prior buried here, who killed so many wild bears, which much infested this county, that the figures of bears, cut out in stone, on each side of his grave, were set there in remembrance of the execution he made among those beasts; and it is likewise said his body extended from one pillar to the other. In the market-place there is a town-house of wood, beautified with bears climbing up a ragged staff. There is a memorandum on the north side of the vestry without, that, in 1598, 2266 persons died here of the plague. There is a charity school in this place for 20 boys, and another for 30 girls, maintained by £51. a-year, by the sacrament-money and parish-stock. In 1715 the Scotch Highlanders entered this town, and quartered in it for a night, in their way to Preston, without doing much harm; but in the last rebellion, in 1745, they were, it is said, very rapacious and cruel. Its handsome spacious church has been lately rebuilt, and the roof supported by pillars, whose shafts are of one entire reddish stone, dug out of a neighbouring quarry. On the east part of the parish, upon the north bank of the river Eamont, there are two caves or grottoes, dug out of the solid rock, and sufficient to contain 100 men. The passage to them is very narrow and dangerous; and it is possible that its perilous access may have given it the name of Iffir Parvus; though the vulgar tell strange stories of one Ifis, a giant, who lived there in former times, and, like Cacus of old, used to feaze men and cattle, and draw them into his den to devour them. But it is highly probable, that these subterranean chambers were made for a secure retreat in time of sudden danger; and the iron gates, which were taken away not long ago, seem to confirm this supposition.

W. Long, 3. 16. N. Lat. 54. 35.