of wood and blew Cloth to make each of them a Gown and the said Lord Burley did appoint the Alderman of Stamford for the time being to have the nomination of foure of the said poor men when any of the said places shall happen to fâ—ll voyd In anno Dom. 1588 the foresaid Mrs. Iane Cecell by her last Will and Testament gave 50. l. to be lent out for ever without interest to poor Tradesmen and Artificers in Stamford and Stamford-Baron the same to be disposed of by certain Feoffers nominated in hersaid Will Richard Snâ—â—deâ— Clarke and Parson of St. Iohns in Stamford by his last will in anno Dom. 1604 gave certain Lands and Tenements for ever in Stamford after the decease of his wife foâ— seaven poor Widdowes of the age of 60 yeares and upwards the profits whereof doth afford each Widdow 7. d a weeke and a house to dwell in and by the said will it is appointed that the Alderman of Stamford for the time being shall appoint them to their places when any place shall fall void Iane Kâ—shey late of Stamford Widdow the same yeer by her last Will gave 8. l. for ever to be put forth to interest and the profits thereof to go to the use of the poor of Stamford Sir Robert Wingfield late of Vpton in the County of Northampton Knight being one of the Comburgesses of Stamford and likewise one of the Burgesses of the Parliament the same yeâ—re obtained of King Iames the pardon and remittance of two fifteenes for Stamford and Stamford-Baron amounting to the summe of 84. l. 8. s. 4. d. The same Sir Robert Wingfield in anno Dom. 1605 obtained pardon and remittance of the said King Iames for Stamford and Stamford-Baron of six entire fifteenes amounting to the summe of 254. l. 6. s. Anno Dom. 1609 the right honourable Thomas late Earle of Exâ—ter a right pious and charitable person a man as we of Stamford may say fixed in his generation as our Saviour Christ was in his passion betwixt two c. gave a perpetuall annâ—ety of 41. l. 1. s. 8. d. per annum issuing out of certain Lands in Lincolnshire for the putting forth of poor children Apprentizes such as should be born in the Town of Stamford and towards other charitable useâ— besides the Town did often receive from him whilst it was blessed with his life many great and beneficiall favours Hugh Allington late of Timwell in the County of Rutland Esqu by his last will gave 40. l. forever to be lent to the poor artificers in Stamford and Stamford-Baron without interest by certain Feoffers named in his said will Roger Mannors of Vffington in the County of Lincoln Esquire by his last will gave to the use of the poor of Stamford 20. l. for ever to be put forth to interest the profit whereof to be bestowed in Câ—les amongst the said poor yeerly by the disâ—retion of the Alderman for the time being The reverend and pious Prelate Robert Iohnson of Northluffingâ—â— in the County of Rutland late Arch Deacon of Lâ—icester amongst other his pious works to Stamford whilst he lived gave a Bible of the largest size to passe from Alderman to Alderman and the â—id on the Aldermans cushion before him in the Church every Lords day or at other times when he goeth to Church Antony Ashâ—â— Gentleman by his last Will gave 5. l. per annum for ever to the use of the poor in Stamford Mr. Edward Welles gave a house which yeelds 3. l. 10. s. per annum and three akers of Land to be payd to a petty School-master in Stamford to teach poor Free-mens children of that Town to reade English Anno Dom. 1638 VVilliam Beanell late of Chasterton in the County of Huntingdon Esquire by his last Will gave to the use of the poore of Stamford 80. l. the interest whereof to be distributâ—d amongst the said poor by the discretion of the Alderman for the time being St. Maries VVilliam Hickham Alderman of Stamford anno Dom. 1467 at his own cost and charges built the gilded Quire on the North side of the Chancell of the said Church and both he and his wife lye buried under a faire stone of blew Marble as aforesaid in the mistd of the same Quire Richard Banister late of the same parish Gentleman erected at his own charges in the South Quire of St. Maries aforesaid a pâ—â—sique Library and gave some Books to the same as Gallâ—â—s Workes and some other Bookes both of Physick and Chyrurgery and at hiâ— death gave 10. l. in Money the interest of which summe is yeerely to be bestowed in Bookes for the increase of the said Library such as the Minister of that his Parish shall think most fit Mr. Robert Bullack sometime of this Parish was a good benefactor to the same in setting the poor children not onely of this parish but of the town in generall at work to the knitting of Iersey Mr. Iohn West Citizen and Butcher of London born in this Parish gave 4. l. to the said Parish the interest of which is yeerly to be bestowed upon the Poore of the same Robert Bullackâ— of London Chyrurgion giveth 3. l. to be added to the 4. l. his Unckle Iohâ— VVest giveth for the use of the poor the interest to buy Bread the Sabath aâ—ore and after Christ-tâ—dâ— yeerly for ever to be distributed in the Church to needfull poore by the Officers of the said Parish Iohn Bullack of London Butcher giveth 3. l. to make the aforesaid 7. l. 10. l. and the interest of the said 10. l. to be given monthly or at the discretions of the Elders or Church-Wardens Edward Robinson Citizen and White-Baker of London gave 11. l. 6. s. 8. d. per annum to the said Parish during the terme of certain yeeres yet to come in a lease which hee had at the time of his death of the Inne called the White-Horse in Fetter-lane London part of which said summe is to buy Books for the said Library and the rest to be for the repairing and adorning of the said Curch Iohn Lâ—isâ— one of the Comburgesses of Stamford and â—re an inhabitant of this Parish gave 20. l. the interest whereof to be for the repayrers of the said Church One Mr. Greene who lately sojorned in this Parish and here dyed gave very liberally towards the building of a very faire Pulpit in this Church and towards a rich Velvet Pulpit-cloth for the same Mr. Marshall Citizen and White-Baker of London gave 3. l. and Mr. Thomas Harrison Citizen and Vintner of London gave 2. l. The said Master Harrison likewise gave for the use of the said Parish two pewter Flaggons very fayre ones for Communion Wine and a Pewter 〈◊〉 to carry the Bread from Communicant to Communicant likewise he gave to the said Parish a gilt alcumy Bason to gather collection in the Church for the poor There is 6. s. 8. d. per annum payd to St. Maries for the repayrers of the
his body lies interred upon the North side of the North quire of the said Chuâ—ch up against the Wall is erected a reasonable faire Monument in the memory of Richard â—ecel Esquire and Iane his wife the Father and Mother of the said William Lord Burley though the statue of the said Richard there stands yet his body lies buried in St. Margarets Church in Westminster but the body of the said Iane lies in the Vault by her said Son William Lord Burley Both in the uppermost window of the Quire of this Church and in many of the windowes and Stone-work in the body of the same stands the paternall Coat of Trigg viz. Azure two Chevernels Or betwixt three Roses Argent whereby it seemes that the Ancesters of that Family have been good benefactors as well to the windows as to the rest of the Fabrick of this Church There is in the same windowes the Coat Armor of the Family of Vincents who were the ancient Lords of Barneck neer Stamford being Azure three Gray-hounds Heads cupped Or. Also the Armes of Mathew Parker somâ—time Arch-Bishop of Canterbury being Verte three Cunnyes Argent the same impaled to the Armes of the Aâ—chbishoprick There is in the same windowes an ancient Coat of Armes attributed by some Heralds to be born by Egbert a Saxon King the Field is Iupiter a Crosse patence Sol which demonstrateth the Antiquity of this Church and the charity of the pious Benefactors to the same But Glasse and Stone in time decay Yet Vertues fame shall loâ—t alway CHAP. IX The Names and pious Deeds of such as have been Benefactors to Stamford either to the Corporation in generall or to particuler Parishes in the same with the severall Vses of those good deeds described IT now followes that I here set downe the names of such as have from time to time been Benefactors to the said Towne of Stamford generally or particularly And in the first place I canâ—ot but acknowledge that the Lord and giver of all good gifts the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth hath not only inspired many worthy and religeous persons who by their Charity and Almes-deeds have from time to time and till the end of â—ime given allowment either to the generall or particular members thereof but also by his provident care whereby all things doe subsist with a preventing knowledge did possesse the first Founders of this Towne with such a fore-sight that for the better preservation thereof to all Posterity they scituated it in such a place that the most skilfull Engineers which in these present civill Warres have surveyed the same on both sides nor the plots or practises of those who without judgement would have Canonized it could never find the way to make it a Towne renâ—ble either for offence or defence which yet hitherto hath caused the same though much weakened by the free Quartering of passing and repassing of Companies not to suffer such miserable spoiles as other neighbour Cities and Townes have undergone by the taking and retaking of them on both sides to the utter ruine and destruction of the harmlesse Inhabitants In which regard it were impiety in me if J should not acknowledge our great and good God to be the prime and best Benefactour to us at Stamford Our late Soveraigne Lord K. Edward the 4th upon the incorporating of this Towne gave the Lands of Gowen Southerope which were confiscated to the Crowne to the Alderman and Burgesses of Stamford for ever The late most pious and gracious Prince King Edward the 6. gave the Lands and Tenements formerly belonging to the dissolved Gild or Fraternity of Corpus Christi in Stamford to the Alderman and Burgesses and their Successors for ever which are worth to the Towne at present 160. l. per annum being the greatest and chiefest revenue the Towne hath in lands at this time William Ratcliffe Esquire having been Alderman of Stamford foure times in anno Dom. 1530. gave all his Messuages Lands and Tenements in Stamford for the perpetuall maintenance of a Free Grammar-schoole in that Towne which Land as it stands for the present improved yeelds to the head Schoole-master and Usher 30. l. per annum or thereabouts For the augmentation of which stipend William Cecell late Lord Burleigh gave or pretended to give 4. l. per annum to the said Schoole for ever issuing out of a depopulated Town neare Stamford called Pickworth but in regard the heires of the said Lord Burleigh when they let the last Leases of the said Mannor of Pickworth for the better advancement of the Fines pretended to the Tenants that they should hold their Farmes tyth-free but no sooner were their Leases made sealed and delivered when as the said Heire presented a Chaplaine of his own to the Parsonage thereof the same having neither Towne nor Church standing only the ruines of both appearing So that the Parson making good the Title and Tithes from the Tenants they have ever since refused to pay the said 4 l. per annum to the use of the said Schoole William Browne Marchant of the Staple and sometime Alderman of Stamford erected in anno Dom. 1493. the old Bead-house there called Brownes Beadhouse incorporating the same of a Warden Confrater and 12 poore Old-men and one woman for a Nurse unto them Gave to the same the Mannor of Swayfield 7. miles from Stamford worth 400. l. per annum besides divers great Farmes Messuages lands and tenements in Stamford Pilâ—gate Easâ—on Northluffenham and other places of good value a very pious and liberall guift though the more is the pitty as many of the like nature are much abused by the avarice and misimployment of the Governours thereof Mrs. Iane Cecell Widdow in anno Dom. 1561 at her own costs and charges leaded and paved the Fryday-Market Crosse in Stamford In anno Dom. 1570 the North end of the Town-Bridge in Stamford being born down by the violence of a great Hood was re-edified at the cost and charges of William Cecell then Lord Burley and good reason for he and his heires do raise 100. l. per annum for the â—ollage of the said Bridge and out of the Fayres and markets of Stamford Francis Trigg Clarke in anno Dom. 1585 gave 4. l. per 〈◊〉 forever to buy Barly to make Bread for the poore of Stamford George Trigg Gentleman in anno Dom. 1586 gave 400. l. in Money to be lent out for ever upon good security to poore yong Tradesmen and Artificers in Stamford without interest William Lord Burley in anno Dom. 1597 erected an Hospitall at the South end of Stamford Bridge in a place where formerly stood a Religious house the Lands and Tenements to the same belonging he obtained of Queen Elizabeth and gave a perpetuall 〈◊〉 to the said Hospitall issuing out of Cliffe-Parkâ— neer Stamford for the maintainance of a Warden and 12 poor men the Warden receiving 3. s. 4. d. weekly and each poor man 2. s. 4. d. weekly with yeerly allowance
Church being the small â—ene of a shop in Stamford-Baron but who gave the same to the Church I cannot find All-Saints Mr. Marshall Citizen and White-Baker of London gave 10. l. to this Parish the interest of which summe to be to the use of the poor of this parish also the said Mr. Marshall gave 20 marks per annum for a weekly Lecture in this Parish which for a time was maintained but the lecture ceasing the Mony was â—nd still is detained Mr. Iohn Dâ—â—ham gave 5. l. to this Parish the interest whereof yeerly to be to the use of the poor of the same Mr. Robert VVarner gave 5. l. to the said Parish the interest to be to the use of the poor thereof Mrs. VVinifred Browne the wife and Executrixe of Iohn Browne late of this parish Esquire gave 10. l. the interest of which summe to be to the use of the poore of the said Parish VVilliam Fisher late of Bourne in the County of Lincoln Gentleman gave Six pence a weeke for ever to be given in brâ—ad for the use of the poor of this Parish VVilliam Browne Marchant of the Staple 200 yeares or there aboutâ— now past at his own proper costs built the Steeple belonging to this Church being a very curious and excellent Fabrick likewise he built a great part of the Church it self and both he and his wife lye buried in a Chappell proper to his Family on the North side of the said Church towards the Quire The Lady Buâ—â— gave the summe of 20. l. to this Parish the interest of which summe is yeerly to be distributed to the poor of the same St. Georges Mrs. Iane Cecell Widdow Mother to VVilliam Lord Burley â—ave 15. l. for ever the interest of which to be to the use of the poor â—f this Parish Iohn Chirâ—â— late of Stamford-Baron Gentlemâ—n gave 20. â— per annum for ever to the use of the poore of â—â—is Parish the 〈◊〉 to be payd to them every quarter VVilliam Câ—â—e Esquire now living at the Black-Fryerâ— in the same Parish hath given 40. s. per annum for ever to the said parish to provide bread and Wine for a Communion to be ministred vpon the first Lords day of every Month in the yeare The foresaid VVilliam Fisher gave to this Parish 12. d. a weeke for ever to be distributed to the poore of the same in Bread There is belonging to this Parish 7. l. per annum being the rent so divers Tenements in the same but I can not learne who gave the same to this Church St. Iohns The foresaid Lady Bucke gave 20 l. to this Parish the interest whereof to be yeerly distributed amongst the poore of the same There was a Tenement given to the Parson of this Parish and his successors for ever by Mr. George Trigge vpon this condition that the said Parson and his successors should yeerly distribute to the poore of this Parish the summe of 27. s. St. Michaels I cannot learne that there ever was any Benefactor either to the Church or to the poore of this Parish St. Martins in Stamford-Baron The Lady Dorothy Cecell gave Lands forever of the yeerly value of 12. l. 6. s. 8. d. to this Parish to the uses following That is to say part therof to be payd to the putting forth of poore children of the said Parish to be Apprentizes an other part to be weekly alowed to some honest person which shall teach the poore children of this parish to reade English aâ— other part thereof for the buying of Wooll Flax and Heâ—p to set both young and old poor people of this Parish to work an other part thereof to be allowed to some honest person to teach the said poor people to work and also 20 s. to be yeerly allowed out of the profits of the said Land to the Vicar and Church-Wardens of this Parish for them to joyn with the overseers for the poor to see the said poor kept at work and that the overplus if any be shall be bestowed weekly upon the poorer sort who though endeavouring themselves are not able to find themselves by their labours The foresaid Lady Bucke gave 20. l. to this Parish the interest of the same to bee yeerly distributed amongst the Poore of the said Parish Lord send us Mercy Truth and Peace That Benefactours may increase That when a new Edition 's made More Pious people I may adde CHAP. X. The ancient and publike sports of Stamford AS touching the ancient and publike Sports used at this Town they are not many in all but two and to many by one The one a sport savouring of Manhood and Gentry and of a â—oncourse of Noblemen and Gentlemen meeting together in mirth peace and amity for the exercise of their swift running Horses every Thusday in March The prize they run for is a silver and gilt Cup with a cover to the value of seaven or eight pounds provided by the care of the Alderman for the time being but the Money is raysed out of the interest of a stock formerly made up by the Nobility and Gentry which are neighbours or well-wishers to the Town The second sport though more ancient then the former yet more Beast-like then any It is their Bull-running a sport of no pleasure except to such as take a pleasure in beastlinesse and mischief It is performed just the day six weekes before Christmas The Butchers of the Town at their own charge against the time provide the wildest Bull they can get this Bull over night is had in to some Stable or Barne belonging to the Alderman the next morning proclamation is made by the common Bell-man of the Town round about the same that each one shut up their shops-dooâ—es and gates and that none upon payne of Imprisonment offer to doe any violence to Strangers for the preventing whereof the Town being a great thorough-fare and then being in Terme-time a Gard is appointed for the passing of Travellers through the same without hurt That none have any â—ron upon their Bull-clubs or other â—â—affe which they pursue the Bull with Which proclamation made and the Gates all shut up the Bull is turned out of the Aldermans house and then hivie skiviâ— tag and rag Men Women and children of all sorts and sizes with all the Dogs in the Town promiscuously running after him with their Bull-clubs spattering dirt in each others faces that one would think them to be so many Furies started out of Hell for the punishment of Cerborâ—â— as when Thesâ—â—â— and Perillus conquered the place as Ovid describes it A ragged troupe of Boyes and Girles doe pellow him with stones With Clubs with whips and many nips they part his skin from bones And which is the greater shame I have seen both Senatores majoraÌ„ gentiuÌ„ matrâ—â—â— de eodem gradu following this Bulling busines I can say no more of it but only to set forth the Antiquity thereof as the tradition goes William Earle Warren the first
following Verses which in part doe resemble the free and large liberties and graunts to inferiour Corporations The King gave him for his Inheritance The County of Chester with the appurtenance Made a sure Charter to him and his succession By the sword of Dignity to hold it by might And to call a Parliament to his will and fight To order his Subjects after true Iustice As a praeporent Prince and statutes to devise This Hugh Lupus for the better ayding of him in his Government and for the more compleating of him in his Parliament which shouâ—d bee the fountaine of his Lawes to rule by substituted and made under him these Eight Barons That is to say 1 Robertus filius Hugonis Baron de Malpas 2 Richardus de Vernon Baron de Shibbrooke 3 Willielmâ—â— Malbanc Baron de Nampwich 4 Willielmus filius Nigâ—lli Baron de Halton 5 Hamo de Mascy Baron de Dunham 6 Gilbertus de Venables Baron de Kilbâ—rton 7 Hugo filius Normandi Baron de Hawardin 8 Nicholas de Stock-port Baron de Stock-port In like manner as this Earle and his Barons assembled in the great Hall in his Castle of Chester had the power to make Lawes and Constitutions for the government of that his County so hath this lesser body aggregate the survey of which I now write a power within themselves in their common Hall assembled to make Lawes as peculier and proper rules for their better Government the said assembly being a little Court of Parliament if it be lawfull for me to compare small things with great or like a Cosmographer to frame a modell of the great World in one small skin of Parchment for in this small modell is a representation of the highest and greatest Government For here the Alderman as the chiefest Magistrate represents the person of the King his Brethren the Comburgesses sitting round about him as so many Peeres of the upper house the Capitall Burgesses which wee here call the 24 being Senatores minorum gentium are the representative Body of the whole Towne and in their place doe symbolize with the lower house of Parliament The Recorder being the mouth of the Court doth represent the Speaker in this Michrocosme the Town-clarke the Register or Clarke of the same The gilded Mace-bearer the Serjeant at Armes and the Iaylor being the arresting Serjeant in the Liberty the Knight of the Black rod Now in pursuance of that power given to this Corporation for the making of good and wholsome Lawes for the better government of the same Richard Wolphe Gent. Alderman of the said Towne at a common Court or Hall there held the 15th day of March in the Sixth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES that now is c. With the advice and consent of the Comburgesses and Capitall Burgesses in the Common Hall assembled Did ordaine and constitute as followeth I. THat no new Habitation shall be erected in the said Town unlesse it be made fit for the dwelling of such person or persons as shall be Cessed or fit to be cessed in the Subsidie at xx s in Land or iij.l. in Goods at the least excepting Hospitals and houses of Correction upon peyne to forfeit to the Alderman and Burgesses or their successors the summe of x.s. for every Moneth that such Cottage or new building shall be used for habitation 2 That no Barnes or other houses shall be converted into Tenements and no ancient Tenement shall be devided into sundry habitations except the same so devided shall be made fit for the dwelling of Subsidie men of xx s lands or iij.l. goods the erecter to forfeit x.s. Monethly and the tenant v.s. monethly to the use aforesaid 3 That such who take in Inmates shall forfeit x.s. monthly to the use aforesaid 4 That none shall let or assigne any Tenement to any one not assessed or fit to be assessed at xx s lands or iij.l. goods except to Fréemen that have not discontinued from the Towne with their family by the space of one yeare before unlesse the Landlord become bound with the tenant or one other sufficient suerty in 40. l. to save the towne harmless upon peine of five pound forfeit for the contempt and x.s. monethly for the continuance by the Landlord and v.s. monethly by the tenant to the use aforesaid 5 That these orders extend not to any that take in tenants of xx s land or iij.l. goods in ye subsidy except they be Inmates 6 That the Alderman for the time being with two of the 〈◊〉 Camburgesses to the place not being offenders shall be iudges whether such erections be meet for the habitation of such Subsidy men 7 That the Stréets and Lanes in the said towne be clensed every Saterday by the adjacent Inhabitants or the parties delinquent to forfeit for every offence vj.d. and the Constables in that precinct to forfeit for not presenting every offence at the next Sessions after the same is committed ij.s.vj.d. to the use aforesaid 8 That no Alderman shall presume to make any a Fréeman out of the Town-hall unlesse the same be granted in the open Hall and the fine for such Fréedome there assessed upon peyne to forfeit v.l. to the use aforesaid 9 That no Tradesman whatsoever except Fréemen by birth or service shall presume to open any shop or to sell any wares untill they have agréed for their Fréedome upon peyne of forfeiting x.s. for every Month they shall so do to the use aforesaid 10 That all the Conduits common Wells and Pumps about the said Town shall from time to time be repaired at the Town charge upon pain of forfiture of vj s.viij.d a peece by the two Chamberlains to the use aforesaid 11 That so many of the Comburgesses or Capitall Burgesses as shall be dwelling within the parish where the Alderman or his Deputy for the time being shall dwell having no lawfull excuse to the contrary shall attend upon the said Alderman or his deputy to and from his parish Church upon every Lords day both before noone and after noone if there be any Sermon at the said Church upon pain for every one offending to forfeit for every offence the summe of iiij d to the use aforesaid 12 That all such as have built upon the Town walls or upon the Rampier thereof or made any doores or gates out of the said walls within the space of 40 yeares before these ordinances shall take Leases from the Town of the said passages or shall forfeit xij d for every Month they shall continue the same without Leases to the use aforesaid 13 That the Pinder of the said Town shall impound and take i.d. for every beast that he finds in the Town stréets and in the liberties thereof not put before the common Heard 14 That all the forfitures aforesaid shall be payed to the Chamberlaines for the time being who in default of payment shall recover and leavie the same by action or actions of debt or