20 Ilistoty pf the 



threatened invasion by foreign powers. Accordingly, we find that 

 during the times of disquiet in the reign of Queen Ehzabeth, in the 

 year 1588, when the great "Spanish Armada" was hourly expected 

 to land its invading hosts on the Lancashire coast, a mandate was 

 issued by the queen's " right trustie and well-beloved the Lord 

 Strange," to Henry, Earl of Derby, as Lord-Lieutenant of the 

 ■ county of Lancaster, to the effect that the beacons in every part of 

 tlie county were to be specially taken in charge, and kept in con- 

 tinual readiness for kindling, that they might flash forth tlieir 

 telegraphic signals, and call the country to arms on the approach of 

 danger. Severe punishments were threatened to be inflicted on 

 any person raising a fiilse alarm. 



The circular basin form, of which Thieveley furnishes a good 

 eNami>le, was that usually adopted in the construction of the beacon 

 bed, the centre being hollowed or scooped out, and surrounded by 

 an embankment, doubtless as a protection to the fire, to prevent 

 its being extinguished when strong winds prevailed. 



On a clear day a magnificent view is obtained from the Pike, 

 embracing to the west Hameldon Hill and the country stretching 

 far beyond to the Irish Sea ; to the north-west, Pendle Hill, Ingle- 

 borough, and Pennyghent ; while due north are Worsthorn and 

 Beadle Hill ; to the east Black Humbledon, and inchning a little 

 farther south, Stoodley Pike ; more southerly still, Tooter (/) Hill, 

 below Sharneyford, and the bleak profile of Blackstonedge ; while 

 nearly due south are Coupe Law, Cribden, Musbury Tor, Hol- 

 combe Hill, and, beyond, the great plain of Lancashire. 



(j) Tout, Dut. to look out. — '• We eftsones coine to the rising up of th;: hill 

 towards ye Mount of Sion, which is called the tootyng hill, or peake, or high 

 beakon place, or watching toure, from whence to see a ferre of.'' — Uttal. 

 Luke .\i\". 



A Correspondunt ilMr. J. k. Buyh-i .suggests that the name of Tooter Hill 

 may be derived from the name of the Celtic god Tot. In confirmation of 

 this he refers to Harland and Wilkinson's Folk Lore, where (page 45,) it is 

 pointed out that Toland in his History of the Druids speaks of Toot hills as 

 the hills dedicated to the worship of the Celtic god Tot, or Tent, or Tentates, 

 the same with the Egyptian Thoth, and from which " the grand sacred fires 



