ANCIENT FORTIFICATIONS, STREETS ^*, CHURCHES, MONASTERIES, BRIDGES, AND OTHER PUBLICK EDIFICES, IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.

HARDYNG, in his Chronicle, informs us that Newcaſtle upon Tyne was incloſed with a wall during the reign of William Rufus ^a.

[2]In a charter of King John to that town, dated January 28th, 1216, expreſs mention occurs of the walls thereof^b.

In a grant from the King to the Black-Friars of Newcaſtle, dated Sept. 18th, 1280, the weſt part of the preſent wall of that town, near the houſe of that order, is called the New-Wall ^c.

[3]In a record, dated May 26th, 1307, the building anew of the wall^d of Newcaſtle, on the ſide towards the eaſt, occurs ^e: this was, in all probability, occaſioned by the union of Pampedon, or Pandon, with that town, by the charter of Edward I. dated Dec. 20th, 1299 ^f.

King Edward the Third, in the firſt year of his reign, A. D. 1327, granted the cuſtom of things ſold at Newcaſtle upon Tyne to be taken for ſeven years, to contribute towards the reparation of the walls of that town ^g.

The above King repaired the walls of Newcaſtle during his reſidence there in 1334 ^h. The year following Hugh de Merchinleigh, one of [4] the bailiffs of that place, was removed from his office by the common⯑alty of the town, for having procured murage againſt them ⁱ.

A. D. 1386, 10 Ric. II. there was an aſſignment to the mayor and bailiffs of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to take workmen for repairing the walls of that town ^k.

Auguſt 16th, 1403, King Henry IV. granted to the mayor of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, all fines and forfeitures for the reparation of the walls and bridge of that town ^l.

A. D. 1527, mention occurs of an annuity of twenty pounds, granted by King Henry the Eighth, for the ſupport of the walls and bridge of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^m.

The walls here were much damaged during the remarkable ſiege, and at the taking of the town by ſtorm, in the year 1644. There was af⯑terwards a grant from Parliament, of the ſum of 2,564l. for repairing them ⁿ.

[5]June 17th, 1667, there is an order of the common council of Newcaſtle upon Tyne for the immediate reparation of the walls, gates, and draw-bridges of that town ^o.

Several houſes, erections, buildings, and other obſtructions near theſe walls, were pulled down at the rebellion in 1745. There are orders of the common council, dated September 28th, and October 7th that year, to indemnify the town's ſurveyor, and make up the damages of the private ſufferers ^p.

November 17th, 1762, the corporation of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, on their petition, ſtating, that that part of the town-wall, which ex⯑tended from the Sand-Hill to Sand-Gate, was no longer of any uſe for defence, but a great obſtruction to carriages and hindrance to the diſ⯑patch of buſineſs, obtained an order of the privy council to remove it at their own expence ^q.

FOSS.

THE Foſs or Ditch, that has anciently ſurrounded the walls of Newcaſtle, is, in moſt places at preſent, filled up, and made level with the adjoining ground. The ſpace, however, which it occupied, is ſtill called "The King's-Dikes." It appears to have been uniformly of the breadth of twenty-two yards, or a chain. It is claimed as the pro⯑perty of the corporation, to whom every waſte within their juriſdiction devolves, by the authority of their charter. It occurs, A. D. 1312, by the name of "novum foſſatum." See account of Black-Friars.

The ſubſequent entry occurs in the common council books, Sept. 28th, 1648. "Ordered, upon the petition of James Turner, ſhewe⯑ing, that whereas he farmed the Kinge's-Dikes of the towne, and was to paie about 30 and odd ſhillings rent for the ſame—By reaſon of the trenches it became a common road for man and horſe, and eſpecially for the townes kie, ſo that he could make no benefit by it, &c."

As does the following: "February, 1654. The ground called the King's-Dikes, leadinge from Sand-Gate towards Wallknole-Tower, ordered "to be canted," i. e. let to the higheſt bidder, with the Wall⯑knole-Cloſe—as likewiſe the dikes from Pandon to Sand-Gate."

TOWERS AND GATES.

THE town, ſays Bourne, after the completing of the walls, was divided into twenty-four wards ^r, according to the number of the [7] gates ^ſ, and round towers in them, which were wont to be defended, in times of hoſtility with the Scots, by the particular wards appropriated to them.

There was a turret, or tower, fifty-two yards to the ſouth of the Cloſe-Gate, adjoining to the river Tyne ^t—part of it is ſtill remaining. —It has been made uſe of, ſucceſſively, as a meeting-houſe for the companies of houſe-carpenters and ſail-makers.

The Cloſe-Gate ^u, which ſince the fall of Tyne-Bridge, in 1771, has been converted into a temporary priſon, has evidently had its name from the ſtreet called the Cloſe, both ſides of which it had in ward as far as the place called Javel-Grip. From the Cloſe-Gate there are an hundred and forty ſteps, on the top of the wall, as it mounts a very ſteep hill to White-Friar-Tower, at the diſtance of ſixty-nine yards and one foot.—The common name of theſe, i. e. the Break-Neck-Stairs, is of very obvious etymology.

[8]White-Friar-Tower was ſo called from the adjoining houſe of the Carmelites, or White-Friars. The fraternity of maſons had their hall in the upper apartment of this tower; in the lower one was the meet⯑ing-houſe of the companies of bricklayers and mettors ^v.

The diſtance from White-Friar-Tower to Poſtern-Gate, which adjoins on Denton, or Nevil-Tower, is two hundred and fourteen yards and two feet.

Denton, or Nevil-Tower ^w, probably derives the firſt of theſe appel⯑lations, from the ſame perſon that gave a name to the lane called Denton-Chare—As it undoubtedly does the ſecond from the Nevil family, whoſe town-houſe, called Weſtmoreland-Place, ſtood near, and is ſaid to have communicated with it by a ſubterraneous paſſage.

[9]From the Poſtern-Gate ^x to Weſt-Spital-Tower ^y it meaſures an hundred and eighteen yards and four feet. This tower undoubtedly derived its name from St. Mary's Hoſpital, otherwiſe called ‘Weſt-Spital,’ which ſtands very near it. Bourne ſuppoſes it was built by [10] the maſter and brethren of that hoſpital for their protection. It is cer⯑tain they had hereabouts a poſtern in the Town-Wall ^z.

The next to Weſt-Spital is Stank-Tower ^a.

The next to Stank is Gunner-Tower: the diſtance from Weſt-Spital to Gunner-Tower is two hundred and ſix yards and one foot.

From Gunner-Tower ^b to Pink-Tower ^c it meaſures eighty yards and one foot.

From Pink-Tower to the Weſt-Gate the diſtance is ninety-three yards and two feet.

[11]This gate conſiſts of four wards, and is ſaid to have been built by Roger de Thornton, a merchant, who from ſmall beginnings became equally diſtinguiſhed for his wealth and munificence. This place was formerly a priſon for unruly apprentices, and is at preſent the hall of the company of houſe-carpenters. A foot way was opened out on the north ſide of this gate, 1782; "Edward Moſley, Eſq. mayor, George Collpits, Eſq. ſheriff^d."

Leland calls this gate "a mightye ſtrong thinge of four wardes and an yron gate."

From the Weſt-Gate to Durham-Tower ^e it meaſures an hundred and one yards and one foot.

[12]From Durham to Herber-Tower ^f, the diſtance is ſeventy-ſeven yards and one foot.

This is the meeting-houſe of the armourers, curriers and felt-makers, who made an agreement to repair it for that purpoſe, July 3d 1620 ^g.

From Herber to Mordon-Tower^h it meaſures an hundred and fifteen yards.

This is at preſent the hall of the glaziers, plumbers, pewterers and painters, who repaired it A. D. 1700. It appears to have been granted to them in 1619ⁱ.

Between Herber and Mordon-Tower there has been a poſtern in the wall.—See the account of the Monaſtery of Black-Friars.

From Mordon to Ever-Tower ^k the diſtance is ninety-nine yards and one foot.

This was built by ſome of the ancient family of Eure, or Ever, lords of Kirkley, near the river Blyth, and barons of Witton, in the county of Durham. It is now the hall of the paviers, colliers and carriage-men.

[13]From Ever to Andrew-Tower ^l it meaſures one hundred yards. This has evidently got its name from its vicinity to St. Andrew's Church.

From St. Andrew-Tower to New-Gate ^m the diſtance is an hundred yards.

We may infer, from the name of this gate, that it has been erected on the ſite of an older one, which appears to have been called Berwick-Gate ⁿ. On the north front there remain three ancient ſhields of arms —St. George's croſs—Arms of England, with the fleurs de lis ſemée ^o —and thoſe of Newcaſtle upon Tyne.—The upper part of this front ſeems conſiderably more modern than the reſt of the ſtructure.

The ſtatue thereupon appears to reſemble King James I ^p.—It is placed [14] under an arch of Roman architecture, has a crown and robes, holding a ſceptre in the right, and a globe or mound in the left hand.—New-Gate was built before Newcaſtle ^q was made a county of itſelf, and took cuſtody of its own priſoners, who, no doubt, before that period, were confined in the priſon of the caſtle of that town, in common with other delinquents of the county of Northumberland. The additional wings or flanks on each ſide of the ſouth front of this ſtructure appear to have been erected about the beginning of the preſent century ^r. The port⯑cullis of this gate ſtill remains.

June 21ſt, 1676, there was an order of common-council to appoint a miniſter for reading prayers every Wedneſday and Friday, and preach⯑ing a ſermon to the priſoners confined here, once a month, with an annual^s ſalary of 10l. In the year 1765, a foot-way was opened into Sid-Gate on the eaſt ſide of New-Gate, through the Town-Wall, for the convenience of the publick.

[15]From New-Gate to Bartram Mombowcher-Tower ^t it meaſures an hundred and twenty-ſix yards and one foot. This has plainly had its name from the Bertram Mombowcher, who was ſeveral times ſheriff of Northumberland ^u.

From Bartram Mombowcher to Fickett-Tower ^v it meaſures an hun⯑dred and thirty-two yards.

From Fickett-Tower to Pilgrim-Street-Gate ^x the diſtance is an hun⯑dred and thirty-ſeven yards. Convenient foot-paſſages have lately been [16] opened out on each ſide of this gate communicating with Northumber⯑land-Street ^y.

From Pilgrim-Street-Gate to the Weavers or Carlel-Tower ^z, between which there are three leſs ones, ^a the diſtance is an hundred and fifty-ſeven yards and two feet. This is at preſent the hall of the weavers' company, and is called Carlel or Carliol-Tower, from the family who gave its name alſo to the Carlel-Croft. The weavers repaired it A. D. 1682.

From Weaver or Carlel-Tower, to Carlel-Croft-Tower ^b, otherwiſe called Plummer-Tower, the diſtance is an hundred and ſeventy-ſix yards. This was alſo called Cutlers' Tower, having once been the hall of that company, who are now extinct in Newcaſtle. It has been fronted after an elegant deſign, and is at preſent the meeting-houſe of the fraternity of maſons.

From Auſtin-Tower to Corner-Tower ^d, the diſtance is an hundred and thirty-two yards.

From Corner-Tower to Pandon-Gate ^e, it meaſures ninety-five yards and two feet.

Over the gate-way, the barber ſurgeons had once their meeting-houſe. It has reſembled, in its original ſtate, three turrets, between Pilgrim-Street-Gate and the Weavers' Tower.—The weſtern wall of this meet⯑ing-houſe appears to have been taken away during the civil wars. It has been called, but erroneouſly, a tower of the Roman wall, which paſſed it at a conſiderable diſtance, and went over the top of the hill called Wallknoll.

From Pandon-Gate to Wallknoll-Tower ^f, or the Carpenters' Tower, it meaſures ninety-five yards and one foot.

[18]From Wallknoll, or Carpenters' Tower, to the farther ſide of Sand-Gate ^g, the diſtance is two hundred and thirty-two yards and one foot ^h.

[19]The Town-Wall, which formed a right angle here, and ran parallel with the river Tyne to Cloſe-Gate, which had Broad-Chare-Gate, with many ſmaller water-gates, and Bridge-Gate in it, is now almoſt intirely taken away.

HOUSES, STREETS, &c.

IT appears, by the books of the window-ceſs, for 1781, that two thouſand three hundred and eighty-nine houſes were then rated to pay that tax within the four pariſhes of Newcaſtle ⁱ.

Hutton's plan makes the number of houſes in that town two thou⯑ſand four hundred and fifty, and in Gateſhead five hundred and fifty ^k.

QUAY, OR KEY-SIDE ^l.

THIS ſtreet, at preſent, lies open to the river—It was formerly bounded on the ſouth ſide by the Town-Wall ^m, which, in this place, was perforated by a great number of ſmall gates: it has been much enlarged by the removal of this part of the wall, and is, indeed, at preſent, one of the longeſt and moſt commodious wharfs in the king⯑dom. [21] The length of it, according to Bourne, is 103 rods. The cuſtom-houſe of the port of Newcaſtle was, a few years ago, re⯑moved from the upper, or weſtern end of the Key-Side, to a ſituation nearer to its center ⁿ.

Twenty narrow lanes ^o, or, as they are called here, chares ^p, lead from the Butcher-Bank, Pandon, &c. and terminate in the Key-Side. —Their names, which they ſeem to have changed almoſt with every change of their owner, are given, as follow, in Corbridge's Plan of Newcaſtle, A. D. 1723.

• ^q 1. The Dark-Chare.
• ^r 2. Grinding-Chare.
• 3. Blew-Anchor-Chare.
• 4. Pepper-Corn-Chare.
• 5. Paleſter's-Chare.
• ^s 6. Colwin's-Chare.
• [22] ^t 7. Hornſby's-Chare.
• ^u 8. Plumber-Chare.
• ^v 9. Fenwick's-Chare.
• ^w 10. The Park.
• 11. Broad-Garth.
• 12. Peacock-Chare.
• 13. Trinity-Chare.
• 14. Rucaſtle-Chare.
• ^x 15. Broad-Chare.
• 16. Spicer-Lane.
• 17. Burn-Bank.
• ^y 18. Baker-Chare.
• ^z 19. Coxton-Chare.
• ^a 20. Love-Lane.

Betwixt Grindon-Chare and Blue-Anchor-Chare, there is a remark⯑able old building: the front towards the Quay has a balcony, ſupported by poſts with ſhields on them, but at preſent not charged with any ar⯑morial bearings.—Behind, in Grindon-Chare, is a very obſervable houſe ^b, of ſtone, with buttreſſes on the outſide, with a crypt, or vault, [23] arched with ſtone, now converted into a cellar.—Human bones have been found here, and there is a tradition, that this was once called St. John's Chapel.

SAND-HILL.

THIS is ſaid to have been, anciently, at low-tide, an hill of naked ſand, where the inhabitants of the town were wont to aſſemble for their recreation ^c. It is at preſent the great market-place of New⯑caſtle.

On the ſouth ſide of the Sand-Hill ſtood the hoſpital called Maiſon de Dieu, for a warden, being a prieſt, and nine poor men, brethren, and four poor women, ſiſters, which was founded about the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Fourth, by Roger de Thornton ^d (a moſt opulent merchant, repreſentative in parliament, and a great be⯑nefactor to the town of Newcaſtle), and dedicated to St. Catharine.

[24]February 12th, 1403, King Henry IV. granted a licence to Roger Thornton, burgeſs of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to alien in mortmain to the mayor, ſheriff, aldermen and commonalty of that town, a piece of ground an hundred feet in length, and twenty-four in breadth, within that town, wherein certain poor perſons were to be provided with meat and clothing, in an "Houſe of God," to be built thereupon by the ſaid Thornton, and where they ſhould pray daily for the health of the ſaid mayor, ſheriff, aldermen and commonalty; as alſo for that of the founder, while he lived, and after their reſpective deaths for their ſouls, and the ſouls of the father and mother of the founder, and thoſe of all the benefactors of that intended hoſpital ^e.

The royal licence for the foundation of this hoſpital is dated June [25] 10th, 1412, when the edifice appears to have been completed. By the name of the warden, brethren and ſiſters of the hoſpital of St. Katherine, called Thornton's Hoſpital, in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, they might plead and be impleaded in all courts, and have a common ſeal. —This grant included alſo the licence for the chantry of St. Peter, in the chapel of All-Saints, in that town ^f.

July 6th, 1424. King Henry VI. by his patent, ſetting forth, that whereas the king's grandfather had given licence to Roger Thornton, his heirs, aſſigns, and executors, to acquire for this hoſpital to the yearly value of ten pounds, therefore granted a licence to the ſaid Roger, to aſſign a portion of ten meſſuages and ten tofts, with their appurtenances, in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, of the value of ſeven pounds per annum, as appeared by an inquiſition made by John Wall, late mayor of Newcaſtle, and eſchaetor there, to this hoſpital, in aid of their ſupport for ever, in full ſatisfaction of the lands, tenements and rents, to the value of ten pounds per annum aforeſaid ^g.

[26]Roger Thornton, by his will, dated the Thurſday before Chriſtmas-day, 1429, bequeathed to this place, which he ſtyles "The Meſon-Dieu of St. Katherine of my foundation, for their enorments," twenty pounds^h.

In the year 1456, Roger Thornton, probably the ſon of the founder, granted to the mayor and community of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, the uſe of the hall and kitchen belonging to this hoſpital, to the following purpoſe; "for a young couple," ſays the Milbank MS. "when they were married, to make their wedding dinner in, and receive the offer⯑ings and gifts of their friends: for at that time houſes were not largeⁱ."

February 5th, 1531, Sir John Lomley, Knt. Lord of Lomley, the [27] true and undoubted patron, granted to Robert Ayton, of Fiſhborn, in the county of Durham, and to Robert Halyman, of Newcaſtle, yeoman, jointly, the next vacation, nomination and jus patronatus of the free chapel of St. Catherine, called Maſyndue ^k.

The following account of this place is extracted from a certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. A. D. 1546, remaining in the augmentation-office. "The Hoſpitalle of Saynt Katheryne, called le Maiſon-Dieu, in the pariſhe of All-Saynts, in the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne, was founded by reporte to fynde a prieſte for ever to be ther dayly reſident in kepyng of hoſpi⯑talitie to the reliefe of the poore, and to herborowe the ſickke, and to gyve in almes yerely certeyn cooles to poore folks, to the value of 26s. 8d. and bredde to the valewe of 13s. 4d. and to kepe two yerely obytts for the founders ſowles, but the dede of the foundacion we have not ſeene—yerely value 8l. 1d.—yerely value according to this ſurvey 20l. 3s. 2d. as appereth by a rentall, whereof is paid out for rents re⯑ſolut 23s. For a perpetual ſalarie, 6l. 13s. 4d.—For two obitts, 16s. 4d. and for almes, 40s. to be diſtributed according to the foundacion.— And for the Kinges Majeſties tenths, 16s. quad.— 11l. 8s. 8d. quad. And remayneth clerely 8l. 13s. 5d. ob. quad. which the incumbent hathe towarde his lyvyng, according to the order of the foundacion.— It is aboute a furlong in diſtance from the pariſhe churche.—Value of or⯑naments, [28] jewells, plate, goodes and catalls, 62.s. 8.d. as appereth by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther were no other landes nor yerely profits, &c."

A. D. 1535, this houſe appears to have been valued at 12l. 3s. 10d. in the whole, and at 8l. 1d. clear^l.

In 1551, five poor women reſided in the Maiſon-Dieu ^m.

February 14th, 1582, and July 7th, 1586, Martin Hallyman occurs as maſter of the "Maſendew ⁿ."

This place appears to have continued in the family of the founder after its diſſolution: for Sir Richard Lumley, of Lumley-Caſtle, in the county of Durham, knight, a deſcendant of Thornton by the fe⯑male line, conveyed, June 1ſt, 1624^o, to the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and their ſucceſſors for ever, "all that building of ſtone covered with lead, ſtanding near to the water of Tyne, and to the eaſt part of the town's chamber of the ſaid town of Newcaſtle, being about ſixteen yards in length, and anciently part of, and belong⯑ing to the hoſpital of St. Catharine the Virgin, commonly called Thornton's Hoſpital." An annual rent appears to have been re⯑ſerved^p.

[29]In Speed's Plan of Newcaſtle the Maiſon-Dieu is the only publick place, or building ^q, marked on the Sand-Hill, through which Lork-Burn is repreſented as paſſing ^r on the eaſt ſide. It has, ſince that time, been arched over. In this place ſtand the exchange and town-court, built between the years 1655 and 1658 ^s. An old town-houſe appears to have occupied nearly the ſame ſite ^t, which, as Bourne in⯑forms us, was built by the munificent Roger Thornton.

The preſent town-court is of beautiful architecture.—The ceiling is adorned with various paintings, and the floor laid with chequered marble. The benches are, at the weſt end, conſiderably raiſed above [30] the floor of the court ^u— Above hang portraits of Charles II. and James II. at full length, and as large as the life ^v. The windows are on the ſouth—one is in form of a catharine-wheel, in which is a large ſun-dial of painted glaſs—the motto, Eheu fugaces! Under this win⯑dow is a large balcony, which overlooks the river.—Here the mayor and ſheriff hold their courts of guild, &c. Here was, formerly, the court of admiralty kept, and here, alſo, the judges on the northern cir⯑cuit hold the aſſizes once a year.

Paſſing from the Sand-Hill to Tyne-Bridge, on the left-hand, near the entrance to the bridge, ſtands the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr.

It is, at preſent, unknown by whom, or at what time, this chapel was founded.

From the circumſtance of its being dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, it muſt be of a date poſterior to 1171, the year in which that prelate was aſſaſſinated.

Mention of it occurs in the year 1248 ^y.

A. D. 1255, Robert Valeſine gave an annual rent to the ſupport of Tyne-Bridge, and to a chaplain to pray for the ſouls of his father, his late wife Emma, and his own ſoul, in this chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr ^z.

One Laurence was keeper of Tyne-Bridge and this chapel, A. D. 1269 ^a.

[32]William of Stanhope occurs as guardian here, A. D. 1289 and 1297 ^b.

A rent of 12d. a year, payable from a houſe in Pilgrim-Street, to the keeper of the chapel and bridge of Tyne, is mentioned in a deed dated at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, on the Monday after the feaſt of St. Mark the Evangeliſt, A. D. 1311.—Alſo in another deed, concerning the ſame property, dated ibid. Feb. 1ſt, 1349 ^c.

In the year 1329, William Heron founded a chantry, dedicated to St. Ann, in this chapel, with an annual rent of ſix marks, ariſing from tenements in the Sand-Hill ^d.—There was alſo, in this chapel, a chantry dedicated to St. Mary, the founder of which is unknown. It was endowed with an annual revenue of five marks, out of five meſ⯑ſuages in the Cloſe and the Side, two ſtreets of Newcaſtle ^e.

[33]A. D. 1341, Nicholas de Stockton was maſter of this hoſpital ^f.

William Spynn occurs as keeper of Tyne-Bridge, and chaplain of this chapel, A. D. 1347, and 1352 ^g.

In the eſchaets, A. D. 1370, ſeveral rents occur belonging to the reparation of the bridge and St. Thomas' Chapel in Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^h.

In Hilary-Term, A. D. 1408, before the King it was determined by the verdict of a jury, that three acres of land called Sandy-Ford-Flatt, with a windmill below Jeſmond, near Newcaſtle upon Tyne, were not held of the King in capite, but of the keeper of the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr on Tyne-Bridge ⁱ.

[34]John Wernmouth occurs as maſter of this chapel, A. D. 1411 and 1413 ^k.

In the year 1426, there was a grant from the mayor and common⯑alty of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to John Crofte, to be maſter of the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr, and collector of the rents of Tyne-Bridge. He is mentioned, A. D. 1457, as having loſt his eye-ſight ^l.

Roger Thornton, by his will dated 1429, left ſix fothers of lead to the reparation of this chapel ^m.

A. D. 1445, upon an inquiſition taken after the death of John Duke of Bedford, it was found that the tenement in Newcaſtle, in the ſtreet called the Cloſe there, named the Earl's Inn of Northumberland, was held in burgage, and paid twenty ſhillings per annum to the warden of the free chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr, upon Tyne-Bridge ⁿ.

A. D. 1498, Thomas Scott was maſter of this chapel ^o.

It appeared, by an inquiſition taken at Gateſhead, October 6th, 1536, that Roger de Thorneton gave three acres of meadow, and three [35] acres of land in Whickham to a chantry in the chapel of St. Thomas, on Tyne-Bridge, without licence of the Biſhop of Durham ^p.

Auguſt 30th, 1538, John Brandlyng, clerk, was appointed maſter of this chapel—he occurs in the ſame office, A. D. 1541 ^q.

Cuthbert Elliſon muſt have been appointed maſter of this chapel be⯑fore March 13th, 1556, when he appears to have been ordained ſub⯑deacon, on the title of his chapel on Tyne-Bridge ^r.

This chapel was united to the hoſpital of St. Mary Magdalene, in the beginning of the reign of King James I.—and on the 12th of June, 1611, they were incorporated by a royal charter.—See the continuation of their common hiſtory, under "St. Mary Magdalen's Hoſpital."

From St. Thomas' Chapel we enter upon

TYNE-BRIDGE.

THE proofs that a Roman bridge ^s occupied either the ſame, or nearly the ſame ſite with the preſent bridge at Newcaſtle, appear [36] ſtronger than thoſe generally are which are brought in confirmation of truths of ſuch remote antiquity.

Two eminent antiquaries ^t of this country, to one of whom we owe the greateſt part of our intelligence concerning Roman Britain, were perſuaded, from viſible remains exiſting in their time, that there was a Roman road from Bincheſter, through Cheſter-in-the-Street, to the ſite of the preſent Newcaſtle upon Tyne.

An ancient Itinerary, diſcovered ſince they wrote, ſeems to confirm their account beyond the poſſibility of a doubt ^u.

[37]The Emperor Aelius Hadrian, who connected the forts erected by Agricola, by raiſing the great vallum, that in this part of the iſland extended nearly from ſea to ſea, was probably the firſt that built a bridge at this place; from which circumſtance, the ſtation it led to from the Roman road was afterwards called "Pons Aelii," an appellation plainly derived, as were thoſe of others of his publick works, from the name of his own family ^v.

Many Roman coins ^w were diſcovered in the ruins of the piers of [38] this bridge, after the fall thereof, A. D. 1771, proving, it ſhould ſeem, that ſome of the original Roman ſtructure remained here, till every part of the ancient building was cleared away on the erection of the new bridge.

Bourne's reaſoning ^x on the Biſhop of Durham's charter to the bur⯑geſſes of Gateſhead, in the reign of Richard I. is founded on an error in tranſlating the paſſage he ſelected from the original Latin:—The clauſe, which he has either found wrong or made ſo, ought to be ren⯑dered as follows: "Any burgeſs (i. e. of Gateſhead) may give his wood to whom he pleaſes, provided they live on this ſide of the Tyne," that is, on the Durham ſide of that river.

[39]In a charter of King Henry II. to the town of Newcaſtle, cited in one of King John, the exiſtence of a bridge here, at that period, is implied in his exempting the burgeſſes from the duty of pontage for their own goods ^y.

In the year 1248, the greateſt part of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, together with the bridge there, was deſtroyed by fire ^z.

Bourne tells us, without ſubjoining on what authority, that after this event the town of Newcaſtle joined with the Biſhop of Durham in erecting a bridge of ſtone ^a, and that the buſineſs was effected by a method common at that time, i. e. by ſending indulgencies to all per⯑ſons who would aſſiſt them, either with money or labour, to rebuild it. Here he firſt mentions that the Biſhops of Durham were bound to repair a third part of Tyne-Bridge ^b.

A. D. 1251, Simon de Shotton, Robert de Seaton, and Henry Gategang, parſon of Emildon, occur as benefactors to this bridge ^c.

A. D. 1255, during the mayoralty of Henry de Carliol, Robert Valeſine gave an annual rent to the ſupport of Tyne-Bridge ^d.

On the 14th of the kalends of October, 1256, Walter, Biſhop of [40] Durham, granted an indulgence ^e of twenty days, to any perſon that would contribute to the reparation of Tyne-Bridge ^f.

On the ides of September, 1257, Sewald, Archbiſhop of York, granted an indulgence of thirty days to come, to every perſon beſtow⯑ing any thing towards the building and reparation of Tyne Bridge. About the ſame time Andrew, Biſhop of Cathneſs in Scotland, gave liberty, by a grant, to collect alms throughout his whole dioceſe for the reparation of Tyne-Bridge.

The Biſhop of Waterford, in Ireland, granted alſo to thoſe that would aſſiſt in the reparation of Tyne Bridge, a promiſe of being prayed for in the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity, in Waterford, and the other churches of his dioceſe: as alſo an indulgence for ten days ^g. By this means conſiderable benefactions were procured ^h.

A. D. 1269, in the mayoralty of Nicholas Scot, an anonymous [41] benefaction towards the reparation of Tyne-Bridge occurs, when one Laurence was keeper ⁱ.

On the 8th of the ides of September, 1277, Walter, Biſhop of Ro⯑cheſter, granted an indulgence of twenty days, to any that would aſ⯑ſiſt in the reparation of this bridge, either by contributing money or perſonal ſervice ^k.

A. D. 1292, the following perſons appear to have been benefactors to this bridge: Peter le Graper, Adam, ſon of Henry de Carliol, bur⯑geſs of Newcaſtle; Nicholas, ſon of Adam de Carliol, burgeſs of New⯑caſtle; Henry Lewyn, Johannes Aurifaber, Robert de Valenceres, and Emma his wife, Henricus Gervaſius, John de Burneton, John Brune, Johannes Page, Richard de Cromclif, and Roger Amyas ^l.

A. D. 1315, William de Saliſbury occurs as a benefactor ^m.

A. D. 1323, Ralph Brydock, of Gateſide, occurs as another bene⯑factor ⁿ.

In the year 1339, part of Tyne-Bridge was carried away by a ſudden inundation ^o.

A. D. 1342, Tyne-Bridge is mentioned as being in a ruinous and falling condition, and not having its rents duly paid: it was agreed upon, and ordered on this occaſion, that the maſter thereof, aſſiſted by ſome of the magiſtrates of Newcaſtle, ſhould call in and levy the arrears to be applied to the repairing thereof ^p.

[42]November 18th, 1362, farther mention occurs of many defects in Tyne-Bridge, towards the reparation of which, as well as of the for⯑tifications of the town, there was an order to take tolls of goods coming into Newcaſtle for ten years following ^q.

A. D. 1370, it appeared, upon an inquiſition, that Tyne-Bridge was in ſo ruinous a condition, as to require more than a thouſand pounds to repair it.—There was found, at the ſame time, a revenue of ten marks belonging to it; with one of the like value to St. Thomas' Chapel ^r.

In the year 1394, a licence was granted to John Cochet, to alien to the mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and their ſucceſſors, two parts of five meſſuages for the reparation of Tyne-Bridge: this year, alſo, there was a grant of cuſtoms for a certain number of years for the like purpoſe ^s.

January 28th, 1416, Thomas Langley, Biſhop of Durham, recovered from the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, the third part of this bridge, adjoining to Gateſhead, in the county of Durham, together with a tower which that body had lately cauſed to be erected thereupon ^t.

[43]In the year 1429, a recluſe appears to have lived in a hermitage upon Tyne-Bridge, and was appointed by Roger Thornton, in his will ^u, one of the thirty prieſts he had ordered to ſing for his ſoul, with a bequeſt of ſix marks, annually. This year, alſo, the above [44] Roger Thornton left an hundred marks to the reparation of this bridge ^v.

In an ordinary, granted A. D. 1477, to the fullers and dyers of Newcaſtle, half of a fine of twenty ſhillings, impoſed as the penalty for taking a Scotſman to apprentice, or for employing one of that na⯑tion, is ordered to be paid towards the ſupport of Tyne-Bridge ^w.

Thomas Ruthal, who was appointed Biſhop of Durham, A. D. 1509, and held that ſee fourteen years, repaired a third part of Tyne-Bridge ^x.

A. D. 1517, a grant was made in fee, by the mayor and commu⯑nity of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to Edward Surtis, bowyer, of a tene⯑ment in the ſtreet there called the Side, under the yearly rent of ſix⯑teen ſhillings for the uſe of Tyne-Bridge ^y.

Thomas Wolſey, who was made Biſhop of Durham, A. D. 1523, and held that ſee till 1530, repaired the third part of this bridge ^z.

A receipt occurs of the date of 1527, given by the mayor and ſheriff of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to Leonard Muſgrave, Eſq. collector of the cuſtoms of that town, for an annuity of 20l. granted to them by the King, towards the ſupport of their walls and bridge ^a.

[45]Cuthbert Tunſtal, who was tranſlated to the ſee of Durham, A. D. 1530, and deprived thereof in 1559, repaired, at two ſeparate times, with ſtone and wood work, the third part of Tyne-Bridge ^b.

About the year 1559, the very marvellous event related by Bourne, and others, concerning Mr. Anderſon's ring, dropped by accident over this bridge, as he was fingering it, is ſuppoſed to have happened. The part of the ſtory, which ſome have ventured to doubt the truth of, is, that this identical ring was brought back again, after ſome time, in a fiſh bought in Newcaſtle market, by a ſervant of the above merchant, and moſt unexpectedly reſtored to its owner ^c.

[46]A. D. 1579, an ordinary granted to the company of ſlaters and bricklayers, directs, that half of the penalty of ten ſhillings, for any brother's invading the province of the wallers in working with black mortar, or clay; as alſo, half of all the other fines of the company ſhall go to the maintenance of the great bridge of Newcaſtle ^d.

February 12th, 1582, a decree was made in the Exchequer, that the Biſhop of Durham, for the time being, and not the inhabitants of the county of Durham at large, ſhould repair the third part of this bridge ^e.

In a deed, preſerved in the archives of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, dated November 20th, 1616, a tenement here is mentioned, "as knowne by the name of the Ladies Chapell." This i [...] plainly a corruption of "our Lady's Chapel." and evinces, that there was a chapel on Tyne-Bridge in the Popiſh times, dedicated to the Virgin Mary ^f.

[47]In the common-council books, Dec. 23d, 1646, and July 5th, 1647, mention occurs of the reparation of Tyne-Bridge.

It appears, ibid. March 28th, 1649, that the late King, i. e. Charles the Firſt, had allowed a portion of trees out of Chopwell Woods, in the vicinity of Newcaſtle, for the reparation of Tyne-Bridge ^g.

By authority of the ordinance for aboliſhing epiſcopacy, two dif⯑ferent ſales, one in the year 1647, and the other in 1651, were made of the late Biſhop of Durham's property on this bridge ^h.

[48]A. D. 1651, a ſtatue of King James I. with the arms of the late King Charles, having been taken down from the Magazine-Gate on this bridge, by an order of the Parliament, the common-council of Newcaſtle directed, that the arms of the common-wealth ſhould be put up in their ſtead ⁱ.

Soon after the reſtoration of King Charles II. the arms of the common-wealth before-mentioned were taken down from the ſaid gate, and their place ſupplied by the royal arms, and a ſtatue of the late reſtored King, in a Roman habit, with this motto: "Adventus Regis ſolamen gregis," i. e. the coming of the King is the comfort of the people.

In the month of July, 1770, the Biſhop of Durham repaired, with ſtone work, that part of Tyne-Bridge where there had anciently been a draw-bridge ^k.

On the Saturday night preceding the 17th of November, 1771, a great land ſtood, occaſioned by the fall of heavy rains in the weſt, happened in the river Tyne, cauſing it to overflow its banks, and every where marking its progreſs with the moſt dreadful devaſtation. At Newcaſtle upon Tyne, the water began to riſe about eleven o'clock at night, and continued increaſing in height till ſeven the next morn⯑ing: about three o'clock, the arches of this bridge were filled up, and between three and four, two of them on the ſouth ſide were driven down, as was the north arch, adjoining to the toll ſhop, about five o'clock, burying the houſes erected thereon, together with ſeveral of their inhabitants, in the ruins ^l.

[50]January 20th, 1772, the common-council of Newcaſtle ordered a petition to be preſented to the Houſe of Commons, for leave to bring in a bill for building a temporary bridge, and alſo a bridge of ſtone over the river Tyne, as alſo for monies to be granted them to defray the expences neceſſary for ſuch a work ^m. A ſecond petition, from the ſame body, and on the ſame ſubject, occurs February 25th, 1772 ⁿ.

February 26th, 1772, a petition of the Right Rev. John, Lord Biſhop of Durham, was preſented to the Houſe of Commons and read, praying that leave might be given to bring in a bill, to raiſe out of, or charge upon, the ſaid ſee, ſuch ſum of money as was neceſſary to repair his part of Tyne-Bridge, which was referred to the conſideration of a committee ^o.

[51]An agreement having been entered into by the bridge committee at Newcaſtle, with Mr. Stephenſon, carpenter, to finiſh a temporary bridge in four months, to be reckoned from June 18th, 1772 ^p, under a large penalty. On the 17th of July following they began to drive the piles, and the bridge was opened on the 27th day of October in that year.

April 1ſt, 1774, the above bridge committee advertiſed for maſons to undertake the rebuilding of ſuch part of a new intended ſtone bridge over the river Tyne, as belonged to the town of Newcaſtle, having previouſly provided a great quantity of large blocks of ſtone for that purpoſe, which were at that time lying upon Felling and Elſwick-Quays ^q.

[52]July 8th, 1776, a medal was depoſited in the firſt new pier, and the boundary of that part of Tyne-Bridge, that belongs to the corpo⯑ration of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, ſouthward, by the mayor and ſheriff of that town: over the device, which exhibited the Newcaſtle Ex⯑change, with the Genius of Commerce ſitting by it, ſupporting the arms of the corporation, and preſenting a purſe to a figure in the robes of magiſtracy, directing his attention to a proſpect of ſome riſing piers of a bridge, with ſhipping and lighters on the river, is the following motto: "Quod felix fauſtumque ſit;" and on the reverſe, this inſcrip⯑tion: "This ſtone, being the boundary of the corporation of New⯑caſtle, ſouthward, was laid Anno Domini, 1776, in the mayoralty of Charles Atkinſon, Eſq. William Cramlington, Eſq. ſheriff."

This medal was of copper, about four inches diameter, and being incloſed in a thick glaſs-caſe, was placed in the ſouth-eaſt corner of the above pier ^r.

March 22d, 1779, there was an order of common-council for a thouſand pounds to be expended in purchaſing the property that was on the weſt ſide of the north avenue to Tyne-Bridge, on condition that the Act of Parliament, for which that body were then petitioning, could be obtained ^s.

A. D. 1779, an Act paſſed for enlarging the former Act of the 12th of George the Third, for building a temporary bridge over the river [53] Tyne, between the town of Newcaſtle and Gateſhead, for completing the new ſtone bridge there, and for making the avenue to, and the paſſage over it, more commodious.—This Act was to be continued for the term of three years, and no longer. No houſes, except toll ſhops, were to be erected on the new bridge, and the tolls were to be raiſed upon it for twelve years, from June 24th, 1779 ^t.

THE CLOSE.

FROM Tyne-Bridge we enter the ſtreet called the Cloſe ^u, in which the chief merchants of the town had anciently their habitations, and which, probably, had its name from its cloſeneſs, or narrowneſs. [54] The houſe of the Earls of Northumberland ſtood on the ſide of this ſtreet, next to the river, bounded, on the eaſt, by Bower-Chare, be⯑twixt Tyne-Bridge and Javil-Groop.—April 10th, 1482, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, demiſed it to his ſervant George Bird, by the name of the Earl's Inn, under an annual rent of 13s. 4d. Bourne tells us, that it ſtood on the ſite of a houſe, having, in his time, "a great gate at its entrance, with a large round ball of ſtone ^v, and that in the lower part of the building, towards the water, were very manifeſt tokens of its antiquity ^w."

[55]A little to the weſt of the Earl's Inn, is an opening towards the river, called the Javel-Groop ^x: Groope, or Grype, ſignifies a ditch, and Javel is ſaid to be a corruption of gaol. The caſtle of Newcaſtle was long the common priſon of the county of Northumberland, and here, it is probable, has been anciently the communication between the ditch, or foſs, of the caſtle and the river Tyne.

On the right hand, after we have entered the Cloſe ^y from Tyne-Bridge, is a flight of ſtairs, conducting to the caſtle by the ſouthern poſtern ^z. And farther along, on the ſame ſide, is another flight of ſtone ſteps, oppoſite to Javel-Group, called Long-Stairs ^a.

Beyond theſe, to the weſt, on the ſame ſide, and nearly oppoſite the manſion-houſe, is a third flight of ſtairs, called the Tuthill-Stairs ^b, communicating with the foot of Weſt-Gate. There is an anabaptiſt meeting-houſe, with a well for the immerſion of adults in the Tuthill-Stairs. [56] There is ſaid to be another meeting of this ſect held at a pri⯑vate houſe in the town.

The preſent manſion-houſe of the mayors of Newcaſtle ^c, in the Cloſe, was begun to be built A. D. 1691, and coſt the corporation, in building, 6,000l. beſides the furniture ^d.

The judges of aſſize, with their chief officers and ſervants, are uſu⯑ally entertained here, during the aſſize week^e. The mayor gives entertainments in it to very large companies of the gentlemen of New⯑caſtle and its vicinity, and it is furniſhed, for that purpoſe, with a valuable and elegant ſervice of plate^f. The fire arms, belonging to the corporation, are the furniture of the ſpacious ſaloon^g.

[57]In the Cloſe, ſays Bourne, were many houſes that paid an annual rent to the maſter and brethren of St. Mary's Hoſpital^h.

"This ſtreet," he adds, "is commemorated in many ancient writings for a mill, which, in ancient times, was wont to ſtand upon the Hoga ⁱ, [58] i. e. the Bank without the Cloſe-Gate.—In a grant from the maſter and brethren of St. Mary's, in Weſt-Gate, it is permitted to the par⯑ties concerned, that they have "quandam placeam terrae in vico qui vocatur le Cloſs ſicut ſe extendit in longitudine de Hoga ubi antiquum molendinum ſolebat ſtare uſque ad aquam Tinae et quantum de Tina acquirere poterit."

WEST-GATE ^k.

THIS ſtreet has plainly had its name from its weſtern ſituation. Near the foot of it ſtood the houſe of the Friars^l of the Sac ^m, or of the penance of Jeſus Chriſt. They occur, as being ſettled here, A. D. 1268 and 1272 ⁿ.

[59]Their houſe here was near the White-Friar-Tower ^o.

January 8th, 1299, on King Edward the Firſt's arrival at Newcaſtle, the Friars of the Sac, of that town, received (in common with the other orders of religious there) 2s. for their pittance of two days, by the hands of brother Walter de Carleton ^p.

A. D. 1307, this Walter de Carleton occurs as the only ſurviving brother in their houſe, which the King, by letters patent, dated May 26th that year, granted to the order of Carmelites, of the ſame town, upon condition that they ſhould ſupport the above brother, in a way becom⯑ing his rank, during the remainder of his life. The reſidence of the Carmelites, before this time, was upon the Wall-Knoll, from whence their being greatly ſtraitened for want of room cauſed their removal, having juſt before loſt part of their land by the building of the town-wall ^q.

HOUSE OF CARMELITES, OR WHITE-FRIARS ^r.

THE firſt reſidence of this order of mendicants at Newcaſtle was on the Wall-Knoll, as before related, which, by licence of King Henry III. they acquired to themſelves and ſucceſſors in fee of John de Byker ^s.

On the 8th of January, 1299, the White-Friars of Newcaſtle re⯑ceived 16s. 8d. for their pittance of two days, by the hands of brother Roger de Felton, on the King's arrival at Newcaſtle. They appear to have received, by the hands of the ſame perſon, 9s. for their pittance of one day, on the King's paſſing through that town in the beginning of the preceding December ^t.

King Edward the Firſt, by a charter dated May 26th, 1307, granted [61] to the White-Friars of Newcaſtle, ſtraitened at that time in their houſe on the Wall-Knoll, by the incroachment of the town-wall upon part of their ſite, this place of the Friars of the penance of Jeſus Chriſt, on the condition before-mentioned, of their granting to Walter de Carle⯑ton, the then only ſurviving brother of that order, a decent ſubſiſtence for his life ^u.

Auguſt 1ſt, 1322, the brethren of this houſe received 8s. for their pittance of one day, and on the 14th of September following, on the King's arrival at Newcaſtle, 8s. for the ſame, by the hands of the King's almoner ^v.

[62]November 20th, 1337, King Edward the Third granted a licence of mortmain, to enable Ada Page, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to aſſign to the prior and brethren of this houſe, a garden, with its appurte⯑nances, that lay contiguous to their houſe, in order to enlarge it ^w.

Doctor Nicholas Durham, the famous opponent of Wickliff, appears to have flouriſhed in this convent, about the year 1360 ^x.

February 24th, 1361, King Edward the Third granted a licence of mortmain to the Carmelites of this convent, to enable them to make a grant of the place of their former reſidence on the Wall-Knoll to William de Acton, for the purpoſe of founding thereupon the hoſpital of the Holy Trinity ^y.

A. D. 1424, a ſuit occurs between William Glynn, vicar of New⯑caſtle upon Tyne, and William Boſton, prior of this houſe, concerning the offering of wax-candles on Candlemas-Day ^z.

A. D. 1450, Edward Dynley, born of a good family in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and a learned writer of this order, flouriſhed in this houſe ^a.

[63]Brother Robert Benton, of this convent, was ordained prieſt, March 23d, 1497 ^b.

January 10th, 1539, Gerald Spor, prior, with ſeven brethren and two novices, ſurrendered this houſe ^c, after it had been valued [64] by Nicholas Harpsfield, at nine pounds eleven ſhillings and four-pence ^d.

[65]The church of this convent was dedicated to St. Mary, who, as Speed informs us, was the patroneſs of above thirty houſes of this order in England ^e. In the year 1546, a grant of this houſe was made to Sir Richard Greſham and Richard Billingford ^f.

The convent of White Friars is marked in Speed's Plan of New⯑caſtle, dated 1610.—January 27th, 1647, this Friary occurs as being the property of Dr. Jenniſon, vicar of Newcaſtle, who claimed a pound of pepper on account thereof annually, on Chriſtmas-day, from the cor⯑poration of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^g.

The ground where this convent ſtood was purchaſed by Dr. Adam Aſkew, who in 1740 built a handſome houſe upon it, in the kitchen [66] of which ſome veſtiges of the windows, &c. of the Priory ſtill re⯑main ^h.

WEST-GATE.

It was afterwards in the tenure of Robert Bertram ^l.

A little higher up, but on the ſame ſide of the ſtreet, ſtands the hoſ⯑pital of St. Mary the Virgin.

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.

THIS houſe, anciently conſiſting of an hoſpital and chapel, was founded in the reign of Henry the Second, by one Aſelack of Killing⯑howe ^m, who not only raiſed the fabric, but gave the ground alſo upon which it was erected, and placed therein two friars regular, and [68] a chaplain, to ſerve God and the poor; farther intending it to be a place of entertainment for the indigent clergy and ſuch pilgrims as were paſſing this way ⁿ.

Hugh Pudſey, made Biſhop of Durham, A. D. 1154, and who died in the year 1192, granted a charter of epiſcopal confirmation to this hoſpital ^o.

King Henry the Second appears to have granted the firſt charter of royal confirmation to this houſe ^p. He is ſaid alſo to have made it in [69] ſome way or other dependant upon the Nunnery of St. Bartholo⯑mew in the ſame town ^q.

Another charter of royal confirmation was granted to this hoſpital by King Richard I ^r.

Robert de Heddon, clerk, with the conſent and confirmation of his lord, Walter de Bolbeck ^s, gave a yearly ſum to the ſupport of this hoſpital, probably on its firſt foundation, and on condition that the fraternity ſhould pray for the ſoul of his ſaid lord, and for his own and thoſe of his anceſtors ^t.

About the year 1251, Adam de Neuſum, for the ſake of his own ſoul, that of Eve his wife, and thoſe of his anceſtors and heirs, granted to the fraternity of this hoſpital, in free, pure, and perpetual alms, all [70] the land they held in the village of Newſham, remitting to them an annual rent of thirteen pence for the ſame ^u.

Henry the Third appears to have granted a charter for liberties to this houſe in the year 1253 ^v.

About the year 1257, Julian, daughter of Agnes Blanch, made ſome charitable donation to this hoſpital, that the fraternity might pray for her ſoul, and for the ſouls of her anceſtors, and upon condition that ſhe ſhould be ſupplied with a lodging there whenever ſhe viſited New⯑caſtle upon Tyne ^w.

Martin Coyman gave a meſſuage to this place, A. D. 1259 ^x.

One Simon was maſter of this houſe, A. D. 1264, as was John Norrys in 1267 ^y.

Roger de Quintingham occurs as a benefactor to this houſe in the year 1269 ^z.

[71]About the year 1269, Gerard, preacher or maſter of this hoſpital, with the brethren, demiſed to Robert, chaplain of Bingefeldthune and his aſſigns, at the annual rent of twelve pence, two acres of land and a toft, which had been given them by Godfrey, Lord of Bingefeld, in free, pure, and perpetual alms, for the ſake of his own ſoul and the ſouls of his anceſtors ^a.

About the ſame time the ſaid Gerard and his brethren granted to Udard, ſon of Richard of Pilgrim-ſtreet, the land that had been given them in pure and perpetual alms by John Skinner, to hold of the ſaid hoſpital at an annual rent of five ſhillings ^b.

A. D. 1290, the brethren of this hoſpital, on their petition to the king in parliament, ſetting forth, that the new town-wall of Newcaſtle had been built through the middle of their court-yard, leaving the greater part of their edifices on the outſide thereof, obtained a patent for making a poſtern-gate of communication through the ſaid wall ^c.

Nicholas Eſſot occurs as a benefactor to this houſe, A. D. 1292 ^d.

A. D. 1296, letters of protection were granted to the maſter of this hoſpital. The king granted theſe protections to religious houſes, for their perſons, ſervants, lands, rents, poſſeſſions, goods and chattels ^e.

May 5th, 1304, King Edward I. granted a licence of mortmain to [72] enable John de Inſula (Liſle) to deviſe to the maſter and brethren of this hoſpital a meſſuage, four ſhops, and a rent of 16 ſhillings, in the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, as alſo a meſſuage, with its appur⯑tenances, in the ſaid town, which Dioniſia, relict of Laurence Swayn, held of the ſaid John as her dower, and which had reverted to him at her death ^f.

Robert Tunnikyſiman, and Matilda his wife, occur as benefactors to this houſe, A. D. 1305 ^g.

A. D. 1317, William Herringe occurs as a benefactor to this hoſpital ^h.

It appears from an original record ſtill preſerved among the writings of this houſe, but without a date, that Geofry, ſon of Gerard of Whickham, and grandfather of Robert of Whickham, had given to this hoſpital, in pure and perpetual alms, a pound of pepper and a pound of cinnamon, payable out of his lands at Whickham, on St. Cuthbert's day, in September, in every year: and that the above Ro⯑bert confirmed this donation, and charged it upon a capital meſſuage in that village for ever ⁱ.

King Edward the Third, for the relief of St. Mary's Hoſpital, the poſſeſſions of which had been deſtroyed by various inroads of the Scots, granted a licence, dated at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, Auguſt 2d, 1334, to the fraternity of that houſe, to acquire lands, tenements, and [73] rents to the yearly value of an hundred ſhillings, notwithſtanding the ſtatute of mortmain ^k.

Richard de Bury, Biſhop of Durham, by a charter of inſpeximus, dated at Gateſhead, January 8th, 1335, confirmed the former charter of Hugh Pudſey, his predeceſſor in that ſee, for the confirmation of lands, rents, rights, privileges, &c. belonging to this hoſpital ^l.

A. D. 1343, Joan, widow of Nicholas de Ellirker, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, remitted to the fraternity of this houſe, all her right in the lands and tenements, which reverted to her as her dower, after the death of her ſaid huſband, and which they held at that time by his gift ^m.

A full guild of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne was held at the hoſpital of St. Mary, in Weſt-Gate, on the Friday before Valentine Day, 1343, when ſeveral articles were agreed upon for the better go⯑vernment of the town, which were ſealed under the common-ſeal of the corporation of that place, and afterwards received the royal con⯑firmation ⁿ.

A. D. 1347, Gilbert Palmer granted to the maſter and brethren of [74] this hoſpital, a meſſuage and ten acres of land, in the town and territory of Newbigging on the Moor^o.

King Edward III. by a charter of inſpeximus, dated at Weſtmin⯑ſter, April 12th, 1351, confirmed to this hoſpital a charter granted to them by King Henry the Second: The fraternity are here ſtyled "the prior and brethren ^p."

Robert de Morton, canon of the church of the Bleſſed Mary, in Weſt-Gate, Newcaſtle upon Tyne, of the order of St. Auſtin, having been elected prior of that church, by an authority which Thomas Hatfield, then Biſhop of Durham, did not admit of: the above Ro⯑bert, on the death of Friar William de Norton, was created by the ſaid Biſhop, on his own authority, and confirmed in that office, Au⯑guſt 13th, 1369 ^q.

[75]King Edward III. having granted a licence to one Allan Pulthore, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to aſſign a rent of one hundred ſhillings out of three meſſuages in that town (held of the crown in burgage, by a ſervice of 6d. per annum), to a chaplain, to perform daily ſervice in a chantry, in All Saints Church in that town, for the ſouls of all the faithful, and which the ſaid Allan having neglected to perform, the King, by letters patent, had made a ſimilar grant to John, the ſon and heir of the ſaid Allan. This John, by virtue of the royal licence, had aſſigned the ſaid rents to this fraternity, for the above purpoſe; and they had been ſeized of them, till on the tenements becoming empty, they could no longer be raiſed out of them.

Upon which the ſaid John, unwilling that the chantry ſhould go down, had aſſigned the three meſſuages themſelves, inſtead of the rents, to this fraternity, to be by them maintained and repaired; but being in poſſeſſion, without the royal licence, the King, in conſideration of a fine of ten pounds, to be paid him by William de Norton, maſter, and the brethren of this houſe, had granted them a licence of mortmain, and confirmed to the ſaid houſe the gift of the meſſuages, in lieu of the rents, for the purpoſes before related, November 4th, 1378 ^r.

A. D. 1401, Brother William de Burnham, prior and maſter of the hoſpital of St. Mary, in Weſt-Gate, granted a meſſuage, and three ſhops, before the great gate of the caſtle of Newcaſtle, to John White, draper and burgeſs of that town, at the annual rent of thirty-ſeven ſhillings ^s.

Upon the death of William de Burnham, which happened Auguſt 9th, 1412, William Karlell, and Robert Lekynfeld, the then only ſurviving regular brethren of this hoſpital (called, at this time, "The [76] Hoſpital of the Bleſſed Virgin, and St. John the Evangeliſt"), tranſ⯑ferred their right to elect a new maſter, to Thomas Langley, then Biſhop of Durham, October 26th, 1412 ^t.—October 1ſt, 1413, the Biſhop collated the above-named William Karlell ^u, who reſigned, Fe⯑bruary 20th, 1416 ^v.

February 2d, 1416, the ſaid Biſhop of Durham iſſued a citation, to warn the maſter of his intention to viſit this houſe: iſſuing alſo, at the ſame time, a commiſſion for the ſafe keeping of the goods of the hoſpital ^w.

October 28th, 1417, Thomas Langley, Biſhop of Durham, collated John Fitzhenry, canon of the priory of Newbrugh, in the dioceſe of York, to ſucceed the above William Karlell in the maſterſhip of this hoſpital ^x.

January 5th, 1428, the Biſhop of Durham iſſued a ſentence of ex⯑communication againſt every perſon ſtealing the goods of this hoſ⯑pital ^y.

A bequeſt of two fothers of lead, to the reparation of this hoſpital, occurs in the will of the elder Roger Thornton, dated A. D. 1429 ^z.

[77]An account of the wardrobe, &c. of this hoſpital, of the date of 1444, has been tranſmitted ^a.

John Bird, LL. B. was maſter of this hoſpital, A. D. 1501 ^b.

In the ordinary of the drapers company, in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, dated June 1ſt, 1512, mention occurs, that the election of the mayor and officers of the town had been, by the ancient uſage of that place, held in this hoſpital ^c.

November 29th, 1528, Roland Swinburn, A. M. was inducted to the maſterſhip of this hoſpital, to which he had been preſented by Ed⯑ward Swinburn, mayor, and the community of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, the true patrons thereof.—Swinburn reſigned this maſterſhip, Auguſt 29th, 1531, having exchanged with Robert Davell, for a prebend in Norton Church, to which he was collated on the day following ^d.

The preſentation of Robert Davell, clerk, by Gilbert Myddleton, [78] Eſq. mayor, the ſheriff, aldermen, and community of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, is dated Auguſt 29th, 1531 ^e.

The famous Leland ſeems to have been recommended to this Doctor Davell, and to have been indebted to him for his information in ſeveral particulars, when he viſited this town in his tour through England, for the purpoſe of collecting antiquarian knowledge ^f.

Davell was alſo archdeacon of Northumberland ^g.

January 26th, 1532, there was an exemplification of a record of the common pleas, whereby the preſentation of the hoſpital of the Bleſſed Virgin Mary, called Weſt-Spittle, was adjudged to pertain to the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and not to the King ^h.

This hoſpital had revenues, A. D. 1535, that were valued at 26l. 13s. 4d. ⁱ.

[79]It came to the crown by the ſtatute of the 31ſt of Henry VIII. A. D. 1540, for the diſſolution of abbies, priories, colleges and hoſ⯑pitals: but it never appears to have come in charge before the auditors of the county of Northumberland, nor to have paid rent to the King's receiver there.

The houſe, with the rents thereof, were ſtill enjoyed, and the com⯑munity of Newcaſtle preſented a maſter to the Biſhop of Durham, as though the foundation had not been diſſolved, or reverted to the crown.

By a rental of this hoſpital, dated 1547, it appears to have had property in Weſt-Gate, Denton-Chare, Pudding-Chare, Meal-Market, Fleſh-Market, Big-Market, Middle-Street, without New-Gate, in St. Nicholas' Church-Yard, before the Caſtle-Gate, in the Side, in the Sand-Hill and Cloſe, in Pilgrim-Street, in Manor-Chare, Pandon and All-Saints-Street, White-Croſs, rents of gardens without the Cloſe-Gate and in the Forth, all in, or contiguous to, Newcaſtle; alſo at Jeſmouth, Whickham, Whittonſtale, Fenham, Newſham, Bolam, Old Heaton, Woſſington, Mearsfen, Horton and Stewkley, Newbiggen on the Moor, Byngfield, Stamfordham and Hewght, Little Babington, and in Riddeſdale ^k.

[80]A. D. 1551, a grant is ſaid to have been made to the Duke of Northumberland of this tenement, called therein the Weſt-Spittle ^l, and included as parcel of the monaſtery of Tinmouth ^m.

April 25th, 1558, John Raymes, A. M. was inſtituted to the ma⯑ſterſhip of this hoſpital, vacant by the death of Doctor Davell. He had been preſented by John Swinburn, of Chopwell, Eſq. and John Swynborn of Wylom, Gent. patrons for that turn, by an advowſon from the mayor, ſheriff, aldermen and community of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ⁿ.

October 9th, 1579, Anthony Garforthe, clerk, was inſtituted to the maſterſhip of this hoſpital, on the deprivation of Raymes, for contu⯑macy (May 29th preceding), and on the preſentation of Ralph Law⯑ſon, of Brough, in Yorkſhire, Eſq. and William Selbie, merchant and alderman of Newcaſtle, for that turn, by an advowſon from Richard Hod [...]hon, mayor, and the burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^o.

[81]June 30th, 1580, Henry Dethicke, LL. B. was inſtituted to the maſterſhip of this houſe on the death of Garforthe, and on the pre⯑ſentation of the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle.—He was official of the dean of York, under Dr. M. Hutton ^p.

This hoſpital is ſaid to have been granted, in fee ſimple, by Queen Elizabeth, under the great ſeal, to be held in ſoccage ^q.

Ralph Pattenſon, A. M. ſucceeded Dethicke on his reſignation of [82] the maſterſhip of this hoſpital, to which he was preſented by the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, May 9th, 1583 ^r.

Henry Ewbanke, A. M. was inſtituted to the maſterſhip of this hoſpital, March 15th, 1585, on the preſentation of the mayor and burgeſſes aforeſaid, upon the reſignation of Pattenſon ^s.

May 27th, 1611, King James I. granted a new charter to this hoſ⯑pital; the preamble whereof ſets forth, that John Raymes, a former maſter of this houſe, had, in the rebellion in the north, been com⯑mitted to Durham gaol, when the original charters, grants, and letters patent, concerning the foundation of this place, had been loſt; as alſo, that attempts had been made by ſome perſons to appropriate the poſ⯑ſeſſions [83] of the hoſpital to their own uſe: whereupon it is to be founded anew, and decreed to conſiſt of a maſter, who ſhould, at leaſt, be a maſter of arts, and of ſix unmarried poor old men, conſtituting toge⯑ther a body politick in law, having a common ſeal ^t, with power to ſue and be ſued, to let leaſes, &c. the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle to be the patrons. The King granted the houſe of the hoſpital at the ſame time, with all its poſſeſſions, under an annual rent of thirteen ſhillings and four-pence ^u.

Robert Fowberry, A. M. probably ſucceeded to the maſterſhip of this hoſpital, on the reſignation of Ewbank ^v, October 18th, 1615. He occurs as maſter, granting a leaſe ^w, January 26th, 1618. He was maſter, alſo, of the royal grammar ſchool, which, a little before this time, had been removed to part of the church of this houſe.

Edward Wigham, A. M. was inſtituted to the maſterſhip of this hoſpital, Auguſt 30th, 1623, on the preſentation of the King, to whom, through lapſe of time, that right had reverted for this turn ^x.

A queſtion having ariſen, upon ſome expreſſions in the new charter of this hoſpital, whether the maſter's office was preſentative or dona⯑tive, it was anſwered by Hen. Yelverton, July 19th, 1623, in the ſubſequent words: "If this church, or place, was anciently preſenta⯑tive, the King's new grant doth not, nor can, make it donative, eſpe⯑cially [84] as the grant is made, for the patrons are to enjoy it as formerly they did, or ought to enjoy it; and if the patrons ſhould attempt to make it donative, the biſhop of the dioceſe, after ſix months paſſed without preſentation, may collate by lapſe, for a church once preſent⯑ative cannot, without act of parliament, or after diſſolution thereof, become donative ^y."

March 11th, 1629, Francis Gray, A. M. was appointed maſter of this hoſpital, on the death of Wigham.—He was alſo maſter of the grammar ſchool ^z.

Nicholas Hall, B. D. of Ellemar-Hall, in the county of Durham, was maſter of this hoſpital, A. D. 1649, and occurs as ſuch, in a leaſe, dated Feb. 22d, 1657 ^a.

John Bewick, A. M. was maſter here, June 7th, 1669 ^b.

Richard Garthwaite, A. M. occurs as maſter of this hoſpital, A. D. 1671 ^c.

John Cotterell, A. M. appears to have been maſter here, A. D. 1690 ^d.

Thomas Rud, A. M. occurs as maſter of this houſe, A. D. 1699 ^e.

James Jurin, A. M. appears to have been maſter in the year 1710 ^f.

Robert Thomlinſon, D. D. was appointed maſter of this hoſpital, A. D. 1715 ^g.

About the year 1738, upon a queſtion, whether the mayor and bur⯑geſſes, who, as viſitors, had made an order that no leaſes ſhould be [85] let, without their conſent, and had ordered a ſchedule of all the papers, leaſes, &c. to be delivered to them, had a right to do ſo—Dud. Ry⯑der gave the following opinion: "That the maſter and brethren may make leaſes for three lives, reſerving the ancient rent, and take fines on granting ſuch leaſes, the power by charter of granting leaſes reſerv⯑ing the laſt rent doth not abridge the power they have as a corporation. The maſter and brethren are not bound to obey the order of the mayor and burgeſſes, not to grant leaſes without their conſent, but as the mayor and burgeſſes are viſitors, the hoſpital ought to return ſuch ſchedule as ordered. And the mayor and burgeſſes have a right to re⯑gulate the diſtribution of the profits of the eſtate, and to increaſe the maintenance and payment of the brethren, ſo far as is reaſonable, though different from the proportions uſually obſerved ^h."

Richard Dawes was appointed maſter of this hoſpital, October 9th, 1738.—He occurs, as ſuch, in a leaſe, dated February 13th, 1748 ⁱ.

Henry Featherſtonehalgh, B. D. occurs, as maſter of this hoſpital, in a leaſe, dated in November 1749 ^k.

Hugh Moiſes, A. M. was appointed maſter of this hoſpital, at a common-council, held June 14th, 1779, on a vacancy by the death of Featherſtonehalgh ^l.

ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL ^m IN ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.

IT was not till the beginning of the ſixteenth century, that a cuſtom of long continuance began to grow into difuſe, that of educat⯑ing [86] our youth in monaſteries ⁿ. Twenty new grammar ſchools, a num⯑ber greater than had been eſtabliſhed for three hundred years before, were founded and endowed between that period and the reformation.

Among theſe novel inſtitutions occurs the preſent grammar ſchool of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, which, owing its origin to the ancient muni⯑ficence of a magiſtrate, ſtands indebted for its growth and continuance to the patronage of the community of that town.

Thomas Horſley, alderman, and who was mayor of Newcaſtle in the years 1525, and 1533, deviſed all his lands in that place, after his death and that of his wife, for the endowment of a grammar ſchool, which was to be free for any within or without that town: in aug⯑mentation of which endowment, the corporate body of that place ſet⯑tled a ſtipend of four marks, to be paid annually out of their chamber, for ever ^o.

[87]This ſchool was at firſt in St. Nicholas' church-yard, in a build⯑ing on the north-eaſt ſide of the church ^p. When it afterwards became a royal foundation, and was incorporated by a clauſe in the [88] charter of Queen Elizabeth, granted to that town in the forty-ſe⯑cond year of her reign, it was removed to the Hoſpital of St. Mary in Weſt-Gate ^q.

The clauſe in the above-mentioned charter ^r ſets forth that the Queen's motive for the new inſtitution was her regard for the inſtruc⯑tion of youth from their tender years in the rudiments of the true Chriſtian religion, and in learning and good manners. She enacts that her foundation be ſtyled the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth; the maſter and ſcholars whereof are to be a body corporate in law, with perpetual ſucceſſion, to have a common ſeal—a legal ca⯑pacity of purchaſing and holding lands, &c. to themſelves, and ſuc⯑ceſſors, [89] in fee ſimple, or for term of years, provided they exceed not the annual value of forty pounds, are not held of the crown in chief, or by military ſervice, notwithſtanding the act of mortmain. The governing part of the corporation of Newcaſtle, of whom the mayor and ſix aldermen to be ſeven, are appointed the patrons of this ſchool, with the power of electing a maſter and uſher thereof, whoſe offices are held under their pleaſure, and are to be filled up by them on every re⯑moval or vacancy by death.

[90]Robert Fowberry, A. M. a perſon eminent for his induſtry and learning, was invited hither from Hull in Yorkſhire, to be the firſt maſter of this ſchool ^s.

Edward Wigham, A. M. occurs as maſter, A. D. 1623 ^t.

Francis Grey, A. M. ſucceeded on the death of Wigham ^u, in 1629 ^v.

Amor Oxley was maſter about 1637.—Edward Lumſden, his under uſher, with a ſalary of 20l. per annum ^w.

[91]May 30th, 1645, Amor Oxley being a loyaliſt was diſplaced from the maſterſhip of this ſchool by an order of the lords and commons.

Nicholas Augar ſucceeded on the removal of Oxley, with a ſalary of 40l. per annum, and other perquiſites. Matthew Gouch, a graduate of Cambridge, was his uſher ^x.

A. D. 1646, Daniel Gibſon occurs as uſher of this ſchool.

February 27th, 1647, Nicholas Augar reſigned on account of his ill ſtate of health ^y.

Auguſt 29th, 1648, George Ritſchel was appointed maſter—the year following ten pounds additional ſalary were granted him for his in⯑duſtry and careful diſcharge of his duty ^z. He removed to the vicarage of Hexham ^a.

[92]April 27th, 1662, Amor Oxley was appointed a ſecond time maſter of this ſchool, with a ſalary of an hundred pounds per annum, with [93] perquiſites; when William Sanſon occurs as uſher, and Allan Gilpon as under-uſher: the former with a ſalary of 40l. the latter with one of 30l. per annum ^b.

About Chriſtmas, 1669, Richard Garthwaite, A. M. was appointed maſter of this ſchool, with a ſalary of 50l. with other fees.

March 24th, 1674, Robert Grey occurs as uſher, and Ralph Wilſon as under-uſher; the former with a ſtipend of 30l. the latter with one [94] of 26l. 13s. 4d. afterwards, March 30th, 1682, raiſed to 31l. 13s. 4d. a year ^c.

Richard Garthwaite publiſhed a cenſure upon Lilly's Grammar, in duodecimo, London, 1684. He was removed from his office here ^d, A. D. 1690.

December 7th, 1677, Richard Gower, A. M. was appointed uſher, on the death of Grey, and in 1682 his ſalary was raiſed to 35l. a year ^e.

June 11th, 1683, Ralph Gower occurs as under-uſher.

July 11th, 1683, John Metcalfe was appointed uſher, in the room of Richard Gower ^f.

Dec. 17th, 1690, John Cotteral, A. M. was appointed maſter ^g.

[95]Thomas Rudd, A. M. occurs as maſter here, 1699 ^h.

January 23d, 1710, James Jurin, M. A. was appointed maſter of this ſchool. He reſigned this office, A. D. 1715, and afterwards be⯑came M. D. and F. R. S. fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and preſident of the College of Phyſicians.—In November, 1721, he was elected ſecretary to the Royal Society, on the reſignation of Dr. Halley. In April, 1725, he was elected, with Dr. Oldfield, phyſician to the new hoſpital in Southwark, founded by Guy, a bookſeller, of London. Having acquired a great fortune by his profeſſion, he died at his houſe in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, March 22d, 1750, leaving a conſiderable legacy to Chriſt's Hoſpital, where he had been educated ⁱ.

[96]September 26th, 1715, Edmund Lodge, clerk, was appointed maſter here, on the reſignation of Jurin ^k.

September 26th, 1726, George Carr was appointed under-uſher, on the deceaſe of Richard Stewardſon ^l: Carr removed afterwards to the epiſcopal chapel at Edinburgh: a collection of his ſermons, publiſhed ſince his death, has deſervedly met with great approbation.

July 10th, 1738, Richard Dawes, A. M. fellow of Emanuel Col⯑lege, in Cambridge, was appointed maſter here on the reſignation of Lodge. He was alſo maſter of St. Mary's Hoſpital ^m. He reſigned both theſe offices about A. D. 1750, but not before he had ſecured an annuity of 80l. per annum, to be paid him by the corporation of New⯑caſtle for his life ⁿ. He was a perſon of great learning ^o, but ſo wild and irregular as to be thought, generally, a little inſane. The ſchool under him was reduced to a very low ebb, and his refractory behaviour occaſioned great trouble, and gave no ſmall offence to his patrons, the magiſtrates of Newcaſtle.

[97]In the year 1736, Mr. Dawes publiſhed propoſals for printing, by ſubſcription, "Paradiſi amiſſi a cl. Miltono conſcripti Liber primus, Graeca Verſionè donatus, unà cum Annotationibus," with a ſpeci⯑men ^p.

After his reſignation, Mr. Dawes retired to a houſe at Heworth-Shore, a little below Newcaſtle, on the banks of the Tyne: he died, March 21ſt, 1766 ^q, and was, by his own deſire, interred in Heworth church-yard, where his grave is ſtill marked by a common head-ſtone, with the following inſcription: "In memory of Richard Dawes, late head maſter of the grammer ^* ſchool at Newcaſtle, who died the 21ſt of March, 1766, aged 57 years ^r."

John Wibberſley, A. B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, occurs as under-uſher, July 12th, 1742 ^s.

On the reſignation of Dawes, in 1749, Hugh Moiſes, A. M. firſt [98] of Trinity-College, and afterwards of Peter-Houſe, in Cambridge, was appointed maſter of this ſchool ^t.

January 2d, 1752, Anthony Munton, A. M. of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed uſher, on the reſignation of Wibberſley ^u.

June 18th, 1755, Jeffry Clarkſon, LL. B. was appointed uſher, on the death of Munton ^v.

In 1758, the corporation of Newcaſtle purchaſed a pair of globes for the uſe of this ſchool ^w.

John King, A. M. was appointed uſher, on the reſignation of Clarkſon, February 6th, 1760 ^x.

September 24th, 1764, William Hall, A. M. fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed under-uſher ^y.

December 15th, 1766, W. Hall was appointed uſher, and Weaver Walter, A. M. afterwards fellow of Chriſt's College, in Cambridge, was appointed under-uſher ^z.

[99]At the Midſummer common-council, 1778, John Brand, A. B. of Lincoln-College, Oxford, was appointed under-uſher, on the reſigna⯑tion of W. Walter.

September 20th, 1781, J. Brand ^a was appointed uſher, on the re⯑moval of W. Hall.

At the Eaſter common-council, 1784, Moſes Manners, A. M. of Lincoln-College, Oxford, was appointed uſher, on the reſignation of J. Brand.—And ſoon afterwards Robert Wilſon, A. B. of All Souls College, Oxford, was appointed under-uſher.

June, 1787, Edward Moiſes, A. M. was appointed head-maſter, on the reſignation of his uncle, Hugh Moiſes, A. M. maſter of St. Mary's Hoſpital.

WEST-GATE.

UNIVERSITY College, in Oxford, had poſſeſſions in this ſtreet: Arthur Charlott, D. D. and maſter of the college of the great college ^* [105] of the great hall of the univerſity of Oxford, commonly called Uni⯑verſity College, and the fellows of the ſame, by indenture, dated Sep⯑tember 28th, 1693, demiſed to William Metcalf, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, hoſtman, two houſes or tenements, in the town of Newcaſtle aforeſaid, in the ſtreet there called the Weſt-Gate, between the com⯑mon ſtreet, on the eaſt part, and a tenement belonging ſometime to a chantry of the Bleſſed Virgin, in the church of St. Nicholas, on the weſt part—the highway on the north, and the back walls of the ſaid town of Newcaſtle on the ſouth, for 31 years ^c, under the yearly rent of ten ſhillings.

The parſonage, or vicarage houſe of Newcaſtle, is ſituated in this ſtreet, not far from St. John's Church ^d.

There was a building in this ſtreet, called Spital-Alms-Houſe: it ſtood nearly oppoſite to St. John's Church.—It is mentioned by Bourne, and marked in his plan of the town. It was pulled down not many years ago, and a handſome houſe erected on the ſite.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

IT is alike unknown by whom, or at what time, this church or chapel was founded ^e.

Bourne ſays, that it appears to have been built, A. D. 1287 ^f.

Great alterations were probably made, both in the ſteeple and body of the church, by Robert Rhodes, the great benefactor to all our reli⯑gious buildings.

His arms, which remain in two of the other churches, are found here alſo, under the belfry.—They are alſo placed over the window, on the outſide of the ſouth-croſs. One William Hutton is conjec⯑tured to have been one of the firſt benefactors to this church, from ſome punning devices, expreſſive of his name, after the manner of thoſe times, which are ſtill preſerved in the glaſs of one of the ſouth-eaſt windows of the ſouth-croſs, and upon one of the pillars before the weſtern gallery ^g.

In the year 1379, this place occurs with the title of "capella," or "chapel ^h."

There were three chantries here in the papal times; one dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr—a ſecond to the Virgin Mary—and the laſt to the Trinity ⁱ.

St. Thomas' chantry was founded about A. D. 1319, by Adam of Durham, a burgeſs of Newcaſtle, for the ſouls of his father and mo⯑ther, &c. and his own.—It is ſuppoſed to have been ſituated near the north-croſs. Roger de Burnet occurs as firſt chaplain in the deed of [107] foundation, by which the mayor and bailiffs of Newcaſtle are appointed patrons. The yearly value of this chantry was 4l. 3s. ariſing out of property in the Sand-Hill and Weſt-Gate. John Ragge (alias Rige) was the laſt incumbent, and had an annual penſion of 3l. 16s. ^k.—The ſubſequent account of this chantry is taken from the certificate of col⯑leges and chantries, in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:—"The chauntrie of St. Tho⯑mas in the pariſhe church of Seynt John within the towne of New⯑caſtell upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynd a preiſt for ever for the mayntaynance of Godd's ſervice and to pray for all Chriſten ſowles and is ſo uſed at the preſent but ther is no dede of any foundacon to be ſhewed—Yerely value 4l. 2s. 8d.—Value according to this ſurvey 4l. 3s. as apereth by a rentall whereof is paid owt for a rent reſolut' 2s. and for the Kinges majeſties tenthes 8s. 3d.— 10s. 3d. and re⯑maynith clerely 72s. 9d. whiche ben employed to the ſuſtentacon and relief of John Rige clerke incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnance of the ſaid foundacon—Ornaments &c. 22s. 1d. as apereth by a per⯑ticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

Our Lady's chantry was ſounded by Edward Scott, in the time of Edward III. Its yearly value was 4l. 4s. 4d. out of property in Sand-Hill and Weſt-Gate ^l.—The following account of it is preſerved in the above-mentioned certificate, &c. 37 Hen. VIII.—"The chauntrie of our Lady in the pariſhe churche of St. John within the towne of New⯑caſtell was founded by one Edward Skott by a licence obteyned of Kinge Edward III. to fynde a prieſt for ever to ſay maſſe ther dayly and to pray for hys ſowle and all Chriſten ſowles by reporte but the foundacon thereof we have not ſeene—Yearly value 4l. 3s. 4d.—Value according to this ſurvey 4l. 4s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall whereof is [108] paid to the Kinge's majeſtie for the yerelie tenthes thereof 8s. 4d. and remayneth clerly 76s. whiche ar employed to the ſuſtentacon and relief of Edwarde Skott, clerke, incumbent there accordyng to the ordynnaunce of the foundacon.—Ornaments &c. 27s. 10d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

The chantry of the Holy Trinity is ſaid to have been founded by John Dalton, William Atkinſhawe, and Andrew Accliffe, clerks.—Its yearly value was 5l. 13s. 4d. ariſing out of tenements in Weſt-Gate and the Side, and one with a Cloſe without the Weſt-Gate ^m. Ber⯑tram Bertley was the laſt incumbent, and had a penſion of 5l. per an⯑num, which he enjoyed in 1553 ⁿ.

The following account of this chantry is preſerved in the above⯑cited certificate, 37 Hen. VIII.—"The chauntrie of the Trinitie in the pariſhe churche of Seynt John within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by a licence obteyned of Kinge Edwarde IV. by John Dalton, William Atkynſhawe and Andrew Aclif clerke, to fynd a preeſte for ever to ſay maſſe and pray for their ſowles and all Chriſten ſowles by reporte whiche is ſo uſed hitherto but ther is no dede of any foundacon to be ſhewed—Yerely valew 109s. 2d.—Valew ac⯑cordyng to this ſurvey 113s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid yerely to the Kinge's majeſtie for the tenthes 10s. 11d.—and remayn⯑eth clerly 102s. 5d. whiche ben employed to the ſuſtentacon and relief of Bartram Barkeley prieſte incumbent there—Ornaments &c. 22s. 11d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

The preſent veſtry of this church has probably been one of the chantries.—There is a nich in the wall, evidently intended to hold holy water.—There is preſerved there alſo a curious ſpecimen of old carv⯑ing, on what has been part of an ancient cheſt. The ſubject, George and the Dragon.

The ancient font of this church, which had been given by one John [109] Bertram, was deſtroyed by the Scots in 1639 ^o. The preſent one has probably been the gift of Andrew Bates, A. M. appointed lecturer of this church, A. D. 1689, as there is a ſhield on it with the arms of that ancient family.

Mention occurs of an organ, or rather "organes," in this church, in the year 1570 ^p.

The preſent organ was built by ſubſcription, A. D. 1734, on which occaſion the corporation of Newcaſtle gave twenty guineas, and ſettled a ſalary of 20l. per annum on the organiſt ^q.

More painted glaſs remains in the windows of this than of any other church in the town.

The great eaſtern window, in particular, abounds with curious ſpe⯑cimens ^r.

[110]There are ſix indifferent bells in the ſteeple.—It a [...]pears, by the common-council books, September 20th, 1724, that the names of the mayor, M. Featherſtonhaugh, &c. engraved on a ſtone, were ſet up in the ſteeple of this church, with an order, "that leſt it might be claimed as a precedent for ſuch repairs, that the ſaid ſteeple ought to be repaired by the pariſhioners."

The communion table of this church, ſays Bourne, was given by Mr. Robert Crow, merchant, anno 1712.

Mr. Robert Rymer of this town, he adds, left to this church, in the year 1722, a large flaggon, a chalice and a plate, all of ſilver, valued at 60l. to be uſed at the holy communion.

Lady Muſgrave preſented an altar cloth and cuſhion, being a legacy left to St. John's Church, by Mrs. Hilton.—Newcaſtle Courant, May 11, 1754.

There is a painting, by one Henry Mort, on the altar-piece, repre⯑ſenting cherubs aſcending and deſcending in the clouds, &c. under a crimſon curtain, with gold fringe.

The croſs is left ſtanding on the outſide of this church, on the top of the choir.

This church was beautified in the year 1765.

A. D. 1762, the church-yard here was incloſed by ſubſcription with a brick-wall and rail work above, and planted round in the inſide with lime and elm trees.—On a table monument therein is the follow⯑ing inſcription: ‘"Here lie the remains of John Cunningham. Of his excellence as a paſtoral poet, His works will remain a monument For ages, [111] After this temporary tribute of eſteem is in duſt forgotten. He died in Newcaſtle, September 18th, 1773, aged 44."’

The regiſter of this church for births, marriages, and burials, begins in January, A. D. 1587.

In the year 1785, 58 males, and 43 females were chriſtened: and 58 males, and 84 females, buried at St. John's.—Newcaſtle Courant.

There was a chapel and burying ground at Benwell, in this pariſh, now both deſtroyed.—"The old tower of Benwell-Hall," ſays Bourne, p. 113, "was the place where the prior of Tinmouth ^s reſided ſome part of the ſummer, and the chapel, which Mr. Shaftoe opens and ſupplies for the good of the people of his village, was the prior's do⯑meſtic chapel." A Mr. Dalgarner occurs as miniſter, A. D. 1680. It was ſupplied by the curate of St. John's till it was pulled down.— There is a regiſter book belonging to it, ending A. D. 1742, at preſent, or very lately, in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Rutter, attorney-at-law.— There is a vault, and a few grave ſtones ſtill continue to mark the ſite of the burying-ground.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ST. JOHN'S.

A. D. 1640, Henry Hilton, Eſq. left to this pariſh 4l. per annum, for 99 years. This charity determined in 1739.

1644, Sir Alexander Daviſon left to this pariſh 2l. per annum.

[112]1644, Sir Thomas Daviſon left to this pariſh 1l. per annum.

Mr. Aldworth left 1l. per annum, as to St. Nicholas and All Saints.

Mr. William Carr, who died April 14th, 1660, left 1l. 2s. 4d. to this pariſh.

Mr. William Carr (another perſon) left 1l. 10s. aliter 1l. to this pariſh.

Mr. Thomas Daviſon, who died November 28th, 1676, left 1l. 6s. 8d. to be paid out of the merchants company to this church.

Mr. Mark Milbank, 1679, left 3l.

Sir William Blackett, 2l. per annum.

Mr. John Rumney left 2l. 10s. aliter 3l.

Mr. Timothy Daviſon left 1l. 10s. aliter 1l. 5s.

Nicholas Ridley, 1l.

Mr. Wrightſon, 2l. 10s.

Matthew White, Eſq. 1l.

Mr. William Harriſon, the intereſt of 50l. for ever.

Margaret Percival, widow, a houſe in Back-Row; yearly rent, 3l. 7s. 6d.

Mr. Robert Percival, a houſe in the Wool-Market; yearly rent 20l.

George Mallaber, Eſq. left 50l. the intereſt whereof to be paid yearly.

Lady Jane Clavering, relict of Sir John Clavering, left 50l. the intereſt whereof to be paid yearly.

CHARITY-SCHOOL.

THIS ſchool was founded, A. D. 1705, for the education of 40 boys, by an anonymous perſon, diſcovered afterwards to have been Mr. John Ord.

December 15th, 1708, there was an order of common-council, to purchaſe a houſe for the ſchool-maſter of St. John's ſchool.—Com⯑mon-council books.

MONUMENTS AND INSCRIPTIONS IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In the chancel.

"This is the burial-place of Thomas Errington, merchant-adven⯑turer." Theſe words are writ about the arms cut upon the ſtone:

"The burial place of William Wallas mercer, and merchant adven⯑turer of England. He departed this life the 23d day of September 1664. William Wallas ſon of the ſaid William departed this life the 11th day of January anno 1688, aetatis ſuae 23."

"The burial place of Charles Clark barbar chyrurgeon. He de⯑parted the 2d of Auguſt 1667. Margaret his wife departed this life the 30th day of March 1683. At the bottom of the arms De pre⯑tient' Dei."

"The burial-place of the Rev. Matthew Forſter, lecturer of this church, who dyed October 23d 1723, aged 46."

"Oſwold Chayter lining weaver 38 year clerk of this church, de⯑parted to the mercy of God July 21ſt A. D. 1623, aged 68 years."

"Here lieth the body of John Dixon plummer, who died April the 12th, 1728, aged 42."

On a ſtone near the altar. "Hic quod remanet Johannis Shaw hujus eccleſiae paſtoris: Deo, eccleſiae, patriae, regi piè fidelis—obiit Maii 22^o A. D. 1689, Aetatis ſuae 77."

Near the altar table.

"Sepulchrum Roberti Fenwick mercatoris & Dorotheae uxoris ejus ſuorumque filiorum & filiarum. Ille obiit Sept. die 8vo. A. D. 1689, aetatis ſuae 61. Robert filius natu maximus obiit 23 die Martii 1690. Illa obiit 15 Julii 1701. Petrus Potts Gener^s Annam filiam eorum na⯑tu maximam duxit uxorem ex qua liberos ſuſcepit quorum ſex ſibi fuere [114] ſuperſtites (viz.) Dorothea, Jana, Maria, Petrus, Robertus, Johannes; illa obiit 3^o April A. D. 1719, aetatis ſuae 63."

"The burial place of Mr. John Bell, merchant adventurer, & Mar⯑garet his wife Margaret Bell died the 21ſt of November, 1710, aged 55. John Bell died the 22d of June, 1716, aged 62."

Sepulchrum Radulphi Scourfield generoſi qui obiit Februarii 16, 1675, et Janae uxoris ejus quae obiit Maii 12^o, 1689. Quorum filius Radulphus Scourfield Armiger, de comitatu Northumbrie quondam vicecomes, obiit Septembris 1^o, 1728."

"The burial place of John Clutterbuck, gent. and Barbara his wife, and their children. Hannah buried July 16th, 1683. Catharine buried July 23d, 1683. James buried April 3d, 1692. Barbara his wife buried September 2d, 1695. Richard their ſon departed the 9th of November 1702. He departed the 3d of July 1717."

"Hic jacet Johannes Aſtell Armiger & Maria uxor ejus, ille obiit 17 die Martii Anno Domini 1633, aetat. 73. Haec 22 Maii 1658, aetatis ſuae 95."

"Here lies interred the body of Peter Aſtell, gentleman: he de⯑parted this life 19th March 1678, and had iſſue by Mary his wife two ſons and a daughter. William his ſon departed this life 15 March 1672."

CLERGY OF ST. JOHN'S, MINISTERS, LECTURERS AND CURATES.

The vicar of Newcaſtle pays to the lecturer of this church 3l. 10s. per annum, the king 4l. 0s. 10d.

Jurdan, chaplain of St. John's, occurs as witneſs to a deed preſerved among the writings of St. Mary's Hoſpital, ſuppoſed to be about the date of 1269 ^t.

A mandate occurs dated at Aukland, March 19th, 1419, to the arch⯑deacon of Northumberland, to receive the purgation of William Med⯑calfe, of Morpeth, clerk, charged with ſtealing a horſe and ſaddle from John Rauchif, of Morpeth, in the church of St. John in the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^u.

John Eland occurs 1424.^v

William Talbot on Eland's death, 1431.^v

Robert Bonner and Robert Woller occur in 1500 ^w.

George Graye, in 1575—he occurs in Barnes' Viſitation, Feb. 1, 1577, and July 6th, 1579—He died in 1579 ^x.

Humphrey Sicklemore occurs at the biſhop's viſitation, January 3, 1580.

Thomas Maſlet occurs in 1582. Oſwald Chaitor 10 Nov. 1582, li⯑cenſed pariſh clerk ^y.

Lancelot Graye, 1583 ^z.

Martin Liddall, clerk, occurs 1585, 1586 ^a.

Edmund Robinſon, curate, before September, 1589 ^b.

March 1590, Mr. Bowland, curate ^c.

[118]Auguſt 22, 1590, Mr. John Murra, miniſter of St. John's ^d.

Henry Patteſon occurs 1591 ^e.

Clement Cockſon, curate, before October 27th, 1598 ^f.

Shaw occurs lecturer about 1614 ^g.

Phil. Doncaſter occurs 1626 ^h.

John Shaw occurs 1ſt February, 1632—he died in 1637 ⁱ.

July 28th, 1637, there is an order of common-council for ſettling Mr. Robert Urthwart at St. John's, with a ſalary of 20l. which Octo⯑ber 2d, 1643, was augmented to 40l. per annum ^k.

He occurs June 16th, 1646, ſending a recantation of his principles to the common-council, and expreſſing his ſorrow for having preached againſt the parliament ^l."

Bourne ſays, that having ſuffered in the civil wars, he went after⯑wards beyond the ſeas, and having turned papiſt, died in a convent.

June 14th, 1647, Mr. Thomas Woolfal ſettled at St. John's, to preach forenoon and afternoon, with a ſalary of 150l. per annum ^m. He died before 24th November, 1652.

March 25th, 1652-3, Mr. William Cole, on the death of Woolfal— He was miniſter of Kirby Kendal in Weſtmoreland, ſalary 150l. per annum ⁿ.

Henry Leaver "had a call" hither from Brancepeth about Candle⯑mas, [119] 1659, on the reſignation of Cole ^o. He was eſtabliſhed here June 20th, 1660, and was afterwards depoſed for non-conformity.

Auguſt 27th, 1662, John Shaw, A. M. on the removal of Leaver, to preach forenoon and afternoon—ſalary 60l. and 10l. for his turn in the Thurſday's lecture, at St. Nicholas ^p. He died May 22d, 1689.

July 25th, 1689, Andrew Bates, A. M. on the death of Shaw, to preach forenoon and afternoon, with a ſalary of 90l. and 10l. for his turn at Thurſday's lecture ^q.

Matthew Forſter, A. M. 1710, on the death of A. Bates. He died October 23d, 1723 ^r.

March 7th, 1724, Henry Featherſtonhaugh, B. D. of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed lecturer on the death of Mr. Forſter ^s.

September 7th, 1731, on the removal of H. Featherſtonhaugh to All Saints, there is an order of common-council to appoint Mr. Natha⯑nael Clayton to St. John's—one to officiate for him nine months on his going up to Cambridge to take orders.

[120]June 15th, 1732, there is an order of common-council that the Reverend Mr. Richard Cuthbert ^t be removed from Sandgate (St. Ann's) Chapel, to the lectureſhip of this church. He was ſon to a recorder of Newcaſtle.

On the removal of Mr. Cuthbert to Kendall, September 29th, 1736, Mr. N. Clayton ^u was appointed to enter on this lectureſhip.

John Thompſon, A. M. of St. John's College, Cambridge, ſuc⯑ceeded to the curacy of St. John's after J. Carr.

J. Thompſon was ſucceeded in the curacy here by John Brunton, A. B. of Chriſt's College, Cambridge, who died March 17th, 1780, and was ſucceeded by J. Brown, clerk, curate of Kirkharle in the county of Northumberland.

[121]September 21ſt, 1786, Thomas Hornby, A. M. was appointed to the lectureſhip of St. John's, on the death of his uncle, Mr. N. Clayton.

WEST-GATE.

FROM the Poſtern and Back-Row, as far as the Tuthill-Stairs, Weſt⯑gate, in Bourne's time, changed its name to "Tuthill ^v."

An elegant aſſembly-houſe, built by contribution on part of the gar⯑den belonging to the vicarage of Newcaſtle, near the head of this ſtreet, was opened at the time of the races at Newcaſtle, A. D. 1776 ^w. It coſt [122] about 6701 pounds in building, furniture and other expences ^x. In the lower apartments is kept a ſubſcription coffee-houſe.

Near the head of Weſt-Gate, behind a handſome new ſquare, built by Mr. Newton, architect, ſtands the houſe of the Black Friars.

BLACK FRIARS.

THIS houſe was filled with Dominicans, one of the four orders of mendicants or begging friars ^y.

The preciſe date of the building has not been tranſmitted ^b.

The ground on which it ſtands is ſaid to have been given by three pious ſiſters, whoſe names have been ungratefully conſigned to oblivion.

November 6th, 1264, after an inquiſition taken by Adam de Geſſe⯑muth, ſheriff of Northumberland, and the mayor of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, by which it appeared that the aqueduct made by the Friars Preachers of that town, under a royal grant, from a certain fountain be⯑yond their court-yard, and to their monaſtery, and from thence into the town, ought to remain as an advantage to the public at large, the King confirmed it to them for ever ^c.

[124]September 18th, 1280, there was a grant from the King to the Black Friars of this houſe to make a poſtern-gate through the town-wall, to communicate with that diviſion of their property, which had been placed in the ſuburbs by the building of the ſaid wall: reſerving to the king's conſtable, or the ſheriff of Northumberland, power to build it up when it ſhould be found neceſſary to do ſo for the ſecurity of the town ^d.

December 15th, 1299, the Friars Preachers here received eleven ſhillings for their pittance of one day on the King's paſſing through the town in the beginning of that month—as alſo on the 8th of Janu⯑ary following, for their pittance of two days, on the King's arrival, twenty two ſhillings ^e.

[125]June 4th, 1312, King Edward II. granted a licence to the prior and brethren of this houſe, to make a drawbridge of wood, five feet broad, over the new foſs of the town, for a paſſage to their garden in the ſuburbs, with pale-work, in lieu of the garden-wall, upon condition that the bridge and pale-work ſhould be taken away on the appear⯑ance of any imminent danger ^f.

March 1ſt, 1318, the King granted for ever to the brethren of this houſe, for the purpoſe of enlarging their houſe and burial-ground, a meſſuage contiguous thereto, which had belonged to Gilbert de Middleton, and had eſcheated to the crown on his being hanged for felony and treaſon ^g.

A patent concerning this houſe, of the date of 1322, is mentioned in Tanner's Notitia Monaſtica.

[126]Auguſt 1ſt, 1322, the brethren here received 8s. for their pittance of one day; and on the 14th of September following, on the King's arrival at Newcaſtle, the like ſum, for their pittance of one day ^h.

May 16th, 1330, King Edward III. granted a licence of mortmain to John Baroun, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to impower him to aſſign to the prior and brethren of this monaſtery, a piece of ground conti⯑guous thereto, 60 feet long, and as many feet broad, for the purpoſe of enlarging their ſaid houſe ⁱ.

[127]On the Feaſt of Gervaſius and Prothaſius, 1334, Edward Baliol, King of Scotland, did homage to King Edward the Third, for the whole kingdom of Scotland, in the church of this houſe ^j.

December 6th, 1342, the King, on the ſupplication of the prior and brethren of this houſe, granted them power to renew and ſet up again certain gates on their ground, for ingreſs to, and to ſhut up their houſe, (which they had been accuſtomed to have, till, on a diſpute be⯑tween the men of Northumberland and ſome perſons of the ſaid town, when the Earl of Warren, the warden of the March of Scotland, lodged at their houſe, the ſaid gates were broken down, and they had been prevented from ſetting them up again by ſome perſons of New⯑caſtle), to hold to themſelves and ſucceſſors for ever, in like manner as they had been held before ſuch demolition ^k.

[128]March 27th, 1380, the Biſhop of Durham granted a licence to the prior and convent of this houſe, to celebrate maſs in the church of St. Nicholas, in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, on aſking leave of the vicar of that church for the time being, although ſuch leave ſhould be re⯑fuſed them ^l.

December 1ſt, 1390, King Richard II. prohibited the conferring of the degree of maſter on certain apoſtate brethren of the order of Friars Preachers. There occurs a letter of the ſame King, dated July 27th, 1397, to the vicar of the provincial chapter of the ſame order, to be held at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, concerning the ſaid apoſtates ^m.

Lord Scroop, by his will, dated June 23d, 1415, bequeathed 13s. 4d. to the recluſe in this houſe of Friars Preachers, at Newcaſtle upon Tyne ⁿ.

John Rokeſburgh occurs as prior of this houſe, July 13th, 16 of Edw. IV ^o.

[129]October 9th, 1537, an indenture paſſed between Rolande Hardynge, the laſt prior of this houſe, for himſelf and the convent, and Robert Davel, clerk, archdeacon of Northumberland, by which the former bound themſelves, and their ſucceſſors, for ever, on condition of re⯑ceiving 6l. 18s. from the ſaid R. Davel, to ſing daily an anthem, and perform certain other ſervices, and pray for the ſouls of William Davel and others ^p.

[130]This houſe, which is ſaid to have been dependant upon the priory of Tinmouth, ſurrendered, June 10th, 1539 ^q. It conſiſted of a prior and twelve friars at the diſſolution, when its annual value was 2l. 19s. 4d. alias 6d. ^r.—I find no particular account of any penſions granted to the prior or monks ^s.

[131]A. D. 1551, Richard Marſhall, one of the brethren of this houſe at the diſſolution, and, it ſhould ſeem, formerly prior, occurs at St. Andrew's in Scotland, very learnedly informing his audience there, that Pater noſter ſhould be addreſſed to God, and not to the Saints. See in a note ſubjoined, from the Preface to Knox's Hiſtory of the Re⯑formation, a picture of the manners of our monks, drawn from the life, and marked with ſtriking traits of the wretched ignorance that prevailed in thoſe times ^t.

[132]March 10th, 1544, King Henry VIII. granted the Black-Friars, with the houſes and ground thereto belonging, at that time of the yearly value of 2l. 19s. 6d. to the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle, in conſideration of the ſum of 53l. 7s. 6d. reſerving to himſelf and ſucceſſors for ever, a yearly rent of 5s. 11½d.^u together with the bells, lead, ſtones, iron, and timber of the church and other edi⯑fices^v.

[133]In the year 1552, the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne demiſed, for a term of years, this houſe of Black-Friars, with its ap⯑purtenances of orchards, gardens, &c. to nine of the myſteries, or moſt ancient trades of the town, at the yearly rent of forty-two ſhil⯑lings, a ninth part of which was to be paid by each company, to the reſpective uſes of which were portioned out the ſeveral apartments of the monaſtery, with the adjacent grounds ^w.

[134]Low-Friar-Chare, commonly called Shod-Friar-Chare, from its vi⯑cinity to the houſe juſt deſcribed, and Low-Friar-Chare in contradiſ⯑tinction to the Upper, or High-Friar-Chare, near New-Gate, leads from that diviſion of Weſt-Gate, now called Fenkill-Street, to the White-Croſs.

A. D. 1777, an elegant hall was erected ^x in this ſtreet, by the ſo⯑ciety of free and accepted maſons, of the lodge of St. John. It con⯑tains, together with two paintings by Bell^y, one repreſenting St. John, the other a portrait of the preſent maſter of the lodge ^z, an excellent ſmall organ for their ſolemn rites. There is a Greek inſcription on the front, in capital letters—a text from the firſt chapter of St. John's Goſ⯑pel, ſignifying, "The darkneſs comprehended it not."—" [...]."

Pudding-Chare, anciently, ſays Bourne, Budding-Chare, a croſs ſtreet leading from Weſt-Gate to the Big-Market, is in ſome places narrow and inconvenient for carriages. It communicates with St. John's church-yard, or rather with a new foot-way railed off at the [135] end of it, called "Grave's End-Walk," by another little ſtreet called, anciently, St. John's Chare, at preſent Roſemary-Lane, in which is the lying-in hoſpital for poor married women.

January 12th, 1774 ^a, the magiſtrates of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, at the general quarter-ſeſſions of the peace, as juſtices for that town and county, granted a licence to Mrs. Sarah Hudſon ^b, to keep this houſe, in purſuance of an act of parliament made in the 13th year of the reign of King George the Third.

May 9th, 1778, mention occurs of a bequeſt of an hundred pounds to this charity, by the late Lady Allgood ^c.

A. D. 1781, an hundred and five children were born in this hoſ⯑pital ^d.

In the year 1761, a ſimilar charity ^e was inſtituted for poor lying-in women at their own houſes, in Newcaſtle ^f and Gateſhead.

January 2d, 1762, it appeared that, out of 180 poor women who [136] had been recommended to this charity ſince its firſt inſtitution, 158 had been ſafely delivered and preſerved from the extremities of want in their diſtreſſed ſituation ^g.

It appeared, March 18th, 1775, that 1250 poor women had re⯑ceived the benefit of this charity in Newcaſtle and Gateſhead, ſince the time of its firſt eſtabliſhment^h.

Oppoſite the ſouth end of Roſemary-Lane ſtands an alms-houſe, which has lately been rebuilt.

It is marked as a large pile in Bourne's Plan of Newcaſtle. "Seven poor perſons," he tells us, "reſide in it, who have a ſmall allowance from the town at Chriſtmas."

There is an order of common-council, June 6th, 1645, confirming to the ten poor widows in Pudding-Chare alms-houſe, their former al⯑lowance of ten ſhillings, and two chaldrons of coals, yearly. This has lately been filled with the brethren of St. Mary's Hoſpital.

Back-Row, which leads from the foot of Weſt-Gate, oppoſite the poſtern, towards the gate of the caſtle, commonly called the Black-Gate, had anciently the name of Gallow-Gateⁱ.

The Poſtern is a little ſtreet, which conducts from the foot of Weſt-Gate weſtward to the Poſtern in the town-wall, called White-Friar-Gate^k.

[137]Bayly-Gate^m leads towards the caſtle, into which it has anciently conducted by a poſtern-gate. It has plainly had its name from the ballium of the Caſtle, though Bourne (I think erroneouſly) derives it from "the coming of the felons of the county of Northumberland along it, attended by the county-bailiffs." The eaſt end of this ſtreet is interſected by the paſſage from the deſcent into the cloſe called Long-Stairs ⁿ, which, from thence to the eaſt end of Back-Row, is at preſent called Queen-Street. There is a communication between the head of Long-Stairs and Caſtle-Stairs, called Bank-Side, and a ſtill ſhorter by a ſubterraneous or arched paſſage, called Sheep-Head Alley.

Before I enter upon the hiſtory of the Caſtle of Newcaſtle, I ſhall take occaſion to give a brief account of the famous wall of the emperor Hadrian, which ended at the caſtrum of the Roman ſtation of Pons Aelii, and that of the emperor Severus, which paſſed through the ſite of the preſent Newcaſtle, and ended at Wall's End.

Hadrian's Wall or Vallum, made A. D. 120, was a wall of turf, with a deep foſs or ditch accompanying it on the north ſide: the ori⯑ginal height of it is not known.

[138]Severus' Wall was built, A. D. 207, of ſquare ſtones, and every where alſo, except on the edges of precipices, was accompanied by a deep ditch or foſs. The original height thereof was 12 feet, and the breadth 8. Between the village of Walker, i. e. the town by the wall, and Byker-Hill, the Wall of Severus, with its foſs, are ſtill plainly diſtinguiſhable: the ſite of the wall at preſent is covered with bruſh⯑wood and ſtunted trees. Dr. Stukeley has preſerved in his Iter Boreale a view of the appearance of the Roman Wall, between Byker-Hill Mill and Newcaſtle, when he wrote. From this mill to the Smith's ſhop near the firſt mile-ſtone on the Shields road, the ſite of the wall and hollow of the foſs, running parallel with the preſent turnpike way, are yet clearly diſcernible.

At the head of the bank, over-looking Ouſe-Burn, was a caſtellum or exploratory tower, out of the foundations of which I ſaw many Roman ſtones taken, not many years ago, to build an adjoining houſe.

Coing down the hill from thence to the rivulet of Ouſe-Burn, the foſs on the north ſide of the hedge is ſtill very deep, and forms what is here called a little gill.

Severus' Wall muſt have formed a ſmall angle at the arch by which it has croſſed Ouſe-Burn.

On the riſe of the hill between this ſtreamlet and Red-Barns I found, April 3d, 1783, many of the ſquare ſtones which had evidently been the plunder of the wall.

About Red-Barns the garden grounds have deſtroyed every veſtige both of the wall and the foſs: but when we are paſt the gardens, the remains of the wall ſeem again to appear, and, having croſſed the field, proceed in a ſtraight line, behind the Keelman's Hoſpital, to the Sally-Port, or Ship-Carpenter's Tower. There was a rope-walk here, upon the foundation of the wall, not many years ago.

Near the preſent Sally-Port Gate ſtood a turret or Roman caſtlellum. From hence the wall, as the foundations thereof, which were diſcovered ſome years ago^o, plainly evinced, paſſed over the top of the hill, to [139] which it gave the name of Wall-Knoll, and muſt have croſſed Pandon-Burn by an arch near Stock-Bridge, as it is ſaid to have been the ancient boundary and defence of the royal manſion of Pandon-Hall on the north ^p.

From Pandon-Hall the Roman Wall muſt have climbed over another hill towards Lort-Burn, which it has ſpanned by an arch near the pre⯑ſent Low-Bridge, in order to form the northern rampart of the ſtation of Pons Aelii: where it has^q run a little to the north of that part of St. Nicholas' church, which is called St. George's Porch; ſtretching from thence through the gardens of the vicarage houſe, it has afterwards in⯑terſected [140] the line of the town-wall, a little to the north of the Weſt-Gate, where Horſeley ſuppoſes a very ſmall turn has been made in it, in order to come up to the north rampart of the ſtation^r at Newcaſtle, and to get to a ſufficient diſtance from Hadrian's Vallum.

[141]Horſeley with great probability ſuppoſes that one of the extremities of Hadrian's Vallum was on the bank of the Tyne, beyond the caſtle, perhaps near the preſent half-moon battery (covered now with mo⯑dern buildings), where there may have been a circular turret in the time of the Romans, to command the paſs of the bridge.

This vallum, paſſing the north corner of the caſtle, went in a ſtraight line^s to the place where, in Horſeley's time, it became diſtin⯑guiſhable, without the Weſt-Gate, and ſo onwards to that riſing which ſtill is ſo remarkable in a field, without the Turnpike-Gate, along which are ranged a ſet of boundary ſtones, where it certainly has paſſed.

Hadrian's Vallum, is with extreme probability ſuppoſed to have formed the ſouthern rampart of the ſtation of Pons Aelii, as Severus' Wall, at the diſtance of about ſix chains, may be naturally thought to have been the northern one. This ſtation, moſt likely, has been ſquare— The brow of the hill at the head of the Side eaſily directs us where to draw the line of the eaſtern rampart, running from St. George's Porch, till intercepted by Hadrian's Vallum, near Baily-Gate. And a line drawn from what was in Horſeley's time Mr. Ord's houſe (lately Mr. Gibſon's, the town-clerk's), to that part of the line of Severus' Wall which was about 30 yards eaſt from the preſent Roſemary-Lane, ſhews as what muſt have been the weſtern boundary of this fortification.

From that part of the line of the town-wall, where we left Severus' work, the track of it running weſtward has entirely been deſtroyed by buildings and gardens, till near the Turnpike-Gate, where it was thought diſtinguiſhable, in Horſeley's time, in a ſmall field between Quarry-Houſe and Newcaſtle. That writer was of opinion that it [142] paſſed through the ſite of this quarry-houſe, juſt beyond which, on the weſt, an immenſe quarry has eradicated every veſtige both of the wall and foſs of Severus: but mounting to the top of the riſing ground be⯑yond it weſtward, the hollow of the foſs begins to re-appear, running along pretty cloſe to the north ſide of the turnpike road to Benwall, called in the Notitia the Station of Condercum.

Hadrian's Vallum, which we left running up a field weſt of the Turnpike-Gate, and marked by a range of boundary^t ſtones, diſappears through the next field, where it has been deſtroyed by the working of pits ^u, but riſes again into obvious notice after we paſs the old mill, and is a long way diſtinguiſhable (with its foſs) as it ſtretches weſt⯑ward towards Benwall, at the diſtance of a bow-ſhot in ſome places from the preſent turnpike-way.

CASTLE OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.

THE date of the firſt building, or rather perhaps of the enlarging ^v, re-edifying, or refounding of this once very ſtrong and important fortreſs, is differently fixed by different hiſtorians; ſome placing it in the year 1079 ^w, others in 1080 ^x, and 1082 ^y. And if we will believe our metrical annaliſt Hardyng, it was not erected till the reign of William Rufus ^z. Many conſiderations induce us to lament that no one has ſet about to give us a work to be intitled, "The Harmony of Engliſh Hiſtorians:" till that appear we may perhaps do ſomething towards reconciling the various and claſhing accounts of the building of this caſtle, by ſuppoſing that the earlieſt relate to the year when it was be⯑gun, and the others to the time of its final completion.

However that may be, the greater part of our hiſtorians agree that this work was undertaken during the reign and at the command, [144] of William the Conqueror, under the direction of Robert Curthoſe, his eldeſt ſon, on his return from an unſucceſsful enterprize againſt Mal⯑colm king of Scotland, who, preſuming on the abſence of William on the Continent, where he was likely to have been a long while detained by the revolt of the Normans, and the diverſion of his French enemies, had paſſed the borders of the two kingdoms, and waſted the northern provinces of England.

Its having been called, on its erection, the "New Caſtle," ſeems ſtrongly to imply that it aroſe from the ſite of ſome older fortreſs, from which, by way of contradiſtinction, it derived a name extended after⯑wards to the adjoining town, and which is ſtill retained in its preſent appellation ^a. Thus, as Dr. Plot, in his Hiſtory of Staffordſhire, in⯑forms us in a very ſimilar inſtance, Newcaſtle under Lyme ^b or Line, in that county, had its name from the old caſtle of Cheſterton under Lyme, which at the time of its erection was falling into ruin.

Scarcely had this caſtle been completed, before it was converted to a purpoſe very different from the intention of building it, having been ſe⯑cured to protect the rebellion of Earl Mowbray againſt William Rufus, the ſon and ſucceſſor of William the Conqueror. The King marched againſt it, in the year 1095 ^c, with a great army, and took it after a [145] ſhort ſiege, together with ſeveral of the partizans of that noble traitor. William, having miſſed the great object of his northern journey in this caſtle, ſat down before that of Tinmouth, on the taking of which alſo he was a ſecond time diſappointed, for Earl Mowbray was found to have taken refuge in the fortreſs of Bambrough. After a tedious and fruitleſs ſiege of that caſtle, rendered by its natural ſituation almoſt im⯑pregnable, the King returned ſouthward, but not till he had erected a caſtle before it to cut off all hopes of throwing in ſuccours, and filled it with his army, whom he directed to continue the blockade.

Driven, perhaps, to great ſtraits through want of proviſions, Mow⯑bray cloſed with an offer of ſome of his faithful adherents, of whoſe loyalty the King had however entertained no ſuſpicions, as he had ap⯑pointed them the guards of this Newcaſtle upon Tyne: theſe had trai⯑terouſly, and with ſecrecy, invited the Earl to take ſhelter in it. The unfortunate nobleman eſcaped from Bambrough, but was diſcovered during his flight to this caſtle, on which he ſuddenly changed his route, and took ſanctuary in the church of St. Oſwin at Tinmouth. The holy aſylum could not protect ſo formidable an enemy of the King, for after being wounded, he was dragged out by violence from the altar, and made a priſoner ^d.

[146]In the year 1174, by the King's writ, the ſum of fifty pounds was expended on the tower of this caſtle; as alſo, the ſame year, a farther ſum of 125l. 13s. 6d. by the above writ, on the view of Robert de Diveliſton and Ralph Baiard ^e.

A. D. 1213, King John made a foſs round this caſtle, with ſome new and additional works towards the river Tyne ^f.

This year William, Earl of Warren, had the cuſtody of the caſtles of Bamburgh and Newcaſtle upon Tyne, with the whole bailiwick of Northumberland, committed to his truſt ^g.

[147]A. D. 1224, William Briwere was conſtituted governor of New⯑caſtle upon Tyne ^h.

In the year 1225, Hugh de Bolebec, by a ſpecial precept from the King, was acquitted from his ſervice of caſtle-guard at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, having been with the King in his army at Bedford ⁱ. This year, alſo, Roger de Merley, for his aſſiſtance of the ſame oc⯑caſion, was acquitted of the ſervice due from him, for that time, in warding the caſtle of Newcaſtle ^k.

This year John, ſon of Robert (Clavering), ſheriff of Northumber⯑land, occurs as governor of this caſtle ^l.

A. D. 1226, John Clavering was alſo ſheriff of Northumberland and governor of this caſtle, in which truſt he is ſaid to have continued for the tenth, eleventh, and half of the twelfth year of that King's reign: his father's chriſtian name having been Robert, he was com⯑monly called John, ſon of Robert, or John Fitz-Robert ^m.

Yet in the year 1228, Brian, ſon of Alan, ſheriff of Northumber⯑land, occurs alſo as governor of this caſtle.—He was Earl of Britanny and Richmond.—He continued in this important truſt till the 19th of Henry the Third ⁿ.

A. D. 1229, there was a determination that neither the King, nor the keeper of the King's caſtle at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, had a right to take prize of an hundred herring for each boat and veſſel coming up to that town, and that thenceforth they ſhould not be claimed ^o.

[148]In the year 1234, twenty-two pounds appear to have been expended on the work of the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^p.

A. D. 1237, Hugh de Bolebeck, ſheriff of Northumberland, occurs alſo as governor of Bamborough caſtle, and the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^q.

In the year 1248, a new gate, at the expence (to the crown) of 514l. 15s. 11d. was made in this caſtle ^r.

A. D. 1250, a gate of the ſame caſtle was repaired at the expence of 36l. 0s. 8d. ^s.

In the year 1266, Robert de Liſle, having taken part with the re⯑bellious barons, who had made the King their priſoner, was by them appointed governor of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^t.

[149]A. D. 1268, the reparations of the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne coſt 14l. 16s. 6d. ^u.

In the year 1250, the King's tower in the caſtle of Newcaſtle coſt, in repairing, 67l. 5s. ^v.

There is ſaid to be a roll, of the date of 1278, remaining in the Tower of London, wherein is preſerved an account of the different lands and tenements in the county of Northumberland, which were at that time charged with the repairs and ſupport of ſome edifices within this caſtle ^w.

December 26th, 1292, John Baliol, King of Scotland, did homage for the crown of that kingdom to Edward I. King of England, in the great-hall of his palace, within the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^x.

There is a writ, dated 1297, by which the King commanded the ſheriff of Northumberland to ſtore the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne [150] with victuals, and other neceſſaries, and to cauſe it to be ſafely guarded ^y.

A. D. 1299, Alan de Molton occurs as porter of this caſtle ^z.

In the year 1305, Thomas de Lucy occurs as holding the manor of Langley, in Northumberland, of the King in chief, by the ſervice of one knight's ſee, an annual rent of 8s. 6d. for cornage to the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and by doing county ſuit and ſervice there ^a.

May 3d, 1315, King Edward II. appointed William Ridell, Knt. ſheriff of Northumberland, and committed to him the caſtle of New⯑caſtle upon Tyne, to account in the King's Exchequer as former ſhe⯑riffs and keepers had done, for what related to the office of ſheriff and to the cuſtody of this caſtle ^b.

By an inquiſition taken at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, September 13th, 1317, it appeared that Adam de Valentia, Earl of Pembroke, held, at the day of his death, the manor of Mitford in Northumberland, of the King in capite, by the ſervice of a barony, and payment of 31s. 4d. for cornage to the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^c.

In the year 1323, one quarter of the body of Andrew de Hartela, who had ſuffered death for treaſon, was ordered to be ſtuck up on the tower of this caſtle ^d, which appears about this time to have been put into a poſture of defence ^e.

[151]A. D. 1336, there was an inquiſition taken at Newcaſtle upon Tyne concerning the reparation of this caſtle, whereby it was found, that at the battle of Bannockburn, in the year 1313, when John de Kenton, Knt. was ſheriff of Northumberland, the fortreſs, and all the edifices about it, were in good repair—that afterwards Nicholas Scot, Adam de Swinburn, William Riddell, John de Fenwick, Cuthbert de Bo⯑roughdon, John de Fenwick, John de Wodhorne, John de Lilleburne, William de Tyndale, Roger Mauduit, and Robert Darreins were ſheriffs of Northumberland—during which time it was affirmed that the great tower, and alſo the leſſer ones of the ſaid caſtle, the great hall, with the King's chamber adjoining thereto; together with divers other chambers below in Queen's mantle, and the buttry-cellar and pantry: the King's chapel ^f within the caſtle; a certain houſe beyond the gate which is called the Checker-Houſe, with the bridges within and without the gate, and one poſtern, were 300l. worſe than be⯑fore: they ſay alſo, that there were in the cuſtody of Roger Mauduit, late ſheriff, four hundred and twenty fothers of lead. They ſay alſo, that it was thought highly neceſſary, that the Baron Heron, of Had⯑deſton, the Baron of Walton, Lord Robert de Clifford, of the New-Place, [152] Chief Lord of the Barony of Gaugie, the Lords of the Barony of — and Devilſton; that the Lord of Werk upon Tweed, the Lord of the Barony of Bolbeck, alias Bywell, the Baron of Bothall, and, laſtly, the Baron of Delaval, ſhould build each of them a houſe within the liberties of the caſtle, for the defence thereof. The houſe of the Baron of Werk was built over the Poſtern ^g.

In the year 1340 John de Biker occurs as holding the manor of Biker, containing a carucate of land, an hundred acres of wood, and 17s. 7d. ob. annual rent, of the King in chief, by the ſervice, among others, of payment to the King, by the hand of the ſheriff for the time being, 10l. yearly, for caſtleward, to the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^h.

A. D. 1341, Lord John Nevil, of Hornby, occurs as captain of this caſtle; when Earl Murray appears to have been confined in it as a priſoner ⁱ.

In the years 1342 and 1343 ^k, William de Felton appears to have been ſheriff of the county of Northumberland, and governor of this caſtle ^l.

A. D. 1346, Robert Lord Bertram occurs as ſheriff and governor of this caſtle ^m.

December 27th, 1351, the King appointed William de Watford keeper of the gate of this caſtle, with the ſame ſalary that Nicholas de Ufton, deceaſed, had, and his predeceſſors in that office ⁿ.

[153]A mandate occurs from the King to John de Coupeland, ſheriff of Northumberland, to keep the perſon of David Brus ſafely and ſe⯑curely in this caſtle, unleſs Henry de Percy, and Ralph de Nevill, ſhould agree at Berwick upon Tweed to deliver him up for certain hoſtages of Scotland ^o.

A. D. 1357, Caſtle-Moor and Caſtle-Field, anciently annexed to the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, were granted by the crown, and made parcel of the corporation of that town ^p.

In the year 1360, Richard de Cramlington, brother and heir of John de Cramlington, occurs as paying for his lands in the village of Cramlington (amongſt other things), three ſhillings and four-pence for ward to the caſtle of Newcaſtle ^q.

A. D. 1361, the King granted the cuſtody of the gaol, and of the gate of the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to Thomas Rote, for the term of his life, and with ſuch fees as his predeceſſors in thoſe offices, William de Watford and William Fox, had been accuſtomed to re⯑ceive ^r.

May 20th, 1362, a mandate occurs from the King to Henry del Strother, late ſheriff of Northumberland, to deliver up John Gray and Thomas de Hay, hoſtages of Scotland, to Roger de Wyderington, then ſheriff of Northumberland, by whom they are directed to be kept ſafe in the King's caſtle at Newcaſtle upon Tyne.

A ſimilar mandate occurs, dated June 20th, 1363, to the above Roger de Wyderington, to deliver up Thomas del Hay to Richard de Horſley, then ſheriff of Northumberland, to be ſafely kept in the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^s.

Among the petitions in parliament, A. D. 1377, there occurs one [154] for the reparation (among other northern caſtles) of that of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and for the placing of a proper conſtable to reſide in the ſame ^t.

In the year 1384, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had the ſheriſſalty of that county, and the cuſtody of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, committed to his truſt ^u.

A. D. 1390, Sir Ralph Eure, Knt. occurs as ſheriff of Northum⯑berland, and governor of the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^v.

In the year 1399, King Henry IV. granted a charter to ſeparate the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne from the county of Northumberland, and make it a diſtinct county of itſelf: it is obſervable, that there is no expreſs mention of any exception of this caſtle, or the limits thereof, called Caſtle-Yard, in the above charter ^w.

An extraordinary grant, and which was afterwards moſt ungrate⯑fully [155] repaid ^x, of the wardenſhip of the north marches, together with the caſtles, towns, lordſhips, cuſtoms, and fee-farms of Carliſle and Newcaſtle upon Tyne, &c. &c. to be held of the King by knight's ſervice, was made by King Edward the Fourth, in his 20th year, to Richard, Duke of Glouceſter, and confirmed by the parliament at Weſtminſter, in the year 1482 ^y.

September 21ſt, 1485, King Henry VII. granted, by letters patent, to William Caſe, Eſq. during life, the office of conſtable of the caſtle of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, with the accuſtomed wages and fees ^z.

February 15th, 1494, the office of conſtable of this caſtle, then vacant by the death of Sir Robert Multon, Knt. was granted, by let⯑ters patent of the ſame, to Roger Fenwick, Eſq. with the wages and [156] fees of 20l. per annum, out of the revenues of the county of North⯑umberland, with other emoluments ^a.

By a clauſe in a charter of the 31ſt of Queen Elizabeth, to the cor⯑poration of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, the ſuppoſed private act of parlia⯑ment, whereby this caſtle and its precinct had been reſtored ^b to the county of Northumberland, after the charter of the 1ſt of Henry IV. had conſtituted the town of Newcaſtle a county of itſelf, was in a great degree invalidated, and the ſame power given to the magiſtrates of Newcaſtle in this place, the dungeon only excepted, as in all others under their peculiar juriſdiction ^c.

[157]From the year 1605 to 1616, this caſtle, no longer a fortified place, was farmed, for I know not what purpoſe, by the incorporated com⯑pany of taylors of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, at the annual rent of one pound ſterling—part of the keep, however, ſtill continued to be uſed as a priſon ^d.

King James I. by letters patent, dated April 14th, 1618, granted, and let to farm, at the rent of forty ſhillings per annum, for the term of fifty years, to Alexander Stevenſon, Eſq. one of the pages of his bedchamber, "all that his old caſtle of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne and the ſcyte and herbage of the ſaid caſtle as well within the walls of the ſame as without, with the rights, members, privileges, &c. thereto belonging." The county priſon for Northumberland, with the [158] Moot-Hall ^e, and other conveniences for keeping the aſſizes and ſeſſions for the uſe of the county of Northumberland, were excepted in this grant, at the time of the date of which the caſtle-ward rent amounted to 32l. per annum ^f.

Auguſt 18th, 1620, an inquiſition was taken concerning the bounds [159] of this caſtle, and the lands thereto belonging, and there was an in⯑formation thereupon in the exchequer chamber ^g.

In the year 1643, Sir John Marley, Knt. then mayor of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, covered the keep of this caſtle with planks ^h, and placed cannon thereupon for defence of the town againſt the Scots: he retired to it, with ſome others, after the enemy had taken Newcaſtle by ſtorm, October 19th, 1644, and held it out againſt them for eight days with great gallantry ⁱ.

[160]An information occurs in the Houſe of Commons' Journals, Nov. 17th, 1646, concerning the moat of this caſtle, and the wall thereof, which appears to have fallen and deſtroyed many houſes ^k.

There is remaining in the Augmentation-Office the original of "A ſurvey of the farme of the old caſtle of the towne of Newcaſtle upon Tyne with all the rights members and appurtenances therof lyeing and being in the countie of Northumberland late parcell of the poſſeſſions of Charles Stuarte late King of England made and taken by us whoſe names are hereunto ſubſcribed 29 October 1649 by virtue of a commiſſion grounded upon an Act of the Commons aſſembled in Parliament for the ſale of the honors mannors and landes heretofore belonging to the late Kinge Queene and Prince under the hands of ſeaven of the truſtees in the ſaid acte named and appointed."

The deſcription and boundary are as follows: "All that the old caſ⯑tle being a ſtronge and greate tower of free ſtone ſituate in the midſt of the Caſtle-Garth in the county of Northumberland and bounded with ſtronge workes of ſtone and mudde is now garriſoned by the parlia⯑ment's forces and uſed by them as a magazeene of ammunicion for the garriſon of Newcaſtle and therefor we have not ſurveyed nor valued the ſame.

[163]A. D. 1652, the corporation of Newcaſtle upon Tyne purchaſed of Mrs. Jane Langſton, relict of John Langſton, groom porter, for the ſum of 300l. her right and title to this caſtle, and the precincts thereof ^m.

About the year 1662, the King was petitioned to grant this caſtle and its precincts, the leaſe whereof to Stevenſon was within a few years of expiring, for the uſe of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne.

Upon this a diſpute aroſe, whether a grant thereof were not more proper for the county of Northumberland than for the town, becauſe it was alleged, though the ſaid caſtle and garth ſtand in Newcaſtle, yet they belong to the county of Northumberland.

Lord Ogle, on behalf of that county, having had a conference with thoſe who appeared for Newcaſtle, was convinced that it was more proper for the town of Newcaſtle to have them, on being aſſured that the gaol, &c. ſhould ſtill continue for the ſervice of the county as heretofore.

In the interim of this diſpute, Lord Gerard prevented the corpo⯑ration of Newcaſtle, and obtained a grant under the ſeal of the ex⯑chequer, dated Auguſt 13th (or 30th) 1664, for 99 years in rever⯑ſion, [164] determinable on three lives, at the annual rent of forty ſhil⯑lings ⁿ.

In the year 1668, we find the mayor, aldermen, and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle, petitioning the King to revoke Lord Gerard's grant, as it was only under the exchequer ſeal, was at an under value, and had been obtained by ſurpriſe. The matter was referred to the lords commiſſioners of the treaſury, but they could obtain no redreſs for the preſent ^o.

The matter of annexing the Caſtle-Garth to Newcaſtle, and diſmem⯑bering it from the county, having been referred by the lords commiſ⯑ſioners of the treaſury to the attorney-general, it was by him reported, that he conceived it might be more fit for the government of the inha⯑bitants of Caſtle-Garth, if that place was put within the limits and juriſdiction of the town of Newcaſtle, which might be done by the King's letters patent, with a proviſo that the aſſizes and ſeſſions be kept there for the county, as formerly: whereupon, after great conſi⯑deration had of the matter by the right honourable the lord high trea⯑ſurer, a grant paſſed the great ſeal, by way of indenture, between his majeſty, on the one part, and the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle, on the other part, dated June 17th, 1685, for the term of 31 years, and at the annual [...]ent of one hundred chaldrons of coals, London meaſure ^p, to be delivered in the pool of London. The King's rents in the ſaid caſtle, of the yearly value of 32l. were excepted in this grant; as alſo, "All that great hall called the Moot-Hall within the walls of the ſaid caſtle where his majeſtyes juſtices heretofore uſed to hold the aſſizes, ſeſſions and gaol-delivery and now do yearly from [165] time to time uſe to ſitt for the handeling and ordering matters and buſineſſes concerning the ſervice of the Kinge's majeſty and the ſtate and good government of the ſaid county of Northumberland and alſo all other houſes and buildings and other fitt and uſuall places as well within the ſaid caſtle as without where his majeſtye's people and ſub⯑jects of his highneſſes ſaid county of Northumberland uſe to come reſide and be att the aſſizes ſeſſions and gaol-delivery and other ſuch like cauſes and matters whereto they ſhall be called for the better diſ⯑patch and performance of their ſeveral ſervices and offices and dutyes in that behalf due unto the King's majeſty, his heirs and ſucceſſors according to the cuſtom of the place aforeſaid and the lawes of his ma⯑jeſtyes kingdom. And alſo except all thoſe lower places within the ſaid caſtle now uſed for the common priſon and gaol by the ſheriff of the ſaid county of Northumberland for the time being."—The grant is "of all that his ſaid majeſtye's old caſtle of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne and the ſeite and herbage of the ſaid caſtle as well within the walls of the ſame as without with the rights members and appur⯑tenances of what nature or kind ſoever ſcituate lying and being or to the ſaid premiſes in any wiſe belonging or appertaining in the county of Northumberland or in the county of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne or either of them—And all thoſe his majeſtye's lands, cloſes of meadow or paſture called or known by the name or names of the Caſtle-Fields and the Fryth with their and every of their appurte⯑nances lying and being in the county of Northumberland or the ſaid county of the town of Newcaſtle upon Tyne aforeſaid or either of them ^r."

[166]In Trinity Term, 1690, the Earl of Macclesfield cauſed a ſcire facias to iſſue out to revoke the letters patent, pretending that the King had not power to take the Caſtle-Garth out of the county of Northumber⯑land, and annex it to the town of Newcaſtle: the corporation of that town retained Mr. Thomas Pingrey, a clerk in the petty Bag, to appear to the above, and give notice to them the defendants when to plead: but he neglecting to give ſuch notice, judgment was afterwards ſigned on the ſaid writ by default.

On a petition of the corporation of Newcaſtle to the lords com⯑miſſioners of the great ſeal, dated December 6th, 1690, to ſet aſide the judgment obtained by default, their lordſhips after a hearing, December 19th, 1690, declared that it ſhould be ſet aſide, and that the defendants (the corporation of Newcaſtle), by the 13th January, 1691, ſhould plead in chief to the above ſcire facias.

Proceedings at law between the contending parties appear to have been continued till July 18th, 5th of William and Mary, when, Mac⯑clesfield, plaintiff, againſt the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle, de⯑fendants, the lord keeper ordered that an injunction ſhould be awarded for ſtay of the defendants' proceedings againſt the ſaid plaintiff and his tenants ^s. And alſo to quiet them in ſuch their ſeveral poſ⯑ſeſſions of the premiſes in queſtion, as they had at the time of filing the bill, and for three years before, until the defendants ſhould appear and anſwer the ſame plaintiff's bill, and the further order of the court to the contrary, unleſs cauſe ſhould be ſhewn to the contrary, at the next ge⯑neral [167] ſeal, Mr. Solicitor Rawlingſon praying a day till then to be heard therein.

July 24th, 5th William and Mary—No cauſe being then ſhewn to the contrary, it was therefore upon the motion of Mr. Hollis, being of the plaintiff's council made at the riſing of the court, ordered that the ſaid former order be made abſolute ^t.

October 2d, 1704, the mantle-wall in the Caſtle-Garth is mentioned as either having fallen down, or as being in ſuch a ſtate as rendered it neceſſary it ſhould be immediately repaired ^u.

September 23d, 1734, the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle pe⯑titioned the King for a farther term of the Caſtle-Garth, their former grant thereof from King James II. having expired ^v.

October 27th, 1735, Colonel George Liddell petitioned his Majeſty on the ſame ſubject, but with more ſucceſs, for July 2d, 1736 ^w, on the payment of a fine of 150l. the King granted the Caſtle and Caſtle-Garth for the term of 50 years to George Liddell, Eſq. on condition of his paying annually to the Royal Hoſpital of Chelſea, an hundred chal⯑drons [168] of good Newcaſtle coals, and of keeping all the buildings, as well thoſe excepted in the leaſe as granted, in good repair.

March 26th, 1739, George Liddel, Eſq. occurs as demanding a ſum of money of the corporation of Newcaſtle, for dilapidations in this Caſtle-Garth ^x, the great gate whereof had fallen down on the 13th of the preceding January ^y.—Dec. 2d, 1740, they agreed to pay him 250l. on the above account.

In the year 1741, the rental for Caſtle-Garth amounted to 224l. 7s. 6d. ^z —Nov. 19th, 1777, the Caſtle and Caſtle-Garth were demiſed from the crown to Henry Lord Ravenſworth, for the term of 40 years and an half—from the 13th of July, 1786, at the ſame rents, under the ſame deſcription, and with the like exceptions and covenants as in the above grant to Colonel Liddell, dated July 2d, 1736 ^a.

May 19th, 1779, the above leaſehold eſtate of the Caſtle-Garth, af⯑ter having been advertiſed to be ſold by auction on that day by Meſſ. Chriſtie and Anſell, in Pall Mall, London, was purchaſed by John Chrichloe Turner, Eſq. one of the agents for the Greenwich Hoſpital eſtates in the northern counties of England ^b.

[169]Among ſeveral rents and revenues ariſing to this caſtle, Bourne men⯑tions the ſubſequent as payable from the twelve following baronies:

1. The barony of the Herons ^c, which contained Haddeſton, Chir⯑ton, Little-Benton, Coldwell, Swinburne and Flatford, paid for caſtle⯑ward ^d,13s. for cornage ^e, 5s. 10d.

[170]2. The barony of Dilſtone, containing Devilſtone or Dilſton, Cor⯑brigg, Togeſton, &c. paid for caſtle-ward, 13s. 4d.—for cornage, 10s.

3. The barony of Walton, given by King John to Robert ſon of Roger, and confirmed by his charter, contained Walton, Ripplingdon, Newham, Denton, Newbigging, Kenton, Gosford and Fawden: and alſo Oggle, Burndon, Horton with Sticklaw and Hereford and Wod⯑rington, paid for caſtle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 10l.

4. The barony of Bolbeck, containing Stifford, Brumhall, Slavely, Shotton, Heddon of the Wall, Hedwin Eaſt, Thornton, Whitcheſter, Haughton, Benwell, Elſwick, Angerton, Hertbourne, Middleton, Morel, Burneton, Beril, Fenwick, Matifin, Eaſt Hawkwell, Shalow, Middleton South, Cambhow, Hertweigh, Hawick, Kirkherle, Rocheley, Newton Grange, and the moiety of Bywell, paid for caſtle-ward, 3l. 6s. 8d. for cornage, 1l. 12s.

5. The barony of Bolam, containing Bolam, Litedon, Burneton, Thornbury, Cupum Parvam, Wittington, Hayden, Belſow, Brade⯑ford, Denum, Trewick and Tunſtall, paid for caſtle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 8s.

6. The barony of Gaugye, containing Ellingham, Cramlington, Heaton, Hartelaw, Jeſemuth and Whitley, paid for caſtle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 7s. 2d.

7. The barony of Marley, alias Morlaw, alias Morpeth, containing Morpeth, Grimneſt membrum ſuum, Newham, Hebſcot, Shillington, Tuyſell, Saltwick, Dudden Eaſt, Dudden Weſt, Clyfton, Caldwell, Stannington, Shotten, Blakeden, Wetteſlade North, Wetteſlade South, Killingworth, Benton and Walker, paid for caſtle-ward, 2l. 13s. 4d. for cornage, 7s. 8d.

8. The barony of Bothall, containing Bothall cum membris ſuis, viz. Whetworth, Newmore, Oldmore, Peggeſworth, Hebborne, Fen⯑rother, Tricklington, Freſdon, Longhirſt cum membris ſuis, et Niſhen⯑den, Veter' Morae or the Old Moor, and Eringdon, paid for caſtle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 8s. 8d.

[171]9. The barony of Delaval, containing Blackalladay, Seton cum membris ſuis, Neuſum et Diſſington, paid for caſtle-ward, 2l. 6s. 8d. for cornage, 3s. 3d.

10. The barony of Roſſe, containing Werk, Mindram, Karham, Preſtfen, Manilawe, Dunum, Palwiſter, Shotton, Killom, Holthall, Newton and the other Newton, Langeton, Lilleburn, Hilderton, We⯑perden, Ruſſenden, Tithington, Butliſden, and the moiety of Glat⯑tendon.

11. The barony of Bywell ^f, containing Newbigging, Woodhorn, Lynmouth, Hyrſte, Hallywell, Lynton, Ellington, cum Creſſwell and Ayden membris ſuis, Bychefield, Inghym, Black Heddon, Samford⯑ham, Newton Weſt, Newton Eaſt, Scheellinge, Ovington, Ovingham, Milkylleye, Whitlye, Falderlye, Bromley, Appleby, the moiety of By⯑well, Stokefield, Swynburne Eaſt, Swynburne Weſt, Ryhill.

12. The barony de Copun paid 13s. 4d.

Thus far the baronies—But beſides theſe rents, there were houſes, yards, and gardens, &c. which paid to it ^g.

The liberties and privileges of the caſtle extend northwards to the river of Tweed, and ſouthward to the river of Tees ^h."

[172]The ſubſequent obſervations on the preſent remains of this once famous and important fortreſs were made July 9th, 1778.

The Keep, or Great Tower, meaſured 28 yards and a quarter in height: it appears anciently to have been ſomewhat higher, and had, no doubt, a kernelled battlement.

The ichnography of this keep would deſcribe nearly a ſquare, the lines of two ſides of which bear to the north-weſt. That front how⯑ever, which, properly ſpeaking, ought to be called the ſouth-weſt front, is generally ſtyled the ſouth one. The others are named the weſt, north, and eaſt ſides, with the ſame little impropriety.

The grand entrance, originally, no doubt, the only one, is at a great height from the ground ⁱ. Two portals, as it were, muſt be paſſed before we can arrive at it ^k.—From the firſt of theſe, which is on the ſouth, and in a great wall ^l, which, at a few yards diſtance, has in⯑cloſed [173] the whole keep, we mount by eleven ſteps to the ſecond one, which is of prodigious ſtrength, and from the top of it the be⯑ſieged appear to have had great power to annoy the aſſailants.

From this ſecond portal to the grand entrance are eighteen ſteps, part leading from ſouth to north, and part from eaſt to weſt. No grooves for portculliſes ^m are diſcoverable in either of the portals, but ſo much appears to have been demoliſhed that one cannot from thence infer that there have never been any.

The grand entrance which is towards the eaſt, has had its arch adorned in a ſuperb manner, with zig-zag, and other Saxon or ſemi-Saxon ornaments.

The wall here meaſured four yards and a quarter in thickneſs ⁿ.

Near this grand entrance, and in front as you aſcend to it from ſouth to north, is a door-way leading into a little apartment, which has been richly adorned on the inſide.—It ſtands over a crypt or vault of conſi⯑derable height, on two great arches that interſect each other, of beauti⯑ful [174] Gothic maſonry.—This had a diſtinct roof, and the whole forms a projection eaſtward at the north-eaſt angle, againſt the eaſt end of which a modern houſe has been built. From the garret of this houſe there is at preſent an entrance into it through an arched paſſage, where there muſt have been anciently a window. At preſent it is a currier's ſhop. From the richneſs of its interior ornaments I ſuſpected it to have been the chapel, to which ſuppoſition its direction from eaſt to weſt is not unfavourable. It muſt however have been but a very ſmall one. Bourne ſuppoſes the chapel to have been within the walls of this keep, on the ground floor, in a place which at preſent compoſes a part of Mr. Fife's very curious and extenſive cellar.

The great entrance ſeems to have led immediately into the ſtate apartments ^o, which have been lighted from the eaſt, by the moſt mag⯑nificent window in the whole great tower. Near this, and in the body of the wall, is an apartment with a curious draw-well in it—at ſixteen yards depth ^p we reached the water. The depth in all is thirty-one yards and a quarter. The water is hard and very cold. There are ſquare cavities in the wall on each ſide of this well, in which are round holes for pipes, uſed anciently to convey the water to the ſeveral apart⯑ments. It meaſures eleven yards to the ground from the window of the apartment that contains the well.

There is no way at preſent to the top of this keep, where one is ſur⯑priſed [175] to find a little artificial garden, producing apple-trees, roſe-buſhes, &c. except by one great winding ſtair-caſe, about two yards wide, in the north-eaſt angle. There is another ſtair-caſe ^q in the ſouth-eaſt angle, but it is now built up at the top. It has come down to the ground floor, at which place alſo the communication is now cloſed up.

By the rows of ſquare holes in which the beams have reſted, there muſt have been five ſtories of apartments, of which the great hall and ſtate rooms were the loweſt, from the preſent flagged floor to the top of this tower.

There is a gallery of communication in the center or thickneſs of the wall, and on all four ſides of it, about five yards and a half^r from the top. This paſſage is about two yards and a half high, and has three or four loup holes on each ſide, all widening gradually inwards.

Below this in the ſouth front is a gallery in the center of the wall, about fifteen yards and three quarters from the ground, in which there have been two large ornamented windows—nearly on a level with which on the north front is another window of the like ſort.

Two great windows have let in light to the great hall ^s of this keep; that in the ſouth front, near the ſouth-weſt angle, having had the pillar or diviſion in it broken away, has now the appearance of a door-way. A door hardly half its ſize is at preſent hung in it. The other window is very obſervable: it is on the weſt ſide near the ſouth-weſt angle.

The kitchen of this great tower has been in the north wall: it con⯑tains a much larger fire-place than any other of the apartments. The chimney appears on the outſide of the wall by a ſquare projection, [176] ending abruptly, and yet I know not with any degree of certainty whether ever it has been carried up any higher: one of its windows has been enlarged with great labour, to give more light to a joiner's ſhop, into which it has been converted.

The north-weſt angle of this tower is of an hexagonal form ^t, and projects in a manner different from any of the others ^u. In the wall of the weſtern front have been ſeveral neceſſary-houſes, communicat⯑ing with the great drains.

All the apartments of the ground-floor, and the county-priſon itſelf, except when uſed at the aſſizes, have been converted into cellars: a pur⯑poſe for which their great coolneſs renders them very fit.—There is a place here, into which if water be poured in the largeſt quantities, it im⯑mediately diſappears.—It probably communicates with one of the large drains.

In the center of the preſent county priſon is a remarkable pillar, from which arches branch out very beautifully on all ſides. This co⯑lumn is hollow, and a pipe has ^v conducted water down through it from the well before-mentioned. There is a very obſervable window ^w in [177] this place, with an arch turned in the inſide to repel miſſile weapons, &c. See an account of many ſimilar ones in King's ingenious ac⯑count of ancient caſtles, ut ſupra.

Great alterations muſt have been made in the appearance of the low parts of the ſouth front, when the temporary priſon of the county was made in this keep. The preſent entrance, to which we deſcend by four or five ſteps, muſt have been firſt made on that occaſion, for there is no arch over it in the wall. Another ſimilar kind of entrance on the eaſtern ſide of the ſouth-eaſt angle, which is now built up, with a ſwine-ſtye before it, is alſo, without doubt, of a date much poſterior to that of the original building.—

If there has been a dungeon in this keep, as there probably was, I mean that dreary kind of manſion, to which the only entrance was by a ſquare hole in the top, it muſt have been filled up, as no traces thereof can be diſcovered at preſent.

NEWGATE-STREET.

NEWGATE-STREET has plainly had its name from the New-Gate which bounds it on the north.

Bourne mentions a tenement on the eaſt ſide of this ſtreet, given by Mrs. Alice Belayſis to Univerſity-College in Oxford ^x.

The ſame writer tells us that a tradition remained in his time, that [178] there had been anciently ſeveral markets between New-Gate and the White-Croſs ^y.

An ancient ſtreet, called Darne-Crook, runs weſtward to the town-wall, at the bottom of St. Andrew's church-yard. In this, ſays Bourne, were ſome waſtes and houſes that belonged to the nuns of St. Bartholomew.

Almoſt contiguous to New-Gate ſtands St. Andrew's church.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

THIS building appears to have retained more of its original maſonry than the other churches, and, from the ſtyle of its architecture, has been generally thought to be the oldeſt in the town ^z.

Mention of it occurs, A. D. 1218, in the time of King Henry III ^a.

Bourne is of opinion that it was founded by the townſmen and reli⯑gious houſes.

[179]A. D. 1280, the juſtices itinerant appear to have held their courts in this church ^b.

The oldeſt writing that I have ſeen belonging to this church is dated 1281 ^c.

John, Biſhop of Durham, granted an indulgence of forty days to thoſe who ſhould contribute any thing to the reparation of St. Andrew's Church, in Newcaſtle, and to the chapel of the Holy Trinity in the ſame, &c. dated at Gateſhead, July 19th, 1387 ^d.

Oſwald, Biſhop of Galloway, granted an indulgence of forty days to ſuch perſons as ſhould ſay their prayers devoutly at this church. It is dated in the year 1392 ^e.

[180]This church received ſo much damage during the ſiege of Newcaſtle, A. D. 1644, that no ſervice was performed therein for a year after⯑wards ^f.

A. D. 1652, this church was repaired by an aſſeſſment upon the houſes and lands in the pariſh ^g.

In the year 1678, the pariſhioners of St. Andrew's petitioned the common-council of Newcaſtle to aſſiſt them in repairing this church ^h.

A. D. 1707, the floor of this church appears firſt to have been co⯑vered with flag ſtones ⁱ.

In the year 1708, the corporation of Newcaſtle gave 10l. towards the reparation of this church: a ceſs of 6d. per pound on all the lands and tenements in the pariſh having been found inſufficient for that purpoſe ^k.

CHANTRIES IN ST. ANDREW'S.

THERE were three chantries here in the times of popery—one [181] dedicated to St. Mary, another to the Holy Trinity, and a third to St. Thomas.

St. Mary's chantry is ſuppoſed to have been founded in the reign of King Edward the Firſt, as mention of it occurs in a charter dated in the latter part of his reign.

It was of the yearly value of 6l. 12s. 10d. ^l.

Sir John Sadler was prieſt thereof at the ſuppreſſion ^m.

The church-wardens of St. Andrew's appear to have been patrons of this chantry ⁿ.

The following account of it occurs in a certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of oure Ladie in the pariſhe church of Saynt An⯑drewe in the towne of Newcaſtel upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynd a prieſte for ever for the mayntenaunce of God's ſervice and to pray for all Chriſten ſowlis and the ſaide prieſte to have the revenues of the ſame for hys ſervyce which is ſo continued hitherto and ther is no dede of foundacion to be ſhewed—Yerely value 4l. 13s.—Accordyng to this ſurvey 6l. 12s. 10d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is to be de⯑ducted [182] 17s. 8d. for decay of certen rents charged in the ſumme afor⯑ſaid, for rents reſolut. 2s. 6d. for one obytt, 3s. and for the tenthes 9s. 5d. paid to the Kinges majeſtie as apereth in the ſaid rentall, 32s. 7d. and remayneth clerly 100s. 3d. whiche ar employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of John Sadler, prieſte, incumbent ther as hathe ben accuſ⯑tomyd hertofore.—Ornaments &c. 20s. 2d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

The ſecond chantry was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and is thought to have been founded by Sir Adam de Athol ^o, knight, ſheriff of Northumberland, 1383.

The yearly value thereof was 4l. 2s. 10d.—Thomas Weſthe was the laſt incumbent, and had a penſion of 2l. 1s. 5d. per annum ^p.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate above⯑cited, of the 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Of⯑fice:

"The chauntrie of the Trinitie in the pariſhe churche of Saynt An⯑drewe in the towne of Newcaſtel upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynde a prieſte for ever for the mayntenance of Godd's ſervice and to pray for all Chriſten fowles which is ſo continued hitherto but ther [183] is no dede of foundacion to be ſhewed.—Yerely value 64s. 2d.—Ac⯑cording to this ſurvey 4l. 2s. 10d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid out for rents reſolut' 18s. and for the tenthes 6s. 5d. paid to the Kinges majeſtie, 24s. 5d. and remayneth clerely 58s. 5d. which ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Davy Sympſon prieſte incum⯑bent there.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 10d. as apereth by a perticler inven⯑tory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c ^q."

The third chantry in this church was dedicated to St. Thomas ^r. No mention occurs of it in the certificate above-cited, of the 37 Hen. VIII. in the Augmentation-Office.

THE ALTAR.

A RENT-CHARGE of five ſhillings per annum to the ſuſtentacion or ſupport of the altar of the church of St. Andrew, occurs about A. D. 1251, iſſuing out of certain lands near the ſtreet leading to Pilgrim-Street ^s.

The altar here (as was the whole church at the ſame time) was beau⯑tified [184] in the year 1781. A new ſervice of ſilver-plate was ſubſcribed for, and procured, with a beautiful altar-cloth, on the occaſion.

THE STEEPLE.

THIS ſteeple has probably had the name and arms of Robert Rodes in the center, under the belfry, as in the other churches of the town ^t.

It appears to have been battered down by the cannon of the Scots army, during the memorable ſiege of the town in 1644 ^u.

It contains ſix bells, of a ſoft melodious ſound.

PARISH REGISTER.

THE regiſter of this church begins about 1597. Some few leaves of a prior date appear to have been loſt.—Bourne, very unjuſtly, complains that this regiſter has been badly kept ^v.

From January, 1688, to January, 1708, there were baptized, at this church, 1531 children—married 348—buried 1671.

From January, 1729, to January, 1749, there were baptized here 1866—married 516—and buried 2224.

[185]From January, 1759, to January, 1779, there were baptized here 1751—married 731—buried 1931 ^w.

CHARITY-SCHOOL.

THIS was founded by Sir William Blackett, Bart. ^x and the firſt boy entered the ſchool in January 1708.—It was for thirty boys.— The laſt Sir William Blackett, the ſon of the founder, about the year 1719, made an additional endowment for the purpoſe of clothing them ^y.

ORGAN.

AN organ, purchaſed by a voluntary ſubſcription of the pariſhioners, was erected in this church, A. D. 1783. An order of the common-council was made in 1776, to eſtabliſh a ſalary of 20l. per annum, for the organiſt of the organ intended to be ſet up in this church ^z.

In 1783, the pariſhioners of St. Andrew's pariſh purchaſed a piece of waſte ground, lying on the weſt ſide of the church-yard, to enlarge [186] their burial ground. This was conſecrated by the Biſhop of Clonfort, in the month of September, 1786.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ST. ANDREW'S.

IN the year 1592, Chriſtopher Chaitor, of Butterbye near Dur⯑ham, by his laſt will, gave to the poor of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, in the pariſh of St. Andrew's, where he was born, fortie ſhillings ^a.

Left by Mr. William Carr, 1l. 2s. as a legacy to the church ^b.

To be diſtributed amongſt poor houſeholders.

Left by Henry Hilton, Eſq. 4l. per annum ^c.

Mr. Robert Anderſon, 5l. ^d

Dr. Aldworth's land in Akewell-Gate, in Gateſhead, 1l. ^e

Left by Sir Alexander Daviſon, to be paid out of the town-chamber, upon Lady-Day, March 25th, 2l. ^f

Left by Mr. Thomas Daviſon, to be paid yearly, in December, out of the merchants' company, beſides another legacy out of three tene⯑ments, 3s. each.—In all, 1l. 9s. ^g

Left by Mr. Timothy Daviſon, to be paid yearly, in December, at Chriſtmas, for 15 poor freemen, or widows, not merchants, out of the merchants' company, 1l. ^h

Paid out of the town of Newcaſtle, at two payments, Michaelmas and Lady-Day, 4l.ⁱ

Left by Sir Mark Milbank, 3l. per annum ^k.

"Sir William Blackett, Bart. alderman, and ſometimes mayor, alſo [187] a burgeſs for this towne departed this life May 16th 1680. By his laſt will did bequeath to the poor of the pariſh of St. Andrew's forty ſhillings yearly for ever^l"—(out of a houſe at the Bridge-End.)

"Sir William Blackett, Baronet, alderman, twice mayor and alſo burgeſſe for this towne departed this life the 2d of December 1705. He in his life time gave an out-rent of 13s. 4d. to this church of St. Andrew's and alſo a cloſe of three pounds a year and by his laſt will gave one thouſand pounds to purchaſe an eſtate for the uſe of this pa⯑riſh for ever ^m."

Madam Margaret Allgood gave 100l. the intereſt to be given to the poor of this pariſh, on Chriſtmas day, yearly, for ever ⁿ.

Richard Gibſon, who died January 22d, 1718, gave 30l. the in⯑tereſt to be divided on Chriſtmas day, yearly, for ever ^o.

Dame Jane Clavering, by her will, dated Dec. 11th, 1734, gave 50l. the intereſt to be yearly diſtributed by the church-wardens ^p.

George Mallabar, Eſq. who died Auguſt 20th, 1734, gave 50l. the intereſt to be yearly divided, on Chriſtmas day, for ever ^q.

Mrs. Iſabel Wrightſon, who died March 13th, 1716, gave 50l. the intereſt to be paid yearly for the poor of St. Andrew's^r.

John Rumney, Eſq. who died February 3d, 1694, gave 260l. a fifth part of the intereſt of which to be given to the poor of this pariſh ^s.

Mr. William Harriſon, who died July 10th, 1721, gave 50l. the intereſt whereof to be yearly diſtributed, on St. Andrew's day, for ever ^t.

[188]John Scafe Slayter left 20l. the intereſt to be given to the poor of St. Andrew's^u.

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH AND CHURCH-YARD.

TRINITY Chapel. Sir Adam de Athol, and his wife Mary, un⯑der a very large ſtone, which has originally been plated very curiouſly with braſs. The remains of their effigies are ſtill to be ſeen.—He is pictured at length in armour, having a ſword on his left ſide, and a dagger on his right.—Her effigy hath nothing remaining of it but from the ſhoulders upwards.—The arms of both their families are ſtill to be ſeen on the tomb-ſtone.

What remains of the inſcription is this: "Hic jacent Dominus Ada⯑marus de Atholl miles & Domina Maria uxor ejus quae obiit quarto decimo die menſis ..... anno Domini milleſimo tricenteſimo...... Animarum propitietur."—The remaining part of the date is broken off: Grey, however, in his account of this ſtone, tells us, it was in the year 1387, which is very probably the time that his wife died; for it is a miſtake that he died then, as appears by the indulgence above⯑mentioned.—Bourne.

There was, very lately, on this ſtone, inlaid with braſs, a ſhield with arms, as quartered at this day by the Dukes of Athol.

Joſhua Twizell, June 23d, 1718.

Thomas Winſhip, tanner, September 2d, 1695.

Chriſtopher Rutter, baker and brewer, March 17th, 1714.

Mrs. Elizabeth Daviſon, mother of Mr. Thomas Daviſon, January 20th, 1724, aged 84 years.

Nicholas Fenwick, merchant, 14th December, 1725.

Mr. John Dawſon, taylor.

Mrs. Barbara Daviſon, January 8th, 1730.

In the chancel near the altar.

James Ogle, of Cauſey-Park, Eſq. upon whoſe tomb-ſtone, which is of marble, is the following inſcription: "Hic jacet Jacobus Ogle de Cauſey-Park in comitatu Northumb' armiger, antiquitate domus utpote ex prenobili baronia Ogle de Ogle ſtirpe recta linea oriundus, vere [190] clarus. ſed invicta in perduelles, graſſantibus nuperis civilibus bellis, animi magnitudine, conſtantia in regem etiam in triſtiſſimo authoritatis deliquio. Fidelitate, in ſuperiores obſervantia, in pace comitate, in in⯑ſeriores benignitate, quae omnia juſtiſſimo titulo ſua vocare poterat, multo illuſtrior. Obiit Dec. 4^o. die annoque Domini 1664."

Thomas Harriſon, barber ſurgeon, who died Feb. 24th, 1679.

Thomas Bednel, 14th July, 1701.

Chriſtopher Barker, Oct. 26th, 1718.

Robert Tod, October 5th, 1730.

Within the rails of the communion lie interred the bodies of Cuthbert Lambert, M. D. and of Cuthbert his ſon—as yet without any inſcription.

—Tanner—Rutter—Romaine—Younger—Mills—Drum [...]nd.

William Reed, 1683—David Cooper, 1748—Chriſtopher Barker, 1705.—Thomas Beadnell, 1715.—Thomas Harriſon, 1675.

North-Iſle.

Robert Mills, houſe-carpenter.

South-Iſle.

Dorothy Harriſon, May 27th, 1702.

Weſt-End.

William Milburn, 1772—R. Bates, Eſq.—Richard Ward of Wall⯑cott in Norfolk, Eſq.—Joſeph Richmond, 1763—Henry Cowell, 1761.

Church-Yard.

On a table monument oppoſite the porch door: ‘"H. R. I. P. Car. Aviſon denati 9 Maii, 1770. a^o aetatis 60. Cath. uxor denati 14 Octob. 1766. —53. Simul cum filia Jana conjugi moeſtiſſimo Roberto Page immaturè erepta 14 Julii, 1773, annos nata, 28." [191] On an adjoining table monument, ibid. "In memory Of Edward Aviſon and Margaret his wife, who were eminent for piety and primitive ſimplicity of manners: Having each borne a lingering diſeaſe, with the moſt exemplary patience and reſignation; They rejoiced at the approach of death, and expired with hopes full of immortality. He died in October, 1776, aged 29. She in November, 1777, aged 33."’

On an upright head-ſtone in St. Andrew's church-yard: ‘"Here lieth the body of Jane Murray, the Daughter of George Murray and Margaret, his wife, who died 29th September, 1765, aged 22 years. Alſo of Margaret Murray, his wife, who died March 19th, 1772, aged 57. Alſo the above George Murray, who did 30th January, 1779, aged 68. Alſo James Murray, ſon of the above George and Margaret Murray, who died 19th April, 1779, aged 39."’

January 12th, 1376, Thomas, Biſhop of Durham, granted leave to the pariſhioners of St. Andrew's to build in their church-yard, ſaving the epiſcopal rights and thoſe of the pariſh-church of St. Nicholas in Newcaſtle upon Tyne.—Regiſter Hatfeld, p. 119. Randall's MSS.

CURATES, LECTURERS AND ASSISTANT-CURATES OF ST. ANDREW'S.

THE vicar of Newcaſtle pays to the miniſter or lecturer of this church, as curate, 3l. per annum—The corporation of Newcaſtle pays him as lecturer, 100l. per annum, and the King pays him 5l. 2s. 6d. aliter 5l. 5s. 5d. per annum.—Randall's MSS.

[192]William Hydewyn occurs as pariſh-prieſt here, A. D. 1378 ^w.

William Hunter occurs 1424 ^x.

Bartram Cowghram, February 1ſt, 1578 ^y.

Thomas Maiſlete occurs as curate, January 23d, 1580. Alſo July [...]th, 1586 ^z.

Robert Aſkewe occurs A. D. 1589 ^a.

Robert Bonner, A. B. licenſed Dec. 17th, 1636. See afterwards 1669 ^b.

Francis Gray about 1622, buried January 14th, 1641 ^c.

In 1641, Mr. Ander occurs as miniſter of this church ^d.

March 7th, 1641, John Clark, A. M. and free burgeſs of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, was on the petition and recommendation of the pariſhion⯑ers, appointed by the common-council to ſucceed Mr. Gray, with a ſalary of 40l. per annum ^e. He was ſequeſtered and plundered— Buried April 5th, 1667, at St. Nicholas.

April 5th, 1647, there is an order of common-council, to ſix Mr. [193] Stephen Dockray at St. Andrew's, where he had been for ſome time upon trial—ſalary 80l. per annum. June 20th, 1660, he was eſtabliſhed there by the ſame authority, to preach forenoon and afternoon—ſalary 80l. per annum.—He was buried Auguſt 11th, 1660, at St. Andrew's ^f.

In September 1660, Dr Wiſhart was appointed in the place of Mr. Dockray by the common-council, by a letter from the King—ſalary 80l. per annum. He was removed from thence to St. Nicholas.

Auguſt 27th, 1662, John Clark, A. M. was reinſtated at St. An⯑drew's—ſalary 80l. "to begin ſince Mr. Dockray's deceaſe."

Henry Aſhburnham occurs, A. D. 1668 ^g.

John Weld A. B. curate, occurs September 19th, 1669 ^h; when A. M. confirmed by the common-council at St. Andrew's to preach and read prayers both forenoon and afternoon, and do all other duty at St. An⯑drew's—ſalary 40l. per annum; raiſed January 18th, 1674, to 60l. per annum, and 10l. for lecturing at St. Nicholas. He was buried October 19th, 1677.

October 29th, 1677, Mr. Robert Roddam, ſon of the mayor of New⯑caſtle, was appointed by the common-council, on the death of Weld ⁱ.

April 7th, 1684, Daniel Potenger, miniſter, was appointed by the common-council, in the place of Mr. Robert Roddam, who had re⯑ſigned—ſalary, in all, 100l. ^k.

Dec. 2d, 1687, Mr. John Leigh was appointed by the common-council on the reſignation of Potenger—ſalary, in all, 100l. ^l.

Auguſt 27th, 1688, Mr. Charles Maddiſon in the place of J. Leigh ^m.

October 8th, 1688, Mr. William Drake, and Mr. Andrew Bates, were [194] preſented to the pariſh for their probation, in caſe Mr. C. Maddiſon ſhould refuſe to officiate ⁿ.

July 25th, 1689, Mr. William Richards was appointed by the com⯑mon-council to this church—ſalary, in all, 100l.—Mr. William Drake ordered 20l. for having officiated at the ſame time ^o. He was buried in the chancel of St. Andrew's, 22d Auguſt, 1705.

March 7th, 1693, Mr. Peter Strachan, curate—removed to All Saints ^p.

July 3d, 1695, Mr. William Aynſlay, curate ^q.

July 30th, 1696, Mr. Charles Stoddart, curate ^r.

Auguſt 6th, 1702, Mr. Richard Muſgrave, curate ^s.

April 18th, 1704, Mr. John Perkin, curate ^t.

September 25th, 1705, Thomas Shadforth, M. A. miniſter—ſalary, in all, 100l.—He died September 11th, 1724, and was buried at Branſ⯑peth, com. Dunelm', where he had before been curate ^u.

A. D. 1705, Mr. George Pie, curate ^v.

February, 1706, Mr. Thomas Pie, curate ^w.

February, 20th, 1707, Mr. John Potts, curate, removed to St. John's ^x.

May, 1707, Mr. George Lyon, curate, removed to Earſdon ^y.

1714, Mr. John Mitcalfe, curate ^z.

1718, Mr. William Hall, curate, removed to All Saints ^a.

1772, Mr. James Farin, curate ^b.

1722, Mr. William Simcoe, curate ^c.

1724, Mr. William Wilkinſon, curate, removed to St. Nicholas, 1739 ^d.

[195]John Elliſon, A. M. of Univerſity College, Oxford, was appointed miniſter of this church, on the death of T. Shadforth—licenſed Sept. 16th, 1725. He was the eldeſt ſon of Dr. Nathanael Elliſon, vicar of Newcaſtle. September 29th, 1766, he reſigned in favour of his ſon Nathanael Elliſon, A. M ^e.

Richard Brewſter, A. B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, curate, li⯑cenſed Sept. 12, 1741, in the place of W. Wilkinſon ^f.

Anthony Munton, A. M. curate, head-uſher of the grammar-ſchool. He died January 9th, 1755, and was buried at St. John's ^g.

George Stephenſon, clerk, curate, on the death of A. Munton—re⯑moved to All Saints ^h.

John Elliſon, clerk, curate, 1756, removed to the ſecond curacy at St. Nicholas ⁱ.

John Aſkew, A. B. curate, December 1756. George Stephenſon, clerk, appears to have officiated as deputy to J. Aſkew, for ſeveral years ^k.

John Scott, curate, March 1763. Buried at St. Andrew's, December 2d, 1764.

Bryan Leeke, A. M. curate, 1765, occurs here, Biſhop's viſitation, Auguſt 6th, 1766. Removed afterwards to the living of St. John-Ley near Hexham.

September 29th, 1766, Nathanael Elliſon, A. M. formerly of Lin⯑coln-College, afterwards fellow of Merton-College, Oxford, one of the White-Hall preachers, was appointed lecturer of St. Andrew's, on the reſignation of his father ^l.

[196]June, 1773, John Brand, A. B. of Lincoln-College, Oxford,—cu⯑rate—removed hither from the curacy of Bolam in Northumberland— preſented to the perpetual curacy of Cramlington, October 6th, 1774; when A. M. removed, in 1784, to the rectory of St. Mary at Hill and St. Andrew Hubbard, London. In 1786, appointed one of the domeſtic chaplains to the Duke of Northumberland.

Thomas Elliſon, A. B. on the reſignation of J. Brand.

Mr. Hague on the removal of T. Elliſon.

ST. JAMES' CHAPEL IN THE PARISH OF ST. ANDREW'S.

BOURNE ſuppoſes this chapel, on the north ſide of the Barrows Bridge, to have been a chapel of eaſe to St. Andrew's, for the out parts of the pariſh ⁿ.

It ſeems rather to have belonged to the lazar houſe that once ſtood near it, and was an appendage to St. Magdalen's Hoſpital ^o.

The weſtern end of this chapel has been converted into a cow-houſe: in the eaſt end is at preſent a dwelling-houſe, the fire-place of which ſtands on the ſite of the communion table. Old arches built up with brick are ſtill obſervable, and the eaſtern window may be traced [197] out from the ſtairs of an adjoining houſe. The whole building is called at preſent "The Sick-Man's Houſe."

ST. MARY'S CHAPEL AT JESMONT IN THIS PARISH ^p.

THE founder of this free chapel at Jeſmont, dedicated to St. Mary, is unknown.

June 12th 1351, Thomas Hatfield, Biſhop of Durham, inſtituted Sir William de Heighington chaplain to the free chapel of Jeſmuth, within the pariſh of Newcaſtle, on the preſentation of Sir Alexander de Hilton and Matilda his wife, patrons ^q.

A. D. 1379, one Staynley died ſeized of the preſentation of the chapel of Jeſmond ^r.

It appears that, A. D. 1399, Bertram Mumboucher held the advow⯑ſon of this chapel ^s.

[198]A. D. 1426, William Harbottle died ſeized of the advowſon of this chapel ^t.

A Mr. Lumley appears to have been chaplain at Jeſmond, before A. D. 1483 ^u.

In the year 1483, King Richard the Third preſented Dr. Roby to this chapel, vacant by the death of Mr. Lumley ^v.

March 4th, 1549, King Edward the Sixth granted to the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne the free chapel of the bleſſed Mary at Jeſmont, in the pariſh of St. Andrew in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, with all its walls, ſtones, timber and lead, together with an annual rent of 3s. 4d. out of lands at Old Heaton, and whatever elſe belonged to the ſaid free chapel ^w.

Oppoſite Darne-Crook ^x is a little running water which goes into Lork-Burn.

[199]See the account of Ficket-Tower Ward—The debtors not confined to cloſe priſon in Newgate have liberty to walk as far as this runner, which at preſent is arched over, and is generally known by the name of Execution-Dock ^y.

A little way beyond this, towards White-Croſs, ſtood a row of houſes, nearly in the middle of the ſtreet, called the Huckſters Booths —they were pulled down ſeveral years ago, having been repeatedly complained of as a nuiſance to the ſtreet ^z.

I find mention of the White Croſs, A. D. 1410 ^a.

Newgate-Street, from the Scotch Inn ^b (a place where anciently the kings, nobility, &c. of Scotland lodged in time of truce or league with [200] England, the arch of the great gate-way of which remained till Octo⯑ber 1783), takes the name of Bigg-Market and Oat-Market ^c.

NUNNERY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.

A LITTLE above the Scotch Inn, on the oppoſite ſide of the ſtreet, there ſtill remains part of the arch of the great entrance to the Nunnery of St. Bartholomew.

The account of this, evidently the oldeſt of the monaſtic buildings here, of which any veſtiges are now to be found, cannot be impro⯑perly prefaced with a ſhort hiſtory of the firſt introduction of Chriſti⯑anity into this part of the iſland.

Bede, the father of our church hiſtory, who was born in this north⯑ern extremity of England, fixes this great event to A. D. 627 ^d.

The place now called Newcaſtle upon Tyne he mentions, 26 years afterwards, as the ſcene of occurrences inſtrumental, in no common degree, to the general propagation of our religion throughout the whole iſland, by the name of "Ad Murum ^e" (i. e. At Wall), as the re⯑ſidence of the then Chriſtian King of Northumberland, and where two other royal converts became ſuch by the initiatory rite of baptiſm.

A. D. 653, Peada ^f, ſon of Penda, King of Mercia, being here on [201] a viſit at the court of Oſwy, King of Northumberland, to demand his daughter Alchfleda in marriage, could on no other conditions obtain her father's conſent but by being baptized himſelf, and promiſing that all his ſubjects ſhould become Chriſtians. Struck with the excellence of the doctrines of this new faith, which were warmly recommended to him on the occaſion by his friend Alchfrid, the natural ſon of Oſwy, who had married Cyniburga his ſiſter, he declared himſelf a convert by conviction; and having been baptized, together with his retinue, by Finan, Biſhop of Lindisfarn, obtained a bride, with whom he may be ſaid to have received a truly royal dower, and who would, doubtleſs, encourage him in the promulgation of the Chriſtian faith, throughout his extenſive dominions. There accompanied him on this miſſion of converſion from the court of the Northumberland King, four prieſts, Cedda, Adda (brother of Uttanus, abbot of Gateſhead), Betti and Dinmi, to teach and baptize his Mercian ſubjects, on their return home.

About ^g the ſame time the zealous Oſwy, as well by argument as friendly perſuaſion, recovered to the faith of Chriſt, Sigebert, King of the Eaſt Angles, who had apoſtatized after a former converſion, and who, after having been baptized, together with his attendants, by the biſhop aforeſaid, was accompanied home by two prieſts, whom Oſwy, at his own requeſt, deputed to preach the goſpel to the Eaſt Saxons^h.

[202]As no account of any building appropriated to baptiſm, or any other rite of Chriſtian worſhip, which in that age appear to have been of the rudeſt and moſt ſimple architecture, is given in the relation of the above very important events, we may ſuppoſe the ceremony to have been performed in the river Tyne, if ſome temporary ſtructure, incloſing a baptiſtery, had not previouſly been provided, as had before been done at York, where King Aidun was baptized, on Eaſter-Day, A. D. 627, in a church of wood, which he himſelf had haſtily erected for the occaſion.

To the ancient name of our town, "Ad Murum," ſucceeded the ap⯑pellation of Monk-Cheſter: it is uncertain at what period this new title took place, which has generally been interpreted "The fortified reſi⯑dence of perſons of the monaſtic order,ⁱ" who may have crowded into it for reaſons impoſſible to be known at this very diſtant period of time.

On the introduction of monaſtic orders, with whom not only the reliques of ſaints, but alſo the ſcenes of events of great conſequence to religion, were held in the higheſt eſtimation, it ſeems no very impro⯑bable conjecture that a place conſecrated to the warm imaginations of theſe well-meaning zealots, by circumſtances ſo remarkable as have been juſt related, ſhould be accounted ſacred in more than a common degree: if we farther unite the idea of perſonal ſafety expected in what had been ſo recently a Roman fortification, and ſo often wanted in the times of the Daniſh invaſions, with that of ſanctity affixed to it by ſomething not unlike ſuperſtition, it ſeems natural to ſuppoſe that thoſe ancient devotees would prefer it on both accounts. However this may have been, we are certain, from the cleareſt teſtimony of hiſtorians, that monks, in more than ordinary numbers, reſided at it, and learn farther that neither the idea of local ſanctity with which we have pre⯑ſumed its then inhabitants to have been impreſſed, nor the military [203] works left in it by former owners, could preſerve it from deſtruction in the predatory incurſions of foreign or neighbouring barbarians ^k.

The monaſteries of Monk-Cheſter having fallen, almoſt with every memorial of them, in the common deſtruction of ſacred edifices, by the infidel Danes, the ruins of that place ſeem to have been unnoticed till about the middle of the eleventh century, when they were viſited on motives of religious zeal, ſimilar to thoſe by which we have ſuppoſed the Town had before been rendered famous, but when ſcarce any veſtiges of the habitations or religious houſes of its former monaſtic orders could be found. Aldwine^l, monk and prior of the monaſtery of Winchelſea, having gathered from ancient monuments, which he ap⯑pears to have ſtudied both from motives of chriſtian piety and literary curioſity, that Northumberland had been particularly diſtinguiſhed for its ſacred edifices, formed a reſolution of viſiting their remains. He was accompanied in what was then a perilous journey by Elfwius and Rein⯑fridus, two monks of Eveſham. The holy travellers performed it on foot, in all the plainneſs of priſtine ſimplicity, leading a little aſs car⯑rying ſome books and ſacred veſtments neceſſary for the performance of divine ſervice. This happened A. D. 1073. On their arrival at Northumberland their reſidence was for ſome time at Monk-Cheſter: but finding there no veſtige of the former monaſtic orders, and having been invited by Walcher, then Biſhop of Durham, to place themſelves under the juriſdiction of the church, rather than accept an habitation under the power of ſecular perſons, they removed from thence a little way down the river to Jarrow, which before that time had been a famous monaſtery, and, though then in ruins alſo, was fitted up a [204] ſecond time for the reception of theſe devout ſtrangers. Thus was a revival given to monkery in this part of the iſland, after it had been extinguiſhed and unknown here for about two hundred years, that is, from the time when the Danes had deſtroyed the convents^m.

Mention occurs of a ſmall Benedictine nunnery at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, A. D. 1086ⁿ. Hither Agas, the mother of Margaret, Queen of Scotland, and Chriſtian, her ſiſter, after King Malcolm was killed at Alnwick, retired and took the ſacred veil.

If we may credit a manuſcript in the Bodleian library^o at Oxford, this nunnery owed its origin to an ancient baron of the name of Hilton. This family was of diſtinction in the north in times of the moſt re⯑mote antiquity. It has lately become extinct, and experienced at laſt the fate of all human greatneſs.

Speed, on I know not what authority, aſcribes to King Henry the Firſt the foundation of the Hoſpital of St. Bartholomew the Apoſtle, for nuns, at Newcaſtle upon Tyne^p.

[205]David ^q, King of Scotland, who reſided at this town ſoon after A. D. 1135, is reported, by ſome hiſtorians, to have been the founder of this nunnery^r. It appears by a charter of King John, that the Scot⯑tiſh King endowed it with ſome land^s.

King Henry I. may have done the ſame, and for one common reaſon both theſe royal benefactors may have been reputed the original founders.

Some time before A. D. 1149, William de St. Barbara^t, Biſhop of [206] Durham, with the prior and convent there, granted Stellingley (now called Stella), to God and St. Bartholomew, and the nuns of New⯑caſtle.

King Henry II. granted a general charter of confirmation to this nunnery^u.

Between A. D. 1153 and 1194, Hugh Pudſey, Biſhop of Durham, confirmed the former grant of Stellinglei to the nuns of this houſe; giving them by the ſame, in pure and perpetual alms, "Twille," in exchange for Olworthe^v.

[207]There remains, in the Augmentation-Office, a very ancient original grant, by one of the prioreſſes of this houſe, of ſix acres of arable land, in Haliwell, to Roger of Backworth, on the annual payment of five ſhillings to the light of St. Mary ^w.

In the ſame invaluable repoſitory is preſerved an original very an⯑cient grant of Robert de Dyveltune, of four ſhillings of rent, in Mil⯑burn, to God and St. Mary, and St. Bartholomew, and the nuns of this houſe, in pure and perpetual alms ^x.

[208]About A. D. 1190, Sir Roger Bertram, for his health, and for the ſouls of his father and mother, and all his anceſtors, gave to the nuns here two acres and a half of his paſture in Merdesfen—an acre and half next the road, with a toft in the town of Merdesfen, in free, pure, and perpetual alms.—Alſo paſture for their oxen, during the half year they drew in carts ^y.

Between A. D. 1195 and 1208, Philip de Poictou, Biſhop of Dur⯑ham, confirmed the grant made of Stellinglei, by his predeceſſors, William and Hugh, to the nuns of this houſe^z.

[209]About the time of King John, who began his reign A. D. 1199, Mermaduke de Tueng, and Margaret his wife, bequeathed a houſe and ſome land at Hartlepool, in the county of Durham, for the ſin⯑gular purpoſe of purchaſing ſmocks for the nuns of this priory^a.

Before A. D. 1223, Germanus, prior, and the convent of Tinmouth granted a charter to the nuns here, to receive eight quarters of wheat, yearly, from the granary of Tinmouth ^b.

About A. D. 1230, Sir Robert de Neuham, for the health of his ſoul, and that of the ſouls of his wife and anceſtors, and ſucceſſors, [210] granted and confirmed to the houſe of St. Bartholomew, and the nuns therein, all the grants and ſales which William his father had made to them, or conferred upon them^c.

A. D. 1233, there was a releaſe of a meſſuage in fee, from Peter, ſon of Hawys de Pert, and Matilda and Wincey, his ſiſters, to the nuns of Newcaſtle, after a writ of right had been brought for it againſt John Miller, and Emma his wife ^d.

The ſame year Chriſtian, prioreſs of this houſe, demiſed twenty acres of land, in the village of Halliwell, with two tofts and houſes therein ſtanding, to Gilbert Claviger of that place, for twenty years, at the an⯑nual rent of 12s. 6d.^e.

Miliſand Godefray, by his will, bequeathed his body to be buried in the church-yard of the church of St. Bartholomew, in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and to the nuns there a booth, ſituated between the booth of the Weſt-Spital, and the ſtreet towards the Ghylde-Hall in the ſaid town ^f.

[211]Some time between 1249 and 1260, Walter de Kirkham, Biſhop of Durham, granted a confirmation of Stellinglei to the nuns of this houſe ^g.

In a very old deed, preſerved in the Augmentation-Office, witneſſed, among others, by "Stephano Capellano de Thinem'," Roger de Hal⯑liwell granted ſix acres of arable land to God and St. Bartholomew, of Newcaſtle, to procure a light at the altar of St. Mary, "ad procuran⯑dum luminare ad altare Sancte Marie."

Some time in the reign of Henry III. Sir Roger de Merley con⯑firmed to the nuns of this houſe, an annual and perpetual rent of four quarters of London wheat, given them by John Deaconſon ^h, and [212] Iſouda his wife, in frankalmoigne, out of land in Great-Benton, which they poſſeſſed by gift of the ſaid Sir Roger.

On the vigil of St. Michael, 1257, Roger de Whytceſter, for the health of his ſoul, and thoſe of his father, mother, brother Nicholas, and ſiſter Mabil, and his anceſtors and deſcendants, gave and con⯑firmed to the nuns here, to the ſupport of a certain chaplain perform⯑ing divine ſervice in their conventual church, at Newcaſtle, for the ſouls aforeſaid, and eſpecially for his own after his death, and all faithful ſouls, five bovates of lands, with their appurtenances, in Du⯑nington, with tofts and crofts belonging to the ſame ⁱ.

This was confirmed 1268, by Dame Johan de Rihil, heireſs of the above Sir Roger de Whytceſter ^k.

[213]About 1286, Hugh, ſon of Nicholas Brun, occurs, as letting to farm to John Elgi, all his land in the Market-Street of Newcaſtle, on condition of paying to him and his heirs, yearly, 7s. 6d. and to the nuns of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, 18d. at the ſtated terms ^l.

A. D. 1291, mention occurs of the nuns of this houſe, and thoſe of Neſham, as enjoying a penſion of 13l. 6s. 8d. from the church of Weſington ^m, to each 10 marks.

This appears to have been given them by Richard, Biſhop of Dur⯑ham ⁿ, confirmed by Thomas, the prior ^o, and convent there, and by a bull of Pope Gregory ^p.

[214]It appears from a MS. remaining in the Exchequer, that in the year 1292, the yearly revenue of this nunnery was 17l. 10s. 7d. ^q.

A. D. 1293, mention occurs of ſeveral rolls of the pleas in the county of Northumberland, at the aſſizes there, concerning this nun⯑nery ^r.

In the year 1299, Henry Droys, with Philip and Reginald his bro⯑thers, appears to have fled for felony, and taken ſanctuary in the church of this houſe ^s.

[215]A. D. 1320, Philippa de Wolteby, prioreſs, and the convent of this houſe, confirmed to Robert de Halliwelle, clerk, and Alicia his wife, 14 acres of arable land, in Halywell, at the yearly rent of ſix ſhillings ſterling for ever ^t.

Auguſt 1ſt, 1322, the ſiſters of this nunnery received 6s. 8d. for their pittance of one day, of the King's alms, and September 14th following, on the King's arrival at Newcaſtle, for the ſame, 6s. 8d. by the hand of the King's almoner ^u.

[216]A. D. 1331, Sibilla Gategang, prioreſs of this houſe, granted and confirmed to John de Wedirhall, and his heirs and aſſigns for ever, a booth in the Market-Place of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, at the annual rent of ſix ſhillings ^v.

May 9th, 1355, Thomas Hatfield, Biſhop of Durham, confirmed to the nuns of this houſe their election of Alice Davill, to be their pri⯑oreſs.—The former election of this prioreſs, having been irregular, had been ſet aſide, but being a perſon much approved of by the convent, the Biſhop, by ſpecial favour, permitted her to preſide over them ^w.

In the week of Pentecoſt, 1360, Dame Iſabelle Ruſſell, prioreſs of this houſe, and the convent of the ſame, granted to Richard de Kirke⯑by, tailor, that for arrears of rent due to them from a burgage in the city of Durham, for the firſt year enſuing, he ſhould pay them one ſhilling, and four ſhillings for each of the nine following years ^x.

[217]Tueſday after the feaſt of St. Gregory, 1363, Amiſia, prioreſs, and the convent of nuns of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, releaſed to Thomas de Lokſyde part of rent due to them from a burgage at that time lying waſte in the city of Durham, from which they had an annual rent of eight ſhillings, and which the ſaid Thomas de Lokſyde held in ſee ^y.

January 3d, 1365, a commiſſion was granted by Thomas Hatfield, Biſhop of Durham, to Alan de Shutlyng and William de Farnham, to viſit this nunnery, in order to puniſh and reform ſuch exceſſes and crimes as they ſhould diſcover the nuns to be guilty of, in the courſe of their viſitation ^z.

[218]A. D. 1366, the ſame biſhop, pitying the miſerable eſtate of this houſe both as to ſpirituals and temporals, and dreading the immediate ruin thereof, unleſs ſome ſpeedy remedy ſhould be applied, committed it to the care ^a of Hugh de Arnecliffe, prieſt, in the church of St. Nicholas in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, ſtrictly enjoining the prioreſs and nuns to be obedient to him in every particular, and truſting to his [219] prudence to find relief for thoſe whom he calls "The poor ſervants of Chriſt" here, in their poverty and diſtreſs.

May 10th, 1367, a ſecond commiſſion was granted by the ſame biſhop to the ſaid Hugh de Arnecliffe to proceed againſt Amiſia de Bel⯑ford (who is charged with having intruded into this priory) in a cauſe moved againſt her concerning intruſion, dilapidation, incontinence, and other crimes. It does not appear that ſhe was convicted of the ſeveral crimes laid to her charge—but by an order of the above biſhop, dated at Aucland, May 21ſt following, this Amiſia, who affirmed that ſhe was prioreſs, was warned to permit two nuns, Emma del Hill, and Joan de Farneleye, whom ſhe had expelled from this houſe, to return to it, and was commanded at the ſame time to treat them in future with becoming affection ^b.

[220]March 24th, 1377, Thomas Hatfield, Biſhop of Durham, granted a licence for one year to Margaret York, a ſiſter of this houſe, to chooſe herſelf a confeſſor, from whoſe hands ſhe might receive abſolution and ſalutary penance ^c.

There was a monition dated the 2d of the nones of November, A. D. 1377 ^d, from the ſame Biſhop of Durham to the prioreſs and nuns of [221] this houſe in behalf of Idoma de Staunford their ſiſter, who after hav⯑ing been ſome time abſent, though on juſt and reaſonable cauſe and in good company, had, againſt the expreſs requeſt of the biſhop, been refuſed admittance at the ſaid nunnery on her return: This monition threatened them with the ſentence of the greater excommunication if they perſiſted to exact puniſhment for ſuch abſence, or continued ob⯑ſtinate in their refuſal to reinſtate her.

[222]A commiſſion was granted at the ſame time to the biſhop's ſuffragan, he himſelf being abſent in London, to proceed againſt the ſaid prioreſs and houſe ^e.

November 4th, 1379, Raymund, maſter-general of the friars preachers, granted to the prioreſs and nuns of this houſe, a ſpecial par⯑ticipation of all the maſſes, ſermons, preachings, vigils, faſtings, &c. &c. &c. of his order ^f.

September 21ſt, 1403, mention occurs of Katherine prioreſs of this houſe ^g.

October 7th, 1448, Robert Nevill, Biſhop of Durham appropriated the chapel of St. Edmund in Gateſhead to the nuns of this houſe, on their repreſenting to him in a petition their misfortunes by fire, the [223] non-payment of their penſions, &c. ſo that without ſpeedy relief their ruin would ſhortly enſue. The conditions of the above union were to the following effect: the nuns to find two chaplains for the hoſpital, and repair the chapel and other edifices thereof—the biſhop reſerving to himſelf and ſucceſſors, from this nunnery, an annual penſion of 6s. 8d. as alſo another of 3s. 4d. per annum, to the prior and chapter of Durham. For the payment of which laſt, a bond occurs, ſigned by the above nuns in their chapter-houſe, October 20th, 1448 ^h.

May 1ſt, 1449, William Hilderſkelfe, maſter of St. Edmund's Hoſ⯑pital in Gateſhead, granted the ſame hoſpital, with all the poſſeſſions thereof, to Margaret Hawkſwell, prioreſs, and the convent of this houſe, on condition of their finding for ever a chaplain to perform di⯑vine ſervice at that hoſpital: as alſo another ſit prieſt to celebrate di⯑vine ſervice in the church of St. Bartholomew, either at the death or upon the promotion of the ſaid William to any benefice of the clear value of ten pounds per annum; and alſo of their paying yearly to the ſaid William the ſum of ten marks ⁱ.

Robert Nevill, Biſhop of Durham, confirmed the above donation made to this priory, in frankalmoigne, by his deed, dated October 7th, 1449 ^k.

Pope Pius, by his bull, dated at Rome, November 16th, 1458 ^l, [224] after reciting the above-mentioned epiſcopal confirmation, ſtrengthened it with the ſanction of the papal authority, threatening, as uſual, thoſe [225] that ſhould raſhly infringe it, with the indignation of Almighty God, and that of his apoſtles, St. Peter and St. Paul.

[226]Dame Anne Danby, prioreſs of this houſe, with the aſſent and con⯑ſent of the convent of the ſame, granted, for ſix years, from Whit-ſunday, 1470, to Robert Schyplaw Smith, a tenement of theirs, bounded by a waſte of theirs on the north, and a tenement of theirs on the ſouth, ſtretching from the Nolt-Market to the Convent-Orchard, at the rent of eight ſhillings per annum ^m.

May 1ſt, 1471, ſome property in Durham was granted to this Anne, alias Agnes Danby, and the convent of St. Bartholomew, as appears by an original deed of that date, given at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and now remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

October 9th, 1471, John Hilton, chaplain, releaſed an annuity of forty ſhillings, out of the hoſpital of St. Edmund, in Gateſhead, to Agnes Danby, prioreſs, and the convent of this houſe; which an⯑nuity appears to have been granted to him by Margaret Mytford, late prioreſs of this nunnery of St. Bartholomew ⁿ.

[227]Auguſt 20th, 1486, Joan Baxter, prioreſs of this houſe, granted in fee-farm to Thomas Lokwood, merchant, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, a parcel of waſte ground, with a croft in Gateſhead, at the yearly rent of ſix ſhillings and eight-pence ^o.

September 6th, 1500, Johan, prioreſs of this houſe, granted ſome property belonging to the ſame, in Hertlepool, to Percival Lamp⯑ton ^p.

March 27th, 1501, Richard Dinsforth was admitted into holy orders on the title of prieſt of the nuns of St. Bartholomew in Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^q.

A. D. 1513, the prioreſs and convent of this houſe granted to the mayor and corporation of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, a leaſe of part of their property, called Nun-Moor, near the ſaid town, for an hundred years, at the annual rent of three ſhillings and four-pence ^r.

A. D. 1520, there was an award between this houſe and William Bennet, Eſq. proprietor of the adjoining village of Kenton, concerning the boundaries of Nun-Moor ^s.

John Brandlyng, of Newcaſtle, merchant, let to Dame Johan Bax⯑ter, prioreſs of this houſe, and the convent of the ſame, for 99 years, from Whitſunday, 1521, at the yearly rent of ſeven ſhillings, cer⯑tain [228] ground called the Magdalen-Deen, which had been granted to him by the maſter of the Magdalen-Hoſpital of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^t.

About A. D. 1523, or 1524, great differences occur concerning the right of creating an abbeſs, or prioreſs, in the nunnery of this houſe. A prioreſs, it ſeems, had been elected to it by the abbot of Newminſter, which Wolſey, then Biſhop of Durham, as the ordinary, thought an infringement of his power.

Lord Dacre, warden of the marches, had intereſted himſelf in fa⯑vour of the prioreſs and the claim of the abbot; but numerous prece⯑dents, found in the biſhop's regiſters, fully eſtabliſhed the juſtice of the epiſcopal pretenſions.

The perſonal worth of the lady, then not quite thirty years of age, conciliated favour on this occaſion, and ſhe was re-inſtated by a new and proper election; the vicar-general adviſing her friends to procure a diſpenſation for her non-age, and promiſing, in conſideration of the poverty of the houſe, a mitigation of the fees of election and inſti⯑tution ^u.

On the feaſt of St. Martin the biſhop in winter A. D. 1529, Dame Agnes Lawſon, prioreſs, and the nuns of this houſe, let to farm [229] to James Lawſon, merchant, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, a parcel of ground, beſide the town of Gateſhead, in the biſhoprick of Durham, for twenty years, at the yearly rent of thirty-three ſhillings and four-pence ſterling ^v.

The nunnery of Newcaſtle upon Tyne was one of thoſe religious houſes, which, by letters patent of King Henry VIII. was ſounded anew, and preſerved from the diſſolution of leſſer monaſteries, March 30th, 1537 ^w.

It reſigned afterwards, and was fully ſuppreſſed, January 3d, 1540, and appears to have conſiſted of a prioreſs, a prioreſs that had reſigned, probably on account of her age and infirmities, and nine other nuns, at the time of its diſſolution ^x.

[230]It has been ſuppoſed that all the hoſpital lands and revenues of St Edmund's Hoſpital, in Gateſhead, were compriſed in Agnes Lawſon's ſurrender in 1540, as above, and that they continued in the hands of the crown from that time till the year 1610, when King James I. by letters patent, refounded the hoſpital in Gateſhead ^y.

The annual revenue of this houſe, 26 Hen. VIII. was about 36l. 10s. according to Dugdale, but Speed makes it 37l. 4s. 9d.

Stevens, in his Continuation, vol. ii. p. 25, values it thus: "Summa inde 37l. 4s. 2d.—ſumma clara 36l. 0s. 10d. ^z."

[231]The ſubſequent very curious rental of the poſſeſſions of the nuns here is copied from that on parchment, remaining in the Augmen⯑tation-Office, and inſcribed dorſo (in the hand writing of Mr. Madox): "Rentale prioratûs Sancti Bartholomei in Novo Caſtro ſuper Tin'."—It muſt be of a date between 4 Hen. VII. and the diſſolution.—"A rentale of all the landes and tenements belongyng to the pryores and nunnes of the howſe of Sancte Bartholomewe.

[232]

The houſe of this nunnery, after its diſſolution, was granted to Wil⯑liam Barantyne, Kenelme Throgmorton, Gen. and Henry Annetſon, by letters patent of King Henry VIII. dated at Hampton-Court, Au⯑guſt 4th, in the 36th year of his reign^a.

[233]It became afterwards the property of Lady Gaveere, who ſold it to Robert Anderſon ^b: after this it became ſo great a receptacle of Scots, and others not free burgeſſes of the town, perſons who, during the odium that prevailed at that time againſt foreigners, were not accounted the moſt reſpectable neighbours, that Mr. Anderſon thought proper to pull it down, in order to diſlodge them. He purchaſed the garden alſo, and having filled up the dene ^c, or hollow, that interſected it, and cleared it of all the rubbiſh, converted it into a very pleaſant field.

Within our own memory it belonged to the late Sir Walter Blackett, Bart. and after his death was ſold, A. D. 1783, to Mr. George An⯑derſon ^d.

The exact ſite of this nunnery is now unknown ^e: Bourne, as I [234] think, erroneouſly ſuppoſes, that the paſſage ſtill called Nun-Gate was not the grand entrance to it. Here very lately remained part of a great arch, that once formed a gateway, very unlike that of a back paſſage; eſpecially when we conſider the general poverty of ſtyle in building that prevailed at the time when this was erected.

The popular tradition, of a ſubterraneous communication with a neighbouring monaſtery, prevailed here alſo ^f: this was ſaid to have been made for purpoſes that we ſhall but hint at, and to have ended at the houſe of Black-Friars. Some large vaulted drain has probably given riſe to the charge againſt our fair and, as it ſhould ſeem by this account, frail ſiſterhood, and it has owed its ſupport to the ill-nature of religious party, than which no ſpecies of rancour has been found to be more malignant.

Among Fairfax's Views, publiſhed in the time of the civil wars, and now extremely rare, there occurs a ſmall one of the then remains of this nunnery, inſcribed at bottom, the "Nunns Newcaſtle ^g."

Nearly at the end of the Pudding-Chare, the ſtreet called Bigg, or Oat-Market, is ſeparated into three diviſions; of which that next to Weſt-Gate is called the Meal, or Groat-Market ^h; that next to Pil⯑grim-Street, the Fleſh-Market; and the ſtreet between the two former is properly called the Middle-Street.

Mention occurs of a meſſuage called "Pold-Hall, in the Mele-Mar⯑ket-Gate," [235] in a deed, dated Thurſday after the feaſt of St. Michael, 20 Ric. II. and in another dated 12th February, 1414 ⁱ.

Bourne tells us, that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a houſe in this ſtreet, belonging to one William Penrith, the ſite of which is now loſt, paid an annual rent to the chantry of our Lady, in the pariſh-church of Long-Benton ^k.

Horſeley, in his Romana Britannia, p. 132, informs us of a houſe in this ſtreet, in the laying of the foundation of which (about fifteen or ſixteen years before he wrote), the maſons ſtruck upon the Roman wall, at each of the ſide walls, ſo that the building ſtands acroſs it.

Towards the lower end of the Groat-Market is a wide communi⯑cation with the Middle-Street, where a market is held every Saturday for wool ^l.

The continuation of this ſtreet, beyond the eaſt end of Denton-Chare, was the ancient Iron-Market ^m, oppoſite to St. Nicholas' church.

ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH.

THIS very capacious and ſuperb ſtructure, dedicated to St. Ni⯑cholas ⁿ, is ſtyled, in the earlieſt accounts of it, "The church of New⯑caſtle upon Tyne ^o:" a circumſtance which ſeems to prove it to be the oldeſt, as having been at that time the only church of the town.

[237]Bourne ſuppoſes it was built by King Henry I. but on the authority of a book remaining in the veſtry of this church in his time, it is ſaid to have been founded in the year 1091, and, as it farther appears, by Oſmund, Biſhop of Saliſbury ^p.—This Oſmund, who was canonized after his death, which happened in 1099, was a Norman by birth, came over with William the Conqueror, was created Earl of Dorſet, and afterwards, according to ſome, made Chancellor of England ^q.

Between the year 1115, and 1128 ^r, King Henry I. gave the church of Newcaſtle ^s, with that of Newburn and others, held of him [238] by Richard de Aurea Valle, to the church of Carliſle, at that incum⯑bent's death. By this charter the above Richard, and the clergymen that ſerved the other churches, were ordered to acknowledge of the canons of Carliſle, and to do them ſuch ſervice as had been uſually done to himſelf.

The churches, on the demiſe of each of their reſpective incumbents, were to revert to the above canons, and the clerks that ſerved them were to have neceſſary ſubſiſtence out of their ſeveral revenues, and the ſaid canons the remainder.

In the year 1193, Hugh Pudſey, Biſhop of Durham, confirmed to the prior and convent of Carliſle, all the churches that belonged to them in his dioceſe. Among the uſual yearly penſions to be paid to the incumbents, there occur 26 marks to be paid from this of St. Ni⯑cholas: on the reſpective deaths of each of theſe incumbents, the above prior and convent were to take the churches into their own hands, and ſeverally preſent vicars to them, paying to the Biſhop, an⯑nually, forty marks, in lieu of aids for the whole ^t.

[239]January 24th, 1194, the above Hugh Pudſey, Biſhop of Durham, with the conſent of the prior and convent of Carliſle, who held the vicarage of this church, appointed, for the ſupport of the vicar thereof for the time being, all fruits, annual profits, oblations, and obventions whatſoever belonging thereto, except the great tythes ^u.

[240]The church of Newcaſtle occurs, A. D. 1197, as ſtanding indebted ſixty ſhillings to the King, for an aid, ſet in charge upon ſeveral churches and parſons ^v.

In the year 1216, the church of St. Nicholas is ſaid to have been deſtroyed by fire ^w.

Richard de Mariſco, who was conſecrated Biſhop of Durham on the 9th of the kalends of Auguſt, 1218, ratified the churches of Newcaſtle, Newburn, Werkworth, Corbridge, and a moiety of that of Whittingham (no mention occurs of Rothbury on this occaſion), to the biſhop, prior, and convent of Carliſle, and their ſucceſſors, for ever ^x.

[241]Nicholas Farnham ^y, who reſigned the biſhoprick of Durham in 1249, or 1250, in conſideration of the poverty of the church and ſee of Carliſle, granted them their ſeveral churches in his dioceſe, to be equally divided amongſt them, reſerving out of their revenues a com⯑petence to the reſpective vicar of each church, and excepting forty marks which had been granted from thence by Silveſter, Biſhop of Carliſle, during his life; and after his death forty pounds ſterling, to be paid by the biſhop, prior, and convent of Carliſle, at a certain term for ever, at the exchequer of Durham, out of the poſſeſſions of the above churches.

[242]A. D. 1280, the juſtices itinerant occur, as holding their courts in this church ^z.

In the year 1290, King Edward I. by his charter of inſpeximus con⯑firmed the charters of Henry I. and Henry II. of the above churches to the Biſhop and Canons of Carliſle ^a.

In a valuation of benefices, &c. in the dioceſe of Durham, made in the year 1291, the following are the entries concerning this church ^b:

"The Rector of St. Nicholas at Newcaſtle upon Tyne,

In the year 1293, King Edward I. brought an aſſize before H. de Creſſingham and his companions, the itinerant juſtices at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, againſt the Biſhop and Prior of Carliſle, for the advowſons of the churches of St. Nicholas of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, of Roth⯑bury, Corbridge and Warkworth.

In this trial, where the jury gave a verdict againſt the King, the [243] biſhop and prior pleaded that they held this church of St. Nicholas in common ^c.

In a valuation of the temporals and ſpirituals of the clergy of the biſhoprick of Durham, A. D. 1318, the portion of the Biſhop of Car⯑liſle in the church of St. Nicholas at Newcaſtle upon Tyne is men⯑tioned as being an hundred ſhillings—the portion of the Prior of Carliſle as a like ſum—that of the Prior of Tinmouth in the ſame forty ſhillings, and that of the vicar ten pounds ſterling ^d.

[244]September 18th, 1322, a maſs was celebrated in St. Nicholas' church in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, at the interment of the body of Peter le Mareſhal, an officer of the King's houſehold^e.

John Craggs, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, by his will, made on the Tueſday after the Nativity of St. John Baptiſt, 1349, gave to the high altar of the church of St. Nicholas, for his tythes and oblations not duly paid, 6s.^f.

In the year 1359, the church of St. Nicholas in Newcaſtle upon Tyne is ſaid to have been rebuilt^g.

This year alſo an indulgence of forty days ^h was granted by twelve fo⯑reign [245] biſhops, and confirmed by Thomas Hatfield, Biſhop of Durham, to ſuch perſons as ſhould frequent the church of St. Nicholas in New⯑caſtle upon Tyne, at ſeveral feſtivals, and upon ſeveral occaſions therein ſpecified, and ſhould alſo pray for the ſoul of Katherine de Camera, and for the health of John de Camera, Gilbert de Dukesfield, and Agnes his wife, while they lived, and after their reſpective deaths for their ſouls.

[246]June 6th, 1360, Thomas Hatfield, Biſhop of Durham, confirmed by a charter of inſpeximus, the ordering of the vicarage of this church, made by Hugh Pudſey, a former biſhop of that ſee ⁱ.

Nicholas Coke, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, by his will, dated Septem⯑ber 3d, 1379, gave to the high altar of St. Nicholas' church twenty ſhillings; alſo to the fabrick of the window in the choir there twenty ſhillings, and to chaplains to celebrate for his ſoul in that church thirty pounds ^k.

In the ordinary of the company of coopers in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, dated January 20th, 1426, part of their fines is directed to go to "Sancte Nicholas kyrke warke," which probably means "to the reparation of this edifice ^l."

Roger Thornton, ſenior, merchant, by his will, dated Thurſday be⯑fore Chriſtmas day, A. D. 1429, gave to the church of St. Nicholas, to the "reparation and enorments thereof," forty marks ^m.

Auguſt 13th, 1451, a ratification of the truces of Scotland was made in the veſtry of St. Nicholas' church in Newcaſtle upon Tyne ⁿ.

King Henry VIII. by his charter, dated May 6th, 1541, granted to the Dean and Chapter of Carliſle, among other things, "a moiety [247] of the rectory of Newcaſtle upon Tyne," enjoining the payment of "eight pounds to the Biſhop of Durham out of the ſaid moiety ^o."—

July 26th, 1777, the church of St. Nicholas was opened by a ſer⯑mon for the benefit of the infirmary, after having been ſhut up for ſe⯑veral weeks, for the purpoſe of having it thoroughly cleaned and re⯑paired.

A. D. 1783, a ſubſcription was opened, which produced a very large ſum of money, to defray the expences of a plan for converting this church into a kind of cathedral ^p, which is now completed with great taſte and elegance, but the antiquary muſt for ever lament the altera⯑tion, as almoſt all the ancient funeral monuments have been deſtroyed.

CHANTRIES IN ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH.

IT was a faſhion in the times of the papal ſuperſtition for lords of ma⯑nors, and other perſons of great wealth and importance, to build ſmall chapels ^q or ſide iles in their pariſh churches, deſigned for burying-places for their families, and which they frequently endowed with lands, &c. for the ſupport of chantry prieſts to pray daily at altars erect⯑ed therein for the ſouls of the founders, and thoſe of their anceſtors and poſterity. There were nine (if not ten) chantries in this church. [248] One of St. John the Baptiſt and St. John the Apoſtle—two of St. Catherine—one of St. Peter and St. Paul—one of St. Thomas—one of St. Mary—one of St. Margaret—one of St. Cuthbert, and one of St. Loy. The total valuation of which amounted to 48l. 4s. 6d. per an⯑num. A certificate in the Augmentation Office makes a ſecond chan⯑try of St. Mary in this church.

1. The chantry of St. John the Baptiſt and St. John the Apoſtle, which was ſituated on the north ſide of the church ^r, is ſaid to have had for its firſt founder Laurentius, Prior of Durham, A. D. 1149 ^s. It was refounded in the year 1333, by Richard de Emeldon ^t, an eminent ma⯑giſtrate of the town, for three chaplains.

[249]This chantry is ſaid to have been founded a third time by Robert de Rhodes ^u, and Agnes his wife, and licenſed by Henry VI. A. D. 1428 ^v, for one chaplain, with an annual allowance of 7l. 7s. 10d. with an houſe for his reſidence, given by the corporation of Newcaſtle, out of reſpect to the memory of this R. de Rhodes, to whom they owed the greateſt obligations.

Before the year 1540, George Lighton occurs as chaplain of this chantry, to which he had been preſented by James Lawſon, mayor, and the gild brethren of Newcaſtle, its true patrons ^w.

March 12th, 1540, William Clerke was inſtituted chaplain of this chantry, on the death of G. Lighton ^x.

The ſubſequent account of this chantry is copied from a record re⯑maining in the Augmentation-Office, containing the anſwer of the fol⯑lowing commiſſioners, i. e. Cuthbert, Biſhop of Durham; William, Lord Evers; Thomas, Lord Wharton; Sir Robert Bowes, Knight; Sir Francis Lecke, Knight; Robert Mennell, Eſq. Henry Whitereaſon, Eſq. and Humphrey Warren, gentleman, to certain articles of in⯑quiry, concerning colleges, chantries, &c. in Northumberland and [250] Durham. The King's commiſſion for this purpoſe is dated at Weſt⯑minſter, February 14th, the 37th of King Henry VIII.

"The chauntrie of Saynt John Baptiſte and Saynt John the Evan⯑geliſte in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by one Robert Roodes and Agnes his wyffe by licence of King Henry the 6th to fynd a preiſt for ever to ſay maſſe dayly and pray for their ſowles and all Chriſten ſowles as by the ſaid licence ſhewed before the ſaid commiſſioners more largely dothe appere and is ſo uſed hitherto by reporte—Yerely value 100s. —value accordyng to this ſurvey 7l. 7s. 10d. as appereth by a rentall of the ſame wherof is to be deducted for the charge of an yerely obytt 10d. and for the tenthes paid to the Kinge's majeſtie 10s.— 10s. 10d. and remayneth clerely 6l. 17s. whiche ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of William Clarke, prieſt, incumbent there ac⯑cordinge to th'ordynnance of the ſaid foundacion.—The ſaid chauntrie is within the pariſhe church of Saynt Nicholas aforeſaid.—Ornaments, jewells, plate, goodes and catalls 113s. 4d. as doth appere by a per⯑ticler inventorye of the ſame.—Ther wer no other lands nor yerelie profits &c. belongyng to the ſaid chantric ſyns the 14th day of Febru⯑arie in the 27th yere of the ſayd Kinges majeſties reigne more than is before mencyoned."

One of the chantries of St. Catharine, ſaid to have been anciently founded by Alan Durham^y, appears to have had a ſecond foundation or augmentation, in the reign of Edward III. by William Johnſon and Iſabel his wife ^z. The yearly value of this was 6l. 15s.

^aSir Peter Angrym was confirmed in the chaplainſhip of this chantry [251] Auguſt 27th, 1378, on the preſentation long before of the mayor, bailiffs, &c. of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, its true patrons.

^bRobert Mitford ſucceeded the above P. Angrym as chaplain of this chantry.

On an inquiſition taken at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, September 2d, 1557, a houſe and waſte near St. Nicholas' church is ſaid to have be⯑longed to this chantry, of the annual value of 3s. 4d.^c.

[252]The following account of this chantry is copied from the above-cited certificate of colleges, chantries, &c. remaining in the Augmen⯑tation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Katheryne in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by one Willyam Johnſon and Iſabella his wyffe by a licence obteined of Kynge Edwarde the 3d for thentent to fynde one prieſt to ſay maſſe dayly and to pray for their ſowles and all Chriſten ſowles as apereth by a dede of the ſame foundacion exhibited before the ſaid commiſſion⯑ers whiche is ſo uſyd hitherto by reporte—Yerelie value 112s. 10d. —value according to this ſurvey 6l. 15s. as aperethe by a rentalle of the ſame whereof is to be deducted for rentes reſolut' 13s. 4d. and for the tenthes 11s. 3d. ob. paide to the Kinges majeſtie—24s. 7d. ob. and remayneth clerely 110s. 4d. ob. whiche ben employed to the ſuſ⯑tentacion and relief of Wyllyam Johnſon ^d prieſt nowe incumbent ther for his ſervice according to the tenour of the ſaid foundacion.—Orna⯑ments &c. nil.—bycauſe all the ornaments of this chauntrie doo ſerve alſo for the other chauntrie of Saynt Katheryne within the ſame churche here under written and be charged in the ſame within the ſumme of 79s. 2d. as playnly doth appere." &c.

Another chantry of St. Catharine is ſaid to have been founded in this church by Nicholas and John Ellerker, the deed of the foundation of which was embezzled by Richard Wallas, one of its chaplains. The yearly value of this ſecond chantry of St. Catharine was 3l. 14s. 8d. which aroſe out of certain tenements ſituated in the Cloſe, Caſtle-Mote, in the Side and in Sandgate ^e.

The following account thereof is copied from the above-cited certifi⯑cate remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"One other chauntrie of Saynt Katheryn in the pariſh church (aforeſaid) was founded by one Nicholas Ellerker and John Ellerker as it is ſayd to fynde a prieſt to pray dayly for their ſowles and all Chriſten [253] ſowles which is ſo uſed hitherto by reporte but the dede of the founda⯑cion was imbecilled away by one Robert Walles late incumbent ther as it is ſaid—Yerely value 73s.—value according to this ſurvey 74s. 8d. as apereth by a rentall of the ſame whereof is to be deducted for the tenthes paid yerly to the K. majeſtie 7s. 5d. and remayneth clerely 67s. 3d. which ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Edwarde Walker clerke nowe incumbent ther for his ſervice according to the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 79s. 2d. for all maner of ornaments ther apperteynyng as well to the other chauntrie of Saynt Katherine above written as to this chauntrie as apereth by a perticler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes, &c."

4. The chantry of St. Peter and St. Paul is ſaid to have been founded by Adam Fenrother and Alan Hilton, and licenſed by King Henry IV. The annual value of this chantry was 4l. 13s. 4d. which aroſe out of ſome tenements in the Cloſe, the Side, and Weſtgate ^f.

At the diſſolution, A. D. 1547, Edward Fyffe was incumbent of this chantry, and had a yearly penſion allowed him of 4l. 4s. 6d. which he enjoyed in the year 1553 ^g.

The following account thereof is copied from the above-cited certifi⯑cate of colleges, chantries, &c. remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

"The chauntrie of Saynt Peter and Saynt Paule in the pariſhe church of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by one Adam Fenrother and one Alan Hilton by a licence obteyned of King Henry IV. to thentent to fynde a prieſt to pray for ther ſowles and all Chriſten ſowles for ever as by the dede of founda⯑cion exhibited before the ſaid commiſſioners doth apere which is ſo uſed hitherto by reporte—Yerely value 4l. 7s. 4d.—yerely valew accord⯑ing to this ſurvey 4l. 13s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall of the ſame wherof is to be deducted for the yerelie tenthes paid to the Kinges majeſtie 8s. 8d. ob. quad. and remayneth clerely 4l. 4s. 7d. quad. whych ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Edwarde Fyffe [254] clarke now incumbent ther accordyng to the foundacion.—Orna⯑ments &c. 78s. 10d. as doth appere by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c.

5. The chantry of St. Thomas appears to have been founded by John Shapecape, and licenſed by King Edward the Third ^h, having an annual revenue of 4l. 12s. 6d. The following account of it is ex⯑tracted from the above-cited certificate, remaining in the Augmenta⯑tion-Office:

"The chauntrye of Saynt Thomas in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by a licence obteyned of K. Edwarde 3^d by one John Shapecape to fynde a prieſt to ſay maſſe and to pray for his ſowle and all Chriſten ſowles for ever as by the dede of the foundacion exhibited befor the ſaid commiſſioners dothe appere which is ſo uſed hitherto by reporte— Yerely value 4l. 2s. 2d.—value by this ſurvey 4l. 12s. 6d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is to be deducted for rents reſolut' 6s. 2d. for an yerely obytt 5s. 4d. and for the tenthes 8s. 2d. ob. paide to the Kinges majeſtie—19s. 8d. ob. and remayneth clerely 72s. 9d. ob. which are employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Charles Newton incumbent ther accordyng to th' ordynnaunce of the foundacion.— Ornaments &c. 18s. 6d. as doothe appere by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

6. The chantry of our Lady, ſtyled alſo the altar of our bleſſed Virgin Mary, is ſaid to have been ſounded in the reign of King Ed⯑ward I. ⁱ It is uncertain who was the founder, as the deed of foun⯑dation was embezzled by Thomas Ireland, one of its chaplains ^j.

[255]It is ſuppoſed to have been what is now called the ſouth croſs of the church, where a figure in ſtone, croſs-legged, lies in a niche in the wall, conjectured by ſome to be that of its founder ^k.—Weekly prayers are now read in this place.

The yearly value of this chantry was 5l. 16s.^l

John Coke, of Newcaſtle, by his will, dated — 1379, left to the altar of St. Mary, in this church, the ſum of 6s. 8d. ^m

The following account of this chantry is copied from the above-cited certificate, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of our Lady in the pariſhe church of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynd a preeſt to ſay maſſe dayly and to pray for all Chriſten ſowles which is ſo uſed hitherto but the dede of the foundacion was imbe⯑cylled by one Thomas Ireland late incumbent ther.—Yerely value 105s.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 116s. 10d. as appereth by a rentall of the ſame wherof is to be deducted for the yerely charges of two obits 12s. and for the tenthes paide to the Kinges majeſtie 22s. 6d. and remayneth clerely 4l. 14s. 4d. which are employed to the ſuſten⯑tacion and relief of Robert Baker prieſte incumbent ther.—Ornaments &c. 6l. 2s. 10d. as apereth by a perticuler inventorie of the ſame.— Ther wer no other landes &c."

7. The chantry of St. Margaret, ſituated on the ſouth ſide of St. Nicholas' church, and now called Bewick's Porch, was founded by Stephen Whitgray, and Mary his wife, A. D. 1394 ⁿ. The annual [256] value thereof was 5l. 8s. John Cowper, clerk, was the laſt incum⯑bent.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate above-cited, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynte Margarete in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by the licence of King Richard the Second by one Stephane Whit⯑grave and Mary his wyffe to fynd a prieſt to ſay maſſe ther dayly and to pray for ther ſowle and all Chriſten ſowles as appereth by the dede of the foundacion exhibited before the ſaid commiſſioners which is ſo uſed hitherto.—Yerelie value 106s. 8d.—value according to this ſurvey 108s. as apereth by a rentall of the ſame wherof is to be de⯑ducted for rents reſolut. 3s. 6d. and for the tenthes paide to the Kinges majeſtie 10s. 8d.—14s. 2d.—and remayneth clerely 4l. 13s. 1 [...]d. which ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of John Cowper, clerke, incumbent ther accordinge to the tenour of the ſaid foundacion. —Ornaments &c. 58s. 10d. as doothe appere by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

8. The chantry of St. Cuthbert was founded in the reign of Richard II. by Thomas Harrington and William Redmarſhall. The yearly revenue of this chantry, ariſing out of tenements in the Sand-Hill, [257] Side and Cloſe, in Newcaſtle, amounted to 7l. 3s. 2d. ^o. Ralph Watſon was the laſt incumbent, and had an annual penſion of 5l. which he en⯑joyed A. D. 1553 ^p.

The ſubſequent account of this chantry is copied from the certifi⯑cate, cited above, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Cuthbert in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by a licence obtayned of King Richarde the 2^d, by Thomas Herington and William Redmarſhill to fynde a prieſte ther to ſay maſſe and pray for their ſowles and all Chriſten ſowles for ever as by the dede of the foundacion ſhewed befor the ſaide commiſſioners it doth appere and alſo to find one obytt yerely which is ſo uſed hitherto—Yerelie value 110s. 2d.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 7l. 3s. 2d. as apereth by a rentall of the ſame wherof is to be deducted for rents reſolut' 7s. 4d. going out of the ſame for an yerelie obytt 4s. for an yerelie almes 6s. 8d. and for the tenthes paide to the Kinges majeſtie 11s. quad— 29s. quad.—and remayneth clerelie 114s. 1d. ob. quad. whiche ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Rauffe Watſon, clerk, in⯑cumbent ther.—Ornaments &c. 4l. 20d. as dooth appere by a per⯑ticler inventorye of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

9. The chantry of St. Loy was founded by Robert Caſtell. The annual revenue of this, amounting to 4l. 10s. aroſe out of tenements in the Cloſe, Weſt-Gate, and a little field ſituated without the Weſt-Gate, called Gooſe-Green-Cloſe ^q.

A licence was granted, May 22d, 1498, to John Galile, chaplain of this chantry, to take annual ſervice ^r for three years, on account of the lowneſs of its revenues.

[258]Thomas Hollyman, alias Holman, was the laſt incumbent of this chantry, and had a penſion of 4l. 1s. 2d. which he enjoyed A. D. 1553 ^s.

The following is the account of it in the certificate ſo often cited, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of St. Loye in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by one Ro⯑bert Caſtell by a licence obtained of King Edward 3^d to fynd a prieſt for ever to pray for the ſowles of the ſaid Robert, Johanne his wyffe and all Chriſten ſowles and to thentent that th' incumbent ſhould be ther daily reſident by report but the dede of the foundacion was loſt or imbecilled away long ſyns and Thomas Hollyman, clerk now incum⯑bent ther is not reſident but giveth to one other olde prieſt 46s. 8d. to ſupplye his rometh.—Yerely value 4l. 8s.—value according to this ſurvey 4l. 10s. as apereth by a rentall wherof is to be deducted for the yerelie tenths paid to the King's majeſtie 8s. 9d. ob. quad. and remayneth clerly 4l. 14d. qua. which ar employed to the ſuſtentacion & relief of the incumbent aforeſaid.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 6d. as dothe appere by a perticuler inventory.—Ther wer no other lands &c."

10. The following account of a ſecond chantry of our Lady, in St. Nicholas' church, occurs in the certificate ſo often above-cited, remain⯑ing in the Augmentation-Office:

"One other chauntrie of our Lady in the pariſhe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by one George Carre merchant of Newcaſtell to fynde a prieſte for ever by reports which is diſcontinued and diſſolvyd as hereafter doth appere —Yerely value nil—for it dooth not appere to be charged in the certifi⯑cate [259] taken out of the courte of the firſt fruits and tenths delivered to the ſaid commiſſioners—Value accordyng to this ſurvey 106s. 8d. to be paid yerely by the heires of George Carr founder of the ſaid chaun⯑trie out of the manors of Irby, Madomyſley and Evington in the countie of Yorke and the biſhoprick of Durham by way of a rent-charge as by a feoffment thereof made and a wylle declared upon the ſame beringe date the 16^th day of September (16 Hen. VII.) remain⯑inge at preſent in the cuſtody of Henry Whitereaſon Eſquire to the Kinges majeſties uſe and behofe more plainly is ſpecified and declared to the fyndyng a chauntrie prieſt which is deteyned by one Thomas Carr as hereafter is declared—Ornaments &c. nil—for that ſuche goodes and ornaments as were apperteynyng to this chauntrie ar charged be⯑fore in the value of the goodes and ornaments of the other chauntrie of our Lady beinge within the ſame pariſhe church in the ſume of 6l. 1s. 10d. whiche doo ſerve for the uſe of booth the ſaide chauntries. —The ſaid chauntrie hath ben diſſolved & the ſervice therof diſcon⯑tinued ſyth the 4th day of Februar' in the 27th of (Hen. VIII.) now being of a late time by one Thomas Carr without any licence obteyned of the Kinges majeſtie in that behalfe and by what title or colour we knowe not."

ST. GEORGE'S PORCH.

GREY, for what reaſons I know not, has ſuppoſed this to have been built by one of the kings of England ^t.

Bourne, without giving his authority, ſays that it was one of the chantries of St. Nicholas' church ^u.

[260]This place would unqueſtionably be made uſe of when the feaſt of St. George was celebrated in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, A. D. 1617 ^v.

July 28th, 1710, there was an order of the common-council of Newcaſtle to give 100l. towards the rebuilding and reparation of this porch ^w.

ST. NICHOLAS' STEEPLE.

The original tower appears to have had a battlement of open ſtone work and embraſures like thoſe ſtill remaining on the top of Durham Abbey. At preſent this part is built up with bricks, which probably was done at the erection of the upper ſtructure. However that may be, it is plainly an after-work, which, whatever it may have added to the ſtrength, moſt certainly in ſome degree impairs the general beauty of the fabrick. Some have aſcribed the building of this ſteeple to David ^z, the firſt king of Scots of that name, but I think very erro⯑neouſly, and that thoſe have much more probability on their ſide who ſuppoſe it to have been raiſed by Robert Rhodes ^a, a moſt munificent [262] friend in general of St. Cuthbert, the great tutelar ſaint of the dioceſe, and more particularly of the churches in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, where he reſided.

This ſteeple contained originally but five bells: the peal at preſent conſiſts of eight ^b. The three latter additional ones were given by the corporation of Newcaſtle, who appear to have been charged with the reparation of this ſtructure from time immemorial ^c.

A former great bell or common bell, ſo called, it ſhould ſeem, from [263] convening the burgeſſes to guild or other publick aſſemblies at the an⯑nual election of officers, appears to have been caſt in the year 1593 ^d.

In the year 1608, ſome of the higher part of this ſteeple was taken down and rebuilt ^e.

A. D. 1615, the great bell here, which weighed 3129 pounds, was ſent to Colcheſter to be new caſt ^f.

There is a tradition that during the ſiege, and before the town was taken in the month of October, 1644, the general of the Scottiſh army ſent a threatening meſſage to Sir John Marley, then mayor, in⯑forming him, that if he perſiſted in his refuſal to deliver up the town, they would direct their cannon ſo as to demoliſh this beautiful ſteeple.

The mayor, upon this, inſtantly ordered the chief of the Scottiſh pri⯑ſoners to be taken up to the top of the tower, below the lanthorn, and returned him an anſwer, that if that ſtructure fell, it ſhould not fall alone, as their countrymen were placed in it with a view either to pre⯑ſerve it from ruin, or be deſtroyed with it.—This ſpirited reply is ſaid to have had the deſired effect in preventing its demolition ^g.

A. D. 1723, this ſteeple was repaired at the expence of the corpo⯑ration of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^h.

About 1754, the great bell of this ſteeple having been broken, was ſent up to London to be new caſt. The preſent one weighs 36 hun⯑dred weight ⁱ.

In the month of October, 1761, a new clock with chimes, made by Mr. Walker, of Newcaſtle, was finiſhed and put up in this ſteeple ^k.

[264]In the year 1777, a conductor was affixed to this ſteeple to preſerve it from lightning.—One of the pinnacles was rebuilt, and ſeveral other neceſſary reparations were made at the ſame time, at the expence of the corporation of Newcaſtle ^l.

GALLERIES AND PEWS.

STAVELEY ^m is of opinion, that before the reformation there were no pews in churches, but ſuch as were appropriated to perſons of diſ⯑tinction.

"Stall Room" and "Stalls" are mentioned in an old pariſh book of All Saints in this town, of the date of 1488 ⁿ; and Dr. Elliſon's MSS. take notice of an old pew-book belonging to this church, of the date of 1579, containing references to a ſtill older one ^o.

A. D. 1620, the gallery commonly called the School-Gallery, on the north ſide of the church, was built ^p.—It has been removed ^q, in con⯑ſequence of the late alterations, to the front of St. George's porch.

Some time between the year 1632 and 1645, an order having been received from the King to remove the gallery, which obſtructed the chancel (the rood-loft in times of popery), and the church-wardens re⯑fuſing to comply therewith, Dr. Morton, then Biſhop of Durham, wrote to Mr. Alvey, vicar of this church, to inforce their obedience to the royal edict ^r.

[265]An organ appears to have been erected upon it afterwards.—See ac⯑count of the organ of this church.

A. D. 1635, ſome new pews or ſeats were built in this church ^s.

A. D. 1785, an entirely new ſet of pews were erected in this church ^t.

CHANCEL OF ST. NICHOLAS.

THE holy table or altar, which in the primitive and in the late re⯑forming times was made of wood, in the middle corrupted times was generally compoſed of ſtone, "as more correſponding with the import of an altar, whereon the ſacrifice of the maſs was and is ſtill offered up in the Roman church ^u."

This, to diſtinguiſh it from the ſmaller altars dedicated to ſaints in chantries, was ſtyled in the papal times the high altar ^v.

It appears to have been placed anciently in different parts of the church, ſometimes in the middle and ſometimes in the eaſtermoſt part of the chancel, according to the different faſhions of the building ^w.

[267]In the year 1712, the chancel of this church was wainſcotted, &c. at the expence of the corporation of Newcaſtle ^x.

By the late alteration of this church, the chancel has been thrown en⯑tirely open, and the communion table removed cloſe under the great eaſtern window.

FONT.

IN primitive times the rite of baptiſm was performed in rivers and fountains. Fonts were at firſt erected in private houſes, and afterwards placed in the church porch, and laſtly in the church itſelf, near the en⯑trance, as ſubſervient to the ſacrament of initiation or admittance ^y.

The font of this church, with a wooden cover to it of very light and elegant workmanſhip, has either been made or repaired by Robert Rhodes, the builder of the upper part of the ſteeple: for his coat of arms, with another, probably his wife's, is ſculptured on the baſis ^z.

WINDOWS.

"IN this church" ſays Bourne, "are many ſumptuous windows, but that in the eaſt ſurpaſſeth all the reſt in height, largeneſs and beauty." Grey ſays, that there were in this window the twelve apoſtles, and the ſeven deeds of charity painted in the glaſs. He tells us alſo, that this window was built by the beneficent Roger Thornton the elder, [268] and that there was this inſcription on it: "Orate pro anima Rogeri de Thornton & pro animabus filiorum et filiarum." At preſent there is nothing remaining of theſe pictures but fragments—two heads, &c. &c.

The windows of this church have many of them been entirely new built on the late alteration.—The figure of our Saviour in modern ſtained glaſs, of very miſerable execution, has been happily concealed by it.

ORGAN.

STAVELEY is of opinion that organs ^a are of eaſtern invention, and tells us that the firſt uſed in the weſtern church was ſent out of Greece to Pepin, King of France, about the year 766. I have found no account of any organ in this church during the times of popery, though it is very probable there has been one ^b.

About the year 1676, the corporation of Newcaſtle contributed 300l. towards the erection of the preſent organ. ^c. They added a trumpet ſtop to it June 22d, 1699 ^d.

A. D. 1710, the back front of this organ was finiſhed, which coſt the ſaid corporation 200l. together with the expence of cleaning and repairing the whole inſtrument ^e.

June 26th, 1749, the common-council of Newcaſtle ordered a ſweet ſtop to be added to this organ ^f.

LIBRARY.

BOOKS, chained in the choirs, and other convenient places, where the pariſhioners might come and read them, conſtituted the ancient li⯑braries of our churches ^g.

Such a collection has originally, no doubt, been in this ^h.—No ac⯑count has been tranſmitted at what time they were firſt ſhut up in a private and ſeparate apartment.

A. D. 1661, John Coſins, draper, and alderman of Newcaſtle, be⯑queathed 100 volumes (60 folios and 40 quartos) to the library of this church ⁱ.

A. D. 1677, there is an order of the common-council of Newcaſtle, for three pounds per annum, for a librarian to ſuperintend this col⯑lection ^k.

[270]In the year 1736, Walter Blackett, Eſq. was at the expence of erect⯑ing an edifice on the ſouth ſide of the church of St. Nicholas, the un⯑der part whereof to be the veſtry, and the upper apartments to con⯑tain the original library, together with a great and valuable collection of books bequeathed to this church library by Dr. Thomlinſon. The following inſcription is on the front:

"This library was built by Walter Blackett, Eſq. for the books of the Rev. Dr. Robert Thomlinſon and other benefactors."

The ground floor of this edifice is the preſent veſtry of St. Ni⯑cholas ^l.

In the veſtry are preſerved the pariſh regiſters.

That of baptiſms begins A. D. 1558. That of marriages and burials in 1574.

Parochial regiſters were firſt appointed in the year 1538.

CHURCH-YARD.

IN the year 1761, St. Nicholas' church-yard was incloſed with a brick wall, with rails upon it. There was left a convenient paſſage all around it on the outſide for foot people. This was done by ſub⯑ſcription ^m.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ST. NICHOLAS.

HENRY Hilton, of Hilton, Eſq. by his laſt will, dated February 26th, 1640, bequeathed, for 99 years, commencing A. D. 1640, the ſum of ſix pounds per annum, intereſt money, to the poor of St. Ni⯑cholas' pariſh. This was reduced, by the intereſt act, to four pounds per annum ⁿ.

Robert Anderſon, Eſq. alderman of Newcaſtle, who died May 9th, 1640, left, by deed, five pounds per annum to the poor of this pariſh. This was loſt in the grand rebellion ^o.

Andrew Aldworth, of Newcaſtle, phyſician, by his will, dated No⯑vember 16th, 1648, left the ſum of one pound per annum, iſſuing out of property in Gateſhead, to the poor of this pariſh, for ever ^p.

Thomas Daviſon, Eſq. by his will, dated November 25th, 1675, left to the poor of this pariſh the ſum of two pounds three ſhillings and ſix-pence, yearly, payable in December, iſſuing out of property in the town of Newcaſtle ^q.

[272]Left by Sir Alexander Daviſon, 2l. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi⯑chaelmas.

— Sir Thomas Daviſon, 1l. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi⯑chaelmas.

— William Carr, Eſq. 1l. 10s. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi⯑chaelmas.

— Mark Milbank, Eſq. 3l. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi⯑chaelmas.

— John Rumney, Eſq. 2l. 10s. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi⯑chaelmas.

— Sir Mark Milbank, 6l. per annum ^r Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi⯑chaelmas.

Left by Mr. Robert Elliſon, the ſum of 33l. 6s. 8d. the intereſt whereof to be paid yearly to the vicar and church-wardens.—This was loſt ^s.

William Carr, Eſq. by his will, dated 11th of April, 1660, left to the poor of this pariſh the ſum of two pounds per annum, out of pro⯑perty in the town of Newcaſtle ^t.

Sir William Blackett, Bart. who died May 16th, 1680, left to the poor of this pariſh, out of a houſe at the Bridge-End, to be paid in the month of December, the ſum of two pounds per annum ^u.

Left by John Jefferſon, to be paid yearly, in March, the ſum of two pounds ^v.

Left by Timothy Daviſon, Eſq. to be paid yearly, in December, out of the merchants company, one pound five ſhillings ^w.

Left by Mrs. Jane Brokeſby a quit-rent of twenty ſhillings per an⯑num, out of houſes in Trinity-Chare, now held by Mr. Fenwick and others. Alſo fifty pounds out of her lands in Foreſt-Hill, to ſecure the payment of three pounds per annum. The ſaid ſum of four pounds per annum to be diſtributed at twenty ſhillings per quarter ^x.

Left by Nicholas Ridley, Eſq. out of grounds in Heaton, to be paid yearly, in the month of December, one pound ten ſhillings ^y.

Left by Joſeph Atkinſon, Eſq. the ſum of fifty pounds, the intereſt to be paid yearly, on the 30th of September, two pounds ten ſhillings ^z.

[273]Left by Matthew White, Eſq. to be paid yearly, in December, out of a houſe in Pilgrim-Street, one pound ten ſhillings ^a.

Left by Iſabel, wife of William Wrightſon, Eſq. the ſum of fifty pounds, the intereſt to be paid yearly, on the 30th of September^b.

Left by Leonard Wetherly, Gent. the ſum of twenty pounds, the intereſt to be paid yearly, on the 11th of September, one pound^c.

Left by Mr. Richard Randal the ſum of ſeven pounds ^d.

Left by Mrs. Ann Daviſon the ſum of two hundred pounds, the in⯑tereſt of which to be diſtributed at two doles, five pounds each, viz. on St. Thomas's Eve, and on the 7th of February ^e.

Left by Mr. William Harriſon, the ſum of fifty pounds, the intereſt to be paid yearly on St. Andrew's Day ^f.

Left by Mrs. Margaret Ramſey, the ſum of twenty pounds, the in⯑tereſt to be paid yearly, for ever, one pound ^g.

Left by Mr. James Coward, the ſum of twenty pounds, the intereſt to be paid yearly, for ever ^h.

William Grey, of Backworth, Eſq. by his will, dated May 26th, 1714, in caſe of failure of iſſue, male and female, of his own body, charged his eſtates in Durham and Northumberland, among other charities, with the payment of one hundred pounds to the church of St. Nicholas, in Newcaſtle, the intereſt of which to be given to poor widows and neceſſitous houſe-keepers of the pariſh, at Chriſtmas, for ever.—He left one ſon, Ralph William Grey, living in 1749. Marga⯑ret and Ann, his daughtersⁱ.

Elizabeth Rogers, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, by her will, dated De⯑cember 15th, 1733, gave the ſum of fifty pounds to the poor of this pariſh, the intereſt of which to be given annually, on the day of her death, for ever ^k.

[274]George Mallabar, Eſq. who died Auguſt 20th, 1734, appears to have left ſome benefactors to the poor of this pariſh^l.

Dame Jane Clavering, relict of Sir John Clavering, Bart. and who died February 21ſt, 1735, left, by her will, fifty pounds to the poor of this pariſh ^m.

Mrs. Timothia Daviſon, ſiſter of Thomas Daviſon, Eſq. of Ferry-Hill, who died June 4th, 1757, aged 88, among other charities, left twenty pounds to the poor of St. Nicholas' pariſh, in Newcaſtle, to be diſtributed immediately after her death ⁿ.

William Moulton, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, ſkinner and glover, by his laſt will, dated February 26th, 1771, bequeathed an annuity of fifteen pounds, to be divided by his executors (and their ſucceſſors), in rotation, at the pariſh church of St. Nicholas, upon the firſt Sunday in every month, and on Eaſter-Day, Whit-Sunday, and Chriſtmas-Day, for ever, immediately after the celebration of the ſacrament, amongſt twenty of the pooreſt perſons who ſhall then and there have attended divine ſervice, and been partakers of the holy communion. A flaw has been diſcovered, it ſeems, in the will, ſo that Mr. Moulton's pious intentions have never been fulfilled. The annuity was charged upon houſes in the Ship-Entry, in the Fleſh-Market ^o.

CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ST. NICHOLAS.

CHARITY-SCHOOLS, founded with the view of oppoſing and defeating the pernicious effects of the ſeminaries ſet up by the Papiſts during the reign of King James the Second, firſt began in this king⯑dom about the year 1688^p.

[275]Mrs. Eleanor Allan, of Newcaſtle, February 20th, 1705, founded this ſchool for forty boys and twenty girls, born in this pariſh, and in the chapelry of St. John's ^q.

A. D. 1708, an annual ſubſcription was entered into by the pa⯑riſhioners of this pariſh, to clothe the children of this ſchool ^r.

In the year 1723, Mr. Gilbert Campel, innholder, left, by will, the ſum of twenty pounds, and Mr. Samuel Nichols, organiſt, ten pounds, to be put out at intereſt for the benefit of this ſchool.

The intereſt of five hundred pounds was left to this ſchool, for ever, by Mrs. Chiſholm, relict of the Rev. Mr. Chiſholm, of Wooler, in Northumberland ^t.

Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, of the town and county of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, by her will, dated December 15th, 1733, bequeathed the ſum of fifty pounds to this ſchool^u.

John Hewit, alias Huet, of Newcaſtle, goldſmith, by his will, dated September 9th, 1738, bequeathed to this ſchool of St. Nicholas, the ſum of two hundred and fifty pounds, which was lent to the cor⯑poration of Newcaſtle at four per cent ^v.

[276]John Fenwick, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, Eſq. gave in perpetuity fifty pounds to the corporation of that town, for the annual payment of twenty ſhillings ^w to the charity-ſchool of St. Nicholas, and twenty ſhillings to the priſoners in New-Gate, to be made ſeven days before Chriſtmas, for ever.

A. D. 1786, the corporation of Newcaſtle built a new charity-ſchool for this pariſh, in the Manor-Chare ^x.

SHRINES, MONUMENTS, AND MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS, FORMERLY IN ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REMOVED BY THE LATE ALTERA⯑TION IN THE INSIDE OF THAT EDIFICE.

Grey, in his Chorographia, tells us, that in this part of the church there was ſuch a monument in his time, "that was made in memory of him in his own country, he having a houſe in this town and pa⯑riſh ^z;" and that part of the inſcription upon it was, "Orate pro anima Henrici Percy 4 (com') Northumbriae qui per rebellium manus occubuit &c."

"The Milbank manuſcript," as we read in Bourne's Hiſtory, "ſays that it was in the north corner of the church: that it was a monu⯑ment of wood, on which was painted an old man, our Saviour on his right hand, and the Virgin Mary on his left. There came a label from her mouth, but what it was this authority had forgot; but that from our Saviour's was Quaeſo Pater, fac, quod rogat mea mater. Then followed ſome Latin verſes, done in the rhyming way of the monks, but they are ſo dark and obſcure, that little can be made of them." The MS. goes on: "When Mr. William Selby was buried, this monument was removed out of that corner, and Sir George Selby did ſet his magnificent tomb there."—"After that it was placed againſt the wall, next to Sir George's tomb, and ſo continued till Mr. Lanc' Hodſhon got leave of Vicar Nailor to remove it, and place his father; where it is now I know not."—At preſent, 1787, no veſtiges of this ceno⯑taph remain.

In the north-eaſt corner of this church was the tomb of Sir George Selby. His effigies, and that of his lady, were at length, reſting upon pillows, with uplifted hands—On the ſouth of the tomb were the ef⯑figies of his children, in a poſture of prayer, kneeling, with raiſed hands.—Upon a marble ſtone, placed in the wall, a little above the [278] tomb, was the following inſcription: "Georgius Selby eques auratus ab antiqua et clara Selbeiorum de Selby in comitat' Ebor' familia oriun⯑dus, quater hujus villae praetor, vicecomes comitat' palat' Dunelm' ſere⯑niſſimi Regis Jacobi hoſpitio et ſervitio nobilitatus. Ob lautum certè & affluentem perpetuo apparatum et liberaliſſimae menſae communica⯑tionem merito paſſim celebratiſſimus. Margaretae uxoris Joannis Selby de Twifell militis filiae conſortio apprimè faelix. Ex qua ſuſcepit quin⯑que filius, immatura morte ſublatos, et ſex ſilias ſuperſtites. Quatuor ante illius obitum nuptas Margaretam primam Gulielmo Balaſys de Morton, Elizabetam ſecundam Joanni Delavale de Diſſington equitibus auratis. Barbaram tertiam Roberto Delavale haeredi Radulphi De⯑lavale de Seaton equitis aurati. Iſabellam quartam Patricio Curwen de Workington armigero. Et duas innuptas Dorotheam & Mariam, per totum vitae curſum lautiſſima uſus fortuna. In hoc vere beatus quod ſub indubitata ſpe plenae peccatorum omnium remiſſionis et ſuae ad aeternam vitam reſurrectionis ſpiritum in manus Domini commen⯑davit, in coque placide obdormivit 30^o Martii 1625, an. aetatis 68. Corpus ſepultum jacet in crypta ſub hoc tumulo charae uxoris cura extructa.

Under the coat of arms—"Mortuus vivo."

Within the paliſadoes, upon a flat marble ſtone—"Jeſu have mercy of the ſowlle of George Selbe merchant-adventurer, ſome⯑time alderman of this town, and Margaret his wife and their children." In the margin, on his ſide, anno 1542; on her ſide, 1562.

In the north ſide of the middle porch, under the great eaſtern win⯑dow, were the remains of a monument on which ſtatues had been inlaid, but taken away, probably, for the ſake of the braſs. On the ſouth ſide of it was the monument of George Carr^a, with this inſcription: [279] "Orate pro anima Georgii Car quondam majoris iſtius ville qui obiit anno Domini milleſimo cccc Cujus animae propitietur Deus."

The effigies of him and his wife at length, reſting on pillows, with their hands raiſed. Above them an arched canopy, with a defaced inſcription; but a MS. in this church gave the following words: "For George Car's ſawll his wyffes & childers ſawlls all and to make a ſo⯑lem dyrge-maſs with all his bruthern in the qwyre and to ſing as aperyth in his writing of Rimae."

At the feet of the effigies were the ruins of a large image of our Sa⯑viour upon the Croſs, with an inſcription equally dark as the other, but ſaid to be this: "Our Lady prays him to ſay at the day."

When the Scots took the town they plundered the churches, and theſe, and many more, were defaced; for they broke down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers.

On the north ſide of the ſouth-eaſt porch was a ſmall monument, commemorating the wife of William Wrightſon, Eſq. "Near this place lies the body of Iſabel the wife of William Wrightſon, Eſq. one of the burgeſſes in ſeveral parliaments for this town and county. She died. the 13th of March 1716."

Almoſt contiguous was the beautiful monument of Mr. Matthews, the firſt huſband of Iſabel above-mentioned, with this inſcription: ‘"Underneath lie interred Mr. Francis Burton, merchant-adventurer, and Ann his wife. Mr. Burton died Sept. 16, 1682 His wife died Auguſt 11th, 1676. They had iſſue one ſon and three daughters, viz. Francis, Iſabel, Elizabeth and Ann. [280] Elizabeth died January 25th, 1675 Anne died April 9th, 1681 Francis died December 17th, 1684. Thomas Matthews, Gent. married Iſabel, in memory of whom ſhe erected this monument. They had iſſue a daughter named Anne, Who died March 6th, 1684 Mr. Matthews died April 6th, 1697."’

"The burial-place of Timothy Daviſon, alderman, ſome time mayor of this town, and governor of the merchants company, and Elizabeth his wife, by whom he had iſſue ſixteen children, of which ſurvived them ſix ſons and four daughters: ſhe departed this life the 10th day of September, 1694; and he the 20th day of December, 1696, in the 55th year of his age."

"Here lyeth the body of Robert White, merchant. He departed Oc⯑tober 1644."

"The burial-place of Sir Ralph Jenniſon, of Elſwick, in the county of Northumberland, Kt. ſome time mayor of this town. Obiit 3 die Aprilis, anno 1701, aetatis ſuae 88."

"The burial-place of Mr. John Stephenſon, merchant-adventurer, who died 20th April, 1725."

"Robert Bulman, felt-maker, 16th May, 1716. Rachel, his daugh⯑ter, who was wife of William Henderſon, upholſterer, died 22d of Au⯑guſt, 1730."

"The burial-place of John Ogle, Eſq.—his daughter Mary Liſle, re⯑lict of Robert Liſle, of Hazon, Eſq. died 19th December, 1728."

"Roger Rawe, twice mayor of this town, 1596."

"Robert Barker, ſometime mayor of this town, and his four wives. He departed 4th of Auguſt, 1588."

"Ralph Cocke, Eſq. alderman, and ſometime mayor of this town, 27th Jan. 1652. His four daughters ſurvived him, and Judith his wife, viz. Dorothy, Jane, Ann, Barbara. The wives of Mark Mil⯑bank, William Carr, Thomas (Alexander) Daviſon, Henry Marley, merchants."

[281]"Robert Jenniſon, merchant, 27th October, 1668."

"Francis Brandling."

"William Carr, merchant-adventurer, and Jane his wife, by whom he had iſſue eleven children. He departed April 14th, 1660. She departed Jan. 31, 1666."

"Bartram Anderſon, merchant-adventurer, June 24th, 1605."

"Jeſu have mercy on the ſawlles of Hendry Anderſon, M. A. ſome⯑time mayor of this town, 1562."

"Iſabell Anderſon, his wife, was buried under the next ſtone to him. She died in Auguſt 1582."

"Bertram Anderſon, merchant-advent'. Auguſt 1606."

"Mark Shafto, merchant-adventurer, ſometime mayor of this town, April 1593."

"Under the ſame lie — Shafto, who died December 1581. And Robert Shafto, alderman of this town, who died September 1623."

"Jeſu have mercy on the ſoul of Mark......."

"Sir Peter Riddell, knight, twice mayor of this town, 18 April 1593." On a table monument, near where the tomb of Sir George Selby ſtood.

"Lancelot Hodſhon, ſon of John Hodſhon, Eſq. departed this life the 4th of May, 1677. And Margaret his wife, daughter of Sir Tho⯑mas Haggerſton, Bart. departed this life Auguſt 18th, 1663. Adelm his 2^d wife, daughter of James Cholmley, Eſq. departed this life March 19th, 1672 ^b."

In the quire.

"The burial-place of Nicholas Ridley, Eſq. twice mayor of this town, and governour of the merchants' company, and Martha his wife, [282] by whom he had iſſue 9 children, viz. John, Mary, Richard, Ann, Nicholas, Edward, Ann, Martha and John. He departed this life the 22d of January, 1710. John their eldeſt ſon dyed April 14th, 1686."

"Sept. 8, 1787. We are favoured with the following deſcription of the elegant monument, lately erected in St. Nicholas' church, in this town, to the memory of Matthew Ridley, of Blagdon and Heaton, in the county of Northumberland, Eſq.—A figure in ſtatuary marble, as large as life, bearing a reſemblance of the features and perſon of the late Mr. Ridley (at the period to which the medallion and inſcription allude), is repreſented in a Roman habit, ſitting in the curule chair, the ſeat of magiſtracy, with a ſerious, but placid countenance, as con⯑ſidering of the general welfare of the people over whom he preſided; under the chair are placed the ſcales and faſces, as emblems of juſtice and authority; beneath this is the entablature, containing the follow⯑ing inſcription: "To the memory of Matthew Ridley, Eſq. of Blag⯑don and Heaton, in the county of Northumberland, ſenior alderman of the corporation of this town, and governor of the company of mer⯑chant-adventurers. He four times ſerved the office of mayor, in which ſtation, in the year 1745, he rendered eſſential ſervice to his country; averting, by his prudence and activity, the attack meditated againſt this town, by the enemies of the Houſe of Brunſwick, and thereby materially checking the progreſs of their arms. He was unanimouſly elected by his fellow burgeſſes to repreſent them in five ſucceſſive par⯑liaments, and retired from that ſituation when the declining ſtate of his health rendered him incapable of conſcientiouſly fulfilling the duties of it. He lived reſpected and beloved, and died unfeignedly lamented, April 6, 1778. Aged 66."

"The baſe of the monument is formed by a medallion, on which the town of Newcaſtle is repreſented by a female figure, crowned with turrets, having a ſhield by her, bearing the arms of the town; near her is an urn, from which are ſeen iſſuing ſalmon, the peculiar attribute of the river Tyne, attacked by Rebellion, who, treading on the crown and ſceptre (enſigns of royalty), bears in one hand the torch of ſedi⯑tion, [283] in the other the ſword of deſtruction: in an attitude of ſuppli⯑cation ſhe inclines herſelf towards an armed figure, who protects her with his ſhield, and with a ſword in his right hand reſiſts the figure of Rebellion; on the ſhield are repreſented the arms of the family of Ridley; the helmet is ornamented with a bull, which is the creſt. As a finiſhing, under the medallion two cornucopias are introduced, repreſenting the general effect of plenty (attendant on the care of active magiſtrates), connected by a civic crown, the reward amongſt the Romans of civil virtue. The figure is placed againſt an obeliſk of white marble, eight feet high, on the top of which is a very elegant urn, bearing the family arms emblazoned; and on the foot of it is engraved the motto, "Conſtans Fidei." The whole is relieved by a ground of dove-coloured marble.

"We feel it a juſtice we owe to the ſuperior abilities of the artiſt, to add, that this elegant monument was executed by John Bacon, Eſq. of the Royal Academy, whoſe natural genius, unaſſiſted by foreign travel, has raiſed him decidedly to the firſt rank in his profeſſion, and has enabled the preſent day to vie with the moſt celebrated ages of antiquity in works of ſculpture. The many invaluable proofs of ex⯑cellence with which this artiſt has enriched his native country, as well as foreign lands, it is unneceſſary here to enumerate; until the magni⯑ficent monument in Weſtminſter-Abbey, deſigned and executed by him, to the memory of the late Earl of Chatham, ſhall moulder into duſt, his fame will be had in remembrance ^*."

"Radulphus Jenniſon quondam major hujus oppidi qui tempore prae⯑fecturae ſuae e vivis deceſſit anno Domini 1597, hoc tumulo ſepultus jacet.

"Here lieth the body of Sir William Blackett, Bart. alderman and ſometime mayor of this town, and burgeſs in parliament for this [286] corporation, and Dame Elizabeth his wife, by whom he had iſſue nine children, of which ſurvived him three ſons and three daughters, viz. Edward, Michael, William, Elizabeth, Iſabel and Chriſtian: ſhe de⯑parted this life the 7th of April, 1674, and he the 16th of May, 1680. Michael, his ſon, ſometime alderman, departed this life the 26th day of April, 1683, who had Elizabeth only. She departed this life the 12th day of January, 1677."

"William, Iſabel, Edward, Chriſtian, Michael, John, William and Chriſtian, the children of William Blackett, alderman, and Elizabeth his wife.—John buried 4th May, 1654; William buried 9th Auguſt, 1654; Chriſtopher buried 8th July, 1678."

There was an eſcutcheon of Sir William Blackett, Bart. who died in 1728. He married Barbara, daughter of the Earl of Jerſey. A ſup⯑porter to her arms.

"The burial-place of John Rumney, merchant."

"The burial-place of William Jenniſon, merchant-adventurer."

Arms on the grave-ſtones: Cookſon—Liddell—Ridley.

On white marble, againſt one of the pillars.

"Near this place lie interred the remains of Thomas Dockwray, A. M. many years lecturer of this church, who, after a life worn out in learned and religious employments, departed to the mercy of God on the 15th of May, 1760, in the 71ſt year of his age. He had an able head, and an upright heart. As a preacher he was inſtructive, nervous, eloquent. In private life he was adorned with thoſe virtues which diſtinguiſh the worthy man and the good Chriſtian.—His ne⯑phew, Thomas Dockwray, placed this monument of his gratitude to the memory of the beſt of friends."

"Memoriae Edwardi Man, vere generoſi, veriſſimè chriſtiani, cum in tranſmarinis mercator emporiis, in publico eccleſiarum ſenior con⯑ſultiſſimus moderamine: in ſecretioribus nobilis hujus Novi Caſtri con⯑ciliis ſideliſſimè diu laboraſſet ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΥΣ. Decemb. 9, anno 1654, requievit in Domino.

ST. MARY'S PORCH:

Now converted into a place where the daily prayers are read.

"P. M.

Alexandri Daviſon Equitis Aurati et Annae ſiliae Radulphi Cocke ejus conjugis chariſſimae: Ex qua filios quinque Thomam Equitem Auratum, Radulphum Daviſon de Thornley, Samuelem Daviſon de Wingate-Grange, Joſephum centurionem cordatum (in hujus oppidi contra Scotos rebelles propugnatione ſtrenuè ad mortem uſque dimicantem hic juxta tu⯑mulatum) Edwardum mercatorem caelibem defunctum; filias etiam binas, ‘Barbaram primo Radulpho Calverley, Deinde Thomae Riddell de Fenham in comitatu Northumbriae Equiti⯑bus Auratis, Ac Margaretam Henrico Lampton Armigero enuptas, ſuſcitavit. Qui quidem Alexander, graſſante tunc conjuratione perfidiſſima, optimo Regi, cauſaeque regiae ſemper fideliſſimus’

Gravem rei familiaris jacturam maximo animo perpeſſus, tandemque in hujus Novi Caſtri obſidione cum Scotorum rebellium exercitu irruenti magnanimiter confligens, noviſſimum ſpiritum (octo⯑genarius fere) fortiter effudit, undecimo die menſis Novembris anno ab incarnatione Domini 1644.

Hoc monumentum poſuit Thomas primogenitus Eques Auratus."

"M. S. Egregio adoleſcenti Thomae Hamiltono, animi indole, forma corporis & robore prae caeteris inſigni, Domini Patricii Hamiltonii a Preſton filio digniſſimo a nobiliſſima familia Haddingtonia oriundo, centurioni ſub Domino Alexandro Leſlaeo exercitus Scoticani foederis imperatore, excellentiſſimo Domino Alex. Hamiltono rei tormentariae praefectus, avunculus moerens poſuit. Cum totius exercitus planctu maximo obiit anno Domini 1640, Octobris 29. Aetatis ſuae 20."

The motto of the coat of arms above. "Mihi palma cupreſſus."

The arms of Wallis on a ſtone in the eaſt wall of this porch.

ST. MARGARET'S CHANTRY.

Burial place of Bewick Family.

On a monument of variegated marble.

"Hic ſepultum jacet corpus Gulielmi Bewicke, filii Roberti Bewicke, Armigeri, primogeniti, qui cum Elizabetha Henrici Maddiſon, Armi⯑geri, filia matrimonio conjunctus binos filios filiaſque tres ex illa ſuſce⯑pit: Et poſtquam ad triceſimum octavum aetatis ſuae annum perveniſſet animum ſuum 22 die Februarii religioſe expiravit anno Domini 1636." —Arms, Bewick, with the difference of eldeſt ſon, impaling Maddiſon.

"Here lieth interred the bodies of Robert Bewicke, merchant-ad⯑venturer and twice mayor of this towne, and alſo high ſheriff of the county of Northumberland, and Ellenor his wife.—He departed this life the 15th day of March, 1641. She departed this life the 1ſt of June, 1661."

"Jane Bewicke, the wife of Thomas Bewicke, Eſq.—She departed this life the 9th of Auguſt, 1682. Thomas Bewicke, Eſq. departed this life the 17th of November, 1690. Robert Bewicke, Eſq. departed this life the 9th of January, 1703-4."

Near Bewick's porch.

"The burial place of John Butler, merchant-adventurer, and ſome⯑times ſheriffe of this towne, and his wives Ann and Iſabel, and their children. He departed January 12th, 1695-6. Ann his wife, 14th June, 1655."

Henry Lord Borthwick was buried near the ſouth-weſt door of this church. See "Annals and Hiſtorical Events."

[298]Weſt end of the church.

"The burial place of William Errington, maſter and mariner."

"John Gill."

"William Boutflower."

In the middle iſle.

"The burial place of William Rutter, merchant-adventurer."

At the eaſt end of the middle iſle.

"Richard Wright, merchant-adventurer, and ſometime ſheriff, de⯑parted this life 5th of May, 1671."

"Cuthbert Elliſon, merchant-adventurer." "Now" (ſays Bourne) "the burial place of Mr. Richard Wall, deſcended from the elder brother of Robert and Benjamin Elliſon."

"The burial place of Robert Elliſon, merchant-adventurer, ſometime ſheriff: he died January 12th, 1677."

"The burial place of Benjamin Elliſon, who departed this life 25th June, 1676."

"Abraham Anderſon, merchant."

"Joſeph Elliſon, merchant, who dyed 21ſt of January, 1686."

Croſs iſle.

"Richard Wright, ſheriff, ob. May 5th, 1671."

ST. GEORGE'S PORCH.

"Samuel Gill, Eſq. who died 26th October, 1720."

"William Warriner 1706."

"— Marlay, Eſq. 1676." "Now" (ſays Bourne) "Mr. Perith's."

"Another of John Marlay, merchant, who departed October 16, 1561.

"Under which lies alſo William Marlay, who departed 16th Jan. 1609.

"And alſo Sir John Marlay, Knight, ſon of William, who had been five times mayor, and departed anno 1673, aged 83 years and 3 days."

"Jeſu have mercy on George Byrdes ſoul" on the border of Matfen's ſtone.

"Matthew Matſen, merchant-adventurer, died 1ſt October, 1697."

[299]"Timothy Robſon, alderman, twice mayor, departed 30th Decem⯑ber, 1700."

"The burial place of George Heron, merchant."—On the top of which ſtone was "Jeſu have mercy on the ſoul of John Ord."

On the wall a handſome marble monument, with the following in⯑ſcription:

"Matthew Jefferſon, ſometime mayor of this town, departed March 1ſt, 1687."

"Matthew Newton obiit 1668."

On a mural monument.

"To the memory of William Peareth, Eſq. of Uzworth-Houſe in the county of Durham: a man of abilities and worth, whoſe ami⯑able qualities endeared him to his family and friends. He ſerved this corporation with great aſſiduity and integrity as clerk of the town's chamber and alderman, near fifty years, always declining the office of mayor. He married in 1731 Ann, youngeſt daughter of Richard Jennens, Eſq. of Warwickſhire, by whom he had iſſue fifteen chil⯑dren: of theſe two ſons ſurvived him, William, and Richard Thomas; and ſix Daughters; Suſannah, married to Henry Wight, Eſq. of North⯑amptonſhire; Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, Henrietta and Barbara. He died May the 20th, 1775, aged 72 years.

His widow, in teſtimony of her affection

And gratitude, cauſed this monument to be erected."

The arms are, quarterly, thoſe of Peareth and Jackſon (his mother [300] having been a Jackſon, of Chaitor's Haugh, com. Dunelm.), and on an eſcutcheon of pretence the coat of Jennens.

Monument—quarterly—Riddell or Grey and Surtees—Supporters, a mermaid with a looking-glaſs, and a naked man with a club.—On the old carved benches—Grey and Veſcy—arms of Archdeacon—Creagh— Rogers—Archdeacon—and Whitaker in ſurtout.

In the north iſle.

"Thomas Partis, tobacconiſt, who died 9th of May, 1684."

"The burial place of Roger Ive, citizen and ſtationer of London, who died 6th Auguſt, 1675."

"Roger Proctor, merchant-adventurer, who died 20th Nov. 1664." (Now, ſays Bourne, Mr. Malliburne's burial place.)

"John Winſhip, tanner, 1607."

Againſt the north wall a monument of Major Robert Bugg, citizen and haberdaſher of London, who died 22d of May, 1688.

"George Winfield, merchant-adventurer, alderman and twice mayor, died 18th Nov. 1684."

"Michael Hall, gentleman, 25th July, 1647."

"Nicholas Stricker, who died Auguſt 5th, 1689."

"Barbara Riddell, wife of William Riddell, merchant, and ſome⯑times mayor, 1627."

"Mark Shafto."

Mural monument, north-wall. "In St. George's porch lie interred the remains of Mrs. Barbara Dawſon, the widow of Mr. Thomas Dawſon. She died in the year 1736, aged 38 years. And of Mrs. Suſannah Peareth, her ſiſter, who died in the year 1769, aged 71 years. Both were the daughters of Henry Peareth, Eſq. by Elizabeth Jackſon his wife. This monument of filial duty and reſpect for one of the beſt of mothers, and a ſincere regard [301] for an affectionate aunt, was erected by Dorothy, daughter of the ſaid Barbara Dawſon, and wife of Matthew Duane, Eſq. in the year 1776." Arms—Dawſon impaling Peareth.

Eſcutcheons of arms affixed to north wall: Mrs. Daviſon—Mr. Weatherly—Mrs. Wrightſon—Mrs. Brookeſby—Mr. Procter.

VICARS OF ST NICHOLAS IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE ^h.

RICHARD de Aurea Valle, or Goldburn ⁱ, was parſon of this church in the time of King Henry the Firſt, as was

Gilbert de Lacy in the time of Henry the Third ^k.

[302]William de Burdone was vicar in the year 1316—He occurs alſo in 1327 ^l.

Maſter John de Herlaw was vicar in 1342 ^m.

Matthew de Bolton was vicar in 1353 ⁿ.

Henry Headlam was vicar here 10 Ric. II. A. D. 1386 ^o.

Nicholas de S ....... occurs as vicar October 10th, 1401 ^p.

Roger de Threſk was vicar before 1418 ^q.

William Glyn was inſtituted to this vicarage January 20th, 1418. He exchanged with the above Threſk for the vicarage of St. Michael's, Coventry ^r.

John de Heyworth was made vicar A. D. 1436, on an exchange with Glyn ^s.

Thomas Harelred was vicar before 1494 ^t.

[303]John Deye, D. D. ſucceeded T. Harelred.—He occurs as vicar at the feaſt of St. Cuthbert, in March, 1494 ^u.

William Fell was vicar before 1499 ^v.

John Sanderſon was vicar before the year 1532 ^w.

John Heryn, L. L. D. occurs as vicar in 1536. Alſo in 1541. He had obtained a licence, which never took effect, to reſign his vicarage to Nicholas Morrey, L. L. B. with a penſion reſerved to himſelf. He died A. D. 1543 ^x.

Henry Aglionbye, S. T. P. was inſtituted to this vicarage Novem⯑ber 15th, 1543, on the death of Heryn.—He was deprived on account of his not paying his tenths to the King ^y.

William Purye, A. M. was inſtituted July 15th, 1549, on the va⯑cancy occaſioned by Aglionby's deprivation ^z.

William Salkeld, A. M. was vicar about 1553.—He was buried in the chancel of this church, Auguſt 25th, 1568 ^a.

John Magbrey, clerk, was inſtituted to this vicarage November 13th, 1568.—He was buried here, November 16th, 1584 ^b.

[304]Richard Holdſworth, clerk, was inſtituted to this vicarage Auguſt 10th, 1585, and buried in the church of St. Nicholas, September 5th, 1596 ^c.

William Morton, S. T. P. was preferred to this vicarage on the death of R. Holdſworth, and was buried in St. Nicholas' church, July 26th, 1620. In St. Nicholas' Regiſter, January 1601, he occurs with the title of "Archdeacon of Northumberland;" and in the ſame re⯑giſter, April 1604, he is called, "Archdeacon of Durham ^d."

Henry Power, A. M. was inducted to this vicarage September [305] 23d, 1620 ^e. He was buried in this church September 3d, 1623 ^f.

Thomas Jackſon, S. T. P. was inſtituted to this vicarage November 27th, 1623, which he reſigned in 1630. He was ſworn preſident of Corpus-Chriſti College, Oxford, February 17th, 1630.—He died September or December 21, 1640, and was buried in the inner-chapel of that college ^g.

Yelderd Alvey, S. T. P. was preferred to this vicarage on the re⯑moval of Dr. Jackſon to Oxford, in 1630. By the title of A. M. of Trinity-College, Oxford, a licence was granted him to preach in the town of Newcaſtle.—He was collated to the vicarage of Eglingham December 10th, 1627.—He was depoſed from this vicarage May 26, 1645, by an order of the Lords and Commons, and was buried in this church March 19th, 1648 ^h.

[306]Robert Jenniſon, D. D. by a reſolution of the Houſe of Commons, dated Dec. 5th, 1644, was appointed to the vicarage of Newcaſtle, in the place of Y. Alvey, removed for his delinquency ⁱ.

By an order of the common-council of Newcaſtle, dated July 21ſt, 1645 ^k, Dr. Jenniſon, who had been called from Dantzick, and placed as vicar here, was allowed a ſalary of 100l. per annum, and ap⯑pointed Thurſday's lecturer.—By an order of the ſame body, February 20th, 1645-6, his ſalary was augmented to 140l. per annum ^l.

Dr. Jenniſon died November 6th, 1652, and was buried in this church on the 8th following.

He wrote a book "concerning the Idolatry of the Iſraelites;" alſo, "Newcaſtle's Call to her Neighbour and Siſter Townes and Cities throughout the Land," &c. London, 1637, 12^mo, occaſioned by the peſtilence.—He had been ſuſpended from a lectureſhip at All-Saints ^m.

November 5th, 1652, there was an order of common-council to appoint Mr. Samuel Hammond to preach at St. Nicholas' on Sunday forenoons, and to lecture on Thurſdays, with an annual ſalary of 150l. He was of the ſect called "The Congregational Judgment." [307] He would not conform at the reſtoration ⁿ. S. Hammond is ſaid to have been ſucceeded here by John Knightbridge ^o.

Thomas Nailer, A. M. was inſtituted to this vicarage, February 9th, 1662 ^p, with the ſalary of 100l. per annum. By an order of the common-council, January 18th, 1675, the vicar's ſtipend from the corporation of Newcaſtle was ſettled to be, in future, 60l. per annum, with 10l. more for ſermons on Thurſday's lecture.

Mr. Nailer was buried in this church April 15th, 1679.

John March, B. D. occurs June 25th, 1679 ^q; ſalary from the cor⯑poration [308] 60l. per annum, with 10l. for his turns on Thurſday's lec⯑tures, "by the unanimous conſent of the patron and others concerned in the donation." March 30th, 1682, this ſalary from the corpora⯑tion was increaſed to 90l. per annum.

Mr. March died December 2d, 1692, and was buried, on the 4th following, in this church. There is an engraved portrait of him.

Leonard Welſtead was inducted to this vicarage in February, 1693. He came in by option ^r. Mr. Welſtead died November 13th, 1694, and was buried on the 15th following, in the chancel of this church^s.

Nathanael Elliſon, D. D. was appointed vicar of this church April 30th, 1695. With conſent of the patron, his ſalary from the corporation to be 80l. per annum, with 10l. more for Thurſday's lectures ^t.

He had been inſtalled archdeacon of Stafford July 14th, 1682. He was beſides rector of Whitburn in the county of Durham, had a [309] prebend in the church of Durham, and was alſo a prebendary of Litchfield.

In the year 1700 he publiſhed, at London, a ſermon preached be⯑fore the mayor and magiſtrates of the town of Newcaſtle, in this church, October 8th, 1699, on the Sunday after the election of the mayor, intitled, "The Magiſtrate's Obligation to puniſh Vice."

A. D. 1701, his ſermon on confirmation, preached June 23d, 1700, before the Lord Crew, Biſhop of Durham (who made him his chap⯑lain), at St. Nicholas' church in Newcaſtle, was printed at London.

In the year 1710 he printed a ſermon at London, which was preached at All-Saints church in Newcaſtle, on All-Saints day, 1709, at the opening of a charity-ſchool in that pariſh. It is intitled, "The Obligations and Opportunities of doing good to the Poor," quarto; with an appendix, giving an account of ſome charities to the poor.

October 7th, 1712, Henry Reay, Eſq. mayor, with the recorder and aldermen of Newcaſtle, wrote a letter of thanks to Lord Crew, Biſhop of Durham, on his Lordſhip's promoting Dr. Elliſon to a pre⯑bend in the church of Durham^u. He died May 4th, 1721, aged [310] ſixty-four years, and was buried on the 7th following, under the eaſt window of the ſouth iſle of this church.

William Bradford, A. M. and aged twenty-five years, was inducted to this vicarage Auguſt 2d, 1728 He was fellow of Bennet-College, Cambridge, and was preſented by his father, Samuel, Biſhop of Car⯑liſle. A little before his death, which was occaſioned by a fever, and happened at Bromley in Kent, he was preferred to the archdeaconry of Rocheſter. He died July 15th, 1728, in the thirty-ſecond year of his age, and was buried in Weſtminſter-abbey ^v.

Thomas Turner, A. M. ^w of St. John's College, Cambridge, was inducted to this vicarage Auguſt 2d, 1728. He came in by option, having been preſented by the executors of Sir William Dawes, Arch⯑biſhop of York.

He married Martha, daughter of Francis Winnington, of Broadway, in the county of Worceſter, Eſq. who ſurvived her huſband, and was buried in this church September 22d, 1771, aged 74 years.

He died in the 57th year of his age, June 1ſt, 1760, and was bu⯑ried in the chancel of St. Nicholas'.

There is a portrait of him in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Thomas Gaul, wine-merchant in Newcaſtle, who married his niece.

John Brown, D. D. was inducted to the vicarage of Newcaſtle upon Tyne January 6th, 1761. He had been collated, in 1752, to the vicarage of Lazonby in Cumberland, by Dr. Oſbaldiſton, Biſhop of Carliſle: this he reſigned in 1756 or 1757, on being preſented to the [311] rectory of Horkſley, in Eſſex, by Jemima Campbell, Marchioneſs de Grey, and the Honourable Philip Yorke, Eſq. afterwards Lord Viſcount Royſton. This too he vacated on becoming vicar of Newcaſtle ^x.

This ingenious writer both in verſe and proſe died by an act of ſui⯑cide, September 23d, 1766, at his lodgings in Pall-Mall, London. He was on his way to the court of Peterſburgh, whither he had been invited by the Empreſs of Ruſſia, to frame a new code of laws for that great empire.

See his life, with an account of his writings, in Dr. Kippis's new edition of the Biographia Britannica.

Richard Fawcett, D. D. was inducted to this vicarage January 3d, 1767 ^y. He was the ſon of John Fawcett, Eſq. late recorder of Dur⯑ham, who died October 20th, 1760, aged above 80 years.—Dr. Faw⯑cett had been fellow of Corpus-Chriſti College, Oxford—A. M. Feb. 7th, 1737—B. D. April 29, 1745—D. D. November 17th, 1748. —Alſo rector of Ingelſtree and Church-Eyton, in the county of Staf⯑ford—one of the King's chaplains in ordinary—chaplain alſo to John, Lord Biſhop of Durham, by whom he was collated, A. D. 1772, to the rectory of Gateſhead, which he held by a diſpenſation with this vicarage.

He was alſo a prebendary of Durham, where, at his houſe in the college, he died, April 30th, 1782.

Dr. Law, ſon of the Biſhop of Carliſle, was appointed, on the death of Dr. Fawcett, to the vicarage of Newcaſtle, but was never [312] inducted, as he was then in Ireland, attending as chaplain to the Duke of Portland, where, having been promoted to the ſee of Clonfort, Ste⯑phen Luſhington, A. M. his brother in law, was nominated to this vicarage, and inducted Saturday, Auguſt 10th, 1782.

AFTERNOON LECTURERS AT ST. NICHOLAS'S.

WILLIAM PEIRSON occurs A. D. 1604^z.

Thomas Stephenſon is mentioned as lecturer here Aug. 31ſt, 1634 ^a.

—He reſigned his lectureſhip December 9th, 1639 ^b.

John Bewick, A. M. was appointed to ſucceed him^c.

May 12th, 1643, Dr. Wiſeheart, or Wiſhart, was appointed to this lecture^d.

There is an order of common-council, May 30th, 1645, for ap⯑pointing [313] Mr. Cuthbert Sydenham and Mr. William Durant^e to this lecture, the former with a ſalary of 100l. and the latter with one of 80l. per annum^f.

July 5th, 1647, Mr. Sydenham was ſettled ſingly at St. Nicholas on Sunday afternoons, with a ſalary of 100l. per annum^g. April 5th, 1648, there was an addition of 40l. more to his ſtipend from the cor⯑poration ^h.

March 20th, 1656, there was an order of common-council for Mr. John Tilſley, "of the preſbyterian judgment," to preach here every Lord's day in the afternoon, and once a month in the forenoon, at the monthly ſacrament, with a ſalary of 150l. per annumⁱ.

March 2d, 1657, Mr. Tilſley having removed into Lancaſhire, and "the elders and others of Nicholas' having given a call to Mr John Knightbridge, fellow of Peter-Houſe, Cambridge," there is an order of common-council appointing him to preach on Sunday afternoons, and once a month in the forenoon at the monthly ſacrament, alſo on other ſolemn days, with a ſalary of 150l. per annum ^k.

Dr Wiſeheart occurs again about 1660^l.

[314]Auguſt 27th, 1662, on the removal of Dr. Wiſeheart to the biſhop⯑rick of Edinburgh, John Bewick, A. M. was appointed to this lecture, with a ſalary of 150l. per annum, for preaching on Sunday afternoons and holidays ^m.

July 27th, 1671, Mr. William Mair or Mayer, was appointed to this lecture, on the death of J. Bewick—ſalary only 80l. for the ſame duty.—This was advanced, January 18th, 1674, to ninety pounds per annum ⁿ.

Auguſt 30th, 1676, Mr. John March, a conformiſt, afterwards vicar, was appointed to this lectureſhip on the removal of W. Mayer to All Saints ^o.

June 25th, 1679, Mr. John Rawlett was appointed to this lecture⯑ſhip, on the removal of Mr. March to the vicarage, with a ſalary of 90l. but raiſed March 30th, 1682, to 120l. per annum. He died Sept. 28th, and was buried Sept. 30th, 1686, in this church—aged 44 years ^p.

[315]October 4th, 1686, Jonathan Daviſon, B. D. was appointed to this lectureſhip, with a ſalary of 120l. per annum, on the death of J. Rawlett ^q.

Dec. 2d, 1687, George Tully, A. M. was appointed to this lecture⯑ſhip.—He died April 24th, 1695 ^r.

In the year 1695 Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Robert Thomlinſon was ap⯑pointed to this lectureſhip, on the death of G. Tully—the ſalary 120l. per annum. He was rector of Whickham A. D. 1712, and preben⯑dary of St. Paul's.—He died March 24th, 1748, aged 79 years ^s.

March 7th, 1724, Thomas Dockwray, A. M. of St. John's Col⯑lege, Cambridge, was appointed lecturer of St. Nicholas', on the re⯑ſignation of Dr. Thomlinſon ^t.

A. D. 1752 Thomas Dockwray, A. M. (afterwards D. D.) fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed to this lectureſhip on the reſignation of his uncle, Dec. 20th, that year, with a ſalary of 100l. per annum, and March 26th, 1753, to the holiday lecture, with a ſalary of 20l. per annum.—He died Sunday, December 14th, 1783 ^u.

[316]Dec. 17th, 1783, Henry Ridley, A. M. late fellow of Univerſity College, Oxford, was appointed afternoon and holiday lecturer of St. Nicholas', on the death of Dr. Dockwray. The brother of Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart.

CURATES OF ST. NICHOLAS' ^v.

THE vicar's aſſiſtant, or curate, is ſtyled in an ancient writing, "The Pariſh Prieſt ^w."

Sir Hugh of Arnecliffe occurs as curate here April 18th, 1366, and June 10th, 1367 ^x.

Alan Whitehead, A. D. 1369 ^y.

John de Skyndilby, 1380 ^z.

John Mitford, 1424 ^a.

Sir Thomas Arthur occurs October 8th, 1499 ^b.

Thomas Key, curate, is mentioned in the pariſh regiſter A. D. 1577.—He died January 25th, 1585 ^c.

Mr. Cuthbert Ewbancke, curate, occurs May, 1595. (Ibid.)

William Peirſon is mentioned May 20th, 1604. Ibid. See account of Lecturers.

Chriſtopher Forſter occurs A. D. 1622 and 1633 ^d.

Thomas Turner—ejected A. D. 1645 ^e.

[317]Nicholas Stote occurs A. D. 1663 ^f. Cuthbert Stote is mentioned in the pariſh regiſter, March 2d, 1660. Quaere if different perſons?

Ralph Aſtell, A. M. occurs A. D. 1667 ^g.

William Drake, A. M. occurs A. D. 1678 ^h.

Francis Woodmaſs, A. M. was appointed June 27th, 1693 ⁱ.

Michael Fenwick, A. M. occurs as curate of St. Nicholas' A. D. 1697 ^k.

Edmond Lodge, A. D. 1706.—Removed, Sept. 26th, 1715, to the maſterſhip of the grammar-ſchool ^l.

John Cowling, A. M. of Peter-Houſe, Cambridge, was appointed Sept. 26th, 1715, on the removal of E. Lodge ^m.

[318]William Wilkinſon, A. M. of Chriſt's College, Cambridge, was ap⯑pointed on the death of J. Cowling, A. D. 1739 ⁿ.

December 20th, 1756, Richard Brewſter, A. M. was appointed on the removal of W. Wilkinſon.—He was afterwards made vicar of Heighington in the county of Durham ^o.

June 17th, 1762, Cuthbert Wilſon, A. M. of Queen's College, Oxford, on the reſignation of R. Brewſter ^p.

CHAPELS OF EASE TO ST. NICHOLAS. BRIDGE-END CHAPEL.

FOR the ancient account of this place, ſee the hiſtory of St. Thomas' Chapel and the Magdalen Hoſpital.

After having been beautified and pewed, it was on Sunday, Sept. 10th, 1732 (the whole body of the magiſtrates of Newcaſtle coming to it with the uſual ſolemnities and formalities), ſet apart by the corpo⯑ration of that town for a chapel of eaſe to the church of St. Nicholas ^q.

There is an order of common-council, June 15th, 1732, appoint⯑ing Mr. Richard Cuthbert and Mr. N. Clayton to read prayers and preach alternately in this chapel, in the Sunday afternoons ^r. The [319] Rev. Mr. Cowling was appointed to have the maſter of the hoſpital's ſhare of the revenues for reading prayers and preaching at the ſaid chapel every Sunday in the forenoon, and reading prayers there every Wedneſday and Friday ^s.

May 6th, 1736, Mr. T. Maddiſon, on the removal of R. Cuthbert —ſame alternate duty—ſalary 10l. ^t.

At the ſame time Mr. John Thompſon appointed on the removal of N. Clayton—ſame duty and ſalary as above ^u.

October 8th, 1739, Mr. Henry Featherſtonehaugh morning lecturer, on the death of J. Cowling ^v.

Dec. 20th, 1756, Mr. John Elliſon, of St. Nicholas', appointed to read weekly prayers here, on the reſignation of R. Brewſter, who had been Mr. Featherſtonehaugh's deputy ^w.

Dec. 21ſt, 1761, Richard Brewſter, A. M. appointed alternate af⯑ternoon lecturer on the death of J. Thompſon ^x.

June 21ſt, 1764, Mr. Cuthbert Wilſon, of Gateſhead, was appointed alternate afternoon lecturer, on the reſignation of T. Maddiſon ^y.

Dec. 17th, 1772, on the death of R. Brewſter, and reſignation of C. Wilſon, Mr. William Hall was appointed ſole afternoon lecturer at St. Thomas' chapel—ſalary 20l. per annum ^z.

July 7th, 1773, Mr. Emanuel Potter was appointed ſole afternoon lecturer at St. Thomas's, on the removal of W. Hall to St. Ann's ^a.

Mr. Nathanael Clayton was appointed morning lecturer at this cha⯑pel, on the death of H. Featherſtonehaugh ^b.

SOUTH-GOSFORTH, OR GOSFORD, A CHAPEL OF EASE TO ST. NICHOLAS'.

ROBERT LISLE, of Gosford, gave to his ſon, Otwell Liſle, with Iſabel his wife, in frank marriage, South-Gosford, with the advowſon of the church and the miln, &c.

This Robert Liſle married the daughter of Richard Canvill, who, with conſent of his wife, gave him Gosford in Northumberland, and King Henry II. by his charter, confirmed the gift ^c.

In the year 1377 diſputes occur concerning the advowſon of the church of South-Gosford, between the King, the Biſhop and Prior of Carliſle, and Matthew Bolton, clerk, vicar of Newcaſtle ^d.

A. D. 1391 Sir Robert Liſle was preſented with the lordſhip of Gosford, with the advowſon of the church, with the mill, &c. by his elder brother Thomas Liſle. This Sir Robert Liſle, Knt. married Mary, one of the daughters and heirs of Aymer of Athol, uncle to David Strabolgie, Earl of Athol. This Adamar, or Aymer, of Athol lived at Jeſmond, and was buried with his lady in the Trinity chapel, in St. Andrew's church, in Newcaſtle ^e.

March 20th, 1494, an agreement was made between Humphrey Liſle, Eſq. and the vicar of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, when the former appears to have quitted his claim to the advowſon of South-Goſ⯑ford ^f.

Sir Edward Maxwell occurs as curate of South-Gosforth, Auguſt 5th, 1564 ^g; alſo March 5th, 1563.

Humphrey Sicomer occurs Feb. 1ſt, 1577; alſo in 1578 ^h.

[321]Thomas Maſlet occurs as curate July 6th, 1579 ⁱ.

Michael Friſell, A. D. 1580, and 1586 ^k.

Alexander Lighton in 1605 ^l.

Richard Cockburne, A. M. 1626 ^m.

— Thompſon, 1658 ⁿ.

Henry Garnett, A. M. occurs as curate here A. D. 1665 ^o.

Maſter Alex. Reed before 1670. He was buried February 8th that year, at St. Nicholas' ^p.

William Muſgrave occurs in September 1674 ^q.

Rev. Mr. Elliſon—Mr. Clark ^r.

William Wilkinſon, A. M. occurs July 18th, 1754.—Biſhop's Viſi⯑tation.

Richard Brewſter, A. M. ibid. Auguſt 10th, 1758.

George Stevenſon, clerk, preſent curate—on reſignation of the above. —Duty every other Sunday morning.

NORTH-GOSFORTH CHAPEL.

THIS has been pulled down.—The chapel-yard remains, with ſe⯑veral grave-ſtones.

[322]A clergyman, now alive at Newcaſtle, remembers to have read the burial ſervice in it.

John Graunger occurs as curate February, 1577 ^s.

Umfrid' Sicomer, 1578.—He appears to have officiated at both Gosforths.

Tho. Maſlet occurs July 6th, 1579 ^t.

Mich. Friſell, January 23d, 1580, and July 7th, 1586 ^u.

CRAMLINGTON CHAPEL ^v.

THIS is a chapel of eaſe to St. Nicholas', about eight miles diſtant from Newcaſtle.—It is dedicated to St. Nicholas ^w.—A perpetual cu⯑racy. Patrons by turns—Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. and — Lawſon, formerly of Cramlington, Eſq.

[323]Chri. Palmer occurs as curate February 1ſt, 1577, and January 19th, 1578.— Barnes' Viſitation.

Alex. Lighton, 1586.—Ibid.

Humphrey Green, clerk, licenſed October 19th, 1621.

— Dickenſon, — 1663.

John Potter, clerk, licenſed September 1722. Died October 30th, 1763, aged 78. His patron was — Lawſon, Eſq.

George Stephenſon, clerk.

William Alderſon, clerk, occurs Auguſt 6th, 1766.—Biſhop's Viſita⯑tion.—Died October 2d, 1774, of an apoplectick fit at Cramlington.

John Brand, A. B of Lincoln-College, Oxford, preſented October 6th, 1774. Patron, Matthew Ridley, Eſq. of Heaton, pro hac vice.

John Falcon, A. B. curate of Gateſhead, ſub-curate, with a ſalary of 20l. per annum.

CHARITY OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.

THE charter of King Charles II. for erecting a corporation for the relief of the poor widows and children of clergymen, is dated July 1ſt, 1678. By this they are not permitted to purchaſe to above the value of 2000l. per annum. King George I. granted his royal licence, dated December 16th, 1714, to enable this corporation to make far⯑ther purchaſes, not to exceed the ſum of 5000l. per annum. This is a general charity ^x.

The ſociety of the Sons of the Clergy, belonging to the dioceſe of Durham, which is at preſent of ſo conſiderable extent, was in its origin a private appointment of a few gentlemen, who lamented the neceſſities of the deſcendants of this order, and thought a ſubſcription would be a partial alleviation.

April 7th, 1709, an agreement was entered into by a number of gentlemen at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, to ſubſcribe annually no leſs than [324] five ſhillings each to this charity. They ſtyled themſelves the Society of Clergymen's Sons. Mr. Nathanael Clayton, merchant, and Mr. Deodatus Therlkeld occur among the firſt promoters of this very pious deſign, and were appointed the firſt ſtewards. They fixed their an⯑nual meetings to be on the firſt Monday in September in every year ^y. —The firſt was on September 5th, 1709, when the ſubſcription amounted but to five pounds: ſo ſlender were the beginnings of this inſtitution, the ſeeds of which may truly be ſaid to have fallen on good ground, and produced an hundred fold.

September 14th, 1709, an attempt of the like kind appears to have been made in Northumberland, for the benefit of the two deaneries of Alnwick and Bambrough ^z.

September 10th, 1711, Dr. John Smith, prebendary of Durham, preached a ſermon before them at St. Nicholas' church, in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, which was printed.—This was called their firſt ſolemn meeting, and the ſubſcription this year amounted to 13l. 11s. ^a.

[325]September 19th, 1712, Nicholas Burton, A. M. lecturer of St. Nicholas', Durham, preached before the ſociety at Newcaſtle, and his ſermon alſo was printed. A collection, for the firſt time, was made at church, amounting to 7l. 14s. 7 [...]d.—The ſubſcription in all this year, 25l. 11s. 6d. ^b.

George Ritchell, clerk, lecturer of Hexham, by his will dated 14th June, 1717, leſt forty ſhillings per annum to this ſociety, payable out of lands at South-Nun-Buſh, near Newbrugh in Northumberland ^c.

In 1725 the ſociety at Newcaſtle, and the above, for the benefit of the two deaneries of Alnwick and Bambrough, were united ^d.

September 6th, 1731, Thomas Turner, A. M. vicar of Newcaſtle, preached before the ſociety. The ſermon was afterwards printed. The ſubſcription this year, 213l. 18s. 6d. ^e.

Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, by her will dated 15th December, 1733, be⯑queathed 10l. to the uſe of this ſociety; as alſo 50l. more by an addi⯑tional clauſe ^f.

September 22d, 1737, Edmund Tew, D. D. rector of Boldon in the biſhoprick of Durham, preached before this ſociety in St. Ni⯑cholas' church, Newcaſtle, a ſermon which was afterwards printed. The ſubſcription this year was 251l. 14s. 3d. ^g.

October 23d, 1746, Thomas Sharp, D. D. archdeacon of Northum⯑berland, and prebendary of Durham, preached before this ſociety at St. Nicholas', Newcaſtle, a ſermon which alſo was afterwards printed. The ſubſcription this year amounted to 195l. 14s. 10½d. ^h

September 6th, 1750, John Elliſon, A. M. vicar of Bedlington, and lecturer of St. Andrew's in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, preached be⯑fore [326] this ſociety, ibid. a ſermon which was afterwards printed. The ſubſcription this year amounted to 242l. 8s. 3d. ⁱ.

September 4th, 1766, John Darch, B. D. fellow of Baliol-College in Oxford, and vicar of Long-Benton in Northumberland, preached ibid. before this ſociety, a ſermon which was afterwards printed. The ſubſcription this year amounted to 298l. 16s. 7d. ^k.

In the year 1773 it was agreed upon that the anniverſary meetings of this ſociety ſhould in future be held alternately at Durham and Newcaſtle. The firſt meeting held at Durham was in 1774 ^l.

Margaret Dongworth, of Old Elvet, Durham, ſpinſter, by her laſt will, dated October 11th, 1775, bequeathed a thouſand pounds to this charity, to be paid within twelve calendar months after her death, which happened on the 5th of July, 1779 ^m.

In the year 1780 this ſociety appears to have had a fund of 1500l. put out at intereſt with the corporation of Newcaſtle at 4l. per cent. As alſo the farther ſum of 500l. lent to the ſame body at 3½ per cent. the intereſt of both ſums amounting to 77l. 10s. per annum ⁿ.

MIDDLE-STREET.

THIS ſtreet appears to have been called anciently Glover-Gate ^o, alias Middle-Street: Bourne ſays it bare formerly three names. The upper part of it was called Skinner-Gate, the lower Spurrier-Gate and Sadler-Gate.

Part of Fleſh-Market, anciently inhabited by the principal mer⯑chants ^p of the town, was called Cloth-Market ^q, part of it Fleſh-Mar⯑ket, and part Fiſh-Market ^r.—See account of Morden-Ward.—Many houſes in it paid an annual rent to Univerſity-College in Oxford ^s.— Mention occurs of one A. D. 1304, near the church-yard, paying ſix ſhillings a year to that ſeminary.

Bourne tells us, that towards the ſouth end of the Fleſh-Market was a large croſs, with a lead ciſtern at the top, to hold the water called the New-Water, which was pulled down about three years before he wrote his hiſtory ^t.

There is a narrow paſſage, leading from the Fleſh-Market to Moſley-Street near the new play-houſe, called Drury-Lane.

At the foot of the Fleſh-Market ſtands the cordwainer's meeting-houſe, called formerly "The ſpinn, or workhouſe ^u."

[328]A very great market for fleſh is held in this ſtreet every Saturday, as are alſo two fairs, each for eight days every year, at Lammas and St. Luke's Maſs ^v.

There has lately been a new ſtreet made to communicate with Pilgrim-Street, from the foot of the Fleſh-Market, called, in compli⯑ment to the very worthy alderman of that name, "Moſley-Street," in which have been built a new play-houſe and a new poſt-office ^w.

Before A. D. 1688, the place of worſhip for Roman Catholicks at Newcaſtle was in a chapel down a court-yard in the Fleſh-Market, adjoining to what is at preſent the White-Hart-Inn.

On the acceſſion of King James II. the magiſtracy of Newcaſtle was compoſed of papiſts and proteſtants, conformiſts and non-con⯑formiſts; the cap, the mace, and the ſword were one day carried to the church, another day to the maſs-houſe, and on a third to the diſ⯑ſenting meeting-houſe^x.

[329]January 28th, 1746, about one o'clock in the morning, a popiſh chapel at Gateſhead was ſet on fire by the mob, aſſembled there to wait for the arrival of his Royal Highneſs the Duke of Cumberland, on his way to meet the rebel army.

An attack, equally cruel and unjuſtifiable, appears to have been made on the ſame occaſion upon another Roman-catholic chapel at the Nuns, in Newcaſtle ^y.

A Mr. Walſh is ſaid to have been prieſt at the chapel in Gateſhead, which was afterwards removed to a houſe that once belonged to Sir John Marley, the celebrated loyaliſt, in the ſtreet called the Cloſe.

The chapel in the Nuns was removed to a place, the entry to which is near the Black-Horſe-Pant, in the Bigg-Market, where Mr. Cordell at preſent officiates.

The chapel in the Cloſe has alſo been removed ſince that time to a houſe near the foot of Weſt-Gate, at which Mr. Warilow is the preſent officiating prieſt.

From the head of the ſtreet called the Side, to about the middle of it, there is a very ſteep deſcent: this name is plainly derived from the cir⯑cumſtance of its being erected on the ſide of a hill. About half-way down it becomes more than double its breadth in the ſteep deſcent. [330] Bourne tells us, that the eaſt ſide of the wider part was anciently called "Cordiner, or Cordwainer-Rawe ^z."

There was a poſtern, called the Eaſtern-Poſtern of the Caſtle, that communicated by a very narrow and ſteep flight of ſteps with the Side, a little above the middle of that ſtreet.—See account of the Caſtle.

A little above, on the oppoſite ſide, we deſcended by a ſmall flight of ſteps into a ſhort narrow lane, which communicated with the bottom of the ſtreet called Painter-Hugh. Bourne ſuppoſes that this was an⯑ciently called Swinburn-Place ^a. At the north end of this lane there was a place called Pencher-Place ^b. He adds, "perhaps the whole lane was called ſo."

It went up as far as the late Nether-Dean-Bridge ^c.

"Under this very high and ancient arch," he continues, "I am told the rings are ſtill to be ſeen that the boats were faſtened to, which [331] brought up the merchant-goods, when the merchants had their ſhops in the Fleſh-Market." This arch was lately taken down.

Lort, or Lork-Burn, up which, for a conſiderable way, the tide flowed formerly, made a diviſion anciently in the lower part of the Side. This runner of water was covered over with ſtone, A. D. 1696 ^d.

On the north ſide of Lork-Burn, near the Sand-Hill, ſtood the Cale-Croſs ^e, which Grey, in his Chorographia, deſcribes as a "fair one, with columns of hewn ſtone covered with lead."

There was a ciſtern at the top of it within my remembrance, to hold what was then called the New-Water. It was taken down about No⯑vember 1773 ^f. It is ſometimes, but erroneouſly, called Scale-Croſs.

This croſs was rebuilt, A. D. 1783, after a deſign of Mr. David Stevenſon, architect.—The inſcription as follows: "Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. mayor, Richard Bell, Eſq. ſheriff." Here conti⯑nue to be ſold eggs, milk, cheeſe, butter, &c.

High-Friar-Chare, which leads from Newgate-Street, near the New-Gate, to Pilgrim-Street, has had its name to diſtinguiſh it from the other called the Low-Friar-Chare, lower down the ſtreet, and commu⯑nicating with Weſt-Gate.

Adjoining to this ſtreet ſtood the houſe of Grey-Friars, or Minors, called alſo Franciſcan-Friars.

[332]They were one of the moſt eminent of the four orders of mendicants ^g. St. Francis, their founder, gave them one of their names.—They were called Grey Friars from the colour of their habit, and Minors through humility ^h. Their houſe in Newcaſtle is ſaid to have been founded by the Carliols ⁱ, wealthy merchants in the time of King Henry III ^k.

Bourne, on the authority of ancient writings, obſerves that they were a regular and ſettled body, A. D. 1267.

At a general chapter of this order held at Narbone in France, A. D. 1258, it appeared that the Engliſh province had ſeven cuſtodies, where⯑of the cuſtody of Newcaſtle, containing nine convents, was one ^l.

A. D. 1284 Hugh of Newcaſtle, commonly called the Scholaſtic Doctor, flouriſhed in this houſe ^m.

In the year 1299 the brethren of this houſe received of the King [333] for their pittance of one day on his paſſing through Newcaſtle, by the hands of Walter de Whitborne, at Berwick, 15th of December, eleven ſhillings and four-pence, and for their pittance of two days on his coming to that town in the January following, by the hands of Thomas de Dunholme, twenty-two ſhillings and eight-pence ⁿ.

Dr. John Scot, uſually called Duns Scotus, and the Subtle Doctor, entered the order of Minors in this houſe before A. D. 1300 ^o.

Auguſt 1ſt, 1322, the brethren of this houſe received eight ſhillings for their pittance of one day, and on the 14th of September following, eight ſhillings for the ſame by the King's almoner, on the King's arrival at Newcaſtle ^p.

[334]A. D. 1336 Friar Martin of Alnwick died, and was buried in this convent, where he had taken the habit of a Franciſcan, and from whence he was ſent to Oxford, where he took a doctor's degree ^q.

December 6th, 1342, on a repreſentation to King Edward III. then at Newcaſtle upon Tyne, by the warden and friars of this houſe, that they and their predeceſſors had long held a conduit of water, running to their convent, from a fountain called Seven-Head-Wells, which they had incloſed with ſtone, and put a door to, of which they were in poſſeſſion of the key; but the fountain abounding with water, they had granted a part of it to the uſe of the public of that place, who abuſ⯑ing their favour had broken the conduit, diverted the courſe of the wa⯑ter, and hindered them from recovering it: the King granted them the ſole uſe of this fountain, and empowered them a ſecond time to incloſe it, lock it up, and keep the key thereof, in the ſame manner as before the infringement of their excluſive right^r to the ſame.

[335]A. D. 1350 Henry de Huda, an Engliſhman, occurs as provincial of England, and of the cuſtody of Newcaſtle upon Tyne ^s.

March 23d, 1497, Thomas Baxter was ordained prieſt, John Cooke, John Eſby, and William Hudſon, ſubdeacons, and John de Macklinia and Francis de Macklinia, acolythiſts. They all belonged to this order and houſe—the two laſt are ſtyled of the order of Friars Minors de ob⯑ſervancia^t.

King Henry VII. who died A. D. 1509, ſome time in his reign ap⯑pears to have expelled the conventuals of this order from this houſe, and filled it with obſervants in their ſtead ^u.

In the year 1536 the houſe of Friars Minors in Newcaſtle was again made conventual ^v by King Henry the Eighth ^w.

[336]It was prevailed ^x upon to ſurrender January 9th. 1539, at which time it conſiſted of John Crayforth, prior, eight friars and two no⯑vices ^y.

[337]James Rokeſby occurs as the keeper after the ſuppreſſion^z.

The Franciſcans having enjoyed nothing either in propriety or com⯑mon but a ſubſiſtence depending upon the charity of others, their houſe here had accordingly no rents, and there is on that account ſo ſmall a value of it recorded at the ſuppreſſion ^a.

Tanner informs us, in his Notitia Monaſtica, that this houſe, in 1545, was granted to the Earl of Eſſex, James Rokeſby, and others.

The ſtreet called Upper-Dean-Bridge, or High-Bridge, to diſtin⯑guiſh it from the Nether or Low Bridge, conducts from the foot of the Bigg-Market to Pilgrim-Street. The corporation of Newcaſtle have lately made on the ſouth ſide of part of it a covered place for a poultry market, which is held there accordingly every Saturday.

A meeting-houſe for diſſenters was erected not many years ago in this ſtreet, of which Mr. James Murray was miniſter.—He publiſhed Sermons to Aſſes, The Hiſtory of the American War, &c.—Died Ja⯑nuary 28th, 1782, and was buried in St. Andrew's church-yard.

The Low or Nether Dean-Bridge conducted from St. Nicholas' [338] church-yard into Pilgrim-Street, and has plainly had its name from its ſituation lower down in the town than the Upper or High-Bridge ^b. The Roman Wall, it is ſaid, went along it.

Formerly there was a ſmall deſcent by ſtone ſteps from the church⯑yard into the Low-Bridge, and at the foot of theſe ſteps was an alms-houſe, for two or three poor women, which lately remained, but has at preſent no allowance, nor is the founder known.

Dr. Elliſon's MSS. call it "an hoſpital in the Nether-Deen-Bridge." It often is mentioned in St. Nicholas' old regiſters—1579, 1581, 1650, &c.

The Painter-Hugh, by a ſteep deſcent, conducted from the bottom of Pilgrim-Street to the middle of the Side.—There is a flight of ſtone ſteps on one ſide, for the convenience of foot paſſengers. Bourne de⯑rives the name of it from "painter," a rope by which boats are moored; and "hugh," a ſteep hill or bank.—The latter is clear, but I ſhould ſuſpect the former to have been the ſirname of the owner of the property^c.

Pilgrim-Street ^d, on I know not what authority, is ſaid to have had its name on account of pilgrims who came from all parts of the king⯑dom to worſhip at our Lady's chapel at Jeſmond, in the vicinity of Newcaſtle.

[339]There was an inn ^e in this ſtreet, ſays Bourne, which the Pilgrims in their journey were wont to call at, which occaſioned their conſtant coming up this ſtreet, and ſo it got its name of Pilgrim-Street, as the inn did that of Pilgrim's Inn.

[340]The meeting-houſe of the inoffenſive ſect called Quakers is in Pil⯑grim-Street, nearly oppoſite to the ſite of the Pilgrim's Inn.

Adjoining to it is a burying-ground for perſons of that denomina⯑tion.

In Corbridge's Plan of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, of the date of 1723, a diſſenters meeting-houſe is marked hereabouts, and not far from the Manor-Chare.

The firſt place of meeting ^f which this ſect had in the vicinity of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, was in the ſtreet called Pipewell-Gate, in Gateſhead, in a houſe not many years ago the property of a Mr. Swift, who kept a tavern in it, with the ſign of the Fountain.

On the ſame ſide of Pilgrim-Street, a little higher up, there is kept, at preſent, a diſpenſary, which was opened October 2d, 1777 ^g for the humane purpoſe of "adminiſtering advice and medicines to the poor confined to their own habitations by ſickneſs."

The corporation of Newcaſtle ſubſcribed 40l. per annum ^h to this [341] charitable inſtitution, which is a very neceſſary appendix to the infir⯑mary.

The limits for viſiting patients were appointed as follows: Shield-Road-Bridge to the eaſtward, and the utmoſt extent of the town to the weſt, north, and ſouth. Gateſhead to become a diſtrict for medical practice, as ſoon as a ſufficient ſubſcription ſhould be raiſed. John Baker, Eſq. was the firſt preſident; Lord Ravenſworth was afterwards patron.

In November, 1785, the Duke of Northumberland was choſen pa⯑tron of this charity.

In September, 1786, the preſent Duke of Northumberland was elected patron.

Near the head of this ſtreet, on the left hand in going up, ſtands a princely manſion, the main body whereof is ſaid to have been built out of the ruins of the houſe of the Grey-Friars.—The two wings were added by Sir William Blackett, Bart. whoſe grand-daughter married its late lamented owner and inhabitant, Sir Walter Blackett, Bart ⁱ.

[342]The alms-houſes built by Chriſtopher Brigham, merchant, and after him called Brigham's alms-houſes, ſtood at the head of this ſtreet, near the Grey-Friars' Houſe, and almoſt contiguous to Pilgrim-Street-Gate.

The founder was ſheriff of Newcaſtle A. D. 1495, and mayor A. D. 1504 and 1505.

This place is mentioned as having been inhabited, in the year 1556, by poor religious women. The ſite of this place is marked in Speed's Plan of Newcaſtle, A. D. 1610.

Leland mentions this little hoſpital, which appears by Speed's Plan to have conſiſted of ſeveral houſes, occupying all, or moſt of that ſpace, ſeparated by a little lane near the head of Pilgrim-Street, and then at a right angle turning northward into the High-Friar-Chare. They were bounded on the eaſt and north by Pilgrim-Street and the ſaid Chare ^k.

Between Pilgrim-Street and the town's wall on the eaſt, is a little field ^l that formerly belonged to the family of Carlels, or Carliols, from whom it was called the Carle, or Carliol-Croft. There is a runner of [343] water through it near the garden walls, the ancient name of which was Ayrekeburn ^m.

Near the foot of this ſtreet is held a market for wheat and rye every Tueſday and Saturday.

Lord Scrope had a houſe in this ſtreet A. D. 1456, near ſome pro⯑perty of Sir John Heron, of Ford, Knt ⁿ.

The houſe of Laurence Acton, who was mayor of Newcaſtle in the year 1433, was in this ſtreet.

Pilgrim-Street, growing narrower as it approaches to All-Saints church, winds down the hill towards the foot of the Side, taking the name at preſent of Butcher-Bank, as being chiefly inhabited by perſons of that trade, but it was formerly called All-Hallow-Bank ^o.

There was an alms-houſe near All-Saints church, which was founded about the beginning of the ſixteenth century, by Elizabeth Nykſon, widow ^p. Two houſes adjoining were given with it, to the uſe of the poor of All-Saints pariſh—Four women, who were allowed twenty ſhillings per annum for coals, lived in it.—Bourne tells us, that in his time it was going faſt to ruin, and that the then ſole inhabitant was al⯑lowed [344] eight chaldron of coals by the year, and three ſhillings a quarter by the church-wardens of All-Saints.

It was oppoſite to the weſt ſtairs of that church.

It appears, by an inquiſition taken September 2d, 1577, that a waſte in Pilgrim-Street belonged to the nuns of Lamlaye, whoſe lands were purchaſed by Albayne Fetherſtonehaugh at the diſſolution.

Manor-Chare ^q, which leads from Pilgrim-Street to Jeſus' Hoſpital, and from thence to the head of the Broad-Chare, by a part ^r of it an⯑ciently called Cow-Gate, was formerly ſtyled Auſtin-Chare, as conduct⯑ing to the houſe of Auſtin, or Auguſtine-Friars.

The firſt appearance of this order of mendicants in England was, ac⯑cording to ſome accounts, in 1250; others place it in 1252.

This houſe is ſaid to have been founded by William, Lord Ros, Baron of Wark upon Tweed, about the year 1290 ^s.

A. D. 1291 King Edward I. granted a licence to John de Capella, to give and aſſign a meſſuage in Penrith to the prior and brethren of this houſe ^t.

[345]A. D. 1299 King Edward I. gave to the brethren of this monaſtery 8s. 4d. for a pittance of one day, on his paſſing through Newcaſtle in the month of December, and for their pittance of two days, on his coming to that town on the 8th of January following ^u.

In the year 1306 the King granted a licence of mortmain to Bar⯑tholomew Patun, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and Chriſtian his wife, to aſſign to the prior and brethren of St. Auguſtine, of that town, a cer⯑tain place contiguous to their convent, 200 feet in length, and 24 feet in breadth, for the purpoſe of enlarging their burial-ground ^v.

A. D. 1309, there was a patent containing a confirmation of land [346] lying in Cow-Gate, which had been granted by William Ros to the brethren of this houſe; as there was alſo another of the ſame date, by which King Edward II. granted ſome meſſuages in Newcaſtle, late parcel of the poſſeſſions of Robert de Middleton, who had been at⯑tainted, for the enlargement of this convent ^w.

Tanner, in his Notitia Monaſtica, mentions a patent to this houſe, of the date of 1319 ^x.

Auguſt 1ſt, 1322, the brethren of this houſe received eight ſhillings for their pittance of one day; and September 14th following, on the King's arrival at Newcaſtle, eight ſhillings for the ſame, by the hands of the King's almoner ^y.

About this time one Elias was prior of this houſe ^z.

In the year 1323 a patent was granted to this convent, concerning a piece of ground contiguous thereto, 28 feet in length, and 160 feet in breadth, to be procured of John Denton to enlarge their houſe ^a.

[347]Tanner, in his Notitia Monaſtica, mentions a patent of this fraternity, dated A. D. 1330, which cannot now be found ^b.

September 23d, 1331, King Edward III. after an inquiſition made by John de Bolingbrok, his eſchaetor north of Trent, granted a licence of mortmain to Adam de Colewell, chaplain, to aſſign three roods and an half of land in Newcaſtle, contiguous to this houſe, to the prior and brethren thereof, in order to enlarge it; with a proviſo that the mayor and community of that town ſhould have ſufficient ſpace between this convent and the town's wall to ride in, for the cuſtody and defence thereof, as they had in other places in the circuit of the ſaid town, within the above wall. This land was held of the King in chief, and paid three-halfpence per annum for all ſervice ^c.

[348]A writ of King Richard II. of a date poſterior to A. D. 1389, the 12th of his reign, is preſerved in Fitzherbert's Natura Brevium, and appears to have been ſued forth by this convent. It is directed to the bailiffs of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, who were ordered to make proclama⯑tion to prevent the caſting of filth into rivers, ditches, ſtreets, &c. ſe⯑veral perſons having thrown excrements, filth, and garbage, in a cer⯑tain way that led near to the houſe of the Auſtin-Friars, to their great annoyance and peril, and contrary to the tenor of a late ſtatute.

July 24th and 25th, 1503, Margaret, eldeſt daughter of King Henry VII. was entertained at this houſe. This princeſs was at that time affianced to the King of Scotland, and upon her journey thither ^d.

By an ordinary of the fraternity of weavers in Newcaſtle upon Tyne, dated 31ſt of Auguſt, 1525, every brother of that ſociety is enjoined to be "at the Sante Auguſtines in the daye of the Exaltacion of the Holy Croſſe," in every year, and on the "none of the ſame to go to the dirige and ſowle maſſe to be done for the brederes & ſuſters of the ſaid fellowſhip ^e.

December 23d, 1531, Cuthbert Jordayne and John Ruther.... (probably Rutherford), brethren of this houſe, were ordained prieſts ^f.

Andrew Kel, prior, with ſeven brethren and three novices, ſurren⯑dered this houſe January 9th, 1539 ^g.

[349]A. D. 1540, this place occurs as having been reſerved to the uſe of the King, for his council in the north to reſide in ^h.

[350]A. D. 1551, the houſe of Auſtin-Friars is ſaid to have been granted to John, Duke of Northumberland, "as parcel of Tinmouth monaſtery ⁱ."

Auguſt 1ſt, 1553, Richard Benſon occurs as keeper of the houſe of Auguſtine Friars in Newcaſtle, with a fee of forty ſhillings per annum, under the crown ^k.

The Milbank MS. informs us, that King James I. gave it to a perſon of his own nation, who had begged it of him ^l

The ſame authority tells us, that it afterwards belonged to one Cap⯑tain Sykes ^m.

This place occurs in Speed's Plan of Newcaſtle, 1610, under the title of "The King's Manour."

A. D. 1648, it is mentioned as being in the poſſeſſion of the corpo⯑ration of Newcaſtle, who had either recently purchaſed it, or claimed it as a waſte ⁿ.

March 15th, 1648, the company of barber chirurgeons petitioned the common-council of Newcaſtle upon Tyne for a grant of part of the Manors, whereon to build themſelves a meeting-houſe ^o.

[351]The Manors has ſince that time continued in the poſſeſſion of the corporation of Newcaſtle upon Tyne. A diviſion of it, ſtill called the artillery ground, was uſed by the townſmen as a place where they performed the exerciſe of the pike and gun. Part of it was turned in⯑to a houſe of correction. Part of it the butchers company converted into a tallow ^p houſe, and at different periods of time the hoſpital of the holy Jeſus, Blackett's hoſpital, and the hoſpitals of the two Daviſons, the charity-ſchool of All-Saints pariſh, a work-houſe, and laſtly a pe⯑nitentiary houſe, have been erected on diſtinct parcels thereof.

The preſent work-houſe or general hoſpital ^q, out of which the old [352] windows were taken about fifty years ago, has formed, it ſhould ſeem, one of the quadrangles of the convent. In what is called now the cellar of that building, two ancient arches ſtill remain over the door⯑ways, near the hall or common eating-room.

Jeſus' Hoſpital, commonly called the Town's Hoſpital^r, ſituated near the foot of the Manor-Chare, was founded, erected, and endowed, at the charge of the corporation of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, A. D. 1681.

It is mentioned in the common-council books, Dec. 18th, 1682, under the title of an alms-houſe or hoſpital, lately erected for poor people in the Manors, at which time ſome rules (which, afterwards, April 16th, 1683, were reviſed with ſome alterations) were confirmed by that body.

March 26th, 1683, this hoſpital was incorporated by the name of the maſter, brethren and ſiſters of the Hoſpital of the holy Jeſus, founded in the Manors in the town and county of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, at the charge of the mayor and burgeſſes of that town, for ſup⯑port of poor impotent people, being freemen and freemen's widows, or their ſons and daughters that had never been married, for ever.

Thomas Lewen, merchant, was appointed the firſt maſter, with thirty-nine others, to have power to ſue and be ſued, implead and be impleaded—purchaſe and hold lands, and have a common ſeal, with a croſs graven thereon, and in the circumference, "Sigillum Hoſpitalis Sancti Jeſu in Novo Caſtro." The mayor, aldermen and common-council of Newcaſtle, for the time being, were appointed viſitors, and to give rules and laws to this hoſpital^s.

The rules dated at a common-council, April 16th, 1683, were ſealed on the 3d of October following^t.

[353]March 27th, 1683, a meſſuage, key or quay, and garden, in the ſtreet called the Cloſe, in Newcaſtle, was purchaſed by the mayor and burgeſſes of that town for 700l. and ſettled on the maſter, brethren and ſiſters of this hoſpital^u.

November 6th, 1683, an eſtate at Edderley, in the county of Dur⯑ham, was purchaſed by the mayor and burgeſſes aforeſaid for 1610l. and ſettled in the above maſter, brethren and ſiſters: the inheritance thereof to be in fee ſimple ^v.

Sept. 25th, 1685, an eſtate at Whittell in the county of Northum⯑berland, was purchaſed by the above mayor and burgeſſes, for 1300l. and ſettled as above on this hoſpital ^w.

September 18th, 1695, mention occurs of Mr. John Rumney, as having bequeathed 250l. to the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle; the intereſt whereof to be yearly diſtributed to this hoſpital, and the poor of the ſeveral pariſhes of Newcaſtle ^x.

December 19th, 1716, the mayor and common-council of New⯑caſtle petitioned parliament for leave for the maſter, &c. of this hoſ⯑pital to ſell their lands at Edderley and Whittell aforeſaid, which they alleged were not a ſufficient fund for their ſupport.

The ſaid mayor and common-council were deſirous, on this occaſion, of charging certain lands and tenements within the manor of Walker, in the county of Northumberland, of the yearly value of 250l. with a yearly rent-charge for ever of 185l. (105l. more by the year than the annual produce of Edderley and Whittell), but they were unable to complete the purchaſe of the ſaid manor of Walker^y, unleſs they ob⯑tained [354] leave to diſpoſe of Edderley and Whittell, to raiſe part of the purchaſe money.

Mr. John Ord, by his will, proved at Weſtminſter, A. D. 1721 or 1722, deviſed to this hoſpital a rent-charge of 1l. 6s. 8d. from a meſ⯑ſuage on the weſt ſide of the Bigg-Market in Newcaſtle: alſo a rent-charge of 6s. 8d. out of another meſſuage in the Side there for ever: theſe ſums to be divided by his heir at law in the preſence of the mayor of Newcaſtle for the time being ^z.

January 2d, 1752, there was an order of common-council for giving forty fothers of coals annually to this hoſpital, at the feſtival of Chriſtmas^a.

December 18th, 1769, there was an order of common-council for [355] the maſter of this hoſpital to be paid 8l. and each brother and ſiſter 6l. per annum ^b.

March 22d, 1779, the mayor and common-council of Newcaſtle, in conſequence of a reſolution to prefer, in future, the moſt aged claim⯑ants to the places that ſhould fall vacant in this hoſpital, made an order that the ſeveral candidates ſhould produce certificates of their reſpective ages, to be regularly filed in the town-clerk's office ^c.

Here alſo an hoſpital for matrons, for a governeſs and five ſiſters, to be widows of proteſtant clergymen, merchants, and freemen of the town of Newcaſtle, endowed by the charity of Mrs. Anne Daviſon ^d, widow of Mr. Benjamin Daviſon, merchant, was erected by the cor⯑poration of that town in a field near the hoſpital of the holy Jeſus, in the year 1725.

George Grey, Eſq. ſurviving truſtee, founded this hoſpital ^e March 25th, 1748.

[356]A. D. 1754, the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle having been appointed the patrons of this charity, by the above ſurviving truſtee, erected a handſome new ſet of apartments for the governeſs and five ſiſters of this hoſpital, nearly on the ſame ſite with the former houſe^f.

March 21ſt, 1771, there was an order of common-council for each woman in Mrs. Daviſon's hoſpital to have 8 carts of coals in every year ^g.

Here alſo Sir Walter Blackett's hoſpital for ſix unmarried men, to be poor and decayed burgeſſes of the town, was founded in 1754; the worthy baronet, on the receipt of a bond given him by the corpo⯑ration, having depoſited 1200l. in their hands for that purpoſe ^h.

The foundation-ſtone of this houſe was laid July 29th, 1754 ⁱ.

March 21ſt, 1777, there was an order of common-council to give an allowance of eight carts of fire-coal, yearly, to every man in this hoſpital ^k.

[357]There is a ſtone put up over the door of their apartments, inſcribed as follows:

Here alſo is an hoſpital for ſix unmarried women, to be the daugh⯑ters or widows of free burgeſſes of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, indebted for its foundation and ſupport to the charity of Thomas Daviſon, Eſq. of Ferry-Hill in the county of Durham, and his two ſiſters Timothia and — Daviſon ^l.

A. D. 1754, the mayor and burgeſſes of Newcaſtle erected here, on their ground, and at their common expence, an elegant ſet of apart⯑ments for the above ſix unmarried women, under the ſame roof with thoſe intended for the two former hoſpitals of Mrs. Anne Daviſon, and Sir Walter Blackett, Bart ^m.

March 21ſt, 1771, there was an order of common-council, to give [358] an allowance of eight carts of fire-coal, yearly, to every woman in this houſe ⁿ.

The following inſcription is on a ſtone over the door: ‘"This hoſpital for ſix unmarried women, to be daughters and widows of burgeſſes, built on the ground and at the common charge of the corporation of this town, was founded by Thomas Daviſon, Eſq. of Ferry-Hill in the county of Durham, A. D. 1754."’

Ward's alms-houſe ^o ſtood near the above, founded in the reign of Edward the Fourth, by John Warde, a rich merchant of Newcaſtle, for twelve poor men, and the like number of poor women. The ſite of this building is marked, in Speed's Plan of the town, in what is now called the Manor-Chare, where an old wall towards the ſtreet, with a door-way built up in it, is ſtill remaining.

SILVER-STREET.

SILVER-STREET, which leads down a very ſteep hill from the foot of Pilgrim-Street to Pandon, was anciently called All-Hallow-Gate^p, as alſo Temple-Gate ^q, it ſhould ſeem from the circumſtance of its communicating with All-Saints church. It occurs too in old writings with the name of Jew-Gate^r.

There is a preſbyterian meeting-houſe in Silver-Street, of which Mr. George Ogilvie, who died April 21ſt, 1765, aged 57 years, was miniſter.—He was ſucceeded by Mr. Sheilds.

CHURCH OF ALL-SAINTS, OR ALL-HALLOWS.

THE conjecture of Grey ^s, in his Chorographia, that this church was dedicated to All-Saints, or All-Hallows, from the ancient name of that part of the town, Pampedon, which, he adds, was ſo called from the Pantheon at Rome, appears to be too ridiculous to deſerve either to be conſidered or refuted.

It is not known at what period this church was built. Bourne met with an account, of the date of 1286, in which it is mentioned as erected at that time ^t.

[360]A deed preſerved in the veſtry of this church, dated October 29th, 1319, deſcribes the ſtreet now called Butcher-Bank, as leading from the Cale-Croſs to the church of All-Saints ^u.

In the years 1651 and 1655, this church appears to have undergone ſome material alterations ^v.

In the year 1728 a lecture was founded at All-Saints, and ſettled upon Mr. Henry Bourne, the curate, for inſtructing the people in the rubrick and liturgy of the church ^w.

A. D. 1776 this church was thoroughly cleaned and repaired.

In the year 1786 an act paſſed for the taking down and rebuilding of All-Saints church, ſeveral of the inſide pillars of that ſtructure hav⯑ing given way, and it being hazardous to aſſemble any longer therein. See Appendix.

The foundation ſtone of the new edifice was laid by the Rev. James Stephen Luſhington, vicar of Newcaſtle, on the 19th of the kalends of September, A. D. 1786^x.

CHANTRIES.

THERE were ſeven chantries here in the papal times—one dedi⯑cated to St. Thomas—one to the Virgin Mary—one to St. John the Evangeliſt—one to St. Peter—one to St. Catharine—one to St. Loye— and one to St. John the Baptiſt and St. John the Evangeliſt ^y.

1. That of St. Thomas is ſaid to have been founded by John Pul⯑hore, clerk ^z, about 1356. The yearly value was 4l. 8s. 4d.—Wil⯑liam White was the laſt incumbent, and had a penſion of 3l. 10s. or 18s. 6d. per annum.

The following account of it occurs in the certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Thomas in the pariſhe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by one John Pulhore clarke, to fynde a preiſte to ſay maſſe and to pray for hys ſowle and all Criſten ſowles as by a dede of the foundacion therof exhibited before the ſaid commiſſioners dothe appere and is ſo uſed hitherto by reporte—Yerely value 4l. 7s. 8d.—value accordyng [362] to this ſurvey 4l. 8s. 4d. as dothe apere by a rentall whereof is paid yerely to the Kinges majeſtie for the tenthes 8s. 9d. ob. and remayneth clerely 79s. 6d. ob. which ar employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Wyllyam White prieſt incumbent there accordyng to th' order of the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 106s. 6d. ob. qua. as dothe apere by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

2. The foundation deed of our Lady's chantry in this church ap⯑pears to have been loſt. Its yearly value was 4l. 5s. 10d.

September 25th, 1334, Thomas de Karliol, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, granted to Peter, ſon of Peter Draper, and to Cecily his wife, and their heirs, his patronage of the chantry of the Virgin Mary, in All-Saints church, reſerving to himſelf one turn of preſentation ^a.

Robert Manners, chaplain, the laſt incumbent of this chantry, oc⯑curs April 29th, 1518 ^b; alſo July 17th, 1527 ^c.—He had a penſion of 4l. 6s. 4d.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of col⯑leges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. cited above:

"The chauntrie of our Lady in the pariſhe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne. Ther is no dede of foun⯑dacion to be ſhewed but it hath ben of olde tyme accuſtomyd to fynde a preeſte ther for the mayntenance of Godd's ſervice and ſo it is uſed at this preſent by reporte—Yerely value 63s. 4d.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 4l. 5s. 10d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid yerely to the Kinges majeſtie for the tenthes 5s. 4d. and remayneth clerely 4l. 6d. whiche Roberte Maners clerke now incumbent ther hath to⯑wardes hys lyvynge as it hath accuſtomably ben uſed hertofore.—Orna⯑ments &c. 4l. 3s. 6d. as dooth appere by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther were no other landes &c."

3. The chantry of Saint John the Evangeliſt was founded by Richard Willeby and Richard Fiſhlake.—It was ſupported by ſome tenements in the Sand-Hill and the Side.—The yearly value was 4l. 15s. 4d.— [363] The laſt incumbent, whom one account, I think erroneouſly, makes Anthony Hexham, alias Houghton, had a penſion of 3l. 3s. 1d. ^d.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. cited above:

"The chauntrie of Saynt John the Evangeliſt in the pariſhe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcaſtle upon Tyne was founded by one Richard Willeby and one Richard Fiſhelake to fynde a prieſte for ever to pray for their ſowles and all Chriſten ſowles and to kepe two obitts yerely for the founders ſowles as it is reported and is ſo uſed at this preſent but the dedes of the foundacion wer loſt long ſyns—Yerely value 72s. 5d.—value accordyng to thys ſurvey 4l. 15s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall whereof is paid yerely for rents reſolut' 13s. 8d. for two perpetual obytts 8s. 8d. and for the Kynges majeſties tenthes 7s. 3d. —29s. 7d. and remayneth clerly 65s. 9d. which ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of John Muſgrope incumbent therof.—Orna⯑ments &c. 112s. 2d. ob. qua. as dothe apere by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

[364]4. St. Peter's chantry was founded about A. D. 1411, by Roger de Thornton, when he alſo founded St. Catharine's hoſpital on the Sand-Hill^e.—The yearly value was 6l.—See account of that hoſpital, called alſo Maiſon-Dicu.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. cited above:

"The chauntrie of St. Peter in the pariſhe churche of All-Saynts ibid. was founded by reporte to fynde a prieſt for ever to the maynte⯑naunce of Godds ſervice ther and to pray for all Criſten ſowles and the ſaid prieſt to have for his ſtipend or ſalary 6l. yerely to be paid out of all the poſſeſſions of the hoſpital of Saynt Katheryn called La Mai⯑ſon-Dieu in the towne of Newcaſtell and the ſame order is obſerved ther at this preſent by reporte.—Yerely value 6l.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 6l. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid to the Kingis majeſtye for the tenthes 12s. and remayneth clerly 108s. which ar employed to the ſuſtentacion of William Teiſdale clerk now incum⯑bent ther accordyng to th' order of the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 5d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

5. The chantry of St. Catharine was founded in the time of King Edward III.—A copy of the foundation deed is ſtill preſerved in All-Saints veſtry^f.—The King, by his charter, having granted licence to [365] Robert de Chirton, burgeſs of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, and Mariot his wife, daughter and heireſs of Hugh Hankyn, burgeſs of that town, to give a ſtipend to a certain chaplain, to perform divine ſervice in the church of All-Saints, for the ſouls of the ſaid Hugh, and Beatrix his wife, Gilbert Hankyn his father, &c. they, out of their devotion to Jeſus Chriſt, the Virgin Mary his mother, the bleſſed Virgin Ca⯑tharine, &c. granted to Sir Ada Nynepenys, chaplain at the altar of St. Catharine in All-Saints, 100s. annual rent, out of tenements in Ruſſel-Chare, near "Olle-Croſſe ^g." Failing the founders' heirs, the mayor and bailiffs of the town, for the time being, were to be the pa⯑trons.—The above Mariot appeared in full court, between the four benches, and was there ſworn, before the mayor and bailiffs, never to contradict her huſband's act.

The yearly value of this chantry was 5l. 3s. 8d.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Katheryne in the pariſhe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcaſtell upon Tyne was founded by a licence of King Edward 3^d to one Hugh Hawking and Bettereſſe his wyffe to fynd one prieſte ther for ever to ſay maſſe and to pray for their ſowles and all Criſten ſowles as by a dede of the foundacion therof bering date 20 January A. D. 1335, more playnly dothe appere and it is ſo uſed at this preſente by reporte.—Yerely value 118s. 18d.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 103s. 8d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid owt for a rent reſolut' 3s. and for the Kinges majeſties tenthes 10s. 9d. ob. qua. and remayneth clerely 4l. 5s. 10d. qua. whiche ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of Myles Swalwell preſt now incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnaunce of the ſaid foundacion.—Ornaments [366] &c. 119s. 4d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the ſame.—Ther werno other landes &c."

6. The chantry of St. Loy, or Saint Elgie, was founded by Richard Pykeryng, in the reign of King Edward III.—The yearly value was 3l. 8s. 4d. ^h.—William Browne was the laſt incumbent, and had an annual penſion of 3l. 2s. 8d.

John Ward, of Newcaſtle, merchant, by his laſt will, dated June 24th, 1461 ⁱ, left certain lands in truſt, for finding a prieſt to perform divine ſervice at the altar of St. Loye, in All-Hallows church. The prieſt's ſalary to be eight marks.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Henry VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

"The chauntrie of Saynt Loye in the pariſhe churche of All Saynts ibid. was founded by one Richard Pykering by a licence obteyned of K. Edward III. to fynde a prieſt for ever to ſay maſſe and pray for all Chriſten ſowles by reporte which is ſo uſed at this preſent, but the dede of the foundacion was loſte many yeres ſyns as it is ſayd.— Yerely value 60s.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 68s. 4d. as aper⯑eth by a rentall wherof is paid yerely to the Kinges majeſtie for the tenthes 6s. and remayneth clerely 62s. 4d. which ben employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of William Browne prieſt incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnance of the ſaid foundacion—Ornaments &c. 71s. 8d. as apereth by a perticuler inventorie of the ſame as well for the goodes and ornaments of this chauntrie as of the chauntrie of St. John Baptiſt and St. John the Evangeliſt next enſewyng becauſe the ſaid two chauntries be both founded at one aulter the ſaid ornaments doo ſerve for theym boothe indifferently.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

7. The chantry of St. John the Baptiſt and St. John the Evangeliſt was founded by John Warde—yearly revenue 7l. 15s. 8d. William Hepſon, alias Hixſonne, was the laſt incumbent, and had a penſion of 5l. per annum. The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

[367]"The chauntrie of St. John Baptiſt and St. John Evangeliſt in the pariſhe churche of All Saynts ibid. was founded by one John Warde to fynde a preeſt for ever to ſay maſſe and pray for all Criſten ſowles as by the dede of the foundacion exhibited before the ſaid commiſſion⯑ers dothe appere and is ſo uſed at this preſent by reporte —Yerely value 106s. 8d.—value accordyng to this ſurvey 7l. 15s. 8d. as aper⯑eth by a rentall whereof is paid owt for a rent reſolut' 38s. 6d. and for the Kinges majeſties tenthes 10s. 8d.—49s. 2d. —and remayneth clerly 106s. 6d. whiche ar employed to the ſuſtentacion and relief of William Hepſon prieſt incumbent ther accordyng to the ſaid founda⯑cion—Ornaments &c. nil here becauſe all the goodes and ornaments of this chauntrie be charged before in the value of the goodes and orna⯑ments of St. Loye's chauntrie within the ſum of 71s. 8d. as is ther de⯑clared.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

For the "altar of the Trinity" in this church, ſee account of the Trinity-Houſe.

STEEPLE OF ALL-SAINTS.

THE ſteeple of this church, of ſomewhat remarkable form as to the ſpire riſing from its ſquare tower, was of mean height, and no very elegant deſign. Robert Rhodes, the great benefactor to the churches of this town, who lived in this pariſh, and was buried in the chancel of this church, had his name and arms alſo under the belfry in this ſteeple, in which he probably made great alterations ^k.

The bells of this church ^l were founded anew, or increaſed in num⯑ber, A. D. 1696.

The clock was made in 1691 ^m.

GALLERIES AND PEWS ⁿ.

THE ancient gallery, which divided the chancel from the nave of the church, on the ſite of which the butcher's gallery lately ſtood, and which had been the rood-loft in the times of popery, appears to have been taken down, by the chancellor's ſpecial directions, A. D. 1639, although great intereſt had been made with the biſhop to ſuffer it to remain. There were two other galleries in the late church, one be⯑longed to the Trinity-Houſe, the other held the organ ſeats for the children of the charity-ſchools, &c.

Pews or ſtalls are mentioned to have been in All-Saints church A. D. 1488^o.

CHANCEL ^p.

THE chancel of this church ſtood upon a large vault or crypt ^q.

[369]It had been beautified ſome time before Bourne wrote his hiſtory.

The communion table was of marble, preſented February 6th, 1684, by John Otway, merchant. There was a protheſis, or ſide altar ^r. In the year 1776 a miſerable painting, which repreſented the diſco⯑very by the breaking of bread, was put upon the altar-piece.—It was a copy from a print in Ryder's Bible.

FONT.

THERE was a very obſervable font, with eight ſhields of arms on it, in this church ^s.

WINDOWS ^t.

SEVERAL curious fragments of painted glaſs, that had ſurvived the Reformation, remained diſperſed about in the ſeveral windows of the late church.

There was a figure of St. Barbara in one of the ſouth ones. There were alſo ſeveral ſkin-marks.

ORGAN.

THE organ of this church is mentioned to have been repaired A. D. 1631 ^u.

LIBRARY.

A. D. 1631, mention occurs of books chained in the choir of this church, where they were placed undoubtedly for the general uſe of the pariſhioners ^v.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ALL-SAINTS.

BENEFACTIONS to a very conſiderable amount appear to have been given, at different periods, to the poor of this very extenſive and populous pariſh.

[371]Mr. Thomas Smith, ſhipwright, by his will, dated Dec. 22d, 1585, leſt the ſum of 4l. 18s. 10d. to the poor of this pariſh, payable out of ſeveral houſes yearly, at Eaſter for ever ^w.

Mr. Cuthbert Woodman, weaver, by his will, dated Auguſt 22d, 1636, left the ſum of 12 ſhillings, to be paid out of a houſe in Pilgrim-Street, yearly, for ever ^x.

A. D. 1640, Henry Hilton, Eſq. left to this pariſh as to St. Ni⯑cholas ^y.—See St. Nicholas.

Robert Anderſon, Eſq. left, by deed, 5l. per annum. See St. Ni⯑cholas ^z.

A. D. 1644, Sir Alexander Daviſon left to the poor of this, as to the poor of St. Nicholas' pariſh, 2l. per annum ^a.

A. D. 1644, Sir Thomas Daviſon left to the poor of this, as to St. Nicholas' pariſh, 1l. per annum.

November 16th, 1648, Mr. Andrew Aldworth left, as to St. Ni⯑cholas ^b, 1l. per annum.

April 11th, 1660, Mr. William Carr, merchant-adventurer, left to the poor of All-Saints, ſeveral rent charges, amounting in all to 1l. 6s. 6d. per annum ^c.

Mr Mark Milbank, 1677, as to St. Nicholas, 3l. per annum ^d.

Mr. William Carr, 1675, as to St. Nicholas, 1l. 10s. per annum ^e.

July 17th, 1661, Mr. John Coſyns, draper, left to be diſtributed in bread, at two ſhillings worth per week, to the poor of this pariſh, 5l. 4s. per annum.—Alſo 5l. per annum for the repairs of the church ^f.

Mr. William Gibſon, merchant, left a rent-charge of 1l. per annum, out of a houſe in Cowgate, October 2 [...]th, 1662 ^g.

March 23d, 1673, Mr. David Shevil, barber ſurgeon, left 4l. per an⯑num out of ſeveral houſes ^h.

[372]Left by Mr. Leonard Carr, out of ſeveral houſes in the Butcher-Bank, 5l. ⁱ.

November 25th, 1675, Thomas Daviſon, Eſq. alderman, left 1l. 10s. to be diſtributed yearly for ever ^k.

March 9th, 1679, Sir William Blackett, Bart. left 2l. per annum out of a houſe at the end of Tyne Bridge ^l.

A. D. 1680, Sir Mark Milbank left, as to St. Nicholas, 6l. per an⯑num ^m.

A. D. 1690, Mr. John Collier, ſhipwright, left 3l. per annum ⁿ.

May 12th, 1693, Mr. Richard Hutchinſon, roper, left 5l. per an⯑num ^o.

February 7th, 1694, Mr. Timothy Daviſon left 1l. 10s. to be paid to poor freemen or freemen's widows of this pariſh ^p.

A. D. 1694, Mr. John Rumney left 2l. 10s. per annum ^q.

A. D. 1698, Mr. George Collingwood, carpenter, left 2l. to be given annually to two poor widows, who are to have it but once, ſo that all the poor widows in the pariſh may enjoy the ſame ^r.

In the year 1707, Henry Holme, Eſq. left 6l. per annum ^s.

A. D. 1710, Nicholas Ridley, Eſq. 1l. per annum ^t.

A. D. 1711, March 14th, Robert Fenwick, Eſq. 4l. per annum ^u.

June 5th, 1711, Mr. John Bee, maſter and mariner, left 6l. per an⯑num ^v.

A. D. 1716, Matthew White, Eſq. 1l. 10s. per annum ^w.

A. D. 1717, Mrs Iſabel Wrightſon, 2l. 10s. per annum ^x.

Mr. William Harriſon, hoaſtman,—150l. intereſt to be diſtributed yearly on St. Andrew's day ^y.

Mrs. Margaret Ramſay, 20l.—Intereſt to be diſtributed yearly ^z.

Mr. Edward Ports, ſhipwright, 20l. intereſt to be divided yearly ^a.

[373]Mrs. Ann Handcock, 50l. intereſt to be diſtributed by the church-wardens to ſuch poor people as were conſtant frequenters of divine worſhip ^b.

John Scaife, ſlater, about 1764, left 20l. the intereſt to be given an⯑nually to the poor of the pariſh of All-Saints. (Common-council books, Sept. 24, 1764.)

The corporation of Newcaſtle gave a bond for the money, to pay at the rate of 4l. per cent.

Thomas Leamon, of Newcaſtle upon Tyne, Gent. Sept. 20th, 1779, bequeathed 3l. a year for ever to the poor of All-Saints. (From a copy of the will communicated by Mr. Daviſon, of High-Bridge.)

"Mrs. Mary Buck, who died 21ſt of May, 1781, left to the poor of the pariſh the intereſt of 100l. now lent to the corporation of Newcaſtle, at four per cent. to be diſtributed by the curates, church-wardens and overſeers, at Chriſtmas, yearly, for ever." (On a compartment on a pillar near the organ.)

CHARITY SCHOOL OF ALL-SAINTS.

THE charity-ſchool of this pariſh for 41 boys and 17 girls, the former of whom are taught to read and write and caſt accounts; the latter, to read, knit, few, &c. both of them being provided with clothes, was founded by a voluntary ſubſcription, A. D. 1709, by which, with the addition of ſeveral accidental contributions, it has been ſupported ever ſince ^c.

The corporation of Newcaſtle contributed a piece of ground in the Manors, whereon to build a ſchool-houſe ^d.

PARISH REGISTERS.

THE regiſter of baptiſms, marriages, and burials, belonging to this church, begins in the year 1600.

There is an hiatus in the regiſter of baptiſms from March 1635 to March 1637, as alſo from March 1643 to January 1644.

There are ſuppoſed to be buried communibus annis, at the Ballaſt-Hills burying ground, about 350 perſons, two-thirds of whom belong to this pariſh ^e.

From 1688 to 1707, there were baptized at this church 6818 chil⯑dren—married, 1311 perſons, and buried, 6046 ^f.

From 1730 to 1749, there were baptized ibid. 6953—married, 1358 —buried, 5913.

From 1760 to 1779, baptized 6470—married 2305—buried 3480 perſons.

Quota, furniſhed to the triennial ſervice of the national militia, from All-Saints pariſh, 23 men ^g.

MONUMENTS AND MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN THE LATE CHURCH OF ALL-SAINTS.

Eaſt end, on a mural monument: ‘"To the memory of Maria Henrietta Airey, of Benwall, near this place, who died June 10th, A. D. 1779, aged 31, whoſe character in all the important relations of daughter, ſiſter, wife and parent, made her life truly valuable, her loſs irreparable; whoſe manners in ſocial intercourſe were amiable and elegant; whoſe religion was piety and charity, directed by good ſenſe. But, after all, her beſt encomium is engraven on the hearts of all who knew her."’

"Henry Rawlin, merchant-adventurer, alderman, and ſometime mayor of this town, May 8th, 1666."

"Sepulchrum Richardi Burdus. Obiit 20 Dec. 1719."

"Jeſus be merciful to the ſouls of Richard Borrel, his wife and chil⯑dren. [376] He obiit 20 Nov. 1508. This is alſo the burial place of Mr. Abraham Dixon, maſter and mariner, who dyed Nov. 11th, 1700."

"Thomas Andrew, 5 Oct. 1708."

"Thomas Wallis' burial place, ſhipwright."

"Matthew White, Eſq. twice mayor of this town, governor of the merchants' and hoſtmen's companies. He had iſſue 10 children, Ni⯑cholas, Margaret, Elizabeth, Martha, Nicholas, Matthew, Mary, Iſabel, Robert and Jane. He departed October 10th, 1716."

"William Aubone, Eſq. merchant-adventurer, alderman, and ſome⯑time mayor of this town, Sept. 20th, 1700."

On marble on the wall:

"Under the adjacent marble is interred the body of Thomas Wrang⯑ham, the famous and beloved ſhip-builder of this town: he married Jane the daughter of Mr. Robert Carr, by whom he left iſſue two ſons and one daughter, Thomas, William and Jane. He built five and forty ſail of ſhips, and died of a fever in the 42d year of his age, May 26th, 1689. He was a man of a moſt generous temper, of a plain and unaffected converſation, and a ſincere and hearty lover of his friend. Statutum eſt omnibus ſemel mori."

This ſtone of the Wranghams belonged formerly to the family of Mr. Robert Babington, and had his arms on it.

About a blue ſtone was inſcribed:

The date worn off, but Bourne met with him in the quality of church-warden of All-Hallows, in the year 1578.

Thomſon. Eſcutcheons: White, Daviſon, Malabar, Milbanke, Romney, Dame Jane Clavering and Wrightſon, as in St. Nicholas' church. Arms on grave ſtones: Forſter—Baxter—Grey—Jefferſon —Whiney—Anderſon.

LECTURERS OF ALL-SAINTS.

ROBERT JENNISON, S. T. P. occurs about A. D. 1622 ^m. He was ſuſpended in 1639 for non-conformity. There had been a ſub⯑ſcription ſet on foot for his better encouragement, December 26th, 1631 ⁿ.

October 18th, 1639, Dr. Wiſeheart was appointed lecturer of All-Saints, upon Sundays, by order of the King, in place of Dr. Jen⯑niſon ^o.

July 5th, 1641, Mr. William Morton was invited to be paſtor of this church ^p.

Dec. 17th, 1643, Mr. John Shawe occurs as afternoon lecturer ^q.

July 5th, 1647, Mr. Richard Prideaux was appointed afternoon lecturer, and Mr. William Durant morning lecturer, at All-Saints ^r.

[388]March 20th, 1656, by an order of common-council, Mr. Richard Prideaux was appointed morning lecturer, and Mr. William Durant afternoon lecturer of this church ^s.

Auguſt 9th, 1663, Mr. Thomas Daviſon was appointed lecturer of All-Saints, with a ſalary of 150l. per annum ^t.

March 23d, 1664, Mr. William Cock ^u was appointed on the reſig⯑nation of T. Daviſon.

January 26th, 1666, Mr. William Bickerton was appointed, with a ſalary of 100l. on the reſignation of W. Cock ^v.

May 8th, 1671, Leonard Shaftoe, A. M. was appointed, on the death of W. Bickerton, both forenoon and afternoon lecturer, with a ſalary of 70l. per annum ^w.

[389]Auguſt 30th, 1676, William Mayer, A. M. was removed from St. Nicholas' lectureſhip to All-Saints, where he was to preach both fore⯑noon and afternoon; ſalary 90l. ^x

November, 1686, on the death of W. Mayer, Mr. Nathanael Elliſon was appointed, with a ſalary of 130l. to preach both forenoons and af⯑ternoons, and in his turn on Thurſday's lecture.—To allow 20l. per annum out of his ſalary for an aſſiſtant ^y.

Dec. 2d, 1687, Mr. Thomas Knaggs ^z appointed afternoon lecturer; ſalary 70l.

About April 30th, 1695, Nathanael Chilton, A. M. morning-lecturer, on the removal of N. Elliſon to the vicarage ^a.

July 14th, 1698, on the death of N. Chilton, Mr. Leonard Shaftoe, ſon of the above morning lecturer of the ſame name; ſalary 100l. and 10l. for Thurſday's lecture ^b.

Sept. 21ſt, 1697, on the removal of T. Knaggs, Ralph Emmerſon, A. M. afternoon lecturer; ſalary 80l. ^c

[390]Charles Ward, A. M. occurs as afternoon lecturer. He died A. D. 1715 ^d.

A. D. 1715, Hugh Farrington, A. M. afternoon lecturer; afterwards forenoon lecturer.—He died September 3d, 1739 ^e.