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has planted an orchard, and the fruit trees which delight to grow in warp, have attained a large size. One or two small houses have been built here, but they are hardly sufficient to constitute a hamlet or vill

Near this place formerly stood Perteney Cross, vulgarly called Parson's Cross, but in the old parchment copy of Arelebout's map, now lying before me, Parting Cross, which was erected by one of the family of Evers on

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the spot where Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, parted from his Duchess on his being banished to Epworth, after the challenge to combat with the Duke of Hereford. This is the statement of that celebrated antiquarian Dodsworth. We learn, however, from other authorities, that after that sentence was pronounced he was imprisoned in Windsor Castle, and then banished to Venice, where he died. Previous, however, to his final departure he might be permitted to visit Epworth, when the parting alluded to might take place. Why she was allowed to accompany him so far and not to proceed with him to Epworth, is not now very material to inquire. If he came from Retford to Bawtry this would be the spot where he would enter the Isle of Axholme. Had it not been for the authority of Arelebout's map, and the difficulty of accounting for the erection of a Cross in such a wild and unfrequented spot, I should have been inclined to suppose that the remains of the Cross, having on it Mowbray's arms, and now standing in Haxey town where the road crosses to Epworth, is the true Parting Cross, a representation of which is given on the other page. Not a vestige of any Cross remains near Idle Stop: it was most probably destroyed during the operations of Vermuyden in this neighourhood.

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