be taken for distributing the -Briefs, and setting them on work in all shires of England and Wales, -with all ye convenient expidicion that might be, and advising a way to -that behalf; and shewing the Town withall that it had cost him in the -acquiring & getting of these Lres pattentes and Briefs, besides the -great troubling of his friends to ayde & assist him therein.” - -But these letters patent, under the Great Seal, granted by the -Parliament, seem to have yielded but little fruit to the impoverished -inhabitants of Bridgnorth; and the collections made under its sanction -were so inadequate to their wants, that they were obliged to resort to -other means for obtaining relief. They addressed a circular letter, -(to some merchants in London, as I conclude from the contents of it) -complaining bitterly of the very little sympathy which had been shewn -to them throughout the country, and of the very scant measure of -assistance which they had received, and very earnestly soliciting their -aid. It also appears that another circular was drawn up, to be sent for -the same purpose to persons whom they supposed to be well affected to -Bridgnorth, in the counties of Derby, Worcester, and Gloucester. The -first is as follows:— - - “Gentlemen, - In the behalfe of our poore Towne, whereof wee are - now the representative Body, wee heartiely thanke you for - that you have ben pleased to put your helping hands to - raise us up againe out of the Ashes. Our greatest hopes - is in the charity of yourselves and your friends in the - citie. Wee have had sad experience of the countries - chariety, yet what the further result wil be wee daylie - must expect; howsoever, wee shall acknowledge our - engagements unto you above all other, be it less or - more. Wee beseach you continew your care and paynes - for us: and your reward shall be implored from God by - us, and ourselves, both for our minister and our whole - Towne, shall acknowledge your goodness with hartie - thankes and praiere, and wee be unto you - Your ready servants, - & friends to cerve you. - - Bridgnorth, 10 may, - 1647.” - -The state of destitution, in which the inhabitants of this ruined town -were placed, was such, that it is no wonder that they looked in every -direction for relief, from whence they thought it at all likely to -come, and that they were thus urgent in their appeal for it. In one -case they were not disappointed, as appears from the following letter, -addressed, about the same date I suppose, to Mr. Pully, of Essex: a -name well known, and gratefully remembered by the people of Bridgnorth, -for other benefits besides those referred to here.[70] - -[70] This Mr. Pulley, of Hassington, in the county of Essex, gave to -will “to his Wife Wynnefred for her natural life, all this his house -and land, lying in Beauchamp Roothing, in the county of Essex, and -after her dicease, to the inhabitants of the Towne of Bridgnorth, in -the county of Salop, for ever; conditionally, that they should every -year and yearly, for ever, give £16 of the rent of the said land unto -two young men or women, of the said Towne, who should stand in need of -it, whose Tordlinesse might make it likely to do them good, viz, £8 -apiece.” - - “To Mr. Pully, of Essex. - Wee have cause to blesse God that our miserable - towne affords a native friend so far to besteed us as by - yourself. Wee will studdy some requitall, as God shall - please, to raise us out of our ashes. - - Wee entreat you to go on in helping us, as Mr. Bushopp - hath told us you have begun. The Lord reward you, - wee and all ours shall pray for you; and if ever wee - shall be happy to see you, wee shall give some further - testimony of our thankfullness. - - Who speake in the behalf of ourselves, our minister, - and whole towne.” - -The want of a Town Hall seems to have been much felt by the Burgesses -of Bridgnorth—the former one, which stood outside the North Gate, -having been pulled down during the Civil Wars; but the erection of -a new one, with new materials, was more than they could possibly -accomplish, in the impoverished state in which they had been left. They -therefore applied to Lady Bartue of Wenlock, and petitioned that she -would grant them the materials of an old barn which were about to be -sold, for the sum of £40 or £50; by means of which they might be able -to rebuild the Hall.[71] The petition was granted; but whether the old -materials were bestowed as a free gift, or sold for the sum specified, -does not appear. The building was in consequence erected; and partly, -at least, through the earnest advice of Mr. Gilbert Walden, in a letter -addressed by him to the Bailiffs, was placed, not in the situation -of the former Hall, but in the middle of the High Street. It was not -completed, however, till four years after the date of his letter (April -24th., 1648); as appears from the following entry in the Common Hall -Order Book:— - -[71] Appendix O. - -“The New Hall set up in the Market Place of the High Street of -Bridgnorth was begun, and the stone arches thereof made, when Mr. -Francis Preen and Mr. Symon Beauchamp were Bayliffs in summer, 1650. -And the Timber work, and building upon the same stone arches, was set -up when Mr. Thomas Burne and Mr. Roger Taylor were Bayliffs of the said -Town of Bridgnorth, in July and August, 1652.” - -[Illustration: _The Town Hall._] - -But notwithstanding these applications for assistance from -various quarters, and the earnest efforts made by the inhabitants -themselves, the town appears to have continued during the period of -the Commonwealth, almost in the same state of ruin in which it was -left after the siege—the Church, College, and Almshouses,[72] still -roofless and dilapidated—and nothing effectual was done for their -restoration, and the rebuilding of the town, till the reign of Charles -II. Shortly after he was restored to the throne, a very earnest -Petition was forwarded to him from the Bailiffs and Burgesses of -the Borough, and other inhabitants of the town, praying for relief; -and this Petition was accompanied by a certificate, under the hands -and seals of Sir William Whitmore, Sir Thomas Wolrich, Sir Walter -Acton, Sir John Weld, Sir Richard Ottley, and others, attesting the -damage which had been done to the town, and the amount of the loss of -property sustained by the inhabitants in consequence. This petition, -backed by this certificate, drew from the King a proclamation,[73] -addressed to all his subjects in behalf of Bridgnorth. It is very -long and elaborate—very carefully worded—and not only sets forth -very fully the wants of the petitioners, but pleads their cause with -a warmth and earnestness which one would not expect to find in an -official document. It authorizes a general collection to be made -throughout the kingdom; “in all and every the Cities, Towns Corporate, -Priviledged Places, Parishes, Hamlets, Villages, and all other places -whatsoever,” in order to assist the destitute people of Bridgnorth -in rebuilding their shattered town; and it directs both Ministers -and Churchwardens to do what in them lies to further this object in -their different localities. It would be interesting to know the exact -amount which this royal proclamation, and another which followed it -in about ten years, produced. There is no doubt that it was something -considerable—sufficient to give an impulse to the industry of the -inhabitants—to enable them to restore their ruined Church, College, and -Almshouses—to efface in a great measure the damages of war, and to make -Bridgnorth again a habitable town. - -[72] Appendix P. - -[73] Appendix Q. - -Thus, from the happy restoration of the monarchy in England, and the -re-establishment of its church, we may date the restoration of our town -from the state of ruin, in which it had been left; and its restoration -being coeval with these important and felicitous events, many would -be disposed to regard as no bad omen of its welfare. The motto in the -arms of a neighbouring city may well express our wish for its future -prosperity; for though the terms are hardly suitable to a town of so -small a circumference as ours, yet it merits well the character it has -maintained, in almost every era of its history—_Floreat semper fidelis -civitas_. - - * * * * * - -My subject was “The Antiquities of Bridgnorth.” I have already -far passed the boundaries which confined me to such a subject, by -referring to matters which occurred so late as the reign of Charles -II. I would, however, venture one step farther, and refer to an event -which took place in the reign of his successor, James II, for I find -that it was taken particular notice of in Bridgnorth at the time of -its occurrence; and it is one which, from the great interest and -importance that attaches to it, seems to claim attention from us -whenever it happens to be brought before us. - -The event referred to occurred in the memorable year of 1688. In the -“Blakeway Papers,” in the Bodleian Library, which contain matters -concerning Bridgnorth, the following entry is made respecting it:—“When -the Bishops were quit, there were 16 bonefires in this town, and the -ringing of bells night and day. Mr. Cornes and Mr. Bailey, the two -Ministers, refused to sign the Declaration.” This notice alludes to the -well known Declaration issued by King James, and the acquittal of the -seven Bishops who had been imprisoned for venturing to oppose it. James -the Second was as zealous a member of the Church of Rome, perhaps, -as any of his subjects, lay or ecclesiastical; and the great object -of his life seemed to be, to regain for his Church the same usurped -authority over the civil and religious liberties of our country, which -she possessed before the Reformation. Among other means for furthering -this object, he published this famous “Declaration.” It was a very -singular document. On the plea of establishing liberty of conscience, -it abrogated, on the King’s sole authority, all the penal laws which -were in force on the subject of religion, the King thus assuming to -himself, as one of his royal prerogatives, the power of dispensing with -exiting statutes, without the consent of Parliament. The real intention -of the King in all this was, to open the door to Roman Catholics to -places of power and authority, which the laws then in force strictly -forbade, as being incompatible with the freedom and safety of the -state. To give publicity, as well as sanction, to this Declaration, -the King issued a command that it should be read by the Clergy during -Divine Service, in every church in the kingdom. The whole proceeding -was perfectly arbitrary and despotic; and if it had been allowed to -go on unchecked, it would, as it has been well observed, have given a -death blow to the Constitution, and have laid the nation’s liberties at -the feet of the sovereign. Where then were the champions of freedom in -this great crisis of danger? Where were to be found the men, who had -courage enough to resist this portentous encroachment on the liberties -of England? Where the assertors of the nation’s rights against these -unlawful inroads of the royal prerogative? Not in a band of youthful -and ardent enthusiasts in the cause of freedom—not in a knot of -ruthless republicans, whose tempers were impatient of monarchial -rule, and who hated the very name of King—not in a set of restless -innovators, who loved innovation for the excitement it produced, or -for the spoil which it might yield to them—not in a rude soldiery, -who were ambitious of enterprise, and longed to signalize themselves -again by deeds of daring—but in the persons of seven aged Bishops of -the Church, some of whom were not only oppressed by the burden of age, -but weighed down by sickness and infirmity; and all of them, both from -temper and principle, averse to anything that seemed like resistance -to kingly authority. Yet it was these who stood forward at this time -of danger, as the defenders of the nation’s liberties. Their names -were well known to our townsmen at the time, for Bridgnorth, as well -as other places, rang with unusual joy at the news of their acquittal; -and it is well that their names should be known to our townspeople -now, as the names of men who have laid the nation under a deep debt of -gratitude. They were Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury; Lloyd, Bishop -of St. Asaph; White, Bishop of Peterborough; Turner, Bishop of Ely; -Lake, Bishop of Chichester; Trelawney, Bishop of Bristol; and Ken, -the pious Bishop of Bath and Wells,[74] a saint indeed, formed on the -primitive model, whose devout aspirations in his Morning and Evening -Hymn have served to kindle the devotion of the members of the English -Church for nearly two centuries. These seven Prelates met together at -Lambeth in this critical juncture, and drew up a petition to James, in -which they set forth in plain but respectful language the illegality -of his Declaration, and humbly prayed him not to insist on their -publishing it. In consequence of this they were committed to the Tower. -The King, notwithstanding their dutiful remonstrance, was resolved on -enforcing on the clergy throughout the kingdom the publication of this -unlawful document, and sent his commands to that effect: but of the -many thousands to whom this mandate was sent, not two hundred complied -with it; and among those who had the courage to refuse, we are glad to -find the names of the two Ministers of Bridgnorth, Mr. Cornes, and Mr. -Bailey. - -[74] Appendix R. - -The Bishops after a short term of imprisonment were admitted to bail, -and at the ensuing Sessions were impeached at Westminster Hall on a -charge of publishing a seditious libel. Every circumstance which took -place on this memorable occasion is full of interest, and historians -have thought the most minute details not unworthy of record. On their -way to the scene of trial, the Bishops, it is mentioned, received -every possible expression of reverence and sympathy from the populace, -who formed a lane for their passage, through which as they moved, many -kissed their hands and their garments, and many fell on their knees and -earnestly asked their blessing. Westminster Hall never witnessed such a -scene as their trial presented. As it proceeded, the interest felt by -the spectators was intense; and when at length the verdict was given -by the foreman of the Jury, “Not Guilty,” the profound silence which -had reigned throughout the court was broken by the most tumultuous -acclamations. The multitudes assembled there raised, in spite of the -menace of the Solicitor General, such a shout as shook the old fabric -of Westminster Hall, and conveyed, quicker than the speediest messenger -could do, the tidings to the city. The Bishops on leaving the court -immediately repaired to Whitehall Chapel, to return thanks to God for -their deliverance, and other churches were thronged by multitudes who -assembled in them for the same purpose. “The bells rung from every -tower, every house was illuminated, and bonfires were kindled in -every street.” The joy was not confined to London, it was propagated -throughout the kingdom, and felt in the remotest villages. Bridgnorth, -as we have seen, fully shared in it. Our streets on the occasion echoed -with loud shouts of triumph—the river Severn reflected on its stream -the blaze of many a bonfire—and the tuneful bells of St. Leonard’s and -St. Mary’s rang incessantly night and day to celebrate the event. - - * * * * * - -I have thus brought before the reader the few historical notices which -I have been able to collect, respecting Bridgnorth, from the time of -Alfred the Great to the close of the reign of James II. I am aware how -much more interest would attach to these if they had been skilfully -handled, inasmuch as they touch on some very important events, and -memorable epochs of our national history. Those indeed who feel the -force of local attachment may read them with interest, whatever defects -may be apparent in the mode of bringing them together, and it is for -such readers that they have been collected. I am aware also, that I -have dwelt much longer on certain facts in our history than many would -think at all necessary, or than was exactly pertinent to my subject. -My reason is, that some would read these things here, who would not be -likely to read them elsewhere; and I thought it advisable, on account -of their importance, that they should be known in detail. Besides, I -was anxious to make this little work more useful in its character, -than it would have been if I had confined myself to a statement of the -facts relating to our town, without connecting them with the general -history of England. As it is, the review which we have taken, ought not -to be without its moral influence. Many generations of men have thus -passed rapidly before us: having acted their parts in quick succession, -they have disappeared from the stage of life. They had “their exits -and their entrances,” and now are seen no more. It is natural for -us to reflect, how utterly unimportant to them it now is in what -capacity they appeared—whether as kings or subjects—whether as masters -or as slaves—whether they were honoured or dishonoured—illustrious -or obscure—prosperous or unfortunate. It matters not to them now, -whether their projects succeeded or failed—whether the enterprises they -so keenly entered on issued in triumph or disaster. Their restless -activities have been put a stop to. The hand of death has arrested -them. The same destiny awaits ourselves. We too shall soon make our -exit; and the interests which now so deeply engage us—the circumstances -which now press on us in all their vivid reality—the scenes which are -now before our eyes, and the busy part we take in them—will ere long be -reckoned among the things that have been; and nothing will be left us, -but the character which we have acquired in passing through them—our -fitness or unfitness for a better state: and this reflection I desire -to leave on the mind of the reader. - -It would seem, however, scarcely natural for me to close these pages, -without expressing a wish for the future welfare of a place, the -scattered notices of whose past history I have here collected. I have -been too long, and too intimately connected with it, not to feel the -wish. In Bridgnorth I have passed more than twenty years. I reckon them -the happiest of my life. I have good reason for doing so. Many domestic -blessings—many social pleasures—many natural enjoyments—have here been -allotted to me. Here “the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places,” -and in the fair scenes of nature which surround us, there has been open -to me a source of “unreproved pleasures,” of which it is my own fault -if I have not largely partaken. Here too I have formed acquaintances, -which have ripened into friendships—friendships which have yielded me -something more than mere enjoyment—and which I have reason to hope -will last as long as life itself. But still closer ties bind me to -this place. Here I have been entrusted with the care of souls, and -have been called to minister in the Church of God. This consideration -necessarily outweighs every other, and prompts me with the most earnest -wishes for the welfare of a place, between many of the inhabitants -of which and myself there is so strict and sacred a fellowship. And -not from these alone, but from those also with whom I am not thus -officially connected—from the inhabitants of St. Mary’s parish, as well -as from those of St. Leonard’s, I have received such proofs of kindness -and regard during my ministry here, as make me feel an interest in -everything that can concern their well-being. May they prosper in every -way—as a community, and as individuals—in their civil and commercial -interests—in their social, moral, and religious condition. May they -secure to themselves that which has “the promise of the life that now -is, and of that which is to come:” that when things temporal shall give -place to things eternal—when the changes and chances of this mortal -life shall cease—and all the vicissitudes which so painfully diversify -the history of this world have passed away—they may have their lot and -part in that kingdom which cannot be moved, and “of whose government -and peace there shall be no end.” - -_Finis._ - -[Illustration: A COPY of an OLD MAP of the BOROUGH OF BRIDGENORTH IN -POSSESSION OF THE CORPORATION.] - - - - -APPENDIX. - - -A. (_Page 7._) MORF FOREST. - -There are so many references to the Forest of Morf in the early history -of Bridgnorth, that it may be well, for the information of the reader, -to append the following interesting description of it, given by Mr. -Eyton, in the 3rd. Vol. of his _Antiquities_, p. 212. - -“Where now the Counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and -Worcestershire converge, there was once a vast region of Forest, not -confined to one bank of a succession of lakes and marshes which we -now know as the Valley of the Severn, but stretching away for miles -eastward and westward. The Severn itself was in one place a land-locked -and sluggish stream; in another a series of rivulets struggling -on, with no concentrated force, amid the various impediments which -uncontrolled nature had crowded on its course. Its fits of wintry and -swollen fury, like human passions, re-acted upon themselves; for the -giant oak, which to-day was torn from its bank and plunged in the -torrent, lay on the morrow athwart the subsiding stream, an additional -element of its future bondage. - -“The region, whose chief features I thus imagine, seems to have been -known to the Britons as _Coed_, or forest—the forest, that is, _par -excellence_ of this part of England. - -“When we read of the Forests of Morf, Kinver, and Wyre, we get notions -of extent which must be added one to the other before we can realize -any idea of the more ancient _Coed_; for the _Coed_ was the parent of -the other three, and they perhaps not its only constituents. - -“I am now to speak of Morf Forest more particularly, and, though I -cannot indicate the precise time at which it was separated from its -associates, we shall not err in ascribing the change to an increasing -population, and the Saxon devotion to agriculture. - -“In the earliest stage of its self-existence, Morf Forest can be -ascertained to have been at least eight miles in length, while its -greatest width was more problematically about six. Its known, because -afterwards maintained, northern boundary rested upon the Worf, for -some miles before that stream falls into the Severn. Its south-eastern -extremity is determined by its name, taken from the Staffordshire -Village of Morf, where commenced that interval which gradual change had -interposed between the Forests of Morf and Kinver. - -“By still further compression of its southern boundaries, and by large -clearances within its area, Morf Forest had, at the Norman Conquest, -been altered both in extent and character. But the Forest ground, -though alternated with cornfields and villages, was still very great, -and very great it remained for more than two centuries afterwards.” - - * * * * * - -The final perambulation of this Forest was made in the reign of -Edward I, A.D., 1300; and it will be a matter of interest to those -who know the locality, to trace its ancient boundaries, as given in -the document, which was published after the survey was made. It is -furnished by Mr. Eyton in p. 219, and is as follows:— - -“From Pendlestones Mulne (Pendleston Mill), going up by the Severn to -where Worgh (Worf) falls into Severn[75]: and so going up along the -bank of Worgh to Worth-brugg (Worf-bridge), and going up thence along -the said bank to Rindeleford-brugg (Rindleford-bridge): and so going -up along the bank to Chirle, and upwards still to Chirlefordes-brugg; -and so along the highway to the _vill_ of Hulton (Hilton), and thence -by a certain road to Woghbrokesheth, and so straight along the -Stoni-strete[76] to Apewardes Castle,[77] and so along the boundary -between the Counties of Salop and Stafford to the Chirlesok: and thence -direct between the King’s _demesne_ in his Manor of Claverley, and -the fields of Whittimere, Borhton (Broughton), Bebrugg (Beobridge), -and Gatacre, to the Cover of Morf. And so through the said Cover to -the Blackewalle at the Oldefield, and thence to the Shirevelydyat: -and thence by the Crosweyslone (Crossways-lane) to the hedge of the -Brodenewelonde: and thence straight to Fililode, and so between -the hedge and the Lythe to Trugge-put. And so going down by a -certain water-course to the Stonibrugge of Wodeton (Stone-bridge of -Wooton), and so along a water-course to Wynelesford; and thence by -the highway to Mose-lydyat, and thence to Halyweyes-lydyat; and so -by a certain path to the Hethenedich, going down by the Hethenedich -to the weir (gurgitem) of Quatford: and so going up by the Severn to -a certain ancient ditch, between the field of Brugge and the _vill_ -of Quatford: and along the highway to the House of the Lepers of St. -James of Brugge: and thence right to a certain ancient ditch under -the Gyhet (Gibbet-Hill); and so straight to Baconescroft, going down -to Tissengecros; and so by the highway going up to Pendestanes Mulne, -where the first boundary of the said _bosc_ begins. The Perambulators -also declare that John de Hastinges holds Rughtone (Roughton), -Barndelegh (Bradney), Hocoumbe, Swanecot, Burcote, and Bromlegh; John -de Astlegh holds the Manor of Northlegh (Nordley); John Fitz Philip -holds the _vill_ of Mose; and the Dean of Brugge holds the _vill_ of -Quatford,—all within the bounds of the said Forest.”[78] - -[75] “The original and natural confluence of the Worf with the Severn -was much higher than at Pendleston Mill.” - -[76] “The Roman Road before alluded to.” - -[77] “Now Abbot’s Castle Hill.” - -[78] “Salop Chartulary. No. 279.” - - -B. (_Page 22._) BRIDGNORTH CASTLE. - -The sole remaining fragment of this Castle was very carefully examined -and measured by King, the author of “_Munimenta Antiqua_”; in which -work he gives the following description of it. (pp. 346-7) He was of -opinion indeed that it was a Saxon fortress; but in this he must have -been mistaken, as the testimony of history is very clear as to the -fact, that it was erected by the Norman Earl, Robert de Belesme. - -“The exceeding solidity of whose structure [the leaning Tower] has -defied the decay of ages, the blast of gunpowder, and the continually -active force of gravity, notwithstanding it is apparently in a -tottering state.... It evidently contained three apartments, one above -another, each of which were of small dimensions, being only 23 feet 10 -inches in length, and 21 feet 2 inches in breadth, and the entrance was -manifestly by an arched doorway up a flight of steps on the outside, -The marks of the places for the timbers supporting every floor are -still visible.... The walls are between 8 and 9 feet thick, or rather -more, but not quite uniformly so on each side; for the external measure -of the Tower is nearly about 41½ feet square. The outside wall next the -town has not even a loophole in it. This side however is very oddly -covered with iron hooks, which are said by tradition to have been -placed there so late as in the time of Charles I., during the civil -wars, to hang wool packs upon, in order to protect the walls from the -effects of the cannon: but as this tale is not credible, and the hooks -themselves have the appearance of being much more ancient, they serve -rather to remind one of a savage custom which sometimes prevailed in -early ages, of fastening the bodies of enemies slain on the outside of -the walls of fortresses.” - - -C. (_Page 42._) WOODEN FORTIFICATIONS OF THE TOWN. - -A further grant was made for the same purpose by Henry III. “On May -10, 1220, King Henry III., being at Worcester, orders the Sheriff of -Salop to aid the Burgesses of Bruges in the enclosure of their town, -allowing them out of the Royal Forest near Bruges, as much of old -stumps and dead timber as would suffice to make two stacks (rogos). -This was to be done with as little injury as possible to the Forest.” -(_Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 1, p. 299._) Notwithstanding this -caution, however, a good deal of damage was done, on account of the -large amount of timber which was required for this purpose; for in -the Sheriff’s report of the state of the Forest in 1235 there is the -following notice:—“Item. The _Bosc_ of Worfield was viewed—much wasted -by ancient waste, to wit, in the time of the great war [the Barons’ -war], and also in the time of R., late Earl of Chester, who, whilst -he was sheriff, sold 1700 oak trees there, besides other wastes made -in his time for the Castle of Bruges, and besides delivery of timber -made for enclosing the _Vill_ of Bruges, before it was fortified with a -wall.” (_Ibid, Vol. 3, p. 215._) - - -D. (_Page 44._) THE CHARTER OF THE BOROUGH. - -The earliest written Charter was granted to the Borough in the reign of -Henry II., A.D., 1157, and is as follows:— - -“Henry, King of England, and Duke of Normandy, and Aquitaine, and Earl -of Anjou, to his Justiciars, and Sheriffs, and Barons, and Ministers, -and all his faithful of England, greeting. Know ye that I have -conceded to my Burgesses of Bruge all their franchises, and customs, -and rights, which they, or their ancestors, had in the time of King -Henry, my grandfather. Wherefore I will and strictly command that they -have them well, and in peace, and honourably, and fully; within the -Borough and without, in wood and in field, in meadows and pastures, and -in all things, with such comparative fulness and honour, as they held -them in the time of King Henry, my grandfather. And I forbid any one -to do them injury or insult in regard of their tenements. Witnesses—T. -Chancellor, and Henry de Essex Constable, and William Fitz Alan, at -Raddemore.” - -In the reign of King John a second Charter was granted, January 10, -1215. A few years afterwards this was renewed by King Henry III., who, -in a short time, considerably enlarged the privileges of the Burgesses, -in the new Charter referred to. It has been generally supposed, that -this charter was destroyed along with other documents, in the fire -which took place in Bridgnorth during the siege of the Castle. Most of -the papers, belonging to the Corporation, were placed in St. Leonard’s -Church for safety; but, this having been set fire to, they were all -burnt, and this charter, as it was supposed, among them. But I conclude -from the following passage in the Blakeway Papers that this is a -mistake, and that this original charter, granted by King Henry, may -still be in existence. In M.S. Congreve are the following historical -particulars of the town, in the reign of James II.:—The following -Aldermen subscribed to the running away with the Charter. - -“John Lewis and William Hammonds, Bailiffs; Humphrey Braine, George -Longnor, William Baker, Thomas Weal, and about forty others. - -“Bickerton’s son subscribed for him while he was out of town. - -“Silvanus read a recantation afterwards. Bailiff Hammonds took away the -Charter which the town had possessed for 450 years (the people of the -town pursuing him) contrary to the mind of the old sages of the town.’” - - -E. (_Page 123._) SUPPRESSION OF THE RELIGIOUS HOUSES. - -Whatever may have been Queen Mary’s private feelings, it is plain that -she yielded to the pressure of political expediency in this matter. -In order to induce the Parliament to repeal all the statutes made -against the See of Rome in the two last reigns, she ratified in the -fullest manner the alienation of the property which had belonged to -Abbeys, Priories, Chantries, Colleges, &c., and strictly forbade any -suits against any one on that score, either by authority from the Pope, -or general council, or on pretence of any canon or ecclesiastical -constitution whatever. (_Collier’s Ecclesiastical History, Vol._ VI, -_Book_ V, _pp. 94-6._) - -But there are some facts connected with the subject of the suppression -of the Monasteries, and the confiscation of their property, which -ought to be better known, in order to shew how little warrant Roman -Catholics have for representing the matter, as they commonly do, as -a piece of Protestant sacrilege. There is a valuable chapter in Mr. -Froude’s recent History of England on this subject, and much important -additional matter is brought forward in a review of his work, in the -_Christian Remembrancer_ of July last. From these two sources I have -drawn the following facts, which are well worthy of attention. The -state of the Monasteries and Religious Houses generally was such, -in the reign of Henry IV., as to call from the House of Commons an -indignant remonstrance, and a petition for their secularization; and -in the reign of his successor, Henry V., when Popery was wholly in the -ascendant in this country, one hundred Monasteries were suppressed -by order of the King. (_Froude, Vol. 2, p. 411._) But a still more -remarkable fact is the following: that a twelve month after the Act of -1536 for the suppression of smaller Monasteries in England, Pope Paul -III. appointed a committee of nine of the most eminent ecclesiastics, -to examine into the state of the Church. These persons recommended -changes far more extensive than any which the English Parliament had -contemplated. So hopeless did they consider the reformation of the -monastic bodies, that they united in recommending the total suppression -of every Monastery in Europe. One of these nine ecclesiastics was -Reginald, afterwards Cardinal Pole; and he, firmly as he was attached -to the Church of Rome, not only advised this universal sequestration -of all Convents, but did not refuse to share in the spoils of their -suppression in this country. On his arrival in England, he received -from Queen Mary a grant of lands belonging to the dissolved Priory of -Newburgh. (_Christian Remembrancer_, _Vol._ XXXII, _p. 92_) Bishop -Fisher also, one of the most zealous Prelates of the Romish party -in the Church, previous to the passing of the famous Act for the -suppression of Monasteries, seized on the Nunnery of Higham, after a -vain attempt at its reformation, and by his own act set the example -for subsequent confiscations. “In fact, while the reforming[79] -party in the Church were pleading for the preservation of some of -the Convents, the opposite party were contending for their utter -overthrow.” (_Ibid._) Yet notwithstanding these facts, which are -attested by existing documents, Roman Catholics still speak as if -the suppression of these establishments was exclusively the work of -Protestants, to be ascribed to a spirit of impiety and sacrilege which -the Reformation has let loose upon the Church. The truth is, that the -Monastic and Conventual Establishments had become so totally corrupt, -and the moral disorders by which they were affected had been proved -to be so incurable, that society could no longer endure them; and the -opinion prevalent among Roman Catholics, as well as Protestants, was, -that the evil had arrived at such a height, that no remedy could be -effectual, short of the general suppression of the Religious Houses. -Both writers to whom I have referred are warm in their admiration of -the original members of the monastic bodies, and of the purposes which -such establishments answered at an earlier period of their history. -Mr. Froude says, “Originally, and for many hundred years after their -foundation, the regular clergy were the finest body of men of which -mankind in their chequered history can boast.” (_Vol. 2, p. 403_) -And his Reviewer thus speaks of the Monasteries and Convents: “Great -have been the advantages which not only devotion, but political -civilization, have received from monastic establishments. In times -of disturbance, they were the places of comparative peace—in days -of ignorance, retreats of learning—in periods of profligacy, abodes -of devotion.” Yet, from the evidence which authentic records supply, -the conviction has been forced upon both Mr. Froude and his Reviewer, -that scarcely anything could be worse than the moral condition of -the inmates of such establishments in the fifteenth and sixteenth -centuries. It is natural to regret that remedial measures were not -resorted to. Possibly, however, if we possessed all the information -which was in the hands of the Government and Legislature of the day, we -might be convinced that the only safe and wise course was that which -they pursued. But at all events, we must bear in mind that this course -was advocated by the warmest friends of the Papacy; and that, although -the cupidity of courtiers and public men may have hastened forward the -confiscation of monastic property, yet that Roman Catholics, and even -dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church, did not refuse a share of the -spoil. - -I think it right, in laying before my readers the foregoing statements -of Mr. Froude and his Reviewer, to express my great regret that I -had not become earlier acquainted with them. Had I possessed the -information which I have derived from them somewhat sooner, the -language which I have used (p. 85) would have been considerably -modified. - -A friend has kindly furnished me with the following passages, relating -to the Monastic orders, in the document which was presented to Paul -III., by Cardinal Pole and the other Divines. The document itself is -entitled, “Concilium delectorum Cardinalium, & aliorum Prælatorum, de -emendanda Ecclesia, S. D. N. D. Paulo III. ipso jubente conscriptum, et -exhibitum, Anno M.D. XXXVIII.” - -The passages referred to are as follows:— - - “Alius abusus corrigendus est in ordinibus - religiosorum, quod adeo multi deformati sunt, ut magno - sint scandalo sæcularibus, exemploque plurimum noceant. - Conventuales ordines abolendos esse putamus omnes, non - tamen ut alicui fiat injuria, sed prohibendo ne novos - possint admittere. Sic enim sine ullius injuria cito - delerentur, & boni religiosi eis substitui possent. - Nunc vero putamus optimum fore, si omnes pueri qui non - sunt professi, ab eorum monasteriis repellerentur.” - - “Abusus alius turbat Christianum populum in Monialibus, - quæ sub cura fratrum conventualium, ubi in plerisque - monasteriis fiunt publica sacrilegia cum maximo civium - scandalo. Auferat ergo Sanct. vestra omnem eam curam a - conventualibus, eamque det aut Ordinariis aut aliis, - prout melius videbitur.” - -These passages are extracted from the “Historia Conciliorum -Generalium,” by Edmund Richer, Doctor and Fellow of the Sorbonne: Book -IV, Part II, pp. 78-9. Colon. 1681. See also Du Pin Cent. XVI, B. I., -ch. 27. - -[79] The writer evidently means the party favourable to the -Reformation, in the sense in which the word is generally used. - - -F. (_Page 126._) THE CAPPERS OF BRIDGNORTH. - -An Act of Parliament was passed in 1571, to enforce the wearing of -Woollen Caps; but this failing to have the desired effect, and the -people still continuing to indulge their fancy in the choice of -covering for their heads, the Queen thought fit to exert her royal -prerogative in the matter, and issued a Proclamation for the purpose -of enforcing the statute. The Proclamation set forth “how that by -little and little the disobedience and wanton disorder of evil-disposed -and light persons, more regarding private fantasies and variety, than -public commodity or respect of duty, had increased by want of execution -of the said law.” It therefore commanded that Bailiffs, Constables, -Churchwardens, &c., every Sunday and Festival Pay, make diligent view -and search in all Churches and Chapels, and all other places within -the circuit and compasses of their offices, for all singular breakers -and offenders of the said Statute, and without delay cause the names -of such offenders, together with the day and place of the offence, to -be then written, and lawfully ordered and committed. It states that -the violation of this Act of Parliament tended “to the decay, ruin, -and desolation of divers antient Cities and Boroughs, which had been -the nourishers and bringers up, in that faculty, of great numbers of -people, as London, also Exeter, Bristowe, Monmouth, Hereford, Rosse -and Bridgnorth.” (_Strype’s Annals, Vol. 2, Book 1_, C. VIII, _pp. -109-110_.) - - -G. (_Page 130._) ON THE CHARACTER OF CROMWELL. - -It is a curious fact, that two of our great poets, writing in prose, -have exerted their genius to paint, the one the character of Cromwell, -the other the character of Charles I, in the darkest possible -colours. Cowley, in his “Vision,” has heaped on the Protector as many -reproachful epithets, and as stern expressions of reprobation, as the -most unrelenting royalist could desire; but the bolder wing of the -Author of “Paradise Lost,” has soared far above him in the region of -invective. In his famous answer to the Icon Basilica, Milton has put -together for the purpose of defaming the memory of his Sovereign, a -piece of writing perhaps as vituperative and scornful as is to be found -in the English language. But it is not in brochures, such as these, -that we are to look for just delineations of character; and as I should -consider it very unwarrantable to bring an accusation against King -Charles on the authority of Milton, I should feel it to be equally so -to found a charge of hypocrisy against Cromwell, on statements made -in “The Vision” of Cowley, or in any writing of the kind. Unhappily -the charge of hypocrisy against Cromwell rests on less questionable -evidence. The following letter, written by him to Robert Hammond, -Governor of the Isle of Wight, plainly convicts him of it; and affords -melancholy proof of how unscrupulously he could adopt the most sacred -phraseology when he had a point to gain, and enter on the discussion -of the most deeply spiritual subjects, when his real purpose all the -while was to win over his correspondent to his party, and to secure -his co-operation in furthering his own schemes. The letter to Hammond -is so curious an illustration of this, that I think it right to lay -the whole of it before the reader. The occasion of his writing it was -this:—King Charles had been induced by Cromwell’s machinations to make -his escape from Hampton Court, and to fly to the Isle of Wight, and -there to entrust himself to Hammond, the Governor. This man, when he -was required by the Army to surrender the person of the King to them, -felt strong scruples of conscience against doing so, and for a while -refused. In order to remove his scruples, both Ireton and Cromwell -wrote to him. Cromwell’s letter[80] is written with consummate skill, -but no one surely can avoid seeing how deeply it is tainted with the -odious sin of hypocrisy—all the more odious for venturing so far on -holy ground, and soiling with its touch things so precious as the -things of the Spirit of God. - - “DEAR ROBIN, - - “No man rejoyceth more to see a line from thee - than myself. I know thou hast long been under tryal. - Thou shalt be no loser by it. All must work for the - best. Thou desirest to hear of my experiences. I can - tell thee I am such a one as thou didst formerly - know, having a body of sin and death; but I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord there is no condemnation, - though much infirmity, and I wait for the redemption; - and in this poor condition I obtain mercy and sweet - consolation through the Spirit, and find abundant cause - every day to exalt the Lord,—abase flesh. And herein I - have some exercise. - - “As to outward dispensations, if we may so call them, - we have not been without our share of beholding some - remarkable providences and appearances of the Lord. - His presence hath been amongst us, and by the light - of His countenance we have prevailed. We are sure the - good will of Him who dwelt in the bush has shined upon - us; and we can humbly say, we know in whom we have - believed, who is able, and will perfect what remaineth, - and us also in doing what is well-pleasing in His - eyesight. - - “Because I find some trouble in your spirit, - occasioned first, not only by the continuance of your - sad and heavy burthen, as you call it, upon you; but by - the dissatisfaction you take at the ways of some good - men, whom you love with your heart, who through this - principle, that it is lawful for a lesser part (if in - the right) to force, &c. - - “To the first: call not your burthen sad nor heavy. - If your Father laid it upon you, he intended neither. - He is the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good - and perfect gift; who of His own will begot us, and bad - us count it all joy when such things befall us; they - bring forth the exercise of faith and patience, whereby - in the end (James 1st.) we shall be made perfect. - - “Dear Robin, our fleshly reasonings ensnare us. - These make us say, heavy, sad, pleasant, easy. Was not - there a little of this, when Robert Hammond, through - dissatisfaction too, desired retirement from the - army, and thought of quiet in the Isle of Wight? Did - not God find him out there? I believe he will never - forget this. And now I perceive he is to seek again, - partly through his sad and heavy burthen, and partly - through dissatisfaction with friends’ actings. Dear - Robin, thou and I were never worthy to be doorkeepers - in this service. If thou wilt seek, seek to know the - mind of God in all that chain of providence, whereby - God brought thee thither, and that person to thee: - how before and since God has ordered him, and affairs - concerning him. And then tell me, whether there be not - some glorious and high meaning in all this, above what - thou hast yet attained. And laying aside thy fleshly - reasoning, seek the Lord to teach thee what it is; and - he will do it. - - “You say, ‘God hath appointed authorities among the - nations, to which active or passive obedience is to be - yielded. This resides in England in the parliament. - Therefore active or passive,’ &c. Authorities and - powers are the ordinance of God. This or that species - is of human institution, and limited, some with - larger, others with stricter bands, each one according - to his constitution. I do not, therefore, think the - authorities may do any thing, and yet such obedience - due; but all agree there are cases in which it is - lawful to resist. If so, your ground fails, and so - likewise the inference. Indeed, dear Robin, not to - multiply words, the query is, whether ours is such a - case? This ingeniously is the true question. To this - I shall say nothing, though I could say very much; - but only desire thee to see what thou findest in thy - own heart, as to two or three plain considerations. - First, Whether _salus populi_ be a sound position? - Secondly, Whether in the way in hand, really and before - the Lord, before whom conscience must stand, this be - provided for; or the whole fruit of the war like to be - frustrated, and almost like to turn to what it was, and - worse? And this contrary to engagements, declarations, - implicit covenants with those who ventured their lives - upon those covenants and engagements, without whom - perhaps, in equity, relaxation ought not to be. - Thirdly, Whether this army be not a lawful power called - by God to oppose and fight against the King upon so - stated grounds; and being in power to such ends, may - not oppose one name of authority for those ends as well - as another? the outward authority that called them, - not by their power making the quarrel lawful; but it - being so in itself. If so, it may be, acting will be - justified _in foro humano_. But truly these kind of - reasonings may be but fleshly, either with or against; - only it is good to try what truth may be in them. And - the Lord teach us.” - -[80] The letter is given in _pp. 162-5_ of Tytler’s “_Trials of Charles -I_.” - - -H. (_Page 167._) DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE KING’S TROOPS AND THE TOWN’S -PEOPLE. - -The following letter,[81] written from Bridgnorth in the year 1642, -affords evidence of the fact, that there were partizans of the -Parliament in the town, who doubtless did their best to alienate the -minds of the people from the King’s cause; and also that the rude -conduct of the soldiers, in the royal army, greatly aggravated the -evil. The statements made on this latter subject must however be taken -with some allowance, as they are made under the influence of strong -party feeling. - - “_Bridgenorth, Octob. 1. 1642._ - “Our Countrey is in a most miserable condition, there - is nothing can be expected but a totall ruine thereof, - except God do miraculously help us with assistance from - the Parliament. The Kings Souldiers are altogether bent - on mischief, taking, wasting, and spoyling those things - we should live by: they do take our Corn unthresht - to litter their horses, spoyling that which many a - poor creature wants; if any one speak, be it man or - woman, either a Pistoll or a Sword is straight set to - the party, with many grievous oathes; They know what - they do, they are the King’s servants, and will not - be limitted of their will: you may judge by this what - a case we are in; and for any thing we can perceive, - like to be worse; for as long as these outrages are - permitted, no question but the King’s Army will - encrease: What with Papists, Atheists, and all - desperate Ruffians, they have made _Shrewsbury_ strong, - as it is reported to us; many Pieces of Ordnance, - 300 Carts laden with Ammunition; and our County of - _Shropshire_ is very much awed, many wel-affected - people withdraw themselves: The Sheriff here hath - lately seized certain thousands of pounds at our Town - of _Bridgenorth_, intended to be sent down Severn - lately to _Bristoll_, by M. _Charlton_ of _Ayley_, M. - _Baker_ of _Hamond_, and others: We have many brags - here of the Cavaliers, what victories they have had - at _Worcester_, though we know for certain they are - notorious lyes; yet we dare not contradict them: it - grieves the soul of every good Christian, to see how - His Majestie is misled. We are glad to hear of your - constancy to the King and Parliament; our affections - are the same, though we dare not shew it: for all the - reports you have heard, you may perhaps understand - by the next, that _Shropshire_ is not altogether so - malignant as it is reported; fear makes us yeild to - many things. I am in haste. - _Yours, T. C._” - -There is a copy of a letter among the _Blakeway Papers_ from Prince -Maurice, addressed to His Majesty’s Commissioners for the county of -Salop, dated 1645, which also affords evidence of some disaffection -to the royal cause among the people of Bridgnorth, or, at least, some -slackening of zeal in the King’s service, produced most likely by the -causes above referred to. - - “GENTLEMEN, - “This day I received a letter from Sir Lewis Kyrke, - Governor of Bridgnorth, alleadging that his warrant - for the advancement of the works at Bridgnorth were - disobeyed, which I cannot avoyde to take notice of, - being sent downe by His Majesty to advance the affayres - of these parts, for the good of His Majesty’s service. - To the intent that I may ease and cherish your county - as much as may bee, therefore I desire to knowe what - their grievances and dislikes are, and why and upon - what ground the Governor’s warrants were neglected, - that if reason be shewed, I may doe the country that - right, which in justice they may expect, or however see - those things perfected, which conduce to the security - of those parts, and the better serving His Majesty, - which is all att present I have to say, but that I am, - - Gentlemen, - Your lv. ffriend, - MAURICE, - Comr. of Salop.” - Worcester, - 19 of January, 1645. - ffor his Majesty’s Commissioners of the County of Salop. - -[81] This letter forms a part of a tract, entitled “A true and exact -Relation of the Proceedings of His Majesties Army in Cheshire, -Shropshire and Worstershire. Together with what hath happened to the -late Lord Strange, now Earl of Derby, before Manchester. With the -Resolution of the Town to oppose him; and the number of Men which were -slain.” It is bound up in a Volume of very valuable tracts, referring -to the events of this period, and was kindly lent to me by the Rev. T. -L. Claughton, of Kidderminster. - - -I. (_Page 169._) COLLEGE AND ALMSHOUSES. - -The College, which stood in Saint Leonard’s Church Yard, had formerly, -it is supposed, been the residence of the Chauntry Priests belonging -to the Church, and after the Act for the Suppression of the Religious -Houses, it became the dwelling of the Master of the Grammar School. -The exact year of the foundation of this School cannot be ascertained; -but the Charity Commissioners, who visited Bridgnorth in 1815, fully -investigated the matter, and discovered that it was in existence in -the reign of Henry VIII. The following is an extract from their Report -on the subject:—“It appears from the return of the Commissioners under -a Commission of the 20th. July, in the second year of Edward VI., -that a Grammar School, long before the said 20th. of July, had been -continually kept in the town of Bridgnorth, with the revenues of the -Chauntry of St. Leonard, in that town; and it appeared to the said -Commissioners, that the Schoolmaster then for the time being should -have for his wages, or salary, £8 a year, as before that time he was -allowed anciently out of the revenues of the said Chauntry.” - -The Charity Commissioners of 1815 were equally unsuccessful in their -endeavours to ascertain the origin of the Almshouses which are situate -in the Church Lane; but they found, among the papers belonging to the -Corporation, the presentment and verdict of a Jury empannelled at -Bridgnorth, in the sixth year of Charles I., which proves that land was -granted to this Charity as early as the eighth year of Henry VIII. By a -Deed, however, which I copied from the Blakeway Papers in the Bodleian -Library, it is evident that the Almshouses of this locality were well -known in the parish of St. Leonard, in the earlier part of the reign -of Henry VII. The Deed is dated 1492, and is as follows: “Alice Wood, -prioress of ye house and ch. of St. Leonard, of ye White nuns of -Byrywood, and the convent of ye same place. Whereas John Bruyne, of -Bruggenᵗ, and his ancestors from time immemorial, have held of us, and -our predecessors, in ye High Street of Bruggenᵗ betw. ye land belongᵍ -to ye chantry of Sᵗ Tho. Martyr, in ye Ch. of St. Leonard, there on ye -North, and _the Almshouse on ye South_, we confirm his estate therein, -and grant it to Wm. Otteley, of Salop, and Margery his Wife.”[82] - -[82] “William Otley, ancestor of the Otleys of Pitchford, married -Margery, daughter and sole heir of John Bruyn of Bridgnorth, and thus -obtained much property in this neighbourhood. Among other estates, that -of “The Hay,” thus acquired, has remained with the Owners of Pitchford -till the present generation.”—_Rev. R. Eyton._ - - -K. (_Page 173._) SURRENDER OF THE CASTLE. - -“Articles agreed upon for the Surrender of Bridgnorth Castle, the 26th. -day of April, 1646; between - - Sir Robert Howard, Knight of the Bath, Governor, - Sir Vincent Corbet, - Sir Edward Acton, and - Sir Francis Ottley, Commissioners for the King; - and - Colonel Andrew Lloyd, - Colonel Robert Clive, and - Robert Charlton, Esquire, Commissioners for the Parliament. - -I. That all Commissioned Officers of Horse, and all Captains of Foot, -shall march away to any of His Majesty’s Garrisons or Armies within -forty miles, with their horses and arms for themselves, and each of -them to have a servant, with his horse and sword, and their wearing -apparel. Free quarter for thirty miles, and safe conduct, and not to -march less than eight miles a day. Any of the aforesaid Officers to -repair to any of their own habitations. - -II. That all inferior Commissioned Officers shall have liberty to -march with their swords, and the common soldiers without arms, to any -of His Majesty’s Garrisons or Armies within forty miles, as before -stated, on laying down their arms; to live at their own habitations -for a fortnight, and afterwards to take the negative oath if they -live within the county, or letters from hence to the Committees of -the several counties where they intend to reside, and to have papers -granted them accordingly. - -III. That all Clergymen, Townsmen, and Countrymen, within the Castle, -may have liberty to repair to their own habitations, provided they -lay down their arms, and a fortnight’s time allowed them for taking -the negative oath, and not to live within a mile of the Parliament -Garrisons; or otherwise, if they should desire it, to march to any of -the King’s Garrisons or Armies. - -IV. That all wounded and sick persons within the Castle shall have -liberty to reside in the Low Town, or elsewhere, till they be fit to -travel; and then to have passes to go home, or to any of the King’s -Garrisons or Armies. - -V. That Sir Robert Howard, Sir Vincent Corbet, Sir Edward Acton, and -Sir Francis Ottley, with each of them, their horses, arms, and two -men a piece, with their horses and swords, and their master’s wearing -apparel, shall have liberty to march to their several habitations, and -to continue there for the space of two months: to which time they are -to make their election, whether they will go to make their peace with -the Parliament, or go beyond Sea, or to any of the King’s Garrisons, or -Armies, and to have passes accordingly,—they engaging themselves to do -nothing prejudicial to the Parliament in the mean time. - -VI. That Mr. Howard, Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Grovenor, shall march away -with their horses and arms, and one man a piece, with their apparel and -swords, to any place within forty miles. - -VII. That Lieutenant Col. Hosier and Doctor Dewen shall march away -without horse or arms, to any of the King’s Garrisons, or any other -place within thirty miles; provided it be not within this County. - -VIII. That Mr. Milward, Captain of the Garrison, may have liberty to -go with a horse, to his house at Leighton, in this County, and to take -with him his manuscripts, and there to live, taking the negative oath -within one month’s time; or is to march away out of the County with the -rest. - -IX. That the Clerks of the Commissioners may have liberty to march, as -the rest of the inferior Officers, and to have the same conditions; and -to take with them all papers concerning the Garrison, and their wearing -apparel. - -X. That Lady Ottley, her children, and maid-servant have liberty, with -their wearing cloaths, to go to Pitchford, or the Hay, and there to -live unmolested. - -XI. That all women and children within the Castle, may have liberty to -go to their own, or any of their friends’ houses, provided it be not -within one mile of this Garrison. - -XII. That all Gentlemen, Officers, and Soldiers, within the Castle, -Strangers as well as others, desiring to go beyond the Sea, shall have -passes accordingly, and letters to the Committee of their several -Counties, to afford them the like conditions as to the Gentlemen of -this County, upon the surrender of this Castle here granted. - -XIII. That the Surgeon belonging to this Garrison shall march away, and -to have the same conditions as the inferior Officers. - -XIV. That the Gunners and Powdermen, with their mates, may march away -as the rest of the common Soldiers. - -XV. That no violence, injury, or incivility, shall be offered to any -who shall march out of this Castle, but be protected in all things, -according to the tenor of these Articles; and that sufficient Hostage -on both sides be given for the performance of all and every the matters -here agreed upon. - -XVI. That the Governor, and the rest of the Officers, shall do their -utmost endeavors to protect and preserve all the ordinances, arms, -ammunition, victuals, provisions, goods, bedding, and all other -accommodation necessary and belonging to the Castle, other than what -is allowed to be taken by the aforesaid Articles; and all these, safe -and unspoiled, to be delivered up, together with the Castle, unto the -Committee whom they shall appoint; and these Articles to be confirmed -by the Governor. - -XVII. That if these Articles be consented to, the Castle to be -surrendered by seven of the clock to morrow morning; and those who -intend to march to Worcester, to quarter in the Low Town, or any -other Town within five miles of the Garrison, upon the return of the -Trumpeter and Officer sent to Worcester; provided they come within two -days. - -XVIII. That if any Officer, or Soldier, shall in any way maliciously -spoil his horse or arms, or misdemean himself in his march, such -misdemeanor shall not be extended further than upon the party -offending; and upon them Justice shall be done according to the -discipline of war. - -XIX. That all Commissioned Officers be certified by the Governor of the -Castle, and upon his certificate be allowed to march accordingly; and -that all Troopes march away with their swords. - -XX. That Mr. Edward Lathan[83] (Latham) be delivered to the mercy of -the Parliament. - - (Signed) - ANDREW LLOYD, - ROBERT CLIVE, - ROBERT CHARLETON.” - -[83] “I suppose the reason of Mr. Latham’s being excepted from the -terms of Capitulation was his not being in military service. I judge it -from the following reference to him in the Articles of the surrender of -the Town of Worcester:— - -“In the surrender of Worcester, Sir Wm. Russell was excepted from the -terms of the Capitulation; and it was required that he should be given -up unconditionally to the Parliament. This was protested against by -the Royalists, who said that it would be as much as consenting to his -murder, and that no such exception had been made in any articles of -surrender, except in the case of Mr. Latham, which was not a similar -case, inasmuch as he, Mr. R., was one of the Prince’s Soldiers,—and -Commanders ought to have a soldier’s conditions.” - - -L. (_Page 176._) ASSIGNMENT OF GOODS AND CHATTELS AT APLEY. - -The following is a copy of the assignment of the goods and chattels -of Apley, by the Parliamentary Sequestrators, to Roger Rowley, Esq., -of Rowley, in the Parish of Worfield. The original document is in the -possession of T. C. Whitmore, Esq., of Apley, who kindly furnished me -with this transcript. - -“Wee, John Broome, Solicitor for Sequestrators in the County of Salop, -John Llewellyn, Richard Hawkshead, and Thomas Achelley, Agents for -Sequestʳˢ, in the said County, According to an order of the Committee -of Parliamt. for the said County, requireing us, amongst others, to -sell and dispose of the personall estate of Sʳ William Whitmore of -Apley, in the said County, Knight, for and to the use of the state, -Have and in consyderacion of the some of five hundred eighty three -pounds 3ˢ & 2ᵈ, payed and secured to be payed unto us for the use of -the state, by Roger Rowley, of Rowley, in the said County, Esquire, -sould and - -And by these presents doe sell and deliver unto the said Roger -Rowley, all the goods, chattels and personal estate of the said Sʳ -Willᵐ Whitmore in the severall Inventoryes hereunto annexed,—attested -under our hand To have and to hould to him the said Roger Rowley, his -executors, administrators & assigns for ever. In witnes whereof wee -have hereunto putt our hands and seales the XXIII day of February, Anno -Dmⁿⁱ 1647. - - JOHN BROME, - JOHN LLEWELLEN, - RICH. HAWKSHED, - THO: ACHELLEY. - - Sealed & delivered in the presence of - - WALT: ACTON, - GEORGE STRINGER, - RICHARD EVANS, - JEFFRY BLACKSHAW.” - - -M. (_Page 178._) THE SUFFERINGS OF THE CLERGY DURING THE COMMONWEALTH. - -It is very important that the members of the Church of England, and -others, should receive some correct information on the subject of -religious persecution, or persecution for conscience sake; for a very -great mistake on the subject very commonly prevails—namely, that the -Dissenters have always been the suffering party, and the Church the -offending party, in this matter. At a time, indeed, when the duty of -toleration was little understood, some of the rulers of the Church of -England, as well as of the government of the day, did exercise the most -unjustifiable severity against those who ventured to separate from -the established religion. But the instances of this have been so much -insisted on, and have been so frequently made the subject of popular -declamation, that many have been led to imagine that the Church of -England has, again and again, been chargeable with the guilt of cruelly -persecuting her opponents, while the opponents have been guiltless of -any such wrong against her. But the impression is a most erroneous -one; for it may be asserted, without the fear of contradiction, that -the sufferings which the clergy endured in the short space of three -years during the Commonwealth, at the hands of those who had separated -from her, were in severity and extent greater than the whole amount -of suffering which she may have been the instrument of inflicting on -separatists for the hundred years previous.[84] - -In proof of this, Gauden,[85] in the Petitionary Remonstrance which he -delivered to Cromwell, in behalf of the suffering Clergy of England, -stated that the number of Ministers ejected from the benefices amounted -to 8000. And Gauden would not, in a public address, and to such a man -as Cromwell, have ventured to make a false or careless statement. -But a much closer investigation of the subject was afterwards made, -and the result of it was published by Walker, in his well known work, -entitled—“The Sufferings of the Clergy,” from which it may be seen -that, if we include in the catalogue the Cathedral Clergy, and the -Clergy belonging to the Universities, and chaplains,—as well as the -parochial ministers and their curates,—the sufferers far exceeded the -number above stated. By a resolution passed in the House of Commons, -during the Protectorate of Cromwell, all ministers were to be deprived -of their benefices who refused to sign the League and Covenant; and, -consequently, numbers who were too loyal to subscribe a document -so hostile to the interests of the King and the Church, were at -once reduced to poverty, and had to bear the severest hardships and -privations. They and their families were driven from their houses, not -knowing where to look for food and shelter; exposed also to the brutal -insolence of the military, who found as much pleasure in plundering -a peaceful parsonage, as in defiling the sanctity of the house of -God. And these outrages appear to have been sanctioned by those in -authority, rather than repressed. Besides this, numbers were thrown -into prisons—the ancient palaces of the Bishops being turned into -jails for the purpose; and when these and the common prisons in London -were crowded with inmates, “many” as Clarendon states, “both of the -laity and clergy, were committed to prison on board the Ships in the -river Thames, where they were kept under decks, and no friend suffered -to come to them, by which many lost their lives.” Nor is this to be -omitted, in giving account of their sufferings, that while they were -enduring these wrongs, for conscience sake—nay, suffering the loss of -all things, rather than abandon their principles—they were vilified -in Parliament, and by the public press, as being little better than -criminals; and men, whose reputation had never been blemished by a -single stain,—whose deep learning, and still deeper piety, would have -reflected honor on any church of which they had been members;—men who -were saints indeed, in the true and ancient sense of the word—were held -up to public scorn, as if they were not fit to live, and branded by the -name of “malignant and scandalous ministers.” - -The recollection of these persecutions, inflicted on the loyal body -of the clergy, sharpened the feelings of the Government, after the -Restoration, against Dissenters; and those who then came into power -were too ready to make reprievals for the injuries and wrongs committed -during the Commonwealth. The consequence was, that many excellent -men, whose devotedness to God and whose zeal in the pastoral office -was unquestioned—men of whom, indeed, “the world was not worthy,” and -whose only offence was want of conformity to the Church, suffered -very severely; but their sufferings were trifling, both in extent or -severity, compared to the previous sufferings of the Clergy: so much, -indeed, does the one exceed the other, that Archbishop Bramhall, who -certainly was one not accustomed to utter words at random, says, “Let -Mr. Baxter sum up into one catalogue all the nonconformists throughout -the kingdom of England, even since the beginning of the Reformation, -who have been cast aside, or driven away. I dare abate him all the rest -of the kingdom, and only exhibit the Martyrologies of London, and the -two Universities, or a list of those who in the late intestine wars -have been haled away to prisons, or chased away into banishment, by -his own party, in these three places alone; or left to the merciless -world to beg their bread, for no other crime than loyalty, and because -they stood affected to the ancient rites and ceremonies of the Church -of England, and they shall _double_ them for number.”—_Grot: Relig. p. -116._ - -It is very desirable that such facts as these should be known; not -that the knowledge of them may serve to ferment and keep alive any -feelings of hostility, or unkindness, towards those who still maintain -the principles of nonconformity—such a purpose cannot be too strongly -repudiated; but, that we may have an answer to give to such as charge -the Church with intolerance and persecution, and may be able to shew, -that in this respect she has been far more “sinned against than -sinning.” These facts also prove to us, and on this account they are -worthy of record, that the principles of the Church of England were -considered by our forefathers as worth suffering for; and that rather -than surrender the Articles of her Creed, or abrogate her regimen, they -willingly endured the severest penalties; took joyfully the spoiling -of their goods, and counted not their life dear unto them. Happily, -the day of persecution for conscience sake is past,—the spirit of the -age does not tolerate any thing like violence;—would that our “unhappy -divisions” were at an end also;—that all who love our Lord Jesus Christ -in sincerity were not only of one heart, but of one mind also—were -“perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement,” -“spoke the same things,” “walked by the same rule;” not only kept “the -unity of the Spirit,” but also unity of worship and of doctrine. This -is the fellowship which the Scripture teaches should subsist between -the members of Christ’s Church; and nothing short of this should be the -object of your hopes and prayers. - -[84] Heglin’s History of the Presbyterians, p. 459. - -[85] Carwithen’s History of the Church of England, Vol. 3, p. 512. - - -N. (_Page 183._) DR. PERCY. - -The following particulars respecting Dr. Percy, have been very kindly -communicated to me by the Rev. H. E. Boyd, Rector of Dromara, in -the County of Down, who was for many years domestic Chaplain to the -Bishop:—“The Right Reverend Thomas Percy, D. D., Bishop of Dromore, -in Ireland, highly distinguished in the literary world, the son of -Arthur Lowe Percy, by his wife Jane Nott, was born at Bridgnorth, -and baptized the 29th of April, 1729; his grandfather, Arthur Percy, -having removed thither from the City of Worcester, where his family -had been settled for several generations. Arthur was grandson of -Thomas Percy, who was Mayor of Worcester, in 1662. The subject of this -note received the rudiments of his education at the Grammar School -of Bridgnorth, and graduated as A. M. from Christ’s Church College, -Oxford, in 1753: in November of that year, in the presentation of -his College, he was instituted to the Vicarage of Easton Manduit, in -Northamptonshire, which he retained until 1782. In 1756, he became -resident, and was presented to the Rectory of Willby, by the Earl of -Sussex, whose Mansion was close to the Parsonage. In 1759, he was -married to Ann Goderick, after an attachment of several years, to whom -he had addressed the pastoral ballad of “O Nancy, wilt thou go with -me;” which being transformed, by changing some words into the Scottish -dialect, “Nancy” into “Nannie,” “go” into “gang,” &c., has passed with -many persons as an original Scottish ballad, written by Burns, or Allan -Ramsay. During his residence at Bridgnorth, through the kindness of -Mr. Humphrey Pitt, of Prior’s Lee, he became possessed of the M. S. -folio of Ancient Poetry, which exercised a magnetic influence on his -literary taste, and led to the publication of the Reliques, in 1764. -Through the kindness of the Earl of Sussex, he was introduced to the -Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, who appointed him their domestic -Chaplain, and patronized him in his Antiquarian pursuits. In 1769, he -became Chaplain in Ordinary to King George III.; and having obtained -the degree of S. T. P., from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was -collated to the Deanery of Carlisle, 1778; and in 1782, elevated to the -see of Dromore, where he died 30th September, 1811, in the 84th year -of his age, revered by all sects and classes in his Diocese, to whom -the exercise of every virtue—piety, charity, and hospitality—especially -to his Clergy, had endeared him, during an episcopate of nearly thirty -years. There, his memory is still vividly preserved: and recollections -of his kindness are traditionally handed down from father to son by the -inhabitants of Dromore. He survived his excellent and amiable partner, -Mrs. Percy, about five years; they are both interred in a vault in the -north aisle of Dromore Cathedral, which was added in 1804, and erected -chiefly at the Bishop’s expense. The “Key to the New Testament,” a -most useful manual to the Divinity Student, and a translation of the -“Song of Solomon,” with some occasional Sermons, form the chief of -the Bishop’s theological labours. An allusion to his discursions in -the other various paths of literature, in which he was engaged, would -extend this notice to an inconvenient length. And as it is intended to -give a more detailed account of this eminent man, in case the copious -supply of materials, known to be in existence, be contributed and -placed in the hands of the writer, the brevity of this sketch will be -the less to be regretted.” - - -O. (_Page 191._) PETITION PRESENTED TO LADY BARTUE. - -The following is a copy of the Petition, presented to Lady Bartue, the -draft of which is preserved among the papers of the Corporation:— - -“We are bold (hearing of your noble and charitable disposition to -distressed people) to impart unto you, that in these miserable times -our Town is left a sad spectacle and pitiful object of the woeful -effects of war; for besides the firing of more than 300 families, we -had also burnt, a fair Church, College, Almshouse, and Market House; -whereby we are exposed to great misery and distress. The Parliament, -upon our humble address for some relief, hath vouchsafed us a Brief, -and we are upon that work, hopeing, by God’s blessing thereunto, we -shall live to see some of our public losses againe repaired. Now our -motion is humbly, that your Ladyship, having an old ruinous Barn, at -Wenlock, which would serve for the bonds of a new Market House, hearing -that it is to be sold, do address ourselves hereby to your Ladyship, -desirous that you would be pleased to sell us the same; and send us a -price in consideration of our poor condition. We are not willing to -meddle with the slate covering, only the wood and timber; entreating -that you will be pleased to favour us in the summer. We conceive it -worth £40 or £50 and great charge we shall be at to take it down. We -humbly beseech, that we shall have your Ladyship’s pleasure therein; -that we may know what to trust unto in that behalf. And you will oblige -unto yours—those by whom this Petition represent—the whole body of the -Town, and are - - Your humble Servants, - HENRY BURNE, } - RICHARD SYNGE, } _Bailiffs_. - - Bridgnorth, - 26th. Feby, 1647.” - - “_To the Honourable the - LADY BARTUE_, - Present these.” - - -P. (_Page 193._) ALMS HOUSES. - -The foundation of this Charity has already been referred to Appendix I, -and proofs given of its antiquity. An official report of it was drawn -up by the Rev. Wm. Corser, in 1792, and presented to the Corporation; -after a very careful investigation into its history. In this, he states -it as his opinion, that it was first established and supported by the -members of the Religious fraternity of the neighbouring College in St. -Leonard’s Church Yard; though the management of it, and the right of -appointment to it, was vested entirely in the Corporation. The objects -of the Charity were originally poor persons, of either sex,—“the Alms -Houses being open to poor Burgesses’ wives; but, for the last hundred -years, the Charity has been confined to poor women,” the widows, or -unmarried daughters of Burgesses, seven chosen from the parish of St. -Leonard’s, and five from the parish of St. Mary’s. The management of -the Charity is placed by a late Act of Parliament, in the hands of “the -Trustees of General Charity Trusts.” - - -Q. (_Page 193._) THE PROCLAMATION OF CHARLES II. - -“Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, -France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all, and singular, -Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, Deans, and their Officials, Parsons, -Ministers, Lecturers, Vicars and Curates, and all other Spiritual -Persons: And also to all Justices of the Peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, -Bailiffs, Constables, Churchwardens, Collectors for the Poor, and -Headboroughs: And to all Officers of Cities, Boroughs, and Towns, -Corporate; and to all other our Officers, Ministers, and Subjects, -whatsoever they be, as well within Liberties as without, to whom these -Presents shall come, Greeting. - -“Whereas, We are credibly given to understand, as well by the humble -Supplication and Petition of the Bailiffs and Burgesses of Our Town of -Bridgnorth, in Our County of Salop, as also by a Certificate under the -hands and seals of our Trusty and well-beloved Subjects, Sir William -Whitmore, Baronet, Sir Thomas Wolrich, Knight and Baronet, Sir Walter -Acton, Baronet, Sir John Weld, the younger, Knight, Sir Richard Otley, -Knight, Richard Scriven, Thomas Whitmore, Robert Sandford, Robert -Leighton, and Thomas Holland, Esqs.; Justices of the Peace, at the -general Sessions of the Peace held for the said County, at Salop, on -Tuesday next after the Feast of the Epiphany, now last past, that in -the year of our Lord One Thousand, Six Hundred, Forty and Six, at which -time, our said Town being kept as a Garrison for Our dear Father, the -same was surprized by the contrary party then in Arms, and the upper -town thereof being set on fire, all the houses and the greatest part of -the goods and wares therein, and their Market House, the Colledge, Alms -Houses, and great Collegiate Church, were burned down and consumed, and -that at the said Sessions, it appeared to our said Justices, by the -Oaths of Edward Whitehead and Michaell Millington, able and sufficient -persons; that the losses sustained by the same fire, do amount in the -whole unto the value of Threescore Thousand Pounds at the least; which -being to the utter destruction and laying waste of Our said town, -and the great impoverishment and undoing of the Inhabitants thereof, -unless they shall be relieved by the love and charity of such whose -hearts the Lord (who is the great disposer of hearts) shall warm and -stir up to commiserate them in this their most deplorable condition, -Our said Justices did humbly certifie the same to Our Princely and -Christian consideration, to the end that our gracious Letters Patents -for a collection of the charitable benevolence of our well-disposed -subjects of Our Kingdome of England, might be granted unto Our said -Bailiffs, Burgesses, and other Inhabitants of our said town, for and -towards their relief and the re-edifying of the said Collegiate Church -and Colledge. We therefore, and upon the Petition of the said Bailiffs, -Burgesses, and Inhabitants have thereunto condescended, not doubting -but that all compassionate and tender-hearted Christians rightly and -duely considering the Premisses and the miserable and mutable state -of man through these inevitable and deplorable accidents, (none -knowing how soon they may fall into the like calamity) will be ready -and willing to extend their liberal contributions towards this so -charitable and pious a work, the same tending not only to the relief, -support, and refreshment of Our said distressed subjects in their -great necessity, but to the advancement of the Honour and Worship -of Almighty God. Know ye therefore, that of Our especial grace and -Christian compassion have given and granted, and by these Our Letters -Patents under Our great Seal of England, We do give and grant unto -Our said poor distressed subjects, the Bailiffs, Burgesses, and other -Inhabitants of Bridgnorth aforesaid, and to their Deputy and Deputies, -the Bearer and Bearers hereof, authorized and deputed in that behalf, -as hereafter in these presents is appointed, full power license and -authority, to ask, gather, receive and take the alms and charitable -benevolence of all of Our loving subjects whatsoever; inhabiting -within our Kingdome of England, and all and every the Cities, Towns -corporate, priviledged places, Parishes, Hamblets, Villages, and in -all other places whatsoever, within our said Kingdome, for and towards -the re-edifying, rebuilding, and repairing of the said Collegiate -Church, College, and Alms Houses, in the first place; and after for -and towards the reimbursements and recovery of the losses and for -the future support of Our said poor distressed subjects, and for the -relief of them and their desolate families, which being a work of so -Christian and charitable concernment, will doubtless be readily and -fervently promoted and performed by all well-disposed people, who -upon their serious and due consideration of the said great Losses, -will, with a fellow-feeling of the miseries and distresses of their -fellow Christians extend their free and cheerful contributions more -then ordinary in this pious and blessed work, for in so doing they do -lend unto the Lord, and hence it is that wisdom itself hath said and -testified, That it is more blessed to give than to receive. Wherefore, -We will and command you, and every of you, that at such time and -times, as the said Bailiffs, Burgesses, and Inhabitants of Bridgnorth -aforesaid, their Deputy or Deputies, the Bearer or Bearers hereof, -(authorized and deputed as hereafter in these presents is appointed,) -shall come and repair to any of your Churches, Chappels, or other -places, to ask and receive the gratuities and charitable benevolence -or Our said loving Subjects, quietly to permit and suffer them so to -do, without any manner of your lets, or contradictions. And you, the -said Parsons, Ministers, Lecturers, Vicars and Curates, for the better -stirring up of a charitable devotion, deliberately to publish according -to the tenor of these Our Letters Patents, or brief hereof unto the -people, upon the Lord’s Day next after the same shall be tendered -unto you,—exhorting, perswading, and stirring them up to extend their -liberal contributions towards this so pious and charitable a work. -And you, the said Churchwardens of every Parish, and Collectors for -the poor, where such Collection is to be made, as aforesaid, together -with such other honest active men there, as shall be nominated by the -minister and your selves, are hereby willed and required to collect and -gather the Alms and charitable benevolence of Our said loving subjects: -not only Householders, but also Servants, Strangers, and others: And -if you shall find it more expedient for an effectual performance of -this pious work, you are to go from house to house in your respective -parishes, upon the Week dayes, to gather the Alms of Our said loving -subjects. And what shall be by you so gathered by vertue of these -presents, in the said parishes and places, to be by the Ministers and -yourselves, endorsed on the back side of these our Letters Patents, -or the true copies or briefs hereof, in words at length and not in -figures; which endorsement is to be subscribed with the hands of you -the said Ministers, Churchwardens, and such in each Parish or Place, -as shall assist you in such Collection, and also to be registered in -the Books of your respective Parishes: And the sum and sums of money -so gathered and endorsed you are to deliver to the bearer or bearers -of these Our Letters Patents, so deputed and authorized as hereafter -in these presents is appointed, whensoever you shall be by him or -them required so to do: whose receiving thereof, with his or their -Acquitance or Acquitances shall be sufficient discharge for so doing; -which said bearer or bearers of these Our Letters Patents, are hereby -willed and required forthwith to pay and deliver all the moneys by them -so to be collected and received as aforesaid, unto John Bennett, George -Weld, and the said Thomas Holland Esquires, and to John Rogerson, -Robert Richards, and Thomas Fingmore, of the said town of Bridgnorth, -gent., aforesaid, or any two of them, whom We do by these presents -nominate, constitute and appoint the Treasurers of all such moneys, -as shall be collected and gathered by virtue of these Our Letters -Patents, who are from time to time to pay and dispose of the same -moneys, in such manner and order as the said Sir Thomas Wolrich, Sir -William Whitmore, Sir Walter Acton, Sir John Weld the younger, Thomas -Whitmore and Thomas Holland, Esquires, and Michael Thomas, Rector of -Stockton, in the said County of Salop, or any three or more of them, -shall by writing under their hands and seals direct and appoint the -same. And lastly, for the more assurance of faithful and equal dealing -in the receipt accompt, and distribution of the moneys hereby to be -collected as aforesaid, and that the said Bailiffs, Burgesses, and -Inhabitants of Bridgnorth aforesaid, may not be defeated of any part -thereof, but enjoy the full benefit of this Our Royal favour extended -to them, and that a true and honest accompt may be given and rendered -to them, Our will and pleasure is, that no man shall be employed to -collect any of the said moneys but such only as shall be appointed and -authorized thereunto, by Deputation or Deputations under the hands -and seals of the said Treasurers or any two of them, and that such -person or persons as shall be so deputed, to make the said collections -within our City of London, and the liberties and suburbs thereof, shall -beside the said Deputation procure a Testimonial in this behalf from -the Lord Mayor of Our said City of London for the time being, under -his hand and seal, whom we do by these presents desire to grant the -same accordingly, that so no scruple or impediment, may be raised to -prevent or hinder a ready, speedy, and effectual performance, in Our -said City of London, and the Liberties and Suburbs thereof, of Our -Royal will and pleasure herein before declared; and for the better and -more speedy collecting of the said charitable benevolence, Our further -will and pleasure is, that the said respective Deputies (if they shall -see cause) shall respectively deliver Briefs unto the chief Constables, -of every Hundred or Division, in every of the said Counties, who are -hereby required to distribute the same to the respective Churchwardens -of every Parish or Precinct, within their respective Constabularies, -and when such collection shall be made as aforesaid, the said several -Churchwardens are required to return to each respective Chief Constable -the Briefs received by them, together with the moneys collected by -the same, to be endorsed thereupon and subscribed in manner as is -hereby before directed and appointed, and the said chief Constables -to give discharges for the receipt thereof accordingly, which said -chief Constables are to deliver and pay the said moneys so by them to -be received, together with the said Brief or Briefs so endorsed as -aforesaid, unto the bearer or bearers of these our Letters Patents, -so to be deputed as aforesaid, at the Assizes next after such their -receipt thereof whensoever holden within the several and respective -Counties, or whensoever they shall be required thereunto, by the person -or persons so deputed as aforesaid, and the said Treasurers or any -two of them are hereby willed and required, from time to time to pay -and distribute the Moneys so to be by them received as aforesaid, in -and about the uses aforesaid, and the promoting and carrying on the -same by and according to such directions and appointments as they -shall from time to time receive from the persons for that purpose -herein above-named, or any three or more of them: Any Law, Statute, -Act, Ordinance, or Provision heretofore made to the contrary hereof -in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof, we have caused these -Our Letters to be made Patents for the spase of one whole year next -after the date hereof to endure, and no longer. Witnesse Our Self at -Westminster, the first day of June, in the Thirteenth year of our -Raign.” - -God save the King. - - -R. (_Page 199._) NON-JURING BISHOPS. - -What makes the resistance of these Prelates to the unconstitutional -proceedings of James the more remarkable is, that they afterwards -submitted to deprivation, rather than renounce their allegiance to him. -When he was deposed, or as others would represent it, when he abdicated -the throne, they could not be persuaded by any inducements to abjure -his sovereignty, and to take the oath of allegiance to William. They -regarded James as still their lawful King, and judged that it would -be a violation of the law of God for them to renounce his authority: -and, therefore, neither the remembrance of the wrongs which he had -done them, nor the prospect of what they might be called to suffer -for maintaining their allegiance to him, could shake their fidelity. -They refused, notwithstanding the many overtures which were made to -them, to take the customary oaths to the new King, hence the name of -“Non-Jurors.” They were perhaps extreme in their views, and carried -their principles of non-resistance and passive obedience so far, as -to involve them in great practical difficulties, which has afforded -to their opponents matter for much contemptuous ridicule. But those -who express this scorn for the principles of the Non-Jurors, should -remember that they were the principles maintained by every protestant -community before the revolution—maintained as strenuously by Burnet[86] -and Tillotson, during the reign of the Stuarts, as by the seven -Bishops. Here lay the difference, that on the accession of William, the -former renounced these doctrines, and, in consequence, were advanced -to high places of honour and emolument: the latter still adhered to -them, though their adherence cost them the loss of all things. This too -happened at a time when, according to the testimony of Mr. Macaulay, -principle was a very rare quality indeed in public men of any party; -so that the sacrifice which the non-juring Bishops and Clergy made for -conscience sake stands out in striking contrast to the selfishness and -corruption which every where surrounded them. This contrast is so ably -drawn by a writer in the Christian Remembrancer, of April last, that I -think it well to submit it to the Reader. - -“To this scene of falsehood and perfidy and unbridled selfishness,—to -the duplicity of the great men, and the corruption of the little men -in the state,—there was at this time one striking contrast. There was -one body of men in England, who, in spite of the low tone of public -honesty, did through evil report, through scorn and ridicule, through -the loss of their daily bread, stick to their principles. There was -one body of men possessed of reputation and competence, and some of -them of high station and wealth, who might have kept all—have been -caressed and flattered, at least feared or treated with respect—might -at least have kept their freeholds and their influence, their peerages -and palaces, or their quiet country parsonages, merely by saying a few -words against their convictions, and who would not. It was nothing very -fearful or profligate that they were called to do. It was then, and -is still, even among those who sympathise with them, a great question -whether they ought not to have done it. It was something for which, -had they wanted a pretext, they could have found not pretexts but good -reasons, in the example, and opinion, and authority of numbers of their -brethren—good, and conscientious, and pure-minded men. It was something -which Beveridge and Bishop Wilson could do with a clear conscience. But -their consciences would not allow them to do it; and they did it not. -Call them over-scrupulous, call them narrow-minded, say that they were -entangled and misled by a false theory of government, still the fact -remains; their duty seemed to them clear and plain, and their duty they -followed at all costs. They lost everything by it; they were cast out -of the Church, they were cast out of the State; too few to have any -influence, too unpopular to hope for converts, they found themselves -cut off from the body of their countrymen, cut off from all the chief -walks of life, homeless and living on alms, pitied by friends, -suspected by all in power, ridiculed by the world, plunged into the -miseries and perplexities of a new and difficult course of action, and -of a small isolated clique, with small comfort for the present, and -small hope for the future. Granting all that their critics or their -enemies said of them—and they have had keen critics and rancorous -enemies,—that they were fretful and cross-grained, that they were -peevish and could not reason—that they were censorious and ill-natured -to their opponents—that their theories were absurd, their heads hot, -their intestine quarrels about small points very petty—granting that -Sancroft was sour and self-opiniated, Turner a busy plotter, Collier -indiscreet and a proud priest, that Dodwell had odd notions on the -immortality of the soul, and that Hickes was as tiresome as Mr. -Macaulay himself about the Theban legion—still there is no denying -the fact, that while the great men of the day, who were having their -will, and riding on the high places of the earth, were, most of them, -men whom we should shun as we do sharpers and swindlers—the mocked and -ruined Non-jurors were honest men.” (_Christian Remembrancer_, _vol._ -XXXI, _pp. 412-413_). - -One of these has left a name in the Church which will be honoured, as -long as simplicity and godly sincerity are held in estimation among -men. The life of Bishop Ken, both before and after his deprivation, -was one so blameless and harmless—one of such uniform gentleness and -charity, as to win almost universal reverence and regard; and the -record of it has extorted the admiration of those who are most opposed -to his principles. He refused to take the new oath of allegiance. -After giving the subject every possible consideration, and calmly and -dispassionately deliberating on it, he felt that he could not with -a clear conscience swear fidelity to William and Mary as his liege -sovereigns, and he submitted patiently to the penalties which his -refusal brought upon him. He felt it his duty to enter a public protest -against the act of the government, which deprived him of his Bishopric; -but he retired from it without a murmur, attended, however, by the -tears and lamentations of his flock, who had known him long enough to -form an estimate of his character, and to calculate their loss in being -deprived of his overseership and counsel. Like others of his Brethren, -he would have been reduced to great poverty, had not his attached -friend and College companion, Lord Weymouth, received him into his -house, at Longleat. There he lived for upwards of thirty years after -his deprivation, and there he died. He suffered during his latter years -an amount of bodily anguish, which few men are called on to endure, -and this he sought to alleviate, and not in vain, by the exercise of -prayer and contemplation, and by indulging in strains of sacred poetry, -for which he had a natural aptitude. These he called anodynes, and -“alleviations of Paine,” and such they proved to him. His Biographer -states that “writing, saying, and singing hymns, were his chief solace: -they turned his mournings into penitential sighs.” His death was -like his life, one of perfect peace. His burial was in harmony with -his character, free from ostentation and parade. His special request -was that he might be buried in the Church Yard of the nearest parish -without any manner of pomp or ceremony, and that he might be carried to -the grave by six of the poorest men in the parish. He left in his last -Will this declaration of his stedfast attachment to the Church, which -coming from one of his stamp is of no small importance in these days of -disloyalty and division:— - -“As for my Religion, I die in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith, -professed by the whole Church, before the disunion of the East and -West: more particularly I die in the Communion of ye Church of England, -as it stands distinguished from all Papall and Puritan innovations, and -as it adheres to the doctrine of the Crosse.” - -[86] “No doubt Ken had an eye to both these Prelates when he wrote thus -to Burnet, ‘many persons of our own coat for several years together -preached up Passive Obedience to a much greater height than ever I -did, and on a sudden without the least acknowledgement of their past -error, preach’d and acted quite the contrary.’”—_Life of Bishop Ken by -a Layman._ - -[Illustration] - -W. J. 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