it hath been formerly accounted they should differ much from those of Virginia Yet there is a sort of fruit called a Persimon mentioned as most especially belonging to Mary-Land and among Birds one named the Mock-bird from its imitation of all other Singing-birds which differing among themselves in the mixture of their colours that which is black and yellow is called Baltemore-bird from the colour of his Lordships Coat of Arms which are Or and Sable excelling in beauty all the other sorts The same is to be said of the complections customs dispositions government c. of the Natives of this Province as of those of Virginiâ— and other adjacent parts that is in brief thaâ— they are somewhat tawny their hair long black and uncurl'd but cut into fantastical forms more ingenious and docile than industrious each Town a distinct Nation and govern'd by iâ—s several Weroance or King only the Sesquaâ—anocks are a Republick As the Province is now inhabited by the English it is divided into ten Districts or Counties five on the Eastern-shore of the Bay of Chespeack namely Dorchester Somerset Kent Caecil and Talbot and five on the West side of the Bay St. Maries where the Provincial Court or chief Court of Iudicature consisting of Governor and Consiliar Iudges is held every quarter of a year Anne Arundel Baltemore Charles and Calvert The chief Rivers of this Country are Patowmec Patuxent Ann Arundel alias Severn Sasquesahanough Choptank Nantecoke Pocomoke besides others of less note of those mentioned the first four on the West side the other three to the East fall into Cheâ—apeack Bay which is navigable for 200 miles and which between two Capes Cape Charles to the North and Cape Henry to the South being seven or eight leagues distant receives all the Ships that come for Virginia or Mary-Land and passeth Northernly through the midst of Mary-Land On the Eastern shore of this Bay are divers convenient Harbours Creeks and Islands and Northward thereof is the entrance of Delaware Bay The original Seat and Principal City of this Province where the Provincial Courts the general Assembly the Secretaries office and other publick offices are held and where the seat of Trade is fixt is St. Maries situate in St. Maries County on the East-side of St. Georges River Here formerly at the Palace of St. Iohns the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert used to reside but he hath now a very pleasant and commodious habitation at a place called Mattapany upon the River Patuxent about eight miles from St. Maries here is also another fair house where the Chancellor usually resides There were also some years since in all the rest of the Counties the foundations of Towns laid which no doubt by this time are very near if not altogether compleated particularly in Calvert County near the River Patuxent 1. Calverton in Battle-creek 2. Harvy Town over against Point Patience 3. Herington upon the Cliffs As for the present Government of Mary-Land by the English the Lord Proprietor in the first place is invested as hath been mentioned with an absolute power and dominion by whose sole command all things relating to peace or War are ordered and in whose name issue forth all publick Instruments Patents Warrants Writs c. In the enacting of Laws he hath the consent and advice of the general Assembly which is made up of two Estates the first consisting of his Lorships Privy Council of which the Chancellor and Secretary alwaies are and such Lords of Manors as are called by his special Writ the other of the Deputies of each Province elected by the free voice of the Free-holders of the respective Province for which each Deputy is chosen The names of the present Governor the prime Officers of State and the rest of his Lordships Privy Council are as followeth the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships Son and Heir the Chancellor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother the Secretary Sr. William Talbot the Muster-Master General Mr. William Calvert Mr. Baker Brook all three his Lordships Nephews the Surveyor General Mr. Ierome White Mr. Edw. Lloyd Mr. Henry Coursy Mr. Thomas Trueman Major Edward Fitz-Herbert Mr. Samuel Chew Vast quantities of Tobacco the grand Trade of this Province of Mary-Land are yearly vended from hence not only in England but likewise in several of the other English Plantations besides the importation also of some other commodities to the great improvement of his Majesties Revenue by Custom and Excise The common way of traffick here is by barter or trucking of commodities one for anotherr though money is not altogether wanting as well of the coin of England and other parts as of his Lordships own Coin being stampt on the one side with his Lordships Coat of Arms with this circumscription Crescite Multiplicamini and on the other side with his Effigies and this circumscription Caecilius Dominus Terrae Mariae c. The Description of New-England WHat hath been said in General of the discovery of Virginia largely so called may in consequence be applyed to this Country of New-England being as above mentioned one of the three principal Colonies comprehended therein but in the year 1602 it began to be more particularly known a part from the rest from the discovery as some think of Captain Gosnold and in the year 1606 it was granted by Patent by King Iames to divers Lords and Gentlemen under the denomination of the Plymouth Company yet after that several that set out for this Plantation successively either miscarried or returned re infecta as first Captain Henry Chaloung who meeting with the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana was with all his Company carried Prisoner into Spain Not long after Thomas â— Haman sent to the succour of Chaloung by Sr. Iohn Popham Lord cheif Iustice of England Next Captain Prinne set out by the Bristol Company whose Voyage though it had not its wisht success yet he returned with a farther discovery of the Coast than had been made before Not long after George Popham and Raleigh Gilbert were fitted out at the charge of Sir Iohn Popham with one hundred men who though they had seated themselves not uncommodiously in a Peninsula at the mouth of the River Sagadahoc and were upon making farther discoveries yet in the year 1608 upon the death of George Popham their Commander and soon after of the Lord Chief Iustice they returned into England notwithstanding supplies had but lately been sent them to the very great distaste of the chief promoters of the design and whereupon the French had taken occasion to plant themselves in these parts had they not been timely expelled by Sr. Samuel Argal from Virginia The next that attempted a settlement here was Captain Hobson who by reason of the opposition raised against him by two Natives whom having been detained some while in England he took back along with him upon an affront offered them by some of the English was forc't to return without effecting of any thing
be ministred but whereas the ancient Kings of England acâ—ording to Moses his example sate in pâ—rson in the seat of Iustice to right the greater affairs of their Subjects as William Lambeâ—â— sheweth in King Alfred Edgar Canutus c. and proves out of the Kings Oath out of Bractoâ— Britain â—axon Laws c. King William not only continued this but besideâ— erâ—cted some other Câ—urtâ— of â—ustice as the Exchequer and certain Courts and Sessions to be held four times every year â—appointing both Iudges some to hear causes others to whom appeals should be made but none from them and also Praefects to look to good orders Those last Polydor calleth Iustices of Peace but their instruction seems to be far later and no less is his errour on the other side in saying the Conquerour first instituted Sheriffs and the trial by twelve men which were both ancienter 4 And because the Conquerour for honour of Bishops caused them to remove from small obssure places to Cities of more renown we have therefore reserved to this last â—lace that division of this Kingdome which is according to Iurisdiction Episcopal Formerly in the year of Salvation 636. Honorius the first Archbishop of Canterbury first divided England into Parishes which at this day are contained under their several Diocesans and these again under their two Metropolitanes Canâ—erbury and York in manner following CANTERBVRY Bishopricks Counties Parishes Canterbury Kent 257. Rochester 98. London Essex 623. Middlesex Hertford-shire part Lincoln Lincoln-shire 1255. Leicester-shire Huntington Bedford-shire Buckingham-shire Hertford-shire part Chichester Hertford-shire 250. Sussex Winchester Hant-shire 362. Surrey Wight Isle Gernesey Isle Iersey Isle Salisbury Wilt-shire 248. Bark-shire Exeter Devon-shire 604. Corne-wall Bath and Wells Sommerset-shire 388. Gloucester Gloucester-shire 267. Worcester Worcester-shire 241. Warwick-shire Litchfield and Coventry Warwick shire part 557. Stafford-shire Derby-shire Shrop-shire part Hereford Shrop shire part 313. Hereford-shire Ely Cambridge-shire 141. Ely Isle Norwich Norfolke 1641. Suffolk Oxford Oxford-shire 195. Peterborow Northampton 293. Rutland-shire Bristow Dorset-shire 236. Glamorgan Landaffe Monmouth-shire 177. Brecknock-shire Radnor-shire S. David Pembroke-shire 308. Caermarden Bangor Caernarvon-shire 107. Anglesey Isle Merioneth-shire Denbigh-shire S. Asaph Devon-shire part 121. Flint-shire part  YORK  York York-shire 581. Nottingham-shire Chester Cheshire 256. Richmond-shire Cumberland part Lanca-shire Flint part Carlile Cumberland part 93. Westmorland Durham â—urham 135. Northumberland Sodor Man Island 17. Total Bishopricks 27. Parishes 9285. 9 To speak nothing of these twenty eight Flamins the Priests of Idolatry and the three Arch-Flamins whose seats were at London Caerlion and York all of them converted by King Lucius into Christian Bishops Sees let us only insist upon the three last by the same King appointed to be Metropolitanes over the rest among whom London is said to be chief whose first Christian Archbishop was Thean the builder of S. Peters Church in Cornhill for his Cathedral as by an ancient Table there hanging was affirmed and tradition to this day doth hold Our British Historians do bring a succession of fifteen Arch-bishops to have sate from his time unto the coming of the Saxons whose last was Vodius slain by King Vortiger for reprehending his heathenish marriage with Rowen the Daughter of Hengist At what time began the misery of the Land and of holy Religion both which they laid waste under their prophane feet until Ethelbert of Kent the first Christian Saxon King advanced Christianity and Augustine to the Archbishoprick of Caâ—terbury when London under Melitus became subject to that See 6 At Caerlion upon Vske in the time of the great Arthur sate Dubritius a man excellently learned and of an holâ— conversation he had sate Bishop of Landaffe a long time and with Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops greatly impugned the Pelagian Heresie infecting at that time the Island very far whose fame and integrity was such that he was made Archbishop of all Wales but grown very old he resigned the same unto Daviâ— his Disciple a man of greater birth and greater austerity of life who by consent of King Arthur removed his Archbishops See unto Menevia a place very solitary and meet for meditation the miracles of the man which are said to be many changed both the name of the place into his own and robbed Caerlion of her Archiepiscopal seat This See of S. Davids as in an ancient Register belonging to that Church is recorded had seven Bishops Suffragans subject unto it which were Exeter Bath Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Asapâ— and â—ernes in Ireland notwithstanding either for want of Pall carried into Britany by Archbishop Sampson in a dangerous infection of sickness or by poverty or negligence it lost that jurisdiction and in the days of King Henry the first became subject to the See of Canterbury 7 York hath had better succesâ— than either of the former in retaining her original honour though much impaired in her circuit challenging to have been sometime Metropolitane over all the Bishops in Scotland and although it was made equal in honour and power with Canterbury by Pope Gregory as Beda relateth and had twelve suffragan Bishopricks that owed obedience onely four now acknowledge York their Metropolitane but Canterbury the Superiour for William the Conquerour thinking it dangerous to have two in like authority lest the one should set on his Crown and the other 〈◊〉 it off left York to be a primate but Canterbury only the primate of all England 8 That Lichfield was made an Archiepiscopal See by Pope Hadrian the first at the suit of Offa the great King of Mercia is manifested by Matthew of Westminster unto whose Iurisdiction were assigned the Bishopricks of Winchester Hereford Leicester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich and whose first and last Archbishop was Aldwin That Winchester also had intended an Archiepiscopal Pall the same Author recordeth when Henry Bloys of the Bloud Royal greatly contended with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority under the pretence of being Cardinal de latere to him an Archiepiscopal Pallâ— was sent with power and authority over seven Churches but he dying before that the design was done the See of Winchester remained in subjection to Canterbury And that long before the See of Dorchester by Oxford had the Iurisdiction of an Archbishop is apparent by those provinces that were under his Diocess which were Winchester Oxford Lincoln Salisbury Bristow Wells Litchfield Chester and Exeter and the first Bishop of this great circuit Derinus was called the Apostle and Bishop of the West Saxons which in his next successor was divided into two parts Winchester and Dorchester and not long after into Lichfield Sidnacester and Legecister and lastly the See removed from Dorchester to Lincoln as now it is And thus far for the division of this Realm both Politick and Ecclesiastick as it hath stood and stands at this day 9 But the whole Islands division by most certain Record was anciently made when Iulius Agricola drew a trench or fortification
Kenulph King of the West-Saxons came to his untimely end and at Lambeth the hardy Canute and last of the Danish Kings died among his Cups But as these places were fatal for the last breath of these Princes so other in this County have been graced with the body and beginning of other worthy Monarchs for in Cherâ—sey Abby King Henry the Sixth who was deposed and made away in the Tower of London was first interred without all â—uneral pomp but for his holy life was imputed a Saint and lastly translated and intombed at Winsor At Kingstone likewise stood the Chair of Majesty wherein Athelstan Edwin and Etheldred sate at their Coronation and first received their Sâ—epter of Imperial power Guildford likewise hath been far greater than now it is when the Palace of our English-Saxon Kings was therein set And seeing it is the midst of the Shire the graduation from thence shall be observed where for Latitude the Pole is raised from the degree 51 22 sâ—ruples and her Longitude from the West in the degree 20 and 2 scruples 7 Neither can we account Okam and Ripley two small Villages the least in this Shire which have brought forth the well known men William de Okam that deep Philosopher and admirable Scholar and George de Ripley the ring-leader of our Alchymists and mystical impostors both of them born in this County and very near together But why speak I of these sith a place nearer to sight and greater for â—ame even Lambeth is the High Seat of Ecclesiastical Government Piety and Learning and Palace of Canterburies Arch-bishops the Metropolitaâ—s of England First erected by Archbishop Baldwin and ever since hath been the residing of all those worthy Prelates of our Church who in a long succession even from Anno 596 have continued to him that now most worthily sits at the Churches stern Richard by Gods providence Lord Archbishop of that See a most faithfull and prudent Councellour unto King Iames and a most learned and provident Guide of our most flourishing Church whose gracious favour undeservedly conferred upon me hath been a great encouragement to these my poor endeavours 8 Memorable places of Battles fought before the Conquest were Wembledon where when the fulness of prosperity burst forth into Civil Dissentions among the Saxons a bloudy Battle was fought betwixt Cheaulin the West Saxon and young Ethelbert of Kent wherein he was discomfited and two of his principal Leaders slain about the year of Christ 560. and three hundred thirty three years after King Elfred with a small power overcame the Danes with a great slaughter at Farnham in this County which somewhat quelled the courage of his savage enemy 9 Religious Houses erected in this shire by the devotion of Princes and set apart from publick uses to Gods Divine Service and their own salvation as then was taught the best in account were Shene Chertsey Merton Newarke Rygats Waverly Horsleg and in Southwarke Bermundsey and S. Maries These all flourished with increase till the ripeness of their fruit was so pleasing in sight and taste unto King Henry the Eighth that in beating the boughs he brake down body and all ruinating those houses and seizing their rich possessions into his own hands So jealous is God of his honour and so great vengeance followeth the sin of Idolatry 10 In this Shire have stood eight fair and strong Castles such weâ—e Addington Darking Starburgh Rygate Gilford Farnham Goseford and Brenchingley but of greater State are Oking Otlands None-such and Richmond his Majesties Royal Mannors And for service to the Crown or Common-wealths imployments this Counties division is into thirteen Hundreds wherein are seated eight Market-Towns and one hundred and forty Parish-Churches SOUTHAMPTON HANT-SHIRE CHAPTER VI. HANT-SHIRE lying upon the West of England is bordered upon the North by Barkshire upon the East with Surrey and Sussex upon the South with the British Seas and Isle of Wight and upon the West with Dorset and Wilt-shire 2 The length thereof from Blackwater in the North upon Surrey unto Bascomb in the South upon the Sea extended in a right line is fifty four English miles and the breadth drawn from Petersfield in the East unto Tidworth in the West and confines of Wilt-shire is little less than thirty miles the whole circumference about one hundred fifty and five miles 3 The Air is temperate though somewhat thick by reason of the Seas and the many Rivers that through the Shire do fall whose plenty of Fish and fruitfull increase do manifoldly redeem the harmes which they make 4 The Soyl is rich sor Corn and Cattel pleasant for Pasturage and as plenteous for Woods in a word in all Commodities either for Sea or Land blessed and happy 5 Havens it hath and those Commodities both to let in and to lose out Ships of great burden in trade of Merchandise or other imployments whereof Portsmouth Tichfield Hamble and South-hampton are chief Besides many other creeks that open their bosoms into those Seas and the Coast strengthened with many strong Castles such as Hurst Calshot South-hampton S. Andrews Worth Porchester and the South Castle besides other Bulwarkes or Block-houses that secure the Countrey and further in the Land as Malwood Winchester and Odiam so strong that in the time of King Iohn thirteen Englishmen only defended the Fort for fifteen days against Lewis of Franca that with a great Host assaulted it most hotly 6 Anciently it was possest upon the North by the Segontians who yielded themselves to Iulius Caesar and whose chief City was Vindonum Caer Segonte now Silcester and upon the South by the Belgae and Regni who were subdued by Plausius and Vespasian the Romans where Titus rescuing his Father straightly besieged by the Britains as Dio and Forcatulus do report was grasped about with an Adder but no hurt to his person and therefore taken for a sign of good luck Their chief Town was Rincewood as yet sounding the name and more within Land inhabited the Manures as Beda calls them whose Hundreds also to this day gave a relish of their names 7 Near Ringwood and the place once YTENE from God and peoples Service to Feast and luxury thirty six Parish Churches were converted and pulled down by the Conquerour and thirty miles of circuit enforrested for his game of Hunting wherein his sons Richard and Rufus with Henry the second son to Duke Robert his first felt by hasty death the hand of Iustice and Revenge for in the same Forrest Richard by blasting of a Pestilent Air Rufus by shot taken for a Beast and Henry as Absalom hanged by a bough came to their untimely ends At so dear a rate the pleasures of Dogs and harbour for beasts were bought in the bloud of these Princes 8 The general Commodities gotten in this Shire are Wools Cloaths and Iron whereof great store is therein wrought from the Mines and thence transported into all parts of this Realm and their Cloaths and Karsies carried into many
seperated from Norfolk by the Rivers of the lesser Ouse and Waveney whose heads meet almost in the midst of her Verge and that very neer together the one taking course East and the other full West upon which part Cambridge-shire doth wholly confront The Soâ—th side is severed by Stoure from Essex and the East together washed with the German Seas 2 The Air is good sweet and delectable and in some parts of some of our best Phyâ—icians held to be the best in the Land the soyl is rich fruitful and with all things well replenished in a word nothing wanting for pleasure or profit 3 The Form thereof is somewhat Cressant shooting up narrower in the North and spreading wider towards the South whose broadest part is about twenty miles but from East to West much more for from Easton point the furthest of this Shire yea of all Britain into the Sea unto great Ouse River her Western bounder are forty five miles and the whole in Circumference about one hundred and forty six miles 4 Antiâ—ntly this part of the Island was possessed by the Iceni who as it seemeth by Tacitus joyned in Amity with the Romans a mighty people saith he and never shaken with wars before the reign of Claudius but then by Ostorius very vanquished though not without great slaughter of the Romans and in a battle against them M. Ostorius the son of the General won great honour in saâ—ing of a Roman Citizens life so ready were they to give and receive Honours to themselves but sleightly to pass over and to smother far greater exploits of the Britains which notwithstanding long in these parts they could not do for the wrongs of the Icenians growing intollerable who by the Roman Souldiers were put out of their rightful possessions their Princes accounted no better than Slaves and their Queen whipped in most ignominious manner under Bodâ—a they wrought their revenge as in the History Christ assisting shall be further related Next to these Icenians were the Saxons that got their footing into these parts and of them this with Norfolk Cambridge-shire and the Isle of Ely was made their East-Angles Kingdom though as it seemeth ever in subjection either to the Mercians or to the Kings of Kent whose off-spring ending in S. Edmund the Martyr after the Danes had laid it most desolate Edward the Elder subdued it unto his West-Saxons Monarchy and that likewise ending in King Edward the Confessor many Noble Normans got their possessions in these parts whose off-spring are plenteously replenished in this Shire to this day 5 The Commodities of this Shire are many and great Whereof the chiefest consisteth in Corn Cattle Cloth Pasturage Woods Sea-fish and Fowl and as Abba Floriensis hath depainted this County is of a green and passing fresh hue pleasantly replenished with Orchards Gardens and Groves thus he described it above six hundred years since and now we find as he hath said to which we may add their gain from the Pail whose Cheeses are traded not only throughout England but into Germany France and Spain and are highly commended by Pantaleon the Physitian both for colour and taste 6 And had Ipswiâ—h the onely eye of this Shire been as fortunate in her Sirname as she is blessed with commerce and buildings she might worthily have born the title of a City neither ranked in the lowest row whose trade circuit and seat doth equal most places of the Land besides It seemeth this Town hath been walled about both by a Rampire of Earth mounted along her North and West parts and places of entrance where Gates have stood which no doubt by the Danes were cast down in the year of Iesus Christ â—991 when they sacked with spoyl all these Sea coasts and again in the year one thousand laid the streets desolate and the houses on heaps yet afterwards recovering both breath and beauty her buildings from Stoke-Church in the South to Saint Margarets in the North now contain 1900 paces and from S. Helens in the East to S. Matthews Church in the West are no less than 2120 full of streets plenteously inhabited wherein are twelve Parish-Churches seated besides them suppressed such were Christ-Church S. Georges S. Iames the White the Black and Gray-Fryers The Site of this Town is removed from the Equator unto the degree 52 25 minutes and by Mercators observation from the first West-points 22 degrees 9 minutes and is yearly governed by two Bayliffs and ten Port-men all wearing Scarlet with twenty four of tâ—eir Common-Councel in Purple a Recorder a Town-Clerk five Serjeants whereof one is for the Admiralty a Beadle and Common Cryer all in blew with the Towns Arms on their sleeves The other eye of this Shire is S. Edmundsbury By Abbo the Royal-Town wherein at the day-break of the Saxons conversion Sigebert King of the East-Angles sounded a Christian Church and upon the occasion of King Edmunds burial who at Hoxon was shot to death hath been ever since called S. Edmundsbury where was built to his honour one of the fairest Monasteries in the world begun by King Canute much affrighted with the seeming appearance of that Martyrs Ghost who to expiate the sacrilegious impiety of his Father Suenus enriched the place with many endowments and offered up his own Crown upon the Holy Martyrs Tomb. For the beauty and buildings of this Abby and Town let Leyland for me declare The Sun saith he hath not seen a City more finely seated so delicately upon the easie ascent of an hill with a River running on the East side nor a more stately Abby either for revenues or incomperable magnificence in whose prospect appeareth rather a City than a Monastery so many Gates for entrance and some of them brass so many Towers and a most glorious Church upon which attend three others standing all in the same Church-yard all of them passing fine and of a curious workmanship Whose ruines lie in the dust lamenting their fall moving the beholders to pity their case Near unto this Town a great battle was fought by Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester against his Soveraign King Henry the second but was worthily overcome by Richard Lucy the Kings high Iustice himself and wife taken with many Flemings and Englishmen slain 7 Other places worthy of remembrance this County affords such is Exning in the West formerly famous for the birth of S. Audrâ—y daughter to King Anna one of the three names of the Shires division Renlisham in the East where Redwald the First Christian in this Kingdom held his Court and Hadley in her South where Guthrum the Dane whom Elfred baptized was buried And things of stranger note are the limits of the East-Angles Territories running along New-market-Heath vulgarly called the Devils-ditch the like fable is formerly told by Nubrigensis that at Wulpes in the heart of this Shire two green boyes of Satyres kind arose out of the ground from the Antipodes believe it if you will and Ralfe Coggeshall in the Monuments of
Morda in the West twenty and five miles the whole in circuit about extending to one hundred thirty four miles 3 Wholesome is the Air delectable and good yielding the Spring and the Autumn Seed-time and Harvest in a temperate condition and affordeth health to the Inhabitants in all seasons of the year 4 The Soil is rich and standeth most upon a reddish Clay abounding in Wheat and Barley Pit-coals Iron and Woods which two last continue not long in league together It hath Rivers that make fruitful the Land and in their Waters contain great store of fresh-fish whereof Severn is the chief and second in the Realm whose stream cutteth this County in the midst and with many winding sporteth her self forward leaving both Pastures and Meadows bedecked with flowers and green colours which every where she bestoweth upon such her attendants 5 This River was once the bounds of the North-Britains and divided their possession from the Land of the Saxons until of latter times their began to decay and the Welsh to increase who enlarged their lists to the River Dee So formerly had it separated the Ordovices from the Cornavâ—â— those ancient Inhabitants mentioned by Ptolomy The Ordovices under Caractacus purchased great honour whilst he a Prince of the Silures removed his Wars thence among them where a while he maintained the Britains liberty with valour and courage in despite of the Romans His Fort is yet witness of his unfortunate Fight seated near Clune-Castle at the confluence of that River with Temd where in remembrance of him the place is yet called Caer-Caradoc a Fort of his won by P. Ostorius Lieutenant of the Romans about the year of Grace 53. The Cornavii were seated upon the North of Severn and branched into other Counties of whom we have said 6 But when the strength of the Romans was too weak to support their own Empire and Britain emptied of her Souldiers to resist the Saxons set foot in this most fair Soil and made it a part of their Mercian Kingdom their line likewise issued to the last period and the Normans beginning where these Saxons left the VVelshmen took advantage of all present occasions and brake over Severn unto the River Dee to recover which the Normans first Kings often assayed and Henry the Second with such danger of Life that at the Siege of Bridge-North he had been slain had not Sir Hubert Syncler received the Arrow aimed at him in stepping betwixt that Shaft and his Soveraign and therewith was shot thorow unto death In the like danger stood Henry Prince of Scotland who in the strait Siege of Ludlow begirt by King Stephen had been plucked from his Saddle with an Iron-hook from the Wall had not Stephen presently rescued him Anno 1139. 7 This then being the Marches of England and VVales was sore afflicted by bloody broils which caused many of their Towns to be strongly walled and thirty two Castles to be strongly built Lastly into this County the most wise King Henry the Seventh sent his eldest Son Prince Arthur to be resident at Ludlow where that fair Castle became a most famous Princes Court And here King Henry the Eight ordained the Council of the Marches consisting of a Lord President as many Counsellors as the Prince shall please a Secretary an Attorney a Soliciter and four Iustices of the Counties in Wales in whose Court were pleaded the Causes depending and termly tried for the most part in presence of that honourable President 8 But the Shire-Town Shrewsbury for circuit trade and wealth doth far exceed this and is inferiour to few of our Cities her buildings fair her streets many and large her Citizens rich her trade for the most part in the Staple Commodities of Cloth and Freeses her Walls strong and of a large compass extending to seventeen hundred paâ—es about besides another Bulwark ranging from the Castle down unto and in part along the side of Severn thorow which there are three entrances into the Town East and West over by two fair Stone-Bridges with Towers Gates and Bars and the third into the North no less strong than them over which is mounted a large Castle whose gaping chinks do doubtless threaten her fall This Town is governed by two Bailiffs yearly elected out or twenty four Burgesses a Recorder Town-Clerk and Chamberlain with three Sergeants at Mace the Pole being raised hence from the degrees of Latitude 53 16 minutes and from West in Longitude 17 degrees 27 minutes 9 Yea and ancienter Cities have been set in this Shire such was Râ—xalter or Wroxcester lower upon Severn that had been Vriconium the chiefest City of the Cornavii Vfocâ—nia now Okenyateâ— near unto the Wrekin and under Red-Castle the Ruins of a City whom the Vulgar report to have been famous in Arthurs daies but the pieces of Romish Coins in these three do well assure us that therein their Legions lodged as many other Trenches are signs of War and of Blood But as Swords have been stirring in most parts of this Province so Beads have been hid for the preservation of the whole and places erected for the maintenance of Votaries in whom at that time was imputed great holiness in Shrewsbury many at Coulmere Stow Dudley Bromfield Wigmore Hamond Lyleshill Bildas Bishops-Castle and Wâ—nloke where in the Reign of Richard the Second was likewise a rich Mine of Copper But the same blasts that blew down the Buds of such Plants scattered also the Fruits from these fair Trees which never since bare the like nor is likely any more to do That only which is rare in this Province is a Well at Pitchford in a private mans yard whereupon floateth a thick Skum of liquid Bitumen which being clear off to day will gather the like again on the Morrow not much unlike to the Lake in the Land of Iewry This Shire is divided into fifteen Hundreds wherein are seated fourteen Market-Towns and hath in it one hundred and seventy Churches for Gods sacred and divine Service CHESTER Petrus Kaerius caeelavit The County Palatine of CHESTER CHAPTER XXXVI CHESSE-SHIRE the County Palatine of Chester is parted upon the North from Lancashire with the River Mercey upon the East by Mercey Goit and the Dane is separated from Darâ—y and Stafford-shires upon the South toucheth the Counties of Shrop-shire and Flint and upon the West with Dee is parted from Denbigh-shire 2 The form of this County doth much resemble the right Wing of an Eagle spreading it self from Wirall and as it were with her Pinion or first Feather toucheth York-shire betwixt which extreams in following the windings of the Shires divider from East to West are 47 miles and from North to South twenty six miles The whole Circumference about one hundred forty two miles 3 If the affection to my natural producer blind not the judgment of this my Survey for Air and Soyl it equals the best and far exceeds her Neighbours the next Counties for although the Climate be cold and toucheth
of his Counsel which are in stead of our House of Peers and the Burgesses elected by the Free-men two out of each Parish For the execution of Iustice here are held five Sessions yearly The present Governor is the Right Honourable William Lord Willoughby of Parham The Description of Florida FLorida a pleasant and spacious Countrey was so called by the Spaniards whereas the ancient name was Irquassa because to Iuan Ponce de Leon the first of that Nation that steered his course toward this Coast it gave landing in 1512 on Palm-Sunday which they call Pascha de Flores or Florida Pascha though it had been formerly discovered viz. Ann. 1497. by Sâ—bastion Cabot by the encouragement of K. Henry the 7th of England Ponce by reason of the resistance of the Natives being soon forc'd to quit the place and dying not long after of a wound he received in one of his encounters not many years after Lucas Vasques de Aylon arriving with two Ships was courteously entertained by a King of the Countrey and well he requited him for at his departure he treacherously hoisted Sail with divers of the Indians whom he carried with him captives to work in the Mines at Hispaniola but it thrived with him accordingly when having obtained the Government of Florida he was beaten out with the loss of one Ship and about 200 of his men this notwithstanding discouraged not Pamphilus Nervaes from making another attempt who after many strange adventures losses and hazards at length lost himself it being never known what became of him and of 80 that accompanied him but 4 escap'd to return home alive Much more remarkable and puissant and more destructive to the poor Indians of whom many thousands were slaughtered was the expedition of Ferdinando Soto Ann. 1534. who nevertheless after many losses died therein and his successor Ludovico de Alvarado was forc'd to an hasty retreat in which he lost half his Army upon hopes therefore of better success in the two following expeditions of the Spaniards Religion was thought fit to be joyned with political interest and first with Pietro Albumada were sent five Dominicans who from the jealous Indians not understanding they were design'd Converts to the Christian Faith meeting only with such usage as made them pass for Marâ—yrs three Iesuits next Petrus Martinius Ioannes Rogerus and Franciscus Villaregius went with Pietro Menendez whom such a storm encountred in the very landing that the Ship being driven to Cuba those that were left on Shore perish'd with hunger However of so many landings as had at several times been made by the Spaniards some footing notwithstanding all misfortunes could not but be made in the place Enough it seems to disturb the following approaches of the French of whom Iean Riâ—ald and Rene Laudoniere being the first that discovered those Coasts had at several efforts their men totally cut off by the Spaniards yet at last they were met with by Dominic de Gourgues a Gascoigner who in the year 1567 in revenge of his Countrey-men of whom divers were hang'd and especially of the death of Ribaut who is said to have been flead alive ventur'd of his own accord to make thither with three Ships well mann'd with Souldiers and Sea-men and with the help of divers Casicks of the Countrey ingaged to his Party by Pierre du Bre the only French-man that escaping the Massacre of the Spaniards in Laudonieres attempt was left alive in the place took from them Fort Carolina and two other Forts hanged divers Spaniards on the same trees whereon they had hung the French and return'd with honour though not without sufficient trouble to clear himself of the boldness of such an uncommissioned exploit After this we hear not of any other adventures of the French in this part of America however there fell not long after a terrible storm upon the Spaniards here from the English under Captain Drake who An. 1585. returning from the sacking of Domingo and Carthagena and as he sail'd along that Coast having intelligence of the state of the Spaniards and firing his great Guns against the Fort St. Iohn forc'd them to quit both that and the City St. Augustine which finding totally deserted he entred and seizing on a Chest of 2000 l. and 14 Brass-Guns he return'd to his Ships and contented with his prize hoisted Sail. Since which they have met with little or no disturbance but remained quiet in those Colonies they possess besides which there hath been found space enough of the Countrey for the parcelling out into a peculiar Province which hath been done of late years by his present Majesty and granted by Patent to several Noble and Honourable persons of his Subjects by the name of Carolina as is mentioned more at large in the peculiar description thereof This Countrey of Florida lying South-west of of Virginia extends from the 30 some say the 25 to the 50 degree of Northern Latitude if we consider the extent as it was before 〈◊〉 was taken out of it and is bounded South and South-west with the Gulph of Mâ—xico and Mâ—â— Virginium full West with part of New Gallicia and other Countreys not yet thoroughly discovered North-East with Virginia or rather with Carolina which being now separated 〈◊〉 a Province by it self lies between Florida and Virginia The temperature of the Air of this Countrey is such that Carolina which having been accounted a part of it cannot be thought to differ much in constitution of Climate is generally reputed not only one of the best Colonies the English possess but for health pleasure and profit comparable to if not transcending any part of America beside The richness of the 〈◊〉 meeting with such a temperature of Air as hath been observ'd must needs produce very delicious fruits as well of those kinds that are frequent with us as Apples Pears Plums Cherriâ—s Apricocks Peaches Grapes c. as those peculiar to the Countrey of which I find the 〈◊〉 most especially taken notice of The ancient Inhabitants of Florida are of an Olive colour of a full stature and well proportioned with long black hair reaching down below their wasts which are tied about with the skins of hunted Beasts adorn'd with divers coloured feathers hanging down to their knees else naked only having their bare arms back brest and legs exquisitely painted their women most especially are esteemed very handsome and of an excellent shape which by their going so naked appears to the greater advantage They are crafty ingenâ—ous exquisite dissemblers revengeful and frequent in warlike consultations held in the Kings Palace where he himself sits Arbiter and directer Their warlike Arms are chiefly Bow and Arrows which pointed with fish-bones they carry in quivers by their side They have a gross belief of the souls immortality but the Ceremonies of their Religion are bruitishly barbarous and bloody their victories horrid cruelty to prisoners and burial of their dead attended with many strange and extravagant fancies and conceits There
Archiepiscopal Seats grounding his conjecture on the saying of Pope Lucius who affirmeth that the Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Roman Magistrates and that their Archbâ—shops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents abode so that the ancient Seats of the three Archbâ—shops here being London in the East Câ—erleon in the West and York in the North Londons Diocess as seemeth made Britain prima Caerleon Britain secunda and York Maxima Caesariâ—nsis 15 But in the next age when the power of their Presidents began to grow over great they again divided Britain into five parts adding to the three former Valentia and â—lavia Caesariensis the first of which two seemeth to have been the Northerly part of Maxima Caesariensis recovered from the Picts and Scots by Theodoâ—lus the General under Valence the Emperour and in honour of him named Valeâ—tia and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour son of Theâ—dâ—sius for that we read not of the name Britain â—lavia before his time 16 So these five partitions had their limits assigned after this manner Britaine prima contained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis the Severne and the British Sea Britaine Secunda extended from Severne unto the Irish Seas containing the Countrey that we now call Wales Flavia Caesariensis was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne and Valentia from the said River and Picts wall reached unto the Rampire near Edenburgh in Scotland the farthest part that the Romans possessed when this division was in use For the several people inhabiting all those parts with their ancient Names and Borders whether designed by the Romans or the old Britains together with our modern Names and Shires answerable to each of them we will refer you to the Tables thereof elsewhere 17 This whole Province of Britain as in our History shall appear was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselves assuming as a glorious surname Britannicus coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce known Seas here marrying living and dying enacting here Laws for the whole Empire and giving to those Captains that served here many ensigns of great honour yea Claudius gave Plantius the first Prefect of that Province the right hand as he accompanied him in his Triumph and his own Triumph of Britain was set out with such magnificence that the Provinces brought in golden Crowes of great weight the Governours commanded to attend and the very Captains permitted to be present at the same A Naval Coronet was fixed upon a Pinnacle of his Palace Arches and Trophies were raised in Rome and himself on his aged knees mounted the staires into the Capitol supported by his two sons in Law so great a joy conceived he in himself for the Conquest of some small portion of Britain 18 Now the Romans found it held it and left it as times ripened and rottened their success with the Names the Inhabitants Manners and Resisters I leave to be pursued in the following Histories and will only now shew thee these three Kingdoms that are in present the chief Bodies of Great Britains Monarchy two of which Scotland and Ireland shall in their due places have their farther and more particular Descriptions THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND ENGLANDS General Description CHAPTER II. THE Saxons glory now near to expire by his appointment who holdeth both times and Kingdoms in his all-ordering hand their own Swords being the Instruments and the Danâ—s the mauls that beat their beautiful Diadem into pieces the Normans a stirring Nation neither expected nor much feared under the leading of William their Duke and encouragement of the Roman Bishop an usual promoter of broken titles made hither suddenly into England who in one only battel with the title of his sword and slaughter of Harold set the imperial Crown thereof upon his own head which no sooner was done but the English went down and the Normans lording it became Owners of those Cities which themselves never built possessed those Vineyards which they never planted drunk of those Wells which they never had digged and inhabited those Houses filled with riches for which they never had laboured for they found it to be as the land whereupon the Lord set his eye even from the beginning to the end of the year not only drinking water of the rain of Heaven but having also rivers of waters and fountains in her valleys and without all scarcitie whose stones are Iron and out of whose mountains is digged brass This made them more resolute at first to settle themselves in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Island the conquerour using all policy both Martial and Civil to plant his posterity here for ever How he found the Land governed we shewed in the Heptarchy but his restless thoughts were not contented with conquering the Nation and their Land unless he also overcame their very Customes Laws and Language 2 Touching the distribution of the Kingdome whereas other Kings before him made use of it chiefly for the good of the people and better ministring of Iustice he made use of it to know the wealth of his Subjects and to enrich his Coffers for he caused a description to be made of all England â—ow much land every one of his Barons possessed how many Knights fees how many Plow-lands how many in villanage how many heads of beasts yea how much ready money every man from the greatest to the â—ast did possess and what rents might be made of every mans possession the Book of which inquisition yet in the Exchequer was called Doomesday for the generality of that Iudgment on all the Land Whereunto we may add his other distribution of this Land worse than any former when thrusting the English out of their possessions â—e distributed their inheritances to his Souldiers yet so that all should be held of the King as of the only true Lord and possessor 3 For the Laws by which he meant to govern he held one excellent rule and purpose which was that a people ought â—to be ruled by Laws written and certain for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new Iudgments and therefore he caused twelve to be chosen out of every County which should on their oath without inclining one way or other neither adding nor deâ—racting open unto him all their ancient Laws and Customes By whose relation understanding that three sorts of Laws formerly were in the Land Merchelenage West-Saxonlage Dane-lage he had preferred these last himâ—elf and people being anciently derived from those Northern people had not all the Barons bewayling to the King how grievous it was for a Land to be judged by those Laws which they understood not altered his resolute purpose yet in bringing in the strange â—orms of Norman Processe and pleading in the French tongue which continued till Edward the thirds time that grievance was buâ— slendâ—rly prevented So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice where these Laws shouâ—d