Son of Syrric who raigned then in Man and honourably received him 2 The same year William the Bastard conquered England and Godred the Son of Syrric died his Son Fingal succeeding him 3 An. 1066. Godred Crovan assembled a great Fleet and came to Maâ— and fought with the people of the Land but received the worst and was overcome The second time renewing his Forces and his Fleet he sailed into Man and joyned Battel with the Manksmen but was vanquished as before and driven out of the Field Howbeit what he could not at first bring to pass with power in those two several onsets he afterward effected by policy For the third time gathering a great multitude together he arrived by night in the haven called Ramsey and hid three hundred men in a Wood which stood upon the hanging hollow brow of an Hill called Sceafull The Sun being risen the Manksmen put their People in order of Battel and with a violent charge encountred with Godred The fight was hot for a time and stood in a doubtful suspence till those three hundred Men starting out of the Ambush behind their backs began to foil the Manksmen put them to the worst and forced them to flie Who seeing themselves thus discomfited and finding no place of refuge leâ—t them to escape with pitiful lamentation submitted themselves unto Godred and besought him not to put the Sword such poor remainder of them as was left alive Godred having compassion on their calamities for he had been pursed for a time and brought up among them sounded a Retreat and prohibited his Host any longer pursuit He being thus possessed of the Isle of Man died in the Island that is called Isle when he had raigned sixteen years he left behind him three sons Lagman Harald and Olave 4 Lagman the eldest taking upon him the Kingdom raigned seven year His brother Harald rebelled against him a great while but at length was taken Prisoner by Lagman who caused his members of generation to be cut off and his eyes to be put out of his head which curelty this Lagman afterwards repenting gave over the Kingdom of his own accord and wearing the Badge of the Lords Cross took a journey to Ierusalem in which he died 5 An. 1075. All the Lords and Nobles of the Islands hearing of the death of Lagman dispatched Ambassadors to Murccard Oâ—brien King of Irelaâ—d and requested that he would send some worthy and industrious man of the Blood-Royal to be their King till Olave the son of Godred came to full age The King yielding to their request sent one Dopnald the son of Tade and charged him to govern the Kingdom which by right belonged to another with lenity and gentleness But after he was come to the Crown forgetting or not weighing the charge that his Lord and Master had given him swayed his place with great Tyranny committing many outrages and cruelties and so raigned three years till all the Princes of the Islands agreeing together rose up against him and made him flie into Ireland 6 An. Dom. 1111. Olave the son of Godred Craven aforesaid began his Raign and raigned forty years a peaceable Prince He took to wife Affrica the daughter of Fergus of Galway of whom he begat Godred By his Concubines he had Raignald Lagman and Harald besides many daughters whereof one was married to Summerled Prince of Herergaidel who caused the ruine of the Kings of the Islands On her he begat four sons Dulgal Raignald Engus and Olave 7 An. Dom. 1144. Godred the son of Olave was created King of Man and raigned thirty years In the third year of his Raign the People of Dublin sent for him and made him their King Which Murecard King of Ireland maligning raised War and sent Osibeley his half brother by the Mothers side with 3000 Men at Arms to Dublin who by Godred and the Dublinians was slain and the rest all put to flight These Atchievements made Godred returned to Man and began to use Tyranny turning the Noblemen out of their Inheritances Whereupon one called Thâ—rsin Otters son being mightier than the rest came to Summerled and made Dulgal Summerleds son King of the Islands whereof Godred having intelligence prepared a Navy of 80 Ships to meet Summerled And in the year 1156 there was a Battle fought at Sea on Twelfth day at night and many slain on both sides But the next day they grew to a pacification and divided the Kingdom of the Islands among themselves This was the cause of the overthrow of the Kingdom of the Isles 8 An. 1158. Summerled came to Man with a Fleet of fifty three Sail put Godred to flight and wasted the Island Godred upon this crossed over to Norway for aid against Summerled But Summerled in the mean time arriving at Rhinfrin and having gathered together a Fleet of 160 Ships coveting to subdue all Scotland by the just Iudgment of God was vanquished by a few and both himself and his son slain with an infinite number of people 9 The fourth day after Raignald began to raign but Godred coming upon him out of Norway with a great number of Armed Men took his Brother Raignald and bereft him both of his Eyes and Genital Members On the fourth Ides of November An. Dom. 1187. Godred King of the Islands died and his body was translated to the Isle of Ely He left behind him three sons Raignald Olave and Tvar He ordained in his life time that Olave should succeed him because he only was born legitimate But the people of Man seeing him to be scarce ten years old sent for Raignald and made him their King This caused great division and many turbulent attempts between the two Brethren for the space of thirty eight years which had no end till at a place called Tingualla there was a Battel struck between them wherein Olave had the Victory and Raignald was slain The Monks of Russin translated his Body unto the Abbey of S. Mary de Fournes and there interred it in a place which himself had chosen for that purpose 10 An. 1230. Olave and Godred Don who was Raignalds son with the Norwegiaus came to Man and divided the Kingdom among themselves Olave held Man and Godred being gone unto the Islands was slain in the Isle Lodaus So Olave obtained the Kingdom of the Isles He died the twelfth Calends of Iune Anno 1237. in Saint Patricks-Islands and was buried in the Abbey of Russin 11 Harold his Son succeeded him being fourteen years of Age and raigned 12 years In the year 1239 he went unto the King of Norway who after two years confirmed unto him his Heirs and Successors under his Seal all the Islands which his Predecessors had possessed 12 An. 1242. Harald returned out of Norway and being by the Inhabitants honourably received had peace with the Kings of England and of Scotland The same year he was sent for by the King of Norway and married his Daughter In the year 1249 as he returned
Archiepiscopal Seats grounding his conjecture on the saying of Pope Lucius who affirmeth that the Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Roman Magistrates and that their Archbâ—shops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents abode so that the ancient Seats of the three Archbâ—shops here being London in the East Câ—erleon in the West and York in the North Londons Diocess as seemeth made Britain prima Caerleon Britain secunda and York Maxima Caesariâ—nsis 15 But in the next age when the power of their Presidents began to grow over great they again divided Britain into five parts adding to the three former Valentia and â—lavia Caesariensis the first of which two seemeth to have been the Northerly part of Maxima Caesariensis recovered from the Picts and Scots by Theodoâ—lus the General under Valence the Emperour and in honour of him named Valeâ—tia and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour son of Theâ—dâ—sius for that we read not of the name Britain â—lavia before his time 16 So these five partitions had their limits assigned after this manner Britaine prima contained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis the Severne and the British Sea Britaine Secunda extended from Severne unto the Irish Seas containing the Countrey that we now call Wales Flavia Caesariensis was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne and Valentia from the said River and Picts wall reached unto the Rampire near Edenburgh in Scotland the farthest part that the Romans possessed when this division was in use For the several people inhabiting all those parts with their ancient Names and Borders whether designed by the Romans or the old Britains together with our modern Names and Shires answerable to each of them we will refer you to the Tables thereof elsewhere 17 This whole Province of Britain as in our History shall appear was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselves assuming as a glorious surname Britannicus coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce known Seas here marrying living and dying enacting here Laws for the whole Empire and giving to those Captains that served here many ensigns of great honour yea Claudius gave Plantius the first Prefect of that Province the right hand as he accompanied him in his Triumph and his own Triumph of Britain was set out with such magnificence that the Provinces brought in golden Crowes of great weight the Governours commanded to attend and the very Captains permitted to be present at the same A Naval Coronet was fixed upon a Pinnacle of his Palace Arches and Trophies were raised in Rome and himself on his aged knees mounted the staires into the Capitol supported by his two sons in Law so great a joy conceived he in himself for the Conquest of some small portion of Britain 18 Now the Romans found it held it and left it as times ripened and rottened their success with the Names the Inhabitants Manners and Resisters I leave to be pursued in the following Histories and will only now shew thee these three Kingdoms that are in present the chief Bodies of Great Britains Monarchy two of which Scotland and Ireland shall in their due places have their farther and more particular Descriptions THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND ENGLANDS General Description CHAPTER II. THE Saxons glory now near to expire by his appointment who holdeth both times and Kingdoms in his all-ordering hand their own Swords being the Instruments and the Danâ—s the mauls that beat their beautiful Diadem into pieces the Normans a stirring Nation neither expected nor much feared under the leading of William their Duke and encouragement of the Roman Bishop an usual promoter of broken titles made hither suddenly into England who in one only battel with the title of his sword and slaughter of Harold set the imperial Crown thereof upon his own head which no sooner was done but the English went down and the Normans lording it became Owners of those Cities which themselves never built possessed those Vineyards which they never planted drunk of those Wells which they never had digged and inhabited those Houses filled with riches for which they never had laboured for they found it to be as the land whereupon the Lord set his eye even from the beginning to the end of the year not only drinking water of the rain of Heaven but having also rivers of waters and fountains in her valleys and without all scarcitie whose stones are Iron and out of whose mountains is digged brass This made them more resolute at first to settle themselves in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Island the conquerour using all policy both Martial and Civil to plant his posterity here for ever How he found the Land governed we shewed in the Heptarchy but his restless thoughts were not contented with conquering the Nation and their Land unless he also overcame their very Customes Laws and Language 2 Touching the distribution of the Kingdome whereas other Kings before him made use of it chiefly for the good of the people and better ministring of Iustice he made use of it to know the wealth of his Subjects and to enrich his Coffers for he caused a description to be made of all England â—ow much land every one of his Barons possessed how many Knights fees how many Plow-lands how many in villanage how many heads of beasts yea how much ready money every man from the greatest to the â—ast did possess and what rents might be made of every mans possession the Book of which inquisition yet in the Exchequer was called Doomesday for the generality of that Iudgment on all the Land Whereunto we may add his other distribution of this Land worse than any former when thrusting the English out of their possessions â—e distributed their inheritances to his Souldiers yet so that all should be held of the King as of the only true Lord and possessor 3 For the Laws by which he meant to govern he held one excellent rule and purpose which was that a people ought â—to be ruled by Laws written and certain for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new Iudgments and therefore he caused twelve to be chosen out of every County which should on their oath without inclining one way or other neither adding nor deâ—racting open unto him all their ancient Laws and Customes By whose relation understanding that three sorts of Laws formerly were in the Land Merchelenage West-Saxonlage Dane-lage he had preferred these last himâ—elf and people being anciently derived from those Northern people had not all the Barons bewayling to the King how grievous it was for a Land to be judged by those Laws which they understood not altered his resolute purpose yet in bringing in the strange â—orms of Norman Processe and pleading in the French tongue which continued till Edward the thirds time that grievance was buâ— slendâ—rly prevented So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice where these Laws shouâ—d
upon that narrow space of ground betwixt Edenborough Frith and Dunbetton Bay maketh the Southern part a province unto the Roman Empire Afterwards Hadrian the Emperour seeing perhaps the Province too spacious to be well governed without great expence drew back these limits almost sourscore miles shorter even to the mouth of the River Tyne which he fortified with a wall of admirable work unto Carlâ—le where stood the Lands border while it was a Roman Province yet the conquering Saxons did spread again over those bounds and as seemeth enlarged their government to that first Tract as by this inscription in a Stone Cross standing upon a Bridge over the water of Frith appeareth I am a free Mark as Passengers may ken To Scots to Britains and to English men 10 But afterward William the Conquerour and Malcolm King of Scotland falling to an agreement for their limits arreared a Cross upon Stanemore where on the one side the portraiture and Armes of the King of England was sculptured and of the King of Scots on the other a piece whereof is yet remaining there near to the Spittle thence called the Rey-Cross there erected to be a Meare-stone to either Kingdome His successors also abolished the two partitions in the West whereby the Welsh became one Nation and Kingdome with the English It is also said that King Stephen to purchase friendship with the Scottish Nation gave unto their King the County of Cumberland who with it held both Westmorland and Northumberland but as Newbrigensis writeth he restored them to King Henry the second wisely considering his great power and right to those parts 11 The last known borders were from the Sulway in the West bay along the Cheviot hills unto the water of Tweed by Barwick in the East to maintain which on each part many Laws have been made and many inrodes robberies and fewdes practised all which by the hand of God is cut off and by the rightfull succession of King Iames our Soveraigne who hath broken down the partition of this great Island and made the extreames of two Kingdomes the very midst of his great united Empire KENT KENT CHAPTER III. KENT the first province appearing in the South of this Kingdom is bounded upon the North with the famous River Thamisis on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Sussex and the narrow Seas and upon the West with Sussex and Surrey The length thereof extending from Langley in the West unto Ramsgate Eastward in the Isle of Thanet is about 53 English miles From Rother in the South unto the Isle of Graine Northward the breadth is not much above 26 and the whole circumference about 160 miles 2 In form it somewhat resembleth the head of a Hammer or Battle-axe and lieth corner-wise into the Sea by Strabo Caesar Diodorus and Pâ—olomy called Cantium of Cant or Canton an Angle or Corner or of Caine a British word which signifieth Bushes or VVoods whereof that County in those former times was plentifully stored 3 The Air though not very clear because of the vapours arising from the Sea and Rivers that environ the same is both wholesome and temperate as seated nearest to the Equinoctial and the furthest from the North Pole not touched with cold as the other parts of the Land are 4 The soil towards the East is uneven rising into little hills the West more level and Woody in all places fruitful and in plenty equals any other of the Realm yea and in some things hath the best esteem as in broad cloths Fruits and feeding for Cattel Onely Mines except Iron are wanting all things else delivered with a prodigal heart and liberal hand 5 Sundry navigable Rivers are in Kent whereof Medway that divideth the shire in the midst is chief in whose bosome securely rideth his Majesties Navy Royal the walls of the Land and terrours of the Sea besides ten other of name and account that open with twenty Creeks and Havens for Ships arrivage into this Land four of them bearing the name of Cinque Ports are places oâ— great strength and priviledges which are Dover Sandwich Rumney and Winchelsey among which Dover with the Castle is accounted by Matthew Paris the Monk the lock and key to the whole Realm of England and by Iohn Rosse and Lidgate is said to be built by Iulius Caesar fatal only for the death of King Stephen and surrender of King Iohn therein happening 6 A conceit is that Goodwin Sands were sunk for the sins of himself and his sons Shelves indeed that dangerously lie on the North-east of this County and are much feared of all Navigators These formerly had been firm ground but by a sudden inundation of the Sea were swallowed up as at the same time a great part of Flanders and the Low Countries were and the like also at the same time befel in Scotland as Hector Boetius their Historiographer writeth A like accident hapned in the year 1586 the fourth day of August in this County at Mottingham a Town eight miles from London suddenly the ground began to sink and three great Elmes thereon growing were carried so deep into the bowels of the earth that no part of them could any more be seen the hole left in compass fourscore yards about and a line of fifty fathoms plummed into it doth find no bottom 7 The Kentish people in Caesars time were accounted the civillest among the Britains and as yet esteem themselves the freest Subjects of the English not conquered but compounded with by the Normans and herein glory that their King and Commons of all the Saxons were the first Christians converted in Anno 596 yea and long before that time also Kent received the Faith for it is recorded that Lucius the first Christian British King in this Island built a Church to the name and service of Christ within the Castle of Dover endowing it with the Toll of the same Haven 8 This County is enriched with two Cities and Bishops Sees strengthened with 27 Castles graced with 8 of His Majesties most Princely Houses traded with 24 Market-Towns and beautified with many stately and gorgeous buildings The chiefest Ciâ—y thereof the Motropolitane and Arch-bishops See is Canterbury buiâ—t as our British Historians report 900 years before the birth of â—hrist by Henry of Huntington called Caier-Kent wherein as M. Lambard saith was erected the first School of professed Arts and Sciences and the same a pattern unto Sigibert King of the East Angles for hiâ— foundation at Cambridge notwithstanding by the computation of time this Sigibert was slain by Penda King of Mercia thirty years before that Theodore the Grecian was Bishop of Canterbury who is said to be the erector of that Academy But certain it is that Austin the Monk had made this City famous before that time by the conversion of these Saxons unto Christianiâ—y and in building a most magnificent Church to Gods service wherein eight of their Kings have been interred but all their Monuments
since over-shadowed by the height of Beckets Tomb that for glory wealth and superstitious worships equalized the Pyramides of Egypt or the Oracle of Delphos yet now with Dagon is fallen before the Ark of God This City hath been honoured with the presence and Coronations of King Iohn and Queen Isabel his wife with the marriages of King Henry the third and of King Edward the first and with the interments of Edward the Black Prince King Henry the fourth and of Queen Ioan his wife as Feversham is with the burials of King Stephen and of Maud his Queen and wife But as in glory so in adversity hath this City born a part being divers times afflicted by the Danes but most especially in the dayes of Ethelred who in that revenge of their massacre made havock of all and herein slew forty three thousand and two hundred persons the tenth besides reserved to live Afterward it recovered breath and beauty by the liberality of Bishop Lanford Characters and priviledges by King Henry the third strength in Trench and Fortifications from King Richard the second and lastly Walls for her defence by Simon Sudbury Arch-bishop of that See whose Graduation is placed for Latitude 51. 25 and parallelized for Longitude 22. 8 her sister Rochester differing not much in either degree 9 Which City as Beda saith was built by one Rof Lord of the same though some ascribe the foundation of the Castle to Iulius Câ—sar and hath been often ruinated by the injuries of war both in the times when the Saxons strove for superiority among themselves wherein this City was laid waste Anno 680. as also in the assaults of their common enemy the Danes who about the year 884. from France sailed up the River Medway and besieged the same so that had not King Elfred speedily come to the rescue it had been overthrown by those Pagans And again in Anno 999. the Dâ—nes miserably spoiled this City in the time of King Ethelred neither haâ—n it stood safe from danger since though not defaced so much by war for twice hath it been sore endamaged by chance of fire the first was in the Reign of King Henry the first Anno 1130. himself being present with most of his Nobility for the consecration of the Cathedral Church of S. Andrew And again almost wholly consumed about the latter end of the Reign of King Henry the second Anno 1177. Yet after all these calamities it recovered some strength again by the bounty of King Henry the third both in buildings and in ditching her about for defence 10 Civil broyls and dissentions hath this County been burdened with and that not only under the Saxons and Danes whose desolations were many and grievous but also by other rebellions since the Normans Conquest both in those infamous insurrections called The Barons Wars in the reign of King Henry the Third wherein much harm was done as also under King Richard the Second when Wat Tyler Captain of a dreadful commotion assembled at Black-heath Mile-end and in London doing many outrages where in Smithfield he was lastly struck down by William VVallworth then Mayor of the City and worthily slain for his notorious treasons Again upon Black-heath Michael Ioseph the Lord Dawbeney with their Cornish Rebels were overthrown by King Henry the Seventh Anno 1497. 11 Kent in the time of Iulius Caesar was governed by four several Kings Under Vortigern the Britain by a Lieutenant called Guoronge from whom the said King gave it to Hengist the Saxon in favour of his Daughter Howen who seeking to make himself absolute King thereof eight years after his first entrance fought a victorious battel against the Britains near unto Crayford and thenceforth accounted that Province his own Yet afterward Vortimer the valiant Britain gave him battel at Aylesford in the which both Horsa and Catigern brethren to both the Generals were slain and the Saxons driven into the Isle of Thanet their first assigned habitation not daring to enter the Continent so long as Vortimer lived Catigern was interred upon that plain where to this day remaineth his Monument being 4 stones pitched in manner of the Stonehenge and is vulgarly called Citscotehouse The like Monument was of Horsa at Horsted which stormes and time have now devoured Hengist made this Province a Kingdom for himself and successors which name and power it retained the space of three hundred and twenty years when Egbert King of the West-Saxons subdued and joyned it to his own in which subjection it stood untill the time of the Normans Then it was given under the title of an Earldom by the Conquerour unto Otha Bishop of Bayeux his half brother whose successors in that dignity were those most honourable families whose Arms and Names within this plot are blazed and expressed It is divided principally into five Lathes subdivided into 66 hundreds and them again into 398 Parishes and wherein had been seated twenty three Religious Houses SUSSEX SUSSEX CHAPTER IV. SOUTH-SEX a word compounded of the site thereof Southward lieth stretched along the British Seas The North confronts upon Surrey and Kent and the West butteth upon Hampshire 2 For form it lieth long and narrow so that all her Rapes do run quite through the Shire and containeth from Westharting in the West to Kent ditch that divides it from Kent in the East sixty four miles but in the broadest part little above twenty the whole circumference about one hundred fifty eight miles 3 The Air is good though somewhat clouded with mists which arise forth of her South bordering Sea who is very prodigal unto her for Fish and Sea-fowl though as sparing for Harbours or Ships arrivage and those which she hath as uncertain for continuance as dangerous for entrance 4 Rich is the Soil and yieldeth great plenty of all things necessary but very ill for travellers especially in the winter the Land lying low and the ways very deep whose middle tract is garnished with Meadows Pastures and Corn fields the Sea-coast with Hills which are called the Downs abundantly yielding both Grain and Grass and the North side over shadowed with pleasant Groves and thick Woods where sometimes stood the famous wood Andradswald containing no less than an hundred and twenty miles in length and thirty in breadth taking the name of Andexida a City adjoyning both which were won from the Britains by Ella the first Saxon King of this Province and the place made fatal to Sigebert King of the VVest-Saxens who being deposed from his Royal throne was met in this Wood by a Swine-herd and slain in revenge of his Lord whom Sigebert had nurdered 5 The ancient people in the Romans time were the Râ—gni of whom we have spoken and who were subdued by Vespasian the Leader of the second Legion under Aulus Plautius Lieutenant in Britain for Claudius the Emperour But after the departure of the Romans this with Surrey was made the South â—axons Kingâ—ome yet that giving place to the VVest-Saxons as they
name Bibrotes yielded him subjection which proved the ruine of all former liberty But when the Romans had rent their own Empire and retired their Legion into a narrower circuit the Saxons set foot where their forces had been and made this County a parcel of their Western Kingdom The Danes then setting their desire upon spoils from their roaving Pinnaces pierced into these parts and at Redding fortified themselves betwixt the Rivers Kennet aâ—d Thamisis whether after their great overthrow received at Inglefield by the hand of King Ethelwolfe they retired for their further safety 6 This Town King Henry the first most stately beautified with a rich Monastery and strong Castle where in the Collegiate Chuch of the Abbey himself and Queen who lay both vailed and crowned with the daughter Maud the Empress called the Lady of England were interred as the private History of the place avoucheth though others bestow the bodies of these two Queens elsewhere The Castle King Henry the second razed to the ground because it was the refuge for the followers of King Stephen From whence the North pole is raised in Latitude 51 degrees and 40 minutes and in Longitude from the first West-point observed by Mercator 19 degrees and 35 minutes 7 A Castle and Town of greater strength and antiquity was Wallingford by Autonie and Ptolomy called Gellena the chiefest City of the Attrebatians whose large circuit and strong fortifications shew plainly that it was a place of the Romans abode and since in a conceived safety hath made many very bold especially when the sparks of Englands civil dissentions were forced to flame in case of the Crown betwixt Maud the Empress and King Stephen whether her self and associates resorted as their surest defence 8 But of far greater magnificence and state is the Castle of Windsor a most Princely Palace and Mansion of His Majesty I will not with Ieffery affirm it to be built by King Arthur but with better authority say it was so thirsted after-by the Conquerour that by a composition with the Abbot of Westminster whose then it was he made it to be the Kings possesson as a place besides the pleasures very commodious to entertain the King In this Castle that victorious Prince King Edward the third was born and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots held he at one and the same time as his Prisoners Iohn King of France and David King of Scotland Neither was it ever graced with greater Majesty than by the institution of the most honourable Order of the Garter a signal Ornament of Martial Prowesse the invention thereof some ascribe to be from a Garter falling from his Queen or rather from Ioan Countess of Salisbury a Lady of an incomperable beauty as she danced before him whereat the by-standers smiling he gave the impress to check all evil conceits and in golden Letters imbellished the Garter with this French Posie HONI SOâ—â— QUâ— MALY PENSE And yet that worthy Clarenceaux alledging the Book of the first institution finds the invention to be more ancient as when King Richard the first warred against the Turks Saracens Cypres and Acon he girt the legs of certain choise Knights with a tack of leather which promised a future glory to the wearers The most Princely Chappel thereof is graced with the bodies of those two great Kings Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain the one of Lancaster the other of York where the rest now united in one mould with a branch of both those Houses even King Henry the eighth who there lieth also interred and rests in the Lord. 9 Other places of note in this Shire are Sinodum in the North and Watham in the East both of them places of the Romans residence as by their moneys there oftentimes found appeareth Neither was Sunning the least in this Tract that had been the seat of eight Bishops before the See was translated thence unto Shirburne or that to Salisbury Wantage also is not wanting of honour in bringing to life that learned and most valiant King Ealfred the scourge of the Danes and great Monarch of the English And Finchhamstead for wonder inferiour to none where as our Writers do witness that in the year a thousand and hundred a Well boyled up with streams of bloud and fiftoen days together continued that Spring whose waters made red all others where they came to the great amazement of the beholders 10 The riches and sweet Seats that this County affordeth made many devout persons to shew their devotions unto true piety in erecting places for Gods divine Service and their exemptions from all worldly business such were Abington Redding Bysham Bromehall Hendley Hamme and Wallingford whose Votaries abusing the intents of their Founders overthrew both their own Orders and places of professions all which were dissolved by Act of Parliament and given the King to dispose at his will This Shires division is into twenty Hundreds and hath been strengthened with six strong Castles is yet graced with three of His Majesties most Princely Houses and traded with twelve Market-Towns and is replenished with one hundred and forty Parishes MIDLE-SEX MIDDLESEX CHAPTER XIV MIDDLESEX so called in regard of the situation as â—eated betwixt the West-Saxons and East-Angles was sometimes together with Essex and Hartford-Shire that part and portion which the East-Saxons enjoyed for their Kingdom it lyeth bordered upon the North with Hartford-Shire upon the West by Colâ—â— is severed from Buckingham the South by Thamesis from Surrey and Kent and on the East from Essex by the River Lea. 2 The length thereof extended from Stratford in the East to Morehall upon Colne in the West is by measure nineteen English miles and from South-mines in the North to his Majesties Mannour of Hampton Court in the South are little above sixteen miles the whole Circumference extending to ninety miles 3 In Form it is almost square for Air passing temperate for Soyl abundantly fertile and for Pasturage and Grain of all kinds yielding the best so that the Wheat of this County hath served a long time for the Manchet to our Princes Table 4 It lyeth seated in a vale most wholesome and rich having some hills also and them of good ascent from whose tops the prospect of the whole is seen like unto Zâ—ar in Egypt or rather like a Paradise and Garden of God 5 The ancient Inhabitants known to Caesar were the Trinobants whom he nameth to be the most puisiant in the Land whose chief City and â—eat yieldeth him subjection made the whole with less loss to the Romans to bear the yoke of their own bondage and to come in under terms of truce But when their Forces in these parts were spent and the Empire shaken by intestine wars the Saxons setting their eyes upon so fair a soyl made their footing as sure herein which lastly with Hartford and Essex was the portion of the East-Saxons Kingdom 6 Five
seperated from Norfolk by the Rivers of the lesser Ouse and Waveney whose heads meet almost in the midst of her Verge and that very neer together the one taking course East and the other full West upon which part Cambridge-shire doth wholly confront The Soâ—th side is severed by Stoure from Essex and the East together washed with the German Seas 2 The Air is good sweet and delectable and in some parts of some of our best Phyâ—icians held to be the best in the Land the soyl is rich fruitful and with all things well replenished in a word nothing wanting for pleasure or profit 3 The Form thereof is somewhat Cressant shooting up narrower in the North and spreading wider towards the South whose broadest part is about twenty miles but from East to West much more for from Easton point the furthest of this Shire yea of all Britain into the Sea unto great Ouse River her Western bounder are forty five miles and the whole in Circumference about one hundred and forty six miles 4 Antiâ—ntly this part of the Island was possessed by the Iceni who as it seemeth by Tacitus joyned in Amity with the Romans a mighty people saith he and never shaken with wars before the reign of Claudius but then by Ostorius very vanquished though not without great slaughter of the Romans and in a battle against them M. Ostorius the son of the General won great honour in saâ—ing of a Roman Citizens life so ready were they to give and receive Honours to themselves but sleightly to pass over and to smother far greater exploits of the Britains which notwithstanding long in these parts they could not do for the wrongs of the Icenians growing intollerable who by the Roman Souldiers were put out of their rightful possessions their Princes accounted no better than Slaves and their Queen whipped in most ignominious manner under Bodâ—a they wrought their revenge as in the History Christ assisting shall be further related Next to these Icenians were the Saxons that got their footing into these parts and of them this with Norfolk Cambridge-shire and the Isle of Ely was made their East-Angles Kingdom though as it seemeth ever in subjection either to the Mercians or to the Kings of Kent whose off-spring ending in S. Edmund the Martyr after the Danes had laid it most desolate Edward the Elder subdued it unto his West-Saxons Monarchy and that likewise ending in King Edward the Confessor many Noble Normans got their possessions in these parts whose off-spring are plenteously replenished in this Shire to this day 5 The Commodities of this Shire are many and great Whereof the chiefest consisteth in Corn Cattle Cloth Pasturage Woods Sea-fish and Fowl and as Abba Floriensis hath depainted this County is of a green and passing fresh hue pleasantly replenished with Orchards Gardens and Groves thus he described it above six hundred years since and now we find as he hath said to which we may add their gain from the Pail whose Cheeses are traded not only throughout England but into Germany France and Spain and are highly commended by Pantaleon the Physitian both for colour and taste 6 And had Ipswiâ—h the onely eye of this Shire been as fortunate in her Sirname as she is blessed with commerce and buildings she might worthily have born the title of a City neither ranked in the lowest row whose trade circuit and seat doth equal most places of the Land besides It seemeth this Town hath been walled about both by a Rampire of Earth mounted along her North and West parts and places of entrance where Gates have stood which no doubt by the Danes were cast down in the year of Iesus Christ â—991 when they sacked with spoyl all these Sea coasts and again in the year one thousand laid the streets desolate and the houses on heaps yet afterwards recovering both breath and beauty her buildings from Stoke-Church in the South to Saint Margarets in the North now contain 1900 paces and from S. Helens in the East to S. Matthews Church in the West are no less than 2120 full of streets plenteously inhabited wherein are twelve Parish-Churches seated besides them suppressed such were Christ-Church S. Georges S. Iames the White the Black and Gray-Fryers The Site of this Town is removed from the Equator unto the degree 52 25 minutes and by Mercators observation from the first West-points 22 degrees 9 minutes and is yearly governed by two Bayliffs and ten Port-men all wearing Scarlet with twenty four of tâ—eir Common-Councel in Purple a Recorder a Town-Clerk five Serjeants whereof one is for the Admiralty a Beadle and Common Cryer all in blew with the Towns Arms on their sleeves The other eye of this Shire is S. Edmundsbury By Abbo the Royal-Town wherein at the day-break of the Saxons conversion Sigebert King of the East-Angles sounded a Christian Church and upon the occasion of King Edmunds burial who at Hoxon was shot to death hath been ever since called S. Edmundsbury where was built to his honour one of the fairest Monasteries in the world begun by King Canute much affrighted with the seeming appearance of that Martyrs Ghost who to expiate the sacrilegious impiety of his Father Suenus enriched the place with many endowments and offered up his own Crown upon the Holy Martyrs Tomb. For the beauty and buildings of this Abby and Town let Leyland for me declare The Sun saith he hath not seen a City more finely seated so delicately upon the easie ascent of an hill with a River running on the East side nor a more stately Abby either for revenues or incomperable magnificence in whose prospect appeareth rather a City than a Monastery so many Gates for entrance and some of them brass so many Towers and a most glorious Church upon which attend three others standing all in the same Church-yard all of them passing fine and of a curious workmanship Whose ruines lie in the dust lamenting their fall moving the beholders to pity their case Near unto this Town a great battle was fought by Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester against his Soveraign King Henry the second but was worthily overcome by Richard Lucy the Kings high Iustice himself and wife taken with many Flemings and Englishmen slain 7 Other places worthy of remembrance this County affords such is Exning in the West formerly famous for the birth of S. Audrâ—y daughter to King Anna one of the three names of the Shires division Renlisham in the East where Redwald the First Christian in this Kingdom held his Court and Hadley in her South where Guthrum the Dane whom Elfred baptized was buried And things of stranger note are the limits of the East-Angles Territories running along New-market-Heath vulgarly called the Devils-ditch the like fable is formerly told by Nubrigensis that at Wulpes in the heart of this Shire two green boyes of Satyres kind arose out of the ground from the Antipodes believe it if you will and Ralfe Coggeshall in the Monuments of
Colchester declareth that a Fish in all parts like a man was taken near Oxford and for six months was kept in the Castle whence after he escaped again to the Sea As strange but most true was a crop of Pease that without tillage or sowing grew in the Rocks betwixt this Oxford and Aldebrough in the year 1555 when by unseasonable weather a great dearth was in the Land there in August were gathered above one hundred Quarters and in blossoming remained as many more where never grass grew or earth ever seen but hard solid Rocks three yards deep under their roots 8 Places separated from common use and devoted to God and his service by religious Princes were at S. Edmunds Ipswich Ikleworth Blithborow Clare Ieston Burgh Castle wherein Sigebert King of the East Angles entered the profession of a Monk but was thence forced by his people to fight against the Mercians in which Battle he was slain And Dunwich where Foelix founded his Episcopal See These with many others in this County were suppressed in the fall of the Monasteries and their Revenues assumed by King Henry the Eighth 9 This Shire is principally divided into three parts which are called Celdable S. Edmunds and S. Andreys Liberties subdivided into twenty two Hundreds and them again into 575 Parish-Churches wherein are seated seven Castles and twenty eight Market-Towns NORFOLCKE NORTHFOLK CHAPTER XVII NORTHFOLK is an Island inclining to an oval form closed on the South part with the Rivers of Wavenay and the lesser Ouse which divides it from Suffolk On the East and North with the German Ocean on the West toward Cambridge-shires with some branches of the greater Ouse toward Lincolis-shire with that part of the Neve which passeth from Wisbitch into the Washes It containeth in length from Tarmouth to Wifbitch about fifty miles In breadth from Theâ—ford to Wells about thirty The whole Circuit is about two hundred forty two miles The Name ariseth from the situation of the people who being the Norther-most of the Kingdom of East-Angles are therefore called the Northfolk as the Souther-most Southfolk The Air is sharp and piercing especially the Champion and near the Sea therefore it delayeth the Spring and Harvest the situation of the Countrey inclining thereto as being under the 53 degree of Latitude The Soil diverse about the towns commonly good as Clay Chalk or fat Earth well watered and with some Wood upward to the Heaths naked dry and barren Marsland and Flegge exceeding rich but Marsland properly for Pasture Flegge for Corn. 2 The parts from Thetford to Burneham and thence Westward as also along the Coast be counted Champion the rest as better furnished with Woods Woodland The Champion aboundeth with Corn Sheep and Conies and hesein the barren Heaths as the Providence of our Ancestors hath of old disposed them are very profitable For on them principally lie our Fould courses called of the Saxons whose institution they therefore seem to be Paldyocum that is Liberty of fold or foâ—â—dage These heaths by the compasture of the sheep which we call Tathe are made so rich with Corn that when they fall to be sown they commonly match the fruitfullest grounds in other Countries and laid again do long after yield a sweeter and more plentiful feed for Sheep so that each of them maintain other and are the chiefest wealth of our Countrey The Woodland fitter for grass is maintained chiefly by feeding of Cattel yet well stored with Corn and Sheep The Coast is fortunate in Fish and hath many good harbours whereof Lynn and Tarmouth be the mother-ports and of great traffique Wells and Blackeney next in estimation The whole County aboundeth with Rivers and pleasant Springs of which the Ouse is the chiefest by whose plentiful branches the Isle of Ely the Towns and Shires of Cambridge Huntington and the County of Suffolk vent and receive Commodities The next is Hiâ—rus or Yere passing from Norwich to â—armouth where it receiveth the Bure coming from Aylsham both of them of great service for water carriages but very notable for their plenty of fish for some one man out of an hold upon the Bnrâ— hath drawn up ordinarily once a year between two Nets above five or six score Bushels of Fish at one draught The Waveney and the lesser Ouse are also Navigable and of great use The residue I omit 3 The people were anciently called the ICENI as the also of Suffolk Cambridge-shire and Huntington-shire and supposed to be of them whom Caesar nameth Cenimagni Ptolomy Simeni some Tigeni Their manners were likely to be as the rest of the Britains barbarous at those times as appeareth by Caesar and Tacitus Neither can I otherwise commend their successors the Saxons for so also their own Countreyman Ethelward termeth them Since the entry of the Normans they have been counted civil and ingenious apt to good Letters adorning Religion with more Churches and Monasteries than any Shire of England and the Laws and Seats of Iustice for many ages with some excellent men from whom most of our chief Families and some of the greatest Nobility of the Kingdom have taken advancement And herein is Northfolk fortunate that as Crete boasted of an hundred Cities so may she of an hundred Families of Gentlemen never yet attainted of high Treason How the Government of this County was about Caesars time is uncertain but agreeable no doubt to the rest of the Britains under some peculiar Toparch or Regulus as Tacitus termeth him The latter Romans held it by two Garrisons one at Gariannum neer â—armouth the other at Branodunum now called Brancastre both of horse and commanded by the Comes Maritimi Tractus as Mercellinus calleth him and termed after Comes Littoris Saxonici Upon the entry of the Saxons this County with Suffolk fell in the portion of the Angles and about the year five hundred sixty one were together erected into a Kingdom by Vffa of whom the succeeding Kings were tituled Vffines But having suffered many Tempests of Fortune it was in the year 870 utterly wasted and extinct by Hungar and Hubba the Danes who overthrew the vertuous King Edmund about Thetford and after martyred him at S. Edmundsbury Yet they did not long enjoy it for King Edward shortly recovered it from them and annexed it to his other Kingdoms The Daâ—es notwithstanding inhabited abundantly in these parts so that many of our Towns were sounded by them aâ—d a great part of our people and Gentry are risen out of their bloud 4 This Kingdom of East-Angles was after allotted to an Earldom of that name by William the Conqueroâ—r who made Radulph a Britain marrying his Kinswoman Earl thereof but gave the greatest parts of this County about Wimonham Keninghall Lenn Burnham Fulmerstone c. to W. de Albany Pincerne and W. de Warranna Forrestario who to strengthen themselves according to the use of that time with the homage and service of many Tenants divided large portions of the same amongst their friends and
Saxon at Alesbury in the year of grace 592 overcame the Britains and bare down all things before him yet no sooner was their Heptarchy weaned and their Monarchy able to stand alone but that the Danes before their strength and growth was confirmed waxed upon them and they not able in so weak a hand to hold fast that weight of greatness they had so grasped gave place to their Conquerours who did many harms in this Province for in the year 914 the Danes furiously raged as far as Brenwood where they destroyed the City Burgh the ancient seat of the Romans afterwards a Royal house of King Edward the Confessor which they utterly destroyed 5 The Shire-Town Buckingham fruitfully seated upon the River Ouse was fortified with a Rampire and Sconces on both banks by King Edward the elder saith Marianus the Scotish Writer where in the heart of the Town hath stood a strong Castle mounted upon a high hill which long since was brought to the period of her estate now nothing remaining besides the signs that there she had stood The River circulates this Town on every side that only on the North excepted over which three fair stone bridges lead and into which the Springs of a Well run called S. Rumalds a child-saint born at Kings-Sutton canonized and in the Church of this Town enthrined with many conceited miracles and cures such was the hap of those times to produce Saints of all ages and sexes This Town is governed by a Bayliff and twelve principal Burgesses and is in the degree removed from the first point of the West for Longitude 19 33 scruples and the North-pole elevated in Latitude for the degree of 52 18 scruples 6 A Town of ancient note is Stony Straâ—ford the Romans Lactorodum being built upon that ancient Causey-way which is called VVatling Street where remain the marks thereof even unto this day At this place Edward the elder stopped the passage of the Danes whilst he strengthened Torcester against them and herein King Edward the eldest since the Conquest reared a beautiful Cross in memory of Eleanor his dead Queen as he did in every place where her Corps rested from Herdby in Lincoln-shire till it was received and buried at VVestminster 7 Places intended for Gods true worship built by devout persons and sequestred from worldly imployments were at Launden Luffeld Bidlesden Bradwell Nothey Ankerne Missenden Tekeford Patrendune Asbridge and Alesbury Asbridge in great repute for the bloud supposed out of Christs sides brought out of Germany by Henry the eldest son of Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall whereunto resorted great concourse of people for devotion and adoration thereof But when the Sunshine of the Gospel had pierced thorow such clouds of darkness it was perceived apparently to be onely honey clarified and coloured with Saffron as was openly shewed at Pauls Cross by the Bishop of Rochester the twenty fourth of February and year of Christ 1538. And Alesbury for the holiness of S. Edith was much frequented who having this Town allotted for her Dowry had the world and her husband farewel in taking upon her the vail of devotion and in that fruitful age of Saints became greatly renowned even as far as to the working of miracles These all in the storms and rage of the time suffered such shipwrack that from those turmoiled Seas their Merchandise light in the right of such Lords as made them their own for wreacks indeed 8 With four Castles this Shire hath been strengthened and thorow eleven Market-Towns her Commodities traded being divided for service to the Crown and State into eight hundreds and in them are seated one hundred fourscore and five Parish-Churches OXFORDSHIRE OXFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXI OXFORD-SHIRE receiveth her name from that famous Vniversity and most beautiful City Oxford and this of the Foord of Oxen say our English Saxons though Leiland upon a ground of conjecture will have it Ousford from the River Ouse by the Latines called Isis which giveth name likewise to the adjoyning I stand Ousney The North point of this Shire is bordered upon by the Counties of VVarwick and Northampton the East with Buckingham the West by Glocester-shire and the South altogether is parted from Bark-shire by Thamisis the Prince of British Rivers 2 The blessings both of the sweet-breathing heavens and the fruitful sight of this Counties soil are so happy and so fortunate that hardly can be said whether exceeds The Air milde temperate and delicate the Land fertile pleasant and bounteous in a word both Heaven and Earth accorded to make the Inhabitants healthful and happy The hills loaden with Woods and Cattle the valleys burthened with Corn and Pasturage by reason of many fresh springing Rivers which sportingly there-thorow make their passage whereof Evenlod Charwell Tame and Isis are chief which two last making their Bed of Marriage near unto Dorchester run thence together in one channel and name 3 The length of this Shire is from Cleydon in the North-West unto Caversham in her South-East near unto Thamisis and amounteth almost to forty miles the broadest part is in her Western Borders which extending from the said Cleydon in the North unto Faringdon seated upon the River Isis in the South are scarcely twenty six and thence growing narrower like unto a Wedge containing in circumference about one hundred and thirty miles 4 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans where the Dobuni part whereof possessed further Westernly into Glocester-shire and nearer Eastward betwixt the bowing of Thamisis were seated the Ancalites who sent their submission unto Iulius Caesar when report was made that the Trinobants had put themselves under his protection whereof followed the Britains servitude under the proud yoke of the all-coveting Romans yea afterwards this Counties people being very puissant as â—acitus termeth them and unshaken by wars withstoâ—d Ostorius Scâ—pula the Roman Lieutenant chosing rather to yield their lives in battle than their pâ—rsons to subjection Of later times it was possessed by the Mercian Saxons as part of their Kingdom though sometimes both the West Saxons and the Northumbrians had the dispose of some part thereof for Beda aâ—firmâ—th that King Oswold gave the then flourishing City Dorchester unto Berinus the VVest Saxons Apostle to be his Episcopal See whence the good Bishop coming to Oxford and preached before VVulpherus the Mercian King in whose Court Athelwold the South-Saxons heathenish King was then then present he with all his Nobles were converted to the Faith of Christ and there baptived whereby Berinus became the Apostle also of the South-Saxons 5 Other places of memorable note either for actions therein happening or for their own famous esteem are the Roll-rich stones standing near unto Enisham in the South of this Shire a monument of huge stones set round in compass in manner of the Stonehenge of which fabulous tradition hath reported forsooth that they were metamorphosed from men but in truth were there erected upon some great victory
obtained either by or against Rollo the Dane who in the year 876 entred England and in this Shire fought two battles one neer unto Hoâ—k-Norton and a second at the ScienStane 6 Rodâ—ot likewise remaineth as a monument of Oxfords highâ— styled Earl but unfortunate Prince Robert de Vere who besides the â—arldom was created by King Richard the second Mâ—â—quess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland but at that Bridge discomfited in fight by the Nobles and forced to swim the River where began the downfal of his high mounted fortunes for being driven forth of his Country lastly died in exile and distressed estate But more happy is this County in producing far more glorious Princes as King Edward the Confessor who in Islip was born Edward the victorious black Prince in Woodstock and in Oxford that warlike Coeur de Lion King Richard the first the son of King Henry the second first took breath 7 Which City is and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses the British Athens and learnings well spring from whose living Fountain the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously have made fruitful all other parts of this Realm and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad Antiquity avoucheth that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the Old Britains and that from Greek-lod a Town in Wilt shire the Academy was translated unto Oxford as unto a Plant-plot both more pleasing and fâ—uitful whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham this latter also alledging Merlin But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feet it sustained a part of these common calamities having little reserved to uphold its former glory save onely the famous monument of S. Frideswids Virgin Conquest no other School then left standing besides her Monastery yet those great blasts together with other Danish storms being well blown over King Elfred that learned and religious Monarch recalled the exiled Muses to their sacred place and built there three goodly Colledges for the studies of Divinity Philosophy and other Arts of humanity sending thither his own son Ethelward and drew thither the young Nobles from all parts of his Kingdom The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote a man of great learning by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation At which time also Assereus Menevensis a writer of those times affairs read the Grammar and Rhetorick and affirmeth that long before them Gildas Melkin Ninius Kentigern S. German and others spent there their lives in learned studies From which time that it continued a Seedploâ— of learning till the Norman Conquest Ingulphus â—ecordeth who himself then lived No marvel then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford the second School of Christendom and the very chief Pillar of the Catholick Church And in the Council holden at Vienna it was ordâ—ined that in Paris Oxford â—ononiâ— and Salamanca the onely Vniversities then in Europe should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Caldean tongues and that Oxford should be the general universiâ—y for all England Ireland Scotland and Wales which point was likewise of such weight with the Council of Constance that from this pâ—â—cedent of Oxford University it was concluded that the English Nation was not only to have pâ—ecedence oâ— Spain in all General Councils but was also to be held equal with France it self By which high peâ—ogatives this of ours hath always so flourished that in the days of King Henry the third thirty tâ—ousand Students were therein resident as Archbishop Armachanus who then lived hath writ and Riâ—haâ—ger then also living sheweth that for all the civil wars which hindred such placâ—s of quiet study yet 15000 Students were there remaining whose names saith he were entered in Matricula in the matriculation book About which time Iohn Baliol the father of â—aliol King of Scots built a Colledge yet bearing his name Anno 1269 and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester that which is now called Merton Colledge both of them beautified with buiâ—dings and enriched wâ—th landâ— and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendom And at this present there are sixteen Colledges besides another newly builded with eight Halls and many most fair Collegiate Churches all aâ—orned with most stately buildings and enriched with great endowments noble Libraries and most learned Graduates of all professions that unless it be her sister Cambridge the other â—ursing breast of this land the like is not found again in the World This City is also honoured with an Episcopal See As for the site thereof it is removed from the Equatâ—r in the degree 52 and one minute and from the West by Mercators measure 19 degrees and 20 minutes â— As this County is happy in the possâ—ssion of so famous an Academy so it is graced with most Princely Palaces apperâ—aining to the English Crown whereof Woodsâ—ock is the most ancient and magnificent built to that glory by King Henry the first and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by King Henry the second to hide from his jealous Iuno his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford a Damosel of surpassing beauty where notwithstanding followed by a clew of silk that fell from her lap she was surprised and poâ—soned by Queen Eleanor his wife and was first buried at Godsâ—ow Nunnery in the midst of the quiâ—e under a Hearse of silk set about with lights whom Hugh Bishop of Lincoln thinking it an unfâ—t object for Virgins devotion caused to be removed into the Church â—ard but those chast sisters liked so well the memory of that kind Lady as that her bones they translated again into their Chappel Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors built by William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyning Houses built for devotion and for abuse suppressed and again put down the chief in account were Enishamâ— Osney Bruern Godsâ—ow Burchester and Tame besides S. Frideswides and very many other stately Houses of Religion in this City The Division of this Shire is into fourteen Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and two â—undred and fourscore Parish Câ—uâ—ches Glocester Shire GLOCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIII GLOCESTER-SHIRE lieth bordered upon the North with Worcester and Warwick-shires upon the East with Oxford and Wilt-shires upon the South altogether with Somerset-Shire and upon the West with the River Wye and Hertford shire 2 The length thereof extended from Bristow upon the River Avon in her South unto Clifford upon another Avon in her North are about forty eight miles and her broadest part from East to West is from Lechland unto Preston containing twenty eight the whole circumference about one hundred thirty eight miles 3 The Form whereof is somewhat long and narrow the Air thereof is pleasant sweet and delectable and for fruitfulness of Soyl hear Malmesbury and not me The ground of this Shire throughout saith
he yieldeth plenty of Corn and bringeth forth abundance of Fruits the one through the natural goodness only of the ground the other through the diligent manuring and tillage in such wise that it would provoke the laziest person to take pains Here you may see the High-ways and Common Lanes clad with Apple-trees and Pear-trees not ingraffed by the industry of mens hand but growing naturally of their own accord the ground of it self is so inclined to bear fruits and those both in taste and beauty far exceeding others and will endure until a new supply come There is not any County in England so thick set with Vineyards as this Province is so plentiful of increase and so pleasant in taste The very Wines made thereof carry no unpleasant tartness as being little inferiour in sweet Verdure to the French Wines the houses are innumerable the Churches passing fair and the Towns standing very thick But that which addeth unto all good gifts a special glory is the River Severn than which there is not any in all the Land for Channel broader for Stream swiâ—ter oâ— for Fish better stored There is in it a daily rage and fury of waters which I know not whether I may call a Gulf or Whirl-pool of waters raising up the sands from the bottom winding and dâ—iving them upon heaps sometimes overflowing her banks roveth a great way upon the face of her bordering grounds and again retireth as a Conquerour into the usual Channel Unhappy is the Vessel which it taketh full upon the side but the Watermen will beware thereof when they see that Hydra coming turn the Vessel upon it and cut thorow the midst of it whereby they check and avoid her violence and danger 4 The ancient people that possessed this Province were the DOBUNI who spread themselves â—urther into Oxford-sâ—ire But betwixt the Severn and VVyâ— were seated part of SILURES or Inhabitants of South-VVales And upon what ground I know not let Lawyers dispute it the Inhabitants in some part of this Shire enjoy a private custom to this day that the Goods and Lands of Condemned Persons fall unto the Crown but only for a year and a day and then return to the next heirs contrary to the custom of all England besides 5 The general Commodities of this Shire are Corn Iron and VVols all passing fine besides Pasturage Fruits and VVoods which last are much lessened by making of Iron the only bane of Oke Elm and Beech. 6 These with all other provisions are traded thorow twenty five Market-Towns in this County whereof two are Cities of no small import the first is Glocester from whom the Shire taketh name seated upon Severn near the middest of this Shire by Antoninâ— the Emperour called Glouum built first by the Romans and set as it were upon the neck of the Silures to yoke them where their legion called Colonia Gleuum lay It hath been walled about excepting that part that is defended by the River the ruines thereof in many places appear and some part yet standing doth well witness their strength This City was first won from the Britains by Cheulin the first King of the West-Saxons about the year of Christ 570 and afterwards under the Mercians it flourished with great honour where Offrick King of Northumâ—erland by the sufferance of Ethelred of Mercia founded a most stately Monastery of Nuns whereof Kineburgh Edbergh and Eve Queens of the Mercians were Prioresses successively each after other 7 Edelfled a most renowned Lady â—ister to King Edward the elder in this City built a fair Church wherein her self was interred which being overthrown by the Danes was afterwards rebuilt and made the Cathedral of that See dedicated unto the honour of S. Peter In this Church the unfortunate Prince King Edward the second under a Monument of Alablaster doth lye who being murdered at Barkley Castle by the cruelty of French Isabel his wife was there entombed And not far from him another Prince as unfortunate namely Robert Curthose the eldest son of William the Conquerour lyeth in a painted wooden Tombe in the midst of the Quire whose eyes were pluckt out in Cardiffe Castle wherein he was kept prisoner twenty six years with all contumelious indignities until through extream anguish he ended his life And before any of these in this City say our British Historians the body of Lucius our first Christian King was interred and before his days the Britains Arviragus The graduation of this County I observe from this City whence the Pole is elevated in the degree of Latitude 52 and 14 minutes and in Longitude from the West 18 and 5 minutes 8 The other City is Bristow fair but not very ancient built upon the Rivers Avon and Frome for trade of Merchandize a second London and for beauty and account next unto York This City standeth partly in this County and partly in Sommerset-shire but being a County of it self will acknowledge subjection to neither 9 A City more ancient hath been Circestar by Pâ—olomy called Corinium by Antonine Durocornovium by Giraldus Passerum Vrbem The Sparrows City upon a flying report that Gurmund a Tyrant from Africk besieging this City tyed fire unto the wings of Sparrows who lighting in the Town upon light matter set flame upon all The circuit of whose walls extended two miles about wherein the Consular Port or ways of the Romans met and crossed each other This City was won from the Britains by Cheulin first King of the West Saxons afterwards it was possessed by the Mercians and lastly by the Danes under Gurmâ—nd the former no doubt mistaken for him wherein a rable of them kept the space of a year Anno 879 and never since inhabited according to the circuit of her walls 10 Places of memorable note are these The Island Alney near unto Glocester wherein Edmund Iron-side the English and Canutus the Dane after many battles and bloud fought in single Combat hand to hand alone until they compounded for the Kingdoms partition Barkley Castle where King Edward the second was thorow his fundament run into his bowels with a red burning Spit Tewkesbury the fatal period of King Henry the sixth his government and the wound of the Lancâ—strian Cause for in a battle there fought in Anno 1471 Prince Edward the only son of King Henry had his brains dashed out in a most shameful manner the Queen and his Mother taken prisoners and most of their favourites slain and beheaded And at Alderley a little Town standing eight miles from the Severne upon the Hills to this day are found Cockles Periwincles and Oysters of solid stone which whether they have been Shel-fish and living creatures or else the sports of Nature in her works let the Natural Philosophers dispute of and judge 11 The places of piety set apart from other worldly Services and dedicated to religious uses by the devotions of Princes erected in this Shire were Tewkesbury Deorâ—ust Glocester Minching Burkley Kinswood Circester Winchcombe and Hales
which last was built with great cost by Richaâ—d Earl of Cornwall King of the Romans wherein himself and his Dutchesse was interred Their Son Earl Edmund brought out of Germany the bloud of Hales supposed and said to be part of that whicâ— Christ shed upon his Cross. In this place with great confluence and devotions of Pilgrimage it was sought and worshiped till time proved it a meer counterfeit when the glorious light of the Gospel revealed to eye-sight such gross Idolatries and the skirts of Superstition were were turned up to the shew of her ownâ—shame 12 Dukes and Earls that have born the title of Glocester the first of every Family are by their Arms and Names expressed ever fatal to their Dukes though the greatest in bloud and birth The first was Thomas VVoodstock son to King Edward the third who in Callis was â—mothered in a Feather-bed to death The second was Humfrey brother to King Henry the fifth by the fraudulent practice of the malignant Cardinal and Queen made away at S. Edmundsbury And the last was Richard brother to King Edward the fourth who by the just hand of God was cut off in battle by King Henry the Second 13 This Shires division is principally into four parts subdivided into thirty Hundreds and thâ—m again into two hundred and eight Parish-Churcâ—es Hereford SHIRE HEREFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIV HEREFORD-SHIRE formerly accounted within the limits of Wales lyeth circulated upon the North with Worcester and Shrop-shires upon the East with Malvern Hills is parted from Glocester-shire upon the South is kept in with Monmouth-shire and upon the West in part with the Haiterall Hills is divided from Brecknock and the rest confined with Radnor-shire 2 This Counties climate is most healthful and temperate and Soyl so fertile for Corn and Cattle that no place in England yieldeth more or better conditioned sweet Rivers ruâ—ning as veins in the body do make the Corn-bearing grounds in some of her parts rightly to be termed the Golden Vale and for Waters Wool and Wheat doth contend with Nilus Colchos and Egypt such are Leâ—ster Irchenfield the banks of Wye Luge and Frome 3 The ancient people known to the Romans whose power they well felt before they could subdue them were the Silures placed by Ptolomy in this Tract and branched further into Radnor Breckâ—ock Monmouth and Glamorgan shires at this day by us called Southâ—wales and by the Welsh Deheubarth Their Original as Tacitus conjectureth by their site coloured countenances and curled hair was out of Spain and both as he and Pliny describes them were fierce valiant and impatient of servitude which well they shewed under Caratacus their Captain and nine years scourge to the Roman assaulters for whose only conquest and that made by treachery the Victor in Rome triumphed with more than a usual Aspect and with so equal an hand bare the Scoale of Resistance that their own Writers evermore term it a dangeâ—ous War For the Legion of Marius Valence they put to â—light and that with such havock of the Associates that Asterius the Lievtenant of Britain for very grief gave up the ghost and Veranius under Nero assaulted them in vain But when Vâ—spasian was Emperour and expert Souldiers imployed in every Province Iulius Frontinus subdued these Silures unto the Romans where continually some of their Legions afterward kept till all was abandoned in Valentinians â—ime 4 The Saxons then made themselves Lords of this Land and this Province a part of their Mercians Kingdom yea and Sutton the Court of great Offa their King 5 But Hereford after raised of the ruines of the old Ariconium now Kencâ—ester shaken in pieces by a violent earthquake grew to great fame thorow a conceived sanctity by the burial of Etâ—elbert King of the East-Angles slain at Sutton by Offa at what time he came thither to have espoused his Daughter whose grave was first made at Merden but afterwards câ—nonized and removed to this City when in honour of him was built the Cathedral Church by Milfrid a petty King of that County which Gruffith Prince of South-Wales and Algar an Englishâ—â—an rebelling against Edward Confessor consumed with fire but by Bishop Remelâ—n was restored as now it is at what time the Town was walled and iâ— so remaining in good repair having six gates for entrance and fifteen Watch-Towers for defence extending in compass to fifteen hundred paces and whence the North Pole is observed to be raised 52 degrees 27 minutes in Latitude and is set from the first point of the West in Longitude 17 degrees and 30 minutes being yearly governed by a Mayor chosen out of one and thirty Citizens which are commonly called the Election and he ever after is known for an Alderman and clothed in Scarlet whereof four of the eldest are Iustices of Peace graced with a Sword-bearer a Recorder a Town-Clerk and four Sergeants with Mace The greatest glory that this City received was in King Athelstans days where as Malmesbury doth report he caused the Lords of â—ales by way of Tribute to pay yearly besides Hawkes and Hounds twenty pound of Gold and three hundred pound of Silver by weight but how that was performed and continued I find not 6 Things of rare note in this Shire are said to be Bone-well a Spring not faâ— from Richards Castle wherein are continually found little Fishes bones but not a â—in seen and being wholly cleansed thereof will notwithstanding have again the like whether naturally produced or in veins thither brought no man knoweth 7 But more admirable was the work of the Omnipotent even in our own remembrances and year of Christ â—esus 1571 when the Marcley Hill in the East of this Shire rouzed it self out of a dead sleep with a roaring noise removed from the place where it stood and for three days together travelled from her first â—ite to the great amazement and fear of the beholders It began to journey upon the seventh day of February being sunday at six of the Clock at night and by seven in the next morning had gone forty paces carrying with it Sheep in their coats hedge-rows and trees whereof some were overturned and some that stood upon the plain are firmly growing upon the hill those that were East were turned West and those in the West were set in the East in which remove it overthrew â—â—â—â—aston-Chappel and turned two high-ways near an hundred yards from their usual paths formerly trod The ground thus travelling was about twenty six Acres which opening it self with Rocks and all bare the earth before it for four hundred yards space without any stay leaving that which was Pasturage in place of the Tillage and the Tillage overspread with Paâ—turage Lastly overwhelming her lower parts mounted to an hill of twelve fathoms high and there rested her self after three days travel remaining his mark that so laid hand upon this Rock whose power â—ath poysed the Hills in his Ballance 8 Religious Houses built by the devotions of Princes and
shiâ—e Dudley in Stafford-shire and Rochford in Herâ—ford-shire whither I must refer the Reader to find out these and the like in these Western Tracts 8 Religious places erected in this Shire and devoted unto God by devout persons were Breden Brodlege Evesholme Alâ—ecester Cochel Eladbury Malverin Pershore Stodlâ—ge Westwoods and Worcester plenteously provided for and further secured by many priviledges both which they abused as were the Inditements of all such in the days of King Henry the eight at whose Bar himself being Iudge they were found guilty and received sentence of their ends and destâ—uction 9 Castles for defence built in this County â—uinate or in strength were Hartlebâ—ry Holt Haâ—dley Norton Elmely and Worcester besides his Majesties Mannour of Tichnel 10 This Shires diviâ—ion is into seven Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and one hundred fifty two Parish-Churches WARWICKE SHIRE VVARVVICK-SHIRE CHAPTER XXVI WARWICK-SHIRE so called from her Shire-Town is bounded upon the North with the County of Stafford upon the East with Watling-street-way is parted from Leicester-shire and the rest bordered upon by Nortâ—ampton-â—hire the South part is butted by Oxford and Glocester-shires and all her West with the County of Worcesâ—er 2 The Form thereof is not much unlike to a Scallop-shell growing from her Western-head and sprâ—ading her body wider with many indents The length thereof from Newton in the North to Long-Compton in the South are miles thirty and three and the broadest part of this Shire is from Hâ—wellgrange in the West unto Hill-morton in the East distant assunder twenty five miles the whole in circumference aboâ—t one hundred thiâ—ty and five miles 3 This Shire is seated near unto the heart of all England and therefore participates with her in the best both for Air and soyl wanting nothing for profit or pleasure for man The South part from Avon that runneth thorow the midst of this County is called the Feldon as more champion and tractable to be stirred for Corn which yearly yieldeth such plenty of harvest that the Husbâ—ndman smileth in beholding his pains and the meadowing pastures with their green mantles so imbroydred with â—lowers that from Edg-hill we may behold another Eden as Lot did the Plain of Ioâ—dan before that Sodom fell The Woodland lyeth upon the North of Avon so called in regard of the plenty of Woods which now are much thinner by the making of Iron and the soyl more churlish to yield to the Plough 4 The ancient people that poâ—sessed this Province are by Ptolomies description called the Cornavii wherein after were seated the Mercian Saxons a part of whose Kingdom it was and greatâ—y sought after by the West Saxons whose King Cutâ—red about the year of Châ—ist Iesus 749 in Battel â—ew Ethelbald at Sekington neer unto Tamworth And not far from thence King Edward the 4 aâ— unfortunatelâ— fought agaiâ—st that â—tout make-King Richard Nevil Earl of Warwiâ—k near unto which upon Blacklow hill Pierce Gaveston that proud and new-raised Earl of Cornwall was beheaded by Guy Earl of VVarwick assisted with the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford And surely by the testimony of Iohn Rosse and others this County hath been better replenished with people who maketh complâ—int of whole Town-ships depopulations altogether laid waste by a puissant Army of feeding sheep 5 Notwithstanding many fair Towns it hath and some of them matchable to the most of England The chief thereof is Coventree a City both stately for building and walled for defence whose Citizens having highly offended their â—irst Lord Leofrikâ— had their priviledges infringed and themselves oppressed with many heavy Tributes whose wife Lady Godiva pitying their estates uncessantly sâ—ed for their peace and that with such importunacy as hardly could be said whether was greater his hatred or her love at last overcome with her continual intercessions he granted her suit upon an uneivil and as he thought an unacceptable condition which was that she should ride naked thorow the face of the City and that openly at high noon day This notwithstanding she thankfully accepted and performed the Act accordingly enjoyned for this Lady Godiva stripping her self of all rich attire let loose the tresses of her fair hair which on every side so covered â—er nakedness that no part of her body was uncivil to sight whereby she redeemed her former freedoms and remissions of such heavy Tributes Whose memory I wish may remain honourable in that City for â—ver and her pity followed by sâ—ch posâ—essing Ladies This City had grant to choose their yearly Magistrates a Mayor and two Bayliffs and to build about and â—mbattle a wall by King Edward the 3 whom Heâ—ry the 6 corporated a County of it self and changed the names of their Bayliffs into Sheriffs and the walls then were built as they now stand thorow which open 13 gates for entrance besides 18 other Towers thereon for defence At Gofford-gate in the East hangeth the shield-bonâ— of a wild-Boare far bigger than the greatest Oxe-bone with whose sâ—out the great Pit called Swanswell was turned up and was â—â—ain by the famous Guy if we will believe report 6 Next unto this City in account and commerce is VVarwick upon the North west bank of Avon built by Gurgunstus the son of Beline as Iohn Rosse Monk of the place saith 375 years before the birth of Christ by Ninus called Caer-Guarvic and Caer Leon and by learned Cambden judged to be PRAESIDIUM the Roman Garrisons Town The situation of this place is most pleasant upon a hill riâ—ing from the River over which is a strong and fair Stone-bridge and her sharp stream upon the Town-side checked with a most sumptuous and stately Castle the decays whereof with great cost and curious buildings the right worthy Knight Sir Foulke Grevil in whose person shineth all true vertue and high Nobility hath repaired whose merits to me-ward I do acknowledge in setting this hand free from the daily imployments of a manual trade and giving it full liberty thus to express the inclination of my mind himself being the Procurer of my prâ—sent estate It seemeth this Town hath been walled about as appeareth by the Trench in some places seen and two very fair Gates whose passages are hewed out of the Rock as all other into the Town are over whom two beautiful Chappels are built that towards the East called S. Peters and that on the South-west S. Iames. Two fair Churches arâ— therein seated called S. Marries and S. Nicholas but these in and about the Town suppressed S. Lawrence S. Michaels Iohn Baptist and Iohn of Ierusaleâ— beside the Nâ—nnery in the North of the Town whose North Polâ— is elevated in Latitude 52 degrees 45 minutes and is seated from the first point in the West of Longitude 18 degrees and 45 minutes being yearly governed by a Bayliff twelve Brethren twenty four Burgesses for Common-Counsell a Recorder a Townclâ—rk and one Sergâ—ant their Attendant 7 Places of most memorable note observed in this Shire are Shugbury where the
many Horse-shooes nailed upon the Shire-Hall door some of large size and ancient fashion others new and of our present Nobility whose names are thereupon stamped as followeth Henry Hastings Roger Rutland Edward L. Russel Earl of Bedford Ralph L. Euwer of Parram Henry L. Bertley Henry L. Mordant William L. Compton Edward L. Dudley Henry L. Winsor George Earl of Cumberland Philip Earl of Montgomery L Willoughby P. L Whartâ—n The Lord Shandois Besides many others without names That such homage was his due the said Lord himself told me and at that iâ—stâ—nt a suit depended in Law against the Earl of Lincoln who refused to forfeit the penalâ—y or to pay his fine 6 Her ancient Inhabitant known to the Romans mentioned in Prolomy were the Coritani and by him branched thorow Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Darby-shire and this who with the Icenians were subdued by P. Ostorius under the yoke of Claudius the Roman Emperour and at their departure by conquest of the Saxons made it a Province unto their Mercian Kingdom whose fortunes likewise coming to a full period the Normans annexed it under their Crown 7 This County King Edward Confessor bequeathed by his Testament unto Queen Eadgith his wife and after her decease unto his Monastery at Westminster which William the Conquerour cancelled and made void bestowing the Lands upon others the Tithes and the Church unto those Monks That the Ferrars here first seated besides the credit of Writers the Horse-shooe whose badge then it was doth witness where in the Castle and now the Shire-Hall right over the â—eat of the Iudge a Horse-shooe of Iron curiously wrought containing five foot and a half in length and the breadth thereto proportionably is fixed The Castle hath been strong but now is decayed the Church fair end the Town spacious whose degree of Longitude is 19 46 scruples and the North-poles elevation in Latitude 53 degrees and 7 minutes 8 Let it not seem offensive that I to fill up this little Shire have inserted the seat of a Town not sited in this County for besides the conveniency of place the circuit and beauty but especially it being for a time an University did move much yea and the first in this Island if Iohn Hardings Author fail him not that will have Bladud to bring from Athens certain Philosophers whom here he seated and made publick profession of the Liberal Sciences where as he saith a great number of Scolars Studied the Arts and so continuing an University unto the coming of Augustine at which time the Bishop of Rome interdicted it for certain Heresies sprung up among the Britains and Saxons But most true it is that the Reign of King Edward the third upon debate falling betwixt the Southern and Northern Students at Oxford many School-men withdrew themselves hither and a while professed and named a Colledge according to one in Oxford Brazen-nose which retaineth that name unto this day This was so great a skar unto the other that when they were recalled by Proclamation to Oxford it was provided by Oath that no Student in Oxford should publickly profess or read in the Arts at Stanford to the prejudice of Oxford 9 As this Shire is the least in circuit so is it with the fewest Market-Towns replenished having onely two And from societies that feed upon the labours of others was this Land the freest for besides Rishal where Tibba the Falconers Goddess was worshiped for a Saint when Superstition had well neer put Gods true hononr out of place I find very few neither with more Castles strengthened than that at Okam whose ruines shew that a Castle hath been there Divided it is into five Hundreds and therein are planted forty eight Parish-Churches LEICESTER SHIRE LEICESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXX LEICESTERSHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with Nottingham-shire upon the East with Lincoln and Rutland upon the South with Northampton-shire upon the West with Watling-street-way is parted from Warwick-shire the rest being bounded with the confines of Darby is a County Champion abounding in Corn but sparing of woods especially in the South and East parts which are supplyed with Pit-coals plenteously gotten in the North of this Province and with abundance of Cattle bred in the hills beyond the River Wrâ—ak which is nothing so well inhabited as the rest 2 The Air is gentle milde and temperate and giveth appetite both to labour and rest wholesome it is and draweth mans life to a long age and that much without sickness at Carleton onely some defect of pronunciation appeareth in their speech 3 The Soil thus consisting the Commodities are raised accordingly of Corn Cattle and Coals and in the Rocks near Bever are sometimes found the Astroites the Star-like precious Stone 4 The ancient people that inhabited this County were the Coritani who were spread further into other Shires but after that the Romans had left the Land to it self this with many more fell to be under the possession and government of the Mercians and their Kings from whom the English enjoyed it at this day 5 In Circular-wise almost the compass of this Shire is drawn indifferently spacious but not very thick of Inclosures being from East to West in the broadest part not fully 30 miles and from North to South but 24 the whole circumference about 196 miles whose principal City is set as the Center almost in the midst from whom the Pole is elevated 53 degrees and 4 minutes in Laritude and for Longitude 19 degrees 22 minutes 6 From this Town the Shire hath the name though the name of her self is diversly written as Legecestria Legara Legâ—o-cester by Ninius Caer-Lerion by Matthew of Westminster if we do not mistake him â—irall and now lastly Leicester ancient enough if King Leir was her builder eight hundred and forty and four years before the birth of our Saviour wherein he placed a Flamine to serve in the Temple of Ianus by himself there erected and where he was buried if Ieffery ap Arthur say true but now certain it is that Ethelred the Mercian Monarch made it an Episcopal See in the year of Christ Iesus 680 wherein Sexwulâ—â— of his elâ—ction became the first Bishop which shortly after was thence translated and therewith the beauty of the Town began to decay upon whole desolations that erectifying Lady Edelfled cast her eyes of compassion and both re-edified the buildings and compassed it about with a strong wall where in short time the Cities Trade so increased that Matthew Paris in his lesser Storâ— reporteth as followeth Lege-cester saith he is a right wealthy City and notably defeâ—ded and had the wall a sure foundation were inferiour to no City whatsoever But this pride of prosperity long lasted not under the Normans for it was sore oppressed with a world of Calamities when Robert Bossu the Crouch-back Earl of that Province rebelled against his Soveâ—aign Lord King Henry the second whereof hear the same Author Paris speak Through the obstinaâ—e stubbornness of Earl Robert saith he
the whole City Leicester was besieged and thrown down by King Henry and the Wall that seemed indissoluble was utterly raced even to the ground The pieces of these Fragments so fallen down remained in his days like to hard Rocks through the strength of the Morter cementing whole lumps together and at the Kings command the City was set on fire and burnt the Castle raced and a heavy imposition laid upon the Citizens who with great sums of money bought their own banishments but were so used in their departure that for extream fear many of them took Sanctuary both at S. Edmunds and S. Albans In repentance of these mischiefs the Author thereof Earl Robert built the Monastery of S. Mary de Pratis wherein himself became a Canon Regular and for fifteen years continuance in sad laments served God in continual prayers With the like devotion Henry the first Duke of Lancaster built an Hospital for an hundred and ten poor people with a Collegiate Church a Dean twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars suffciently provided for with Revenues wherein himself lyeth buried and it was the greatest ornament of that City until the hand of King Henry the eighth lay over-heavy upon all the like foundations and laid their aspiring tops at his own feet The fortunes of another Crouch-back King Richard Usurper who no less remarkable in this City than the former Robert was both of them in like degree of dishonourable course of life though of different issue at their deaths the one dying penitent and of devout esteem the other leaving the stench of Tyranny to all following ages who from this City setting forth in one day with great pompe and in Battle aray to keep the Crown sure upon his own Helmet in a sore fought field yieldeth both it and his life unto the head and hands of Henry of Richmond his Conquerour and the next day was brought back like a Hog naked and torn and with contempt without tears obscurely buried in the Gray Friers of this City whose suppression had suppressed the plot place of his grave and only the stone-chest wherein he was laid a drinking trough now for horses in a common Inn retaineth the memory of that great Monarchs Funeral and so did a stone in the Church and Chappel of S. Maries inclose the Corps of the proud and pontifical cardinal Wolsey who had prepared for himself as was said a far more richer Monument 7 Other places worthy of remembrance in this Shire were these In the West where a high Cross was erected in former times stood the fair City Cleycester the Romans BENONNE where their Legions lay and where their two principal ways crossed each other as the Inhabitants report Loughborow in the North verge was as Marianus affirmeth taken from the Britains by Cuthwolse their King about the year of Christ 572. At Redmore near Bosworth Westward in this County the Kingdom of England lay in hazard of one Battle when King Richards field was fought where the Land at once was free from a Tyrant and wicked Usurper Neither may we pass Lutterworth as the least in account where the famous Iohn Wickliff Englands Morning star dispersed the clouds of all Papistical darkness by preaching the Gospel in that his charge the stile of his pen so piercing in power that the man of Sin ever since hath been better known to the world 8 Religious houses by Princes erected and by them devoted to God and his service the chiefest in this Shire were at Leicester Grace-Dieu Kerby-Bellers and at Burton a Spittle for Lazers a disease then newly approached in this Land for the erection whereof a common contribution was gathered thorow the Realm the patients in this place were not so much deformed in skin as the other were in the defects of the soul whose skirts being turned up to the sight of the world their shames were discovered and those houses dissolved that had long maintained such Idolatrous sins 9 This Shires division is into six Hundreds and in them are seated twelve Market-Towns for commerce and containeth in circuit two hundred Parish-Churches LINCOLNE SHIRE LINCOLN-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXI THe County of Lincoln by the Normans called Nicolshire is confined on the North with Hamber on the East with the German Ocean upon the South is parted from Cambridge and Northampton-shire by the River Nyne and on the West from Nottingham and York-shires by Dun and Trent 2 The length of this Province extendeth from Barton unto Humber in the North unto Stanford upon the River Nyne in the South are miles by our English measure fifty five and the breadth thereof from Newton in the West stretched unto Winthorp upon her East Sea containeth thirty five The whole in circumference about one hundred and eighty miles 3 The Air upon the East and South part is both thick and foggy by reason of the Fens and unsolute grounds but therewithal very moderate and pleasing Her graduation being removed from the Aequator to the degree of 53 and the winds that are â—ent of her still working-Seaâ— to disperse those vapours from all power of hurt 4 The Form of this County doth somewhat resemble the body of a Lute whose East-coasts lye bow-like into the German-Ocean all along pestered with inlets of salt waters and sands which are neither firm nor safe for travellers as those in the South proved unto King Iohn who marching Northward from Northfolk against his disloyal Barons upon those washes lost all his furniture and carriage by the sudden return of the Sea and softness of the Sands 5 Her Soil upon the West and North is abundantly fertile pleasant and rich stored with pasturage arable and meadowing grounds the East and South Fenny and brackish and for Corn barren but for fowl and fiâ—h exceeding any other in the Realm wherein at some times and seasons of the year hath been taken in nets in August at one draught aboue three thousand Mallards and other Fowls of the like kind 6 The Shires commodities consist chiefly in Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Flax and Alablaster as also in a Plaister much esteemed of by the Romans for their works of Imagery and whereof Pliny in his Natural History maketh mention And the Astoriâ—es a precious stoâ—e Star-like pointed with five beams or rays anciently esteemed for their vertue in victories upon the South-west of this County near Bever are found not far thence in our Fathers memory at Harlaxton was ploughed up a brazen vessel wherein was inclosed a golden Helmet of an ancient fashion set with precious stones which was presented to Katherine of Spain Wife and Dowager to King Henry the eighth 7 This Shire triumpheth in the birth of Beauclerk King Henry the first whom Selby brought forth and of King Henry the fourth at Bullingbrooke born but may as justly lament for the death of King Iohn herein poisoned by Simon a Monk of Swynsted Abbey and of Queen Eleanor wife to King Edward the first the mirrour of wedlock and love to
Morda in the West twenty and five miles the whole in circuit about extending to one hundred thirty four miles 3 Wholesome is the Air delectable and good yielding the Spring and the Autumn Seed-time and Harvest in a temperate condition and affordeth health to the Inhabitants in all seasons of the year 4 The Soil is rich and standeth most upon a reddish Clay abounding in Wheat and Barley Pit-coals Iron and Woods which two last continue not long in league together It hath Rivers that make fruitful the Land and in their Waters contain great store of fresh-fish whereof Severn is the chief and second in the Realm whose stream cutteth this County in the midst and with many winding sporteth her self forward leaving both Pastures and Meadows bedecked with flowers and green colours which every where she bestoweth upon such her attendants 5 This River was once the bounds of the North-Britains and divided their possession from the Land of the Saxons until of latter times their began to decay and the Welsh to increase who enlarged their lists to the River Dee So formerly had it separated the Ordovices from the Cornavâ—â— those ancient Inhabitants mentioned by Ptolomy The Ordovices under Caractacus purchased great honour whilst he a Prince of the Silures removed his Wars thence among them where a while he maintained the Britains liberty with valour and courage in despite of the Romans His Fort is yet witness of his unfortunate Fight seated near Clune-Castle at the confluence of that River with Temd where in remembrance of him the place is yet called Caer-Caradoc a Fort of his won by P. Ostorius Lieutenant of the Romans about the year of Grace 53. The Cornavii were seated upon the North of Severn and branched into other Counties of whom we have said 6 But when the strength of the Romans was too weak to support their own Empire and Britain emptied of her Souldiers to resist the Saxons set foot in this most fair Soil and made it a part of their Mercian Kingdom their line likewise issued to the last period and the Normans beginning where these Saxons left the VVelshmen took advantage of all present occasions and brake over Severn unto the River Dee to recover which the Normans first Kings often assayed and Henry the Second with such danger of Life that at the Siege of Bridge-North he had been slain had not Sir Hubert Syncler received the Arrow aimed at him in stepping betwixt that Shaft and his Soveraign and therewith was shot thorow unto death In the like danger stood Henry Prince of Scotland who in the strait Siege of Ludlow begirt by King Stephen had been plucked from his Saddle with an Iron-hook from the Wall had not Stephen presently rescued him Anno 1139. 7 This then being the Marches of England and VVales was sore afflicted by bloody broils which caused many of their Towns to be strongly walled and thirty two Castles to be strongly built Lastly into this County the most wise King Henry the Seventh sent his eldest Son Prince Arthur to be resident at Ludlow where that fair Castle became a most famous Princes Court And here King Henry the Eight ordained the Council of the Marches consisting of a Lord President as many Counsellors as the Prince shall please a Secretary an Attorney a Soliciter and four Iustices of the Counties in Wales in whose Court were pleaded the Causes depending and termly tried for the most part in presence of that honourable President 8 But the Shire-Town Shrewsbury for circuit trade and wealth doth far exceed this and is inferiour to few of our Cities her buildings fair her streets many and large her Citizens rich her trade for the most part in the Staple Commodities of Cloth and Freeses her Walls strong and of a large compass extending to seventeen hundred paâ—es about besides another Bulwark ranging from the Castle down unto and in part along the side of Severn thorow which there are three entrances into the Town East and West over by two fair Stone-Bridges with Towers Gates and Bars and the third into the North no less strong than them over which is mounted a large Castle whose gaping chinks do doubtless threaten her fall This Town is governed by two Bailiffs yearly elected out or twenty four Burgesses a Recorder Town-Clerk and Chamberlain with three Sergeants at Mace the Pole being raised hence from the degrees of Latitude 53 16 minutes and from West in Longitude 17 degrees 27 minutes 9 Yea and ancienter Cities have been set in this Shire such was Râ—xalter or Wroxcester lower upon Severn that had been Vriconium the chiefest City of the Cornavii Vfocâ—nia now Okenyateâ— near unto the Wrekin and under Red-Castle the Ruins of a City whom the Vulgar report to have been famous in Arthurs daies but the pieces of Romish Coins in these three do well assure us that therein their Legions lodged as many other Trenches are signs of War and of Blood But as Swords have been stirring in most parts of this Province so Beads have been hid for the preservation of the whole and places erected for the maintenance of Votaries in whom at that time was imputed great holiness in Shrewsbury many at Coulmere Stow Dudley Bromfield Wigmore Hamond Lyleshill Bildas Bishops-Castle and Wâ—nloke where in the Reign of Richard the Second was likewise a rich Mine of Copper But the same blasts that blew down the Buds of such Plants scattered also the Fruits from these fair Trees which never since bare the like nor is likely any more to do That only which is rare in this Province is a Well at Pitchford in a private mans yard whereupon floateth a thick Skum of liquid Bitumen which being clear off to day will gather the like again on the Morrow not much unlike to the Lake in the Land of Iewry This Shire is divided into fifteen Hundreds wherein are seated fourteen Market-Towns and hath in it one hundred and seventy Churches for Gods sacred and divine Service CHESTER Petrus Kaerius caeelavit The County Palatine of CHESTER CHAPTER XXXVI CHESSE-SHIRE the County Palatine of Chester is parted upon the North from Lancashire with the River Mercey upon the East by Mercey Goit and the Dane is separated from Darâ—y and Stafford-shires upon the South toucheth the Counties of Shrop-shire and Flint and upon the West with Dee is parted from Denbigh-shire 2 The form of this County doth much resemble the right Wing of an Eagle spreading it self from Wirall and as it were with her Pinion or first Feather toucheth York-shire betwixt which extreams in following the windings of the Shires divider from East to West are 47 miles and from North to South twenty six miles The whole Circumference about one hundred forty two miles 3 If the affection to my natural producer blind not the judgment of this my Survey for Air and Soyl it equals the best and far exceeds her Neighbours the next Counties for although the Climate be cold and toucheth
supposed to have been buried might beget much wondeâ— and admiration but that Lazius confirmeth that in ancient times they had custom to preserve light in Sepulâ—hres by an artificial resolving of Gold into a liquid and fatty substance which should continue burning a long time and for many ages together 12 This York-shire Picture I will draw to no more length lest I be condemned with the Sophister for insisting in the praise of Hercules when no man opposed himself in his discommendation This Country of it self is so beautiful in her own natural colours that without much help she presents delightful varieties both to the sight and other senses The Bishipprick oF DURHAM The BISHOPRICK of DURHAM CHAPTER XXXIX THe Bishoprick of Durham containeth those parts and Town-ships that lie betwixt the River Tees and Derwent and all along the German Seas It is neighboured on the North with Northumberland and their Iurisdictions parted by the River Derwent her West is touched by Cumberland Westmorland and from Stain-More divided by the River Tees and by the same water on her South from York-shire even unto the Sea and the East is altogether coasted by the German-Seas 2 The form thereof is triangular and sides not much differing for from her South-East unto the West-point are about thirty miles from thence to her North-east and Tyne-mouth are likewise as many and her base along the Sea shore are twenty-three miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and three miles 3 The Air is sharp and very piercing and would be more were it not that the vapours from the German-Seas did help much to dissolve her Ice and Snow and the store of Coals therein growing and gotten do warm the body and keep back the cold which fewel besides their own use doth yield great commodities unto this Province by trade thereof into other parts 4 For Soil it consisteth much alike of Pastures Arable and barren grounds the East is the richest and most champion the South more moorish but well inhabited her West all rocky without either Grass or Grain notwithstanding recompenceth her possessâ—rs with as great gain both in rearing up Cattel and bringing forth Coal whereof all this County is plentifully stored and groweth so near to the upper face of the earth that in the trod-ways the Cart-wheels do turn up the same Some hold their substance to be a clammy kind of clay hardned with heat abounding in the earth and so becoming concocted is nothing else but Bitumen for proof whereof these Coals have both the like smell and operation of Bitumen for being sprinkled with water they burn more vehemently buâ— with oyl are quite extinguished and put out 5 The ancient Inhabitants known unto Ptolomy were the Brigantes of whom we have spoken in the General of York-shire they being subdued by the Romans after whom the Saxons made it a part of their Northumberland Kingdom at first a Province belonging to the Deirians and enjoyed by Ella their first King afterwards invaded by the Danes and lastly possessed by the Normans whose site being so near unto Scotland hath many times felt their fury and hath been as a Buckler betwixt them and the English for which cause the Inhabitants have certain freedoms and are not charged with service as other Counties are so that this with Westmorland Cumberland and Northumberland are not divided into hundreds in those Parliament Rolls whence I had the rest which want I must leave for others to supply 6 Over this County the Bishops thereof have had the Royalties of Princes and the Inhabitants have pleaded priviledge not to pass in service of War over the River of Tees or Tyne whose charge as they have alledged was to keep and defend the Corps of S. Cuthbert their great adored Saint and therefore they termed themselves The holy work folks And the repute of this Cuthbert and his supposed defence against the Scots was such that our English Kings in great devotion have gone in Pilgrimage to visite his Tomb and have given many large possessions to his Church such were King Egfred Aelfred and Guthrun the Dane Edward and Athelstane Monarch of England and zealous Canuâ—e the greatest of all who came thither bare-footed and at Cuthberts Tomb both augmented and confirmed their Liberties This Saint then of nothing made Durham become great and William the Conquerour of a Bishoprick made it a County Palatine at that time William Cereceph Bishop of the Diocess pulled down the old Church which Aldwin had built and with sumptuous cost laid the foundation of a new wherein S. Cuthberts Shrine in the vacancy of the Bishops was the Keepâ—er of the Castle-Keys In the West of this Church and place called Gallile the Marble-Tomb of venerable Beda remaineth who was born at Iarrâ— in this County and became a Monk at Weremouth whose painful industrie and light of learning in those times of darkness are wonderful as the Volums which he wrote do well declare And had the idle Monks of England imployed their time after his example their Founders expectations had not been frustrate nor those Foundations so easily overturned But the revenge of sin ever following the actions of sins dissolved first the largeness of this Counties liberties under the Raign of King Edward the First and since hath shaken to pieces those places herein erected under the Raign of King Henry â—he Eight such were Durham Sherborne Stayndrop Iarro Weremouth and Egleton all which felt the reward of their idleness and wrath of him that is jealous of his own honour 7 Things of rare note observed in this Shire are three pits of a wonderful depth commonly called the Hell-Kettles which are adjoyning neer unto Darlington whose waters are somewhat warm These are thought to come of an Earth-quake which happened in the year of Grace 1179 whereof the 〈◊〉 of Tiâ—-mouth maketh mention whose record is this On Christmass-day at Oxenhall in the Territory of Darlington within the Bishoprick of Durham the ground heaved up aloft like unto an high Tower and so continued all that day as it were unmoveable until the evening and then fell with so horrible a noise that it made all the neighbour dwellers sore afraid and the earth swallowed it up and made in the same place a deep pit which is there to be seen for a testimony unto this day 8 Of no less admiration are certain Stones lying within the River Were at Butterbee 〈◊〉 Durham from whose sides at the Ebb and low Water in the Summer issueth a certain salt 〈◊〉 water which with the Sun waxeth white and growing into a thick substance becometh a necessary Salt to the use of the by-dwellers 9 And places of elder times had in account by the Romans were Benovium now Biâ—chester and Condercum Chester in the street where their monies have been digged up and at Condercum so much that Egelrick Bishop of Durham was therewith made exceeding rich This County hath been strengthened with seven strong Castles is yet traded
in it for the celebration of Divine Service CUMBERLAND CHAPTER XLI CUMBERLAND the furthest North-West Province in this Realm of England confronteth upon the South of Scotland and is divided from that Kingdom partly by the River Kirsop then crossing Eske by a tract thorow Solomâ—-Moss until it come to the Solwaye-Frith by Ptolomy called the Itune-Bay The North-West part is neighboured by Northumberland more East-ward with Westmerland the South with Lancashire and the West is wholly washed with the Irish-Seas 2 The form whereof is long and narrow pointing wedg-like into the South which part is altogether pestred with copped hills and therefore hath the name of Cop-land The middle is more level and better inhabited yielding sufficient for the sustenance of man but the North is wild and solitary cumbred with Hills as Copland is 3 The Air is piercing and of a sharp temperature and would be more biting were it not that those high Hills break off the Northern storms and cold falling Snows 4 Notwithstanding rich is this Province and with great varieties thereof is replenished the Hills though rough yet smile upon their beholders spread with Sheep and Cattel the Vallies stored with Grass and Corn sufficient the Sea affordeth great store of Fish the Land overspread with variety of Fowls and the Rivers feed a kind of Muskle that bringeth forth Pearl where in the mouth of the Irt as they lie gaping and sucking in Dew the Country people gather and sell to the Lapidaries to their own little and the buyers great gain But the Mines Royal of Copper whereof this Country yieldeth much is for use the richest of all the place is at Keswick and Newland where likewise the Black-Lead is gotten whose plenty maketh it of no great esteem otherwise a commodity that could hardly be missed 5 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans were the Brigantes whom Ptolomy disperseth into Westmorland Richmond Durham York-shire and Lancashire But when the Saxons had overborn the Britains and forced them out of the best to seek their resting among the vast Mountains these by them were entred into where they held play with their enemies maugre their force and from them as Marianus doth witness the Land was called Cumber of those Kumbri the Britains But when the State of the Saxons was sore shaken by the Danes this Cumberland was accounted a Kingdom of it self for so the Flower-gatherer of Westminster recordeth King Edmund saith he with the help of Leoline Prince of South-Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the eyes of the 〈◊〉 soâ—s of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom unto Malcolm King of Scots whereof their eldest sons became Prefects This Province King Stephen to purchâ—se favour with the Scots what time he stood in most need of aid confirmed by gift under their Crown which Henry the Second notwithstanding made claim unto and got as Nubrigensis writeth and laid it again in the Marches of England since when many bickerings betwixt these Nations herein have hapned but none so bitter against the Scottish-side as was that at Salome Moss where their Nobility disdaining their General Oliver Sinclere gave over the Battel and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour pierced so deeply into to the heart of King Iames the fifth that for grief thereof he shortly after died 6 Many memorable Antiquities remain and have been found in this County for it being the Confines of the Romans Possessions was continually secured by their Garrisons where remains at this day part of that admirable Wall built by Severus also another Fortification from 〈◊〉 to Elâ—â—-Moâ—th upon the Sea-shore toward Ireland by Stillicâ— raised when under 〈◊〉 he suppressed the rage of the Picts and Irish and freed the Seas of the Saxon Pirates Upon Hard-knot hill Moresby Old-Carleil Pap-Castle along the Wall and in many other places their ruines remain with Altars and Iâ—scriptions of their Captains and Colonies whereof many have been found and more as yet lie hid 7 The chiefest City in this Shire is Careile pleasantly seated betwixt the Rivers Eden Petterelâ— and Caud by the Romans called Luguvallum by Beda Luell by Ptolomy Leucopibia by Ninius Caer-Lualid and by us Carlile This City flourishing under the Romans at their departure by the furious outrages of the Scots and Picts was dejected yet in the daies of Egfrid King of Northumberland was walled about but again defaced by the over-running Danes lay buried in her own ashes the space of two hundred years upon whose ruines at length Rufus set his compassionate eye and built there the Castle planting a Colony of Flemings to secure the Coasts from the Scots but upon better advisement removed them into Wales After him Henry his Brother and Successor ordained this City for an Episcopal See whose site is placed in the degree of Longitude from the first West part 17 and 2 scruples and the Pole thence elevated from the degree of Latitude 55 and 56 scruples 8 West from hence at Burgh upon the Sand was the fatal end of our famous Monarch King Edward the First who there leaving his Wars unfinished against Scotland left his troubles and soon missed life to his untimely and soon lamented death 9 And at Salkelds upon the River Eden a Monument of seventy seven Stones each of them ten foot high above ground and one of them at the entrance fifteen as a Trophy of Victory was erected These are by the By-dwellers called Long-Meg and her Daughters 10 This Country as it stood in the Fronts of Assaults so was it strengthened with twenty-five Castles and preserved with the Prayers as then was thought of the Vâ—taries in the Houses erected at Carlilâ— Lâ—ncroft Wether all Holme Daker and Saint Bees These with others were dissolved by King Henry the Eight and their revenues shadowed under his Crown but the Province being freed from the charge of Subsidie is not therefore divided into Hundreds in the Parliament Roles whence we have taken the divisions of the rest only this is observed that therein are seated nine Market-Towns fifty eight Parish-Churches besides many other Chappels of Ease NORTHUMBERLAND NORTHUMBERLAND CHAPTER XLII THE County of Northumberlaâ—d hath on the South the Bishoprick of Durham being shut in with the River Derwent and with Tyne the North is confined upon Scotland the West upon part of Scotland and part of Cumberland the East-side lyeth altogether upon the Sea called Mare Germanicum 2 The form thereof is Triangular and differs not much in the sidings for from her South-East unto the South-West point are near unto 40 miles from thence to her North-point are sixty miles and her base along the Sea-shore 45 miles The whole in circumference is about one hundred forty five miles 3 The Air must needs be subtile and piercing for that the Northernly parts are most exposed to extremity of weathers as great winds hard froâ—ts and long lying of snows c. Yet would it be far more sharp than it is were
yet which is wonderful there be many great heaps of Stones called Laws which the neighbouring people are verily perswaded were cast up and laid together in old time in remembrance of some that were slain there There is also a martial kind of Men which lie out up and down in little Cottages called by them Sheals and Shealings from April to August in scattering fashion summering as they term it their Cattel and these are such a sort of people as were the ancient Nomâ—dâ—sâ— The last not least matter of note is this that the Inhabitants of Morpeth set their own Town on fire in the year of Christ 1215 in the spight they bare to King Iohn for that he and his Rutars over-ran these Countries This County hath five Market-Towns in it for her Trade of Buying and Selling 26 Castles for her strength and fortification and 460 Parish-Churches for Divine Service THE ISLE OF MAN MAN-ISLAND CHAPTER XLIII THe Isle of Man is termed by Ptolomy Moneda by Pliny Menabia by Orâ—sius Mâ—navia by Beda Menavia secunda and by Gildas Eubonia and Menaw The Britains name it Menow the Inhabitants Maninge and we Englishmen The Isle of Man It boundeth Northward upon Scotland Southward upon the Isle of Auglesey Eastward upon part of Lanca-shire and Westward upon the Coast of Ireland 2 The form is long and narrow for from Cranston to the Mull-hills where it is longest it only stretcheth it self to twenty nine miles but from the widest part which is from Peele-Castle to Douglas-point are scarce nine the whole compass about is fourscore and two miles 3 The Air is cold and sharp being bordering upon the Septentrionâ—l parts and for her shelter having but a wall of water They have few Woods only they light sometimes upon subterranean trees buried under the ground by digging up the earth for a clammy kind of Turff which they use for fuell 4 The Soil is reasonable fruitful both for Cattel Fish and Corn yet it rather commendeth the pains of the People than the goodness of the ground for by the Industry of the Inhabitants it yieldeth â—uffciently of every thing for it self and sendeth good store into other Countries It hath Fields by good manuring plenteous of Barley and Wheat but especially of Oats and from hence it comes that the People eat most of all Oaten-bread It bears abundance of Hemp and Flax and is full of mighty Flocks of Sheep and other Cattel yet are they smaller in body than those we have in England and are much like to the Cattel in Ireland that are neighbouring upon it 5 This Commodity makes this Iâ—land more happy than we are here for the People are there free from unnecessary commencements of Suits from long and dilatory Pleas and from frivolous feeing of Lawyers No Iudg or Clerks of the Couâ—t take there any penny for drawing Instruments or makâ—ng of Processes All Controversies are there determined by certain Iudges without writings or other charges and them they all Deemsters and chuse forth among themselves If any complaint be made to the Magistrate for wrong either done or suffered he presently taketh up a Stone and fixeth his mark upon it and so delivereth it unto the Party Plaintiff by vertue of which he both calls his Adversary to appearance and to produce his Witnesses If the Case fall out to be more litigious and of greater consequence than can easily be ended it is then referred to twelve Men whom they term The Keys of the Island Another happiness enricheth this Island namely the Security and Government thereof as being defended from neighbour Enemies by Souldiers that are pâ—est and ready for on the South side-of the Isle stands Bala-Curi the Bishops chief place of residence and the Pylâ— and a Block-house staâ—ding in a little Island where there is a continual Garrison of Souldiers And it is so well managed for matter of rule and civil Discipline that every man there possesseth his own in peace and safety No man lives in dread or danger of what he hath Men are not there inclined to Robbing or Thieving or Licentious living 6 The Inhabitants of this Island are for the most part religious and loving to their Pastors to whom they do much reverence and respect frequenting daily to Divine Service without division in the Church or innovation in the Commonwealth The wealthier sort and such as hold the fairest possessions do imitate the people of Laca-shire both in their honest carriage and good house-keeping Howbeit the common sort of People both in their language and manners come nighest unto the Irish although they somewhat relish and favour of the qualities of the Norwâ—gians 7 Things not worthy to be buried in the grave of oblivion are that this Island in the midst thereof riseth up with hills standing very thick amongst which the highest is called Sceafull from whence upon a clear and fair day a man may easily see three Kingdoms at once that is Scotland and Ireland This Isle prohibits the customary manner of begging from dore to dore detesting the disorders as well Civil as Ecclesiastical of Neighbour Nations And the last not least that deserves to be committed to memory is that the women of this Country wheresoever they go out of their dores gird themselves about with the Winding-sheet that they purpose to be buried in to shew themselves mindful of their mortality and such of them as are at any time condemned to die are sowed within a Sack and flung from a Rock into the Sea 8 The whole Isle is divided into two parts South and North whereof the one resembleth the Scottish in Speech the other the Irish. It is defended by two Castles and hath seventeen Parishes five Market-Towns and many Villages A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN CHAPTER XLIV IT is here very pertinent to the purpose to insert a small History of this Island that the atchievements heretofore had may not be utterly buried although they are waxen very old and almost torn from remembrance by the teeth of â—ime I is confessed by all that the Britains held this Island as they did all Britain But when the Nations from the North overflowed these South parts like violent tempests it became subject to the the Scots Afterwards the Norwegians who did most hurt from the Northern Sea by their manifold robberies made this Island and the Hebrides to be their haunt and erected Lords and peâ—â—y Kings in the same as is expressed in this Chronicle written as is reported by the Monks of the Abbey of Russin A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN ANno Dom. 1065 Edward of blessed memory King of England departed this life and Harald the Son of Godwin succeeded him in the Kingdom against whom Harold Harfager King of Norway came into the Field and fought a Battel at Stainford-bridge but the English obtaining the Victory put them all to flight Out of which chase Godred sirnamed Crovan the Son of Harald the black of Iseland came unto Godred the
homeward with his Wife he was drowned in a Tempest neer unto the Coasts of Radland 13 An. Dom. 1249. Raignald the Son of Olave and brother to Harold began his raign and on the thirtieth day thereof was slain by one Tvar a Knight in a Meadow neer unto the holy Trinity-Church and lieth buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin 14 In the year 1252. Magnus the son of Olave came to Man and was made King The next year following he went to the King of Norway and stayed there a year 15 In the year 1265. Magnus Olaves son King of Man and of the Islands departed this life at the Castle of Russin and was buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin 16 In the year 1266 the Kingdom of the Islands was translated by reason of Alexander King of Scots who had gotten into his hands the Western Islands and brought the Isle of Man under his dominion as one of that number 17 An. 1340. William Montacute Earl of Salisbury wrested it from the Scottish by strong hand and force of Arms and in year the 1393 as Thomas Walsingham saith he sold Man and the Crown thereof unto William Scroope for a great summe of money But he being beheaded for high Treason and his Goods confiscate it came into the hands of Henry the Fourth King of England who granted this Island unto Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland But Henry Piercy entring into open Rebellion the fifth year following the King sent Sir Iohn Stanley and William Stanley to seize the Isle and Castle of Man the inheritance whereof he granted afterwards to Sir Iohn Stanley and his Heirs by Letters Patents â—with the Patronage of the Bishoprick c. So that his Heirs and Successors who were honoured with the Title of Earls of Darby were commonly called Kings of Man HOLY ISLAND GARNSEY FARNE IARSEY HOLY-ISLAND CHAPTER XLV THis Island is called Lindisfarne by the River Lied that is opposite unto it on the Coast of Northumberland Beda termed it a Demâ—-Island The Britains name it Iuis Medicante for that it twice every day suffereth an exordinary inundation and over-flowing of the Ocean in manner of an Island which twice likewise makes it continent to the Land and returning unto her watry habitation lays the Shore bare again as before It is called in English Holy-Island for that in ancient times many Monks have been accustomed to retired themselves thither and to make it their receptacle for solitude having on the West and South Northumberland and more South Eastward the Island Farne 2 The form of it is long and narrow the West-side narrower than the East and are both conjoyned by a very small spang of Land that is left unto Conies The South is much broader than the rest It is from East to West about two thousand two hundred and fifty paces and from North to South twelve hundred and fifty paces so that the circumference cannot be great 3 The Air is not very good either for health or delight as being seated on those parts that are subject to extremity of cold and greatly troubled with vapouâ—s and foggy mists that arise from the Seas 4 The Soil cannot be rich being rocky and full of Stones and unfit for Corn and Tillage It is neither commended for Hills to feed Sheep nor Pastures to fat Cattel neither hath it Vallies replenished with sweet Springs or running Rivolets only one excepted descending from a standing Pond The only thing this Island yieldeth is a fit and accommodate aptitude for Fishing and Fowling 5 Notwithstanding this is very worthy of note concerning the same which Alcun wrote in an Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland namely that it was a place more venerable than all the places of Britain and that after the departure of S. Paulinus from York there Christian Religion began in their Nation though afterwards it there felt the first beginning of misery and calamity being left to the spoil of Pagans and Miscreants 6 It is also remembred of this Island that sometime there hath been in it an Episcopal See which Aidan the Scot instituted being called thither to Preach the Christian Faith to the People of Northumberland being thus delighted with the solitary situation thereof as a most fit place for retirement But afterwards when the Danes rifled all the Sea-Coasts the Episcopal See was translated to Durham 7 This Island so small in account either for compass or commodity and so unpeopled and unprofitable cannot be numerous in Towns and Villages It hath in it only one Town with a Church and a Castle under which there is a commodious Haven defended with a Block-house situate upon an Hill towards the South-East FARNE-ISLE THis Isle South-Eastward seven miles from Holy-Island sheweth it self distant almost two miles from Brambrough Castle On the West and South it beareth upon Northumberland and on the North-east-side it hath other smaller Islands adjoyning to it as Widopons and Staple-Island which lie two miles off Bronsinan and two lesser than these which are called the Wambes 2 The Form of this Iâ—le is round and no longer in compass than may easily be ridden in one half of a day The breadth of it is but five miles and the length no more The whole circumference extends it self no further than to fifteen miles 3 The Air is very unwholsom and subject both to many Dysenteries and other Diseases by reason of the miâ—ty Fogs and Exhalations that are thereunto drawn up from the Ocean It is many times troubled with unusual Tempests of Winds with boisterous â—ury of stormy Rains and with several and uncouth rages of the Sea 4 The Soil cannot be fertile being incircled about with craggy Clifts â—either hath it in it much matter either of pleasure or profit It can neither defend it self from Cold lacking Fuel as Wood Coal Turffs c. Nor from Famine wanting Food as Corn Pastures Cattel c. The best Commodity it yields is Fish and Fowl 5 This thing nevertheless is worthy to be remembred of it which Beda writing of the Life of Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarne that Tutelar Patron of the Northern Eâ—glishmen reporteth namely that in this Isle he built a City fitting his Government and erected certain Houses in the same the whole building standing almost round in compass and reaching the space of four or five Pearches The Wall about it he made higher than a Mans height to with-hold and keep in the wanton lasciviousness both of his thoughts and eyes and to elevate the whole intention of his mind up to heavenly desires that he might wholly give himself to the service of God But these are all made the ruins of time as sithence many other Monuments have been of worthy Antiquity 6 I cannot report that there are now many Houses standing in it much less Towns or Villages Only this that it hath a Tower or Place of Fortification belonging unto it placed well-neer in the middle part of the Isle GARNSEY THis Island
turneth Scotos into Scyttan and so saith Walsingham from one and the same original Scythae Scytici Scota Scotici take their names as from Geta Getici Gothi Gothici have done The Southren parte of Scotland wherin is y e strange Lake Lomund Petrus Kaerius caelavit 6 Their Manners were alike saith Diodorus Siculus and Strabo and their Garments not much different as by Sidonius Apollinaris may be gathered where he seemeth rather to describe the modern Wild-Irish than the antike Gete Notwithstanding this Nations Original by some hath been derived from Scota the supposed Daughter of the Egyptian King Pharaoh that nourished Moses afterwards married unto Gaithelus the Son of Cecrops Founder of Athens who first seating in Spain passed thence into Ireland and lastly into Scotland where his Wife Scota gave Name to the Nation if we believe that they hit the mark who shoot at the Moon 7 But that the Scythians came into Spain besides the Promontory bearing their name Scythicum Silius Italicus a Spaniard born doth shew who bringeth the Concani a Nation therein seated from the Massagetae which were the Scythians and the Sarmatae whom all confess to have been Scythians were the builders as he saith of the City Susanna in Spain And how from Spain they possessed themselves of Ireland at the time when the Kingdom of Iudah flourished Ninius the Disciple of Elvodugus doth tell and their own Histories of Nemethus and Delas besides Cisnerus and others do shew who were first known by the name of Scots as is gathered out of Porphyry alledged by S. Ierome in the Reign of Aurelianus the Emperour Gildas calleth them the Irish-Spoilers Giraldus A Scottish Nation descended from Ireland which in regard of them by Eginhardus is termed The Isle of Scots by Beda The Isle inhabited by the Scots and by other Historians Scotland the great as their seat in Britain was called Scotland the less The Eastern part of Scotland wherin ther are diuers Shires and the Vniversity of Aberdyn Petrus Kaerius caelavit 9 Scotlands South-part in Galloway washed with the water of Solway-Bay toucheth degree 56 of Latitude and thence imbosoming many Loughs and Inlets upon the East and West extendeth it self unto the degree 60 and 30 minutes whose Logitude is likewise laid betwixt the degree 13 and 19 and the same grown very narrow being so near the North-Pole as lying directly under the hinder-most Stars of the Greater Bear 10 The which Kingdom is divided into two parts by the great River Tay the South whereof is the more populous and more beautified in manners riches and civility the North more rude retaining the customs of the Wild-Irish the ancient Scot in whose several Territories these Counties ensuing are contained South Teifidale Merch Laudier Liddesdale Eskedale Anuandale Niddesdale Galloway Carricke Kyle Cunningham Arrar Cluidesdale Lennox Stirling Fife Stratberne Menteith Argile Cantire Lorne North. Loquabrea Braidalhin Perth Athol Anguis Merns Mar Buquhan Murrey Rosse Sutherland Cathanes Strathnavern Part of Scotland it is called of the înhabitance Stranauerne with his borderers Petrus Karius caelavit 1599. 11 And these again are subdivided into Sheriffdomes Stewardships and Bailiwicks for the most part Inheritory unto honourable Families The Ecclesiastical Government is also subject under two Metropolitan Arch-Bishops which are of S. Andrews the Primate of Scotland and of Glasco whose Iurisdictions are as followeth S. Andrews Dunkeld Aberdon Murray Dunblan Brechin Ross Cathenes Orkney Glasco Galloway Argile Iles. Amongst the things worthy of Note of Antiquity in this Kingdom most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorne upon the Frith of Edenborougâ— unto Alcluyd now Dunbritton opening upon the West-Sea where Iulius Agricola set the limit of the Roman Empire past which saith Tacitus there was no other bounds of Britain to be sought for and that here the second Legion Augusta and the 20 Legion Victrix built a part of the Wall certain Inscriptions there digged up and reserved at Dunloyr and Cader do witness as also an ancient coped Monument of an high and round compass which as some think was a Temple consecrated unto the God Terminus others a Trophy raised by Carausius who fortified this Wall with seven Castles as Ninius doth declare The Iles of Hebrides w th ther borderers Petrus Kaerius caelavit 13 Ninian a Britain is recorded to have converted the South-Picts unto the Faith of Christ in the Reign of Theodosius the youâ—ger and the Church in Galloway bearing his name doth witness it so likewise in the same age Palladius sent from Pope Celestine became an Apostle unto the Scots whose Reliques lay enshrined at Fordon in Mernis as was verily supposed but that Christianity had been formerly planted in this uttermost Province is testified by Tertullian in saying the Britains had embraced the Faith further than the Romans had power to follow or persecute them whereupon Peter Monk of Clun in Spain concludeth their conversion to be more ancient than the Southern Britains 14 But touching things observable for the present surely admirable is the report of the plenty of Cattel Fish and Fowl there abiding their Neat but little yet many in number Fish so plentiful that men in some places for delight on Horse-back hunt Salmons with Spears and a certain Fowl which some call Soland-Geese spreading so thick in the Air that they even darken the Suns light of whose Flesh Feathers and Oyl the Inhabitants in some parts make great use and gain yea and even of Fishes brought by them abundant Provision for Diet as also of the Sticks brought to make their Nests plentiful provision for Fuel CATHANES and ORKNAY INS Petrus Kaerius caela 16 No less strange than any the fore-mentioned waters but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great inundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tay which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers hardly escaping the danger with life The ruine of this Town raised another more famous and more commodiously seated even Berth since called Saint Iohns-Town 17 Islands and Ilets yielding both beauty and subjection to this scottish-Scottish-Kingdom are the Western the Orkneys and the Shetlands reckoned to be above three hundred in number the Inhabitants for the most part using the frugality of the ancient Scot. 18 The Western lying scattered in the Deucalidonian Sea were anciently ruled by a King of their own whose maintenance was out of their common Coffers and the Regal Authority never continued in lineal succession for to prevent that their Kings were not permitted to have Wives of their own but might by their Laws accompany with other mens as the like Law was in the other parts of Scotland that the Virginity of all new Wives should be the Landlords prey till King Malcolme enacted that half a mark should be paid for redemption The residence of those fore-mentioned Kings was chiefly
such as think their censures worthy to pass for currant and credible yet let us suppose that haply they be possessed with the disease and malady that the Physicians call Lycanthropy which begetteth and endangeâ—eth such like phantasies through the malicious humours of Melancholly and so oftentimes men imagine themselves to be turned and transformed into forms which they are not Some again embrace another ridiculous opinion and perswade themselves that he who in the barbarous acclamation and out-cry of the Souldiers which they use with great forcing and straining of their voices when they joyn battel doth not showre and make a noise as â—he rest do is suddenly caught from the ground and carryed as it were flâ—ing in the Air out of any Country of Ireland into some desert vallies where he feedeth upon grass drinketh water hath some use of reason but not of speech is ignorant of the present condition he stands in whether good or bad yet at length shall be brought to his own home being câ—ught with the help of Hounds and Hunters Great pity that the foul fiâ—nd and father of darkness should so grievously seduce this people with misbelief and that these errours be not chased away with the truth of Christian Religion whereby as they carry much grace in their countenances they may also not be void of the inward grace of their souls and understanding 9 This Province hath been sore wasted in the rebellions of Desmond to whose aid Pope Gregory the thirteenth and Philip King of Spain sent câ—rtain companies of Italians and Spaniards who arrived not far from Dingle fortified themselves and gave it the name of Fort de Ore sounding loud threats against the whole Country But Arthur Baron Grey Lord Deputy of Ireland at the first onset decided their quarrel by sheathing his Sword in their bowels and Desmond fearfully flying into the woods was by a Souldier cut shorter by the head And again when the Kingdom of Ireland lay bleeding and put almost to the hazard of the last cast Don Iohn D'Aquila with eight thousand Spaniards upon confidence of the excommunications of Piuâ— the fift Gregory the thirteenth and Clemenâ— the eight Popes all of them discharging their curses like unto thunderbolts against Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory landed near unto Kinsale presuming that the rebellions of Tyrone had turned the hearts of the Irish for Rome Sir Charles Blunt Lord Mountjoy in the depth of Winter and with his tired Souldiers so daunted their Spanish hearts that with one victory he repressed their bragging â—oldness and recovered the Irish that were ready to revolt 10 God hath oftentimes shewed his tender love and affection to this people in laying his fatherly chastisements and afflictions upon them sometimes by winds sometimes by famine and dearth and sometimes again by opening his hand of plenty into their laps to convert them to himself and to divert their hearts from superstitions In the year 1330 about the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist there began such a dearth of Corn in this Country by the abundance of rain and the inundation of waters which continued until Michaelmas following that a Cranoc of Wheat was sold for twenty shillings a Cranoc of Oats for eight shillings a Cranoc of Pease Beans and Barley for as much The winds the same year were so mighty that many were hurt and many slain out-right by the fall of houses that was forced by the violence of the same The like whereof were never seen in Ireland In the year 1317 there was such a dearth of Corn and other Victuals that a Cranoc of Wheat was sold for twenty three shillings And many Housholders that before time had sustained and relieved a great number were this year driven to beg and many famished In the time of which famine the mercy of God so disposed that upon the 27 th day of Iune in the year 1331 there came to land such a mighty multitude of great Sea-fishes that is Thursheds such as in many ages pâ—st had never been seen that the people were much comforted in this distress and received great relief and sustenance by the same 11 Places of Religion in this Country were the two Abbies at Toghall calleth the North-â—bbey and South-Abbey The two Abbeys at Limerick S. Francis Abbey and S. Dominick Abbey The two Abbeys at Cork the Abbey of the Isle and S. Frances Abbey and the famous Abbey in times past for the holy Cross which hath had many priviledges and liberties granted unto it in honour of a piece of Christs Cross that was as they say sometimes preserved there Thus were Christians perswaded in ancient times And it is a wonder in what Troops and Assemblies people do even yet conâ—low thither upon devotion as unto a place of holiness and sanctity so firmly are they setled in the Religion of their Fore-fathers which hath been increased beyond all measure by the negligent care of their Teachers who should instruct their ignorance and labour to reduce them from the errors they persevere in This Province is governed by a Lord President who hath one assistant twelve learned Lawyers and a Secretary to keep it in duty and obedience It was in times past divided into many parts as Towoun that is North Mounster Deswoun that is South Mounster Hierwoun that is West Mounster Mean woun that is Middle Mounster and Vrwoun that is the Front of Mounster But at this day it is distinguished into these Counties Kerry Desmond Limerick Tiperary Holycross Waterford and Cork which County in times past had been a Kingdom containing with it Desmond also for so in the Grant given by King Henry the second unto Robert Fitz-Stephen and to Miles de Cogan it is called in these words Know ye that I have granted the whole Kingdom of Cork excepting the City and Cantred of the Oustmans to hold for them and their heirs of me and Iohn my son by the service of sixty Knights The County of Waterford King Henry the sixth gave unto Iohn Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury with the name stile and the title of Earl of Waterford which was afterward again assumed to the Crown Touching the County of Holy Cross as the opinion of that much frequented Abbey is much lessened so that County is swallowed up altogether in the County Tipperary It is fortified with five strong Castles traded with six Market-Towns and divided as followeth MOVNSTER Limerick Kerry Cork Waterford Desâ—ond Holy-Cross in Tipperary LINSTER LEINSTER CHAPTER III. THis Country the Natives call Leighnigh the Britains Lein in Latine Lagenia in the ancient lives of the Saints Lagen and in English Leinster It lieth Eastward along Hibernicum Sea on Connaught side Westward it is bounded with the River Shaenon the North with the Territory of Louth and the South with part of the Province of Mounster This Country butteth upon England as Mounster and Connâ—ught do upon Spain 2 The form thereof is triangle and sides not much unequal from her South East unto the
up their sustenance and losing their Castle by deprâ—dation 13 Matter of observation and no less admiration among them is the Giants dance commonly so called and so much talked of which Merlin is said by Art of Magick to have translated out of this Territory unto Salisbury Plain which how true it is I leave to the vain believers of miracles and to the credulous observers of antiquity 14 In this County have been erected many famous Monasteries Abbeys and religious houses consecrated to devout and holy purposes As the Monastery of Saint Maries of Oustmanby founded for preaching Fryers unto which of late daies the Iudicial Courts of thâ— Kingdom have been translated also the magnificent Abbey called S. Thomas Court at Dublin builded and endowed in times past with many large priviledges and revenues of King Henry the second in expiation of the murther of Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury Likewise Teniern Monastery or the notable Abbey which William Marshall Earl of Pembrooke founded and called Deâ—voto for that he had vowed to God being â—ossed at Sea with many a sore and dangerous tempest to errect an Abbey wheresoever he came to land and being after shipwrack cast upon land in this place he made performance of his vow accordingly This Province containeth the Counties of Kilkenny Caterlough Queens County Kings County Kildare East-Meath West-Meath Weisford and Dublin â—o say nothing of Wicklâ— and â—ernes which either be already or else are to be annexed unto it and subdivided into fifteen Market-Towns It hath been fortified with the strength of many Castles against the power of enemies and is thus divided Counties East Meath West-Meath Kilkenny Caterlough Queens County Kings County Kildare Weisford Dublin CONNACK Petrus Kaerius caelavit The Province of CONNAUGHT CHAPTER IIII. THis Province named by Giraldus Cambrensis Conachtia and Coâ—acia by the Irish Conaughty and by English-men Connaught is bounded East-ward with part of the County of Leinster North-ward with part of Vlster West-ward with the West-main Ocean and on the South it is confined with a part of the Province of Mounster closed in with the River Shennon and butting against the Kingdom of Spain 2 The form thereof is long and towards the North and South ends thin and narrow but as it grows towards the middle from either part it waxeth still bigger and bigger extending in length from the River Shennon in her South to Enis Kelling in her North 126 miles and the broadest part is from Tromer in her East to Barragh Bay in her West containing about fourscore miles The whole in circuit and compass is above four hundred miles 3 The Air is not altogether so pure and clear as in the other Provinces of Ireland by reason of certain most places covered over with grass which for their softness are usually termed Boghes both dangerous and full of vaporous and foggy mists 4 This County as it is divided into several portions so is every portion severally commended for the soile according to the seasonable times of the year to Twomond or the County Clare is said to be a Country so conveniently situated that either from the Sea or Soil there can be nothing wisht for more than what it doth naturally afford of it self were but the industry of the Inhabitants answerable to the rest Galway is a land very thankful to the painful husbandman and no less commodious and profitable to the Shepherd Maio in the Roman Provincial called Mageo is replenished both with pleasure and fertility abundantly rich in Cattel Deer Hawks and plenty of Honey Slego coasting up the Sea is a plenteous Country for feeding and raising of Cattel Le-Trim a place rising up throughout with hills is so full of rank grass and forrage that as Solinus reporteth if Cattel were not kept sometimes from grazing their fulness would endanger them And Roscomen is a Territory for the most part plain and fruitfull feeding many Herds of Cattle and with mean husbandry and tillage yielding plenty of Corn. As every particular part is thus severally profitabâ—e be in-bred commodities so is it no less commended in the generality for the many accommodate and fit Baies Creeks and navigable Rivers lying upon her Sea-Coasts that after a sort invite and provoke the Inhabitants to Navigation 5 Such as in ancient time made their abode and habitations in this Province were the GANGANI who were also called CONCANI AUTERI and NAGNATAE As the Luceni that were next neighbours unto them came from the Lucensii in Spain so those Gangani and Concani may seem also to have fetcht their derivation from the Concani a Nation of the self-same Country both by the affinity of name and vicinity of place In Strabo according to the diversity of reading the same people are named Coniaci and Conisci and Silius testifieth them at the first to have been Scythians and to have used ordinarily to drink horses bloud a thing nothing strange among the wild Irish even of late days And some may also haply suppose that the Irish name Conaughty was compounded of Concani and Nagnatae Howsoever it is sure that these were the ancient inhabitants of this Country as is to be seen in Ptolomy 6 The Principal City of this Province and which may worthily be accounted the third in Ireland is Galway in Irish Gallive built in manner much like to a Tower It is dignified with a Bishops See and it is much frequented with Merchants by reason whereof and the benefit of the Road and Haven it is gainful to the Inhabitants through traffique and exchange of rich commodities both by Sea and Land Not far from which near the West shoar that lies indented with small in-lets and out-lets in a row are the Islands called Arran of which many a foolish fable goes as if they were the Islands of the living wherein none died at any time or were subject to mortality which is as superstitious an observation as that used in some other corners of the Country where the people leave the right Arms of their Infants males unchristned as they term it to the end that at any time afterwards they might give a more deadly and ungracious blow when they strike which things do not only shew how palpable they are carried away by traditious obscurities but do also intimate how full their hearts be of inveterate revenge 7 This Province presents no matter more worthy of memory than the battel of Knock-â—â—â— that is The hill of Axes under which the greatest rabble of Rebbels that were ever seen before in Ireland raised and gathered together by the Arch-Rebbels of that time William Burk O Brien Mac-Nenare and O Carrol were after a bloudy overthrow discomfited and put to flight by the noble service of Girald Fitz-Girald Earl of Kildare And the suppression of certain Irish the posterity of Mac-William who usurping a tyranny in these parts raged sometimes upon themselves with mutual injuries and oppressed the poor people a long time with extorting pilling and spoiling so as
called Epidaâ—num and Croya The whole Country was invaded by Amurath â—nâ— recovered by George Castriot or Scanderbeg the terriblest enemy that ever the Turk had 18 Epirus in her name carries no more than a firm land and is a part as most esteem it of Albania but indeed lies somewhat more South-ward than Abania propria on the East she is divided from Achaia by the River Achelous and on the West is bounded with Monâ—es Acroceraunii on the South with the Ionian Sea It was of old divided into Câ—aonia which took her name from Chaon the brother of Helenus and Acarnania which is now called Graecia the less The Country was fertile and populous but at this day lies wast and breeds better Cattel than men especially Buls Sheep and Dogs of wonderfull bigness among the rest extraordinary Mares which from thence were called Eporiticae It was the Kingdom of Pyrrhus and of later years was governed by George Castriot 19 Achaia is upon the South of Thessalia East of the River Achelous West of the Aegean Sea and North of Peloponnesus It contains many famous Provinces the chief are 1 Attica and her prime City was Athens now Setines she had her first name from Minerva whom they honoured as their peculiar goddess as being at that time accounted the best learned among the Heathens and excelled as well in Martial affairs In a word they came short to noâ—e in wealth State-policy aâ—d what else might make a people happy above expression so Pliny sets her forth The second Priovince is Daris a tract near Parnassus Mount and mother to the most elegant Greek Dialect 3 Aetolian and in this the City Câ—lynan 4 Locris and Regio Opuntiorum her chief City Naupactus and the famous Lepanto 5 Phocis which can glory in nothing more than the City Delphi where the Oracle of Apollo gave answer for many years to the silly Idolaters 6 Beotia and in this stood Thebes 7 Megaris her principal City Megara and from hence was the Seâ—ta Megarica of which Euclide was chief 20 Pâ—loponnesus is a Peninsula on the South of Graecia and joyned to the rest by an Isthmuâ— which is not above 5 miles in breath from one Sea to the other insomuch that it hath been sometimes attempted to be digged through and was began by Nero but the work was found not worth the charge and trouble It waâ— fenced cross with a strong wall and five Castles which being once destroyed was the second time by many hands erected in five days and called Hexamillium 21 This Peninsula is indeed the fortress of all Greece and though it wants much of the ancient glory which it might well vaunt in the time of Agamemnon Menelaus Ajax and the rest yet is she not so much to be contemned as other parts of this ruinated Coâ—ntry However the Turk is her Master and she his now called generally Morea 22 Her Provinces were 1 Corinthia neer the Isthmus and is named from her chief City Corintâ—us which being â—â—red melted sundry metals into a confused medly and made up the Aes Corinthium held more precious than any other of its own simple nature 2 Argia her Common-wealth was heretofore of great note and her City Argos is at this day held pleasant and well seated And in this likewise stood Epidamnus 3 Laconia to the South of the Peninsulae her Chief City was Lacedemonia once Sparta when Lycurgus gave his Laws and is now called Misithra 4 Messeniâ— and her chief Cities are Messene Methone Corone c. 5 Elis. 6 Achaia propria and here stood Aegina and Aegium and Patras 7 Arcadia once Pelasgia in the Centeâ— almost of Peloponnesus full of pleasant Mountains fit for pasture and is therefore made the Shepâ—erds scene in our renowned Sir Philip â—idney's poetical story Her principal City is Megalopolis 23 Thus have we passed the Continent of Greece and want coâ—ing only to give mâ— Reader a brief survey of the Islands which lie round in the Adriatique Mediteraneâ—n Ionian and Aegean seas But by reason the compass is so large and the number so great the little space which is left me will scarce admit more than their bare names which I will set down with reference to their next neighbouring Provinces as I have described them in the Continent 24 First then near Pelepâ—â—â—esus and the Ionian sea toward Macedonia and Epirus the chief â—re Aegina Cithera the Stâ—ophâ—des Zâ—â—ynâ—bus Cephalonia Ithacâ— Eâ—â—inades Corcyra or Corphin and Saphâ— c. In the Aegean sea belonging to Greece are the Cyclades and Sporades and over against Thrace Thassus Samothracia Imbrus and Lemnos Vulcani Neer Macedonia Pepanthos Scopelos Scyathos Scyros Aâ—â—onnesus Cycinnethus Dromus Seraquinus Neer Achaia is Euboea now Megreponte a very large Island and not far distant Andros Tenos Delos Rhene Melos and many others THE ROMANE EMPIRE Petrus Karius Caelavit The Description of the Roman Empire VIRTVTE Duce comite Fortunâ is the word of most Historians upon the low birth and quick growth of the state of Rome For had not matchless prowess and infallible success joyned in their full strength to make up an Empire for the world to admire I see not how she could in so few years raise her self from so small grounds to so high a pitch of luâ—tre as set the whole earth at a gaze and found us all business enough for a time to do liâ—tle else but obâ—erve her actions Look back to Romulus her first founder you shall find him no better man than the base son of a licentious Vestall his father not truly known to this day but simply surmised to be Mars the god of War His mother Rhea burnt by law for that very fact in which she conceived him and himself an out-cast exposed with his brother Rhemus to be torn by the wild Beasts Little hope we see left for such a Nation to spring from their loins had not Fortune lulled them in her own lap and delivered them by meer chance into the hands of one Faustulus the Kings Shepherd when thâ—y were thus found the best Writers afford them no better Nurse than the Shepherds wife a known Strumpet who for her insatiate lust was called Lupa and might perhaps occasion the fable of the Shâ—wâ—lf She suckled them with no choicer milk than she did her own home-spun brats nor were they bred under Faustâ—lus to any better fortune than the Sheep-hook yet no sooner the yonkers were start up to the knowledge of their true birth but they stript themselves out of their disguise revenged their mothers death upon their usurping Uncle Aeâ—ilius Sylvius restâ—red the Latine Kingdom to the rightful Numitor and erected a new Empire for their own posterity 2 These were the progeny of Aeneas who arrived here from the Trâ—jan War and made love to Lavinia daâ—ghter to Latinus King of the Laureâ—tiâ—i The great combat betwixt him and Turnâ—s the Rutilian grew upon no other terms than for her fair looks which he could not nor did he
peaceably enjoy till he had vanquished his corrival and then he soon fastned himself in the right to that Kingdom and not long after pâ—ssest it about the year of the world two thousand seven hundred eighty seven It would not be much to our purpose to lead you down step by step through the succession till we come to Romulus All before him were before this Empire had Being and therefore outâ—eacht the line of my story yet this in brief we may recount here that he was the 17 from Aeneas and founded Rome in the year 3198. 3 The plat-form was first cast in a figure of a quadrangle upon the mons Palatinus for the other six noted hills were not then taken in but added in after ages by their several Kings It was began it seems but sleight and the walls raised not very high when Rhemus could skip them over in contempt of his brotâ—ers poor enterprise but the mock cost him his life he was slain by Roâ—ulus and he now left the sole founder to give name to this new building 4 Romulus then is their first King and takes upon him the government of such discontented and masâ—erless young Shepherds as he had raked together to people his Common-wealth a crue so scorâ—ed of their neighbours that their daughters denyed to joyn in marriage with such â— refuse of men so that by this means this up-start Nation was like to sink in the birth for meer want of issue to continue their succession And without doubt themselves had seen their last man born had not their own wit bestead them more than the womens love For when they saw â—heir worth was not sufficient to woe fairly with effect they proclaimed a day for solemn sports which they presuâ—ed and rightly too would call in their borders of both sex and for that purpose had made provision of strength to force the women to their lust whom theâ— could not entiâ—e to their lawful eâ—braces The plot held and the Sabiâ—â—s bear the name to have suffered most in that brutish treacheâ—y yet others it seâ—â—s â—â—d their part too in the injury and joyntly beset them round with strong enemies which the Râ—mans notwithstanding shook off with that ease and undaunted courage that the rest were glad at last to yield them truce for their own quiet and assist them too in their â—nsuing Conquest 5 The City at this time was not above two miles in circuit the Inhabitants not much above the proportion of that little ground till Romulus had built an Asylum a Râ—fuge for debaucht people where the servant might secure himself from his Master the â—urderer from his Magistrate the debtor from his arrest and each fault from his punishment and then he soon called in incredible swarms such as they were of Latines Tuscaines Trojans Arcadians and made up a Miscellany of people each brought in the proper sins of his own Country and have there left them as a testimony of their ancest â—rs to this day 6 This policy might seem good at first to make up his number For who else but such would leave a setled state though mean in a well ordered Kingdom to apply himself to novelâ—es of so uncertain event But in a few years their King found that there was more need of a Pistrinum to correct than an Asylum to shelter his offenders and therefore was foâ—ced to make setled Laws for his Common-wealth and cull out a certain number of the best ordered to assist him with their câ—unsell and see execution duly performed upon the rest These be called Patres or Senatores and wâ—re at first not above one hundred chosen out of the elder wâ—althâ—er and gravest Citizens who were either called Patricii for that they had mâ—st of them many children or Patroni as being the Patrons of the Plebeii or poorer sort which were therefore oft times called Clients as having no business of actâ—on in the Common-wealth scarce so much as to require their own right unless under the protection of some one or other of the Patricii yet afterward both the number of Senators was encreased to 200 and at last 300. and the Plebeii too in time had the priviledge to be elected into their society 7 No sooner Romulus had thus set the form but while he was yet in speech to the people at a set assâ—mbly a tempest rose the skies darkned and â— trick was found to juggle him clean out of their â—ight as if at this instant he had been rapt into the Heavens He past not it seems to lose his life so that he might gain the opinion of a God For so the Romans believed and it was confirmed by one Proculus who pretended to have seen him after his change and received a charge from his deiâ—y that he should be thence forward honoured in Roâ—e as her tutelare In brief the more likely surâ—ise of his manner of death is that in the storm he was cut in pieces by some of his Senators who had either suffered under his tyranny or at least had hope to â—aise themselves by his fall 8 Their second King was Numa Pompilius religious in his kind beyond all others and ordained in Rome a set form to worship their gods invested Priests and South-sayers to perform their rites and fortel things to come committed the Vestal fire to Virgins to be kept aâ— a perpetual watch over the Empire in an emulation to the bright stars of heaven which were never extinguisht and in brief civilized the people so far as they began now and scare till now to have a sense of moâ—ral goodness a moderate love to themselves mixt with some equity towards others 9 Their third Tullus Hostilius stirred them up first with the desire of true honour and enabled them by martial discipline to provoke the Albanes a Nation then of long standing and great fame thâ—ough most parts of Italy yea so equal was their prowess that open war might well lessen their several strengths but not determine the conquest till by the tried fortune of the Horatii and Curiatii brothers on each party it stoopt at last to Rome beyond her own hope for she had at last but one Champion left of her Horatii against the three others who were notwithstanding by a feigned flight of their own adversary drawn severally out into single combate and successively fell by the sword of the Roman victor Alba was now carried captive to Rome and gave up her honours as a Trophy to this new born Empire 10 Ancus Martius their â—ourth King enlarged her walls joyned those parts of the City which were before served by the River Tyber with a large bridge Their next Tarqâ—inius Priscus was a Corinthian and knew well how to use his Greek wit with a Roman valour Nor peace nor war could â—ver-march him He triumpht over the Tuâ—cains and was the first which entred the City in Chariotroyal drawn with four horses and first indeed that ordained the vestments and ensigns of
are Breselare and Neisse 32 Moravia on the East of Bohemia and South of Silesia Her chief Cities are Almusium Olmutz and Brin 33 Pomerania It is bounded on the East with Iâ—tula on the North with the Baltick Ocean Her Metropolis is Stetin Oâ—hers châ—ef are Wolâ—â—st Wallin c. On the West of this Region stands 34 Mecklingburg or Mâ—galopâ—lis a place Provincial of it self and hath Towns of note Malâ—hawe Rostock c. 22 35 Aâ—stria an Arch-Dukedome it lieth upon Hungary and is esteemed by the Germans the Easteâ—n bâ—â—nd of the Empire It was formerly called Pannonia superior It is a rich Country Her chief Cities are Viâ—nna famous for beauty wealth and learning Emps St. Leopald c. There are reckoned to this Region the Provinces of Styria Carinthia Carinola and by some Tirolum BOHEMIA Petrus Kaerius Caelavit The Description of the Kingdome of BOHEMIA IN our Description of Germany we reckoned Bohemia but as a Province among the rest and therefore she was mentioned there with no more solemnity than the other parts were We purpose here to declare it an intire Kingdom of it self which besides her own compass as she is most commonly limited by Geographers hath under-subjects Dukedoms and Marquisates such as do her homage and make her well worthy of a more particular History than we had before room for 2 The ancient Inhabitant of these parts was the Bemorum magna gens as Ptolomy calls it and placeth it somewhat South toward Danubius under Suna sylva After them the Boii a people of Gallia Lugdunensis which had been before conquered by Caesar saith Quadus and packt over the Alpes to seek them a new seat in Italy But when they found the Romans too hot for their abode there they were forced to trudge farther and to pass the River Rhene into Germany as Strabo witnesseth where they found them a fit place to lurk in compassed with a large Wood called the Sylva Hircinia and like enough they joyned in with the Bemi to make up the name of Bohemia But neither here did they enjoy their peace long for they were in time nestled out by a potent people of Swevia called Marcomanni and they again had the like measure from the Sclavonians a barbarous crue which came in upon them under the conduct of an exiled murderer of Croatia one Zechius about the year five hundred and fifty 3 From that time there hath been no general expulsion but the present Bohemians are the progeny of those Sclavonians whose very language and customs are in use among them at this day Doubtless it was at first a rude Common-wealth that had no other Governours but so ungoverned a multitude for so they continued above an hundred years after Zechius But when they had for a time endured the misery of such a confusion they were content to agree upon some one for their Prince that might rule them and the first which they elected was Croâ—us a man of grâ—at esteem among them for his wisdom and goodness 4 Till the time of Vratislaus it had the title of a Dukedome only He was the fiâ—st King and was created by Henry the fourth of Germany Anno one thousand eighty six Yet after that again for the succession of six Princes it was governed by Dukes For the second King was Vladislaus the third crowned by Frederick the Emperour in the year one thâ—usand one hundred fifty nine and the third Primaslaus crowned by the Emperour Phillip one thousand one hundred nienty nine after six other Dukes from his Predecessor Vlaâ—islaus the third It hath been now long since fully setled into a Kingdom and is the title of the right noble Frederick Count Elector Palatine of the Rhene and husband to the illustrious Elizabeth daughter to our late Soveraign King Iames. They were both crowned at Prague in the year one thousand six hundred and nineteen but have been enforced ever since to maintain their right by continual wars against Fâ—rdinand the second who by vertue of an adoption which declared him successor to Matthias laies claim to the Crown of Boâ—â—mia But the â—asâ— was before deâ—ided in their third Vladislaus who though as deeply 〈◊〉 to tâ—e Kingdom as 〈◊〉 coâ—ld be yet for that he had past no lâ—gall â—lâ—ctâ—on accâ—â—ding to â—â—â—ir Custâ—mes and Priviledgâ—s he was deposed by the States and Vladislâ—us chose in his room 5 There remains no great difficulty concerning the naâ—e It appears suffâ—cienâ—ly to proceâ—d either from her first people or first Prince who as some report was one Boemus And it is worth observinâ— that though this Land hath in sundry ages being so oftâ—n ranâ—aâ—kt and poâ—â—st by sâ—rangers and Tyrants yet in her name she constantly preserves the memory only of her fâ—â—st Natives and hath not suffered that change as we have done from Albion to Britain from Britain to Eâ—gland Aâ—d so indeed it is with almost all which have been equally subject to the like Invaâ—â—ons 6 The situation of this Kingdom is almost in the midst of Germany and is easily desâ—ried in ouâ— common Maps by the Hircinian Forest held in the Romans time to be nine dayes journey in breadth and in length at lâ—ast forty So Caeser in his sixth Com. It â—oseth Boâ—emia on every side insomuch that to shâ—w they are not unlike an Aâ—phitâ—eater it is Mâ—ginus his comparison The several parts of thâ—s Wood are known by divers names which they take from the Country adjacent The portion North west is by Sâ—rabo called Gaâ—reta Sylva that South toward Danubius Luâ—a Sylva by Ptolomy non Sâ—lva Passarica and so the rest Without this Wall of Bohemia as Qâ—adus calls it her limits are on the West Franconia on the North Lâ—satia and Misâ—ia on the South â—avaria and Austria on the East â—oravia and Silesia The figure of it is in a manner circular and the Diameter is esteemed three daâ—es journey to a quick traveller The circuit contains five hundred and fifty miles of good ground fertile and pleasant enricht as well by her Rivers as Land commodities 7 Her principal are 1 Albis Elve which hath hâ—s rising in the Hircinian Wood and the name from eleven Fountains which meet in oâ—e at the head of the River For Elve or Elbe in the German Tongue signiâ—ies eleven It runs through a great part of the Country and by the chief City Prague and at last vents it selfe into the German Ocean Of this Lucan thus Fundat ab extremo flavos Aquilene Suevos Albis indomitum Rheni caput 2 Multaria Mulda 3 Egra which gives a name to a Town 4 Sassâ—va 5 Gisera 6 Missa 7 Vatto They are received all into the River Albis yield excellent Salmon and plenty And if we will believe report there is oft times found in the sands lumps of pure gold which need no other refining and very precious shels of great value 8 It seems the water supplies that only defect which is to be found in their Land For it is
to be observed to be full with Mines of all sorts of metals Gold only excepted Their Tin was found out by an Eâ—glish man of Cornwall in the year one thousand two hundred and forty one belike which hâ—d been skilled in that work in his own Country for it is said That at that time there was no Tin known elsewhere in Eâ—rope The earth gives good Corn and their pastures breed as good Cattle There is Wood good store as there are Woods which harbour multitudes of wile Beasts Foxâ—s Bears Harts Bulls and others which afford them sport in the hunting and meat for the best manâ— Table Among the rest there is a wild Beast which they call Lomi armed by nature with a strange defence against the hounds which â—ollow her For they say she hath a kind of bladder hanging under her â—aws which in the hunting she fills with a sâ—lding hot water and â—asts it upon the Dogs with thâ—t nimbleness that they are not able to avoid or pursue her but oft times have their veâ—y hair â—all off as from a drest Pig The Coâ—nâ—ry is generally 〈◊〉 in Saffron and other medâ—cinal drugs Wine it hath too but not so kind or pleasiâ—g as in other places â—nsomuch that the richer sort furnish themselves out of Aâ—stria Hâ—ngary and the Regâ—on about which they in lieu of it supply with excellent Beer For they are held very good at the art of brewing and not behind hand at drâ—nking when thâ—y have done It is said of the 〈◊〉 sort I 〈◊〉 that if once they set to a Veâ—â—el of good lâ—quor they will not looâ—e it tâ—ll they 〈◊〉 â—ound it â—â—pty 〈…〉 before them as oft as he was heard though in a dead sound by the enemy whom he had so often crushed while he was yet living 10 For matter of learning they have not been very famous heretofore howbeit now the better parts are not now behind with the other parts of Germany The chief of note were Iohn Hussâ— and Hiâ—rome of Prague two worthy members of the Church They were condemned for Heretiques in the Council of Constance one thousand four hundred and fourteen for attempting a reformation of such errours as they held not agreeable with the word of God But yet their sufferings could not dead the good seed which they had sown in the true hearted It lives still among them in some measure though they have been often assayed by strange Impostures in Religion such as the heart of man could not conceive without a strong and extraordinary working of that great Deceiver 11 I cannot pass the most wicked cousenage of Picardus who posâ—est great multitudes of these silly people with an opinion that he could recall them to that perfect state in which Adam was created placed them in an Island for that purpose which he called Paradise caused them to walk naked and named this Sect Adamites Horrible sins were committed under that pretence promiscuous whoredome and incest at their very Divine Service It is feared that at this day there are many secret professors which live under ground meet at their solemnities have their prayers framed to their own humour and when the Priest pronounceth the words of Genesis as his custome is Crescite multipliâ—amini replete terram the lights are suddenly pop 't out and without any respect had to alliance or kindred or reverence to their exercise they mingle like Beasts and when they have acted their wickedness and are returned to their seats the Candles are again lighted and they fall to their pretended prayers as if there had been no harm done 12 The King is one of the seven Electors of the Emperour and in case the other six be equally divided he gives the suffrage which carrieth it It is to be thought that his power was conferred upon 〈◊〉 not without great counsel and good reason For besides that the place it self is by naturâ— strong the people to have a special inbred love to Germany and defence of her liberties At Coronation he is Cup-bearer and performs it himself in person if he bepresent His revenues are cast up to be three Millions of Crowns which are not gathered all within the compass here limited but part out of other Principalities which are annexed to this Kingdom For there are four Regions which make up his Title and are subject to his government 1 Bohemia it self as we have described it 2 Lusatia 3 Silesia 4 Moravia They were named in the Map of Germany as being parts of the whole Country but will admit here a more particular tract as belonging properly to this Kingdom 13 First then for Bohemia it self it contains about thirty Cities which are immediate subjects to the King as Quadus calls them besides many others which are held in possession of the chief Princes Primates Barons Counts and Nobles of the Country The Metropolis is Prague heretofore know by the names of Bubienum and Morobudum saith Maginus but rather I think by the situation it should be the same which Ptolomy calls Casurgis It was compassed with a wall by Primaslans their third King and received the name of Prague by the wise Lubussa a Limine which they say is called Prague in the Bohemian language It is indeed a very stately City seated in the middle of the Country in the River Multaria and compared by some to Florence It consists of three Cities which are called the old Town the new Town and the little Town The old Town is the chief and is adornâ—d with may illustrious buildings The new Town is divided from the old by a large ditch And the little Town stands on the other side of the River Mulda but is joyned to the old Town by a stone bridg of twenty four Arches It was made an Arch-bishops See by Charles the Emperour and King of Boâ—emia was once the chief University but that now is removed to Lipsia in the Province of Misnia It is the Regal seat of Bohemia and here was the King and Queen when it was taken by the Imperialists 14 The other Cities of this Region which are worth the noting are 2 Egra It stands upon the River from whence it beares the name before it was called by Ptolomy Monosgada on the West end of Sylva Gabreta that part of the Hircinia which portends toward Franconia It was a City Imperial till the right was sold by Lodovicus Bavares to Iohn King of Bohemia It is a very strong City fortified as well by Nature as Art for the most part is built upon a Rock It is in compass two miles within the walls and with the Suburbs three Not far from it there is a fountain of a kind of sharp waâ—er which the Inhabitants drink Instead of Beer 3 Krens toward Austria on the North side of Daâ—ubius 4 Piâ—sen on the West of Bohemia a City which long held out against General Tilly by the defence of the now Count Manâ—â—ield but was at last betrayed by some of his
though but a single Province in this Belgia yet of that esteem as the whole Countrey bears her name and may indeed well enough upon the same reason as she took it up For as the most will it had its its Etymon à flatibus fluctibusque quibâ—â— tota haec obnâ—xia est regio 5 For on the North it is bounded with a part of the great Sea and on the West with the main Ocean On the East with the Rivers Rhene and Mosa and on the South with Loraign Campaigne and Picardy parts of the Kingdom of France It is accounted to be in circuit 1000 Italian miles no Country abounds more with Lakes Pools and Rivers of great note The principal are Rhene Mosa and Scaldis 16 others are specially named by Maginus and more intimated which afford them great store of Fish as well for their own use as supply for traffique to other Nations 6 Yet by reason of her watry situation it must needs be that the air is exceeding moist and therefore unwholsome but not so as heretofore For the multitude of Inhabitants and those wonderful industrious have laboured out of many of her marshes and drawn their Pools into running channels and by this means fewer vapours arise insomuch that now the Natives at last may very well agree with the temper which as Maginus gives it incolarum â—anitati necnon digestioni conducit Their Summer is pleasant not extream hot nor abounds it with such troublesome flies and gnats as ours doth There is seldome any thunder heard or lightning seen or Earthquake felt The reason is the same for all The Winter is not altogether so tolerable but brings with it bleak winds and much rain Yet betwixt both the Country is moderately fertile yields corn and fruit in some places more and in some leâ—s very few Grapes and those make but a hard Wine no store of Mines and yet they are as rich as those which have 7 For the people are very thrifty painful and ingenious in the invention of many pretty things which draw many other Nations to them for Traffique and they lie as fit for it having free access by Sea to and from all the chief parts as of Europe so also Asia Africa and America and are as skilful to trace the Seas at pleasure They have the name for the first Authors of the Compass Clock and Printing They are excellent Artificers for working of Pictures in glass for laying Colours in Oyl for Tapestry and other Hangings â—in brief for any Oeconomical commodity either for use or ornament and in their own private Families excell any other people The men are of a goodly presence of a cold or at least no cholerick temper They neither love nor hate any extreamly but will soon forget both a good turn and they say an injury They are not very open or easie of belief nor apt to be deceived Not very proud nor exceeding base Not much given to Venus but more to Bacchus especially when he presents himself upon an English Beer-barrel For they will hardly make a bargain before they be well whetted This is their common character but for the best part of it we have found it far other as in their commerce with us in the East Indies we have found where by their extream dealings with our Nation they have made known their unthankfulness for the many benefits our English have shewed them But I return to their better qualities Their women are fair somewhat bold and free in their carriage but yet sober and honest excellent housewives and in some places traffique abroad while their men play the cot-quâ—ans at home 8 As in their other businesses so in their studies they are very laborious and indeed trouble the world with writing more than they have thanks for as if they had a right since they were the inventers of the Press to use it at pleasure so they do and send forth every 〈…〉 performed by their boys towâ—rds a Degree with a clutter of tedious Anagrams prefixed â— But 〈◊〉 hath heretofore bred maâ—y excellent men in their faculties Iustâ—s Lipsius Erasmus Rodulphâ—s 〈◊〉 Ortelius Mercator And at this day how many others good members of the Reformed 〈◊〉 within the compass of the States government The rest which are under the Arch-Duke must appear Roman Catholicks In divers parts of Belgia the Christian Religion was planted by Wilbrod an English man 9 The last quality required in a Nation of esteem as they are is valour And indeed I may well place it last For so it grew upon them since the long war which they have had with the Arch-Duke Before they lived for the most part in peace and as they had but little use of Chivalry so they had as little heart to it but were counted a heavy dull people To say truth they have hardly yet recovered that censure for in the managing of their Land-fights especially they are content enough to give way to other Nations and will hardly second them in any dangerous attempt The English have both acted and suffered their parts in the behalf of the Low Countries and that me-thinks might have been remembred in the midst of their tyrannical usage of our Merchants 10 These Netherlands towards our latter times were divided into 17 Provinces whereof the most part had several Rites and Governours four Dukedomes seven Earldomes five Baronies and one Marqueship But by the next marriages of the heirs to the sundry Titles the whole at last fell upon one and was made an entire Government and known by the name of the Dukedom of Burgundy Yet still doth each Province retain her proper Laws liberty of Religion and other Customes which their Rulers in succession were sworn to maintain for their parts and the people again for their security had this main prerogative left them from the beginning that if their Prince should at any time attempt the contrary they might after Declaration proceed to the choice of a new Governour These Conditions confirmed it continued for a while peacefully and by marriage with Mary heir and last of the house of Burgundy it fell to Maximilian of Austria Emperour of the Germans And his Successour Philip matching in the like sort with Ioan heir to the Kingdom of Spain joyned both together in his eldest son Charles the fifth who by the Mother was entituled to Spain and by his Father to Bargundy or Netherlands as for Austria it passed to another brother Thus came it subject to the King of Spain And while yet the Emperour enjoyed it they felt no misery of civil wars among themselves When he left it he commanded this charge withall to his son Philip the second that he should intreat the Low-Countries well But this he either forgot or neglected and taking it in foul scorn to be so curbed by the conditions of his Predecessors began first with a pretence to Religion and at last embroiled them in a bloudy war which hath found no end to this
Inhabitants there of Spain after the Syrians and indeed the first which affords us any Story worth observing were the Carthaginians and the first cause of their entrance was to defend the Islanders of Cales but when they had once got firm footing and sucked the sweetness they were not to be removed by the easie term of friendship but there kept hold till a people stronger than themselves dispossessed them The attempt was made by Scipio and the Roman forces but they withstood their assault with so resolved a courage and so strong a hand that it might oft times be questioned Vter populus alteri esset pariturus and so held play almost 200 years and could not be fully subdued into the form of a Province till the Reign of Augustus Caesar yet after they were held to it till Honorius 3 About his sixth year was there a second Invasion made by the Vandales and soon after by the Gothes which bare sway for above 300 years The last King was Rodericus who lost both himself and Kingdom for a rape committed upon the Daughter of Iulian a Noble Gentlemen and at that time Embassadour with the Moors in Africa When the Father had understood of his Daughters unworthy injury he brought back his revenge with him 30000 Horse any 180000 Foot of Moors and Sarazens which discomfited the King overthrew all the ressistance which he could make and bespread the Countrey with their Forces where they and their posterity stood firm till within the memory of some which yet live 4 This change of State was before prophesied and concealed in a large Chest within a part of the Palace which both the last King and his Predecessors were forewarned not to discover But the hope of an inestimable treasure made him transgress and when he had entred there appeared nothing but the Portraictures of armed Moors with a presage annexed that when the part of the Palace should be forced open such enemies should ruine Spain It is now at last but one people but yet retains the mixtures of those many Nations which have heretofore possest it Goths Sarazens and Iews who were partly banisht hither by Hadrian the Emperour and partly sent hither by Vlider Vbit the Caliph after the Moors conquest 5 In all this discourse touching the beginning and setling of the State of Spain it appears not from whence she derives her several names of Iberia Hesperia and Hispania It seems they are more ancient than the entrance of the Carthaginians and therefore they allow us no certain Story nor other reason indeed more than likely conjecture and in some scarce that Her first name of Iâ—eria was given by her ancients from a River that runs almost through the middle of the Countrey So saith Maginus and relies upon Pliny and Iustin for his Authors Others give it rather to the Iberi the ancient people of Asia thas came in under Panus from toward Syria and possest it before the Carthaginians Her second name admits as much question Some fetch it from Hesperus the brother of Atlas and their twelfth King from Tubal Others beyond the Moon from the Evening star because it is situate upon the West of Europe The last Hispania is supposed from one Hispanus or Hispalus who reigned in those parts and was the third in the account of some from Tubal or else from Hispalis now Seril rather we may take it from the fore-mentioned Panus Captain of the Iberians by the prefiction of an S. for so the Greeks give it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and since by their own addition and corruption it is made Espania Hispania 6 Her whole compass is reckoned to be 1893 English miles and her bounds are Seas on every side unless on the East towards France from which she is severed by the Pyrenaean Mountains On the West the Atlantick Ocean on the North the Cantabrick and on the South the Fretum Herculeum and other of the Mediterraneum which divide her from Africa Her Rivers of note are specially 1 Minius of Mingo 2 Dorio now Duerus 3 Tagus now Taio famous for her golden sands 4 Botis or Guadilquiver 5 Iberius now Ebro and 6 Ana or Guadiana which in one place glides under ground for fifteen miles together and gives the Spaniard an occasion as he will catch at any to brag that they have ten thousand Cattel daily feeding upon one bridge Yet give them their own sense the truth may be questioned For they have not such plenty of meat as they have of sawce 7 It yields indeed abundance of Oranges Lemmons Capers Dates Sugar Oyl Honey Licorish Horses It hath been heretofore noted for rich Mines insomuch that Hannibal received daily 3000 from one Mine in Spain The number is not answerable in proportion to other Regions of Europe Their Cities not so great nor so many The reason may be because indeed their Women are not so fertile to multiply among themselves and their usage of strangers so uncivil that very few of other Countries seat themselves there as in France England and Germany And yet they have of late times sent many Colonies abroad into both Indies 8 They are extreamly proud and the â—illiest of them pretend to a great portion of wisdom which they would seem to express in a kind of reserved state and silent gravity when perhaps their wit will scarce serve them to speak sense But if once their mouths be got too open they esteem their breath too precious to be spent upon any other subject than their own glorious actions They are most unjust neglecters of other Nations and impudent vain flatterers of themselves Superstitious beyond any other people which indeed commonly attends those which affected to be accounted religious rather than to be so For how can hearty devotion stand with cruelty lechery pride Idolatry and those other Gothish Moorish Iewish Heathenish conditions of which they still savour 9 Yet it hath yielded heretofore men very famous for their excellent endowments both of wit and Religion The Apostle himself expresseth a great desire to see Spain as hoping to do much good among those which had entertained the name of Christ. Osius a learned Bishop in the time of Constantine the Great And Pacianus mentioned by S. Hierome Isidore â—ulgentiuâ— Arius Montanus Tostatus and 〈◊〉 were all Spaniards Sâ—neca Quintilian the Orator Lumen Romanae elâ—quentiae as Valla stiles him Martialis Lucan Silius and Pomponius Mela were Spaniards Trajan the Emperour Theodosius Ferdinand the Catholick and Charles the Emperour were Spaniards To this day it breeds good Souldiers â—low but sure and successful in their Conquests Yet such as prevail more by art than valour Their continual scarcity of victuals inureth them to hunger and other hardness which oft times wearieth out their enemy and makes him yield at least to their patience if not to their strength 10 She hath been subject to many divisions according to the humour of those that have been her Lords The first of note was made by
the Romans in Citeriorem which lay nearest to their Territories and Vlteriorem which was all the extent beyond the River Iberus ad fretum usque Herculeum The second was by them too in Baeticum the whole tract beyond the River Ana South-ward 2 Lusitanium Northward toward the Cantabrick Ocean and 3 Terraconensem Eastward joyning upon France When the Moors enjoyed it they rent it into twelve parcels a multitude of petty royalties Arragon Catalonia Valentia Castile Toledo Biscay Leon Gallicea Murcia Navarre Corduba and Portugal And these yet retain the name of Kingdoms but their government was long ago recovered into the hands of five which bare the titles of Castile Arragon Granada Navarre and Portugal It was of latter times contracted into the three Kingdoms of Arragon Castile and Portugal but is in the power of one King called the Catholick King of Spain We stand to this last division as most proper for our times and best befitting my brief Discourse Give me leave to add the Islands which lie near to each Kingdom 11 The present state of Arragon comprehends three of those Kingdomes as it was scattered by the Moors and Sarazens 1 Arragon it self which lieth on the South of Navarre on the East of Castile on the North of Valentia and the West of Catalonia The ancient Inhabitants were the Iaccetani Lutenses and Celtiberi her chief City Caesar Augusta 2 Catalonia It lieth betwixt Arragon and the Pyrenâ—an hills It is supposed a mixt name from Gothi and Alani people which heretofore possest it after the Vandals had lost their hold The Region is but barren yet it hath in it many Cities the chief Terra cona which gave name to the whole Province called by the Romans Terraconenses 3 Valentia which on the East is touched with the Mediterraneum on the North with Castile on the South with the Kingdom of Murcia It is reported for the most pleasant and fruitful Region in all Spain it hath her name from her chief City and as Maginus relates admits as yet of 22 thousand Families of Moors In this is the University where S. Dominick Father of the Dominicans studied and the old Saguntum besieged by Hannibal now Morvedre 12 The state of Castile as now it stands comprehends all the rest of those scattered Governments as were possest by the Moors Portugal only excepted And first Castile it self both the old which joyns with Arragon on the East of Portugal and the west of Navarre and the new which toucheth her upon the South The first abounds not much with fruits but yet it breeds many Cattel The Metropolis is Burgos and the other chief are Salamanca an University and Valadolit once the seat of the Kings of Spain Now Castile abounds more with Corn is watered with the River Tagus and Ana And in this stands the Kings chief Cities Madrid and Toledo which was heretofore a propriatory of it self The rest that belong to Castile are 2. Toledo however now but a City of new Castile yet in the division her Territories spread themselves over a large compass The City is in the midst of Spain It was the seat of the Gothish Kings and successively of the Moorish Princes now of the Arch-Bishops who exceed in Revenues any other Prelate in the world except the Pope Here hath sate eighteen National Councils in the time of the Gothish Kings 3. 13 Biscay heretofore Cantabria on the North of old Castile toward the Ocean it was the last people which yielded to the Romans and after to the Moors A Mountainous Countrey but affords excellent Timber for ships and good Iron Her Cities are S. Sebastian Fonterabia and Bilbao which stands but two miles from the Sea and is noted for excellent Blades some have been tried by the English upon their own Crests 4. 14 Leon heretofore Austria on the East hath Biscay on the West Gallicia on the North the Cantabrick Ocean and on the South old Castile The Region is reported to yield plenty of Gold Vermilion red Lead and other Colours else she is barren her inhabitants not many and those live most upon Hunting and Fishing It is the title of the eldest Son of Castile as Wales is to our Prince of England Her chief City is Oveido which bears part with her in the name of a Kingdom and indeed was the Title of the first Christian King after the Moors Conquest 15 Gallicia on the East joyns upon Leon on the West it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Cantabrick and on the South with the River Mingo It breeds Iennets in abundance insomuch that they have been Poetically feigned to be conceived by the wind Niger writes that here hath been an incredible plenty of Gold Lead and Silver that the Rivers are full of a mixt earth and that the Plough could scarce wag for clods of Golden Ore There appears now no such matter The principal Cities are Saint Iago where S. Iames the Apostle lieth buried his Reliques kept worshipped and visited by Pilgrims And the other of note especially with us is Corugna an excellent Port for Ships and mentioned oft in our wars with the Spaniards by the name of the Groyne Here likewise is the Promontory Nerius called by our Mariners Capo de finis terrae 16 Murcia on the North hath new Castile on the South and East the Spanish Seas It is not much peopled but yet is famous for several commodities especially for pure earthen Vessels and fine Silk Heretofore it enriched the Romans with a daily supply of 25000 Drachmae of silver Her chief places are Alicante whence our Alicant Wines come and new Carthage oft commended by our Travellers for her large and safe Haven and lastly Murcia a Town which gives name to the whole Region 17 Navarre lieth close to the Pirenaean Hills and as Maginus gives it is enclosed with Mountains and so it is North and East on the West it hath the River Ebro and on the South Arragon The Vascones are said to have lived here who afterward placed themselves in France and kept there their name to this day of Vascones corruptly Gascoigns The chief Towns are Bampelme the Metropolis and Viana the title of the Navarran Prince Maginus sets the Revenue annual of this Kingdom at 100000 Duckets 18 Corduba now a City only heretofore a Kingdom and included Andaluzia Granada and Estremadura Equalized almost the whole Province which the Romans in their second division called Baetica Andaluzia hath lost but one Letter of her name since she was possest by the Vandales From them she was first called Vandalicia since Andalicia corruptly Andaluzia It lieth on the west of Granada and is a very fertile Countrey In this Region is the chief City Corduba whence we receive our Cordavan Leather The second of note is Sevil the Metropolitan of Andaluzia and the fortunate Islands esteemed the goodliest City in all Spain and though as Corduba it was not honoured with the Title of a Kingdom
Sibenburgen which she yet keeps as a remembrance of her residence in these parts The Country is populous and fertile It breeds fair and fierce Horses wild Bulls Indeed their men in some parts are not very tame Toward the North in the Province Zaculcia they live most upon the spoil maintaining continual war with the Turks and Germans and acknowledge no difference of worth or degrees among themselves Their Government or rather want of government is compared to the Helvetian Three places they have Hâ—sdy Corbay and Sceply whither they resort to determine of their State busines The chief Towns of Transylvania are Harmenstad Alba Iulia or Weisingburg Claneenburg Schlesburg Millenbachium Coronae or Cronstant 15 Moldavia lieth in the North of Transylvania and reacheth as far as the Euxine Sea on the West it hath part of Ruthenia This Country hath been by course in the several possessions of the Emperour of Germany the King of Poland and sometimes the Turk thereafter as it was cast by chance of war It was a Vayvodate and her chief Cities Occazonia Fuchiana and Falezing To this Moldavia belongs the Countrey of the Bessi mentioned by Ovid in his 6 de Tristibus Vivere quà m miserum est inter Bessosque Getasque They were a people of Thrace not far from Pontus who lived most by theft and pillage and after possest the Mountain Haemus and a part which lies betwixt it and Lituania and from the Inhabitants bears the name of â—essaralia Their principal Towns are â—ilim and Chermem This last is the seat of the Turkish Sanziack for the whole Province became subject to his tyranny in the year 1485. 16 Walachia is supposed rather to have been first named Flaccia by the Roman Flaccus who placed here a Colony which have continued the Latine tongue to this day among the Inhabitants though in a corrupt idiome such as can hardly be understood Near to this over the River Danubius stands Pons Trajanus built by the Emperour Trajanus Nerva a work worth admiration as appears by those ruinous parcels which are yet standing It hath puzzled the best Artificers to find out how such a vast foundation could be framed in so deep and fierce a stream which could not be turned into any other course to give way to the building The Country abounds with good commodities Gold Silver and Iron Salt-pits Wine Cattel and excellent great Horses The chief Cities are Sabinivus Prâ—ilaba and Tergoresta 17 Servia lies divided from Hungary and Rascia with the River Savus on her North and Bosnia on her West It was the seat of the ancient Triballi who met with Philip King of Macedonia and took from him the spoils which he had brought from Maeteas King of the Sarmatians It was it seems but a barbarous people and therefore Aristophanes in one of his Comedies among his mock-gods names Marathane-triballos Her chief Cities are 1 Taurunum which Pliny placeth in the utmost bounds of Pannonia It is commonly known by the name of Belgard and Alba Graeca It is not so great as glorious nor is it fortified so much with walls as Rivers it lieth open for a siege only one way which the Turk often attempted and returned with great loss yet at last in the year one thousand five hundred twenty one it gave up to Solyman and became a Province to his Empire It stands near where the Rivers Danubius and Savus are dissevered and is the Town which the Hungarians report to have been once delivered by the admirable industry of Ioannes Capistranus a Franciscan who is much honoured for the action by those of his own Society But Ioannes Huviades thaâ—t great Souldier and terrour to the Turk challengeth the glory as his peculiar Vadianus 2 Samandria and 3 Stoniburg 18 Rascia is on the North of Danubius where it parts with the River Savus and lieth betwixt Servia and Bulgaria In her chief City Boden there is kept a Fair once every year and much people resort for enterchange of commodities from most Countries thereabout 19 Bulgaria somewhat North-East from Rascia and is bounded with Danubius upon the South Theophylact was here Bishop and was called Bulgarius Near this is the City Tomos where Ovid lived in Banishment as himself mentioneth in his 3. de Tâ—istibus The principal Cities at this present are 1 Sophia the seat of the Berlegbeg of Greece And 2 Nicopolis The ornament of their King was imperial a Crown of gold attire of silk and red shoes Their title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a tearm allowed by the Greek Emperours to those only which might wear this habit the rest they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as Reges 20 Bosnia on the West of Servia and South of the River Savus had her name from the Bossi or Bessi the people of Bulgaria within the memory almost of our Fathers it was governed by Kings and as yet retains the title of the Kingdom of Bosnia The chief Towns are Cuzachium and Iaâ—iga the first is the place of residency and the second of burial for the Bosnian Kings Heretofore the City Sinderoria had that honour which some suppose to be the same that was once called Dardanum DANIA The Description of the Kingdom of DENMARK THE Kingdom of Denmark strikes into the Sea upon the North of Germany as Italy on the South the manner of both is not much unlike and the glory of this heretofore was not inferior For however in these latter ages the pride of Rome hath pranked up her Territories in gay apparel yet the day was when both she and they stooped to the Inhabitants of this Country though then known by another name of Cimbria Chersonesus Three Roman Consuls Manilius Sillanus and Cepio fell by their sword and the Empire it self it seems was in a shrewd hazzard when their own Historian reports that Actum esset de imperio nisi illi saecul Marius contigisset 2 The people were then and had been from their beginning the Cimbri a Progeny of Gomer first son of Iapheth who before they removed into this quarter of the world dwelt in the inner Asia near the straight which passeth from the Pontus Euxinus to the Polus Maeotis there we yet find the Bosphorus Cimmericus in Ptolomy which took name from the Cimmerii for so they were called at large and by contraction Cimbri 3 From thence they were in time disturbed by the Scythians and forced to seek them a new sea for their habitation which after long travel here they found fittest for their security as being a Peninsula fenced almost round with Seas from the force of all foreign Enemies Yet here too they met at last with a worse danger which they could less resist For the main Ocean brake into a great part of the Countrey displaced many of their Colonies and sent them Petitioners to Rome for a dwelling within her Dominions but their entreaty being with some neglect denied it kindled the sparks which to this time had lain as it were
whatever else hath its birth from the ground It is well nigh past belief which is reported of the multitude of Bees such as yield more Honey and Wax than the people can find room for They need here neither Art nor care of the good Huswife to order their Hives but naturally are their own Guardians and provide so diligently for their own safety within the bulks of trees that they easily pass over the hardest winter without hurt There is store of game both for hunting fowling and fishing In her Forests is seen a kind of wild Horse with an horn like an Harts and the Alces c. Lastly among other good commodities the worst is not her Pitch and Rosin which yield her a large annual revenue 8 Her chief wants proceed from her bleak situation For it is a plain Countrey and shadowed for the most part with Woods very cold and by that means she hath little Oyl and scarce Grapes enough to teach them the use of Wine A great defect among so good drinkers for they have a name for that equal with any part of Germany and that I think gives no ground to the rest of Europe But they make a shift to find themselves play with a kind of Metheglin Gold or Silver here is not much unless about Cracovia and as Maginus saith in Sandomica where there are likewise some Mines found of the Lapis Lazulus perfect Lead and Iron and pieces of Copper Near the Towns of Nochow and Palukie there is extant a kind of Miracle a certain Earth naturally formed up into pots which if you take forth and dry they differ very little by sight from such as are made by hand and serve aptly for the same use 9 The Inhabitants though they had but a wild beginning yet in the more civil parts are of a gentile behaviour to strangers and not iâ—iurious one to the other Theft is a voice not known to the Polands For they dare travel alone long journeys in the depth of Winter with one poor one to draw their sledge in the night times c. and this with more security and less danger than we â—ay walk in our open streets in the dusk of Evening Questionless this special practise of honesty in that kind above other Nations proceeds from an inbred desire which they generally have to be in employment for they are very industrious in their several faculties Those which pretend to Learning addict themselves much to the study of Languages The Latine is familiar to the Gentry as their own and as Maginus reports is used in some Towns by rich and poor as their proper speech They are prodigal both in diet and apparel give much entertainment and keep a large retinue of servants In brief they are as equal to themselves as they are courteous to others For they will not be oppressed by the greatest Potenate either home bred or foreign They are very vallant and meet their enemy with an undaunted courage be they never so much over-born either by number or strength The truth is no Peasant is suffered to bear arms only their Nobility and Gentry of place in their Common wealth such as war not for others only and upon constraint but have somewhat themselves to lose and therefore are ready as well for their own safety as defence of their King and Country to set on upon all assays and raise an incredible number of excellent Horse well manned almost in an instant For they are kept in continual motion by the Muscovite 10 They have a good mind to Religion but cannot fasten upon any one to their liking and therefore they will try all Christians they have been ever since the year 965. but from that time they have scarce slipt any error schisme or heresie which hath crept into the Church Here are Iesuites and others of the Romish Sects Here are Lutherans and Calvinists and Arrians and Anabaptists and Anti-trinitarians none allowed but all tollerated and indeed Poland had the seniority of Amsterdam for that old saying That if a man had lost his Religion here he might find it They have one ancient custome in their Churches which methinks may well interpret our standing up at rehearsal of the Creed when the Gospel is reading the Nobility and Gentry unsheath their Swords and stand as it were prepared to defend it with their lives against any which dare violate it 11 Their King is chosen by the general States and is for the most part some great Warriour of their neighbouring Princes For they have no peace on their East limit with Muscovites and Tartars but what they make with the Sword The Laws are only temporary Statutes there are none fundamental But when the King hath any great design in behalf of the Common wealth he assembles a Councel of the Nobility to assist him His Revenues coming in are thought to be about six hundred thousand Crowns and each quarter of his Kingdom maintains his expence for one quarter of the year Their first King was Boeslaus crowned by Otho 3. in the year 1001. But the Regal dignity was lost again to Boleslaus the Bold who began his Reign 1078. but was deposed by the Pope and no other suffered to take up the Scepter and rule by the name of King till the year 1295. The first of the second course was Primastaus the second Duke of Poland and Pomerania Since whose time there hath been no breach to this day 12 The chief Provinces of the Kingdome of Poland as they lye from her West to East are 1 Pomerania 2 The Dukedoms of Ozwits and Zator 3 Polonia 4 Prussia 5 Râ—a nigra 6 Samiogitia 7 Massoria 8 Livonia 9 Podlassia 10 Lituania 11 Volhinia 12 Podolia 13 The first is Pomerania bounded on the North with the Baltick Ocean on the West with Germany and it is accounted by some a Province of the Empire as we have ordered in our description But in regard the greatest part is subject to the King of Poland I hope I shall wrong neither to give both their due and reckon it as well to this government since it hath an equal if not a greater title to the rule though not to the Inhabitants for they are most Germans It is a plain Country but exceeding fertile and rich in all commodities which any other part affords flourisheth with forty Cities which are fenced round either with the Sea or ditches answerable for safety Her chief stands upon the shore for it is by nature so well guarded from the violence of the Sea that they need fear no inundation but yet have a very easie and secure entrance for ships Along the Coast stand Coberg Camin Costin Gribswald c. In the up-Land Stetinum the Meâ—ropolis Newgard Lemburg c. The people were harsh persecutors of the Church of Christ till the year 1122. 2 The two Dukedoms of Oswittes and Zator by Silesia in the West bounds of this Kingdom They were heretofore sui juris but
now belongs to this government the first since the year 1454. in the time of Casimirus and the last was brought under by Sigismond the first about an hundred years after 3 14 Polonia is divided into the greater and less The greater Poland is more Northern and joyns upon Pomerania and Prussia It was therefore called the greater because here Lechius first planted himself and built the City Guesna which was the Regal seat till it was translated to Cracovia in the lesser Poland 1320. yet at this day is her Archbishop Primate of the Kingdom during an interregnum hath the power of a Prince and Crowns the new King at his Inauguration Polonia the less is more Southern lies hard upon Russia and Hungary It is now esteemed the more noble part of this Province For here stands the Metropolis Cracovia on the banks of Vistula and Lublin and other of the best note in Poland 4 15 Prussia Spruce on the East of Pomerania hath the Baltick Seas on the Norâ—â— and Massoriâ— on the South and on her own East Lituania It is now a Dukedome and contains Cities of note Danâ—zike where Keckerman professed and Mons Regus Regimont Maneburg Heilsperge Câ—lne c. Her chief commodity is Leather much used heretofore to make Ierkins where none more brave than the younker that could compass a Leather Ierkin Here is likewise great store of Amber a juyco growing like a Corral in a Mountain of the North Sea which is clean covered with water and cast up by violence of the waves into their Havens 5 Russia nigra on the East and South of Poland the less and the North of Hungary and West of Podolia and had her name as some suppose first Ruthenia and Russia which in the Ruthen tongue signifies no other than a dispersed Nation For so were the Russians through all Sarmatia Europaea and a part of the Asiatick from the frozen Ocean to the Mediterrâ—neum and the Sinus Adriaticus and the Pontus Euxinus and the Mare Balticum all that used the Sclavonian tongue and professed Christ after the manner of the Greeks were called Russi and Luthenâ— But the Province here meant is only the South Tract as much as belongs to the King of Poland and is called Nigra to distinguish it from Muscovia or Russia Alba. The people are valiant and in their fights use weapons of exceeding weight and bigness Her Prince is eâ—tituled Duke the name of King they will not endure This Province contains the Territories Leopoliensis with her chief city Leopolis Lunt-burg a fair Town and an Arch bishop See And the Territories Haliciensis â—elzensis Praemifliensis c. 6 16 Samogitia toward the North and her West hath the Sinus Balticus North East Livora It is in length fifty miles very cold compassed in with Woods and Rivers Her principal Town is Camâ—a But not that nor any other is very famous for Lordly buildings the fairest are but sheds in respect of other Countries The Peasants are truly so indeed for they reckon themselves but little better than their Cattel live under the same roof with them without any partition or nice loathing of their nastiness a life fit enough for such a people for they are yet most of them gross Ido laters and are oft times met in their Woods with horrid visions and are strangely cozened by the Devil with a belief that they can prophecy The silly blasphemers nourish in their house a poor snake like themselves gathered out of some ditch and call it their god worship it with great fear and reverence and sacrifice once in a year I Octob. to their devil but by the name of their god Ziem enike The better sort are Christians of a comely portraiture and good feature valiant and ready to take Arms when occasion calls them Their greatest plenty is of Honey which they gather ready made to their hands in their hollow trees 17 Massoria on the South of Prussia and North of Polonia and Russia and the East of either Poland West of Lituania She had her name from a former Duke which was ejected by Casimirus where it had a peculiar Prince of its own it belonged to the second son of the Kings of Poland but in the year 1526 after the untimely death of Iohn and Starislaus heirs to this State it became a peculiar to the Crown of Poland Her chief City is Marscoria which hath many under her all use the same speech and customes with the other Polonians 8 Livonia to the North bounded with Finland on the South with Lituania on the West with the Baltick Sea and on the East with Muscovie It is a large Province carries in breadth one hundred and sixty miles and in length five hundred It is Fenny and Woody but yet hath Corn and Fruit plenty Cattel good store wild and tame especially Horses They have Honey Wax c. enough to exchange with other Countries for Wine and Oyl For this yields little or none It became Christian one thousand two hundred Her chief Towns are Riga Rivalia Derpe and Venda About some twelve miles from the Continent is the Isle of Osel 9. 18 Podlussia on the East of Massoria and West of Lituania was joyned to Poland one thousand five hundred sixty nine The Inhabitants are Massorites Russians and Polands Her chief Towns are Titock sin a Fort where the Kings Treasure is kept Beisco and Russin In this the King hath a fair Court furnisht magnificently both for state and pleasure 10 Lituania on the East of Poland and South of Livonia on the West of Muscovia and North of Podolia The air is very unnatural and by that means the creatures thereof every kind are very small and their wants great of Corn Wine Salt c. The people are of a slavish disposition and live thereafter poor and basely The women have a freedom by custome to keep many Stallions which their Husbands love us themselves and call them their adjutories But the men may by no means play false Their condemned persons be it to death must execute themselves or be tormented till they expire They became Christians 〈◊〉 as they are one thousand three hundred eighty six The principal Cities are Vilna 〈◊〉 and Brestia and Norigredum a City by report larger than Rome 19 11 Volhinia lieth betwixt Lituania Padolia and Russia a plentiful Region and breeds hardy Souldiers They live as Russians use the same speech and customes Her chief Towns are Kioria and Lircassia upon the edge of Boristhenes 12 Podoâ—ia is on the South of Lituania East of Poland and North of the River Niester or Boristhenes as it runs from his head to the Pontus Euxinus and on the West of Russia It affords great plenty it seems three Harvests they say of one sowing It is pity saith Vadianus it should be left desert as in manner it is unless here and there a Village Her chief is Camiensen the only one able to return the Turks and Tartars with the loss as it
hath oftentimes done The rest are not many and those but weakly peopled For the often incursions of the Tartars their speedy Horse to ride a great compass in a little time their 〈◊〉 of Faith upon terms of composition and their cruelty when they have got a victory causeth the Inhabitants of those parts to fly them at a great distance and leave their Land waste since they dare not trust their peace nor are able to withstand their war PERSIA P. Karius Caelavit The Description of the Kingdom of PERSIA THis Empire was one of the first and most potent in the Eastern world and though since in several ages she hath felt the variety of fortunes to which all Kingdomes are subject and been forced to deliver up her glory to the succeeding Monarchies of the Macedonians Parthians Turks and Sarazens yet now at last is she recovered to her own heighth and greatness and the name of Persia reacheth farther than ever if we take in as most Geographers do the Regions of Media Assyria and the rest which were heretofore the seat of several illustrious Kingdomes 2 Surely the first which inhabited any part of this compass were the Medes a people of great antiquity who reach both their original and name from Madai the son of Iapheth for it was not long after the floud that they were subdued by Ninus King of the Assyrians one and t'other Media I mean and Assyria though then they had apart their peculiar governments yet both were but a parcel of this Countrey which is now known by the name of Persia. 3 To Ninus and his successors they continued faithful for many years till the effeminate weakness of Sardanapalus gave opportunity to the ambition of Belochus governour of Babylon and Arbaces of Media to divide his Empire betwixt them which they did in the year of the world three thousand one hundred forty six and then began the Monarchy of the Medes which spread it self through the the greatest part of Asia and for above two hundred years gathered strength till the time of Astiages who dreamed himself out of his Empire as Iustine relates the story 4 Persia propriè dicta from whence this whole Country at last took name was at this time but an obscure Kingdom in respect of what now it is and tributary to the Medes Her Prince was Cambyses the Father of the great Cyrus by Mandanes daughter to Astiages when she was great and expected the time of her deliverance her Father touched with a perplexed dream that she made so much water as would drown all Asia interpreted it that her issue should be the overthrow of his state and therefore delivered the child which was born to her into Harpagus his charge to be destroyed and he to the Kings Herdsman who unawares to Both preserved the guiltless infant so that at last he took revenge upon his cruel Grand-father and laid a foundation for the Persian Monarchy 5 In this attempt his anger wrought him no farther than his enemy for he left the government of Media still to Cyaxares the son of Astyages and afterward married his daughter joyned with him in his conquests and till his death gave him preheminence of title They were both engaged in the taking of Babylon slaughter of Baltazar and destruction of the Chaldâ—ans The Scripture gives this victory to Darius Medus who as most hold was no other than Cyaxares and he only named as the principal of the two while he yet lived though Cyrus had his part in the action after his Uncles death enjoyed it as his own and made perfect the Monarchy of the Persians in the year of the world 3046. 6 About thrity seven years after the succession was broke for want of lawful heirs to Cambyses their second King and therefore their Princes consulted to salute him whose Horse first neighed at a set meeting upon the Court green before the Sun-rising Darius Histaspes was one and by the subtiliy of his Horse-keeper carried the Crown for the night before in the same ground he had coupled a Mare with the Horse that his Master should ride which when the lustful Steed missed the next morning being full of spirit no sooner had he set footing upon the place but with much eagerness he snuffed and neighed after his Mare and gave the quue to the other Princes to proclaim Darius King of the Persians This was he whom the Scripture calls Ahasuerus he was Hâ—sters husband 7 Thus is the Empire now setled and entailed by descent after him to that famous Xerxes who made war upon Greece with an incredible Army joyned Asia to Europe with a bridge and dammed up Hellespont with his Navy yet was at last vanquished by four thousand at Thermopyle and after by Themistocles forced to make his flight in a small boat towards his own Countrey contemned of his subjects and within a few years slain in his Palace by Artabanus His immediate successour was Artaxerxes Lengimanus who sent the Prophet Esdras to re-edifie the Temple and so on to Darius the last Persian of that course who was ost vanquished by Alexander the Great and left the Monarchy of the world to the Macedonians After the death of their victorious Captain it was divided among many of the most potent Princes of Greece 8 But when the Persians saw the force of their enemy thus severed they began to conceive a hope of recovering their liberty and so they did indeed under the conduct and command of the Parthian Arsaces but. found themselves little bettered in their condition as being now become new slaves to a more harsh tyrant and therefore in the year two hundred twenty eight after the Incarnation they made a second attempt to quit themselves from the Parthians they took their time when their Masters were sore afficted with a strong enemy from Rome which had broke their Forces to their hands so that by the admirable prowess of another Artaxerxes they made good their Conquest upon the Parthians and adventured so far with the Romans themselves that their name began to grow terrible and the Emperour Constantine forced to fortifie his Provinces which lay towards the East and his might be some cause too why he removed his seat to Constantinopolis 9 After this fell into the hands of the Saracenical Caliphs in the year six hundred thirty four and to the Turks in the year one hundred and thirty next to the Tartars and so again to the Parthians by the help of Gempsas who redeemed both his own and this from the Tartarian and briefly after many turns it became the possession of Ismaâ—l Sophy of Persia whose race continues it to this day 10 The bounds of this Empire on the North are the Caspian Sea and the River Oxus on the South the Sinus Persicus and the Maâ—e Indicum heretofore called Rubrum on the West the Turkish confines as far as the River Tigris and the lake Giocho on the East the River Indus and the Kingdom of
precepts of civility from their Fore-fathers though never so long since For what people can we read of in Stories which have at any time been enlightned with the truth and yet afterward fallen into that gross barbarism which is now found among the Tartarians See their Character which as they are by most described deals impartially gives them ill-fashioned bodies answerable to their rude minds fit Houses for so unclean Guests 7 There stature is different The most part have large shoulders a broad face with a crooked nose deformed countenance swarthy colour hollow eyes hairy and untrimmed beard and head close shaved Their speech is boysterous and clamourous their noise in singing like the yell of Wolves and endurance of Hunger Thirst Heat Cold and Watching equals them in strength of body to the most able beast for it exceeds the common power of a man Their lust is without law For they except no kindred but their own Mothers Daughters and Sisters No species for they mix with Beasts no sex for they are insatiate Sodomites and yet take liberty for as many wives as they can maintain which contrary to our civil courses they buy of their Parents instead of receiving dowries Their meat is the raw flesh of Horses without regard how they were killed or of what diseases they died sometimes they suck bloud from the living to appease their Hunger and Thirst if in a journey they be distressed for want of food 8 Cities they have but few nor Houses other than moveable Tents made of Beasts skins which they pitch up by great multitudes in the form of a Town and those are called Hordes when the grass is once eaten bare aâ—d the ground yields not meat for their Cattel they trudge with bag and baggage to another quarter and so in course they wander through the vast deserts unsetled and indeed impatient to be setled or rather imprisoned as they take it within any one bounded compass having the widâ— world to roam in Their chief Arms are Bow and Arrows which they use most on Horseback for their more speedy flight and have them commonly strongly poysoned for the more sure mischief to the Foe Their Stratagems are down right fraud and breach of truth for they keep no Faith with any enemy regard not any compact made upon terms of peace but follow their own sense and commit what outrages they can with least danger to themselves 9 Their Religion is answerable to their vile customs Some are Pagans others Mahometans yet will not be called Turks but Bersemanni and their chief Priest Seyd whom they reverence more than their Maker and admit that none should touch his Hand but their Kings and these too with an humble gesture their Dukes aspire not above his knee nor their Nobles higher than his feet the rest are happy if they can but reach at his garment his horse his any thing so simple are they in their Superstition and thus have they continued either Atheists or false Idolaters ever since their first entrance upon this Kingdome in the year 1187. Before they were not esteemed a Nation at all but wild people without law or reason almost who lived in the open fields and conversed with no other than their own Heards of Cattel 10 Their first King was one Chinchis a man of low birth but high spirit impatient of that slavish condition to which he was bred he brake forth at last and drew more by his example into the thoughts of better fortunes which he ceased not to prosecute till he had made good his purpose and not only setled himself in the throne but enlarged the dominion of the Tartars through a great part of Asia and Europe which had scarce before heard of any such people His first Forces he imployed upon Tenduch and Argon bounded with the Eastern Seas both of them were then Provinces governed by Vnchan or Presbyter Iohn Soon after they got ground in Sarmatia Asiatica followed their blow upon Russia Hungary and Polonia fetcht in the Kingdoms of China Mein and â—engala and left many out-reaches to their successors which have not kept entire to this day as being not able to match so many potent adversaries as they have from every quarter of their Kingdome 11 The limits are now on the North the Scythian Ocean on the West the Muscovian Empire Sarmatia Europoea and mare Caspium on the South Mount Caucasus the Kingdom of Persia and part of India and on the East partly the Easterly Seas and partly the Kingdom of China Thus divided she contains five Provinces 1 Tartaria minor 2 Asiatica 3 Antiqua 4 Zagathai intra Imaum 5 Cathai extra Imaum 12 Tartaria minor is called likewise Horda Precopensium a sort of Tartars which have their name from one City Precops but inhabit all those plains which lie round about the â—ontus Euxinus or Mare Magor and Palus Maeotis including the whole Taurica Chersonesus so that she extends her limits from the banks of the River Boristhenes as far as Tanais Her chief Province is the Chersonesus a Peninsula seventy miles in compass which took the name of Taurica from Oâ—yris who they say first ploughed this Land with a yoke of Bulls It was invaded by one Vlanus from whom the Inhabitants of this whole Region were sometimes called Vlani as they were after Crym Tartars from that City Crym once the Kings seat of this Peninsula though it stood not within her limits For her principal Town was 1 Theodosia now Casta where there was heretofore a Colony of Genoaes till they were dispossest by Mahomet the eighth Emperour of the Turks 2 Eupatoria 3 Parthenium c. The other Towns of this Tartaria Precopensis which stand without the Chersonesus are Ocâ—acon which this people took from the Dukes of Lituania and Tanas which stands in the utmost part of this Tartaria above the mouth of the River Tanais some three miles distant It is called by the Inhabitants Azac and it is a place of great Traffique and free access from many neighbouring Nations Near this South-ward begins the Palus Maeotis reacheth as far as the Taurica Chersonesus betwixt which and the main Land is the Bosphorus Cimmerius and on their South banks flows their Poutus Euxinus which runs into the Propontis but returns not This Sea is in some places so deep that the water appears at top black and was therefore called Mare nigrum It might be thought that the people living so near the civil parts of Christendome were better mannered than the Asiatick Tartars but their stubborn rudeness takes in foul scorn to be taught by any other Nation and therefore stands stiffly to their old course of life in Woods and wild Fields and cease not to commit continual murders and rapines upon the Countries adjoyning with an inveterate hate to such as profess the Name of Christ insomuch that they have engaged themselves to pay yearly three hundred Christians as tribute to the great Turk which number they draw
Merhamed the Great Mogul The others of most note are Moltan Scheâ—â—us for antiâ—uity Polymbothy the Palibothra of Ptolemy 4 Delly so nam'd from its Mother City sometimes the Seat of the Great Moguls where many of them had their Sepulchral Monuments many other great Towns and Cities there are in this Province among which Tremer is particularly culiarly mentioned and also Doceti made the more remarkable by the great overthrow given by Merhamed to Badurius 5 Agra whose Supreme City of the same name is the present Imperial Seat and ordinary residence of the Great Mogul ever since the time of Ecâ—ar it stands on the Eastern-bank of the River Iemâ—na and not above 18 miles the way being stag'd with Mahometan Temples from Fatepore once a stately City to which Echebar removed his Court from Caximir and built him here a Royal Palace with sumptuous Gardens but much demolished since the removal of the Imperial Seat to Agra whither the materials of the said Palace were conveyed Hendee adorned with a Regal Castle which serves for a Prison of State hewn out of the main Rock as also two Hospitals for maimed Commanders Biani the most peculiar place in all East-India for the manufacture of Indico all the way between Lahor and Agra which is reckoned 400 miles is set with rows of Mulberry and other fair trees on each side the way and at every ten miles end fair houses for the entertainment of Travellers Within this Terrritory is included the Kingdom of Gualiar with its grand City of the same name where the Mogul hath a rich Treasury of Gold and Silver and a strong Castle for Prisoners 6 Sanga once a Kingdom whose Regal City Citor of 12 miles circuit and seated on a Rocky Hill with a narrow access shews the ruines of 100 Temples since its being taken first from Queen Crementina by Badurius King of Cambaia afterwards from him by the Great Mogul 180 miles from Agra is Azimere remarkable for the Pillars erected by Echebar between that and Agra one at the end of every mile and half and at 15 miles end a Caravansera or Inn for Travellers Into this division is reckoned the Kingdom of Nagracut with its Metropolis of the same name in which is a Chappel seel'd and pav'd with Plates and adorn'd with figures of massy Silver 7 Cambaia divided into 3 Provinces Sinda Gusarate Cambaia properly so called Of Sinda a great part whereof is a wast sandy Desartâ— the chief Towns or Citi 's are Tutta a Town well Traded by the Portugheses Lauribander supposed very near if not in the same place with that ancient Aâ—exandria Calwalla given by Echebar for the maintenance of a race of Women-dancers Radempoor a large City at the entrance of the Desart fortified with a strong Castle Nuraquemire a grateful retreat for such as have past a wearisome journey of ten daies through the Desart at the farthest end whereof it is seated Sarrama the center of the Province to which it belongs as it is usually accounted Of Guasarate whose ancient Inhabitanâ—s are the Râ—sboochs yet unsubdued by the Mogul Diu a Town of great importance to the Portughâ—ses by whom it hath been long possest and so well fortified that it held out and baffleda strong Siege laid against it by the Admiral of the Great Turk Solyman the Magnificent in the year 1537. Sauran a Town of the forementioned Resboochs which fortified with a strong Castle defies the whole power of the Mogul Boldra a Town more neat and handsome than large Amadabat accounted by some the chief City of Gusarate Sâ—rkâ—ff adorned with the Sepulchres of the ancient Cambaian Kings Ardovat Saringo and Periano Of Cambaia properly so called the Metropolitan City of the same name for its populousness term'd the Caire of the Indies Baracho where the best Calicuts are made Swally giving name to a very commodious Bay Surat a pleasant well-built and well-fortified City and at present a very eminent Factory of English Merchants Neriand a Town of all the East-Indies second only to that of Biani for the manufacture of Indico's Daman a neat and well-fortified Town in possession of the Portugheses Campanel once the usual Râ—sidence of the Cambaian Kings being encompassed with a seven-fold wall and seated on the top of an high Hill Dacaiotote a place whose strength rendred it capable to capitulate with the Mogul for a King or Governor of their own Netherby a Town trading in Aâ—mory and brasen Ware Tanai and Bandore 8 Decan having a City of the same name whose Inhabitants are very wealthy though Bider was rather made choice of for the Royal Residence at least it was the Seat of Mamutâ—a as Danager of Niâ—almoxa and Visapore of Idalcan Goa the most flourishing Emporium of the Portugheses in the East-Indies and therefore the Seat of their Vice-Roy and an Arch-Bishops See and so impregnably fortified that Idalcan attempted in vain with all his force to take it in the year 1573. Chaul a Sea-port Town in possession also of the Portugheses by them no less strongly fortified and no less vainly assaulted by Nisamolocco another King of Decan Brampore once the Royal Seat of Chanlis taken from Miram the then King by the Mogul in the year 1600. Sintacora and Balagnate the native people of this Countrey were formerly called Venazarari who still hold out in some parts against the Mogul as the Resboochs in Cambaia 9 Canara ancient accounted a part of Decan but now almost wholly in the power of the Kings of Narsinga except what the Portugals possess of it The now most flourishing Towns belonging to it are Meâ—inde Onor Sea-Port Towns Baticalia Mayendre Mongalor recovered from the Portugals by the King of Narsinga Lispor chiefly remarkable for the Quarries of Adamant near it Salsette seated in a Peninsula under the subjection of the Portugals 10 Malabar divided into 7 Provinces some whereof are Kingdoms viz. Calecut Granganor Cochin Caicolam Coulan and Travancor The most memorable Towns or Cities of Calecut are the Metropolitan from whence it takes denomination and whence that sort of linnen-Cloath which had here its first manufacture is called Calicut Of Cranganor there is only of note one City of the same name in which are said to be no less than 70000 Christlans of the race of those converted by Sr. Thomas Of Cochin Angamale an Archiepiscopal See of these Thomasian Christians and Cochin an Episcopal See Of Caicolam one only of remark giving name to the Province Of Coulam the like accounted by some the Soveraign City of all Malabaâ— and once the peculiar Residence of the Cobâ—itin or Arch-Priest of the Bramines Of Travancor the denominating City and Quilacare which a petty King of Travancor holds of the King of Narsinga by a most bloody tenure being obliged at 12 years end to sacrifice himself in a horrid manner to a filthy Idol 11 Narfinga or Bisnagar in which are many Cities worth notice as Cael whose Inhabitants the Paravi a sort of Christians live
by Pearl-fishing Chamdagrir sometimes honoured with the Residence of the Narsingan Kings Prepeti where an annual Feast is celebrated to their Saint Pereimar once sole King of Malabar Golconda peculiar to Musulipatan a little Province subject to the Crown of Narsinga Madura Gingi and Tanajor the Seat of the Naigi or Tributary Roytelets to the King of Narsinga Mâ—liapur called by the Christians St. Thomas from a supposition that this Apostle martyred by the Idolaters was here interred it is said to have had once 330 Temples Cheromandel whence all that Sea-coast which lies on the West-side of the Gulf of Bengala is denominated Negapatan said to be chiefly inhabited by Thomasians Tarnassart once the Royal Seat of a Kingdom so nam'd Casta remarkable for the kind custom of women there who accompanying their dead Husbands into the Grave are buried with them alive Bisnagar ruined by the joynt Forces of four Decan Kings whereupon the Court was removed first to Ponegardo thence after a short time to the City of Narsinga where yet for the most part it remains 12 Oristan whose eminent Towns or Cities are besides that which gives name and credit to the Countrey Catech â— once the Seat of the Kings of this Countrey till vanquished by the Mogul Bacolli peculiar to a little Kingdom so called Angeli Simergan and Senerpase 13 Bofanter containing divers petty Kingdoms as Botia Kacares Conche Gouren Rame Recon Tippura all denominated from their predominating Cities 14 Patanau of which Patane is the mother City the rest are Banaras seated upon the River Ganges frequented by those whose supeâ—stition leads them to bath in that reputed holy stream Siripur and Ciandecan the Seat of two old Princes not yet subdued by the Mogul Sagtagam reckoned of late too 15 Bengala taking name together with a famous Gulf from a City of great Trade seated on the Ganges whose holy waters enrich it also with a concourse of Pilgrims The rest are Gonro anciently the Seat of the Bengalan Kings Caligan a place once of Traffick as seated on the Gulf Taxda till the diversion of the Channel Porto Grande and Porto Pequeno two Towns built by the Portugheses adjoyning to the North of Bengala and therefore accounted part of it the City and Kingdom of Arachan India extra Gangem contains several Territories which are either large Kingdoms of themselves or are divided into divers lesser Kingdoms the first are six namely 1 Brama or Bâ—rma 2 Cauchin-China 3 Camboia 4 Iangoma 5. Siam 6 Pegu. 1 Brama is subdivided into these following lesser Kingdoms viz. Cavilan or Calum Prom Melinta Miranda Bacan Tangu â—va and Brama peculiarly so called all taking â—his appellation from their grand Cities and inhabited by the Brames or Bramines 2 Cauchin-China with its principal City of the same name it is divided into three Provinces each governed by his particular petty King but all under one Head and he tributary to the King of China 3 Camboia with its Capital City of the same name divided also into two inferior Provinces Champa and Camboia properly so called 4 Iangoma or the Countrey of the Laos divided into three Provinces Lavea Curroy and Iangoma strictly so called 5 Siam a Peninsula the same which of old was termed Aurea Câ—ersonesus or the Golden Cherâ—onese and supposed by some to be Solomon's Land of Ophir as the other tract of this part of India was called the Silver Region This Peninsula comprehends within it the Kingdoms of Malaca Patane Ior Muontay and Siam peculiarly so called Malaca denominated from its Emporium or City of greatest Trade belongs to the Portugheses who have also Sincapura and PaloZambilan Patane or as some say Pathane to distinguish it from that Patane already mentioned taking name also from its chief City where by the Queens leave for it hath of late been governed by Queens the English and Hollanders have their several Factories Muantay whose chief City Odia may be well reputed the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom of Siam being the Seat-Royal of the Siamese Kings it is situate like Venice upon several little Islands tack'd together with Bridges in the River Capumo Siam specially so called whose Cities of chiefest note are Socotai remarkable for a Temple 80 spans high all intirely made of metal Quedoa a Town of great Trade for Pepper of which the best sort is there to be had Tavy lying on the Sea-coast and bordering on the Kingdom of Pegu. Lugor near the Isthmus of the Chersonese Calantan peculiar to a petty Kingdom subordinate to the Crown of Siam Pegu divided into several lesser Kingdoms Verma Marin Martavan Orachan and Pegu peculiarly so called all denominated from their prevalent Cities besides which we find not in the three first any of remark but in Orachan there are also mentioned Dianga destroyed by the Portugheses who took it Ann. 1608. In Pegu Cosmi built of Canes of a vast circumference in the midst of a wilderness Coilan a quadrangular City whose four sides are said to consist of four miles a piece Dala chiefly memorable for the Stables of the Kings Elephants Lanagen delightfully seated among Palm-trees Tocabel and Dian both seated upon a River full of habitable Vessels as big as Gallies Meccao a place of retreat for the King by reason of its strong Castle in time of imminent danger but above all the Cities Pegu it self exceeds in strength pleasantness of situation and sumptuousness of building RUSSIA The Description of Russia RUSSIA sirnamed Alba to distinguish it from Russia Nigra a Province of Poland otherwise called also Moscovia from its chief Province is the greatest or rather only Empire of all Europe and one of the greatest of all the World extending from the 43 d to the 66th degree of Northern latitude the longest day in the most Southern parts 16 hours and an half and in the most Northern 22 hours and an half the length in terrestrial measure is reckoned from the Promontory Litamin vulgarly Cape Oby to the Town Czercassy 380 German miles the bredth from Corelenburgh a Town in the Confines of Finland to the River Ob near Lopin 300 German miles each German mile being equivalent to four of ours all under the Dominion of one Prince the Czar or Emperor of Russia otherwise stil'd the Great Duke of Moscovy It is bounded on the North with the frozen Sea on the East with Tartary on the South with part of Livonia a Province now belonging to the Kingdom of Poland and those Cremensian Tartars inhabiting the Southern Shores of Mar del Zabache and the Euxin or Black Sea on the West with certain Mountains and the River Polne which separates it from Livonia and Finland This large Countrey is judged to have been the principal habitation of the ancient Sarmatae or Sauromatae who yet besides what belongs at present to the Great Czar are concluded also to have possest all Borussia Livonia and Lithuania and that part of Moldovia between the Rivers Ister Tyra and Hierasus As to
Gwyâ—eth and upon the East the Marches of England from Chester to Wye a little above Hereford This part was divided into Powis Vadoc Powis between Wye and Severne and Powis-Weâ—wynwyn In Powis-Vadoc is the Castle of Holt in Bromefield and the Castle of Chirke in Chirkâ—land the Castle likewise of Whittington and Lordship of Oswestrie with others 13 The second part of Powiâ— or the Territory belonging to Mathrâ—vâ—l is Poâ—is between 〈◊〉 and Severne or Guy and Hauren whereof some is at this day in Montgoâ—ery-shirâ— some in Radnor-shire and some in Brecknock-shire and among sundry other hath these Towns and Castles following Montgomery The Castle of Clyâ— The Town of Knightâ—n The Castle of Cyâ—aron Presteyn The Town and the Castle of Radâ—or called in Welch Maesyvet which is at this day the Shire-Town The Town of Kinton and the Castle of Huntington 14 The third part belonging to Mathraval the chief seat of Powis after the Welsh were driven from Peâ—gwern or Shrewsbury was Powis Wenwynwyâ— a County full of Woods Hills and Rivers having in it among others the Towns of Welsh-Pool New-Town Machinâ—aâ—th Arustly was anciently in this part but afterward it came to them of Gwyneth This may suffice for the description of that which in old time was called Gwyneth and Powis 15 It now remaineth that we describe the last Kingdom of Wales called Demetia-Deheubarth or the Talaith of Dinevowr which although it was the greatest yet was it not the best because it was much molested with Flemings and Normans and for that also divers parts thereof would not obey their Prince as in Gwent and in Morganwe 16 This was divided into six parts of which Cardigaâ— was the first and is a Champion Country without much Wood. It hath Merionyth-shire on the North part of Powys upon the East Carmarden-shire and Pembroke-shire with the River Tivi upon the South and upon the West the Irish-Sea In this part is the Town of Cardigaâ— upon Tivi not far from the Sea as also the Town of Aberstwyth upon the River Istwyth and Lâ—aâ—badâ—râ—evowr which in times past waâ— a great Sanctuary there were also many Castles as of Strâ—tneyrie of Walter of Lâ—anâ—ysted of Dyvâ—rth and of Aâ—er-Roydâ—ll c. 17 The second part was called Dyvet and at this day Pembroke-shire It hath upon the North and West the Irish-Sea upon the East Carmarden-shire and upon the South Severne There are in it sundry Towns and Havens among others these Pembroke Tenby Hereford-West with the goodly and many Branched Haven of Milford called in Welsh Aberdangledhett S. Davids or Menevia which is the chiefest See in Wales Fiscard called Aberwayn and Newport named Tresdreth 18 The third part was Carmarden-shire which is a Country accounted the strongest part of all South-Wales as that which is full of high Mountains great Woods and fair Rivers 19 The fourth called Morganwe now Glamorgan-shire hath on the South the Severne-Sea which divideth it self from Devon-shire and Cornwall upon the West and North-West Carmardenshire upon the North-East Brecknock-shire and upon the East Monmouth-shire 20 The fifth now called Gwent and in Monmouth-shire hath in it the ancient City of Caerlheâ—n upon Vske There are also divers Towns and Castles Chepstow Glynstrygul Ros Tynterne upon the River Wye c. This is a fair and fertile Country It hath on the West Glamorgan and Brecknock-shirâ—s upon the North Hereford-shire upon the East Glocester-shire with the River Wye and the River Severne upon the South and South-East 21 The last is Brecknock-shire for the most part full of Mountains Woods and Rivers This Country is both great and large being full of fair Plains and Valley for Corn it hath plenty of thick Woods Forrests and Parks It is full also of clear and deep Rivers of which Severne is the chiefest although there be other fair Rivers as Vske and the like 22 Thus far concerning the ancient Welsh division by Talaiths but the present division distributeth them more compendiously into two Countries and twelve Shires enacted so by Parliament under King Henry the Eighth The Countries are North-Wales and South-Wales which have shared and as it were devoured between them all Powysland each of which Countries contains 〈◊〉 Shires North-Wales Aâ—glesâ—y Câ—ernarvan Merionyth Denbigh Flint Montgomery South-Wales Cardigan Pembroke Carmarden Glamorgan Brecknock Radâ—â—r But whereas Monmouth-shire and Radnor were anciently parts the first of South-Wales the other of Powys-land Monmouth-shire by Act of Parliament also under the same King was pluckt away wholly from Wales and laid to England one of whose Counties and Shires it was from that time forward and is at this present reckoned and Radnor-Shire as it were in lieu thereof is comprehended in South-Wales Humphry Hluyd a Welsh Gentleman in his Epistle and Map of old Wales maketh mention of a West-Wales which he calleth Demeâ—ia and Dyfer the one the Latine and the other the British name there but because it is wholly swallowed up by this last division we will not perplex the Reader with superfluous and impertinent recitals PEMBROK Shire PEMBROKE-SHIRE CHAPTER II. PEMBROKE-SHIRE the furthest Promontoâ—y of all West-Wales liâ—th parted on the North from Cardigan-shire with the Rivers Tivy and Keach and on the East is Confronted by Caermarden-shire the South and West shooting far into the Irish-Seas is with the same altogether washed 2 The form thereof is longer than it is broad for from S. Govens South-point to Cardigan-bridge in the North are twenty six miles the Eastern Landenie to S. Davids-point in the West are twenty miles the whole circumference is ninety three miles 3 The Air is passing temperate by the report of Giraldus who 〈◊〉 his reason from the sitâ— of Ireland against which it butteth and is so nearly adjoyned that 〈◊〉 Rufâ— thought it possible to make a Bridge of his Ships over the Sea whereby he might pass to 〈◊〉 on foot 4 Anciently it was poâ—â—essed by the Demetia further branched into Cardigan and Caermarden-shires as in that County hath been said and in the Saxons Conquest and Hâ—ptarchy by the Britaiâ—s forced into those parts for refuge whither Hâ—â—ry the First and third of the Normans Kings sent certain Flemings whose Country was over-whelmed with the breaking in of the Seas to inhabit the Maritime Tract called Rosse lying West upon the River Dougledye These Dutchmen saith Giraldus were a strong and stout Nation inured to Wars and accustomed to seek gain by Cloathiâ—g Traffique and Tillage and ever ready for the Field to fight it out adding withal that they were most loyal â—o the English and most faithful to the Englishmen Whereupon Malmesbury writeth thus Many a timâ— did King William Rufus aâ—â—aile the Welsh but â—ver in vain which is to be wondred aâ— â—nsidâ—ring his other fortunate success But saith he it may be the unevenness of the ground and sharpness of the air that maintained their courage and impeached his valour which to redress King Henry his Brother found means for those Flemings who in regard
of his Mothers kindred by the Fathers side sâ—rely pestred and endamaged the English he sent into Wales both to purge aâ—d disburden his own Kingdom and to quell and keep back thâ— courage of his enemies These men here seated deceived not his expectation but so carried themselves in his quarrel that they seldome communicated with their Neighbours so that to this day they speak not the Language and the Country is yet called Little England beyond Wales 5 The Commodities of this Shire are Corn Cattel Sea-Fish and Fowl and in Giraldus his daies of saleable Wines the Havens being so commodious for Ships arrivage such is that at Tenby and Milford and Haven of such capacity that sixteen Creeks â—ive Bays and thirteen Roads known all by several names 〈◊〉 therein contained where Henry of Richmond of most happy memory arrived with 〈…〉 of Eâ—glands freedom from under the government of an usurping Tyrant 6 Near unto this is Pembroke the Shire-Town seated more ancient in shew than it is in years and more houses without Inhabitants than I saw in any one City throughout my Survey It is walled long-wife and them but indifferent for repair containing in circuit eight hundred and fourscore paces having three Gates of passage and at the West-end a large Castle and locked Causey that leads over the water to the decayed Priory of Monton The site of this Town is in the degree of Longitude as Mercâ—tor doth measure 14 and 35 minutes and the Elevation from the North-Pole in the degree of Latitude 52. 7 A City as barren is old Saint Davids neither clad with Woods nor garnished with Rivers nor beauâ—ified with Fields nor adorned with Meadows but lieth alwaies open both to Wind and Storms Yet hath it been a Nursery to Holy Men for herein lived Calphurnius a Britain Priest whose Wife was Choncha Sister to Saint Martin and both of them the Paâ—ents of Saint Patrick the Apostle of Ireland Devi a most Religious Bishop made this an Archepiscopal See removed from Isca Legiâ—num This the Britains call Tuy Dewy the House of Devi we Saint Davids a City with few Inhabitants yet hath it a fair Cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Andrew and David in the midst of whose Quire lieth intombed Edmond Earl of Richmond Father to King Henry the Seventh whose Monument as the Prebends told me spared their Church from other defacements when all went down under the Hammers of King Henry the Eighth About this is a fair Wall and the Bishops Palace all of Free-Stone a goodly House I assure you and of great Receit whose uncovered Tops cause the curious Works in the Walls daily to weep and them to fear their downfal ere long 8 But Monton the Priory and S. Dogmels places of devout piety erected in this County found not the like favour when the commission of their dissolutions came down against them and the axes of destruction cut down the props of their Walls 9 This Shire hath been strengthened with sixteen Castles besides two Block-Houses commandiâ—g the Mouth of Milfâ—rd-Haven and is still traded in five Market-Towns being divided into seven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred forty five Pariâ—h-Churches RADNOR BREKNOK CARDIGAN and CAERMARTHEN discribed Petrus Kaerius caelavit 1500. RADNOR-SHIRE CHAPTER III. RADNOR-SHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with the County Monmouth upon the East toucheth Shropshire and Herefoâ—dshire the Rivers Clarwen and Wye divide it from Brecknock in the South and the West part doth shorten point-wise in Cardigan-shire 2 The form thereof is in proportion triangle every side containing almost a like distance for from West to North are twenty miles from North to South twenty two miles and from South to West are twenty four miles the whole in circumference extending to fourscore and ten miles 3 The Air thereof is sharp and cold as most of Wales is for that the Snow lieth and lasteth long unmelted under those shadowing high Hills and over-hanging Rocks 4 The Soil is hungry though not barren and that in the East and South the best the other parts are rough and churlish and hardly bettered by painful labour so that the Riches of the North and West consisted chiefly in the brood of Cattel 5 Anciently this County was posseâ—â—ed by the Silâ—res warlike People and great withstanders of the Romans Impoâ—itions who had not only them to â—ight against but withal the unacceâ—â—ible Mountains wherewith this Shire is so overpressed and burdened that many times I feared to look down from the hanging Rocks whereunder I passed into those deep and dark Dales seeming to me an entrance into Limbâ— Among thâ—se as say our Historiaâ—s that hateful Prince to God and Man Vâ—rtigâ—r his Countries scourge and last Monarch of the British-blood by Fire from Heaven was consumed with his incestuous Wise from whom â—iniâ— nameth the Country wherein his Castle stood Guartiger-Maur of whose Rubbish the Castle Guthremion was raised as some are of opinion Yet they of North-Wales will have his destruction and Castle to stand in their parts near unto Beth-Kellech whereof we will further speak in the relation of his Life Fatal was this place also to Llewellin the last Prince of the British Race who being betrayed by the Men of Buelth â—â—ed into those vast Mountains of Radnor where by Adam Francton he was slain and his Head Crowned with Ivy set upon the Tower of London 6 Places most worthy of note in this Shire are as ensueth The first is Radnor from whom the County receiveth her name anciently Magi where the Commander of the Pacensian Regiment lay and thought to be the Magnos in Antonine the Emperours Survey This Town is pleasantly seated under a Hill whereon standeth mounted a large and strong Castle from whose Bulwark a Trench is drawn along the West of the Town whereon a Wall of Stone was once raised as by the remains in many places appeareth This Trench doth likewise inverge her West-side so far as the River but after is no more seen whose Graduation is observed to have the Pole elevated for Latitude 52 degrees and 45 minutes and for Longitude from the first Point of the West set by Mercator 17 degrees and one minute Prestayn for beautious building is the best in this Shire a Town of Commerce wonderfully frequented and that very lately Next is Kâ—ighton a Market-Town likewise under which is seen the Clawdh-Offa or Offaes Ditâ—h whose Tract for a space I followed along the edge of the Mounâ—ain which was a bound set to separate the Welsh from the English by the Mercian King Offa and by Egberâ— the Monarch a Law made by the instigation of his Wife that it should be present death for the Welsh to pass over the same as Iohn Bever the Monk of Westminster reporteth and the like under Hâ—â—ald as Iohn of Salisbury writeth wherein it was ordained that what Welshman soever should be found with any weapon on this side of that Limit which was Offaes Ditch should have