been procured, than is afforded by the returns made to Parliament, under the Acts either of the 26th or 52d of George the Third, which, although perhaps sufficient for the purposes of their enactment, have not been deemed by me explicit enough for a Work, in which such descriptions are drawn up for the particular inspection and information of those persons who are immediately interested in the proper distribution and appropriation of such donations. · It may be proper to remark, that since Manors and Parishes are seldom co-extensive, the one being a Civil, the other an Ecclesiastical division of territory, made at different periods of time; the former will generally be described, in the following pages, under those Parishes in which the greatest part of their demesnes lie. In speaking of the pretensions of the County itself to public notice, it is my design merely to notice, in a cursory manner, those events by which it is connected with the general history of the Kingdom, without endeavouring to assign to it a higher place in the scale of Provincial History than it deserves. The three roads by which it was formerly intersected, namely, the Icknield, the Ermen, and the Watling Street, which, together with the Fosse, were distinguished by the Romans under the title of Chemini Majores;' the remaining vestiges of barrows and earth works; and the situation of the antient municipal City of Verulam, seem to inIdicate that it has been the scene of many important transactions, which, lying buried in the obscurity of a barbarous age, are now only to be faintly traced in their imperfect annals of our early history. In the succeeding age, out of the ruins of the Roman City arose a Monastery, founded by one of the most powerful of the Saxon Princes, upon the spot where the first British Martyr is supposed to have suffered in the cause of Christianity; a Monastery which over every other religious establishment in

this Kingdom enjoyed a precedence *, conferred upon it by a Pope + to whom this County gave birth, and recorded by an Historian bred up within its walls. The History of this Monastery is not, like that of many smaller religious establishments, confined to the discipline of the cloister, or the ceremonies of the choir; but enlivened by a constant series of political events, arising out of the close connexion which, in those times, existed between the higher Civil and Ecclesiastical Powers, from the support which they mutually derived from each other. I cannot also forbear remarking here, that the cause both of Religion and Literature was materially promoted in this Monastery, by the early translation of part of the Bible, in the tenth century, into the Anglo-Saxon language, by Alfric the seventh Abbot; and the establishment of a printing-press, about the year 1480; at which time several books were printed, which now form some of the most curious and scarce articles of English Typography. I shall conclude these observations with remarking, that, for nearly the two last centuries, the Metropolis of this Empire has derived a considerable part of its support in the two most necessary articles of life, Bread and Water,' from this County; since, before the introduction of Inland Navigation, the river conducted by Sir Hugh Middleton § from the springs of Chadwell and Amwell, principally supplied the North-west parts of the Cities of London and Westminster with water; as the mills erected upon the numerous streams which flow through the Southern part of this County, furnished it with flour known by the name of ' Hertfordshire White,' which last circumstance probably gave rise to the designe of bringing a navigable ryver from Rickmansworth, in Hartfordshire, to St. Gyles in the Fields, in the year 1641.'- Before I proceed to acknowledge the information and assistance which I have received from different persons, during the

Benedicti in Anglia, fo. 97."

progress

progress of my Work, it is incumbent upon me to mention, that the MS Collections of Thomas Blore, esq. the modern Historian of Rutlandshire, made during a residence of some years in this County, containing very copious information respecting the early descent of property, and the genealogies of most of the principal families, are incorporated in my Work *.-To the resident landed Proprietors, for the confidence which they have reposed in me, by communicating information concerning their manorial possessions, and affording me opportunities of inspecting their Evidences, I return my grateful thanks. These communications will be acknowledged in the description of the several Parishes to which they respectively belong to particularize individuals, where the communications which I have received have been so general and unreserved, would be both invidious and unjust. I beg leave, also, to offer my respectful acknowledgments to the Bishop of Lincoln, by whose permission I have been enabled to examine the Archives of the Church

:

over which he presides; to the Mayor

and Aldermen of Hertford and St. Al

ban's, for the opportunity which they have afforded me of inspecting the Charters, and other Records, belonging to their antient Boroughs; to James Brown, esq. of the latter place, for many valuable communications relating to its History and Antiquities; and to the Rev. Thomas Leman, of Bath, for a learned and ingenious Memoir concerning the primeval inhabitants of this County,

and the roads and earth-works which formerly existed in it, whether of British or Roman origin."

This Volume is appropriately inscribed to the Nobility and Gentry of the County; of whom a large pro

portion of the most respectable names will be found in the List of Subscribers which adorns the Work.

The other Preliminary Articles are, a Geographical Description of the County; its Natural History and Climate: And an excellent Dissertation then follows, on the early Inhabitants of Britain, the Celts, and the Belgæ; their Knowledge, Military and Religious; the British Inhabitants in Kent; on the British Roads, parts of which are still visible in this County; the Invasion of the early Inhabitants by the Belgæ; the first and second Invasion of the Romans; the Rebellion of the Celtic Tribes against the Romans; of the Roads and Stations in Britain under the Roman Government, particularly those in Hertfordshiret. For this Memoir the Author

repeats the acknowledgments made

in his Preface to the Rev. Thomas Leman, of Bath.

We are next presented with a general View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical History of the County; and a curious Rate and Assessment of the Wages of Artificers, Labourers, &c. within the Liberty of St. Alban's in the County of Hertford, made the 4th day of May, anno Car. I. A.D.1631.

The Knights of the Shire, and the High Sheriffs, are then given; with "The Names of the Nobility, Gentry, and others, of the County of Hertford, who contributed to the Defence of this Country at the time of the Spanish Invasion, in 1588."

Mr. Clutterbuck begins the Topographical part of his labours with the Hundred of Cashio; and proceeds with that of Dacorum; the Parishes

P. vi. line 22, for Bebroci, read Bibroci.

line 23, for Hædeci, read Hædui.

in each being placed alphabetically. And the First Volume concludes with an Appendix of original Deeds, and a very ample Index.

St. Alban's, as will readily be supposed, claims, and receives, a prominent share of the Author's attention: the description of it occupying not less than 125 pages. We could easily fill our columns with entertaining extracts from this portion of the Volume, did not our limits compel us to abstain.

Every Parish is minutely and satisfactorily described. By way of specimen, we select a few extracts from Watford, not as being superior to any other, but as it is the place of Mr. Clutterbuck's residence:

"The town is situated at the distance of fourteen miles from London, upon the high road leading from thence to Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire; and consists of one long street, rising with gentle slope from the river Colne. King Henry the Second granted to it a weekly market, to be held on a Tuesday; and King Edward the Fourth two fairs, one to be kept on Trinity Monday and the two succeeding days, the other on the feast of St. John Baptist and the succeeding day. The name of this place is not mentioned in Domesday Survey, being at the time of the Conquest compre hended under Caissou, a district situated within the Hundred formerly called by the name of Albaneston, but since altered to Cashio.

"The manor of Cashio is supposed to have been so called, from having been the residence of Cassivelaunus, the chief of the Cassii, from whence the Hundred in which this domain is situated takes its name. It is thus recorded in Domesday Survey: The Abbot of St. Alban's holds Caissou. It answers for twenty hides;

of these the Abbot holds nineteen. There is land to twenty-two ploughs. Six hides are in the demesne, and there are there five ploughs, and a sixth may yet be made. Three foreigners and thirty-six villanes, with eight bordars, have there fifteen ploughs, and one may yet be made. There are, moreover, three bordars, and two bondmen, and four mills of 26s. 8d. Meadow for twenty-two ploughs. Pasture for the cattle. Pannage for 1000 hogs. Its whole value is 287.; when received, 241.;

and in King Edward's time, 30%. St. Alban held and holds this Manor in demesne. -The whole of the land in the Parish of Watford seems to have been shio; and, by an inquisition taken in comprehended under the Manor of Cathe sixth year of the reign of King Edward the First, it was found that the Manor of Cashio, together with those of Rykesmeresworth and Saundridge,' were antient demesne, and were held before the Conquest of the Kings of England. The Abbot also acknowledged that he held the Manors of 'Sandrigg, Kayshoe, Langley, Childwick, Oxeney, Crekeshoe," and Tyderyng,' of the King in capite, by the service of four knights' fees and an half. The Abbot and Convent continued to enjoy this Manor until their dissolution, when it came to the Crown. Afterwards, King Henry the Eighth, by his letters patent, dated the 20th of August, in the 37th year of his reign, conveyed it to Richard Morrison, esq.-We

-

have no certain accounts from whence this learned and accomplished person derived his birth. Wood assigns that honour to Oxfordshire, while Fuller places bim among the worthies of Essex, upon the authority of Bale, though at the same time he acknowledges that this account is involved in great uncertainty. After spending several years in the Unimade a considerable proficiency in phiversity of Oxford, during which time he losophical studies, and in the Greek and reign parts; and, having acquired the Latin languages, he travelled into fo

character both of a learned and accomplished gentleman, attracted the notice of Henry the Eighth, who conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, and employed him in several embassies to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, and other Princes of Germany, in which he was attended by Roger Ascham. He was employed in the same capacity in the reign of Edward the Sixth, and having manifested an ardent zeal for the Protestant religion, was appointed by that Prince one of the Reformers of the University of Oxford.-After residing many years abroad, he returned to his native Country, and began the present house at Cashiobury. Upon the accession of Queen Mary to the throne, he left his native Country, and sought a voluntary exile in foreign parts, on account of his zealous adherence to the Protestant religion, and died at Strasbourg on the 17th of March, 1556 *. He married Bridget,

lishmen

daughter of John Lord Hussey, of Sleáford, in the county of Lincoln, by whom he had issue Charles and two daughters, Jana Sibilla and Elizabeth. Upon his death, the Manor and Estate devolved to his widow Bridget, who, A. D. 1591, married Henry Earl of Rutland, who was made Lord President of the Council for the Northern parts of this Kingdom, and installed in the same year Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter. He died without issue by her, on the 17th of September, 1563, after whose decease she married a third husband, Francis Earl of Bedford, who died without issue by her on the 28th of July, A. D. 1585, in the 58th year of his age. She died on the 12th of January, 1600, in the 75th year of her age.-Sir Charles Morrison, her son, served the office of Sheriff for this County A. D. 1579, and married Dorothy, the daughter of Nicholas Clerk, esq. by whom he had a son Charles, and a daughter Bridget, married to Robert Earl of Sussex. He completed the house which his father had left unfinished, and died on the 31st of March, 1599. Upon his death, this manor and estate became vested in his relict Dorothy Morrison, who held courts here from the 2d year of James the *First to the 4th year of the same King, in her own name; upon her death, they descended to her son Sir Chas. Morrison, who was made a Baronet by letters patent dated the 22d of May, 1611, anno 9 Jac. I. and installed a Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Charles the First, A. D. 1625, in the first year of the reign of that Prince. He served for the Borough of St. Alban in the Parliament held at Westminster on the 17th of May, 1 Car. I.; for the Borough of Hertford in that held 4 Car. I., A. D. 1628; and for the County of Hertford in the Parliament held 21 Jac. I. He married Mary, the second daughter of Sir Baptist Hicks, Viscount Camden, and died on the 20th of August, leaving an only daughter Elizabeth his heir, who soon after became the wife of Arthur Lord Capel, Baron of Hadham, upon which marriage this Manor and estate passed into that family."

Pedigrees are given, under this parish, of the families of Morrison and Capel; and an interesting account of the Capels, concluding with the present noble owner of Cashio,

"George, fifth Earl of Essex, who took the name of Coningsby in right of his grandmother. He was chosen, whilst a Commoner, a Representative in Parliament for the City of Westminster, and is Recorder and High Steward of the Borough of Leominster, and Lord Lieutenant of the County of Hereford. His Lordship married, on the 6th of June, 1786, Mrs. Stephenson, widow of Edward Stephenson, esq."

The history of the manor of Watford, formerly possessed by the Abbey of St. Alban's, is in like manner traced to the same noble owner, the present Earl of Essex.

That of Wiggenhall, otherwise Oxey, was conveyed in 1371 by Adam Breredene, rector of St. Mary atte Hull, London, and others, to John Devereux, knight. In 1415, lands in the manor were held under the Abbot of St. Alban's by Hugh Holes, knight; and the manor continued the property of that Abbey till the Dissolution. Pedigrees of Devereux and Holes are here given.

This manor was given by Hen. VIII. to James Joskyn, of London, gent. and Joan his wife; and passed from them through several successive owndeath of whose great grandson, in ers to Sir William Bucknall; on the 1796,

"The estate came into the possession of his nephew the Hon. William Grimston, second son of James second Viscount Grimston, who, in compliance with his uncle's will, assumed the name of Bucknall. He married on the 3d of February, 1783, Sophia, daughter and coheiress of Richard Hoare, of Barham, in the County of Essex, esq. He was elected to serve in Parliament for the Borough of St. Alban, anno 24 Geo. III. and dying on the 25th of April, 1814, without issue male, was succeeded in the possession of this Manor and Estate by his next brother, the Hon. and Rev. Harbottle Grimston, who also, in compliance with the will of his maternal uncle John Askell Bucknall, assumed the name of Bucknall A. D. 1814, and is the present possessor of this Manor."

Oxey Place, of which nothing remains but the Chapel, was possessed,

in each being placed alphabetically. And the First Volume concludes with an Appendix of original Deeds, and a very ample Index.

St. Alban's, as will readily be supposed, claims, and receives, a prominent share of the Author's attention: the description of it occupying not less than 125 pages. We could easily fill our columns with entertaining extracts from this portion of the Volume, did not our limits compel us to abstain.

Every Parish is minutely and satisfactorily described. By way of specimen, we select a few extracts from Watford, not as being superior to any other, but as it is the place of Mr. Clutterbuck's residence:

"The town is situated at the distance of fourteen miles from London, upon the high road leading from thence to Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire; and consists of one long street, rising with gentle slope from the river Colne. King Henry the Second granted to it a weekly market, to be held on a Tuesday; and King Edward the Fourth two fairs, one to be kept on Trinity Monday and the two succeeding days, the other on the feast of St. John Baptist and the succeeding day. The name of this place is not mentioned in Domesday Survey, being at the time of the Conquest compre hended under Caissou, a district situated within the Hundred formerly called by the name of Albaneston, but since altered to Cashio.

"The manor of Cashio is supposed to have been so called, from having been the residence of Cassivelaunus, the chief of the Cassii, from whence the Hundred in which this domain is situated takes its name. It is thus recorded in Domesday Survey: The Abbot of St. Alban's holds Caissou. It answers for twenty hides; of these the Abbot holds nineteen. There is land to twenty-two ploughs. Six hides are in the demesne, and there are there five ploughs, and a sixth may yet be made. Three foreigners and thirty-six villanes, with eight bordars, have there fifteen ploughs, and one may yet be made. There are, moreover, three bordars, and two bondmen, and four mills of 26s. 8d. Meadow for twenty-two ploughs. Pasture for the cattle. Pannage for 1000 hogs. Its whole value is 281.; when received, 241.;

and in King Edward's time, 301. St.

Alban held and holds this Manor in deThe whole of the land in the Parish, of Watford seems to have been

mesne.

comprehended under the Manor of Cathe sixth year of the reign of King Edshio; and, by an inquisition taken in ward the First, it was found that the Manor of Cashio, together with those of

Rykesmeres worth and Saundridge,' were antient demesne, and were held before the Conquest of the Kings of England. The Abbot also acknowledged that he held the Manors of 'Sandrigg, Kayshoe, Langley, Childwick, Oxeney, Crekeshoe, and Tyderyng,' of the King in capite, by the service of four knights' fees and an half. The Abbot and Convent continued to enjoy this Manor until their dissolution, when it came to the Crown. Afterwards, King Henry the Eighth, by his letters patent, dated the 20th of August, in the 37th year of his reign, conveyed it to Richard Morrison, esq.-We

have no certain accounts from whence this learned and accomplished person derived his birth. Wood assigns that honour to Oxfordshire, while Fuller

places bim among the worthies of Essex, upon the authority of Bale, though at the same time he acknowledges that this account is involved in great uncertainty. After spending several years in the Unimade a considerable proficiency in phiversity of Oxford, during which time he losophical studies, and in the Greek and reign parts; and, having acquired the Latin languages, he travelled into focharacter both of a learned and accomplished gentleman, attracted the notice of Henry the Eighth, who conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, and employed him in several embassies to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, and other Princes of Germany, in which he was attended by Roger Ascham. He was employed in the same capacity in the reign of Edward the Sixth, and having manifested an ardent zeal for the Protestant religion, was appointed by that Prince one of the Reformers of the University of Oxford.-After residing many years abroad, he returned to his native Country, and began the present house at Cashiobury. Upon the accession of Queen Mary to the throne, he left his native Country, and sought a voluntary exile in foreign parts, on account of his zealous adherence to the Protestant religion, and died at Strasbourg on the 17th of March, 1556 *. He married Bridget,

lishmen