20 A T O U R
P r e s to n .
tween Dover and Calais* ; and thus clofed the eventful hiftory of
this ill-fated line.
Return thro’ this deep trait into the road at Standijh: the
country from hence to Prefton very good; on the laft a long valley
runs parallel. A t a place called Pincock bridge crofs the Tar^
row, a pretty itream, watering a narrow romantic glen, wooded
on both fides-
Ride through Walton, a very populous village,- near the
Ribble, a fine river, extending thro5 a range of very rich meadows,
as far as the pifturefque vale of Cuerden. Crofs the river
on a bridge o f five arches, afcend a hill, through lanes once deep,,
narrow, and of difficult approach; where, in 1715, the rebels
made fome refiftance to the King’s-forces in. the ill-concerted affair
o f that year.
On the top lies Prefton, a neat and handfbme town, quiet, and
entirely free from the noife of manufaftures ; and is fupported by
paffengers, or the money fpent by the numerous gentry that inhabit
rt. It derives its name (according to Camden) from the Priefts or
Religious that were in old. times the principal inhabitants. Here was a
convent of grey friars or Francifcans founded by Edmund Earl of
Lancafter, fon of Henry III. Robert de Holland abovementioned,
was a confiderable benefaftor, to the place, and was buried here.
A gentleman o f the name of Prefton gave the ground -fv Might
not the town take its name from him ? Here was alfo an antient
holpital dedicated to Mary Magdalene, mentioned in 1291 in the.
Lincoln taxation J.
* Slow, 426; t S/evtiti’j Mmajt. 1. 154. J ’fanner, 234.-
This
I 1ST S C -O T L A N D , * i
This place was taken by ftorm in 1643 by the parlement forces
under Sir John Seaton, after a moft gallant defence: I t was- at that
time fortified with brick walls *.
North of this town began the aftion between that gallant officer
Sir Marmaduke Langdale, and the parlement forces under Cromwel.
The former commanded the Englijb army that was to aft in con-
junftion with the Duke o f Hamilton in his unfortunate invafion in
July 1.648. Langdale gave.the infatuated Scot, notice o f the approach
o f Cnmwr/, and in vain advifed the affembling.of the whole-
force, his council was loft. He alone made a ftand in the fields
near Prefton for fix hours, unaffifted by the Duke, who puffied the-
march o f his troops over the bridge,leaving Sir Marmaduke to be-
overpowered with numbers..
The walks on the banks above the Ribble command a moft
beautiful view of meadows, bounded by delicious rifings;- the
river meandring between’till the profpeft clofes with it’s eftuary.
Continue here the whole night, and lie at the Black-Bull.
The s p e c t a t o r has long firrce pointed out the knowledge that
may be collefted from figns: it is impoffible not to remark the.
propriety of the reigning ones of this county : the triple-legs, and
the eagle-and-chil'd, denote the great poffeffions of the Stanlies in
thefe parts; the bull,., the juft pre-eminence o f it’s cattle over other
counties ; and. the royal-oak, it’s diftinguiihed loyalty to it’s fove-
reign. I am amazed they do not add the G r a c e s , for no where
can be feen a more numerous race o f beauties among that order,,
who want every advantage to let off their native charms.
* Parlement Chronicle, 268.
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