*STAMFORD, (Lincolnshire) on the edge of Northampton and Rutland-shires, has a fine stone bridge over the Welland to Northamptonshire, which is navigable to it by barges, 36 m. from Lincoln and Northampton, 69 cm. 83 mm. from London, bet. Stilton and Grantham, in the road to Berwick. 'Twas a noted place in the Romans time. On the S. side of the r. K. Edward the Elder built a very strong castle, called Stamford-Baron, of which there are not left any traces. The Danes burnt this T. in the beginning of their depredations; and in the R. of K. Stephen, there was a castle in the midst of the T. of which the foundation-plot is still visible. Stowe says, that anno 930 here was a mint. In the R. of Richard, the inhabitants murdered all the Jews here. At this place the barons met to levy war against K. John, in whose R. here was the first bull- baiting; for Will. Earl of Warren, then the Ld. of the T. observing two bulls in the castle-meadow fighting for a cow, and that all the butchers dogs here, alarmed at their bellowing, ran out, and singled out one of them, which they pursued through the T. was so pleased at the diversion, that he gave all the meadow for a common to the butchers of the T. on condition that they should find a mad bull six weeks before every Christmas, for the continuance of that sport, from whence arose the proverb, as mad as the baiting bull of Stamford. Mr. Neal, who was very curious in searching into the antiquities of this Co. produces a fragment of an old MS. to shew that here was an U. long before the birth of Christ, which continued till 300 years after it, when it was dissolved by the pope, for adhering to Arius; but that 'twas not before the R. of Edw. III. is pretty evident. 1. From the remains of two colleges, called Blackhall and Brazen-nose, on the gate of which last, there is a brazen nose, and a ring through it, from which that of the same name at Oxford, built in the R. of Kenry VII. took pattern. 2. From the removal of the students hither from Oxford, as we there mentioned, who, to be sure, came hither, because they knew here were colleges ready to receive them; for they did not stay here long enough to build them. In the old war between the houses of Lancaster and York, the Lancaster party destroyed this T. with fire and sword, since which it could never recover its former glory, though it has all along maintained a considerable trade. Some remains of antiquity have been found here; and the Roman highway which goes from hence to the Humber, is some indication that here was once a ferry. Here is a handsome T.-hall; and though it had 14 p.-Chs. till Edward VI. reduced them by act of Pt. has now but 7, in one of which, viz. St.-Martin's, the great Cecil, Ld. Burleigh, lies buried, in a splendid tomb. This Ch. is in Stamford-Baron, which indeed is in Northamptonshire, but 'tis rated with, and under the jurisdiction of, this Corp. and so 'tis all called Stamford. 'Tis a large, populous, rich T. with a mayor, recorder and his deputy, a T.-clerk, 12 ald. 2 capital-burgesses, and two serjeants at mace. The first charter they can shew was granted by Edw. IV. though it appears from thence it had some before. It had others from Charles II. and James II. but being only temporary, they are expired. There is a ch. sc. here, in which 80 children are taught and employed, of whom a fourth part are wholly maintained and cloathed, and the rest supplied with wheels, reels, fire and candles, and they are said to earn 400 l. a year. In the R. of Hen. VII. Will. Brown, who had been twice mayor, erected and endowed an hos. here, for a warden, 12 men, and a nurse, as did the great Ld. Burleigh, above-mentioned, another. In the Ch. by the bridge, is a fine monument of the Earl and Countess of Exeter, in white marble, with their figures cumbent, as big as the life, done at Rome; and over against this Ch. is the George inn, reckoned the largest in England; but the bull inn here is by much the finest, it being a fine free-stone quadrangle, with sash-windows, which has the appearance of a palace. The houses are most of them covered with dates, and 'tis the best compacted T. in the Co. Its chief trade is in malt, sea- coal, and free-stone. The inh. have very great privileges, such as being freed from the sheriff's jurisdiction, and from being empannelled on juries out of T. to have the returns of all writs; to be freed from all Lds. lieutenants and their musters, and for having the militia of the T. commanded by their own officers, the mayor being the K's. Ld.-lieutenant, and immediately under his Majesty's command, and is esteemed (within the liberties and jurisdiction of the T.) the second man in the Km, Here subsists the notable custom of Borough-English, by which the younger sons inherit the lands and tenements of their father dying intestate. There is a new course here for horse-races. The Mts. here are on M. and F. the Fairs the T. before Candlemas, July 25, Oct. 28. and Jan. 29, and the first M. in Lent and before May-day, for horses. This place gives title of Earl to the Ld. Harry Gray, Baron Gray of Groby, &c. After the death of John Earl of Warren, in the R. of Edw. I. the manor, borough, and castle, reverted to the crown. After five or six re-grants from the crown to the nobility, and as many returns to it by forfeiture, or want of male issue, Q. Eliz. granted them to Will. Cecil the first Ld. Burleigh, from whom they descended to Anne, daughter of William Earl of Exeter, who was married to Henry Gray, first Earl of Stamford. Here were formerly several mons. Bet. this place and Lincoln there are many spaws, or chalybeat mineral springs.