since over-shadowed by the height of Beckets Tomb that for glory wealth and superstitious worships equalized the Pyramides of Egypt or the Oracle of Delphos yet now with Dagon is fallen before the Ark of God This City hath been honoured with the presence and Coronations of King Iohn and Queen Isabel his wife with the marriages of King Henry the third and of King Edward the first and with the interments of Edward the Black Prince King Henry the fourth and of Queen Ioan his wife as Feversham is with the burials of King Stephen and of Maud his Queen and wife But as in glory so in adversity hath this City born a part being divers times afflicted by the Danes but most especially in the dayes of Ethelred who in that revenge of their massacre made havock of all and herein slew forty three thousand and two hundred persons the tenth besides reserved to live Afterward it recovered breath and beauty by the liberality of Bishop Lanford Characters and priviledges by King Henry the third strength in Trench and Fortifications from King Richard the second and lastly Walls for her defence by Simon Sudbury Arch-bishop of that See whose Graduation is placed for Latitude 51. 25 and parallelized for Longitude 22. 8 her sister Rochester differing not much in either degree 9 Which City as Beda saith was built by one Rof Lord of the same though some ascribe the foundation of the Castle to Iulius Câ—sar and hath been often ruinated by the injuries of war both in the times when the Saxons strove for superiority among themselves wherein this City was laid waste Anno 680. as also in the assaults of their common enemy the Danes who about the year 884. from France sailed up the River Medway and besieged the same so that had not King Elfred speedily come to the rescue it had been overthrown by those Pagans And again in Anno 999. the Dâ—nes miserably spoiled this City in the time of King Ethelred neither haâ—n it stood safe from danger since though not defaced so much by war for twice hath it been sore endamaged by chance of fire the first was in the Reign of King Henry the first Anno 1130. himself being present with most of his Nobility for the consecration of the Cathedral Church of S. Andrew And again almost wholly consumed about the latter end of the Reign of King Henry the second Anno 1177. Yet after all these calamities it recovered some strength again by the bounty of King Henry the third both in buildings and in ditching her about for defence 10 Civil broyls and dissentions hath this County been burdened with and that not only under the Saxons and Danes whose desolations were many and grievous but also by other rebellions since the Normans Conquest both in those infamous insurrections called The Barons Wars in the reign of King Henry the Third wherein much harm was done as also under King Richard the Second when Wat Tyler Captain of a dreadful commotion assembled at Black-heath Mile-end and in London doing many outrages where in Smithfield he was lastly struck down by William VVallworth then Mayor of the City and worthily slain for his notorious treasons Again upon Black-heath Michael Ioseph the Lord Dawbeney with their Cornish Rebels were overthrown by King Henry the Seventh Anno 1497. 11 Kent in the time of Iulius Caesar was governed by four several Kings Under Vortigern the Britain by a Lieutenant called Guoronge from whom the said King gave it to Hengist the Saxon in favour of his Daughter Howen who seeking to make himself absolute King thereof eight years after his first entrance fought a victorious battel against the Britains near unto Crayford and thenceforth accounted that Province his own Yet afterward Vortimer the valiant Britain gave him battel at Aylesford in the which both Horsa and Catigern brethren to both the Generals were slain and the Saxons driven into the Isle of Thanet their first assigned habitation not daring to enter the Continent so long as Vortimer lived Catigern was interred upon that plain where to this day remaineth his Monument being 4 stones pitched in manner of the Stonehenge and is vulgarly called Citscotehouse The like Monument was of Horsa at Horsted which stormes and time have now devoured Hengist made this Province a Kingdom for himself and successors which name and power it retained the space of three hundred and twenty years when Egbert King of the West-Saxons subdued and joyned it to his own in which subjection it stood untill the time of the Normans Then it was given under the title of an Earldom by the Conquerour unto Otha Bishop of Bayeux his half brother whose successors in that dignity were those most honourable families whose Arms and Names within this plot are blazed and expressed It is divided principally into five Lathes subdivided into 66 hundreds and them again into 398 Parishes and wherein had been seated twenty three Religious Houses SUSSEX SUSSEX CHAPTER IV. SOUTH-SEX a word compounded of the site thereof Southward lieth stretched along the British Seas The North confronts upon Surrey and Kent and the West butteth upon Hampshire 2 For form it lieth long and narrow so that all her Rapes do run quite through the Shire and containeth from Westharting in the West to Kent ditch that divides it from Kent in the East sixty four miles but in the broadest part little above twenty the whole circumference about one hundred fifty eight miles 3 The Air is good though somewhat clouded with mists which arise forth of her South bordering Sea who is very prodigal unto her for Fish and Sea-fowl though as sparing for Harbours or Ships arrivage and those which she hath as uncertain for continuance as dangerous for entrance 4 Rich is the Soil and yieldeth great plenty of all things necessary but very ill for travellers especially in the winter the Land lying low and the ways very deep whose middle tract is garnished with Meadows Pastures and Corn fields the Sea-coast with Hills which are called the Downs abundantly yielding both Grain and Grass and the North side over shadowed with pleasant Groves and thick Woods where sometimes stood the famous wood Andradswald containing no less than an hundred and twenty miles in length and thirty in breadth taking the name of Andexida a City adjoyning both which were won from the Britains by Ella the first Saxon King of this Province and the place made fatal to Sigebert King of the VVest-Saxens who being deposed from his Royal throne was met in this Wood by a Swine-herd and slain in revenge of his Lord whom Sigebert had nurdered 5 The ancient people in the Romans time were the Râ—gni of whom we have spoken and who were subdued by Vespasian the Leader of the second Legion under Aulus Plautius Lieutenant in Britain for Claudius the Emperour But after the departure of the Romans this with Surrey was made the South â—axons Kingâ—ome yet that giving place to the VVest-Saxons as they
foreign Countries to that Countries great benefit and Englands great praise 9 The Trade thereof with other provisions for the whole are vented through eighteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Winchester the Britains Caer Gwent the Romans Venta Belgarum in chief ancient enough by our British Historians as built by King Budhudthras nine hundred years before the Nativity of Christ and famous in the Romans times for the weavings and embroderies therein wrought to the peculiar uses of their Emperours own persons In the Saxons time after two Calamities of consuming fire her walls was raised and the City made the Royal Seat of their West Saxons Kings and the Metropolitan of their Bishops See wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarchs were Crowned and Henry the third the Normans longest Reigner first took breath And here King Aethelstane erected six Houses for his Mint but the Danish desolation over running all this City felt their fury in the days of King Ethelbright and in the Normans time twice was defaced by the mis-fortune of fire which they again repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publick Records of the Realm In the civil wars of Maud and Stephen this City was sore sacked but again received breath was by King Edward the third appointed the place for Mart of Wool and Cloth The Caehedral Church built by Kenwolf King of the West-Saxons that had been Amphibalus S. Peters Swethins and now holy Trinitie is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings for herein great Egbert anno 836. with his son King Ethelwolf 857. Here Elfred Oxfords founder 901. with his Queen Elswith 904. Here the first Edmund before the Conquest 924. with his sons Elfred and Elsward Here Edred 955. and Edwy 956. both Kings of England Here Emme 1052. with her Danish Lord Canute 1035. and his son Hardicanute 1042. And here lastly the Normaus Richard and Rufus 1100. were interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little gilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remain carefully preserved This Cities situation is fruitful and pleasant in a valley under hills having her River on the East and Castle on the West the circuit of whose walls are well near two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces through which openeth six gates for entrance and therein are seven Churches for divine Service besides the Minister and those decayed such as Callender Ruell Chappell S. Maries Abbey and the Friers without the Suburbs and Sooke in the East is S. Peteâ—s and in the North Hyde Church and Monastery whose ruins remaining shew the beauâ—y that formerly it bare The graduation of this City by the Mathematicks is placed for Latitude in the Degree 51 10 minutes and for Longitude 19 3 minutes 10 More South is South-hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name most strongly walled about with square stone containing in circuit one thousand and two hundred paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for defence two very stately Keys for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for Gods divine Service besides an Hospital called Gods-house wherein the unfortunate Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded for treason lieth interred On the West of this Town is mounted a most beautifull Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called S. Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly erected a small and unfinished Chappel In this place saith learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium or Fort of the Romans whose circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In King Edward the thirds time it was fired by the French under the Conduct of the King of Sicils son whom a Countrey man encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understandiog his language nor the Law that Arms doth allow laid on more soundly saying I know thee a Frankon and therefore shalt thou die And in Richard the seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it standeth In this Clausentium Canute to evict his flatterers made trial of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his seat But being not obeyed he acknowledged God to be the onely supreme Governour and in a religious devotion gave up his Crown to the Rood at Winchester More ancient was Silcester built by Constantius great Constantines son whose Monument they say was seen in in that City and where another Constantine put on the purple robe against Honorius ' as both Ninius and Gervase of Canterbury do withess Herein by our Historians record the warlike Arthur was Crowned Whose greatness for circuit contained no less than fourscore Acres of ground and the walls of great height yet standing two miles in compass about This City by the Danish Rovers suffered such wrack that her mounted tops were never since seen and her Hulke the walls immured to the middle of the earth which the rubbish of her own desolations hath filled 11 Chief Religious houses within this County erected and again suppressed were these Christ's-Church Beaulieu Whâ—rwall Rumsey Redbridge Winchester Hyde South-hampton and Tichfield The honour of this Shire is dignified with the high Titles of Marquess and them Earls of VVinchester and South-hampton whose Arms of Families are as thou seest and her division into thirty seven Hundreds and those again into two Hundred fifty three Parishes WIGHT ISLAND VVIGHT ILAND CHAPTER VII WIGHT ILAND was in times past named by the Romans Vecta Vectis and Vectâ—sis by the Britains Guyth and in these days usually called by us The Lsle of Wight it belongeth to the County of South-hampton and lieth out in length over against the midst of it South-ward It is encompassed round with the British Seas and severed from the Main-land that it may seem to have been conjoyned to it and thereof it is thought the British name Guyth hath been given unto it which betokeneth separation even as Sicily being broken off and cut from Italy got the name from Secando which signifieth cutting 2 The form of this Isle is long and at the midst far more wide than at either end From Binbridge Isle in the East to Hurst Castle in the West it stretcheth out in length 20 miles and in breadth from Newport haven Northward to Chale-bay Southward 12 miles The whole in circumference is about sixty miles 3 The Air is commended both for health and delight whereof the first is witnessed by the long continuance of the Inhabitants in
from the first West-Point 15 13 minutes as Mercatâ—r hath measured them 9 Memorable matters both for antiquity and strangeness of sight are these At Boskenna upon the South west of her Promontory is a trophy erected which are eighteen Stones placed round in compass and pitched twelve foot each from others with another far bigger in the very center These do shew some victory there attained either by the Roman or else King Athelstan At the foot of the Rock near unto S. Michaels Mâ—â—nt in the memory of our Fathers were digged up Spear-heads Axes and Swords of Brass wrapped in linen the weapons that the Cimbrians and ancient Britains anciently used At Camelford likewise pieces of Armours both for horse and man are many times found in digging of the ground imputed to the signs of that fight wherein Mordred was slain and wherein great Arthur received his deaths wound And at Castle Dennys are the Trenches wherein the Danes lodged when they first minded to subdue the Land In the Parish S. Clare two stones are pitched one of them inscribed with a strange Character and the other called The other half stone The Hurlers also fabuled to be men metamorphosed into stones but in truth shew a note of some victory or else are so set for Land-marks Bounders There also the Wring-Cheese doth shew it self which aâ—e huge Rocks heaped one upon another and the lowest of them the least fashioned like a Cheese lâ—ing pressed under the rest of those Hills which seemâ—th very dangerous to be passed under But near to Pensans and unto Mounts bay a far more strange Rock standeth namely Main-Amber which lyeth mounted upon others of meaner size with so equal a counterpoize that a man may move it with the push of his finger but no strength remove it out of its place 10 Religious Houses built and suppressed within the limits of Cornwall the fairest and greatest for account were Launston S. Neotes S Buriens S. Michaels Mount and S. Germains a Bishops See so was Pedman also from whence King Edward the Confessor removed it unto the City of Excester 11 The division of this Shire is into nine hundreds wherein are seated twenty two Market-Towns and 161 Parish-Churches SOMERSET SHIRE Petrus Kaerius caelavit SOMMERSET-SHIRE CHAPTER XI SOMMERSET-SHIRE is both a rich and spacious Countrey having the Severâ— Sea beating upon it on the North side the South part bordering upon Devon and Dorset-shires the West confined with Devon shire and the East and North-East upon Wilt shire and Gloucester shire It took the name of Sommerron sometime the chief Town of this Shire whence in the Ancient Historian Asserius this County is called Sommertunensis that is Sommertun-shire 2 The form thereof is large bearing it self still wider as it slretcheth into the middle part thereof and contains in length from Brackley near unto Frome Selwood Eastward to Oure in the West Miles 55. In breadth from Parshut Point in the North to Chard Southward is somewhat above forty miles The whole ciacumference is about 204 miles 3 The Air is milde and pleasing and for the most part subject to such temperate dispositions as the Sommer-season affordeth whence some have erroniously conceited that the Region borrowed her name from the nature of her Clime yet how delightful soever it is in the time of Summer with change of the season it may well change her pleasing name and borrow some Winterly denomination so full of wet so miry and moorish it is in so much as the Inhabitants can hardly travel to and fro without their encumbrance 4 Howbeit they pass over this with all patience knowing their ensuing seasonable profits far to exceed any present detriments and displeasures for as it is fowl so it is fruitful which makes them comfort themselves with this Proverb that What is worst for the Rider is best for the â—bider the Soyl and Glebe thereof being very fertile and every side garnished with Pastures and delightful Meadows and beautified with Mannor houses both many and fair and in a word hath every thing in it to content the purse the heart the eye at home and sufficient ports to give entertainment to commodities from abroad 5 The ancient Inhabitants that possessed this Province were the Belgae who spread themselves far and wide as well here as in Wilt-shire and the inner parts of Hant-shire who being branched from the Germans conferred the names of those places from whence they came upon these their seats where they resided 6 The general profits of this province are Corn and Cattle wherewith it is so plentifully stored as it may challenge any neighbouring County for the quantity to make shew of Cattle so fat or Grain so rich Some places are peculiarly enriched by Lead-mines as Mindiphils perchance so called of the deep Mines by Leiland aptly termed Minerarii Mineral-hills which yield plenty of Lead the most Merchantable Commodity that is in England and vented into all parts of the world Some are beautified with Diamonds as S Vincent Rock whereof there is great plenty and so bright of colour as they might equalize Indian Diamonds if they had their hardness yet being so many and so common they are less sought after or commended 7 This Countrey is famoused by three Cities Bath Wells and Bristow The first takes name of the hot Bathes which Antonine called Aquae Solis The waters of the Sun Stephanus Badiza we at this day Bathe and the Latinists Bathonta a place of continual concourse for persons of all degrees and almost of all diseases weence it was sometimes called Akemancester who by divine providence do very often find relief there the Springs thereof by reason of their Mineral and sulphurous passage being of such exceeding power and medicinable heat as that they cure and conquer the rebellious stubbornness of corrupt humours in repect of which admirable vertues some have fabled that they were first conveyed by Magick Art To testifie the antiquity of this place many images and Roman Inscriptions are found in the walls which can now be hardly read they are so worn and eaten into by age Wells as Leiland reporteth was sometimes called Theoderodunum but from whence it had that denomination he makes no mention the name it now beareth is taken as some think from the River there which King Kinewulph in his Charter Anno 766 calleth Welâ—e or as others from the Wells or Springs which there break forth and whereupon that See under whose Iurisdiction is also the City of Bath hath been anciently called Fontanensis Eccleâ—â— the Fountain Church where the Cathedral built by King Inas to the memory of S Andrew is very beautiful and richly endowed The City is likewise well replenished both with Inhabitants and seemly buildings Whose government is managed by a Mayor yearly elected a Recorder and seven Masters having the Assistancs of sixteen Burgesses a Town-Clerk and Two Sergeants at Mace Whose Latitude is 51 20 minutes and Longitude 17 31 minutes Bristow is
princely Houses inheritable to the English Crown are â—eated in this Shire which are Enfield Hanworth White-hall S. Iames and Hampton-Court a City rather in shew than the Palace of a Prince and for stately Port and gorgeous building not inferiour to any in Europe At Thistleworth once stood the Palace of King Richard of the Romans Earl of Cornwall which the Londoners in a tumultuous broile burned to the ground many other stately Houses of our English Nobility Knights and Centlemen as also of the Worshipful Citizens of London are in this Shire so sumptuously built and pleasantly seated as the like in the like circuit are no where else to be found Near unto Thamesis entrance into this County is kept the remembrance of Caesars entrance over Thamesis by the name of Coway-stakes stuck fast in the bottom to impeach his designs and further at Stanes a Maire-stone once stood for a mark of Iurisdiction that London had so far upon Thameâ—is 7 Which City is more ancient than any true Record beareth fabuled from Brute Troynovant from Lud Ludstone But by more credible Writers Tacitus Ptolomy and Antonine Londinium by Ammianus Marcellinus for her successive prosperity Augustâ— the great title that can be given to any by Britains Londayn by Strangers Londra and by us London This City doth shew as the Cedars among other Trees being the seat of the British Kings the Chamber of the English the model of the Land and the Mart of the World for thither are brought the silk of Asia the Spices from Africa the Balms from Grecia and the riches of both the Indies East and West no City standing so long in fame nor any for divine and politick government may with her be compared Her walls were first set by great Constantine the first Christian Emperour at the suit of his Mother Queen Helen reared with rough Stone and British Brick three English miles in compass thorow which are now made seven most fair gates besides three other passages for entrance Along the Thameâ—is this wall at first ranged and with two gates openedâ— the one Doure-gate now Dowgate and the other Billingsgate a receptacle for Ships In the midst of this wall was set a mile-mark as the like was in Rome from whence were measured their stations for carriage or otherwise the same as yet standeth and hath been long known by the name of London Stone Upon the East of this City the Church of S. Peters is thought to be the Cathedral of Restitutâ—â— the Christians Bishops See who lived in the reign of great Constantine but since St. Pauls in the West part from the Temple of Diana assumed that dignity whose greatness doth exceed any other at this day and spires so high that twice it hath been consumed by lightning from heaven Besides this Cathedral God is honoured in one hundred twenty one Churches more in this City that is ninety six within the walls sixteen without but within the Liberties and nine more in her Suburbs and in Fitz Stephens time thirteen Convents of relgious Orders It is divided into 26 Wards governed by so many grave Aldermen a Lord Major and two Sheriffs the yearly choice whereof was granted them by Patent from King Iohn in whose time also a Bridge of stone was made over Thames upon nineteen Arches for length breadth beauty and building the like again not found in the World 8 This London as it were disdaining bondage hath set her self on each side far without the walls and hath leâ—t her West gate in the midst from whence with continual buildings still affecting greatness she hath continued her streets unto a Kings Palace and joyned a second City to her self famous for the Seat and Sepulchre of our Kings and for the Gates of Iustice that termly there are opened only once a Bishops See whose title died with the man No walls are set about this City and those of London are left to shew rather what it was than what it is Whose Citizens as the Lacedemonians did do impute their strength in their men and not in their walls how strong soever Or else for their multitude cannot be circulated but as another Ierusalem is inhabited without walls as Zachary said The wealth of this City as Isa once speak of Nilus grows from the Revenues and Harvest of her South bounding Thames whose trafique for merchandizing is like that of Tyrus whereof Ezekiel speaks and stands in abundance of Silver Iron Tinn and Lead c. And for London her channel is navigable straitned along with meadowing borders until she taketh her full liberty in the German Seas Upon this Thamesis the Ships of Tharsis seem to ride and the Navy that rightly is termed the Lady of the Sea spreads her sail Whence twice with lucky success hath been accomplished the compassing of the universal Globe This River Câ—nutus laying siege against London sought by digging to divert and before him the Danes had done great harmes in the City yet was their State recovered by King Elfred and the River kept her old course notwithstanding that cost In the times of the Normans some civil broyles have been attempted in this City as in the days of King Iohn whereinto his Barons entred and the Tower yielded unto Lewis And again Waâ— Tyleâ— herein committed outragioâ—s cruelties but was worthily struck down by the Major and stain in Smithfield This Cities graduation for Latitude is the degree 51 45 minutes and in Longitude 20 degrees 29 minutes 9 In this County at Barnet upon Easter-day a bloudy battel was fought betwixt Henry the sixt and Edward the fourth wherein was slain one Marquess one Earl three Lords and with them ten thousand Englishmen 10 The division of this Shire is into seven hundreds wherein are seated two Cities four Market-Towns and seventy three Parish Churches besides them in London where in the Church of Gray-â—ryâ—rs now called Christ-Chuâ—ch three Queens lye interred which were Queen Margaret the D. of Phil. the hardy King of France second wife to King Edward the first the second was Queen Isabel wife to King Edward the second and D. to Philip the fair King of France and the third was Queen Ioan their daughter married to David King of Scotland ESSEX COUNTY ESSEX CHAPTER XV. ESSEX by the Normans Excessa and by the vulgar Essex is a County large in compass very populous and nothing inferiour to the best of the Land 2 The Form thereof is somewhat circular excepting the East part which shooteth her self with many Promontories into the Sea and from Horsey Island to Haidon in the West the broadest part of the Shire are they by measure forty miles and the length from East Ham upon Thamesis in the South to Sturmere upon the River Stow in the North are thirty five miles the whole in circumference one hundred forty six miles 3 It lyeth bounded upon the North with Suffolk and Cambridge-Shires upon the West with Hertford and Middlesex upon the South by Thamesis is parted from
which last was built with great cost by Richaâ—d Earl of Cornwall King of the Romans wherein himself and his Dutchesse was interred Their Son Earl Edmund brought out of Germany the bloud of Hales supposed and said to be part of that whicâ— Christ shed upon his Cross. In this place with great confluence and devotions of Pilgrimage it was sought and worshiped till time proved it a meer counterfeit when the glorious light of the Gospel revealed to eye-sight such gross Idolatries and the skirts of Superstition were were turned up to the shew of her ownâ—shame 12 Dukes and Earls that have born the title of Glocester the first of every Family are by their Arms and Names expressed ever fatal to their Dukes though the greatest in bloud and birth The first was Thomas VVoodstock son to King Edward the third who in Callis was â—mothered in a Feather-bed to death The second was Humfrey brother to King Henry the fifth by the fraudulent practice of the malignant Cardinal and Queen made away at S. Edmundsbury And the last was Richard brother to King Edward the fourth who by the just hand of God was cut off in battle by King Henry the Second 13 This Shires division is principally into four parts subdivided into thirty Hundreds and thâ—m again into two hundred and eight Parish-Churcâ—es Hereford SHIRE HEREFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIV HEREFORD-SHIRE formerly accounted within the limits of Wales lyeth circulated upon the North with Worcester and Shrop-shires upon the East with Malvern Hills is parted from Glocester-shire upon the South is kept in with Monmouth-shire and upon the West in part with the Haiterall Hills is divided from Brecknock and the rest confined with Radnor-shire 2 This Counties climate is most healthful and temperate and Soyl so fertile for Corn and Cattle that no place in England yieldeth more or better conditioned sweet Rivers ruâ—ning as veins in the body do make the Corn-bearing grounds in some of her parts rightly to be termed the Golden Vale and for Waters Wool and Wheat doth contend with Nilus Colchos and Egypt such are Leâ—ster Irchenfield the banks of Wye Luge and Frome 3 The ancient people known to the Romans whose power they well felt before they could subdue them were the Silures placed by Ptolomy in this Tract and branched further into Radnor Breckâ—ock Monmouth and Glamorgan shires at this day by us called Southâ—wales and by the Welsh Deheubarth Their Original as Tacitus conjectureth by their site coloured countenances and curled hair was out of Spain and both as he and Pliny describes them were fierce valiant and impatient of servitude which well they shewed under Caratacus their Captain and nine years scourge to the Roman assaulters for whose only conquest and that made by treachery the Victor in Rome triumphed with more than a usual Aspect and with so equal an hand bare the Scoale of Resistance that their own Writers evermore term it a dangeâ—ous War For the Legion of Marius Valence they put to â—light and that with such havock of the Associates that Asterius the Lievtenant of Britain for very grief gave up the ghost and Veranius under Nero assaulted them in vain But when Vâ—spasian was Emperour and expert Souldiers imployed in every Province Iulius Frontinus subdued these Silures unto the Romans where continually some of their Legions afterward kept till all was abandoned in Valentinians â—ime 4 The Saxons then made themselves Lords of this Land and this Province a part of their Mercians Kingdom yea and Sutton the Court of great Offa their King 5 But Hereford after raised of the ruines of the old Ariconium now Kencâ—ester shaken in pieces by a violent earthquake grew to great fame thorow a conceived sanctity by the burial of Etâ—elbert King of the East-Angles slain at Sutton by Offa at what time he came thither to have espoused his Daughter whose grave was first made at Merden but afterwards câ—nonized and removed to this City when in honour of him was built the Cathedral Church by Milfrid a petty King of that County which Gruffith Prince of South-Wales and Algar an Englishâ—â—an rebelling against Edward Confessor consumed with fire but by Bishop Remelâ—n was restored as now it is at what time the Town was walled and iâ— so remaining in good repair having six gates for entrance and fifteen Watch-Towers for defence extending in compass to fifteen hundred paces and whence the North Pole is observed to be raised 52 degrees 27 minutes in Latitude and is set from the first point of the West in Longitude 17 degrees and 30 minutes being yearly governed by a Mayor chosen out of one and thirty Citizens which are commonly called the Election and he ever after is known for an Alderman and clothed in Scarlet whereof four of the eldest are Iustices of Peace graced with a Sword-bearer a Recorder a Town-Clerk and four Sergeants with Mace The greatest glory that this City received was in King Athelstans days where as Malmesbury doth report he caused the Lords of â—ales by way of Tribute to pay yearly besides Hawkes and Hounds twenty pound of Gold and three hundred pound of Silver by weight but how that was performed and continued I find not 6 Things of rare note in this Shire are said to be Bone-well a Spring not faâ— from Richards Castle wherein are continually found little Fishes bones but not a â—in seen and being wholly cleansed thereof will notwithstanding have again the like whether naturally produced or in veins thither brought no man knoweth 7 But more admirable was the work of the Omnipotent even in our own remembrances and year of Christ â—esus 1571 when the Marcley Hill in the East of this Shire rouzed it self out of a dead sleep with a roaring noise removed from the place where it stood and for three days together travelled from her first â—ite to the great amazement and fear of the beholders It began to journey upon the seventh day of February being sunday at six of the Clock at night and by seven in the next morning had gone forty paces carrying with it Sheep in their coats hedge-rows and trees whereof some were overturned and some that stood upon the plain are firmly growing upon the hill those that were East were turned West and those in the West were set in the East in which remove it overthrew â—â—â—â—aston-Chappel and turned two high-ways near an hundred yards from their usual paths formerly trod The ground thus travelling was about twenty six Acres which opening it self with Rocks and all bare the earth before it for four hundred yards space without any stay leaving that which was Pasturage in place of the Tillage and the Tillage overspread with Paâ—turage Lastly overwhelming her lower parts mounted to an hill of twelve fathoms high and there rested her self after three days travel remaining his mark that so laid hand upon this Rock whose power â—ath poysed the Hills in his Ballance 8 Religious Houses built by the devotions of Princes and
many Horse-shooes nailed upon the Shire-Hall door some of large size and ancient fashion others new and of our present Nobility whose names are thereupon stamped as followeth Henry Hastings Roger Rutland Edward L. Russel Earl of Bedford Ralph L. Euwer of Parram Henry L. Bertley Henry L. Mordant William L. Compton Edward L. Dudley Henry L. Winsor George Earl of Cumberland Philip Earl of Montgomery L Willoughby P. L Whartâ—n The Lord Shandois Besides many others without names That such homage was his due the said Lord himself told me and at that iâ—stâ—nt a suit depended in Law against the Earl of Lincoln who refused to forfeit the penalâ—y or to pay his fine 6 Her ancient Inhabitant known to the Romans mentioned in Prolomy were the Coritani and by him branched thorow Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Darby-shire and this who with the Icenians were subdued by P. Ostorius under the yoke of Claudius the Roman Emperour and at their departure by conquest of the Saxons made it a Province unto their Mercian Kingdom whose fortunes likewise coming to a full period the Normans annexed it under their Crown 7 This County King Edward Confessor bequeathed by his Testament unto Queen Eadgith his wife and after her decease unto his Monastery at Westminster which William the Conquerour cancelled and made void bestowing the Lands upon others the Tithes and the Church unto those Monks That the Ferrars here first seated besides the credit of Writers the Horse-shooe whose badge then it was doth witness where in the Castle and now the Shire-Hall right over the â—eat of the Iudge a Horse-shooe of Iron curiously wrought containing five foot and a half in length and the breadth thereto proportionably is fixed The Castle hath been strong but now is decayed the Church fair end the Town spacious whose degree of Longitude is 19 46 scruples and the North-poles elevation in Latitude 53 degrees and 7 minutes 8 Let it not seem offensive that I to fill up this little Shire have inserted the seat of a Town not sited in this County for besides the conveniency of place the circuit and beauty but especially it being for a time an University did move much yea and the first in this Island if Iohn Hardings Author fail him not that will have Bladud to bring from Athens certain Philosophers whom here he seated and made publick profession of the Liberal Sciences where as he saith a great number of Scolars Studied the Arts and so continuing an University unto the coming of Augustine at which time the Bishop of Rome interdicted it for certain Heresies sprung up among the Britains and Saxons But most true it is that the Reign of King Edward the third upon debate falling betwixt the Southern and Northern Students at Oxford many School-men withdrew themselves hither and a while professed and named a Colledge according to one in Oxford Brazen-nose which retaineth that name unto this day This was so great a skar unto the other that when they were recalled by Proclamation to Oxford it was provided by Oath that no Student in Oxford should publickly profess or read in the Arts at Stanford to the prejudice of Oxford 9 As this Shire is the least in circuit so is it with the fewest Market-Towns replenished having onely two And from societies that feed upon the labours of others was this Land the freest for besides Rishal where Tibba the Falconers Goddess was worshiped for a Saint when Superstition had well neer put Gods true hononr out of place I find very few neither with more Castles strengthened than that at Okam whose ruines shew that a Castle hath been there Divided it is into five Hundreds and therein are planted forty eight Parish-Churches LEICESTER SHIRE LEICESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXX LEICESTERSHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with Nottingham-shire upon the East with Lincoln and Rutland upon the South with Northampton-shire upon the West with Watling-street-way is parted from Warwick-shire the rest being bounded with the confines of Darby is a County Champion abounding in Corn but sparing of woods especially in the South and East parts which are supplyed with Pit-coals plenteously gotten in the North of this Province and with abundance of Cattle bred in the hills beyond the River Wrâ—ak which is nothing so well inhabited as the rest 2 The Air is gentle milde and temperate and giveth appetite both to labour and rest wholesome it is and draweth mans life to a long age and that much without sickness at Carleton onely some defect of pronunciation appeareth in their speech 3 The Soil thus consisting the Commodities are raised accordingly of Corn Cattle and Coals and in the Rocks near Bever are sometimes found the Astroites the Star-like precious Stone 4 The ancient people that inhabited this County were the Coritani who were spread further into other Shires but after that the Romans had left the Land to it self this with many more fell to be under the possession and government of the Mercians and their Kings from whom the English enjoyed it at this day 5 In Circular-wise almost the compass of this Shire is drawn indifferently spacious but not very thick of Inclosures being from East to West in the broadest part not fully 30 miles and from North to South but 24 the whole circumference about 196 miles whose principal City is set as the Center almost in the midst from whom the Pole is elevated 53 degrees and 4 minutes in Laritude and for Longitude 19 degrees 22 minutes 6 From this Town the Shire hath the name though the name of her self is diversly written as Legecestria Legara Legâ—o-cester by Ninius Caer-Lerion by Matthew of Westminster if we do not mistake him â—irall and now lastly Leicester ancient enough if King Leir was her builder eight hundred and forty and four years before the birth of our Saviour wherein he placed a Flamine to serve in the Temple of Ianus by himself there erected and where he was buried if Ieffery ap Arthur say true but now certain it is that Ethelred the Mercian Monarch made it an Episcopal See in the year of Christ Iesus 680 wherein Sexwulâ—â— of his elâ—ction became the first Bishop which shortly after was thence translated and therewith the beauty of the Town began to decay upon whole desolations that erectifying Lady Edelfled cast her eyes of compassion and both re-edified the buildings and compassed it about with a strong wall where in short time the Cities Trade so increased that Matthew Paris in his lesser Storâ— reporteth as followeth Lege-cester saith he is a right wealthy City and notably defeâ—ded and had the wall a sure foundation were inferiour to no City whatsoever But this pride of prosperity long lasted not under the Normans for it was sore oppressed with a world of Calamities when Robert Bossu the Crouch-back Earl of that Province rebelled against his Soveâ—aign Lord King Henry the second whereof hear the same Author Paris speak Through the obstinaâ—e stubbornness of Earl Robert saith he
Tillage This in general 10 Time hath not given way to many divisions of this America I find one only in the best Authors and that it seems nature marked out to their hands For she hath severed the Continent into two Peninsulae The one lieth North-ward from the Aequinoctial and is called Mexicana The other for the most part South-ward toward the Magellanick Straits and is called Peruviana Each of them are subdivided into their Provinces 11 Mexicana is the first and her bounds on the East and West are the Atlantick Ocean and Mare del Zur By the first it is severed from Europe and by the last from the Regions of China and Tartaria in Asia and is distant not above 250 miles if we measure the passage at the shortest cut On the South it hath the Peninsula Peruviana and North-ward we are not sure whether Sea or Land It comprehends in compass 13000 miles The quality of the Inhabitants and the riches of her soyl shall appear in her several Provinces which are numbred thus 1 Nova Hispania or Mexicana propria 2 Quivira 3 Nicarugua 4 Iacutan 5 Florida 6 Virginia 7 Norumbega 8 Nova Francia 9 Terra laboratoris or Corterilalis 10 Estotâ—landia 12 Nova Hispania or Mexicana propria is the largest Province of this North part of America and gave the name Mexiacana to the whole Peninsula which her self received from her chief City Mexico Her bounds South-ward is the Isthmus that joyns the Continents North-ward the same with the Peninsulaes on the West Califormia or Mar Viriniglio and on the East Incutan It was first possest by the Spaniard 1518. But it cost them much bloud to intitle their Kings Hispaniarum Reges It is an excellent Country full of all variety almost in every kind usual with us and exceeds in rarities full of wonder There is one tree which they dress like our Vine and order it so that it yields them almost all useful necessâ—ries The leaves serve them instead of Paper and of the Vine â—ark they make Flax Mantles Mats Shoes Girdles and Cordage She hath in her four principal Regions of note 1 Nova Galicia found out by Nunnus Gusmannus 1530. Her Cities are Compostella now a Bishops See Sancte Espritte and Guadalaiara The inhabitants lived at large heretofore without any government But since the Spaniard came they have endured incredible servitude and cruelty 2 Mechnacan a fertile Region the Inhabitants comely and witty Her chief Cities Sinsonse the place of their native Kings Pascuar and Valudolit the Bishops See 3 Mexico or Tomistian which contains in it the City of Mexico in compass six miles the seat of an Arch-Duke and the Spanish Viceroy and in it is an University a printing-Printing-house and a Mint for coynage Other Cities there are Tescuvo and Angelorum Civitby 4 Ganstecan lying open on the East near Mare del Nort. It is but barren and the people poor but cunning The Spaniards have here two Colonies Panuce and S. Iames in the vallies 13 Quivira bordereth upon the West of the Continent towards Tartary It is temperate and fertile But the chief riches is the Kine which feed them with their flesh and cloath them with their Hides Her Provinces are Cibola and Nova Albion The last was discovered by our noble Sir Francis Drake and voluntarily yieded to the protection of our admired Queen of England Elizabeth 14 Nicarugua on the South-east of Nova Hispania had a kind of setled Common wealth before they knew Christianity and is reported to have a tree that withereth at a mans touch The chief Cities are now Granado and Leo a Bishops See 15 Incutan is situated over against the Isle Cuba upon the East of the Peninsula The people adored the Cross before they heard of Christ. The Country is indifferent fertile though that indeed as in all other places of this new World have proved worse for the Inhabitants for it hath drawn upon them their forraign Invadour 16 Florida lyeth near the Gulf of Mexico and bordereth upon the Mare del Nort. A pleasant Region it is and was discovered by our English under Sebastian Cuhbot 1497. out left for the Spaniard to posses which for a while he did and after him the French but neither in quiet For they warred upon each other till they left neither of them men enough to hold it The French built the City called Ara Corobina The Spanish Est Hevens and S. Matthews and planted there three Forts Saint Iames Saint Philip Saint Augustine which was burnt by Sir Francis Drake 1586. but recovered again 17 Virginia carries in her name the happy memory of our Elizabeth On the East it hath Mare del Nort on the North Norumbega Florida on the South and Westward the bounds are not set It was first entred by Sir Walter Raleigh 1584. and some at that time left there to discover the Country till more were sent but they perished before the second supply Since there have been many Colonies planted out of England which have there manured the ground and returened good Commodities to the Adventurers For indeed it is a rich Country in Fruits Trees Beasts Fish Fowle Mines of Iron and Copper Viens of Pitch Allum and Tar Râ—zin Gums Dies Timber c. The Plantation went on with good success till the year 1622. And then by the treachery of the Inhabitants there were murdered near upon three hundred of our men The Natives are very vile people horrible Idolaters adore the creature which they most fear and hate them which keep them not in awe they were kindly entreated by our English and invited by all friendly means to Christianity The North parts are most inhabited by our men and is therefore called New Eâ—gland It hath but one entrance by Sea at a fair Bay Her Capes are called Cape Henry and Cope Charls The chief Towns are Ianus Town Regnoughton and Balesguift 18 Norumbega on the North of Virgiâ—ia lyeth toward the Mare del Nort and is a very fertile Region It is inhabited by the Spanish and French The Seas are shallow and endanger many ships So full of Fish that the Boats cannot have free passage saith Maginus 19 Nova Francia is further North-ward from Norumbega a barren Country and the people barbarous some Anthropophagi A few French there are besides the Natives 20 Terra Laboratoris or Conterialis still more North-ward upon the Sea-coast and is divided from Norumbega by the River Lanada It reacheth into the Sea in form of a Pâ—niusula The men are barbarous live in Caves run swiftly and are good Archers The chief places are Bresto Cabo Marzo and South Maria. 21 Estotiland the last Province of the Northern Peninsula still creeps by the edge of the Atlantick and on the North hath the Straits called Fretum Daveissii an English man who this way attempted the North-west unto Cathai and China And in regard it was adventured in the name of our Queen the Promontory is called Elizabeths Fore-land and the Sea running by
this name whether from Vignina an ancient King thereof or from our Virgin Queen Elizabeth the other parts being since distinguished by the names of New-England New-York and Mary-Land After the more perfect discovery of these parts which is said to have been first encouraged and promoted by Sir Walter Raleigh by several worthy Adventurers as first Captain Philip Amidas and Captain Arthur Barlow Anno 1584. Sir Richard Greenvil 1585. Mr. Iohn White 1587 and 1589. Captain Gosnol 1602 Captain Martin Pring 1603 set out by the City of Bristol Captain George Weymouth 1605 set out by the Lord Arundel of Warder at last iâ— the year 1606 some footing being got for all the forementioned voyages had prov'd succesless those that went over with Captain Newport carrying with them a commission from King Iames for the establishing a Counsel to direct those new discoveries landed on the 19th of December at a place afterwards called Cape Henry at the mouth of Chesapeac-Bay and immediately opened their Orders by which eight of the Counsel were declared with power to choose a President to govern for a year together with the Counsel The next year Letters Patents bearing date April the 10th were granted by the King to Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers and the rest of the Undertakers who were divers Knights Gentlemen and Merchants of London Bristol Exeter Plymouth anâ— other parts to make a double Colony for the more speedy Planting of the place the first Colony to be undertaken by those of London the other by those of Bristol Exeter Plymouth c. However it was not till in some years after that this Plantation came to be considerably peopled and that principally by the great care industry and activity in this affair of the Valiant Capt. Iohn Smith who in the year 1615 in the 12th of King Iames his Reign procured by his interest at Court his Majesties recommendatory Letters for the encouragement of a standing Lottery for the benefit of the Plantation which accordingly succeeded and in two or three years time turn'd to no bad account And perhaps the cancelling and making void of the Patent granted to the Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia and all other Patents by which the said Corporation or Company of Adventurers of Virginia held any interest there which was done in Trinity Term 1623 by reason of several misdemeanors and miscarriages objected against the said Corporation was an inlet of a far greater conflux into these parts than otherwise would have been by reason that this Corporation been dissolved and the Plantation governed be persons immediately appointed by commission from the King a greater freedom of Trade was opened to all his Majesties Subjects that would adventure into those parts The greatest disturbance the English received from the Natives was in the year 1622 when by a general insurrection of the Barbarians 300 of our men were massacred In the year 1631 being the 7th of the Reign of King Charles the First the most Nothernly part of this Countrey was parcell'd out into a particular Province and by Patent granted to the Lord Baltâ—more by the name of Maryland And in like manner in the 15th year of his present Majesty being the year of our Lord 1663 that part of Florida which lies South of Virginia to Edw. Earl of Clarendon then Lord High Chancellor of England George Duke of Albermarl William Earl of Craven Iohn Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashly now Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret Sir William Berkley and Sir Iohn Colleton by the name of Carolina as is specified more at large in the particular discourses of these two Countreys So that Virginia as it now stands with these two Provinces lopt from it for in Carolina also is included some part of the Land which belonged formerly to the dissolved Company of Virgina extends it self only between 36 and 37 degrees and 50 minutes of Northern latitude being bounded to the East by the Ocean to the North by Mary-land to the West by the South-Seas and to the South by Carolina The Air of Virginia is accounted of a temperature very wholsome and agreeable to English constitutions especially since by the cutâ—ng down of the Woods and the regulation of diet the seasonings have been abated only within the present limits of Virginia it is somewhat hotter in Summer than that part called Mary-Land and the seasoning was formerly more violent and dangerous here to the English at their first landing The Soil which is generally plain but sometimes diversified with variety of hill and dale is capable being very fertile of producing all things that naturally grow in these parts besides which there are of the proper growth of this Countrey a sort of Plant called Silk-grass of which is made a very fine Stuff of a silky gloss and cordage more strong and lasting than any of hemp or flax For fruits the Mettaquâ—sunanks something resembling the Indian Fig the Chechinquamins which come nearest to the Chesnut the Putchcamines a fruit somewhat like a Damsin Messamines a sort of Grape in shew Rawcomens the resemblance of a Gooseberry Morocoks not much unlike a Strawberry Macoquer a kind of Apple Ocoughtanamnis a berry much like Câ—pers For Roots Musquaspen with the juice whereof being a rich sort of paint they colour their Mars and Targets Wichsacan yielding a most excellent healing jâ—ice for wounds Pocones an emulgent of much efficacy for swellings and aches Tockawaugh frequently â—aten there is also a Plant called Matonna of which they make bread and Assament a sort of Pulse a great delicacy among the natives The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are the Opassum a certain beast which carrieth and suckleth her young in a bag which she hath under her belly the Assapanic or flying Squirrel the Mussascus a musk-sented beast having the shape of a Water-rat the Aroughena a sort of Badger the Utchuâ—quâ—is somewhat like a wild Cat also a sort of beast called Roscones Of Fish the most peculiar is the Sâ—ringraise which is also common to this Countrey with New-England So many several Towns as were anciently among the natives so many distinct Nations there were all Monarchical except that of the Sesquahanocks all something differing in disposition customs and religious Ceremonies and most of all in language but all of them in general valiant well-set of a tawny complexion with black flaggy and long hair crafty and treacherous sufficiently laborious in the art of War which they used frequently to exercise among each other and wonderful lovers of hunting in other things most scandalously lazy and indulgent to their ease mean in their apparel homely in their diet and sluttish in their houses All Ships that come to Virginia and Mary-Land enter through the Bay of Chesapeac at whose opening to the South Virginia begins between those famous Capes Cape Henry and Cape Charles Into this Bay which runs up 75 Leagues Northward into the Coâ—ntrey and is in some places seven leagues broad there fall
several noted Rivers the chief whereof are Iames River formerly called Powhatan the denomination of a very potent King of this Countrey at the time of the English first adventuring thither this River is found navigable 50 leagues or thereabout 2. York River otherwise Pamaunke in the language of the natives which lies about 14 miles Northward from the other and is navigable 26 Leagues 3. Rapaâ—anock or Topahanock the last River of Virginia Northward and navigable 40 leagues 4. Patowmec River mentioned in the Description of Mary-Land to which part of the Countrey this River also belongs Besides these greater Rivers there are some others of lesser note which fall into them as into Poâ—hatan or Iames River Southward Apameâ—uck Eastward Quiyonycohanuc Nansamund and Chesopeac Northward Chickamahania into Pamaunkee Payankatank The English Plantation here is divided into 22 Counties on the Eastern shore Northampton County in Acomac on the Western shore Carotuc Iames Henrico Charles York Glocester Surry Hartford Warwick Lancaster New Kent Surrey Middlesex Nansemund Lower Norfolk Northumberland Westmorland Northampton Warwick Isle of Wight and Rappahanoc in each of which are monthly held those inferior County Courts where matters not of highest concernment or relating to life are tried and from whence appeals are made to the Quarter Court at Iames-Town where all criminal and Civil Causes are determined and where the Governor and Counsel sit as Iudges The Metropolis or chief Seat of the English here is Iames-Town or rather Iames-City so denominated in honour of King Iames where the Quarter Courts General Assemblies and Secretaries Office are kept This Town adorned with many fair brick-Brick-houses and other handsome Edifices is situated in a Peninsula on the North-side of Iames River The other Towns and Places of chief note are Elizabeth City seated nearer the mouth of the same River on the same side near which at a place nam'd Green-spring Sir William Berkley the present Governor hath a very pleasant mansion-Mansion-house built of brick Henricopolis or Henry's Town so denominated from Prince Henry living when it was first built seated in a commodious place about 80 miles from Iames City Dale's gift so named from Sir Thomas Dale Deputy Governor of the Place in the year 1610 at whose charge it was built and a Colony here planted besides others of less note some whereof still retain the Indian names as Wicocomoco c. which doubtless are by this time increased to a very considerable number in regard of the amplitude and grandeur to which by the continual access of people this Plantation is of late arrived VIRGINIA and MARYLAND The Description of Mary-Land IT was in the year 1631 that his late Majesty gave a grant to George Lord Baltimore for the possessing and planting the Southern part of New-Netherland now New-Yorkshire lying toward Virginia when upon his Embassy to the States of Holland they declared by publick writing their dissent to what-ever had been acted by any of their subjects in prejudice of his Majesties Right and Title in those parts as hath been already mentioned Crescentia was the name first in designation for this Countrey but it being left to his Majesty at the time of his signing of the Bill to give it what denomination he judged fittest he was pleased in honour of his Royal Consort Queen Mary to erect it into a Province by the name of Mary-Land which Patent upon the death of his Lordship before the final ratification thereof was not long after confirmed under the Broad-Seal of England bearing date Iune 20 Ann. 1632 to his Son and Heir Coecilius the now Lord Baltimore investing him his heirs and successors with the Sovereignty attended with all Royal Prerogatives both Military and Civil as absolute Lords and Proprietors of the said Province saving only the Allegiance and Sovereign homage due to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors of whom they were to hold it as of his Majesties honour of Windsor for the yearly payment at the Castle of the said honour of Windsor on every Easter Tuesday of two Indian Arrows of those parts and the fifth part of all the Gold and Silver Oar which should happen to be found there The next year after this Patent had past viz. in the year 1633 a Colony of about 200 in all Servants and Planters whereof some persons of quality was sent over by the Lord Proprietor under the Conduct of his Lordships two Brothers Mr. Leonard and Mr. George Calvert the first of whom was made Governor of the Province for his Lordship and from thence forward this Plantation hath prospered and by the several supplies since sent very much increased to which good success the good Government of the said Mr. Leonard and his strict observance of his Lordship's prudent instructions very much conduced The first place they pitch'd upon to plant themselves in was Yaocomaco now St. Maries which the Governor purchased of the Natives for never hath any forcible or violent invasion of any mans right been made here by any of his Lordships Ministers with such commodities as they brought from England though at so much the more easie rate in regard of their pre-intentions to leave this place as thinking it their safest course to remove farther off from their too potent and valiant Neighbours the Sesquehanocks After the happy restauration of his present Mâ—jesty viz. in the year 1661 the Lord Proprietors only Soâ— Mr. Charles Calvert went over into these parts his Fathers Lieutenant in which charge he hath continued ever since in great tranquility and prosperity and with general contentment and satisfaction by his obliging carriage to all that live under his Government or have any interests or concerns in the Province This Province according as it is bounded and set out by the forementioned Patent extends one way from the most Northernly part which bounds it to the South and from which it is parted by the Southernly bank of the River Patowmeck to New-York or the most Southernly part of New-England which bounds it Northward and from the Atlantick Ocean and Delaware-Bay Eastward to the true Meridian of the first Fountain of the River Patowmeck Westward The Climate here in Summer time inclines to an extraordinary heat and in Winter is very cold but both the heat of the Summer is very much allayed by cool Breeses and the cold of the Winter is of short continuance so that the Country is accounted sufficiently healthful and of late agrees well enough with English bodies since the abatement and almost extinction through the regulation of diet felling of the woods c. of that distemper called the Seasoning which used to be very fatal to the English at their first landing This Countrey is for the most part champain the Soil fruitful and abounding with many sorts of fruits and other commodities which are common in our parts of the World and for those that are peculiar it cannot be imagined that in so small a distance and even in the same Country as
Archiepiscopal Seats grounding his conjecture on the saying of Pope Lucius who affirmeth that the Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Roman Magistrates and that their Archbâ—shops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents abode so that the ancient Seats of the three Archbâ—shops here being London in the East Câ—erleon in the West and York in the North Londons Diocess as seemeth made Britain prima Caerleon Britain secunda and York Maxima Caesariâ—nsis 15 But in the next age when the power of their Presidents began to grow over great they again divided Britain into five parts adding to the three former Valentia and â—lavia Caesariensis the first of which two seemeth to have been the Northerly part of Maxima Caesariensis recovered from the Picts and Scots by Theodoâ—lus the General under Valence the Emperour and in honour of him named Valeâ—tia and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour son of Theâ—dâ—sius for that we read not of the name Britain â—lavia before his time 16 So these five partitions had their limits assigned after this manner Britaine prima contained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis the Severne and the British Sea Britaine Secunda extended from Severne unto the Irish Seas containing the Countrey that we now call Wales Flavia Caesariensis was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne and Valentia from the said River and Picts wall reached unto the Rampire near Edenburgh in Scotland the farthest part that the Romans possessed when this division was in use For the several people inhabiting all those parts with their ancient Names and Borders whether designed by the Romans or the old Britains together with our modern Names and Shires answerable to each of them we will refer you to the Tables thereof elsewhere 17 This whole Province of Britain as in our History shall appear was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselves assuming as a glorious surname Britannicus coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce known Seas here marrying living and dying enacting here Laws for the whole Empire and giving to those Captains that served here many ensigns of great honour yea Claudius gave Plantius the first Prefect of that Province the right hand as he accompanied him in his Triumph and his own Triumph of Britain was set out with such magnificence that the Provinces brought in golden Crowes of great weight the Governours commanded to attend and the very Captains permitted to be present at the same A Naval Coronet was fixed upon a Pinnacle of his Palace Arches and Trophies were raised in Rome and himself on his aged knees mounted the staires into the Capitol supported by his two sons in Law so great a joy conceived he in himself for the Conquest of some small portion of Britain 18 Now the Romans found it held it and left it as times ripened and rottened their success with the Names the Inhabitants Manners and Resisters I leave to be pursued in the following Histories and will only now shew thee these three Kingdoms that are in present the chief Bodies of Great Britains Monarchy two of which Scotland and Ireland shall in their due places have their farther and more particular Descriptions THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND ENGLANDS General Description CHAPTER II. THE Saxons glory now near to expire by his appointment who holdeth both times and Kingdoms in his all-ordering hand their own Swords being the Instruments and the Danâ—s the mauls that beat their beautiful Diadem into pieces the Normans a stirring Nation neither expected nor much feared under the leading of William their Duke and encouragement of the Roman Bishop an usual promoter of broken titles made hither suddenly into England who in one only battel with the title of his sword and slaughter of Harold set the imperial Crown thereof upon his own head which no sooner was done but the English went down and the Normans lording it became Owners of those Cities which themselves never built possessed those Vineyards which they never planted drunk of those Wells which they never had digged and inhabited those Houses filled with riches for which they never had laboured for they found it to be as the land whereupon the Lord set his eye even from the beginning to the end of the year not only drinking water of the rain of Heaven but having also rivers of waters and fountains in her valleys and without all scarcitie whose stones are Iron and out of whose mountains is digged brass This made them more resolute at first to settle themselves in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Island the conquerour using all policy both Martial and Civil to plant his posterity here for ever How he found the Land governed we shewed in the Heptarchy but his restless thoughts were not contented with conquering the Nation and their Land unless he also overcame their very Customes Laws and Language 2 Touching the distribution of the Kingdome whereas other Kings before him made use of it chiefly for the good of the people and better ministring of Iustice he made use of it to know the wealth of his Subjects and to enrich his Coffers for he caused a description to be made of all England â—ow much land every one of his Barons possessed how many Knights fees how many Plow-lands how many in villanage how many heads of beasts yea how much ready money every man from the greatest to the â—ast did possess and what rents might be made of every mans possession the Book of which inquisition yet in the Exchequer was called Doomesday for the generality of that Iudgment on all the Land Whereunto we may add his other distribution of this Land worse than any former when thrusting the English out of their possessions â—e distributed their inheritances to his Souldiers yet so that all should be held of the King as of the only true Lord and possessor 3 For the Laws by which he meant to govern he held one excellent rule and purpose which was that a people ought â—to be ruled by Laws written and certain for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new Iudgments and therefore he caused twelve to be chosen out of every County which should on their oath without inclining one way or other neither adding nor deâ—racting open unto him all their ancient Laws and Customes By whose relation understanding that three sorts of Laws formerly were in the Land Merchelenage West-Saxonlage Dane-lage he had preferred these last himâ—elf and people being anciently derived from those Northern people had not all the Barons bewayling to the King how grievous it was for a Land to be judged by those Laws which they understood not altered his resolute purpose yet in bringing in the strange â—orms of Norman Processe and pleading in the French tongue which continued till Edward the thirds time that grievance was buâ— slendâ—rly prevented So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice where these Laws shouâ—d
upon that narrow space of ground betwixt Edenborough Frith and Dunbetton Bay maketh the Southern part a province unto the Roman Empire Afterwards Hadrian the Emperour seeing perhaps the Province too spacious to be well governed without great expence drew back these limits almost sourscore miles shorter even to the mouth of the River Tyne which he fortified with a wall of admirable work unto Carlâ—le where stood the Lands border while it was a Roman Province yet the conquering Saxons did spread again over those bounds and as seemeth enlarged their government to that first Tract as by this inscription in a Stone Cross standing upon a Bridge over the water of Frith appeareth I am a free Mark as Passengers may ken To Scots to Britains and to English men 10 But afterward William the Conquerour and Malcolm King of Scotland falling to an agreement for their limits arreared a Cross upon Stanemore where on the one side the portraiture and Armes of the King of England was sculptured and of the King of Scots on the other a piece whereof is yet remaining there near to the Spittle thence called the Rey-Cross there erected to be a Meare-stone to either Kingdome His successors also abolished the two partitions in the West whereby the Welsh became one Nation and Kingdome with the English It is also said that King Stephen to purchase friendship with the Scottish Nation gave unto their King the County of Cumberland who with it held both Westmorland and Northumberland but as Newbrigensis writeth he restored them to King Henry the second wisely considering his great power and right to those parts 11 The last known borders were from the Sulway in the West bay along the Cheviot hills unto the water of Tweed by Barwick in the East to maintain which on each part many Laws have been made and many inrodes robberies and fewdes practised all which by the hand of God is cut off and by the rightfull succession of King Iames our Soveraigne who hath broken down the partition of this great Island and made the extreames of two Kingdomes the very midst of his great united Empire KENT KENT CHAPTER III. KENT the first province appearing in the South of this Kingdom is bounded upon the North with the famous River Thamisis on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Sussex and the narrow Seas and upon the West with Sussex and Surrey The length thereof extending from Langley in the West unto Ramsgate Eastward in the Isle of Thanet is about 53 English miles From Rother in the South unto the Isle of Graine Northward the breadth is not much above 26 and the whole circumference about 160 miles 2 In form it somewhat resembleth the head of a Hammer or Battle-axe and lieth corner-wise into the Sea by Strabo Caesar Diodorus and Pâ—olomy called Cantium of Cant or Canton an Angle or Corner or of Caine a British word which signifieth Bushes or VVoods whereof that County in those former times was plentifully stored 3 The Air though not very clear because of the vapours arising from the Sea and Rivers that environ the same is both wholesome and temperate as seated nearest to the Equinoctial and the furthest from the North Pole not touched with cold as the other parts of the Land are 4 The soil towards the East is uneven rising into little hills the West more level and Woody in all places fruitful and in plenty equals any other of the Realm yea and in some things hath the best esteem as in broad cloths Fruits and feeding for Cattel Onely Mines except Iron are wanting all things else delivered with a prodigal heart and liberal hand 5 Sundry navigable Rivers are in Kent whereof Medway that divideth the shire in the midst is chief in whose bosome securely rideth his Majesties Navy Royal the walls of the Land and terrours of the Sea besides ten other of name and account that open with twenty Creeks and Havens for Ships arrivage into this Land four of them bearing the name of Cinque Ports are places oâ— great strength and priviledges which are Dover Sandwich Rumney and Winchelsey among which Dover with the Castle is accounted by Matthew Paris the Monk the lock and key to the whole Realm of England and by Iohn Rosse and Lidgate is said to be built by Iulius Caesar fatal only for the death of King Stephen and surrender of King Iohn therein happening 6 A conceit is that Goodwin Sands were sunk for the sins of himself and his sons Shelves indeed that dangerously lie on the North-east of this County and are much feared of all Navigators These formerly had been firm ground but by a sudden inundation of the Sea were swallowed up as at the same time a great part of Flanders and the Low Countries were and the like also at the same time befel in Scotland as Hector Boetius their Historiographer writeth A like accident hapned in the year 1586 the fourth day of August in this County at Mottingham a Town eight miles from London suddenly the ground began to sink and three great Elmes thereon growing were carried so deep into the bowels of the earth that no part of them could any more be seen the hole left in compass fourscore yards about and a line of fifty fathoms plummed into it doth find no bottom 7 The Kentish people in Caesars time were accounted the civillest among the Britains and as yet esteem themselves the freest Subjects of the English not conquered but compounded with by the Normans and herein glory that their King and Commons of all the Saxons were the first Christians converted in Anno 596 yea and long before that time also Kent received the Faith for it is recorded that Lucius the first Christian British King in this Island built a Church to the name and service of Christ within the Castle of Dover endowing it with the Toll of the same Haven 8 This County is enriched with two Cities and Bishops Sees strengthened with 27 Castles graced with 8 of His Majesties most Princely Houses traded with 24 Market-Towns and beautified with many stately and gorgeous buildings The chiefest Ciâ—y thereof the Motropolitane and Arch-bishops See is Canterbury buiâ—t as our British Historians report 900 years before the birth of â—hrist by Henry of Huntington called Caier-Kent wherein as M. Lambard saith was erected the first School of professed Arts and Sciences and the same a pattern unto Sigibert King of the East Angles for hiâ— foundation at Cambridge notwithstanding by the computation of time this Sigibert was slain by Penda King of Mercia thirty years before that Theodore the Grecian was Bishop of Canterbury who is said to be the erector of that Academy But certain it is that Austin the Monk had made this City famous before that time by the conversion of these Saxons unto Christianiâ—y and in building a most magnificent Church to Gods service wherein eight of their Kings have been interred but all their Monuments
This â—enny Countrey is passing rich and plenteous yea and beautiful also to behold wherein is so great store of fish that strangers do wonder and water fowl so cheap that five men may therewith be satisfied with less than an half penny 7 Places of ancient note in this Shire are these the Erminstreet-way which upon the lower West parts of this County thorow Roiston runneth forth right unto Huntington And from Reach a Market-Town standing near to the River Come a great Duch and Trench is cast all along New-Market-Heath which for the wonder received thereat is of the vulgar called The Devils Ditch being in truth made for a defence against the Mercians by the East-Angles whose Kingdom it inverged The Gâ—gmagog Hills near Cambridge retain the memembrance of the Danish Station where as yet on their tops is seen a Rampier strengthned with a three-sold Trench whereof Gervase of Tilbury tells many a pretty Tale. 8 This Shire is divided into seventeen Hundreds wherein are seated eight Market-Towns and hath been strengthened with seven Castles and God divinely honoâ—red in one Hundred sixty three Parish-Churches Hartforde Shire HERTFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XIX HERTFORD-SHIRE is bordered upon the North with Bedford and Cambridge-shires upon the East is altogether bounded by Essex upon the South is confined with Middlesex and her west butteth upon Buckingham and Bedford-shires 2 The form thereof is somewhat circular with many indents to fetch in those Towns that are dispersedly stragled into her next Shire whereof Roiston and Totteridge are the two extreams from North to South betwixt whom in a straight drawn line are twenty seven English miles and from Putnam Westward to Cheston Nunnery in the East are twenty eight the whole circumference about an hundred and thirty miles 3 The Air is temperate sweet and healthful as seated in a Climate neither too hot nor too cold the soil is rich plenteous and delightful yielding abundance of Corn Cattle Wood and Grass destitute of nothing that ministereth profit or pleasures for life which are more augmented by â—he many Rivers that arise and run thorow this Shire watering her own and others till they empty themselves into the Sea 4 Her ancient Inhabitants in the time of the Romans were the Caâ—ieucâ—lanians or Cassians and the Trinobants as their Writers declare and in the Heptarchy was possessed by the East-Saxons excepting some small portion thereof that the Mercian Kings enjoyed The Daâ—es also in their over-runnings sought to stay themselves in this Shire and at Ware then Weare pitched down their rest and hope for passing the Lea in their light Pinnaces and Shallops raised therein a Fort which mangre the English they kept until that by the wise policy of King Elfred that River was parted into more running streams whereby their Ships perished and they intercepted both of provision and further supply 5 The Romans before them made Verolaniumâ— in this Shire their greatest for account which in Nero's time was a Municipal as Ninius in his Catalogue of Cities doth call it or as Tacitus a Freo Town sacked by Boduo that ever eternized Queen of the Icenians when seventy thousand of the Romans and Confederates by her revenging sword perished the site and circuit whereof in this Card we have set according to our view and measure there taken whose magnificence for Port and stately Architâ—cture were found by her large and arched Vaults in the days of King Edgar which were digged into and cast down by Elred and Edmer Abbots of S. Albans for that they were the receptacles and â—urking holes of Whoores and Theeves the ruins of which have raised the beauty of her surviving and fair S. Albans where Offa the great Mercian in great devotion built a most stately Monastery whose Church yet standing retaineth the ashes of many Nobles there slain in the quarrel of York and Lancaster and a Font of solid Brass brought out of Scotland by Sir Richard Lea from the siege of Leeth 6 Many other Towns both for Commerce stately Buildings and of ancient Record this Shâ—â—e affordeth whereof Hertford though the Shire Town is not the richest the passage thorow Ware hath left her ways so untrodden to prevent which in former times that River at Ware was chained up and the Bayliff of Heriford had the custody of the Key which howsoever they have lost yet hath the Town gotten her Governour to be preferred from the name of a Bayliff unto a Mayor assisted with nine Burgesses a Reâ—order and two Sergeants their Attendants Herein a Castle for situation pleasant for Trench Walls and River sufficiently fenced was lately seen but marked to deâ—â—iny as the Town to decay hath found the hand of Fortune to overmatch her strength and to ruinate the Priory S. Nicholas and S. Maries Churchos besides a Cell of S. Albans Monks that therein were seated The like fate falls unto Hensled and her fair Castle wherein Richard King of the Romans left his life Yet Langley is graced both in the birth of Prince Edmund the fifth son to King Edward the third and the burial of Richard the second that unfortunate King who in the Cell of Friers Preachers was there first buried but afterwards removed and enshrined at Westminster And in another Langley near the East from thence was born that Pontifical Break-speare Bishop of Rome known by the name of Hadrian the fourth and famous for his stirrup-holding by Frederick the Emperour whose breath was last stopped by a Flie that flew into his mouth 7 The civil Battles that in this Shire have been fought in the Map it self are inserted and therefore here omitted but the more ancient remembred unto us by Oister-hill near S. Albans whom the judicious Cambden supposeth to have been the Camp of Ostorius the second Lieutenant and Subduer of great Caractacus as also seven small round Hills betwixt Stevennedge and Knebworth in which are supposed some Roman Souldiers to lie buried 8 Religious Houses built and suppressed the chiefest for account in this Shire were S. Albans Roystone Ware Sopwell Langley besides them at Hertford whom Bâ—da calls Herudford which Cities graduation is distant and removed from the Equator 52 degrees 5 minutes of Latitude and set from the first point of the West according to Mercator in the 20 degree 29 minutes of Longitude The Earldoms whereof were enjoyed only by those two honourable Families whose atchievements we have also therein expressed 9 This Counties division is into eight hundreds wherein are seated eighteen Market-Towns and one hundred and twenty Parish Churches BEDFORD SHIRE BEDFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XX. BEDFORD-SHIRE seated in the South-East of this Island is a plain and champion Country and lyeth bounded upon the North with Huntington-Shire upon the East with Cambridge and Hartford-shires upon the South with Hertford and Buckingham-shires and upon the West with Buckingham and Northampton-shires 2 The Form thereof is somewhat oval and not very large for from Tilbroke in the North unto Studham in the South are but twenty four
obtained either by or against Rollo the Dane who in the year 876 entred England and in this Shire fought two battles one neer unto Hoâ—k-Norton and a second at the ScienStane 6 Rodâ—ot likewise remaineth as a monument of Oxfords highâ— styled Earl but unfortunate Prince Robert de Vere who besides the â—arldom was created by King Richard the second Mâ—â—quess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland but at that Bridge discomfited in fight by the Nobles and forced to swim the River where began the downfal of his high mounted fortunes for being driven forth of his Country lastly died in exile and distressed estate But more happy is this County in producing far more glorious Princes as King Edward the Confessor who in Islip was born Edward the victorious black Prince in Woodstock and in Oxford that warlike Coeur de Lion King Richard the first the son of King Henry the second first took breath 7 Which City is and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses the British Athens and learnings well spring from whose living Fountain the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously have made fruitful all other parts of this Realm and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad Antiquity avoucheth that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the Old Britains and that from Greek-lod a Town in Wilt shire the Academy was translated unto Oxford as unto a Plant-plot both more pleasing and fâ—uitful whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham this latter also alledging Merlin But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feet it sustained a part of these common calamities having little reserved to uphold its former glory save onely the famous monument of S. Frideswids Virgin Conquest no other School then left standing besides her Monastery yet those great blasts together with other Danish storms being well blown over King Elfred that learned and religious Monarch recalled the exiled Muses to their sacred place and built there three goodly Colledges for the studies of Divinity Philosophy and other Arts of humanity sending thither his own son Ethelward and drew thither the young Nobles from all parts of his Kingdom The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote a man of great learning by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation At which time also Assereus Menevensis a writer of those times affairs read the Grammar and Rhetorick and affirmeth that long before them Gildas Melkin Ninius Kentigern S. German and others spent there their lives in learned studies From which time that it continued a Seedploâ— of learning till the Norman Conquest Ingulphus â—ecordeth who himself then lived No marvel then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford the second School of Christendom and the very chief Pillar of the Catholick Church And in the Council holden at Vienna it was ordâ—ined that in Paris Oxford â—ononiâ— and Salamanca the onely Vniversities then in Europe should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Caldean tongues and that Oxford should be the general universiâ—y for all England Ireland Scotland and Wales which point was likewise of such weight with the Council of Constance that from this pâ—â—cedent of Oxford University it was concluded that the English Nation was not only to have pâ—ecedence oâ— Spain in all General Councils but was also to be held equal with France it self By which high peâ—ogatives this of ours hath always so flourished that in the days of King Henry the third thirty tâ—ousand Students were therein resident as Archbishop Armachanus who then lived hath writ and Riâ—haâ—ger then also living sheweth that for all the civil wars which hindred such placâ—s of quiet study yet 15000 Students were there remaining whose names saith he were entered in Matricula in the matriculation book About which time Iohn Baliol the father of â—aliol King of Scots built a Colledge yet bearing his name Anno 1269 and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester that which is now called Merton Colledge both of them beautified with buiâ—dings and enriched wâ—th landâ— and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendom And at this present there are sixteen Colledges besides another newly builded with eight Halls and many most fair Collegiate Churches all aâ—orned with most stately buildings and enriched with great endowments noble Libraries and most learned Graduates of all professions that unless it be her sister Cambridge the other â—ursing breast of this land the like is not found again in the World This City is also honoured with an Episcopal See As for the site thereof it is removed from the Equatâ—r in the degree 52 and one minute and from the West by Mercators measure 19 degrees and 20 minutes â— As this County is happy in the possâ—ssion of so famous an Academy so it is graced with most Princely Palaces apperâ—aining to the English Crown whereof Woodsâ—ock is the most ancient and magnificent built to that glory by King Henry the first and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by King Henry the second to hide from his jealous Iuno his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford a Damosel of surpassing beauty where notwithstanding followed by a clew of silk that fell from her lap she was surprised and poâ—soned by Queen Eleanor his wife and was first buried at Godsâ—ow Nunnery in the midst of the quiâ—e under a Hearse of silk set about with lights whom Hugh Bishop of Lincoln thinking it an unfâ—t object for Virgins devotion caused to be removed into the Church â—ard but those chast sisters liked so well the memory of that kind Lady as that her bones they translated again into their Chappel Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors built by William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyning Houses built for devotion and for abuse suppressed and again put down the chief in account were Enishamâ— Osney Bruern Godsâ—ow Burchester and Tame besides S. Frideswides and very many other stately Houses of Religion in this City The Division of this Shire is into fourteen Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and two â—undred and fourscore Parish Câ—uâ—ches Glocester Shire GLOCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIII GLOCESTER-SHIRE lieth bordered upon the North with Worcester and Warwick-shires upon the East with Oxford and Wilt-shires upon the South altogether with Somerset-Shire and upon the West with the River Wye and Hertford shire 2 The length thereof extended from Bristow upon the River Avon in her South unto Clifford upon another Avon in her North are about forty eight miles and her broadest part from East to West is from Lechland unto Preston containing twenty eight the whole circumference about one hundred thirty eight miles 3 The Form whereof is somewhat long and narrow the Air thereof is pleasant sweet and delectable and for fruitfulness of Soyl hear Malmesbury and not me The ground of this Shire throughout saith
shiâ—e Dudley in Stafford-shire and Rochford in Herâ—ford-shire whither I must refer the Reader to find out these and the like in these Western Tracts 8 Religious places erected in this Shire and devoted unto God by devout persons were Breden Brodlege Evesholme Alâ—ecester Cochel Eladbury Malverin Pershore Stodlâ—ge Westwoods and Worcester plenteously provided for and further secured by many priviledges both which they abused as were the Inditements of all such in the days of King Henry the eight at whose Bar himself being Iudge they were found guilty and received sentence of their ends and destâ—uction 9 Castles for defence built in this County â—uinate or in strength were Hartlebâ—ry Holt Haâ—dley Norton Elmely and Worcester besides his Majesties Mannour of Tichnel 10 This Shires diviâ—ion is into seven Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and one hundred fifty two Parish-Churches WARWICKE SHIRE VVARVVICK-SHIRE CHAPTER XXVI WARWICK-SHIRE so called from her Shire-Town is bounded upon the North with the County of Stafford upon the East with Watling-street-way is parted from Leicester-shire and the rest bordered upon by Nortâ—ampton-â—hire the South part is butted by Oxford and Glocester-shires and all her West with the County of Worcesâ—er 2 The Form thereof is not much unlike to a Scallop-shell growing from her Western-head and sprâ—ading her body wider with many indents The length thereof from Newton in the North to Long-Compton in the South are miles thirty and three and the broadest part of this Shire is from Hâ—wellgrange in the West unto Hill-morton in the East distant assunder twenty five miles the whole in circumference aboâ—t one hundred thiâ—ty and five miles 3 This Shire is seated near unto the heart of all England and therefore participates with her in the best both for Air and soyl wanting nothing for profit or pleasure for man The South part from Avon that runneth thorow the midst of this County is called the Feldon as more champion and tractable to be stirred for Corn which yearly yieldeth such plenty of harvest that the Husbâ—ndman smileth in beholding his pains and the meadowing pastures with their green mantles so imbroydred with â—lowers that from Edg-hill we may behold another Eden as Lot did the Plain of Ioâ—dan before that Sodom fell The Woodland lyeth upon the North of Avon so called in regard of the plenty of Woods which now are much thinner by the making of Iron and the soyl more churlish to yield to the Plough 4 The ancient people that poâ—sessed this Province are by Ptolomies description called the Cornavii wherein after were seated the Mercian Saxons a part of whose Kingdom it was and greatâ—y sought after by the West Saxons whose King Cutâ—red about the year of Châ—ist Iesus 749 in Battel â—ew Ethelbald at Sekington neer unto Tamworth And not far from thence King Edward the 4 aâ— unfortunatelâ— fought agaiâ—st that â—tout make-King Richard Nevil Earl of Warwiâ—k near unto which upon Blacklow hill Pierce Gaveston that proud and new-raised Earl of Cornwall was beheaded by Guy Earl of VVarwick assisted with the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford And surely by the testimony of Iohn Rosse and others this County hath been better replenished with people who maketh complâ—int of whole Town-ships depopulations altogether laid waste by a puissant Army of feeding sheep 5 Notwithstanding many fair Towns it hath and some of them matchable to the most of England The chief thereof is Coventree a City both stately for building and walled for defence whose Citizens having highly offended their â—irst Lord Leofrikâ— had their priviledges infringed and themselves oppressed with many heavy Tributes whose wife Lady Godiva pitying their estates uncessantly sâ—ed for their peace and that with such importunacy as hardly could be said whether was greater his hatred or her love at last overcome with her continual intercessions he granted her suit upon an uneivil and as he thought an unacceptable condition which was that she should ride naked thorow the face of the City and that openly at high noon day This notwithstanding she thankfully accepted and performed the Act accordingly enjoyned for this Lady Godiva stripping her self of all rich attire let loose the tresses of her fair hair which on every side so covered â—er nakedness that no part of her body was uncivil to sight whereby she redeemed her former freedoms and remissions of such heavy Tributes Whose memory I wish may remain honourable in that City for â—ver and her pity followed by sâ—ch posâ—essing Ladies This City had grant to choose their yearly Magistrates a Mayor and two Bayliffs and to build about and â—mbattle a wall by King Edward the 3 whom Heâ—ry the 6 corporated a County of it self and changed the names of their Bayliffs into Sheriffs and the walls then were built as they now stand thorow which open 13 gates for entrance besides 18 other Towers thereon for defence At Gofford-gate in the East hangeth the shield-bonâ— of a wild-Boare far bigger than the greatest Oxe-bone with whose sâ—out the great Pit called Swanswell was turned up and was â—â—ain by the famous Guy if we will believe report 6 Next unto this City in account and commerce is VVarwick upon the North west bank of Avon built by Gurgunstus the son of Beline as Iohn Rosse Monk of the place saith 375 years before the birth of Christ by Ninus called Caer-Guarvic and Caer Leon and by learned Cambden judged to be PRAESIDIUM the Roman Garrisons Town The situation of this place is most pleasant upon a hill riâ—ing from the River over which is a strong and fair Stone-bridge and her sharp stream upon the Town-side checked with a most sumptuous and stately Castle the decays whereof with great cost and curious buildings the right worthy Knight Sir Foulke Grevil in whose person shineth all true vertue and high Nobility hath repaired whose merits to me-ward I do acknowledge in setting this hand free from the daily imployments of a manual trade and giving it full liberty thus to express the inclination of my mind himself being the Procurer of my prâ—sent estate It seemeth this Town hath been walled about as appeareth by the Trench in some places seen and two very fair Gates whose passages are hewed out of the Rock as all other into the Town are over whom two beautiful Chappels are built that towards the East called S. Peters and that on the South-west S. Iames. Two fair Churches arâ— therein seated called S. Marries and S. Nicholas but these in and about the Town suppressed S. Lawrence S. Michaels Iohn Baptist and Iohn of Ierusaleâ— beside the Nâ—nnery in the North of the Town whose North Polâ— is elevated in Latitude 52 degrees 45 minutes and is seated from the first point in the West of Longitude 18 degrees and 45 minutes being yearly governed by a Bayliff twelve Brethren twenty four Burgesses for Common-Counsell a Recorder a Townclâ—rk and one Sergâ—ant their Attendant 7 Places of most memorable note observed in this Shire are Shugbury where the
by Succession and Right of Inheritance the Earldâ—m of Chester annexed to his most happy Stiles Upon whose Person I pray that the Angels of Iacobs God may ever attend to his great glory and Great Britains happiness 9 If I should urge credit unto the report of certain Trees floating in Bagmere only against the deaths of the Heirs of the Breretons thereby seated and after to sink until the next like occasion or inforce for truth the Prophesie which Leyland in a Poetical fury forespake of Beeston-Castle highly mounted upon a steep Hill I should forget my self and wonted opinion that can hardly believe any such vain Predictions though they be told from the mouths of Credit as Bagmere-Trees are or learned Leyland for Beesson who thus writeth The day will come when it again shall mount his head aloft If I a Prophet may be heard from Seers that say so oft With eight other Castles this Shire hath been strengthened which were Ould-Castle Shocloch Shoâ—witch Chester Pouldford Dunham Frodesham and Haulten and by the Prayers as then was taught of eight Religious Houses therein seated preserved which by King Henry the Eight were suppressed â—â—amely Stanlow Ilbree Maxfeld Norton Bunbery Combermere Rud-neath and Vale-Royal besides the VVhite and black Friâ—rs and the Nunnery in Chester This Counties division is into seven Hundreds wherein are seated thirteen Market-Towns eighty five Parish-Churches and thirty-eight Chappels of Ease Lancaster LANCA-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXVII THE County Palatine of Lancaster famous for the four Henries the fourth fifth sixth and seventh Kings of England derived from Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is upon the South confined and parted by the River Mersey from the County Palatine of Chester the fair County of Darby-shire bordering upon the East the large County of York-shire together with Westmerland and Cumberland being her kind neighbours upon the North and the Sea called Mare Hibernicum embracing her upon the West 2 The form thereof is long for it is so inclosed between York-shire on the East side and the Irish-Sea on the West that where it boundeth upon Cheshire on the South-side it is broader and by little and little more Northward it goeth confining upon Westmerland the more narrow it groweth It containeth in length from Brathey Northward to Halwood Southward fifty seven miles from Denton in the East to Formby by Altmouth in the West thirty one and the whole circumference in compass one hundred threescore and ten miles 3 The Air is subtile and piercing not troubled with gross vapours or foggy mists by reason whereof the People of that Country live long and healthfully and are not subject to strange and unknown diseases 4 The Soil for the generality is not very fruitful yet it produceth such numbers of Cattel of such large proportion and such goodly heads and horns as the whole Kingdom of Spain doth scarce the like It is a Country replenished with all necessaries for the use of Man yielding without any great labour the commodity of Corn Flax Grass Coals and such like The Sea also addeth her blessing to the Land that the People of that Province want nothing that serveth either for the sustenance of Nature or the satiety of appetite They are plentifully furnished with all sorts of Fish Flesh and Fowls Their principal Fuell is Coal and Turff which they have in great abundance the Gentlemen reserving their Woods very carefully as a beauty and principal ornament to their Mannors and Houses And though it be far from â—ondon the Capital City of this Kingdom yet doth it every year furnish her and many other parts of the Land besides with many thousands of Cattel bred in this Country giving thereby and other ways a firm testimony to the World of the blessed abundance that it hath pleased God to enrich this noble Dukedom withall 5 This Counties ancient Inhabitants were the Brigantes of whom there is more mention in the description of York-shire who by Claudius the Emperour were brought under the Roman subjection that so held aud made it their Seat secured by their Garrisons as hath been gathered as well by many Inscriptions found in Walls and ancient Monuments fixed in Stones as by certain Altars erected in favour of their Emperours After the Romans the Saxons brought it under their protection and held it for a part of their Northumbrian Kingdom till it was first made subjugate to the Invasion of the Danes and then conquered by the victorious Normans whose Posterities from thence are branched further into England 6 Places of antiquity or memorable note are these the Town of Manchester so famous as well for the Market-Place Church and Colledge as for the resort unto it for Clothing was called Manâ—unium by Antonine the Emperour and was made a Fort and Station of the Romans Riblechester which taketh the name from Râ—ibell a little River near Clithâ—râ— though it be a small Town yet by Tradition hath been called the richest Town in Christendom and reported to have been the Seat of the Romans which the many Monuments of their Antiquities Statues Pieces of Coin and other several Inscriptions digg'd up from time to time by the Inhabitants may give us sufficient perswasion to believe But the Shire Town is Lancaster more pleasant in situation than rich of Inhabitants built on the South of the River Lon and is the same Longovicum where as we find in the Notiâ—e Provinces a company of the Longovicarians under the Lieutenant General of Britain lay The beauty of this Town is in the Church Castle and Bridge her Streets many and stretched fair in length Unto this Town King Edward the Third granted a Mayor and two Bailiffs which to this day are elected out of twelve Brethren assisted by twenty four Burgesses by whom it is yearly governed with the supply of two Chamberlains a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Sergeants at Mace The elevation of whose Pole is in the degree of Latitude 54 and 58 scruples and her Longitude removed from the West point unto the degree 17 and 40 scruples 7 This Country in divers places suffereth the force of many flowing Tides of the Sea by which after a sort it doth violently rent asunder one part of the Shire from the other as in Fourness where the Ocean being displeased that the shore should from thence shoot a main way into the West hath not obstinately ceased from time to time to slash and mangle it and with his Fell irruptions and boysterous Tides to devour it Another thing there is not unworthy to be recommended to memory that in this Shire not far from Foâ—rness-Felles the greatest standing water in all England called Winander Mere lieth stretched out for the space of ten miles of wonderful depth and all paved with stone in the bottom and along the Sea-side in many places may be seen heaps of sand upon which the People pour water until it recover a saltish humour which they afterwards boil with Turffs till it become white Salt 8 This
of his Mothers kindred by the Fathers side sâ—rely pestred and endamaged the English he sent into Wales both to purge aâ—d disburden his own Kingdom and to quell and keep back thâ— courage of his enemies These men here seated deceived not his expectation but so carried themselves in his quarrel that they seldome communicated with their Neighbours so that to this day they speak not the Language and the Country is yet called Little England beyond Wales 5 The Commodities of this Shire are Corn Cattel Sea-Fish and Fowl and in Giraldus his daies of saleable Wines the Havens being so commodious for Ships arrivage such is that at Tenby and Milford and Haven of such capacity that sixteen Creeks â—ive Bays and thirteen Roads known all by several names 〈◊〉 therein contained where Henry of Richmond of most happy memory arrived with 〈…〉 of Eâ—glands freedom from under the government of an usurping Tyrant 6 Near unto this is Pembroke the Shire-Town seated more ancient in shew than it is in years and more houses without Inhabitants than I saw in any one City throughout my Survey It is walled long-wife and them but indifferent for repair containing in circuit eight hundred and fourscore paces having three Gates of passage and at the West-end a large Castle and locked Causey that leads over the water to the decayed Priory of Monton The site of this Town is in the degree of Longitude as Mercâ—tor doth measure 14 and 35 minutes and the Elevation from the North-Pole in the degree of Latitude 52. 7 A City as barren is old Saint Davids neither clad with Woods nor garnished with Rivers nor beauâ—ified with Fields nor adorned with Meadows but lieth alwaies open both to Wind and Storms Yet hath it been a Nursery to Holy Men for herein lived Calphurnius a Britain Priest whose Wife was Choncha Sister to Saint Martin and both of them the Paâ—ents of Saint Patrick the Apostle of Ireland Devi a most Religious Bishop made this an Archepiscopal See removed from Isca Legiâ—num This the Britains call Tuy Dewy the House of Devi we Saint Davids a City with few Inhabitants yet hath it a fair Cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Andrew and David in the midst of whose Quire lieth intombed Edmond Earl of Richmond Father to King Henry the Seventh whose Monument as the Prebends told me spared their Church from other defacements when all went down under the Hammers of King Henry the Eighth About this is a fair Wall and the Bishops Palace all of Free-Stone a goodly House I assure you and of great Receit whose uncovered Tops cause the curious Works in the Walls daily to weep and them to fear their downfal ere long 8 But Monton the Priory and S. Dogmels places of devout piety erected in this County found not the like favour when the commission of their dissolutions came down against them and the axes of destruction cut down the props of their Walls 9 This Shire hath been strengthened with sixteen Castles besides two Block-Houses commandiâ—g the Mouth of Milfâ—rd-Haven and is still traded in five Market-Towns being divided into seven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred forty five Pariâ—h-Churches RADNOR BREKNOK CARDIGAN and CAERMARTHEN discribed Petrus Kaerius caelavit 1500. RADNOR-SHIRE CHAPTER III. RADNOR-SHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with the County Monmouth upon the East toucheth Shropshire and Herefoâ—dshire the Rivers Clarwen and Wye divide it from Brecknock in the South and the West part doth shorten point-wise in Cardigan-shire 2 The form thereof is in proportion triangle every side containing almost a like distance for from West to North are twenty miles from North to South twenty two miles and from South to West are twenty four miles the whole in circumference extending to fourscore and ten miles 3 The Air thereof is sharp and cold as most of Wales is for that the Snow lieth and lasteth long unmelted under those shadowing high Hills and over-hanging Rocks 4 The Soil is hungry though not barren and that in the East and South the best the other parts are rough and churlish and hardly bettered by painful labour so that the Riches of the North and West consisted chiefly in the brood of Cattel 5 Anciently this County was posseâ—â—ed by the Silâ—res warlike People and great withstanders of the Romans Impoâ—itions who had not only them to â—ight against but withal the unacceâ—â—ible Mountains wherewith this Shire is so overpressed and burdened that many times I feared to look down from the hanging Rocks whereunder I passed into those deep and dark Dales seeming to me an entrance into Limbâ— Among thâ—se as say our Historiaâ—s that hateful Prince to God and Man Vâ—rtigâ—r his Countries scourge and last Monarch of the British-blood by Fire from Heaven was consumed with his incestuous Wise from whom â—iniâ— nameth the Country wherein his Castle stood Guartiger-Maur of whose Rubbish the Castle Guthremion was raised as some are of opinion Yet they of North-Wales will have his destruction and Castle to stand in their parts near unto Beth-Kellech whereof we will further speak in the relation of his Life Fatal was this place also to Llewellin the last Prince of the British Race who being betrayed by the Men of Buelth â—â—ed into those vast Mountains of Radnor where by Adam Francton he was slain and his Head Crowned with Ivy set upon the Tower of London 6 Places most worthy of note in this Shire are as ensueth The first is Radnor from whom the County receiveth her name anciently Magi where the Commander of the Pacensian Regiment lay and thought to be the Magnos in Antonine the Emperours Survey This Town is pleasantly seated under a Hill whereon standeth mounted a large and strong Castle from whose Bulwark a Trench is drawn along the West of the Town whereon a Wall of Stone was once raised as by the remains in many places appeareth This Trench doth likewise inverge her West-side so far as the River but after is no more seen whose Graduation is observed to have the Pole elevated for Latitude 52 degrees and 45 minutes and for Longitude from the first Point of the West set by Mercator 17 degrees and one minute Prestayn for beautious building is the best in this Shire a Town of Commerce wonderfully frequented and that very lately Next is Kâ—ighton a Market-Town likewise under which is seen the Clawdh-Offa or Offaes Ditâ—h whose Tract for a space I followed along the edge of the Mounâ—ain which was a bound set to separate the Welsh from the English by the Mercian King Offa and by Egberâ— the Monarch a Law made by the instigation of his Wife that it should be present death for the Welsh to pass over the same as Iohn Bever the Monk of Westminster reporteth and the like under Hâ—â—ald as Iohn of Salisbury writeth wherein it was ordained that what Welshman soever should be found with any weapon on this side of that Limit which was Offaes Ditch should have
and Sea-shore of this Shire Harlech a Market and Mayor-Town standeth bleak enough and barren but only for Fowl and Fish Houses not many neither curiously built wherein â—tandeth a little Chappel decayed and without use in which lieth buried Sir Richard Thimbleby an English Knight who for the delight he took in that game removed his abode from a far better Soil Here also standeth a most strong and beautiful Castle mounted upon a Hill and with a double Bulwark walled about commanding the Sea and passage of entrance of such as seek to invade the Coast and surely a great pity it is to see so fair a Work fall to decay the Constable whereof by Patent is ever the Mayor of this Town near unto which are two great Inlets of Seas which at low water may be paâ—sed upon the Sands with Guides Upon whose Shore as upon the Sea Coasts in this County abundance of Herrings are caught for which cause they are much frequented in the season of the year by many People from divers Countries 7 This Town being the chiefest of the Shire The Pole shall be elevated only from thence whose height for Latitude standeth in the degree 53 29 minutes and for Longitude in the 15 47 minutes The whole being bivided into six Hundreds wherein are feared thirty seven Parishes-Churches DENBIGH and FLINT discribed DENBIGH-SHIRE CHAPTER XI DENBIGH-SHIRE called in Welsh Sire Denbigh retiring more from the Sea within the Country on this side of the River Conwey shooteth Eastward in one place as far as to the River Dee on the North first the Sea for a small space and then Flint-shire encompasseth it on the West Caernarvan and Merioneth shire on the East Cheshire and Shropshire and on the South Mountgomery shire 2 The form thereof is long growing wider still towards the North-West and narrower towards the East It is in length from East to West one and thirty miles and in breadth from North to South seventeen miles in the whole circuit and circumference one hundred and fourteen miles 3 The Air is very wholsome and pleasant yet bleak-enough as exposed to the winds on all sides and the high Hills wherewith it is in many places environed long retaining the congealed Snow The tops whereof in the Summer time are the Harvest-Mens Almanacks by the rising of certain Vapours thereon in the Mornings and foreshew a fair Day ensuing 4 The Soil is but barren towards the West-part yet the middle where it lieth flat in a Valley is most fertile The East-side when it is once past the Valley findeth Nature to be a very sparing niggard of her favours but next unto Dee it feeleth a more liberal extent of her blessings The West part is but here and there inhabited and mounteth up more than the other with bare and hungry Hills yet the leanness of the Soil where the Hills settle any thing flatting hath been now a good while begun to bâ— overcome by the diligent pains and careful industry of the Husbandmen for they parting away the upper Coat of the Earth into certain Turffs with a broad kind of Spade pile them up artificially on heaps and fire them so as being turned into Ashes and thrown upon the ground so pared they fructifie the hungry barrenness and sterility of Soil and make the Fields bring forth a kind of Rie or Amell-Corn in such plenty as is hardly to be believed 5 The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Ordâ—vices who being also named Ordevices or Ordovicae a puissant and couragious People by reason they kept wholly in a mountainous place and took heart even of the Soil it self for they continued longest free from the Yoke both of Roman and also of English dominion They were not subdued by the Romans before the dayes of the Emperour Domitian for then Iulius Agricolâ— conquered almost the whole Nation nor brought under the command of the English before the Reign of King Edward the First but lived a long time in a lawless kind of liberty as bearing themselves bold upon their own magnanimity and the strength of the Country 6 The Mountains of this County yield sufficiency of Neat Sheep and Goats The Valleys in most places are very plenteous of Corn especially Eastward on this side betwixt the Rivers of Alen and Dee But the most Westerly part is Heathy and altogether barren The heart of the Shire shews it self beneath the Hills in a beautiful and pleasant Vale reaching seventeen miles in length from South to North and five miles or thereabouts in breadth and lieth open only toward the Sea It is environed on every side with high Hills amongst which the highest is Moillenly on the top whereof is a warlike Fence with Trench and Rampier and a little Fountain of clear Water From these Hills the River Cluyd resorts unto this Vale and from the very Spring-head increased with Becks and Brooks doth part it in twain running through the midst of it whereof in ancient time it was named Strat-Cluyd for Marianus maketh mention of a King of the Strat-Cluyd of the Wâ—lsh And at this day it is commonly called Diffryn-Cluyd that is The Vale of Cluyd This thing is worthy observation as a matter memorable both for admiration and antiquity that in the Parish of Lan-sanan within this Country there is a place compass cut out of the main Rock by Mans hand in the side of a Stony Hill wherein there be four and twenty Seats to sit in some less some bigger where children and young men coming to seek their Cattel use to sit and to have their sports And at this day they commonly call it Arthurs Round Table 7 Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln obtaining Denbigh by the Grant of King Edward the First after the Conviction and Beheading of David Brother of Llewelin for High-Treason was the first that fortified it with a Wall about nor large in circuit but very strong and on the South-side with a fair Castle strengthned with many high Towers But he gave it over and left the work unfinished conceiving grief as a sorrowful Father that his only Son came to untimely death and was downed in the Well thereof The fame of this Town spreads it self far for repute aâ— being reckoned the most beautiful place in all North-Wales and it is of no less report for the Castle adjunct unto it is impregnable for fortification And this strange accident hapning there in the year 1575 deserves not to be omitâ—ed being left as a continual remembrance of Gods merciful Providence and preservation at that time that where by reason of great Earthquakes many People were put into great â—ear and had much harm done unto them both within and without their Houses in the Cities of â—ork Worcester Glocester Bristoâ— Hereford and in other Countries adjâ—cent yet in the Shire-Hall of Denbigh the Bell was caused to Toll twice by the shaking of the earth and no hurt or hindrance at all either done or received The government of this
Empire Tartaria Persia and China all Kingdoms of Asia the great The parts as for the present we will divide it are these 1 Syria 2 Palestina 3 Armenia Major 4 Arabia triplex 5 Media 6 Assyria 7 Mesopotamia 8 Persia 9 Chaldea 10 Parthia 11 Hircania 12 Tartaria 13 Chin 14 India 12 Syria is the first and hath in it the Provinces of Phaenicia Caelosyria and Syrophaenicia In Phaenicia was Tyre and Sydon Sarepta and Ptolemais where two Kings of England have laid their Siege Richard and Edward the first In Câ—losyria stands Hieropolis and Damâ—scus Aleppo Tripolis c. The second Palestina which Ptolomy reckons into Syria It is in length 200 miles in breadth not above 50. It contained the Provinces of Samaria Idumaea Iudea where Ierusalem was and not far thence Bethlehem Galilaea both the higher called Galilaea Gentium and the lower and in this was Nazareth and Mount Tabor where Christ was transfigured 3 The third is Armenia Major or Turkomania In this was Colchus whence Iason fetcht his golden 〈◊〉 now it is inhabited by Turks 4 Arabia is the fourth and that had three parts Arabia deserta where the Children of Israel were fed with Manna forty years Arabia petrosa where mount Sinai was and the law given The last Arabia felix counted the fruitfullest Countrey in the world In this Arabia is the City Medina where Mahomet is intombed in an iron Chest supported only by a roof of Adamant without other Art â—o keep it from falling to the ground 5 The fifth Media it was once a large Empire and one of the first The fruits of the Countrey are said to be alwayes green 6 The sixth Assyria a very pleasant and temperate Countrey and here was the City Niniveâ— whither Ionas was sent 7 The seventh Mesopotamia in whose lower part Chaldaeâ— stood as our latest Writers affirm and Babylonia 8 The eighth Persia a mighty Empire governed by a Sophy The people are Mahumetans vet differ somewhat from the Turks Their Language passeth currant through the whole Eastern world The Metriopolitane is Persepolis 9 The ninth Chaldaea often mentioned in the Scripture and here was the fifth Sybil called Erythraea that prophesied of Christ. 10 The tenth Parthia a Province of note for its continual hostility with Rome and excellent Archery for the Inhabitants used their Bow with as much dexterity in their retreat as in the Battle and by that means oftentimes won advantage upon the enemy by their slight 11 Hircania the eleventh an illustrious Country and hath many Cities of note abounds with Wine and Honey 12 Tartaria called heretofore Scythia the Inhabitants Scythians and before that Magâ—zins from Magog the son of Iapheth that first Inhabited these parts It was once possessed by the Amazons a Nation of women after their dissolution came the Scythians among whom Tomyris is ennobled by Iustine for her victory over Cyrus Upon them came the Goths and those were driven out by the Tartars which began their Empire 1187. so Maginus It is a large Countrey and the people stout They have no Cities nor Houses but live in Tents by troops which they call herds Their Prince is named Cham and obeyed with great reverence 13 The thirteenth is China by Ptolomy Sinarum Regio it hath in it 240 Cities of note In this Region is Quinsay the greatest City in the world It hath on the North a wall of 100 miles in length 14 The last is India and the largest portion of earth that passeth under one name Strabo writes that there were 50000 Towns quorum nullum Cominus fuit In the middle runneth the River Ganges and divides it into India intra Gangem the part that lieth toward the West and India extra Gangem which is the part toward the East The Scripture calleth it Havilah This Region hath very many precious Commodities Medicinal drugs and Merchandise of great estimation The chief place is Goa where the Viceroy of Portugal resides and with a Councel of the King of Spain exercises a power over all these quarters 13 The Islands of Asia at they are of less account than the Main so they must be content with a shorter Surveâ— We will rank them into the same order with the Continent 14 The first are of Asia the less and lie more West-ward toward Europe They only worth note are two Rhodes and Cyprus 1 First Rhodes is in the Sea over against Caria In the chief City of this Isle stood the Colossus in the form of a man erected in a kind of Religion to the Sun that once a day at least breaks out upon the Isle howsoever cloudy it be in other places Graeians heretofore possest it and when the Christians had lost the Holy Land the Emperour of Constantinople gave this Isle to the Knights of Saint Iohn in Ierusalem in the year 1308. But now the Inhabitants are most Turks and some Iews sent thither out of Spain As for Christians they may not stay in the City in the night time 2 The second is Cyprus a place heretofore consecrated to Venus to whom both men and women peformed their sacrifice naked till by the prayer of Barnabas the Apostle the Temple was ruined Trogus reports that the fathers of this Isle were wont to prostitute their Daughters to Mariners for money whereby to raise them a portion against they could get them husbands but Christianity corrected those barbarous Customs In time it was made a Roman Province and in the division of the Empire was assigned to the Emperor of Constantinople So it continued till Richard the first of England in his voyage put into this place for fresh water but being incensed by the discourteous usage of the Cyprians turned his intent into an invasion took the King prisoner and bound him in silver fetters Afterwards he sold it to the Templers for a time but recovered it again and exchanged it for the title of Ierusalem 15 Lastly the Islands of Asia the great lie most in the Indian or Eastern Ocean and indeed are innumerable but the chief of account are these Ormus Zeilan Summatra Avirae Insulae Bocuro Iava Major and Minor Iapan and Moluccoes and the Philippian Isles The first is Ormus exceeding barren and yet of it self a kingdom and full of Trade 2 Zeilan so happy in pleasant â—ruits that some have thought it was the place of Paradise 3 Summatra lying directly rectlâ— under the Aequator the Inhabitants are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4 And so are the Inhabitants of the Avirae Insulae that lie West from Summatra 5 Bocuro so large an Isle that the compass is said to be three months sail 6 Iava major called by Scaliger the Compendium of the world The Inhabitants feed on Rats and Mice it yields much Spice 7 And so doth Iava Minâ—r 8 Iapan aboundeth so with Gold that the Kings Palace was covered with it in the time of Paulus Venâ—tus They enter not into their Dining Room with their shooes on 9 The Molâ—ccoes are
Captains 5 Lanâ—â—â— North west from Pilsen noted for the most fruitful place in the whole Region 15 Now the out Provinces which are part of the Kingdom though not of Bohemia are first Lâ—â—atia It Iyeth betwixt the Rivers Albis and Odera and the Mountains of â—ohemia On the West it hath Saxony On the North and East Brandenburg On the South Silesia It is divided into the higher and lower Lâ—satia and is watered with the River Nissâ— It is indeed part of Saxony though under rule to the King of Bohemia For both this and Silesia was given to Vratislaus by the Emperor Henâ—y the â—ourth It is a very fruitful Country in most kind of grain and the Inhabitants though employed much in Husbandry yet are they a warlike people as most of Germany and so they have been tried by the Duke of Saxony and others of the Emperors party though they have been by number and main strength over-born The first that was surprised was Bantsen but the Metropolis is â—orlitâ—ia next Zittan c. No soil nor Customes differ much from the next Province 6 Silesia on the West hath part of Bohemia upon the North Dusatia and part of Poland upon the South Moravea and upon the East Polonia At the beginning it was part of the Hircinian Forest It is watered with the River Odera and from hence took her name as Conradus Celtus delivers it Lib Amorum 2. Eleg. 5. Hic Odera à priscis qui nomina Suevus habebat Nascitur Godani praecipitatur aquis Suevos qui Siesum socium sibi convocat amnem A quo nunc nomen Slesia terra gerit But Iohannes Crato a Silesian rather thinks that the name came from the Qâ—adi a people that heretofore inhaâ—â—ted these parts and the rather for thâ—t the very Qâ—adi in the Slavonian Tongue signifieth the same which Sâ—lâ—sium did in the Sâ—xon and old German That they did possess this Provâ—nce is agreed upon by most but where they were before seated Geographers somewhat differ Ptolomâ— placeth them by the Hirâ—inian under Lâ—na sylva and others not far off It was the people which in their war with Mâ—rcus Aâ—tonius the Emperour were scaâ—tered with thundring and lightning obtained by the prayers of the Christian Legion For when the Râ—man was driven to such straight that he could foresee no help which might come from man he put himself upon their prayers to God for his deliverance A strange hope that he could believe in their faith and yet not in that God in whoâ— they believed But the Almighty was pleased to shew his power and force the very heathen â—o honour his people For here ended the fourth Persecution 174. and the Christian Legion was surnamed the Thunderer 17 The air here is somewhat cold but mild and the Land â—ertile The Inhabitants good Husbandmen to make the best They have a kind of forced Wine which the meaner sort drink freely The richer have it sent from those neighbouring Provinces which are better stored The chief City is Perslaw or Vratisâ—avia which takes name from her Founder Vratislaus and in honour of him givâ—â— the Letter W in her Arms. About the seat of this City Ptolomâ— placeth Budorgis insomuch that some think this was raised out of her ruine Not far off there is yet to be seen the remainders of statelâ— old buildings which are supposed to have been the houses of the ancient Quadi Iâ— the year 1341. â—t was ruined by fire but built again with stone and it is now one of the stateliest Cities of Germaâ—y for â—xcellent buildings and fair streets It is an Archbishops See and an Academy The rest are Neissa Niâ—sa â— Bishops See and a fair Town Glats Oppolen Olderberge Glomor c. Maginus numbers 15 Dukedomes in Silesia whereof six remain in their ancient families the rest for want of heirs are â—allen to the King of Bâ—hemia But the two chief of name are Ligintz and Swevitz The first is immediately the Kings Swevitz too is under his government but yet hath a Duke of its own which is honoured with the title and revenues 18 Moravia is bounded on the North and East with Silesia on the West with Brandenburg on the South with Austria and Hungary It was heretofore called Marcomannia received the latter name from the River Moravia which runs through the Country It yields plenty of Corn Wine Fish and People which use a kind of confused mixt language of Sclavonick Bohemick and Tutonick In plowing up their grounds there hath been oftentimes found a certain Coyn of the Roman Emperours Marcus Antonius with this inscription de Marcomannis which the Inhabitants interpret to be of the Spoâ—ls whiâ—h the Roman took from the Marcomanâ—i who inhabited this Region For certain it is that this people were vanquished by Marcus Antonius as appears in their Historians The People were converted to Christianity by Methodius Their chief City is Olmuzium Olmuz an â—niversity Brin c. It is reported by Dubrarius that in Gradiâ—co a part of this Province there grow eth a kind of Myrrhe and Frankincense out of the ground which in likeness resemble the hidden parts of man and woman It was first added to the King and Kingdome of Bohemia by Sigisâ—und the Emperour in the Reign of Albertus GALLIA The Description of FRANCE No people but are ambitious to win upon Antiquity as far as their Line will reach Among others the French are great prerenders to that Title and fetch their original from Mesech the sixth son of Iapheth not above an hundred and fifty years after the Ark â—ested But this passeth not for currant truth among her own Historians and therefore is not the plea which gives France here the second place in my Division of Europe I observe rather her situation which ranks her next to Spain East-ward and that was the course proposed in my general Description 2 As for her Inhabitants the first certainly which we can make good were the Gauls A people of whose beginning we can give no unquestionable account yet this of them is most sure they were a Nation of noted valour above four hundred years before Christ. It is â—ow full two thousand and twelve since they sacked Rome and took the Capitoll In the memory of that great Action we may claim a part For first were themselves conquered by the two â—oble Brittish spirits Brennius and â—elinus Kings of England and aâ—ter led on by them if we may trust the story unto thoâ—e glorious adventures which have to this day continued their fame almost above any other Natâ—on Let the proof resâ— upon my Author This saith Matthaeus west monâ—steâ—iensis out of the Roman History 3 â—â—ecenta millia â—allorum ad sedes novas querendas prâ—â—ecti ducibus Bâ—linâ— Brennio Romam invaseruâ—t ibique diu morati â—unt Sed mille libras auri praemium discessionis â— Romanis suscipientes mox diversis agminibus alii Graeâ—iam alii Macedoniam alii Thraciam petiverunt
pass the â—aws of that narrow strait The Inhabitants are as greedy of Rhâ—nish French and Spanish Wines the Spices of Portugal and the fruits of Andaluzia as they again are needy of the Wax Honey and Skins which are brought thither from Prussia Livonia Muscovia and the bordering Nations The other chief riches of Denmark are goodly Horses great store of Cattel and Corn enough sent to the supply of divers other parts of Christendome It hath been observed that 50000 Oxen have been driven out of these Provinces into Germany for which toll hath been paid at Guttaorp Such incredible plenty of Herring near the Isle of Scania that the Ships they say are searce able by main strength of Oars to row out of the Harbour Besides these here are furniture for War both by Sea and Land Armour Masts Cables Steel Saddles c. 11 Their chief person of fame in course of Learning was Ticho Brahe an excellent Mathematician memorable for his artificial Tower in the Isle of Fimera In Religion the greatest part of them are now Lutherans but were first converted to Christianity by Ansuerus 12 We are come to her division which the Sea almost hath made to our hands For her several Provinces are well-nigh so many Islands at least Peninsula The chief are 1 Iuttia or the old Cimbria Chersonesus 2 Diethmarsia 3 Scania 4 Hollandia 5 Blesâ—ide 6 The Islands in the Sinus Codanus which lye betwixt Iuttia and Scanta That is the West and this is the East limits of the Danish Dominions North and South are the Ocean and the River Esdora or Hever 13 Iuttia as it was the first so it is the principal part of this Kingdom Her bounds upon the West and East and North are the Bâ—ltick Seas and upon the South it â—s joyned to Holjatia and the Istumes of Dithâ—arsex It is in length 〈◊〉 Muginus eighty German 〈◊〉 from the River Albis to the Cimbrick Promontory called Seagen and in breadth twenty It is a fruitful Region for Wheat Rie Barley c. And in the North-west there is good pasture though more North-ward it becomes sandy and barren and puts the Inhabitants to fish for their victuals by which they make a shift to live though hardly enough God Knows in poor sheds sleightly clapped together and of a slender stuff such as if need be they can remove at their pleasure upon very short warning and bear them away almost upon their back They transport into other Countries great store of good Horses for service besides Barley Cheese Butter Suet Hides and rich Skins Nuts and Fish In this Province are twenty eight Cities twenty Castles and four Bishops Sees Ripensis Arthusienses and AElburga all near to the Sea-side wilburga in the up-land Country From this Province came the Iuits who joyned in with the Saxons and Angles to conquer England Her chief Towns are Rincopen Hoine and Achausen 14 Diethmarsia is situated betwixt the Rivers Albis and Eidera They were a parcel of the old German Saxons and the Country it self is by some yet reckoned the lower Saxony but it is in subjection to the King of Denmark for it is the seat and title of his first Son and heir apparent as the Dauphinate is to the Son of France and Wales to the Son of England Her Metropolis is Breme the rest Meldorp and Heininckst and Tellinckst and other rich Towns yet the soyl cannot be very fertile by reason of the moist air and her many Marshes especially toward the North which makes it unfit for tillage and indeed impassable for travellers Upon which impediments the Inhabitants have made this advantage to keep out all forein Invaders and appropriate what wealth they have to their own secure possession 15 Scania or Scandinaria in the largest compass comprehends more than belongs to the Kingdome of Denmark and is invironed round about with Seas except on that side where it is joyned to Muscovy On her West â—s the Kingdom of Norway on her East Swethland and upon the South of that is this Scania which gives place to no Region at least within these Dominions either for wholsome air or fertile soyl for commodious Havens and plenty of Merchandise for dainty Rivers of store of Fish for Cattel Mines of Iron Lead Silver and Gold fair Towns and civil Customs The Metropolis is Lumpis This whole Province is some eighteen miles in length and in breadth about twelve in some places in others not above six 16 Hollaudia on the North of Scania and South of Suecia is bounded with the Seas upon the West and on the East with vast Woods which divide her from Gothland It is a fertile Region and not much unlike unto Scandia but that it comes somewhat short of her happiness in soyl Her chief Town is Hallausoc 17 Blescida or Blicker is bounded on the East and South with Baltick Ocean and on the North is parted from Scania by a little patch of the Sea It is a Region full of Rocks Woods and Mountains Her chief City and Castle is Culmaria a strong defence against the Swethelander and the next Town of note is Malmagia the birth-place of Casparus Bartholinus a late approved Writer in the Arts. 18 In the Sinus Codanus near to the Cimbria Chersonesus there are numbred 35 Islands The chief are 1 Zealand in length 64 miles in breadth 52 it contains in it 13 Cities 7 Castles with divers pretty Towns and Villages The Metropolis is Haâ—â—nia the single University within the King of Denmarks government And here is his chief place of reâ—idency which by the Germans is called Koppâ—nhagen the Merchants Haven Her other Towns are Roschilt a Bishops See and heretofore a strong Fortress well furâ—isht for war and honoured with the Sepulchres of some of their Kings but yet it is now at a lower ebb and of little respect Elsner or Helsinura is a Sea-town That in Helsinura is called Croneburgh well furnished with all provision The other in Scania Hepsigburgh of equal strength to cause the best Ship to cast Anchor and satisfie their King before they shall have the way open out of the Baltick into the Ocean 19 2 Fionia or Fimera is second to Zealand both in bigness and plenty of rich commodities It is in length 12 miles and 4 in breadth A pleasant Region fertile and fruitful Here are in this Island 8 Cities the chief is Ottonium Odensch or Oâ—sell in the very middle almost It was a Bishops See well built but ill fenced for it hath been oft times wasted and burnt by the Enemy The other Towns are upon the Seaâ— coast and their names are Neburgh Sinborgh Feborch Ascens Eorgena Middlesar and Kortemunde beside some Castles many Villages and Noble-mens houses 20 3 Laglant 7 miles in length and hath in it many Villages and fair buildings The City Râ—theopinga and the Castle Trancura 4 Loilant near Seelant It is full of Hazels that they fraught Ships with Nuts and traffique for them into many other
Countries It hath five Towns Nistad Nasco Togrop Rothus and Marilus with some strong Castles pretty Villager and Noble-mens houses 5 〈◊〉 in length four miles Her Cities are Stubecopen and Nicopen a pleasant and a fair one for which she is by some stiled the Neopolis of Denmark 6 Moena or Muen In this the City Steck and Elmelanda 7 Femera or Femeren Her chief Cities are Derborch and Petersborn and Stabull and here is the Castle Vraniburgh built by the great Mathematician Ticho Brahe which besides the fame of its own artificial structure is much celebrated for the admirable Instruments which are there kept whereby the particular motion of the Heavens is excellently observed 21 8 And to this Kingdom belongs the Islands Borâ—holme which lies in the Baltick Seas called more particularly Mare Suevicum betwixt Blicker and Pomerania It is a Region of excellent pasture and feed abundance of Cattel and therefore is full of Butter Cheese Wool Hides c. and sends into other Countries much of their provision for victuals powdered and barrelled up for the longer keeping It hath some well peopled Towns the chief is Boruholme It had lain for fifty years together in pawn to the State of Lubeck but was redeemed by Frederick the second 22 From these and those many other Northern Islands there have issued in several ages an innumerable sort of Nations which like so many birds as Maginus calls them have flown over the greatest part of our Christian world He concludes that ex his insulis olim Gothi Ostrogothi Vestrogothi Vandali Franci Cimbri Gepidae Dani Hunni Suedi Herculi Rugi Alani Longobardi Alemani alii plures Danubio Rheno superatis omnem Europam praesertim ipsam Italiam altricem imperii dominum 400. plus annis perpetuâ quadam regionum successione subjugarunt ac Romani nomines gloriam ferè omnem extinxerunt POLONIA P. Kaerius Caelavit The Description of POLAND THE Kingdom of Poland borders upon the East-side of Germany and indeed as far as the Râ—ver Vistula it is accounted a part of the Empire and useth the same Speech Religions and Customes as the other Territories admitting only that variety which all of them have among themselves and must needs be found in so large compass s governed by so many several free Princes Beyond the River as it shrinks from the seat of Christianity so it begins to degenerate into a kind of Heathenish rudeness which favours of their Predecessors 2 For this Tract is a part of Sarmatia Europae and the first Inhabitants were the Sauromatae a Scythian people as well for barbarisme as by name It was next possest by the Vandals an active Nation of whom we have had some inkling at least almost in every place which we have past For they have spread their Victories through Europe and have left either name or story behind them in Spain France Italy Germany Tnrace and where not Their most received pedegree is from Vandalus whom Tacitus remembers the Tuscane King of the Progeny of Tuisco first Founder of the Germans Yet Munster in his Cosmography mentions a pretty conjecture of some well wishers it seems perhaps to their own Countrey which gave the original of their name of Vandals to one Vanda a Queen of Poland 3 Briefly Were the Vandals natives or were they invaders here they were found and ejected by the Sclavonians and these were the third Inhabitants of Polonia She was over-run at the same time and had the same fortune with Bohemia they were both lost to their old Lords and divided betwixt the two runnagate brothers of Croatia Zechius and Lechius who being forced for a murder out of their own soyl brought on their crew into these parts abouâ— the year 550. and here have continued in their posterity to this day They are as yet remembred in the very names of the people For the Bohemians in their proper language call themselves Zechians and in the greater Poland there is still extant a Territory known by the title of Regnum Lechitorum 4 Her Etimon signifieth no other than the site of the Country as the Sclavonians first descryed it For it was a Champian or plain field and so is Pole land interpreted out of the Sclavonish tongue It was before called Sarmatia and the people Sauromatae ab oculis Lacertarum Lizzards eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a property it seems which gave name to all her Nations For this was divided from another Sarmatia by the River Tanais that on the one side was Asiatica for the most part wild Heathenâ—sh Idolaters and in the farthest parts of Scythia some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this other is Europaea which being joyned with some parts of Germany Westward to the River Odera Silesia and Moâ—avia make up the Kingdome of Polonia as it is here described 5 The bounds then of this great Region are on the West the River Odera Silesia and Moravia on the East the River Neiper which Ptolomy calls Boristhenes on the North Pomerania or rather the Baltick Ocean and on the South Russia and the Mountains of Hungary And if we will with Maginus take in the out Provinces which belong to this Government we must reach Eastward the Tartars and 〈◊〉 that live near on the other side of Boristhenes and North-east ward part of Muscovia Southward the Hungarian mountains and the Vallaci insomuch that the compass would come little short of all Spain as it lieth beyond the Pyrenaean 6 The principal Rivers of Poland are 1 Vistula it hath its rise in the Caparthian Mountains which divide this Kingdom from Hungary and it self runs into the Baltick but by the way takes in divers other streams on the West out of the Polonia Germanica and on the East out of the Sarmonica It is navigable 400 miles 2 Neister which hath her Fountains in the hills of Hâ—ngary and glâ—des East ward on the South of Podolia into the Pontus Euxinus 3 Neiper or Boristhenes which bounds the Kingdom on the East is navigable 600 stadia and runs from North to South into the Pontus Euxinus where there is naturally cast up plenty of Salt which needs no art to perfect it 4 Rubin in Lituania 5 Hypanis now Bugh not far distant from the City Oleska and falls at last into the River Vistula with many others of lesser note though all conduce to make the Countrey in some kinds very fertile 7 For it abounds with most sorts of Corn and Pulse sufficient both for their own spending and continual traffique into other Countries Many of her neighbouring Regions could not well miss her plenty as well of Whet Rie and Barley as Beeves and other Cattel which gives supply to Saxony and the rest of Germany near hand which hardly yield enough for their Inhabitants out of their own store The blessing of this fertility cannot come alone but must needs bring with it the like riches of butter Cheese Milk Wax Honey and
Merhamed the Great Mogul The others of most note are Moltan Scheâ—â—us for antiâ—uity Polymbothy the Palibothra of Ptolemy 4 Delly so nam'd from its Mother City sometimes the Seat of the Great Moguls where many of them had their Sepulchral Monuments many other great Towns and Cities there are in this Province among which Tremer is particularly culiarly mentioned and also Doceti made the more remarkable by the great overthrow given by Merhamed to Badurius 5 Agra whose Supreme City of the same name is the present Imperial Seat and ordinary residence of the Great Mogul ever since the time of Ecâ—ar it stands on the Eastern-bank of the River Iemâ—na and not above 18 miles the way being stag'd with Mahometan Temples from Fatepore once a stately City to which Echebar removed his Court from Caximir and built him here a Royal Palace with sumptuous Gardens but much demolished since the removal of the Imperial Seat to Agra whither the materials of the said Palace were conveyed Hendee adorned with a Regal Castle which serves for a Prison of State hewn out of the main Rock as also two Hospitals for maimed Commanders Biani the most peculiar place in all East-India for the manufacture of Indico all the way between Lahor and Agra which is reckoned 400 miles is set with rows of Mulberry and other fair trees on each side the way and at every ten miles end fair houses for the entertainment of Travellers Within this Terrritory is included the Kingdom of Gualiar with its grand City of the same name where the Mogul hath a rich Treasury of Gold and Silver and a strong Castle for Prisoners 6 Sanga once a Kingdom whose Regal City Citor of 12 miles circuit and seated on a Rocky Hill with a narrow access shews the ruines of 100 Temples since its being taken first from Queen Crementina by Badurius King of Cambaia afterwards from him by the Great Mogul 180 miles from Agra is Azimere remarkable for the Pillars erected by Echebar between that and Agra one at the end of every mile and half and at 15 miles end a Caravansera or Inn for Travellers Into this division is reckoned the Kingdom of Nagracut with its Metropolis of the same name in which is a Chappel seel'd and pav'd with Plates and adorn'd with figures of massy Silver 7 Cambaia divided into 3 Provinces Sinda Gusarate Cambaia properly so called Of Sinda a great part whereof is a wast sandy Desartâ— the chief Towns or Citi 's are Tutta a Town well Traded by the Portugheses Lauribander supposed very near if not in the same place with that ancient Aâ—exandria Calwalla given by Echebar for the maintenance of a race of Women-dancers Radempoor a large City at the entrance of the Desart fortified with a strong Castle Nuraquemire a grateful retreat for such as have past a wearisome journey of ten daies through the Desart at the farthest end whereof it is seated Sarrama the center of the Province to which it belongs as it is usually accounted Of Guasarate whose ancient Inhabitanâ—s are the Râ—sboochs yet unsubdued by the Mogul Diu a Town of great importance to the Portughâ—ses by whom it hath been long possest and so well fortified that it held out and baffleda strong Siege laid against it by the Admiral of the Great Turk Solyman the Magnificent in the year 1537. Sauran a Town of the forementioned Resboochs which fortified with a strong Castle defies the whole power of the Mogul Boldra a Town more neat and handsome than large Amadabat accounted by some the chief City of Gusarate Sâ—rkâ—ff adorned with the Sepulchres of the ancient Cambaian Kings Ardovat Saringo and Periano Of Cambaia properly so called the Metropolitan City of the same name for its populousness term'd the Caire of the Indies Baracho where the best Calicuts are made Swally giving name to a very commodious Bay Surat a pleasant well-built and well-fortified City and at present a very eminent Factory of English Merchants Neriand a Town of all the East-Indies second only to that of Biani for the manufacture of Indico's Daman a neat and well-fortified Town in possession of the Portugheses Campanel once the usual Râ—sidence of the Cambaian Kings being encompassed with a seven-fold wall and seated on the top of an high Hill Dacaiotote a place whose strength rendred it capable to capitulate with the Mogul for a King or Governor of their own Netherby a Town trading in Aâ—mory and brasen Ware Tanai and Bandore 8 Decan having a City of the same name whose Inhabitants are very wealthy though Bider was rather made choice of for the Royal Residence at least it was the Seat of Mamutâ—a as Danager of Niâ—almoxa and Visapore of Idalcan Goa the most flourishing Emporium of the Portugheses in the East-Indies and therefore the Seat of their Vice-Roy and an Arch-Bishops See and so impregnably fortified that Idalcan attempted in vain with all his force to take it in the year 1573. Chaul a Sea-port Town in possession also of the Portugheses by them no less strongly fortified and no less vainly assaulted by Nisamolocco another King of Decan Brampore once the Royal Seat of Chanlis taken from Miram the then King by the Mogul in the year 1600. Sintacora and Balagnate the native people of this Countrey were formerly called Venazarari who still hold out in some parts against the Mogul as the Resboochs in Cambaia 9 Canara ancient accounted a part of Decan but now almost wholly in the power of the Kings of Narsinga except what the Portugals possess of it The now most flourishing Towns belonging to it are Meâ—inde Onor Sea-Port Towns Baticalia Mayendre Mongalor recovered from the Portugals by the King of Narsinga Lispor chiefly remarkable for the Quarries of Adamant near it Salsette seated in a Peninsula under the subjection of the Portugals 10 Malabar divided into 7 Provinces some whereof are Kingdoms viz. Calecut Granganor Cochin Caicolam Coulan and Travancor The most memorable Towns or Cities of Calecut are the Metropolitan from whence it takes denomination and whence that sort of linnen-Cloath which had here its first manufacture is called Calicut Of Cranganor there is only of note one City of the same name in which are said to be no less than 70000 Christlans of the race of those converted by Sr. Thomas Of Cochin Angamale an Archiepiscopal See of these Thomasian Christians and Cochin an Episcopal See Of Caicolam one only of remark giving name to the Province Of Coulam the like accounted by some the Soveraign City of all Malabaâ— and once the peculiar Residence of the Cobâ—itin or Arch-Priest of the Bramines Of Travancor the denominating City and Quilacare which a petty King of Travancor holds of the King of Narsinga by a most bloody tenure being obliged at 12 years end to sacrifice himself in a horrid manner to a filthy Idol 11 Narfinga or Bisnagar in which are many Cities worth notice as Cael whose Inhabitants the Paravi a sort of Christians live
themselves near this Lake is another whose waters cast up a sulphureous scum Of the Mountains of thâ—is Countrey the only of note are those famous Amadoci Riphaei and Hyperboreâ— so much spoken of and so obscurely defin'd by the Ancients being one continued ridge of â—ilâ—s which under these several names runs overthwart European Sarmatia and tends first North then South lastly Eastward into Asiatick Sarmatia The Russian or Moscovian Empire is divided into 30 Provinces whereof several are Dutchies and Principalities viz. 1 Moscovia properly so called the Principal City whereof and not only of this Province but of the whole Empire is Mosco seated on a River of the same name but five miles in compass since burnt by the Tartar it contains 16 Churches built for the most part like the houses of mud and wood but the chief ornament of the Town is the Emperor's Palace like a Town for largeness next it is the Palace of the Patriarch This City is defended by two Castles Kitugorod and Basigorod the next Town of note is Sloboda a Bishop's See This Province extends from East to West 600 German miles and besides the inferior Souldiery furnishes the Great Duke with 3000 Boiares who serve in the nature of the Tuâ—kish Timariots or such as hold by Knights service 2 Volodomire a Dukedom added to the Title of the Great Duke a fertile Province once the Seat of the Empire till the time of Iohn Danielovitâ— who removed to Mosco from which it is distant 36 Polonish miles the next City of note is Muron 3 Novogardia the lower not inferior to Wolodomire in fertility and a Dukedom whose denominating City scarce parallell'd by any other of the Empire for largeness and fair building is seated on the Confluence of the Volga and Occa and guarded with a strong Castle hew'd out of a Rock by the Great Duke Basiâ—ius and adorned with a stately Temple reported to be built in imitation of that of St. Sophia at Constantinople In some out-skirts of this Province rather than in distinct Provinces there may be said to live rather than inhabit sculking up and down in Woods and Wildernesses two rustick people the Czeremissi wonderfully swift of foot both men and women and most expert handlers of the Bow and Arrow and the Mordwits the civiller of the two and not altogether without Houses and little scattering Villages but both of them either Maâ—umetans or rather the greatest part of them down-right Idolaters being boâ—h of them a sort of Tartars though within the Great Dukes Dominion 4 Rostow 5 ustynga 6 Vologda 7 Iaroslow with their several Provincial Towns or Cities of the same denomination which some will have to belong to the Province of Moscovia Rostow and Iaroslow seated on the banks of Volga have both the Titles of Dukedoms and belonged heretofore to the Great Duke's second Son the first is one of the Metropolitan Sees and guarded with a Castle the other a Bishop's See Vologda is also a Bishop's See and fortified with a strong Castle where the Czar keeps part of his treasure 8 Duina as it were Twain so called from its principal Town and that from the River upon which it stands in which are united the streams of Iuch and Sachona But the places of most trade and concourse are St. Nicholas a Sea-Port Town and Bâ—shops See on the Gulph of Granvicus otherwise called the Bay of St. Nicholas into which the River Duina cischargeth it self and especially St. Michael generally called Archangel where the English Merchants have a very great Trade and large-Priviledges there are also to be taken notice of Sanga so named from the stream Sachona on which it stands and Cargapol another Bishops See besides the strong Castles Colmagro and Pineâ—ul 9 Rhesan between Occa and Tanais adding the Title of another Dukedom to the Czar a very fertile Province and well peopled yielding to the service of the Czar no less than 1500 Boiari Kâ—ights or Horsemen and consequently Foot proportionably The Town from which the Province takes name stands upon the River Octa the rest are Cossira an Episcopal See Tulla the source or fountain-head of Tanais and Colluga a strong Garrison against the Tartars 10 Severia a large and in some places fertile Dutchy for it is very much taken up with vast Desarts and Forests the most observ'd Towns are Starodub Potâ—volo and Czernigo 11 The Dutchy of Woâ—otine which stretcheth it self along the Western-Bank of the River Occa upon which also stands the Town of Worotine with a strong Castle 12 Permia a large extended Province and deriving name from its chief Town seated on the River Vishore second to which Town is Siewarsky 13 Smolensco Dutchy full of thick Forests extending it self along the banks of the River Niâ—per upon which the City Smolensco stands an Episcopal See 14 Mosaiski a Dukedom extending in length above 87 German miles and as much in bredth taken by Iohn the Father of Basilius from Alexander King of Poland the City which denominates this Province is a Bishops See 15 Biela or Bielski a Principality with a City and Castle of the same name seated on the River Opska 16 The Dukedom of Ruschovia whose City and Castle of the same name is seated on the River Volga which takes its source in this Province from the Lake Volga 17 Tuver heretofore one of the chief Principalities of Russia whose City Tuverda an Episcopal See and reported more magnificent than Mosco it self is situated on the Volga along whose Banks is extended this fair and spacious Territory affording the Czar no less than 40000 Bâ—iaâ—i and double if not treble the number of Foot 18 Plescow a Principality which stretcheth it self above 80 German miles in length and near a third part in bredth whose spacious Metropolis of the same name is of all the Cities of the Russian Empire the only walled City It was in the year 1509 taken by the Great Duke Basiâ—ius from the King of Poland some say by the treachery of the Priests 19 The Dukedom of Novogardia or Novogrod for distinction sake entituled Novogardia Magna as being indeed one of the amplest Provinces in all the Russian Empire as the City that gives appellation to iâ— one of the largest Cities but generally consisting of wooden or clay buildings seated on the River Narva or Ny ah Archiepiscopal See and one of the four great Marts or Hans Towns of Russia heretofore belonging to the King of Poland as Duke of Lithuania from whom it was taken by the Great Duke Basilius or as some say his Son Ioannes The other Towns thought worthy mention are Narva taken also by the Great Duke from the Polander situate Northward at the Influx of Duina into the Bay of Finland Pozow and Volocoluc two Frontier Towns strongly fortified to prevent the incursions of the Poles besides the strong Castle of Iuanagogoâ—od which serves as a frontier defence aganist the Suedes of Narva 20 Volzka or Wotâ—ka a little Region lying North-west from