1639. A manuscript entitled “Commentaries of the Civil Wars, from 1638
to 1648,” written by Sir Henry Slingsby, bart., a royalist, intimates
the struggle, then approaching, between Charles I. and the nation. He
says, “The 3d of January, 1639, I went to Bramham-house, out of
curiosity, to see the training of the light-horse, for which service I
had sent two horses, by commandment of the lieutenant and sir Joseph
Ashley, who is lately come down, with special commission from the king
to train and exercise them. These are strange spectacles to this nation
in this age, that has lived thus long peaceably, without noise of drum
or of shot, and after we have stood neuter, and in peace, when all the
world besides hath been in arms.” The “training” was preparatory to the
war with the Scots, the resistance of the commons in parliament, and its
levies of troops to oppose the royal will.
“The armourers ---------
With busy hammers closing rivets up
Gave dreadful note of preparation.”
The conflict ended in the death of Charles on the scaffold, the
interregnum, the restoration, and the final expulsion of the Stuart
race.
~January 4.~
_St. Titus_, disciple of St. Paul. _St. Gregory_, bishop of Langres.
_St. Rigobert_ or _Robert_. _St. Rumon._
_St. Rumon._
Alban Butler informs us, from William of Malmsbury, that he was a
bishop, though of what nation or see is unknown, and that his name is in
the English martyrology. Cressy says, that his body was buried at
Tavistock, where, about 960, Ordgar, count of Devonshire, father to
Elfrida, the second wife of king Edgar, built a monastery “very
agreeable and pleasant, by reason of the great variety of woods,
pastures, and rivers abounding with fish.” St. Rumon consecrated the
church. About thirty years afterwards, the monastery was destroyed and
burnt by the Danes. It is memorable, that Edulf, a son of Ordgar, buried
in that monastery, was a man of gigantic stature, and of such wonderful
strength, that going to Exeter, and finding the gates shut and barred,
he broke the outer iron bars with his hands, burst open the gates with
his foot, tore the locks and bolts asunder, and broke down part of the
wall.