Notes and Queries/Series 7/Volume 5/Number 118/‘Barnaby’s Journal,’ 1638, and Cromwell’s Siege of Burghley House, by Stamford, 1643
Notes.
‘BARNABY’S JOURNAL,’ 1638, AND CROMWELL’S SIEGE OF BURGHLEY HOUSE, BY STAMFORD, 1643.
(See 7th S. v. 128.)
Your valued correspondent Mr. Jonathan Bouchier asks, in connexion with Drunken Barnaby’s description of the deserted state of Burghley House, by Stamford town, “What was the exact date of Barnaby’s journey?” The date is conjectural, as the first edition of the work was without a date. Its title was “Barnabees Journal, under the names of Mirtilus and Faustulus shadowed; for the Travellers solace, lately published, to most apt numbers reduced, and to the old tune of Barnabe, commonly chaunted. By Corymbœus.
Have made my Muse more valiant than Hector.”
It had a frontispiece engraved by Marshall, who flourished 1635–1650, and the date given by Bohn in his new edition of Lowndes as the date of the book is “circa 1648–1650.” Mr. Haslewood, the editor of the author’s works (Richard Brathwait, 1588, 1673), fixes the date of the first edition of ‘Barnabee’s Journal’ at “about 1650”; but Mr. J. Yeowell, in a lengthy and most interesting article on this point in ‘N. & Q.,’ 2nd S. x. 423 (December 1, 1860), states that he discovered in the registers of the Stationers’ Company two notices of the book under date June, 1638.
Years ago I had access to a very good copy of the rare first edition, and frequently examined it. It was in the possession of my friend and near neighbour the late Rev. Henry Freeman, Rector of Folkesworth, Huntingdonshire, and rural dean. His valuable library, founded on that formed by Dr. White Kennett, Bishop of Peterborough, was, after his death, sold at a five days’ sale by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, at their London rooms, May 29, 1865. The copy of ‘Barnabee’s Journal’ was knocked down for 13l. 5s. I have notes showing that copies of this rare first edition have been disposed of in public auction at sums varying from five to sixteen guineas, and that in Lilly’s ‘Book Catalogue,’ 1865, a copy was offered for fifteen guineas. I have also a note that a copy of the 1648 edition was offered for 8l. 18s. 6d.
Perhaps Brathwait’s description of the state of Burghley was somewhat overdrawn. As the editor of the 1805 edition says,
“Fiction may be supposed to have some share in Barnaby’s descriptions—probably a large share. Having invested himself with a poetical character, it may be presumed that he both fabricated and adapted incidents to suit it, like other dealers in poetry.”
It has been shown that his journey must have been prior to 1638. In 1632 Charles I. was on his way to Scotland in order to receive the crown of that kingdom, and he did not, like Queen Elizabeth, sleep at Burghley, but put up at “The George” inn, St. Martin’s, Stamford (Dr. Beilby Porteous, Bishop of London 1787–1808, married a daughter of the landlord of “The George”). At that date the owner of Burghley was Sir Richard Cecil, nephew of William Cecil, second Earl of Exeter; and as he resided at Wakerley, Northamptonshire (where he died in the following year, September, 1633, aged sixty-three), Burghley House would probably be in that fireless, cookless, deserted state so forcibly described by “Drunken Barnaby.” In 1633 Charles I., with his queen, again passed through Stamford, but without visiting Burghley. Their stay of two days was made at Apethorpe, the seat of the Earl of Westmoreland.
Cromwell’s attack on Stamford and Burghley House was not till the year 1643, and, although marks of cannon-balls are still to be seen on the south front, the house seems to have suffered but slightly. In fact, Cromwell appears to have acted with unusual leniency and politeness, for the portrait of him (by Walker) now hanging in what may be called the Historical Portrait Room—known as “Queen Elizabeth’s Dressing-Room, or the Pagoda Room”—is said to have been presented by himself to the widowed countess of David, third Earl of Exeter, in admiration of her bravery when he captured Burghley by assault, July, 1643.
I have a pamphlet now before me entitled ‘A true Relation of Colonell Cromwels Proceedings against the Cavaliers. Wherein is set forth the Number of those Taken, Kil’d, and Maimed, at his late Victories obtained over them. Sent in a Letter from a Gentleman in his Army (Dated July 24, 1643) to a Friend in London. Published according to Order. London, Printed for Benjamin Allen, 1643. (Northampton: Reprinted by Taylor and Son, 1868.)” From this letter I extract the following:—
“About Tuesday last the Cavaliers came from Bever Castle and Newarke, to Stamford, about 1000 of them, as was informed us: they set also that day (as I remember) upon Peterborough, but were repelled by Colonell Palgrave and his Company, who lay about Whittlesey and Peterborough, and sallyed out to them with some Ordnance, they retired to Stamford, whither they called in the Countrey, and began to fortifie apace, but it pleased God to interrupt them, by sending Colonell Cromwell to them from Northampton side, or Rockingham, with 6. or 7. Troops, and some few Foot. On Wednesday they had some Skirmishes, first at a great house called Wothrop House, near Stamford, whence driving them, they retired to another greater stately house, by Stamford also, called Burghly House; and getting within the Parke Walls, (for it is walled round with a stone Wall) they made that their Sanctuary; so for that time the Warre seased, for the Colonell had few Foot and no Ordnance. We lost not a man, or but a man at most, he slew of theirs a Captain, a Lievtenant, and a Cornet, and some 10. or 12. more, and took one Colour, and some 20. men, so there was a Truce, at least no more fighting till this morning; though the Colonell was within a mile and halfe of the Towne, intending to set downe against on Saturday morning last betimes, but the sad raine forbad him. Yesterday, God sent also to his assistance, Colonell Hobard, (and some say also, Sir Samuel Luke,) Colonell Palgrave also came to him with his men and Ordnance, so together they made a considerable strength, of 3. or 4000, and they say 12. or 14. Pieces of Ordnance. They stay not, but presently that night advance all to Burghly House (whither the Enemy was again gone for Sanctuary) sit downe before it, shot with their Ordnance 2. or 3. houres, (beginning at 3. of clock this morning) but could do no good that way, the house was so strong; they sound a Parley, offering quarter for the men only to have life and Liberty to depart without their weapons, &c. The Enemy refuses, answers, they would neither take nor give quarter; They fall then upon them with their Musquets, a difficult taske, and full of danger, the fight was very hot and well performed (they say) on both sides, the Enemy being very confident, active, and tryumphing, till about one of clock this afternoone: But, then their Spirits began to faile them; And they sounded a Parley, the Colonell most Christianly commanded presently that none of his should dare to shoot or kill any man during the parly, upon paine of death (forgetting their former cruell answer) presently they concluded upon quarter for their lives, for they took them all (being two Colonells, six or seven Captaines, three or 400. Foote, 150. or 200. Horse) with all their Armes, &c. And the pillage of the House, and how they will deal with Stamford (now also at their mercy) we know not; but, if the report be true which we have, that they rung the Bells backward on Wednesday, when the first Skirmish was, to call in the Country to assist the Cavaliers, against the Colonell, his mercy will be admirable if they escape; for the Providence of God hath beene in this businesse, that in all this hot fight for nine or eleven houres, we are credibly informed by one that was a Spectator all the while, that not above sixe or seven men were slaine (though many hurts) in the Battell; onely about two miles beyond Stamford, towards Grantham, some 400. Club-men comming in to the aid of the Cavaliers, and having killed some of the Colonells scouts, hee sent three or foure Troopes to meet them, they almost killed one of the Captaines; upon which being inraged, they presently slew some 50. of them, the rest fled (they say) into the Woods: This is the effect of what we yet hear: Thus it pleaseth God yet to preserve us; blessed be his name.”