Post by Daniel Silk on Aug 1, 2009 12:30:20 GMT
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he city of Exeter
The city of Exeter is situated in the hundred of Wonford and in the deanery of Christianity or Exeter, on the great western road to Plymouth, Falmouth, and the Land's End, 173 miles from London. (fn. 1)
The ancient British name of this city, as well as of the town of Usk in Monmouthshire, was Caerwisc; by the Romans they were both called Isca; and to distinguish them, the latter had the additional appellation of Silurum, whilst Exeter was called Isca Danmoniorum. The river Exe is the foundation both of its Roman and English name, and the river itself, as well as the rivers Usk and Eske, are all derived from an ancient British word signifying water. One of our old historians (fn. 2) , who tells us that Caerwisc was the British name for Exeter, explains it to mean civitas aquœ.
The earliest event relating to this city mentioned by any of our historians is its having been besieged by Vespasian. We are told that after seven days the siege was raised by Arviragus, but Camden says, that so far from believing Geoffrey of Monmouth, by whom this was first related, he scarcely thought that Exeter was then built. That it was afterwards, if not at so early a period, in the possession of the Romans, is abundantly evident, however, from the antiquities belonging to that nation which have been found there. In 633, we are told that Penda, king of the Mercians, besieged Exeter, then held by Brien, nephew of Cadwallo, the last king of the Britons: the historian adds, that Cadwallo after a time came to its relief, and fought a battle here with Penda, who was defeated and taken prisoner. (fn. 3) In the year 876, after the Danes had broken their treaty with King Alfred, a part of their army came to Exeter, and there wintered. The year following the Danish horse, which had wintered at Wareham, joined their countrymen at Exeter, having been pursued by Alfred to the gates of the city: the remainder of their army, going by sea, encountered a storm, in which 120 of their ships were lost. The Danes again made a treaty with the English monarch, which, in this instance, they are said to have kept. After having remained at Exeter a whole year, the Danes removed into Mercia. (fn. 4) In 888 we hear of another Danish army at Exeter (fn. 5) ; and in 894 it was again besieged by those barbarous invaders, and relieved by Alfred. (fn. 6)
King Athelstan, who succeeded to the English throne in 926, drove the Britons, who had for many years inhabited this city jointly with the Saxons, out of Exeter, and compelled them to retreat beyond the Tamar. After this he fortified the city with towers and a wall of hewn stone. The historian represents Exeter to have been, at that time, in a state of decay, and the surrounding country barren and unproductive. In consequence of Athelstan's patronage, and the great influx of strangers which ensued, the city rapidly increased in wealth and prosperity, and we are told that it afforded every thing that could be desired for the use of man. (fn. 7) This great monarch is said to have built a castle at Exeter for his own residence (fn. 8) : that he sometimes resided there is certain, for Exeter is one of the three places where his celebrated laws were instituted; indeed he himself speaks of having held a great council of the nation at Exeter for that purpose. (fn. 9) By him the city is said to have been divided into the four wards which still exist.
In the year 1001 the Danes besieged Exeter, but it was valiantly defended by the citizens, who repelled the enemy in a general assault. (fn. 10) The author of the Saxon Chronicle, who does not mention the siege of Exeter, tells us that the Danes, during an incursion into Devonshire, burnt Pinhoe and several other villages, and that they had a battle with Cola, the King's commander-in-chief, and Eadsig another of his generals, in which the invaders were victorious. The victory of the Danes is mentioned also by the author of the Mailros Chronicle, and by Matthew of Westminster; but it does not appear that Exeter then fell into their hands. In 1003, Swain, the Danish king, again besieged Exeter, which was surrendered to him through the treachery, or, as some say, the neglect, of Hugh the Norman, then governor of the city, and sheriff of the county, who, far from experiencing any favour at their hands, was carried away in chains. The Danes took ample revenge for their former failure; they plundered the inhabitants, burnt every thing that was combustible, levelled the walls and bulwarks, and almost wholly destroyed the city (fn. 11) ; which is suppossed to have lain in ruins till the reign of Canute, who took it into his favour and protection. King Edward the Confessor was at Exeter with his queen, Editha, in 1050. (fn. 12)
King William the Conqueror was scarcely seated on his throne when the citizens of Exeter, impatient of a foreign yoke, rebelled against him, and made every possible preparation for defence. The King, on receiving intimation of their proceedings, marched towards Exeter with his army, accompanied by some of the chief English nobility. Certain leading men of the city hastened to the King's camp, besought his pardon, and having promised fealty, and that they would receive him with open gates, gave such hostages as he required. Notwithstanding this, when they returned to their fellow-citizens, they found them resolved upon an obstinate resistance. The King, who was then encamped four miles from the city, hearing of this their breach of promise, rode forwards with 500 horse, and finding the gates shut, and the walls and bulwarks manned with a great force, he gave orders for his army to advance, and caused the eyes of one of the hostages to be put out before the city gates. The citizens, nevertheless, without any regard to the safety of the other hostages, or fear for themselves, defended the place with the utmost obstinacy for several days, till at length finding that all opposition would be ineffectual, after holding a council, they resolved to throw themselves upon the King's mercy; and the chief men of the city, with its youth and beauty, and the clergy carrying the sacred volumes, went in procession, and threw themselves at his feet. Their reception exceeded their most sanguine hopes; a free pardon was immediately granted them, with protection from plunder. To prevent future rebellion, however, the King thought it expedient to build a castle there, the oversight of which work, and its future government, he committed to the care of Baldwin de Moles (fn. 13) , son of Earl Gilbert, and other select knights. The King then went into Cornwall. (fn. 14) Githa, Harold's mother, and sister to Swein, King of Denmark, is said to have been in Exeter when the King first laid siege to it, but made her escape, and got over to Flanders. (fn. 15)
Two years after this the disaffected Saxons attempted to possess themselves of Exeter, but the citizens, mindful of the event of their opposition to the King in 1067, held the city against them. The King sent two earls, William and Brien, to their relief, and the citizens having joined their forces, the Saxons were defeated with great slaughter. (fn. 16) In 1088 Exeter is said to have been laid waste by the adherents of Robert Duke of Normandy, under the command of Robert Fitz Baldwin. (fn. 17)
Soon after Stephen's usurpation of the throne (fn. 18) , Baldwin de Redvers, or Rivers, Earl of Devon, who was the first to oppose his elevation, fortified the castle of Exeter against him. Stephen immediately advanced with a great army, and was received by the citizens within their walls with the greatest joy. The Earl, who had shut himself up in the castle with his countess, his children, and all his adherents, among whom were some of the most distinguished young men of the realm, made a most gallant defence; and although the besieging army availed themselves of every kind of military engine then in use (fn. 19) , and had succeeded so far as to take the barbican by assault, and to batter down the bridge which formed a communication between the castle and the city, they held out three months; but were at length compelled to capitulate for want of water. The King is said to have expended not less than 15,000 marks upon this siege. When he left Exeter, he committed the custody of the castle and the county to his brother, Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester. Roger de Hoveden blames Stephen for the lenity with which he treated the citizens after their capitulation. King Henry II. granted them several privileges as a reward for their attachment to his mother, and gave them the custody of the castle.
During the whole reign of King John, Exeter, with its governor, Robert de Courtenay, continued loyal to that monarch. In 1216 he had the King's licence to take in William de Brewer and his forces, if he thought his own, with the aid of the citizens, insufficient to defend the city. Although it does not appear that he had shown any symptoms of disloyalty to his successor, yet the jealousy of the times deeming it improper that so important a fortress should be in the hands of a subject, the custody of the castle and city of Exeter, which had so long been hereditary in his family, was taken from Robert de Courtenay, and given to Peter de Rivaux. (fn. 20)
King Edward I. and his queen kept their Christmas at Exeter in 1285, remaining fifteen days at the Blackfriers. Izacke relates that during their residence in the city the murder of Walter de Lechlade, the precentor, was investigated; and the late mayor, who had borne that office for eight years, with four others, condemned to death. (fn. 21) King Edward visited Exeter again in 1297. (fn. 22) In "the year 1357 Edward the Black Prince having gained the memorable battle of Poictiers, landed on his return at Plymouth, whence coming to Exeter with his prisoner, John King of France, and his youngest son, was received with great demonstrations of joy; and the Prince and his illustrious prisoners treated for three days with great magnificence. (fn. 23) In 1371, when returning from France in a declining state of health, he again visited Exeter with his Princess, and they were entertained at the mayor's house for several days. (fn. 24)
King Henry VI. visited this city in the month of July, 1451, and remained eight days at the bishop's palace, during which time a gaol delivery was held in the hall of the palace, and two men condemned, whom the king released upon the remonstrances of the bishop and clergy, who protested against the temporal authority which the king had exercised within the sanctuary of the church. (fn. 25) In the year 1469, the Duchess of Clarence with Lord Dinham, Lord Fitzwarren, and Lord Carew, who took part with Henry VI. came to Exeter: the Duchess, who was then pregnant, lodged in the bishop's palace. Sir William Courtenay, one of King Edward's generals, besieged the city, which was for some time resolutely defended by the mayor and citizens. After twelve days, by the mediation of the clergy, the siege was raised (fn. 26) , and shortly afterwards ensued the battle of Losecote in Lincolnshire. The Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, having heard of the unfortunate issue of that battle, fled to Exeter on the 3d of April, 1470, where they were entertained in the Bishop's palace, till a ship was got ready at Dartmouth to take them to Calais. The king having been advertised of their intentions, pursued them with his army, and on the 14th of the same month, the fugitives, having in the mean time quitted it, reached Exeter with a numerous train of nobles, knights, and gentlemen. In 1471, previously to the battle of Tewksbury, the Lancastrians of Devon and Cornwall, under the command of Sir John Arundell and Sir Hugh Courtenay, mustered at Exeter, whence they marched to the fatal field. (fn. 27) Some time after this, King Edward with his Queen and the infant Prince are said to have visited Exeter, where they were entertained by the mayor, who presented the King with a purse of 100 nobles, and the Queen and Prince with 20l. each. The King, at his departure, presented the mayor with a sword to be carried before him and his successors, on all public occasions. (fn. 28)
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he city of Exeter
The city of Exeter is situated in the hundred of Wonford and in the deanery of Christianity or Exeter, on the great western road to Plymouth, Falmouth, and the Land's End, 173 miles from London. (fn. 1)
The ancient British name of this city, as well as of the town of Usk in Monmouthshire, was Caerwisc; by the Romans they were both called Isca; and to distinguish them, the latter had the additional appellation of Silurum, whilst Exeter was called Isca Danmoniorum. The river Exe is the foundation both of its Roman and English name, and the river itself, as well as the rivers Usk and Eske, are all derived from an ancient British word signifying water. One of our old historians (fn. 2) , who tells us that Caerwisc was the British name for Exeter, explains it to mean civitas aquœ.
The earliest event relating to this city mentioned by any of our historians is its having been besieged by Vespasian. We are told that after seven days the siege was raised by Arviragus, but Camden says, that so far from believing Geoffrey of Monmouth, by whom this was first related, he scarcely thought that Exeter was then built. That it was afterwards, if not at so early a period, in the possession of the Romans, is abundantly evident, however, from the antiquities belonging to that nation which have been found there. In 633, we are told that Penda, king of the Mercians, besieged Exeter, then held by Brien, nephew of Cadwallo, the last king of the Britons: the historian adds, that Cadwallo after a time came to its relief, and fought a battle here with Penda, who was defeated and taken prisoner. (fn. 3) In the year 876, after the Danes had broken their treaty with King Alfred, a part of their army came to Exeter, and there wintered. The year following the Danish horse, which had wintered at Wareham, joined their countrymen at Exeter, having been pursued by Alfred to the gates of the city: the remainder of their army, going by sea, encountered a storm, in which 120 of their ships were lost. The Danes again made a treaty with the English monarch, which, in this instance, they are said to have kept. After having remained at Exeter a whole year, the Danes removed into Mercia. (fn. 4) In 888 we hear of another Danish army at Exeter (fn. 5) ; and in 894 it was again besieged by those barbarous invaders, and relieved by Alfred. (fn. 6)
King Athelstan, who succeeded to the English throne in 926, drove the Britons, who had for many years inhabited this city jointly with the Saxons, out of Exeter, and compelled them to retreat beyond the Tamar. After this he fortified the city with towers and a wall of hewn stone. The historian represents Exeter to have been, at that time, in a state of decay, and the surrounding country barren and unproductive. In consequence of Athelstan's patronage, and the great influx of strangers which ensued, the city rapidly increased in wealth and prosperity, and we are told that it afforded every thing that could be desired for the use of man. (fn. 7) This great monarch is said to have built a castle at Exeter for his own residence (fn. 8) : that he sometimes resided there is certain, for Exeter is one of the three places where his celebrated laws were instituted; indeed he himself speaks of having held a great council of the nation at Exeter for that purpose. (fn. 9) By him the city is said to have been divided into the four wards which still exist.
In the year 1001 the Danes besieged Exeter, but it was valiantly defended by the citizens, who repelled the enemy in a general assault. (fn. 10) The author of the Saxon Chronicle, who does not mention the siege of Exeter, tells us that the Danes, during an incursion into Devonshire, burnt Pinhoe and several other villages, and that they had a battle with Cola, the King's commander-in-chief, and Eadsig another of his generals, in which the invaders were victorious. The victory of the Danes is mentioned also by the author of the Mailros Chronicle, and by Matthew of Westminster; but it does not appear that Exeter then fell into their hands. In 1003, Swain, the Danish king, again besieged Exeter, which was surrendered to him through the treachery, or, as some say, the neglect, of Hugh the Norman, then governor of the city, and sheriff of the county, who, far from experiencing any favour at their hands, was carried away in chains. The Danes took ample revenge for their former failure; they plundered the inhabitants, burnt every thing that was combustible, levelled the walls and bulwarks, and almost wholly destroyed the city (fn. 11) ; which is suppossed to have lain in ruins till the reign of Canute, who took it into his favour and protection. King Edward the Confessor was at Exeter with his queen, Editha, in 1050. (fn. 12)
King William the Conqueror was scarcely seated on his throne when the citizens of Exeter, impatient of a foreign yoke, rebelled against him, and made every possible preparation for defence. The King, on receiving intimation of their proceedings, marched towards Exeter with his army, accompanied by some of the chief English nobility. Certain leading men of the city hastened to the King's camp, besought his pardon, and having promised fealty, and that they would receive him with open gates, gave such hostages as he required. Notwithstanding this, when they returned to their fellow-citizens, they found them resolved upon an obstinate resistance. The King, who was then encamped four miles from the city, hearing of this their breach of promise, rode forwards with 500 horse, and finding the gates shut, and the walls and bulwarks manned with a great force, he gave orders for his army to advance, and caused the eyes of one of the hostages to be put out before the city gates. The citizens, nevertheless, without any regard to the safety of the other hostages, or fear for themselves, defended the place with the utmost obstinacy for several days, till at length finding that all opposition would be ineffectual, after holding a council, they resolved to throw themselves upon the King's mercy; and the chief men of the city, with its youth and beauty, and the clergy carrying the sacred volumes, went in procession, and threw themselves at his feet. Their reception exceeded their most sanguine hopes; a free pardon was immediately granted them, with protection from plunder. To prevent future rebellion, however, the King thought it expedient to build a castle there, the oversight of which work, and its future government, he committed to the care of Baldwin de Moles (fn. 13) , son of Earl Gilbert, and other select knights. The King then went into Cornwall. (fn. 14) Githa, Harold's mother, and sister to Swein, King of Denmark, is said to have been in Exeter when the King first laid siege to it, but made her escape, and got over to Flanders. (fn. 15)
Two years after this the disaffected Saxons attempted to possess themselves of Exeter, but the citizens, mindful of the event of their opposition to the King in 1067, held the city against them. The King sent two earls, William and Brien, to their relief, and the citizens having joined their forces, the Saxons were defeated with great slaughter. (fn. 16) In 1088 Exeter is said to have been laid waste by the adherents of Robert Duke of Normandy, under the command of Robert Fitz Baldwin. (fn. 17)
Soon after Stephen's usurpation of the throne (fn. 18) , Baldwin de Redvers, or Rivers, Earl of Devon, who was the first to oppose his elevation, fortified the castle of Exeter against him. Stephen immediately advanced with a great army, and was received by the citizens within their walls with the greatest joy. The Earl, who had shut himself up in the castle with his countess, his children, and all his adherents, among whom were some of the most distinguished young men of the realm, made a most gallant defence; and although the besieging army availed themselves of every kind of military engine then in use (fn. 19) , and had succeeded so far as to take the barbican by assault, and to batter down the bridge which formed a communication between the castle and the city, they held out three months; but were at length compelled to capitulate for want of water. The King is said to have expended not less than 15,000 marks upon this siege. When he left Exeter, he committed the custody of the castle and the county to his brother, Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester. Roger de Hoveden blames Stephen for the lenity with which he treated the citizens after their capitulation. King Henry II. granted them several privileges as a reward for their attachment to his mother, and gave them the custody of the castle.
During the whole reign of King John, Exeter, with its governor, Robert de Courtenay, continued loyal to that monarch. In 1216 he had the King's licence to take in William de Brewer and his forces, if he thought his own, with the aid of the citizens, insufficient to defend the city. Although it does not appear that he had shown any symptoms of disloyalty to his successor, yet the jealousy of the times deeming it improper that so important a fortress should be in the hands of a subject, the custody of the castle and city of Exeter, which had so long been hereditary in his family, was taken from Robert de Courtenay, and given to Peter de Rivaux. (fn. 20)
King Edward I. and his queen kept their Christmas at Exeter in 1285, remaining fifteen days at the Blackfriers. Izacke relates that during their residence in the city the murder of Walter de Lechlade, the precentor, was investigated; and the late mayor, who had borne that office for eight years, with four others, condemned to death. (fn. 21) King Edward visited Exeter again in 1297. (fn. 22) In "the year 1357 Edward the Black Prince having gained the memorable battle of Poictiers, landed on his return at Plymouth, whence coming to Exeter with his prisoner, John King of France, and his youngest son, was received with great demonstrations of joy; and the Prince and his illustrious prisoners treated for three days with great magnificence. (fn. 23) In 1371, when returning from France in a declining state of health, he again visited Exeter with his Princess, and they were entertained at the mayor's house for several days. (fn. 24)
King Henry VI. visited this city in the month of July, 1451, and remained eight days at the bishop's palace, during which time a gaol delivery was held in the hall of the palace, and two men condemned, whom the king released upon the remonstrances of the bishop and clergy, who protested against the temporal authority which the king had exercised within the sanctuary of the church. (fn. 25) In the year 1469, the Duchess of Clarence with Lord Dinham, Lord Fitzwarren, and Lord Carew, who took part with Henry VI. came to Exeter: the Duchess, who was then pregnant, lodged in the bishop's palace. Sir William Courtenay, one of King Edward's generals, besieged the city, which was for some time resolutely defended by the mayor and citizens. After twelve days, by the mediation of the clergy, the siege was raised (fn. 26) , and shortly afterwards ensued the battle of Losecote in Lincolnshire. The Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, having heard of the unfortunate issue of that battle, fled to Exeter on the 3d of April, 1470, where they were entertained in the Bishop's palace, till a ship was got ready at Dartmouth to take them to Calais. The king having been advertised of their intentions, pursued them with his army, and on the 14th of the same month, the fugitives, having in the mean time quitted it, reached Exeter with a numerous train of nobles, knights, and gentlemen. In 1471, previously to the battle of Tewksbury, the Lancastrians of Devon and Cornwall, under the command of Sir John Arundell and Sir Hugh Courtenay, mustered at Exeter, whence they marched to the fatal field. (fn. 27) Some time after this, King Edward with his Queen and the infant Prince are said to have visited Exeter, where they were entertained by the mayor, who presented the King with a purse of 100 nobles, and the Queen and Prince with 20l. each. The King, at his departure, presented the mayor with a sword to be carried before him and his successors, on all public occasions. (fn. 28)
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