*STAFFORD, (Staffordshire) 12 m. from Lichfield, 104 cm. 135 mm. from London, has a bridge over the Sow, is an ancient Bor. governed by a mayor, recorder, 10 ald. 20 C.C. a T.-clerk, and 2 serjeants at mace; and is the shire-T. where, by virtue of a statute in the R. of Eliz. the assizes and quarter-sessions are always to be kept. K. John made it a corp, and Edw. VI. both confirmed and enlarged its charter. In doomsday-book it is termed a city; but though it is more commodious for transacting the business of the Co. it is much inferior to Lichfield; yet it is greatly increased of late both in people and wealth, by their mf. of cloth. Will. the Conq. built a castle here, since demolished; and by the remains still to be seen, it is supposed to have had walls round it. Here are 2 handsome Chs. a hos. built in the last century by Mr. Martin Noel, a native, a fr. sc. and a spacious Mt.-place, in which is the shire-hall. The T. in general is well-built and paved, the houses being mostly of slate, and some of them very modish; and the old custom of Bor.-English is still kept up here. The Mt. here is S. the Fairs on the T. before Shrove-tide, Feb. 6 and 26 for horses, May 3, June 29, July 30, Sept. 21, and Dec. 4. The barony of this T. from the conquest to the R. of Rich. III. was so large, that there were 60 Kts. fees bel. to it de veteri feoffamento; whereof 9 were in demesne, and 51 in services. Eight villages held of this barony; and a castle was built by Ralph the first E. of Stafford, half a m. S. of the T. for their seat; but by the attainder of Hen. Stafford, the last D. of Bucks, and by his death, the barony was dissolved, and this castle and manor, with his other great estates, were confiscated; but in the R. of Hen. VIII. they were restored to his family, and went by marriage to Sir Will. Howard (a younger son of Thomas E. of Arundel and Surry) whom Cha. I. created a baron, by the title of Ld. Stafford, and soon after a Visc. the same who was beheaded for the popish-plot. His son, Henry, was by Ja. II. created E. of Stafford, and attended him to France. The castle, above-mentioned, without the T. which was one of the seats of the family, was demolished in the civil wars. Besides a nunnery, here was a priory founded by Ralph Ld. Stafford, in the R. of Edw. III. This T. is noted for good ale, as well as Burton upon Trent, and Newcastle under Line.