Canutus founded for Nuns who being expell'd within a little time in the year 1040. Leofrick Earl of Mercia enlarg'd it and in a manner built it a-new with so great a show of gold and silver to use Malmesbury's words that the walls of the Church seem'd too strait to contain the treasures of it It was very prodigious to behold for from one beam were scrap'd w Five hundred marks Malmesb. See Dugdale's Warwickshire 50 marks of silver And he endow'd it with so great revenues that Robert de Limsey Bishop of Lichfield and Chester remov'd his See hither as to the golden sands of Lydia that as the same Malmesbury hath it he might steal from the treasures of the Church wherewithall to fill the King's Coffers to cheat the Pope of his provisions and gratifie the Roman avarice However this See after a few years return'd back to Lichfield but upon these terms that one and the same Bishop should be stil'd Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield The first Lord of this City that I know of 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—try was Leofrick who being incens'd against the Citizens laid upon them very heavy taxes these he would by no means remit notwithstanding the great intercession of his Lady Godiva unless she would consent to â—ide naked thro' the most frequented parts of the city â—â—50 which if credit may be given to tradition she perform'd â—egus having cover'd her body with her long dangling hair without being seen by any one and so freed her Citizens from many heavy impositions From Leofrick this City by Lucia his son Algar's daughter came into the possession of the Earls of Chester for she had marry'd Ranulph the first Earl of that name and the third of the family who granted the same Liberties to Coventry that Lincoln enjoy'd and gave a great part of the City to the Monks the residue of it and Chilmore their manour-house near the City he reserv'd to him and his heirs who dying and the inheritance for want of issue-male coming to be divided amongst the sisters Coventry by the death of the Earls of Arundel fell to Roger de Monte alto De monte Alto. or Monthault whose grandson Robert granted all his right for want of issue-male to Queen Isabel Mother of King Edw. 3. to hold during her life after her decease the remainder to John de Eltham brother of the King and to the heirs of his body begotten In default of such the remainder to Edward King of England and his heirs for ever For so you have it in a Fine the second year of Edward 3. But John of Eltham was afterwards created Earl of Cornwall and this place became annex'd to the Earldom of Cornwall from which time it hath flourish'd very much Several Kings gave it divers immunities and privileges especially Edward 3. who granted them the electing of a Mayor and two Bayliffs 11 And to build and embattle a wall about it and Henry 6. who having laid to it some of the neighbouring villages granted by his Charter For so are the very words of it That it should be an entire County incorporate by it self in deed and name distinct from the County of Warwick At which time in lieu of two Bayliffs he constituted two Sheriffs and the Citizens began to enclose it with very strong walls In these are very noble and beautiful gates at that which goes by the name of Gofford is to be seen a vast shield-bone of a Boar which you may believe that Guy of Warwick or Diana of the Groves which you please kill'd in hunting after he had with his shout turn'd up the pit or pond that is now called Swansewell-pool but in ancient Charters Swineswell As to the Longitude of this City it lies in 25 degrees and 52 scruples the Latitude in 52 degrees and 25 scruples Thus much of Coventry which yet that I may ingenuously acknowledge the person who furnish'd me with it you must know you have not from me but from Henry Ferrars of Badsley a person to be respected as for his birth so for his great knowledge in Antiquity and my very good friend who in this and other places courteously directed me and as it were gave me leave to light my candle at his s Near Coventry to the North are situated Ausley Ausley a castle heretofore of the Hastings Lords of Abergavenny and ww Brandon Brand Brand. of old a seat of the Verdons To the East is placed Caloughdon vulgarly call'd Caledon Caledon an ancient seat of the Barons Segrave Barons Segrave from whom it descended to the Barons de Berkley by one of the daughters of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk These Segraves from the time that Stephen de Segrave was Lord Chief Justice of England were Barons of this Realm and enjoy'd the inheritance of the Chaucumbs whose Arms from that time they assumed viz. Arms of the Segraves A Lion rampant Argent crowned Or in a shield Sable John the last of this family marry'd Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk daughter of Thomas de Brotherton and had issue Elizabeth who carry'd the honour of Marshal of England and title of Duke of Norfolk into the family of the Mowbrays Not far from hence is Brinkle Brinkle-castle where was an ancient castle of the Mowbrays to which belong'd many fair possessions lying round it but time hath swept away the very ruins of it t as also of the Monastery of Combe Combe-Abbey which the Camvils and the Mowbrays endow'd Out of whose ashes the fair structure of the Harringtons arose in this place As you go Eastward x Anciently writ Thester Over as being seated castward of Monks-kirby and call'd but lately Cester-over by the inhabitants Dugd. Warwicksh p. 60. Cester-over presents it self the possession of the Grevils of whom I have before made mention Near which Watling street a Military way of the Romans dividing this County to the North from Leicestershire passes by High-cross of which we have already spoken near Nonn-eaton which of old was call'd Eaton but Amicia the wise of Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester as Henry Knighton writes having founded a Monastery of Nuns here in which she her self was profess'd of that number from those Nuns it got the name of Non-Eaton And formerly it was of great fame for the piety of its holy virgins who being constant in their devotions gave a good example of holy living to all about them Near this stood heretofore Asteley-castle Asteley the chief seat of the family of the Asteleys 12 Out of which flourish'd Barons in the time of King Edward the first second and third Baron Asteâ—ey the heiress of which was the second wife of Reginald Grey Lord of Ruthin From him sprang the Greys Marquisses of Dorset some of whom lye interr'd 13 In a most fine and fair Collegiate Church which Thomas Lord Astley founded with a Dean and Secular Canons in the neat
kind which they call Peregrins For according to the account they give of them I need not use other words to describe them than these verses of that excellent Poet of our age Augustus Thuanus Esmerius in that golden book he entitles Hieracosophion Depressus capitis vertex oblongaque toto Corpore pennarum series pallentia crura Et graciles digiti ac sparsi naresque rotundae Flat heads and feathers laid in curious rows O'er all their parts hook'd beaks and slender claws The sea now with great violence assails the land receding from this Promontory which is a small region call'd the Lordship of Kemaes B◠〈◊〉 Kâ—â—â—â— Fâ—â—â—â— The chief place in it is Fiscard seated on a steep rock and having a convenient harbour for shipping so call'd by the English from a Fishery there and by the Britains Aber-Gwain which signifies the mouth of the river Gwain The next is Newport Neâ—pâ—â—â— * At the foot of a high mountain on the river Nevern call'd in British Trevdraeth which signifies the town on the sand 6 And in Latin Records Novus Burgus This was built by Martin of Tours whose posterity made it a corporation granted it several privileges and constituted therein a Portrieve and Bayliff and also built themselves a Castle above the town which was their chief seat They also founded the Monastery of St. Dogmael St. Dogmael bâ—â—â— St. Tegâ—â—â— 7 According to the Order of Tours on the bank of the river Teivi in a Vale encompass'd with hills from which the village adjoyning as many other towns from Monasteries took it's beginning This Barony was first wrested out of the hands of the Welsh by Martin of Tours Lords â—f Kemaâ—â— The faâ— iâ— of the Mâ—â—tinâ— from whose posterity who were from him call'd Martins it descended by marriage to the Barons de Audeley They held it a long time until the reign of King Henry 8. when William Owen descended from a daughter of Sir Nicholas Martin after a tedious suit at law for his right at last obtain'd it and left it to his son George who being an exquisite Antiquary has inform'd me that there are in this Barony besides the three Burrows Newport Fishgard and St. Dogmael 20 Knights-fees and 26 Parishes More inward on the river Teivi already mention'd lies Kil Garan 〈◊〉 Garan which shews the ruins of a Castle built by Giraldus But now being reduc'd to one street it 's famous for no other thing than a plentiful Salmon Fishery For there is a very famous Salmon-Leap â—â—e Salâ—â—â—â—eap where the river falls headlong and the Salmons making up from the sea towards the Shallows of the river when they come to this cataract bend their tails to their mouths nay sometimes that they may leap with greater force hold it in their teeth and then upon disengaging themselves from their circle with a certain violence as when a stick that 's bent is reflected they cast themselves from the water up to a great height even to the admiration of the spectators which Ausonius thus describes very elegantly Nec te puniceo rutilantem viscere Salmo Transierim latae cujus vaga verbera caudae Gurgite de medio summas referuntur in undas Nor thou red Salmon shalt be last in fame Whose flirting tail cuts through the deepest stream With one strong jerk the wondring flood deceives And sporting mounts thee to the utmost waves There have been divers Earls of Penbroke â—â—rls of â—â—nbrâ—ke descended from several families As for Arnulph of Montgomery who first conquer'd it and was afterwards out-law'd and his Castellan Girald of Windsor whom King Henry 1. made afterwards President over the whole country I can scarce affirm that they were Earls King Stephen first conferr'd the title of Earl of Pembroke upon Gilbert Strongbow son of Gislebert de Clare He left it to his son Richard Strongbow the Conquerour of Ireland who was as Giraldus has it à Clara Clarensium familia oriundus descended from the famous family of the Clares Isabella the only daughter of this Earl brought this title to her husband William Marshal so call'd for that his Ancestors had been hereditary Marshals of the King's palace a very accomplish'd person well instructed in the arts of peace and war Of whom we find this Epitaph in Rudburn's Annals Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Me Mars the French their Sun the English own'd The Normans Mercury Irish Saturn found After him his five sons were successively Earls of Pembroke viz. William call'd the younger Richard who having rebell'd against Henry 3. fled into Ireland where he died in battel Gilbert who at a tournament in War was unhors'd and so kill'd and Walter and Anselm 8 Who enjoy'd this honour but a few days All these dying in a short space without issue King Henry 3. invested with the honour of this Earldom William de Valentia of the family of Lusignia in Poictiers who was his own brother by the mother's side and marry'd Joan the daughter of Gwarin de Mont Chensey by a daughter of William Marshal To William de Valentia succeeded his son Audomar who was Governour of Scotland under K. Edw. 1. His 9 Eldest second sister and coheiress Elizabeth being marry'd to John Lord Hastings brought this title into a new family For Lawrence Hastings his grandchild by a son 10 Lord of Weishford and c. who was Lord of Abergavenny was made E. of Penbroke by a Rescript of K. Edward 3. a copy whereof it may not be amiss to subjoyn here that we may see what right there was by heirs-female in these honorary titles Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Know ye that the good presage of wisdom and virtue which we have conceiv'd by the towardly youth and happy beginnings of our most well beloved Cousin Lawrence Hastings deservedly induce us to countenance him with our especial grace and favour in those things which concern the due preservation and maintenance of his honour Whereas therefore the inheritance of Aimar of Valence sometime Earl of Penbroke deceas'd long since without heir begotten of his body hath been devolv'd upon his sisters proportionably to be divided among them and their heirs because we know for certain that the foresaid Lawrence who succeedeth the said Aimar in part of the inheritance is descended from the eldest sister of Aimar aforesaid and so by the avouching of the learned whom we consulted about this matter the Prerogative both of name and honour is due unto him We deem it just and due that the same Lawrence claiming his title from the elder sister assume and have the name of Earl of Penbroke which the said Aimar had whilst he liv'd Which as much as lyeth in us we confirm ratifie and also approve unto him willing and granting that the said Lawrence have and hold the Prerogative and honour of Earl-Palatine in those lands
in the publick Records of the kingdom they must excuse me if I suspend my assent till they convince me upon better grounds Not but I own the family of the Glanvils to have made a very great figure in these parts But before Edward the third's time I could never yet find it vouch'd by good authority that any one was honour'd with the title of Earl of this County But that King made Robert de Ufford a person of great exploits both at home and abroad son of Robert Steward of the King's house under Edward the second by Cecilia de Valoniis Lady of Orford Earl of Suffolk To him succeeded his son William whose four sons were snatcht away by an untimely death in his life time and himself just as he was a going to report the opinion of the House of Commons in Parliament fell down dead Robert Willoughby Roger Lord of Scales Inq. 5. Rich. 2. and Henry de Ferrariis of Grooby as next heirs at Law divided the estate Lel. Com. in Cygnaam Cant. Wallingham p. 35â— Regist Mâ—n de Melsa And Richard the second advanc'd Michael de la Pole from a Merchant to this honour and to the dignity of Lord Chancellour of England Who as Tho. Walsingham tells us was better vers'd in merchandize as a Merchant himself and the Son of a Merchant than in martial matters For he was the son of William de la Pole the first Mayor of Kingston upon Hull See Hull in Yorkshire i See Brook's Catalogue p. 305. and Discovery of Errours p. 46. 57 58 59. who upon account of his great wealth had the dignity of a Banerett conferr'd upon him by Edward the third But wanting a spirit fit to receive those crowds of prosperity he was forc'd to quit his Country and dy'd in banishment However his being a Merchant does not by any means detract from his honour for who knows not that even our Noblemen's sons have been Merchants Nor will I deny that he was nobly descended though a Merchant 20 Michael his son being restor'd dy'd at the siege of Harslew and within the space of one month his son Michael was in like manner slain in the battel of Agincourt leaving daughters only Michael his son being restor'd had a son Michael slain in the battel of Agincourt and William whom Henry the sixth from Earl of Suffolk first created Marquiss of Suffolk 21 As also Earl of Pembroke to him and the heirs male of his body and that he and his heirs male on the Coronation-day of the Kings of England carry a golden Verge with a dove on the top of it and such another Verge of Ivory at the Coronation of the Queens of England Afterwards he advanc'd the same person for his great deserts to the honour and title of Duke of Suffolk And indeed he was a man truly great and eminent For when his father and three brothers had lost their life in the service of their Country in the French wars he as we read in the Parliament-Rolls of the 28th of Henry 6. spent thirty whole years in the same war For seventeen years together he never came home once he was taken while but a Knight and paid twenty thousand pound * Nostrae monetae sterling for his ransom Fifteen years he was Privy-Councellor and Knight of the Garter thirty By this means as he gain'd the entire favour of his Prince so did he raise the envy of the people 22 Insomuch that being vehemently accus'd of treason and misprisions and on that account summon'd to appear before the King and Lords in Parliament assembled after having answer'd the Articles objected he referr'd himself to the King's Order Whereupon the Chancellor by his Majesty's special command pronounc'd That whereas the Duke did not put himself on his Peers the King as for what related to the Articles of Treason would remain doubtful and with respect to those of Misprision not as a Judge by advice of the Lords but as a person to whose order the Duke had voluntarily submitted himself did banish him from the Realms and all other his Dominions for five years But he was surpriz'd c. and so for some slight misdemeanours and those too not plainly prov'd upon him he was banish'd and in his passage over into France was intercepted by the enemy and beheaded He left a son John who marry'd Edward the fourth's sister and had by her John Earl of Lincoln This Earl John being declar'd heir apparent to the Crown by Richard the third could not suppress his ambition but presently broke out against King Henry the seventh to his own destruction for he was quickly cut off 23 In the battel at Stoke in the Civil war to his father 's also who dy'd of grief and to the ruine of the whole family which expir'd with him For his brother Edmund styl'd Earl of Suffolk making his escape into Flanders began to raise a Rebellion against King Henry the seventh who better satisfy'd with repentance than punishment had pardon'd him for some heinous Crimes But a little after he was by Philip of Austria Duke of Burgundy against the Laws of Hospitality as they then worded it deliver'd up to Henry who solemnly promis'd him his life but clap'd him in prison Henry the eighth not thinking himself oblig'd to a promise of his father's when he had thoughts of going for France cut him off for fear there might be some insurrections in his absence But Richard his younger brother living under banishment in France made use of the title of Duke of Suffolk who was the last male of the family that I know of and dy'd bravely in the thick of the enemies troops An. 1524. in the battel of Pavie wherein Francis the first King of France was taken prisoner For his singular valour his very enemy the Duke of Bourbon bestow'd upon him a splendid Funeral †Atratúsque interâ—uit and was himself one of the Mourners Afterwards King Henry 8. conferr'd the title of Duke of Suffolk upon 24 Sir Charles Charles Brandon to whom he had given Mary his sister widow of Lewis the 12th King of France in marriage 25 And granted to him all the Hmours and Manours which Edmund Earl of Suffolk had forfeited He was succeeded by his young son Henry and Henry by his brother Charles but both dying of the ‖ Sudore Britannico Sweating-sickness 26 On one day in the year 1551. Edward the sixth dignify'd Henry Grey Marquiss of Dorchester who had marry'd Frances their sister with that title But he did not enjoy it long till he was beheaded by Queen Mary for endeavouring to advance his daughter to the Throne and was the last Duke of Suffolk From that time the title of Suffolk lay dead till of late King James in the first year of his reign created Thomas Lord Howard of Walden second son of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Earl of Suffolk
I always thought came from the ancient Castilion family of the Earls of St. Paul â— Paul in France but the Coat of Arms of Luxemburgh that they bear is a sign that they came out of France since that Castilion family of St. Paul was by marriage ingrafted into that of Luxemburgh which was about two hundred years ago Above this the Trent the Idell and the Dan as they play along in their several streams thus Frontinus expresses it make a river Island Axelholme in Saxon Eaxelholme which is part of Lincolnshire in length from south to north 10 miles â—â—sholm but not past half so broad The lower part near the rivers is marshy and produces an odoriferous shrub call'd Gall 22 It yieldeth also Pets in the mores and dead roots of fir-wood which in burning give a rank sweet savour There also have been found great and long fir-trees while they digg'd for Pet both within the isle and also without at Laughton upon Trent bank the old habitation of the family of Dalanson now contractly call'd Dalison The middle has a small ascent and is both rich and fruitful yielding flax in great abundance and also Alabaster 〈◊〉 which being not very solid is more proper for lime and plaisterwork than for other uses â—â—â—aster The chief town was formerly call'd Axel now Axey from whence by adding the Saxon word Holme which among them signified a river-island the name without question was compounded It hardly deserves to be call'd a town 't is so thinly inhabited nevertheless there is to be seen a platform of a castle that was demolish'd in the Barons war and belonged to the Mowbrays who at that time had a great part of the island in their possession In the year 1173. Roger de Mowbray as the Author of an old Chronicle has it forsaking his allegiance to the Hâ—â—ry ◠〈◊〉 reâ—â— to his 〈◊〉 be â—â—gâ—r Elder King repair'd a Castle formerly demolish'd in the Isle Axelholme near Kinard ferry which Castle a great number of Lincolnshire-men passing over in boats besieged and compell'd the Constable and all the soldiers to surrender and laid it level with the ground A little higher lies Botterwic the owner whereof 23 Sir Edmund Sheffeld Edmund Sheffeld was the first Baron of that family created by Edward the sixth and lost his life for his Country against the Norfolk rebels having by Anne Vere a daughter of the Earl of Oxford John the second Baron father to Edmund who is now Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter 24 President of the Council establish'd in the north More northward on the other side of Trent is Burton Stather of which I have not as yet read any thing remarkable Since Egga who liv'd in the year 710 and Morcar both Saxons that were only Officiary Earls this County has given the title of Earl to William de Romara a Norman Earls of Lincoln after whose death for this title was never enjoy'd by his son who died before him nor by his grandson King Stephen conferr'd it on Gilbert de Gaunt who succeeded him but he dying Simon de St. Licius the younger son of Earl Simon you have the very words of Robert Montensis who lived about that time when he wanted lands 2 Hen. 2. receiv'd from King Henry 2. his only daughter to wife together with his honour Afterwards Lewis of France who was call'd into England by the rebellious Barons created another Gilbert of the de Gaunts family Earl of Lincoln but as soon as Lewis was forc'd away and he found himself acknowledg'd Earl by no man he quitted the title of his own accord Then Ralph the sixth Earl of Chester had this honour granted him by King Henry 3. and a little before his death gave by Charter to Hawise his sister wife of Robert de Quincy the Earldom of Lincoln so far forth as it appertain'd to him that she might be Countess thereof for so are the veâ—y words of the Charter She in like manner bestow'd it on John de Lacy Constable of Chester and the heirs he should beget on Margaret her daughter This John begat Edmund who dying before his mother left this honour to be enjoy'd by Henry his son the last Earl of this family For when he lost his sons by untimely deaths he contracted his only daughter Alice when but nine years old to Edmund Earl of Lancaster on condition that if he should dye without issue of his body or if they should dye without heirs of their bodies his Castles Lordships L iger-bâ—ok of Stanlow c. should come in the remainder to Edmund Earl of Lancaster and his heirs for ever But this Alice having no children by her husband Thomas who was beheaded lost her reputation by her light behaviour for that she without the K.'s consent was married to 25 Sir Eubul Eubulo Le-Strange Edw. 2. with whom she had been formerly somewhat too intimate for which reason the offended King seiz'd her estate 26 Yet both Sir Eubul Strange and Sir Hugh Frene her third husband are in some Records nam'd Earls of Lincoln But Alice being very old and dying without issue Henry Earl of Lancaster grandchild to Edmund by his second son had this her large patrimony by virtue of the aforesaid conveyance and from this time it became the inheritance of the house of Lancaster Nevertheless the Kings of England have conferr'd on several the title of Earl of Lincoln as Edward 4. on 27 Sir John John De-la-pole and Henry 8. on Henry Brandon who were both sons of the Dukes of Suffolk and died without issue Then Qu. Eliz. promoted to this honour See Dukes of Suffolk Edward Baron Clinton Lord High Admiral of England by whose very honourable son Henry 't is at present enjoy'd There are in this County about 630 Parishes ADDITIONS to LINCOLNSHIRE a THE corner of this County where Mr. Camden begins his survey seems formerly to have been a very inconsiderable or rather no part of it For as he observes from the banks there that the sea must once have come something farther so Mr. Dugdale putting Holland in the same number with Marshland in Norfolk and some other maritime places plainly proves that they have been long ago by great industry gain'd from the sea and were for many ages nothing but a vast and deep fen affording little benefit to the nation besides fish or fowl b As to the original of the name I shall not make the least scruple to joyn this and Holland â—â—lland in the Netherlands together agreeing so exactly in their situation soil and most other circumstances setting aside the difference of improvements which no doubt are much more considerable in one than the other but are nothing to our purpose so long as the primitive state of both was much the same Mr. Butler's conjecture drawn from the Saxon holt a wood and Ingulphus's Hoilandia which has given
Throw in a cloth you 'll see it straight ascend For all 's bore upward by the conqu'ring wind But all that 's remarkable in this high and rough little country a certain person has endeavour'd to comprise in these f Hobbs has comprehended the seven wonders in one verse Aedes mons barathrum binus fons antraque binà four verses Mira alto Pecco tria sunt barathrum specus antrum Commoda tot plumbum gramen ovile pecus Tot speciosa simul sunt Castrum Balnea Chatsworth Plura sed occurrunt quae speciosa minus Nine things that please us at the Peak we see A Cave a Den and Hole the wonders be Lead Sheep and Pasture are the useful three Chatworth the Castle and the Bath delight Much more you 'll find but nothing worth your sight 7 To these wonders may be added a wonderful Well in the Peake-forest not far from Buxtons which ordinarily ebbeth and floweth four times in the space of one hour or thereabouts keeping his just tides and I know not whether Tideswell a market town hereby hath his name thereof Hol. As to what he says of the justness of the tides there is no such thing for sometimes it does not flow once in two days and sometimes it flows twice in an hour Those of the Peverels who as I have said before were Lords of Nottingham Lords aâ—â— Earls of Derby are also reported to have been Lords of Derby Afterwards King Rich. 1. gave and confirm'd to his brother John Simeon Dunchâ—â—â—sis Horeden Mat. Par. 204. the County and Castle of Nottingham Lancaster Derby c. with the Honours belonging to them and the Honour also of Peverel After him those of the family of the Ferrars as for as I can gather from the Registers of Tutbury Merivall and Burton Monasteries were Earls William de Ferrariis born of the daughter and heir of Peverel whom King John as it is in an ancient Charter An ancieâ—â— Charter 1 Joan. ‖ Cinrit c. created Earl of Derby with his own hands William his son 8 Who being bruis'd with a fall out of his coach dy'd in the year 1254. and Robert the son of this William who in the Civil wars was so stripp'd of this dignity that none of his posterity tho' they liv'd in great state were ever restor'd to their full honours Many possessions of this Robert were given by King Henry 3. to his younger son Edmund and King Edward 3. so says the original record by Act of Parliament gave Henry of Lancaster the son of Henry Earl of Lancaster the Earldom of Derby to him and his heirs and likewise assign'd him 1000 marks yearly during the life of Henry Earl of Lancaster his father From that time this title continued in the family of Lancaster till King Henry 7. bestow'd it upon Thomas Stanley who had not long before marry'd Margaret the King's mother 9 To him and his heirs males He had for his successor his grandson Thomas begotten by George his son on the body of Joan the heiress of the Lord Strange of Knocking This same Thomas had by the sister of George Earl of Huntingdon Edward the third Earl of this family highly commended for his courteousness and hospitality who of the Lady Dorothy daughter to the first Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk begat Henry the fourth Earl who soon obtain'd very honourable employments and left by the Lady Margaret daughter of Henry Earl of Cumberland Ferdinand and William successively Earls of Derby Ferdinand dy'd after a strange manner in the flower of his youth leaving by Margaret her right name is Alice his wife daughter of Sir John Spenser of Althorp three daughters viz. Anne marry'd to Grey Bruges Lord Chandos Frances espous'd to Sir John Egerton and Elizabeth the wife of Henry Earl of Huntingdon William the sixth Earl now enjoyeth the honour and hath issue by Elizabeth daughter to Edward late Earl of Oxford and now William g See an account of this family in Lancashire under the title Ormeskirke the sixth Earl of Derby of this family a man of great worth and honour enjoys that dignity Thus far of the Counties of Nottingâ—â—â— and Derby partly inhabited by those who in Bede 's time were call'd Mercii Aquilonares The Noâ—thern â—â—cians because they dwelt beyond the Trent northward and possest as he says the land of seven thousand families This County includes 106 Parishes ADDITIONS to DERBYSHIRE a IN the more southerly part of this County upon the river Trent is Repton Repton where Matilda wife to Ralph Earl of Chester founded a Priory of Canons Regular of the Order of St. Austin in the year 1172. And since the dissolution Sir John Port of Etwall in this County by his last Will order'd a Free-school to be erected appointing certain lands in the Counties of Derby and Lancaster for the maintenance of this and an Hospital at Etwall both which are still in a prosperous condition b The Trent running forward receives the river Derwent and upon it stands Derby Derby which had not this name by an abbreviation of Derwent and the addition of by as our Author imagines but plainly from being a shelter for deer which is imply'd in the true name of it Deoraby And what farther confirms it is that 't was formerly a park and in the arms of the town to this day is a buck couchant in a park Which joyn'd to the Lodge-lane still the name of a passage into the Nuns-green as they put the original of it out of all doubt so do they evidently shew the ancient condition of the place When the town was built does not appear but its privileges and ancient charters argue it to be of good antiquity It is exempted from paying toll in London or any other place except Winchester and some few other towns and is a staple-town for wool a very ancient manufacture of this Kingdom There was formerly in it a Chapel dedicated to St. James near which in digging some cellars and foundations of houses bones of a great size have been found And on the north-side of St. James's lane within the compass of ground where the Chapel stood a large stone was made bare which being gently remov'd there appear'd a stone-coffin with a very prodigious corps in it but this upon the first motion of the stone turn'd into dust The Coffin was so cut as to have a round place made for the head wide about the shoulders and so narrower down to the feet On the south-east corner of the town stood formerly a castle tho' there have been no remains of it within the memory of man But that there was one appears from the name of the hill call'd Cow-castle-hill and the street that leads west to St. Peter's Church in ancient Deeds bearing the name of Castle-gate In Allhallows Church there is a monument for one Richard Crashaw of London Esquire who dy'd the 20th of June An.
living and Duke of Northumberland by the courtesie of England made use of this title for some time and afterwards Ambrose a person most accomplisht in all heroick qualities and of a sweet disposition by the royal favour of Queen Elizabeth had in my time the title restor'd him 16 And his heirs males and for defect of them to Robert his brother and the heirs males â—f his body lawfully begotten maintain'd the honour with great applause and at last dy'd without issue 17 This Honour Ambrose bare with great commendation and died without children in the year 1589. shortâ—y â—fter his brother Robert Earl of Leicester In this County are 158 Parish-Churches ADDITIONS to WARWICKSHIRE THIS County at first sight should promise a considerable stock of Antiquities being almost encompass'd with old Roman ways which generally afford us the largest treasure Watlingstreet runs along the East-part Ykenild-street upon the West and both are cut by the Foss crossing it from South-west to North-east And had but Sir William Dugdale took the liberty of making larger digressions of that kind either in the body of his work as such places lay in his way or in the method which Dr. Plott has since us'd making such Antiquities an Appendix to his elaborate work we should probably have found the discoveries answerable to the appearance and that those ways would have contributed the same assistance to that search as they do in other Counties I dare not call it an omission because it did not so directly fall under his design but if it were those many excellent digressions he has given us concerning the nature and difference of Monastick orders consecrations of Churches and such like would make ample satisfaction However since we cannot compass the whole let us be content with what we have and accompany Mr. Camden to the several parts of this County a Only we must premise something of the condition of its two general branches Feldon and Wood land That the first was once exceeding populous may certainly be inferr'd from the numbers of villages enter'd in Domesday the situation whereof are now known only by their ruins or at most by a cottage or two of a Shepherd's who ranges over and manages as much ground as would have employ'd a dozen Teems and maintain'd forty or fifty families The reason of converting so much Tillage into Pasture in this part seems to be the great progress the Woodlanders have made in Agriculture by which means the County began to want Pasture For the Iron-works in the Counties round destroy'd such prodigious quantities of wood that they quickly lay the Country a little open and by degrees made room for the plough Whereupon the Inhabitants partly by their own industry and partly by the assistance of Marle and of other useful contrivances have turn'd so much of Wood and Heath-land into Tillage and Pasture that they produce corn cattel cheese and butter enough not only for their own use but also to furnish other Counties whereas within the memory of man they were supply'd with Corn c. from the Feldon b Feldon is recommended for the delicate prospect it affords from Edge-hill â—c â—hill but Edge-hill it self is since become much more considerable for that signal battel fought there between the King and Parliament Sept. 9. 1642. The generality of our Historians compute the number of the slain to have been five or six thousand but by the survey taken by Mr. Fisher Vicar of Kineton who was appointed by the Earl of Essex for that purpose the list of the slain amounted only to thirteen hundred and odd On the Noth-east corner of Edge-hill stands Ratley â—y call'd falsly by our Author Rodley it never appearing under that name only in Domesday-book it is indeed call'd Rotelei The fortification he mentions is not round but quadrangular and contains about 12 acres Near which within our memory were found a sword of brass and a battle-ax something of this kind our Author observes to have been discover'd at the foot of St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall The shape of the horse mention'd by our Author is on the side of Edge-hill and the trenches that form it are cleans'd and kept open by a neighbouring Freeholder who holds lands by that service c Kineton â—on cannot be as Mr. Camden would have it deriv'd from its market of kine because Henry 1. gave this Church under the name of Chinton to the Canons of Kenilworth â—â—de â—â—orth whereas the market was not granted till 4 Henr. 3. But 't is probable it had that name from being the possession of the Kings particularly of Edward the Confessor or William the Conquerour And to the North-west of the town at the point of a hill still call'd Castle-hill there has been a Castle as appears by a little mount cast up and a broad and deep ditch round it where tradition says King John kept his Court a Spring also at the foot of the hill goes at this day by the name of King John's well North-east from Kineton is Chadshunt Chadshunt one of the 24 towns given by Leofrick Earl of Mercia to the Monastery of Coventry in his Charter call'd Chaddesleyhunt and in Domesday Cedesleshunte 'T is probable it had that name from S. Chadde call'd also Cedde and Ceadde For in the Chapel yard was an ancient Oratory and in it as the Inhabitants report the Image of St. Chadde by reason of the resort of Pilgrims worth 16 l. per An. to the Priest Inquis capt 4. Eliz. Here is also a Well or Spring that still retains the name of Chad's well Not far from hence is Nether Ealendon Nether Ealendon which manour was held of Henry de Ferrers at the time of the Conquest and continues at this day in the hands of his posterity of the male-line such an uninterrupted succession of owners for so many ages as we seldom meet with Till Henry the third's time it was their principal seat then removing into Derbyshire they took the name of Shirley and the present Lord of this place is Sir Robert Shirley Baronet d More Eastward stands Wormleighton Wormleighton of which place Mr. Camden tells us Robert Spenser was created Baron by K. James 1. * Baronage Tom. 2. p. 418. Dugdale also says that Sir Robert Spenser son to Sir John and not Sir John as it is in some Editions of our Author was he upon whom K. James 1. on the 21th of July and first year of his reign conferr'd the dignity of a Baron under the title of Lord Spenser of Wormleighton whose grandson Henry Lord Spenser being advanc'd by K. Charles the first to the title of Earl of Sunderland and in arms for that Prince in the late civil wars lost his life in the first battel of Newbury e Next we go forward to Long-Ichingdon Long-Ichingdon so call'd from the river Ichene on which it stands †Dugdaâ— p. 230. and memorable for the
pile them up in heaps and burn them to ashes which being afterwards scatter'd on the land thus pared does so enrich them that it 's scarce credible what quantities of Rye they produce Nor is this method of burning the ground any late invention but very ancient as appears out of Virgil and Horace Amongst these Hills is a place call'd Kerig y Drudion or Druid-stones a and at Voelas there are some small pillars inscrib'd with strange letters which some suspect to be the characters used by the Druids b Not far from Klokainog we read this Inscription on a stone AMILLIN TOVISATOC c Towards the Vale where these mountains begin to be thinner lies Denbigh Dâ—nâ—igh seated on a steep rock nam'd formerly by the Britains Kled-vryn yn Rhôs which signifies the craggy hill in Ros for so they call that part of the County which K. Edw. 1. bestow'd with many other large possessions on Davidh ap Grufydh brother of Prince Lhewelyn But he being soon after attainted of high treason and beheaded King Edward granted it to Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln who fortified it with a very strong wall though of a small circumference and on the south-side with a castle adorn'd with high towers But his only son being unfortunately drown'd in the Castle-well he was so much griev'd thereat that he desisted from the work leaving it unfinish'd After his decease this town with the rest of his inheritance descended by his daughter Alice to the house of Lancaster From whom also when that family decay'd it devolv'd first by the bounty of King Edw. 2. to Hugh Spenser and afterwards to Roger Mortimer 1 Earl of Winchester by covenant with King Edw. 3. For his Arms are seen on the chief gate But he being sentenced to dye and executed it 2 With the Cantreds of Ross and Riewiâ—ock c. fell to William Montacute 3 After Earl of Salisbury Earl of Salisbury 4 For surprising of Mortimer tho' soon after restor'd to the Mortimers and by these at length came to the House of York For we read that out of malice to K. Edw. 4. who was of that house this town suffer'd much by those of the family of Lancaster Since which time either because the inhabitants disliked the situation of it for the declivity of the place was no ways convenient or else because it was not well serv'd with water they remov'd hence by degrees insomuch that the old town is now deserted and a new one much larger sprung up at the foot of the hill which is so populous that the Church not being large enough for the inhabitants they have now begun to build a new one where the old town stood partly at the charges of their Lord Robert Earl of Leicester and partly with the money contributed for that use by several well-disposed persons throughout England This Robert Earl of Leicester was created Baron of Denbigh by Queen Elizabeth in the year 1566 5 To him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten Nor is there any Barony in England that hath more Gentlemen holding thereof in see We are now come to the heart of the County Drâ—â—â— Câ—ry where nature having remov'd the mountains on all hands to shew us what she could do in a rough Country hath spread out a most pleasant vale extended from south to north 17 miles and about 5 in breadth It lies open only to the Ocean and to the †â—â—râ— Bâ—â—â— clearing North-wind being elsewhere guarded with high mountains which towards the east especially are like battlements or turrets for by an admirable artifice of nature the tops of these mountains seem to resemble the turrets of walls Amongst them the highest is call'd Moel Enlhi at the top whereof I observ'd a military fence or rampire d and a very clear Spring This vale is exceeding healthy fruitful and affords a pleasant prospect the complexion of the inhabitants bright and chearful their heads of a sound constitution their sight very lively and even their old age vigorous and lasting The green meadows the corn-fields and the numerous villages and Churches in this vale afford us the most pleasant prospect imaginable The river Clwyd Clwyâ—â— from the very fountain-head runs through the midst of it receiving on each side a great number of rivulets And from hence it has been formerly call'd Ystrad Klwyd for Marianus makes mention of a King of the Strad-cluid-Welsh and at this day 't is call'd Dyffryn Klwyd i.e. the Vale of Cluid where See Caâ— naâ—◠〈◊〉 Annâ—â— as some Authors have deliver'd certain Britains coming out of Scotland planted a Kingdom having first driven out the English which were seated there In the south part of this vale on the east-side of the river lies the town of Ruthin in Welsh Rhuthyn the greatest market in the vale and a very populous town famous not long since for a stately castle which was capable of a very numerous family Both the town and castle were built 6 By Reginald Grey to whom K. Eaw 1. granted it and Roger c. by Roger Grey with permission of the King the Bishop of St. Asaph and the Rector of Lhan Rhûdh it being seated in that parish To this Roger Grey in consideration of his service against the Welsh King Edward 1. granted almost the whole Vale and this was the seat of his posterity who flourish'd under the title of Earls of Kent till the time of Richard Grey Earl of Kent and Lord of Ruthin who dying without issue and having no regard to his brother Henry sold this ancient inheritance to King Henry 7. since which time the castle has daily decay'd Of late through the bounty of Queen Elizabeth it belong'd to Ambrose Earl of Warwick together with large revenues in this Vale. Having ascended eastward out of this Valley we come to Iâl a small mountainous tract of a very high situation if compared with the neighbouring country For no river runs into it from any other country tho' it pours out several Upon account of this high situation 't is a very rough and bleak country and much subject to winds I know not whether it might receive it's name from the small river Alen which springing up in this country by undermining the earth hides it self in one or two places These mountains are well stored with oxen sheep and goats and the valleys in some places are pretty fertil in corn especially on the east part on this side Alen but the western is somewhat barren and in some places mere heath and desart It hath nothing in it memorable except the ruins of a small monastery 7 Now wholly decay'd seated very pleasantly in a valley which amongst woody hills is extended in the form of a cross whence it had the name of Vale-Crucis â—e-â—â—is whereas in British 't is call'd Lhan Gwest Eastward of Iâl the territory of Maelor Gymraeg or Welsh Maelor call'd in English Bromfield is
antient and noble family have flourished from the first conquest of this country by the English who were afterwards advanced to the honour of Barons o Now Earl of Tyrone Curraghmore Upon the bank of the river Suire stands Waterford â—â—terford the chief City of this County Of which thus old Necham Suirius insignem gaudet ditare Waterford Aequoreis undis associatur ibi Thee Waterford Suir 's streams with wealth supply Hasting to pay their tribute to the sea This City which the Irish and Britains call Porthlargy the English Waterford was first built by certain Pirats of Norway Though 't is situated in a thick air and on a barren soil and close built yet by reason of the convenience of the haven p It was once but now Cork may claim that honour 't is the second City in Ireland for wealth and populousness and has ever continued q It s motto was Intacta manet Waterfordia But in the course of the Irish rebellion begun An. 1641. by means of the Popish Clergy it became exceeding faulty Now that the English Inhabitants daily encrease we may expect it will recover its former reputation particularly loyal and obedient to the Crown of England For since it was first taken by Richard Earl of Pembroke it has been so faithful and quiet that in our Conquest of Ireland it has always secur'd us from any attempts on this side Upon this account the Kings of England have endowed it with many and those considerable privileges which were enlarged and confirmed by Henry 7. for behaving themselves with great valour and conduct against Perkin Warbeck a sham-Prince who being but a young fellow of mean extraction had the impudence to aim at the Imperal Diadem by pretending to be Richard Duke of York the second son of King Edward 4. King Henry 6. gave the County of Waterford 〈◊〉 of â—â—terford together with the City to John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury in words which so clearly set forth the bravery of that warlike man that I cannot but think it worth the while and perhaps some others may think it so too to transcribe them from the Record We therefore says the King after a great deal more wherein one sees the defect both of the Latin and eloquence of the Secretaries of that age in consideration of the valour of our most dear and faithful Cousen John Earl of Shrewsbury and Weysford Lord Talbot of Furnival and Lestrange sufficiently shewn and proved in the wars aforesaid even to his old age not only by the sweat of his body but many times by the loss of his blood and considering how our County and City of Waterford in our Kingdom of Ireland with the Castle Seigniory Honour Lands and Barony of Dungarvan and all the Lordships Lands Honours and Baronies and their appurtenances within the same County which by forfeiture of rebels by reversion or decease of any person or persons by escheat or any other title of law ought to vest in Us or our progenitors which by reason of invasions or insurrections in these parts are become so desolate and as they lye exposed to the spoils of war so entirely wasted that they are of no profit to us but have done and now do many times redound to our loss and charge and also that the said lands may hereafter be better defended against the attempts and incursions of enemies or rebels do ordain and create him Earl of Waterford with the stile title name and honour thereunto belonging And that all things may correspond with his state and greatness we hereby of our special grace certain knowledge and free motion that the Grandeur of the Earl may be supported more honourably do give grant and by these presents confirm unto the said Earl the County aforesaid together with the aforesaid title stile name and honour of Earl of Waterford and the city of Waterford aforesaid with the fee-farm castles lordships honours lands baronies and all other appurtenances within the County as also all mannors hundreds wapentakes c. along the sea-coast from the town of Yoghall to the city of Waterford aforesaid To have and to hold the said County of Waterford the stile title name and honour of Earl of Waterford and likewise the city of Waterford aforesaid with the castle seigniory honour land and barony of Dungarvan and all other lordships honours lands and Baronies within the said County and also all the aforesaid mannors hundreds c. to the abovesaid Earl and to the heirs males of his body begotten to hold of us and our heirs by homage fealty and the service of being our Seneschal and that he and his heirs be Seneschals of Ireland Seneschal of Ireland to us and our heirs throughout our whole land of Ireland to do and that he do and ought himself to do in the said office that which his predecessors Seneschals of England were wont formerly to do for us in that office In witness whereof c. However while the Kings of England and their Nobility who had large possessions in Ireland were either took up with foreign wars in France or civil dissentions at home Ireland was quite neglected so that the English interest began to decay r See the Statute of Absentees in the County of Caterlogh and the power of the Irish grew formidable by reason of their absence and then it was enacted to recover their interest and to suppress this growth of the Irish strength that the Earl of Shrewsbury for his absence and carelesness should surrender the Town and County of Waterford to the King and his successors and likewise that the Duke of Norfolk the Baron Barkley Ann. 28. H. 8 the Heirs Female of the Earl of Ormond and all the Abbots Priors c. of England who held any lands there should surrender them to the King and his successors for the same faults The County of LIMERICK THus far we have surveyed the maritime counties of Mounster two remain that are inland Limerick and Tipperary which we are now come to The County of Limerick lies behind that of Cork Northward between Kerry the river Shanon and the county of Tipperary fruitful and well inhabited but it has few remarkable towns The West part of it is called Conilagh Conilagh where among the hills Knock-Patrick Knock-Patrick that is St. Patrick's hill is most eminent for its height from the top whereof one has a pleasant prospect into the sea and along the river Shanon which at a great distance falls from a wide mouth into the Vergivian Ocean At the bottom of this hill the Fitz-Giralds liv'd for a long time in great honour Knight of the Vally Qu. Elâ—z An. 11. till Thomas call'd the Knight of the Valley or de Glin when his graceless son was put to death for Arsony for 't is treason by the laws of Ireland to set villages and houses a fire was also found an Accessary and had his estate
day appointed both Parties met at the haven called Ramsa and sat by ranks in order the King with his Council on the one side and they and their gang on the other with Regnald who was to dispatch him in the middle talking apart with one of the Noblemen When the King called him he turned himself as though he would salute him but lifting up his ax he struck at him and cut off his head at one blow As soon as they had executed this villainous design they divided the land among them and after some few days spent in getting a fleet together they set sail for Gallway intending to make a Conquest of it But the people being rais'd to receive them fell upon them with great violence Upon this they soon fled back to Man in disorder where they either kill'd or banish'd all they Gallway men they could meet with 1143. Godred Olave's son returning from Norway was created King of Man To revenge the death of his father he made two of Harold's sons have their eyes pull'd out and the third be put to death 1144. Godred began his reign and reign'd thirty years In the third year of it the people of Dublin sent for him and created him King of Dublin Murecard King of Ireland raised war against him and as he lay encamped before the City called Coridelis sent his half brother Osibel by the mother's side with three thousand horse to Dublin who was by Godred and the Dublinians slain and his army routed After this he returned to Man and began to tyrannize depriving some of his Nobles of their estates one of them called Thorfin the son of Oter mightier than the rest went to Sumerled and made Dubgall his son King of the Isles whereof he reduced many for him Godred hearing of these proceedings by one Paul set out a good navy and steered towards Sumerled who was advancing against him with a fleet of eighty sail So in the year 1156 they came to an engagement in the night before the feast of Epiphany and after great slaughters on both sides concluded a peace the next day agreeing to divide the Kingdom of the Isles between them from which time it hath continued two several Kingdoms to this day So that from the moment wherein Sumerled's sons had to do with the Kingdom of the Isles we may date its downfall and overthrow 1158. Sumerled came to Man with a fleet of fifty three sail put Godred to slight and spoiled the Island upon which Godred sailed over to Norway for aid against Sumerled 1164 Sumerled set out a fleet of one hundred and sixty ships and arrived with them at Rhinfrin intending to conquer all Scotland But by the just judgment of God he was killed and vanquished together with his son and a vast multitude by a very few The same year also a battle was fought at Ramsa between Reginald Godred's brother and the people of Man wherein those of Man were put to flight by the treachery of a certain Earl Now also Reginald began his reign which had not continued four days till Godred his brother set upon him with a great army from Norway and having taken him put out his eyes and cut of his privy parts The same year dy'd Malcolm King of Scotland and was succeeded by his brother William 1166. In August there appeared two Comets before sun-rise the one in the south the other in the north 1171. Richard Earl of Pembroke sailed over into Ireland and subdued Dublin and a great part of that Country 1176. John Curcy conquered Ulster and Vivian the Pope's Legat came into Man and made King Godred be lawfully married to his wife Phingola daughter to Mac-Lotlen son of Murkartac King of Ireland the mother of Olave then three years old They were married by Sylvan the Abbot to whom Godred the very same day gave a piece of land at Miriscoge where he built a Monastery but this together with the Monks was at last made over to the Abbey of Russin 1172. Reginald the son of Eac-Marcat one of the blood royal coming into Man in the King's absence with a great body of men presently put to flight certain Centinels that guarded the Coast and slew about thirty of them but the inhabitants being raised fell upon him and the same day cut him off with most of his party ' 1185. O-Fogolt was Sheriff of Man 1185. There happened an Eclipse of the sun on ' St. Philip and Jacob's day 1187 On the fourth of the Ides of November Godred King of the Isles departed this life and the Summer following his body was convey'd to the Isle of Hy. He left three sons Reginald Olave and Yvar In his life time he made Olave his heir being the only legitimate son he had Yet the people Olave being scarce ten years old sent for Reginald out of the Isles and made him King 1188. Reginald the son of Godred began his reign over the Islands and Murchard a man of great interest in all the Isles was slain 1192. A battle was fought between Reginald and Engus the sons of Sumerled wherein Engus got the victory The same year the Abbey of Russin was translated to Dufglas yet the Monks about four years after returned to Russin 1203. Michael Bishop of the Isles died at Fontans and was succeeded by Nicholas 1204. Hugb Lacy brought an army into Ulster fought John Curcy took him prisoner and conquered Ulster Afterwards he set John at liberty who thereupon came to King Reginald and was honorably received as being his son-in-law for Africa Godred's daughter that founded the Abbey of St. Mary de Jugo Domini and was therein married was John de Curcy's wife 1205. John Curcy and Reginald King of the Isles entered Ulster with an hundred ships in the haven call'd Stranford and laid siege to Rath Castle But Walter de Lacy brought an army and put them to flight After that Curcy could never recover his lands 1210. Engus the son of Sumerled was slain with three sons John King of England arrived at Ireland with a fleet of 500 ships and conquered it sending a certain Earl called Fulco to Man who wasted the whole Country in a fortnight's time and taking hostages returned home King Reginald and his Nobles were not in Man at that time 1217. Died Nicholas Bishop of the Isles and was buried in Ulster in the house of Benchor and succeeded by Reginald I would with the Reader 's leave add something farther concerning the two brothers Olave and Reginald REginald gave to his brother Olave the Isle of Lodhus which is counted larger than any of the other Islands but thinly peopled because it is mountainous and stony and almost unfit for tillage in all parts The inhabitants live generally by hunting and fishing Olave thereupon went to take possession of this Island and dwelt there in a poor condition But finding it too little to maintain him and his army he went boldly to his brother Reginald who then lived in the Islands and