of Bristol built upon the Rivers Avon and Frome Competitor for Merchandize almost with London and with York for beauty It standeth partly in this County and partly in Somersetshire but being a County of it self will acknowledge obedience to neither Things remarkable in this County In the year 1471. At Tewksbury was fought the Battel between K. Edward 4. and K. Hen. 6. wherein P. Edward the General was slain Q. Margaret taken Prisoner Tho. Earl of Devonshire John Mardosset L. Wenlake and Ed. D. of Somerset taken and Beheaded In the Quire of the Cathedral Church of Gloucester in an Arch thereof is a Wall built in form of a Semicircle but very full of Corners and if a man speak with a very low Voyce at the one side or end of it and another lay his Ear to the other he may very easily hear every syllable that the other pronounces though the distance be very considerable At Stroud in this County they Die Scarlet the Water there having a peculiar quality to give the right tincture And about Radminton no Snakes or Adders are to be found yet there are holes there called Swallow-holes where the Waters after great Rain or in VVinter when the Springs run fall into the bowels of the Earth and are no more seen nor is it known whither ever they rise again At Alderley 8 miles from the Severn upon the Hills there to this day are found Cockles Periwinkles and Oysters of solid Stone These Stones are found near the surface of the Earth and if you dig any depth you find none of them At Lassington a mile from Gloucester are found Stones called Star Stones they are about the thickness of a half Crown but no broader than a Silver peny They are flat and five pointed like a Star or Mullet They are of a Grey colour and on the flat sides naturally engraven in fine works as one Mullet within another I have seen many of them joyned together flat to flat like Columbs 2 or 3 inches long These single Stones being put into Vinegar have a motion as other Astroits have though not so lively At Puckle Church are digged Stones natural broad blewish and hard about half a foot thick square and flat fit for Tomb-stones They lye in Beds 6 or 8 one above another The uppermost Bed near the surface of the Earth insomuch that near the Town in the High-way for 10 Perches or more you may ride upon a Pavement as it were of one continued Stone so near do these Beds joyn together Hantshire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Sussex and Surrey On the West by Dorsetshire and Wiltshire On the South by the Brittish Sea And on the North by Berkshire It containeth in Length 66 miles In Breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 176. The Air is Temperate but thick by reason of the Vapours arising from the Sea and Rivers whose plenty of Fish and their increase do plentifully satisfie the injuries they sustain by the Vapours The Soil is rich for Corn and Cattle plentiful for Wood and pleasant for Pasturage and happy in all Commodities either for Sea or Land In it are four Principal Havens viz. Portsmouth Titchfield Homble Southampton all of them commodious both to let in and loose out Ships of very great burthen The chief Commodities of this Shire are Corn Cattle Iron Wool Honey and Kersies It is in the Diocess of Winchester and hath in it 253 Parishes Out of it are elected 26 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Winchester 2 Southampton 2 Portsmouth 2 Yarmouth 2 Petersfeild 2 Newport alias Medena 2 Stockbridge 2 New-town 2 Christ-Church 2 Whitchurch 2 Limington 2 Andever 2 Its Division is into 39 Hundreds viz. Evinger Kingscleer Holshot Odiham Crandall Alton Barmanspit Chutley Basingstoke Overton Parstow Andevor Wherewell Micheldever Buntesborow Sutton Selborn Eastermeane Meanestoke and Suberton Fawley Buddlesgate Kingsunborn Bartonstacy Thornegate New Forrest Fordingbridge Ringwood Christ-Church Redbridge Waltham Mansbridge Tichfield Portsdown Portsmouth Bosmere Hailing Fartham Finchdean And in these Hundreds are 16 Market-Towns viz. Southampton Tu. F Kingsclere Tues Winchester W. and S. Basing-Stoke W. Ringwood W. Alceston Th. Petersfield S. Alton Sat. Odiam S. Andover S. Ramsey S. Lamington S. Portsmouth Th. S. Newport in Isle of Wight W. and Sa. Christ-Church White-Church In the Shire are many Strong Castles as Hurst Calshot Southampton St. Andrews Worth Porchester and the South Castle besides Bulworks and Blockhouses for the Countries defence In this County is the City of Winchester And the Arms of this City are Gules a Castle between two Lyons of England in Fess and between four other Castles in square all Or. The Principal Town in this Shire is Southampton lying in the Latitude of 50 deg 56 min. It bears from London S. W. by W. and is distant therefrom 60 miles thus From London to New Brainford 8. to Stanes 15. to Bagshot 25. to Alton 39. to Alesford 47. to Twiford 54. to Southampton 60. But the distance measured upon the Road is 78 miles This Town of Southampton is Populous Rich and Beautiful most strongly Walled about with Square Stone The Honours of this Shire are dignified by Marquesses and afterwards Earls of Winchester and Southampton The Names of which since the first Constitution are as followeth 1. Cliton a Saxon Earl of Winchester 2. Sear Quincy Earl of Winchester 3. Hugh Spencer Earl of Winchester 4. Lodowick Bruget Earl of Winchester 5. William Pawlet Marquess of Winchester 6. Bogo or Beavous Earl of Southampton 7. William Fits William E. of Southampton 8. Thomas Wriotheosley E. of Southampton Remarkable things in this Shire At Portsmouth they boyl Salt out of Salt water which is our Bay Salt which by boyling again they make exceeding white Out of the Walls of Silcester a decayed Town in this Shire grow huge Oaks containing 10 Loads or 500 solid foot of Timber a piece The Isle of Wight is in this Shire the Air whereof is very wholsom and the Inhabitants live long It yields plenty of Corn and fine Wool As also Conies Hares Pheasants Partridges c. In the year 1176. it rained in this Island a Shower of Blood for two hours together At Wickham in this Shire are Medicinal Waters About Portsmouth are bred a Race of small Dogs like Beagles which they use there to hunt Moles with which they hunt as their natural Game In this County are these Castles Midwood Winchester and Odiam which were so strong that in the time of King Jobn Thirteen Englishmen defended the Fort for fifteen days against Lewis of France who with a great Force assaulted it Hertfordshire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Essex On the West by Buckingham and Bedfordshire On the South by Middlesex And on the North by Cambridgeshire It containeth in length 30 Miles in breadth 28 Miles and in Circumference 130 Miles The Temperature of the Air is sweet and healthful and is seated in a Climate neither too hot
Star appeared visible at Noon the Sun shining clear at which time the King rode to St. Paul's Church to give thanks for the Queens safe delivery of her second Son Prince Charles now our most gracious Soveraign whom God grant long to Reign over us In the 8th year of his Reign near one half of the Houses upon London Bridge were burnt to the tops of the Arches In the year 1643. The most Magnificent Cross in Cheapside London was demolished In the 17th year of K. Charles the Second Began a dreadful Pestilence in the City of London continuing from the beginning of May till the end of December where there died in London and within the Bill of Mortality of the Plague and of other Diseases 97306. besides many more not taken account of On the 2d 3d 4th 5th of September in the 18th year of his Reign in the space of three days were in London consumed by Fire Fourscore and Ten Parish-Churches and above Thirteen Thousand Dwelling-Houses Norfolk THe County of Norfolk is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire On the South by Suffolk And on the North by the German Ocean It containeth in length 50 Miles In breadth 35. And in Circumference 145 Miles The Temperature of the Air in this County is very sharp especially in the Champion and near the Sea and the Spring and Harvest here are very late The Soil in many places is very good but generally of Clay or fat Chalk And although it be healthy in some places yet by composture of Sheep the Heaths are made mighty Rich for Corn so that when they are laid again from bearing of Corn they yield a more sweet and plentiful feeding for Sheep The Chief Commodities of this County are Stuff Stockings Wool Corn Coals and Conies Herrings and other Fish It is in the Diocess of Norwich and hath in it 660 Parishes Out of it are Elected 12 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Norwich 2 Kings-Lynn 2 Yarmouth 2 Thetford 2 Castle-rising 2 Its Division is into 31 Hundreds viz. Smethdon Brothercross North Grenehoe Halfe North Erpingham Tunstad Happing West Flegg Blowfield Tavatham South Erpingham Eynsford Gallowe Frecbridge Laundiche Milforde Forehoce Humbleyarde Hensteade Loe Clavering Earshaw Depwarde Dysse Guiltcrosse Shorpham Wayland South Grenehoe Walsham Clackelosse Grymshooe And in these Hundreds are 28 Market-Towns viz. Lyn Tues Sat. East Harling Tues Foulsham Tues Caston Tues Norwich W. F. S. Harlston Wed. Watton Wed. Attlebury Thurs Fakingham Thu. North Walsham Th. Dis Frid. Wymondham Fr. East Deareham Fr. Snetsham Fri. Walsingham Fri. Yarmouth Sat. Thetford Sa. Hingham Sa. New Bakenham Sa. Swafham Sa. Downham Sa. Holt Sa. Burnham Market Sa. Cromer Sa. Repham Sa. Alesham Sa. Worfled Sa. Sechy every second Monday Three New Markets Attlebury Southwold Winfield The Sea-Coasts of this County are very fortunate in Fish and on these Coasts are very good Harbours of which Lyn and Yarmouth are the Chief both of them of great Traffick And Wells and Blackney are next in estimation The chief place in this County is the ancient City of Norwich lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 12 min. and bears from London N E. by N. and is distant therefrom 90 miles Thus From London to Waltham Cross 12. to Ware 20. to Puckeridge 24. to Barkway 31. to Witlecford Bridge 41. to New-Market 53. to Thetford 69. to Attleborough 79. to Windham 84. to Norwich 90. But by a more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is distant 108 miles It is a City flourishing in Peace Plenty Wealth and Honour It is situate upon the River Hierus in a pleasant Valley but upon rising ground In the 17th year of K. Stephen it was founded and made a Corporation In Edward the First 's time inclosed with a fair Wall It was first Governed by 4 Bailiffs Then by Henry the 4th in Anno 1403. erected into a Majoralty and County The Arms of this City are Gules a Castle triple Towred Argent in Base a Lyon of England or Passant Gardant Or. Lyn also in this County having been an ancient Borough under the Government of a Bailiff was by K. John made Liber Burgus who gave them a Cup which to this day honoureth their Corporation Henry the Third enlarged their Charter and granted them to choose a Maior Loco Praeposito unto whom K. Henry the 8th added 12 Aldermen a Recorder and other Officers and the bearing of a Sword before the Maior and further he changed their Name from Major Burgensis Lyn Episcopi to Major Burgensis Lyn Regis Yarmouth being the Key of the Coast seated by the Mouth of the River Year and is an ancient Member of the Cinque Ports being very well built and fortified This Town growing populous was by K. Henry the 3d made a Corporation under 2 Bailiffs The Earls and Dukes of Norfolk since the first Constitution Richard Gaiet E. of Norfolk William of Boloign E. of Norfolk Hugb Bigod E. of Norfolk Thomas Brotherton E. of Norfolk Tho. Moubray D. of Norfolk Richard of Shrewsbury D. of Norfolk L. Howard D. of Norfolk Things Remarkable in this County This County of Norfolk hath been infested with two remarkable Rebellions The first of them was commenced by John Litister a Dyer in Norwich calling himself King of the Commons who led 50 Thousand Soldiers into the Field and forcibly carried the Lord Morley and Scales and other Knights besides and caused them to serve him at his Table but he was shortly overthrown by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich and deservedly Hanged Anno 1381. The other was under the leading of Robert Ket a Tanner of Windham who in a Conflict forced the Lord William Par Marquess of Northampton to flight and slew the Lord Shefield in the Field but after many Outrages done to the City of Norwich was taken by John Dudley E. of Warwick having 5000 of his followers slain and himself takee and Hanged upon the top of the Castle Anno 1543. Cambden Reports that the Inhabitants of this County are naturally very capable of the niceties and quirks of the Law and those of them that bend their Studies that way prove generally excellent Lawyers On the Shore of this County viz. by Yarmouth is every year in the Month of September the worthiest fishing for Herrings in all Europe which draweth great concourse of People thither and maketh the Town much Richer all the year after The River Bure in this County is incredibly full of Fish In the River Tore by Norwich there is great plenty of a Fish they call a Ruffe which hath a Body all prickled over it delights in Sandy places and is much like a Perch in colour brown and duskish above but of a pale yellow beneath it is marked by the Chaws with a double course of half Circles the Eye for the upper part of it is of a dark brown and the lower part somewhat yellowish and the ball of it black
at Mace The Arms of the Town of Shrewsbury is Azure 3 Leopards heads Or. Things Remarkable in this County That the Air of this County is healthful as is aforesaid was versified in old Tho. Parre of Alderbury who was 152 years old who about two years before he died was brought up to London to K. Charles the First and dyed there in Anno 1635. At Wenlock in the time of Richard the Second was found a rich Mine of Copper At â—itchford in this Shire is a Well or Spring in a private man's Yard wherein floweth a thick skum of liquid Bitumen which being cleared and taken off one day will have the like upon it again on the morrow Upon that plot of Ground where the ancient City Wroxcester lay the Earth is more blackish than any elsewhere in the whole County and bears excellent good Barley In the third year of Q. Elizabeth the Town of Oswestre in this County 200 Houses in the space of two hours were consumed with Fire Dr. Fuller in his History of The Worthies of England quoteth a Proverb which is attributed to the Women of this County namely this He that Marries a Wife in Shropshire must carry her into Staffordshire or live in Cumberland The gingle of which Proverb and the reflexion of it upon the Women saying That this County of Shropshire affordeth as good Housewifes and as meek Women as any County in England of the like magnitude Somerset-Shire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Wiltshire On the West by Devonshire On the South by Dorsetshire And on the North by Gloucestershire It containeth in length 62 miles In breadth 32 miles And in Circumference 204 miles The Temperature of the Air is mild pleasing and delightful especially in the Summer Season The Soil is Wet Mirey and Moorish but as it is foul so it is fruitful and on every side garnished with delightful Meadows and beautified with many large Mansion-Houses and the Seven Sea beating upon it on the North side The chief Commodities of this County are Corn Cattel Lead and Bristol Stones It is in the Diocess of Bath and Wells and in it are contained 385 Parishes Out of it are elected 18 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Bristol 2 Bath 2 Wells 2 Taunton 2 Bridgewater 2 Minehead 2 Ilchester 2 Milborn Port 2 Its Division is into 42 Hundreds viz. Chewe Chewton Bathforme Keynsham Bruton Cattesayshe Norton-ferry Frome Wellow Killmersdon Glaston Horethorne Wells and Melford Whitston North Curry Milverton Carhampton Wyllyton and Free-Mannor Whitleigh Canington North Petherton Anderfield Huntspill Puriton Abdicke Bulston Kingsbury S. Petherton Crewkerne Sommerton Pitney Stone Tintin hull Houndsborough Barwick Coker Martock Winterstoake Portbury Brempstone Brent Hartcliffe and Bedminster And in these Hundreds are 30 Market-Towns viz. Somerton Mond Chard Mond Glassenburrough Tu. N. Curry Tu Sat. Wivescomb Tu. Pensford Tu. Wrinton Tu. North Petherton Tu. Wincaunion W. Ilchester W. Taunton W. and S. Bristol W. and Sat. Bath W. and S. Wells W. and S. Frowmselwood Wed. Axebridge Th. South Petherton Th. Wellington Th. Bridgewater Th. Canesham Th. Shepton Mallet Fr. Evill Fr. Dunster Fr. Wruton Sa. Langport S. Crokehorn S. Ilmister S. Wattchet S. Dalverton S. Phillips Norton This County is famous for that in it are three Cities viz. Bath Wells and Bristol Bath taketh its name from the Wells or Springs which there break forth Bath taketh its name from the Hot Baths there But the principal City though not so ancient as the other two is Bristol It lies in the Latitude of 51 deg 32 min. It bears from London West and is distant therefrom 94 miles Thus From London to New Brainford 8 miles to Maidenhead 22. to Reading 32. to Newberry 47. to Marlborough 62. to Chipenham 77. to Marshfield 84. to Bristol 94. But by more accurate admeasurement upon the Road the distance from London is found to be 115 Miles This City is fair and well seated and for beauty may compare with any City in England of the bigness and may well deserve the old Saxon name Bright-stall whose pleasantness is much augmented by reason of the River Avon runs through the middle of it and the Severn running under all the Streets cleanses the City from all manner of filth It is not wholly seated in this County but one part of it is in Gloucestershire It is Governed both by a Bishop and a Maior a competent number of Aldermen and other Officers for the management of Civil affairs The Arms of the City is Gules a Castle upon a Hill by the Seaside and a helm of a Ship under Sail passing by all proper The Earls and Dukes of Somerset and Bath since the first Constitution Rheonald de Mohum Lord of Dunster and E of Somerset John Beauford Duke of Somerset Henry fits Roy Duke of Somerset Edward Somer Duke of Somerset Phllip Chamdew Earl of Bath John Boucheir Lord Fitz Warren Earl of Bath Henry Dawbney John Greenvile Earl of Bath Things Remarkable in this County Camalet a very steep Hill hard to be ascended on the top whereof are seen the Lineaments of a large and ancient Castle which is said to have been the Palace of King Arthur The Church-yard of Avelena or Glassenborough where K. Arthur's Sepulchre was searched for by Order of K. Henry the 2d and was there found under a Stone with an Inscription upon it almost 9 foot under ground The principal Rarity of this County is the Baths which are in number four viz. The Kings Bath The Queens Bath The Cross Bath And the Hot Bath The King's Bath lies in the middle of the City being about 60 foot Square and it hath about the middle of it many hot Springs rising whence it hath the greater heat The Queens Bath hath no Spring in it but only receives the Water from the King's Bath from which it is only divided by a Wall for which reason it is more Temperate than the Kings In these 2 Baths there is a Pump to Pump Water upon the Diseased where strong Embrocations are required The Croâ—â— Bath and the Hot Bath are in the West part of the City The Cross Bath is Triangular and about 25 foot long and as broad at one end It hath not so many Springs as the King's Bath and the Hot Bath have and therefore is of a more gentle heat About 100 foot from the Cross Bath is the Hot Bath so called because formerly when it was not so large as now it is it was much hotter than the rest Near the River Frome are Pit-Coals digged with which Smiths use to soften Iron By the Sea-side not far from Axbridge about the year 1625. a parcel of Land swelled up like a Hill and of a sudden clave asunder and fell down again into the Earth and in the place of it remains a great Pool At Kingsham in the Stone-Quarries there are found Stones in the form of Serpents At Bristol it Flows 13 or 14 foot in height every Tide
ranks round like a Crown and overthwart them are laid others with Mortises and Tenants Now the great question among the Learned is how these Stones came hither for say they it is not likely that they were ab initio placed here by the God of Nature because the whole Countrey round for some miles hardly affords a Stone either great or small and they seem too vast to be brought hither either by Wagon Cart or other Artifice The Learned Mr. Cambden therefore thinks that they were made there by Art of pure Sand and some unctuous Cement even as those also in Yorkshire because anciently there was such an Art of making Stone And Pliny saith that the dust of Puteoli Puzzole being laid in Water becometh Stone presently and that there were Cisterns at Rome made of digged Sand and Lime which were so firm and hard that they seemed Stone But notwithstanding the Authority of this great Scholar saith my Author I am clearly of opinion that they are natural Stones and placed there ab initio than which I think nothing is plainer For saith he upon the Downs between Marlbury and Anbury not above 20 miles from Stonehinge which Downs are but a Continuation or part of Salisbury Plain differing nothing from it but in the un-evenness are some abundance of great Stones called by the Country thereabouts the Gray Weathers and at Anbury in an Orchard there are half a dozen or half a score Stones little inferiour to the Stonehinge for bigness and some of them standing upright and others lying flat on the ground And the Country here like that about Stonehinge affords not a Stone besides So that saith my Author unless we will have all these Stones to be Artificial we must grant the Stonehinge to be natural Now whereas this unstoniness of the Country about which we speak of seems to some a strong Objection against the naturalness of the Stones but it is on the contrary if duly considered a great Argument for it For saith he What can be more probable than that Nature could not provide her self otherwise of Lapidifick matter enough to make those huge Stones of but by robbing of the circumjacent places The More of that matter Here The Less hereabouts because nature wanting Timber would fetch it nearest hand To say no more of Stonehinge but that near it mens bones are digged up many times which may very well be because it was the Burial place of old for the Kings of the Brittains In the Parish of Luckington is a Well called Handcock's Well the Water whereof is said to be very cold in Summer and warm in Winter and is commended as a singular Water for the Eyes About Sayworth are found abundance of Stones somewhat like Cockles yet so apparently differing from their shape that by the very sight of them one may plainly see that they never were true Cockles as some there do believe Worcester-Shire IT is bounded by Warwickshire on the East By Herefordshire and Shropshire on the West By Gloucestershire on the South And by Staffordshire on the North. It containeth in length 38 miles In breadth 31 miles And in Circumference 137 miles The Air of this Shire is of a favourable temperature it gets an appetite for Labour Diet and Rest The Soil is fertile and inferiour to none in the Lande for besides abundance of Corn in every place the Hills are stored with plenty of Woods and Pasturage and the Hedge-Rows in the High-ways are filled with Fruit-Trees The chief Commodities are Corn Salt Sider and Perry It is in the Diocess of Worcester and hath in it 152 Parishes Out of it are elected 9 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Worcester 2 Droitwich 2 Evesham 2 Bewdley 1 Its Division is into 7 Hundreds viz. Halfeshire Doddington Worcester Parshor Blakenhurst Oswalderstow Vpton And in these Hundreds are 11 Market-Towns viz. Evesholme Mond Parshore Tues Bromesgrove Tues Tenbury Tues Vpton Thurs Kedderminster Th. Shipton Friday Droitwich Fr. Sturbridge Fr. Bewdley Sat. Worcester Wednes Frid. and Sat. The principal place in this Shire is the City of Worcester It lies in the Latitude of 52 deg 14 min. It bears from London W. N. W. And is distant therefrom 92 miles Thus From London to Uxbridge 15 miles to High Wickham 27. to Oxford 47. to Glimpton 60. to Marton on the Marsh 74. to Pershore 86. to Worcester 92. But measured upon the Road it is found to be 112 miles distant from London This City is most pleasantly seated very much frequented and very richly inhabited It is seated upon the East Bank of the Severn and that which the Severn doth not defend is Walled about through which Wall are 7 Gates for Entrance and 5 Watch-Towers for Defence This City is Governed by 2 Bailiffs 2 Aldermen 2 Chamberlains and 2 Constables annually elected out of 24 Burgesses cloathed in Scarlet assisted with 48 other Citizens whom they call their Common Council clad in Purple a Recorder Town-Clerk and 5 Sergeants with Maces their Attendants The Arms of this City is Argent a Fesse between 3 Pears Sable The Earls of Worcester since the Norman Conquest Waleram E. of Mellent Earl of Worcester Thomas Piercy Earl of Worcester Richard Beauchamp Earl of Worcester John Tiptost Earl of Worcester Edward Somerset Earl of Worcester Things Remarkable in this County In the year 1265. upon the 5th of August at Eversham in this County a great Battel was fought betwixt K. Henry the 3d. and his Barons through whose Dissentions most of them were slain as Simon Montfort E. of Leicester and 17 Lords and Knights besides and Humphrey Bohun taken Prisoner In many parts of this County are Salt Pits and Salt Springs The Hedge-Rows and High-ways are beset with Pear-Trees of which they make Perry The Severn here affords great store of fresh-water Lampreys At Droitwich are 3 Fountains of Salt Water divided by a little Brook of Fresh Water passing by them by the boiling of which Salt water they make the purest white Salt in England There is lately found out about Eckington Bride 7 miles from Worcester a Medicinal Water Yorkshire YOrkshire the greatest County in England is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Lancashire and Westmoreland On the South by the River Humber And on the North by Durham It containeth in length 85 miles In breadth 75 miles And in Circumference 318 miles As this County is large and spacious so the Air is of several Temperatures in several parts thereof It is placed in such a Temperature of Climate that in all parts of it she is indifferently fruitful yet hath she her barren places too But saith Speed If one part of her be a Stony and Barren ground another is fertile and richly adorned with Corn Fields If she be here naked and destitute of Wood in another place she is shadowed with Forrests full of Trees If one place be Moorish Mirey or unpleasant another yeilds as much delight and content to the Eye
Saturd Wisbich Saturd Ely Saturd The Principal Town in this Shire is Cambridg which as Robert de Reymington tells us was made a University in the Reign of King Edward the First but far more ancient if it be true that is said it was built by Cantabar a Spaniard 375 years before the Birth of Christ However This University is situate in the Latitude of 52 deg 12 min. and lies N. by E. from London and is distant therefrom 44 Miles As from London to Waltham 12 Miles to Ware 20. to Puckeridge 25. to Barkway 32. to Cambridge 44 But by a more accurate Admeasurement the distance of Cambridge upon the Road is 52 Miles The University of Cambridge consisteth of these several Colledges and Halls viz. Colledges and Halls Founded by Anno Domini St. Peters-House Hugh de Balsham B. of Ely 1284. Clare-Hall Richard Badow C. of the Uni 1326. Pembrook-Hall Mary St. Paul 1343. Convile and Cajus Edmund de Genn and Cajus 1348. Trinity-Hall Will. Bateman B. of Norwich 1350. Corpus-Christi H. of Monmouth D. of Lancaster 1351. Kings-Colledge K. Henry the VI. 1441. Queens-Colledge Margaret Wife to K. Henry the VI. 1448. Katharine-Hall Robert Wood Lord Chan. of the Uni 1475. Jesus-Colledge John Alcock Ch. of England 1496. Christ's and S. John's Margaret Countess of Richmond 1505. 1508. Magdalen Tho. Andley Chan. of England 1519. Trinity K. Henry the VIII 1546. Emanuel S. Walter Mildmay C. of the Exch. 1582. Sidney Sussex Francis Sidney Chan. of Sussex 1598. The Town of Cambridge is Governed by a Mayor and Aldermen Cambridge-Arms The Field is Gules a Bridge with three Wall-Towers on it Proper In Chief a Flower-de-luce Or between two Roses Argent The Names of the Earls of Cambridge since the first Constitution William Brother to Ranulph E. of Chester John of Benand Uncle to Philip Q. to Edw. III. William Marquess of Juers Edmund of Langley D. of York Edward D. of York Richard E. of Cambridge Richard D. of York James D. Hamlinton Charles Stuart Duke of York Sussex and Sidney Collateral Remarques in this County The Herb called Scordium or Water-Germander groweth very plentifully in the Fens of which the Cordial Diascordium is made Water-Fowl are so plentiful about the Fens that saith Mr. Speed five Men may be well satisfied with that kind of food for less than an half-penny In the Fen-Grounds also when they have mowen their Grass or Lie as they call it which is very rank so much as will serve their turns they do in November set fire on the rest and the season following it comes up again in abundance Cheshire IT is bounded on the East by Darbyshire and Staffordshire On the West by Denbyshire and Flintshire On the South by Shropshire and Denbyshire On the North by Lancashire It containeth in Length 45 Miles In Breadth 32 Miles And in Circumference 145 Miles The Air for temperature and the Soil for fertility is inferior to none and far exceeding the neighbouring Counties although the Climate be cold yet the warmth of the Irish Seas melt the Snow sooner than in other Countries and the Inhabitants are generally long liv'd The chief Commodities are Corn Cattle Sheep Fish Fowl Mil-stones and Cheese plenty and the best in all England It is in the Diocess of Chester and hath in it 85 Parish-Churches and 38 Chappels of Ease And out of this Shire are Elected 4 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Chester 2 It is divided into Seven Hundreds viz. Wicehall Eddesbury Broxton Bucklow Northwich Macclesfield Nantwich And in these 7 Hundreds are 13 Market-Towns Malpas Monday Maxfield Monday Altrincham Tuesday Tarvin Frodsham Wednes Sanbich Thursday Northwich Friday Stopford Friday Nantwich Saturday Middlewich Saturd Congleton Saturday Huntsford Saturday West-Chester Wednesday and Saturday The principal Town in this Shire is the City of Chester lying in the Latitude of 53 deg 16. min. bearing from London North West and distant therefrom 140 Miles thus To Barnet 10 To St. Albans 20 To Dunstable 30 To Brickhil 37 To Stony-Straford 44 To Tocester 50 To Daventry 60 To Coventry 82 To Colesil 90 To Lichfield 102 To Stone 120 To Wich 135 To Chester 150. This City was raised from the Fort of Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for the Emperor Claudius Over the River Dee is a Stone-Bridge built upon 8 Arches at either end thereof is a Gate and from them Gates issue the Walls of the City in a Quadrangular form high and strongly built In this Wall are 4 Gates 3 Posterns and 7 Watch-Towers On the South part of the City is a stately Castle built in a Circular form and a Court-yard about it enclosed with a circular Wall In the North part is the Minster the Bishop's See This City was incorporated by K. Henry the 7th and is yearly governed by a Maior with Sword and Mace before him 2 Sheriffs 24 Aldermen a Recorder a Town-Clerk and a Sergeant of Peace 4 Sergeants and 6 Yeomen The Arms of the County Palatine of Chester is Azure Three Garbs or Wheatsheaves Or. A Dagger Erect Proper The Arms of the City of Chester is In Pale dexter Gules Three Demy Lyons Guardant Or. The Nobility of this County namely the Earls of Chester since the Norman Conquest Hugh Lupus Richard the Son of Hugh Ranulph Meschines Ranulph Gernones Hugh Cevelioc E. S. Ranulph Blundevil John Scot Earl Things remarkable in this County In the River of Dee is great plenty of Salmon This River upon the fall of much Rain riseth but little but if the South-Wind beat long upon it it swells and overflows the Grounds adjoyning In the lower places of this County on the South-side of Cheshire by the River Wever Trees are oftentimes found by digging under ground which People think have lain hidden there ever since Noah's Flood At Nantwich Northwich and at Middlewich are the famous Salt-Pits of this County It is reported That there are Trees that float in Bagmeer against the death of any of the Heirs of the Breretons and after the Heir is dead they sink and are seen no more till the next occasion Mr. Cambden affirms That the bodies of these Trees swim for certain days together and may be seen of any body And he seconds this Story with another to the like purpose Leonardus Vairus saith he reports That near the Abby of St. Maurice in Burgundy is a Fish-Pond into which are put a number of Fishes equal to the number of Monks of that Place and if any of the Monks happen to be sick there is one of these Fishes seen to float and swim above water as half dead and if the Monk shall die the Fish will also die some few days before In the Parish of Bickley in this County upon the 8th of July 1657. about 3 of the Clock was heard a very great noise like Thunder afar off Upon the hearing whereof two Townsmen going into a Field called the Lay-Field found a very great Bank of Earth which had many tall Oaks
Shafton Dorchester Blanford And in these 5 Divisions are 29 Hundreds viz. White-Church H. Bemister Redohave Tollerford Lowsbarrow Eggardon Vgscomb Sherbourn Yeatminster Buckland Redlane Brownsell Whitway H. Puddletown Winfrith Beere Rushmore Cogdeane Badbury Knowlton Vpwinborn Newton George Rowbarrow Hasler H. Craneborne Culliford Totcomb H. Pimpern And in these Hundreds are 19 Market-Towns Middleton Mon. Pool Mond Thur. Weymouth Melcom Reg. Tu. F. Cerne Abbas Wed. Cranborn Wed. Abbots Bury Thurs Sherbourn Th. Sat. Corse Castle Th. Sturminster Th. Frampton Th. Wimborn Minster Fr. Dorchester Sat. Shaftsbury Sat. Blandford Sat. VVorham Sat. Lime Bird Port Bemyster Everstwit The Chief and most remarkable place in this Shire is Dorchester lying in 50 deg and 35 min. of North Latitude It bears from London S. W. by W. and is distant therefrom 85 miles thus To Basing-stoke 39. to Stockbridge 55. to Dunkton 67. to Cranburn 76. to Blandford 85. to Dorchester 97. but by measure on the Road 112 miles This City is situate on the South-side of Frome and hath formerly been Walled about part of which Wall upon the West and South side yet remaineth Not far from which there remaineth the Tract and Trench almost meeting the River a Fortification of Earth trenched about and mounted above the ordinary plain 150 foot and contains about five Acres of Ground wherein plenty of Corn grows This City is Governed by 2 Bailiffs elected out of 8 Magistrates or Aldermen a Recorder Town-Clerk and 2 Sergeants attending them The Earls and Marquesses of Dorchester since the first constitution are Osmond Earl of Dorset John Beaufort Marquess of Dorchester Thomas Grey Marquess of Dor. Thomas Sackvile Earl of Dor. Things remarkable in this Shire At Pool in this County upon the 20th of June 1653. it is reported that it rained warm Blood In the Haven of Pool the Sea contrary to all other Ports in England Ebbs and Flows four times in 24 hours viz. First at a S. E. and N. W. Moon and the Second time at a S. by E. and a N. by W. Moon In Anno 1582. and 1583. upon the 13th of January at Hermitage in the Vale of White Hart a piece of Ground of 3 Acres removed from its old place and was carried over another Close where Alders and VVillows grew the distance of 40 Rod or Perches stopping up the VVay to Cerne Abbas and yet the Hedges and Trees that enclosed it before enclose it still the Trees growing upright and the place where this Ground was before is left as a great Pit The Portland Men are Excellent good Slingers In the Isles of Purbeck are Veins of Marble running under the Earth The Arms of the City of Dorchester is Gules a Castle Argent in its Front the Arms of England and France Quartered Durham THE BISHOPRICK and CITY THis Bishoprick and City is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the VVest by Westmorland and Cumberland On the South by Yorkshire And on the North by Northumberland It containeth in length 35 miles In breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 105 miles The Air of this Countrey is sharp and piercing The Soil on the Eastern part of it is Richest the South is Moorish but most inhabited the VVest all Rocky affording neither Grass nor Grain but only it feeds Cattle and is well stored with Coal as the whole Countrey is The Eastern part which I said before was the Richest yieldeth great plenty of Coal and where it hath plenty of Coal it is notwithstanding very fruitful and good Land The Commodities of this Countrey are Coles Lead and Iron It is in the Diocess of Durham and hath in it 118 Parishes Out of it are elected 4 Members for Parliament men Knights 2 Durham 2 The Division of it is not into Hundreds but VVakes which are Four In this Bishoprick are 6 Market-Towns Darlington Monday Barnard Castel Wed. Bishop Ankland Th. Sunderland Friday Durham Saturday Stainthorp The Principal place in the County is the City of Durham lying in the Latitude of 54 deg and 50 min. It bears from London N. by W. and is distant therefrom 200 Miles Thus From London to Waltam Cross 12. to Hodsdon 17. to Ware 20. to Buntingford 27. to Royston 33. to Caxton 42. to Huntington 48. to Stamford 69. to Grantham 85. to Newark 95. to Tuxford 105. to Doncaster 123. to Wentbridge 130. to Tadcaster 142. to York 150. to Borrowbridge 163. to Northallerton 176. to Dorlington 186. to Durham 200. But the same way being measured upon the Road it will be found to contain 262 miles Of this County the Bishops have had the Royalty of Princes and the Inhabitants have pleaded Priviledges in time of War not to pass over the River Tyne The Arms of Durham are Azure a Cross Flooree Or between four Lyons Rampant Argent Remarques in this County In the upper part of the City of Durham William the Conqueror erected a Castle upon a high Hill for her defence which is almost encompassed about with the River Were In the year of our Lord 1346. and in the 20th of Edward the 3d. upon the 20th of October at Nevel's Cross near Durham a Battel was fought betwixt the English and the Scots wherein David Brush K. of Scotland with many of his Nobility were taken Prisoners by Queen Phillip Wife to K. Edw. 3. who was in person present in the Field The Battel was managed by the Lords Moubray Percy and Nevil At Oxenhall near unto Dorlington in this County are three Pits wonderful deep called Hell Kettles They are thought to come of an Earthquake that hapned Anno 1179. For our Chronicles make mention that on Christmas-Day at Oxenhall the ground heaved up aloft like a Tower and so continued all that day till evening and then fell in making a very horrid noise and the Earth swallowed it up and made in the place three great holes Bishop Tunstall of this Diocess took a Goose and marked it and put it into one of these Pits and the same Goose was found afterwards in the River Tees At Batterby near Durham within the River Weer in the Summer time there issues a salt reddish water from the sides of certain Stones at the Ebb and Low water which the Sun calcines to whiteness and growing thick becomes Salt and the Inhabitants thereabouts do use it for Salt Essex THis County is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Hartfordshire and Middlesex On the South by Kent And on the North by Suffolk It contains in Length 45 miles In Breadth 38 miles And in Circumference 148 miles The Air of this Shire is temperate but down in the Hundreds towards the Sea-side it is very Aguish The Soil for the most part is good and in some parts so fruitful that after 3 years Glebe oâ— Saffron the Land for 18 years more will yield plenty of Barly without any manuring with dung or the like and then bear Saffron again One Acre of this Ground
the Earth In the year 1571. Marsley Hill in the East part of this Shire with a roaring Noise removed it self from the place where it stood and for three days together travelled from its old Seat It began this Motion on Saturday the 17th of February about 6 of the Clock at Night and by 7 of the Clock the next Morning it had gone about 200 foot carrying with it Sheep in their Coats Hedge-rows and Trees whereof some were overthrown and those that stood upon the Plain are now firmly growing upon the Hill Those that were East are turned West and those in the West are turned East In this remove it overthrew Kinnaston Chappel and turned two High ways near 300 foot from their old Paths The Ground that thus removed was about 26 Acres which opening it self Rocks and all bore the Earth before it for about 1200 foot without any stay leaving Pasturage in the place of Tillage and Tillage overspread the Pasturage Thus overwhelming its lower parts it mounted to a Hill 12 Fathom high and there rested after three days Travel Huntington-Shire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Cambridgeshire On the West by Northamptonshire On the South by Lincolnshire And on the North by Northamptonshire It containeth in length 23 Miles In Breadth 18. And in Circumference 65 Miles The temperature of the Air of this County is not so good as in other parts of England in respect of the great quantity of Meers in it yet the Natives that dwell about them are healthful and live very long but Strangers are subject to much Sickness For the Soyl the Hilly part is for the Plough and the Valley for Pasture which is accounted as good as any in England The Chief Commodities are Corn and Cattle It is in the Diocess of Lincoln and hath in it 79 Parishes Out of it are elected 4 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Huntingdon 2 Its Division is into 4 Hundreds viz. Norman Cross Hurstingstone Leightenstoned Toltan And in these Hundreds are 6 Market-Towns viz. St. Ives Mond Yaxley Tuesd Ramsey Wedn. St. Neots Thurs Kimbolton Friday Huntingdon Sat. The Principal Town in this County is Huntingdon lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 21 min. It bears from London N. by W. And is distant therefrom 48 miles Thus From London to Edmonton 6. to Waltham-Cross 12. to Ware 20. to Puckeridge 24. to Royston 33. to Huntingdon 48. But by more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be 57 miles By Charter from K. John this Town hath a peculiar Coroner Profit by Toll and Custom Recorder Town-Clerk and 2 Bailiffs annually Elected The Seal of this Town is in a Ring a Huntsman with Dog Staff c. all Proper The Earls of this County since the first Constitution are Waldeof E. of Huntingdon Simon de St. Lizio E. Henry Prince of Scotland E. William Clinton E. Guyford Angolesme E. John Holland F. Thomas Gray E. William Herbert George Hastings Things remarkable in this Shire At Aleyceston in this Shire are two little Springs the one Fresh the other somewhat Brackish The latter is good for Leprosie and Scabs and the other for dim Sights Wittlesmere-Lake and other Meers near it in this Shire do sometimes in fair and calm weather suddenly rise tempestuously with Water-quakes by reason of Vapours breaking violently out of the Earth Kent KEnt is bounded on the East by the Narrow Seas On the West by Surrey On the South by Sussex And on the North by Essex It contains in length 60 miles In breadth 30. And in Circumference 170 miles The Air of this County is neither so serene nor wholsom as other parts of England are which is occasioned by the many Vapours that arise from the Sea and River of Thames which almost encompass the same making it a kind of Peninsula And as it is not so healthy and clear neither is it so cold as other parts of England especially in the lower places near the Sea for the Snow upon a Thaw in the Winter will sooner be dissolved in the Valleys than on the Hilly parts of this County For the Soil thus much in general may be said The Weald for Wood. East-Kent for Corn. Rumney for Meadow Tenham for an Orchard Sheppey and Reculver for Wheat Thannet for Barley And Hedcorn for the Brood of big fat and commended Capons The chief Commodities of this County are Corn and Fruit. It is in the Diocesses of Canterbury and Rochester and hath in it 408 Parishes Ten Members are elected out of it to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Canterbury 2 Rochester 2 Maidston 2 Queenborough 2 Its Division is into 5 Lathes 67 Hundreds viz. 1 Sutton Black Heath Bromeley Lesnes Axtane Rookesly Godsheath Westerham Somerden 2 Aylesford Hâ—o Shamele Toltingtroe Chetham Wortham Larkfield Littlefield Twyford Tunbridge Watchlingston West Bamfield Brenchley Marden Eghorne Maidstone 3 Scray Milton Tenham Feversham Becton Felbore Chart Wye Byircholt Galehill Ashford Blackborne Tenderden Barkley Cranbrooke Rolvenden Selbrightenden East Barnfield Newyndene 4 St. Augustine Ringslow Blengate Whitestable Westgate Downchamford Preston Bredge Kinghamford Seasalter Wingham Eastry Corniloe Bewksbrough Longport 5 Shepway Folkestane Lovingborne Stowting Heane Byrcholtsran Streats Worth Ham Langfoâ—t S. Martin Newchurch Alowsbridge Oxney In these Hundreds are contained 29 Market-Towns viz. Eltham M. Wrotham Tu. Lenham Tu. S. Mary Cray W. Westram W. Gouldhurst Wye Yhurs Rumney Th. Lydd Th. Fockestone Th. Bromley Th. Maidstone Th. Rochester Fr. Tunbridge Fr. Tenderden Fr. Smarden Fr. Woolwich Fr. Malinge Sa. Milton Sa. Cranbrooke Sa. Hyth Sa. Bartford Sat. Sevenoke Sat. Gravesend W. S. Feversham W. S. Canterbury W. S. Dover W. S. Sandwich W. S. Appledoor This County aboundeth with Navigable Rivers that of Medway which divideth the County being the chief In this County are also four Cinque-Ports viz. Dover Rumney Sandwich Winchelsey Of these four Dover with the Castle is the chief and by ancient Authors hath been accounted the Lock and Key to the whole Realm of England This County hath the happiness to be possessed of two Cities and Bishops Sees viz. Canterbury and Rochester strengthened with 27 Forts and Castles and graced with 8 of the Kings Palaces and beautified with many Stately Buildings The chief and principal City in this County is Canterbury the See of the Metrapolitan of England It lyeth in Latitude of 51 deg 17 min. And bears East from London being distant therefrom 44 miles Thus From London to Dartford 12. to Rochester 23. to Sittingborn 31. to Canterbury 44 miles But being measured upon the Road its distance from London is found to be 56 miles This City was as Historians record built 900 years before the Nativity of our Saviour and was the first erected School for Education in Arts and Sciences and was the motive which induced Sigibert King of the East Angles to lay his foundation for Cambridge University In this City were Married K. John and Isabella his Wife and also with the Marriages of
magnificently Built that of some she may well say that no Shire hath none such as is Nonesuch it self The Dukes and Earls of Surrey since the first Constitution William Warren created Earl of Surrey by Will. Rufus William Earl of Eagle Son to K. Stephen E. of Surrey Hamlin Base Son to Geffery Plantaginet E. of Surrey Thomas Mowbray E. of Surrey in right of his Wife Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey created by K. Richard the 2d Thomas Beaufort E. of Surrey created by K. Henry the 4th Thomas Howard E. of Surrey created by K. Richard the 3d. Things Remarkable in this County At Richmond in this County died Edward the 3d. Conqueror of France The beautiful Ann Daughter to Charles the 4th Emperour and Wife to K. Richard the 2d The most wise Prince K. Henry the 7th And the rarest of her Sex Q. Elizabeth Under Holm Castle standing upon a Hill of Gritty Stone is a great Vault of Arched Work The River Mole runs above a mile under ground and in the place where it falls into the ground there groweth abundance of Box naturally Near unto Nonesuch is a Vein of Potters Earth much commended for that it is excellent good for the making of Crucibles for the melting of Gold and other Metals The rising of a Bourn or stream near Croydon as the common people hold presageth Death as the Plague or the like and it hath been observed to fall out so The VVaters of Ebsham in this County are very famous and much frequented for their Medicinal Virtues and purging by Siege In the year 1389. in the Month of July K. Richard the 2d being at his Court at Sheene there swarmed in his Court such multitude of Flies and Gnats skirmishing with one another that in the end they were swept away with Brooms by heaps and Bushels were filled with them Sussex THis County is bounded on the East by Kent On the West by Hantshire On the South by the Brittish Sea And on the North by Surrey It containeth in length 53 miles In breadth 16 miles And in Circumference 172 miles The Air is good but subject to Fogs and Mists arising from the Sea The Soil is Rich and yeildeth plenty of all things necessary but very ill for Travellers in the Winter time for the Land lying low the ways are very Mirey but on the other side of them you have the prospect of Meadows Pastures and Corn Fields The chief Commodities this County affords are Corn VVood Iron and Malt. It is in the Diocess of Chichester and hath in it 312 Parishes Out of it are elected 20 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Chichester 2 Horsham 2 Midhurst 2 Lewes 2 New-Shoreham 2 Bramber 2 Steyning 2 East-Grimstead 2 Arundel 2 Its Division is into 6 Rapes and each of them contains a several number of Hundreds in all 65 Hundreds viz. Chichester Rape In which is contained Hundreds 07 Arundale Rape 05 Bramber Rape 10 Lewes Rape 13 Pevensa Rape 17 Hastings Rape 13 Hundreds in all 65 And in these Hundreds are 16 Market-Towns viz. Chichester Wednes and Sat. Petworth Wed. Stevington Wed. Arundel Wed. and Satur. Steneinge Wed. Rhye Wed. and Sat. Hastings Wed. and Sat. Midhurst Th. Bright Helmiston Th. East Grinstead Th. Sattell Th. Coxfield Friday Horsham Sat. Lewes Sat. Tarringe Winchelsey now disused The Principal place in this County is the City of Chichester lying in the Latitude of 50 deg 48 min. It bears from London S. VV. by S. And is distant therefrom 50 Miles Thus From London to Kingston 10 miles to Guilford 25. to Godalmin 28. to Lechford Bridge 39. to Chichester 50. But by measure it is found to be distant from London 63 miles This City is beautiful and large and well VValled about This City hath born the Title of an Earldom whereof those of Arundel were sometimes so stiled The Arms of this City are Guttee Argent and Sable On a Chief Engrailed Gules a Lyon Passant Guardant Or. The Earls of Sussex and Arundel since the first Constitution William de Albania Earl of Chichester and Arundel John Fitz Allan Earl of Sussex and Arundel Philip Howard Earl of Arundel Robert Radcliffe Earl of Sussex Leonard Lord Dacres Earl of Sussex Things Remarkable in this County Upon the 28th of September 1066. William the Bastard D. of Normandy making his claim to the Crown of England by Affinity Adoption and Promise arrived at a Port in Sussex called Pensey with 896 Ships furnished for VVar And on the 14th of October following near Hastings Joyned Battel with Harold K. of England where in the Field valiantly fighting was there slain by the shot of an Arrow into his Brains and with him died Gorob and Leofwine his Brethren and almost 68 Thousand of his Men. The place where this Battel was fought doth ever since bear the name of Battayl where the Heptarchy of the Saxons was brought to the last Period Then were all their Laws altered their Nobles displaced and all men disherited and all seated into the Normans hands who made himself Lord of all and on the day of his Nativity was Crowned King of England in Westminster-Hall Upon the place where this Battel was fought namely at Battayl aforesaid William of Newberry fabulously thus writeth That if there any small showers of Rain do fall upon this place where so great a Slaughter of English men was made presently sweateth forth very fresh blood out of the Earth In this County are many Iron Mines In this County also is made Glass but it is neither good nor clear This County hath been formerly all a VVood being part of the great wood Andradswald which was 120 miles long and 30 miles broad At Selsey in this County are great store of Cockles and Lobsters and those the best In the year 1250. The Town of Winchelsey in this County was wholly swallowed up of the Sea In the 35th year of K. Henry the 8th the first Cast Pieces of Iron that ever were made in England were made at Bucksted in this County by Ralph Hage and Peter Bawde In the 3d year of Q. Elizabeth a Man-child was born in Chichester having Arms and Legs like to an Anatomy the Breast and Belly monstrous big about the Neck a great Coller of Flesh and Skin growing like the Ruff of a Shirt In the 22th year of Q. Elizabeth in the Town of Walsham in Sussex a Child of Eleven years old whose name was Will. Withars lay in a Trance for the space of 10 days without any sustenance and at the last coming to himself he uttered to the standers by many strange Speeches inveighing against Pride Covetousness coldness of Charity and other erroneous Sins Warwick-Shire IT is bounded on the East by Leicestershire and Northamptonshire On the West by Worcestershire On the South by Orfordshire and Gloucestershire And on the North by Staffordshire It contains in length 40 miles In breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 122 miles This Shire is commended much for the wholsomness
on the Bank of the River Can and is of great Trade and resort and the Inhabitants are very industrious for making of Cloath and have great Vent and Traffick for the same for their Woollen Cloaths are vended through all parts of England The Town is annually managed by an Alderman chosen out of his 12 Brethren who are all distinguished from the rest by wearing of Purple Gowns The Alderman and his Senior Brother are always Justices of the Peace and Quorum They have also a Town-Clerk a Recorder 2 Sergeants at Mace and 2 Chamberlains The Arms of the Town is Quarterly two Coots the first Argent 3 Tees Sable The second Gules 3 Spears in Pale Argent The third like the second the fourth as the first The Earls of this County since the Norman Conquest John Duke of Bedford Earl of Somerset John Duke of Somerset Earl of Somerset John De Foix Earl of Somerset Ralph Nevill Earl of Somerset Francis Farrar Earl of Somerset Things remarkable in this County Near unto the River Loder is a Spring that Ebbs and Flows many times in a day In the same place are Stones like Pyramids some of them being 9 foot high and 14 foot thick pitched directly in a Row for a mile together In the River Can near unto Kendall are two Cataracts or Water-falls where the Waters descend with a great fall and mighty noise And when that which standeth North from the Neighbours living between them sounds cleerer and lowder than the other they certainly look for fair weather to follow But when that on the South side doth so they expect Foggs and Showers of Rain Near Kirkby Lonsdale are many deep and hollow places like Caves In ancient times the Pearl bearing Muscles were found upon this Shoar which conceive by the Dew they suck in And they are to be found at this day both here and in the Rivers of Cumberland Wiltshire THis County is bounded on the East by Berkshire and Hantshire On the West by Somersetshire On the South by Dorsetshire And on the North by Gloucestershire It containeth in length 52 miles In breadth 38 miles And in Circumference 142 miles This County is seated in a good Climate the Air is both sweet pleasant temperate and wholsom The Soil is fruitful and plentiful the Northern part rises up in delectable Hills furnished with large VVoods and the Valleys with pleasant Rivers namely Isis c. The South part is more level yielding Grass and Corn in abundance The middest of the County is most plain and therefore is called Salisbury Plain The chief Commodities of this Shire are Wool Wood and Sheep It is in the Diocess of Salisbury and hath in it 304 Parishes Out of it are chosen 34 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 New Sarum 2 Wilton 2 Downton 2 Hindon 2 Hytesbury 2 Westbury 2 Calne 2 Devizes 2 Chipenham 2 Malmesbury 2 Cricklade 2 Great Bedwyn 2 Ludgersal 2 Old Sarum 2 Wooton Basset 2 Marleborough 2 Its Division is into 29 Hundreds viz. Highworth Malmsbury Kingsbridge Damerham Nor. Chippenham Pottern Calne Selkley Ramsbury Kinwarston Elstube Swanborne Melkesham Bradford Whorwelsdown Westbury Warmister Haresbury Branche Amsbury Vnderditch Alderbury Frustfield Downton Cawden Danworth Dametham Mere Chalke And in these Hundreds are 23 Market-Towns viz. Bradford Monday Sundon Mon. Swindon Mon. Calne Tues Ashburn Tues Wilton Wednes Lavington Wed. Highworth Wed. Hindon Thurs Devizes Thurs Wootton Basset Th. Dunston Friday Anersbury Friday Westbury Friday Mere Marmister Werminster Sat. Tronbridge S. Chipnam S. Marleborough S. Malmesbury S. Creeklad S. Salisbury Tuesday and Saturday The principal Town in this County is the City of Salisbury lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 4 min. It bears from London W. S. W. And is distant therefrom 70 miles Thus From London to New Brainford 8 miles to Stanes 15. to Hartleyrow 31. to Basingstoke 39. to Whitchurch 49. to Andover 55. to Salisbury 70. But by a more accurate admeasurement on the Road it is found to be distant from London 83 miles This City for fair Buildings is inferiour to none and transcends all others for the benefit of Water almost every Street having a River running through the midst thereof The Arms of this City is Azure a Sword and a Key in Saltyre Or On a chief Argent 3 Lozenges Gules The Earls of Wiltshire and Salisbury since the first Constitution William Scroop Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Samuel Butler Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury John Stafford Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Henry Stafford Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Thomas Bullen Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury William Panlet Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Patrick Fitzwater Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury William Longspey Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Henry Lacye Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Tho. E. of Lancaster Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury William Montagule Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Richard Nevill Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury George D. of Clarence Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Robert Cecil Earl of Wiltshire Salisbury Things Remarkable in this County The Cathedral Church of Salisbury was begun to be built by Richard Poore Bishop of this See and in 40 years was brought to its perfect Splendor and Beauty It is a most Rich and Magnificent Church and in it are as many VVindows as there are days in the year viz. 365. As many Pillars of Cast Marble as there are hours in the year viz. 8760. As many Gates for Entrance as there are Months in the year viz. 12. In the edge of this Shire between Luckington and great Badminton is a place called the Caves They are upon the top of a rising Hill and about 9 in number Some of them are deeper and some shallower some broader and longer than others and they lie all together in a Row The manner of them is 2 long Stones set upon the sides and broad Stones upon the top to cover them The least of these Caves is 4 foot broad and some of them 9 or 10 foot long These are called by some of the ignorant Inhabitants The Gyants Caves But the more ingenious think them to be the Tombs of some Saxons Heroick Danes or Romans and the more probable for that in a late digging into them they have found Spurs old pieces of Armour c. In this Shire is a small Rill called Devorill which runneth a mile under ground In Ivy Church was found a Corps 12 foot long and a Book of very thick Parchment all written with great Roman Letters but when the Leaves were touched they mouldered to Dust Near the River Kennet in this Shire there breaks out Water in the manner of a suddain Landflood out of certain Stones standing aloft in open Fields which by the common people is accounted a fore-runner of dearth The Stonehenge upon Salisbury Plain is counted the most admirable Rarity this Island affordeth It is in this manner There are in a Pit great Stones standing upright some being 28 foot high and 7 foot broad in 3
ENGLAND'S Remarques Giving an Exact Account of the Several Shires Counties and Islands in ENGLAND and WALES In every of which you have I. How the County is bounded II. The Length Breadth and Circumference III. The Temperature of the Air and Fertility or Barrenness of the Soil IV. What Commodities each Shire or County affordeth V. In what Diocess and how many Parishes in it VI. The Number of Parliament-Men Hundreds and Market-Towns VII In every Shire you have the Name of the City or Shire-Town with the Latitude thereof and how it bears with the reputed and measured distance of the same from London the Road to the same how Governed and the Coat of Arms and what other things are therein Remarkable VIII You have the Names of such Noble Families as have been Dukes or Earls of each County since their first Constitution IX Whatsoever is Eminent or Remarkable thorowout the whole Kingdom To which is added a Travelling Map describing the Principal Roads thorow-out England London Printed for Langley Curtis in Goat-Court upon Ludgate-Hill and sold by Tho. Mercer at the Half Moon under the South-east Corner of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1682. TO THE READER THE Apophthegme of Chilo One of the Seven Wise-Men of Greece Nosce teipsum was not unworthily Consecrated to Apollo at Delphos None being a competent Judge of others who doth not first know himself and no person can judge of another Countrey unless he knows his Own Therefore Nosce Patriam is as necessary an Adage especially to those whose Ample Fortunes and Natural Inclinations call them into Foreign Countreys As Chilo's APOPHTHEGME is to all Persons whatsoever Many in this Age travel into France and other Adjacent Countreys and perhaps at their Return are able to give you an Account how many Provinces c are contained in the Countrey they have Travelled when at the same time they scarce know any more Land in England than their Fathers or their own Inheritance But here as in a Map you may at first View give an Account of any thing Remarkable in England be the Question asked either in England or Foreign Parts Which by perusing this Little Manual you will soon find The Names of the several Counties in England BArkshire Pag. 1 Bedfordshire Pag. 5 Buckinghamshire Pag. 8 Cambridgeshire Pag. 11 Cheshire Pag. 15 Cornwall Pag. 20 Cumberland Pag. 27 Derbyshire Pag. 31 Devonshire Pag. 33 Dorsetshire Pag. 40 Durham the Bishoprick and City Pag. 45 Essex Pag. 48 Gloucestershire Pag. 52 Hantshire Pag. 58 Hertfordshire Pag. 63 Herefordshire Pag. 67 Huntingtonshire Pag. 72 Kent Pag. 75 Lancashire Pag. 84 Leicestershire Pag. 90 Lincolnshire Pag. 94 Middlesex Pag. 99 Norfolk Pag. 133 Northamptonshire Pag. 140 Northumberland Pag. 145 Nottinghamshire Pag. 149 Oxfordshire Pag. 153 Rutlandshire Pag. 159 Shropshire Pag. 162 Somersetshire Pag. 166 Staffordshire Pag. 174 Suffolk Pag. 179 Surrey Pag. 185 Sussex Pag. 189 Warwickshire Pag. 194 Westmoreland Pag. 200 Wiltshire Pag. 204 Worcestershire Pag. 211 Yorkshire Pag. 215 The Names of the Counties in Wales ANglesey Pag. 226 Brecknockshire Pag. 229 Cardiganshire Pag. 232 Caernarvanshire Pag. 235 Caermardenshire Pag. 238 Denbyshire Pag. 241 Flintshire Pag. 244 Glamorganshire Pag. 248 Merionethshire Pag. 251 Monmouthshire Pag. 254 Montgomeryshire Pag. 258 Pembrokeshire Pag. 261 Radnorshire Pag. 266 Of the Islands about England THe Isle of Man Pag. 268 The Isle of Wight Pag. 271 The Isle of Jersey Pag. 273 The Isle of Garnsey Pag. 275 An Exact Map of England with the Roads from London to all the other parts of this Kingdome T. Cross Sculpsit N Counties Names 1 Bark sh 2 Bedford sh 3 Buckingham sh 4 Cambridge sh 5 Cheshire 6 Cornwall 7 Cumberland 8 Derby sh 9 Devon sh 10 Dorset sh 11 Durham 12 Essex 13 Glocester sh 14 Hant. sh 15 Hertford sh 16 Hereford sh 17 Huntington sh 18 Kent 19 Lancashire 20 Leicester sh 21 Lincoln sh 22 Middlesex 23 Norfolk 24 Northampton sh 25 Northumberland 26 Nottingham sh 27 Oxford sh 28 Rutland sh 29 Shrop. sh 30 Somerset sh 31 Stafford sh 32 Suffoll 33 Surrey 34 Sussex 35 Warwick sh 36 Westmorland 37 Wilt. sh 38 Worcester sh 39 York sh 40 Anglesey Ish 41 Brecknock sh 42 Cardigan sh 43 Carnarvan sh 44 Carmarden sh 45 Denbigh sh 46 Flint sh 47 Glamorgan sh 48 Merioneth sh 49 Monmouth sh 50 Montgomery sh 51 Pembroke sh 52 Radnor sh It is divided into Twenty Hundreds viz. Farington Ganfield Hormer Oake Wanting Shrivenham Lainborn Kentbury Westisle Morton Faircrosse Braye Reading Charlton Sonning Cookham Wargrove Bernersh Riplessmore Theale And in these Hundreds are Twelve Market-Towns viz. Abbington M. and Fr. Wallingford Tu. and F. Faringdon Tu. Ockingham Tu. Maiden-Head W. Hungerford W. East-Isley W. Newberry Th. New-Windsor Sa. Wanting Sa. Reading Sa. Lainborne This Shire hath formerly had in it six Castles of which there now remains only that magnificent one of Windsor one of his Majesties Palaces In this Castle the Victorious Prince Edward the third was born In it is instituted the most honourable Order of the Garter of St. George a signal of Martial Prowess And in the Chappel of this Castle there lye interred the Bodies of Henry the 6. Edward the 4th Henry the 8th and as is supposed of King Charles the First The first Institution whereof was in Anno Dom. 1350. And those that first received the order were Edward the 3d. Edward Prince Henry Duke of Lancaster Tho. Earl of Warwick Captain de Bonch Ralph Earl of Stafford W. Mountecut E. of Sal. Roger Mert ' Earl of March John de Lisle Knight Tho. Burwash K. Jo. Beauchamp K. John de Mohun K. Hugh Courtney K. Tho. Holland K. John Grey K. Ri. Fitz-Simon K. Miles Stapleton K. Tho. Wall K. Hugh Wrothsley K. Nele Loring K. John Chandos K. James de Andley K. Otho Holland K. Henry Eme King Zanchet Dabridg Will. Paganell K. The Chief Town is Reading lying in the Latitude of 51 degrees 28 min. And West from London and is distant therefrom 32 Miles viz. To Cole-Brooke 15 to Maiden-head 22 to Reading 32 but by more accurate and late Admeasurement it is found to be 44 Miles distant from London The Town of Reading is Governed by a Mayor and Aldermen The Arms of the County The Field is Argent three Castles Gules over the middlemost a Bucks Face erect of the second Horned Or On a chief Vert between the Bucks Horns the Arms of England and France Quartered Remarkable things in this Shire In the year of our Lord 1387. And in the 11 year of Richard the 2d At Radcot-bridge The Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel Warwick Derby and Nottingham Encountered with Robert Vere Duke of Ireland maintained against them by King Richard the 2d Where the said Duke was put to flight who with swimming over the Thames hardly escaped drowning In this Encounter in the Dukes behalf Sir Tho. Molineux Constable of Chester with many others lost their lives In the year 1100. At Enchamsteed
themselves In St. Cleere's-Parish in Cornhil there are upon a Plain 6 or 8 Stones such as are upon Salisbury-Plain which like them too will be mistaken in their telling so that when they are told over again they will be found either more or less than before At Hall near Foy is a Fagot all of one piece of Wood naturally grown so and it is wrapped about with a Band and parted at the ends into 4 Sticks one of which Sticks is subdivided into two others It was carefully preserved many years by the Earl of Devon being reckoned as a fore-token of his Progeny for his Estate is now come into the hands of 4 Cornish Gentlemen one of whose Estates is divided between two Heirs In Landers Park there grows an Oak that bears Leaves speckled with white and another the like in East Hundred called Painters Oak There are 2 Lakes near St. Agnes Hill in one of them Fish will live and thrive but not in the other By Helford is a great Rock lying upon the ground the top whereof is hollow which holdeth water and ebbs and flows as the Sea doth Mainamber a very great Rock in this Shire lyes or resteth upon other smaller Rocks and the push of a finger will sensibly move it to and fro but all the force which men can use cannot move it from its place About 40 years since upon the Shore of this Shire was found by a Fisherman a huge mass of Ambergrease Among the many Ports Bays and Havens this Countrey hath about it that of Falmouth is so copious that 100 Ships may therein ride at Anchor apart by themselves so that from the tops of their highest Masts they shall not see each other and yet lye all safe under wind At Boskenna is a Trophy erected which are 18 Stones placed round pitched 12 foot each from other and another in the Centre far bigger than the rest to shew some Victory there obtained by the Romans or K. Athelston In many Places hereabouts are pieces of Armour both for Horse and Man digged out of the ground Cumberland IS bounded on the East by Northumberland and Westmorland On the West by the Irish Sea On the South by Westmorland and Lancashire and on the North by Scotland It containeth in length 56 Miles in breadth 32 Miles and in Circumference 173 Miles The Air is sharp and piercing but is much mitigated by the Northern Hills which break the Storm and falling Snow The Soil is fertile for the most part both for Corn and Cattle and the Maritime places are well furnished with Fish and Fowl and the Rivers bear a kind of Muscle that beareth Pearl The chief Commodities are Sheep Copper Brass Cole Fowl Fish Cloath and Black Lead It is in the Diocess of Chester and Carlisle and hath in it 58 Parishes Out of it are Elected 6 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Carlisle 2 Cockermouth This County is not divided into Hundreds the former In it are contained 15 Market-Towns Cockermouth Mond Wigton Tuesday Brampton Tuesday Perith Tuesday Bootle Wednesday Whitehaven Thurs Ireby Thursday Kirk-swald Thurs Longtown Thursday Aston Moor Saturday Carlisle Saturday Egremont Saturday Ravenglas Saturday Keswick Saturday Abbeyholm Saturday The chief City in this Shire is Carlisle lying in the Latitude of 55 deg 0 min. Bearing from London N. N. W. and distant therefrom 2â—â— Miles Thus To Warington 136. To Lancaâ—â— 187. To Kendall 203. To Carlisle 235. But 〈◊〉 more accurate admeasurement upon the Roâ—â— 301 Miles This City is pleasantly seated betwixt the 〈◊〉 Rivers Eden Petterell and Cand. In the days 〈◊〉 Egfrid K. of Northumberland was walled about and again defaced by the Danes and so conâ—â—nued 200 years till the time of K. Rufus wâ—â— rebuilt the Castle and placed therein a Coloâ—â— of Flemings This County hath formerly been strengthenâ—â— with 25 Castles which were dissolved by Kâ—â—â— Henry the 8th The Earls of Carlisle since the first Constitution are Hen. Clifford Earl of Cumberland Marcatus Earls of Carlisle Ron. Meschems Earls of Carlisle Andrew Harkley Earls of Carlisle James Hay Earls of Carlisle Charles Howard Earls of Carlisle Prince Rupert Duke of Cumberland The Coat Armor of the City Carlisle is Argent a Castle between two Roses Or In a Chief Gules a Lyon Passant Gardant of the second The Base Wavy Argent and Sable The Principal things remarkable in this County are The Picts Wall extending through the main Land from Sea to Sea built all of Stone it was 8 foot broad and 12 high and from the West Seat to the mouth of Tine in length near 100 Miles ascending and descending over great Crags and high Hills the track whereof in many places is yet to be seen At the end of every thousand Paces there was erected a Watch-Tower in which Soldiers were kept for the securing of the same At Salcelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory erected called by the Inhabitants Long Meg and her Daughters This Monument consists of 77 Stones each 10 foot high above ground and one of them namely Long Meg is 15 foot high Skiddaw-Hill riseth up with two mighty high heads and beholds Scruffell-Hill in Scotland By the mists rising and falling upon this Hill they foresee the change of weather and signifie the same by this Proverb If Skiddaw have a Cap Scruffell wots full well of that In this County there are two other exceeding high Hills viz. Lavvellin and Casticand Upon the Shore of this Shire Trees are many times at Low water discovered by the blowing of the Wind which at other times are covered with Sand. And Trees without Boughs are often digged out of the mossy places which in the Summer time the Countrey People discover by the direction of the dew for the dew never stands upon those places under which these Trees lye Upon the Picts Wall grow Vulnerary Plants which the Scotch Chirurgeons make annual journies to gather which they suppose were first planted by the Romans Derbyshire IS bounded on the East by Nottinghamshire On the West by Staffordshire On the South by Leicestershire And on the North by Yorkshire It containeth in length 34 Miles In breadth 26. And in Circumference 130 Miles The temperature of the Air of this Shire as most of the Inland Counties of England are is very wholsom The Soyl in the South and East Parts very rich but the North and West Parts very hilly with a black and mossy barren ground These two different Soils are severed by the River Derwent the Water whereof in some places is made black by the Earth it passeth by The Commodities of this Shire are Milstones Crystal Alabaster Whetstones And in the Peak Pit-Cole Iron and Lead It is in the Diocess of Lichfield and Coventry and hath in it 106 Parishes Out of it are elected 4 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Derby 2 Its Division is into Six Hundreds viz. Highis Peak Hund. Scarsdale Hund. Workesworth Hund. Appletree Hund. Ofap Hund. Reppington Hund. And
which is most in the North part of the County will yield 80 or 100 weight of moist Saffron in a year which when dryed will be worth about 20 l. sterling The principal Commodities of this Shire are Cloaths Stuffs Hops Saffron Oysters c. It is in the Diocess of London and hath in it 415 Parishes Out of it are elected 8 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Colechester 2 Harwich 2 Malden 2 Its Division is into 20 Hundreds viz. Vtlisford H. Clavering Waltham Becontre Ongar Dunmow Freshwell Hingkford Whittham Chelmsford Barstable H. Lexden Winstree Thurstable Dengie Rotchford Tendering Havering Harlow Chafford And in these Hundreds are 21 Market-Towns viz. Harwich Tuesd Manytree Tu. Billerakey Tu. Waltham Abby Tu. Braintree Wednes Rumford Wed. Brentwood Th. Epping Th. Fr. Haulsteed Fr. Thaxted Fr. Chelmsford Fr. Colchester Sat. Maldon S. Cogshall S. Walden S. Dunmore S. Hatfield S. Raleighe S. Hornden S. Barkin S. Cheping Onger S. In this County are 5 Castles and as many Havens and two of His Majesties Mannors The Principal place in this County is Colchester lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 58 min. It bears from London N. E. And is distant from it 43 miles Thus From London to Rumford 10. to Burnt-Wood 15. to Chelmsford 2. to Colchester 43. But being measured upon the Road it is distant 50 miles This City of Colchester is situate upon the South side of the River Coln and is walled about raised upon a high Trench of Earth now defaced it hath 6 Gates of entrance and 3 Posterns in the West wall and 9 watch-Towers for defence The City is said to be Built by Collus the Brittish Prince Anno Christi 124. and in it were born Lucius Helena and Constantine the first Christian King Empress and Emperor in the World It is Governed by Two Bailiffs 12 Aldermen all wearing Scarlet a Recorder a Town-Clerk and 4 Sergeants at Mace The Arms of this City of Colchester is Azure a Cross Trunked Argent between 3 Coronets Or. The Earls of Essex since the first Constitution Geffrey Mandevile E. Humphrey Bohun E. Thomas Woodstock E. Henry Bourcheir E. Tho. Cromwell Earl Will. Par E. Walter Euren and Arthur Capell Things remarkable in this County The Place of greatest Antiquity and Note in this County is Camolodunum now Maldon the seat of Cunobelin King of Trinobantes as by his Money therein Minted appears Near Tilbury there are Pits of 12 fathom deep in a Chalky ground The Salt Water about Harwich makes all their Springs Brackish At Barklow grows an Herb called Dane-wort very plentiful that beareth Red Berries the people there say that it sprang from Danes blood Walfleet in this County produceth the best Oysters that come to London In the East part of this Countrey in the time of Richard the 2d huge Teeth were found and not far from the same place in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth extraordinary large Bones were digged up They are thought to have been the Bones and Teeth of some Elephant who had been buried there by some loving Roman who was his Master About the beginning of November 1580. An Army of Mice so over-run the Marshes in Denge Hundred that they eat up the Grass to the very Roots and so poisoned it with their Teeth that a great Murren fell upon the Cattle that grazed there But at length a great number of strange Painted Owls came no man knows whence and devoured the Mice Gloucester-Shire IS bounded on the East by Warwickshire and Oxfordshire On the West by Monmouthshire On the South by Wiltshire and Somersetshire And on the North by Worcestershire It contains in length 60 miles In breadth 26 miles And in Circumference 190 miles The Air is very pleasant and wholsom For the Soil the Hilly part of this Country affords fine Wool which proceeds from a small Sheep long necked and square of Bulk and Bone The lower part is exceeding fruitful and rich in Grain almost of all sorts so that Mr. Cambdes says it returns an hundred for one About Bristol is store of Coals The Northern part abounds in fruit so that the Trees which grow in the very Hedges without grafting do naturally bear not only Fruit but such that for beauty and taste exceeds all other and will keep till a new supply and some sorts will not wither in a whole year Farthermore this Shire hath many Vineyards in it which produce Grapes that make Wine little inferior to that which comes from France The chief Commodities of this Shire are Corn Wool Cloath Steel Timber Sider and Perry It is in the Diocess of Gloucester and hath in it 280 Parishes Out of this Shire are elected 8 Parliament-Men Knights 2 Gloucester 2 Tewkesbury 2 Cirencester 2 Its Division is into 30 Hundreds viz. Cleeve Hundred Tibolston Cheltenham Tewksbury Westminster Slaughter Berkley Grombaldash Langley Swinshed Dirburst Kistage Kings Borton Pockle Church Henbury Thornbury Dudstone H. Blidestoe S. Briovels Westbury Botloe Crothern Rapsaye Whitston Britles Barrow Bradley Longtree Bisteigh Barton Wotton Gloucester And in these Hundreds are 26 Market-Towns viz. Dean Magna Mon. Wickware Mon. Cirencester M. Fr. Panswick Tues Minchinghampton Tu. Horton Tu. Marshfield Tu. Letchlad Tu. Campden W. Bristoh W. Sat. Blackley W. Tedbury W. Gloucester W. Sat. Stow on the Would Th. Cheltenham Thurs Dursley Th. Chipping Sudbury Th. Fair Ford Th. Newent Friday Newham Fr. Stroud Fr. Woottton underedge F Tewksbury Saturday Winchcombe Sat. Leonards Stanley Sat. Thornbury Sa. The Principal Place in this County is the City of Gloucester being in the Latitude of 51 deg 53. min. it bears from London W. by N. and is distant therefrom 81 miles Thus From London to Brainford 8. to Colebrook 15. to Maiden-head 22. to Nettlebed 33. to Abbingdon 45. to Farringdon 55. to Perrors Bridge 69. to Gloucester 81. But the distance upon the Road is 102. This City is seated upon the River Severn about the middle of the Shire it was first built by the Romans It hath formerly been walled about with a strong wall except that part which lyes against the Severn some reliques whereof in many places yet remain visible to witness their strength This City is not great but is wholsomly seated upon a Hillock the Streets every way descending from the Cross It is Governed by a Maior 2 Sheriffs and 12 Aldermen having a Sword and Maces born before them The Arms of the City of Gloucester are Or three Cheavornets Gules The Earls and Dukes of Gloucester since the first Constitution are Robert Fitz Hammon Earl of Gloucester William Mandevile Earl of Gloucester Robert de Millant Earl of Gloucester Richard de Clair Earl of Gloucester Ruff. Monthorner Earl of Gloucester Hugh Spencer Earl of Gloucester Hugh de Audley Earl of Gloucester Tho. of Woodstock Earl of Gloucester Humphrey Dukes of Gloucester Richard Dukes of Gloucester Besides the chief City of Gloucester from whence the County taketh its name we have the fair City
nor too cold occasioned by the many Rivers which run through this Shire The Soil is Rich Plenteous and Delightful and yields abundance of Corn Cattle Wool and Grass and is destitute of nothing that is either Pleasant or Profitable to the Life of Man The Principal Commodities are Wheat Barley and Malt. It is in the Diocesses of London Chichester and Lincoln and hath in it 120 Parishes Out of it are Elected 6 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 St. Albans 2 Hertford 2 Its Division is into 8 Hundreds viz. 1. Odsey 2. Edwinstreet 3. Branging 4. Brodewater 5. Hitching 6. Dacor 7. Hertford 8. Caisho And in these Hundreds are 18 Market-Towns Barnet Mon. Barkhamsted M. Buntingford M. VVatford Tues Ware Tues Hitching Tues Sabsworth Wed. Hempsted Thurs Hatfield Th. Hodsdon Th. Bishop Stafford Th. Baldock Th. Stevenedge Frid. Tringe Frid. Stondon Fr. Hertford Sat. S. Albans Sat. Rickmanswortb Sat. Stevenedge and Redbourn 2 new Markets The Principal Town in this Shire is Hertford lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 50 min. bearing from London N. by W. and is distant therefrom 20 Miles Thus From London to Barnet 10. to Hertford 20. But the way upon the Road is 22 miles measured This Town of Hertford though the Shire-Town is not the richest the turning of the way through Ware having much hindred Travellers from going through it It hath been formerly a Baliwick but is now governed by a Mayor nine Burgesses a Recorder and Two Serjeants their Attendants The Arms of Hertford is A Hart in a Field Proper The Earls of Hertford are Roger Earl of Clare and Hertford Edward Senior Earl of Hertford In this County three remarkable Battels of Civil dissention in England have been fought viz. The First on the 23d of May 1455. in the Town of St. Albans by Richard D. of York the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury and Lords of Fow Cambridge and Cobham against K. Henry the 6. In whose defence Edw. D. of Somerset Henry E. of Northumberland and John Lord Clifford with 5000 more lost their Lives The King himself wounded in the Neck with an Arrow the D. of Buckingham and Lord Sudley in their Faces Humphrey E. of Stafford in his right Hand and the E. of Dorset almost slain There were on the Dukes part only 600 slain The King by them was brought to London and a Reconciliation made by their advancements unto Dignities and Offices The Second Battel was also fought at St. Albans on the 17th of February being Shrove-Sunday by Q. Margaret against the Dukes of Norffolk and Suffolk the Earls of Warwick and Arundel who by force kept the King her Husband with them and by constraint he held and on their side fought till the Field was lost and the Lords fled when with great joy he was received by his Queen and young Prince Edward The Third Battel was fought in Anno 1471. upon the 14th of April being Easter-Day near High Barnet by the Earls of Warwick and Oxford and Marquesso Mountaculo against K. Edw. 4. who led with him K. Henry the 6th his Prisoner unto that Field and that day obtained the Victory against his Enemies There were Slain in this Battel Richard Nevil the stout E. of Warwick with his Brother the Marquess and the E. of Oxford put to flight and the Duke of Excester sore wounded and left in the Field for Dead On the King's part were Slain the Lords Cromwell Bowcher and Barns and on both parts the number of 10000 Men. Remarques in this County Near Fishpool-Street in St. Albans saith Cambden in our remembrance have Anchors of a great weight been digged up There is near St. Albans a Brook called Womere which never breaketh out but it foretelleth dearth or scarcity of Corn or else some danger suddenly to ensue At Ashwell in this County rise so many Sourses of Springs together that they presently drive a Mill and become a pretty big River Herefordshire IS bounded on the East by Gloucestershire and Worcestershire On the West by Radnorshire On the South by Monmouthshire And on the North by Shropshire It containeth in length 63 Miles in breadth 36 Miles And in Circumference 101 Miles The Air is very healthful temperate and wholsom The Soyl of this County is exceeding Rich for Corn and Cattle and about Lemster is the finest Wool in all England The Chief Commodities of this County are Syder Corn Wood and the best Wool in any part of England It is in the Diocess of Hereford and in it are 176 Parishes Out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Hereford 2 Lemster 2 VVeobly 2 Its Division is into 11 Hundreds viz. 1 Wignore 2 Wolsey 3 Broxash 4 Stretford 5 Radlow 6 Grimsworth 7 Greytree 8 Webtree 9 Ewjaslacy 10 Wormelow 11 Huntington In these Hundreds are 8 Market-Towns viz. Branyeard Monday Pembridge Tues Lidbury Tuesd Kyneton Wedn. Webley Thurs Rosse Thurs Lemster Friday Hereford Wed. Friday and Saturday The most eminent place in this County is the City of Hereford lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 12 min. and bearing W. N. W. from London and distant therefrom 101 miles thus From London to Maidenhead 22. to Nettlebed 33. to Alington 46. to Farrington 56. to Perrors-bridge 69. to Gloucester 81. to Rosse 91. to Hereford 101. But according to a more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is distant from London 130 miles The City of Hereford is Walled about having six Gates for entrance and 15 Watch-Towers for defence It is yearly Governed by a Mayor chosen out of one of the 30 Citizens which are called the Election whoever after is known for an Alderman and cloathed in Scarlet the four eldest Aldermen are Justices of the Peace and graced with a Sword-bearer a Recorder a Town-Clerk and 4 Sergeants with Maces The Arms of the City of Hereford are Gules three Lyons Passant Guardant Or. The Earls of Hereford since the first Constitution are William Fitz Osbourn Earl Robert Bossue Earl Miles Consta of England Henry Bohun Earl Henry Bullingbrook D. Stafford Walter D'Evreux Visc Heref. Upon the 2d of February being Candlemas-Day in the year 1461. near Ludlow a great Battel was fought between Jasper E. of Pembrook and James Butler E. of Ormond and Wiltshire against Edward E. of March in which 3800 men were Slain The two Earls fled and Owen Tenther taken and beheaded Before this Battel began there appeared visible in the Heavens 3 Suns which after a while all joyned together and became One as before This caused Edward afterwards to give the Sun in his Glory for his Badge and Cognizance Things remarkable in this County By Snodhill Castle is a Quarry of Exellent Marble By Richards Castle is a Well called Bone-Well wherein are continually found little Fishes Bones but not a Fin to be seen which Well being wholly cleansed of them yet will the like come again But saith Mr. Speed no man knows whether they be produced naturally or brought thither in Veins through
being ragged and torn and the next day was laid all naked upon a Horse and trussed like a Hog behind a Pursevant at Arms and was as homely Buried in the Grey Fryers in Leicester after whose Ruine his Grave rests as obscure being all overgrown with Weeds and Nettles but the Stone Chest in which he was laid was preserved and is now made use of for a Trough in a common Inn for Horses to drink in This Battel was fought the 22 of August 1485. Near Lutterworth is a spring so cold that within a short time it turneth straws and small sticks into Stone In the North part of this Shire are store of Pit-Coals which are of the nature of hardned Bitumen The People of Carleton cannot pronounce their words well but almost all of them have a naturable kind of Speech fetching their words with much ado deep out of their Throats In the Rocks about Belvoir Castles are sometimes found the Astroits or Star-Stones resembling little Stars joyned one to another wherein are to be seen at every corner 5 beams and in every beam in the middle is small hollowness At Barrow is digged the best Lime-stone in all England being extraordinary strong In St. Martin's Church in Leicester lyeth the Body of Mr. Robert Herricke one of the Aldermen of Leicester and Elizabeth his Wife he was three times Maior of that Corporation they lived fifty two years together and seldom or never had under twenty in family and never in that time Buried either Man Woman or Child and lived to see their Children and their Childrens Children and their Children to the number of One Hundred forty and two Lincolnshire LIncolnshire is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Leicestershire On the South by Cambridge and Northamptonshire And on the North by Yorkshire It containeth in length 60 miles In breadth 44 miles And in Circumference 170 miles The Temperature of the Air upon the East and South part the Air is thick and foggy by reason of the Fen-Grounds thereto adjoyning but withal very moderate and pleasing The Soil of this County on the North and West parts is abundantly fertile pleasant and Rich stored with Pasturage Arable and Meadow Grounds The East and South parts is Fenny and Brackish and for Corn barren But for Fowl and Fish no County in the Kingdom can compare with it The Chief Commodities that this Shire affordeth are Wool fat Cattle Fish Fowl Horses Flax and Alabaster It is in the Diocess of Lincoln and hath in it 630 Parishes Out of it are elected 12 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 Lincoln 2 Boston 2 Grimsby 2 Stamford 2 Grantham 2 The Shires Division is into three parts viz. Lindsey Kesteven And Holland And these 3 Divisions contain 30 Hundreds viz. Lindsey Division Manlie Yarborough Brodley Ludbrough Walchcroft Aslacoe Carringham Well Lawris Wraggoe Gartrie Loutheask Calceworth Candleshy Hill Bullingbrook Horn-Castle Kesteven Liberty Lanyo Boothby Loveden Flaxwell Ashwardburn Wivebridge Grantham Aveland Beltisloe Nesse Holland Division Shirbeck Kirton Ellowe And in these Hundreds are 35 Market-Towns viz. Barton Mon. Caster alias Spilsby Mon. Salsby M. Market-Stanton M. Stamford M. Fr. Sleaford M. Gainsbury Tuesd Barton Tu. Market Rasen Tue. Bullingbrook Tues Spalding Tues Alford Tues Grinsby Mag. W. Binbrook W. Lowthe W. and Sa. Boston W. and Sa. Glamford Thurs Burgh Th. Market-Deeping Th. Folkingham Th. Holbich Th. Wragby Th. Naverby Th. Lincoln Friday Tatershall Fr. Kirton Sat. Thongcaster Sa. Waynfleet S. Horn-Castle S. Bourn S. Grantham Sa. Demington Sa. Saltfleet Croyland Barwell The principal Place in this Shire is the famous and ancient City of Lincoln Lying in the Latitude of 53 degrees It bears from London N. by W. And is distant therefrom 103 miles Thus From London to Waltham 12. to Ware 20. to Buntingford 27. to Royston 33. to Huntingdon 48. to Stilton 57. to Peterborough 62. to Market-Deeping 70. to Sleaford 88. to Lincoln 103. In the time of the Normans this was one of the best Cities of England being the chief place to which Merchants did resort and Traffick In this City did K. Edward the Third ordain his Staple for the Mart of Wools Leather and Lead The Government of this City is annually committed to a Maior 2 Sheriffs 12 Aldermen in Scarlet a Sword a Hat of Estate a Recorder Sword-bearer and 4 Sergeants with Maces The Arms of this City are Argent on a plain Cross Gules a Flower-de-luce Or. The Names of the Earls of Lincoln since the Norman Conquest William de Romar Gilbert de Gant Randal E. of Chester Robert de Quiney John de Lacy. Tho. E. of Lancaster John of Gaunt John de la Poole Henry Brandon Edward Clynton Things remarkable in this Shire Upon the 5th of September 1140. In the City of Lincoln was fought the great Battel between Randolph E. of Chester and Robert E. of Gloucester against K. Stephen in defence of Maud the Empress where K. Stephen was taken Prisoner and carried to Bristol and there kept in Irons Again in this Shire on the 19th of May 1217. A Battel was fought by K. Henry the 3d against his Disloyal Barons who aided Lewis Dolphin of France in which Conflict the French were put to flight and therein dyed the E. of Perch with 400 Knights of that party And divers Earls and Persons of Note taken Prisoners In the Fens in this County have in Nets been taken at one Draught in the Month of August 3000 Mallards and other Fowl of the like kind The Ground about Crowland in this Shire is so rotten that one may thrust a Pole into it 30 foot deep And in a place called Holland there the Ground is so wet that as one stands upon it the Earth will shake under his feet and he will be ready to sink into it Here are also many Quick-Sands which have a wonderful force both to draw to them and to hold fast that which they have drawn The Inhabitants of those parts have no fresh water only Rain-water and that in Pits which if they be deep turns the water brackish presently And if they be shallow they dry up as soon About Barton upon Humber are abundance of Pewets Godwits Knotts and Dottrels a simple kind of Bird yet much given to imitating which Birds are caught by Candle-light in this manner The Fowler stands before the Bird and if he put out an Arm the Bird stretches out a Wing if he set forward a Leg or put forward his Head the Bird doth the like and imitates the Fowler 's gesture so long till he drawing nearer and nearer by degrees at length casts his Net over him and takes him Middlesex MIddlesex is bounded on the East by Essex On the West by Buckinghamshire On the South by Kent and Surrey And on the North by Hertfordshire It containeth in length 24 Miles In breadth 18 Miles And in Circumference 95 Miles The Air of this County is very healthful as being all a Gravel
The Soil whereof is very Rich it lying in a Vale having some Hills also and some of them of good ascent from whose tops the Prospect of the whole is seen like unto Zoar in Egypt or rather saith Speed like a Paradise or Garden of God The Chief Commodities are Corn and Cattel It is in the Diocess of London and hath in it besides those in London and Westminster 73 Parishes Out of it are Elected 8 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Westminster 2 LONDON 4 In it 5 Princely Houses inheritable to the English Crown are seated in this County viz. Enfield Hanworth White-Hall St. James and Hampton-Court The last whereof is rather a City in Shew than a Princely Palace only the which for stately Port and gorgeous Building not inferiour to any in Europe It s Division is into 7 Hundreds viz. Edmonton Goare Finisbury and Wenlaxeburn Osriston Elthorne Istleworth Spelthorn In it are 4 Market-Towns besides those in London and Westminster viz. Brainford Tues Edgware Thurs Vxbridge Thurs Stanes Friday The Principal Places in this County are the two Famous Cities of London and Westminster lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 32 min. Of which two Cities we shall speak more anon Things remarkable in this County At Barnet in this County are Medicinal Waters of late discovery and very famous Heston a little Village near to Istleworth is very remarkable for yielding the best Flower and the purest for Manchet The Waters of Crowders-Well by Cripplegate in London and that at the Postern by Tower-Hill have a very pleasant taste like that of New Milk and are very good for Sore Eyes But Crowders-Well is the better of the two And it is said that the Water of the Postern Spring on Tower-Hill being let stand for several days to settle will have in the bottom of it a yellow Sediment much resembling Brimstone both in colour and substance The Stews by the Bank-side in Southwark lying on the South side of London over the River Thames says Cambden were made to make Pikes and Tench fat and to scour them from their muddy Fennish taste And I have seen saith he Pikes Paunches opened with a knife to shew their fatness and presently the Wounds have come together again by the touch of Tenches and by the help of their glewy slime being perfectly healed up In the River of Thames there oftentimes happens a strange shifting of the Tides which is generally accounted a great Prodigie because it happens but seldom A recital of all those which I hear History makes mention of I shall here repeat Upon the 12th of October 1411. The Thames flowed thrice in one day Upon the 17th of December 1550. The Thames Flowed and Ebbed 3 times in 9 hours below Bridge Upon January the 26th in the year 1564 at night were two Tides in 2 hours The next day likewise were two in the morning and two at night Upon the 6th of November 1574 in the morning there happened two great Tides at London The one of Course and the other within an hour after which overflowed the Marshes and drowned many adjoyning Cellars Upon the 19th of February 1608 9 when of course it should have been dead low Water at London-Bridge it was high Water and presently it Ebbed almost half an hour to a foot depth and then suddenly it Flowed again almost 2 foot higher than it did before and then Ebbed again till it came near the right course Upon the 6th of February 1609 10 was another strange shifting of the Tides but the particulars I cannot gain Upon the 3d of January 1622 3 in the morning The Thames shifted four Tides within four hours viz. Two Floods and two Ebbs and then kept its right course Upon Candlemas-Day the 2d of February in Anno 1653 4 The Thames Ebbed and Flowed twice in 3 hours And the like shifting of the Tides at the same time was observed too by Seamen to be in the Maritine places of Kent Upon the 4th of October 1656 The River of Thames Ebbed and Flowed twice in 3 hours The Description following being too large to be inserted in its due place according to the Course of the rest of the Counties I have at the end by way of Supplement added this Brief DESCRIPTION OF LONDON K. Charles his Augusta or City Royal. And of the City of WESTMINSTER the Borough of SOVTHWARK and their Suburbs c. LONDON the Epitome and Glory of all Britain was the Seat of the British Empire as now the Royal Chamber of our Kings Who was the first Founder of Her Writers do much differ about some say Brute the Trojan others not but all agree that it was re-edified and enlarged by King Lud in Anno Mundi 5131. Antiquity For Antiquity London is very honourable as may appear by what A. Marcellinus says of her That she was called an Ancient City in his time which is above 1200 years ago and Cornelius Tacitus 300 years before that gives her this Character viz. London for multitude of Merchants and Commerce is very much renowned Situation This Noble City is seated on a gentle rising Bank in a healthful Air and no less pleasantly than commodiously on the River Thames so that whosoever was the Founder he shewed much prudence in the choice of its Situation and her successful estate hath given proof that built she was for long life and continuance Wall and its Gates The City is begirt with a Wall as is said by Constantine the Great which giveth entrance at seven principal Gates besides Posterns of later erection On the West side are two Ludgate and Newgate both which serve for Prisons the first for such Debtors as are Freemen of the City the other for Malefactors both of the City and Country as also the County-Goal for Debt Northwards those of Aldersgate Cripplegate Moorgate and Bishopsgate and Eastward Aldgate Besides these principal Gates there are several Posterns Also toward the River of Thames many Docks and Harbours for Vessels several Water-gates for the better security of the City and Advancement of Trade It s Extent But now as contemning Bondage this City hath enlarged her self on all sides with spacious Suburbs insomuch that she hath joyned her self Westward with another City to wit Westminster and extending her Building Eastward as far as Black-wall so that now the City is of great extent being in length from Black-wall in the East to Tuttle-fields in the West about six miles and in breadth one two and in some places almost three miles and in circuit 't is computed about 14 or 15 miles in which are numbred above 500 Streets and Lanes and 75000 Dwelling-Houses Of WESTMINSTER This City or part of London I shall first speak of being the Noblest and taken up by the King the Nobility Gentry and such as depend on the Court and Law was formerly called Thorney or Dorney and was an Island encompassed by the Thames overgrown with Briers and Thorns but now graced with fair
stately Houses and Palaces both publick and private The chief among which are First The Palaces of the King Whitehall and St. James the first being the Residence of His Sacred Majesty the other of his Royal Highness James Duke of York to which is joyned a delightful Park so called in which is a Pall-Mall said to be the best in Europe Secondly the Courts of Judicature and Houses of Parliament now known by the Name of Westminster-Hall a large Structure which was anciently the Palace of the Kings of England Thirdly Its Collegiate Church of Westminster which was the Temple of St. Peter raised out of the Ruines of a former dedicated to Apollo where the Trinobants did Sacrifice to Diana Tauropolia This Temple of St. Peter was destroyed by the Danes and re-edified by Dunstan Bishop of London in the year 960. Fourthly King Henry's Chappel being a most magnificent and curious Edifice beautified with the stately Tombs of the Kings and Queens with many of the Nobility of England renowned for the inauguration of our Kings and Queens now a Collegiate Church Fifthly Somerset-House a large and stately Structure belonging to the King situate upon the Thames Sixthly The New-Exchange a place well stored with variety of Shops and Goods to which may be added Seventhly The several Houses of the Nobility as Wallingford-House the Seat of the Earl of Arlington Northumberland-House the Residence of the Countess of Northumberland York-House belonging to the Duke of Buckingham but now turned into smaller Buildings and made new Streets of Houses Salisbury-House belonging to the Earl of Salisbury converted into a New-Exchange and a Street of smaller Houses Worcester-House to the Marquess of Worcester The Savoy formerly an Hospital now the Habitation of several Families where they have their Houses apart and here is His Majesties Wardrobe kept Arundel-House belonging to the Duke of Norfolk and Essex-House to the Duke of Somerset now also turned into small Buildings and made a Street to the Thames side Then Exeter-House Bedford-House Clarendon-House Leicester-House Southampton-House with divers others too many to be mentioned in this small Discourse The Limits of this City ends at Temple-Bar where the Liberty of London beginneth which we shall next speak of Of LONDON This City within the Walls and Freedom is divided into 26 Parts or Wards governed by a Lord Mayor so many grave Aldermen and two Sheriffs the yearly Choice of which was granted them by Patent from King John to these Henry the Third added some Aldermen these Aldermen take charge of the 26 Wards aforesaid and called from them Aldermanries The names of the Wards are thus called viz. 1. Tower-street 2. Portsoken 3. Aldgate 4. Limestreet 5. Bishopsgate 6. Broadstreet 7. Cornhil 8. Langhorn 9. Billingsgate 10. Bridgwater within 11. Candlewick 12. Walbrook 13. Dowgate 14. Vintrey 15. Cordwainer 16. Cheap 17. Coleman-street 18. Basinghall 19. Aldersgate 20. Cripplegate 21. Farringdon within 22. Faringdon without 23. Breadstreet 24. Queenhithe 25. Castle-Baynard 26. Bridgwater without viz. the Burrough of Southwark 1. Towerstreet Ward so termed from the Tower unto this Ward belongs Sydon-lane or Seething-lane part of Mark-lane Minchen-lane and Beer-lane Water-lane then Harp-lane in this Lane is the Bakers-Hall then the two Lanes called Church-Lanes and next to them Foul-lane then the Church of St. Dunstan's in the East the Custome-house and Key now bravely rebuilt and adorned 2. Portsoken Ward the East part of the Tower is in it then the Hospital of St. Katharine then East-Smithfield and Tower-hill where is the Store-house for keeping Provisions for the Navy Royal called the Slaughter-house the Merchant-Taylors have in this Ward Alms-houses for 14 Women next the Minories then the Church of St. Buttolph then is Hoglane near Goodmans-fields the Ward ending at Petticoat-lane 3. Aldgate Ward so named from the Gate the chief Street beginneth at the Gate betwixt the Gate and Limestreet in it is Bricklayers-Hall then Billeter-lane then Fenchurch-street till you come to Culver-alley then Crossed or Crouched-Friars Woodroof-lane Hart-street the North end of Mark-lane where the Ward endeth 4. Limestreet Ward here stands Leaden-Hall formerly a Storehouse for Provision for the Poor now a Market-place for Butchers Tanners Meal-men and Wool no Market in the World for variety of Provision able to stand in competition with it Tere is no Parish-Church or place for Divine Service in this Ward 5. Bishopsgate Ward part is without the Gate from St. Mary Spittle to Bishopsgate which Lanes and Alleys of note are Bethlehem East of the New Postern West by Moorfields and almost half of Houndsditch in this Ward is the Church of St. Buttolph without the Gate Fishers-folly the old Artillery-ground St. Mary-Spittle within the Gate is Bishopsgate-street so called of the Gate unto the East end of St. Martins-Outwitch where is Gresham-Colledg then by the West corner of Leaden-hall down that was called Grass-street to the Corner over against the Church great St. Hellens and little St. Hellens where is Leather-sellers-Hall 6. Broadstreet Ward so named from the Street in it is Throgmorton-street Threadneedle-street half Finch-lane and Scalding-alley in it is Alhallows in the Wall Winchester-street Carpenters-Hall Winchester-house the Hall between Winchester-street and Broad-street called the Glass-house in Broad-street are Sir Thomas Gresham's Alms-houses here standeth St. Peters the Poor of which Parish was formerly made this Rhime In the Parish of St. Peters the Poor There 's no Ale-house nor Tavern nor Sign at a door The Case is altered now quoth Ploydon The St. Augustine-Friers now the Dutch Church in this Ward is Drapers-Hall the House formerly of Cromwel Earl of Essex Bartholomew-lane and Merchant-Taylors-Hall in Threadneedle-street 7. Corn-hil Ward so called from a Corn-Market formerly kept there the chief Ornaments of this Ward are a famous Monument erected by Sir Thomas Gresham who named it the Burss afterwards by Queen Elizabeth called the Royal-Exchange it is the Place of publick meeting for Merchants whereunto they twice every day resort between twelve and one at Noon and six and seven at Night a stately Structure now said to be the best in the known World built quadrangular of Free-stone with a lofty Tower at the South entrance and Walks round the main Building over which are above 200 Shops for rich Wares and well stored with variety of all sorts The Church of St. Peter accounted the oldest Church in London the Church of St. Michael now rebuilt and bravely adorned also the South end of Finch-lane and the North end of Burching is in this Ward 8. Langborn Ward so termed of a Bourn or Brook of sweet Water that ran in it in which is Fenchurch-street Lombard-street half of Lime-street in which was Pewterers-Hall Dionys Back-church half of Birching-lane some few Houses in Philpot-lane St. Clements-lane down to St. Clements Church St. Nicholas-lane down beyond St. Nicholas Church a small portion of Abchurch-lane part of Beerbinder-lane Alhallows-Lombard-street St. Mary Wolnoth 9. Billingsgate Ward the Ornaments of this
hath a peculiar Alderman as an Overseer or Guardian assigned thereunto who hath a greater latitude of Power than any ordinary Justice of Peace This Alderman hath one Deputy and in some Wards more there are also a certain number of Common-Council-Men Constables Men of the Ward-Mote-Inquest Scavengers some more some less with Beadles belonging to every Ward This last Ward differs from all the rest in this That the Alderman appointed here hath three Deputies but no Common-Council-Man In this Ward is a Bayliff also for execution of Legal Process and other Affairs under the Government of the City of London This City for Divine Worship before the late dreadful Conflagration on Sunday the second of September 1666 and continued until Wednesday following in which space of time two thirds within its Wall and Freedom was consumed had 125 Parish-Churches the most stupendious Fabrick of which was the Cathedral of St. Pauls founded by Ethelbert King of Kent 610. It was the Bishops Sea of London endowed with fair Revenues and Livings the proportion of this Building was 690 foot in length 130 foot in breadth the height of the West erected Roof from the ground 102 the new Fabrick from the ground was 88 foot this was the only remaining Work of the English Saxons in London the which is now rebuilding The Inns of Court and Chancery belonging to this City are twelve viz. the Inner and Middle Temple Grays Inn and Lincolns Inn which are called Inns of Court and these Inns are taken up by the Benchers Barresters and Students at Law There are also two other Inns of Court which are called Sergeants Inn one in Chancery-lane the other in Fleet-street where the Judges and Sergeants have their Lodgings The Inns of Chancery are Cliffords Inn Clements Inn Staple Inn Furnivals Inn Lions Inn Bernards Inn and Thavies Inn all which are inhabited by Attorneys and Sollicitors at Law The Courts belonging to the City of London The Hustings Court is the House of Causes or Pleadings this Court preserveth the Laws Rights Franchises Customs and Dignities of the City this Court is held Tuesday as formerly The Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen a most ancient Court of Record for all Matters of Law and Equity There is the Inner Court where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen sit in Council on Tuesday and Thursday weekly and the Outer Court held every day but Holydays and certain other times of the year for Proceedings at Law The Court of Orphans The two Sheriffs Courts one for each Compter Wednesday and Friday for Tryal of Wood-street and Thursday and Saturday for the Poultrey The Court of Common Council for making of Laws and transacting of other Matters of publick concernment to the state of the City The Sessions of Peace held ordinarily once a month throughout the year The Court for the Conservation of the Water and Rivers of Thames and Medway The Court of the Coroner and the Easchetor The Chamberlains Court for Apprentices The Court of Requests commonly called the Court of Conscience All which Courts are kept within the Guildhal London The Sessions of Oyer and Terminer and Goal-delivery of Newgate for the City of London and County of Middlesex holden at Justice-Hall in the Old Baily whereof the Lord Mayor is the Chief Judg and hath power of Reprieving c. The Court of the Tower of London held within the verge of the City before the Steward by prescription of Debt Trespass and other Actions All which Courts are kept within the Guildhall London a fair and large Structure for the negotiating of the Affairs of the City The Court of Policies and Assurances to Merchants that Venture and Traffick on the Seas where Ships and Goods are Ensured at so much in the Hundred in the Royal Exchange The Court of Halmote or Hall-Court for every Company in London appropriate to each Hall they belong The Court of Wardmote or Wardmote Inquest for every VVard the Inquest consisteth of twelve or more as the custom of the VVard is chosen in each VVard St. Thomas's day Besides these Structures are several others as the Charter house or Sutton's Hospital a fair and large Building being one of the noblest Hospitals in England in which are constantly maintained 80 old Men and 40 Boys who have generous Education bestowed on them and after disposed of either to the University or to Trades Doctors Commons the Habitation of the Civilians that practise the Civil Law The Heralds Office or Colledg for preserving Genealogies of Families Coats of Arms c. The Colledg of Physicians a fine new built Structure in which Colledg there is a President four Censors and eight Elects to whom the management of Affairs of the said Society is committed The Halls belonging to the several Companies which are most of them very fair and large Structures There are four Free-schools in this City The Free-school of St. Pauls now built in ample manner and richly endowed Anno 1512 by Dr. Colet Dean of St. Pauls for 153 poor Mens Children for which there was a chief Master and Usher and Chaplain ordained Moreover in the year 1553 after the Erection of Christ's Hospital which arose out of the ruins of the Grey Fryers that stood there a great number of poor Children of the City taken in and a fair School appointed at the Charge of the City though Edward the Sixth bears the name of the Patron Also another School was founded in Christ's Hospital at the Charge of the Lady Ramsey There is also another lately erected by his Majesties Liberality for the instructing of forty Boys in Geometry Navigation and other parts of the Mathematicks yearly for ever Anno 1561 the Merchant-Taylors of London founded a School in the Parish of St. Lawrence Poultney near Thames-street Anno 1579 Sir Thomas Gresham gave the Royal Exchange with all the Buildings thereunto appertaining viz. the one Moiety to the Mayor and Commonalty of London and their Successors and the other moiety to the Mercers to find four to read Lectures of Divinity Astronomy Musick and Geometry within that dwelling in Bishopsgate-street called Gresham-House or Colledg and to bestow 50 pounds per Annum to every Reader the Mercers also are to find three Readers in the same place that is the Civil Law Reader Physick and Rhetorick and every Reader to have 50 pounds yearly stipend These Lectures are to be read every day in the week in Term-time Sundays excepted at nine a clock in the Morning in Latine and at two of the clock in the Afternoon in English only the Musick Lecture is at ten on Saturday in the Morning and at three in the Afternoon Sir John Cutler also set up a Lecture for Mechanicks at two of the clock on so many Fridays after the Term as there is weeks in the Term. All which are fair large Buildings It s House of Correction Bridewel for Vagabonds and Idle Persons It s Sessions House for Malefactors And its New Bethlehem in Moor-fields for
depth that it beareth Ships of great burthen and is able to defend them against Storms and Tempests It s Government is by a Maior to whom K. Richard the 2d granted a Sword to be carried before And Henry the 6th made it a County consisting of a Corporation within it self The Arms of the Town is Gules 3 Castles Or. In this County is also the Town of Barwick the utmost Northerly Town in England and the strongest Hold in all Brittanie The Names of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since the Norman Conquest VValdeof Earl of Northumberland Robert Mowbrey E. of Northumberland Henry Son to David K. of Scotland Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham John Nevill E. of Northumberland Henry Percy E. of Northumberland John Dudley Duke of Northumberland Tho. Percy E. of Northumberland George Fits Roy E. of Northumber 3d Son to the Dutchess of Cleveland Things Remarkable in this County It may seem that the Inhabitants are long liv'd for one Mr. Macklane Parson of Lesbury in this County who died about the year 1658. did in the year 1656. renew his youth so that though 40 years before he could not read without Spectacles being 116 years of age he could then read the smallest Print without them His hair which before he had lost came again as a Childes There are Hills hard by North Tyne so boggy and standing with Water on the top that no Horseman is able to ride over them and yet which is to be wondered at there be many great heaps of Stones called by the Inhabitants Lews which is thought were laid up in old time in remembrance of some Victory or some that were slain there By Bywell Castle is great store of Salmons Many Memorable Antiquities are found in this County as Coyns Inscriptions pieces of broken Altars Russy-gap in this County is a place infamous for Robbing and Thieving In the year 1215. the Inhabitants of Morpeth in this County set their own Town on Fire in spite they bare to King John for that he and his Rutars had over-run these Counties Nottingham-Shire IT is bounded on the East by Lincolnshire On the West by Derbyshire and Yorkshire On the South by Leicestershire And on the North by Yorkshire It containeth in length 40 miles In breadth 24. And in Circumference 110 miles It hath a delectable healthy and sweet Air. The Soil is Rich being part sandy and part Clayie and for Corn and Grass so fruitful that it may parallel any other of its bigness in the whole Kingdom it yielding beside abundance of Wood Water and Coals The chief Commodities are Pit-Coals Wood Corn Fish Fowl and Liquorice It is in the Diocess of York and hath in it 168 Parish-Churches Out of it are elected 8 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Nottingham 2 Estretford 2 Newark 2 Its Division is into 8 Hundreds viz. Bassetlaw Worthelay Southclay Newark Broxton Thurgarton Bingham Bushcliffe And in these 8 Hundreds are 9 Market-Towns viz. Tuxford Monday Newark Wednes VVorksop Wedn. Bingham Thursday Mansfield Th. Blyth Th. Southwell Saturday Redford Sat. Nottingham W. F.S. The principal Town is Nottingham lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 50 min. It bears from London N. W. And is distant therefrom 96 miles Thus From London to Newark 95 miles as in the Road to New-Castle in Northumberland Thence to Nottingham 3 miles in all 98. But being measured upon the Road it is distant from London 122 miles This Town of Nottingham is most pleasantly seated upon a Hill in it are many fair Buildings and large Streets which may compare with most Cities and the Market-place transcendeth any in any County The Town is Governed by a Mayor and 6 Aldermen clad in Scarlet 2 Sheriffs 2 Town-Clerks and 6 Sergeants with Maces their Attendants The Arms of the Town of Nottingham is Argent two Ragged Staves in Cross Vert between three Coronets two in Chief and one in Base Or the Ragged Staff in Pale passing through the Coronet in Base The Names of the Earls of Nottingham since the first Constitution Robert Ferrers John Mowbray Rich. D. of York VVill. Barkley Hen. Fitz Roy. Charles Howard Things remarkable in this County Upon the 16th of June Anno 1487. being the third year of Henry the 7th At Stoke near unto Newark in this County a great Battel was fought against K. Henry the 7th by the Erectors of Lambert a counterfeit Warwick wherein John de la Pole E. of Lincoln Francis L. Lovell Tho. Garadyne Chancellor of Ireland Martin Swart and Sir Tho. Broughton with 4000 of their naked Irish lost their Lives Lambert was there taken and made a Turn-Spit in the King's Kitchen and afterwards one of his Faulconers In this County grows a Stone softer than Alabaster which being burnt makes a Plaister harder than that of Paris With this they floor upper Rooms and when well laid and throughly dried is of great durance At Worksop grows the best Liquorice in all the Northern parts In Nottingham Town there are in good Houses many lower Rooms which the Door-Cases Fire-Hearths Stairs Windows Window-Jams and Soils have all been hewed out of the solid Rock Oxfordshire THis Shire is bounded by Buckinghamshire on the East By Gloucestershire on the West By Barkshire on the South And by Warwickshire and Northamptonshire on the North. It containeth in length 41 miles In breadth 29 miles And in Circumference 144 miles The Air is mild temperate and delicate The Soil fertile pleasant and bounteous The hilly parts being loaded with Wood and Cattel and the Valleys with Corn and Pasturage The chief Commodities of this County are Corn Cattel Fruit Wood and Malt. It is in the Diocess of Oxford And in it is contained 280 Parishes Cut of it are elected 9 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 University of Oxford 2 City of Oxford 2 New-VVoodstock 2 Banbury 2 Its Division is into 14 Hundreds viz. Banbury Bloxham Chadlington VVootton Floughley Bullington Bampton Tame Lewknor Pirton Dorchester Ewelme Langtree Binfield And in these Hundreds are 15 Market-Towns viz. VVoodstock Tues Tame Tues Bampton Wed. Chippingnorton Wed. Witney Thurs Banbury Thurs Henley Thurs Bunchester Friday Burford Sat. Deddington Sat. Watlington Sat. Bistow Fairford Coleford Oxford Wed. Sat. The principal place in this Shire is the famous City and University of Oxford from whence the Shire taketh its name This City lyeth in the Latitude of 51 deg 46 min. It bears from London W. N. W. And is distant therefrom 47 miles Thus From London to Uxbridge 15. to Beckonsfield 22. to High Wickham 27. to Stoken Church 32. to Wheatly Bridge 41. to Oxford 47. But by exact admeasurement upon the Road the distance is found to be almost 56 miles The Arms of Oxford is Bendy wavie Argent and Azure An Oxe Gules passing over a Ford proper The University consisteth of these Colledges and Halls viz. Colledges Founded by Anno. University King Alfrid 872 Beliol Jo. Belial Kt. Dev. his Wife 1263 Merton Walter
de Merton Clerk 1267 Exeter Walter Stapleton E. of Excester 1316 Oriel K. Edward the II. 1324 Queens Robert Eaglesfield Clerk 1340 New Colledge Will. of Wickham B. of Winton 1379 Lincoln Richard Fleming B. of London 1427 All Souls Hen. Chichley A.B. of Canterbury 1438 Magdalen Will. of Wainflet B. of Winton 1458 Brasen Nose W. Smith B. of Lincoln and Sir Richard Sutton Knight 1511 Corpus Christi Richard Fox B. of Winton 1516 Christ-Church K. Henry the VIII 1546 Trinity Sir Thomas Pope 1554 St. Johns Sir Thomas White 1555 Jesus Dr. Hugh Price 1571 Wadham Nich. Wadham Doroth. his Wife 1612 Pembrook Thomas Tesdale Esq and Ri. Whitwich Cler. 1624 Halls in Oxford Alba Hall Hart Hall S. Mary Hall Edmund Hall Colcester Hall Magdalen Hall New-Inn Hall The Earls of Oxford since the first Constitution Vere E. of Oxford Hen. Stuart D. of Gloucester E. of Oxford Things Remarkable in this County The City of Oxford is a very healthful place which Mr. Cambden thinks is because it is defended from the South and West winds but lies open to the North East and East Winds On the Descent of Hoddenton Hill near Oxford rises a Spring which runs down towards Kings Mill lying over against Magdalen Colledge This Spring hath a petrifying quality and will in some short time if a stick be laid in it either turn it into Stone or have a strong crust about it Near unto Enisham in the South of this Shire is a Monument of huge Stones set round in Compass in manner of those of Stonehinge which as some saith were Metamorphosed from Men. But more probable they were there erected upon some great Victory obtained by Rollo the Dane This Shire is famous for that in it were born for K. Edward the Confessor was born in Islip Edward the Black Prince in Woodstock The Warlike Caw de Lyon in Oxford all in this County In the year 1552. at Middleton 7 miles from Oxford a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards which were so conjoyned together at the Navel that when they were laid out at length if one Head and Body were laid East the other would be West or in any other position And the Legs of both the Bodies were joyned together in the midst They were female Children and lived 18 days and they had but one issue for the Excrement of them both Rutlandshire THe least Shire in England It is bounded on the East by Lincolnshire On the West by Leicestershire On the South by Nottinghamshire And on the North by Leicestershire It containeth in length 14 miles In breadth 12 miles And in Circumference 42 miles The Air is Temperate wholsom and not subject to Foggs The Soil is Rich but of a Reddish colour insomuch that it changeth the colour of the Wool of the Sheep that feed upon it into a reddish colour The chief Commodities of this County are Corn Cattel Wool and Wood. It is in the Diocess of Peterborough And hath in it 48 Parishes Out of it are elected only 2 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Its Division is into Five Hundreds viz. Allstoe East Hundred Martinsley Wrange Dye Oukhamsook And in these Hundreds are 2 Market-Towns viz. Vppingham Wedn. Okenham Saturday The Principal Town in this Shire is Oakham lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 45 min. It bears from London N. N. W. And is distant therefrom 72 miles Thus From London to Barnet 10 miles to St. Albans 20. to Luton 28. to Bedford 40. to Wellingbury 52. to Kettering 57. to Uppingham 69. to Oakham 74. Oakham is a fair Market-Town and a Horshooe is the Badge thereof taken from a Royalty enjoyed by the Baron of the Lordship which is this If any Noble by Birth come within the Precinct of the same Lordship he shall forfeit as a Homage a Shooe from the Horse whereon he rideth unless he redeem it by Money In testimony whereof there are many Horshooes nailed upon the Shire-Hall Door and many of them of our English Nobilities whose names are stamped upon them as Hen. Hastings c. And in the Shire-Hall over the seat of the Judg is a Horshooe of Iron curiously wrought containing 5 foot and an half in length and the breadth thereof proportionable This Shire being small much Variety or many Curiosities cannot be expected to be found in it But Adjoyning to this County is the Town of Stamford an ancient University long before Oxford the Arms whereof is Party per Pale Gules 3 Lions passant guardant Or. And Checkey Or and Azure Shropshire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Staffordshire On the West by Denbyshire and Montgomeryshire On the South by Worcestershire and Herefordshire And on the North by Cheshire It containeth in length 38 miles In breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 135 miles The Air of this Shire is Wholsom Delectable and Good affording health to the Inhabitants in all the Seasons of the year The Soil is rich and it standeth upon a reddish Clay the Rivers make fruitful the Land and Severn supplies them with store of fresh Fish The chief Commodities this Countrey affords are Cloath Wheat Barley Wood Cattel Iron and Pit-Coal It is in the Diocess of Hereford and Lichfield and hath in it 170 Parishes Out of it are elected 12 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Salop 2 Bruges alias Bridgnorth 2 Ludlow 2 Great Wenlock 2 Bishops Castle 2 Its Division is into 15 Hundreds viz. Bradford Pimhill Bradford Brymstery Wenlock Condover Oswestrey Forde Chirbury Clunne Purslowe Munslowe Overs Stottesden Shrewsbury And in these Hundreds are 15 Market-Towns viz. Oswestree Mon. Great Wenlock Mon. Ludlow Mon. Elsmeere Tu. Shipton Tu. Braiton Wed. Stretton Thu. Wem Th. Wellington Th. Bishops Castle Fri. Whitchurch Fri. Bridgenorth Sat. Newport Sat. Clebury Shrewsbury W. Th. Sat. The chief Town is Shrewsbury lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 47 min. It bears from London N. W. by W. And is distant therefrom 124 Miles Thus From London to Barnet 10. to St. Albans 20. to Dunstable 30. to Stony Stratford 44. to Toceter 50. to Daventry 60. to Coventry 74. to Meriden 78. to Bermingham 88. to Dudley 96. to Bridgenorth 108. to menlock 114. to Shrewsbury 124. But by admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be distant from London 155 miles This Town of Shrewsbury may be compared with most Cities and doth exceed many for fair Buildings large Streets and those many The Inhabitants Rich the principal Trade being in Staple Commodities as Cloath Frieze c. The Walls hereof are strong and of a large compass and by one side of it runneth the River Severn through the Wall are three entrances into the Town at the East and West over two fair Stone Bridges with Towers Gates and Bars the third entrance is at the North over which is a large Castle The Town is annually Governed by 2 Bailiffs elected out of 24 Burgesses a Recorder Town-Clerk and Chamberlain and 3 Sergeants
in this Shire that Hunters when they and their Horses are tired do drink of though it be in the hottest weather they both become presently as fresh as if they had not run at all Suffolk IS bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the VVest by Cambridgshire On the South by Essex And on the North by Norfolk It containeth in length 48 miles In breadth 24 miles And in Circumference 156 miles The Temperature of the Air is exceeding good and is by some Physicians thought to be the best in England especially in the parts about Bury The Soil consists of Clay and rich Marle The chief Commodities are Butter Cheese Linnen and Woollen Cloath It is in the Diocess of Norwich and hath in it 575 Parishes Out of it are Elected 16 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Ipswich 2 Dunwich 2 Orford 2 Aldborough 2 Sudbury 2 Eye 2 St. Edmonds-Bury 2 Its Division is into 22 Hundreds viz. Lackford Thingoe Risbridge Babergh Thredwastrye Blackborn Stowey Conford Bosmere Sampford Colneis Carleford Thredling Hartesmere Floxone Lones Milford Plumesgate Blithing Wangford Mutford Lothingland And in these Hundreds are 29 Market-Towns viz. Orford Mon. Hadleigh Mon. Lavenham Tu. Mendlesham Tu. Halesworth Tu. Haverill Wedn. Bildeston Wed. Needham W. Woodbridge W. Lestoff W. Bury Wed. Stow-Market Th. Tansdale Th. Saxmundham Th. Sowley Th. Bungay Th. New-market Th. Ikesworth Fr. Moldenhall Fr. Clare Fri. Neyland Fr. Debenham Fr. Sudbury Sa. Aye Sa. Franglingham S. Aldborough S. Dunwich S. Becles S. Ipswich W. F. Sa. Newland The Principal Town is Ipswich lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 8 min. It bears from London N. E. and is distant from thence 55 miles Thus From London to Rumford 10 miles to Burntwood 15. to Chelmsford 25. to Keldon 35. to Colchester 43. to Ipswich 55. But by more accurate admeasurement on the Road it is found to be distant from London 68 miles This Town of Ipswich hath been formerly VValled about by a Rampire of Earth and is a Town which for Commerce and fair Buildings may deserve the name of a City and that no inferiour one neither for its Trade Circuit and Situation may equalize any part of the Land This Town is yearly Governed by two Bailiffs and Ten Port-men in Scarlet and 24 Common-Council men in Purple a Recorder a Town-Clerk 5 Sergeants whereof one is for the Admiralty a Beadle and common Cryer all in Blew with the Towns Arms on their Sleeves which Arms are Party per pale Gules a Lion Rampant Or. And Azure 3 Sterns of Ships Argent The Dukes and Earls of Suffolk created since the Conquest Robert Vfford Earl of Suffolk William de la Pool D. of Suffolk Charles Brandon D. of Suffolk Henry Gray D. of Suffolk Thomas Howard E. of Suffolk The Dukes and Earls of Clare created since the Norman Conquest Gilbert de Clare E. of Clare Lionel Son to K. Edward the 3d. D. of Clarence Thomas Lancaster Duke of Clarence George Brother to K. Edward the 4th D. of Clarence John Holes E. of Clare Things Remarkable in this County Besides the Principal in this County viz. Ipswich this Town of St. Edmonds Bury is remarkable For 1. In it was erected the first Christian Church by Sigebert K. of the East Angles in which K. Edmond was Buried and in Memory of him the famousest Monastery in the World erected 2. For the Beauty and Buildings of this Town and Abbey I shall refer the Reader to the Character which Leyland gives of it viz. This The Sun hath not seen a Town more finely seated or so delicately upon the East ascent of a Hill with a River running on the East side Nor a more stately Abbey either for Revennues or incomparable magnificence in whose prospect appeareth rather a City than a Monastery so many Gates for entrance and many of them Brass so many Towers and a most glorious Church upon which attend 3 others standing all in the same Church-yard all of them very fine and of curious Artifice Not far from this Town a great Battel was fought by Robert Bassu E. of Leicester against his Soveraign K. Henry the 2d But Bassu was overthrown by Ri. Lucye the King 's High Justice Bassu and his Wife taken Prisoners and many English and Flemings slain In the 30th year of K. Henry the 2d near unto Orford there was taken a Fish in the shape of a Man which Fish was kept by Barthol de Glandevile in the Castle at Orford above 6 Months he spoke not one word all manner of meats he eat but delighted chiefly in raw Fish often-times they brought him to the Church but he never shewed any sign of adoration at length for want of looking to he stole to the Sea and was never more seen At Downham Bridge near unto Ipswich in the 10th year of Queen Elizabeth 17 Monstrous Fishes some of them being 27 foot in length In the year 1555. a crop of Pease without sowing or Tillage grew in the Rocks between Orford and Aldebrough when by unseasonable weather a great Dearth of Corn was in the Land there in the Month of August were gathered above 100 Quarters and in blossoming remained as many more where Grass never grew nor Earth ever seen but 3 yards solid Rock under their Roots Surrey IS bounded on the East by Kent On the West by Hantshire and Barkshire On the South by Sussex And on the North by Middlesex the River Thames dividing those two Counties This County containeth in length 40 miles In breadth 37. And in Circumference 130 miles The Temperature of the Air is sweet and wholsom For the Soil saith Speed it is better stored for Game than Grain and the wholsomness of the Air issues from the Sandiness of the Soil And notwithstanding it is wealthy enough both in Corn and Pasture especially in the North parts towards the River of Thames The chief Commodities of this County are Corn Box Fullers Earth and Walnuts It is in the Diocess of Winchester and hath in it 140 Parishes Out of it are elected 14 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 Southwark 2 Blechingly 2 Ryegate 2 Guildford 2 Gatton 2 Haslemore 2 Its Division is into 13 Hundreds viz. Chersey Woking Fernham Godalming Emley Kingston Brixton Croydon Tanridge Reygate Copthorne Darking Black-Heath And in these Hundreds are 7 Market-Towns viz. Reygate Tues Darking Thurs Farnham Thurs Croydon Sat. Kingston Sat. Gilford Sat. Ewell Besides the Burrough of Southwark which keeps Market equal with London The principal Town in this County is Guilford lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 13 min. It bears from London S. W. by W. and is distant therefrom 25 miles Thus From London to Kingston 10 miles to Cobham 17. to Guildford 25. But by more accurate admeasurement it is found to be 30 miles from London This County saith Speed is barren indeed of Cities or Towns of great estate yet is she stored with many Princely Houses yea and 5 of His Majesties Palaces so
of the Air especially about the Town of Warwick The Soil is very Rich especially the Vale of Red Horse which hath a Red Earth and yieldeth great Plenty of Corn. The chief Commodities of this County are Wood Wool Iron and Malt. It is in the Diocesies of Lichfield and Worcester and in it are 158 Parishes Out of it are elected 6 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Coventry 2 Warwick 2 Tamworth 2 Its Division is into 5 Hundreds viz. Hemlinglord Coventry Knightlow Barlichway Kington And in these Hundreds are 15 Market-Towns viz. Henley Monday Southam Mon. Sutton Cofield Mon. Aulcester Tues Symeton Tues Atherston Tues Colshill W. Stratford Thur. Bromicham Th. Coventry Frid. Warwick Sat. Shipton Sat. Rugby Sat. Nun Eaton Sat. Tamworth Sat. The Principal Town in this Shire is Warwick which lies in the Latitude of 52 deg 20 min. It bears from London N. W. And is distant therefrom 70 miles Thus From London to Coventry But by more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be distant from London 88 miles This Town of Warwick lyeth upon the Northwest side of Avon built by Gurgunstus 375 years before the Birth of Christ The Situation of this place is most pleasant upon a Hill rising from the River over which is a fair and strong Stone Bridge This Town is yearly Governed by a Bailiff 12 Brethren 24 Burgesses for Common Council a Recorder a Town-Clerk and one Sergeant their Attendant The Seal of this Town is a Castle triple-Towred having on the dexter side the Sun in its Glory and on the sinister side a Crescent or half Moon on the tops of the two fronting Towers of the Castle stand two Watchmen armed and their Arms extended with this Inscription upon the Ring of the Seal SIGILLUM BALLIVI BURGENSIUM WARWICI Although this be the Shire Town yet the City of Coventry must not be forgotten being a City for stately building inferiour to few and for a Wall about it transcending any other which Wall for the ill use they put it to in the Rebellion in the time of our late Soveraign Charles the First of blessed Memory was to the shame of their Citizens most justly rased to the ground the ruines thereof only remaining to put them in mind for the future of their Allegiance to their Soveraign These Citizens might have remembred that formerly for their offences offered to their Lord Leofrike they had their Priviledges infringed and themselves oppressed with many heavy Tributes until Godiva his Lady pitying their condition by uncessant importunities sued for their Peace of the Lord her Husband which at length he granted upon this Condition viz. That she should Ride naked through the face of the City and that openly at high noon day which she accordingly did And stripping her self of all her Garments looses the tresses of her hair which on every side so covered her nakedness that no part of her Body was uncivil to sight by which means she redeemed their former Priviledges I do not say but some Magistrates of this City have shewed greater respect to their Soveraigns for as I have heard that a Maior of Coventry riding before Queen Elizabeth she being in Progress to usher her into the City the weather being hot his Horse attempted to drink at the Foard but the Maior checking him several times the Queen called to him saying Mr. Maior Mr. Maior Let your Horse Drink But he modestly replied May it please your Majesties Horse to Drink first The City of Coventry is Governed yearly by a Maior and 2 Bailiffs And the Arms of the City is Party per Pale Gules and Vert upon a Hill Proper An Elephant Passant Argent with a Castle on his back Or. The Earls of Warwick since the first Constitution Henry of Nuburgh Earl of Warwick John Marshall Earl of Warwick John de Plesseis Earl of Warwick William Malduit Earl of Warwick Will. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Holland Earl of Warwick Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick George D. of Clarend Earl of Warwick John Dudly Earl of Warwick Robert Rich Earl of Warwick Things Remarkable in this Shire In the year 1469. At Wolney in this County K. Edward the 4th gathering his Forces together to recover his former Loss was suddenly surprized and taken Prisoner by his Brother George D. of Clarence and Richard the Stout E. of Warwick and thence conveyed to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire whence he suddenly escaped and came to London At Gofford Gate in the East part of Coventry hangs the Shield bone of a Wild Boar far bigger than the greatest Oxe bone it is very likely to be an Elephants with whose Snout as the tale goes the great Pit called Swainswell was turned up At Shugbury are found such Stones as are made mention of in Gloucestershire called Astroites or Star-Stones At Lemington a great distance from the Sea a Salt Spring ariseth At Menham-Regis are three Fountains which it should seem are streamed through a Vein of Allum The Water looks and tastes like Milk It procures Urine abundantly It is very Soveraign against the Stone And good to cure Green Wounds Ulcers and Impostumes Being drank with Salt it loosens the Body but with Sugar it maketh it Costive It turneth Wood into Stone saith Speed and saith my Author I my self saw some sticks that were fallen into it some part of them Ash and the other part Stone Westmoreland THis County is bounded on the East by Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durham On the West by Cumberland On the South by Lancashire And on the North by Cumberland It containeth in length 38 miles In breadth 33 miles And in Circumference 112 miles The Air of this County is sharp and piercing and not subject to gross Foggs and Vapours whereby the people are free from strange and infectious Diseases and are very healthful and live generally to great Ages The Soil is Moorish and Barren for the most part but the Southern part is the most fruitful The Principal Commodity this County affordeth is Cloath It is in the Diocesses of Chester and Carlisle and in it are 26 Parishes Out of it are elected 4 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Appleby 2 Its Division is into 4 Wards and in them 8 Market-Towns viz. Burton Tues Ambleside Wed. Burgh Wed. Orton Wed. Kerby Laundale Th. Kerby Stephens Fri. Kendall Sat. Appleby Sat. Fardondike The principal Town in this County is Kendall lying in the Latitude of 54 deg 24 min. It bears from London N. W. by N. And is distant therefrom 201 miles Thus From London to Barnet 10 miles to St. Albans 20. to Dunstable 30. to Stony Stratford 44. to Daventry 60. to Coventry 74. to Coleshill 82. to Lichfield 94. Rugeley 99. to Stone 111. to New-Castle 116. to Warrington 136. to Wiggan 148. to Preston 162. to Garstang 172. to Lancaster 182. to Kendall 201. But by exact admeasurement upon the Road the distance is found to be 246 Miles This Town standeth
The Commodities that this Shire principally affords besides many others are Cloath Stockins Corn Cattle Knives Spurs c. It is in the Diocess of York and hath in it 563 Parishes Out of it are elected 29 Members to fit in Parliament Knights 2 York 2 Kingston upon Hull 2 Knaresborough 2 Skaredborough 2 Rippon 2 Richmond 2 Hidon 2 Burrowbrigg 2 Malton 2 Thirske 2 Aldeborough 2 Beverly 2 North-Allerton 2 Pomfret 2 Its Division is into Hundreds as are most of the Counties in England of which this is divided into 26. But because of the largeness thereof it is first divided into three Parts called Ridings viz. The East Riding The West Riding The North Riding And each of these Ridings have their several Hundreds and those Hundreds their respective Market Towns as followeth viz. The East Riding is divided into 4 Hundreds viz. Buccrosse Dickering Holdernesse Ouse and Derwent And in this Riding are these 8 Market-Towns viz. Hull Tu. and Sat. Beverly Wed. and Sa. Wighton Wednes Kilham Th. Headon Sat. Bridlington Sat. Howder Sat. Packlington Sat. The West Riding is divided into 10 Hundreds viz. Stancliffe Claro Ansty Barkston Skirink Motley Aggerage Osgoderosse Strasforth Staincrosse And in this Riding are 24 Market-Towns viz. Rotheram Monday Selby Mon. Leedes Tuesday and Saturday Otley Tues Settle Tues Sheffield Tues Barnesby Wednes Knaresborow Wed. Hallifax Thursday Wakefield Thursday and Friday Bradforth Thurs Wetherly Thurs Tadcaster Thurs Rippon Thurs Snathe Friday Ripley Friday Tickhill Saturday Bantrey Sat. Doncaster Sat. Sherborn Sat. Pontefract Sat. Borough Bridge Sat. Skipton Sat. Thorne The North Riding is divided into 12 Hundreds viz. Gilling West Gilling East Allerton Langborgh Whitbystand Pickering Ridall Bulmar Burford Hallikeld Hang East Hang West And in this Riding are 17 Market-Towns viz. Pickering Mond Gisborough Mond Thruske Mond Beda Tues Masham Tues Kirby moreside Wed North Allerton Wed. Abberforth Wedn. Scarborough Th. Yarum Thurs York Thursday and Saturday Malton Sat. Helmley Sat. Whitby Sat. Stokesly Sat. Richmond Sat. Askrigg The principal place in this large County is York the second City in England It lies in the Latitude of 53 deg 58 min. It bears from London N. by W. And is distant therefrom 150 miles Thus From London to Waltham-Crosse 12 miles to Ware 20. to Royston 33. to Caxton 42. to Huntingden 48. to Stamford 69. to Grantham 85. to Newark 95. to Tuxford 104. to Doncaster 122. to Wentbridge 129. to Tadcaster 141. to York 150. But being measured upon the Road the distance is found to be 192 miles from London This City saith Speed is a pleasant place large and full of Magnificence rich and populous in all which it over-masters all the other places of this County and it is not only strengthned with Fortifications but adorned with Magnificent Buildings both Private and Publick It is an Episcopal See a Metropolitan City and in it is a most famous Library It is Governed by a Lord Maior 12 Aldermen many Chamberlains a Recorder a Town-Clerk 6 Sergeants at Mace and 2 Esquires which are a Sword-bearer and a Common Sergeant who with a large Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword The Arms of the City of York is Argent on a Cross Gules 5 Lyons Passant Guardant Or. Besides this City of York there are two other Places of note not to be forgotten viz. Richmond and Hull The Arms of Richmond is Gules an inner border Argent over all a Bend Dexter Ermine The Arms of Hull is Azure 3 Corronets in Pale Or. The Arms of such Families as have born the Dignity of Earls of Richmond and Holdernesse since the Conquest Allen E. of Brittain and Richmond Earl of Richmond John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Earl of Richmond Geffery 4th Son to K. Henry the 2d Earl of Richmond John D. of Brittain Earl of Richmond Gray Viscount Tours Earl of Richmond Ralph E. of Westmoreland Earl of Richmond Ralph E. of Chester Earl of Richmond John D. of Bedford Earl of Richmond Peter de Dreux Earl of Richmond Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Earl of Richmond Peter de Savoy Earl of Richmond Edmond Haddam Earl of Richmond John D. of Brittain Earl of Richmond Henry fits Roy D. Earl of Richmond Earls of Holdernesse Drugo de Buerer Earl of Holdernesse Stephen de Bloys Earl of Holdernesse William de Mendevile Earl of Holdernesse Baldwin de Beton Earl of Holdernesse William de Fortibus Earl of Holdernesse Edward E. of Rutland Earl of Holdernesse There are lately added by His Majesty K. Charles II. these following viz. Lodowick Stuart D. of Richmond John Ramsey E. of Richmond Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhyne E. of Holdernesse Things Remarkable in this County Upon Palm-Sunday in the year 1461. was a Battel fought in the Quarrel between Lancaster and York in which England never saw more Nobility and Gentry nor a more puissant Army in the Field for there were there at one time on both sides 100 Thousand fighting men When the Fight had continued doubtful a great part of the day the Lancasterians not being able longer to continue the force of their Enemies turned back and fled away and such as took part with York pursued them so hotly that they killed many of their Nobility and Gentry and that day were slain on both sides 30 thousand English-men About Pontefract and Knaresborough grows great quantities of Liquorice In some parts of this Shire near Sherbourn are Quarries whose Stones when first taken out of the Quarries are very soft but seasoned with Wind and Weather they become very hard and durable Other parts of this Shire produce a Lime-stone which being burnt serves to enrich and manure those Lands that are cold and hilly At the suppression of the Abbies in the days of K. Henry the 8th in a certain Chappel in York a Lamp was found burning in a Vault or Sepulchre under ground wherein Constantine the Emperour was supposed to have been Buried About Sheffield in this Shire are many Iron-Mines About the year of Christ 759. the Town of Doncaster was burnt by Fire from Heaven The Inhabitants about Dichmarsh and Marshland are of opinion that the Land there is hollow or hanging and that as the Waters rise the Land is also heaved up Near unto Bratherton is a yellow kind of Marle found which being cast upon the Fields causeth them to bear good Corn for many years together Not far from the Abby of Fountains there are Lead-Mines Near unto Burrough Bridge are certain Pyramids standing which are supposed to have been made of a factitious Stone compounded of pure Sand Lime Vitrials and other unctious matter Under Knaresborough is a Well called Dripa Well in which the Water springs not out of the Veins of the Earth but distills from the Rocks which hang over it The Water of this VVell saith Speed turns VVood into Stone for VVood put into it will shortly after be covered over with a Stony Bark and at length become Stone At Giggleswick in
K. Henry the Third and K. Edward the First And with the Interments of Edward the Black Prince Henry the Fourth and Joan his Wife And at Feversham were interred K. Stephen and Maud his Queen After divers afflictions by the Danes this City was at length fortified by Richard the Second and afterwards Walled about by Simon Sadbury Arch-Bishop of that See Next to Canterbury Rochester requires the preheminence of all the other Towns Historians report that this City was first built by Julius Caesar How or by whom these two Cities are Governed I do not find But the Arms of Canterbury is Gules Martlets in a Chief Argent a Lyon Passant Guardant Or. And the Arms of Rochester is Argent a Plain Cross Gules with an R in the Centre Or. In Chief a Lyon of England The Earls since the first Constitution are Odo Bishop of Boyen Will. Iprese E. of Flan. Hubert de Burgh Edmond Woodstock Tho. Holland Edmond Graye Things remarkable in this County are The Medicinal Wells at Tunbridge the Virtues of the Waters of them are sufficiently known At Egerton is a Spring whose Water turns Wood into Stone Three miles South from Tunbridge on the edge of Sussex in a white sandy Ground are divers huge craggy Stones of strange forms whereof two of the greatest stand so close together and yet are divided with so streight a Line as one would think they had been sawn asunder The River of Medway loseth it self under ground and riseth again at Loose not far from Cox-Heath There are three Ridges of Hills in Kent viz. The first is that which runs by Boxtey Dettling Hellingborn c. and is called Health without Wealth The second is that which runs by Sutttonulcomb Booton Malherf c. and is called Health and Wealth The third is that which runs by Tenderden and is called Wealth without Health At Motingham 8 miles from London in Anno 1585. August the 4th after a violent Tempest of Thunder and Rain the Ground suddenly began to sink and three great Elms growing upon it were carried so deep into the Earth that no part of them could any more be seen The compass of the hole is said to be 240 foot about and a Line of 50 Fathom plummed down into it finds no bottom In Tenderden-Steeple about the Belfrey there is a Stone which as the Rain falls upon it out of the Air or the Rain drippings from other Stones about it grows in about 5 or 6 years very manifestly which having been pared away with an Instrument grows up again as high as before Upon the Shoars of the Isle of Sheppey are found weighty Stones out of which Brimstone and Coperas are tryed by boyling them in a Furnace for that purpose Near unto Feversham are Pits of great depth narrow at the mouth and very broad below which have distinction of Rooms or Chambers within them and Pillars of Chalk as it were to support them Great store of Samphire grows on the Cliffs between Deal and Dover At Dengenesse for a mile and more together do naturally grow abundance of hollow Trees among nothing but Beach and Pebbles And Westward from this place Pease grow naturally in Clusters as Grapes do which differ but little in taste from Field Peasen Also between Thâ—net Isle and Sandwich a kind of Hops grow natural y among the Beach and Pebbles In the Isle of Sheppey there are no Moles and if any be carried over thither they suddenly dye The River Stowre that runs through Canterbury breeds the best Trouts in the South-east parts of England At Boxley-Abby about 2 miles from Maidstroe is a Spring the water whereof in 9 days will turn Sticks and small Wood into Stone In the year 1596 upon the 18th of December a mile and half from Westram Southward and not many miles from Motingham Two Closes lying together separated with a Hedg of hollow Ashes then was found a part thereof about 12 Perches long to be sunk six foot and an half deep the next morning 15 foot more the third morning 80 foot more at least and so daily that great Trench of Ground containing in length about 80 Perches and in breadth 28 Perches began with the Trees and Hedges on it to loose it self from the rest of the Ground lying round about it and withal to move and shoot Southward day and night for Eleven days The Ground of two water Pits the one 6 foot deep the other 12 foot deep and about 4 Perches over in breadth having sundry Tuffs of Alders and Ashes growing in the bottom with a great Rock of Stone under them were not only removed out of their places and carried towards the South at least 4 Perches apiece but withal mounted aloft and became hilly with their Sedge Flags and black mud upon the tops of them higher than the face of the Water which they had forsaken by 9 foot and in the place from which they were removed other Ground which lay higher is descended receiving the Water which lyes upon it Moreover in one place of the plain Field there is a great hole made by sinking of the Earth to the depth of 30 foot at the least being in breadth in some places 2 Perches over and in length 5 or 6 Perches Also there is a Hedge 30 Perches long carried Southward with his Trees 7 Perches at the least Divers other Sinkings there be in several other Places viz. One of 60 foot another of 47 and another of 34 foot By means of which confusion it is come to pass that where the highest Hills were there be the deepest Dales and the lowest Dales are become the highest Hills The whole measure of breaking was about 10 Acres In the year 1651. in the Parish of Lenisham 6 miles from London a Medicinal Water was found out and is much frequented Lancashire IS bounded on the East by Yorkshire On the West by the Irish Sea On the South by Cheshire And on the North by Cumberland and Westmorland It contains in length 57 miles In breadth 32 miles And in Circumference 65 miles For the Temperature of the Air it is thin and piercing and not troubled with gross Mysts or Fogs The People are very Comely Strong Healthful long liv'd and not subject to Novel Diseases For the Soil It is not very fruitful yet it breeds a great number of Cattel and those of a very great proportion having goodly Heads and large spread Horns It yieldeth great store of Coles and a competent increase of Flax. The Plain of this County is very good for Wheat and Barley but that which lyes at the bottom of the Hills is best for Oats The chief Commodities that this County affords are Cole Cattel Fowl Fish and Flax. It is in the Diocess of Chester and hath in it 61 Parishes And out of it are elected 14 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Lancaster 2 Preston 2 Newton 2 Wigan 2 Clitherow 2 Liverpoole 2 Its Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Loynsedale