produceth such numbers of Cattel of such large proportion that even Spain can scarce afford the like The Principal Towns are these 1. Manchester a very beautiful Town far excelling all others round about it 't is of good resort and is famous for Clothing the Market-place is large and spacious 't is also adorn'd with a very fair Church and College Founded by Thomas Lord Delaware it was in former times called Mancunium and was made a Fort and Station of the Romans 2. Riblechester though it be at present but a small Town yet by Tradition it hath had the repute of the richest Town in Christendom and is reported to have been the Seat of the Romans which the many Monuments of their Antiquities Statues Pieces of Coin and other several Inscriptions digged up from time to time by the Inhabitants may give us sufficient persuasion to believe 3. Warrington a fair Market-Town known by reason of the Lords thereof sirnam'd the Butlers who obtain'd of Edward the First the liberty of a Market for it 4. 〈◊〉 a good well frequented Town famous for it Antiquity but more famous for a convenient passage from this place to Ireland 5. Ormeskirk a Market-Town remarkable for the Sepulchres of the Stanleys the Earls of Darby 6. Preston a Town of good resort so named from the Religious Men dwelling in it 7. Lancaster it was formerly the chief Town of this Shire but at this day it is neither well peopled nor much frequented most of its Inhabitants are given to Husbandry the Territory round about being well Manur'd lying open fresh and fair and not void of Woods Roman Coins are often digged up here and here they say was the plot of ground in which the ancient Town was planted which was destroyed by the Scots An. Dom. 1â—â—2 't is sufficiently famous in our English Annals for those Noble Persons who have successively born the Title of Earls and Dukes of it the greatest Princes for Revenues of any Subjects in Christendom Westmorland IN Latin Westmoria is bounded on the West and North with Cumberland on the East with Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durham and on the South with Lancashire The Air is sharp and piercing purging its self from Mists and Vapours but the Soil for the generality is so unfertile that it can hardly be brought to any fruitfulness by the industry and painful labour of the Husbandman The Principal Towns are these 1. Appleby a Town pleasantly seated encompass'd for the most part with the River Eden but it is at present so slenderly Inhabited and the Buildings so rude and simple that were it not for its Antiquity it deserveth not to be accounted the Shire-Town and to have the Assizes kept in the Castle which is the common Goal for Malefactors in short all the beauty lies in one broad Street which from North to South riseth with an easy ascent of an Hill in the upper part standeth the Castle in the lower the Church and by that a very good School Founded by Robert Langton and Miles Spenser Doctors of Law 2. Kirkby Lonsdale a Town situate on the East side of this Shire the tract of Land lying about it being called Lonsdale it hath a very good frequented Market all the People round about repair hither on Sundays to Church 3. Kirkby Stephen a fair Market-Town of good resort 4. Kendall situate in a Dale on the River Can from whence it had its Name it is the chief Town in Westmorland having two long fair broad Streets crossing one another it is of great Trade and Resort and for the diligent and industrious practice of the Inhabitants so excels the rest that in regard thereof it carrieth a super-eminent Name above them and hath great Vent and Traffick for her Woollen Cloaths through all the parts of England Famous it is for giving the Title of Earl to John Duke of Bedford Regent of France in the time of King Henry the Sixth Cumberland IN Latin Cumbria on the North boundeth on Scotland on the South and West the Irish Sea beateth upon it and Eastward above Westmorlanâ— it confineth on Northumberland It s ancient Inhabitants though known to the Romans by the name of Brigantes were the natural Britons who called themselves 〈◊〉 The Air is piercing and of a sharp temperature and would be more biting were it not that the high Hills oppose and break off the Northern Storms and dissolve the falling Snows The Province is very rich the Vales smile with Corn and the Hills with Pasture the Sea affords plenty of Fish and the Land is overspread with variety of Fowls The Principal Towns are these 1. Keswick a little Town seated in a very pleasant Soil being compass'd about with Hills King Edward the Third ordained a Market in this place by the procurement of Sir Thomas Darwentwater the Lord of it Famous it was in times past for its Copper-Mines it being at this day much Inhabited by Mineral Men who have here their Smelting house by Darwent-side which with its foâ—ible Stream and their ingenious Inventions serveth them in stead for easy Bellows-works Hammer-works Forge-works and Sawing of Boards not without admiration of such as behold it 2. Cokermouth a rich frequented Market-Town seated in a Valley between two Hills its Buildings are fair and beautiful upon one of the Hills standeth the Church on the other a very strong Castle the Gate whereof carrieth in the Front the Arms of the Percus 3. Papcastle an ancient Castle but at this present almost ruinated however memorable it is in that for a great number of Monuments it layeth claim to a Roman Antiquity among which was found a large Vessel of Greenish Stone engraven with little Images which serveth now for a Sacrarium Regenerationis in St. Brigids Church hard by Several Authors tell us that Fonts were adorn'd with Pictures of Holy Men to the end that such as were Baptized might have before their Eyes the Pictures of those Men whose deeds they were to imitate so saith Pontius Paulinus for in the first Plantation of Christianity among the Gentiles such only as were of full Age after they had been Instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion were admitted to Baptism and that but twice in the year viz. at Easter and Whitsontide except on urgent occasions at which times they which were to be Baptized were attired in White Garments Exorcised and Exsuffled with sundry Ceremonies which I leave to the Learned in Christian Antiquities 4. Solway-Frith within this very Frith where the Salt-waters ebb and flow the English and Scots by report of the Inhabitants fought with their Fleets at full Sea and with their Horse and Footmen at the ebb which seems no less marvellous than that which Pliny reported not without wonder of the like place in Caramania this Arm of the Sea is called Solway-Frith from Solway a Town of Scotland bordering upon it 5. Penrith a little Town of an indifferent Trade Fortified on the West side with a
of Winchester 6. Lincoln a place in former days of great Strength and Note being one of the best Peopled Cities in all the Saxon Heptarchy and of great Merchandise and Trassick both by Sea and Land it had formerly Fifty Churches but is now much decay'd it having suffered much damage in the Wars of King Stephen and of Henry the IIId with his Barons as also both by Fire and Earthquakes the chief Fame it now hath is for its Minster one of the stateliest Piles in England and perhaps in Christendom high seated on an Hill and from thence discern'd over all the Country The City is seated on the side of an Hill where the River Witham bendeth his course Eastward famous it is in respect that Vortimer the Warlike Briton who often discomfited the Saxon Armies ended his days and was here contrary to his Commandment Buried 7. Wainfleet a Town deservedly remarkable in that it Bred William Wainfleet Bishop of Winchester the Founder of Maudlin College in Oxford Nottinghamshire IN Latin Nottingamia hath on the East Lincolnshire on the North Yorkshire on the West Derbyshire and on the South side Leicestershire The Air is pleasant and healthful the Soil rich and clayey and for Corn and Grass so fruitful that it claims the second place before any other in the Realm The Principal Towns are these 1. Stoke a little Village famous for the Victory obtain'd by King Henry the VIIth against Sir John de la Pool Earl of Lincoln who being by King Richard the IIId declared Heir apparent to the Crown Rebelliously opposed himself against his Sovereign and in this place sighting Manfully both he and most of his Followers lost their lives 2. Nottingham a fair Town seated on the Trent but very high upon an Hill which overlooks it for Buildings fair Streets and a spacious Market-place not giving way to many Cities but of most fame for a Royal and magnificent Castle which for Strength Stateliness and Prospect may justly challenge the Precedency of most in England it is mounted upon an huge steep work on the West side of the City it was Built by William the Conqueror to bridle the English David the IId King of Scots and Roger Mortimer Earl of March were detain'd a long time Prisoners in this Castle Memorable it is for that King Charles the I st first set up his Standard in this place occasion'd on the unhappy Differences between him and his Parliament August 22. 1642. 3. Southwell it is adorn'd with a very beautiful Church Consecrated to the Virgin Mary 't is a Town not very fair to outward view but strong ancient and of great fame the Archbishop of York has a stately Palace in this place Derbyshire IN Latin Darbia hath on the East Nottinghamshire on the South Leicestershire on the West Steffordshire and on the North-side Yorkshire it resembles the Form of a Triangle but not with equal sides The Air is good and healthful and the Soil rich and fertile especially in the South and East Parts The Principal Towns are these 1. Derby a fair Town well traded and resorted situated on the River Darwent which on the East side of it affords to the Eye a pleasant and delightful Prospect running down and carrying a full and chearful Stream under a beautiful Stone-Bridge upon which formerly a fair Chappel was Erected which is now gone to decay it is adorn'd with Five Churches the greatest of which named Alhallows and Dedicated to the Memory of All Saints is peculiarly remarkable for its lofty Spire and the Tomb of the Countess of Shrewsbury 2. Peak so called from its Hills and Mountains from this place we have our Lead and Milstones and the Apothecaries their Antimony 3. Buxton a Town memorable for Nine Water-springs which arise out of a Rock within the compass of Eight Yards Eight of them are Warm but the Ninth is very Cold these run under a very fair square Building of Free-stone and about Sixty Paces off receive another Hot Spring from a Well inclos'd with Four flat Stones called St. Anns near unto which another very Cold Spring bubbles up The Inhabitants report that great Cures have been effected by these Waters and daily experience sheweth that they are good for the Stomach and Sinews and very pleasant to Bathe the Body in The Town is lately adorn'd with very beautiful Buildings Having now Describ'd the Regions of the Coritani we will next survey the Provinces of the Cornavii who if we may believe Ptolomy seem to have Possessed Warwickshire Worcestershire Staffordshire Shropshire and Cheshire Warwickshire Cornavii IN Latin Warwicus hath on the East Northamptonshire and Leicestershire on the South Oxfordshire and Glocestershire on the West Worcestershire and on the North Staffordshire It s Air and Soil are equally desirable the Air is extreamly healthful and the Soil in the South part yieldeth such a plentiful Harvest that the Husbandman smiles to behold his pains so well rewarded The Principal Towns are these 1. Warwick this Town was the ancient Praeciduum of the Romans it standeth on the River Avon upon a steep and high Rock and all the Passages to it are wrought out of the very stone it is yet apparent that it was formerly Fortified with a Wall and Ditches towards the South-West it sheweth a Castle strongly Fortified both by Art and Nature 't was in a good state upon the entrance of the Normans but hath lately suffered much by Fire 2. Henly a pretty Market-Town which had formerly a Castle adjoining to it belonging to the Family of the Montforts 3. Killingworth a beautiful strong Castle encompassed with Parks given by Queen Elizabeth to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester 4. Bremicham a Town full of Inhabitants resounding always with Hammers and Anvils they being most of them Smiths 5. Coventry a City so called from an old Convent and Religious House which gave Name to it beautified it is with a well-Built Wall large Streets handsome Houses and two fair Churches Dedicated to the Holy Trinity and St. Michael it was formerly the only Mart and City of Trade in all these Parts notwithstanding that it is destitute of all the advantages which a Navigable River might afford it 6. Edgehill a small Village famous for the Battel fought between the Forces of King Charles the I st and those of the Parliament in which both sides claim'd the Victory Worcestershire IN Latin Wigornia hath on the East Warwickshire on the South Glocestershire on the West Herefordshire and Shropshire and on the North Staffordshire The Air of this Shire is temperate and the Soil fertile abounding with Corn Woods Pasture and every thing that is necessary for the Life of Man The Principal Towns are these 1. Kidderminster a fair Town hath a great Market it is well frequented divided into two parts by the River Stour it is adorn'd with a very beautiful Church 2. Worcester the principal City of this Shire it being truly admirable both in respect of its Antiquity and Beauty
the third Dynasty when the Succession seems so clear and so certain an Epocha as the Building of Rome to deduce their accounts from their Chronology be yet uncertain for several of their best Historians make no scruple to confess That no certain account can be given of Rome which was 25 Years after the Olympiads and but 752 Ante Christum till the Regisugium which was 268 Years Ante Christum 384. A fair account then we are like to expect concerning the first rise of our own Nation after so many revolutions of Ages wherein Truth seems as it were more and more to have withdrawn her self from us which to trace out we must again return to the Romans who are the best able to satisfy us in this case This is most certain that the account of Times before the Romans either in Italy Germany Old Gallia or Brittain is scarce sit to be discoursed of under any other Head than that of Impostures not that I think that these Nations had lain in a perpetual sleep till the Romans rous'd them with their Swords and waken'd them as I may say into some kind of Civility but that they had no certain uniform way of conveying the Transactions of their own and former times to the view of Posterity On which account we may very justly reject all those pretended Successions of Gomer and Brute as Fabulous as also that this Island was Inhabited by Giants with a great many other I know not what pretty Stories adapted to the Ignorance of those times However all Historians agree in this That it is highly probable that the first Inhabitants of this Island were Originally descended from the ancient Gauls that part of the World being long Inhabited before this which is sufficiently apparent from the resemblance of their Government Manners Conditions Buildings Habits and the Community of their Language which is the surest proof a Nations Original As for its Name the most probable Conjecture is That it was termed Brittain from Brit which in the ancient Brittish Language signifies Painted and the word Tain which denotes a Nation agreeable to the Custom of the ancient Brittains who used to discolour and paint their Bodies that in their Wars they might seem more Terrible to their Enemies We are inform'd by Julius Caesar in his Commentaries That it was Governed at first by several petty Rulers and Princes of different Interests and Counsels He Landed in Brittain A. M. 3095. or thereabouts but was repuls'd by Câ—ssibelan a Bold and Warlike Prince who was Chosen King or rather Generalissimo by the Unanimous Consent of the other Roytelets to repel the common Enemy He afterwards made several Inroads into it but without any great Success he in the end being forc'd to leave it to the Government of its own Kings Augustus Tiberius and Caligula seemed with good Advice to have neglected it but in the Reign of the Emperor Claudius Plautius the Praetor and after him Ostorius subdued a great part of it Nero being Emperor Suetonius his Lieutenant gained a memorable Victory over Bonduce the Wife of Prasutagus King of the Iceni After which time the Romans still gaining ground the Island was at last totally Conquered in the Reign of the Emperor Domitian and by his Command first made a Province under Agricola who much about that time subdu'd Scotland and Ireland The Romans after they had kept it in Subjection several Hundred Years were upon the Northern Nations sacking Rome under the Command of Alaricus King of the Goths and Vandals recalled by the Emperor Honorius at which time Brittain being left in a manner naked and destitute of help the Picts and Scots presently invade it The Brittains after they had repelled them for several Years being at length much weakned they Counsel their King Vortigern to call the Saxons to their Assistance by whose Aid under the Commands of their Captains Hengist and Horsa they overcame their Enemies in a pitch'd Battel near Stamford in Lincolnshire They rewarded the Saxons for this Victory first with the Isle of Thanet and afterwards with the whole County of Kent who growing daily more Powerful dispossessed at length their Benefactors of their Native Habitations so that in the Reign of Cadwallader the last of the Brittish Kings they were compleat Masters of the whole Island parcelling it out into seven Kingdoms generally called the Saxons Heptarchy The Saxon Kings striving amongst themselves for Sovereignty were at last after they had Ruled separately 129 Years reduced under subjection by Egbert King of the West-Saxons A. C. 818. who caused this Land to be called England by a Parliament held at Winchester From Egbert England continued under the Government of its own Kings till the Year 1017 which was 199 Years about which time Edmund surnamed Ironside being Murther'd the Danes having for a long time infessed our Coasts hoping to succeed as the Saxons before them had done Canutus King of Denmark seiz'd into his hands the Regal Government The Danish Kings having Rul'd England 29 Years Edward the Confessor the Brother of Edmund Ironside succeeded in the Kingdom A. C. 1046. who out of the Saxon Mercian and Danish Laws Compil'd one Universal Body of the Law from whence our Common Law is thought to have its Original He Reigned 20 Years and died A. C. 1066. to whom succeeded Harold who having Reigned near a Year was slain in a pitch'd Battel near Hastings in Sussex A. C. 1067. by William the Conqueror from whom begins the most exact Computation of the Kings of England Thus much I thought necessary to give the Reader some insight into the first Ages of our Nation which I have endeavoured to perform in as concise a manner as the Subject could possibly admit of I shall now proceed in the Description of England as it stands divided by King Alfred into Shires or Counties which I have placed in that order as they are afterwards Treated of beginning with the Learned Cambden First in the furthest Western Parts and so from thence pass over the other Countries in order imitating herein as he judiciously Observes Strabo Ptolomy and others the most ancient Geographers who always begin their Descriptions in the Western Countries as being first from the first Meridian The Shires of England are generally computed to be 39 to which if we add 13 more in Wales reckoning the Isle of Anglesey to be one the whole makes 52. 6 of which were first Ordained in the Reign of Edward the First A. C. 1280. the rest were constituted in the Reign of Henry the VIIIth by a Parliamentary Authority An. Dom. 1510. The Names of the Shires in England Cornwall Devonshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire Barkshire Surrey Sussex Kent Glocestershire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex Essex Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire Huntingtonshire Northamptonshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire Darbyshire Warwickshire Worcestershire Staffordshire Shropshire Cheshire Herefordshire Radnorshire Brecknockshire Monmouthshire Glamorganshire Caermarthenshire
Swore in a set form of Oath made for that purpose immediately to depart from England 4. Trubridge a fair Market-Town of great repute for the great number of Clothiers which Inhabit it it sheweth the remains of a Castle belonging to the Dutchy of Lancashire 5. Werminster a Town very remarkable for a great Corn Market which is kept Weekly here and exceedingly much frequented it being almost incredible to relate what great numbers of people resort to it 6. Wilton formerly the head Town of the whole Shire 't is a place well watered but is now fallen to decay through the Bishop of Salisbury's turning away the passage that lay through it into the West Country 7. Salisbury Sorbiodunum or Sarum a City well Inhabited seated on the River Avon which watereth every Street of it 't is plentiful in all things but especially in Fish 't is adorned with a very stately Market-place wherein standeth their Common-Hall made of Timber a very Beautiful Building It is particularly famous for its Minster which has Three hundred sixty five Windows Twelve Gates and as many great and small Pillars as there are Hours in a Year nor is its Cloyster for largeness or Workmanship inferior to any in England 8. Marlborough a fair large Town pleasantly situated and well frequented in this Town King Henry the IIId held a Parliament N. B. Toward the North about 6 Miles from Salisbury is to be seen an huge and monstrous piece of work Insana Substructio for in the circuit of a Ditch there are erected in form of a Crown in three ranks one within another certain large mighty unwrought Stones whereof some are Twenty eight foot high and Seven broad which are so artificially or rather wonderfully plac'd one upon another that the whole frame seemeth to hang 't is much wonder'd at both from whence they were brought the Country affording none such as also by what means they were set up Some have thought them to be no Natural Stones but Artificially made of pure Sand and of some unctious matter incorporated together Pliny tells us that the Sand of Putcoli covered over with Water becometh forthwith a very Stone which if true our Conjecture is the more probable it seeming to confirm what Historians tell us That they were erected by the Britans in Memory of Ambrosius Aurelianus who was Slain here by the Saxons as he was Fighting manfully for the Defence of his Country Hampshire IN Latin Hamptonia is bounded on the West with Dorsetshire and Wiltshire on the South with the Brittish Channel on the East it hath Sussex and Surrey and on the North Barkshire 'T is a small Province fruitful in Corn furnished with well grown Woods abounding with Pasture and for Sea Commodities rich and happy The Principal Towns are these 1. Ringwood a Town in ancient times of great Fame but now little better than other good frequented Market-Towns 2. Christ-Church a Town so named from a Church therein Dedicated to Christ 't is seated between two Rivers it was Fortified in old time with a Castle and Beautified with an ancient Church and Twelve Prebendaries endowed with considerable Rents and Revenues which continued in great repute till the time of King Henry the VIIIth 3. Southampton a Town so named from its situation 't is situated in a very commodious place between two Rivers for a great number of fair Built Houses much renown'd for Inhabitants and concourse of Merchants Wealthy fenced round with a double Ditch strong Walls and Turrets standing thick between for the defence of the Haven it hath a strong Castle of square Stone cast up upon a Mount of great heighth several of the Roman Emperors Coins are now and then digged up here which sufficiently shew the Antiiquity of this place Memorable it is for that Canutus the Puissant King of England and of Denmark rebuked a Sycophant in this Town who flattered him That all things in the Realm were at his Command He ordered his Chair to be set upon the Shore when the Sea began to flow and then in the presence of many he said unto the Sea as it flowed Thou are part of my Dominions and the ground on which I sit is mine neither was there ever any that durst Disobey my Commands and escape Unpunished wherefore I charge thee that thou come not upon my Land neither wet the Cloaths and Body of thy Lord but the Sea flowing on still without any Reverence of his Person wet his Feet then he retiring back said Let all the Inhabitants of the World know That vain and frivolous is the Power of Kings and that none is worthy of so sacred a Name but He to whose Command the Heaven Earth and Sea by bond of an everlasting Law are Subject and Obedient after which he never put his Crown upon his head 4. Alrefford a fair Town standing on the bank of the River Alre it hath a very spacious Market-place built by Lucy Bishop of Winchester An. Dom. 1220. 5. Winchester Wintonia formerly the Seat-Royal of the Kings of the West-Saxons a City adorn'd with several Magnificent Churches as also with a Bishop's See it hath been oftentimes defaced both by Fire and other Misfortunes but it seems now perfectly to have recovered its self Edward the IIId appointed in this place a Mart for Wool and Cloth which was generally called the Staple it is well Peopled hath plenty of Water and containeth about a Mile and an half in Circuit within the Walls as concerning the round Table in the Hall of this City vainly fancied by some to have been King Arthur's any man that vieweth it well may easily perceive that it is not so ancient This City slourished in the time of the Romans in which the Emperors of Rome seem to have had their Houses of Weaving and Embroidering peculiar to their own Persons and Uses 6. Portsmouth a Port Town strongly Fortified both with a Wall and Block-Houses a Garison being continually kept in Pay for the defence of it 't is situated on the very mouth of the Haven and is always but especially in time of War well frequented as being more favourable and better affected to Mars and Neptune than to Mercury 7. Basingstoak a Market-Town well frequented situated on the descent of an Hill on the North side of which standeth a very fair Chappel Consecrated to the Holy Ghost by William the first Lord Sands who was Buried there Isle of Wight VEcta Insula it belongeth to and is opposite to Southampton from East to West it stretcheth out near 20 Miles in length and spreadeth in the midst where it is broadest 12 Miles the place of greatest repute is 1. Newport the chief Market-Town of the whole Isle it hath several Castles and Block-houses for its defence Barkshire Attrebates IN Latin Barcheria on the North part 't is sever'd from Oxfordshire and afterwards from Buckinghamshire by the River Isis on the South it beareth towards Hampshire where the River Kenet cutteth through it till it runs
esteemed one of the Keys of England and the Chief of the Cinque-Ports Having now described all those Countries that lie between the Brittish Ocean on the one side and the Severn Sea and River Thames on the other passing now over the River let us return to the Head of Thames and the Salt Waters of Severn and there visit the Dobuni who formerly Inhabited those Parts which we now term Glocestershire and Oxfordshire Glocestershire Dobuni IN Latin Glocestria on the West it bordereth on Monmouthshire and Herefordshire on the North on Worcestershire on the East upon Warwickshire Oxfordshire and Barkshire and on the South upon Wiltshire and Somersetshire The Country throughout yieldeth plenty of Corn and abundance of Fruit the one through the natural Goodness of the ground the other through the diligent Tillage and Labour of its Inhabitants The Principal Towns are these 1. Tewksbury a large fair Town having three Bridges to pass over it standeth between the Rivers Severn and Avon and another Brook which cometh from the East it is famous for making of fine Woollen Cloth and the best Mustard but more famous in times past by reason of an ancient Monastery Founded by Dodo a Man of great Power in Mercia An. Christ 715. Memorable it is for the fatal Battel Fought between the House of York and Lancaster An. Christ 1471. wherein Prince Edward King Henry the VIth's Eldest Son being taken Prisoner he was brought before King Edward the IVth who was so provoked by his resolute Answers that he dash'd him on the Mouth with his Gauntlet and then Richard the Crouchback with his Dagger stabb'd him to the Heart 2. Glocester a fair beautiful City both for number of Churches and for Buildings 't is situated upon the Severn near the Isle Aldney where was Fought the Combat between Edmond Ironside King of the English-Saxons and Canutus the Dane in the South part there was a lofty Castle of square Ashler-stone which is now wholly Ruined this City gives the Title to the Third Son of Great Brittain The chiefest Trade of the Citizens is in working on Iron the City was Built by the Romans and set as it were on the neck of the Silures to keep them in Subjection there was also a Colony planted to People it which they call'd Colonia Glevum It hath a very stately Cathedral Dedicated to St. Peter in which lie Interr'd King Edward the Second and Robert Courthose the Eldest Son of King William the Conqueror Two Unfortunate Princes Near this place An. 1643. was Fought a Battel between the Forces of King Charles the I st and his Rebellious Parliament in which the famous Lord Falkland was unfortunately slain 3. Barkley a small Market-Town of great repute for a strong Castle but more famous for that King Edward the Second who was Deposed from his Kingdom by the ill Practises of his Wife was made away in this Castle by the subtilty of the Bishop of Hereford who wrote unto his Keepers these words without Points Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est 4. Camden a Market-Town well Peopled and of good resort in this place the Saxon Kings Assembled in the Year 689 and Consulted in common about making War upon the Brittains 5. Winchelcomb a great Town well Inhabited famous in old time for an Abbey Erected there by Kenulph King of Mercia Oxfordshire IN Latin Oxonium on the West it hath Glocestershire on the South it is divided from Barkshire by the River Isis and Thames on the East it bordereth upon Buckinghamshire and Northward where it pointeth out in manner of a Cone or Pine-Apple it hath Northamptonshire on one side and Warwickshire on the other The Air of this Country is Mild and Temperate the Land is Fertile and Delightful the Hills abound with Woods and the Valleys are fill'd with Corn and Pasture The Principal Towns are these 1. Evenlode a small Town famous for King Henry the Second's Building a Labyrinth in it for the Beautiful Rosamund the Lord Clifford's Daughter 2. Banbury a fair large Town not far from which Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick taking part with the House of Lancaster gave the House of York a very great overthrow 't is a place of great Antiquity some Roman Coins being oftentimes found near it 3. Oxford a fair and beautiful City both in respect of the Private Buildings as well as in the stately Magnificence of the Publick the situation is extreamly pleasant for the Hills being beset with Woods do so environ the Plain that as on the one side they exclude the South and West Wind so on the other they let in the East and North-East Wind which frees the City from all Corruption 't is particularly famous for its University which is the most Celebrated in all Europe it having 16 Colledges and 8 Halls all adorn'd with most stately Buildings and enrich'd with great Endowments noble Libraries and most Learned Graduates of all Professions Buckinghamshire Cattieuchlani IN Latin Buckinghamia on the South it looketh on Barkshire on the West Oxfordshire on the North it hath Northamptonshire and from the East first Bedfordshire then Hertfordshire and afterwards Middlesex The Air of this County is Temperate and Pleasant the Soil is Rich Fat and Fruitful the Valleys maintain an insinite Number of Sheep whose soft and fine Fleeces are in great esteem throughout all Asia The Principal Towns are these 1. Marlow a pretty Town of good credit and repute it took its name from a certain Chalk commonly called Marle which being spread upon Corn-ground eaten out with long Tillage doth so quicken the same again that after one Years rest it never lieth fallow but beareth Corn in great plenty 2. Wickam a large Town equal both in Beauty and Buildings to the best in the Shire 3. Ailesbury a fair Market-Town seated on a rising Hill and compass'd about with many pleasant Meadows it hath a great reputation for Grazing and Feeding of Cattel 4. Buckingham the Principal Town of this Shire situated on a low Ground and encompass'd by the River Ouse 't was never of any great repute yet before the Conquest it was Fortified with a Castle and Rampiers against the Invasion of the Danes 5. Stony-Stratford a Town of ancient Note being supposed to be the Romans Lactorodum it is built of rough Stone upon the ancient Causey-way which is called Watling-street where remains Marks thereof even unto this day At this place Edward the Elder stopp'd the passage of the Danes whilst he strenthened Torcester against them in this place Edward the First rear'd a beautiful Cross in Memory of Eleanor his Deceased Queen as he did in every place where her Corps rested from Herdby in Lincolnshire till it was received and Buried at Westminster Bedfordshire IN Latin Bedfordia on the East and South side it joineth to Cambridge and Hertfordshire on the West to Buckinghamshire on the North to Northampton and Huntingtonshire 't is divided into two parts by the River Ouse the Soil is
Huntington the principal Town of all this Country 't is seated on the River Ouse somewhat high stretching its self out in length Northward it is adorn'd with Four Churches and by the River near unto the Bridge the Mount and Plot of an ancient Castle is yet to be seen 3. Godmanchester a very great ancient Country Town situate in an open ground of a light Mould and bending to the Sun 't is reported in former times that the Inhabitants received King James the First in his Progress this way with a Hundred and eighty Plows brought forth in a Rustical kind of Triumph 4. St. Ives a fair Town so named from Ivo a Persian Bishop who about the Year 600 Travelled through England Preach'd diligently the Word of God especially to this Town wherein he Died. 5. Kimbolton a fair beautiful Castle formerly the seat of the Mandevils but now in Possession of the Staffords Northamptonshire Coritani IN Latin Northamptonia 't is situated in the very midst of England on the East 't is bounded by Bedford and Huntingtonshire on the South by Buckingham and Oxfordshire on the West it hath Warwickshire and on the North Rutland and Lincolnshire The Air is temperate and healthful the Soil rich and fruitful and so plenteously Peopled that from some ascents you may see 30 Churches at the same time The Prinicipal Towns are these 1. Northampton a fair beautiful Town Built for the most part of Stone 't is Wall'd about except on the West where it is defended with a River from the Walls you have a goodly prospect every way to a wide and spacious plain Country it was Fortified heretofore with a very strong Castle and seated in so excellent an Air that once the Students of Cambridge purposed to remove the University to this place famous it is for a Battel fought between the House of York and Lancaster in which the House of York prevailing King Henry the VIth was taken Prisoner and conveyed to London 2. Peterborough a City seated in the very Angle of this Shire famous in old time for a Monastery which is since converted into a Cathedral the Building of which is truly Magnificent the Forefront carrieth a majesty with it and the Cloysters are exceeding large in the Glass Windows is represented the History of Wolpher the Founder who being most averse from Christianity Murther'd Wolphald and Rufin his own Sons because they had Devoted themselves to Christ In the Cathedral lieth Buried Catherine the Repudiated Queen of King Henry the VIIIth Mary Queen of Scots was also at first Buried here but was afterwards removed to Westminster by the Command of King James the Ist 3. Rockingham Castle it was Built by William the Conqueror Fortified with a Rampier and Bulwarks and a double range of Battlements 't is situate on the side of an Hill within a Forest Leicestershire IN Latin Leicestria is bounded on the East by Lincolnshire and Rutlandshire on the North by Nottinghamshire and Darbyshire it hath Warwickshire on the West and on the South Northamptonshire The Air is gentle mild and temperate giving Appetite both to Rest and Labour the Commodities of the Soil are Corn Cattel and Coals of which the Inhabitants have great plenty The Principal Towns are these 1. Bosworth an ancient Market-Town memorable for the Victory which Henry Earl of Richmond who was afterwards Henry the VIIth obtained over the Usurper Richard the IIId the Tyrant and most of his Commanders being there slain 2. Leicester a fair Town beautiful in its Buildings and of great Antiquity 't was fenc'd with a very strong Wall which was raz'd in the Reign of Henry the IId it has in it a stately Church and Hospital Built by Henry the First Duke of Lancaster 3. Loughborough a fair beautiful Town which for its Buildings and pleasant Woods challengeth the second place in all this Shire 4. Dunnington a fair ancient Castle Built by the Earls of Leicester it belongs now to the King Rutlandshire IN Latin Rutlandia 't is environ'd with Leicestershire unless it be on the South where it lieth on the River Welland and on the East where it toucheth on Lincolnshire the Air is both healthful and delightful subject neither to extremity of Heat or Cold the Soil is so rich that for Corn and Tillage this small County giveth place to none The Principal Town is Okcham a Town remarkable only for the Ruins of an old decayed Castle Built in the Normans time formerly the Seat of the Ferrers but afterwards it was given by Henry the VIIIth to Thomas Cromwell whom he advanced to the highest Dignities Lincolnshire IN Latin Lincolnia is bounded on the West by Rutlandshire and Nottinghamshire on the North it reacheth to Humber an arm of the Sea on the East it hath the German Ocean and on the South it is divided from Northamptonshire by the River Wellâ—nd The Air upon the East and South part is thick and foggy by reason of the Fenns but in other places very moderate and pleasing the Soil upon the West and North is very Fertile but towards the East and South Fenny Brakish and Barren yet for Fowl and Fish it exceeds any other in the Realm The Principal Towns are these 1. Crowland a Town of good Note it stands amidst most deep Fenns and muddy Waters it is so shut up and divided round about from all entrance that there is no access unto it unless it be on the North-East side and that by narrow Cawseys 't is seated altogether like Venice it hath three Streets divided from each other by Water-courses between planted thick with Willows and raised upon Posts pitch'd and driven down into the standing Waters having over them a Triangular Bridge of admirable Workmanship about the Town the ground is so rotten and moorish that a Man may thrust a Pole directly down Thirty Foot deep however the Town is well Inhabited the Inhabitants making great advantages by taking Fish and catching of Water-Fowl which is so great in the Month of August that they will spread a Net and at once draw Three thousand Wild Ducks together 2. Spalding a Town situate upon the same River being enclosed round with Riverets and Drains yet is infinitely a fairer Town than a Man could possibly expect to find among such Slabs and Water-plashes 3. Boston a famous Town standing on both sides the River Witham 't is well frequented upon the account of its commodious Haven the Market-place is fair and large the Church great and beautiful the Steeple of it rising up to a mighty heighth doth as it were salute all Travellers and give direction to the Sailors a Staple of Wool is settled here which enriches it very much 4. Stanford a Town well Peopled of good resort Endowed with several immunities it was formerly Wall'd about but is at this day beautified with Seven Churches and a very fair Hospital 5. Grantham a Town well frequented adorn'd with a very fair Church and a Free School Built by Richard Fox Bishop