1825.] Compendium of County History.-Wiltshire. 127 854. Ethelwulf executed at Wilton the charter by which he conveyed the whole tythes of his kingdom to the Clergy. 871. A bloody battle fought at Marden between King Ethelred and the Dones, in which the former was defeated, and died soon after of his wounds. In this or the succeeding year, Alfred obtained a victory over the Danes at Wilton, after a sanguinary contest. 875. Castle Combe Castle, said to be demolished by the Danes. [This is, however, doubtful.] 878. The Danes entered the county, plundering and destroying wherever they came, at which time Malmsbury was assaulted and burnt. When Alfred engaged the Danes by treaty to quit the Kingdom, they treacherously possessed Chippenham, and being strengthened by arrivals, at last compelled Alfred to go into retirement. Alfred having afterwards collected a considerable force in the vicinity of Selwood, sallied upon the unsuspecting Danes at Eddington, who fled to Bratton Castle, which they were forced to surrender after a siege of 14 days. In memory of this it is said a white horse was cut by the Saxons on the slope of the hill, by paring off the surface turf in the shape of a horse. 905. Ethelwald entered Wiltshire with an army of Danes to assert his pretensions to the throne of Wessex. He put to death all the inhabitants of the tract of Braden Forest; but did not advance farther than Cricklade. 939. Athelstan defeated the Danes at Sodbury*. The men of Malmsbury displayed great courage. 954. A synod held at Bradford, in which the treacherous St. Dunstan was elected Bp. of Worcester. 960. Edgar held a great council at Old Sarum, when several laws were enacted. 977. A synod held at Calne, at which a most diabolical act was effected by St. Dunstan. In consequence another was held at Amesburyt. Stephen went to Wilton with the intention of fortifying the nunnery, but the Earl of Gloucester unexpectedly set the town on fire. 1001. A bloody battle fought at Pen, in which the Danes overthrew the Saxons under Cola and Eadsigus. 1002. The Danes barbarously murdered by King Ethelred. 1003. Sweyn, King of Denmark, pillaged and burnt Old Sarum and Wilton, returning to his ships laden with wealth.. 1006. The Danes defeated by the men of Wiltshire, near Kennet. 3011. Sweyn once more passed through Wiltshire, imposing very heavy con tributions. King Ethelred lay sick at Corsham, but his son Edmund obliged them to fly to their ships. 1016. Canute, with an army of Danes, plundered Cricklade. They were defeated by the army under King Edmund Ironside at Pen, and at Great Sherston; in the latter engagement he with difficulty gained the victory. 1066. William I. after the victory at Battle, came to Stourton House, where he was met by the Abbot of Glastonbury, and the grandees of the western parts. Attended by his nobles, he went to Old Sarum, to receive the homage of the principal landholders, who then became his vassals §. 1095. A great council held at Old Sarum by William II., which impeached Wm. Earl de Owe, or de Ou, of high treason, for conspiring to raise Stephen Earl of Albemarle to the throne. His cruel punishment shews the barbarity of the age. 1100. Henry I. held his Court at Old Sarum for some months; and again in 1106. 1916. Henry I. held a council at Old Sarum of all the nobles and barons of the realin, to do homage to his son William, as his successor to the English throne. This council is considered the origin of English Parliaments. 1139. Stephen seized the castles of Salisbury, Devizes, and Malmesbury, from Leland, Itin. vII. p. 96. Mr. Hobbes, Malmes. Vit. Author. Seip. p. 1, considers the engagement to have occurred near the town. See Britton's "Beauties of Wiltshire," vol. 11. p. 229-30. See however Lingard's History of England, vol. 1. on this subject. Some place it at Shire-stones, Worcestershire, § Some place this under 1086. Roger, 128 ~Compendium of County History-Wiltshire, [Aug. Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, his nephew Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, and another nephew, after an obstinate resistance. 1140. Stephen besieged Malmsbury. 1141. April 25, Devizes Castle besieged by Robert Fitzherbert, who boasted he would be master of all the country from Wiltshire to Londou, but John the Governor of Marlborough took him, and had him hung.-The Empress Maud took up her abode in Ludgershall Castle in her flight from Winchester to Devizes. 1142. Old Sarum taken possession of by the Empress. 1150. Trowbridge Castle besieged and taken by Stephen. 1152. Henry of Anjou, son of Maud, entered England to support his claim to the crown. Soon after his landing he laid siege to Malmsbury, which, together with the Castle, he took in a very short time; and soon afterwards the Jordan's Tower, which had held out, surrendered. Stephen proceeded to Malmsbury to offer him battle, but the inclemency of the weather compelled him to retire to London. 1164. Henry II. held a council at Clarendon Palace, in which were past the "Constitutions of Clarendon." 1193. During the imprisonment of Richard I. John his brother, afterwards King, seized many towns and castles, and among them Marlborough. 1194. Soon after Richard's return from captivity, Marlborough Castle was reduced by Archbishop Hubert. 1225. Henry III. and Hubert de Burgh arrived at Salisbury, in the Cathedral of which they performed their offerings. 1233. Hubert de Burgh confined at Devizes Castle, whence he escaped to the high altar of the Parish Church, from which he was again seized and reconducted to the Castle. The guards who took him were excommunicated; and he shortly afterwards released. 1258. Henry III. and his Court attended the dedication of Salisbury Cathedral. He came from Clarendon. 1267. A Parliament summoned to meet at Marlborough. 1297. A Parliament held at Salisbury to consult on the best mode of opposing Philip of France, who had seized Guienne. The Earls of Norfolk and Hereford would not assist him, but retired, with thirty others, from Salisbury, in open rebellion. 1317. Edward II. summoned a Parliament to meet at Clarendon, but the Barons, apprehensive of treachery, neglected to attend. 1328. A Parliament held at Salisbury, in which the Earl of Lancaster intended to impeach the odious Mortimer. The latter procured an order that none should appear armed in the assembly. The nobles being suspicious of his design, retired to Winchester, leaving the Clergy wholly to deliberate. Scarcely. had they entered upon the dispatch of business, when Mortimer broke into the hall with a band of armed men, threatening them with death if they presumed to speak or enact any resolution contrary to his pleasure. 1357. During the ravages of the Plague, Edward III. John, King of France, and David, King of Scotland, spent the summer at Clarendon. 1358. Edward and his Queen spent the summer at Marlborough and Corsham. 1450. On the breaking out of Jack Cade's rebellion, the tenants of the Bishop of Salisbury joined in the insurrection. On June 29 they seized the Bishop in his palace at Eddington while celebrating mass, and dragging him to a neighbouring hill, barbarously stoned him to death. 1457. Henry VI. visited Salisbury, and lodged at the deanery. He sat with his lords in the Bishop's Palace, to pass judgment on some traitors. 1471. Edward IV. passed through Malmsbury as he advanced to meet Queen Margaret at Tewkesbury. 1473, Edward IV. visited Salisbury. 1483. Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, by whose influence and exertions Richard III. was advanced to the Throne, was executed at Salisbury. 1486. Henry VII. visited Salisbury, and was met by the Corporation on Alderbury Common. 1516. Henry VIII. and Queen Catharine visited Salisbury. 1535. Henry VIII. escorted his Queen Anne Boleyn thither. 1536. On March 20, Henry VIII. married Lady Jane Seymour at Wolf-hall. 1552. Ed 1825.] Compendium of County History-Wiltshire. 129 1574: Queen Elizabeth entertained by the Earl of Pembroke at Clarendon. She also visited Salisbury. 1579. In September Elizabeth at Wilton received the French Ambassadors. 1603. King James I. visited Salisbury, where he was royally entertained. He, together with his Queen and Prince Henry, spent some weeks at Wilton-house. He also visited other mansions in Wiltshire, as he did again in the years 1607, 1609, 1613, 1615, 1618, 1620, and 1623; each time passing a day or two at Salisbury. 1625. Charles I. was at Salisbury; and again in 1635. 1632. When Charles I. was at Salisbury, a boy aged 15 was hanged, drawn, and quartered, for saying he would buy a pistol to kill the King. 1643. In May Sir Edward Hungerford besieged Wardour Castle, but was boldly withstood by twenty-five fighting men, under the command of the Lady Arundel, for a considerable time; till at last they surrendered. The learned and illustrious Mr. Chillingworth was here when it was taken.— A severe battle between the two parties at Albourne, in September.-The royalists, under the King and Rupert beat the enemy under Essex.-Charles I. lodged at Malmesbury, in his way to Cirencester.-Waller after he had taken Chichester moved quick through Wiltshire, with near 2000 light horse and dragoons, and took Malmesbury; which was retaken the same year. Prince Maurice took the Mayor of Salisbury prisoner for not assisting the King. 1644. Woodhouse garrisoned by a party of the Parliament forces, under the command of Major Wansey, and closely pressed in siege by Lord Inchiquin with his Irish forces. Ludlow advanced to Warminster, intending to raise the siege, but not being strong enough, retreated, after a short skirmish, towards Salisbury. He lost all but 30 out of his 200 horse.-After the battle of Lansdown the royalists retreated to Chippenham, where they offered battle to Waller; but being refused, marched to Devizes, where they were besieged by Waller, who was entirely overthrown by the re-inforcing troops of Lord Wilmot, at Roundaway-hill. 1645. Cromwell took the Castle of Devizes, and assaulted Malmesbury. 1648. In July, Devizes besieged by the Parliamentarians under Waller, but some royal troops coming to its assistance, Waller was completely routed, 600 being killed on the spot, and 900 taken prisoners. 1655. Penruddock, Groves, Jones, &c. with 200 horse, marched to Salisbury, seized the Sheriffs and Judges, then present at the assizes, and proclaimed Charles II. King. If this troop had been supported by their associates in other parts, the Restoration would at that time have been effected by force of arms. 1603. Charles II. magnificently entertained at Longleat by Sir James Thynne. 1665. Charles II. went to Salisbury on account of the plague in London. 1671. Charles II. slept at Wilton House on his way to Plymouth. The next day he breakfasted at the Bishop's Palace, Salisbury. 1683. Several members of the royal family entertained by the city of Salisbury at an expence of 1,500l. 1688. James II. went to Sarum with his army to oppose the Prince of Orange, but soon returned to London. The Crown on the top of the Council House, Salisbury, fell down! 1722. August 29 George I. and the Prince of Wales reviewed the forces encamped within two miles of Salisbury. 1778. George III. and his Queen entertained by the Bishop of Salisbury. His Majesty reviewed the dragoons on Comb Down, and afterwards visited the Earl of Pembroke at Wilton. 1789. George III. and his Queen, visited the Marquis of Bath, at Longleat. The following events deserve to be noticed, though I have not been able to ascertain the precise years in which they occurred. A sanguinary battle fought at Commerford between the Mercians under Earl Ethelmund, and Wurstan, Earl of Wiltshire.-King Stephen went to Wilton, with the intent of fortifying the nunnery, but the Earl of Gloucester anexpectedly set the town on fire. (To be continued.) S. T. Erruta. P. 126, 1. 1, 4, read Barbury; 1. 10, read Cenwaulls.---P. 127, 1. 20, read Bradon; 1. 27, deie from "Stephen went" to "town on fire," 1. 29.-.-P. 128, 1.8, from bottom, for 1473, read 1478. * Some have fixed the scene of action erroneously at Kempsford, co. Gloucester. GENT. MAG. August, 1825. SINGU MY No. I. Y father and mother were married when neither was older than 19, at the parish church, Kingston, near Portsmouth. Some property possessed by my mother made their circumstances, from the first, comfortable. They had three sons and two daughters; the latter died in infancy; the sons were all designed by my father to be brought up to the church. The reason of this plan I never was able to determine; he had not the least interest; but, as he was a man of the most virtuous integrity, I have supposed that he considered the clerical profession as the best passage through this life to a better. For himself, he declined an offer of the office of Naval Storekeeper at Antigua. His death was sudden, at the early age of 40. A gentleman (to whom I afterwards served my apprenticeship) and his two nieces had been on a visit to our house; and on the third day after their return home received intelligence of my father's decease. There were four persons on the Dock-yard establishment at that period, who have never been surpassed for integrity, application, and neat penmanship. My father, one of these four, for three years had not a Sunday to himself. Another was Mr. Russel, the Clerk of the Rope-yard, who prevented the fatal effects threatened by the fire which originated with the incendiary Jack the Painter, and for which that culprit suffered. Russel was introduced to his Majesty at a levee held in the Commissioner's House, and received the Royal thanks for his attention. Many years after he carried his grandson to Eton College, and went on the Terrace of Windsor Castle when the King was there on a Sunday evening; his Majesty recognized him in the crowd, stopt and spoke to him, asked his business from home, and wished his grandson might become a good man. At the time of my father's death my elder brother was on the foundation at Winchester. As soon as the messenger of evil tidings entered his chamber, he said, "Charles, my father is dead; he died at four this morning." He afterwards used to say that he awoke with this remarkable, though not unexampled, impression. Dr. Warton shook my brother's hand with affection as he departed for Trinity College, Oxford; for he lost his election to New College. My younger brother was also a faithful priest; so that two out of three became what their good father wished,—I should think in every respect. Left orphans at an early age, an excellent mother redoubled her attention to us. She taught me to write, and her "copies" were all aphorisms. One under the letter B was: "Be timely wise rather than wise in time." How often have I had to regret want of attention to this! My mother's character possessed some singularities. On the 30th of January she would come down to breakfast dressed in a black sack with long ruffles broadly hemmed at the elbows, black gloves, and black fan; she allowed us but a single cup of tea and a single slice of bread and butter, and when a little murmuring on the subject took place with myself and younger brother, said: "Children, do you know what day it is?-when you come from church you shall have more to eat. You will thank me when you become men for formning this impression on your minds. Your family has been reduced, and your country placed under great sufferings by the events of this day."-Again, when speaking of the Revolution, she would say, “Ah! William was only a Dutch Presbyterian!" Time has since in a great measure dispensed with the commemoration of these events. The Houses of Parliament now adjourn to avoid keeping the 30th of January ;—and black sacks are forgotten to be worn by gentlewomen! I was sent to Ruben Burrow's school, where Ware the oculist (the elder of that name) was my schoolfellow; he was a clever fellow at Algebra. I played at Portsmouth on the pooproyal of the old Royal Ann, a first rate; and when she was broken up, collected a phial of quicksilver from her keels. Query. How came it there? I went into the head of the old Britannia, a group or complication of figures, and large enough inside for a table to stand, at which six persons might sit. What a difference has since taken place in the construction of ships! Heads are now only busts. The Guadaloupe Frigate, Capt. (after wards 1825.] Singularities from Boyhood to Age. wards Admiral) Cornwallis, was the first that had a painted side, and the figure head of various colours. We called her the Nancy Dawson. Turpentine sides and yellow heads were the ge neral costume. I saw the Princess Dowager of Wales walking through Portsmouth, leaning on the arm of Commissioner Hughes; she, in a close black hood, as a cover ing for the head, like a modern quakeress; he in full uniform, and a Ramilies wig, covering his shoulder with abundance of flowing curls; her head the size of a cocoa-nut, his like an owl in an ivy-bush. At an early age I received an impression of the absurdity of fashions, and considered the best covering for the human body was, that which was most easy,―a jacket and trowsers. I would not use pantaloons, thinking they were a French fashion, till, at the repairs of Worcester Cathedral, the body of King John was discovered in a pair, and then I adopted them as an old English fashion. The chimes of Portsmouth Church used to play: "The world, my dear Mira, is full of deceit!"-a truism I experienced many years afterwards. The coach from Portsmouth to London carried 26 sailors "on the deck' and in the large square basket behind; it started 4 A. M. and arrived at 8 P. M. Fifty times since I have travelled the distance by the coach between 8 a. M. and 5 P. M. At 14 I was offered to the Storekeeper of the Dockyard with a premium of 1501. for a Clerkship of 30l. per ann. That place I could have well filled, having been for some months in the office during the day, and to school at night (for I ever kept close to work); but I was rejected as too young. Two lads of bad character were, however, about the same time admitted; and it was for want of proper attention to this that the Navy Board ultimately took from the Storekeeper the privilege of filling the vacancies, and retained it under its own control. But what was to become of me? The London friend was to be my patron, and to London I went. He came down to Portsmouth on business, and I returned with him. The Thames and shipping did not astonish me, as they might an inland country hoy; on the contrary, the river appeared narrow, and the shipping small and dirty. Comparisons are early formed. 131 The junior clerk, whom I accompanied to learn my way about town, was a long-legged thoughtful Scotchman; he walked as Londoners doquick, the head a spur to the heels. One thing he did tell me, and only one: "that's the Monument;" and he was off in the twinkling of an eye, whilst I had to twist through twenty persons to overtake him. These perambulations often repeated soon taught me to take my bearings and distances; and a few weeks enabled me to be despatched alone with the banker's book and other papers. I bought a map, and occupied a post at the corner of some lane to acquire information by examining it. And now no twopenny postman knows the town better, or where to cross with more advantage to save two yards of ground. Saturday at last became heavy days for these undertakings; I used to be out from 10 to 3, and had upwards of 20 places to call at; nor did I quit lettercopying till 10 at night, at which hour the post used in those days to call for inland letters. A youth, and a stranger, when the Counting House business was over, I found my best companions in the contents of Lane's Circulating Library, and never had a lonely hour. I never broke the Sabbath but once, when I went to Kensington Gardens with my Master's footman out of livery. He was the son of a decent tradesman of Sudbury, and in 1815 published a volume of serious poetry. He also played admirably on the flute, and composed some duets that I might join him. His family were weavers, all musical, and a band of themselves. The time was now arrived when I was destined to be placed in an of fice of trust. At 19 I was despatched to the West Indies in the capacity of a Supercargo. The confidence thus reposed, drew from me a letter to my good old master, declaring my determination to act worthily of it. This letter was shewn by him to my friends, accompanied with the kindest remarks. A party was formed by my master to take me in his sailing-boat, and put me on board the ship in the Lower Hope, and then proceed on a voyage of pleasure to Margate. I bid him farewell, jumped on board, summoned the crew, and, as he sailed away, gave him three cheers. (To be continued.) Mr. |