[Sidenote: becomes a soldier.]_Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.

In the beginning of the following year he imagined he heard a voice,

calling upon him to renounce his kindred and his father's house, and go

into the west, promising that God would be with him. In obedience to

this voice, which he believed to be the voice of God, he went about

preaching from place to place, and greatly increased the numbers of the

new sect. Towards the close of the year 1654, or early in 1655, he came

to London, where he found a meeting of Friends which had been

established by Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill, among whom he so

greatly distinguished himself by his preaching, that many drew invidious

comparisons between him and his brethren, which created uneasiness and

differences in the society. To such a length did these proceed, that

some women, admirers of Nayler, assumed the liberty of interrupting and

disputing with Howgill and Burrough in the midst of their preachings,

and thus disturbed the peace of the meetings. For this conduct they were

reproved by these preachers; upon which they complained so loudly and

passionately to Nayler, that he was weak enough to take their part, and

was so intoxicated with their flattering praises, that he became

estranged from his best friends, who strongly disapproved of and

lamented his conduct. In the year 1658 we find him in Devonshire, where

he was committed to Exeter jail for propagating his opinions. Here he

received letters from some of his female admirers and others, written in

the most extravagant strains, calling him the everlasting Son of

righteous--the Prince of peace--the only begotten Son of God--the

fairest among ten thousand, &c., and some of his followers kneeled

before him in the prison, and kissed his feet. It is but justice,

however, to the Quakers in general to mention, that they had now

disowned Nayler and his adherents.

[Sidenote: Committed to Exeter Jail for blasphemy.]

Soon afterwards Nayler was released from imprisonment, and intended to

return to London, but, taking Bristol in his way, as he passed through

Glastonbury and Wells, his deluded attendants strewed their garments

before him. When they came to Bedminster, about a mile from Bristol,

they carried their extravagance to the highest pitch; for they formed a

procession in imitation of our Saviour's entrance into Jerusalem, in

which a man walked bare-headed before Nayler, and a woman led his horse,

while other women spread their scarfs and hankerchiefs in the road, and

the company sung, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts; Hosanna in

the highest! holy, holy is the Lord God of Israel!" In this manner these

mad people made their entrance into Bristol, marching through the mire

and dirt, to the amazement of some, and the diversion of others; but the

magistrates thought proper to interfere, and, after what had passed,

committed them to prison. Soon afterwards they were sent to London and a

committee was appointed by parliament to examine witnesses against

Nayler, upon a charge of blasphemy, for admitting religious worship to

be paid ti him, and for assuming the names and incommunicable titles and

attributes of our blessed Saviour. Before the committee, he did not deny

what was alleged concerning the extraordinary proceeding in Exeter jail,

and at his entrance into Bristol; while defending himself by maintaining

that the honours which he received were not shown to him, but to Christ

who dwelt within him; and if they were offered to any other than to

Christ, he disowned them.

[Sidenote: Extravagant conduct of his admirers.]

However, the committee having made a report to the house on the fifth of

December, declaring the charge well founded, on the following day he was

sent for, and heard at the bar; and on the eighth they resolved that

"James Nayler is guilty of horrid blasphemy, and that he is a grand

impostor, and a great seducer of the people." The next business to be

determined on was, the nature of the punishment to be inflicted on him;

which occupied the debate of the house, both on forenoons and

afternoons, till the 16th of December, many members being for putting

him to death, (and losing their vote, as secretary Thurloe informs us,

only by fourteen voices,) while many other members totally disapproved

of the severity which was used against him. At length, on the following

day, after a considerable debate, the majority came to the resolution,

"That James Nayler be set in the pillory, in the Palace-yard,

Westminster, during the space of two hours, on Thursday next; and be

whipt by the hangman through the streets from Westminster to the Old

Exchange, and there likewise be set with his head in the pillory, for

the space of two hours, between the hours of eleven and one on Saturday

next; in each place wearing a paper, containing an inscription of his

crimes: And that at the Old Exchange, his tongue be bored through with a

hot iron; and that he be there also stigmatized in the forehead with the

letter B: That he be afterwards sent to Bristol, and be conveyed into

and through the said city on horseback, with his face backward, and

there also publicly whipt the next market-day after he comes thither:

And that from thence he be committed to prison in Bridewell, London, and

there to labour hard till he be released by parliament; and, during that

time, be debarred the use of pen, ink, and paper, and shall have no

relief but what he earns by his daily labour."

[Sidenote: Condemned by the House of Commons for blasphemy.]

[Sidenote: Cruel sentence--his tongue bored with a hot iron.]

On the eighteenth of December, the first part of it was carried into

execution with the greatest rigour; but he was brought into a state of

such extreme weakness by his cruel whipping, that, upon repeated

applications to the parliament, his punishment was respited for one

week. The Protector was then addressed, and wrote a letter to the house,

which, though it occasioned some debate, obtained no resolution in

favour of the prisoner. On this the petitioners presented a second

address to Cromwell; but, it is said the influence of the ministers

prevented its effect.

[Sidenote: His punishment respited]

On the twenty-seventh of December, the remainder of Nayler's sentence

was executed at the Old Exchange. Afterwards he was sent to Bristol,

where he was publicly whipt, from the middle of Thomas-street, over the

bridge to Broad-street. From Bristol, he was brought back to Bridewell,

London, where he was confined about two years; during which his mind

recovered from the frenzy which had governed it, and he felt deep

humiliation and sincere repentance on account of his past conduct.

After the protector's death, Nayler was released from prison, and went

to Bristol, where, in a public meeting, he made a confession of his

offence and fall, in a manner so affecting as to draw tears from most of

those who were present, and having afforded satisfactory evidence of his

unfeigned contrition, was again received into the communion of his

friends.

[Sidenote: His contrition and death.]

Nayler did not long survive his enlargement, for having left London in

October 1660, with the intention of going home to his wife and children

at Wakefield, he was taken ill in Huntingdonshire, where, it is said, he

was robbed and left bound in a field. Whether he received any personal

injury is not known, but being found towards evening by a countryman, he

was carried to a friend's house, at Holm, near King's Ripon, where he

expired in the month of December, when about 44 years of age. The

expressions uttered by him about two hours before his death, both in

justice to his name, which is so conspicuous in the history of the

reveries of the human imagination, and on account of their own

excellence, ought not to be omitted in the memoirs of his life.

"There is a spirit which I feel," said he, "that delights to do no evil,

nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things, in hopes to

enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and

contention, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is

of a nature contrary to itself. It sees to the end of all temptation: as

it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives none in thoughts to any

other. If it be betrayed, it bears it, for its ground and spring is the

mercies and forgiveness of God. Its crown is meekness, its life is

everlasting love unfeigned, and takes its kingdom with entreaty and not

with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind."

His writings were collected together, and published in an octavo volume

in 1716.

Map| Names of Places.| County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+-----------------+---------+-------------+-------------+

+--+-----------------+---------+-------------+-------------+

|Dist.|

Map| Names of Places.| Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+-----------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+

22|Ardwick chap|Ashton 6| 182| 5524|

42|Areley, Kings pa|Worcester 11| 122| 372|

35|Areley, Upper pa|Stourbridge 10| 131| 735|

46|Argam pa|Gt. Driffield 12| 211| 29|

45|Arkendale chap|Ripley 6| 203| 260|

+--+-----------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+---------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+

+--+---------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+

|Dist.|

Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+---------------------+-------------------------+-------------+

45|Arkengarth-Dale[A] |Reeth 3| 245| 1446|

14|Arkesden pa|Royston 7| 40| 490|

23|Arkholm to & chap|Burton 4| 250| 349|

45|Arksey pa|Tickhill 8| 164| 1171|

9|Arlecdon pa|Buttermere 9| 299| 475|

39|Arfey pa|Coleshill 6| 100| 270|

16|Arlingham pa|Stroudwater 11| 120| 744|

11|Arlington pa|S. Molton 12| 193| 235|

15|Arlington to|Northleach 7| 85| 333|

38|Arlington pa|East Bourne 7| 62| 727|

3|Arlsey[B] pa|Hitchen 6| 41| 689|

9|Armathwaite[C] chap|Penrith 9| 292| ...|

46|Armin chap|Thorne 9| 175| 567|

27|Armingall pa|Blofield 6| 120| 88|

35|Armitage[D] pa|Lichfield 6| 124| 977|

45|Armley[E] to|Wakefield 9| 192| 5159|

+--+---------------------+-------------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ARKENGARTH-DALE contains lead mines, which were worked in the reign

of King John, and they are still so valuable, that a few years ago the

produce was estimated at 2000 tons annually; the inhabitants are chiefly

miners.

[Sidenote: Valuable lead mines.]

[B] ARLSEY, or ARSLEY. This village was anciently a market town. In

"Doomsday Book," (a book made by order of William the Conqueror, in

which all the estates of the kingdom were registered;) its market on

Wednesday is recorded, and the tolls valued at 10s. per annum. A fair

was held here so long past as the year 1270; but both the market and

fair have long been disused. An ancient entrenchment near the road to

Baldock, called Etonbury, was probably the original site of the castle

occupied by the Lords of the Manor. This castle appears to have a place

of considerable strength. Amongst the ancient monuments in the church is

one erected to the memory of Richard Edwards, who is called on his

epitaph, the last Grand Reader of the Temple.

[Sidenote: An ancient entrenchment.]

[C] ARMATHWAITE. Near this village is a castle, situated on the of the

delightful river Eden, in a deep vale; the building from its monastic

gloom, appears rather to have been calculated for seclusion than

security. The front has been modernized, and is built of hewn stone. Its

antiquity has not been ascertained, certain it is the Skeltons resided

here as early as the reign of Henry VIII. The most romantic and

picturesque scenery surrounds this lovely spot. A magnificent hill

throws its solemn shade on the tranquil surface of the river, here

broadened into a lake like form. Amongst other grand masses of rock is a

projecting crag of a bold and grotesque form called the Cat Glent, the

rendezvous of many wild inhabitants of the feline tribe; beyond these is

a mill and a few sequestered cottages. From this spot the river Eden is

no longer tranquil, but rushing down a cataract pours in sonorous

violence over a bed of opposing rock, whose immovable crags whirl the

stream into eddies as it passes them in its fury. Near this place a

nunnery was established by William Rufus, who like other profligates,

"trembled amidst his impiety," and was willing enough to secure a chance

of heaven, provided it could be obtained by any other means than

virtuous practice. At the dissolution of Monasteries, owing to the

frequent hostilities between the Scots and English, their income

amounted to only 18 guineas per annum.

[Sidenote: Rendezvous of wild cats]

[Sidenote: Nunnery founded by William II.]

[D] ARMITAGE is situated on the river Soar, in the hundred of Offlow,

South, including the hamlet of Handsacre. The entrance to the church is

very curiously built in the Saxon style, and the chapel is separated

from the nave by a handsome arch. The Grand Trunk Canal passes through a

very noble subterraneous cavern or tunnel, in this parish. The town

received its name from having been the residence of a hermit.

[Sidenote: A remarkable tunnel.]

[E] ARMLEY. This township is in the parish of St. Patrick, and the

liberty of Leeds. It is situated on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool

Canal, and of the river Aire, on which there are a number of mills

employed in various branches of the clothing trade. An object once of

great antiquarian curiosity, called Giants Hill, which was a Danish

fortification, is now scarcely traceable, in consequence of its having

been cut through to form the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+----------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+

+--+----------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+

|Dist.|

Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+----------------------+-------------------------+-----+--------+

42|Armscott ham|Alcester 13| 86| 130|

28|Armston ham|Peterboro' 13| 77| 25|

45|Armthorpe pa|Bawtry 7| 162| 368|

45|Arncliffe to & pa|Middleham 15| 231| 964|

31|Arncott vill|Woodstock 11| 54| ...|

12|Arne pa|Corfe Castle 5| 110| 171|

23|Arnesby pa|Harborough 10| 93| 442|

30|Arnold pa|Oxton 4| 128| 4054|

16|Arreton pa|Niton 7| 83| 1864|

6|Arrington[A] pa|Royston 11| 49| 254|

7|Arrow to|Chester 18| 200| 91|

39|Arrow to & pa|Henley in Ar. 8| 103| 466|

45|Arthington to|Leeds 7| 198| 360|

28|Arthingworth pa|Northamp 11| 77| 225|

9|Arthuret[B] pa|Carlisle 7| 310| 2903|

37|Arlington ti|Farnham 10| 31| ...|

38|Arundel[C] bo to & pa|Worthing. 10| 55| 2803|

26|Arvans, St. to & pa|Monmouth 10| 138| 304|

+--+----------------------+-------------------------+-----+--------+

[A] ARRINGTON. This village was anciently called Ermington. It is near

Lord Hardwicke's Park. At this place, in the year 1721, the skeletons of

sixteen human bodies were found in digging for a water course, within

two feet of the surface of the ground. Some pieces of iron much rusted,

conjectured to have been pieces of swords were also found. It is

supposed the skeletons were the remains of persons who had been killed

in endeavouring to obtain possession of the pass over the river Cam,

during the civil wars.

[Sidenote: Sixteen skeletons found here.]

[B] ARTHURET. This village is situated on a point of land which in early

times was said to have been called Arthur's Head, from whence the name

is derived. In this place was both born and buried, Archibald Armstrong,

Jester to both King James I., and Charles I. By an incident suitable to

his profession, his funeral took place on "All Fools Day," the first of

April. He was banished the court for speaking too freely of Archbishop

Laud's measure of introducing the Liturgy into Scotland, which had

produced a considerable tumult. On the arrival of the news of these

riots in England, Archy facetiously asked his grace, "Who's the fool

now." The joke was bitterly resented by the prelate, who procured an

order of council to banish him from the court, for speaking

disrespectful words of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This parish is

bounded partly by Solway Frith, and forms part of the debateable lands

so celebrated in Scottish history; these lands and the celebrated Solway

Moss, we shall have occasion to speak further of in the course of the

work.

[Sidenote: A merry jester buried on "All Fool's Day."]

[C] ARUNDEL, is situated on the declivity of a hill, on the north bank

of the river Arun, over which there is a bridge. It consists of two

principal streets, one of which runs north and south, and the other

westward from the point of the union. Many of the houses are built in

the castellated style. The church, situated at the north end of the

town, originally belonged to a priory of Benedictines, and is supposed

to have been founded soon after the conquest of Roger de Montgomery,

Earl of Arundel. It is a handsome gothic building with transepts, from

the centre of which rises a square tower, with a wooden spire. Some

beautiful monuments of the Earls of Arundel may be seen; and one, more

magnificent than the rest, is of alabaster, a calcareous earth, which

differs from marble, in being combined not with carbonic, but with

sulphuric acid. This monument is erected to the memory of Thomas

Fitz-Alan, and Beatrice, his countess, a daughter of John, King of

Portugal. The charter by which the town is governed, was granted by

Queen Elizabeth. It formerly sent two members, but by the Reform Bill,

it now sends but one; the ten pound householders are calculated at 380.

The borough comprises the parish of Arundel and the returning officer is

the mayor. Here was formerly a harbour sufficient to contain vessels of

one hundred tons burthen, but it has suffered great damage by the sea.

Great quantities of timber for ship building, are still shipped from

this place, which has but little trade, yet it is much benefitted in

summer by the numerous visitors who resort to it for sea bathing. Of the

castle, which stands on the north-east side of the town, mention is

first made in the will of King Alfred, who bequeathed it, with the town,

to his nephew Adhelm. A popular tradition ascribes the foundation of it

to Beris, "a giant of ancient times," in confirmation of which opinion a

tower is still pointed out, called Beris Tower. The Conqueror gave it to

his kinsman Roger de Montgomery, whom he also created Earl of Arundel,

which title belonged to three persons of this family, till Robert

Bellesme was outlawed by Henry I. for the assistance he gave to that

monarch's brother, Robert. The castle was then settled on Queen Adeliza,

who, after the death of her royal consort, gave her hand to William de

Albini, one of the most accomplished men of his age. Here the

dowager-queen performed the rites of hospitality towards the Empress

Maud, in the attempt of that princess to ascend the throne. The last

male heir of the name of Albini, died in 1243, when the castle and manor

of Arundel fell to his sister, Isabel, whose husband, John Fitz-Alan,

made the castle his residence, and assumed the title of Earl of Arundel.

The fourth in descent from him forfeited his life and estates, in the

attempt to ruin the Despensers, favourites of Edward II.; but the

estates were restored to his son, whose successor, in the reign of

Richard II., being accused of a conspiracy to seize the king, and put to

death the lords of the council, was beheaded; the king presiding at the

execution. His son, Thomas Fitz-Alan, was reinstated by Henry IV.; but,

he dying without issue, in 1415, the castle devolved to his cousin, Sir

John Fitz-Alan, who laid claim to, and obtained the title, on which an

act was passed, that the possession of this castle and honour conferred

the dignity of Earl without creation. The last Fitz-Alan died in the 22d

of Elizabeth, leaving a daughter, who married Thomas Howard, Duke of

Norfolk, thus carrying the earldom and estate into that family, to whom

they still belong.

[Sidenote: Beautiful monuments in the church.]

[Sidenote: Quantities of Sussex oak shipped from this place.]

[Sidenote: Tradition ascribes the foundation of the castle to a giant.]

[Sidenote: The king presided at the execution of one of its lords.]

Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set. · 第 7 / 31 段