90 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Lichfield was erected into a Bishopric by Oswy, in the year 665, 

 and undoubtedly it owed this distinction to the superior sanctity of 

 Cedda. 



If i the year 1075, Lichfield was by the synod held at London, 

 considered too small for the residence of a Bishop. Prior to this 

 period, the English Bishops were remarkable for their humility and 

 self-denial. They generally travelled on foot about their diocese 

 to instruct the people, and see that the inferior clergy lived accord^ 

 ing to the precepts of their great and humble Master. But the 

 invasion and conquest of England by a Norman adventurer, and 

 his banditti, changed the face of things. Instead of ancient sim- 

 plicity, the luxurious manners of the Continent were introduced, 

 and pride extended its influence from the court and the castle, to 

 the hitherto sacred institutions of religion itself. 



When the general survey of England was taken by the order of 

 William I. and recorded in Doomsday-book, the lands of this See 

 were not said to belong to the Bishop of Lichfield, but the Bishop 

 of Chester, " who then held Lecefelle, with its appurtenances. 

 The church formerly held it. Here are 25 hides and a half, and 

 one virgat of land. The arable land is 73 carucates. In demesne 

 there are 10 carucates, and 10 servants, and 42 villans, and 12 

 bordars, having 21 carucates. There are 35 acres of meadow, and 

 two mills, rented at four shillings. It was formerly, and is now, 

 worth 15 pounds. To it belongs a wood, eight miles and a half 

 and seven furlongs in length, and six miles and a half and eight 

 furlongs in breadth. To this manor belong three members, Padin- 

 ton, (now Packington), the arable land is four carucates ; and the 

 two Hamerwiches, the arable land is five carucates ; and Tichebroc, 

 the arable laud is one carucate ; and Nortone and Werelia, four 

 carucates of land ; and Rowleia,one carucate of land: all are waste/' 



Lichfield first became a place of importance in the reign of Henry 

 I. when Roger de Clinton was made Bishop. This rich and power- 

 ful prelate was a man of genius and enterprize, zealous to promote 

 the glory of the church, and emulous of distinction. He added to 

 the extent and beauty of the cathedral, environed the city with a 

 ditch, fortified the Close, and enrolled and mustered a garrison. 

 He also increased the number of prebendaries, but made no great 

 addition to the buildings of the city, for his zeal for Christianity 

 incited him to embark in the Crusade, and he died at Antioch. 



In the reign of King Stephen, according to William of Malms- 

 bury, " Lichfield was a small village, much inferior to a city. The 



