Chapter XXV: Appendix: No. I (7)

{272b} Since writing the above, I have again (on the 28th January, 1850) visited the old hall at Handford, and examined the escutcheon there, under circumstances more favourable for examination; and I ascertained that it contains on the dexter side, 1st and 4th the arms, as above described, of Brereton proper; 2nd and 3rd, a cheveron between three crescents; and on the sinister side the wife’s arms, as above described.

{273a} Edmondson’s _Heraldry_, vol. ii., where the crescent is (as to some, at least, of the Cheshire Breretons) stated to be “charged with a mullet, or.” Edmondson also states that the muzzle of the crest (Bear’s head and neck) is “studded or.” Ormerod also mentions an additional crest of this branch of the family, “a Griphon with wings elevated gules, standing on a chapeau gules, turned up or;” but if so, it is not introduced at the old hall.

{273b} The ancient family of Praers was of Barthomley, and also of Baddiley, in Cheshire, now extinct. John Honford, of Honford, married Margery, daughter of William Praers, of Baddiley, Sheriff of Cheshire in 23rd Edward III.—Ormerod, vol. iii. pp. 162, 327.

{273c} On again inspecting it (on 28th January, 1850), I ascertained that the crest is charged, on the neck, with a cross crosslet, seemingly (for it is not distinct) within an annulet or a crescent.

{274} In consequence of his death, on the 15th of June, 1852, after this paper was written, the estate now belongs to the author.

{275} Prior to the erection of the bridge, there however was, and had been, as far back as could be recollected, a plank, with a handrail, over the stream, by which foot-passengers could cross.

{279a} Ormerod’s _Cheshire_, vol. iii. p. 322. He afterwards, in a note (_ibid._ p. 328), gives the following, as a description (from the original grant) of the crest:—“Crest, on a wreath, an eagle’s head couped or, holding in its beak an eagle’s leg and claws, unguled gules.”

{279b} It is fair to conclude, from the occurrence of those initials and of the rebus, that the date of the erection of the chapel may have been coeval with the building of Handford Hall, in 1562.

{281a} Small round-headed arches, very similar to those on the staircase of Handford Hall, are to be seen, carved on the pulpit of Wilmslow Church, and on the back of the ancient pew (which has the date 1557) in the Booth or Earl of Stamford’s Chapel, in the chancel; but the arches are of course not cut through the wood, in either instance, in Wilmslow Church, as they are on the staircase of Handford Hall.

{283a} The letter upon the office of Keeper of the Menagerie in the Tower of London, in the reign of Edward IV., was read before a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of London, on the 29th of November, 1849, and the thanks of the meeting were voted for it to the author.

{283b} Richard Duke of Gloucester became King Richard III. on the 18th of June, 1483.—See Chaps. VII. and VIII.

{287a} The paper upon the probable period of the extinction of Wolves in England, was read by the author in person, before a meeting of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool on the 15th of December, 1856, and the thanks of the meeting were voted for it to him.

{287b} Pennant’s _British Zoology_, vol. i. p. 65, and the authorities there cited.

{287c} Goldsmith’s _Natural History_, vol. iii. p. 180; Coke’s _Institutes_, vol. iv. p. 316; Pennant’s _British Zoology_, vol. i. p. 48. By our cruel forest laws after the Conquest, the penalty for killing a stag or boar, was the loss of eyes.—Hallam’s _View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages_, vol. ii. 8th edition, 8vo, p. 94. Charles I. turned out wild boars in the New Forest, Hampshire, but they were all destroyed in the civil wars.—Pennant’s _British Zoology_, vol. i. p. 48. An attempt was made in the last century, to reintroduce wild swine into England, for some were turned loose by General Howe, in his forests in Hampshire; but the attempt was a failure, for the country people destroyed them.—Bingley’s _British Quadrupeds_, p. 449.

{288a} Pennant’s _British Quadrupeds_, vol. i. p. 86. Holinshed, in his _Chronicles_, written in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, states that the beaver was to be met with in Scotland, at the time when he wrote. “There are likewise martins, bevers, foxes, and wezels.”—See his _Description of Scotland_, vol. ii. p. 11.

{288b} Leland’s _Itinerary_, vol. vii. pp. 16 [28], and 63 [81].

{288c} It is said to have been killed by Sir Ewen Cameron.—See Pennant’s _British Zoology_, vol. i. p. 63, and the authorities there cited; Pennant’s _History of Quadrupeds_, vol. i. p. 231.

{288d} Pennant’s _British Zoology_, vol. i. p. 64; Pennant’s _History of Quadrupeds_, vol. i. p. 231, citing Smith’s _History of Cork_, vol. ii. p. 226. But in _Notes and Queries_, published in 1856, 2nd series, No. 14, p. 282, and No. 32, p. 120, correspondents state, that wolves were not extinct in the mountains of Wicklow, until many years after 1710.

{289} Camden’s _Magna Britannia_, Gough’s edition, vol. iii. p. 16.

{290a} Camden’s _Magna Britannia_, Gough’s edition, vol. iii. p. 445, under the title “Strathnavern.”

{290b} _Ibid._, vol. iii. p. 464.

{290c} Camden’s _Magna Britannia_, Gough’s edition, vol. iii. p. 16.

{291a} Hume’s _History of England_, vol. i., quarto edition, p. 136.

{291b} Brougham’s _Lives of Men of Letters and Science of the Time of George III._, p. 216.

{292a} Dr. Whitaker’s _History of Whalley_, 3rd edition, p. 200 (note), referring to Burton’s _Monast. Ebor._ under _Fors Abbey_; Dr. Whitaker’s _History of Richmondshire_, vol. i. p. 409. It is remarkable that so laborious and talented an antiquary as Dr. Whitaker, states that the above was the last positive evidence which he had met with of the existence of wolves in England. He also disputes the vulgar opinion of their extirpation by Edgar.

{292b} Dugdale’s _Baronage_, vol. i. p. 504.

{292c} _Ibid._, p. 701.

{293} _Fædera_ (modern edition), tome i. pt. ii. p. 591; _ibid._ folio edition of 1705, tome ii. p. 168.

{294a} Dugdale’s _Baronage_, vol. i. p. 466.

{294b} Camden’s _Mag. Britannia_, Gough’s edition, vol. ii. p. 302; Lysons’ _Mag. Brit._, title Derbyshire, pp. clxix and 280, quoting Dodsworth’s _Collections from Exchequer Records_.

{294c} Dugdale’s _Baronage_, vol. i. p. 549.

{294d} _Ibid._ p. 466.

{295a} Dugdale’s _Baronage_, vol. i. p. 467.

{295b} Baker’s _Chronicles_, fo. 218. We cannot reasonably doubt that the wild boar, being a favourite beast of chase, and not being so destructive an animal as the wolf, would remain in this country a considerable time after the wolf was destroyed.

{297} Coke’s _Institutes of the Laws of England_, vol. iv. pp. 315, 316.

{298} Camden states that when he wrote wolves did not appear in England (_Mag. Britannia_, Gough’s edit. vol. iii. p. 16); but, as there were then abundance of them in Scotland, it was clear that they could not be prevented from roaming from thence into England, and breeding there.

{315a} Of Speke Hall, according to Banks, vol. ii. p. 395.

{315b} He was of Cornwall, according to Carte, vol. ii. p. 829.

{321} The errata has been applied in this transcription.—DP.

{323} John Stafford, a younger son of Humphrey Stafford, first Duke of Buckingham, was created Earl of Wiltshire in the ninth year, and died in the thirteenth year, of Edward IV.