with the hope that it may be found not less worthy of acceptance. Like the one which preceded it, it illustrates, in a certain degree, the history and romance of the two Palatine counties, the Author's aim having been to give to particular localities an individuality and freshness, by presenting in an entertaining and popular form the "sites" of remarkable scenes and incidents of bygone days. "England," says a well-known writer, "is pre-eminently the country (compared with the rest of Europe) in which the monuments that embody historical associations, and link the present with a far-reaching past are most thickly strewn;" and in Lancashire and Cheshire the soil is plentifully studded with the memorials of ancient days, that stand out in refreshing and instructive relief among the crowding evidences of modern power and civilisation--places hallowed by associations and as the homes of those whose memories we would not willingly let die, and scenes that are identified with much of the history, tradition and romance of the centuries that are gone. No pretention is made to what is commonly called the dignity of history, which usually means the placing of important personages and great events in prominent relief without regard to minor incidents or the relations the figures in the background bear to the occurrences recorded, the Author's purpose having been rather to combine with well-attested facts, topographical description, personal narrative and local legend, and to snatch from Oblivion's spoils the shadowy fragments of tradition that have floated down through centuries of time--things that the ordinary historian casts aside as unworthy of his notice, but which, though oftentimes inexact in detail, are generally founded upon a substratum of fact, and tend therefore to throw additional light on human thought and action in the past. The agreeable duty remains for the Author to express his obligations to those friends who, by information communicated and in other ways, have aided him in his enterprise. His thanks are due to Miss Abraham, of Grassendale Park, Liverpool; the Rev. Edward J. Bell, M.A., Rector of Alderley; John Leigh, Esq., The Manor House, Hale; Thomas Helsby, Esq., Lincoln's Inn, the learned Editor of "Ormerod's Cheshire;" J. P. Earwaker, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., Pensarn, Abergele, the historian of East Cheshire; Thomas Middleton, Esq., Springfield, Adlington; Edward T. Cunliffe, Esq., the Parsonage, Handforth; Mr. John Owen, Mile End, Stockport; and Mr. D. Bennett, Shakspeare Terrace, Ardwick. UPTON HALL, PRESTBURY, CHESHIRE, SEPTEMBER, 1883. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Swarthmoor Hall and the Founder of the Society of Friends 1 CHAPTER II. Old Alderley and its Memories--The Stanleys--Edward Stanley, Pastor and Prelate--The Home of Dean Stanley 50 CHAPTER III. Rivington and the Lords Willoughby--The Pilkingtons--The Story of a Lancashire Bishop 104 CHAPTER IV. Handforth Hall--The Breretons--Sir William Brereton 171 CHAPTER V. Newby Bridge and the Lake Country--An Autumn Day at Cartmel--The Priory Church 249 CHAPTER VI. Disley--A May Day at Lyme--Lyme Hall and the Leghs 278 CHAPTER VII. "Jemmy Dawson" and the Fatal '45 397 CHAPTER VIII. A Morning at Little Moreton 431 CHAPTER IX. Wardley Hall 448 L'Envoi 483 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE SWARTHMOOR HALL 5 GEORGE FOX'S BIBLE 7 GEORGE FOX'S CHAIR 8 ULVERSTON CHURCH 17 AUTOGRAPH OF MARGARET FELL 21 GEORGE FOX'S MEETING HOUSE 22 MEETING OF FOX AND CROMWELL 29 AUTOGRAPH OF THOMAS FELL 30 FAC-SIMILE OF FOX'S HANDWRITING 34 GATEWAY, LANCASTER CASTLE 35 AUTOGRAPH OF WILLIAM PENN 41 AUTOGRAPH OF DANIEL ABRAHAM 47 DEAN STANLEY 51 ALDERLEY CHURCH 54 ALDERLEY SCHOOL 59 ALDERLEY RECTORY 63 AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD STANLEY 93 AUTOGRAPH OF THE BISHOP OF NORWICH 95 AUTOGRAPH OF DEAN STANLEY 103 RIVINGTON CHURCH 127 INTERIOR, DURHAM CATHEDRAL 151...