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CHAPTER XXI.

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD_CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

THE contents of the present chapter, although they could not with perspicuity be incorporated with other portions of the work,—yet as being requisite to the completion of the volume, are here inserted in the order of occurrence.

1235-6.-20th Henry III.—The liberties of Evesham were seized on account of false measures being used when the king was here; but they were restored upon the submission of the abbot and monks.728

1289, April.-King Edward the First, in his journey from London to Worcester, rested at Offenham,-where the abbots possessed a mansion and park-adjoining Evesham, upon the old high road.729 1328, June. King Edward the Third visited Evesham at this time, as appears from acts dated hence on the 24th and 28th of this month.730

1409. The second individual burned in England for protestation against the peculiar doctrines of the church of Rome, was a native of Evesham, Thomas Badby by name, and by occupation a tailor.731 This individual, having apparently imbibed the doctrines of the venerable Wicliff, pastor of Lutterworth, in Leicestershire, fearlessly made the avowal when brought before his diocesan in the cathedral at Worcester; where he undauntedly maintainedas also before both primates of the church in the cathedral of St. Paul afterward—that “after the consecration at the altar, there

728 Abingdon MSS. in Nash's Worcestershire, vol. i. page 411. 729 Anglia Sacra, i. p. 510. 730 Rymer's Fœdera, iv. p. 356, in Nash. 731 Owen's Character and Conduct of Ecclesiastics, page 155.

remaineth materiall bread and the same bread which was before, notwithstanding it is a sign or sacrament of the living God." 7 Upon this, he was, by the king's writ, issued under the statute of Henry IV. condemned to be burned as a heretic, in Smithfield. This sentence may almost be said to have been twice executed. For the Prince of Wales afterward Henry V.-thought proper to attend at it, and when the martyr was in the midst of his torture, the prince ordered the fire to be removed, and promised the sufferer a pension for life if he would recant his opinions. But Badby, when he had recovered himself, nobly refused, and once more resigned himself to death in a fire horribly rekindled for the occasion.733

1611, January 4th.-As an instance of the local monopolies formerly held by freemen of the corporation, we find it ordered in the mayor's court, that no victualler or ale-house keeper should, after the 1st of March, brew either beer or ale; "but shall have the same of the common-brewers assigned, whereof Mr. Philip Parsons, one of the common-council, is appointed to be one; under penalty of ten shillings, one half to the borough, the other half to the informer."

1611, July 9th.-Ordered by the corporation, that "no householder or other, should entertain any inmate, poor stranger, person or persons;" nor erect any cottage, nor convert any outhouse into tenements, without leave of two justices; under penalty of five pounds, "to the use of the borough." 734

1632, August 28th.-Ordered by the corporation, that each mayor should, every market-day, personally sit "within the Boothhall," with the town-clerk, his deputy, and the serjeants-at-mace; "with the action book, for the entry of actions."

1665, August 23d.--The parishioners of All-saints and Saint Lawrence, agreed jointly to repair the bells in the clock-tower; which, according to the entry in the parish-books, were then about to be re-hung.

1671.-The sum of £29 17s. 6d. was this year collected in the borough, and paid to the chamber of the city of London, for the

732 Fox's Martyrs, edition 1641, p. 680. 733 Rapin's England, vol. i. book xi. 734 In the 31st of Elizabeth, 1588-9, a curious act passed; which, after reciting that great inconveniences have been found to grow by the erecting and building of great numbers of cottages, which are daily more and more increased, enacts that, for the time to come, no such tenement shall be erected, unless four acres of land be attached to it.

relief of sufferers by the great fire, and "poor people visited with the plague." 735

1676.-It appears, by the mayor's accounts for this year, that ten pounds were, on the 15th of December, paid to Mr. Edward Field, for repairing "the Old Hall."

1680.-The cost of the mayor's feast this year, as entered in that officer's accounts, amounted to £4 12s. 1d.

1680. The following entry-grounded on the exploded superstition anciently connected with the person of the sovereign-occurs this year in the books of the corporation. "17th December, 31st Charles II. Pd Adams of Bengeworth, to assist him to go to London, to be touched for the evil, £1 04s. Od.”

1717.-New vanes were placed upon the pinnacles of the belltower, at the joint expense of both parishes: as appears from the churchwardens' books. Respecting these useless additions to the work of our ancestors, it is proper to remark, that upon the spires of Worcester cathedral, they have been found absolutely injurious. For, the iron-work being necessarily inserted to a considerable depth, the sudden transitions of the vane must, by a consequent vibration in the rods, ultimately dislocate the stone-work and destroy the spire.

1724. The spire of All-saints' church, was during this year repaired, and the weather-cock was also replaced.

1742. An order is this year made, in the churchwardens' books, to repair the tower-clock, and to erect chimes.

1759. In the month of August, a most destructive fire broke out in Port-street, in open day; consuming nearly every house from the present turnpike down to premises, late Mr. Roper's tanyard, on the northern side of the street.

1770. In November of this year, the highest flood within memory occurred here. The water reached almost to the key-stone of the main arch of the bridge, and extended up Port-street to the public pump on the south side of the street. So that the inhabitants were compelled to pass out of their houses, through the upper windows, and were thence conveyed by boats along the street. 1800. In the year 1798, six acres of land at Church Lench

735 Mayor's Accounts for the year: in First Corporation Book.

near Evesham, were purchased for the living of Bengeworth, out of queen Anne's Bounty, for the sum of £200; out of which the vendor ultimately rebated £20. This land was, at Michaelmas, let on lease for twenty-one years, at £7 10s. per annum, reserving the timber. In 1799 it was planted with wheat, when it produced ten bags to the acre. This, contrary to the generality of corn in that ungenial season, was housed well, and sold, in consequence, at 238. per bushel. The land produced thus, in marketable corn only, by that one harvest, the sum of £207! being more than the original purchase-money.

1803. During the threatened invasion of Britain, by Napoleon Buonaparte, a corps of volunteers was raised in Evesham, in common with almost every other town throughout the kingdom. On this occasion, a pair of colors, worked by the ladies, was formally presented by Mrs. Perrott, of Cracombe-house; having been first publicly consecrated—as was then and is, we believe, still usual—in the church. In January, 1804, the corps of Evesham and Pershore were incorporated under the command of major-general Amherst, by the name of "the East Worcester Regiment of Volunteers." They thus mustered 344, and were divided into six companies, with the usual complement of officers. On the 27th September, 1808, this corps volunteered into the militia; and was then distinguished as "the East Worcester Local Militia:" at the same time a drawing took place, to complete the number required by the act. 1809. On the 25th of October, the national commemoration of the fiftieth regnal anniversary of George the Third, was observed here, with the usual demonstrations of public joy.

1814. The proclamation of a general peace, after the continental war of one-and-twenty-years, was made on the 23d of June. Upon this occasion, an ox and three sheep were roasted, which, with a due supply of ale, were distributed among the populace. The festivities concluded with a general illumination.

1820.-King George the Fourth, was, on the 7th of February, proclaimed in the principal streets, with the usual formalities.

1820. The news of the virtual acquittal of her majesty queen Caroline, on the 10th of November, by the house of lords,736 was

736 In the division upon the third reading of "the bill of pains and penalties," there

received here, as generally throughout the kingdom,—with unbounded demonstrations of joy. A public dinner in consequence, took place at the Cross-keys Inn, Charles Edward Hanford, esq. of Wollashill, presiding; and in the evening the town was illuminated.

1821. On the 19th of July, being the coronation-day of George the Fourth, a public dinner took place in the guild-hall; Thomas Beale Cooper, esq. presiding.

1824, April. The porch of All-saints' church having been injured in a storm, was repaired by E. J. Rudge, esq.

1826. The spire of All-saints' church was, during this year repaired, at a cost of £135. To this Edward Protheroe, of Bristol, esq. contributed thirty guineas.

1830. The commissioners for Inquiring concerning Charities, held their sitting here in the month of April. The result of their deliberations we have embodied in the preceding chapter. A copy of their published Report is deposited in the chest of All-saints' parish, for public use.

1830.-King George the Fourth died on the 26th of June; and his majesty William IV. was proclaimed here, on the 30th of the same month, with the usual formalities.

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1831. In consequence of the introduction to parliament, of " bill to amend the representation of the people in England and Wales," by Lord John Russell, upon the 1st of March, under sanction of the ministry, a public meeting in the guild-hall, was convened by the mayor-John Thomas, esq.-pursuant to a requisition. The meeting was held on the 12th of March, the mayor presiding; when a series of resolutions, together with petitions to both houses, in favor of the measure, were passed. The petitions afterward received signatures from upwards of four hundred male adults, inhabitants of the borough.

1831.-In consequence of the rejection of the First Reform Bill by the house of lords, on Saturday, October 8th,—a requisition numerously signed, was presented on the 10th, to the mayor-Daniel

appeared for the motion 108, against it 99. Upon this the prime minister declared that "in the present state of the country, and with the division of sentiment, as evinced by their lordships, so nearly balanced, himself and colleagues had come to the determination not to proceed further with the bill." After this declaration, it was formally withdrawn.

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