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THE VALE ROYAL OF ENGLAND.
This County Palatine of Chester, which in our com-
mon speech is called Chester shire, and by corruption,
more short, Cheshire, lyeth on the North West corner
of the Countrey, which was sometime under the Govern-
ment of the Kings of Marcia : Whose people were called
by the Romans Devani, that is, bordering on the River
Dee. The proportion thereof is almost three-cornered,
or rather like to the Wing of an Eagle, being stretched
forth at length. The longest length thereof, is from the
Wood-Head in the East, where the River of Marsey
(Mersey) springeth, unto the furthest part of Werall
(Wirrall) in the West, (where the said River falleth into
the Sea) which I find to be about 44 miles, following the
course of the River.
By Natural Scituation, it lyeth low, nevertheless very
pleasant, and abounding in plenteousness of all things
needful and necessary for man's use ; insomuch that it
merited and had the Name of The Vale-Royal of Eng-
land : Which Name, Edward I. gave unto the Abbey of
Vale Royal, which he founded upon the River of Weever
10
(Weaver) in the midst of the same Shire. The ayr is
very wholesome, insomuch that the people of the coun-
trey are seldom infected with Diseases or Sicknesse,
neither do they use the help of the Physicians, nothing
so much, as in other countries : For when any of them
are sick, they make him a posset, and tye a kerchieff on
his head ; and if that will not amend him, then God be
merciful to him ! The people there live till they he very
old ; some are Grandfathers, their Fathers yet living ;
and some are Grandfathers before they be married.
The county, albeit in most places plat and even, yet
hath certain Hills of Name, as Frodsham and Peckforton
Hills, Congleton Edge, &c. It aboundeth also in Pasture,
Meadow, and Wood-land, and Waters in great store, of
which more hereafter.
The Heaths or Mosses are common, out of which they
dig turves in Summer, every man as shall serve his turn,
to burn all the year. Moreover, in these Mosses are Fir-
trees found under the ground (a thing marvellous,) iit
some places Six foot deep, or more ; which trees are of a
marvellous length, and straight, having branches, and
roots at the end, like as they had been blown down with
Weather ; and yet no man can tell that ever any such
trees did grow there, nor yet how they should come
thither. Some hold opinion that they have lain there
ever since Noah's Flood.
11
The Pasture Ground is reserved, especially, for their
Kine, from whose milk they make great store both of
Butter and Cheese : In praise whereof, I need not to say
much, it being well known that no Countrey in the Eealm
may compare therewith, nor yet beyond the Seas; no, not
even Holland. Their Oxen are very large, and big of
bone, with fair and long horns ; so that a man shall find
divers, whose horns at the tops are more than three foot
asunder, one from another. Of Sheep, Horses, &c, they
keep but so many as to serve their turn : There is also
great plenty of Hares and Foxes, in hunting whereof,
the Gentlemen do pass much of their time, especially in
Winter. Wild Foul aboundeth there in such store, as in
no other Countrey have I seen the like ; namely Wild
Geese and Wild Ducks ; of which a man shall see some-
times flying, near 200 in one flock.
The Soyl of the Countrey is, in most places, Clay,
with here and there veins of Sand : Likewise Rocks and
Quarries of Stone. And to make an end, I must not
forget the chiefest thing of all, and that is, the Salt-
wells, or Brine-pits, out of the which they make yearly
a great quantity of fine white Salt ; a singular commod-
ity, no doubt, wherein this Shire excelleth all other
Countries at home, as well as beyond the Seas ; one being
at Nantwich, another at Northwich, and two at Middle-
ivich ; of the which Towns, more hereafter.
12
The people of the Countrey are of nature very gentle
and courteous, ready to help and further one another :
In Religion very zealous, howbeit somewhat addicted to
Superstition : Otherwise, they are of the stomach, stout,
bold, and hardy ; withal impatient of wrong, and ready
to resist the Enemy or Stranger that shall invade their
Countrey : So have they been always true, faithful and
obedient to their Superiors ; insomuch that it cannot be
said that they have at any time stirred one spark of Re-
bellion, either against the King's Majesty, or against
their own peculiar Lord or Governour. Likewise be the
women very friendly and loving, in all kind of Hous-
wifery expert, fruitful in bearing of Children, after they
be married, and sometimes before. To conclude : —
Touching their Housekeeping, it is bountiful as any
Shire in the Realm ; and I know divers men, which are
but Farmers, that may compare therein with a Lord or
Baron in some countreys beyond the Seas.
HERE FOLLOWETH THE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION.
A Description of the City and County Palatine of
Chester ; Compiled by Mr. Webb, M.A., and sometimes
(1615) Under-Sheriff to Sir Richard Lee,* of Lee and
Darnhall, in Cheshire.
The County Palatine of Chester is one of those Shires
once inhabited by the people called Cornavii. — albeit the
'Kuighted at Whitehall. Jan. 10th, 1010.
13
Name was antiently, by the Saxons, called Cestrescyre,
vulgarly Cheshire. It is bounded on the North, partly,
with a Creek, shooting in between Lancashire, and Wir-
rall Hundred, a part of Cheshire ; which Creek is called
Mersey ; and partly with the River of that name ; and
upon the East is bounded by a River, whose name I find
to be Erioin (Irwell) Brook ; the same bounds then de-
clining to the South-East, between this and Staffordshire,
till it comes to the South, on which side lie a part of
Shropshire, and of Flintshire ; from which, turning
South-West, lies a piece of Denby shire, parted from this
by the River of Dee ; and directly West is bounded
again by Flintshire, and by the Sea itself.
The whole Shire is divided into Hundreds, of the
which there are seven, viz : Broxton, Namptwich,
Northwich, Maxfield (Macclesfield,) Bucklow, Eddis-
bury, and Wirrall. I place the Hundred of Broxton
to be first, because it borders upon the City of Chester;
To which I hasten with all speed I can, which as it is
the chief place, head, ornament, beauty, and dignity of
the whole County Palatine is fit to have preeminence in
our Description.
Broxton Hundred, lying in a wedge-like form, is in
length about 20 miles, and in its greatest breadth 8 or 9
miles. At one end thereof is Coughall, an antient De-
mean of the M assies of Puddington, in Wirrall Hun-
1 !
-.'lied, and now Sir William Massie's, and scituate upon a
lliver or Brook, which, dividing these Hundreds, falleth
into Mersey : upon which Brook, from Coughall towards
Chester, lies the Lop of Wervin, as also Picton, the
Lands of John Hurlestone, Esq.-* next cometh Moston,\
with the Township of Upton also ; to which adjoineth,
upon the Confines of the Liberties of the City of Chester,
a sweet and pleasant demean, called the Baits, but more
vulgarly the Bache,J which was once the Seat of the
Chauntrells. And thus am I quickly arrived at the City
of Chester itself.
A DESCRIPTION OF CHESTER, THE NAMES AND
FOUNDATION THEREOF.
Although for my part, I see not any but very weak
grounds for their conjectures, who would bring our City
of Chester's foundation from beyond all possibility of
Records ; yet I will not prejudicate any in their surmizes,
* His descendant ; J. H. Leche, Esq. of Carden, is the pre-
sent owner.
f This manor now belongs to W. Massey, Esq. whose father
purchased it in 1/90 from the representatives of II. Bennett, Esq.
% This estate has lately passed into the hands of 13. Hill, Esq.
15
nor defraud them of the praises that any shall think good
to bestow upon those who have laboured in Collections of
that kind : and so, as follows : —
The first Name, that I find this City is supposed to
have born, was Neomagus ; and this they derive from
Magus, the son of Samothes, the son of Japhet, which
Magus was the first planter of Inhabitants in this Isle-
after Noah's Floud, and first builded a City even in this
place, or neer unto it, as it is supposed. This conjecture
I find observed out of the learned Knight, Sir Thomas
Elliott, who saith directly, in the First Vol. of his
" Chronicles," that Neomagus stood where Chester now
standeth.
Ranulphus, a Monk of Chester, hath another founda-
tion (in a rude fashion) from a Gyant, forsooth, called'
Leon Gaure, the vanquisher of the Picts ; and saith that
afterward Leir, King of Brittain, brought the City to a
more pleasant fashion of building, and then named it
Guer Leir.* Touching which foundation, I do by so-
much less, give approbation, by how much me thinks
that opinion of Mr. Camden most probable, drawn from-
the antient Brittish Language, of whom it hath been
called Caerlegion, Caerleon-vaur, &c. ; Which names
are derived from that Legion of the Romans, called Vi-
cessima Victrix, first placed here in the second Consul-
* or Gaure Leon.
10
ship of Galba. Thus by whom, or howsoever the same
City had her first Foundation, it is manifest enough, that
it is exceedingly antient ; and even the doubtfulness
thereof makes it of undoubted antiquity.
The names thereof, indeed, have been variable, and
diverse ; but I hold most authentical that, which the
Saxons took from Castra, which in Latin signifieth Cas-
tles or Camps ; from which many other cities and towns
also derive a part of their name. But this our City, being
the first City, made famous by that renowned Legion
aforementioned, was more properly or especially called
Cester, or Chester, being indeed an abbreviation of Lecje-
cestria, the City of the Legion.
The scituation of the City is so commendable, as to
make Lucian, a Monk, that lived neer the time of the
Normans' Conquest, to write thus : " Chester is built as
a city, the sight whereof inviteth and allureth the eye ;
and was, in times past, a place of receit to the Legions,
and served sufficiently to keep the keys, as I may say, of
Ireland, for the Romans to preserve the limits of their
Empire."
We find that the same City hath had many variable
changes, sometimes in flourishing, and other whiles in
depressed condition ; the truth whereof will be manifest-
ed in the history of its Walls. These aforesaid Walls
were first built by Marius, King of Brittain, who reigned
17
about A.D. 73. But Edelfieda, that Noble Mercian
Lady, about the year 908, greatly repaired and enlarged
this City, making the Walls thereof anew, and compass-
ing in the Castle, which before that time stood without the
Walls : All which that religious Monk, Henry Brad-
shaiv, thus expresseth :
" King Marius, a Brittain, raigning in prosperity
"In the West part of this noble Region,
"Amplified and walled strongly Chester City,
" And mightily fortified the said foundation. — ***
" The Year of Our Lord, Nine hundred and eight,
" This Edelfieda, Dutchess, with mickle royalty
" Reedified Chester, and fortified it full right ;
" Also, she inlarged this old City
" With new mighty Walls strong all about ;
" Almost by proportion double in quantity,
" To the further building brought without doubt,
" She compassed in Castle — enemy to hold out,
"Within the said Walls, to defend the Town
"Against Dane and Welshmen, to drive them all
down."
To this, let me now add, from the Doomesday Book of
William the Conquerour, that "The Earles of the Nor-
man's Line fortified the City both with Walls and Castle."
And afterwards, when the King himself, in person, came
thither, " for the re-edification of the Wall and the
18
Bridge," an edict was issued, " That out of every Hide
in the County, one man should come ; and look, whose
man came not, his Lord and Master was fined 40s., to
the King, and the Earl."
In Hollinshead's Chronicle, it is recorded, that " the
Irishmen did make their appearances, and did homage
unto King Arthur at Caerlegion, now called Chester ;"
ahout which time, saith Fox, this City was a place of
great account ; and both Grammar and Philosophic, with
the Tongues, were there taught.
What we find in Mr. Harding's old Chronicle, is not
to be omitted, concerning a Parliament, with Coronation
of some kings, which set forth the dignity of this place ;
the which take in his own words :
" In the same year 603* of Christ's Incarnation
"The Brittains all did set their Parliament
"At Caerleon, by good information,
" Caerlegio Chester hight, as some men meant
" That Westchester is come of intent,
"Where they did chuse Cadwan to be their King
" To defend them from the foes warring.
And afterwards, there is likewise mentioned the crowning,
A.D. 626, of the famous Cadwal, (son of the said King
Cadwan,) at this city, who raigned over the Brittains 61
•Or, which is more likely, A.D 613., Cadwan having reigned 13
years.
19
years after the death of Cadwan. And this Chronicle
saith also, that King Ethelwalf was crowned at West-
chester, in the year 839, in most royal manner, and
raigned 19 years.
In Polychronicon, as well as in almost all the Writers
concerning the Dignity of Chester, the memory of King
Edgar's pompous show he made at Chester, in the 12th
year of his Raign,* is specially recorded, when, coming
thither after his Conquest of North Wales, caused his
Barge to be rowed by eight Kings upon the River Dee,
himself sitting at the helm.
Geraldus Cambrensis writeth, that Chester, about the
time of the Conquest, was esteemed a place of great
strength and refuge ; insomuch as, Harold the King,
having received many wounds, and lost his left eye by
stroke of an arrow, in the Battail with William the
Conquerour, he fled from the field, and went to Chester,
where some say he lived many years, after an holy life,
as an Anchorite in the Cel of St. James, neer to St.
John's Church, and there ended his dayes : And Poly-
chronicon adds thereto, that when the death of King
Harold was known to Edwin and Mercarius,-f- Earls of
+ A.D. 9/1. Ralph Higden adds, that Edgar was thus rowed by
his subordinate princes, in proof of their fealty, from his palace on
the Dee to St. John's Church.
| Otherwise Morcar, who with Edwin, were brothers of Queeu
Agatha, (or Algitha.)
Mercia and Northumberland, they took Agatha, Harold's,
wife, and sent her to Chester for her greater safety and
security ; yet this History be indeed doubted by some
other writers.
Caxton in his Chronicle of the Raign of Henry I.,
relateth that Henry the IV., Emperour of Almaine, mar-
ried Maud, the King's Daughter of England ; and that
after a wilful exile, He and his Wife both died, and were
buried at Chester : while Gerald in his Itinerario Wallce,
saith, that having prisoned his carnal Father, and his
spiritual Father, the Pope, with his Cardinals, he after-
wards was reconciled, and wilfully exiled, leaving Maud
his Wife, and lived a Hermit's life at Chester ten years ;
and that afterwards at his death he confessed himself to
be that same Henry, the Fourth Emperour of Almaine ;
which Fame ran abroad, filling not only Chester, but the
Countries also beyond the Seas.
Many the like Notes to these do offer themselves, but
these I will refer to be spoken of in their proper places,
where opportunity may offer. And now I will describe
the City itself, as it is at this day in our view :
The City of Chester is inclosed with a fair stone wall,
high and strong built, with fair Battlements on all the
four sides, and with the four Gates, opening to the four
Winds ; besides some posterns, and many seemly Towers
in and upon the said Walls. The four Gates are, the
l?w EASTGATE,CK£STE&,Takrn, down i/v]706.
21
East-gate, the North-gate, the Water-gate, and the
Bridge-gate. Without the first two of these Gates, the
City extendeth herself in her Suburbs, with very fine
Streets, and the same adorned with goodly Buildings,
both of Gentlemen's Houses, and fair Inns for entertain-
ment of all resorts. And the Bridge-gate opening, on
the South, into an antient part of the City, beyond the
water, over the Bridge — a part which some suppose was
once the City itself, now called Hand-bridge. And the
Water-gate only leading forth to the side of the River
Dee ; which River, even there, falls into the mouth of the
Sea, having first as it were turned itself aside, to leave
a fine spacious piece of ground of great pleasure and
delight, called the Rood-Eye, a very delightfull Meadow
used for a cow pasture in the summer, and all the year
for a wholesome and pleasant walk by the side of the
Dee; and for Recreations of Shooting, Bowling, and
such other Exercises, as are performed at certain times
by men ; and by running Horses, in presence and view of
the Maior of the City, and his Brethren, with such other
Lords, Knights, Ladies and Gentlemen, as please at those
times to accompany them for that view.
That which we may call the chiefest passage into that
City, is the East-gate,* a goodly great Gate, of an
*Tbis Gate, which is believed to have supplanted the original
Koman archway during the reign of Edward III., was taken down
22
antient fair building, with a Tower upon it, containing
many fair rooms within it : At which, we begin the
circuit of the Wall, which from that Gate, Northward,
extendeth to a Tower* upon the angle of the said Wall.
The North-gate + is of a remarkable strong fair
building, and used for the Prison of the City, in
the charge and keeping of the Sheriffs successively
from year to year, which Prison hath always one suffi-
cient well-reputed Gaoler, to take charge of all such
prisoners as shall be thither brought. From the North-
gate, still Westward, the Wall extendeth to another
Tower ; J and from thence to the turning of the Wall,
Southwards, where standeth another fine Turret, called
in 1767, when portions of the old Roman structure, consisting of
two double circular arches, together with some rude remnants of
sculpture were there discovered. The present Gate was erected in
1768, at the sole charge of Richard, first Marquis of Westminster.
*The Phoenix, or as it was sometime called, Newton Tower ;
from the roof of which, in 1645, just 30 years after the writing of
this History, that truly unfortunate Monarch, Charles the First,
was a sad spectator of the defeat of his forces on Rowton Heath.
fThe structure here spoken of was removed in 1808, and the
prisoners removed to a new Gaol, erected near the Water-gate.
Upon its site, the present Gate was erected, by the aforesaid
Marquis of Westminster.
J The Goblin's Tower, now known as Pemberton's Parlour,
partially taken down in 1702.
23
the New Tower, * and was pitcht within the channel of
Dee Water, where was at one time the Key, whereunto
Vessels of great burdens as well of merchandise as
others, came close up.
From the New Tower, the Wall goeth South to the
Water-gatej-j- which Gate is less than any of the other
three, serving only for the passage to the Roodeye,
formerly mentioned ; and still South reacheth the Wall
in a straight line, before it hath gotten beyond the
Castle, and then turns itself towards the East.
From that turning, is the Bridge-gate, J scituate at
the North End of a very fine and strong stone bridge.
This Bridge-gate being a fair strong building of itself,
hath of late been more beautified by a seemly Waterwork
of Stone, built steeplewise, by the ingenuous industry
and charge of a late worthy member of the City, John
Tyrer, Gent., and hath served ever since to great use,
for the conveying of the River water from the cestern in
*Now styled the Water Tower, an ancient maritime fortress, built
in 1322, and still existing in much of its former glory ; it has been
lately converted into the Museum of the Mechanics' Institution, and
become a place of great resort to strangers.
fThe Gate here mentioned, which was a narrow, inconvenient
structure, gave way in 1788-9, to the present handsome archway,
the murengers of the city providing the funds for its erection.
J Taken down in 1781, and the present Gateway substituted the
following year, at the City's cost.
24
the top of that work, to the Citizens' houses, in almost
all parts of the City, in pipes of lead and wood, to their
no small contentment and commodity,
The Wall there continueth along the River side East-
ward to another remainder of a Turret, and then turneth
itself Northward ; and certain paces from thence, is a
Postern, of old called Wool field- gate,* but of latter
times named Newgate, which in A.D. 1600, was aug-
mented and adorned with a fair building ; and from this
gate, our Wall, having another Turret now unto it, called
Wall Tower,-\- stretcheth still along, till it meeteth with
the East-gate, at which it began.
This Wall is so fairly built, with Battlements on the
outward part, and with a footpace, or floor, a yard or more
under the Notch of the Battlement, that with the help of
some stairs, you may go round about the Walls, being a
very delectable Walk, feeding the eye, on the one side,
with the sweet Gardens, and fine Buildings of the City ;
and on the other side, with a Prospect of many miles
into the County of Chester, into Wales, and into the
Sea.§ And this Wall, although it serveth not so much
•In some records, called also Pepper-gnte, with which name
several traditions are associated.
f Now almost obliterated.
§The rapacity of modern adventurers h;ith now almost banished
the sea from the neighbourhood of the old City.
25
in these dayes, for defence and safety, against the Inva-
sions of Enemies, and dangers of Siege, as in antient
times it did ; yet have the Citizens here, by continual
care, and no small charge, maintained the same in sound
and good Reparations for the ornament, credit, and
estimation of the City.*
Upon the South-side of the City, neer unto the said
water of Dee, and upon a high rock, is mounted a strong
and stately Castle, round in form ; the Base Court like-
wise enclosed with a circular wall, which to this day,
retaineth one testimony of the Romans 1 magnificence,
having therein a fair and antient square Tower, which,
by the testimony of all the writers I have hitherto met
withall, beareth the name of Julius Cesar's Tower ; +
besides which there is a goodly Hall, J where the Court
of Common Pleas, and also the Sheriffs of the County's
Court, with other businesses for the County of Chester
are constantly kept and holden, and is a place, for that
purpose, of such state and comeliness, as is hardly
•The value of this pious precaution was well developed, a few
years afterwards, in the long and arduous Siege endured by the
Citizens on behalf of their King, in 1545-6.
f Still perfect ; the lower portion is now occupied as a Magazine,
The upper chamber has a vaulted and groined stone roof, and was
at one time a Chapel, as appears by the Tax Book of Henry VIII.
X Usually styled Hugh Lupus's Hall. Taken down in 1790,
together with the Exchequer Court (where the Earls held their
26
equalled by any Shire Hall, in any of the Shires in Eng-
land. And next to the said Hall is another convenient
Hall, where is holden the Princes Highness' most honor-
able Court of Exchequer. Within the precincts of the
Castle, is also the King's Prison for the County, with a
deep Draw-well of water, in the middest of the Court ;
besides much of the antient Building, for want of use,
fallen to ruine and decay. And I find that the Castle,
with the precincts thereof, were reserved out of the
Charter of King Henry VII., by the which the City was
made a County of itself; and accordingly, hath ever since
been used for the King's Majesties' service of the County
of Chester, and esteemed a part thereof, and not of the
County of the City. And now to step from thence into
the City itself.
The Streets, for the most part, are very fair and beau-
tiful, and the buildings on either side of seemly propor-
tion ; and for a singular property or praise to this City,
(whereof I know not the like of any other,) though there
be towards the street fair rooms, for shops and dwelling
houses, yet the principal dwelling houses and shops are
mounted a story higher, and before the Doors a continued
Kowe on either side the street, for people to pass to and
fro all along the said houses, out of all annoyance of
Parliaments) to make room for the present magnificent County
Hall, Gaol, and Barracks.
for liutrts Vale (Royalhy llujfhcs.
'ibu- &D(/nycrlli/d /.///nyn/p/u r,> I.cndon/.
:\\;\{~ i;: ,,, :;: | :: ,, ;., ! , n , n ;
"rr^i^Tnr li'i': 1 !;,,,'
REFERENCES TO THE PLAN OF CHESTER
DURING THE SIEGE.
1. Pemberton's Parlour.
27. The Justing Croft.
2. Abbey Gate,
28. Kaleyard Gate.
3. Bars Gate.
29. Morgan's Mount.
4. Bridge Gate.
30. Mount leading to Stone
5. Bridge Street.
Bridge.
6. Bridget's Church.
31. St. Mary's Church.
7. Cathedral.
32. St. Michael's Church.
8. Castle.
33. St. Martin's Church.
9. Cow Lane.
34. Northgate.
10. Cow Lane Turnpike.
35. Newgate.
11. Eastgale.
36. New Tower.
12. Eastgate Street.
37. Northgate Street.
13. Foregate Street.
38. St. Olave's Church.
14. Flankers on the River.
39. Outworks on Little Rood-
15. Flankers atFlookersbrook
eye.
1 6. Flankers at Upper North-
40. Phcenix Tower.
gate Street.
41. Phoenix Mount.
17. Flankers at Stone Bridge.
42. Eeed's Mount.
18. Upper Nor thgate Street.
43. St. Peter's Church.
19. „ „ Turnpike.
44. Raised Platform on Walls.
20. Upper Abbey Gate.
45. Sadler's Tower.
21. Gunmount.
46. Trinity Church.
22. Horn Lane.
47. Dr. Walley's Mount.
23. Horn Lane Mount.
48. Water Tower.
24. „ Flanker.
49. Watergate.
25. St. John's Church.
50. Watergate Street.
26. „ Church Yard
o. The Walls.
Battery.
REFERENCES TO THE PLAN OF CHESTER
DURING THE SIEGE.
1. Pemberton's Parlour.
27. The Justing Croft.
2. Abbey Gate,
28. Kaleyard Gate.
3. Bars Gate.
29. Morgan's Mount.
4. Bridge Gate.
30. Mount leading to Stone
5. Bridge Street.
Bridge.
6. Bridget's Church.
31. St. Mary's Church.
7. Cathedral.
32. St. Michael's Church.
8. Castle.
33. St. Martin's Church.
9. Cow Lane.
34. Northgate.
10. Cow Lane Turnpike.
35. Newgate.
11. Eastgale.
36. New Tower.
12. Eastgate Street.
37. Northgate Street.
13. Foregate Street.
38. St. Olave's Church.
14. Flankers on the River.
39. Outworks on Little Rood-
15. Flankers atFlookersbrook
eye.
1 6. Flankers at Upper North-
40. Phoenix Tower.
gate Street.
41. Phoenix Mount.
17. Flankers at Stone Bridge.
42. Reed's Mount.
18. Upper Northgate Street.
43. St. Peter's Church.
19. „ „ Turnpike.
44. Raised Platform on Walls.
20. Upper Abbey Gate.
45. Sadler's Tower.
21. Gunmount.
46- Trinity Church.
22. Horn Lane.
47. Dr. Walley's Mount.
23. Horn Lane Mount.
48. Water Tower.
24. „ Flanker.
49. Watergate.
25. St. John's Church.
50. Watergate Street.
26. „ Church Yard
o. The Walls.
Battery.
21
Rain, or other foul weather ; with stairs fairly built, to
step down out of those Rowes into the open streets ; and
the said Rowes built over the head, with such of the
chambers and rooms, for the most part, as are the best
rooms in every of these said houses.
The City is also adorned with many fine and decent
Churches ; there being within the Walls eight Parishes,
and Parish Churches : St. Oswald's (ox Werburg,) St.
Peter's, Trinity, St. Martin's, St. Marie's, St. Olave's,
St. Michael's, and St. Bridget's ; and in the Suburbs
without the Walls St. John the Baptist, and Little St.
John's. All which Churches, as they are of a very
antient, so are they of a very comely building, and are
so well maintained, that they are so many beautiful
ornaments to the City. But here I thus pass by them,
and come again to describe the principal streets by name.
The East-gate Street is the fair street, where the City
opens itself to your eye, as soon as you enter within the
East-gate, and reacheth in a straight line, beautified with
Rowes, and very fine buildings on both sides, to the High
Crosse* at St. Peter's Church.
The North-gate Street beginneth neer the upper end of
East-gate Street, turning where the Milke market is kept
Northward ; which after it hath led you to the Common
* Levelled and defaced by the fanatic zeal of the Parliament-
arians, on their obtaining possession of the City in 1546.
28
Hall of Pleas, it then spaciously opens itself to a goodly
Corn marketplace, scituate before the fair Gates of the
antient and famous Abbey, and now used for the Palace
of the Lord Bishop, and fine dwellings of the reverend
Dean and Prebend of that Foundation ; from thence nar-
rows itself to the North-gate, on the one side, with fair
houses, and on the other with the wall * of the Abbey.
The Bridge-gate Street begins at the Bridge-gate, and
ascendeth leisurely from South to North, even up to the
High Crosse aforementioned, being in the upper end
thereof, for the beauty and scituation, a special part of
the comely splendour of the City, and boasteth itself with
the shew of four or five of the Churches, Cross-conduit,
and greatest Traded Shops, very seemly to all beholders.
The Water-gate Street beginneth at the "Water-gate,
and so in the like straight line, well furnished with build-
ings, both antient and new, up to the said High Crosse.
The Fore-gate Street reacheth, from the East-gate,
directly East, in a fair continued street, to another Gate
of stone, called the Bars,-\ without which the liberties
•This wall has of late years heen replaced by a row of houses
and shops, the Abbey Gate and another, about 80 yards further
Northward, alone remaining to denote its former position.
f Condemned as unsafe, and totally removed in 1/70. This
Gate, with the outworks, became a prey to the Parliamentarians,
in a night surprise, on the 19th September, 1645, and was so held
until the City capitulated the following year.
29
of the City disperse themselves into the several waves,
that give passages into many countries.
The Street without North-gate, is likewise a fair
street, giving passage Northward towards the Sea coast.
Pepur (Pepper) Street goeth out of the Bridge street
by the side of St. Michael's Church, and butteth on the
Fishmonger's Lane, to Newgate ; which sometime had
a hollow grate, with a Bridge for horse and man ; and it
butteth upon Sowter's Load, and St. John's Street. And
this Gate was, in times past, closed up, and shut, because
a young man stole away a Maior of Chester's daughter,
through the same Gate, as she was playing at Ball with
other Maids, in the Summer time, in Pepur Street.*
St. Nicholas Street, an antient neighbour to the Seats
of those Friars, black, white, and gray Nuns, is a seemly
passage from the Water-gate Street to St. Martin's
Church, and so on, by the Nunne's wall to the Castle Lane.
Fleshmonger's Lane (Newgate Street) meets with the
East end of Pepur Street, and thence goeth straight up
to the East-gate Street ; and meet over against it, lyeth
another Lane, called St. Werburg Lane, the passage out
of the same street to the Minster.
Our antient surveyes describe two other Lanes on the
same side of East-gate Street, towards the Minster, one
•With this legend originated the old Chester proverb "When
the daughter is flown, shut the Pepurgate J"
30
called Peen Lane, and the other Godst all's Lane ;* hut
the places where they were, ar.e now the soyl of other
tenements.
A little without the East-gate, on the South side,
turneth down a fair street, called St. John's Street ; of
the which I find, in an old written parchment book,
called Sancta Prisca, being an Evidence belonging to
the Dean and Chapter of Chester, there is mention made
of a street called Iremonger Street, in these words :
" Inter terram, quce fuit A 'doe % de Paris, et terram
Hospitii Hospitalis Sancti Johannis," tyc. ; and that
from that, at the corner of the Mansion-place of the Petty
Canons (of St. John's) there is a Lane after the Wall o-f
the Churchyard, named the VicJcar's Lane, and it butteth
upon Barker's and Love Lane ; and at the end of this
street, there goeth a Way down to water of Dee, which
way is called the Soivter's Load." By this we may see
what alterations the times have made both in Streets and
Lanes.
The Water-gate Street hath on the North-side, near
unto St. Peter's Church, a Lane called Goslane ; and a
little further West Gerrard's Lane (Crook Street;) and
beneath, just at the end of Trinity Church, lyeth Trinity
Lane. An old Lane, sometime called Berward's Street
* Said to have been the retreat of Henry Emperour of Almaine.
$ JEdes is possibly here intended.
31
(Linen Hall Street), lyeth at the lower end of Parson's
Lane, and out of it in antient time went a Lane to St.
Chadd's Church, now ruined and gone, and thence to the
Walls.
As you descend from the High Crosse down the Bridge
Street, upon the West side lyes a Lane, antiently called
Norman's Lane, and many yet call it Common Hall Lane,
because it had a great Hall, where the Pleas of the City,
and meetings of the Maior and his brethren were there
holden. Over against St. Olave's, lyeth the Castle Lane,
that goeth to St. Marie's Church. And lower down,
also towards this Church, lyes another way, which an-
tiently was the way to Shippegate,* which was then a
fair Gate in the Wall, belonging to the Ferry, at which,
before the building of the bridge over Dee, both horse
and man had passage into the City.
Having thus gone through most of the Streets and
Lanes, I suppose it will be objected, I should set down
somewhat of the Churches, how antiently their founda-
tions are, and how they have continued in these days.
It appeareth from our best Antiquary, Bradshaw,
Monk of this City, that the Christian Faith and Bap-
tisme came into Chester in King Lucius' time, a King
* Of Roman construction, standing originally 20 feet high. It
was some years since removed from its ancient position, and is now
the property of J. Finchett Maddock, Esq., late M.P. for Chester,
32
of the Brittains, which is within lesse then 140 years
of the sufferings of our Saviour Christ ; and that then a
Church was here builded, and at that time entituled by
the name of St. Peter and St. Paul. But then after,
as appeareth in the same Authour, Elfleda, that noble
Lady, wife to Ethelred, King of the Mercians, altered
its name to Trinity and St. Osivald ; and that no
losse should be to the memory of those Patrons, another
Church was soon builded in the roiddest of the City,
called by the same name of Peter and Paul, which now
is called St. Peter's only.
A DISCOURSE OF THE FOUNDATION AND
ENDOWMENT OF THE ABBIE OF St.
WERBURG'S IN CHESTER.
Touching the Original Foundation of a Monastery in
this place, I do by circumstance conclude that Wul-
pherus, King of the Mercians, who flourished about
A.D. GGO, perceiving his Daughter Werburge much dis-
posed to a religious life, caused her to be veiled, and first
built it for her, and such other pious ladies, who resolved
to dedicate their lives to the service of God therein ; for
William of Malmcsbury says " That she was buried at
Chester, in the Monastery there." Neither doth the
33
Charter of King Edgar import less, then that the Abbey
here was of great antiquity ; for it appears that he, for
the health of his soul, as also for the souls of King
Edmund his Father, King Athelstan his Uncle, and other
his Ancestors, gave to the Ahbey of St. Werburg 17
houses scituate in the Town of Hodesnid (Hodnet),
'Ceosaule (Kelshall), Huntingdon, Huxton, Eston (As-
ton), and Borne (Barnskaw), whose Charter bears date
in the year 868. After which, viz. : in the time of
Edward the Confessor, the famous Leofric, Earl of
Mercia, not onely enricht it with the Graunt thereto of
fair Possessions, but repaired the buildings thereof which
inclined to decay.
How long it continued a Monastery of Nuns, I cannot
say ; but do conclude that it was so till towards the
Norman Conquest ; and then it seems that Canons
Secular were placed in their stead, till that Hugh, Earl
of Chester (who, being a near Kinsman to King William
the First, and advanced to this Earldom about the fourth
year of his Reign, when he grew in years, disposed him-
self to several works of Piety, as his munificence to the
Monasteries of Bee, and St. Severus (both in Normandy)
â– do well witness) began the Foundation of a new one for
Monks of St. Benet's Order in this place, having pro-
cured Anselm, Abbot of Bee, to come over into this
Realm, chiefly for the ordering of that great work ;
34
which being accordingly performed, one Richard, a
Monk of Bee, and Chaplain to the said Anselm, was by
him first instituted Abbot here. How large and plentiful
an Endowment it had by the munificence of this Earl,
and Ermentrude his Countess, I shall here briefly observe
from his Original Charter, viz. : the Mannours of Ynes
(Ince), Salthone (Saighton), Sutton, Cheveley, Hunt-
ingdon, Bocthon (Boughton), Weversham, Croxton, Troc-
ford (Trafford), Clifton, Eston, Wisdleth (Willaston)
Hodslei (Huxley), Weapre, and half of Rabbi (Raby),
and the third parts of Weston, Solchale (Saughall),
Stannic, Burwardeslie, and Soteivic (Shotwick) ; the
half of Leche (Lache), and one Carucate of the Land in
Pnlford. In the City of Chester, of his own Demesne,
he gave thereunto all the street from the North-gate to
the Church, and a Mill at the Bridge. In Anylesie
likewise two Mannours ; one in Ros, and one in Wirrall,
called Erberie (Ireby). In Lindsey, ten oxgangs, and
Weston in Derbyshire ; the Church of Aston, and the
Tithes of Elthon, Frodesham, Weversham, Lech, Roces-
ter, JIaurdine (Hawarden), Coleshul, Bissopestred, Up-
petune (Upton), Campden, Eastham, and of his Mills in
Deneford. And to this Charter was the said Anselm,
(now Archbishop of Canterbury) a Witnesse, together
with Hervey (Bishop of Bangor) and divers eminent
persons.
35
William Malbanc (one of his Barons) gave the lord-
ship of Witteby (Whitby), the third of Weprc, the
Church and Tythes of Tatenhalle, a Salthouse in Wich
(Nantwich), and two Oxgangs of Land. Likewise gave
his other Barons portions of their estates, for the Endow-
ment of the Monastery.
And lastly, the said Earl gave unto them the Toll and
all the profits of the Fair at the Feast of St. Werburge,
for three dayes, appointing that for all forfeitures in the
Fair, Triall should be in the Court of St. Werburge, for
the benefit of the Monks. To the honor of which Saint,
he likewise granted, that whatsoever Thief or Malefactor
came to the Solemnity, should not be attached, while he
continued in the said Fair, except he committed any new
offence there. Which special Priviledge, as in tract of
time it drew an extraordinary confluence of loose peo-
ple thither at that Season, so happened it to be of singu-
lar advantage to one of the succeeding Earles. For
being at Rodelent (Rhuddlan) Castle in Wales, and there
besieged by a power of the Welsh ; at such a time, he
was relieved rather by their numbers than strength,
under the conduct of Robert de Lacy, Constable of Ches-
ter, who with Pipers, and other sorts of Minstrels, drew
them forth, and marching towards the Castle, put the
Welsh to such terrour, that they presently fled ; in
memory of which notable exploit, that famous meeting
:;<;
of such Minstrels hath been July continued at every
Midsummer Fair.
But I return to Earl Hugh, the pious Founder of tins
great Monastery, whose affection thereto was such, and
devotion so great towards his latter end, that three dayes
before his death he caused himself to be shorn a Monk
therein ; and so departing the world 6th August, Anno,
1101, left issue Richard', who, succeeding him in the
Earldom, not only confirmed his Father's Grant to this
Abbey, but added amongst other gifts, certain lands with-
out the North-gate, whereof he gave possession to the
Monks ; first, by an Ear of Wheat offered upon the
Altar ; and afterwards by a Knife ; further adding the
Tenth Salmon taken at the Bridge, with the place for a
Mill below the bridge, and other matters ; which Charter
bears date at Gratram, in the year 1119.
Earl Ranulph Meschines, when he translated the body
of his Uncle, Earl Hugh, out of the Church Yard into
the Chapter House, gave the Lordship of Upton, for the
health of his own, and the said Earl's soul. Also gave
succeeding Earls various Mannours and other properties ;
wherewith being so plentifully enricht, about the Reign
of King Edward III., they rebuilt their Church, as the
form of its Architecture plainly discovereth.
And thus in great glory, as the greatest ornament of
that City, stood this opulent Monastery, till the 30th of
37
King Henry VIII. , his Reign, that all the great Houses
went to wrack, and that by a public Instrument the then'
Abbot, and his Convent surrendred it to the King ; who>
thereupon, of the six new Bishopricks then made, consti-
tuted one in this place ; designing the buildings of the'
Abbey for the Bishop's Palace, and the Conventuall
Church for his Cathedrall, wherein were instituted a
Dean and secular Canons.*
The said St. Werburg, of whom this Minster had the
name, was a virgin and a great Princesse, daughter of
Wulpherus, King of Mercia ; and was so vertuously
disposed, that she cared for no worldly honours, but gave
herself to godly and holy contemplations, and had com-
mand in her lifetime over four Monasteries, namely
Weedon, Trentham, Repton, and Hambury. In her
tender age she was professed under Audria,-\ her aunt,
at Elie ; she lived much at Weedon, deceased at Tren-
tham in 708, and was first buried at Hambury ; thence
translated, after remaining there above 100 years, in
875, to Chester, for fear of the spoyles and outrages of
the Danes, her Shrine being placed in the mother Church
of St. Peter and Paul, now the Church of St. Werburg
onely.
+ The deposed Abbot, Thomas Clarke, was appointed the firs*
Dean.
f Otherwise Ethddrida, Abbess of Ely.
38
The whole body of the Minster, as now we find it,
makes the form of a Crosse, the steeple being in the
middle juncture, as likewise we see in the great Church
of St. Paul's in London. In the furthest end of the
same Eastward, it is enlarged into a fine square Chappell,
called by the name Our Ladle's Chappell, adorned with
a fair Window of very curious workmanship in glasse,
being the story of the blessed Virgin her discent from the
Loines of Jesse,* though now, through injury of Time
and Weather, the same is much blemished. The Chap-
pell itself long since converted into the Consistory Court
of the Lord Bishop ; which that it was so in the dayes
of Queen Mary, the proof is yet in the memories of
some, because in that place Doctor George Coates, then
Bishop of Chester, gave sentence of condemnation against
George Marsh, a blessed Martyr and Sufferer for Christ's
truth, and burned to ashes -j- in Chester, A.D. 1555.
The Quire itself is most finely beautified, with a very
deep and tuneable Organ ; and on either side with very
fine Seats or Stalls, for the Reverend Dean, Prebends,
Queristers, and others, and adorned with fair and curious
carved work, and of as excellent proportion as almost is
possible to be made by the hands of workmen.
* An elegant stained window, erected in 1844, now occupies the
place of the one here mentioned, of which all trace had long before
disappeared.
f At a place called the Spilal, in Boughton.
39
Many have been the Monuments of Burials within
the said Quiery, whereof time hath devoured the memory.
There now only remains the Shrine of St. Werburg, the
which now serves to be a supporter to a fair Pue for the
Lord Bishop. Also one fair stone in the middest of the
Church, where was buried one worthy Bishop of the same
Diocesse, called Bishop Downham, and dated Dec. 3rd
1577. Near unto that lyes another Stone, being the
burial place of the Lord Bishop Lloyd, of late years.
In the South He of the said Quire, in the wall thereof,
divers antient burialls have their Tombs artificially made
within the Wall, arched over in the same, but without
inscriptions ; and upon the other side of that He is a fair
square Tomb of Alabaster without inscriptions also, but
believed to be that Emperour's Tomb, Henry the Fourth,
of whom we made mention before.
The Body of the Church, toward the West end, is a
very spacious and stately Edifice, distinguished into a
broad middle He, and two lesser lies on either side;
the Pillars of the He recording the memory of a famous
Abbot of that Abby, Simon Ripley, who died about 1492.
a great Benefactor of that House, and a bountiful Re-
pairer of that Church, as by the letters of his name on
those Pillars is yet manifest.
At the upper end of the Body of the Minster, is the
entrance into the place now used, and so named, by the
40
name of the Chapter House, and specially serves for
the meetings and businesses of the Dean and Chapter.
And this piece of building, of all others, sheweth the
most venerable face of antiquity, both for the most
antient fashion of vaulting over head, and of open
walls with partitions within side. It is most cer-
tain, it is as old a fashion for building with stone,
as I think can be showed in any place that hath
stood in its own native form, without alteration or re-
paration. It is supposed, and indeed most likely, that
many of those famous and renowned Earles of Chester
have been buried in this place, though there appear no
proof thereof by Monuments : onely there are some
Gravestones in the floor thereof, and one of them of a
very antient manner of making, with an Inscription about
the border of it, defaced.
On the same side of the Church likewise, are several
Entrances into the Cloysters, that lead into the several
parts of the Abbey, now disparted to several uses and
employments ; such as, a Paliace for the Lord Bishop,
another for the Deane ; and in like manner for all the
Prebends, Canons, the Free School, the servants of the
House, and other uses.
The South end of the Minster hath been either the
Fabric itself, or else the place of the Church, first dedi-
cated to the memory of the Apostles Peter and Paul; and
41
afterwards altered to the blessed Trinity and St. Oswald,
King and Martyr ; and after that again, to St. Oswald
and St. Werburg ; and after all that, the rest of the
Minster joined to the North end of that, this Church still
retaining her dedication to St. Osivald, from the which,
the whole Parish had its name. But the Abbot and the
Convent, wishing to retain their whole Minster to them-
selves, afterward erected for the Parishioners a fair Chap-
pell at the South West end of the Minster, intituled
St. Nicholas Chappell ; whereunto the said Parishioners
repaired, as their Parish Church ; which so continued
unto the time, that the Parishioners, with the Maior of
the City, obtained again for their Service the Church of
St. Oswald's, compounding with Simon Ripley, Abbot of
Chester, about the year 1488, as by an Instrument yet
remaining upon record, doth appear.
The Cbappel of St. Nicholas then serving to little use,
the Citizens purchased it to themselves, and dividing the
same by a floor in the middle thereof, the lower Room
was appointed for the stowage of Wool and other com-
modities, to be vented and sold at allowable times. And
the upper room for a stately Senate house,* for the
Assemblies, Elections, Courts of Maior, and Aldermen, the
Pentice Court, and others, as the law appoints.
* Now converted iuto a Theatre, to the great honor and credi
of the City.
iJ
The Church of St. Marie's, usually called super
montem, standeth upon the brow of a bank that riseth
not far from the Bridge-gate. It carryeth the same shew
of Antiquity with the rest of the Churches, being in all
likelihood erected in that place for speciall use of the
Earles, when they held their residence in the Castle.
Upon the South side of the Chancel standeth a fair
Chappel,* reported to be there erected by the ancestors
of a great and worshipful race of the Troutbeclcs, of
great reputation in this County of Chester, and of whose
lands many of the gentlemen of the Shire have now no
small portion ; in which Chappel the bodies of some of
them, and by all likelihood the Founders of the Chappel,
lye in a fair vault in the middest thereof; and others of
that progenie in other parts of the Church.
Almost in the middle of the Water-gate Street, on
its North side, standeth the Church dedicated to the
blessed Trinity, which both for the high Spire steeple, -J-
and for the workmanship, seemeth to be of little less an-
tiquity than the others.
The Church of St. John's, without the Walls of the
City, an author affirms to have been founded in A.D. G89,
in these plain words :
• The Roof of this Chapel fell in in ]C60, and the present South
aisle was erected on its site in 1690.
f This steeple has been for many years without a spire.
*:;
" The Year of Grace six hundred fourscore nine
" As saith my author, a Brittain, Geraldus,
" King Ethelr-ed minding most the blisse of heaven,
" Edilied a Colledge Church notable and famous
" In the suburbs of Chester pleasant and beautious,
" In the honor of God and the Baptist St. John
" With the help of Bishop Wulfrice and good
exhortation."
I will not suppresse that which they further write of this
foundation, which being either true, or a thing supposed,
shall, for me, speak of itself.
" King Ethelred minding to build a Church was told,
That where he should see a White Hinde, there he
should build a Church ; which Hinde he saw in the place
where St. John's Church now standeth ; and in remem-
brance whereof, his Picture was placed in the Wall of
the said Church, which yet standeth on the side of the
Steeple towards the West, having a White Hinde in his
hand."
It remaineth that we speak somewhat of the River
Dee, to which water no man can now express how much
this antient City hath been beholden. Even there, where
the Sea hath determined that Creek, which shoots in
between Flintshire, and the West part of Werall Hun-
dred, was founded this beautiful City, and made the
Receptacle of merchandize from all Kingdoms and Na-
tions, who traded into the Brittain, or Irish Ocean.
4 +
The mouth or opening of this River into the Sea lies
very bleak upon the North Eastern and Western winds,
and the ground or bottome of the Creek is altogether of
a loose, light, skittering Sand, which upon any powerful
drift of Wind or Water, will give place like drifts of
Snow. And these mighty heaps of sand, having been
brought by fierce and strong winds up into the narrow-
nesse of the Creek, the Haven, which in time past
received Ships of great burthen up to the City skirts,
scarce now hath sea room for small Barques, which onely
at higher waters do bring in their unladings of Great
Vessels from the Keyes which can receive them, 9 or 10
miles off. And hence it is, that even within this few
years there hath been such losses and gainings between
the shores of Cheshire and Flintshire as will scarcely
be believed of such as do not behold that with their eyes.
Proceeding now with the rest of Broxton Hundred,
which we made but an entrance into, we will take occa-
sion to leave Handbridge, that antient part of the City,
lying close to the Bridge, and take view of that part of
the Hundred, which lyes on that side of the said River
of Bee, and between it and Flintshire. The first is the
lordship of Lache, in times past partly the lands of the
Earles of Oxenford ; and the chief house * in the Town-
* Lache Hall, garrisoned for the Parliament, during the Siege
of Chester, by Sir William Brereton.
45
ship is now the holding of George Manly, Gent., and
no small portion was the Lands that belonged to the
Nunnery of St. Mary in Chester, and now belonging to
the Breretons of Handford. More then a mile Eastward
standeth Eccleston Church, by the Town so called,
whereof the chief lordship is the lands of the Venables,
Baron of Kinderton, while down lower towards the South,
lyes Dodleston, a goodly lordship of the Earle of Bridge-
water, and the Church there is the burying place of that
most wise and worthy Lord Ellesmere, Viscount Brack-
ley, Lord Chancellor of England, whose body, by his own
appointment, his course being finished, was brought
down to rest in the Church of Dodleston. This said
lordship adjoineth to Kinarton, and next to that lyes
Burton.
Turning now to the South East, you come to Pulford,
a great lordship * of the Warburtons of Arley, standing
upon the Eiver Alen, which coming from the middest of
Cheshire leads you on full East unto Poulton, sometimes
the antient seat of the Manleys, now belonging to the
house of Eaton, at Eaton boat,\ the Mansion of the
worthy family of the Grosvenors ; the heir of which
house, Sir Richard Grosvenor, Knight and Baronet,
* Belongs now to the noble House of Westminster,
f Eaton Hall, now a princely edifice, erected in 1807, by the
Father of the present Marquis of Westminster.
4G
enjoys the Seat, and shewes his own worthiness, better
than I were able, if I would attempt, to do it.
Returning then to Chester, our way is to pass over
the Bridge, and along the Wall Eastward, to Fore-gate
Street; which being done, you presently go to Spittle
Boughton,* so called of an antient Hospitall there sci-
tuate. Neer unto which lyes Boughton itself, by the
River of Dee, where is now that fair new Waterwork,
even now in finishing, to bring the Water of a fine spring
neer it, unto the middest of the City, to a Cestern, sci-
tuate by the High Cross, at St. Peter's Church, a thing
pleasant and commodious. By the River side, a mile
further Southward, lies Huntington lordship ; from whence
we soon come to Churchen Heath, where stands a Chap-
pel belonging to the Parish of St. Werburg of Chester,
and next to it lies a rich demeane, and a fair antient
Timber mansion house -j- of the great family of the Cal-
velies, which house had, in times past, one addition of
honour, when the owner thereof Sir Hugh Calvely was
Captain of Calleys% (Calais) and married the late Queen
"Here was, until the present century, the common place of
Execution, where also George Marsh suffered martyrdom for his
Religion, in 1554.
f Lea Hall, now a farm house. The Calvely family, extinct in
the male line, is now represented in the female line, by Viscount
Combermere, of Combermere Abbey.
J Under Edward III., in 1374. His marriage with Queen Mar-
garet is, doubtless, a myth.
47
of Aragon, and another of the late presence of our gra-
cious Soveraign King James, Anno 1G 17, who came
thither from Chester, and advanced there the said Sir
George Calvely to the degree of Knighthood.
Beneath this demean we must step over a stone bridge
to Aldford,* and on past an antient inheritance of the
Flttons of Gawsworth, to Churton, where is scituate two
gentlemen's habitations of the Barnstons and the I'os-
tocks ; and so leaving Aldersey on our left hand, a place
that gave beginning to Gentlemen of that name there,
some famous Citizens of London, and Aldermen of Ches-
ter, and whose posterity do there still flourish.
We come now to Farndon, where is a fair new
Church, + with the town itself reaching down to an ex-
ceeding fair stone bridge, built, no doubt, together with
that old substantial Castle in the Holt, the bridge being
the onely partition between the two Towns.
Pursuing the course of our River, northward of the
town of Barton upon the Hill, we come still Easterly to
Crewe,\ and Carden^ whereof both have given names
* Since 1729, Aldford has belonged, by purchase, to the Grosve-
nor family.
f This Church was garrisoned during the Civil War, and was
burnt at the siege of Holt Castle in 1645.
\ Now the seat of Roger Harry Barnston, Esq., a descendant of
the Barnstons of Churton.
§ J. Hurleston Leche, Esq., the present proprietor derives in.
48
to geutlemen's families, the latter being now the mansion
of John Leche, Gentleman, a man of good descent ; and
extended: to Calcot (Caldecote) a fine seat ; near which
is also another antient seat, once of the Yerdlcys, but
since purchased by Lady Cholmley.
Next we come unto Tilston, which standeth by a fair
demean, heretofore the inheritance of the Massies, of
Grafton,* but lately purchased and new builded by Sir
Peter Warburton, one of his Majestie's Justices of Com-
mon Pleas, who left his onely daughter and heir, the now
Lady Grosvenor, who by her former husband was Lady
Stanley of Alderley.
Upon our left hand, lyeth adjoining Horton, antiently
a seat of the Golborns ; and Overton, another Lordship :
and passing thence by the Hamlet of Chorleton, we come
presently to the two Lordships of Shoclach ; one is called
Church Shoclach, having a little Church in it, but as for
the Castle f which Mr. Camden saith hath been here,
I can say but little. The goodly seat here, of late years
the Mansion of Sir Randle Brereton, is now brought unto
the possession of a most worthy Knight, Sir Richard
the female line from William de Carden, with whom the original
name became extinct.
* Grafton has passed, by descent, to the present Lord Stanley,
of A'derley.
f Of this Castle no remains exist, beyond the moat which sur-
rounded it.
4/„
i . ;.\'.'.7.>;v/-,i:<'
(il
antient seat of the Griffins, of long continuance, received*
into the bosom thereof one stout Water that they call
Betley water. Let us step a little Easterly towards the
head of this water, and take view of Wybunbury, a
Church town, and a Parish Church * to a great precinct,
and on every side so garnished and adorned with the
seats of Baronets, Knights and Gentlemen, as is scarce
to he found the like in any country Parish ; the Vicarage
is in the gift of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.
Neer unto the same Church is scituate a fine lordship
and Town, with a decayed house and demean of Sir
Thomas Smith, called the Hough ; and next adjoining
unto it, the Lee, being an antient seat of Knights and
Esquires of that name, and now Sir Richard Lee, a
Knight of worthy account, to whom I stand particularly
bounden.
But let us look a little more to the West, where stands
the lordship of Blaikenfall (Blakenhall) ; and next to
that Hunsterton,-\ both the lands of Sir Thomas Delves,
and so come to Bartomley,\ a Parish and a Church ; in
which Township we see an antient handsome house and
* We are indebted to John Twemlow, Esq., of Hatherton, for
the accompanying engraving of Wybunbury Old Church, taken
down in 1790.
f This and the three previously named lordships now belong to
the Broughton family.
% During the Civil War, Barthomley Church was attacked by
62
demean, the lands of the Lawtons of Lawton ; and from
a lake hereabout runneth Wolwern brook, by Weston, a
lordship with an antient seat and demean, belonging to
Sir Thomas Delves, of Doddington, running along by
Basford, a sightly habitation,* sometime the lands of
the Bromlees, but now of Sir Robert Cholmondeleigh ;
and so crossing the Lee brook again, we may first take
notice of Shavington, an antient seat of the Woodnoths,
the present 'owner thereof, John Woodnoth, Esq.,-j~ a great
antiquary, and learned in the laws ; and on the other
hand Ro, and belongs, with War-
button, Great Budworth, SfC, to Rowland E. E. Warburton, Esq.
f Now possessed by James H. Smith Barry, Esq., who resides
Ht Mai bun/ Hall.
105
Passing hence by Powsey Chappel, and Neivborough,
the seat of George Holford, Esq., and so through a cer-
tain Park belonging also to Button, we come to Aston
Grange, a Township of Sir Richard Brooke's, and so, by
Weever side, to Aston, the seat of a worshipful race of
Astons, the Heir now, Thomas Aston, Esq.,* who hath
to his said house, a fair Park, and a Chappel neer the
house, of great use ; and next adjoining to it is Sutton
Lordship, and in it an antient Mannour house and demean
of Mr. Warburton of Arley. And thus we go along the
Weever side, till it brings us to a very stately stone
Bridge, called Frodsham Bridge, built upon four fair
arches, where we finish our view of Bucklow Hundred,
and passe over this Bridge into
EDDISBURY HUNDRED.
Our view of this Hundred shall begin from Frodsham
Bridge, whence we go to Frodsham Town, a fair conti-
nued street with handsome buildings, and at the Westend
of it a fair House or Castle, Frodsham Castle, a relying
seat of pleasure to the honourable owner thereof, Sir Tho-
mas Savage.f The Church is fair and pleasantly scitu-
* Afterwards Sir Thomas Aston, created a Baronet by Charles
I., in 1628, from whom the estate has descended to the present
owner, Sir Arthur Ingram Aston, Bart., of Aston Hall.
f Frodsham passed from the Savagesjo the noble house of Ili-
10G
ated on the Hill over the Town ; and over them all, a
high towring Hill, with a Beacon upon it ; and between
these and Merzey, a fair and fruitful Marsh of large
extent, all belonging to Sir Thomas Savage, and next
unto it another Lordship called Helsby, on the high road
to Chester.
Let us here, if you please, take with us a sight of the
Parish of Ince,* a goodly lordship of the Cholmleys ;
and of Thornton, another of Sir George Booth's, extend-
ing her limits to the Towns on this Side Hapsford, where
Edward Greg, Gent., of the Exchequer Court at Chester,
hath a fair seat ; and Dunham on the Hill, where Robert
Whitby, Alderman of Chester, hath a pleasant house,
seen far off. And unto this, adde that third of Elton,
where hath been a long descent of the Frodshams.
But let us go on, and being come to the Beeston water,
we see on our left Manley, where is an antient seat of the
Birkenheads, now Adam Birkenhead, Esq. ; and of
Little and Great Mouldsworth, where is the goodly an-
tient seat of Peele,\ the habitation of the Hardwares,
vers, from them to the Earl of Barrymore, and is now vested iu the
Marquis of Cholmondeley.
* Incc formerly belonged, as recited in a previous portiou of
this work, to the Abbot arid Canons of St. Werburgh, but are
now held by the trustees of the late E. Yates, Esq.
f King William Til., on his passage into Ireland, was enter-
107
but belonging to Sir Robert Chohnley ; and so we leave
Ashton Township behind us ; and turning to look upon
Bridge Trafford, in which a long continued race of that
name have a seemly seat, the owner now Mr. Trafford,*
we see Barrow, a lordship and mansion of John Savage,
Esq. Alderman and Magistrate of the City of Chester.
"We passe on to Kelshall, very high in the skirt of the
Forest, a lordship of Sir John Bone's, Kt. ; beneath
which taking with us an antient house of the Trevices,
called Horton, we come to the Town and Parish of Tar-
vin, in which, besides the fair Church and Vicaridge, we
see an antient ruined seat of the Bruines, of long con-
tinuance, but this house and demean is come to the heir
of a late famous lawyer, William Brock, a younger house
of the Brocks of Upton ; and a little way from the Town,
a large sweet Farm, called Holmstreet. The Lordship of
Tarvin belongs to Sir Thomas Savage.
Not half a mile distant we see Hockenhull, a comely
house, giving name to gentlemen of long continuance, the
now owner John Hockenhull, Esq. ; on one side of which
lyes Hockenhull Plot, on our great London roadway to
tained at Peek Hall, by Col. Roger Whitley, who was a zealous
royalist, and had followed the fortuues of King Charles II., into
«xile.
* Capt. Trafford was killed at the Battle of Naseby, and the
estate shortly afterwards passed lo the Barnsions of Churton.
108
Chester. Our River leads us by another fair and fruit-
ful demean and lordship, called Stapleford, for an antient
continuance the seat of the Bruines, the owner now John
Bruine, Esq.
And now we turn Eastward to Burton, wherein is a
house belonging to John Werden, Gent. ; next which
lyes Duddon, where Mr. Done has a seat; and more
towards the Forest a house called Pricehall ; and a little
further the Township of Clotton, and Idenshaiv, the man-
sion of John Hurlestone, Esq., and neer unto it How-
field.
Towards the River side we come to Tiverton Lordship,
where is a house and demean of the Brassies, which have
been a great race of gentlemen. And so we cannot but
stay to look up at the stately house and demean of Bees-
ton, the name also of that famous and far seen Castle,*
built there by the last Ranulph, Earl of Chester, mounted
on the top of a steep Hill of stone, the chief tower whereof,
in the summity of it, had a draw well of water of incredi-
ble depth. To the which place I wish all good, and to
the name of Beeston, the demean being now in the pos-
* This ancient fortress, of the ruins of which we here present
our readers with an illustration, was several times takeu and re-
taken during the Civil War ; on the conclusion of which it was
dismantled by the Puritans, and has since sunk into the imposing
ruin it now exhibits.
109
session of an antient Knight, Sir Hugh Beeston, without
issue male.
We come next to Spurstow, a fair house and demain of
George Spurstow, Esq., one of an antient continued race;
John Alder sey, Gent., termed also of Spurstow, hath a
fine antient demean, the birthplace of that most worthy
Aldersey, Alderman of London. Eastward lies Haughton,
of the Haughtons, and another seat of the Buckleys ; and
on the West, Ridley, the possession of that honourable
discent of the Egertons ; and upon the North-west lies the
lordship of Peckforton, sometimes belonging to the great
name of the Corbetts, but now to Sir Hugh Beeston.*
And herein is a fine antient seat of the Calveleys.
Now we see the Mother Church of all these Townships,
Bunbury, a fair Church, with, on the South side of the
Chancel, Chappel and a burial place of the Egertons of Rid-
ley. Not far from the Church, we see the ruines of the
Colledge, founded there for six priests by that famous
Hugh Calveley. But now, farther East, is the Lordship
of War die, where hath been a Seat and demean of the
antient family of the Prestlands,-\ of long continuance,
and the Heirs male now failed.
* On Peckforton Hill has lately been erected (1842-51) a mag-
nificent Norman baronial Castle, of great beauty, now the resi-
dence of the worthy owner, John Tollemache, Esq., M.P., who is
also the possessor of Beeston Castle, and other Cheshire manors.
f The Preslandu oSWallfordjSalop, are descendants of this family.
110
Neer the West end of this is the Cleys, a fair house
of the Davenports ; and upon the North side stands the
Township of Calveley* whence that great name had first
their denomination. The principal seat therein remains
yet, and hath heen long the hahitation of one race of the
Davenports, the owner thereof now Arthur Davenport,
Esq. ; and neer unto it another fair house of the Main-
warings. More Northward lies Wettenhall, with an an-
tient seat of the Breretons of Wettenhall.
Hence, Westward, is Alpraham, where was antiently a
Seat of the Pages, now wholly extinct. And here the
lofty pile, the Hall of Tilstone Feamal, shews itself.
Neer unto this, we see the mines of the House of Flax-
yard, the antient seat of the Dones of Flaxyard, after-
wards united by marriage with the Dones of Uthinton,
neer hereunto, the owner now Sir John Done, Kt., who by
his well pleasing service to His Majesty, who took His
pleasure and repast in His Forest of Delamere, A.D.
1617, of which he was chief forester, ordered so wisely
His Highnesse's sports, that He freely honored him with
Knighthood, and graced his house of Uthinton with His
royal presence.
But let us take with us the view of Tarporley Church
and Town, on the great Roadway to Chester, a Lordship
* At Calveley, that celebrated warrior, Sir Hugh Calveley, Go-
vernor of Calais in the reign of King Edward III., wai born.
Ill
,of the said Sir John Done ; from whence we go by Eaton
and Rushton, to Barley, a fair seat and demean of the
Startles, now Henry Starkey, Esq. ; near which is the
great seat and house of another worthy race, called the
Egertons of Oulton* whereof have succeeded for some
descents Knights of note, and the owner now Sir Rowland
Egerton, Bart. In the edge of the Forest lies the little
Church and Town of Little Budworth, in which Parish is
a Mere ; a Brook from which leads us to Darnall Grange,
once a famous place, the residence of some of the Earls
of Chester, of whom the seventh and last, John Scot,
dyed there. It is now a fine seat, with a sweet house of
brick lately erected, and now the possession of Henry
Lee, Esq., heir to Sir Richard Lee, before-mentioned.
Along the Park side of Darnall, lyes Swanlow, and
therein many good Farms.
By the water of Weever, we soon come to that famous
seat of the Stanleys of Weever, f now the mansion house
of Thomas Stanley of Alderley, Esq. And so we come
to Over Church, scituate half a mile from the Town
itself, which, being the main possession of the Abbot and
* The Egertons of Oulton, ever held to be one of the first fa-
milies in Cheshire, are now represented by Sir Philip de Malpas
Grey Egerton, Bart , M.P., of Oulton.
f Early in the l?th century Weever became, by purchase, the
property of the Wilbrahams of Delamere.
1 1:
Convent of Vale Boy all, obtained by their means to be
made a Maior Town, which government they hold to this
day. Neer unto which is a fine seat, called Knight's
Grange, and not far from this, a very pleasant house of
Thomas Mainwaring of Marton, Gent. A little further,
we passe by Whitegate, and so come to that famous Vale
Boyall.
Methinks it probable that King Edward the First, who
founded here the Abbey, to which place the Abbey of
Darnhall was translated, gave this name to the goodly
tract of grounds, betwixt the Forest and the River Wee-
ver, by his hunting, or other princely sports ; as, on the late
occasion of our gracious Soveraign, his making the house
here four days his Royal Court, while on his return out of
Scotland, he solaced himself by his disports in the Forest,
he confirmed it indeed to be a Royal Vale. This Vale
Boyall was the seat of the Holcrofts for two discents,
but of late is come by purchase to the Lady Mary
Cholmley* a Lady of great possessions, and who for her
* Her son Thomas was the immediate ancestor of the Right
Hon. Thomas Cholmondeley, the present noble owner of Vale
Royal, who was raised to the peerage in 182), by the title of B i-
ron Delamere. The original MSS., purporting to be the Prophe-
cies of Robert Nixon, the Cheshire Prophet, are here deposited-
Nixon is alleged to have been born at Bridge-end House, in the
Paii>h of Over, in the reign o' Edward IV,, or James J.
113
wisdom, virtue and great hospitality, deserveth worthy
remembrance.
We see beyond this Sandy way, and Hartford, and so
we look as far as this Hundred reacheth to Winnington,
where is a bridge over the Weever ; which going first by
Wallerscote, an antient seat of the Littlers, it hastens to
Weaversham, a pretty Church Town, with a Court and
Prison, the Lordship now of Thomas Marbury, Esq. ; in
which I must not omit one antient seat of the Warburtons
called Helperstone Grange. From hence Weever shall
part with us at Acton bridge ; Westward of which is Ac-
ton Township, where is an antient seat of the Farrars,
and so we take with us Crowton, where Sir Gilbert Ire-
land, Knight, hath a house and demean. Next lyes
Kingsley Lordship, and therein an antient seat of the
Rutters, of long continuance ; and not far off, a fair brick
house of the Gerards of Crownwood (Crewood).
Passing thence to Newton, and Alvanley, a pretty
Township, we passe by Norley, and Cuddington, and fall
into the spatious Forrest of Delamere itself; which For-
rest maintaineth a convenient being and preservation for
His Majesty's Deer, both Red and Fallow, whereof there
is no small store. Upon the highest hill of all, and
about the middest of the Forrest, is seen the very delicate
house of the chief forester, called the Chamber in the
Forrest.
114
1 might wade mto a long discourse of those two Cities,
Eadsbury and Finborow, which writers, antient and rao-
derri, do make report of ; which I will leave untouched,
because I suppose my long journey in this little Hundred
liath well nigh tired my Reader already.
WERALL HUNDRED.
That this was in old time a Forrest, I think cannot be
doubted ; but when it was disafforested I will not contend,
only that it is now one of the most fertile parts in the whole
County. We will set in at the Stone Bridge, almost at
Chester, and follow the water dividing this from Broxton
Hundred ; which will bring us, a little behind Upton, to
Chorlton, and then to the Lea, a fair house and demean,
for some discents of the Glaseours, Esqrs., of special
note ; and next unto it lyes Backford Town and Church,
and hard by it the Seat of our worthy Prothonotary Henry
Birkenhead,* Esq. ; from whence, as we see on the West
* The Birkenheads of Backford became extinct in the male line
in 1724, and are now represented by E. H. Glegg, Esq., who has
been for some time engaged in rebuilding Backford Hall for his
future residence. The manor of Chorlton, as well as Backford,
arfe now the properly of Mr. Glegg.
115
of us Capenhurst Lordship, belonging to the houses of
Cholmley and Poole, * and in the same, a gentleman's
Seat.
By our Brook lyes Crouyhton,-\ a member of the
Lordship of John Hurlestone, Esq. ; and from thence we
come to Stoke, a little Parish adjoining that fair demean
and antient seat of the Bunbury' 1 s, called Stanney Hall,
the worthy present owner Sir Henry Bunbury, Kt.,J of
special good estimation. We turn us now towards our
journey more Westward, passing by Whitby, from whence
it may seem the Whitby's of Chester derived their name.
Then holding on our course, we go by Great Sutton, a
goodly Lordship, and where hath been a famous Seat,
called Sutton Court, the inheritance now of Sir Robert
Cholmondley ; and upon our other hand, Pool, a fair an-
tient Seat, with a Park, of which the long continued race
of the Pools have borne that name, and it is very probable
have been the ancestors of some very great families of
that name in other Counties, the present owner there, John
* Capenhurst is now the property of the Rev. Richard Richard-
son, whose ancestor purchased it from the Clwlmondeleys in 1770.
f Croughton has been purchased this year (1852) from /.
Hurlestone Leche, Esq., of Carden, by Robert Ashton, Esq., of
Hyde.
\ His descendant, Sir E. Bunbury, Bart,, is the present pos=
sessor of this estate.
116
Poole, Esq,* Neer unto which, we see also Stanlow,
now a Farm of the said Mr. Pool's ; here was also a Mo-
nastery founded hy the famous Lacy, Constable of Ches-
ter, about A.D. 1173; but from the unrulynesse of
Merzey water, they misliked their seat there, and trans-
lated themselves to Wholly in Lancashire.
Next come we to Hooton f a goodly antient Mannour
and fair Park, which ever since the reign of King Richard
the Second, hath been the seat of the Stanleys of Hooton,
gentlemen of great dignity and worth ; where have con-
tinued the same Stanleys in a direct succession, and was
late possessed by Sir Rowland Stanley, Kt., who lived
there to the age of well neer a hundred years, where his
fourth generation, his Son's Son's Son was, at the time of
his decease. Neer unto this lyes Easthani, the Parish
Church and Lordship.
Next beyond it, we leave on our left hand Brimstaxje ;
and so come to Poulton ; and the next to that is Brom-
borovyh, a pretty Town, with a Chappel ; and therein
* The Pooles afterwards removed into Sussex, and oecame ex-
tinct in the direct male line a few years since, by the death of the
Rev. Sir Henry Poole. The manor now belongs to the Marquis of
Westminster.
f The "goodly antient mannour of Hooton," which for five
centuries had b^en uninterruptedly the scat and possession of the
Stanley family, passed by purchase in 184'J, with Eastham, to R.
C. Nayhr, Esq.
117
Daniel Bavand, Esq., liath a fair house and demean ;
next which lyes Nether and Over Bebbington ; the one,
a Church Town, with a fine Church and Parsonage ; the
other, where John Minshull, Esq., of Minshull, hath
great store of fair possessions.
Upon our left, we leave Stourton Lordship, and so go
by Prenton, where one race of the Hockenhulls have a
fine house and demean ; beyond which lyeth Landican
Township, the lands of Sir Richard Wilbraham. Bart.,
and from thence we go to Woodchurch, a Parish Church,
with a neat Parsonage ; beneath which, looking towards
Merzey, lyes a goodly Vale, in which we see Upton
Lordship, wherein stands the house and demean of the
Boulds of Bonld, in Lancashire, now Peter Bould, Esq.;
and next unto this, Oxton. And then more neer to Mer-
zey, is the Township of Tranmere ; and neer it, a fine
seat of that worthy gentleman, John Minshull, Esq., of
Minshull, called Derby House.
Thence on our left hand, we see Claughton, where Mr.
Thomas Powell hath fair lands ; and then, leaving the
Ferry leading over unto Liverpool, we step into Birhet
Wood (Birkenhead),* where hath been a famous Priory,
* Birkenhead, in the days of old King, and for 15) years after-
wards, merely a little hamlet, has now risen, as if by magic, to be
the second town in the County, containing upwards of 20,000 in-
habitants. William Jackson, Esq., M.P., is one of the principal
land owners.
lift
but now a very goodly demean, and which lias come, by
discent from the Worsleys, to a gentleman of much worth.
Thomas Powell, Esq.,* the heir of that antient seat of
Horsley, in the County of Flint.
Beyond which we have onely Poulton cum Seacombe,
till we come to the North-western shore, where is scituate
the Township of Kerby in Wallasey, where lye those fair
Lands, which for the fitnesse for such a purpose, allure
the gentlemen and others oft to appoint great Matches,
and venture no small sums, in trying the Swiftnesse of
their horses.
And so we come to Bidston, a goodly house, demean
and park of the Earl of Derby, which for the pleasant
scituation and the variety of noble delights appendant to
it, his lordship seems much to affect the same, and en-
largeth the convenience therein for his pleasure and abode
many ways.
Following the circuit of the Shire, we come next to
Great Meolse, which gives name and seat to an antient
family of Meolse ; whence we go by Moreton, and Saug-
hall Massie ; and leaving Overchurch on our left hand,
we passe by Newton and Greasby ; where we hold on
nearer the shore, and take with us West Kirby. Here,
divided from the land, lyes that little barren Island,
* This gentleman was created a Bironet in 1629, but the title
became extinct in the early part of the 18th century.
119
called Hilbree, in which it is said there was sometime a
Cell of Monks.
From whence, we come next to the Grange, which I
would rather think to he the seat where those Monks eat
their Beef and their Brewis, and which is now possessed
by William Glegge, Esq. ;* upon the East side of this
lyes Frankly, and so we come to the Townships of Great
and Little Caldey. Neer unto which lyes the Station or
Landing place, called the Red Bank ; and neer unto this
lyes Irby, wherein the Balls have a good seat. And we
come thence to Thurstaston, the antient seat of the Whit-
mores, of which race have been many Maiors of the City
of Chester. On the East side lyes Barnston ; and upon
the shore side, we come next to Oldfield, where is the
narrowest place of the Hundred.
Our next remove is to Heswall, a Town with a Parish
Church and Parsonage, extending to Thornton Mayo,
and Raby. But neer the sea side, we come to Gayton,
the seat of that antient race of the Gleggs of Gayton ;\
* The Gleggs continued iu possession until the death ot Wil-
liam Glegg, Esq., in 1785 : shortly after which it was purchased
by John Leigh, Esq., of Liverpool, whose son, John Shaw Leigh,
Esq., is the present proprietor.
f J. B. Glegg, Esq., of Thurstaston, is the present lord of
Gayton, King William III., on his passage to Ireland, lodged
at Gayton Hall, then the residence of William Glegg, Esq., who
was thereupon honoured with Knighthood.
120
aud next lyes Leighton, wherein is a very antient house
and demean of the Whitmores, of a very great descent,
and next neighbour is the well known Town and Parish
Church of Great Neston, where our passengers into Ire-
land so often lye waiting the leisure of the winds ; and
here is the station of the ships, called, the New Key,
where they imbark and disimbark, on the back of this
Neston. To the East lyes a Township, in a large Tract
of heath and common, called Childer Thornton.
Keeping still our shore, we have Nesse, and next to that,
more landwards, Willaston. And then we have Burton,* a
pretty Town, and a landing place, called Burton Head; and
next to this, we come to that lofty seat of Puddington, over-
looking the sea, and the mouth of the Dee, wherein have con-
tinued the race of the Massles, derived, with many branches,
from that Hamon Massey, one of the Earls' Barons, the
owner now, Sir William Massey, Kt. A great spatious
Common, vulgarly called Motherlesse Heath, lyes a great
way further Eastward ; at one side whereof we see Led-
sham ; and so come to Shotwick, and neer unto it an an-
tient house of the Hoclcenhiitts ; and so we come to Shot-
ivick Park, where yet remain the mines of a fair Castle,
on the brink of the Dee, in the holding, under the King,
* In this Township, Dr. Wilson, Bhhop of Sodar aud Man, in
1742, was born. Richaid Congreve, Esq., is the present owner,
his father hawng purchased the manor from the Massies in 1715-
121
of Sir Richard Wibraham, often before mentioned ; from
whence we come to Great and Little Saughall Township ;
and along by these lyes a place called antiently Kingswood.
And next to this, lyes a goodly antient seat upon the
browe of Dee Banks, called Blacon Hall, and Lordship,*
the lands of Sir William Norris, K.C.B., whose chief
residence is in Lancashire ; and then adjoineth Crabhall,
the demean and most delicate fine house of William Ga-
mv.ll, a prime Alderman of the City of Chester. Round
about it we have nothing left, but on our right hand the
two Mollingtons, a fair Lordship, whereof much of the lands
have belonged to the Mordaunts, of Ocley in Bedford-
shire, but now to several purchasers in those parts. And
thus we arrive at the tip of the toe in our description,
being come home presently to our famous City again.
* The manorial right* of Blacon are enjoyed by Lord Crewe.
Crabwall and Blacon Halls are now both occupied as farm
houses.
THE ExVRLS OF CHESTER.
Many Authors have written of some noble persons, to
whom they have given the Title of the Earls of Chester,
before the coming of William the Norman, called the
Conqueror ; but our late and more judicious writers give
little credit to such reports. We therefore here fitly fall
upon the rehearsal of those noble Earls of Chester, of
whom no man need doubt either their persons or their
successions, which began with the gift of William the
Conqueror to his Sister's Son. This was Hugh, named
Lupus, or as the Normans sound it, Loup ; whether so
called, because he bare the Wolf's head in his coat ar-
mour, or because his name was so, we cannot determine.
123
The first Earl then, after the Conquest, was Hugh
Lupus, Sister's Son, and so Nephew to King Wil-
liam the Conqueror. This young Nobleman came into
England with his Uncle William, and was so high
in grace and favour with the said Conqueror, that it
pleased him to create this his kinsman, Earl Palatine of
Chester ; and Sword bearer of England ; granting unto
him and that Province, most ample privileges, even as
large and great as could reasonably be required.
This Earl was of most excellent parts for Kule and Go-
vernment, both in war and peace ; he erected many Ba-
rons, whom he placed in several parts of his jurisdiction,
giving unto them great possessions, and special privileges ;
which Barons were of near employment about him in
matters of Councils, and attendance for all services.
This Hugh Lupus lived in great honour and renown all
the days of William the Conquerour, his uncle, and of
William Rufus, his second Son, and some years of Henry
I., the third son; for he dyed not till the year 1102.
He performed great services for the Conqueror all the
time of his raign, being imployed both at home and
abroad ; and in Rufus' time, he was sent to subdue An-
glesea, and to suppresse the high and haughty stomachs
of the Welshmen, which he did with great valour. He
altered part of the foundation of St. Werburg's Church
in Chester, about 1093, and turned the same into anAb-
hoy. He governed the Earldome of Chester 40 years,
and dyed about Anno 1107, the 8th year of King Henry I,
on the 27th July, the 9th year after the foundation of the
Abbey of Chester.
The Second Earl was Richard, Son and Heir of the
said Hugh, at his Father's death, an infant seven years
of age, and married to Matilda, Daughter to Stephen,
Earl of Blois, and Niece to King Henry I. ; by reason
whereof, the King took into his tuition and custody the
young Earl ; from whence, they say, this of a Custome
grew to be a Law, that young heirs in their nonage, be-
came pupils, or wards unto the King. The King sent
him, with his own children into Normaudy, to be edu-
cated ; but, growing towards man's estate, it fell out so,
that King Henry having had successe in his Wars in
France, came home to England to solace himself; and
125
for the furtherance of his joy, sent into Normandy for
his children William and Robert, and Mary their Sister,
together with this noble young Earl Richard, and Ma-
tilda his Wife, and Ottewel his Brother, who with the
Archdeacon of Hereford, and attendants, took ship at
Harflew ; where it pleased God, little heed being taken in
the carriages of the Marriners and Saylors, they fell into
such disorder, that putting out to sea, they split the ship
upon a rock, and so cast away all this princely company ;
not one of them escaping, excepting one butcher, that
catching hold upon a broken mast, swam unto the land.
Thus, Anno 1120, perished this hopeful young Earl Ri-
chard, and his Brother Ottewel, leaving his Brother Ro-
bert, made Abbot of Edmonbury, and so incapable of this
princely Earldom ; the same was therefore transferred to the
sonne of Margaret his Aunt, the sister of William Lupus,
having married John Bohune ; and thus the Earldom fell
to the Cousin German of this Richard, who also, in his
very infancie, escaped a great perill ; for, before going
into Normandy, they led him a pilgrimage to Winifred 's
Well in Wales, where he was beset by a rebellious rout of
Welshmen-, but by a valiant rescue of William, then
Constable of Chester, he was recovered out of their holds,
and brought back safe again to Chester, and lived Earl
of Chester, from the 8th of Henry I., to A.D. 1120, about
14 years, and was in that year drowned, as aforesaid.
126
The Third Earl was then Ranulph, sorme of John
Bohune, a nobleman of Normandy, to whom the Con-
queror had given the Town of Carlisle, and made him
Earl of Cumberland. This Ranulph, sirnamed Mes- •
chines, inclined rather to peace and civill government, than
to warlike affairs, and great enterprises; and I read of
few great occurrences within the time of his government,
which also was not of any long continuance. He married
Matilda, or Maud, daughter to Aubrey Vere, Earl of
Oxford, and great Chamberlain of England, by whom he
had issue Ranulph, sirnamed Germoyse (Gernons) from
the place of his birth, who succeeded him in the Earldom.
And for his second Wife, he married Lucia, sister to Ed-
win, Earl of March, and had by her William Earl of Lin-
coln, who dyed without issue. He began to govern A.D.
1120, continued Earl about 10 years, and dyed, A.D.
1130.
127
The Fourth Earl, Ranulph, son of the former Ranulph,
was the great Commander iu that War, wherein he with
Robert Earl of Gloucester, did with nohle prowesse de-
fend the cause of Matilda the Empress against King
Stephen the Usurper, fighting with his army against the
King at the Siege of Lincoln, A.D. 1146, when he gave
the King, and the Earl of Flanders, and others, a notahle
overthrow, and brought the King a Prisoner, and the
Castle of Lincoln, to the Empress. But after the King
was delivered in exchange for Robert, Earl of Gloucester
(taken by the King's party) this Earl Ranulph coming
peaceably to the King, under pretence of a Parliament to
be held at Northampton, was put in prison, and con-
strained to deliver up the Castle of Lincoln, and other
strong holds, which he had kept for the use of the Em-
presse, and Henry her son. And about this time the
Welshmen, in his absence, made horrible destruction in
128
the Earldom of Chester, yet at length were vanquished in
a battel near Wich Malbanc (Nantwich). The Earl still
defended the cause of the Empresse and her son, resolv-
ing upon that purpose of his heart, never to serve other
King than Duke Henry, saying often, " The Earl of Ches-
ter thinks scorn to serve the Earl of Blois," from which
resolution he could never be moved. He married Alicia,
daughter of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, by whom he had
issue Hugh Kevelioc, that succeeded him, and Beatrix,
married to Ralph, Baron of Malpas, and dyed, or ac-
cording to Hollinshed, was, through P ever ell, Earl of
Nottingham, poysoned, in the 17th year of King Stephen,
A.D. 1152, when he had been Earl
years.
The Fifth Earl was Hugh, sirnamed Bohun, son of the
last named Ranidph. When Henry, the young Prince,
took up arms against his Father, Henry II, and in Nor-
129
mandy and Brittain, animated by the young Louis King
of France, and William, King of Scots, he allured unto
him this Earl Hugh, and other English nobles, who were
in the end overcome by King Henry, led captives into
Normandy, and kept prisoners in Falois : but after a
year's imprisonment, the Father and Son were reconciled,
and the King of Scots and this Earl of Chester were put
to their ransome, which the said Hugh paid, and got him
home, A.D. 1174, being taught by his folly to be more
wise afterwards, and lived peaceably the rest of his dayes.
He married Beatrice, daughter of Richard Lancy, Chief
Justice of England, and by her had one son Randulph,
and four daughters. He continued Earl until A.D. 1180,
about 28 years, und then deceased, his burial place be-
ing the Town of Leek, in Staffordshire.
The Sixth Earl, and most famous of all before him,
130
was Ranulph the good, sirnamed Blondevitte, or Album
Monasterum, of that place in Powis, where he was horn
(which some say is Oswestry.) In his youth he waged
many hattles with Llewellyn Prince of Wales, against
whose forces he once hazarded himself so venturously,
that he was in danger, and glad to retire into the Castle of
Ruthland (Ehuddhm), where Llewellyn heseiged him.
Then it was that Roger Lacey, Constable of Chester,
hearing of his perill, called his friends hastily together,
and amongst them Ranulph Dutton, his son in law, a
brave youthful gentleman ; who gathered together a great
company of Musicians and others in, and about Chester,
and gave onset upon the Earl's enemies, raising the seige,
and delivering the Earl out of that great distresse ; the
reward of which was, to have the command of such people
and their profession ; which right hath continued in the
heirs of Dutton unto this day. When King Richard I.,
was warring in Asia against the Infidels, his Brother
Jchn was at home, seeking means to deprive his Brother
Richard of his Crown and Kingdom ; but this valiant Earl
loyally withstood Earl John, and with others maintained
war against him, winning from him the Castle of Notting-
ham, and other strong holds. King Richard deceasing
afterwards without issue, John became now the lawful
Soveraign, and the Earl then, with magnanimous valour,
took part with the King against his seditious subjects,
131
and their ally, Louis the French King. And when the
said King John departed this life, leaving his son Henry,
a child ten years old, to be King ; yet did not this noble
Earl Ranulph shew less loyalty to his Soveraign ; and
being assisted by the brave Earl of Pembroke, and others,
encountered the said Louis in the memorable Battle of
Lincoln, where he slew and put to flight the French and
English Rebels, and sent Louis packing out of this land.
This worthy Earl, then created Earl of Lincoln, was down
by his heroicall disposition to the "Wars in Egypt and
Syria, against the Saracens and Infidels, which he also
managed with the like successe ; and after his many vic-
tories returned home to his Earldom of Chester ; and
when the affairs of war gave him leisure, he founded the
Gray Friars in Coventry ; the Abbey of Delacross neer
Leek, in Staffordshire ; the Castle of Beeston, in Che-
shire ; and of Chartley, Staffordshire. He left no mean
glory behind him, in the excellent parts of wisdom that
was in him, having compiled a Book of the Laws of the
Realm, with good judgement. He held five Earldoms
together, viz. : Chester, Lincoln, Huntingdon, Brittain
and Richmond; he was Earl of Chester about 51 years,
and dyed without issue, in A.D. 1532, at Wallingford in
Berkshire, but lyes buried in the Chapter House of
Chester.
132
The Seventh Earl was John, (sirnamed Scot, being a
Scot born) who inherited in right of his Mother, eldest
daughter of Earl Hugh. This said Earl John had a great
revenue, the possession of his said Grandfather ; and for
a time did worthily maintain war against Llewellyn, the
Prince of Wales ; yet, at length grew into peace with
him, which fell out his utter overthrow ; for, having mar-
ried Jane, Llwellyn's daughter, she instead of cherishing
and comforting him, did devilishly plot his destruction,
and by poyson brought his life to an end, at Darnhall
from whence his body was brought to Chester, and in-
terred in the Chapter House, by the grave of his Uncle
Ranulph, leaving, after him, no issue to inherit. John
Scot, the last of the Earls of Chester, governed, as Earl,
about five years, and dyed at Darnhall, A.D. 1237. The
Earldom then reverted to the Crown.
L[ST OF HUGH LUPUS' BARONS.
1 . Nigel, Baron of Halton.
2. Robert, Baron of Montalt.
3. William, Baron of Wicli Malbanc (Nantwich).
4. Richard Vernon, Baron of Shipbrook.
5. Robert Fitzhugh, Baron of Malpas.
6. Hamon de Massey, Baron of Dunham Massey.
7. Gilbert Venables, Baron of Kinderton.
8. Nicholas, Baron of Stockport.
ROYAL EARLS OF CHESTER.
1. King Henry HI, on the decease of John Scot,
without male issue, bestowed the Princedom of Wales,
and Earldom of Chester, (in 1254), upon Prince Edward
his Son, afterwards Edward I; after which it fell out that
the King's Eldest Son was still created Earl of Chester,
134
and Prince of Wales ; the said King, to maintain still the
honour of the County Palatine, continued their antient
rights, and Palatine Jurisdictions and Privileges.
2. Prince Edward heing afterwards King, his son
Edward, (sirnamed Carnarvon, from the place of his
birth) was by his said Father created Prince of Wales
and Earl of Chester, in 1303, and became afterwards
King Edivard II.
3. King Edward II., gave the Earldom of Chester to
Edward of Windsor, his Son, then scarce 10 years old ;
whom he summoned unto the Parliament, in 1322, by the
titles of Earl of Chester and of Flint.
4. King Edward III created his Son, Edivard of
Woodstock (called the Black Prince) Earl of Chester in
1333, which worthy Prince dyed during his Father's life
time, leaving a Son.
5. Richard, born at Bordeaux, created by his Grand-
father Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Nov. 20,
1376, he being then about 11 years old. On the said
Richard becoming King, he also styled himself Prince of
Chester, but this title did not long endure.
6. King Hennj IV., created his eldest Son, Henry of
Monmouth, Earl of Chester, &c, Oct. 15th, 1399. King
Henry V., left his Son, an Infant about half a year old,
King, so that there was no creation to him of this Earl-
dom. In the 13th year of his Reign, he created
135
7. Edward, his Son Earl of Chester, on March 15th,
1452 ; which Prince, in the civil war between the houses
of York and Lancaster, together with his Father, left
their honours and lives to Edward IV., who obtained the
victory.
8. King Edward IV., created Edward of Westminster,
his Son, Earl of Chester, in 1471, who by the treacherous
Usurpation of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was deprived
of Crown, Realm, Life and all.
9. The Usurper Richard being now King, he made his
Son Edward Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester ; but by
the revenging hand of God, Henry VII, by a happy War*
brought a blessed Peace to this then miserable and dis-
tracted kingdom.
10. He created Arthur his eldest Son, Earl of Chester,
Nov. 30th, 1489.
11. This Prince deceasing in his Father's lifetime,
King Henry's onely remaining Son, Henry, became Earl
of Chester, Feb. 18th, 1502, and was afterwards King,
by the name of King Henry VIII.
12. There was after this no special creation of Earl of
Chester until His present Majesty {James 1st) in 1610,
created Henry, his eldest Son, Prince of Wales and Earl
of Chester, which most hopeful young Prince, upon the
9th of Nov. 1612, it pleased God to take to an immortal
crown of glory in Heaven,
136
13. The next in succession at his decease was that il-
lustrious Charles, His Majestie's second Son, created, in
1612, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester ; for whose
health, happiness, and long continuance in the possession
of all his just Titles and privileges, never had a people
more cause to pray unto God than we have. [Our Author
closes his list of the Royal Earls of Chester with Prince
Charles, afterwards the unfortunate monarch King Charles
I. In grateful remembrance however of the Royal favour
and patronage bestowed upon the present edition, the List
has been continued down to our own time.]
14. Charles II, born May 29, 1630, though declared,
was never actually created Prince of Wales and Earl of
Chester. He died Feb. 6th, 1685.
15. George II, born October 30, 1683, created Earl
of Chester on his father's accession to the Throne in Sep.
1714, and died Oct. 25th, 1752.
16. Frederick Lewis, son of George II, born Jan.
20th, 1707, created Earl of Chester in December, 1728,
and died, in the lifetime of his Father, on March 20th,
1751.
17. George HI, Eldest Son of Prince Frederick and
Grandson of George II, born May 24th, 1738, created
Prince of Wales, and Earl of Chester, April 20th, 1751,
and died Jan. 29, 1820.
18. George IV, Son of the last named, and Uncle of
137
Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, born August
12th, 1762, and created Prince of Wales and Earl of
Chester, August 17, in the same year. He died June
26th, 1830.
19. Albert Edward, Eldest Son of Her present Ma-
jesty, born November 9th, 1841, and created Prince of
Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester, fyc., De-
cember 9th, 1851, whom may Almighty God long pre-
serve to this Kingdom and Nation.
â– *T>A*v
LIST OF THE MAIORS OE CHESTER.
The first certainty of a Maior's government in the City,
by the name of Maior, is the 25th Henry 3rd, A.D. 1242.
Anno.} Maiors.
1242"}
to ^Sir Walter Lynuet.
1248>
1249 1
to \ Richard Clarke.
1256 S
1259 The same.
1265 The same.
1268 "I
to j-Sir John Aruway.
1278 }
Anno
Maiobs.
1279
Randle de Daresbury
1280
The same.
1281
Robert le Mercer.
1282
The same.
1283
Alexander Hurell.
1284
Robert le Mercer.
1285
The same.
1286
Robert de Tarvin.
SEAL OF THE MAYOR AND CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF CHESTER.
140
Ann
o. Maiors.
Anno. Maiors.
1287
1 The same.
William Doncaster
1288
succeeded him.
1289
1290
1291
1292
Hugh de Meoles.
Robert de Tarvin.
Robert Mercer.
The same.
1318
1319
1320
William Doncaster.
William, son of Peter
Brickhill.
John Brickhill.
1293
1294
1296
1297
1298
to
Hugh de Brickhill.
Robert Mercenai (or
Mercer)
Hugh de Brickhill.
The same.
[ Alexander Hurell.
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
The same.
William Clark.
William Brickhill.
Richard Russell.
Richard le Bruin.
The same.
Richard Gerves.
1300
1328
The same.
1301
Hugh de Brickhill.
1329
William Brickhill.
1302
Alexander Hurell.
1330
The same.
1303
Hugh de Brickhill.
1331
Roger le Blond.
1304
The same.
1332
The same.
1305
Richard Le Genour.
1333
Richard de Wheatley.
1306
to
1309
• Hugh de Brickhill.
1334
1335
Roger le Blond.
Hugh, sou of John le
1310
1311
1312
1313
Benedict Stanton.
Hugh de Brickhill.
The same.
Benedict Stanton.
1336
1337 ,
to
1339 !
Blond.
Soger le Blond.
John Blond.
1314
John Blond.
1340
Roger de Ledsham.
1315
The same.
1341
Richard Capenhur.st.
1316
William Doncaster.
1342
The same.
1317
John Blond, who dying â–
1343
John Blond.
141
Anno. Maiors.
1344 Richard Capenhurst.
1345 The same.
1346 Henry Terrand.
1347 John Blond.
1348 The same.
1349 Burtram Northern.who
being slain by Rich-
ard Datton,
Richard Bruin suc-
ceeded.
1350 .
to J John Blond.
1352 '
1353 Richard Le Bruin.
1355 .
to > John Blond.
1S58 >
1359 .
to [ Alan de Wheatley.
1362 '
1363 Roger Ledsham.
1364 The same.
1365 John Dalby.
1366 The. same.
1367 Richard Le Bruin.
1368 The same.
1369 ,
to f John Whitmore, Jun.
1372 '
1373 Alexander Belleter.
1374 Richard Bruin, Jun.
1375 Richard Dounfould.
Anno. Maiors.
1376 The same.
1377 Thomas Bradford.
1378 The same.
1379 John le Chamberlain.
1380 .
to [ David de Ewlowe.
1383 S
1384 John le Chamberlain.
1385 The same.
1386.
to [â– John Armerer.
1388 '
1389 Robert de Marshull.
1390 John Armerer.
1391 Gilbert Trussell.
1392 The same.
1393 John Armerer.
1394 The same.
1395
to ( John Capenhurst.
1399 *
1400 John Bebbington.
1401 The same, who dying,
John Marshall suc-
ceeded.
1402 Roger Potter.
1403 Ralph Hatton.
1404 John Preston.
1405 ,
to i John Ewlowe.
1403 S
1410 Roger Potter.
142
Anno. Maiors.
1411 John Walsh.
1412 »
John Whitmore.
to
1414'
1415 John Walsh.
1416 William de Hawarden
1417 John Overton.
1418 William Hawarden.
1419 }
to [ John Hope.
1421 >
1422 John Walsh.
1423 John Hatton.
1424
." to > John Hope.
1427 >
1428 John de Bradeley.
1429 John Walsh.
1430 Robert Hope.
1431 Richard Massie.
1432 The same.
1433 Thomas Wotton.
1434 Adam Wotton.
1435 John Walsh.
1436 William Stamner.
1437 Richard Massie.
1438 Richard Weston.
1439 Nicholas Daniel.
1440 John Pilkinton.
1441 Hugh Maddock.
1442 John Flint.
Anno. Maiors.
1443 .
to J Nicholas Daniel.
1445 >
1446 Edward Skinner
1447 The same, who dying,
William Rogerson suc-
ceeded.
1448 William Rogerson.
1449 William Massy.
1450 W lliam Whitmore.
1451 John Dutton.
1452 William Skinner.
1453 Nicholas Daniel.
1454 The same.
1455 Jenkin Cottingham.
1456 The same.
1457 Nicholas Daniel.
1458 The same.
1459 John Southworth.
1460 The same.
1461 David Ferrer.
1462 Robert Brine.
1463 Robert Rogerson.
1464 Roger Ledsham.
1465 Richard Rainford.
1466 William Lilly.
1467 John Southworth.
1468 John Dedwood.
1469 Thomas Kent.
1470 Thomas Cottingham.
143
Anno
Maiors.
Anno
Maiors.
1471
Robert Rogerson.
1501
Ralph Davenport.
1472
John Spencer.
1502
Richard Wright.
1473
John Whitmore.
1503
Richard Goodman.
1474
John Southworth.
1504
Thomas Smith.
1475
Hugh Massey.
1505
Thomas Thornton.
1476
John Southworth.
1506
Thomas Barrow.
1477
The same.
1507
Richard Wirrall.
1478
Robert Notterville.
1508
Richard Wright.
1479
William Sneyd.
1509
Thomas Hawarden.
1480
John Southworth.
1510
William Rogerson.
1481
Roger Hurleston e.
1511
Thomas Smith.
1482
The same.
1512
Pierce Dutton.
1483
John Dedvvood.
1513
Sir Pierce Dutton.
1484
Sir John Savage.
1514
The same, deposed
1485
The same.
John Rathbone suc-
1486
Henry Port.
ceeded.
1487
Hugh Hurleston.
1515
Sir Thomas Smith.
1488
George Bulkely.
1516
William Sneyd.
1489
Ralph Davenport.
1517
William Davison.
1490
John Barrow.
1518
Thomas Barrow.
1491
Randal Sparrow.
1519
John Rathboae.
1492
Roger Hurleston.
1520
Thomas Smith.
1493
Ralph Davenport.
1521
The same.
1494
George Bulkely.
1522
William Davison.
1495
Richard WirralL
1523
David Mtddleton.
1496
Thomas Barrow.
1524
Robert Goulbourn.
1497
Thomas Farrar.
1525
Robert Aldersey.
1498
Richard^Goodman.
1526
Robert Barrow.
499
John Cliffe.
1527
Thomas Smith.
1500
Thomas Farrar.
1528
Hugh Aldersey. '
144
Annc
Maiors.
Anno
Maiors.
1529
Henry Bradford.
1554
Foulk Dutton.
1530
Thomas Smith.
1555
John Smith.
1531
William Sneyd.
1556
John Webster.
1532
William Goodman.
1557
William Bird.
1533
Henry Gee.
1558
Laurence Smith.
1534
Ralph Rogerson.
1559
Henry Hardware.
1535
Sir Thomas Smith.
1560
William Aldersey.
1536
William Goodman.
1561
John Cowper.
1537
Foulk Dutton.
1562
Randle Bamvile.â„¢
1538
David Middleton.
1563
Sir Lawrence Smith.
1539
Henry Gee.
1564
Richard Pool.
1540
Lawrence Smith.
1565
Thomas Green.
1541
Hngh Aldersey.
1566
William Sneyd.
1542'
William Beswick.
1567
Richard Dutton.
1543
William Sneyd.
1568
William Ball.
1544,
Robert Barton.
1569
Sir John Savage.
1545
William Holeroft.
1570
Sir Lawrence Smith.
1546
Hugh Aldersey, who
1571
John Hankey.
dying,
1572
Roger Lea.
John Smith succeeded.
1573
Richard Dutton.
1547
Ralph Goodman.
1574
Sir John Savage.
1548
Foulk Dutton.
1575
Henry Hardware.
1549
Thomas Aldersey.
1576
John Harvey.
1550
Edmund Gee, who
1577
Thomas Bellin.
dying,
1578
William Jewett.
William Goodman
1579
William Goodman,
succeeded.
who dying, g
1551
William Glaseour.
Hugh Rogerson suc-
1552
Thomas Smith.
ceede '.
1553
John Offley.
1580,
William Bird.
145
Anno
Maiors.
Anno
Maiors. f
1581
Richard Bavand.
1602
Hugh Glaseour.
1582
William Stiles.
1603
John Aldersey.
1583
Robert Brerewood.
1604
Edward^Dutton.
1584
Valentine Broughton.
1605
John Littler.
1585
Edmund GamulL
1606
Philip Phillips.
1586
William Wall
1607
Sir John Savage.
1587
Robert Brerewood.
1608
William Gamull.
1588
Robert Brock, who
1609
William Leycester.
dying,
1610
Thomas Harvey.
William Hamnet suc-
1611
John Ratcliffe.
ceeded.
1612
Robert Whitby.
1589
William Cotgreve.
1613
William Aldersey, Jun.
1590
William Massy.
1614
William Aldersey, Sen
1591
Thomas Lineall.
1615
Thomas Throp.
1592
John Fitton.
1616
Edward Button.
1593
David Lloyd.
1617
Charles Fitton.
1594
Foulk Aldersey.
1618
Sir Randal Mainwar-
1595
William Aldersey.
ing.
1596
Thomas Smith.
1619
Hugh Williamson.
1597.
J Sir John Savage, 'who
1620
William Gamull.
dying,
1621
Robert Whitehead.
Thomas Fletcher suc-
1622
Sir Thomas Smith.
ceeded.
1623
John Brereton.
1598
Richard Rathbone.' j
1624
Peter Drinkwater.
1599
Henry Hardware.
1625
Sir Randal Mainwar-
1600
Robert Brerewood,
ing.
who dying,
1626
Nicholas Ince.
Richard Bavand suc-
1627
Richard Dutton. (
-;-
ceeded.
1628
John Ratcliffe.
1601
John Ratcliffe.
1629
Christopher B lease.
146
Anno
Maiors.
Anno
Maiors.
1630
Charles.Walley.
1643
Randle Holme. ]
1631
William Allen, who
1644
Charles Walley.
flying,
1645
The same.
Thomas Bird suc-
1646
William Edwards.
ceeded.
1647
Robert Wright.
1632
William Spark.
1648
Richard Bradshaw.
1633
Randle Holme.
1649
William Crompton.
1634
Francis Gamul.
16.50
Richard Leicester.
1635
Thomas Knowles.
1651
Owen Hughes, who
1636
William Edwards.
dying,
1637
Thomas Throp.
John Johnson suc-
1638
Robert Sproston.
ceeded.
1639
Robert Harvey.
1652
William Bennett.
1640
Thomas Ooper.
1653
Edward Bradshaw.
1641
Thomas Cooper.
1654
Richard Bird.
1642
William Ince.
1655
William Wright.
SHERIFFS OF CHESHIRE.
Temp. Sheriffs of Cheshire.
Gilbert Pipard.
Richard de Pierpont.
Lidulphus (dc Twemlow).
Richard de Burham.
Richard de Sonbach.
Richard de Wrenbury (or Wybunbury).
Jordan de Peulesdon.
Hugh de Hatton.
Patrick de Heselwall.
William de Spurstow.
Richard de Wilbraham.
William de Praers.
Robert de Bressey.
Philip de Egerton.
David de Egerton.
William de Mobberley.
Richard Foulshurst.
John de Wrenbury.
Adam de Parker.
Richard de Oulston.
Sir James Audley.
Thomas Danyers (Dainell).
Thomas le Young.
30th,
H. II.
35th,
do.
John
do.
15th,
H. III.
23rd,
do.
52nd,
do.
56th,
do.
4th, :
E. I.
9th,
do.
15th,
do.
26th,
do.
33rd,
do.
2nd,
E. II.
5th,
do.
13th,
do.
16 th,
do.
1st, E. III.
10th,
do.
19th,
do.
22nd,
do.
24th,
do.
33rd,
do.
Temp.
41st,
? E. III.
44th,
do.
ist, :
EL II.
8th,
do.
9th,
do.
11th,
do.
12th,
do.
17th,
do.
ist, :
H. IV.
3rd,
do.
10th,
do.
3rd,
H. V.
10th,
do.
5th,
H. VI.
8th,
do.
16th,
do.
17th,
do.
22nd
, do.
2nd,
E. IV.
10th,
H. VII.
21st,
do.
16th,
H. VIII.
17th,
do.
18th,
do.
21st,
do.
23rd,
do.
33rd ;
, do.
ist, :
Mary.
2nd,
do.
3rd,
do.
148
Sheriffs of Cheshire.
John Scolehall.
Sir Lawrence Dutton.
Hugh Venables (of Kinderton).
Thomas del Wood.
Hugh, Earl of Stafford.
Sir John Massey (of Tatton).
Sir Robert Grosvenor (of Hulme).
Sir Robert Leigh (t.f Adlington).
John Massey (of Puddington).
Henry de Raveuscroft.
Sir William Brereton, of Brereton.
Thos. (or John) Legh (of Booths).
Hugh Dutton (of Hatton).
Richard Warburton.
Sir Ranulph Breton.
John Troutbeck.
Sir Robert Booth (of Dunham Massy).
Sir Robert Booth (his son).
William Stanley (Sen., of Hooton).
John Warburton (of Arley).
Ralph Birkenhead (under-Sheriff).
Sir George Holford (of Holford).
Sir William Stanley (of Hooton).
William Venables (of Kinderton).
John Dore (of Utkinton).
Edward Fitton (of Gawsworth).
John Holford (of Holford).
Sir William Brereton (of Brereton).
Sir Peter Legh (of Lyme).
Sir Hugh Cholmley (of Cholmley).
149
Temp. Sheriffs of Cheshire.
4th, Mary. Richard Wilbraham (of Woodhey). 1
5th, do. Sir Thomas Venables (of Kinderton).
6th, do. Sir Philip Egerton (of Egerton)-
1st, Eliz. William Cholmley (of Cholinley).
2nd, do. Sir John Savage (of Rock Savage).
3rd, do. Sir Ralph Egerton (of Wrinehill).
4th, do. Sir John Warburton (of Arley).
5th, do. Richard Brooke (of Norton).
6th, do. William Massey.
7th, do. Sir John Savage (of Rock Savage).
8tb, do. Sir Hugh Cholmley (of Cholmley).
9th, do. Lawrence Smith (of Hatherton).
10th, do. Ralph Done (of Flaxyards).
11th, do. George Calveley (of Lea).
12th, do. Sir John Savage (of Rock Savage).
13th, do. Sir William Booth (of Dunham Massy.)
14th, do. Thomas Stanley (of Alderley).
15th, do. Sir John Savage (of Rock Savage).
16th, do. The same.
17th, do. Henry Mainwaring (of Carineham).
18th, do. Sir Rowland Stanley (of Hooton).
19th, do. John Warren (of Poynton).
20th, do. Thomas Brooke (of Norton).
21st, do. Sir John Savage (of Rock Savage;.
22nd, do. Sir Ralph Egerton (of Wrinehill).
23rd, do. Sir George Calveley (of Lea).
24th, do. Sir William Brereton (of Brereton).
25th, do. Peter Warburton (of Arley).
26th, do. William Liversage (of Wheelock).
27th, do. Thomas Wilbraham (of Woodhey).
Temp.
28th
, Eliz.
29th
,do.
SOth
,do.
31st,
do.
32nd, do.
33rd, do.
34th
, do.
35th, do.
3
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