Leicester : sanitation versus vaccination : its vital statistics compared with those of other towns, the army, navy, Japan, and England and Wales

Front matter

Yours faithfully,

J T. BIGGS

SANITATION versus VACCINATION

Part I. — Historical Preface

Leicester, Past and Present ; British Period ; Roman Period ; Saxon Period ; Danish Period ; Saxons Restored ; Norman Period ; Plantagenet Period ; Lancastrian and Yorkist Period ; Parliaments at Leicester ; Royal Visits to Leicester ; Tudor Period ; Leicester Abbey ; Stuart and Commonwealth Period ; Leicester's Ancient Charters ; Hanoverian Period ; Victorian Period.

Chapters I.-XVI. - - - pp. 17-70

Part II.— Leicester's Awakening

A Notable Revolution ; Vaccination and ^mall-Pox ; Parliament and Vaccination ; From Darkness to Light ; Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., and Parliament ; Wholesale Prosecutions— Their Effect ; The Position in Leicester ; Leicester Martyrs ; The Great Leicester Demonstration.

Chapters XVII.-XXV. - - pp. 71-130

Part III. — Proposed Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. J. A. Picton, M.P., and the Government ; The Royal Commission on Vaccination ; Its Appointment, Constitution, and Reference ; Leicester and the Royal Commission ; The Leicester Guardians and the Royal Commission ; Leicester, Royal Commission Witnesses — A Synopsis of Their Evidence.

Chapters XXVI.-XXX. - - pp. 131-170

Part IV.— Statistical Evidence

A Lengthy Examination ; Vaccinal Injuries and Deaths at Leicester ; Vaccination and Erysipelas ; Officially Authenticated Deaths from Vaccination ; The Registrar- General's Ghastly Story ; Small-Pox in Leicester ; Leicester Small-Pox Epidemics Compared ; Importations of Small-Pox ; Errors of Diagnosis ; Small - Pox and Fevers ; Zymotic Diseases ; Incidence of • Zymotic Diseases ; Pock-Marked Faces ; The "Protection" Theory; The "Protection by Marks " Theory ; The Royal Commission and the " Marks " Theory ; Leicester's Infantile Death-Rate ; Saving the Children's Lives ; The General Death- Rate at Leicester.

Chapters XXXI.-XLIX. - - pp 171-246

CONTENTS. 9

Part V.— Statistical Comparisons. Leicester Compared with other Towns ; Leicester and London ; Comprehensive Comparisons with Leicester ; Leicester and Glasgow ; Leicester and Sheffield ; Crucial Comparison for Leicester ; Leicester, Large Towns, and England and Wales — General Death-Rates Compared.

Chapters L.-LVI. - - pp. 247-294

Part VI. — The Royal Commission on Vaccination

The Investigation Ended ; How the Commission " Blinked " the Facts ; A " One-sided Inquiry" ; Professor Alfred Ryssel Wallace on the Commission ; View of the Dissentient Commissioners ; Final Report and Recommendations.

Chapters LVII.-LX. - - pp. 295 30G

Part VII. — Parliament and the Royal Commission

The Bill ' of 1898 ; Leicester's Effort to Abolish Penalties ; The Vaccination Act of 1898 ; The Illusory " Conscience Clause " ; The Leicester Guardians and the Local Government Board ; Memorial to the Local Government Board ; Guardians at the High Courts of Justice ; Mass Meeting at Floral Hall ; The Famous Mandamus ; Writ of Attachment ; End of the Struggle ; National Conference in Leicester ; Renewal of Prosecutions.

Chapters LXI.-LXVIII. - - pp. 307-356

10 CONTENTS.

Part VIII.— Sanitation versus Vaccination. The Late Mr. Henry Dalby Dudgeon on Sanitation ; The Chairman of the Leicester Sanitary Committee (Aid. Windley) and the Public Health ; Aid. Windley and the Royal Commission ; Leicester Medical Officers of Health before the Introduction ■of the " Leicester Method," 1846-76 ; Leicester Medical Officers of Health after the Introduction of the " Leicester Method," 1885-1910.

Chapters LXIX.-LXXVI. - pp. 357-410

Part IX. — Leicester Small-Pox Epidemics. The Epidemic of 1892-94 and Dr

Priestley ; Lessons of the Small-Pox Epidemic at Leicester, 1892-94 ; Leicester Small-Pox Epidemic, 1902-04, and Dr. Millard; Leicester and Small-Pox, 1902-04.

Chapters LXXVII.-LXXX. - pp. 411-460

Part X.— The "Leicester Method."

How Leicester Deals with Small-Pox ; Dr. Johnston, M.O.H., 1877-85, on Isolation and Quarantine ; Cost of the " Leicester Method " ; Quarantine ; Hospital Expenditure ; The " Leicester Method " at Work ; Aid. Windley (Chairman of the Leicester Sanitary Committee) on the " Leicester Method"; Dr. C. Killick Millard, M.D. (Medical Officer of Health for Leicester), on the " Leicester Method."

Chapters LXXXI. LXXXVII. pp. 461-514

CONTENTS. 11

Part XL— Supplementary Evidence Against Vaccination.

Vaccination and Syphilis at Leicester ; The Royal Commission on Syphilis at Leicester; Leicester's Tradncers Unmasked; The Dissentient Commissioners on Vaccination and Syphilis ; Professional Opinion -on the Invaccination of Syphilis ; Vaccination and Leprosy ; The Leprosy Investigation Committee ; Inoculation Experiments ; Tuberculin and Leprosy ; Vaccination and Tuberculosis ; Diseases Injected, Intensified, and Increased by Vaccination and Inoculation ; Inoculable Diseases (England and Wales).

Chapters LXXXVUI.-XCVII. pp. 515-578

Part XII. — Lymph

What is Vaccine Lymph ? ; Varieties of Lymph ; Humanised Lymph ; Animal Lymph ; Glycerinated Calf Lymph ; How <jlycerinated Calf Lymph is u Manufactured"; Dr. Klein's Microbic Experiments; Small - Pox Virus Vaccine ; Vaccination ; •Germany and Italy ; Eminent Opinions on Vaccination — Professor Crookshank, Dr. €harles Creighton, Alfred Russel Wallace.

Chapters XCVIII.-CIV. - - pp. 579 629

Part XIII. — The Inoculation Mania

Anti-Toxin and Diphtheria ; Continental and American Evidence Against Anti-

12 CONTENTS.

Toxin ; London Evidence Against Anti- Toxin ; Evidence from the Registrar-General Against Anti-Toxin ; Leicester's Evidence Against Anti-Toxin ; What is Anti-Toxin ? ; Tuberculin and Tuberculosis ; The " New " and " Old " Tuberculins ; Tuberculin Treatment ; Tuberculin Dispensaries ; ' British Medical Journal " and Tuberculin ; The Royal Commission on Tuberculosis ; " Anaphylaxis " ! ! ! ; Sea Water and Diarrhcea.

Chapters CV.-CXVIII. - - pp. 630-700

Part XIV. — Summary and Conclusions

A Thoroughly Impartial Inquiry Wanted ; Leicester Evidence Reviewed ; Leicester Evidence — Its Teachings.

Chapters CXIX.-CXXI. - - pp. 701-716

Part XV. -Appendix. Parliamentary Tables— 54, 55, and 56 pp. 743-748

XVI.— List of Tables and Diagrams pp. 749-753

Leicester Vital Statistics for 1911 - p. 754

XVII.— Index - p. 755

INTRODUCTORY.

As one who took a humble part— as a witness for Leicester —in the proceedings before the Royal Commission on Vaccination (1889-1896), I have long cherished the desire to continue to a later date the more important, if not the whole, of the Tables and Diagrams of Vital Statistics which I had the honour to submit to that Commission. The task— a labour of love — having for its object the manumission of mankind from a hateful medical thraldom, has occupied the spare moments of many years of a busy life.

Often have I wished that this work, for its own sake and the great issues involved, had been in more competent and less occupied hands, but the results of my investigations as to the effects of vaccination are given with the fervent hope that, at least, they may promote inquiry, induce impartial consideration, and elucidate the truth on so important a question affecting the public health.

Leicester has taken a foremost part in many stirring historical events, but in none has its activity been more potent (as I believe for good) than in the much-debated and vexed question of vaccination. Since that operation was enforced

14 INTRODUCTORY.

by penal statute, scarcely any writer on the subject has omitted to make some reference tothe opposition Leicester has uniformly manifested to its compulsory infliction on an unwilling people. Unquestionably this antagonism has materially enhanced the success of the anti-vaccination movement.

Respecting Leicester, much ignorance prevailswhich it is desirable to enlighten. Not so long ago a gentleman, travelling from London, inquired of a friend what town they were approaching. " Leicester," was the reply. " Oh ! " ejaculated the inquirer, " that is the place where they always have the small-pox ! " It was impossible to listen silently to such an untruthful libel, so I at once informed my fellow-travellers that Leicester not only has less small-pox than any other town of a similar character, but also very little vaccination.

That incident, however, serves to illustrate the feeling towards, and even the belief of many people, respecting Leicester. Indeed, to such an extent has prejudice become fixed, especially in the official mind* against the Borough, as the home of the " anti," that our local authorities have at times experienced difficulty in negotiating loans required for public works that are necessary for the development of a bright, healthy, and progressive community, such as Leicester Is to-day ; indeed, I might add, as Leicester lias been ever since its rejection of the Jennerian dogma, and the substitution of personal and municipal cleanliness. This doctrine of cleanliness has now become part and parcel of its every-day life.

INTRODUCTORY. 15>

Owing to these circumstances, it has been suggested that a brief historical sketch might not be inappropriate, although not strictly homogeneous with this work.

Having always taken considerable and active interest in the welfare and reputation of my native town, it has been a congenial task to accede to that proposition. A few chapters are, therefore, devoted to this purpose, in the hope that any wrong impressions which have been formed respecting Leicester may be removed.

In this I am greatly encouraged, not only by the greater, the more sympathetic and intelligent interest, now universally evinced in all matters relating to the health and happiness of the community, but, more particularly, by the indisputable and remarkable success in saving human lives which has signalised the " Leicester Method " of sanitation and isolation in coping with small-pox, as opposed to the effete nostrum of vaccination. This auspicious experiment, in a manufacturing town, on so large a scale as to embrace a population of nearly a quarter of a million persons, ought to convert even the most pronounced devotee of the vaccine dogma. If it does not, then " neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Our motto for fighting all zymotic diseases is that so cleverly adapted by Lord Beaconsfield from the adage of the ancient sage — " Sanitas sanitatum, omnia sanitas ! "

1. The Castle "Mount" or "Mound." (Believed to be the

work of the British tribe, Coritani.)

2. The "Jewry Wall." (Fragment of Roman masonry.)

1. The "Milliare" or Roman Milestone. (Now in the

Museum.)

2. The "Roman Pavement." (In situ as laid over 1,500

FART I.

HISTORICAL PREFACE.

LEICESTER, PAST AND PRESENT.

CHAPTER I. British Period, b.c. 844— a. d. 52

The County-Borough — in ancient times the City — of Leicester is one of the oldest centres of civilised life in Great Britain. The name is derived from the Celtic " Caer," and not, as some suppose, from the Roman " Castrum." According to Geoffrey, of Monmouth, it was founded by King Lear (844 B.C.) centuries before London was even thought of, and also had priority of nearly a century over the Eternal City, Rome (750 B.C.).

However this may be, the original colony was undoubtedly very remote, and the site on the banks of the River Leir was indubitably selected as favourable for a settlement by the ancient Britons.

As M Cair-lerion," Leicester appears in the list of thirty-three British cities, named in the work v,

18 BRITISH PERIOD, B.C. 844— A. D. 52.

of Nennius, which is assigned to the year 796 b.c. The ancient name is perpetuated by a village called Leire, not far from where the river — now the Soar— takes its rise.

Within the precincts of Leicester Castle, the Castle " Mount " or " Mound," now very much reduced in height, is probably the oldest artificial work in the neighbourhood constructed by the native inhabitants, the Coritani. The " Mount " is supposed to be the original Celtic Caer, or Castle, from which the name Kaer-leir, Caer-lerion, Caer- Legria, Legra-ceastre, or Leicester, is derived.

The antiquity of Leicester is, therefore, beyond question, and, according to historians, not only King Lear and his youngest daughter, afterwards Queen Cordeilla, but also Kings Morvidus, Gorbonian, Arthgallo, Elidure, and many other of the pristine British Kings and Queens, either visited, were crowned, reigned, held their Courts, or were buried in this ancient City.

CHAPTER II. Roman Period, a.d. 52-448

With the Roman conquest and occupation of this country, from 52 to 448, Leicester became a Roman stipendiary town, called Ratse, and one of the largest military stations in Britain. The Roman city is supposed to have been founded either by Ostorius Scapula, in the middle of the first century, or later by Julius Agricola, when on his way to the North.

It was of such importance that a Mint was established, and many extensive and imposing buildings erected, as evidenced by the numerous portions of massive stone columns which have been exhumed, and the discovery in 1850 of an entire site of a Roman villa. Near the Praetorium and Basilica, were traces of many temples, baths, and other edifices. A small fragment of Samian pottery, bearing an inscription full of human pathos, probably a love token, from Lucius the Gladiator, to his sweetheart, Verecinida Lydia, indicates there might also have been an amphitheatre.

There are on public exhibition two fine tesselated pavements in situ, as laid by Roman workmen more than eighteen centuries ago, one of these being the floor of the residence of the

20 ROMAN PERIOD, A.D. 52-448.

Prefect or Roman Governor, and both in excellent preservation. These and other remnants of a similar character ; the massive and imposing fabric of masonry called the " Jewry Wall " ; the 44 Milliare," or Roman milestone ; the stone bases and heads of columns, with a large number of other remains ; Samian ware ; glass and ornaments — all testify to the domination and long-continued sway of Imperial Rome. M The Milliare," one of the most important of these relics, the oldest stone inscription known in Britain, is now in the Museum. It is cylindrical in form, three feet six inches high, and twenty-one inches in diameter. It was disinterred in 1771 by the side of the Roman " Via Fossata," or u Fosse Way." It bears this inscription : —

The translation is as follows : — " To the Emperor and Caesar, the august Trajan Hadrian, son of the divine Trajan, surnamed Parthicus, grandson of the divine Nerva Pontifex Maximus, four times invested with tribunal power, thrice Consul. From Ratse two miles."

From this it is not an unreasonable conjecture that the Emperor Hadrian actually visited the city on his way to the North. Besides the M Fosse Way," another of the principal roads constructed by the Romans, the "Via Devana," passed through the City. The advancement of Leicester under the Romans must have been both continuous and rapid, for its name, Ratee, as one of the important nOMAN PERIOD, A.D. 52-448. 21

stations in Britain, was published in Ptolemy's Geography at the beginning of the second century. Considerable evidence of Roman buildings has been found even outside the ancient city walls. Being situate on the " Fosse Way," several Roman Emperors, or Generals, who afterwards assumed the purple, would certainly visit, or pass through, Raise on their journeyings to the North and South of Britain.

Among those, in addition to the mighty Hadrian, we number Clodius Albinus ; the vindictive Severus ; the cruel Caracalla ; Carausis, his brother Geta, and Allectus. Also Constantius, with his British wife, the Empress Helena, father and mother of Constantine the Great, who was born at York. Constantine was the founder of Constantinople, of the Western Empire, and of Christianity as the prevailing religion of the Roman Empire. Possibly, also, Constantine's nephew, the gifted Emperor Julian, called the Apostate, visited Rata?. Julian offered sacrifices to the gods, and his mighty and subtle influence was directed to uproot Constantine's work, to destroy Christianity, and to revive and re-establish Paganism throughout the whole Roman Empire.

Ratse retained its importance as a city in this province until the exigencies of the Empire necessitated the entire withdrawal of the Roman forces from the country.

It will be seen that Leicester, therefore, possesses a wealth of ancient historical material and association almost unrivalled in the chronological annals of Britain.

CHAPTER III. Saxon Period, a.d. 550-780

After the departure of the Romans and the decadence of the Roman Municipium, the Engles (English) took possession of Leicester, about a.d. 550. They adopted the Celtic and Roman British name of Caer-Legria, adapting it to English as Legre-Ceastre. Crida became the first Saxon King of Mercia, in 586, with Leicester as the capital. Under the Saxons, Leicester continued to hold the title of city, and in 658 the early Bishops, who occupied the Bishop's Palace, officiated at the Cathedral, then existing upon the site where St. Margaret's Church now stands, but outside the city walls. The diocese of Mercia, being nearly a fourth part of the whole country, was subdivided by Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, about 678. He appointed a Bishop over the Middle Engles, to the See of Leicester, and eleven Prelates followed in succession, until the See was reunited to Lichfield, in 691. It was again separated, and also afterwards reunited to Lichfield, in 703. But in 737 Leicester was instituted an independent Bishopric, with Totta (or Torthelm) as its first regular Bishop. Since that time the Sec has been merged in that of Peterborough.

Kenulph, the fourteenth Saxon King of Mercia, and his brother, Ceolwulph (who afterwards

SAXON PERIOD, A.D. 550-780. 23

became King), along with Wulfred, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Unwona, Bishop of Leicester, met together, and are said to have executed and witnessed a Charter at Leicester in 810.

In Burnett's " History of the Reformation " (page 251), a reference is made to the intention of Henry VIII. to found a number of new Bishoprics, Leicester being one. Some of those were actually created, but through some cause Leicester was omitted. Recently a Bishop of Leicester (Suffragan, of Peterborough) has been appointed.

• " Legre-Ceastre " continued as the capital of one of the Saxon Kingdoms until towards the close of the eighth century, when the Saxon dominion was seriously menaced by the predatory incursions of the fierce, aggressive, and warlike Danes. Leicester remained the centre of the Middle Engles, and retained its title of city until the Norman Conquest, being referred to in a Council held in the eighth century as " Legoracensis Civitas." (Stubbs and Haddan.) It even appears in Domesdav Book as " Civitas de Ledcestre."

CHAPTER IV. Danish Period, a.d. 780-920

The Danes captured the city in 780, and Leicester then became one of the famous M Five Boroughs " of the Danish Confederacy. The Saxons afterwards recovered the city, but the Danes re -took it in 874. It remained more or less in their possession until 920, when Ethelfla?da, the warlike daughter of the noble, learned, and patriotic King Alfred the Great, and widow of Ethelred, Duke of Mercia, expelled them, and the town again came under Saxon rule. The Danes were not, however, entirely dislodged from the neighbourhood, for the city was once more in their possession from 925 to 940. In 941 a momentous battle was fought between the Saxons on one side, and the Norwegians and Danes combined on the other, outside the city walls. Edmund, King of Mercia, led the Saxons, whilst the Norwegians and Danes were under Onlaf, King of Norway. Although the battle was a scene of terrible carnage, it proved indecisive. The struggle was not, however, renewed, for through the mediation of Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Wulfstun, Archbishop of York, a friendly division of the country was effected between the two Kings, by which the survivor was to succeed to the

DANISH PERIOD, A.D. 780-920. 2!>

sovereignty of the whole area. Onlaf dying soon afterwards, Edmund became King of all England.

The alternate occupations of Leicester by the Danes and Saxons followed each other in rapid succession, for in 1013 the Danes once again re-captured the town, and occupied it until 1041, when the Saxons recovered and held it until the advent of the Normans.

The Danes, however, maintained control long enough to give their name to the hills on the north-west side of the Borough, laying towards the Leicester and Charnwood Forests. An annual Fair was held at Easter, until comparatively recent times, on these hills, called " Dane Hills Fair."

CHAPTER V. Saxons Restored, a.d. 920-1068

After the defeat of the Danes by Ethelflaeda, who reigned as Queen about eight years, the city walls, probably built on the old Roman foundations, were restored. Leicester soon after this must have been regarded as a place of security, for a Mint was established here in 978. Leicester continued, however, to be the scene of devastating warfare, for in 1016, through another political quarrel, it was completely sacked by Edmund Ironsides. It was constituted the centre of one of the three great Saxon Earldoms, into which the Kingdom was divided during the reign of Edward the Confessor. The mighty Leofric, Earl of Leicester and Coventry, and Duke of Mercia, resided at the Castle about 1050. His wife was the far-famed Lady Godiva,

" Who riding forth clothed on with chastity, Hath built herself an everlasting name."

This Bar] and Countess left three sons, the youngest lost to history ; but the other two— Algar, the successor to the Earldom, and the renowned Hereward the Wake were worthy sons of worthy forbears. It is probable both those eminent Saxons were born in Leicester Castle. While the English language endures, Heivward's distinction

SAXONS RESTORED, A.D. 920-1068. 27

for valiant and patriotic deeds will be vividly enshrined in the pages of history, romance, and song.

Algar, Earl of Leicester, succeeded to the Dukedom of Mercia, and his daughter, the beautiful Algitha, was wooed and won by the Welsh King, Griffith. Queen Algitha would probably spend much of her childhood with her grand-parents, the great Leofric and Lady Godiva, at Leicester Castle.

Towards the close of the reign of Edward the Confessor, the famous Godwin, Earl of Wessex, was succeeded by his son Harold, who led the English forces against the Welsh under their King, Griffith. A long struggle ensued ; the latter was defeated, and afterwards assassinated by his followers. Queen Algitha was made captive, and Harold, after ascending the throne, made her his Queen. The felicity of their married life was of short duration, for within two years King Harold, the last of the Saxon Kings, was slain at the memorable Battle of Hastings.

Thus the M peerless " Algitha, or, under her Norman designation, Edith the Fair, became successively the wife, Queen, and widow of two Kings, rivals on many a sanguinary battlefield, and each of whom met with an untimely death.

After Harold fell, Earls Edwin and Morcar, the brothers of Algitha, the " Swan-necked Queen,1' sent her to Leicester Castle, the home of her maidenhood. When the Conqueror arrived, and seized the 27,000 acres comprising her estate, she retired to the cloister, living during the major

28 SAXONS RESTORED, A.D. 920-1068.

portion of William's reign. This unhappy lady (daughter of one and sister of another Earl of Leicester), the last Saxon Queen of England, endowed to a marvellous degree with " the fatal gift of beauty," died and was buried at Stortford, in Hertfordshire, where she was M worshipped as a saint, under her Saxon name of Algitha."

Earl Edwin, being also Duke of Mercia, was able, through his powerful influence, to render the Conqueror conspicuous service by inducing a considerable part of the country to acknowledge his sway. As a reward, the Conqueror promised his daughter in marriage. But William having failed to carry out his undertaking, Edwin, with his brother Morcar, gathered round them many of the warriors who had fought at Hastings, and raised the standard of revolt. A pitched battle ensued, the Saxon Earl being completely defeated. Subsequently the brothers were treacherously killed. Thus, notwithstanding the Norman Conquest of Leicester in 1068, it was not until 1071 that Edwin, the last Saxon Earl of Leicester, was slain.

CHAPTER VI. Norman Period, a.d. 1068-1265

When the Norman hosts assailed Leicester, the title of city, held (if we date from B.C. 844) for nearly two thousand years, appears to have been lost, possibly as a punishment for the bravery of the inhabitants and the stubborn resistance they offered to William the Conqueror, who took the city by storm in 1068, about two years after the Battle of Hastings. In the assault a large portion of the city was destroyed, along with St. Mary's Church. William handed the Government over to the tender mercies of Hugo de Grentemaisnil, one of the Norman adventurers.

Although applications have been made from time to time to the Government, the title of " city " has never been restored.

Even after the Conquest, Leicester continued to experience a troublous time. When

"... the mighty Conqueror, By a mightier overcome ! "

bad passed away, a dispute arose as to his successor. Grentemaisnil, Governor of Leicester, favoured Robert Curthose, the Conqueror's eldest son and Duke of Normandy. William Rufus, the Red King, raised an enormous army, and the town was sacked and laid in ruins by his forces, a.d. 1088. Grentemaisnil was disgraced, and dispossessed of his Governorship, a heavy fine being also inflicted. He retired to an Abbey in Normandy, where he became a monk, and died a few years later.

The Earldom of Leicester was conferred on Robert de Beaumont in 1107. Robert (Blanchmains), who succeeded to the Earldom in 1169, for some reason entered into a conspiracy against King Henry II. The King's forces, under Richard de Lucy, High Justiciary of England, and Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, attacked Leicester, and made a desperate onslaught, in 1173. The walls were destroyed, and dreadful damage done on this occasion, which is known as the " Great Siege of Leicester." Two years later, the Castles of both Leicester and Groby (near Leicester) were demolished.

Leicester continued to be the residence of the Norman Earls from the Conquest to the time of the celebrated Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and Lord High Steward — a hereditary dignity then pertaining to the Earldom of Leicester.

Simon de Montfort's gift of a large estate, known as the " Cowhay," or South Fields, has preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of the inhabitants for ever the large open space now known as Victoria Park.

NORMAN PERIOD, A.D. 1068-1265. 3i

NORMAN EARLS OF LEICESTER. Succeeded

Earldom.

A.D.

Robert de Beaumont (First Norman Earl, whose badge of a ciiique-foil upon ermine became, and has since remained, part of the town coat of arms. The Wyvern, or Griffin, was added more than a century later. The title of Lord High Steward of England was conferred on the Earls of Leicester , and made hereditary) .... no?

Robert (Bossu) (Founder of Leicester Abbey,

Robert (Blanchmains) (Friend and companion of Richard, Cceur de Lion, during the crusades. Rebelled against Henry II.) - 1169

Robert (Fitz Parnel) (Meeting of Barons at Leicester Castle, against King John, a.d. 1201) - - 1190

Sim un de Montfort (In right of his Countess, (the elder) Amicia, the sister of Robert

Fitz Parnel) - 1204

Simon de Montfort (Founder of English Parliaments, slain at Evesham, A.D. 1265) ... . 1218

CHAPTER VII. The Plantagenets

After Simon de Montfort, there followed a succession of Plantagenet Earls of Leicester, the sixth being the renowned John of Gaunt, also Duke of Lancaster.

His (John of Gaunt's) patronage of the Lollards, and of Wycliffe, the "Morning Star" of the Reformation, led to his being thoroughly hated in ecclesiastical circles in London. When the people rose in tens of thousands, under Wat Tyler, in 1381, John of Gaunt was wrongly, but unfortunately, suspected of being the author of the obnoxious poll tax, and the mob proceeded to burn and destroy his beautiful Palace of the Savoy, " the fairest structure in England," with all its inestimable art treasures.

Wycliffe's eloquent voice was heard in St. Mary's Church, adjoining and within the grounds of Leicester Castle. John of Gaunt afterwards conferred the Rectory of Lutterworth, near Leicester, upon Wycliffe, and he held it for about ten years. His adherents increased rapidly, but his efforts for religious liberty excited a great amount of persecution. His sudden death, in 1384, probably saved him from being burnt as a martyr at the stake. His body was afterwards exhumed and burnt, the ashes being thrown into the River Swift. It has been remarked that

1. St. Margaret's Church. (Built on site of the old Cathedral.)

2. Saxon Window in St. Nicholas' Church.

3. St. Nicholas' Church. (Occupying the site of ancient British

and Roman religious structures.)

1. St. Mary's Church, and Turret Gateway entrance to Cattle

2. St. Martin's Church.

3. Leicester Castle, (in "olden timet. ")

2. Kirby Muxloe Castle.

3. Entrance to Courtyard of Leicester Castle.

1. The old "Parliament House" in Leicester.

2. Heraldic device on " Parliament House."

3. The old Town Hall. (Where Shakespeare is said to

have acted In his own plays.)

THE PLANTAGENETS. 33

" they flowed thence into the Soar, the Trent, the Humber, and the ocean, and were thus distributed throughout the world."

Leicester Castle was a favourite seat of John of Gaunt, and the residence of the Plantagenet Earls and Dukes of the House of Lancaster. After the death of John of Gaunt, his son, Henry of Bolingbroke, the last Plantagenet Earl of Leicester, succeeded to the Crown, as King Henry IV. of England, in 1399. From him, through this event, the Kings of England and his present Majesty, King George V., thus derive the title of Duke of Lancaster.

Referring to this important event, the late William Napier Reeve, Esq., in his " Chronicles of the Castle, and of the Earls of Leicester," says : —

" There were no more Earls of Leicester, and thenceforth to none of that name belonged the Castle of Leicester, or the town thereof, or any possessions therein, or anything pertaining thereto, for they who were afterwards called Earls of Leicester were strangers to the Town and County of Leicester, and of no account therein. But, even as the glory of the sun is greatest at its setting, so did the grandeur of the last Earl of Leicester surpass that of all who had gone before him. For the Earldom ceased, not by the failure of male issue, as in the days of Henry, the good Duke ; or by attaint of treason, as in the days of Simon ; or by the hand of violence, as in the days of Thomas the Earl, but because the glory of the Earldom was merged in the greater glory of the Crown."