F r i d s t o l .
fljield, are, in Saxon characters, the Letters R. I, thefe being-1 Iconfifts of a fine round arch. . This is evidently of a much
many parts of the building, are probably the initials of foul ¡¿date than any of the prefent remains of the convent. It is
the pious benefactors. In a fquare hole in a corner of the ora^Rcc«» architecture ; and perhaps part of the labors of the great
is an uncouth head of Jupiter, and in the infide a hare, the enBivii.
blem of watchfulnefs ; and on the outfide is the upper pari Ik town-houfe is built over an antient gate ; beyond that is
fome fingular figure with a cap pendent on one fide of his
and a hare, or fome animal, in his bofom. Againft a pillar is a
diculous figure of a barefooted man, with a great club; perhal
pilgrim.
Here is preferved the famous fridftol, or ftool of peace) 6
whofoever took poffefiion of it was fure of remiffion*. If
place had the privilege of a fanituary, which was not merely coij
fined to the church, but extended a mile four ways f, and)
limits each way marked by a crofs. Heavy penalties were leri
on thofe who dared to violate this fanftuary, by feizing on an
criminal within the prefcribed bounds ; but if they prefermeda
take him out of the ftool J, the offence was not redeemable n
any fum ; it was efteemed botolofs, beyond the power of pecuniarji
amends ; and the offenders were left to the utmoft feverity of ij
church, and fuffered exeommunication, in old times the moil l|
rible of puniihments.
Part of the monaftery ftill remains habitable. It was gi
on the diffolution, to Sir Reginald Carnaby; afterwards paffed#
• In the miniter at Beverley is a ftool o f this kind, called by the fameaMfo
deftined for the fame ufe.
■I Steeven’ s Contin. Dugdale, II. 135#
t R icbw d o f Hexham, as quoted b y Sta-vely, Hift. Ch. 173.
T o w n - h o u s e .
Lid fquare tower, of three floors. The -doweft has beneath it
dreadful dungeons, which in this thievilh neighborhood,
e the acceflion, were feldom untenanted.
[he little rivulet, Hexold, which runs by the town, would not
It mention, if it did not give name to the place,
loceed eaftward. About three miles from Hexham, crofs the
\ on a bridge of two arches. On an eminence is a fquare
fer, peeping pidturefquely above the trees. This was part of
lllate of the unfortunate Earl of Derwentwater, now veiled in
wrich hofpital. On the banks of this river was fought, in
the bloody battle of Hexham, between , the Lancajlrians
'kip, in which the firft were defeated. The meek Henry
I with fo great precipitation as to lofe his Ahacock, or cap let with
pis, which was carried to his rival at York. His faithful con-
betook herfelf, with the infant prince, to a neighing
foreft, where ihe was furrounded with robbers, and fpoiled
ler jewels and rings. The darknefs of the night, and a dif-
* that arofe among the banditti about the divifion of the
O c t . 4 .
R a t t l e o f
H exhamthe
Fenwicks, and laftly to the Blackets. The convent gate is entinj ky, gave her opportunity of making a fecond efcape : but
It (he wandered, oppreffed with hunger and fatigue, another
yet approached with a drawn fword : her fpirit now proved her
She advanced towards the man, and prefenting to him the
Ifg prince, called out to him, here friend, I commit to you the'
■protettiom