both of that City and County he died in 1640. This County is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 19 Market Towns and 248 Parish Churches It is in the Diocess of Bristol Elects 20 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Sackvil who is also Earl of Middlesex as the Town of Dorchester doth the Title of Marquess to Henry L. Pierrepoint and Shaftesbury the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Ashley DVRHAM This Bishoprick hath Northumberland on the North divided by the Rivers Derwent and Tyne and Yorkshire on the South the German Ocean on the East Cumberland and Westmoreland on the West it abounds with Coals Lead and Iron near Darlington in this County whose waters are warm there are three Pits wonderful deep called Hell Kettles these are judged to come of an Earthquake which happened in 1179. For on Christmas day say our Chronicles at Oxenhall which is this place the ground heaved up aloft like a Tower and so continued all that day as it were immoveable till evening and then fell with so horrible a noise that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabout and the Earth swallowing it up made in the same place three deep Pits it is reported that Bishop Tonstall put a Goose into one of these Pits having first given her a mark and the same Goose was found in the River Tees which if true these Kettles have passages under ground within the River Weer at Butterby near Durham in Summer Time their issues a salt reddish water which the Sun makes white and growing thick becomes Salt which the People thereabout always use In the Reign of William the Conqueror one Wolstan was Bishop of Durham whom upon Lanfranks reporting to be insufficient for the place for want of Learning the King commanded to put off his Pontifical Robes and to leave his Bishoprick when suddenly out of Divine Inspiration saith our Historian Wolston answered A better then you O King bestowed these Robes upon me and to him will I restore them and therewithal going to Edward the Confessors Shrine who had made him a Bishop and putting off his Robes he struck his Staff upon St. Edwards Monument which stuck so fast saith the Author in the Stone of it that by no strength it could be drawn forth till he pluckt it out himself which so terrified both Lanfrank and the King that they intreated him to take his Robes again and keep his Bishoprick When K. Edward the 3. was Victorious in France the Scots with David Bruce their King by the incitement of the French King invade England with an Army of Threescore and two Thousand Men and marched as far as Durham supposing that none but Priests and Shepheards were left at home because such a vast number were abroad upon Service but they found it otherwise for the Lords in the North as Gilbert Vmfrevile the Earl of Angus Henry Piercy Ralph Nevil William Dayncourt with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham and others of the Clergy gathered such great Forces and ordered them so well that by the animation of Queen Philip who though big with Child rode in Person through the English Troops and with wise and gracious words incouraged them that they obtained a very signal Victory for meeting the Scots at Nevils Cross in this Bishoprick they utterly defeated their great Army and took David their King Prisoner with the Earls of Fife Menteith Murray Sutherland Dowglas the Archbishop of St. Andrews and others and slew fifteen thousand Scots who yet could not be charged for want of valour especially the King himself who had two Spears hanging in his body his leg desperately wounded with an Arrow his Sword and other weapons beaten out of his hand and yet disdaining to be taken Captive endeavoured by provoking language to induce the English to kill him and therefore when one John Copland Captain of Roxborough Castle advised him to yeild the King struck him so fiercely over the face with his Gauntlet as beat out two of his Teeth but since he could not force a death he must submit to be a Prisoner and was conveyed by Copland and eight of his Servants out of the Field the Queen retired to Newcastle to attend the event of the Battle and understanding that K. David was taken she sent Letters to the Captain to deliver up his Royal Prisoner which he refusing she sends over a complaint to K. Edward who ordered him to come to Calice where he made so discreet a defence that he was sent back and had 500 pound a year in Land given him in any place which he should chuse near his own dwelling with order to deliver up his Prisoner to the Queen which he did accordingly at York with such a modest and ingenious Apology as satisfied both the Queen and the Lords of the Council King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower and continued so eleven years and then was set at liberty upon condition to pay one hundred thousand Marks in ten years as a Ransom Cicely Nevil whose Fathers vast Estate afforded him a Mansion House for every week in the year cannot be here omitted as being the clearest instance of humane frail felicity she was youngest Daughter and Child to Ralph Earl of Westmoreland of which Family Raby in this Bishoprick was the chief Seat he had twenty one Children in all but she exceeded her Sisters in honour being married to Richard Duke of York she was blessed with three Sons each born in a several Kingdom Edward afterward K. Edward 4. born at Burdeaux in France George at Dublin in Ireland and Richard at Fotheringhay in England this was her happiness behold now her Miseries she saw her Husband killed in Battel George Duke of Clarence her second Son cruelly murdered in a Butt of Malmsey K. Edward her eldest Son cut off by his own intemperance in the prime of his years his two Sons butchered by their Uncle Crookbackt Richard who himself not long after was slain in the Battel of Bosworth she saw her own reputation publickly murdered at Pauls Cross by the procurement of her youngest Son Richard taxing his eldest Brother for Illegitimate and a Bastard and yet our Chronicles do not charge her with haughtiness in her good nor dejection in her ill Estate an argument of an even and steddy soul in all alterations indeed she lived to see Elizabeth her Grand-child married to K. Henry 7. but little comfort acrued to her by that conjunction the party of the Yorkists were so depressed by him she lived 35 years a Widdow and died in the 10 of Hen 7. 14â—5 and was buried by her Husband in the Collegiate Church of Fotheringay in Northamptonshire which Quire being demolished in King Henry 8. time their bodies lay in the Church-yard without any Monument till Q. Elizabeth coming thither in Progress gave order that they should be interred in the Church and two Tombs erected over them hereupon their Bodies wrapt in Lead were removed from their plain
Berkâ—y Castle where he was courteously received by Thomas Berkly Lord thereof who was allowed a 100 shillings a day for keeping him close Prisoner But Q. Isabel being much troubled that her Husband lived consults again with the wicked Bishop of Hereford pretending that she was much troubled with frightful dreams which presignified that if her Husband should be again restored to his dignity he would burn her for a Traitor or send her into perpetual banishment the Bishop and several other great Men both of the Nobility and Clergy finding themselves likewise equally guilty became uneasy while the King lived and therefore sent chiding Letters to the Keepers pretending they gave the King too much liberty and kept him too high and delicately and withal added this line at the end of the Letter contrived by the Bishop Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards blood Refuse to fear I count it good Never was the fallacy of pointings or ambiguity of Phrase more mischievously used to the destruction of a King or for the defence of the Contrivers than in this hainous Parricide for it was so craftily contrived in a double sense that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant and himself might find sufficient excuse the Keepers guessing at the meaning took it in the worst sense and therefore putring the L. Berkly out of the Castle they shut up the King in a close Chamber where with the stinch of dead Carkases laid in the Cellar under him he was almost poysoned of which he made complaint to some Carpenters who worked at his Chamber-window but these wretches perceiving this would not do the work they rushed one night into his Chamber and casting as many heavy bolsters upon him as 15 men could carry they pressed them down hard and not content with that heated an Iron red hot and through a Pipe like a Trumpet thrust it up into his body that no marks of a violent death might be seen but however they were heard for when they were thus doubly murdering him he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over Gourney and Martravers his Murtherers expecting rewards had the reward of Murtherers for the Queen and Bishop Torlton disavowing the Command threatned to question them for the Kings death whereupon they fled beyond Sea and Gourney after three years being taken in France and sent into England was in the way upon the Sea beheaded Martravers flying into Germany had the grace to repent but lived ever after miserably thus died this unfortunate Prince in 1327 about half a year after his deposing never certainly was any King turned out of a Kingdom in such a manner many Kingdoms have been lost by the chance of War but this was lost before the Dice were cast no blow struck no battle fought done forceably and yet without force violently and yet with consent both parties agreed yet neither pleased for the King was not pleased to leave his Kingdom and the Queen was not pleased to leave him his life though he often declared in his Captivity That nothing grieved him so much as that tâ— Queen his Wife would never be persuaded to come and see him and swore very devoutly That from the first time he saw he face he could never like of any other Woman by which it appears that neither Gaveston nor the Spencers his wicked Favourites had so far debauched him as to make him false to his Bed or disloyal to his Queen but she was hardened against him thinking it not safe to leave him a part by which he might afterward recover the whole which was the chief occasion of his coming to this miserable end The County of Glocester is divided into 30 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns 208 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Glocester out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men. For the County 2 for the City of Glocester 2 Tewksbury 2 Cirencester 2. HANTSHIRE hath Berkshire on the North Surry and Sussex on the East the Sea on the South Dorset and Wiltshire on the West from North to South it is 54 miles and from East to West 30. It is fruitful in Corn plenteous in pasture and for all advantages of the Sea wealthy and happy Wools Cloths and Iron are the general Commodities of this County Winchester is a City which flourished in the time of the Romans and now indifferently peopled and frequented by water it is about a mile and an half in Circuit within the walls which open at 6 Gates and is adorned with magnificent Churches and a Bishops See Dr. Heylin tells us That one of the Principal Orders of Knighthood is that of the round Table instituted by Arthur King of the Brittains and one of the worlds 9 worthies It consisted of 150 Knights whose names are recorded in the History of King Arthur the principal of them were Sir Lancelot Sir Tristram Sir Lamarock Sir Gawin c. all placed at one round Table to avoid quarrels about Priority and Place The round Table hanging in the great Hall of Winchester is falsly called Arthur's round Table it being not of sufficient Antiquity nor containing but 24 Seats In the Year 959. Edgar the Saxon King hearing the Daughter of a Western Duke exceedingly praised for her Beauty he was so inflamed therewith that he presently made a journey into those parts and coming to Andover in this County he commanded the Virgin to be brought to his Bed the Mother being tender of her Daughters honour brought her Maid in the dark to the King who pleased him as well in his lascivious dalliance the morning approaching this late Maid made haste to rise but the King being loth to part so soon with his supposed fair Lady asked her why she made such haste she told him she had a great deal of work to do and that her Lady would be very angry if she did not rise and dispatch it but being kept longer than her time she upon her knees did beseech the King to free her from her angry Mistriss alledging That she who had been imbraced by the King ought not to serve any other The King hereby perceiving the deceit was very angry yet since he could not recall what was past after having severely reproved the deceitful Lady he turned it into a jest but the Girl it seems pleased him so well that he took her for his Concubine whereby she ruled over them who lately commanded her and loved her entirely keeping to her alone till he was married to the fair Elfreda before mentioned This King likewise debauched a Nun named Wolfchild on whom he begat Edith afterward accounted a Saint He committed the like folly with Ethelfleda Duke Ordmars Daughter who for her extraordinary beauty was called The White on whom he begot his eldest Son Edward for which Mr. Fox affirmeth he did 7 Years Penance enjoyned him by St. Dunstan This Edward succeeded him in the Kingdom at 12 Years old the beginning of whose Reign
all Beholders using this Speech to her Leaders O Lord when shall I come to the place of my Purgation but having her eyes uncovered and seeing her self clearly escaped she fell upon her knees and with Tears gave thanks to her deliverer whereby she recovered her former honour and in memory thereof gave 9 Mannors to the Minster of Winchester according to the number of the Plow shares this King was as unkind to his Wife as to his Mother for having Married Editha the beautiful and indeed vertuous Daughter of Earl Godwin because he had taken displeasure against the Father he would shew no kindness to the Daughter he had made her his Wife but conversed not with her as his Wife only at board but not at bed or if at bed no otherwise than David with Abishag and yet was content to hear her accused of Incontinency whereof if she were guilty he could not be Innocent so that what the virtues were for which after his death he should be reputed a Saint doth not easily appear it seems he was chast but not without injury to his Wife Pious but not without ingratefulness to his Mother just in his present Government but not without neglect of Posterity for through his want of Providence in that point he left the Crown to so doubtful a Succession that soon after his Decease it was translated out of English into French and the Kingdom made servile to another Forreign Nation In the year 1184. A Priest at Andover praying before the Altar was slain with Thunder likewise one Clark and his Brother were burnt to death with Lightning and soon after a shower of blood rained in the Isle of Wight two hours together In the year 1250. King Hen. 3. in whose nature it seemed an inseparable quality to be violent in every thing he had a mind to have done and that sometimes without due respect to his Majesty as appears by what follows This King having a design to advance his half Brother Ethelmare to the Bishoprick of Winchester was not satisfied in sending a strict command to the Monks to chuse him but goes to Winchester in Person and the Clergy being met he gets up into the Pulpit and Preaches a Sermon to them taking for his Text these words Justice and Peace have kissed each other from whence he raised this Doctrine That whereas the rigor of Judgment and Justice belonged to him and other Kings who were to Rule the Nations so quiet peace and tranquillity belonged to the Clergy and this day saith he I hope they will both kiss each other for I doubt not but that both for your own good and my desire you will chuse my Brother Bishop this day with many other words to the same purpose whereby the Monks perceiving the earnestness of his desire held it in vain to deny him and thereupon elected Ethelmare but because he was no Priest they did it with this reservation If the Pope did allow thereof but the Pope resolving to make his advantage thereof as well as the King exacted 500 marks of Church Revenues for his Confirmation which made Matthew Paris a Monk to utter this bitter lamentation O Pope the chief of Bishops why dost thou thus suffer the Christian World to be defiled worthily worthily therefore art thou driven out of thine own City and See and like a Runagade and another Cain art inforced to wandâ—r up and down O thou God of just vengeance when wilt thou draw forth thy Sword and imbrue it in the blood of such wretched Oppressors The Pope it seems was then fled from Rome for fear of the Emperor of Germany and though he would neither reform these grand abuses in himself nor others yet Robert Crosthead the stout and learned Bishop of Lincoln resolved to reform the Monks and Fryâ—ers but they appealing to the Pope the Bishop went to him and plainly told him That all Offenders escaped punishment because his heart was so open and ready to receive Bribes from them The Pope dismist him and sent him back with â—n angry Countenance and reproachful words he was â—t this time at Lyons where a while after the Council breaking up Cardinal Hugo Preached a Farewell Sermon â—o the Citizens and among other benefits which they â—ad reaped by the Popes residence in their City reckoned up this for a principal one That whereas at their â—oming to Town there were but three or four Bawdy Houses â—n Lyons now at their departure they left but one but indeed â—hat reached from one end of the City to the other whereby we may observe that France had some part of the Popes Blessings as well as England But it seems the People had no very good opinion of â—he proceedings of this King Henry both against the Lords and the Church and not only Men but Women â—ndertook to reprehend him for the same for Isabel Widdow to the Earl of Arundel a young Lady having â—eceived a repulse from the King in a matter which she â—lledged was hers in Equity presumed to speak thus to â—is face O my Lord King why do you turn away from Justâ—ce we cannot now obtain right in your Court you are placed as 〈◊〉 middle Person between God and us but you neither govern â—s nor your self neither are you afraid to vex the Church divers ways at present as well as you have formerly nor by several â—ppressions to afflict the Nobles of the Kingdom The King â—eing fired at this free discourse looking on her with a â—cornful and angry countenance spake thus to her with â—loud voice O my Lady Countess what have the Lords of England given you a Charter and hired you to be their Advoâ—ate and Orator because they know you have your Tongue at will No my Lord said the Countess They have made me no Charter but the Charter which your Father made and which your self confirmed swearing to keep the same inviolably and constantly and often extorting mony upon promise that the Liberties therein should be faithfully observed which yet you have not kept but have broken without regard to Honour or Conscience therefore you are found to be a manifest violater of you Faith and Oath for where are now the Liberties of England so often fairly ingrossed in Wriâ—ing so often granted so often bought and paid for I therefore though a Woman and all the Natural Loyal People of the Land appeal against you to the Tribunal of the dreadful Judge and Heaven and Earth shall bear us Witness that we are used unjustly and God the Lord of Revenges right us The King saith the Author abashed at these words asked her if she did not look to obtain her suit upon favour since she was his Kinswoman she replied that seeing he had denied that which the Law gave how could she hope to obtain her suit by favour Therefore said she I do appeal to the presence of Christ against those also of your Counsellors who bewitch and dull your Judgment and draw you
you may make a Devil of it At which answer they laughed and departed In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth a certain Jesuit in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his Glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with an intention to restore it but he fearing the worst being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an Hedge fell into a Marle-pit which was on the other side in which he was drowned In 1613. April 17. in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire a Maiden Child was born having four legs four Arms two Bellies joined to one back one head with two faces the one before the other behind like the Picture of Janus In 1662. July 4. At Litham about two miles from Preston in this County a very strange Fish was cast upon the Shoar it was about four yards in length and as big as an ordinary Horse the forefeet were as long as a mans Arm the hinder feet much shorter but broad like the Finns of a Fish it roared most dreadfully like a Bear it continued alive for some time and multitudes of People came to view it Also much about the same time and nine miles from this place many credible Persons often saw a very dreadful Serpent come forth out of a Wood the length thereof being about five or six yards and they judged it to be bigger than the biggest Cart Axel Tree it was so great that some who viewed the place where it sometimes lay near a Well at Dunkin Hall affirm that it made such an impression on the ground as if an Ox or some more large and pounderous Beast had lain there The Thirtieth of the same month at Ormskirk there happened such a storm of Hail as was hardly ever seen it beat down the Apples spoil'd the Corn broke the glass Windows on that side of the Houses the wind was of and cut the lead in pieces some Hailstones were taken up 8 Inches about and some as big as Pullets Eggs all the French Wheat was utterly spoyl'd and the other Wheat and Barley in the three adjacent Parishes much damaged This County is divided into 6 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns and 61 Churches and is in the Diocess of Chester it elects 14 Parliament men Manchester gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Montague LEICESTERSHIRE hath Lincoln and Rutland Shires on the East Derby and Nottingham Shires on the North Warwickshire on the West and Northamptonshire on the South It is a Champion Country and abounds with Corn Cattle and Coals the chief City Leicester stands almost in the heart of the County which by Etheldred the Mercian King was made an Episcopal See but being removed the Beauty of the Town decayed yet the renouned Lady Ethelfleda casting an Eye of compassion upon it re-edified the Buildings and compassed it about with a strong Wall whereby the Trade of the City was much increased But in the Reign of Hen. 2. Robert Earl of Leicester rebelling against him the King beseiged took and plundered it throwing down the Walls which seemed hard to be done some parcels of them remaining like hard Rocks by reason of the excellent Mortar The King then commanded the City to be set on fire and burnt the Castle to be razed and an heavy Imposition was laid upon the Citizens who with great Sums of Money bought their own Banishments In the ninth Year of K. Henry 5. a Parliament was called at Leicester wherein an 110 Priories were suppressed because they spoke ill of his Conquests in France and their Possessions given to the King In 1485. King Richard called Crookback set out of this City in the morning to meet the Earl of Richmond afterward K. Henry 7. and chose Bosworth Field to try his fortune with him for the Crown of England that day the Van of his Army was led by the Duke of Norfolk consisting of 1200 Bowmen flanked with 200 Curiassers under the E. of Surrey the main Battle K. Richard led himself being 1000 Billmen empaled with 2000 Pikes the King expected the L. Stanly's 2000 Horse to come for his assistance of whose Fidelity to him the King having some doubt he had before got his Son the Lord Strange as a pledge of his Loyalty with him Stanly not appearing K. Richard sent a Letter to him to come presently into his presence or else he swore by Christs Passion he would strike off his Sons head before he dined to which the L. Stanly returned answer That if he did so he had more Sons alive and he might do his pleasure but to come to him he was not determined Which Answer when K. Richard heard he commanded the L. Strange to be immediately beheaded but it being at the very time when both Armies were in sight of each other his Lords persuaded him it was now time to fight and not to put to Execution and so the L. Strange escaped The Earl of Richmond likewise sent to the L. Stanly to repair presently to him but he sent word he must expect no aid from him till the Battles were joined and therefore advised him with all possible speed to give the onset which Answer somewhat staggered the Earl because his number did but a little exceed one half of the Kings yet to make the best shew he could by the advice of his Council of War he made the Front of his Army thin and broad of which the Earl of Oxford had the leading the Earl himself leading the Battle soon after the Fight begun and the Arrows being spent on both sides they came to handstroaks and just then came in the Lord Stanly to the Earls assistance while they were thus contending K. Richard was informed that the Earl of Richmond with a small number was not far off and thereupon being of an invincible courage whereof he was now to give the last proof he made toward him and gave such a furious assault that first with his own hands he slew Sir William Brandon who bore the Earls Standard next he unhorst and overthrew Sir John Chyney a stout man at Arms and then assaulted the Earl of Richmond himself who unexpectedly for all the Kings fury held him off at the Lances point till Sir Wm. Stanly came in with 3000 fresh men and then opprest with multitude K. Richard was there slain It is said that when the Battle was near lost a swift Horse was brought him with which he might have saved himself by flight but Richard out of his undaunted courage refused it saying He would that day make an end of all Battles or else lose his Life In this Battle Henry E. of Northumberland who led King Richards Rear never struck stroke as likewise many others who followed K. Richard more for fear than love and so he who had deceived many was at this time deceived by many which was not unforeseen by some who caused a Rhime to be set upon the Duke of Norfolk's Tent the
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
Admirable CURIOSITIES Rarities Wonders in England Scotland Irland K Canutus Commanding The Sea pa. 86 K. Henry 3. Preaching to the Monks pa. 88 ADMIRABLE CURIOSITIES Rarities Wonders IN England Scotland and Ireland OR An Account of many Remarkable Persons and Places and likewise of the Battels Seiges Prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable Occurrences and Accidents for several Hundred Years past Together with the Natural and Artificial Rarities in every County and many other observable matters As they are recorded by the most Authentick and Credible Historians of former and latter Ages Adorned with the Lively Description of several Memorable things therein contained Ingraven on Copper Plates By R.B. Author of the History of the Wars of England c. and Remarks of London c. London Printed by Tho. Snowden for Nath. Crouch at the Bell next to Kemp's Coffee-house in Exchang-Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1682. TO THE READER HAving already published a brief Treatise called Historical Remarks of London and Westminster which hath found general acceptation I was encouraged to prosecute the same design upon every County in England as also in Wales Scotland and Ireland wherein the Reader cannot be so unreasonable to expect an exact description of every Town or considerable place that having been already performed at large by divers others this being only a Collection of the Natural and Artificial Curiosities Rarities and Wonders likewise of several Remarkable Places and Persons with the Prodigious Accidents in each County as I find them in Mr. Fox Dr. Heylin Dr. Fuller Sir Rich. Baker Mr. Speed Mr. Clark and several other Authors of credit which I have not particularly named to every Relation because it would have taken up too much room most of the particulars herein being very well known to the Learned and for others it will not signify much since this is published for the sake of those that are desirous of knowledge but are not in a capacity to buy a multitude of Books now though the Title speaks of Battels and Seiges yet I have purposely omitted all of that kind which have happened in our late Civil Wars as having already published a book of the same price with this wherein is a succinct Account of all the Transactions during the Reign of K. Charles the 1. till His Majesties Happy Restoration I desire it may please all since I intend to offend none but only to serve the Publick and my self wherein if I find success I shall be very well satisfied neither can the Reader be much displeased to have so much variety for so little money and to find that notwithstanding some think there are no wonders but in other Countries he may yet observe there are it may be as strange things at home as in other places R. B. Of BRITTAIN THE Island of Brittain is of all others the most famous and has been accounted the greatest in the World it comprehendeth all those Islands both great and less which lie in compass about it the length thereof from South to North that is from Lysard Point in Cornwall to the North of Scotland is 624 miles and the breadth thereof from the Lands end in Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet in Kent about 300 English miles It is a Country always very temperate and was highly esteemed by the Romans as appears by what hath been said concerning it by one of their Orators who calls it the happy and most fortunate Island endued by nature with all the blessings of Heaven and Earth in that therein is neither extream cold in Winter nor scorching heats in Summer and that which is most comfortable long daies and very lightsome nights wherein there is such an abundance of Grain as may suffice both for Bread and Wine the Woods thereof are without wild Beasts the Fields without noysom Serpents but therein are vast numbers of Milch Beasts and Sheep weighed down with their own Fleeces To which may be added what Alfred the Poet of Beverly writ long since of Brittain Insula praediveâ— quae toto vix eget orbe c. A wealthy Island which no help desires Yet all the world supply from her requires Able to glut King Solomon with pleasures And surfeit Great Augustus with her Treasures As to the name Brittain there is no great certainty of its Original that which hath passed for currant in former times when almost all Nations did pretend to be of Trojan Race was that it took this name from Brutus affirmed to be the Son of Silvius Grand-Child of Aeneas and third King of the Latines of the Trojan Blood which Brutus having unfortunately killed his Father and thereupon flying from Italy with his Friends and followers after a long Voyage and many wandrings is said to have fallen upon this Island and to have conquered here a race of Giants and having given unto it the name of Brittain to leave the Soveraignty thereof to his posterity who quietly enjoyed the same till subdued by the Romans but this Tradition has been since laid aside as altogether fabulous since the Roman Historians never mention either Brutus or the Giants Caesar telling us that he found the Brittains under many Kings and never under the command of one sole Prince but in times of Danger it is therefore more probable that it was derived from Britt which in the Brittish Language signifies Painted and the word Tain a Nation agreeable to the custom of the Ancient Brittains who used to discolour and paint their Bodies that they might seem more terrible in the Eyes of their Enemies such as the Romans called afterwards Picts or Painted Men other particulars may be observed in the description of those parts into which it is now divided that is 1. England 2. Wales 3. Scotland ENGLAND is bounded on the East with the German on the West with the Irish on the South with the Brittish Oceans and on the North with the Rivers of Tweed and Solway and thereby parted from Scotland invironed with Turbulent Seas guarded by inaccessible Rocks and where these are wanting preserved against all Forreign Invasions by strong Forts and a puissant Navy The whole Island was first called Albion either from the story of one of the Giants so called or Ab albis Rupibus the white Rocks toward France which name continued till the time of Egbert the first Saxon Monarch who called the Southern parts thereof England from the Angles who with the Juits and Saxons conquered it Pelagius being Bishop of Rome Gregory seeing some beautiful Children in the Market place of Rome to be sold he inquireth what Country they were of who answered Angli Englishmen and were Heathens what pity is it said he that the Inhabitants being so fair and Angelical of Countenance should yet be subject to the Prince of Darkness asking further of what Province they were they answered Deira a Province in England then so called These People saith he
Prime the the Batchelors Beadle who was present at the opening of the Fish was carried to the Vice-Chancellor who took special notice of it examining the particulars before mentioned the leaves of the Book were carefully opened and cleansed the Treatises contained in it were A Preparation for the Cross a Preparation for Death the Treasure of Knowledge a Mirrour or Looking-glass to know themselves by a brief Instruction to teach one willingly to die and not to fear death they were all re-printed and how useful the reviving of these Treatises by such a special Providence hath been may be easily discerned by such as have lived since these times In the Year 1640. a Pond in Cambridge became red as Blood the water whereof being taken up in Basons remained still of the same colour and many strange sights were seen in the Air as Armies fighting against each other which were lookt on as sad Presages of our ensuing Troubles Ely another City in this County was formerly a place very famous for a Nunnery there founded by Audrey Wife to one Tombret a Prince in this Province who had this place as a part of her Dowry and she after his death Marrying with a King of Northumberland in a short time left her Husband and the Rights of Marriage and according to the Superstition of those dark times built this Monastery and became her self first Abbess thereof this in the Danish Desolations was destroyed but soon after re-built by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester who stored it with Monks to whom K. Edgar granted the Jurisdiction over four Hundreds and an half within these Fenns which to this day are called The Liberties of St. Audrey after whose example many Nobles so inriched it with Revenues that the Abbot thereof laid up yearly in his own Coffers 1400 pounds and soon after the Monks thereof repaired their old Church with new and stately buildings which now is the Cathedral of the Diocess and for beauty gives place to no other in the Land Ely Minster presenteth itself afar off to the Eye of the Traveller and on all sides at a great distance not only promiseth but giveth earnest of the magnificence thereof the Lanthorn therein built by Bishop Hotham wherein the labour of Twenty Years and Five Thousand ninety four pounds eighteen Shillings ten pence half penny farthing was expended is a Master-piece of Architecture when the Bells ring the Wood-work thereof shaketh and gapeth which is no defect but the perfection of Architecture and exactly falleth into the joints again rare also is the Art in the Chappel of St. Maries and the other of Bishop West wherein the Master Masons in King James his time on serious inspection sound finer Stonework than in K. Henry 7. Chappel at Westminster In 1190. K. Richard 1. went into the Holy Land and at his going left in chief place of Authority at home William Longshamp Bishop of Ely who carried himself so that though the things he did were justifiable yet the pride wherewith they were done was unsufferable seldom riding abroad without 500 or a 1000 Men in his Train not for safety but for State and though others were left in power besides yet he made but Ciphers of them ruling all as he pleased this insolency was insufferable so that some holding for and others against him the Kingdom was in danger to be rent in sunder till at last the Bishop finding himself too weak for his Enemies thought it best to fly out of the Kingdom whereupon for his greater safety disguising himself in Womens Apparel and carrying a piece of Linnen Cloath under his Arm he designed in this manner to take Shipping and go beyond Sea but being discovered and known the Women in revenge of the abuse done to their Cloths in making them the instruments of his deceit fell upon him and beat him so that it might have beaten Humility into him for ever after this disgrace made him glad to get into France his Native Country where to little purpose he woed the King and Queen for Reparation Edward Norgate Son of Dr. Robert Norgate was born in Cambridge and being very judicious in Pictures was imployed into Italy to buy some for the E of Arundel returning by Marseilles he missed the money he expected and being unknown neither knowing any man there he was observed by a French Gentleman deservedly so stiled to walk in the Exchange as we may call it of that City many hours every morning and evening with swift Feet and sad face forward and backward to him the civil Monsieur addressed himself desiring to know the cause of his discontent promised if it were in his power to help him with his best advice and assistance Norgate communicated his condition to whom the other answered Pray Sir take my Counsel I have taken notice that you have walked at least twenty miles a day upwards and downwards which if it had been spent in going forward would in a few days have brought you into your own Countrey I will if you please furnish you with a light habit and a competent sum of Mony for a Footman to enable you to walk home Norgate very chearfully consented being accommodated accordingly footed it through the body of France being more than 500 English miles and so leisurely with ease safety and health returned into England he became after the best Limner in our Age was an excellent Herald and which was the Crown of all a right honest man he died in 1649. I may here insert saith Dr. Fuller an artificial wonder of what is commonly called Devils Ditch Country People conceiting that it was made by the Devil the lie to be sure was whereas it was the work of some King or Kings of the East Angles see the laziness of posterity who are so far from imitating the industry of their Ancestors that they even libel the pure effects of their pains as Hellish Atchievements probably it was made to divide and defend their Dominions from the King of Mercia or possibly to keep the People in imployment and for diverting mutinous thoughts Laziness being the Mother of disloyalty industry of obedience this County by reason of the Fens hath but a sickly air the soil yeilds good Barly and store of Saffron the Herb called Scordium or Water Germander groweth very plentifully in this County of which Diascordium is made in the Country about the Fenns saith Speed Water-Fowl is so plentiful and cheap that five men may be well satisfied with that kind of Fare for less then an half penny when they have mowen their grass in the Fenns as much as will serve they set fire on the rest in November that it may come up again in abundance This County is divided into 17 Hundreds wherein are eight Market Towns and 163 Parishes and elects 6 Parliament Men that is for the County 2 University 2 Town of Cambridge 2 and has given the Title of Duke to four Sons of the Duke of York successively who
ominous and presaging our civil Dissentions There is a Proverb in this County He may fetch a Flitch of Bacon from Dunmow This Proverb dependeth on a custom practised in the Priory of Dunmow which was founded by Juga a noble Lady for black Nuns 1111. But it seems the property of it was after altered into a Male-Nunnery the Friars whereof were sometimes it appears very merry for they ordained That if any person from any part of England would come thither and humbly kneel on two stones yet to be seen at the Church door before the Convent and solemnly take the ensuing Oath he might demand a Gamon or Flitch of Bacon which should be freely given him You shall swear by the custom of our Confession That you never made any nuptial Transgression Since you were married Man and Wife By houshold Brawls or contentious Strife Or otherwise in Bed or at Board Offended each other in deed or Word Or since the Parish Clerk said Amen Wished your selves unmarried agen Or in a Twelve Month and a day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and in desire As when you join'd hands in Holy-Quire If to these conditions without all fear Of your own accord you will freely swear A Gamon of Bacon you shalt receive And carry it hence with love and free leave For this is our custom at Dunmow well known Though the sport be ours the Bacon's your own It appeareth in an old book on Record that Richard Wright of Badesworth in Norfolk in the 23. of Heâ— 6. when John Canon was Prior and that Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex the 7th of Edward 4. and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex the 2. of Hen. 8. took the aforesaid Oath demanded their Bacon on the premises and received it accordingly Randolph Peveril of Hatfield-Peveril in this County was in great esteem with K. Edward the Confessor who was very bountiful to him as having married the Daughter of Inglerick his Kinsman who was of great Nobility among the English Saxons this Lady was of such admirable beauty that she therewith conquered William the Conqueror who desired nothing more than to be a Prisoner in her Arms to obtain which he inriched St. Martins Le Grand in London first founded by her Father and her Uncle K. Edward he then preferred her two Brothers William Peveril to be Keeper of Dover Castle and Pain Peveril he made Baron of Bourn in Cambridgshire having thus preferred her Kindred he began to sollicite her by the Messengers of the Devils Bed-Chamber that is subtil insinuating Pimps and Bawds and sometimes he himself visited her like Jupiter in a golden shower by these forceable demonstrations of love and unavoidable allurements especially from a King she was at length brought to his unlawful Bed unto whom she bore a Son named William who was Lord of Nottingham but his Mother being afterward touched with remorse of Conscience to expiate her guilt was taught by the Doctrine of those times to found a Colledge in the Village of Harpsfield which she consecrated to the honour of God and St. Mary Magdalen wherein setting apart all worldly affairs she spent the remainder of her days and died about the year 1100. In the 17th of Henry 2. there was seen at St. Osythes in Essex a Dragon of wonderful bigness which wherever it moved burnt the Houses and places about it In the Reign of Hen. 3. the King commanded Hubert de Burg Earl of Kent to be apprehended who having notice thereof rose at midnight and fled into a Church in Essex the Officers found him upon his knees before the High Altar with the Popish Sacrament in one hand and a Cross in the other however they seized him and carried him away Prisoner to the Tower of London Roger Niger then Bishop made great complaint to the King of this violence and wrong done to Holy Church and would not be satisfied till the Earl was carried back to the same Church again though well guarded there however this it is thought saved the Earls life for the Kings anger cooled and he was soon after reconciled to him In the year 1510. in the Marshes of Dengey Hundred near South-Minster in this County there suddenly appeared an infinite number of Mice which over-run those Marshes tearing up the Grass by the roots and so poysoned it with their venemous Teeth that the Cattle which grazed thereon died but at length a great number of strange painted Owls came no man knew whence and devoured all the Mice it is reported that there happened the like in Essex in 1648. There were no less than forty four Persons who suffered Martyrdom for the Protestant Religion in this County among whom was William Hunter a young man of 19 years old born of religious Parents who instructed him in the Truth and sent him to be an Apprentice in London where refusing to go to Mass and receive the Sacrament he went home to his Parents at Burntwood and one day going into a Chappel there he found a Bible which while he was reading a Summoner came in and asked him whether he could expound the Scripture he answered He did only read it to his Comfort the Sumner replied It was never a merry world since the Bible came forth in English Hunter answered Say not so for Gods sake for it is Gods Book out of which every one ought to learn how to please God and therefore I pray God that we may have the Blessed Bible amongst us Ay said the Sumner I know your mind well enough you are one of those that do not like the Queens Laws but you and many more must turn over a new leaf or you will broil for it pray God give me grace said Hunter that I may believe his word and confess his name whatever comes of it Nay said the Sumner you confess the Devils name and will all go to him The Sumner then fetcht a Priest out of a blind Alehouse who finding Hunter reading reviled him for it and then asked him what he thought of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar whether there were not really Christs Body and Blood Hunter said He found no such thing in Scripture ah quoth the Vicar now I find you are an Heretick Hunter replyed Would you and I were both tyed to a Stake to try whether of us would stick closest to our Faith The Priest left him and informing against him he was seized and brought before Bishop Bonner who finding that he stood firm to his Principles caused his Officers to set him in the Stocks in his Gate-house where he lay 2 days and had nothing but a crust of brown bread and a cup of cold water after Imprisonment three quarters of a Year the Bp. condemned him and sent him to Burntwood to be burnt where his Father and Mother came to him beseeching God he might continue constant to the end His Mother added she was happy in bearing such a Child who could find in his heart