Graves and their Coffins opened the Dutchess Cicely had about her Neck hanging in a Silver Ribbon a Pardon from Rome which penned in a fine Roman hand was as fair and fresh to be read as if it had been written but yesterday this Lady was a great Benefactress to Queens Colledge in Cambridge In former Ages the Bishops have had the Royalties of Princes over this County and the Inhabitants have pleaded the priviledge not to pass over the River of Tees or Tyne to serve in War whose charge as they alledged was to keep and defend the Corps of St. Cathbert their great adored Saint and therefore they called themselves The Holy Work Folks and the repute of this Cuthbert and his supposed defence against the Scots was such that several of our English Kings went in Devotion to his Tomb on Pilgrimage and gave large Possessions to his Church among others zealous Canutus the greatest of all came thither bare-footed and at Cuthberts Tomb both inlarged and confirmed their Liberties This County is not divided into Hundreds but Wakes which are 4 wherein are 118 Parishes and is in the Diocess of Durham It elects four Parliament Men 2 for the County and 2 for the City of Durham ESSEX hath Kent on the South divided by the River Thames Suffolk on the North severed by the River Stoure Cambridge Hertfordshire and Middlesex on the West the two latter for the most part parted by the River Ley and the Germane Ocean on the East this Shire produceth plenty of Saffron especially about Walden a fair Market Town which Saffron may seem to have coloured with the name thereof it hath also Oysters called Walfleet the best in esteem and are thought by Pliny to have been served in the Roman Kitchins likewise Cloths Stuffs Hops and is indeed a fair Country affording all things necessary to mans subsistence only the Air of the Eastern part is not accounted very healthful Those parts adjoining to the Sea are commonly called the Hundreds of Essex and are very fruitful in Cattle However the vulgar Wits of this County much astonish strangers with the stock of poor People in these parts affirming that they have Five Hundred Cows and Nine Hundred Sheep which are indeed but five Cows and nine Sheep in these Hundreds The chief City of account is Colchester built by Coilus the Brittish Prince 124 Years after Christ wherein saith Monmouth the first Christian King Empress and Emperour in the World were born that is his Son Lucius Helena and Constantine of which thus the Poet sings From Colchester there rose a Star The Rays whereof gave glorious Light Throughout the World in Climates far Great Constantine Rome's Emperour bright The most famous place for antiquity in this County is Camolodunum now Maldon which was the Royal Seat of Cunobolin King of the Trinobantes as by the Money therein minted appeareth about the time of our Saviours Birth which City Claudius afterward won from the Brittains and therein placed a Colony of Soldiers In the East Promontory of this County in the Reign of Richard 2. the Teeth of a Giant were found if they were not of an Elephant of a very great size and not far thence in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth more bones as monstruous were digged up The Monks have recorded that a Pilgrim was sent by St. John Baptist to K. Edward the Confessor with a Ring upon which account his house in this County was called Hav-a-ring but the Clergy in those times made no Conscience to invent fictions daily for their own advantage There were bones digged up at Ness near Harwich in this County which with their bigness and length amazed the Beholders I cannot see saith Dr. Fuller how such can maintain them to be the bones of men who must confess that according to the Proportion of the Doors and Roofs of ancient Building which we have either seen or read of if they were so big and tall they must go into their Houses stooping not to say creeping along except those who affirm it be as careless of their credit as the Traveller was who affirming he saw Bees as big as Dogs and yet their Hives were of our ordinary size and being demanded what shift they made to get in Nay said he what know I let them look to that More probable it is that these were bones of Elephants store whereof were brought over into England by the Emperour Claudius To these wonders it will not be amiss to adu the ensuing relation written by Mr Tho. Smith of Sewarstone near Waltham Abby a discreet person lately deceased Toward the latter end of Q. Elizabeth saith he I served Sir Edward Donny who lived in the Abby of Waltham Cross in Essex which at that time lay in ruinous heaps and Sir Edward beginning to re-edifie it one Tomkins his Gardiner being employed therein among other things discovered a fair Marble Stone which was the cover of a Tomb of the same Stone this cover being removed there appeared the Anatomy of a man therein the Bones only remaining in due order and none of them out of place and no other dust or filth whatsoever remaining in tâ—e Tomb having well observed it I told the Spectators that if they did but touch any part thereof it would fall in sunder which being tried happened accordingly for my part I am persuaded that as the Flesh and Entrails of this Anatomy to us became in visible so would the bones likewise have been in some longer time O what is man then which vanisheth thus away like the Smoak or a vapour and is no more seen Whosoever thou art that shall read this passage thou mayst find sufficient cause of humility It is generally conceived that this was the body of King Harold This County hath no Cathedral and the Churches therein cannot challenge to themselves any eminent Commendation but for private houses Essex will own no Shire her superiour whereof Three are most remarkable 1. Audly end built by the E. of Suffolk which without compare was one of the best Subjects Houses in the Nation yet is the Structure better than the standing thereof as being somewhat low on the one side 2. Newhall built by the Ratcliffs Earls of Sussex which is extream pleasant for the shady approach thereunto and for the Parks round about it 3. Copthal highly seated on an hill in the midst of a Park built by the Abbot of Waltham enlarged by Sir Thomas Heneage and others herein is a Gallery as well furnished and more proportionable than any in England In November 1639. there happened an Hurricano or Whirl-wind which entring in at the great East Window blew that down and carried some part thereof with the Picture of the L. Coventry singled from many more which hung on both sides untouched all the length of the Gallery being about 56 Yards out of the West Window which it threw down to the ground some observed the like Wind in other places about the same time as
be And lie in mine own Ashes as you see Verlam I was what boots it that I was Since now I am but weeds and wastful grass And another English Poet writes thus in the name of Watling one of the 4 Imperial Highways Thou saw'st when Verlam once her head aloft did rear Which in her Cinders now lies sadly buried here With Alabaster Tuch and Porphyry adorn'd When well near in her pride great Troynovant she scorn'd A nameless Author hath writ thus upon this forgotten City Stay thy foot that passest by And a wonder here descry Churches that inter'd the dead Here themselves are buried Houses where men slept and wak't Here in Ashes underrak't And to the Poet to allude Here is Corn where once Troy stood Or if you the Truth would have Here 's a City in a Grave A wonder Reader think it then That Cities thus should die like men And yet a wonder think it none For many Cities thus are gone Out of the ruines of this City rose the fair Town of St. Albans remarkable for bringing forth Alban the Martyr for about the year of Christ 180. King Lucius reigned in Brittain who hearing of the Miracles and Wonders done by the Christians in divers places sent Letters to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome desiring to receive the Christian Faith the good Bishop being glad of this request sent him two Preachers Faganus and Damianus by whose faithful endeavours it pleased God the King and many of his People were Converted and Baptized the Temples of Idols and other Monuments of Gentilism were subverted thus the true Religion increased and Superstition and Idolatry decreased many Bishops being ordained and set over the People and all things setled in good order after which this religious King sent again to Eleutherius for the Roman Laws according to which he desired to govern his People to which request Eleutherius returned this answer That for the Roman and Imperial Laws they might have their defects but the Law of God could not and thereupon advised him to study the Scriptures and out of them by the Council of his Realm to enact Laws for the Government of his Kingdom For saith he You are Gods Vicar in your Kingdom and therefore it behoves you to unite your People to call them to the Faith and Service of Jesus Christ to cherish and maintain them to rule and govern them and to defend them from all such as would do them wrong c. The Christian Faith thus received by the Brittains flourished here 216 years till the coming of the Saxons But the Ramans continuing Heathens raised much trouble against the Professors thereof especially after the death of Lucius who dying without 〈◊〉 the Barons and Nobles disagreeing about a Successor the Romans stepped in and took the Crown into their hands whereupon great ruine and misery ensued to the Kingdom for sometimes the Idolatrous Romans reigned and sometimes the Christian Brittains according to the fortune of the War The first remarkable Persecution which we hear of was under Dioclesian and Maximi◠when the Heathens raged so extreamly that in Brittany and some other Places there are reckoned Seventeen Thousand Martyrs who suffered for the name of Christ In this Persecution a famous Preacher called Amphibolus being searcht for to be Imprisoned he to escape the fury of his Persecutors hid himself in the House of Alban aforementioned who was a Citizen of Verulam now St. Albans this Alban was at that time a Heathen but observing Amphibolus to continue day and night in watching and Prayer he began to be convinced and to hearken to the Divine Instructions and Exhortations of this good man and forsaking Idolatry he became a very sincere Christian The Enemy having intelligence that this Minister was in his house Soldiers were ordered to search for him which Alban having notice of he apparelled himself in the cloths of Amphibolus and offered himself to the Souldiers who bound him and carried him before the Judge who was at that time sacrificing to his Idols The Judge perceiving the business said Since thou hadst rather convey away the Rebel and Traytor to our Gods than deliver him up to undergo due punishment for his blaspheming our Deities look therefore what Torments he should have suffered if he had been taken the same shalt thou endure if thou refuse to practise the Rights of our Religion Alban was regardless of these Threats and being replenished with Divine Fortitude boldly told the Judge to his face That he would not obey his Commandment Then said the Judge Of what House and Stock art thou Alban answered It is no matter of what stock I am but if thou desirest to know my Religion be it known unto thee that I am a Christian and that I imploy my self in the exercise of their Holy Religion The Judge then demanded his name my Parents said he named me Alban And I Honour and Worship the True living God who made all things of nothing The Judge being inraged hereat said If thou desirest to prolong thy life come and Sacrifice to our Gods Alban answered The Sacrifice you offer to the Devil profits you nothing but rather purchaseth for you eternal pains in Hell-fire The Judge was still more incensed hereat and commanded the tormentors to beat him thinking stripes might prevail more than words yet Alban continued not only patient but joyful in the midst of all his Torments the Judge perceiving that neither words nor blows would remove him from his Constancy commanded him to be beheaded The Executioner observing his fervent Faith and Prayers fell down at his Feet throwing away the Sword desiring rather to die for him or with him than to do Execution upon him and suffered accordingly whereby he was made a Martyr for that Faith of which he was before a Persecutor The other Officers were astonished and trembled to behold this strange Providence but at last one of them took up the Sword wherewith he cut off the Martyr Albans head In this Town of St. Albans King Offa built a most stately Monastery which we read was upon this occasion In the Year 793 Offa the 11th King of the Mercians took to wife one Quenrid of whom it is recorded that her name was Drida and that she was Kinswoman to the French King Charles the great and was for some Offence banished his Realm being put into a boat without Sail or Tackle and arriving upon the Coasts of England was relieved by Offa who was then a young Nobleman and changed her name to Quenrid of whom he became so much in love that contrary to the Will of his Parents he married her she being of a proud cruel and ambitious Nature as appears by the sequel For Ethelbert King of the East Angles a wise and religious Prince coming to the Court of King Offa being persuaded by his Nobles to desire his Daughter in Marriage was accompanied with a great Train suitable to his Quality but Queen Quenrid envious of his
his coming all Owen Glendours Army forsook him so that lurking in the Woods for fear of being taken he was there miserably famished Many of his Associates were taken and put to death and thus in the fourth year of his Reign all the great troubles of this K. Henry ended The Groaning Tree in Lincolnshire Pa. 137. The Lady riding naked through Coventry Pa. 207. From head to heel his Body had all over A quickset thickset natural hairy cover Change of Air Diet or the trouble of many Visitants are thought to hasten his end He died Nov. 15. 1634. and was buried in the Abby Church Shropshire is divided into 15 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 170 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Hereford and Litchfield it elects 12 Parliament Men and Shrewsbury gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Talbot the 12 of that Family SOMERSETSHIRE hath the Severn Sea on the North Glocester on the North-East Wiltshire on the East Devonshire on the West and Dorsetshire on the South It abounds in Cattle Chease Lead and Corn of which it is so very fruitful that the Inhabitants tell you several single Acres of Land in this shire will serve a good round Family with Bread for the Year as affording a Bushel of Wheat for every week therein which is not easily to be parallel'd in other places This Country is famous for three Cities Bath Wells and Bristoll the first takes its name from the hot Baths which some call The Waters of the Sun It is recorded that Bladud the Son of Lud King of the Brittains in the year of the world 3100 built this City and conveyed the admirable virtues into these Waters by Magick Art and that he was so much addicted to Necromancy as he wrought Wonders thereby insomuch that he made himself Wings and attempted to fly like Dedalus but the Devil ever a deceiver forsook him in his Journey so that he fell down and broke his Neck This City is seated in a plain invironed round about with Hills almost of one height out of which certain Rills of fresh water flow continually to the great benefit of the Citizens within the City there bubble or boyl up in three several places hot springs of Water of a Sea-coal colour sending up from them thin vapours and a kind of strong scent withal by reason it is strained through veins of Brimstone and a clammy kind of Earth called Bitumen These Springs are very Medicinal and of great virtue to cure Bodies overcharged and benummed with corrupt Humors by their heat causing much sweat They are much frequented by Persons of all Qualities and almost for all diseases of aâ—l these the Cross Bath is of a most mild and temperate Nature having 12 seats of Stone in the sides of it and is inclosed within a wall The second distant about 200 paces is much hotter whence called the Hot Bath adjoyning to which is the Spittle or Lazar House for the relief of poor diseased Persons The third and greatest is called the Kings Bath walled also round about with 32 Seats of Arched Work therein This City is fortified with Walls wherein are set Antique Images and Roman Inscriptions and hath in it a fair large Cathedral Church The City of Wells so called from the Springs or Wells that boil up there hath a very beautiful Cathedral near which there is a Spring called St. Andrews Well from whence comes such a confluence of Water that it soon makes a swift brook The Church is throughout very beautiful but the Frontispiece of the West end is very excellent for it riseth up from the foot to the top all of Imagery carved in Srone of a curious and antique fashion very artificially embowed Bristow hath the River Avon passing through it and was incompassed with a double wall it is beautiful with Buildings publick and private and hath common Sewers or Sinks made to run under ground for the conveyance of all filthiness There are within the City and Suburbs 26 fair Churches whereof 18 are Parish Churches There is no Dunghill in all the City nor Sink all being conveyed under ground they carry all upon fleds without Carts the water at the Key sometimes ebbs and flows 40 foot in height This City is Populous Rich and well Inhabited and next to London and York may justly challenge the Superiority having a very commodious Haven which admits Ships under Sail into the very bosom thereof In this County K. Arthur was buried for being murdered by Mordred at Cambula near Tintagel Castle in Cornwall as is aforementioned he was carried from thence to Glastenbury in Somersetshire and was there buried in 542. and 600 years after was found and taken up on this occasion King Henry 2. in the last year of his Reign being at Pembroke chanced to hear certain Songs in praise of the worthy Acts of King Arthur sung by a Welch Bard or Poet to his Harp wherein it is mentioned that he was buried in Glastenbury Church-yard between two Pillars there standing whereupon King Henry caused the ground to be digged and at seven foot deep was found a huge broad Stone whereon was fastened a leaden Cross on the lower side of the Lead in rude and barbarous Characters was written Hic jacet c. Here lies King Arthur buried in the Vale of Avelona And digging nine foot deeper his Body was found in the Trunk of a Tree the bones very large and in his skull were perceived ten wounds one very great and plain His Queen Guenever a Lady of excellent beauty lay by him whose Hair curiously plaited and of a golden colour shewed perfect and whole till touched but then it fell to ashes The Cross of Lead with the Inscription was taken off and kept in Glastenbury Church and the bones of King Arthur were put into a fair Tomb of Marble and his Queen laid at his feet in the same Church but were all raced at the general suppression of Abbies by Henry 8th In the 22. of Queen Elizabeth 1580. a strange Apparition happened in Somersetshire 60 Parsonages all clothed in black a furlongs distance from those that beheld them who continued some time and then vanished and immediately another strange company in like manner number and colour appeared in the same place and encountred each other and then vanished and the 3d time appeared that number again all in bright Armour and encountred one another and so vanished away This was examined before Sir George Norton and swore by four honest men that saw it to be true In Her 38th year Dec. 5 being Sunday a great number of People being Assembled in the Cathedral Church of Wells in Somersetshire in the fore-noon during Sermon a sudden darkness fell among them and a great Tempest with Thunder and Lightning followed which threw the People on the ground and all the Church seemed to be in a flame and there was a lothsome stink some Stones were stricken out of the Bell Tower and the
plenty of all things especially Fish it is adorned with a very stately Market place wherein standeth their Common Hall of Timberwork a very handsome building About 6 miles from Salisbury upon the Plains is to be seen a huge and monstrous piece of Work for within the circuit of a Pit or Ditch there are erected in the manner of a Crown certain mighty and unwrought stones whereof some are 20 Foot high and 7 broad upon the heads whereof others like overthwart pieces do bear and rest cross-wise with Tenents and Mortesses so that the whole frame seemeth to hang whereof it is commonly called Stone-henge Near Badmington is a place called The Giants Cave whereof there are 9 in number some deeper than others being two great long stones on both sides and a broad one to cover them both these are thought to be some ancient works either of the Romans Danes or Saxons In the Year 975. Queen Elfrida having barbarously murdered K. Edward her Son in Law to set up her own Son K. Etheldred afterward repenting of her cruel Fact and to pacifie the crying Blood of her slain Son built the two Monasteries of Amesbury and Worwel in Wiltshire and Hamshire in which she lived and died with great Penance but these and the like Foundations being built with Rapine and Blood have felt the Woe pronounced by the Prophet That the Stone in the Wall shall cry and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it woe to him that buildeth a Town with Blood and establisheth a City with Iniquity In the Year 1154. K. Stephen seizing into his hands the Bishop of Salisburys Castles and Goods a Synod was called by the Popes Legate to right him where the King was summoned to appear to answer for his imprisoning of Bishops and depriving them of the r Goods which being a Christian King he ought not to do The King by his Attorney answers That he had not arrested him as a Bishop but as a Servant who ought to make up his Accounts about his Employments This answer caused some Debates they not presuming to excommunicate the King without the Popes leave and therefore they fell from Authority to Submission falling at his Feet and beseeching him to have pity on the Church and not make dissention between the Kingdom and the Priesthood which shews the great magnanimity and courage of K. Stephen that he was able to pull down the high Spirits of the Prelates in that time this rich Bishop of Salisbury who built the Castle of the Devizes and divers other strong Castles in this County being now thrown out of all his Grandeur was so swallowed up of over much grief that he ran mad and spake and did he knew not what In 1275. K. Edward 1. calls a Parliament at Salisbury without admitting of any Church-men to sit therein and Marchian his Treasurer acquainting him That in Churches and Religious Houses there was much Treasure to be had if it were lawful to take it He made no scruple of it but caused it to be seized and brought into his Exchequer but finding that he had thereby displeased the Clergy he bid them ask what they would have who required the Repeal of the Statute of Mortmain which hindered devout People at their death from giving all their Estates from their Children to the Church To which the King answered That it was a Statute made by the whole Body of the Realm and therefore it was not in his Power who was but one Member of that Body to repeal it In another Parliament at Salisbury this King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoign who all excusing themselves the King in a great rage threatned they should either go or he would give their Lands to others that should Upon this the Earl of Hereford High-Constable and the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England declare That if the King went in Person they would attend him otherwise not Which answer offended the King more and being urged again the Earl Marshal protested he would willingly march in the Front if the King went himself But the King told him he should go with any other without him I am not bound to do so said the Earl neither will I take this Journey without you The King swore by God he should either go or hang And I swear by the same Oath said the Earl I will neither go nor hang and so without leave departs shortly after the two Earls assembled many Noblemen and 1500 Souldiers wherewith they stand on their own Guard but the King being obliged to go to France condescends to their Demands and desires them that since they would not â—o they would do nothing prejudicial to himself and the Kingdom in his Absence and upon his return the King solemnly confirmed the two great Charters which appeased the present disturbances In the 4. of Q. Mary 1454 exemplary Justice was done upon a great Person for the Lord Sturton a man much in the Queens favour because he was an earnest Papist was for a Murther committed by him arraigned and condemned and he with 4 of his Servants were carried to Salisbury and there in the Market-place hanged he having this favour to be hanged in a silken Halter and his servants in places near adjoining where the Murther was committed Not long since saith Mr. Clark a Souldier in Salisbury in the midst of his Cups drinking and carousing in a Tavern drank a Health to the Devil saying That if the Devil would not come and pledge him he would not believe there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions being struck with horrour hastened out of the Room and presently after hearing a hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his Guest and found the Window broken the Iron Bar in it bowed and all bloody but the man was never heard of afterward Wiltshire is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 23 Market Towns 304 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Salisbury It elects 34 Parliament-Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Pawlet as Salisbury doth to James Lord Cecil and Marleburgh to William L. Ley. WORCESTERSHIRE hath Staffordshire on the North Warwickshire on the East Glocestershire on the South Hereford and Shropshire on the West It is a County rich and populous the soil is very fertile producing besides Corn Cattle and Wood abundance of Apples and Pears which yield pleasure to the sight and also profit for with the juice they make great quantity of Sider and Perry both very pleasant and wholsome Drinks The City of Worcester is most pleasantly seaâ—ed and is admirable both in respect of the Antiquity and Beauty thereof It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers side which hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it it is well and strongly walled and the Inhabitants are much enriched by the Trade of Clothing It is 1650 paces
Miller that had been very active in that Rebellion who fearing the approach of the Marshal told a sturdy Fellow his Servant that he had occasion to go from home and if any man should inquire for the Miller he bid him say that himself was the Miller and had been so for 3 years before soon after the Provost came and called for the Miller when out comes the Servant and said he was the man the Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill These 3 years answered the Servant the Provost then commanded his men to lay hold of him and hang him on the next Tree at this the Fellow cried out That he was not the Miller but the Millers Man Nay Sir said the Provost I will take you at your word and if thou beest the Miller thou art a busie Knave if thou beest not thou art a false lying Knave and however thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him and so without more ado he was dispatched I will conclude the Remarks of this County with somewhat more Comical At the Dissolution of Abbeys K. Ken. 8. gave away large shares to almost every one that asked Amongst other Instances take this merry story It happened that two or three Gentlemen the Kings servants waited at the door where the King was to come out with a design to beg a large parcel of Abby Lands One Mr. John Champernoun another of his servants seeing them was very inquisitive to know their suit but they would not impart it to him in the mean time out comes the King they kneel down so doth Champernoun being assured by an implicit Faith that Courtiers beg nothing hurtful to themselves they present their Petition the King grants it they render him humble thanks so doth Mr. Champernoun afterward he requires his share they deny it he appeals to the King who avows that he meant they should have equal shares whereupon his Companions were forced to allot him the Priory of St. German in Cornwal valued at 243 pound a Year so that a dumb Beggar met with a blind Giver the one as little knowing what he asked as the other what he gave This County is divided into nine Hundreds wherein are 22 Market Towns and 161 Parish Churches It elects 44 Members to sit in Parliament and is in the Diocess of Exeter CUMBERLAND hath Scotland on the North Northumberland and Westmerland on the East Lancashire on the South and the Irish Sea on the West We read that King Edmund with the help of Leoline Prince of Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the Eyes of the 2 Sons of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom to Malcolm K. of Scots whereof their eldest Sons became Prefects King Edward the 1st dyed at Carlile in this County for intending to invade Scotland he raised a great Army which he ordered to attend him at this City but falling sick and being sensible it would be his death he commanded his Son afterward Edward 2. to be brought into his presence to whom he left many good Precepts and Admonitions exhorting him To be merciful just and courteous constant and true both in Word and Deed that he should be pitiful to those in misery that he should carry his bones with him about Scotland till he had subdued it and that he should send his Heart into the Holy Land with Sevenscore Knights and Thirty two thousand Pound of Silver which he had provided for that purpose lastly that upon pain of eternal damnation the said Money should not be expended upon any other use soon after which he died In the 17th Year of this Kings Reign the City of Carlile with the Abby and all the Houses belonging to the Friers Minors were consumed with fire In the Reign of Q. Elizabeth a rich Vein of most pure and native Brass was found at Keswrick in Cumberland which had lain neglected a long time In April 1651 about 5 a Clock in the Afternoon there was a general Earthquake in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmerland wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses were so shaken that the Chimneys fell down Presently after the Scottish Army came into England to assist the Parliament it rained Blood which covered the Church and Church-Yard of Bencastle in this County At Salkelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory called by the Country People Long Meg and her Daughters they are 77 stones each of them 10 Foot high above ground and one of them is 15 Foot in height Skiddaw Hill riseth up with two mighty high Heads like Parnassus and beholds Scruffell hill in Anandale within Scotland there is a Rime that Skiddaw Lauvellin and Casticand Are the highest hills in all England These being two other Hills in this Tract according as Mists rise or fall upon these Heads the People thereby prognosticate of the change of Weather and therefore they sing If Skiddaw have a Cap Scruffell knows full well of that The Sea hath eaten a great part of the Land away upon the shores of these Western Shires and Trees are sometimes discovered when the Wind blows at low Water else they are covered over with Sands and the People thereabout say that they dig up Trees without boughs out of the mossy places in this Shire which they find by the direction of the Dew in Summer which they observe never falls on the ground under which they lie Some Emperick Chirurgions in Scotland take a journey to the Picts Wall the beginning of every Summer to gather vulnerary Plants which they say grow plentifully there and are very effectual being sown and planted by the Romans for Chirurgical Uses There is a small Burrough called Solway Frith under which within the very Frith or Bay the Inhabitants report the Engl sh and Scots fought with their Fleets at full Sea and also with their Horsemen and Footmen at the Ebb. This Province was accounted a Kingdom of itself and King Steven to purchase aid from the Scots confirmed it by gift to that Crown which Henry 2. claimed and regained from them since which many bickerings have happened between the two Nations in this Shire but none so fatal to the Scots as the Fight at Salome Moss where the Nobility disdaining to serve under their General Oliver Sinclare gave over the Battle and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour so deeply wounded the heart of K. James the 5. that he died for grief soon after There are many ruines of Castles Walls and Forts in this County with Altars and Inscriptions of their Captains and Collonels This County is not divided into Hundreds as the rest but therein are seated 9 Market Towns 58 Parish Churches and divers Chappels of ease It Elects 6 Parliament Men for the Counâ—y 2. Carlile 2. Cockermouth 2. and is in the Diocess of Chester and Carlile DERBY-SHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North Nottinghamshire on the East
Hell whom they devoutly worshipped as the preserver of their health Shaftsbury likewise wherein one Aquila either Man or Eagle is reported to have prophecied of future times In this City Edward son of Edgar who was murdered at Corf-Castle by his Step-Mother to make way for her own Son was buried In the Reign of K. Edward 2 the great Earl of Lancaster married a Lady from Camford in this County who was taken out of his house by one Richard Martin a deformed lame Dwarf who challenged her for his Wife alledging he had lain with her before the Earl married her whereupon the Lady was examined who voluntarily confessed it was all true and thereupon the ugly Fellow in her right claimed the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury In the Fourth of this Kings Reign the Church of Middleton with all the Monuments were consumed with Lightning the Monks being at Mattens In the 22d of Edward 3. a Plague was brought from beyond Sea into the Towns and Villages of England on the Seacosts of Dorsetshire which raged so both there and in other parts of England that scarce the Tenth man was left alive in the Kingdom In 1506. King Philip sailing out of Germany to take possession of the Kingdom of Spain was driven by Tempest upon the Coasts of England and landed at Weymouth to refresh himself and was invited by Sir Tho. Trenchard a worthy Knight of that County to his House who immediately sent word to King Henry 7. of his Arrival who glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince sent the Earl of Arundel at present to wait upon him till himself should follow the Earl attended him with a gallant Troop of about 300 Horse and for more state came to him by Torch light upon this Message though K. Philip had many reasons to hasten his Journy yet not to distaste K. Henry he came Post to Windsor where after great and magnificent Entertainment K. Henry taking an opportunity when they were both in a private room laying his Hand civilly upon K. Philip's Arm said Sir you have been saved upon my Coast I hope you will not suffer me to wreck upon yours The King of Castile asking him what he meant I mean saith the King that hair-brain'd Fellow the Earl of Suffolk who being my Subject is protected in your Country and begins to play the Fool when all others are weary of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your felicity had been above these thoughts but if it trouble you I will banish him K. Henry answered That his desire was to have him delivered to him with this the King of Castile a little confused said That can I not do with my honour Well then said the King the matter is at an end at last the King of Castile who much esteemed K. Henry composing his Countenance said Sir you shall have him but upon your honour you shall not take his Life I promise it upon my honour said K. Henry and he kept his promise for he was not put to death during all his Reign but yet he took such order that in the Reign of his Son K. Hen. 8. he had his Head cut off This Earl of Suffolk had lately gone over to Flanders to the Lady Margret K. Henry's sworn Enemy which made the King doubt of his Intentions The Earl was accordingly brought over and sent to the Tower and after K. Philip had received the Order of the Garter and Prince Henry that of the Golden Fleece the King of Castile departed home In the 26. of Q. Elizabeth 1558. at a place called Blackmore in the Parish of Armitage in this County a piece of ground containing 3 Acres removed from its place and went quite over another Close with the Trees and Fences thereon a great way off stopping up an High-way which led to Cerne the same Hedges inclosing it as before and the Trees standing very upright thereon onely one Oak of almost 20 Load fell down in the place from whence it removed there remained a great deep Pit In 1613. Aug. 7. The Town of Dorchester was utterly consumed with Fire which began in the house of a Tallow-Chandler and destroyed the whole Town save a few Houses near the Church and all their Wares and Goods to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds yet no man perished therein In June 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool and soon after dissolved into a shower of Blood which fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops upon them were sent to London and seen by many The Forrest of the White Hart is in this County so called because in the Reign of Henry 3. the King came hither to hunt and having taken other Deer he spared a most beautiful and goodly white Heart which afterward Thomas de Lynd a Gentleman of this Country with others in his Company took and killed for which the King put a mulct or Fine upon him and the whole County and the very lands which they held pay even to this day every year by way of amercement a sum of Mony into the Exchequer which is called White Hart Silver My self saith Dr. Fuller have paid a share for the sauce who never tasted any of the meat so that it seems Kings Venison is sooner eaten than digested Mr. Ignatius Jordan was born at Lime Regis in this County and when he was young was sent to Exeter to be brought up a Merchant in this City having passed through the several inferiour Offices he at last came to be Mayor and was a Justice of Peace 24 years together yet his beginning was but very mean which he was always ready to acknowledg for when some threatned him with Law-suits and that they would not give over while he was worth a groat he cheerfully told them That he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came first to Exeter for said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say He wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and yet raked so much together for their Children do you not see said he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spoke of such as had small beginnings and afterward became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance of himself I came said he but with a groat or sixpence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter In his Troubles in the Star Chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him the Lord is my Keeper I will not be afraid He was famous for Justice and Charity in his life and at his death left very large Legacies to the poor
he was justly punished for his Treachery K. Stephen had only one Son named Eustace a Prince of much blossoming valour as being cut off at 18 years of Age some say by drowning and others by a stranger Accident but strange Relations must not alwaies be rejected for though many of them be forged yet some no doubt are true and who knows but it may be of this kind which some writers relate of this Prince That being at the Abby of Bury in the Diocess of Norwich and denyed some money he demanded he presently in a rage went forth and set the Cornfields belonging to the Abby on fire but afterward sitting down to Dinner at the first morsel of bread he put into his mouth he fell into a fit of madness and in that fit dyed certainly the Persons of Princes are for more observation than ordinary People and as they make Examples so they are sometimes made Examples In the 11th of K. Hen. 2. there was so great an Earthquake in Norfolk and some other Counties that it overthrew many who stood upon their feet and made the Bells towl in the Steeples In his 18th Year the Cathedral Church at Norwich with the Houses thereto belonging was burnt and the Monks dispersed In the Reign of K. Richard 1. a Jew being turned Christian at Lynn in Norfolk he was persecuted by those of his own Nation and assaulted in the street who thereupon flying to a Church hard by was followed thither also and the Church assaulted which the People of the Town seeing in defence of the new Christian they fell upon the Jews of whom they slew a great number and after pillaged their Houses By this Example the Jews were assaulted in other places and vast multitudes of them massacred and some of them being blocked up in a Castle at York cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christians Heads and then burnt the Castle and themselves neither could this Sedition be stayed till the King sent his Chancellour the Bishop of Ely with force of Arms to punish the offenders In the 5th of Hen 5. a great part of the City of Norwich was burnt and all the Houses of the Friers Preachers where two of the Friers themselves were burnt in the flames In the 2d of Edward 6. 1549 a dangerous Rebellion broke forth in Norfolk about Grievances for Inclosures The Rebels had got one Ket a Tanner to be their Leader who with others encouraged them to pull down Inclosures and in short time they grew to a Body of 20000 so that the Sheriff of Norfolk commanding them in the Kings name to depart or else he would proclaim them Traitors he had been certainly slain had not his Horse been too swift for them they furnished themselves with Arms and Artillery and for their better security they fortified themselves upon Monshold hill near St. Leonards hill by Norwich where they carried a face as it were of Justice and Religion for they had one Convers an Idle Fellow for their Chaplain who morning and evening read solemn Prayers to them also Sermons they had often and as for Justice they ordained a Seat of Judgment in an old Tree whose Canopy was the Cope of Heaven in this Tree sate the Tanner as Chancellour and chief Judge giving out Warrants in the Kings name and as his Deputy committed many Persons of Quality to Prison he was assisted by two chosen men of every hundred among them from whom Commissions were sent to bring in to them Powder Shot Victuals and all things necessary and here such as had exceeded their Commission were ordered to be imprisoned so that this Tree was called The Oak of Reformation whence likewise some Sermons were delivered to the People and once by the Reverend Dr. Parker which had like to have cost him his Life and now beginning to grow to a height they presented certain Complaints to the King requiring he would send an Herald to give them satisfaction the King though he took it for a great Indignity to have such base Fellows capitulate with him yet framing himself to the time he returned this answer That in October following he would call a Parliament wherein their Complaints should he heard and all their Grievances redressed requiring theâ— in the mean time to lay down their Arms and return to their houses and thereupon granting them a general pardon But this was so far from satisfying the Seditious that thereupon they first assaulted the City of Norwich took it and made the Mayor attend them as their servant and then returned again to their Station at Moushold Soon after the Marquess of Northampton the L. Sheffeild with several other Lords 1500 Horse and a small Band of Italians were sent against them whom the Seditious so stoutly opposed that much mischief was done on both sides the L. Sheffeild falling with his Horse into a Ditch was taken Prisoner and as he pulled off his Helmet to make himself known he was struck down dead by a Butcher so that the Marquess with his Forces not prevailing the Earl of Warwick was sent with 6000 Foot and 1500 Horse and many other Persons of Quality When the Earl approached the Camp of the Rebels he sent a Herald offering them the Kings Pardon if they would disband which they were so far from accepting that a lewd Boy turned up his naked Breech toward the Herald and bid him kiss it upon this many skirmishes passed between the Earl and them with loss sometimes of one side and sometimes of another at last they came to a Battle where the Rebels placed in the Front all the Gentlemen they had taken Prisoners designing they should first be slain of whom yet very few were hurt but of the Rebels above 2000 were killed and now once again the Earl of Warwick offered them pardon but for all their losses they continued obstinate at last the Earl sent to know if they would entertain their Pardon if he should come in Person and assure them of it this moved them much and they answered That they knew him to be so honourable that from himself they would embrace it whereupon he went to them and causing their Pardon to be read again he confirmed it by his words so effectually that they all cast away their Arms and with one voice cried God save K. Edward The day following Robert Ket the Tanner and Arch-Rebel was taken and hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich and William Ket the younger was hanged upon the high Steeple of Wimondham and 9 of the other principal Rebels were hanged upon the Oak of Reformation and thus ended the Sedition in Norfolk the day of the defeat of the Rebels being a long time after observed as a Festival by the Citizens of Norwich with no less joy than the Jews did when they escaped the sword of wicked Haman In 1578. the 20 of Q. Elizabeth Matthew Hamond of Hitherset 3 miles from Norwich Plow-Wright for
wires and Iron of the Clock melted the Tempest being over and the people recovering their senses some of them were found marked with strange Figures on their Bodies and their Garments not perished neither were any marked who stood in the Chancel In January 1648. there was seen a great fiery Meteor in the Air near Bristol on the South side of the City for divers nights together long in shape and shooting out fiery streams East and West this happened saith Mr. Clark a week before the death of K. Charles 1. and I had it from an Eye witness In August 1655. a Carpenter living at Pennard in this County went to a Fair at Lidford not many miles off to set up some Stalls and left his Wife and four small Children at home but at his return he found all his four Children murthered the eldest being about nine years old and put into a Chest it was supposed to be done by his Wife the Childrens own Mother because she was not to be found Wockey hole in Mendip Hills near two miles from Wells is very remarkable It is an underground concavity admirable for its spacious Vaults stony Walls and creeping Labyrinths I have been at but never in this wonderful Cave saith Dr. Fuller and therefore must use the description of a Learned Eye-witness Entring and passing through a great part of it with many Lights among many other strange Rarities worth observing we found saith he the water which continually dropped from the roof of the Rock made some impression in it but was not turned into Stone as appeared by the shape colour and hardness thereof it being of a more clear and glassy substance than the Rock itself though doubtless in time it will turn to the same substance and thereby the Rocks will be increased John Courcy Baron of Stoke-Courcy in this County was the first Englishman who subdued Vlster in Ireland and therefore deservedly created Earl thereof He was afterward surprized by Hugh Lacy Corrival for his Title sent over into England and imprisoned by King John in the Tower after this a French Castle being in controversy was to have the Title thereof tryed by Combate the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy who was of a lean lank body with staring Eyes is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because weakned by Imprisonment a large allowance of Victuals is given him to recruit his strength The Monsieur who was to fight with him hearing how much he eat and drank and guessing at his courage by his stomach took him for a Canibal who would devour him and was therefore afraid to encounter him Afterward the two Kings being desirous to see some proofs of Courcies strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him Courcy looking about him with a stern and grim Countenance as if he intended to cut it with his Eyes as well as with his Arms cut the Helmet in two pieces at one blow striking his Sword so deep into the wood also that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly he replied Had I failed of my purpose I would have killed the two Kings and all the rest in the place words well spoken because well taken saith Dr. Fuller all Persons present being then highly in good humor He died in France 1210. The County of Somerset is divided into 42 Hundreds wherein are 30 Market Towns 385 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Bath and Wells It elects 18 Parliament men and gives the Title of Duke to Charles L. Seymour Bath the Title of Earl to John L. Greenville and Bristol to John L. Digby STAFFORDSHIRE hath Cheshire on the North Darbyshire on the East Warwick and Worcester shires on the South and Shropshire on the West The Commodities of this County consist chiefly in Corn Cattle Alabaster Wood Iron Pitcoal and Fish whereof the River Trent is very full Stafford Town was built by King Edward the Elder incorporated by King John Litchfield is far greater of much more fame it is a very ancient City known to Reverend Bede by the name of Lichidfield that is The Field of dead Bodies by reason of the number of Christians there Martyred in the bloody Persecution of Dioclesian The City is low seated of a good largeness and Fair withal divided into two parts by a shallow Pool of clear water which are joined by two Bridges made over them having sluces to let out the water the South part is the greater consisting of divers Streets having in it a School and an Hospital of St. John founded for the relief of the Poor The farther part is the less but beautified with a goodly Cathedral Church which is incompassed with a very fair Wall like a Castle this Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or Spires of Stone making an excellent shew and for elegant and proportionable building yieldeth to few Cathedrals in England but by the late confusions it was much defaced In the 35th of Queen Elizabeth 1591. there was a great Tempest in Staffordshire whereby the shaft of the Steeple in Stafford Town was rent in pieces all along through the middle and thrown upon the Church wherewith the roof was so shattered that a 1000 pound would not repair it Many Houses and Barns were overthrown in divers places in that Shire In Cauck Wood above 3000 Trees were blown down and likewise more than 50 Steeples soon after there was a strong North-wind and a very great rain which continued 24 hours In 1662. July 30. between two and three a clock in the afternoon there happened a great storm at Eardly in this County accompanied with Thunder which made such a continual strange noise in the Air that it struck a terror into all that heard it of which there was no intermission for a long time also there fell a shower of Hailstones as big as Hens Eggs some 5 6 and 7 Inches about I my self saith the Relator measured one after the Storm was over and a good part of it melted yet then it was five inches about There was a Gentleman who measured some of them by a good big Watch and they were full as big as it within half a mile of this place the Hailstones lay upon the ground a quarter of a yard thick there was a Man getting in a Load of Hay and his Horses as well as all others would not be ruled but ran about as mad which forced the man to continue in the storm and his back shoulders and arms were black and blew with the Hail it did much hurt to the Barley and struck it out of the Ear as if threshed it beat down other Corn as it stood on the ground all to pieces it also killed abundance of Fowl Sheep and Lambs some of the Hailstones tasted Salt like Sal Prunella and were kept long after without being at all wasted The people were very much amazed and
John Heyward saith Dun was a famous Thief among others and Commander over the rest and of him the place was called Dunstable This County is divided into 9 Hundreds wherein are 10 Market Towns and 116 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of London it Elects only 4 Parliament Men two for the County and two for the Town of Bedford and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable William L. Russel BVCKING HAMSHIRE hath on the East Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire on the West Oxfordshire on the North Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and on the South Hertfordshire it hath its name from the â—lenty of Beech-Trees which the Saxons called Bucken with which the Country was formerly so over-run that it was altogether impassable and became a refuge for Thieves and Robbers and occasioned that Proverb in this Country Here a Bush and there a Thief for which cause they were cut down In 1665. Jan. 20. about six a clock at night there was an Earthquake in some parts of Buckinghamshire which was attended with an unusual kind of noise in the Air but was quickly over it much frighted some People on the sudden to feel their Chairs and Stools quake under them and to hear Tables and such things to clatter in the rooms and the whole House to shake this Information saith Mr. Clark in his Examp. p. 2. I had from an honest Minister in that County K. William the Conqueror gave a Mannor and certain Yardlands in Buckinghamshire to a Person upon this Condition That the Possessor or Owner thereof should find Straw or Litter for the Kings Bed whensoever he came that way which shews what an alteration there is as to matter of Grandeur since that time The best and biggest bodied Sheep in England are in the Vale of Aylsbury in this County where it is nothing to give Ten pound or more for a Breed-Ram so that should a Forreigner hear the price thereof he would guess that Ram to be rather some Roman Engine of Battery than the Creature commonly so called I know not saith Dr. Fuller whether his Observation with the reason thereof be worth the inserting who first took notice that our Cattle for food are English when feeding in the Field but French when fed on in a Family as for example English 1. Sheep 2. Ox. 3. Calf 4. Hog 5. Pig French 1. Mutton 2. Beef 3. Veal 4. Bacon 5. Pork Whereof the Author assigns this Reason that after the Norman Conquest the French so Tyrannized over the English Tenants that they forced them to keep and feed their Cattel but the Mounsieurs eat all the good meat after it was killed and drest to their hands Forreigners much admire at our English Sheep because they do not as those in other Countries follow their Shepheards like a pack of Dogs but wander all abroad and the Popish Priests tell their ignorant Flocks That this disobedience of our Sheep happened to us because we have left their great Sheperd the Pope a very profound reason whereas our Sheep did the same long before our Separation from Rome because being freed from the fear of Wolves which infest their Flocks beyond Sea they feed safely in the Fields wanting neither Guide to direct them nor Guard to defend them Roger Wendover was born at a Market Town of that name in this County and was bred a Benedictine in St. Albans where he became the Kings Historian and it is observable that our English Kings had alwaies a Monk generally of St. Albans as being near London the Staple of News and Books to write the most remarkable Passages of their Reign and some add that their Chronicles were locked up in the Kings Library and were never suffered to be opened in that Kings nor his Sons life if so they had a great incouragement to be impartial not fearing a blow on their Teeth though coming near to the heels of Truth as being hereby in some kind tyed up from doing them any hurt this Roger began his Chronicle at the Conquest and continued it to 1235. which Matthew Paris and others carried down further after his death The Lady Hester Temple Wife to Sir Thomas Temple was born at Latimers in this County she had 4 Sons and 9 Daughters who lived to be Married and so exceedingly multiplied that this Lady saw Seven hundred extracted from her own Body Vives tells of a Village in Spain of about an 100 Houses whereof all the Inhabitants issued out of one certain old Man who then lived and says the Spanish Language did not afford â— name whereby the youngest should call the Elder â—â—nce they could not go above the Great Grandfathers â—ather but had the Off-spring of this Lady been conâ—racted into one place they were enough to have peopâ—ed a City of a competent proportion though her issue â—as not so long in Succession as broad in extent this â—ady died in 1656. Sir Edward Cook that famous comâ—entator of the Law was born in this Shire One time a Parliament was called and the Court Party being jeaâ—ous of Sir Edwards Activity against them as not having â—igested the discontent he had received from thence â—ereupon to prevent his Election as a Member and conâ—ine him to this County he was pricked Sheriff thereof he â—hereupon scrupled to take the Oath alledging many â—hings against it and particularly that the Sheriff is bound â—hereby to prosecute Lollards wherein the best Christiâ—ns may be included but no excuses would serve his â—urn he must serve the Office however his Friends beâ—eld it as an injurious degradation of him who had been â—ord Chief Justice to attend on the Judges at the Assizes Buckingham is the Shire Town of this County fruitâ—ully seated upon the River Ouse and was fortified formerly with Rampires and a strong Castle mounted on a â—igh Hill whereof nothing now remains but some small â—igns of such a place It is divided into 8 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 185 Parish Churches â—nd is in the Diocess of London out of it are Elected 14 Parliament Men For the County 2. Buckingham 2. Chipâ—in-Wiccomb 2. Alisbury 2. Agmondisham 2. Wendover 2. and Marlow 2. It gives Titles to George Villiers Duke of Buckingham and Robert Bruce Earl of Alisbury Lord When shall I be cleered Q. Emma goes blindfold barefoot over 9 Burning plowshares at Winchester Pa. 87. Upon Midsummer Eve 1626. a Codfish was brought to the Market in Cambridge and there cut up for Sale and in the Maw thereof there was found a Book in Twelves bound up in Canvas containing several Treatises of Mr. John Friths this Fish was caught upon the Coasts of Lin called Lindeeps by one William Skinner the Fish bei g cut open the Garbidge was thrown by which a Woman looking upon espied the Canvas and taking it out found the Book wrapped up in it which was much soiled and covered over with a kind of slime and congealed matter this was looked upon with great admiration and by Benjamin
not be accessary to her own injury but decked her self in her richest Ornaments which so improved her beauty that the King was struck with astonishment and admiration at first sight and was fully resolved to be quit with his perfidious Favourite yet dissembling his passion he went to hunting where taking Ethelwold at an advantage he ran him through with a Javelin and having thereby made fair Elfrid a Widdow he took her to be his Wife We read that Ordulphus Son of Ordgarus Earl of Devonshire but whether this or no is uncertain was a Giantlike Man and could break open the bars of Gates with his hands and stride 10 foot at once but of what credit it is I know not Agnes Preist was burnt for the Protestant Faith without the Walls of Exeter her own Husband and her Children were her greatest Persecutors from whom she fled because they would force her to be present at Mass she was Indicted at the Assizes and afterward presented to James Troublefield Bishop of Exeter and by him condemned for denying the Sacrament of the Altar after her condemnation she refused to receive any mony from well affected People saying She was going to a City where Mony had no Mastery she was a simple Woman to behold little of stature and about 50 years old she was burnt in a place called Sothenhay in November 1558. One Child whose Christian name is unknown was a Gentleman the last of his Family being of an ancient extraction at Plimstock in this County and had great possessions it happened that hunting in Dartmore he lost both his Company and way in a deep Snow having therefore killed his Horse he crept into his hot bowels for warmth and writ this with his blood Whoever finds and brings me to my Tomb The Land of Plimstock that shall be his doom The night after it seems he was frozen to death and being first found by the Monks of Tavistock they with all possible hast provided to inter him in their own Abby his own Parishioners at Plimstock hearing thereof stood at the ford of the River to take the body from them but they must rise early yea not sleep at all who over-reach Monks in matter of profit for they cast a slight Bridge over the River whereby they carried over the Corps and interred it in remembrance whereof the Bridge since better built is called Guile-Bridge to this day Nicholas and Andrew Tremain were Twins and younger Sons to Thomas Tremain of Colacomb in this County Esq such was their likeness in all the parts of Face and Body that they could not be distinguished but by their different habits which they would sometimes exchange to make sport which occasioned very merry mistakes they felt like pain though at a distance without any notice given they equally desired to walk travel sit sleep eat drink together at the same time as many credible Gentry of the Neighbourhood by relation from their Father will attest in this they differed at Newhaven in France the one was a Captain of a Troop the other but a private Soldier here they were both slain 1564. death being pitiful to kill them together to prevent the lingring languishing of the Surviver John de Beigny Lord of Ege-Lifford in this County having been a great Traveller and Soldier in his youth retired home married and had 3 Sons in his staid Age of these the youngest went to fight against the Saracens in Spin of whose valor his Father to his great content heard very high Commendations which made him the more patiently endure his absence but when death had bereft him of his two elder Sons he was often heard to say Oh that I might but once imbrace my Son I would be contented to die presently His Son soon after returning unexpectedly the old man instantly expired with an extasy of Joy thus if Heaven should always take us at our word in all our wishes and random desires we should be drowned in the deluge of our own passions This Knight lived in the time of K. Edward 3. Thomas Stuckly was a younger Brother of an Ancient wealthy Family near Ilfra-Comb in this County a man of good parts which himself knew too well having prodigally mispent his Patrimony he entered on several projects the first was peopling of Florida then newly found out in the West Indies so confident was his ambition that he blushed not to tell Q. Elizabeth That he would rather chuse to be Soveraign of a Molehill than the highest Subject to the greatest Prince in Christendome adding withal That he was sure he should be a Prince before his death I hope said the Queen I shall hear from you when you are setled in your Principality I will write unto you quoth Stuckly In what Language said the Queen He replyed In the stile of Princes To Our Dear Sister But his project in Florida being blasted he resolved treacherously to attempt what he could not Loyally atchieve and went over into Ireland and from thence into Italy where he got into the intimate favour of Pope Pius 5. boasting that with 3000 Soldiers he would beat all the English out of Ireland the Pope gave him many Titles in Ireland as Earl of Wexford Marquess of Lemster c. and furnished him with 800 men paid by the King of Spain for this Irish expedition in passing to which Stuckly lands in Portugal just when Sebastian the King thereof with two Moorish Kings were undertaking a Voyage into Africa Stuckly scorning to attend is persuaded to accompany them landing in Africa Stuckly gave this seasonable and necessary Counsel That they should refresh their land Souldiers for two or three days some of whom were sick and weak by reason of the tempestuous Passage But this would not be heard K. Sebastian was so furious to engage and so in the Battle of Alcaser their Army was wholly defeated where Stuckly lost his Life A fatal Fight where in one day was slain Three Kings that were and one that would be fain This Battle was fought in 1578. where Stuckly with his 800 Men behaved himself most valiantly till over-powered with multitude and so ended this Buble of Emptiness and Meteor of Ostentation In the troubles between K. Edward 2. and the Barons one John Powdras a Tanners Son of Exeter gave out that he himself was the true Edward eldest son of the late King Edward 1. and by a false Nurse was changed in his Craddle and that the now K. Edward was a Carters Son and laid in his place for which forgery being taken and hanged drawn and quartered he confessed at his death That he had a familiar Spirit in his House in the likeness of a Cat that assured him he should be King of England and that he had served this spirit 3 years before to bring his design about K. Richard 3. called Crookback lay some few days in Exeter Castle and demanding the name of it they told him Rugemont whereat the Usurper was much startled having
the year 1650. Nov. 30. being St. Andrews day about Sun-rising the Sky opened in a dreadful manner in the South west over Standish a Town 5 miles from Glocester and there appeared a terrible fiery Sword shaking with the Hilt upward toward the Heavens and the point downward to the Earth the Hilt seemed to be blew the Sword of a great length moving to and fro and coming lower toward the Earth there was a long flame of fire toward the point sparkling and flaming in a fearful manner to the great astonishment of the Spectators who were many at last the Heavens closing the Sword vanished and the fire fell to the Earth and ran upon the ground this saith Mr. Clark I had from an Eye-witness Glocester is the chief City of this County and lieth stretched out in length over Sâ—â—â—rn The Cathedral Church is a beautiful building conâ—â—sting of a continued window work but hath the loudest praises from the whispering place within which is thus described by Sir Francis Bacon There is a Church at Glocester saith he and as I have heard the like is in some other Places where if you speak against a Wall softly another shall hear your voice better a great way off than near at hand I suppose there is soâ— Vault or Hollow or Isle behind the wall and some passage to it toward the further end of that wall against which you speak so as the voice of him that speaketh slideth along the wall and then entreth at some passage and communicateth with the air of the hollow for it is somewhat preserved by the plain wall but that is too weak to give an audible sound till it hath communicated with the back air In this Church lies the unfortunate Robert Duke of Normandy eldest Son to William the Conqueror in a painted wooden Tomb in the midst of the Quire whose Eyes were pluckt out in Cardiff Castle wherein he was kept Prisoner 26 years Here also the unhappy King Edward 2. lies buried under a Monument of Alabaster who in the 20 year of his Reign was deposed by Parliament who sitting at London sent several Bishops Lords and Gentlemen in the name of the body of the State if that may be called a body which then had no head there to Kenelworth Castle to the King to whom one of the Commissioners represented That the Commonweal had received such irreconcilable dislikes of his Government the pa ticulars whereof had been opened in the General Assembly at London that they were resolved never to endure he should be King any longer that notwithstanding these dislikes had not extended themselves so far as for his sake to exclude his issue but that with universal Applause and Joy the Commonweal had in Parliament Elected his eldest Son the Lord Edward for King that it would be a very acceptable thing to God if he did willingly give over an Earthly Kingdom for the common good and quiet of his Country which they said could not otherwise be secured that yet his honour would be never the less after his Resignation than it was before only the Commonweal would never suffer him to Reign any longer and finally they presumed to tell him That unless he did freely of himself renounce his Crown and Scepter the People would neither endure him nor any of his Children for their Soveraign but disclaiming all homage and fealty would elect some other tâ— be their King who should be of another Blood and Family The King having heard their Message fell down as half dead and being somewhat recovered we cannot say to himself but to a sense of his misery brake forth into Sighs and Tears And being saith Sir Thomas de la More more ready to sacrifice his body for Christs cause than once to behold the disinheriting of his Sons or to be the occasion of the perpetual disturbance of the Kingdom as knowing saith he that a good Shepheard should give his life for his Flock made answer at last to this effect That he knew that for his many sins he was fallen into this Calamity and therefore had the less cause to take it grievously that he was very sorry that the People of the Kingdom were so exasperated against him as that they should utterly abhor his having any longer the Rule and Soveraignty over them he therefore besought all that were present to forgive spare him being so afflicted that yet it was greatly to his good pleasure and liking seeing it could be no otherwise on his own behalf that his eldest Son was so gracious in their sight and therefore he gave them thanks for chusing him to be their King This being said they proceeded to the short Ceremonies of his Resignation which consisted principally in the surrender of his Diadem and other Ensigns of Majesty for the use of his Son the new King Edward being thus unkinged the Ambassadors returned joyfully back to the Parliament at London with the resigned Ensigns and an account of their imployment but he now deprived of his Royal Crown and Dignity remained with his Kinsman Henry E. of Leicester wanting nothing but liberty being shut up like a Monk but his cruel Wife Q. Isabel who had been one of the greatest Instruments of his misfortune being told by her wicked Counsellor Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford that the Earl was too kind to him ordered Thomas Gourney and John Martravers to take the King into their Custody who carried him from Kenelworth to Coâ—â—e Castle and then to Bristow where they shut him in the Castle till upon discovery of a design laid to get him out and send him beyond Sea they conveyed him to Berkly Castle by the way these Villains exercised divers Cruelties towards him not permitting him to ride but by night that he might not be seen of any they forced him to ride bare headed and when he would have slept they hindred him neither would give him such meat as he could eat but such as he most loathed they contradicted him in whatever he said persuading him he was mad and endeavoured by all manner of ways to break his heart yea they often gave him Poyson in his drink but the strength of his nature overcame it one of them made a Crown of Hay and put it on his head the rest made a scorn and May-game of him they were afraid any of his Friends should meet him and therefore to prevent his being known they resolved to cut off both his hair and beard and coming by a little Ditch they commanded him to come off his Horse and be shaven then setting him on a Mole-hill a Barber came to shave him with a bason of cold water taken out of the Ditch telling him That must serve at present To whom the miserable King looking sternly upon him answered That whether they would or no he would have warm water for his beard and therewithal to make good his word he presently shed forth a shower of Tears at length he was brought to
out of the path of Truth gaping only after their own advantage But the King saith M. Paris remained uncorrigible and the Lady lost both her charges hopes and Travel In the Year 1257. K. Henry 3. kept his Christmas at Winchester where new grievances arose the Merchants of Gascoign having their Wines taken from them by the Kings Officers without satisfaction complain to their Lord the Prince he to his Father who having been informed that their clamour was unjust as relying upon the Prince's favour he falls into a great rage with the Prince and breaks out into these words See now my Blood and my own Bowels oppose me The Prince's Servants likewise relying on their Master commit many outrages abusing men at their pleasure neither was the Prince altogether free for it is said that he caused the Ears of a young Man to be cut off and his Eyes to be pluckt out as he travelled by the way which was the occasion of very great disturbances In this Kings Reign a Child was born in the Isle of Wight who at 18 Years old was scarce 3 Foot high and therefore brought to the Queen who carried him about with her as a Monster in Nature In King Edward 3. time Southampton was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicily's Son whom a Countryman encountred and knocked him â—own with his Club the Prince cried out Rancon Ranâ—on that is he would pay him a Ransom but he neither â—nderstanding his Language nor the Law that Arms â—oth allow laid on him more severely still saying I â—now thee to be a Francon or Frenchman and therefore â—hou shalt die and thereupon knocked him at Head In 1554. the conditions of the Marriage between Q. Mary and K. Philip of Spain were agreed to in Parliament upon these Articles 1. That K. Philip should admit of no stranger in any Office but only Natives 2. That â—e should alter nothing of the Laws and customs of the Kingdom 3. That he should not carry the Queen out of the Realm without her own consent nor any of her Children without consent of the Council 4. That if he outlived the Queen â—e should challenge no right in the Kingdom but it should descend to the next Heir 5. That he should carry none of the Crown Jewels out of the Kingdom nor any Ships or Ordinance Lastly That neither directly nor indirectly he should â—ntangle England in the Wars between Spain and France It was also proposed in this Parliament that the Supremacy of the Pope should be restored which was not assented to without great difficulty for the 6 Years Reign of K. Edward 6. had spread a Plantation of the Protestant Religion in the hearts of many The Marriage being thus agreed several Lords and Gentlemen were sent to fetch over the Prince from Spain who arrived at Southampton July 20. 1554. and was met by the Queen at Winchester where they were openly married the disparity of Years in Princes being not much regarded though he were but 27 and she 38 Years old Then the Emperors Ambassadour being present declared that in Consideration of the Marriage the Emperour had given to King Philip his Son the Kingdoms of Naples and Jerusalem and thereupon Garter King at Arms openly in the Church in the presence of the King Queen and Nobles both of Spain and England solemnly proclaimed the Title and Stile of these two Princes as followeth Philip and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Sicily Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Millain Burgundy and Brabant Counts of Habspurg Flanders and Tyrol In 1608. June 26. In the Parish of Christs Church in Hampshire one John Hitchel a Carpenter lying in bed with his Wife and a young Child by them was himself and the Child both burnt to death with a sudden Lightning no fire appearing outwardly upon him and yeâ— lay burning for the space almost of three days till he was quite consumed to ashes In 1619. there was one Bernard Calvert of Andover in this County that rid from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover and from thence passed by Barge to Calice in France and from thence returned back to St. Georges Church the same day setting out about three a clock in the morning and returning about 8 a clock at night fresh and lusty I was at London the same time saith Mr. Clark and saw the man Portsmouth is a very convenient Port The Isle of Wight belongs to this Shire the whole County is divided into 39 Hundreds wherein are 253 Parishes and is in the Diocess of Winchester Out of it are elected 26 Parliament Men Southampton gives the Title of Duke to Charles Fitz-Roy eldest Son to the Dutchess of Cleaveland Winchester the Title of Marquess to Charles L. Pawlet and Portsmouth that of Dutchess to Lovise de Queronalle a French Lady HARTFORDSHIRE so called from Hartford the chief Town therein as Hartford is termed from the Ford of Harts a Hart Couchant in the waters being the Arms thereof It hath Essex on the East Middlesex on the South Buckinghamshire on the West Bedford and Cambridgeshire on the North it is a rich County in Corn Fields Pastures Meadows Woods Groves and clear Rivers and is indeed the Garden of England for Delight and it 's usually said That such as buy a House in Hartfordshire pay two years purchase for the Air thereof no County in all England can shew so many good Towns in so little compass their Teams of Horses are oft-times deservedly advanced from the Cart to the Coach being kept in excellent equipage much alike in colour and stature fat and fair such is their care in dressing and well feeding them and to make an innocent digression I could name the place and Person saith Dr. Fuller who brought his Servant before a Justice of Peace for stealing his Oats and Barley the Man brought his five Horses tailed together along with him alledging for himself That if he were the Thief these were the Receivers and so escaped The most famous place in this County for Antiquity is Verolamium now utterly ruined and subverted and the footsteps thereof hardly to be seen though in very great account by the Romans and one of their Free Cities It was plundered by Boadicia that ever eternized Queen of the Icenians when Seventy Thousand of the Romans and their Confederates perished by her Revenging Sword The magnificence thereof for stately Architecture and Grandeur was discovered by the large and arched Vaults found in the days of King Edgar which were filled up by Eldred and Edmer Abbots of St. Albans because they were the Receptacles and lurking holes of Whores and Thieves hear what our famous Spencer saies of this once renowned City of Verulam I was that City which the Garland wore Of Brittains pride delivered unto me By Roman Victors this I was of yore Though nought at all but ruines now I
a Fight so that the Conqueror who just before thought he had the whole Kingdom absolutely at Command began now to despair of his own Life of which Consternation the two valiant Prelates taking advantage presented themselves to the Duke and thus addressed him in behalf of their followers Most noble Duke behold here the Commons of Kent are come forth to meet and receive you as their Soveraign in peace upon condition they may for ever enjoy their ancient Liberties Freedoms and Estates which they received from their Forefathers If these be denied they are here ready to give you battle immediately being fully resolved rather to die than to part with our ancient Laws or to live in slavery and bondage the name and nature whereof as it hath been hitherto unknown to us so we will rather every man lose his Life than ever endure it The Conqueror driven to a strait and loth to hazard all upon so nice a point their demands being not unreasonable rather wisely than willingly granted their desires and Pledges on both sides are given for performance Kent yielding her Earldom and Castle of Dover to her new King William Among other Customs they retain one called Gavelkind that is Give all kin whereby Lands are divided among the Male-Children or if there be no Sons among the Daughters by which every man is a Freeholder and hath some part of his own to live upon By vertue of this also they are at full age and enter upon their Inheritance at 15 Years old and it is lawful for them to alienate or make it over to any either by Gift or sale without the Lords Consent By this likewise the Son though his Parents be hanged for Felony or Murder succeedeth them nevertheless in such kind of Lands according to that Rhime The Father to the Bough And the Son to the Plough K. William after this to secure Kent to himself placed a Constable in Dover Castle and according to the manner of the Romans made him also Lord of the Cinqueports which are Hastings Dover Hith Rumney and Sandwich unto which are joined Winchelsey and Rye as principal Ports and other small Towns as Members which because they are bound to serve in the Wars by Sea enjoy many great Priviledges being free from the payment of Subsidies and from Wardship of their Children and are not sued in any Court but within their own Towns and of the Inhabitants therein such as they call Barons at the Coronation of Kings and Queens support the Canopies over them and have a Table by themselves on the Kings Right hand and the L. Warden who is always of the Nobility hath the Authority of Chancellor and Admiralty within his Jurisdiction in very many cases and hath many other Rights Canterbury is the chief City of this County ancient and famous no doubt in the time of the Romans The Archbishop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas Primate of all England the Archbishop of York only Primas Angliae Primate of England he is the first Peer of the Realm and hath the Precedency of all Dukes not of the Royal Blood or great Officers of State Anselm in recompence of his service in opposing the Marriage of Priests and resisting the King about investing Bishops had this accession of honour given him by Pope Vrbane That he and his Successors should have place at the Popes right foot in all General Councils the Pope adding these words We include him in our Orb as Pope of another world This City hath had a rare Cathedral it is in the midst of the Town the body within being near as large as St. Pauls in London was between the body and the Quire there hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell Harry being one of those which Henry 8. brought out of France there are also four Spires like St. Sepulchres London on each side of the great West Gate are 2 other Steeples the one called Dunstan and the other Arnold Steeples in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bells in the same Cathedral there was the famousest window in England for which they say the Spanish Ambassador offered Ten Thousand pound being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Passion but it was afterward battered to pieces In the Quire of the Cathedral Edward called the Black Prince is buried in a Monument of Brass underneath this Cathedral there is a great Congregation of French Protestants the Dutch also have a Church in that Place which is called the Bishops Pallace there are many other Churches in the City and Suburbs The Rebellion under Kett the Tanner in the Oak of Reformation neer Norwich Pa. 149. Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit For the blood of Thomas which he for thee did spend Grant us Christ that we may climb where Thomas did ascend The Pope likewise writ to the English Clergy to make a new Holyday for St. Thomas as they expected pardon through his Intercession to God for them At Halbaldown in Kent there was an Hospital erected by Archbishop Lanfrank wherein was reserved the upper leather of an old shoe which they said had been worn by St. Thomas Becket and being set fair in Copper and Christal was offered to be kissed by all Passengers In the Reign of Edward 3. there was great variance between the A. Bishops of Canterbury and York and the Londoners were cursed by the A. B. of Canterbury because they suffered he of York to carry his Cross in that City but the King ended the difference ordering they should both freely carry the Cross in each others Province but that in sign of subjection the A. B. of York should send the Image of an Archbishop bearing a Cross or some other Jewel wrought in fine gold to the value of 40 pounds to Canterbury and offer it publickly there upon St. Thomas Beckets Shrine They likewise report that Thomas lying in an old House at Otford and finding it want a Spring he struck his Staff into the dry ground from whence issued Water and is called to this day St. Thomas Well and that a Nightingale disturbing his Devotions one time in that place he commanded that from thenceforth no bird of that kind should dare sing there many other such ridiculous miracles are reported which were invented by Popish Knaves and believed by none but Popish Idiots In 1386. William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury summoned certain of his Tenants to answer an heinous and horrible Trespass as he called it which was That they brought Straw to litter his Horses not in Carts as formerly but in Bags for which wicked Offence having confessed their fault and asked him forgiveness he enjoined them this Pennance That going leisurely before the Procession barefoot and bare leg'd each of them should carry upon his Shoulder a Bag stuffed with Strow hanging out whereupon these Rhimes were made This Bag full of straw
you may make a Devil of it At which answer they laughed and departed In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth a certain Jesuit in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his Glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with an intention to restore it but he fearing the worst being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an Hedge fell into a Marle-pit which was on the other side in which he was drowned In 1613. April 17. in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire a Maiden Child was born having four legs four Arms two Bellies joined to one back one head with two faces the one before the other behind like the Picture of Janus In 1662. July 4. At Litham about two miles from Preston in this County a very strange Fish was cast upon the Shoar it was about four yards in length and as big as an ordinary Horse the forefeet were as long as a mans Arm the hinder feet much shorter but broad like the Finns of a Fish it roared most dreadfully like a Bear it continued alive for some time and multitudes of People came to view it Also much about the same time and nine miles from this place many credible Persons often saw a very dreadful Serpent come forth out of a Wood the length thereof being about five or six yards and they judged it to be bigger than the biggest Cart Axel Tree it was so great that some who viewed the place where it sometimes lay near a Well at Dunkin Hall affirm that it made such an impression on the ground as if an Ox or some more large and pounderous Beast had lain there The Thirtieth of the same month at Ormskirk there happened such a storm of Hail as was hardly ever seen it beat down the Apples spoil'd the Corn broke the glass Windows on that side of the Houses the wind was of and cut the lead in pieces some Hailstones were taken up 8 Inches about and some as big as Pullets Eggs all the French Wheat was utterly spoyl'd and the other Wheat and Barley in the three adjacent Parishes much damaged This County is divided into 6 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns and 61 Churches and is in the Diocess of Chester it elects 14 Parliament men Manchester gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Montague LEICESTERSHIRE hath Lincoln and Rutland Shires on the East Derby and Nottingham Shires on the North Warwickshire on the West and Northamptonshire on the South It is a Champion Country and abounds with Corn Cattle and Coals the chief City Leicester stands almost in the heart of the County which by Etheldred the Mercian King was made an Episcopal See but being removed the Beauty of the Town decayed yet the renouned Lady Ethelfleda casting an Eye of compassion upon it re-edified the Buildings and compassed it about with a strong Wall whereby the Trade of the City was much increased But in the Reign of Hen. 2. Robert Earl of Leicester rebelling against him the King beseiged took and plundered it throwing down the Walls which seemed hard to be done some parcels of them remaining like hard Rocks by reason of the excellent Mortar The King then commanded the City to be set on fire and burnt the Castle to be razed and an heavy Imposition was laid upon the Citizens who with great Sums of Money bought their own Banishments In the ninth Year of K. Henry 5. a Parliament was called at Leicester wherein an 110 Priories were suppressed because they spoke ill of his Conquests in France and their Possessions given to the King In 1485. King Richard called Crookback set out of this City in the morning to meet the Earl of Richmond afterward K. Henry 7. and chose Bosworth Field to try his fortune with him for the Crown of England that day the Van of his Army was led by the Duke of Norfolk consisting of 1200 Bowmen flanked with 200 Curiassers under the E. of Surrey the main Battle K. Richard led himself being 1000 Billmen empaled with 2000 Pikes the King expected the L. Stanly's 2000 Horse to come for his assistance of whose Fidelity to him the King having some doubt he had before got his Son the Lord Strange as a pledge of his Loyalty with him Stanly not appearing K. Richard sent a Letter to him to come presently into his presence or else he swore by Christs Passion he would strike off his Sons head before he dined to which the L. Stanly returned answer That if he did so he had more Sons alive and he might do his pleasure but to come to him he was not determined Which Answer when K. Richard heard he commanded the L. Strange to be immediately beheaded but it being at the very time when both Armies were in sight of each other his Lords persuaded him it was now time to fight and not to put to Execution and so the L. Strange escaped The Earl of Richmond likewise sent to the L. Stanly to repair presently to him but he sent word he must expect no aid from him till the Battles were joined and therefore advised him with all possible speed to give the onset which Answer somewhat staggered the Earl because his number did but a little exceed one half of the Kings yet to make the best shew he could by the advice of his Council of War he made the Front of his Army thin and broad of which the Earl of Oxford had the leading the Earl himself leading the Battle soon after the Fight begun and the Arrows being spent on both sides they came to handstroaks and just then came in the Lord Stanly to the Earls assistance while they were thus contending K. Richard was informed that the Earl of Richmond with a small number was not far off and thereupon being of an invincible courage whereof he was now to give the last proof he made toward him and gave such a furious assault that first with his own hands he slew Sir William Brandon who bore the Earls Standard next he unhorst and overthrew Sir John Chyney a stout man at Arms and then assaulted the Earl of Richmond himself who unexpectedly for all the Kings fury held him off at the Lances point till Sir Wm. Stanly came in with 3000 fresh men and then opprest with multitude K. Richard was there slain It is said that when the Battle was near lost a swift Horse was brought him with which he might have saved himself by flight but Richard out of his undaunted courage refused it saying He would that day make an end of all Battles or else lose his Life In this Battle Henry E. of Northumberland who led King Richards Rear never struck stroke as likewise many others who followed K. Richard more for fear than love and so he who had deceived many was at this time deceived by many which was not unforeseen by some who caused a Rhime to be set upon the Duke of Norfolk's Tent the
done this I should have dyed for it and because I have done it I deserve death for betraying the Lords Yet it had been more for his credit to have adventured Martyrdom in defence of the Laws than to hazard the death of a Malefactor in the breach thereof but Judges are but men and most men desire to decline that danger which they think nearest to them but he and the other Judges were condemned for High-Treason in the next Wonder working Parliament and hardly had escaped death if the Queen had not earnestly interceeded for them The County of Leicester is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 200 Parish Churches and 12 Market Towns it is in the Diocess of Lincoln and gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Sydney LINCOLNSHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North the German Ocean on the East Cambridge and Northampton Shires on the South and Leicestershire on the West it abounds in Fish Fowl Corn Cattle and Flax. Lincoln is the chief Place well inhabited and frequented It stands upon the side of a Hill where the River Witham bends his course Eastward and being divided into three small Channels watereth the lower part of the City in the highest part thereof is the Cathedral a stately structure being built throughout with singular and rare Workmanship especially the West end it is very ancient and had 50 Parish Churches in it whereof at this day only 15 remain besides the Minster In the year 1180. a great Earthquake overthrew many Buildings amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces by it about this time the Bishoprick of Lincoln was so long void that a certain Hermit of Tame prophecied there should be no more Bishops of Lincoln but he proved an untrue Prophet for after 16 years vacancy Geffery the Kings Bastard Son was preferred thereunto of whom it was said That he was more skilful in fleecing than feeding his Flock this Gallant Bishop would usually in discourse protest By the honour of his Father but one of the Kings Chaplains told him Pray Sir remember sometimes the honesty of your Mother as well as the Royalty of your Father he used to put in his Episcopal Seal The Seal of Geffery Son of the K. of England A poor Country Husbandman coming to Robert Grostead Bishop of Lincoln challenged kindred of him and thereupon desired him to prefer him to such an Office which he was very unfit for Cousen said the Bishop If your Cart be broken I will mend it if your Plough be old I will give you a new one or seed to sow your Land but a Husbandman I found you and a Husbandman I will leave you In 1537. King Henry the 8. by advice of the L. Cromwell sent abroad injunctions whereby the People were permitted to read the Bible and to have the Lords Prayer the Creed the Ten Commandments and all the Articles of the Christian Faith in English to be taught by all Parsons and Curates to their Parishioners which so inraged the stupid Papists that in Lincolnshire Twenty Thousand of them assembled together against whom the King himself went in Person who by persuasion winning their Chief Leaders brought the rest upon pardon to submit themselves but when he had himself done the work of mercy he afterward sent the Duke of Suffolk Sir John Russel and others to do the work of Justice who caused Nicholas Melton and a Monk who called himself Captain Cobler with 13 other Ringleaders of the Sedition to be apprehended and most of them executed In 1564. a monstrous Fish was driven on the shoar at Grimesby in this County being 19 yards in length his tail was 15 foot broad and six yards between his Eyes 15 men stood upright in his mouth to get the Oil. Job Hartop was born at Bourn in this County and went in 1568. with Sir John Hawkins his General to make discoveries in New Spain He was a Gunner in one of Queen Elizabeths Ships called The Jesus of Lubeck long and dangerous was his Voyage eight of his men being killed at Cape-Verd and the General himself wounded with poysoned Arrows but was cured by a Negro who drew out the Poyson with a clove of Garlick he first writ of that strange Tree which may be termed The Tree of Food affording a Liquor which is both meat and drink The Tree of Raiment yeilding Needles wherewith and Thred whereof Mantles are made The Tree of Harbour Tiles to cover Houses being made out of the solid parts thereof so that it beareth a self-sufficiency for mans maintenance Job was his name and patience was with him so that he may pass for a Confessor of this County for being with some others by this General left on land for want of Provisions after many miseries they came to Mexico he continued a Prisoner twenty three years that is 2 years at Mexico one year in the Contractation House in Sevil another in the Spanish Inquisition in Triana 12 years a Gally Slave four years with the Cross of St. Andrews at his back in the Everlasting Prison and three years a drudge to Hernando de Soria to so high a sum did the inventory of his sufferings amount so much of his patience now see the end the Lord made with him whil'st inslaved to the aforesaid Fernando he was sent to Sea in a Flemish Vessel which was afterward taken by an English Ship and so he was safely landed at Plymouth Dec. 2. 1590. And died soon after Sir William Mounson was extracted out of an Ancient Family in this Shire and was from his Youth bred in Sea Service wherein he attained to great perfection Queen Elizabeth having cleared Ireland of the Spanish Forces and desiring carefully to prevent a Relapse altered the Scene of War from Ireland to Spain from defending to invading and Sir Richard Levison being Admiral and Mounson Vice Admiral they in 1602. went to Portugal where without drawing a Sword they quite killed Trading on those Coasts no Ships daring to go in or out of their Harbours there they had Intelligence of a vast Carract ready to land in Sisimbria which was of 1600 Tun richly laden out of the East-Indies resolved to assault it though it seemed placed in an invincible posture of itself it was a Gyant in comparison of our Pigmy Ships and had in her 300 Spanish Gentlemen the Marquess De Sancta Cruce lay hard by with 13 Ships and all were secured under the Command of a strong and well fortified Castle but nothing is impossible to the English Valour and Gods blessing thereon After an hot dispute which lasted for some hours with the Invincible Arguments of Fire Sword the Carract was conquered the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of Ten Hundred Thousand Crowns of Portugal Account But though the Goods gotten therein might be valued the good gotten thereby was inestimable for ever after the Spaniards beheld the English with admiring Eyes and quitted the thoughts of Invasion this worthy Knight
the continual strange noise in the Air was very terrible to them In the year 1669 July 31. There was a great dark cloud seen to arise in the East not far from Litchfield which drawing nearer to the City came over it about noon and then appeared to be a huge number of Ant-flies so thick that they darkned the Sky and it being Market day there they fell down in great abundance so that they filled the very Houses The People both within and without doors were much bitten or stung with them yea the very Horses were so disturbed with them that they ran about as if wild The Market People were so plagued with them that they were forced to pack up and be gone People were driven out of the Field from their Harvest work and thus they continued 2 or 3 hours multitudes of them falling dead and lying so thick in the Streets that whole handfuls of them might be taken up and the People swept them in heaps The remainder took their flight Northward and molested other places This was attested saith Mr. Clark by many Eyewitnesses The County of Stafford is divided into 5 Hundreds wherein are 18 Market Towns 130 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Coventry and Litchfield It elects 10 Parliament Men. SVFFOLK hath Norfolk on the North Cambridgshire on the West the German Ocean on the East and Essex on the South It abounds in Corn Cattle Pastures Cloth Wood Sea-fish and Fowl their Cheeses are Traded into Germany France and Spain Ipswich is the only Eye of this Shire both for Commerce and Buildings it hath been formerly walled as by the ruines appears but probably raised by the Dants who in 991. plundered all the Sea-Câ—â—sts and in the year 1000. they laid the Streets of the Town desolate and the Houses on heaps yet after recovering both breath and beauty her buildings from Sâ—oke Church in the South to St. Margrets in the North now extend to 1900 paces and from St. Hellens in the East to St. Matthews Church in the West is 2120 paces It hath 12 Parish Churches be sides six gone to ruine In the Reign of King Henry 2. 1180. near Orford in his County certain Fishers took in their Nets a Fish having the shape of a man in all parts which Fish was kept by Bartholomew de Glanvile in the Castle of Orford above six months he spake not a word all manner of meats he gladly eat but most greedily raw Fish when he had pressed out the Juice he was oftimes brought to Church but never shewed any sign of Devotion at length being not well looked to he stole to the Sea and was never seen after In the Reign of K. John 1216. One casualty happened which we might count disasterous if it had not had relation to our selves For Hugh de Bones coming to aid K. John with 60000 Frenchmen they were all cast away at Sea to whom the King had granted Norfolk and Suffolk to Inhabit Thomas Woolsey was born in Ipswich where a Butcher a very honest man was his Father though a Poet be thus pleased to descant thereon Brave Priest whoever was thy Sire by kind Woolsey of Ipswitch ne're begat thy mind Yet he was sometimes upbraided with the meaness of his birth even when he was Cardinal for one time a Nobleman who was very merry but very extravagant having newly sold a Town with an hundred Tenements came huffing into the Court with a new suit of Cloths and said Am not I a mighty man that have an Hundred Houses on my back which Cardinal Wolsey hearing replyed You might have better imployed it in paying your debts Indeed my Lord quoth he you say well for I remember my Lord my Father owed my Master your Father three-half-pence for a Calves head hold your hand here is two-pence for it He was one of such vast undertakings as the History thereof would almost require a volume He was made Cardinal of St. Cicely and died heart-broken with grief at Leicester 1530. without any Monument which made Dr. Corbet a great wit of his own Colledge Christ-Church in Oxford thus complain And though from his own store Woolsey might have A Palace or a Colledge for his Grave Yet here he lies inter'd as if that all Of him to be remembred were his fall Nothing but Earth to Earth no pompous weight Vpon him but a pebble or a quait If thou art thus neglected what shall we Hope after death that are but shreds of thee It is reported that being afraid of the Anger of K. Henry 8. he took such a strong Purge that his rotten body being not able to bear it he died thereof and that his body was as black as pitch and so heavy that six men could hardly carry it and stunk so intolerably that they were forced to bury him in the night at which time there was such a hideous Tempest that all the Torches were put out and withal such a stink that they were glad to throw him into his Tomb and there leave him In the 2. of Queen Mary 1555. in August at a place in Suffolk by the Seaside all of hard stone and pebble between Orford and Aldborough where never grass grew or earth was ever seen there suddenly sprung up without any Tillage or Sowing so great abundance of Pease that the poor gathered above an 100 quarters yet there remained some ripe and some blossoming which brought down the price of Corn there being a great dearth before by reason of unseasonable weather In the 10th of Queen Elizabeth 1568. 17 monstrous Fishes were taken at Downham Bridge near Ipswich some of them being 27 Foot in length In her 19th year Aug. 4. being Sunday about 10 before noon whil'st the Minister was Preaching at Bliborough in Suffolk happened a strange and terrible Tempest of Lightning and Thunder which struck through the wall of the Church almost a yard deep into the ground throwing down above 20 Persons rending the wall up to the Vestry cleaving the door tearing the Timber and breaking the Chains of the Steeple the People that were struck down lay above half an hour before they recovered a Man and Boy were found stark dead and the rest miserably scorched In the 6th of K. James 1609. St. Edmundsbury being by chance set on fire it consumed 160 Houses but by the Kings bounty giving 500 load of Timber and the relief of the City of London it was soon rebuilt in fairer Manner than before Suffolk is divided into 22 Hundreds wherein are 29 Market Towns 575 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Norwich It elects 16 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to James L. Howard as Clare doth to Gilbert L. Holles SVRREY hath Middlesex on the North Kent on the East Sussex on the South Hant and Bark shires on the West the Skirts and Borders of this County are rich and fruitful but the inward parts thereof very hungry and barren though by reason of the clear
above 1400 years old they contained the whole History of the Roman Empire from Julius Caesar till after Constantine the great each of the Silver pieces weighed about 7 d. and each of the Gold about 15 or 16 shillings I took some few of the Silver and one of the Gold pieces and sent the rest to the Lady of Robert L. Brook who is Lord of the Town At Shugbury in this County at a place called Barnhill the precious stone Astroites is found in great plenty which being put into Vinegar will move up and down till they have composed themselves into a Triangle At Offchurch was the Palace of Offa the great Mercian King At Lemington though far from the Sea a spring of Salt-Water boileth up and at Newnham is a Fountain whose Waters are very sovereign against the Stone Green-Wounds Ulcers and Impostumes and being drunk with salt loosens but with sugar binds the Body it was found out by one Charles Daws in 1579. who having received a great wound in his Arm by a Hatchet it was perfectly cured in a few days by washing it in this Water one special effect thereof is that it turneth wood into stone Not far from Warwick is Guy Castle where the famous Guy Earl of Warwick after many valorous exploits retired and led an Hermits Life and was at last buried in a Chappel there which remains to this day Michael Drayton the famous English Poet was born at Athelston in this County and died 1621. of whom this Epitaph was made Do pious Marble let thy Readers know What they and what their Children owe To Drayton's name whose sacred Dust We recommend unto thy Trust Protect his memory and preserve his story Remain a lasting Monument of his Glory And when thy Ruines shall disclaim To be the Treasurer of his Name His Name that cannot fade must be An everlasting Monument to thee The County of Warwick is divided into 5 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 158 Parish Churches and is in the Diocesses of Litchfeild and VVorcester it elects 6 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Edward L. Rich. WESTMORELAND hath Cumberland on the West and North Lancashire on the South Yorkshire and Durham on the East It is Western Moorish Country from whence it hath its Name The soil thereof for the most part is barren and can hardly be made fruitful by the Industry of the Husbandman Kendal the chief Town hath a very great Trade and Resort with two broad and long streets crossing each other herein are made excellent cloths which are very well esteemed of throughout the Kingdom Places most memorable are Verterae and Appleby famous in the time of the Romans but since very much decayed There is mention but of one Monastery in this County near the River Loder where there is a Spring that Ebbs and Flows many times a day and it is thought that some notable and famous Exploit hath been performed in that place there being many huge stones in the form of Pyramids some 9 Foot high and 14 Foot thick ranged directly on a Line at an equal distance for a Mile together which seems to have been Placed there as a memorial but of what Action there is not the least remembrance At Ambleside near the upper corner of Winander Meer which is a great Water there appears at this day the Ruines of an ancient City which by the Brittish Bricks the Roman Money often there sound by paved High-ways leading to it and other circumstances seems to have been a work of the Romans The Fortress fenced with a Ditch and Rampart was in length 132 Ells and in breadth 8. In the River Can near Kendal are two Waterfals where the Waters descend with so great a downfall as causes a mighty noise from whence the neighbouring Inhabitants prognosticate of the Weather for when that on the North sounds more clear and with a louder Eccho in their Ears they certainly look for fair Weather to follow but when that on the South doth the like they expect foggy Mists and Rain Henry Curwin was born in this County and made by Q. Mary A. B. of Dublin It is observable that though many of the Protestant Clergy in Ireland were imprisoned and much molested yet no one Person of what quality soever did suffer Martyrdom therein and hereon depends a remarkable story which hath been solemnly avouched by the late Reverend Dr. Vsher A. B. of Armagh that about the 3d of Q. Mary a Pursivant was sent with a Commission into Ireland to impower some eminent Persons to proceed with Fire and Fagot against poor Protestants It happened by Divine Providence this Pursivant coming to Chester lodged in the House of a Protestant Inn-keeper who having some secret notice of his business privately took the Commission out of his Cloak-Bag and put the Knave of Clubs in the room of it some Weeks after the Pursivant appeared before the Lords of the Privy Council at Dublin of whom Bishop Curwin was Principal where he produced a Card instead of a pretended Commission for which affront they caused him to be committed to Prison as supposed to be done on design to deride them where he lay 4 Months and at last with much ado got his Inlargement then over he returned into England and quickly getting his Commission renewed goes with all speed into Ireland again but before his Arrival there he is prevented with the News of Q. Marys Death and so the Lives of many and the Liberties of more poor Servants of God were preserved This Bishop Curwin died 1567. Westmoreland is divided into 4 Wards wherein are 8 Market Towns 26 Parish Churches and is in the Diocesses of Chester and Carlile it elects 4 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Fane WILTSHIRE hath Glocestershire on the North Berkshire and Hampshire on the East Dorsetshire on the South and Somersetshire on the West both for Hills and Valleys abounding in Wood Sheep Wool and all things else Salisbury is the chief City therein in which there is a stately and beautiful Cathedral with an exceeding high spired Steeple not founded on the ground but on 4 Pillars The Windows of the Church as they reckon them answer just in number to Days the Pillars great and small to the Hours and the Gates to the Twelve Months of the whole Year according to the Poet. How many Days in one whole Year there be So many Windows in one Church we see So many Marble Pillars there appear As there are hours throughout the fleeting Year So many Gates as Moons one Year doth view Strange Tale to tell yet not so strange as true It hath a Cloister beside on the South side for largeness and fine Workmanship inferiour to none joined to the Bishops Pallace on the other side is an high Bell-Tower exceeding strong standing by itself There are Rills and Sewers of Water run through every street of the City which is very well inhabited and accomodated with
about the Walls through which 7 Gates give entrance with 5 Watch Towers for defence there are in it divers Churches beside the Cathedral which is seated on the Southside of the City and is an excellent fair building adorned with the Tombs and Monuments of K. John Pr. Arthur and divers of the Beauchamps This City was set on Fire and almost every one of the Citizens slain by K. Hardicknute 1041 for killing the Collectors of this Danish Tribute yet was presently repaired but in 1113. a sudden Fire happened no body knew how which burnt down the Castle and the Cathedral Church likewise in the troubles of K. Stephen it was twice defaced by the Flames and made hopeless of Recovery yet out of these a new Phoenix arose and her Buildings were raised more stately than before especially the Cathedral At Droitwitch are three Fountains of Salt water divided by a little Brook of fresh water passing between them by the boiling of which salt water they make pure white saltt Edmund Bonner alias Savage was born in this County his Father was John Savage a rich Priest in Cheshire his Mother was this Priests Concubine a dainty Wench in her Youth and a jolly Woman in her Age she was sent out of Cheshire to cover her shame and laid down her burden at Elmly in this County where this bonny bouncing Babe Bonner was born in the Reign of K. Hen. 7. He was bred a Batchelor of the Laws in Oxford and in K. Hen 8. time he was made Doctor of the Laws Archdeacon of Leicester Master of Arts Master of the Faculties under Archbishop Cranmer and imployed in several Embassies beyond Sea All this time Bonner was not Bonner being as yet meek merciful and a great man for the L. Cromwell as appeared by some tart printed Repartees betwixt him and Stephen Gardiner Indeed he had a Body and an half but corpulency without cruelty is no sin and toward his old Age he was overgrown with fat as Mr. Fox who is charged to have persecuted Persecutors with ugly Pictures doth represent him not long after he was consecrated Bp. of London and under K. Edward 6. being ordered to preach publickly concerning the Reformation his faint and cold expressions thereof manifested that he had a mind rather to betray it for which he was deprived of his Benefice being restored to his Bishoprick under Q. Mary he caused the death of twice as many Martyrs as all the Bishops of England beside justly occasioning the Verses made upon him If one for shedding Blood for Bliss may hope Heavens widest gate for Bonner doth stand ope No body speaking to Bonner All call thee cruel and the spunge of Blood But Bonner I say thou art mild and good Under Queen Elizabeth he was deprived and secured in the Marshalsea where he lived 10 Years in soft durance and full plenty his Face deposing for his whole Body that he was not famished enjoying a great Temporal Estate by his Father wherein as he was kept from doing hurt to others so it kept others from doing hurt to him who was so universally odious that he had been stoned in the Streets if at Liberty He died 1569. and was buried in Barking Church-Yard among Thieves and Murderers but enough if not too much of this Herostratus who burnt so many living Temples of the Holy Ghost and who had he not been remembred by other Writers had found no place here In the 18th of Queen Elizabeth 1576. June 20. William Lumnley a poor man in the Parish of Emely being kept in Prison by a rich Widdow and having a Mare of 22 years old saith Mr. Stow with Foal within three days after she Foaled a Female Colt which immediately had an Udder out of which was milked the same day a pint of Milk and every day after it gave above three pints to the great relief of his Wife and Children and continued to do so a long time as was seen by many Thousands In her 35th year in the month of March were many great storms of wind which overturned Trees Houses Steeples and Barns and in Bewdly Forrest in Worcestershire many Oaks were overthrown in Horton Wood in this County above a 1000 Oaks were blown down in one day Worcestershire is divided into seven Hundreds wherein are 11 Market Towns 152 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Worcester It elects 9 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl and Marquess to Henry L. Somerset L. President of Wales YORKSHIRE hath Westmoreland and Durham on the North Lancashire on the West Derby Nottingham and Lincoln shires on the South and the German Ocean on the East It is the greatest of any County in England placed under a temperate Climate and so is indifferently fruitful so that if one part of it be stony sandy barren ground another part is fruitful and richly adorned with Cornfields if it be here bare of Woods you shall see it there shadowed with Forrests full of Trees If in one place it be Moorish miery and unpleasant another presents itself to the Eye full of beauty and delightful variety This County being so spacious is divided into three parts called the West Riding the East-Riding and the North-Riding It produceth Corn Cattel Cloth Knives and Stockins The City of York is very ancient and formerly of so great estimation that the Roman Emperours kept their Courts there it is at this day the second City of Eng. the fairest in all the Country a singular safeguard ornament to all the Northern Parts it is a large stately pleasant place well fortified and beautifully adorned both with publick and private Buildings Rich Populous and an Archbishops See The River Ouse flowing with a gentle stream from the North part Southward cutteth it in twain and maketh as it were two Cities which are joined with a strong Bridge whereon is a very great Arch The West part is incompassed with a very fair Wall and the River together foursquare having an entrance only at one Gate from which a long and broad street reacheth to the very Bridge which is beautified with handsome Houses with Gardens and Orchards on the back and pleasant Fields behind On the East side the Houses stand very thick and the streets are narrower being fortified with a strong wall and is divided on the South-East with the deep Channel of the muddy River Fosse which entring into the heart of the City by a blind way hath a Bridge over it with Houses built upon it and so close ranged one by another that it seems rather a street than a Bridge and soon after runs into the Ouse where a stately Castle formerly stood which commanded the whole City but it is now gone to decay toward the North stands the Cathedral Church an excellent fair and stately Fabrick We read that William the Conqueror after he had setled himself in this Kingdom did much a bridge the power of the prelates in Temporals ordaining that they should exercise
hill where they had another full view of them and could distinguish their Horses to be of several Colours as white grey black c. and that they marched in 3 Companies and betwixt every Division they had 2 Horse colours flying but as they drew toward them they still marched from them so that they could not come nearer than 100 Yards they asked a man who was thatching a House all that day which they judged the Horsemen went by whether he saw all those Souldiers which marched by who said that he saw none neither was there any Tract of the Horses to be seen that night nor the next morning so that they concluded it to be a wonderful Apparition and deposed the Truth of these particulars before the Lord Herbert and several other Justices of the Peace of this County at the same time a Woman coming from Bishops Castle over the same Common fell off her Horse being much terrified with the sight of a blazing Star which she and 6 men with her saw sometimes white and sometimes red with a Tail like an Arrow which seemed to hang just over their heads from Bishops Mount to this common being 3 miles and the People of the house where the Woman fell when they came out saw the Star also The Moor or March near Chepstow in Monmouthshire suffered great loss in 1606. by the River Severn overflowing its banks and drowning many Cattle and some People and overthrowing divers Houses Merlin Prophecied That when a stout Prince with a freckled Face should pass over a Ford called Rydpencarn in a River called Nantpencarn the Welch should be conquered and therfore when K. Hen. 2. who was freckle faced passed over it the Welchmen remembring this Prophecy through too much credulity submitted themselves and it may be the King thinking their hearts might fail them chose to go over this Ford to facilitate his Conquests In the Reign of K. Henry 1. by the breaking in of the Sea a great part of Flanders was drowned whereupon a great number of Flemings petitioned the King for some place to inhabit in who accordingly assigned them Pembrokeshire in Wales where their posterity continue to this day when King Hen. 2 was at St. Davids in this County and from thence in a clear day discovered the Coasts of Ireland in a huffing Bravado he said I with my Ships am able to make a Bridg thither if it be no farther Which Speech of his being related to Murchard K. of Lemster in Ireland he asked whether he did not say He would do with the help of God and when it was answered that he made no mention of God he chearfully said Then I fear him the less since he trusted more to himself than to the help of God The same K. Henry returning out of Ireland arrived at St. Davids where being told That the Conqueror of Ireland returning that way should die upon a stone called Lech-laver near the Church-Yard he thereupon before a multitude of People passed over it and reproving the Welchmen said Now who will hereafter credit that Lyar Merlin Radnor hath a sharp and cold Air because of the Snow lying long unmelted under the shady Hills and hanging Rocks whereof there are many In the Reign of K. William the Conqueror upon the Sea shore in Wales was found the Body of Gawen Sisters Son to Arthur the great King of the Brittains reported to be 14 Foot in length In 1662. July 2. were seen above 100 Porpusses together near Newport which seemed very strange and prodigious to the Inhabitants In these 13 Shires which I have cursorily run over there are reckoned 1 Chase 13 Forrests 36 Parks 230 Rivers 100 Bridges 4 Cities 55 Market Towns and 41 Castles of old Erection 4 Bishopricks St. Asaph Bangor St. Davids and Llandaff and 1016 Parish Churches it elects 30 Parliament Men Anglesey gives the Title of Earl to Arthur L. Annesly Brecknock to James L. Butler who is also D. of Ormond Cardigan to Thomas L. Brudenel Caernarvon to Charles L. Dormer Denby to William L. Feilding Glamorgan to Henry L. Somerset who is Marquess of Worcester Pembroke to Philip L. Herbert who is likewise Earl of Montgomery Monmouth the Title of Duke to James Fitz-Roy and Radnor the Title of Earl to John L. Roberâ—s SCOTLAND THis Kingdom is separated from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot Hills reaching from one River to the other on the South It hath on the East the German Ocean on the North the Isles of Orkney and the Deucalidonian Sea and Ireland on the West It is a fair and spacious Country 480 miles in length but in breadth much less no place being 60 miles from the Sea It is divided into Highland and Lowland the People of the Highland living on the Western parts of Scotland have some Civility but those In the out Isles are very barbarous The Lowlanders are in disposition and language much like the English Scotland is far more barren than England the chief Commodities are course Cloths Freezes Fish Hides Lead Oar c. The principal Rivers are Forth Cluyde and Tay all Navigable There are two Universities St. Andrews and Aberdeen and 2 Archbishops and 12 Bishops The Nobility and Gentry are great Affecters of Learning and therefore do not only frequent their own Universities but travel into Forreign parts for improvement It is divided into 34 Shires or Counties the Regal City thereof is Edenburgh seated in Lothian where is the Royal Pallace it consists principally of one Street about a mile long into which run many Lanes so that the whole compass may be about three miles It is strengthned by a Castle that Commands the Town Scot. was once Inhabited by 2 Populous Nations the Scots and Picts till after long Wars the Scots prevailing they utterly extinguished not only the Kingdom but the name of Picts Most memorable was that Fortification drawn from Abercorn upon the Frith of Edenburgh to the Frith of Dumbritton opening upon the West Sea where Julius Agricola set the limits of the Roman Empire at this place began the great Wood Calidonia famous for the wild white Bulls bred therein with Manes like Lyons thick and curled so fierce and cruel by Nature and so hateful to Mankind that they abhorred whatever was handlâ—d or breathed on by them The Cattle in Scotland are small but many Fish so plentiful that in some place men on Horseback hunt Salmons with Spears The Islands belonging to it are the Western the Orkney and the Shetlands in number above 300 They have infinite numbers of Barnacles or Soland Geese so that they even darken the light of the Sun these Geese are most plentiful about the Bass near Edenburgh and hither they bring an incredible number of Fishes and withal such abundance of sticks and little twigs to build their Nests that the People are very plentifully provided of Fewel who also make great gain of their Feathers and Oyl There have been great disputes among
both of that City and County he died in 1640. This County is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 19 Market Towns and 248 Parish Churches It is in the Diocess of Bristol Elects 20 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Sackvil who is also Earl of Middlesex as the Town of Dorchester doth the Title of Marquess to Henry L. Pierrepoint and Shaftesbury the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Ashley DVRHAM This Bishoprick hath Northumberland on the North divided by the Rivers Derwent and Tyne and Yorkshire on the South the German Ocean on the East Cumberland and Westmoreland on the West it abounds with Coals Lead and Iron near Darlington in this County whose waters are warm there are three Pits wonderful deep called Hell Kettles these are judged to come of an Earthquake which happened in 1179. For on Christmas day say our Chronicles at Oxenhall which is this place the ground heaved up aloft like a Tower and so continued all that day as it were immoveable till evening and then fell with so horrible a noise that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabout and the Earth swallowing it up made in the same place three deep Pits it is reported that Bishop Tonstall put a Goose into one of these Pits having first given her a mark and the same Goose was found in the River Tees which if true these Kettles have passages under ground within the River Weer at Butterby near Durham in Summer Time their issues a salt reddish water which the Sun makes white and growing thick becomes Salt which the People thereabout always use In the Reign of William the Conqueror one Wolstan was Bishop of Durham whom upon Lanfranks reporting to be insufficient for the place for want of Learning the King commanded to put off his Pontifical Robes and to leave his Bishoprick when suddenly out of Divine Inspiration saith our Historian Wolston answered A better then you O King bestowed these Robes upon me and to him will I restore them and therewithal going to Edward the Confessors Shrine who had made him a Bishop and putting off his Robes he struck his Staff upon St. Edwards Monument which stuck so fast saith the Author in the Stone of it that by no strength it could be drawn forth till he pluckt it out himself which so terrified both Lanfrank and the King that they intreated him to take his Robes again and keep his Bishoprick When K. Edward the 3. was Victorious in France the Scots with David Bruce their King by the incitement of the French King invade England with an Army of Threescore and two Thousand Men and marched as far as Durham supposing that none but Priests and Shepheards were left at home because such a vast number were abroad upon Service but they found it otherwise for the Lords in the North as Gilbert Vmfrevile the Earl of Angus Henry Piercy Ralph Nevil William Dayncourt with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham and others of the Clergy gathered such great Forces and ordered them so well that by the animation of Queen Philip who though big with Child rode in Person through the English Troops and with wise and gracious words incouraged them that they obtained a very signal Victory for meeting the Scots at Nevils Cross in this Bishoprick they utterly defeated their great Army and took David their King Prisoner with the Earls of Fife Menteith Murray Sutherland Dowglas the Archbishop of St. Andrews and others and slew fifteen thousand Scots who yet could not be charged for want of valour especially the King himself who had two Spears hanging in his body his leg desperately wounded with an Arrow his Sword and other weapons beaten out of his hand and yet disdaining to be taken Captive endeavoured by provoking language to induce the English to kill him and therefore when one John Copland Captain of Roxborough Castle advised him to yeild the King struck him so fiercely over the face with his Gauntlet as beat out two of his Teeth but since he could not force a death he must submit to be a Prisoner and was conveyed by Copland and eight of his Servants out of the Field the Queen retired to Newcastle to attend the event of the Battle and understanding that K. David was taken she sent Letters to the Captain to deliver up his Royal Prisoner which he refusing she sends over a complaint to K. Edward who ordered him to come to Calice where he made so discreet a defence that he was sent back and had 500 pound a year in Land given him in any place which he should chuse near his own dwelling with order to deliver up his Prisoner to the Queen which he did accordingly at York with such a modest and ingenious Apology as satisfied both the Queen and the Lords of the Council King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower and continued so eleven years and then was set at liberty upon condition to pay one hundred thousand Marks in ten years as a Ransom Cicely Nevil whose Fathers vast Estate afforded him a Mansion House for every week in the year cannot be here omitted as being the clearest instance of humane frail felicity she was youngest Daughter and Child to Ralph Earl of Westmoreland of which Family Raby in this Bishoprick was the chief Seat he had twenty one Children in all but she exceeded her Sisters in honour being married to Richard Duke of York she was blessed with three Sons each born in a several Kingdom Edward afterward K. Edward 4. born at Burdeaux in France George at Dublin in Ireland and Richard at Fotheringhay in England this was her happiness behold now her Miseries she saw her Husband killed in Battel George Duke of Clarence her second Son cruelly murdered in a Butt of Malmsey K. Edward her eldest Son cut off by his own intemperance in the prime of his years his two Sons butchered by their Uncle Crookbackt Richard who himself not long after was slain in the Battel of Bosworth she saw her own reputation publickly murdered at Pauls Cross by the procurement of her youngest Son Richard taxing his eldest Brother for Illegitimate and a Bastard and yet our Chronicles do not charge her with haughtiness in her good nor dejection in her ill Estate an argument of an even and steddy soul in all alterations indeed she lived to see Elizabeth her Grand-child married to K. Henry 7. but little comfort acrued to her by that conjunction the party of the Yorkists were so depressed by him she lived 35 years a Widdow and died in the 10 of Hen 7. 14â—5 and was buried by her Husband in the Collegiate Church of Fotheringay in Northamptonshire which Quire being demolished in King Henry 8. time their bodies lay in the Church-yard without any Monument till Q. Elizabeth coming thither in Progress gave order that they should be interred in the Church and two Tombs erected over them hereupon their Bodies wrapt in Lead were removed from their plain