sors. About two miles westward of Over-Claybrook is a place, now called High-Cross, but which, according to some antiquaries, was the Benone, or Vennones, of the Romans. Dr. Stukeley describes this station as situated at the intersection of the two great Roman roads, "which traverse the kingdom obliquely, and seem to be the centre, as well as the highest ground in England; for from hence rivers run every way. The Foss-road went on the backside of an inn standing here, and so towards Bath. The ground hereabout is very rich, and much ebulus (an herb much sought after for the cure of dropsies,) grows here. Claybrook lane has a piece of a quickset hedge left across it, betokening one side of the Foss; which road, in this place, bears exactly N. E. and S.W. as it does upon the moor on this side of Lincoln. In the garden before the inn abovementioned, a tumulus was removed about the year 1720, under which the body of a man was found upon the plain surface; as likewise hath been under several others hereabouts and foundations of buildings have been frequently dug up along the street here, all the way to Cleycestre, through which went the great street-way, called Watling-street; for on both sides of the way have been ploughed and dug up many ancient coins, great square stones and bricks, and other rubbish of that ancient Roman building; not far from a beacon, standing upon the way now called High-Cross, of a cross which stood there some time, upon the meeting of another great way*"

A short distance west of High-Cross is a tumulus, called Cloudsley-bush; about which Dugdale offers some conjectures, but nothing explanatory has been published. The preceding observations of Dr. Stukeley, and what has been advanced by other writers, do not satisfactorily prove the existence of any considerable Roman station at this place; and therefore if the Venone of Antoninus was here, it must have been merely a small temporary station, or guard camp, on the roads. The situation is high, and the surrounding country low and flat. It is said that fifty-seven

churches may be seen from this spot, by the help of a glass.

G g 4

* Itinerarium Curiosum. edition 1724, p. 104.

At

At the intersection of the roads is the pedestal, &c. of a Cross, which was erected here in 1712, and on which are two Latin inscriptions. The following judicious remarks on the customs, manners, and dialect, of the common people of this district, by Mr. Macaulay, who published a History of Claybrook, may be amusing to many readers. The people here are much attached to Wakes; and, among the farmers and cottagers, these annual festivals are celebrated with music, dancing, feasting, and much inoffensive sport; but in the manufacturing villages “the return of the wake never fails to produce a week, at least, of idleness, intoxication, and riot: these, and other abuses, by which those festivals are so grossly perverted from the original end of their institution, render it highly desirable to all the friends of order, of decency, and of religion, that they were totally suppressed." On Plow-Monday is annually displayed a set of Morris Dancers; and the custom of ringing the Curfew is still continued here. On Shrove-Tuesday a bell rings at noon, as a signal ^for people to begin frying their pancakes. The dialect of the common people is broad, and partakes of the Anglo Saxon sounds and terms. "The letter H comes in almost on every occasion where it ought not, and is as frequently omitted where it ought to come in. The words fine, mine, and such like, are pronounced as if spelt foine, moine; and place, face, with other similar words, as if spelt pleace, feace; and in the plural sometimes you hear pleacen; closen for closes; and many other words in the same style of Saxon termination. The words there and where, are generally pronounced theere and wheere; the words mercy, deserve, &c. thus, marcy, desarve. The following peculiaritiesare also observable: uz, strongly aspirated for us; war for was, meed for maid, faither for father, e'ery for every, brig for bridge, thurrough for furrow, hawf for half, cart-rit for rut, malefactory for manufactory, inactions for anxious. The words mysen and himsen are sometimes used instead of myself and himself; the word shack is used to denote an idle, worthless vagabond; and the word ripe for one who is very profane. The following phrases

are

are common, " a power of people ;"" a hantle of money;"—"I don't know I'm sure;"—" I can't awhile as yet as." The words like and such frequently occur as expletives in conversation: for example, "If "If you don't give me my price like, I won't stay here hagling all day and such." The monosyllable as is generally substituted for that; for instance, "the last time as I called."—"I reckon as I an't one."-I imagine that I am not singular. It is common to stigmatize public characters by saying that they "set poor lights;" and to express surprise by saying, "dear heart alive!" The substantive right generally usurps the place of ought for instance, "Farmer A. has a right to pay his tax.""The assessor has a just right to give him a receipt.""Next ways, ," and "clever through," are in common use: Thus, "I shall go next ways clever through Ullesthorpe." Nigh-hand for probably, as, "He'll nigh-hand call on us." Duable, convenient or proper: thus, "the church is not served at duable hours." It is not uncommon for the wives of farmers to style their husbands Our Master, and for the husbands to call their wives Mamy; and a labourer will often distinguish his wife by calling her the O'man. There are many people now living, who well remember the time when " Goody" and "Dame". "Gaffer" and "Gammer," were in vogue among the peasantry of Leicestershire; but they are now almost universally discarded, and supplanted by Mr. and Mrs. which are indiscriminately applied to all ranks, from the squire and his lady down to Mr. and Mrs. Pauper, who flaunt in rags, and drink tea twice a day*.”

A Sunday-School was instituted in the parish of Claybrook in 1786, and is liberally supported by the contributions of the parishioners.

At KNAPTOFT, near Shearsby, and at the distance of ten miles south of Leicester, the church is in ruins, and traces of an ancient encampment are still visible. Here are also some remains of an old mansion-house, at one angle of which was a circular embattled tower.

"History and Antiquities of Claybrook."

tower. In the contiguous village of Shearsby is a salt spring, the water of which has proved serviceable iu some scorbutic complaints.

LUTTERWORTH,

Now the only market-town in this hundred, is thirteen miles south of Leicester, and had its weekly mart, with an annual fair, granted it by King Henry the Fifth, in the second year of his reign. Two other fairs have since been obtained for the town. Lutterworth is situated on the bank of the small river Swift, which, soon after leaving the town, joins the Avon. Leland describes this "towne as scant half so bigge as Lughborow; but in it there is an hospital of the foundation of two or three of the Verdounes, that were lords of auncient tyme of the towne. A good part of the landes of Verdounes be cum in processe unto the Lord-Marquise of Dorsett. And the college of Asscheley, in Warwickshire, by Nunnerton, where the late Lorde Thomas Marquise of Dorsete was buried, was of the foundation of Thomas Lorde Asteley. And all the landes and manor that the Lorde Marquise of Dorsete hath in that egge of Leicetershire, or Warwickshire, were longging sum time to the Verdounes and Astleis. There riseth certain springes in the hilles a mile from Lutterworth *."

The town of Lutterworth was formerly noted for a peculiar vassalage of its inhabitants; all of whom were obliged to grind their malt at one particular mill, and their corn at another. This custom of feudal tyranny was continued even to the year 1758, when the inhabitants obtained a decision at the Leicester assizes, empowering them to erect mills, and grind where they pleased; and had costs of suit allowed, to the amount of three hundred pounds. In the year 1631, an official order, or decree, was made, enforcing the inhabitants to "grind their corn, malt, and grits, at certain ancient water corn-mills, called the Lodge-Mills, and an ancient malt-mill, within the manor of Lutterworth." In this order

Itinerary, Vol. I. p. 21.

order it is specified, that King James was seised in his "demesne as of fee, in the right of the crown of England, of the said mills, &c. and did grant them in fee-farm unto Edward Ferrars and Francis Phillips, gentlemen, and their heirs and assigns, together with all the suit of mills, and benefit of grinding and mulcture; reserving unto his said late Majesty, his heirs and successors, for ever, the yearly rent of 51." This arbitrary decree created much litigation; and at length a person, named Bickley, possessing a little more courage and resolution than any of his neighbours, erected a mi in opposition to the old ones. Some other persons soon followed his example, and the proprietors of the" ancient mills" contested their long-established rights by a suit at law, which was terminated, as already observed, in favour of the inhabitants. In 1790 an act of parliament was passed for dividing and inclosing in this parish about 1400 acres of land; in which act Basil Earl of Denbigh and Desmond is mentioned as lord of the manor, a proprietor of considerable part of the lands, and entitled to right of common in the open fields. His Majesty is described as patron of the rectory.

Sir Thomas Cave supposes that Lutterworth formerly contained more houses than it does at present; and particularly notices Ely Gate, as standing in a place called The Ely Lane. In 1801 the town contained 277 houses, and 1652 inhabitants.

The cotton manufacture is now carried on in this town to a considerable extent; and some large buildings have been lately erected here as factories and workshops. The stocking trade is also carried on here; and many hands are employed in the business. Among the benefactions of this town, the following are entitled to particular notice. Richard Elkington, of Shawell, by Will dated May 29th, 1607, gave, in trust, to the mayor, bailiff, and burgesses of Leicester, 50l. to be lent in sums of 101. each, to five tradesmen of Lutterworth, for the term of one year, at the rate of 51. per cent. This interest to be distributed among certain poor persons, &c. The same person left a similar legacy to the town of Leicester.-Edward Sherrier, of Shawell, clerk, left