tiful a piece of water, or to lose the excellent fish it produces."* The supporters of the plan argue that the general healthfulness of the neighbourbood would be improved by it; whilst at the same time, a considerable extent of fertile land would be added to the surrounding estates. Most of the Meres are visited by abundance of wild fowl.

The principal Land-owners in this county in the Norman times, as recorded in the Domesday Book, were the King; the Bishops of Lincoln and Constance; the Abbots of Ely, Croyland, Ramsey, Thorney, and Peterborough; the Countess Judith, Sheriff Eustace, Earl Eustace, Earl of Ow, Earl Hugh, Walter Giffard, William de Warren, Hugh de Bolebec, Eudo Fitz-Hubert, Swain of Essex, Roger de Iveri, Arnulf de Hesding, Gilbert de Gaunt, Aubery de Ver, Ralph Fitz-Osmund, and Rothais, wife of Richard FitzGilbert.

Richard Cœur de Lion granted a tythe of the Hares, Foxes, &c. caught in this county, to the Abbey at Peterborough, by the following charter. Richardus Dei Gratia Rex Ange, Dux Norman. Aquit. Comes Audeg. Justic. Vic. Forestariis & omnibus ministris & fidelibus suis Francis & Anglis Salutem. Sciatis nos concessisse & Carta istâ confirmasse, Abbati de Burgo, & Monachis ibm. Deo servientibus totam Decimam totius Venationis, quæ capietur in Huntingdonscire quicunq'. eam ceperit, in perpetuum ; et quod liceat eis venari Leporem, Vulpem, & Catum: Salva alið Venatione nostra. Et Ideo prohibemus ne aliquis eos inde impediat, nec Decimam predictam eis detineat. Et precipimus Forestariis, ut unusquisq'. in Ballivâ suâ, eis Decimam suam habere faciat. T. Waltero Archiepiscopo Rothom. 24 Die Martii, apud Rothom.

Z 2

• Stone's Gen. View, p. 8.

The

The following summary of the Population, &c. of Huntingdon

shire, is taken from the returns made to the House of Commons,

HUNTINGDON,

CALLED Huntandene in the Saxon Chronicle,* and Huntantun in other ancient writings, is the principal town in this county. It is situated on the northern side of the river Ouse, on gently-rising ground, and is nearly connected by three bridges and a causeway with the village of Godmanchester, 'whence it sprung,' according to Camden. Henry of Huntingdon, the Archdeacon, and Historian, describes it as "surpassing all the neighbouring towns both in pleasantness of situation, beauty of buildings, nearness to the fens, and plenty of game and fish."

Most writers agree with Camden in respect to the origin of this town; and like him, also, have placed the DUROLIPONTE of Antoninus at Godmanchester; yet the nature of the ground affords decisive evidence that the Roman station could not have been at that village, but was rather at Huntingdon, where the entrenchments yet remaining show the works to have been very strong and extensive. It is true that these works are generally referred to times long subsequent to the Roman period; yet even Camden's own testimony may be urged in support of the opinion, that they had a far more remote origin than is commonly assigned. "On the river near the Bridge," he observes, "which is fair built of stone, are to be seen the mount and site of a CASTLE, which, in the year 917, King Edward the Elder built anew; and David, the Scot, (to whom, according to an ancient historian, King Stephen Z 3 gave

* Chron. p. 107, 109, 119. The "Public Seale" calls it "Huntersdune, or Hunterizdune; that is, the Hill or Downe of Hunters, as Henry of Huntingdon interpreteth it; whence it useth in their common seal, an Hunter." Baker's MSS. Vol. XXXVI. from a MS. indorsed Cotton, and supposed to have been Sir Robert Cotton's; but if it were his,' says the copyist, the additions are more than the original manuscript. Ibid. In the Domesday Book this town is called Huntedone.

+ Brit. Vol. II. p. 153. Edit. 1789.

* Whenever this manuscript is again referred to in the ensuing pages, it will be by the words Cotton MS. and the extracts will be given from a copy pur posely made, and in my possession. E. W. B.

The following summary of the Population, &c. of Huntingdon

shire, is taken from the returns made to the House of Commons,

HUNTINGDON,

CALLED Huntandene in the Saxon Chronicle,* and Huntantun in other ancient writings, is the principal town in this county. It is situated on the northern side of the river Ouse, on gently-rising ground, and is nearly connected by three bridges and a causeway with the village of Godmanchester, 'whence it sprung,' according to Camden. Henry of Huntingdon, the Archdeacon, and Historian, describes it as "surpassing all the neighbouring towns both in pleasantness of situation, beauty of buildings, nearness to the fens, and plenty of game and fish."

Most writers agree with Camden in respect to the origin of this town; and like him, also, have placed the DUROLIPONTE of Antoninus at Godmanchester; yet the nature of the ground affords decisive evidence that the Roman station could not have been at that village, but was rather at Huntingdon, where the entrenchments yet remaining show the works to have been very strong and extensive. It is true that these works are generally referred to times long subsequent to the Roman period; yet even Camden's own testimony may be urged in support of the opinion, that they had a far more remote origin than is commonly assigned. “On the river near the Bridge," he observes, "which is fair built of stone, are to be seen the mount and site of a CASTLE, which, in the year 917, King Edward the Elder built anew; and David, the Scot, (to whom, according to an ancient historian, King Stephen Z 3

gave

Chron. p. 107, 109, 119. The "Public Seale" calls it “ Huntersdune, or Hunterizdune; that is, the Hill or Downe of Hunters, as Henry of Huntingdon interpreteth it; whence it useth in their common seal, an Hunter." Baker's MSS. Vol. XXXVI. from a MS. indorsed Cotton, and supposed to have been Sir Robert Cotton's; but if it were his,' says the copyist, the additions are more than the original manuscript. Ibid. In the Domesday Book this town is called Huntedone.

+ Brit. Vol. II. p. 153. Edit. 1789.

* Whenever this manuscript is again referred to in the ensuing pages, it will be by the words Cotton MS. and the extracts will be given from a copy pur posely made, and in my possession. E. W. B.