506

Alleged Impropriety in Exeter Cathedral.

Exeter Cathedral, before and after, but not during divine service!"

Whether therefore the HATS worn in the Chapel of St. Stephen in London, will cover the diminitive CAP worn by the Sword-bearer in the Cathedral of Exeter, must be left to Colonel Macdonald, and the publick to determine; although it will be difficult to conceive how an act, considered as perfectly innocent in one place of worship, should in a privileged person be regarded as a flagrant and gross instance of impiety in another!

Let us not, Sir, in the present en

[Dec.

lightened age, thus continue to "strain at gnats, and swallow camels!"

Had the custom alluded to been a glaring impropriety, would it have escaped the penetrating eyes of Queen Elizabeth? of Charles the First? and of George the Third? Would it also have been sanctioned by all the Bishops of Exeter since the reign of Henry the Seventh; and have passed unnoticed by every one of those venerable Judges of England, who have visited the Cathedral during their circuits?-SURELY NOT!

Yours, &c.

E. T. PILGRIM.

COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY.

WORCESTERSHIRE.
(Continued from p. 416.)

Seats: CROOME PARK, EARL OF COVENTRY, Lord Lieutenant.

Aldenham House, Sir Richard Edward Ac-
ton, bart.

Apley Park, Thos. Whitmore, esq.
Badger Hall, Mrs. Hawkins Browne.
Barbourne House, John Wheeley, esq.
Belmont Lodge, Sir R. Wigram, bart.
Bell Hall, Mrs. Noel.

Belswardine, Mrs. Harnage.

Beoly Hall, Thomas Holme Hunter, esq.
Berrington, Hon. and Rev. R. Hill.
Betton, R. Scott, esq.

Blackmore Park, Thomas Hornyhold, esq.
Blakebrook House, John Jefferies, esq.
Brockhampton House, J. Barneby, esq.
Broseley, John Onions, esq.

John Pritchard, esq.
Buildwas Abbey, Wilkinson, esq.
Caughley Place, Brown, esq.
Clent Hall, J. Amphlett, esq.
Colebrook Dale, Francis Darby, esq.

B. Dickinson, esq.
W. Tothill, esq.

Conderton Lodge, Wm. Walter, esq.

Grafton Hall, R. Lucas, esq.
Hagley Park, Lord Lyttleton.
Ham Court, Rev. Jos. Martin.
Hartlebury Castle, Bishop of Worcester.
Hawford Lodge, J. Blackburn, esq.
Henley Court, Sir John Knight.
Henner House, Thos. Benbow, esq.
Hewell Grange, Earl of Plymouth.
High Park, P. Greesly, esq.
Himley Hall, Visc. Dudley and Ward.
Holon Hall,
Hanson, esq.
Holt Castle, Henry Chillingworth, esq.
Hopton Court, J. Botfield, esq.
Lea Castle, John Knight, esq.
Leigh Court, B. Gardiner, esq.
Leikey Hall, Thos. Moore, esq.
Lodge, Ludlow, Arthur Salway, esq.
Madeley Wood, W. Anstice, esq.
Madresfield, Earl Beauchamp.
Manley Hall, Sir Edward Blount, bart.
Middlehill, Sir T. Phillipps, bart.
Morvil Hall, Henry Acton, esq.
Moseley Hall, Mrs. Taylor.

Nevers, near Worcester, Visct. Eastnor.
Northwick Park, Lord Northwick.
Norton Lodge, W. Watkins, esq.

Drake's Place, near Hanley, John Allen, esq. Ombersley Court, Marchioness of Down

Cotheridge, Rev. Dr. Berkeley.

Cotton Hall, Rev. J. H. Petit.

Cound, J. Cresset Pelham, esq.

Drayton House, T. S. Vernon, esq.

Dupshill, Wm. Chambers, esq.

Eardiston, Sir Wm. Smith, bart.

shire.

Rose Place, Worcester, E. Sanderson, esq.
Rouse Linch, Sir W. E. R. Boughton, bt.
Severn End, Mrs. Lakin.

Sion Hill, Wolverley, John Smith, esq.
Spetchley, R. Berkeley, esq.

1825.]

Compendium of County History-Worcestershire..

Spring Grove, Bewdley, John Taylor, esq.
Spring-hill, Hon. John Coventry.
Stanford Park, Sir Thomas Edw. Winning-
ton, bart.

Stanley, Sir Thos. Tyrwhitt Jones, bart.
Stone, W. Pratt, esq.

Temple Lawn, Worcester, R. H. Harrison,

esq.

Thorngrove, Rich. Griffiths, esq.
Tickenhill House, Mrs. Onslow.
Waysley House, Mrs. Orange.

Westwood House, Sir John Packington, bt.

West Coppice, Miss Smitheman.
Whitbourne Court, Wm. Smith, esq.
Whiteford Lodge, Mrs. Lawrence.
White Ladies, Mrs. Ingram.
Whitley Court, Lord Foley.

507

Wick House, Pershore, John Sayer, esq.
Willey Park, Lord Forester.
Winterdyne House, W. M. Moseley, esq.
Witley Court, Lord Foley.
Woodfield House, Mrs. Cooper.
Worcester Palace, Bp. of Worcester.
Lady Gresley.

Peerage. Dudley Viscounty to Ward; Evesham Barony to Cocks Earl Somers; Frankley Barony to Lord Lyttleton; Kidderminster Barony to Foley; Northwick Barony to Rushout; Ombersley, Sandys of, Barony to Hill; Powicke, Beauchamp of, Barony to Lygon Earl Beauchamp; Worcester Marquisate, Earldom, and Viscounty to Somerset Duke of Beaufort.

Members to Parliament. For the County 2; Bewdley 1; Droitwich 2; Evesham 2; Worcester 2; total 9.

Praduce. Corn, pulse, hops, cherries, pears, and other fruit in abundance. Wool. Alabaster, calcareous flag-stone, salt, quartz, coal, free-stone, limestone, gravel, brick-clay, hornblendie, mica.

Manufactures. Glass, porcelain, pottery, iron, carpets, gloves, hosiery, stuffs, lace, needles, leather, Dutch and sailors' caps, horn, flannels, oil-mills.

POPULATION.

Hundreds 5; Market towns 11. Whole Parishes 152, Parts of Parishes 5. Inhabitants, Males 90,259; Females 94,165; total 184,424. Families employed in Agriculture, 14,926; in trade, 18,566; in neither 5,514; total 39,006. Baptisms, M. 27,457; F. 26,381; total 53,838. Marriages 13,178. Burials, M. 16,819; F. 16,722; total, 33,541.

418. The Romans left this Island, carrying with them all their treasures. Mr. Milner thinks they constructed the brick kiln found at Soddington in 1807, and which they were obliged to leave. (See vol. LXXVII. 1009.) 628. Worcester taken by Penda, King of Mercia.

1016. Canute defeated with great slaughter by Edmund Ironside near Blockley. 1041. A tumult happened at Worcester in collecting the danegelt tribute, The King, incensed at the riot, completely plundered the city, and burnt it to the ground. The inhabitants having retired for security to Bevere, an island in the Severn, two miles distant, were there attacked by the vindictive Mo

narch,

508

Compendium of County History.Worcestershire.

[Dec.

narch, but so warm was the reception, that the besieged honourably capitu

lated.

1074. The conspiracy against Will. I. frustrated through the activity of the King's friends in Worcestershire. The Abbot of Evesham, Bp. Wulstan, and Urso, guarding the passes of the Severn, stopped the Earl of Hereford, and thus obtained the day.

1088. Worcester attacked by Roger de Lacy, &c. and the King's enemies. Bishop Wulstan, animating the citizens on the part of the King, took or killed 500 men, and freed the city from blockade.

1113. June 19, Worcester consumed by fire, caused, as suspected, by the Welsh.

1129. Henry I. kept his Christmas at Worcester.

1139. Stephen, on his march to the siege of Ludlow Castle, visited Worcester, and offered at the High Altar his ring as a votive present.-Nov. 7, the forces of the Empress Maud, under Milo Earl of Hereford, attacked the city of Worcester, and plundered and set it on fire.

1149. King Stephen burnt Worcester, but could not take the Castle. The Castle was afterwards attacked by Eustace, but saved by Count de Meulant who repulsed him.

1151. Stephen made another assault on Worcester Castle, but without success, being obliged to raise the siege. The King "built castles" before the Castle, and filled them with garrisons, but they were overthrown by Robert Earl of Leicester.

1156. The Abbot of Evesham heroically attacked Bengworth Castle, and razed it to the foundation.

1157. Worcester fortified by Hugh Mortimer against Henry II. but submitted on the King's approach.

1159. Henry II. and his Queen offered their crowns at Worcester, and a Parliament held there.

1207. John visited Worcester, and performed his devotions at Wulstan's tomb. 1214. John kept his Christmas at Worcester.

1216. Worcester declared for Lewis the Dauphin; but was taken by Ranulph Earl of Chester.

1218. Worcester Cathedral consecrated in the presence of Henry III. and a great assembly of nobility, &c.

1225. A great tournament at Worcester, the actors in which were all excommunicated by Bp. Blois.

1232. Henry III. kept his Christmas at Worcester.

1234. Henry III. kept Whitsuntide at Worcester.

1263. The Barons laid siege to Worcester, which they took Feb. 28.

1264. Henry III. after the battle of Lewes, conducted prisoner to Worcester, 1265. Prince Edward (afterwards Edw. I.) taken at the battle of Lewes, and carried prisoner to Hereford, escaped to Worcester, where he assembled an army. Prince Edward having defeated young de Montfort at Kenilworth, retired to his head quarters at Worcester, where hearing the Earl of Leicester had crossed the Severn to Evesham, with the design of joining his son, he once more departed from Worcester on the 3d of August, and reached the heights about that town on the 4th; displaying the standards he had taken at Kenilworth, he completely deceived the Earl who was dreaming of nothing but his son's approach. The Earl being soon undeceived, they came to an engagement, in which, after 3 hours fighting, Edward gained a decisive victory, Simon de Montfort and his son Henry being both killed, and his army entirely routed.-Henry went to Worcester and revoked all grants he was compelled to sign by Leicester.

1276. Edward I. visited Worcester.

1278. Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, met Edward I. at Worcester, where he married a daughter of Simon de Montfort.

1281. Edw. I. kept his Christmas at Worcester; and the following year held a Parliament there; he also visited Worcester in 1283, 1289, 1291, 1294, 1295, and April 1301, with his Queen.

1401. Worcester burnt and plundered by Owen Glendower's troop, but were driven back by Henry IV.

1825.]

Compendium of County History.Worcestershire.

509

1407. Henry IV. visited Worcester twice.

1459. Henry VI. went to Worcester after the battle of Blore-heath, and from hence sent out his offers of pardon.

1471. After the battle of Tewkesbury, Queen Margaret was taken prisoner, and presented to Edw. IV. at Worcester.

1484. The extraordinary rise of the Severn seated Richard III. on his throne, by preventing the passage of the Duke of Buckingham, who was preparing to dislodge him.

1575. Queen Elizabeth visited Worcester.

1585. Queen Elizabeth visited the White Ladies at Worcester.

1642. In September Sir John Biron fortified Worcester against the Parliament. He was attacked by Col. Fynes on the part of the Parliamentarians, who having been denied entrance, besieged the town. On the 23d, the two armies engaged at Pitchcroft, in which Prince Maurice was dangerously wounded. On the following day the Earl of Essex took possession of Worcester for the Parliament. 1643. A party of Parliamentarians plundered the house of Mr. Bartlett at Castle Morton, while his devoted neighbours were absent at Sedbury Fair. 1645. Hawksley-house garrisoned by the rebels, but being besieged by the King in person, they did not attempt to defend it. Charles had his headquarters at Droitwich.-August 31, Charles went from Shipston-upon-Stour with his army to Worcester, whence on September 3, they removed to Bromwich.

1646. Ham Castle totally destroyed by the Parliament army.-Madresfield taken from the Parliamentarians by the King-Hartlebury Castle taken by Colonel Morgan, and sold for little more than 3,000l.-March 26, Sir Wm. Brereton summoned Worcester to surrender to the Parliament, but at night drew off to Droitwich. For several months the town was again besieged, till provisions and ammunition becoming scarce, articles of capitulation were signed July 19; on the 23d, the city taken possession of for the Parliament. 1651. Aug. 22, Charles II. possessed himself of Worcester, where he was first proclaimed King. On the 26th he assembled his friends at Pitchcroft; and on the 28th Cromwell with an army of 17,000 men appeared on Red-hill, where, being met by other forces to the amount of 30,000, hostilities were commenced. After various skirmishes and engagements, the fatal 3d of September arrived, on which day Cromwell, after an obstinate engagement, completely defeated the Royalists. The King having escaped the dangers of the field, was conducted to Boscobel; and soon after escaped to France. 1687. James II. visited Worcester. Upon this occasion, Thos. Shewring, as Mayor, attended the King to a Catholic Chapel. On his Majesty asking the Corporation if they would not enter with him, Shewring nobly replied, "I fear, your Majesty, we have gone too far already!"

1788. George III. and family honoured Worcester with their presence for several days, and were honourably entertained by Bp. Hurd, &c. 1807. The Prince Regent visited Worcester.

EMINENT NATIVES.

Baskerville, John, celebrated printer at Birmingham, Wolverley, 1706.

Beauchamp, Richard, Earl of Warwick, in whom the 12 labours of Hercules found performer, Salwarp, 1881.

Berkeley, Sir Robert, Justice of the King's Bench, Spetchley, 1584.

Bernardi, Major John, brave and active adventurer, but great sufferer, Evesham, 1657,

Blount, Thomas, miscellaneous writer, Bardsley, 1618.

Bonner, Edmund, Bp. of London, Hanley (ob. 1569).

Bray, Sir Reginald, patriot and architect, Great Malvern, flor. temp. Hen. VII.
Bowles, William, divine and poet, Hagley (ob. 1705).

Burford, St. Richard de, Bp. of Chichester, Droitwich (ob. 1253).

Bristow, Richard, eminent divine and writer, Worcester, 1538.

Coventry, Thos. first Earl, Lord Keeper, Croome d'Abitot, 1578.

BUTLER, SAMUEL, author of the inimitable Hudibras, Strensham, 1612.

* Stow says Gloucester; followed by Rapin.

Dee,

Accurate Models of Stonehenge, Avebury, &c. suggested.

Dee, John, mathematician, astrologer, and alchemist, Upton (ob. 1608).
Derham, William, philosopher and divine, Stoughton (ob. 1735).
Evesham, Cardinal Hugh de, the Phoenix of the age, Evesham (flor. 13th cent.)
Richard de, Abbot of Vale Royal, Cheshire (ob. 14th cent).

Feckenham, John de, learned and good Abbot of Westminster (ob. 1585).
Habingdon, William, historian and poet, 1605.

Hall, John, Bp. of Bristol, Bromsgrove (ob. 1710).

Hardwicke, Margaret, amiable Countess of, Worcester (ob. 1761).

Hastings, Warren, Governor of India, Dailsford.

Hooper, Dr. George, eminent divine, Grimley, 1640.

Hopkins, William, learned linguist, Evesham, 1647.

Howman, vide Feckenham.

Kelly, Edward, the alchymist, immortalised in the Hudibras, Worcester, 1555.
Kidderminster, Richard de, learned Romish priest (flor. 16th cent.)

Lazimon, famous old historian, Astley.

Lyttelton, Lord George, elegant historian, poet, &c. Hagley, 1709.

POLE, REGINALD, Cardinal and Abp. of Canterbury, Stoverton Castle, 1500.
Savage, Henry, divine and topographer, Eldersfield (ob. 1672).

Smith, Henry, benefactor to his native place, &c. Stoke Prior (ob. 1606).

Richard, the pillar of the Romish Church of his time, Worcester, 16th cent. SOMERS, JOHN, Lord Chancellor, orator, incorrupt lawyer and honest statesman, Worcester, 1652; or, according to some, 1650.

John, father of above, eminent attorney, Kidderminster (ob. 1681).

Tombes, John, excellent disputant and opponent of Baxter, Bewdley, 1612.

Wall, John, eminent and benevolent physician, Porrick, 1708.

Walsh, William, critic and poet, Abberley, 1663.

Watson, John, Bp. of Winchester, Evesham, 1540.

Weaver, Thomas, divine and wit, Worcester, 17th century.

White, Thomas, architect and sculptor, assistant to Wren, Worcester, ob. 1757.
Williams, Lady, amiable niece of Lord Somers, Worcester, ob. 1757.

Willis, Richard, Bp. of Winchester, in 1714. Bewdley.

Worcester, William of, eminent writer, Worcester, 15th cent.

(To be continued.)