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book_n	chief_a	europe_n	great_a	14	3	2.1254	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61053	A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed.	Speed, John, 1552?-1629.; Goos, Abraham,; Gryp, Dirck,; Speed, John, 1552?-1629. Theatre of the empire of Great Britaine.	1646 (1646)	Wing S4882A; ESTC R218797	522,101	219

scattered by unfortunate chance of fire which catch among 800. Barrells of Gunpowder In this stands a Monastery which at sometimes hath in it 1600 Nunnes and within these limits is the power of the Arch-Duke confined And surely by reason of his infinite charge to maintaine warre and the ticklish termes he stands upon for feare of displeasing his Subjects who as he suspects may be apt enough to revolt he can reape but little cleare profit and dares use as little Authority 16 To the States there hold first the Dukedome of Geldria which some will have to take her name from Gelduba once her chiefe Citie whether or not there appeares not now any monument of such a Towne The Province stands on the East of Brabant and North of Limburg It is a very fertile soile especially if it be well tilled it returneth the husbandman a liberall reward for his labour Her pastures are excellent in so much that they feed up their Cattle to an incredible bignesse and weight A report passeth of one Bull which weighed 3200. pound It was killed at Antwerpe 1570. It hath in it 22. walled Townes and about 300 Villages The principall of account are Neomagus or Nummegen an Imperial city stands at the mouth of Rhene which is called the Vahall It was honoured with the title of a vice-County had authority to coyn money and was bound to acknowledge subjection to the Emperour only by a small tribute A glove of Gunpowder which they were to tender at Aken once a year Others of note are Ruermund Arnem and Zutph●n 17 The Earledomes are 1 Zutphen a Town only in Gelderland at the north of the river Barikell where that valiant souldier and incomparable Poet Sir Philip Sidney received his last wound It was joyned into the States strength 1590. 2 Zeland it stands in the North tract upon the Seas from whence it hath the name as it were of Zeland And indeed it oft times so fals out that they can hardly say whether they live in Sea or upon the Land Eight Ilands have bin utterly lost what remaines of this Province is by the water divided into seven Ilands Walcheria in which stands Middle-borough and Flushin South Beveland North Develand Wolfors-dicke These are the Westerne The Easterne are Schoven Tolen and Develand They are most of them a fierce people craftie in merchandize good Sea men and great Fishers 3 Holland or Holtland a woody Countrey It is but a small Region such as be a man where he will within her compasse he may travell it out in three houres And yet is it of great fame and better knowne to the common sort of people then any of these parts The Inhabitants heretofore the Batavi on the West it hath the Sea and Iles of Zeland on the North the maine Ocean It comprehends about 400. Villages and 29. walled Towns The chiefe are Dordret or Dort memorable for a Synode held against the Arminians 1618. Harlem a Town which first sent forth a printed Booke into the other parts of Europe Delft Amsterdam a great place of traffique Roterdam Lugdunum Batavorum Leyden an Vniversitie Among the rest the Hage may claime a roome here though but a village yet the fairest in Christendome and seat of the States Councell The report lyeth upon this Province of Margaret sister to the Earle of Floris that she brought at one birth 365. children all living till they were christened 18 Baronies are 1 Vltrasectense utrecht on the East of Gelderland and in part West North and South of Holland It hath the name from her mother Citie Traiectum and she hers as is supposed from a common Ferry which is there For before it was called Antonina It hath foure other good Townes and seventy villages 2 Ov●rissall or Transisulana on the North of Gelderland It hath above 100. Villages and 11. Townes of note The chief Deventer wonne by our Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester from the Spaniards to the States It was once under government of the Bishop of Vtrech And the first was Wilbr●d an Englishman 3 Frizia West Friezeland on the North of Overissall It hath 345. Villages and 5. Townes The chiefe Lewarden Harlingham a Sea-town Francker a late Vniversitie 4 Groyning a Town only of West Friezland but hath Command over 145. villages hath her proper laws jurisdiction of a Province 19 These last eight joyn together in an Aristarchicall Government weilded by the LL. the States of the Low Countries and their assistants Each Province hath one and his Common Councell is elected out of her owne principall Towns But the residency of the generall Councell of the States is at the Hage in Holland And to this are admitted with equall priviledge of suffrage their Generall of their Forces and our English Embassador ¶ The Description of SPAINE IN our Division of Europe we placed her Regions as they lay from the first Meridian of Longitude in the Azores and so on towards Asia Eastward We will not here vary the course which was there proposed and that gave Spaine the precedency as lying most Westward into the Atlanticke Ocean And indeed she puts forward as well upon her tearmes of Antiquitie as order of place For if her plea may be heard she derives her being from Tubal the grandchild of Noah and would be one of the first Nations of the second world Likely enough those parts might be inhabited by his Progenie but I doubt whether so soone after the Flood as himselfe lived and as some would have it who suppose that he then kept Cattell and named the Province Taraconensis from the Hebrew Taraco a possession of Heards This and other the like improbable Relations passe of her originall Which as we may not accept for truths so we have no roome here to confute them for lies We must be content rather to omit those former ages which give us no light but by fables and begin with the affaires of Spaine which come within the compasse of our known and approved Stories As for the exploits of Hercules of Gerion and Cacus and the rest questionlesse they had some ground from truth it selfe if we knew how to search it forth and here was their residence men twelve hundred yeares by compute before the Romans or Carthaginians enjoyed it But by reason that the passage of those times was delivered onely in vaine fictions we can warrant nothing for certaine till the Syrians there planted themselves in the I le of Gades and of them little till the Carthaginians were called in to aid them against the disturbance of ill neighbours when once they were mingled with so flourishing a Nation they wanted not Writers to record their actions and sundry turnes of Fortune 2 The next Inhabitants there of Spaine after the Syrians and indeed the first which afford us any Story worth observing were the Carthaginians and the first cause of their entrance was to defend the Ilanders of Cales but when they had once got firme footing and

A PROSPECT OF THE MOST FAMOUS Parts of the World VIZ. ASIA 3 AFFRICA 5 EVROPE 7 AMERICA 9 WITH These Kingdomes therein contained Grecia 11 Roman Empire 13 Germanie 15 Bohemia 17 France 19 Belgia 21 Spaine 23 Italie 25 Hungarie 27 Denmarke 29 Poland 31 Persia 33 Turkish Empire 35 Kingdome of China 37 Tartaria 39 Sommer Ilands 41 Civill Warres in England Wales and Ireland You shall find placed in the beginning of the second Book marked with these *** and 5 TOGETHER VVith all the Provinces Counties and Shires contained in that large THEATOR of Great BRITTAINES Empire Performed BY JOHN SPEED LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt for William Humble and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-head Pallace 1646. ¶ The generall Description of the World HEaven was too long a reach for man to recover at one steppe And therefore God first placed him upon the earth that he might for a time contemplate upon his inferiour workes magnifie in them his Creator and receive here a hope of a fuller blisse which by degrees he should at last enjoy in his place of rest For this end was the lower world created in the beginning out of a rude masse which before had no forme And that it might be made habitable the Lord separated the dry land from the waters upon the third day Yet so as still they make but one Globe whose Center is the same with the middle world and is the point and rest as it were of all heavie bodies which naturally apply themselves to it and there are supported by their owne weight and equall poyze 2 It hath seemed incredible to such as measure the wonders of God by mans wisdome that this massie part of the world should subsist by it selfe not borne up by any outward prop incompast onely with subtile and fleeting ayre such as can neither helpe to sustaine nor resist the fall could the earth be moved from her due place But the wonder will cease if we remember that the Lord sitteth upon the circle of the earth Isa. 40. He set it upon her foundations so that it shall never move He covered it with the deepe as with a Garment The waters would stand above the mountains but at his rebuke they fled Yet he set them a bound which they should not passe Psal. 104. 3 Thus ordered by divine providence the Earth and Sea compose themselves into a Sphericall figure as is here described And is caused by the proper inclination of each part which being heavie fals from every point of the circumference and claps about the center there settles as neer as it may towards his place of rest We may illustrate both the figure and situation by a familiar similitude to an ingenious apprehension Suppose we a knot to be knit in the midst of a cord that hath many ends and those to be delivered to sundry men of equall strength to be drawne severall waies round from every part above and below and on each side questionlesse whilest every man drawes in the boes of the knots it must needs become round and whilst they continue to pluck with equall strength it must rest immoveable in the middle betwixt them since every strength that would destroy hath a strength equall to resist it So it is in the bosome of the earth where every part meets upon equall priviledges of nature nor can any passe farther then the center to destroy this compacted figure for it must meet there with a body that will oppose it Or if not yet could it not passe since every motion from the middle were to ascend which Nature will not permit in a body of weight as the earth is 4 Now though in a Sphere every crosse line which way soever drawne if it runne through the middle must needs be of equall quantity and therefore admits no difference of length or b●edth yet the Geographers for their purpose have conceived and but conceived a Longitude and Latitude upon the earth The Longitude they reckon from the first Meridian in the Azores and so Eastward round number the degrees upon the Aequator The Latitude from the Aequator to each Pole and number the degrees upon the outward Meridionall circle This inkling may suffice to instruct the ignorant in the search of any place that shall be hereafter mentioned in my Discourse 5 The compasse of the whole is cast by our latest and most learned to be 216000. English miles which though none ever yet so paced as to measure them by the foote yet let not the ignorant reject this account since the rule by which they are led cannot faile For we see by continuall experience that the Sunne for every degree in the Heavens gaines sixtie miles upon earth towards his circuit round and after 360. degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was Repeat the number of sixtie so oft and you will finde the account just And so by proportion of the Circumference to the Diameter which is triplu sesqui septima the same which 22. hath to 7. we may judge like wise of the earths thicknesse to the Center The whole Diameter must by rule be somewhat lesser then a third part of the circle that in proportion to 216000. will be 6872. halfe the number will reach the middle of the world and that is 3436. In this report both of the quantitie and forme of the earth we must not require such exactnesse as cannot vary a hairs bredth for we see that the mountains of the earth and often times the waves of the Sea make the superficies unequall It will be sufficient if there be no difference sensible to be reckoned in so great a balke For let us rudely hew a ball out of a rough stone still it is a ball though not so smooth as one of Crystall Or suffer a mote to fall upon a Sphaere of glasse it changeth not its figure farre lesse are the mountaines which we see in respect of the whole lumpe For other rules or termes Geographicall I referre thee to a peculiar tract that will afford me more roome and time 6 When the earth and sea were thus prepared with a due figure a just quantitie and convenient seate both in respect of the heavens and themselves Nature began at command of the most High to use her art and to make it a fit dwelling place for the image of God for so was man created and so indeed was the earth no other then the picture of heaven The ground brought forth her plants and fruits the skies were filled with the fowle of the ayre the waters yeelded their fish and the field their cattle No sooner his house was thus furnisht but man enters upon his possessions the sixth day And that shall be our tract to find out the worlds first Inhabitants where it was peopled in the beginning and how it was over-spread with Countries and Nations as now it is 7 In the first age there was little need of

themselves to Iulius Caesar and whose chiefe City was Vindonum Caer Segonte now Silcest●r and upon the South by the Belgae and Regni who were subdued by Plantius and Vespasian the Romans where Titus rescuing his father straitly besieged by the Britaines as Dio and Forcatulus doe report was grasped about with an Adder but no hurt to his person and therefore taken for a signe of good luck Their chiefe Town was Rincewood as yet sounding the name and more within Land inhabited the Manures as Beda calles them whose Hundreds also to this day give a relish of their names 7 Neere Ringwood and the place once YTENE from God and peoples service to Beast and luxury thirty-six Parish-Churches were converted and pulled downe by the Conquerour and thirty miles of circuite inforrested for his Game of Hunting wherein his sonnes Richard and Rufus with Henry the second sonne to Duke Robert his first felt by hasty death the hand of Iustice and Revenge for in the same Forrest Richard by a blasting of a pestilent aire Rufus by a shot taken for a Beast and Henry as Absalom hanged by a bough came to their untimely ends At so deare a rate the pleasures of dogs and harbour for beasts were bought in the blood of these Princes 8 The generall commodities gotten in this Shire are Woolles Clothes and Iron whereof great store is therein wrought from the Mines and thence transported into all parts of this Realme and their Clothes and Karsies carried into many forraine Countries to that Counties great benefit and Englands great praise 9 The Trade thereof with other provisions for the whole are vented thorow eighteene Market-Townes in this Shire whereof Winchester the Britaines Caer Gwent the Romans Venta Belgarum and the Saxons Windaneasder is chiefe ancient enough by our British Historians as built by King Rudhudibras nine hundred yeares before the Nativity of Christ and famous in the Romans times for the weavings and embroderies therein wrought to the peculiar uses of their Emperours owne persons In the Saxons times after two Calamities of consuming fire her walles were raised and the Citie made the Royall Seat of their West-Saxons Kings and the Metropolitan of their Bishops See wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarches were crowned and Henry the third the Normans longest raigner first tooke breath And here King Aethelstane erected six houses for his Mint but the Danish desolation over-running all this Citie felt their fury in the dayes of King Ethelbright and in the Normans time twice was defaced by the mis-fortune of fire which they againe repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publique Records of the Realme In the civill Warres of Maud and Stephen this City was sore sacked but againe receiving breath was by King Edward the third appointed the place for Mart of Wooll and Cloth The Cathedrall Church built by Kenwolf King of the West-Saxons that had beene Amphibalus Saint Peters Swythins and now holy Trinitie is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings for herein great Egbert Anno 836. with his sonne King Ethelwolfe 857. Here Elfred Oxfords Founder 901. with his Queene Elswith 904. Here the first Edmund before the Conquest 924. with his sonnes Elfred and Elsward Here Edred 955. and Edwy 956. both Kings of England Here Emm● 1052. with her Danish Lord Canute 1035. and his sonne Hardicanute 1042. And here lastly the Normans Richard and Rufus 1100. were interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little guilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remaine carefully preserved This Cities situation is fruitfull and pleasant in a valley under hils having her River on the East and Castle on the West the circuit of whose walls are well-neare two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces thorow which openeth six gates for entrance and therein are seven Churches for divine service besides the Minster and those decayed such as Callendos Ruell Chappell Saint Maries Abbey and the Fryers without in the Suburbs and So●ke in the East is Saint Peters and in the North Hyde Church and Monastery whose ruines remaining shew the beauty that form●tly it bare The Graduation of this City by the Mathematicks is placed for Latitude in the degree 51 10 minutes and for Longitude 19 3 minutes 10 More South is South-hampton a Towne populous rich and beautifull from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name most strongly walled about with square stone containing in circuit one thousand and two hundred paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty-nine Towers for defence two very stately Keyes for Ships arrivage and five faire Churches for Gods Divine Service besides an Hospitall called Gods house wherein the unfortunate Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded for treason lyeth interred On the West of this Towne is mounted a most beautifull Castle in forme Circular and wall within wall the foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by staires carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the walles a goodly Church sometimes stood called Saint Maries which was pulled downe for that it gave the French direction of course who with fire had greatly endangered the Towne In stead thereof is now newly erected a small and unfinished Chappell In this place saith learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium or Fort of the Romans whose circuit on that side extended it selfe to the Sea This suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirats and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrowne In King Edward the thirds time it was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicils sonne whom a countrey-man encountred and strucke downe with his Club. Hee crying Rancon that is Ransoms but hee neither understanding his language nor the law that Armes doth allow laid on more soundly saying I know thee a Frankon and therefore shalt thou dye And in Richard the seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it standeth In this Clausentium Canute to evict his flatterers made triall of his Deity commanding the Seas to keepe backe from his seat but being not obeyed he acknowledged God to be the only Supreme Governour and in a religious devotion gave up his Crown to the Rood at Winchester More ancient was Silcester built by Constantius great Constantines sonne whose monument say they was seene in that City and where another Constantine put on the purple Roabe against Honorius as both Ninius and Gervase of Canterbury doe witnesse Herein by onr Historians record the warlike Arthur was crowned Whose greatnesse for circuit contained no lesse then fourscore acres of ground and the walles of great height yet standing two miles in compasse about This City by the Danish Rovers suffered such wrack that her mounted tops were never since seene and her Hulke the

favour of the Conquerour disseised Aluric and his heires forfeited it to the Crowne but since it hath passed by annuall election and hath united to it the Countie of Cambridge 5 Having thus farre spoken of the Shire in generall next in observation falleth the Shire-Town Huntingdon Hundandun or the Hunters Downe North seated upon a rising banke over the rich meadowed River Owse interpreted by some Authors the Downe of Hunters to which their now common S●ale a Hunter seemeth to allude Great and populous was this in the fore-going age the following having here buried of fifteene all but three besides the Mother-Church S. Maries in their own graves At the raigne of the Conquerour it was ranged into foure ●eilings or Wards and in them 256. Burgenses or Housholds It answered at all assesments for 50 Hides the fourth part of Hurstingston Hundred in which it standeth The annuall rent was then 30. l. of which 25 of three Minters there kept the King had two parts the Earle the third the power of Coynage then and before not being so privatively in the King but Borowes Bishops and Earles enjoyed it on the one side stamping the face and stile of their Soveraigne in acknowledgement of subordinacie in that part of absolute power and on the reverse their own name to warrant their integritie in that infinite trust 6 The Castle supposed by some the work of the elder Edward but seeming by the Book of Domesday to be built by the Conquerour is now known but by the ruines It was the seat of Walthcof the Great Saxon Earle as of his succeeding heires untill to end the question of right between Sentlice and the King of Scots Henry the second laid it as you see yet doth it remaine the head of that honour on which in other Shires many Knights Fees and sixteene in this attended Here David Earle of this and Anguise father of Isabel de B●●s founded the Hospitall of S. Iohn Baptist and Lovetote here upon the Fee of Eustace the Vicount built to the honour of the blessed Virgin the Priory of Blacke Channons valued at the Suppression 232. l. 7. s. ob Here at the North end was a house of Fryers and without the Town at Hinchingbrooke a Cloister of Nunnes valued at 19. l. 9. s. 2. d. founded by the first William in place of S. Pandonia at El●esley by him suppressed where neer the end of the last Henry the family of the Cromwels began their Seat To this Shire-Town and benefit of the neighbour Countries this River was navigable untill the power of Grey a minion of the time stopt that passage and with it all redresse either by Law or Parliament By Charter of King Iohn this Town hath a peculiar Cotoner profit by Toll and Custome Recorder Town-Clerkes and two Bayliffes elected annually for government as at Parliament two Burgesses for advise and assent and is Lord of it selfe in Fee-Fa●me 7 The rest of the Hundred wherein this Shire-Town lyeth is the East part of the County and of Hurst a Parish in the center of it named HURSTINGSTON it was the Fee-farme of Ramsey Abbey which on a point of f●rtile land thrust out into the Fennes is therein situate founded in the yeare 969. to God our Lady and S. Benedict by Earle Aylwin of the Royall bloud replenished with Monks from Westbury by Oswold of Yorke and dedicated by Dunstan of Canterburie Arch-bishops By Abbat Reginald 1114. this Church was reedified by Magnavill Earle of Essex not long after spoyled and by Henry the third first of all the Norman Princes visited when wasted with the Sicilian warres Regalis mensae Hospitalitas ita abbreciata fuit ut cum Abbatibus Clericis viris satis humilibus hospitia quaesivit prandia This Monastery the shrine of two martyred Kings Ethelbright and Ethelre● and of Saint Ivo the Persian Bishop by humble pietie at first and pious charitie ascended such a pitch of worldly fortune that it transformed their Founder religious povertie into their ruine the attribute of Ramsey the rich for having made themselves Lords of 387 Hides of land whereof 200 in this Shire so much as at an easie and under rent was at the Suppression valued at 1903. l. 15. s. 3. d. q. but by account of this time annually amounts to 7000. l. they then began to affect popular command and first inclosing that large circuit of land and water for in it lyeth the Mile-square Meere of Ramsey as a peculiar Seignory to them called the Ba●cuc or Bandy bounded as the Shire from Ely and from Norman-Crosse with the Hundred Meere by Soveraigne Graunt they enjoyed regall libertie And then aspiring a step further to a place in Parliament made Broughton the head of their Baronie annexing to it in this Shire foure Knights Fees Thus in great glory it stood above 400 yeares untill Henry the eight amongst many other once bright Lamps of Learning and Religion in this State though then obscured with those blemishes to wealth and case concomitant dissolved the house although Iohn Warboys then Abbot his 60 black Monks there maintained were of the first that under their hands and conventuall Seale protested Quod Romanus Ponti●ex non habet majorem aliquam Iurisdictionem collatam sibi a Deo in Regno Angliae quam quivis ali●s externus Episcopus A Cell to this rich Monastery was S. I●oes Priory built in that place of Slep by Earle Adelmus in the raign of the last Edmund where the incorrupted body of S. Ivo there once an Hermit in a vision revealed was by Ednothus taken up in his Robes Episcopall and dedicated in the presence of Siward Earle of this Countie and that Lady of renowned pietie Ethelsleda to the sacred memory of this Persian Bishop Not farre from this is Somersham the gift of the Saxon Earle Brithnothus to the Church of Ely before his own fatall expedition against the Danes It is the head of those five Towns of which the Soke is composed and was an house to the See of Ely well beautified by Iohn Stanley their Bishop but now by exchange is annexed to the Crown As these so all the rest of this Hundred was the Churches land except Rippon Regis ancient Demaine To which Saple reserved Forrest adjoyned and the greater Stive●ly given by the last David Earle of Huntingdon in Fee to his three Servants S●mli●e Lakervile and Camoys HUNTINGTON BOTH SHIRE AND SHIRE TOWNE WITH THE ANCIENT CITIE ELY DESCRIBED 9 LETTUNESTAN HUNDRED hath that name from Leighton a Town in the middest of it given by Earle Waltheof to the Church of Lincolne which after shared it into two Prebendaries One the Parsonage impropriate which still remaineth the other the Lordships was resumed by Henry the eight and now by the Heire of Dar●y matched to the Lord Clifton is become the seat of his Barony This Hundred had in it no house of Religion but Stonley a Priory of seven

good Peatling great good Peckleton spar Pickering grange spar Pickwell gart Plungar fram Prestwold east Q Quarendon west Quenby east Quenyborowe east R Ragdale east Ratbye spar Ratcliffe culie spar Ratcliffe upon Wreake east Raunston in Darbysh west Rearsbie east Redmore spar Redmyle fram King Richards feild spar Rodeley west Rotherby east Rowlston gart S Saddington gart Saltbie fram Sapcote spar Saxbie fram Saxulbie east Scallford fram Scechesley spar Scraptoste gart Segrave east Sence flu Sewsterne fram Seyston east Shakerston spar Shankton gart Sharnford spar Shawell good Shaxton spar Sheepie little spar Sheepie great spar Shenton spar Sheepes head west Sheresbye good Shilton spar Shouldby east Sibston spar Skeffington east Slawston gart Smeeto gart Snarston spar Snibston west Snyte flu Sproxton fram Stanton spar Stanton harold west Stanton wyvell gart Stanton under Barton spar Stapleford fram Stapleton spar Stathorne fram Stoke golding spar Stokerston gart Stonesbie fram Stony Stanton spar Stoure flu Stowghton gart Stretton great gart Stretton little gart Sumerbee fram Sutton good Sutton chenney spar Swannington west Swebston west Swift flu Swinford good Swithland west Sylebye east Sysesore east Sysonbee fram T Temple spar Theddingworth gart Thornton spar Thorpacre west Thorpe good Thorpe Arnold fram Thorpe sachfeld east Thrinkston west Thurcaston west Thurlston spar Thurmaston east Thurnby gart Thussington east Tilton east Toly Parke spar Tonge west Trent flu Tugby east Thurlancton gart Twicrosse spar Twyford east V Vlvescrosse Abbey west Vllesthorne good Vlveston gart Vpton spar W Walcot good WALTHAM on the wowld fram Walton good Walton on the wowld east Wanlipp west Wartnabie east Welbie fram Welham gart Welland flu Welsborow spar Westerby gart Wetherlye spar Whalton long west Wheston good Whittington grange spar Whitwike west Wigston little good VVigston great good VVikeham fram VVikin spar VVilloughbye waterlesse good VVilston west VViston gart VVithcorke fram VViverby fram VVoodhouse west VVorthington west VVreake flu VVykin east VVymondham fram VVynaswold east Y Ybstocke spar LINCOLN-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXII THe County of Lincolne by the English-Saxons called Lincoll-scyre and by the Normans Nicolshire is confined on the North with Humber on the East with the Germane Ocean upon the South is parted from Cambridge and Northamptonshire by the River Nine and on the West from Nottingham and Yorke-shires by Dun and Trent 2 The length of this Province extended from Barton upon Humber in the North unto Stanford upon the River Nine in the South are miles by our English measure fifty-five and the bredth thereof from Newton in the VVest stretched unto Winthorp upon her East Sea containeth thirty five The whole in circumference about one hundred and eighty miles 3 The Ayre upon the East and South part is both thicke and foggy by reason of the Fennes and unsolute grounds but therewithall very moderate and pleasing Her graduation being removed from the Equator to the degree of 53. and the windes that are sent of her still working Seas doe disperse those vapours from all power of hurt 4 The forme of this Countie doth somewhat resemble the body of a Lute whose East coasts lye bowe-like into the Germane Ocean all along pestered with in-lets of salt waters and sands which are neither firme nor safe for travellers as those in the South proved unto K. Iohn who marching Northward from Northfolke against his disloyall Barons upon those washes lost all his furniture and carriage by the sudden returne of the Sea and softnesse of the Sands 5 Her Soile upon the West and North is abundantly fertile pleasant and rich stored with pasturage areable and meadowing grounds the East and South Fenny and blackish and for Corne barren but for Fowle and Fish exceeding any other in the Realme wherein at some times and seasons of the yeere hath beene taken in nets in August at one draught above three thousand Mallards and other Fowles of the like kinde 6 The Shires commodities consist chiefly in Corne Cattle Fish Fowle Flax and Alablaster as also in a Plaister much esteemed of by the Romans for their works of Imagerie and whereof Pliny in his naturall History maketh mention And the Astroites a precious stone Star-like pointed with five beames or rayes anciently esteemed for their vertue in victories upon the South-west of this County neere Bever are found not far thence in our Fathers memory at Harlaxton was ploughed up a brasen vessel wherein was inclosed a golden Helmet of an ancient fashion set with precious stones which was presented to Katharin of Spain Wife and Dowager to King Henry the Eight 7 This Shire triumpheth in the births of Beaucleark King Henry the First whom Selby brought forth and of King Henry the Fourth at Bullingbrooke born but may as justly lament for the death of King Iohn herein poysoned by Simon a Monk of Swynsted Abby and of Queene Eleanor wife to King Edward the First the mirrour of wedlocke and love to the Commons who at Hardby neere Bullingbrooke his birth-place ended her life 8 Trade and commerce for provision of life is vented thorow thirtie one Market-Townes in this Shire wherof Lincolne the Counties namer is chiefe by Ptolemie and Antonine called Lindum by Beda Linde-collina by the Saxons Linoo collyne and by the Normans Nichol. Very ancient it is and hath beene more magnificall as by her many over-turned ruines doth appeare and farre more populous as by Domesdayes book is seene where it is recorded that this Citie contained a thousand and seven Mansions and nine hundred Burgesses with twelve Lage-men having Sac and Soc. And in the Normans time saith Malmesburie it was one of the best peopled Cities of England being a place for trafficke of Merchandise for all commers by Land or Sea Herein King Edward the Third ordained his Staple for the Mart of Wools Leather and Lead and no lesse then fiftie Parish-Churches did beautifie the same but now containeth onely fifteen besides the Cathedrall Some ruines yet remaine both of Frieries and Nunneries who lye now buried in their owne ashes and the Citie conquered not by warre but by time and very age and yet hath she not escaped the calamitie of sword as in the time of the Saxons whence Arthur enforced their Ho●t the like also did Edmund to the destroying Danes by the Normans it suffered some dammage where King Stephen was vanquished and taken prisoner and againe by the Third Henry who assaulted and wan it from his rebellious Barons By fire likewise it was sore defaced wherein not onely the buildings were consumed but withall many men and women in the violence thereof perished as also by an Earthquake her foundation was much weakened and shaken wherein the faire Cathedral Church dedicated to the Virgin of Virgins was rent in pieces The government of this Citie is committed yeerely to a Maior two Sheriffes twelve Aldermen in Scarlet a Sword a Hat of estate a Recorder Sword-bearer and foure Sergeants with Maces