dwelleth whom we call in Latine Vicecomitem as one would say the Deputy of the Comes or Earl and in our tongue Sheriff It is his duty to gather the common moneys of the Prince in his County to collect and bring into the Exchequer all fines imposed even by distreining to be attendant upon the Judges and to execute their commandments to assemble and empanel the twelve men which in causes do enquire of the Fact and make relation thereof and give in their Verdict to the Judges for Judges with us sit upon the right onely of a cause and not upon the fact to see condemned persons executèd and to examine and determine certain smaller actions OF THE Several Counties IN ENGLAND CAmden begins with Cornwall and ends with Northumberland I shall mention the Counties of England rather according to the Letters of the Alphabet Barkshire IT is called in Latine Berkeria It is bounded upon the East with Surrey upon the North with the River of Thames from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire upon the West with Wiltshire and upon the South with Hantshire Abbendune or Abington so called of the Abbay rather than of one Abben an Irish Eremite of the Abby there See Monasticon Anglicanum pag. 97. Farendon famous now for a Mercate there kept Wadley It is situate in a vale though not so fertile a soil as some vales afford yet a most commodious site wholsome in a delicious air a rich and pleasant seat Newbury as much as the Newburgh a fair Town well seated in a Champion plain Reading of the Brittish word Redin which signifieth Fearn that growing here plentifully excelleth all other Towns of this Shire in fair streets and goodly houses for wealth also of the Townsmen and their name in making of Cloath There is a very great Market Maidenhead so named of the superstitious worshipping of I wot not what British Maidens-Head Camd. Brit. Maidenhead or Maidenhith Hith in the old Saxon did signifie a Wharf Haven or Landing-place It had its name from the Wharf or Ferry belonging at that time to some neighbouring Nunnery or to some private Maidens dwelling thereabout who then received the profits of it So Queen-Hith in London took that appellation because the profits of the Wharf were anciently accounted for to the Queens of England Dr. Heylins Animadvers on the Church Hist. of Brit. lib. 1. p. 20. See Camden of Maiden-bradly in Wiltshire fol. 243. Windesore A Royal Castle and House of the Kings with the Town adjoyning A Princes Seat cannot have a more pleasant situation For from a high Hill that riseth with a gentle ascent it enjoyeth a most delightfull Prospect round about With the pleasantnesse of this place Princes were allured very often to retire themselves hither and here was Edward the Third that most puissant King borne who here built new out of the ground a most strong Castle in bignesse equal to a pretty City fortified with Ditches and Bulwarks made of stone and forthwith after he had subdued the French and Scots held at one and the self same time John King of France and David King of Scotland prisoners together in the same In this place King Edward the Third for to adorn Martial Prowesse with Honours the Guerdon of Vertue ordained the most Noble Order and Society of Knights whom he called Knights of the Garter who wear on their left Legge somewhat under the knee a Blew Garter with these golden Letters in French HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENS'E Shame to him that evil thinks and fasten the same with a Buckle of Gold as with the Band of a most inward Society in token of Concord and Unity that there might be among them a certain Consociation and Communion of Vertues Some attribute the original of it unto the Garter of the Queen or rather Joan Countesse of Salisbury a Lady of incomparable beauty which fell from her as she danced and the King took up from the floor for when a number of Nobles and Gentlemen standing by laughed thereat he made answer again That shortly it would come to passe that Garter should be in high honour and estimation This is the most common and most received report There is a Book entituled Catechismus ordinis Equitum Perifcelidis written long since by Belvaleti the Popes Nuncio here and published in the year 1631. by Bosquierus wherein the Authour makes an Allegory on the whole habit of the Order the Matter Colour Fashion Wearing to the very Girdle Dr. Heylins Antidotum Lincolniense Sect. 3. ch. 10. The mightiest Princes in Christendome reputed it amongst their greatest honour to be chosen and admitted into this Company and since the first Institution thereof there have been already received and enrolled into this Order which consisteth of six and twenty Knights two and twenty Kings or thereabout besides our Kings of England who are named Sovereigns thereof to speak nothing of Dukes and others of most high calling very many The Founders of the Order which in those dayes for stout courage and warlike Prowesse had few or no Peers and were in that regard advanced to that honour Edward the Third King of England Edward his eldest Sonne and Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Peter Copit de la Bouche Ralph Earl of Stafford William de Montacute Earl of Sarisbury Roger Mortimer Earl of March John Lord Lisle Sir Bartholomew de Burgherst Sir John Beauchamp John Lord Mohun of Dunstere Sir Hugh Courtne Sir Thomas and Sir Otho Holland Sir John Gray of Codnor Sir Richard Fitz Simon Sir Miles Stapleton Sir Thomas Walle Sir Hugh Wrothesly Sir Neel Lorenge Sir John Chandos Sir James Audley Sir Henry Eswi◠Sir Sanchio Dampredicourt Sir Walter Pavely There is an honourable Family of Barons surnamed of Windsore Eaton is hereto adjoyned by a wooden Bridge over the Thames and in it a fair Colledge and a famous School of good literature founded and built by King Henry the Sixth wherein besides the Provost eight Fellows and the singing Choristers there are threescore Scholars instructed in Grammar and in due time preferred to the University of Cambridge It containeth twenty Hundreds twelve Market Towns and an hundred and forty Parishes Bedfordshire BEdford is the principal Town whereof the Shire also taketh name A Town to be commended more for the pleasant situation and antiquity thereof then for beauty or largenesse although a man may tell five Churches in it Hockley in the Hole so named of the miry way in Winter time very troublesome to travellers for the old Englishmen our Progenitors called deep mire Hock and Hocks Dunstable This Town seated in a Chalky ground well inhabited and full of Innes hath four streets answering to the four quarters of the world in every one of which there is a large Pond of standing water for the publique use of the Inhabitants It contains ten Market Towns an hundred and sixteen
so frequented that they of Hereford and Worcester complaining that the confluence of people thither impaired their Mercates procured that by Royal Authority the Mercat day was changed There are an hundred and seventy six Parishes eight Market Towns and an eleven Hundreds in this County Hertfordshire FAmous for a good Air and fair Houses of Gentlemen and Wheat It lieth on the East and partly on the South-side of Bedfordshire The West-side is enclosed with Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire the South with Middlesex the East with Essex and the North with Cambridgeshire A rich Countrey in Corn Fields Pastures Medows Woods Groves and clear Riverets There is scarcely another Shire in all England that can shew more good Towns in so small a compasse In Ware in this County there is 1. The Head of the River that runs into Tames 2. A great Bed which is about three yards at least every way about at both the sides and ends Roiston a Town well known it is very famous and passing much frequented for Malt. It parts four Shires Cambridgeshire Bedfordshire Hertfordshire and Huntingtonshire Ashwell The Well or Fountain among the ashes where there is a source of the springs bubling out of a stony bank overshadowed on every side with tall ashes from whence there floweth at certain Veins continually running such store of water that forthwith being carried within banks it carrieth a stream able to drive a Mill and all of a sudden as it were groweth to a good big River Whethamssed a Town plentifull in Wheat whence it took its name which place John of Whethamsted there born and thereof named a man in King Henry the Sixth his dayes much renowned by his due desert of learning made of more estimation Bishops-Hatfield in times past belonging to the Bishops of Ely whence it was named Bishops-Hatfield which John Morton Bishop of Ely re-edified The Earle of Salisbury hath an House there There were seven Parks in the Mannor of Hatfield Hertford it hath given name to the whole County and is reputed the Shire Town it is ancient Hodesdon a fair thorow fare Saint-Albans It was famous for nothing so much as bringing forth Alban a Citizen of singular holinesse and faith in Christ who when Dioclesian went about by exquisite torments to wipe Christian Religion quite out of the memory of men was the first in Britain that with invincible constancy and resolution suffered death for Christ his sake Whereupon he is called our Stephen and the Protomartyr of Britain Fortunatus Presbyter the Poet wrote thus of him Albanum egregium faecunda Britannia profert Fruitfull Britain bringeth forth Alban a Martyr of high worth The Abbey of St. Albans was the first of England whether because Adrian the Fourths Father called Breakspear was Monk there or from Saint Alban himself Proto-martyr of England This Town was raised out of the ruins of Verolamium it is a fair and large Town Redborne or Red water is seated upon that common and military high-way which we call Watling-street Hamsted a little Mercat Town called Hehan Hamsted situate among the the Hils by a Riveret-side Kings-Langley in which was born and thereof tooke name Edmund Langley King Edward the Third his Sonne and Duke of York Over against Kings-Langley in a manner there is Abbots-Langley so called because it belonged to the Abbots of St. Albanes wherein was born Nicholas surnamed Breakspear afterwards Bishop of Rome known by the name of Pope Hadrian the fourth whose breath was stopped in the end with a Flie that flew into his mouth Watford a Mercat Town Welwen Here the murder of the Danes began when they were generally murdered and it was so called because the weal of that Countrey as was then thought was there first wone But who well considers the sequele of the story shall find little weal that ensued of this deed Graftons Chron. Rickemausworth also a Mercat Town Caishobery Here Sir Richard Merisin Knight a great learned man and who had been used in Embassages to the mightiest Princes under King Henry the Eighth and King Edward the Sixth began to build an House which Sir Charles his Sonne finished Bernet famous for the Beast Mercat there kept This County hath an hundred and twenty Parishes eight Hundreds and eighteen Market Towns Huntingdonshire IT confineth Northward and Eastward upon Cambridgeshire Southward upon Bedfordshire Westward upon Northamptonshire A Countrey good for Corn and Tillage and toward the East where it is fenny very right and plentifull for the feeding of Cattel elswhere right pleasant by reason of rising Hils and shady Groves Kimbolton Saint-Neots commonly called Saint-Needs so named of one Neotus a man both learned and holy who travailed all his life time in propagating of Christian Religion Ainsbury it was named Ainulphsbury of one Almulph likewise an holy and devout man which name continueth still also in one part of it Huntingdon in the publick Seale Huntersdune Leland cals it Venantodunum the Hill or down of Hunters This is the chief Town of all this Shire to which it hath given also the name Godmanchester a very great Countrey Town and of as great name for Tillage situate in an open ground of a light mould and bending for the Sunne There is not a Town in all England which hath more stout and lusty Husbandmen or more Ploughs a going For they make their boast that they have in former time received the Kings of England as they passed in their progresse this way with ninescore Ploughs brought forth in a rustical kinde of pomp for a gallant shew When King James came first into England here the Bailiffs of the Town presented him with seventy Teem of Horses all traced to fair new Ploughs in shew of their Husbandry of which when his Majesty demanded the reason he was answered That it was their ancient Custome whensoever any King of England passed thorow their Town so to present him Besides they added That they held their Lands by that Tenure being the Kings Tenants His Majesty took it well and bad them use well their Ploughes being glad he was Land-lord of so many good Husbandmen in one Town Saint-Ives of Ivo a Persian Bishop who as they write about the year of Christ 600 travelled thorow England preached diligently the Word of God and to this Town wherein he left this life left also his name Ramsey a wealthy Abbey In this little Shire are numbred seventy eight Parishes four Hundreds and six Market Towns Kent THis name Cantium and the name Kent was given by reason of the form and situation The Helvetian Countreys were called by the French Cantons This Countrey by the old Geographers is called Angulus an angle or corner of Land Or of the British word Cainc they call their great woody Forest in Staffordshire yet Kanc. It is the pleasantest Countrey of England This Region extendeth it self in length from West to East fifty miles and from South to North six and twenty The upper part
famous no doubt in the Romans time The Archbishop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas the Archbishop of York Angliae Primas without any further addition Anselme for recompence of the service he had done in oppugning the marriage of Priests and resisting the King for the investiture of Clerks was by Pope Urbane endowed with this accession of honour that he and his Successours should from thenceforth have place in all General Councels at the Popes right foot who then said withall Includemus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam alterius orbis Papam Canterbury is one of the famousest Cities in England It hath had a rare Cathedral though now much ruinated by reason of these later times The Cathedral is in the midst of the City a fair Church the body of which is within a little as large as Pauls in London between the body and the Quire a very high Steeple where hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell-Harry being one of them which King Henry brought out of France There is also in this Steeple four Spires much like to Sepulchres in London There is on each side of the great West-gate two other Steeples the one called Dunston-steeple the other Arnold-steeple in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bels In the same Cathedral there was the famousest Window that ever was known in England for which there was offered as some say by the Spanish Embassadour 10000lb being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Sufferings but is now battered to pieces In the Quire of this Cathedral is buried Prince Edward called the Black Prince whose Monument is there of brasse The Dean and Prebends had very fair Houses within the bounds of the said Cathedral which was like a little City and so much power formerly that the Maiors Sword was not suffered to be held up within the Gates of the Deanry There is underneath this Cathedral a great Congregation of French living in the City and the Dutch also have a Church in that place which was called the Bishops Palace Within the bounds of the said Deanry there is a free School called The Kings School wherein are two Masters and many Scholars formerly wearing Gowns that are there brought up and many from thence sent to the University There was one Schoolmaster * some years before he died affirmed he had had thirty seven Masters of Arts of his bringing up There are many Churches in the City and Suburbs There are two Markets a week The Maior and Aldermen are cloathed in Scarlet and they keep the Sessions in the same City The City is walled and hath a Mote about it the Wall being so broad that two or three men may go a-brest with gallant Watch houses called Citadels all built with flint-stone There was an old Castle but it hath been for many years demolished and some of the Works or Forts are yet standing that were when the Danes came in one or two of which were made use of when the last rising was there There are two Hospitals in the City one for Ancient people and the other for Children The Isle of Thanet it is eight miles long and four broad a right fertile soil Goodwin-Sands a sandy dangerous place In the Reign of William the Second certain Lands in Kent which did once belong to Godwin Earl of Kent were overflowed and covered with sand which to this day do bear the name of Godwins Sands See Kilburns Survey of Kent pag. 262 263. How Tenterden Steeple was said to be the cause of Goodwins Sands Sandwich one of the Cinque Ports Dover The Town is seated between high Cliffs more famous for the commodiousnesse of the Haven such as it is and for ready passage into France then for any elegance or great trade There is a most stately Castle like unto a pretty City fortified strongly with Bulwarks and many a Tower It is the strongest hold of all England and most commodious for the French Sandgate-Castle and Satlwood a Castle Hith it signifies an Haven or Harbour one of the Cinque Ports Rumney-marsh a fruitfull soil it feedeth a number of Herds of Cattel sent hither from the furthest parts of Wales and England to be fatted There is at Bilsington a Priory built by John Maunsel Weaver in his Funeral Monuments saith He saw a Pedigree of the Maunsels from Philip de Maunsel who came in with the Conquerour untill these our times Wie Here was born John Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the great Benefactors to the University of Oxford He was Bishop of Rochester Chichester and London Archbishop of York first and afterward of Canterbury twice made Cardinal Bis primas ter Praeses bis Cardine functus This Province hath three hundred ninety eight Parishes and sixty four Hundreds Lancashire IT is a large populous and well wooded Countrey The County Palatine of Lancaster famous for the four Henries the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh Kings of England derived from John Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is upon the South confined and parted by the River Mersey from the County Palatine of Chester the County of Darbyshire bordering upon the East the large Countrey of Yorkshire together with Westmerland and Cumberland being her kind neighbours upon the North and the Sea called Mare Hibernicum imbracing her upon the West Their Kine and Oxen have goodly Heads and fair spread Hornes and are in body well proportionate withall Warringdon Rochdale a Mercate Town well frequented Manchester a Town of great antiquity from Main a British word which signifieth a Stone It is seated upon a stony hill and beneath the Town there are most famous quarries of stone It farre excelleth the Towns lying round about it for the beautifull shew it carrieth for resort unto it and for cloathing in regard also of the Mercate place the fair Church and Colledge John Bradford the famous Martyr was born here Letherpool or Lirpool so named of the water spreading it self in manner of a Pool whence there is a convenient passage over into Ireland and much frequented and in that respect more notorious than for any antiquity Ocmeskirk a Mercate Town well known by reason of the Sepulture there of the Stanleys Earls of Derby whose chief seat Latham is hard by a stately house Wiggin a Corporation with a Maior and Burgesses Bolton upon the River Irwell Preston a great fair Town and well inhabited Hornby a fair Castle Lancaster the chief Town of this Region There are thirty six Parishes in this Shire but those very populous and spacious six Hundreds and fifteen Market Towns Leicestershire IT hath bordering upon it on the East-side both Rutlandshire and Lincolnshire on the North Notingham and Derbyshire and Warwickshire on the West and on the South-side lieth Northampton The whole Shire yeeldeth great abundance of Peas and Beans more than any other Country insomuch that there is an old by-word of the same commonly known to all
once was a City of Truth a holy Mountain in regard of the Doctrine of truth and holinesse preached therein then certainly London may Insomuch that Foraigners Hungarians Germans Batavians others learn our Language and come over to this City that they may hear our Preachers and read our English Divines London-Bridge is an admirable Workmanship of stone hewen out of the Quarry upon nineteen Arches besides the Draw-bridge and is furnished on both sides with passing fair houses joyning one to another in manner of a street that for bignesse and beauty it may worthily carry away the prize from all the Bridges in Europe The whole City is divided into six and twenty Wards and the Councel of the City consisted of as many ancient men named of their age in our tongue Aldermen as one would say Senatours who each one have the over-seeing and rule of his several Ward The chief Magistrate is the Lord Maior and two Sheriffs whereof the one is called the Kings the other the Cities Sheriff In Henry the Sixths Reign Godfrey Bolein was Lord Maior of London being the Ancestor of two renowned and virtuous Queens of England Anne second wife to King Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth their Daughter through whose great vigilancy and providence the City stood so well guarded that the Kings peace was dutifully kept notwithstanding the great Lords of both the Factions Yorkists and Lancastrians were with so great Troops of followers lodged within and about the same In Edward the Thirds Reign Henry Picard Maior of London in one day sumptuously feasted four Kings Edward the Third King of England John King of France the King of Cyprus then arrived in England David King of Scots See the courage and piety of a Lord Maior in King James his time in Wilsons History of Great-Britain p. 106. The Merchants meeting place standing upon Pillars which the common people call the Burse and Queen Elizabeth with a solemn Ceremony named The Royal Exchange was set up by Sir Thomas Gresham Citizen and Knight a magnificent work whether you respect the Model of the building the resort of Merchants from all Nations thither or the store of wares there Which Sir Thomas Gresham being withall an exceeding great lover of Learning consecrated a most spacious house his own habitation to the furtherance of Learning and instituted the Professours of Divinity Law Physick Astronomy Geometry and Musick with liberal Salaries and Stipends to the end that London might be a place not only furnished with all kind of Traffick but also with the Liberal Arts and Sciences There is also a fair and goodly Library in Sion-Colledge containing an hundred twenty and one foot in length and above five and twenty foot in breadth In the Reign of King James Robert Earl of Salisbury caused to be erected a stately building in the Strand which upon Tuesday the tenth of April in the yeer 1609. was begun to be richly furnished with Wares and the next day after the King the Queen and Prince with many great Lords and Ladies came to see and then the King gave it the name of Britains Burse Westminster was called in times past Thorney of Thorns now Westminster of the West situation and the Monastery A City of it self having its peculiar Magistrates and Priviledges It is renowned for the Abbey Church the Hall of Justice and the Kings Palace This Church is famous especially by reason of the Inauguration and Sepulture of the Kings of England William the Conquerour and Matilda his wife were first crowned at Westminster and since them all other Kings and Queens of this Realm have been there crowned Stows Surveigh of London It is a Church of very fair Workmanship supported with sundry rows of Marble Pillars a peece of work that cost fifty yeers labour in building It was founded by King Edward the Confessour King Henry the Seventh for the Burial of himself and his children adjoyned thereto in the East end a Chappel of admirable elegancy Leland calleth it The wonder of the world all the curious and exquisite work that can be devised is there compacted It is reported That the Chappel cost ten thousand pound or as others say fourteen thousand pound There is a Collegiate Church and famous School Forty Scholars in their due time are preferred to the Universities Here are buried the Prince of English Poets Geffrey Chaucer as also he that for pregnant wit and an excellent gift in Poetry of all English Poets came neerest unto him Edmund Spenser Isaac Casaubone William Camden Clarenceux King of Arms Westminster-Hall is the greatest Hall in England and the very Praetorium or Hall of Justice In this are the Judicial Courts the Upper-Bench the Common-Pleas and the Chancery and in places neer thereabout the Starre-Chamber the Exchequer Court of Wards and Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster In which at certain set times we call them Terms Causes are yeerly heard and tried This Judgement Hall King Richard the Second built out of the ground as appeareth by his Arms engraven in the stone-work and many arched beams There are a hundred twenty and one Churches more than Rome it self can shew Redcliff so called of the Red cliff a pretty fine Town and dwelling place of Sailers Enfield-Chase a place much renowned for hunting In this County without the City of London are reckoned Parishes much about seventy three with the City Liberties and Suburbs an hundred twenty and one Monmouthshire IT is enclosed on the North-side with the River Munow that separateth it from Herefordshire on the East-side with Wye running between it and Glocestershire on the West with the River Remmey which severeth it from Glamorganshire and on the South with the Severn The East part is full of Grasse and Woods the West is somewhat hilly and stony yet not unthankfull to the Husbandman Monmouth the chief Town of the Shire Munow and Wye at their confluence do compasse it almost round about and give it the name On the North-side where it is not defended with the Rivers it was fortified with a wall and ditch In the midst of the Town hard by the Mercat place standeth a Castle which as it is thought John Baron of Monmouth built It was the Birth place of Henry the Fifth that triumpher over France and the second Ornament of the English Nation It glorieth also that Geffrey Ap Arthur or of Munmouth Compiler of the British History was born and bred there a man well skilled in Antiquities but as it seemeth not of antique credit so many toyes and tales he every where enterlaceth out of his owne brain as he was charged while he lived Chepstow a famous Town and of good resort situate upon the side of an Hill rising from the very River fortified round about with a Wall of a large circuit which includes within it both Fields and Orchards It hath a very spacious Castle situate over the River Strighall Castle it belongs to the
ENGLAND DESCRIBED Or the several COUNTIES SHIRES thereof briefly handled Some things also premised to set forth the Glory of this NATION By Edward Leigh Esquire Mr of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed by A. M. for Henry Marsh at the Signe of the Princes-Arms in Chancery-lane near Fleetstreet 1659. TO THE Right Worshipfull AND HIS Honoured Friend Sr ROBERT PYE SIR IT is blamed in our Englishmen that they are apt too much to admire Foreigne Countreys and Commodities and exotick Fashions also because they are either ignorant of or do not sufficiently prize the Excellencies of their own native Soil and herein the old Proverb of the English is verified They never know when they are well VVe have little cause I thinke to envy any other Countrey if we rightly understand our own happy condition I have in my Prolegomena written encomiastically of this Nation and in the Book have spoken snccinctly of each County Were the Subject well handled I suppose it would be a pleasing Argument to you who have seen a great part of England However you will I hope excuse my boldnesse in prefixing your Name to this worke since I was willing to testifie herein how much I am beholding to you for your many great Civilities and Courtesies to me and mine I have heard you often say Though you had a great Office many yeers and was Executor also to three eminent Persons of the Nobility yet you scarce ever had any complaint against you for Miscarriages in your Place or a Suit at Law with any one excepted in your whole life These with a plentifull Estate and a healthfull Constitution of Body are mercies and lay a stronger Obligation upon you to be carefull to please and honour that God who hath been so propitious to you Your exciting of others and your own munificence also to so good a VVork as to the edifying of a specious Chappel for the solemn worship of God and setling also a competent Maintenance for a Minister is laudable Your prudent avoiding Suretiship though you were solicited by two Royal Persons to be bound for them is consonant to Scripture-Rules But Sir in your declining Age it will be your wisdome now and comfort hereafter to lay up your treasures in Heaven to mortifie all inordinate affections and to secure your interest in Christ Nusquam tuta foelicitas ubi periclitatur aeternitas A man is never safe till his everlasting condition be well provided for I shall not enlarge herein but subscribe my self Sir Your obliged and thankfull Friend and Servant Edward Leigh TO THE CANDID READER Reader I Did intend the publishing of this first Book of the Kingdome or Several Counties of England together with another of The Kings of England But the Bookseller desired to put forth this first alone I have made much use of Camden and if I could have added to his Chorography some new and memorable things of each County which he had not observed I should have thought it might have been usefull for a native Englishman and Foraigner Perhaps I have not been able to make additions to him in every County but I hope I have inserted some special things in the whole over and above what he travelling over most part of the Land for that purpose hath published I have perused Andre du Chesne his Histoire generale de Angleterre d'Escosse d' Irlande Councellor and Geographer to the King of France and also Draytons Polyolbion with M. Seldens Illustrations Those that have written of any Counties or Cities of England as Burton of Leicestershire Dugdale of Warwickshire King of Cheshire Nordens Speculum Britanniae his brief Description of Middlesex and Harfordshire Lambert and another of Kent Crews Surveigh of Cornwall Stows Description of London Somners of Canterbury and Nevils of Norwich we having onely as yet the Description of those three Cities I made use also of Lelands Itinerary a Manuscript written to Henry the Eighth and his Comment in Cygneam Cantionem M. Burtons Notes on Antoninus his Itinerary I have confined my self to England not medling with Wales Ireland or Scotland I have in the Prolegomena related some things which may make the Nation illustrious and also acquaint Strangers with the Politia or Government thereof I have lately received from M. Du-gard a learned Minister in Warwickshire and Rector of Barford a memorable observation concerning the Family of the Fairfaxes there the like whereto is scarce to be found in any sacred or prophane Writer which coming too late to insert in Warwickshire I thought good to mention here The matchlesse Family of the Fairfaxes in Barford two miles from Warwick wherein there are four Generations and three of them double viz. 1. Samuel Fairfax a child of almost twelve years of age 2. John and Elizabeth his Father and Mother 3. John and Eleonor his Grand-father and Grandmother 4. Richard and Alice his great Grandfather and great Grandmother Not one of these three pairs hath been twice married and every pair of them is an honour to marriage They all for divers yeares most lovingly dwelt together in one house and ate together at one Table At last they are divided in habitations but not in affections The youngest pair with their children live at Wibtaft in the furthest part of the County nigh unto High-crosse the other two pair in Barford The great Grandfather is above fourscore yeares of age a very proper and lusty man an honest and loving neighbour and one that hath born the Office of High-Constable The most remarkable of these particulars have been put into this Latine Epigramme by the present Rector of Barford Mirabilis Fairfaxiorum Familia quae est Barfordiae secundo lapide à Polemopoli sive Warwico Quartus in aetheream Fairfaxius editur * auram Patris Avi Proavi gaudia magna sui Hos tegit una domus cum terna uxore maritos Unáque alit lautis mensa benigna cibis Non magis unanimes nôrunt haec secula mentes Est bis corporibus mens velut una tribus Tótque ex conjugibus bis vincla jugalia nemo Nexuit nemo nexa soluta cupit More columbarum laetatur conjuge conjux Deseruit rugas nec juvenilis amor Hisce tribus Paribus Barfordia jure superbit Nampar his Paribus quis locus alter habet Tho. Dugard Art Mag. Rector Barf The same in English Fairfax the Fourth is born * a gallant Boy Fathers Grandfathers great Grand-fathers great joy Under one roof these dwell with their three Wives And at one Table eat what Heaven gives Our times a sweeter Harmony have not known They are six Persons yet their hearts but one And of these six as none hath hitherto Known Marriage twice so none desires to do Mate is to mate what dearest Dove to Dove Even grandest wrinkles are top-full of love In these three Pairs Barford may justly glory What other place can parallel this Story Th. Dugard Some parts of
this Nation subsist upon Mines and Cole others upon Manefacture Some upon Corn others upon the Profits of Cattle London and the Sea-Ports upon Exportation and Importation M. Wrens Monarchy asserted chap. 8. Wileboord an Englishman was the first Bishop of Utrect he is called the Apostle of Zeland for having there preacht and planted the Christian Faith as also in the Provinces next adjoyning Verstegans Etymologies of our Saxon Proper Names Willebrodus Britannus fuit Frisiosque primus Christianae Religionis initiis imbuit Bertius in Tab. Geog. Contract I shall detain thee no longer but subscribe my self Thy hearty Well-willer Edward Leigh PROLEGOMENA EUrope the least of the four parts of the World yet the most populous and eminent for Arts and Armes is divided into several Nations and Countreys Albion or Great-Britain Spain France Germany Rhetia Vindelicia Italy Sardinia Sicily Sarmatia Dacia Maesia and Greece Britain or Britanny which also is Albion the most famous Island without comparison of the whole world It is seated as well for air as soil in a right fruitfull and most milde place The air so kinde and temperate that not only the Summers be not excessive hot by reason of continual gentle windes that abate their heat which as they refresh the fruits of the earth so they yeeld a most wholsom and pleasing contentment both to man and beast but the Winters also are passing milde for therein falling often with still showers to say nothing of the Air it self somewhat thick and grosse dissolveth the rigour of the cold so and withall the Sea which compasseth it with moderate warmth doth comfort the Land in such wise as that the cold with us is much more remisse than in some parts of France and Italy It is now called England in Latine Anglia in French Angle-terre Of the several Etymologies of which word see Histoire d' Angle-terre Par Du Chesne l. 6. p. 195. And Munsters Universal Gosmography l. 2. Britanniam lasciviae Culparier justè negas Tamen fateri cogeris Quòd insula est non continens Hugenii Epig. l. 6. Great Britain consisting of England and Scotland contains one thousand eight hundred thirty six miles in compasse This Island as Camden Twine Verstegan imagine was broken off from the Continent of France See Twine De Rebus Britannicis The Bodies of the Inhabitants are of an excellent Constitution their Demeanour right courteous their Natures gentle and their Courage most hardy and valiant whose Manhood by exploits atchieved both at home and abroad is famously renowned thorow the whole world King Edward the third and his Sonne did bear their victorious Arms thoroughout all France King Henry the Sixth was crowned King of France at Paris Our famous Kings Henry the Fifth Edw. 3. and K. Henry the Eight were the most worthiest Warriers that our Nation ever had Sir Roger Williams his brief Discourse of Warre pag. 37. See pag. 8 9. 58. Phil. de Commines Hist. l. 6. c. 2 3. Sir Francis and Sir Horatio Vere Sir Thomas Morgan Sir John Norris by their singular knowledge in military affairs and exploits most valiantly and fortunately atchieved in the Low-Countreys have added exceeding much honour and glory to themselves See Dr. Dillinghams Veres Commentaries Sir Roger Williams also was a famous Commander John Lord Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury marched four and twenty years together with victorious arms over a great part of France Camden cals him Englands Achilles See Froissarts Chron. c. 130. of the victory of the English at the great battel of Cressy The Duke of Bedford was Regent of France and being slain in a battel on Land before Veronil was buried in Roan and together with him all the English mens good fortune in France Whose Monument when Charles the Eighth King of France came to see and a Nobleman standing by advised him to rase it Nay answered he let him rest in peace now being dead of whom in warre whiles he lived all France had dread Marshal Biron said He liked not the English March being beaten by the Drumme it was so slow Sir Roger Williams answer'd him That yet it had gone through all France See the Discourse of the National Excellencies of England Part 1. Chap. 1. Of the Warres of the Britains and their Courage Chap. 3. Of the Danish Invasion Chap. 4. Of the Norman Conquest Chap. 5. Of Warres with Spain Chap. 6. Of Warres with France Chap. 7. Of Warres with the seventeen Provinces Chap. 8 9. Of Warres with Scotland Part 2. Chap. 2. Of the English Courage Our wooden Walls the Ships are a great safety to this Nation The English Navy is the strongest in the world What service did our Ships do us in 88 Sir Francis Drake and after him Thomas Candish Esquire within the space of three yeers and three moneths travelled about the Globe of the whole Earth This Isle hath prescribed in all ages for the Dominion * of the Seas that incompasse it Vide Seldeni Mare clausum lib. 2. c. 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 30 31 32. Sir Richard Grenvile in a Ship of Queen Elizabeths fought against a great Navy of Spaniards This single vessel was fought with in turns by fifteen other great Ships whereof the great St. Philip of 1500 Tuns Prince of the twelve Sea-Apostles was one It sunk two of their best Ships and killed a thousand men It was sunk at last having first to the full answered its name Without vanity our Nation may assume to it self the praise considering the narrow limits of the Island to have produced as many Scholars admirable in all degrees of knowledge as any Countrey on this side the Alpes Beda Bradwardine Scotus Wicliffe Ockam Baconthorp Joannes de sacro Bosco Cuthbert Tunstall Pool Colet Lilie Linacer Pacaeus Fisher More Stapleton Leland Camden Juel Whitaker Rainolds Sir Philip Sidney a man of excellent parts learned and valiant Our English mens pronunciation of the Latine tongue is condemned much by Outlandishmen A Herald brought a Letter of Defiance from the King of England in very good language and so excellently well penned that I am perswaded it was never of English mans doing Phil. de Comin in his History lib. 4. ch. 5. They write good Latine though Car hath written an Oration De Scriptorum Britannicorum paucitate In Edward the Thirds time there was a Letter directed to the Pope in justification of making it Treason to bring in Papal provisions which was so excellently penn'd as did not only move admiration but astonishment Cito post Rex direxit Papae illam famosam Epistolam pro libertate Ecclesiae contuenda quam praesentibus duximus inserendam Walsing. Hist. Angl. Edw. 3. p. 161. There are sundry opinions whence this word Britain had the original derivation Camden dislikes that from Brutus Some say It is most probably derived from Brit which in the ancient British signifies
beside At this day there are 9285. Parishes in the Kingdom There is in no place of the world greater and larger Dogs nor better Hounds That the British Hounds and Mastives excell those of other Nations See Burtons Comment on Antoninus Itin. pag. 219 220. Of all the Doggs in Europe ours bear the name They were in most request both for those baitings in the Amphitheaters and also in all other publick huntings among the Romanes Magnaque taurorum fracturi colla Britanni Claudian The Cock is a bold and stout Bird and will fight valiantly with his adversaries and presently crows when he obtains victory See Pliny lib. 29. cap. 4. The Cocks also there give not over the fight till death parts them There are three principal Rivers in England Thames in the South-East Severn in the South-West Trent a Northern River Isis the principal and Prince of all the English Rivers afterward entertaineth Tame and by a compound word is called Tamesis His ita compositis hinc Plantageneta regressus Fluctibus aequoreis trajectis venit in arcem Urbis Londini quam praeterlabitur amnis Piscosus Thamesis famae celeberrimus inter Albionis rivos Oclandi Anglorum Praelia The Thames swelleth with the accesse of the flowing tide of the Sea about Lx Italian miles by water from his mouth Neither to my knowledge is there any other River in all Europe that for so many miles within Land feeleth the violence of the Ocean forcing and rushing in upon it and so driving back and with-holding his waters to the exceeding great commodity of the Inhabitants bordering thereupon The second River of England is Severn the head of it is the Hill Plinlimon in Montgomery-shire He slowly wandereth through this Shire Shropshire Worcestershire and last of all Glocestershire infusing a certain vital moisture into the soil every where as he passeth untill at length he mildely dischargeth himself into the Severn-sea Trent by his due right challengeth to himself the third place among all the Rivers of England It runneth out of two Fountains being neer neighbours together in the North part of Staffordshire among the Moors Certain unskilfull and idle headed have dreamed that it was so named of Trente a French word which signifieth Thirty and thereupon also have feigned that thirty Rivers runne into it and as many kinds of fishes live therein We have more glorious Universities Colledges Schools and Churches than any Nation of the world There are two famous Universities in England Oxford and Cambridge Five great Schools in England Westminster Eaton Winchester Pauls and Merchant-Taylors School For Churches Doctor Heylin in his Geography shews which are the best It is famous beyond Seas also for its fine Wooll which is our golden Fleece The most considerable Ports on the East-side of the Island are New-castle Hull Lynne Yarmouth Harwich Colchester Sandwich on the South-side lies Plymouth on the West Chester Our Language consists partly of French Danish Saxon and Pictish Language The English-Saxon Tongue came in by the English-Saxons out of Germany who valiantly and wisely performed here all the three things which imply a full conquest viz. the alteration of Lawes Language and Attire Camd. Remains He saith also there that our Tongue is as copious pithy and significative as any other Tongue in Europe There is in English as true strains of Eloquence as strong and fine expressions as elaborate and solid pieces of fancy as in any Language whatsoever Howels Instruct for Travel Sect. 12. George commonly called St. George was the Patron both of our Nation and of the most honourable Order of Knighthood in the world The first and last Heresie that ever troubled this Island was inbred by Pelagius but that was amongst the Britons and was suppressed by the zeal of the Saxons who liked nothing of the British breed and for whose sake it suffered more happly then for the foulnesse of the opinion The sweating sicknesse call'd for the propriety by which it seized on the English Nation chiefly Sudor Anglicus It followed onely Englishmen in forrain Countreys no other people infected therewith There is a good course taken to secure this Land from forreigne Invasion by burning of Beacons Beacon of the old word Beacnian that is to shew by a signe for these many hundred years they have been in great request and much used among us in some places by heaping up a deal of wood in others by barrels full of pitch fastened to the top of a Mast or Pole in the highest places of the Countrey at which by night some do alwayes watch that by burning the pitch the enemies coming may be shewed to all the neighbour inhabitants This Realme was first divided into Circuits by King Henry the Second who appointed twice in the year that two of the most grave and learned Judges of the Land should in each Circuit administer Justice in the chief or head Towns of every Countrey Of these Judges one sitteth on matters criminal concerning the life and death of malefactours the other in actions personal concerning Title of Lands Debts or the like between party and party The first Circuit heretofore did comprehend the Counties of Wilts Somerset Devon and Southampton The second contained the Counties of Oxford Berks Glocester Munmouth Hereford Worcester Salop and Stafford The third had in it the Counties of Surrey Kent Essex and Hartford The fourth consisted of the Shires of Buckingham Bedford Huntingdon Cambridge Norfolk and Suffolk The fifth of the Shires of Northampton Rutland Lincoln Nottingham Darby Leicester and Warwick The sixth and last of the Shires of York Durham Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Lancaster So that in these six Circuits are numbered thirty eight Shires The two remaining are Middlesex and Cheshire whereof the first is exempted because of its vicinity to London and the second as being a County Palatine and having peculiar Judges and Counsellors to it self The seven Kingdoms Kent South-Saxia West-Saxie East-Saxia Northumberland Mercia and East-Anglia were governed by so many several Kings Ethelbert was King of Kent Sebert of East-Saxon Erpenwald of the East-Angle Edwine of Northumberland Kingill of West-Saxon Peada of Mercia Ethelwolf of the South-Saxon King Alfred ordained the Division of Shires Hundreâ—… and * Tithings that every Englishman living legally might be of a certain Hundred or Tithing out of which he was not to remove without security There are one and fourty Shires in England every Shire consisting of so many Hundreds and every Hundred of a number of Boroughs Villages or Tithings England was divided into seven Kingdomes by the Saxons after into Provinces Shires or Shares and Countreys by Alured In these Shires there is appointed in troublesome times a Deputy under the King to see that the Commonwealth sustain no hurt Now every year some one of the Gentlemen Inhabitants is made Ruler of the County wherein he
Parishes Buckinghamshire IT brings forth Beech-trees plentitifully which the English Saxons in elder times called Bucken whence Buckingham the chief Town and so the whole Shire took the name from Beech-trees The Countrey generally is of a rich plentifull soil and passing full of inhabitants who chiefly imploy themselves in grazing of Cattel there is store of Mutton and Beef Chiltern got that name according to the very nature of the soile of Chalkie Marle which the ancient Englishmen termed Cylt or Chilt Marlow a pretty Town of no mean credit taking name of the said Chalk commonly termed Marle which being spread upon Corn-ground eaten out of heart with long tillage doth quicken the same again so as that after one yeers rest it never lieth fallow but yeeldeth again to the Husbandman his seed in plentifull measure High Wickham or Wicombe rather from the turning of the River Thames the Germane Saxons term any winding reach of River and Sea a Wick and Comb a low valle This Town for largenesse and fair building is equal to the greatest Town in this Shire and in that it hath a Maior for the Head Magistrate Colbroke-Pontes is parted into four chanels over which stand as many Bridges for the commodity of passengers whence it tooke its name Hamden gave name to an ancient and well spread Family in these parts Some say one of that name was High-Sheriff when William the Conquerour came into England There is part of the House at great Hamden yet standing which hath been built ever since the time of William the Conquerour They have ancient Records one of which runs thus Osbert Hamden Lord of Great Hamden one of the Commissioners for expulsion of the Danes Ailesbury a fair Market Town compassed about with many most pleasant green Medows and Pastures of which the whole Vale is termed the Vale of Ailesbury Ascot the principal mansion house of the Dormers from whence descended the Dutches of Feria in Spain and others of noble note Stony Stratford named so of Stones the Streetway and a Fourd The houses are built of a certain rough stone which is digged forth in great abundance at Caversham hard by and it standeth upon the publick street commonly called Watling-street which was a military high-way made by the Romans and is evidently to be seen yet beyond the Town with the Bank or Causey thereof and hath a ford but now hardly passable Newport-Painel so called of Sir Fulcod Painel the Lord thereof Here are an eleven Market Towns and an hundred and eighty five Parishes Cambridgeshire CAmbridgeshire is famous for fish and fowl Cambridge a most famous Mart and Store-house of good Literature and Godlinesse standeth upon the River Cam which turning into the East divideth it into two parts and hath a Bridge over it whence arose the name Cambridge Neither is there wanting any thing here that a man may require in a most flourishing University were it not that the Air is somewhat unhealthfull arising as it doth out of a fenny ground hard by There are sixteen Colledges in it Saint Ides is one of the famousest Markets of England it serves several Counties The Isle of Ely There are several Etymologies of it given by Camden Ely a Bishops See * the City hath an unwholsome Air by reason of the fens round about although it be seated somewhat higher Hard under Cambridge Eastward neer unto Sture a little brook is kept every yeer in the Moneth of September the greatest Fair of all England whether you respect the multitude of buyers and sellers resorting thither or the store of Commodities there to be vented Neer unto Cambridge on the South-East side there appear aloft certain high Hils called Gogmagog On the top of them is a very large Fort entrenched strengthened with a three-fold Rampire Wisbich amongst Fennes and waters It hath eight Market Towns and an hundred and sixty three Parishes Cheshire IT is very pleasant and plenteous in all things needfull for mans use and therefore had the name of the Vale Royal of England from Edward the First The Grasse and Fodder there is of that goodnesse and vertue that Cheeses are made there in great number of a most pleasing and delicate taste such as all England again affordeth not the like no though the best dayriwomen otherwise and skilfullest in Chees-making be had from hence This Region hath alwayes bred more Gentry than the other Countreys in England For you have not in all England again any one Province beside that in old time either brought more valorous Gentlemen into the field or had more families in it of Knights degree The Breretons Manwarings and Venables are the most noble Families in that County On the South-side it is hemmed in with Shropshire on the East-side with Staffordshire and Darbyshire on the North with Lancashire and on the West with Denbigh and Flintshire The River Dee called in Latine Deva breeding very great plenty of Salmons ariseth out of two fountains in Wales and thereof men think it took the name for Dwy in their tongue signifieth two This River no sooner is entered into Cheshire but it passeth by Banchor a famous Monastery It fostered and brought up as some write the most wicked Arch-heretique Pelagius who injuriously derogating from the grace of God troubled a long time the west Church with his pestiferous Doctrine Prosper Aquitanus in this Verse of his termeth him the British Adder Pestifero vomuit coluber sermone Britannus A British Snake with venemous tongue Hath vomited his poison strong Chester * or West-Chester of the West situation Cestria de castris nomen quasi castria sumpsit This City built in form of a quadrant four square is enclosed with a wall that taketh up more then two miles in compasse and hath eleven Parishes Neer unto the River standeth the Castle upon a rocky Hill built by the Earls where the Courts Palatine and the Assizes as they call them are kept twice a year The Houses are very fair built and along the chief streets are Galleries or Walking-places they call them Rows having shops on both sides through which a man may walk dry from one end to another It is called the County Palatine of Chester because the Earls thereof had Royalties and Princely priviledges belonging to them and all the Inhabitants owed Allegiance and Fealty to them as they did to the King One Hugh Wolf was made Earl of Chester by William the First and the County given him in Fee Tenendum sibi Haeredibus it a vere ad Gladium sicut ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam And as the King so he for his Heirs had their Barons by that name specially known King Edgar in magnificent manner triumphed over the British Princes For sitting himself in a Barge at the fore-deck Kennadie King of the Scots Malcoline King of Cumberland Macon King of Mann and of the Islands with all the Princes of Wales
a Prince most accomplished with Martial Prowesse in the yeer of Christ 1336. Duke of Cornwall by a Wreath on his Head a Ring upon his Finger and a silver Verge Since which time the King of Englands eldest Sonne is reputed Duke of Cornwall by birth Launston the chief Town The Promontory named the Lands end the most Western point of the Kingdom It containeth nine Hundreds two and twenty Market Towns an hundred sixty and one Parishes Cumberland IT took the name of the Inhabitauts who were the true and natural Britans and called themselves in their own language Kumbri This Countrey although it be somewhat with the coldest as lying farre North and seemeth as rough by reason of Hils yet for the variety thereof it smileth upon the beholders and giveth contentment to as many as travel it Of all the Shires we have it is accounted the best furnished with the Roman Antiquities Burtons Comment on Antoninus his Itin. p. 13. At Newlands there are copper or brasse Mines Skiddaw-Hill is very high Skiddaw Lauvellin and Casticand Are the highest hils in all England Solway Frith so called of Solway a Town in Scotland standing upon it Under this Burgh within the very Frith where the salt water ebbeth and floweth the Englishmen and Scotish by report of the Inhabitants fought with their Fleets at full Sea and also with their Horsemen and Footmen at the ebbe Hard by the Riveret Dacor standeth Dacre-Castle of signal note because it hath given surname to the honourable Family of the Barons Dacre Carlile This ancient City is fortified with strong walls of stone with a Castle and Citadel as they terme it Here begun Picts-wall or simply by way of excellency The Wall the limit of the Roman Province continued through this Countrey and Northumberland and ending in Walls-end Here are nine Market Towns and fifty eight Parishes Darbyshire IT is a plentifull Countrey there are many Minerals and several kinds of Stones Darby is the chief Town of all this Shire a Town of good trade There be five Churches in it Of which the greatest named All-Hallows dedicated to the memory of All-Saints hath a Tower-steeple that for height and singular fine Workmanship excelleth They had a famous Minister there one Chappel which was brother to him that was of Cambridge and went afterward into Ireland He did much good in Darby When King James came thither a witty Butcher in the Town said thus to him Jemmy for a Chappel and a Steeple We may compare with any people The Assizes are there kept for the whole Shire and the best nappy Ale is brewed there in two places especially It is the ancient and peculiar drink of the Englishmen and Britains and very wholsome Henry of Aurenches the Norman Arch-Poet to King Henry the Third merrily jested on it in these Verses Nescio quid Stygiae monstrum conforme paludi Cervisiam plerique vocant nil spissius illa Dum bibitur nil clarius est dum mingitur unde Constat quod multas faeces in ventre relinquit Of this strange drink so like to Stygean lake Most terme it Ale I wot not what to make Folk drink it thick and pisse it passing thin Much dregs therfore must needs remain within The wealth of this Town consisteth much of buying of Corn and selling it again to the mountains for all the Inhabitants are a kind of Badgers Thomas Linaker the famous Scholar was born here and so was Mr. Cotton the famous Minister of Boston and Dr. Wilmot neer it Chesterfield a Market Town The Peak which signifieth to appear aloft is severed from Staffordshire by the Dove a most swift and clear River It is plentifull of Lead also Stibium or Antimony Mill-stones likewise are here hewed out as also Grinde-stones and Whet-stones to give an edge unto iron tools Under the old Castle called the Castle in the Peak there is a Cave or Hole within the ground called the Devils Arse Devils Arse in Peak that gapeth with a wide mouth and hath in it many turnings and retiring rooms This Hole is reckoned one of the wonders of England There are several other wonders in the Peak Ashburn in the Peak There is a place called Elden-Hole which lies two miles distant from Castleton a Town in the high Peak it is within the Peak Forest it descendeth directly down into the earth it is about thirty yards long and fifteen yards broad at the top of it but is much straighter when it cometh fourty yards deep You may see into it about sixty yards being as farre as the light which cometh in at the mouth of the Hole will give light to see it is fearfull to look into being a face of rock on each side About sixty years since one Mr. Henry Cavendish eldest brother to Sir Charles Cavendish who had spent all his dayes in travel had been at Jerusalem and several other parts of the world and hearing of this place came to it and caused Engines to be made or to let a man into the Hole which being done one George Bradley of the Peak Forest was let down in a rope fourscore yards And then another Engine was made to let him go further and from thence he was let down fourscore yards further and at the end thereof a third Engine was made whereby he was let down almost fourscore yards further at the top of the rope was fastened a Bell which he was to ring if he could go no further or would return back when he was let down almost the third fourscore yards he rung the Bell and being drawn up he was much affrighted remained speechlesse for a time and was struck with lamenesse but after he recovered his speech he declared that as he descended down were bones of Deer Sheep and other Cattel and also of men and that he was affrighted but how or in what manner he could not tel he lived several years but never was in perfect memory nor sound of his limbs Within the Town of Buxton there is a Bath called Buxton-Well which cureth very many Diseases There are two springs of water the one within a hand breadth of the other the one is very hot the other cold as ice There are eight Market Towns six Hundreds and an hundred and six Parishes in this County Denshire OR Devonshire A Countrey harborous on either side with commodious Havens enriched with Tin-mines especially Westward garnished with pleasant medows sightly with great store of woods and passing well replenished with Towns and buildings There is not any place almost in all England where the ground requireth greater charges For in most parts thereof it groweth in manner barren if it be not over-strewed and mingled with a certain sand from the Sea which is of great efficacy to procure fertility by quickening as it were and giving life unto the Glebe and therefore in places far from the shore it is bought at a dear rate On
and Commonwealth there ariseth a most plentifull increase of right learned men In this Colledge one Warden ten Fellows two Schoolmasters threescore and ten Scholars with divers others are plentifully maintained Potesmouth that is the mouth of the Haven A place always in time of warre well frequented It is fortified with a Wall made of Timber and the same well covered over with thick Banks of earth There is nothing wanting that a man would require in a most strong and fenced place Of the Garison Souldiers some keep watch and ward both night and day at the Gates Others upon the Tower of the Church who by the ringing or sound of a Bell give warning how many Horse or Foot are coming and by putting forth a Banner shew from what Quarter they come Basing stoke a Mercat Town well frequented Basing is near it the Seat of the Marquesses of Winchester Odiam a Borough corporate belonging in times past to the Bishop of Winchester William Lilie the great Grammarian was born here He was the first Master of Pauls School There are in this Shire two hundred and fifty three Parishes eighteen Market Towns and forty Hundreds To this County of Southampton belongeth the Isle of Wight Vecta or Vectis Insula This Isle between East and West in an old form stretcheth out twenty miles in length and spreadeth in the midst which is broadest twelve miles So Camden Leland saith it is ten miles broad The Ground to say nothing of the Sea full of Fish consisteth of a very fruitfull soil it breeds every where store of Coneys Hares Partridges and Pheasants It hath one little Forest and two Parks replenished with Deer for game and hunting pleasure Through the midst thereof runnes a long tract of Hils yeelding plenty of Pasture and Forrage for Sheep The Wooll of which next unto that of Lemster and Cotteswold is esteemed best and in special request with Clothiers whereby there groweth to the Inhabitants much gaine and profit There are thirty six Towns Villages and Castles which for Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction belonged to the Bishop of Winchester and for Civil Government to the County of South-hanton It armeth four thousand men exercised by their Captains The Inhabitants of this Isle were wont merrily to make their boast That their case was happier than all others because they had neither hooded Monks nor cavilling Lawyers nor yet crafty Foxes Newport is the principal Mercat Town of the whole Isle Caresbrook an old Castle is in the very heart and midst of the Isle Brading a Mercat Town Newton and Yarmouth have their Maiors and send Burgesses to the Parliament Sauham-Castle The Inhabitants of the Isle being naturally most warlike bold and adventurous are through the diligence and care of the Captain of the Isle confirmed so by continual exercise in strength and military Discipline that they exactly know before-hand with their Peeces to shoot point-blank and not misse the Mark to keep their ranks to march orderly and in ray to cast their squadrons if need be close into a ring to display and spread the same at large to take pains to runne and ride to endure both Sunne and dust and fully to performe whatsoever warfare doth require Of these Souldiers thus trained the Isle it self is able to bring forth into the field four thousand and at the instant for all assayes appointed there are three thousand more of most expert and practised Souldiers out of Hantshire and two thousand beside out of Wiltshire to be ever prest and in readinesse for the defence of the Isle That all hostile Forces whatsoever might be withstood more speedily and with greater facility the whole Countrey is divided into eleven parts and every of them hath their several Centoner or Centurion their Vinton also Leaders as it were of twenty their great peeces of Ordnance their Sentinels and Warders who keep Watch and Ward at the Beacons standing on the higher grounds their Posts also or Runners whom by an old name grown almost out of use they terme still Hoblers who presently give intelligence of all occurrents to the Captain and Governour of the Isle Vespasian was the first that brought it into subjection whiles he served as a private person under Claudius Caesar This Isle had a noble Family named De Insula or Lisle out of which in the Reign of King Edward the Second one was summoned unto the Parliament by the name of Sir John Lisle of the Isle of Wight Herefordshire THis County lieth round in compasse as it were a Circle it is bounded on the East-side with Worcester and Glocestershire on the South with Monmouthshire on the West-side with Radnoc and Brecknotshire and on the North with Shropshire For three W. W. W. Wheat Wooll and Water * it yeeldeth to no Shire of England This Countrey is reputed the Orchard of England From the greatest persons to the poorest cottager all habitations are encompassed with Orchards and Gardens and in most places the hedges are enriched with rows of Fruit-trees Pears or Apples Gennet-moyles or Crab-trees Worcestershire is more proper for Pears and Cherries Herefordshire for Apples Herefordshire Orchards a Patern for all England By J. B. Bradwardin-Castle gave both original and name to that famous Thomas Bradwardin Archbishop of Canterbury who for his variety of knowledge and profound Learning was in that age termed The profound Doctor Hereford is the chief City of the Shire it is seated among most pleasant Medows and as plentifull Corn-fields compassed almost round about with Rivers On the North-side and the West with one that hath no name on the South-side with Wye which hasteneth hither out of Wales Lemster upon the River Lug. The greatest name and fame that it hath at this day is of the Wooll in the Territories round about it Lemster Ore they call it which setting aside that of Apulia and Tarentum all Europe counteth to be the very best Where lives the man so dull on Britains furthest shore To whom did never sound the name of Lemster Ore That with the Silk-worms web for smalnesse doth compare Wherein the winder shews his workmanship so rare As doth the Fleece excell and mocks her looser clew As neatly bottom'd up as Nature forth it drew Of each in high'st accompt and reckoned here as fine As there th' Appulian Fleece or dainty Tarentyne Draytons Polyolbion 7th Song In Apulia and the upper Calabria of Italy the Wool hath been famous for finest excellence insomuch that for preserving it from the injury of earth bushes and weather the Shepherds used to clothe their Sheep with skins and indeed was so chargeable in these and other kind of pains about it that it scarce requites the cost Seld. Illustrat of Drayt. Polyolb Brameyard upon the River Frome Ledbury under Malvern-Hils It is also so renowned for Wheat and Bread of the finest Flour that Lemster Bread and Weabley Ale are grown unto a common Proverb By reason of these Commodities the Mercates at Lemster were
of it they say is healthfull but not so wealthy the middle they account both healthfull and plentifull the lower they hold to be wealthy but not healthy as which for a great part thereof is very moist It is every where almost full of Medows Pastures and Corn-fields abounding wonderfully in Apple-trees and Cherry-trees also the Trees are planted after a direct manner one against another by square most pleasant to behold It hath Villages and Towns exceeding thick and well peopled safe Rodes and sure Harbours for Ships with some veins of Iron and Marle but the Air is somewhat thick and somewhere foggy by reason of vapours arising out of the waters The Revenues of the Inhabitants are greater both by the fertility of the soil and also by the neighbourhood of a great City of a great River and the main Sea This County is enriched with two Cities and Bishops Seas strengthened with twenty seven Castles graced with four of the Kings Houses traded with four and twenty Market Towns and beautified with many stately Buildings Camden in Kent pag. 324. saith The Kentishmen had priviledge to leade the Van in all Battels for their valour shewed against the Danes Amongst our old English the Kentishmen had the honour due to them alwayes of being in the Vant-guard and those of Wiltshire with Cornwall and Devonshire in the Rere which they all might challenge by the continuall worth of their performance Mr. Seldens Preface to his Titles of Honour The Sueuians had anciently prerogative In omni expeditione Regis Teutonici exercitum praecedere primi committere Id. ib. The meaning of that common Proverb Kent and Christendome was that it was famous as Kent and famous as Christendom This was the first of the Kingdoms of the Heptarchy and no one County of England had a King of it self but this They are the most civilized people of the Nation It is plentifull of Fowl and Fish of all sorts Fertile Lands Fruit Grain Wood When William the Conquerour came in the Yeomanry of Kent at Suaves-comb carrying before them in their hands every one a great green Bough representing afarre off a moving Wood yeelded them unto William the Conquerour upon this condition that they might retain their ancient Customs unviolated and especially that which they call Gavelkind that is Give all kinne by which they are not so bound by Copy-hold Customarytenures or Tenant-right as in other parts of England but in manner every man is a Free-holder and hath some part of his own to live upon For Lands of this nature are equally divided among the Male children or if there be no Sonnes among the Daughters By vertue of this also they are at full age and enter upon their Inheritance when they come to be fifteen years old and it is lawfull for them to alienate and make it over to any one either by Gift or by Sale without the Lords consent By this likewise the Sonne though their Parents were condemned for Felony or Murder succeeds them neverthelesse in such kind of Lands After this William the Conquerour that he might more firmly assure to himself Kent which is the very Key of England placed a Constable over Dover-Castle the most important Castle of England and according to the ancient order of the Romans made him also Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports These be they Hastings Dover Hith Rumney and Sandwich unto which Winchelsey and Rie are joyned as principal Ports and other small Towns as Members Which because they are bound to serve in the Warres by Sea enjoy many great immunities they are free from paiment of Subsidies and from Wardship of their children as touching the body they 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 yea and have a Table by themselves that day spread and furnished on the Kings right hand And the Lord Warden himself who is alwayes one of the Nobility of most approved trust hath within his Jurisdiction the Authority of Chancellour and Admirall in very many cases and enjoyeth other rights besides Depe-ford a most famous Ship-dock where the Kings Ships are built and such as are decayed repaired there is also a good Store-house and an Incorporation ordained for the use of the Navy Green-wich that is the Green-Creek for the Creek of a River in the old English tongue was called Wic A place of very great name by reason of the Kings House there and because Queen Elizabeth was here borne Barclay the Scot in his Icon animorum commends Green-wich Tower for one of the best Prospects in Europe to see London on the one side the Thames Ships and pleasant Medows on the other Eltham a retiring place likewise of the Kings but unwholsome by reason of the Moor Seven-oke so called as men say of seven exceeding great Oaks now cut down Which commendeth Sir William Sevenok an Alderman of London who being a foundling and brought up here and therefore so named built herein gratefull remembrance an Hospital and a School Dartford upon the River Darent a great Mercat Town well frequented and well watered Graves-end so called as the Gereves-end that is the limit of the Gereve or Reve. A Town as well known as any other in England for the usual passage by water between it and London Henry the Eight raised two Block-houses here and two other opposite on Essex-side Tunbridge the Town of Bridges Maidstone the Shire Town a large fair sweet and populous Town Rochester may glory in her impregnable Fortification by the Navy Royal. Rochester signifies as much as Castrum in rupe the Camp or Station on the Rock All places ending in Chester arise from the ruines of the old Romane Castra Burt. Comment on Antoninus Itin. through Brit. The Island Shepey or the Isle of Sheep It feedeth mighty great Floks of Sheep it is plentifull in Corn but scarce of Woods containeth twenty one miles in compasse Queen-Borough-Castle King Edward the Third built it and so named it in honour of his Queen Tenham the Parent as it were of all the choise fruit Gardens and Orards of Kent and the most large and delightsome of them Thirty Parishes thereabout are replenished with Cherry-gardens and Orchards beautifully disposed in direct lines As for Orchards of Apples and Gardens of Cheries and those of most delicious and exquisite kinds that can be no part of the Realm that I know hath them either in such quantity and number or with such art and industry set and planted Lamb Perambulat of Kent Amongst these is Feversham very commodiously situate Reculver of name for the salt savoury Oisters there dregged and for a Minster The Oisters here do as farre surpasse those of Whitstaple as these do the rest of this Shire in savoury saltnesse Lamb Perambul of Kent Canterbury * the chief City of this County ancient and
men viz. Leicestershire Bean-Belly Burtons descript. of Leicestershire The South-East-side of this Shire is exceeding rich ground yeelding great increase of Corn in abundance of all kinds affordeth many good and large Sheep-Pastures breeding a Sheep to that height and goodnesse so that as I have credibly heard neither Lemster nor Cotswould can exceed them if one respect either largenesse of the body finenesse of the Wooll or goodnesse of the breed Id. ib. Leicester standeth upon the River Leire now called Sore it signifies the City standing upon the River Leir It is a Town of great antiquity and standeth in the center and heart of the Shire bearing the proportion of an heart and being in the very midst and heart of the Land It is situate in a most rich delicate and pleasant soyl and delicious air it wants only a navigable River Harborow a Town famous for a Fair of Cattel there kept Carleton all that are born there whether it be by a peculiar property of the soyl or of the water or else by some other secret operation of nature have an ill favoured untunable and harsh manner of speech fetching their words with very much ado deep from out of the throat with a certain kind of wharling Lutterworth a Mercat Town it hath a fair Church That famous John Wicliffe was sometimes parson of this Church a man of a singular polite and well wrought wit most conversant also in the holy Scripture Neer to this Town there is a Spring so call'd that within a short time turneth straws and sticks into stones Cathorp It came to one Cook a Merchant of the Staple in the time of Henry the Fourth whose Daughter and Heir was married to William Harper of Rushall in the County of Stafford and from thence by descent to Leigh It was not many years since belonging to Sir Edward Leigh of Rushall Burtons descript. of Leicestershire Hinkley Burton-Lazers so called from a famous Hospital which was there founded for the use of Leprous people to whose Master all the lesser houses of that kind were subordinate as he himself was to the Master of the Lazers at Hierusalem Bosworth an ancient Mercat Town Here Henry Earl of Richmond with a small power encountred in pitch-field with King Richard the Third and overcame and slew him and then with joyfull acclamations was proclaimed King in the very midst of slaughtered bodies round about Ashby de la Zouch a most pleasant Lordship now of the Earls of Huntingdon but belonging in times past to the noble Family De la Zouch Cole-Overton or Orton famous for Pit-coal It is so called of the Cole-mines which are there in great abundance Mount-Sorehill famous only for a Mercat there kept Lough-borough a Mercat Town next Town to Leicester in this Shire whether a man regard the bignesse or building thereof or the pleasant Woods about it Melton-Mowbray a Mercat Town bearing name of the Mowbrayes sometimes Lords thereof Within this Shire are two hundred Parish Churches six Hundreds and twelve Market Towns Lincolnshire A Very large Countrey reaching almost threescore miles in length and carrying in some places above thirty miles in bredth passing good for yeelding of Corn and feeding of Cattel well furnished and set out with a great number of Towns and watered with many Rivers The Diocesse here is the largest of England After three Bishopricks were taken out of it it containeth four whole Counties and parts of two usually thus exprest it had under it two Bs two Hs two Ls. The whole Shire is divided into three parts whereof one is called Holland a second Kesteuen and the third Lindsey Crowland or Croyland a raw and muddy Land as Ingulph the Abbot of this place interprets it a Town formerly of good note among the Fenne-people It is seated like unto Venice In the Moneth of August they have sometimes spread a Net and at once drawn three thousand Mallards and they use to term these Pools or watery Plots of theirs their Corn-fields In regard of this their taking of Fish and Fowl they paid yearly in times past to the Abbot three hundred pounds of our money and after so much to the Crown Spalding a fair Town enclosed round about with Riverets Boston a famous Town standing on both sides of the River Witham which hath over it a wooden Bridge of a great heigth well frequented by means of a commodious Haven unto it the Market place is fair and large and the Church maketh a goodly shew as well for the beautifull building as the greatnesse thereof the Tower-steeple of it which riseth up to a mighty height doth salute passengers and travellers a great way off and giveth direction also to the Sailers In the Coat of Boston for the Corporation there are three Crowns relating to the three Kingdoms the Crest a Ramme lying upon a Wool-sack the Ram signifying the great Sheep-walks in the fens round about and the Wool-sack that it was a Staple-town The Supporters of the Coat are two Mare-maids signifying that it is a Port-Town Stanford it was built of rough stone whence it hath the name A Town well peopled and of great resort endowed also with sundry immunities and walled about It is beautified with seven Parish Churches or thereabout and sheweth an old Hospital Belvoir or Beauvoir-Castle so called of the fair Prospect mounted upon the top of a good steep Hill It belongs to the Earl of Rutland The Vale of Bever a very pleasant place lieth under the Castle The Vale of Bevell barren of Wooll is large and very plentifull of good Corn and Grasse and lieth in three Shires Leicester Lincoln and much in Nottinghamshire Lelands Itinerary Grantham a Town of good resort adorned with a School built by Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and with a fair Church having a Spire-steeple of a mighty height Lincolne This City is large well inhabited and frequented it standeth upon the side of an Hill and thence hath its name from its situation or because it hath been a Colony There are fourteen Churches the Minster is a fair one and in one of the Steeples there is a very great Bell rung by sixteen men called great Tom of Lincoln Camden honourably mentions two learned Bishops of Lincoln Robert Grosthead and his Master Thomas Cooper Wainfleet it bred William Wainfleet Bishop of Winchester a worthy Prelate founder of Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford a man that singularly well deserved of learning Alford a Mercat Town Castor an ancient Castle Mercate-Rasin so called of a Mercat there well resorted unto Gainsborrow a Market Town standing upon the River of Trent Grimsby an old Market Town Here was Archbishop Whitgift born There are in this Shire six hundred and thirty * Parishes thirty and one Hundreds and thirty Market Towns Middlesex IT is severed from Buckinghamshire by the River Cole on the West-side from Hertfordshire on the North-side by a known
crooked limit from Essex on the East with the River Lea from Surrey and Kent on the South by the Thames It is a small Shire in length not twenty miles in circuit not above seventy miles yet for the fertility thereof it may compare with any other Shire for the soil is excellent fat fertile and full of profit Nordens Speculum Britaniae For Air passing temperate and for soyl fertile with sumptuous houses and pretty Towns on all sides pleasantly beautified and every where offereth to the view many things memorable Uxbridge full of Innes it stretcheth out in length Harrow-hill the highest Hill of all this Country under which Southward there lie for a long way together exceeding rich and fruitfull fields especially about Heston a small Village that yeeldeth so fine flour for manchet that a long time it hath served for the Kings mouth Hampton-Court a Royal Palace of the Kings a work of admirable magnificence built out of the ground by Thomas Wolsey Cardinal in ostentation of his riches It was enlarged and finished by King Henry the Eighth so amply as it containeth within it five several inner Courts passing large environed with very fair buildings wrought right curiously and goodly to behold The neatest pile of all the Kings houses Godwins Annal. It is called Hampton-Court Hampton of the Parish of Hampton which standeth not farre thence Court in regard of the Majesty and princely beauty There are two Parks the one of Deer the other of Hares Nordens Speculum Britaniae Thistleworth or Isleworth Brentford a fair thorow-fare and frequent Mercat Fulham the place of Fowls where the Bishop of Londons house was Chelsey a place garnished with fair and stately houses London * the Epitome or Breviary of all Britain the seat of the British Empire and the King of Englands chamber King Luds re-edifying Troinovant first built by Brute and from thence leaving the name of Caer Lud afterwards turned as they say into London is not unknown scarce to any that hathbut lookt on Ludgates inner Frontispiece Seld. Illustrat of the eighth Song of Drayt. Polyolb Georgius Braun or Bruin in his Theatrum Praecipuarum totius mundi urbium in three great Volumes in Folio mentions London in the first place of his first Volume Sir Robert Dallington in his view of France comparing the City of Paris with London saith That Paris is the greater the fairer built and the better situate London is the richer the more populous the more ancient Howell in his Londinopolis makes a parallel of it with the other great Cities of the world and so doth Gainsford in his Glory of England lib. 2. ch. 17. For the space of above one thousand five hundred fourscore and six years it hath flourished more for the statelinesse and magnificence of her goodly buildings for the large extent of her bounds and jurisdiction for the Religion and civility of her Inhabitants for the Wisdome and Honour of her Magistrates for the profession of Arms all good Letters and Arts not to speak of her Traffique and Commerce with all Countreys and Ports of the known world more than any other knowne City whatsoever throughout all Christendom Burtons Comment on Antonin his Itin. through Britain pag. 154 155. See more there and 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164. See also M. Calamy and M. Hardie his Sermon preacht before the Londoners Caput atque Metropolis totius insulae Trinovantum sive Londinium sive Londinum urbs potens amaena quam fluviorum Rex Thamesis pererrat Adolphi a Dans vita Elizabethae Quicquid habet miri Memphis pretiive Corinthus Illion antiquum Graecia magnificum Roma ecquid sanctum Campania deliciarum Subtile Hetrusci splendidulum Hesperii Quicquid opum Venetis doctrinae quicquid Athenis Metropolis Britonum dicat id omne suum Stradlingi Epig. l. 1. p. 1. Tacitus Ptolomee and Antonine call it Londinium Ammianus Lundinum and Augusta the Inhabitants London It is situate in a rich and fertile soyl abounding with plentifull store of all things and on the gentle ascent and rising of an Hill hard by the Thames side which by his safe and deep chanel able to entertain the greatest Ships that be daily bringeth in so great riches from all parts that it striveth at this day with the Mart Towns of Christendom for the second prize and affordeth a most sure and beautifull rode for shipping King James being displeased with the City because she would not lend him such a Summe of Money he told the Lord Maior and Aldermen one day That he would remove his own Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another place with further expressions of his Indignation The Lord Maior calmly heard all and at last answered Your Majesty hath power to do what you please and your City of London will obey accordingly but she humbly desires that when your Majesty shall remove your Courts you would be pleased to leave the Thames behind you It is for Antiquity honourable Ammianus Marcellinus called it in his times and that was twelve hundred yeers ago an old Town and Cornelius Tacitus in like manner who lived in Nero his dayes 1540. years since reported it to have been a place very famous for fresh trade concourse of Merchants and great store of victuals and all things necessary The Tower of London a most famous and goodly Citadel encompassed round about with thick and strong Wals full of lofty and stately Turrets fenced with a broad and deep ditch furnished also with an Armoury or Magazine of warlike Munition and other buildings besides so as it resembleth a big Town The Tower containeth a Kings Palace a Kings Prison a Kings Armoury a Kings Mint a Kings Wardrobe a Kings Artillery Gainsford In the yeer 1235. Frederick the Emperour sent to Henry the Third three Leopards in token of his Regal Shield of Arms wherein three Leopards were pictures since which time those Lions and others have been kept in a part of this Bulwark now called the Lions Tower and their Keeper there lodged Stows Survey of London There are twelve chief Companies out of which the Lord Maior is to be annually chosen Twelve Innes ordained for Students of our Common Law whereof four being very fair and large belong to the Judicial Courts the rest unto the Chancery Herein such a number of young Gentlemen do so painfully ply their Books and study the Law that for frequency of Students it is not inferiour either to Angiers Cane or Orleans it self as Sir John Fortescue in his small Treatise of the Laws of England doth witnesse The said four principal Houses are the Inner-Temple the Middle-Temple Grayes-Inne and Lincolns-Inne John Leland the famous Antiquary was born in London Bishop Andrews Mr. Gataker M. Calamy Sir Thomas More Chaucer Edmund Spenser the famous English Poets were born in London If any City in the world may at this day be called as Jerusalem
Earls of Pembroke Sudbroke the Church whereof called Trinity-Chappel standeth neer the Sea a moor for many miles together Abergenny It is fortified with Wals and a Castle This Shire containeth Parish Churches an hundred twenty seven Northfolk or Norfolk PEople of the North It is a Region large and spacious and in manner all thorowout a plain champion unlesse it be where there rise gently some pretty Hils passing rich exceeding full of Sheep and stored with Coneys replenished likewise with a great number of populous Villages for besides twenty seven Mercat Towns it is able to shew Villages and Countrey Towns six hundred twenty and five watered with divers Rivers and Brooks and not altogether destitute of Wood A man may collect the goodnesse of the ground by this that the Inhabitants are of a passing good complexion to say nothing of their exceeding wily wits and the same right quick in the insight of our Common Laws insomuch as it is counted the only Countrey for best Lawyers One saith that three hundred and forty nisi prius were tried there at one Assizes It is a pleasant Countrey for sports Hawking and Hunting Thetford the Ford of Thet of good bignesse yet it hath but few Inhabitants Harleston a good Mercat Norwich a famous City by reason of the wealth number of Inhabitants the resort of people fair buildings and many fair Churches it containeth thirty two Parishes and fourty two Chappels and Churches the painfull industry of the Citizens and their courtesie unto strangers The Market Crosse and Cloister of the Cathedral there are the fairest in England It is pleasantly situate on the side of an Hill compassed about with strong Wals in which are orderly placed many Turrets and twelve Gates unlesse it be on the East-side where the River is a fence thereto It is three miles about The Arms of the City are the Castle and Lion A City whose Antiquity Alexander Nevil hath most learnedly and elegantly set down in Latine It hath been long famous for the ancient cloathes or stuff called Worsted but hath lately abounded in variety of weaving through the invention and industry of the Dutch and French Flemmings which inhabit there in great numbers There is a great House there of the Duke of Norfolks now the Earl of Arundels where there are very fair Granaries and the best Bowling-alley in England There is also an Hospital where an hundred of men and women are maintained Matthew Parker was born here Yarmouth a very convenient Haven and as fair a Town beautifully built and well fenced both by the natural strength of the place and also by the skilfull industry of mans art It hath but one Church yet the same is very large having a high Steeple to adorn it It is famous for fishing and merchandizing There are two long Streets in it each of them a mile long one called the Dean-street the other the Key There is also another Street called the Middle-street and many rows as they call them after the manner of Holland There is also a fair Market place Holt a Town so called of an Holt or tuft of trees and for the Mercat well known Ailesham a Mercat Town of good resort Worsted where the stuff worsted in so great request amongst our Ancestors was first made and hence so named as Dornicks Camery Calecut had in like manner their denominations from the places where they were first invented and made Walsingham This Village is very famous by reason of the best Saffron growing there The Family of the Walsinghams Knights fetched first their name and original from hence out of which house flourished that Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary to Queen Elizabeth a man as of deep insight so also of as rare and painfull industry in the weightiest affairs of the Realm Lynne peradventure so named of the waters broad spreading So Lynne imports in the Welch tongue This is a large Town encompassed with a deep Trench and Wals for the most part thereof divided by two small Rivers that have fifteen Bridges or thereabout over them It is called old Linne and Linnum Regis that is Kings Linne yet by reason of the safe Haven which yeeldeth most easie accesse for the number also of the Merchants there dwelling and thither resorting for the fair and the goodly houses the wealth also of the Townsmen it is doubtlesse the principal Town of this Shire except Norwich onely Mershland a little moist Mersh-Countrey as the name implieth a soil standing upon very rich and fertile mould and breeding abundance of Cattel insomuch as that in a place commonly called Tilneysmeth there feed much about thirty thousaud Sheep In this Province there be Parish Churches about six hundred and sixty In Norfolk and Suffolk there are more Parishes than in any other Counties six hundred and odde in Norfolk and above five hundred in Suffolk Northamptonshire THis County is situate in the very middle and heart as it were of England On the East lie Bedford and Huntingdonshires On the South Buckingham and Oxfordshires Westward Warwickshire Northward Rutlandshire and Lincolnshire separated from it by Avon the lesse and Welland two Rivers It is a champion Countrey exceeding populous and passing well furnished with Noblemens and Gentlemens Houses replenished also with Towns and Churches insomuch as in some places there are twenty and in others thirty Seeples with Spires or square Towers within view at once The soil very fertile both for Tillage and Pasture yet nothing so well stored with Woods unlesse it be in the further and hither sides But in every place as elswhere also in England it is over-spread and as it were beset with Sheep Brakley a place full of Brake or Fern the Students of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford use the Colledge there for a retiring place Torcester so called of Towrs It hath a large Church in it Hard by at Eston-Nessont there is a fair and beautifull House belonging to the Knightly Family of the Farmers Sacy-Forest stored with Deer and fit for game Avon a general name of all Rivers This Aufona or Nen is a notable River which after a sort runneth through the middle part of this Shire Dantrey is a through-fare Town well known at this day by reason of the Innes there Fawesly where have dwelt a long time the Knightleys descended from those more ancient Knightleys of Gnowshall in the County of Stafford Wedon in the street It is a pretty through-fare set on a plain ground and much celebrated by Carriers because it standeth hard by the famous way there commonly call'd of the people * Watlingstreet Lelands Itinerary Holdenby-House a fair patern of stately and magnificent building Northampton so called from its situation upon the North-bank of the River Aufon The City for Houses is very fair for circuit of good largenesse and walled about and from the Wall there is a goodly Prospect every way to a wide and spacious plain Countrey There are seven Parish Churches
and the strongest hold in all Britain It is well neer compassed about with the Sea and Twede together Upon the West parts of Northumberland the Picts-Wall is in some of the waste ground the Wall is to be seen of great height and almost whole The Roman Britains being continually molested by the often incursions of the barbarous people called Picts The Emperour Severus built a Wall of stone with great wisdome and industry to strengthen the Northern parts of Britain against the many inrodes of the Picts At every miles end of this Wall was a Tower and in the Wall a Pipe of Mettal betwixt the Tower or Sentinel-houses that so soon as a man had set his mouth to this Pipe they might hear through all the Sentinels where the enemy was and so in a short time giving warning from one end of the Wall to the other There are about fourty six Parishes in Northumberland Oxfordshire ON the West-side it joyneth upon Glocestershire on the South which way it runneth out farthest in breadth it is dissevered from Barkshire by the River Isis or Tamis Eastward it bordereth upon Buckinghamshire and Northward where it endeth pointed in manner of a Cone or Pineapple hath Northamtonshire of one side and Warwickshire on the otherside confining with it It is a fertile Countrey and plentifull wherein the plains are garnished with Corn-fields and Medows the Hils beset with Woods stored in every place not only with Corn and Fruits but also with all kind of Game for Hound or Hawk and well watered with fish-full Rivers Hoch-Norton for the rustical behaviour of the Inhabitants in the age afore-going it grew to be a Proverb when folk would say of one rudely demeaning himself and unmannerly after an Hoggish kind That he was born at Hocknorton Woodstock a woody place Here is one of the Kings Houses full of state and magnificence built by King Henry the First who adjoyned also thereunto a very large Park compassed round about with a stone wall which John Rosse writeth to have been the first Park in England Our Historians report that King Henry the Second being enamoured upon Rosamond Clifford a Damsel so fair so comely and well-favoured without comparison that her beauty did put all other women out of the Princes mind insomuch as she was termed Rosa mundi the Rose of the world and to hide her out of the sight of his jealous Juno the Queen he built a Labyrinth in this House with many inextricable windings backward and forward which notwithstanding is no where to be seen at this day She was buried at Godstow with this Epitaph in Rhyme Hic jacet in tumba Rosa mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet The Town it self having nothing at all to shew glorieth yet in this that Jeffrey Chaucer our English Homer was there bred and brought up Banbury a fair large Town It is famous for Cheese and Cakes Hanwell where the Family of Cope hath flourished many yeers in great and good esteem Broughton the seat of my Lord Say and Sele Islip the native place of that King Edward whom for his religious piety and continency our Ancestours and the Popes vouchsafed the name of Edward the Confessor Oxford a fair and goodly City whether a man respect the seemly beauty of private houses or the stately magnificence of publick buildings together with the wholsome site or pleasant prospect thereof It was from its situation in ancient times called Bello situm Isidis vadum Saxonice Ouseford Ousenford corrupte Oxford Historia circumfertur adfirmans hanc urbem olim ab amaenitate sitûs Bellositum dictum fuisse Joannes Rossus hinc edoctus hoc idem affirmat Let. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Oxoniensis Universitas Schola secunda Ecclesiae imo Ecclesiae fundamentum Matthew Paris Hist. Angl. pag. 945. In the Councel of Vienna it was ordained that there should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Chaldaean Tongues in the studies of Paris Oxford Bonony and Salamanca as the most famous of all others to the end that the knowledge of these Tongues might by effectual instruction be throughly learned Here are 17 Colledges and 7 Hals Dorchester a Town known in times past to the Romans Vide Lel. Commentin Cygn. Cant. Henley upon Tamis The Inhabitants of it for the most part are watermen This County containeth two hundred and eighty Parish Churches Richmondshire IT takes the name from a Castle Most of it lieth very high with ragged Rocks and swelling Mountains whose sloping sides in some places bear good Grasse the bottom and Valleys are not altogether unfruitfull The Hils themselves within are stored with Lead Pit-coal and Copper Nappa an house built with Turrets and the chief seat of the Medcalfs thought to be not long since the greatest Family for multitude of the same name in all England For I have heard that Sir Christopher Medcalf Knight and the top of this kindred being of late High-Sheriff of the Shire accompanied with three hundred men of the same House all on Horse-back and in a Livery met and received the Justices of Assizes and so brought them to York So Camden Bolton-Castle a stately Castle Richmond the chief Town of the Countrey well peopled and frequented Hourby-Castle There are contained in this Shire an hundred and four Parishes besides Chappels Rutlandshire IT is the least County of all England Lying in form almost round like a circle it is in compasse so farre about as a Light-horsman will ride in one day It was called Rutland as one would say Red-land the Earth in this Shire is every where red and so red that even the Sheeps fleeces are thereby coloured red the English-Saxons called Red in their tongue Roet and Rud. Uppingham a place upon an high ascent whence that name was imposed a well frequented Mercat Town The Vale of Catmose a field full of Woods Okeham is in the midst of it so called from Oaks This small Shire hath Parish Churches fourty eight Shropshire ON the East-side it hath Staffordshire on the West Mongomeryshire and Denbighshire on the South-side Worcester Hereford and Radnorshires and on the North Cheshire It is replenished with Towns and Castles standing thick on every side in regard of repelling and repressing the Welshmen in the Marches bordering hereupon Whence our Ancestours by an ancient word named the Confines of this Shire toward Wales the Marches because they were Bounds and Limits between the Welsh and English and divers Noblemen in this Tract were called Barons of the March and Lords Marchers who had every one in their Territory a certain peculiar jurisdiction and in their own Courts ministred Law unto the Inhabitants with sundry Priviledges and Immunities Bishops-Castle so called because it belonged to the Bishops of Hereford whose Diocesse and Jurisdiction was large in this Shire Clun-Castle so called from the River Clun Ludlow it standeth upon an Hill a Town
Alliance is in these parts of great name Chartley there is a Castle Beaudesert the House of the Lord Paget Lichfield This City is low seated of good largeness and fair withall divided into two parts with a shallow pool of clear water which parts notwithstanding joyn in one by the means of two Bridges or Causeys made over that have their sluces to let out the water It was beautified with a very goodly Cathedral Church which being round about compassed with a fair Wall Castle-like and garnished besides with fair Houses of Prebendaries and with the Bishops Palace also mounting upon high with three Pyramids or Spires of stone making an elegant shew and for elegant and proportional building it did yeeld to few Cathedral Churches but is now demolished Burton upon Trent a famous Market the Bridge there hath 38 Arches Blithfield a fair House of the ancient Family of the Bagots Needwood-Forest was very large Moorland so called because it riseth higher into hils and mountains and is less fruitfull which kind of places we call Moors Leek a well known Market Town Wotton a little Countrey Village there lying under Weverhill Wotton under Wever Where God came never This fond Rime the neighbour Inhabitants use of it Yet in so hard a soil it breedeth and feedeth beasts of large bulk and fair spread The River Dow or Dove doth swiftly runne along the most part of the East-side of this County and separateth it from Darbyshire if it chance to swell above the banks and overflow the Medows in April it maketh them so fruitfull that the Inhabitants use commonly to chant this joyfull note In April Doves flood Is worth a Kings good Utcester it is situate upon the side of an Hill with a gentle ascent a Town more rich in gay flowring Medows and in Cattel than fair built Tutbury-Castle in times past large and stately There are accounted an hundred and thirty Parishes in this Shire Suffolk IT hath on the West-side Cambridgeshire on the South the River Stour which divideth it from Essex on the East-side the German-Sea and on the North two little Rivers ouse the least and Waveney which flowing out as it were of the same fountain runne divers wayes and sever it apart from Norfolk It was famous for worthy Ministers in the very beginning of Reformation In the entrance of Queen Elizabeth to the Crown it was moved at the Council-Table Whether it was not dangerous for some Politick respects to alter the Religion before established Sir Nicholas Bacon who was of the County of Suffolk demanded Which was the true Religion acccording to Scripture the Protestant or Popish it being answered the Protestant Leave that to God then said he to defend it It is a large Countrey and full of Havens of a fat and fertile soil unlesse it be Eastward being compounded of Clay and Marle by means whereof there are every where most rich and goodly Corn-fields with Pastures as battable for grazing and feeding of Cattel Great store of Cheeses are there made which to the great commodity of the Inhabitants are vented into all parts of England nay into Germany France and Spain also There are also Woods and Parks New-Market a Town lately built as the very name imports Here lieth out a great way round about a large plain named of this Town New-Market-Heath consisting of a sandy and barren ground yet green withall There are great Ditches called The Devils Ditches St. Edmunds-Bury or Bury a renowned Town A place for situation and wholsomenesse of air so excellent that Camden saith Sol non vidit urbem situ elegantiorem Many of the Gentry live there There are two Churches in one Churchyard where there are Lectures several dayes in the week Here was born Richardus de Bury Bishop of Durham the Governour of Edward the Third when young and famous especially for a work which he entituled Philobiblos in the Preface of which he confesseth Ecstatico quodam librorum amore potenter se abreptum He was well acquainted with Petrark the Italian and other learned men of that age Bradwardine Archbishop of Canterbury and Richard Fitzralph Armachanus Walter Burleigh Robert Halcot and other most famous men of that age were his Chaplains Lidgate a small Village yet in this respect not to be passed over in silence because it brought into the world John Lidgate the Monk whose wit may seem to have been framed and shapen to the very Muses themselves so brightly reshine in his English Verses all the pleasant graces and elegancies of speech according to that age Clare a noble Village it gave name to the right noble Family of the Clares Earls of Clare Sudbury that is the South-Burgh it is populous and wealthy by reason of cloathing there Mont-chensie Nettlested Offton the Town of Off a King of the Mercians Lancham a pretty Mercat Hadley a Town of good note for making of cloaths Higham Bentley Walpet that is the Wolves-pit a Mercat Town Stow and Needham two little Mercat Towns Ipswich * a fair Town resembling a City situate in a ground somewhat low which is the Eye of this Shire as having an Haven commodious enough fenced in times past with a trench and rampire of good trade and stored with wares well peopled and full of Inhabitants adorned with twelve Churches and with goodly large and stately Edifices plentifull in shipping Mendlesham there is a Market and Fair Ufford the seat in times past of Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk The roof of this Church and other parts of the Quire are curiously engraven with sundry kinds of Works and Pictures all burnisht and guilt with gold Weevers Ancient Funer Mon. Rendelisham that is Rendils Mansion place Woodbridge a little Town beautified with fair houses Framlingham-Castle a very fair and beautifull Castle fortified with Bank Ditch and Walls of great thicknesse wherein are thirteen Towers and inwardly furnished with buildings right commodious and necessary Parrham a little Town Barons Willoughbey of Parrham Oreford Aldburgh that is the old Burgh or the Burgh upon the River Ald. An Harbour very commodious for Sailers and Fishermen and thereby well frequented Dunwich it lieth now desolate Blithborow a small Town it hath a Mercat and a Fair Southwold a Town well frequented through the benefit of an Haven Wingfield it hath given name to an ancient and renowned Family Dunnington the habitation of the ancient Family of the Rousses Heuningham the residence of a Family of that name of very great Antiquity Halesworth a Mercat Town Hoxon ennobled by reason of King Edmunds Martyrdom Brome there dwelt a long time the Family of Cornwalleis of Knights degree of whom Sir John Cornwalleis was Steward of Edward the Sixth his houshold while he was Prince and his Sonne Sir Thomas for his wisdom and faithfulnesse became one of the Privy-Councel to Queen Mary and Controller of her Royal House Eaye an Island Beddingfield it gave the name to an ancient
Such barren places the Northern Englishmen call Moors and West-moreland is a Western-moorish Countrey It is bounded on the West and North-side with Cumberland on the East with Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durrham The Barony of Kendale and Candale of the River Can which running thorow upon stones cutteth thorow it Kendale-Kirke by Kendale a Town of very great Trade and resort with two broad and long streets crossing the one over the other and a place for excellent cloathing and for industry so surpassing that in regard thereof it carrieth a great name For the Inhabitants have great traffique and vent of their wollen Cloaths throughout all parts of England In the River Can are two water-falls where the waters have a downfall with a mighty noise Kirkby-Lonsdale whither all the people round about repair to Church and Mercat Wharton-Hall the seat of the Barons Wharton Kirkby-Stephen a Mercat Town well known Musgrave there are two little Villages of that name which gave name unto that martial and warlick Family of the Musgraves Burgh under Stanemore a small poor Village fenced with a little Fortresse Apelby memorable for its antiquity and situation onely It standeth in a pleasant site encompassed for the most part with the River Eden for its antiquity it deserves to be counted the chief Town of the Shire The Castle is the common-Goal for malefactours Whellep-Castle Brougham In this Shire are contained six and twenty Parishes VViltshire IT is altogether a mediterranean or midland Countrey It is enclosed with Somersetshire on the West Berkshire and Hampshire on the East on the North with Glocestershire on the South with Dorsetshire and a part of Hampshire A region which as it breedeth a number of warlike and hardy men who in old time with Cornwall and Denshire together challenged by reason of their manhood and martial prowesse the prerogative of the English Army of that Regiment which should second the main Battel so it is exceeding fertile and plentifull of all things yea and for the variety thereof passing pleasant and delightsome Wansdike a Dike of wonderfull work cast up for many miles together The Saxons made it as a limit to divide the two Kingdom of the Mercians and West-Saxons asunder For this was the very place of Battel between them while each strove one with another to enlarge his Dominions Greeklade so called of Greek Philosophers as some are ready to believe who as the History of Oxford reporteth began there an University which afterwards was translated to Oxford Camdens Britan. This though Leland dislikes other learned men approve See M. Seldens Illustrat of Draytons Polyolb High-worth highly seated and well known Wood-Town or Wotton-Basset It hath his primitive name from Wood the addition proves that it belonged to the noble House of the Bassets Malmesbury a very neat Town and hath a great name for cloathing See Monasticon Anglicanum p. 49. of the Monastery here Maidulphi Urbs that is Maidulphs City and afterwards short Malmesbury Aldelme the chief of Maidulphs Disciples being elected his Successour built there a very fair Monastery and was himself the first Abbot thereof He was canonized a Saint and on his Festival day there was here kept a great Fair at which usually there is a Band of armed men appointed to keep the peace among so many resorting thither He was the first of the English Nation who wrote in Latine and that taught Englishmen the way how to make a Latine Verse Primus ego in Patriam mecum modò vita supersit Aonio rediens deducam vertice Musas This Monastery among other famous Clerks great Scholars brought forth William surnamed thereof Malmesburiensis unto whom for his learned industry the History of England both Civil and Ecclesiastical are deeply indebted Colne an old little Town situate upon a stony ground having in it a fair Church to commend it Chippenham of note at this day for the Market there kept There is now nothing worth the sight but the Church built by the Barons Hungerford as appeareth every where by their Coats of Armes set up thereon Cosham a little Village Castle-Comb an old Castle Leckham the possession of the noble Family of the Bainards Lacock a Monastery The Castle De Vies the Devizes built by Roger Bishop of Salisbury He built also the Castle of Malmesbury and Shireburn Trubridge that is a sure and trusty Bridge in great name and prosperity by reason of cloathing and sheweth the remains of a Castle Bradford so named of a broad Ford Long-Leat the dwelling place of the Thins a very fair neat and elegant house in a foul soil Maiden-Bradley A Maiden infected with the Leprosie founded an house here for Maidens that were Lepers Stourton the seat of the Lords Stourton so called of the River Stour Werminster exceeding much frequented for a round Corn-Market Sarisbury-Plains they are but rarely inhabited and had in late time a bad name for robberies there committed Heitesbury an ancient Mansion place of the Family of Hungerford Yanesbury-Castle a very large warlike Fence or Hold fortified with a deep and double Ditch Wardour a proper fine Castle Hindon a quick Market Wilton so called from the River Willey a place well watered and sometime the head Town of the whole Shire which thereof took the name It is now a small Village having a Maior for the head Magistrate and in it a fine House of the Earls of Pembroke Salisbury There is a stately and beautifull Minster which with an exceeding high spired Steeple and double crosse-Isles on both sides The Windows in the Church as they reckon them answer just in number to the dayes the Pillars great and small to the hours of a full yeer and the gates to the twelve Moneths Mira Canam Soles quot continet annus in unâ Tam numerosa ferunt aede fenestra micat Marmoreasque capit fusas tot ab arte columnas Comprensas horas quot vagus annus habet Totque patent portae quot mensibus annus abundat Res mira at verâres celebrata fide Daniel Rogers It hath a Cloister for largenesse and fine workmanship inferiour to none whereunto joyneth the Bishops Palace a very fair and goodly house and on the other side a high bell Tower and passing strong withall standing by it self apart from the Minster every street is watered It is the second City in all this Tract well inhabited and frequented plentifull of all things especially of Fish adorned with a very stately Market place wherein standeth their common Hall of Timber work a very beautifull Edifice It boasteth chiefly of John Jewel long since Bishop there a wonderfull great and deep Divine a most stout and earnest maintainer of our Reformed Religion against the Adversaries by his learned Books Clarindon a very large and goodly Park very fit for the keeping and feeding of wild beasts About six miles from Salisbury in the Plains before named is to be seen a
huge and monstrous peece of work Stone-henge Within the circuit of a Ditch there are erected in manner of a Crown in three ranks or courses one within another certain mighty and unwrought Stones whereof some are eight and twenty foot high and seven foot broad upon the heads of which others like overthwart peeces do bear and rest crosse-wise with small tenents and mortesis so as the whole frame seemeth to hang Everly-Warren a Warren of Hares Savernac-Forest of great name for plenty of good game and for a kind of Ferne there that yeeldeth a most pleasing savour In remembrance whereof their Hunters-horn of a mighty bignesse and tipt with silver the Earl of Hertford keepeth unto this day as a Monument of his Progenitors Atibury an uplandish Village Rockley a little Village Kenet Marleborow It was most famous by reason of a Parliament there holden wherein by a general consent of the States of the Kingdome there assembled a Law passed for the appeasing of all Tumults commonly called The Statute of Marleborow Ramesbury a pretty Village which hath pretty Medows about it Littlecot a place worthy to be remembred because of the late Lord thereof Sir John Popham who being the chief Judge in the Kings-Bench executed Justice against malefactours to his high praise and commendation This County containeth in it three hundred and four Parishes Worcestershire SO called of the principal Town in it Here are many Salt-pits which the old Englishmen in their Language named Wiches Warwickshire confineth on the East of this County Glocestershire on the South it is bounded Westward with Herefordshire and Shropshire North-East with Staffordshire it hath so temperate an air and so favourable soil that for healthfulnesse and plenty it is not inferiour to the neighbour Countreys and in one part for dainty Cheese surpasseth them It yeeldeth store of Pears of which they make a bastard kind of Wine called Pyrry which they drink very much although it be as other drinks of that kind both cold and full of wind In every place there are sweet Rivers which afford a great abundance of the most delicate kind of fishes Severn that noble and renowned River carrieth his stream along through the midst of the Shire from North to South and Avon that cometh down out of Warwickshire to meet with Severn watereth the South-part thereof Beawdly worthily so called for the beautifull site thereof standeth most pleasantly upon the hanging of an Hill and hovereth over the River on the West-side on late dayes well known for the admirable talnesse of Trees growing in the Forest of Wyre adjoyning which now in manner be all gone Delicium rerum Bellus Locus undique floret Fronde Coronatus Virianae tempore Sylvae Kidderminster a fair Town and hath a great Mercat of all Commodities well frequented parted in twain by little River Stowre that runneth thorow it There is a very beautifull Church Hertlebury-Castle Holt-Castle so called of a very thick wood there Frankeley the Family of the Littletons planted by John Littleton aliàs Westcote the famous Lawyer Justice in the Kings-Bench in the time of King Edward the Fourth to whose Treatise of Tenures the Students of our Common-Law are no lesse beholden then the Civilians to Justinians Institutes Bromesgrove a Mercat Town Grafton Droitwich some term it Durtwich of the Salt-pits and the wettish ground on which it standeth where three fountains yeelding plenty of water to make salt of divided asunder by a little Brook of fresh water passing between by a peculiar gift of nature spring out out of which most pure white Salt is boiled for six Moneths every year viz. from Mid-sommer to mid-winter in many set furnaces round about Richard De la Wich Bishop of Chichester was here born whom Pope Urban the fourth canonized for a Saint Fekenham-Forest Worcester the principal City of this Shire an ancient and beautifull place It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers-side that hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it it is well and strongly walled There are fair and neat Houses many Churches It is a Bishops See The Cathedral Church is a passing fair and stately building adorned with the Monuments and Tombs of King John Arthur Prince of Wales and divers of the Beauchamps Powick famous for Cherries Hanley-Castle Upton a Mercate Towne of great name Malvern-Hills great and high Mountains which for the space of seven miles or thereabout do as it were by degrees rise higher and higher dividing this Shire from the County of Hereford Bredon-Hills farre lesse Elmesley-Castle Washborn a Village whence came the surname to a very ancient and worshipfull Family in this Tract Eovesham so called as the Monks write of one Eoves Swinherd to Egwin Bishop of Worcester A very proper Town situate upon an Hill arising from the River A Town well known for the Vale under it named thereof The Vale of Evesham which for plentifull fertility hath well deserved to be called the Granary of all these Countreys so good and plentifull is the ground in yeelding the best Corn abundantly Charlton now the seat of the Dingleyes Oswaldslow-Hundred so called of Oswald Bishop of Worcester who obtained it for himself of King Edgar Augustines-Oke at which Augustine the Apostle of the Englishmen and the Bishops of Britain met and after they had disputed and debated the matter hotly for a good while touching the Celebration of Easter preaching Gods Word also to the English Nation and of administring Baptisme according to the Rites of the Roman Church in the end when they could not agree they departed on both sides with discontented minds upon their dissenting opinions There are in this Shire an hundred fifty and two Parishes Yorkshire THe County of York the greatest Shire by farre of all England is thought to be in a temperate measure fruitfull If in one place there be stony and sandy barren ground in another place there are for it Corn-fields as rich and fruitfull if it be void and destitute of woods here you shall find it shadowed there with most thick Forests So providently useth nature such a temperature that the whole Countrey may seem by reason also of that variety more gracefull and delectable It is farre greater and more numerous in the circuit of her miles then any Shire of England The length extended from Hart-Hill in the South to the mouth of Tees in the North is neer unto seventy miles the breadth from Flambrough-head to Horn-Castle upon the River Lun is eighty the whole circumference three hundred and eight miles Speed Helmsley a Mannor in Yorkshire hath two Parks and a Chase in it it is said to be about an hundred fourty six miles compasse it had fourty thousand timber Trees and two hundred Acres of wood There are many Free-holders there It is famous for Wool Grasing Corn Rivers and Fountains There are the Gips upon Yorkshire Woolds which in the drought of Summer when
the River Dert The mouth is the place where any River finds a passage out either into the Sea or into another greater River which in Latine is termed ostium or a gate Septem ostia Nili Seven mouths by which it fals into the mediterranean This gave the name to many Cities and Towns in England as Dartmouth Plimmouth Portsmouth Yarmouth Weymouth Axmouth with many others Carpenters Geog. l. 2. ch. 9. In Latine Exonia Ptolomee calleth it Isca Bartholomaeus qui quod in lucem editus esset Exoniae quae civitas antiquitus Isca dicitur appellata Iscanus est cognominatus in Exoniensem Episcopum consecratus fuit in utraque Philosophia tam humana scilicet quam divina vir non mediocriter eruditus Godw. de Praesul Ang. Comment Berstable upon the Taw navigable here for great vessels See Carpenters Geog. l. 2. c. 15. the famous men of Devonshire Durnovaria the River passage or Ferry Camden Fons limpidus or clarus Pure fountain or clear Well Bishoprick of Durham Durham Dunelmensis civitatis Ecclesiae indita est appellatio à Dun quod montem Holm quod lingua Saxonica insulam amnicam significat quia Coquedus fluvius per Maeandrum in se quasi reductus montem ab omni ferè parte circumluit quasi insulam molitus in quo Dunelmum Anglice Durham situm est Godwin de Praesul Ang. Comment It is famous for the Ministry Dike of Epping and Rogers of Dedham whose picture is therein the Church An ancient Colony of the Romans called Camalodunum The chiefest Town of the Shire Many have thought it was so called from a Colony in the Râ—man time placed there rather from Coln the River whereon it stands as Lincolne from the River Lune Burtons Commentary on Antoninus his Itinerary through Britain It is famous for Oisters and candied Eringoroots and Cloth * Crocum ad cor exhilarandum sedandos dolores utile cujus fortasse non est ubique terrarum quà m in agris Essexio Suffulcio Cantabrigienfi tam uber proventus Twini de Rebus Britan. Comment. lib. 2. pag. 138. It had this name of Dean a little Town adjoyning A Bishops See Either that the Normans might have more secure arrival into England or for the pleasure he took in hunting Antona australis Northampton Antona Borealis so called for the South situation of it * Its situation is fruitfull and pleasant in a Valley under Hils Wina Wintoniensis primus extitit Antistes neque tamen civitati nomen dedit quod stolide satis nonnulli augurantur Ab antiquis Britannis Caerguentia olim apellata quasi Civiras Guenta à Saxonibus quod idem sonat Wentchester Wentancester Wintoncester nuncupata est unde nostra Wintonia Godw. De Praesul Arg. Comment Vrbs vini vel vinifera quasi dicas munitio vel fortificatio ubi crevit optimum vinum in Britannia appellata est Celebris fuit haec civitas olim Arthurii procerum mensa rotunda occidentalium Saxonum regia sepulchris Episcopali sede lanarum custodia mercatu Henrici tertii favore frequenti praesentia instructissimo Wickami Episcopi Collegio Twini De Rebus Britannic Comment. lib. 2. pag. 116 117. Vectis Insula forma Ovo simillima à littore alibi septem alibi duobus passuum millibus distans Neoportus unicum insulae Emporium Est Castrwn Caerbro id est Cassium tractus antiquitatem Britannicam referens Lhyd. Comment Britann descript. Fragmentum Nobilissima Lisleiorum familia D'or au chef d' azur trois lyons rampans del premier Ex hac gente nonnulli olim ad Comitia Parliamentaria cum reliquis Regni Barâ—nibus evocati fuerunt Bissaei Notae in Uptonum p. 48. This and Monmouthshire have been now long reckoned among the Counties of England * There are sundry sweet and fresh Rivers the chiefest whereof are the Wye Lug and Manow A Bishops See Godwin de Praesulibus Ang. saith it is reported that Bradwardine was here born Vide R. Usseri de Britannic Eccles. primord cap. 7. L. Herberts Henry the 8th See Monasticon Anglicanum Howe 's Chron. Lamb Perambulat of Kent See Kilbourns Surveigh of Kent p. 2. Cantium quod amaenissima humanissima Britanniae habita semper fuit provincia ad austrum Solemque Orientem Oceano Germanico ad aquilonem uberrimo Thamesi fluvio ad Occidentem Surra ac Sussexia provinciis quas Angli comitatus appellant cingitur Haec agrorum feracitate faecunda populoque generoso ac potenti referta plures urbes villasqae in locis ob aquas sylvas vicinas humanae habitationi commodioribus condidit ob maritimos portus quas multos habet peregrinorum consuetudine Galliaeque vicinitate magis {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} quam reliquae hujus Insulae regiones à Scriptoribus perhibetur Quibus item rationibus moribus cultier opibus ditior jure existimatur Antiquitates Britannieae pag. 33. Britannos Caesar maximè Cantios longè omnium humanissimos vocat eam humanitatem illis fraudi fuisse belli Caesariani causam extitisse apparet quod praesidia Gallis Caesaris hostibus submiserint eos adventantes subinde amico ac peropportunos profugio exceperint Humfredus De Nobil. lib. 2. Not that Kent was conceived distinct from Christendome Kilburns Survey of Kent p. 5. It is agreed by all men that there were never any bondmen or villains as the Law calleth them in Kent Lamberts Perambulat of Kent The tenures of Land here are as free tenures as any in England The father to the Bough and the son to the Plough Oppidum Winchilseum olim vento frigori ponto obnoxium unde ei nomen obvenit Twini Comment. De Rebus Brittanuicis lib. 1. pag. 25. A Bishops See * Durovernum olim nunc Cantuaria Cantuaria urbs est Archiepiscopalis Metropolitica quae ut antiquitate it a peramaena situs jucunditate multis Angliae urbibus sed dignitate praefertur Nam Cantuariensis Archipraesul totius Angliae primatum obtinet Georgius Bruin in Tabulis urbium Praecipuarum totius mundi A Bishops See See Mr Somner of Canterbury * Mr John Ludd Haywards Life of William the 2d Dubris One of the Cinque Ports A Dovero ad Caletum maritimum ex altera parte in Gallia oppidum secundis ventis spirantibus quatuor horis brevissimus fit trajectus Antiqu. Britann One of the Cinque Ports It containeth 24000 Acres Lamb Perambul of Kent Quis quaeso hodiè credat magnam partem illius prati sivè Planiciei nobis nunc Rumnensis marshii id est Romani maris nomine dictae fuisse quondam altum Pelagus mare Velivolum Vbi tot ovium greges oberrant tot pecorum armenta pascuntur tot juga bovum arant tanti foeni copia qvotannis conficitur tot templa in divinum cultum construuntur tot familiae foventur denique unde tot
pingues pecudes in macellis veniunt ut non modo universum Cantium hujus locis commoda sentiat verum etiam civitas Londinum non nihil emolumenti inde percipiat Twini Comment. De Rebus Britan. l. 1. p. 31. Priests-Town Or Loncaster from the River Lone Carlton-Curlew They cannot prenounce the letter R. Camd. Brit. And Burtons descript. of Leicestershire Bishop Latimer was also born at Thurcaston in Leicestershire It was so called of the Zouches sometimes Lords thereof Burtons descript. of Leicestershire The largest next Yorkshire It is well stored with all kind of provision it abounds with fish and fowl The roof of the Church is richly guilt Mr John Fox the Authour of the Acts and Monuments was born here There are so many steps in the steeple from the bottom to the top as there are dayes in the years At the George there is one of the fairest Inns of England Lincolnia The greatest Bell of England He was great with Henry the 6th he built a Free-School at Wainflet his name was Patten of the worshipfull family of which he was descended * More than in Yorkshire The chiefest at this day of all the Kings houses A City rather in shew then the Palace of a Prince and for stately port and gorgeous building not inferiour to any in Europe Weavers Monum. * It is most sweetly situate upon the Thames served with all kind of necessaries most commodiously The air health full it is populous rich and beautifull Nordens Speculum Britanniae It is convenient for situation hath a noble Bridge navigable River 2. Strictly governed 3. Opulent hath abundance of all kinds of provision 4. Ancient and enjoyeth many Immunities Of St Pauls Cathedral See Mr Dugdales History and of the Bishops of Pauls Londinum copia negotiatorum commeatu valde celebre Tacitus The Inner-Temple is the mother and most ancient of all the other houses of Court Burtons descript. of Leicestershire Dr Reynolds Sions praises This work viz. the Arches Chappel and stone-bridge over the Thames was thirty three yeers in building Stow. Speeds Chron. Stows and Speeds Chron. in Edw. the 3d. Thomas Greshamus Cives Londinensis Mercator Regius ex ordine Equestri qui patriae ornamento Mercatorum usui Perystillium pulcherrimum Excambiam Regium Elizabetha nominavit Londini extruxit aedes quas in urbe habuit amplissimas bonarum literarum professioni dicavit constitutis in iisdem Sacrae Theologiae Juris Civilis Medicinae Astronomiae Geometriae Rhetoricae praelectionibus cum honestis salariis Camd. Annal. rerum Anglic. pars â—â— p. 286. Vide etiam pag. 189. The new Ex change Monasterium Westmonasteriense Regum angliae inauguratione sepultura Insignium Regalium custodia celeberrimam Camd. Annal. rerum Anglic. par 1o p. 60. Vide plura ibid. Monasticon Anglicanum p 55 c. L. Herb. Henry the 8th Neer hereunto are the two Houses of Parliament Ex infima plebe non pauci reperiuntur quin si nihil litium sit lites tamen ex ipsis Juris apicibus serere calleant Camdenus There are three Churches Vrbs nunc ampla est nobilis florens celebris civitatum omnium secundum Londinum universi Regni Emporium multo maxima augustissimaque Nevilli Norvicus No one Shire of England hath three such Towns as Norwich Linn and Yarmouth Speed There is the earliest Park of England The King was wont to have venison thence before he had it out of his own Parks * Of that and the other famous wayes in England see Burtons Commen on Antoninus his Itinerary through Britain * He was brought up in New-Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law Petriburgus or Petropolis Ab arborum proceritate in frequentia veprium Lympida Sylva noto satis nomine dicitur Twini Comment. The Nobility and Gentry of the North are of great antiquity and can produce more ancient Families then any other part of England many of them Gentry before the Conquest the rest came in with William the Conquerour * Axelodunum * So called because Robert de Curtois Son of William the Conquerour built there a new Castle out of the ground against the neighbouring Scots Alnevicum In Dunston a little village within the Parish of Emildon Berwicus An hundred miles long Wedgenock Park in Warwickshire is one of the most ancient Parks in England Nunc autem conficiendo Caseo notissimum So Camden Dr Holland englisheth that thus Now the fame of this Town is for Zeal Cheese and Cakes Though that is but an unhandsome conjunction and there is no ground for it in Camden yet in Mr Wheatlyes time to my knowledge it was famous for zeal and I hope is so now Oxonia or Oxonium Quodcunque habuit ab initio nomen pulcherrimum saluberrimum habet situm regionemque omnia necessaria affatim ministrantem bonarumque litterarum celeberrimam scholam ut omnes qui alias Europae Academias adierunt facilè agnoscunt Lhyd. Com. Brit. Descrip Fragment Rutlan-Castle in Wales is so named being built on a shore of red earth Commitatus Salopiensis Salop in Latine Salopia It hath a fair Library and School-house and Brew-house So called from Oswald King of the Northumbers Asserius an ancient Writer calleth this Countrey alwayes Somertunensis that is Somertunshire * Used about Cloath Glastonia Monasterium viderint parentes nostri amplitudine ac magnitudine perpaucis in universa Europa quantum autumo postponendum Godwinus De Conversione Britanniae ad Christianam Religionem Vide plura ibid. Et Monasticon Anglicanum p. 1 2 c. Of Ogo a British word which betokeneth Den Fontanensis Ecclesia Fountain Church Bathonia Vrbs non mode antiqua verum etiam celebris Romanorum Monumentis multis liquidò in muris comparet qua itur à porta meridionali ad borealem Lelandi Comment in Cygneam Cantionem Vide Johnsonum De urbe Thermis Bathonicis A Bishops See and famous Port. In Henry the 7th his time Stephen Gennings Maior of London founded a free Grammar-School there where he was born There is a Corporation So called from Tame the River running beside it Cadaverum Campus The field of dead bodies a number of Christians was there martyred under the Emperour Dieclesian A small Countrey bare and cold it keepeth snow lying upon it a good while A Market Town Dr Lightfoot was born there Southfolk or people in respect of Norfolk Here Bishop Steven Gardiner was born Godw. de Praesul Ang. Comment Stoke Clare the Dukes of Clarence * A large sweet well watered Town a Town in Orchards Here was born Cardinal Wolsey of whom see a pithy description in Herberts Henry the 8th pag. 314 315. See more in Camdens Britania there The Kings Town Regio-dunum Tamesinam sic dictum quod ad Tamesini fluvii ripam situm sit Lel. Kings Kingston upon the Thames so called to distinguish it from Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire Quanta illic Romanae antiquitaris aemulatio Quantum speciosae picturae Quantum auri Quantum denique omnia genera ornamentorum Diceres Coelum esse stellis interpolatum Lel. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Battersega Nomen loco inditum ut ego conjicio ex cymbis Leland Comment. in Cygn. Cant. A low or clayish rode or hide The Southwork or building because it standeth South ove against London the Suburbs whèreof it may seem in some sort to be In Latine Cicestria Called Seals It is the Shire Town Ripa Baron Buckhurst Sanders Glover and manyother Martyrs suffered in Warwickshire It stands South of Lichfield Coventria quasi Coventus trium a Covent of three sorts of Monks Or rather of an Elephant being not so little as a yard in length Speed See Mr Dugdales Antiq. of Warwickshire illustrated Westmaria Westmorlandia There were Lords also of Kendale From the River Lone Aballaba The Sessions and Assizes are there kept Wiltonia of Wilton sometime the chief Town and of the River Willy Crecolada non insignis olim ut vulgus indoctum somniat Grecanicis scholis Lel. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Vide Burtoni Graec. Ling. hist. p. 52. Et Godwin de Praesul Ang. Comment de Theodoro Archiepisc Cant. p. 61. Cyppanus in the Saxon tongue is to buy and Cyppen a buyer as with us Cheapen and Chapman Sarisburia Roger of Salisbury built this stately Church also The Cathedral was longer in building than the Jews Temple for it was above fifty years in building and do you not think the Founders did intend by proportioning the Doors to the Moneths and the Windows to the Dayes and the Pillars to the Hours of the Year that you should learn this instruction Not a Moneth nay not a Day nay not an Hour should be let passe without something of Religion Mr Annesley on 1 Chron. 12. 32. It had also Bishop Abbot and Davenant Our old Historians termed it for the greatnesse Chorea Gigantum the Gyants dance Our Country-men reckon this for one of our miracles Leporarium Of Marga marle which we use in stead of dung to manure our grounds It lieth near a chaulkie-hill which our Ancestours before they borrowed this name Chaulk of the Latine word Calx named Marle Wigorniensis Comitatus Vnum est satis mirabile quia aqua illa per medium annum est salsa scilicet à nativitate Domini usque ad festum sancti Johannis Baptistae per aliud verò medium temporis est dulcis Sed quod mirabilius est pro illo tempore quo est sali necessaria si non hauritur superfluit per aliud verò temporis vix semper excrescit Gervas in lib. de Ociis imperialibus citatâ—…r Pet. Bechor Reduct Moral l. 13. c. 3. De Anglia Vigornia and Wignornia Some say it is as big as the twelve Counties in Wales The Scots call it Don-Castle from the River Don. Holy-hair The Englishmen dwelling beyond Trent called the hair of the Head Fax There is also a Family in this Countrey of Gentlemen named Fairfax of the fair bush of their Hair Pontefract A French name brought in by the Lacies Normans for the English word of broken bridge Lelands Itinerary * Eboracum Eburacum is derived from the River Vré by Vre or a long the side of Vre See Burtons Comment on Anton. his Itin. p. 60 61. why it is called Eboracum The Kings-Town built by King Edward the First There are also high and low Burton houses Or the North-part of this Countrey