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The first is, that

tion was correct, and that for several reasons. many Roman coins, as already noticed, have been found here; and another which, however, must be considered as liable to controversy, on account of other stations not being correctly ascertained, is, that the Itinerary distances answer correctly; for from hence to Gausennæ, or Brag Cisterton, is six miles; to Verometum, or Burgh-hall, is seven miles; to Ad Pontem, or Great Paunton, is seven miles also; the third, on which also great stress has been laid, is, that Marga is found here, from whence the name of Margidunum first took its rise; for Marga, (say the advocates of this theory,) was used to improve the ground; and limestone is used by us to improve the ground; and limestone is found at Market Overton; therefore Marga is limestone, and Margidunum is Market Overton.

But all this is denied by Horsley and others, who, although they confess that it was called Market Overton before the establishment of the market there, and of course could not possibly have derived its name by anticipation, yet assert, that the real Margidunum was at East Bridgeford in Nottinghamshire; whilst the distances can be of no avail, as the towns or stations above specified were actually in different situations.

It is unfortunate in this case, for the honour of its antiquity, that the different antiquaries who have entered the lists, have come cased up in the mail of prejudice; the latter particularly, who deny the origin of the name from the Roman appellation, are bound to support their opinion through thick and thin; for if Market Overton is really and truly the Margidunum of Antoninus, it would not only upset the handsome and well-twisted theories of Horsley, and others, but might also tend to settle with such accuracy, the different stations, that there would be no field of conjecture left, a thing which all zealous antiquarian controversialists must sincerely deplore; for if there is no doubt, there can be no discussion; and, without discussion, of what use are either ingenuity of conjecture, or the bold hardihood of assertion ?

But

But to come down to a period of certainty, we know that in the Saxon times this manor was the property of Earl Waltheof; and that at the Norman Survey it was in the possession of his relict, the Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror. It contained in the whole twelve carucates; three of these were in the hands of the Countess; and there were nine Villeins and eight Bordarii, who had nine carucates and forty acres of meadow. Besides this, there was a wood of a mile in length, and half as much in breadth; and the whole was then valued at twenty pounds; though, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, it had been estimated only at twelve.

From this time we know nothing of the place until the ninth year of Edward II. 1315, when it was held by Bartholomew, Lord Badlesmere, who then obtained a charter for a weekly market at this place on Tuesday; and for two annual fairs, one on the eve, day, and morrow, of John Port-Latin; and the other on the eve, day, and morrow, of St. Luke the Evangelist, (6th of May, and 18th of October.

This baron seems to have been in opposition; and having been outvoted in the field at the battle of Boroughbridge, he was silenced, not by a pension or place, but by a stronger line of argument, being hanged at Canterbury, and quartered; but his son, Giles, was permitted in the ensuing reign to inherit his father's lands.

Giles, Lord Badlesmere, dying without issue, this manor was afterwards divided amongst his sisters and coheiresses, by whom it went to the Veres, Earls of Oxford, and to the Lord Tibetot: but the Earl of Oxford was the paramount lord; and he being attainted in the reign of Edward IV. this manor was given by that monarch to his brother, afterwards Richard III. On the accession of Henry VII. the estates were again restored to Aubrey de Vere, then Earl of Oxford.

It next passed, (though it is uncertain in what manner,) to Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, a great favourite of Henry VIII. who having unfortunately displeased his royal patron, by

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his opposition to the suppression of religious establishments, was accused of a correspondence with Cardinal Poole, which was considered as tantamount to high treason; and accusation in that reign being only another word for conviction, both he and his marchioness were sentenced to death. The whole of his estates thus merging to the crown, these lands have since become the property of various individuals. In its present state, the village is clean and comfortable; not very lively, owing to its distance from a post road; but being in the midst of a fertile country, it possesses an appearance of plenty and comfort. The church is a very neat Gothic edifice, and is kept in good repair, and in very excellent order, much to the credit of those who have the charge of it. There are several antique looking mansions in the village, which mark the manners of ancient times; and the scenery around it being well wooded, the ground considerably broken so as to appear picturesque, and the views pleasing and extensive, the tourist will not find half a day ill spent at, and in the vicinity of, Market Overton.

BARROW is a small hamlet which lies in a retired situation, a little to the west of the high road. It is not mentioned earlier than the year 1315, when it was called Berghdon, and was in the possession of the family of De Colville. Robert De Colville dying soon after without issue, it went by his sisters and coheiresses to Ralph Basset, and John de Gournon. From these it passed, through Wystan and Nicholas, to the Harrington family, who held it, in socage, of the manor of Bourne the property of the Earls of Exeter: and it has since passed through several hands.

COTESMORE, about one mile south from Barrow, is a small, and quite a rustic, village. In the Saxon times it appears to have been the property of Goda, being then valued at seven pounds, but was soon divided among the Norman chiefs. The Conqueror himself held three carucates here in demesne at the time of the Survey; and had also three socmen, with forty villeins, and six bordarii, occupying twenty carucates. It was then estimated in the whole at ten pounds; but there were, besides the

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