The survey and antiquitie of the towne of Stamford in the county of Lincolne with its ancient foundation, grants, priviledges, and severall donations thereunto belonging : also a list of the aldermens names, and the time when they were chosen : with the names of 10 Lord Majors (of the Hon. city of London) borne in the foresaid county of Lincolne / written by Richard Butcher, Gent. ...

CHAP. VII. (Book 7)

Memorable things happening at severall times in and about Stamford.

Mr. Camden out of * 1.1 Huntington reports, that when the whole Nations of the Picts and Scots, had invaded the North of Eng∣land and were come South∣wards as farre as Stamford, that Hengist (which was as I take it, the first Saxon King that here raigned) came against them with his Saxons, with such unwearied great strength and fortitude, that hee there so stopped the journey of these barbarous invadors that most of them were slaine and taken, the rest which were put to flight were drowned in the water.

I have read in the story of Ingulphus, that at what time the Danes invaded England,* 1.2 had burnt the Abbey of Crowland, and put to the sword all the Monks in the same, and marching towards Stam∣ford, the then Baron of Easindine, with the men of Stamford gave them Battell neare unto the said Towne and beat them backe for that time▪ though afterwards they recruted to the destruction of the same, as formerly hath been related.

In anno Dom. 1153, King Stephen holding the Castle of Stam∣ford against Henry Fitz-Empris, that is Henry the second, the said Castle was besieged and wonne by the said Henry.

In anno Dom. 1189. all the Iewes that then repaired to the Mid∣lent-Mart at Stamford from all parts, were spoyled of their goods and murthered.

In Anno 1227. there was a great Meeting at Stamford of divers Lords, about plotting of the Rebellion against King Henry the 3. called the Barons warres.

In Anno 1293. 1300. 1311. generall chapters called Itinere mino∣•••••• were held at Stamford: Afterwards in the raigne of Richard the 2. anno Dom. 1392. there was a meeting at Stamford called C••••silium Sta••fordiensem Prelatorum, at which meeting King Ri∣chard himself was present by the Command of Pope Boniface the 9. about the suppressing of Wicklifes opinions.

In anno Dom. 1334. by reason of a bloody Difference happening betwixt the Southerne and Northerne Students in the University of Oxford, part of that University being the whole Northerne facti∣on removed it self to Stamford, whereby was accomplished a for∣•••••• ancient Prophecy which followeth in these wor••••••

Hoc magnum studium qui nunc est ad vada bonum Tempore futuro celebrabitur ad vada Saxi.

As Oxford where Learning now doth flourish, In time to come the Stony ford shall nourish.

Mr. Camden in his learned Britannia, confirmes this faction at Oxford and the setling for a time of the Northerne Students here •• Stamford; For (saith he) Regnante Edwardo tertio caepta hîc A∣cademia & bonarum literarum professo (quod sue gloriae imprimis du∣cunt cives. Cum enim Oxoniae inter studiosos Boreales & Australes omnia litibus feruerent, magnus studiosorum numerus huc concessit: But here they stayed not long, for saith the same Camden, Paulo ta∣••en post Oxoniam reversi Academiae huic orienti ut initium ita finem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 posuerunt. Yet this separation occasioned that ever since, that Uni••ersity when any of their members are to take any Degree, they gi••e them an Oath never to reade Logick in Stamford, (strangely conceiving that either the foresaid Prophecy is not yet fulfilled, or else that their policy can prevent the Decree of eternity, when as we see that God when he pleaseth brings the same thing to passe by the same meanes whereby fond man goes about to prevent it;) For saith. Camden further, Cautum{que} deinceps in revirando ne quis Oxoni∣••••sis publicè Stamfordiae praelegeret.

This towne of Stamford neverthelesse flourished for some time

afterwards in trade and Marchandize untill the Warres happened unhappily, betwixt the two families of York and Lancaster, in which intestin•• strife the Northern Souldiers breaking into the Town, burnt down the houses, and so farre destroyed all things here, that never since this Town could fully recover her ancient dignity; for saith Cambden (speaking of the Town after the removall of the Ox∣ford Students,) Nihilominus illa Mercimonijs floruit, donce ardente inter familiam Lancastrense•• & Eboracensem civili bello, Bo∣reales milites irrumpentes aedibus, & incendijs omnia miscuerint; nec inde verò dignitatem pristinam plenè recuperare potuit.

The Castle of Stamford was overthrown and quite demolish∣ed in the time of Richard the third, the materials thereof taken a∣way to repayre the White-Friers in Stamford.

Edward the 4^th. came to Stamford in anno 1462 the year after he had incorporated the Town by letters Patents.

Henry the 8th. came to Stamford at his progresse into Lin∣colnshire in anno Dom. 1532, where he was Royally welcōmed by Henry Lacy Gentleman then Alderman, as his predecessor Edward the 4^th. was before received by Iohn Brow••e Esquire, then Alder∣man.

In anno 1469 Sir Thomas De-la-Band, and Sir Thomas Dimock were executed for Treason at Stamford, Thomas Royston then be∣ing Alderman.

The Town-house or common-Hall over the Bridge-gate in Stamford, was newly built by Iohn Haughton Alderman in Anno Dom. 1558.

In anno Dom. 1565. Queen Elizabeth passed through Stamford and dyned in the White-Friers, in her progresse into Lin∣colnshire, Godfrey Dawson then being Alderman.

In anno Dom. 1594. Robert Medowes then being Alderman, a great tumult was raised at the Inne called the Bull in Stamford, by Mullene••x of Nottinghamshire, and Terwil of Lincolnshire of the one side, and one Rockwood a Gentleman of Suffolke of the other party, the occasion began upon a trifle. A foot-boy drying himself in the evening by the Kitchin fire, (where his Master Ro••k∣woods supper was making ready) Mollene••x and Terwil fitting at

〈…〉〈…〉 drinking neer to the fire, took exceptions against the boy 〈…〉〈…〉 him because he did not stand uncovered before them, the 〈…〉〈…〉 complaint thereof to other of his Masters servants the•• 〈…〉〈…〉, divers of them came down to revenge the boys wrong 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with naked swords so affronted the foresaid Gentlemen, that at 〈…〉〈…〉 the Gentlemen and servants on both sides became to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Flumina magna vides parvis de fontibus ••rta.

And a great stream of blood might have issued from this small originall had not the same been wisely prevented by the valour and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 o•• that honourable Souldier Peregrim, Lord Willoughby of Grimsebory, who living then in Stamford and hearing that the said Alderman (though he used his best endeavour for the appea∣••••ng of the said stirre) could not prevail. Armed himself and his followers, and on his warlike courser entred himself into the midst of the throng, and like a right valiant person and wise Comman∣der pacified the uproare before any mortall wound was gi∣ven; so serving her Majesty by the procuring of her peace, and sa∣ving the lives of many, who otherwise were in danger to have peri∣shed in that tumult, and by his wisdome and discretion before he parted from them made them all friends.

In anno Dom. 1633 King Charles lay in Stamford-Baron one night as he passed into Scotland there to receive the Crown of that Kingdom, and then passed through the Corporation of Stam∣ford in state, Iohn Atton the then Alderm. bearing the Mace before him, the said Alderman and all the first Company mounted upon horse back and riding in their Robes upon their foot clothes.

In anno 1634. King Charles and his Queen in their progresse Northward, lodged two nights at the Earle of Westmerlands at Ap••thorpe five miles from Stamford, but when they removed from thence they passed in State through the Town, Edward Camocke then Alderman bearing the Mace before them.

In April 1641. by the meanes of great raine and the wind then being full West, the River of Welland so farre swelled aboue the banks▪ that the flood so farre prevailed as it went over the North end of Stamford Bridge▪ and flowed up St. Maries-hill, the mid-way

to St Maries Church, drowning the lower roomes and Sellers on both sides the Street, and on the South side it drowned the lower rooms of the New-bead-house, and both the yard and the lower rooms of the Inne called the George, insomuch that some horses were then, and there drowned in the stables and the Wals and roofe over one of the Stables thrown down by the violence of the water the flood being so high all over the yard that a horse might have swoom therein. It drowned all the lower rooms in the houses that stand in the Water Street of Stamford-Baron: yet though this flood did rise so high upon the sudden, upon the East and West of of the River of Welland, flowing over all the lower rooms by which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 passed, and carrying down the ••••ream both Cattell. Tim∣ber and all that lay within the compasse thereof, yet (thanks be to God) I could never hear of Man, Woman nor child, that perished thereby,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cum (ut habet Hunting donensu) Picti & Scoti, om∣nem regionem ad Stamfordiam usque ••••ripuissent, ubi Hen∣gistus noster cum sub Saxonibus in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eximia fortitud••ne furentibu•• baba••is ita iter occusit ut plurimis peremp••is, pluribus cap••i••, reli∣qua fugam und••que capesserunt. Camd. in Brittan. i•• Com. Lincoln.
• * 1.2

  Ingulphus.