whole Ilands division by most certaine Record was anciently made when Iulius Agricola drew a Trench or Fortification upon that narrow space of ground betwixt Edenborough Frith and Dunbretton Bay making the Southerne part a Province unto the Romane Empire Afterwards Hadrian the Emperor seeing perhaps the Province too spacious to be well governed without great expense drew backe these limits almost fourescore miles shorter even to the mouth of the River Tyne whence he fortified with a wall of admirable worke unto Carleile which stood the Lands border while it stood as a Romane Province yet the conquering Saxons did spread againe over those bounds and as seemeth enlarged their government to that first Tract as by this Inscription in a Stone Crosse standing upon a Bridge over the water of Fâ—ith appeareth I am a free March as Passenger may ken To Scots to Britaines and to Englishmen 10 But afterward William the Conquerour and Malcolme King of Scotland falling to an agreement for their limits arreared a Crosse upon Stanemore where on the one side the portraiture and Armes of the King of England was sculptured and of the King of Scots on the other a piece whereof is yet remaining there neere to the Spittle thence called the Rey-Crosse there erected to be a Meare-stone to either Kingdome His Successors also abolished the two partitions in the West whereby the Welsh became one Nation and Kingdome with the English It is also said that King Stephen to purchase friendship with the Scottish Nation gave unto their King the Countie of Cumberland who with it held both Westmorland and Northumberland but as Nubrigensis writeth he restored them to King Henry the second wisely considering his great power and right to those parts 11 The last knowne borders were from the Sulway in the West-bay along the Cheviot hils unto the water of Tweede by Barwicke in the East to maintaine which on each part many lawes have been made and many inrodes robberies and fewdes practised all which by the hand of GOD is now cut off and by the rightfull succession of King IAMES our Soveraigne who hath broken downe the partition of this great Island and made the extremes of two Kingdomes the very midst of his great united Empire KENT the first Province appearing in the South of this Kingdome is bounded upon the North with the famous River Thamisis on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Sussex and the narrow Seas and upon the West with Sussex and Surrey The length thereof extended from Langley into the West unto Ramsgate East-ward in the Isle of Thanet is about 53. English miles From Rother in the South unto the Isle of Graine North-ward the bredth is not much above 26. and the whole circumference about 160. 2 In forme it somewhat resembleth the head of a hammer or Battle-axe and lyeth corner-wise into the Sea by Strabo Caesar Diodorus and Ptolomie called Cantium of Cant or Canton an Angle or Corner either of Caino a British word which signifieth Bushes or Woods whereof that Country in those former times was plentifully stored 3 The Ayre though not very cleare because of the vapours arising from the Sea and Rivers that environ the same is both wholesome and temperate as seated nearest to the Equinoctiall and the furthest from the North-Pole not touched with cold as the other parts of the Land are 4 The Soyle towards the East is uneven rising into little hils the West more levell and woody in all places fruitfull and in plenty equals any other of the Realme yea and in some things hath the best esteeme as in Broad-cloathes Fruits and feedings for Cattle Only Mines excepting Iron are wanting all things else delivered with a prodigall heart and liberall hand 5 Sundry navigable Rivers are in Kent whereof Medway that divideth the Shire in the midst is chiefe in whose bosome securely rideth his Majesties Navy Royall the wals of the land and terrours of the Seas besides ten others of name and account that open with twenty Creekes and Havens for Ships arrivage into this Land foure of them bearing the name of Cinque Ports are places of great strength and priviledges which are Dover Sandwich Rumney and Winchelsey among which Dover with the Castle is accounted by Matthew Paris the Monke the Lock and Key to the whole Realme of England and by Iohn Rosse and Lidgate is said to be built by Iulius Caesar fatall only for the death of King Stephen and surrender of King Iohn therein hapning 6 A conceit is that Goodwin-Sands were sunk for the sins of himself and his sons Shelves indeed that dangerously lye on the North-east of this County and are much feared of all Navigators These formerly had been firme ground but by a sudden inundation of the Sea were swallowed up as at the same time a great part of Flanders and the Low Countries were and the like also at the same time befell in Scotland as Hector Boetius their Historiographer writeth A like accident hapned in the yeare 1586. the fourth day of August in this County at Mottingham a Towne eight miles from London suddenly the ground began to sinke and three great Elmes thereon growing were carried so deepe into the bowels of the earth that no part of them could any more be seen the hole left in compasse fourscore yards about and a line of fifty fadomes plummed into it doth find no bottome 7 The Kentish people in Caesars time were accounted the civillest among the Britains and as yet esteeme themselves the freest Subjects of the English not conquered but compounded with by the Normans and herein glory that the King and Commons of all the Saxons were the first Christians converted in Anno 596. yea and long before that time also Kent received the Faith for it is recorded that Lucius the first Christian British King in this Island built a Church to the name and service of Christ within the Castle of Dover endowing it with the Toll of the same Haven 8 This County is enriched with two Cities Bishops See strengthned with 27. Castles graced with eight of his Majesties most Princely Houses traded with 24. Market-towns and beautified with many stately and gorgeous buildings The chiefest City therof the Metropolitan and Archbishops See is Canterbury built as our British Historians report 900. yeares before the birth of Christ by Henry of Huntington called Caier-Kent wherein as M. Lambard saith was erected the first Schoole of professed Arts and Sciences and the same a Pattern unto Sigibert King of the East Angles for his foundation at Cambridge notwithstanding by the computation of time this Sigibert was slain by Penda King of Mercia 30. years before that Theodore the Grecian was Bishop of Canterbury who is said to be the erector of that Academy But certain it is that Austen the Monk had made this
The Region thus limited was once as fertile pleasant and rich as any part of the whole Continent And by reason of her plenteous Rivers and commodious accesse for Shippes from almost all Coasts she could want no meanes to export her own overplus or import forraine merchandize from all parts of the knowne world If at this day it appeares not in that luster no marvaile Impius haec tam culta novalia miles habebat Barbarus has segetes 8 And besides the base misusage of the mis-beleeving Turke the very Natives themselves are fallen from the noble disposition of their predecessors into an incredible sottishnesse and those which before reckoned the rest of the earth Barbarous in comparison to their polite Common-wealth are now themselves sunk below the envie of the meanest Nation and become the most miserable object of pity living upon the earth Indeed they may hardly be said to live for that they take no farther care then barely to live They are lazy beyond beliefe and ignorant almost beyond recovery for they have now no means to bring their children either to learning or manners Not an Academie in all Greece Their carriage generally uncivill their feasts riotous and their mirth debaucht Their Wives are well favoured and so indeed they must be for they use them no longer as their wives then they continue to their liking when they once fade they are put to the house-drudgerie Their language is the same as heretofore but rudely corrupted though as Maginus reports it differs not so much as the Italian from the pure Latine The have no habite almost proper but those which serve the Turke weare their fashion the rest which are under the Venetian observe them in their apparell for they are slaves to both in their whole course 9 Yet they retaine still a shew of the Christian Religion which was here first settled by Timothie to whom Saint Paul wrote two Epistles and was after in the Primitive times professed by divers learned and reverend Divines of their own Nation which are with us received as Authentike Fathers of the Church Saint Chrysostome Basile the Gregories Nisene and Nazianzâ—n were all Grecians The government Ecclesiasticall is in power of foure Patriarkes 1 Of Constantinople and his extends over all Greece Moscovie Sclavonia Dacia part of Poland and all the Ilands of the Adriatike and Aegevn Seas 2 Of Alexandria and his over Aegypt and Arabia 3 Of Ierusalem and his over the Greekes in Palestine 4 Of Antioch and his over Syria Armenia and Cilicia 10 The people of this Countrey were heretofore distinguished by their principall dialects And those were the Attike Ionike Dorike and Aâ—olike A fift there was which was called a mixt or common dialect Each differed from other no more then we doe from our selves in severall parts of our Kingdome But this division will hardly reach the limits which bounds Greece according to our description we will adhere rather to that of our moderne Geographers which reckon to Greece sixe Provinces 1 Thrace 2 Macedonia 3 Albania 4 Epirus 5 Achaia 6 Peloponnesus And 7 the Ilands Eλλαs GREECE Reuised by Iohn Speed and are to be sold by Geo Humble 1626 Revised by Iohn Speed and are to be sold by Geo Humble 1626 12 Part of this Nation was heretofore perswaded that their ancestors did not at all die neither should they but passe onely out of this world into another to their supposed god Zalmoxis once a Scholler of Pythagoras who when he had perswaded them unto 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 entertaine 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 freedome from the troubles of this earthly condition and the wife onely 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 beare 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 borne neighbours were called to bemone his entrance into a multitude of calamities and in course they reckoned up what he was to passe before he could go to their god Zalmoxis for they acknowledged no other but blasphemed and shot arrowes 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 knowne to be most milde not young nor yet a father of any children for they will not by any meanes admit that their government should become hereditary If the Prince himselfe 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 raigned Polymnestor which murdered Pryam's younger sonne Polydorus And Tereus and Diomedes c. 14 This Province is now called Romenia and takes that name from her chiefe City Constantinopolis or Roma nova heretofore Bizantium of great fame from her first building and that sixe hundred threescore and three yeares before the Incarnation her founder Pausanias a Lacedemonian She stands so commodiously and commands the Euxine Sea the Propontis 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 Easterne seat and in the yeare three hundred fifteene enlarged it with magnificent buildings and deckt her in the apparrell of old Rome from whence he translated hither many ancient and costly monuments and faine would have removed her name but that his subjects out of their endeared affection to their Prince would heare no other then Constantinopolis the Citie of Constantine It is in compasse eighteene miles containes commonly seventie thousand Inhabitants though almost every third yeare she be visited with a great Pestilence The other eminent Cities of Thrace are Abdera Nicopolis Philopolis Hadrianopolis Traianopolis Phinopolis Pemithus c. The Chersonesus over against Troas in Asia is called Saint George his Arme and in it stands Sestos where the love passed betwixt Leander and Hero 15 Macedonia is on the West of Thrace East of Albania North of Epirus and Achaia and South of Misia superior It had this name from Macedo grand-child to Deucalion as Solinus gives him The land is fertile and pleasant rich with mines of gold and silver and the qualities of the Inhabitants were heretofore answerable Their disposition noble and free their lawes good and those their owne 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
I.S. and published at the charges of G. Humble Ano 1626 11 Numidia was the second part in our Division of Africa and hath on the West the Atlantike on the East Aegypt on the North Atlas and the deserts of Lybia on the South It is called likewise regio dactylifera from the abundance of Dates for they feed upon them onely a people Idolaters Idiots Theeves Murderers except some few Arabians that are mingled among them of ingenious disposition and addicted much to Poetry They seldome stay longer in one place then the eating down of the grafle and this wandring course makes but few Cities and those in some places three hundred miles distant 12 Lybia the third is limited on the East with Nilus Westward with the Atlantike on the North with Numidia and the South with terra Nigritarum It was called Sacra as much as Desert For so it is and a dry one too such as can afford no water to a travellor sometimes in seven dayes journey The Inhabitants are much like to the Numidians live without any Law almost of Nature Yet in this place were two of the Sibyls which prophecied of Christ and Arrius the Hereticke About Lybia were the Garamantes and the Pâ—illi mentioned before for their simple attempts against the South winde 13 Terra Nigritarum the Land of Negroes is the fourth and hath on the West the Atlantike on the East Aethiopia superior on the North Lybia on the South the Kingdome of Manilongo in the inferior Aethiopia It hath the name either from the colour of the people which are black or from the River Niger famous as Nilus almost for her overflowing insomuch that they passe at some times in Boats through the whole Countrey It is full of Gold and Silver and other Commodities but the Inhabitants most barbarous They draw their originall from Chus and have entertained all Religions that came in their way First their owne then the Iewes the Mahumetans and some of them the Christian. For the most part they live not as if reason guided their actions Maginus numbers twenty five Provinces of this Countrey which have had their severall Governours Now it knoweth but foure Kings and those are 1 The King of Tombulum and he is an infinite rich Monarch hates a Iew to the death of his subject that converseth with him keepes a guard of three thousand Horsemen besides Foote 2 Of Bornaum where the people have no proper Names no Wives peculiar and therefore no Children which they call their owne 3 Of Goaga who hath no estate but from his Subjects as he spends it 4 Gualatum a poore Countrey God wot not worth either Gentrie or Lawes or indeed the name of a Kingdome 14 Aethiopia Superior the fifth and is called likewise the Kingdome of the Abissines It is limited on the North with Aegypt on the South with the Montes Lunae on the East with the Red Sea and on the West with the Kingdome of the Nigers and Manilongo It is distinct from the Aethiopia so often mentioned in Scripture For by all probability that was in another quarter of the world and reacheth from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulfe It is governed by one of the mightiest Emperours in the world For his power reacheth almost to each Tropicke and is called by us Presbyter Iohn He is the onely white man amongst them and drawes his Line from Solomon and the Queene of the South His Court rests not long in any one place but is moveable as well for housing as retinue For it consists of Tents onely to the number of sixe thousand and incompasseth in about twelve or thirteene miles He hath under him seventy Kings which have their severaâ—l Lawes and Customes Among these the Province of Dobas hath one that no man marry till he hath killed twelve Christians The Inhabitants of the whole Region are generally base and idle the better sort have the modestie to attire themselves though it be but in Lions and Tygers skinnes Their Religion is Mixt. Christians they have but yet differ from us For they Circumcise both sects Their oath is by the life of their King whom they never see but at Christmas Easter and Holy Rood Their Commodities are Oranges Lemmons Cittrons Barley Sugar Hony c. 15 Aethiopiâ— inferior the sixth part of Africa is on every side begirt with Sea except toward the North that way it is severed from the Abissines by the Montes Luna The government of this Region is under five free Kings 1 Of Aiana which containes in it two petty Kingdomes of Adel and Adia and abounds with Flesh Hony Wax Gold Ivorie Corn very large Sheepe 2 Zanguebar in this stands Mesambique called by Ptolemie Prassum Promonâ—orium and was the utmost part Southward of the old world The Inhabitants are practised much in Soâ—th-saying indeed Witch-craft 3 Of Monomolopa in which is reported to be three thousand Mines of Gold Here there lives a kind of Amazons as valiant as men Their King is served in great pompe and hath a guard of two hundred Mastives 4 Cafraia whose people live in the Woods without Lawes like brutes And here stands the Cape of good Hope about which the Sea is alwaies rough and dangerous It hath beene especially so to the Spaniard It is their owne note in so much that onâ— was very angry with God that he suffâ—red the English Hereticks to passe it so easily over and not give his good Catholâ—kâ—s the like speed 5 Manicongo whose Inhabitants are in some parts Christians but in other by-Provinces Anthropophagi and have shambles of mans flesh as we have for meat They kill their own children in the birth to avoyd the trouble of breeding them and preserve their Nation with stolen brats from their neighbouring Countries 16 Aegypt is the seventh and last part of the African Continent which deserves a larger Tract then we can here afford it But for the present be content with a briefe Survey and satisfie your selfe more particularly in the many severall Authours that write her story It hath on the East the Red Sea Barbarie on the West on the North the Mediterraneum and Aethiopia Superior on the South It was first possest by Cham and therefore called Chemia in their owne antique Stories Or at least by Mitzraim his Grand-childe and is so agreed upon by most For plenty it was called Orbis horreum yet it had very seldome any raine but that defect was supplied by the River Nilus The places of note are Caire and Alexandria The first was heretofore Memphis Some say Babylon whither the Virgin fled to escape Herods tyranny intended to our Saviour and blush not to shew the very Cave where she had hid her Babe In a desert about foure miles distant stand the Pyramides esteemed rightly one of the seven wonders of the world Alexandria was a magnificent Citie and the place where Ptolemie tooke his Observations and was famous for the rarest Library in the World To the Inhabitants
their loynes had not Fortune lulled them in her owne lappe and delivered them by meere chance into the hands of one Faustulus the Kings Shepheard when they were thus found the best Writers afford them no better Nurse then the Shepheards wife a knowne Strumpet who for her insatiate lust was called Lupa and might perhaps occasion the fable of the She wolfe She suckled them with no choycer milke then she did her own home-spoone brats nor were they bred under Faustulus to any better fortune then 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 Aemilius Sylvius restored the Latine Kingdome to the rightfull Numitor and erected a new Empire for their owne posteritie 2 These were the progenie of Aeneas who arrived here from the Troiane warre and made love to Lavinia daughter to Latinus King of the Laurentini The great combate betwixt him and Turnus the Rutilian grew upon no other terms then for her faire lookes which he could not nor did he peaceably enjoy till he had vanquished his corrivall and then he soone fastned himselfe in the right to that Kingdome and not long after possest it about the yeare of the world two thousand seven hundred eighty seven It would not be much to our purpose to lead you downe steppe by steppe through the succession till we come to Romulus All before him were before this Empire had being and therefore out-reach the limme of my story yet this in briefe we may recount here that he was the 17. from Aeneas and founded Rome in the yeare 3198. 3 The plot-forme was first cast in a figure of a quadrangle upon the mons Palatinus for the other sixe noted hils were not then taken in but added in after ages by their severall Kings It was begunne it seemes but slight and the wals raised not very high when Rhemus could skip them over in contempt of his brothers poore enterprise but the mock cost him his life he was slaine by Romulus and he now left the sole founder to give name to this new building 4 Romulus then is their first King and takes upon him the government of such discontented and masterlesse young Shepheards as he had raked together to people his Common-wealth a crue so scorned of their neighbours that their daughters denied to joyne in marriage with such a refuse of men so that by this means this up-start Nation was like to sink in the birth for meere want of issue to continue their succession And without doubt themselves had seene their last man borne had not their own wit bested them more then the womens love For when they saw their worth was not sufficient to wooe fairly with effect they proclaimed a day for solemne sports which they presumed and rightly too would call in their borderers of both sex and for that purpose had made provision of strength to force the women to their lust whom they could not intice to their lawfull embraces The plot held and the Sabines beare the name to have suffred most in that brutish treacherie yet others it seemes had their part too in the injurie and joyntly beset them round with strong enemies which the Romanes notwithstanding shook off with that ease and undaunted courage that the rest were glad at last to yeeld them truce for their own quiet and assist them too in their insuing Conquests 5 The Citie at this time was not above two miles in circuit the Inhabitants not much above the proportion of that little ground till Romulus had built an Asylum a Refuge for debucht people where the servant might secure himselfe from his master the murderer from his magistrate the debtor from his arrest and each fault from its punishment and then he soone called in incredible swarmes such as they were of Latines Tuscaines Troians Arcadians and made up a Miscellany of people each brought in the proper sinnes of his owne Countrey have there left them as a testimony of their ancestors to this day 6 This policy might seeme good at first to make up his number For who else but such would leave a settled state though meane in a well ordered Kingdome to apply himselfe to novelties of so uncertaine event But in a few yeares their King found that there was more need of a Pistrinum to correct then an Asylum to shelter his offenders and therefore was forced to make settled lawes for his Common-wealth and cull out a certaine number of the best ordered to assist him with their counsell and see execution duly performed upon the rest These he called Patres or Senatores and were at first not above one hundred chosen out of the elder wealthier and gravest Citizens who were either called Patricii for that they had most of them many children or Patroni as being the Patrons of the Plebeii or poorer sort which were therefore oft-times called Clientes as having no businesse of action in the Common-wealth scarce so much as to require their owne right unlesse under the protection of some one or other of the Patricii yet afterward both the number of Senators was increased to 200. and at last 300. and the Plebeii too in time had the priviledge to be elected into their society 7 No sooner Romulus had thus set the forme but while he was yet in speech to the people at a set assembly a tempest rose the skies darkened and a trick was found to juggle him cleane out of their sight as if at this instant he had beene wrapt into the heavens He past not it seemes to lose his life so that he might gaine the opinion of a god For so the Romanes beleeved and it was confirmed by one Proculus who pretended to have seene him after his change and received a charge from his deitie that he should be thence-forward honoured in Rome as her tutelare In briefe the more likely surmise of his manner of death is that in the storme he was cut in pieces by some of his Senators who had either suffered under his tyranny or at least had hope to raise themselves by his fall 8 Their second King was Numa Pompilius religious in his kind beyond all others and ordained in Rome a set forme to worship their gods invested Priests and Sooth-sayers to performe their rites and foretell things to come committed the Vestall fire to virgins to be kept as a perpetuall watch over the Empire in an emulation to the bright starres of heaven which were never extinguisht and in briefe civilized the people so far as they began now and scarce till now to have a sense of morall goodnesse a moderate love to themselves mixt with some equitie towards others 9 Their third Tullus Hostilius stirred them up first with the desire of true honour and inabled them by martiall discipline to provoke the Albanes a Nation then of long standing and great fame
through most parts of Italy yea so equall was their prowesse that open warre might well lessen their severall strengths but not determine the conquest till by the tried fortune of the Horatii Curatii brothers on each partie it stoopt at last to Rome beyond her owne hope for she had at last but one Champion left of her Horatii against the three others who were notwithstanding by a feigned flight of their own adversary drawne severally out into single combate and successively fell by the sword of the Romane victor Alba was now carried captive to Rome and gave up her honours as a Trophie to this new-born Empire 10 Ancus Martius their fourth King enlarged her wals joyned those ports of the Citie which were before severed by the River Tyber with a large bridge Their next Tarquinius Priscus was a Corinthian and knew well how to use his Greek wit with a Romane valour Nor peace nor warre could over-match him He triumpht over the Tuscaines and was the first which entred the Citie in a chariot royall drawne with foure horses and first indeed that ordained the vestments and ensigns of honour which were after in frequent use to stirre up the souldier to deserving actions A NEW MAPPE OF THE ROMANE EMPIRE newly described by Iohn Speede and are to bee sould in pops head alley by G. Humble 1626 12 Tarquinius Superbus was the seventh and last King proud and cruell yet that too though it cost him his crown enlarged the Kingdom to the Romanes for it prevailed upon many strong Provinces of Italy which they after enjoyed with better hearts and ruled with more equitie then he used in the unjust oppression of his neighbours His name was grown odious when the lust of his son Tarquinius wronged the chast Lucretia both together stirred the people to disrobe him of his title and bethink themselves of some other forme of government which might found more of the Romane libertie 13 This varietie had took up hitherto scarce 245. yeares since the Citie was first built a time too short for her greatnesse if we compare her with the progresse of other Nations yet to her own ensuing fortunes it is esteemed but her child-hood her infancie while she had not yet spake nor the world well heard of her actions farther then her owne home and her Countries neere about She began now to feele her strength and when she had first freed her selfe from the oppression of her home-bred Tyrant she soon after spread her Armes over all Italy and her fame through most parts of the world Her power was now no more at the disposing of one King but designed over into the hands of two aged and wise Citizens of their owne though the best ranke and this they were to use rather as feoffees in trust then free possessors wherefore the Romans baulkt the insolencie which their last King had before practised both in the name of their new Governours for they were called onely Consules à consulendo and in their terme of Government for it became now annuall which was not before limited unlesse by death and lastly by their ensignes of state their twelve lictors and fasces which were not allowed to both but to each in turns for their severall moneth And this went on without breach almost six yeares till the Romanes thought fit to correct their laws by the Greek copie and therefore deputed three of their best esteemed subjects to see Athens to peruse their orders and customes of which the world had then a great opinion for it was indeed the mother of learning 14 They returned them written at first in ten tables made of brasse two more were soone after added and together were distinguished from their owne municiple lawes by the name of Leges 12. tabularum The Consuls power was now taken off and this was their rule of justice put into the hands of tenne whom they called Decemviri Each ruled in his turne and for that course had a power wel-nigh as large as their Kings or Consuls else differed little at other times from a private Roman This begunne some 303. yeares after their first founder and had continued but three when Appius laid false claime to Virginia for his bondmayd that indeed he might dishonour her as his strumpet By this meanes he doubly provoked the Commons both with her injuries and her fathers sorrow who was forced to murder his owne daughter to quit her from the lust of the Decemviri and therefore they took revenge not upon him onely but his office abrogated the Decemviratus and returned the authority into the hands of Consuls as before yet so as oft-times by intercourse the Tribuni militum put in for a consulary soveraigntie and was admitted to the same dignitie though not the name which the Patritii only referred to themselves as their royaltie It was first procured by the importunate motion of the Commons that they might be equally capable of the Consul-ship To this though the nobilitie would not give their full assent in all circumstances yet were they constrained for their own peace to yeeld in effect and mince it with another title of Tribuni plebis Consulare potestate 15 Vnder these formes of government for three hundred years after the fall of Tarquinius to Appius Claudius Q. Fulvius Coss. They were still in growth but not yet come to their state of honors and therefore Florus rightly styles it the youth of Rome in comparison to the age of man In this while their most famous stories are the warre with Porsenna some eight yeares after their first Consuls the creation of Dictators and Tribunes of the people within twenty the injuries of M. Coriolanus and attempt against his own Countrey uot long after the construction of many set laws which continued in force to after ages the Lex Agraria Publia de Aventino Tarpeia of the twelve tables Clodia Aemilia de Ambitu de Mulctis c. the Censors first created about 68. years after the Regi-fugium the conspiracie of the Servants some 92. after many victories in the interim and Rome her selfe at last taken by the Galls but freed by Camillus about the 120. Marcus Curtius casts himselfe into the pit to preserve his Countrey more laws are made the first Punike war waged all within 120. and odde years after Rome was surprised some 28. after that the Bellum Ligusticum and Ianus Temple the second time shut then the Bellum Illyricum Gallicum Cisalpinum and the last of this age the second Punike warre 16 By this time Italy was subdued and now she swept on with full sayle and confirmed strength and about twenty after was able to resist the Macedonian made warre with Perses set on to the third Punike warre wasted Carthage and then Numantia tooke Armes against Iugurtha all in lesse compasse of years then one hundred and about this time was the Eagle tooke up by Marius for the Romane ensigne Soone after was the Bellum Marsicum and Mithridaticum
likewise worshipped for a God by the name of Mannus The same account is rendred for Teutonia from Teuto a Captaine of the Germanes and their ninth from Tuisco Vnder these they continued till the Romanes entry after their Conquest over the Gals for whose likenesse to them both in feature and colour in goodly portraiture and carriage of their wars they were from that time called Germany as if brothers to the Gaules Yet there are two which compound the name of the Teutonike words Gar or Ger which signifieth all or wholly and man which retaines with us its prime signification of Man as if they were all men to the proofe or as others interpret as if they were a mixt Nation of all sorts of men from severall Countries 5 But this last agrees not with the conjecture of some Geographers that Germany hath not changed her Inhabitants since she was first possest quoniam non est verisimile saith one aliquos Asiâ aut Africâ aut quidem Italiâ relicta Germaniam pettisse terris informem Coelo asperam cultu tristem aspectúque minimè nisi indigenis gratam And this indeed differs not much from the report of Mela Tacitus other ancient Writers But the reason I hold not good for howsoever it might be true in their times of some and the most part perhaps of Germany as it was then limited that it was sylvis horrida paludibus faeda et fluviorum cursibus praepedita montium anfractibus exasperata ob idque maximè invia yet now she hath changed her hue and by the help of good husbandry is become so fertile and pleasant by the large additions to her Territories in these our after ages is growne so populous that she vayles not to France Spaine or Italy it selfe saith Quadus 6 By her first Geographers she was limited on the West with the River Rhene on the east with Ietula on the south with Danubius each of these tracts have won upon their neighbouring Countries and inlarged the compasse of Germany to a double extent of what it was before For on the West she passeth Rhene as farre as â—icardy and Burgundy parts of France Eastward is the German tongue and Empire exercised over the Region of Prussia Southward she reacheth beyond Danubius to the very Alpes which border upon Italy North-ward she hath ever kept her owne but hath beene curbd indeed from seeking new Kingdomes in that tract by the maine Ocean which divides her in part from Swevia Norway c. And to these limits we apply our Description No marvaile if it give her more honor then she had in former times For her compasse now is reckoned to be 2600. English miles Her ground fertile enough of it selfe and yet besides enjoyes the benefit of many Navigable Rivers which inrich her with trafique from other Kingdomes 7 Those of greatest fame are 1 Danubius the largest of Europe called by Pliny and others Ister It takes in sixtie Navigable Rivers and is at last discharged by many passages into the Pontus Euxinus 2 Rhene which hath its rising from the Alpes and runnes into the German Ocean From thence have we our best Rhenish Wines and upon his bankes stands the Citie Strasburg 3 Amasus Ems which glides by Westphalia into the German Sea 4 Maemu Megu whose head is in the Mountaines of Bohemia and from thence passeth by Francfort into the German Sea 5 Albis Elve which riseth from eleven Fountains meeting into one about the Sylva Hircinia 6 Odeca which hath not his passage immediately into the Sea but into the River Albis The middle mark of this Countrey is the Kingdome of Bohemia incompassed with the Sylva Hircinia 8 The chiefe Commodities of Germany are Corne Wine Salt Metals of all sorts Fruits good store Saffron c. The Ayre wholesome her Baths healthfull her Gardens pleasurable her Cities faire her Castles strong and her Villages very many and well peopled 9 The Inhabitants have put off their ancient rudenesse as the Countrey her barrennesse They are as goodly of person as ever as stout as ever and farre more civill then in the time of the Romanes It seems they were then esteemed but an ignorant and simple people more able to fight then to manage a battaile They were ever hardy enough but wanted Commanders of their owne of skill and judgement Since they have had Commerce with other Nations and have suffered the upbraid as it were of their Predecessors dulnesse they have beene in a manner shamed out of it and are now become rather by industrie then wit a most ingenious people and skilfull in the Latine Greeke and Hebrew learning famous beyond any others in Europe unlesse Belgia for the invention of many notable and usefull Engines The Gun and Gun-powder was first brought to light by one Bertholdus Swart a Franciscan which hath almost put by the use of any other warlike Instrument in those parts of the world where the practise is perfectly understood Generally the poorer sort are excellent Mechanikes and the rest for the most part Schollers 10 It bred Albertus Magnus Appian Gesuer Munster Luther Vrsin Zwinglius Scultetus Iunius Keckerman and many others in their severall kinds and Religions some Papists some Lutherans some Calvinists and among the rest many Iewes A. NEWE MAPE OF GERMANY Newly Augmented by Iohn Speed Ano. Dom 1626 12 The first which injoyed the institution of Pope Gregory was Radulphus Nabs purgensis 1273. after twelve yeares interregnum The last before him was our Richard Earle of Cornwall and brother to Henry the third King of England Since it hath continued firme in this course of Election howsoever not with that liberty as was intended For commonly the Emperour in being while he hath his power about him and can at least intreat if not command the Subjects of the Empire promise a choice of the Rex Romanorum who is no other then a successor designed to rule after his death or resignation And by this meanes it hath a long time continued in the house of Austria without any intermission 13 Thus we see much plotting great state many ceremonies to the making up of an Emperour and yet when it is well weighed it is little better then a bare title For howsoever these outward observances of the German Princes make shew of an humble subjection to the Emperour yet when it comes to trial he hath very little to doâ— in their Governments But each of them takes upon him as a free and absolute Commander in his owne Countrey permitteth or suppresseth the Religion which he either likes or dislikes makes and abrogates Lawes at pleasure stamps Coyn raiseth Souldiers and sometimes against their great Master as the Duke of Saxoniâ— against Charles the fifth and at this day divers others in defence of the Prince Palatine For of this quality and power there are many Dukes Marqueses Counts c. besides 64. Franc Cities which make onely some slight acknowledgement to the Emperour appeare perhaps at his Parliaments
of the Christian King of France his eldest son the Dolphin of France by their Salique Law no woman or heirs may inherit how justly I may not determine But yet the English have good reason to examine the Equitie For it cost our Edward the Third his Crowne of France to which he was heire in generall by marriage of a Daughter But the truth is we have beene ever easie to part with our hold there or at least forced to forgoe it by our civill dissentions at home else after all those glorious Victories of our Predecessors we might have had some power more to shew there as well as title FRANCE revised and augmented the attires of the French and situations of their cheifest cityes obserued by Iohn Speede. Are to be sould in Pops head alley by Geoâ—Humble Ano. 1626 THE SCALE OF MILLES 12 Aquitania lyeth on the West of France close upon the Pyrenaean Mountaines and Contunies 1 Another part of Biscay mentioned in the Mappe of Spaine and indeed differeth from that but very little 2 Gascoigne and Guien The first to this day keeps its name with a very little change from the Spanish Vascones The chiefe City is Burdigala or Burdeaux a Parliamentary and Archiepiscopall seat and Vniversitie of good esteeme was honoured with the birth of our Richard the second Another Citie of note is Tholouse a seate Parliamentarie and supposed to be as ancient as the Rule of Deborah in Israel This Gascoigne containes in the Earledomâ—s of Forie Comminges Armeniaci and the Dutch Albert. 3 Pictaria Poictu on the North of Guien a pleasant Region and a plentifull It containes three Bishopricks Poitiers Lucon and Mailazai Her chiefe Cities are Poictiers an ancient and the largest next Paris in all France Castrum Heraldi once the title of the Scotch Earles of Hamildon In this Province was fought the great Battel betwixt our Black Prince and Iohn of France where with eight thousand he vanquished fortie thousand tooke the King Prisoner and his sonne Philip 70. Earles 50. Barons and 12000. Gentlemen 4 Sonictonia severed from Poictiers but by the River Canentell and so differs but little from her fertility Her Metropolis Saints Her other chiefe Bourg Blay Marennes Saint Iohn D'angely and Anglosme Betwixt this Country Poictiers stands Rochell a place the best fortified both by nature and art of any in Europe And is at this time possest by those of the Reformed Religion where they stand upon their guard and defend their freedome of conscience against the Roman Catholikes of France 5 Limosin in limo sita saith some Maginus takes it from Liwoges her chiefe Citie toward the North which revolted was recovered by our Black Prince Her other Towns of note are Tulles and Vxerca and Chaluz where our Richard the first was shot It hath beene by turnes possest by French and English till Charles the Seventh Since we have had little hold there 6 Berry regio Biturigum from her chiefe City Bituris now Burges an Archiepiscopall See and Vniversitie It is exceedingly stored with sheepe and sufficiently well with other Merchandize of value 7 Burbone from her chiefe City Burbone heretofore Boya a Dukedome and much frequented by Princes and the Nobility of France by reason of her healthfull ayre and commodious Baths 8 Tureine the Garden of France Her chiefe Cities Bloys Amboys Trurs and a little higher upon the Loyre stand Orleance 13 Lugdunensis or Celtica lyeth betwixt the Rivers Loyre and Seyne and takes the name from Lugdunum or Lions her chiefe Citie This Province comprehends 1 Britany heretofore Armorica till subdued by Maximinus King of England about the yeare 367. since it hath had the name of Britany and for distinction from this of ours it is commonly styled Minor Britannia There is yet remaining a smatch of the Welsh tongue which it seemes the Invaders had so great a desire to settle in those parts as a trophie of their Conquests that when they first mingled in marriage with the Inhabitants they cut out their wives tongues as many as were Natives that no sound of French might be heard among their Children It hath few Rivers but that defect is in some measure made up by their neighbourhood of the Sea in so much that the Countrey is reckoned one of the most fertile in all France for Corne Wine and Wood. It breeds good Horses and speciall Dogges Iron Leade c. Her chiefe Cities are Nants Rhenes St. Brenie and Rohan It is divided into Britanniam inferiorem the base or lower Britanie Westward neerest England and Superiorem toward the Loyre Eastward Her chiefe ports are St. Malo and Breste 2 Normandie a part of the Region which was heretofore called Newstria and took the name it hath from the Norwegians Their first Duke was Rollo and the sixt from him our William the Conquerour It was lost from his Successors in the time of King Iohn Her chiefe Cities are Rhothomagus or Rhoan the Metropolis Constance and Cane memorable for the siege of our English H. the fift And Verveile besieged by Philip the second of France in the time of our Richard the first which when the King heard as he sate in his Palace at Westminster it is said he sware he would never turne his back to France till he had his revenge and to make good his oath brake through the wals and justly performed his threat upon the besiâ—ger Her principall parts are Harflew the first which King Henry the fift of England assaulted and New Haven given up by the Prince of Conde to Queene Elizabeth as a Pledge for such Forces as she would supply him with to maintaine Warres with the King in defence of Religion And Deepe c. 3 Anjoue regio Andegavensis a fertile Countrey and yeelds the best Wine of France excellent Marble and other faire stone for buildings Her chiefe Citie is Anjers which Ortelius takes to be Ptolemy's Iuliomagum It is now an Vniversitie To this Dukedome there are foure Earledomes which owe a kind of homage Manie Vandosme Beufort and Laval 4 Francia which gives name to the whole Kingdome and received it her selfe from the Germane Francones which before inhabited the great Forrest called Sylva Hircynia Her chief City and the glory of France is Paris or Lutetia auasi in luâ—o sita in compasse twelve miles is reckoned the first Academie of Euâ—rope consists of fiftie-five Colledges And here was Henry the sixt Crowned King of France and England In this Province stands St. Vincents where Henry the fift died and Sâ—isons and the Dukedome of Valoys c. 5 Campaigne and Brye partners in the title of Earledome it is severed from Picardie onely with the River A fertile Countrey and hath many eminent Cities The principall is Rheimes where the Kings most commonly are Crowned and annointed with an Oyle sent they say from Heaven which as oft as it hath beene used never decreaseth It is the Seat of an Arch-bishop and Vniversitie of â—ote especially with our
Moravia make up the Kingdome of Polonia as it is here described 5 The bounds then of this great Region are on the West the River Odera Silesia and Moravia on the East the River Neiper which Ptolâ—my calleth Boristhenes on the North Pomerania or rather the Baltick Ocean and on the South Russia and the Mountains of Hungarie And if we will with Maginus take in the out Provinces which belong to this government we must reach East-ward the Tartars and Muscovites that live neere on the other side of Boristhenes and North-eastward part of Moscovia Southward the Hungarian Mountaines and the Vallacci in so much that the compasse would come little short of all Spaine as it lyeth beyond the Pyrenaean 6 The principall Rivers of Poland are 1 Vistâ—la it hath its rise in the Carpathian Mountaines which divide this Kingdome from Hungarie and it selfe runs into the Balticke but by the way takes in divers other streames on the West out of the Polonia Germanica and on the East out of the Sarmatica It is navigable 400. miles Neister which hath her fountaines in the hills of Hungarie and glides Eastward on the South of Podolia into the Pontus Euxinus 3 Neipher or Boristhenes which bounds the Kingdome on the East is navigable 600. stadia and runnes from North to South into the Pontus Euxinus where there is naturally cast up plenty of Salt which needs no art to perfect it 4 Rubin in Lituania 5 Hypanis now Bugh not farre distant from the Citie Oleska and falls at last into the River Vistula with many others of lesser note though all conduce to make the Countrey in some kinds very fertile 7 For it abounds with most sorts of Corne and Pulse sufficient both for their owne spending and continuall traffique into other Countries Many of her neighbouring Regions could not well misse her plenty as well of Wheate Rie and Barley as Beeves and other Cattle which give supply to Saxonie and the rest of Germany neere hand which hardly yeeld enough for their Inhabitants out of their owne store The blessing of this fertility cannot come alone but must needs bring with it the lâ—ke riches of Butter Cheese Milke Waxe Honey and what ever else hath its birth from the ground It is wel-nigh past beleefe which is reported of their multitudes of Bees such as yeeld more Hony and Waxe then the people can find roome for They need here neither art nor care of the good huswife to order their hives but naturally are their owne Gardians and provide so diligently for their owne safety within the bulks of trees that they easily passe over the hardest Winter without hurt There is store of game both for hunting fowling and fishing In her Forests is seene a kind of wilde Horse with an horne like an Harts and the Alces c. Lastly among other good commodities the worst is not her Pitch and Rosin which yeeld her a large annuall revenew 8 Her chiefe wants proceed from her bleake situation For it is a plaine Countrey and shadowed for the most part with Woods very cold and by that meanes she hath little Oyle and scarce Grapes enough to teach them the use of Wine A great defect amongst so good drinkers for they have a name for that equall with any part of Germany and that I thinke gives no ground to the rest of Europe But they make a shift to finde themselves play with a kind of Metheglin Gold or Silver here is not much unlesse about Cracovia and as Maginus saith in Sandomica whâ—re there are likewise some Mines found of the Lapis Lazulus perfect Lâ—ade and Iron and pieces of Copper Neere the Towns of Nochow and Palukie there is extant a kind of miracle a certain earth naturally formed up into pots which if you take forth and dry they diffâ—r very little by sight from such as are made by hand and serve aptly for the same use A. NEWE MAPE of POLAND Done into English by I. Speede 10 They have a good minde to Religion but cannot fasten upon any one to their liking and therefore they will try all Christians they have beene ever since the yeare 965. but from that time they have scarce slipt any error schisme or heresie which hath crept into the Church Here are Iesuites and others of the Romish sects Here are Lutherans Calvinists and Arians and Anabaptists and Antitrinitarians none allowed but all tolerated and indeed Poland had the seniority of Amsterdame for that old saying That if a man had lost his Religon here he might find it They have one ancient custome in their Churches which me thinks may well interpret our standing up at rehearsall of the Creed when the Gospel is reading the Nobility Gentry unsheath their swords and stand as it were prepared to defend it with their lives against any which dare violate it 11 Their King is chosen by the generall States and is for the most part some great warriour of their neighbouring Princes For they have no peace on their East limit with Muscoves and Tartars but what they make with the sword The Laws are onely temporary statutes there are none fundamentall But when the King hath any great designe in behalfe of the Common-wealth he assembles a Councell of the Nobilitie to assist him His revenues comming in are thought to be about sixe hundred thousand Crownes And each quarter of his Kingdome maintains his expence for one quarter of the yeare Their first King was Boleslaus Crowned by Otho 3 in the yeare 1001. But the regall dignity was lost againe to Boleslaus the bold who began his raigne 1078. but was deposed by the Pope and no other suffered to take up the Scepter and rule by the name of King till the yeare 1295. The first of the second course was Primaslaus the second Duke of Poland and Pomerania Since whose time there hath beene no breach to this day 12 The chiefe Provinces of the Kingdome of Poland as they lye from her West to East are 1 Pomerania 2 The Dukedomes of Ozwitts and Zator 3 Polonia 4 Prussia 5 Russia nigra 6 Samogitia 7 Massoria 8 Livonia 9 Podlassia 10 Lituania 11 Volhinia 12 Podolia 13 The first is Pomerania bounded on the North with the Baltick Ocean on the West with Germany and is accounted by some a Province of the Empire as we have ordred in our description But in regard the greatest part is subject to the King of Poland I hope I shall wrong neither to give both their due and reckon it as well to this government since it hath an equall if not a greater title to the rule though not to the Inhabitants for they are most Germans It is a plaine Countrey but exceeding fertile and rich in all Commodities which any other part affords flourisheth with fortie Cities which are fenced round either with the Sea or ditches answerable for safety Her chiefe stands upon the shore for it is by nature so well guarded from the
Crosse of Saint George the Royall Ensign of England and a Rose the Kings badge as his faithfull Souldier receiving his pay dayly for himselfe and followers according to their degrees and estates Neither were the atchievements of Land services crowned with more plumes of Victories in the Helmets of the English then were their Sea services defensive and offensive both at home and abroad Their Navie Royall rightly teâ—rmed the Lady of the Seas and their Sea-Captaines farre out-stripping Vlysses in their Travailes and Descriptions for twise in our time hath the Sea opened her passage through the Straights of Magellan for Drake in his Pellican and Candish in his Desire to passe into the South World and to incirculate the Globe of the whole Earth whereby themselves and Souldiers all English have in those great deepes seen the wonderfull workes of the LORD But upon this subject I could willingly insist were it not that the argument of this present Description intends rather to speake of the Domestick and Civill warres of England then of the forraine and farre-fetched victories that have adorned and attended the Trophies of the English From the prosecution of the former and promulgation of the latter how unwillingly my Penne is drawne the roughnesse of the style and the slender performance of the whole doth manifestly shew They being for the most part civill Battailes fought betweene meere English-men of one and the same Nation wherein the parties victorers besides the losse of their owne side procured on the other the fall and ruine of them that were all of his owne Countrey many of them of his owne acquaintance and alliance and most of them perhaps his owne friends in any other cause then that in which he contended for But from this generall argument to proceed to some particulars it shall not be amisse to make some division of them according to their severall qualities of the severall quarrels in them which are found to be divers and of three severall natures Whereof the first were the invasions attempted by forraine Princes and enemies against the Kings and people of this Realme The second were meere Rebellions of Subjects against their annointed Princes And the third dissentious factions betwixt Princes of the bloud Royall of these three all these effusions of bloud have consisted And to begin with the first battell in this plot which was the first beginning of government of this state as it yet continueth Such was the attempt of William Duke of Normandy against King Harold the sonne of Earle Goodwin who prevailed so against him in fight at Battaile in Sussex a place so called by this event as the said Duke was afterward King of this Land and brought the whole Nation under his obedience as it hath beene continued to his posteritie ever since Such was the arrivall of Lewes son and heire to Philip King of France against Iohn King of England who being carried by his owne ambition accompanied with French Forces and assisted by the rebellious Barons of this Realme after variable fortune of fight in severall skirmishes battels and assaults was forced in the end without all honour or hope to prevaile to make a very shamefull retreate into his owne Countrey Such was also the entry made by Iames the fourth King of Scots against King Henry the eight of famous memory his brother in law and sworne allie at that time absent in the wars of France who contrary to his oath and alliance formerly made entred the North frontiers of England with a mightie Armie had the same discomfited and overthrowne and was himselfe slain in the field by the English forces under the leading of the Earle of Surrey at that time Lieutenant generall for King Henry And especially such was the late enterprise remaining fresh in memory of Philip late King of Spaine against our dread Soveraigne Lady now raigning in the yeare of our Lord 1588. attempting by his invincible Navie as he thought and so termed under the conduct of the Duke of Medina Celi which with great pride and crueltie extended against us arrived on our coasts to Englands invasion and subversion had yet neverthelesse here in the narrow Seas the one part of his Fleete discomfited taken and drowned and the other part forced to their great shame in poore estate to make a fearefull and miserable â—light about the coast of Ireland homeward so that of 158. great ships furnished for war came to their own coast of Spaine but few and those so torne and beaten by the English Cannons that it was thought they were unserviceable for ever and eleven of their ensignes or banners of Idolatry prepared for triumph and pride in Conquest were contrariwise to their shame and dishonour shewed at Pauls-Crosse and in other places of this Realme to Gods glory our joy and their endlesse infamy The INVASIONS OF ENGLAND And IRELAND With al their Ciuill Wars Since the Conquest The second sort of quarrels in these warres were meere rebellions of subjects against their annointed Princes and Governours and of these some have beene private and some generall Of the first kind for private occasions was that of Thomas Earle of Lancaster against King Edward the second his cosin-germane upon mislike of the Spencers greatly favoured by the King and as much envied of him who having his forces defeated at Borrow-bridge was there taken prisoner and after beheaded at Pomfret Of the same kind was that of Henry Lord Piercie surnamed Hot-spurre and Thomas Piercie Earle of Worcester his Vncle against King Henry the fourth at Shrewesburie where the said Lord Henry was slaine and the other taken prisoner and after beheaded in the same Towne So was that of Michael Ioseph the Black-smith in Cornewall and his company against King Henry the seventh for a Subsidie granted in Parliament to the same King who gathered a head of Rebellion so strong that at Black-heath neare London they abode battell against their Soveraigne but were there taken and afterward drawne headed and quartered at Tiburne Also such was that of Robert Ket the Tanner of Windham in Norfolk against King Edward the sixt pretended against inclosures and liberty to the weale publike was at Norwich taken in the field and afterward hanged on the top of the Castle of the same Towne And lastly so was that of Sir Thomas Wiat and the Kentish-men against Queene Mary for the bringing in of Philip of Spaine they being cut off at S. Iames and himselfe yeelded at the Court. Of the latter sort of Rebellions being generall were those of the Barons against K. Iohn and King Henry the third his sonne in their severall Raignes Against the father in bringing in of forraine powers and working a resignation of the Crown and Diadem to the great blemish of their King and Kingdome And against the sonne so prosecuted their attempts that their warres to this day are called and knowne by the name of the Barons-warres which had so lamentable consequence as that after the overthrow and
King Harold further aggravated by a Law That if any Welshman were found with any weapon on this side that Ditch he should forthwith have his right hand cut off The second partition was of King Athelstans device who finding that the Britains did still inhabit those other Western parts from the Lands end of Cornwall even unto Excester in Devonshire he not onely thrust them out of that Citie fortifying the same with vast trenches and a strong wall of squared stone to prevent their attempts but further ordered that they should containe themselves within the River Tamar whence that Promontory came to be named Corn-wall of the shape thereof like a Horne which they call Corn and of the Inhabitants which the Saxons called ƿealsh signifying Strangers 3 The like may be said of the particular Kingdomes that they attained not to those their certaine bounds the Kingly Titles but by degrees the whole Saxons State being anciently divided not into Shires but into sundry small Regions and those againe into Hides a Hide being foure yeard land or as others thinke as much as a Plow can till in one yeere as by an ancien Fragment preserved divulged by two most judicious Antiquaries may be seene wherein all the land lying on this side Humber is thus parted HIDES Myrcna containeth 30000. hides Woken setna 7000. hides Westerna 7000. hides Pec-setna 1200. hides Elmed-setna 600. hides Lindes-farona 7000. hides Suth-Gyrwa 600. hides North-Gyrwa 600. hides Fast-Gyrwa 600. hides East-Wixna 300. hides West-Wixna 6000. hides Spalda 600. hides Wigesta 900. hides Heresinna 1200. hides Sweordora 300. hides Eyfla 300. hides Wicca 300. hides Wight-gora 600. hides Noxgaga 5000. Hides Oht-gaga 2000. hides Hwynca 7000. hides Ciltern-setna 4000. hides Hendrica 3000. hides Vnecung-ga 1200. hides Aroseatna 600. hides Fearfinga 3000. hides Belmiga 600. hides Witherigga 600. hides East-Willa 600. hides West-Willa 600. hides East-Angle 30000. hides East-Sexena 7000. hides Cant-Warena 15000. hides Suth-Sexena 7000. hides West-Sexena 100000. hides 4 But when that seven-fold Heptarchie was brought to a Monarchy and the Kings from Pagans to be Christian professors Elfred that mirrour of Kings for the setling of his Kingdome and subjects under a due and certain course of Iustice and Government did first distribute his Kingdome into severall Countries called Shires of the Saxon word Scyre to cut or divide and into other under-governments of which let us heare Malmesburie By occasion saith he and example of the barbarous he meaneth the Danes the natural Inhabitants also were addicted to robberies so that none could passe in safetie without weapons for defence Elfred therefore ordained Centuries which they terme Hundreds and Decimes which they call Tythings that so every Englishman living under law should be within some Hundred and Tything And if a man were accused of any transgression he should forthwith bring in some of that same Hundred Tything And is a man were accused of any transgression he should forthwith bring in some of that same Hundred Tything that would be pledges for his appearance to answer the Law and he that could not finde such a suretie should abide the severitie thereof But in case any man standing thus accused either before or after such suretiship did flie then all that Hundred and Tything incurred a mulct imposed by the King c. By this device he brought peace into the Country so as in the very high wayes he commanded Bracelets of Gold to be hanged up to mocke the greedy passengers whiles none was found so hardy as to take them away 5 This Custome King Elfred might borow from the use he saw in military Government where the Generals direction found easiest successe by help of under-rulers Centurions and Decurions or hee might have it from the Germanes who kept Courts of Iustice in every Territory having a hundred men out of the People as Assistants to performe their Law-dayes By which his Partition and industrious care Peace and true dealing so flourished that a Wayfaring man losing in his journey any summe of money might a moneth after returne to the place and have it againe BRITAIN AS IT WAS DEVIDED in the tyme of the Englishe Saxons especially during their Heptarchy 7 So that hereby we see both the Saxons distributing of this Country in their highest glory and also the government thereof from the King whom they called their Conning either of his skill or power to the lowest in the land Other intermediate Governours throughout the Land next unto the Kings Counsellors where it seemeth those which the Saxons callen then Eal Sepmen though a name now more humbled and the Danes Eorles the chiefe Magistrates in Cities the Port gerefan Portgreves and Burghƿaren Burgesses For touching the name of laford whence we contract Lord it may seeme rather a name of honour and reverence then of civill authoritie so likewise Þein a stile for men of the better ranke as under-Þein a note of service and Ceorle or Churle of their Yeomanly condition who were also called gemen the Yeomanry 8 Since that first most politique distribution of K. Elfred the number of the said Shires have found some change for what their number was An. 1016. in the reign of King Ethelred Malmesbury sheweth The Danes saith he at this time when there were reckoned in England thirty-two Shires invaded no lesse then sixteene of them yea and afterwards also there were no more in number at that time the Land received a new threefold distribution according to the three sorts of Lawes by which it was governed that is West-Saxons Law Danish and Mercian First to the West-Saxon Law were the Counties of Kent Sussex Suthrie Berkshire Hantshire Wiltshire Sommersetshire Dorcetshire and Devonshire nine in number To the Danish lawes were obedient fifteene other Yorkshire Darbyshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Lincolneshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Hertfordshire Essex Middlesex Norfolke Suffolke Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire The Mercian Lawes ruled the eight Counties remaining which were Gloucestershire Worcestershire Herefordshire Warwickshire Oxfordshire Chesseshire Shropshire and Staffordshire 9 But when William the Conquerour had got the English Diademe upon his head and taxed the Kingdome with a generall survey we finde in that publike record of the Domes-day Bocke thirty foure named besides those of Durham Lācashire Northumberland Westmorland and Cumberland the three last lay exposed to the Scots and the other two freed from taxe to maintaine the Borders which five Counties being added to the other their number ariseth to thirty-nine and the thirteene Shires of Wales added to both make fiftie two Counties as we have at this day 10 But the Author of Polychronicon upon what warrant I know not reckons thirty sixe Shires and an halfe at the Conquerours survey wherein saith he were found fiftie two thousand and fourescore Townes fortie five thousand and two Parish-Churches seventie five thousand Knights-Fees whereof
twenty eight thousand and fifteene were of Religious order and yet among these he accounteth no part of Cornwall But from this report it may well be that Rossus Warwicanus complaineth of the depopulation of the Land which with Towne-ships saith he anciently had stood so bestrewed as a goodly Garden every where garnished with faire flowers 11 King Elfred the first divider instituted a Prefect or Lieutenant in every of these Counties which then were called Custodes and â—fterwards Earles saith Higdon who kept the Countrey in obedience to the King and suppressed the outrages of notorious robbers But Canutus the Dane when successe had set him upon the English Throne divided the care of his Kingdomes affaires into a foure-fold subjection to wit West-Sex Mercia Northumbre and East-England himselfe taking charge of the first and the greatest making three Tetrarches of especiall trust over the rest namely Edrich over Mercia Yrtus over Northumbre and Turkill over East-England Wales neither in this division nor that of King Elfred was any waies liable it being cut as we have said from England by King Offa but those remnants of the ancient Britaines divided likewise that Westerne Province into Kingdomes Cantreds and Commots as more largely we will shew in the plot of that Principalitie And this shall suffice for the division of England under the Saxons who enjoyed it the space of 567. yeeres from their first entrance under Hengist unto the death of Edmund Ironside and againe under Edward Confessor the terme of twenty yeeres 12 Now if any shall be so minutely curious as to enquire the meaning of the Emblematicall compartments bordering the Mappe the right side containeth the first seven Kings of that sevenfold State their Names their Kingdomes their Escocheons their yeeres of first aspiring the left side doth portraict the like of the seven first kings in each of those Kingdomes which by Christian Baptisme aspired to the hope of a Kingdome eternall 1. Ethelbert of Kent receiving Austens instruction 2. Sebert the East-Saxon converting by advice of B. Miletus the Temples of Diana and Apollo now S. Pauls in London and S. Peters in Westminster to the service of Christ. 3. Erpenwald the East-Angle received Baptisme by exhortation of King Edwin the Northumbrian though as it seemeth Edwin himselfe for a time deferred his owne Baptisme and was therefore martyred by his Pagan Subjects 4. Edwine the Northumbrian stirred up by a vision both to expect the Kingdome and to receive the Faith which he did by the preaching of Paulinus whom he made Arch-bishop of Yorke 5. Kingill the West Saxon converted by the preaching of S. Berinus whom he made Bishop of Dorcester neere Oxford 6. Peada the Mercian receiving Christian Faith by perswasion of Oswy King of Northumbers was murdered by his owne mothers some say his wives procurement 7. Ethelwolfe the South-Saxon Baptized at Oxford by S. Berinus where Wulpherus King of Mercia was his God father at Font. 13 And sith these Saxons first gave to this Iland the name of England we will here affixe for a close of all an ancient Epigram touching both this Country and her Name the rather because of late a principall part and prayse therein is surreptitiously against Lex Plagiaria taken from England and ascribed as proper to France A certaine Author saith Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum thus in verse describeth England Anglia terra ferox fertilis Angulus Orbis Insula praedives quae toto vix eget Orbe Et cujus totus indiget Orbis ope Angliaplenajocis Gens Libera aptajocari Libera Gens cui libera mens libera lingua Sed linguâ melior liberiorque manus ENGLAND fierce Land Worlds Angle fertile art Rich I le thou needst no other Countries Mart Each other Country yet thy succour needs ENGLAND Ioyes Land be free and joyous long Free Race free Grace free Kind free Mind Tongue Yet Hands passe Tongues for free and glorious deeds THE TYPE OF THE FLORISHING KINGDOME OF ENGLAND VVITH THE GENERALL DESCRIPTION OF IT AS IT WAS FROM THE TIME OF THE NORMANS CHAPTER III. THE Saxons glory now neer to expire by his appointment who holdeth both times and Kingdomes in his all-ordering hand their owne swords being the instruments and the Danes the maules that beat their beautifull Diademe into pieces the Normans a stirring Nation neither expected nor much feared under the leading of William their Duke and encouragement of the Romane Bishop an usuall promoter hereof broken titles made hither sodainly into England who inone onely battell with the title of his sword and slaughter of Harold set the Emperiall Crown thereof upon his own head which no sooner was done but the English went downe and the Normans lording it became owners of those Cities which themselves never built possessed those Vineyards which they never planted dranke of those Wels 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 yeer not onely drinking water of the raine of heaven but having also Rivers of waters and fountaines in her valleyes and without all scarcitie whose stones are yron and out of whose mountains is digged brasse This made them more resolute at first to settle themselves in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Iland the Conquerour using all policy both Martial and Civill to plant his posterity here for ever How he found the Land governed we shewed in the Heptarchie but his restlesse thoughts were not contented with conquering the Nation and their Land unlesse he also overcame their very Customes Lawes and Language 2 Touching the distribution of the Kingdome whereas other kings before him made use of it chiefly for 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 how much land every one of his Barons possessed how many Knights fees how many Plow-lands how many in villanage how many head of beasts yea how much ready money every man from the greatest to the least did possesse and what rents might be made of every mans possession the Booke of which inquisition yet in the Exchequer was called Domes-day for the generalitie of that Iudgement on all the Land Whereunto we may adde his other distribution of this Land worse then any former when thrusting the English out of their possessions he distributed their inheritances to his Souldierâ— yet so that all should be held of the King as of the onely triâ— Lord and possessor 3 For the Lawes by which he meant to governe he held one excellent rule and purpose which was that a People ought to be ruled by Lawes written and certaine
for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new Iudgements and therefore he caused twelve to be chosen out of every Countie which should on their oath without inclining one way or other neither adding nor detracting open unto him all their ancient Laws and Customes By whose relation understanding that three sorts of Lawes formerly were in the Land Merchenlage West-Saxon-lage Dane-lage he had preferred these last himselfe 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 iudged by those Lawes which they understood not altered his resolute purpose yet in bringing in the strange formes of Normas Processe and pleading in the French tongue which continued till Edward the thirds time that grievance was but slenderly prevented So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice where these Lawes should be ministred but whereas the ancient Kings of England according to Moses his example sate in person in the seate of Iustice to right the greater affaires of their Subjects as William Lambert sheweth in King Alfred Edgar Canutus c. and proves out of the Kings Oath out of Bracton Britain Saxon-Lawes c. King William not only continued this but besides erected some other Courts of Iustice as the Exchequer and certaine Courts and Sessions to be held foure times every yeere appointing both Iudges some to heare causes others to whom appeales should be made but none from them and also Prefects to looke to good orders Those last Polydore calleth Iustices of Peace but their institution seemes to be far later and no lesse is his errour on the other side in saying the Conquerour first instituted Sheriffes and the triall by twelve men which were both ancienter 4 And because the Conquerour for honour of Bishops caused them to remove from small obscure places to Cities of more renowne we have therefore reserved to this last place that division of this Kingdome which is according to Iurisdiction Episcopall Formerly in the yeer of salvation 636. Honorius the fift Archbishop of Canterbury first divided England into Parishes which at this day are contained under their severall Diocesans and these againe under their two Metropolitanes Canterbury and Yorke in manner following THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND YORKE Yorke Yorkshire Nottinghamshire 581. Chester Cheshire Richmondshire Cumberland part Lancashire 256. Carlile Cumberland part Westmorland 93. Durham Durham Northumberland 135. Sodor Man Iland 17. Totall Bishopricks 27. Parishes 9285. 5 To speake nothing of these twenty eight Flamins the Priests of Idolatry and the three Arch-Flamins whose seats were at London Caerlion and Yorke all of them converted by King Lucius into Christian Bishops Sees let us onely insist upon the three last by the same King appointed to be Metropolitanes over the rest among whom London is said to be chiefe whos 's first Christian Arch-bishop was Thean the builder of S. Peters Church in Cornehill for his Cathedrall as by an ancient Table there lately hanging was affirmed and tradition to this day doth hold Our British Historians doe bring a succession of fifteene Arch-bishops to have sate from his time unto the coming of the Saxons whose last was Vodius slaine 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 feete untill Ethelbert of Kent the first Christian Saxon King advanced Christianity and Augustine to the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury when London under Melitus became subject to that See 6 At Caerlion upon Vske in the time of great Arthur sate Dubritius a man excellently learned and of an holy 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 farre whose fame and integritie was such that he was made Arch-bishop of all Wales but growne very old he resigned the same unto David his Disciple a man of greater birth but greater austeritie of life who by consent of King Arthur removed his Arch-bishops 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 owne and robbed Caerlion of her Archiepiscopall seat This See of S. Davids as in an ancient Register belonging to that Church is recorded had seven Bishops Suffraganes subject unto it which were Exceter Bathe Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Asaph and Fernes in Ireland Notwithstanding either for want of Pall carried into Britanny by Arch-bishop Sampson in a dangerous infection of sicknesse either by poverty or negligence it lost that Iurisdiction and in the dayes of King Henry the first became subject to the See of Canterbury 7 Yorke hath had better successe then either of the former in retaining her originall honour though much impaired in her circuit challenging to have beene sometime Metropolitane over all the Bishops in Scotland and although it was made equall in honour and power with Canterbury by Pope Gregory as Beda relateth and had twelve Suffragan Bishopricks that owed obedience onely foure now acknowledge Yorke their Metropolitane but Canterburie the Superiour for William the Conquerour thinking it dangerous to have two in like authoritie lest the one should set on his Crowne and the other strike it off left Yorke to be a Primate but Canterbury onely the Primate of all England 8 That Lichfield was made an Archiepiscopall See by Pope Hadrian the first at the suite of Offa the great King of Mercia is manifested by Matthew of Westminster unto whose Iurisdiction were assigned the Bishoprickes of Winchester Hereford Leicester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich and whose first and last Arch-bishop was Aldwin That Winchester also had intended an Archiepiscopall Pall the same Authour recordeth when Henry Bloys of the blood-royall greatly contended with the Arch-bishop of Canterburie for superiority under the pretence of being Cardinall de latere to him an Archiepiscopall Pall was sent with power and authority over seven Churches but he dying before that the designe was done the See of Winchester remained in subjection to Canterburie And that long before the See of Dorchester by Oxford had the Iurisdiction of an Arch-bishop is apparent by those Provinces that were under his Diocesse which were Winchester Oxford Lincolne Salisbury Bristow Wels Lichfield Chester and Excester and the first Bishop of this great Circuit Berinus was called the Apostle and Bishop of the West-Saxons which in his next successour was divided into two parts Winchester and Dorchester and not long after into Lichfield Sidnacester and Legecester and lastly the See removed from Dorchester to Lincolne as now it is And thus farre for the division of this Realme both Politicke and Ecclesiasticke as it hath stood and stands at this day 9 But the
themselves to Iulius Caesar and whose chiefe City was Vindonum Caer Segonte now Silcestâ—r and upon the South by the Belgae and Regni who were subdued by Plantius and Vespasian the Romans where Titus rescuing his father straitly besieged by the Britaines as Dio and Forcatulus doe report was grasped about with an Adder but no hurt to his person and therefore taken for a signe of good luck Their chiefe Town was Rincewood as yet sounding the name and more within Land inhabited the Manures as Beda calles them whose Hundreds also to this day give a relish of their names 7 Neere Ringwood and the place once YTENE from God and peoples service to Beast and luxury thirty-six Parish-Churches were converted and pulled downe by the Conquerour and thirty miles of circuite inforrested for his Game of Hunting wherein his sonnes Richard and Rufus with Henry the second sonne to Duke Robert his first felt by hasty death the hand of Iustice and Revenge for in the same Forrest Richard by a blasting of a pestilent aire Rufus by a shot taken for a Beast and Henry as Absalom hanged by a bough came to their untimely ends At so deare a rate the pleasures of dogs and harbour for beasts were bought in the blood of these Princes 8 The generall commodities gotten in this Shire are Woolles Clothes and Iron whereof great store is therein wrought from the Mines and thence transported into all parts of this Realme and their Clothes and Karsies carried into many forraine Countries to that Counties great benefit and Englands great praise 9 The Trade thereof with other provisions for the whole are vented thorow eighteene Market-Townes in this Shire whereof Winchester the Britaines Caer Gwent the Romans Venta Belgarum and the Saxons Windaneasder is chiefe ancient enough by our British Historians as built by King Rudhudibras nine hundred yeares 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 owne persons In the Saxons times after two Calamities of consuming fire her walles were raised and the Citie made the Royall Seat of their West-Saxons Kings and the Metropolitan of their Bishops See wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarches were crowned and Henry the third the Normans longest raigner first tooke breath And here King Aethelstane erected six houses for his Mint but the Danish desolation over-running all this Citie felt their fury in the dayes of King Ethelbright and in the Normans time twice was defaced by the mis-fortune of fire which they againe repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publique Records of the Realme In the civill Warres of Maud and Stephen this City was sore sacked but againe receiving breath was by King Edward the third appointed the place for Mart of Wooll and Cloth The Cathedrall Church built by Kenwolf King of the West-Saxons that had beene Amphibalus Saint Peters Swythins and now holy Trinitie is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings for herein great Egbert Anno 836. with his sonne King Ethelwolfe 857. Here Elfred Oxfords Founder 901. with his Queene Elswith 904. Here the first Edmund before the Conquest 924. with his sonnes Elfred and Elsward Here Edred 955. and Edwy 956. both Kings of England Here Emmâ— 1052. with her Danish Lord Canute 1035. and his sonne Hardicanute 1042. And here lastly the Normans Richard and Rufus 1100. were interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little guilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remaine carefully preserved This Cities situation is fruitfull and pleasant in a valley under hils having her River on the East and Castle on the West the circuit of whose walls are well-neare two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces thorow which openeth six gates for entrance and therein are seven Churches for divine service besides the Minster and those decayed such as Callendos Ruell Chappell Saint Maries Abbey and the Fryers without in the Suburbs and Soâ—ke in the East is Saint Peters and in the North Hyde Church and Monastery whose ruines remaining shew the beauty that formâ—tly 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 Towne populous rich and beautifull 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 Keyes for Ships arrivage and five faire Churches for Gods Divine Service besides an Hospitall called Gods house wherein the unfortunate Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded for treason lyeth interred On the West of this Towne is mounted a most beautifull Castle in forme Circular and wall within wall the foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by staires carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the walles a goodly Church sometimes stood called Saint Maries which was pulled downe for that it gave the French direction of course who with fire had greatly endangered the Towne In stead thereof is now newly erected a small and unfinished Chappell In this place saith learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium or Fort of the Romans whose circuit on that side extended it selfe to the Sea This suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirats and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrowne In King Edward the thirds time it was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicils sonne whom a countrey-man encountred and strucke downe with his Club. Hee crying Rancon that is Ransoms but hee neither understanding his language nor the law that Armes doth allow laid on more soundly saying I know thee a Frankon and therefore shalt thou dye 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 triall of his Deity commanding the Seas to keepe backe from his seat but being not obeyed he acknowledged God to be the only 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 sonne whose monument say they was seene in that City and where another Constantine put on the purple Roabe against Honorius as both Ninius and Gervase of Canterbury doe witnesse Herein by onr Historians record the warlike Arthur was crowned Whose greatnesse for circuit contained no lesse then fourscore acres of ground and the walles of great height yet standing two miles in compasse about This City by the Danish Rovers suffered such wrack that her mounted tops were never since seene and her Hulke the
the South with Dorset and Hamp-shire and upon the West is confronted against partly by Gloucester and the rest by Somerset-shires 2 The forme thereof is both long and broad for from Inglesham upon Thamesis in the North to Burgat Damarum in the South are thirtie-nine miles the broadest part is from Buttermer Eastward to the Shire-stones in the West being twenty-nine the whole in circumference is one hundred thirty-nine miles 3 For aire it is seated in a temperate Climate both sweet pleasant and wholesome and for soyle saith Iohn of Sarisbury is exceeding fertile and plentifull yea and that with variety 4 The Northerne part which they call North-Wilt-shire riseth up into delectable hils attired with large woods and watered with cleare Rivers whereof Isis is one which soone becometh the most famous in the Land The South part is more even yeelding abundantly grasse and corne and is made the more fruitfull by the Rivers Wily Adder and Avon The midst of this County is most plaine and thereby is knowne and commonly called Salesbury-Plaines and lie so levell 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 sheepe whose fleeces and flesh bring in an yearely revenew to their owners 5 Anciently this County was possessed by the Belgae who are seated by Ptolemy in Hamp-shire Somerset-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 Vespasian Lieutenant of the second Legion under Claudius when the foundations of his future greatnesse were in these parts first laid by his many victories over the Britaines And herein surely the Romans seated for besides Yanesburie Trench by tradition held to be his in many other Forts in this Shire the Tract of their footing hath beene left and the stamped Coines of their Emperours found an apparent testimonie of their abode 6 After them the West-Saxons made it a part of their Kingdome whose border was Avon as witnesseth Athelward though the Mercians many times encroched upon them whereby many great battles as Malmsbury tels us betwixt them were fought when in the young yeares of their Heptarchie each sought to enlarge his by the lessening of the next but growne unto more ripenesse they assigned their limits by a great and long ditch crossing thorow the middest of these Plaines which for the wonder therof is supposed by the vulgar to be the worke of the Devil and is called of all Wansdike undoubtedly of Woden the Saxons Ancestor and great reputed God where a little village yet standeth and retaineth to name Wodens-burg At this place in Anno 590. Ceaulin the West-Saxon received such a foyle of the Britaines and his Country-men that he was forced to forsake his Kingdome and to end his dayes in exile becomming a pitifull spectacle even unto his enemies And in this place Ina the West-Saxon joyned Battle with Ceolred the Merciā whence both of them departed with equall losse The like was at Bradford by Kenilwach and Cuthred at Wilton betwixt Egbert and Beornwolfe at Edindon where K. Elfred was vanquisher of the Danes and at Wilton where the Danes wonne the day against him With as bloudy sucesse though not happening by sword was the issue of the Synod assembled at Calne a small Towne in this Countie in the yeare of Christ Jesus 977. where being hotly debating for the single life and against the marriages of the Clergie what wanted by the Word to prove their divorce was supplyed by a Stratagem and that very bloudy for suddenly the main timber brake and downe fell the floore with the Nobles and Prelates the Gentlemen and Commons whereby a great number were hurt and many more slain onely Dunstan the President and mouth for the Monks escaped untouched the Joist whereon his chaire stood remaining most firme which confirmed the sentence of their separations whom God had conjoyned and became the fall and snare of much incontinencie in both sexes 7 The chiefest Citie 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 Cathedrall a most rich magnificent Church was begun by Richard Poore Bishop and with fourty yeares continuance was raised to her perfect beauty wherein are as many windowes as there are dayes in the yeare as many cast pillars of marble as there are houres in the yeare and as many gates for entrance as there are moneths in the yeare Neither doth this Citie retaine true honour to her selfe but imparteth hers and receiveth honour from others who are entituled Earles of Salesbury whereof eight noble Families have been dignified since the Normans Conquest and now is enjoyed by that most wise and loyall Counsellor Robert Cecill Lord high Treasurer of England and the worthy Patron of the place whereof my selfe am a member This Cities situation is in the degree of Latitude 51.10 minntes and from the first West point observed by Mercator 18. degrees and 31. minutes of Longitude 8 Over this old Salesbury sheweth it selfe where Kenrik overcame the Britains and where Canutus the Dane did great dammge by fire This formerly had been the seat of the Romans as likewise was Lecham as by their Coines digged up is apparant 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 Mulmutius but by true records from Maidulph a Scot a man of great learning that therein built a Cell and led an Hermits life whereof Beda calleth it the Citie of Maidulph and we by contraction Malmsbury Adelme his disciple and successour built here a faire Monasterie which Athelstan the Monarch richly endowed and left his body after death there to rest Neither hath any graced this more then William her Monk in recording to posterities the Chronicles of our Land concerning both the Church and Common-weale wherein himselfe and wrote those Histories 9 Ambresbury for repute did second this built by Alfritha King Edgar his wife to expiate the sinne of murder which she committed upon young Edward her sonne in Law that hers might be King In this place Queene Eleanor widow to King Henry the third renounced all royall pompe and devoted her selfe unto God in the habit of a Nunne Other places erected for piety were at Salesburie Lacock Stanlege Wilton Ivichurch Farnleg Bradstocke Briopune and Bromhore These
Saddleworth Ag. Sapeden Mor. Sawley Cla. Sawlle Stan. Saxton Bar. Scalnie Parke Bar. Scharthingwell Bar. Scausbie Stras Scawsbie Stras Scricole Mor. Scothorpe Stan. Scotten Cla. Scryven Cla. Seacrofte Skir. Sedber Stan. SELBYE Bar. SETTLE Stan. Shadwell 〈◊〉 Sharleston Ag. Sharo Cla. Sharphill Bar. Shafton Stain Sheaffeild Manner Str. Sheapley Aâ— SHEFFEILD Stras Sheffeild Mannor Stra. Shelburgh Osgod Shelfe Mor. Shellen Ag. Shelle Ag. SHERHORN Bar. Sherston Ag. Shibden Mor. Shipley Mor. Shitlington Ag. Sicklinghall Cla. Silsden Stan. Skale Parke Stan. Skelgaite Cla. Skelton Cla. SKIPTON Stan. Skircotes Mor. Sladbone Stan. Slaghwaite Ag. Slandburne Stain Slemingforth Cla. Smavis Bar. Smeton Osgod SNATHE Osgod Snidale Ag. Sootill Mor. Sowerby Mor. Sowerby bridge Mor. Sowland Mor. Spoforth Cla Spoforth Parke Cla. Spiritbrough Stras Sprodbrug Stras Spruston Skir. Staineland Mor. Stainton Stras Stamford Stras Stame Cla. Stanfeild Stras Stanley Ag. Stanley Ag. Staneley Cla. Stanley North Cla. Stane land Mor. Stanâ—feild Mor. Stanfeild Mor. Staneley Cla. Staynebeck nether Cla. Staynebeck upper Cla. Staynebet hall Stain Staineborne Cla. Staynebrough Stain Stayneley Cla. Stayneley North Cla. Stayneforth Stras Stayneforth Stan. Staynyngton Stras Stapleton Osgod Starhoton Stan. Steton Stan. Stetonhull Anst. Stokell Cla. Stocketle Cla. Stubbes Stras Stubham Cla. Studley Cla. Studeley great Cla. Streeton stan Streeton hall Anst. Streetethorpe stras Sturton stan Stutton Bar. Suthill Mor. Sutton Bar. Sutton stan Swilington skir Swinden stan Swinefleete Osgod Swinton stras Sykehouse Chappell stras Synnenthwate Anst. Syntton stras Syxforthe Cla. Sylxton stain T Tadcaster Bar. Tankersley stan Tawne Ag. Temple Newson skir Terne stan Thorne stras Thorne stras Thornecrosse Cla. Thornecliffe stras Thornehill Ag. Thorne stras Thorne mere stras Thorner skir Thornthwate Cla. Thornton Mor. Thornton stan Thornton in Craven stan Thornton in Lonsdale stan Thorpe Cla. Thorpe Cla. Thorpe Bar. Thorpe stras Thorpe on the Mount Mor. Thorporch Anst. Thorpsalve stras Threshfeild stan Thoborgh stras Thropsalvyn stras Thurgoland stain Thurlston stain Thurnsco Stras Thurnsco stras Thursland Ag. Thurstonland Ag. Tinglaw Mor. Tockwith Anst. Todwicke stras Tonge Mor. Topcliffe Mor. Towton Bar. Towton Bar. Treton stras Tristrop stras Turnbrigdike Flu. Tweselton stan Tyckhill stras Tylen stras Tymble great Cla. Tymble little Cla. Tynslaw stras V Vghtershaw stan Vllay stras Vpton Osgoâ— Vâ—bane great Cla. Vâ—bane little Cla. Vskell Bar. W Waddesley bridge stras Waddington stan Waddington stan Wadworth stras Wadworth stras Wadsworth Mor. Wakefeild kirkegate Ag. Wakefeild Northgate Ag. WAKEFEILD Westgate A Waldinwells stras Wadkingham Cla. Wales stras Walles stras Wallothwaite Cla. Walton Ag. Walton Anst. Walton head Cla. Warley Mor. Warmfeild Ag. Warmsworth stras Warnsworth stras Warsbrough stain Water fulton Osg. Waterton hall Ag. Watersham skir Wath upon dome stras Washbroke Flu. Washforth Cla. Weardlay skir Weeton Cla. Went Flu. Wenthrig Osgod Wentworth stras Westbury stras West Hall Cla. West Houses Cla. Westerton Mor. Westgaite Cla. WETHERBIN Cla. Weston Cla. Wharse Flu. Wharse Flu. Wharingbye Mor. Wharledale Cla. Wharnside hill stan Wheatlye stras Wheatley stras Whelpston Hilâ— stan Whitcliffe Cla. Whitgift Osgod Whitâ—ey Hal Ag. Whitley Ag. Whitwood Ag. Whiston stras Whixley Cla. Whitley Osgod Wibsey Mor. Wicke Mor. Wicke Mor. Wickesley Cla. Wickensley stras Widhophead Mor. Widkirke skir Wigill Anst. Wigglesworth stan Wigglesworth stan Wigheweseh stras Wigton skir Wikeley stras Wilsthorpe Anst. Wingby Osgod Winterborne stan Winterset stain Wistow Bar. Woodham Cla. Woâ—ry stain Wombroel stras Womersley Osgod Woodall Cla. Woadhouse stras Woodhouse stras Woodsonne Hall Ag. Woodsets stras Workeley Mor. Wooroll stras Worspur stain Woâ—tley stain Wragby Osgod Wrenthorpe Ag. Wysedaâ—e Y Yeadon skir Yokenthwait stan THese parts of the division of Yorkshire and the East and North-Riding are stretched out East-ward even to the Spurn-head and on the North coast are separated from the Bishoprick of Durham and with the Sea hath Westmorland on the West Humber on the South and the German Sea upon the East being separated each from other by the River Derwent running betwixt them with a long winding course 2 The aire is subtile and piercing and not inclined naturally to contagious infections which causeth the people to live long and healthfully and are not so subject to Agues Fluxes or other imperfections as those Countries be that are more troubled with mists or foggie vapours 3 The soyle is generally indifferently fruitfull for though some part be craggie mountainous and full of hilles yet some others exceeding good for the gifts of Nature in her delightsome varieties as of Corne Cattle and Pasturage with veines of Metall and Iron besides an Allum earth of sundry colours out of which some have lately begunne to trie very good Allum and Copperasse And for fish the Hollanders and Zelanders doe raise unto themselves great profit upon this coast having long since obtained licence which they keepe still by an ancient custome for the English-men granting leave unto others reserved the honour to themselves which would be no doubt farre the greater if they made gaine of their owne labours 4 Places for trade and venting forth of her commodities are many yet none of such convenience as Kingstone upon Hull which notwithstanding cannot fetch her beginning from any great antiquitie being before time called Wike King Edward the first built this Towne making a a Haven and granting divers liberties to the Burgesses so that it is risen to great state both for stately buildings and strong Block-houses for Ships well furnished and store of Merchants and is now become the most famous Towne of that Countrey whose greatest riches is ascribed to the gainfull trade they have by Iland-fish dried and hardned commonly called Stock-fish This Towne is governed by a Maior who hath the sword of State carried before him twelve Aldermen that in their Assemblies goe clad in Scarlet one Sheriffe a Water-bailiffe a Sword-bearer a Chamberlaine a Recorder a Towne-clerke and six Sergeants at Mace Whose graduation according as the Mathematickes have observed is for Longitude 20 degrees and 30. scruples and for Latitude 54. degrees and 28. scruples 5 Beverley in honour of S. Iohn Arch-bishop of Yorke by King Athelstane obtained many priviledges whereof a Sanctuary was one wherein Bankerouts and men suspected of any capitall crime might be safe and free from danger of Law This is memorable that the River from Hull was cut by the Townesmen sufficient to carry Boats and Barges 6 Places of memorable note are Whitby where are found certaine stones fashioned like Serpents folded and wrappâ—d round in a wreath even the very pastimes of Nature who when she is wearied as it were with serious workes sometimes forgeth and shapeth things by way of sport and recreation so that by the credulous they are thought to have beene Serpents which a coate or crust of stones had now covered all over and by the prayers of Saint Hilda turned to stones And also
against but withall the unaccessible Mountaines wherewith this Shire is so over-pressed and burdened that many times I feared to looke downe from the hanging Rockes whereunder I passed into those deepe and darke dales seeming to me an entrance into Limbo Among these as say our Historians that hatefull Prince to God and Man Vortiger his Countries scourge and last Monarch of the British Bloud by fire from Heaven was consumed with his incestuous Wife for whom Ninius nameth the Countrey where in his Castle stood Guartiger-Maur of whose rubbish the Castle Guthremion was raised as some are of opinion Yet they of North-Wales will have his destruction and Castle to stand in their parts neere unto Beth-Kelleck whereof wee will further speake in the relation of his life Fatall was this place also to Llewellin the last Prince of the British race who being betrayed by the men of Buelth fled into those vast Mountaines of Radnor where by Adam Francton he was slaine and his head crowned with Ivy set upon the Tower of London 6 Places most worthy of note in this Shire are as ensueth The first is Radnor from whom the Countie receiveth her Name anciently Magi where the Commander of the Pascensian Regiment lay and thought to be the Magnos in Atonine the Emperors Survey This Towne is pleasantly seated under an Hill whereon standeth mounted a large and strong Castle from whose Bulwarke a Trench is drawn along the West of the Towne whereon a wall of stone was once raised as by the remaines in many places appeareth This Trench doth likewise inverge her West side so farre as the River but after is no more seene whose Graduation is observed to have the Pole elevated for Latitude 52. degrees and 45. minutes and for Longitude from the first point of the West set by Mercator 17. degrees and one minute Prestayn for beauteous building is the best in this Shire a Towne of Commerce wonderfully frequented and that very lately Next is Knighton a Market Towne likewise under which is seene the Clawdh-Offa or Offaes Ditch whose tract for a space I followed along the edge of the Mountaine which was a bound set to separate the Welsh from the English by the Mercian King Offa and by Egbert the Monarch a Law made by the instigation of his Wife that it should bee present death for the Welsh to passe over the same as Iohn Bever the Monke of Westminster reporteth and the like under Harald as Iohn of Salisbury writeth wherein it was ordained that what Welsh-man soever should bee found with any weapon on this side of that Limit which was Offaes Ditch should have his right hand cut off by the Kings Officers The fourth place for account is Raihadar Gowy who besides the great fall of Wye with a continuall noise hath her Markets there kept upon the Sabbath which I there observed and here note for an offence 7 Many Rivers arise and run thorow this Shire which were it not that the Hils so cluster together might make the soyle both fertill and fat Such are Teme Lug Ithon Clowdok Dulas Comarton Somegill Guithel Arro Machaway Edway Hawye Eland Clarwen and Wye besides other Loughs that stand betwixt the hills This Shire is divided into sixe Hundreds wherein are seated three Forrests foure Market-Townes sixe Castles and fifty two Parish-Churches as in the Table in the last Page of this Chapter Alphabetically are set and inserted THE COUNTIE OF RADNOR DESCRIBED AND THE SHYRETOWNES SITTUATIONE Anno 16â—8 ¶ An Alphabeticall Table of all the Tovvnes Rivers and memorable places mentioned in Radnor-shire HVNDREDS in RADNOR-SHIRE 1 RAyader-Gowy 2 Knighton 3 Kevenllice 4 Radnor 5 Collowine 6 Painescastell A Aberdow Coll. Arro Flu. Augop Rad. B Banghwid Paines Bettas disserth Coll. Bigildi Knight BLETHVACH Keven Blethuach Forrest Keven Brongwine Paines Buttus Paines C Cascop Keven Castle Dynbod Knight Clarwen Flu. Clirow Paines Clowedoke Flu. Colwin Castle Coll. Colva Rad. Combehire Rayad. Comaron Flu. D Darnall Flu. Discodde Rad. Disserth Coll. Dullas Flu. E Ednall Rad. Edway Flu. Eland Flu. F Fuldibrok Rad. G Garthuagh Rayad. Glasbury Paines Glascomb Coll. Glastray alias Glawdiscre Rad. Glyngwin Rayad. Gwythell Flu. H Harton Rad. Hawye Flu. Hiop Knight I Ithon Flu. K Kevelles Castle Keven Kregrena Coll. Kinerton Rad. KNIGHTON Knight Knukles Forrest Knight Knukles Knight L Llanamro Knight Llanbaderney gareg Coll. Llanbaderne Keven Lanbadarne vynith Knight Llanbeder Paines Llanbester Knight Llandegley Keven Llandewy Knight Llandewy vach Paines Llandilo Paines Landrindod Keven Llanelweth Coll. Llangiallo Keven Llanihangell Keven Llanihangell yerholegan Rayad. Llanihangell Arro Paines Llanihangell Kevenllice Keven Llanihangell Nantmelan Rad. Llansanffred Coll. Llansanffred in Comotoieth Rayad. Llanstephan Paines Llanuereth Coll. Llanyere Rayad. Llowes Paines Lug Flu. Llynhoghlen Paines M Machway Keven Michaels Church Paines Monaghree Keven N Nantmell Rayad. Newcastle Rad. Newchurch Paines Norton Rad. P Painescastle Paines Pilim Keven PRESTEIGNE Rad. R Radnor old Rad. RADNOR new Rad. Radnor Forrest Rad. RAYADER-gowy Rayad. Rulen Coll. S S. Harmon alias Phistharmon Rayad. Standish Rad. Samegill Flu. T Teme Flu. W Whitten Keven Whitehall Knight Weston hall Keven Wye Flu. Y Ython Flu. CARDIGANS-SHIRE CHAPTER IX CARDIGAN-SHIRE in the Welsh called Sire Aber-Tivi is parted on the North from Merioneth-shire with the River Doui by the Plinillimon hils from Montgomery-shire in part of her East and the rest from Breknock-shire with the water Towy and with Tyvy altogether on the South from Caermarden-shire the West is wholly washed with the Irish Sea 2 The forme thereof is horne-like bowing compasse long and narrow and growing wider still towards the North so that from Cardigan the Shire-Towne and uttermost point in the South unto the River Doui her farthest North bounder are thirtie two miles and from the head of Clarwen in the East to Aberysthwyth on her West the broadest part in the Shire are onely fifteene the whole in circumference is one hundred and three miles 3 The Aire is open and somewhat piercing the soile is hilly and Wales-like uneven yet more plaine and champion toward the Sea then in the East or North of the Land For besides that great and high hill called Plinillimon a continuall range of lesser doth shoote along yeelding in their vallies both goodly rich Pastures and very large Pooles which being assisted with Springs from the Rocks doe branch themselves as veines in the body and make fruitfull their passages unto the Sea In Tyvy one of these as Giraldus hath written the Beaver hath been found a creature living both by land and water whose stones the Physitians hold in great price His fore-feet are like unto a dog but the hinder whole skinned as is the goose the dog-like serve him on shore for tto runne and the goose-like as Oares give him swift motion in swimming his taile broad and gristly he useth as a sterne wherewith on the sudden he can
the Disciple of Elvodugus doth tell and their own Histories of Nemethus and Delas besides Cisnerus and others doe shew who were first knowne by the name of Scots as is gathered out of Porphyry alledged by S. Ierome in the Raigne of Aurelianus the Emperour Gildas calleth them the Irish Spoilers Giraldus A Scotish Nation dâ—scended from Ireland which in regard of them by Eginhardus is termed The Ile of Scots by Beda The I le inhâ—bited by the Scots and by other Historians Scotland the great as their seat in Britaine was called Scotland the lesse 8 These when the Romane Empire was farre in the wane burst into Britaine under Reuda their Captaine who entring amitie with the Picts possessed the North part of the Iland and assisted them against the Britaines then ready to fall when the Romanes were gone But these afterward entertaining dissensions amongst themselves put the hazard of their estates on the tryall and chance of one dayes battell fought betwixt them in the yeere of Salvation 740. wherein the Picts not onely lost their lives but soone after even their very name also and Fortune crowning the Scots with victory advanced their Kingdome unto such fame and strength that the same hath long continued without any absolute Conquest or surprise against the assaults of whatsoever enemies 9 Scotlands South part in Galloway washed with the water of Solway Bay toucheth the degree 56. of Latitude and thence inbosoming many Loughes and In-lets upon the East and West extendeth it selfe unto the degree 60. and 30. minutes whose Longitude is likewise laid betwixt the degree 13. and 19. and the same growne very narrow being so neere the North-Pole as lying directly under the hindermost Stars of the Greater Beare 10 The whole Kingdome is divided into two parts by the great River Tay the South whereof is the more populous and more beautified in manners riches and civilitiâ—â— the North more rude retaining the customes of the Wild-Irish the ancient Scot in whose severall Territories these Counties ensuing are contained  South  North. Teifidale Galloway Stirling Loqunbreo Buquhan Merch. Carricke Fife Braidalbin Murrey Laudien Kyle Strathern Perth Rosse Liddesdale Cunningham Menteith Athol Sutherland Eskedale Arran Argile Augâ—is Cathanes Annandale Cluidesdale Cantire Merns Strathnavern Niddesdale Lennox Lorne Mar.  THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND Amongst the things worthy of note of Antiquitie in this Kingdome most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorne upon the Frith of Edenborough unto Alcluyd now Dunbritton opening upon the West Sea where Iulius Agricola set the limit of the Romane Empire past which saith Tacitus there was not other bounds of Britaine to be sought for and that here the second Legion Augusta and the twentieth Legion Victrix built a part of the Wall certaine Inscriptions there digged up and reserved at Dunloyr and Cader doe witnesse as also an ancient coped Monument of an high and round compasse which as some thinke was a Temple consecrated unto the god Terminus others a Trophey raised by Carausius who fortified this Wall with seven Castles as Ninius doth declare 12 At this place began the great and darke Wood Caledonia famous for the wilde white Buls that therein were bred whose Manes were Lion-like thicke and curled of nature fierce and cruell and so hatefull to mankinde that they abhorred whatsoever was by them handled or breathed upon these Woods stretched farre and wide with many turnings darke shades and dreadfull dens and so famous in the Romane Writers that they often used that name for all Britaine whose inhabitants were the last in this Iland that yeelded their necks to the yoake of subjection as shall appeare in our following Story 13 Ninius a Britaine is recorded to have converted the South-Picts unto the Faith of Christ in the Raigne of Theodosius the younger and the Church in Galloway bearing his name doth witnesse it so likewise in the same age Palladius sent from Pope Coelestine becamâ— an Apostle unto the Scots whose reliques lay enshrined at Fordon in Mernis as was verily supposed but that Christianitie had been formerly planted in this uttermost Province is testified by Tertullian in saying the Britaines had embraced the faith further then the Romans had power to â—ollow or persecute them whereupon Peter Monke of Clun in Spaine concludeth their conversion to be more ancient then the Southern Britaines 14 But touching things observable for the present surely admirable is the report of the plentie of Cattle Fish and Fowle there abiding their Neat but little yet many in number Fish so plentifull that men in some places for delight on horse-backe hunt Salmons with Speares and a certaine Fowle which some call Soland Geese spreading so thicke in the Aire that they even darken the Sunnes light of whose flesh feathers and oyle the Inhabitants in some parts make great use and gaine yea and even of Fishes brought by them abundant provision for dyet as also of the sticks brought to make their nests plentifull provision for fewell 15 With these as of wonders I might speake of the natures of those two famous Loughes Lomund and Nessa the latter whereof never freezeth in Winter though never so extreame and the waters of the other most raging in the fairest and calmest weather wherein also floateth an Iland that removeth from place to place as the winde forceth her spongeous and unfastened body In Buquhan upon the banks of Ratra is a Well whose trickling drops turne in Pyramidy-wise into hard stone and another neere Edenborough that floateth with Bitumen In Dee and Done besides the admired plentie of Salmons is found a Shell-fish called the Horse-muskell wherein Pearles are engendred most precious for Physicke and some of them so Orient that they give not place to the choisest 16 No lesse strange then any the fore-mentioned waters but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great inundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tay which bare away the Walles and Towne of Berth and with it the Cradle and young son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royall Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers hardly escaping the danger with life The â—uine of this Towne raised another more famous and more commodiously seated even Perth since called Saint Iohns-Towne 17 Ilands and Inlets yeelding both beautie and subjection to this Scottish Kingdome are the Westerne the Orknayes and the Shetlands reckoned to be above three hundred in number their Inhabitants for the most part using the frugalitie of the ancient Scot. 18 The Westerne lying scattered in the Deucalidonian Sea were anciently ruled by a king of their owne whose maintenance was out of their common Coffers and the Regall authoritie never continued in Lineall succession for to prevent that their Kings were not permitted to have wives of their owne but might by their Lawes accompany with other mens as the like Law was in the other parts of Scotland that the Virginitie of all new wives should be
old time 57.5 Cole in pits of what substance 83.4 Cole-pits in the Bishopricke of Durham 83.4 Cole in pits at Cole-Overton in Leicester-shire 61.1 Colchester by whom built 31 7 In Colchester Constantine the great borne 31.7 Colchester how fortified 31.7 whereof it taketh name 31 7 The civill government and graduation of Colchester ibid. Colledges which were first endowed with lands in all Christendome 45.7 Columbkill where the Kings of Scotland Ireland and Norway were entombed 132.18 Combat betweene Edmond Ironside and Canutus 47.10 Comius Attrebas or of Arras 27.5 Commodus the Emperour his Hercules-like Statue 79.7 Concani See Gangani Concha mother to Saint Patricke 101.7 132.12 Condercum See Chester in the Street Coning i. King why so called 4.7 Connaught Province how it is bounded 143.1 The forme and dimension thereof 143.2 The Aire and Bogghes ibid. 3 By whom inhabited in old time 143.5 Extream famine there 143.8 What religious houses there 143.9 Counties and Townes there 144 Constantius Chlorus the Emperour died at Yorke 78.9 His Sepulcher 78.11 Conwy river how named in old time 123.6 Iohn Cobland a famous and valiant Esquire In the Map of Durham Bishopricke Cobland a part of Cumberland 87.2 Copper-Mine at Wenlocke in Shropshire 71.9 In Cumberland 87.4 Corinaeus 22 Coritani where they inhabited 55.4 59.6 61.4 67.4 Corham or Coverham Abbey 79.8 Corke Countie in Ireland sometime a Kingdome 139 Corke Citie in Mounster how seated 139.6 An Episcopall See ibid. The marriage of the Citizens ibid. Cornavii what countries they held 51.4 53.4 69.5 71.5 73.5 Cornwall why so called 3.2 21.1 Of what temperature for aire it is 21.2 Almost an Isle 21.4 The soile 21.3 The dimension thereof 21.3 The ancient and moderne Inhabitants 21.5 It giveth title of Earle and Duke 21.6 What commodities it yeeldeth 21.7 Religious houses therein 21.10 Hundreds and Townes therein 22 Cottons Family of Coningham in Huntingtonshire 58.8 Coventry a well walled Citie 53.5 A Corporation and Countie by it selfe 53.5 Counsell of the Marches of Wales ordained 71.7 Counsell at Yorke erected 78 9 Courts of Iustice altered by King William Conquerour 5.3 Caway Stakes 29.6 Crediton or Kirton a Bishops See translated to Excester 19.6 Cretingsbury 58.10 Sir Adam de Cretings ibid. Robert Bossu Crouch-backe Earle of Leicester rebelleth 61.6 Buildeth the Abbey of St Maries de Pratls neere Leicester 61.6 Hee becommeth a Canon Regular 61.6 Cuba an Island 1.2 Cumberland how bounded 87.1 The form and aire of it 87 2.3 Whence it tooke name 87.5 Commodities thereof 87.4 The ancient Inhabitants 87.5 A Kingdome ibid. Antiquities therein 87.6 Townes therein 88 Cumri 99.2 Custodes See Lieutenants Cuthbert Bishop of Lindâ—ssarne 93 The tutelar Patron of Northerne English-men against the Scots 83.6 A Saint and much adored 83.6 His Tombe much visited by Kings in Pilgrimage ibid. D Lord Dalbney or Daubney with Cornish Rebels overthrown upon Black-heath 7.10 Danelage 5.3 Danish Law 4.8 Danmonii where placed Danewort hearb why so called 31.5 Darby-shire how bounded 67.1 The forme and dimension of it 67.2 The aire and soile thereof ibid. 3 The Inhabitants of it in old time 67.4 Commodities thereof 67 5 What Religious Houses therein 67.9 Hundreds Towns thereof 68 Darby Towne how named in times past 67.6 Alhallowes Steeple there by whom built ibid. The government and graduation thereof ibid. Darnii people of Ireland 145.5 David Disciple of Dubricius uncle to King Arthur Arch-bishop of Menevia 6.6 David 2. King of Scots prisosoner in Nottingham castle 65.6 Saint Davids Citie 101.7 A Nurcerie of holy men ibid. An Archiepiscopall See 101.6 The Cathedrall Church thereof ibid Saint David Bishop refuteth the Pelagians 113.7 Dee River glideth through Pimple meere without mixture 117.5 Deemsters in the Isle of Man 91.5 Deheubarth i. South Wales 110.15 Deirwand 81.8 Dela his five sonnes seated in Ireland 137.10 Demetia or Dimetia i. South-Wales 100.15 Demetiae what Nation and where planted 101.4 103.4 Or Dimetae 113.5 Denbigh Towne and Castle in North wales 99.11 119.7 An Earth-quake there without harme 119.7 How governed ibid. The graduation of it ibid. Denbigh-shire how limited 119.1 The forme and dimension thereof 119.2 The aire and soile thereof 119. 3.4 By whom inhabited in old time 119.5 The Commodities thereof 119.6 Hundreds and Townes thereof 120 Depopulation in England complained of 4.10 Derwent River 67.3 Earle of Desmonds Rebellion suppressed 139.9 Himselfe beheaded by a Souldier ibid. Deucalidonian sea 99.1 Devils arse in the Peake 67.8 Devils ditch 33.7 37.7 Devon-shire name whence derived 91.1 How bounded 91 1 The dimension thereof 19.2 The aire and soile of it 19.3 What Ports and Havens it hath 19.4 What commodities it yeeldeth 19.5 It giveth titles of Duke and Earle 19.8 What Religious houses in it 19.9 Hundreds Towns therein 20 Diamonds gotten in Cornewall 21.7 In Somerset-shire 23.6 Dyffrin Cluid 119.6 The fairest valley within Wales 99.11 Divelin or Dublin Countie destitute of wood 141.3 Divelin Citie the chief in Ireland why called in Irish Bala Cleigh 141.6 Loyall to the Crowne of England 141.10 How adorned ibid. 11 How governed ibid. Divet i. Pembroke-shire 100 17 Division of this whole worke or Theatre 1.1 A division of England fourefold in Canute his days 4.11 Division of England according to Iurisdiction Archiepiscopall 5.4 Dobuni where seated 45.4 47.4 Domesday booke why so called 5.8 Dopnald King of Man tyrannizeth and flieth into Ireland 92.5 Dorchester by Oxford an Episcopall See 45.4 Removed to Lincolne 6.9 Had Archiepiscopall jurisdiction 6.8 How seated 17.5 The civill government thereof 17.5 The graduation of it 17.6 Dorcester-shire whence it took name 17.1 How bounded ibid. The forme and measure of it 17.2 The aire and soile thereof 17.3 By whom possessed in old time 17.4 The commodities it yeeldeth 17.5 What memorable places there 17.6 What religious houses 17 7.8 What Castles 17.9 Divisions Hundreds and Townes therein 18 Dover the Locke and Key to England 7.5 Downes in Sussex 9.4 Sir Francis Drake compassed the Globe of the earth by Sea 19.4 Drax an Abbey 77.7 Dropping Well 78.11 Dubricius Arch-bishop of Caerlion 6.6 Dunstan against Priests marriage his supposed Stratagem 2â— 6 Duwich an Episcopall See 339 Durol rivae 58.8 Duro sipont See God-Manchester Durotriges where seated 17.4 Durham Bishopricke how bounded 83.1 The forme and dimension of it 83.2 The aire and soile 83.3 4 The ancient Inhabitants of it 83.5 Townes in the Bishopricke 84 Bishops their Royalties 83.6 Durham Citie a Bishops See Ibid. A Countie Palatine Ibid E Eadesburg where now the Chamber in the Forrest 73.7 King Eadgars triumph at Chester ibid. Ealdermen who in times past 4.7 East-England 4.11 East-Riding how bounded 81 East-Riding how seated 77.4 The aire soile and commodities 81.2 3 In East-Riding what Hundreds and Townes 82 Edelâ—fleda built Glocester Church 47.7 Edel-fleda beneficiall to Leicester 61.6 Edith a Saint 45.7 Edmund Earle of Richmond father to King
Belino Brennio Romam invaserunt ibique din morati sunt Sed mille libras auri praemium discessionis à Romanis susci ' pientes mox diversis agminibus alii Graeciam alii Macedoniam alii Thraciam petiverunt sua prole velut quodam examine totam Asiam replêrunt Tantus inde terror Gallici nominis armorum invictaque foelicitas erat in illis diebus ut reges Orientis sine mercenario corum exercitu ulla bella gerere non praesumerent neque pulsi à regno ad alios quam ad Gallos confugerent Non enim aliter Majestatem suam tutari neque amissam recuperare se posse nisi Gallicâ virtute arbitrabantur Itaque in auxilium regis Bithyniae vocati regnum cum eo peractâ victoriâ diviserunt camque regionem Gallo Graciam cognominaverunt which we now call Galatia And thus for a time their victories carried all before them yet at last they had their turne too of ill fortune were expulsed Rome by Camillus fared as their neighbours did and became tributarie to the Empire 4 Then did the name of Gallia comprehend a large portion on Europe besides that which we now call France and was divided by the ancient in Cisalpinam which indeed was a part of Italy that which we now call Lombardy and Transalpinam which Pliny cals Comata from the curled haire of the Inhabitants and Ptolemy Celto Gallatiam as the Greekes gave it Nor yet was this equall to the name of France but was again divided by Caesar in his Commentaries 1 in Belgicam which for the most part belongs to Germany 2 Celticam and 3 Aquitaniam After him Ptolemy gives a third division into foure parts 1 Aquitaniam 2 Lugdunensem the same with Caesars Celtica 3 Narbonensem or Braccatam and 4 Belgicam 5 We must here passe by the out-reaches of Belgia and the rest and confine our tract to those parts which are now governed by one King And though it retaine still the antique appellation which the Inhabitants received from the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their beautie and white colour yet is it best and most properly knowne by the name of France from the Franci or Francones a people of Germany that over-ran these parts and subdued most of them to themselves 6 Now the limits of this new Gallia or France are Westward the Pyrenaean Mountaines which divide her from Spaine and runne crosse the Isthmus that joynes both the Kingdomes They were very famous for rich Mines in so much that being once fired by Shepheards the Gold and Silver runne streaming downe into the lower Countries called up the Inhabitants to prey and was the first occasion of a forraine entry upon those parts Eastward it lyeth upon Germany South-east it is severed with the Alpes from Italy Northward it is bounded with our English Seas and Southward with the Mediterraneum Her chiefe Rivers reckoned by Maginus are 1 Garumna Garrone the greatest 2 Ligeris Loâ—re the sweetest 3 Sequana or Seyne the richest 4 Rhodanus Rosne the swiftest to these we may adde 5 Some upon which standeth Amicus 7 Her ayre is healthfull and her grounds fertile abounds almost with all commodities that may make her one of the happiest Regions in Christendome yet her greatest plenty is of Corne Wine and Salt which she distributes among her neighbouring Nations and enricheth her selfe with such Commodities from them as are not so fully afforded within her owne limits The women too partake of their Countries fruitfulnesse In so much that as the earth is scarce able to beare her plenty so her plenty could hardly sustaine her people had she not a vent for them into Spaine Italy Germany England and other Countries And yet were there long since reckoned Habitatores supra quindecim milliones inter quos octodecim millia nobilium by Maginus 8 In so great a multitude we must looke to find as much variety of Customes and Dispositions It was the report of Caesar long since and seconded by a late Authentike Author Gallicas gentes linguâ legibus institutis inter se differre multa tamen multis esse communia For the most part they are of a fiery spirit for the first on-set in any action but will soone flagge They desire change of Fortunes and passe not greatly whether to better or worse Their women very jocund of a voluble tongue and as free of their speech complementall to strangers and winne more by their wit then their beauty one and t'other are great enticers of mens affectioÌ„s and they enjoy them as freely and securely without either check of conscience or care of report It is esteemed Vitium gentile and indeed they can hardly heare ill for it from any there which is not equally guilty Very factious not onely in carriage of publique affaires but in their private families which proceeds for the most part from a selfe-conceit of their own wit and wealth and those will hardly admit a Superiour Their Nobility have beene reported to be liberall but I suppose that fashion is now worne out My selfe have specially noted the contrary in divers which respect their purse more then their honour and let passe the service and deserts of worthy persons unrewarded as if their gracious acceptance were a sufficient returne of thankes for any office a man can doe them They are practised to this garbe by their pessantry whom they reckon but as slaves and command as their proper servants which the poore snakes take as a favour and are glad to be imployed by their betters that by their protection they may stand more free from the injurie of their equals For the meanest of them are cruell and affect to oppresse their adversarie either by open violence or suite in Law though to their owne ruine They are very ready to take Armes and serve in the defence of King and Countrey need no more presse then the stroke of a Drum but are as rash in their atchievements They will not waite upon Councell but runne as farre on as upon their strength they may and when they find that failes they will as soone give ground 9 It hath had heretofore and yet breeds men of great esteeme for Learning Religion St. Bernard Calvin Beza and Ramus were French and many others both of the Romish and reformed Churches For as yet the people stand divided betwixt both but not equally The Papists are like to coÌ„tinue the stronger hand as long as their holy Father shall make murder a meritorious act For by their severall Massacres they have destroyed many Assemblies of the Hugonites as they call them The greatest I think that was ever practiced by such as had entertained the name of Christians was at Paris in the yeare 57â— when above thirty thousand soules suffered Martyrdome and among the rest some personages of great worth and note 10 It is subject to a Monarchicall government weilded by one sole and absolute King which beares the title