Nobles all due respect and the People amongst other blessings extreamly happy in this That they are Masters of their own purposes and have a strong hand in making their own Laws Of all the Seniories in the World saith P. Comines the French Historian the Realm of England is the Country where the Common-wealth is best governed the People least opprest and the fewest Houses and Buildings destroyed in Civil War It is a Country always most Temperate the Air is thick and much subject to winds rain and dark Clouds and therefore Gundamore the Spanish Ambassador here in K. James's his time bid the Spanish Post when he came to Spain commend him to the Sun for he had not seen him here a great while and in Spain he should be sure to find him The Ocean which beateth upon the Coast of this Island aboundeth with all manner of Fish and the Meadows and Pastures with Corn Cattle and all other necessaries a Spaniard boasting That they had excellent Oranges Lemmons and Olives growing in their Countrey which ours wanted Sir Roger Williams reply'd It is true said he they do not grow here yet all this is but sauce whereas we have dainty Veal and well fed Capons to eat with them with many other delicate Dishes worth the name of Victuals indeed There are more Parks Forrests and Chases in England than in all Christendom beside there are in no place of the World greater and larger Dogs than here which caused them to be most in request by the Romans both for their baitings in their Amphitheaters and in all other their huntings the English Cock is a bold and stout Fowl and will fight valiantly with his Adversary and presently crows when he obtains the Victory which seldom happens till death parts them There are 44 Shires and Counties in England every Shire consisting of so many Hundreds c. and every Hundred of a number of Burroughs Villages or Tythings c. But this may suffice by way of Preface the design of this small Tract being not to give a particular or exact description of every County and the Towns and Villages therein since that has been largely performed by Mr. Speed Mr. Blome and others but only to contract in a little volume and price the Natural and Artificial Curiosities and Rarities in England Scotland and Ireland with Remarks upon some famous Persons and Places as also an account of the Earthquakes Tempests Seiges Battels and other strange Accidents and Occurrences that have happened in each County whereby my Countrymen may observe that there is hardly any thing worth wondring at abroad in the world whereof Nature or Art hath not written a Copy in these Islands and therefore I shall not confine my self so much to methodize matters as to time as not to let slip any thing considerable and because I suppose most Men have a desire to read something of their own Country first I have according to the method of Dr. Fuller and others placed the Counties Alphabetically for the more ready finding of them and will therefore begin with BARKSHIRE whether so called from a striped or bark-bared Oak is uncertain is bounded by Wiltshire on the West Hamshire on the South Surry on the East Oxford and Buckinghamshire on the North thereof the air is temperate sweet and pleasant the soil plenteous of Corn Cattle Waters and Woods so that for profit and pleasure it gives place to none The most remarkable place in this County is Windsor Castle a most Princely Pallace both for strength and State and hath in it a Colledge for Learning a Chappel for Devotion and an Alms-house of decayed Gentlemen for Charity it is reported to have been built by K. Arthur and K. William the Conqueror was so desirous of it that by composition with the Abbot of Westminster whose then it was he made it to be the Kings Possession in this Castle the Victorious K. Edward 3. was born and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots he kept at one time John K. of France and David King of Scotland as his Prisoners after which he graced it with greater Majesty by instituting the Honourable Order of the Garter the Institution whereof some ascribe to a Garter occasionally falling from the Countess of Salisbury though others affirm the Garter was given in testimony of that Bond of Love and Affection wherewith the Knights and Fellows of it were to be bound severally one to another and all of them to the King nay some others make it yet more ancient relating that when K. Richard the 1. was at War against the Turks and Saracens in the Holy Land and that the tediousness thereof began to discourage his Soldiers he to quicken their Courage tyed about the Legs of several choice Knights a Garter or small Thong of Leather the only stuff he had at hand that as the Romans used to bestow Crowns and Garlands for encouragements so this might provoke them to stand together and fight valiantly for their King and for their honour K. Edward the Third found a Chapple erected in this Castle by K. Hen. 1. and other Princes with maintenance for eight Canons to whom he added a Dean 15 Canons more and 24 poor Impotent Knights and other Officers and Servants these were to pray for the good Estate of the Soveraign and Brethren of the most Noble Order the Soveraign and Knights had their particular Laws and Constitutions and K. Edward likewise appointed divers Ceremonies and distinct habits and St. George the pattern of Christian Fortitude is intituled to the Patronage of this Order and the beautiful Chappel in Windsor Castle where his day being April 23. is usually celebrated every year and new Knights commonly installed was consecrated by that King to his memory there are of this Order twenty six Knights of which the Kings of England are one and it is so much desired for its worthiness that 8 Emperors 21 Forreign Kings 23 Forreign Dukes and Princes besides divers Noblemen of other Countries have been Fellows of it The Ensign is a blew Garter buckled on the left Leg on which these words are imbroidered Honi soit qui mal y pense Evil to him that Evil thinks About their Necks they wear a blue Ribband at the end of which hangeth the Image of St. George the Hall of this Pallace is remarkable for greatness Winchester Tower for height and the Terrace on the Northside for pleasure but his present Majesty K. Charles the Second hath added such magnificence to it both within and without that now for Grandeur State and Pleasure it exceeds it may be any Paâ—lace of ever a Prince in Europe The Chappel is graced with the Bodies of King Henry 6. and K. Edward 4. those whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain the one being of the House of Lancaster and the other of York lie now united in one mould with the branch of both these Houses K. Henry 8. who there lies interred
was miserably afflicted with barenness of ground Famine Murrain of Cattle and a fearful Comet appeared all which were thought to be the signs of Divine Displeasure for the wrong done to the married Clergy who were turned out of their Livings and ancient Possessions only for having Wives contrary to the Law of God and against all Justice and Reason whereto the unmarried Priests answered That Christ respected neither the Person nor the place but had only regard to thâ—se that took up the Cross of Pennance and followed him But they good men little understood the incumbrance of marrying for otherwise they would have felt that the condition of married men was more truly taking up the cross and enduring Pennance than their careless single Life The Churchmen thus divided and rent the Nobles as well as others took part of either side as they were affected and both parties raised great Armies in their own defence the Fire thus blown from a spark to a flame was like to have grown higher but by mediation Arms were laid aside and the cause was referred to a Council assembled at Winchester where after long debate when the cause was like to go against the unmarried Monks the matter was referred to the determination of a Rood or Image of a Man that stood against the Wall by the persuasion of the great Oracle St. Dunstan who desired them to pray devoutly and to give diligent ear for an answer the Idol being as good natured as they were devout was very easily persuaded to give them this advice God forbid it should be so God forbid it should be so you have judged well once and to change that again is not good This was Authority suâ—â—â—â—ent to suppress the Priests who now with their Wives went down the Wind yet they made another Attempt for persuading the People that this was buâ—â—â— trick of the Monks who placed a man behind the Wâ—â—â— that through a Trunk uttered these words through the mouth of the Rood they therefore earnestly desired â—hat the cause might be heard once more this at last was granted and appointed at Cleve in Wiltshire whither the Prelates and most of the Nobles and States of the Kingdom besides innumerable Gentlemen and Commons came the Council being sate and the Controversie growing hot whether by the weakness of the Foundation or the vast weight of the People or both the joysts of the Chamber where they sate fell down and the multitude with it whereof many were hurt and some killed only Archbishop Dunstan then President escaped for the Post whereon his Chair was set stood wholly untouched which the Monks said was not without a miracle he being their mouth against the married Priests whose cause fell now with this fall and the Peoples affections drawn from them they had liberty now to accompany with their Wives without Cure though not without Care And all this happened by the strange preservation of Dunstan upon the Post which yet is not so strange since the Monks report that the main Beam of his House being one time sunk out of its place and the whole building like to fall and knock him on the Head he made it return into its former place only by making the sign of the Cross thereon with his Fingers so extream powerful was he in such wooden miracles which are not much to be wondred at since it seems his very harp could do miracles as when of itself it sung a Hymn very melodiously yea the blessed Virgin her self is said to have come to solace him with her songs and it was ordinary for Angels to sing familiarly with him and for him to whip Devils that came to him in the Shapes of Dogs Foxes and Bears but his greatest exploit was when the Devil knowing that he was unmarried came to tempt him in the shape of a handsome brisk Wench but the Saint got her by the Nose with a pair of hot burning Pincers and thereby spoiled a good Face making her to rear in a dreadful manner Thus these sottish Monks deluded the People with such ridiculous stories and thereby rather disgraced than honoured those whom they designed to magnify Southampton is a Town populous rich and beautiful from which the whole County derives its name The famous King Canutus his flatterers persuaded him that he was greater than Alexander Caesar or Cyrus and was possessed with more than humane Power to convince these fawning Courtiers being one time at Southampton he commanded his Chair of State should be set on the shore when the Sea began to flow and then sitting down therein in the presence of many of his Attendants he spake thus to the Element Thou Sea art part of my Dominion and the ground whereon I sit is mine neither was there ever any that durst disobey my command or by breaking it escaped unpunished I charge thee therefore that thou presume not to come upon my Land nor wet these Royal Robes of thy Lord that are about me But the Sea giving no heed to his threatnings but keeping on its usual course of Tide first wet his Skirts and then his Thighs whereupon suddenly rising up he thus spake in the hearing of them all Let all the worlds Inhabitants know that vain and weak is the power of their Kings and that none is worthy of the name of King but he that keeps both Heaven Earth and Sea in obedience and bindeth them in an everlasting Law of Subjection After which time he would never suffer the Crown to be set upon his head but presently crowned therewith the Picture of our Saviour on the Cross at Winchester with such strong delusions were these devout Princes drawn away by those crafty Priests who alwaies made gain of their Godliness This King after he had reigned 19 years in great glory died at Shaftesbury and was buried in the Church of the old Monastery at Winchester to which Church he gave most Rich and Royal Jewels whereoâ— one is recorded to be a Cross worth as much as the whole Revenue of England amounted to in one year this Church being new built his bones with many other English Saxon Kings were taken up and preserved in gilt Coffers fixt upon the walls of the Quire in that Cathedral Church In the year 1053. King Edward the Confessor dispossest his Mother Queen Emma of all her Estate because after his Fathers death she Married King Canutus and seemed to favour her Children by him more than the former he also committed her to Custody in the Abby of Worwell yea he so far hearkned to an aspersion cast upon her of unchast familiarity with Alwine Bishop of Winchester that to clear her self she was fain to pass the Tryal of Fire Ordeal which was in this manner nine Plowshares red hot were laid in unequal distance which she must pass barefooted and blindfold and if she passed them unhurt she was judged Innocent this terrible Tryal she passed fairly without the least damage to the great astonishment of
out of the path of Truth gaping only after their own advantage But the King saith M. Paris remained uncorrigible and the Lady lost both her charges hopes and Travel In the Year 1257. K. Henry 3. kept his Christmas at Winchester where new grievances arose the Merchants of Gascoign having their Wines taken from them by the Kings Officers without satisfaction complain to their Lord the Prince he to his Father who having been informed that their clamour was unjust as relying upon the Prince's favour he falls into a great rage with the Prince and breaks out into these words See now my Blood and my own Bowels oppose me The Prince's Servants likewise relying on their Master commit many outrages abusing men at their pleasure neither was the Prince altogether free for it is said that he caused the Ears of a young Man to be cut off and his Eyes to be pluckt out as he travelled by the way which was the occasion of very great disturbances In this Kings Reign a Child was born in the Isle of Wight who at 18 Years old was scarce 3 Foot high and therefore brought to the Queen who carried him about with her as a Monster in Nature In King Edward 3. time Southampton was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicily's Son whom a Countryman encountred and knocked him â—own with his Club the Prince cried out Rancon Ranâ—on that is he would pay him a Ransom but he neither â—nderstanding his Language nor the Law that Arms â—oth allow laid on him more severely still saying I â—now thee to be a Francon or Frenchman and therefore â—hou shalt die and thereupon knocked him at Head In 1554. the conditions of the Marriage between Q. Mary and K. Philip of Spain were agreed to in Parliament upon these Articles 1. That K. Philip should admit of no stranger in any Office but only Natives 2. That â—e should alter nothing of the Laws and customs of the Kingdom 3. That he should not carry the Queen out of the Realm without her own consent nor any of her Children without consent of the Council 4. That if he outlived the Queen â—e should challenge no right in the Kingdom but it should descend to the next Heir 5. That he should carry none of the Crown Jewels out of the Kingdom nor any Ships or Ordinance Lastly That neither directly nor indirectly he should â—ntangle England in the Wars between Spain and France It was also proposed in this Parliament that the Supremacy of the Pope should be restored which was not assented to without great difficulty for the 6 Years Reign of K. Edward 6. had spread a Plantation of the Protestant Religion in the hearts of many The Marriage being thus agreed several Lords and Gentlemen were sent to fetch over the Prince from Spain who arrived at Southampton July 20. 1554. and was met by the Queen at Winchester where they were openly married the disparity of Years in Princes being not much regarded though he were but 27 and she 38 Years old Then the Emperors Ambassadour being present declared that in Consideration of the Marriage the Emperour had given to King Philip his Son the Kingdoms of Naples and Jerusalem and thereupon Garter King at Arms openly in the Church in the presence of the King Queen and Nobles both of Spain and England solemnly proclaimed the Title and Stile of these two Princes as followeth Philip and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Sicily Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Millain Burgundy and Brabant Counts of Habspurg Flanders and Tyrol In 1608. June 26. In the Parish of Christs Church in Hampshire one John Hitchel a Carpenter lying in bed with his Wife and a young Child by them was himself and the Child both burnt to death with a sudden Lightning no fire appearing outwardly upon him and yeâ— lay burning for the space almost of three days till he was quite consumed to ashes In 1619. there was one Bernard Calvert of Andover in this County that rid from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover and from thence passed by Barge to Calice in France and from thence returned back to St. Georges Church the same day setting out about three a clock in the morning and returning about 8 a clock at night fresh and lusty I was at London the same time saith Mr. Clark and saw the man Portsmouth is a very convenient Port The Isle of Wight belongs to this Shire the whole County is divided into 39 Hundreds wherein are 253 Parishes and is in the Diocess of Winchester Out of it are elected 26 Parliament Men Southampton gives the Title of Duke to Charles Fitz-Roy eldest Son to the Dutchess of Cleaveland Winchester the Title of Marquess to Charles L. Pawlet and Portsmouth that of Dutchess to Lovise de Queronalle a French Lady HARTFORDSHIRE so called from Hartford the chief Town therein as Hartford is termed from the Ford of Harts a Hart Couchant in the waters being the Arms thereof It hath Essex on the East Middlesex on the South Buckinghamshire on the West Bedford and Cambridgeshire on the North it is a rich County in Corn Fields Pastures Meadows Woods Groves and clear Rivers and is indeed the Garden of England for Delight and it 's usually said That such as buy a House in Hartfordshire pay two years purchase for the Air thereof no County in all England can shew so many good Towns in so little compass their Teams of Horses are oft-times deservedly advanced from the Cart to the Coach being kept in excellent equipage much alike in colour and stature fat and fair such is their care in dressing and well feeding them and to make an innocent digression I could name the place and Person saith Dr. Fuller who brought his Servant before a Justice of Peace for stealing his Oats and Barley the Man brought his five Horses tailed together along with him alledging for himself That if he were the Thief these were the Receivers and so escaped The most famous place in this County for Antiquity is Verolamium now utterly ruined and subverted and the footsteps thereof hardly to be seen though in very great account by the Romans and one of their Free Cities It was plundered by Boadicia that ever eternized Queen of the Icenians when Seventy Thousand of the Romans and their Confederates perished by her Revenging Sword The magnificence thereof for stately Architecture and Grandeur was discovered by the large and arched Vaults found in the days of King Edgar which were filled up by Eldred and Edmer Abbots of St. Albans because they were the Receptacles and lurking holes of Whores and Thieves hear what our famous Spencer saies of this once renowned City of Verulam I was that City which the Garland wore Of Brittains pride delivered unto me By Roman Victors this I was of yore Though nought at all but ruines now I
That her being a Widdow might be sufficient to restrain him to whom the King replied Whereas you say Madam that she is a Widdow and hath already Children by Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchellor and have some too and so each of us have a proof that none of us is like to be barren and he accordingly married her being the first of our Kings since the Conquest that married his own Subject yet was his love divided among three other of his Mistresses of whom he was wont to say The one was the fairest the other the merriest and the third the Holiest Harlot in England as being alwaies at her Beads in the Chappel when he sent for her to his Bed His Queen lived to see the death of her Husband murther of her two Sons restraint of her self and the rest of her Children so that she had more greatness than joy height than happiness by Marriage she finished Queens Colledge in Cambridge and died not long after At Fotheringay Castle in this County was acted the Tragedy of Mary Q. of Scots Mother to K. James in the 29 year of Q. Elizabeth 1587. This Mary was the Daughter and only lawfully begotten Child of James 5. and succeeded in her Cradle to the Throne she was promised in Marriage to King Edw. 6. of England but by the power of the Hamiltons carried into France and there married to Francis 2. King of France about which time Reformation in Religion began to be practised in Scotland as well as England for at the Preaching of John Knox and some other Ministers Images Altars and such things were defaced and it was further put into the heads of the Nobility That it pertained to them of their own Authority to take away Idolatry and by force reduce the Prince to the prescript of Laws whereupon there was presently bandying of the Lords of Scotland against the Queen Dowager and each of them sent for Aid she from France and the Lords from England but this was matter for Consultation it seemed a bad example for a Prince to give Aid to the Rebellious Subjects of another Prince on the other side it seemed no less than Impiety not to give Aid to Protestants of the same Religion but most of all it seemed meer madness to suffer enemies to be so near Neighbours and let the French nestle in Scotland who pretend Title to England upon such considerations it was resolved Queen Elizabeth should send them Aid and thereupon an Army of 6000 Foot and 1200 Horse were sent under the Duke of Norfolk and others who going into Scotland joined with the Lords where passed many light Skirmishes many Batteries and sometimes Assaults which growing tedious soon after ended in a Peace between France and England upon condition That neither the King of France nor the Queen of Scotland should thence forth use the Arms or Titles of England or Ireland and that both the English and French should depart out of Scotland and a general pardon should pass in Parliament for all that had been Actors in those Stirs The Peace was scarce concluded when Francis the young K. of France died and left Mary Qu. of Scots a Widdow soon after the House of Commons in Parliament humbly moved Queen Elizabeth to Marry who answered That she was already Married to the Kingdom of England and behold saith she the pledge of the Covenant with my Husband and therewith held out her Finger and shewed the Ring wherewith at her Coronation she gave her self in Wedlock to the Kingdom and if said she I keep my self to this Husband and take no other yet I doubt not but God will send you as good Kings as if they were born of me for as much as we see by dayly experience that the issue of the best Princes do often degenerate and for my self it will be sufficient that a Marble Stone declare that a Queen having reigned such a time lived and dyed a Virgin She had indeed many matches propounded to her to whom she gave Testimonies of her Princely favour but never pledges of nuptial Love about this time the Earl of Feria who had Married the Daughter of Sir William Dormer being denied leave of Queen Elizabeth for some of his Wives Friends to live in England he grew so inraged that he persuaded Pope Pius 4. to Excommunicate her as an Heretick and Usurper but the Pope pretending to great gentleness writ to her lovingly To return to the Vnity of the Catholick Church and made great offers if she would hearken to his Counsel particularly That he would recall the Sentence against her Mothers Marriage confirm the Book of Common-Prayer in English and permit the use of the Sacrament in both kinds but the Queen neither terrified with Feria's practices nor allured with the Popes great offers according to her Motto Semper eadem always the same persisted constant in her resolution to maintain that Religion which in her Conscience she was persuaded to be most agreeable to the Word of God and the practice of the Primitive Church Queen Mary after the death of her Husband went from France to Scotland and then sent Letters to Q. Elizabeth offering readily to enter into a League with her so she might by Authority of Parliament be declared her Successor which was but her Right to which Q. Elizabeth answered That though she would no way derogate from her Right yet she should be loth to endanger her own security and as it were to cover her own eyes with a grave cloth while she was alive The two Queens were indeed both of great Spirits Mary doubting Queen Elizabeth meant to frustrate her Succession and Elizabeth lest the Queen of Scots meant to hinder her Succession which created Jealousies and many unkind passages between them as by the sequel appears The Queen of Scots having a desire to Marry again Queen Elizabeth proposed the Earl of Leicester to her but she Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Earl of Lenox and thereupon the next Parliament again move Queen Elizabeth to marry to declare her Successor to the Crown some of them boldly arguing That Princes were bound to design a Successor and that in not doing it the Queen would shew her self no better than a Parricide and destroyer of her Country The Queen was contented to bear with words spoken in Parliament which out of it she would never have endured and commanded 30 of each House to appear before her to whom she said That she knew what danger hangeth over a Princes head when a Successor is once declared she knew that even Children themselves out of a hasty desire of bearing Rule had taken up Arms against their own Father and how could better be expected from Kindred And therefore though she had given them leave to debate the matter of Succession she bid them beware not to be injurious to their Princes patience After which they never made any further motion to her but now the love between the Queen of
Scots and the Lord Darnly began to cool and their unkindness was fomented by one David Risio an Italian Musician and afterward the Queens Secretary who had often secret conference with her when the King might not be admitted this indignity the Lords about the King made him sensible of and thereupon his death was contrived and he was killed in an outer Chamber next the Queen she being then with Child and like by the affright to have miscarried the Earl of Murray base Son to K. James 5. and base Brother to the Queen was the chief instigator of this murther of the foulness of which Fact when the King was sensible he resolved to be revenged upon Murray who having notice thereof prevented it with causing the like to be done to him for soon after the King in a stormy tempestuous night was strangled in his Bed and then cast forth into the Garden and the House immediately blown up with Gunpowder the rumor of this murther being spread abroad common fame laid it upon Morton and Murray and their Confederates Morton and Murray lay it upon the Queen the King thus murthered the Queen was advised by them to Marry James Earl of Bothwell though he was the man that had acted the Murther but upon condition that above all things respect might be had to her young Son and that Bothwell might be legally quitted both from the bonds of his former Marriage and also of the Kings Murther hereupon it is plotted that Bothwell should be brought to the Bar and Morton being his advocate by the sentence of the Judges he is clearly acquitted and then by consent of some of the Nobility he is Married to the Queen being first made Duke of Orkney which bred a suspition in many that the Queen was conscious of the Murther which was the thing the Confederates aimed at by this Marriage for they by all means increased the suspition that they might have the better colour against her and so the very same men who absolved Bothwell and consented to the Marriage now take arms against her as a Delinquent in both forcing her Husband to flee and then seize upon the Queen whom clad in a very homely garment they thrust into Prison in Lochlevyn Queen Elizabeth hearing of it sends Sir Nicholas Throgmorton to expostulate the matter with them who alledged The Queen was subject to no Tribunal under Heaven That no Judge on Earth might call her in question c. They again opposed the peculiar right of that Kingdom and used Buchanans argument in his Treasonable Dialogue That in extraordinary Cases the People have power both to create and to depose their King They then persuaded her to resign the Kingdom which if she refused to do fairly they threatned to question her openly for her incontinent living for the Kings Murther for Tyranny so that through fear She resigned her Kingdom to her young Son James at that time scarce thirteen months old who was five days after anointed and Crowned King and she constituted Murray Vice-Roy during his Minority soon after some of Bothwells Servants were executed for the Kings Murther who cleared the Queen from being concerned in it The Queen having been 11 Months Prisoner afterward made her escape and raised Forces which being unexperienced were soon defeated by Murray whereupon she endeavoured to save her self by flight and travelled 60 Miles in one day and contrary to the advice of her Friends went with a few of her Attendants in a small Bark and landed at Wickington in Cumberland sending Letters to Q. Elizabeth that having made an escape from her insolent and rebellious Subjects she was now come into England upon certain hope of her approved Clemency and therefore humbly desiring that she might be forthwith admitted to her presence Q. Elizabeth sent her Letters of comfort and promised her aid defence according to the equity of her cause but denied her access since she was held guilty of many crimes giving command to have her brought to Carlile as a place of more safety Q. Mary then desired she might depart to some other Country but upon consultation most were of Opinion to have her detained as one taken by right of War and not to be dismissed till she had made satisfaction for assuming the Title of England and for the death of Darnly her Husband who was born one of the Queens Subjects After this many Conspiracies were made to set the Queen of Scots at Liberty The Pope sends out his Bull against Q. Elizabeth freeing her Subjects from all Allegiance to her and the Duke of Norfolk is beheaded upon her account These and many other contrivances and conspiracies seemed very much to indanger the Life of Q. Elizabeth and tended to the Invasion of England whereupon the better to provide for her safety a number of her Subjects the Earl of Leicester being the chief and others of all ranks and conditions enter into an Association wherein they declare That since by Her Majesties Life they and all other Her Majesties Subjects do enjoy inestimable benefit they do by this Writing make manifest their duty for the safety of their Sovereign Lady They then proceed And to that end we and every of us first calling to Witness the name of Almighty God do voluntarily and most willingly hind our selves every one of us to the other jointly and severally in the Band of one firm and Loyal Society and do hereby vow and promise by the Majesty of Almighty God that with our whole Powers Bodies Lives and Goods and with our Children and Servants we and every of us will faithfully serve and humbly obey our said Sovereign L.Q. Elizabeth against all States Dignities and Earthly Powers whatsoever and will as well with our joint and particular Forces during our Lives withstand offend and persue as well by force of Arms as by all other means of revenge all manner of Persons of what state soever they shall be who shall attempt against Her Royal Person c. to the utter extermination of them their Counsellours Aiders and Abettors And if any such wicked attempt against her most Royal Person shall be taken in hand and procured whereby any that have may or shall pretend Title to come to this Crown by the untimely death of Her Majesty so wickedly procured which God for his mercies sake forbid may be avenged we do not only bind our selves jointly and severally never to allow accept or favour any such pretended Successor by whom or for whom any such detestible Act shall be attempted or committed as unworthy of all Government in any Christian Realm or Common-Wealth And do also further vow and protest as we are most bound and that in the presence of the Eternal and Everlasting God to prosecute such Person and Persons to death with our joint or particular forces and to take the utmost revenge upon them that by any means we or any of us can devise and do or cause to be devised and
14. Ann Green a person unmarried was indicted arraigned cast condemned and executed for killing her Bastard Child at the Assizes at Oxford after some hours her body being taken down and prepared for dissection in the Anatomy Schools some heat was found in her which by the care of the Doctors was improved to a perfect recovery which some believe was a miraculous Token of her Innocence she affirming both before and after her Execution that the Child fell from her suddenly into the Vault without any design to destroy it she lived many Years after was married and had three Children The Family of the Popes is considerable in this County the Predecessor thereof being very active under the L. Cromwell in dividing rhe Abby-Lands whereby he made his fortune there are many descendants from him in Oxfordshire of very competent Estates by the same Token that when K. James came to the House of Sir T. Pope when his Lady was lately delivered of a Daughter the Babe was presented to the King with this Paper of Verses in her hand which because they pleased the King I hope they will not displease the Reader See this little Mistriss here Did never sit in Peters Chair Nor a Tripple Crown did wear And yet she is a Pope No Benefice she ever sold Nor did dispence with sins for Gold She hardly is a sev'night old And yet she is a Pope No King her Feet did ever kiss Or had from her worse looks than this Nor did she ever hope To saint one with a Rope And yet she is a Pope A Female Pope you 'l say a second Joan No sure she is Pope Innocent or none The County of Oxford is divided into 14 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 280 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Oxford It elects nine Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl of Aubrey de Vere the twentieth Earl of that Family RVTLANDSHIRE hath Lincolnshire on the East Nottinghamshire on the South and Leicestershire on the West and North the form thereof is round and no longer in compass than a Horseman can easily ride round in one day upon which some will have this Shire named from one Rutt who accordingly rid round it but others will have it called Rutland of the redness of the soil because the earth doth stain the wool of their Sheep into a reddish colour The air is good both for health and delight subject neither to extremity of heat nor cold nor is it greatly troubled with foggy mists The soil is rich for Tillage and Corn Woods there are plenty and some of them imparked the Hills are scored with Heards of Cattle and Flocks of Sheep the Vallies besprinkled with many sweet springs so that they abound both in Grain and Pastures neither is there any thing wanting for mans conveniency even in this little County which is but 14 miles long 12 broad and 42 miles circumference The Ancient Inhabitants were subdued by Publius Ostorius under the yoke of the Emperor Claudius and after the departure of the Romans the Saxons made it part of their Mercian Kingdom This County was bequeathed by the will of Edward the Confessor to his Queen Edgith and after her Decease to his Monastery at Westminster The Family of the Ferrers were at first here seated as the Horshoe whose badg then it was doth witness for in the Castle now the Shire Hall just over the Judges Seat there is an Iron Horshoe fixed curiously wrought containing five foot and an half in length and the breadth proportionable Near Burley House the ancient Seat of the Harringtons standeth Oakham a fair Market Town which Lordship the Lord Harrington enjoyed with a Priviledge that was somewhat extraordinary which was this That if any of Noble Birth came within the Precinct of that Lordship they should forfeit as an Homage a Shoe from the Horse whereon they rid or else to redeem it with a Sum of Money in witness whereof there are many Horshoes nailed upon the Shire Hall door some of large size and ancient fashion others new and of our present Nobility whose names are stamped upon them and many without names That such homage was due it appears because there was a suit in Law commenced against the Earl of Lincoln who refused to forfeit his penalty or pay the Fine Little Jeffery was born in the Parish of Oakham his Father was a very proper man broad shouldred and chested though his Son never arrived at a full Ell in Stature his Father who kept and ordered the baiting of Bulls for George Duke of Buckingham a place requiring a strong body to manage it presented him at Burleigh in the Hill to the Dutchess of Buckingham being then nine years old and scarce a foot and half in height upon which Jeffery was instantly heightned not in stature but condition from one degree above Raggs into Silk and Sattin and had two tall men to attend him he was without any deformity wholly proportionable whereas Dwarfs are often Pigmies in one part and Giants in another and yet though he was the least that England ever saw he was a proper Person compared to him that Sabinus saies was seen in Italy who was a man of a ripe Age not above a Cubit high and was carried about in a Parrots Cage this Jeffery was once presented in a cold baked Pye to King Charles and Queen Mary at an entertainment and ever after lived in great plenty at Court wanting nothing but Humility having a high mind in a low body which made him that he did not know himself and would not know his Father for which by the Kings Command he was severely corrected He was though a Dwarf no Coward being a Captain of Horse in the Kings Army in the late Civil Wars and afterward went over to follow the Queen in France where being provoked by Mr. Crofts who accounted him the object not of his Anger but contempt he shewed to all that every fly has his sting and they must be small indeed who cannot do mischief especially since a Pistol is a pure leveller and puts both Dwarf and Giant into equal capacity to kill and be killed for shooting this Mr. Crofts he was Imprisoned It is said that the Kings great Porter one time in a Mask at Whitehall in the middle of his dance pulled little Jeffery out of his Pocket to the surprize of the Spectators and so I leave Jeffery the least man of the least County in England yet I find in a late Author that there is now or was very lately one Philippa French born at Milcomb in Oxfordshire of 36 years of Age and a married Woman who hath all parts proportionable and of good shape and yet wants half an inch of a yard in height which is somewhat lower than Manius Maximus or M. Tullius who as Varro reports were each but two Cubits high and yet were Gentlemen and Knights of Rome but higher than Canopas the Dwarf of Julia Neice to the
are to be delivered de Ira Dei from the Wrath of God and understanding the name of one of the Youths was Alle They ought saies he to sing Allelujah to the living God upon this Gregory was mighty desirous to come hither to convert these Heathens but could not at that time yet after Pelagius his death being chosen Bishop of Rome and remembring his former intentions he sent Austin with about 40 more Preachers to undertake this work This Nation enjoys a soil equally participating of ground fit for Tillage or Pasture most of her other Plenties and Ornaments are expressed in this old verse following Anglia Mens Pons Fons Ecclesia Foemina Lana For Mountains Bridges Rivers Churches fair Women and Wool England is past compare For the Mountains here and there lift up their lofty heads and give a gallant prospect to the lower grounds all of them having Mines in their Bowels or else are clothed with Sheep or adorned with Woods the Bridges are in number 857 the chief whereof are Rochester Bridge over Medway Bristol Bridge over Avon and London Bridge over the Thames the Rivers are 325 the Principal being the Thames of which a German Poet thus truly spake Tot CÃ mpos Sylvas tot Regia tecta tot Hortos c. We saw so many Woods and Princely Bowers Sweet Fields brave Pallaces and stately Towers So many Gardens drest with curious care That Thames with Royal Tyber may compare The Churches before the General Suppression of Abbles were most exquisite The Women are generally handsomer than in other places sufficiently endowed with natural Beauties without the Adulteration of Art In an absolute Woman say the Italians are required the parts of a Dutch Woman from the Girdle downward of a French Woman from the Girdle to the Shoulders over which must be placed an English Face as their Beauties so likewise their Prerogatives are the greatest of any Nation neither so servilly submissive as the French nor so jealously guarded as the Italian but keeping so true a decorum that as England is termed the Purgatory of Servants and the Hell of Horses so it is acknowledged the Paradise of Women And it is a common by-word among the Italians That if there were a Bridge built over the narrow Seas all the Women of Europe would run into England For here they have the upper hand in the Streets the upper place at the Table the Thirds of their Husbands Estates and their equal share in all Lands which are Priviledges wherewith other Women are not acquainted they were of high esteem in former times amongst Forreign Nations for the modesty and gravity of their Conversations but the Women of these times are so much addicted to the light Garb of the French that they have lost much of their honour and reputation among sober Persons abroad who before admired them The Wool of England is of exceeding fineness of which are made excellent broad cloaths dispersed over all the World to the great benefit of England as well in return of so much Mony which is made of them as in setting to work so many poor People who from it receive sustenance Having thus briefly gone through the Method of the old Verse it is time now we should look upon the Men and they are commonly of a comely Feature and a gracious Countenance for the most part grey Eyed pleasant beautiful bountiful courteous and much resembling the Italians in Habit and Pronunciation In matters of War they are both able to endure and ready to undertake the hardest Enterprises and for their Courage are deservedly renowned throughout the World K. Edw. 3. and his Son did carry their victorious Arms through all France K. Hen. 6. was crowned King at Paris The D. of Bedford was Regent of France and being slain in a Battle was buried in Roan whose Monument when Charles 8. K. of France came to see a Nobleman standing by advised him to raze it Nay answered he let him rest in peace now being dead of whom in War whilest he lived all France stood in fear Marshal Biron said He liked not the English March being beaten by the Drum because it was so slow Sir Roger Williams a gallant Souldier answered him That as slow as it was yet it had gone through all France Our Wooden Walls the Ships are a great security to this Nation the English having been generally accounted the strongest in the World What service did our Ships do us in 88. Sir Francis Drake and after him Thomas Cavendish Esq within the space of Three Years and Three Months travelled about the Globe of the whole Earth Sir Richard Greenvill in a Ship of Q. Elizabeths fought against a great Navy of the Spaniards and his single Vessel was fought within turns by 15 other great Ships whereof the great St. Philip of 1500 Tuns Prince of the 12 Sea Apostles was one yet this valiant Knight sunk Two of their best Ships and killed a Thousand Men He is called by the Spaniards still Don Richard of the Greenfield and they fright their Children with him Our Nation without Vanity may assume to itself the Praise considering its narrow Limits to have produced as many Schollars admirable in all degrees of knowledge as any Country on this side the Alps and received the Christian Faith as some say from St. Peter and Paul and Lucius was the first Christian King of any in Europe Among many other worthy Men Bishop Jewel Bishop Andrews Bishop Whitgift and Dr. John Reynolds are very famous of the last of whom the following account is very remarkable this Jo. Reynolds had a Brother named William who was at first bred up a Protestant of the Church of Eng. and John was trained up in Popery beyond the Seas William out of an honest zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church made a Journey to him where after a conference between them it so fell out that John being overcome by his Brothers Arguments returned into Eng. where he became a very strict and serious Protestant and William being convinced by the reasons of his Brother John staid beyond Sea where he proved a very rigid and violent Papist of which strange accident Dr. Alabaster who had tryed both Religions and among others had some notable whimsies made this ingenious Epigram Bella inter geminos plusquam Civilia fratres c. In point of Faith some undetermin'd jars Betwixt two Brothers kindled Civil Wars One for the Churches Reformation stood The other thought no Reformation good The points propos'd they traversed the Field With equal skill and both together yield As they desir'd his Brother each subdues Yet such their Fate that each his Faith did lose Both Captives none the Prisoners thence to guide The Victor flying to the vanquish't side Both joy'd in being Conquer'd strange to say And yet both mourn'd because both won the day The Government of England is Monarchical of a perfect and happy Constitution wherein the King hath his full Prerogative the
I bear on my Back Because my Lords Horse his Litter did lack If you be not the better to my Lord Graces Horse You are like to go barefoot before the Cross In the Reign of K. James Dr. George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury being hunting in a Park and shooting at a Deer his Arrow by mischance glanced and killed a man upon which Fact it was much debated whether by it he were not become irregular and ought to be deprived of his Archbishoprick as having imbrued his hands though unwillingly in Blood but Bishop Andrews of Winchester and Sir Hen. Martin Advocate defended him giving such reasons for mitigation of the Fact that he was cleared from all imputation of crime and thereupon judged regular and in state to continue in his Archiepiscopal Charge yet out of a religious tenderness of mind he kept that day in which the mischance happened as a solemn fast all his life after In the Year 1553. Nicholas Wotton Dean of Canterbury being then Ambassadour in France dreamed that his Nephew Thomas Wotton was inclined to be a Party in such a Project as if he were not suddenly prevented would turn to the loss of his Life and ruine of his Family the night following he dreamed the same again and knowing that it had no influence upon his waking thoughts and much less the desires of his heart he did then more seriously consider it and resolved to use so prudent a Remedy by way of prevention as might be no great inconvenience to either party and thereupon writ a Letter to Queen Mary that she would cause his Nephew to be sent for out of Kent and that the Council might interrogate him in such feigned Questions as might colour his Commitment into a favourable Prison of which he would hereafter give Her Majesty the true Reason this was done accordingly and soon after the Queen being married to K. Philip divers persons declared and raised forces against it among whom Sir Thomas Wiat of Kent with whom the Family of the Wottons had an entire Friendship was the Principal who being defeated suffered death with many others for the same and of this number Mr. Wotton in all probability had been for he afterward confessed to his Uncle that he had some strong intimation of Wiat's design and believed he should have been engaged in it if his Uncle had not so happily dreamed him into a Prison Thus much for Canterbury Rochester is another City and Bishops See in this County the Cathedral is low and little saith Dr. Fuller proportional to the Revennues thereof yet hath it though no Magnificence a venerable aspect of antiquity therein There was a Castle built in K. William's time but now all in ruines In the woful Wars of the Barons when K. John was viewing this Castle held against him by the E. of Arundel he was espied by a very good Archer who told the Earl thereof adding That if he would but say the word he would quickly dispatch the cruel Tyrant God forbid vile Varlet said the Earl that we should procure the death of the Holy One of God Why said the Souldier he would not spare you if he had you at the like advantage No matter for that said the Earl let Gods Will be done he will dispose thereof but let us not hurt the King Chatham joins to this City and is now one of the Royal Docks for building Ships of which this story is recorded It happened the dead Corps of a man was cost ashore in this Town and being taken up was buried decently in the Church-Yard now there was an Image or Rood in the Church called our Lady of Chatham this Lady say the Monks went next night and roused up the Clerk telling him that a sinful person was buried near the place where she was worshipped who offended her Eyes with his ghastly grinning and unless he were removed to the great grief of good People she must remove from thence and could work no more miracles therefore desired him to go with her to take him up and throw him into the River again which being done soon after the Body floated again and was again taken up and buried in the Church-Yard but from that time all miracles ceased and the place where he was buried did continually sink downward this Tale is still remembred by some aged People receiving it by tradition from the Popish times of darkness and Idolatry In the Reign of K. Will. Rufus all the Lands in Kent sometime belonging to Earl Godwin were by breaking in of the Sea covered with sands and are called Godwins Sands to this day It is said that Thira a Dane Godwins Wife used to make Merchandise of the beautiful Virgins of England by selling them to Denmark at a dear rate seeking thereby to satisfie her own Covetousness and the Danes Lusts which practice she continued till Divine Vengeance fell upon her by a Thunderbolt from Heaven whereby she was slain In 1199. The Town of Malling in Kent with the Nunnery were consumed with Fire In 1216. about Maidstone a certain Monster was found struck with Lightning which had an head like an Ass a belly like a Man and all other parts far differing from any other Creature 〈◊〉 the first of Q. Mary the bravest Ship then in England called the Great Harry being of Burden a Thousand Tun was burnt by negligence at Woolwich About the same time the Parson of Crondall near Canterbury preaching upon a Shrove Sunday went besides his Text into an impertinent discourse in commendation of the Popes Articles lately set forth and in disgracing the Protestant Religion speaking thus to the People My Masters and Neighbours rejoyce and be merry for the Prodigal Son is come home for I know your hearts well enough that the most of you are like my self and I shall tell you what happened to me this Week I have been with my Lord Cardinal Pool and he hath made me as clean from my Sins as I was at the Font-stone and he hath also appointed me to publish unto you the Bull of the Popes Pardon reading it to them and adding he thanked God that ever he lived to see that day and he believed by vertue of that Bull he was clean from sin as the Night he was born which words he had no sooner uttered but he was struck with sudden death and never stirred more to the astonishment of the Spectators In 1575. a vast mighty Whale was cast upon the Isle of Thanet in Kent Twenty Ells long and 13 Foot broad from the belly to the backbone and his Tail as broad the nether Jaw was 12 Foot and as much between the Eyes some of his Ribs were 15 Foot long and so was his Tongue one of his Eyes being taken out of his Head was more than a Cart with 6 Horses could draw the Oyl being boiled out of the Head was Parmacitte In 1548. one Mr. Mr. Arden of Kent by procurement of his Wife was murdered in his own
done for their utter overthrow and extirpation and to the better Corroboration of this our Loyal Band and Association we do also testify by this writing that we do confirm the contents hereof by our Oaths corporally taken upon the holy Evangelists with this express condition that no one of us shall for any respect of Persons or causes for fear or reward separate our selves from this Association or fail in the prosecution thereof during our lives upon pain of being by the rest of us prosecuted and supprest as perjured Persons and as publick Enemies to God our Queen and to our native Country To which punishment and pains we do voluntarily submit our selves and every of us without benefit of any colour or pretence In Witness of all which Premises to be inviolably kept we do to this writing put our Hands and Seals and shall be most ready to accept and admit any others hereafter into this Society and Association The Queen of Scots presently apprehending that this Association was entred into her destruction offers to enter into it herself it permitted to which Q. Elizabeth seemed inclining but it was alledged by her Enemies That the Queen could be no longer in safety if the Q. of Scots were set at liberty that the Reformed Religion lay a bleeding if Papists were admitted into the Court Walls c. In the succeeding Parliament this Association was universally approved and enacted in this form That 24 or more of the Queens Privy Council and Peers of the Realm should be selected and authorized under the great Seal of England to make enquiry of all such Persons as shall attempt to invade the Kingdom or raise Rebellion shall attempt any thing else against the Q's Person for whomsoever and by whomsoever that layeth any claim to the Crown of Eng. and that Person for whom and by whom they shall attempt any such thing shall be altogether incapable of the Crown c. The next Year a dangerous conspiracy was discovered against the Queen for one John Savage by the seducement of Dr. Gifford was persuaded it was meritorious to take away the Lives of Princes excommunicate who thereupon vowed to kill Q. Elizabeth but to make the Queen and her Council secure at the same time they writ a Book exhorting the Papists in England to attempt nothing against their Prince and to use only the Christian Weapons Tears Prayers Watching and Fasting Babington and several other Gentlemen were in this Plot to whom he shewed Letters which he received from the Q of Scots and her Closets being broke open a number of Letters were found from foreign parts offering her their service and 60 Alphabets of private Characters Fourteen of the Conspirators were executed for this Treason and great consultations were held about the Q. of Scots and at last it was concluded to proceed against her by the aforementioned Law whereupon divers Lords are authorized by the Queens Letters to enquire and by vertue of that Law to pass Sentence against all such as raised Rebellion invaded the Kingdom or attempted any violence against the Queen who Oct. 11. went to Fotheringay Castle where Q. Mary was prisoner and the next day the Queens Letters were delivered her which having with a settled Countenance read she said It seems strange to me that the Queen should lay her Command upon me to hold up my hand at the Bar as though I were a Subject â—â—eing I am an absolute Queen no less than her self and especially that I should be tryed by the English Laws It was at last plainly told her by the Chancellor and Treasurer That â—f she refused to answer to such Crimes as should be objected they would then proceed against her though she were absent Being brought at last with much ado to consent the Commissioners came together in the Presence Chamber and the Queen of Scots being come the Chancellor spake thus to her That the Queen had appointed these Commissioners to hear what she could answer to the Crimes laid to her charge assuring her that nothing would be cause of more Joy to the Queen than to hear that she had proved her self innocent Upon which she rising up said That although being an absolute Prince she could not be compelled to appear before them yet to manifest her Innocence she was now content to appear Then one of the Commissioners opened her Crimes shewing that by the Confessions of Babington Ballard Savage and also Nave and Curle her own Secretaries she was privy to their Treasons and consented to the Invasion of England and destruction of the Queen To which she answered that Letters might be counterfeited her Secretaries might be corrupted the rest in hope of life might be drawn to confessions which were not true In this she stood peremptorily that she never consented to attempt any thing against the Queens Person though for her own delivery she confest she did design it and at last requested That she might be heard in full Parliament or before the Queen her self But this request prevailed not for Oct. 25. at the Star-Chamber at Westminster the Commissioners met again and pronounced Sentence against her confirming by their Seals and Subscriptions That after the first of June in the 27th year of Queen Elizabeth divers matters were compassed and imagined in the Kingdom by Anthony Babington and others with the privity of Mary Queen of Scots pretending Title to the Crown of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Soveraign Lady the Queen A few days after a Parliament began where the Peers of the Kingdom unanimously presented a Petition that for the safety of the Queen themselves and their Posterity the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scotâ— might according to Law be published putting her iâ— mind of the fearful Examples of Gods Judgments in Scripture upon Saul for sparing K. Agag and upon Ahad for not putting â— Benhadad to death The House of Commons likewise enforced this request a while after the Queen at last replied to this effect I protest my chief desire hath been that for your security and my own safety some other way might be devised than that which is now propounded but since it is now evident and certain that my safety without her destruction is in a most deplorable State I am most grievously afflicted that I who have pardoned so many Rebels have neglected so many Treasons either by silence or connivence should now at last exercise cruelty upon a Prince so nearly allied to me As for your Petition I beseech you to rest in an answer without an answer If I say I will not grant your Petition I shall haply say what I meant not if I should say I will grant it then cast I my self into destruction headlong whose safety you do so earnestly desire and that I know you in your VVisdoms would not I should do After this the Queen upon much sollicitation sealed Letters for executing the Sentence but was in much
wires and Iron of the Clock melted the Tempest being over and the people recovering their senses some of them were found marked with strange Figures on their Bodies and their Garments not perished neither were any marked who stood in the Chancel In January 1648. there was seen a great fiery Meteor in the Air near Bristol on the South side of the City for divers nights together long in shape and shooting out fiery streams East and West this happened saith Mr. Clark a week before the death of K. Charles 1. and I had it from an Eye witness In August 1655. a Carpenter living at Pennard in this County went to a Fair at Lidford not many miles off to set up some Stalls and left his Wife and four small Children at home but at his return he found all his four Children murthered the eldest being about nine years old and put into a Chest it was supposed to be done by his Wife the Childrens own Mother because she was not to be found Wockey hole in Mendip Hills near two miles from Wells is very remarkable It is an underground concavity admirable for its spacious Vaults stony Walls and creeping Labyrinths I have been at but never in this wonderful Cave saith Dr. Fuller and therefore must use the description of a Learned Eye-witness Entring and passing through a great part of it with many Lights among many other strange Rarities worth observing we found saith he the water which continually dropped from the roof of the Rock made some impression in it but was not turned into Stone as appeared by the shape colour and hardness thereof it being of a more clear and glassy substance than the Rock itself though doubtless in time it will turn to the same substance and thereby the Rocks will be increased John Courcy Baron of Stoke-Courcy in this County was the first Englishman who subdued Vlster in Ireland and therefore deservedly created Earl thereof He was afterward surprized by Hugh Lacy Corrival for his Title sent over into England and imprisoned by King John in the Tower after this a French Castle being in controversy was to have the Title thereof tryed by Combate the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy who was of a lean lank body with staring Eyes is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because weakned by Imprisonment a large allowance of Victuals is given him to recruit his strength The Monsieur who was to fight with him hearing how much he eat and drank and guessing at his courage by his stomach took him for a Canibal who would devour him and was therefore afraid to encounter him Afterward the two Kings being desirous to see some proofs of Courcies strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him Courcy looking about him with a stern and grim Countenance as if he intended to cut it with his Eyes as well as with his Arms cut the Helmet in two pieces at one blow striking his Sword so deep into the wood also that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly he replied Had I failed of my purpose I would have killed the two Kings and all the rest in the place words well spoken because well taken saith Dr. Fuller all Persons present being then highly in good humor He died in France 1210. The County of Somerset is divided into 42 Hundreds wherein are 30 Market Towns 385 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Bath and Wells It elects 18 Parliament men and gives the Title of Duke to Charles L. Seymour Bath the Title of Earl to John L. Greenville and Bristol to John L. Digby STAFFORDSHIRE hath Cheshire on the North Darbyshire on the East Warwick and Worcester shires on the South and Shropshire on the West The Commodities of this County consist chiefly in Corn Cattle Alabaster Wood Iron Pitcoal and Fish whereof the River Trent is very full Stafford Town was built by King Edward the Elder incorporated by King John Litchfield is far greater of much more fame it is a very ancient City known to Reverend Bede by the name of Lichidfield that is The Field of dead Bodies by reason of the number of Christians there Martyred in the bloody Persecution of Dioclesian The City is low seated of a good largeness and Fair withal divided into two parts by a shallow Pool of clear water which are joined by two Bridges made over them having sluces to let out the water the South part is the greater consisting of divers Streets having in it a School and an Hospital of St. John founded for the relief of the Poor The farther part is the less but beautified with a goodly Cathedral Church which is incompassed with a very fair Wall like a Castle this Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or Spires of Stone making an excellent shew and for elegant and proportionable building yieldeth to few Cathedrals in England but by the late confusions it was much defaced In the 35th of Queen Elizabeth 1591. there was a great Tempest in Staffordshire whereby the shaft of the Steeple in Stafford Town was rent in pieces all along through the middle and thrown upon the Church wherewith the roof was so shattered that a 1000 pound would not repair it Many Houses and Barns were overthrown in divers places in that Shire In Cauck Wood above 3000 Trees were blown down and likewise more than 50 Steeples soon after there was a strong North-wind and a very great rain which continued 24 hours In 1662. July 30. between two and three a clock in the afternoon there happened a great storm at Eardly in this County accompanied with Thunder which made such a continual strange noise in the Air that it struck a terror into all that heard it of which there was no intermission for a long time also there fell a shower of Hailstones as big as Hens Eggs some 5 6 and 7 Inches about I my self saith the Relator measured one after the Storm was over and a good part of it melted yet then it was five inches about There was a Gentleman who measured some of them by a good big Watch and they were full as big as it within half a mile of this place the Hailstones lay upon the ground a quarter of a yard thick there was a Man getting in a Load of Hay and his Horses as well as all others would not be ruled but ran about as mad which forced the man to continue in the storm and his back shoulders and arms were black and blew with the Hail it did much hurt to the Barley and struck it out of the Ear as if threshed it beat down other Corn as it stood on the ground all to pieces it also killed abundance of Fowl Sheep and Lambs some of the Hailstones tasted Salt like Sal Prunella and were kept long after without being at all wasted The people were very much amazed and
about the Walls through which 7 Gates give entrance with 5 Watch Towers for defence there are in it divers Churches beside the Cathedral which is seated on the Southside of the City and is an excellent fair building adorned with the Tombs and Monuments of K. John Pr. Arthur and divers of the Beauchamps This City was set on Fire and almost every one of the Citizens slain by K. Hardicknute 1041 for killing the Collectors of this Danish Tribute yet was presently repaired but in 1113. a sudden Fire happened no body knew how which burnt down the Castle and the Cathedral Church likewise in the troubles of K. Stephen it was twice defaced by the Flames and made hopeless of Recovery yet out of these a new Phoenix arose and her Buildings were raised more stately than before especially the Cathedral At Droitwitch are three Fountains of Salt water divided by a little Brook of fresh water passing between them by the boiling of which salt water they make pure white saltt Edmund Bonner alias Savage was born in this County his Father was John Savage a rich Priest in Cheshire his Mother was this Priests Concubine a dainty Wench in her Youth and a jolly Woman in her Age she was sent out of Cheshire to cover her shame and laid down her burden at Elmly in this County where this bonny bouncing Babe Bonner was born in the Reign of K. Hen. 7. He was bred a Batchelor of the Laws in Oxford and in K. Hen 8. time he was made Doctor of the Laws Archdeacon of Leicester Master of Arts Master of the Faculties under Archbishop Cranmer and imployed in several Embassies beyond Sea All this time Bonner was not Bonner being as yet meek merciful and a great man for the L. Cromwell as appeared by some tart printed Repartees betwixt him and Stephen Gardiner Indeed he had a Body and an half but corpulency without cruelty is no sin and toward his old Age he was overgrown with fat as Mr. Fox who is charged to have persecuted Persecutors with ugly Pictures doth represent him not long after he was consecrated Bp. of London and under K. Edward 6. being ordered to preach publickly concerning the Reformation his faint and cold expressions thereof manifested that he had a mind rather to betray it for which he was deprived of his Benefice being restored to his Bishoprick under Q. Mary he caused the death of twice as many Martyrs as all the Bishops of England beside justly occasioning the Verses made upon him If one for shedding Blood for Bliss may hope Heavens widest gate for Bonner doth stand ope No body speaking to Bonner All call thee cruel and the spunge of Blood But Bonner I say thou art mild and good Under Queen Elizabeth he was deprived and secured in the Marshalsea where he lived 10 Years in soft durance and full plenty his Face deposing for his whole Body that he was not famished enjoying a great Temporal Estate by his Father wherein as he was kept from doing hurt to others so it kept others from doing hurt to him who was so universally odious that he had been stoned in the Streets if at Liberty He died 1569. and was buried in Barking Church-Yard among Thieves and Murderers but enough if not too much of this Herostratus who burnt so many living Temples of the Holy Ghost and who had he not been remembred by other Writers had found no place here In the 18th of Queen Elizabeth 1576. June 20. William Lumnley a poor man in the Parish of Emely being kept in Prison by a rich Widdow and having a Mare of 22 years old saith Mr. Stow with Foal within three days after she Foaled a Female Colt which immediately had an Udder out of which was milked the same day a pint of Milk and every day after it gave above three pints to the great relief of his Wife and Children and continued to do so a long time as was seen by many Thousands In her 35th year in the month of March were many great storms of wind which overturned Trees Houses Steeples and Barns and in Bewdly Forrest in Worcestershire many Oaks were overthrown in Horton Wood in this County above a 1000 Oaks were blown down in one day Worcestershire is divided into seven Hundreds wherein are 11 Market Towns 152 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Worcester It elects 9 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl and Marquess to Henry L. Somerset L. President of Wales YORKSHIRE hath Westmoreland and Durham on the North Lancashire on the West Derby Nottingham and Lincoln shires on the South and the German Ocean on the East It is the greatest of any County in England placed under a temperate Climate and so is indifferently fruitful so that if one part of it be stony sandy barren ground another part is fruitful and richly adorned with Cornfields if it be here bare of Woods you shall see it there shadowed with Forrests full of Trees If in one place it be Moorish miery and unpleasant another presents itself to the Eye full of beauty and delightful variety This County being so spacious is divided into three parts called the West Riding the East-Riding and the North-Riding It produceth Corn Cattel Cloth Knives and Stockins The City of York is very ancient and formerly of so great estimation that the Roman Emperours kept their Courts there it is at this day the second City of Eng. the fairest in all the Country a singular safeguard ornament to all the Northern Parts it is a large stately pleasant place well fortified and beautifully adorned both with publick and private Buildings Rich Populous and an Archbishops See The River Ouse flowing with a gentle stream from the North part Southward cutteth it in twain and maketh as it were two Cities which are joined with a strong Bridge whereon is a very great Arch The West part is incompassed with a very fair Wall and the River together foursquare having an entrance only at one Gate from which a long and broad street reacheth to the very Bridge which is beautified with handsome Houses with Gardens and Orchards on the back and pleasant Fields behind On the East side the Houses stand very thick and the streets are narrower being fortified with a strong wall and is divided on the South-East with the deep Channel of the muddy River Fosse which entring into the heart of the City by a blind way hath a Bridge over it with Houses built upon it and so close ranged one by another that it seems rather a street than a Bridge and soon after runs into the Ouse where a stately Castle formerly stood which commanded the whole City but it is now gone to decay toward the North stands the Cathedral Church an excellent fair and stately Fabrick We read that William the Conqueror after he had setled himself in this Kingdom did much a bridge the power of the prelates in Temporals ordaining that they should exercise