508 Compendium of County History.-Worcestershire. [Dec. narch, but so warm was the reception, that the besieged honourably capitolated. 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 inarried 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 a performer, Salwarp, 1381. 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. Bristow, Richard, eminent divine and writer, Worcester, 1538. Burford, St. Richard de, Bp. of Chichester, Droitwich (ob. 1253). BUTLER, SAMUEL, author of the inimitable Hudibras, Strensham, 1612. Coventry, Thos. first Earl, Lord Keeper, Croome d'Abitot, 1578. *Stow says Gloucester; followed by Rapin. Dee, 510 Accurate Models of Stonehenge, Avebury, &c. suggested. Dee, John, mathematician, astrologer, and alchemist, Upton (ob. 1608). Feckenham, John de, learned and good Abbot of Westminster (ob. 1585). 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. Lazimon, famous old historian, Astley. Lyttelton, Lord George, elegant historian, poet, &c. Hagley, 1709. POLE, REGINALD, Cardinal and Abp. of Canterbury, Stoverton Castle, 1500. Smith, Henry, benefactor to his native place, &c. Stoke Prior (ob. 1606). [Dec. 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. Willis, Richard, Bp. of Winchester, in 1714. Bewdley. Worcester, William of, eminent writer, Worcester, 15th cent. I (To be continued.) Mr. URBAN, Burton-st. Dec. 10. AM surprised that no writer has animadverted on Mr. Browne's daring and very eccentric hypothesis respecting the origin of Stonehenge and Avebury. To treat him and his humble pamphlets with contempt, is unbecoming any man of sense and good principles: to reply to him with ridicule and sneers, is equally unjust and ungenerous. Mr. Browne possesses strong natural capacity and talent, - has read much and thought deeply but unfortunately for himself and society, he has not mixed much with the enlightened and fastidious "spirits of the age." He has formed theories in his closet, and gone abroad to confirm them by looking at and reflecting on the appearances of Nature. He has also studied the sacred writings; and with the hopes of obtaining a clearer insight into their literal meaning, has made him self acquainted with the original language in which they were written. No pursuit, no species of inquiry is so likely to seduce the mind from all S.T. the principles of sound philosophy and demonstrative evidence. When an eloquent theorist rests his faith on an Universal Deluge, and adopts that for a thesis, for comment, and for inference, he may be learnedly and endlessly prolix. Every thing extraordinary and of unascertainable origin, may be traced to this mystic source; and all the external forms of the globe, as well as its internal arrangements, may be ascribed to this vast convulsion of nature. But to refer any trifling, or comparatively trifling work of man, that has resisted the "rush of waters," and the dismemberment of the earth, to an antediluvian age, manifests either daring intrepedity of thinking, or credulity of mind. If it be the latter, we must pity and forgive the individual; but if there be evidence of the former, it is a duty we owe to ourselves and the cause of truth, to treat it with respect, and endeavour to ascertain its validity or futility. With this feeling, and actuated by this principle, I must own I cannot entertain the idea, even for a moment, that Stone benge 1825.] On Ablution, Baptism, Fonts, &c. henge and Avebury are anterior to any great deluge of waters. If hills, mountains, and vallies were then formed, if the fossil oyster beds of Reading, and the various fossil strata of Wiltshire, are the exuvia of the ocean, the alluvial deposits of the briny tides, we cannot persuade ourselves that any stones artificially placed on the surface would remain stedfast, when the earth itself was "broken up," and tossed about. That these mystic tem ples are of greater antiquity than any other objects in our Island I readily admit; and as such they demand the most profound attention and inquiry from every Antiquary. The plan I have proposed in vol. III. "Beauties of Wiltshire," p. 305, of employing Mr. Browne to make large and accurate models of Stonehenge and Avebury, and of some other similar monuments, for the purpose of exhibition, &c. originated in a wish to turn that gentleman's abilities and experience to some account, whereby he might be personally benefited, and laudable curiosity be gratified. 511 Mr. URBAN, Kellington, Sept. 28. A toms which have been established amongst all nations, Pagan as well as the more civilized, from the most early periods of the world. As the most ancient inhabitants of the world used only sandals, their feet in travelling dust: for this reason the first office of were frequently covered with clay or hospitality performed to those invited into their houses, was to present them water to wash their feet. The Patriarchs never neglected this politeness. Washing was always considered as a preparatory rite both in the Grecian and Roman sacrifices. The same Although urgently occupied, at least 14 hours per day, with my literary works and public and private engage- practice also prevailed upon more triflments, yet I will undertake to digesting occasions. Hector tells us that he a plan for having these models made and appropriated, if 100 gentlemen will subscribe 57. each. With this security something novel, interesting, and even of popular attraction, may be formed; and as a pledge of my own sincerity, I will advance at least that sum. If a gentleman at Bath, another at Bristol, one at Devizes, another at Salisbury, &c. &c. &c. will act as provincial Secretaries, I will gladly cooperate with them, and receive the names and aid of those who will join what may be called "THE DRUIDICAL ANTIQUARIAN COMPANY." In the present age of Joint Stock Companies, or stock-jobbing bubbles, we can scarcely use the word "Company" without exciting suspicion and almost dread. It is employed here merely jocosely, not with a view of continuing it, should the suggestions now offered obtain the sanction of a sufficient number of gentlemen to carry them into effect. It may be proper to remark, that I have meditated on a novel plan for exhibiting models, pictures to be elucidated by lectures. This plan would combine something of the principles of was afraid to make so much as a libation to Jupiter before he had washed. Χερσι δ ̓ ἀνιπτοισιν Διο λείβειν αἴθοπω οἶνον Alouas. Hom. II. We have also in Virgil, "Occupat Æneas aditum, corpusque recenti Spargit aqua." Even in the time of Euripides, ablution seems also to have been considered as a washing away of all human ills. Θαλασσα κλύζει παντα τ ̓ ἀνθρωπων κακα. Though this washing, however, accompanied many of the Jewish rites, and indeed was required after contracting any kind of uncleanness by all nations, from the very remotest period of time yet we find no account of baptism as a distinct religious rite before the mission of John, the forerunner of Christ, who was called the Baptist on account of his being commanded by God to baptize with water all who should hearken to his invitation to repent.-About the middle of the third century they began to build baptisteries; but these at first were not connected with churches, neither were they 512 Hints for the Benefit of the Clergy. they adjacent to them, till about the year 496. They were large and capacious baths. They were in fashion in Italy during a period of nearly 500 years. They were originally marked with the initial letters of the name of John Baptist, I. B. or John the forerunner, IMAN. IРОA. which is, perhaps, the true origin of baptismal inscriptions, such as that noticed in page 392. In the baptism of infants it was deemed necessary for the administrators to go into the water, and therefore they contrived cisterns, which they called fonts (derived from the Latin fons), into which the children were dipped. The oldest font remaining in this kingdom is supposed to be at Bridekirk near Cockermouth, in Cumberland. Antiquaries pronounce it to be of Danish origin. It is a large open vessel of greenish stone. Some characters round it are chiefly Runic, but a few are purely Saxon. Its date is some time about the ninth century, when the Danes first received the Catholic Religion. OMICRON. Mr. URBAN, Dec. 12. WITHOUT doubt there are many [Dec. this our Country, and the blessings derived from this alliance so sensibly and publicly felt and acknowledged, that the Church has a strong claim upon the Legislature for assistance in preserving and perpetuating the provisions for the support of her ministers. The Legislature have already instituted a Commission for investigating and correcting abuses in the School Charities in this Kingdom, which in many instances have been productive of the most beneficial effects, and has removed abuses, which would have been perpetuated without such interference. How far a similar proceeding is applicable to the complaints now under consideration, deserves some attention. At present a terrier of all the rights, privileges, &c. of each individual Benefice is usually called for and returned at the primary Visitation of the Bishop of the diocese; and in these returns mention is usually made of the encroachments and deprivations which may have occurred, but the Bishop has no power to interfere in such cases as are here contemplated. Let the Legislature then take this subject under WITHOUT defided Clergy silently their care, and appoint commissions to submitting to serious deprivations from the causes mentioned by VERAX in his excellent Letter in p. 399; and it would be an important relief, if any means could be adopted to restore their property, thus improperly withheld. But as no steps have been taken to put the scheme there proposed into execution, though suggested, as VERAX informs us, some time ago; it appears that litigation does not suit the feelings of the greater part of the sufferers, though to be supported without any great personal sacrifice. Yet let us trust, though the proposed scheme of VERAX may not be supported, that the evils so truly stated, and so justly complained of, will not remain hopeless and without remedy; but through the means of your valuable Magazine other plans may be proposed, from which the relief to be desired may be obtained. Among these I am induced to offer a hint, which I leave to your judgment whether it merits a place in your pages. The alliance between the Church and the State is so closely united in See Archæologia, vol. ii. p. 131. xiv. 113. receive the reports of the respective grievances in each diocese; and let such cases, as after due enquiry and impartial consideration, merit the assistance of the Legislature, be presented to the Lord Chancellor, who shall order such proceedings as the case may require, or issue a commission, with the same powers as that for investigating abuses in School Charities. The business to be proceeded upon summarily, and with the least delay possible, and the result to be final. It was found necessary to extend the powers originally given to the Commissioners for investigating the Charities for educating the Poor, to all other charities, on account of the various donations they met with in the wills of founders and benefactors of Schools; many of which were contributed at various times, and under several forms, as additional provisions for the maintenance of the beneficed Clergy. And many instances may be pointed out where the Clergy are at this moment silently submitting to great and unjust deprivations from the erroneous construction of wills by some trustees, and the self-interested and |