crooked limit from Essex on the East with the River Lea from Surrey and Kent on the South by the Thames It is a small Shire in length not twenty miles in circuit not above seventy miles yet for the fertility thereof it may compare with any other Shire for the soil is excellent fat fertile and full of profit Nordens Speculum Britaniae For Air passing temperate and for soyl fertile with sumptuous houses and pretty Towns on all sides pleasantly beautified and every where offereth to the view many things memorable Uxbridge full of Innes it stretcheth out in length Harrow-hill the highest Hill of all this Country under which Southward there lie for a long way together exceeding rich and fruitfull fields especially about Heston a small Village that yeeldeth so fine flour for manchet that a long time it hath served for the Kings mouth Hampton-Court a Royal Palace of the Kings a work of admirable magnificence built out of the ground by Thomas Wolsey Cardinal in ostentation of his riches It was enlarged and finished by King Henry the Eighth so amply as it containeth within it five several inner Courts passing large environed with very fair buildings wrought right curiously and goodly to behold The neatest pile of all the Kings houses Godwins Annal. It is called Hampton-Court Hampton of the Parish of Hampton which standeth not farre thence Court in regard of the Majesty and princely beauty There are two Parks the one of Deer the other of Hares Nordens Speculum Britaniae Thistleworth or Isleworth Brentford a fair thorow-fare and frequent Mercat Fulham the place of Fowls where the Bishop of Londons house was Chelsey a place garnished with fair and stately houses London * the Epitome or Breviary of all Britain the seat of the British Empire and the King of Englands chamber King Luds re-edifying Troinovant first built by Brute and from thence leaving the name of Caer Lud afterwards turned as they say into London is not unknown scarce to any that hathbut lookt on Ludgates inner Frontispiece Seld. Illustrat of the eighth Song of Drayt. Polyolb Georgius Braun or Bruin in his Theatrum Praecipuarum totius mundi urbium in three great Volumes in Folio mentions London in the first place of his first Volume Sir Robert Dallington in his view of France comparing the City of Paris with London saith That Paris is the greater the fairer built and the better situate London is the richer the more populous the more ancient Howell in his Londinopolis makes a parallel of it with the other great Cities of the world and so doth Gainsford in his Glory of England lib. 2. ch. 17. For the space of above one thousand five hundred fourscore and six years it hath flourished more for the statelinesse and magnificence of her goodly buildings for the large extent of her bounds and jurisdiction for the Religion and civility of her Inhabitants for the Wisdome and Honour of her Magistrates for the profession of Arms all good Letters and Arts not to speak of her Traffique and Commerce with all Countreys and Ports of the known world more than any other knowne City whatsoever throughout all Christendom Burtons Comment on Antonin his Itin. through Britain pag. 154 155. See more there and 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164. See also M. Calamy and M. Hardie his Sermon preacht before the Londoners Caput atque Metropolis totius insulae Trinovantum sive Londinium sive Londinum urbs potens amaena quam fluviorum Rex Thamesis pererrat Adolphi a Dans vita Elizabethae Quicquid habet miri Memphis pretiive Corinthus Illion antiquum Graecia magnificum Roma ecquid sanctum Campania deliciarum Subtile Hetrusci splendidulum Hesperii Quicquid opum Venetis doctrinae quicquid Athenis Metropolis Britonum dicat id omne suum Stradlingi Epig. l. 1. p. 1. Tacitus Ptolomee and Antonine call it Londinium Ammianus Lundinum and Augusta the Inhabitants London It is situate in a rich and fertile soyl abounding with plentifull store of all things and on the gentle ascent and rising of an Hill hard by the Thames side which by his safe and deep chanel able to entertain the greatest Ships that be daily bringeth in so great riches from all parts that it striveth at this day with the Mart Towns of Christendom for the second prize and affordeth a most sure and beautifull rode for shipping King James being displeased with the City because she would not lend him such a Summe of Money he told the Lord Maior and Aldermen one day That he would remove his own Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another place with further expressions of his Indignation The Lord Maior calmly heard all and at last answered Your Majesty hath power to do what you please and your City of London will obey accordingly but she humbly desires that when your Majesty shall remove your Courts you would be pleased to leave the Thames behind you It is for Antiquity honourable Ammianus Marcellinus called it in his times and that was twelve hundred yeers ago an old Town and Cornelius Tacitus in like manner who lived in Nero his dayes 1540. years since reported it to have been a place very famous for fresh trade concourse of Merchants and great store of victuals and all things necessary The Tower of London a most famous and goodly Citadel encompassed round about with thick and strong Wals full of lofty and stately Turrets fenced with a broad and deep ditch furnished also with an Armoury or Magazine of warlike Munition and other buildings besides so as it resembleth a big Town The Tower containeth a Kings Palace a Kings Prison a Kings Armoury a Kings Mint a Kings Wardrobe a Kings Artillery Gainsford In the yeer 1235. Frederick the Emperour sent to Henry the Third three Leopards in token of his Regal Shield of Arms wherein three Leopards were pictures since which time those Lions and others have been kept in a part of this Bulwark now called the Lions Tower and their Keeper there lodged Stows Survey of London There are twelve chief Companies out of which the Lord Maior is to be annually chosen Twelve Innes ordained for Students of our Common Law whereof four being very fair and large belong to the Judicial Courts the rest unto the Chancery Herein such a number of young Gentlemen do so painfully ply their Books and study the Law that for frequency of Students it is not inferiour either to Angiers Cane or Orleans it self as Sir John Fortescue in his small Treatise of the Laws of England doth witnesse The said four principal Houses are the Inner-Temple the Middle-Temple Grayes-Inne and Lincolns-Inne John Leland the famous Antiquary was born in London Bishop Andrews Mr. Gataker M. Calamy Sir Thomas More Chaucer Edmund Spenser the famous English Poets were born in London If any City in the world may at this day be called as Jerusalem
Teave a little River Teavistock commonly Tavistoke fluorisheth a Town in times past famous for the Abbay there Of the River Plime the Town adjoyning to it is called Plimmouth sometimes named Sutton Of late time it became of a poor fisher Village to be a great Town and for the number of Inhabitants grown to that passe as now it is to be seen that it may be compared with a City Such is the commodiousnesse of the Haven which without striking sail admitteth into the bosome thereof the tallest Ships that be and doth harbour them very safely and is sufficiently fortified against hostility The whole Town is divided into four Wards governed by a Maior ordained there by King Henry the Sixth and under him every Ward had in times past a Captain set over it each of them likewise had his inferiour Officers The Circuit of this Town is not great but much renowned it is among forrain Nations and not so much for the comodious Haven as the valour of the Inhabitants in Sea-services of all sorts From hence was Sir Francis Drake that famous Knight and most skilfull man at Sea In the year 1577. putting to Sea from hence he entered into the Straits of Magellane and in two years and ten moneths thorow many alternative varieties of Fortune God being his guide and Valour his Confort was the next after Magellaenus that sailed round about the world Whereupon one wrote thus unto him Drake peragrati novit quem terminus orbis Quemque semel mundi vidit uterque polus Si taceant homines facient te sidera notum Sol nescit comit is immemòr esse sui Plimpton a Mercate Town well frequented Dertmouth a Port Town by reason of the commodious Haven defended with two Castles much frequented by Merchants and furnished with good shipping Excester so called from the River Isc and by the Saxons Ex. It is a Bishops See It is situate upon a little Hill gently arising with an easie ascent to a pretty height environed about with Ditches and very strong Walls and containeth in circuit a mile and an half having Suburbs running out a great way on each side In it there are fifteen Parish Churches and in the very highest part thereof neer the East-gate a Castle called Rugemont at this day commended for nothing else but the antiquity and situation thereof For it commandeth the whole City and Territory about it and hath a very pleasant prospect into the Sea Joseph Iscanus was born here and from hence took his surname a Poet of a most excellent wit whose writings were so well approved as that they had equal commendation with the Works of ancient Poets For his Poeme of the Trojan Warre was divulged once or twice in Germany under the name of Cornelius Nepos The Civil Government of this City is in the power of four and twenty persons out of whom there is from year to year a Maior elected who with four Bailiffs ruleth here the State This City hath three Dukes Tawstoke a very ancient Towne for elegant building and frequency of people held chiefe in all this Coast The Inhabitants for the most part are Merchants who in France and Spain trade and traffick much Out of this Towns School there issued two right learned men and most renowned Divines John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury and Thomas Harding the publick Professour in Lovain who most hotly contended and wrote learnedly one against the other concerning the truth of Religion This Shire containeth thirty three Hundreds thirty seven Market Towns three hundred and ninety four Parishes Dorsetshire IT is bounded on the North-side with Somersetshire and Wiltshire on the West with Devonshire and some part of Somersetshire on the East with Hampshire On the South part where it carrieth the greatest length it lieth all open to the Sea Some say there are within six miles compasse round about Dorchester three hundred thousand Sheep It is a fruitfull soyl and a great Ship Countrey Lime a little Town situate upon a deep Hill so called of a small River of the same name running hard by Shaftsbury a Town of note Baurtport or more truly Birtport is placed between two small Rivers which there meet together In respect of the soil yeelding the best Hemp and skill of the people for making Ropes and Cables for Ships it was provided by a special Statute to remain in force for a certain set time that Ropes for the Navy of England should be twisted no where else Portland an Island so called of one Port a noble Saxon who Anno 703. infested and sore annoyed these Coasts Weymouth a little Town upon the mouth of Wey a small River over against which on the other side of the Bank standeth Kings-Melcomb divided from the other only by the Haven between Pool in calm weather when the waters are still resembleth a Pond whence it receiv'd its name A Mercat Town exceeding rich and wealthy beautified with goodly Houses Frau or Frome the greatest and most famous River of all this tract Dorchester is the head Town of the whole Shire and yet is neither great nor beautifull It hath but three Parish Churches The Forest of White-Hart When King Henry the Third came hither to hunt and had taken other Deer he spared a most beautifull and goodly White Hart which afterwards T. de la Lynde a Gentleman of this Countrey with others in his company took and killed But the King put them to a grievous Fine of money for it and the very Lands which they held pay even to this day every yeer by way of Amercement a peece of money into the Exchequer which is called White-Hart silver Shirburn Town or Castle is sited in the hanging of an Hill a pleasant and proper seat It is the most populous and best haunted Town of this Country and gaineth exceeding much by cloathing It containeth thirty four Hundreds eighteen Market Towns and two hundred and fourty eight Parishes Durham or Duresme DUresme the chief Town in Latine Dunelmum a County Palatine and a Bishops See It is seated on high it is shaped in form of an Egge The River Teise or Teisis commonly Tees boundeth the South part of this County It first beateth upon Bernard-Castle built and so named by Bernard Balliol the great Grand-fathers Father of John Balliol King of the Scots Hartle-Poole a good Towne of Trade and a safe Harbour for fishing By the Tine there is situate a memorable Town called Gateshead or Goateshead The common people think it is farre more ancient than New-Castle itself This name was given unto this place by occasion of some Inne that had a Goats-head for the Sign Jarrow the native soil of venerable Bede Thomas Wolsey Cardinal who in his high prosperity wanted nothing but moderation and Cuthbert Tunstall who for singular knowledge in the best Sciences sincere holinesse of life a singular Ornament to his native Countrey were Bishops of Durham Essex A Countrey
famous no doubt in the Romans time The Archbishop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas the Archbishop of York Angliae Primas without any further addition Anselme for recompence of the service he had done in oppugning the marriage of Priests and resisting the King for the investiture of Clerks was by Pope Urbane endowed with this accession of honour that he and his Successours should from thenceforth have place in all General Councels at the Popes right foot who then said withall Includemus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam alterius orbis Papam Canterbury is one of the famousest Cities in England It hath had a rare Cathedral though now much ruinated by reason of these later times The Cathedral is in the midst of the City a fair Church the body of which is within a little as large as Pauls in London between the body and the Quire a very high Steeple where hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell-Harry being one of them which King Henry brought out of France There is also in this Steeple four Spires much like to Sepulchres in London There is on each side of the great West-gate two other Steeples the one called Dunston-steeple the other Arnold-steeple in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bels In the same Cathedral there was the famousest Window that ever was known in England for which there was offered as some say by the Spanish Embassadour 10000lb being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Sufferings but is now battered to pieces In the Quire of this Cathedral is buried Prince Edward called the Black Prince whose Monument is there of brasse The Dean and Prebends had very fair Houses within the bounds of the said Cathedral which was like a little City and so much power formerly that the Maiors Sword was not suffered to be held up within the Gates of the Deanry There is underneath this Cathedral a great Congregation of French living in the City and the Dutch also have a Church in that place which was called the Bishops Palace Within the bounds of the said Deanry there is a free School called The Kings School wherein are two Masters and many Scholars formerly wearing Gowns that are there brought up and many from thence sent to the University There was one Schoolmaster * some years before he died affirmed he had had thirty seven Masters of Arts of his bringing up There are many Churches in the City and Suburbs There are two Markets a week The Maior and Aldermen are cloathed in Scarlet and they keep the Sessions in the same City The City is walled and hath a Mote about it the Wall being so broad that two or three men may go a-brest with gallant Watch houses called Citadels all built with flint-stone There was an old Castle but it hath been for many years demolished and some of the Works or Forts are yet standing that were when the Danes came in one or two of which were made use of when the last rising was there There are two Hospitals in the City one for Ancient people and the other for Children The Isle of Thanet it is eight miles long and four broad a right fertile soil Goodwin-Sands a sandy dangerous place In the Reign of William the Second certain Lands in Kent which did once belong to Godwin Earl of Kent were overflowed and covered with sand which to this day do bear the name of Godwins Sands See Kilburns Survey of Kent pag. 262 263. How Tenterden Steeple was said to be the cause of Goodwins Sands Sandwich one of the Cinque Ports Dover The Town is seated between high Cliffs more famous for the commodiousnesse of the Haven such as it is and for ready passage into France then for any elegance or great trade There is a most stately Castle like unto a pretty City fortified strongly with Bulwarks and many a Tower It is the strongest hold of all England and most commodious for the French Sandgate-Castle and Satlwood a Castle Hith it signifies an Haven or Harbour one of the Cinque Ports Rumney-marsh a fruitfull soil it feedeth a number of Herds of Cattel sent hither from the furthest parts of Wales and England to be fatted There is at Bilsington a Priory built by John Maunsel Weaver in his Funeral Monuments saith He saw a Pedigree of the Maunsels from Philip de Maunsel who came in with the Conquerour untill these our times Wie Here was born John Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the great Benefactors to the University of Oxford He was Bishop of Rochester Chichester and London Archbishop of York first and afterward of Canterbury twice made Cardinal Bis primas ter Praeses bis Cardine functus This Province hath three hundred ninety eight Parishes and sixty four Hundreds Lancashire IT is a large populous and well wooded Countrey The County Palatine of Lancaster famous for the four Henries the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh Kings of England derived from John Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is upon the South confined and parted by the River Mersey from the County Palatine of Chester the County of Darbyshire bordering upon the East the large Countrey of Yorkshire together with Westmerland and Cumberland being her kind neighbours upon the North and the Sea called Mare Hibernicum imbracing her upon the West Their Kine and Oxen have goodly Heads and fair spread Hornes and are in body well proportionate withall Warringdon Rochdale a Mercate Town well frequented Manchester a Town of great antiquity from Main a British word which signifieth a Stone It is seated upon a stony hill and beneath the Town there are most famous quarries of stone It farre excelleth the Towns lying round about it for the beautifull shew it carrieth for resort unto it and for cloathing in regard also of the Mercate place the fair Church and Colledge John Bradford the famous Martyr was born here Letherpool or Lirpool so named of the water spreading it self in manner of a Pool whence there is a convenient passage over into Ireland and much frequented and in that respect more notorious than for any antiquity Ocmeskirk a Mercate Town well known by reason of the Sepulture there of the Stanleys Earls of Derby whose chief seat Latham is hard by a stately house Wiggin a Corporation with a Maior and Burgesses Bolton upon the River Irwell Preston a great fair Town and well inhabited Hornby a fair Castle Lancaster the chief Town of this Region There are thirty six Parishes in this Shire but those very populous and spacious six Hundreds and fifteen Market Towns Leicestershire IT hath bordering upon it on the East-side both Rutlandshire and Lincolnshire on the North Notingham and Derbyshire and Warwickshire on the West and on the South-side lieth Northampton The whole Shire yeeldeth great abundance of Peas and Beans more than any other Country insomuch that there is an old by-word of the same commonly known to all
once was a City of Truth a holy Mountain in regard of the Doctrine of truth and holinesse preached therein then certainly London may Insomuch that Foraigners Hungarians Germans Batavians others learn our Language and come over to this City that they may hear our Preachers and read our English Divines London-Bridge is an admirable Workmanship of stone hewen out of the Quarry upon nineteen Arches besides the Draw-bridge and is furnished on both sides with passing fair houses joyning one to another in manner of a street that for bignesse and beauty it may worthily carry away the prize from all the Bridges in Europe The whole City is divided into six and twenty Wards and the Councel of the City consisted of as many ancient men named of their age in our tongue Aldermen as one would say Senatours who each one have the over-seeing and rule of his several Ward The chief Magistrate is the Lord Maior and two Sheriffs whereof the one is called the Kings the other the Cities Sheriff In Henry the Sixths Reign Godfrey Bolein was Lord Maior of London being the Ancestor of two renowned and virtuous Queens of England Anne second wife to King Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth their Daughter through whose great vigilancy and providence the City stood so well guarded that the Kings peace was dutifully kept notwithstanding the great Lords of both the Factions Yorkists and Lancastrians were with so great Troops of followers lodged within and about the same In Edward the Thirds Reign Henry Picard Maior of London in one day sumptuously feasted four Kings Edward the Third King of England John King of France the King of Cyprus then arrived in England David King of Scots See the courage and piety of a Lord Maior in King James his time in Wilsons History of Great-Britain p. 106. The Merchants meeting place standing upon Pillars which the common people call the Burse and Queen Elizabeth with a solemn Ceremony named The Royal Exchange was set up by Sir Thomas Gresham Citizen and Knight a magnificent work whether you respect the Model of the building the resort of Merchants from all Nations thither or the store of wares there Which Sir Thomas Gresham being withall an exceeding great lover of Learning consecrated a most spacious house his own habitation to the furtherance of Learning and instituted the Professours of Divinity Law Physick Astronomy Geometry and Musick with liberal Salaries and Stipends to the end that London might be a place not only furnished with all kind of Traffick but also with the Liberal Arts and Sciences There is also a fair and goodly Library in Sion-Colledge containing an hundred twenty and one foot in length and above five and twenty foot in breadth In the Reign of King James Robert Earl of Salisbury caused to be erected a stately building in the Strand which upon Tuesday the tenth of April in the yeer 1609. was begun to be richly furnished with Wares and the next day after the King the Queen and Prince with many great Lords and Ladies came to see and then the King gave it the name of Britains Burse Westminster was called in times past Thorney of Thorns now Westminster of the West situation and the Monastery A City of it self having its peculiar Magistrates and Priviledges It is renowned for the Abbey Church the Hall of Justice and the Kings Palace This Church is famous especially by reason of the Inauguration and Sepulture of the Kings of England William the Conquerour and Matilda his wife were first crowned at Westminster and since them all other Kings and Queens of this Realm have been there crowned Stows Surveigh of London It is a Church of very fair Workmanship supported with sundry rows of Marble Pillars a peece of work that cost fifty yeers labour in building It was founded by King Edward the Confessour King Henry the Seventh for the Burial of himself and his children adjoyned thereto in the East end a Chappel of admirable elegancy Leland calleth it The wonder of the world all the curious and exquisite work that can be devised is there compacted It is reported That the Chappel cost ten thousand pound or as others say fourteen thousand pound There is a Collegiate Church and famous School Forty Scholars in their due time are preferred to the Universities Here are buried the Prince of English Poets Geffrey Chaucer as also he that for pregnant wit and an excellent gift in Poetry of all English Poets came neerest unto him Edmund Spenser Isaac Casaubone William Camden Clarenceux King of Arms Westminster-Hall is the greatest Hall in England and the very Praetorium or Hall of Justice In this are the Judicial Courts the Upper-Bench the Common-Pleas and the Chancery and in places neer thereabout the Starre-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Wards and Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster In which at certain set times we call them Terms Causes are yeerly heard and tried This Judgement Hall King Richard the Second built out of the ground as appeareth by his Arms engraven in the stone-work and many arched beams There are a hundred twenty and one Churches more than Rome it self can shew Redcliff so called of the Red cliff a pretty fine Town and dwelling place of Sailers Enfield-Chase a place much renowned for hunting In this County without the City of London are reckoned Parishes much about seventy three with the City Liberties and Suburbs an hundred twenty and one Monmouthshire IT is enclosed on the North-side with the River Munow that separateth it from Herefordshire on the East-side with Wye running between it and Glocestershire on the West with the River Remmey which severeth it from Glamorganshire and on the South with the Severn The East part is full of Grasse and Woods the West is somewhat hilly and stony yet not unthankfull to the Husbandman Monmouth the chief Town of the Shire Munow and Wye at their confluence do compasse it almost round about and give it the name On the North-side where it is not defended with the Rivers it was fortified with a wall and ditch In the midst of the Town hard by the Mercat place standeth a Castle which as it is thought John Baron of Monmouth built It was the Birth place of Henry the Fifth that triumpher over France and the second Ornament of the English Nation It glorieth also that Geffrey Ap Arthur or of Munmouth Compiler of the British History was born and bred there a man well skilled in Antiquities but as it seemeth not of antique credit so many toyes and tales he every where enterlaceth out of his owne brain as he was charged while he lived Chepstow a famous Town and of good resort situate upon the side of an Hill rising from the very River fortified round about with a Wall of a large circuit which includes within it both Fields and Orchards It hath a very spacious Castle situate over the River Strighall Castle it belongs to the
Such barren places the Northern Englishmen call Moors and West-moreland is a Western-moorish Countrey It is bounded on the West and North-side with Cumberland on the East with Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durrham The Barony of Kendale and Candale of the River Can which running thorow upon stones cutteth thorow it Kendale-Kirke by Kendale a Town of very great Trade and resort with two broad and long streets crossing the one over the other and a place for excellent cloathing and for industry so surpassing that in regard thereof it carrieth a great name For the Inhabitants have great traffique and vent of their wollen Cloaths throughout all parts of England In the River Can are two water-falls where the waters have a downfall with a mighty noise Kirkby-Lonsdale whither all the people round about repair to Church and Mercat Wharton-Hall the seat of the Barons Wharton Kirkby-Stephen a Mercat Town well known Musgrave there are two little Villages of that name which gave name unto that martial and warlick Family of the Musgraves Burgh under Stanemore a small poor Village fenced with a little Fortresse Apelby memorable for its antiquity and situation onely It standeth in a pleasant site encompassed for the most part with the River Eden for its antiquity it deserves to be counted the chief Town of the Shire The Castle is the common-Goal for malefactours Whellep-Castle Brougham In this Shire are contained six and twenty Parishes VViltshire IT is altogether a mediterranean or midland Countrey It is enclosed with Somersetshire on the West Berkshire and Hampshire on the East on the North with Glocestershire on the South with Dorsetshire and a part of Hampshire A region which as it breedeth a number of warlike and hardy men who in old time with Cornwall and Denshire together challenged by reason of their manhood and martial prowesse the prerogative of the English Army of that Regiment which should second the main Battel so it is exceeding fertile and plentifull of all things yea and for the variety thereof passing pleasant and delightsome Wansdike a Dike of wonderfull work cast up for many miles together The Saxons made it as a limit to divide the two Kingdom of the Mercians and West-Saxons asunder For this was the very place of Battel between them while each strove one with another to enlarge his Dominions Greeklade so called of Greek Philosophers as some are ready to believe who as the History of Oxford reporteth began there an University which afterwards was translated to Oxford Camdens Britan. This though Leland dislikes other learned men approve See M. Seldens Illustrat of Draytons Polyolb High-worth highly seated and well known Wood-Town or Wotton-Basset It hath his primitive name from Wood the addition proves that it belonged to the noble House of the Bassets Malmesbury a very neat Town and hath a great name for cloathing See Monasticon Anglicanum p. 49. of the Monastery here Maidulphi Urbs that is Maidulphs City and afterwards short Malmesbury Aldelme the chief of Maidulphs Disciples being elected his Successour built there a very fair Monastery and was himself the first Abbot thereof He was canonized a Saint and on his Festival day there was here kept a great Fair at which usually there is a Band of armed men appointed to keep the peace among so many resorting thither He was the first of the English Nation who wrote in Latine and that taught Englishmen the way how to make a Latine Verse Primus ego in Patriam mecum modò vita supersit Aonio rediens deducam vertice Musas This Monastery among other famous Clerks great Scholars brought forth William surnamed thereof Malmesburiensis unto whom for his learned industry the History of England both Civil and Ecclesiastical are deeply indebted Colne an old little Town situate upon a stony ground having in it a fair Church to commend it Chippenham of note at this day for the Market there kept There is now nothing worth the sight but the Church built by the Barons Hungerford as appeareth every where by their Coats of Armes set up thereon Cosham a little Village Castle-Comb an old Castle Leckham the possession of the noble Family of the Bainards Lacock a Monastery The Castle De Vies the Devizes built by Roger Bishop of Salisbury He built also the Castle of Malmesbury and Shireburn Trubridge that is a sure and trusty Bridge in great name and prosperity by reason of cloathing and sheweth the remains of a Castle Bradford so named of a broad Ford Long-Leat the dwelling place of the Thins a very fair neat and elegant house in a foul soil Maiden-Bradley A Maiden infected with the Leprosie founded an house here for Maidens that were Lepers Stourton the seat of the Lords Stourton so called of the River Stour Werminster exceeding much frequented for a round Corn-Market Sarisbury-Plains they are but rarely inhabited and had in late time a bad name for robberies there committed Heitesbury an ancient Mansion place of the Family of Hungerford Yanesbury-Castle a very large warlike Fence or Hold fortified with a deep and double Ditch Wardour a proper fine Castle Hindon a quick Market Wilton so called from the River Willey a place well watered and sometime the head Town of the whole Shire which thereof took the name It is now a small Village having a Maior for the head Magistrate and in it a fine House of the Earls of Pembroke Salisbury There is a stately and beautifull Minster which with an exceeding high spired Steeple and double crosse-Isles on both sides The Windows in the Church as they reckon them answer just in number to the dayes the Pillars great and small to the hours of a full yeer and the gates to the twelve Moneths Mira Canam Soles quot continet annus in unâ Tam numerosa ferunt aede fenestra micat Marmoreasque capit fusas tot ab arte columnas Comprensas horas quot vagus annus habet Totque patent portae quot mensibus annus abundat Res mira at verâres celebrata fide Daniel Rogers It hath a Cloister for largenesse and fine workmanship inferiour to none whereunto joyneth the Bishops Palace a very fair and goodly house and on the other side a high bell Tower and passing strong withall standing by it self apart from the Minster every street is watered It is the second City in all this Tract well inhabited and frequented plentifull of all things especially of Fish adorned with a very stately Market place wherein standeth their common Hall of Timber work a very beautifull Edifice It boasteth chiefly of John Jewel long since Bishop there a wonderfull great and deep Divine a most stout and earnest maintainer of our Reformed Religion against the Adversaries by his learned Books Clarindon a very large and goodly Park very fit for the keeping and feeding of wild beasts About six miles from Salisbury in the Plains before named is to be seen a
Emperour Severus in the reverse whereof we read COL. EBORACUM LEG VI VICTRIX Severus had his Palace in this City and here at the hour of death gave up his last breath with these words I entered upon a State every way troublesome and I leave it peaceable even to the Britains Valerius Constantius surnamed Chlorus an Emperour surpassing in all Vertue and Christian Piety ended his life also in this City and was deified This Emperour begat of his former Wife Helena Constantine the Great who was present in York at his Fathers last gasp and forthwith proclaimed Emperour York was in great estimation in those dayes since the Romane Emperours Court was there held Our own Countrey Writers record That this City was by Constantius adorned and graced with an Episcopal See Alcwin of York Schoolmaster to Charles the Great first Founder of the University of Paris and the singular honour of this City From Paulinus the first Archbishop consecrated in the Year of our Redemption 625. there have sitten in that See threescore and five Archbishops unto the Year 1606. in which Dr Tobie Matthew a most Reverend Prelate for the Ornaments of Vertue and Piety for learned Eloquence and continual exercise of Teaching was translated hither from the Bishoprick of Durham Cawood a Castle Selby a little Town well peopled and of good resort where King Henry the First was born East-Riding It is the second part of this Region it lieth Eastward from York Stanford-Bridge of the Battell there fought it is called Battle-Bridge Wreshill a proper and strong Castle Howden a Mercat Town it hath given name to a little Territory adjoyning called of it Howdenshire Metham it gave both surname and habitation also to the ancient House of the Methams Humber an arm of the Sea whereof also the Countrey beyond it by a general name was called Northumberland It is one of the broadest arms of the Sea and best stored with Fish in all Britain Wighton a small Town of Husbandry well inhabited Drifield a Village well known by reason of the Tomb of Alfred that most learned King of Northumberland and the Mounts that are raised here and there about it Beverley a great Town very populous and full of Trade John surnamed de Beverley Archbishop of York a man both godly and learned after he had given over his Bishoprick as weary of this world came hither and ended his life in contemplation about the Year of our Redemption 721. Cottingham a Countrey Town of Husbandry Kingston upon Hull but commonly Hull For stately and sumptuous Buildings for strong Block-houses for well furnished Ships for store of Merchants and abundance of all things it is become now the most famous Town of Merchandize in these parts The Town is a County incorporate by it self Headon Patrington Rosse from whence the honourable Family of the Barons Rosse took their name Kelnsey a little Village Constable-Burton so called of the Lords thereof Sureby Bridlington North-Riding This carrieth a very long Tract with it though not so broad for threescore miles together even as far as to Westmorland Scarborough-Castle a goodly and famous Castle Within it there is Ting-tong-Wells which go two miles under the earth toward an Hill called Weapness in which passage there is an Iron-gate and by that way the people in the time of Civil Wars brought in their Goods and Cattel and so supplied the Castle The Hollanders and Zelanders use to take marvellous plenty of Herrings upon this Coast and make a very gainfull Trade thereof having anciently first obtained Licence by an ancient Custom out of this Castle Cliveland it taketh that name of steep Banks which we call Cliffs for there runne all along the side thereof cliffie Hils Sken-grave a little Village much benefited by taking great store of Fish Kilton-Castle within a Park Skelton-Castle appertaining to the ancient Family of the Barons Brus who derive their Descent from Robert Brus the Norman Wilton-Castle Y are a Mercat Town well known Stokesley a little Mercat Town Gisburgh a small Town very pleasant and delightfull Ounsbery-Hill or Rosebery-Topping it mounteth up a mighty height and maketh a goodly shew a farre off so often as the Head therof hath his cloudy Cap on lightly there followeth rain whence they have a proverbial Rhime When Rosebery-Topping wears a Cap Let Cliveland then beware a clap Kildale a Castle Pickering a good big Town belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster situate upon an Hill and fortified with an old Castle unto which a number of small Villages lying there round about do appertain whence the Countrey adjoyning is commonly called Pickering-Lith The Liberty of Pickering and Forest of Pickering Kirkby-Morside it lieth hard unto the Hils whereof it had that name a famous Mercat Town Rhidal a goodly pleasant and plentifull Vale adorned with three and twenty Parish Churches through the midst whereof runneth the River Rhie Malton a Mercat Town well known and frequented for Corne Horses Fish and implements of Husbandry Newborrough a famous Abbey unto which we are indebted for William of Newborrough a learned and diligent Writer of the English History Gilling-Castle belongs unto that ancient and worshipfull Family which of their fair bush of Hair got their name Fairfax The Forest of Galtres notorious for a solemn Horse-running wherein the Horse that out-runneth the rest hath for his prize a little golden Bell Sherry-Hutton a fair Castle Hinderskell a little Castle Others call it Hundred-skell of a number of Fountaines that spring up and rise there Northallertonshire a little Countrey watered with the Riveret Wisk and taking the name of Northalverton a Town having in it on Saint Bartholomews day a great Fair of Kine and Oxen. In this County there are four hundred and fifty nine Parishes under which are very many Chappels for number of Inhabitants equal unto great Parishes A CATALOGUE of some Books lately Printed and in The Press a Printing And sold by HENRY MARSH at the Princes-Armes in Chancery-lane near Fleetstreet Folio THe Sovereigns Prerogative and the Subjects Priviledge comprised in several Speeches Cases and Arguments of Law discussed between the late King Charles and the most eminent Persons of both Houses of Parliament Together with the Grand Mysteries of State then in agitation collected and revived by Tho. Fuller B. D. in Fol. Quarto That delightfull Peece entituled Gemmarius Fidelis or The Faithfull Lapidary experimentally describing the richest Treasure of Nature in an Historical Narration of the several Natures Vertues and Qualities of all Precious Stones With an accurate Discovery of such as are Adulterate and Counterfeit very necessary for all Gentlemen Merchants and Tradesmen Large Octavo The Rogue or The Life of Guzman de Alfarache the witty Spaniard the fifth and last Edition corrected with many Additions never before printed Small Octavo The Ascent to Bliss by three steps viz. Philosophy History and Theologie In a brief Discourse of Mans Felicity with many remarkable Examples of divers Kings and
pingues pecudes in macellis veniunt ut non modo universum Cantium hujus locis commoda sentiat verum etiam civitas Londinum non nihil emolumenti inde percipiat Twini Comment. De Rebus Britan. l. 1. p. 31. Priests-Town Or Loncaster from the River Lone Carlton-Curlew They cannot prenounce the letter R. Camd. Brit. And Burtons descript. of Leicestershire Bishop Latimer was also born at Thurcaston in Leicestershire It was so called of the Zouches sometimes Lords thereof Burtons descript. of Leicestershire The largest next Yorkshire It is well stored with all kind of provision it abounds with fish and fowl The roof of the Church is richly guilt Mr John Fox the Authour of the Acts and Monuments was born here There are so many steps in the steeple from the bottom to the top as there are dayes in the years At the George there is one of the fairest Inns of England Lincolnia The greatest Bell of England He was great with Henry the 6th he built a Free-School at Wainflet his name was Patten of the worshipfull family of which he was descended * More than in Yorkshire The chiefest at this day of all the Kings houses A City rather in shew then the Palace of a Prince and for stately port and gorgeous building not inferiour to any in Europe Weavers Monum. * It is most sweetly situate upon the Thames served with all kind of necessaries most commodiously The air health full it is populous rich and beautifull Nordens Speculum Britanniae It is convenient for situation hath a noble Bridge navigable River 2. Strictly governed 3. Opulent hath abundance of all kinds of provision 4. Ancient and enjoyeth many Immunities Of St Pauls Cathedral See Mr Dugdales History and of the Bishops of Pauls Londinum copia negotiatorum commeatu valde celebre Tacitus The Inner-Temple is the mother and most ancient of all the other houses of Court Burtons descript. of Leicestershire Dr Reynolds Sions praises This work viz. the Arches Chappel and stone-bridge over the Thames was thirty three yeers in building Stow. Speeds Chron. Stows and Speeds Chron. in Edw. the 3d. Thomas Greshamus Cives Londinensis Mercator Regius ex ordine Equestri qui patriae ornamento Mercatorum usui Perystillium pulcherrimum Excambiam Regium Elizabetha nominavit Londini extruxit aedes quas in urbe habuit amplissimas bonarum literarum professioni dicavit constitutis in iisdem Sacrae Theologiae Juris Civilis Medicinae Astronomiae Geometriae Rhetoricae praelectionibus cum honestis salariis Camd. Annal. rerum Anglic. pars â—â— p. 286. Vide etiam pag. 189. The new Ex change Monasterium Westmonasteriense Regum angliae inauguratione sepultura Insignium Regalium custodia celeberrimam Camd. Annal. rerum Anglic. par 1o p. 60. Vide plura ibid. Monasticon Anglicanum p 55 c. L. Herb. Henry the 8th Neer hereunto are the two Houses of Parliament Ex infima plebe non pauci reperiuntur quin si nihil litium sit lites tamen ex ipsis Juris apicibus serere calleant Camdenus There are three Churches Vrbs nunc ampla est nobilis florens celebris civitatum omnium secundum Londinum universi Regni Emporium multo maxima augustissimaque Nevilli Norvicus No one Shire of England hath three such Towns as Norwich Linn and Yarmouth Speed There is the earliest Park of England The King was wont to have venison thence before he had it out of his own Parks * Of that and the other famous wayes in England see Burtons Commen on Antoninus his Itinerary through Britain * He was brought up in New-Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law Petriburgus or Petropolis Ab arborum proceritate in frequentia veprium Lympida Sylva noto satis nomine dicitur Twini Comment. The Nobility and Gentry of the North are of great antiquity and can produce more ancient Families then any other part of England many of them Gentry before the Conquest the rest came in with William the Conquerour * Axelodunum * So called because Robert de Curtois Son of William the Conquerour built there a new Castle out of the ground against the neighbouring Scots Alnevicum In Dunston a little village within the Parish of Emildon Berwicus An hundred miles long Wedgenock Park in Warwickshire is one of the most ancient Parks in England Nunc autem conficiendo Caseo notissimum So Camden Dr Holland englisheth that thus Now the fame of this Town is for Zeal Cheese and Cakes Though that is but an unhandsome conjunction and there is no ground for it in Camden yet in Mr Wheatlyes time to my knowledge it was famous for zeal and I hope is so now Oxonia or Oxonium Quodcunque habuit ab initio nomen pulcherrimum saluberrimum habet situm regionemque omnia necessaria affatim ministrantem bonarumque litterarum celeberrimam scholam ut omnes qui alias Europae Academias adierunt facilè agnoscunt Lhyd. Com. Brit. Descrip Fragment Rutlan-Castle in Wales is so named being built on a shore of red earth Commitatus Salopiensis Salop in Latine Salopia It hath a fair Library and School-house and Brew-house So called from Oswald King of the Northumbers Asserius an ancient Writer calleth this Countrey alwayes Somertunensis that is Somertunshire * Used about Cloath Glastonia Monasterium viderint parentes nostri amplitudine ac magnitudine perpaucis in universa Europa quantum autumo postponendum Godwinus De Conversione Britanniae ad Christianam Religionem Vide plura ibid. Et Monasticon Anglicanum p. 1 2 c. Of Ogo a British word which betokeneth Den Fontanensis Ecclesia Fountain Church Bathonia Vrbs non mode antiqua verum etiam celebris Romanorum Monumentis multis liquidò in muris comparet qua itur à porta meridionali ad borealem Lelandi Comment in Cygneam Cantionem Vide Johnsonum De urbe Thermis Bathonicis A Bishops See and famous Port. In Henry the 7th his time Stephen Gennings Maior of London founded a free Grammar-School there where he was born There is a Corporation So called from Tame the River running beside it Cadaverum Campus The field of dead bodies a number of Christians was there martyred under the Emperour Dieclesian A small Countrey bare and cold it keepeth snow lying upon it a good while A Market Town Dr Lightfoot was born there Southfolk or people in respect of Norfolk Here Bishop Steven Gardiner was born Godw. de Praesul Ang. Comment Stoke Clare the Dukes of Clarence * A large sweet well watered Town a Town in Orchards Here was born Cardinal Wolsey of whom see a pithy description in Herberts Henry the 8th pag. 314 315. See more in Camdens Britania there The Kings Town Regio-dunum Tamesinam sic dictum quod ad Tamesini fluvii ripam situm sit Lel. Kings Kingston upon the Thames so called to distinguish it from Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire Quanta illic Romanae antiquitaris aemulatio Quantum speciosae picturae Quantum auri Quantum denique omnia genera ornamentorum Diceres Coelum esse stellis interpolatum Lel. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Battersega Nomen loco inditum ut ego conjicio ex cymbis Leland Comment. in Cygn. Cant. A low or clayish rode or hide The Southwork or building because it standeth South ove against London the Suburbs whèreof it may seem in some sort to be In Latine Cicestria Called Seals It is the Shire Town Ripa Baron Buckhurst Sanders Glover and manyother Martyrs suffered in Warwickshire It stands South of Lichfield Coventria quasi Coventus trium a Covent of three sorts of Monks Or rather of an Elephant being not so little as a yard in length Speed See Mr Dugdales Antiq. of Warwickshire illustrated Westmaria Westmorlandia There were Lords also of Kendale From the River Lone Aballaba The Sessions and Assizes are there kept Wiltonia of Wilton sometime the chief Town and of the River Willy Crecolada non insignis olim ut vulgus indoctum somniat Grecanicis scholis Lel. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Vide Burtoni Graec. Ling. hist. p. 52. Et Godwin de Praesul Ang. Comment de Theodoro Archiepisc Cant. p. 61. Cyppanus in the Saxon tongue is to buy and Cyppen a buyer as with us Cheapen and Chapman Sarisburia Roger of Salisbury built this stately Church also The Cathedral was longer in building than the Jews Temple for it was above fifty years in building and do you not think the Founders did intend by proportioning the Doors to the Moneths and the Windows to the Dayes and the Pillars to the Hours of the Year that you should learn this instruction Not a Moneth nay not a Day nay not an Hour should be let passe without something of Religion Mr Annesley on 1 Chron. 12. 32. It had also Bishop Abbot and Davenant Our old Historians termed it for the greatnesse Chorea Gigantum the Gyants dance Our Country-men reckon this for one of our miracles Leporarium Of Marga marle which we use in stead of dung to manure our grounds It lieth near a chaulkie-hill which our Ancestours before they borrowed this name Chaulk of the Latine word Calx named Marle Wigorniensis Comitatus Vnum est satis mirabile quia aqua illa per medium annum est salsa scilicet à nativitate Domini usque ad festum sancti Johannis Baptistae per aliud verò medium temporis est dulcis Sed quod mirabilius est pro illo tempore quo est sali necessaria si non hauritur superfluit per aliud verò temporis vix semper excrescit Gervas in lib. de Ociis imperialibus citatâ—…r Pet. Bechor Reduct Moral l. 13. c. 3. De Anglia Vigornia and Wignornia Some say it is as big as the twelve Counties in Wales The Scots call it Don-Castle from the River Don. Holy-hair The Englishmen dwelling beyond Trent called the hair of the Head Fax There is also a Family in this Countrey of Gentlemen named Fairfax of the fair bush of their Hair Pontefract A French name brought in by the Lacies Normans for the English word of broken bridge Lelands Itinerary * Eboracum Eburacum is derived from the River Vré by Vre or a long the side of Vre See Burtons Comment on Anton. his Itin. p. 60 61. why it is called Eboracum The Kings-Town built by King Edward the First There are also high and low Burton houses Or the North-part of this Countrey
dwelleth whom we call in Latine Vicecomitem as one would say the Deputy of the Comes or Earl and in our tongue Sheriff It is his duty to gather the common moneys of the Prince in his County to collect and bring into the Exchequer all fines imposed even by distreining to be attendant upon the Judges and to execute their commandments to assemble and empanel the twelve men which in causes do enquire of the Fact and make relation thereof and give in their Verdict to the Judges for Judges with us sit upon the right onely of a cause and not upon the fact to see condemned persons executèd and to examine and determine certain smaller actions OF THE Several Counties IN ENGLAND CAmden begins with Cornwall and ends with Northumberland I shall mention the Counties of England rather according to the Letters of the Alphabet Barkshire IT is called in Latine Berkeria It is bounded upon the East with Surrey upon the North with the River of Thames from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire upon the West with Wiltshire and upon the South with Hantshire Abbendune or Abington so called of the Abbay rather than of one Abben an Irish Eremite of the Abby there See Monasticon Anglicanum pag. 97. Farendon famous now for a Mercate there kept Wadley It is situate in a vale though not so fertile a soil as some vales afford yet a most commodious site wholsome in a delicious air a rich and pleasant seat Newbury as much as the Newburgh a fair Town well seated in a Champion plain Reading of the Brittish word Redin which signifieth Fearn that growing here plentifully excelleth all other Towns of this Shire in fair streets and goodly houses for wealth also of the Townsmen and their name in making of Cloath There is a very great Market Maidenhead so named of the superstitious worshipping of I wot not what British Maidens-Head Camd. Brit. Maidenhead or Maidenhith Hith in the old Saxon did signifie a Wharf Haven or Landing-place It had its name from the Wharf or Ferry belonging at that time to some neighbouring Nunnery or to some private Maidens dwelling thereabout who then received the profits of it So Queen-Hith in London took that appellation because the profits of the Wharf were anciently accounted for to the Queens of England Dr. Heylins Animadvers on the Church Hist. of Brit. lib. 1. p. 20. See Camden of Maiden-bradly in Wiltshire fol. 243. Windesore A Royal Castle and House of the Kings with the Town adjoyning A Princes Seat cannot have a more pleasant situation For from a high Hill that riseth with a gentle ascent it enjoyeth a most delightfull Prospect round about With the pleasantnesse of this place Princes were allured very often to retire themselves hither and here was Edward the Third that most puissant King borne who here built new out of the ground a most strong Castle in bignesse equal to a pretty City fortified with Ditches and Bulwarks made of stone and forthwith after he had subdued the French and Scots held at one and the self same time John King of France and David King of Scotland prisoners together in the same In this place King Edward the Third for to adorn Martial Prowesse with Honours the Guerdon of Vertue ordained the most Noble Order and Society of Knights whom he called Knights of the Garter who wear on their left Legge somewhat under the knee a Blew Garter with these golden Letters in French HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENS'E Shame to him that evil thinks and fasten the same with a Buckle of Gold as with the Band of a most inward Society in token of Concord and Unity that there might be among them a certain Consociation and Communion of Vertues Some attribute the original of it unto the Garter of the Queen or rather Joan Countesse of Salisbury a Lady of incomparable beauty which fell from her as she danced and the King took up from the floor for when a number of Nobles and Gentlemen standing by laughed thereat he made answer again That shortly it would come to passe that Garter should be in high honour and estimation This is the most common and most received report There is a Book entituled Catechismus ordinis Equitum Perifcelidis written long since by Belvaleti the Popes Nuncio here and published in the year 1631. by Bosquierus wherein the Authour makes an Allegory on the whole habit of the Order the Matter Colour Fashion Wearing to the very Girdle Dr. Heylins Antidotum Lincolniense Sect. 3. ch. 10. The mightiest Princes in Christendome reputed it amongst their greatest honour to be chosen and admitted into this Company and since the first Institution thereof there have been already received and enrolled into this Order which consisteth of six and twenty Knights two and twenty Kings or thereabout besides our Kings of England who are named Sovereigns thereof to speak nothing of Dukes and others of most high calling very many The Founders of the Order which in those dayes for stout courage and warlike Prowesse had few or no Peers and were in that regard advanced to that honour Edward the Third King of England Edward his eldest Sonne and Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Peter Copit de la Bouche Ralph Earl of Stafford William de Montacute Earl of Sarisbury Roger Mortimer Earl of March John Lord Lisle Sir Bartholomew de Burgherst Sir John Beauchamp John Lord Mohun of Dunstere Sir Hugh Courtne Sir Thomas and Sir Otho Holland Sir John Gray of Codnor Sir Richard Fitz Simon Sir Miles Stapleton Sir Thomas Walle Sir Hugh Wrothesly Sir Neel Lorenge Sir John Chandos Sir James Audley Sir Henry Eswi◠Sir Sanchio Dampredicourt Sir Walter Pavely There is an honourable Family of Barons surnamed of Windsore Eaton is hereto adjoyned by a wooden Bridge over the Thames and in it a fair Colledge and a famous School of good literature founded and built by King Henry the Sixth wherein besides the Provost eight Fellows and the singing Choristers there are threescore Scholars instructed in Grammar and in due time preferred to the University of Cambridge It containeth twenty Hundreds twelve Market Towns and an hundred and forty Parishes Bedfordshire BEdford is the principal Town whereof the Shire also taketh name A Town to be commended more for the pleasant situation and antiquity thereof then for beauty or largenesse although a man may tell five Churches in it Hockley in the Hole so named of the miry way in Winter time very troublesome to travellers for the old Englishmen our Progenitors called deep mire Hock and Hocks Dunstable This Town seated in a Chalky ground well inhabited and full of Innes hath four streets answering to the four quarters of the world in every one of which there is a large Pond of standing water for the publique use of the Inhabitants It contains ten Market Towns an hundred and sixteen
large in compasse fruitfull full of Woods plentifull of Saffron and very wealthy encircled as it were on the one side with the main Sea on the other with Fish-full Rivers which also do afford their peculiar Commodities in great abundance The Air is temperate and pleasant only towards the waters somewhat aguish insomuch that in one Hundred they will ask a stranger merrily Whether the Bayliff of the Hundred hath yet arrested him Waltham Forest of the Town Waltham It was stored very full with Deer that for their bignesse and fatnesse withall have the name above all other Rochford it hath given name to an Hundred It is aguish Rumford the glory whereof dependeth on a Swine Mercat Brent-wood a Mercat Town Engerstone a Town of note for nothing else but the Mercat and Innes for travellers Chensford a good big Town situate in the heart of the Shire between two Rivers Of note onely for the Assizes Cogeshall a Mercate Town Maldon for the number of the Inhabitants and the bignesse it is worthily counted one of the principal Towns in all Essex and in Records named The Burgh of Maldon It is a Haven commodious enough and for the bignesse very well inhabited being but one especial street descending much about a mile in length upon the ridg of an Hill answerable to the termination of Dunum which signified an hilly and high situation Colchester a proper and fine Burrough well traded and pleasantly seated as being situate upon the brow of an Hill stretching out from West to East walled about beautified with several Churches some of which were lately demolished The Inhabitants affirm that Flavia Julia Helena the Mother of Constantine the Great was borne and bred there Harewich a most safe Road whence it hath the name The Town is not great but well peopled fortified by Art and Nature Walden of Saffron * called Saffron Walden among the fields looking merrily with most lovely Saffron A very good Mercat Town Here Sir Thomas Smith Secretary to Queen Elizabeth a wise and learned man was born Audley-end a magnificent House built by the Earl of Suffolk where there is a spacious and very broad Gallery Barrington-Hall where dwelleth that right ancient Family of the Baringtons Lees-Abbey now the Seat of the right Honourable Lord Rich Baron Lees and Earl of Warwick It contains twenty Hundreds one and twenty Market Towns and four hundred and fifteen Parishes Glocestershire ON the West-side butteth on Monmouthshire and Herefordshire on the North on Worcestershire on the East upon Warwickshire and Oxfordshire both on the South with Somersetshire A pleasant Countrey and fruitfull in Corn Wooll Apples and Pears and Severn full of Salmon Commonly through all Glocestershire there is good plenty of Corn Pasture and Wood saving in Coteswold where the great flocks of Sheep be and yet in some places there groweth fair Corn Lelands Itinerary Forest of Dean or Dean-Forest was wholly bespread with thick tall Wood It is between two navigable Rivers Wie and Severn It was a wonderfull thick Forest and in former ages so dark and terrible by reason of crooked and winding wayes as also the grisly shade therein that it made the Inhabitants more fierce and bolder to commit robberies Since that rich Mines of Iron were here found out those thick woods began to wax thinne by little and little Tewksbury It is a great and fair Town having three Bridges to passe over standing upon three Rivers famous for the best Mustard One may carry it in bals a long way Glocester the head City of this Shire It lieth stretched out in length over Severne on that side where it is not watered with the River it hath in some places a very strong Wall for defence A proper and fine City both for number of Churches and for the buildings Above the Quire in an Arch of this Church there is a Wall built in forme of a Semi-circle full of Corners with such an artificial devise that if a man speak with never so low a voice at the one part thereof and another lay his ear to the other being a good way distant he may also hear every syllable Cotswold it took its name of Woulds and Cotes that is Hils and Sheepfolds Here feed in great numbers flocks of Sheep long necked and square of bulk and bone by reason of the hilly and large situation of their pasturage whose Wooll being most fine and soft is had in passing great account among all Nations Barkly honoured with a Castle whereof the Lord Barklies are entituled Camden a Mercat Town well peopled and of good resort Near unto it standeth Weston where there is a fair House which maketh a goodly shew built by Ralph Sheldon for him and his posterity Hales in late time a most flourishing Abbey and deserving commendation for breeding up of Alexander of Hales a great Clerk and so deeply learned above all others in that subtil Divinity of the Schoolmen as he carried away the surname of Doctor Irrefr agabilis the Doctor ungain said as he that could not be gain-said Winchelcomb a great Town and well inhabited Cyrencester a famous Mercat Town both for Corn upon the Monday and for Wooll and Yarn on the Friday Bibery There is a spring under the side of a Hill which is so forcible that it serves to drive a Mill about a stones cast from it Strowd whence the name of Strowdwater where are multitudes of rich Clothiers fair building and famous also for dying of Cloaths by reason of the nature of the water It containeth thirty Hundreds two hundred and eighty Parishes Hantshire ON the West it hath Dorsetshire and Wiltshire on the South the Ocean to bound it on the East it joyneth to Sussex and Surrey and on the North it bordereth upon Barkshire A small Province it is fruitful in Corn rich in plenteous Pasture and for all commodities of sea most wealthy and happy Wools Cloathes and Iron are the general Commodities of this Shire Ringwood a well frequented Mercat Town New-Forest King William of Normandy pulled downe all the Townes Villages Houses and Churches farre and neare cast out the poore Inhabitants and when he had so done brought all within thirty miles compasse or thereabout into a Forest and Harbour for wilde Beasts Hurst-Castle commandeth Seaward every where South-hanton a Town populous rich and beautifull from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name Andover Winchester * in Latin Wintonia a City flourishing even in the Romans times It is indifferently well peopled and frequented having plenty of water by reason of the River conveyed divers wayes into it it containeth about a mile and half in circuit within the Wals which open at six Gates and have every one of them their Suburbs reaching forth without a good way It is adorned with magnificent Churches and a Bishops See There is a fair Colledge which William Wickham Bishop of this See built for a School out of which both for Church
in a manner scalding hot and do work and being thus troubled cast up from the bottom certain filth during which time they are shut neither may any body go into them untill by their fluces they cleanse themselves and rid away that filthinesse Of these three the Crosse-Bath so called of a Crosse standing upright in old time in the midst of it is of a very mild and temperate warmth and hath twelve seats of stone about the brink or border thereof and is enclosed within a wall The second distant from this not fully two hundred foot is much hotter whence it is termed hot Bath These two are in the midst of a street on the West-side of the City The third which is the greatest and after a sort in the very bosom and heart of the City is called the Kings Bath neer unto the Cathedral Church walled also round about and fitted with two and thirty seats of arched work wherein men and women may sit apart who when they enter in put upon their bodies linnen garments and have their guides This City hath flourished as well by cloathing as by reason of usual concourse thither for health twice every yeer Bristow This City standing partly in Somerset and partly in Glocestershires is not to be reputed belonging to this or that having Magistrates of its own and being of it self entire and a County incorporate It is situate somewhat high between Avon and the little River Frome sufficiently defended with Rivers and Forfications together So fair to behold by reason of buildings as well publick as private that it is fully correspondent to the name of Brightstow With common Sews or Sinks they call them Goutes so made to runne under the ground for the conveyance and washing away of all filth that for cleanlinesse and wholsomnesse a man would not desire more whereupon there is no use here of carts so well furnished with all things necessary for mans life so populous and well inhabited withall that next after London and York it may of all Cities in England justly challenge the chief place For the mutual intercourse of traffick and the commodious Haven which admitteth in Ships under sail into the very bosom of the City hath drawn people of many countreys thither The Citizens themselves are rich Merchants and traffick all over Europe yea and make Voyages at Sea so farre as into the most remote parts of America The most beautifull Church there is S. Maries of Radcliff without the Wals into which there is a stately ascent upon many stairs so large withall so finely and curiously wrought with an arched roof over head of stone artificially embowed a steeple also of an exceeding height that it surpasseth in many degrees all the Parish-churches in England There is hard by another Church also which they call the Temple the Tower whereof when the Bell rings shaketh to and fro so as it hath cloven and divided it self from the rest of the building and made such a chink from the bottom to the top as that it gapeth the breadth of three fingers and both shutteth and openeth whensoever the Bell is rung S. Vincents Rock so full of Diamonds that a man may fill whole strikes or bushels of them They are not so much set by because they are plenteous in bright and transparent colour they match the Indian-Diamonds if they passe them not in hardnesse only they are inferiour to them In this County are numbered three hundred eighty five Parishes Staffordshire IT hath on the East Warwickshire and Darbyshire on the South-side Worcestershire and Westward Shropshire bordering upon it reacheth from South to North in form of a Lozeng broader in the middest and growing narrower at ends The North part is full of Hils and so lesse fruitfull the middle being watered with the River Trent is most plentifull clad with woods and embrodered gallantly with Corn-fields and Medows as is the South port likewise which hath Coals also digged out of the earth and Mines of Iron There are these Rivers in Staffordshire Sow which runneth by Stafford Dove Peru a little River by Pencridge Charnet Blith Tame The River Trent ariseth in Collonel Boyers Park and Dove passeth thorow part of it Severn passeth thorow some part of the Shire Stourton Castle stands upon the River Stour in the very confines with Worcestershire Dudley-Castle did stand upon an Hill named so of one Dudo or Dodo ah English Saxon. It is now demolished Under this lieth Pensneth-Chace wherein are many Cole-pits Pateshall a seat of the Astleys descended from honourable Progenitors Wrotestley the habitation of Sir Walter Wrotesly whose Father was Sir Hugh Wrotesly In the Parlour window among divers of the Arms of the Ancestours of that Family there is one Sir Hugh Wrotesley mentioned who for his approved valour was made by King Edward the Third Knight of the Garter at the first Institution and so accounted one of the Founders of the said honourable Order Chellington a fair House and Mannor of the ancient Family of the Giffards Brewood a Mercat Town Weston Theoten-Hall by interpretation the habitation of Heathens or Pagans at this day Tetnal Ulfrunes-Hampton so called of Wulfruna a most devout woman who enriched the Town called before simply Hampton with a religious House it is now corruptly called Wulver Hampton For an In-land Town there is a famous Market for Cattel and Corn Weddsborow there is Sea-coal Walsal a little Mercat Town a mile by North from Weddesbury There are many Smiths Peuterers and Bit-makers There is a Park of that name half a mile from the Town There are many Lime-pits neer the Town Draiton-Basset the seat of the Bassets Tamworth a Town so placed in the confines of the two Shires that the one part which belonged sometime to the Mirmions is counted of Warwickshire the other which pertained to the Hastings of Staffordshire Here is a fair Castle At Falkesley-Bridg that Roman High-way Watlingstreet entereth into this Shire and cutting it through as it were by a strait line goeth Westward into Shropshire Wall so called of the reliques of an old Wall there remaining and taking up much about two acres of ground Penck-ridge so named of the River Penck famous for an Horse-Fair which the Lord of the place Hugh Blunt obtained of King Edward the Second New-Castle under Lyme Trentham Stone a Mercat Town which having the beginning in the Saxons time took the name of the Stones which our Ancestours after a solemn sort had cast on a heap to notifie the place where Wolpher the Heathenish King of the Mercians most cruelly slew his two Sonnes Wulfald and Rufin because they had taken upon them the profession of Christianity Sandon Cankwood or Forest Gerards-Bromley an House Chebsey Eccleshall Raunton a Monastery Stafford neer unto which there was a Castle upon an Hill now demolisht It is the head Town of the whole Shire Ticks-Hall the dwelling place of the Astons a Family which for Antiquity Kinred and
and worshipfull Family Flixton or Felixton so named of Faelix the first Bishop of these parts Mettingham where there is a Castle Luthingland of Luthing the Lake Comerley Town Burgh-Castle now ruined Sommerly-Hall my Lady Wentworths House famous for fair Walks and Ponds There is one long Walk encompassed with Fir-trees on each side The Parishes in this County amount to the number of five hundred seventy five Surrey FRom the West it boundeth partly upon Barkshire and Hantshire from the South upon Sussex and from the East on Kent toward the North it is watered with the River Tames and by it divided from Middlesex It is a Countrey not very large yet wealthy enough where it beareth upon Thames and lieth as a plain and champion Countrey It is likened by some unto a course freeze garment with a green gard or to a cloath of great spinning and thin woven with a green list about it because the inner part is but barren the outward edge or skirt more fertile Chertsey a kind of Island Fernham so named of much Fern growing in that place Guildford a Mercat Town well frequented and full of fair Innes Ockam where that great Philosopher and Father of the nominals William de Ockham was born and whereof he took that name as of the next Village Ripley George Ripley a ring-leader of our Alchymists Oatlands a fair house of the Kings neer unto which Caesar passed over Tames into the Borders of Cassivelaunus For this was the only place where a man might in times past go over the Tames on foot and that hardly too which the Britains themselves improvidently bewrayed unto Caesar Ockley so named of Oaks Rhiegate the Rivers course Holm-Castle Beckworth-Castle Effingham Kingstone a very good Mercat Town for the bignesse and well frequented It had beginning from a little Town more ancient then it of the same name In which when England was almost ruinated by the Danish Warres Aethelstan Edwin and Ethelred were crowned Kings upon an open stage in the Market place whence it was called Kingston Leland Comment. in Cygn. Cant. Camd. Brit. Shene so called of its shining brightnesse now Richmond wherein the most mighty Prince King Edward the Third when he had lived sufficiently both to glory and nature died King Henry the Seventh built it and gave it that name of Richmond of the Title he bare being Earl of Richmond before he obtained the Crown of England He had scarce finished this new work when in this place he yeelded unto Nature and ended his Life Here Queen Elizabeth also died None-such a retiring place of the Princes and surpasseth all other houses round about which King Henry the Eighth in a very healthfull place called Cuddington before selected for his own delight and ease and built with so great sumptuousnesse and rare workmanship that it aspireth to the very top of ostentation for shew so as a man may think that all the skill of Architecture is in this one piece of work bestowed and heaped up together So many Statues and lively Images there were in every place so many wonders of absolute Workmanship and Workes seeming to contend with Roman Antiquities that most worthily it might have this name that it hath of None-such Hane quia non habeant similem laudare Britanni Saepè solent nullique parem cognomine dicunt The Britains oft are wont to praise this place For that through all The Realm they cannot shew the like and None-such they it call The House was environed about with Parks full of Deer it had such dainty and delicate Orchards such Groves adorned with curious Arbours so pretty quarters Beds and Alleys such Walks so shadowed with Trees that it was exceeding pleasant Wandle a clear Riveret full of the best Trouts Woodcot a pretty Town Croidon there was the Archbishops house of Canterbury There are Charcoals Bedington a fair house beautified with a delightfull shew of pleasant Gardens and Orchards Addington Aguilon situate in a most fertile soil Merton It is famous for the Statute of Merton enacted here in the 21. of King Henry the Third and also for Walter de Merton Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford borne and bred here Wimbledon there is a goodly House beautifull for building and delectable for fair profpect and right pleasant Gardens built in the year 1588. when the Spanish Armado made sail upon the coast of England Wandlesworth Putney Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was born there Batersey Lambeth Canutus the Hardy King of England there amidst his cups yeelded up his vital breath It was the Palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury Southwark the Burrough of Southwork the most famous Mercat Town and place of Trade in all this Shire It is large and populous In the Reign of King Edward the Sixth it was annexed to the City of London and is at this day taken for a member as it were of it Sterborow-Castle This County hath in it an hundred and forty Parish Churches Sussex THe Region of the South Saxons a word compounded of the site thereof Southward and of the Saxons who in their Heptarchy placed here the second Kingdom It is above threescore miles long and somewhat above twenty miles broad It lieth upon the British Ocean all Southward with a strait shore as it were farre more in length than breadth How be it it hath few harbours by reason that the Sea is dangerous for shelves and therefore rough and troublous the shore also it self full of Rocks The Sea-coast of this Countrey hath green Hils on it mounting to a greater height called the Downs which because they stand upon a fat chalk or kind of Marle yeeldeth corn abundantly The middle tract garnished with Medows Pastures Corn-fields and Groves maketh a very lovely shew The hithermore and northern side thereof is shaded most pleasantly with Woods like as in times past the whole Countrey throughout which by reason of the Woods was hardly passable The Wood Andradswald taking the name of Anderida the City next adjoyning took up in this quarter a hundred and twenty miles in length and thirty in bredth It is full of Mines in sundry places where for the making and fining whereof there be Furnaces on every side and a huge deal of Wood is yeerly spent to which purpose divers Brooks in many places are brought to runne in one chanel and sundry Medows turned into Pools and Waters that they might be of power sufficient to drive Hammer-mils which beating upon the iron resound all over the places adjoyning Boseham a place environed round about with Woods and the Sea together Chichester lieth in a champion plain A City large enough and walled about built by Cissa a Saxon the second King of this Province and of him so named It hath four Gates opening to the four Quarters of the World from whence the streets lead directly and crosse themselves in the midst where the Market is kept a
huge and monstrous peece of work Stone-henge Within the circuit of a Ditch there are erected in manner of a Crown in three ranks or courses one within another certain mighty and unwrought Stones whereof some are eight and twenty foot high and seven foot broad upon the heads of which others like overthwart peeces do bear and rest crosse-wise with small tenents and mortesis so as the whole frame seemeth to hang Everly-Warren a Warren of Hares Savernac-Forest of great name for plenty of good game and for a kind of Ferne there that yeeldeth a most pleasing savour In remembrance whereof their Hunters-horn of a mighty bignesse and tipt with silver the Earl of Hertford keepeth unto this day as a Monument of his Progenitors Atibury an uplandish Village Rockley a little Village Kenet Marleborow It was most famous by reason of a Parliament there holden wherein by a general consent of the States of the Kingdome there assembled a Law passed for the appeasing of all Tumults commonly called The Statute of Marleborow Ramesbury a pretty Village which hath pretty Medows about it Littlecot a place worthy to be remembred because of the late Lord thereof Sir John Popham who being the chief Judge in the Kings-Bench executed Justice against malefactours to his high praise and commendation This County containeth in it three hundred and four Parishes Worcestershire SO called of the principal Town in it Here are many Salt-pits which the old Englishmen in their Language named Wiches Warwickshire confineth on the East of this County Glocestershire on the South it is bounded Westward with Herefordshire and Shropshire North-East with Staffordshire it hath so temperate an air and so favourable soil that for healthfulnesse and plenty it is not inferiour to the neighbour Countreys and in one part for dainty Cheese surpasseth them It yeeldeth store of Pears of which they make a bastard kind of Wine called Pyrry which they drink very much although it be as other drinks of that kind both cold and full of wind In every place there are sweet Rivers which afford a great abundance of the most delicate kind of fishes Severn that noble and renowned River carrieth his stream along through the midst of the Shire from North to South and Avon that cometh down out of Warwickshire to meet with Severn watereth the South-part thereof Beawdly worthily so called for the beautifull site thereof standeth most pleasantly upon the hanging of an Hill and hovereth over the River on the West-side on late dayes well known for the admirable talnesse of Trees growing in the Forest of Wyre adjoyning which now in manner be all gone Delicium rerum Bellus Locus undique floret Fronde Coronatus Virianae tempore Sylvae Kidderminster a fair Town and hath a great Mercat of all Commodities well frequented parted in twain by little River Stowre that runneth thorow it There is a very beautifull Church Hertlebury-Castle Holt-Castle so called of a very thick wood there Frankeley the Family of the Littletons planted by John Littleton aliàs Westcote the famous Lawyer Justice in the Kings-Bench in the time of King Edward the Fourth to whose Treatise of Tenures the Students of our Common-Law are no lesse beholden then the Civilians to Justinians Institutes Bromesgrove a Mercat Town Grafton Droitwich some term it Durtwich of the Salt-pits and the wettish ground on which it standeth where three fountains yeelding plenty of water to make salt of divided asunder by a little Brook of fresh water passing between by a peculiar gift of nature spring out out of which most pure white Salt is boiled for six Moneths every year viz. from Mid-sommer to mid-winter in many set furnaces round about Richard De la Wich Bishop of Chichester was here born whom Pope Urban the fourth canonized for a Saint Fekenham-Forest Worcester the principal City of this Shire an ancient and beautifull place It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers-side that hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it it is well and strongly walled There are fair and neat Houses many Churches It is a Bishops See The Cathedral Church is a passing fair and stately building adorned with the Monuments and Tombs of King John Arthur Prince of Wales and divers of the Beauchamps Powick famous for Cherries Hanley-Castle Upton a Mercate Towne of great name Malvern-Hills great and high Mountains which for the space of seven miles or thereabout do as it were by degrees rise higher and higher dividing this Shire from the County of Hereford Bredon-Hills farre lesse Elmesley-Castle Washborn a Village whence came the surname to a very ancient and worshipfull Family in this Tract Eovesham so called as the Monks write of one Eoves Swinherd to Egwin Bishop of Worcester A very proper Town situate upon an Hill arising from the River A Town well known for the Vale under it named thereof The Vale of Evesham which for plentifull fertility hath well deserved to be called the Granary of all these Countreys so good and plentifull is the ground in yeelding the best Corn abundantly Charlton now the seat of the Dingleyes Oswaldslow-Hundred so called of Oswald Bishop of Worcester who obtained it for himself of King Edgar Augustines-Oke at which Augustine the Apostle of the Englishmen and the Bishops of Britain met and after they had disputed and debated the matter hotly for a good while touching the Celebration of Easter preaching Gods Word also to the English Nation and of administring Baptisme according to the Rites of the Roman Church in the end when they could not agree they departed on both sides with discontented minds upon their dissenting opinions There are in this Shire an hundred fifty and two Parishes Yorkshire THe County of York the greatest Shire by farre of all England is thought to be in a temperate measure fruitfull If in one place there be stony and sandy barren ground in another place there are for it Corn-fields as rich and fruitfull if it be void and destitute of woods here you shall find it shadowed there with most thick Forests So providently useth nature such a temperature that the whole Countrey may seem by reason also of that variety more gracefull and delectable It is farre greater and more numerous in the circuit of her miles then any Shire of England The length extended from Hart-Hill in the South to the mouth of Tees in the North is neer unto seventy miles the breadth from Flambrough-head to Horn-Castle upon the River Lun is eighty the whole circumference three hundred and eight miles Speed Helmsley a Mannor in Yorkshire hath two Parks and a Chase in it it is said to be about an hundred fourty six miles compasse it had fourty thousand timber Trees and two hundred Acres of wood There are many Free-holders there It is famous for Wool Grasing Corn Rivers and Fountains There are the Gips upon Yorkshire Woolds which in the drought of Summer when
all other Springs seem to be dried up burst out and rise up five or six yards plum height and so fall down into the Dales and make a little River by which the Towns neer thereto refresh their Cattel when the Valley springs fail On the North-side it hath the Bishoprick of Durham which the River Tees with a continued course separateth from it On the East-side the Germane Sea lieth sore upon it and the South-side is enclosed first with Cheshire and Darbyshire then with Nottinghamshire and after with Lincolnshire where that famous arm of the Sea Humber floweth between into which all the Rivers well neer that water this Shire empty themselves as it were into their common receptacle The whole Shire is divided into three parts which according to the three Quarters of the world are called The West-Riding The East-Riding The North-Riding West-Riding for a good while is compassed in with the River Ouse with the bound of Lancashire and with the South limits of the Shire and beareth toward the West and South East-Riding looketh to the Sunne-rising and the Ocean which together with the River Derwent encloseth it North-Riding reacheth Northward hemmed in as it were with the River Tees with Derwent and a long race of the River Ouse West-Riding Sheafield a Town of great name for the Smiths therein fortified also with a strong and ancient Castle Rotheram glorieth in Thomas Rotheram sometimes Archbishop of York a wise man bearing the name of the Town being born therein and a singular Benefactor thereunto Connisborrow an ancient Castle seated upon a Rock Dan-Castre There is the fair Church of S. Georges Tickhill an old Town fenced with as old a Castle large enough but having only a single Wall about it Hatfiele-Chace a great game and hunting of red Deer Halifax a most famous Town This place is become famous as well among the multitude by reason of the Law there whereby they beheaded straitwayes whosoever are taken stealing as also amongst the learned for they report that Johannes de Sacro Bosco the Authour of the Sphere was here born yet more famous it is for the greatnesse of the Parish which reckoneth eleven Chappels whereof two are Parish-Chappels and to the number of twelve thousand people therein Halifax Nuts are spoken of proverbially All shels and no kernels Dewsborough seated under an high Hill Wakefield a Town famous for Cloathing for greatnesse for fair building a well frequented Mercat and a Bridge upon which King Edward the Fourth erected a beautifull Chappel in memorial of those that lost their lives there in battel Sandall-Castle The Tract lying here round about for a great way together is called the Seigniory or Lordship of Wakefield and hath alwayes for the Steward one of the better sort of Gentlemen dwelling thereby Medley so called for the situation as it were in the midst between two Rivers Skipton it lieth hidden and enclosed among steep Hils as Latium in Italy which Varro supposeth to have been so called because it lieth close under Appenine and the Alps. The Town for the manner of their building among these Hils is fair enough and hath a very proper and strong Castle Leeds a rich Town by reason of Cloathing Winwidfield a name given it from a victory Pontfret the Normans of a broken Bridge named it in French Pontfract It is seated in a very pleasant place which bringeth forth Liquorice and Skirworts in great plenty adorned also with fair buildings and hath to shew a stately Castle as a man shall see situate upon a Rock no lesse goodly to the eye then safe for the defence well fortified with Ditches and Bulwarks Shirburn a little Town but well inhabited Aberford a little Village famous only for making of Pins which by womens judgment are especially commended as the best Hesselwood the principal seat of that worthy and right ancient Family of the Vavasours who by their Office for the Kings Valvasors in times past they were took to them this name Peters-post a famous quarry of stone so called because with the stones hewed out of it by the liberal Grant of the Vavasors that stately and sumptuous Church of S. Peters at York was re-edified Harewood-Castle of good strength Wetherby a Mercat Town of good note Tadcaster it is situate upon a Port high-way Rippley a Mercat Town Knasborrow-Castle situate upon a mostragged and rough Rock whence also it hath the name There is a Well under it which turns wood into stone within two miles of it is the Spaw which makes women conceive that were barren before and cures many diseases Within three miles of Knarsborough are the stinking Wells which come out of a mineral of Brimstone and do many cures especially for Worms the Scurvy and Itch. Rippon There is a very fair Church which with three high Spire-steeples doth welcome those that come to the Town Burrow-Bridge a little Town so called of the Bridge that is made over the River Pyramides four huge stones of pyramidal form in three divers little fields they were monuments of victory erected by the Romans hard by the high street that went this way * York This is the second City of England the fairest in all this Countrey and a singular safeguard and ornament both to all the North parts A pleasant place large and stately well fortified beautifully adorned as well with private as publick buildings rich populous and it hath an Archiepiscopal See Ure which now is called Ouse flowing with a gentle stream from the North part Southward cutteth it in twain and divideth it as it were into two Cities which are conjoyned with a stone Bridge having one mighty Arch. The West part nothing so populous is compassed in with a very fair Wall and the River together four squarewise and giveth entrance to those that come thither at one only Gate named Mikel-Barre The great Gate From which a long Street and a broad reacheth to the very Bridge and the same Street beset with proper Houses having Gardens and Orchards planted on the back-side on either hand and behind them fields even hard to the Walls for exercise and disports The East-side wherein the Houses stand very thick and the Streets be narrower in form resembleth as it were a lentill and is fortified also with very strong Walls and on the South-East defended with the deep chanel of Fosse a muddy River which entring into the heart of the City by a blind way hath a Bridge over it with houses standing upon it so close ranged one by another that any man would judge it to be not a Bridge but a continued Street and so a little lower runneth into Ouse There is a Cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Peter an excellent fair and stately Fabrick neer unto which there is the Princes House commonly called The Mannour York was a Colony of the Romans as appeareth both by the authority of Ptolomee and Antonine and also by a peece of Money coined by the