Saxon and Norman castles are distinguished...Nottingham a British castle,
then a Saxon ditto... Proved by the ground plan... Castles of Phynecian origin
...Roman castles, how distinguished...Saxon masonry... Keep towers of Saxon
differ from Norman ditto...Strength of Norman castles...Nottingham castle
Normanized...Abode of many kings... Courts...Ditches... Towers... Walls...
Portcullises...Barbicans... Postern ... Houses of picket-guard... main-guard...
Remarkable cavern...Dungeon.. Tower of care... Ballium...Hospital...Barracks
...Painted chamber...Ditto glass window...Castle inclosure... Riding school...
Barracks...Brewhouse-yard...Standard-hill, Extra-parochial.

A NEW

ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL

HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAM,

FROM

THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

A POETICAL DESCRIPTION OF NOTTINGHAM.

FAIR Nottingham! with brilliant beauty graced,

In Sherwood's south-west angle placed :
Where Northern hills, her tender neck protect,
With dainty flocks of golden fleeces deck'd,
No roaring tempests discompose her mein,
Her canopy of state's a sky serene.
She, on her left Belvoirs rich vale descries,
On th' other, Clifton hills regales her eyes!
If from her lofty seat she bows her head,
There's at her feet a flowery carpet spread. (a)
Britain's third stream (b) which runs with rapid force,
No sooner spies her, but retards his course;
He turns, he winds, he cares not to be gone,
Until to her he first has homage done :
He cheerfully his watery tribute pays, (c)
And at her footstool, foreign dainties lays,
With assiduity her favours courts,

And richest merchandize from sea imports;

Ceres, her gift with lavish hand bestows,

And Bacchus, o'er his but of English nectar glows, (d)

Thy sons, O! Nottingham, with fervour pray,

May no intestine feuds thy bliss betray;

Health, plenty, pleasure, then will ne'er decay.

(a) Nottingham Meadows, particularly in spring, are surpassingly beautiful. (b) The Trent is generally considered the fourth river in the kingdom. (c) The town is now supplyed with water from the Trent. (d) Nottingham Ale.

B