3dav' INTKOD'tJCirORY DESCRIPTION OF 



for the perpetual maintenance of a minifter or vicar (v) ; reli- 

 gious communities enjoying before that time the whole profits 

 to themfelves of an appropriation given them, one of their own 



body doing the parifti-duty. .^j^f '. jJS> : t lanfaoa' 



/ 



_ --, I--7T 



By an act of parliament made, 9 K. Henry V, 1421, every third 

 benefice in the prefentation of the bifhops or monafteries was to 

 be conferred on fome,fcholar of Oxford or Cambridge, for the en- 



couragement of learning /w/,'"' 







What might amiently be the number 6f inhabitants in Nor- 

 thumberland, cannot be determined with firebiiion. No light can 

 be had from the famdtis frirVey r o"F '!& wMam I, the ; moft d'e'ei- 

 five record in the kingdorh rheith^ir'tfes cotrnty, or the 

 of-We/lmortalKl,-&L, C^^r/^f^'lbem^irlduded in i't ;< riD 

 the ufe of parochial regifters iill' the reign 1 of K. EdK> 

 many of which have,fiiice pel'inSied 1 . feut it is fuppofed that, 1 : at 

 pfesferit, they-ma'^r bc'igbduJb.'One hWrdred-^houfandV 'of wflic^rt 

 feventeen-thoufand appeared on the conftables lifts' fit; ;td bear 

 arms, exclufive of Ne*wcajlle, 



* . 



The foil of Northumberland is Vdrfotis. On the borders of rivers, 

 and on the fea-coafr, it is rerharkably fertile, abound&g with rich 

 meadows, paftures, and delightful J corn-fields. To the north- 

 weft, and 'fouth-weft, It is Very mountainous ; and to the weft 

 full of heaths, fens, and lakes; but fome of thofe heath$, 

 abounding with mines 6f rich ore and coal, and others being 



.'_ J1.M .ycTX I- f.'.n. 



(v) Statuws at targe, Ah. 14 R, Rlc. II. 



\ r { juij'.j 311, 'gn."j c i\'/o ".T!*; 



(to) i^rilUl 10 fI-Ah. 9 'R. *, V. 



j.t 5p^iIj.<v"jQ o,ij r""i/ / 



* As aiBrmed by the celebrated 0*/"^-AHtiquary, T^s. Hcrne. 





very 



