incelebre et Edenburgus primaria apud eos ciuitas incendio conflagrarent Richardus Leus eques aur atus me flammis ereptum ad Anglos perduxit Huius ego beneficij memor non nisi Regum liberos lauare solitus nunc meam operam etiam infimis Anglorum libenter condixi Leus victor sic voluit Anno Domini M. D. XLIIII Henrici octaui XXXVI In this Abbey church lyeth buried famous Sir Iohn Mandeuile liuely formed in a marble stone whose trauayles in forraine regions and rare reportes are at this time admired through the world There lie also many Nobles who lost their liues in the conflictes in and neere this towne betweene the houses of Lancaster and Yorke In the North-west ende of the towne was sometime a stately castle and called KINGSBERRIE which is as much as the Kinges house or castle for BERRYE castrum et castrametationem significat the ruines thereof doe yet somewhat appeare the place now supplied with a farme house The Abbot of that place in the time of K. Stephen made suite vnto the K. to ouerthrowe and supplant the same castle for that as he suggested Antiquis temporibus latebant quidam regales nequam homines Abbatis minus infesti et damnosi At whose instance the castle was forthwith ouerthrowne There was sometime a great Meere or stagne betweene this towne and olde Verolamium and many haue constantly but idlely affirmed that the Thames hath had issue that way and nauigable so farre a thing meerely fabulous though it be true that an ancker was sometime founde there It was indeede Stagnum maximum an ample and large fishpoole of the Kinges and belonged to his castle of Kingsberie before spoken of And the Kinge for his recreation and delight lying there did often passe by boate to and fro within the same according to the order of the noble men and gentlemen of Rome who did vsually make fayre fishpondes aboute their houses to recreate themselues therein and these with exceeding cost as Marcus Varro wryteth especially of the wonderfull large and costly fishpondes of Hortentius Hircius and Lucullus And of these and such other princely Romans did these Verlame Citizens take president for this great ponde which comming afterwardes to the king of the land he often tooke his repasle therein accompanyed commonly with no smalle troupe of his nobles and therefore the boates were prouided of large hull furnished with cable and ancer that at the kings pleasure the boate might be moared in any parte of the poole whereby how easie it is to loose an ancre in the meere reason may iudge and this was the occasion of the losse of the ancre doubtlesse that was found there and not ordinarie recourse of shippes as some vainely suppose And yet as Ouid sayth vetus inuenta est in montibus anchora summis This fish-poole continued in this pryde till the time of Alfric the seuenth Abbott of this Monastery who bought the same of the king and by industry and charge caused it to be drayned drie And the more to argue it to be but a fishpoole there remayneth yet one witnesse a streete in the towne lying towardes it called FISHPOOLESTREETE If any boates in former times came thither they came from Staenes and vp the Colne riuer to Rickmansworth to Watforde and so to S. Albans but in no sence to the place where the ancre was founde for that the fall of the water there was such as it coulde yeelde no accesse for shipping against the same There is indeede a feilde belowe S. Albans called key feyld and belowe Rickmansworth a place vpon the riuer called Westhythe which may in sort argue some such passage for boates but for the first it may bee aswell pascuum vaccinum a pastour for kye or kyne as a strande for fastening of boates or ships more like And Westhithe may be as wel taken for a house as for a harbour of ships And yet these simple probabilities might worke that conceite in Gildas who was the authour of this error In and about this towne haue beene sundry battelles conflictes and spoyles as in the time of Henrie 3. one Falcatius de Brent a notorious robber with a companie of wicked persons came too this towne by night spoyled the same and murthered many and would haue set the Abbey on fire But the Abbot feed him with 100 pound to depart This was a dangerous time when theeues and murtheres must be hyred for rewarde and not constrayned by iustice to desist from violence and bloud In the same yeare it was ransackt againe by the souldiees that went vnder the conduct of Earle Patric Sayre and others to remoue the seidge of Mount Sorrell Moreouer about the yeare 1455. Henrie 6. of the famelie of Lancaster with many of his nobles at this towne mett with Richard Duke of Yorke and his adnerentes where the king was taken and a great slaughter made vpon his men euen of best accoumpt But afterwardes within 4. yeares neere the same at a place called by the inhabitants BERNET FEYLD but I take it rather Brentes feild of the former Falcatius de Brent such as stood affected to the famely of Lancaster vnder the conduct of Margaret the Queene mightily preuayled against the complices of the house of Yorke to the infranchesing of the Captaiue king and ouerthrowe of many of the aduerse parte In the middle of this towne is a crosse verie stately erected about the yeare of Christ 1290. by Edward 1. as in many other places in memoriall of the death and dolefull carriage of his Queene from Herdbie nere Lincolne where shee dyed towardes Westminster where she was buryed At this place was executed that Libellor aud stirrer of the commons named Iohn Ball in the time of Richard the 2. The terme is sometime kept in the Abbey chutch where all places are orderly prouided for the same AMWELL h. 28. which signifieth fontem amnensem a well by the riuers side ANSTIE b. 30. At this place are the ruynes and deepe trenches of a stronge castle scituate aloft on a steepe hiâ—l and was called HANST-HYE castle depraecipitio I take it of the stepenesle of it ASPENDEN d. 24. so called eyther detremules of the Aspe trees or for that it hath beene cauerna viperina a place of venemous wormes ASTON f. 22. ASHWELL b. 20. fons inter fraxinos M. Camdtn taketh it to be that which Antoninus termth in his ltenerari MAGIOVINIVM And he prooueth it by the signification of the worde Magionirdum chaunging only n. for u. which then signifieth a nurserie for Ashes and so much doth the nature of the place fitly import ASHRIDGE i. 10. Iugum fraxinium at this place was an hermitage built by Edward Beanforde Earle of Cornewall wherein so it was esteemed Edward 1. kept a royall Christmas Wherein also our moste worthie and euer famous Queene Elizabeth lodged as in her
owne being then a more stately house at the iime of Wyatts attempt in Queene Maryes dayes And from this place she was in all post sent for to the courte by such seuere Commissionars that though she were then sicke she was forced to take her iourney with them The worthy history whereof to our perpetuall ioy for that the high Iehouah seeing her innocencie preserued her to the regall throane is at large set downe in our Chronicles This place is lately beautified by the Lord Cheyney B. BARHAMSTED k. 8. or rather BERGHAMSTEDT villa sita inter montes BERG in the Saxon tonge is a hil HAM a towne and STEDT or STADT a place or seat and the scituation of this place agreeth to the former interpretation Nere vnto this towne was a stronge castle the ruynous walles and some buildinges thereof yet remaine It was builded as M. Camden affirmeth by the Normans The Conqueror in deede stayd there as histories report as he passed through the country And thither resorted vnto him many Lordes and nobles of the Realme At which time it is like he gaue order for the erecting of the castle if it were not a castle when he made stay there the beauty and strength of the castle is now aduaunced on a loftie hill stataly and pleasant not farre from the olde site not holding the former forme of a castle but is become with addition and charge a beautifull house by Sir Edward Carry knight M. of her maiesties lewell house Lewes of Frauncè beseiged this castle against Henrie 3. the first yeare of his raigne in the time of which seige certayne knightes and souldiers salied out of the castle adn depriued the aduersary of sundry pillage and safely returned But afterward at the kinges commaundement it was yelded vp to Lewes Richard king of Almane dyed in this castle who was also Earle of Cornewall and brother to Henry 3. And Cicelie mother to Edward the fourth And wife too the Duke of Yorke too whome the castle belonged ended her dayes in this place in the time of Henry 7. after she had seene the deserued fall of vsurping Richard who was also borne in this castle some say at Fotheringay There is in the towne of Barkhamsted a fayre free Schoole built of bricke by doctor Incent sometime deane of Paules the stipend of the Master is 20. pound per annum of the vsher 10. pound confirmed by acte of parliament It is a market towne and standeth most vpon making of malt it hath two fayres in the yeare BARKHAMSTED i. 26. or Berghamsted vt supra BARKEWAY b. 28. I haue seene it in an auncient recorde BERGWANT which is as much as viain montem the way to the hill it is a market towne In Nouember last much defaced wtih sire BARLEY a. 28 or BERGLEG ager montosus BARFEYLD b. 24. I haue read it in the Saxon BerÈfeldt and signifieth the same that Bergleg doth BALDOCK d. 20. a market towne standing betweene the hils little furnished with any matter of moment onely it yeeldeth maltmakers not a few the prayse of the place is the chalkie soyle fitte for corne BAYFORD i. 26. BERNET n. 26. or BERGNET monticulus called high Bernet of the scituation on a hill and chipping Bernet of the market famous for cattle there bought and sold euery munday BERNET n. 18 called East Bergnet BERNET feyld k. 16. a place vulgarly so called but corruptly as I take it it should be rather Brentes feyld of that Fulcatius de Brent spoken of before in S. Albans who with a troupe of wicked men about this place robbed and murthered many In this feyld was the matter handled by deadly blowes betweene Queene Margaret leading the fauourers of the house of Lancaster and the complices of the house of Yorke where she redeemed the king that was taken before at the battell of S. Albans And gaue the kinges and her enemies a sound requitall BENINGTON e. 24. or BENIGNTON villa Benigna eyther of the bountie of the inhabitantes or the pleasent and profirable scituation of the place As Blithe in the North partes de iucunditate of myrth and good fellowship But it may bee BENETON of a riuer called BENE or BENEFICIAN which riseth neere it which carryeth greate probabilitie BENGEHOO h. 26. or rather BENEHOO which is rightly enterpreted the riuer of Bene BENEHOO for Benegoe in the Germaine tongue HOO with vs being pronounced for GOW which is in the French EAV with vs water BEDMONT l. 16. a hamlet called Bedmont ponde de Stagno of the poole neere it BELLBARR l. 24. BIGRAVE c. 20. a parishe wherein is onely the Berye of Mannor house and none other BOVRNE-END k. 10. BOVINGDON m. 10. BROAD-WATER f. 20. a little hamlet whereof Broad-water hundred taketh name so called not of the continuall water for the place is commonly drie But at great flouds the fall of the land water maketh it a great Sea BRAGBERG-END f. 22. BRADFEYLD a hamlet sometime a chappell of ease nowe ecayed BRANFEYLD k. 24. It was giuen by one Hardewine de Sealeris and Odell his wife to th'aduancement of Albans Monastery BROWGHING d. 28. or BRAWGHING A libertie hauing other members And thereof Brawghing hundred taketh name BEOX-BORNE i. 30 or BROOKES-BORNE de aqua BVSHIE o. 18. aptly so called de Dumis of the Bushes and woodes there heretofore abounding BVRWELL f. 24. or BVRGHWELL BVNTINGFORD a. 26. a large hamlet and a good thorow-fare also a market towne standing as it is sayd in foure seuerall parishes namely in Layston Widiall Throcking and Aspenden And hath two fayres in the yeare BVCKLAND b. 26. fortè de fagis C. CALK-COTE b. 18. rightly so called de creta vel calce and signifieth cretaceam casam a house standing in a chalkie soyle CAISHOO n. 16. or CAEGSHO M. Camden deriueth the name de Cassijs of a people mentioned by Caesar who had their aboad in this part as is supposed Caishoo should import a water called CAIS or Caegs the name it may bee of the riuer that passeth through this hundred called CAISHOO or Caegeshoo hundred called of Hollenshed GADES and giues name to the Gadesdens where the riuer riseth And so by corruption of pronunciation they call it Caishoo for Gadeshoo Gades riuer or else is GADES mistaken for CAIS or CAEGS and so for Caisden or Caegsden pronounced Gadesden for doubtlesse the riuer giueth name to Caishoo or Caegshoo or Gadeshoo-berye Offa king of Mercia gaue vnto the monasterie of S. Albans a place by the name of Caegshoo whether it were the whole hundred Caegshoo-bery or some place else now decayed I can not affrime But I take it most like to be the whole hundred for that the most of it belongeth to the libertie of S. Albans CHIPPERS FEYLD m. 12. COLNEY l. 20. COLNEY-STREET l. 18 these take name of Colney streame which giueth name also to Colnebrooke a towne standing both
and shippes from the Thames euen to Hartford for the more easie entercarriage of thinges betweene London it though now many yeers past as discontent she hath refused that publique seruice affording onely of late accesse for small boates or barges to WAYRE a benefite necessary and no way no some This Riuer hath many braunches but her head first seemeth to looke into the light not farre from an auncient house called of the spring there LEA-MER corruptly LAMER which signifieth the head spring or well of LEA. As the Stowre which passeth betweene Suffolke and Essex beginneth at STOVR-MER the head or spring of Stoure The Lea coasteth as it were through the Center of the Shire deuiding it neere into two equall partes and in her passage among other she receyueth the WHITWELL riuer whose auncient name is MARRAN Entring the Lea west off Hartford and betweene that and Wayre the BENE or auncient BENEFICIAN a riuer that riseth not farre from BEINENTON or BENINGTON increaseth the Lea not farre from a place alluding also to that name called BENGEHOO or rather BENEHOO the riuer of Bene by interpretation A third braunch which first riseth about Barkeway Austie and Buntingford maketh way by Brawghing and neere Bengehoo entereth the Lea. A fourth braunch riseth about the Pelhames making way by the Hadhames and East off Wayre greeteth the Lea. The RFDBVRNE riuer riseth not farre from Flamsted an auncient Baronie and thence passeth by Redburne and in her way towardes the decayes of old Verlam it greeteth the Lady of Pree S. MARIA DE PRATIS a Nunnerie and a kind neighbor to Albans Abbey This fall of water was called VERLAME as Antiquaries obserue and thereof VEROLANIVM and VERLAMECESTER whereby it may be gathered that the former Flamsted where this Verlame water first appeareth should be rather VERLAMSTED then Flamsted Flamsted being more easie to be pronounced and so drowning verlam with flam as in many wordes f. is taken for the u. consonant and that u. fot f. especially among the common people that pronounce vather sometime for father This Verlam riuer or the Redbourne was the foode that relieued that famous great poole which was betweene Verlamcester and Holmehurst hill where Albans towne standeth Of which poole so many coniectures hauebeene that it should be part of the flowing Thames whereof is spoken hereafter in S. Albans This Verlame or Redburne Riuer not much belowe Albans towne offereth her selfe to the COLNE a riuer that there imbraceth her and drowning both the names of Verlame and Redbourne vsurpeth the whole ritle and glorie to her selfe and immediatly begetteth COLNEY and COLNEY-STREET and passing on she visiteth WATFORD or WATLINGFORD the auncient ruynes of Morhouse Rickmansworth Vxbridge and another of her begotten called COLN-EBROOKE and so without stay shee submitteth herselfe to the Thams the mained euouring gulfe of all these petite streames This riuer ere it commes to Riokemansworth deuoureth Caishoo riuer and another that falles out of Buckinghamshire Beacons or Beaukens within the Shire THe Steeple of S. Peters in S. Albans Graueley Beacon Tharfield Beacon Amwell Beacon Hartford Towne hath long 20. degrees and latitude 52. degrees ⅙′ Within this Shire are 120. parishes and 15. Chappels of ease yet in vse some of them carrying the name of parishes In the whole 135. HARTFORDSHIRE HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENCE Joannes Norden perambulaunt descripsit 1598 Wilhelmus kip Sculpsit An alphabetical Table of the townes Parishes and Hamlets for the most part within the Shire AYOT h. 18. called Ayot Lawrence neere which place Adelnulph and Adelbaide his sonne gaue the Danes an ouerthrow the place to this day where they were slayne is called DANE-END Dacorum clades AYOT h. 20. called Ayet Mountfitchet or little Ayot ALDBERIE d. 30. Villa vel aula antiqua ALDBERYE i. 18. eiusdem significationis AFFLEY e. 14. ALDNHAM m. 18. Idem quod ALD-BERYE S. ALBANS k. 18. Villa Albani ALBANS TOWNE first founded by Offa K. of the Mercees in perpetuall memorie of Alban in the 33 yeere of his raigne The Towne is said to be builded in the place where Alban was martyred namely vpon a hill in a wood called HOLMEHVRST of Beda DOVRSWALDT which is the wood neere the water meaning the great Stagne which was betweene Verlame and the place of Alban execution Alban was a Cittizen of Verolame and by bloud a Romane and gaue entertainement to Amphibal at his comming to that citie by whom he was from Paganisme conuerted to the Christian faith for which he suffered as Capgraue affirmeth whose further friuolous reportes of the miracles wrought by this holy Conuert liuing and dead I leaue as idle or needelesse onely it seemeth probable that such a man there was executed at that place and for his eternall commemoration this Albans Monasterie was founded and consequently the towne both consecrate to his owne name And endowed with many large priuiledges and dayly augmented and successiuely confirmed by the charters of many Kings of this Land whereof I haue seene and read not a sewe signed onely signo crucis without further ceremonie of sealing This Monasterie hath bene enlarged by sundrie Abbots of this place as especially by Eldred and Edmer about Eadgars time and in Edward 3. time who gaue the then Abbot Licentiam ad confirmardam et kernellandam Abathiam de calce et petra in the 31. yeere of his raigne ouer England and of his raigne ouer Fraunce the 18. Such were the priuiledges of this place that the King coulde make no secular officer ouer them but by their owne consent They were acquitted of all Toll through England They made Iustices ad audiendum et terminandum within themselues and no other Iustice could call them for any matter out of their libertie They made also Bayliffes and Corroners No Bishoppe had any Iurisdiction to correct any person among them for any matter spirituall or temporall They had the execution and returne of all writs and the goodes of all Outlawes and that is yet continued to the Towne by the graunt of Edward 6. And no man may bee impanelled out of the Towne They had gayle and gayle deliuerie within the towne and the towne at this day hath the like namely one gayle for the libertie and another for the towne For the gayle deliuerie the Steward of the towne is alwayes in commission but not by their Charter The towne is gouerned by a Maior and 10. Burgesses a stewarde and a Chamberlaine There are in the towne 4. Wards and in euery Ward a Constable and 2. Churchwardens In the Abbey church of this place is a Font of brasse brought out of Scotland by Sir Richard Lée as may appeare by a circumscription about the same font as if the font did proclaime the same in it owne person in these wordes Cum letha oppidum apud Scotos non