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
the Receits of other Rivolets into her Stream and with many Wings doth sport her self thorow all the East-part of this Shire 3 That this River took her name from Abren the beautiful base daughter of Locrinus begotten out of Wedlock upon Estrildis the daughter of Humber the Scythian King that invaded this Land and both of them drowned in this River by Guendolena King Locrinus surviving Widow let Geoffrey relate and Poets enlarge whereof one among them in good account thus writeth In flumen praaecipitatur Abren Nomen Abren fluvio de Virgine nomen eidem Nomine corrupto deinde Sabrina datur Into this stream fair Abren headlong-cast Gave name of Abren to those waters vast Corruptly call'd Sabrina now at last 4 The River maketh the East part of this Shire for fruitfulness to be compared with most of the Land and to exceed any other Shire in Wales the West-side is more hilly and less inhabited yet surely those mountains breed innumerable of Cattel especially of Horses whose Portraiture for making and incomparable swiftness Giraldus Cambrensis Arch-Deacon of Brecknock doth greatly commend 5 The ancient Inhabitants that were seated in Gwineth and Powisland whereof this Shire was a part were to the Romans known by the name of ORDOVICES a puissant and couragious Nation whose Hearts and Hills held them the longest free from the Yoke of Subjection either of the Romans or English for unto the daies of Domitian they kept plea with the Romans and were not brought to the will of the English before the Reign of King Edward the first Those ORDOVICES inhabited the Counties of Mountgomery Merioneth Caernarvan Denbigh and Flint which are of us called now North-Wales a people generous and of affable conditions goodly for feature fair of complexion couragious of mind courteous to strangers and that which is most commendable most true and loyal to the English Crown Towns for Trades and Commerce in this County are six the chiefest thereof and Shire-Town is Mountgomery very wholsome for Air and pleasant for situation upon an easie ascent of an Hill and upon another far higher mounted stands a fair and well-repaired Castle from the East-Rock whereof the Town hath been walled as by some part yet standing and the Tract and Trench of the rest even unto the North-side of the said Castle may evidently be seen whose graduation for Latitude is placed in the degree 53 and for Longitude 17 the lines cutting each other in the site of this Town This Town hath lately received the Honour and Title of an Earldome whereof Philip Herbere the second Son of Henry Earl Pembroke was created the first in Anno 1605. And the Shire divided into seven Hundreds wherein are seated six Market-Towns and forty seven Parish-Churches MERIONETH-SHIRE CHAPTER X. MERIONETH-SHIRE which the Britains call Sire Verioneth and in Latine Mervia is bordered upon the North by Carâ—arvon and Denbigh-shires upon the East with Mountgomery upon the South by the River Dowy is parted from Cardigan-shire and the West side altogether washed with the Irish-Seas whose rage with such vehemency beateth against her Banks that it is thought and said some quantity of the Land hath been swallowed up by those Seas 2 In form this Shire somewhat resembleth a Welsh-Harp though small is the Musick that to her Inhabitants she makes being the roughest and most unpleasant to see to as Giraldus their own Historian writeth in all Wales The Air for great pleasure nor Soil for great profit I cannot greatly commend unless it be for the many and mighty great winds that for the most part therein do rage and the spired Hills clustred together so near and so high as the same Author affirmeth that Shepherds upon their tops falling at odds in the morning and challenging the Field for fight before they can come together to try out the quarrel the day will be spent and the heat of their fury shut up with their sleep 3 These mountains formerly did abound with Wolves for whose avoidance Edgar the peaceable did impose as Malmesbury writeth a yearly Tribute of three hundred Wolves upon Ludwall Prince of that Country whereby in three years space they were quite destroyed and now their faces are covered with fruitful Flocks of Sheep besides Neat and other Cattel that therein abundantly do grase wâ—erein the only riches of this Shire doth consist for by reason of this unevenness of the Soil and Rocks so near the face of the Earth the Plough cannot be drawn nor the Corn prosper which some have imputed to the idleness of the Inhabitants wherein they have been greatly wronged 4 These People are a part of the Ordovices of whom we have spoken who by the advantage of these Mountains held out with the longest against the Romans and their Necks not brought under the yoke of Bondage before the daies of King Edward the first since when they have attempted to cast off their subjection to the English upon those stirs raised by Owen Glendover who having been a Favorite of King Richard the second and discontented by King Henry the fourth in a quarrel with the Lord Grey of Rutâ—in that intruded upon his demains quarrelled with the King and entred into open Rebellion and Confederacy with all other his Rebels drawing the Welsh-men wholly to his side in hope to have had Princes restored of their own blood and he maintained the same with wonderful pride policy and obstinacy for a long time until his Confederates Followers and Favorites and his own courage credit and maintenance were brought so low by that powerful King that in the end he perished for very want of Food 5 Their Towns are not many neither those that they have of any stately Buildings whereof Bala Dolgelhe and Harlech are the Markets By Bala in the North-East of this County in the Welsh Lâ—integid in English Pimble-mear a great Pool of Water doth drown at least threescore Acres of ground whose nature is as the report doth pass that the High-land Floods though never so great cannot make her swell bigger by their receits but if the Air be troubled with over great blasts and tempests of Winds she in as great a rage riseth and passeth her Banks as if she would encounter that enemy in fight Into the South whereof the two headed Dee with a pretty sharp stream entreth and through the same glideth without any mixture of the same water as the Inhabitants believe more strongly conceited in their opinion for that the Salmon usually taken in Dee is never found in that Pool and the Fish called Guiniad bread in that Mear never is seen in the River Dâ—â— South thence near Dolgelhe in a lower Hill a great Rampire of Stone and compass is seen and hath been some fortification or defence in War which whilst we were curious to find out some instructions thereof by report this only we learned that it was called Caddoryrita Drâ—n according to the name of her neighbour and far higher Hill 6 Upon the West
fashion the rest which are under the Venetian observe them in their apparel for they are slaves to both in their whole course 9 Yet they retain still a shew of the Christian Religion which was here setled by Timâ—thy to whom Saint Paul wrote two Epistles and was after in the Primitive time professed by divers learned and reverend Divines of their own Nation which are with us received as Authenick Fathers of the Church S. Chrysostom Basil the Gregories Nysene and Nazianzen were all Grecians The government Ecclesiastical is in the power of four Patriarchs 1 of Constantinople and his extends over all Greece Muscovie Sclavonia Dacia part of Poland and all the Islands of the Adriatick and Aegean Seas 2 Of Alexandria and his over Aeâ—â—pt and Arabia 3 of Hierusalem and his over the Greeks in Palestine 4 Of Antioch and his over Syria Armenia and Cilicia 10 The people of this Country were heretofore distinguished by their principal dialects And those were the Attike Ionike Dorike and Aeolike A fift there was which was called a mixt or common dialect Each differed from other no more than we do from our selves in several parts of our Kingdom But this division will hardly reach the limits which bounds Greece according to our description we will adhere rather to that of our modern Geographers whith reckon to Greece six Provinces 1 Thrace 2 Macedonia 3 Albania 4 Epirus 5 Achaia 6 Pelâ—ponnesus and 7 The Islands 11 Thrace is the most Northern tract of all Greece and lyeth on the South of the mountain Hemus on the North of the Aegean Sea on the West of the Pontus Euxinus and East of Macedonia It hath the name from the sharpness of the air and indeed it is very unpleasant for the most part and too unnatural to its own fruit that it scarce ever ripens what it brings forth The people are many and those very strong â—ierce and heady and most impatient of government or discipline and by this means they have seldom had success in their battles whereas if they could have been brought to a joynt force it is said they would have been invincible 12 Part of this Nation was heretofore perswaded that their ancestors did not at all die neither should they but pass only out of this world into another to their supposed god Zaâ—mâ—xis once a scholar of Pythagoras who when he had perswaded them into this Religion seemed wonderfully to vanish out of their sight and appeared not any more but left them fully possest that he was the deity which must after a time entertain them And this they expected with that great joy that as oft as one died in stead of mourning they set forth games and feasts to congratulate his freedom from the troubles of this earthly condition and the wife only whom he loved best for they had many was thought worthy to be killed by her best friends at her husbands grave that she might bare him company in the other world the rest bewailed their neglect and the residue of their life was to them as a disgrace When a child was born neighbours were called to bemoan his entrance into a multitude of calamities and in course they reckoned up what he was to pass before he could go to their goâ— Zalmoxis for they acknowledged no other but blasphemed and shot arrows against the Heavens as oft as they heard it thunder 13 Their Kings saith Quadus are chose by suffrage and those especially which are best known to be most mild not young nor yet a Father of any children for they will not by any means admit that their government should become hereditary If the Prince himself offend he shall not escape their Laws even to death yet no man may set a hand to his execution but by a common desertion he is allowed no necessaries to live and therefore must needs die Here once reigned Polymnestor which murdered Priam's younâ— est son Polydorus And Tereus and Diomedes c. 14 This Province is now called Romenia and takes that name from her chief City Constantinopolis or Roma nova heretofore Bizantium of great fame from her first building and that was six hundred threescore and three â—ears before the Incarnation her founder Pousanias a Lacedemonian She stands so commodiously and commands the Euxine Sea the Propontis and Hellespont that there can hardly be any passage to or fro betwixt Europe and Asia in those parts without her leave And likely enough that for this cause Constantine the great when he divided the Empire chose this for his Eastern feat and in the year three hundred fifteen enlarged it with magnificient buildings and deckt her in the appaâ—el of old Româ— from whence he translated hither many ancient and costly monuments and fain would have removed her name but that his Subjects out of their endeared affâ—ction to their Prince would hear no other than Constantinopolis the City of Câ—nstantine It is in compass eighteen miles contains commonly seventy thousand Inhabitants though almost every third year she be visited with a great Pestilence The other eminent Cities of Thrace are Abdera Nicopolis Philopolis Hadrianopolis Trajanopolis Phinopolis Pemithus c. The Chersonesus over against Troas in Asia is called Saint George his Arm and in it stands Sestos where the love passed betwixt Leander and Here 15 Macâ—donia is on the West of Thrace East of Albania North of Epirus and Achaia and Soâ—th of Mysia superior It had this name from Macedo grand-child to Deucalion as Solinus gives him The Land is fertile and pleasant rich with Miâ—â—â— of gold and silver and the quality of the Inhabitants were heretofore answerable Their disposition noble and free Their Laws good and those their own their attempts great and their Kings valiant and victorious The most renowned were Philip and the greatest one that ever the world knew Alexander his son which conquered the world and set here the Throne of the third Empire 16 There are many under-Provinces in Macedonia The principal is Thessalia and here stands Triaeca the Bishops See of Heliodorus author of that excellent fiction of Theagines and Cariclea though he were too much wedded to a youthful fable when he chose rather to forgo his charge than disavow his work And here likewise is the Pharsalis famous for the great battel betwixt Caesar and Pompey The other Provinces are Aemathia Biâ—â—ia Pelasgia Eshotis and Phthiotis which yield matter for many of their stories and are famous for divers Hills and Rivers often mentioned in our ancient Poets The chief are Olympus Pelion and Ossa with their delicious valley Tempe Piâ—dus Nymphaus Atâ—â—s c. The Rivers Axius and Erigonius The chief City in the whole Region was in Augustus his time Thessalonica now Salonike comparable they sâ—y in state and merchandise to Naples in Iâ—aly 17 Albania is on the West of Macedonia and East of the Adriatick Sea North of Eâ—irus and South of Sclavonia Her chief Cities Albanopoâ—is and Duractinum heâ—etofore
ground of a marvellous capacity which is commonly called The Devils Arse in the Peak whereof Gervase of Tilbury hath told many pretty Tales and 〈◊〉 do make it one of the wonders of our Land 9 As inâ—other Csounties the devotions of the Religious have been made apparent in the erectioâ— of Places for Gods peculiar Service so in this have been founded eight of that nature which werâ— Dale Derelege Darby Repton Bechef Graiesley Faverwell and Pollewerke whose peace and plenty stood secure from all danger till the blustering Winds arising in the Reign of King Henry the Eight blew off the Pinacles of their beauteous Buildings and shook asunder the revenues of those Foundations which never are like again to be laid 10 This Shire is divided into six hundreds wherein have been seated seven Castles and is still traded with eight Market-Towns and replenished with one Hundred and six Parish-Churches Staffordshir STAFFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXIV STAFFORD-SHIRE whose situation is much about the middle of England meeâ—eth upon the North with Chess-shire and Darby and that in a Triangle point where three Stones are pitched for the bounds of these Shires it is parted from Darby-shire on the East with Dowe and with Trent the South is confined with Warwick and Worcester-shires and the West butteth against the County of Shrop-shire 2 The form thereof is somewhat Lozeng-like that is sharp at both ends and broadest in the midst The lengh extending from North to South is by measure forty four miles and the breadth from East to West twenty seven miles the whole in Circumference one hundred and forty miles 3 The Air is good and very healthful though over sharp in her North and Moreland where the Snow lyeth long and the Wind bloweth cold 4 The Soil in that part is barren of Corn because her Hills and Moors are no friends unto Tillage the middle more level but therewithal wooddy as well witnesseth that great one called the Cank But the South is most plenteous in Corn and Pasturage 5 Her ancient Inhabitants were the CORNAVII whom Ptolomy placeth in the Tract that containeth Shrop-shire Worcester-shire Chess-shire and this all which were pâ—sâ—essed by the Mercian-Saxons when their Heptarchy slourished And Tameworth in this Shire was then held their Kingâ— Court. The Danes after them often assayed herein to have seated as witnesseth Tâ—trall then Theotenâ—â—ll by inteâ—pretation The habitation of Pagans imbrued with their blood by King 〈◊〉 the Flder But the Inhabitants of this Province Beda terms The midland-Englishmen because to his seeming it lay in the heart of the Land which when the Normans had made Conquest of all many of them set down their rest here whose posterity at this day are fairly and further branched into other parts 6 The Commodities of this County consist chiefly in Corn Caâ—tle Alablaster Woods and Iron if the one prove not the destruction of the other Pit-coal Flesh and Fish whereof the River Trent is said to swarm and others arising and running thorow this Shire do so batâ—en the ground that the Meadows even in the midst of Winter grow green such are Dowe Manifold Churnot Hunsye Yenden Tean Blith Trent Tyne and Sowe whereof Trent is not only the principal but in esteem accounted the third of this Land 7 Stafford the Shire-Town anciently Bâ—theney from Berâ—elin a reputed holy Man that therein lead an Hermits life was built by King Edward the Elder incorporated by King Iohn and upon the East and South Parts was Walled and Trenched by the Barons of the Place the rest from East to North was secured by a large Pool of Water which now is become fair Meadow-grounds The tract and circuit of these Walls extended to twelve hundred and forty Paces thorow which four Gates into the four Winds have passage the River Sowe running on the South and West of the Town King Edward the Sixt did incorporate the Burgesses and gave them a perpetual Succession whose Government in under two Bailiffs yearly elected out of one and twenty Assistants called the Common-Counsel a Recorder whereof the Dukes of Buckingham have born the Office and as yet is kept a Court of Record wherein they hold Plea without limitation of summe a Town-Clerk also from whose Pen I received these Instructions and to attend them two Sergeants at Mace This Town is sited in the degree of Latitude 53 20 scruples and of Longitude 18 and 40 scurples 8 But Leichfield more large and of far greater fame is much her ancient known unto 〈◊〉 by the name of Licidfeld which Rosse doth interpret to be The field of dead bodies for the number of Saints under the rage of Dioclesian there slain upon which cause the City beareth for her Arms an Eschucheon of Landskip with divers Martyrs in divers manner Massacred Here Oswin King of Northumberland overcoming the Pagan-Mercians built a Church and made it the See of Duma the Bishop whose Successors grown rich with golden reasons so overcame King Offa and he Adrian the Pope that an Archiepiscopal Pale was granted Bishop Eadulph to the great disgrace of Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury In this Church were interred the Bodie of VVulfhere and Celred both of them Kings of the Mercians But when the minds of Men were set altogether upon gorgeous building this old Foundation was new reared Roger Clinton Bishop this See and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Chad and the Close inwalled by Bishop Langton The government of this City is by two Bailiffs and one Sheriff yearly chosen out of twenty four Burgessâ—s a Recorder a Town-Clerck and two Sergeants their Attendants 9 Houses of Religion erected in this Shire were at Leichfield Stafford De la Crosse Cruxden Trentham Burton Tamworth and VVolver-hampton These Votaries abusing their Founders true pieties and heaping up Riches with disdain of the Laity laid themselves open as marks to be shot at whom the hand of the skilful soon hit and quite pierced under the aim of King Henry the Eighth who with such Revenues in most places relieved the Poor and the Orphans with Schools and maintenace for the training up of Youth a work no doubt more acceptable to God and of more charitable use to the Land 10 With thirteen Castles this County hath been strengthned and in Thirteen Market-Towns her Commodities traded being divided into five Hundreds and in them seated one hundred and thirty Parish-Churches Shropshire Petrus Kaerius caelavit SHROP-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXV SHROP-SHIRE is both large in circuit well peopled and very fruitful for life It lyeth circulated upon the North with the County Palatine of Chester upon the East altogether with Stafford-shire upon the South with Worcester Hereford and Radnor-shire and upon the West with Mountgomâ—ry and Denbigh 2 The form thereof is almost circular or round whose length from Wooserton below Lodlane South to Over neer unto the River Trent in the North is thirty four miles the broadest part is from Tong in the East to Oswestre fited at the head of
of Britain the next and this of Ireland the third and for that cause doth Ptolomy call it the Little-Britain But howsoever Strabo hath extended the breadth as broad as the length and others have formed it in shape like an Egg yet later dimensions have found it far otherwise twice longer than broad and may be compared to the fore-leg of a Bear if the Siâ—ile breed no offence Whose East-side hath on it that tempesâ—uous Sea that cutteth her Channel betwixt England and this Ireland the West is washed with the Western-Ocean the North with the Dâ—ucaledonian and the South with the Virginian-Sea 5 The Air of this Island is delectable and wholsom though neither so clear nor subtil as is ours of England which as Mela saith is nothing favourable for the ripening of Corn but so grateful to the ground that it causeth grass to grow abundantly not only fresh and long but withal very sweet for all Cattel and in Winter is more subject to Wind than Snow and that I may use the words of Giraldus It is of all Countriâ—s most temperate neither forcing the Iâ—habitants to seek shade from the frying heat of Cancer nor the chilling cold of Capricorn to drive tâ—em to the fire but at all seasons most mild betwixt a sufferable cold and gentle warm heat 6 The Soil saith Cambrensis is uneven woody wild waterish and boggy so full of Loughs and Mears that great Ponds of Water are found upon the high Mountains These indeed make the places somewhat dangerous unto all new Commers by breeding of Rheums Dysenteries and Fluxes whose usual remedy is Vskebah a wholsome Aqua vitae that drieth more and enflameth less than many other hot Confections 7 The Commodities of this Kingdom chiefly consist in Cattel whose seed is so sweet and so rank that they will soon graze to a surfeit if they may be suffered to feed as they will Their Sheep are many but bear not the best Wooll which twice are shorn within one year Of these they make Mantles Caddowes and Coverlets vented from thence into forrain Countries Their Hobbies likewise are of great esteem and are answerable to the Ienners of Spain Bees are there in such abundance that honey is found in holes of Trees and in rests of the Rocks No annoyance of hurtful Snake or venomous Creatures and to speak all in a word nothing wanting for profit or pleasure for so much doth Giraldus affirm in saying that Nature had cast into this Western Kingdom of Zephyrus a mâ—re gracious eye â—han was ordinary 3 Touching the original peopling of this fair Island if we will believe their Records they make antiquity it self but young unto themselves affirming the Daâ—sel Caesarea and Niâ—ce unto Noah to have found it out before the Flood and that three hundred years after when Iaphets posterity took into these Wests-parts of the World one Bartholarus of his Progeny a Scythian by birth encouraged by the late success of Nimrod who now had intruded upon the Monarchy of Syria wandred so far West that Fortune at last cast him and his people upon the coast of Ireland There he setled with his three sons Languinna Salanus and Ruthurgus who searching through every creek and corner of the Land left their own names by three notable places Languini Stragrus and Mount Salanga which the revolution of times hath since called by other names as S. Dominickhill Ruthurgi and Stagnum Under the government of these three sons and their off-spring this Land was kept about three hundred years at which time there arrived also in Ireland a Giant-like kind of People of Nimrods race who in bodily shape exceeded the proportion of usual men using their strengths to win soveraignties and to oppress with rapine and violence These growing to numbers accounted it necessary to prevent dominion lest the curse of slavery prophecied by Noah should light upon them to prevent the which they set up a King of their own then quarrels bred daily either parties purposing to hold their interest by their Swords against whom lastly a Battel was fought and an infinite company of Giants slain when also died most of those of the posterity of Iapheth leaving them of Cham Lords of the Island 9 Whereupon Nemethus a Scythian with his four Sons arrived in Ireland and by strong hand seated themselves among these Giants where for two hundred and sixty years they kept but then no longer able to hold out against them they left their â—tandings and departed the Land 10 Soon after the five Sons of Dela descended from the said Nemetheus came into these coasts and with manly prowess drove these miscreants out of Ireland whereby the Seed of Cham was utterly expelled and these of Iapheth divided the Land into five parts whereof they became themselves Kings but falling at variance gave advantage unto others among whom the BRITAINS set in a foot 11 But to make this Island more famous certain Historians have fetched their Kings from most uncertain Records as namely from Gaothel the Grecian and Scotia the daughter of King Pharaoh and nourisher of Moses his Wife who at that time when Israel were in Egypt with a Colony came into Spain and after into Ireland where he was made King and in honour of his Queen the Land named Scotia from whom also the Inhabitants took name his posterity increasing in the parts of Spain where first they had seated in process of time sought further adventures under the four Sons of Milesius King of Spain whose names were Hibernus Hermion Euer and Erimon 12 These by the direction sufferance and assistance of Gurguntius King of the Britains after that Ireland had been very much dispeopled by a contagious pestilence seated themselves and from the eldest Hibernus called the Island Hibernia as some are of opinion these divided the whole into five Provinces famously known by the names of Mounster Leinster Connaught Vlster and Meath in their midst and from these the present Irish repute themselves to come Yet surely as I make no question but that this Island became inhabited even of old time when mankind again over-spread the face of the earth so doubt I not but that our Britains passed thereinto themselves such infinite number of words in the Irish language yet in use such ancient names of Waters Isles Mountains and Places meerly British words yet remaining and the testimony of Tacitus who saith that their manners were fashioned to the Britains inforceth so much and Ptolomy before him calleth that Island by the name of Little-Britain all which shew a former interest for Ireland than that which by conquest under Henry the second was made 13 That it ever was subject to the Romans is doubtful though Agricola did wish it and Tacitus held most necessary yea and in the division of their Empire Ireland with Britain and Thule fell unto Constantine the Son of Constantine the Great yet their Manners unreclaimed and barbarism retained long after those days do witness no
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
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
this name whether from Vignina an ancient King thereof or from our Virgin Queen Elizabeth the other parts being since distinguished by the names of New-England New-York and Mary-Land After the more perfect discovery of these parts which is said to have been first encouraged and promoted by Sir Walter Raleigh by several worthy Adventurers as first Captain Philip Amidas and Captain Arthur Barlow Anno 1584. Sir Richard Greenvil 1585. Mr. Iohn White 1587 and 1589. Captain Gosnol 1602 Captain Martin Pring 1603 set out by the City of Bristol Captain George Weymouth 1605 set out by the Lord Arundel of Warder at last iâ— the year 1606 some footing being got for all the forementioned voyages had prov'd succesless those that went over with Captain Newport carrying with them a commission from King Iames for the establishing a Counsel to direct those new discoveries landed on the 19th of December at a place afterwards called Cape Henry at the mouth of Chesapeac-Bay and immediately opened their Orders by which eight of the Counsel were declared with power to choose a President to govern for a year together with the Counsel The next year Letters Patents bearing date April the 10th were granted by the King to Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers and the rest of the Undertakers who were divers Knights Gentlemen and Merchants of London Bristol Exeter Plymouth anâ— other parts to make a double Colony for the more speedy Planting of the place the first Colony to be undertaken by those of London the other by those of Bristol Exeter Plymouth c. However it was not till in some years after that this Plantation came to be considerably peopled and that principally by the great care industry and activity in this affair of the Valiant Capt. Iohn Smith who in the year 1615 in the 12th of King Iames his Reign procured by his interest at Court his Majesties recommendatory Letters for the encouragement of a standing Lottery for the benefit of the Plantation which accordingly succeeded and in two or three years time turn'd to no bad account And perhaps the cancelling and making void of the Patent granted to the Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia and all other Patents by which the said Corporation or Company of Adventurers of Virginia held any interest there which was done in Trinity Term 1623 by reason of several misdemeanors and miscarriages objected against the said Corporation was an inlet of a far greater conflux into these parts than otherwise would have been by reason that this Corporation been dissolved and the Plantation governed be persons immediately appointed by commission from the King a greater freedom of Trade was opened to all his Majesties Subjects that would adventure into those parts The greatest disturbance the English received from the Natives was in the year 1622 when by a general insurrection of the Barbarians 300 of our men were massacred In the year 1631 being the 7th of the Reign of King Charles the First the most Nothernly part of this Countrey was parcell'd out into a particular Province and by Patent granted to the Lord Baltâ—more by the name of Maryland And in like manner in the 15th year of his present Majesty being the year of our Lord 1663 that part of Florida which lies South of Virginia to Edw. Earl of Clarendon then Lord High Chancellor of England George Duke of Albermarl William Earl of Craven Iohn Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashly now Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret Sir William Berkley and Sir Iohn Colleton by the name of Carolina as is specified more at large in the particular discourses of these two Countreys So that Virginia as it now stands with these two Provinces lopt from it for in Carolina also is included some part of the Land which belonged formerly to the dissolved Company of Virgina extends it self only between 36 and 37 degrees and 50 minutes of Northern latitude being bounded to the East by the Ocean to the North by Mary-land to the West by the South-Seas and to the South by Carolina The Air of Virginia is accounted of a temperature very wholsome and agreeable to English constitutions especially since by the cutâ—ng down of the Woods and the regulation of diet the seasonings have been abated only within the present limits of Virginia it is somewhat hotter in Summer than that part called mary-Mary-Land and the seasoning was formerly more violent and dangerous here to the English at their first landing The Soil which is generally plain but sometimes diversified with variety of hill and dale is capable being very fertile of producing all things that naturally grow in these parts besides which there are of the proper growth of this Countrey a sort of Plant called Silk-grass of which is made a very fine Stuff of a silky gloss and cordage more strong and lasting than any of hemp or flax For fruits the Mettaquâ—sunanks something resembling the Indian Fig the Chechinquamins which come nearest to the Chesnut the Putchcamines a fruit somewhat like a Damsin Messamines a sort of Grape in shew Rawcomens the resemblance of a Gooseberry Morocoks not much unlike a Strawberry Macoquer a kind of Apple Ocoughtanamnis a berry much like Câ—pers For Roots Musquaspen with the juice whereof being a rich sort of paint they colour their Mars and Targets Wichsacan yielding a most excellent healing jâ—ice for wounds Pocones an emulgent of much efficacy for swellings and aches Tockawaugh frequently â—aten there is also a Plant called Matonna of which they make bread and Assament a sort of Pulse a great delicacy among the natives The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are the Opassum a certain beast which carrieth and suckleth her young in a bag which she hath under her belly the Assapanic or flying Squirrel the Mussascus a musk-sented beast having the shape of a Water-rat the Aroughena a sort of Badger the Utchuâ—quâ—is somewhat like a wild Cat also a sort of beast called Roscones Of Fish the most peculiar is the Sâ—ringraise which is also common to this Countrey with New-England So many several Towns as were anciently among the natives so many distinct Nations there were all Monarchical except that of the Sesquahanocks all something differing in disposition customs and religious Ceremonies and most of all in language but all of them in general valiant well-set of a tawny complexion with black flaggy and long hair crafty and treacherous sufficiently laborious in the art of War which they used frequently to exercise among each other and wonderful lovers of hunting in other things most scandalously lazy and indulgent to their ease mean in their apparel homely in their diet and sluttish in their houses All Ships that come to Virginia and Mary-Land enter through the Bay of Chesapeac at whose opening to the South Virginia begins between those famous Capes Cape Henry and Cape Charles Into this Bay which runs up 75 Leagues Northward into the Coâ—ntrey and is in some places seven leagues broad there fall
be ministred but whereas the ancient Kings of England acâ—ording to Moses his example sate in pâ—rson in the seat of Iustice to right the greater affairs of their Subjects as William Lambeâ—â— sheweth in King Alfred Edgar Canutus c. and proves out of the Kings Oath out of Bractoâ— Britain â—axon Laws c. King William not only continued this but besideâ— erâ—cted some other Câ—urtâ— of â—ustice as the Exchequer and certain Courts and Sessions to be held four times every year â—appointing both Iudges some to hear causes others to whom appeals should be made but none from them and also Praefects to look to good orders Those last Polydor calleth Iustices of Peace but their instruction seems to be far later and no less is his errour on the other side in saying the Conquerour first instituted Sheriffs and the trial by twelve men which were both ancienter 4 And because the Conquerour for honour of Bishops caused them to remove from small obssure places to Cities of more renown we have therefore reserved to this last â—lace that division of this Kingdome which is according to Iurisdiction Episcopal Formerly in the year of Salvation 636. Honorius the first Archbishop of Canterbury first divided England into Parishes which at this day are contained under their several Diocesans and these again under their two Metropolitanes Canâ—erbury and York in manner following CANTERBVRY Bishopricks Counties Parishes Canterbury Kent 257. Rochester 98. London Essex 623. Middlesex Hertford-shire part Lincoln Lincoln-shire 1255. Leicester-shire Huntington Bedford-shire Buckingham-shire Hertford-shire part Chichester Hertford-shire 250. Sussex Winchester Hant-shire 362. Surrey Wight Isle Gernesey Isle Iersey Isle Salisbury Wilt-shire 248. Bark-shire Exeter Devon-shire 604. Corne-wall Bath and Wells Sommerset-shire 388. Gloucester Gloucester-shire 267. Worcester Worcester-shire 241. Warwick-shire Litchfield and Coventry Warwick shire part 557. Stafford-shire Derby-shire Shrop-shire part Hereford Shrop shire part 313. Hereford-shire Ely Cambridge-shire 141. Ely Isle Norwich Norfolke 1641. Suffolk Oxford Oxford-shire 195. Peterborow Northampton 293. Rutland-shire Bristow Dorset-shire 236. Glamorgan Landaffe Monmouth-shire 177. Brecknock-shire Radnor-shire S. David Pembroke-shire 308. Caermarden Bangor Caernarvon-shire 107. Anglesey Isle Merioneth-shire Denbigh-shire S. Asaph Devon-shire part 121. Flint-shire part  YORK  York York-shire 581. Nottingham-shire Chester Cheshire 256. Richmond-shire Cumberland part Lanca-shire Flint part Carlile Cumberland part 93. Westmorland Durham â—urham 135. Northumberland Sodor Man Island 17. Total Bishopricks 27. Parishes 9285. 9 To speak nothing of these twenty eight Flamins the Priests of Idolatry and the three Arch-Flamins whose seats were at London Caerlion and York all of them converted by King Lucius into Christian Bishops Sees let us only insist upon the three last by the same King appointed to be Metropolitanes over the rest among whom London is said to be chief whose first Christian Archbishop was Thean the builder of S. Peters Church in Cornhill for his Cathedral as by an ancient Table there hanging was affirmed and tradition to this day doth hold Our British Historians do bring a succession of fifteen Arch-bishops to have sate from his time unto the coming of the Saxons whose last was Vodius slain by King Vortiger for reprehending his heathenish marriage with Rowen the Daughter of Hengist At what time began the misery of the Land and of holy Religion both which they laid waste under their prophane feet until Ethelbert of Kent the first Christian Saxon King advanced Christianity and Augustine to the Archbishoprick of Caâ—terbury when London under Melitus became subject to that See 6 At Caerlion upon Vske in the time of the great Arthur sate Dubritius a man excellently learned and of an holâ— conversation he had sate Bishop of Landaffe a long time and with Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops greatly impugned the Pelagian Heresie infecting at that time the Island very far whose fame and integrity was such that he was made Archbishop of all Wales but grown very old he resigned the same unto Daviâ— his Disciple a man of greater birth and greater austerity of life who by consent of King Arthur removed his Archbishops See unto Menevia a place very solitary and meet for meditation the miracles of the man which are said to be many changed both the name of the place into his own and robbed Caerlion of her Archiepiscopal seat This See of S. Davids as in an ancient Register belonging to that Church is recorded had seven Bishops Suffragans subject unto it which were Exeter Bath Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Asapâ— and â—ernes in Ireland notwithstanding either for want of Pall carried into Britany by Archbishop Sampson in a dangerous infection of sickness or by poverty or negligence it lost that jurisdiction and in the days of King Henry the first became subject to the See of Canterbury 7 York hath had better succesâ— than either of the former in retaining her original honour though much impaired in her circuit challenging to have been sometime Metropolitane over all the Bishops in Scotland and although it was made equal in honour and power with Canterbury by Pope Gregory as Beda relateth and had twelve suffragan Bishopricks that owed obedience onely four now acknowledge York their Metropolitane but Canterbury the Superiour for William the Conquerour thinking it dangerous to have two in like authority lest the one should set on his Crown and the other 〈◊〉 it off left York to be a primate but Canterbury only the primate of all England 8 That Lichfield was made an Archiepiscopal See by Pope Hadrian the first at the suit of Offa the great King of Mercia is manifested by Matthew of Westminster unto whose Iurisdiction were assigned the Bishopricks of Winchester Hereford Leicester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich and whose first and last Archbishop was Aldwin That Winchester also had intended an Archiepiscopal Pall the same Author recordeth when Henry Bloys of the Bloud Royal greatly contended with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority under the pretence of being Cardinal de latere to him an Archiepiscopal Pallâ— was sent with power and authority over seven Churches but he dying before that the design was done the See of Winchester remained in subjection to Canterbury And that long before the See of Dorchester by Oxford had the Iurisdiction of an Archbishop is apparent by those provinces that were under his Diocess which were Winchester Oxford Lincoln Salisbury Bristow Wells Litchfield Chester and Exeter and the first Bishop of this great circuit Derinus was called the Apostle and Bishop of the West Saxons which in his next successor was divided into two parts Winchester and Dorchester and not long after into Lichfield Sidnacester and Legecister and lastly the See removed from Dorchester to Lincoln as now it is And thus far for the division of this Realm both Politick and Ecclesiastick as it hath stood and stands at this day 9 But the whole Islands division by most certain Record was anciently made when Iulius Agricola drew a trench or fortification
in time to the Normans iâ— became a Province under the Conquerours power who gave to his followers much Land in these parts 6 The place of most account in this Shire is Chichester by the Britains called Câ—ercei a City beautifull and large and very well walled about first built by Cissa the second King of the â—outh Saxons wherein his Royal Palace was kept And when King VVilliam the First had enacted that Bishops Sees should be transâ—â—ted out of small Towns unto places of greater resort the Reâ—idence of the Bishop until then held at Selsey was removed to this City where Bishop Raulfe began a most goodly Cathedral Church but before it was fuâ—ly finished by a sudden mischance of fire was quite consumed Yet the same Bishop with the helping liberality of King Henry the First began it again and saw it wholly finished whose beauty and greatness her fatal enemy still envying again cast down in the dayes of King Richard the First and by her raging flames consumed the buildings both of it and the Bishops Palace adjoyning which Seffrid the second Bishop of that Name re-edified and built anew And now to augment the honour of this place the City hath born the Title of an Earldome whereof they of Arundel were sometimes so styled Whose Graduation for Latitude which is removed from the Aequator unto the degree fifty five minutes and for Longitude observing the same point in the West whence Mercator hath measured are twenty degrees 7 With whom for frequency bigness and building the Town Lewes seemeth to contend where King Athelstane appointed the mintage of his Moneys and VVilliam de VVarron built a strong Castle whereunto the disloyal Barons of King Henry the Third in warlike manner resorted and fought a great Battle against their own Soveraign and his son wherein the King had his Horse flain under him Richard King of the Romans surprised and taken in a Wind-mill and Prince Edward delivered unto them upon equal conditions of peace But a greater Battel was fought at Battle when the hazard of England was tried in one days fight and Harold the King gave place to his Conquerour by losing of his life among sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy four Englishmen besides whose bloud so spilt gave name to the place in French Sangue lac And the soyl naturally after rain becoming of a reddish colour caused William Newbery untruly to write That if there fall any small sweet showers in the place where so great a slaughter of the English-men was made presently sweateth forth very fresh bloud out of the earth as if the evidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of bloud there shed and cried still from the earth unto the Lord. 8 But places of other note in this Shire are these from Basham Earl Harold taking the Sea for his delight in a small Boat was driven upon the Coast of Normandy where by Duke William he was retained 'till he had sworn to make him King after Edward the Confessors death which oath being broken the Bastard arrived at Pensey and with his sword revenged that Perjury At VVest-VVittering also Ellâ— the Saxon before him had landed for the conquering of those parts and gave name to the shore from Cimen his son But with greater glory doth Gromebridge raise up her head where Charles Duke of Orleance father to Lewes the twelfth King of France taken prisoner at Agincourt was there a long time detained 9 The commodities of this Province are many and divers both in Corn Cattle VVood Iron and Glass which two last as they bring great gain to their possessors so do they impoverish the County of Woods whose want will be found in ages to come if not at this present in some sort felt 10 Great have been the devotions of religious Persons in building and consecrating many houses unto the use and only service of Christ whose Beadmen abusing the intents of their Founders hath caused those Foundations to lament their own ruins For in the tempestuous time of King Henry the Eighth eighteen of them in this County were blown down whose fruit fell into the Laps of some that never meant to restore them again to the like use This County is principally divided into six Rapes every of them containing a River a Castle and Forrest in themselves besides the several Hundreds whereunto they are parted that is the Rape of Chichester into seven of Arundel into five of Bramber into ten of Lewes into thirteen of Pevensey into seventeen and of Hastings into thirteen in all fifty six wherein are seated ten Castles eighteen Market-Towns and three hundred and twelve Parish-Churches SURREY SURREY CHAPTER V. SURREY by Beda called Sutbri lieth seperated upon the North from the counties of Buckingham and Middlesex by the great River Thamisis upon the East Kent doth inbound it upon the South is held in with Sussex and Hamp-shire and her West part is bordered upon by Hamp-shire and Bark-shire 2 The form thereof is somewhat square and lieth by North and by East whereof Redrith and Frensham are the opposites betwixt whom are extended thirty four miles The broadest part is from Awfold Southward to Thamisis by Stanes and them asunder twenty two the whole in circumference is one hundred and twelve miles 3 The heavens breathing Air in this Shire is most sweet and delectable so that for the same cause many Royal Palaces of our Princes are therein seated and the Countrey better stored with game than with grain insomuch that this County is by some men compared unto a home-spun freeze-cloth with a costly fair list for that the out-verge doth exceed the middle it self And yet it is wealthy enough both in Corn and Pasturage especially in Holmesdale and towards the River of Thamisis 4 In this shire the Regni an ancient people mentioned by Ptolomy were seated whom he brancheth further through Sussex and some part of Hamp-shire And in the wane of the Romans Government when the Land was left to the will of invaders the South-Saxons under Ella here erected their Kingdome which with the first was raised and soonest found end From them no doubt the Countrey was named Suth-rey as seated upon the South of the River and now by contraction is called Surâ—ey 5 And albeit the County is barren of Cities or Towns of great estate yet is she stored with many Priâ—cely Houses yea and five of his Majesties so magnificently built that of some she may well say no shire hath none such as is None such indeed And were not Richmond a fatal place of Englands best Princes it might in estem be ranked with the richest For therein died the great Conquerour of France King Edward the Third the beautiful Ann daughter to Charles the Fourth Emperour and intirely beloved wife to King Richard the Second the most wise Prince King Henry the Seventh and the rarest of her Sex the Mirrour of Princes Queen Elizabeth the worlds love and Subjects joy 6 At Mâ—rton likewise
Kenulph King of the West-Saxons came to his untimely end and at Lambeth the hardy Canute and last of the Danish Kings died among his Cups But as these places were fatal for the last breath of these Princes so other in this County have been graced with the body and beginning of other worthy Monarchs for in Cherâ—sey Abby King Henry the Sixth who was deposed and made away in the Tower of London was first interred without all â—uneral pomp but for his holy life was imputed a Saint and lastly translated and intombed at Winsor At Kingstone likewise stood the Chair of Majesty wherein Athelstan Edwin and Etheldred sate at their Coronation and first received their Sâ—epter of Imperial power Guildford likewise hath been far greater than now it is when the Palace of our English-Saxon Kings was therein set And seeing it is the midst of the Shire the graduation from thence shall be observed where for Latitude the Pole is raised from the degree 51 22 sâ—ruples and her Longitude from the West in the degree 20 and 2 scruples 7 Neither can we account Okam and Ripley two small Villages the least in this Shire which have brought forth the well known men William de Okam that deep Philosopher and admirable Scholar and George de Ripley the ring-leader of our Alchymists and mystical impostors both of them born in this County and very near together But why speak I of these sith a place nearer to sight and greater for â—ame even Lambeth is the High Seat of Ecclesiastical Government Piety and Learning and Palace of Canterburies Arch-bishops the Metropolitaâ—s of England First erected by Archbishop Baldwin and ever since hath been the residing of all those worthy Prelates of our Church who in a long succession even from Anno 596 have continued to him that now most worthily sits at the Churches stern Richard by Gods providence Lord Archbishop of that See a most faithfull and prudent Councellour unto King Iames and a most learned and provident Guide of our most flourishing Church whose gracious favour undeservedly conferred upon me hath been a great encouragement to these my poor endeavours 8 Memorable places of Battles fought before the Conquest were Wembledon where when the fulness of prosperity burst forth into Civil Dissentions among the Saxons a bloudy Battle was fought betwixt Cheaulin the West Saxon and young Ethelbert of Kent wherein he was discomfited and two of his principal Leaders slain about the year of Christ 560. and three hundred thirty three years after King Elfred with a small power overcame the Danes with a great slaughter at Farnham in this County which somewhat quelled the courage of his savage enemy 9 Religious Houses erected in this shire by the devotion of Princes and set apart from publick uses to Gods Divine Service and their own salvation as then was taught the best in account were Shene Chertsey Merton Newarke Rygats Waverly Horsleg and in Southwarke Bermundsey and S. Maries These all flourished with increase till the ripeness of their fruit was so pleasing in sight and taste unto King Henry the Eighth that in beating the boughs he brake down body and all ruinating those houses and seizing their rich possessions into his own hands So jealous is God of his honour and so great vengeance followeth the sin of Idolatry 10 In this Shire have stood eight fair and strong Castles such weâ—e Addington Darking Starburgh Rygate Gilford Farnham Goseford and Brenchingley but of greater State are Oking Otlands None-such and Richmond his Majesties Royal Mannors And for service to the Crown or Common-wealths imployments this Counties division is into thirteen Hundreds wherein are seated eight Market-Towns and one hundred and forty Parish-Churches SOUTHAMPTON HANT-SHIRE CHAPTER VI. HANT-SHIRE lying upon the West of England is bordered upon the North by Barkshire upon the East with Surrey and Sussex upon the South with the British Seas and Isle of Wight and upon the West with Dorset and Wilt-shire 2 The length thereof from Blackwater in the North upon Surrey unto Bascomb in the South upon the Sea extended in a right line is fifty four English miles and the breadth drawn from Petersfield in the East unto Tidworth in the West and confines of Wilt-shire is little less than thirty miles the whole circumference about one hundred fifty and five miles 3 The Air is temperate though somewhat thick by reason of the Seas and the many Rivers that through the Shire do fall whose plenty of Fish and fruitfull increase do manifoldly redeem the harmes which they make 4 The Soyl is rich sor Corn and Cattel pleasant for Pasturage and as plenteous for Woods in a word in all Commodities either for Sea or Land blessed and happy 5 Havens it hath and those Commodities both to let in and to lose out Ships of great burden in trade of Merchandise or other imployments whereof Portsmouth Tichfield Hamble and South-hampton are chief Besides many other creeks that open their bosoms into those Seas and the Coast strengthened with many strong Castles such as Hurst Calshot South-hampton S. Andrews Worth Porchester and the South Castle besides other Bulwarkes or Block-houses that secure the Countrey and further in the Land as Malwood Winchester and Odiam so strong that in the time of King Iohn thirteen Englishmen only defended the Fort for fifteen days against Lewis of Franca that with a great Host assaulted it most hotly 6 Anciently it was possest upon the North by the Segontians who yielded themselves to Iulius Caesar and whose chief City was Vindonum Caer Segonte now Silcester and upon the South by the Belgae and Regni who were subdued by Plausius and Vespasian the Romans where Titus rescuing his Father straightly besieged by the Britains as Dio and Forcatulus do report was grasped about with an Adder but no hurt to his person and therefore taken for a sign of good luck Their chief Town was Rincewood as yet sounding the name and more within Land inhabited the Manures as Beda calls them whose Hundreds also to this day gave a relish of their names 7 Near Ringwood and the place once YTENE from God and peoples Service to Feast and luxury thirty six Parish Churches were converted and pulled down by the Conquerour and thirty miles of circuit enforrested for his game of Hunting wherein his sons Richard and Rufus with Henry the second son to Duke Robert his first felt by hasty death the hand of Iustice and Revenge for in the same Forrest Richard by blasting of a Pestilent Air Rufus by shot taken for a Beast and Henry as Absalom hanged by a bough came to their untimely ends At so dear a rate the pleasures of Dogs and harbour for beasts were bought in the bloud of these Princes 8 The general Commodities gotten in this Shire are Wools Cloaths and Iron whereof great store is therein wrought from the Mines and thence transported into all parts of this Realm and their Cloaths and Karsies carried into many
foreign Countries to that Countries great benefit and Englands great praise 9 The Trade thereof with other provisions for the whole are vented through eighteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Winchester the Britains Caer Gwent the Romans Venta Belgarum in chief ancient enough by our British Historians as built by King Budhudthras nine hundred years before the Nativity of Christ and famous in the Romans times for the weavings and embroderies therein wrought to the peculiar uses of their Emperours own persons In the Saxons time after two Calamities of consuming fire her walls was raised and the City made the Royal Seat of their West Saxons Kings and the Metropolitan of their Bishops See wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarchs were Crowned and Henry the third the Normans longest Reigner first took breath And here King Aethelstane erected six Houses for his Mint but the Danish desolation over running all this City felt their fury in the days of King Ethelbright and in the Normans time twice was defaced by the mis-fortune of fire which they again repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publick Records of the Realm In the civil wars of Maud and Stephen this City was sore sacked but again received breath was by King Edward the third appointed the place for Mart of Wool and Cloth The Caehedral Church built by Kenwolf King of the West-Saxons that had been Amphibalus S. Peters Swethins and now holy Trinitie is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings for herein great Egbert anno 836. with his son King Ethelwolf 857. Here Elfred Oxfords founder 901. with his Queen Elswith 904. Here the first Edmund before the Conquest 924. with his sons Elfred and Elsward Here Edred 955. and Edwy 956. both Kings of England Here Emme 1052. with her Danish Lord Canute 1035. and his son Hardicanute 1042. And here lastly the Normaus Richard and Rufus 1100. were interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little gilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remain carefully preserved This Cities situation is fruitful and pleasant in a valley under hills having her River on the East and Castle on the West the circuit of whose walls are well near two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces through which openeth six gates for entrance and therein are seven Churches for divine Service besides the Minister and those decayed such as Callender Ruell Chappell S. Maries Abbey and the Friers without the Suburbs and Sooke in the East is S. Peteâ—s and in the North Hyde Church and Monastery whose ruins remaining shew the beauâ—y that formerly it bare The graduation of this City by the Mathematicks is placed for Latitude in the Degree 51 10 minutes and for Longitude 19 3 minutes 10 More South is South-hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name most strongly walled about with square stone containing in circuit one thousand and two hundred paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for defence two very stately Keys for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for Gods divine Service besides an Hospital called Gods-house wherein the unfortunate Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded for treason lieth interred On the West of this Town is mounted a most beautifull Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called S. Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly erected a small and unfinished Chappel In this place saith learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium or Fort of the Romans whose circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In King Edward the thirds time it was fired by the French under the Conduct of the King of Sicils son whom a Countrey man encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understandiog his language nor the Law that Arms doth allow laid on more soundly saying I know thee a Frankon and therefore shalt thou die And in Richard the seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it standeth In this Clausentium Canute to evict his flatterers made trial of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his seat But being not obeyed he acknowledged God to be the onely supreme Governour and in a religious devotion gave up his Crown to the Rood at Winchester More ancient was Silcester built by Constantius great Constantines son whose Monument they say was seen in in that City and where another Constantine put on the purple robe against Honorius ' as both Ninius and Gervase of Canterbury do withess Herein by our Historians record the warlike Arthur was Crowned Whose greatness for circuit contained no less than fourscore Acres of ground and the walls of great height yet standing two miles in compass about This City by the Danish Rovers suffered such wrack that her mounted tops were never since seen and her Hulke the walls immured to the middle of the earth which the rubbish of her own desolations hath filled 11 Chief Religious houses within this County erected and again suppressed were these Christ's-Church Beaulieu Whâ—rwall Rumsey Redbridge Winchester Hyde South-hampton and Tichfield The honour of this Shire is dignified with the high Titles of Marquess and them Earls of VVinchester and South-hampton whose Arms of Families are as thou seest and her division into thirty seven Hundreds and those again into two Hundred fifty three Parishes WIGHT ISLAND VVIGHT ILAND CHAPTER VII WIGHT ILAND was in times past named by the Romans Vecta Vectis and Vectâ—sis by the Britains Guyth and in these days usually called by us The Lsle of Wight it belongeth to the County of South-hampton and lieth out in length over against the midst of it South-ward It is encompassed round with the British Seas and severed from the main-Main-land that it may seem to have been conjoyned to it and thereof it is thought the British name Guyth hath been given unto it which betokeneth separation even as Sicily being broken off and cut from Italy got the name from Secando which signifieth cutting 2 The form of this Isle is long and at the midst far more wide than at either end From Binbridge Isle in the East to Hurst Castle in the West it stretcheth out in length 20 miles and in breadth from Newport haven Northward to Chale-bay Southward 12 miles The whole in circumference is about sixty miles 3 The Air is commended both for health and delight whereof the first is witnessed by the long continuance of the Inhabitants in
with great efficacy 4 As Cornwall so this hath the same Commodities that arise from the Seas and being more inlaâ—ded hath more commodious Havens for Shippings entercourse among whom Totnes is famous for Brutes first entrance if Geffry say true or if Havillan the Poet took not a Poetical liberty when speaking of Brute he wrote thus The Gods did guide his sail and course the winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shour where first he came on land But with more credit and lamentable event the Danes at Teigne-mouth first entred for the invasion of this Land about the year of Christ 787 unto whom Britrik King of the West-Saxons sent the Steward of his house to know their intents whom râ—sistantly they slew yet were they forced back to their Ships by the Inhabitants though long they stayed not but eagerly pursued their begun enterprises With more happy success hath Plimouth set forth the purchasers of same and stopped the entrance of Englands Invaders as in the reign of that eternized Queen the â—irrour of Princes Elizabeth of everlasting memory for from this Port Sir Francis Drake that potent man at Sea setting forth Anno 1577 in the space of two years and ten months did compass the circle of the earth by Sea And the Lord Charles Howard Englands high Admiral did not only from hence impeach the entrance of the proud invincible Spanish Navy intending invasion and subversion of State but with his Bullets so signed their passage that their sides did well shew in whose hands they had been as seals of their own shame and his high honour 5 The Commodities of this Shire consist much in Wools and Clothings where the best and finest Kersies are made in the Land Corn is most plenteous in the fruitful Vallies and Cattle spreading upon the topped Hills Sea-Fish and Fowl exceedingly abundant Veins of Lead yea and some of Silver in this Shire are found and the Load-stone not the least for use and esteem from the Rocks upon Dart-more hath been taken Many fresh Spâ—ings bubble from the Hills in this Province which with a longing desire of Society search out their passage till they meet and conjoyn in the Vallies and gathering still strength with more branches lastly grow bodies able to bear Ships into the Land and to lodge them of great burthen in their bosoms or Falls whereof Tamer Tave and Ex are the fairest and most commodious 6 Upon which last the chief City and shire Town of this County is seated and from that River hath her name Excester this City by Ptolomy is called Isca by the Itinerary of Antonius Emperour Isca Danmonioram and by the Welsh Pencaer It is pleasantly seated upon the gentle ascent of an hill so stately for building so rich with inhabitants so frequent for commeree and concourse of strangers that a man can desire nothing but there it is to be had saith VVilliam of Malmesbury The walls of this City first built by King Athelstane are in a manner circular or round but towards the Ex rangeth almost in a straight line having six Gates for entrance and many Watch-Towers interposed betwixt whose compass containeth about fifteen hundred paces upon the East part of this City standeth a Castle of Rugemont sometimes the Palace of the VVest-Saxon Kings and after them of the Earls of Cornwall whose Prospect is pleasant unto the Sea and over against it a most magnificent Cathedral Church founded by King Athelstane also in the honour of S. Peter and by Edward the Confessor made the Bishops See which he removed from Crediton or Kirton in this County unto the City of Excester as saith the private History of that place whose dilapidations the reverend Father in God VVilliam now Bishop of the Diocess with great cost hath repaired whom I may not name without a most thankful remembrance for the great benefits received by his carefull providence towards me and mine This City was so strong and so well stored of Britains that they held out against the Saxons for 465 years after their first entrance and was not absolutely won until Athelstane became Monarch of the whole who then peopled it with his Saxons and enriched the beauty thereof with many fair buildings but in the times of the Danish desolation this City with the rest felt their destroying hands for in the year 875 it was by them sore afflicted spoiled and shaken and that most grievously by Swane in the year of Christ Iesus 1003. who razed it down from East to West so that scarcely had it gotten breath before VVilliam the bastard of Normandy besieged it against whom the Citizens with great manhood served till a part of the wall fell down of it self and that by the hand of Gods providence saith mine Author Since when it hath been three times besieged and with valiant resistance ever defended The first was by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire in the civil broiles betwixt Lancaster and York Then by Perkin VVarbeck that counterfeited Richard Duke of York And lastly by the Cornish Rebels wherein although the Citizens were grievously pinched with scarcity yet continued they their faithful allegiance unto King Edward the sixth and at this day flourisheth in tranquility and wealth being governed by a Major twenty four Brethren with a Recorder Town-Clerk and other Officers their Attendants This Cities graduation is set in the degree of Latitude from the North Pole 50 and 45 scruples And for Longitude from the West to the degree 16 and 25 scruples Neither is Ioseph that excellent Poet whose birth was in this City the least of her Ornaments whose Writings bear so great credit that they were divulged in the German Language under the name of Cornelius Nepos The like credit got Crediton in her birth child VVinifred the Apostle of the Hassians Thuringers and Frisians of Germany which were converted by him unto Gospel and knowledge of Christ. 7 Places memorable in this County remaining for signs of Battles or other antiquities are these Upon Exmore certain Monuments of Antick-work are erected which are stones pitched in order some Triangle-wise and some in round compass These no doubt were trophies of Victories there obtained either by the Romans Saxons or Danes and with Danish Letters one of them is inscribed giving direction to such as should travel that way Hublestowe likewise near unto the mouth of â—awe was the burial place of Huba the Dane who with his Brother Hungar had harried the English in divers parts of the Land But lastly was there encountred with and slain by this Shires Inhabitants and under a heap of copped stones interred and the Banner Reasen there and then taken that had so often been spread in the Danes quarrel and wherein they reposed no small confidence for success 8 A double dignity remaineth in this County where Princes of State have born the Titles both of Devon-shire and Excester of which City there have been entituled Dukes the last of whom namely Henry Holland
not so ancient as it is fair and well seated The beauty of it being such as for the bigness thereof it scarce gives place to any City of England and doth worthily deserve the Saxons name Bright-stad whose pleasantness is the more by reason that the River Avon scowres through the midst of it which together with the benefit of Sewers under all the streets clears the City of all noysome filth and uncleanness It is not wholly seated in this County of Sommerset but one part thereof in Gloucestershire but because it is an entire County of it self it denies subjection unto either having for its own government both a Bishop with a well furnished Colledge and a Mayor with a competent assistance of Aldermen and other Officers for civil affairs 8 This Province hath been the Theater of many Tragical events and bloudy battels the Danes did grievously afflict Porlock by cruel Piracies in the year eight hundred eighty six Yet neer unto Pen a little Village neigbouring upon North Cadbury Edmund sirnamed Iron-side gave them a notable foyle as he was pursuing Canutus from place to place for usurping the Crown of England And Keniwach a West-Saxon in the same place had such a day against the Britains that they ever after stood in awe of the English-Saxons prowess Marianus relateth that not far from Bridge-water as the Danes were stragling abroad Ealstane Bishop of Sherbourne did so soyl their Forces in the year 845 as their minds were much discomfited and their powers utterly disabled Ninius also writeth that King Arthur did so defeat the English-Saxons in a battel at Cadbury that it deserved to be made perpetuously memorable Neither is Mons Badonicus now Banesdown less famous for Arthurs victories And King Elfred in another battel not far from hence gave the Danes such an overthrow as he forced them to submission and induced Godrus their King to become a Christian himself being Godfather to him at the Font. So happy is this Region and so beholding to Nature and Art for her strengths and fortifications as she hath aâ—ways been able to defend her self and offend her enemies 9 Neither hath it been less honoured with beauteous houses consecrated to Religion such was that of Black Ohanons at Barelinch in the first limit of his Shire Westward and King Athelstaâ— built a Monastery in an Island called Muchelney that is to say the great Island which is between the Rivers Iuel and Pedred running together where the defaced wallâ— and runs thereof are yet to be seen King Henry the third also erected a Nunnery at Witham which was afterwards the first house of the Carthusians Monks in England as Hinton not far off was the second But above all other foâ— antiquity glory and beauty was the Abby of Glostenbury whose beginning is fetcht even from Ioseph of Arimathea which Davi Bishop of S. Davids repaired being fallen to ruine and King Inas lastly builded a fair and stately Church in this Monastery though it be now made even with the ground the ruins only shewing how great and magnificent a Seat it hath anciently been which several houses were thus beautified by bounteous Princes for religious purposes and to retire the mind from worldly services though blinded times and guides diverted them to superstitious and lewd abuses 10 Other memorable places are these Camalet a very steep hill hard to be ascended which appears to have been a work of the Romans by divers Coins dig'd up there on the top whereof are seen the lineaments of a large and ancient Castle which the Inhabitants report to have been the Palace of King Arthur Ilchester which at the coming of the Normans was so populous that it had in it an hundred and seven Burgesses and it appears to be of great antiquity by the Roman Caesars Coyns oftentimes found there The Church-yard of Avalenia or Glastonbury where King Arthurs Sepulchre was searcht for by the command of King Henry the second which was found under a stone with an Inscription upon it faftned almost nine foot in the ground Also Duâ—stere where as is reported a great Lady obtained of her husband so much Pasture ground in a Common by the Town side for the good and benefit of the Inhabitants as she was able in a whole day to go about bare-foot This County is divided into 42 Hundreds for the disposing of business needful for the State thereof wherein are placed 33 Market-Towns fit for buying and selling and other affairs of Commerce It is fortified with four Castles and planted with 385 Parishes for concourse of Divine Service WILT SHIRE VVILT-SHIRE CHAPTER XII WILT-SHIRE is enclosed upon the North with Gloucester-Shire upon the East is bounded with Bâ—rk-shire upon the South with Dorset and Hamp-shire and upon the West is confronted against partly by Gloucester and the rest by Somerset-shire 2 The form thereof is both long and broad for from Inglesham upon Thamisis in the North to Burgat Damarum in the South are thirty miles the broadest part is from Buttermer Eastward to the Shire-stones in the West being tweuty nine the whole in Circumference is one hundred thirty nine miles 3 For Air it is feated in a temperate Climate both sweet pleasant and wholesome and for soil saith Iohn of Sarisbury is exceeding fortile and plentiful yea and that with variety 4 The Northern part which they call North-Wilt shire riseth up into delectable hills attired with large Woods and watered with clear Rivers whereof Isis is one which soon becometh the most famous in the Land The South part is more even yielding abundantly Grass and Corn and is made the more fruitful by the Rivers Wily Adder and Avon The midst of this County is most plain and thereby is known and commonly called Salesbnry Plaines and lie so level indeed that it doth limit the Horizon for hardly can a man see from the one side to the other These Plaines grase an infinite number of sheep whose fleeces and flesh bring in a yearly revenue to their owners 5 Anciently this County was possessed by the Belgae who are seated by Ptolomy in Hamp-shire Sommerset shire and in this Tract and they as it seemeth by Caesar were of the Belgae in Gaul These as some hold were subdued by Vespatian Lieutenant of the second Legion under Claudiâ— when the foundation of his future greatness was in these parts first laid by his many Victories over the Britains And herein surely the Romans seated for besides Taâ—esbury Trench by Tradition held to be his in many other Forts in this Shire the Tract of their Footing hath been left and the stamped Coins of their Emperours found and apparent testimony of their abode 6 After them the West-Saxons made it a part of their Kingdom whose border was Avon as witnesseth Athelward though the Marcians many times encroched upon them whereby many great Battles as Malmesbury tells us betwixt them were fought when in the young years of their Heptarchie each sought to enlarge his by the
lessoning of the next but grown unto more ripeness they assigned their limits by a great and long ditch crossing thorow the midst of these Plaines which for the wonder thereof is supposed by the vulgar to be the work of the Devil and is called of all Wansdike undoubtedly of Wooden the Saxons Ancester and great reputed God where a little Village yet standeth and retaineth to name Woodens-burg At this place in Anno 590 Ceaâ—lin the West-Saxon received such a foyl of the Britains and his Countrey-men that he was forced to sorfake his Kingdom and to end his days in exile becoming a pitiful spectacle even unto his own enemies And in this place Ina the West-Saxon joyned Battle with Ceolred the Mercian whence both of them departed with equal loss The like was at Bradford by Kenilwalch and Cuthred at Wilton betwixt Egbert and Beornwolfe at Edindon where King Elfred was vanquisher of the Danes and at wilton where the Danes won the day against him With as bloudy success though not happening by sword was the issue of that Synod assembled at Calne a small town in this County in the year of Christ Iesus 977 where being hotly debating for the single life and against the marriages of the Clergy what wanted by the word to prove their divorce was supplyed by a Stratagem and that very bloody for suddenly the main timber brake and down fell the floor with the Nobles and Prelates the Gentlemen and Commons whereby a great number were hurt and many more slain onely Dunstan the Prefident and mouth for the Monks escaped untouched the Ioist whereon his Chair stood remaining most firm which confirmed the sentence of their separations whom God had conjoyned and became the fall and snare of much incontinency in both sexes 7 The chiefest City of this Shire is Salesbury removed from a higher but a far more convenient place whose want of Water was not so great in the mother as is supplied and replenished in the daughter every street almost having a River running thorow her middest and for sumptuous and delicate buildings is inferiour to none The Cathedral a most rich magnificent Church was begun by Richard Poors Bishop and with fourty years continuance was raised to her perfect beauty wherein are as many windows as there are days in the year as many cast Pillars of Marble as there are hours in the year and as many gates for entrance as there are Months in the year Neither doth this City retain true honour to her self but imparteth hers and receiveth honour from others who are intituled Earls of Salesbury whereof eight Noble Families have been dignified â—ince the Normans Conquest This Cities situation is in degree of Latitude 51 10 minutes and from the first West point observed by Mercator 18 Degrees and 31 Minutes of Longitude 8 Over this old Salesby sheweth it self where Kenrick over came the Britains and where Câ—nutus the Dana did great damage by fire This formerly had been the seat of the Romans as likewise was Lecham as by their Coins digged up is apparent so were Brokenbridge and Cosham the Courts of the Saxon Kings But Fortune long since hath turned her face from all these as lately she did from many ancient and religious foundations planted in this Province whereof Malmesbury was the most famous I will not with Monmouth avouch the foundation thereof unto Malmutius but by true Records from Maidulph a Scot a man of great learning that therein built a Coll and led an Hermits life whereof Beda calleth it the City of Maidulph and we by contraction Malmesbury Adelme his Disciple and Successor built here a fair Monastery which Athelstane the Monarch richly endowed and left his body after death there to rest Neither hath any graced this more than William her Monk in recording to postâ—rities the Chronicles of our Land concerning both the Church and Common-weal wherein himself lived and worte those Histories 9 Ambresbury for repute did second this built by Alfritha King Edgar his wife to expiate the sin of murder which she committed upon young Edward her son in law that hers might be King In this place Queen Elâ—anor widow to King Henry the Third renounced all Royal pomp and devoted her self unto God in the habit of a Nun. Other places erected for piety were at Salesbury Lacock Stanley Wilton Ivichurch Parnleg Bradstoks Briopune and Bromhore These graffs grown to full greatness were cut down by the Pruiner least the cankers thereof should infect the whole body as by them was alledged and their Revenues bestowed upon far better uses both for the bringing up of youth and the Maintenance of estate 10 With eight strong Castles this County hath been guarded in nineteen Market-Towns her commodities are traded into twenty nine Hundreds for business is divided and in them are seated three hundred and four Parish-Churches BARKSHIRE BARK-SHIRE CHAPTER XIII BARK-SHIRE whether of the Box woods there sited according to the censure of Asseriuâ— Menevensis or from a naked and bear less Oak-tree whereunto the people usually resorted in troublesome times to confer for the State I determine not only the County a long time hath been so called and bounded with other in manner as followeth The North part is parted by Thamisis from Buckingham and Oxford Shires the South near Kenneâ— doth tract upon Hamp-shire the East is confined with the County of Surrey and the West with VVilt-shire and Glocester-shire is held in 2 The form of this Shire doth somewhat resemble a Sandall for a mans foot lying long wise from East to West in which part she is broadest the middle most narrow and then spreading wider like to the heel though for her rich endowments and stately magnificence it may be well accounted the heart of the whole 3 The length thereof from Inglesham in the West to old VVindsor in the East extendeth unto forty miles from Ink-pen to VVightham the broadest part from South to North are twenty four the whole in Circumference about one hundred and twenty miles 4 The Air is temperate sweet and delightful and prospect for pleasure inferiour to none the Soyl is plenteous of Corn especially in the Vale of VVhite-horse that yieldeth yearly an admirable encrease In a word for Corn and Cattle Waters and Woods of profit and pleasure it gives place unto none 5 Her ancient inhabitants by Ptolomy and Caesar were the Attrebatii and them of those that descended from Gallia among whom Comiuâ— conquered by the Dictator was of good respect and could do much with the 〈◊〉 who as Frontinus reporteth used this stratagem though it proved nothing at last he flyed before Caesar to recover aid of these Attrebatians light bedded upon a shelf in the Sea whereupon hoysting his â—ailes as before a fore-wind gave shew to his pursuer that they were in swift flight so that hopeless to hail them he gave over the chase yet no sooner had Caesar made over among them but that some of these people by the
S. Benedict of Holme annexed to it The Commodities of this County I have contained in these four Verses Ingenio populi cultu Norfolcia clara est Hinc fluviis illinc Insula clausa mari Qua ratis vellus frumenta cuniculus agnus Lac scatet pisces pabula mella crocus This Description of Norfolk I received from the Right Worshipful Sir HENRY SPELMAN Knight CAMBRIDGE SHIRE CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE CHAPTER XVIII CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE lyeth bounded upon the North with Lincoln shire and Northfolk upon the East with Northfolk and Suffolk upon the South with Harâ—fordâ—shire and Essex and upon the West with Bedford and Huntington-shires 2 This Province is not large nor for air greatly to be liked having the Fens so spread upon her North that they infect the Air far into the rest from whose furthest point unto Royston in the South are thirty five miles but in the broadest is not fully twenty the whole in Circumference traced by the compass of her many indents one hundred twenty and eight miles 3 The Soil doth differ both in Air and Commodities the Fenny surcharged with waters the South is Champion and yieldeth Corâ— in abundance with Meadowing Pastures upon both the sides of the River Câ—me which divides that part of the Shire in the midst upon whose East-bank the Muses have built their most sacred Seat where with plenteous increase they have continued for these many hundred years 4 For from ancient Grantcester Camboritum by Antonine now famous Cambridge the other brest and Nurse-mother of all pious literature have flowed full streams of the learned Sciences into all other parts of this Land and else where ancient indeed if their story be rightly writ that will have it built by Cantaber a Spaniard three hundred seventy five years before the birth of our Saviour who thither first brought and planted the Muses This City Grantcester by the tyranny of time lost both her own beauty and her professed Athenian Students so that in Beda's days seven hundred years after the word became flesh it is described to lie a little desolate City and as yet retaineth the name without any memory of circuit by walls Of this City in the year of Christ 〈◊〉 as the Monk of Button doth report nine Scholars received their Baptism and became Preachâ—â—â— of the Gospel among the Britains which as he saith happened in the Reign of Hadrian the Emperour But when the Picts Scots Hunnes and Saxons had laid all things waste and with their savage swords cut ouâ— the leaves of all civil learning this as the rest yielded to destruction and so lay forlorn till the Saxons themselves became likewise civil when Sigebert the first Christian King of the East-Anglâ—s from the example of France whither he had been banished built Shools in his Kingdom and here at Grancester the chief recalling thither the Profâ—ssors of Arts and Sciences as the Story recordeth and Traditions do hold But afterwards as it seemeth their increase being straightned the Students complained as thâ— Prophets did to Elisha that the place was too little for them to dwell in therefore enlarging more North-ward seated themselves near unto the Bridge whereupon the place began to be called Grantbridge though others from the crooked River Came will have it named Cambridge This place though sacred and exempted from Mars as Sylla once spake when he spared Athens the Danes in their destructions regarded no whit wherein they often wintered after their spoyls and left the scars of their savage sores ever behind them And in the year 1010 when Suen in his fierceness bare down all before him this place was no place for Scholars to be in Warres loud Alarum ill consorting the Muses mild Harmonies Yet when the Normans had got the Garland on their heads and these Danish storms turned into Sun-shine days Gislebert the Monk with Odo Terricus and William all three of the like Monastical Profession in the Reign of King Henry the first resorted unto this place and in a publick Barn read the Lectures of Grammar Logick and Rhetorick and Gislebert Divinity upon the Sabbath and festival days From this little Fountain saith Peter Blessensis grow a great River which made all England fruitful by the many Masters and Teachers proceeding out of Cambridge as on t of a holy Paradise of God The first Colledge therein endowed with Professions was Peter-house built by Hugh Balsham Bishop of Ely in the year of Grace 1284 whose godly example many others followed so that at this day there are sixteen most stately Colledges and Halls for building beauty endowments and store of Students so replenished that unless it be in her other â—ister Oxford the like are not found in all Europe But at what time it was made an Vniversity let Robert de Remyngton tell you for me In the Reign saith hâ— of King Edward the first Granâ—bridge of a School by the Court of Rome was made an Vniversity such as Oxford is Lastly the â—eridian Line Cutâ—ing the Zenith over this City is distant from the furthest West Point according to Mercator 20 degrees 50 scruples and the Arch of the same Mâ—ridian lying between the Aequator and Vertical point is 52 degrees 20 scruples 5 Another City formerly in great fame is Ely had in account for the repute and holiness of Votary Nuns there residing built first by Audry wife to one Tombrot a Prince in this Province who had this place as a part of her Dowry she having departed from her second Husband â— Egbert King of Northumberland devoted her self to the service of God and built here a Monastery whereof she became the first Abbess This in the Danish desolations was destroyed but soon after re-edified by Ethelwood Bishop of Winchester who stored it with Monks unto whom King Edgar granted the jurisdiction over four hundreds and a half within these Fenns and the East Angles limits which to this day are called The liberties of S. Audrey after whose example many Nobles so enriched it with large Revenues that as Malmesbury saith The Abbot thereof laid up yearly in his own Coffers a thousand and four hundred pounds And of later times the Monks thereof became so wealthy that their old decayed Church they renewed with new and most stately buildings which is now the Cathedral of the Diocess and for beauty giveth place to no other in the Land Eight other foundations set apart from secular use in this Province were at Thorney Charteres Denny Elsey Beach Barnwell Swasey and Shengey all which in the days of King Henry the Eighth came to the period of their surpassing wealth and left their Lands to the dispose of his Will 6 The general Commodity of this Shire is Corn which in the South and Champion part doth abundantly grow as also Saffron a very rich Spice Some Woods there are and Pasture both pleasant and profitable The North part thereof is Fenny but withal fruitful whereof Henry of Huntington and William of Malinesbury thus do write
English miles and from Turny in the West unto Hartly Coking in the East are not fully fourteen the whole Circumference about seventy three miles 3 The Air is temperate and the Soil bounteous especially in the North whose Borders the fruitful Ouse with her many windings watereth The South is more lean and with greater industry bringeth forth Barley no better elsewhere Generally this County is Champion though some places be sprinkled with Pasturage and Woods 4 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans that held in this Shire were part of the Cattieuchlani a Stout and war-stiring people and yet upon the report of Caesars proceeding sent him their subjection for peace But when that conquering Nation had brought Britain into a Prâ—vince under Rome their Legions lay at Selenae and Magintum which are now Sandy and Dunstable places of memorable note in this Shire After them the Saxons coveting for so fair a Seat first dispossessed the Britains under the leading of Cuthwulfâ— the West-Saxon about the year of Grace 572 who making it their own was lastly enjoyed by the Mercians as a part of their Kingdom 5 In the year of Christs Incarnation 1399 immediately before those Civil Wars that rent in pieces the peace of this Land between the Princes of Lancaster and York the River Ouse near unto Harwood stood suddenly still and refrained to pass any further so that forward men passed three miles together on foot in the very depth of her Channel and backward the waters swelled unto a great height which was observed by the judicious to foretel some unkind diuision that shortly should arise 6 This County among the common calamities of the Land when it lay trampled under the feet of the Danes sustained a part and after that in the time of King Stephen when the Civil Wars thundred betwixt Maud the Empress and himself the Shire-Town was sore wasted with great slaughter of men So when the Barons forsook their allegiance to King Iohn the Town and Castle were rendred up into their hands And lastly by King Henry the third laid level even with the ground some ruinous walls appearing towards the Ouse but not a stone left upon the Mount where stood his foundation 7 This Town by the Britains was called Lettidur and of us Bedford being the chiefest in the County from whom it taketh the name and is most fruitful and pleasantly seated having the Ouse running thorow the Town in the middest and a fair Stone bridge built over the same whereon are two Gates to lock and impeach the passage as occasion shall 〈◊〉 At the first entrance standeth S. Leonards Hospital for Lazars and further towards S. Iohns and S. Maries Churches within the Town S. Pauls a most beautiful Church S. Cuthberts and S. Peters without the Town standeth the Friers S. Loyes Alhallows and Caâ—dwell Abbey not far whence sometimes stood a Chappel upon the Bank of Ouse wherein as Florilegus affirmeth the body of Offa the great Mercian King was interred but by the over-swelling of that River was born down and swallowed up whose Tombe of Lead as it were some phantastical thing appeared often to them that seek it not but to them that seek it saith Rosse it is invisible This Town is governed yearly by a Mayor two Bayliffs two Chamberlains a Recorder a Town-Clerk and three Sergeants with Maces 8 A tale of vain credit is reported of Dunstable that it was built to bridle the outragiousness of a â—heef named Dun by King Henry the first but certain it is the place was formerly held by the Romans whose Legions there lay as appeareth by the Coyns there usually found which from Magintum are corruptly called Madning-money 6 Castles in this Shire are Woodhill Eaton Temsford and Amphill an honour now appertaining to the Crown And places of Religion built by devout persons but for Idolatrous Abuses again abolished were at Bedford Harwood Helenstow Newenham Chicksand Wardon Woborne and Dunstable All these with the like felt the hand of Henry the eighth to lie so heavy upon them that they were not able to sustain the weight but were crushed to pieces and fell to the ground 10 The Graduation of this County taken for the Shire-Town is placed from the Equator in the degree of 52 and 30 minutes for Latitude and is removed from the first West point of Longitude 20 degrees and 16 minutes 11 Whos 's Princely Families that have born the Titles both of Dukes and Earls are expressed and whose Counties division are into nine hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and one hundred and sixteen Parish-Churches BUCKINGHAM SHIRE BUCKINGHAM-SHIRE CHAPTER XXI BUCKINGHAM for the plenty of Beech-trees there growing and those in the elder time of the Saxons called Buckâ—n may well be supposed from them to have the name as afterward the whole Shire had hers from this Town Buckingham 2 In form it somewhat resembleth a Lyon Rampant whose head or North-point toucheth the Counties of Northampton and Bedford whose back or East part is backed by Bedford and Hertford-Shires his loines or South-borders rest upon Bark-shire and his breast thâ— West side is butted upon wholly by Oxford-shirâ— The length thereof from Waisbury in the South to Braidfield in her North are thirty nine miles the breadth at the broadest from Ashbridge in the East to Brenwood Horrest in the West are eighteen the whole in Circumference one hundred thirty eight miles 3 The Air is passing good temperate and pleasant yielding the body health and the mind content The soil is rich fat and fruitful giving abundance of Corn Grass and Meat It is chiefly divided into two parts by the Chiltren hills which run thorow this Shire in the middest and before time were so pestered with Beech that they were altogether unpassable and became a receptacle and refuge for Theeves who daily endammaged the way-faring man for which cause Laestan Abbot of S. Albans caused them to be cut down since when those parts are passable without any great incombrances of trees from whose tops a large and most pleasant prospect is seen The Vale beneath is plain and champion a clayie soil stiff and rough but withall maruellous fruitful naked of woods but abounding in meadows pastures and tillage and maintaining an infinite number of sheep whose soft and fine fleeces are in great esteem with the Turks as far as Asia 4 The ancient Inhabitants â—hat were seated in this Shire were the Catteuchlani mentioned by Ptolomy and them dispersed thorow the Tract of Bedford Hertford and this These yielded themselves with the first to Caesar under the Romans subjection whose over-worn Empire ending in Britain the Saxons by strong hand attained this Province and made it a part of their Mercian Kingdom yet was it first subdued unto them by Cherdike the West-Saxon whose memory is iâ—part continued in the Toâ—n Chersey upon the West of this Country where in a sharp and bloudy battle he was Victor over the Britains So also Cuthwulâ—e a West
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
repudâ—ate wife of King Henry the eight under an Hearse covered with black Say having a white Cross in the midst and on the South side Mary Queen of Scotland whose Hearse is spread over with black Velvet The Cloyâ—ter is large and in the Glaâ—â—e windows is very curiously portrayed the History of VVâ—lphere the Founder whose Royal Seat was at VVedon in the street converted unto a Monastery by S. VVerburgh his holy daughter and had been the Roman Station by Antonine the Emperour called Bannavenna So likewise Norman-Chester was the ancient City Durobriva where their Souldiers kept as by the moneys tâ—ere daily found is most apparent 8 Houses of Religion devoted to Gods Service by the pious intents of their well meaning Founders were at Peterborow Peakirk Pipewell Higham Davintree Sulby Saulscombe Sewardesleg Gare S. Dewy S. Michael Luffeild Catesby Bruch Barkley Finshead Fotheringhay VVeden and VVithrop besides them in Northampton all which felt the storms of their own destruction that raged against them in the Reign of King Henry the eight who dispersed their Revenues to his own Coffers and Courtiers and pulled the stones asunder of their seeming ever sure Foundations and in the time of young Edward his son whose mind was free from wronging the dead the Tombs of his own Predecessours were not spared when as Edward slain at Agincourt and Richard at VVakefield both of them Dukes of York were after death assaulted with the weapons of destruction that cast down their most fair Monuments in the Collegiate Church of Fotheringhay Castle 9 Eight Princely Families have enjoyed the Title of the Earldom of Northampton whereof the last Henry Howard late Lord Privy Seale a most honourable Patron to all learned proceedings that I may acknowledge my dutiful and humble Service hath most honourably assisted and set forward these my endeavours 10 This Shires division for service to the Crown and imployment of businesses is into twenty Hundreds hath been strengthened with ten Castles and is still traded with ten Market-Towns and God honoured in three hundred twenty six Parish-Churches HUNTINGTON SHIRE HUNTINGTON-SHIRE CHAPTER XXVIII HUNTINGTON-SHIRE part of the Iceni under the Roman Monarch of Mercia in the Saxon Heptarchy is severed with Nene the North bounder from Northampton-shire to which it in part adjoyneth west from Bedford and Cambridge by mearing Towns on the South and from Ely by a fence of water East the work of Nature Benwick Stream or of Art Canutuâ— Delph severed when Alfred or before him Off â— shared the open circuit of their Empery into Principalities that by residence of subordinate rule Peace at home might be maintained Forreign offence by apt assembly of the Inhabitants resisted Tax and Revenue of the Crown laid more evenâ—ly and enâ—ily levyed Iustice at mens doors with less charge and journey administred all causes Civil having a right and speedy dispatch in the County or Earls monthly Court as Criminal in his Lieutenant the Sheriff Turne twice a year In form of a Lozeng this shire lyeth of positure temperate and is 52 degrees 4 scruples removed from the Aequator the Hilly soyl to the Plough-man grateful the Vale contiguous to the fens best for Pasture in which to no part of England it giveth place Woods are not much wanted the Rivers serving Coal as the Moors Turff for Fuell 2 This Content was as the whole Continent Forest until Caâ—utus gave this Law of grace Vt quisque tam in agris quam in silvis exciteâ— agitetque feras Long were the hands of Kings to pull of old the Subjects right into Regal pleasure when perambulation and Proclamation only might make any mans land forrest It is in the first Williams time a Phrase in Record not rare Silva hujus Maneâ—ii FORISEST missâ— in Silvam Râ—gis from which word of power Forrest may seem not unaptly to be derived Cum videbat Henricus primus tres Biâ—sas sitting in his Forrest of Lyfield he caused Husculphus his Ranger to keep them for his Game as the record doth testifie Thus did the second of his name and the first Richard in many parts well therefore may the Exchequer Book call the Forrest Iustice for Vert and Venison not Iustum absolutâ— but Iustum secundum Legem Forestae That Foresta is defined Tuta â—erarum statio may seem to confine the Forresters Office onely to his Games care which of ancient was as well over Mineral and Maritimal revenue The Office of Baldwiâ—e the great Forrester of Flanders Non agrum tantum spectabat sed Maris custodiam saiâ—h Tullius out of the old Charters of the French Kings And sâ—e how just this squares to our Legal practise for of Assarts Purprestures Emprovement Greenhugh Herbage Paunage Fowles Mills Honey Mines Quarries and Wreacks at Sea did the Itineral Iustice of the Forrest hâ—re enquire His Subjects of this Shire Henry the 2 from servitude of his beasts whose Grand-father proâ—feris homines inâ—arceravit exhaereditavit multilavit truâ—idavit did pretend by Charter to enfranchise except Wabridge Saple Herthy His own Demaines But such was the success by encroachments under his two â—ucceeding Sons that it drew on the oppressed people to importune anew the Soveraignes redress which was by the great Charter of the third Henry â—ruitlesly effected His son in the seventh of his Reign by a perambulation reâ—uming back the fruit of his fathers goodness and so remaining until in his twenty ninth year by Petition and purchase of his people for they gave him a full fifteen he confirmed the former Charter and by Iury View and Perambulation setled that Boundary of â—orrest which contented the People became the square of universal Iustice in this Kind and left in this Shire no more than the three former his own grounds Forrest 3 This Shire hath four Centuriatae or Hundreds and had of old time five these so called Quia prima iustitutione ex Hiderum aliquot center ariis compositae These are subdivided into 79 Parishes whereof five besides the Shire-Town have Markets These Parishes are measured by Hides and Carucks or plough-Plough-lands more or less is either richness of Soil or strength of the Lord strengthned or extended their limits the Mass in whole containing of the first sort 818 and of the other 1136 These hides the ancient and general measure of land except in Kent where the account was by Solms or Lincoln-shire Vbi non sunt Hidae sed pro Hidis sum Carucatae were esteemed one hundred Acres Non Normanico sed Anglico numero una hida pro sexies viginti Acris duo pro duodecies viginti as in the Book of Doomesday Caruca the Teame-land not Carucata for they be different was in quantity of Acres proportioned to the quantity of Soil but usually in this Shire reputed 60. The Virgata or Yard-land was a more or less part of the Hide as the Acres in number varied which I find in this County from 18 to 42 but for the most part 30 which was the
half Plough-land And the Bovata or Oxgang presumed in Law for Land in Granary was suited in number of Acres to that Yard-land of which it was a Moity Thus except in the Fens laid out per Leucas quarentenas miles and furlongs stands all ameasurement of Land in this Shire which containeth in Knights Fees 53 one half 2 fifts and a twentieth part And in full estimation of rent and worth rose in the time of the Conquerour to 912 l. 4 s. and now payeth in Fifteen to the King 871 l. 9 s. 7 d. ob and in tenth from the Clergy 142 l. 6 s. q. 4 This County in discision of Titles and administration of Iustice did at the first as the Germans our Ancestors Iura per pagos vicos reddere Every Township by their Friburgâ— or Tenemental as Triers and the Baron Thain or Head Lord there or the Decanus a good Freeholder his Deputy as Iudge determining all Civil causes a representation of this remaineth still in our Court-Leet Aboue this and held twelve times a year was our Hundred or Wapentake Quae super decem Decanos centem Friburgos judicabat Here the Iudges were the Aldermen and Barons or Freeholders of that Hundred Aegelwinus Aldermannuâ— tenuit placitum cum â—oto Hundredâ— saith the Book of Ely This Court had Cognoscence of Causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal therefore the Iudge or Alderman ought to be such as Dei leges hominum jura studebat promovere thus it went although the Conquerour commanded Ne aliquis de legibus Episcopalibus amplius in Hundredo placita teneret The next and highest in this Shire was Generale placitum Comitatus the County or Sheriffs Court to which were proper Placita Civilia ubi Curia Dominorum probantur desecisse Et si placitum exurgat inter Vavasores duorum Dominorum tractetur in Comitatu The Iudge was the Earl or Sheriff The Tryers Barones Comitatus Freeholders Qui liberas in eo terras habent not Civil onely but Probats of Wills Questions of Tithes Et debâ—â—a vera Christianitatis Iura were heard and first heard in this Court. Therefore Episcopus Presbyter Ecclesiae Quatuor de melioribus villae were adjuncts to the Sheriff Qui dei leges seculi negoâ—ia justa consideratione definirent The Lay part of this liveth in a sort in the County and Sheriff Turn the Spiritual about the Reign of King Stephen by Soveraign connivence suffered for the most into the quarterly Synode of the Clergy from whence in imitation of the Hundred Court part was remitted to the Rural Deaneries of which this Shire had four And these again have been since swallowed up by a more frequent and superiour jurisdiction as some of our civil Courts have been There being now left in use for the most of this Shire for Causes Criminal View of Frankpleg by grant or prescription A Session of the Peace quarterly and two Goal deliveries by the Soveraigns Commission and for Civil Causes Couâ—ts of Mannours or of the County monthly and twice by the Iudges of Assise yearly The Office of Execution and custody of this County is the Sheralfey of old inheritable untill Eustachius who by force and favour of the Conquerour disseised Aluric and his heires forfeited it to the Crown but since it hath passed by annual election and hath united to it the County of Cambridge 5 Having thus far spoken of the Shire in general next in observation falleth the Shire-Town Huntington Hundandun or the Hunters Downe North seated upon a rising bank over the rich meadowing river Ouse interpreted by some Authors the Down of Hunters to which their now common Seal a Hunter seemeth to allude Great and populous was this in the foregoing age the following having here buried of fifteen all but three besides the Mother-Church S. Maries in their own graves At the reign of the Conquerour it was ranged into four Ferlings or Wardes and in them 256 Burgenses or Housholds It answered at all assessments for 50 Hides the fourth part of Hurâ—tington Hundred in which it standeth The annual rent was then 30 l. of which as of three Minters there kept the King had two parts the Earl the third the power of coyâ—age then and before not being so privatley in the King but Borows Bishops and Earls enjoyed it on the one side stamping the face and stile of their Soveraign in acknowledgement of subordinacy in that part of absolute power and on the reverse their own name to warrant their integrity in that infinite trust 6 The Castle supposed by some the work of the elder Edward but seemingly by the Book of Doomesday to be built by the Conquerour is now known but by the ruines It was the seat of Woltheof the great Saxon Earl as of his succeeding heirs until to end the question of right between Sentlice and the King of Scots Henry the second laid it as you see yet doth it remain the head of that honour on which in other Shires many Knights Fees and sixteen in this attended Here David Earl of this and Arguise Father of Isabel de Brus founded the Hospital of S. Iohn Baptist And Loveâ—ote here upon the Fee of Eustace the Vicount built to the honour of the blessed Virgin the Priory of Black Cannons valued at the Suppression 232 l. 7 s. ob Here at the North end was a house of Fryers and without the Town at Hinchingbrook a Cloister of Nuns valued at 19 l. 9 s. 2 d. founded by the first William in place of S. Pandonia at Eltesly by him suppressed where near the end of the last Henry the Family of the Cromwells began their Seat To this Shire-Town and benefit of the neighbour Countries this River was Navigable until the power of Grâ—y a minion of the time stopt that passage and with it all redress either by Law or Parliament By Charter of King Iohn this Town hath a peculiar Coroner profit by Toll and Custom Recorder Town-Clerks and two Bayliffs elected annually for government as at Parliament two burgesses for advice and asâ—ent and is the Lord of it self in Fee-farm 7 The rest of the Hundred wherein this Shire Town lieth is the East part of the County and of Hurst a Parish in the center of it named HURSTINGSTON it was the Fee-farm of â—amsey Abbey which on a point of Fertile Land thrust out into the Fens is therein siâ—uate founded in the year 969 to God our Lady and S. Benedict by Earl Aylwin of the Royal bloud replenished with Monks from Westbury by Oswald of York and dedicated by Dunstan of Canterbury Archbishops By Abbot Reginald 1114 this Church was re-edified by Magnavill Earl of Essex not long after spoiled and by Henry the third first of all the Norman Princes visited when wasted with the Sicilian wars Regalis mensae Hospitalitas ita abbreviata fuit ut cum Abbatibus Clericis viris satis â—umilibus Hospitia quaesivit prandia This Monastery the shrine of two
martyred Kings Ethelbright and Ethelred and of Saint Ive the Persian Bishop by humble piety at first and pious charity ascended such a pitch of worldly fortune that it transformed their Founder religious povertâ— into their ruine the attribute of Ramsey the rich for having made themselves Lords of 387 Hides of Land whereof 200 in this Shire so much as at an eaâ—ie and under rent was at the Suppression valued at 1983 l. 15 s. 3 d. q. but by account of this time annually amounts to 7000 l. they then begin to affect popular command and first enclosing that large circuit of Land and Water for in it lyeth the Mile-square Meere of Ramsey as a peculiar Seigniory to them called the Baleuâ— or Bandy bounded as the Shire from Ely and from Norman-Crosse with the hundred Meere by Soveraign Grant they enjoyed regal liberty And then aspiring a step further to place in Parliament made Broâ—ghton the head of their Barony annexing to it in this Shire four Knights Fees Thus in great glory it stood above 400 years until Henry the Eight amongst many other once bright Lamps of Learning and Religion in this State though then obscured with those blemishes to wealth and ease concomitant dissolved the house although Iohn Warboys then Abbot and his 60 black Monks there maintained were of the first that under their hands and conventual Seal protesâ—ed Quod Romanus Pontifex non habet majorem aliquam Iurisdictionem collatam sibi à Deo in Regno Angâ—iae quam quiuis alius externus Episcopus A Cell to this rich Monastery was S. Ivâ—s Priory built in that place of Slep by Earl Adâ—lmus in the reign of the last Edmund where the incorrupted body of S. Ive there once an Hermit in a Viâ—ion revealed was by Edâ—othus taken up in his Robes Episcopal and dedicated in the presence of Siward Earl of this County and that Lady of renowned piety Ethelâ—leda to the sacred memory of this Persian Bishop Not far from this is Somersham the gift of the Saxon Earl Brithnothus to the Church of Ely before his own fatal expedition against the Danes It is the head of those five Towns of which the Soke is composed and was an house to the See of Ely well beautified by Iohn Stanley their Bishop but now by exchange is annexed to the Crown As these so all the rest of this hundred was the Churches land except Rippon Regis ancient Demaine To which Saple reserved Forrest adjoyned and the greater Stivecley given by the last David Earl of Huntington in Fee to his three Servants Sentlice Lakervile and Camoys 8 NORMANSCROS the next Hundred taketh name of a Cross above Stilion the place where in former ages this Division mustered their people whence Wapentake is derived it had in it two Religious houses the eldest in the confines of Newton and Chesterton neer the River of Avon now Nene founded by the first Abbesse Keneburga the Daughter of Penda and Wife of Elfred King of Northumber land West side a Trench where Ermin-street-way crossed over the River by a Stone-bridge whose ruines are now drowned whence the Roman Town there seated on both sides took the name Durobrivae as Trajectus Fluminis But this Nunnery as raised was also ruined by the Danes before the Conquest The other a Monastery of Cistercian black Monks erected in hoâ—â—uâ— of the Virgin Mary by the second Simon Earl of Huntington at Soltry Iudeth the Land of a Lady of that name wife of Earl Waltheof daughter of Lambert Earl of Leins Neece to the Conquerour by hiâ— sister her Mother and Grand-mother to this Founder Malcome and William Kings of Scots Earls of Huntington and Heirs of this Lady strengthened by several Charters this pious work Many chief of that Line as the last Earl David brother to King William as Isabel the wife of Robert de Brus his daughters Heir and most of the second branch her progeny making here their Burials This house now level with the ground maintained besides the Abbot six Monks and 22 Hindes and was at the Suppression valued at 199 l. 11 s. 8 d. The Founders and Patrons of this Monastery were the Lords of the next place Conniâ—gton first the seat of Turkillus Earl of the East Angles that invited Swayne from Denmarke to invade this Land and who first squared out the unbounded marishes of this part to the bordering Towns his rule of proportion allowing to euery parish tantum de Marisco quantum de â—iccâ— terra in breadth in which none â—ine licentia Domini might vel fodere vel falcare but leaving most to inter-common by vicinage This Dane exiled when the rest of his Countreymen were by Edward Confessor his land here was given to Earl waltheof by whose eldest heir Matildâ— married to David King of Scots it went along in that Male Line until by death issuless of Iohn Earl of Chester and Huntington it fell in partage to his sister Isabel de Brus one of his Heirs from whose second Son Bernard the Family of Cotton by Lineal succession holdeth this Land whereto Glatton the adjoyning Parish is now by bounty of a second branch annexed It was in this Shire the head of the honour of Bolleine on which Connington Walimsford Sibson Stibington and Vescyes Mannor in Chesterton attended part of it is the fresh Sea Wittlemere four mile in breadth over which when Emma and her Children the issue of Canutus sayled with some peril her Husband in prevention of the like from Bottesey in a straight course to the opposite firme land lined with his Attendant Swords that passage which since hath born the name of Swordâ— Delph Kings or Canutus dyke This Seignory was granted by the Conquerour to Eustace Earl of Bolleiâ— Brother to Lambert Earl of Leins and Father to Godfrey King of Ierusalem reverting it was given to Richard Earl of Cornwall who granted out of it the two Meeres Vbbe Meere and Brich Meere in Fee-Farme to the Church of Ramsey Then after sundry changes it came to Iohn of Gaunt in exchange of the Earldom of richmond and so by descent fell again to the Crown VVashingley not far off from the ancient Lord of that name by Drwâ— and Otter came to the Princes that now posâ—esseth it In Chesterton from VVadsheafe by Denâ—yes there is to the Sevils an ancient name in this Shire a Mannor descended The rest from Aegidius de Merk who gave there much to Royston Priory passed by Amundevil to Gloucester and so to Vescey by exchange In Elton the house rich in a beauteous Chappel from Denham to Sapcotes and Satlâ—re Beaumes from that sirname near the time of the Conquest by â—outh to Cornwallis descended as Bottle-bridge by Gimels Drayton Lovet unto Sherley the now Lord. 9 LETUNESTANHUNDRED have that name from Leighton a Town in the midst of it given by Earl VViltheof to the Church of Lincolne which after shared it into two Prebendaries One the Parsonage impropriate which still remaineth the other the Lordships
was resumed by Henry the eight and now by the Heir of Darcy matched to the Lord Clifton is become the seat of the Barony This Hundred had in it no house of Religion but Stolney a Priory of seven black Cannons of the order of S. Augustine founded by the Bigrames and at the Suppression valued at 62 l. 12 s. 3 d. ob It stood within the reach of the great Mannor Kimbolton once an Hundred which was the Land of Earl Harold the Usurper after by grant it came with the Chase of Swinesheved to Fitz-Peter from whom by Magâ—avil to Bohum who in time of the tumulâ—uous Barons built there a Forcelet and so to Staffard by whose attainture forfeited it was given by Henry the eight to the Family of Wingfield that now possesseth it At Bugden the See of Lincoln hath a seat and was Lord of Spaldwick and the Soke given in compensation from the Church of Ely when rent from them it was by the first Henry made a Bishoprick until of late that Church gave up their interest in Spaldwick to the Crown Brampton was given by King Iohn at Mirabel to Earl David and by Ada his youngest Daughter fell to Hastings Earl of Pembroke and now is reverted to the King To the same Earl David by gift of the former King came Alcumesbury and by the bounty of Iohn Scot his son to Segrave and so the Lord Barkley the late possessor To Serlo de Quincy Earl of Winchester was Keston by Henry the second given by whose Heir general â—errars it came to the late Earl of Essex and by exchange to the Crown 10 TOULESLANDHUNDRED taketh name likewise of a Town therein situate in the out Angle of this to the memory of S. Neotus a Monk of Glastenbury but the supposed son to Ethelwolfe King of the VVest-Saxons whose body from Neostock in Cornwall was transferred to Arâ—alphesbury then of Arnulphus a holy man now Enesbury named Earl Alrick and Ethelsteda turned the Palace of Earl Elfred into a Monastery of black Monks which was razed by the Danes but out of the ashes of this Roisia wife to Richard the son of Earl Gilbert to God our Lady de Becco and S. Neot as a Cell to the Abbey of Becco in Normandy erected up of black Monks in the year 1113 the late Priory of S. Nedes suppressed by Henry the eight and valued at 256 l. 15 d. q. At Southo the Land of Eustachius the Sheriff Lovetote made the seat of that Seigniory on which in this Shire 13 Knights Fees and a half depended but from his line by gift of Verdon and Vesâ—y drowned were these in the honour of Gloucester Near to this at Cretingsbury dwelt Sir Adam de Cretings famous in Edward the thirds wars of France whose Heir General Wautoâ— doth now possess it Staunton given by the first VVilliam to Gilbert de Gaunt after the death issueless of De Rupes escheated to the King who gave it to Iohn his â—ister Queen of Scots She on the Abbey of Tarant bestowed part the rest reverting being given to Segrave descended to the Barons of Berkly Godmanchester or Gormanchester so named of that Dane to whom Aelfred at his conversion granted some regiment in these parts was the old Land of the Crown now the Inhabitants in Fee farme by grant of King Iohn pro Sexies viginti libris pondere numero It is flat seated by as fruitful and flowry Meadows as any this Kingdom yieldeth and is the most spacious of any one Parish in fertile tillage oft having waited on their Soveraign Lords with ninescore Ploughs in a rural pompe Some from the name Gunicester which this often beareth in record suppose it the City where Machutus placed his Bishops Chair But for certain it was the Roman Town Durosipont of the Bridges named so many hundred years until the light of our Britain story overshone it forgotten Thus as this City so the old Families have been here with time outworn few onely of the many former now remaining whose sirnames before the reign of the last Henry were in this Shire of any eminency But Non indignemur mortalia Nomina solvi Cernimus exemplis Oppida posse mori Let 's not repine that Men and Names do die Since stone-built Cities dead and ruin'd lie This Description I received from a right worthy and learned Friend RVTLANDE SHIRE RUTLAND-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIX RUTLAND-SHIRE the least of any County in this Realm is circulated upon the North with Lincoln-shire upon the East and South with the River VVeland is parted from Northampton-shire and the West is altogether held in with Leicester-shire 2 The Form thereof is round and no larger in compass than a light horse man can easily ride about in a day upon which occasion some will have the Shire named of one Rut that so rode But others from the redness of the Soyl will have it called Rutland and so the old English-Saxoâ—s called it for that Roet and Rut is in their Tongue Red with us and may very well give the name of this Province seeing the earth doth stain the wool of her Sheep into a reddish colour Neither is it strange that the stain of the Soyl gives names unto places and that very many for have we not in Che-shire the Red Rock in Lanca-shire the Red Bank and in Wales Rutland Castlâ— To speak nothing of that famous Red Sea which shooteth into the Land betwivt Egypt and Arabia which gave back her waters for the Israelites to pass on foot all of them named from the colour of the Soile 3 The longest part of this Shire is from Caldecot in the South upon the River Ey unto Thistleton a small Village seated in the North not fully twelve miles and from Timwell East-ward to Wissenden in the West her broadest extent is hardly nine the whole circumference about forty miles 4 The Air is good both for health and delight subject to neither extremity of heat nor cold nor is greatly troubled with foggy mists The Soil is rich and for Corn and tillage gives place unto none Woods there are plenty and many of them imparked Hills feeding heards of Neat and flocks of Sheep Vallies besprinkled with many sweet springs Grain in abundance and Pastures not wanting in a word all things ministred to the content of life with a liberal heart and open hand Only this is objected that the Circuit is not great 5 The draught whereof that I may acknowledge my duty and his right I received at the hands of the right Honourable Iohn Lord Harrington Baron of Exton done by himself in his younger years Near unto his house Burley standeth Okam a fair Market-Town which Lordship the said Baron enjoyeth with a Royalty somewhat extraordinary which is this If any Noble by birth come within the precinct of the said Lordship he shall forfeit as an homage a shooe from the horse whereon he rideth unless he redeem it at a price with money In witness whereof there are
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 Commons who at Hardby near Bullingbrooke his birth-place ended her life 8 Trade and commerce for provision of life is vented thorow thirty one Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Lincoln the Counties Namer is chief by Ptolomy and Antonine called Lindum by Beda Linde-Collina and by the Normans Nichol. Very antient it is and hath been more Magnifical as by her many overturned ruines doth appear and far more populous as by Doomesdayes Book is seen where it is recorded that this City contained a thousand and seven mansions and nine hundred Burgesses with twelve Lage-men having Sac and Soc. And in the Normans time saith Malmesbury it was one of the best Cities of England being a place of traffick of Merchandize for all commerce by Land or Sea Herein King Edward the third ordained his Staple for the Mart of Wools Leather and Lead and no less than fifty Parish-Churches did beautifie the same but now containeth onely fifteen besides the Cathedral Some ruines yet remain both of â—riariâ—s and Nunneries who lie buried in their own ashes and the City conquered not by war but by time and very age and yet hath she not escaped the calamity of Sword as in the time of the Saxons whence Arthur enforced their Host the like also did Edmund to the destroying Danes and by the Normans it suffered some damage where King Stephen was vanquished and taken prisoner and again by the third Henry that assaulted and waâ— it from his rebellious Barons By fire likewise it was for defaced wherein not only the buildings were consumed but wihal many men and women in the violence thereof perished as also by an Earth quake her foundation was much weakened and shaken wherein the fair Cathedral Church dedicated to the Virgin of Virgins was rent in pieces The government of this City is committed yearly to a Mayor two Sheriffs twelve Aldermen in Scarlet a Sword a Hat of Estate a Recorder Sword-bearer and four Serjeants with Maces whose situation on a steep hill standeth for Longitude in the degree 20 10 scruples the Pole elevated for Latitude from the degree 53 and 50 scruples 9 Much hath been the devotion of Princes in building of religious houses in this County as at Crowland Lincoln Markby Leyborn Grenfeld Alvingham Newnersby Grymmysby Newsted Elshaw Stansfeld Syxhill Torkesey Bryggerd Thorâ—eholme Nuncotten Fosse Hovings Axholme Isle Gokewell S. Michaels near Stamford Swyneshed Spalding Kirkested c. 10 Commotions in this shire were raised the eight and twentieth of King Henry the Eight where twenty thousand making insurrection violently sware certain Lords and Gentlemen to their Articles But no sooner they heard of the Kings power coming but they dispersed themselves and sued for pardon And again in the third year of King Edward the Sixt in ease of Inclosures Lincoln rose in seditious manner as did they of Cornwall Devonshire York-shire and Norfolk but after some slaughters of their chiefest men were reduced to former obedience The Shires division is into three principal parts viz. Lindsey Kesteven and Holland Lindsey is subdivided into seventeen Hundreds Kesteven into eleven and Holland into three containing in all thirty one wherein are situated thirty Market-Towns and six hundred thirty Parish Churches NOTTINGHAÌ„ SHIRE NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXII NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE from Nottingham her chiefest Town hath the Name and that somewhat softned from the Saxons Snoddenzaham for the many Dens or Caves wrought in her Rocks and under ground lyeth bordered upon the North and North-west with York-shire upon the East a good distance by Trent is parted from and with Lincoln-shire altogether confined the South with Leicester-shire and the West by the River Erwash is separated from Darby-shire 2 For Form long and Oval-wise doubling in length twice her breadth whose extreams are thus extended and distance observed From Feningley North of Steanford in the South are thirty eight English miles West part from Teversal to Besthorp in the East are little more than nineteen whose circumference draweth much upon one hundred and ten miles 3 The Air is good wholsome and delectable the Soyl is rich sandy and clayie as by the names of that Counties divisions may appear and surely for Corn and Grass of fruitful that it secondeth any other in the Realm and for Water Words and Canell Coals abundantly stored 4 Therein groweth a Stone softer then Alabaster but being burnt maketh a plaister harder than that of Paris wherewith they floor their upper Rooms for betwixt the Ioysts they lay only long Bulrushes and thereon spread this Plaister which being throughly dry becomes most solid and hard so that it seemeth rather to be firm stone than mortar and is trod upon without all danger In the West near Worksop groweth plenty of Liquoâ—ice very delicious and good 5 More South in this Shire at Stoke in the Reign of King Henry the seventh a great baâ—te was fought by Iohn De-la-Poole Earl of Lincoln which Richard the Uâ—urper had declared his heir apparent but Richard losing his life and De-la-Poole his hopes in seeking here to set up a Lambert fell down himself and at Newark after many troubles King Iohn got his peace with the end of his life 6 Trade and Commerce for the Counties provision is frequented in eight Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Nottingham is both the greatest and best a Town seated most pleasant and delicate upon a high hill for building stately a number of fair streets surpassing and surmounting many other Cities and for a spacious and most fair Market-place doth compare with the best Many strange Vaults â—ewed oâ—t of the Rocks in this Town are seen and those under the Castle of an especial note one for the story of Christs Passion engrâ—â—en in the Walls and cut by the hand of David the second King of Scots whilst he was therein detained Prisoner Another wherein Lord Mortimer was â—upprized in the non-age of King Edward the Third ever since bearing the name of Mortimers Hole these have their Stairs and several Rooms made artificially even out of the Rocks as also in that Hill are dwelling Houses with Winding-stairs Windows Chimneys and Room above Room wrought all out of the solid Rock The Castle is strong and was kept by the Danes against Burthred Ethelred and Elfred the Mercian and West-Saxon Kings who together laid their siege against it and for the further strenght of the Town King Edward sirnamed the Elder walled it about whereof â—ome part as yet remains from the Castle to the West-gate and thence the foundation may be perceived to the North where in the midst of the way ranging with this bank stands a Gate of Stone and the same Tract passing along the North part may well be perceived the rest to the River and thence to the Castle are built upon and thereby buried from sight whose circuit as I took it extendeth two thousand one hundred twenty paces 7 In the wars betwixt Stephen and Maud the Empress by Robert Earl of Glocester these Walls were cast
the degree of Latitude 54 yet the warmth from the Irish-Seas melteth the Snow and dissolveth Ice sooner there then in those parts that are further off and so wholsome for life that the Inhabitants generally attain to many years 4 The Soyl is fat fruitful and rich yielding abundantly both profit and pleasures for Man The Champion grounds make glad the hearts of their Tillers The Meadows imbroydered with divers sweet smelling Flowers and the Pasture makes the Kines Udder to strout to the Pail from whom and wherein the best Cheese of all Europe is made 5 The ancient Inhabitants were the CORNAVII who with Warwick-shire Worcester-shire Stafford-shire and Shrop-shire spread themselves further into this County as in Ptolomy is placed and the Cangi likewise if they be the Ceaâ—gi whose remembrance was found upon the Shore of this Shire on the surface of certain pieces of Lead in this manner inscribed IMP. DOMIT. AU. GER DF CEANG. These Cangi were subdued by P. Ostorius Scapula immediately before his great Victory against Caractacus where in the mouth of Deva he built a Fortress at the back of the Ordovices to restrain their power which was great in those parts in the Reign of Vespasian the Emperour But after the departure of the Romans this Province became a Portion of the Saxon-Mercians Kingdom notwithstanding saith Ran Higdan the City it self was held by the Britains until all fell into the Monarchy of Egbert Of the dispositions of the fince Inhabitants hear Lucan the Monk who lived prelently after the Conquest speak They are found saith he to differ from the rest of the English partly better and partly equal In feasting they are friendly at meat chearful in entertainment liberal soon aâ—gry and soon pacified lavish in words impatient of servitude merciful to the afflicted compassionate to the poor kind to their kindred spary of labour void of dissimulation not greedy in eating and far from dangerous practises And let me add thus much which Lucian could not namely that this Shire hath never been stained with the blot of Rebellion but ever stood true to their King and his Crown whose loyalty Richard the Second so far found and esteemed that he held his Person most safe among them and by the Authority of Parliament made the County to be a Principality and stiled himself Prince of Chester King Henry the Third gave it to his eldest Son Prince Edward against whom Lewlin Prince of Wales gathered a mighty Band and with them did the County much harm even unto the Cities Gaâ—es With the like scare-fires it had oft times been affrighted which the ylastâ—y defenced with a Wall made of the Welsh-mens Heads on the South side of Dee in Hambridge The Shire may well be said to be a Seed-plot of Gentility and the producer of many most ancient and worthy Families neither hath any brought more men of valour into the Field than Chess-shire hath done who by a general speech are to this day called The chief of Men and for Natures endowments besides their nobleness of minds may compare with any other Nation in the World their Limbs straight and well-composed their complexions fair with a chearful countenance and the Women for grace feature and beauty inferiour unto none 6 The Commodities of of this Province by the report of Ranulphus the Monk of Chester are chiefly Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Salt Mines Metals Mears and Rivers whereof the Banks of Dee in her West and the Vale-Royal in her midst for fruitfulness of pasturage equals any other in the Land either in grain or gain from the Cow 7 These with all other provision for life are traded thorow thirteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Chester is the fairest from whom the Shire hath the name A City raised from the Fort of Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for Claudius the Emperour whither the twentieth Legion named Victrix was sent by Galba to restrain the Britains but grown themselves out of order Iulius Agricola was appointed their General by Vespasian as appeareth by Moneys then Minted and there found and from them no doubt by the Britains the place waâ— called Cder-Legion by Ptolomy Denanâ— by Antonine Dena and now by us West-Chester but Henry Bradshaw will have it built before Brute by the Giant Leon Gaver a Man beyond the Moon and called by Marius the vanquisher of the Picts Over Deva or Dee a fair Stone-bridge leadeth built upon eight Arches at either end whereof is a Gate from whence in a long Quadrant-wise the Walls do incompass the City high and strongly built with four fair Gates opening into the four Winds besides three 〈◊〉 and seven Watch-Towers extending in compass one thousand nine hundred and forty paces On the South of this City is mounted a strong and stately Castle round in form and the base Court likewise inclosed with a circular Wall In the North is the Minster first built by Earl Leofrike to the honour of S. Werburga the Virgin and after most sumptuously repaired by Hugh the first Earl of Chester of the Normans now the Cathedral of the Bishops See Therein lyeth interred as report doth relate the body of Henry the Fourth Emperour of Almane who leaving his Imperial Estate lead lastly therein an Hermites life This City hath formerly been sore defaced first by Egfrid King of Northumberland where he slew twelve hundred Christian Monks resorted thither from Bangor to pray Again by the Danes it was sore defaced when their destroying feet had trampled down the beauty of the Land But was again rebuilt by Edelfleada the Mercian Lady who in this County and Forrest of Delamer built two fine Cities nothing of them now remaining besides the Chamber in the Forrest Chester in the daies of King Edgar was in most flourishing estate wherein he had the homage of eight other Kings who rowed his Barge from S. Iohns to his Palace himself holding the Helm as their Supream This City was made a County incorporate of it self by King Henry the Seventh and is yearly governed by a Major with Sword and Mace born before him in State two Sheriffs twenty four Aldermen a Recorder a Town-Clerk and a Serjeant of Peace four Sergeants and six â—eomen It hath been accounted the Key into Ireland and great pity it is that the Port should decay as it daily doth the Sea being stopped to secure the River by a Causey that thwarteth Dee at her bridge Within the Walls of the City are eight Parish-Churches St. Iohns the greater and lesser in the Suburbs are the VVhite-Fryers Black-Fryers and Nunnery now suppressed From which City the Pole is elevated unto the degree 53 58 minutes of Latitude and from the first point of the West in Longitude unto the 17 degree and 18 minutes 8 The Earldom whereof was possessed from the Conquerour till it fell lastly to the Crown the last of whom though not with the least hopes is Prince Henry who to the Titles of Prince of VVales and Duke of Cornwall hath
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
lieth about five leagues North-West from Iersey and is compaâ—â—ed like to her neighbour with the British Sea It lieth in length from Plymouth-Bay South-West to Lancroâ—se de Anckers North-East thirteen miles in breadth from S. Martins-point South-East to the Howe North-West nine miles and is in circuit thirty six miles The Emperour Antonine having the rule and dominion of France at that time called Gaul from whence the word Gallia is derived did name this Island Sarnia which afterwards by the change of Times and corruption of Languages was long since and is at this day called Garnsey 2 This Isle in form and fashion standeth in the Sea much like to a Park that is encompassed â—ound about with a Pale of Rocks being very defensible unto the Island from the attempting invasion of Enemies 3 The Air and Climate of this Isle hath little or no difference in temper or quality from that of Iersey And this deserves to be remembred of it that in this Isle is neither Toad Snake Adder or any other venemous creature and the other hath great plenty 4 It standeth for the most part upon a Rock very high in many places from the Sea Nevertheless the Soil is very fruitful yielding forth great plenty of Grass for their Sheep and other Cattel which they have to serve all uses Their Fields in the Summer time are so naturally gaâ—nished with Flowers of all sorts that a man being there might conceit himself to be in a pleasant artificial Garden 5 The Inhabitants are not so much given to Tillage as they of Iersey though the Soil be as fruitful They have of late takeâ— great delight in Planting and Setting of Trees of all sorts and especially of Apples by reason whereof they make much Sider Their Commodities are alike and their helps from the Sea no less or rather more 6 In this Isle are many great â—teep Rocks among which is found a hard stone called by the â—reâ—ch-Men Smyris which we term Emerill The Stone is serviceable for many purposes and many Trades as Glasiers c. but especially for the Goldsmiths and Lapidaries to cut their precious Stones 7 It hath a head of Land upon the North part thereof the passage into which is so narrow that a man would think that at every Tyde the Sea beating strongly on both sides it were in a continual danger to be fundred from the other part of the Isle This place is called S. Micâ—â—â—l in the Vale where in former times stood a Priory or a Covent of Religious Persons the ruines whereof are at this day to be seen 8 The government of this Isle in nature and forâ— reseâ—bles the other of Iâ—rsâ—y of whom shall be said The People in their Original and Language alike also but in their Customs nnd Conditions they come neerer the civil fashions of the English Other matters of moâ—ent I find not worthy to be recorded It hath ten Parishes and one Market-Town being also a Haven aâ—d is called S. 〈…〉 â—lose by the Peer and Castâ—-Cornâ—t IERSEY THe two Islands Iersey and Garnsey being the only remains of the Dukedom of Normandy that in former times many years together was in the possession and under the command of the Kings of England annexing thereunto a large Territory and glorious Title to the Crown are both seated in the Sea called Mare Britannicum the Ocean parting them a good distance asunder and are now both adjuncts and within the circuit of Hampshire For the first being the Isle of Iersey it lieth upon the British-Sea having on the North parts the Coasts of Hampshire and on the South the Country of Normandy 2 This Island is long not much unlike the fashion of an Egg. It contains in length from Sentwâ—n-Poole upon the West to Mount-Orguil Castle on the East ten miles and in breadth from Dubon-point to Plymounâ—-bay six miles the whole circuit of the Island being thirty eight miles It is distant from a little Island caâ—â—ed Alderney about four leagues It was in old time called Caesaria whether from Iulius Octavius or any the other Caesars that followed is unknown But the Freâ—chmen have by corruption of speech long time called it Iersey 3 It is a very pleasant and delightful Island and giveth a pleasant aspect unto the Seas It lyeth Southward not far from a craggy ridge of Rocks which is much feared of the Mariners and makes the passage that way very dangerous howbeit it serves for a forcible defence against Pirats or any stranger that attempts invasion and they are termed Casquets 4 The Soil is very fertile bringing forth store of Corn and Cattel but especially of Sheep that are of reasonable bigness the most of them bearing four horns apiece Their Wooll very fine and white of which the Inhabitants make their Iersey Stockings which are ordinarily to be had in most parts of England and yield a great commodity unto the Island 5 The first original of the Inhabitants sprung either from the Normans or Britains or both They speak French though after a corrupt manner and have continued their Names Language Customs and Country without any or little intermixâ—ure these many hundred years having been under the jurisdiction of the English ever since the untimely and unnatural death of Robert Duke of Normandy eldest son to William the Conquerour 6 The People of this Country live very pleasantly as well by the profits of the Land as the helps and furtherances of the Sea that yields unto them and especially in Summer season great store of Fish but principally for Conger and Lobsters the greatest and fatâ—est upon the Coaâ—t of England Wood is very scant for their best Fuel is Turff some Coal they have brought unto them but it is very dear Straw Furrs's and Fern serving their ordinary uses The middle part of the Island hath many pretty Hills rising in it yielding a delightful object unto the Vallies that receive from one another a mutual pleasure 7 The Governour of this Iâ—le is the Captain thereof who appointeth certain Officers under him the principal of whom carrieth the name and title of a Bailif that in civil causes hath the assistance of twelve Iurats to determine of differences and minister Iustice in criminal matters seveâ— in matters of reason and conscience five Their Twelve are chosen out of the twelve Parishes so that no man goeth further to complain than to his own Iurate in ordinary Controversies but matters of moment and difficulty are determined before the Bailiâ—â— in a General Meeting 8 This Isle hath two little Islands adjacent the one S. Albous the other Hillary Island It hath twelve Parishes and four Castles No other Monuments of Name or Note WALES The Description of WALES CHAPTER I. ANtiquity hath avouched that the whole Isle of Britain was divided into three Parts The first and fairest lay contained within the French-Seas the Rivers of Sevâ—rnâ— Dâ—â— and Humber called then Lâ—oyger which name it yet retaineth in Welsh in English called England
The second part occupied all the Land Northward from Humber to the Orkney-Sea called by the Latines Marâ— Caledonium or Dâ—ucâ—lâ—â—oâ—ium now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this lying betwixt the Irish-Seas the Rivers Sâ—verne and Dee and was called Câ—mbria which name doth yet continue with them though we the Eâ—glish call it Wales as the People Welshmen which is strange and strangers for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany whence our Saxons are said to have come do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welshman and his language Welsh 2 This opinion Verstegâ—n doth altogether contradict rather judging by the ancient Tâ—utâ—â—ick tongue which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Sâ—xoâ—s called them Gallish from the Gaules whence their original proceeded rather than Wallish from strangers which he thinketh could not be considering their habitations so neer unto them and that the like was in use he proveth by the words of Erench Gardian for Wardian Cornugalles for Câ—rwâ—lles yea and Galles for Walles calling our most famous Edward Prince of Galles not Prince of Wâ—lles insomuch that the County of Lombardy bordering along upon the Germans was of them called Gâ—lliâ—ciâ— cis-alphina and at this day welsh-Welsh-land So likewise do the Netherlands call the Inhabitants of Henalt and Artois Wallen or Walloâ—s and some part of Brabant and Flanders Welsh-Brabant and Welsh-Flaâ—ders and all because of the Language and Lineage of the Gauls Neither do the meer Natives of Wales know any other name of their Country than Cambria of themselves than Cambri or Cumri or of their Language than Cambraoc But leaving this opinion free to his affection we will proceed 3 Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britains all the plain and Champion Country over the River Dee and especially Offa King of Mercia made their limits straighter by making a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Mear betwixt this Kingdom and Wales This Ditch is in many places to be seen at this day and bears the name of Clawh Offa that is Offaes Ditch The Country between it and England is commonly called the Marches and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen especially in North-Wales even to the River Dee This admirable Trench began at Bassiâ—gwerke in Elintshire between Chester and Ruthland and ran along the Hills to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above an hundred miles in length 4 Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Menâ—viâ— to be an hundred miles and the length from Caerleon upon Vske in Gwentland to Holly-head in Anglesâ—y an hundred miles he might have said thirty more 5 About the year of Christ 870 our Alfred reigning in England Rodericus Magnus King of VVales did divide it into three Talaiths Regions or Territories which were called Kingdoms This Rodericus Magnus gave Venâ—dâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales to Anarawd his eldest son to Cadeth his second son Demeâ—ia Debeuâ—arth or South-VValls and to Mervin his third son Powys 6 North-VVales had upon the North-side the Irish-Sea from the River Dee to Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-West the River Dyvi which divideth it from South-VVales and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with high Hills and sometimes with Rivers till it come again to the River Dee It is generally full of high Mountains craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies many strait dangerous places deep and swift Rivers 7 This Land was of old time divided into four parts Mon Arvon Meryonith and y Bervedhwlan or the middle Country and each of these were again divided into several Countries and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commots wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Ruffin last Prince of VVales according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipful Friend and learned Antiquary as seeming far more exact than that of Doctor Powels 8 Aâ—glâ—sey the chiefest is separated from the main Land with the River Moenai wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court now a mean Village In this Island is a fair Town called Beaumarish And common passage to Ireland at Caergybi in English Holly-head 9 Arvâ—n the second part of North-VVales is now called Carnarvanshire the strongest Country within that Principality giving place to none for fertility of the ground or for plenty of Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl c. Here are the Towns of Caernarvan in old time called Caer-Segoâ—t and Bangor the Bishops See with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory This portion hath on the North the Sea and Moeâ—ai upon the East and South-East the River Conwey which divideth it from Denâ—igh-shire and on the South-West is separated from Merionyth by Rivers Mountains and Mears 10 Merionyth was the third part of Gwyneth and keepeth the name till this day it is full of Hills and much noted for the resort of People that repair thither to take Herrâ—ngs Upon the North it hath Arvon and Denbigh land upon the South Caerdigan-Shire and upon the East Montgâ—mâ—ry-shire heretofore part of Powis In this County standeth the Town of Harlech and a great Lake called Llyn-Tegyd This Country is likewise full of Cattel Fowl and Fish and hath in it great store of red Deer and Roes but there is much scarcity of Corn. 11 Y Bervedhwland was the fourth part of Gwyneth and may be called in English The middle Country is inclosed with Hills on the East West and South-parts and with the Sea Northward It is plentiful of Cattel Fish and Fowl as also of Corn and is divided in the midst with the River Clwyd to which run a number of other Rivers from the Hills In this part is Dyffryn-Clwyd the fairest Valley within Wales containing eighteen miles in length and seven in breadth In which is the Town and Castle of Ruthlâ—n near unto the Sea and not far thence S. Assaph an Episcopal seat between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy Herein stands the fair Town and goodly Castle of Denbigh situated upon a Rock the greatest Market-Town of North-Wales and from thence is seen the Town and Castle of Ruthyn fair for prospect and fruitful for fite This part of North-Wales hath the Sea upon the North d ee toward the East Arvon The River Conwey and Mâ—riâ—nyth upon the West and the Country then called Pâ—wys upon the South And these were the Mears and Bounds of the four Parts of Venedâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales 12 The second Talaith or Kingdom was Mathraval or Powys To this belonged the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Sevâ—rne It hath South-Wales upon the South and West with the Rivers Wye and Tywy and other Mears upon the North
and large promises could not by any means obtain his desires he therefore in a place of advantage suddenly surprised and ravished her weak yet resisting body After the deed done the cruel Tyrant to stop her cries and acclamations slew her and cut off her head out of which place did suddenly arise a Spring that continueth to this day carrying from the Fountain such a forcible stream and Current as the like is not found in Christendom Over the Head of the Spring there is built a Chappel of Free-stone with Pillars curiously wrought and engraved in the Chancel whereof and Glass-Window the Picture of the Virgin is drawn together with the memorial of her Life and Death To this Fountain Pilgrims are accustomed to repair in their zealous but blind devotion and divers others resort to Bath in holding firmly that the water is of much vertue There be many red Stones in the bottom of this Well and much green Moss growing upon the sides the superstition of the People holding that those red spots in the Stones were drops of the Ladies Blood which all the Water in the Spring can never wash away and that the Moss about the Wall was her Hair which though some of it be given to every Stranger that comes yet it never wasteth But howsoever this be carried for truth by the Tradition of time the Moss it self smells exceeding sweet There is also hard by Kilken a small Village within this County a little Well of no great note that at certain times riseth and falleth after the manner of Sea-tydes 9 In the South-part of this Country divided from the rest is a place in some written Copies of Antonine called Bovium which we now term Banchor first a City and afterwards a Monastery of famous memory and the first that is read of in the World wherein as Beda saith were a great number of Monks and them divided into seven Companies every one having his several Ruler assigned None of these Companies had less than three hundred Persons devoted to Prayer and to get living by their own labour for themselves and the poor although it hath long since been utterly ruinate so as now there is scarce seen the face and outward shew of a dead City or Monastery It hath only the names of two Gates remaining one standing a mile diâ—tant from another and betwixt which the River Dee now runneth where are often-times found many pieces of Roman Coyn and other tokens of antiquity But of these shall be more mention made in the following History Another like Monastery but of lesser account stood in the Vale beneath Varish a little City placed by the Romans in the consines of this Shire and Denbigh-shire and upon the Bank of Elwy and Cluyd This the Britains call Llan-Elwy of the River the Englishmen Asaph of the Founder and the Historiographers Asaphensis It is more famoused for antiquity than for building or bravery for about the year 560 Kentigern Bishop of Glasco being fled hither out of Scotland placed here a Bishops See and erected a Monastery gathering together 663. in a Religious Brotherhood whereof 300 that were unlearned gave themselves to husbandry and to work within the Monastery the rest to Prayer and Meditations When he returned into Scotland he ordained Asaph a godly and upright man to be Governour over this Monastery of whom it took the name and is called Saint Asaphs Another Monastery of great account was at Basingwarke in this County near unto which began that admirable Ditch drawn thence into the Month of Severne by King Offa the Tract whereof I have expressed thorow this Shire and will further speak thereof in the following History 10 This Shire is divided into five Hundreds fortified with seven Castles hath only one Market-Town and twenty eight Parishes in which there is a continual celebration of Divine Service ANGLESEY and CARNARVAN ANGLESEY CHAPTER XIII ANGLESEY was in the time of the Romans called Mona by the Britains Mon and Ver-Mon that is the Land of Mon of the ancient England-Saxons Moneg And at last after the Englishmen had by their sharp and several assaults brought it under their rule and became Lords thereof it was termed Anglesey as one would say The Englishmens Island 2 For an Island it is albeit it be severed from the Continent of Britain but with a small and narrow straight of the River Menai and on all other parts beaten upon with the surging and troublous Irish Sea in which it lyeth somewhat square-wise not much different in length and breadth being where it reacheth out in length from Beau-marish Eastward to the utmost Promontory Westward which we call Holy-head twenty miles and in breadth from Llambederick Northward to the point of Menai Southward seventeen miles the whole circuit or circumference amounting towards seventy miles 3 The Air is reasonable grateful and healthful and not generally subject to Diseases excepting certain Agues at sometimes which are occasioned by the Fogs and misty Exhalations which arise from the Sea called Mare Virginium with the which this Isle is encompassed 4 The Commodities that commend or rather beautifie this Country are in Corn and Cattel wherewith it not only enricheth it self exceedingly but sendeth out great Provision thereof to others to supply their defects and although the ground may seem dry and stony or unpleasant and nothing sightly wherein for the outward quality it resembleth some other parts of Wales that are not so fruitful yet for the inward bounties of nature it is far unlike for above all the Coasts of Wales it is most plentiful of Wheat insomuch as by Giraldus Cambreâ—sis report they are wont to say in Welsh by way of a Proverb Mon Mam Cambry which is to say Mon is the Mother of Wales for that when other Countries Harvest fails round about or their Provision is exhaust and drawn dry this alone like a provident and full breasted Mother is able to sustain the rest Whereunto Nature most providently hath added another benefit serviceable and necessary to the former in that the Country produceth also those kind of Stones which are called Molares as of all other fittest to make Millstones or Grindstones In some places also it yieldeth an Earth of Aluminous quality out of which some not long since began to make Alâ—m and Copperose who like unflesht Souldiers gave over their enterprise without further hope because at first they saw it not answer their over-hasty expectations 5 The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Ordovines mentioned before in the precedent Provinces of Denbigh-shire Flint-shire and Carnarvon-shire And this very Island was that ancient and so much ennobled Seat of the British Drâ—yds who so amated the Army of Roman Invaders as Tacitus reports and as else-where we have related in the sixth Book and seventh Chapter of our ensuing History 6 This Nation was attempted first by Paulinus Suetonius in the Reign of Nero but brought under the Roman Empire by Iulius Agricola When the
in Ila Bunals and Iona now Columbkill where as Donald Munro who travelled through these Islands reporteth are three Tombs having the several Inscriptions of the Kings of Scotland of Ireland and of Norway 19 Among these Western Islands the Hebrides Skie Mula Ila and Arran are the greatest All of them plentiful of Corn Woods Salmons and Herrings as others of Conies Deer Horses and Sheep where in some they are wild and in others without any owners but the People uncivil and lacking Religion they rather live rudely in state of necessity than as Lords of these portions which God hath allotted them and with a sufferable ease ignorant of ambition enjoy those contentments which some others though they no great sum do more laboriously attain unto by the Precepts of Philosophy for feeding themselves with competency without any excess they return all the over-plus unto their Lords as do the Inhabitants of Hirta and Rona but alas Religion not known among them these penurious vertues are rather the curses of Cham than the followings of Christ who forbids us to be too careful for the morrow 20 The â—sles of Orkenay upon the North of Scotland lying in a most raging and tempesâ—uous Sea are about three and thirty in number whereof thirteen are inhabited and the other replenished with Cattel in these are no venomous Serpents nor other ugly vermin the Air sharp and healthful and the Soil apt to bear only Oats and Barley but not a stick of Wood among these Pomonia is the greatest accounted and called the main-Main-Land affording six Minerals of lead and Tin and in her chief Town a Bishops See wherein are seated twelve Parish Churches one of them very magnificent for so remote a Country 21 Of all the Romans Iulius Agricola first discovered the Orkenays yea and subdued them if we will believe Tacitus but Pomponius Mela that wrote thirty years before him doth mention them and Iuvenal in Hadrians time after him tells us the Romans had won them and lastly Claudian nameth Saxons that were slain in them and so doth Ninius name Octha and Ebissus Saxou Commanders who in their roving Pinnaces wasted the Orknays These Islands Donald Bane the Usurper of the Scottish Crown gave the King of Norway for his assistance and by the Norwegians were they held the space of an hundred and sixty years until that Alexander the third King of Scotland with Sword and Composition got them from Magnus the Fourth King of Norway which afterward King Haquin confirmed unto King Robert Bruce but lastly Christian the First King of Norway and Denmark utterly renounced all his right to those Islands when he gave his Daughter in Marriage unto King Iames the Third which deed was further ratified by the Pope who openeth the way to the possession of Kingdoms with his own Key 22 More North and further than this Chart could well express lie the Isles of Shetland of some thought to be Thule and by the Commenter upon Horace the Fortunate Island where as Tzeâ—zes fabuleth the Souls of good Men are ferryed into those Elizian Fields that ever grow green and whence Iulius Caesar could hardly be drawn as Muretus had written but their Fictions intended only that the vertuous Souls of the dead passed the uttermost bounds of earthly abode and attained to an ever-pleasing repose and ever-flourishing happiness which whether they borrowed from the description of Paradise taken both for a fair Garden and the Souls happy rest I cannot define but sure they would not have made those Fields always green if they had seen how they lie ever covered with Ice and Snow being in the 63 degree of Latitude as Ptolomy hath placed it where for the most part is a continual Winter but for proof that this was the Thule besides Ptolomies Positure Saxo Grammaticus betwixt Norway and Scotland hath placed it and Solinus two daies sailing from the point of Caledonia and Tacitus saith that the Romans kenned Thule afar off as they sailed about Britain by the Orcades and lastly Mela maketh it to face Berge a City in Norway THE KINGDOME OF IRLAND IRELAND Described CHAPTER I. THe Traditions of time have delivered unto us divers names whereby this famous Island is recorded to have been called yet none of more fair probabiliâ—y than that of Ortheus Aristotle and Claudian by whom it is named Ierna by Iuvenal and Mela called Iuverna by Diodorus Siculus Iris by Martian of Heraclea Ioyepnia by Eustachius Oyernia and Bernia by the native Inhabitants Erin by the Britains Yverdon the Welsh Bards in their Ballads Tirvolas Totidanan and Banno and by the Engâ—ish Ireland But from whence these diversities were derived arise many opinions Doubtless it is that Hibernia Iuverna and Overnia came from Ierna spoken of by Orpheus and Aristotle and the same Ierna as alâ—o Iris Iverdhon and Ireland from Erin the term that the Inhabitants now usâ— From this Erin therefore a word proper to the Nation the original is most likely to be deduced 2 Some derive Hibernia from Hiberno tempore that is from the Winter season some from Hiberus a Spaniard some from a Duke named Irnalph some again from the ancient River Iberus and some from Hiere an Irish word which signifieth the West or a Western Coast whence Erin may also seem to fetchâ—he derivation for it lieth furthest Westward of any Region in ail Europe As also for that the River running in the most remoâ—e West-part of this Island is in Pâ—olomy called Iernus like as the furthest Western Promontory in Spain from whence our Irish-Men came is by Strabo called Ierne and the River next unto it by Mela Ierna yea and Spain it self for the Western situation is called Hesperia the West-Cape of Africk Hesperium and in Germany Westrich and Westphalen from their position have their names Postelius a man that rather followed his own fancy than the judgement of others fetcheth the original of Ireland from the Hebrews as if Iâ—in should be as much as Iurin that is the Iews land which opinion I hold no better than those that would have it from the Winter-like storms although upon every Wind the Air is cold there 3 Festus Avienus in that little Book which he entituled Orae Maritimae calleth Ireland Sacram Insulam that is The holy Island to which opinion the people are soon drawn by reason of the many Saints that the Island is said to produce and the blessed Soil that affords no venomous Creatures to retain Life It is thought that Plutarch meant Ireland by his Ogygia for her great antiquity and of latter times by Isidore and Bede it was called Scotia of those Scots that inhabited it and that thence the name of Scotland together with the Scots themselves came into Britain 4 For largeness and circuit in times past this Island challenged the third place in rank of all the Isles of the then known World for thus have Geographers left us that the Indian Taproban for greatness was the first the Isle
length The compass is reckoned by us to be 1890 English miles It is begirt on every side with Seas unless on the Eastern and there it is joyned to France by a kind of Isthmus when the Pyrenaean Mountains cross from one Sea to the other and set the limits to both Kingdoms On the West it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Cantabrick and on the South with the Fretum Herculeum South East with the Mediterraneum Till within this 800 years it continued mangled and broken by many turns of Fortune Since it hath felt variety enough now it is wholly subject to one Monarch though it yet carry the name of three Kingdoms Aragou Castile and Portugal The Land yields all sorts of Wines Sugar Fruits Grain Oyls Metals especially Gold and Silver It is fertile enough for the Inhabitants For indeed they are not many nor have they so great Cities as there are in other Regions in Europe Besides the conditions of those for the most part are base The meanest proud the best superstitious and hypocrites most of them lascivious Give them their own they are good Souldiers not so much for their valour in performing as patience to endure labours hunger thirst and by this means oft-times weary out an enemy rather than Conquer him 10 France the second Region of Europe beginneth from the West at the Pyrenean Mountains and is bounded on the East with Germany on the North with our English Seas and South-ward with the Mediterraneum South East with the Alpes which divide it from Italy It was once tributary to Rome as most of these parts besides and had its division into Provinces as they pleased Now the chief are Loraign Burgundy Savoy and these have their free Princes the rest are Norway Brittany Berry Aquitane Picardy Poictou Languedock Anjow Gascoin Province Compagne and many more The Country is very fruitful and calls her neighbouring Nations to her for Traffique Their special Commodities are Wine Corn and Salt Well peopled and hath very many illustrious Cities But the Inhabitants are naturally light in their carriage almost Counter-point to the Spaniard yet of great â—ame both in learning and wars Commended by all strangers for compleat Courtship 11 Belgia hath France on the South on the North Denmark on the East Germany and the main Ocean on the West It is known best with us by the Name of Low Countreys or Netherlands The compass of it is about a thousand miles It is divided into 17 Provinces And of these four are Dukedoms seven Earldoms five Baronies and one Marqueship The Dukedoms are 1 Brabant and in this is Antwerp 2 Luick 3 Lutzenburg here stands the vast Forrest of Ardeuna 4 Gelderland The Earldomâ— 1 Flanders 2 Artois 3 Hainalt 4 Holland 5 Zealand 6 Zutphen 7 and Hamme The Baronies 1 Friezland 2 Vtreck 3 Mechlin 4 Overissell 5 Groueling The Marqueship is that of the holy Empire The Land is good and affordeth great store of Butter Cheese and breeds Oxen of incredible bigness and weight The people too are very industrious and excellent Mechanicks The men commonly are of a goodly Porrtaiture yet of more fame for their wars than their volour but are forced to maintain their liberty by the Sword good Sea-men indeed and in that they bear some sway Their Governours are called the States of the Low Conntries The General of their Forces is the Prince of Orange 12 Germany lyeth East-ward from Belgia and on her own East is bounded with Hungary and Polonia and the River Vistula and the North with the Germane Ocean and on the South with the Alpes that divide her from Italy In the middle is situated the Kingdome of Bohemia compassed with the Sylva Hircinia and in this stands Prague where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court. And comprehends many Provinces of note Saxony Brandenberge Pomerania Bavaria Silesia Franconia Austria Helvetia East-Friezland Westphalia Cleveland Alsatia Brunswick and Hassia It hath now the name of the Empire as once Rome had but it comes far short of her in glory The right to it descends not by succession but by choice of six Electors Arch-Bishops of Triers Mentes and Cullen Count Palatine of Rhene Duke of Saxony and Marquess Brandenbâ—â—g In case of equality the King of Bohemia hath a suffrage which carries it It is a rich Country in Corn Wine Fruits Mines and hath in it healthfull Bathes The people warlike and ingenious for the invention of many useful implements 13 Italy hath Germany on the North divided by the Alpes on the South the Mediterraneum on the East the Adriatique Sea and on the West Mare Tyrrhenum In length it is 1010 miles and in the broadest place 420. It was once intirely one Now it is divided into many States and Provinces The chief are the Kingdom of Naples the Territory of Rome Lumbardy Tuscain the Seignory of Vâ—nice Verona and others of great fame For indeed the whole Country is of admirable fertility and called by good Authors The Paradise of the earth The Inhabitants grave and frugal yet hot and lascivious 14 Denmark is joyned to Germany on the South and on the West hath the Mare Germanicum and so almost is invironed with Sea and is a Peninsula In the Continent are two Provinces of note Irglant and Holsten The other are petty Islands for the most part The chief Zealand and Loiland The Country breedeth goodly Horses and store of Cattel The people are good Souldiers and subject to one King 15 Hungaria hath part of Germany on the West on the East the River Tibiscus and Walachia on the North with Poland and on the South with the River Saure South West with Sclavonia The great Danubius cuts her in the middle and names her parts Citerior and Vlterior The chief Provinces are 1 The Country of Soliense where the earth sends forth such a ftench that it poysoneth the very Birds which fly over it 2 An Island in Danubius exceeding fertile And so indeed is the whole Country The people are generally strong but shew the Ancientry to be of the Scythians by their barbarous manner and neglect of learning Their daughters portion are only a new attire and their Sons equally inherit without priviledge of birth-right The Emperour of Germany and the Turk share it betwixt them 16 Polonia and Silesia a Province of Germany on the West on the East the River Boristhenes or Neiper on the North the Baltick Sea and Hungary on the South It is in compass 2600 miles The chief Provinces which belong at least to Poland are Livâ—nia Lituania Volinia Samogiiia Podolia â—ussianigra Mazoria Prussia Podlassia The Dukedomes of Optwittes and Zotor Polonia propria The Land abounds with Honey Wax Mines of Copper and Iron It breeds store of Horses fit for service Their Religion is promiscuous of all kinds from the true worship to the very Atheist which acknowledgeth no God yet they are governed by one King which doth not succeed but is chosen by
Tillage This in general 10 Time hath not given way to many divisions of this America I find one only in the best Authors and that it seems nature marked out to their hands For she hath severed the Continent into two Peninsulae The one lieth North-ward from the Aequinoctial and is called Mexicana The other for the most part South-ward toward the Magellanick Straits and is called Peruviana Each of them are subdivided into their Provinces 11 Mexicana is the first and her bounds on the East and West are the Atlantick Ocean and Mare del Zur By the first it is severed from Europe and by the last from the Regions of China and Tartaria in Asia and is distant not above 250 miles if we measure the passage at the shortest cut On the South it hath the Peninsula Peruviana and North-ward we are not sure whether Sea or Land It comprehends in compass 13000 miles The quality of the Inhabitants and the riches of her soyl shall appear in her several Provinces which are numbred thus 1 Nova Hispania or Mexicana propria 2 Quivira 3 Nicarugua 4 Iacutan 5 Florida 6 Virginia 7 Norumbega 8 Nova Francia 9 Terra laboratoris or Corterilalis 10 Estotâ—landia 12 Nova Hispania or Mexicana propria is the largest Province of this North part of America and gave the name Mexiacana to the whole Peninsula which her self received from her chief City Mexico Her bounds South-ward is the Isthmus that joyns the Continents North-ward the same with the Peninsulaes on the West Califormia or Mar Viriniglio and on the East Incutan It was first possest by the Spaniard 1518. But it cost them much bloud to intitle their Kings Hispaniarum Reges It is an excellent Country full of all variety almost in every kind usual with us and exceeds in rarities full of wonder There is one tree which they dress like our Vine and order it so that it yields them almost all useful necessâ—ries The leaves serve them instead of Paper and of the Vine â—ark they make Flax Mantles Mats Shoes Girdles and Cordage She hath in her four principal Regions of note 1 Nova Galicia found out by Nunnus Gusmannus 1530. Her Cities are Compostella now a Bishops See Sancte Espritte and Guadalaiara The inhabitants lived at large heretofore without any government But since the Spaniard came they have endured incredible servitude and cruelty 2 Mechnacan a fertile Region the Inhabitants comely and witty Her chief Cities Sinsonse the place of their native Kings Pascuar and Valudolit the Bishops See 3 Mexico or Tomistian which contains in it the City of Mexico in compass six miles the seat of an Arch-Duke and the Spanish Viceroy and in it is an University a Printing-house and a Mint for coynage Other Cities there are Tescuvo and Angelorum Civitby 4 Ganstecan lying open on the East near Mare del Nort. It is but barren and the people poor but cunning The Spaniards have here two Colonies Panuce and S. Iames in the vallies 13 Quivira bordereth upon the West of the Continent towards Tartary It is temperate and fertile But the chief riches is the Kine which feed them with their flesh and cloath them with their Hides Her Provinces are Cibola and Nova Albion The last was discovered by our noble Sir Francis Drake and voluntarily yieded to the protection of our admired Queen of England Elizabeth 14 Nicarugua on the South-east of Nova Hispania had a kind of setled Common wealth before they knew Christianity and is reported to have a tree that withereth at a mans touch The chief Cities are now Granado and Leo a Bishops See 15 Incutan is situated over against the Isle Cuba upon the East of the Peninsula The people adored the Cross before they heard of Christ. The Country is indifferent fertile though that indeed as in all other places of this new World have proved worse for the Inhabitants for it hath drawn upon them their forraign Invadour 16 Florida lyeth near the Gulf of Mexico and bordereth upon the Mare del Nort. A pleasant Region it is and was discovered by our English under Sebastian Cuhbot 1497. out left for the Spaniard to posses which for a while he did and after him the French but neither in quiet For they warred upon each other till they left neither of them men enough to hold it The French built the City called Ara Corobina The Spanish Est Hevens and S. Matthews and planted there three Forts Saint Iames Saint Philip Saint Augustine which was burnt by Sir Francis Drake 1586. but recovered again 17 Virginia carries in her name the happy memory of our Elizabeth On the East it hath Mare del Nort on the North Norumbega Florida on the South and Westward the bounds are not set It was first entred by Sir Walter Raleigh 1584. and some at that time left there to discover the Country till more were sent but they perished before the second supply Since there have been many Colonies planted out of England which have there manured the ground and returened good Commodities to the Adventurers For indeed it is a rich Country in Fruits Trees Beasts Fish Fowle Mines of Iron and Copper Viens of Pitch Allum and Tar Râ—zin Gums Dies Timber c. The Plantation went on with good success till the year 1622. And then by the treachery of the Inhabitants there were murdered near upon three hundred of our men The Natives are very vile people horrible Idolaters adore the creature which they most fear and hate them which keep them not in awe they were kindly entreated by our English and invited by all friendly means to Christianity The North parts are most inhabited by our men and is therefore called New Eâ—gland It hath but one entrance by Sea at a fair Bay Her Capes are called Cape Henry and Cope Charls The chief Towns are Ianus Town Regnoughton and Balesguift 18 Norumbega on the North of Virgiâ—ia lyeth toward the Mare del Nort and is a very fertile Region It is inhabited by the Spanish and French The Seas are shallow and endanger many ships So full of Fish that the Boats cannot have free passage saith Maginus 19 Nova Francia is further North-ward from Norumbega a barren Country and the people barbarous some Anthropophagi A few French there are besides the Natives 20 Terra Laboratoris or Conterialis still more North-ward upon the Sea-coast and is divided from Norumbega by the River Lanada It reacheth into the Sea in form of a Pâ—niusula The men are barbarous live in Caves run swiftly and are good Archers The chief places are Bresto Cabo Marzo and South Maria. 21 Estotiland the last Province of the Northern Peninsula still creeps by the edge of the Atlantick and on the North hath the Straits called Fretum Daveissii an English man who this way attempted the North-west unto Cathai and China And in regard it was adventured in the name of our Queen the Promontory is called Elizabeths fore-Fore-land and the Sea running by
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
Cambaia a spacious Land it is and contains from East to West 38 degrees and about 20 from the North to South 11 This variety of distance in respect of the Heavens must needs cause as much difference in the qualities of her several Regions In some places there is that fertility which makes her equal to any part of Asia in others again she is so barren unfruitful and unprofitable that the Land is left waste as being not able to nourish an Inhabitant Ora maritima saith Quadus aestuosa est ac ventosa fructuum inops praeterquam palmarum mediterranea regio Campestris est omnium ferax pecorumque optima nutrix stuminibus lacubus plena Maxime autem suppeditat Araxes plurimas commoditates It abounds much with metals and stones of great price 12 The ancient Persians were warlike and ambitious of rule for not content with their own which they freely posses in Asia they attempted the nearest parts of Africa and Europe which cost them the first fall from their Monarchy Nec enim petituri Macedones Persidem vide bantur in priores Persae Graeciam provocassent faith Vadianus Their customes are most of them superstitious but they held nothing almost in so great reverence as water it might not lawfully be soyled so much as with a soul hand but to piss or cast rubbish or a dead carcass into the Rivers was a kind of Sacriledge They had many Wives and more Concubines for they were exceeding desirous of increase and great rewards were appointed by their King himself for him that could most augment the number of his subjects in one year They seldome entred into any consultation of State till they had well armed themselves with drink for then they thought they should be more free to speak what they most thought To spit or laugh before their Prince was a crime well nigh unpardonable some say that they bury not their dead but cast them forth to be devoured by wild beasts and thought him most happy which was soonest torn to mammock the rest their friends bewailed as such who had lived impurely and were therefore by this sign declared worthy of hell only without any redemption 13 Their Philosophers were called Magi and studied principally the art of fore-telling things to come from whence we have our tearm of Magick and usurp the word only in the worse sense whereas questionless it was no other with them than the Greeks Philosophy Philosophi or Sapientes with the Latines for it is by most thought that such were those good Magi which came from the East to worship Christ and Saint Chrysostome directly names Persia to be that East from whence they were led by the Star 14 They have now put off most of their antique barbarism and are become good Politicians excellent Warriour sgreat Scholars especially in Astrology Physick and Poetry Those which apply themselves to Mechanick trades are not inferiour to any almost in our quarter they deal most in making of Silks which they send into all the Eastern Countries in great abundance They are mild and courteous to Strangers yet jealous of their Wives which for the most part are very fair and richly attired not withstanding their affection to them usque ad insanam Zelotypiam yet are they much addicted to that beastly sin of the Turks and have their Stews on purpose whither they resort without controul or shame Their language is elegant and in use in most of those Eastern Countries The Christian Religion was once planted here both by Saint Thomas and Saint Andrew yet are they now fallen to Mahametism and differ but as Schismaticks from the Turks which occasioneth much hatred and perpetual war betwixt them 15 The Regions which belong to the Empire of Perfia are 1 Persii 2 Media 3 Assyria 4 Susâ—ina 5 Mesopotamia 6 Parthia 7 Hyrcania 8 Bactriana 9 Parapomissus 10 Aria 11 Drangiana 12 Gedrosia 13 Carmania and 14 Ormus 16 Persis had her name from Perseus which came hither out of Greece and this gives it to the whole Empire It is now called Faâ—st or Farsâ—stâ—n and was heretofore Panchaia It lieth betwixt Media on the North and the Sinus Persicus on her South on her West Susiana and East Carmania Her Metropolis is Siras once Persepolâ—s and is built toward the mid land near the River Araxis it was surprized by Alexander and many thousand talents of gold sent into Greece with other rich spoâ—l and trophies of Victories which the Persians had before gotten from most parts of the then known world Upon the Sea-coast stands Cyrus a City which was built by their first absolute Monarch and called by the Inhabitants Grechaia It was the Bishop seat of the learned Theodoret who lived here about the year 450 and in this Region is Laodicea built by Antiochus and Passagarda where Cyrus had his Sepulchre 17 2 Media now Servania on the North of Persis and South of the Caspian Sea hath Armenia major and Assyria on her West and on her East Parthia and Hyrcania It was before Cyrus the seat of the Empire and mother to a warlike potent Nation Their Kings had many wives seldome fewer than seven and their women thought it a great calamity to have less than five husbands In this stands the Territory of Tauris which was called by our ancients Erbathana and doth stand some eight dayes journey from the Hyrcinian Sea it is rich and populous and was the seat of the Sophies till it was removed to Casbin which lieth somewhat more South Betwixt both stands the City Turcoman and elsewhere in this Province are many others dispersed of good note especially Suliana Symmachia Nassinum Ardovil Marant and Saucazan c. 18 3 Assyria now Arzeram on the West of Media South of Armenia North of Susiania and East of Mesopotamia it was the seat of Ninus his Kingdome lost by Sardanapalus and here stands the most famous City Nineveh near the River Tigris larger than Babylon containing full threescore miles in compass for the community which the Babylonians had with them in course of government they were oft times promiscuously used by Historians both had this custome to sell their Virgins which were fair and most desired and tender the price into the common treasury The homelier sort were placed in marriage with that money to those which would accept of them for gain at least if not for beauty They were much addicted to Astrology and were questionless led to it by the opportunity of their situation which gives them a more perfect view of the Heavens and several course of the Planets than any other part of the world besides 19 4 Susiana now Cuceston seems to have her name from Cus upon the South of Assyria West of Persia East of Babylonia and North of the Persick bay It is severed by Pliny from Elemauss the great by the River Euleus of whose waters only the Persian Kings were wont to drink as being more sweet and pure than any other
miles in compass it is seated in a low and Fenny ground is subject to Flouds and hath been forced in very many places to erect bridges for free passage from one street to another there are in all 12000 built of stone and most of them so high that a good ship may strike under them with full sayl each of them hath its ten watchmen for a night guard The inhabitants of this City live luxuriously especially their women who are much more comely than their men yet all of them almost eat both Horse and Dogs flesh Towards the South part of the City there is a great lake about 24 miles in circuit in the midst stand two Islands whither the chief Nobility repair aâ—d invite their friends to solemnize their marriage and have in each a stately place erected furnished sufficiently with all fitting ornaments for a wedding jollity In many parts of the City there are publick places of receit for such as sustain any misfortune by fire there they may lodge their goods safe upon a sudden casualty till they can make better provision 18 It were vain to give a more particular Description of the many Cities which make up the several numbers in each Province they stand so thick and are so populous that they all seem to be as one one as well for their continued building almost as their fashion of building for they all observe the same form and dispose their streets alike two broad croâ—â—ing each other in the middle in so strait a line that the eye may reach clean from one end to the other 19 We may conclude that both the Revenues of the whole Empire and number of Inhabitants are not easily to be reckoned yet this in brief he hath subject under him 70 crowned Kings gathers up yearly 120 millions of Crowns stirs not into the field without 300000 Foot and 200000 Horse To this Empire did once belong most of the Islands in the Eastern Seas but it seems the Chinoyse in time found that their defence was a business of more charge than their worth countervailed and therefore let them even slip into their own hands and bounded their government with the Sea-coaâ—t yet for such as lye in the same Latitude from the Tropick toward the Pole they may most properly be named at least in this description and but named since they were before set forth in our general Map of Asia The chief are Lequio minor Reix Magos Lequio major Mazacar Iapan a very large Island Insula de Maico and Satyrorum Insula c. TARTARIA The Description of the Kingdom of TARTARY SCYTHICARVM gens semper antiquissima It was a judged case long since betwixt the Aegyptian and Inhabitant of this Countrey Yet were not the Scythans the first which possest it At least it was the first name by which they were known For before the entrance of Scythes the supposed Son of Hercules we find here a people which derive their pedegree from Magog the son of Iopheth and were called Magogins in remembrance of their antique Founder To this purpose Iunius and other learned interpret terram Magogin in the 38 of Ezek. 2. and Rev. 20. 8. and so in sundry places elsewhere of divine Scripture take it for other land than that which was after by prophane Writers called Scythia and Sarmatia and now Tartaria though perhaps these have not all had still the same bounds from the beginning for what any one Kingdom of the earth hath All States have had their course to rise and fall to be impaired or enlarged at pleasure of the most High who disposeth of Empires as seems best in his wisdome 2 Of the Magogins we have not much story yet they have left their name behind them which is now corrupted iâ—to Maâ—gol as most imagine While the Scythae bare rule they infested their neighbours without mercy or equity and practised their rapines as far almost as they could find a subject to work on Insomuch that they gave name to all the rude and inhumane Nations both of Asia and Europâ— â—â—rth of Danubius which for their cruelty were much feared and for bruitish customes grown 〈…〉 the more civil parts of the World 3 〈…〉 barum mores was meant of these by the Poet and well it might For who could be more barbarâ—â—s than the Essedons which lived here by the Palus Mâ—otis and as Herod in his fourth Book of Histories delivers were wont to sing their Parents to the grave invite their best friends to feast with their fathers flesh and use his â—kâ—ll as a Cup to drink in at their lascivious banquets Who more than the Axiacae who quenched their thirst with the bloud of him whom they first flew as it gusht warm from his wounds Who more foolishly proud than the Agathyrsi who as God and nature had come short in their making up were used to mend their beauty by a deformed painting and ugly staining of their bodies with motly colours Our Picts are supposed by some to have had hence their original 4 It were too much to recite here the other scattered Nations which over-spread the earth for she was as most stile her the offiâ—ina generis humani and sent forth swarms of her brood which soon fastned themselves whereâ—ever they set footing For they were strong of body bold and hardy beyond the rule of valour distinguisht not right from wrong in their quarrels but reckoned justly their own whatever they could clasp by force of Arms. And this they all practised almost without difference of sex unless in this that their women were most warlike witness that incomparable story of Tomyris who cut off the Persian Cyrus and 200000 more of his Souldiers at one encounter and cast his head into a cauldron of bloud with this upbraid for the slaughter of her son Pergapises Satia te â—anguine quem sitisti Nor was she the single one that put off the weakness of her sex to take Arms. For here lived those professed Amazons which admitted no man into their Camps but at set times of necessity to preserve their race yee were they a terrour to the world vext a great part of Asia the less and built the renowned Ephesus Smyrna Cuma Magnesia c. 5 These had their time The Gothes or Getae succeeded and were inheritors as well of their mischievous customs as ill-gotten possessions for which they purchased them the naâ—e of Polonei among their neighbours thieves and destroyers such as were no less grievous to thâ—m thâ—n their predecessors Doubtless a curse of perpetual tyranny lies upon their wicked Empire For when next the Tartars came on the State it self was not much bettered nor the innocent which lay near any whit more secured 6 These last have been supposed to be the remnant of those ten Tribes which werâ— led captive by Salmanassar How likely the Reasons are I will not dispute But surely if so they must have retained some knowledge of the the true God at least some
out of Polonia Russia Lituania Walachia and part of Muscovia 13 Asiatica or Tartaria deserta Muâ—covitica differs not much from the ancient Sarmatia Asâ—â—tica which in Ptolomy's description is bounded on the West with the River Tanais and Palus Maeotis on the East with Scythia intra Imaum on the North with the Montes Hyperborei and on the South with the mountains Coran and Caucasus The Inhabitants live in Hordes as the rest do which remove often and direct their wandring course by observing the Pole-star In this too their Hordes have divisions and are known by several names The chief is Zavell which for the most part lies betwixt the Rivers Volga and Layich and in regard it is as it were the Mother Horde to the rest it was called magna Horda and her Emperour Vlacham magnus dominus for so he was and had full power of a Prince till they were subdued by the Precopenâ—es in the year one thousand five hundred six and after by Basilius Duke of Moscovia Next to this are the Casanenses which have their chief City Casan upon the River Velga near the confines of Muscovia It was once an entire government to it self but in the year one thousand five hundred fifty one after many victories and revolts it was fully and irrecoverably vanpuisht and made an addition to the Duke of Muscovia's title The Inhabitants here are somewhat more ingenious than the Precopenses they till their ground and in some places build houses and practise Merchandise with the Turks and Moscovites Not much unlike to these are the Astrocâ—anenses situate toward the Mare Caspium and have their name from the rich Metropolis Astrachan twenty Italian miles distant from the mouth of Volga both they and it were subdued in the year one thousand four hundred ninety four by the Duke of Muscovia Besides these there are many other wild Hordes of Tartars Of the Nohaicenses Thumenenses Scâ—ibaschienses Casachienses Astnichanenses Bascâ—irdi Kirgessi Molgamozani These last strange Idolaters of the Sun and a piece of a red clout hung up before them upon a pole They live in Caves and feed for the most part upon such creatures as creep upon the ground some of them are Anthropophagi And hereabouts is the great Lake called Kvtay 14 Tartaria Antiqua the ancient seat of the Tartars and Kingdom of Magog when both the first Inhabitant was placed by the Son of Iapheth and when these last Tartars entred under the Command of Chinchis It was the utmost portion of the Tartarian Empire to the frozen Seas on her North the Scythian on the East and the mare de Annian for it contains many disperst Hordes all almost subject to the great Cham of Cathai In the most Northern tract which strikes into the Sea beyond the Polar circle dwell the Dani Neptalitae Mecriti c. more South-ward the Kingdom of Tabor and the vast desart Caraecoranum and the Mount Altay the place of burial for the Tartarian Emperours Toward the East Seas and near the Promontory of Tabin are the Regions of Arzaret which some think to be the very place first possest by the remnant of the ten Captive Tribes and Annian and Argon and Tenduch and Mongal and many other whose people live after the antique manner in tents moveable some few Cities they have poorly built and as rudely customed Among other incivilities they have this fashion to prostitute their wives and sisters to such guests as they would entertain most friendly and when it was once forbad by their great Cham they recovered it again with much suit and solemn protestation that they had not thrived since it was laid aside The ground bâ—ings forth good store of especial good Rhubarb 15 Zagathai the same with Scythiaintra Imaum and is bounded upon the West with the mare Caspium upon the East with the Desart as far as Lop upon the North with the River Iaxartus and upon the South with the Mount Caucasus It hath the name from their Prince brother to theâ—r great Cham and contains in it these several Provinces 1 Zagatai where Tamberlane was born and first bare rule in the City Sarmachand a place enrâ—cht by his victories and memorable for the death of Clytus slain by Alexander in his drunken fury The seat of the Governour is in Bochara another town of the best note here 2 Bactria now Coccazzan the Inhabitants were led by â—essus which â—lew Darius and the first King was Zoroastes in the time of Ninus the Assyrian and twice tried the fortune of war with him but was at last vanquished and his Kingdom made a Province to the Monarchy In several ages it hath been tossed into the hands of divers States among the rest the Romans had it once in their possession at which time the Inhabitants received knowledge of the truth from the mouth of Saint Thomas but have lost it since by the tyranny of the Sarazens and Tartars 3 Sogdiana on the North of Bactria where Gâ—opolis stood built for a Fort against the Scythians and standing to the time of Alexander who battered it to the ground 4 Margiana and 5 Turchestan East of the Mare Caspium and was the sâ—at of the Turks before they brake into Armenia 16 Cathaie the same with Scythia extra Imaum and is the Empire of the great C ham of the Tartars and true progeny of Chinchis It is compassed almost with mountains and deserts and is divided from China only by a great wall on the South The soyl is exceeding fertile and the people far more civil than in the other parts of Tartaria Her Provinces are 1 Cathaie whâ—ch is supposed to be the Antique seat of the Seres and is therefore called Regio Serica For it sends forth excellent Silks Stuffs and Chamlets and other rare commodities which equalize her at least in her own esteem to the best parts of Europe Her Metropolis is Cambelu twenty eight miles in compass besides the Suburbs built four square by the River Polysangus and enricht from India China and other Regions with all sorts of Merchandise Here their great Cham lives but is buried at the Mount Altay and is conveyed thither by a strong guard which kills all they meet in the way and commands them to serve their Lord in the other world Maginus reports from Marcus Polus that while he was in Cathai ten thousand persons lost their lives upon one such occasion 2 Tangut which they say had the Art of Printing many hundred years before it was known among us 3 Camul 4 Tanifu 5 Tebet not much differing either from themselves or the other parts of Tartaria which belong to the Kingdom of Carthaie FINIS The Description of Virginia VIRGINIA now Properly so called and which is here peculiarly to be described is is the most Southern part of that tract of Land which at its first discovery namely by the two Cabots and after them Iohn Vâ—razzano a Florentine though afterwards more distinctly by others was all comprehended by
several noted Rivers the chief whereof are Iames River formerly called Powhatan the denomination of a very potent King of this Countrey at the time of the English first adventuring thither this River is found navigable 50 leagues or thereabout 2. York River otherwise Pamaunke in the language of the natives which lies about 14 miles Northward from the other and is navigable 26 Leagues 3. Rapaâ—anock or Topahanock the last River of Virginia Northward and navigable 40 leagues 4. Patowmec River mentioned in the Description of Mary-Land to which part of the Countrey this River also belongs Besides these greater Rivers there are some others of lesser note which fall into them as into Poâ—hatan or Iames River Southward Apameâ—uck Eastward Quiyonycohanuc Nansamund and Chesopeac Northward Chickamahania into Pamaunkee Payankatank The English Plantation here is divided into 22 Counties on the Eastern shore Northampton County in Acomac on the Western shore Carotuc Iames Henrico Charles York Glocester Surry Hartford Warwick Lancaster New Kent Surrey Middlesex Nansemund Lower Norfolk Northumberland Westmorland Northampton Warwick Isle of Wight and Rappahanoc in each of which are monthly held those inferior County Courts where matters not of highest concernment or relating to life are tried and from whence appeals are made to the Quarter Court at Iames-Town where all criminal and Civil Causes are determined and where the Governor and Counsel sit as Iudges The Metropolis or chief Seat of the English here is Iames-Town or rather Iames-City so denominated in honour of King Iames where the Quarter Courts General Assemblies and Secretaries Office are kept This Town adorned with many fair Brick-houses and other handsome Edifices is situated in a Peninsula on the North-side of Iames River The other Towns and Places of chief note are Elizabeth City seated nearer the mouth of the same River on the same side near which at a place nam'd Green-spring Sir William Berkley the present Governor hath a very pleasant Mansion-house built of brick Henricopolis or Henry's Town so denominated from Prince Henry living when it was first built seated in a commodious place about 80 miles from Iames City Dale's gift so named from Sir Thomas Dale Deputy Governor of the Place in the year 1610 at whose charge it was built and a Colony here planted besides others of less note some whereof still retain the Indian names as Wicocomoco c. which doubtless are by this time increased to a very considerable number in regard of the amplitude and grandeur to which by the continual access of people this Plantation is of late arrived VIRGINIA and MARYLAND The Description of Mary-Land IT was in the year 1631 that his late Majesty gave a grant to George Lord Baltimore for the possessing and planting the Southern part of New-Netherland now New-Yorkshire lying toward Virginia when upon his Embassy to the States of Holland they declared by publick writing their dissent to what-ever had been acted by any of their subjects in prejudice of his Majesties Right and Title in those parts as hath been already mentioned Crescentia was the name first in designation for this Countrey but it being left to his Majesty at the time of his signing of the Bill to give it what denomination he judged fittest he was pleased in honour of his Royal Consort Queen Mary to erect it into a Province by the name of Mary-Land which Patent upon the death of his Lordship before the final ratification thereof was not long after confirmed under the Broad-Seal of England bearing date Iune 20 Ann. 1632 to his Son and Heir Coecilius the now Lord Baltimore investing him his heirs and successors with the Sovereignty attended with all Royal Prerogatives both Military and Civil as absolute Lords and Proprietors of the said Province saving only the Allegiance and Sovereign homage due to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors of whom they were to hold it as of his Majesties honour of Windsor for the yearly payment at the Castle of the said honour of Windsor on every Easter Tuesday of two Indian Arrows of those parts and the fifth part of all the Gold and Silver Oar which should happen to be found there The next year after this Patent had past viz. in the year 1633 a Colony of about 200 in all Servants and Planters whereof some persons of quality was sent over by the Lord Proprietor under the Conduct of his Lordships two Brothers Mr. Leonard and Mr. George Calvert the first of whom was made Governor of the Province for his Lordship and from thence forward this Plantation hath prospered and by the several supplies since sent very much increased to which good success the good Government of the said Mr. Leonard and his strict observance of his Lordship's prudent instructions very much conduced The first place they pitch'd upon to plant themselves in was Yaocomaco now St. Maries which the Governor purchased of the Natives for never hath any forcible or violent invasion of any mans right been made here by any of his Lordships Ministers with such commodities as they brought from England though at so much the more easie rate in regard of their pre-intentions to leave this place as thinking it their safest course to remove farther off from their too potent and valiant Neighbours the Sesquehanocks After the happy restauration of his present Mâ—jesty viz. in the year 1661 the Lord Proprietors only Soâ— Mr. Charles Calvert went over into these parts his Fathers Lieutenant in which charge he hath continued ever since in great tranquility and prosperity and with general contentment and satisfaction by his obliging carriage to all that live under his Government or have any interests or concerns in the Province This Province according as it is bounded and set out by the forementioned Patent extends one way from the most Northernly part which bounds it to the South and from which it is parted by the Southernly bank of the River Patowmeck to New-York or the most Southernly part of New-England which bounds it Northward and from the Atlantick Ocean and Delaware-Bay Eastward to the true Meridian of the first Fountain of the River Patowmeck Westward The Climate here in Summer time inclines to an extraordinary heat and in Winter is very cold but both the heat of the Summer is very much allayed by cool Breeses and the cold of the Winter is of short continuance so that the Country is accounted sufficiently healthful and of late agrees well enough with English bodies since the abatement and almost extinction through the regulation of diet felling of the woods c. of that distemper called the Seasoning which used to be very fatal to the English at their first landing This Countrey is for the most part champain the Soil fruitful and abounding with many sorts of fruits and other commodities which are common in our parts of the World and for those that are peculiar it cannot be imagined that in so small a distance and even in the same Country as
it hath been formerly accounted they should differ much from those of Virginia Yet there is a sort of fruit called a Persimon mentioned as most especially belonging to mary-Mary-Land and among Birds one named the Mock-bird from its imitation of all other Singing-birds which differing among themselves in the mixture of their colours that which is black and yellow is called Baltemore-bird from the colour of his Lordships Coat of Arms which are Or and Sable excelling in beauty all the other sorts The same is to be said of the complections customs dispositions government c. of the Natives of this Province as of those of Virginiâ— and other adjacent parts that is in brief thaâ— they are somewhat tawny their hair long black and uncurl'd but cut into fantastical forms more ingenious and docile than industrious each Town a distinct Nation and govern'd by iâ—s several Weroance or King only the Sesquaâ—anocks are a Republick As the Province is now inhabited by the English it is divided into ten Districts or Counties five on the Eastern-shore of the Bay of Chespeack namely Dorchester Somerset Kent Caecil and Talbot and five on the West side of the Bay St. Maries where the Provincial Court or chief Court of Iudicature consisting of Governor and Consiliar Iudges is held every quarter of a year Anne Arundel Baltemore Charles and Calvert The chief Rivers of this Country are Patowmec Patuxent Ann Arundel alias Severn Sasquesahanough Choptank Nantecoke Pocomoke besides others of less note of those mentioned the first four on the West side the other three to the East fall into Cheâ—apeack Bay which is navigable for 200 miles and which between two Capes Cape Charles to the North and Cape Henry to the South being seven or eight leagues distant receives all the Ships that come for Virginia or Mary-Land and passeth Northernly through the midst of Mary-Land On the Eastern shore of this Bay are divers convenient Harbours Creeks and Islands and Northward thereof is the entrance of Delaware Bay The original Seat and Principal City of this Province where the Provincial Courts the general Assembly the Secretaries office and other publick offices are held and where the seat of Trade is fixt is St. Maries situate in St. Maries County on the East-side of St. Georges River Here formerly at the Palace of St. Iohns the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert used to reside but he hath now a very pleasant and commodious habitation at a place called Mattapany upon the River Patuxent about eight miles from St. Maries here is also another fair house where the Chancellor usually resides There were also some years since in all the rest of the Counties the foundations of Towns laid which no doubt by this time are very near if not altogether compleated particularly in Calvert County near the River Patuxent 1. Calverton in Battle-creek 2. Harvy Town over against Point Patience 3. Herington upon the Cliffs As for the present Government of Mary-Land by the English the Lord Proprietor in the first place is invested as hath been mentioned with an absolute power and dominion by whose sole command all things relating to peace or War are ordered and in whose name issue forth all publick Instruments Patents Warrants Writs c. In the enacting of Laws he hath the consent and advice of the general Assembly which is made up of two Estates the first consisting of his Lorships Privy Council of which the Chancellor and Secretary alwaies are and such Lords of Manors as are called by his special Writ the other of the Deputies of each Province elected by the free voice of the Free-holders of the respective Province for which each Deputy is chosen The names of the present Governor the prime Officers of State and the rest of his Lordships Privy Council are as followeth the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships Son and Heir the Chancellor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother the Secretary Sr. William Talbot the Muster-Master General Mr. William Calvert Mr. Baker Brook all three his Lordships Nephews the Surveyor General Mr. Ierome White Mr. Edw. Lloyd Mr. Henry Coursy Mr. Thomas Trueman Major Edward Fitz-Herbert Mr. Samuel Chew Vast quantities of Tobacco the grand Trade of this Province of Mary-Land are yearly vended from hence not only in England but likewise in several of the other English Plantations besides the importation also of some other commodities to the great improvement of his Majesties Revenue by Custom and Excise The common way of traffick here is by barter or trucking of commodities one for anotherr though money is not altogether wanting as well of the coin of England and other parts as of his Lordships own Coin being stampt on the one side with his Lordships Coat of Arms with this circumscription Crescite Multiplicamini and on the other side with his Effigies and this circumscription Caecilius Dominus Terrae Mariae c. The Description of New-England WHat hath been said in General of the discovery of Virginia largely so called may in consequence be applyed to this Country of New-England being as above mentioned one of the three principal Colonies comprehended therein but in the year 1602 it began to be more particularly known a part from the rest from the discovery as some think of Captain Gosnold and in the year 1606 it was granted by Patent by King Iames to divers Lords and Gentlemen under the denomination of the Plymouth Company yet after that several that set out for this Plantation successively either miscarried or returned re infecta as first Captain Henry Chaloung who meeting with the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana was with all his Company carried Prisoner into Spain Not long after Thomas â— Haman sent to the succour of Chaloung by Sr. Iohn Popham Lord cheif Iustice of England Next Captain Prinne set out by the Bristol Company whose Voyage though it had not its wisht success yet he returned with a farther discovery of the Coast than had been made before Not long after George Popham and Raleigh Gilbert were fitted out at the charge of Sir Iohn Popham with one hundred men who though they had seated themselves not uncommodiously in a Peninsula at the mouth of the River Sagadahoc and were upon making farther discoveries yet in the year 1608 upon the death of George Popham their Commander and soon after of the Lord Chief Iustice they returned into England notwithstanding supplies had but lately been sent them to the very great distaste of the chief promoters of the design and whereupon the French had taken occasion to plant themselves in these parts had they not been timely expelled by Sr. Samuel Argal from Virginia The next that attempted a settlement here was Captain Hobson who by reason of the opposition raised against him by two Natives whom having been detained some while in England he took back along with him upon an affront offered them by some of the English was forc't to return without effecting of any thing
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
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