Bygone Cumberland And Westmorland - The Original Classic Edition. Daniel Scott

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СКАЧАТЬ warrants, one for the keeping of watch, and the other for the

       commitment of a person apprehended by the watch, while there is also a copy of an indictment for not watching. This was no mere

       matter of form; for hundreds of years after King Edward instituted the system it was the chief safeguard against robbery, and in a

       great many places against incursions of the enemy.

       At Kendal watch and ward was strictly maintained, not for the purpose of keeping out marauding Scots or other undesirable characters, but for the maintenance of quiet and order in the streets. In 1575 the Mayor and burgesses of Kendal made the following order with reference to the watching of the borough:--

       "It is ordered and constituted by the Alderman and head burgesses of this borough of Kirkby Kendal, that from henceforth nightly in the same borough at all times in the year, there shall be kept and continued one sufficient watch, the same to begin at nine of the clock of the night, and to continue until four of the clock in the morning, in which watch always there shall be six persons, viz.,[Pg

       18] two for Sowtergate, two for Marketstead and Stricklandgate, and two for Stramagate, to be taken and going by course in every constablewick one after the other, and taking their charge and watchword nightly off the constables or their deputies, severally as in old times hath been accustomed; which six persons so appointed watchmen nightly shall be tall, manlike men, having and bearing with them in the same watch every one a halberd, ravenbill, axe, or other good and sufficient iron bound staff or weapon, sallett or scull upon every one his head, whereby the better made able to lay hands upon and apprehend the disordered night walkers, mal-

       efactors, and suspicious persons, and to prevent and stay other inconveniences, and shall continually use to go from place to place

       and through street and street within the borough during all the time appointed for their watch, upon pain to forfeit and lose to the

       Chamber of this borough for every default these pains ensuing, that is to say, every householder chargeable with the watch for his

       default 3s. 4d., and every watchman for his default such fine and punishment as shall be thought meet by the Alderman and head

       burgesses."

       Shortly before the end of 1582 the foregoing order was repealed and another regulation substituted. The material part was in the following quaint terms, the original spelling being observed:

       6

       "And shall contynnally goo and walk ffrome place to place in and throughe suche streete within the same boroughe as they shal be opoyntyd and assigned by the Constabull or his deputy then settinge the watch that is to say ij of them in everie suche streete in companye together[Pg 19] as they may be apoynted ffor their sayd watche vpon payne to forfeyte and losse to the Chamber of this Bourgh for everie fault dewly pved theis payns ensuinge that is to say everie householder and wedow and bachler Chargeable wth the watche for his default xijd and every watchman ffor his default such ffyne and punnyshmt as shal be thought mete by the Alderman or his deputye ffrome tyme to tyme beinge."

       At Carlisle and several other places the rules for the watch were among the most interesting and important items in the whole of

       the rules concerning local government. On the coast at times very vigorous action was both required and taken. At Whitehaven, in

       February, 1793, a meeting of the authorities was held "in consequence of the daring attempts made by the enemy in other places and

       the dangers to which the port was formerly exposed." Orders were issued for mounting all the heavy guns, and for procuring am-

       munition and other stores. Thirty-six weapons were mounted in six batteries; governors of these batteries were appointed, with other

       officers. A nightly watch was set, and every precaution taken to prevent a surprise, or to resist any attack which might be made on the

       port. Fortunately the precautions were not put to the test.

       [Pg 20]Coming down to a much later period, but still connected with the protection of the two counties, a curious incident may be

       recalled, if for no other reason than that it is impossible for such a contretemps ever to occur again. In 1807, after a ballot for the

       Cumberland Militia, Penrith being the headquarters, an order arrived for the recruits to be marched up to the regiment. They were,

       wrote an eye witness, accordingly mustered for that purpose in marching order, and, followed by many of the populace, arrived at

       Eamont Bridge, where the sister counties of Cumberland and Westmorland divide. Here there was a sudden halt. They would not

       cross the bridge without their county guinea. After some altercation, and promises by Colonel Lacy and other gentlemen that they

       should be paid on joining the regiment, which promises were of no avail, they were counter-marched to Penrith. For three succes-

       sive days they were thus marched, and still halted at the division of the counties. The lower orders of the populace took part with

       the soldiers, and a riot ensued, in which Colonel Lacy, the commanding officer, was very roughly handled. The consequence was

       that a troop of Enniskillen Dragoons was sent for from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and[Pg 21] arrived in Penrith on the morning of the

       third day. A hard black frost was set in at the time, and the horses being "slape shod," they were falling in every direction. They were

       marched along with the recruits, who again stopped at the bridge. The populace was still unruly; the dragoons loaded their firepieces;

       the Riot Act was read, and the word "March" was given; but it was of no avail. A general cry was then raised that they would be

       satisfied with the promise of Colonel Hasell of Dalemain, but of no other man. Mr. Hasell came forward, and in a short, manly ad-

       dress, gave his promise that they should be paid on joining the regiment, and with cheers for the Colonel, they at once marched off.

       [Pg 22]

       Fighting Bishops and Fortified Churches.

       THE ecclesiastical history of Cumberland and Westmorland is curiously interwoven with that of secular affairs. This to a large extent arises from the geographical position of the diocese of Carlisle--and particularly of the diocese before its extension in 1856, up to which year it was the smallest in England. The Bishop of Carlisle in bygone centuries had always to take a leading part in fighting schemes, and as the churches would be the only substantial structures in some villages, they naturally came to be put to other uses

       than those of worship.

       The bishopric was indeed a unique district. Carlisle was the great Border fortress of the West Marches; the Bishop was invariably a Lord Marcher, and often Captain of the Castle. In copies which Halucton (Halton) caused to be extracted from the Great Roll of the Exchequer, frequent references are made to expenses incurred during a siege. These are believed to refer to 1295-6, when the Earl of Buchan and Wallace assailed the city, and when the Bishop was[Pg 23] apparently Warden. The ecclesiasts during many hundreds of years must have been almost as familiar with the touch of armour as with that of their sacred robes. Writing on this subject over a century ago a Cumberland authority СКАЧАТЬ