Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the fifteenth century; to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjects

Preface

. In the course of the fifteenth century, England experienced, in a lamentable degree, the sad effects of internal discord, and the miseries caused by the conflicts of adverse factions. It is scarcely possible, for historians to point out, in the annals of any country in Europe, in the feudal ages, deeds of violence and bloodshed, of a more appalling nature, than those which the chroniclers have recorded, as having occurred in England, during the period which intervened between the years 1400 and 1500 — a period memorable for the sanguinary wars of York and Lancaster. During the continuance of those disastrous conflicts, thousands of brave men perished in arms, the axe of the executioner was seldom idle, great numbers of the nobility and gentry lost their lives in the field or upon the scaffold, property was usurped in consequence of wholesale confiscations, numberless innocent lives were sacrificed, and many happy homes were outraged.

This misery was the result of contests for a crown, which perhaps neither of the claimants merited, nor does it appear, that it was of great importance to the nation, which of the rival competitors wore it. Of those ■ destructive wars, the battle of Shrewsbury in the reign of Henry IV., in 1403, may be considered in some degree as the first ; because it was the earliest attempt by an appeal to arms, to remove from the throne a monarch of the House of Lancaster ; x and the last was the battle of 1 It haa been considered advisable to commence thia work with an account of the battle of Shrewsbury, which was a prelude to, and had ao cloae a relation to, the wara of York and Lancaster, that it may, without much impropriety, be considered aa one of them.

PREFACE.

. VI Stoke, fought in 1487, in the reign of Henry VII. ; that of Bosworth, in which, by the death of Richard III., the Plan tagenet dynasty terminated, being often erroneously called the last; but, although the latter certainly placed the House of Tudor upon the throne, the crown was secured to it by the battle of Stoke, when the partisans of the House of York, under John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, made their final but unsuccessful appeal to arms, in hopes of regaining the ascendency, which that party had formerly enjoyed. These sanguinary conflicts are usually called the Wars of the Roses, from the circumstance, that the supporters of the House of York assumed the badge or device of the White Rose, and those of Lancaster the Red Rose. It has been remarked with great truth, by Sir John Fenn, the antiquary,1 in adverting to that disastrous period, " That our own kingdom has fewer authentic records of the transactions, during the reigns of Henry VI. , Edward IV., and Richard III., than of any other later period of our history, is a truth known to and lamented by every man of historical knowledge."

He ascribes the deficiency of information, amongst other causes, to the invention of printing ; which at first sight appears to be a paradox, because such an invention seems to be calcu lated to favour universal knowledge : — " At the beginning of the art of printing, those who practised it, were solicitous to perpetuate things already committed to writing, relative to past times and past occurrences, not regarding recent ■ transactions as of equal consequence. This art likewise probably prevented the writers of manuscripts from multiplying their copies j they foreseeing that the new invention would in time, supply a sufficient number, at a much less price, by which means, the value of their manual labour would be greatly diminished." 2 1 Fenn' a Collections of Original Letters ofthe Reigns of Henry VL, Edward IV. and Richard III, Preface, p. vii. 2 /j,-^ preface) p viii 2 Ibid., Preface, p.

PREFACE.

. VII Notwithstanding, however, the scanty nature of the historical accounts handed down to us, some information of value has reached us ; and the fields of battle, and the positions of the hostile armies, may in several instances, be clearly identified, after a perusal of the statements of the old chroniclers, and a comparison of their descriptions with the present aspect of the localities where the battles were fought. Having felt a considerable degree of interest in the occur rences of those stirring and extraordinary times, I have re peatedly visited the scenes of action ; and, by carefully com paring the statements of the old writers, the actual appearance of the fields, and the traditions of the neighbourhood, I have obtained strong confirmation, in several instances, of the accuracy of the accounts which have been handed down to us ; and have derived great pleasure from visiting and exploring the various localities, and obtaining information from persons in the vicinity.

The results of my visits were committed to writing, in a series of papers,1 of which copies, or the principal parts, will be found in the following pages. Some historical matters will also be introduced, in such instances as tend to elucidate any important event, which immediately preceded or had a direct relation to any of the battles. It is much to be regretted, that in the majority of historical works, describing the events of this country in the fifteenth century, whenever the exploits of any noblemen or warriors, l Most of the papera relating to the fields of battle have been transmitted to, and read, from time to time, before meetings of the Society of Antiquaries of London. In consequence of further information, obtained in my subsequent visits to the respective scenes of action, and derived from other sources, additions in some instances, and alterations in others, have however been made in several of the papers.

For example : my vieits to Towton Field amount altogether to nine ; and since the paper upon it was read before the meetings of the Society, considerable additional information has been acquired respecting it, which has naturally caused some alterations to be made.

PREFACE.

. VIII or the talents or skill of any men of eminence, are mentioned, the authors, from some cause or other, very rarely give any information of much value relative to the individuals whose actions they are describing ; but as few readers can reflect upon the surprising events of that period without feeling a considerable degree of interest in the warlike and distinguished personages, who were the principal actors in those stirring and eventful times, there will be found in the notes to this work, some explanatory and biographical particulars : of the princes, nobles, and eminent persons, whose actions and conduct are noticed in it. In the following publication will also be found some other papers and tracts, principally of an archæological nature, written at various times, as the subjects came under my notice; and as they may possibly interest, in some degree, the class of readers who take pleasure in pursuits of that description, I have been induced to add them to the present collection.

In committing this work to the press, it will be a source of gratification to the Author, if his humble exertions shall be, in some degree, instrumental in elucidating any events hitherto imperfectly known, in solving any difficulties which may have suggested themselves, or in confirming the state ments of the old historical writers of this country. RICHARD BROOKE. 12th March, 1857. 1 Ralph Brooke (York Herald), William Dugdale (Norroy King at Arms), Francis Sandford (Lancaster Herald at Arms), and, in some instances, John Leland thc Antiquary, are the principal authorities relied upon respecting the personages, families, and other genealogical matters mentioned in this work. CONTENTS. PAGE Chap. I. The Field of the Battle of Shrewsbury 1 II. ,, „ Blore Heath 21 HI- ,, „ Northampton 39 IV. „ „ Wakefield 53 V. „ „ Mortimer's Cross 67 "VI. „ „ Towton 81 VII. „ „ Tewkesbury 131 VIII. „ „ Bosworth 157 IX. „ „ Stoke 177 „ „ » Evesham 203 ,, Barnet 205 X. The General Use of Firearms by the English, in the Fifteenth Century 213 XI.

The ancient Family of Wyche, or De la Wyche, of Cheshire . .245 XII. Wilmslow Church, in Cheshire 253 XIII. Handford Hall and Cheadle Church, in Cheshire 267 XIV. Part 1. The Office of Keeper of the Royal Menagerie in the reign of Edward IV 283 „ Part 2. The probable period of the Extinction of Wolves in England 287 Appendix No. I. Extract from the Act of Attainder of 1st Edward IV., passed in 1461 301 II. Extract from the Act of Attainder of 14th Edward IV., passed in 1475 308 III. Extract from the Act of Attainder of 1st Henry VII., passed in 1485 '. 309 b X CONTENTS. PAGE J t* Appendix No. IV. Proclamation for enforcing Order and Discipline, and Extract from a Journal of the March and Proceedings of Henry VIL, previously to the Battle of Stoke . .310 V. Extract from the Act of Attainder of 3 rd Henry VIL, passed in 1487 315 VI.

Extract from the Act of Attainder of 11th Henry VII., passed against Lord Lovel in 1495 317 VII. Letter from William Cooper, Esq., Clerk ofthe Parliament of 9th August, 1737 318 ILLUSTRATIONS. Battlefield Church Frontispiece Plan of the Field of the Battle of Shrewsbury 10 Field of the Battle of Towton 92 Field of the Battle of Stoke

Chapter I. The Field Of The Battle Of Shrewsbury

1 " After him came spurring hard A gentleman almost forspent with speed, That stopp'd by me to breathe hia bloodied horse He ask'd the way to Chester ; and of him I did demand, what news from Shrewsbury. He told me, that rebellion had ill luck, And that young Harry Percy's spur waa cold." Shakespeabe's Henry TV. part ii. act 1, scene 1. Twice in the year 1851, and once in each of the five suc ceeding years,2 I visited the field of the celebrated Battle of Shrewsbury, and also the church erected there by King Henry the Fourth. It is called Battlefield Church, and owes its erec tion to Henry's gratitude for, and desire to commemorate, the victory which he obtained in 1403, over the insurgent forces commanded by Henry Percy, usually called Hotspur, the son of Henry Percy, the first Earl of Northumberland3 1 The paper upon the Field of the Battle of Shrewsbury was read before a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of London, on the 25th of March, 1852, and the thanks of the meeting were voted for it to the author. 2 I viaited the field of battle in September and October 1851, August 1852, June 1853, June 1854, May 1855, and May 1856. 3 Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, son of Henry Lord Percy and Mary hia wife, sister of Henry Duke of Lancaster, was created the first Earl of Northumberland of that B ■V of that surname, and by the earl's brother, Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester.1 The field of battle has also occasionally been called the Battle of Berwick Field, of Bull Field, and of Hussee Field : the two former appellations being taken from the names of neighbouring places, at or near which, Percy's army is said to have been, prior to the battle ; and the latter from an ancient family owning the lands where the battle took place,2 and it is now called Battlefield.

It lies about three miles and a quarter, in a north-westwardly direction, from Shrewsbury, contiguous to the turnpike road, of which one fork or continuation leads in one direction by Prees and Whitchurch, towards Cheshire, and another towards surname, at the coronation of King Bichard II. in 1377. He and Henry Percy his son, called Hotspur, gained the battle of Hallidown Hill, against the Scotch, in 1402. After the battle of Shrewsbury, being supposed to be disaffected, he waa committed to the Tower of London ; but having been liberated from thence, he, with Lord Bardolph, came out of Scotland in the ninth year of Henry IV. with considerable forces against Henry ; and at Bramham Moor was encountered by Thomas Eokeby, sheriff of Yorkshire, where the earl was taken prisoner, and Lord Bardolph dangerously wounded ; and they were brought to York, where they were both beheaded in 1408.

He married two wives : the first was Margaret, daughter of Balph Lord Neville of Baby, by whom he had issue Henry Percy (called Hotspur) slain at the battle of Shrewsbury ; Thomas Percy, the second son; Balph Percy, the third son; and Alan Percy, the fourth son, who died young. The earl's second wife was Maud, daughter of Thomas Lord Lucy, by whom he had not any issue. Henry Percy (Hotspur) left issue, by his wife Elizabeth, oldest daughter of Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, a son Henry, afterwards second Earl of Northum berland, who in the third year of Henry V. waa restored to his honours ; a staunch sup porter of the Lancastrian party, and was slain at the first battle of St.Albana, on the 22nd of May, 1455;* and a daughter, Elizabeth, married to John Lord Clifford, and, after hia death, to Balph Neville, second Earl of Westmoreland of that 8urname. 1 Sir Thomas Percy, Knight, a younger brother of Henry Percy, first Earl of North umberland, waa created Earl of Worcester and Lord High Admiral of England in 1397, and taken prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, and beheaded in that town in 1403. 2 Owen and Blakeway's History of Shrewsbury, vol. i. p. 186 ; Carte's History of England, vol. ii. p. 659.

The battle ia stated, in Gough's edition of Camden's Britannia, vol. ii. p. 418, to have " began in Oldfield or Bulfield, a little north of the north gate, and raged aa far aa what is now called Battlefield." In Stow's Annals the place is " called Oldfield, alias Bulfield, not sarre from a place called Barwike." * The 22nd of May, according to Dugdale, vol. i. p. 168 and 342, and Sandford, p. 321; but the 23rd of May, according to Hall, Holinshed, and Orafton. CHAP. I. SHEEWSBUEY. Market Drayton. From that road there is also another road which turns off to the eastward, towards Staffordshire. Those circumstances may be material, with reference to endeavouring to ascertain the line of march of the insurgent forces when they advanced towards Shrewsbury. In 1403, a confederacy was entered into between the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Worcester, Henry Percy (called Hotspur), Owen Glendowr, and others, for an insurrection1 against Henry IV.

In order to prevent its being inter fered with by incursions from the Scotch, and probably also in order to have a valiant and useful confederate, Archibald Earl Douglas, who had been taken prisoner at the battle of Hallidown Hill in 1402, was liberated by Percy on condition of his engaging to join in the enterprise, and was allowed to go home, from whence he returned with a select party of his own men. The Earl of Northumberland was unwell, and remained at Berwick ; but his son Henry Percy commenced his march towards Cheshire, where he expected to be reinforced by the gentlemen of that county, who had always been attached to the memory of Richard IL, and he was not disappointed in that respect. Percy, with Earl Douglas and a great army, departed out of the northern parts, leaving his (Percy's) father sick, and came to Stafford, where his uncle the Earl of Worcester and he met,2 and increased their forces by all the means they could devise ; from thence they proceeded towards Wales, expecting there additional aid and reinforcements.2 Not any of the old annalists or chroniclers give us informa tion as to the exact line of march, which Percy and his forces pursued from the north into Shropshire.

From the circum stance of the confederates being stated to have issued a pro- ' l The accounts are but meagre and incomplete respecting the precise object of the insurrection ; but it is usually treated by historical writers aB having been set on foot with a view to dethrone Henry IV., and to place Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, a descendant of Lionel Duke of Clarence, son of Edward III., upon the throne of England. 2 Hall, Holinshed, Grafton. clamation, in which they asserted that Richard II. was ahve at Chester,1 and invited his partisans to meet in arms in that city -1 and from the reinforcements which the confederates obtained from Cheshire, it might perhaps be inferred that they entered Staffordshire from Cheshire, by the Whitchurch and Prees road ; but on the other hand, if Percy marched, as we are told he did, with his army to Stafford, and was there joined by the Earl of Worcester2 and his forces, it is tolerably clear that the insurgent army must have entered Shropshire on its eastward side, in marching towards Shrewsbury ; and it has been suggested, with much appearance of probability, that they entered the county through Newport, by High Ercall and Haghmond Hill.3 In either case, it is certain that they advanced to Shrewsbury, and arrived there some time on the 19th of July, but too late to get possession of the town ; and in marching from the north (as the river encompasses the town nearly on three sides), it is tolerably certain, that they advanced in order to attack it at the north or Castle Gate.

Henry IV. had assembled an army against the Welsh, and was with it at Burton-upon-Trent, when he heard of the confederates' hostile movements ; and by the Earl of Dunbar's advice, immediately marched towards Shrewsbury. He was at Burton-upon-Trent on the 16th of July,4 and on the 17th at Lichfield,5 from whence he would probably take the Watling Street Road, and after arriving at Shrewsbury, he would naturally enter it over the Abbey Bridge.6 He succeeded in getting possession of the town a few hours before Percy's arrival, who is said to have reached the Castle Foregate on the evening of July 19th. This judicious course was of the 1 Holinshed, Walsingham. 2 Hall, Holinshed, Grafton. 3 Owen and Blakeway'a History of Shrewsbury, vol. i. p. 185. 4 A proclamation of Henry, iaaued at Burton-upon-Trent on the 16th of July, on the occasion ofthe rebellion of Percy, has been preserved. — SeeBymer's Fœdera, vol. viii. fo.313. 5 A proclamation or royal mandate was issued at Lichfield by Henry, on the 17th of July. — See Eymer's Fœdera, vol. viii. sol. 314. 6 Owen and Blakeway'a History of Shrewsbury, vol. i. p. 185.

CHAP. I. SHREWSBURY. 5 utmost importance to the success of Henry's cause, as by it he secured the passage of the Severn, and prevented Owen Glendowr, who had advanced with his forces to Oswestry, from crossing the river and effecting a junction with Percy. Henry had scarcely entered Shrewsbury, when he was apprized by his scouts that the confederate forces, with banners displayed, were advancing towards him, and were so courageous and bold, that their light cavalry had begun to skirmish with his troops ; upon which he marched out, aud encamped without the east gate of the town,1 and offered battle to his enemies. Percy, who had prepared to have assaulted the town, being baffled in his design by the King's movements, and probably reluctant that the engagement should take place in the absence of the Welsh forces, and whilst his enemies had superior numbers, retired from before Shrewsbury as soon as he saw the royal standard flying there.2 As Henry had much to hazard and nothing to gain by delay, it was clearly his interest to fight j yet, being aware of the risk and chances of a battle, he appears to have been desirous to avoid it, by negotiations for peace.

The Abbot of Shrewsbury went more than once to the insurgents, in the hope of effecting a pacific accommodation between the hostile parties. The habits and usages of that age jus tified the mediation of a dignitary of the Romish Church of so elevated a degree as the Abbot of Shrewsbury ; besides which, he had the King's sanction for interfering as a mediator. But in a few years hence, it will scarcely be credited, although it is now a notorious fact, that three elderly persons from England, unauthorised by the British Government, and belonging to a 1 HaU, Grafton. 2 Stow'e Annals, Speed's History. It is stated in Owen and Blakeway's History of Shrewsbury, although their authority for it does not seem altogether satisfactory, that Percy retired to a place called Bull Field, a short distance from Shrewsbury, an extensive common, which stretched from Upper Berwick to the east, and to have encamped there during the night of the J 9th, and to have marched the next day by Harlescot aud Abright Hussee, to Hateley Eield, where he made a stand at the spot now called Battle 5eld. — See Owen and Blakeway's History of Shrewsbury, vol. i. p. 186, 187. respectable body of men, of which the members are not usually wanting in shrewdness and intelligence, were actually so absurd as to go out to St. Petersburg, in the depth of winter (and let it not be forgotten, that it was a Russian winter into the bargain), in January 1854, to try to talk over the Emperor Nicholas, and to coax him from going to war with the Turks and their allies.

It is pretty certain, that posterity will either not credit the fact of so ridiculous an attempt having been made, by those three persons, or will beheve, that whether they were deficient in common sense or not, at least they must have pos sessed a considerable degree of self-estimation or presumption. The negotiations and pacific exertions of the Abbot of Shrewsbury, however, not terminating in a satisfactory result, both parties prepared for a mortal conflict. Some small rein forcements of Welsh forces, but probably not in considerable numbers, contrived to effect a junction with the confederates ; and although now, when we are all happily united as one nation, it may seem unnatural and strange to us, the presence of Scotchmen and Welshmen fighting on Percy's side would in that age necessarily kindle amongst the forces of Henry, feelings of national antipathy, in addition to other feelings of hostility towards the opposite army.

It is not an easy matter to understand, why it happened, that the hostile armies came in collision, at such a spot as Battlefield. The field did not offer any natural advantage of position of moment, to Percy's army ; whilst, if he had retired a few miles further on the same line of road, he would have come to some much stronger positions. But, as Battlefield is on the road, through Hodnet and Market Drayton, towards the North, it seems most probable, that, when he was disappointed in his attempt upon Shrewsbury-, he at first prepared to retreat back to Northumberland, but found that after getting so near to Henry, it was no longer practicable to effect a retreat with safety in the face of a superior force. It was too late, and no other course remained for him, but to turn at bay and fight.

CHAP. I. 7 SHREWSBURY The battle was accordingly fought on the eve or vigil of St. Mary Magdalen, Saturday, the 21st of July, 1403 j1 and the place where it was fought has ever since been called Battlefield. The two armies seem not to have been quite equal in numbers. In consequence of Glendowr's forces not joining Percy, the army of Henry is said to have been more numerous than that of his enemies. The battle commenced with a fierce discharge of arrows on each side. Both armies behaved with great valour ; and Percy, Douglas, and others, in the heat of the battle, hoping to effect the destruction of the King, valiantly forced their way into the centre of his forces, but were baffled in their attempt by the King's having withdrawn from his original position. At one period, Henry's van was broken, his standard overthrown ; his son Henry Prince of Wales was wounded in the face by an arrow, but continued fighting; Sir Walter Blount and three other persons, armed in all respects like the King, were slain ; and the fortune of the day appeared to incline against the King.

Percy, who had charged furiously into the centre of Henry's ranks, seemed in a fair way of gaining the victory. Henry, however, who displayed the utmost valour, and is said to have slain some of his enemies with his own hand, and had been unhorsed at one period of the battle, brought up his reserve at an important moment, which appears to have turned the scale ; and Percy was killed, according to one account, by a spear, and 1 Hall, Holinahed, Walaingham, Speed, Stow, Grafton, Sandford, p. 265 ; Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. vi. part 3, p. 1426. It is remarkable, that although in Dugdale's Baronage, vol. i. p. 280, it is stated that the battle waa fought on the eve of St. Mary Magdalen (21st of July, 1403 ;) yet on p. 163 he states that it was fought on St. Mary Magdalen's day (22nd of July).

See also Rymer's Fædera, tome viii. fo. 320. It is stated in Owen and Blakeway's History of Shrewsbury, vol. i. p. 187, 188, for which Otterburne is cited aB their authority, that a portion of Percy's forces was posted behind a field of peas, which would naturally form some obstacle to the attack of the royal army—" Oportebat regis exercitum, si pugnare vellet, accedere super aream satam pisis adultis ; quas pisas ita nexuerant et tricaverant ut impedimento forent accedentibus prætensi laquei eorundem." according to another, by an arrow which pierced his brain. His death seems to have had a material effect in deciding the victory in Henry's favour ; the insurgent forces, disheartened by that fatal event, gave way, and fled in great disorder.1 The battle lasted three hours. On Henry's side, besides 3000 wounded, Edmund Earl of Stafford,2 who commanded the van, and the following knights, Sir Hugh Shirley, Sir John Clifton, Sir John Cockaine, Sir Nicholas Gausel, Sir Walter Blount, Sir John Calverley, Sir John Massey of Pudington, Sir Hugh Mortimer, and Sir Robert Gausel, all of whom had received the honour of knighthood that morning, and about 1600 men, are said to have fallen in the field of battle.

On Percy's side, the loss of those slain in fight or in pursuit is estimated at 5000 ; and amongst the slain were 200 knights and gentlemen of Cheshire, who had joined Percy. As for the Scotch, few or none escaped alive. Sir Richard Venables (Baron of Kinderton), and Sir Richard Vernon (Baron of Shipbrook), both of Cheshire, and the Earl of Worcester, were taken prisoners, and beheaded two days after wards (on Monday) at the High Cross at Shrewsbury ; and the head of Worcester was set up over London Bridge. Henry appears to have discouraged a very vindictive or eager pursuit after the fugitives ; and of those who escaped, many got back to Northumberland, and shut themselves up in castles there : not liking to trust the King's good faith.3 Earl Douglas was taken, but was sometime afterwards liberated. 1 To save repetition, it is well to mention, that this account of the battle has been collected from Hall, Holinshed, Walsingham, Grafton, Speed, Stow, and Monstrelet, c. 7. 2 Edmund Stafford, Earl of Stafford, was the third son of Hugh Earl of Stafford, and his wife Philippa, daughter of Thomas Beauchamp, the elder Earl of Warwick, aud the heir of his brothers Thomaa and William, and waa after their deaths without issue, the fifth Earl of Stafford and Lord of Tunbridge.

He married Anne, daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, sixth son of Edward III. He was the father of Hum phrey Stafford, first Duke of Buckingham, slain at the battle of Northampton fighting for the Lancastrian party in 1459. The strange and mournful fatality which attended the principal members of this powerful and celebrated family, will be noticed in treating upon the latter battle, in Chap. III. 3 Lelandi Collectanea, vol. ii. p. 389 [313]. CHAP. I. SHREWSBURY. 9 In a close or meadow on the right or north side of the present lane, leading towards the church from the turnpike road, there is the appearance of a slight bank and trench running parallel with that lane, which possibly may have been part of an in trenchment made in front of Percy's line. The close on the south side of the lane is called the King's Croft, and it is tradi tionally said that a portion of Henry's army was posted there ; the probability is, that its name at that period, and before the present fences and enclosures were made, had a much wider application, and that King's Croft extended on both sides of the present lane.

In gratitude for, and in commemoration of, this victory, Henry the Fourth erected on the spot, Battlefield Church; and from the circumstance of the battle having been fought on St. Mary Magdalen's eve, he, in compliance with the prevalent opinions of the age, and probably also from his considering himself in some degree indebted to her for the victory, caused the church to be dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen. The church is of the Gothic style, part Decorated, and part Perpendicular. It is not of a large size,1 but is handsome ; and the edifice, with its battle mented tower, forms an interesting object on the westward side of the turnpike road, from which it is distant two or three fields' breadth. We cannot doubt that there must have been some strong motive, for selecting for its erection the spot where the church stands, for it is at an inconvenient distance from the highway, in a peculiar and, at that time, a lonely place, where there was not even a village near it, or a carriage road running immediately past it.