wear, and from thence waded down the river for about 70 yards before I could land on the other side; which when I had done, I rau down, keeping close to the river side for near three miles, and then discovered Alvaston, a village not far distant from, but on the other side the river; and being extremely cold and almost spent out, I resolved to make the best of my way thither, which obliged me to swim again across the river. It was with great difficulty I got to the town, where I went to the back door of the first house I came to, which proved to be one Mr. Rigley's, where I was received and behaved to with great humanity. They got me into a warm bed, where I had not lain long before I recollected that there were some women in the house who saw me when I came in; and not hearing them talk, I inquired what was become of them, and was told they were gone to Derby. Upon which I immediately got up, thinking I could not be long safe there, and requested Mr. Rigley's son-in-law, one Mr. Stenson, to accommodate me with some clothes, and direct me to some other house where I might be more concealed. Mr. Stenson lent me some clothes, after which I wanted a horse, which he could not then supply me with; and as I was utterly incapable of walking far on foot, he advised me to go to one Mr. Osborne's, who lived in the same town, and not far distant from him, which I accordingly did, and was received with a deal of civility; but before I had been there two hours, the news was brought me that some men from Derby were come in pursuit of me; upon which I made my escape out of a back door, and with all my might ran towards the river; but apprehending myself closely pursued, and being incapable of undergoing much more fatigue, I got behind a hedge, and lay upon the ground, till the cold had made such an impression upon me, as convinced me that if I continued there much longer I should be incapable of stirring, and accessary to my own death. I then attempted to go, or rather crawl upon my hands and knees, to Mr. Os borne's house, and got in again unobserved at the back door; but no sooner was I set dowo, than the men who were sent by Mr. Heathcote to search for and bring me to Derby came to Mr. Osborne's house; upon. which I made my escape, leaping out of a parlour window: Soon after my pursuers came into the house; and with the greatest difficulty and danger I got to Elvaston, another village at about half a mile's distance from Alvaston, where one Mr. Franceway of Nottingham had left me his horse. I then borrowed some more clothes of a poor man, mounted Mr. Franceway's horse, and in dismal plight made the best of my way to Notting ham, where I arrived about four o'clock in the afternoon. What I have hitherto said are facts of my own knowledge; but what chiefly relates to Mr. Heathcote, and the part which he and his emissaries have acted, I could only have from the testimony of others; and therefore desired a friend to take the examinations of those who heard and observed the same, which he accordingly has done; and yesterday I received from him six examinations in writing, signed by the several parties; by which it appears, that Mr. Heathcote's servant was one of the four persons who pursued me to Alvaston, and the others were three prisoners whom he had engaged and sent to assist in taking me; to whom (as they owned) he had given strict orders, which they in part pursued, by going first to the house of Mr. Rigley, insulting his wife, and declaring that the house, with the family, should or would be burnt or destroyed if I was not immediately delivered up to them; and particularly Mr. Heathcole's servant said he must have me, and durst not go without me. When they had entered in, and searched every corner of the house without finding me, they withdrew to an alehouse in the town, where they got intelligence of my removal from Mr. Rigley's to Mr. Osborne's; upon which they went immediately thither, searched Mr. Osborne's house, used several oaths and imprecations, and added such like threat as they had made use of at Mr. Rigley's, if I was not immediately delivered up to them. One gentleman in bis examination says, that Mr. Heathcote told him that he (Mr. Heathcote) had sent word to the Rebels by one Mr. Francis of Derby, who from thence went after them to Ashbourne, that the person who had made 1 made his escape out of his garden was at a house two miles from Derby; and Mr. Heathcote at the same time declared to this gentleman, that he verily believed that the Rebels who came into his house to enquire for me would have shot me through the head if they had found me. In the above narrative and short abstract of the examinations, I have omitted several circumstances which concur in further shewing the pains Mr. Heathcote was at, and the extraordinary zeal he shewed, to have me taken; though at the same time he has confessed he verily believes I must immediately have fallen a sacrifice to the Rebels. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, ELEAZAR BIRCH. Nottingham, Dec. 8, 1745. Mr. SAM HEATHCOTE, I imagine you are not apprehensive of the nature or consequence of your conduct respecting the gentleman whose clothes were left in your garden. Messengers, I understand, are dispatched to concert measures to obtain satisfaction from you, for the hazards he has run through, and the danger his life has been in, by the part you acted. I I judge it a friendly part to let you know this, that you may speedily use your own prudence, and take the measures you judge proper to prevent the worst of consequences; without which you'll find yourself, before you are aware, in a terrible scrape. If you choose to make any application to the gentle. man, I can direct you where to find him, to-day, or perhaps to-morrow. Let me know something of your purpose by the bearer. I hope you'll receive this as kiudly as I intend it. I am, Sir, yours, SEAGRAVE. Mr. SEAGRAVE, I am obliged to you for your favour by this bearer. The affair mentioned by you is the most unfortunate that ever befel me. The gentleman coming into my garden occasioned my being threatened to have my house blown up, and my servants were threatened to be shot if they did not immediately produce him. The Rebels told me that it was one of their own men who had deserted, and had endeavoured to steal one of the Pretender's horses; that they should soon be here again; and, if I did not make it appear that he was not in my house, I should immediately undergo military discipline. This was the reason, on my hearing of his being at Alvaston, of sending over to be satisfied about it; and if the persons whom I sent behaved otherwise than I intended they should, I am exceeding sorry for it: I intended him no harm, and I hope and believe he has received none on my account. I am now ill of the gout, and cannot travel far, otherwise I would have waited on the gentleman; and when he comes to hear my story, I am sure he would think that I and my family have been in as great hazard as he; therefore I must desire the favour of you to tell him. And as you seem to be concerned for him, I will agree to refer the matter to you, or to any others we can agree on; and the trouble and charge you are at shall be gratefully acknowledged by, Sir, your most humble servant, SAM. HEATHCOTE... Derby, 9th December, 1745. I desire you would do for me as I would do for you in the like case, and let me hear from you to-morrow. Had I known him to be any other than one of the Rebels, I never should have sent after him. Nottingham, 10th Dec. 1745. Mr. HEATHCOTE, Sir, You seem to mistake my letter; for I have not seen the gentleman, nor been applied to by him so much as for my advice, nor expect I shall. What measures are taking I know not; but hear, if something be not done to prevent it, you may soon find yourself in the hands of a messenger. The gentleman, I hear, is not removed this morning, but will be gone so soon as he is able. As I could not readily get to speak with him, I sent your letter, and offered to wait on him at his own time to know his pleasure; but he absolutely refuses to have any thing to say to me in answer to your letter. In letting you know the gentleman was here, I did, in my own apprehension for you, what I should have been glad any one of the profession would have done for me, mutatis mutandis; and now I can do nothing further; but remain, Sir, Yours, &c. SEAGRAVE. COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY. GLOUCESTERSHIRE, INCLUDING BRISTOL. Boundaries. N. E. Warwick. N.W. Worcester. East, Oxford and Berks. Greatest length 70, greatest breadth 40, circumference 160, square 1718 miles. Province, Canterbury, Diocese, Gloucester; excepting the city of Bristol, in its own diocese, and the chapelries of 1ccomb and Cowhoneyborn, in Worcester. Circuit, Oxford. British Inhabitants. ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS. Dobuni. Roman Province. Flavia Cæsariensis. Stations. Glevum, Gloucester: Durocornovium, Cirencester: Abone, Clifton or Aust: Trajectus, Oldbury. Saxon Heptarchy. Mercia. ST. Antiquities. Woodchester and Cirencester Roman Remains. Norbury and Amberley Encampments. GLOUCESTER and Bristol Cathedrals. MARY REDCLIEF in Bristol, TEWKESBURY, CIRENCESTER, FAIRFORD, Quenington, Stroud, Campden, and Elkstone Churches. Hales Abbey. Lantony Priory. Berkeley, Beverstone, St. Briavels, Sudeley, and Thornbury Castles. Southam House. There were four Mitred Abbeys in this county; viz. St. Peter's at Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Winchcombe, aud Cirencester; no other county had more than two: whence perhaps was derived the proverb "As sure as God's in Gloucestershire," being considered as pre-eminently there. St. Peter's, in Gloucester, was founded in 680 by Wolphere, the first Christian King of Mercia. Within the walls of its church, the present cathedral, were interred Osric, King of Northumberland; Ethelred Duke of Mercia; and his wife, Ethelfleda, the heroic daughter of Alfred; Robert Duke of Normandy, eldest son of the Conqueror; and Edward II. The East window is the largest in England, the glass being 78 feet 10 in. by 35 feet 6 in. Here is a curious Whispering gallery. The great bell weighs 6500lbs. Tewkesbury Abbey was founded in 715, by two brothers, Odo and Dodo, Mercian earls. In its stately church had sepulture, Brictric, King of Westsex; Robert Fitzhamon, Earl of Gloucester, the conqueror of Glamorgan ; Edward, son of Henry VI.; George Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV. and his wife Isabel, daughter of the "King-making" Earl of Warwick. The West window is inserted under a most beautiful circular receding arch. Winchcombe Abbey, now wholly destroyed, was founded in 798, by Kenulf, King of Mercia, who, with his son and successor Kenelin (murdered by his sister Quendrida), was buried there. Cirencester Abbey was founded in 1117, by Henry I. The famous Alexander Nequam, or Neckham, was its 7th abbot, and died there 1217. The beautifully painted windows of Fairford Church were placed there by its founder, John Tame, a merchant of London, one of whose vessels captured them in 1492, on board a Flemish ship bound for Italy. In Hales Abbey lie the remains of its founder, Richard, King of the Romans, and Earl of Cornwall, with his wife Senchia, sister to Eleanor, queen of Henry III. and his son Edmund Earl of Cornwall. At Sudeley, Sept. 5, 1548, died and was buried Queen Catharine Parr. In Bristol were buried St. Jordanus, sent by Pope Gregory with Augustin to convert the Saxons; Gildas, our most ancient English historian; and Robert Earl of Gloucester, general and brother to the Empress Maud. The Cathedral was founded in 1140, by Robert Fitzharding, younger son of the King of Denmark, who had sepulture therein. The beautiful Church of St. Mary Redcliff was founded in 1292, by Robert de Burton, six times Mayor of Bristol, and rebuilt in 1456 by William Canynges, the Bristol Gresham, celebrated in the Poems said by Chatterton to have been found in an old chest in this church, and written by a monk named Rowley. GENT. MAG. May, 1817. PRESENT PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE. Rivers. Upper or Warwickshire Avon; Lower or Bristol Avon; Little or Berkeley Avon; Badgworth; Caron; Chilt; Churne; Colne; Evenlode; Frome; Isborne ; Isis; Lech; Leden; SEVERN; Stour; Stroud, Switiate; Thames, whose source is near Cotes; Windrush; Wye. Inland Navigation. Thames and Severn canal, which passes through a tunnel near Saperton, 2 miles and 5 furlongs long, and terminates near Lechlade, where, Nov. 19, 1789, a vessel for the first time passed from the Severn into the Thames. Hereford and Gloucester canal, which at Oxenhall enters a tunnel of 2170 yards long. Thames and Isis, Stroudwater, Berkeley, Lydney canals. Severn, Wye, Frome, and Isis rivers. Eminences and Views. Cotswold and Stroudwater hills. Kymin naval temple. Churchdown and Newnham churches. Tower of Gloucester cathedral. Cleeve Cloud. Iccombe and Willersley camps. Beacon, Birdlip, Breedon, Broadway, Crickley, Frocester, Fryson, Kinsborow, King's Weston, Matson, May, Mæon or Meen, Rodborough, Sodbury, Sponebed, Stanway, Stinchcomb, and Tog hills. Natural Curiosities. The Buckstone near the Kymin. Penpark Hole. St. Dyrham, William Blaythwaite, esq. Gatcomb Park, Edward Sheppard, esq. High Meadow House, Viscount Gage. King's Weston, Lord de Clifford. Beaufort, Lord Lieut. of the County. Matson House, William Fendall, esq. Oakley Grove, Earl Bathurst. Seizincote, Sir Charles Cockerell, bart. Stowell Park, T. Penrice, esq. Tortworth Court, Lord Ducie. Members to Parliament. For the County, 2; Gloucester 2; Bristol, 2; Cirencester, 2; Tewkesbury, 2: total 10. Produce. Cheese, Cider, Butter, Corn, Turnips, Fish, Sheep, Pigs, Timber, Freestone, Iron, Coal, Gypsum, Limestone, Tophus or Puff-stone, Pyrites, Crystals called Bristol Diamonds. Manufactures. Woollen Cloth, Rugs, Carpets, Blankets, Stockings, Bar Iron, Wire, Edge Tools, Pins, Nails, Brass, Vitriol, Minium or Red Lead, Sal Ammoniac, Zinc, Glass, Hats, Refined Sugar, Sauff, Soap. POPULATION. Grand Divisions, 4; Hundreds, 28, and the County of the City of Bristol; Parishes, 320; Market-towns, 28; Houses, 54,040. Inhabitants. Males, 133,192. Females, 152,322: total 285,514. Families Families employed in Agriculture, 20,782; in Trade, 29,988; in neither, 11,322 total, 62,092. Baptisms. Males, 3,860; Females, 3,768.. Marriages, 2,330.- Burials, Houses. Inhab. Newent..... Tetbury. .520 2,533 King's Stanley Colford.. ..1,174 5,321 Wotton under Edge. ...307 1,527 ..992 4,820 Fairford....... .1,093 Total, Towns, 22; Houses, 25,955; Inhabitants, 141,920. HISTORY. A. D. 577 at Dyrham, Britons defeated and three of their Princes slain by Ceaulin, King of Westsex. 687, at Campden, the Saxon Kings met to consult on the best mode of carrying on war with the Britons. 940, at Gloucester, October 26, Athelstan died. 948, at Pucklechurch, May 26, Edmund I. mortally stabbed at a feast by Leolf, a robber. 1016, on the Isle of Alney, single combat between Edmund Ironside and Canute terminated by an offer from Canute to divide the kingdom. 1093, to Gloucester came Malcolm III. of Scotland, to treat with William Rufus. 1141, in Bristol Castle Stephen confined for 9 months, till exchanged for the Earl of Gloucester, brother of the Empress Maud. 1216, at Gloucester, October 28, Henry III. crowned. 1241, in Bristol Castle, died the Princess Eleanor, commonly called the Damsel of Brittany, after a confinement of 40 years. 1263, Gloucester, under Sir Macé de Besile, governor for Henry III. taken by the Barons. 1279, at Gloucester, were enacted by Parliament those laws connected with the Statute of Quo Warranto, known under the appellation of “The Statutes of Gloucester." 1327, at Berkeley Castle, Sept. 22, Edward II. most cruelly murdered. 1400, at Cirencester, conspiracy against Henry IV. suppressed, the Duke of Surrey and Earl of Salisbury being taken and beheaded by the inhabitants. 1461, at Bristol, Edward IV. saw Sir Baldwin Fulford pass to execution: the subject of "The Bristowe Tragedie" by Chatterton, in "Rowley's Poems." 1471, at Tewkesbury, May 4, Lancastrians totally defeated, Marquess of Dorset, Earl of Devon, Lord Wenlock, and 3000 men slain; Margaret of Anjou, her son Prince Edward, and the general the Duke of Somerset taken prisoners by Edward IV. After the battle Prince Edward murdered by the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, and the Duke of Somerset beheaded. 1497, from Bristol sailed the expedition under Sebastian Cabot (fitted out by the inhabitants), which discovered America. 1555, at Gloucester, Feb. 9, John Hooper, the second Bp. of Gloucester, - burnt. 1642-3, Cirencester, under Colonel Fettiplace, Feb. 2, stormed by Prince Rupert, who took 1200 prisoners. 1642-3, at Highnam, March 19, Major-general Brett, Lord John Somerset, and nearly 2000 Royalists, surprised and taken by Sir William Waller. |