which is dated in 1160. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, aldermen,
two chamberlains, and thirteen common councilmen. Whoever may have been
a mayor is always afterwards reputed as an alderman. The mayor and
bailiffs are chosen annually out of the freemen. As early as the year
1295, it sent two members to parliament. The Duke of Bedford takes his
title from this town, which first gave title of duke to the victorious
prince John Plantagenet, Regent of France, during the minority of his
nephew, Henry VI. as it did in the reign of Edward IV. first to John
Nevil, Marquis of Montacute, and then to the king's third son, George
Plantagenet; but he dying an infant, the title lay vacant till Henry
VII. created his uncle, Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford, who also died
without issue; and thus far the title was enjoyed by the first possessor
only of each family. But King Edward VI. making John, Lord Russel, Earl
of Bedford, the dignity has ever since been in that illustrious house,
with an advancement of it to the title of Duke, by King William III. The
history of the noble family of Russell is curious and interesting. They
appear to have originated in Dorsetshire, and owe their greatness to an
accident on that coast. In the reign of Henry VII., Philip, Archduke of
Austria, being bound for Spain, the heiress of which kingdom he had
married, was obliged by a storm to put on shore at Weymouth, where he
was received by Sir Thomas Frenchard, of Wolverton, Knt., who, till he
could inform the court of the event, sent for his neighbour Mr. John
Russell, then lately returned from his travels, to entertain his
illustrious guests. The Archduke was so pleased with his conversation,
that he recommended him to the king of England, who soon advanced him to
several honourable posts, and his son Henry VIII. created him Baron
Russell of Cheneys, in the county of Bucks, which estate he afterwards
acquired by marriage. He was made by Henry VIII. lord warden of the
stannaries, and lord admiral of England and Ireland, knight of the
garter, and lord privy seal. In the reign of Edward VI. he was lord high
steward for the coronation, and had a grant of Woburn Abbey, and was in
the 3rd of Edward VI. 1549, created earl of Bedford. He had the honour
to conduct over to England, Philip of Spain, grandson to the prince who
first brought him to court and advancement. He died 1554, and was
succeeded by his son Francis, who died in 1585, and was buried at
Cheneys, as were most of his descendants. His son Francis being killed a
day or two before his father's death, by the Scotch in the marches, his
son Edward succeeded his grandfather, and died 1627; he was succeeded by
his cousin Francis, son of his uncle William, lord Russell, of
Thornhaugh, lord deputy of Ireland, in the reign of Elizabeth. This
Francis was the first projector of the draining of the great level of
the fens, called after him, Bedford Level, and dying 1641, was succeeded
by his eldest son William, who after having several times joined both
parties during the civil war, at last adhered to the royal cause, and
suffered a severe loss in the death of his only son by the very family
whom he had supported; to compensate for which he was created by King
William, Marquis of Tavistock, and Duke of Bedford, and dying in 1700,
was succeeded by his grandson Wriothesley. He, in 1711, by his son and
namesake, and he 1732, by his brother John, who, dying in 1771, was
succeeded by his grandson Francis, the late duke, who died rather
suddenly, of an illness occasioned by a rupture, on the 2nd of March,
1802, in the 37th year of his age. His brother, Lord John Russell,
succeeded him in his title and estates. This nobleman, so suddenly and
unexpectedly raised to ducal honours, was born on the sixth of July,
1766; and, on the 21st of March, 1786, before he had completed his
twentieth year, he married at Brussels, Georgiana Elizabeth, the second
daughter of Viscount Torrington. This lady died on the 11th of October,
1801; leaving issue, Francis, born May 10, 1788; George William, born
May 8, 1790; and John, born August 19, 1792. Shortly after his accession
to the title, his grace married a second time, Georgiana, the fifth
daughter of the duke of Gordon, by whom he had several children. After
the death of Mr. Pitt, when Mr. Fox and his friends succeeded to power,
his grace was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; a post which,
without distinguishing himself as a party man, he filled to the entire
and general satisfaction of the public. When Henry II. granted a charter
to the burgesses of the town of Bedford, he rendered it subject to the
payment of L40. per annum, as a fee-farm rent to the crown. Their
mercantile guild and ancient privileges were confirmed by the succeeding
monarch, who also granted new privileges and immunities similar to those
enjoyed by the burgesses of Oxford. Richard II. granted still more
extended privileges, and among others a view of Frankpledge within the
borough. In this monarch's charter the corporation are styled the mayor,
bailiffs, and burgesses. In the reign of Edward I. the liberties of the
town were seized by that monarch, the bailiffs having neglected to
discharge the fee-farm rent. In the reign of Henry VI. the town being
much decayed, many houses gone to ruin, and the trade of it brought low,
and the usual issues discontinued, the inhabitants petitioned the king
to shew them his grace: accordingly he granted that the yearly rent
should be remitted in part for a time. In the reign of Henry VII. it was
permanently reduced, through the interposition of Sir Reginald Bray,
then Prime Minister, to L20. per annum, and afterwards to L16. 5s. 8d.
which rent is now payable to their successors. The last renewal of the
charter of incorporation was in the reign of King James II. in whose
time the mayor and aldermen were removed from their respective offices,
by royal mandate, for neglecting to elect two burgesses to serve in
parliament. The members were in consequence chosen by his Majesty's
ministers. The right of election was determined in 1690, to be in the
burgesses, freemen, and inhabitant householders not receiving alms. The
number of voters is nearly 500. Bedford is a place of great antiquity,
and is supposed by some writers to have been the Lactidorum of
Antoninus; but Camden objects to this, on the ground that the town is
not situated on any Roman road, neither have any Roman coins been found
there. Its situation is upon the Ouse, by which it is divided into two
parts, in the direction of east and west. This circumstance enables it
to carry on a considerable trade with Lynn. In the Saxons' time, Bedford
was a place of considerable consequence: as appears from its having been
chosen by Offa, the powerful King of the Mercians, for his burial place.
His bones were interred in a small chapel, which being situated on the
brink of the river Ouse, was afterwards undermined and swept away by the
floods, during an inundation. Bedford, as has been already stated, was
also famous for a victory gained in the year 572, by Cuthwlf, the Saxon
king, over the Britons. The Danes once destroyed this town; but Edward
the Elder repaired it, and united the town on the south side of the
river, called Mikesgate, to Bedford, on the north side of it; since
which they have both gone by this name. After the conquest, Pain de
Beauchamp, the third Baron of Bedford, built a castle here, encompassed
with a mighty rampart of earth, and a high wall, the whole so strong
that King Stephen, who besieged and took it in his war with the Empress
Maud, was glad to grant the garrison honourable terms. In the barons'
wars it was again besieged, and for want of relief, taken by King John's
forces under Fulco de Brent, to whom the King gave it for a reward; but
for his subsequent behaviour he took it from him, and caused it to be
demolished, though it was not quite level till the reign of Henry III.
The celebrated John Bunyan, whom we shall notice hereafter, was ordained
co-pastor of the congregation of St. Peter's, in 1671, and continued in
that situation until he died in 1688. The chair in which he used to sit
is still preserved as a relic in the vestry of the chapel. As early as
the year 1745, the Moravians, or society of Unitas Fratrum, had an
establishment at Bedford, where they built a neat chapel in 1750. Of
late years, however, the number of these recluse and inoffensive
sectaries has considerably declined; and the house adjoining to the
chapel, which was formerly appropriated to the brethren and the sisters
of the society, has been converted into a school. In the year 1556, Sir
William Harper founded a free school in Bedford, for the instruction of
children of the town in grammar and good manners. The school-house was
rebuilt in 1767, when a statue of the founder was placed in the front,
with a latin inscription beneath, to the following effect:--
"Behold, Traveller, the Bodily Resemblance
Of Sir William Harper, Knight;
Of this School,
Thus spacious and Adorned,
The Munificent Founder,
The Picture of His Mind,
Is Dedicated in the Table of Benefactions."
The warden and fellows of New College, Oxford, are visitors of this
school, and have the appointment of the masters and ushers. The master's
salary is L260. with coals and candles; that of the second master is
L160., with the same allowance of fire and candle. The writing-master
has a salary of L80. per annum. Sir William Harper, for the support of
this excellent institution, conveyed to the corporation thirteen acres
and one rood of land, lying in the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, which
he had purchased for the sum of L180.; he also conveyed his late
dwelling-house, &c., at Bedford. The revenues of these estates were also
to be applied towards apportioning maidens of the town on their entrance
into the marriage estate. In the year 1660, the corporation leased the
whole of the lands in the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, for the term of
41 years, at the yearly rent of L99. In the year 1684, a reversionary
lease was granted for the further term of 51 years, at the improved rent
of L150. In consequence of granting these leases, a great number of
houses were built, and the following streets covered the above-mentioned
thirteen acres of meadow land:--Bedford-street, Bedford-row,
Bedford-court, Princes-street, Theobald's-road, North-street,
East-street, Lamb's Conduit-street, Queen-street, Eagle-street,
Boswell-court, Queen-street, Harper-street, Richbell-court, Hand-court,
Gray's Inn-passage, Three Cup-yard, &c. The annual rent of these
buildings is now considerably increased, and it is expected that in a
few years it will amount to upwards of L30,000. This extraordinary
increase of revenue occasioned the trustees to apply to parliament for
two several acts to regulate its disposal, and to extend the objects of
the charity. By the priorism contained in these acts of parliament, the
maintenance of the master and usher of the grammar-school, and the
maintenance of a master, and two ushers to the English school, is
provided. Three exhibitions of L40. per annum, are given to scholars
from the free school, either at Oxford or Cambridge, during the space of
six years. The sum of L800. per annum is appropriated for marriage
portions, to be given by lot in sums of L20. each, to forty poor maidens
of Bedford, of good fame and reputation, not under sixteen years of age,
and not exceeding fifty. They are not to marry within two months after
receiving the marriage portion, otherwise to forfeit it. The men to whom
they are to be married must not be vagrants or persons of bad fame or
reputation. A yearly sum of L3,000. per annum is also appropriated by
the last act, for the maintenance of twenty-six boys in an hospital or
school of industry, and L700. to be laid out in apprentice fees for
fifteen poor boys and five girls, to be chosen by lot. The trustees have
likewise been enabled to build alms-houses for a number of poor men and
women. The weekly allowance to each is 3s., and 40s. annually for
clothing. If a poor man and his wife live together, they are allowed to
the amount of 5s. per week. One hundred pounds per annum is appropriated
to be given in sums of L5. each, to twenty poor girls upon their going
out to service. The residue of the income is to be laid out in
buildings, and in endowing more alms-houses, or building cottages to be
let at a low rent to the poor. Here are also a house of industry, and an
infirmary, which are well supported. Lace-making employs a great number
of the lower classes, both in the town and county of Bedford. The lace
is chiefly made by women; and children at the early age of four years
are set down to it. On certain days, the persons appointed by the
dealers collect the lace of the different villages, and convey it to the
London market. A strong stone bridge connects the northern and southern
parts of the town. "This bridge," says Grose, "is one hundred and
sixteen yards in length, four and a half broad, and has a parapet three
feet and a half high; this, it is said, was erected in the reign of
Queen Mary, out of the ruins of St. Dunstan's church, which stood on the
south side of the bridge. It has seven arches, and near the centre were
two gate-houses; that on the north, being used for a prison, and that on
the south served as a store-house for the arms and ammunition of the
troops quartered here. These gate-houses were taken down in the year
1765, and six lamps set up on posts at proper distances." The town-hall,
or sessions-house, in which the assizes for the county are holden, is
situated in an area before St. Paul's church. It was erected in the year
1753, and is a capacious and handsome structure.
_Markets_, Tuesday and Saturday.--_Fairs_, First Tuesday in Lent,
April 21, July 5, Aug. 21, Oct. 11, and Dec. 19, for all kinds of
cattle.--_Mail_ arrives 1.14 morning; departs 2.54
afternoon.--_Banker_, Thomas Barnard, draws on Kay and Co.--_Inns_,
George, and Swan.
[Sidenote: Very ancient corporation.]
[Sidenote: Origin of the Bedford family.]
[Sidenote: Bedford Level.]
[Sidenote: First charter granted by Henry II.]
[Sidenote: King Offa buried here.]
[Sidenote: John Bunyan.]
[Sidenote: Noble charity, founded by Sir William Harper.]
[Sidenote: Its revenues.]
[Sidenote: Alms-houses.]
[Sidenote: Lace-making, the chief trade.]
Map|Names of Places. | County.| Number of Miles From |
+--+-----------------+--------+---------------+------------+
29|Bedlington[A] pa|Durham |Morpeth 4|Blyth 14|
21|Bedmanton ham|Kent |Sittingbourne 5|Lenham 3|
34|Bedminster pa|Somerset|Bristol 1|Dundry 3|
35|Bednall to|Stafford|Penkridge 3|Rugeley 7|
33|Bedston pa|Salop |Knighton 4|Ludlow 11|
26|Bedwas pa|Monmouth|Newport 10|Cardiff 9|
3|Bedwall Green ham|Bedford |Dunstable 2|Toddington 3|
26|Bedwelty pa|Monmouth|Newport 16|Pontypool 10|
+--+-----------------+--------+---------------+------------+
|Dist.|
Map|Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.
+--+-----------------+------------------------+------------+
29|Bedlington[A] pa|Newcastle 12| 286| 2120|
21|Bedmanton ham|Maidstone 8| 42| |
34|Bedminster pa|Weston 19| 119| 13130|
35|Bednall to|Stafford 4| 134| |
33|Bedston pa|Bishops' Cas. 10| 153| 159|
26|Bedwas pa|Pontypool 10| 158| 756|
3|Bedwall Green ham|Hockliffe 5| 36| |
26|Bedwelty pa|Abergavenn. 14| 159| 10637|
+--+-----------------+------------------------+-----+------+
[A] BEDLINGTON, though within the county of Northumberland, belongs to
Chester ward, in the county of Durham. It lies between the rivers
Wansbeck and Blythe. The monks of Durham, in their flight to
Lindisfarne, before the arms of the Conqueror, with the incorruptible
body of St. Cuthbert, rested all night here. The Rev. Francis Woodmas,
the expositor of St. Chrysostom, was vicar here from 1696 to 1710. The
Bedlington blast furnace, for smelting iron, was some years since taken
down. At the Bebside and Bedlington Mills, about fifty men are employed.
An unsuccessful attempt was a few years ago made to establish a
manufactory of printed cottons at Stannington bridge, in this
neighbourhood.
[Sidenote: Blast furnaces.]
Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |
+--+-------------------+---------+-------------+---------------+
41|Bedwin, Great[A] pa|Wilts |Marlborough 7|Ramsbary 5|
41|Bedwin, Little pa|Wilts | ... 8| ... 4|
39|Bedworth pa|Warwick |Nuneaton 4|Longford 2|
23|Beeby pa|Leicester|Leicester 6|Houghton 3|
35|Beech to|Warwick |Stafford 7|Eccleshall 6|
4|Beech Hill ti|Berks |Reading 7|Aldermaston 5|
41|Beechingstoke pa|Wilts |Devizes 5|Pewsey 5|
38|Beeding, Upper pa|Sussex |Steyning 1|Shoreham 5|
38|Beeding, Lower ti|Sussex | ... 2| ... 5|
4|Beedon pa|Berks |E. Ilsley 3|Newbury 7|
43|Beeford pa & to|E.R. York|Driffield 7|Bridlington 10|
10|Beeley chap|Derby |Bakewell 3|Chesterfield 10|
21|Beelsby pa|Lincoln |Caistor 5|Grimsby 7|
4|Beenham pa|Berks |Reading 8|Newbury 9|
11|Beer chap|Devon |Colyton 3|Honiton 10|
34|Beer |Somerset |Bridgewater 4|Stowey 5|
11|Beerhall |Devon |Bridport 8|Honiton 10|
11|Beeralston[B] to|Devon |Tavistock 6|Plymouth 7|
+--+-------------------+---------+-------------+---------------+
|Dist.|
Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.
+--+-------------------+-----------------------+-----+---------+
41|Bedwin, Great[A] pa|Hungerford 6| 71| 2191|
41|Bedwin, Little pa| ... 5| 70| 587|
39|Bedworth pa|Coventry 5| 96| 3980|
23|Beeby pa|Melton 9| 104| 120|
35|Beech to|Newcastle 8| 141| |
4|Beech Hill ti|Kingsclere 7| 46| 249|
41|Beechingstoke pa|Lavington 6| 86| 187|
38|Beeding, Upper pa|Brighton 10| 51| 589|
38|Beeding, Lower ti| ... 10| 51| 533|
4|Beedon pa|Hungerford 12| 57| 306|
43|Beeford pa & to|Beverley 13| 196| 894|
10|Beeley chap|Matlock 6| 150| 441|
21|Beelsby pa|Louth 18| 164| 158|
4|Beenham pa|Pangbourn 6| 47| 360|
11|Beer chap|Sidmouth 7| 153| |
34|Beer |Watchet 14| 143| |
11|Beerhall |Crewkerne 14| 147| |
11|Beeralston[B] to|Saltash 4| 213| |
+--+-------------------+-----------------------+-----+---------+
[A] BEDWIN was a market-town, and supposed by Stukeley to have been the
Leucomagus of the Romans; it certainly was a chief city of the Saxons,
who built a castle there. It was a borough by prescription, sending two
members to parliament, and is governed by a portreeve, and exercises
many of its original rights, although considerably reduced in
population. The church, a cruciform building of flints, with a central
tower, is ancient and curious in itself, and for the monuments which it
contains. The obtusely pointed arches of the nave, ornamented with
zig-zag and billetted mouldings, rest on capitals, richly adorned with
flowers, grotesque heads, and other figures. In the south transept are
two tombs, which commemorate Adam and Roger de Stocre, Lords, according
to Leland, of "Stoke Haulle thereby." The chancel contains the noble
altar monument of Sir John Seymour, of Wolphall, father of the
Protector, Somerset, and other distinguished persons. Near this tomb are
two brass plates, on one of which is the figure of a lady, with her
hands folded, and the inscription--"Julia Seymour;" the other
commemorates a son of Sir John Seymour. The manor of Bedwin, which once
belonged to Gilbert, Earl of Clare, husband of Anna d'Acres, was
purchased by the late Earl of Aylesbury. This place gave birth, in 1621,
to Dr. Thomas Willis, a learned physician, who wrote several works on
his art, was appointed physician in ordinary to Charles II., and died of
pleurisy in 1675. On Castle-hill is an entrenchment, in area two acres,
with some foundations, supposed to be those of a castle, founded by the
Saxons. Chisbury Castle is an entrenchment more than fifteen acres in
extent, supposed to have been begun by the Britons, and sometime
occupied by the Romans. The neighbouring village of Little Bedwin has a
church built of flints, in the Anglo-Norman style of architecture, with
a nave, aisles, chancel, and tower.
_Market_, formerly Tuesday (disused).--_Fairs_, April 23, and July
26, for horses, cows, and sheep.
[Sidenote: Monument of Julia Seymour, sister to Lady Jane Grey.]
[B] BEERALSTON. This place once had the privilege of sending two members
to parliament. It is chiefly inhabited by labourers employed in
agriculture and mining. The borough was under the influence of the Earl
of Beverley. The right of election was vested in those who had land in
the borough, and paid three-pence acknowledgment to the Lord of the
Manor, who varied the number of electors at his pleasure, by granting
burgage-tenures, which were generally resigned when the election was
concluded, to as many of his partisans as were requisite. The portreeve,
chosen annually in the Lord's court, was the returning-officer. The
first members were returned in the twenty-seventh of Elizabeth. Risdon
mentions that Beare was bestowed by William the Conqueror on a family
descended from the house of Alencon in France, and that it still
continues its name under the corruption of Bere-Alson. In the reign of
Henry II., Henry Ferrers had a castle here, which came to the possession
of his descendant Martin Ferrers, the last of the house, in the time of
Edward III. The manor then came to the Champernounes, and passed
respectively through the families of Willoughby, Mountjoy, Maynard, and
Stamford, to the present possessor, the Duke of Northumberland. In this
place are several lead-mines, now of inconsiderable value, though
sometimes impregnated with silver; but in the reign of Edward I., it is
said, that in the space of three years 1,600 pounds weight of silver was
obtained. Since that time no considerable quantity has ever been
procured.
[Sidenote: Electioneering abuses.]
Map| Names of Places. |County. | Number of Miles from |
+--+-----------------------+----------+-----------+-----------+
34|Berecrocombe pa|Somerset |Ilminster 5|Taunton 7|
11|Bere Ferris[A] pa|Devon |Saltash 3|Plymouth 6|
12|Bere Hacket pa|Devon |Sherborne 4|Yeovil 4|
12|Bere Regis[B] m.t. & pa|Dorset |Wareham 7|Blandford 9|
+--+-----------------------+----------+-----------+-----------+
|Dist.|
Map|Names of Places. |Number of Miles from |Lond.|Population.
+--+-----------------------+----------------------+-----+------+
34|Berecrocombe pa|Somerton 12| 135| 182|
11|Bere Ferris[A] pa|Tavistock 8| 215| 1876|
12|Bere Hacket pa|Beaminster 12| 121| 110|
12|Bere Regis[B] m.t. & pa|Dorchester 12| 113| 1170|
+--+-----------------------+----------------------+-----+------+
[A] BERE FERRIS. This parish is situated south by west from Tavistock.
Here, observes Risdon, "lieth Ley, the ancient possession of a family so
called, whence the name tooke that honor; for from hence Sir James Ley,
Knt., Lord Chief Justice of England, and High Treasurer, created
afterwards Earle of Marlborough, descended; a lawgiver in the chief
place of justice, and a preserver of venerable antiquity, whose noble
thoughts were so fixed on virtue, and his discourses embellished with
wisdome, and his heart with integrity, that his words did never bite,
nor his actions wrong any man, to give him just cause of complaynt."
Amongst several ancient monuments in Bere-Ferris Church, is one under an
arched recess, of a cross-legged knight half inclined on his right side,
with his right hand on his sword; and another of a knight and his lady,
under a richly ornamented arch in the chancel. Among the figures painted
on the east window is that of William Ferrers, who was probably the
builder of this fabric, as he is represented kneeling, and holding the
model of a church in his hand.
[Sidenote: A honest lawyer.]