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secret manner, which enabled him to carry on his unlawful trade to a great extent. A man of the name of Busby, who married his daughter, was con cerned with him in the above practices. A dispute arising between them, as it is thought about their concerns, and Busby being desirous of carrying on the whole of the trade by himself, murdered his father-in-law; for which he was tried, and condemned, and hung in chains, near Carlton, and the place is called Busby Stoop to this day.

It must have occurred to the thought of many of our readers, that our History has exhibited several instances of persons in different ranks of society, whose lives were terminated in a tragical manner---nobles and plebeians, ecclesiastics and laymen. The last of these instances has been the

worst.

Our researches seem to have " fallen upon evil days." It is some consolation, however, to recollect, that these are the records of centuries and times long since past and gone. We are not among those, who think that the present times are worse than the past. While there is still occasion enough for improvement in the state of public morals, we believe that a great amelioration has taken place. The cessation of civil war, the religious toleration introduced into our laws, and particularly the influence of religious instruction among the lower ranks of life, may be considered as some of the means of producing such beneficial effects.

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LEEMING LANE,

the ancient Roman Military Road, called Via Helena, passes about 7 miles to the W. of Thirsk. Dr. Stukely supposes this road to have received its latest repairs from the Empress Helena, while she remained in Britain as her son's substitute, and that it thus derived its name, Via Heleneana, since corrupted into Leeming Lane. The Dr. further observes, that this was part of the Herman-Street, leading to Inverness, in Scotland.

Mr Drake, the historian of York, published an account of all the Roman Roads in Yorkshire.

The public roads of the Romans, like most of their works, were constructed on a grand scale. We may suppose the roads they made in Britain, were similar to those constructed in Italy. The Via Appia was a wonderful work. It is computed to have been 350 miles in length. Bishop Burnet,* who had travelled upon a part of it, between Rome and Naples, says in his Letters, that "it is twelve feet broad; all made of huge stones, most of them blue; and they are generally a foot and a half

* Burnet, Let. IV. Kennett's Rom. Antiq. p. 59.

148

HISTORY OF THIRSK, &C.

large on all sides: that though it has lasted above 1800 years, yet in most places, it is for several miles together as entire as when it was first made."

Here, we close our excursions, as the Roman Poet and Traveller closed the first part of his Descriptive Tour, and on this celebrated Roman Road:--

HOC ITER ignavi divisimus, altius ac nos

Præcinctis, unum: minus est gravis APPIA tardis.

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APPENDIX,

No. I.

FROM a record now in the possession of John Bell, Esq. Lord of the Manor of Thirsk.

AN account of such who have been, severally, owners of ye Manors or Lordships, and demolished Castles of Thirske, and Kirby Malzert in Com. Ebor. since ye Conquest.

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These Lordships were as may be presumed given by the Conquerour to Gilbert Bishopp of Constance, who for his service done to the Conquerour in that signal battaill against Harold was afterwards allso made Earle of Northumberland; but ye same Earle dying about ye beginning of Willm. Rufus reigne; his possessions together with his title were by the same King, conferred upon Robert de Molbray, Sonn of Roger de Molbray who came in with the Conquerour, which Robert in his rebellion against King Willm. in endeavouring to advance his Aunt's Sonn ye Earle of Albemarle to ye Crowne forfeited all his lands and dignity to ye King, which remained in the Crowne, untill about ye beginning of Hen. I, who gave the same to Nigole de Albini, younger brother of Wm. de

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Albini Earle Arundell and Cosson (Cousin) by hist Mother to yee said Earle Molbray as being Sonn of Molbray, who was Sister of Roger de Molbray ffather of ye said Robert de Molbray.

To which said Nigole Albini succeeded Roger his Eldest Sonn, to his ffather's lands and dignityes and by K. H. speciall command, for the reasons aforesaid did assume the name of Moubray. This Roger about ye 20th of H. 2. sided with the Prince to set him up King in his father's life time, butt having his Castles of Oxholme and Mallizard besieged and taken by the Rpp. of Lincoln (ye King's base Sonn) he hasted to ye King then at Northampton and surrendered his Castle of Thirsk, and thereupon had his pardon granted, which said Castles of Thirsk and Kirby Malazard ye King soone after caused to be demolished. This Roger about 1143 founded ye Abbey of Byland, and in 1145 the Priory of Newbrough, in Com. Ebor. and gave to the Abbey of ffountains all Bramley and Netherdale, and all his lands between Pately Gate and Ewdon. He was twice at Hyrusalem.

To this Roger succeeded Nigoll his Eldest Sonn, who died about 3 R. 1.

To whom succeeded Wm. his eldest Sonn. This Wm. was one of the Barons who took up ye armes agst King John for the confirmations of the Kingdom's Liberty. He founded a Chappele at Thirske; and also a Chantry therein, and dedicated the same to St. Nycholas, and agreed with ye Monkes of Newbrough that although it was not a parochiall Church, yette ye Beles shd be rung at ye Celebration of Mass there whensoever he or any of his Quris should be present, and on ye ffestival of St. Nicholas and ye Obitts of his Ancestors. And he died about ye 7 of H. 3, and was buried at New, brough.

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