themselves In St. Cleere's-Parish in Cornhil there are upon a Plain 6 or 8 Stones such as are upon Salisbury-Plain which like them too will be mistaken in their telling so that when they are told over again they will be found either more or less than before At Hall near Foy is a Fagot all of one piece of Wood naturally grown so and it is wrapped about with a Band and parted at the ends into 4 Sticks one of which Sticks is subdivided into two others It was carefully preserved many years by the Earl of Devon being reckoned as a fore-token of his Progeny for his Estate is now come into the hands of 4 Cornish Gentlemen one of whose Estates is divided between two Heirs In Landers Park there grows an Oak that bears Leaves speckled with white and another the like in East Hundred called Painters Oak There are 2 Lakes near St. Agnes Hill in one of them Fish will live and thrive but not in the other By Helford is a great Rock lying upon the ground the top whereof is hollow which holdeth water and ebbs and flows as the Sea doth Mainamber a very great Rock in this Shire lyes or resteth upon other smaller Rocks and the push of a finger will sensibly move it to and fro but all the force which men can use cannot move it from its place About 40 years since upon the Shore of this Shire was found by a Fisherman a huge mass of Ambergrease Among the many Ports Bays and Havens this Countrey hath about it that of Falmouth is so copious that 100 Ships may therein ride at Anchor apart by themselves so that from the tops of their highest Masts they shall not see each other and yet lye all safe under wind At Boskenna is a Trophy erected which are 18 Stones placed round pitched 12 foot each from other and another in the Centre far bigger than the rest to shew some Victory there obtained by the Romans or K. Athelston In many Places hereabouts are pieces of Armour both for Horse and Man digged out of the ground Cumberland IS bounded on the East by Northumberland and Westmorland On the West by the Irish Sea On the South by Westmorland and Lancashire and on the North by Scotland It containeth in length 56 Miles in breadth 32 Miles and in Circumference 173 Miles The Air is sharp and piercing but is much mitigated by the Northern Hills which break the Storm and falling Snow The Soil is fertile for the most part both for Corn and Cattle and the Maritime places are well furnished with Fish and Fowl and the Rivers bear a kind of Muscle that beareth Pearl The chief Commodities are Sheep Copper Brass Cole Fowl Fish Cloath and Black Lead It is in the Diocess of Chester and Carlisle and hath in it 58 Parishes Out of it are Elected 6 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Carlisle 2 Cockermouth This County is not divided into Hundreds the former In it are contained 15 Market-Towns Cockermouth Mond Wigton Tuesday Brampton Tuesday Perith Tuesday Bootle Wednesday Whitehaven Thurs Ireby Thursday Kirk-swald Thurs Longtown Thursday Aston Moor Saturday Carlisle Saturday Egremont Saturday Ravenglas Saturday Keswick Saturday Abbeyholm Saturday The chief City in this Shire is Carlisle lying in the Latitude of 55 deg 0 min. Bearing from London N. N. W. and distant therefrom 2â—â— Miles Thus To Warington 136. To Lancaâ—â— 187. To Kendall 203. To Carlisle 235. But 〈◊〉 more accurate admeasurement upon the Roâ—â— 301 Miles This City is pleasantly seated betwixt the 〈◊〉 Rivers Eden Petterell and Cand. In the days 〈◊〉 Egfrid K. of Northumberland was walled about and again defaced by the Danes and so conâ—â—nued 200 years till the time of K. Rufus wâ—â— rebuilt the Castle and placed therein a Coloâ—â— of Flemings This County hath formerly been strengthenâ—â— with 25 Castles which were dissolved by Kâ—â—â— Henry the 8th The Earls of Carlisle since the first Constitution are Hen. Clifford Earl of Cumberland Marcatus Earls of Carlisle Ron. Meschems Earls of Carlisle Andrew Harkley Earls of Carlisle James Hay Earls of Carlisle Charles Howard Earls of Carlisle Prince Rupert Duke of Cumberland The Coat Armor of the City Carlisle is Argent a Castle between two Roses Or In a Chief Gules a Lyon Passant Gardant of the second The Base Wavy Argent and Sable The Principal things remarkable in this County are The Picts Wall extending through the main Land from Sea to Sea built all of Stone it was 8 foot broad and 12 high and from the West Seat to the mouth of Tine in length near 100 Miles ascending and descending over great Crags and high Hills the track whereof in many places is yet to be seen At the end of every thousand Paces there was erected a Watch-Tower in which Soldiers were kept for the securing of the same At Salcelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory erected called by the Inhabitants Long Meg and her Daughters This Monument consists of 77 Stones each 10 foot high above ground and one of them namely Long Meg is 15 foot high Skiddaw-Hill riseth up with two mighty high heads and beholds Scruffell-Hill in Scotland By the mists rising and falling upon this Hill they foresee the change of weather and signifie the same by this Proverb If Skiddaw have a Cap Scruffell wots full well of that In this County there are two other exceeding high Hills viz. Lavvellin and Casticand Upon the Shore of this Shire Trees are many times at Low water discovered by the blowing of the Wind which at other times are covered with Sand. And Trees without Boughs are often digged out of the mossy places which in the Summer time the Countrey People discover by the direction of the dew for the dew never stands upon those places under which these Trees lye Upon the Picts Wall grow Vulnerary Plants which the Scotch Chirurgeons make annual journies to gather which they suppose were first planted by the Romans Derbyshire IS bounded on the East by Nottinghamshire On the West by Staffordshire On the South by Leicestershire And on the North by Yorkshire It containeth in length 34 Miles In breadth 26. And in Circumference 130 Miles The temperature of the Air of this Shire as most of the Inland Counties of England are is very wholsom The Soyl in the South and East Parts very rich but the North and West Parts very hilly with a black and mossy barren ground These two different Soils are severed by the River Derwent the Water whereof in some places is made black by the Earth it passeth by The Commodities of this Shire are Milstones Crystal Alabaster Whetstones And in the Peak Pit-Cole Iron and Lead It is in the Diocess of Lichfield and Coventry and hath in it 106 Parishes Out of it are elected 4 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Derby 2 Its Division is into Six Hundreds viz. Highis Peak Hund. Scarsdale Hund. Workesworth Hund. Appletree Hund. Ofap Hund. Reppington Hund. And
Saturd Wisbich Saturd Ely Saturd The Principal Town in this Shire is Cambridg which as Robert de Reymington tells us was made a University in the Reign of King Edward the First but far more ancient if it be true that is said it was built by Cantabar a Spaniard 375 years before the Birth of Christ However This University is situate in the Latitude of 52 deg 12 min. and lies N. by E. from London and is distant therefrom 44 Miles As from London to Waltham 12 Miles to Ware 20. to Puckeridge 25. to Barkway 32. to Cambridge 44 But by a more accurate Admeasurement the distance of Cambridge upon the Road is 52 Miles The University of Cambridge consisteth of these several Colledges and Halls viz. Colledges and Halls Founded by Anno Domini St. Peters-House Hugh de Balsham B. of Ely 1284. Clare-Hall Richard Badow C. of the Uni 1326. Pembrook-Hall Mary St. Paul 1343. Convile and Cajus Edmund de Genn and Cajus 1348. Trinity-Hall Will. Bateman B. of Norwich 1350. Corpus-Christi H. of Monmouth D. of Lancaster 1351. Kings-Colledge K. Henry the VI. 1441. Queens-Colledge Margaret Wife to K. Henry the VI. 1448. Katharine-Hall Robert Wood Lord Chan. of the Uni 1475. Jesus-Colledge John Alcock Ch. of England 1496. Christ's and S. John's Margaret Countess of Richmond 1505. 1508. Magdalen Tho. Andley Chan. of England 1519. Trinity K. Henry the VIII 1546. Emanuel S. Walter Mildmay C. of the Exch. 1582. Sidney Sussex Francis Sidney Chan. of Sussex 1598. The Town of Cambridge is Governed by a Mayor and Aldermen Cambridge-Arms The Field is Gules a Bridge with three Wall-Towers on it Proper In Chief a Flower-de-luce Or between two Roses Argent The Names of the Earls of Cambridge since the first Constitution William Brother to Ranulph E. of Chester John of Benand Uncle to Philip Q. to Edw. III. William Marquess of Juers Edmund of Langley D. of York Edward D. of York Richard E. of Cambridge Richard D. of York James D. Hamlinton Charles Stuart Duke of York Sussex and Sidney Collateral Remarques in this County The Herb called Scordium or Water-Germander groweth very plentifully in the Fens of which the Cordial Diascordium is made Water-Fowl are so plentiful about the Fens that saith Mr. Speed five Men may be well satisfied with that kind of food for less than an half-penny In the Fen-Grounds also when they have mowen their Grass or Lie as they call it which is very rank so much as will serve their turns they do in November set fire on the rest and the season following it comes up again in abundance Cheshire IT is bounded on the East by Darbyshire and Staffordshire On the West by Denbyshire and Flintshire On the South by Shropshire and Denbyshire On the North by Lancashire It containeth in Length 45 Miles In Breadth 32 Miles And in Circumference 145 Miles The Air for temperature and the Soil for fertility is inferior to none and far exceeding the neighbouring Counties although the Climate be cold yet the warmth of the Irish Seas melt the Snow sooner than in other Countries and the Inhabitants are generally long liv'd The chief Commodities are Corn Cattle Sheep Fish Fowl Mil-stones and Cheese plenty and the best in all England It is in the Diocess of Chester and hath in it 85 Parish-Churches and 38 Chappels of Ease And out of this Shire are Elected 4 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Chester 2 It is divided into Seven Hundreds viz. Wicehall Eddesbury Broxton Bucklow Northwich Macclesfield Nantwich And in these 7 Hundreds are 13 Market-Towns Malpas Monday Maxfield Monday Altrincham Tuesday Tarvin Frodsham Wednes Sanbich Thursday Northwich Friday Stopford Friday Nantwich Saturday Middlewich Saturd Congleton Saturday Huntsford Saturday West-Chester Wednesday and Saturday The principal Town in this Shire is the City of Chester lying in the Latitude of 53 deg 16. min. bearing from London North West and distant therefrom 140 Miles thus To Barnet 10 To St. Albans 20 To Dunstable 30 To Brickhil 37 To Stony-Straford 44 To Tocester 50 To Daventry 60 To Coventry 82 To Colesil 90 To Lichfield 102 To Stone 120 To Wich 135 To Chester 150. This City was raised from the Fort of Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for the Emperor Claudius Over the River Dee is a Stone-Bridge built upon 8 Arches at either end thereof is a Gate and from them Gates issue the Walls of the City in a Quadrangular form high and strongly built In this Wall are 4 Gates 3 Posterns and 7 Watch-Towers On the South part of the City is a stately Castle built in a Circular form and a Court-yard about it enclosed with a circular Wall In the North part is the Minster the Bishop's See This City was incorporated by K. Henry the 7th and is yearly governed by a Maior with Sword and Mace before him 2 Sheriffs 24 Aldermen a Recorder a Town-Clerk and a Sergeant of Peace 4 Sergeants and 6 Yeomen The Arms of the County Palatine of Chester is Azure Three Garbs or Wheatsheaves Or. A Dagger Erect Proper The Arms of the City of Chester is In Pale dexter Gules Three Demy Lyons Guardant Or. The Nobility of this County namely the Earls of Chester since the Norman Conquest Hugh Lupus Richard the Son of Hugh Ranulph Meschines Ranulph Gernones Hugh Cevelioc E. S. Ranulph Blundevil John Scot Earl Things remarkable in this County In the River of Dee is great plenty of Salmon This River upon the fall of much Rain riseth but little but if the South-Wind beat long upon it it swells and overflows the Grounds adjoyning In the lower places of this County on the South-side of Cheshire by the River Wever Trees are oftentimes found by digging under ground which People think have lain hidden there ever since Noah's Flood At Nantwich Northwich and at Middlewich are the famous Salt-Pits of this County It is reported That there are Trees that float in Bagmeer against the death of any of the Heirs of the Breretons and after the Heir is dead they sink and are seen no more till the next occasion Mr. Cambden affirms That the bodies of these Trees swim for certain days together and may be seen of any body And he seconds this Story with another to the like purpose Leonardus Vairus saith he reports That near the Abby of St. Maurice in Burgundy is a Fish-Pond into which are put a number of Fishes equal to the number of Monks of that Place and if any of the Monks happen to be sick there is one of these Fishes seen to float and swim above water as half dead and if the Monk shall die the Fish will also die some few days before In the Parish of Bickley in this County upon the 8th of July 1657. about 3 of the Clock was heard a very great noise like Thunder afar off Upon the hearing whereof two Townsmen going into a Field called the Lay-Field found a very great Bank of Earth which had many tall Oaks
growing on it quite sunk under the ground Trees and all and the Earth for about 20 yards round about it was so shattered and broken that they durst not go near the place where the Bank sunk but since that time by Ropes some have adventured to go to the brink to see the bottom which is Water about 30 yards from the brink and since the Earth about for 16 yards compass is sunk with 3 tall Oaks a tall Awber and other small Trees not one sprig of them to be seen more Land is like to fall daily and when any falls it is much like the Report of a Cannon It is said concerning the Nature and Condition of the People of this County by Lucian the Monk That In Feasting they are friendly At Meat chearful In Entertainment liberal Soon angry and as soon pleased Lavish in Words Impatient of Servitude Merciful to the Afflicted Compassionate to the Poor Kind to their Kindred Spare of Labour Void of Dissimulation And far from dangerous Practices And this more is added by Speed That This Shire hath never been stained with the blot of Rebellion but ever stood true to their King and his Crown Cornwal THis County is bounded on the East by Devonshire On the West and North by the Irish or Virginian Sea And on the South by the British Sea It containeth in Length 70 Miles In Breadth 35 Miles And in Circumference 150 Miles The Air of this County is mightily cleansed by the sharp Gales which blow over it from the several Sea-Coasts making it very pure and subtil and consequently very healthful the County in general except the East end thereof troubled by violent blasts many times leaving their Houses without covers The Soil in most places is hilly separated one from another by narrow Valleys The superficies or upper part of the Land in general is very barren but the inner parts thereof very rich by reason of the great quantities of Tin and Copper-Mines which County continues best stored with that Merchandise of any part of the World besides The Commodities of this County are Copper Tin Fish and Fowl in abundance but Corn and Cattel not so plentiful And besides the Tin and Copper-Mines whose Vein in the lower Valleys at low water may be seen above the ground there are also in some Rocks found Gold and Silver and Diamonds also shaped and polished by nature which Diamonds are not inferior to those so much esteemed save only in blackness and hardness but then they exceed them in magnitude for there are of them found as big as Walnuts It is in the Diocess of Exceter and hath in it 161 Parishes And out of it are elected 44 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Dunhivid alias Lanceston 2 Leskard 2 Loswithell 2 Truroe 2 Bodmyn 2 Helston 2 Saltaishe 2 Camelford 2 Port-Pigham alias Welstow 2 Graw-pound 2 Eastlow 2 Penryn 2 Tregoney 2 Bossiney 2 St. Ives 2 Fowey 2 St. Germins 2 Michell 2 Newport 2 St. Mawes 2 Killington 2 It is divided into 9 Hundreds viz. Penwith Kirri Powder Pider West Trig. Lesnowth East Stratton In which are 21 Market-Towns viz. Stratton Tuesd Truroe We. Sa. Penrin W. F. S. St. Ives We. Fr. St. Colomb Thurs Falmouth Thurs Market Jew Th. Penzanch Thurs St. Germans Frid. Camelford Frid. Listhyel Frid. Foy Sat. East Looe Saltash Padstow Sat. Grampond Sat. Tregnye Sat. Helston Sat. Launston Sat. Liskard Sat. Bodman Sat. The chief Town is Launston lying in the Latitude of 50 deg 42 min. Bearing from London W. S. W. and distant therefrom 170 Miles thus From London to New Brainford 8. To Stanes 12. To Hartley-Row 28. To Basing Stoke 36. To Andover 52. To Salisbury 70. To Shaftsbury 88. To Sherbourn 100. To Axminster 119. To Honiton 126. To Excester 138. To Launston 170. But by more accurate Admeasurement 216. The Dukes and Earls of Cornwal since the first Constitution are Robert de Morton Regnald base Son of William the Conqueror John Son to K. Henry the II. Richard E. of Cornwal and K. of Romans Edward Son to K. Eward I. Pierce Gaveston Earl of Cornwal John of Eltham Earl of Cornwal Edward P. of Wales D. of Cornwal and 2d of Chester Things remarkable in this County The Men of this County are more hardy and strong and so consequently addicted to more boisterous Sports as Wrestling Carrying Pitching the Bar and the like than any English men besides To instance in some few particulars One John Brag carried at his back at one time for the quantity of a Butt length almost 6 Bushels of Wheaten Meal reckoning 15 Gallons to the Bushel and the Miller's Man also a stout fellow of 20 years of age at the same time Also one Kiltor who lying upon his back in Launceston Castle-Green threw a Stone of some pounds weight over the top of one of the high Towers of that Castle These Countreymen are very healthful and long liv'd 80 and 90 years is ordinary One Polzew lived 130 years a Kinsman of his 112 One Beaucham 106 and one Brown a Bowyer 100 And in one Parish in Q. Elizabeth's time there died in 14 Weeks space four People whose ages added together made 340 years And farther One Mr. Chamond who lived at Stratton in this County was Uncle and Great Uncle to at least 300 Persons There is a Stone found here upon the Moors and waste Grounds which they call Moor-stone with which they make Chimney-Pieces Door-Cases and Windows Also another of the colour of grey Marble And the Pebbles here cast upon the Shore are by their working wrought naturally to a round form They have also here of Slate 3 sorts viz. Bley Sage-Colour and Grey In Q. Elizabeth's time a flock of Birds came into Cornwal about Harvest a little bigger than a Sparrow which had Bills thwarted cross-wise at the end with which they would cut an Apple in two at one snap eating only the Kernels which Fowl made a great waste among Apple-trees Almost every Hill in this County sendeth forth Springs of very pleasant and wholsom Water These Countreymen are excellent Archers they commonly shoot 24 score their Arrows being a full yard long wherewith they will pierce any ordinary Armour One Robert Arundel would shoot 12 score out of his right hand with his left hand behind his head And one Rob. Bone shot at a little Bird sitting upon a Cow's back and killed the Bird without touching the Cow Edcomb-House by Plimouth is very rare First For the brave Eccho about it and Secondly For that by it they dig a Stone that serveth for Building Lime Marl and all Some Gentlemen in this County have salt Water-Ponds about their Houses into which if you cast Boughs of Trees Oysters will grow upon them At Saltash is a Well the Water of which will never boyl Pease to an eatable softness The Cement or Mortar of the Walls of Tintogel-Castle resist the fierceness of the Weather more than the Stones
K. Henry the Third and K. Edward the First And with the Interments of Edward the Black Prince Henry the Fourth and Joan his Wife And at Feversham were interred K. Stephen and Maud his Queen After divers afflictions by the Danes this City was at length fortified by Richard the Second and afterwards Walled about by Simon Sadbury Arch-Bishop of that See Next to Canterbury Rochester requires the preheminence of all the other Towns Historians report that this City was first built by Julius Caesar How or by whom these two Cities are Governed I do not find But the Arms of Canterbury is Gules Martlets in a Chief Argent a Lyon Passant Guardant Or. And the Arms of Rochester is Argent a Plain Cross Gules with an R in the Centre Or. In Chief a Lyon of England The Earls since the first Constitution are Odo Bishop of Boyen Will. Iprese E. of Flan. Hubert de Burgh Edmond Woodstock Tho. Holland Edmond Graye Things remarkable in this County are The Medicinal Wells at Tunbridge the Virtues of the Waters of them are sufficiently known At Egerton is a Spring whose Water turns Wood into Stone Three miles South from Tunbridge on the edge of Sussex in a white sandy Ground are divers huge craggy Stones of strange forms whereof two of the greatest stand so close together and yet are divided with so streight a Line as one would think they had been sawn asunder The River of Medway loseth it self under ground and riseth again at Loose not far from Cox-Heath There are three Ridges of Hills in Kent viz. The first is that which runs by Boxtey Dettling Hellingborn c. and is called Health without Wealth The second is that which runs by Sutttonulcomb Booton Malherf c. and is called Health and Wealth The third is that which runs by Tenderden and is called Wealth without Health At Motingham 8 miles from London in Anno 1585. August the 4th after a violent Tempest of Thunder and Rain the Ground suddenly began to sink and three great Elms growing upon it were carried so deep into the Earth that no part of them could any more be seen The compass of the hole is said to be 240 foot about and a Line of 50 Fathom plummed down into it finds no bottom In Tenderden-Steeple about the Belfrey there is a Stone which as the Rain falls upon it out of the Air or the Rain drippings from other Stones about it grows in about 5 or 6 years very manifestly which having been pared away with an Instrument grows up again as high as before Upon the Shoars of the Isle of Sheppey are found weighty Stones out of which Brimstone and Coperas are tryed by boyling them in a Furnace for that purpose Near unto Feversham are Pits of great depth narrow at the mouth and very broad below which have distinction of Rooms or Chambers within them and Pillars of Chalk as it were to support them Great store of Samphire grows on the Cliffs between Deal and Dover At Dengenesse for a mile and more together do naturally grow abundance of hollow Trees among nothing but Beach and Pebbles And Westward from this place Pease grow naturally in Clusters as Grapes do which differ but little in taste from Field Peasen Also between Thâ—net Isle and Sandwich a kind of Hops grow natural y among the Beach and Pebbles In the Isle of Sheppey there are no Moles and if any be carried over thither they suddenly dye The River Stowre that runs through Canterbury breeds the best Trouts in the South-east parts of England At Boxley-Abby about 2 miles from Maidstroe is a Spring the water whereof in 9 days will turn Sticks and small Wood into Stone In the year 1596 upon the 18th of December a mile and half from Westram Southward and not many miles from Motingham Two Closes lying together separated with a Hedg of hollow Ashes then was found a part thereof about 12 Perches long to be sunk six foot and an half deep the next morning 15 foot more the third morning 80 foot more at least and so daily that great Trench of Ground containing in length about 80 Perches and in breadth 28 Perches began with the Trees and Hedges on it to loose it self from the rest of the Ground lying round about it and withal to move and shoot Southward day and night for Eleven days The Ground of two water Pits the one 6 foot deep the other 12 foot deep and about 4 Perches over in breadth having sundry Tuffs of Alders and Ashes growing in the bottom with a great Rock of Stone under them were not only removed out of their places and carried towards the South at least 4 Perches apiece but withal mounted aloft and became hilly with their Sedge Flags and black mud upon the tops of them higher than the face of the Water which they had forsaken by 9 foot and in the place from which they were removed other Ground which lay higher is descended receiving the Water which lyes upon it Moreover in one place of the plain Field there is a great hole made by sinking of the Earth to the depth of 30 foot at the least being in breadth in some places 2 Perches over and in length 5 or 6 Perches Also there is a Hedge 30 Perches long carried Southward with his Trees 7 Perches at the least Divers other Sinkings there be in several other Places viz. One of 60 foot another of 47 and another of 34 foot By means of which confusion it is come to pass that where the highest Hills were there be the deepest Dales and the lowest Dales are become the highest Hills The whole measure of breaking was about 10 Acres In the year 1651. in the Parish of Lenisham 6 miles from London a Medicinal Water was found out and is much frequented Lancashire IS bounded on the East by Yorkshire On the West by the Irish Sea On the South by Cheshire And on the North by Cumberland and Westmorland It contains in length 57 miles In breadth 32 miles And in Circumference 65 miles For the Temperature of the Air it is thin and piercing and not troubled with gross Mysts or Fogs The People are very Comely Strong Healthful long liv'd and not subject to Novel Diseases For the Soil It is not very fruitful yet it breeds a great number of Cattel and those of a very great proportion having goodly Heads and large spread Horns It yieldeth great store of Coles and a competent increase of Flax. The Plain of this County is very good for Wheat and Barley but that which lyes at the bottom of the Hills is best for Oats The chief Commodities that this County affords are Cole Cattel Fowl Fish and Flax. It is in the Diocess of Chester and hath in it 61 Parishes And out of it are elected 14 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Lancaster 2 Preston 2 Newton 2 Wigan 2 Clitherow 2 Liverpoole 2 Its Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Loynsedale
Kine In the year of our Lord 1348. a Plague began in London about Alhallontide and continued till the year 1357. which is 9 years where it was observed That those that were born after the beginning of this Mortality had but 28 Teeth whereas before they had 32. In Anno 1411. Guild-hall in London was built In the 4th year of Edw. the 3d. A Solemn Tournament or Jousting which lasted three days was held in Cheapside London near to Soper-lane where a Scaffold was erected for the Queen Philippa and her Ladies to sit on to see the Jousting which Scaffold fell and though there was no hurt done the King threatned to punish the Carpenters that erected it for their neglect till the Queen upon her knees intreated pardon for them In the 11th year of his Reign was so great a Plenty that in London A Quarter of Wheat was was sold for 2 s. A fat Oxe for a Noble A fat Sheep for 6 d. Five Pigeons for a Peny A fat Goose for two Pence A Pig for a Peny In the 14th year of Richard the 2d on Christmas day a Dolphin was taken up at London Bridge of a monstrous growth and 10 foot long In a Parliament time in this Kings Reign a certain Image was made of Wax by Necromancy which at an hour appointed uttered these words The Head shall be cut off The Head shall be lift up aloft The Feet shall be lift up above the Head This Parliament was called the Marvellous Parliament In the 3d year of Henry the 5th upon Candlemas Day 7 Dolphins came up the River of Thames whereof 4 were taken Upon the 8th of November in the 7th year of K. Henry the 6th the Duke of Norfolk passing through London Bridge His Barge being set upon the Piles overwhelmed so that 37 persons were Drown'd and the Duke with some others that escaped were fain to be drawn up with Ropes In the 18th year of Henry the 6th All the Lions in the Tower died And upon the 18th day of July in the same year the Postern Gate between the two Tower Hills sunk by night above 7 foot into the Ground In the 10th year of King Henry the 7th in the digging a new Foundation in the Church of St. Mary Hill in London the Body of Alice Hackney who had been Buried in that Church 175 years before was found whole of Skin and the Joynts of her Arms pliable her Corps was kept above ground 4 days without annoyance and then Buried again In the 15th year of his Reign was a great Plague of which there died in London in that year 30 Thousand persons In the 9th year of K. Henry the 8th there hapned a Sweating Sickness whereof a number of People died especially in London so thar in 3 and sometimes in 2 hours it took away mens lives It began in July and continued till the middle of December In the 20th year of his Reign in the end of May began another Sweating Sickness in London which infected all places of the Realm In the 27th year of Henry the 8th upon Tuesday in Easter VVeek William Foxley Pot-maker for the Mynt of the Tower of London fell asleep and could not be waked with pinching or burning till 14 days after and when he awaked was found in all points as if he had slept but one night and he lived 40 years after In the second year of Edward the 6th St. Anns Church by Aldersgate in London was consumed by Fire In his 5th year was a Sweating Sickness again more violent than those foregoing for in the first VVeek it began in London there died there 800 persons and it was so violent that it took men away in 24 hours sometimes in 12 and some in less In this Sickness besides divers Persons of Quality and account there died two Sons of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk both dying within an hour one of another and in such order that both of them died Dukes In the 2d year of Q. Mary on the 15th of February in the Sky appeared a Rainbow reversed i. e. the Bow downwards and the ends upwards Also 2 Suns shined at one time being a good distance asunder In the 4th year of her Reign Burning Agues and other-strange Diseases took away very many people so that in London between the 20th of October and the last of December there died seven Aldermen In her 5th year upon the last of September there fell such great store of Rain that Westminster Hall was full of VVater and Boats were rowed over Westminster Bridge into King-street In the 3d year of Q. Elizabeth the Spire of St. Paul's Cathedral in London being 260 foot high above the Stone-work being made of VVood and covered with Lead was with Lightning burnt down together with the Roof of the Church and Steeple and all in less than 5 hours time Also in this year of her Reign were produced many monstrous Births viz. a Mare brought forth a Foal with two Heads and a long Tail growing out between the two Heads A Sow farrowed a Pig with 2 Bodies 8 Feet and but one Head In her 6th year a great Pestilence raged in London whereof there died there in one year 21 Thousand and 5 Hundred persons In her 8th year there died in London in 10 Months space 7 Aldermen In her 15th year appeared the new Star or Comet in Cathedra Cassiopoea In her 17th year the River Thames Ebb'd and Flowed twice in one hour And upon the 9th of September the Heavens seemed to be all on fire In her 26th year was a great Plague in London of which there died besides the Lord Maior and three Aldermen 17 Thousand 8 hundred and 90. and Michaelmas Term was held at St. Albans In the first year of K. James the Plague was so violent in London that from the 23th of December to the 12th of December following there died in London and the Liberties 38 thousand 244 persons whereof of the Plague 30 thousand 568 of which in one Week 3 thousand and 90. In his 3d year a great Porpus was taken at West Ham a mile and half within the Land and a few days after a Whale was divers times seen above the Water in the River of Thames which was judged to exceed the biggest Ship upon the River but tasting the fresh Water retired into the Sea In his 6th year 1609. A Frost began in December and lasted till April following In the 12th year of his Reign the New-River Water was brought to London In the year 1623. on Friday Octob. 24. A Romish Priest Preached in the Afternoon at Hunsdon House in the Black Fryers London in an upper Chamber where 300 persons were assembled to hear him when about the middle of the Sermon a great part of the Floor brake and fell down in the fall whereof the Priest was slain and near 100 of his Auditors and as many more maimed In the 7th year of King Charles the First upon the 29th of May a
this Shire are three small Springs about a Quoits cast from each other the middlemost of which at every quarter of an hour Ebbs and Flows about 8 inches high at the highest and at the Ebb it is so low that it is not an inch deep with VVater Alevinus in an Epistle of his to Egelred K. of Northumberland speaks of the Raining of Blood upon St. Peter's Church at York even in a fair day which descended in a very violent manner from the top of the Roof of the Church And thereupon breaks forth into these Words May it not be thought that Blood is coming upon the Land from the North parts And not long after to fulfil his Praediction the Danes invaded England and among other Outrages burnt the City of York In Scarborough Castle is a little Well of fresh Water springing out of a Rock At Whitbay are Serpents or Snakes of Stone found Upon the Shoar of Moulgrave Castle Jet is found In Cleveland in the North Riding of this Shire about the year 1535. a Triton or Man-Fish was taken that for certain days together fed upon raw Fish but espying his opportunity he got away to Sea again and was seen no more Upon the Shoar of Skengrave whensoever it is calm and the Sea as it were level there is heard many times on a suddain a horrible and fearful groaning as it were a great way off at which times the Fishermen dare not launch out into the deep Near unto Hunt Cliff are certain Rocks about which the seal-Seal-Fishes meet together to sleep and Sun themselves And upon that Rock which is next the Shoar one of the Seals lies to keep Centinel and as any man approacheth he either throws down a big Stone or tumbles himself into the Water with a great noise as a signal to the rest to be gone They are not afraid of Women but only of men and therefore they that catch them put on VVomens Cloaths VVhen they are chased by Men if they be destitute of VVater they will with their hinder feet fling backward a Cloud of Sand and Gravel in the Faces and Eyes of their Pursuers and many times drive them away making them weary of their design in this manner At Huntley Nabâ— at the Roots of the Craggy Rocks that are there upon the Shoar there lie Stones scattered here and there of divers bignesses so artificially and yet naturally Round that one would think they had been turned in a Laythe for Shot for great Ordnance In which if you break them you shall find stony Serpents wrapped round but most of these are headless Almost at the top of Roseberry-topping there is a Spring of Water coming out of a huge Rock Medicinable for Sore Eyes When Roseberry-topping hath a Cloud over it there commonly follows Rain whence this Rhyming Proverb is very frequent with the People When Roseberry-topping wears a Cap Let Cleaveland then beware a Clap. The River Recall hides it self under ground near unto Elmesly in this County Abundance of Springs rise together at Hinderskel a little Castle near Sherry-hutton Castle The Hills in Richmondshire are well stored with Lead Copper and Pit-Coals And on the tops of these Hills Stones have been found like Sea-winckles Cockles and other Fish There is a place in this Shire called St. Wilfrid's Needle being a passage so narrow that one of a mean bulk can but just creep through it The Story goes of it That it easily lets chaste Women through it but holds fast those that have plaid false However the thing may seem a fable at first sight yet if the Women that have plaid false be with Child it may be true without Wonder Anglesey THis Island is encompassed on all sides by the Irish Sea except on the South-East part on which part it is separated from Carnarvanshire by the River Monai It containeth in length 23 miles In breadth 16 miles And in Circumference 67 miles The Temperature of the Air is indifferently healthful and not generally subject to Diseases only subject to Agues at certain Seasons of the year The Soil is dry and Stony and not very sightly as the other Counties of Wales are yet for the abundance of Corn which this County affordeth it hath had the name of the Mother of Wales for that when all other Counties have failed in their Wheat-Harvest this Island hath supplied their defect The chief Commodities that this County affordeth are Corn Cattel Fish Fowl Milstones c. It is in the Diocess of Bangor and hath in it 74 Parish-Churches Out of it are elected 2 Parliament Men. Knight 1 Bewmaris 1 Its Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Talybollion Llyfon Maltraeth Meney Fyndaythwy Twikelyn And in these Hundreds are 2 Market-Towns viz. Newburgh Tuesday Bewmaris Wednes The Principal Town in this Island is Bewmaris lying in the Latitude of 53 deg 28 min. It bears from London N. W. by W. And is distant therefrom 184 miles Thus From London to Chester 142 miles as in Cheshire to Denbigh 160. to Bewmaris 184. But by more accurate admeasurement it is found to be 291 miles This Town was first built by K. Edward the First it is a very fair Town though in a Moorish place and well fortified with a goodly Castle and is very well peopled It is Governed by a Maior yearly chosen with the assistance of 2 Bailiffs 2 Sergeants at Mace and a Town-Clerk Things Remarkable in this County In the low Grounds and Champion Fields of this Island are every day found and digged out of the Earth the Bodies of huge Trees with their Roots and Fir Trees of a wonderful length and bigness Some do suppose that these Trees were cut down by the Romans in their time to destroy their Woods But a more probable conjecture is that these spoils were made on Maritine places for want of industry and good Husbandry in the infancy of the VVorld because they are taken up with the Roots on In this Island are found great store of Mill-stones and Grind-stones Here is also found in some places an Aluminous Earth of which with Cost and Labour they may make Allum and Coperas Brecknock-Shire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Radnorshire Herefordshire and Monmouthshire On the West by Caremardenshire and Cardigan On the South by Glamorganshire And on the North by Radnorshire It containeth in length 35 miles In breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 109 miles The Air is very Temperate the Hills sheltering it from the sharpness which would otherwise blow over it The Soil in the Hilly parts is very Stony and Rocky but full of Springs which make the Valleys exceeding fruitful yielding abundance of Corn and Grass The Chief Commodities are Corn Cotton Cattel and Fish It is in the Diocess of Landaffe and hath in it 61 Parishes Out of it are elected 2 Parliament Men. Cardiganshire IT is bounded on the East by Radnorshire and Brecknockshire On the VVest by the Irish Sea On the South by Carmardenshire and on
And in Circumference 116 miles This Shire hath a very Temperate Air and is generally the pleasantest place in all South Wales For the Soil it is but barren and very hilly the plainest part is that towards the Sea-Coasts which yieldeth plenty of Grain and is most Inhabited The Mountainous part is replenished with Cattel upon whose Hills you may behold whole herds The chief Commodities are Corn Cattel and Sheep It is in the Diocess of Landaffe and hath in it 118 Parishes Out of it are elected 2 Parliament Men. It s Division is into 10 Hundreds viz. Llangevelach Swanzey Neath Newcastle Ogmor Llantrissent Dexispowys Cardiff Caerfily Cowbridge And in these Hundreds are 9 Market-Towns viz. Cowbridge Tues Cardiff Wed. and Satur. Swanzey W. and S. Caerphilly Thurs Penrise Thurs Llantrissent Frid. Bridgend Sat. Neath Saturd Glamorgan The Principal place in this Shire is Landaffe which is the Bishops See It lies in the Latitude of 51 deg 35 Minutes It bears from London West And is distant therefrom 126 miles Thus From London to Monmouth 99. as in Monmouthshire to Landaffe 126. But by more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be distant from London 163 miles At Tave is a Harbour for Ships and by that means is a friend to the Town which is governed by a Maior yearly elected out of 12 Aldermen and assisted by 12 other Burgesses a Town-Clerk 4 Constables and 2 Sergeants with Maces Things Remarkable in this Shire Upon the top of a Hill called Minyd-morgan is a Monument with a strange Character which the Dwellers thereabouts say If any man read the same he will die shortly after Upon the River Ogmore and near unto Newton in a sandy plain about 500 foot from Severn there springs a Well the water whereof is not very clear in which at full Sea in the Summer time can hardly any water be gotten but at the Ebb of the Tide it bubleth up amain And it is observed that this Spring never riseth up to the brink or overfloweth At Abarbarry in this Shire is a Cave under the bottom of a Hill and on the top of it a gaping chink And when the Wind is gathered into that hole and tossed too and fro in the womb of it there is heard as it were a Musical sound like that of Cymbals Giraldus affirms saith Speed That in a Rock or Clift upon the Sea-side and Island Barry lying near the South-east point of this County is heard out of a little chink the noise as it were of Smiths at their work one while the blowing of Bellows to increase the heat then the strokes of the Hammer and sound of the Anvil sometimes the noise of the Grindstone in grinding of Iron Tools Then the hissing Sparks of Steel Gads as they fly from their heating with the puffing noise of Flames in a Furnace Merioneth-Shire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Montgomeryshire On the West by the Irish Sea On the South by Cardiganshire And on the North by Carnarvanshire and Denbyshire It containeth in length 38 miles In breadth 28 miles And in Circumference 111 miles The Air is indifferent wholsom The Soil is very barren and it is very full of spired Hills being the most Mountainous County in all Wales Caernarvanshire excepted And the Shire is subject to very great winds The Commodities that this Shire affordeth are Sheep Fish Fowl and Cottons It is in the Diocess of Bangor and in it are 37 Parishes Out of it is elected only one Member of Parliament Knight 1 Its Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Ardydwy Penllyn Ydeirmon Talybont Ystymanael Mowthy In these Hundreds are 3 Market-Towns viz. Belgelhe Tuesday Harlech Saturday Bala Saturday The principal Town in this Shire is Harlech which lyes in the Latitude of 53 deg 5 min. It bears from London N. W. by W. And is distant therefrom 176 miles Thus From London to Shrewsbury 124 miles as in Shropshire to Welshpool 137 miles to Harlech 176 miles But by an exact admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be distant from London 218 miles This Town standeth bleak enough and hath but few Inhabitants neither are their Houses many and those but of ordinary Building It is annually governed by a Maior Things Remarkable in this County Near unto Bala is a great Pool of VVater that drowns at least 160 Acres of Ground whose Nature is as the Inhabitants report such That the high Land-Floods though never so great do not make at any time this Pool to swell bigger But if the Air be troubled with violent Tempests of Wind it then riseth above its Banks The River Dee saith Speed runneth into this Pool with a sharp Stream and slides through it without mixture of VVaters In this Pool is bred the Fish called Guiniad which is never seen in Dee And in Dee Salmons are taken which are never found in this Pool Upon the Sea-Coasts of this Shire great store of Herrings are taken Monmouth-Shire IT is bounded on the East by Gloucestershire On the West by Brecknock and Glamorganshire On the South by Severn And on the North by Herefordshire It containeth in length 29 miles In breadth 20 miles And in Circumference 84 miles The Air is temperate healthful and cleer The Soil is Hilly Woody and Rich all places fruitful and none barren The Hills are grazed upon by Cattel and Sheep and the Valleys are laden with Corn and Grass The chief Commodities of this Shire are Cattel Corn and Sheep It is in the Diocess of Llandaff and in it are 127 Parishes Out of it are elected 3 Members to sit in Parliament It s Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Wenlooge Abergaveny Skenfrith Ragland Caldicot The Moor. And in these Hundreds are 7 Market-Towns viz. Vske Mon. Frid. Abergavenny Tues Caerlyon Thurs Monmouth Sat. Cheapstow Sat. Newport Sat. Pont Poole Sat. The principal place in this Shire is the City of Monmouth situate in the Latitude of 51 deg 57 min. It bears from London W. by N. And is distant therefrom 99 miles Thus From London to Gloucester 82 miles as in Gloucestershire to Monmouth 99. But by a more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be 127 miles distant from London This Towns situation is pleasant and good seated between the Rivers of Monnow and Wye it hath 3 Gates for entrance besides the Lock or Tower at the Bridge It is a Town of good repute and well frequented It is governed by a Maior 2 Bailiffs 15 Common-Councellors a Town-Clerk and 2 Sergeants for their Attendants The Earls and Dukes of Monmouth are Robert Carey Earl of Monmouth James Scot Duke of Monmouth Things Remarkable in this County The two Rivers of Uske and Wye are full of Salmon and Trouts At Chepstow the River Wye riseth to an exceeding great height At Lanthony Abby saith Cambden the Rain which the Mountains breed falls very often The VVind blows strong and almost all the Winter it is continually