those particulars which relate the siege of Thirsk Castle, is ancient, and was furnished to the Publisher in manuscript. Some valuable information respecting the genealogy and history of the noble family of Mowbray, was furnished by the kindness of a gentleman, after the former part of the work had gone to press. It has, however, been inserted in the Appendix,

The Publisher takes this opportunity of express, ing his obligations, to those gentlemen who have kindly furnished him materials for compilation; and only regrets that a greater supply of infor◄ mation has not fallen into his hands, to render the work more worthy of the public patronage. In such a work as this, errors and mistakes must naturally be expected, which the candid reader will know how to excuse.

To the natives, then, of the town of Thirsk; to those who, like himself, are casual residents; to all, finally, whose interest is excited by the remains of Antiquity, whose attention is directed to subjects of History; the Compiler most re

spectfully dedicates the following pages, as an Essay towards the History of Thirsk, and the Vicinity; leaving it to the industry of a more extensive and more able investigation, to perfect and polish, what is now first presented to the public.

THE

HISTORY

OF

THIRSK, &c.

THIRSK, the subject of the following pages, is an ancient Borough, by prescription, situated on a small river in the Wapentake of Birdforth, in the North-riding of Yorkshire, 220 miles distant from London, and 23 and a half N. W. of York.

Thirsk (formerly written Thrusk* and Thursk) in the termination of the name seems to present a sort of anomaly, as compared with the names of every other town in the kingdom. It is not im

*Thresk and Thrusk.---Camden.

B

probable that it may have some reference to the Saxon god Thor, which occurs in so many names of places in the Neighbourhood compounded with Thor, Thur, and Thir.

In the 10th century, it appears to have consisted of only a few cottages, built by the vassals and retainers of the haughty Baron, whose formidable castle first gave rise to the town. The earliest return of representatives to Parliament from this borough, was in the 23rd Edward I., after which time no return was made till the last Parliament of King Edward VI., when the Sheriff of Yorkshire summoned Heydon and Thirsk to elect two members for their representation. The right of election is at present vested in the burgage tenures, to the number of 50; of which 49 are now in the hands of one proprietor.

By the brook Codbeck, the town is divided into two parts, usually denominated the old and new town. The former contains the properties which convey to their possessors the right of voting in the elections of the borough: but the latter presents a more modern appearance, and is the principal part of the town; occupying the ancient site of. Thirsk Castle, from whose ruins it has undoubtedly risen. It is said that no less than ELEVEN HUNDRED*

*Tablet of Memory.---Rapin, v. 1. p. 201.

fortified Castles were built in this country, between the years 1140 and 1154, and more than a thousand were standing in the reign of Henry the Second. Those times exhibited intle else than the disgusting scenes of intestine broils, discord, and rapine; the hateful concomitants of the feudal system: and the weakness of Stephen has justly been censured, in permitting the erection of so many fortresses, the nurseries of tumult, and the sources of contention between the Monarch and the Barons,

Thirsk Castle, however, was erected at a more distant period, and claims an antiquity of a hundred years before the Norman Conquest: and its destinies are so intimately connected with those of the town, that the history of one must comprise the history of the other.

THE CASTLE.

The foundations of Thirsk Castle, which appears to have been very considerable, were laid in the last year of Edgar the Peaceable, 12th king of all Engiand; who ascended the throne A D. 959, and is said to have been present on the occasion. King