origin of the motto on their arms is peculiar and curious.* The arms are a labouring man in a party-coloured coat, with a flail in his hand, thrashing, and this written motto: "Now thus," which is said to have been obtained on the following occasion: the ancestor having intelligence that William the Conqueror had given his lands unto one of his Norman knights, and understanding on what day this knight would come to take possession thereof, he apparelled himself very meanly, and was found by the knight thrashing in his barn, and when demanded why he so abased himself, he gave no other answer than "Now thus; whereupon, the knight, thinking the living so poor that it would not maintain him like a gentleman, compromised with Trafford for a small matter, and begged a better estate from the king. "Now thus" is still the motto of the family. About the time of the great undertaking for draining the level, some attempts were made for reclaiming the fens belonging to this and the adjoining parishes. In 1632, an agreement was made by the land-owners with Henry Dereham, of London, esq. for draining and keeping the water one foot below the soil, and for his charges therein, he was to receive two fifth parts of the grounds so drained, to be secured to him and his heirs for ever: the said agreement was fully ratified by a decree made at Wisbech upon the 20th September in the same year, at a session of sewers there held; but nothing effectual appears to have been done until 1773, when an act of parliament was obtained for draining Tid. St Giles and Such mottos were not used in England before the conquest, and one of the most ancient is said to be Traford's, or Trafford's, in Lancashire. Hearne's Ancient Curiosities. Newton, in the county of Cambridge, with part of Tid St. Mary's, in the county of Lincoln; by the powers and provisions of which act, additional engines were erected, and a large tract of land brought under cultivation. ROBERT BRIGSTOCK, of this place, husbandman, by a deed dated April 13th 1667, gave, for the benefit and advantage of the poor inhabitants, the rents and profits arising from several pieces of land, amounting together to thirteen acres and three roods. And MATTHEW WREN, esq. by his will made "The 19th day of May "1672, on board the Royal Prince, in sight of the "Dutch fleet,* in expectation of fighting with them in "a few hours," gave for the use of the poor, fifteen acres of marsh land, held under lease of twenty-one years from his late father, Matthew, lord bishop of Ely, annually paying the reserved rent of one shilling and fourpence farthing per acre, which sum is still continued to be paid. These united charities were let by public auction for the term of seven years from Lady-day 1824, producing an annual rent of £74. 14s., which is given away in the parish vestry, according to ancient usage, at or near unto the feasts of Easter and St. Thomas the Apostle in every year, to such poor and deserving people, as have lived without parochial relief since the distribution of the previous dole. This was the period when the Dutch fleet, under the command of De Ruyter, fell in with the English in Solebay, the duke of York high admiral. The earl of Sandwich lost his life in this engagement, but left behind him a name immortal, and which will ever be revered by such as esteem the valour of an officer, the capacity of a statesman, or the integrity of a patriot. Cumpbell's Admirals, vol. ii. p. 391. |