Abbots-Langley, a Village about 22 miles from London three from St. Alban's. It is fituated on a Hill among the Woods towards the South.

This Town was given by Egelvine the Black, and Wincelfted his wife to the Abbots of St Albans, who held it for five Hides and an half in the Conqueror's Reign, as Domefday-Book fhews, from whence it was called Abbots Langley, to diftinguifh it from the other Langley which was afterwards called King's Langley, and lies near it, tho' not in the, fame Hundred. King John confirmed the Grant of this Manor to the Abbey for the Cloathing the Monks, and the Abbots held it till the Diffolution, when it came to the Crown, and remained there till the 22d Year of James I: when it was conveyed to Francis Comb, Efq; who married Anne, the Daughter of'Thomas Greenhill, Gent. but dying May 21, 1641,without Iffue devifcd this Manor, with moft of his Library, and some other Lands, to Sidney College in Cambridge, and Trinity College in Oxford, for the educating in Piety and Learning, the Dcfcendents of his and his Wife's Family for ever. The Prefidents, Fellows, and Scholars, of both these Collcges, have each of them demifed their Moiety to Thomas and William Greenhill by Leafes by Vertue of which, they and their Heirs hold Courts of this Manor, and rcceive the Rents and Profits of it

The Church here is a Vicarage; the Rectory having paffed with the Manor from the Abbot into Lay Hands and from thence is now appropriated to the fore-mentioned Colleges.

The Town is famous for being the Birth Place of Nicholas Breakspear, afterwards Pope Adrian IV. the only Native of England that ever was preferred to St. Peter's Chair, out of the Numbers that have afpired to it, and who perhaps might better have deferved it. He was so haughty, that he made Frederick the Emperor of the Romans, hold his Stirrup while he mounted his Horse ; and suffered his own Mother, when he was himfelf the Sovereign Pontiff, to be maintained by the Alms of the Church of Canterbury: He was choak'd, as fome fay, by a Fish, but others by a Fly which flew into his Mouth.

The Agreeable Historian, 1746