ration of the second Charles, both took place in this county, and within a few miles of Daventry. remained till last year; when being deemed useless and incapable of repair, though probably more likely to have stood than many of their junior neigh- Borough-Hill, the BENAVENTA of bours, they were devoted to destruc- the Britons, and ISANNAVARIA of the tion. Ample justice is, however, done Romans, is about half a mile south-east to the History of the Monastery; and from the town, and its military inthe labours of the press may defy axes trenchments are the largest perhaps in and hammers. Passing over the char- the kingdom, the outer circumference ter of incorporation, and lists of muni- of the ramparts being rather more than cipal officers, we come to the annals two miles and a quarter. Mr. Baker of this ancient town, p. 323, which enters fully into its history, and scrumay reasonably date its origin from tinizes the accounts of former writers the decline of a neighbouring British with great judgment; adding the reor Roman station, or both, at Borough-sult of his own personal investigations Hill. It had risen to a considerable degree of local importance in the fourteenth century. An anecdote of Richard the Second is told with almost dramatic spirit, from Thomas Walsingham, as follows: "Henry Spencer, the warlike bishop of Norwich, having been appointed by pope Urban the 6th to the command of a crusade against the antipope Clement the 7th, landed in Flanders in 7 Ric. 2 (1383), and overrun the country; till, being opposed by the whole force of the king of France, he retreated to Gravelines, concluded a truce for a month, and dispatched a letter to the king, representing his perilous situation, and urging instant succour. Never were Richard's characteristic hastiness, irresolution, and procrastination, more strikingly displayed. The messenger found him at supper at Daventry, probably in the priory, as he was then making a progress to various religious houses. He spurned the table from him in a rage, started up, and, breathing vengeance against the French king, called for his horse, and rode furiously towards London. It was midnight when he reached St. Alban's, and finding no change of horse there, he borrowed a palfry of the abbot to relieve his jaded steed. Fatigued with his journey, he retired to rest on his arrival in town; but when he rose, his ardour had cooled, he hesitated, and eventually shrunk from the exertion or danger of a personal enterprize. The duke of Lancaster was then delegated to the service, but so tardy were the preparations, that the truce had expired before he set sail, and the bishop was compelled to submit to the terms of the enemy, and embark for England with the wreck of his army." In the Oliverian times, Daventry had its full share of trouble amongst the contending parties, and "it is not a little remarkable that the battle which decided the fate of the first Charles, and the last struggle of the interregnum, which terminated in the resto in 1823, when, with a troop of labourers at command, he laid bare the site of the Prætorium, and discovered the ground-plan of an extensive building, delineated p. 345, besides opening a range of sepulchral tumuli, which disclosed some urns and other remains of the British and Romanized-British æra. These, with a plan of the encampment, are represented in the embellishments. Quite at home in "untwisting all the chains that tie" the involved subject of ancient legal proceedings, Mr. Baker gives us, at p. 352, a specimen of tact in detailing a very curious litigation, concerning the manor of Dodford, which we may confidently recommend to our professional readers as a bonne bouche. This recommendation may be also applied to the masterly deductions of the manors of Stowe, p. 441, Boddington, p. 474, Byfield, p. 484, Gretworth, p. 507, and Sulgrave, p. 513, where the circumstances of a disputed purchase are recorded in a very singular and interesting manner; nor should the descent of the Barony of Wardon, p. 521, be less an object of attention to the lovers of jurisprudence. These difficult subjects are treated with precision and clearness; and even the general reader may excuse the author's dilating upon them, as they are free from unnecessary prolixity, and do not encroach on the other branches of his undertaking. Fawsley, p. 377, rather fancifully derived from the Saxon Falewe, the colour of the fallow deer, though agreeing with the colour of the soil, belongs to Sir Charles Knightley, bart. and has been the residence of his family since the time of Henry the Fifth. The well-known liberality of its worthy owner, has contributed an exquisite plate, by Blore and H. Le Keux, of its magnificent Gothic hall, now fitted up as a Saloon, 54 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 43 feet high. The Knightleys are descended from Rainald the Domesday possessor of Knightley in Staffordshire, and their achievement marshals the almost unprecedented number of 334 quarterings, each of which, if the reader please, he may trace to its authority in their copious pedigree. The custom of Church-scot, an offering to the Church of the first fruits of harvest, ordained by Ina, King of the West Saxons, in the seventh century, receives a complete illustration in the endowment of Fawsley vicarage. The Lodge, a jointure-house of the Knightleys, now in ruins, affords a picturesque subject for Mr. Blore's burin; and some ancient carved pauels in the Church, one of them grotesquely exhibiting a scene of "when the cat's away, the mice may play," are delicately etched by Miss Baker; who at p. 294, presents us with a vignette of an old horse-bridge over the Charwell, a river which very ingloriously rises in the cellar of Charwell House, a grange near Charwelton, though afterwards dignified by a confluence with the classic Isis, at Oxford. At Litchborough, p. 404, is a view of the residence of William Grant, esq. who has kept a register of the growth of trees, which deserves particular notice. A view of the Royal Military Depot at Wedon, was published in Part I. It is here thus described, p. 452: par "In 1803 an act of parliament passed for the purchase of about 53 acres in Wedon, to be vested in trustees for erecting Buildings thereon for the service of His Majesty's Ordnance;' and by vote of liament 100,000l. was annually appropriated to the works till completed. Subsequent purchases have increased the estate to about 150 acres. The accompanying engraving exhibits a general view of the Royal Military Depot,' as it is usually styled, rising from the valley, and stretching above the village of Lower Wedon The residences of the governor and principal officers form a handsome centre, with two detached wings; and on the summit of the hill, contiguous proportion of field ordnance and ammunition; and a cut having been made between the two rows of buildings into the Grand Junction canal, which forms the eastern boundary of the government estate, a ready communication is effected for transporting the stores to every part of the kingdom. An hospital for 40 patients, and workshops for the necessary artificers, are attached to the establishment.' Edgcole, p. 500, is historically famous for military events, A. D. 1469 (9 Edw. IV.), and 1642 (18 Car.); and tradition insists upon a battle having been fought there between the Danes and Saxons. BRINAVIS, one of the Roman stations in the eighteenth iter of Richard of Cirencester, is satisfactorily fixed by Mr. Baker at Wardon, p. 530. Stukeley placed it at Banbury, and the Rev. Mr. Leman, in his valuable commentary on Richard, at Black-Grounds near Chipping-Norton, a misprint, as he afterwards admitted, for ChippingWardon. It is the intermediate station between Isannavaria near Daventry, and Elia Castra, Alchester near Bicester. St. Andrew's Priory manor in Sulgrave, p. 513, belonged to the Washingtons, whose pedigree deduces them from Whitfield, co. Lancaster. Lawrence Washington sold this estate in 8 Jac. (1610), and retired to Brington, where he died. His second son, John, migrated to America about the middle of the same century, and was great-grandfather of the FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which combined with the circumstance of the neighbouring parish of Wardon furnishing the descent of FREDERICK LORD NORTH, prime minister of the mother country during her struggle with her rebellious children, presents, as Mr. Baker observes, such a singular and interesting coincidence, as the local pride of the historian could not suffer to pass unnoticed. Amongst other subjects which this volume brings before the reader, BroGRAPHY receives a due share of the of Thomas Lord Cromwell; Henry author's attention. Memoirs are given Holland, a learned papist of the sixteenth century, one of the principal translators of the Rhenish Testament; John Oxenbridge an eccentric divine, whom Wood characterizes as 66 composed of a strange hodg-podg of opinions, though Dr. Mather gives him GENERAL LIBRARY to the Chester road, are barracks for 500 men, where a regiment of the line is generally quartered for the protection of the place. At the bottom of the lawn, south of the governor's house, are eight storehouses and four magazines, capable of stowing 200,000 stand of small arms, with a UNIVERSITY OF Georgia credit for great piety; Dod the decalogist, and his grandson Bishop Wilkins; Bishop Andrew ; Parkhurst the lexicographer; Alban Butler; Peters the amiable divine and painter; Smith the mezzotinto engraver; Nenia Doug las, and other distinguished persons. In addition to the embellishments already noticed, this portion contains Views of the Palace of Holdenby, presented by the Hon. G. Agar Ellis; Middleton Cheney Church, by Archdeacon Churton; Barnwell Church, by J. P. Ord, esq.; Oundle Church, by J. W. Russell, esq.; a fine brass at Charwelton; remarkable doors of several other Churches; Priory and Corporation Seals, &c.; together with a lithographic drawing of a Fossil Fish, found near Stowe-Nine-Churches, and presented to the author by J. Flesher, esq. in such a matchless state of preservation as to exhibit not only the form but the very colour of its scales and fins! As the book itself must by this time be in the hands of most of our antiquarian readers, we forbear to multiply quotations from it. Discrimination is seldom shewn by unqualified praise; but in the present instance we candidly acknowledge that our critical optics can discover nothing blame-worthy. Some remark might perhaps be made on the length of time which has elapsed since the publication of Part I., did not the interval appear to have been so well employed as to require no apology. "Festina lentè," it must be admitted, is the best maxim whereby to regulate many other paces besides those of a County Historian, and we feel confident Mr. Baker will neither loiter by the way, nor make more haste than good speed. We thank him heartily for what he has already achieved, and assure him of our best wishes for the successful progress of his laborious undertaking. Excited by the most amiable of local emotions, and regarding with honest pride the ancient honours of his native place, the History of Tamworth was commenced by one of the authors when a boy; and his collection seems to have kindled a similar spirit in a brother, who with very commendable enthusiasm has condensed and arranged the crude materials bequeathed to him, and adding from his own stores so much as was necessary to complete the work, has put forth the present num ber as a sample of his labours in local history. The first part has been occupied, and perhaps too diffusely, with individual biography-gleaned too from sources often questionable, and mixed with matter not always authentic. To separate fiction from England's early history-to divorce (if we may use the term) Truth from the legendary lore to which she has been unnaturally allied, is now a hopeless task. All that remains is to receive with caution the narratives which the early chroniclers, as superstitious as prejudiced, have transmitted to us; and as we cannot all be expected to weigh authorities, and to confront contradictory witnesses, we must be content that the "olden time" shall rest with the dark shadows of imperfect tradition upon it-certain as we are, that the opportunities of preparing authentic records were as limited, as the disposition to legendary romance was common and irresistible. pe The author of the work under consideration, we think, therefore, might have more briefly adverted to the riod of Anglo-Saxon history, when Tamworth was the Royal seat of the kingdom of Mercia. Retaining with advantage such parts as related more immediately to local events, he could have dispensed with much of that general information which is hardly within the province of Topography, and of the entire accuracy of which we may be permitted to express some modest doubts. However, this is but a matter of taste; and as such materials have been collected at considerable expence of time and research, they may serve to enliven the book to the general reader, if he observe the caution we have ventured to suggest. Of the early History of Tamworth, we learn that its name is derived from its principal river the Tame, prefixed to the Saxon word peops, prædium, da farm. In the eighth century it 83 is recorded as a Royal residence, and was successively inhabited by four Kings of Mercia, Offa, Coenwulf, Berhtwulf, and Burhred. It is added, "On the flight of Burhred, Ceolwulf II. 1 one of his officers, having sworn fealty to the Danes, promised to provide food for their armies, and to deliver up his office whenever they required, was elevated by them to the deserted and degraded throne. This abject monarch reigned about three years, which time he employed in the most rigorous oppression of his wretched subjects, when, having displeased his Danish masters, he was stripped of his robes of royalty, and perished miserably. In him Mercia's titular sovereignty ended for ever, having existed from its first establishment under Creoda, anno 585, to this period, anno 377, 292 years, and been governed by a succession of 21 Kings." During the reign of Edward the Second, or the Martyr, Tamworth was distinguished by a Royal mint; and various specimens of coins, afterwards struck here, are noticed in succession, on the authority of Ruding. It appears from the Advertisement prefixed to this work, that its further progress depends upon the success of the present number. We can hardly believe, distinguished as Tamworth is for an opulent and intelligent population, that so creditable an attempt to trace its local history, such indefatigable research employed to rescue its ancient glory, and so much genuine talent exercised in clothing the rude materials of its early day in pleasing and not inelegant language, can be viewed with coldness or indifference. 8. Historical and Topographical Notices of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and its Environs, including the Parishes and Hamlets of the Half-hundred of Lothingland in Suffolk. By John-Henry Druery. London, Nichols and Son, c. Post 8vo, PP. 386. THIS interesting volume being ushered into the world under the modest title of "Notices," it would be obviously unfair towards the author to expect a lengthened detail either of the early history of the Borough, or its Yet in present state and appearance. the latter department there are subjects, in our opinion, which might have been curtailed without lessening the interest of the work. The early history is avowedly "a rapid sketch of the leading contents of the laborious and voluminous Swinden," who has recorded so much of Yarinouth history, that, "with the exception of the public buildings and the more recent records of local events, little perhaps remains to be added." This notice of the public buildings, and the record of local events, chiefly in the form of a chronology at the end of the volume, constitutes what relates to the Borough of Yarmouth. Respecting the Roman station at the adjoining village of Caister, Mr. Druery says: "Little if any of the ancient camp at Caister at present remains, although Spelman mentions the existence of a wall and fortification in his time; but whether Roman or otherwise could not be ascertained with any certainty. Its claim therefore to be considered the ancient Garianonum rests principally upon the silent testimony of the Roman coins and other relics taken up at various times near its site, while that at Burgh, from its superior durability, appears calculated to point out with certainty to future ages the long disputed fact of its identity.' P. 5. The early history of the Borough, down even to the reign of Charles II. presents the reader with little else than a continued chain of litigation and difficulty with the adjacent villages, chiefly respecting the line of boundary, although the bailiffs were frequently amerced for not annually perambulating the town limits. "About the year 1578 the town was upon the eve of being plunged into another law contest, had not the object in view disappeared as suddenly as it was in itself singularly uncommon. A part of the Scroby sand, which rises in the ocean three miles North of Yarmouth, having become dry, was covered with verdant grass, and the abode of numerous sea-fowl. In the summer-season the people of Yarmouth resorted there in parties of pleasure; and two years after the bailiffs took formal possession of the island, giving an elegant entertainment upon the occasion, which is recorded in the court-roll of that year. The claim was resisted by Sir Edward Clare, then lord of the manor of Scroby, who, conceiving himself entitled to it as parcel of that manor, erected a frame of timber thereon, in testire mony of his title. The acquisition of this island was the more valuable, as from its proximity to other sands, stranded goods of great value were frequently lodged upon it by the currents and preserved. This happened particularly in 1582, when some silks, wax, and other rich merchandize, were dis covered and carried to Yarmouth, but claimed by Sir Edward. The burgesses, however, would not consent to deliver them, and the parties were upon the point of obtaining a legal decision upon the question, when a heavy gale of wind springing up from the eastward, caused the tide to rage with such violence, that in one night the whole island disappeared, leaving the dismayed and astonished controversialists not a foot of land to dispute about." P. 25. "The first houses are said to have been built near a spot now called Fuller's-hill, which tradition says was named after the founder, one Fuller, a fisherman, or merchant.' P. 8. By King John's charter the burgesses were enabled to elect a Provost from their own body; before which time he was appointed by the King. The Provost was subsequently changed for four Bailiffs, who in their turn gave way to the Mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncil, by charter, anno 36 Charles II. This charter was set aside in the following reign, but was finally renewed by Queen Anne. This portion of the work is concluded by a curious account of the election of the chief magistrate, which has been practised ever since the year 1491. The Borough of Yarmouth, although containing a population little short of 20,000, consists of but one parish, with a chapel of ease. Among the public buildings, therefore, our attention was first directed to the parish Church, and we were much disappointed in finding that it was not considered worthy of graphic illustration *. We could willingly have dispensed with one of the sea or river views for the purpose of making room for the most prominent and most interesting object within the Borough, considered with reference to its antiquity. In deed, we have no hesitation in saying, that in all topographical works the Church should be at least one of the first objects selected for the engraver ; and we believe the plan is generally acted upon. But we will proceed to Mr. Druery's description of the Church. "The Church [which is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron of fishermen] appears in the form of a perfect cross, having a nave and two side ailes (the former of which is visibly the least in heighth and width, but extends further eastward than the other two), a chancel and two single aile tran * Four Views of this fine Church are given in vol. I. of Neale's Churches. septs, from the four roofs of which springs an embattled tower, having a spire, in the fashion of our ancient cathedrals, to which it bears a very strong resemblance. The building has undergone so much alteration at different periods, that little perhaps of its antient appearance is retained. The transepts were added about 150 years after the original building, by William de Middleton, Archdeacon of Canterbury and Bishop of Norwich, sometime prior to his death... The principal entrance is through a porch on the South side, the intersecting arches of which, blackened by time, are yet perfect; and on the outside are depicted the arms of France and England in separate escutcheons. At the West end of the nave is a low door, now disused; opposite to which is the ancient font, which has an octangular base, with a modern top of wood. It is separated from the nave by a bar or railing, the original of which, according to the then prevailing ecclesiastical notions, was intended to prevent the approach of unbaptised persons into the Church. Further eastward was a kind of gallery called the rood-loft, supporting a large crucifix. This was built Olave's, who ornamented it in a rich and in 1370 by Roger de Haddiscoe, prior of St. appellation of opus pretiosum circa magnum curious manner, which obtained for it the altare The arch under this gallery led into the choir, the situation of which typically signified that whoever would enter into that sacred place, must necessarily pass under the cross, literally to suffer tribulation. ...In the chancel of this Church, during the periods of monachism, was a kind of machinery intended to represent the star which foretold the birth of our Saviour, and several memorandums of money expended for its repair are quoted by Swinden from tower, which appeared crooked in whatever old church books...The old spire of the direction viewed, was composed principally of wood, covered with lead. It was set on fire by lightning in 1683, but extinguished by one John Grice, who had the thanks of the Corporation, and a piece of plate of the value of 10l. presented to him as a remuneration for his services... In 1803 a new spire, 168 feet in height, covered with tin sheet copper, was erected, and the tower tho roughly repaired, which cost 1,890. The |