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. ...

THE Survey and Antiquity of the Towne of STAMFORD. (Book 1)

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

The severall Appellations, Foundation, Scituation, and form•• of Stamford, with the erection and dissolution of the Vni∣versity there.

THe Towne of Stamford alias Stant∣ford, alias Stampford, (for by so many severall names the same is cal∣led in divers Records) is scituated up∣on the furthest point West in the County of Lincolne, on the confines of the Counties of Rutland and Northampton: the same and Stam∣ford-Baron adjoyning, are placed in a very healthfull pleasant, and tempe∣rate ayre, which in the forme thereof doth frame the figure of a Roman T. It is watered on the South parts with the River of Welland, which hath the originall Spring in the County of Leicester, towards the West not farre from the

Towne of Harborow. From whence extending her streame she devideth by her Channell in the beginning of her course the Coun∣ties of Leicester and Northampton; and so gliding with her silver current Eastward in her journey proves a fruitfull Parent ma∣king her self the rich Mother of Gréene-Hew, and many severall coloured flowers which she brings forth upon the fruitfull Medowes enamelling the same therewith all along as she passeth de••iding be∣fore she come at Stamford the Counties of Rutland and North∣hampton, and then ariving there, with her fragrant streame she devideth the same from the Towne and Parish of Stamford-Ba∣ron, in the County of Northampton; a place though not subject to the Mace of Stamfords government, yet joyned to the same in all Taxes, Subsidies, Fifteenes▪ and other payments to the State a∣mounting to a fifth part of a full mul••t, and so subjugating her self to passe under the stony yoake of a Bridge of five Arches, she holds on her constant travell towards the East, thence making a separati∣on betwixt the Counties of Lincolne and Northampton, till she comes to the Towne of Crowland, where she drowneth her self and name in the Fennes of Holland and payes the tribute of her waves to the Monarch Neptune by delivering her waters towards Lynne in the County of Norfolke into the grand Ocean.

This Towne of Stamford is of great antiquity, and was built (as the tradition goes) 863 yeares before the Incarnation of Christ by Bladud a King of the Britaines, who being himself a great Philosopher endeavoured at this Towne to plant the study of Philo∣sophy▪ in emulation or imitation of the ancient Athenian Schooles, and drawing hither the learnedst and gravest men of that Science that were to be found in the whole World, it flourished in all man∣ner of Heathenish learning till the time of K. Lucius, who was the first that here imbraced the Christian Faith by the Preaching of Fu∣gatius and Damianus, sent hither into Britaine by Eleutherus Bi∣shop of Rome; and as before it was ••ery famous through the world for the great proficiency of Ethnick learning▪ so in that bles∣sed time when England was first inlightened with the glorious beames of the Gospell, it much more flourished with Learned▪ Holy and Religious men, who very devoutly taught the Soule-saving

knowledge of CHRIST; Insomuch that in a short time (accor∣ding to the Devotion of those times) in and about Stamford eight Houses of Religion, thirteene Parish Churches, and three Chap∣pels, all of them in or neare the same Towne were erected, (as shall hereafter in the proper place be more particularly named) the same being furnished with the Learnedest and gra••est men of that Age: the fame of whose Piety and Learning caused many of the Christi∣an Princes and other Great men neighbouring upon the Isles of Britaine, to send their Sonnes and Friends hither to be taught and educated by those pious Masters▪ whereby it in those dayes at∣tayned to the name and honour of an University. But as no glory is parmanent in this transitory life, so in time the lustre of this bright shining tapor of Fame began to wax d••mme and to decline by the foggie and pestiferous mysts of Heresie and Errours; like mortall Diseases breeding in a body long inured with Peace, health and quietnesse, which caused the Stamford••an University to be dissol∣ved by the Decree and Power of Gregory then Bishop of Rome, about the yeare after the Incarnation of Christ, 727.