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
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
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
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
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
within the Wals whereof the Church of Alhallows is principal standing in the heart of the Town and is large and well builded Lelands Itinerary Mercat Wellingborow Kettering a Mercat Town well frequented Higham-Ferrers The excellent ornament of this place was Henry Chichley * Archbishop of Canterbury who built All-Souls Colledge in Oxford and another here where he placed secular Clerks and Prebendaries and withall an Hospital for the poor Oundale there is a fair Church and a Free-School for the instruction of children and an Almes-house for poor people Fothering-hay Castle environed on every side with most pleasing medows Here Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded Upton so called because it is highly situate Peterborow because the Monastery was dedicated to Saint Peter See Monasticon Anglicanum p. 63. Baibroke Castle Rockingham Castle Welledon Maxey Castle There belong unto this Shire three hundred twenty six Parishes Nottinghamshire IT is limited Northward with Yorkshire Westward with Darbyshire and in some parts with Yorkshire and on the South-side with Leicestershire The South and East parts thereof are made more fruitfull by the noble and famous River Trent with other Riverets resorting unto it The Forest of Shirewood in the West part stretcheth out a great way It yeeldeth store of wood to maintain fire It hath a greaâ— number of Fallow-Deer yea and Stags with their stately branching heads feeding within it Mansfield there is a great Mercat passing well served and as well frequented The first Earl of Mansfield in Germany was one of King Arthurs Knights of the Round-Table born and bred at this Mansfield Nottingham the principal Town which hath given name unto the Shire is seated on the side of an Hill The Town for the natural site thereof is right pleasant as where on the one hand lie fair and large Medows by the Rivers-side on the other rise Hils with a gentle and easie ascent and is plentifully provided of all things beside necessary for mans life It is both a large Town and well builded for Timber and Plaister and standeth stately on a climbing Hill It hath a fair Market place and street The Castle standeth on a rocky Hill on the West-side of the Town and Line Riveret goeth by the roots of it Lelands Itinerary For largenesse for building for three fair Churches a passing spacious and beautifull Mercat place and most strong Castle it maketh a goodly shew Newark as one would say the new work of the new Castle Here King John finished the most wearisom course of his troublesom life Little-borough a little Town indeed and truly answering to the name Workensop a Town well known for the Liquorice that there groweth and prospereth passing well Blithe a famous Mercat Town Wollerton a fair House built by Sir Francis Willoughby There are in this County an hundred sixty eight Parishes Northumberland THe Ground it self for the most part is rough and hard to be manured seemeth to have hardened the Inhabitants whom the Scots their neighbours also made more fierce and hardy while sometimes they keep them exercised in warres and other whiles in time of peace intermingle their manners among them so that by these means they are a most warlike Nation and excellent good Light-horse men And whereas they addicted themselves wholly to Arms there is not a man amongst the better sort that hath not his little Tower or Pile and so it was divided into a number of Baronies the Lords whereof in times past before King Edward the First his dayes went commonly under the name of Barons although some of them were of no great living But a wise and politick devise this was of our Ancestours to cherish and maintain Martial Prowesse among them in the marches of the Kingdome if it were nothing else but with an honourable bare Title Toward the Sea and Tine by diligence and good Husbandry it becometh very fruitfull but else where it is more barren rough and as it were unmanurable And in many places Sea-coles are digged up in great plenty to the great gain of the Inhabitants and commodity of others Thrilwale Castle not great but strongly built Otterburn where there was a field most valiantly fought between the Scots and English in which the Victory waved alternatively too and fro three or four times and fell in the end to the Scottish * Hexham New-Castle * upon Tine the very eye of all the Towns in these parts ennobled by a notable Haven which Tine maketh being of that depth that it beareth very tall Ships and so defendeth them that they can neither easily be tossed with tempests nor driven upon shallows and shelves It is situate on the rising of an Hill It is adorned with four Churches and fortified with most strong walls which have seven Gates in them with many Towers It is wealthy partly by entercourse of traffick with the Germans and partly by carrying out Sea-coles wherewith this Countrey aboundeth both into foraign Countreys and also into other parts of England Portus Castrum Carbo Salmo Salina Molaris Murus Pons Templum Schola sunt novi gloria Castri Hurst A Sylva nomen accepit nec aliunde sejactat quam a minaci Castello Lel. Comment in Cygn. Cant. Tinmouth-Castle a stately and strong Castle Morpeth a famous little Town Morpith-Castle so called from the death of the Picts in that place Withrington an ancient Castle which gave the name unto the Withringtons Gentlemen of good Birth and Knights whose valour in the war hath been from time to time remarkable Warkworth a proper fair Castle There is a Chappel wonderfully built out of a Rock hewen hollow and wrought without beams rafters or any pieces of Timber Alnwick or Anwick a Town ennobled by the victory of the Englishmen over the Scots and fortified with a goodly Castle The Earls of Northumberland kept their Court at that Castle Emildon Here was born John Duns called Scotus because he was descended of Scotish bloud who being brought up in Merton-Colledge at Oxford became wonderfull well learned in Logick and in that crabbed and intricate Divinity of those dayes yet as one still doubtfull and unresolved he did overcast the truth of Religion with mists of obscurity And with so profound and admirable subtilty in a dark and rude stile he wrote many Works that he deserved the title of the Subtile Doctor and after his own name erected a new Sect of the Scotists But he died pitifully being taken with an Apoplexy and over-hastily buried for dead whiles upon return of life nature though too late was about to discusse the violence of the disease and he making means in vain by a lamentable noise for help after he had a long time knocked his head against the Grave-stone dashed out his own brains and at last yeelded up his vital breath Norrham or Northam There is a Castle upon the top of an high steep Rock and fortified with a trench Berwick the utmost Town in England
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
and worshipfull Family Flixton or Felixton so named of Faelix the first Bishop of these parts Mettingham where there is a Castle Luthingland of Luthing the Lake Comerley Town Burgh-Castle now ruined Sommerly-Hall my Lady Wentworths House famous for fair Walks and Ponds There is one long Walk encompassed with Fir-trees on each side The Parishes in this County amount to the number of five hundred seventy five Surrey FRom the West it boundeth partly upon Barkshire and Hantshire from the South upon Sussex and from the East on Kent toward the North it is watered with the River Tames and by it divided from Middlesex It is a Countrey not very large yet wealthy enough where it beareth upon Thames and lieth as a plain and champion Countrey It is likened by some unto a course freeze garment with a green gard or to a cloath of great spinning and thin woven with a green list about it because the inner part is but barren the outward edge or skirt more fertile Chertsey a kind of Island Fernham so named of much Fern growing in that place Guildford a Mercat Town well frequented and full of fair Innes Ockam where that great Philosopher and Father of the nominals William de Ockham was born and whereof he took that name as of the next Village Ripley George Ripley a ring-leader of our Alchymists Oatlands a fair house of the Kings neer unto which Caesar passed over Tames into the Borders of Cassivelaunus For this was the only place where a man might in times past go over the Tames on foot and that hardly too which the Britains themselves improvidently bewrayed unto Caesar Ockley so named of Oaks Rhiegate the Rivers course Holm-Castle Beckworth-Castle Effingham Kingstone a very good Mercat Town for the bignesse and well frequented It had beginning from a little Town more ancient then it of the same name In which when England was almost ruinated by the Danish Warres Aethelstan Edwin and Ethelred were crowned Kings upon an open stage in the Market place whence it was called Kingston Leland Comment. in Cygn. Cant. Camd. Brit. Shene so called of its shining brightnesse now Richmond wherein the most mighty Prince King Edward the Third when he had lived sufficiently both to glory and nature died King Henry the Seventh built it and gave it that name of Richmond of the Title he bare being Earl of Richmond before he obtained the Crown of England He had scarce finished this new work when in this place he yeelded unto Nature and ended his Life Here Queen Elizabeth also died None-such a retiring place of the Princes and surpasseth all other houses round about which King Henry the Eighth in a very healthfull place called Cuddington before selected for his own delight and ease and built with so great sumptuousnesse and rare workmanship that it aspireth to the very top of ostentation for shew so as a man may think that all the skill of Architecture is in this one piece of work bestowed and heaped up together So many Statues and lively Images there were in every place so many wonders of absolute Workmanship and Workes seeming to contend with Roman Antiquities that most worthily it might have this name that it hath of None-such Hane quia non habeant similem laudare Britanni Saepè solent nullique parem cognomine dicunt The Britains oft are wont to praise this place For that through all The Realm they cannot shew the like and None-such they it call The House was environed about with Parks full of Deer it had such dainty and delicate Orchards such Groves adorned with curious Arbours so pretty quarters Beds and Alleys such Walks so shadowed with Trees that it was exceeding pleasant Wandle a clear Riveret full of the best Trouts Woodcot a pretty Town Croidon there was the Archbishops house of Canterbury There are Charcoals Bedington a fair house beautified with a delightfull shew of pleasant Gardens and Orchards Addington Aguilon situate in a most fertile soil Merton It is famous for the Statute of Merton enacted here in the 21. of King Henry the Third and also for Walter de Merton Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford borne and bred here Wimbledon there is a goodly House beautifull for building and delectable for fair profpect and right pleasant Gardens built in the year 1588. when the Spanish Armado made sail upon the coast of England Wandlesworth Putney Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was born there Batersey Lambeth Canutus the Hardy King of England there amidst his cups yeelded up his vital breath It was the Palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury Southwark the Burrough of Southwork the most famous Mercat Town and place of Trade in all this Shire It is large and populous In the Reign of King Edward the Sixth it was annexed to the City of London and is at this day taken for a member as it were of it Sterborow-Castle This County hath in it an hundred and forty Parish Churches Sussex THe Region of the South Saxons a word compounded of the site thereof Southward and of the Saxons who in their Heptarchy placed here the second Kingdom It is above threescore miles long and somewhat above twenty miles broad It lieth upon the British Ocean all Southward with a strait shore as it were farre more in length than breadth How be it it hath few harbours by reason that the Sea is dangerous for shelves and therefore rough and troublous the shore also it self full of Rocks The Sea-coast of this Countrey hath green Hils on it mounting to a greater height called the Downs which because they stand upon a fat chalk or kind of Marle yeeldeth corn abundantly The middle tract garnished with Medows Pastures Corn-fields and Groves maketh a very lovely shew The hithermore and northern side thereof is shaded most pleasantly with Woods like as in times past the whole Countrey throughout which by reason of the Woods was hardly passable The Wood Andradswald taking the name of Anderida the City next adjoyning took up in this quarter a hundred and twenty miles in length and thirty in bredth It is full of Mines in sundry places where for the making and fining whereof there be Furnaces on every side and a huge deal of Wood is yeerly spent to which purpose divers Brooks in many places are brought to runne in one chanel and sundry Medows turned into Pools and Waters that they might be of power sufficient to drive Hammer-mils which beating upon the iron resound all over the places adjoyning Boseham a place environed round about with Woods and the Sea together Chichester lieth in a champion plain A City large enough and walled about built by Cissa a Saxon the second King of this Province and of him so named It hath four Gates opening to the four Quarters of the World from whence the streets lead directly and crosse themselves in the midst where the Market is kept a
command the fire-crosse to be carried an ancient custome in cases of importance which was two fire-brands set in fashion of a Crosse and pitched upon the point of a spear Sir Richard Bakers Chron. in the Reigne of King Edward the 6th The Saxon Heptarchy This Island most flourished then and in the Conquerours time it was farre better inhabited then at the present * So named because there were ten persons in each of them whereof each was surety for others good abearing Lamberts Perambulat of Kent Totius Angliae de Aluredo Rege sic scribit Ingulphus Abbas Croulandensis pagos Provincias in comitatus primus omnium commutavit Comitatus in Centurias in decimas divisit ut omnis indigena legalis in aliqua centuria decima existeret Seldeni Janus Anglorum Abbay Town The vale of the white Horse is a very fruitfull vale and full of Gentry it is both in Barkshire and Wiltshire A very ancient Town and the best Town of all Barkshire Lelands Itinerary MS. to H. 8. Others say Abington New Windsore Oppidum antiquum nobile magnificum situ denique tam amaenum ut cum alio quocunque jure optimo de palma contendat quam mihi vel in ipso castri vertice quo sol splendidius sanè nihil aspicit decentissimè gestare videtur Lel. Comment in Cyg Cant. See Histoire d' Angle-terre Par Du Chesne l. 15. p. 670 671 672 Camd. Britanin Barkshire An Order verily of all the Orders of the Christian world if it be to be compared with any other most ancient and most famous Milles of Nobil. Polit. and Civil p. 88. The Order of the Garter exceeds in majesty honour and fame all chivalrous Orders in the world Selden Illustrat of Drayt. Polyolb 16th Song See more there and Lel. Com. in cygn. Cant. and Seld. Tit. of Hon. 4to pag. 363. Vir pugnacissimus Joannes Chandos Periscelidis eques primarius Gallisque propter summam virtutem sub Ed. 3. bellator notissimus Spelman Aspilogia Splendor loci omnis in scholae publica quam erexit Vindelisorae in alumnos Rexâ—longe pientior quam fortunatior Lelandi Comment in Cygneam Cantionem Bedfordia the River Ouse runs thorow the Town in the middest A tale of vain credit is reported of Dunstable that it was built to bridle the outragiousnesse of a thief named Dun by King Henry the First but certain it is the place was formerly held by the Romans Speed Yet Sir John Hayward in the Life of King Henry the First pag 282. saith Dun was a famous thief amongst others commander over the rest and of him the place was called Dunstable There is a Countrey in Germany bearing Beech-trees named Buchonia and with us a Town in Norfolk called Buckenham fruitfull of Beech Pontes in France and our Tunbrige and others are so called of Bridges Cambridge and Huntingtonshire have but one Sheriff * Sedes est Cathedra Episcopalis Ipsum solum fertilitate omnes alias Angliae regiones adaequat plerasque superat pascua succulento virent gramine agri denso laetantur segete prata aquis irrigua luxuriant Sed alia est ubertas nobilior in qua mihitriumphare videtur triginta concionatores simul floruerunt qui ex oppido solo natales suos derivarent quod de nulla alia civitate Londino excepto affirmari posse credo Willeti Epistola Dedicat. ad lib. 2. Samuelis Vide plura ibid. It begins on the 8th of September and lasts about a fortnight It is called Sturbridge-Fair Cheshire chief of men Lancashire fair women King of Cheshire Yet Banchor is in Flintshire * It is chiefly one street of very mean building Lel. Itin. Cestria Episcopalis magnifica celeberrima Angliae urbs amplitudine superbo aedificiorum nitore cultissimorum hortorum elegantia commendata duo passuum millia in circuitu colligit Ecclesias Parochiales novem Cathedralem elegantem exhibet praeter loca alia sacra ut hospitalia nosocomia religioni nuncupata Georgius Bruin theat. Vrbium praecipuarum totius mundi Salinae Anglicè The Wiches videlicet Nantovicum Nortovicum Dirtovicum in quibus locis sal purissimus conficitur Leland Cheshire excelleth for white salt not only all other Shires in England but also all other Countreys beyond the Seas King of Cheshire A rebus of a Brier and a Tun Adlington the chief seat of that race of Leighs of Adlington which is one of the great names of Gentry in this County whereof these have had a very ancient continuance here from many Knights and Esquires down to the present owner Sir Vrian Leigh Knight King of Cheshire In Richard the Seconds reign this was Ancestor of Sr Peter Leigh of Lime in Cheshire that now is Cornwallia The farthest Shire of England westwards so called from Cornu Galliae being cast out into the Sea with the shape of a Horn Carews Surveigh of Cornwall Vide Polyd. Verg. Camden in the close of Cornwall commends that Carew and acknowledgeth he received much light from his Description of this Countrey The Cornish are a race of men stout of stomack mighty of body and limb which live hardly in a barren countrey Sr Francis Bacon in his Hist. of H. 7th The places every where bear British names Black-lead is also found there Two other Hils in that Tract In Latine Carleolum It flourished in the time of the Romans as divers tokens of Antiquity now and then digged up there and the famous mention of it in those dayes do sufficiently prove The foundation of it was laid by young men and maids and part of it built by them as appears in letters there on the Steeple In Anglia est Castrum quod dicitur Pech in quodam monte situm in cujus montis latere est foramen apertum de quâ— sicut de quad am fistula ventus non modicus saepe spirat cujus Dominus dictus Gulielmus Penerelli cum in animalibus dives esset subulcus ejus unam gravidam suem in pascuis amisisset pro ipsa quaerenda dictum foramen intravit quod tamen nec dum aliquis perscrutatus fuerat Cum ergo per opaca foraminis percurrisset tandem in locum lucidum devenit scilicet in Camporum planitiem spatiosam ad quam ingressus Messores colligentes maturas segetes reperit inter quos suem perditam quae suculas ediderat adinvenit Habito ergo verbo cum praeposito terrae illius scropham recepit dimissus ab illis ipsam nove grege per idem soramen ad domum Domini sui reduxit Mira res ait Gervasius qui apparet Anglicus fuisse vel multum in Anglia commoratus de messibus subtèrraneis venerat in nostro hemispherio hyemalia frigora videt Pet. Berchor Deduct Moral De Anglia In Latine Devonia Devonia nobilium ingeniorum ferax Camd. The commodities of this shire Cloath Kerfies Lead Silver Loadstone At the mouth of
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
brought to do homage and like Watermen working at the Oar rowed him along the River Dee in a triumphant shew to his great glory and joy of the beholders King Henry the Seventh made it a County by it self incorporate Bunbury contractly so called or Boniface-Bury Boniface was the Patron Saint there Beeston-Castle hath a wall of a great circuit Here are very famous Salt-pits or Salt-wiches five or six miles distant asunder where brine or salt water is drawn out of pits which they boile over the fire to make salt thereof These were known unto the Romanes and from hence was usually paid the Custome for salt called Salarium Nantwich Middle-wich Nortwich Nantwich which the River Wever first visiteth is reputed the greatest and fairest built Town of all this Shire after Chester It is called the White-wich or Salt-pit because the whitest salt is there boiled North-wich is called the Black-salt pit Congleton a Mercat Town famous for Gloves Purses and Points of Leather Kinderton the old seat of the ancient race of the Venables who ever since the first coming in of the Normans have been of name and reputation here and commonly are called Barons of Kinderton Brereton hath given Name to the worshipfull ancient and numerous Family of the Breretons Knights Before any Heir of this House of the Breretons dieth there are seen in a Pool adjoyning bodies of trees swimming for certaine dayes together so Camden but some deny this Middle-wich there are two Wels of salt water parted one from the other by a small brook Maclesfield one of the fairest Towns of this County Lee from whence there is a Family bearing the same surname that is not only of gentle bloud and of especial note but also farre and fairly propagated into a number of branches Camd Britan. High Leigh in Cheshire I think gave Names to all the renowned Races of that Name in this County Two distinct Descents of the same Name have their seats in the same place and there have continued in a long succession of their Ancestors Knights and Esquires of much worth one is Thomas Leigh the other is Peter Leigh Esquires King of Cheshire Lime in Cheshire a great Family of the Name of the Leighs of whom there have been many famous Knights Sir Peter now the Possessor thereof King of Cheshire Nor thou magnanimous Leigh must not be left In darkness for thy rare fidelity To save thy faith content to lose thy head That reverent head of good men honored Daniels Second Book of Civil Warres Cholmundeston or Cholmeston anciently the Lands of the Leighs of Rushall in Staffordshire King of Cheshire pag. 74. It containeth thirteen Market Towns and sixty eight Parishes Cornwall IT extends in length to about seventy miles the breadth in the largest place passeth not thirty Carews Surveigh of Cornwall Speed computes the length sixty miles and the breadth forty It is called by later Writers Cornubia in Latine of all Britain it doth bear most Westward because it waxeth smaller and smaller in manner of an Horn and runneth forth into the Sea with little promontories as if they were Horns on every side Others would have it so called of one Corin and do call it Corinea Camd. Brit. There is digged here wonderfull store of Tin yeelding exceeding much profit and commodity whereof are made houshold Pewter vessels which are used thorowout many parts of Europe in service of the Table and for their glittering brightnesse compared with silver-plate Terra admodum sterilis fructum magis ex cultorum industria quam ex sua bonitate praebet sed fert uberius plumbum nigrum album hoc est stannum in quo effodiendo maximè consistit vita incolarum Polyd. Verg. Angl. Hist. l. 1. The Kings of England and Dukes of Cornwall in their times have reserved to themselves a praeemption of Tinne by the opinion of the learned in the Law as well in regard of the Propriety as being chief Lords and Proprietaries as of their Royal Prerogative Not only Tin is here found but therewith also Gold and Silver yea and Dyamonds shaped and pointed angle-wise smoothed also by Nature it self whereof some are as big as Wall-nuts and inferiour to the orient Dyamonds in blacknesse and hardnesse only So plentifull is this Countrey of grain although not without great toil of the Husbandman that it hath not only sufficient to maintain it self but also affordeth often times great store of Corn into Spain Besides a most rich Revenue and Commodity they have by those little Fishes that they call Pilchards which swarming as one would say in mighty great skuls about the shores from July unto November are there taken garbaged falted hanged in the smoke laid up pressed and by infinite numbers carried over into France Spain and Italy unto which Countreys they be very good chaffer and right welcome merchandize and are there named Fumados Michael a Cornish Poet and of Rhymers in his time the chies hath these Verses of Cornwall Non opus est ut opes numerem quibus est opulenta Et per quas inopes sustentat non opulenta Piscibus stanno nusquam tam fertilis ora The people thre are civil valiant hardy well pitcht in stature brawny and strong limbed such as for wrestling to speak nothing of that manly exercise and feat of hurling the Ball which they use so farre excell that for slight and clean strength together they justly winne the prize and praise from other Nations in that behalf Godolphin-Hill right famous for plentifull veins of Tin but much more renowned in regard of the Lords thereof bearing the same name who with their vertues have equalled the ancientnesse of that House and Linage That name in the Cornish Language came of a white Eagle and this Family hath anciently born for their Arms in a Shield Gules an Aegle displayed Argent between three Flower-deluces of the same Shield Falemouth-Haven is as noble as Brundusium it self in Italy of exceeding great capacity for it is able to receive an hundred Ships which may ride therein so apart by themselves that out of never an one of them the top of anothers Mast can be seen and most safe withall under the wind by reason that it is enclosed on every side with brims of high rising banks The Gullet on either hand as well for the defence and safety of the place as for terrour to enemies is fortified with Block-houses to wit the Castle of Maudit Eastward and toward the West the Fort Pendinaes both built by King Henry the Eighth Foy a Town most renowned in former ages for Sea fights which the very Arms of the Town do witnesse as being compounded of the Cinque-ports Arms Padstow a pretty Market Town so called short for Petrockstow of one Petroch a Britan canonized a Saint by the people who spent his dayes here in the service of God Edward the Third erected Cornwall into a Dukedome and invested Edward his Sonne
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