been manifested, and inaccuracies without end occur, requiring constant correction. The Dr. seldom or ever gives his authorities, so that those who have had to refer to these documents are by no means admirers, indeed, Mr. Harland did not think it worth while to reprint certain portions given in Baines' History of Lancashire, not only on account of Kuerden's errors, but also of Mr. Baines' omissions. The Dr. was a Lancashire man, of an ancient family originating at Cuerden, in Leyland, and a singular pedigree is given in Sir Wm. Dugdale's visitation of Lancashire. In July or August, 1688, Dr. Kuerden issued proposals for the publication of his "Brigantia Lancastriensis Restaurata," or a "History of the Dukedom or County Palatine of Lancaster," in five folio volumes, which he said was laid ready for the press. I have not seen his prospectus, but attached to a sketch of himself, in the quarto volume in the Chetham Library, appears to be a rough plan of his intentions, which were certainly of a vastness not likely to be carried out by one individual. [12.] DE QUINCEY'S HOUSE.-[No. 5. April 29.]—In reply to B's. query, the house occupied by De Quincey's father was that called Greenheys Hall, an oid and roomy house which stood in its own grounds, bounded by Embdenplace and the Black Brook, commonly called the "Oder," in Greenheys-lane. My recollection of the house goes back 45 years, when butterflies and wild flowers were common in the fields all round it. It was then occupied by Mr. James Darbishire, the cousin of the well-known solicitor, to whom Manchester is at present so much indebted for collegiate educational and scientific progress. The "Masque," or other dramatic piece, annually composed for and acted at the pleasant parties given by the amiable hostess are still remembered with pleasure by many who had the pleasure of attending them, and to whom the names of William Mort, Kighley, and other excellent impersonators will no doubt occur. The house was afterwards occupied by Mr. W. P. Roberts, the Miners' Attorney-General. E. HERFORD. 66 QUERIES. [13.] SAMUEL TORSHELL.-Is anything known of this Puritan writer, the author of "The Hypocrite discovered and cured, by Samuel Torshell, with an epistle to the Assembly of Divines, about the discerning of Spirits. London, 1644, small 4to?" In Mr. W. Shaker's catalogue of theological works published in 1853 he is mentioned as of Banbury, Cheshire." There is no Banbury in Strange to Cheshire, but Bunbury is probably meant. say there is no record in Ormerod's History of Cheshire of any of the rectors of Bunbury after the Reformation, so that it is not possible without access to the parish registers, &c., to ascertain if he ever held the living. Such an oversight in a county history is without excuse. There is, also, no mention of him in "Nonconformity in Cheshire," a work of much value and local interest. In the preface to the above work the author speaks of "a privater meeting of divines in a clasiss or prophecying as they say they were wont to call the Monethly Exercises in Cheshiere and those parts, heretofore," and the volume itself is introduced to the world by the celebrated Lancashire Puritan Charles Herle, rector of Winwick, &c. I shall be glad of any information regarding this Cheshire (?) author. T. Y. [14.] THE MATHER FAMILY.-The mother of the famous Mathers, Samuel, Nathaniel, Eleazar, and Increase, and grandmother of Dr. Cotton Mather and Samuel Mather, is said to have been the daughter of Edmund Hoult of What place is meant? Much Wotton, Lancashire. Richard Mather, the husband of Katherine, belonged to Lowton in the parish of Winwick; and was afterwards of Toxteth Park Chapel, Liverpool. Two of his sons, Samuel and Nathaniel, were natives of Lancashire: have their names been found in any register? His son Samuel was minister at the small chapelry of Burton Wood, Winwick, at the time of the Ejection. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. MAY 13th, 1875. [15] LETTERS RELATING TO THE CIVIL WAR IN LANCASHIRE. THE SECOND SIEGE OF LATHOM HOUSE, 1645 [No 1. APRIL 29, No 8. MAY 6.] The following letter is in continuation of the two already published and is preserved in the same MSS collections (Tanner MSS. 60 f 111). It is addressed by the Parliamentarian Committee at Manchester in April 1645 to the House of Commons and the writers draw a very graphic picture of the sad state of Lancashire at that time. More than 3 years of Civil War had almost ruined the county and from the want of money towards paying the soldiers and buying provisions there was very great distress felt throughout the army. The signatures to this letter, as also those of the one last printed, are all autograph. Some of the writers Colonels John Booth and Peter Egerton have previously been referred to. Of the others, Richard Shuttleworth, the son and heir apparent of Richard Shuttleworth of Gawthrop Esq-was MP for Clithero in 1640, and was at this time a colonel in the Parliamentary army. He died in 1648. George Dodding, of Conishead Priory, was also a colonel of one of the Lancashire regiments raised by the Parliament. Edward Butterworth, of Belfield, Esq., Gilbert Ireland, of Hale, Knt., Sir Richard Hoghton of Hoghton, Bart., John Starkie, of Huntroyd, Esq., Richard Haworth, of Manchester, Esq., and Thomas Fell, of Swartmoor Hall, near Ulverston, Esq., were all elected permanent members of the Lancashire Committee for the Parliament, which was appointed at a period subsequent to the date of this letter in August, 1645. At this time they were apparently acting on a Committee which met at Manchester. EDITOR. Sir, We have often made bould to represent unto you (and by you to the Honble house of Commons) the wants and urgent necessities of this poore, exhausted, and almost ruinated Countie, & the manie pressures and insupportable burdens it groaneth under. Give us leave yet once more (and let us not bee accounted too importunate, whilst instead of ease, which wee have expected, a further load is layd upon us) to complaine of that wch wee are not possibly able to under goe unless wee shall at once bee disabled to doe the publick anie further service, wherein wee had much rather (if possible) in some poore measure persist to the end. benefitt, yet wee cannot worke im possibilities, though for our greatest advantage) and after all, a furthe Taxe of 800li a month, being imposed upon the Countye for payment of the Scotts, how wee shal bee able to support our selves vnder all theise pressures, it transcends our capacities to conceave. And truely wee are confident (without release & exemption from the Taxes to the Irish & Scotts, and some speedy and considerable assistance of money sent downe) the vtter discouragement of our well affected and formerly assisting frends, the disbanding and dissolving onr souldiery, and consequently the subverting & ruinating of our Countrey, wilbe the effects that will shortly & inevitably follow. This (whatever strange reports are or may be made of our condicion by such as knowe litle of it) is nothing but reall truth. And therefore wee humbly desire wee may bee believed and accordingly looked upon, and that upon serious consideration of our Condition it will please the Honble House of Commons not only to free and exempt vs from | the Taxes aforesaid, but also to appoint a considerable supply of moneys, & armes (as before wee have desired) to bee sent downe, for the better encouragement of our souldiers, and for prevention of those inconveniences, wch otherwise (in all probability) cannot bee avoyded. Herein wee entreate your former experienced favor & respect in representing & furthering our desires, and you shall ever engage vs to remaine Your readie friends to serve you, RIC HOGHTON. RIC SHUTTLEWORTHE. J. BOOTH. PETER EGERTON. GEORGE DOdding. EDW. BUTTERWORTH. After wee had to the great charge of the county, beyond all humane expectation (through the blessing of God upon our endeavors) in a competent manner suppressed our enemies, it is well knowne, how by the violent & overpowering armie Prince Rupert brought amongst vs, wee were almost subverted, & by their outragious & merciles spoile and plunder, brought to a verie low condition, & the worke in our Countie almost new to begin againe, wherein after a long and difficult travell, wee have not been able to make such progresse, but that the houlds of Latham & Greenhaulgh, together with Skipton (bordering upon our confines) are still such pricks in our eyes, and thornes in our sides (being a constant burden and charge) that our whole strength (besides what is alreadie commaunded out) is scarce able to free the Countrey from their violences and plunders, much lesse to reduce them, and defend our selves from Skipton. And indeed a great part of the Countrey stands soe that instead of assisting vs they give assistance to the enemie, both by intelligence provision & all other meanes they can. Our souldiers dayly mutinye and and are ready to dissolve for want of pay & provision, the sequestrations being inconsiderable, the personall estates and stocks of cattell wasted and spent, and thowsands of acres of land lying wast, & nothing to stock them [16.] THE PARISH REGISTERS OF LANCASHIRE. STRETFORD, affected withall and the countrey soe exhausted of provision, as in our sieges wee are scarce able to provide for our souldiers from one weeke to another. And in this condition, how we shall possibly keepe them anie while together (wee professe) we are not able to apprehend. Standing now in this position (after all our former assistances to neighbour counties, both of men, money, & provision) and being not only charged with a large proporcon of the Taxe for Ireland, but an impossible assistance both of men & provision being expected from vs for the service against Chester (which although wee must needes acknowledge may tend to our Manchester, April 23, 1645. G. IRELAND. JOHN STARKIE. RI. HAWORTH. THO. FFELL. To the Honble William Lenthal Esqr. Speaker of the Honble house of Commons in Parliamnt. theise present 23d Aprilis 1645. Indorsed Letter from the Committee att Manchester NOTES. [Continued from No. 9, May 5.] From 1640 to 1650 the register has been very carelessly kept. By the Directory "a fair register book of velim was ordered to be provided in every parish in which were to be preserved by the minister the names of all children baptized, with the time of their birth; and also the names of all who were married and buried. The novel regulation in regard to the time of birth is fully carried out in the Stretford register, sometimes even to the minute. The first entry of the kind occurs in the following birth :-"John the sonne of Gorg Chorlton was borne the second day of March being Thursday at two of the clock in the morning Annoque domini 1653." The actual baptisms of the children are indeed for many years not mentioned, but it does not follow that the Ceremony did not take place. The custom of naming the hour and day of birth is occasionally found up to the end of the register. The first recorded burial took place in 1650 or 1651; but the interments are infrequent. This is due, as I have been informed, to the former undrained condition of the small burial ground; and the villagers either buried in the neighbouring parishes, or at the mother church. In the latter place towards the close of the XVIIth Century, an elevation is said to have been used for the use of the "rural fathers of this hamlet. This "Stretford Hill" is supposed to have been between the Trafford Chapel and the present Mitre Hotel. "Robert Williams sonne of ROBERT WILLIAMS minister of Stretford was baptised the 28th day of June Ano. 1638." (This is interlined.) "RICARD BENSON the minester of Gods word was buried at Stretford Chapell in the Chancell the seven and twenteth day of May 1651." (Benson was the minister of Chorlton where he suc ceeded Mr Pollitt). One other extract relates to him: "Jane the wife of Richard Benson minnister of Gods word was buried the eighttenth day of Desember being fryday [1657]." The name "JOHN ODCROFT" is found scribbled in one place, perhaps by himself. He was also connected with the adjoining chapelry of Chorlton. He it was who gave so much trouble to the Presbyterian Classis, who in such cases called in the assistance of a Justice of the Peace. Only one of his family is mentioned: was babtised the eight day of august Annoque domini 1651." In subsequent years the register has traces of having passed out of the hands of the ministers; for it is written up for very many years in the same hand. This changeJsrael the son of John Odcroft minnister of Chorlton is in accordance with the legislation of the Barebone Parliament, August, 1653, by which qualified persons were appointed for taking charge of parish registers. From this period many of the Lancashire registers (as those of Prestwich, Walton-le-Dale, Bolton-le-Sands, &c.) either begin, or begin afresh. The fees for registry were then 12d. for a marriage, and 4d. for a birth or burial. Scarcely a Puritan name at this time can be found on the Stretford register; but the two following entries relating to the civil strife are noteworthy : "Robert Stone beeing soulder under leftenant worssly buried the fifteinth day of September Annoque domini 1651." (This is the famous Major-General Worsley, made lieutenant-col. in 1650. His soldiers were first mustered at Chetham Hill, July 19th of this year; and in the following month they joined Cromwell's army in Scotland. Stone had perhaps been wounded in the desultory warfare which followed the battle of Dunbar.) "Mary moores the dauter of John moores of sale comonly caled lane end being kild at wooster fight was babtised the first day of feubuary annoq. dommni 1651 [i.e 1652.]" (The battle of Worcester was fought on 3rd September, 1651.) The sudden increase in the number of entries on the register from this point illustrates the incompleteness of the registration of former years. For about 30 years with a few exceptions the entries are made by three or four hands. After 1681 there are different hands on each page. The only other historical entries are those relating to the act of 1679 "for burying in Woollen": it is stated five or six times that the statutory affidavits were taken. There are several references to the ministers of the chapel which biographers of local clergy will know how to appreciate. RICHARD WYLDE, as we have seen, was serving the cure in 1618. The next ministers named in the local record are given in the following extracts : Manchester, resided in this neighbourhood at Turnmoss The Rev. FRANCIS MOSLEY of the Collegiate Church, or Turfmoss, a lonely house in the meadows, and in all the hands of the Manchester Classis; and ultimately He received ordination at probability served the cure. entries, some of which may be in his own writing, relate became (1673-4) Rector of Wilmslow. The following to his family. They do not appear to have a place in the Mosley Family Memoirs: "ffrancis the soonne of ffrancis Moosly minnister of the word of God and fellow at the Colledge at Manchester was borne the nine teenth day of may and babtised the eight day of Jvne [1665]." "Osweld the sonne of Franchis Mooseley was born the 13 day of May and was babtised the 23 day of May [1667]" "Meriall the daughtr: of ffrances Moseley de Turmosse Cler. was Borne Aug: the Eighteenth and was Baptized the ffirst day of September Anno 1669.” "Meriall the darghte of ffrances Mosely was buried the 29 day of Desember [1669]." "Edward the son of Mr. franchis Mosley was buried the 21 day of aprill." [1674.] in the register under notice. Some of the neighbouring clergy are also found named 1666: "Sammvell Dickson and Ann Hoolt weere married at Stretford Chapell the 15 day of Jvly with a sertifficate vnder the hand of MESTER CENNION Parson At Prestich." (Edward Kenyon, B.D., related by marriage to the patron of Prestwich rectory, was appointed there in 1659. in succession to Isaac Allen and held possession till 1668). There is a baptism of a member of the local family of Davenport on the 26th May 1689 "by mee PETER SHAW." (The Rev. Peter Shaw also held the cure of Didsbury from September 1685 to 1709, when he resigned. Booker's Chorlton, pp. 61, 64, 75.) * * commonly called Dr. Byrom, was born at Kersal, near [20.] DE QUINCEY. [No. 5, April 29.]-The elder De [We have to thank R. H. E. for a similar reply. There is also a full reference to De Quincey in the Manchester School Register, printed for the Chetham Society.-ED.] QUERIES. [17.] MANCHESTER ANTIGALLICANS.-[No. 7. April 29.] The Antigallican Society owed its origin to the jealousy and distrust manifested towards France by the English people in the early part of the last century. The feeling of the one nation for the other was at that time of a very hostile character. To such an extent did this prevail, that in 1745 a society called the Antigallican Society was established in London for the avowed purpose of [21.] ROMAN INSCRIPTIONS AT MANCHESTER.-Can opposing "the insidious acts of the French nation, and to discourage both by precept and example the importa- ment of an inscription found in Manchester circa 1832, of your correspondents inform me where the fragtion and consumption of French produce and manufac- and apparently forming part of a slab dedicated to tures and to encourage those of Great Britain." Local Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta, is now presocieties were founded in the provinces, and one of theserved. The only remaining letters were— most prominent of these was that of Manchester. Little Mr. Henry Barton, Antigallican, Manchester. do. any INVI ETAC The first line forming part of the epithet INVICTUS, the second apparently part of the words GETA. CAESAR., thus fixing the date of the inscription as prior to the year A.D. 209, when Geta changed the title of Caesar for that of Augustus, and not earlier than A.D. 198, when he took the former title. It is engraved in Baines' History of Lancashire, vol. II., and was then (1836) preserved with two other inscriptions, and various other Roman articles, by R. Haldane Bradshaw, Esq., at Worsley Old Hall. The latter articles, and the two inscriptions, are still there, but the Hon. Algernon Egerton informs me that neither he nor Lord Ellesmere could find the fragment I have mentioned. About the same time (and near the same place) that this inscription was discovered a Roman tile inscribed C. III. B.R. was found. Is it known in whose possession this tile is at present? An account of it was communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Howarth Dec. 6, 1832. It relates either to the 3rd cohort of the Brittones, the 3rd of the Breuci, or the 3rd of the Bracarae The latter, we know, was in Britain at the commencement of the 2nd century (i.e. A.D. 104) but had it been referred to in this tile I should have expected the abbreviation AVG. to have followed the BR., the full title of the cohort in inscriptions being COH. III, BRACARVM, AVGVSTANORVM. I shall be glad to obtain any information on the subject of either of these inscriptions. Liverpool. W. THOMPSON WATKIN. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. MAY 21st, 1875. [22.] LETTERS RELATING TO THE CIVIL WAR IN LANCASHIRE. THE SECOND SIEGE OF LATHOM HOUSE, 1645. [No. 1, APRIL 29. No. 8, MAY 6. No. 15, MAY 13.] The following letter from the same collectlon (Tanner MSS. 62. f. 152) is the last of those relating to the siege of Lathom House. It is dated from Manchester, and like the two last printed is signed by several of the chief supporters and officers of the Parliament in these parts. Major-General Raphe Assheton, Colonel Peter Egerton, and Robert Hyde, of Denton, Esq have previously been referred to. Richard Holland Esq, of Heaton in the parish of Prestwich, had been appointed governor of Manchester and Alexander Rigby, of Preston, Esq was a Colonel in the Parliamentary Army. Of J. Hanley nothing appears to be recorded. Shortly after the date of this letter the besieging forces at Lathom House obtained a signal success eapturing a house called the Lodge 'within cannon shot of the House itself' As is recorded in the "Perfect Occurrences" under July 7. 1645, 40 of the garrison were killed-many wounded, 60 taken prisoners, 12 officers killed and taken-100 armes, 2 barrels of gunpowder and all their bag and baggage' taken. Some six months later in the beginning of December, Lathom House capitulated "by which means the whole County of Lancashire is absolutely freed and reduced under the obedience of the Parliament, the enemy not having any one garrison in that County." A copy of the conditions of the surrender is printed in Gregson's Lancashire Fragments (p 248. old edition.) Other interesting letters (which have not hitherto appeared in print) relating to the Civil War struggles in Lancashire and Cheshire will appear on a future occasion. EDITOR. the earle this present day, enforceth this present and Speedy addresse to you, imploreinge some fforces speedily to be sent unto us from you or by yor direction from Nottingham, Derbyshire, or elsewhere, together with one thousand musketts or more, threescore barrels of muskett powder, twentye barrells of cannon powder, and twentye of pistoll powder, and two hundred horse armes, with which Powder and Armes, if we might be in tyme accommodated wee should by God's assistance be better enabled to resist that too potent Popish Armye. And we humbly desire you will passe an order that the severall Deputye Leevetennts of the several countyes (through which any Armes and Ammunition shall pass to us) and all Collonells, Captaines, and other officers shall with such fforces as shall be needfull convey the said Armes and Ammumicon unto such places as they shall thinke meete for the neerest and safest passage. And soe submittinge the consideracon of the premises and the bleedinge condicon of this countye and of all the Northerne Countyes in our losse to your care and wise considera con we cease any further to trouble you ever restinge Yor most humble servants, Mr. Speaker. Thoughe by Gods blessinge our Countye be yet in some quietnes and noe visible forces (those of Lathom house excepted) entred within the Countye, yet the great Armye of the Earle of Newcastle now threatninge destruction to our Countye and lyinge on the very Confines thereof, and the Enemyes late successe at Bradford, whereof wee are confident you have received pfect intelligence from the Lord ffairefax, and our great losse of Armes and Ammunicon taken there from the supplyes which wee sent thither, and the encouragment that our intestine Enemyes have taken from thence, and his Lordships departure from those pts towards Hull leaveinge our Countye to stand against so potent an Enemy vppon its owne guard although not yet reduced into a good posture in regard of the abundance of Papists and Milignants swarmeinge amongst us, as lastly the receipt of this inclosed from NOTES. [23] THE PARISH REGISTERS OF LANCASHIRE, STRETFORD. [Continued from No. 9, May 6, No. 16, May 13.] JOHN COLLIER, the father of "Tim Bobbin," was for some years minister of Stretford, being then a literate only. In 1716 he was permitted to discharge the deacon's office at Hollinsfare or Hollinsgreen, near Warrington; and in 1725, according to a recently-passed statute, he was compelled to take priest's orders at Chester. According to the Stretford register he was about four years connected with the chapelry. The first entry 25th June, 1706, alludes to him as "Mr. Jno. Collier, parson, of Stretford." There are two baptisms in the succeeding year: the first on 30th March following the preceding entry, "by mr. [or mee] John Collier, minister, ibid" the second on 25th June, "p Mr. Jno. Collier, minister, ibid." Four entries in May, 1708, are next found following each other on the 6th, 24th, 5th, and |