trine of rights, sacred and divine, an enormous authority, which crushed with its weight the succeeding dynasty, and thus led eventually to that happy Revolution which forms the true era of English liberty. Amidst the conflicts and distractions incident to religious feuds, it is a consolatory reflection that the Catholics, however aggrieved by the Reformation, soon participated in the benefits it was destined to confer on society. By the collision of powerful minds, a stronger impulse was given to the progress of knowledge and civilization. The emulation inspired by rival sects extorted correction for many of the abuses engrafted on the antient system. In the monasteries, attention was directed to the education of youth. Among the parochial clergy the genuine virtues of Christianity often took place of spurious piety; and, but for the influence of political faction and intrigue, the virulence of parties might soon have yielded to a perception of mutual interests, and to the truly evangelical precept of charity and concord. No. II. Rochford Hall and New Hall. ROCHFORD, in Essex, is forty miles from London. Henry the Second gave the manor of Rochford to a Norman family, who from hence assumed the name of Rochford. Sir Guy de Rochford established a market at Rochford in 1247. John de Rochford succeeded his uncle Guy; he was summoned by a quo warranto, to appear before the King's Justices Itinerant, to show by what right he claimed wreck of sea, tumbrell, emendation or assize, of beer and bread broken in Rochford : he boldly answered, "As for wreck of sea, that one John de Burgh, senior, granted to Guy his uncle, and that Henry had granted a charter for the other privileges, which he produced." The claim was established, and Rochford continued in his family till it became extinct. King Edward the Third granted it to William de Borham Earl of Northampton. Before the year 1512, King Henry the Eighth granted the reversion of the manors of Borham, and Little Waltham, in Essex, to Sir Thomas Boleyn. The manor of Smeton, also in Essex, devolved on Sir Thomas Boleyn, in right of his mother Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Earl of Ormond; who possessed landed property, in England, equivalent to 30,000l. per annum; exclusive of considerable demesnes in Ireland, and 40,000%. in money, besides valuable jewels. From his mother, Margaret, also, Sir Thomas Boleyn inherited the manor of Rodings in the same county, and the manor of Legh or Lee; also the manor of Hawskwell Hall. In 1522, King Henry granted the manor and advowson of Tabbing to Sir Thomas Boleyn. In 1535, Henry granted the manor of Raleigh, in Essex, to Sir Thomas Boleyn; a sufficient proof that he had not then withdrawn his favor from his daughter Anne. King Henry the Eighth purchased of the Boleyns, New Hall, in Essex, |