draw-bridges, several houses in St. Edmund's End were pulled down to prevent a lodgment of the and additional works were thrown up in the most defenceless places.

enemy,

At what period Northampton was first inclosed with a wall, it cannot be acurately ascertained. It is supposed that the walls were raised by Simon de St. Liz the elder, when he built the castle and repaired the town. In the sixth year of Edward I. it appears they were embattled, and at different places had steps to ascend them; the inhabitants, as stated in the record, when infirm or indisposed, being accustomed to take the air upon the walls, or in the winter season to pass by these means from one part of the town to another; they were broad enough for six persons to walk abreast. There were also four gates to the town, which, from their situation, were named the South, East, North, and West gates. Over the South, West, and North were chambers, inhabited by poor people; the East gate, much the best of the four, was large and high, embellished with shields of arms, and other ornaments of stonework. Immediately without the South gate stood St. Thomas's Hospital; and to the South of the East gate was a smaller gate called the Dern-gate, on the road leading to the river.

A little without the west gate stood the castle, upon very high ground, overlooking the meadows, St. James's abbey, and the country about Duston. On the western side of it run that branch of the Nyne which came from Naseby; on the other sides it was encompassed with a deep trench. The keep was large, and bulwarks of earth were raised before the gate. It was built by Simon de St. Liz, the first of that name Earl of Northampton, in the reign of the Conqueror; but no mention being made of it in Doomsday book, it appears not to have been completed till after that survey was taken. In Henry the Second's reign it was possessed by the crown; but in the civil war of 1264, between Henry the Third and his nobles, it was occupied by the confederate barons, under the Earl of Leicester, whose son, Simon de Montford, was governor. The King having received considerable reinforcements besieged the castle with great vigour; but the situation and strength of the fortress, with the undaunted courage of the garrison, baffled all the efforts of the royal troops, and convinced them that force was totally inadequate to their arduous enterprize. At length recourse was had to the following stratagem, which effectually served their purpose. While the barons were engaged in a parley, under pretence of a nego

ciation, a chosen body of the royal forces was dispatched to make a breach in the walls at the opposite extremity of the town. The plan succeeded; and the garrison, thus taken by surprise, were, after displaying the greatest courage, completely defeated, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Within the castle was a royal free chapel, dedicated to St. George. Before the year 1675 the castle was used as the county gaol; part of a round bastion on the south side, formerly the prison, and now called the Castle Ring, is still standing. Part also of a bastion on the east, and another on the west, were pulled down a few years ago. Here likewise were kept the two courts of justice, at some distance from each other; the Nisi prius court joining the west end, or entrance of the chapel. The ground inclosed within the walls is about three acres. In 1662, pursuant to an order of the king and privy council, the walls and gates, and part of the castle were demolished. It appears indeed from the account given by Norden, who lived in 1593, that the castle was even at that time much decayed, and the walls in a defenceless state. "This towne," says he, faire towne, "with many faire old buildings, large streets, and a

66

❝ is a

very ample and faire markett-place; it is walled "about with a wall of stone, but meane too of

strength; neare unto the towne there standeth an "eminent castle ruynous."

In the year 1535 a market-cross was erected on the market-hill, and burnt down in 1675. It was of an octagonal form, consisting of eight large wood pillars, ornamented with carved work, and resting upon a stone pedestal, at the height of two feet from the ground; from each pillar was turned an arch of wood as a support to the roof; in the middle were three circular steps of stone, from whence a small pair of stairs led up into a lanthorn or chamber, in which was kept the standard bushel, and other utensils belonging to the market. The whole building was covered with lead and embattled, and on the several squares were plates of lead, wrought with figures and gilt, and upon the top of ape holding an iron rod with a vane. before the erection of this cross, the square was paved for the conveniency of holding the market. In earlier times it was held in the place called the Mayor-hold, or perhaps more truly the Market-hold. Since that period an obelisk has been erected, which becoming a nuisance, it was removed, and a handsome pump now occupies its place. On the south of the market-place is the old conduit, built in 1478, and supplied with water, brought to it in pipes, from

each was an

A few years

the spring called the conduit head, in a field on the east of the town. Over this conduit was formerly a hall, in which the several trades, who had constituticns or companies, used to meet, for regulating offences committed to the injury of their business, and against their respective constitutions.

On the 6th of May, 1663, Northampton and its neighbourhood were visited with a most dreadful storm of thunder and rain, which occasioned an extraordinary flood, much higher than was ever known before; it is recorded by the name of the May flood. Many houses and walls were washed down by the water, which flowed into the town as far as St. John's hospital. It burst the west bridge, and forced away the two chief arches of the South bridge; upon the repairing of which the two arches were converted into a large one.

In 1675 Northampton was almost consumed by a dreadful fire, which laid the greatest part of the town in ashes, as most of the houses at that time were composed of timber, and which seems to have been the principal cause of so wide and rapid a devastation.

The following account of this dreadful and distressing calamity has been copied from an ancient manuscript :