Norman-writers Nichol and Mr. Thomas Twyne in his Breviary of Britain fol. 24. b. says he has observ'd the same many times in ancient Charters and Records of the Earls thereof written in the French-tongue And even as low as Edward the fourth's time William Caxton in his Chronicle entitl'd Fructus temporum pag. 141. and 295. calls it Nichol. I know none who remove the Roman Lindum from hence except Talbot who carries it to Lenton in Nottinghamshire which opinion we have consider'd in its proper place ‖ Itinerar p. 21. Leland tells us he heard say that the lower part of Lincoln-town was all marish and won by policy and inhabited for the commodity of the water è regione that this part of the town is call'd Wikerford and in it are 11 Parochial-Churches besides which he saw one in ruins The White-Fryers were on the west-side of the High-street in Wikerford * Pag. 22 That beyond old Lincoln much money is found in the North-fields What Mr. Camden has concerning the decay of this town wherein he says of 50 Churches are scarce left 18 he seems to have borrow'd from a hint of Leland's and if he had no other authority it seems to be deliver'd in terms too positive and general For Leland mentions it very tenderly and only says †Ibid. There goeth a common fame that there were once 52 Parish-Churches in lincoln-Lincoln-city and the suburbs of it At a little distance from Lincoln is Nocton Nocton formerly a Religious-house where is a very magnificent seat lately built by Sir William Ellys Baronet At Wragby Wragby eight miles East of Lincoln the wife of one Charles Gays An. Dom. 1676. brought forth a male-child with two heads which liv'd some hours The mother of the child is still living and keeps an Inn in the town and the matter of fact can be attested by at least 100 people who saw it u Upon the little river Bane stands Horn-castle Horn-castle which evidently appears to have been a Camp or Station of the Romans as from the Castle which is Roman work so also from the Roman coins several whereof were found therein the time of Charles the first and some they meet with at this day tho' not so commonly in the field adjoyning The compass of the Castle was about 20 Acres which is yet plainly discernable by the foundation of the whole and some part of the wall still standing It is a Seigniory or Soke of 13 Lordships and was given by King Richard the second to the Bishop of Carlisle and his Successors for his habitation and maintenance when by the frequent incursions of the Scots he was driven from his castle of Rose in Cumberland and spoil'd of his revenues Three miles South-east from hence is Winceby Winceby where Octob. 5. 1643. was a battel fought between the King and Parliament the forces of the first commanded by Colonel Henderson and the Lord Widdrington those of the latter by Colonel Cromwell The fight scarce lasted an hour and the victory fell to the Parliament w At the meeting of the rivers Bane and Witham is Tatteshall Totteshall where in the front of the castle not long since were to be seen the Arms of the Cromwells the ancient Lords of it It afterwards came to be one of the seats of the Clintons Earls of Lincoln besides another at Sempringham which Mr. Camden mentions in this County x At a little distance from Bullingbrook is Eresby Eresby which gives the title of Baron to the Earl of Lindsey the third division of this County The first who enjoy'd this title oâ— Earl was Robert Lord Willoughby of Eresby creaâ—â—â— Nov. 22. in the second year of King Charles 1. He was son to that Peregrine Berty whom Catharine Baroness of Willoughby and Dutchess of Suffolk bore to Richard Berty while they made their escape into foreign parts in Queen Mary's persecution He was call d Peregrine eo quod in terra peregrina pro consolatione exilii sui piis parentibus à Domino donatus sit as the publick Register of Wesel in the Dutchy of Cleve where he was born expresses it At the request of the honourable Mr. Charles Berty Envoy extraordinary to the Electors and other Princes of Germany in his passage through that City the Burgomasters Aldermen and Counsellors took a copy of the evidences of his birth and Christening as they found it in their Register and presented it to him under the common seal of the City This Robert the first Earl Lord High Chamberlain of England was succeeded by his son and heir Mountague upon the restoration of Charles 2. made Knight of the Garter who dying in the year 1666. was succeeded by Robert his eldest son y A little above Bullingbroke stands Hareby Hareby eminent for the death of Queen Eleanor wife to King Edward 1. who being conveyed from thence to Westminster had a great many Crosses erected to her memory in several noted places This is the more observable because our Chronicles tell us she dy'd at a place call'd Hardby without giving us any hints where it stands z Hard by is Bollingbroke Bollingbroke whereof Oliver Lord St. John of Bletso was created Earl 22 Jac. 1. Dec. 28. and was succeeded by his grandchild Oliver St. John by Pawlet his second son Oliver Lord St. John the eldest being slain at Edge-hill fight At present the place gives the title of Earl to the right honourable Pawlet St. John aa More towards the sea lies Boston Boston where Mr. John Fox Author of the Acts and Monuments was born bb At Grimesby Grimesby were formerly three Religious-houses i.e. one Nunnery and two Monasteries and not far from the same coast between Salflet-haven and Louth is Salfletby memorable for its late Minister Mr. John Watson who was incumbent 74 years during which time as he himself reported it he buried the inhabitants three times over save three or four persons He had by one wife fourteen sons and three daughters the youngest now past the fiftieth year of his age In all this time he was a constant industrious Preacher except during his imprisonment for 40 weeks in Lincoln Gaol by Cromwell who put a Militia-Drummer in his place Since the present reign he was also suspended ab officio but considering his great age not à beneficio He dy'd in Aug. 1693. aged 102. cc Turning to the west towards the river Trent we meet with Osgodby Osgodby otherwise call'd Ostegobby and Osgoteby where Mr. Camden places the seat of St. Medardo and deduces it to the family of Ashcough But Mr. Dugdale has assur'd us that the whole is a manifest mistake that family belonging to another Osgodby in the same County about 30 miles south of this dd Directly towards Lincoln is Stow Stow. the Church whereof is a large building in the form of a cross and very ancient It was founded by Eadnoth a Bishop of Dorchester in Oxfordshire
great men than any conduct or bravery of the Enemies The most considerable Houses Houses are Brocksmouth the chief residence of the Earl of Roxburgh Tiningham the residence of the Earl of Hadington near which there is a quarry of Marble Seaton and Winton the houses of the Earl of Winton The Templars and after them the Knights of Rhodes and Malta had a residence in this Shire at St. Germains It has at present two Presbyteries of Hadington and Dunbar e The Sheriffdom of Edenburgh commonly called Mid-Lothian Mid-Lothian is the principal Shire of the Kingdom and is in length 20 or 21 miles the breadth of it is different according to the several parts in some 16 or 17 miles in others not above 5 or 6. On the south it is bounded with the Sheriffdom of Hadington for 13 miles together on the east with the Baillery of Lauderdale for about four on the south with the Sheriffdom of Twedale for 13 miles on the south-west with the Sheriffdom of Lanerick for 6 or 7 miles and on the west for two miles by the said Sheriffdom on the north-west with the Sheriffdom of Linlithgow for 14 miles and on the north with the Firth or Forth for the space of 8 miles This tract is abundantly furnished with all necessaries producing a great deal of corn of all sorts and affording good pasture for cattle It has very much coal and lime-stone as also a sort of soft black marble and some few miles from Edenburgh near the water of Leith they have a Copper-mine Edenburgh * Theatrum Scotiae p. 7. is not only the most considerable place in those parts but the chief City of the Kingdom of Scotland The Romans could not well have made choice of a better place for a Fortification for the rock on which the present Castle is situated is inaccessible on all sides except the East The first building of a Fort here seems to have given Rise to the town and to have encouraged the neighbours to fix under the protection of it So that the houses and inhabitants by little and little increasing have brought it down to the very foot of the ascent toward the east and made it an entire Scotch mile in length and half a mile in breadth The ascent upon which the City stands has on the north-side a pool call'd the North-Loch and was formerly guarded by another on the south call'd the South-Loch as appears from the leases of some houses of S. Ninian's Row that are let with the privilege of a boat annext But this is drain'd many years ago and upon the banks of it are built two several tracts of houses The City has six Gates the principal whereof to the East was magnificently rebuilt in the year 1616 and adorned with Towers on both sides Two streets run along the whole length of the town The High-street from the Castle to the Abby said to be the broadest in Europe is of late built of hewen stone since by an Act of the Town-Council they have been prohibited to build any more of Timber either in the City or Suburbs upon account of the many Fires which have happened And as the private Buildings Publick Buildings so also the publick do very much exceed those in other parts of that Kingdom In the middle of the City is St. Giles's Church Churches a Cathedral built of hewn stone and adorned with stone pillars and vaultings 'T is so large as to be divided into 3 Churches each whereof has its Parish Besides this Grey-friers they have the South-Church in the Church-yard whereof amongst many other monuments is that of Sir George Mackenzy The Trone-Church built in 1641. The Collegiate Church of the Sacred Trinity built by Mary of Gueldres King James the Second's Queen The Lady Yester's Church built and endowed by one of the Lady Yesters and another very beautiful one built within these 5 years To these we must add two Chapels St. Magdalens and St. Mary's with another at the foot of the Canon-gate Next to these are their Hospitals Hospitals St. Thomas's and Heriot's Hospital In the first the poorer sort of Inhabitants are maintained very handsomly and have their own proper Chaplain The second so called from the founder George Heriot Jeweller to James 6. is a stately Fabrick like a Palace In the inner Frontispiece is the Statue of the Founder erected and round about the houses are pleasant gardens adorned with large Walks and Greens 'T is a Nursery for boys wherein the children of the poorer Citizens have their education till they be fit for the publick Schools and Colleges Other Buildings Near the Cathedral-Chuch is the Parliament-house standing in a great Court which on one side is enclosed with the upper and lower Exchange and with a tract of very stately buildings Here is one of the highest houses perhaps in the world mounting seven stories above the Parliament-Court and being built upon the descent of a hill the back-part is as far below it so that from the bottom to the top one stair-case ascends 14 stories high In the middle of the Court is the Statue of King Charles II. in brass erected upon a stately Pedestal at the charge of the City On the South-side is the College of King James the sixth founded in the year 1580 and endowed with all the Privileges of an University The precincts are very large and the whole is divided into 3 Courts adorned on all sides with excellent buildings two lower and one higher which is as large as both the other They have their publick Schools and a Common-hall wherein Divinity Hebrew and Mathematicks are taught Their Library is well stor'd with printed books and and has some Manuscripts under that is the King's Printing-house The Students have very good accommodation and the Professors neat and handsom Lodgings with very good Gardens for their recreation The Royal-Palace Palace whereof his Grace the Duke of Hamilton is hereditary Keeper hath four Courts The Outer-Court which is as big as all the rest has four principal Entries 'T is on all hands bounded with lovely Gardens on the south lies the King's Park which hath great variety of medicinal plants The Entry of the Palace is adorned with great pillars of hewn stone and a Cùpilo in fashion of a Crown above it The forepart is terminated by four high towers two towards the north erected by King James V. and the rest by King Charles II. The Inner-Court has Piazza's round it all of hewn stone But above all the Long-Gallery is most remarkable being adorned with the pictures of all the Kings of Scotland from Fergus I. About 20 years ago Water the Magistrates were at great expence to bring one of the best Springs of Scotland into the City which they did by leaden Pipes from a Hill at above 3 miles distance And to make it more convenient they have erected several stately Fountains in the middle of the
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
and this serves us to make Beer of The inhabitants drive a gainful trade with this into the neighbouring Counties The north and farther part by reason of the floods fens and the many islands made by riveâ—s is call'd the Isle of Ely abounds with rich pastures exceeding fresh and pleasant but however somewhat hollow and spungy by reason of the waters that undermine it which sometimes overflow and drown the greatest part of it a One of the Roman high-ways call'd Erming-streat in the Ely-book runs along the west-side of the lower part and carries us directly to Huntingdon by Royston Royston a town on the borders of this County See Hâ—rtfordshâ—re of some note but of no antiquity b 'T is partly in Hartfordshire and partly in this County which we spoke of before and likewise through Caxton Caxton formerly the Baronage of Stephen de Eschallers from whose posterity it descended to the Frevills in the time of Henry 3. and from them by the Burgoins to the Jermins Nor is Gamlinghay far off the habitation formerly of the Avenells whose whole estate fell by marriage to that ancient family of St. George a family that since Henry 1. has produc'd many worthy Knights who liv'd at Hatley from them call'd Hatley St. George Hatley St. George More westward there is a little river which runs through the middle of this part from South to North to mix with the Ouse beginning at Ashwell and passing with many windings by Shengay Shengay where are the most pleasant meadows of the County formerly a †A Câ—mmandeâ—y Praeceptory of the Knights Templars given by Sibyl daughter of Roger Mont-gomery Earl of Shrewsbury and wife of J. de Raines in the year 1130. a little way off Burne-castle Burne which was anciently the Barony of one Picot Sheriff of this County Barons of Burne and also of the Peverills Barnwell-Hist by one of whose daughters the Inheritance and Honours sell to Gilbert Peche the last of which family after he had advanc'd his second wife's children The King heir to private persons made King Edward the first his heir In those days the English Nobility brought up the ancient Roman custom in the time of their Emperors of making their Princes heirs whenever they were out of favour This Castle was burnt down in the Barons war in Henry the third's time set on fire by one Ribald de Insula or L'Isle and at the same time Walter of Cottenham a great man was hang'd for rebellion It 's uncertain how former writers have call'd this river some by the name of Grant but others Cam which to me seems most probable because 't is so crooked for the Brittish word Cam signifies as much whence a crooked river in Cornwal is call'd Camel and also because old Camboritum Camboritum a town mention'd by Antoninus in his third Journey in Britain stood upon it as I am almost perswaded both by its distance and name and also the great number of Roman coins found nigh the bridge For Camboritum signifies a ford over Cam Rith its signification in British and Gaulish or a crooked ford the word rith in the British language signifying a ford I mention this that the French may better understand the meaning of Augustoritum Darioritum Rithomagus and the like in their own Country However the Saxons had rather use Grant-ceaster Grantcester and Gront-ceaster for our Camboritum and though it retains this name still I can't find the derivation of it To derive it from the Saxon word * Gronna Hovd fol. 251. Flor. Wigorniens fol. 402. Gron The meaning of Gron. a fenny place might be a mistake and yet Asserius more than once has call'd some fenny grounds in Somersetshire Gronnas paludosissimas which is a mixture of Saxon and Latin and 't is well known that a city in West-Friezland in the like situation is call'd Groneingen But let others hunt after the Etymology of it About the year 700 this was saith Bede a little desolate city when he tell us that just by its walls was found a little trough or coffin of white marble delicately wrought with a lid of the same most exactly fitted for it Now 't is a small village part whereof Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln gave to his bastard-son Henry upon condition that all his posterity which have been long since extinct should take no other name but Henry King Henry the sixth of the House of Lancaster and heir to Lacie's estate settled the other part upon his own College call'd King 's in Cambridge Cambridge which town is either a part or a sprig of the ancient Camboritum 't is so nigh it in name and situation Nor am I apt to believe that Cam was ever turn'd out of Grant for this would look like a change too forc'd and strain'd where all the letters are lost but one I should rather think that the common people had kept to the old name of Camboritum or the river Cam though indeed writers more commonly use the Saxon word c It is call'd in Saxon Grantanbryege Grantabriege and Grantebrige Grantbridge This City the other University the other Eye and Stay of the Kingdom this excellent Magazine of all good Literature and Religion stands on the river Cam which after it has most pleasantly sprinkl'd its west side with several little Isles turns to the east divides it into two parts so that 't is joyn'd by a bridge which hath given it that new name of Cambridge Beyond the bridge there is a large old castle which may now seem to have come to its last thred and Magdalen-College On this side the bridge where lyes the far greatest part of the town there 's a pleasant prospect of the form of the Streets of the number of Churches and of sixteen fair Colleges the Muses sacred Mansions wherein great numbers of worthy learned men are maintain'd and where the Studies of Arts and Languages so mightily flourish that they may deservedly be term'd the very fountains of all Literature Religion and Learning which most sweetly scatter their wholesom streams through all the Gardens both of Church and State Nor is there any thing wanting that is requir'd in a most flourishing University were not the Air a little too gross by reason of its fenny situation But perhaps the first founders of it in this place were of Plato's opinion who being of a strong constitution himself made choice of the Academy for his studies a very unwholesom place in Attica the better to keep under the stubborness of the body that it might not too much clog the brain However our Ancestors men of singular wisdom have dedicated this place to their learned studies not without divine direction and have adorn'd it with many noble buildings That we may not seem guilty of the worst sort of ingratitude to these eminent Patrons of Learning or to use Eumenius's words those Parents of
William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle Mat. Par. like a rebel fortify'd it and plunder'd the whole neighbourhood laid almost level with the ground Afterwards this became the seat and as it were the head of the Barony of the Colvills Colvill who lived for a long time in very great honour but failed in Ed. 3.'s time so that the Gernons and those Bassets of Sapcot had this inheritance in right of their wives A little way from the head of the river Witham stands Paunton Paunton that boasteth very much of its antiquity chequer'd pavements of the Romans are very often dug up in it and there was here formerly a bridge over the river For both the name Paunton and its distance not only from Margidunum but also from Croco-calana Pontes do evince that this is that Ad pontem which Antoninus places 7 miles from Margidunum For Antoninus calls that town Croco-calana which we name Ancaster being at this time only one direct street along the military way one part of which not long since belong'd to the Vescies the other to the Cromwells In the entrance on the South I saw a trench and 't is very evident 't was a castle formerly as also on the other side towards the West are to be seen certain summer camps of the Romans It seems to have had that British name from its situation for it lies under a hill and we read in Giraldus Cambrensis and in Ninnius that among the Britains Cruc maur signify'd a great hill and Cruc-occhidient a mount in the west but I leave others to find out the meaning of the word Colana The antiquity of this town appears by Roman coins by the Vaults that are often discover'd by its situation on the high-way and by the fourteen miles distance between this and Lincoln the road lying through a green plain call'd Ancaster-heath for just so many Antoninus makes it to be between Croco-calana and Lindum But let us follow the river p Next to Paunton q is to be seen Grantham Grantham a town of no small resort adorn'd with a School built by Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and with a fair Church having a very high spire steeple remarkable for the many stories that are told of it Beneath this town near the little village Herlaxton in the last age was a brazen vessel plow'd up in which they found an old fashion'd gold helmet A golden Hâ—lmâ—t studded with jewels which was presented to Katharine of Spain Queen Dowager to Henry the eighth From hence Witham after a long course northwards runs near Somerton-castle Somâ—rton Lib. Dunelmensis built by Anthony Bec Bp. of Durham by whom 't was given to Edward the first but a little after to 10 Sir William William de Bellomont Lords of Bâ—llomont who about that time came into England of him is descended the family of the Viscounts de Bellomonte which in the last age was almost extinct the sister and heiress of the last Viscount being married to John Lord Lovel de Tichmersh but we have spoken already of this family in Leicestershire From hence the river winds towards the South east through a fenny country and discharges it self into the German-sea a little below Boston after it has bounded Kesteven on the North. Altho' this river falls from a steep descent and large chanel into the sea yet by the great floods in the winter it overflows the fenns on each side with no small loss to the Country however these waters are drain'd in the spring by the sluces call'd by them Gotes On the other side of Witham lyes the third part of this County call'd Lindsey Lindsey by Bede Lindissi from the chief city of this shire 't is bigger than Hoiland or Kesleven jetting out into the ocean with a large front which has the sea continually plying upon its East and North shores on the West lyes the river Trent on the South 't is parted from Kesteven by the Witham and the Foss-dike Foss-dike seven miles in length cut by Henry the first between the Witham and the Trent Hoveden for the conveniency of carriage from Lincoln At the entrance of this Dike into the Trent stands Torksey Torkesey in Saxon Turcesig now a little mean town but heretofore very noted for there were in it before the Norman times as 't is in Domesday-book Domesday-book two hundred Burgesses who enjoy'd many privileges on condition that they should carry the King's Ambassadors as often as they came that way down the river Trent in their own barges and conduct them as far as York r At the joyning of this Dike to Witham s stands the Metropolis of this County call'd by Ptolemy and Antoninus Lindum Lindum by the Britains Lindcoit from the woods instead whereof 't is in some places falsly written Luitcoit Lincoln Bede calls it Lindecollinum and the city Lindecollina but whether it be from its situation on a hill or because 't was formerly a Colony I will not undertake to determine the Saxons call it Lindo-collyne Lind-cyllanceaster the Normans Nichol we Lincoln the Latins Lincolnia From whence Alexander Necham in his Treatise de Divina Sapientia Lindisiae columen Lincolnia sive columna Munifica foelix gente repleta bonis Her pillar thee great Lincoln Lindsey owns Fam'd for thy store of goods and bounteous sons Others believe it had its name from the river Witham which say they was formerly call'd Lindis but they have no authority so this is a bare conjecture For my part I cannot agree with them for Necham himself who wrote four hundred years ago contradicts them and calls this river Witham in these verses Trenta tibi pisces mittit Lincolnia sâ—d te Nec dedigneris Withama parvus adit Trent Lincoln sends the fish that load thy halls And little Witham creeps along thy walls And waits on thee himself ah be not proud Nor scorn the visit of the humble flood I should rather derive it from the British word Lhin which with them signifies a Lake for I have been inform'd by the citizens that Witham was wider formerly at Swanpole below the city altho' 't is at this day very broad I need take no notice of Lindaw in Germany standing by the Lake Acronius to confirm it nor of Linternum in Italy situated upon a Lake since Tall-hin Glan-lhin Linlithquo are towns in our Country of Britain standing upon Lakes The city it self is very large and much resorted to being built on the side of a noted hill where the Witham winds about towards the East and being divided into three chanels watereth the lower part of it That the ancient Lindum of the Britains stood on the very top of the hill of a very difficult ascent and lay much farther extended in length Northward than the gate Newport is evident by the plain signs of a rampire and deep ditches still visible Vortimer that warlike Britain who had very often routed
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
occasion to derive it from hay seem to lye under the same inconvenience in that the soil does not favour either of these or at least not so much as to render the place eminent for them I would not willingly go any farther than the Saxon heah deep the remains whereof our Northern parts still retain in their how which they use for deep or low and the breakings in of the sea with the banks made against it sufficiently declare how much the nature of the place contributes towards this conjecture c Upon the confines of Norfolk lyes Tydd Tydd a small village but famous for the once Rector of it Nicholas Breakspear who planted Christianity in Norway for which good service to the Church he was afterwards made Cardinal and in the year 1154 Pope under the name of Hadrian the fourth d To endeavour the discovery of any thing that looks like Roman hereabouts would be a search as fruitless as unreasonable and for its condition in the Saxon times Ingulphus fully answers that whose history no doubt is the best intelligence for those parts For which reasons we shall take leave of it and go along with our Author into the second part of this County having first observ'd that this as well as Lindsey division has had its Earls and gave title to Henry Rich Lord Kensington created Earl of Holland Apr. 3. 22 Jac. 1. He was succeeded by Robert his son who had the additional title of Earl of Warwick by the death of Charles Rich Earl of that place his Cousin-german Whereupon both titles are at present enjoy'd by the right honourable Edward Rich stil'd Earl of Warwick and Holland e Kesteven Kesteven Mr. Camden observes is call'd by Aethelwerd Ceostefne Sylva the wood Ceostefne The reason of it is this because there was really a great forest at this end of the division where now are the large fenns call'd Deeping-Fenns c. A plain argument whereof is that the trunks of trees are dugg up in several ditches thereabouts which lye cover'd some two foot with a light black mold And Mr. Neal to whom the world is indebted for this and other discoveries in this County tells me that in a ditch of his own just at the edge of the fenns there was about 12 years ago several trunks of trees lying in the bottom and in another place as many acorns turn'd out of one hole as would fill a hat very firm and hard but colour'd black and now there is no tree standing near that place by a mile except here and there a willow lately set The same Gentleman assures me he has by him the copy of the Exemplification of the Letters Patents of Jac. 1. dated at Westminster Febr. 15. in the fifth of his reign over England and over Scotland the 41. wherein he recites by way of Inspeximus the Letters Patents of Henry 3. dated at Portsmouth the 23d of April in the 14th of his reign who thereby disafforested the said forest of Kesteven in perpetuum which was also confirm'd by the Letters Patents of Edward the third in the 20th of his reign wherein the said forest is butted and bounded to extend on one side from Swafton to East-Deeping as Caresdike extends it self which is a dike running cross the top of the Fenns not only of Deeping-Fenn but also of that great fenn beyond the river Glen call'd Lindsey-level and on the other side it extends to the division call'd Holland f Having made our way into this division by a previous account why some old Authors call it a wood or forest whereas now there appearing no such thing the readers might be surpriz'd let us accompany Mr. Camden to Stanford Stanford the first remarkable place we meet with As to the Antiquity of it our English Historians afford us very large testimonies Henry Huntingdon lib. 5. pag 203. in his description of the wars between Edmund Ironside and the Danes calls it an ancient city and Ingulphus p. 515. tells us there were Terms held at Stamford and Hoveden in the book of Crowland p. 249. calls it Stamfordshire being a County-town and very commodious it is for that use this end of Lincolnshire adjoyning to it being 36 miles from Lincoln and the end of Northamtonshire next it on that side no less from Northamton which distance is a great inconvenience to the inhabitants so often as their business calls them to the Assizes Stow p. 131. tells us there was a Mint for coyning of money in Stamford-Baron in the time of King Athelstan but this probably was some privilege granted to the Abbots of Peterburrow for this is that parish that 's within Northamtonshire and is within a distinct liberty granted to the Abbots of Peterburrow g Mr. Neal before-mention'd has an old Manuscript fragment of an history that says Stamford was an University long before our Saviour's time and continued so till the year 300 when it was dissolv'd by the Pope for adhering to Arrius For the first founder of it that Author quotes Merlin a British Historian But whatever deference we pay to the authority of the History from the circumstances it seems pretty plain as the same Gentleman has observ'd that it must be of longer date than Ed. 3. For upon that quarrel mention'd by Mr. Camden which happen'd between the Southern and Northern Scholars the latter it seems came hither in Nov. 1333. and return'd to Oxford before 1334. so that their short stay could not allow them any great opportunities for building But here are still the remains of two Colleges one call'd Black-hall and the other Brazen-noze in the gate whereof is a great brazen Nose and a ring through it like that at Oxford And 't is evident that this did not take its pattern from Oxford but Oxford from it because Brazen-nose College in Oxford was not built before the reign of Henry the seventh and this is at least as old as Edw. 3. or probably older h So much for the University there The government of the town Mr. Camden tells us An Alderman and 24 Câ—â—burgâ—ers is by an Alderman and 24 Comburgenses When this begun is not so certain being much elder than the first Charter they have For there is a list of sixty upon the Court-Roll sworn there before the Incorporation viz. from 1398. to 1460. the first year of Edward the fourth So that Edward the fourth by his Charter seems rather to confirm an old custom than establish a new one 'T is very observable here that they have the Custom which Littleton the famous Common-Lawyer calls Burrough English Burroâ—g Eng â—â— viz. the younger sons inherit what Lands or Tenements their fathers dye possess'd of within this Manour i My Lord Burghley founded a Hospital here but when Mr. Camden says he is bury'd in the Parish-Church of S. George in Stamford it is a mistake for he lyes in S. Martin's Church in Stamford-Barron which is in Northamptonshire k After the death of
Canutus founded for Nuns who being expell'd within a little time in the year 1040. Leofrick Earl of Mercia enlarg'd it and in a manner built it a-new with so great a show of gold and silver to use Malmesbury's words that the walls of the Church seem'd too strait to contain the treasures of it It was very prodigious to behold for from one beam were scrap'd w Five hundred marks Malmesb. See Dugdale's Warwickshire 50 marks of silver And he endow'd it with so great revenues that Robert de Limsey Bishop of Lichfield and Chester remov'd his See hither as to the golden sands of Lydia that as the same Malmesbury hath it he might steal from the treasures of the Church wherewithall to fill the King's Coffers to cheat the Pope of his provisions and gratifie the Roman avarice However this See after a few years return'd back to Lichfield but upon these terms that one and the same Bishop should be stil'd Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield The first Lord of this City that I know of 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—try was Leofrick who being incens'd against the Citizens laid upon them very heavy taxes these he would by no means remit notwithstanding the great intercession of his Lady Godiva unless she would consent to â—ide naked thro' the most frequented parts of the city â—â—50 which if credit may be given to tradition she perform'd â—egus having cover'd her body with her long dangling hair without being seen by any one and so freed her Citizens from many heavy impositions From Leofrick this City by Lucia his son Algar's daughter came into the possession of the Earls of Chester for she had marry'd Ranulph the first Earl of that name and the third of the family who granted the same Liberties to Coventry that Lincoln enjoy'd and gave a great part of the City to the Monks the residue of it and Chilmore their manour-house near the City he reserv'd to him and his heirs who dying and the inheritance for want of issue-male coming to be divided amongst the sisters Coventry by the death of the Earls of Arundel fell to Roger de Monte alto De monte Alto. or Monthault whose grandson Robert granted all his right for want of issue-male to Queen Isabel Mother of King Edw. 3. to hold during her life after her decease the remainder to John de Eltham brother of the King and to the heirs of his body begotten In default of such the remainder to Edward King of England and his heirs for ever For so you have it in a Fine the second year of Edward 3. But John of Eltham was afterwards created Earl of Cornwall and this place became annex'd to the Earldom of Cornwall from which time it hath flourish'd very much Several Kings gave it divers immunities and privileges especially Edward 3. who granted them the electing of a Mayor and two Bayliffs 11 And to build and embattle a wall about it and Henry 6. who having laid to it some of the neighbouring villages granted by his Charter For so are the very words of it That it should be an entire County incorporate by it self in deed and name distinct from the County of Warwick At which time in lieu of two Bayliffs he constituted two Sheriffs and the Citizens began to enclose it with very strong walls In these are very noble and beautiful gates at that which goes by the name of Gofford is to be seen a vast shield-bone of a Boar which you may believe that Guy of Warwick or Diana of the Groves which you please kill'd in hunting after he had with his shout turn'd up the pit or pond that is now called Swansewell-pool but in ancient Charters Swineswell As to the Longitude of this City it lies in 25 degrees and 52 scruples the Latitude in 52 degrees and 25 scruples Thus much of Coventry which yet that I may ingenuously acknowledge the person who furnish'd me with it you must know you have not from me but from Henry Ferrars of Badsley a person to be respected as for his birth so for his great knowledge in Antiquity and my very good friend who in this and other places courteously directed me and as it were gave me leave to light my candle at his s Near Coventry to the North are situated Ausley Ausley a castle heretofore of the Hastings Lords of Abergavenny and ww Brandon Brand Brand. of old a seat of the Verdons To the East is placed Caloughdon vulgarly call'd Caledon Caledon an ancient seat of the Barons Segrave Barons Segrave from whom it descended to the Barons de Berkley by one of the daughters of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk These Segraves from the time that Stephen de Segrave was Lord Chief Justice of England were Barons of this Realm and enjoy'd the inheritance of the Chaucumbs whose Arms from that time they assumed viz. Arms of the Segraves A Lion rampant Argent crowned Or in a shield Sable John the last of this family marry'd Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk daughter of Thomas de Brotherton and had issue Elizabeth who carry'd the honour of Marshal of England and title of Duke of Norfolk into the family of the Mowbrays Not far from hence is Brinkle Brinkle-castle where was an ancient castle of the Mowbrays to which belong'd many fair possessions lying round it but time hath swept away the very ruins of it t as also of the Monastery of Combe Combe-Abbey which the Camvils and the Mowbrays endow'd Out of whose ashes the fair structure of the Harringtons arose in this place As you go Eastward x Anciently writ Thester Over as being seated castward of Monks-kirby and call'd but lately Cester-over by the inhabitants Dugd. Warwicksh p. 60. Cester-over presents it self the possession of the Grevils of whom I have before made mention Near which Watling street a Military way of the Romans dividing this County to the North from Leicestershire passes by High-cross of which we have already spoken near Nonn-eaton which of old was call'd Eaton but Amicia the wise of Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester as Henry Knighton writes having founded a Monastery of Nuns here in which she her self was profess'd of that number from those Nuns it got the name of Non-Eaton And formerly it was of great fame for the piety of its holy virgins who being constant in their devotions gave a good example of holy living to all about them Near this stood heretofore Asteley-castle Asteley the chief seat of the family of the Asteleys 12 Out of which flourish'd Barons in the time of King Edward the first second and third Baron Asteâ—ey the heiress of which was the second wife of Reginald Grey Lord of Ruthin From him sprang the Greys Marquisses of Dorset some of whom lye interr'd 13 In a most fine and fair Collegiate Church which Thomas Lord Astley founded with a Dean and Secular Canons in the neat
increase is owing partly to Michael de la Pole who upon his advancement to the Earldom of Suffolk by King Richard the second procur'd them their privileges and partly to their trade of Iseland-fish dâ—y'd and harden'd term'd by them Stock-fish Stockfish which turns to great gain and has strangely enrich'd the Town Immediately upon this rise they fortify'd the place with a brick wall and many towers on that side where they are not defended by the river and brought in such a quantity of stones for ballast Coblestones as was sufficient to pave all parts of the Town As I have been inform'd by the Citizens they were first govern'd by a Warden then by Bailiffs after that by a Mayor and Bailiffs and at last they obtain'd from Henry the sixth that they should be govern'd by a Mayor and Sheriff and that the City should be a County incorporate of it self as the Lawyers term it Concerning the first Mayor of this City it may not be tedious to relate this passage from the Register of the Abbey de Melsa or de Meaux tho' the stile be barbarous William de la Pole De la Pole Kt. was first a Merchant at Ravens-rod skilful in the arts of trade and inferiour to no English Merchant whatsoever He afterwards living at Kingston upon Hull was the first Mayor of that Town and founded the Monastery of St. Michael which now belongs to the Carthusian Monks near the said Kingston His eldest son 4 Sir Michael Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk caused the said Monastery to be inhabited by that Order William de la Pole aforesaid lent King Edward many thousand pounds of gold during his abode at Antwerp in Brabant For this reason the King made him chief Baron of his Exchequer gave him by Deed the Seigniory of Holderness with many other Lands then belonging to the Crown and made him a Baneret If any one questions the truth of this C 5 E R 3. m 28. the Records of the Tower will I hope fully satisfie him there it is expresly William de la Pole dilectus valectus mercator noster Now Valectus Valectus or Valettus J. Tilius that I may observe it once for all was then an honourable title both in France and England but afterwards coming to be meanly apply'd to servants so that the Nobility disliked it the title was changed and he was call d Gentleman of the Bed chamber h From Hull a large promontory shoots out into the Sea call'd by Ptolemy Ocellum Ocellum by us at this day Holderness Holderness A certain Monk has call'd it Cava Deira that is to say the hollow Country of the Deiri in the same sence that Coelosyria is so call'd signifying hollow Syria i The first place a man comes at on this winding shore is Headon Headon which formerly if we 'll believe Fame that always magnifies Truth was a very considerable place by reason of merchants and shipping k For my part I have faith enough to believe it notwithstanding 't is now so diminish'd partly by reason of its being too near Hull and partly because the Haven is block'd up and useless that it has not the least shew of that grandeur it pretends to have had Which may teach us that the condition of Towns and Cities is every jot as unstable as the state and happiness of men King John granted to Baldwin Earl of Albemarle and Holderness and to his wife Hawis free Burgage here so that the Burgesses might hold in free burgage by the same customs with York and * Nâ—â—â— Lincoln Nichol. At present the Town begins to flourish again and has some hopes of attaining to its former greatness Somewhat farther in the same Promontory there stands an ancient Town call'd Praetorium Praeâ—â—â—â—â— by Antoninus but we now name it Patrington Patâ—â—â—gâ— as the Italians do Petrovina from the Town Praetorium That I am not mistaken here the distance from Delgovitia and the name still remaining do both shew which also does in some sort imply that this is the Petuaria which goes corruptly in Copies of Ptolemy for Praetorium But whether it took the name from the Praetorium which was their Court of Justice or from some large and stately edifice for such also the Romans call'd Praetoria does not appear l The Inhabitants do still boast of their antiquity and the former excellence of their Haven nor do they less glory in the pleasantness of the place having a very fine prospect on this side as it looks toward the Ocean and on that as it surveys the Humber and the shores about it together with the green skirts of Lincolnshire The Roman way from the Picts wall which Antoninus the Emperour first trac'd out ends here So Ulpian tells us that High-ways of that nature end at the Sea at a River or at a City Somewhat lower stands Winsted Wâ—nâ—â—d the Seat of the Hildeards Knights and a little higher Rosse is seated which gives name as it did heretofore a seat to that famous race of Barons de Rosse Baron 〈◊〉 Rosse and upon the sea Grimston-garth where the Grimstons long flourish'd From hence at no great distance stands Rise formerly the House of those Noblemen call'd de Faulconberge In the very tongue of this Promontory where it draws most towards a point and takes the name of Spurnhead Ratâ—â—â— and Râ—â—burg stands the little village Kellnsey which shews plainly that this is the Ocellum in Ptolemy for as Kellnsey Keâ—â—â—ey comes from Ocellum so without doubt this Ocellum is deriv'd from Y-kill which signifies in British a Promontory or a narrow slip of ground as I have already said m From Ocellum the shore gradually withdraws and with a small bending runs northward by Overthorne and Witherensey little Churches call'd from the sisters that built them Sisters-kirks Sisters-kirks and not much wide of Constable-Burton Conâ—â—â—â— so nam'd from the Lords of it who by marriages are ally'd to very honourable families and flourish in great splendour at this day Robert of this House as we find it in Meaux-Abbey-book was one of the Knights of the Earl of Albemarle who being old and full of days took upon him the Cross and went with King Richard to the Holy Land Then by Skipsey which Drugo the first Lord of Holderness fortify'd with a Castle Here the shore begins to shoot again into the Sea and makes that Bay call'd in Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gabrantovicorum which some Latin Translators render Portuosus sinus others Salutaris Sinus Sâ—â—taris Neither of them express the sence of the Greek word better than that little town in the turn of it call'd Suerby Sueâ—â—y For that which is safe and free from danger is by the Britains and Gauls call'd Seur as we also do in English who probably derive it from the Britains There 's no reason therefore why we should
malis Quin superest quin extremis exhausta ruinis Funere sic crevit firmior usque suo Oppida ut exaequet jam munitissima Civis Militis censum munia Martis obit Post quam servitio durÃsque est functa periclis Effert laetitiae signa serena suae Et nunc antiquo foelix se jactat honore Cum reddit Domino debita jura suo Cujus ab Auspiciis unita Britannia tandem Excelsum tollit libera in astra caput bound of the Scottish and the English Land Where both their realms and both their labours end After a thousand turns of doubtful state She yet outbraves the vain assaults of Fate A happy Port in all her storms hath found And still rose higher as she touch'd the ground Surpass'd by none her stately forts appear Her sons at once inur'd to Trade and War Now all her storms and all her fears are gone In her glad look returning joys are shown Now her old honours are at last restor'd Securely now she serves her ancient Lord Bless'd with whose care united Britain rears Her lofty head among the rival-stars It may not be amiss to add here the account which Aeneas Sylvius or Pope Pius the second who came Legate into Scotland about the year 1448. gives of the borderers in this Country The Coâ—mentâ— iâ— Pius 2. pâ—â—lish'd 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Gebedâ—â—â— in his life written by himself since their manners still continue the same A certain * Twede River falling from a high mountain parts the two Kingdoms over which Aeneas ferry'd Manners 〈◊〉 the Baâ—â—â—rers and coming to a large village about sun-set he alighted at a country-man's house where he sup'd with the Curate of the place and his host The table was plentifully furnish'd with pottage hens and geese but nothing of either wine or bread appear'd All the men and women of the town flock'd in as to some strange sight and as our countrymen use to admire the Aethiopians or Indians so these people star'd at Aeneas asking the Curate what countryman he was what his errand could be and whether he were a Christian or no But Aeneas being aware of the scarcity he would meet with on this road was accommodated by a Monastery with a rundlet of red wine and some loaves of bread When these were brought to the table they were more astonish'd than before having never seen either wine or white bread Big-belly'd women with their husbands came to the table side and handling the bread and smelling to the wine beg'd a taste so that there was no avoiding the dealing of the whole amongst them After they had sate at supper till two hours within night the Curate and the Landlord with the children and all the men left Aeneas and rub'd off in haste They said they were going to shelter themselves in a certain tower at a good distance for fear of the Scots who at low water us'd to cross the river in the night and fall a plundering They would by no means be perswaded to take Aeneas along with them though he very importunately entreated them to do it Neither carry'd they off any of the women though several of them both wives and maids were very handsom for they believe the enemy will not harm them not looking upon whoredom as any ill thing Thus Aeneas was left alone with only two Servants and a Guide amongst a hundred women who sitting in a ring with a fire in the middle of 'em spent the night sleepless in dressing of hemp and chatting with the Interpreter When the night was well advanc'd they had a mighty noise of dogs barking and geese gagling whereupon the women slipt off several ways the guide run away and all was in such a confusion as if the enemy had been upon ' em But Aeneas thought it his wisest course to keep close in his Bed-chamber which was a Stable and there to await the issue lest running out and being unacquainted with the Country he should be robb'd by the first man he met Presently both the women and the guide return acquainting them that all was well and that they were Friends and no Enemies that were arriv'd ll There were in this Country certain petty Nations who were call'd dd The Fifburgingi or Fifburhingan as the Saxons call'd them were the Danish Inhabitants of the five Towns of Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Stanford and Derby To these were afterwards added the Cities of York and Chester and then the same people and for the like reason were call'd Seofenburgenses Sevenburgenses and dd The Fifburgingi or Fifburhingan as the Saxons call'd them were the Danish Inhabitants of the five Towns of Leicester Lincoln Nottingham Stanford and Derby To these were afterwards added the Cities of York and Chester and then the same people and for the like reason were call'd Seofenburgenses Fifburgingi â—â—â—burâ—â—es â—â—â—gingi but so dark is the account we have of 'em that I am not able to ascertain the true place of their residence nor tell you whether they were Danes or English Florence of Worcester publish'd by the right honourable the Lord William Howard says that whilst the Parliament sate at Oxenford Sigeferth and Morcar two eminent and mighty e Tha Yldestan Thaegenas says the Chronicle The Historian should have given the word a more honourable signification than Ministri for whatever the Saxon Thegn may signifie the old Danish Diagn which ought to have been known and consider'd here always imports Government and Power Ministers of the Seovenburgenses were privately murder'd by Edrick Streona And that Prince Edmund â—rince of 〈◊〉 Edburâ—â—g contrary to the good liking of his father marry'd Alfrith the wife of Sigeferth and taking a progress as far as the Fifburgingi invaded Sigeferth 's Territories and subdu'd his People But let others make a further enquiry into these matters â—â—gs â—kes and â—â—s of â—â—thumâ—â—rland This Province was first brought under the Saxon yoke by Osca the brother of Hengist and his son Jebusa and was for some time under the government of Dukes who were homagers to the Kings of Kent Afterwards when the Kingdom of the Bernicians â—â—â—nicians whom the Britains call Guir a Brinaich that is Mountainers was erected the best part of it lay between the Tees and the Scottish or Edinburg Frith and this was subject to the f The Kingdom of Northumberland is here very erroneously made a part of the Kingdom of Bernicia whereas in truth this was a part of that Kings of Northumberland When these had finish'd their fatal period all beyond Twede became part of Scotland and Egbert King of the East-Saxons had the surrender of this County and g Egbert did indeed so far subdue the Northumbrians that their King Eandred became Tributary to him but Northumberland continued a Kingdom long after that annex'd it to his own Dominions Alfred afterwards h Just as they assign'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons c.
and many Christians cut off MCLXXXVII On the Kalends or first of July the Abby of Ynes in Ulster was founded MCLXXXIX Henry Fitz Empress departed this life was succeeded by his son Richard and buried in Font Evrard This same year was founded the Abby De Colle Victoriae i.e. Cnokmoy MCXC. King Richard and King Philip made a Voyage to the Holy Land MCXCI. In the Monastery of Clareval the translation of Malachy Bishop of Armagh was celebrated with great solemnity MCXCII The City of Dublin was burnt MCXCIII Richard King of England in his return from the Holy Land was taken Prisoner by the Duke of Austria and paid to the Emperor 100000 Marks for Ransom besides 30000 to the Empress and 20000 to the Duke upon an Obligation he had made to them for Henry Duke of Saxony He was detain'd in Prison by the Emperor a year six months and three days all the Chalices in a manner throughout England were sold to raise this Sum. This year was founded the Abby De Jugo Dei. MCXCIV The Reliques of S. Malachy Bishop of Clareval were brought into Ireland and receiv'd with great honour into the Monastery of Millifont and other Monasteries of the Cistercians MCXCV. Matthew Archbishop of Cassil Legat of Ireland and John Archbishop of Dublin got the Corps of Hugh Lacy that conquered Meth from the Irish and interr'd them with great solemnity in the Monastery of Blessedness or Becty but the Head of the said Hugh was laid in S. Thomas 's Monastery in Dublin MCXCVIII The Order of the Friers Predicants was begun about Tolouse founded by Dominick II. MCXCIX Died Richard King of England succeeded by his Brother John who was Lord of Ireland and Earl of Moriton Arthur the lawful Heir Son of Geffrey his whole Brother was slain by him The death of Richard was after this manner When King Richard besieg'd the Castle of Chaluz in Little Bretagn he receiv'd his mortal Wound by an Arrow shot at him by one of those in the Castle nam'd Bertram de Gourdon As soon as the King found there was no hopes of Life he committed his Kingdom of England and all his other Possessions to the Custody of his Brother All his Jewels and the fourth part of his Treasure he bequeath'd to his Nephew Otho Another fourth part of his Treasure he left to be distributed among his Servants and the poor People When Bertram was taken and brought before the King he ask'd him for what harm he had kill'd him Bertram without any fear told him That he had kill'd his Father and two of his Brethren with his own Hand and then intended to do the same with him That he might take what Revenge he pleas'd but he should not care since he was to die too that had done so much mischief in the World Notwithstanding the King pardon'd him and order'd him to be set at liberty and to have a 100 Shillings Sterling given him Yet after the King's death some of the King's Officers flea'd him and hung him up The King died on the eighteenth of the Ides of April which happen'd to be the fourth * Feria day before Palm-sunday and the eleventh day after he was wounded He was buried at Font Eberard at the feet of his Father A certain Versificator writ this Distich upon his death Istius in morte perimit Formica Leonem Proh dolor in tanto funere mundus obit An Ant a Lyon slew when Richard fell And his must be the World 's great Funeral His Corps were divided into three Parts Whence this of another Viscera Carceolum Corpus Fons servat Ebrardi Et cor Rothomagum magne Richarde tuum Great Richard's Body 's at Fontevrault shown His Bowels at Chalons his Head at Roan After the death of King Richard his Brother John was begirt by the Archbishop of Roan with the Sword of the Dukedom of Normandy upon the 7th of the Kalends of May next following The Archbishop also set a Crown adorn'd with golden Roses upon his Head Afterwards upon the 6th of the Kalends of June he was anointed and crown'd King of England in S. Peter's Church Westminster upon Ascension-day attended with all the Nobility of England Afterwards he was summon'd to Parliament in France to answer for the death of his Nephew Arthur and depriv'd of Normandy because he came not accordingly This same Year was founded the Abby of Commerer MCC Cathol Cronerg King of Conaught founder of the Abby De Colle Victoriae was expell'd Conaught This year the Monastery De Voto was founded that is to say Tyntern Monastery by William Marshall Earl Marshal and Pembroch who was Lord of Leinster viz. of Wrisford Ossory Caterlagh and Kildare in right of his Wife who married the daughter of Richard Earl of Stroghul and of Eve the daughter of Dermic Murcard This William Earl Marshal being in great danger of Shipwreck a night and a day made a Vow That if he escap'd and came to Land he would found a Monastery and dedicate it to Christ and his Mother Mary So as soon as he arriv'd at Weysford he founded this Monastery of Tynterne according to his Vow and it is nam'd De Voto This year also was founded the Monastery de Flumine Dei MCCII. Cathol Cronirg or Crorobdyr King of Conaught was restor'd to his Kingdom The same year was founded the house of Canons of S. Marie of Connal by Sir Meiler Fitz-Henry MCCIII The Abby of S. Saviour i.e. Dawisky which was before founded was this Year and the next following finish'd MCCIV. A Battle was fought between John Courcy first Earl of Ulster and Hugh Lacie at Doune with great slaughter on both sides Yet John Curcy had the Victory Afterwards upon the 6th day of the Week being Good Friday as the said John was unarm'd and going in Pilgrimage barefoot and in a linnen Vestment to the Churches after the common manner he was treacherously taken Prisoner by his own People for a sum of Mony part in hand and part promis'd to be paid afterwards and so he was deliver'd to Hugh Lacy who brought him to the King of England and receiv'd the Earldom of Ulster and the Seigniory of Connaught upon that account both belonging to John Curcy Hugh Lacy now being made Earl rewarded the said Traytors with Gold and Silver some more some less but hung them up as soon as he had done and took away all their Goods by these means Hugh Lacy ruleth in Ulster and John Curcie is condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment for his former Rebellion against King John refusing to do him homage and accusing him for the death of Arthur the lawful and right Heir to the Crown While the Earl was in Prison and in great Poverty having but a small allowance of Provisions and the same mean and course he expostulated with God why he dealt thus with him who had built and repair'd so many Monasteries for him and his Saints After many Expostulations of this kind he fell asleep and the Holy
being still Justiciary as before His Wife died this year MCCLXXXI Adam Cusak younger kill'd William Barret and many others in Conaught Frier Stephen Fulborn was made Justiciary of Ireland The Lord Robert d'Ufford return'd into England MCCLXXXII This Year Moritagh and Arte Mac-Murgh his Brother were slain at Arclowe on S. Mary Magdalen Eve And Roger Lord Mortimer died MCCLXXXIII The City of Dublin was in part burnt and the Belfrey of Trinity Church upon the third day before the Nones of January MCCLXXXIV The Castle of Ley was taken and burnt by the petty Kings of Offaly the morrow after S. Barnaby's Day Alphonsus the King's Son twelve years old departed this Life MCCLXXXV The Lord Theobald le Botiller died on the 6th of the Kalends of October in the Castle of Arclowe and was buried there in the Convent of the Friers Predicants Gerald Fitz Maurice was taken Prisoner by his own Irish Subjects in Ofaly with Richard Petit and S. Deget and many others and at Rathode was a great slaughter MCCLXXXVI Le Norragh and Arstol with other Towns were successively burnt by William Stanton on the 16th of the Kalends of December About this time Eleanor Queen of England mother of King Edward took a religious habit at Ambresbury upon the day of S. Thomas's translation having her dower confirmed by the Pope and assur'd to her for ever Calwagh was taken Prisoner at Kildare The Lord Thomas Clare departed this Life MCCLXXXVII This year died Stephen Fulborn Archbishop of Tuam and was succeeded in the Office of Justiciary for a Time by John Sampford Archbishop of Dublin This year the King of Hungary renounc'd Christianity and turned Apostate and having fraudulently assembled his Nobility under pretence of a Parliament Miramomelius a potent Saracen came upon them with an Army of 20000 men and took the King and all the Christians there away prisoners on S. John Baptist's eve As the Christians were carried along the weather turn'd cloudy and a tempest of Hail fell suddenly and killed many thousands of the Infidels So the Christians return'd to their own homes and the Apostate King went alone with the Saracens The Hungarians crown'd his Son King and continued in the Catholick Faith MCCLXXXIX Tripoly a famous City was demolish'd after great effusion of Christian blood by the Sultan of Babylon Who commanded the Images of the Saints to be dragg'd at the horses tails through the ruinous City in contempt of Christ MCCXC Inclyta stirps Regis sponsis datur ordine legis The issue of the King becomes a Spouse The Lord Gilbert Clare took to Wife the Lady Joan de Acon a daughter of our Lord King Edward in the Abby of Westminster and the marriage was celebrated in May And John the Duke of Brabant's son married Margaret the said King's daughter also in the Church aforesaid in July This year the Lord William Vescie was made Justiciary of Ireland and enter'd upon the Office on S. Martin's day Item O Molaghelin King of Meth was this year slain MCCXCI Gilbert Clare the son of Gilbert and the Lady Joan de Acon was born on the 11th of May betimes in the morning Item there was an army led into Ulster against O Hanlan and other Princes that had broke the Peace by Richard Earl of Ulster and William Vescie Justiciary of Ireland Item The Lady Eleanor formerly Queen of England and mother of King Edward died this year on S. John's day after a laudable life spent four years eleven months and six days in a religious habit as she had desir'd in the Abby of Ambresbury where she was a profess'd Nun. Item the news came to our Lord Pope Martin on the eve of S. Mary Magdalen concerning the city of Acon in the Holy Land which was the only place of refuge for the Christians that it was besieg'd by Mislkadar the Sultan of Babylon with a numerous army He besieg'd it hotly for about forty days viz. from the 8th day before the Ides of April till the 15th before the Kalends of July At last the Wall was pull'd down by the Saracens and they entred the city in great numbers many Christians being slain and some drown'd in the sea for fear Among whom was the Patriarch and his Train The King of Cyprus and Oto de Grandison escap'd in a ship with their followers Item This year the Lord Pope Martin granted our Lord King Edward the tenth of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in Ireland for seven years together as a supply towards a relief for the Holy Land Item the eldest son of the Earl of Clare was born the same year MCCXCII Edward King of England again entred Scotland and was chosen King John Lord Balliol of Gallweya obtain'd the whole Kingdom of Scotland by right of inheritance and did homage to our Lord Edward King of England at Newcastle upon Tine on S. Stephen's day Florentius Earl of Holland Robert Brus Earl of Carrick John Hastings John Comin Patrick de Dunbar John Vescie Nicholas Souls and William Roos who were then at difference in the said Kingdom submitted themselves to the judgment of King Edward Item A fifteenth of all the Goods of Laymen in Ireland was granted to our Lord the King of England to be collected on the Feast of S. Michael Item Sir Peter Genevile Knight died this year Item Rice ap Meredyke was brought to York and there dragg'd at the horses tails c. MCCXCIII A general and open war was this year waged at sea with the Normans Item no small number of the Normans was cut off in a sea-engagement by the Barons of the Ports of England and others their coadjutors between Easter and Whitsuntide For this a war broke out between England and France whereupon Philip King of France directed his letters of citation to the King of England to appear in person at his Parliament to answer what the King had to say to him but finding no compliance with this order he forthwith by the counsel of his Parliament declar'd him outlaw'd and condemn'd him Item Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester and his wife came into Ireland about the feast of S. Luke MCCXCIV William Montfort in the King's Council holden at Westminster before the King died suddenly He was Dean of S. Paul's in London The Bishops and Clergy who doubted what the King would expect from every one of them had instructed him as a person whom the King would confide in what to signifie from them to him as soon as he return'd to the King and was addressing himself to speak as he had design'd he grew speechless fell down and was carried out by the King's servants in a miserable condition Upon this sight people grew fearful and began to take him for the great procurer of the tenths of ecclesiastical benefices to the King and of the scrutiny and search after the fold of Christ as also of the contributions granted the King afterward Item The city of Bordeaux with the adjacent country of Gascoign was taken
defeated This occasion'd a general Insurrection in Scotland of both Earls and Barons against the King of England There was also at this time a Quarrel between the King of England and Roger Bigod Earl Marshal but this was soon made up S. Lewis a Frier minor Son of the King of Sicily and Archbishop of Cologn died this year This year also the son and heir of the King of Maliager i.e. of the Islands of Majorac instituted the Order of the Friers-minors at the direction of S. Lewis who bid him go and do it Item Leghlin in Ireland with other Towns were burnt by the Irish of Slemergi Item Calwagh O Hanlen and Yneg Mac-Mahon were slain in Urgale MCCXCVIII Pope Boniface IV. on the morrow of the Feast of S. Peter â—â—d S. Paul all things being then quiet made Peace between England â—â—d France upon certain Terms Item Edward King of England â—â—d an Army again into Scotland to conquer it There were slain 〈◊〉 this Expedition about the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen many â—â—ousands of the Scots at Fawkirk The Sun appear'd that day 〈◊〉 red as Blood in Ireland while the Battel at Fawkirk continu'd â—â—em about the same time the Lord King of England gave his Knights the Earldoms and Baronies of those Scots that were slain â—n Ireland Peace was concluded between the Earl of Ulster and the Lord John Fitz-Thomas about the Feast of Simon and Jude Also â—â—e morrow after the Feast of the seven Sleepers the Sun-beams â—ere chang'd into a bloodish colour all the morning to the great â—dmiration of every one Item This year died Thomas Fitz-â—aurice Knight and Sir Robert Bigod sometime Justiciary in the â—ench Item In the City Artha as also Reath in Italy during â—â—e stay of Pope Boniface there happen'd so great an Earthquake â—â—at Towers and Palaces fell down and the Pope and his Cardiâ—als fled out of the City with great consternation Item on the Feast of Epiphany there was an Earthquake in Engâ—â—nd from Canterbury to Hampton but not so violent MCCXCIX Theobald Lord Botilter the younger died in the Mannor of Turby on the second day before the Ides of May His Corps were convey'd towards Weydeney i. e Weney in the County of Limerick on the 6th day before the Calends of June Item Edward King of England married the Lady Margaret Sister to the noble King of France in Trinity-church at Canterâ—ury about the Feast of the Holy Trinity Item the Sultan of Baâ—ylon with a great Army was defeated by Cassan King of Tarâ—â—ry MCCXCIX On the day after the Purification there was an inâ—â—â—ite number of Saracen-horse slain besides as many Foot Item There was this same year a Fight of Dogs at Genelon-castle in â—urgundy the number of the Dogs were 3000 and all kill'd but â—â—e Item This year many Irish came to the Castle of Roch â—efore the Annunciation to give some disturbance to the Lord Theâ—bald de Verdon MCCC The * Numisma Pollardorum Pollard-mony was prohibited in England and Ireland Item King Edward enter'd Scotland with an Army in Autumn but was stay'd by an order from Pope Boniface and to excuse himself sent certain Envoys to the Court of Rome Item Thomas son â—o the King of England was born at Brotherton by Margaret the King of France's Sister on the last day of May. Item Edward Earl of Cornwall dy'd this year without issue and was buried in â—he Abby of Hailes MCCCI. Edward King of England enter'd Scotland with an Army Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and Sir John Fitz-Thomas Peter Bermingham and many others set sail from Ireâ—and to assist him Item A great part of the City of Dublin was â—urnt down together with the Church of S. Warbutga on S. Caâ—â—mb's day at night Item Sir Jeffrey Genevil married the daughâ—er of Sir John Montefort and Sir John Mortimer married the daughter and heir of Sir Peter Genevil and the Lord Theobald Verdon married the daughter of the Lord Roger Mortimer The People of Leinster took up Arms in the Winter and burnt the Towns of Wyklo and Rathdon c. but they suffer'd for 't for the greater â—art of their Provisions at home was burnt up and their Cattel â—ole so that they had certainly famish'd if a sedition had not hapned among the English at that juncture Item A small company of the Brenies were defeated this year by the Tolans and 300 of those Robbers were cut off Item A great part of Mounster was wasted by Walter Power and many Farm-houses burnt MCCCII This year died the Lady Margaret Wife to Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland on the 3d day before the Ides of April And in the week following Maud Lacy the Wife of Sir Geffery Genevil died also Item Edmund Botiller recoverd the Mannour de S. Bosco Holywood forte with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging from Sir Richard Feringes Archbishop of Dublin by a Fine in the King's bench after the feast of S. Hilary Item the Flemings defeated the French in Flanders at Courtenay the Wednesday after the feast of S. Thomas In this Engagement were slain the Earl of Artois the Earl of Albemarle the Earl of Hue Ralph de Neel Constable of France Guy de Nevil Marshal of France the Earl of Hennaund's son Godfrey de Brabant and his son William de Fenles and his son James de S. Paul lost his hand and fourty Baronets were kill'd that day with Knights Squires c. without number The Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Pope Boniface for three years as a Subsidy for the Church of Rome against the King of Arragon Item upon the day of the Circumcision Sir Hugh Lacy made an inroad upon Sir Hugh Vernail and drove off his Beasts This year Robert Brus Earl of Carrick married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster Item Edward Botiller married the daughter of Sir John Fitz-Thomas The City of Bourdeaux with others thereabouts which Edward King of England had formerly lost by a sedition of the French were now restor'd upon S. Andrew's-eve by the means of the Lord John Hastings MCCCIII Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster and Sir Eustace Power invaded Scotland with a strong Army But after that the Earl himself had made 33 Knights in the Castle of Dublin he passed over into Scotland to assist the King of England Item Gerald the son and heir of Sir John Fitz-Thomas departed this life This year the King and Queen of France were excommunicated with all their Children by Pope Boniface who also confirm'd the privileges of the University of Paris Soon after the Pope was taken Prisoner and kept as it were in Prison three whole days Soon after the Pope dy'd The Countess of Ulster died likewise about this time Item Walran Wellesly and Sir Robert Percivall were slain this year on the 11th day before the Kalends of November MCCCIV A great part of Dublin was burnt down viz. the Bridge-street a good part of