from which circumstance, his guests were wont humorously to call themselves lunaticks. In the intervals of the performance the guests refreshed themselves at a side board, which was amply furnished, and when it was over, sitting down to a bottle of wine and a decanter of excellent ale, of Mr. Caslon's own brewing, they concluded the evening's entertainment with a song or two of Purcell's, sung to the harpsichord, or a few catches; and about twelve, retired.”

HALFORD. A township in the parish of Bromfield, and in the lower division of the hundred of Munslow, a chapel to Bromfield, in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Ludlow, and archdeaconry of Salop. 10 houses, 51 inhabitants.

HALLON. A township in the parish of Worfield, and in the hundred of Brimstry. Here the Saxon Lords of Worfield, had their castle and a part of their demesne. In this township stands Davenport house, with its beautiful grounds, so much admired by the poet Shenstone, who

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Amidst these woods and lawns bad rov'd,
And oft these rural scenes approv❜d.

The residence of Valentine Vickers, Esq. 4 miles northeast of Bridgnorth.

HALL MILL. A township in the parish of Alberbury, and in the Ford division of the hundred of Ford.

HALSTONE. An extra-parochial place in the hundred of Oswestry. 4 miles south-west of Ellesmere. Halstone demesne formerly belonged to the Knights Templars or Knights of St. John, of Jerusalem. See appendix. Knights Templars. The church or chapel is of exempt jurisdiction. Halstone is the seat of John Mytton, Esq.

It is called in ancient deeds Haly Stone or Holy Stone. Near it stood the abbey, which about a century ago was taken down. It had been formerly a sanctuary. Meyric Lloyd, lord of some part of Uwch Ales, in the reign of Richard the first, would not submit to the English government, to which the hundred of Dyffryn Clwydd and several others were at that time subject; and having seized some English officers, who came there to execute the laws, put several of them to death. For this fact his lands were forfeited to the King; he himself

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filed and took sanctuary at Halston, where its possessor, John Fitz-Alan, earl of Arundel, received him under his protection. In the Saxon æra, the lordship of Halston belonged to Edric: at which time, two Welshmen and one Frenchman resided in it. After the Norman conquest, Halston became the property of an earl of Arundel, and was given by that family to the Knights of St. John, of Jerusalem. (See appendix.) In the twenty sixth year of Henry the eighth, the commandery was valued at £160 14s. 10d. a year. Upon the abolition of many of the military religious orders, Henry the eighth empowered John Sewster, Esq. to dispose of this manor to Alan Horde, who made an exchange with Edward Mytton, Esq., of Habberley, which alienation was confirmed by queen Elizabeth, The church or chapel of Halston is a donative, without any other revenue than what the chaplain is allowed by the owner, and is of exempt jurisdiction. Halston was the birth place of the celebrated General Mytton, who was born in 1608. In 1629, he married a daughter of Sir pier, Bart., of Luton, and being returned for the borough of Shrewsbury, he was, in 1645, chosen sheriff by the parliament, while Sir Francis Ottley, of Ottley park, held the same office from the King. Mytton in that capacity appointed a court to be held in Oswestry, August 27th, 1646, for the purpose of electing a representative for the County, in the room of Sir Richard Lea, of Lea Hall, Bart., who had been displaced. However, in the early part of the morning of that day, having only a few persons attending him, he secretly adjourned the meeting to Alberbury, at which place he returned his relative Mr. H. Edwards. Nearly a thousand freeholders assembled at Oswestry on this occasion, to give their suffrages in behalf of Andrew Lloyd, Esq., of Aston, of whom a great number petitioned parliament in Lloyd's favour, in consequence of the seeret proceedings of Mytton. As a soldier, Mytton was able, active, and successful, on the side of parliament, during the civil wars in the reign of Charles the first. By his courage and conduct, many strong holds in North Wales and Shropshire were subdued, and he greatly distinguished himself in several battles. The General had the honour of taking Harlech castle, the last fortress which held out for the King. An ardent love of liberty, and not ambition, seems

to have been the motive which actuated General Mytton in all his conduct. Finding that Cromwell's views were different from his own, (which were merely to curb the arbitrary designs of the monarch,) he resigned his command, and retired. General Mytton died in London, in 1656, and his remains being conveyed to Shrewsbury, were deposited in St. Chad's church.

HALSTON, HINTON, and FARLEY. A township in the parish of Pontesbury, and in the Pontesbury division of the hundred of Ford. Farley is 7 miles south-west of Shrewsbury.

HAMPTON, (Welsh). A parish in the Ellesmere division of the hundred of Pimhill, a curacy, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, the deanery of Salop, and archdeaconry of Salop. It formerly belonged to the Knights Templars. Part of Welshhampton is in the parish of Ellesmere. 21 miles north-east by east of Ellesmere. 75 houses, 478 inhabitants. HANWOOD, GREAT. See Great Hanwood.

HANWOOD, LITTLE. A township partly in the parish of St. Mary, partly in the parish of Ford, and in the liberties of Shrewsbury.

HARCOURT. A township in the parish of Stottesden, and in the Cleobury division of the hundred of Stottesden.

HARCOURT; or HARCOT. A township in the parish of Stanton upon Hine-heath, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, North, 4 miles south-east of Wem. 5 houses, 34 inhabitants.

HARDWICK. A township, in the parish of Ellesmere, and in the Ellesmere division of the hundred of Pimhill. The seat of the Rev. Sir Edward Kynaston, bart. 1 mile south-west of Ellesmere.

HARDWICK SHOTTON. A township in the parish of Middle, and in the liberties of Shrewsbury. 5 miles north-east by north of Shrewsbury. The seat of General Lord Hill. See appendix.

HARLEY. A township in the franchise of Wenlock. See Wigway, and Harley.

HARLEY. A parish partly in the franchise of Wenlock, and partly in the Cound division of the hundred of Condover, a