Hell whom they devoutly worshipped as the preserver of their health Shaftsbury likewise wherein one Aquila either Man or Eagle is reported to have prophecied of future times In this City Edward son of Edgar who was murdered at Corf-Castle by his Step-Mother to make way for her own Son was buried In the Reign of K. Edward 2 the great Earl of Lancaster married a Lady from Camford in this County who was taken out of his house by one Richard Martin a deformed lame Dwarf who challenged her for his Wife alledging he had lain with her before the Earl married her whereupon the Lady was examined who voluntarily confessed it was all true and thereupon the ugly Fellow in her right claimed the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury In the Fourth of this Kings Reign the Church of Middleton with all the Monuments were consumed with Lightning the Monks being at Mattens In the 22d of Edward 3. a Plague was brought from beyond Sea into the Towns and Villages of England on the Seacosts of Dorsetshire which raged so both there and in other parts of England that scarce the Tenth man was left alive in the Kingdom In 1506. King Philip sailing out of Germany to take possession of the Kingdom of Spain was driven by Tempest upon the Coasts of England and landed at Weymouth to refresh himself and was invited by Sir Tho. Trenchard a worthy Knight of that County to his House who immediately sent word to King Henry 7. of his Arrival who glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince sent the Earl of Arundel at present to wait upon him till himself should follow the Earl attended him with a gallant Troop of about 300 Horse and for more state came to him by Torch light upon this Message though K. Philip had many reasons to hasten his Journy yet not to distaste K. Henry he came Post to Windsor where after great and magnificent Entertainment K. Henry taking an opportunity when they were both in a private room laying his Hand civilly upon K. Philip's Arm said Sir you have been saved upon my Coast I hope you will not suffer me to wreck upon yours The King of Castile asking him what he meant I mean saith the King that hair-brain'd Fellow the Earl of Suffolk who being my Subject is protected in your Country and begins to play the Fool when all others are weary of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your felicity had been above these thoughts but if it trouble you I will banish him K. Henry answered That his desire was to have him delivered to him with this the King of Castile a little confused said That can I not do with my honour Well then said the King the matter is at an end at last the King of Castile who much esteemed K. Henry composing his Countenance said Sir you shall have him but upon your honour you shall not take his Life I promise it upon my honour said K. Henry and he kept his promise for he was not put to death during all his Reign but yet he took such order that in the Reign of his Son K. Hen. 8. he had his Head cut off This Earl of Suffolk had lately gone over to Flanders to the Lady Margret K. Henry's sworn Enemy which made the King doubt of his Intentions The Earl was accordingly brought over and sent to the Tower and after K. Philip had received the Order of the Garter and Prince Henry that of the Golden Fleece the King of Castile departed home In the 26. of Q. Elizabeth 1558. at a place called Blackmore in the Parish of Armitage in this County a piece of ground containing 3 Acres removed from its place and went quite over another Close with the Trees and Fences thereon a great way off stopping up an High-way which led to Cerne the same Hedges inclosing it as before and the Trees standing very upright thereon onely one Oak of almost 20 Load fell down in the place from whence it removed there remained a great deep Pit In 1613. Aug. 7. The Town of Dorchester was utterly consumed with Fire which began in the house of a Tallow-Chandler and destroyed the whole Town save a few Houses near the Church and all their Wares and Goods to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds yet no man perished therein In June 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool and soon after dissolved into a shower of Blood which fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops upon them were sent to London and seen by many The Forrest of the White Hart is in this County so called because in the Reign of Henry 3. the King came hither to hunt and having taken other Deer he spared a most beautiful and goodly white Heart which afterward Thomas de Lynd a Gentleman of this Country with others in his Company took and killed for which the King put a mulct or Fine upon him and the whole County and the very lands which they held pay even to this day every year by way of amercement a sum of Mony into the Exchequer which is called White Hart Silver My self saith Dr. Fuller have paid a share for the sauce who never tasted any of the meat so that it seems Kings Venison is sooner eaten than digested Mr. Ignatius Jordan was born at Lime Regis in this County and when he was young was sent to Exeter to be brought up a Merchant in this City having passed through the several inferiour Offices he at last came to be Mayor and was a Justice of Peace 24 years together yet his beginning was but very mean which he was always ready to acknowledg for when some threatned him with Law-suits and that they would not give over while he was worth a groat he cheerfully told them That he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came first to Exeter for said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say He wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and yet raked so much together for their Children do you not see said he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spoke of such as had small beginnings and afterward became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance of himself I came said he but with a groat or sixpence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter In his Troubles in the Star Chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him the Lord is my Keeper I will not be afraid He was famous for Justice and Charity in his life and at his death left very large Legacies to the poor
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
be And lie in mine own Ashes as you see Verlam I was what boots it that I was Since now I am but weeds and wastful grass And another English Poet writes thus in the name of Watling one of the 4 Imperial Highways Thou saw'st when Verlam once her head aloft did rear Which in her Cinders now lies sadly buried here With Alabaster Tuch and Porphyry adorn'd When well near in her pride great Troynovant she scorn'd A nameless Author hath writ thus upon this forgotten City Stay thy foot that passest by And a wonder here descry Churches that inter'd the dead Here themselves are buried Houses where men slept and wak't Here in Ashes underrak't And to the Poet to allude Here is Corn where once Troy stood Or if you the Truth would have Here 's a City in a Grave A wonder Reader think it then That Cities thus should die like men And yet a wonder think it none For many Cities thus are gone Out of the ruines of this City rose the fair Town of St. Albans remarkable for bringing forth Alban the Martyr for about the year of Christ 180. King Lucius reigned in Brittain who hearing of the Miracles and Wonders done by the Christians in divers places sent Letters to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome desiring to receive the Christian Faith the good Bishop being glad of this request sent him two Preachers Faganus and Damianus by whose faithful endeavours it pleased God the King and many of his People were Converted and Baptized the Temples of Idols and other Monuments of Gentilism were subverted thus the true Religion increased and Superstition and Idolatry decreased many Bishops being ordained and set over the People and all things setled in good order after which this religious King sent again to Eleutherius for the Roman Laws according to which he desired to govern his People to which request Eleutherius returned this answer That for the Roman and Imperial Laws they might have their defects but the Law of God could not and thereupon advised him to study the Scriptures and out of them by the Council of his Realm to enact Laws for the Government of his Kingdom For saith he You are Gods Vicar in your Kingdom and therefore it behoves you to unite your People to call them to the Faith and Service of Jesus Christ to cherish and maintain them to rule and govern them and to defend them from all such as would do them wrong c. The Christian Faith thus received by the Brittains flourished here 216 years till the coming of the Saxons But the Ramans continuing Heathens raised much trouble against the Professors thereof especially after the death of Lucius who dying without 〈◊〉 the Barons and Nobles disagreeing about a Successor the Romans stepped in and took the Crown into their hands whereupon great ruine and misery ensued to the Kingdom for sometimes the Idolatrous Romans reigned and sometimes the Christian Brittains according to the fortune of the War The first remarkable Persecution which we hear of was under Dioclesian and Maximi◠when the Heathens raged so extreamly that in Brittany and some other Places there are reckoned Seventeen Thousand Martyrs who suffered for the name of Christ In this Persecution a famous Preacher called Amphibolus being searcht for to be Imprisoned he to escape the fury of his Persecutors hid himself in the House of Alban aforementioned who was a Citizen of Verulam now St. Albans this Alban was at that time a Heathen but observing Amphibolus to continue day and night in watching and Prayer he began to be convinced and to hearken to the Divine Instructions and Exhortations of this good man and forsaking Idolatry he became a very sincere Christian The Enemy having intelligence that this Minister was in his house Soldiers were ordered to search for him which Alban having notice of he apparelled himself in the cloths of Amphibolus and offered himself to the Souldiers who bound him and carried him before the Judge who was at that time sacrificing to his Idols The Judge perceiving the business said Since thou hadst rather convey away the Rebel and Traytor to our Gods than deliver him up to undergo due punishment for his blaspheming our Deities look therefore what Torments he should have suffered if he had been taken the same shalt thou endure if thou refuse to practise the Rights of our Religion Alban was regardless of these Threats and being replenished with Divine Fortitude boldly told the Judge to his face That he would not obey his Commandment Then said the Judge Of what House and Stock art thou Alban answered It is no matter of what stock I am but if thou desirest to know my Religion be it known unto thee that I am a Christian and that I imploy my self in the exercise of their Holy Religion The Judge then demanded his name my Parents said he named me Alban And I Honour and Worship the True living God who made all things of nothing The Judge being inraged hereat said If thou desirest to prolong thy life come and Sacrifice to our Gods Alban answered The Sacrifice you offer to the Devil profits you nothing but rather purchaseth for you eternal pains in Hell-fire The Judge was still more incensed hereat and commanded the tormentors to beat him thinking stripes might prevail more than words yet Alban continued not only patient but joyful in the midst of all his Torments the Judge perceiving that neither words nor blows would remove him from his Constancy commanded him to be beheaded The Executioner observing his fervent Faith and Prayers fell down at his Feet throwing away the Sword desiring rather to die for him or with him than to do Execution upon him and suffered accordingly whereby he was made a Martyr for that Faith of which he was before a Persecutor The other Officers were astonished and trembled to behold this strange Providence but at last one of them took up the Sword wherewith he cut off the Martyr Albans head In this Town of St. Albans King Offa built a most stately Monastery which we read was upon this occasion In the Year 793 Offa the 11th King of the Mercians took to wife one Quenrid of whom it is recorded that her name was Drida and that she was Kinswoman to the French King Charles the great and was for some Offence banished his Realm being put into a boat without Sail or Tackle and arriving upon the Coasts of England was relieved by Offa who was then a young Nobleman and changed her name to Quenrid of whom he became so much in love that contrary to the Will of his Parents he married her she being of a proud cruel and ambitious Nature as appears by the sequel For Ethelbert King of the East Angles a wise and religious Prince coming to the Court of King Offa being persuaded by his Nobles to desire his Daughter in Marriage was accompanied with a great Train suitable to his Quality but Queen Quenrid envious of his
at lawful distance But now he resolved to eat grass with Nebuchadnezzar till it pleased the Queen to restore his senses she being overjoyed with these Speeches Would to God said she his deeds would be answerable to his words he hath long tried my patience I must now make tryal of his Humility Upon which the Earl became so confident of the Queens favour that being denyed a Suit about farming sweet wines he conspired with others to seize her Person and which more alienated her affections than any thing else she heard he despised her Person and that he had said That the Queen was now old and decrepit and withered as well in mind as in body After this he made an Insurrection in London which not succeeding he was sent to the Tower and being arraigned together with the Earl of Southampton by his Peers was found guilty and Feb. 25. 1601. was to be the fatal day in the mean time divers Ministers were sent to comfort him The Queen now wavered in her self one while remembring former kindnesses she would not and then again she would have him die because of his stubborness in not asking her mercy and his openly saying That he could not live but she must perish So that she gave order for his death within the Tower where he spake to this Purpose My Lords and Christian Brethren who are present witnesses of my just punishment I confess to Gods Glory my self a most wretched Sinner and that my sins in number exceed the hairs of my head that good which I would have done I did not and the evil which I would not that did I for all which I beseech my Saviour Christ to be a Mediator but especially for this my last crying sin I beseech God Her Majesty and the State to forgive me and bless her with a prosperous Reign with a wise and understanding Heart to bless the Nobles and Ministers of the Church and State I likewise beseech you and all the world to have a charitable opinion of me foâ— my intention toward her Majesty whose death I protest I never intended nor any violence toward her Person I thank God I never was an Atheist in not believing the Scriptures nor a Papist to trust in my own merits but am assured to be saved by the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ my Saviour This Faith I was I brought up in and herein I am now ready to die beseeching you all to join your souls with me in Prayer that my soul may be lifted up by Faith above all earthly things and lastly I desire forgiveness of all the world even as freely as from my heart I forgive all the world And then kneeling down said I have been divers times in places of danger where death was neither so present nor so certain and yet even then I felt the weakness of my flesh and therefore now in this last and great conflict I desire the assistance of Gods Holy Spirit and so saith Mr. Speed with a most Heavenly Prayer and faithful constancy as if his soul had been already in heavenly fruition he laid himself on the block and spreading abroad his arms the appointed sign with three strokes his head was severed from his body for which the Executioner was in danger of his life at his return if he had not been secured by the Sheriff of this great Favourite Dr. Fuller concludes That his failings were neither so foul nor so many but that the Character of a right worthy man most justly belongs to his memory It is recorded that Walter E. of Essex his Father having wasted his Spirits with grief fell into a Dysentery whereof he dyed after he had requested such as stood by him That they would admonish his Son who was then scarce ten years old that he should alwaies propound and set before him the 36th year of his life as the utmost he should ever attain to which neither he nor his Father had gone beyond and his Son never reached to being beheaded in the 34th year of his Age so that his dying Father seemed not in vain to have admonished him as he did but to speak by Divine inspiration and suggestion Hereford is the chief City of this County seated amongst pleasant Meadows and Cornfields Lemster is another Town which hath the greatest fame for Wool which they call Lemster Oar of which Mr. Drayton thus writes Where lives the man so dull on Brittains furthest shore To whom did never sound the name of Lemster Oar That with the Silkworms web for smallness may compare Wherein the winder shews his Workmanship so rare So doth this Fleece excell all others in the Land Being neatly bottom'd up by natures careful hand This County is divided into 11 Hundreds wherein there are 8 Market Towns 176 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Hereford Out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men for the County 2. for Hereford 2. for Lemster 2. for Webly 2. and gives the Title of Earl to Leicester L. D' Eureux HVNTINGTONSHIRE is surrounded with Northampton Bedford and Cambridgeshires being small in extent hardly stretching 20 miles outright though measured to the most advantage it is good for Corn and Tillage and toward the East very plentiful for feeding Cattle Huntington is the chief Town of all the County called in their publick Seal Huntersdune The Hill or Down of Hunters and gives name to all the Shire Godmanchester is a very great Country Town and of as great repute for Tillage no place having more Ploughs or more stout Husbandmen for they boast that in former times they have received the Kings of England as they passed in their progress this way with ninescore Ploughs brought forth in a rustical kind of Pomp as a Gallant show when K. James came first into England the Bayliffs of this Town presented him with 70 Team of Horses all traced to fair new Ploughs to shew their Husbandry of which when the King demanded the reason they told him That it was their ancient Custom whensoever any King of England passed through their Town so to present him And added further That they held their Lands by that Tenure being the Kings Tenants The King was much pleased herewith bidding them use well their Ploughs and said he was glad he was Landlord of so many good Husbandmen in one Town St Ives is another Town in this County reported to be so named from Ivo a Persian Bishop who it 's said about the Year of Christ 6â—0 travelled through England Preaching diligently the Christian Religion and dying in this place left his name thereunto There are two little Springs at Ayleweston in this County the one fresh and the other somewhat brackish the latter they say is good for Scabs and Leprosie and the other for dim sights The Lake of Wittlesmere and other Meers near it in this Shire do sometimes rise tempestuously in calm and fair Weather and make Water-quakes by reason the ground near it is rotten and hollow
the Sun was risen and shined clear He gave his Master time to pray before he took him but thou didst kill thy Brother sleeping not suffering him to wake or speak only to sigh and groan and that most sadly yet all moved thee not c. This young man was soon after deservedly Executed for this horrid Fratricide so this worthy Knight lost both his Sons at one time Two Watermen of Gravesend one named Smith and the other Gurnay being some years before hired by a Grasier to carry him down to Tilbury Hope intending to go to a certain Fair in Essex to buy Cattle these Villains by the way perceiving he had mony conspired to take away his life and accordingly one of them cut his throat and the other taking his mony threw him over-board This Murther was concealed divers years but in 1656. these Murtherers being drinking together fell out and one of them in his passion accused the other of Murther and he again accused him upon which being apprehended and examined they confessed the Fact were condemned at Maidstone Assizes and hanged in Chains at Gravesend In 1658. June 3. A Whale came up the Thames as high as Deptford and being discovered at Greenwich many Boats made out after her and a Marriner struck her with an harping Iron whereupon she spouted forth much water and blood and roared like a Lyon and so beating her self up and down till she came below Greenwich she there turned up her Belly and died she was 59 foot long and 15 foot high as she lay on her Belly September 3. following Oliver Cromwell dyed three days before which there was such a Tempestuous and violent wind as overthrew divers Houses brake and overturned many Trees by the roots and did much mischief In 1660. August 4. At Dover from 10 a clock at night till 2 next morning were such storms of Hail accompanied with Thunder and Lightning as the like was never known some of the Hailstones that fell were as big as Walnuts and were measured 4 inches about the damage was reckoned 50 pound in glass Windows which were broken In 1662. July 2. about 3 in the afternoon there happened a very strange whirlwind in Mason Dufield between the Town and Castle of Dover at the upper end of which Field the wind took up divers sheafs oâ—wards of Pease a vast height into the Air and carried them over the Town into the Seâ— and it was judged they were carried two or three miles before they fell into the Sea it also took up some Calves and other small Cattle and threw them into a Ditch a Hoy likewise in the Road was almost overset by it Upon Aug. 4. following several great Spouts were seen in Dover Road about quarter Seas over some affirm they were 7 and about half a mile asunder and ran about half an hour they were big at both ends and slender in the middle some Seamen affirmed they were bigger than those in the Streights and are very unusual in these Seas The County of Kent is divided into 5 Laths and 67 Hundreds wherein are 29 Market Towns and 408 Parish Churches it is in the Diocess of Canterbury and Rochester and gives the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Gray as Dover doth to John L Cary Thanet to Nicholas L. Tufton Rochester to John L. Wilmot and Sandwich to Edward L. Montague It elects 10 Parliament Men. LANCASHIRE hath the Irish Sea on the West Yorkshire on the East Cheshire parted with the River Mersey on the South and Westmoreland on the North It is a County Palatine and is replenished with all necessaries for the use of man yielding without any great labour Corn Flax Grass Coals and is plentifully furnished with Fish Flesh and Fowl the Brigantes the ancient Inhabitants of this County were subdued by the Emperor Claudius who secured it by Garrisons as appears by the many Inscriptions found in Walls and by certain Altars erected in honour of some of their Emperours it is famous for the four Henrys the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh all derived from John Duke of Lancaster the Shire Town is Lancaster more pleasant in situation than rich in Inhabitants the beauty thereof is in the Church Castle and Bridge Manchester is a Town of great Antiquity from Main a Brittish word which signifieth a Stone it is seated upon a stony hill and beneath the Town there are most famous quarries of Stone it far excelleth the Towns lying about it for the beautiful shew it maketh for resort to it and for clothing in regard also of the Market place the fair Church and Colledge In this Province King Arthur is reported to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battle near Duglas a little Brook near the Town of Wiggan In this Shire not far from Fourness Fells or Hills is the greatest standing water in all England called Winander Mere which is wonderful deep and 10 miles over and all paved with Stone as it were on the bottom it breeds a Fish called a Chare no where else to be found At Ferneby the People use Cannal or Turss both for Fewel and Candle which when they dig they find under them a certain black water upon which swims a fat oily matter and therein are little Fishes which the Diggers catch on the very top of Pendlehill grows a peculiar plant called Cloudesberry as though it came out of the Clouds this Hill some years ago did the Country near it much harm by reason of an extraordinary deal of water gushing out of it it is also famous for an infallible sign of rain whensoever the top of it is covered with a mist there are three great Hills here not far distant from each other seeming to be as high as the Clouds which are Ingelburrough Penigent and this Pendle In the Reign of Q. Mary Bishop Bonner put out a Mandate to the Priests within his Diocess commanding that comely Roods or Images should again be set up in all Churches the same injunction was published in other Diocesses in pursuance whereof the Churchwardens of Cockram in Lancashire had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood to set up in their Church at a certain price the Carver accordingly made one but the Image being of an ugly grim countenance they disliked it and refused to pay the Workman who thereupon brought them by a Warrant before the Mayor of Lancaster who was a favourer of the Protestant Religion when they came before him he asked them why they did not pay the man according to agreement they replied they did not like the grimness of his Visage saying They had a Man formerly with a handsome face and would have had such another now well said the Mayor though you like not the Rood the poor mans labour has been never the less and it's pity he should lose by it But I 'le tell you what you shall do pay him the money you promised him and if it will not serve you for a God
being envied and hated by Ethelfride another King was forced to fly to Redwald King of the East Angles who being both afraid and corrupted by Ethelfride intended to betray Edwin into his hands of which conspiracy he had notice by a friend who persuaded him to fly and save himself to whom Edwin said Whither shall I fly that have already sought for shelter almost in all the Provinces of the Realm and if I must needs be slain I had rather the King should do it than some other unworthy Person Edwin being afterward alone and solitary there appeared one to him saith the Reverend Bede who said I know well the cause of thy heaviness what wouldst thou give him who would deliver thee from this fear and reconcile thee to Redwald again I would said Edwin give him all that ever I could make And what said the other if I make thee a mightier King than any of thy Progenitors Edwin answered as before Then said the other And what if I shew thee a better kind and way of life than ever was shewed to any of thy Ancestors wilt thou obey my Counsel Yes said Edwin I will do it with all my heart Then the other laying his hand on his head said When this token happeneth to thee then remember this time of Tribulation and the promise which thou hast made and the words which I have said unto thee And so he vanisht out of his sight presently after his Friend came to him bidding him be of good cheer For the heart of Redwald said he which formerly sought thy destruction now by the mediation of the Queen is turned so that he is resolved to keep promise with thee and to protect thee whatever comes of it Not long after Redwald raised a great Army in Edwins quarrel and gave Battle to Ethelfride on the borders of Mercia where Ethelfride was slain and Edwin quietly made King of Northumberland yet all this while he remained a Pagan though Ethelburga his Queen and Paulinus a learned Bishop continually persuaded him to imbrace the Christian Faith Hereupon a new affliction fell upon him for Quincelinus and Kinâ—gilsus Kings of the West Saxons envying and hating Edwin hired a Villain privately to murther him who watching his opportunity when the King had but a few with him run at him with an invenomed Sword but one of the Servants interposing received the wound through his own body the King also being somewhat wounded by the Swords point which came through the King lay long sick of this wound but upon his recovery he raised a great Army and went against those West Saxon Kings who had so basely sought his destruction and withal promised to Jesus Christ That if he obtained the Victory he would presently be Baptized and his Queen being then delivered of a Daughter he caused it to be Baptized with twelve more of his Family Then advancing against his Enemies through the assistance of Christ he obtained a notable Victory putting the whole power of his Enemies to flight and so returned home with Honour and Victory yet did the Pomp and Glory of the world so dazle his Eyes that he neglected to perform his vow of being Baptized for though he willingly heard Paulinus Preach and gave over his Idolatrous Services yet withal told him That he could not suddenly leave the Religion of his Fore-fathers nor be Baptized but upon mature deliberation and with the serious advice of his Council Paulinus observing these difficulties continually prayed to God on his behalf whereupon the Vision of Edwin aforementioned appeared to Paulinus who watching his opportunity came to the King and laying his hand on his head asked him If he remembred that Token the King well remembring it was so affected that he was ready to fall down at Paulinus his feet but Paulinus not suffering it said unto him Behold O King you have vanquished your Enemies and have obtained your Kingdom now perform your promise which was to imbrace the Christian Faith and to be obedient to our Lord Christ The King after consultation with his Nobles was himself with many more of his Subjects Baptized by Paulinus and presently after all the Idols with their Altars were cast down and destroyed We read likewise that during the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England there were two Kings in Northumberland called Ostrich and Eaufride who before their coming to the Crown had been instructed and trained up in the Christian Religion by this worthy Bishop Paulinus but after they came to Kingly Dignities they renounced Christ and returned to their filthy Idols whereupon as they forsook Christ he forsook them and within one years space both of them were slain by Cadwalla King of the Brittains In the Reign of K. Edward 1. 1276. there happened the greatest rot of Sheep in England that ever was known which continued 25 years and came it was thought by one infected Sheep of incredible greatness brought out of Spain by a French Merchant into Northumberland In his Reign also John Duns called Scotus was born at Emilden in Northumberland though others for his name say in Scotland who being brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford was wonderful learned in Logick and in the crabbed and intricate Divinity of those days wherein he grew to such perfection that he was called The Subtile Doctor he went from thence to Paris where as he was once sitting at Table in respect of his learning with Charles the Bald Emperor and King of France he behaved himself like a slovenly Schollar not at all gentilly whereupon the King jestingly asked him Quid interest inter Scotum Sotum What is between a Scot and a Sot he merrily yet confidently answered Mensa The Table as though the Emperor were the Sot and he the Sot Another time the Emperor gave him two large Fishes and one little one in a Dish bidding him carve to two other Schollars who were tall men himself being little Mr. John lays the two great Fishes on his own Trencher and gives them the little one The Emperor smiling said In good Faith Mr. John you are no fair Carver yes if it please your Highness very fair said he for here pointing to himself and the two great Fishes be two great ones and a little one and so is yonder pointing to the Schollars two great ones and one little one He went thence to Colen where he died miserably for being taken with an Apoplexy he was too hastily buried and after a time revived and making means in vain by a lamentable voice to call for help after he had a long time knocked his head against the Grave-stone dashed out his Brains and so yielded up his vital breath as was afterward discovered whereupon these Verses were made by an Italian Quaecunque humani fuerant jurisque Sacrati c. All learning taught in Human Books and couch'd in Holy Writ Dun Scotus dark and doubtful made by subtilty of wit No marvel that to doubtful Terms of life himself was
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
plenty of all things especially Fish it is adorned with a very stately Market place wherein standeth their Common Hall of Timberwork a very handsome building About 6 miles from Salisbury upon the Plains is to be seen a huge and monstrous piece of Work for within the circuit of a Pit or Ditch there are erected in the manner of a Crown certain mighty and unwrought stones whereof some are 20 Foot high and 7 broad upon the heads whereof others like overthwart pieces do bear and rest cross-wise with Tenents and Mortesses so that the whole frame seemeth to hang whereof it is commonly called Stone-henge Near Badmington is a place called The Giants Cave whereof there are 9 in number some deeper than others being two great long stones on both sides and a broad one to cover them both these are thought to be some ancient works either of the Romans Danes or Saxons In the Year 975. Queen Elfrida having barbarously murdered K. Edward her Son in Law to set up her own Son K. Etheldred afterward repenting of her cruel Fact and to pacifie the crying Blood of her slain Son built the two Monasteries of Amesbury and Worwel in Wiltshire and Hamshire in which she lived and died with great Penance but these and the like Foundations being built with Rapine and Blood have felt the Woe pronounced by the Prophet That the Stone in the Wall shall cry and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it woe to him that buildeth a Town with Blood and establisheth a City with Iniquity In the Year 1154. K. Stephen seizing into his hands the Bishop of Salisburys Castles and Goods a Synod was called by the Popes Legate to right him where the King was summoned to appear to answer for his imprisoning of Bishops and depriving them of the r Goods which being a Christian King he ought not to do The King by his Attorney answers That he had not arrested him as a Bishop but as a Servant who ought to make up his Accounts about his Employments This answer caused some Debates they not presuming to excommunicate the King without the Popes leave and therefore they fell from Authority to Submission falling at his Feet and beseeching him to have pity on the Church and not make dissention between the Kingdom and the Priesthood which shews the great magnanimity and courage of K. Stephen that he was able to pull down the high Spirits of the Prelates in that time this rich Bishop of Salisbury who built the Castle of the Devizes and divers other strong Castles in this County being now thrown out of all his Grandeur was so swallowed up of over much grief that he ran mad and spake and did he knew not what In 1275. K. Edward 1. calls a Parliament at Salisbury without admitting of any Church-men to sit therein and Marchian his Treasurer acquainting him That in Churches and Religious Houses there was much Treasure to be had if it were lawful to take it He made no scruple of it but caused it to be seized and brought into his Exchequer but finding that he had thereby displeased the Clergy he bid them ask what they would have who required the Repeal of the Statute of Mortmain which hindered devout People at their death from giving all their Estates from their Children to the Church To which the King answered That it was a Statute made by the whole Body of the Realm and therefore it was not in his Power who was but one Member of that Body to repeal it In another Parliament at Salisbury this King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoign who all excusing themselves the King in a great rage threatned they should either go or he would give their Lands to others that should Upon this the Earl of Hereford High-Constable and the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England declare That if the King went in Person they would attend him otherwise not Which answer offended the King more and being urged again the Earl Marshal protested he would willingly march in the Front if the King went himself But the King told him he should go with any other without him I am not bound to do so said the Earl neither will I take this Journey without you The King swore by God he should either go or hang And I swear by the same Oath said the Earl I will neither go nor hang and so without leave departs shortly after the two Earls assembled many Noblemen and 1500 Souldiers wherewith they stand on their own Guard but the King being obliged to go to France condescends to their Demands and desires them that since they would not â—o they would do nothing prejudicial to himself and the Kingdom in his Absence and upon his return the King solemnly confirmed the two great Charters which appeased the present disturbances In the 4. of Q. Mary 1454 exemplary Justice was done upon a great Person for the Lord Sturton a man much in the Queens favour because he was an earnest Papist was for a Murther committed by him arraigned and condemned and he with 4 of his Servants were carried to Salisbury and there in the Market-place hanged he having this favour to be hanged in a silken Halter and his servants in places near adjoining where the Murther was committed Not long since saith Mr. Clark a Souldier in Salisbury in the midst of his Cups drinking and carousing in a Tavern drank a Health to the Devil saying That if the Devil would not come and pledge him he would not believe there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions being struck with horrour hastened out of the Room and presently after hearing a hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his Guest and found the Window broken the Iron Bar in it bowed and all bloody but the man was never heard of afterward Wiltshire is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 23 Market Towns 304 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Salisbury It elects 34 Parliament-Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Pawlet as Salisbury doth to James Lord Cecil and Marleburgh to William L. Ley. WORCESTERSHIRE hath Staffordshire on the North Warwickshire on the East Glocestershire on the South Hereford and Shropshire on the West It is a County rich and populous the soil is very fertile producing besides Corn Cattle and Wood abundance of Apples and Pears which yield pleasure to the sight and also profit for with the juice they make great quantity of Sider and Perry both very pleasant and wholsome Drinks The City of Worcester is most pleasantly seaâ—ed and is admirable both in respect of the Antiquity and Beauty thereof It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers side which hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it it is well and strongly walled and the Inhabitants are much enriched by the Trade of Clothing It is 1650 paces
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
times and especially that God would abolish the Idolatrous Mass to which almost all the multitude and amongst them the Sheriff himself cried Amen theâ— taking a Cup of Beer she said I drink unfeignedly to all those that love the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and that wish the abolishment of Popery her Friends pledged her and several of them did pennance for it afterward when the fire was put to her she neither strived nor struggled but with her hands lift up to Heaven she quickly gave up the Ghost Sir Hugh Willoughby was born of a worthy and ancient Family at Risely in this County In the Reign of K. Edward 6. he was imployed by the King and the Merchants of London to find out the North East passage to the East Indies having three Ships provided for that purpose with a large Commission which did not bear date from the Year of our Lord but from the Year of the World 5515 because in their long Voyage they might have occasion to present it to foreign Princes They departed from Deptford May 10. 1553 and after much fouâ— weather steered North-North-West but Aug. 2. â— Tempest arose whereby one of the Ships was divided from the rest and they never saw it again Sir Hugh holding on his Course discovered a Land which for Ice he could not come near in the Latitude of 72 Degrees This was then called Willoughby's Land as well it might since it had neither then nor since any Owner or Inhabitant pretending to the propriety thereof It appeareth by a Will found in that Ship which was the Admiral in the Pocket of a Person of Quality that in January 1554. Sir Hugh and most of his company were then in health though all soon after frozen to death in a River or Haven called Arzina in Lapland The next Summer some other English Ships coming to the same place found the Ship intire and all the men frozen to death with a particular account of all the passages of their Voyage Lapland hath several times since been surrounded by the English the West part whereof belongeth to the K. of Sweden and the East to the Muscovite they are generally Heathens as poor in Knowledge as Estate paying their Tribute in Furs whose little houses are but great holes wherein they generally live in the Ignorance of Money Here let me insert a passage to refresh the Reader after this sad story There is a custom in this barbarous Country as credible Merchants who have been Eye-witnesses report that it is death to marry a maid without her Parents and Friends consent therefore if any man have an affection for a Maid a day is appointed for both of their Friends to meet and see the young couple run a Race the Maid hath the advantage of starting and a third part of the Race so that it is impossible except she be willing her self she should ever be overtaken if the Maid outrun her Sweet-heart the business is ended he must never have her nor make any further motion to her under a great penalty but if the Virgin have any affection for him though she at first may run hard to try the truth of his Love yet she will pretend to stumble or make a voluntary halt before she comes to the end of the Race so that he may overtake her Thus none are compelled to marry against their Wills which is the cause that in this poor Country the married People are richer in their own content than in other Lands where so many forced matches make feigned Love and cause real unhappiness In April 1660 about Chesterfield it rained white Ashes which fell in such quantities that several Fields lookt white as if Snow had covered them The same Year Nov. 20. the River Derwent was at Derby and 5 Miles above and 5 Miles below that Town for 3 or 4 hours totally dried up so that no water during that time came to any of the Mills upon the River the Boats were all on ground and the Fishes upon the Sand so that the Children took them up in their hands and in several places the people went over the Channel dryshod which is more remarkable because Derwent is an inland River and never ebbs or flows and it is at Derby generally an 100 Foot broad and 7 or 8 Foot deep and is an extraordinary quick fierce stream On Nov. 11. 1662 there happened a dreadful Whirlwind at Derby whereby tâ—at Town was in 4 Minutes time damnified above 500 Pounds It blew the Tiles off the Houses threw down several Barns Apple-Trees and other Fruit-Trees were torn up by the Roots it overturned great Stone-walls and broke some Gates though fastened with Iron Bars into pieces this strange Wind was accompanied with great flashes of Fire and some affirmed that it rained Blood also The Ale of Derbyshire is very famous as being counted the best and strongest in the Nation it is the old Drink of England though a French Poet in King Henry the Third's lays merrily jested on it in these verses Nescio quid Stygiae monstrum conforme paludi c. Of this strange drink so like the Stygian Lake They fall in Ale I know not what to make Men drink oâ—â—hiâ—â— and vent it passing thin Much dregs therefore must needs remain within This County is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 10 Market Towns 106 Parish Churches and out of it are elected 4 Parliament Men for the County 2. for the Town of Derby 2. It is in the Diocess of Exeter DEVONSHIRE hath the narrow Sea on the South the Severn on the North Cornwal on the West and Dorset and Somerset shires on the East the Natives thereof are generally very ingenious in any imployment and Q. Elizabeth used to say of their Gentry They were all born Courtiers with a becoming Confidence There was Silver formerly found in great Plenty in the Parish of Comb-Martin and in the Reign of K. Edw the 1. Miners were fetcht out of Derbyshire for digging thereof which turned to considerable profit as appeareth by a Record in the Tower of Lond. For Will. Wymondham accounted for 270 pounds weight of Silver in his 22. Year and in his 23. Year he was fined 521 pounds 10 shillings weight in his 24. Year there was brought to London in fined Silver in Wedges 704 Pounds 3 shillings and 1 penny weight in his 25. Year though 360 Miners were pressed out of the Peak and Wales to dig it yet great was that Years clear profit in Silver and Lead In the Reign of Edw. 3 it appeareth by the Record of particular Accountants that the profits of the Silver were very considerable toward the maintenance of that Kings great Expences in the French Wars These Mines having been long neglected it may be by reason of the Civil Wars between Lancaster and York were again re-entred on by one Bulmer an Artist in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth who presented a Silver Cup made thereof to the Earl of Bath with this
much inamoured with the Beautiful E. of March In our remembrance saith Camden near Fishpoolstreet in St. Albans certain Anchors were digged up which is very strange and worth enquiring into There is a Brook near St. Albans called Wenmere or Womere which never breaketh out but it foretelleth scarcity of Corn or else some extraordinary dangerous times to ensue as the Vulgar believe At Ashwell in this County rise so many sources of Springs together that they presently drive a Mill and become a pretty big River Sir Henry Cary Kinsman to Queen Eliz. was made Baron of Hunsdon in this County a valiant man and lover of Men of their Hands very cholerick but not malicious one Mr. Cols once meeting him this Lord on some former grudge gave him a box on the Ear Cole presently returned him three or four for iâ— upon which the Lords servants swarmed about Cole with their drawn Swords You Rogues said the Lord cannot I and my Neighbour change a Blow or two but you must interpose Thus the quarrel was begun and ended the same Minute This Lord suppressed the first Northern Commotion for which a Letter of Thanks was solemnly returned to him by the Queen the first part whereof was written by the Secretary of State but the Postscript was all of the Queens own hand as followeth I doubt much my Harry whether that the Victory given me more joyed me or that you were by God appointed the Instrument of my Glory and I assure you for my Countries good the first might suffice but for my Hearts contentation the second more pleaseth me it likes me not a little that with a good Testimony of your Faith there is seen a stout courage of your mind that more trusted to the goodness of your quarrel than to the weakness of your number well I can say no more Beatus est ille servus quem cum Dominus venerit inveniet facientem sua Mandata Happy is that servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find doing his Commands And that you may not think you have done nothing for your Profit though you have done much for your Honour I intend to make this journey somewhat to increase your livelihood that you may not say to your self Perditur quod factum est ingrato what is done for an ingrate person is lost Your Loving Kinswoman Elizabeth Regina Three times was this Lord in Election to be Earl of Wiltshire but some accident still hindered it when he lay on his Death-bed the Queen gave him a gracious visit causing his Patent for that Earldom to be drawn his Robes to be made and both to be laid upon his Bed but this Lord who could never dissemble sick nor well said Madam seeing you did not count me worthy of this honour while I was living I count my self unworthy of it now I am dying He died 1596. The County of Hartford is divided into 8 Hundreds wherein are 18 Market Towns 120 Parish Churches and is in the Diocesses of London Chichester and Lincoln out of it are elected 6 Parliament men for the County 2. for St. Albâ—ns 2. for Hartford 2. and gives the Title of Marquess to Charles L. Seymour who is also Duke of Somerset c. HEREFORDSHIRE hath Worcestershire and Shropshire on the North Glocestershire on the East Monmouthshire on the South and Brecknock and Radnorshire on the West the Air thereof is very healthy as appears by the vivacity of the Inhabitants Many aged People which in other Countrys are confined to their Beds and Chimney Corners are here found in the Fields both able and willing to work The ingenious Serjeant Hoskin gave an Entertainment to K. James in this County and provided 10 aged People to dance the Morris before him all of them making up more than a Thousand Years for what was wanting in one was supplied in the age of another This County shares as deep as any in the Alphabet of our English Commodities though exceeding in W. that is for Wood Wheat Wool and Water besides excellent fruit especially Apples of which the best Sider is made There is a little Fountain called Bonewell nigh Richards Castle in this County the Water whereof is always full of the Bones of little Fishes or as others conceive of little Frogs they being so small as hardly to be distinguished and which addeth to the Wonder this Spring can never be emptied of them but as fast as some are drawn out others presently succeed To this may be added a second Wonder of Marcley Hill in the East part of this County for Feb. 17. 1571. the Earth began to open at 6 a Clock in the Evening and this Hill with a Rock under it made at first a mighty bellowing noise which was heard a great way off and then lifted up itself a great height and began to travel carrying along with it the Trees which grew upon it the Sheepfolds and flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time in the place from whence it first moved it left a gaping distance 40 Foot wide and 80 Ells long the whole field was about Twenty Acres passing along it overthrew a Chappel standing in its way removed an Ewe-tree growing in the Church-Yard from the West to the East with the like violence it thrust before it Highways Houses and Trees it made tilled ground pasture and again turned pasture into Tillage having thus walked from Sunday in the Evening till Monday Noon it then stood still and moved no more mounting to a Hill 12 Fathoms high In the Reign of William the Conqueror Walter Bishop of Hereford attempted to force the Chastity of a Woman who was a Semstress whom out of pretence of working for him he brought into his Chamber but she refusing to consent wounded him in the Belly with a pair of Scissars whereof he died In 1233. a little before the Wars broke forth between K. Hen. 3. and his Barons there appeared at Hereford five Suns at once and a certain great Circle of a Christal colour about two Foot in breadth as it were compassing all England In the Reign of King Hen. 4. 1402. Owen Glendour being by the Welch made their King and Captain having got together a considerable number brake into the borders of Herefordshire making spoil and Prey of the Country as freely as if they had leave to do it and indeed they had none to oppose them but only the Lord Edmund Mortimer who was at his Castle of Wigmore he assembling the Country Forces and joining Battle with them was overthrown by them himself being taken Prisoner and then fettered and cast into a deep and vile Dungeon from whence King Henry would not be persuaded to deliver him but could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in Heaven they being all three Competitors for the Crown with him It was thought if Owen Glendour had as well known how to use the Victory as to get it he might at this time have gone far in freeing
a Fight so that the Conqueror who just before thought he had the whole Kingdom absolutely at Command began now to despair of his own Life of which Consternation the two valiant Prelates taking advantage presented themselves to the Duke and thus addressed him in behalf of their followers Most noble Duke behold here the Commons of Kent are come forth to meet and receive you as their Soveraign in peace upon condition they may for ever enjoy their ancient Liberties Freedoms and Estates which they received from their Forefathers If these be denied they are here ready to give you battle immediately being fully resolved rather to die than to part with our ancient Laws or to live in slavery and bondage the name and nature whereof as it hath been hitherto unknown to us so we will rather every man lose his Life than ever endure it The Conqueror driven to a strait and loth to hazard all upon so nice a point their demands being not unreasonable rather wisely than willingly granted their desires and Pledges on both sides are given for performance Kent yielding her Earldom and Castle of Dover to her new King William Among other Customs they retain one called Gavelkind that is Give all kin whereby Lands are divided among the Male-Children or if there be no Sons among the Daughters by which every man is a Freeholder and hath some part of his own to live upon By vertue of this also they are at full age and enter upon their Inheritance at 15 Years old and it is lawful for them to alienate or make it over to any either by Gift or sale without the Lords Consent By this likewise the Son though his Parents be hanged for Felony or Murder succeedeth them nevertheless in such kind of Lands according to that Rhime The Father to the Bough And the Son to the Plough K. William after this to secure Kent to himself placed a Constable in Dover Castle and according to the manner of the Romans made him also Lord of the Cinqueports which are Hastings Dover Hith Rumney and Sandwich unto which are joined Winchelsey and Rye as principal Ports and other small Towns as Members which because they are bound to serve in the Wars by Sea enjoy many great Priviledges being free from the payment of Subsidies and from Wardship of their Children and are not sued in any Court but within their own Towns and of the Inhabitants therein such as they call Barons at the Coronation of Kings and Queens support the Canopies over them and have a Table by themselves on the Kings Right hand and the L. Warden who is always of the Nobility hath the Authority of Chancellor and Admiralty within his Jurisdiction in very many cases and hath many other Rights Canterbury is the chief City of this County ancient and famous no doubt in the time of the Romans The Archbishop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas Primate of all England the Archbishop of York only Primas Angliae Primate of England he is the first Peer of the Realm and hath the Precedency of all Dukes not of the Royal Blood or great Officers of State Anselm in recompence of his service in opposing the Marriage of Priests and resisting the King about investing Bishops had this accession of honour given him by Pope Vrbane That he and his Successors should have place at the Popes right foot in all General Councils the Pope adding these words We include him in our Orb as Pope of another world This City hath had a rare Cathedral it is in the midst of the Town the body within being near as large as St. Pauls in London was between the body and the Quire there hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell Harry being one of those which Henry 8. brought out of France there are also four Spires like St. Sepulchres London on each side of the great West Gate are 2 other Steeples the one called Dunstan and the other Arnold Steeples in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bells in the same Cathedral there was the famousest window in England for which they say the Spanish Ambassador offered Ten Thousand pound being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Passion but it was afterward battered to pieces In the Quire of the Cathedral Edward called the Black Prince is buried in a Monument of Brass underneath this Cathedral there is a great Congregation of French Protestants the Dutch also have a Church in that Place which is called the Bishops Pallace there are many other Churches in the City and Suburbs The Rebellion under Kett the Tanner in the Oak of Reformation neer Norwich Pa. 149. Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit For the blood of Thomas which he for thee did spend Grant us Christ that we may climb where Thomas did ascend The Pope likewise writ to the English Clergy to make a new Holyday for St. Thomas as they expected pardon through his Intercession to God for them At Halbaldown in Kent there was an Hospital erected by Archbishop Lanfrank wherein was reserved the upper leather of an old shoe which they said had been worn by St. Thomas Becket and being set fair in Copper and Christal was offered to be kissed by all Passengers In the Reign of Edward 3. there was great variance between the A. Bishops of Canterbury and York and the Londoners were cursed by the A. B. of Canterbury because they suffered he of York to carry his Cross in that City but the King ended the difference ordering they should both freely carry the Cross in each others Province but that in sign of subjection the A. B. of York should send the Image of an Archbishop bearing a Cross or some other Jewel wrought in fine gold to the value of 40 pounds to Canterbury and offer it publickly there upon St. Thomas Beckets Shrine They likewise report that Thomas lying in an old House at Otford and finding it want a Spring he struck his Staff into the dry ground from whence issued Water and is called to this day St. Thomas Well and that a Nightingale disturbing his Devotions one time in that place he commanded that from thenceforth no bird of that kind should dare sing there many other such ridiculous miracles are reported which were invented by Popish Knaves and believed by none but Popish Idiots In 1386. William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury summoned certain of his Tenants to answer an heinous and horrible Trespass as he called it which was That they brought Straw to litter his Horses not in Carts as formerly but in Bags for which wicked Offence having confessed their fault and asked him forgiveness he enjoined them this Pennance That going leisurely before the Procession barefoot and bare leg'd each of them should carry upon his Shoulder a Bag stuffed with Strow hanging out whereupon these Rhimes were made This Bag full of straw
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
Covent of Monks came forth to meet him but at the same instant there happened a great Fire so that as his Corps before so now his Hearse was forsaken of all men every one running to quench the Fire That done they return and carry the Corps to the Church The Funeral Sermon being ended and the stone Coffin set in the Earth in the Chancel as the body was ready to he laid therein there stood up one Anselm and forbid the Burial alledging that that very place was the floor of his Fathers House which this dead King had violently taken from him to build this Church upon Therefore said he I challenge this ground and in the name of God forbid that the Body of this Oppressor and dispoyler be covered with the Earth of mine Inheritance They were therefore forced to compound with him for an hundred pounds now was the body to be laid in that stone Coffin but the Tomb proved too little for the Corps so that pressing it down to gain an entrance the Belly not bowelled brake and sent forth such an intolerable stink among the Assistants at the Funeral that all the Gums and Spices suming in their Censers could not relieve them but all in great amazement hastened away leaving only a Monk or two to shuffle up the Burial which they performed with all possible hast and so got to their Cells yet was not this the last of those Troubles that the Corps of this great Prince met with but some years after at such time as Caen was taken by the French his Tomb was rifled his bones thrown out and some of them by private Soldiers brought as far as England again so that if we consider his many troubles in life and after his death we may well think that notwithstanding all his greatness a very mean man could hardly be persuaded to change Fortunes with him In his Tomb there was found a plate of Brass whereon this Epitaph was Ingraven He that the sturdy Normans rul'd and or'e the English reign'd And stoutly won and strongly kept what so he had obtain'd And did his valiant Enemies by force bring under awe And made them under his Command live subject to his Law This great King William lieth here intomb'd in little Grave So great a Lord so small a House sufficeth him to have Sussex is divided into six Rapes wherein are 65 Hundreds 16 Market Towns 312 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Chichester It abounds much in cast Iron elects 20 Parliament men gives the Title of Earl to Thomas L. Leonard Married to Ann Filz-Roy eldest Daughter to the Dutchess of Cleaveland WARWICKSHIRE hath Leicester and Northampton shires on the East Oxford and Glocestershires on the South Worcester on the West and Staffordshire on the North thereof it hath a very good air and soil wanting nothing for the pleasure or profit of man and yieldeth plenty of Corn especially The Vale of the Red Horse so called from the shape of a Horse cut out in a red hill by the Inhabitants thereabout it abounds also in Malt Iron Wood and Wool It hath many fair Towns and some of them hardly to be matcht in England the chiefest whereof is Coventry so called a Tribus Conventibus from the three Covents that were in it commodiously seated and has been fortified with very strong walls with 13 stately Gates and 18 Towers for defence a little River runs through it many fair and beautiful Houses are therein among which there rise up on high two Churches of rare Workmanship in the midst is the Cross or Pillar of Stone of very curious and costly Architecture The Citizens of this Town having in former Ages highly offended their great Lord Leofrick had their Priviledges seized upon and themselves oppressed with many heavy burdens and Taxes But his Wife the Lady Godiva pitying their condition continually interceeded with her Lord for their Release and Freedom and that with such importunity that it could hardly be determined which was greatest his hatred or her love at last the Earl being overcome with her continual intercessions he granted her desire but upon such a condition as he thought she would never perform which was that she would ride stark naked through Coventry at noon-day from one end to the other though thiâ— was very hard for a modest Lady yet however she thankfully accepted his Grant and stripping her self oâ— all her Attire let loose the large and beautiful Tresseâ— of her Hair which on every side so covered her nakedâ— Body that no part thereof was uncivil to be seen whereby she redeemed their former Liberties and freedâ— them from their grievous Impositions Warwick is the next Town of Account and Commerce in this Shire it standeth over the River Avoâ— upon a steep and high Rock and all the Passages to it are wrought out of the very stone the River on the Southside is checked with a most sumptuous and stately Castle standing high upon a Rock invironed with a strong wall whereon is a noble Gatehouse and three high strong Towers called Caesars Tower Guyes Tower and the Iron Tower in all which are very fine Lodgings and a great Bulwark There are two fair Churches iâ— the Town and it is adorned with handsome Houses which the Poet thus describes A place of strength and health in the same Fort You would conceive a Castle and a Court The Orchards Gardens Rivers and the Air May with the Trenches Rampires Walls compare It seems no Art no Force can intercept it As if a Lover built a Soldier kept it Twelve miles hence is Alcester a very Ancient Market Town which formerly was much bigger probably it was a Garrison of the Romans since in Plowing and digging many ancient Copper pieces of Mony are found to this day one of which saith Mr. Clark of Vespasians with Judea Capta or Judea Conquered upon it I have by me He proceeds When I was Rector there about 1638. my Neighbour whose Housewas next the Church-yard being about to dig a Celler I lent him one of my men to assist him who digging about four foot deep they met with two Urns or Earthen Pots not far asunder in one there was nothing but Ashes in the other were Medals set edg-long as full as it could be thrust my man judging it to be only that Copper Mony which they find so oft about the Town set it carelesly upon the Ground by him and the Town consisting of Knitters some of them coming to see the work picked out some pieces of this Money at last one brought in a piece to me which upon Trial I found to be silver and thereupon sent for the Pot into my house and being loth to break the Pot with the help of a Chisel I got all out of it in the midst thereof I found 16 pieces of Gold as bright as if they had been lately put in and about 800 pieces of Silver and yet no two alike and the latest of them
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