title of Aber Gavenni upon which the majority of voices gave it the heir-male And when he had again proposed Whether the title of Baron Le Despenser Baroness le Despenser should be conferr'd on the female and her heirs they unanimously agreed to it to which his Majesty gave his Royal Assent And Edward Nevil was soon after summon'd to Parliament by the King 's Writ under the title of Baron of Aber-Gavenni And being according to the usual ceremony introduc'd in his Parliament-Robe between two Barons he was placed above the Baron de Audeley At the same time also the King's Patent was read before the Peers whereby his Majesty restored rais'd preferred c. Mary Fane to the state degree title stile name honour and dignity of Baroness le Despenser Baroness le Despenser and that her heirs successively should be Barens le Despenser c. But the question of precedency being proposed the Peers referr'd the decision thereof to the Commissioners for the office of Earl Marshal of England who signâ—d their Verdict for the Barony of le Despenser This was read before the Peers and by their order register'd in the Parliament Diary out of which I have taken this account in short What ought not to be omitted is that John Hastings held this Castle by homage ward and marriage 6 Edw. 2. When it happens as we read in the Inquisition and if there should chance any war between the King of England and Prince of Wales he ought to defend the Country of Over-went at his own charges to the utmost of his power for the good of himself the King and Kingdom The second town call'd by Antoninus Burrium Burrium who places it 12 miles from Gobannium is seated where the river Byrdhin falls into Usk. 'T is call'd now in British by a transposition of letters Brynbiga for Burenbegi and also Kaer-ŵysk by Giraldus Castrum Oskae and in English Usk. Usk. It shews now only the ruins of a large strong Castle pleasantly seated between the river Usk and Oilwy a small brook which takes its course from the east by Ragland a stately castle-like house of the Earl of Worcester's and passes under it The third City call'd by Antoninus Isca Isca and Legio secunda seated on the other side of the river Usk and distant as he observes exactly 12 Italian miles from Burrium is câ—ll'd by the Britains Kaer Lheion and Kaer Lheion ar ŵysk Kaer Lheion ar Wysk which signifies the City of the Legion on the river Usk from the Legio Secunda Augusta called also Britannica secunda This Legion instituted by Augustus and translated out of Germany into Britain by Claudius under the conduct of Vespasian to whom upon his aspiring to the Empire it prov'd serviceable and also secur'd him the British Legions was placed here at length by Julius Frontinus as seems probable in garrison against the Silures How great a City this Isca was at that time our Giraldus informs us in his Itinerary of Wales A very ancient city this was saith he and enjoy'd honourable privileges elegantly built by the Romans with * The câ—â—cuit â—f 〈◊〉 walls aâ—â— 3 miles Enderoy brick walls There are yet remaining many footsteps of its ancient splendour stately palaces which formerly with their gilded Tiles emulated the Roman grandeur for that it was at first built by the Roman nobility and adorn'd with sumptuous edifices an exceeding high tower remarkable hot †An. 16â—â— hot baâ—â—s were dâ—â—â—ver'd 〈◊〉 S. Julâ—aâ— the brâ—â—â— equilateâ—â—ly squâ—â—â— about 〈◊〉 inch tâ—â— like thâ—â— at S. Aâ—â—â—â— Mr. Aâ—â—â— baths ruins of ancient temples theatrical places encompass'd with stately walls which are partly yet standing Subterraneous edifices are frequently met with not only within the walls but also in the suburbs aqueducts vaults and which is well worth our observation Hypocausts or stoves contriv'd with admirable artifice conveying heat insensibly through some very narrow vents on the sides Two very eminent and next to St. Alban and Amphibalus the chief Protomartyrs of Britannia major lye entombed here where they were crown'd with martyrdom viz. Julius and Aaron who had also Churches dedicated to them in this City For in ancient times there were three noble Churches here One of Julius the Martyr grac'd with a Quire of Nuns devoted to God's service another dedicated to St. Aaron his companion ennobled with an excellent order of Canons and the third honour'd with the Metropolitan See of Wales Amphibalus also teacher of St. Alban who sincerely instructed him in the Faith was born here This City is excellently well seated on the navigable river Usk and beautified with meadows and woods Here the Roman Embassadors received their audience at the illustrious court of that great King Arthur And here also the Archbishop Dubricius resign'd that honour to David of Menevia by translating the Archiepiscopal See from this City thither Thus far Giraldus But in confirmation of the antiquity of this place I have taken care to add some ancient Inscriptions lately dug up there and communicated to me by the right reverend Father in God Francis Godwin Lord Bishop of Landaff a lover of venerable antiquity and all other good literature In the year 1602. some labourers digging in a meadow adjoyning found on a checquer'd pavement a statue of a person in a short-truss'd habit with a Quiver and Arrows the head hands and feet broken off and also the fragment of an Altar with this Inscription of fair large characters about three inches long erected by Haterianus Lieutenant-General of Augustus and Propraetor of the Province of Cilicia 〈…〉 HATERIANVS LEG AVG PR PR PROVINC CILIC The next year was discover'd also this Inscription which shews the Statue before mention'd to have been of the Goddess Diana and that Titus Flavius Posthumius Varus perhaps of the fifth Cohort of the second Legion had repair'd her Temple a Id est Titus Flavius Postumius Varus quintae Cohortis Legionis Secundae Augustae Templum Dianae restituit T. FL. POSTVMIVS VARVS V. C. LEG TEMPL DIANAE RESTITVIT Also this votive Altar out of which the name of the Emperour * Geta seems to have been rased when he was deposed by his brother Antoninus Bassianus â—â—e Phil. â—â—ns 〈◊〉 1â—5 and declared an enemy yet so as there are some shadows of the Letters still remaining b Id est Pro salute Augustorum nostrorum Severi Antonini Getae Caesarum Publius Saltienus Publii filius Maecia Thalamus ex hac gente aut tribu nempe Publ. Saltienus ortus est Praefectus Legionis secundae Augustae C. Vampeiano Luciliano Consulibus PRO SALVTE In printed Copies Claudius Pompeianus and Lollianus Avitus Coss An. Chr. 210. AVGG N. N. SEVERI ET ANTONINI ET GETAE CAES. P. SALTIENVS P. F. MAECIA THALAMVS HADRI PRAEF LEG II. AVG. C. VAMPEIANO ET LVCILIAN And this fragment of a very fair Altar the Inscription whereof might perhaps be thus supplied
and was not wholly laid aside till the Reign of King Edward 3. g Betwixt these two towns Ware and Hertford which are scarce two miles asunder Lea is augmented by two small rivers that fall into it from the north Asser names them b These two rivers are call'd by the Saxon Chronicle Memera and Benefica Mimera and Beneficia I should guess that to be the Beneficia upon which stands Bennington where the Bensteds a noted family had formerly a small Castle 12 And also Woedhall an habitation of the Bâ—tlers who being branch'd from Sir Ralph Butler Baron of Wem in Shropshire and his wife heir to William Pantulfe Lord of Wem were Lords of Pulre-bach and enrich'd much by an heir of Sir Richard Gobion and another of Peletot Lord of this place in the time of K. Edw. 3. And that to be the Mimera which passeth by Pukerich a place that obtain'd the privilege of a Fair and Market by the Grant of Edward 1. procured by the interest of William le Bland 13 Whereupon also neighboureth Standon with a seemly house built by Sir Ralph Sadleir Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster Privy-Counsâ—llor to three Princes and the last Knight Banneret of England a man so advanc'd for his great Services and stay'd wisdom Behind Puckerich Munden Furnivall presents it self which deserves mention on this account 14 That Geffrey Earl of Britain gave it to Gerard c. that it had for its Lord Gerard de Furnivall Furnivall from whom also it took it's name a younger son of Gerard Furnivall of Sheffield But now let us return to the river Lea and the town of Ware as far as which place the Danes came up the river in their light Pinnaces as Asser relateth it and there built a Fort which when King Alfred could not take by force he digged three new Chanels and so turned the waters of the Lea out of their old course to cut off their fleet from returning that from that time the river was of no great use to the neighbourhood untill it was not long since restored to it 's ancient Chanel and made more commodious for the conveyance of wares corn c. The Lea soon after it hath left Ware takes into it from the east a small river named Stort which first runneth by Bishops Stortford Bishâ—ps Stortford a little town fortified formerly with a small Castle standing upon an hill raised by art within a little island h Castle of Waymore Which Castle William the Conquerour gave to the Bishops of London whence it came to be called Bishops Stortford But King John out of hatred to Bishop c William de S. Maria made Bishop An. 1199. the same year that King came to the Crown W. demolish'd it 15 From thence it maketh his way by Sabridgworth a parcel of the honour of Earl William Mandevile and sometime the possâ—ssion of Geffry Say near Shingle-hall honested by the owners the Leventhorpes of ancient Gâ—ntry So on not far from Honsdon c. From thence it passeth on to Hunsdon which place by the favour of Queen Elizabeth Baron of Hunsdon gave the title of Baron to Sir Henry Cary then Lord Chamberlain For besides that he was descended from that family of the Dukes of Somerset which was of the Blood Royal he also was by his mother Mary Bolen Cousin-German to Qu. Elizabeth The Lea having now receiv'd this small river hast'neth on with a more full and briâ—k current toward the Thames 16 Under Hodsdon a fair through-fair to which H. Bourchier Earl of Essex having a fair house at Baise thereby wâ—ile it stood procur'd a market and in it's passage thither as it were chearfully salutes Theobald-house Theobalds commonly called Tibauld's a place than which as to the Fabrick nothing can be more neat and as to the Gardens the Walks and Wildernesses nothing can be more pleasant i This House was built by that Nestor of Britain the right honorable Baron Burleigh Lord Treasurer of England to whom more particularly this river owns it self obliged for the recovery of it's ancient Chanel But now let us return to the heart of the County where are places more ancient Twelve miles westward from Hertford stood Verolanium in old time a very famous City Tacitus calls it Verulamium Verolamiuâ— Ptolemy Urolanium and Verolamium The situation of this place is very well known to have been close by the town of St. Albans St. Albans in Caisho Hundred which Hundred was without doubt in old time inhabited by those Cassii of whom Caesar makes mention The Saxons call'd it Watlinga-cester from the famous high-way named Watlingstreat and Werlam-ceaster Neither hath it as yet lost it's ancient name for it is still commonly call'd Verulam altho' nothing of it now remains but ruins of walls checquer'd pavements and Roman Coins now and then digg'd up there k It was seated upon the side of an easie hill which faced the east and was fortified with very strong walls a double rampire and deep trenches toward the south And on the east part it had a small rivulet which formerly made on that side a large Mere or standing water whereupon it has been conjectur'd that this was the town of Cassibelinus Cassâ—belinus his town so well defended by the woods and marshes which was taken by Caesar For there is not that I know of any other Mere hereabouts In Nero's time it was esteemed a Municipium which occasion'd Ninius in his catalogue of Cities to call it Caer-Municip So that there is no doubt but this was that Caer Municipium which Hubert Goltzius found in an old Inscription These Municipia Mâ—niâ—ipâ—a were Towns whose inhabitants enjoyed the rights and privileges of Roman citizens And the name was framed à muneribus capiendis i.e. from their capacity to bear publick Offices in the Commonwealth These Municipia as to orders and degrees had their Decuriones their Equites or Gentlemen and their Commons as to their publick Council a Senate and People as to their Magistrates and Priests their Duumviri and Triumviri to administer justice and also their Censors Aedils Quaestors and Flamins But whether this our Verulam was a Municipium with Suffrages or without is not easie to determine A Municipium with Suffrages they call'd that which was capable of publick honours as they called the other which was uncapable a Municipium without Suffrages In the reign of the same Nero when Bunduica or Boadicia Queen of the Iceni out of an inveterate hatred had raised a bloody war against the Romans this town as Tacitus writeth was by the Britains entirely ruined Of which Suetonius makes mention in these words These miseries which were the effects of that Prince's inhumanity were attended with a massacre in Britain where ‖ Verulam and Maldâ—n two of the chiefest towns in that Island were taken and sack'd with a dreadful slaughter both of Roman Citizens and their
Kirkby-Thore in the same County MS. This County as to Pedigrees and the Intermarriages of greater Families has been well consider'd and illustrated by Sir Daniel Fleming a great Encourager and Promoter of Aniquities MS. WILTSHIRE STone-henge restor'd written by Sir Inigo Jones and publish'd by Mr. Webb 1658. Answer to Sir Inigo Jones by Dr. Charleton Vindication of Sir Inigo Jones by his Son in Law Mr. Webb Architect to King Charles 1. Publish'd 1665. Sammes of Stonehenge a separate Discourse in his Britannia A short Treatise upon the same Subject was written by Mr. John Gibbons MS. Wilton-garden describ'd in 22 Copper Cutts in folio At that time it had the reputation of one of the finest gardens in Europe Mr. Tanner of Queen's College in Oxford has made large Collections in order to the Antiquities of this County See Wiltshire pag. 107. WORCESTERSHIRE WOrcester's Eulogie or a grateful acknowledgment of her Benefactors by J. T. Master of Arts a Poem 1638. A large description of Worcestershire MS. is now in the hands of Thomas Abingdon Esquire It was written by his Grandfather an able and industrious Antiquary YORKSHIRE AND RICHMONDSHIRE A Catalogue of all the Bailiffs Mayors and Sheriffs of the City of York from the time of Edw. 1. to the year 1664. by ..... Hillyard Recorder of the same City York 1665. Some Observations upon the Ruins of a Roman-Wall and multangular Tower in York with the draught by Martin Lister Esquire Phil. Transact Num. 145. Jul. 10. 1683. The Antiquities of the City of York by Sir Thomas Widdrington MS. The original Manuscript is now in the hands of Thomas Fairfax of Menston Esq See Yorkshire pag. 734. Dr. Jonston of Pontefract hath made large collections in order to the Antiquities of this whole County which he is now digesting and fitting for the Publick The English Spaw-Fountain in the Forest of Knaresburrow by Edw. Dean M. D. 1626. Another Book upon the same Subject by Mich. Stanhop 1632. A Yorkshire Dialogue in its pure natural Dialect 1683. WALES GIraldus Cambrensis's Itinerary of Wales A Manuscript of David Morganius mention'd by Vossius History of Penbrokeshire written by Geo. Owen Esq now in the hands of Howel Vaughan of Hengwrt Esquire TREATISES relating to SCOTLAND extracted out of Sir Robert Sibalds's Materials for the Scotch-Atlas THeatrum Scotiae by Robert Gordon in Latin Description of Edenburgh by his Son A description of Scotland and the Isles adjacent by Petruccius Ubaldinus in Italian King James 5th's Voyage round his Kingdom with the Hebrides and Orcades in French The Original Manners c. of the Scots by John Lesly Heroës Scoti by John Jonston A Catalogue of the Scotch Nobility in Scotch Andreae Melvini Gathelus Topographia Scotiae by the same hand An account of Rona and Hirta by Sir Geo. Makenzy Metals and Minerals in Scotland by D. Borthwick An account of Cathness by Mr. William Dundass An account of Sutherland by the same hand Observations upon Cathness by the same hand An account of Hadington deliver'd by the Magistrates of the place Description of part of the Praefecture of Aberdeen An account of a strange Tide in the river of Forth by the Reverend Mr. Wright Vindication of Buchanan against Camden per D. H.MS Collections relating to St. Andrews MS. The Antiquity of the Scotch Nation MS. Description of the High-lands of Scotland MS. Vindication of Scotland against Camden by W. Drummond of Hawthornden MS. An account of the metals found in Scotland by Mr. Atkinson MS. A description of Scotland and of the Northern and Western Isles MS. Scotia illustrata by Sir Rob. Sibalds Theatrum Scotiae or a description of the most considerable Cities and Gentlemen's Seats in the Kingdom of Scotland by J. Slezer Barclay's Treatise of Aberdeen-spaw Vid. Theatrum Scotiae pag. 30. IRELAND SIR James Ware hath given us an exact List of the Irish Authors in his Scriptores Hiberniae edit Dublin 1639. ISLANDS A Descripâ—ion of the Isle of Man in Dan. King's Antiquities of Cheshire An accurate Description of the same Island MS. out of which the Additional Account to the Isle of Man was extracted for me by Mr. Strahan of Baliol-College in Oxford A Description of Thule by Sir Robert Sibalds A Description of the Orcades by Mr. Wallace An Account of the Orcades by Matthew Mackaile A Discovery of the Tides in these Islands by the same Hand Description of Hethland and of the Fishery there by Jo. Smith A Table of Hethland with a description of it Observations upon the Aebudae An accurate Description of Jersey by Mr Fall 4o. ¶ Besides these there are great Numbers of Lieger-Books Charters Registers c. relating to the Religious Houses preserv'd in the Libraries of Sir Thomas Bodley Sir John Cotton c. and in the hands of several private Gentlemen a Catalogue whereof with the Proprietors is given by Mr. Tanner in his Notitia Monastica Antoninuss ITINERARY THROUGH BRITAIN As it is compar'd by Mr. BURTON with the several Editions Iter Britanniarum à Gessoriaco de Galliis Ritupis in Portu Britanniarum Stadia numero CCCCL ITER I. A Limite id est à Vallo Praetorium usque M. P. CLVI Editio Aldina Suritana Simleriana Ab Remaenio A Bremenio Corstopilum m. p. xx Bramenio Corstopitum  Vindomoram m. p. ix   Vinoviam m. p. xix Viconia  Cataractonem m. p. xxii   Isurium m. p. xxiv  Ebur 17. Eboracum Leg. vi Victrix m p. xvii Ebur 17.  Derventionem m. p. vii   Delgovitiam m. p. xiii   Praetorium m. p. xxv  ITER II. Editio Aldina Suritana Simleriana  Iter à Vallo ad   Portum Ritupas   M. P. CCCCLXXXI sic  Ablato Tâ—lg A Blato Bulgio Castra Exploratorum m. p. * xii Ablat  * 10 15. Lugu-vall Luguvallum m. p. xii Lugu-vall  Voredam m. p. xiiii   Brovonacim m. p. xiii   Verterim m. p. * xiii * al. 20.  Lavatrim m. p. xiiii  * 16. Cataractonem m. p. * xiii * 16. Isuriam Isurium m. p. xxiiii Isuriam Eburacum 18. Eboracum m. p. xvii Eburacum 18. Cacaria Calcariam m. p. ix  Cambodun Camulodunum m. p. xx Cambodun  Mamucium m. p. xviii Mammuc Manuc  Condate m. p. xviii  * Vici Devam Leg. xx * Victrix m. p. xx * Leg. xxiii ci  Bovium m. p. x.   Mediolanum m. p. xx   Rutunium m. p. xii  Urio Con. Viroconium m. p. xi Urio Con.  Uxaconam m. p. xi  Penno-Cruc Pennocrucium m. p. xii Penno-Cruc  Etocetum m. p. xii  Mandues-Sed * 16. Manduessedum m.p. * vi ††16 Mandues-Sed  Venonim m. p. xii  Bennavent 16. Bennavennam m. p. xvii Bennavent Ban.  Lactodorum m. p. xii Lactorod  Magiovintum m. p. * xvii Magint * 12.  Durocobrivim m. p. xii Duro-Cobr Vero-Lam Verolamium m. p. xii Vero-Lam
Caelius him with the ruine and beggery of the Legions During these quarrels and contentions all sense of respect and deference was lost in the Army At last the disorder was so great that Trebellius being deserted by the wings of his Army and the cohorts who went over to Caelius and lastly reviled and affronted by the Auxiliaries was forced to fly to Vitellius Notwithstanding the absence and removal of the Consular Lieutenant the Province continued quiet and peaceable govern'd by the Lieutenants of the particular Legions all of equal authority though Caelius's boldness gain'd him more sway than the rest During the civil war between Galba Otho and Vitellius Vectius Polanus Propraetor Vectius Bolanus was sent by Vitellius to succeed him He made no reformation of discipline was as little troublesome to the enemy as his predecessor and as careless of the licentiousness of his army only this difference there was that Bolanus was innocent and free from crimes which might make him odious so that instead of awe and authority he had gain'd the love of his Army And although Vitellius sent for some supplies out of Britain yet Bolanus deferred it upon a pretence that Britain was not so well quieted as to admit it But soon after the great esteem of Vespasian in this Province induc'd Britain to declare for him for he had commanded the second Legion here under Claudius and was eminent for his bravery and conduct Yet this revolt was not without opposition from the other Legions in which many Captains and soldiers being advanc'd by Vitellius were very loth to change a Prince who was so well known among them The soldiers of the fourteenth Legion call'd the Conquerors of Britain being remov'd from hence to the Caspian war by Nero and after as they sided with Otho defeated were sent into Britain again by Vitellius but recall'd by Mutianus During this civil war there was no mutinies in the British army And indeed in all the civil wars of the Empire the troops there were more peaceable and quiet than in any other provinces perhaps their distance and separation from the rest of the world by the ocean might cause it or possibly by the many expeditions they had made they might the less relish the entertainment of an enemy Yet by these publick dissentions and the frequent news of them the Britains upon Venusius 's instigation began to think how they might shake off the yoke of that Empire for besides a fierce heady temper that was natural to him and a hatred to the Romans he was spurr'd on in this attempt by a peculiar spight at his Queen Cartismandua Cartismâ—â—dua Cartismandua govern'd the Brigantes nobly descended and more powerful than ever since she had treacherously taken King Caractacus and done Claudius Caesar a kind of triumph by presenting him to that Emperor for that famous shew of Caractacus to the people was a sort of Triumph From hence grew riches and from them luxury so that despising her husband Venusius and having intercepted his relations she made Vellocatus her husband's armour-bearer partner of her bed and throne The Royal family was soon shaken with this wickedness the city adhering to the husband and the Queen's lust and cruelty to the adulterer Venusius therefore having drawn in all the assistance he could and joyn'd the Brigantes who themselves had revolted to him reduc'd her to the last extremities She applied her self to the Romans for relief and after many engagements was at last rescu'd out of dangerous circumstances by our forces However the Kingdom fell to Venusius and the War to us Now Vespasian the Emperor Julius Agricola Lâ—gio xx while Mutianus govern'd the City under Vespasian Julius Agricola who had declar'd for Vespasian and was a person of great integrity and valour was made Commander of the twentieth legion in Britain which had declin'd the Oath for a long time and there he heard that his predecessor had carried himself seditiously For that legion had run a-head and became formidable even to the Consular Legats The Praetorian Legat was not able to rule them but whether through his own ill dispositions or those of the souldiers is uncertain Thus being appointed to succeed him and to punish them he took such an admirable mean as to seem rather to have found them dutiful than to have made them so And though Vectius Bolanus was then Lieutenant here and govern'd more mildly than was fit for so fierce a Province yet Agricola laid a restraint upon himself and smother'd the heat of his own temper that it might not increase and grow visible knowing very well the necessity of complaisance and of mixing his profit with his honour But when Vespasian with the rest of the world had gain'd Britain also he sent great Captains and brave Armies here and the enemies hopes were abated Petilius Cereaiis Propraetor Petilius Cerialis enter'd the country of the Brigantes with great terrour possess'd by the most numerous people of this Province to whom he gave many and some of them very bloody defeats and indeed either spoil'd or conquer'd the greatest part of their country Thus Cerialis seem'd to have eclipsed the fame and conduct of any that could come after him when Julius Frontinus Julius Frontinus Propraetor a great man and as eminent as could be after such a predecessor succeeded to the same charge with like glory He subdued the strong and warlike nation of the Silures where he had not only a stout enemy but great difficulties also from the situation and nature of the country to cope with In this state was Britain and in this posture was the war when Agricola was sent over in the middle of summer Our souldiers minds and hopes were bent upon rest and an end of the war for that year and the enemy intent upon a fair opportunity to begin it The Ordovices a little before the arrival of Agricola had almost entirely routed a wing of ours that was quartered in the frontiers of their country and by this means the whole Province was ready to break out all approving the example either as desirous of war or to see the mind and worth of the new Lieutenant Agricola though the summer was almost over and though his souldiers lay dispers'd up and down the Province expecting no farther trouble for that year all which retarded and cross'd his expedition and though some thought it more advisable to secure such places as were suspicious yet he resolves to forestall these dangers and having drawn together the Ensigns of the Legions and a pretty good body of Auxiliaries and finding the Ordovices durst not come down into the plains he drew up his men and put himself at the head of them that by exposing himself a-like in danger he might make them equally couragious Having almost cut off this whole nation and knowing he must push on to gain a reputation and that every thing hereafter would fall answerable to the event of his
first actions he determines likewise without more ado to make himself master of the Isle of Mona The Island Mona which as I have already said would have been conquer'd by Paulinus if a revolt of the whole Province had not prevented him But this design being not laid before they wanted ships for the expedition which notwithstanding were supplied by the contrivance and resolution of the General He commanded a choice body of auxiliaries who were well acquainted with those shallowes and by the custom of their native country able in swimming to govern themselves their horses and their arms at the same time to throw aside their luggage and march over suddenly Which was so effectually done that the enemy who expected a fleet and were thinking of the ships and the sea that must be first pass'd were surprised and daunted as supposing nothing could be hard or invincible to men that began a war with such resolution Thus a peace was sought the Island surrender'd and Agricola became great and famous as having upon his first entrance a time usually spent in ostentation and ceremony encounter'd so much toil and hazard with such success However Agricola not growing vain upon the success would not allow this to be a Victory or Expedition which was only to keep those in order who were formerly subdued he would not so much as suffer the news of it to be adorn'd with laurel But by this endeavour to conceal his glory he really made it the more eminent every one thinking what strong presumptions he must have of large performances hereafter that would diminish and lessen the greatness of this action Now knowing the disposition and temper of his Province and being taught by the sad experience of others that affairs would never be settled by fighting while wrongs and injuries were permitted he resolves in the next place to cut off the cause of war and to begin at himself first he made a reformation of his own family a thing no less difficult to some than to govern a Province He committed no publick business to the management of his servants or his freemen He would never advance his souldiers upon private and particular ends nor upon the recommendation and intercession of any Captain but would still raise the best taking it for granted that such would be most faithful He had an eye upon every thing but would not rigorously exact performance As for small faults he would pardon them but would severely correct those that were hainous However punishment was not always inflicted by him often the repentance of the offender was took for the offence chusing rather not to prefer such as were like to offend than to have them condemn'd for it He made the payment of corn and tribute which was imposed more easie and tolerable by laying it on equally and cutting off the exactions which were a greater grievance than the tribute it self For the people were compell'd before to wait the opening of the publick Granaries and both to buy and sell their own corn after the rate set to them The Purveyors also would command them to carry it about and into far distant places so that the Country should sometimes carry from the nearest Camps to those which were far off and out of the way till to the particular gain of these every place compounded for carrying where it might most conveniently By a redress of these grievances in the first year of his Lieutenancy he brought peace into some credit which by the neglect or connivance of his predecessors was little less odious than war it self Vespasian dy'd now abouts who upon these victories and his own personal valor under Claudius is thus address'd to by Valerius Flaccus Tuque ô Pelagi qui major aperti Fama Caledonius postquam tua carbasa vexit Oceanus Phrygios prius indignatus Iulos O you whose glorious reign Can boast new triumphs o're the conquer'd main Since your bold navy pass'd the British Sea That scorn'd the Caesars and the Roman sway Titus Emperor When Titus who was the love of the world succeeded his Father Agricola as soon as the Summer came on drew his Army together those who in their march behaved themselves modestly he commended but those who went loose and stragling were reprimanded by him He always chose the place of encampment himself and would still try the friths and thickets first in person and that his own territories might not be pillaged by the enemies he would never give them quiet or leisure by reason of his own excursions and then when he thought he had sufficiently alarm'd them he would give over that they might again tast the happiness of peace By these means many Cities which liv'd upon equal terms till that time gave hostages and submitted themselves receiving our garisons and permitting us to build castles among them which he performed with that care and prudence that these were the only new forts in Britain that were never attempted afterwards The following winter was spent in a wise project For whereas the Britains liv'd after a rude stragling manner and therefore ready to break out into open war upon every occasion that by pleasures he might induce them to rest and quietness he exhorted them privately and publickly assisted them to build Temples places of publick resort and fine houses those that were forward he commended but those who were slow and backward he reproved And thus the honor of being his favorite imposed a kind of necessity upon them Moreover he took care to have Noble mens sons brought up in the knowledge of 〈◊〉 liberal arts preferring the parts of the Britainâ— hâ—◠〈◊〉 â—se of the Gauls so that they who but lately despised the Roman language did now affect and study the graces of it From that time also our modes and dresses became in request among them and the * Toga Gown commonly wore Thus by degrees they came at last to those excitements to debauchery Portico's Baths and Banquets which went by the name of genteelness among the ignorant when they were indeed but badges of their yoke and bondage In the third year of his wars here he discovered new Countreys wasting all along as he marched to the very Taus for that is the aestuary's name Aestuarie of Tauâ— which so terrified the enemy that though our army was sadly harrassed with ill weather yet they durst not give us battle besides he had leisure to build forts and Castles where he pleased It has been observed by the skilful in these arts that no Captain whatsoever has chose out places more to advantage than he did no castle of his raising was ever taken by force surrender'd upon terms or quitted as uncapable of defence Their sallies were frequent and they were always prepar'd with a year's provision against long sieges Thus we winter'd there without fear each one being able to defend it self which disappointed the enemy and made them despair For as formerly they would regain in
being recall'd upon an insurrection in Judaea the Britains had certainly freed themselves from the Roman yoke if Adrian himself had not come in person hither who in his third Consulship in the year of Christ 124 seems by the valour of his army to have defeated them For in a Coin of his we see a General with three souldiers which I suppose are to represent the three legions of Britain with this Inscription EXER BRITANNICUS and another with this Inscription RESTITUTOR BRITANNIAE This Prince reform'd many things in the Island and drew a Wall fourscore miles long to separate the Barbarians from the Romans Spartian making it of great timber planks fixt in the ground and joined one to another not unlike a hedge For which expedition the Poet Florus plays thus upon him Ego nolo Caesar esse Ambulare per Britannos Scythicas pati pruinas Caesar may reign secure for me I won't be Caesar no not I To stalk about the British shore Be wet with Scythian snow all o're To which Adrian reply'd Ego nolo Florus esse Ambulare per tabernas Latitare per popinas Culices pati rotundos Florus may rake secure for me I won't be Florus no not I The streets and idle shops to scower Or in by-taverns lewdly roar With potent rummers wet all o're Cl. Priscus Licinius Propraetor of Britain At this time M. F. Cl. Priscus Licinius was Propraetor of Britain who was with Hadrian in that expedition of his against the Jews as appears by this old Inscription in a broken marble M. F. CL. PRISCO ICINIO ITALICO LEGATO AUGUSTORUM PR PR PROV CAPPADOCIAE PR PR PROV BRITANNIAE LEG AUG LEG IIII. GALLICIAE PRAEF COH IIII LINGONUM VEXILLO MIL. ORNATO A. DIVO HADRIANO IN EXPEDITIONE IVDAIC Q. CASSIUS DOMITIUS PALUMBUS In the reign of Antoninus Pius Antoâ—â—â—â—â— Pius Eâ— who by a Constitution of his made all within the bounds of the Roman Empire citizens of Rome the war broke out again here Lâ—llius Urbiâ—â—â— Propâ—aetor Câ—â—â—â—â—nus but was so well ended by Lâ—llius Urbicus the Legate by removing the barbarians and making another wall of earth that upon it he was sirnam'd Britannicus and had great commendation for taking some part of their country from the Brigantes because they had made incursions into Genouma a neighbouring Province belonging to the Romans Pausâ—â—â— in his Acadica Dâ—gâ—sâ— 36. Archigâ—bernâ—â— And at this time as may be gather'd from Jabolenus Seius Saturnius was Archigubernus of the fleet in Britain But whether it be meant that he was Admiral or Chief-Pilot or the Master of a Ship let the Lawyers determine The Britains falling from one war into another began to revolt again in the time of Antoninus the Philosopher To quiet which commotions Antoninus the Philosopher Caâ—pâ—â—nius Agricola Propraetor Eumeâ—â— Capâ—â—â—nus Calphurnius Agricola was sent over who seems to have succeeded very happily The glory of putting an end to this war Fronto who was inferior to none for Roman eloquence but himself one of the greatest masters of it attributes to the Emperor Antoninus For though he remained at his Palace here in the city and committed the care of it to another yet in his opinion like the Pilot sitting at the helm of the ship he deserv'd the glory of the whole expedition and voyage At that time Helvius Pertinax was a souldier in Britain sent thither from the Parthian Wars and there detain'd In the reign of Commodus Commodus Eâ— there was nothing but wars and seditions throughout Britain For the barbarous Britains having got over the wall made great waste in the country and cut off the Roman General and his army Ulpius Marcelâ—â— Prop aetor So that Vlpius Marcellus was sent against them who succeeded so well in this expedition that upon his great bravery he began to be envied and was recall'd Xiphâ—â— out of Dio. This General was vigilant above all others and to the end that they about him might be as watchful he wrote every evening twelve Tables such as commonly are made of †Tilia Linden-wood and commanded one of his attendants to carry the same to some of the souldiers now at one hour of the night and now at another Whereby they might think their General was ever awake and they themselves might sleep the less Of his temperance he adds likewise Though he was naturally able to abstain from sleep yet that he might do it the better he was very spare in his diet For that he should not eat his bellyful of bread he had it brought from Rome for him that by reason of the age and staleness of it he might eat no more than was barely necessary Upon his being recall'd from Britain the army grew heady and dissolute and all manner of discipline began to be disregarded so that they denied submission to Commodus as Emperor though he was sirnam'd Britannicus by his flatterers Moreover they sent fifteen hundred of their fellow souldiers into Italy against Perennis who had not only a shew of favour but a real sway and interest in the Emperor accusing him of displacing Senators to prefer †Equâ—stris 〈◊〉 viros Gentlemen to their Offices and of a plot and design he had upon the Emperor's Life Commodus gave credit to it and deliver'd him up into their hands who scourg'd him severely beheaded him and declared him an enemy to his country These broils were at last quieted by Helvius Pertinax but not without great danger Helvius Pertinax Propraetor being almost himself slain and left as such among the dead in appeasing them Thus Britain was delivered in peace by Commodus to Clodius Albinus Clodius Albinus Propraetor Capitâ—â—â—nus Junius Sâ—verâ—s Pâ—â—praeâ—oâ— sirnamed afterwards for his great atchievements in Britain Caesareus but was soon order'd to resign to Junius Severus for a speech of his wherein he had with too much liberty inveigh'd against the conduct and administration of the Emperors The Christian Religion in Britain At this time the clouds of superstition and ignorance began to disperse that is not when M. Aurelius and L. Verus were Emperors as Bede writes but in Commodus's reign when Elutherus was Bishop of Rome and the light of the Christian Religion by the means of King c When he lived in what part of Britain he reign'd how far he was concern'd in bringing in the Christian Religion and all other circumstances belonging to that history are handled at large by Dr. Stillingst Orig. Britan. p. 67. Lucius King Lucius to shine in this Island Who as 't is said in the Old Martyrologies which were wont to be read in Churches admiring the integrity and holiness of the Christians sent Eluanus and Meduanus Britains to Pope Eleutherus intreating him that he and his subjects might be instructed in the Christian Religion Upon this immediately the Pope dispatched certain holy men hither namely Fugatius and Donatianus with letters which are yet extant dated in the
his power But he was soon after recalled and succeeded by Jovinus who sent back †Possibly a place corrupted Theodosius Proventusides with all speed to intimate the necessity there was of greater supplies and how much the present state of affairs required it At last upon the great distress that Island was reported to be in Theodosius was dispatch'd hither eminent for his exploits and good fortune He having selected a strong body of men out of the Legions and Cohorts began this expedition with great hopes The Picts Picts were at that time divided into two nations the Dicalidonae and Tecturiones and likewise the Attacotti a warlike people and the Scots Attacots Scots were ranging up and down the country for spoil and booty As for Gaul the Franks and Saxons who border upon it were always making inroads both by land and sea and what by the spoil they took the towns they burnt and the men they kill'd were very troublesome there If fortune would have favoured this brave Captain now bound for the remotest part of the world was resolved to have curbed them When he came to the Coast of Bologn which is severed from the opposite Country by a narrow sea apt to run high at some times and again to fall into a plain and level surface like a champaign country at which time 't is navigable without danger he set sail and arrived at Rhutupiae a safe harbour over against it When the Batavians Herulians the Jovii and Victores brave bold men who followed him were landed likewise he set forward for London an ancient town London called Augusta called in after ages Augusta Having divided his army into several bodies he fell upon the enemy dispersed up and down the country and laden with spoil and booty They were soon routed and forced to leave their prey which was nothing but cattle and prisoners they had took from this miserable Country After he had made restitution of the booty to the respective owners saving only some small part to refresh his army he entered the City in great state which though in the utmost affliction and misery at that time soon revived upon it in hopes of recovery and protection for the future This success soon put him upon greater designs yet to proceed warily he considered upon the intelligence he had got from fugitives and captives that so great a multitude as the enemy composed of several nations and those of a fierce heady temper were not to be routed but by stratagem and surprise Having published his declaration and a pardon therein to such as would lay down their arms he order'd all deserters and others dispers'd up and down the country for forage and provision to repair to him This brought in many upon which reinforcement he thought to take the field but deferred it upon other considerations till he could have Civilis Civilis sent to be his Deputy a man somewhat passionate but very just and upright and also Dulcitius Dulcitâ—s a gallant Captain and experienced in the arts of war Afterwards taking heart he went from Augusta formerly called Londinum with a good army which with much ado he had raised and thereby proved a great support to the sinking state of the poor Britains He took in all such places as might favour him in cutting off the enemy by ambuscade and imposed nothing upon the common souldiers but what he would do himself Thus he discharged the office of an active and hardy souldier as well as of a brave General and by that means defeated several nations who had the insolence to invade the Roman Empire laid the foundation of a lasting peace and restored both Cities and Castles that were reduced to great streights to their former happiness In this juncture there happened an ill accident which might have been of dangerous consequence if it had not been timely prevented One Valentinus Valentine raises a disturbance in Britain of Valeria Pannonia a proud man and brother-in-law to Maximinus that intolerable Deputy afterwards Lieutenant was banished for an heinous crime into this Island where like some savage of a restless temper he put all things in disorder by plots and insurrections against Theodosius and that purely out of pride and envy he being the only man that could cope with him However that he might proceed with conduct and security in these ambitious pursuits he endeavoured to draw in all exiles and deserters to him with the encouragement and prospect of much booty But these designs taking air and coming to the General 's ear before they were full ripe for execution he took care like a wise Captain to be before hand with him both to prevent and punish the conspirators Valentinus himself with some of the chief of his cabal he committed to Dulcitius to see executed but upon laying things together for he was the wisest and most experienced souldier of his time he would suffer no farther enquiry after the other Conspirators lest the general terror which it would strike might again imbroil the Province which was now in peace and quietness From this he turned his thoughts upon the reformation of some things which now grew intolerable being freed from all dangers that might divert him and sensible that fortune was ever favourable to his designs and so he applied himself to the repairing of Cities and garison-towns as we have already said and the strengthening the Frontiers and Castles with watches and intrenchments Having thus recovered the Province which was possessed by the enemy he restored it so compleatly to its former state that upon his motion it had a * Rector Legitimus Valentia lawful Governor set over it and was afterwards by the Prince's order called Valentia The Areans a sort of men instituted by the ancients were displaced by him as corrupt and treacherous being plainly convict of giving intelligence of our affairs to the Barbarians for rewards and bribery For their business was to run to and fro with news from the neighbouring Countreys to our Captains After these regulations and some others made by him with great applause he was sent for to Court leaving the Provinces in such a calm and happy condition that he was no less honoured for his success and victories than Furius Camillus or Cursor Papirius And so being attended with the acclamations of all as far as the sea he sailed over with a gentle gale and arrived at the Prince's camp where he was received with great joy and commendation For these famous exploits here a statue on horseback was erected in honour of him as Symmachus to his son Theodosius the Emperor informs us The founder of your stock and family was one that was General both in Africa and Britain honoured by the Senate with his Statues on horse-back among the ancient Heroes Thus Claudian likewise in his Commendation Ille Caledoniis posuit qui castra pruinis Qui medio Libyae sub casside pertulit aestus Terribilis Mauro
different quality of the tribute Though some learned men do not close with Baronius in this point Additions to Mr. Camden Concerning British COINS By Mr. Walker TAB I. THese eighteen first described are in Mr. Camden those which follow are partly out of Speed's History partly from other friends Before we come to the particulars I desire to premise in general I. That we find very little mention of the Britains or their affairs till Julius Caesar who left a brief but material description of the country and people their manners and customs particularly concerning their traffick and the great instrument of it money which he saith was not Coin but rings and pieces of brass and iron delivered out by weight as it was also in the beginning at Rome So that they had no mark upon their metals of exchange which seems somewhat odd seeing that the invention is so easie ready and useful for human conversation But especially since in Abraham's time coined or stamped money was current amongst merchants and called by a particular name shekel taken it may be from the weight of it And Jacob is said to have given or paid to Hâ—mor father of Sichem for a part of a field centum agnos which is interpreted Act. 7.16 not lambs but pretio argenti commonly explained centum probatos nummos This ignorance I say is strange except we affirm the transmigration of the Predecessors of the Britains to have been before Abraham's time from the Northern parts of Asia not so well civilized as the Eastern where Coin seems to have been antiently even before Abraham the current instrument of traffick Long before Caesar's time Polybius tells us that these Islands were frequented both by Greeks and Phaenicians trading for tinn and other commodities But it seems those crafty people were careful to conceal from these generally accounted heavie Northern nations the value and usefulness of money II. The Coins I have seen of the Britains for the most part are neither gold nor good silver but of mixed metals and those compositions very different and not as yet by any that I know endeavoured to be discover'd perhaps since the quantities of them are so small and their value taken from the fairness of their impression Nor can we give any certain account of their weight because we have very few of one stamp or perfect and some of them also may be probably thought counterfeited III. The Coins of the Britains are not unlike those of the antient Gauls as those of our Saxons to those of the first race of the Kings of the Franks who settled in France near the time that the Saxons invaded Britain concerning which a farther account shall be given by and by But in this we find the Saxons as the English after them to differ both from the Gauls and Franks that they did not so often change the weight or value of their Coins much less raised and decryed the same piece according to the pleasure or necessities of the Prince An action lawful indeed but without very great caution detrimental and prejudicial to the Subject But in this themselves confess the English to understand their interest better than the French IV. I can hardly satisfie my self why we have so many Coins of Cunobeline and so few of other Princes more famous at least in Roman story for of British Historians we have none certainly antienter than Gildas and he only speaks of those near or of his own time But we have nothing of Caratacus Arviragus c. but conjectural Some of those of Cunobeline I know are modern perhaps also Cuno signifying as Camden observes a Prince may be applied especially since many Coins have no more than Cuno to divers Princes and is added to the end of the names of several mentioned in Gildas perhaps also he reigned a long time But the best reason seems to be either because he lived some while at Rome or that London was then a famous city for trade and therefore had both more money and better preserved Remarks upon Mr. Camden's Conjectures I am not satisfied in the first of Mr. Camden If it be a Janus I had rather apply it to the shutting of Janus's Temple by Augustus in whose time Cunobeline lived at Rome and both himself and the Britains were benefited by that general peace But I fear that is not the head of Janus for the faces upon his Temple and Coins were divers one old the other young but this seems made for two young women's faces whether Cunobeline's wives sisters or children I know not To the third I conceive the horse was so frequently stamped upon their Coins because of their extraordinary goodness in this country The like is upon divers Cities and Provinces in Gallia Or to shew that they were in their own opinion excellent horsemen The Boar also and Bull were Emblems of strength courage and fierceness and I find that antiently the Romans used for their Ensigns horses wolves boars c. till Caius Marius's third Consulship who then first ordained the Eagle only to be the standing Ensign of the Legions as Trajan after the Dacian War set up Dragons for Ensigns of the Cohorts In the sixth the horse seems fasten'd by one fore and the opposite hinder-foot to some weight as if it signified the invention of one of their Princes to teach them some pace or motion The wheel under him amongst the Romans intimated the making of an Highway for Carts So many of which being in the Romans time made in this country well deserved such a memorial The seventh Novane seems to be the same with the two and twentieth wherein is Tasci Novanit some unknown city in the Dominion of Cunobeline Reverse a hog and wolf concorporated The ninth Speed thinks probably to be Caractacus the valiant and renowned King of the Silures The Britains called him Caradaue and gave him the Epithets Uric fras forti brachia But others read it Epatica which may keep its native signification since we find Parsly the Palm Vine Myrtle Cynoglossum Laserpitium and other plants sometimes figured sometimes only named upon Coins as you may find in Spanhemius Com. in the tenth I cannot conceive to have been Comius made by Caesar King of the Atrebates Arras because he seems not to have had any power in Britain where the greatest part of his stay was in prison and at his return into his own country he headed a rebellion against the Romans Besides in other Coins it is Comm. which either signifies some City or other Community to have coined it or to have been stamped in the time of Commodus the Emperor For I cannot think it signified Commorus by Greg. Turon or Venant Fortunatus named Duke of Britannia Armorica A. C. 550. The thirteenth an Octogone seems to have been of a Christian Prince for by it the Christians anciently figured the Font for baptism In Gruter's Inscriptions p. 1166. are verses of St. Ambrose upon the Font of St. Tecla
more cheerfully than most other nations submitted to the laws and customs of the Romans as appears by Tacitus in the life of Agricola And though it may be that the doctrine of the Druids despising the heathen Gods acknowleding only one God and rewards and punishments after death might contribute to their embracing the Gospel yet I think that the very great courage high generosity and excellent parts of the people did more being once convinced that the Roman laws and government was better than their own Of the fifth the letters are too imperfect if the reverse be not a pavilion or seat of state I know not what it is The sixth seems to be a visor the letters now not visible or it might be ill-made in imitation of Commodus usually set forth with his head wrap'd in a Lion's skin feigning himself to be Hercules The seventh is a British rough uncomb'd head the letters are vanished Those above the Horse on the reverse seem to be set the averse way from the right to the left hand The eighth as likewise the twenty fourth and thirty sixth seem to be a Ship or Galley with oars Vid. Mons Bouteroue in Clothaire An. Ch. 511. the figure is better there expressed than in ours It was coined by a Christian Prince or City because all of them are adorned with crosses either upon the stern or yards S. Aug. Ser. 22. de diversis saith It is necessary for us to be in the ship and to be carried in the wood that can pass through the sea of this world This wood is the Cross of our Lord. S. Paulinus seems to refer it to the yards Et rate ornata titulo salutis S. Chrys rather to the stern Quod Christus sit Deus Crux navigantium gubernaculum The same doth Ephr. Syrus Upon divers Coins of the Roman Emperors is a stern joyned to a globe as if they steer'd the whole world On the reverse is Duro which I question not was Durobernia or Canterbury now the chief seat of the great Archbishop and Primate of the Nation The ninth is an Horse under the Sun and Moon whether it signified according to their opinion that beast to be chiefly subject to those Planets or that next the Sun and Moon the chiefest benefit they reaped was from the Horse or any other imagination I am ignorant The tenth is an Head and I think foreign and not British most of those being without ornament but this hath a Crown or Garland And what if Dubno should be mistaken for Dumnorix or some other Prince unknown to us The eleventh hath an Head with a Diadem of two rows of Pearls perhaps for some of the Oriental Emperors and not unlikely of Constantine the Great both for the goodness of the face and his being one of the first who carried that sort of Diadem He may well be placed here as being born of a British Lady The reverse is a Dove hovering over a Cross an emblem not unusual in the first times of Christianity intimating that the Cross is made beneficial unto us by the Holy Spirit Masseius and Osorius testifie that the Christians at their first coming to Meliapor the city of St. Thomas found such a one there engraved in stone in his own time as was verily believed The like is reported by Bosius in the vault of St. John Lateran and by Chiffletius upon an Altarstone in Besançon The twelfth of Cunobeline the letters upon the reverse begin the name of some place but what I know not The thirteenth by the letters BR seems to be the head of Britannia as there were many the like of Rome and other places the reverse is also according to many Roman Coins a man on horseback as in that exercise they called Decursio The fourteenth seems a Woman's Head with a Crown the letters worn out On the reverse compared with the sixteenth twenty fourth and thirty fifth seems to be inscribed some sacred vessel or utensil The fifteenth seventeenth and eighteenth having no inscriptions are to us unintelligible The sixteenth seems an ill-shapen Galley with the keel upwards The nineteenth seems to be the head of some Town or Country some say that Julius Caesar but 't is more certain that Claudius brought one or more Elephants into Britain against their enemies The twentieth hath an Head covered with an antick sort of Helmet The reverse seems an ill-fashioned Gryphon It is somewhat strange that those fond kind of imaginations should have lasted so long and in these remote parts of the world Concerning the twenty first vid. Tab. 1. c. 29. what it or the twenty second signifies I cannot imagine The twenty third seems the figure of an ordinary British foot-soldier armed with a head-piece and armour down to his thighs and a club upon his shoulder The twenty fourth hath a Galley with a Cross upon the stern yet not at the handle of the stern being upon the wrong side of it Vid. Coin 8. The letters I understand not as neither the reverse The twenty fifth also is utterly unknown The twenty sixth seems to be the head of some of the Gothic kings of Spain the like being found in Ant. Augustinus and Monsieur le Blanc On the reverse is a kind of Dragon seen also upon the Greek and Gallick Coins as well as British Such a one as this is by Monsieur le Blanc described for Childeberts pag. 58. The twenty seventh twenty eighth and twenty ninth having Runic inscriptions might probably be made for some of the kings of Cumberland in which County are still extant some Runic Monuments The thirtieth hath an Head which I would gladly believe to be of Arviragus because on the reverse is an Essedarius or Covinarius a fighter upon a chariot with his dart or like weapon in one hand and his quiver of arrows at his back A kind of fight which was strange to Julius Caesar and forced him to turn his back Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis Great Caesar flies the Britains he had sought So terrible was it to the Romans that his flatterers upon some imagin'd prodigy took it to be an omen of the overthrow of Arviragus a very couragious and warlike Prince De temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus The thirty first is in the learned Monsieur Bouteroue's judgment from whom it is copied supposed to be king Lucius the first Christian king of Britain The truth of whose story is largely discoursed by Archbishop Usher in his Primord Eccles Britan. where he seems to say that it is confirmed by all Historians that king Lucius king in Britain was the first Christian king in the world Which also seems strongly confirmed by what he saith That the Scots beyond the wall under Victor I. immediate successor to Euaristus under whom Lucius was converted received also the Christian Faith pag. 41 42. But that there is some difference about the time when king Lucius lived but greater about what part of Britain he reigned in As likewise
apprehensive of danger from the Picts and Scots c This must be meant of the Roman party left in the Island who might be suppos'd to have a greater respect for Ambrâ—sius For the Northern nations breaking in upon Rome at that time did so effectually divert that nation that no harm câ—uld be fear'd from those parts from the Râ—man power and from Aurelius Ambrosius The Saxons immediately under the command of Hengist and Horsa d See Bish p Usher's Antiquitat Britann p. 207 c. arriv'd in Britain with their Ciules e I rather think it was a general name for their ships For William of Malmesbury describing their coming says they brought 3 Ciules which the Saxon Annals express by Scipas And 't is a word oo very commonly maâ—e use of in the names of men which generally consisted of something sublime and never of diminutives Unless these Ciules wâ—re their piratiâ—g vessels then we need not woâ—der that they got into their names since piracies were tâ—e peculiar talent and glory of that nation for so they call'd their flat-bottom'd boats or pinnaces and by their success against the Scots and Picts in two several engagements rais'd their reputation considerably And because the Britains did absolutely depend upon their conduct they sent for fresh supplies out of Germany partly to man the frontier garisons f This conduct of Vortigern's in trusting the Saxons with the frontier garisons is by some very much approv'd and by others as much condemn'd Mr. Sommer in his Gavelkind p. 40. calls it the most prudent course he could have took for the benâ—fit and security of his subjects But Bishop Stillingfleet Orig. Britan. p. 319. proves it to be the very worst method he could have fixt upon and partly to divert the enemy upon the sea-coast Guortigern says Ninnius at the instance of Hengist sent for Octha and Ebissa to come and aid him and they with forty of their Ciules sailing round the Picts coasts wasted the Orcades and possess'd themselves of a great many Islands and countries * Trans mare Fresicum beyond the Frith even as far as the borders of the Picts At length being mightily satisfied with the lands customs and plenty of Britain and building upon the cowardize of the natives under the pretence of ill pay and short diet they enter into a league with the Picts raise a most bloody war against their Entertainers the Britains in all parts put the poor frighted Inhabitants to the sword wast their lands raze their cities and after many turns and changes in their several battles with Aurelius Ambrosius who had took upon him the government Aurelius Ambrosius by Gildas Ambrosius Aurelianus g Probably murder'd by their own subjects according to Gildas's character of their behaviour at that time in the administration whereof his parents had lost their lives and the h How far the British History of Arthur may be admitted See Stillingflâ—et's Orig. Britan. p. 335. Usher Primord p. 61 c. warlike Arthur at length dispossess the Britains of the best part of the Island and their hereditary estates At which time in a word the miserable natives suffer'd whatever a Conqueror may be imagin'd to inflict or the conquer'd fear For auxiliary troops stocking daily out of Germany still engag'd a fresh the harrass'd Britains such were the Saxons the Jutes for that is their right name not Vites and the Angles They were indeed distinguish'd by these names but promiscuously call'd Angles and Saxons But of each of them let us treat severally and briefly that so far as is possible we may discover the originals of our own nation Only I must beg leave first to insert what Witichindus a Saxon born and an ancient writer has left us concerning the coming over of the Saxons Britain being by Vespasian the Emperor reduc'd into the form of a province and flourishing a long time under the protection of the Romans was at last invaded by the neighbouring nations as seeming to be abandoned by the Roman aids For the Romans after that * In the texâ— Martialis buâ— in the margin Possibly Martianus Martian the Emperor was murder'd by his own soldiers were heavily annoy'd with foreign wars and so were not able to furnish their allies with aids as they had formerly done However before they quitted this nation they built a large wall for it's defence going along the borders from sea to sea where they imagin'd the enemy would make the most vigorous assaults But after a soft and lazie people were left to encounter a resolute and well-disciplin'd enemy it was found no hard matter to demolish that work In the mean time i The former experience Britain had had of the Saxon courage was sufficient to point out that nation before any other For even in the times of the Romans they were not afraid to prey upon our coasts aâ—d to that degree as to oblige'em to guard the coasts with the Officer called Comes Littoris Saxonici the Saxons grew famous for their success in arms and to them they dispatch a humble embassy to desire their assistance The Embassadors being admitted to audience made their addresses as follows Most noble Saxons The miserable * Bretti for Britanni Britains shatter'd and quite worn out by the frequent incursions of their enemies upon the news of your many signal victories have sent us to you humbly requesting that you would assist them at this juncture k Witichindus seems to make 'em too lavish in their promises For it they had given up their lands and liberty in such express terms what occasion had the Saxons to have recourse to the pretences of ill pay and short diet after they had took up the resolution of making themselves Masters by force of arms A land large and spacious abounding with all manner of necessaries they give up entirely to your disposal Hitherto we have liv'd happily under the government and protection of the Romans next to the Romans we know none of greater valour than your selves and therefore in your courage do now seek refuge Let but that courage and those arms make us conquerors and we refuse no service you shall please to impose The Saxon Nobles return'd them this short answer Assure your selves the Saxons will be true friends to the Britains and as such shall be always ready both to relieve their necessities and to advance their interest The Embassadors pleas'd with the answer return home and comfort their countrymen with the welcome news Accordingly the succours they had promis'd being dispatch'd for Britain are receiv'd gratefully by their allies and in a very little time clear the kingdom of invaders and restore the country to the Inhabitants And indeed there was no great difficulty in doing that since the fame of the Saxon courage had so far terrify'd them that their very presence was enough to drive them back The people who infested the Britains were the
that dominion by Christ crucified but who was now made Lord of Lords and Prince over the Kings of the earth This Prince was son to King Aethelred so that in him to the great joy of the English the Danish Government being extinguished the noble antient Saxon Line was restored He was a Prince of very great justice devotion mildness bounty and many other excellent virtues And indeed several things reported to his prejudice seem capable of a rational Apology as the hard usage of his mother Emma and his wife Edith Neither wanted he courage or diligence but the factions of the great nobility and ambition of Earl Godwin required a more severe if not austerer Government The reverse Othgrim on Efrwic I conceive to be York The fifteenth is of the same Edward but with an unusual ornament upon his head in his hand a scepter ending in a lily The reverse perhaps is Ailmer on Scrobe coined at Shrowesbury The sixteenth is of the same with an Imperial or close crown his scepter hath three pearls cross-wise On the reverse is a cross between four martlets I suppose which was the original or first of those Arms they call of the West-Saxons though Arms and Scutcheons c. are of a later invention and are now of the City of London and divers other places but they are in several particulars altered from what they were in his time perhaps for the greater beauty The reverse of the sixteenth is imperfect That of the seventeenth I cannot read perhaps it is the same with that of the nineteenth Of the eighteenth the reverse is Walter on Eoferwick The nineteenth is Edward with a crown Imperial and scepter on it a cross like that of an Archbishop The Reverse is Drintmer on Wal. perhaps Wallingford The twentieth is Edward with a crown pearled the reverse may be .... dinnit on Leicester The twenty first hath another unusual ornament on his head the reverse is Sietmait on Sutho perhaps some place in Suthfolk The twenty second is of Harold a younger son of Earl Godwin How he gain'd the Kingdom whilst the rightful Heir Edgar was alive except by force and power I know not Some say King Edward bequeath'd it to him conceiving Edgar not so able to govern others that he was chosen by the consent of the Nobility but this is not probable But his father as long as he lived had used all means just and unjust to get the great offices of command into his hands of which coming after his death to Harold the best and worthiest of his children he made use accordingly Before his reign he had shewed himself very valiant diligent and loyal also at least more than his brethren and as soon as crown'd he endeavoured by all prudent and fitting means to obtain the favour of the people But his reign lasted not long and was taken up with wars and troubles At last fighting rashly and indiscreetly with William Duke of Normandy he was slain with two of his brethren the third being killed before in a battle near York And so ended the great power and ambition of Earl Godwin and his family as also of the Kingdom of the Saxons From the twenty third to the twenty eighth is Sancti Petri moneta most of them coined at York yet with several stamps I am in great doubt whether these were coined for Peter-pence or Romescot which was an annual tax of a penny each houshold given for the West-Saxon Kingdom by King Ina about anno 720 for Mercia by King Offa and paid at the festival of S. Petri ad vincula At first some say for the education of Saxon Scholars at Rome but afterwards as all grant for the use of the Pope himself not then so well provided as afterwards The like tax of three half pence and a sieve of oats for each family was about the same time given also by the Polonians upon the same reasons Or whether it was the ordinary money coined by the Archbishop whose famous Cathedral was of St. Peter For amongst the great number of such coins I have seen very few one is that of the 20th in this table stamped other where Besides there is such great variety in the stamps that very many more than methinks necessary for that payment must needs have been coined nor is the sword a proper symbol for S. Peter The twenty sixth What the word in the reverse signifies whether the name of a person or place I know not The twenty eighth and twenty ninth St. Neglino I do not understand as neither the thirtieth These coins of St. Peter with the three following and divers others scattered in the other plates were found at Harkirk in the parish of Sephton in Lancashire as they were digging for a burying-place and were all afterwards engraved and printed in one large sheet but having seen many of the same it was not fitting to omit them The thirty one is of Berengarius King of Italy in Charles the Great 's time The reverse shews the building of some church what we know not the words Christiana Religio shew also so much The thirty second is Ludovicus Pius the reveâ—se much the same The thirty third is of Carlus Magnus and informs us of his true name which was not Carolus from Charus or Carus but Carlus in the Northern languages signifying a man vir or a strong man Metullo was one of the coining places in France in his time The thirty fourth is Anlaf Cyning a name very troublesome about the times of Aethelstan and aâ—ter There seem to have been two of them one King of Ireland another of some part of Northumberland V. Tab. 6. c. 28. What that not-unelegant figure in the midst implies as also that in the reverse except it be the front of some church I cannot conceive as neither who that Farhin or Farning was I much doubted how Anlaf a Pagan should stamp a church with crosses upon his coin till Mr. Charleton shewed me on a coin of Sihtric Anlaf's father a Christian the very same figures the Mint-master for haste or some other reason making use of the same stamp The thirty fifth is of the unfortunate Aethelred mentioned here because coined by Earl Godwin in Kent Whence appears what I hinted before that the Nobility and Governors put their names upon the coins and not only the Mint-masters as was more frequent in France The thirty sixth is of Harold the son of Godwin the reverse is Brunstan on Lot fecit Brunstan seems to have been only a Mint-master where Lot is I know not The thirty seventh is of Harold son of Cnut The reverse is Leofwine on Brightstoll The thirty eighth hath the reverse Brintanmere on Wallingford as I conceive These 3 by misfortune were misplaced yet fit to be known because of the places of their stamping Saxon Coins TAB VIII IN this plate are collected divers unknown coins yet such as I conceive to have belonged to these Nations some also of former Kings repeated
matters his principal care was to avoid the storm of the Danish war which he saw hanging over him and even to purchase a Peace On this occasion he made Adalbert Archbishop of Hamburg his instrument For Adam Bremensis says There was a perpetual quarrel between Sueno and the Bastard but our Arch-bishop being brib'd to it by William made it his business to strike up a peace between the two Kings And indeed 't is very probable there was one concluded for from that time England was never apprehensive of the Danes William however made it his whole business to maintain the dignity of his government and to settle the Kingdom by wholsome laws For Gervasius Tilburiensis tells us That after the famous Conqueror of England King William had subdued the furthest parts of the Island and brought down the Rebels hearts by dreadful examples lest they might be in a condition of making outrages for the future he resolved to bring his Subjects under the obedience of written laws Whereupon laying before him the Laws of England according to their threefold division that is Merchanlage Denelage and West-Sexenlage some of them he laid aside but approved others and added to them such of the foreign Norman Laws as he found most conducive to the peace of the Kingdom Next as we are assured by Ingulphus who lived at that time he made all the inhabitants of England do him homage and swear fealty to him against all â—â—hers He took a survey of the whole nation so that there was not a single Hide of land through all England but he knew both the value of it and its owner Not a lake or any other place whatsoever but it was registred in the King's Rolls with its revenue rent tenure and owner according to the relation of certain taxers who were picked out of each County to describe the places belonging to it This Roll was called the Roll of Winchester and by the English Domesday Domesday-book called by Gervasius Tilburiensis Laher Judiciarius as being an universal and exact account of every tenement in the whole nation I the rather make mention of this Book because I shall have occasion to quote it hereafter under the name of William's Tax-book The Notice of England the Cessing-book of England The publick Acts and The Survey of England But as to Polydore Virgil's assertion that William the Conqueror first brought in the Jury of Twelve Jury of 12. there is nothing can be more false For 't is plain from Ethelred's Laws that it was used many years before that Nor can I see any reason why he should call it a terrible Jury Twelve men Twelve men who are Freeholders and qualified according to Law are picked out of the Neighbourhood these are bound by oath to give in their real opinion as to matter of fact they hear the Council on both sides plead at the Bar and the evidence produced then they take along with them the depositions of both parties are close confined deny'd meat drink and fire till they can agree upon their verdict unless want of these may endanger some of their lives As soon as they have delivered it in he gives sentence according to law And this method was looked upon by our wise Forefathers to be the best for discovering truth hindering bribes and cutting off all partiality How great the Norman courage was I refer you to other writers I shall only observe The Warlike courage of the Normans that being seated in the midst of warlike Nations they never made submission their refuge but always arms By force of these they possessed themselves of the noble Kingdoms of England and Sicilie For Tancred * Nepeâ— Nephew to Richard the Second Duke of Normandy and his Successors did many glorious exploits in Italy drove out the Saracens and set up there a Kingdom of their own So that a Sicilian Historian ingenuously confesses that the Sicilians enjoying their native Soil Th. Fazâ—llus lib. 6. Decadis Posterioris their Freedom and Christianity is entirely owing to the Normans Their behaviour also in the wars of the Holy land got them great honour Which gave Roger Hoveden occasion to say That bold France after she had experienced the Norman valour drew back fierce England submitted rich Apulia was restored to her flourishing condition famous Jerusalem and renowned Antioch were both subdued Since that time England has been equal for warlike exploits and genteel Education to the most flourishing nations of the Christian world The English Guards to the Emperors of Constantinople So that the English have been peculiarly made choice of for the Emperor of Constantinople's guards For as our country man Malmsbury has told us he very much admired their fidelity and recommended them to his son as men deserving of respect and they were formerly for many years together the Emperor's guards Nicetas Choniata calls them Inglini Bipenniferi and Curopalata Barangi Barangi These attended the Emperor where-ever he went with halberts upon their shoulders as often as he stir'd abroad out of his closet and pray'd for his long life clashing their halberts one against another to make a noise As to the blot which Chalcondilas Chaâ—condilas has cast upon our nation of having wives in common truth it self wipes it off and confronts the extravagant vanity of the Grecian For as my most learned and excellent Friend Ortelius has observed upon this very subject Things related by any persons concerning others are not always true These are the People which have inhabited Britain whereof there remain unto this day the Britains the Saxons or Angles with a mixture of Normans and towards the North the Scots Whereupon the two Kingdoms of this Island England and Scotland which were long divided are now in the most potent Prince King JAMES happily united under one Imperial Diadem It is not material here to take notice of the Flemings who about four hundred years ago came over hither In the County 〈◊〉 Pembâ—â—â—â— and got leave of the King to settle in Wales since we shall mention them in another place Let us then conclude this part with that of Seneca From hence it is manifest De Conâ—latioâ—â— Albiâ—â— that nothing has continued in its primitive state There 's a continual floating in the affairs of mankind In this vast orb there are daily revolutions new foundations of cities laid new names given to nations either by the utter ruine of the former or by its change into that of a more powerful party And considering that all these nations which invaded Britain were Northern as were also others who about that time overran Europe and after it Asia Nicephorus's Nicephorus observation founded upon the authority of Scripture is very true As God very often sends terrors upon men from heaven such are thunder fire and storms and from earth as opening of the ground and earthquakes as also out of the air such as whirlwinds and immoderate
now the Isc is grown bigger but dividing into many streams very convenient for mills it flows to the City Isca to which it leaves it's name Hence n He was once Prior of S. Nicholas in this City Alexander Necham Exoniae fama celeberrimus Iscia nomen Praebuit To Exeter the famous Ex gives name This city is call'd Isca by Ptolemy by Antoninus Isca Dunmoniorum for Danmoniorum Isca Danmoniorum Excester by others falsly Augusta as if the second Legion Augusta had quarter'd there whereas that was garrison'd in the Isca Silurum as shall be said hereafter It was nam'd by the Saxons o And Eaxan-ceaster Exan-ceaster and Monketon from the monks now at this day it is called Excester by the Latins Exonia by the Welsh Caer-isk Caer-uth and Pen-caer that is a chief city Caer what it signifies For Caer that I may once for all note it signifies a City in British hence they call Jerusalem Caer Salem Paris Caer Paris Rome Caer Ruffayne So Carthage in the Punick tongue as Solinus testifies was call'd Cartheia that is to say a new City Among the Syrians likewise I have heard that Caer signify'd a city and seeing it is took for granted that the whole world has been peopl'd by them it may seem very probable that they also left their tongue to posterity as the mother of future languages This city as Malmesbury says tho' the ground about it be wet and filthy and will scarce bear a crop of bad oats and often yielding empty ears without grain in them yet by reason of it's stateliness the richness of the citizens and resort of Strangers all kind of merchandise is so plentiful in it that one need lack nothing there that is necessary It stands on the east side of the Isc upon a hill of easie and gentle rise to the eastward and falling again to the west encompass'd with a ditch and very strong walls having many towers between them The town is a mile and half in circuit with suburbs shooting out here and there for a long way It contains p Thirteen of these Churches were in Oliver's time expos'd to publick sale by the Common-cryer 15 Parish-Churches and in the highest part near the East-gate has a castle call'd Rugemount formerly the seat of the West-Saxon Kings afterward of the Earls of Cornwall which now has nothing to recommend it but its antiquity and situation q It is suppos'd to have been the work of the Romans and as a place of great moment it has been committed from time to time to persons of the best rank For it commands the city underneath it and the country on all sides and has a very pleasant prospect to the sea In the east part of the city stands the Cathedral in the midst of fine houses quite round built by King Athelstan as the private history of this place witnesses in honour to S. Peter and fill'd with Monks at last the Monks being remov'd to Westminster Edward 3. grac'd it with the dignity of being an Episcopal See having transferr'd the Bishopricks of Cornwall and Kirton hither and made Leofric the Britain first Bishop of it whose successors have improv'd the Church both by buildings and revenues n And William Bruier the ninth Bishop after him in lieu of the displac'd Monks brought in a Dean and twenty four Prebendaries Josephus Iscanus In that age flourish'd Josephus Iscanus who owes his birth and name to this place a Poet of very lively wit whose pieces were so highly approv'd of that they met with as much applause even as the ancients For his poem of the Trojan war haâ— been twice publish'd in Germany under the title of Cornelius Nepos Cornelius Nepos When Isca first fell under the Roman Jurisdiction does not plainly appear I am so far from thinking it conquer'd by Vespasian as Geoffery of Monmouth asserts when under Claudius the Emperour Suetonius tells us he was first shown to the world that I should think it was hardly then built Yet in the time of the Antonines it was probably very famous for Antoninus continues his Itinerary in these parts to this City and no farther It fell not absolutely under the dominion of the Saxons before the year after their coming into Britain 465. Will. Malm. For then Athelstan forc'd the Britains who before that liv'd in the city in equal power with the Saxons out of it drove them beyond Tamar and encompass'd the city with a ditch a wall of square stone and bulwarks since that time our Kings have granted it many privileges and among the rest as we read it in the Book of William the Conqueror This city did not geld but when London York and Winchester did that was half a mark of silver for a Knight's fee. And in case of an expedition by land or sea it serv'd after the rate of five hides It hath also from time to time undergone much misery once spoil'd by an out-rage of the Danes in the year of our redemption 875 but most dismally by Sueno the Dane in the year 1003 being betray'd by one Hugh a Norman the governour of the city when it was laid level from the east to the west-gate and had scarce begun to recruit till William the Conqueror laid close siege to it at which time the Citizens not only shut up their gates against him but gall'd him with many bitter reflections however a part of their wall happening to fall down which the Historians of that age attribute to the hands of Providence a surrender soon follow'd at this time as it is in the said Survey-book the King had in this city 300 houses it paid 15 pounds a year Eight and forty houses were destroy'd after the King came into England After this it was press'd by three sieges yet easily escap'd them all First by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire in the civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster again by r After Warbeck was vanquish'd the King gave great commendations to the citizens and bestow'd upon them the sword he then wore to be born before the Mayor and also a cap of maintenance Perkin Warbeck a sham and counterfeit prince who being a young man and of mean descent by pretending to be Richard Duke of York the second son of K. Edward 4. rais'd a very dangerous war 5 Against Henry the Seventh thirdly by the seditious Cornish in the year 1549. when the citizens tho' under a most sad want of all sorts of provisions continu'd loyal till John Baron Russel rais'd the siege Å¿ For this deliverance the 6th of August was appointed to be and is still annually observ'd as a day of thanksgiving and commonly call'd Jesus-day K. Edw. 6. as a reward of their loyalty gave them the rich mannour of Ex-Island But Exeter has not suffer'd so much by these enemies as by certain heaps Wears as they call them t His name was Hugh Courtney and the true
the celebrated Organ at Ulme This city gave birth to Henrietta Maria youngest daughter to K. Charles 1. to William Petre â—ho was Secretary and Privy-Counsellor to K. Henry 8. Edward 6. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and seven times Embassadour in foreign parts and lastly to Sir Thomas Bodley employ'd by Queen Elizabeth to several foreign Courts but especially famous for his founding the Publick Library in the University of Oxford call'd after his own name nn Thomas the last Earl of Exeter mention'd by our Author was succeeded by William his son and heir who dying without issue-male The Eaâ—â—s continu'd left that honour to David Cecil Son of Sir Richard Cecil who was second son to Thomas Earl of Exeter This David was succeeded by John his son and heir and he by his son of the same name o At the confluence of Ex and Clist is Topesham Topheshaâ— an ancient town that hath flourish'd much by the obstructions of the river Ex. Several attempts have been made to remove these dammes but none so effectual as the new works in the time of King Charles 2. at the vast expence indeed of the City of Exeter but to such advantage that Lighters of the greatest burden come up to the city-key On the east of Exeter is a parish call'd Heavy-tree Heavy-tâ—â—â— memorable for the birth of Hooker the judicious Author of the Ecclesiastical Polity and of that great Civilian Dr. Arthur Duck. The next parish is Pinhoe Pinhoe remarkable for bringing forth the two Rainolds John and William brothers zealous maintainers both of the Reform'd and the Popish Religion in their turns Not far from hence is Stoke-Canon Stoke-Câ—non given by K. Canute to the Church of Exeter a representation of which gift was to be seen not long ago in a window of the Parish-Church there viz. a King with a triple Crown and this Inscription Canutus Rex donat hoc Manerium Eccles Exon. Four miles east of Exon we pass the river Clyst near which upon Clyst-heath Clyst-heath the Cornish rebels were totally defeated An. 1549. by John Lord Russel afterwards Earl of Bedford p Next is Honnyton Honnyâ—â—â— where the market was anciently kept on Sundays as it was also in Exeter Launceston and divers other places till in the reign of K. John they were alter'd to other days Over the river Ottery is Vennyton bridge Vennytâ—â—-bridge at which in the time of Edw. 6. a battle was fought against the Cornish rebels q And upon the same river stands Budley Budley famous for being the birth-place of that great Statesman and Historian Sir Walter Rawleigh r From whence to the north east is Sidmouth Sidmouâ—â— now one of the chiefest fisher-towns of those parts s And Seaton Seaton where the inhabitants formerly endeavour'd to cut out a haven and procur'd a Collection under the Great Seal for that purpose but now there remain no footsteps of that work t The river Ax passeth by Ford Ford. to which Abbey the Courtneys were great benefactours it is now in the hands of Edmund Prideaux Esq Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of K. Richard 1. was first Monk and then Abbot here Ax empties it self into the sea at Axmouth Axmoâ—â—â— formerly a good harbour for ships Several attempts have been made to repair this decay'd haven by the family of the Earles but all in vain u Crossing the country to the north-west we meet with Hartland Hartâ—â—â—â— the possessions of which Monastery were confirm'd by Richard 1. with the grant of great immunities particularly of a Court holding plea of all matters saving life and member arising in their own lands In the time of Q. Elizabeth a Bill was preferr'd in the house of Commons for finishing that port Not far from this is Clovelly-harbour Cloâ—â—â—â—â— secur'd by a Piere erected at great charges by the Carys who have had their seats here from the time of Richard 2. 'T is now the most noted place in those parts for herring-fishing At a little distance lies Hole or South-hold Sâ—â—th-hold the native place of Dr. John Moreman Vicar of Maynhennet in Cornwall towards the latter end of Henry 8. memorable upon this account that he was the first who taught his Parishioners the Lord's Prayer Creed and ten Commandments in the English tongue By which we learn in how short a time that language has entirely prevail'd against the native Cornish w Upon the river Ock is Okehampton â—kehampton which as it had formerly 92 Knights fees belonging to it so it is at present a good market town incorporated by K. James 1. sends Burgesses to Parliament and gives the title of Baron to the family of the Mohuns More to the north lies Stamford-Courtney Stamford-Courtney where began a great insurrection in the time of K. Edward 6. by two of the inhabitans one of whom would have no Gentlemen the other no Justices of Peace x At a little distance is North-Tawton North-Tawton where there is a pit of large circumference 10 foot deep out of which sometimes springs up a little brook or bourn and so continues for many days 'T is taken by the common people as a fore-runner of publick sorrow as that Bourn in Hertfordshire call'd Woobournmore Directly towards the north upon the river Moule lieth South-moulton â—outh-â—oulton an ancient town incorporate formerly call'd Snow-moulton when it was held by the Martyns by Sergeanty to find a man with a bow and three arrows to attend the Earl of Gloucester when he should hunt thereabouts x From hence to the south-west is Torrington â—â—rrington call'd in old Records Chepan-Torrington an ancient Borough which sent Burgesses to Parliament But that privilege hath been long discontinu'd both here and in other places in this County It was incorporated by Queen Mary by the name of Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses and hath yielded the title of Earl to George Duke of Albemarle the great Restorer of K. Charles 2. as after him to Christopher his only son and since to Arthur Herbert the present Earl late Lord Admiral y The river goes next to Bediford â—ediford mention'd by our Author for it's bridge It is so high that a ship of 50 or 60 tunn may sail under it For which and for number of arches it equals if not exceeds all others in England 'T was begun by Sir Theobald Granvill and for the finishing of it the Bishop of the Diocese granted out Indulgences to move the people to more liberal contributions and accordingly great sums of money were collected This place hath been in the possession of the Granvills ever since the Conquest a family famous particularly for Sir Richard Granvill's behaviour in Glamorganshire in the reign of W. Rufus and another of the same name under Q. Elizabeth who with one ship maintain'd a sea-fight for 24 hours against 50 of the Spanish Galeons and at last yielded upon
lately digg'd up And what puts it beyond all dispute is a Fosse-way beginning there which leads to Sorbiodunum or old Salisbury Continuation of the EARLS Thomas the last Earl mention'd by our Author dying of an Apoplexy April 19. 1608. was succeeded by Robert his son and heir whose second son Richard succeeded his father Thomas the eldest son dying before his father and unmarry'd This Richard dying without issue his younger brother Sir Edward Sackvil succeeded him in his honours who was first Lord Chamberlain to Queen Mary wife of King Charles 1. and afterwards bore the same Office to that King His son Richard was next Earl and was succeeded by Charles his son by the Lady Frances daughter to Leonel Earl of Middlesex and at length heir to James Earl of Middlesex her brother upon which account the said Charles was created Earl of Middlesex by Letters Patents bearing date April 14. 27 Car. 2. More rare Plants growing wild in Dorsetshire Calamogrostis five Gramen tomentosum Park Gramen tomentosum Calamograstis quorundam vulgi Gramen plumosum Lob. Belg. Gr. arundinaceum paniculâ molli spadicea majus C. B. The soft or woolly Reedgrass This groweth in the borders of dry fields in many Countries of this Kingdom especially in Dorsetshire Park p. 1182. I am suspicious there will be no such grass found in this or any other County of England neither am I satisfied what sort of Grass Lobel meant by this title See his description of his own translation out of his Dutch Herbal in Parkinson Carduus stellatus luteus foliis Cyani C. B. Solstitialis G. R. Spina Solstitialis J. B. Cardui stellati varietas jacea lutea clusii Lob. S. Barnaby's Thistle By the hedges not far from Cirencester in Glocestershire Mr. Bobert Cyperus longus Ger. longus odoratus Park odoratus radice longa seu Cyperus Officinarum C. B. paniculâ sparsa speciosa J. B. The ordinary sweet Cyperus grass or English Galingale Found by Mr. Newton in the Isle of Purbeck Dorsetshire Gale frutex odoratus Septentrionalium Elaeagnus Cordi J. B. Myrtus Brabantica five Elaeagnus Cordi Ger. Rhus myrtifolia Belgica C. B. Sylvestris five Myrtus Brabantica vel Anglica C. B. Gaule sweet Willow or Dutch Myrtle In a low level marsh ground near Wareham in this County plentifully Malva arborea marina nostras Park English Sea Tree-mallow About the cottages of the Village called Chissell in Portland Island Sedum Portlandicum Ad. Lob. majus marinum Anglicum Park Portland Sengreen Lobel writing so ambiguously of this plant and we having not seen nor heard of it at Portland I should not have thought it worth mentioning but that I find it in some Catalogues of Gardens Vermicularis frutex minor Ger. fruticosa altera Park Sedum minus fructicosum C. B. An Cali species seu Vermicularis marina arborescens J. B. Shrub-Stonecrop or rather Glasswort On the stone batch running from the shore of Dorsetshire almost to Portland Island SOMERSET SHIRE by Robt. Morden BELGAE TOWARDS the North and East the Belgae border'd upon the Durotriges who probably both from the name and other good authority came from among the Belgae a people of Gaule into Britain For the Belgae as Caesar learn'd of the Rhemi were descended from the Germans and formerly passing over the Rhine were induc'd by the fruitfulness of the place to settle there after they had expell'd the Gauls From whence as the same Author has it they pass'd over into Britain with no other design than to plunder and ravage and were all call'd by the names of those cities where they had been born and to which they belong'd before they came thither here making war upon the inhabitants they settl'd and began to cultivate the ground It does not precisely appear at what time they came over unless possibly Divitiacus King of the Suessiones who flourish'd before Caesar might transplant the Belgae into those parts For he had the government of a great part as of Gaule so also of Britaine Neither is it yet clear'd from whence the name of Belgae should come Hubert Thomas †Leodius of Leige a very learned man was of opinion that Belgae is a German word because the Germans call the Gauls and Italians Wallen and some of them term them Welgen John Goropius a Belgian will have it come from the Belgick word Belke signifying in that language Anger as if they were more prone to anger than others But since the name of Belgae does not seem to be deriv'd from that language us'd at this day by the Low-Dutch which is almost the same with our English-Saxon for it came from the Saxons which Charles the Great transplanted into Brabant and Flanders I am inclin'd to favour the opinion of those men who fetch it from the old Gaulish tongue which our Welsh do still in a great measure keep entire and will have the Belgae so nam'd from Pel with them signifying remote For they were the remotest of all Gaule and as they were at the greatest distance from the Roman Province with respect to their situation so also to their breeding and humanity And the Poet has told us that the Morini a people of Gallia Belgica were the most remote when he calls them Extremi hominum the furthest part of mankind But now let us come to our Belgae whose territories were very large viz. Somersetshire Wiltshire and the inner part of Hamshire A SOMERSETSHIRE THE County of Somerset commonly call'd Somersetshire is a large and plentiful country On the north the Severn-sea beats upon it on the west it bounds upon Devonshire on the south upon Dorsetshire on the east upon Wiltshire and part of Glocestershire The soil is very rich especially for grain and pasturage 1 And yet not without stony hills 't is very populous and tolerably well furnish'd with havens Some think that this name was first given it because the air is gentle and as it were a summer-air in those parts in which sense the Britains at this day call it Glad arhaf translating the word out of our language But the truth is as in summer time it may really be term'd a summer-country so no less may it in the winter-season be call'd a winter-country so wet moist and marshy is it for the most part which creates a great deal of trouble to travellers However I shall not scruple to believe that this name was certainly given it from Somerton formerly the chief town of the County since Asser a very ancient Author calls it every where the County of Somertun a 2 In the very first limit of the shire westward where Ex riseth in a solitary and hilly moor first appeareth Dulverton a silly market according to the soil and near unto it was a small Religious house of Black Chanons at Barelinch who in later times acknowledged the Fettiplaces their founders Upon the Severn sea where this County borders upon the Danmonii the two first places we meet with
and is watered with other Rivers Land floods and constant Springs The middle of this shire is for the most part plain and level a-cross which from East to West a wonderful ditch is thrown up for many miles together it is called by the neighbouring Inhabitants Wansdike â—nsdike of which they have a groundless tradition that it was made by the Devil upon a Wednesday The Saxons indeed term'd it Wodenerdic that is Woden's or Mercury's ditch probably from Woden the false God and Father of the Heathen Saxons I always thought that it was cast up by the Saxons for a Boundary between the Dominions of the West Saxons and the Mercians b For this Country was the field of war during the contentions between these two Kingdoms about the enlarging of their Territories And the village e Brompton calls it in two places Bonebury occasion'd probably by a mistake of the first letter Wodensburge is near this ditch c where Ceaulin the most valiant King of the West-Saxons A. D. 590. endeavouring to defend the frontiers of his kingdom was so routed in a bloody battle by the Britains and some malecontent Saxons that he was forced to flie his Country and died pitied by his very enemies miserably in exile And that I may omit other actions here Ina the W. Saxon and Ceolred the Mercian fought with equal success This Ditch is like that which Offa made to separate the Britains from his Mercians â—mitâ— yet call'd Offa-dike there are others of the like nature to be seen in the Kingdom of the East-Angles 2 In Cambridgeshire and Suffolk by which they fortified themselves against the incursions of the Mercians of which I shall treat more largely in their proper places In North Wiltshire d the Thames runs by the town call'd Crecklade 3 By Marianus â—klade by others Grekelade from the Greek Philosophers as some credulously think by whom as t is recorded in the History of Oxford an University was here founded which was afterwards translated to Oxford 4 West from that is Highworth highly seated a well known market c. Under this is Lediara Tregoze the seat of the Knightly Family of the St. Johns which Margaret de Bello Campo or Beauchamp afterwards Dutchess of Somerset gave to Oliver St. John her second son To her it came as heiress to those great names of Patishull Grandison and Tregoze f And Ewias from whence it is also call'd in some Records Lediard Ewias Near to this is Wotton-Basset 5 Having this primitive name from Wood. Wotton-Basset whose additional name shews that it sometime belong'd to the noble family of the Bassets In the last Century as I have been inform'd it was the seat g From the Bassets it came to Hugh Despenser and upon his attainder to the Crown K. Edward 3. gave it to his son Edmund de Langele Duke of York who was probably the same that our Author means of the Duke of York who here enclosed a very large park for deer All the Country hereabouts once cover'd with Breden-wood now called Breden forest B edenforest was miserably wasted by Ethelwald Clito and his auxiliary Danes A. D. 905. On the West side of this Forest the forementioned river Avon smoothly glides which arising almost in the very North limit of this County runneth toward the south and was as h Lib. 4. c. 4. Ethelwerd observes for some time the boundary of the West Saxon and Mercian Kingdoms at which there were several great battles fought e Whilst it is but shallow it runneth at the bottom of the hill upon which Malmsbury Malmsâ—ury is built and having received another brook it almost compasseth it round It is a neat town and in good repute upon the account of the Cloathing-trade and was as the Eulogium Historiarum reports with the castles of Lacock and Tetbury built by Dunwallo Mulmutius King of the Britains and by him call'd Caer Bladon And when it was destroy'd by wars out of it's ruines arose as Historians have it upon record a Castle which our Ancestors in their own language nam'd Ingelborne Ingelborne when at the same time the Saxon petty Kings had their Palace at Caerdurburge now Brokenbridge a village scarce a mile from hence It was known by no other name but that of Ingelborn for a long time after until one Maildulphus Maildulphus an Irish Scot a great Scholar and a man of signal devotion being delighted with the pleasantness of the wood that grew under this hill here lived an Hermit but afterwards setting up a school and with his scholars devoting himself to a monastick life he built a little monastery From this Maildulphus the town of Ingleborn began to be call'd Maildulfesburg and by Bede Maildulfi urbs Maildulf's City which in process of time contracted into Malmesbury In some Historians and ancient Charters granted to this place it is written Meldunum Maldubury and Maldunsburg Among Maildulf's scholars Aldhelm Aldhelm was the most eminent who being design'd his successor by the help of Eleutherius Bishop of †West-Saxonum Winchester to whom the ground did of right belong built here a stately Monastery of which he himself was the first Abbot and from him this town in a MS. is called Aldelmesbirig But this name soon grew out of use tho' the i There is a meadow at Malmesbury call'd S. Aldhelm's mead MS. Aubr And before the Reformation they had several other memorials of him his Psalter the Robe wherein he said Mass and a great Bell in the Abbey-steeple call'd S. Aldhelm's bell The village about 6 or 7 miles south-east from Malmsbury call'd Hilmartâ—n is probably denominated from this Saint for in Domesday-book it is Aldhelmertone memory of that holy man upon the account of his being Canoniz'd remains still Upon his Feast-day there is a great Fair k I think there is no such thing at present at which time a Company of souldiers are usually listed to prevent disorders among such a concourse of strangers And truly his memory deserveth eternal honour not only for the sanctity of his life but also for his Learning allowance being made for the ignorance of the times he liv'd in He was the first Saxon that ever wrote in Latin and the first that taught the Saxons the method of composing Latin verse and so perform'd what he promis'd of himself in these verses Primus ego in patriam mecum modo vita supersit Aonio rediens deducum vertice musas I to my country first if fates permit Will bring the muses from their native seat The great Aethelstan made this Aldhelm his tutelar Saint and for his sake endowed the Town with large immunities and enriched the Monastery with ample Donations he chose this place for his sepulchre and the inhabitants shew his monument to this day From the time of this Aethelstan the Abbey was famous for it's wealth and here was
Camp-place singly-ditch'd called Dun-shat and about one mile and a half from Yanesbury another likewise with a single trench named Woldsbury I have noted the names as the Country people term them that others may collect some matter thereby more than I can The Nadder rising in the south border of this County with a winding stream z Mr. Camden's conjecture is made more probable by the true writing of what we call An adder which ought to be writ a nadder being in Saxon Naeddre and accordingly in our Northern parts we call it A nedder The corruption has happen'd in this as in some others by stealing the initial n from the word it self and giving it to a creeps like an adder from whence it seems to have it's name not far from Wardour a pretty Castle Wardour Castle which once belong'd to the ancient family of S. Martins Now it is in the possession that I may omit several of its intermediate a Amongst whom were the Lords Lovel temp Hen. 4. 5. 6. and J. Tuchet Lord Audley 1 Ed. 4. owners 17 And amongst them the Lord Brook who repair'd it and died at it of John Arundel lately made by King James Lord Arundell of Wardour Baron Arundel of whom very honorable mention is to be made because in his youth he piously went into far countries to serve in the wars against the sworn enemies of Christendom the Turks and there for his singular valour at the storming of Gran he merited the honour to be made Count of the Empire by a Patent from the Emperor Rodolph 2. in these words Count of the Empire Forasmuch as he had behaved himself couragiously in the field and at the siege of several Cities and Castles and especially had given eminent proof of his valour at the assault upon the water-town near Gran taking the Flag from the Turks with his own hands we have created made and nominated him and all and every one of his children his heirs and lawful issue for ever of both sexes true Counts and Countesses of the sacred Empire and have dignified them with the Title and Honour of a County Imperial c. b No less valiant was the Lady Arundel who in 1643. with only 25 men made good this Castle for a week against 1300. of the Parliament Forces and they at last contrary to the Articles of Surrender did 100000 l. damage to the Castle and Parks Vid. Merc. Rustic Week 5. On the other side of the river is Hach Hache not very noted at present but famous in the reign of K. Edw. 1. for it's Baron Eustace de Hache Baron of Hache who was then summoned to Parliament among the rest of the Nobility 18 And a few miles from thence is Hindon a quick Market and known for nothing else that I could see At the conflux of these rivers Willey watereth the place from it denominated Wilton Wilton once the chief town of the County to which it gave name It was in times past call'd Ellandunum as appears from some ancient Charters which expresly make mention of Weolsthan Earl of Ellandunum Ellandunum that is of Wilton and again that he built a little Monastery at Ellandunum that is at Wilton From this name Ellan I am partly induc'd to think this river to be the Alanus which Ptolemy placeth in this Tract Alan riv At this place Egbert King of the West-Saxons fought successfully against Beorwulf the Mercian A. D. 821. but the battel was so bloody on both sides that the river was stained with the blood of near relations s Here also A. C. 871. Aelfred fighting against the Danes was at the first Charge conquerour but the fortune of the battel changing he was driven out of the field In the times of the Saxons it was a very populous place King Edgar founded here a Nunnery and as the Historians relate made his daughter Edith Abbess But it is evident from the ancient Charter of Eadgar himself dated A. D. 974. that the Nunnery was much older for in it are these words The Monastery which was built by my great grandfather K. Edward in a noted place by the Inhabitants called Wilton And we read in the life of Edward the Confessor Whilst S. Edward was building the Abbey of S. Peter at Westminster Editha his wife imitating the royal charity of her Husband laid the foundation of a stately Monastery of stone instead of the wooden Church at Wilton where she was educated The town did not much decay tho' it was miserably plunder'd by Swain the Dane until the Bishops of Salisbury c Leland says that before the turning of the road this town had 12 Parish-Churches but now they are reduc'd to one turn'd the Road into the western Countries from it Since that time it has dwindled by little and little into a small village only it hath the honour of a Mayor for its chief Magistrate and the stately house of the Earls of Pembroke built out of the suppressed Abbey But in old time Sorbiodunum Sorbiodunum was and now New-Sarum which arose out of its ruines is a great obstacle of it's splendor Antoninus's Itinerary calleth that town Sorbiodunum which the Saxons afterward named Searysbyrig and the vulgar Latins Sarum and Sarisburia 19 And Salisburialia Old Sarisbury For the course of the Itinerary and the remains of the name evidently shew this without any remark of mine And without doubt Searesbirig was derived from Sorbiodunum the Saxon word Byryg which denoteth a town being put in the place of Dunum Dunum what it signified with the Gauls and Britains which word the Britains and Gauls usually added to places of lofty situation as this Sorbiodunum is So that as one very well skilled in the Welsh language informed me Sorviodunum signifieth a dry hill t which is a more probable conjecture than the far-fetch'd derivation of it from Saron in Berosus or from Severus the Emperour from whom they call'd it Severia u For it was seated on a high hill and as Malmsbury saith The town was more like a Castle than a City being environ'd with a high wall and notwithstanding it was very well accommodated with all other conveniences yet such was the want of water that it was sold there at a great rate This gave occasion to the distich which was made upon Old Sarum by one that lived in those times Est tibi defectus lymphae sed copia cretae Saevit ibi ventus sed Philomela silet Water's there scarce but chalk in plenty lies And those sweet notes that Philomel denies The harsher musick of the wind supplies By the great pieces of the Walls and the Bulwarks yet to be seen it seems to have been a very strong place and near half a mile in circumference Kinric the Saxon after he had fought against the Britains with good success A. D. 553. was the first of the Saxons that won it
Ambri famous for the Monastery of 300 Monks founded here by Ambrosius on purpose that they should pray for the souls of those that were slain by the treachery of Hengist as also for being the burial-place of Quinever wife to the victorious King Arthur whose tomb was found here within this last Century and this Inscription on the wall in massy-gold letters R. G. A. C. 600. the antiquity of which is very suspicious not only because by this computation she must have liv'd almost 50 years after K. Arthur but also because several Historians of good credit affirm that she was bury'd at Glassenbury Here was a Synod held in King Edgar's reign and A. D. 995. Elfrick was elected Archbishop of Canterbury at this place It enjoy'd great Privileges at the time of the Conquest for in Domesday-book we find Amblesbury nunquam geldavit nec hidata fuit In the year 1177. the Abbess and 30 Nuns were for their incontinence and loose lives expell'd and dispers'd into other Religious Houses to be kept under stricter discipline whereupon King Henry gave this Monastery to the Abbey of Fontevralt and so a Convent of those Nuns were sent over the same year and admitted into full possession of this Abbey After it came to be in great repute and not only Q. Eleanor was Nun here but also Mary daughter of K. Edw. 1. and 13 Noblemen's daughters were veil'd here on Assumption-day A. D. 1285. ff Next is Everley Everley or Eburlegh the country-seat of King Ina above which in the way to Lurgeshall on the highest hill in Wiltshire call'd Suthbury-hill is a vast fortification encompass'd with two deep ditches and of an oval figure All along the declivity of the hill there runs a deep trench ditch'd on both sides made probably to secure their communication with some watering place in the neighbouring Bourn It certainly appears to have been a Danish Camp whereby they seem to have commanded all this part of the Country and 6 or 7 barrows in the plain beneath may be thought to preserve the memory of a battle here Near this place is Escourt Escourt where not far from a great Causey suppos'd to be a Roman Vicinal way there was dug up last summer a large earthen vessel with two lesser pots in it one of which was full of ashes or bones The largest of these might probably be an * Rigaltii observat in Auctores Agrarios Obruendarium of the Romans wherein they inclos'd their Vascula Cineraria c. About four miles north of this place is Great-Bedwyn which in the Saxon times †Monast Angl. T. 1. p. 97. Hist Abend was a Metropolis of the bounds of Cissa a Viceroy of Wiltshire and Berkshire under the King of the West-Saxons This Cissa built a Castle in the south part of that city and call'd it Cisse the ditches of which are yet to be seen Here it was that Wulfere and Escwin fought a bloody battle An. 675. and the place has been lately honour'd by giving to the world the most famous Physician of his time Dr. Thomas Willis Not far from hence eastward is Tokenham Tokenham the best seat of his Grace the Duke of Somerset Being now return'd to the banks of the Avon we meet with Uphaven Uphaven for which Peter de Manly procur'd a weekly market of Henry 3. by presenting to him a Palfrey About a mile to the west is a large irregular Camp call'd Casterley Casterley it has but a single trench and the name seems to point out to us something of Roman About 2 miles north-west is Merdon Meâ—don which might probably enough be the Meretune or Meredune of the Saxon Annals famous for the battle between King Etheldred and the Danes For here remain to this day the marks of entrenchments and the largest barrow in these parts except Silbury together with a tradition of a sight and of some great man's being bury'd under the barrow gg But Silbury Silbury is the largest and most uniform barrow in this County and perhaps in all England Upon what account it was rais'd we have no light from antiquity the tradition is that King Sill or King Silber was here bury'd which if compar'd with History comes nearest to Ceol King of the West-Saxons who might possibly be slain hereabouts as his Uncle and Predecessor Ceaulin was slain at Wodensdike unless one should say that it comes from sel great and beorg a hill or barrow And since our Author from this hint makes a digression about Barrows Several sorts of Barrows we may also take notice that there are several sorts of them upon these Downs 1. Small circular trenches with very little elevation in the middle 2. Ordinary barrows 3. Barrows with ditches round them 4. Large oblong barrows some with trenches round them others without 5. Oblong barrows with stones set up all round them There are grounds to believe that few or none of these are land-marks as Mr. Camden would have them About half a mile from Silbury is Aubury Aubury * Aubr Monument Britan. MS. a monument more considerable in it self than known to the world For a village of the same name being built within the circumference of it and by the by out of it's stones too what by gardens orchards inclosures and such like the prospect is so interrupted that 't is very hard to discover the form of it It is environ'd with an extraordinary Vallum or Rampart as great and as high as that at Winchester and within it is a graff of a depth and breadth proportionable from which Mr. Aubrey inferrs that it could not be design'd for a fortification because then the Graff would have been on the outside From the north to the south port are 60 paces and as many from the west port to the east The breadth of the Rampart is 4 perches and that of the graff the same The graff has been surrounded all along the edge of it with large stones pitch'd on end most of which are now taken away but some marks remaining give one the liberty to guess they stood quite round From this place to West-Kennet †Aubr ibid. West-Kennet is a walk that has been enclos'd on each side with large stones only one side at present wants a great many but the other is almost if not quite entire above which place on the brow of the hill is another Monument encompass'd with a circular trench and a double circle of stones four or five foot high tho' most of them are now fallen down the diameter of the outer circle 40 yards and of the inner 15. Between West-Kennet and this place is a walk much like that from Aubury thither at least a quarter of a mile in length About 80 yards from this monument in an exact plain round it there were some years ago great quantities of humane bones and skeletons dug up which probably were the bones of the Saxons and Danes slain at
feet upon which he step'd back and said Let all the inhabitants of the world know That the power of Monarchs is a vain and empty thing and that no one deserves the name of a King but he whose will by an eternal law the Heaven Earth and Sea obey Nor would he ever after suffer the Crown to be put on his head c. Of those rivers between which this town is plac'd the western one now call'd Test but formerly I think Anton rising out of the Forest of Chute runs first to Andover â—ndover in Saxon e And Andeferan Andeafaran that is the Ferry or passage of the river Ande where in the year f In the year 994. according to the Saxon Annals 893. Aethelred K. of England when the Danes ravaged all his kingdom that he might bless his harrass'd nation with a safe and settl'd peace adopted Anlaf the Dane â—nlaf adâ—pted by 〈◊〉 Aethelâ—ed tho' this league of friendship was soon broke for so great a respect and honour could not restrain that barbarous foreigner from his usual rapines i 3 From thence it runneth down and receives from the East a brook passing by Bullingdon in whose parish is a place called Tibury-hill and contains a square field by estimation 10 acres ditch'd about in some places deeper than other wherein hath been found tokens of Wells and about which the Plough-men have found square-stones and Roman coins as they report for the place I have not seen From hence this river runs near Whorwel where Queen Aelfrith built a Monastery to expiate her heinous crime in vowing to kill King Edward her son-in-law and to atone for the murder of her former Husband the noble Earl Athelwold whom King Edgar upon an invitation to go a hunting did here murder because he had put a trick upon him in his love-intreagues and had by ill arts obtain'd from him this Lady Aelfrith who was the greatest beauty of her age After this the Test takes in another small stream call'd Wallop â—allâ—p or rather Wellop that is if we interpret it from our own ancient language a little fountain on the side of a hill which gives name to the ancient family of Wallops Knights who live near it Hence the river runs in search of Brige â—ge or Brage an ancient town by Antoninus plac'd 9 miles from the old Sorbiodunum at which distance between Salisbury and Winchester not far from its own banks it finds a small country village call'd Broughton and if the old Brage was not at this place I am of opinion that it was entirely demolish'd when William the Conquerour converted these parts into the forest before mention'd Next Rumsey â—umsey in Saxon Rumseg where King Edgar built a Nunnery the Church whereof is still standing is visited by this river 4 Out of the which Mary daughter to King Stephen being there Abbess and his only heir surviving was convey'd secretly by Matthew of Alsace son to the Earl of Flanders and to him married But after she had born to him two Daughters was enforced by Sentence of the Church to return hither again according to her vow which presently falls into South-hampton-bay at the Vadum Arundinis as Bede calls it which he interprets Redford but now from the bridge where the ford was instead of Redford 't is call'd Redbridge â—dbridge where in the infancy of the Saxon-Church stood a Monastery whereof one Cymberth was Abbot and baptised as Bede tells us two young Brothers of Arvandus petty King of the Isle of Wight just before they were to be murdered for when Cedwalla the Saxon invaded that Island these two boys made their escape and hid themselves at a little town called ad Lapidem till being betrayed they were killed at the command of Cedwalla If you ask where this little town ad Lapidem stood I should guess that 't was Stoneham a small village next to Redbridge as the name it self seems to prove very naturally The other river which runs on the east-side of South-hampton seems to have been call'd Alre for a market town on the banks of it not far from the lake out of which it rises is now call'd Alresford i.e. the ford of Arle Which place to use the words of an old Register of the Church of Winchester the religious K. Kinewalc with great devotion gave to the Church of Winchester after he had receiv'd the Christian Sacraments from Bishop Birinus at the beginning of Christianity in those parts In the year 1220. A book of waverly Monastery Godfrey Lucy Bishop of Winchester renew'd the market here and call'd the place New-market perhaps in respect of the old Alresford that lies near it But this new name did not last long with the people in whose power lies the use of words and names Nigh this place lies Tichborn Tichborn of which I must not omit to mention that it has given name to an eminent and ancient family On the western bank of this river lies the famous city of the British Belgae which Ptolemy and Antoninus call'd g From whence the Bishop of Winchester is in our Histories very often call'd Ventanus and Wentanus Venta Belgarum Venta Belgarum the Britains to this day Caer Gwent the old Saxons As also Winteceaster Winceaster Wincester Wintancester the Latin Writers commonly Wintonia and we Wintchester Wintchester Yet there are some Writers who pretend that this was the Venta Simenorum and give Bristol the honour of being the Venta Belgarum but that there was no such People as the Simeni in this Island I shall prove when I come to the Iceni In the mean time if they would confirm this their conjecture by seeking any where else for the towns which Antoninus places near to this Venta let them be as accurate as they can they will find nothing to their purpose The original of Venta some fetch from Ventus others from Vinum and again others from Wina a Bishop * Qui bonae menti litarent who might be asham'd of such trifling derivations I should rather subscribe to the opinion of our country-man Leland who derives the word from the British Guin or Guen that is white as if it signified Caer Gwin the White City And why should it not since from this same colour the old Latins gave name to the cities Alba Longa and Alba Regia the Greeks to Leuca Leucas and other places For this Venta as also two other towns of the same name Venta Silurum and Venta Icenorum is situate in a soil of Chalk and whitish Clay This city no doubt was very famous in the Roman times k for it is here the Roman Emperors seem to have had their †Textrina sua sacra Imperial Weaving-shops this city being the chief of all the British Ventae and lying nearest Italy For in the Notitia there is mention made of a Procurator or Governour of the Cynegium Ventense or Bentense
in Britain The Cynegium of the Roman Emperors in Brit. Gynaecium which Jacobus Cujacius that most eminent Civilian reads Gynaecium and interprets it the Royal Weavery in his ‖ Paratitla Paratitles to the Codes Guidus Pancirolus is of the same opinion and writes that these Gynaecia were appointed for weaving the cloaths of the Emperor and Army for making of sails linnen * Stragula shrouds and other necessaries for the furniture of their mansions or quarters Yet Wolphgangus Lazius thinks that the Procurator here took care of the Emperor's dogs British dogs And this indeed is certain that our dogs have been preferable to all others in Europe insomuch that as Strabo witnesses our dogs have served as soldiers and the ancient Gauls us'd them in their wars and they were bought up by the Romans for their sports in the Amphitheatre and the other pleasures of hunting for they were as Strabo says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is naturally made for hunting Hence Nemesianus Divisa Britannia mittit Veloces nostrique orbis venatibus aptos The Britains from this world disjoyn'd Fleet dogs and useful for our hunting send And Gratius thus mentions their goodness and their value Quod freta si Morinûm dubio refluentia ponto Veneris atque ipsos libeat penetrare Britannos O quanta est merces quantum impendia supra But if at farthest Calais you arrive Where doubtful tides the passive shore deceive And thence your dang'rous course to Britain steer What store you 'll find and how excessive dear The Greeks also were acquainted with and highly esteemed that kind of Dogs amongst us which was called Agasaeus Agasaeus Gasehound a British Dog and we yet term a Gasehound as Oppian will tell you in his first Book of his Cynegeticks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which Bodinus does thus render in Latin Est etiam catuli species indagine clara Corpus huic breve magnifico sed corpore digna Picta Britannorum gens illos effera bello Nutrit Agasaeósque vocat vilissima forma Corporis ut credas parasitos esse latrantes Another sort of dogs for lurching known Tho' small in bulk in value yield to none In Britain bred they thence the name receive Of Gaze-hounds by their bigness you 'd believe They 're mungril Curs that under tables live Mastives Claudian likewise speaks thus of our Mastiff-dogs Magnâque taurorum fracturi colla Britanni And English mastiffs us'd to bend the necks Of furious bulls But pardon this digression In this city as our Historians relate in the times of the Romans Constans from a Monk made Caesar liv'd that Constans the Monk who was first made Caesar and afterwards Emperour by his father Constantine and who usurped the purple in opposition to Honorius out of a conceit that his name would prove successful For long before this as Zosimus speaking of that time delivers it there were as well Cities as Villages full of Colleges of Monks Monasteries in Cities who before had led a solitary life in mountains and woods and the remoter places from whence they derive their name That old piece of wall still to be seen of great strength and thickness towards the west-gate of the Cathedral Church seems to be the reliques of this old College But the Monk who was here declared Caesar after he was taken hence did by death soon suffer the vengeance due to his father's ambition and his own affront to Religion During the Saxon Heptarchy tho' this place was once or twice very much harrass'd yet still it recover'd and was the Palace of the West-Saxon Kings adorn'd with magnificent Churches and honour'd with an Episcopal See as also endow'd by King Ethelstan with the privilege of six money-mints In the Norman times it very much flourish'd and the Archives or custody of all publick Records were in it Thus it continu'd long in a good condition only suffer'd by one or two accidents of fire and was plunder'd by the insolent souldiers in the Civil War between King Stephen and Mawd the Empress Hence our Poet Necham who liv'd in that age Guintoniam titulis claram gazisque repletam Noverunt veterum tempora prisca patrum Sed jam sacra fames auri jam caecus habendi Urbibus egregiis parcere nescit amor For wealth and state for honour and renown In good old times fair Winchester was known But in our age in our degenerate days When all the world tyrannick Gold obeys The richest Cities are the surest preys But all these losses were sufficiently repair'd by King Edward 3. when he settled here a publick Mart for Cloth and Wool which we commonly call the Staple The Staple What figure this City made in former ages is not easie to imagine which as the same Necham writes Flammis toties gens aliena dedit Hinc facies urbis toties mutata dolorem Praetendit casus nuntia vera sui So oft the hapless town The rage of foreign flames hath undergone She show'd her sad misfortunes in her face And dismal looks her ancient griefs express At this time the City is pretty populous and well water'd by the divided streams of the river extending lengthways from East to West and contains about a mile and a half within the circuit of it's walls which have six gates and the passage to each for a considerable way is Suburbs At the south-side of the west gate stands an ancient Castle which has often been besieged but never so straitly as when Maud the Empress maintain'd it against K. Stephen and at last a report was spread of her death and she put in a Coffin to deceive the enemy and so was carry'd off l K. Arthur's round Table Of the Round Table which now hangs up and which the common people take for King Arthur's Table I shall observe no more than this that it plainly appears to be of a much later date For in former ages when those military exercises call'd Torneaments Torneaments made use of to train up their Soldiers were much in fashion they had these kind of round tables that there might be no dispute for precedency among the noble Combatants and this seems to be a very ancient custom Lib. 4. Deipnosophâ—t For Athenaeus tells us that the old Gauls did sit at round Tables and that their Armour-bearers stood at their backs with their shields Almost in the middle of the city only a little more southward Kenelwalch King of the West-Saxons after the College of Monks in the Roman age was destroy'd built here a Church as Malmesbury writes very splendid for those times in the track whereof was afterwards erected a Cathedral Church of the same model tho' more stately In this See from Wina Bishope of Wincheâ—ter whom that Kenelwalch made first Bishop of it there
has been a long series of successors no less eminent for wealth and honour than for piety and devotion 5 But among others St. Swithin continues yet of greatest fame not so much for his sanctity as for the rain which usually falls about the feast of his translation in July by reason the Sun then is Cosmically with Praesepe and Aselli noted by ancient writers to be rainy Constellations and not for his weeping or other weeping Saints Margaret the Virgin and Mary Magdalen whose feasts are shortly after as some superstitiously credulous have believed and by a peculiar privilege are Chancellors to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prelates of the Garter Some of these at great expence have beautify'd and enlarg'd this Church particularly Edington and Walkeling but above all Wickham who with incredible cost built the West part of the Church from the Choire a neat and curious piece of work in the middle of which between two pillars is his own monument The Church has been accordingly dedicated to new Patrons Amphibalus Peter Swithin and lastly to the Holy Trinity by which name it is at present call'd Among the Saxons it was in great repute for being honour'd with the Sepulture of some of their Kings whose bones were gathered by Richard Fox Bishop and put into little gilded Coffins which with their several Inscriptions he placed upon a wall that runs along the upper part of the Quire It was formerly call'd h Ealdan-Mynster Chron. Sax. Ealden-mynster i.e. the old Monastery or Minster to distinguish it from the more modern one i Niwan-Mynster Chron. Sax. NeÆ¿an-mynster i.e. New Minster which King Aelfred founded and to build the Offices belonging to it bought of the Bishop a certain peice of ground for every foot whereof he paid one Mark according to the publick Standard This new College as well as the old one was first founded for marry'd Priests who were afterwards expelled by Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury upon the miracle of a Cross speaking and condemning the Order and so Monks were brought into their room These two Monasteries had their walls so near one another that when they were singing in one the noise was a disturbance to the other upon which arose some quarrels between the two Societies that afterwards broke out into feuds This reason and another inconvenience of a great confluence of waters which ran down the streets from the West-gate and making a standing pool at this new Monastery did infect the air with unwholsome vapours caus'd the Church 200 years after it's first building to be remov'd into the northern suburbs to a place call'd Hide Hide-Abby where by the licence of Henry 1. the Monks built a large and beautiful Monastery which within a few years by the treachery of Henry of Blois Bishop of Winchester as a private little History of that place tells us was miserably burnt down in which fire was consum'd that famous Cross the gift of Canute the Dane that as some old Records deliver it cost him the yearly revenue of all England But the Monastery was raised again to a noble fabrick as the present ruines testifie and grew by degrees till that fatal period for the destruction of Monks For then this house was demolished and the other of St. Trinity which is the Cathedral Church upon ejection of the Monks had a new foundation of a Dean and 12 Prebendaries At the East-side of the Cathedral stands a spacious k It was built A. D. 1137. by Henry Bishop of Winchester Leiger-Book of St. Cross in the hands of Mr. Worsley palace of the Bishop's call'd Wolvesey fortify'd by several turrets almost surrounded by the river and reaching to the City-walls m In the south suburbs there is a neat College that answers it which William of Wickham Bishop of this See the greatest patron and encourager of Learning that was in England A College bâ—â—â—â— by William of Wickham and whose memory shall be celebrated through all ages in the Monuments of Learning built for a publick school which affords great numbers of learned men both to Church and State In this are maintain'd gentilely a Warden 10 Fellows 2 Masters 70 Scholars l Particularly 3 Chaplains 3 Clerks an Organist 16 Choristers and the statutable servants with some others There are also other eminent buildings in this City most of them consecrated to religious uses which because time has destroy'd I have no mind to mention n tho' I cannot but take notice of that * Partheâ—â—â—m St. Mary's Abby Nunnery or Monastery for Virgins which Aelfwide wife to King Alfred founded it having been so noble a piece of building as the ruines of it still shew and the place out of which Henry 1. Maud wife to Henry 1. took his wife Maud daughter of Malcolm King of Scots by whom the Royal families of the Saxons and Normans were united and by which means that Prince gain'd much on the affections of the English For she was great grand-daughter to Edmund Ironside by his son Edward The banished and a Lady not only endow'd with all the vertues becoming a Queen but more especially eminent for piety and devotion Whereupon this old Tetrastick was made in her commendation Prospera non laetam fecêre nec aspera tristem Aspera risus ei prospera terror erant Non decor effecit fragilem non sceptra superbum Sola potens humilis sola pudica decens Nor bless'd rejoyc'd nor when unhappy mourn'd To laughter grief and joy to fear she turn'd Nor beauty made her frail nor sceptres proud Humble tho' great and scarce more fair than good As to Guy Earl of Warwick so famous in story who in a single combat here conquer'd Colbrand that Danish †Typhoëus Giant and Waltheof Earl of Huntingdon beheaded in this place where afterward was the Chapel of St. Giles and as to the famous adjoyning Hospital of St. Cross founded by Henry de Blois Brother of King Stephen and Bishop of this City and farther endow'd by Henry de Beaufort Cardinal I shall say nothing of all these because a full relation is already given of them in our common Histories As to the Earls of Winchester Earls of Winchester to pass by Clito a Saxon who at the coming in of the Normans was depriv'd of this ancient honour King John made Saer Quincy Earl of Winchester The Quincy's Arms. whose Arms were * Baltheus militaris a Fesse with a †Lemniscus label of seven as I learn'd from his seal To him succeeded Roger his son who bore in a field Gules seven ‖ Rhombos Mascles voided Or. But he dying without Issue male the honour was extinct in him for he marry'd the oldest daughter and co-heir by a former wife of Alan Lord of Galloway in Scotland in whose right he was Constable of Scotland But by her he had only 3 daughters of whom the eldest was marry'd to William de Ferrariis Earl of
honour of the deceased party When the Roman Empire began to decline and barbarous nations made frequent incursions into their provinces then the British armies fearing they might be involv'd in the calamity of their Neighbours chose themselves Emperors first Marcus then Gratian both of whom they presently murder'd and lastly â—tura â—runt â—tantine 〈◊〉 chose â—â—eror â—he sake 〈…〉 in the year 107. they * chose one Constantine purely for the sake of his name and against his own will in this city Caer Segont as Ninnius and Gervasius Dorobernensis tell us He setting sail from Britaine arrived at Bologne in France and got all the Roman forces as far as the Alps to joyn him defended Valence a city of Gaule with great resolution against the forces of Honorius the Emperor and set a garrison upon the †Rhine â—henum that was before defenseless He built several fortresses in the passages of the Alpes In Spain by the assistance of Constans his son whom from a Monk he had rais'd to the title of Augustus he was very successful and then sending letters to Honorius to beg pardon for his crime in suffering the soldiers to force upon him the Purple received back an Imperial Robe from that Emperour Buoy'd up with this he pass'd the Alpes with a design to march to Rome but hearing of the death of Alaric the Goth who had been a friend to his cause he retreated to Arles where he fixed the Imperial seat commanded the city to be call'd †after his own name â—tantiâ—â—â— and summon'd thither a solemn meeting of seven Provinces In the mean time Gerontius rais'd a faction against his Master and after he had traiterously slain Constans his son at Vienne in Gaule closely besieged Constantine the Father in Arles but while one Constantius sent by the Emperour Honorius was marching against him with an army Gerontius laid violent hands upon himself In the mean time Constantine being reduc'd to great necessity by the closeness of this siege and by some unhappy sallies of the garrison brought to despair he quitted his honour and that load of fortune and entring into the Church took upon him the Order of a * Priest â—â—y upon which the city was presently surrendred and he led prisoner into Italy where he was beheaded with Julian his son whom he entitled the Noble 〈◊〉 entiâ—â—e 〈◊〉 and Sebastian his brother The History of these affairs which is before deliver'd more at large I have here abridged from Zosimus Zosomen Nicephorus Orosius and Olympiodorus that truth may triumph over the vanity of those who by the help of their own invention have adulterated this story with their ridiculous and simple forgeries Our Historians report that in this city was the inauguration of our martial King Arthur and soon after the place was demolish'd either in the Saxon Wars or when Athelwolf in rebellion against King Edward his brother assisted by that crew of Danish Robbers destroy'd all this country as far as Basing-stoke Nothing now remains but the walls which though they have lost their coping and battlements seem to have been of a great height For by the rubbish and ruins the earth is grown so high that I could scarce thrust my self through a †passage which they call Onion's hole â—â—gipâ—râ— tho' I stoop'd very low The walls however remain in a great measure entire only some few gaps there are in those places where the gates have been and out of these very walls there grow Oaks of such a vast bigness incorporated as it were with the stones and their roots and boughs spreading so far round that they even raise an admiration in all that behold them In compass the walls contain about two Italian miles so that perhaps from the largeness of the place the Saxons call'd it Selcester that is a great city Sel what For Sel seems in their language to have signified great since Asserius Menevensis interprets the Saxon word Selwood by Sylva magna i.e. a great wood On the west-side of the walls where 't is a level there runs a long ridge cast up for defence of the place It includes about 80 acres of land a good and fat soil now divided into separate fields with a little grove towards the west and eastward near the gate a farm-house with a small Church of modern building in which while I search'd for ancient Inscriptions I found nothing but some Coats of Arms in the windows viz. in a field sable seven Fusils argent Bendwise as also in a field sable a Fesse between two cheverns Or and in a shield Or an eagle display'd with two heads gules Arms of the Blewets Bainards and Cusanz I find these last to be the Arms of the Blewets to whom this estate came after the time of William the Conquerour the second are the Arms of the noble family of Bainard of Leckham and the first is the Coat of the family of the Cusanz by whom this estate pass'd hereditarily from the Blewets to the Bainards But in the reign of William the Conquerour this was in the possession of William de Ow the Norman who being accus'd of treason appeal'd to a tryal of his innocence by Duel but being conquered he was by command of King William Rufus punish'd with the loss of his eyes and testicles The inhabitants of this place told me it had been a constant observation of theirs that tho' the soil here be fat and fertile yet in a sort of baulks that cross one another the corn never grows so thick as in the other parts of the field and along these they imagine the streets of the old city to have run Here are commonly dug up British tiles and great plenty of Roman Coins which they call Onion-pennies from one Onion whom they foolishly fancy to have been a Giant and an inhabitant of this city There are often found too some inscriptions which the ignorance of the Country-people has robb'd the world of There is only one brought up to London and placed in the garden of the honourable William Cecil Baron of Burghley and Lord High Treasurer of England which is this MEMORIAE FL. VICTORI NAE T. TAM VICTOR CONIUX POSVIT I shall not be positive as some others are that this was a monument in memory of Victorina who was called Mater Castrorum i.e. Mother of the Camp and who rais'd the Victorini son and grandson Posthumus Lollianus Marius and Tetricus Caesars in Gaule and Britain against Gallienus the Emperor But I have somewhere read that there were two Victors in Britaine and that both flourished at the same time one son of Maximus the Emperor the other * Praetorio Praefectus Praefect of the Guards to the same Emperor and mention'd by St. Ambrose in his Epistles But I dare affirm that neither of these was he who set up this monument in memory of his wife As there is one Roman military way that leads from hence directly southward
houses eight were destroy'd for the Castle It was formerly walled about and as may be seen by the tract was a c The ditch of the town says Leland and the creast whereon the wall stood are yet manifestly perceiv'd and begin from the Castle going in compass a good mile or more mile in compass it hath a castle seated upon the river very large and so well fortify'd in former times that the hopes of it's being impregnable hath made some persons over-resolute For when the flames of Civil War had as it were set all England on fire we read that King Stephen ever now and then attempted it by siege but still in vain We much wonder'd at it's greatness and magnificence when we were boys and retir'd thither from Oxford for it is now a retiring place for the Students of Christ-Church at Oxford it being double wall'd and surrounded with d Leland says it has 3 dikes large and deep and well water'd two ditches In the middle stands a tower rais'd upon a very high mount in the steep ascent whereof which you climb by stairs I saw a well of an exceeding depth The Inhabitants believe it was built by the Danes but I should rather judge that something was here erected by the Romans and afterwards demolish'd by the Saxons and Danes when Sueno the Dane harrass'd the Country up and down in these parts At length it recover'd it self under William 1. as plainly appears by Domesday Book where it makes mention of eight ‖ Hagaâ— Houses being pull'd down for the Castle as I observ'd but now Yet William Gemeticensis takes no notice of this Castle when he writes that William the Norman after Harold's defeat immediately led his army to this city for so he terms it and passing the Thames at the ford encamp'd here before he march'd to London Lords of Wallingford At which time Wigod an Englishman was Lord of Wallingford who had one only daughter given in marriage to Robert D'Oily by whom he had Maud his sole heir married first to Miles Crispin and after his death by the favour of K. Henry 1. to Brient †Fillo Comitis Fitz-Count and he being bred a soldier and taking part with Maud the Empress stoutly defended the Castle against King Stephen who had rais'd a Fort over against it at Craumesh till the peace so much wish'd for by England in general was concluded in this place and that terrible quarrel between King Stephen and K. Henry 2. was ended And then the love of God did so prevail upon Brient and his wife that quitting the transitory vanities of this world they wholly devoted themselves to Christ by which means this Honour of Wallingford fell to the Crown Which appears by these words taken out of an old Inquisition in the Exchequer To his well beloved Lords Of the Honour of Wallingford in Tâ—â—â— de Nâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Exchequer our Lord the King's Justices and the Barons of the Exchequer the Constable of Wallingford Greeting Know ye that I have made diligent Inquisition by the Knights of my Bailywick in pursuance of my Lord the King's precept directed to me by the Sheriff and this is the summe of the inquisition thus taken Wigod of Wallingford held the honour of Wallingford in K. Harold's time and afterwards in the reign of K. William 1. and had by his Wife a certain Daughter whom he gave in marriage to Robert D'Oily This Robert had by her a Daughter named Maud which was his heir Miles Crispin espous'd her and had with her the aforesaid honour of Wallingford After Miles ' s decease our Lord K. Henry 1. bestow'd the aforesaid Maud upon Brient Fitz-Count c. Yet afterwards in the reign of Henry 3. it belong'd to the Earls of Chester and then to Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall who repaired it and to his son Edmond who founded a Collegiate Chapel within the inner Court but he dying issueless it fell again to the Crown and was annexed to the Dukedom of Cornwall since when it hath fallen much to decay More especially about the time when that plague and mortality which follow'd the conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Capricorn A terrible â—â—ague reign'd so hotly through all Europe in the year of our Lord 1343. Then this Wallingford by that great mortality was so exhausted that whereas before it was very well inhabited and had 12 Churches in it now it can shew but one or two But the inhabitants rather lay the cause of this their town's decay upon the bridges built at Abingdon and Dorchester e Just so Wilton the once chief town of Wiltshire began to decay when the road was turn'd through Salisbury and the bridge was built there by which means the High-road is turn'd from thence g From hence Southward the Thames gently glides between very fruitful fields on both sides of it by Moulesford Moulesford which K. Henry 1. gave to Girald Fitz-Walter from whom the noble Family of the Carews are descended A family that hath receiv'd the addition of much honour by it's matches with the noble families of Mohun and Dinham and others in Ireland as well as England Not far from hence is Aldworth where there are certain tombs and statues upon them larger than ordinary much wonder'd at by the common people as if they were the pourtraictures of Giants when indeed they are only those of certain Knights of the family of De la Beche which had a Castle here and is suppos'd to have been extinct for want of male-issue in the reign of Edward 3. And now at length the Thames meets with the Kenet The river â—enet which as I said before watering the south-side of this County at it's first entry after it has left Wiltshire runs beneath Hungerford â—ungerâ—â—rd call'd in ancient times Ingleford Charnam-street a mean town and seated in a moist place which yet gives both name and title to the honourable family of the Barons of Hungerford first advanc'd to it's greatness by f He was son of that Sir Thomas Hungerford who was Speaker to the House of Commons 51 Edw. 3. which was the first Parliament wherein that House had a Speaker Walter Hungerford who was Steward of the King's Houshold under King Henry 5. and had conferr'd upon by that Prince's bounty in consideration of his eminent services in the wars the Castle and Barony of Homet in Normandy to hold to him and his heirs males by homage and service to find the King and his heirs at the Castle of Roan one Lance with a Fox's tail hanging to it â—â—ima pars â—pl Paâ—â— Norâ—n 6 H. 5. which pleasant tenure I thought not amiss to insert here among serious matters The same Walter in the reign of Henry 6. was Lord High Treasurer of England â—rons â—ngerford and created Baron Hungerford and what by his prudent management and his matching with Catherine Peverell descended from the
they had built here a wooden bridge upon piles it began to have inns and to be so frequented as to outvie its neighbouring mother Bray a much more ancient place as having given name to the whole Hundred I have long been of the opinion that the Bibroci Bibroci who submitted themselves to Caesar's protection held these parts and why shou'd I not think so There are very clear and plain remains of the name Bibracte likewise in France is now contracted into Bray and not far from hence Caesar cross'd the Thames with his army as I shall shew in its proper place when these parts submitted themselves to him Certainly shou'd one seek for the Bibroci elsewhere he wou'd I believe hardly find them â—â—dior Among these Bibroci stands Windesore in Saxon perhaps from the winding shore Wyndleshora for so it is term'd in K. Edw. the Confessor's Charter who in these very words made a Grant of it to Westminster To the praise of Almighty God I have granted as an endowment and perpetual inheritance to the use of those that serve the Lord Windleshore with its appurtenances And I have read nothing more ancient concerning Windsor Windsor But the Monks had not long held it in possession when William the Norman by exchange brought it back to the crown For thus his Charter runs With the consent and favour of the venerable Abbot of Westminster I have enter'd into a composition about Windsor's being in the possession of the Crown because that place seems commodious by the nearness of the river the forest fit for hunting and many other particulars therein convenient for Kings being likewise a place fit for the King's entertainment in lieu whereof I have granted them Wokendune and Ferings Scarce any Royal Seat can certainly have a more pleasant situation For from an high hill rising with a gentle ascent it hath an admirable prospect round about It s front overlooks a long and wide valley chequer'd with corn-fields and green meadows clothed on each side with groves and water'd with the calm and gentle Thames Behind it arise hills every where neither craggy nor over-high adorn'd with woods and as it were consecrated by nature it self to Hunting The pleasantness of it hath drawn many of our Princes hither as to a retiring place and here was K. Edw. 3. that potent Prince born to conquer France who built new from the ground a Castle in bigness equal to a little City strengthen'd with ditches and towers of square-stone and having presently after subdu'd the French and the Scots kept at the same time John King of France and David King of Scots Prisoners here This Castle is divided into two Courts The inner which looks towards the East contains in it the King's palace than which if you consider the contrivance of the buildings nothing can be more stately and magnificent On the north-side where it looks down to the river Queen Elizabeth added a most pleasant Terrace-Walk The outer Court hath at it's entrance a stately Chapel consecrated by K. Edw. 3. to the blessed Virgin Mary and St. George of Cappadocia but brought to it's present magnificence by K. Edw. 4. 12 And Sir Reginald Bray Here K. Edw. 3. â—35â— for the encouraging military virtue and the adorning it with honours rewards and glory instituted the most noble society of Knights which as some report from his own Garter given for the Word in a battel that prov'd successful he stiled Knights of the Garter 〈◊〉 of Gâ—râ—â—r They wear on their left leg a little below the knee a blue Garter carrying this Motto embroider'd in letters of gold and in French HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE and fasten the same with a buckle of gold as a token of Concord and a tye of the strictest Amity to the end there might be amongst them a certain Consociation and community of Virtues Others attribute it to the Garter of the Queen or rather of Joan Countess of Salisbury a Lady of incomparable beauty that fell from her as she was a dancing and the King took up from the floor at which the Nobles that stood about him fell a laughing whereupon the King told them That the time should shortly come when the greatest honour imaginable should be paid to that Garter This is the common report neither need it seem to be a mean original considering that as one saith Nobilitas sub amore jacet i.e. Nobility lies under love There are some too that make the invention of this order much ancienter fathering it upon K. Rich. 1. and persuading themselves that K. Edward only reviv'd it but how truly I know not Yet in the very book of the first Institution which William Dethick Garter Principal King at Arms a Gentleman very studious in every thing relating to Honour and the Nobility gave me a sight of we read thus When K. Richard led his Army against the Turks and * Saracens â—â—â—â—nos Cyprus and Acon and was weary of such lingring delay while the siege was carried on with a wonderful deal of trouble at length upon a divine inspiration by the apparition as it was thought of St. George it came into his mind to draw upon the legs of certain chosen Knights of his a certain tach of leather such as he had then ready at hand whereby being minded of that future glory was then promised them if they conquer'd it might be an incitement to push them on to the behaving themselves with courage and resolution in imitation of the Romans that had such variety of crowns with which upon several accounts they presented and honour'd their soldiers that as it were by instigations of this kind cowardise might be shaken off and valour and bravery might arise and start out with more vigour and resolution However the mightiest Princes of Christendom have reputed it a very great honour to be chosen and since it 's first institution there have been already admitted into this Order which consists of 26 Knights 22 Kings or thereabouts besides our Kings of England who are term'd Sovereigns Sovereigns thereof not to mention a great many Dukes and other persons of the greatest quality And here Founders of the Order I think it will not be amiss to set down the names of those who were first admitted into this Order and are commonly call'd the Founders of the Order for their glory can never be obliterated who in those days for military valour and bravery had very few Equals and were upon that account advanced to this honour Edward 3. King of England Edward his eldest son Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster Thomas Earl of Warwick Capdall de Buche Ralph Earl of Stafford William Montacute Earl of Salisbury Roger Mortimer Earl of March John L'isle Bartholomew Burgwash John Beauchamp John de Mohun Hugh Courtney Thomas Holland John Grey Richard Fitz-Simon Miles Stapleton Thomas Walle Hugh Wrothesley Niel Loring John Chandos James de Awdeley
general is true but not in a more strict sense for the river Thames is so far from bounding it all along to the north that a piece of Kent over against Woolwich lies on the other side of the river See the Additions to Cornwall under the title Tamar on every side by the Aestuary of Thames and the Ocean except upon the west where it borders upon Surrey and upon part of Sussex to the south KENT THIS Country which we now call Kent 1 Extendeth it self in length from West to East 50 miles and from South to North 26. is not altogether uniform to the west it is more plain and shaded with woods but to the east rises with hills of an easie ascent The inhabitants according to it's situation from the Thames southward distinguish it into three plots or portions they call them degrees the upper lying upon the Thames they look upon as healthy but not altogether so rich the middle to be both healthy and rich the lower to be rich but withal unhealthy â—umney â—sh because of the natural moisture in most parts of it 't is however very fruitful in grass As for good meadows pastures and corn-fields it has these in most places â— l. 15. â— â—rries â—ught inâ—â—ritain â—ut the 〈◊〉 of â—st 48. and abounds with apples to a miracle as also with cherries which were brought out of Pontus into Italy 680 years after the building of Rome and 120 years afterwards into Britain They thrive exceeding well in those parts and take up great quantities of ground making a very pleasant show by reason 〈◊〉 â—â—inâ—an diâ—ae they are set by square and stand one against another which way soever you look It is very thick set with villages and towns 2 And well-peopl'd has pretty safe harbours with some veins of iron but the air is a little thick and foggy because of the vapours rising out of the waters 3 At a word the revenues of the inhabitants are greater both by the fertility of the soil and also by the neighbourhood of a great city of a great river and the main sea The inhabitants at this day may justly claim that commendation for humanity which Caesar bestow'd upon those in his time not to mention their bravery in war 〈◊〉 warâ— couâ—e of the â—â—ish-â—n which a certain Monk has observ'd to be so very eminent in the Kentish men that in their engagements among the rest of the English the front of the battel was look'd upon to belong properly to them as to b The Triarii were always in the Rear Rosin Antiquitat Rom. and therefore the Monk must needs be in an error unless he can be brought off this way that designing to express the Courage of the Kentish men he means no more than that the stress of the battel always lay upon them and then it will very well answer the character of the Triarii so many Triarii Which is confirm'd by John of Salisbury in his Polycraticon As a reward says he of that signal courage which our Kent with great eagerness and steadiness shew'd against the Danes they do to this day lay claim to the honour of the first ranks and the first on-set in all engagements And Malmesbury too has writ thus in their praise The country people and the town-dwellers of Kent retain the spirit of that ancient nobility above the rest of the English being more ready to afford a respect and kind entertainment to others and less inclinable to revenge injuries Caesar to speak something by way of preface Julius Caesar before I come to the places themselves in his first attempt upon our Island arriv'd upon this coast and the Kentish Britains opposing his landing he got to shore not without a hot dispute In his second expedition too he landed his army here and the Britains with their horse and their ‖ Essedis chariots receiv'd him warmly at the river Stour but being quickly repuls'd by the Romans retir'd into the woods Afterwards they had some hot skirmishes with the Roman Cavalry in their march but still the Romans were upon all accounts too hard for them Some time after they attack'd the Romans again broke through the midst of them and after they had slain Laberius Durus a Tribune made a safe retreat and next day surpris'd the forragers c. which I have above related out of Caesar See the general part under the title Romans in Britain At which time Cyngetorix Carvilius Taximagulus and Segonax were Governours of Kent whom he therefore calls Kings because he would be thought to have conquer'd Kings whereas they were really no more than * Reguli Lords of the Country or Noblemen of the better sort After the Roman government was establish'd here it was under the jurisdiction of the Governour of Britannia Prima But the sea-coast which they term'd Littus Saxonicum or the Saxon shore as also the opposite shore from the Rhine to Xantoigne had from the time of Dioclesian a peculiar Governour call'd by Marcellinus Count of the sea coast Count of the Saxon shore by the Notitia Notitia the honourable the Count of the Saxon-shore in Britain whose particular business it was to fix garrisons upon the sea-coast in places convenient to prevent the plunders of the Barbarians especially the Saxons who heavily infested Britaine c To this end he had under him 2200 foot and 200 horse He was under the command of the Illustrious the Master of the foot whom they stil'd d So call'd from his constant presence in the army Calvin's Lexic Juridic in Verb. Praesentalis and who beside the particular garrisons for the ports assign'd him the Victores Juniores Britanniciani the Primani Juniores and the Secundani Juniores these are the names of so many Companies to have ready upon all occasions His Office or Court he had in this manner Principem ex officio Magistri praesentalium à parte peditum Numerarios duos Commentariensem Cornicularium Adjutorem Subadjuvam Regendarium Exceptores Singulares c. i.e. A Principal or Master out of the Masters or Generals relating to the foot two e One of these kept an account of the Emperours gifts another of his Privy purse Accountants a f The places where they kept prisoners were anciently call'd Commentaria Gaoler a g One who wrote and publish'd the Sentences of the Magistrates having his name from a horn by the winding whereof he commanded silence in the Court. Judge-Advocate an h One who officiated in case of the infirmity or necessary absence of any other Officer Brady's Hist of Britain Praef. p. 41. Assistant an Under-Assistant a Register the i Such as kept the accounts of the Army belonging to the Pay-Office were the Exceptores and the Singulares seems to be a distinct thing viz. to signifie some particular and singular employments as Informers Receivers c. particular Receivers
under is Ulcomb anciently a Mansion of the family De Sancto Leodegario commonly called Sentieger and Sellinger and Morinden where Sir R. Rockesley descended from Kriol and Crevecer built a house who held Lands at Seaton by Serjeanty to be Vantraâ—â—s Regis Fin. Mic. 11 E. 2. when the King goeth into Gascoin donec perusus fuerit pari solutarum pretii 4 d. which as they that understand Law-Latin for I do not translate that he should be the King's fore-footman until he had worn our a pair of shooes prized 4 d. Nor hath this river any other thing memorable upon it besides Leeds-castle Leeds-castle Famâ—y the Câ—â—queâ— built by the noble Crevequers call'd in ancient Charters de Crâ—uecuer and de Crepito corde Afterwards it was the unfortunate seat of Bartholomew Baron of Badilsmer who treacherously fortify'd it against King Edward 6. that had given it him but afterwards had the rewards of his treachery upon the gallows Take if you please the whole relation out of a little history of Thomas De-la-More a Nobleman of the same time which I lately publish'd In the year 1321. came Queen Isabel to the castle of Leeds about Michaelmas where she had design'd to lodge all night but was not suffer'd to enter The King highly resenting this as done in contempt of him call'd together some neighbouring inhabitants out of Essex and London and gave orders to besiege the Castle Bartholo mew de Badilsmer was he who own'd it and having left his wife and sons in it was gone with the rest of the Barons to spoil the estate of Hugh De-Spenser The besieg'd in the mean time despairing of succour the Barons with their Associates came as far as Kingston and by the mediation of the Bishops of Canterbury and London and the Earl of Pembroke petition'd the King to raise the Siege promising to surrender the Castle after the next Parliament But the King considering that the besieg'd could not hold out and moreover incens'd with their contumacy would not listen to the petition of the Barons After they had betook themselves to other parts he gain'd the Castle tho' with no small difficulty the rest of them that were in it he hang'd and sent his wife and sons to the Tower of London Thus the Medway after it has receiv'd the little river Len passes through fruitful Corn-fields and by Allington-Castle where Tho. Wiat senior a most learned Knight â—â—ford rebuilt a fair house 40 Now decay'd whose son Sir Thomas enrich'd by an heir of Sir T. Haut proposing to himself great hopes upon fair pretences pitifully overthrew himself and his state to Ailesford in Saxon Eaglesforð call'd by Henry Huntingdon Elstre by Ninnius Epifford who also has told us that 't was call'd Saissenaeg-haibail by the Britains because of the Saxons being conquer'd there as others have in the same sense call'd it Anglesford For Guor-timer the Britain son of Guortigern fell upon Hengist and the English Saxons here and disordering them so at first that they were not able to stand a second charge he put them to flight so that they had been routed for ever had not Hengist by a singular art of preventing dangers betook himself into the Isle of Thanet till that resolute fierceness of the Britains was a little allay'd and fresh forces came out of Germany In this battel the two Generals were slain Catigern the Britain and Horsa the Saxon the latter was buried at Horsted a little way from hence â—d and left his name to the place the former was bury'd in great state â—â—en's as 't is thought near Ailesford where 41 Under the side of a hill but not so artificially with mortis and tenents those four vast stones are pitch'd on end with others lying cross-ways upon them much of the same form with that British monument call'd Stone-henge And this the ignorant common people do still from Catigern name Keith-coty-house 42 In Ailsford it self for the religious house of the Carmelites founded by Richard Lord Grey of Codnor in the time of K. Henry 3. is now seen a fair habitation of Sir William Siddey a learned Knight painfully and expencefully studious of the common good of his country as both his endow'd house for the poor and the bridge here with the common voice do plentifully testifie p Nor must we forget Boxley â—â—y hard by where William de Ipres a Fleming Earl of Kent built a monastery in the year 1145. and supply'd it with monks from Clarevalle in Burgundy 43 Medway having wound himself higher from the east receiveth a brook springing near Wrotham or Wirtham so named for plenty of worts where the Archbishops had a place until Simon Islip pull'd it down leaveth Malling which grew to be a town after Gundulph Bishop of Rochester had there founded an Abbey of Nuns and watereth Leibourn which hath a Castle sometime the seat of a family thereof sirnamed out of which Sir Roger Leibourn was a great Agent in the Barons wars and William was a Parliamentary Baron in the time of K. Edw. 1. and not far from the opposite bank â—g just over against this is Birling 44 Now the habitation of the Lord Abergeveny formerly the Barony of the Maminots then of the Saies whose estate at last came by females to the families of Clinton Fienes and Aulton On the east-side of the Medway after it has pass'd by Halling â—â—g where Hamo de Heath Bishop of Rochester built a seat for his successors a little higher up is an ancient city call'd by Antoninus Duro-brus Duro-brivae and in some other places more truly Duro-provae â—â—revâ—s â—anciâ—ble â—sh'd â—elfer 〈◊〉 â—r 〈…〉 â—ester or Durobrovae Bede has it Duro-brevis and in the decline of the Roman Empire time did so contract this name that it was call'd Roibis whence with the addition of Ceaster which being deriv'd from the Latin castrum was us'd by our Forefathers to signifie a city town or castle they call'd it Hroueceaster and we more contractly Rochester as the Latins Roffa from one Rhoffus as Bede imagines tho' to me there seems to be some remains of that in the old Duro brovis And as to the name there is no reason to doubt of that since beside the course of the Itinerary and Bede's authority in an old Foundation-Charter of the Cathedral Church it is expresly call'd Durobrovis Only this I would have observ'd that the printed Copies of Bede read Daruervum where the Manuscripts have Durobrovis It is plac'd in a valley on some sides encompass'd 45 With a marsh river with walls but not very strong and as Malmesbury says is pent within too narrow a compass so that 't was formerly look'd upon as a Castle rather than a City for Bede calls it Castellum Cantuariorum i.e. the castle of the Kentish men But now it runs out with large suburbs towards west east and south It has had a great many
high taken down when half-dead and beheaded and the trunk of his body thrown into the fire a punishment too inhumane and but very seldom made use of in this kingdom Upon this his goods being confiscate King Edward the first frankly gave this Castle with the Hundred of Felebergh to 66 Sir Bartholomew Bartholomew de Badilsmer but he too within a short time forfeited both of them for Treason as I observed but just now 'T is a current report among the Inhabitants that Julius Caesar encampt here in his second expedition against the Britains and that thence it was call'd Julham as if one should say Julius's station or house and if I mistake not they have truth on their side For Caesar himself tells us that after he had march'd by night 12 miles from the shore he first encounter'd the Britains upon a River and after he had beat them into the woods that he encamp'd there where the Britains having cut down a great number of trees were posted in a place wonderfully fortify'd both by nature and art Now this place is exactly twelve miles from the sea-coast nor is there e're a river between so that of necessity his first march must have been hither where he kept his men encamp'd for ten days till he had refitted his fleet shatter'd very much by a tempest and got it to shore Below this town is a green barrow said to be the burying place of one Jul-Laber many ages since who some will tell you was a Giant others a Witch For my own part imagining all along that there might be something of real Antiquity couch'd under that name I am almost perswaded that Laberius Durus the Tribune Liberius Dâ—rus the Tribune slain by the Britains in their march from the Camp we spoke of was buried here and that from him the Barrow was call'd Jul-laber y At five miles distance from hence the Stour dividing it's chanel runs with a violent current to Durovernum Duroverâ—â—m the chief City of this County to which it gives the name for Durwhern signifies in British a rapid river It is call'd by Ptolemy instead of Durovernum Darvernum by Bede and others Dorobernia by the Saxons Cant-Æ¿ara-byrig i.e. the City of the people of Kent by Ninnius and the Britains Caer Kent i.e. the City of Kent by us Canterbury Canterbury and by the Latins Cantuaria A very ancient City and no doubt famous in the times of the Romans Not very large as Malmesbury says 67 Four hundred years since nor very little famous for it's situation for the fatness of the neighbouring soil for the walls enclosing it being entire for it's convenience for water and wood and besides by reason of the nearness of the Sea it has fish in abundance While the Saxon Heptarchy flourish'd it was the Capital city of the Kingdom of Kent and the seat of their Kings till King Ethelbert gave it with the Royalties to Austin 68 The Apostle as they call'd him Austin the English Apostle consecrated Archbishop of the English nation who here fix'd a seat for himself and Successors And tho' the Metropolitan-dignity with the honour of the Pall this was a Bishop's vestment What a Pal. is going over the shoulders made of a sheep's skin in memory of him who sought the Lost sheep and when he had found it lay'd it on his shoulders embroider'd with Crosses and taken off the body or coffin of S. Peter were settl'd at London by S. Gregory Pope yet for the honour of S. Augustine it was remov'd hither For Kenulfus King of the Mercians writes thus to Pope Leo. An. â—93 Because Augustine of blessed memory who first preach'd the word of God to the English nation and gloriously presided over the Churches of Saxony in the city of Canterbury is now dead and his body bury'd in the Church of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles which his Successor Laurentius consecrated it seemeth good to all the wise men of our nation that that city should have the Metropolitan honour where his body is bury'd who planted the true faith in those parts But whether the Archiepiscopal See and Metropolitical Dignity of our nation were settl'd here by the authority of the Wise men i.e. to speak agreeably to our present times by authority of Parliament or by Austin himself in his life time as others would have it 't is certain that the Popes immediately succeeding fixt it so firm that they decreed an Anathema and hell-fire to any one that should presume to remove it From that time 't is incredible how it has flourisht both by reason of the Archiepiscopal dignity and also of a School which Theodore the seventh Archbishop founded there And tho' it was shatter'd in the Danish wars and has been several times almost quite destroy'd by the casualties of fire yet it always rose again with greater beauty After the coming in of the Normans when William Rufus as 't is in the Register of S. Augustine's Abby gave the City of Canterbury entirely to the Bishops which they had formerly held only by courtesie what by the name of Religion and bounty of it's Prelates especially of Simon Sudbury who repair'd the walls it did not only recruit but altogether on a sudden rose up to that splendour as even for the beauty of it's private buildings to be equal to any city in Britain but for the magnificence of it's Churches and their number exceeds even the best of them Amongst these there are two peculiarly eminent Christs and S. Austin's both for Benedictine Monks As for Christ-Church 't is in the very heart of the City and rises up with so much Majesty that it imprints a sort of a Religious veneration at a distance The same Austin I spoke of repair'd this Church which as Bede tells us had formerly been built by the Romans that were Christians he dedicated it to Christ and it became a See for his Successors which 73 Archbishops have now in a continu'd series been possess'd of Of whom Lanfrank and William Corboyl when that more ancient fabrick was burnt down rais'd the upper part of the Church to that Majesty wherewith it now appears as their Successors did the lower part both done at great charges to which the pious superstition of former ages contributed For numbers of all sorts both highest middle and lowest quality flock'd hither with large offerings to visit the Tomb of T. Becket Archbishop He was slain in this Church by the Courtiers for opposing the King too resolutely and warmly by asserting the Liberties of the Church was register'd on that account by the Pope in the Kalendar of Martyrs had divine honours pay'd him and was so loaded with rich offerings that gold was one of the vilest Treasures of his Shrine All says Erasmus who was an eye-witness shin'd sparkl'd glitter'd with rare and very large jewels and even in the whole Church appear'd a profuseness above that of Kings n At the
chanel and over-against the Island was a City call'd by Ptolemy Rhutupiae â—â—â—â—â—piae us Truâ—â—â—â—s by Tacitus Portus Trutulensis for Rhutupensis if B. Rhenanus's conjecture hold good by Antoninus Rhitupis portus by Ammianus Rhutupiae statio by Orosius the port and city of Rhutubus by the Saxons according to Bede Reptacester and by others Ruptimuth â—â—â—â—borâ—â—â— by Alfred of Beverley Richberge and at this day Richborrow thus has time sported in making alterations of the very same name aa What the original of it may be is not certainly agreed upon But since Sandwich and Sandibay places near this have their name from Sand and Rhyd Tusith in British signifies a sandy ford I would willingly if I durst fetch it from thence The City was stretch'd out along the descent of a hill and there was a tower upon a high ground that over-look'd the Ocean which now the sands have so entirely excluded that it scarce comes within a mile of it When the Romans govern'd here it was exceeding famous From hence they commonly set sail out of Britain for the Continent and here the Roman fleets arriv'd Lupicinus sent over into Britain by Constantius to stop the excursions of the Scots and Picts landed here the Heruli the Batavians and the Moesian Regiments And Theodosius father of Theodosius the Emperour to whom as Symmachus tells us the Senate decree'd statues on horse-back for having quieted Britain came to land here with his Herculii Jovii Victores Fidentes which were so many Cohorts of the Romans Afterwards when the Saxon pirates stopp'd up all trade by sea and infested our coasts with frequent robberies the second Legion call'd Augusta which had been brought out of Germany by the Emperour Claudius and for many years resided at the Isca Silurum in Wales was remov'd hither and had here a * Praepositus commander of it's own under the Count of the Saxon shore Which office was possibly bore by that Clemens Maximus who after he was saluted Emperour by the soldiery in Britain slew Gratian and was himself afterwards slain by Theodosius at Aquileia For Ausonius in his Verses concerning Aquileia calls him Rhutupinum Latronem i.e. the Rhutupian Robber Maximus armigeri quondam sub nomine lixae Foelix quae tanti spectatrix laeta triumphi Fudisti Ausonio Rhutupinum Marte latronem Vile Maximus at first a knapsack rogue O happy you who all the triumph view'd And the Rhutupian thief with Roman arms subdu'd There was also another President of Rhutupiae Flavius Sanctus whose memory the same Poet has preserv'd in his Parentalia speaking thus of him Militiam nullo qui turbine sedulus egit Praeside laetatus quo ‖ Some are of opinion that Rhutupinus in this place signifies all Britain Rhutupinus ager Who bore with ease the long fatigues of war And blest Rhutupium with his constant care Ausonius likewise bestows an Elegy upon his uncle Claudius Contentus who had put to usury a great stock of money among the Britains and mightily encreas'd the principal by interest but being cut off by death left it all to foreigners and was bury'd here Et patruos Elegeia meos reminiscere cantus Contentum tellus quem Rhutupina tegit And let my Uncle grace the mournful sound Contentus buried in Rhutupian ground This Rhutupiae flourish'd likewise after the coming in of the Saxons For Authors tell us it was the palace of Ethelbert King of Kent and Bede honours it with the name of a City But from that time forward it decay'd nor is it so much as mention'd by any writer except Alfred of Beverley who has told us how Alcher with his Kentish men routed the Danes then encumber'd with the spoil about this place call'd at that time Richberge But now age has eras'd the very tracks of it and to teach us that Cities dye as well as men it is at this day a corn-field wherein when the corn is grown up one may observe the draughts of streets crossing one another for where they have gone the corn is thinner and such crossings they commonly call S. Augustine's cross Nothing now remains but some ruinous walls of a tower 71 Of rough flint and long Britain bricks mightily strengthned by tract of time so that the cement is as hard as the stone Over the entry whereof is fixed a head of a personage engraven in stone some say it was Queen Bertha's head but I take it to be a Roman work of a square form and cemented with a sort of sand extremely binding One would imagine this had been the Acropolis it looks down from so great a height upon the wet plains in Thanet which the Ocean withdrawing it self by little and little has quite left But the plot of the City now plow'd has often cast up the marks of it's Antiquity gold and silver coyns of the Romans and shews its daughter a little below call'd from the Sand by the Saxons SondÆ¿ic and by us Sandwich Sandwich bb This is one of the Cinque-Ports as they call them fenc'd on the north and west sides with walls on the rest with a rampire a river and a ditch As it was formerly sensible of the fury of the Danes so was it in the last age of the fire of the French Now 't is pretty populous tho' the haven by reason of the sands heap'd in and that great ship of burthen of Pope Paul the fourth's sunk in the very chanel has not depth enough to carry vessels of the larger sort 72 In ancient times it sundry times felt the furious forces of the Danes Afterward King Kanutus the Dane when he had gained the Crown of England bestow'd it upon Christ's Church in Canterbury with the royalty of the water on each side so far forth as a ship being afloat a man might cast a Danish hatchet out of the Vessel to the bank In the Norman reign it was reckon'd one of the Cinque Ports and to find five ships In the year 1217. Lewis of France of whom we spake lately burned it King Edward 1. for a time plac'd here the Staple and King Edward 3. by exchange re-united it to the Crown About which time there flourished here a Family sirnamed De Sandwico which had matched with one of the Heirs of Creveceur and D'auranches Lord of Folkeston and deserved well of this place In the time of King Henry 6. it was burned by the French In our days Sir Roger Manwood chief Baron of the Exchequer a Native of this place built and endowed here a free school and the Netherlanders have bettered the Town by making and trading of Baies and other Commodities Cantium Prom. Below Rhutupiae Ptolemy places the promontory Cantium as the utmost cape of this angle read corruptly in some Copies Nucantium and Acantium call'd by Diodorus Carion and by us at this day the Foreland Notwithstanding the whole shore all hereabouts is call'd by the Poëts the Rhutupian shore from Rhutupiae From whence
Fosse 〈◊〉 Out of Warwickshire it cometh down by Lemington where there seems formerly to have been a Station of the Romans from the coins which are often found and plow'd up there some of which Edward Palmer an industrious Antiquary k This place belongeth now to Sir William Juxon Baronet Nephew to Dr. Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury whose ancestors have long lived here very courteously bestow'd upon me Thence it goes by Stow on the Would by it's high situation too much exposed to the winds dd and by Northleach so called from the little rivulet that runs by it ee and thence to Cirencester Cirencester to which town the river Churn running southward amongst the hills 25 Near Corberley and very commodious for mills gave that name This was a famous city of great antiquity call'd by Ptolemy Corinium Corinium by Antonine Durocornovium i.e. the water Cornovium just 15 miles as he observeth distant from Glevum or Glocester The Britains call'd it Caer-cori and Caer-ceri the English Saxons Cyren-ceaster and at this day it is call'd Circester and Circiter The ruinated walls do plainly shew it hath been very large for they are said to have been 2 miles about That this was a considerable place the Roman coins chequer'd pavements and inscriptions in marble here dug up do evidently prove which coming into the hands of ignorant and illiterate persons have been slighted and lost to the great prejudice of Antiquity and also those Consular ways of the Romans 〈◊〉 way 〈…〉 Romans which here cross each other especially that which leadeth to Glevum or Glocester are still visible with an high ridge as far as Bird lip-hill and to a curious observer it seems to have been paved with stone ff The British Annals tell us that this City was set on fire by one Gurmundus I know not what African tyrant he making use of sparrows to effect it whence Giraldus calls it the City of Sparrows and from these memoirs Neckham writes thus Urbs vires experta tuas Gurmunde per annos Septem A city that defy'd proud Gurmund's strength For seven long years Who this Gurmund was I confess I am ignorant the inhabitants shew a mount of earth near the town which they report he cast up calling it Grismund's tower Marianus an historian of ancient credit says that Ceaulin took this city from the Britains after he had vanquish'd their forces at Deorham and reduced Glocester For a long time after it was subject to the West-Saxons for we read how Penda the Mercian was defeated by Cineglise King of the West-Saxons when he laid siege to it with a mighty army But at last it came with the whole County under the power of the Mercians and so continued till the English Monarchy under which it was grievously harrassed by the incursions of the Danes possibly by that Gurmon the Dane whom historians call Guthrus and Gurmundus gg 26 So that it may seem he was that Garmund which they so much speak of for certes when he raged about the year 879. a rabblement of Danes rousted hore one whole year Now scarce the fourth part within the walls is inhabited the rest being pasture grounds and the ruins of an Abbey first built by the Saxons as is reported and repair'd by Hen. 2. 27 For black Canons in which as I am informed many of the family of the Barons of St. Amand are interred The Castle that stood there was razed by the command of Hen. 3. in the first year of his reign The chief trade of the inhabitants is in the Woollen Manufacture and they talk much of the great bounty of Richard 1. who enriched the Abbey and as they affirm made them Lords of the seven adjacent hundreds to hold the same in Fee Farm to have tryal of Causes and to impose Fines and to have the forfeitures amercements and other profits arising thence to their own use hh Moreover King Henry 4. granted them privileges for their valiant and good service performed against Thomas Holland Earl of Kent 28 Late Duke of Surrey John Holland Earl of Huntingdon 29 Late Duke of Exeter John Montacute Earl of Salisbury Thomas de Spencer Earl of Glocester and others who being deprived of their honours conspired against him and being here secured by the townsmen some of them were instantly slain and the rest beheaded ii â—e river 〈◊〉 afterâ—rds Taâ—â—â— The river Churne having left Cyrencester about 6 miles 30 Near to Dounamveny an ancient seat of the Hungerfords joyneth with Isis for Isis commonly call'd Ouse that it might be originally of Glocestershire riseth near the south border of this County not far from Torleton a small Village hard by the famous Fosse-way This is that Isis l See this opinion confuted in the beginning of Wiltshire which afterwards joyning with Tame by adding the names together is call'd Tamisis chief of the British rivers of which we may truly say as ancient writers did of Euphrates in the East that it both plants and waters Britain the poetical description of it's spring-head or fountain taken out of the marriage of Tame and Isis I have here added which you may read or omit as you please Lanigeros quà lata greges Cotswaldia pascit Crescit in colles faciles visura Dobunos â—â—sse-â—â—y Haud procul à * Fossa longo spelunca recessu Cernitur abrupti surgente crepidine clivi Cujus inauratis resplendent limina tophis Atria tegit ebur tectumque Gagate Britanno Emicat alterno solidantur pumice postes Materiam sed vincit opus ceduntque labori Artifici tophus pumex ebur atque Gagates Pingitur hinc vitrei moderatrix Cynthia regni Passibus obliquis volventia sydera lustrans Oceano tellus conjuncta marita marito Illinc caelatur fraternaque flumina Ganges Nilus Amazonius tractusque binominis Istri Vicini Rheni sed his intermicat auro Vellere Phrixaeo dives redimitaque spicis Clara triumphatis erecta Britannia Gallis c. Undoso hic solio residet regnator aquarum Isis fluminea qui majestate verendus Caeruleo gremio resupinat prodigus urnam Intonsos crines ulvis arundine cinctus Cornua cana liquent fluitantia lumina lymphis Dispergunt lucem propexa in pectore barba Tota madet toto distillant corpore guttae Et salientis aquae prorumpunt undique venae Pisciculi liquidis penetralibus undique ludunt Plurimus cygnus niveis argenteus alis Pervolitat circum c. Where Cotswold's hillocks fam'd for weighty sheep Their eager course to the Dobunians keep Near the great Fosse a spatious plain there lies Where broken cliffs the secret top disguise Huge freestones neatly carv'd adorn the gate The porch with ivory shines the roof with jeat And rows of pumice in the posts are set But nature yields to art the workman's skill Does freestone ivory pumice jeat excell Here wandring Cynthia arbitress o' the main Guides the
almost thro' the middle of this County It first watereth Banbury Banbury formerly Banesbyrig where Kynric the West-Saxon overcame the poor Britains when they fought for their Liberties and Country in a memorable battel h And in latter times Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick fighting for the Lancastrian Interest gave such an absolute defeat to the York party that he soon after took the distressed King Edward 4. and carry'd him off prisoner i The town which at present is most famous for making k good Cheese has a Castle built by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln for this manour belong'd to that See who in his way of living consulted more his state and grandeur than his ease and safety and brought very many mischiefs on himself by his vain and expensive buildings Give me leave to add one remark that the coins of Roman Emperours found here and in the fields adjoyning are a fair argument for the antiquity of this place 5 Near to Banbury is Hanwell where the family of Cope hath flourish'd many years in great and good esteem I must not here pass by Broughton the seat of Rich. Fienes or Fenis to whom and to the heirs of his body our potent Monarch K. James in the first year of his reign granted and confirm'd the name stile title degree dignity and honour of Baron of Say and Sele he being descended in a right line from James Fienes Lord Say and Sele High Treasurer of England in the reign of Hen. 6. 6 Who was cruelly beheaded by a rabble of Rebels in the time of K. Hen. 6. The Cherwel for many miles after it has left Banbury sees nothing but well cultivated fields and most delightful meadows among which stands 7 Heyford-warine so denominated from Warine Fitz-Gerold Lord thereof Heyford Purcell likewise so named of the Purcells or de Porcellis ancient Gentlemen the old owners Blechingdon an ancient possession of the family of Povre Islip Iâ—â—â—â— formerly Ghistlipe the birth-place of King Edward whom for his piety and chastity our Ancestors honour'd with the title of Confessor as he himself witnesses in his original charter whereby he gives this his manour to the Church of Westminster l and at a small distance is Hedindon Hedâ—â—dâ—â— which K. John gave for a Barony to Thomas Basset m At Islip the Cherwel is joyn'd from the east by a small brook which runs by i Perhaps as much as to say Birini castrum â—mplying it to be a frontier-garrison of the West-Saxons against the Mercians rais'd out of the â—â—ins of Alchester by the advice and assistance of Birinus Bishop of Dorchester Burcester Burâ—â—â—er in Saxon Burenceaster and Bernaceaster a town of ancient name but where I have observ'd nothing of antiquity only that Gilbert Basset and Egeline de Courtney his wife in the reign of Hen. 2. built here a Monastery in honour of k It was dedicated to S. Mary and S. Edburg the memory of the latter is still preserved in a Well call'd S. Edburg's Well as also in a green foot-path leading to it call'd Tadbury walk corruptly for the Edâ—uâ—y-way-walk St. Edburg and that the Barons Le Strange of Knocking were lately Lords of this place n Toward the west we meet with some few remains of an old deserted Station which they call Allchester perhaps instead of Aldchester Alâ—hâ—â—tâ—â— or the old Castrum o thro' which a military way led from Wallingford as the neighbours believe to Banbury They call this Akeman-street-way Baâ— mâ—ny â—â—â— Aâ—â—â—ceâ—er a ridge whereof does still appear for some miles together on the deep plains of Otmore often overflow'd in winter p But where the Cherwel flows along with the Isis and their divided streams make several little sweet and pleasant islands is seated on a rising vale the most famous University of Oxford Oâ—â—â—â—â— in Saxon Oxenford our most noble Athens the seat of the English Muses the prop and pillar nay the sun the eye the very soul of the nation the most celebrated fountain of wisdom and learning from whence Religion Letters and good Manners are happily diffus'd thro' the whole Kingdom A delicate and most beautiful city whether we respect the neatness of private buildings or the stateliness of publick structures or the healthy and pleasant situation For the plain on which it stands is walled in as it were with hills of wood which keeping out on one side the pestilential south-wind on the other the tempestuous west admit only the purifying east and the north that disperses all unwholsome vapours From which delightful situation Authors tell us it was heretofore call'd Bellositum Some writers fancy this city in the British times had the name of Caer Vortigern and Caer-Vember and was built by God knows what Vortigerns or Memprics Whatever it was under the Britains it is certain the Saxons call'd it Oxenford in the same meaning no doubt as the Grecians had their Bosphorus and the Germans their Ochenfurt upon the river Oder that is a ford of Oxen. In which sense it is still call d by the Welsh Rhid-Ychen Yet Mr. Leland with some shew of probability derives the name from the river Ous in Latin Isis and believes it to have been heretofore call'd Ousford especially since the little islands which the river here makes are call'd Ousney Wise Antiquity as we read in our Chronicles even in the British age consecrated this place to the Muses whom they transplanted hither as to a more fertile nursery from l So written in most of our Historians to favour a groundless notion of a Greek and Latin School the first at this place truly written Creccagelade the latter at Latinlade rightly call'd Leccelade See Somner's Glossar to the Decem Script under Greglada Greek-lade now a small town in Wiltshire Alexander Necham writes thus Italy does challenge the glory of Civil Law Divinity and the Liberal Arts make Paris preferable to all other cities Wisdom too and Learning have long flourish'd at Oxford â—â— 2. de 〈◊〉 reâ— and according to the prophecy of Merlin shall in due time pass over thence to Ireland But in the following Saxon age remarkable for the continual ruin and subversion of towns and cities this place underwent the common fate and during many years was famous for nothing but the reliques of St. Frideswide â—eswide a virgin of great esteem for the sanctity of her life and first reputed a Saint on this occasion that when by a solemn vow she had devoted her self to the service of God and a single life Earl Algar courted her for a wife and pursuing her in her flight was miraculously as the story goes struck blind This Lady as we read in William of Malmesbury built here a Religious house as a trophy of her preserv'd virginity into which Monastery when in the time of Ethelred several Danes sentenc'd to death were fled for refuge the enraged Saxons burnt them and the house together But
those places which we now call Academies and Universities were in former ages fitly call'd Studies Universiâ—â— call'd Studies as St. Hierom speaks of the flourishing Studies of France Epist ad Râ—stâ—â—â— Monaâ—hâ— For the name of University for publick Schools of Learning obtain'd first about the reign of King Henry 3. and if I am not mistaken this word did not at first so much signifie the place of study as the Society of Students But perhaps this may seem out of my road Now the worthy Patrons and Favourers of Learning began to furnish the City and Suburbs with stately Colleges Colâ—eges Halls and Schools and to endow them with ample Revenues for before this time the greatest part of the University stood without North-gate Then in the reign of King Henry 3. John Baliol of Bernard-castle who died in the year 1269. Father of John Baliol King of Scots Book of Mailros founded Baliol-College s And soon after Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester transferr'd the College which he had built in Surrey to Oxford in the year 1274. endow'd it and call'd it Merton-College t 9 And these two were the first endow'd Colleges for Students in Christâ—ndâ—m Then William Archdeacon of Durham repair'd and restor'd the Foundation of King Alfred which we now call University-College u About which time the Scholars having been somewhat rude to Otto the Pope's Legate or rather his Horse-leach sent hither to suck the blood of the poor people they were excommunicated and treated with great severity At which time as Richard of Armagh tells us there were reckon'd in this University no less than thirty thousand Students Under King Edward the second Walter Stapledon Bishop of Exeter built Exeter-College and Hart-Hall w and the King after his example a Royal College commonly call'd Orial x and St. Mary-Hall About which time the Hebrew tongue began to be read by a Jewish Convert Regist Mon. Hâ—â— for whose stipend every Clerk in Oxford contributed one penny for every mark of his Ecclesiastical revenue After this Queen Philippa wife of King Edward 3. built Queens-College y and Simon Islip Arch-bishop of Canterbury Canterbury-College The Scholars now abounding in peace and plenty grew insolent upon their good fortune and divided into the factions of the Northern and Southern men carrying on the quarrel with open arms and all manner of hostility upon which the Northern-men retir'd to Stanford and there set up publick Schools But after a few years when the storm was blown over and the feuds forgot they all return'd hither again 10 Recall'd by Proclamation directed to the High-Sheriff of Lincolnshire upon penalty to forfeit their Books and the King's displeasure and Statutes were enacted to prohibit all persons from professing at Stanford to the prejudice of Oxford About that time William Wickam Bishop of Winchester built a magnificent Structure call'd New College z into which the ripest Lads are every year transplanted from his other College at Winchester 11 And he about the same by the tract of the City wall built a fair high wall embattled and turretted Then Richard Angervil Bishop of Durham calld Philobiblos or The Lover of Books y At his death An. 1345. he left his voluminous Library to Durham-College with liberty of access upon certain conditions to all Scholars At the dissolution of which house in the reign of Henry 8. some of the Books of this admirable collection were remov'd to the Publick Library some to Baliol College and some came into the hands of Dr. George Owen a Physician of Godstow who bought the said College of Edward 6. began a publick Library And his Successor Thomas de Hatfield z This College is much rather to be ascrib'd to Richard de Bury for when the Monks of Durham had begun their buildings for a Seminary to their own Convent it was furnisht and endo'wd by this great and generous Prelate built Durham-College for the benefit of the Monks of Durham and Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln founded Lincoln-College About the same time the Benedictine Monks 12 By a Chapter held among them laid their monies together and encreased Glocester-Hall built before by John Lord Giffard of Brimsfield for Monks of Glocester built Glocester-College at their own proper cost and charges bb where were constantly maintain'd two or three Monks of every House of that Order who afterwards should profess good Letters in their respective Convents 13 Nicholas Wadham of Merefield in the County of Somerset hath assign'd a fair portion of lands and money for the propagation of religion and learning which I note incidently by way of congratulation to our age that there are yet some who graciously respect the advancement of good learning To speak nothing of the Canons of St. Frideswide there were erected no less than four beautiful Cells of Friers in the Suburbs where there often flourisht men of considerable parts and learning In the next age during the reign of King Henry 5. Henry Chichely Arch-bishop of Canterbury founded two eminent Colleges one of which he dedicated to the memory of All-Souls cc and the other to St. Bernard Not long after William Wainster Bishop of Winchester built Magdalen-College remarkable for building fine situation and pleasure of adjoyning groves and walks dd At the same time the a The ground was purchast by the University An. 1427. and upon several contributions the Structure was soon after begun but was intermitted till by the piety and bounty of Humfrey Duke of Glocester it was farther carried on but not compleated till the year 1480. Divinity School Dâ—â—inity School was erected a work of such admirable texture and beauty that the saying of Xeuxis may justly be inscrib'd upon it It is more easie to envy than to imitate this work Publick L brary And above this School was a Library furnisht with one hundred twenty nine choice Volumes procur'd from Italy at the great expence of Humphrey the Good Duke of Glocester a chief Patron and admirer of Learning But most of these Books are long since embezell'd and converted to private uses 14 In the giddy time of King Edward the sixth But now may all happiness attend the generous design the worthy Sir Thomas Bodley Thâ—mas Bâ—dâ—ey Kt. formerly a Member of this University with extraordinary charge and indefatigable pains is furnishing a new Library in the same place with the best Books procur'd from all parts of the world that the University may enjoy a publick Arsenal of Wisdom and he himself an everlasting honour ee And since it was a good custom of the Ancients in all their Libraries to erect Statues of Gold Pâ—al 35. c. 2 Silver or Brass both to those who had instituted them and those who had adorn'd them with excellent Writings that time and Age might not triumph over Benefactors and that the curiosity of Mankind might be satisfied while they enquired after men of worth and
to John Backwell Esq p In the account of the Earls Mr. Camden tells us that Henry Duke of Buckingham's reason for plotting against Richard 3. was that King 's detaining from him the estate of the Bohuns But this cannot be the cause ‖ Dudg Bar. T. 1. p. 168. for after that Tyrant's advancement he sign'd a bill for Livery of all those Lands unto him whereunto he pretended a right by descent from Humphrey de Bohun sometime Earl of Hereford and Constable of England Mr. Dugdale has given us an abstract of it and is of opinion that the cause of this his carrriage was either remorse of conscience for raising that King to the throne by the barbarous murther of his nephews or else his observing himself neglected by him Continuation of the DUKES After the attainder and execution of Edward the title lay vacant till the 14th of Jac. 1. when George Viscount Villers was created Earl of Buckingham the next year Marquess of Buckingham and by a Patent bearing date 18 Maii 21 Jac. 1. Duke of Buckingham This George being kill'd by one Felton at Portsmouth Aug. 23. An. 1628. was succeeded by George his son who dying Apr. 16. 1687. left the title vacant More rare Plants growing wild in Buckinghamshire I have not had opportunity of searching this County for Plants neither have any singular local or uncommon species growing there as yet come to my knowledge save only Sphondylium montanum minus angustifolium tenuiter laciniatum observed by Dr. Plukenet near St. Giles Chalfont in the mountainous meadows BEDFORDSHIRE THE County of Bedford commonly Bedfordshire is one of the three Counties which we observ'd before to have been inhabited by the Cattieuchlani On the east and south it is joyn'd to Cambridgshire and Hertfordshire on the west to Buckinghamshire on the north to Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and is divided into two parts by the Ouse running through it In the north part it is more fruitful and woody in the south where 't is much larger the soil is more poor though it makes a tolerable return For it abounds with barley which is plump white and strong In the middle it is something thick-set with woods but eastward is more dry and wants wood The Ouse at its first entrance into this County first visits Trury the seat of Baron Mordant â—â—â—oâ—s â—â—rdant which family is indebted to Henry 8. for this dignity For he it was that created John Mordant Baron Mordant a prudent person who had married the daughter and coheir of H. Vere of Addington Next it glides by Hare-wood a little village call'd formerly Hareles-wood where Sampson sirnam'd The Strong built a Nunnery and where in the year of our Lord 1399. a little before the breaking out of those Commotions and Civil wars wherewith England was for a long time embroil'd the Hyâ—gma 〈◊〉 153. the river stood still and the water retiring both ways did wonderfully leave a passage on foot through the chanel for three miles together a 1 They who saw it took it as a plain presage of the division ensuing Afterwards it runs under Odil or Woodhill formerly Wahull which had also its Barons of Wahull eminent for their ancient Nobility 2 Whose Barony consisted of 300 Knights-fees in divers Countries and a Castle 3 Which is now hereditarily descended to Sir R. Chetwood Knight as the inheritance of the Chetwoods came formerly to the Wahuls which is now come by inheritance to the Chetwoods b From hence the Ouse with no less windings than those of the Meander it self is carry'd through Bletnesho commonly Bletso â—â—so formerly the seat of the Pateshuls afterwards of the Beauchamps 〈◊〉 St. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 sho and now of the famous family of St. John who formerly by their valour became Masters of a great estate in Wales 4 In Glamorganshire and in our age had the honour of Barons conferr'd upon them by Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory 5 When she created Sir Oliver the second Baron of her Creation Lord St. John of â—letnesho unto whom it came by c. To them it came by Margaret de Beauchamp an heiress marry'd first to Oliver de St. John from whom those Barons are descended and afterward to John Duke of Somerset by whom she had the famous Margaret Countess of Richmond a Woman whose merit is above the reach of the highest Commendation and from whom the Royal Family of England is descended From hence the Ouse hastens 6 By Brumham a seat of the Dives of very ancient parentage in these parts to Bedford Bedford in Saxon Bedanford the County-town and which gives name to the whole and so cuts it that one would imagine it two towns but that it is joyn'd by a Stone-bridge c 'T is more eminent for the pleasantness of its situation and antiquity than any thing of beauty or stateliness though it has indeed five Churches I dare not assent to those who think it to be the Lactodorum of Antoninus for neither is it situate upon a military way which is the surest guide in our search after stations and mansions mention'd by Antoninus nor were there ever any Roman Coins dug up here I have read that it was call'd in British Liswider or Lettidur but this seems to be turn'd out of the English name For Lettuy signifies in British publick Inns and Lettidur innes upon a river and our English Bedford implies Beds and Inns at a Ford. Below this Town in the year 572. Cuthwulph the Saxon did so shatter the Britains in a set-battel that he was ever after too hard for them and had several towns surrender'd Nor does it seem to have been neglected by the Saxons since Offa that powerful Prince of the Mercians made choice of this place as Florilegus tells us for his Burial but the Ouse being once more rapid and rising higher than ordinary swept away his Monument The town was repaird by Edward the elder after it had been destroy'd in the Danish wars which King did likewise add a little city on the south side of the river call'd by that age to follow the best Copâ— of Hoveden Mikesgate In the time of Edward the Confessor as we find it in that Book wherein William the first took his Survey of England it defended it self for the half of an Hundred in expedition and ships The land of this village never hided But under the Normans it was a much greater sufferer for after Pagan de Beauchamp the third that was call'd Baron of Bedford had built a Castle theâ—e never a civil commotion arose in the kingdom but what had a stroke at it while standing Stephen in the first place when he had possess'd himself of the Kingdom of England against his solemn oath took this Castle with great loss on both sides afterwards when the Barons took up arms against King John William de Beauchamp Lord of it and one of the headers of that Faction
this County is Harewood Harewood made remarkable for the standing of the river An. 1399. The very same thing happen'd as I have been inform'd the 18. or else the 28. of January in the year 1648. And as the first was look'd upon to be a prognostick of the Civil Wars that ensu'd so as the circumstances fall out may this be thought of K. Charles 1.'s death there being nothing so extraordinary on foot at that time nor any thing to which it can at least be so plausibly referr'd if we were to make a conjecture b Next is Odill Oâ—â—ll where Leland tells us the Castle mention'd by our Author was in his time nothing but strange ruins and that it belong'd to the Lord Bray but whether it came immediately from them to the Chettwoods I know not c From hence the river runs to Bedford Bâ—dford which our Author says one would easily imagine to be two towns and tho' both sides of the river are govern'd by the same Magistrates viz. a Mayor two Bailiffs c. yet thus far they make their particular claims that whereas they have two weekly markets the south-side has the Tuesday-one considerable for all living cattel and the north-side the Saturday-one for all sorts of Corn. Of the five Churches also two are seated on the south and three on the north-side St. Pauls as * â—inerar Mo. Leland tells us is the principal Church of the town and was before the Conquest a College of Prebendaries and after too till the Foundation of Newnham-Priory They had their houses round the Church and tho' as our Author observes Roisia was she that remov'd it †Ibid. yet her son Simon de Bello-Campo or Beauchamp confirming and completing the Act of his mother was look'd upon as the Founder and accordingly in his Epitaph which was before the high Altar of this Church he is call'd Fundator de Neweham d In the place of the Castle Mr. Camden speaks of is now a spacious Bowling-green look'd upon by the Gentry who resort thither in great numbers for their recreation to be as good as most in England e In this town was built and endow'd An. 561. a Free-school by Sir William Harper born in it bred a Merchant-Taylor in the city of London and afterwards Lord Mayor of it Within two miles of Bedford was an old Castle ‖ Ibid. call'd by Leland Risingho-Castle Risingho-Castle which he says was a little by west from Castle-mill In his time the building was so entirely destroy'd that no part of it was visible but the Area of the Castle was easie to be trac'd and the great round hill where the Keep or Dungeon stood complete f Next is Sandye Sandy ‖ Aubr MS. where have been discovered some farther evidences of Antiquity namely glass urns and one red urn like Coral with an Inscription They have ashes in them and are in the hands of a Gentleman in Bedford At Chesterfield also there is a Roman-Camp where there were coins and urns digg'd up about the year 1670. some of which were bestow'd upon the University of Oxford by Mr. Thomas Crysty of Bedford g South-west from hence is Houghton-Conquest Houghton-Conquest where are two Common-fields one call'd Great-Danes-field and the other Little-Danes-field * Ibid. in both of which are a great many Pits some 15 foot diameter or thereabouts h More to the South-west is Woburn Woburn not far from which there is dug up great store of Fullers earth commonly call'd from the place Woburn-earth a thing so very useful in Cloathing that the transportation of it has been strictly forbidden i Near the South-bounds of this County is Dunstaple Dunstaple which one should hardly believe upon the authority of a Monkish writer to be denominated from a famous robber Dun when the Saxon Dun and the old Gaulish or British Dunum does so well answer the situation of the place which as our Author describes it is hilly and mountainous beginning upon that long ridge of hills call'd Chiltern and besides we have his judgment that 't is very ancient †Fuller's Worthies p. 119. There was a woman who liv'd dy'd and was bury'd in this town that had as appears by her Epitaph nineteen Children at five births Five at two several births and three together at three others k More to the west is Leighton or Leyton Leyton ‖ Ibid. call'd also Layton-buzzard corruptly from Beaudesert about half a mile from which is a Roman-Camp And as this shows the presence of that people there so the eminence of this town even in the beginning of the Saxon times seems to be prov'd from those Conquests of Cuthwulph in the year 571. wherein among others he is said by the Saxon-Annals to have taken LygeanburH which seems to me much more properly to belong to this Leyton than to Loughborrow in Leicestershire the place pitch'd upon by our Author For setting aside that the Saxons generally fixt in such places as the Romans had been in an observation that may be confirm'd by numbers of instances the old name and new agree very well The termination burH has a particular eye only to the fortification that was then there and why might not the Lygean be as well melted into Lay or Leigh as the river Lygea is now into Lee or Ley Besides the course of his Victories does best suit this for he went from LygeanburH to Ailesbury and then to Bensington in Oxfordshire which almost lye in a direct line whereas Loughborow lyes out of the road Continuation of the EARLS Edward the last Earl mention'd by our Author marry'd the daughter of John Lord Harington and dy'd in 1627. without issue Upon which this title came to Francis son of William fourth son to the last Francis Earl of Bedford and he was succeeded by William his eldest son who still enjoys it More rare Plants growing in Bedfordshire Caryophyllus minor repens nostras An Betonica coronaria sive Caryophyllata repens rubra J.B. Creeping wild Pink. On Sandy-hills not far from an ancient Roman Camp Gentianella fugax Autumnalis elatior Centaureae minoris foliis An Gentianella fugax quarta Clus The taller Autumnal Gentian with Centory-like leaves On Barton-hills upon a waste chalky ground as you go out of Dunstable-way towards Gorckambury Park p. 407. Glastum sativum Ger. Park Isatis sativa vel latifolia C. B. Isatis seu Glastum sativum J.B. Woad This plant is cultivated in this County in this manner They every year sow the seed it is never sown above two years together and pluck up the old Woad unless it be saved for seed It is fown about the beginning of March and cropt about the midst of May thereafter as the leaf comes up It is best in a fair and dry Summer but most in a moist then they crop it four or five times according as it comes The first cropt is best every crop after worse in
Allies Yet afterward this City flourished again and grew to a very great eminency And I have seen several pieces of ancient money which in all probability were coined at this place with this Inscription TASCIA and on the reverse VER which that most inquisitive and learned Antiquary David Powel S. T. D. interpreteth to be the Tribute of Verulam Taâ—c what magnifies For Tasc as he tells me in the British tongue signifies Tribute Tascia a Tribute-penny and Tascyd the chief Collector of Tribute But you may here if you please view the Coyn once more for I have given you a sight of it before Some will have it that these pieces were coyned before the coming in of the Romans But I am not of their mind For I have always thought them to have been the Tribute-money which the Romans as I observ'd before were wont every year to raise by Poll and by a Land tax together For before the Romans coming I can scarce think that the Britains ever coyned money And yet I am not unmindful of what Caesar writes of them They use saith he British moâ—â—â— Oâ—hâ—rs Anâ—â—â—â—â— brass-money or rings of iron made to a certain weight where ancient Copies have Lanceis ferreis for which the Criticks have substituted Laminis ferreis i.e. Plates of iron But it would be impertinent here to repeat my former discourse upon this subject Let us therefore return to the business in hand Now as to Verulam no one thing ever reflected so much honour upon it as that once it brought forth St. Alban a man justly eminent for his piety and steadiness in the Christian Faith who when Dioclesian by all sorts of torments endeavoured the total extirpation of the Christian Religion with an invincible constancy of mind suffered Martyrdom the first man in all Britain For which reason he is called Our Stephen â—â—â—en the Martyr and the Protomartyr of Britain and Fortunatus Presbyter thus mentions him Albanum egregium foecunda Britannia profert And fruitful Britain holy Alban shews Also Hiericus a Frenchman who flourished 700 years since gives an account in verse of the same St. Alban's Martyrdom Iâ— the Life of St. German and also how his Executioner was by a miracle stricken blind Millia poenarum Christi pro nomine passus Quem tandem rapuit capitis sententia caesi Sed non lictori cessit res tuta superbo Utque caput Sancto ceciderunt lumina saevo After a thousand sufferings for the Faith When judg'd at last to end them all with death The bloody Lictor did just heav'n surprise And as the Saint his head the villain lost his eyes In an old Agonal or History of his passion we are told that the Citizens of Verulam caused an account of his suffering to be expressed on a marble which they plac'd in their town walls as a publick disgrace to him and a terror to all Christians But afterwards when the blood of Martyrs had overcome the cruelty of Tyrants the Christians built a Church here to his memory which as Bede tells us was a piece of most admirable workmanship And now Verulam came to be so much reverenced for it's sanctity that An. Dom. 429. a Synod was here held upon occasion of the Pelagian Heresie which was spread a-new over this Island by Agricola son to Severianus a Bishop and had so generally infected the British Churches that to make good the Orthodox Faith they were forced to send into France for German Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troies who confuting the heresie thereby rendred themselves very venerable to the Britains especially St. German as appears by the many Churches dedicated to him in this Island Particularly there is still standing near the walls of this ruined city a small Chapel that bears that Saint's name S. German's Chapel tho' otherwise but ill employed It stands just in the place where St. German preached to the people for which tradition we have the authority of some ancient Records of St. Alban's Church We are told farther by Constantius who lived at the same time in the life of St. German that he caused the Sepulchre of St. Alban to be opened and placed therein the Reliques of certain Saints that so they whom one heaven had received might also be laid in one sepulchre By the way I take notice of this that we may thence collect what was the custom of that Age. Not long after Verulam fell into the hands of the Saxons But Uther the Britain for his serpentine subtilty sirnam'd Pendrago with much difficulty after a very tedious siege recovered it After whose death it quickly fell again into the same hands For Gildas's words do plainly enough intimate that the Saxons in his days were possessed of this City God saith he hath lighted up unto us the most clear Lamps of his Saints whose burial-places as well as the places of their passion might excite in our souls a great fervour of divine love every time we had cast our eyes upon them if as a punishment to our great wickedness the Barbarians had not been suffered to rob us of them I particularly mean St. Alban at Verulam c. Verulam was now quite ruined by these wars when about the year of our Lord 793. Offa the most potent King of the Mercians founded just over against it in a place then called Holmehurst a very large and stately Monastery to the memory of St. Alban or as the Charter it self expresseth it unto our Lord Jesus Christ and to St. Alban the Martyr whose Reliques the divine Grace hath discovered as an hopeful pledge both of our present prosperity and also of our future happiness Presently hereupon together with the Monastery there grew up a town which from the Saint took the name of St. Albans St. Albans This King Offa and several other Kings of England his successors bestowed upon this Monastery very large possessions and obtained for it also from divers Popes very ample privileges I will here recite a passage to that purpose out of Florilegus that you may therein observe the extraordinary liberality of our Princes to the Church Thus therefore he The most mighty K. Offa gave to S. Alban the Protomartyr a town of the Royal Demesne which is distant about 20 miles from Verulam and is called †Perhaps Winâ—slow Uneslaw and many other lands round about it as may be seen in this K.'s Charter kept to this day in the said Monastery The immunities also and privileges of this Monastery are so large and peculiar that it is exempt from paying the Apostolical duty or tax to the Pope commonly called ‖ That is of every house a penny Romescot whereas neither the King nor the Archbishop nor any Bishop Abbot or Prior or any other person whatsoever in the whole Kingdom is exempted from this payment this alone is exempt Furthermore the Abbot or a Monk that acts as Archdeacon under him exerciseth Episcopal Jurisdiction over all
issue male A little before the Restoration this honour was conferr'd upon Henry Jermin Baron of S. Edmundsbury for his faithful Services to King Charles 2. It is since erected into a Dukedom and is enjoy'd by Charles Beauclair n North-west from hence is Markat or more truly Meregate â—â—â—gate i.e. says Norden an issue or out-gate of water which seems to refer to the river Womer mention'd by our Author * Nord p. 20 This is said to have broke out in the time of Edw. 4. and to have run from the 19. of February till the 14. of June following o The old Sulloniacae is plac'd by our Author at Brockley-hill in this County whereas that hill is really in Middlesex into which County the Roman Station ought also to be translated For tho' †â—n p. â—53 Mr. Burton seem inclin'd to think Ellestre the old Sulloniacae yet it does not appear that any thing of Antiquity has been discover'd thereabouts nor does the old Roman way run through it as our Author affirms that place lying near a mile to the right hand of it Thro' Edgware indeed a mile south of Brockley the way passes towards London so that Mr. Talbot when he settl'd the Sulloniacae there had at least some shew of probability on his side But not any remains of Antiquity appearing there 's no reason why it should be remov'd from Brockley-hill especially since of late Coins Urns Roman Bricks c. have been dug up there in the place where Mr. Napier has built him a fair new seat as well in laying the foundation of the house as levelling the gardens Rarities of this kind have been also turn'd up with the plough for about seven or eight acres round p Upon the south-border of this County is Barnet ‖ Full. Wor. p. 18. where was discover'd a medicinal spring suppos'd by the taste to run through veins of Alom It coagulates with milk the curd whereof is an excellent plaister for any green wound Continuation of the EARLS Edward son to the Duke of Somerset of the same name being dispossest of all by the attainder of his father was restor'd the first of Q. Elizabeth by Letters Patent bearing date the 13th of January to the titles of Lord Beauchamp and Earl of Hertford Edward the son dy'd in the life-time of his father and so did his eldest son of the same name Whereupon he was succeeded by William his grandchild who by K. Ch. 1. for his eminent services was advanc'd to the title of Marquess of Hertford as afterwards upon the restoration of K. Charles 2. to that of Duke of Somerset Since which time the same persons have successively had both titles which are at present enjoy'd by Charles of that name More rare Plants growing wild in Hertfordshire Alsine montana minima Acini facie rotundifolia An Alsines minoris alia Thal. Harcyn Small mountainous round-leaved Chick-weed resembling Stone-Basil In the mountainous parts of this County on the borders of Buckinghamshire near Chalfont S. Peter Found by Dr. Plukenet Gentianella Autumnalis Centaurii minoris foliis Park Not far from the ruins of old Verulam Park p. 407. Hieracii seu Pilosellae majoris species humilis soliis longioribus rariùs dentatis pluribus fimul flore singulari nostras On a dry bank at the edge of a wood in a lane leading from Hornhill to Reickmeersworte Dr. Plukenet Lysimachia lutea flore globoso Ger. Park Yellow Loosestrife with a globular tuft of flowers said to be found near Kings-Langley by Phyt. Brit. Mentha piperata Pepper-mint or Mint having the taste of Pepper Found in this County by Dr. Eales Militaris aizoides Ger. See the other Synonymes in Cambridgeshire Fresh-water-Souldier or Water-Aloe In the new ditches of Hatfield P. D. Ophris sive Bifolium palustre Park Marsh Twayblade On the wet grounds between Hatfield and S. Albans Park p. 505. Orchis myodes major Park major flore grandiusculo J. B. muscam referens major C. B. The greater Fly-orchis Found by Dr. Eales near Welling in Hertfordshire Helleborine latifolia flore albo clauso Broad-leav'd Bastard-Hellebore with a white close flower Found by Dr. Eales near Diggeswell in this County Sphondylium montanum minus angustifolium tenuiter laciniatum Jagged Cow-Parsnep Observed by Mr. Doody near Tring in this County Campanula Alpina minor rotundifolia C. B. About Reickmeersworth in Hertfordshire in an old Gravel-pit there observed by Dr. Plukenet TRINOBANTES NEXT the Cattieuchlani the people call'd by Caesar Trinobantes by Ptolemy and Tacitus Trinoantes inhabited those parts which have now chang'd their names and are call'd Middlesex and Essex From whence that old name should be deriv'd I cannot so much as guess unless it come from the British Tre-nant implying towns in a valley for this whole Country in a manner lyes upon a level all along the Thames But this is a conjecture I am not very fond of Though those indeed which inhabited Gallovidia in Scotland lying all low and in a vale were call'd in British Noantes and Novantes and the ancient people nam'd Nantuates liv'd about * Rheâ—â— vallâ—s Le Vault or the vale of the Rhine and had their name thence So that this conjecture is at least as probable as that of others who out of a spirit of ambition have deriv'd these Trinobantes from Troy as if one should say Troja nova or new Troy And let them enjoy their own humour for me In Caesar's time this was one of the stoutest Cities in the whole kingdom for such a body of people as liv'd under the same laws and government he always calls Civitas or a City and was govern'd by Imanuentius who was slain by Cassibelin Upon this Mandubratius his son fled for his life went over into Gaul to Caesar put himself under his protection and return'd with him into Britain At which time these our Trinobantes desir'd of Caesar by their Embassadors to espouse the cause of Mandubratius against Cassibelin and to send him into the City as Deputy-Governour This was granted them upon which they gave forty hostages and the first of all the Britains submitted themselves to Caesar This Mandubratius to observe it by the way is by Eutropius Bede and the more modern Writers call'd always Androgeus But how this difference of the name should come is a mystery to me unless it be true what I was told by one very well skill d both in the history and language of the Britains that the name of Androgeus was fixt upon him on account of his villany and treachery For the word plainly carries in its meaning something of villany and he in the book call'd Triades is reckon'd the most villanous of those three traitors to Britain because he was the first that call'd in the Romans and betray'd his Country After Mandubratius when civil wars at home drew the Romans from the care of Britain and so the kingdom was left to its own Kings and Laws it plainly appears that Cunobilin had the
to recover their old liberty the Londoners could not prevail upon Suetonius Paulinus either by cries or tears but that after he had got together assistance he would march and leave the city defenceless to the mercy of the enemy and they immediately dispatch'd those few that either by reason of their sex their old age or a natural inclination to the place had stay'd behind Nor had it suffer'd a less dismal massacre from the Franks had not the Divine Providence unexpectedly interpos'd For when C. Alectus had treacherously cut off C. Carausius C. Caraâ—sius a citizen of Menapia who depending upon the boisterousness of our sea A Panegyrick spoken to Constantius Caesar and falsly entitl'd to Maximiaâ— the difficulties of the war wherein Dioclesian was engag'd in the East and the Franks with that bold crew of sea-allies had kept back the revenues of Britain and Batavia and enjoy'd the title of Emperour as we learn from several of his Coins that are dug up for six years together when also M. Aurelius Asclepiodatus had cut off and defeated Alectus in a set battel who for three years together had usurp'd the government of Britain The Franks slain then the Franks that escap'd alive out of the engagement posted to London and were just ready to plunder the City when the Thames that always stood the Londoners a true friend luckily brought up some Roman soldiers that had been parted from the main fleet by a fog These fell upon the Barbarians in all parts of the City by which means the citizens were not only secure themselves but had the satisfaction of seeing their enemies destroy'd Then it is our Annals tell us that L. Gallus was slain near a little river which run almost thro' the midst of the City and was call'd from him Nantgall in British and in English Walbroke A name that remains in a street there under which I have heard there goes a ditch or sink to carry off the filth of the town It is not far from that great stone call'd London-stone London-Stone this I take to have been a Mile-stone such a one as they had in the Forum at Rome from which all the Journeys were begun since it stood in the middle of the City as it run out in length And hitherto I do not think London was walled round But our Historians tell us that a little after Constantine the Great Coins of Helena often found under the walls at the request of Helena his mother first wall'd it about with hew'n stone and British bricks containing within the compass of it about 3 miles whereby the City was made a square but not equilateral being longer from west to east and from south to north narrower That part of these walls which run along by the Thames The Walls by the continual beating of the river is quite wash'd away tho' Fitz-Stephens who liv'd at that time tells us there were some pieces of it to be seen in Henry 2.'s time The rest remains to this day and that part toward the north very firm for having not many years since been repair'd by one Jotcelin that was Mayor it put on as it were a new face and freshness But that toward the east and west tho' the Barons repair'd it in their Wars out of the demolish'd houses of the Jews is yet ruinous and going all to decay For the Londoners like the Lacedaemonians of old slight fenced Cities as fit for nothing but women to live in and look upon their own to be safe not by the assistance of stones but the courage of it's inhabitants These walls have 7 Gates in them The Gates for those lesser I industriously omit which as they have been repair'd have taken new names To the west there are two Ludgate so call'd either from King Luddus or as Leland thinks from Fludgate with reference to the small river below it as there was the Porta Fluentana at Rome this was lately built from the very foundation and Newgate the most beautiful of them all so nam'd from the newness of it for before they call'd it Chamberlangate and is the publick Gaol On the north-side there are four Aldersgate either from it's antiquity or as others would have it from Aldrick the Saxon Cripplegate from the adjoyning Hospital for lame people Moregate from a neighbouring bog or fen now turn'd into a field and a pleasant Walk which was first built by one 14 Francerius Falconer Lord Mayor A. D. 1414. Francerius who was Mayor in the year 1414. Bishopsgate from the Bishop this as I have been told the German Merchants of the Society of the Hanse-towns Easterlings were bound by Article both to keep in repair and in case of a siege to defend it To the east there is but one Aldgate from it's oldness or as others will have it call'd Elbegate 15 Which at this present is by the cities charge re-edify'd The common opinion is that there were two more towards the Thames besides that at the bridge Belings-gate now a * Cothon Wharf to receive ships and Dourgate i.e. the water-gate call'd commonly Dow-gate At each end of the wall that runs along by the river there were strong Forts the one towards the east remains to this day call'd commonly the Tower The Tower of London and in British from it's whiteness Bringwin and Tour-gwin Which is indeed a stately Tower surrounded with strong walls mounting up with turrets guarded with a rampire and broad ditches together with the accommodation of a noble Armory and other houses so that it self looks like a town and a conjecture that the two Castles which Fitz-Stephens has told us were at the west-end of the city may have been turn'd into this one would be plausible enough At the west-end of the city there was another Fort where the little river Fleet from whence our Fleetstreet now of little value but formerly as I have read in the Parliament-Records navigable empties it self into the Thames Fitz-Stephens call'd this the Palatine-Tower and tradition affirms it to have been burnt down in William the Conquerour's time Out of the ruins whereof was built a great part of Paul's Church as also a Monastery for Dominican Friers from whom we call the place Black-Friers founded in the very area or plot of it by Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury from whence you may easily take an estimate of it's largeness And yet in Henry 2.'s time there were in the same place as Gervasius Tilburiensis in his Otia Imperialia affirms two Pergama or Castles with walls and rampires one whereof belong'd hereditarily to Bainard the other to the Barons of Montfitchett But there 's nothing now to be seen of them tho' some are inclin'd to think that Penbroch-house was a part of them which we call Bainard's-castle from a Nobleman one William Bainard Lord of Dunmow that was formerly owner of it whose successors the Fitz-Walters were hereditary ‖
Antesignani Standard-bearers of London 16 And amongst them Robert Fitz-Walter had licence of King Edw. 1. to sell the site of Bainard-Castle to the said Archbishop Robert The Bishopâ—ick Nor was London only wall'd round at that time but also upon the confirmation Christianity receiv'd from that best of Emperours the Flamine was remov'd and a Bishop put in his place For 't is plain that the Bishop of London was at the Council of Arles held in the year 314. under Constantine the Great since we find by the first Tome of the Councils See Baronius concerning this Council Out of the Province of Britain Restitutus Bishop of the City of London whom with his successors some affirm to have had his residence at St. Peter's in Cornhill From that time London flourish'd so exceedingly London caâ—â—'d Augâ—sta as that by degrees it was call'd Augusta and had that honourable title under Valentinian the Emperour For thus Ammianus Marcellinus in his 27th Book And going to London an ancient town which posterity call'd Augusta And in his 28th Book Going from Augusta which the Ancients call'd London Upon which account The Mint when a Mint-Office was settled here in Constantine the Great 's time for we read in those Medals that he made in memory of Constantius his father as well as in others P. LON. S. i.e. Pecunia Londini signata or money coin'd at London then he that was Governour here under the Count of the * Sacrarum largitiorum Augusta a most honourable name Imperial Largesses we find call'd by the Notitia Provost of the Treasures of the Augustenses in Britain This Augusta was a name of the greatest honour and full of Majesty For the Builders or Repairers of Cities out of either hopes or wishes that they might be powerful flourishing and great us'd to give them auspicious names But amongst all the rest there was none so magnificent none so auspicious as Augusta For that best and greatest of Emperours Octavianus took the name of Augustus not without the judgment of the most Learned He was surnam'd Augustus says Dio to imply that he was above the common reach of men Lib. 54. For those things which best deserve honour and are most sacred are call'd Augusta Nor had London this name and this particular mark of honour without the consent of the Roman Emperours Which custom of taking no name without a particular Licence Virgil hints to in that verse of his Urbem appellabant permisso nomine Acestam The city they with leave Acesta call'd But as time has destroy'd this most honourable name so has it confirm'd that more ancient one of London While it had that other name it was very near being sack'd by a seditious gang of Robbers but Theodosius father to Theodosius the Emperour falling upon them while they were laden with the spoils routed them and as Marcellinus has it with great joy and in a triumphant manner enter'd the City that had just before been overwhelm'd in miseries Marching from thence he so effectually freed Britain by his singular courage from those calamities wherein 't was involv'd that as Symmachus tells us †Consecrarunt Britannicum Ducem inter prisca nomina London in the Saxons hands the Romans honour'd this British General with a Statue on horse-back amongst their ancient heroes Not long after when the Roman Government in Britain expir'd by a publick calamity of the whole Island it fell under the power of the Saxons but by what methods does not appear from History I fancy that Vortigern when a captive gave it Hengist the Saxon for his ransom for it belong'd to the East-Saxons and Authors tell us that Vortigern gave Hengist that Country upon this account At which time the Church suffer'd whatever could be inflicted it 's Pastors martyr'd or banish'd the flocks driven away and when all the wealth sacred and profane was swallow'd up in plunders and rapines Theonus the last Bishop of London that was a Britain hid the Reliques of the Saints as my Author says to preserve their memory and not out of any superstition Reliques hid to preserve the memory of persoâ—s But tho' the disturbances of the Saxon age were such that one might truly say Mars himself had brandish'd his weapons yet was London as Bede tells us a Mart-town of great traffick and commerce both by sea and land But afterwards when a gentle gale of peace began to fan and inspirit this weary Island and the Saxons turn'd Christian it rose again with a new and greater lustre For Aethelbert King of Kent under whom Sebert was a ‖ Quasi beneficiarius sort of petty Prince purely by permission in those parts he built here a Church dedicated to S. Paul S. Pauls which by improvements at several times is grown to an exceeding large and magnificent building and the revenues of it are so considerable as to maintain a Bishop Dean Praecentor Chancellour Treasurer 5 Archdeacons 30 Prebendaries and others The east-part of this Church which seems to be newer and is curiously wrought having a vault and a most beautiful porch call'd also S. Faith's Church was re-edify'd by Bp. Maurice about 1036. out of the ruins of that Palatine Tower above-mention'd having been before that lamentably burnt down Of which Malmesbury It has such a majestick beauty as to deserve a name amongst the buildings of greatest note So wide is the vault so capacious * Superior aedes the body of the Church that one would think it might contain the greatest Congregation imaginable And thus Maurice by satisfying his extravagant humour entail'd the charge of this great work upon posterity And afterward when Richard his successor had allow'd the entire revenues of his Bishoprick to the building of this Cathedral finding other ways to maintain himself and his family he seem'd to have done nothing towards it thus he bestow'd all he had upon it and to little purpose The west part of it as also ‖ Transeptum the Cross-Ile is spacious with lofty large pillars and a most beautiful roof Where these 4 parts do as it were cut one another there arises a large and lofty tower upon which stood a spire cover'd over with lead and of a prodigious height for from the ground it was 534 foot but in the year 1087. it was burnt with lightning not without great damage to the city and tho' built again yet very lately when we were boys suffering the same fate once more it is not yet re-edify'd I will subjoyn the description of this magnificent structure out of an Author of pretty good Antiquity which you may read or let alone as you please The length of Paul's Church is 690 foot the breadth 130 foot the height of the western-roof from the area 102 foot the height of the roof of the new building from the area 88 foot the height of the stone-work belonging to * Campanile the Belfrey from the ground
build an Hospital in the place of it for the maintenance of wounded and superannuated Soldiers which being begun by him was carried on by his Successor King James the second and is finisht and furnisht with all sorts of Necessaries and Conveniencies by their present Majesties 'T is indeed a Structure well suiting the munificence of its Royal Founders being more nobly accommodated with all sorts of Offices and adorned with more spatious walks and gardens perhaps than any Nobleman's house or College in the Kingdom h Hence our Author brings us to London London the capital city of England where he first give us an account of it's various names and etymologies of them to which I shall only add * Chron. Sax. that it was also call'd by the Saxons Lundone Lundune and Lundenburh and has another etymology given us of it's Latin name by the judicious Mr. Somner †Glossar ad X. Script who derives it from the British Llawn plenus frequens and dyn homo or din the same with dinas urbs civitas either of which joyned wit Llawn will signifie a populous place as London has always been i As to the original of the City tho' we have no certain account City buiâ—â— it not being clear that there was any such place in Caesar's time and yet a great town of trade in Nero's as Tacitus witnesses doubtless it must be founded within that little compass of time between those Emperours and in all probability as the learned ‖ Orig. Bâ—â—t p. 43. Bishop of Worcester thinks about the time of Claudius and inhabited by the Romans and Britains together being a trading tho' not a military Colony as Camulodunum was from the very beginning But it flourish'd not long for in the very next reign of the Emperour Nero upon that grand revolt of the Iceni and Trinobantes under Boodicia his Lieutenant Suetonius Paulinus judging it not tenible and taking away from it to his aid the choicest of the Citizens it was quickly sack'd by the Britains and the remaining inhabitants barbarously massacred without any regard to sex or age So that I cannot so fully agree with our Author when he asserts that this has been a City vix unquam magnis calamitatibus conflictata Suffer'd several Calamities that scarce ever engag'd any great calamity For not only in it's infancy but when grown to a greater bulk in the year 839. in the reign of King Ethelwolf it was surprized by the Danes and the Citizens inhumanly butcher'd Quickly after in the year 851. it was again sack'd by the Danes the army of Beorhtwulf King of Mercia who came to it's defence being totally routed Again in the year 872. in the days of King Ethelred the Danes took it and winter'd in it And so again An. 1013. after a great fight with Swane King of Denmark who besieg'd it the Citizens were at last forc'd to admit him and his army to winter in it and to pay him such tribute as he demanded Lastly in the year 1016. it was twice besieg'd and so much streighten'd by Canutus that they were necessitated in fine to receive him into the city give him winter quarters and to buy their peace with a sum of money * Châ—â—â— Sax. 〈…〉 Anâ—â— Not to mention the grievous insults that were made upon it of later years by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw temp Rich. 2. An. 1381. of Jack Cade otherwise call'd by his followers John Mend-all An. 1450. temp Hen. 6. and the bastard Falconbridge temp Edw. 4. An. 1481. Nor has it suffer'd only by the sword it being much wasted by fire as ‖ Polyâ— Lib. â— Ranulph Higden tells us An. 983. And in the year 1077 in the days of William the Conquerour it was also consumed by so great a fire as had not happen'd to it as the Saxon Chronicle expresses it since it's foundation †Châ—â—â— Sax p â— Quickly after again in the same King's reign An. 1086. the Church of S. Paul was quite burnt down with the greatest and most splendid part of the City ‖ Stow's Survey p. 2â—â— Again in the year 1135. the first of King Stephen by a fire which began in Cannon-street near London-stone the City was consumed from thence to the Eastward as far as Aldgate to S. Paul's Church Westward and to the South as far as Southwark the bridge then of timber being quite burnt down It was afterwards rebuilt of stone and houses set upon it but within four years after it was finish'd An. 1212. upon occasion of a fire in Southwark whilst a multitude of people were passing the bridge either to extinguish or to gaze at it on a sudden the houses on the North end of the bridge by a strong South wind were set on fire So that the people thronging betwixt two fires could now expect no help but from the vessels in the river which came in great numbers to their assistance but the multitude so unadvisedly rush'd into them that they were quickly overset and the people drown'd and betwixt fire and water there perish'd above 3000 persons †G alt 〈…〉 Lâ— Dâ—n◠〈…〉 S. Also Feb. 13. An. 1033. a third part at least of the same bridge was again burnt down Sâ—â—w's 〈◊〉 p. ◠〈◊〉 of Lâ—â—don But the most dreadful fire that ever befell this great City was that which happen'd within our own memory viz. on Sunday Sept. 2. An. 1666. which beginning in Pudding-lane in three days time being driven by a fresh easterly wind consumed no less than 89 Churches the Guild-hall Hospitals Schools and Libraries 15 entire Wards of the 26 leaving 8 of the rest half burnt and miserably shatter'd In this compass were 400 streets and in them 13200 houses which cover'd no less than 436 acres of ground It destroying all on the Thames-side from that of Allhallows Barkin to the Temple Church and all along from the North-east walls of the City to Holburn-bridge and when all artificial helps fail'd it languish'd and went out of it self tho' amongst as combustible buildings as any it had burnt before In memory whereof near the place where the fire began is erected a magnificent Pillar somewhat resembling except the Imagery those of Trajan and Antonine at Rome of 202 foot high which equals exactly the distance of the Pillar from the place where the fire first began k In which Conflagration the magnificent Church of St. Pauls S Paâ—l's did not escape the foundation whereof was laid so very large that as our Author notes tho' the whole revenues of the Bishoprick for 20 years together were given toward it by Richard Beaumes successor to Mauricius the first founder yet they seemed so little to advance the work that his successors and all others despaired of its ever being finish'd at least by private hands Wherefore they were forced to apply themselves to the bounty of all good people throughout the Realms both of England and Ireland as appears by
so naturally arising from the use of the Grant I cannot imagine there should be any thing more in 't * Ibid. p. 368. But though this do not much countenance the opinion yet ought it not to be altogether rejected as receiving some confirmation from the pieces of Antiquity dugg up hereabouts For in making the foundation of this new Fabrick among other things they cast up the teeth of Boars and of other beasts a piece of a Buck's horn with several fragments of Vessels which by the figure one would imagine to have been us'd in their Sacrifices A great number of these with an entire Urn a Lamp and other things belonging to the Roman Funerals and dugg up in Goodman's-fields are in the hands of my ingenious Friend Henry Worsley of Lincolns-Inn Esq Persons buried in this Church m To conclude the History of St. Paul's our Author gives us a breviat of the royal and noble persons interr'd in it to whom we must needs add Robert Braybrook Bishop of London and sometime Lord high Chancellor of England Dugd. Hist of St. Pauls who dy'd Aug. 27. Anno 1404. 5 Hen. 4. above 260 years before the ruin of this Church in 1666. yet upon pulling down the stone-work and removal of the rubbish his body was found entire the skin still inclosing the bones and fleshy parts only in the breast there was a hole made I suppose by accident through which one might either view or handle his lungs The skin was of a deep tawny colour and the body very light as appear'd to all who came to view and handle it it being expos'd in a Coffin for some time without any thing of an ill smell and then reinterr'd To which Mr. * Survey p. 227. Stow gives us a parallel History in this very City in the corps of one Alice Hackney wife of Richard Hackney Sheriff of London 15 Edw. 2. An. 1321. whose body being dugg up by the Labourers in April Anno 1497. as they were working the foundations of a Wall in the Parish Church of St. Mary-hill was found with her skin whole her bones all in their natural posture and the joynts of her arms pliable but yielding an ill smell after it had been kept four days above ground In which two last points this though equally entire differ'd from the former whence 't is very evident they had in ancient times more ways than one of preserving the dead from corruption as well as now Increase of London n And lastly to conclude his account of the whole City he gives us relations out of Malmsbury and Fitz Stephen of its excess in trade and magnitude at the time of the Conquest and increase in both since the Subuâ—bs in his time having extended themselves in one continued range of building as far as Westminster To which let me add its further advancement in our days which hath been so very great that as the ingenious †Politic Essâ—y Sir William Petty hath probably computed it from the number of the burials and houses in each City the City of London in Anno 1683. or thereabout was as big as Paris and Rouen the two best Cities of the French Monarchy put together and that now above 7 parts of 15 having been new built since the great fire and the number of inhabitants increased near one half the total amounting to near 700000 it is become equal to Paris and Rome put together o In the Suburbs he takes notice of the most eminent buildings and amongst them of the Rolls Rolls in Chancery-lane which was founded by King Hen. 3. Anno 1233. in the 17th of his reign in the place of a Jews house to him forfeited for the support of converted Jews and therefore stiled Domus Conversorum where all such Jews and Infidels converted to the Christian Faith had sufficient maintenance allowed them were instructed in the Doctrine of Christ and liv d under a Christian Governour till Anno 1290. when all the Jews were banisht out of the realm by which means the number of Converts necessarily decaying and the house becoming as it were depopulated it was granted to William Burstall Custos Rotulorum by Letters Patents bearing date 51 Edw. 3. for keeping of the Rolls which Grant was ratified in Parliament 1 Rich. 2. and by other Letters Patents 6 Rich. 2. Notwithstanding which Grant and Ratifications all converted Jews have ever since been allowed and will be hereafter as often as any such shall appear one penny half penny per diem toward their maintenance which allowance was paid to Peter Samuel and John Maza two converted Jews Anno 1685. 2 Jac. 2. as appears by the Master of the Rolls account in the Hannaper and a Constat out of the Pell-office both of the date above-mention'd who were the two last I can find that ever enjoy'd this benefit * MS. in Capel Roâ— p In the Suburbs lying along the Thames-side betwixt Temple-barr and Westminster were many other houses as well of the spiritual as temporal Nobility beside those mention'd by our Author For the Bishops of Exeter Bath and Wells Salisbury Lichfield and Coventry Worcester Norwich Landaff Carlisle Durham and the Archbishop of York had all anciently houses here and so had the Dukes of Buckingham and the Earls of Exeter Worcester and Northumberland as the Dukes of Somerset and Beaufort the Earls of Bedford Salisbury and Rivers have all still houses remaining here q From the Suburbs our Author proceeds next to the Abbey-Church of Westminster Westminster and the magnificent Chapel of King Henry 7. which he erected in the place of the Chapel of our Lady built before with the Church by King Henry 3. and a Tavern near adjoyning both which being pull'd down he laid the foundation of this Jan. 24. 1502 fetching most of the stone from Huddlestone quarrey in Yorkshire The whole charge of it amounted to no less than 14000 pound sterling His own Tomb of brass is here richly gilt made and finisht Anno 1519. by one Peter a painter of Florence for which he had paid him for materials and workmanship a thousand pound sterling by the King's Executors †Stow's Survey p. 499. The School The School as it is famous for the great service it has done both to Church and State so is it more particularly memorable for the relation our Author had once to it and for Dr. Busbey its present Master whose worth and learning has these many years supported its reputation To the latter of these it is beholding for its Museum and for several improvements both in beauty and convenience as is the Master's house wherein he has all along liv'd for its enlargement The same person has built his Prebend's house there anew has pav'd the Quire of Westminster-Abbey with white and black marble stone and added a building to the King's Hospital of Green-coats in Turtil-fields In Buckinghamshire he hath rais'd from the ground the Church of
name to this Hundred now the Estate of the Lords Rich. It was formerly possess'd by a very ancient family of the same name whose estate fell at last to Butler Earl of Ormond and Wiltshire and from him to 4 Sir Thomas Thomas Bollen created by Hen. 8. first Visc Rochford and afterwards E. of Wiltshire from whom the excellent Q Elizabeth and the Barons Hunsdon are descended 5 Here I have heard much speech of a Lawless-Court as they called it holden in a strange manner about Michaelmas in the first peep of the day upon the first cock-crowing in a silent sort yet with shrew'd sines eftsoons redoubled if not answered which servile attendance they say was imposed upon certain Tenants thereabout for conspiring there at such unseasonable time to raise a commotion But I leave this knowing neither the original nor the certain form thereof Only I heard certain obscure barbarous Rhimes of it Curia de Domino Rege tenetur sine Lege Ante ortum solis luceat nisi polus c. not worth remembring On the Thames-side toward the East at farther distance from the shore the places best worth our notice are those that follow in their order And first Havering Havering an ancient retiring place of the Kings called so from a ring given there by a stranger to Edward the Confessor as a present from St. John Horn-Church called formerly Horn-Monastery a pair of huge leaden horns are now fasten'd to the east-side of the Church Rumford Rumford famous for the Hog market and a building adjoyning called Giddy-Hall which belong'd to 6 Sir Thomas Thomas Coke sometime Lord Mayor of London See the Annals 1467. whose great riches expos'd him to extraordinary dangers For being in the worst of times tho' innocent accus'd of High treason altho' thro' the integrity of Judge Markham he was acquitted yet had he a severe fine imposed on him to the value of very near his whole estate Brentwood 7 Called by thâ— Normans Bois arse in the same sense and by that name King Stephen granted a Market and a Fair there to the Abbot of St. Osith and many â—â—ars after Isabel Countess of Bedford Daughter to King Edward 3. built a Chapel to the memory of S. Thomas of Canterbury for the ease of the inhabitants Brentwood and Engerston formerly Engheaston noted only for their Inns and Markets Here I am at a stand and in doubt whether I had best take this opportunity to ease my self of a conjecture which I have sometime since conceiv'd Since the City Caesaromagus was certainly seated in these parts and that no doubt Caesaromagus call'd in the Itinerary-table Barâ—magus a place of eminent note in the time of the Romans as the very name imports signifying as much as the City of Caesar in the same manner as Drusomagus the city of Drusus Which too seems probably to have been built in honour of Augustâ—us For Suetonius informs us that all the Princes who were the friends and allies of that Emperour built cities in his honour in the names of which the word Caesar compos'd a part What then if I should fix Caesaromagus near this Brentwood Could the reader forbear to smile at my fancy Indeed my opinion can receive very little strength from the distances in the Itinerary since the numbers are there so strangely corrupted Yet those from Colonia and Canonium agree very well to this place Nor can I draw an argument from the situation of it on a Roman way since we can find no footsteps of any such in this County Nor do we meet with the least shadow of the word Caesaromagus unless a very small affinity in the name of the Hundred formerly called Ceasford now Cheafford Hundred And indeed as the names of some ancient places are very little alter'd others quite changed there are others so mangled that only one syllable or two of the former denomination remains Thus Caesar-augusta in Spain is now corrupted into Sarogosa Caesaromagus in Gaul hath entirely lost it's old name and assum'd that of Beauvois and Caesarea in Normandy hath scarce one entire syllable left it in the present name Cherburg But why do I insist on these trifles If Caesaromagus be not in this neighbourhood let others seek for it elsewhere For my part the discovery is far beyond my reach tho' I have used all the assistance that my eyes and ears could afford me d Hard by I saw South-Okindon South Okindon heretofore the seat of the Bruins Bruin a family of very great repute in these parts From which by two co-heiresses that were several times married Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk the Tirels Berniers Harlestons Heveninghams and others are descended The male issue of this family are still remaining in Hamshire And Thorndon Thorndon where Sir John Petre Kt. 8 Created by our Sovereign King James c. now Baron Petre Baron Petre. of Writtle hath built a fair seat It was formerly the habitation of the noble family of the Fitz-Lewis's the last of which if we believe common report upon the casual burning of the house at the solemnity of his wedding was miserably consum'd in the flames Then Burghsted by contraction Bursted i.e. the place of a Burgh a denomination given to many places by our ancestors Here I once thought was the Caesaromagus But whatever it were formerly at present 't is only a small village inhabited by husband-men near Billiricay a pretty large market-town Hard by is Ashdown Ashdown formerly Assandun i.e. as Marian interprets it The Mount of Asses famous for a desperate battel in which Edmund Ironside at first put the Danes to the rout but afterwards thro' treachery lost the day together with a great number of his Nobility In memory of which we read that Canutus the Dane built here a Church when repenting of all the blood he had occasion'd to be spilt he erected some kind of religious structure wherever he had engaged in fight Not far from hence lies Raleigh a pretty little town 't is call'd in Domesday-book Raganeia which makes mention of a Castle built here by one Sweno Where too we read Arpennâ—s Wine There is one park six Arpennies of vineyards which if it takes well yields twenty Modii of wine which I here take notice of both for the French word Arpennis and for the wine made in this Island Ralph de Diceto This Sweno was a very eminent man for name and honour the son of Robert Fitz-Wimaerc Family of Essex and father of Robert de Essex to whom was born 9 Sir Robert de Essex Henry de Essex b See in Flintshire under the title Coleshul Standard-bearer to the King by right of inheritance who in a battel against the Welsh threw away his courage and standard together and being accus'd of High treason c By Robert de Montfort overcome in single combat and thrown into prison
lost themselves though the very name points it out and discovers it plainly to them be they never so blind Many have sought for it in the west of England as that notable man who thought he carry'd the Sun of Antiquities about with him others in Scotland others have with Leland affirm'd Colchester to be the place when all this while the name is very little alter'd and instead of Camalodunum 't is call'd at present Maldon Maldon in Saxon Maledune and Mealdune the greatest part of the word still remaining whole and entire Nor are the plain reliques of the name the only argument for this assertion but the distance too from the Mona of Pliny and the very situation in an ancient Itinerary-table are as plain proofs as any in the world I scarce dare be so bold as conjecture that this place was so call'd from the God Camulus The Gâ—d Camuâ—us yet is there some grounds for such a fancy from Mars's being worship'd under this name and from an old stone at Rome in the house of the Collotians and from altars that have been found with this inscription CAMVLO DEO SANCTO ET FORTISSIMO And upon an old Coin of Cunobeline whose chief seat this was as I have before observ'd I have seen a figure with a helmet and a spear which might probably be design'd for that of Mars with the Letters CAMV But because at present that piece is not in my hands I shall present you here with some others of the same Cunobeline which seem to relate to this Camalodunm He govern'd the Eastern part of the Island in the reign of Tiberius and is suppos'd to have had 3 sons Admimus Togodumnus and Catacratus Admimus being expell'd the kingdom by his father and receiv'd by C. Caligula accompanied him into Batavia on that ridiculous expedition to put a terrour upon Britain As for Togodumnus Aulus Plautius overcame and kill'd him in a fair battel and the same person having put Catacratus to the rout See the Romans in britain as I have mention'd in another place carried him to Rome to grace his Ovation or lesser sort of Triumph This is that Plautius who by the advice of one Caius Bericus a British exile pretences for war continually offering themselves first after Julius Caesar made an attempt on Britain under the Emperour Claudius Claudius in Britain whom Claudius himself soon follow'd with the whole force of the Empire †Dio Câ—ss l. 60. See afterwards under the title Nesse and abundance of Elephants the bones of which being casually found have given rise to several groundless stories Passing the Thames he put the Britains to flight that stood to receive him on the other side and easily possess'd himself of this Camalodunum For which atchievements his son being honour'd with the title of Britannicus and himself often saluted Emperour six months after his setting out he return'd to Rome But I have spoke of these matters more fully in another place and am not willing to trouble the Reader with a repetition of them here Camalodunum being thus reduced under the subjection of the Romans Claudius placed here a stout band of Veterans for a Colony and coined money in memory of this action with the following Inscription Colonia Camalodunum COL CAMALODVN From which it appears that this happen'd in the twelfth year of that Emperour which falls in with the year of Christ 52. In an old Inscription which you have here set down 't is call'd COLONIA VICTRICENSIS from the Veterans of the fourteenth Legion which had the name of Gemina Martia Victrix whom Tacitus calls the Conquerours of Britain CN MVNATIVS M.F. PAL AVRELIVS BASSVS PROC AVG. PRAEF FABR. PRAEF COH III. SAGITTARIORVM PRAEF COH ITERVM II. ASTVRVM CENSITOR CIVIVM ROMANORVM COLONIAE VICTRICENSIS QVAE EST IN BRITANNIA CAMALODVNI c. Now a Colony if the knowledge of this be material is a body of men brought into a fortify'd place Servius and invested with the right of possession These for the most part were Veterans both that provision might be made for them and that they might defend the place against rebels and inure the friends and allies of the Romans to the laws and customs of the Empire These Colonies were in great honour and esteem being as it were Tacitus â—f this Câ— images and representations of the city of Rome They had their Magistrates too superiour and inferiour of which since others have given us an account already 't would be unnecessary for me to spend my time in describing them In this Roman Colony the first in Britain was a temple erected to the honour of Claudius Tacitus calls it The Aâ— and Temp e to Claudâ—â—s The altar of eternal dominion Seneca too takes notice of it in his scoffing Satyr on the death and deification of that Emperour 'T is no great matter saith he that Claudius hath a temple in Britain which the barbarous people now worship and adore as a deity For there were Priests chosen to his honour namely the Sodales Augustales who under pretence of religion juggl'd the poor Britains out of their fortunes and estates But after ten years space the course of things changed and this Colony was utterly ruined For when the Veterans that were brought into this country after it had been subdued exercis'd too cruel a tyranny over their poor subjects the sparks of the war which had lay conceal'd for so long a time broke out into a more violent flame than ever The Britains under the conduct of Bunduica or Boodicia plunder'd and burnt this Colony that was secur'd with no fortifications and in two days space storm'd the temple where the Soldiers had got together to defend themselves routed the ninth Legion that was coming to their assistance â—â—â—avs â—0000 and in a word kill'd 70000 Romans and Allies This dreadful slaughter was foretold by several prodigies Prodigies The image of Victory in this city turn'd it self round and fell to the earth In the Court were heard strange cries and the Theaters sounded with howling and groans houses were seen under the water of Thames and the neighbouring bay overflow'd with blood This day we since call Blackwater though I know not for what reason as Ptolemy calls it Idumanus â—â—â—manus which seems in some manner to denote the same Ydu in British signifying black Yet the Romans rais'd it again out of its ashes for Antoninus makes mention of it a long time after this During the Saxon government we scarce find it nam'd only Marian informs us that Edward son to King Alfred restor'd Malduna which had been ruin'd by the Danish fury and fortified it with a castle William the Conquerour as we read in Domesday had in it 180 houses held by the Burgesses and 18 Mansions laid waste At present for largeness and store of inhabitants it is justly reckon'd among the chief towns of this County and is call'd by the Lawyers the
an honourable series of Earls and Lords are descended From hence passing through Earls-Coln so call'd by reason of its being the burying place of the Earls of Oxford where Aubry de Vere 24 In the time of King Henry 1. founded a small Convent and took himself a religious habit it goes on to Colonia which Antoninus mentions and makes a different place from Colonia Camaloduni Whether this Colonia Colonia be deriv'd from the same word signifying a Colony or from the river Coln let Apollo determine k For my part I am more inclin'd to the latter opinion since I have seen several little towns that adding the name of Coln to that of their respective Lords are call'd Earls-Coln Wakes-Coln Coln-Engain Whites-Coln This city the Britains call'd Caer Colin the Saxons Coleceaster and we Colchester Colchester 'T is a beautiful populous and pleasant place extended on the brow of an hill from West to East surrounded with walls and adorn'd with 15 Parish-Churches besides that large Church which Eudo Sewer to Henry 1. built in honour of St. John This is now turn'd into a private house In the middle of the city stands a castle ready to fall with age Historians report it to have been built by Edward son to Aelfred when he repair'd Colchester which had suffer'd very much in the wars 25 And long after Maud the Empress gave it to Alberic Vere to assure him to her party But that this city flourish'd even more than ever in the time of the Romans abundance of their coins found every day fully evince l Though I have met with none ancienter than Gallienus the greatest part of them being those of the Tetrici Victorini Posthumus C. Carausius Helena mother to Constantine the Great Constantine and the succeeding Emperours The inhabitants glory that Fl. Julia Helena mother to Constantine the Great was born in this city daughter to King Coelus And in memory of the Cross which she found they bear for their arms a Cross enragled between four Crowns Of her and of this city thus sings Alexander Necham though with no very lucky vein Effulsit sydus vitae Colcestria lumen Septem Climatibus lux radiosa dedit Sydus erat Constantinus decus imperiale Serviit huic flexo poplite Roma potens A star of life in Colchester appear'd Whose glorious beams of light seven climats shar'd Illustrious Constantine the world's great Lord Whom prostrate Rome with awful fear ador'd The truth is she was a woman of a most holy life and of an unweary'd constancy in propagating the Christian Faith whence in old inscriptions she is often stiled PIISSIMA and VENERA-BILIS AUGUSTA Between this city where the Coln emptieth it self into the sea lyes the the little town of St. Osith the old name was * Cice by the Saxon Annals Chic Chic the present it receiv'd from the holy Virgin St. Osith S. Osithe who devoting her self entirely to God's service and being stabbed here by the Danish pyrates was by our ancestors esteem'd a Saint In memory of her Richard Bishop of London about the year 1120. built a Religious house and fill'd it with Canons Regular This is now the chief seat of the right honourable the Lords Darcy Barons Darcy of Chich. stiled Lords of Chich who were advanc'd to the dignity of Barons by Edward the sixth 26 When he created Sir Thomas Darcy his Councellor Vice-Chamberlain and Captain of the Guard Lord Darcy of Chich. m From hence is stretch'd out a vast shore as far as Nesse-point Nesse in Saxon Eadulphesness What was once found hereabouts let Ralph de Coggeshal tell you who wrote about 350 years ago In the time of King Richard on the sea-shore in a village call'd Edulfinesse were found two teeth of a Giant Giants of such a prodigious bigness that two hundred of such teeth as men ordinarily have now might be cut out of one of them These I saw at Cogshal and handled with great admiration Another I know not what Gigantick relique was found near this place in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth by the noble R. Candish I can't deny but there have been men of such extraordinary bulk and strength as to be accounted prodigies whom God as St. Austin tells us therefore produc'd in the world to show that comeliness of body and greatness of stature were therefore not to be esteem'd among the good things because they were common to the impious with the virtuous and religious Yet we may justly suspect what Suetonius hath observ'd that the vast joints and members of great beasts dugg up in other countries and in this kingdom too have been commonly term'd and reputed the bones of Giants Bones of Giants n From this point the shore runs back a little to the Stour's mouth famous for a sea-fight between the Saxons and Danes in the year 884. Here is now seated Harewich Harewiâ—â— a very safe harbour as the name imports for the Saxon Hare-Æ¿ic signifies as much as an haven or bay where an army may lye 27 The town is not great but well peopled fortified by art and nature and made more fencible by Queen Elizabeth The salt-water so creeketh about it that it almost insulateth it but thereby maketh the springs so brackish that there is a defect of fresh water whcih they fetch-some good way off o This is that Stour which parteth Essex and Suffolk and on this side runs by no memorable place only some fat pastures But not far from the spring of this river stands Bumsted which the family of the Helions held by Barony 28 From whom the Wentworths of Gosfield are descended And in those parts of this county which are opposite to Cambridgeshire lyes Barklow Barkl w. Old Baâ—rows famous for four great Barrows such as our ancestors us'd to raise to the memory of those Soldiers that were kill'd in battel and their bodies lost But when two others in the same place were dugg up and search'd we are told that they found three stone Coffins and abundance of pieces of bones in them The Country-people have a tradition that they were rais'd after a battel with the Danes And the †Wall-wort or Dwarf-elder that grows hereabouts in great plenty and bears red berries they call by no other name but Dane's-blood Danes-blood denoting the multitude of Danes that were there slain Lower among the fields that look pleasantly with Saffron is seated g Call'd formerly Walden-burg and afterwards Cheping-Walden Walden Waldâ—â— a market-town call'd thence Saffron-Walden 29 Incorporated by King Edward 6. with a Treasurer two Chamberlains and the Commonalty It was famous formerly for the castle of the Magnavils which now scarce appears at all and for an adjacent little Monastery 30 Founded in a place very commodious in the year 1136. Commonly call'd Maâ—dâ—villeâ— in which the Magnavils founders of it lye interr'd Jeffrey de Magnaville was
shillings 4 Prebendaries 6 Sextaries of honey and ‖ Ursum sex canes ad ursum a bear with 6 dogs to bait him Now it pays 70 pound by weight to the King a hundred shillings * De Gersuma as a fine to the Queen with an ambling Palfrey 20 pound †Blancas blank also to the Earl and 20 shillings fine by tale In the reign of William 1. this was the seat of a Civil war which Ralph Earl of the East-Angles rais'd against that King For after he had escap'd by flight his wife along with the Armorican Britains endur'd a close siege till for want of provisions she was forc'd to get off and quit her Country And at that time the City was so impair'd that as appears by the same Domesday there were scarce 560 Burgesses left in it Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury mentions this surrender in a Letter to King William in these words Your kingdom is purg'd from the infection of the Britains or Armoricans the Castle of Norwich is surrender'd and the Britains that were in it and had lands here in England upon granting them life and limb have took an oath to depart your Dominions within forty days and never to return more without your special licence From that time forward it began by little and little to recover it self out of this deluge of miseries and Bishop Herbert whose reputation had suffer'd much by Simoniacal practices translated the Episcopal See from Thetford hither He built a very beautiful Cathedral on the east and lower part of the City in a place till then call'd Cow-holme near the Castle the first stone whereof in the reign of William Rufus and year of our Lord 1096. he himself laid with this Inscription DOMINUS HERBERTUS POSUIT PRIMUM LAPIDEM IN NOMINE PATRIS FILII ET SPIRITUS SANCTI AMEN That is Lord Bishop Herbert laid the first stone in the name of the Father the Son and Holy Ghost Amen Afterwards he procur'd a Licence from Pope Paschal to confirm and establish it the mother-Church of Norfolk and Suffolk and endow'd it liberally with lands sufficient for the maintenance of 60 Monks who had their neat and curious Cloysters But these were remov'd and a Dean six Prebendaries with others put in their places After the Church thus built and an Episcopal See plac'd here it became a Town as Malmsbury has it famous for Merchandise and number of Inhabitants And in the 17th of King Stephen as we read in some ancient Records Norwich was built anew was a populous town and made a Corporation That King Stephen also granted it to his Son William for an Appennage as they call it or inheritance is very evident from the publick Records But Henry the second took it from him and held it himself notwithstanding Henry his Son the Junior-King as they call'd him when he endeavour'd after the Crown had promis'd it in large terms to Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk whom he had drawn over to his party Bigod however adhering to the young King who could not over-rule his eager hopes of the Crown with Justice and Equity miserably harrass'd this City and is thought to have rebuilt that Castle on the high hill near the Cathedral within the City encompast with a trench of such vast depth that in those times it was lookt upon as impregnable But Lewis of France under whom the rebellious Barons had joyn'd against King John easily took it by siege The reason why I fancy Bigod repair'd the Castle is because I observ'd Lions saliant cut in a stone in the same manner as the Bigods formerly us'd them in their seals of whom tho' there was one that made use of a Cross And this was the condition of Norwich in its infancy But in the next age it increas'd mightily and abounded with wealthy Citizens who by a humble petition in Parliament desir'd liberty of Edward the first to wall their City round and afterwards accordingly did it to the great strength and ornament of it †They obtain'd of King Richard the second that the Worsted made there might be transported In the year 1403. they obtain'd leave of Henry the fourth instead of Bailiffs which they had before to elect a Mayor yearly and in the very heart of the City near the market-place built a most beautiful Town-house which on the set days are furnisht with all manner of provisions 'T is partly indebted to the Netherlands who after they could no longer endure the tyranny of the Duke of ‖ Albani Alva nor the bloody Inquisition setting up flockt hither in great numbers and first brought in the manufacture of * Of Saies Baies and other Stuffs now much in use light worsted stuffs ‖ Levidenâ—ium quorundam pannorum But why am I so long upon these matters when they are all with the History of the Bishops the succession of their Magistrates and the fury of that villanous rebel Kett against this City very elegantly describ'd by Alexander Nevil a person eminent both for birth and learning I will only add that in the year 1583. the Citizens by the help of * Instrumento Hydragogico an artificial Instrument convey'd water through pipes into the highest part of the City And here I could summon both Polydore Virgil the Italian and Angelus Capellus the Frenchman to answer before the Tribunal of venerable Antiquity how they come to affirm that our old Ordovices who liv'd almost under another Hemisphere inhabited this Norwich I could bring the same Action against our Country-man Caius but that I am satisfy'd 't was nothing but a natural love of his native Country that blinded the learned old man And I have nothing more to add about Norwich unless you have a mind to run over these verses made upon it by John Johnston a Scotchman Urbs speciosa situ nitidis pulcherrima tectis Grata peregrinis delitiosa suis Bellorum sedes trepido turbante tumultu Tristia Neustriaco sub duce damna tulit Victis dissidiis postquam caput ardua coelo Extulit immensis crevit opima opibus Cultus vincit opes cultum gratia rerum Quam benè si luxus non comitetur opes Omnia sic adeò sola haec sibi sufficit ut si Fo rs regno desit haec caput esse queat A town whose stately piles and happy seat Her Citizens and Strangers both delight Whose tedious siege and plunder made her bear In Norman troubles an unhappy share And feel the sad effects of dreadful war These storms o'reblown now blest with constant peace She saw her riches and her trade increase State here by wealth by beauty wealth 's out-done How blest if vain excess be yet unknown So fully is she from her self supply'd That England while she stands can never want an head From Norwich the river Yare with the increase of other waters that take the same name rowls on in a winding chanel and abounds with the fish call'd a
of Crowland 1109. Abbot Joffred sent over to his manour of Cotenham nigh Cambridge Gislebert his fellow-Monk and Divinity-Professor with three other Monks who follow'd him into England well furnish'd with Philosophical Theorems and other primitive Sciences and daily repair'd to Cambridge there they hir'd a publick barn made open profession of their Sciences and in a little time drew a great number of scholars together In less than two years time their number increas'd so much from the country as well as town that there was never a House Barn or Church big enough to hold them all Upon which they dispers'd themselves in several parts of the town imitating the University of Orleans For soon in the morning Frier Odo an excellent Grammarian and Satyrick-Poet read Grammar to the boys and younger sort according to the Doctrine of Priscian and Remigius upon him At one of clock Terricus a subtile Sophister read Aristotle 's Logick to the elder sort according to Porphyry's and Averroe 's Introductions and Comments At three of clock Frier William read Lectures in Tully's Rhetorick and Quintilian's Flores and Gislebert the principal Master preach'd to the people upon all Sundays and Holy-days Thus from this small fountain we see large flowing streams making glad the City of God and enriching the whole kingdom by many Masters and Teachers coming out of Cambridge as from the holy Paradice c. Concerning the time when it was first made an University Robert of Remington shall speak for me †The learned Selden MSS. Notes has observ'd that in Pat. 52. Hen. 3. memb 25. it is call'd Universitas Scolarium In the reign of Edward 1. Grantbridge from a School was made an University like Oxford by the Court of Rome But why do I so inconsiderately run into the lists where two such learned old men have formerly encounter'd to whom I freely deliver up my arms and pay all the respect and honour I am able to such venerable persons Cambridge Meridian is 23 degr and 25 min. from the west g According to later computation about 52 degr and about 17 minutes and the Arch of the same Meridian between the Equator and Vertical point is 52 degr and 11 min. w 2 Cam from Cambridge continuing his course by Waterbeach an ancient seat of Nuns which Lady Mary S. Paul translated from thence to Denny somewhat higher but nothing healthfuller when in a low ground he hath spread a Mere associateth himself with the river Ouse Hard by Cambridge to the South-East are certain high hills by the Students call'd Gogmagog-hills Gogmagog Hills by Henry of Huntingdon the most pleasant hills of Balsham from a village at the foot of them where as he says the Danes committed all the Barbarities imaginable On the top of all I saw there a fort A Fort. of considerable bigness strengthned with a threefold trench and impregnable in those days according to the opinion of several judicious warriors were it not for its want of water and some believe it was a Summer retreat either of the Romans or the Danes This seems to be the place that Gervase of Tilbury calls Vandelbiria Below Cambridge says he Wandlesbury there was a place call'd Vandelbiria because the Vandals when they ruin'd some parts of Britain and cruelly destroy'd the Christians did there encamp themselves pitching their tents upon the top of a little hill where lyes a plain surrounded with trenches with only one entrance and that like a gate As for his Martial Ghosts walking here which he mentions I shall say nothing of them because it looks like a foolish idle story of the fantastick Mob It 's none of our business as one says to tickle mens ears with plausible stories x In a valley nigh these hills lyes Salston Salston which fell to Sir John Nevill Marquess of Mont-acute from the Burghs of Burgh-green by Walter de la Pole and the Ingalthorps and by his daughter the sole heiress to the Huddlestons who liv'd here in great credit More Eastward we meet with Hildersham belonging formerly to the Bustlers but now by marriage to the Parises and next to the Woods stands Horsheath Horsheath which is known for many Descents to belong to the ancient and noble families of the Argentons and Arlingtons which I g See in Suffolk under the title Halesworth and in Hertford shire under the title Wimondley mention'd in another place and is now the seat of the latter Next this lies Castle-camps Castle-camps the ancient seat of the Veres Earls of Oxford held by Hugh Vere says the old Inquisition records that he might be Chamberlain to the King However 't is most certain that Hen. 1. granted this Office to Aubry de Vere Cameraria Angliae Lord gâ—eat Chamberlain in these words Chief Chamberlain of England in fee and hereditarily with all the powers privileges and honours belonging thereto with as much freedom and worship as ever Robert Mallet held it c. However the Kings at their own pleasure have appointed sometimes one and sometimes another to execute this Office 3 The Earls of Oxford also that I may note it incidently by the heir of R Sandford held the manours of Fingrey and Wâ—lfelmeston by Serjeanty of Chambâ—rlainship to the Queens at the Coronation of their Kings Not far off there are the remains of those great and large Ditches which were undoubtedly thrown up by the East-Angles to prevent the incursions of the Mercians who frequently ruin'd all before them Flems-dyke and others The first begins at Hingeston and runs eastward by Hildersham towards Horsheath for 5 miles together The second next to it call'd Brent-Ditch runs from Melborne by Fulmer But 't is now time to return and leave these and the like frontier-fences to be spoke of in their proper places Sturbridge-Fair Nigh Cambridge to the east by a small brook call'd Sture yearly in September there is the most famous Fair kept in all the Kingdom both for resort of people and quantity of goods Just by it where the ways were exceeding troublesome and almost impassable that worthy right-honest Gentleman h i.e. Gabriel Hâ—rvy but the Causey was made by Henry Hâ—rvy Doctor of Law who was Master of Trinity-hall which Gabriel never was See Wood's Fasti of the 1. vol. of Athenae Oxen. under the year 1585. G. Hervy Doctor of Laws and Master of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge with vast charge out of a pious and laudable design has lately made a very fair rais'd Causey for about 3 miles long leading to New-market At the end of this Causey there is a third Ditch Ditches thrown up in old time beginning at the east side of the Cam which runs by Fenn-Ditton or rather Ditchton from the foremention'd Ditch between great Wilberham and Fulburn as far as Balsham At present it is commonly call'd Seven-mile-Dyke because it lies seven miles from New-market formerly call'd Fleam-Dyke Fleam-ditch as much
a petty Convent founded by the Bigrames A little way hence stands Awkenbury given by King John to David Earl of Huntingdon and by John Scot his son to Stephen Segrave Stephen Segrâ—â—e a person I 'm the more willing to mention because he was one of the Courtiers who have taught us * Nâ—â—â—am potenâ—â—am essâ—â—â—â—â—ntâ—m That no power is powerful With a great deal of pains he rais'd himself to a high post with as much trouble kept it and as suddenly lost it In his young days from a Clerk he was made Knight Matth. Pâ—â—â— and tho' he was but of a mean family yet in his latter days by his bold industry he so enrich'd and advanc'd himself that he was rank'd among the highest of the Nobility made Lord Chief Justice and manag'd almost all the Affairs of the Nation as he pleas'd At length he wholly lost all the King's favour and ended his days in a cloyster and he who out of pride must needs remove from ecclesiastical to secular Affairs was forc'd to reassume his ecclesiastical Office and shaven crown without so much as consulting his Bishop which he had formerly laid aside Not far off stands Leighton Leightâ—n where Sir Gervase Clifton Knight began a noble building h and just by lyes Spaldwick given to the Church of Lincoln by Henry 1. to make some amends for erecting Ely-Bishoprick out of Lincoln-Diocese The river Nen enters this Shire by Elton Elton f It is now the possession of John Proby Esquire the seat of the famous ancient family of the Sapcots where is a private Chapel of singular beauty with curious painted windows built by the Lady Elizabeth Dinham Baron Fitz-Warren's widow who marry'd into this family Higher upon the Nen nigh Walmsford Walmsford stood a little city of greater antiquity than all these call'd Caer Dorm and Dormeceaster by Henry of Huntingdon who says it was utterly ruin'd before his time Undoubtedly this is the Durobrivae Dâ—â—â—briâ—ae of Antonine that is the River-passage and now for the same reason call'd Dornford nigh Chesterton which besides the finding of old Coins has the apparent marks of a ruinous City For a Roman Port-way led directly from hence to Huntingdon and a little above Stilton Stiâ—ton formerly Stichilton it appears with a high bank and in an old Saxon Charter is call'd Erminstreat Ermiâ—gstreat Here it runs through the middle of a square fort defended on the north-side with walls on the rest with ramparts of Earth nigh which they 've lately digg'd up several stone Coffins or Sepulchres in g This Estate is now the joynt Inheritance of Sir John Hewet of Warsly in this County Baronet and John Dryden Esquire descended to them from the sisters of the last Sir Robert Bevile the ground of R. Bevill of an ancient family in this County Some think this city stood upon both banks of the river and others are of opinion Caster 〈◊〉 Nâ—r â—â—â—ptoâ—shâ— e that the little village Caster on the other side was part of it and truly this opinion is well back'd by an ancient history that says there was a place call'd Durmundcaster by Nene where Kinneburga founded a little Nunnery first call'd Kinneburge-caster and afterwards for shortness Caster This Kinneburga the most Christian daughter of the Pagan King Penda and Alfred King of the Northumber's wife chang'd her Soveraign Authority for Christ's service to use the words of an old writer and govern'd her own Nunnery as a mother to those sacred Virgins Which place about 1010 was level'd to the ground by the fury of the Danes A little before this river leaves the County it runs by an ancient House call'd Bottle bridge B â—â—â—â—-bridge for shortness instead of Botolph-bridge which the Draitons and Lovets brought from R. Gimels to the family of the Shirlies by hereditary succession Adjoyning to this lies Overton corruptly called Orton forfeited by Felony and redeem'd of K. John by Neale Lovetoft whose sister and coheir was married to Hubert or Robert de Brounford and their children took upon 'em the name of Lovetoft Earls of Hâ—ntingdon This County at the declining of the English-Saxons had Siward an Earl by office for then there were no hereditary Earls in England but the Governours of Provinces according to the custom of that age were call'd Earls with addition of the title of this or that Province they govern'd as this Siward the time he govern'd here was call'd Earl of Huntingdon but soon after when he govern'd Northumberland he was call'd Earl of Northumberland See â—he Eâ—â—ls â—f Noâ—thamptonshire He had a son call'd Waldeof who under the title of Earl had the government of this County by the favour of William the Conquerour whose niece Judith by his sister on the mother's side he had married This Waldeof's eldest daughter says William Gemeticensis was married to Simon ‖ â—â—vaneâ—â—erâ—◠〈◊〉 uâ—t câ—p â—6 de Senlys or St. Liz she brought him the Earldom of Huntingdon and had a son by him call'd Simon After her husband's decease she was married to David St. Maud the Queen of England's Brother who was afterwards King of Scotland by whom she had a son nam'd Henry Afterwards as Fortune and Princes Favours alter'd this Dignity was enjoy'd sometimes by the Scots and other times by the St. Lizes first Henry the son of David J â—n â—â—rdâ—â— in Scotâ—â—â—â—n co l. 3. â— 3. 6. 〈◊〉 3â— then Simon St. Lizes Simon the first 's son after him Malcolm King of Scotland Earl Henry's brother after his decease Simon St. Liz the third who dying without heirs was succeeded by William King of Scotland and Malcolm's Brother Thus says Ralph de Diceto in the year 1185. when he flourish'd When Simon Earl Simon 's son dy'd without children the King restor'd to William K. of Scotland the County of Huntingdon with all its appurtenances Then his brother David had it Matth. Par. and his son John Scot Earl of Chester who dy'd without heirs and when Alexander the second who marry'd King Henry the third's daughter had held this title a little while and the Wars broke in the Scots lost this honour besides a fair inheritance in England A good while after Edward the third created William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Richard the second put Guiscard de Angolesme in his place and after his death John Holland He was succeeded by John 4 Who was stil'd Duke of Excester Earl of Huntingdon and Ivory Lord of Sparre Admiral of England and Ireland Lieutenant of Aquitain and Constable of the Tower of London and Henry his sons who were each of them also Dukes of Exeter See Dukes of Exeter pag. 32. Cap. 50. The same Henry Duke of Exeter that Philip Comines as he affirms saw begging bare-foot in the Low Countries whilst he kept firm to the House of Lancaster though he had married Edward the fourth 's own sister Next to him Thomas
an ancient family but now of execrable memory for a most cruel and horrible plot never parallel'd in any age which Robert Catesby of Ashby St. Leger the dishonour of his family running headlong upon villanies gaping after the most detestable cruelties and impiously conspiring the destruction of his Prince and Country lately contriv'd under a specious pretext of Religion Of this let all ages be silent and let not the mention of it convey this scandal to posterity which we our selves cannot reflect on without horrour nay the dumb and inanimate Beings seem to be moved at the hainousness of such a villanous conspiracy Hard by is Fawesley Faweâ—â—â— where the Knightleys have long dwelt adorn'd with the honour of Knighthood descended from the more ancient family of Knightley of Gnowshall in Staffordshire And more eastward upon the Nen whose chanel as yet is but small stands Wedon on the street Wedâ—◠〈◊〉 the Street once the royal seat of Wolpher K. of the Mercians and converted into a Monastery by his daughter Werburg a most holy Virgin whose miracles in driving away Geese from hence some credulous writers have very much magnified I shou'd certainly wrong truth shou'd I not think tho' I have been of a contrary opinion that it is this Wedon which Antonine in his Itinerary calls Bannavenna Bennavenna Bennaventa Bannâ—â—na 〈◊〉 Isaâ—â—â—na 〈◊〉 naâ—â—â— and once corruptly Isannaventa notwithstanding there remain not now any express footsteps of that name so much does length of time darken and change every thing For the distance from the ancient Stations and Quarters on both sides exactly agrees and in the very name of Bannavenna the name of the river Aufona Avenna now Nen the head whereof is near it in some measure discovers it self Likewise a Military-way goes directly from hence northward with a Causey oft broken and worn away but most of all over-against Creke a village where of necessity it was joyn'd with bridges but elsewhere it appears with a high ridge as far as Dowbridge near Lilborne A little more northward I saw Althorp â—â—â—â—p the seat of the noted family of the Spencers Knights allied to very many Houses of great worth and honour out of which Sir Robert Spencer the fifth Knight in a continued succession a worthy encourager of virtue and learning was by his most serene Majesty K. James lately advanced to the honour of Baron Spencer of Wormleighton Hard by Althorp Holdenby-house 〈…〉 â—â—denby makes a noble appearance a stately and truly magnificent piece of building erected by Sir Christopher Hatton 〈◊〉 Christoâ—er Hatâ—◠〈◊〉 died 〈◊〉 1591. Privy Counsellour to Qu. Elizabeth Lord Chancellour of England and Knight of the Garter upon the lands and inheritance of his great grandmother heir of the ancient family of the Holdenbys for the greatest and last monument as himself afterwards was wont to say of his youth A person to say nothing of him but what is his due eminent for his piety towards God his love for his Country his untainted integrity and unparallel'd charity One also which is not the least part of his character that was always ready to encourage Learning Thus as he liv'd piously so he fell asleep piously in Christ Yet the monument the learned in their writings have rais'd to him shall render him more illustrious than that most noble and splendid tomb in St. Paul's Church London deservedly and at great charges erected to the memory of so great a person by Sir William Hatton Kt. his adopted son Beneath these places the Nen glides forward with a gentle small stream and is soon after encreas'd by the influx of a little river where at the very meeting of them the City called after the river Northafandon and in short Northampton â—orthampâ—â—n is so seated that on the west-side it is water'd with this river and on the south with the other Which I was of late easily induced to imagine the ancient Bannaventa but I err'd in my conjecture and let my confession atone for it As for the name it may seem to have had it from the situation upon the north-side of the Aufona The City it self which seems to have been all of stone is in it's buildings very neat and fine for compass large enough and wall'd about from which walls there is a noble prospect every way into a spacious plain Country On the west-side it hath an old Castle 10â—5 â—egister of Andrews beautiful even by it's antiquity built by Simon de Sancto Licio commonly call'd Senliz the first of that name Earl of Northampton who joyned likewise to it a beautiful Church dedicated to St. Andrew for his own sepulture and as 't is reported re-edified the town Simon the younger also his son founded without the town ‖ De Pratis De la Pree a Nunnery It seems to have lain dead and neglected during the Saxon Heptarchy neither have our Writers made any where mention of it in all those depredations of the Danes unless it was when Sueno the Dane with barbarous fury and outrage ravag'd all over England For then as Henry of Huntingdon reports it was set on fire and burnt to the ground In the reign of St. Edward there were in this City as we find in Domesday 60 Burgesses in the King 's Domain having as many Mansions of these in King William 1.'s time 14 lay waste and 47 remained Over and above these there were in the new Borough 40 Burgesses in the Domain of K. William After the Normans time it valiantly withstood the siege laid to it by the Barons during the troubles and slaughters with which they had then embroil'd the whole Kingdom Who being maliciously bent against King John for private and particular reasons did yet so cloak them with pretences of Religion and the common good â—â—â—rtitus 〈◊〉 that they termed themselves The Army of God and of Holy Church At which time they say that military work was made they call Hunshill But it stood not out with like success against Hen. 3. their lawful King as it did against those Rebels For when the Barons brought up and now inur'd to sedition begun a war against him in this place he made a breach in the wall and soon won it by assault After this as before also the Kings now and then held their Parliaments here for the conveniency of its situation as it were in the very heart of England and in the year of Christ 1460. a lamentable battel was here fought wherein such was the Civil division of England after the slaughter of many of the Nobility Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick took that most unfortunate Prince King Hen. 6. then a second time made Prisoner by his subjects To conclude the longitude of Northampton our Mathematicians make 22 deg 29 min. and the latitude 52 deg 13 min. d From hence the Nen hastens by Castle-Ashby where Henry Lord Compton has begun a very fine House near which is
the Saxons died in this City and was here interr'd altho' he left commands to the contrary for he as 't is related by Ninnius Eluodugus's disciple hop'd and was fully perswaded that his Ghost would defend Britain from the Saxons if he should be buried on the Sea-shore But yet the Saxons after they had demolish'd this old Lindum first inhabited the South-side of the hill 11 At the foot whereof they built as it seemeth the gate yet standing compiled of vast stones and fortified it with the ruins of the former town afterwards they went down near the river built in a place call'd Wickanforde and wall'd it on that side where it was not guarded by the water At which time Paulinus as Bede Bede affirms preach'd the word of God in the Province of Lindesey and first of all converted the Governour of the city Lindcolnia whose name was Blecca with his whole family He built in this city a curious Church of stone the roof whereof is either fall'n down for want of repairing or beat down by force of some enemy for the walls are yet to be seen standing Afterwards the Danes won it twice by assault first when those pillaging troops took it from whom Edmund Ironside wrested it by force secondly when Canutus took it from whom 't was retaken by Aetheldred who on his return out of Normandy valiantly drove Canutus out of this town and beyond all expectation recover'd England which was very nigh lost In Edward the Confessor's reign there was in it as 't is set down in Domesday-book one thousand and seventy Inns for entertainment and twelve Lagemen having their Sac and Soc. 'T was indeed in the Norman times as Malmsbury relates one of the most populous cities of England and a mart for all goods coming by land and water for at that time there were taxed in it as 't is in the said Domesday-book Nine hundred Burgesses and many dwelling houses to the number of one hundred sixty and six were destroy'd for the castle with 74 more without the limits of the castle not by the oppression of the Sheriff and his Ministers but by misfortune poverty and fire William the first to strengthen it and to keep the Citizens in awe built a very large and strong castle on the ridge of the hill and about the same time Remigius Bishop of Dorchester to grace it transferr'd hither from Dorchester a little town in the farthest part of his Diocese his Bishop's See And when the Church erected by Paulinus was utterly decay'd The aforesaid Râ—migius bought in the very highest part of the city several houses with the ground thereto belonging near the castle that overtops all as Henry of Huntingdon notes with its mighty towers and built in a strong place a strong and fine Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and endow'd it with 44 Prebends at which the Arch-bishop of York was very angry for he claim'd for himself the property of the ground This Church being disfigur'd by fire was afterwards repair'd as the said Henry mentions with very great art by Alexander that bountiful Bishop of Lincoln of whom the aforesaid William of Malmsbury speaks thus Seeing he was lookt upon as a prodigy by reason of his small body his mind strove to excel and be the more famous in the world and among other things a Poet of that age wrote thus Qui dare festinans gratis ne danda rogentur Quod nondum dederat nondum se credit habere Still with frank gifts preventing each request What is not yet bestow'd he thinks not yet possest And not only these two but Robert Bloet who was predecessor to Alexander and R. de Beaumeis Hugo Burgundus and their successors contributed to advance this work which was too much for one Bishop to its present state and grandeur The whole pile is not only very costly but indeed very beautiful and excellent for its workmanship especially that porch on the West-side which attracts and delights every beholders eye Altho' there be many tombs of Bishops and others in this Church yet the only ones worth our notice are that of brass in which the entrails of the most excellent Queen Eleanor wife to Edward the first 12 Who dy'd at Hardby in this Shire are interr'd and that of 13 Sir Nicholas Nicholas de Cantelupo with one or two belonging to the family of Burghersh also that of Katharine Swinford third wife to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and mother of the Somerset-family with whom lyes buried her daughter Joan second wife to Ralph Nevill the first Earl of Westmorland who had many children by her The Diocese of the Bishops of Lincoln being of a far greater extent than that of the Bishops of Sidnacester who in the primitive Saxon Church presided in this County contain'd under it so many Counties that its greatness was a burden to it and altho' Henry the second took out of it the Diocese of Ely and Henry the eighth those of Peterborough and Oxford yet 't is still counted the largest Bishoprick in England both for jurisdiction and number of shires and contains no less than 1247 Parish-Churches Many excellent Bishops have govern'd this See since Remigius but to be particular in reckoning them is beyond my design And therefore make no mention of Robert Bloet on whom King William Rufus set an amercement of 50000 pounds alledging that the Bishop's title to the city of Lincoln was defective â—â—eden nor of that bountiful Alexander who was ever extravagantly fond of prodigious buildings nor yet of Hugo Burgundus who being canoniz'd had his corps carry'd to the grave as my Author says on the shoulders of King John and his Nobles out of respect and duty to God and the sainted Prelate I must not however omit mentioning two persons 〈◊〉 diâ—d â— â—233 the one Robert Grostest a better Scholar and Linguist than could be expected from the age he liv'd in â—atth Paris â—d an â—nymous â—tâ—rian an awe to the Pope a Monitor to the King a Lover of Truth a Corrector of Prelates a Director of Priests an Instructor of the Clergy a Maintainer of Scholars a Preacher to the People and a diligent Searcher of Scripture a Mallet to the Romanists c. The other is the most reverend Father Thomas Cooper very deserving both from the Common-wealth of Learning and from the Church whom I am bound always to honour for that he was the Master in whose School I must graetfully own I had my education The city it self also flourish'd for a long time being made by Edward the third a Staple â—he Staple as they call it that is a Mart for Wooll Leather Lead c. Tho' it cannot have reason to complain of great misfortunes yet it has been once burnt once besieged and that in vain by King Stephen who was there overthrown and taken prisoner and once taken by Henry the third defended then against him by his rebellious Barons who
heath a little beyond Wrauby in the way to Hull Rhamnus Salicis folio angusto fructu flavescente C. B. Secundus Clusii Ger. emac. primus Dioscoridis Lobelio sive litoralis Park Rhamnus vel Oleaster Germanicus J. B. Sallow-thorn On the sea-banks on Lindsey coast plentifully NOTTINGHAMSHIRE THE County of Nottingham borders upon that of Lincoln on the west but is of much less extent call'd by the Saxons a Snotingaham-scyre is it's name in our most ancient Saxon Records Snottengaham-rcyne by us Nottinghamshire bounded on the north by Yorkshire on the west by Derbyshire and in some parts by Yorkshire and on the south by the County of Leicester The south and east parts are enrich'd by that most noble river the Trent and the rivulets which run into it The west part is entirely took up with the forest of Shirwood which is very large This part because it is sandy the inhabitants call the Sand the other because it is clayish they call the Clay and thus have they divided their County into these two parts a The Trent The Trent in Saxon Tneonta which some Antiquaries of less note have call'd in Latin Triginta from its affinity with that French word which is used to signifie this number after it has run a long way 1 And receiv'd into it's chanel the river Soure running hither from the County of Leicester where it first enters into this County passes by Steanford Steanford where there are many b Whatever there was in our Author's time 't is not famous at present for either Roman or other Antiquity It 's greatest ornament is a Church lately repair'd and beautify'd at the charge of Thomas Lewes the present Patron thereof remains of Antiquity yet extant and many Roman Coyns found as I am informed and then by Clifton Clifton which has given both a seat and name to the ancient family of the Cliftons 2 Much enrich'd by one of the heirs of Cressy Then it receives the little river Lin River Lin. from the west which rising near Newsted i.e. a new place where formerly King Hen. 2. built a small Monastery now the seat of the Byrons Byrons an ancient family descended from Ralph de Buron who in the beginning of the Norman times flourish'd in great state both in this County and Lancashire it runs near Wollaton Wollaton where in this age Sir Francis Willoughby Kt out of ostentation to show his riches built at vast charges a very stately house both for splendid appearance and the curious workmanship of it After this it washes Lenton Lenton formerly famous for a Monastery built in honour of the Holy Trinity by William Peverel the natural son of King William the Conquerour at present only for the throng Fairs there Where on the other side almost at the confluence of the Lin and Trent and upon the side of a hill stands Nottingham Nottingham which has given name to this County and is the chief town in it the word being nothing but a soft contraction of Snottenga-ham For so the Saxons call'd it from the caves and passages under ground which the Ancients for their retreat and habitation mined under these steep rocks in the south part toward the little river Lin. Hence Asser renders the Saxon word Snottengaham Speluncarum domum in Latin and in British it is c See Florence of Worcester An. 890. Tui ogo bauc which signifies the very same namely a house of dens In respect of situation the town is very pleasant there lie on this side toward the river very large meadows on the other hills of easie and gentle ascent it is also plentifully provided with all the necessaries of life On this side Shirewood supplies them with great store of wood for fire tho' many burn pit-coal the smell whereof is offensive on the other the Trent serves them with fish very plentifully Hence this its barbarous verse Limpida sylva focum ‖ Trent Triginta dat mihi piscem Shirewood my fuel Trent my fish supplies To wind up all by its bigness building three neat Churches an incomparable fine market-place and a very strong castle the town is really beautiful The Castle stands on the west side of the city upon an exceeding steep rock in which very spot that tower is believ'd to have been which the Danes relying upon held out against the siege of Aethered and Alfred till without effecting any thing they rose and ‖ Vasa conclamarint retir'd For when the Danes had got this castle d His true name is Burhred Burthred King of the Mercians as Asser says e Florence of Worcester An. 890. tells us the same and the Mercians sent messengers to Aethered King of the West-Saxons and to Alfred his brother humbly intreating that they would aid them so that they might engage the foresaid army This request they easily obtain'd For the two brothers having drawn together a great army from all parts with as much dispatch as they had promis'd enter'd Mercia and march'd as far as Snottenga-ham unanimously desiring to fight them But when the Pagans refus'd to give them battel securing themselves in the castle and the Christians were not able to batter down the walls of the castle a peace was concluded between the Mercians and the Pagans and the two brothers return'd home with their forces Afterwards Edward the Elder built the village Bridgesford Bridgesford over against it and rais'd a wall which is now fallen quite round the city The only remains extant of it are on the west part A few years after this namely in Edward the Confessor's time as it is in Domesday there were reckon'd 173 Burgesses in it and †De duobus Monetartis from the two Mints there was paid forty shillings to the King Moreover the water of Trent and the Foss dike and the way towards York were all lookt after that if any one hinder'd ships from passing * Emendare habuit he might he amerc'd four pounds As for the castle which now stands there both the founder and the bigness of it make it remarkable For William the Norman built it to awe the English b by nature and art together it was so strong as William of Newburrow tells us That it seem'd invincible by any thing but famine provided it had but a sufficient garrison in it Afterwards Edward the fourth rebuilt it at great charge and adorn'd it with curious buildings to which Richard the third also made some additions Nor has it ever in any revolution undergone the common fate of great castles for it was never taken by down-right force Once only it was besieg'd and that in vain by Henry of Anjou at which time the garrison burnt down all the buildings about it 1175. Rog. Hoveden p. 307. It was once also taken by surprize by Robert Count de Ferrariis in the Barons war who depriv'd the citizens of all they
naufraga Petri Ductorem in mediis expectat cymba procellis Now thy vast honours with thy virtues grow Now a third mitre waits thy sacred brow Deserted Wigorn mourns that thou art gone And Kent's glad sons thy happy conduct own Now Rome desires thee Peter wants thy hand To guide his leaky vessel safe to land This city was in all probability built by the Romans when to curb the Britains who dwelt beyond Severn they planted cities at convenient distances all along upon its east-bank just as they did in Germany on the south-side of the Rhine It is seated upon an easie ascent from the river over which lieth a bridge with a tower upon it It was anciently fenced with lofty Roman walls as an old parchment-roll informs us and hath to this day a good firm wall But its glory consists in its inhabitants who are numerous courteous and wealthy by means of the Cloathing trade in the neatness of its buildings the number of Churches and most of all in the Episcopal See which Sexuulfus Bishop of the Mercians placed here A. D. 680. building a Cathedral Church in the south part of the city which hath often been repair'd and by the Bishops and Monks hath been lengthened westward a little at a time almost to Severn side It is really a fair and magnificent Structure ennobled with the monuments of King John Arthur Prince of Wales and some of the Beauchamps A College also of learned men called Prebendaries no less famous than were formerly the Priory of Monks or College of Secular Priests here For in this Church presently upon its first foundation as in the other Abbies of England were placed married Presbyters Married Priests who govern'd those Churches a long time with great reputation for sanctity till Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury in a Synod decreed Register of the Church of Worcester A. D. 964. That for the future all Religious men in England should lead a single life For then Oswald Bishop of this See who was a most zealous promoter of Monkery remov'd the Priests and plac'd Monks in their room which King Edgar attests in these words l The Convents both of Monks and Virgins were destroy'd and neglected all England over which I have determined to repair to the praise of God for the benefit of my own soul and to increase the number of the Servants of God of both sexes and accordingly I have already settled Monks and Nuns in seven and forty houses and resolve if Christ spare me life to do it that I will go on in the oblation of my devout munificence to God till I have made them up fifty the number of the years of Remission Wherefore at present that Monastery in the Episcopal See of Worcester which the reverend Bishop Oswald hath to the honour of Mary the holy mother of God enlarged and having expelled the Secular Clerks c. by my assent and favour bestowed on the religious servants of God the Monks I do by my royal Authority confirm to the said religious persons leading a Monastick life and with the advice and consent of my Princes and Nobles do corroborate and consign c. After some considerable time when through the incursions of the Danes and civil broils the state of this Church was so decay'd that in the place of that numerous company of Monks which Oswald founded here scarce 12 were left Wulfstan S. Wulstan who sate Bp. of this See about A. D. 1090. restor'd it and augmented the number of Monks to 50. and also built a new Church He was a mean scholar even in the account of that age but a person of such simplicity and unfeigned integrity and of a conversation so severe and strict that he was a terrour to ill men and beloved by all that were good insomuch that after his death the Church gave him a place in the Kalendar among the Saints Now after they had flourished in great wealth and power above 500 years King Hen. 8. expell'd these Monks and in their room placed a Dean and Prebendaries and founded a Grammar-school for the instruction of youth Close by this Church remain the bare name and ground-plot of the Castle Which as we read in William of Malmesbury's history of Bishops Ursus made Sheriff of Worcester by William 1. built in the very teeth of the Monks so that the grass took away part of their cemetery But this Castle through the injury of time and casualty of fire hath many years since been ruined The City also hath been more than once burnt down A. D. 1041. it was set on fire by Hardy-Canute who being enraged at the Citizens for killing his Huscarles so they call'd his Officers who collected the Danegelt did not only fire the City Marianus but also massacre all the inhabitants except such as escaped into Bevercy a small island in the river Nevertheless we find in the survey of William 1. that in the days of Edward the Confessor it had a great many Burgesses and was rated at xv hide-land and when the Mint went every Minter gave xx shillings at London for stamps to coin withall In the year 1113. a casual fire which consumed the Castle burnt the roof of the Church also During the Civil wars in K. Stephen's reign it was fired once and again but suffered most when that King took the City Anno 15 Steph. Reâ—â—â— which he had unadvisedly put into the hands of Walleran Earl of Mellent but at that time he could not carry the Castle m However it still rose out of the ashes with greater beauty and hath flourished under an excellent Government managed by two Bailiffs chosen out of 24 Citizens two Aldermen and two Chamberlains with a Common Council consisting of 48 Citizens more n As to the Geographical account of it it 's Longitude from the west Meridian is 21 degrees 52 minutes and hath the north pole elevated 52 degrees and 12 minutes o From Worcester taking its course westward the river passeth by Powick Barons of Powick anciently the seat of John Beauchamp whom K. Hen. 6. raised to the dignity of a Baron whose estate soon after heirs female carried to the Willoughbies of Broke the Reads and Ligons p Hence through rich and fragrant meadows it runs by Hanley Hanley formerly a Castle belonging to the Earls of Glocester and Upton Upton a noted market town where Roman Coins are frequently dug up Not far off on the right-hand Severn hath the prospect of Malvern Malvern hills hills hills indeed or rather great and lofty mountains for about seven miles together rising like stairs one higher than the other and dividing this County from that of Hereford On the top Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester did anciently cast up a ditch all along to part his lands from those of the Church of Worcester which ditch is still to be seen and is very much admired pp On the other side Severn and near the same distance
Nobâ—â—â— with Vincent's Corections p. 471. Dugd Baâ—â—â— T. 1. p. 334. f Upon the death of Edward Earl of Shrewsbury Febr. 7. 1617 the last heir-male of John the third Earl of this family the honour came to the house of Grafton now the seat of Charles Earl of Shrewsbury who is the next lineal heir of this Sir Gilbert Talbot mention'd by our Author g From hence this river goes to Droitwich or Durtwich Durtwich the original whereof says our Author may bear some analogy to the Hyetus in Boeotia from its dirty soil And indeed Stephanus Byzantius in his book De Urbibus under 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentions this reason of the name * See 〈◊〉 saâ—â—â— Nevertheless it is more probable that this town in Boeotia deriv'd its name from Hyettus an exile from Argos who fix'd here for the Greek name is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h Here says Mr. Camden arise three springs of brine and indeed at present there are only three but anciently as late as King Henry the seventh there were five They do not observe the seasons of wealling which our Author mentions nor do they at any time leave off because the brine is too weak to make salt for the springs yield strong brine all the year round but only when they judge the quantity of salt made sufficient to serve their markets which they are careful not to overstock They now burn coal and not wood in their Seales The town it self is very wealthy it had great privileges granted it by King John whose Charter they have to shew at this day They were also much favour'd by his son King Henr. 3. and other Princes particularly in this present Century K. James 1. in the 22d year of his reign granted them a Charter The Borough is govern'd by two Bailiffs and a certain number of Burgesses they send also two Members to Parliament i As to the Bullions of salt mention'd by Mr. Camden in his quotation from Domesday what proportion that is I cannot determine Monsieur du Cange in his Glossary contents himself to say in general that 't is a measure of Salt I am apt to think 't is the same with Bullitiones in Domesday-book where an account is given of the rent of eight fats belonging to the King and Earl at Nantwich which paid every Friday 16 Bullitiones See Sir Peter Leicester's Antiquities p. 427. Where it follows that 15 of these made unam summam one seam or horse-load or 8 bushels Spelm. Gloss in Summa And in Monast Angl. tom 2. p. 256. col 2. four sums are said to contain 40 bullions which I conceive to be Barrows the size whereof hath been different at different places and times k A little below the Saltwarp joyns it self to the Severn and goes along with it to Worcester Worcestâ—â—â— * Burtoâ— Antoniâ— Iâ—inerat p. 252. whose original is referr'd by John Rous of Warwick to King Constantius I suppose he means Chlorus As to the British name of the place Mr. Burton thinks our Author mistaken when he names it out of Ninnius Caer Guorangon and Guorcon perhaps as to the latter he is which Arch-bishop Usher judgeth to be either Warwick or Wroxeter in Shropshire but as to Caer Guorangon * Primâ—â— Eccles c. 5. the learned Primate agrees with Mr. Camden The conjecture of those who derive the name Wireceaster from Wyre-forest is very groundless for that forest lies near twelve miles from the city and as much in Shropshire as in this County Doubtless Wirecester is a contraction of Wigora or Wigra-cester as 't was call'd in the days of the Conquerour and his sons And Wigracester it self seems to be a contraction of Wic-para-cester i.e. the city of the men of Wiccia just as Canterbury is of Cant-para-byrig i.e. the burrough of the men of Kent The difference in writing Weogora Weogorena Weogorna and Wigra-cester is of no moment for our Saxon-Ancestors used eo and i indifferently as Beorhtpald Birhtpald Weohstan Wihstan so Weogora Wiogora and Wigra-cester And the difference in termination is as little material for as here we have Weogora and Weogorena-cester so in Bede we have Cantpara and Cantparena byrig The present name Worcester is either form'd from Wircester by the change of one vowel or else by contracting and melting the g in Weogorcester 〈…〉 â—â—orâ—â—â—er The name Wigornia is made like Cantuaria by softening the termination after the mode of the Latins Florentius who dy'd above 60 years before Joseph of Exeter dedicating his book to Baldwin us'd the name Wigornia so that Joseph tho' he might be as Mr. Camden hath it one of the first yet he was not as some * â—â—â—on's â—â—â—ent 〈◊〉 Antoâ—â— p. 252 others will have him the first writer who call'd this city by that name l Our Author mentioning the expulsion of Secular Priests notes in the margin A. D. 964. which is the date of King Eadgar's Charter in the Church of Worcester This date tho' very nicely particular having the Indiction the year of the King the day of the month and the week is nevertheless manifestly false For Florentius the Annals of Worcester and other monuments with one consent fix the expulsion of the Secular Priests in the year 969. and some of them add that Winsius was created Prior in the year 971. which Winsius is in the body of this Charter mention'd as then actually Prior so that 964 cannot be the true date †〈…〉 p. 〈◊〉 5â—2 〈◊〉 m Mr. Camden is very particular in recounting the calamities of this city amongst which we may very well reckon the plunder thereof by the Cromwellians after Worcester-fight 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Brit. 〈…〉 Sept. 3. 1651. wherein the Army consisting mostly of Scots who endeavour'd to re-inthrone King Charles the second being routed that Prince was wonderfully conceal'd till he could make his escape into France n He next gives us in short the civil Administration of the city but since that time by virtue of a Charter of King James 1. dated Octob. 2. in the 19th year of his reign this City is govern'd by a Mayor and six Aldermen who are Justices of the Peace these Aldermen are chosen out of the 24 capital Citizens a Sheriff usually chosen out of the said 24 likewise a Common-Council consisting of 48 other Citizens out of which number there are annually elected the two Chamberlains They have also a Recorder a Town-Clerk two Coroners c. The City is a County of it self o Between Worcester and Speechley on a rising ground is probably the old Oswald's-Law which ‖ â—â—â—d's 〈…〉 p. 434. Sir Henry Spelman says signifies as much as Lex Oswaldi and intimates the Constitution for expelling married Priests and is follow'd in that opinion by other learned men But it must be observ'd that in ancient writings it is not Oswaldes laga but law which signifieth a knap or little-hill and Edgar's Charter gives
a †â—â—â—tim yard or farm and also a river-island or any place surrounded with water as Keysers-wert and Bomelsweort in Germany signifie Caesar's-Island and Bomelus's Island In the time of the Mercian Kingdom this was a royal seat and as it is in the Lieger-book of Worcester a very eminent place Afterwards it was destroy'd in the Danish wars but rebuilt by Aethelfleda the Mercian and Editha the daughter of King Edgar who declining marriage for the love of Chastity is kalender'd among the she-saints and founded a little house for Nuns here which was some few years after translated to Pollesworth by the Marmions of Normandy when they built a Collegiate Church here wherein some of their tombs are still extant having had the town given them by William the Conquerour Here likewise they built a neat Castle which from them went by the Frevils to the Ferrars a family descended from a younger brother of the Barons Ferrars of Groby These Marmions as 't is in history were hereditary Champions to the Kings of England King's â—â—â—ons 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 For upon every Coronation of a new King of England the heir of this family was bound to ride arm'd in compleat harness into the King's hall and in a set form challenge any man to duel that would dare to withstand the King 's right And this is certain from the Publick Records that Alexander Frevill in the reign of Edward 3. Ed. 3. held this same castle by that kind of service Yet the Frevills lost this honor in the Coronation of Rich. 2. 5 When Baldwin Frevil inhibited his petition for the same it was adjudg'd from this family to Sir John Dimock his Competitor descended also from Marmion and producing more authentick Records and Evidences which went by marriage to the family of Dimocks in Lincolnshire d But now to return Watling-street at the bridge of Falkesley already mention'd that military Roman-way which I have often before spoke of and shall have occasion still to take notice of hereafter enters this County and crossing it almost in a streight line runs westwardly to Shropshire I survey'd it very accurately in hopes of finding Etocetum Eâ—ocetum which Antoninus makes the next Station after Manvessedum and with good luck I have at last found it and must ingenuously own my self to have been quite wrong heretofore For at that distance which Antoninus makes between Manvessedum and Etocetum I happen'd to meet with the ruins of an old city near this way scarce a mile southward from Lichfield eminent for the Bishop's See there The name of the place is at this day in English Wall Wall from the remains of the walls there extant which encompass about two acres of ground call'd the Castle-croft as if one should say the Castle-field Near this stood another ancient little city on the other side the way which was demolish'd before William the Conquerour's time as the inhabitants from an old tradition tell us and they shew the place where the Temple stood guessing it to be so from the greatness of the foundation and produce many Coyns of the Roman Caesars which are always the most infallible proofs of Antiquity e But that which mainly makes for this point is that the Military-way continues from hence very fair plain and almost without any breach till 't is cross'd and interrupted by the river Penck and hath a stone bridge built over it at Pennocrucium Pennocrucium so call'd from the river and standing at the same distance which Antoninus has made The town has not quite lost that name at this day being for Pennocrucium call'd Penckridge Penckridge At present 't is only a small village famous for a Horse-fair which Hugh Blunt or Flavus the Lord of it obtain'd of King Edward 2. f From hence there is nothing memorable in the County upon this road 6 But at a small distance from thence is Breewood a market-town where the Bishops of the Diocese had a seat before the Conquest and then near Weston is that clear unless it be that clear and pretty-broad lake near Weston by which the way continues in a direct line to Oken-yate in Shropshire And now for the middle-part of the County water'd by the Trent in describing of which my design is to trace the river from its first rise following its course and windings The Trent The river Trent which in comparison is the third best river in England springs from two neighbouring fountains 7 In the north part of this Shire and amidst the moors or marshes in the upper part of this County to the westward Some ignorant and idle pretenders do imagine that name deriv'd from the French word Trente and upon that account have feign'd thirty rivers all running into it and likewise so many kinds of fish swimming in it the names of which the people thereabouts have compris'd in English rhyme Neither do they stick to ascribe to this river what the Hungarians attribute to their Tibiscus namely that it consists of two parts water and the third fish From the rise of it it first runs southward with many windings not far from New-Castle under Lime Newcastle under Lime so call'd upon the account of an older Castle which formerly stood not far from it at Chesterton under Lime where I saw the ruinous and shatter'd walls of an old Castle which first belong'd to Ranulph Earl of Chester by the gift of King John and after by the bounty of Henry 3. to the house of Lancaster g Then by Trentham Trentham heretofore Tricingham a little Monastery of that holy and royal Virgin Werburga h from whence it hastens to Stone Stone a market-town which had its rise in the Saxon time and its name from those Stones which our Ancestors were accustom'd yearly to heap together to denote the place where Wolpherus that most heathen King of the Mercians barbarously slew his sons Vulfald and Rufin for turning Christians At which place when after ages had consecrated a little Church to their memory a town presently grew up which the History of Peterborough Historia Petroburgensis tells us was call'd Stone from these stones From Stone the Trent runs smooth and easie by Sandon formerly the seat of the Staffords a knightly and very famous family but of late of Sampson Erdeswick Erdeswick by inheritance a very eminent man who has nicely enquir'd into the venerable matters of Antiquity and is no less memorable upon this account than for being directly in the male-line descended from Hugh de Vernon Baron of Shipbroc this name being varied by change of habitation Name chang'd and alter'd as the person shifted his habitation first into Holgrave and after that into Erdeswick Here the Trent turns towards the East with Canocwood on the South of it commonly Cankwood Cankwood which is every way of great extent and at last receives the river Sow on the left This
which is but shallow however they have communication with one another by two Causeys made over it which have each of them their respective sluces The South part or that hithermost is by much the greater divided into several streets and has in it a School and for the relief of poor people a pretty large Hospital dedicated to St. John The further is the less yet beautified with a very sightly Church which with the fine walls that castle like surround it those fair neat houses for the Prebendaries and the Bishop's Palace all about it makes an incomparable shew with those three lofty Pyramids of stone in it This was a Bishop's See many ages since For in the year of our Redemption 606. Oswy King of Northumberland having conquer'd the Pagan Mercians built a Church here for the propagation of the Christian Religion and ordain'd Duina the first Bishop whose Successors were so much in favour with their Princes that they not only had the preheminence among all the Mercian Bishops and were enrich'd with very large possessions Cankwood or Canoc a very great wood and other exceeding rich farms being given them but the See also has had an Arch-Bishop namely Eadulph to whom Pope Adrian gave the Pall and made all the Bishops of the Mercians and the East-Angles subject to him being induc'd to it by the golden arguments of Offa King of the Mercians out of envy to Jeambert or Lambert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury About 〈◊〉 year 〈◊〉 Hiâ—t Roâ—â—â—s who offer'd his assistance to Charles the Great if he would invade England But this Archiepiscopal dignity expir'd with Offa and Eadulph Among the Bishops the most eminent is * S. Câ—â—â— Chad who was canoniz'd for his sanctity and as Bede says when the Prelacy was not as yet tainted with excess and luxury made himself a house to live in not far distant from the Church wherein with a few others that is with seven or eight of his brethren he was wont privately to read and pray as often as he had leisure from his labour and administring of the word of God In that age Lichfield was but a small village and in populousness far short of a City The Country about it is woody and a little river runs near it The Church was but of small circuit according to the meanness of those ancient times When in a Synod 1075. 't was prohibited that Bishop's Sees should be in obscure villages Peter Bishop of Lichfield transferr'd his seat to Chester But Robert of Limsey his successor remov'd it to Coventry A little after Roger Clinton brought it back again to Lichfield and began a very fine Church in 1148. in honour to the Virgin Mary and St. Ceada and repair'd the castle which is quite decay'd and nothing of it to be seen at this day The town within the memory of our fathers was first incorporated under the name of Bailiffs and Burgesses by K. Edward the sixth being 52 degrees and 42 minutes in Latitude and in Longitude 21 degrees 20 minutes o * Bishop Usher had rather place this Terra Conallea at Clan-conal in the County of Down Antiquitat Brit. Eccl. p. 369. fol. This Lake at Lichfield is at first pent up into a narrow compass within its banks and then it grows wider afterwards but uniting it self at last into a chanel it presently falls into the Trent which continues its course Eastward till it meets the river Tame from the South in conjunction with which it runs through places abounding with Alabaster Alabaster to the Northward that it may sooner receive the river Dove and almost insulate Burton Burton upâ—â— Trent formerly a remarkable town for the Alabaster-works for a castle of the Ferrars 13 Built in the Conquerour's time for an ancient Monastery founded by Ulfric Spot Earl of the Mercians and for the retirement of Modwena 〈◊〉 is also 〈◊〉 Mowâ—â—â— an Irish woman Of the Abbey the Book of Abingdon speaks thus A certain servant of King Aethelred's call'd Ulfric Spot built the Abbey of Burton and endow'd it with all his paternal estate to the value of 700 l. and that this gift might stand good he gave King Aethelred 300 mancs of gold for his confirmation to it and to every Bishop five mancs besides the town of Dumbleton over and above to Alfrick Arch-Bishop of Canterbury So that we may see from hence that gold was predominant in those ages and that it sway'd and byass'd even in spiritual matters In this Monastery Modwena eminent for her sanctity in these parts lies buried and on the Tomb these Verses were inscribed for her Epitaph Ortum Modwennae dat Hibernia Scotia finem Anglia dat tumulum dat Deus astra poli Prima dedit vitam sed mortem terra secunda Et terram terrae tertia terra dedit Aufert Lanfortin quam * â— Conel terra Conallea profert Foelix Burtonium virginis ossa tenet By Ireland life by Scotland death was given A Tomb by England endless joys by Heaven One boasts her birth one mourns her hopeless fate And one does earth to earth again commit Lanfortin ravish'd what Tirconnel gave And pious Burton keeps her sacred grave Near Burton between the rivers Dove Trent and Blith which waters and gives name to Blithfield Blithfield the delicate house of an ancient and famous family of the Bagot 's p stands Needwood â—edwoodâ—â—â— a large Forest with many Parks in it wherein the Gentry hereabouts frequently exercise themselves with great labour and application in the pleasant toils of hunting So much for the inner parts The North-part of the County gently shoots into small hills which begin here and as the Appennine do in Italy run through the middle of England in one continu'd ridge rising higher and higher from one top to another as far as Scotland but under several names For here they are call'd Mooreland â—â—oreland after that Peake then again Blackston-edge anon Craven next Stanmore and last of all when they branch out apart into horns Cheviot This Mooreland which is so call'd because it rises into hills and mountains and is unfruitful which sort of places we call in our language Moors is a tract so very rugged foul and cold that snow continues long undissolv'd on it so that of a Country village here call'd Wotton seated at the bottom of Wever-hill the Neighbours have this verse among them intimating that God never was in that place Wotton under Wever Where God came never 14 Nevertheless in so hard a soil it brings forth and feeds beasts of a large size 'T is observ'd by the Inhabitants here that the West-wind always causes rain but that the East-wind and the South-wind which are wont to produce rain in other places make fair weather here unless the wind shift about from the West into the South and this they ascribe to their small distance from the Irish-sea From these mountains rise many rivers in this Shire
the same form with the Tumulus it self on the edge whereof the same Author observ'd ashes and charcoal in their true colours and several pieces of bones in the middle of it so friable that they would crumble betwixt the fingers Which plainly proves it to be Roman unless which does not appear the Saxons or Danes ever burnt their dead bodies e Upon the Roman-way near Lichfield we find a village call'd Wall which is suppos'd to have taken that name from the fragments of an old wall upon the north-side of Watlingstreet Mr. Camden does rightly suppose it to be the Etocetum a Etocetum of Antoninus and the two ancient pavements wherein there appear Roman bricks with the remains of Antiquity discover'd at Chesterfield on the other side of the way put it beyond all dispute f The next Station in this County is Pennocrucium Pennocrucium which Mr. Camden had encouragement enough both from Antoninus's distances and the affinity of the old and new names to settle at Penkridge Penkridge and yet one objection it 's lying from the Great way at least two miles considering the design of these Stations goes very hard against it Stretton as Dr. Plot has settl'd it which has the advantage of standing upon the Way may no doubt lay a juster claim to it The name too favours the conjecture for a little experience will teach any one thus much that where Street or Chester is part of the name a man shall seldom lose his labour in the search after Antiquities A little below the Way southward near Fetherstone in the parish of Brewood was found a brass-head of the bolt of a Catapulta another was likewise discover'd at Bushbury a third in the biggest of the Lows upon the Morridge and a fourth at Hundsworth all of brass and much of the same form which Dr. Plot has given us in the 5th Figure of his 33d Table From this it is certain that all these are Roman Tumuli and probably places of some action g From the directions of the Way let us pass to the head of the great river Trent near which is Newcastle under Lyme New-castle under Lyme built in Hen. 3.'s time by the Earl of Lancaster and so call'd in respect of another at a little distance Chesterton under Lyme where Mr. Camden found an old Castle half demolish'd but now nothing but some very obscure remains are to be seen h From hence the river leads us to Darlaston Darlaston where in a place call'd Berry-bank on the top of a hill are the ruins of a large castle fortify'd with a double vallum and entrenchments about 250 yards diameter This according to tradition was the seat of Ulfere King of Mercia who murther'd his two sons for embracing Christianity The whole passage at large see in Dr. Plot 's History of Staffordshire p. 407. The next place we meet with memorable is Cank Cank or Cannockwood upon the edge whereof in the park at Beaudesart there remains a large fortification call'd the Castle-hill encompass'd with a double agger and trench which are in a manner circular except on the south-east side What Dr. Plot conjectures is highly probable that it was cast up by Canutus when he made such dismal waste of those parts as our Historians talk of i Our next guide is the river Sow about the head whereof is Blore heath Blore heath where a stone set up in memory of James Lord Audley deserves our notice He was slain in that place fighting against the Earl of Salisbury in the quarrel of Hen. 6. in which battel no less than 2400 were slain upon the spot k From hence this river directs us to Eccleshall Eccleshall the castle whereof was either built from the foundation or at least repair'd by Walter de Longton Bishop of Lichfield and Lord High Treasurer of England in the reign of Edw. 1. Not far from which is Wotton where is a high-pav'd way which Dr. Plot imagines to have been a Roman Via Vicinalis or by-way from one town to another l Going nearer to Stafford we meet with Ellenhall Ellenhall famous for the family of the Noels of the male-heirs whereof are still remaining those of Hilcote-Hardby as also Baptist Earl of Gainsburrough and some others m Nearer the Trent upon the same river lies Stafford Stafford where Ethelfled the Mercian Queen built a Castle whereof there is nothing remaining that upon the hill at a mile's distance from the town being built by Ranulph or Ralph the first Earl of Stafford a long time after And Mr. ‖ View of Staffordshire Erdswick concludes he only re-edify'd the Castle and not new built it because he had seen a certain Deed dated from the Castle near Stafford long before the days of Earl Ralph But Dr. Plot is of opinion that the old Castle there mention'd might rather stand within the entrenchment at Billington which perhaps says he may be only the remains of this Castle the lands wherein these entrenchments are being not far distant and still remaining a part of the demesne land of the Barony of Stafford n Near the meeting of Sow and Trent is Tixal not far from whence stands Ingestre Ingestre an ancient seat of the family of the Chetwinds the last owner of which who dy'd without issue A. D. 1693. was Walter Chetwind Esq a Gentleman eminent as for his ancient family and great hospitality so for his admirable skill in Antiquities the History of Staffordshire receiving great encouragement from him He was likewise a person of a charitable and publick spirit as appear'd by new building the Parish-Church of Ingestre after a very beautiful manner and also adding to the Vicarage such tythes as remain'd in his hands o About four miles from the Trent lies Lichfield Lichfield where a thousand Christians who had been instructed instructed by S. Amphibalus in a place call'd Christianfield were martyr'd and their bodies left unburied to be devour'd by birds and beasts from whence the City bears for their Device an Escocheon of Landskip with many Martyrs in it in several manners massacred This place since our Author's time has given the honourable title of Earl first to Bernard Stewart youngest son of Esme Duke of Lennox and Earl of March created in the 21th year of Charles the first Being slain at the battel at Rowton-heath in Cheshire he was succeeded by Charles Stewart his nephew who dy'd Ambassadour in Denmark in 1672. About two years after the title was conferr'd upon Edward Henry Lee created June 5. 1674. Baron of Spellesbury Vicount Quarendon and Earl of Lichfield Not far from hence is Streethey Streethey the name whereof seems to be taken from its situation upon the old way call'd Ikenild-street * Plot 's Staffordshire p 402. and its distance from Streeton another town lying upon the same road and claiming the same antiquity on account of its name being about 12 miles
designs took him off r In the late Civil wars being made a garrison it was almost ruin'd so that he left his project unfinish'd 22 And the old Castle defac'd The family of these Corbets is ancient and of great repute in this Shire and held large estates by fealty of Roger de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury about the coming in of the Normans viz. Roger Corbet the son held Huelebec Hundeslit Actun Fernleg c. Robert Corbet the son held lands in Ulestanston Corbet pranomen Rotlinghop Branten Udecot 23 And in later ages this family far and fairly propagated receiv'd encrease both of revenue and great alliance by the marriage of an heir of Hopton More to the south lies Arcoll Arcoll a seat of the Newports 24 Knights of great worship descended from the Barons Grey of Codnor and the Lords of Mothwy Knights and in its neighbourhood is Hagmond-Abbey Hagmond-Abbey which was well endow'd if not founded by the Fitz-Alanes Not much lower is pleasantly situated upon the Severn the Metropolis of this County risen out of the ruins of old Uriconium which we call Shrewsbury Shrewsbury and now a-days more softly and smoothly Shrowsbury Our Ancestors call'd it Scrobbes-byrig because the hill it stands on was well wooded In which sense the Greeks nam'd their Bessa and the Britains this city Penguerne that is the brow of Alders where likewise was a noble Palace so nam'd but how it comes to be call'd in Welsh Ymwithig by the Normans Scropesbery Sloppesbury and Salop and in Latin Salopia I know not unless they be deriv'd from the old word Scrobbes-berig differently wrested Yet some Criticks in the Welsh tongue imagine 't was call'd Ymwithig as much as Placentia from the Welsh Mwithau and that their Bards gave it that name because their Princes of Wales delighted most in this place It is situated upon a hill the earth of which is of a red-dish colour the Severn is here passable by two fair bridges and embracing it almost round makes it a Peninsula as Leland our Poet and Antiquary describes it Edita Pinguerni late fastigia splendent Urbs sita lunato veluti mediamnis in orbe Colle tumet modico duplici quoque ponte superbit Accipiens patriâ sibi linguâ nomen ab alnis Far off it's lofty walls proud Shrewsb'ry shows Which stately Severn 's crystal arms enclose Here two fair bridges awe the subject stream And Alder-trees bestow'd the ancient name 'T is both naturally strong and well-fortified by art for Roger de Montgomery who had it given him by the Conquerour built a Castle upon a rising rock i in the northern parts of this town after he had pull'd down about 50 houses whose son Robert when he revolted from King Hen. 1. enclos'd it with walls on that side where the Severn does not defend it k which were never assaulted that I know of in any war but that of the Barons against King John When the Normans first settl'd here 't was a well-built city and well frequented for as it appears by Domesday-book 25 In King Edward the Confessor's time it paid Gelt according to an hundred Hides In the Conquerour's time it paid yearly seven pounds c. it was tax'd 7 l. 16 s. to the King yearly There were reckon'd 252 Citizens 12 of whom were bound to keep guard when the Kings of England came hither and as many to attend him whenever he hunted which I believe was first occasion'd by one Edrick Sueona a Mercian Duke but a profligate villain who ſ An. Christi 1006. Flor. Wigorn. not long before had way-lay'd Prince Alfhelm and slain him as he was hunting At which time as appears by the same book there was t There are not now the least remains of any such custom a custom in this city That what way soever a woman marry'd if a widow she should pay to the King 20 shillings but if a virgin 10 shillings in what manner soever she took the husband But to return this Earl Roger not only fortify'd it but improv'd it much by other useful buildings both publick and private and founded a beautiful Monastery dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul and endow'd it liberally as he did likewise u The very marks of this Church are quite gone unless it was mistaken for St. Giles's yet standing in the same parish tho' ruinous and which some alledge was the ancient Parish-Church the Church-yard of it being yet their common place of burial St. Gregory's Church upon these conditions so a private history of this Monastery expresses it That when the Prebendaries thereof should die the Prebends should go to the Monks From which arose no small contest for the Prebendaries sons su'd the Monks to succeed their fathers in those Prebends and at that time Prebendaries and Clerks in England were not oblig'd to celibacy but it was customary for Ecclesiastical Benefices to descend hereditarily to the next of blood Prebends inheritable But this controversie was settled in Henry 1.'s reign That heirs should not inherit Ecclesiastical Benefices about which time laws were enacted obliging Clergy-men to celibacy Afterwards other Churches were here built and to pass by the Covents of Dominican Franciscan and Augustine Friers sounded by the Charltons Jenevills and Staffords there were two Collegiate Churches w Besides these there are two other Parish-Churches within the walls St. Alkman's and St. Julian's erected St. Chads with a Dean and ten Prebendaries and St. Mary's with a Dean and nine minor Prebends At this day 't is a fine City well inhabited of good commerce and by the industry of the Citizens their Cloath-manufacture and their trade with the Welsh very rich for hither all Welsh commodities are brought as to the common Mart of both Nations It 's Inhabitants art partly English partly Welsh they use both Languages and this must be mention'd in their praise that they have set up 25 A School wherein were more Scholars in number when I first saw it than any School in England one of the largest Schools in England for the education of youth for which Thomas Aston the first Head-School-master a man of great worth and integrity provided by his own industry a competent Salary l 26 It shall not now I hope be impertinent to note that when divers of the Nobility conspir'd against King Henry 4. with a purpose to advance Edmund Mortimer Earl of March to the Crown as the undoubtful and right heir whose father King Richard the second had also declar'd heir-apparent and Sir Henry Percy call'd Hot-Spur then addressed himself to give the assault to Shrewsbury c. At this city when Henry Percy the younger rebell'd against Henry the fourth and was resolutely bent to attack its walls which that King had made exceeding strong by a turn of Fortune he was prevented and his measures broken in a trice for the King himself was suddenly at his
which rose out of the ruins of it One of those things which argue the Antiquity of the place intimates it to be of a much more early date The Coyns I mean discover'd there some whereof are of gold tho' but rarely found some of stone red green blue c. others of silver very commonly met with and the rest of brass copper and mix'd metals They are call'd by the inhabitants Dynders and are so worn and decay'd that there is not one in ten found the Inscription whereof is perfectly legible or the Image distinguishable Now amongst all these as I have the account from a person who has been an eye-witness there is not one but what is Roman from whence we may infer that the destruction of this city was before the coming over of the Saxons or at latest in their wars with the Britains for if it had continu'd till the Danish times there would certainly have been some of the Saxon Coyns mixt amongst the Roman And the Saxon name Wrekenceaster from whence the present Wroxeter flows perhaps may imply that it was when they came Æ¿paeced that is wrack'd and destroy'd unless we say that this name is moulded out of the old Uriconium THE COUNTY PALATINE OF CHESTER By Rob. t Morden As to the urns there have several of them been found whole in the memory of man when they have had occasion to dig 3 or 4 foot deep in their sandy land For as the dead corps here bury'd are in red clay so are their urns lodg'd in a red sand h Our Author observes that Watlingstreet went over a bridge a little way from the City And 't is true there is yet discernable in the bottom of the Severn at low-water the foundation of a stone-work which is probably enough the remains of a bridge But certainly the road went through the midst of the City and so through the ford now call'd Wroxeter-ford as is yet plainly to be discover'd by the old Strait-way pointing exactly upon it on each side of the river â—â—ewsâ—â—y i At some distance from hence is Shrewsbury the Castle whereof our Author observes to be built upon a rock and at the bottom of it's foundation it may be so but the bank appears outwardly to be nothing but a soft mould for the most part sandy k And he farther takes notice that in Hen. 1.'s time that part was wall'd which was not secur'd by the river Now it is wall'd quite round though not very strongly and where the river does not fence it i.e. on the neck of the Peninsula is the Castle built l The School that is now there is a fair stately stone building erected and endow'd by Qu. Eliz. having one Master and three Under-Masters with a very good Library The Buildings and Library are not inferiour to many Colleges in the Universities besides which there are very good houses for the Schoolmasters belonging to it At about 4 or 5 miles distance at a place call'd Grinshill there is another School-house built of the same white stone whither the Masters and Scholars may repair in case any contagious distemper or other cause should render it unsafe for them to stay in the town m About Rossal not far from this place our Author mentions the Flotes but these are seldom seen of late Here is much us'd by the fishermen a small thing call'd a Coracle â—racle in which one man being seated will row himself with incredible swiftness with one hand whilst with the other he manages his net angle or other fishing-tackle It is of a form almost oval made of split Sally-twigs interwoven round at the bottom and on that part next the water cover'd with a horse-hide It is about 5 foot in length and 3 in breadth and is so light that coming off the water they take them upon their backs and carry them home n Upon the eastern border of this County is Oswestre Oswestre where as †Itin. MS. Leland has left it is S. Oswald's Church a very fair-leaded building with a tower'd Steeple but it stands without the new gate so that no Church is within the town It was sometime a Monastery call'd the White minster and was afterwards turn'd to a Parish-Church o About a mile from Oswestre is Caerhendinas Caerhendinas ‖ Aubrey's Monumenta Britan. MS. a hill every way rising the form whereof is an oblong square encompass'd with three great works one higher than another The space within is about seven acres and the tradition is that this place was the last retreat of the Britains Continuation of the EARLS Gilbert dying without issue-male was succeeded in this honour by Edward his brother but he too dy'd without issue surviving and the chief branch of this noble family being thus extinct George Talbot of Grafton in Worcestershire lineal heir to Sir Gilbert Talbot second son to the famous John succeeded who dying also without issue his Nephew John Talbot succeeded Earl of Shrewsbury he dying left Francis his eldest son Earl of Shrewsbury father to this present Charles who is lately created Duke of Shrewsbury and Marquess of Alton More rare Plants growing wild in Shropshire Gramen juncoides lanatum alterum Park Juncus Alpinus capitulo lanuginoso sive Schoenolaguros C. B. Hares-tail-Rush On Ellesmeer meers in great abundance This is the same with the Gramen junccum montanum subcaeruleâ spicâ Cambrobritannicum of Parkinson who makes two Plants of one it is also the Gramen plumosum elegans Phyt. Brit. Persicaria siliquosa Ger. Codded Arsmart or Touch-me-not On the banks of the river Kemlett at Marington in the Parish of Cherbury also at Guerndee in the Parish of Cherstock half a mile from the foresaid river among great Alder-trees in the high-way Ger. p. 446. Rosmarinum sylvestre minus nostras impropriè dictum cùm Cistiledon dicti potiùs species sit Quidam ad Ericas referunt At Birch in the moors of Ellesmeer plentifully It grows in all the Countries near viz. Cheshire Lancashire c. in mosses and boggy places CHESHIRE THE fifth and last part of these Counties formerly possessed by the Cornavii is the County of Chester in Saxon Cestre-scyre now commonly Cheshire and the County Palatine of Chester 〈…〉 for the Earls of it had a certain Palatine Jurisdiction belonging to them and all the inhabitants held of them as in chief and were under a soveraign allegiance and fealty to them as they to the King As for the word Palatine that I may repeat what I have said already of it it was common to all formerly that had any office in the King's Court or Palace 〈◊〉 Pâ—â—â—â— in 〈◊〉 Dâ—scr 〈◊〉 Câ—â—mâ—◠〈◊〉 and in that age Comes Palatinus was a title of dignity conferr'd upon him who had before been Palatinus with an authority to hear and determine causes in his own territory and as well the Nobles whom they call'd Barons as the Vassals were bound to frequent the Palace of the
said Count both to give their advice and attendance and also to grace his Court with their presence a This country Malmesbury says yields corn very sparingly especially wheat but cattel and fish in abundance On the contrary Ranulph of Chester affirms that Whatever Malmesbury might fancy from the report of others yet it affords great store of all sorts of victuals corn flesh fish and of the best Salmon it drives a considerable trade not only by importing but by return as having within it self salt-pits mines and metals Give me leave to add farther that the grass of this Country has a peculiar good quality so that they make great store of Cheese The best Cheese more agreeable and better relish'd than those of any other parts of the Kingdom even when they procure the same Dary-women to make them And therefore by the by I cannot but wonder at what Strabo writes that some of the Britains in his time knew not how to make Cheese and that Pliny should wonder how barbarous people who liv'd upon milk come to despise or else not know for so long time the benefit of Cheese especially seeing they had the way of Curding it to a pleasant tartness and of making fat butter of it From whence it may be inferr'd that a the art of making Cheese was taught us by the Romans Altho' this Country is inferiour to many others of this Kingdom in fruitfulness yet it always produc'd more Gentry than any of them There was no part of England that formerly supply'd the King's army with more Nobility or that could number more Knights-families On the South-side it is bounded with Shropshire on the East-side with Staffordshire and Derbyshire on the North with Lancashire and on the West with Denbigh and Flint shires Toward the North-west it shoots out into a considerable Chersonese Wirâ—all where the Sea insinuating it self on both sides makes two Creeks which receive all the rivers of this County Into that Creek more to the West runs the river Deva or d ee which divides this County from Denbighshire Into that more to the East the Wever which goes through the middle of the County and the Mersey which severs it from Lancashire discharge themselves And in describing this County I know no better method than to follow the course of these rivers For all the places of greatest note are situate on the sides of them But before I enter upon particulars I will first premise what Lucian the Monk has said in general of it lest I should be accus'd hereafter for omitting any thing that might conduce to the commendation of the Inhabitants besides that Author is now scarce and as old almost as the Conquest But if any man be desirous either fully Lucian the Monk in commendation of Chester or as near as may be to treat of the manners of the Inhabitants with respect to them that live in other places of the kingdom they are found to be partly different from the rest partly better and in some things but equal But they seem especially which is very considerable in points of civility and breeding to feast in common are cheerful at meals liberal in entertainments hasty but soon pacified talkative averse to slavery merciful to those in distress compassionate to the poor kind to relations not very industrious plain and open moderate in eating far from designing bold and forward in borrowing abounding in woods and pastures and rich in cattel They border on one side upon the Welsh and have such a tincture of their manners and customs by intercourse that they are not much unlike them 'T is also to be observ'd That as the County of Chester is shut in and separated from the rest of England by the Wood Lime so is it distinguish'd from all other parts of England by some peculiar immunities by the grants of the Kings and the Excellencies of the Earls they have been wont in Assemblies of the people to attend the Prince's sword rather than the King's crown and to try causes of the greatest consequence within themselves with full authority and licence Chester it self is frequented by the Irish is neighbour to the Welsh and plentifully serv d with provisions by the English 't is curiously situated having gates * Positione antiquâ of an ancient model It has been exercis'd with many difficulties fortified and adorn'd with a river and a fine prospect worthy according to the name to be call'd a City secured and guarded with continual watchings of holy men and by the mercy of our Saviour ever preserved by the aid of the Almighty The river Dee The river Dee call'd in Latin Deva in British Dyffyr dwy that is the water of the Dwy abounds with Salmon and springs from two fountains in Wales from which some believe it had its denomination For Dwy signifies two in their language But others from the nature also and meaning of the word will have it signifie black water others again God's water and Divine water Now altho' a fountain sacred to the Gods is call'd Divona Divona in the old Gallick tongue which Ausonius observes to have been the same with our British and altho' all rivers were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Antiquity esteem'd Divine and our Britains too paid them divine honours as Gildas informs us yet I cannot see why they should attribute divinity to this river Dwy in particular Rivers sacred above all others We read that the Thessalians gave divine honours to the river Paeneus upon the account of its pleasantness the Scythians attributed the same to the Ister for its largeness and the Germans to the Rhine because it was their judge in cases of suspicion and jealousie between married persons but I see no reason as I said before why they should ascribe Divinity to this river unless perhaps it has sometimes chang'd its course and might presage victory to the Inhabitants when they were at war with one another as it inclin'd more to this or that side when it left its chanel for this is related by Giraldus Cambrensis who in some measure believ'd it Or perhaps they observ'd that contrary to the manner of other rivers it did not overflow with a fall of rain but yet would swell so extraordinarily when the South-wind bore upon it that it would overfloat its banks and the fields about them Again it may be the water here seem'd holy to the Christian Britains for 't is said that when they stood drawn up ready to engage the Saxons they first kiss'd the earth and devoutly drank of this river in memory of the blood of their holy Saviour The Dee the course whereof from Wales is strong and rapid has no sooner enter'd Cheshire but it 's force abates and it runs through Bonium Bonium more gently which in some copies of Antoninus is spelt Bovium an eminent city in those times and afterwards a famous Monastery From the Choir or Quire it was call'd
the same river not far from the mouth it self which Ptolemy calls Seteia for Deia stands that noble city which the same Ptolemy writes Deunana â—â—ana 〈◊〉 and Antoninus Deva from the river the Britains Caer-Legion Caer-Leon-Vaur Caer-Leon ar Dufyr Dwy and by way of preheminence Caer as our Ancestors the Saxons Legeacester from the Legion's camp there and we more contractly â—â—er West-chester from its westwardly situation and simply Chester according to that verse Cestria de Castris nomen quasi Castria sumpsit Chester from Caster or the Camp was nam'd And without question these names were derived from the twentieth Legion call'd Victrix For in the second Consulship of Galba the Emperor with Titus Vinius that Legion was transported into Britain where growing too heady and too formidable to the Lieutenants as well to those of Consular dignity as those who had been only Praetors Vespasian the Emperor made Julius Agricola Lieutenant over them and they were at last seated in this City which I believe had not been then long built for a check and barriere to the Ordovices Tho' I know some do aver it to be older than the Moon to have been built many thousands of years ago by the gyant Leon Vaur But these are young Antiquaries and the name it self may convince them of the greatness of this errour For they cannot deny but that Leon Vaur in British signifies a great Legion and whether it is more natural to derive the name of this City from a great Legion or from the gyant Leon let the world judge considering that in Hispania Tarraconensis we find a territory call'd Leon from the seventh Legio Germanica and that the twentieth Legion call'd Britannica Valens Victrix and falsly by some Valeria Victrix was quarter'd in this City as Ptolemy Antoninus and the coins of Septimius Geta testifie c By the coins last mention'd it appears also that Chester was a Colony Chester â— Roman Colony for the reverse of them is inscribed COL DIVANA LEG XX. VICTRIX And tho' at this day there remain here few memorials of the Roman magnificence besides some pavements of Chequer-works yet in the last age it afforded many as Ranulph a Monk of this City tells us in his Polychronicon There are ways here under ground wonderfully arched with stone work vaulted Dining-rooms huge stones engraven with the names of the Ancients and sometimes coins digged up with the Inscriptions of Julius Caesar and other famous men Likewise Roger of Chester in his Polycraticon c This passage is likewise in the Polychronicon When I beheld the foundation of vast buildings up and down in the streets it seemed rather the effect of the Roman strength and the work of Giants than of the British industry The City is of a square form surrounded with a wall two miles in compass and contains eleven Parish-Churches 2 But that of St. John's without the North-gate was the fairest being a stately and solemn building as appears by the remains wherein were anciently Prebendaries and as some write the Bishop's See Upon a rising ground near the river stands the Castle built by the Earl of this place wherein the Courts Palatine and the Assizes were held twice a year The buildings are neat The Rowes and there are Piazza's on both sides along the chief street 3 They call them Rowes having shops on both sides through which a man may walk dry from one end unto the other The City has not been equally prosperous at all times first it was demolish'd by Egfrid the Northumbrian then by the Danes but repair'd by Aedelfleda * Domina Governess of the Mercians and soon after saw King Eadgar gloriously triumphing over the British Princes For being seated in a triumphal Barge at the fore-deck Kinnadius King of Scotland Malcolin King of Cumberland Circ An. 960. Macon King of Man and of the Islands with all the Princes of Wales brought to do him homage like Bargemen row'd him up the river Dee to the great joy of the Spectators Afterwards Churches restor'd Glaber Rodolphus about the year 1094. when as one says by a pious kind of contest the fabricks of Cathedrals and other Churches began to be more decent and stately and the Christian world began to raise it self from the old dejected state and sordidness to the decency and splendour of white Vestments Hugh the first of Norman blood that was Earl of Chester repaired the Church which Leofrick had formerly founded here in honour of the Virgin Saint Werburga and by the advice of Anselm whom he had invited out of Normandy granted the same unto the Monks Now the town is famous for the tomb of Henry the fourth Emperour of Germany who is said to have abdicated his Empire and become an Hermite here and also for its being an Episcopal See This See was immediately after the Conquest translated from Lichfield hither by Peter Bishop of Lichfield after it was transferred to Coventry and from thence into the ancient Seat again so that Chester continu'd without this dignity till the last age when King Henry the eighth displaced the Monks instituted Prebends and raised it again to a Bishop's See to contain within it's jurisdiction this County Lancashire Richmond c. and to be it self contained within the Province of York But now let us come to points of higher antiquity When the Cathedral here was built the Earls who were then Normans fortified the town with a wall and castle For as the Bishop held of the King that which belonged to his Bishoprick these are the very words of Domesday book made by William the Conquerour so the Earls with their men held of the King wholly all the rest of the city It paid gelt for fifty hides and there were 431 houses geldable and 7 Mint-masters When the King came in person here every Carrucat paid him 200 Hestha's one Cuna of Ale and one Rusca of Butter And in the same place For the repairing the city-wall and bridge the Provost gave warning by Edict that out of every hide of the County one man should come and whosoever sent not his man he was amerced 40 shillings to the King and Earl If I should particularly relate the skirmishes here between the Welsh and English in the beginning of the Norman times the many inroads and excursions the frequent firings of the suburbs of Hanbrid beyond the bridge whereupon the Welsh-men call it Treboeth that is the burnt town and tell you of the long wall made there of Welsh-mens skuls I should seem to forget my self and run too far into the business of an Historian From that time the town of Chester hath very much flourished and K. Hen. 7. incorporated it into a distinct County Nor is there now any requisite wanting to make it a flourishing city only the sea indeed is not so favourable as it has been to some few Mills that were formerly situated upon the river d ee for it
Envy resign'd up these and two other castles to wit Blank and Hanfeld to King Edward the third In another corner North-eastward the river Mynwy and Wy meeting do almost encompass the chief town of this County which is thence denominated for the Britains call it Mynwy and we Monmouth Monmouth On the North-side where it is not guarded with the rivers it is fortify'd with a wall and a ditch In the midst of the town near the market-place stands the castle which as we find in the King's Records flourish'd in the time of William the Conquerour but is thought to have been re-built by John Baron of Monmouth From him it devolv'd to the House of Lancaster when King Henry the third had depriv'd him of his Inheritance for espousing so violently the Barons Interest against him Or rather as we read in the King's Prerogative for that his heirs had pass'd their Allegiance to the Earl of Britain in France Since that time this town has flourish'd considerably enjoying many privileges granted them by the House of Lancaster But for no one thing is it so eminent as the birth of King Henry the fifth that triumphant Conquerour of France and second Ornament of the Lancastrian Family who by direct force of arms subdu'd the Kingdom of France and reduc'd their King Charles the sixth to that extremity that he did little better than resign his Title Upon whose prosperous Success John Seward a Poet in those times and none of the lowest rank bespeaks the English Nation in this lofty stile Ite per extremum Tanain pigrósque Triones Ite per arentem Lybiam superate calores Solis arcanos Nili deprendite fontes Herculeum finem Bacchi transcurrite metas Angli juris erit quicquid complectitur orbis Anglis rubra dabunt pretiosas aequora conchas Indus ebur ramos Panchaia vellera Seres Dum viget Henricus dum noster vivit Achilles Est etenim laudes longè transgressus avitas March on brave Souls to Tanais bend your arms And rowze the lazy North with just alarms Beneath the toâ—rid Zone your enemies spread Make trembling Nile disclose it's secret head Surprize the World 's great limits with your hast Where nor Alcides nor old Bacchus past Let daily triumphs raise you vast renown The world and all its treasures are your own Yours are the Pearls that grace the Persian Sea You rich Panchaea India and Catay With spicy ivory barks and silk supply While Henry great Achilles of our land Blest with all joys extends his wide command Whose noble deeds and worthy fame surpass The ancient glories of his heavenly race Monmouth also glories in the birth of Galfridus Arthurius Bishop of St. Asaph Geofrey of Monmouth or Ap. Artâ—â—c who compiled the British History an Author well experienced in Antiquities * Fâ—de 〈◊〉 vidâ—tâ—â— non anâ—â—quá but as it seems not of antique credit so many ridiculous Fables of his own invention c hath he inserted in that work In so much that he is now amongst those writers that are censur'd by the Church of Rome The river Wy wherein they take Salmon plentifully from September to April is continued from hence Southward with many windings and turnings It 's now the limit between Glocestershire and Monmouthshire but was formerly the boundary betwixt the Welsh and English according to that verse of Necham Inde vagos Vaga Cambrenses hinc respicit Anglos Hence Wye the English views and thence the Welsh Near its fall into the Severn-Sea it passes by Chepstow Câ—eâ— t â— which is a Saxon name and signifies a market or place of trading In British 't is call'd Kaswent or Castelh Gwent 'T is a town of good note built on a hill close by the river guarded with walls of a considerable circumference which take in several Fields and Orchards The castle is very fair standing on the brink of a river and on the opposite side there stood a Priory whereof the better part being demolish'd the remainder is converted to a Parish-church The bridge here over the Wy is built upon piles and is exceeding high which was necessary because the tide rises here to a great height The Lords of this place were the Clares Earls of Pembroke who from a neighbour castle call'd Strighul where they liv'd were entitled Earls of Strighul Earâ—s â—f Strigâ—â—l and Pembroke of whom Richard the last Earl a man of invincible courage and strength sirnam'd Strong-bow from his excellency in Archery was the first that made way for the English into Ireland By his daughter it descended to the Bigots c. And now it belongs to the Earls of Worcester This place seems of no great antiquity for several do affirm and that not without reason that it had its rise not many ages past from the ancient city Venta Veâ—ta which flourish'd about four miles hence in the time of Antoninus who calls it Venta Silurum as if it had been their chief city Which name neither arms nor time have consum'd for at this day 't is call'd Kaer-went Kaer-wenâ— or the city Venta But the city it self is so much destroy'd by the one or the other that it only appears to have been from the ruinous walls the checquer'd pavements and the Roman coyns d It took up about a mile in circumference on the South-side is a considerable part of the wall yet remaining and more than the ruins of three Bastions What repute it had heretofore we may from hence gather that before the name of Monmouth was heard of this whole Country was call'd from it Went-set or Went's land e Moreover as we read in the life of Tathaius a British Saint it was formerly an Academy Lâ—â—anâ—â—ff or place dedicated to Literature which the same Tathaius govern'd with commendation and also founded a Church there in the reign of King Kradok ap-Ynyr who invited him hither from an Hermitage Five miles to the West of Kaer-went is seated Strighul-castle at the bottom of the hills which now we call Strugle but the Normans Estrig-hill built as we find in Domesday-book by William Fitz-Osbern Earl of Hereford and afterwards the seat of the Clares Earls of Pembroke whence they have been also commonly call'd Earls of Strighull Beneath these places upon the Severn-Sea not far from the mouth of the river Wy lies Port Skeweth P â—t Skewâ—â—h call'd by Marianus Port-Skith who informs us that Harald built a Fort there against the Welsh in the year 1065. which they immediately under the conduct of Karadok overthrew 1 And adjoyning to it is Sudbroke the Church whereof call'd Trinity-Chapel standeth so near the Sea that the vicinity of so tyrannous a neighbour hath spoil'd it of half the Church-yard as it hath done also of an old Fortification lying thereby which was compassed with a triple Ditch and three Rampiers as high as an ordinary house cast in form of a Bow the string whereof is the Sea-cliff That this was a
IMP. M AURELIO ANTONINO AVC SEVER LVCII FILIO LEC. IIV VG P sic Together with these two fragments Centurio c This was lately in the School-wall at Kaêr Lheion but is now rased out †7. VECILIANA d This is in the Garden-wall at Moin's Court but the first line VIII and this character 7. are not visible See Reines Syntag. Inscr pag. 977. VIII 7. VALER MAXSIMI f Here also about the time of the Saxon Conquest was an Academy of 200 Philosophers who being skill'd in Astronomy and other Sciences observ'd accurately the courses of the Stars as we are informed by Alexander Elsebiensis a very scarce Author out of whom much has been transcrib'd for my use by the learned Thomas James Tho. James of Oxford who may deservedly be stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one that is wholly intent upon Books and Learning and is at present God prosper his endeavours out of a desire of promoting the publick good busily employ'd in searching the Libraries of England on a design that is like to be of singular use to the Commonwealth of Learning In the time of K. Henry 2. when Giraldus writ this City seems to have been a place of considerable strength For we find that Yrwith of Kaer Lheion a courageous Britain defended it a long time against the English forces till at last being over-power'd by the King he was dispossest of it But now a fair instance that Cities as well as Men have their vicissitude and fortune that is become an inconsiderable small town which once was of so great extent on each side the river that they affirm St. Gilian's the house of the honourable Sir William Herbert a person no less eminent for wit and judgment than noble extraction to have been in the city and in that place the Church of Julius the Martyr is said to have stood which is now about a mile out of the town From the ruins also of this City Newport Newport had its beginning seated a little lower at the fall of the river Usk. By Giraldus 't is call'd Novus Burgus It is a town of later foundation and of considerable note for a Castle and a convenient harbour where there was formerly some Military-way mention'd by Necham in these verses Intrat auget aquas Sabrini fluminis Osca Praeceps testis erit Julia Strata mihi Increas'd with Usk does Severn rise As Julia Strata testifies That this Julia Strata was a way we have no reason to question and if we may be free to conjecture it seems not absurd to suppose it took its name from Julius Frontinus who conquer'd the Silures Not far from this Newburgh saith Giraldus there glides a small stream call'd Nant Pènkarn passable but at some certain fords not so much for the depth of its water as the hollowness of the chanel and deepness of the mud It had formerly a ford call'd Rhŷd Penkarn now of a long time discontinued Henry 2. King of England having by chance pass'd this ford the Welsh who rely too much upon old prophecies were presently discouraged because their Oracle Merlinus Sylvester had foretold that whenever a strong Prince with a freckled face such as King Henry was should pass that Ford the British Forces should be vanquish'd During the Saxon Heptarchy this County was subject to the Mountain-Welsh call'd by them Dun-settan Dun set who were yet under the government of the West-Saxons as appears by the ancient Laws At the first coming in of the Normans the Lords Marchers grievously plagued and annoy'd them especially the above-mention'd Hamelin Balun Hugh Lacy Walter and Gilbert de Clare 1 Miles of Glocester Robert Chandos Pain Fitz-John Richard Fitz-Punt and c. and Brien of Wallingford To whom the Kings having granted all they could acquire in these parts some of them reduced by degrees the upper part of this County which they call'd Over-Went and others the low lands call'd Nether-Went Parishes in this County 127. ADDITIONS to MONMOVTHSHIRE a MYnydh Kader mention'd by our Author is the name of many Mountains in Wales thus denominated as Kader Arthur Kader Verwin Kader Idris Kader Dhinmael Kader yr Ychen c. which the learned Dr. Davies supposes to have been so call'd not from their resemblance to a Kà dair or Chair but because they have been either fortified places or were look'd upon as naturally impregnable by such as first impos'd those names on them For the British Kader as well as the Irish word Kathair signifying anciently a Fort or Bulwark whence probably the modern word Kaer of the same signification might be corrupted b Lhan Lhan properly signifies a Yard or some small Inclosure as may be observ'd in compound words For we find a Vineyard call'd Gwin-lhan an Orchard Per-lhan a Hay-yard Yd-lhan a Church-yard Korph-lhan a Sheep-fold Kor-lhan c. However as Giraldus observes it denotes separately a Church or Chapel and is of common use in that sense throughout all Wales probably because such Yards or Inclosures might be places of Worship in the time of Heathenism or upon the first planting of Christianity when Churches were scarce c That this Jeffrey of Monmouth as well as most other Writers of the Monkish times abounds with Fables is not deny'd by such as contend for some authority to that History but that those Fables were of his own Invention seems too severe a censure of our Author's and scarce a just accusation since we find most or all of them in that British History he translated whereof an ancient copy may be seen in the Library of Jesus-College at Oxford which concludes to this effect Walter Arch-Deacon of Oxford composed this Book in Latin out of British Records which he afterwards thus render'd into modern British We find also many of the same Fables in Ninnius who writ his Eulogium Britanniae about three hundred years before this Galfridus Arturius compos'd the British History As to the regard due to that History in general the judicious Reader may consult Dr. Powel's Epistle De Britannica Historia rectè intelligenda and Dr. Davies's Preface to his British Lexicon and ballance them with the arguments and authority of those that wholly reject them Near Monmouth stands a noble House built by his Grace Henry Duke of Beaufort call'd Troy the residence of his eldest son Charles Marquiss of Worcester who is owner of it and of the Castle and Manour of Monmouth settled upon him with other large possessions in this County by the Duke his father e The English names of Went-set Wentse◠c. and Wents land have their origin from the British word Gwent whereby almost all this Country and part of Glocestershire and Herefordshire were call'd till Wales was divided into Counties But it seems questionable whether that name Gwent be owing to the City Venta or whether the Romans might not call this City Venta Silurum as well as that of the Iceni and that other of the Belgae
Karneu with the addition of the English termination don signifying Mountain or Hill as in Snowdon Huntingdon c. which conjecture is much confirm'd when we consider there are many hills in Wales denominated from such heaps of stones as Karn Lhechart in Glamorganshire Karnedh Dhavidh Karnedh Higin and Karnedh Lhewelyn in Caernarvonshire with many more in other Counties d Tralhwn from Tre'r Lhyn is an Etymology â—â—ymology 〈◊〉 the word â—â—alhwn agreeable enough with the situation of this place otherwise I should be apt to suspect the word Tralhwn might be the name of a place near this pool before the town was built and that the town afterwards took its name from it For in some parts of Wales 't is a common appellative for such soft places on the Roads or elsewhere as travellers may be apt to sink into as I have observ'd particularly in the Mountains of Glamorganshire And that a great deal of the ground near this place is such is also very well known As for the Etymon of the appellative Tralhwn I suppose it only an abbreviation of Traeth lyn i.e. a Quagmire e Concerning the situation of the old Mediolanum â—edâ—olaâ—â—m our Author seems to discourse with that judgment and modesty as becomes the character he justly bears in the world and since his time I cannot learn that any Roman Monuments have been discover'd at either of the places he mentions that might remove his scruples and fully determine the position of that City His arguments for the agreeableness of the names of Mediolanum and Mylhin though he writes it Methlin are so valid that I know not what can be objected to them However it seems observable that we do not find it was customary among the Britains to prefix the word Lhan i.e. Church to the name of Roman Cities but if any word was prefixt 't was generally Kaer i.e. a Fort or Fence as Caer Lheion Kaer Went Kaer Vyrdhin c. And tho' we should allow the invalidity of this objection and suppose the word Lhan might be introduced in latter times yet considering that a learned and inquisitive Gentleman of this Town who amongst his other studies has always had a particular regard to the Antiquities of his Country has not in the space of forty years met with any Coyns here or other tokens of a place inhabited by the Romans nor yet discover'd the least signs that this town was anciently of any considerable note I think we cannot safely barely on account of its name and vicinity to the situation requir'd conclude it the old Mediolanum Therefore it seems convenient to have recourse to the situation assign'd this City by Dr. Powel before our Author writ his Britannia who in his learned Annotations on Giraldus's Itinerary * ‖ L 2. c. 4. assures us 't was not only the opinion of some Antiquaries that the ancient Mediolanum was seated where the village of Meivod stands at present but also that the same village and places adjoyning afforded in his time several such remarkable Monuments as made it evident there had been formerly a considerable town at that place This Meivod is seated about a mile below Mathraval on the North-side of the river Myrnwy and three miles Southward of Lhan Vylhin at the situation our Author requires At present there remains only a Church and a small village but several yet living have seen there the ruins of two other Churches I am inform'd that about a mile from the Church there 's a place call'd Erw'r Porth i.e. the Gate-acre which is supposed to have taken its name from one of the Gates of the old City and that in the grounds adjoyning to this village Cawsways Foundations of Buildings Floors and Harths are often discover'd by Labourers but whether any such Monuments as we may safely conclude Roman as Coyns Urns Inscriptions c. are found at this place I must leave to farther enquiry Meivod as Bishop Usher supposes is call'd by Nennius Cair Meguid and in other copies Cair Metguod but what the word Meguid or Metguod or yet Meivod or Mediolanum might signifie is hardly intelligible at present at leastwise I cannot discern that the modern British affords us any information concerning the origin of these names Mathraval mention'd here as formerly the seat of the Princes of Powys shews at present no remains of its ancient splendour there being only a small Farm-house where the Castle stood Lhan Vylhin is a market-town of considerable note first incorporated by Lhewelyn ap Grufydh Lord of Mechain and Mochnant in the time of Edward the second It 's govern'd by two Bailiffs chosen annually who besides other Privileges granted to the town by King Charles the second bearing date March 28. Anno Reg. 25. were made Justices of the Peace within the Corporation during the time of their being Bailiffs f The Lordship of Powys was afterwards purchased by Sir Edward Herbert second son of William Earl of Penbroke to whom succeeded his eldest son Sir William Herbert created Lord Powys by King James the first whom his son Percy succeeded in the same title But his son William was first made Earl of Powys by King Charles the second and afterwards Marquiss of Powys by King James Since Philip Herbert second son of Henry Earl of Penbroke was created Earl of Montgomery Earls of Montgomery 3 Jac. 1. May 4 the same persons have enjoy'd the titles of Penbroke and Montgomery and at present both are joyn'd in the right honourable Thomas Baron Herbert of Cardiff c. MEIRIONYDHSHIRE BEyond the County of Montgomery lies Meirionydhshire which the Britains call Sîr Veirionydh in Latin Mervinia and by Giraldus Terra filiorum Conani It reaches to the crooked bay I mention'd and is wash'd by the main Ocean on the west-side with such violence that it may be thought to have carried off some part of it On the south for some miles 't is divided from Cardiganshire by the river Dyvy and on the north borders on Caernarvon and Denbighshire Mountains exâ—eeding high This County hath such heaps of mountains that as Giraldus observes 't is the roughest and most unpleasant County of all Wales 1 And Wales For the hills are extraordinary high and yet very narrow and terminating in sharp peaks nor are they thin scatter'd but placed very close and so eaven in height that the shepherds frequently converse from the tops of them who yet in case they should wrangle and appoint a meeting can scarce come together from morning till night a Innumerable flocks of sheep graze on these mountains nor are they in any danger of Wolves Wolves in England destroy'd which are thought to have been then destroy'd throughout all England when King Edgar impos'd a yearly tribute of three hundred wolves skins on †No Prince of this name in Wales An leg Idwal See Derbyshire and Yorkshire Ludwal Prince of these Countries For as we find in William of Malmesbury When he had
aloft that it seems I shall not say to threaten the sky but even to thrust its head into it And yet it harbours snow continually being throughout the year cover'd with it or rather with a harden'd crust †Nivium senio of snow of many years continuance And hence the British name of Kreigieu Eryreu and that of Snowdon Snowdon Hills in English both which signifie Snowy mountains so Niphates in Armenia and Imaus in Scythia as Pliny informs us were denominated from Snow Nevertheless these mountains are so fertile in grass that it 's a common saying among the Welsh That the mountains of Eryreu would in a case of necessity afford pasture enough for all the cattel in Wales I shall say nothing of the two lakes on the tops of these mountains in one of which there floats a wandring island and the other affords plenty of fish each whereof has but one eye lest I might seem to countenance fables tho' some relying on Giraldus's authority have believ'd both However that there are lakes and standing waters on the tops of these mountains is certain whence Gervase of Tilbury in his book entitl'd Otia Imperialia writes thus In the land of Wales within the bounds of Great Britain are high mountains which have laid their foundations on exceeding hard rocks on the tops whereof the ground is so boggy that where you do but just place your foot you 'll perceive it to move for a stones cast Wherefore upon a surprisal of the enemy the Welsh by their agility skipping over that boggy ground do either escape their assaults or resolutely expect them while they advance forward to their own ruin Joannes Sarisburiensis in his Polycraticon calls the inhabitants of these mountains by a new-coin'd word Nivi collinos of whom he wrote thus in the time of Henry 2. Nivicollini Britones irruunt c. The Snowdon-Britains make inroads and being now come out of their caverns and woods they seize the plains of our Nobles and before their faces assault and overthrow them or retain what they have got because our youth who delight in the house and shade as if they were born only to consume the fruit of the land sleep commonly till broad day c. a But let us now descend from the mountains to the plains which seeing we find only by the sea it may suffice if we coast along the shore That promontory we have observ'd already to be extended to the south-west is call'd in the several copies of Ptolemy Canganum Cangaâ—â—â— Janganum and Langanum Which is truest I know not but it may seem to be Langanum seeing the inhabitants at this day call it LhÅ·n Lhyn It runs in with a narrow Peninsula having larger plains than the rest of this County which yield plenty of Barley It affords but two small towns worth our notice the innermost at the bay of Pwlh heli Pwlh 〈◊〉 which name signifies the Salt Pool and the other by the Irish sea which washes one part of this Peninsula call'd Nevin Nevin where in the year 1284 the English Nobility as Florilegus writes triumphing over the Welsh celebrated the memory of Arthur the Great with Tournaments and festival pomp If any more towns flourish'd here they were then destroyed Vita Gâ—fydâ—â—naâ—â— when Hugh Earl of Chester Robert of Rutland and Guarin of Salop the first Normans that advanc'd thus far so wasted this promontory that for seven years it lay desolate From Nevin the shore indented with two or three promontories is continued northwards and then turning to the north-east passes by a narrow frith or chanel call'd Meneu â—neu or â—nat See â—irebeâ— which separates the Isle of Anglesey from the firm land Upon this Fretum stood the city Segontium â—â—goâ—tium mention'd by Antoninus of the walls whereof I have seen some ruins near a small Church built in honour of St. Publicius 〈…〉 It took its name from a river that runs by it call'd to this day Seiont which issues out of the lake LhÅ·n Peris wherein they take a peculiar fish not seen elsewhere call'd by the inhabitants from its red belly Torgoch â—â—â—goch Now seeing an ancient copy of Ptolemy places the haven of the Setantii â—ntii in this coast which other copies remov'd much farther off if I should read it Segontiorum Portum and should say it was at the mouth of this river perhaps I should come near the truth at least a candid reader would pardon my conjecture Ninnius calls this city Kaer Kystenydh and the author of the life of Grufydh ap Kynan tells us that Hugh Earl of Chester built a castle at Hén Gaer Kystenin which the Latin Interpreter renders The ancient city of the Emperour Constantine Moreover Matthew of Westminster hath recorded but herein I 'll not avouch for him that the body of Constantius the father of Constantine the Great was found here in the year 1283. and honourably interr'd in the Church of the new town by command of King Edward 1. who at that time built the town of Kaer'n Arvon out of the ruins of this city â—narâ— a little higher by the mouth of the river in such a situation that the sea washes it on the west and north This as it took its name from its situation opposite to the island Mona so did it communicate that name to the whole County for thence the English call it Caernarvonshire This town is encompass'd with a firm wall tho' of a small circumference almost of a circular form and shews a beautiful castle which takes up all the west-side of it The private buildings for the manner of the Country are neat and the civility of the inhabitants much commended They esteem it a great honour that King Edward 1. was their founder and that his son Edward 2. the first Prince of Wales of English extraction was born there who was therefore stiled Edward of Caernarvon Moreover the Princes of Wales had here their Chancery their Exchequer and their Justiciary for North Wales In a bottom seven miles hence on the same Fretum lies Bangor â—gor or Banchor enclosed on the south-side with a very steep mountain and a hill on the north so call'd à choro pulchro or as others suppose quasi locus chori â—ee ◠〈◊〉 â—sh D. 〈◊〉 in word 〈◊〉 â—eâ— â—â—i Penâ—â— or 〈◊〉 Ceâ— which is a Bishop's See and contains in it's Diocese 96 Parishes The Cathedral is consecrated to Daniel once Bishop thereof it 's no very fair building having been burnt by that most profligate Rebel Owen Glyn Dowrdwy who design'd no less than the destruction of all the Cities of Wales 'T was afterwards restored in the time of Henry 7. by the Bishop thereof Henry Deny but hath not yet recover'd it's ancient splendour 'T is now only a small town but was heretofore so considerable â—a Gâ—â—f that for it 's large extent it was call'd Bangor-vawr and
or red Charres if we may so call them are found in some other Lakes of this County and Meirionydh besides Lhyn Peris but this Lake of St. Peris affords another kind of Alpine Fish and by the description I hear of it I suspect it to be the Gelt or Gilt Charre of Winandermear in Westmorland which Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Ray conclude to be the same with the Carpio Lacus Benaci of Rondeletius and Gesner The season here for catching both begins about the eleventh of November and continues for a month These fish as well as the Guiniad of Lhyn Tegid in Meirionydhshire are never taken by bait but in nets near Pontvawr in the river Seiont which issues out of this Lake and is call'd now corruptly Avon y Sant from St. Peris I observ'd that the Inhabitants of these Mountains call any low Country Hendrev which signifies the ancient habitation and that 't is a common tradition amongst them as also amongst those that inhabit the like places in Brecknock and Radnorshire that the Irish were the ancient Proprietors of their Country which I therefore thought remarkable because 't is impossible that either those of South-wales should receive it from these or the contrary seeing they have no communication there being a Country of about fourscore miles interpos'd b The river Conwy is probably one of the noblest streams of the length in Europe for whereas the whole course of it is but twelve miles it receives so many Brooks and Rivulets from the bordering Mountains of Snowdon that it bears Ships of burden And hence if I may be free to conjecture it receiv'd its name for supposing that Gŵy or ŵy signifies a River See Râ—dâ—râ—eâ—â—e 〈◊〉 â— KÅ·nwy or Conwy for in Etymologies we regard the pronunciation not the orthography must denote an extraordinary great or prime river the particle Kyn prefixt in compound words being generally augmentative or else signifying the first and chief As Kyn-kan extraordinary white Kyndyn very stiff or obstinate Kynvid the Antediluvian world Kyndhydh the dawning of the day Kynverthyr a Proto-martyr c. And that we may note this by the way I suspect the word Cyn to have been the same originally with the Irish Cean i.e. Head whence Kyntav signifies the first quasi pennav the chiefest and Dr. Davies supposes the word Kyndhâredh i.e. Megrim or Vertigo to be equivalent in signification with Penharedh If this may be allow'd I know not but these proper names Cuntegorix Cunobelinus Cuneglasus and Cunotamus â—ea the â—â—â—â—ons call'd in British KÅ·ntwrch Kynvèlyn KÅ·nglas and Kynèdhav Pâ—nâ—hâ—â—e â—â—em 〈◊〉 â—av 〈◊〉 might bear the interpretation of Choerocephalus Flavicomus Canus and Capito or Bucephalus since we find that persons of the greatest dignity were stiled by such sirnames not only among the Britains but the Romans also and probably most Nations in these parts of Europe The Pearls of this river are as large and well colour'd as any we find in Britain or Ireland and have probably been fish'd for here ever since the Roman Conquest if not sooner For 't is evident that Pearls were in esteem amongst the Britains before that time seeing we read in Pliny †Nâ—t Hist l. 9. c. 35. that Julius Caesar dedicated a Breast-plate to Venus genitrix placing it in her Temple at Rome all cover'd or studded over with British Pearls which must have been receiv'd from the Britains and not discover'd here by his own Souldiers for he advanced not much nearer than 100 miles of any river that affords them The British and Irish Pearls are found in a large black Muscle figur'd and describ'd by Dr. Lister under the title of Musculus niger omnium crassissimâ ponderosissimâ testâ ‖ Append. ad Tract de Animal Angl p. 11. whereby it 's sufficiently distinguish'd from all other shells They are peculiar to rapid and stony rivers and are common in Wales in the North of England and Scotland and some parts of Ireland In this Country they are call'd by the vulgar Kregin Diliw i.e. Deluge-shells as if Nature had not intended shells for the rivers but being brought thither by the Universal Deluge had continued there and so propagated their kind ever since They that fish here for Pearls know partly by the out-side of these Muscles whether they contain any for generally such as have them are a little contracted or distorted from their usual shape A curious and accomplish'd Gentleman lately of these parts * Robert Wyn of Bôd Yâ—kalhen Esq whose untimely death I have reason amongst many others to bewail shew'd me a valuable Collection of the Pearls of this river amongst which I noted a stool-pearl of the form and bigness of a lesser button-mold weighing 17 grains distinguish'd on the convex side with a fair round spot of a Cornelian colour exactly in the center c The small village mention'd here by the name of Kaer hên lies three miles above Conwy or Aber Kynwy and is now call'd Kaer Rhûn which was also the vulgar name of it in our Author's age as appears by some Writings of that time Nevertheless I incline to his conjecture that Kaer Rhûn is only a corruption of Kaer hên i.e. the old City unless we should rather suppose it call'd Y Gaer hÅ·n which signifies the elder Town or City with reference to the Town of Conway which as our Author informs us was built by King Edwarâ— the first out of the ruins of it The common tradition of this neighbourhood is that it received its name from Rhûn ap Maelgwn Gwynedh who liv'd about the end of the sixth Century for his Father whom Gildas calls Maglocunus which word I suppose some Copyist writ erroneously for Maelocunus and invectively Draco Insularis died about the year 586 * Mr. Rob. Vaughan's MS. This I suspect was at first no other than the conjecture of some Antiquary conceiv'd from the affinity of the names which being communicated to others became at length a current Tradition as we find too many more have on the like occasion but whether Rhûn ap Maelgwn gave name to this place or not 't is certain 't was a City long before his time there being no room to doubt but this was the old Conovium of the Romans mention'd in the Itinerary Not many years since there was a Roman Hypocaust discover'd at this place agreeable in all respects by the account I hear of it with those found at Kaer Lheion ar ŵysk mention'd by Giraldus and near Hope in Flintshire describ'd by Mr. Camden So that in all places in Wales where any Legions had their station such stoves or hot vaults have been discover'd those at Kaer Lheion ar ŵysk being made by the Legio Secunda Augusta that near Hope by the twentieth Legion entitl'd Britannica Valens Victrix which lay at Kaer Lheion ar Dhowrdwy or Westchester and this by the Tenth For I find in some notes of Mr. William Brickdal late Rector of Lhan Rŵst that he had seen
saith he so call'd from the famous Monastery that was once there lyes situate in Maelor Seising or Bromfield not far from Kaer Lheion or West-chester Both Town and Monastery hath so felt the injuries of time that at this day there are hardly any ruins of them remaining For we find now only a small Village of the name and no footsteps of the old City except the rubbish of the two principal Gates Porth Kleis and Porth Wgan the former looking towards England and the latter towards Wales They are about a mile distant from each other whence we may conjecture the extent of the City which lay between these two Gates the river Dee running through the midst of it The old British Triades tell us that in the time of the British Kings there were in the Monastery of Bangor 2400 Monks who in their turns viz. a hundred each hour of the 24 read Prayers and sung Psalms continually so that Divine Service was perform'd day and night without intermission c. ¶ It remains now that we make some mention of that remarkable Monument or carv'd Pillar on Mostyn-mountain Maen y Chwyvan represented in the Plate by the first and second figures It stands on the evenest part of the mountain and is in height eleven foot and three inches above the Pedestal two foot and four inches broad and eleven inches thick The Pedestal is five foot long four and a half in breadth and about fourteen inches thick and the Monument being let thorow it reaches about five inches below the bottom so that the whole length of it is about thirteen foot The first figure represents the East-side and that edge which looks to the South and the second the Western-side with the North-edge tho' the Sculptures on these edges are grav'd as if they were no part of the stone When this Monument was erected or by what Nation I must leave to farther enquiry however I thought it not amiss to publish these draughts of it as supposing there may be more of the same kind in some parts of Britain or Ireland or else in other Countries which being compar'd with this it might perhaps appear what Nations used them and upon what occasions Dr. Plot in his History of Staffordshire gives us the draughts of a Monument or two which agree very well with it in the chequer'd carving and might therefore possibly belong to the same Nation ‖ Plot 's Nat. Hist of Staffordshire p. 404. 432. Those he concludes to have been erected by the Danes for that there is another very like them at Beau-Castle in Cumberland inscrib'd with Runick Characters which is presum'd to have been a Funeral Monument * Phil. Transact Num. 178. But the Characters on the East-side of ours seem nothing like the Runic or any other letters I have seen but resemble rather the numeral figures 1221. tho' I confess I am so little satisfied with the meaning of them that I know not whether they were ever intended to be significative Within a furlong or less of this Monument there is an artificial Mount or Barrow whereof there are also about twenty more in this neighbourhood call'd y Gorsedheu where there have been formerly a great many carcases and skulls discover'd some of which were cut and one or two particularly had round holes in them as if pierced with an arrow upon which account this pillar has been suspected for a Monument of some signal victory and the rather for that upon digging five or six foot under it no bones were discover'd nor any thing else that might give occasion to suspect it Sepulchral This monumental Pillar is call'd Maen y Chwyvan a name no less obscure than the History of it for tho' the former word signifies a Stone yet no man understands the meaning of Chwyvan Were it Gwyvan I should conclude it corrupted from Gwŷdhvaen i.e. the high Pillar but seeing 't is written Maen y Chufan in an old Deed bearing date 1388. which scarce differs in pronunciation from Chwyvan I dare not acquiesce in that Etymology tho' at present I can think of none more probable PRINCES of WALES AS for the ancient Princes of Wales of British extraction I refer the Reader to the Annals of Wales already publish'd but for the later Princes of the Royal line of England it seems pertinent to our design that we add here a short account of them Edward the first to whom during his minority his father Henry the third had granted the Principality of Wales having when Lhewelyn ap Grufydh the last Prince of the British blood was slain cut off in a manner the sinews of the Government or sovereignty of that Nation united the same to the Kingdom of England in the 12th year of his reign and the whole Province swore fealty and allegiance to his son Edward of Caernarvon whom he constituted Prince of Wales But this Edward the second conferr'd not the title of Prince of Wales on his son Edward but only the honour of Earl of Chester and Flint as far as I could yet learn out of the records of the Kingdom 1 And by that title summon'd him to Parliament being then nine years old Edward the third first solemnly invested his son Edward sirnam'd the Black with this title 2 With a Cap of Estate and a Coronet set on his head a gold Ring put upon his finger and a ‖ Afterward a golden Verge was used silver Verge deliver'd into his hand with the assent of Parliament who in the very height of grandeur died an untimely death After that he conferr'd the same on his son Richard of Bourdeaux heir to the crown who being depriv'd of his Kingdom by K. Hen. 4. died miserably leaving no issue The same Henry the fourth 3 At the formal request of the Lords and Commons conferr'd the Principality of Wales on his eldest son who was that renowned Prince Henry the fifth His son Henry the sixth whose father died whilst he was an infant conferr'd that honour which he never receiv'd himself on his young son Edward who being taken in the battel of Tewkesbury had his brains dash'd out cruelly by the York-Party Not long after K. Edward the fourth being settl'd in the throne created his young son Edward afterwards Edward the fifth Prince of Wales And soon after his Uncle Richard having dispatch'd him away substituted in his place his own son Edward created Earl of Salisbury before by Edward the fourth but died soon after which I have but lately discover'd Afterwards Henry the seventh constituted first his son Arthur Prince of Wales and after his decease Henry famous afterwards under the title of Henry the 8. On all these the Principality of Wales was conferr'd by solemn Investiture and a Patent deliver'd them in these words Tenendus sibi haeredibus Regibus Angliae c. For in those times the Kings would not deprive themselves of so fair an opportunity of obliging their eldest sons but
The Church of York was by the Princes of that time endow'd with many large possessions especially by Ulphus the son â—f Toraldus which I the rather note from an old bâ—ok that a strange way of endowing heretofore may be took notice of This Ulphus govern'd in the west parts of Deira and by reason of a difference like to happen between his eldest son and his youngest about the Lordships after his death he presently took this course to make them equal Without delay he went to York and taking the horn wherein he was wont to drink with him he fill'd it with wine and kneeling upon his knees before the Altar bestow'd upon God and the blessed S. Peter Prince of the Apostles all his Lands and Tenements This horn was kept there to the last age as I have been informed It would seem to reflect upon the Clergy if I should relate the emulations and scuffles which ambition has raised between the two Sees of York and Canterbury whilst with great expence of money but more of reputation they warmly contended for pre-eminence T. 〈◊〉 r This Controversie was determin'd in Arch-bishop Thoresby's time A. D. 1353. at the special solicitation of King Edward â— qui corpoâ—um animarum pericula considerans ac pacem quietem populi sui affectans dictos Archiepiscopos ad pacis concordiam invitavit Yet so as that the Arch-bishops of York might legally write themselves Primate of England Anglia Sacra par 1. p. 74. For as one relates it the See of York was equal in dignity tho' it was the younger and the poorer sister and this being raised to the same power that the See of Canterbury was and endowed with the same Apostolical privileges took it very heinously to be made subject by the decree of P. Alexander declaring that the Arch-bishoprick of York ought to yield to that of Canterbury and pay an obedience to her as Primate of all Britain in all her Constitutions relating to the Christian Religion It falls not within the compass of my design to treat of the Arch-bishops of this See many of whom have been men of great virtue and holiness 'T is enough for me to observe that from the year 625. when Paulinus the first Arch-bishop was consecrated there have succeeded in it threescore and five Arch-bishops The 〈◊〉 sixth Aâ—â—bishâ—p to the year 1606. in which D. Tobias Matthews Venerable for his virtue and piety for his learned eloquence and for his indefatigable industry in teaching was translated hither from the Bishoprick of Durham mm This City very much flourish'd for some time under the Saxon Government till the Danish storms from the North began to rush on and spoil'd its beauty again by great ruins and dismal slaughter Which Alcuin in his Epistle to Egelred King of the Northumbrians seems to have foretold For he says What can be the meaning of that shower of blood which in Lent we saw at York the Metropolis of the Kingdom near St. Peter's Church descending with great horrour from the roof of the North part of the House in a clear day May not one imagine that this forebodes destruction and blood among us from that quarter For in the following age when the Danes laid every thing they came at waste and desolate this City was destroy'd with continual sufferings In the year 867. the walls of it were so shaken by the many assaults made upon them that Osbright and Ella Kings of Northumberland as they pursued the Danes in these parts easily broke into the City and after a bloody conflict in the midst of it were both slain leaving the victory to the Danes who had retired hither Hence that of William of Malmesbury York ever most obnoxious to the fury of the northern nations hath sustained the barbarous assaults of the Danes and groaned under the miseries it hath suffered But as the same author informs us King Athelstan took it from the Danes and demolish'd that castle wherewith they had fortified it Nor in after-ages was it quite rid of those wars in that especially which was so fatal for the subversion of Cities But the Normans as they put an end to these miseries so they almost brought destruction to York For when the sons of Sueno the Dane arrived here with a fleet of two hundred and forty sail Aâ—fâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Burleâ—â— Treasâ—â— of Eâ—gâ— and landed hard by the Normans who kept garrison in two castles in the city fearing lest the houses in the suburbs might be serviceable to the enemy in filling up the trenches set them on fire which was so encreased and dispersed by the wind that it presently spread about the whole city and set it all on fire In this disorder and hurry the Danes took the town putting the Townsmen and the Normans to the sword with great slaughter yet sparing William Mallet and Gilbert Gant the principal men among them for a Decimation Deciâ—â—â—â—on among the soldiers afterwards For every tenth prisoner of the Normans on whom the lot fell was executed Which so exasperated William the Conquerour that as if the citizeâ—s had sided with the Danes he cut them all off and set the City again on fire and as Malmesbury says so spoiled all the adjacent territory that a fruitful Province was quite disabled and useless that the country for sixty miles together lay so much neglected that a stranger would have lamented at the sight of it considering that formerly here had been fine cities high towers and rich pastures and that no former inhabitant would so much as know it The ancient greatness of the place may appear from Domesday In the time of Edward the Confessor the City of York contained six Shires or Divisions besides the Shire of the Archbishop One was wasted for the castles in the five remaining Shires there were 1428 houses inhabited and in the Shire of the Archbishop two hundred houses inhabited After all these overthrows Necham sings thus of it Visito quam foelix Ebraucus condidit urbem Petro se debet Pontificalis apex Civibus haec toties viduata novisque repleta Diruta prospexit moenia saepe sua Quid manus hostilis queat est experta frequenter Sed quid nunc pacis otia longa fovent There happy Ebrauk's lofty towers appear Which owe their mitre to St. Peter's care How oft in dust the hapless town hath lain How oft it's walls hath chang'd how oft it's men How oft the rage of sword and flames hath mourn'd But now long peace and lasting joy 's return'd For in his days these troublesome times being followed with a long and happy peace this city began to revive and continued flourishing notwithstanding it was often marked out for destruction by our own Rebels and the Scotch Yet in King Stephen's time it was most sadly ruined again by a casual fire which burnt down the Cathedral St. Mary's Monastery and other Religious houses and also as 't is supposed that
streams that fall into it and many other very considerable rivers discharge themselves here And it is without question the most spacious Aestuary and the best stor'd with fish of any in the Kingdom At every tide it flows as the sea does and at ebb returns it 's own waters with those borrowed from the Ocean with a vast hurry and murmur and not without great danger to those that then sail in it Hence Necham Fluctibus aequoreis Naeutis suspectior Humber Dedignans urbes visere rura colit Humber whom more than seas the Pilots fear Scorning great towns doth thro' the country steer The same Author still following the British history as if the Humber deriv'd this name from a King of the Hunns continues Hunnorum princeps ostendens terga Locrino Submersus nomen contulit Humbris aquae The Hunne's great Prince by Locrin's arms subdu'd Here drown'd gave name to Humber's mighty flood Another Poet says of the same river Dum fugit obstat ei flumen submergitur illic Deque suo tribuit nomine nomen aquae Here stopt in 's flight by the prevailing stream He fell and to the waters left his name However in Necham's time there was no city seated upon this Aestuary tho' before and in after-ages there flourished one or two in those places In the Roman times not far from its bank upon the little river Foulnesse where Wighton â—â—ghton a small town well frequented with husbandmen now stands there seems to have stood Delgovitia â—goviâ—ia as is probable both from the likeness and the signification of the name without drawing any other proofs from its distance from Derventio For the word Delgwe in British signifies the Statues or Images of the heathen Gods and in a little village not far off there stood an Idol-Temple Bede in very great glory even in the Saxon times which from the heathen Gods in it was then called God-mundingham and now in the same sense Godmanham Godmanâ—am Nor do I question but here was some famous Oracle or other even in the British times an age wherein weakness and ignorance exposed the whole world to these superstitions A Temple of the Gods But after Paulinus had preach'd Christ to the Northumbrians Coyfi who had been a priest of these heathen Ceremonies and was now converted to Christianity first profaned this Temple the house of impiety as Bede tells us * Injâ—â—ta lancâ—a by throwing a spear into it nay destroyed and burnt it with all its †Sepâ—â—â— hedges f Somewhat more eastward the river Hull runs into the Humber the rise of it is near a village call'd Driffeild Driffeild remarkable for the monument of Alfred the most learned King of the Northumbrians and likewise for the many Barrows rais'd hereabouts The same river posts on running not far from Leckenfeld Leckenfeld a house of the Percies Earls of Northumberland near which at a place called Schorburg is the habitation of a truly famous and ancient family the Hothams and at Garthum not far from thence the rubbish of an old castle which belonged to P. de Malo-lacu or Mauley The river-Hull begins now to approach near Beverley Beverley in Saxon Beuer-lega which Bede seems to call Monasterium in Deirwaud that is the Monastery in the wood of the Deiri a town large and very populous From it's name and situation one would imagine it to be the Petuaria Parisiorum Petuaria tho' it pretends to nothing of greater antiquity than that John sirnamed de Beverley Archbishop of York a man as Bede represents him that was both devout and learned out of a pious aversion to this world renounced his Bishoprick and retired hither where about the year 721 he died Life of Jo. de Beverley The memory of him has been so sacred among our Kings particularly Athelstan who honoured him as his Guardian-Saint after he had defeated the Danes that they have endowed this place with many considerable immunities 3 And Athelstan granted them Liberties in these geâ—eral words All 's free make I thee As heart may think or eye may see They granted it the privilege of a Sanctuary that it should be an inviolable protection to all Bankrupts and those suspected of Capital crimes Asylum Within it stood a Chair made of stone with this Inscription HAEC SEDES LAPIDEA Freedstooll DICITVR i. PACIS CATHEDRA AD QVAM REVS FVGIENDO PERVENIENS OMNIMODAM HABET SECVRITATEM That is This Stone-seat is call'd Freedstooll i.e. the Chair of Peace to which what Criminal soever flies shall have full protection By this means the Town grew up to a considerable bulk strangers throng'd thither daily and the Towns-men drew a chanel from the river Hull The river Hull for the conveyance of foreign commodities by boats and barges The Magistrates of the Town were first twelve Wardens which were after that chang'd to Governours and Wardens But at this day by the favour of Queen Elizabeth the Town has a Mayor and Governours g More to the Eastward flourish'd Meaux-Abbey Regist Monast de Meaux so denominated from one Gamell born at Meaux in France who obtain'd it of William the Conquerour to live in Here William le Gross Earl of Albemarle founded a Monastery for the Monks of the Cluniack Order to atone for a vow he had made whereby he was oblig'd to go to Jerusalem Somewhat lower stands Cottingham Cottingham a long Country-town where are the ruins of an old Castle built by King John's permission by Robert Estotevill Estotevil descended from Robert Grundebeofe a Norman Baron and a man of great note in those times whose estate came by marriage to the Lords de Wake and afterwards by a daughter of John de Wake to Edmund Earl of Kent from whom descended Joan wife to Edward that most warlike Prince of Wales who defeated the French in so many Engagements The river Hull about six miles from hence falls into the Humber Just at its mouth stands a Town call'd from it Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull but commonly Hull The Town is of no great antiquity for King Edward the first whose royal virtues deservedly rank him among the greatest and best of Kings Plac. an 44 Ed 3 Ebor. 24. having observ'd the advantagious situation of the place which was first call'd Wik had it in exchange from the Abbot de Meaux and instead of the Vaccarii and Bercarii that is as I apprehend it Cribs for Cows and Sheep-folds which he found there he built the Town call'd Kingston signifying the King's Town and there as the words of the Record are he made a harbour and a free burgh making the inhabitants of it free burgesses and granting them many liberties By degrees it has grown to that dignity that for statley building strong forts rich fleets resort of merchants and plenty of all things 't is without dispute the most celebrated Town in these parts All this
then by Mask where there is great store of lead From thence by Richmondia commonly Richmond â—â—chmond the chief city of this Shire enclos'd with walls of no great compass yet by the sâ—burbs which shoot out in length to the three gates it is pretty populous It was built by Alan the first Earl who not daring to rely upon Gilling â—â—lling his village or manour hard by to withstand the assaults of the Saxons and Danes whom the Normans had strip'd of their inheritances grac'd it with this name signi ying a Rich Mount and fortify'd it with walls and a very strong castle situated upon a rock from whence it looks down upon the river Swale which with a great murmur seems to rush rather than run among the stones The village Gilling was rather holy upon the account of Religion than strong in respect of its fortifications ever since Oswius K. of Northumberland by the treachery of his Hospitis Host was slain in this place which is called by Bede Gethling To expiate whose murder a Monastery was built here which was highly esteem'd and honour'd by our ancestors More towards the north stands Ravenswath â—â—vensâ—â—th a castle encompass'd with a pretty large wall now ruinous which belonged to those Barons called Fitz-Hugh â—â—ron Fitz-â—â—gh descended from an old line of English who were Lords of this place before the Norman Conquest and flourish'd till the time of Henry 7. being enriched with great estates by marriages with the heirs of the famous families of the Forneaux and Marmions which went at last by females to the Fienes Lords Dacre in the South and to the Parrs Three miles below Richmond the Swale flows by that old city which Ptolemy and Antoninus call Caturactonium â—â—â—uractoâ—â—â—m and Catarracton but Bede Catarractan and in another place the village near Catarracta â—â—â—aricke which makes me think that name given it from the Catarract seeing here is a great fall of water hard by tho' nearer Richmond where as I already observ'd the Swale rather rushes than runs its waters being dashed and broken by those crags it meets with And why should he call it a village near Catarracta if there had been no cataract of the waters there That it was a city of great note in those times may be inferr'd from Ptolemy because an Observation of the Heavens was taken there For in his Magna Constructio lib. 2. cap. 6. he describes the 24th parallel to be through Catarractonium in Britain and to be distant from the aequator 57 degrees Yet in his Geography he defines the longest day to be 18 Equinoctial hours so that according to his own calculation it is distant 58 degrees â—gnum 〈◊〉 nisi noâ— habet But at this day as the Poet says it has nothing great but the memory of what it was For it is but a very small village called Catarrick and Catarrick-bridge â—â—tarrick â—â—â—dge yet remarkable for its situation by a Roman highway which crosses the river here and for those heaps of rubbish up and down which carry some colour of antiquity especially near Ketterickswart and Burghale which are somewhat distant from the bridge and likewise more eastward hard by the river where I saw a huge mount as it were with four bulwarks cast up with great labour to a considerable height m What it might suffer from the Picts and Saxons when with fire and sword they laid waste the Cities of Britain I cannot certainly tell yet when the Saxon Government was establish'd it seems to have flourish'd though Bede always calls it a village till in the year 769 it was burnt by Eanredus or Beanredus the tyrant who destroyed the Kingdom of Northumberland But immediately after he himself was miserably burnt and Catarractonium began to raise its head again for in the 77th year after King Etheldred solemnized his marriage with the daughter of Offa King of the Mercians here Yet it did not continue long flourishing for in the Danish outrages which followed it was utterly destroy'd The Swale after a long course not without some rubs flows pretty near Hornby Hornby a castle of the family de S. Quintin which afterwards came to the Cogniers and besides pleasant pastures and country villages sees nothing but Bedal Bedal situated upon another little river that runs into it which in the time of King Edward the first gloried in its Baron 3 Sir Brian Brian Fitz-Alan Fitz-Alan famous for his ancient Nobility being descended 4 From the Earls of Britain and Richmond from the Dukes of Britain and the Earls of Richmond but for default of issue-male this inheritance was brought by daughters to the Stapletons and the Greys of Rotherfeld The Swale being now past Richmondshire draws nearer to the Ure where it sees Topcliffe Topcliffe the chief seat of the Percies call'd by Marianus Taden-clife who says that in the year 949. the States of Northumberland took an oath of Allegiance there to King Eldred the West-Saxon brother to Edmund n At the very confluence of these two rivers stands Mitton Mitton a very small village but memorable for no small slaughter there For in the year 1319 when England was almost made desolate by a raging plague the Scots continued their ravages to this place and easily routed a considerable body of Priests and Peasants which the Archbishop of York had drawn together against them But now to return From Catarractonium the military-way falls into two roads that towards the north lies by Caldwell Caldwell and Aldburgh Aldburgh which imports in the Saxon language an old burgh By what name it went formerly I cannot easily guess It seems to have been a great City from its large ruins and near it by a village called Stanwig lies a ditch of about eight miles long drawn between the Tees and the Swale As the Way runs towards the ‖ Circium north-west twelve miles off it goes by Bowes Bowes at present a little village and sometimes writ Bough where in former ages the Earls of Richmond had a little castle a tribute called Thorough-toll and their Gallows But formerly it was called in Antoninus's Itinerary Lavatrae Lavatrae and Levatrae as both its distance and the situation by a military way which is visible by the ridge of it do plainly demonstrate The antiquity of it is farther confirmed by an old stone in the Church used there not long ago for a Communion-table with this Inscription in honour of Hadrian the Emperour IMP. CAESARI DIVI TRAIANI PARTHICI Max filio DIVI NERVAE NEPOTI TRAIANO Hadria NO AVG. PONT MAXM COS. I. P.P. COH IIII. F. IO. SEV This fragment was also dug up here NO L. CAE FRONTINVS COH I. THRAC In Severus's reign when Virius Lupus was Legate and Propraetor of Britain the first Cohort of the Thracians was garison'd here â—neum Bâ—â—neum for whose sake he restored the Balneum or bath also
some parts they find great store of Marle to manure their grounds whereby that soil which was deem'd unfit for Corn is so kindly improv'd that we may reasonably think Mankind rather to blame for their idleness heretofore than the Earth for her ingratitude But as for the goodness of this County we may see it in the complexion of the Natives who are particularly well favour'd and comely nay and if we will Lancashire Oxen. in the Cattle of it too For in the Oxen which have huge horns and †Compositio corpore proportionable bodies you shall find nothing of that perfection wanting that Mago the Carthaginian in Columella requir'd On the South part it is divided from Cheshire by the river Mersey which springeth in the middle of the Mountains becomes the boundary as soon as it has gone a little from the rise of it and runs with a gentle stream towards the West inviting as it were other rivers to use the words of the Poet into his azure lap and forthwith receives the Irwell from the North and with it all the rivers of this Eastern part The most memorable of them is the river Roch upon which in the valley stands Rochdale Rochdale a market-town of no small resort as also Bury upon the Irwell it self a market-town no way inferiour to the other And near this whilst I carefully sought up and down for Coccium mention'd by Antoninus I saw Cockley Cockley a wooden Chapel beset round with Trees Turton-Chapel situated in a dirty steep place Turton-tower Turton and Entweissel a fair built house The latter of which formerly belong'd to certain noble persons of that name the former is the seat of that famous family the Orells at this day Where the Irk runs into the Irwell on the left bank rising in a kind of reddish stone scarce three miles from the Mersey flourishes that ancient Town read according to different copies Mancunium Maâ—â—â—um and Manutium in Antoninus which old name it has not quite lost at this day being now call'd Manchester Manâ—â— This surpasses all the Towns hereabouts in building populousness woollen-manufacture market-place Church and its College a This stately stone building is now wholly employ'd for the use of the Hospital and Library founded in the reign of Henry the fifth by Thomas Lord La-Ware 1 Bâ—ing summon'd to Parliament among the Lords Temporal by the name of Magister Thomas de la Ware who was in Orders and was the last heir-male of this family He was descended from the Greleys who were by report the ancient Lords of the Town 2 And by Joâ—nna sister of tâ—e 〈◊〉 Sir Thâ—mas it came to the Wests now Lords de la Ware But in the last age it was much more eminent for the credit of its Woolen-cloth or Manchester-Cottons Maâ—châ— Câ—ttâ—â— as they call them and also for the privilege of a Sanctuary in it which by Act of Parliament in Henry the eighth's time was transferr'd to Chester a In a Park adjoyning to the County of Deâ—by call'd Alparc I saw the marks of an old square Fort just where the river Medloc joyns the Irwell which they call Mancastle I will not say that this was the ancient Mancunium the compass of it is so little but rather that it has been some Roman station here I saw an old stone with this Inscription * O CANDIDI FIDES XX. _____ IIII. This other was taken for me by the famous Mathematician J. Dee Warden of Manchester-College who view'd it COHO I. FRISIN O MASAVONIS P. _____ XXIII They may seem erected to the memory of those Centurions for their approv'd faith and loyalty for so many years together b In the year 920. Edward the elder as Marianus says sent an Army of the Mercians into Northumberland for then this belong'd to the Kings of Northumberland that they should repair the City of Manchester and put a Garison in it c For it seems to have been destroy'd in the Danish wars and because the Inhabitants behav'd themselves bravely against them they will have their Town call'd Manchester that is as they explain it a city of men and of this opinion they are strangely fond as seeming to contribute much to their glory But these honest men are not sensible that Mancunium was the name of it in the British times so that the original of it as 't is derived from our English tongue will by no means hold And therefore I had rather fetch it from the British word Main which signifies a stone For it stands upon a stony hill and beneath the Town at Colyhurst Câ—lâ— there are noble and very famous quarries THE COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASTER By Robt. Morden 〈…〉 After Chatmoss we see Holcroft which gave both seat and name to the famouâ— family of the Holcrofts formerly enrich'd by marriage with the Coheir of Culchit For that place stands hard by which Gilbert de Culchit held in fee of Almarick Butler as Almarick did of the Earl de Ferrariis in Henry the third's time Whose eldest daugher and heir being married to Richard the son of Hugh de Hinley he took the name of Culchith as Thomas his brother who married the second daughter was call'd from the estate Holcroft the other for the same reason Peasfalong and the fourth de Riseley 〈…〉 Now I note this that the Reader may see that our Ancestors as they were grave and settl'd in other things so in rejecting old and taking new names from their possessions were light and changeable And this was a thing commonly practis'd heretofore in other parts of England Here are little Towns quite round as also throughout this whole County Cheshire and other Northern parts which have given names to famous families and continue in the hands of those of the same name to this very day As Aston of Aston Atherton of Atherton Tillesley of Tillesley Standish of Standish Bold of Bold Hesket of Hesket Worthington of Worthington Torbeck of Torbeck c. It would be endless to reckon up all neither is it my design to give an account of eminent families but to survey such places as are of Antiquity Yet these and such like families in the Northern Counties that I may once for all observe it as they rose by their bravery and grew up more and more by their frugality and the ancient self-contented simplicity so in the South parts of England Luxury Usury Debaucheries and Cheating have undone the most flourishing families in a short time insomuch that many complain how the old race of our Nobility fades and decays 〈…〉 Let us however go on with the Mersey which runs by Warrington remarkable for its Lords the Butlers who obtain'd for it the privilege of a Market from Edward the first Hence northward at no great distance 〈…〉 stands Winwick very famous for being one of the best 〈…〉 Benefices in England Here in the uppermost part of the Church
call'd Penninae Penninae Alpes the very top of a hill Pennum and why the Appennines were so term'd by the old Gauls For Pen in British signifies the tops of mountains Pen what in British Clithero At the bottom of Pendle-hill stands Clithero-castle built by the Laceys at a small distance from the Rhibell Near this Whaley Whaley in Saxon Walaleg remarkable for a Monastery built by the Laceys there which was translated from Stanlaw in the County of Chester in the year 1296. Here in the year 798. Duke Wada unfortunately engag'd Ardulph King of the Northumbrians at Billangho now by contraction Langho The Rhibell turning short about to the westward gives it's name to a village call'd at this day Riblechester Riblechester where so many signs of Roman antiquity Statues Coins Pillars Pedestals of Pillars Chapiters Altars Marbles and Inscriptions are commonly dug up that this hobling rhyme of the inhabitants does not seem to be altogether groundless It is written upon a wall in Rome Ribchester was as rich as any town in Christendome Moreover the military-ways led hither the one plain by it's high causey from York the other from the north through Bowland a large forest and for several miles together is plainly visible But the Inscriptions are so defac'd by the country-people that though I met with many I could hardly read above one or two At Salisbury-Hall just by the seat of the noble and ancient family of the Talbots in the pedestal of a pillar I saw this Inscription DEO MARTI ET VICTORIAE D D. AVGG ET CC NN In the wall adjoyning to it there is another stone with the portraicture of Cupid and another little image and in the back-side of it this Inscription was drawn out for me After a great deal of study being able to make no sense of it I have here subscrib'd it to tempt others to give their opinions SEOESAM ROLNASON OSALVEDN AL. Q. Q. SAR BREVENM BEDIANIS ANTONI VS MEG VI. IC DOMV ELITER For my part I cannot so much as fancy any thing about it but that many of the words are British names of places hereabouts In the year 1603. when I caâ—â—â— a second time to see this place I met with an Altar the greatest and the fairest that ever I saw with this Inscription 5 And dedicated to the Mother Goddesses by a Capâ—ain of the Asturiaâ—s DEIS MATRIBVS In the 〈◊〉 or Thâ—â— Rhode M. INGENVIVS ASIATICVS * Perâ— Decurâ— Aâ—ae â—rum sâ—rum sâ—â—â—c vâ—licâ—ns â— bens â— DEC AL. AST SS LL. M. Upon enquiry after these Deae Matres I am able to discover nothing for among the Inscriptions gather'd up and down in the world except in another found here in Britain there is no mention of them but only that Enguinum a little town in Sicily Deâ—e Mâ— Vid. Sâ— Durhâ—â— Plut. 〈◊〉 Marcâ—â— was famous for the presence of the Mother Goddesses and that some spears and brass helmets were shewn there consecrated to those Goddesses by Metio and Ulysses I saw there also another little Altar cast out among the rubbish with this Inscription PACIFE RO MARTI ELEGAVR BA POS VIT EX VO TO This is so small that one would take it to have been some poor man's little Altar to carry about with him and to have been for offering incense or salt flour whereas that other of a much greater size was us'd in the sacrifices of larger beasts These things were certainly done in imitation of Noah by after-ages Tâ—e H◠〈…〉 G. 〈◊〉 even when they had revolted from the true worship of God Nor was it to the Gods only that they rais'd these Altars but out of a servile flattery to their Emperours likewise under the impious title of NUMINI MAJESTATIQUE EORUM To these they fell upon their knees and worship'd them these they embrac'd and pray'd to before these they took their Oaths and to be short in these and their Sacrifices the main substance of their Religion consisted So that they among them who had no Altar were suppos'd to have no Religion and to acknowledge no Deity Here was also a stone lately dug up with the portraicture of a naked man on horseback without saddle or bridle brandishing his spear with both hands and insulting over a naked man prostrate who held out before him a kind of square piece Between the horse and the person prostrate stand the letters D. M. Under the prostrate man are 〈…〉 GAL. SARMATA The other letters for there were many here are so defac'd that they cannot be read and I dare not venture to guess at them One would imagine both from the former inscription and this which was found hard by many years ago that a wing of the Sarmatae had their station here HIS TERRIS TEGITVR AEL MATRONA QV 〈…〉 the â—â—er â—f 〈…〉 VIX AN. XXVIII M. II.D.VIII ET M. IVLIVS MAXIMVS FIL. VIX AN. VI. M.III.D.XX ET CAM PANIA DVBBA MATER VIX AN L. IVLIVS MAXIMVS ALAE SAR CONIVX CONIVGI INCOMPARABILI ET FILIO PATRI PIENTIS SIMO ET SOCERAE TENA CISSIMAE MEMORIAE P. However these give us no light whereby to discover the ancient name of the place for which we are at a loss except it has often chang'd the name a thing not at all unusual for Ptolemy makes Rigodunum to be in this place and if that be corrupted from Ribodunum 〈…〉 it is not altogether unlike a In the neighbourhood of Riblechester there is a place call'd Rixton or Rishton which seems to have some remains in it of the old Rigodunum Riblechester And at the same distance from Mancunium or Manchester viz. 18 miles Antoninus places Coccium which is also read Goccium in some copies But when the grandeur of this city having come to its full period was at last destroy'd by either wars or earthquake for so 't is commonly suppos'd somewhat lower where the tide flows up the Ribell and is call'd by the Geographer Bellisama Aestuarium near Penworth where stood a castle in the Conqueror's time 〈…〉 as appears by the records of the said King from the ruins of Riblechester sprang Preston a large town handsom for these parts and populous so call'd from the Religious for the name in our language signifies Priest's town Below it the Ribell is joyn'd by the Derwen a little river which first washes Black-burne a market town so call'd from the blackness of the water It belong'd formerly to the Lacies and has given the name of Blackburneshire to a small neighbouring part of the Country 〈…〉 From hence it runs by Haughton-Tower which has given name to an eminent family that has long dwelt there 〈…〉 and by Waleton which William Lord of Lancaster King Stephen's son gave to Walter de Waleton afterwards it belong'd to the famous family of the Langtons who are descended from the Waltons But now to return The Preston but now mention'd is commonly call'd
diffus'd her Charity all over the Country This Castle is washt on the East by the river Eden and on the other sides there are great trenches as if the first builder had intended to draw the water round it But the attempt prov d ineffectual from whence they have an old rhyme hereabouts Let Uter Pendragon do what he he can The river Eden will run where it ran h The Barons of Wharton are still possess'd of Wharton-hall Whaâ—â—-haâ—â— Philip the last Baron mention'd by our Author was succeeded in this Honour by Philip his grandchild son of Sir Thomas his eldest son who dy'd in his father's life time who still enjoys it i Instead of saying with our Author that the Musgraves Musgâ—â—â— were so calld from the towns of that name 't is more probable the towns had their name from the Family For the name of Musgrave is to be reckon'd among those which have been taken from Offices and Civil or Military Honours and is of the like original as Landtgraff Markgraff Burggraff c. among the Germans And indeed this name and Markgraff now turn'd into Marquis are probably the same The signification of both is Dux Limitaneus and anciently Musgrave or Mosgrave was all one as in our later language a Lord Warden of the Marches 'T is therefore no Compliment to this honourable Family to foist the name as some have done into one or two Copies of Battle-Abbey-Roll having enough of true old English honour and not needing to borrow any of its lustre from the Normans Yet even this opinion if it should prevail destroys our Author's that the Family of the Musgraves had their name from these villages k Not far from hence is Brough 〈◊〉 consisting at present of two good villages Upper otherwise Church-Brough where the Church standeth whereof Robert Eglesfield Founder of Queens-College in Oxford was Rector and procur'd the appropriation thereof from King Edward the third to the said College Here also stands the Castle of Brough and a tower call'd Caesar's tower which is probably the Propugnaculum our Author speaks of because the Castle was in his time raz'd to the ground the walls of the Tower only remaining which was lately rebuilt by the Countess of Pembroke before-mention'd Near the bridge there is a Spaw-well lately discover'd by the present Vicar of the place the Reverend Mr. John Harrison The other village is call'd Lower-Brough from its situation and Market-brough from a Market held there every Thursday l The next old town is Apleby Aâ—â—â— which hath several testimonies of its ancient splendour tho' at present it be very much decay'd Henry the first gave them privileges equal to York that City's Charter being granted as 't is said in the fore-noon and this in the afternoon Henry the second granted them another Charter of the like Immunities and Henry the third in whose time there was an Exchequer here call'd Scaccarium de Apleby a third Which were in omnibus sicut Eboracum and confirm'd by the succeeding Kings of England When it was first govern'd by a Mayor does not appear but 't is certain that in the reign of Edward the first they had a Mayor and two Provosts which seem to have been formerly men of principal note i.e. Sheriffs or the same as we now call Bailiffs and sign'd the publick Acts of the Town along with the Mayor * 〈…〉 tho' at present they only attend the body of the Mayor with two Halberds Brompton makes mention of Apleby-schire which should seem to imply that at that time it had Sheriffs of its own as most Citieâ— had though we now call them Bailiffs For in the second year of Edward the first in a confirmation-Charter to Shap-Abbey we find this Subscription Teste Thomâ filio Johannis tunc Vice-Comite de Apelby Unless one should 〈◊〉 that Westmoreland was call'd the County of Apelby or Apelby-schire as indeed Brompton seems to intimate But the Scotch-wars by degrees reduc'd it to a much lower condition †〈…〉 In the 22th of Henry the second it was set on fire by them and again in the 1â—th of Richard the second when of 2200 Burgages by due computation of the Fee-farm-rents there remain'd not above a tenth part as appears by Inquisitions in the Town-chest Since which it never recover'd it self but lay as it were dismember'd and sâ—atter'd one street from another like so many several villages and one could not know but by Records that they belong'd to the same body For which reason it is that Mr. Camden mentions no more than Burgh-gate whereas Bongate Battle-burgh Dungate Scattergate are all of them members of this ancient Town and probably the Burrals also which may be an evidence of its having been wall'd round that word implying Burrow-walls and the rather because at Bath in Somersetshire they call the town walls by the same name of Burrals Concerning the condition and misfortunes of this place take this Inscription placed in the Garden belonging to the School-house amongst many others of Roman antiquity collected by Mr. Bainbrigg of whom our Author makes an honourable mention ABALLABA QVAM C. C. FLVIT ITVNA STATIO FVIT RO. TEM MAVR AVREL. HANC VASTAVIT FF GVIL R. SCOT 1176. HIC PESTISSAEVIT 1598. OPP. DESERT MERCATVS AD GILSHAVGHLIN F. DEVM TIME The CC. in the first line is Circumfluit the F F in the fourth Funditus and the F in the end Fuit So that here we have its situation its Roman Antiquity and the devastations made in it by War and Pestilence together with the remove of the Market to Gilshaughlin four or five miles north-west of the town 'T is said that the present Earl of Thanet whose Ancestors on the mother's side the Viponts and Cliffords have been Lords of this Country and flourish'd at Apelby for above 480. years designs to set up and encourage the Cloath-working-trade in this town m The endowment made to the School by the two persons mention'd in our Author was far short of what has been added since by some modern Benefactors the chief whereof was Dr. Thomas Smith the present Bishop of Carlisle who particularly along with Mr. Rand. Sanderson erected a new dwelling house for the use of the School-master 〈◊〉 castle n From Apleby the river carries us to Buley-Castle which is now set in farm to the Musgraves but was no doubt formerly a seat of the Bishops of Carlisle as our Author observes For it is said to have been erected at several times by two or three Bishops and there is still in being an account of several Ordinations held there 〈…〉 Next Eden runs to Crakenthorp hall a pleasant seat the East-side of it where the chief branch of the Machels a family of good note in this Country ‖ Gâ—illanâ—s Heraldry have always resided from the Conquest downwards to this very day nor do any Records afford an account how much longer they have flourish'd here The present Lord of the
think m This reading should make it seem to be the ancient Whitern or Candida Casa in Galloway in Scotland being possibly a corruption for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. White-houses Leucopibia Nennius Caer Lualid the ridiculous Welsh Prophecies The City of Duballus we Carlile and the Latins from the more modern name Carleolum For that Luguballia and Carlile are the same is universally agreed upon by our Historians n Caer in Welsh signifies a City and Caer-Luul Caer-Luel Caer-Lugubal as it was anciently writ are the very same with Caer-Leil or Caer-Luil the present appellation and import as much as the Town or City of Luul Luel or Lugubal But as to the Etymology good God! what pains has our Countryman Leland took about it and at last he 's driven upon this shift to fancy Ituna might be call'd Lugus and that Ballum came from Vallis a valley and so makes Lugu-vallum as much as a valley upon the Luge But give me leave also to produce my conjecture I dare affirm that the Vallum and Vallin were deriv'd from that famous military Vallum of the Romans which runs just by the City For Antoninus calls it Luguvallum ad vallum and the Picts-wall that was afterwards built upon the Wall of Severus is to be seen at Stanwicks a small village a little beyond the Eden over which there is a wooden bridge It pass'd the river over against the Castle where in the very chanel the remains of it namely great stones appear to this day Also Pomponius Mela has told us 〈◊〉 â—â—gus â—hat they â—â—gnify'd â—â—ong the â—â—cient Briâ—â—â—ns and â—â—als that Lugus or Lucus signify'd a Tower among the old Celtae who spoke the same Language with the Britains For what Antoninus calls Lugo Augusti is in him Turris Augusti so that Lugu-vallum both really is and signifies a tower or fort upon the wall or vallum Upon this bottom if the French had made their Lugdunum â—â—gduâ—â—m signifie as much as a tower upon a hill and their Lucotetia Lucotetia or Lutetia in France An old Itinerary lately publish'd says that Lugdunum signifies a desirable mountain so the Ancients nam'd what we call Lutetia as much as a beautiful tower for the words import so much in the British possibly they might have been more in the right than by deriving the latter from Lutum dirt and the former from one Lugdus a fabulous King That this City flourish'd in the times of the Romans does plainly enough appear both from the several evidences of Antiquity they now and then dig up and from the frequent mention made of it by Roman Authors And even after the ravages of the Picts and Scots it retain'd something of it's ancient beauty and was reckon'd a City For in the year of our Lord 619. Egfrid King of Northumberland o See the Donation at large in Sim. Dunelm l 2. p. 58. gave it to the famous S. Cuthbert in these words I have also bestow'd upon him the City call'd Luguballia with the lands fifteen miles round it At which time also it was wall'd round The Citizens says Bede carry'd Cuthbert to see the Walls of the City and a Well of admirable workmanship built in it by the Romans At which time Cuthbert as the Durham-book has it founded a Religious-house for Nuns with an Abbess and Schools for the instruction of youth Afterwards being miserably destroy'd by the Danes it lay bury'd for about two hundred years in it's own ashes till it began to flourish again by the favour and assistance of William Rufus who built it a-new with a Castle and planted there a Colony first of the Flemings whom upon better consideration he quickly remov'd into oo North-Wales and the Isle of Anglesey Wales and then of English sent out of the south r Then as Malmesbury has it was to be seen a Roman Triclinium or dining-room of stone arch'd over which neither the violence of Weather nor Fire could destroy On the front of it was this Inscription Marii Victoriae Some will have this Marius to have been Arviragus the Britain others that Marius who was saluted Emperour in opposition to Gallienus and is said to have been so strong that Authors tell us he had nerves instead of veins in his fingers Yet I have heard that some Copies have it not Marii Victoriae but Marti Victori which latter may perhaps be favour'd by some and seem to come nearer the truth Luguballia now grown populous had as they write it's Earl or rather Lord Ralph Meschines or de Micenis from whom are descended the Earls of Chester and being about the same time honour'd with an Episcopal See by Hen. 1. had Athulph for it's first Bishop This the Monks of Durham look'd upon as an injury to their Church When Ralph say they Bishop of Durham was banish'd and the Church had none to protect it certain Bishops seis'd upon Carleil and Tividale and joyn'd them to their own Dioceses How the Scots in the reign of King Stephen took this City and Henry 2. recover'd it how Henry 3. Eversden committed the Castle of Carlile and the County to Robert de Veteri ponte or Vipont how in the year 1292. it was p The Chronicle of Lauercost is very particular in describing this lamentable Fire He that recorded the account was an eye-witness and says that the fire was so violent that it consum'd the villages two miles off as well as the Church Castle and the whole City and by his relation it should seem that the City was then much larger and more populous than at present it is burnt down along with the Cathedral and Suburbs how Robert Brus the Scot in the year 1315. besieg'd it without success c. are matters treated of at large in our Histories But it may be worth our while to add two Inscriptions I saw here one in the house of Thomas Aglionby near the Citadel * Deterioris seculi but not ancient DIIS MANIBV S MARCI TROIANI AVGVSTINANI * Tumulum TVM FA CIENDVM CVRAVIT AFEL AMMILLVSIMA CONIVX †Carissima KARISS To which is joyn'd the effigies of an armed Horseman with a Lance. The other is in the Garden of Thomas Middleton in a large and beautiful Character LEG VI VIC P. F. G. P. R. F. That is as I fancy Legio Sexta Victrix Pia Felix The interpretation of the rest I leave to others Andrew Harcla Earl of Carlisle Carlisle had only one Earl 15 Sir Andrew Andrew de Harcla whom Edward the second to speak from the Original Charter of Creation for his honourable and good services against Thomas Earl of Lancaster and his Adherents for subduing the King's Subjects who were in rebellion and delivering them prisoners to the King by the girding of a sword created Earl under the honour and title of Earl of Carleol But the same person afterwards prov'd ungrateful villanous and perfidious to
Parliament The Parliament by the same name as it is in England and hath the same absolute Authority It consists of three States of the Lords Spiritual that is the Bishops Abbots and Priors of the Lords Temporal viz. Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Barons and the Commissioners for the Cities and Buroughs To whom were joyned not long since for every County also two * Delegati Commissioners It is called by the King at pleasure allowing a certain time for notice before it is to sit When they are convened and the causes of their meeting are declared by the King and the Chancellour the Lords Spiritual retire apart and choose eight of the Lords Temporal the Lords Temporal likewise as many out of the Lords Spiritual Then all these together nominate eight of the Knights of the Shires and as many of the Burgesses which all together make 32. and are called Lords of the Articles and with the Chancellor Treasurer Privy-Seal the King's Secretary c. admit or reject all matters that are propos'd to the States after they have been first communicated to the King After they are approved by the whole Assembly of the States they are throughly examined and such as pass by a majority of Votes are presented to the King who by touching them with his Scepter signifies the confirming or vacating of them But if the King dislikes any thing it is first razed out Next to the Parliament is the College of Justice The College of Justice or as they call it the Session which King James 5. instituted An. 1532. after the manner of the Parliament at Paris consisting of a President fourteen Senators seven of the Clergy and as many of the Laity to whom was afterwards added the Chancellor who takes place first and five other Senators three principal Clerks and as many Advocates as the Senators shall think convenient These are to administer justice not according to the rigour of the Law but with reason and equity every day except Sunday and Monday from the first of November to the fifteenth of March and from Trinity Sunday to the first of August All the space between as being the times of sowing and harvest is Vacation and intermission from Suits and matters of Law They give judgment according to Acts of Parliament and where they are defective according to the Civil Law There are besides in every County inferiour Civil Courts wherein the Sheriff or his deputy decides controversies amongst the inhabitants about ejections intrusions damages debts c. from whom upon suspicion of partiality or alliance they appeal sometimes to the Session These Sheriffs are all for the most part hereditary For the Kings of Scotland as well as of England to oblige the better sort of Gentlemen more closely to them by their favours in old time made these Sheriffs hereditary and perpetual But the English Kings soon perceiving the inconveniencies happening thereupon purposely changed them into annual There are Civil Courts held also in the Fiefs of the Crown by their respective Bailiffs to whom the King hath graciously granted Royal privileges as also in free Boroughs and Cities by their Magistrates There are likewise Courts called The Commissariat the highest of which is kept at Edenborough wherein before four Judges actions are pleaded concerning matters relating to Wills the right of Ecclesiastical Benefices Tythes Divorces c. and Ecclesiastical Causes of like nature But in almost all the other parts of the Kingdom there sits but one Judge on these Causes In criminal Causes the King 's Chief Justice holds his Courts generally at Edenborough which Office hath for some time been executed by the Earls of Argyle who depute two or three Counsellors to take cognizance of actions of life and death loss of limbs or of goods and chattels In this Court likewise the Defendant is permitted even in case of High Treason to retain an Advocate to plead for him Moreover in criminal matters Justices are sometimes appointed by the King's Commission for deciding this or that particular cause Also the Sheriffs in their territories and Magistrates in some Boroughs may sit in judgment of Manslaughter in case the Manslayer be apprehended in the space of 24 hours and having found him guilty by a Jury may put him to death But if that time be once overpast the cause is referred to the King's Justice or his Deputies The same privilege also some of the Nobility and Gentry enjoy against Thieves taken within their own Jurisdictions There are likewise who have such Royalties that in criminal causes they may exercise a jurisdiction within their own limits and in some cases recall those that dwell within their own liberties from the King's Justice provided they judge according to Law These matters as having had but a transient view of them I have lightly touched upon What manner of Country Scotland is and what men it breeds Pomponius Mela. as of old that excellent Geographer writ of Britain will in a little time more certainly and evidently be shown since the greatest of Princes hath opened a passage to it which was so long shut up In the Interim I will proceed to the Places which is a subject I am more immediately concern'd in GADENI or LADENI UPon the Ottadini or Northumberland bordered the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gadeni who by the turning of one letter upside down are called in some Copies of Ptolemy Ladeni seated in that Country lying between the mouth of the River Tweed and Edenborough-Frith Joh. Skene de Verborum significatione which is now cantoned into many petty Countries The principal of them are Teifidale Twedale Merch and Lothien in Latin Lodeneium under which general name the Writers of the middle age comprised them all a TEIFIDALE TEifidale that is to say the Valley or Dale by the River d This river divideth that part of the shire properly called Teviotdale into that which lyeth on the South and that which lyeth on the North. Tefy or Teviot lying next to England amongst cliffs of craggy hills and rocks is inhabited by a warlike people who by reason of so frequent encounters between the Scots and English in former ages are always very ready for service and sudden invasions The first place we meet with amongst these is Jedburg a Borough well frequented standing near the confluence of the Tefy and Jed from whence it takes its name and Mailros â—â—â—â—ross a very ancient Monastery wherein in the Church's infancy were Monks of that antient instituion that gave themselves to prayer and with the labour of their hands earn'd their living And more Eastward where the Twede and the Tefy joyn in one stream â—â—â—oâ—â—â—h e The Royalty of this place was transmitted to the town of Iedburgh the chief burgh-royal of the shire Rosburg called also Roxburgh and in antient times Marchidun from its being seated in the Marches where stands a Castle that by its natural situation and tow'red fortifications
March Marr and Garioth Lord of Annandale and Mann was out-law'd by his brother James the 3. and after many struglings with the world and its troubles in the end as he stood by to see a Tournament at Paris he happen'd to be wounded by a splinter of a broken Lance and so died His son John the 4th Duke of Albany Regent likewise and made Guardian to K. James the 5. being charm'd with the pleasures of the French Court as having married a daughter and coheir of John Earl of Auvergne and Lauragueze died there without issue Whom out of respect and deference to the bloud Royal of Scotland Francis the 1. King of France honour'd so far as to allow him a place in France between the Archbishop of Longres Tily and the Duke of Alencon Peers of the Realm After his death there was no Duke of Albany till Queen Mary 11 In our memory conferr'd this honour upon Henry Lord Darley whom some few days after she made her Husband and K. James the 6. granted the same to his second son Charles an Infant now Duke of York These Parts are inhabited by a sort of people barbarous warlike and very mischievous commonly called Highland-men Highland-men who being the true race of the antient Scots speak Irish and call themselves Albinnich People they are of firm and compact bodies of great strength swift of foot high minded born as it were for the exercises of War or rather of robberies and desperately bent upon revenge They wear after the manner of the Irish †Plaids strip'd Mantles of divers colours with their hair thick and long living by hunting fishing fowling and stealing In war their armour is an iron head-piece and a coat of Mail their arms a bow barbed arrows and a broad back-sword And being divided into Families which they call Clanns what with plundering and murdering they commit such barbarous outrages Parliam 1581. that their savage cruelty hath made this Law necessary That if one of any Clann hath committed a trespass whoever of that Clann chances to be taken shall repair the damage or suffer death 12 Whereas the whole Clan commonly beareth feud for any hurt receiv'd by any one member thereof by excution of Laws order of Justice or otherwise PERTHSHIRE OUT of the very bosom of the Mountains of Albany issues the Tay The River Tay. the greatest river in all Scotland and rolls along thro' the fields till widening it self into a Lake full of Islands it there restrains its course After this kept within banks it waters Perth a large plentiful and rich country and receives the Amund a little River coming out of Athol This Athol Athâ—l to make a little digression is infamous for Witches but a country fruitful enough having woody valleys where once the Caledonian Forest The Caledâ—nian Forest dreadful for its dark intricate windings for its denns of bears and its huge wild thick-maned bulls extended it self in former ages far and near in these parts As for the places herein they are of little account but the Earls are very memorable Thomas a younger son of Rolland of Galloway was in his Wife 's right Earl of Athol Earls of Athol whose son Patrick was murder'd at Hadington by the Bissets his Rivals and they immediately set the house on fire Chronicon Mailrâ—ss that it might be supposed he perished casually in the flames In the Earldom succeeded David Hastings who had married Patrick's Aunt by the mother's side whose son that David sirnamed of Strathbogy may seem to have been who a little after in the Reign of Hen. 3. of England was Earl of Athol married one of the daughters and heirs of Richard base son to King John of England and had a very noble Estate with her in England She bore him two sons John Earl of Athol who being very unsettled in his allegiance was hanged on a Gallows fifty foot high and David Earl of Athol who by a marriage with one of the daughters and heirs of John Comin of Badzenoth by one of the heirs of Aumar de Valence Earl of Pembroke got a mighty estate He had a son David who under King Edw. 2. was sometimes summoned to Parliament amongst the English Earls and being made under King Edward Baliol Lieutenant-General of Scotland was conquer'd by the valour of Andrew Murray and slain in a battle in Kelblen Forest in the year 1335. His son David had only two young daughters Elizabeth married to Tho. Percy from whom the Barons de Burrough fetch their original and Philippa married to Sir Tho. Halsham an English Knight Then fell the title of Athol to that Walter Stewart son to King Robert 2. who barbarously murder'd James 1. King of Scotland and was agreeably punished for that execrable piece of cruelty insomuch that Aeneas Sylvius then Pope Eugenius the 4th's Nuncio in Scotland is reported to have said That he could not tell whether he should give them greater commendations that revenged the King's death or punish them with a sharper censure of condemnation that polluted themsâ—lves with so heinous a Parricide After an interval of some few years this honour was granted to John Stewart of the house of Lorne son of James sirnamed the Black Knight by Joan the widow of King James 1. daughter of John Earl of Somerset and ‡ Nepti neice to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster whose Posterity enjoy it at this day a 'T is now a Marquisate in the Family of Murray Now the Tay by the Influx of the Almund being enlarged makes for Dunkell Dunkeld adorned by King David with an Episcopal See This upon account of the signification is lookt upon by most as a town of the Caledonians and they interpret it The hill of Hazles who will have it take the name from the Hazles of the Caledonian Forest * See â—he Additions Bâ—r h. From hence the Tay takes its course by the ruins of Berth a little desolate City not forgetting what calamity it brought upon it in times past when with an impetuous torrent it overflow'd the pasture and corn grounds destroyed all the labours of the Husbandman and hurried headlong with this poor city a Royal infant and all the Inhabitants Instead whereof King William built Perth Perth much better situated which presently grew so rich that Necham who lived in that age made this distick upon it Transis ample Tai per rura per oppida per Perth Regnum sustentant istius urbis opes Great Tay through Perth through towns through country flies Perth the whole Kingdom with her wealth supplies But posterity hath named it from a Church founded in honour of St. John St. John's town St. Jâ—hns Town And the English in the heat of the war between the Bruses and the Baliols fortified it with great Bulwarks which the Scots afterwards mostly demolished It is nevertheless a neat little City pleasantly seated between two Greens
The British Bishops seem no less to have despised riches for they had no subsistence of their own Thus as we find in Sulpitius Severus The British Bishops The Bishops of Britain in the Council holden at Rhimini were maintained by the publick having nothing of their own to live upon The Saxons in that age flock'd hither as to the great mart for learning and this is the reason why we find this so often in our Writers Such a one was sent over into Ireland to be educated o Vide Bed lib. 3. c. 7 27. and this passage in the life of Sulgenus who flourish'd 600 years ago Exemplo patrum commotus amore legendi Jvit ad Hibernos Sophia mirabile claros With love of learning and examples fir'd To Ireland fam'd for wisdom he repair'd The Sâ—tâ—ns â—â—em to the borrowed â—â—eir letâ—â—â—s from 〈◊〉 Iâ—â—sh And perhaps our fore-fathers the Saxons took the draught and form of their letters from them their character being the same with that at this day used in Ireland Nor is there any reason to admire that Ireland which for the most part is now rude and barbarous and without the glory of polite literature Religion and learning flourish sometimes in one Country and sometimes in another was so full of pious and great Wits in that age wherein learning was little heeded throughout Christendom when the wisdom of Providence has so ordered it that Religion and Learning shall grow and flourish sometimes in one Nation and sometimes in another to the end that by every transplantation a new growth may shoot up and flourish to his glory and the good of mankind However the outrage of wars by little and little soon put a stop to the pursuits and study of Religion and Learning in this Kingdom For in the year 644 EgfrÃd King of Northumberland with fire and sword spoil'd Ireland which was then a very kind allie to England and for this reason he is most sadly complain'd of by Bede After the Norwegians under the conduct of Turgesius Ireland wast d by the Norwegi wasted this Country in a most dismal manner for the space of 30 years together but he being cut off by an ambush laid for him the inhabitants fell upon the Norwegians and made such an entire defeat of them that hardly so much as one escaped Now these Norwegians were without doubt those Normans who as Rheginus tells us in Charles the Great 's time invaded Ireland an Island of the Scots and were put to flight by them Afterwards Oustmanni those perhaps whom Tac. calls Aestiâ—n s Eginâ—rdâ—s Aitisti the Oustmanni i.e. the East-men came from the sea coasts of Germany into Ireland where under the colour of trade and merchandise being admitted into some cities in a short time they began a very dangerous war Much about this time Edgar the most potent King of the English conquered a great part of Ireland For thus we find it in a certain Charter of his Unto whom God has graciously granted together with the Empire of England the dominion over all the Kingdoms of the Islands with their fierce Kings as far as Norway and the conquest of the greatest part of Ireland with her most noble city Dublin These tempests from foreign parts were soon succeeded by a worse storm of dissention at home which made way for the English Conquest of that Country Henry the second King of England seeing the differences and emulations among the petty Princes of Ireland took this opportunity and in the year 1155 moved the Conquest of Ireland to his Barons for the use of his brother William of Anjou However by advice of his mother Maud Robert de Moâ—te ad annum 1185. De mic the son of Murchard 1167. the Empress this design was deferred and put off to another time Not many years after Dermicius the son of Murchard Dermic Mac Morrog as they call him who governed the east part of Ireland in Latin Lagenia commonly Leinster for his tyranny and extravagant lusts for he had ravished p The wife of O. Rorke daughter of a petty King of Mâ—ath the wise of O. Rorkes petty King of Meath was driven from his Country and obtained aid and forces of King Henry the second to restore him He made this contract also with Richard Earl of Pembroke sirnamed Strongbow Richard Strongbow of the family of Clare that if he would assist him he would ensure the succession of his Kingdom to the Earl and give him his daughter Eva to wife Upon this the Earl forthwith raised a good Army consisting of Welsh and English induced the Fitz-Geralds Fitz-Stephens and other of the English Nobility to assist him and by these powers not only restored Dermicius his Father-in-law but in a few years made such progress in the conquest of Ireland that the King of England began to grow jealous and suspect his power so that he put forth his Proclamation requiring the said Earl and his adherents upon grievous penalties to return out of Ireland declaring that if they did not forthwith obey they should be banished and their goods confiscated Hereupon the Earl by deed and covenant made over to the King all that he had in Ireland either in right of his wife or of his sword and so had the Earldoms of Weisford Ossory Carterlogh and Kildare with some castles bestowed upon him by the King to hold of him After this King Henry the second raised an army sailed over into Ireland in the year 1172 Henr. 2. enters Ireland and obtained the soveraignty of that Island q Câ—â—â—cerning the Coâ—onies sent from England and Wales into Ireland in the time of King Henr. 2. and the Lands granted therein see Ware 's Antiquitat Hâ—bâ—rn p. 232. For the States of Ireland conferred upon him their whole power and authority Girald Cambrens MS. In the hands of Baron Howth namely Rotheric O Conor Dun that is to say the brown King of Ireland Dermot Mac Carty King of Cork Donald O Bren King of Limerick O Carel King of Uriel Mac Shaglin King of Ophaly r O Rorke was not King of Meath O Rorke King of Meath O Neale King of Ulster with all the rest of the Nobility and people by Charters signed delivered and sent to Rome from whence it was confirmed by a Diploma of Pope Hadrian's Synod 1. 2. at Cassil Armagh and by a ring sent him as a token of his Investiture it was also ratified by the authority of certain Provincial Synods Afterwards King Henry the second bestowed the Soveraignty of Ireland upon his son John which was confirmed by a Bull from Pope Urban who to confirm him in it sent him a Crown of Peacocks Feathers embroidered with Gold Authors affirm that when this Prince came to the Crown he granted by his Charter that both Ireland and England should be held of the Church of Rome Hovedun and that he received it
these are most a It is not so at this day but on the contrary is as safe and secure as any part of Ireland sadly infested with those pernicious people the O-Tooles and O-Birnes Among these Glynnes lays the Bishoprick of Glandilaugh which has been desolate and forsaken ever since it was annexed to the Archbishoprick of Dublin In other parts this County is very well town'd and peopled and surpasses all other Provinces of Ireland for improvement and beauty 't is divided into five Baronies Rathdown Newcastle Castle-Knoc Cowloc and Balrodry which I cannot as I should indeed desire give a particular account of because I am not well acquainted with the extent and bounds of them First therefore I will only glance along the sea-coast and then follow the rivers as their course leads me into the inner parts of this County none of which are twenty miles distant from the shore To begin in the south the first place we meet with upon the coast is Wicklo Wâ—â—â—lo 〈◊〉 a Coâ—ty 1606. where is a narrow haven with a rock hanging over it enclosed with good walls instead of a Castle which as other Castles of this Kingdom is prohibited by Act of Parliament to be commanded by any one as Governor that is not an English man by reason those Irish men that have bore that charge heretofore have to the damage of the Government either made ill defence in case of an assault or suffered prisoners to escape by their connivance But let us hear what Giraldus says of this port who calls it Winchiligillo There is a port at Winchiligillo on that side of Ireland next Wales which receives the tide every high water and ebbs with the sea and though the sea has gone back and quite left it yet the river which runs into the sea here is all along as it goes salt and brackish Next upon the top of a hill by the sea-side stands New-castle whence may be seen those shelves of sand call'd the Grounds which lye along for a great way upon this coast yet between them and the shore the water is said to be seven fathom deep A little higher where the b It is the bound between the Counties of Dublin and Wicklow so that the part already described south of that river is comprehended in the County of Wicklow Bray a small river runs into the sea stands Old Court â—ld Court the estate of the Wallenses or Walshes of Caryckmain a family not only ancient and noble but very numerous in these parts Next to this is Powers Court â—wers â—â—â—rt formerly as the name it self shews belonging to the Poers a very large castle till Tirlaugh O Toole in a rebellion overthrew it From the mouth of the Bray the shore runs in and admits a bay within that compass where at the very turn of the * Cubiti elbow lyes the little Island of S. Benedict which belongs to the Archbishop of Dublin This bay is call'd Dublin-haven into which runs the Liffy 〈◊〉 v. Lifâ—â—y Giâ—ius Aâ—â— Liff the noblest river of this County though the spring of it be but fifteen miles from the mouth the course of it is so winding and crooked that first it goes south by S. Patricks land and then west after that it plies northward watering the County of Kildare and at length eastward by Castle Knoc heretofore the Barony of the Terils whose estate by females was transferr'd to other families about the year 1370 and by Kilmainam formerly belonging to the Knights of the order of S. John of Jerusalem now converted to a place of retirement for the Lord Deputy This Liffy is certainly mentioned in Ptolemy though the Librarians have carelesly depriv'd it of its proper place For this river Libnius is describ'd in the present editions of Ptolemy to lye in the same latitude in the other part of the Island whereas there is really no such river and therefore now if the reader pleases let it be re-call'd from exile and restored to its Eblana Of it thus Necham Viscera Castle-Knoc non dedignatur Aven-Liff Istum Dublini suscipit unda maris Nor thee poor Castle-Knock does Liffy scorn Whose stream at Dublin to the Ocean 's born For Dublin is but seven miles distant from the mouth of it eminent and memorable above all the Cities of Ireland the same which Ptolemy calls Eblana Eblana Dublin we Develin the Latins Dublinium and Dublinia the Welsh Dinas Dulin the Saxons Duflin the Irish Balacleigh that is a town upon Hurdles for so they think the foundation lyes the ground being soft and quaggy as was Sevill in Spain which Isidore reports to be so call'd because it stood upon pales fastned in the ground which was loose and fenny As for the antiquity of Dublin I have met with nothing that I can positively say of it that the City must needs be very ancient I am satisfy'd upon Ptolemy's authority Saxo Grammaticus makes it to have been sadly shatter'd in the Danish wars afterwards it sell under the subjection of Edgar King of England as his Charter already mentioned testifies 21 Wherein he calleth it the noble City of Ireland Next the Norwegians got possession of it and therefore in the life of Gryffith ap Cynan Prince of Wales we read that Harald the Norwegian after he had subdu'd the greatest part of Ireland built Dublin This Harald seems to be that * Pulchricomus Har-fager first King of Norway whose pedigree stands thus in the life of Gryffith From Harald descended * Other wise call'd Abloâ—eus Anlasus and Olanus Auloed from Auloed another of the same name This Auloed had Sitric King of Dublin Sitric had a son Auloed whose daughter Racwella was mother to Gryffith ap Cynan born at Dublin while †Thirdelacus Tirlough reign'd in Ireland This by the by At length upon the first arrival of the English in Ireland Dublin was soon taken and gallantly defended by them when Ausculph Prince of Dublin and afterwards Gothred Prince of the Isles fiercely assaulted it on all sides A little after an English Colony was transplanted from Bristol hither by King Henry the second giving them this City which was perhaps at that time drain'd of Inhabitants in these words with all the liberties and free customs which those of Bristol enjoyed From that time it flourished more and more and in many doubtful and dangerous circumstances has shown great instances of its loyalty to the Kings of England This is the Royal City of Ireland and the most noble * Emporium Mart wherein the chief Courts of Judicature are held The City is well wall'd neatly built and very populous c Dublin is more tâ—an as big again as it was when Camden wrote the buildings much more supmtuous and the City every way much more glorious and magnificent An old writer describes it to be noble for its many Inhabitants very pleasantly situated Joscelinus de Furnesiâ— In the life
it The same year on S. Laurence's-eve Thomas Lord Botiller marched with a great army into the Country of Ardnorwith where he fought with the Lord Thomas William Macgoghgan and was there kill'd to the great loss of Ireland and with him John Lord Ledewich Roger and Thomas Ledewich John Nangle Meiler and Simon Petitt David Nangle Sir John Waringer James Terel Nicholas White William Freynes Peter Kent and John White besides 140. whose names we know not The Tuesday before the feast of S. Bartholomew the said Lord Thomas's body was convey'd to Dublin and laid in the house of the predicant Friers unburied till the sunday after the feast of the beheading of S. John Baptist when he was very honourably carried through the City and interr'd in the Church of the predicant Friers which very day his wife gave a great entertainment The same year John Lord Darcy came a second time Justice of Ireland who at Maynoth on the third of July espoused the Lady Joan Burg Countess of Kildare Item Philip Staunton was slain and Henry Lord Traharn was treacherously taken in his own house at Kilbego by Richard son to Philip Onolan James Lord Botiller Earl of Ormond burnt Foghird in revenge to Onolan for his brother Henry's sake The same year the Wednesday after the feast of the Ascension of the blessed Virgin John Lord Darcy Justice of Ireland went towards the Country of New-castle of Mackingham and of Wikelow against the O Brynns and the Monday following some of the Lawles were killed and more wounded and Robert Locam was wounded and of the Irish the better sort were slain many wounded and the rest ran away But Murkad O Brynne with his son uncle and uncle's son yielded themselves hostages and were carried to the Castle of Dublin But were afterwards in exchange of Hostages who were of the best of their Kindred set at liberty The same year John Lord Darcy Chief Justice and the King's Council in Ireland about the feast of our Lord's Circumcision commanded Moris Lord Fitz Thomas of Desmond to march with his Army against his Majesties enemies for to subdue them And that the King would take care to defray the Charge he should be at both for himself and his Army so the Lord Fitz-Thomas accompanied by Briene O-Brene came with an Army of ten thousand Men with which he march'd against the O-nolanes and conquer'd them having got a considerable Booty and wasted their Country by fire the O-nolanes fled but afterwards deliver'd Hostages who were sent to the Castle of Dublin Hence he march'd against the O-Morches who gave Hostages with a promise of living quietly The same time the Castle of Ley which O-Dympcy had taken and kept was surrender'd to him This year after the Epiphany Donald arte Mac-Murgh made his escape out of the Castle of Dublin by a Cord which one Adam Nangle had bought him who for his pains was drawn and hang'd MCCCXXX About the feast of S. Catherine S. Nicholas and the Nativity of our Lord the winds were in several places very high so that on S. Nicholas-eve they blew down part of the wall of a certain House which in the falling kill'd Sir Miles Verdon's wife and daughter there was never yet known such winds in Ireland There was such an overflowing of the River Boyn this year as was never seen before which flung down all the Bridges upon this River both Wood and Stone except Babe-bridge The violence also of the water carried away several Mills and did very much damage to the Friers-minors of Trym and Drogheda by breaking down their Houses The same year about S. John Baptist's-day there was a great dearth of Corn in Ireland which lasted till Michaelmas A cranoc of Wheat was sold for 20 Shillings a cranoc of Oats Pease Beans and Barly for 8 Shillings This dearth was occasion'd by the great Rains so that a great deal of the standing Corn could not be cut before Michaelmas The same year about Lent the English in Meth killed some of the Irish viz. the Mac-goghiganes near Loghynerthy which did so incense Mac-goghigan that he burnt and sack'd in those Parts 15 small Villages which the English seeing gathered together in a Body against him and kill'd 110 of his men among whom were three Irish Kings sons Item The Lord William Burgh Earl of Ulster march'd with his Army out of Ulster against Briene O Brene in Munster Also the Lady Joan Countess of Kildare was at Maynoth brought to Bed of William her first Son which the Lord John Darcy had by her who was then in England Item Reymund Lawles was treacherously kill'd at Wickelow This year Frier Roger Utlaw Prior of Kylmainan then Deputy to the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland held a Parliament at Kilkenny where were present Alexander Archbishop of Dublin William Earl of Ulster James Earl of Ormond William Lord Bermingham Walter Burg of Conaught who all went with a considerable force to drive Briene O-Brene out of Urkyst near Cashill Item Walter Burg with the Forces he rais'd in Conaught plunder'd the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas's lands and brought away with him the Booty to Urkyff Also the Earl of Ulster and the Earl of Desmond viz. the Lord Moris Fitz-Thomas for I never yet call'd him Earl by Frier Roger Utlaws order then Justice of Ireland were committed to the custody of the Marshal at Limerick But the Earl of Desmond very cunningly made his escape MCCCXXXI The Lord Hugh Lacy having got the King's Pardon came into Ireland And the Earl of Ulster came into England The 19th of April the English beat the Irish in O-Kenseley and the one and twentieth of April the Irish perfidiously took the Castle of Arclo The same day on S. Mark the Evangelist's-eve the O-Totheles came to Tanelagh and forced away from Alexander Archbishop of Dublin 300 Sheep and killed Richard White with many other Gentlemen of his Company There were divers Reports at Dublin about this Plunder and Slaughter and Sir Philip Bryt Frier Moris Fitz-Gerald Knight of the Order of the Hospitalers Hammund Lord Archdekyn John Chamberlaine Robert Tyrell and Reginald Bernewall's two Sons besides many others but especially of the Archbishop of Dublin's Retinue were kill'd by David O-Tothill in an Ambuscade in Culiagh The Lord William Bermingham march'd with a great Army against the foresaid Irish to whom he did much harm and had not the Irish made some false Promises would have done them much more The Third of June the Lord Anthony Lucy came Chief Justice of Ireland This year also the English who inhabit about Thurles in the month of May gave the Irish under the command of Briene O-Brene a great overthrow and upon the 11th of June gave them another at Finnagh in Meth. The 27th of June when there was so great a Famine in Ireland through God's mercy there came a-shoar such a vast number of great Sea-fish called Thurlhedis as had not been seen in many Ages for according to the common estimate there
City A Council was held at Naas and a Subsidy of three hundred Marks therein granted to the Lord Deputy At the same time died Sir John Loundres in the fifth day of this Week which fell out to be in Coena Domini O-Thoil took four hundred Head of Cattle that belong'd to Balimer by which Action he broke his own Oath and the publick Peace On the fourth of May Mac Morthe the chief Captain of that Sept and of all the Irish in Leinster was taken Prisoner Hugh Cokesey was knighted on the same day On the last of May the Lieutenant the Archbishop of Dublin and the Mayor made the Castle of Kenini be demolish'd The day after Processus and Martinian William Lord Burgh with others of the English slew five hundred Irish and took O-Kelly prisoner On the feast of S. Mary Magdalen the Lieutenant John Talbot went into England leaving the Archbishop of Dublin to administer in his absence carrying the Curses of his Creditors along with him for he paid little or nothing for his Victuals and was indebted to many About the feast of S. Laurence several died in Normandy viz. Frier Thomas Botiller Prior of Kilmainan with many others Frier John Fitz-Henry succeeded him in the Priory The Archbishop being left Deputy fell upon the Scohies and cut off 30 Irish near the River Rodiston Item On the Ides of February died Frier John Fitz-Henry Prior of Kilmainan and was afterwards succeeded by Frier William Fitz-Thomas elected and confirm'd the morrow after S. Valentin's day Item The day after the feast of S. Peter in Cathedra John Talbot Lord Furnival surrender'd his place to Richard Lord Talbot Archbishop of Dublin who was after chosen Chief Justice of Ireland MCCCCXX On the fourth of April James Lord Botiller Earl of Ormond arriv'd at Waterford being made Lieutenant of Ireland and soon after permitted a Combat between his two Cousins of whom the one died in the Field and the other was carry'd off sore wounded to Kilkenny On S. George's day the said Lieutenant held a Council at Dublin and gave order for a Parliament therein In the mean time he took good Booty from O-Raly Mac-Mahon and Mac-Guyer On the 8th of June the Parliament met at Dublin and seven hundred Marks were therein granted to the Lord Deputy This Parliament continued sixteen days and at last was prorogued till the Monday after S. Andrews The Debts of the late Lord Talbot were computed in this Parliament which amounted to a great sum Item On the morrow after S. Michael's day Michael Bodley departed this life Item On S. Francis's eve died Frier Nicholas Talbot Abbot of S. Thomas the Martyr in Dublin succeeded by Frier John Whiting The morrow after S. Simon and Jude's day the castle of Colmolin was taken by Thomas Fitz-Geffery On S. Katherin the Virgin 's eve was born Botiller son and heir to the Earl of Ormond Item On monday after the feast of S. Andrew the foresaid Parliament met at Dublin and sate 13 days The Lieutenant had three hundred Marks granted him herein and it was at last adjourn'd till the monday after S. Ambrose A general Report was at this time That Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Desmond died on S. Laurence-day at Paris and was buried in the Convent of the Friers-predicants there the King being present at his Funeral James Fitz-Gerald his Uncle by the Father's side succeeded to the Seigniory who had thrice dispossess'd him of his Estate and accus'd him of prodigality and waste both in Ireland and England and that he had already given or intended to give Lands to the Abbey of S. James at Keynisham MCCCCXXI The Parliament sat the third time at Dublin the monday after S. Ambrose and therein it was resolv'd That the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Christopher Preston should be sent to the King for redress of Grievances At the same time Richard O-Hedian Bishop of Cassel was accused by John Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford upon 30 distinct Articles and after all That he favour'd the Irish and was averse to the English That he presented none of the English to any Benefices and had given order to other Bishops that they should not preferr them to any Living That he counterfeited the King's Seal and the King's Letters-patents and that he had attempted to make himself King of Mounster That he took a Ring away from the Image of S. Patrick which the Earl of Desmond had offer'd and given it to a Whore of his with several other Crimes all exhibited in Writing against him which created a great deal of vexatious trouble to the Lords and Commons In this Parliament there was also a Debate between Adam Pay Bishop of Clon and another Prelate for the Bishop of Clon was for annexing the other's Church to his See and the other oppos'd it so they were sent to Rome and their difference referr'd to the Pope This Session continued for 18 days In the nones of May a great Slaughter was made among the retinue of the Earl of Ormond Lord Deputy near the Monastery of Leys by O-Mordris 27 of the English were cut off The Principals were Purcel and Grant Ten Persons of Quality were taken Prisoners and 200 fled and were sav'd in the said Monastery On the Ides of May died Sir John Bedley Knight and Jeffery Galon formerly Mayor of Dublin who was buried in the Convent of the Friers-predicants of that City About this time Mac Mahon did great mischief in Urgal burning and wasting where-ever he came On the 7th of June the Lieutenant went into Leys against O-Moodris with a mighty Army which kill'd all they met with for four days together till the Irish at length promised peace and submission On S. Michael's day Thomas Stanley with all the Knights and ' Squires of Meth and Irel took Moyl O-Downyl prisoner and kill'd several in the 14th year of King Henry VI. No farther go any of the Annals of Ireland which I could meet with These I have inserted here to gratify such as delight in Antiquity As for those nice delicate Readers that would try all by the Writings of Augustus 's Age I am very sensible they will not relish them upon the score of a rough insipid dry Stile such as was common in the Age wherein these were writ However let them take this Consideration along with them That History bears and requires Authors of all sorts and that they must look for bare Matter in some Writers as well as fine Words in others FINIS INDEX A. AAron see Julius and Aaron Ab-Adams 68 238. ABALLABA 806. Abberbury-castle 544. Sir Rich. de 142. Abbot Geo. A. B. of Cant. 161. Rob. B. of Salisb. ibid. Sir Maurice L. Mayor of London ib. Abbots 132. Parliamentary Barons clxxxvii Abbotston 132. Aber what 662 739 939. Aber-Aaron 613. Aberbroth 613. Aber-Chienaug Castle 675. Aber-Conwy 666 671. Abercorn-castle 906. Aber-dau-Gledhau 630. Aberdeen New and Old 940. Aberford 712. Aber-Fraw 676. Abergavenni 598. Abergavenny Lords of 193
Preston in Andernesse 〈…〉 instead of Acmundesnesse for so the Saxons nam d this part of the country because between the rivers Ribell and Cocar it hangs out for a long way into the Sea like a Nose it was also afterwards call'd Agmonderâ—nes In William the Conqueror's time there were only 16 villages in it inhabited the rest lay wast as we find in Domes-day and it was possess'd by Roger of Poictiers Afterwards it belong d to Theobald Walter from whom the Butlers of Ireland are descended for so we read in a charter of Richard the first Know ye that we have given and by this present charter confirm'd to Theobald Walter for his homage and service all Agmondernes with all other appurtenances thereunto c. This soil bears oats pretty well but is not so good for barley it makes excellent pasture especially towards the Sea where it is partly champain whence a great part of it is call'd the File 〈…〉 as one would guess for the Feild Yet in the records of the tower it is express'd by the latin word Lima which signifies a File a Smith's Instrument wherewith iron or other things are polish'd In other places it is fenny and therefore counted less wholsom The Wyr a little river which comes from Wierdale a solitary and dismal place touches here as it runs along in a swift stream and passes by Grenhaugh-castle Grenhaugh castle built by Thomas Stanley the first Earl of Derby of that family while he was under apprehension of danger from certain of the nobility outlaw'd in this County whose estates had been given him by Henry the 7th for they made several attempts upon him frequently making inroads into his grounds till at last these feuds were wisely quieted by the moderation of this excellent person In many places along this coast there are heaps of sand b Mr. Ray Northern words p. 20â— has given us an account of the manner of making salt of sea-sand in this County upon which they now and then pour water A new way of making Salt till they grow saltish and then with a hot turf-fire they boil it into a white salt Here are also some deceitful and voracious sands they call them quick-sands Quicksands so dangerous to travellers who when the tide is out take the shortest cut that they ought to use great care lest as Sidonius expresses it they sink and are shipwrack d in their travels by land especially near the mouth of the Cockar where in a field of quicksands if I may so say stands Cockarsand-Abbey Syrticus Ager formerly a small Monastery of the Cluniacks founded by Ranulph de Meschines It lies expos'd to the winds situated between the mouth of the Cockar and the Lune commonly call'd the Lone with a large prospect into the Irish sea The Lone commonly Lune Lune riv which has its rise among the mountains of Westmoreland runs southward in a crooked chanel bank'd so as that the current of the water is much hinder'd To the great gain of those that live thereabouts it affords store of Salmon Salmon in the summer time for this sort of Fish taking great delight in clear water and particularly in sandy fords comes up in great shoals into this and the other rivers on this coast As soon as it enters Lancashire the Lac a little river joyns it from the east Here at present stands Over-burrow Over burrow a small country village but that it was formerly a great city taking up a large plot of ground between the Lac and the Lone and was forc'd to surrender by the utmost misery of a siege and famine I learnt from the inhabitants who have it by a tradition handed down from their Ancestors The place it self shews its own antiquity by many old monuments inscriptions upon stones chequer'd pavements and Roman coins as also by this its modern name which signifies a Burrow If it ever recover its ancient name it must owe it to others and not to me tho' I have sought it with all the diligence I could And indeed one is not to imagine that the particular names of every place in Britain is to be found in Ptolemy Antoninus the Notitia and in Classick Authors If a man might have the liberty of a conjecture I must confess I should take it to be Bremetonacum Bremetonacum which was a distinct place from Brementuracum as Jerom Surita a Spaniard in his notes upon Antoninus very reasonably supposes upon the account of its distance from Coccium or Riblechester From this Burrough the river Lone runs by Thurland-Tunstalls a fort built in Henry the fourth's time by Sir Thomas Tunstall Knight the King having granted him leave to fortifie and kernel his mansion that is What it is to kernel to embattel it and then by Hornby a fine castle Hornby-castle which glories in its founder N. de Mont Begon and in its Lords the Harringtons and the Stanleys Barons de Monte Aquilae or Mont-Eagle Barons Monteagle descended from Thomas Stanley first Earl of Derby 6 And advanc'd to that title by K. Henr. 8. William Stanley the third and last of these left Elizabeth his only daughter and heir marry'd to Edward Parker Lord Morley She had a son William Parker who was restor'd by King James to the honour of his ancestors the Barony of Mont-Eagle and must be acknowledged by us and our posterity to have been born for the good of the whole Kingdom for by an obscure letter privately sent him and produc'd by him in the very nick of time Gun powder-plot the most hellish and detestable treason that wickedness it self could project was discover'd and prevented when the Kingdom was in the very brink of ruin for some of that wicked gang under the execrable masque of Religion stood ready to blow up their King and Country in a moment having before planted a great quantity of Gun-powder under the Parliament-house for that purpose The Lone after it has gone some miles further sees Lancaster on the south side of it the chief town of this county which the inhabitants more truly call c This is its name in all the North part of England Loncaster Lancaster and the Scots Loncastell from the river Lon. Both its name at this day and the river under it in a manner prove it to be the Longovicum wâ—ere under the Lieutenant of Britain as the Notitia informs us a Company of the Longovicarians who took that name from the place kept gaâ—â—ison Thoâ— at present the town is not populous and the inhabitants thereof are all husbandmen for the grounds about it are well cultivated open flourishing and woody enough yet in proof of its Roman antiquity they sometimes meet with coins of the Emperors especially where the Fryers had their cloyster for there as they report stood the marks of an ancient city which the Scots in a sudden inroad in the year 1322 wherein
they destroy'd every thing they could meet with burnt to the ground From that time they began to build nearer a green hill by the river upon which stands a castle not very great nor ancient but fair built and strong and upon the very hill stands a Church the only one in the town where the Monks aliens had a cell heretofore 7 Founded by Roger of Poictiers Below this at a very fine bridge over the Lone on the stoâ—pest side of the hill there hangs a piece of a very ancient wall which is Roman they call it Wery-wall probably from the later British name of the town for they nam'd this town Caer Werid that is a green 〈◊〉 from the green hill perhaps but I leave the fâ—râ—her discovery of this to others John Lord of Moâ—iton and Lancaste who was afterwards King of â—ngâ—and confirmed by charter all the liberties which he â—ad granted to the Burgesses of Bristow Edward the third in the 36th year of his reign granted to the Mâ—yor and Bailiffs of the village of Lancaster that Pleas and Sessions should be held no where else but there The latitude of this place not to omit it is 54 degrees 5 minutes and the longitude 20 degrees 48 minutes From the top of this hill while I look'd all round to see the mouth of the Lone which empties it self not much lower I saw Forness â—ournesse the other part of this County on the west which is almost sever'd from it by the sea for whereas the shore lay out a great way from hence westward into the ocean the sea as if it were enrag'd at it ceased not to slash and mangle it Nay it swallow'd it quite up at some boisterous tide or other and theâ—eby has made three large bays namely Kentsand which receives the river Ken Levensand Duddensand between which the land shoots oâ—t so much like a promontory into the sea that this 〈◊〉 oâ— the county takes its name from it 〈…〉 and Foreland signifie the same with us that proâ—â—â—â—tortâ—â— anterius that is a fore-promontory does in latiâ— l The whole tract except by the Sea-side is all high mountains and great rocks they call them Fornâ—ss-fâ—lls â—â—rnâ—sâ—e-Fells among which the Britains liv'd securely for a long time relying upon the fortifications wherewith nature had guarded them tho' nothing prov'd impregnable to the Saxon Conquerors For in the 228th year after the coming in of the Saxons we may from hence infer that the Britains lived here because at that time Egfrid King of the Northumbrians gave to S. Cuthbert the land called Carthmell Carthmell and all the Britains in it for so it is related in his life Now Carthmell every one knows was a part of this County near Kentsand and a little town in it keeps that very name to this day wherein William Mareschal the elder Earl of Pembroke built a Priory and endow'd it If in Ptolemy one might read Setantiorum Sâ—tâ—â—â—â—â—ruâ— Lacus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lake as some books have it and not Sâ—tantiorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a haven I would venture to affirm that the Britains in these parts were the Setantii for among those mountains lies the greatest lake in England now call'd Winander-mere Winamâ—â—rmere in Saxon WinÆ¿adremer perhaps from the windings in it about ten miles in length the bottom pav'd as it were with a continued rock wonderful deep in some places as the neighbouring Inhabitants tell you and well stor'd with a sort of fish no where else bred See the Aâ—dâ—â—â—â—ns tâ— Wâ—â—tmâ—â—land Câ—are a fiâ—h Hiâ—tâ—ry â—f Maâ—â—â— which they call Chare m Upon this lake stands a little town of the same name where in the year 792. Eathred King of the Northumbrians slew the sons of King Elfwold after he had taken them from York that by his own wickedness and their blood he might secure himself in the Kingdom Between this lake and the river Dudden is the promontory we commonly call Forness with the Island Walney like a Counterscarp lying along by it and a small arm of the sea between The entry to it is d This fort is quite ruinated defended by a Fort call'd The Pile of Fouldrey Piâ—e 〈◊〉 Fâ—uldâ—eâ— situate upon a rock in the middle of the water and built by the Abbot of Forness in the first year of King Edward the third Upon the promontory there is nothing to be seen but the ruins of Forness-Abbey 8 Of Câ—stercian Monks Lâ—b F â—â—sâ—â—nâ— which Stephen Earl of Bullen afterwards K. of England built in the year 1127. in a place formerly call'd Bekensgill or translated it rather from Tulket in Anderness Out of the Monks of this place and no where else as they themselves have related the Bishops of the Isle of Man which lyes over against it were wont by an ancient custom to be chosen this being the mother as it were of several Monasteries both in that Island and in Ireland n More to the East stands Aldingham Aldâ—â—ghâ—â— the ancient estate of the family of the Harringtons Hâ—â—â—â—gtâ—â—s to whom it came from the Flemmings by the Cancefelds and whose inheritance by a daughter went to William Bonvill 9 Of Somersetshire of Devonshire and by him at last to the Greys Marquisses of Dorset Somewhat higher lyes Ulverston Ulâ—â—â—â— to be mention'd upon this account that Edward the third gave a moiety of it to John Coupland one of the most warlike men of that age whom he also advanc'd to the honour of a Banneret for taking David the second King of Scots prisoner in a battel at Durham After his death the said King gave it with other great estates in these parts and with the title of Earl of Bedford to Ingleram Lord Coucy a Frenchman he having married his daughter Isabel and his Ancestors having been possess'd of great Revenues in England in right of Christian de Lindsey â—o As for those of the Nobility who have bore the title of Lancaster 〈…〉 there were three in the beginning of the Norman Government who had the title of Lords of the Honour of Lancaster namely Roger of Poictou the son of Roger Montgomery sirnam'd Pictavensis as William of Malmesbury says because his wife came out of Poictou in France But he being depriv'd of this honour for his disloyalty King Stephen conferr'd it upon his own son William Earl of Moriton and Warren Upon whose death King Richard the first bestow'd it upon John his brother who was afterwards King of England For thus we find it in an ancient History 〈…〉 King Richard shew'd great affection for his brother John For besides Ireland and the Earldom of Moriton in Normandy he bestow'd upon him such great preferments in England that he was in a manner a Tetrarch there For he gave him Cornwal Lancaster Nottingham Derby with the adjacent Country and many other things A pretty while after King Henry the third son of King John