The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and
Instruction, No. 290, by Various

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Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 290
Volume X. No. 290. Saturday, December 29, 1827.

Author: Various

Release Date: October 3, 2004 [EBook #13587]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

VOL. X, NO. 290.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1827. [PRICE 2d.

* * * * *

OLD SARUM

[Illustration]

Among the earliest antiquarian records, Old Sarum is described as a city
of the Belgae; and its historical details have proved an exhaustless
mine for the researches of topographical illustrators.

Thus, Sir R.C. Hoare describes it as "a city of high note in the
remotest periods by the several barrows near it, and its proximity to
the two largest Druidical temples in England, namely, Stonehenge and
Abury."[1]

The Romans held it as a strong military station, and it was admitted
to the privileges of the Latin law, under the name of _Sorbiodunum;_[2]

Under the Saxons it ranked among the most considerable towns of the West
kingdom, and possessed ecclesiastical establishments soon after the
conversion of the Saxons to Christianity.[3]

In the early part of the ninth century it was the frequent residence of
Egbert; and in 960, Edgar assembled here a national council to devise
the best means of repelling the Danes in the north.[4]

Arthur commanded it to be more strongly fortified by another trench and
high palisadoes.[5]

In 1086, William the Norman convened in this city the prelates, nobles,
sheriffs, and knights of his new dominions, there to receive their
homage;[6] and probably, within its walls was framed the feudal law, as
Domesday Book was commenced in the same year.

Two other national councils were held here; one by William Rufus, in
1096, and another by Henry I in 1116.[7]

Peter of Blois, an early ecclesiastical writer, desc