Octogonus fons est munere dignus eo Hoc numero decuit sacri baptismatis aulam Surgere quo populo vera salus rediit i.e. The font is an Octogon a figure or number worthy of that function It behoved the place or court of holy Baptism to be raised in this number by which true salvation is restored to the people And it is a common observation that as six was the number of Antichrist so eight of true Christianity The fourteenth seems to be a wolf and boar 2 fierce beasts joyned together and the head of a town or city Vano Civit. Mr. Speed applies it to Venutius a valiant King of the Brigantes married to Cartismandua who betrayed the noble and gallant Caractacus In the fifteenth one letter seems to be misplaced Durnacum was the city Tournay and the head is as they usually decipher cities The sixteenth with a woman's head Orceti if truly spelt is the name also of some city unknown to us Conjectures upon the Coins added The nineteenth is in Mr. Speed but the letters ill wrought and placed he reads it Casibelan the first General of the Britains against the Romans His country seems to have been North of the Thames and to have comprehended part of Hartford and Buckingham shires Yet he conquer'd the chief City of Imanuentius whom he slew and whose son Mandubratius fled to Caesar in France and brought him hither See more of him in Tab. 11 Co. 4. The twentieth is of Cunobeline son of Theomantius nephew to Casibelan by the British writers called Kymboline The head seems to be of a woman On the Reverse a Sphinx a figure so acceptable to Augustus that he engraved it upon his seal Wherefore it may be it was placed upon this Coin to please the Emperor a more than ordinary friend to Cunobeline who was declared a friend to the Romans and is said to have lived many years in Rome In the twenty third seems to be the head of a city inscription Vanit seems to be the same with Vanoc Co. 8. The twenty fourth seems not the head of a person but of a place probably Camalodunum when Christian The twenty fifth Arivogius is both by Speed and Archbishop Usher thought to be Arviragus of whom more Co. 27. Ononus I understand not The twenty sixth is probably of Cartismandua Q. of the Brigantes whereof Caledonia was one part A woman infamous for betraying the warlike Caractacus into the hands of the Romans and for abusing her valiant husband Venutius The twenty seventh a crowned head with many strings of pearls about it is thought to be Arviragus I wish there were more than bare conjectures for it For I do not find that Arviragus was a Christian as this Coin declares there being a cross and a string of pearles about it an ordinary ornament of the cross in the first peaceable times of the Church Harding I think is the only Author who affirms him a Christian but 't is generally said erga Religionem Christianam bene affectus Vit. Basing and that he gave to the first preachers of Glastenbury so many hides of land as helped much to maintain them And Gildas saith that it was well known that the Christian Religion was brought into Britain in the latter end of Tiberius's time He lived in great reputation in Domitian's time whose flatterers upon some prodigies appearing foretold him of some great good fortune to him as that Arviragus should be thrown down from his chariot The twenty ninth Dr. Plot who hath published these three thinks to be Prasutagus and Boadicia but I see no resemblance of one or more faces I rather imagine it to be some fortification The one and thirtieth was put into my hands as belonging to York in Antoninus and antient Authors written Eburacum But I take it to be a Gallick Coin and to signifie either the Eburovices or rather Eburones which were inhabitants of the country of Liege The head seems to be of a City rather than as Bouteroue thinks of Ambiorix Cotivulcus or some other of their Princes The three and thirtieth is also to design some city or country it may be of the Auscii now Ausch in Gascoine or some other unknown It is to be noted that after the example of the Romans who stamped the armed head of a young woman probably Rome a notable Virago who gave name to the city with the word Roma on one side of their Coin other cities and countries placed also the head yet not always helmeted but commonly in the dress of the place where coined British Coins TAB II. That the first was of some British Prince in esteem for an holy man I collect from the pearls about his head set in the ancient form of a glory as also by the hand under the horse for the reverse Many of these British coins are adorned with pearls I conceive the reason to be the plenty of them in this country so great that Julius Caesar is said to have undertaken his expedition for obtaining them and that at his return he dedicated a shield covered with British Pearl in the Temple of Venus In some coins of Constantine the great of Arcadius Eudoxia and others in Gretzer l. 1. c. 15 16 is an hand signifying some favourable action of Providence towards them as reaching to take Constantine into heaven crowning Arcadius c. In this it may intimate the sustaining of his Cavalry This is only conjecture since we know not the person The second and third by their rugged and unhandsom looks seem to have been some of the ancient British Princes but the letters being worn out forbid us to guess who they were The fourth is Cassivelaunus others name him Cassibelinus or Velanus as if he were a Prince of the Cassii a people not far from the Trinobantes part of the dominion of his brother Immanuentius whom he slew and deposed his son Mandubratius who thereupon fled to Caesar and was restored by him to his just dominion But this action caused Mandubratius to be looked upon as an enemy and traitor to his country and so hated that he accompanied Caesar in all his wars and left the Kingdom to his son or nephew Cunobeline His son lived in Rome with the favour of Augustus and the Senate who declared him a friend of the Romans as is plainly intimated in that Speech of the generous Prince Caractacus From these transactions we may observe 1. That the Romans by this submission and request of Manubratius had a just cause of War against Cassibelinus and consequently against all the Britains who chused him their General 2. That this conquest was exceedingly beneficial to the nation and countrey which by the Romans acquired civility if not humanity also and prudent government good husbandry too and improvement of wealth and trade both by sea and land and thereby prepared them for receiving the Gospel 3. That the Britains quickly apprehended these benefits and advantages and therefore more readily embraced and
concerning his resigning the kingdom and going to preach the Gospel in Bavaria and being martyr'd near Coire in the Grisons Country then called Rhaetia The thirty second also is out of Monsieur Bouteroue who rationally thinks it to be the head of Boadicia wife to Prasutagus king of Norfolk and Suffolk c. a woman of prodigious wit and courage Gildas calls her Leaenam dolosam the crafty or deceitful Lionness She slew 80000 of the Romans destroy'd their chief City and Colony Cumalodunum Verulamium also and some say London She slew the ninth Legion but being overcome by Paulinus she either died for grief as some say or by poison as others The thirty third is easily intelligible The reverse of the thirty fifth seems to be a Tabernacle or some such holy vessel standing upon a foot and having a Cross upon the top I understand it not nor any of the rest being all ancient Runic characters nor doth it appear whether they belong to this Country or to Spain The Runic Characters anciently were the writing of the Visi or Western Goths who lived in Denmark Norway Jutland c. For the Ostro or Eastern Goths of Sweden and those Countries swarmed and conquered Eastward in and towards Asia who though they seem to have had the same language with the Visigoths yet had a different character framed as it seems from the Greek some say by Ulphilas their Bishop near or upon the Black-Sea and it is still preserved in the copy of the Gospels translated into that language by him and is for the most part still extant in that they call the Codex Argenteus being wholly written in silver letters reserv'd with great and deserved veneration in Sweden but transcribed and printed by the very worthy and learned person Mr. Franc. Junius the younger But the Visigoths seem to be those who came Westward who conquer'd part of Italy and of France all Spain and part of Africk where they reigned in great splendor many years till the invasion of the Moors They also acquired the Northern Parts of Britain keeping as it seemeth their ancient Runic Characters And though most of the ancient Runic Coins I have seen either in Ant. Augustinus Paruta or Lastannoza's book de las monedas desconocidas yet I have only set down those which are new to me and which being sent by that very courteous intelligent and diligent Antiquary Mr. Ralph Thoresby of Leeds in Yorkshire I conceive rather belong to those of Northumberland Cumberland c. Tab. III. Nummi Romani Page XCVIII Tabula IV. Nummi Romani Page XCVIII Ne vel tantillum paginae vacaret Visum est addere fere ex Eruditissimo Bouterovio Alphabetum enummis Antiquis desumplum Notes upon the Roman Coins THE first of the Romans after Julius Caesar that resolv'd to subdue Britain in earnest was Claudius who shipping over his army reduced the south part into the form of a Province And about that time this first piece of money with an abbreviated Inscription seems to have been coin'd TI. CLAVD CAES. AVG. P. M. TR. P. VIIII IMP. XVI i.e. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Pontifex Maximus Tribunitia potestate 9. Imperator 16. To explain these titles once for all After Julius Caesar who laid the foundation of the Roman Monarchy all his successors in honour of him assumed the titles of Caesar or Augustus as if they were above the pitch of humane nature for things that are sacred we call August that also of Pontifices Maximi or High-Priests because they were consecrated in all the kinds of Priesthood and had the Oversight of all Religious Ceremonies they usurped likewise the Tribunitian power but would not by any means be call'd Tribunes that they might be inviolable For by virtue of this authority if any one gave them ill language or offer'd them any violence he was to be put to death without a hearing as a sacrilegious person They renewed this Tribunitian power every year and by it computed the years of their reign At last they were call'd Emperors because their Empire was most large and Ample and under that natâ—â— was coucht both the power of Kings and Dictapoâ—â— And they were stil'd Emperors as often as they did any thing very honourable either in person or by their Generals But since in the reverse of this coin there is a triumphal arch with a man on horseback between two trophies and the title DE BRITAN I should imagine that in the 9th year of Claudius for so I reckon from the Tribunitian power there were two Victories over the Britains In the second Coin which is also one of Claudius Augustus by this Inscription TI. CLAVD CAES. AVG. GER TR. P. XII IMP. XIIX we learn that in the twelfth year of his reign after he had been successful in Britain he was saluted Emperor the eighteenth time and the Ploughman with a Cow and a Bull inform us that at the same time a Colony was placed in Camalodunum The Romans says Servius clad after the Gabine fashion i.e. with part of their gown covering their head and the other part tuckt up when they had a design to build a city yok'd on the right hand a Bull with a Cow on the inner side and in that habit held the crooked plough-tail so as to make all the earth fall inwards By thus drawing a furrow they markt out the track of the walls lifting up the plough where the place of the gates was to be The son of Claudius whose the 3d Coin is with Greek characters was by a Decree of the Senate honour'd with the sirname of BRITANNICVS to use as peculiar to himself upon the account of his Fathers success He it was for whom Seneca pray'd That he might quiet Germany †aperiat make an inroad into Britain and †ducat maintain his fathers triumphs with new ones of his own But what then must be the meaning of that half ship with an Inscription to this sensâ— The Metropolis of King Etiminius Well truly who this Etiminius should be does not appear to me unless one should imagine him to be that Adiminius Cunobelin's son who as Suetonius says took protection under C. Caligula The fourth Coin which is Hadrian's with this Inscription HADRIANVS AVG. CONSVL III. PATER PATRIAE and on the reverse EXERCITVS BRITANNICVS or the British army represented by three souldiers I should imagine to point out the three legions that serv'd in Britain in the year of Christ 120 for then he was third Consul namely the Secunda Augusta the Sexta Victrix and the Vicesima Victrix The fifth and sixth both of Antoninus Pius with this Inscription ANTONINVS AVG. PIVS P. P. TR. P. COS. III. and on the reverse of the one Britain sitting on the rocks with a military ensign a spear and a shield but on that of the other the same Britain sitting upon a globe These seem to have been stamp'd by the British Province in honour of Antoninus Pius at his
the celebrated Organ at Ulme This city gave birth to Henrietta Maria youngest daughter to K. Charles 1. to William Petre â—ho was Secretary and Privy-Counsellor to K. Henry 8. Edward 6. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and seven times Embassadour in foreign parts and lastly to Sir Thomas Bodley employ'd by Queen Elizabeth to several foreign Courts but especially famous for his founding the Publick Library in the University of Oxford call'd after his own name nn Thomas the last Earl of Exeter mention'd by our Author was succeeded by William his son and heir who dying without issue-male The Eaâ—â—s continu'd left that honour to David Cecil Son of Sir Richard Cecil who was second son to Thomas Earl of Exeter This David was succeeded by John his son and heir and he by his son of the same name o At the confluence of Ex and Clist is Topesham Topheshaâ— an ancient town that hath flourish'd much by the obstructions of the river Ex. Several attempts have been made to remove these dammes but none so effectual as the new works in the time of King Charles 2. at the vast expence indeed of the City of Exeter but to such advantage that Lighters of the greatest burden come up to the city-key On the east of Exeter is a parish call'd Heavy-tree Heavy-tâ—â—â— memorable for the birth of Hooker the judicious Author of the Ecclesiastical Polity and of that great Civilian Dr. Arthur Duck. The next parish is Pinhoe Pinhoe remarkable for bringing forth the two Rainolds John and William brothers zealous maintainers both of the Reform'd and the Popish Religion in their turns Not far from hence is Stoke-Canon Stoke-Câ—non given by K. Canute to the Church of Exeter a representation of which gift was to be seen not long ago in a window of the Parish-Church there viz. a King with a triple Crown and this Inscription Canutus Rex donat hoc Manerium Eccles Exon. Four miles east of Exon we pass the river Clyst near which upon Clyst-heath Clyst-heath the Cornish rebels were totally defeated An. 1549. by John Lord Russel afterwards Earl of Bedford p Next is Honnyton Honnyâ—â—â— where the market was anciently kept on Sundays as it was also in Exeter Launceston and divers other places till in the reign of K. John they were alter'd to other days Over the river Ottery is Vennyton bridge Vennytâ—â—-bridge at which in the time of Edw. 6. a battle was fought against the Cornish rebels q And upon the same river stands Budley Budley famous for being the birth-place of that great Statesman and Historian Sir Walter Rawleigh r From whence to the north east is Sidmouth Sidmouâ—â— now one of the chiefest fisher-towns of those parts s And Seaton Seaton where the inhabitants formerly endeavour'd to cut out a haven and procur'd a Collection under the Great Seal for that purpose but now there remain no footsteps of that work t The river Ax passeth by Ford Ford. to which Abbey the Courtneys were great benefactours it is now in the hands of Edmund Prideaux Esq Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of K. Richard 1. was first Monk and then Abbot here Ax empties it self into the sea at Axmouth Axmoâ—â—â— formerly a good harbour for ships Several attempts have been made to repair this decay'd haven by the family of the Earles but all in vain u Crossing the country to the north-west we meet with Hartland Hartâ—â—â—â— the possessions of which Monastery were confirm'd by Richard 1. with the grant of great immunities particularly of a Court holding plea of all matters saving life and member arising in their own lands In the time of Q. Elizabeth a Bill was preferr'd in the house of Commons for finishing that port Not far from this is Clovelly-harbour Cloâ—â—â—â—â— secur'd by a Piere erected at great charges by the Carys who have had their seats here from the time of Richard 2. 'T is now the most noted place in those parts for herring-fishing At a little distance lies Hole or South-hold Sâ—â—th-hold the native place of Dr. John Moreman Vicar of Maynhennet in Cornwall towards the latter end of Henry 8. memorable upon this account that he was the first who taught his Parishioners the Lord's Prayer Creed and ten Commandments in the English tongue By which we learn in how short a time that language has entirely prevail'd against the native Cornish w Upon the river Ock is Okehampton â—kehampton which as it had formerly 92 Knights fees belonging to it so it is at present a good market town incorporated by K. James 1. sends Burgesses to Parliament and gives the title of Baron to the family of the Mohuns More to the north lies Stamford-Courtney Stamford-Courtney where began a great insurrection in the time of K. Edward 6. by two of the inhabitans one of whom would have no Gentlemen the other no Justices of Peace x At a little distance is North-Tawton North-Tawton where there is a pit of large circumference 10 foot deep out of which sometimes springs up a little brook or bourn and so continues for many days 'T is taken by the common people as a fore-runner of publick sorrow as that Bourn in Hertfordshire call'd Woobournmore Directly towards the north upon the river Moule lieth South-moulton â—outh-â—oulton an ancient town incorporate formerly call'd Snow-moulton when it was held by the Martyns by Sergeanty to find a man with a bow and three arrows to attend the Earl of Gloucester when he should hunt thereabouts x From hence to the south-west is Torrington â—â—rrington call'd in old Records Chepan-Torrington an ancient Borough which sent Burgesses to Parliament But that privilege hath been long discontinu'd both here and in other places in this County It was incorporated by Queen Mary by the name of Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses and hath yielded the title of Earl to George Duke of Albemarle the great Restorer of K. Charles 2. as after him to Christopher his only son and since to Arthur Herbert the present Earl late Lord Admiral y The river goes next to Bediford â—ediford mention'd by our Author for it's bridge It is so high that a ship of 50 or 60 tunn may sail under it For which and for number of arches it equals if not exceeds all others in England 'T was begun by Sir Theobald Granvill and for the finishing of it the Bishop of the Diocese granted out Indulgences to move the people to more liberal contributions and accordingly great sums of money were collected This place hath been in the possession of the Granvills ever since the Conquest a family famous particularly for Sir Richard Granvill's behaviour in Glamorganshire in the reign of W. Rufus and another of the same name under Q. Elizabeth who with one ship maintain'd a sea-fight for 24 hours against 50 of the Spanish Galeons and at last yielded upon
expresly says that the Founders did therein instituere Canonicos seculares who were of the Order of S. Augustine Roger de Iveri is there mention'd as a Co-Founder a Parish-Church dedicated to St. George to which the Parishioners not having free access when the Empress Maud was closely besieg'd in this castle by King Stephen the Chapel of St. Thomas Å¿ Westward from the Castle hard by was built for that purpose He is supposed likewise to have beautified the city with new walls which are now by age sensibly impair'd Robert his Nephew son of his brother Nigel Chamberlain to King Hen. 1. t Who design'd thereby to expiate the sins of her former unchaste life and to prevail with her husband told him a story of the chattering of birds and the interpretation of a Frier which legendary tale Leland tells us was painted near her Tomb in that Abbey by persuasion of his wife Edith daughter of Furn who had been the last Concubine of that Prince in the island meadows nigh the castle built Oseny Oseney Abby which the ruins of the walls still shew to have been very large At the same time as we read in the Register of the said Abbey of Oseney Robert Pulein began to read the holy scriptures at Oxford which were before grown almost out of use in England which person after he had much profited the English and French Churches by his good doctrine was invited to Rome by Pope Lucius 2. and promoted to the dignity of Chancellour of that See To the same purpose John Rous of Warwick writes thus By the care of Keng Henry the first the Lecture of Divinity which had been long intermitted began again to flourish and this Prince built there a new Palace which was afterward converted by King Edward 2. into a Convent for Carmelite Friers But u Richard Ceur de Lion third son of Henry and Queen Eleanor his wife was born on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary An. 1157. 4 Hen. 1. in the King's Palace of Beaumont in a Chamber upon the ground whereof the Carmelites when this house was given them by King Edw. 2. built a Belfrey and Tower of which they us'd to boast as the place of Nativity to this Martial Prince long before this conversion was born in that Palace the truly Lion-hearted Prince King Richard 1. commonly call'd Ceur de Lion Richard ceur de Lyon a Monarch of a great and elevated Soul born for the glory of England and protection of the Christian world and for the terror and confusion of Pagans and Infidels Upon whose death a Poet of that age has these tolerable verses Viscera Carleolum corpus Fons servat Ebrardi Et cor Rothomagum magne Richarde tuum In tria dividitur unus qui plus fuit uno Nec superest uno gloria tanta viro Hic Richarde jaces sed mors si cederet armis Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis Great Richard's body's at Fontevrault shown His bowels at Carlisle his head at Roan He now makes three because too great for one Richard lyes dead but death had fear'd his power Could this proud Tyrant own a Conquerour The City being thus adorn'd with beautiful buildings many Students began to flock hither as to the common Mart of civility and good letters So that learning here quickly reviv'd chiefly through the care of the foresaid Robert Pulein a man born to promote the interest of the learned world who spar'd no trouble and pains to cleanse and open the fountains of the Muses which had been so miserably dried and damm'd up under the favour and protection of King Henry 1. King Henry 2. and Richard his son whom I mention'd just before And he met with such fortunate success in his endeavours that in the reign of King John there were three thousand Students in this place who went away altogether some to Reading and some to Cambridge w As also to Maidstone Salisbury and other places when they could no longer bear the x Which happen'd An. 1209. the 10th of King John upon a Clerk in Oxford accidentally killing a woman and complaint being made to the King then at Woodstock he commanded two of the Scholars who upon suspicion of that fact had been imprison'd by the Towns-men to be immediately hang'd without the City walls This so much offended and frighted the poor Scholars that they all deserted the Town But the Inhabitants being soon sensible of the desolation and poverty they had brought upon themselves did upon their knees deprecate the fault at Westminster before Nicholas the Pope's Legate and submitted to a publick Penance Upon which the dispersed Scholars after five years absence return'd to Oxford An. 1214. and obtain'd some new Privileges for their more effectual protections abuses of the rude and insolent Citizens but when these tumults were appeas'd they soon after return'd Then and in the following times as Divine Providence seem'd to set apart this City for a seat of the Muses so did the same Providence raise up a great number of excellent Princes and Prelates who exercis'd their piety and bounty in this place for the promoting and encouraging of Arts and all good Literature And when King Henry 3. came hither and visited the shrine of S. Frideswide which was before thought a dangerous crime in any Prince and so took away that superstitious scruple which had before hindred several Kings from entring within the walls of Oxford He here conven'd a Parliament to adjust the differences between him and the Barons and at that time confirm'd the privileges granted to the University by his Predecessors and added some new acts of grace and favour After which the number of learned men so far encreas'd as to afford a constant supply of persons qualified by divine and humane knowledge for the discharge of offices in Church and State So that Matthew Paris expresly calls Oxford The second School of the Church after Paris nay the very foundation of the Church r. For the Popes of Rome had before honour'd this place with the title of an University which at that time in their decretals they allow'd only to Paris Oxford Bononia and Salamanca And in the Council of Vienna it was determin'd That Schools for the Hebrew Arabic and Chaldaic tongues should be erected in the Studies of Paris Oxford Bononia and Salamanca as the most eminent that the knowledge of those Languages might be hereby propagated and encourag'd and that out of men of the Catholick Communion furnisht with sufficient abilities two should be chosen for the profession of each Tongue For the maintenance of which Professors in Oxford all the Prelates in England Scotland Ireland and Wales and all Monasteries Chapters Convents Colleges exempt and not exempt and all Rectors of Parish-Churches should make a yearly contribution In which words one may easily observe that Oxford was the chief School in England Scotland Wales and Ireland and that
the Clergy and Laity residing upon any of the lands appertaining to this Monastery so that the Abbot hereof is not subject to any Archbishop Bishop or any Legate whatsoever but to the Pope alone This also deserves our Observation that when that great Prince Offa made a gift to the Pope of the Peter-pence commonly called Romescot out of his Kingdom he obtained of the Pope this particular privilege for the Church of St. Alban the Protomartyr of England that that Church might collect and retain to it's own use when collected all the Romescot or Peter-pence throughout Hertfordshire in which County that Church standeth Wherefore as the Church it self by the King's grant enjoys all manner of Royalties so the Abbot of the place for the time being hath all Episcopal Ornaments Also Pope Hadrian 4 who was born near Verulam granted to the Abbots of this Monastery these are the words of the Privilege That as St. Alban is well known to be the Protomartyr of the English Nation so the Abbot of his Monastery should in all times be reputed the first in dignity of all the Abbots in England Neither afteâ—wards did the Abbots neglect any particular that might be either useful or ornamental to it filling up with earth that very large Pool or Mere which lay under the town of Verulam The memory of this Pool remains in a certain street of the town still called Fishpool-street Anchors digg'd up Near which when certain Anchors in this age happen'd to be found in digging some men led into that mistake by a corrupted place in Gildas presently concluded that the Thames had formerly had it's course this way But concerning this Mere or Fishpool take if you please what is written by an ancient historian Alfricus the Abbot purchased for a great sum of money a large and deep pond called Fishpool which was very prejudicial by it's vicinity to the Church of St. Alban For the Fishery belonged to the Crown and the King's Officers and others that came to fish in it were troublesome and chargeable to the Monastery and the Monks The said Abbot therefore drein'd all the water out of this Pool and reduc'd it to dry land If I should lay any great stress on the Stories common amongst the people and should upon that bottom tell you what great store of Roman Coins how many images of gold and silver how many vessels how many marble pillars how many capitals in fine how many wonderful pieces of ancient work have been here fetch'd out of the earth I could not in reason expect to be credited However this short account which follows take upon the credit of an ancient Historian About the year 960. Ealred the Abbot in the reign of K. Edgar searching out the old subterraneous vaults of Verulam broke them all down and stop'd up all the ways and subterraneous passages which were arched over head very artificially and very firmly built some whereof were carried under the water which in old time almost encompassed the whole city This he did because these were ordinary lurking places of thieves and whores He also filled up the ditches of the city and stopt up certain caves thereabouts whither malefactors use to fly for shelter But he laid aside all the whole tiles and all such stones as he found fit for building Hard by the bank they happen'd upon certain oaken planks which had nails sticking in them and were covered over with pitch as also some other shipping-tackle particularly Anchors half eaten with rust and Oars of fâ—r And a little after Eadmer his Successor went forward with the work which Ealdred had begun and his diggers levelled the foundations of a palace in the middle of the old city and in a hollow place in the wall contrived like a small closet they happen d upon books having covers of oak and silk strings to them one whereof contain'd the life of St. Alban written in the British language the rest certain Pagan Ceremonies And when they had open'd the earth to a greater depth they met with old stone-tables tiles also and pillars pots and great earthen vessels neatly wrought and others of glass containing the ashes of the dead c. And at last out of these remains of old Verulam Eadmer built a new Monastery to St. Alban Thus much as to the Antiquity and Dignity of Verulam Now as to the praises of the place give me leave to add this Hexastic of Alexander Necham who was born there 400 years ago Urbs insignis erat Verolamia plus operosae Arti naturae debuit illa minus Pendragon Arthuri Patris haec obsessa laborem Septennem sprevit cive superba suo Hic est Martyrii roseo decoratus honore Albanus civis inclyta Roma tuus To ancient Verulam a famous town Much kindness art hath show'd but nature none Great Arthur's fire Pendragon's utmost power For seven long years did the proud walls endure Here holy Alban citizen of Rome Obtain'd the happy crown of martyrdom And in another place Hic locus aetatis nostrae primordia novit Annos foelices laetitiaeque dies Hic locus ingenuus pueriles imbuit annos Artibus nostrae laudis origo fuit Hic locus insignis magnósque creavit alumnos Foelix eximio Martyre gente situ Militat hic Christo noctéque dieque labori Invigilat sancto Religiosa cohors Here my first breath with happy stars was drawn Here my glad years and all my joys began In gradual knowledge here my mind increast Here the first sparks of glory fir'd my breast Hail noble town where fame shall ne're forget The Saint the citizens and happy seat Here heaven's true Soldiers with unwearied care And pious labour wage the Christian war But now the old Verulam is turned into Corn-fields and St. Albans St. Aâ—â—â—â—â— flourisheth which rose up out of the ruins of it a neat and large town The Church of the said Monastery is still in being a pile of building which for its largeness beauty and antiquity may justly challenge a particular regard When the Monks were turned out it was by the towns-men purchased for four hundred pound otherwise it had been laid even with the ground and was converted into a parochial Church It hath in it a very noble Font of solid brass wherein the Children of the Kings of Scotland were wont to be baptized Which Font Sir Richard Lea A Fâ—â—â—aâ—en 〈◊〉 the Scâ—â—â— spoâ—ls Master of the Pioneers brought hither amongst the rest of the spoils taken in the Scotch wars and gave it to this Church whereon is to be read this proud Inscription CUM LAETHIA OPIDUM APUD SCOTOS NON INCELEBRE ET EDINBURGUS PRIMARIA APUD EOS CIVITAS INCENDIO CONFLAGRARENT RICHARDUS LEUS EQUES AURATUS ME FLAMMIS EREPTUM AD ANGLOS PERDUXIT HUJUS EGO TANTI BENEFICII MEMOR NON NISI REGUM LIBEROS LAVARE SOLITUS NUNC MEAM OPERAM ETIAM INFIMIS ANGLORUM LIBENTER CONDIXI LEUS VICTOR SIC VOLUIT
without issue was succeeded by his brother Roger whose son Richard marry'd Amicia daughter and coheir of William Earl of Glocester and in right of her his posterity were Earls of Glocester whom you may find in their proper place But at last upon default of heir-male Leonel third son of Edw. 3. who had marry'd Elizabeth daughter and sole heir of William de Burgo Earl of Ulster by Elizabeth Clare was honour'd by his father with the new title of Duke of Clarence But he having only a daughter call'd Philippa wife of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March King Henry 4. created his younger son Thomas Duke of Clarence Dukes of Clarence who was Governour of Normandy 7 As also Lord High Steward of England and Earl of Albemarle and in the assaults of the Scots and French was slain in Anjou leaving no issue behind him A considerable time after Edward 4. conferr'd this honour upon George his brother whom after bitter quarrels and a most inveterate hatred between them he had receiv'd into favour yet for all that he at length dispatch'd him in prison ordering him to be drown'd as the report commonly goes †In dolio vini Cretici in a butt of Malmesey And thus 't is planted in the nature of man to hate those they fear and those with whom they have had quarrels for life even tho' they be brethren e From Clare the Stour runs by Long-Melford a beautiful Hospital lately built by that excellent person Sir William Cordall Knight Master of the Rolls to Sudbury Sudbury i.e. the Southern burrough which it almost encompasses The common opinion is e For Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction it has still something of preheminence the County being divided into the two Archdeaconries of Suffolk and of Sudbury that this was once the chief town of the County and that it had the name given it with respect to Norwich i.e. the northern village And indeed at this day it has no reason to give place to it's neighbours For 't is populous and thrives exceedingly by the Cloth-trade it 's chief Magistrate also is a Mayor who is annually chosen out of the seven Aldermen Not far from hence is Edwardeston Edwardeston a place of no great repute at present but had formerly Lords and inhabitants of great honour call'd de Monte Canisio and commonly Mont-chensy Barons de Montchensy Of which family Guarin marry'd the daughter and co-heir of that most powerful Earl of Pembroke William Marshal and had by her a daughter Joanna who brought to her husband William de Valentia of the family of Lusigny in France Minor Hist Matth. Par. the title of Earl of Pembroke That Guarin Mont-chensy as he had great honours so likewise had he a very plentiful fortune insomuch that in those times he was call'd the Crassus of England his Will amounting to no less than two hundred thousand marks f 8 No small wealth as the standard was then From a younger brother or cadet of this house of Montchensie issu'd by an heir-general the fâ—â—â—ly of the Waldgraves who having long flourisht in Knightly degree at Smaltbridge nearer to Stour as another family of great account in elder age 〈◊〉 Buers which was thereof sirnamed A few miles from hence the Stour is encreas'd by the little river Breton which within a small compass washes two towns of Antiquity At the head of it we see Bretenham a little inconsiderable town without almost any appearance of a City and yet that it is the Combretonium Combretonium mention'd by Antoninus in those parts is evident both from the affinity and signification of the name For as Bretenham Bretenham in English implies a town or mansion upon the Breton so does Combretonium in Welsh a valley or low place upon the Breton But this place in the Peutegerian Tables is falsly call'd Comvetronum and Ad Covecin A little way from hence to the east is seen Nettlested 9 Whence was Sir Thomas Wentworth whom King Henry 8. honour'd with the title of Baron Wentworth from whence are the Wentworths Baâ—ons Wentworth whom King Henry the eighth honour'd with the dignity of Barons and neighbour to it is Offton i.e. the town of Offa King of the Mercians where upon a chalky hill there lye the ruins of an old Castle which they tell you was built by King Offa after he had villanously cut off Ethelbert King of the East-Angles and seiz'd upon his kingdom 10 But to return to the river Breton on the banks of another brook that is joyn'd thereto stands Lancham a â—air market-town and near it the manour of Burnt-Elleie to which King Henry 3. granted a market at the request of Sir Henry Shelton Lord thereof whose pâ—sterity flourisht here for a long time Below this is Hadley in Saxon headlege famous at this day for making of woollen Cloaths but mention'd by our ancient Historians upon the account of Guthrum or Gormo the Dane's Guthrum or Gormo the Dane being buried here For when Alfred had brought him to such terms as to make him embrace Christianity and be baptiz'd he assign'd him this tract of the East-Angles that he might to use the words of my g Selden has observ'd it to be taken out of Malmesbury Not. MS. Author by a due Allegiance to the King protect those Countries he had before over-run with ravage and plunder From hence the Breton runs 11 Runs swiftly by Higham whence the family of Higham takes its name to Stour c. into the Stour whose united streams flowing not far from Bentley Bentley where the Talmaches a famous and ancient family have a long time flourisht within a few miles run near Arwerton Arwerton formerly the seat of the famous family of the Bacons 12 Who held this manour of Brome by conducting all the Footmen of Suffolk and Norfolk from St. Edmund's-dike in the wars of Wales now of the Parkers who by the father's side are descended from the Barons Morley and by the mother from the Calthrops a very eminent family Then they flow into the Ocean and the river Orwell or Gipping joyning them just at the mouth discharges it self along with them This rises about the very middle of the County out of two Springs one near Wulpett Wulpett the other at a little village call'd Gipping Wulpett is a Market-town and signifies in Latin Luporum fossa i.e. a den of Wolves if we believe Neubrigensis who has patcht up as formal a story about this place as is the * Vera narratio True Narrative of Lucian Namely how two little green boys †Ex Satyrorum genere born of Satyrs after a long tedious wandering through subterraneous Caverns from another world i.e. the Antipodes and the Land of St. Martin came up here If you would have more particulars of the story I refer you to the Author himself ‖ Omnibus rihonibus ridenda prâ—pinabit who
the longer she liv'd the greater sorrow she felt and every day was more doleful than other As for what here befel another most mighty Princess Mary Queen of Scots I had rather it should be buried in oblivion than once spoken of Let it be for ever forgotten if possible if not let it however be wrapped up in silence Under the best of Princes some there are who being once arm'd with authority know how by secret slights to set a fair face of Conscience and Religon upon their own private designs and some again that sincerely and heartily consult true Religion their Prince's security and which is the highest law the publick safety Neither can it be deny'd but that even the best of Princes themselves are sometimes violently hurried away as good Pilots with Tempests whither they would not But what they do as crowned heads we must leave to God who only hath power over Kings The Nen now touching upon the edge of Huntingdonshire and running under a fine Bridge at Walmesford passes by Durobrivae Durobrivae a very ancient City calld in Saxon Dormancester as I said before and which took up a great deal of ground on each side the River in both Counties For the little village Caster which stands a mile from the river seems to have been a part of it by the inlaid chequer'd pavements found there tho' we read this Inscription of later date upon their Church-wall XV. KL MAII DEDICATIO HVIVS ECCLESIAE MCXXIIII The fifteenth day before the Kalends of May in the year one thousand one hundred twenty four was the dedication of this Church And doubtless it was a place of more than ordinary note for in the adjoyning fields which instead of Dormanton they call Normanton-fields such quantities of Roman coins are thrown up that a man would really think they had been sown there and two high-ways the Cawseys whereof are still to be seen went from hence the one call'd Forty-foot-way from its being forty foot broad to Stanford the other nam'd Long-ditch and High-street by Lollham-bridges Lollham-Bâ—idges bridges certainly of great antiquity whereof eleven Arches are still to be seen cleft and ruinous with age through West-deping into Lincolnshire At the first parting of these ways stands Upton Upton upon a rising ground whence it took its name where Sir Robert Wingfield Kt. descended from the ancient family of the Wingfields that has brought forth abundance of renownd Knights has a fine house with lovely walks From Durobrivae or Dormanchester the river Nen passes on to Peterborough Peterbâ—rough a little city seated in the very Angle of this County where Writers tell us there was a gulph in the river of a prodigious depth call'd Medes-well and a town hard by it nam'd thereupon Medes-well-hamsted and Medes-hamsted This as Robert de Swapham informs us was built in a very fine place having on one side a Mere and excellent waters on the other many woods meadows and pastures every way beautiful to the eye and inaccessible by land on the East side only On the South side of the Burrough runs the river Nen. In the middle of this river there is a place so deep and cold that in Summer none of your swimmers can dive to the bottom of it nor yet is it ever frozen in winter For there is a spring continually bubbling up water This place was in ancient times call'd Medes-well till such time as Wolpher King of the Mercians dedicated here a Monastery to St. Peter And because the place was morish he laid the foundation as the same Robert affirms with stones of a vast bigness such as eight yoke of Oxen would hardly draw one of them which I my self saw when the Monastery was destroy'd Afterwards it began to be call'd Peterborow or Burgh Petâ—â—â—ghs Petâ—â—pâ—â—s and was a very famous Monastery I cannot but think it worth the while to give you an account of its original and first building abridg'd out of this Robert de Swapham a Writer of good antiquity Peada the son of Penda first Christian King of the Mercians in the year of our Lord 10 546. 656. for the propagation of the Christian Religion laid the foundation of a Monastery at Medes hamsted among the Girvians ‖ Or Finn-country which he liv'd not to finish being made away by the wicked contrivances of his wife After Peada succeeded his brother Wolpher a bitter enemy to the Christian Religion who most inhumanly murder'd his own sons Wolphald and Rufin for their having embrac'd it But he himself some few years after turn'd Christian and to expiate his impieties with good works he carried on the Monastery his brother had began and with the help of his brother Etheldred and his sisters Kineburg and Kineswith finish'd it in the year 633. and dedicated it to St. Peter whence it came to be call'd Peterborow endowing it with large revenues and making Sexwulph a man of great piety who principally advis'd him to this work first Abbot thereof This Monastery flourish'd from thence-forth under a fair character of sanctity for about two hundred and fourteen years till those dreadful times came when the Danes wasted all before them Then were the Monks massacred and the Monastery quite destroy'd which lay as it were buried in its ruins for a hundred and nine years At last about the year 960. Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester a person wholly given up to the encouragement of Monkery began to rebuild it having the helping hand especially of King Edgar and of Adulph the King's Chancellour who out of sorrow and repentance for his own and his wife's having over-laid a little infant their only son spent his whole estate in re-edifying this Monastery bid adieu to the world and was made the first Abbot after its restoration It has been ever since famous for its large revenues and great privileges though in the reign of William the Norman Herward an English Out-law made an excursion from the Isle of Ely and plunder'd it of all its wealth against whom Abbot Turold erected the Fort Mont Turold Monâ— Tuâ—â—d Yet was it lookt upon as very rich till within the memory of our fathers when King Henry the eighth thrust out the Monks every where accusing them of not having observ'd the rule of those holy men the ancient Monks and of having riotously wasted the goods of the Church which were the patrimony of the poor and erected here a Bishoprick assigning this County and Rutlandshire for its Diocese a Deanery also and Prebends So that of a Monastery it became a Cathedral Church which if you survey its building is very fine even in respect of its antiquity its Front is noble and majestick its Cloisters fine and large in the Glass-windows there is represented the history of Wolpher the founder with the succession of its Abbots St. Mary's Chapel is a large piece of building and full of curious workmanship and the Choir is very fine wherein two Queens
the same form with the Tumulus it self on the edge whereof the same Author observ'd ashes and charcoal in their true colours and several pieces of bones in the middle of it so friable that they would crumble betwixt the fingers Which plainly proves it to be Roman unless which does not appear the Saxons or Danes ever burnt their dead bodies e Upon the Roman-way near Lichfield we find a village call'd Wall which is suppos'd to have taken that name from the fragments of an old wall upon the north-side of Watlingstreet Mr. Camden does rightly suppose it to be the Etocetum a Etocetum of Antoninus and the two ancient pavements wherein there appear Roman bricks with the remains of Antiquity discover'd at Chesterfield on the other side of the way put it beyond all dispute f The next Station in this County is Pennocrucium Pennocrucium which Mr. Camden had encouragement enough both from Antoninus's distances and the affinity of the old and new names to settle at Penkridge Penkridge and yet one objection it 's lying from the Great way at least two miles considering the design of these Stations goes very hard against it Stretton as Dr. Plot has settl'd it which has the advantage of standing upon the Way may no doubt lay a juster claim to it The name too favours the conjecture for a little experience will teach any one thus much that where Street or Chester is part of the name a man shall seldom lose his labour in the search after Antiquities A little below the Way southward near Fetherstone in the parish of Brewood was found a brass-head of the bolt of a Catapulta another was likewise discover'd at Bushbury a third in the biggest of the Lows upon the Morridge and a fourth at Hundsworth all of brass and much of the same form which Dr. Plot has given us in the 5th Figure of his 33d Table From this it is certain that all these are Roman Tumuli and probably places of some action g From the directions of the Way let us pass to the head of the great river Trent near which is Newcastle under Lyme New-castle under Lyme built in Hen. 3.'s time by the Earl of Lancaster and so call'd in respect of another at a little distance Chesterton under Lyme where Mr. Camden found an old Castle half demolish'd but now nothing but some very obscure remains are to be seen h From hence the river leads us to Darlaston Darlaston where in a place call'd Berry-bank on the top of a hill are the ruins of a large castle fortify'd with a double vallum and entrenchments about 250 yards diameter This according to tradition was the seat of Ulfere King of Mercia who murther'd his two sons for embracing Christianity The whole passage at large see in Dr. Plot 's History of Staffordshire p. 407. The next place we meet with memorable is Cank Cank or Cannockwood upon the edge whereof in the park at Beaudesart there remains a large fortification call'd the Castle-hill encompass'd with a double agger and trench which are in a manner circular except on the south-east side What Dr. Plot conjectures is highly probable that it was cast up by Canutus when he made such dismal waste of those parts as our Historians talk of i Our next guide is the river Sow about the head whereof is Blore heath Blore heath where a stone set up in memory of James Lord Audley deserves our notice He was slain in that place fighting against the Earl of Salisbury in the quarrel of Hen. 6. in which battel no less than 2400 were slain upon the spot k From hence this river directs us to Eccleshall Eccleshall the castle whereof was either built from the foundation or at least repair'd by Walter de Longton Bishop of Lichfield and Lord High Treasurer of England in the reign of Edw. 1. Not far from which is Wotton where is a high-pav'd way which Dr. Plot imagines to have been a Roman Via Vicinalis or by-way from one town to another l Going nearer to Stafford we meet with Ellenhall Ellenhall famous for the family of the Noels of the male-heirs whereof are still remaining those of Hilcote-Hardby as also Baptist Earl of Gainsburrough and some others m Nearer the Trent upon the same river lies Stafford Stafford where Ethelfled the Mercian Queen built a Castle whereof there is nothing remaining that upon the hill at a mile's distance from the town being built by Ranulph or Ralph the first Earl of Stafford a long time after And Mr. ‖ View of Staffordshire Erdswick concludes he only re-edify'd the Castle and not new built it because he had seen a certain Deed dated from the Castle near Stafford long before the days of Earl Ralph But Dr. Plot is of opinion that the old Castle there mention'd might rather stand within the entrenchment at Billington which perhaps says he may be only the remains of this Castle the lands wherein these entrenchments are being not far distant and still remaining a part of the demesne land of the Barony of Stafford n Near the meeting of Sow and Trent is Tixal not far from whence stands Ingestre Ingestre an ancient seat of the family of the Chetwinds the last owner of which who dy'd without issue A. D. 1693. was Walter Chetwind Esq a Gentleman eminent as for his ancient family and great hospitality so for his admirable skill in Antiquities the History of Staffordshire receiving great encouragement from him He was likewise a person of a charitable and publick spirit as appear'd by new building the Parish-Church of Ingestre after a very beautiful manner and also adding to the Vicarage such tythes as remain'd in his hands o About four miles from the Trent lies Lichfield Lichfield where a thousand Christians who had been instructed instructed by S. Amphibalus in a place call'd Christianfield were martyr'd and their bodies left unburied to be devour'd by birds and beasts from whence the City bears for their Device an Escocheon of Landskip with many Martyrs in it in several manners massacred This place since our Author's time has given the honourable title of Earl first to Bernard Stewart youngest son of Esme Duke of Lennox and Earl of March created in the 21th year of Charles the first Being slain at the battel at Rowton-heath in Cheshire he was succeeded by Charles Stewart his nephew who dy'd Ambassadour in Denmark in 1672. About two years after the title was conferr'd upon Edward Henry Lee created June 5. 1674. Baron of Spellesbury Vicount Quarendon and Earl of Lichfield Not far from hence is Streethey Streethey the name whereof seems to be taken from its situation upon the old way call'd Ikenild-street * Plot 's Staffordshire p 402. and its distance from Streeton another town lying upon the same road and claiming the same antiquity on account of its name being about 12 miles
designs took him off r In the late Civil wars being made a garrison it was almost ruin'd so that he left his project unfinish'd 22 And the old Castle defac'd The family of these Corbets is ancient and of great repute in this Shire and held large estates by fealty of Roger de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury about the coming in of the Normans viz. Roger Corbet the son held Huelebec Hundeslit Actun Fernleg c. Robert Corbet the son held lands in Ulestanston Corbet pranomen Rotlinghop Branten Udecot 23 And in later ages this family far and fairly propagated receiv'd encrease both of revenue and great alliance by the marriage of an heir of Hopton More to the south lies Arcoll Arcoll a seat of the Newports 24 Knights of great worship descended from the Barons Grey of Codnor and the Lords of Mothwy Knights and in its neighbourhood is Hagmond-Abbey Hagmond-Abbey which was well endow'd if not founded by the Fitz-Alanes Not much lower is pleasantly situated upon the Severn the Metropolis of this County risen out of the ruins of old Uriconium which we call Shrewsbury Shrewsbury and now a-days more softly and smoothly Shrowsbury Our Ancestors call'd it Scrobbes-byrig because the hill it stands on was well wooded In which sense the Greeks nam'd their Bessa and the Britains this city Penguerne that is the brow of Alders where likewise was a noble Palace so nam'd but how it comes to be call'd in Welsh Ymwithig by the Normans Scropesbery Sloppesbury and Salop and in Latin Salopia I know not unless they be deriv'd from the old word Scrobbes-berig differently wrested Yet some Criticks in the Welsh tongue imagine 't was call'd Ymwithig as much as Placentia from the Welsh Mwithau and that their Bards gave it that name because their Princes of Wales delighted most in this place It is situated upon a hill the earth of which is of a red-dish colour the Severn is here passable by two fair bridges and embracing it almost round makes it a Peninsula as Leland our Poet and Antiquary describes it Edita Pinguerni late fastigia splendent Urbs sita lunato veluti mediamnis in orbe Colle tumet modico duplici quoque ponte superbit Accipiens patriâ sibi linguâ nomen ab alnis Far off it's lofty walls proud Shrewsb'ry shows Which stately Severn 's crystal arms enclose Here two fair bridges awe the subject stream And Alder-trees bestow'd the ancient name 'T is both naturally strong and well-fortified by art for Roger de Montgomery who had it given him by the Conquerour built a Castle upon a rising rock i in the northern parts of this town after he had pull'd down about 50 houses whose son Robert when he revolted from King Hen. 1. enclos'd it with walls on that side where the Severn does not defend it k which were never assaulted that I know of in any war but that of the Barons against King John When the Normans first settl'd here 't was a well-built city and well frequented for as it appears by Domesday-book 25 In King Edward the Confessor's time it paid Gelt according to an hundred Hides In the Conquerour's time it paid yearly seven pounds c. it was tax'd 7 l. 16 s. to the King yearly There were reckon'd 252 Citizens 12 of whom were bound to keep guard when the Kings of England came hither and as many to attend him whenever he hunted which I believe was first occasion'd by one Edrick Sueona a Mercian Duke but a profligate villain who ſ An. Christi 1006. Flor. Wigorn. not long before had way-lay'd Prince Alfhelm and slain him as he was hunting At which time as appears by the same book there was t There are not now the least remains of any such custom a custom in this city That what way soever a woman marry'd if a widow she should pay to the King 20 shillings but if a virgin 10 shillings in what manner soever she took the husband But to return this Earl Roger not only fortify'd it but improv'd it much by other useful buildings both publick and private and founded a beautiful Monastery dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul and endow'd it liberally as he did likewise u The very marks of this Church are quite gone unless it was mistaken for St. Giles's yet standing in the same parish tho' ruinous and which some alledge was the ancient Parish-Church the Church-yard of it being yet their common place of burial St. Gregory's Church upon these conditions so a private history of this Monastery expresses it That when the Prebendaries thereof should die the Prebends should go to the Monks From which arose no small contest for the Prebendaries sons su'd the Monks to succeed their fathers in those Prebends and at that time Prebendaries and Clerks in England were not oblig'd to celibacy but it was customary for Ecclesiastical Benefices to descend hereditarily to the next of blood Prebends inheritable But this controversie was settled in Henry 1.'s reign That heirs should not inherit Ecclesiastical Benefices about which time laws were enacted obliging Clergy-men to celibacy Afterwards other Churches were here built and to pass by the Covents of Dominican Franciscan and Augustine Friers sounded by the Charltons Jenevills and Staffords there were two Collegiate Churches w Besides these there are two other Parish-Churches within the walls St. Alkman's and St. Julian's erected St. Chads with a Dean and ten Prebendaries and St. Mary's with a Dean and nine minor Prebends At this day 't is a fine City well inhabited of good commerce and by the industry of the Citizens their Cloath-manufacture and their trade with the Welsh very rich for hither all Welsh commodities are brought as to the common Mart of both Nations It 's Inhabitants art partly English partly Welsh they use both Languages and this must be mention'd in their praise that they have set up 25 A School wherein were more Scholars in number when I first saw it than any School in England one of the largest Schools in England for the education of youth for which Thomas Aston the first Head-School-master a man of great worth and integrity provided by his own industry a competent Salary l 26 It shall not now I hope be impertinent to note that when divers of the Nobility conspir'd against King Henry 4. with a purpose to advance Edmund Mortimer Earl of March to the Crown as the undoubtful and right heir whose father King Richard the second had also declar'd heir-apparent and Sir Henry Percy call'd Hot-Spur then addressed himself to give the assault to Shrewsbury c. At this city when Henry Percy the younger rebell'd against Henry the fourth and was resolutely bent to attack its walls which that King had made exceeding strong by a turn of Fortune he was prevented and his measures broken in a trice for the King himself was suddenly at his
the same river not far from the mouth it self which Ptolemy calls Seteia for Deia stands that noble city which the same Ptolemy writes Deunana â—â—ana 〈◊〉 and Antoninus Deva from the river the Britains Caer-Legion Caer-Leon-Vaur Caer-Leon ar Dufyr Dwy and by way of preheminence Caer as our Ancestors the Saxons Legeacester from the Legion's camp there and we more contractly â—â—er West-chester from its westwardly situation and simply Chester according to that verse Cestria de Castris nomen quasi Castria sumpsit Chester from Caster or the Camp was nam'd And without question these names were derived from the twentieth Legion call'd Victrix For in the second Consulship of Galba the Emperor with Titus Vinius that Legion was transported into Britain where growing too heady and too formidable to the Lieutenants as well to those of Consular dignity as those who had been only Praetors Vespasian the Emperor made Julius Agricola Lieutenant over them and they were at last seated in this City which I believe had not been then long built for a check and barriere to the Ordovices Tho' I know some do aver it to be older than the Moon to have been built many thousands of years ago by the gyant Leon Vaur But these are young Antiquaries and the name it self may convince them of the greatness of this errour For they cannot deny but that Leon Vaur in British signifies a great Legion and whether it is more natural to derive the name of this City from a great Legion or from the gyant Leon let the world judge considering that in Hispania Tarraconensis we find a territory call'd Leon from the seventh Legio Germanica and that the twentieth Legion call'd Britannica Valens Victrix and falsly by some Valeria Victrix was quarter'd in this City as Ptolemy Antoninus and the coins of Septimius Geta testifie c By the coins last mention'd it appears also that Chester was a Colony Chester â— Roman Colony for the reverse of them is inscribed COL DIVANA LEG XX. VICTRIX And tho' at this day there remain here few memorials of the Roman magnificence besides some pavements of Chequer-works yet in the last age it afforded many as Ranulph a Monk of this City tells us in his Polychronicon There are ways here under ground wonderfully arched with stone work vaulted Dining-rooms huge stones engraven with the names of the Ancients and sometimes coins digged up with the Inscriptions of Julius Caesar and other famous men Likewise Roger of Chester in his Polycraticon c This passage is likewise in the Polychronicon When I beheld the foundation of vast buildings up and down in the streets it seemed rather the effect of the Roman strength and the work of Giants than of the British industry The City is of a square form surrounded with a wall two miles in compass and contains eleven Parish-Churches 2 But that of St. John's without the North-gate was the fairest being a stately and solemn building as appears by the remains wherein were anciently Prebendaries and as some write the Bishop's See Upon a rising ground near the river stands the Castle built by the Earl of this place wherein the Courts Palatine and the Assizes were held twice a year The buildings are neat The Rowes and there are Piazza's on both sides along the chief street 3 They call them Rowes having shops on both sides through which a man may walk dry from one end unto the other The City has not been equally prosperous at all times first it was demolish'd by Egfrid the Northumbrian then by the Danes but repair'd by Aedelfleda * Domina Governess of the Mercians and soon after saw King Eadgar gloriously triumphing over the British Princes For being seated in a triumphal Barge at the fore-deck Kinnadius King of Scotland Malcolin King of Cumberland Circ An. 960. Macon King of Man and of the Islands with all the Princes of Wales brought to do him homage like Bargemen row'd him up the river Dee to the great joy of the Spectators Afterwards Churches restor'd Glaber Rodolphus about the year 1094. when as one says by a pious kind of contest the fabricks of Cathedrals and other Churches began to be more decent and stately and the Christian world began to raise it self from the old dejected state and sordidness to the decency and splendour of white Vestments Hugh the first of Norman blood that was Earl of Chester repaired the Church which Leofrick had formerly founded here in honour of the Virgin Saint Werburga and by the advice of Anselm whom he had invited out of Normandy granted the same unto the Monks Now the town is famous for the tomb of Henry the fourth Emperour of Germany who is said to have abdicated his Empire and become an Hermite here and also for its being an Episcopal See This See was immediately after the Conquest translated from Lichfield hither by Peter Bishop of Lichfield after it was transferred to Coventry and from thence into the ancient Seat again so that Chester continu'd without this dignity till the last age when King Henry the eighth displaced the Monks instituted Prebends and raised it again to a Bishop's See to contain within it's jurisdiction this County Lancashire Richmond c. and to be it self contained within the Province of York But now let us come to points of higher antiquity When the Cathedral here was built the Earls who were then Normans fortified the town with a wall and castle For as the Bishop held of the King that which belonged to his Bishoprick these are the very words of Domesday book made by William the Conquerour so the Earls with their men held of the King wholly all the rest of the city It paid gelt for fifty hides and there were 431 houses geldable and 7 Mint-masters When the King came in person here every Carrucat paid him 200 Hestha's one Cuna of Ale and one Rusca of Butter And in the same place For the repairing the city-wall and bridge the Provost gave warning by Edict that out of every hide of the County one man should come and whosoever sent not his man he was amerced 40 shillings to the King and Earl If I should particularly relate the skirmishes here between the Welsh and English in the beginning of the Norman times the many inroads and excursions the frequent firings of the suburbs of Hanbrid beyond the bridge whereupon the Welsh-men call it Treboeth that is the burnt town and tell you of the long wall made there of Welsh-mens skuls I should seem to forget my self and run too far into the business of an Historian From that time the town of Chester hath very much flourished and K. Hen. 7. incorporated it into a distinct County Nor is there now any requisite wanting to make it a flourishing city only the sea indeed is not so favourable as it has been to some few Mills that were formerly situated upon the river d ee for it
find no occasion of mistakes For example in regard the letter C. in the Welsh and Irish is before all Vowels pronounced like K. as Cilcen is read Kilken but in every other language obtains that Pronunciation only before a. o. and u. I have in such words as are purely Welsh substituted K. for it in the pronunciation whereof all Languages agree Nor can the Criticks in the Welsh call this an Innovation the Letter K. being common in ancient MSS. though never used in printed Books I have also for the like reasons taken the same liberty in writing V for F and F for Ff Lh for Ll and Dh for Dd. And whereas the word Lhan in the names of Churches is commonly joyn'd with that which follows as Lhanèlian Lhaniestin c. I thought it better Orthography to separate it writing Lhan Elian which signifies St. Aelian's Church and Lhan Iestin i.e. St. Justin's As for the Annotations I have added at the end of each County such as have the Letters of direction prefix'd are Notes on those places they refer to in the Text with occasional Additions And whereas in some Counties I had Notes to add which did not refer at all to any part of the Text I have inserted them after the Annotations with this mark ¶ prefixt What I have added are generally observations of my own and where they are not so I have taken care to inform the Reader I find upon perusal of Cornwall and those other Counties you lately sent me that the additional Notes on the English Counties are much more compleat than these and somewhat in a different method But my task was too large to be well perform'd by one hand except more time had been allow'd And having receiv'd no pattern for imitation but only some general Instructions I knew not how far I might enlarge and to have jump'd into the same method must have been a great accident However I find the difference is not very material nor is it of any great moment what method we use in Annotations so we take care to add nothing but what may seem to the best of our apprehension pertinent and instructive What faults you find in the Orthography I desire you would be pleas'd to correct and also in the Phrase where you suppose it convenient And where we disagree in the sense I shall upon notice thereof either give directions to alter it or offer some reasons to the contrary Oxford Sept. 13. 1694. I am SIR Your obliged Friend and Servant EDW. LHWYD Pronunciation of the WELSH Ch is pronounced as the English Gh amongst the Vulgar in the North but more roughly Dh as Th in the words This That c. G as the English G in the words Gain Gift c. I as in English in the words Win Kin but never as in Wind Kind c. Lh is only a sibilating L and is pronounc'd in respect of L as Th with reference to T. U as the English I in the words Limb Him c. W is always a Vowel and pronounced like the English oo Y as I in the English words Third Bird O in Honey Money U in Mud Must c. All the other Letters are pronounc'd as in English and never alter their pronunciation ' denotes a long Vowel as Mân is pronounced like the English word Mane ' shews only the Accent in short Vowels SOUTH WALES By Rob t Morden RADNORSHIRE ON the north-west of Herefordshire lies Radnorshire in British Sîr VaesÅ·ved of a triangular form and gradually more narrow where it is extended westward On the south the river Wye divides it from Brecknock and on the north-part lies Mongomeryshire The eastern and southern parts are well cultivated but elsewhere 't is so uneven with mountains that it can hardly be manured tho' well-stored with woods and water'd with rivulets and in some places standing lakes Towards the east it hath besides other Castles of the Lords Marchers now almost all bury'd in their own ruins Castelh pain to adorn it which was built and so called by Pain a Norman and Castelh Colwen â—â—â—telh â—â—lwen which if I mistake not was formerly call'd Maud-Castle in Colwent â—â—ud-â—â—stle v. â—â—stelh â—â—wn For there was a Castle of that name much noted whereof Robert de Todney a very eminent person was Governour in the time of Edward 2. It is thought to have belong'd before to the Breoses Lords of Brecknock and to have receiv'd that name from Maud of St. Valeric Pâ—â—taâ—â—sâ—â—a â—â—tth Par. a †malapert woman wife of William Breos who rebell'd against King John This Castle being demolish'd by the Welsh was rebuilt of stone by King Henry 3. in the year 1231. But of greatest note is Radnor â—â—dnor the chief town of the County call'd in British MaesÅ·ved fair built but with thatch'd houses as is the manner of that country Formerly 't was well fenc'd with walls and a Castle but being by that rebellious Owen Glyn Dòwrdwy â—â—en â—â—yndwr laid in ashes it decay'd daily as well as old Radnor â—â—d Radnor call'd by the Britains MaesÅ·ved hên and from it's high situation Pencraig which had been burnt by RhÅ·s ap Gruffydh in the reign of King John If I should say this MaesÅ·ved is that city Magos which Antoninus seems to call Magnos â—â—gi where as we read in the Notitia Provinciarum the Commander of the Pacensian regiment lay in garison under the Lieutenant of Britain in the reign of Theodosius the younger in my own judgment and perhaps others may entertain the same thoughts I should not be much mistaken For we find that the Writers of the middle age call the inhabitants of this Country Magesetae â—â—gesâ—tae and also mention Comites Masegetenses and Magesetenses and the distance from Gobannium or Aber-Gavenni as also from Brangonium or Worcester differs very little from Antonine's computation About three miles to the east of Radnor lies Prestean â—â—estean in British Lhan Andras or St. Andrews which from a small village in the memory of our grandfathers is now by the favour and encouragement of Martin Lord Bishop of St. David's become so eminent a market town that it does in some measure eclipse Radnor Scarce four miles hence lies Knighton â—â—ighton which may vye with Prestean call'd by the Britains as I am inform'd Trebuclo for TrevÅ·klawdh from the dike 〈◊〉 Dike that lies under it which was cast up with great labour and industry by Offa the Mercian as a boundary between his Subjects and the Britains f om the mouth of Dee to that of the river Wye for the space of about 90 miles whence the Britains have call'd it Klawdh Offa or Offa's Dyke Concerning which Joannes Sarisburiensis in his Polycraticon saith that Harald establish'd a Law that whatever Welshman should be found arm'd on this side the limit he had set them to wit Offa's Dike his right hand should be cut off by the King's officers a All the
slow and easie and hence that slow river Araris in France takes its name Araris in Gaul That part of the Country where the head of this river lyes is call'd Craven Craven possibly from the British word Crage a rock for what with stones steep rocks and rough ways this place is very wild and unsightly In the very middle of which and not far distant from the Are stands Skipton Skipton hid as it were with those stâ—ep precipices lying quite round just like * Lateo Latium in Italy which Varro thinks was really so call'd from its low situation under the Appennine and the Alps. The town is pretty handsome considering the manner of building in these mountainous parts and is secured by a very beautiful and strong Castle built by Robert de Rumeley by whose posterity it came to be the inheritance of the Earls of Albemarle But being afterwards escheated as the Lawyers term it to the Crown Edward the second gave it with other large possessions hereabouts in exchange to Robert de Clifford ancestor to the Earls of Cumberland for some lands of his in the Marches of Wales q The Are having pass'd Craven is carried in a much larger chanel with pleasant fields on both sides by Kigheley from which the famous family of Kigheley Kigheley derive their name One of whom call'd h Sir Henry Kigheley was there interr'd but the date of his death is not legible Henry Kigheley procured from Edward the first for his manour here the privilege of a Market and Fair Libera Warrenn and a free Warren so that none might enter into those grounds to chase there or with design to catch any thing pertaining to the said Warren without the permission and leave of the said Henry and his Successors Which was a very considerable favour in those days and I the rather take notice of it because it teaches us the nature and meaning of a Free-Warren The male-issue in the right line of this family ended in Henry Kigheley of Inskip within the memory of this age the daughters and heiresses were married one to William Cavendish at this time Baron Cavendish of Hardwick the other to Thomas Worseley of Boothes From hence the river Are glides on by Kirkstall a famous Monastery founded about the year 1147. by Henry Lacy. And thence by Leedes â—â—â—â—ds in Saxon Loydes which was made a royal village when Cambodunum was burnt down by the enemy now enriched by the woollen manufacture Here Oswy the Northumbrian routed Penda the Mercian to the great advantage says Bede of both people for it both secured his own nation from the inroads of the Pagans and was the occasion of converting the Mercians to the Christian Religion The very spot where this engagement was goes by the name of Winwidfield Winwidfield in our Historians I suppose deriv'd from the victory it self as when Quintilius Varus and his Legions were cut off in Westphalia the place of Action was called in High Dutch Winfield the field of Victory as the most learned and my most worthy friend Abraham Ortelius has well observed r The Country for some little way about it was formerly called by the old word h That is Ulmarium or Ulmetum a grove of Elms. Evasit autem ignem sc qui villam Regiam ad Donafeld penitus absuâ—psit Altare quia lapideum erat servatur adhuc in Monasterio Reverendissimi Abbatis Presbyteri Thrythwulfi quod in Sylva Elmete est Bede Eccl. Hist l. 2. c. 14. 'T is possible this Monastery might be plac'd at Berwick in Elmet See afterwards under the title Berwick in â—imet Elmet Elmet which Edwin King of Northumberland son of Ella brought under his own dominion Ninius by the conquest of Cereticus a British King An. Dom. 620. There is Limestone Limestone plentifully found heâ—e they burn it at Brotherton and Knottingley and at certain seasons convey it in great quantities for sale to Wakefield Sandall and Standbridge from thence it is sold into the western parts of this County which are naturally cold and mountainous and herewith they manure and improve the soil But leaving these things to the husbandmen let us return s The Calder above-mention'd is at last received by the Are near the union of them stands the little village Castleford Castleford but called by Marianus Casterford who tells us that the Citizens of York slew many of Etheldred's army pursuing them in a disorderly flight when he infested this Country for their treachery and breach of Leagues Yet the older name of this place is that in Antoninus where 't is called Legeolium Legeolium and Lagetium which among other remarkable and express remains of antiquity is confirmed by those great numbers of Coins called by the common people sarasins-Sarasins-heads dug up here in Beanfeild a place near the Church and so called from the beans that grow there Also by the distance of it from Danum and Eboracum on each side not to mention its situation by a Roman way nor that Hoveden expresly calls it a City t The river Are now enlarged by the confluence of the Calder leaves Brotherton Bâ—otherton on the lâ—ft where * His second wife Margaret Queen to King Edw. 1. took up as she was hunting and was brought to bed of her son i He was born June 1. An. Dom. 1300. having his Christian name from S. Thomas of Canterbury whom his mother in the extremity of her pain pray'd â—o for ease It is reported that the Nurse design'd for him was a French-woman whose milk he could not endure but that an English-woman bâ—ing brought he lik'd hers well enough Thomas sirnamed de Brotherton from this place who was afterwards Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England Somewhat below this town the river Are is joyned by the Dan and then runs into the river Ouse On the right there is found a yellow marle A yellow Marle of such virtue that the fields once manur'd with it prove fruitful many years after From hence the river is still carry'd on not much wide of Pontfract or broken bridge commonly called Pontfreit Pontfreit which arose out of the ruins of Legcolium In the Saxon times the name of this town was Kirkby which was changed by the Normans into Pontfract T. de Castleford because of a broken bridge there The story is that there was a wooden bridge over this river there when William Archbishop of York and sister's son to King Stephen returned from Rome and that he was welcom'd here with such a c owd of people that the bridge broke and they fell into the river S. Guilielmus Eboracensis but the Archbishop wept and prayed so fervently that not one of them was lost u This town is sweetly situated and is remarkable for producing Liquorish and Skirworts in great plenty the buildings are neat and secured by a castle which is very stately
connexion of Letters which the Engraver has given you pretty exactly It seems to be read thus Jovi Optimo Maximo Ala Augusta ob virtutem appellata cui praeest Publius Aelius Publii filius Sergia Magnus de Mursa ex Pannonia inferiore Praefectus Aproniano fortasse Bradua Consulibus The third Altar Under Commodus in the year of our Lord 193. inscrib'd to the Local Deity Belatucadrus is thus to be read Belatucadro Julius Civilis Optio id est Excubiis Praefectus votum solvit libens merito The fourth is very fair and has nothing of difficulty in it 'T is to be read thus Diis Deabusque Publius Posthumius Acilianus Praefectus Cohortis primae Delmatarum Such Altars as these for we may make our observations upon those Rites tho' Christianity that most holy Religion have abolish'd them as also their victims and themselves too they us'd to crown with garlands to offer frankincense and wine at them to slay their sacrifices and to anoint the very Altars Gentile Altars Of the extirpation whereof upon the prevailing of Christianity thus Prudentius Exercere manum non poenitet lapis illic Si stetit antiquus quem cingere sueverat error Fasciolis aut gallinae pulmone rigare Frangitur Nor spar'd they pains if thus their zeal they show'd If in their way some ancient Altar stood Oft deckt with ribbands sprinkled oft with blood Down went the sacred stone At the same place I saw also the following Inscriptions PRO SA ANTONINI A V-PII F P. AVLVS * Publii filius P. F. PALATINA POSTHVMIVS ACILIANVS PRAEF COH I. DELMATAR * Diis Manibus D M INGENVI AN. X. IVL. SIMPLEX PATER * Faciendum curavit F C. D M. MORI REGIS FILII HEREDES EIVS SVBSTITVE RVNT VIX A. LXX HIC EXSEGERE FATA ENVS SC GERMA S REG VIX AN S VIX AN IX D M LVCA VIX ANN IS XX. D M IVLIA MARTIM A. VIX AN XII III D. XX H. i.e. Victoriae Augustorum Dominorum nostrorum After the Shore has run a little way directly from hence it bends in so with a winding and crooked aestuary or bay that it seems to be the Moricambe Moricambe which Ptolemy fixes hereabouts such an agreement is there between the nature of the place and the old name For this aestuary is crooked and Moricambe signifies in British a crooked Sea Upon this is the Abbey of Ulme or Holme-Cultrain Holme-Cultraine founded by David the first King of Scotland but Vulstey a Fortress hard by was built by the Abbots for the securing of their Books and Charters against the sudden incursions of the Scots Here they say are still preserv'd the Magick-Books of Michael Scot Michael Scot. but now mouldering to dust He was a Monk of this place about the year 1290. and apply'd himself so closely to the Mathematicks and other abstruse parts of Learning that he was generally lookt upon as a Conjurer and a vain credulous temper has handed down I know not what Miracles of his Below this Monastery the bay receives the little Waver encreas'd by the Wize a small river at the head whereof the melancholy ruins of an ancient City teach us That nothing in this world is out of the reach of Fate By the neighbouring Inhabitants it is call'd Old Carlisle but what its ancient name should be I know not unless it was the Castra Exploratorum Castra â—ploraâ—â— Of the â—an 〈◊〉 more 〈◊〉 The Pâ—â—â— Wal. The distance in Antoninus who gives us the most considerable places but does not always go to them by the shortest cut both from Bulgium and Lugu-vallum answers very well For spying of an Enemy you could not have a more convenient place for 't is seated upon a high hill which commands a free prospect all round the Country d So call'd from a small Chapel there dedicated to S. Hilda However 't is very certain that the Ala or Wing upon the account of its valour nam'd Augusta and Augusta Gordiana quarter'd here in the time of Gordianus Ala â—â—sta â—â—na as appears by those Inscriptions which I saw in the neighbourhood d At 〈…〉 * Jovi optimo maxiâ—â— I O M ALA AVG. OB RTVT APPEL CVI PRAEEST TIB. CL. TIB. F. P IN G N IVSTINVS PRAEF FVSCIANO II SILANO II COS. D M MABLI NIVS SEC VNDVS EQVIS ALE AVG STE STIP I O M PRO SALVTE IMPERATORIS M. ANTONI GORDIANI P. F. INVICTI AVG ET SABINIAE TR IAETRANQVILE CONIVGI EIVS TO TAQVE DOMV DIVIN EORVM ALA AVG. GORDIA OB VIRTVTEM APPELLATA POSVIT CVI PRAEEST AEMILIVS CRISPINVS PRAEF EQQ. NATVS IN PRO AFRICA DE TVIDRO SVB CVR NONNII PHLIPPI LEG AVG PROPRETO ATTICO ET PRAETEXTATO An. Christ 243. COSS. 8 This Votive Altar also of a rude stone was erected for the happy health of the Emperour Gordian the third and his wife Furia Sabina Tranquilla and their whole family by the troop of Horsemen sirnam'd Augusta Gordiana when Aemilius Crispinus a native of Africa govern'd the same under Nonnius Philippus Lieutenant General of Britain in the year of Christ 243. as appeareth by the Consuls thâ—rein specify'd And the Altars were brought from hence which are set up in the High-way at Wigton â—â—gton on the sides whereof one sees a Simpulum a Fusile a Malleus a Patera c. sacrificing vessels but Age has so entirely wore out the Inscriptions that there is no appearance of Letters And not far from hence upon the Military way was dug up a Pillar of rude stone now to be seen at Thoresby â—â—â—resby with this Inscription 9 To the honour of Philip the Emperour and his son who flourish'd about the year of our Lord 248. IMP CAES M. IVL. PHILIPPO PIO FELI CI AVG ET M. IVL. PHI LIPPO NOBILIS SIMO CAES TR. P. COS ... This also among others was copy'd out for me by Oswald Dykes a very learned Divine and is now at Wardal the seat of his brother T. Dykes a very worthy Gentleman DEO SANCTO BELA TVCADRO AVRELIVS DIATOVA 〈◊〉 Aram 〈◊〉 ARA E X VOTO POSVIT LL. MM. And to another Local Deity was found this Inscription DEO CEAI IO AVR M RTI. ET M S ERVRACIO PRO SE ET SVIS V. S. LL. M. Besides these an infinite number of little Images Statues on horseback Eagles Lions Ganymeds with several other evidences of Antiquity are daily dug up A little higher â—ay-â—h by Scots there juts out a small Promontory below which is a large arm of the Sea at present the boundary of England and Scotland but formerly of the Roman Province and the Picts Upon this little Promontory is that old Town Blatum-Bulgium possibly from the British Bulch â—m-â—ium signifying a partition or divorce from which as the most remote place and the limit of the Province of Britain Antoninus begins his Itinerary The Inhabitants at
confiscated by Act of Parliament The head city of this county is Limerick encompass'd by the Shanon a famous river which divides its stream and embraces it The Irish call it Å¿ Louminagh is the name Loumeagh Limeâ—ick L umeagh the English Limerick It is a Bishop's See and the great mart of this Province of Munster first taken by Reimund le Gross an Englishman the son of William Girald afterwards it was burnt by Duvenald a petty King of Thuetmond At last it was given in fee to Philip Breos an Englishman and King John fortified it with a castle At present t is reputed two towns the upper for so they call it where stands the cathedral and the castle has two gates which give entrance to it and each of them a fair stone bridge leading to them strengthen'd with bulwarks and little draw-bridges one of which leads Westward the other East The lower town which is joyned to this is fortified with a wall and castle and a fore-gate at the entrance More to the East stands Clan-William Clan-William so called from a family of that name descended from the House de Burgo which the Irish call Bourk who inhabit it Of this family was that William who slew James Fitz-Moris the plague and firebrand of this country upon whom Queen Elizabeth conferr'd the title and honour of Baron of Castle-Conel where Richard Rufus Earl of Ulster Baron â—f Castâ—e-Coneâ— had fortified the Castle together with a yearly pension in recompense for his bravery and the loss of his sons slain in that conflict In the South part of this county stands t Killmalock Kil-mallo next in dignity to Limerick both in respect of plenty and populousness and walled round Likewise Adare a little town fortified heretofore situate upon the same river which straightways from thence runs into the Shanon near which stands u This is now in the County of Cork Clan Gibbon Clâ—n Gibbâ—n the Lord whereof John Fitz-Girald called John Oge Fitz-John Fitz-Gibbon and from the grey hair of his head the white Knight was banished by Act of Parliament But by the clemency of Queen Elizabeth his son was restored to the whole estate The most noted and eminent in this tract besides these Bourks and Fitz-Giralds are the Lacies the Browns the Hurleys the Chacys the Sapells the Pourcells all of English extraction the Mac-Shees and the Mac-brien O Brians c. of Irish extraction The County of TIPPERARY THE County of Tipperary is bounded on the west with that of Limerick and the river Shanon on the east with the County of Kilkenny on the south with the Counties of Cork and Waterford and on the north with the territory of the O Carolls The south part is very fruitful produces much corn and is well built The west part of it is water'd by the long course of the river Glason Emely not far from the bank whereof stands Emely or Awn a Bishop's See and by report a very populous and well frequented city heretofore The Sewer or Swire a noble river which rises at Badin-hill runs through the middle of it and so through the lower Ossery Lower-Ossâ—ry which by the bounty of King Henry the 8th gave the title of Earl to the Butlers and then through Thurles which gave them the title of Viscounts from whence it passes by Holy-Cross a famous Abby heretofore which makes the Country about it to be commonly called the County of the Holy Cross of Tipperary The County of the holy Cross of Tipperary The wood of the Cross This Abby enjoys certain privileges granted in honour of a piece of Christ's Cross preserv'd there The whole world says St. Cyrill is fill'd with pieces of this Cross and yet as Paulinus says by a constant miracle it hath never been diminished This was the belief and opinion of Christians in ancient times And it is incredible what a concourse of people do still out of devotion throng hither as to a holy place For this nation does yet firmly persevere in the religion of their fore-fathers which is now grown in more reputation than ever by the neglect and ignorance of their Bishops for there is none here to instruct them otherwise Cassil From hence the Swire passes by Cassil adorn'd with an Archbishop's See by Eugenius the third Bishop of Rome with many suffragan Bishops under it and so forward making many Islands as it runs along till it encompasses Cahir-Castle which has its Baron one of the family of the Butlers raised to that honour by Queen Elizabeth But his son proving disloyal was thereupon attainted the castle being taken by the Earl of Essex in the year 1599 and he himself committed From whence it runs by Clomell Clomell a market town of good resort and well fortified and also by Carick Mac-Griffin situated upon a rock from which it takes its name the habitation of the Earls of Ormond which with the honour of Earl of Carrick was granted by King Edward the 2d to Edmund Boteler or Butler Here it leaves Tipperary Earl of Caâ—rick Annâ— 9. Edw. 2. and becomes a boundary to the Counties of Waterford and Kilkenny Thus much concerning the south part of this County That northward is but barren and mountaneous twelve of the hills here are huddled together and over-top the rest these they call Phelem-ge-Modona This north part is call'd in Latin Ormondia Ormondia Butlers Earls of Oâ—mandâ—â— in Irish Orwowon that is The front of Mounster in English Ormond and by many very corruptly Wormewood It s glory is from its Earls who have been many since James Butler a The heir of this noble family is now Duke of Ormond both in England and Ireland to whom and his heirs King Edw. the third gave this title for term of life Anno 2. Ed. 3. together with the royalties and other liberties as also the Knights-fees in the County of Tipperary which by the favour of the Kings of England his posterity still enjoy Earl f Tipperary Hence this County is reputed Palatine and he has been call'd by some the Earl of Tipperary The ancestors of this James were heretofore Butlers of Ireland an honourable office from which they derive the name of Le Boteler or Butler Those of this family were nearly related to Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury being descended from his sister After his murder they were translated into Ireland by King Hen. the 2d who hoped to redeem his credit in the world by preferring his relations to wealth and honours The first Earl of Ormond in this family was James son of Edmund Earl of Carrick who married the daughter of Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford by a daughter of King Edw. the first and this was their first step towards honour Hereupon his son James was commonly called by the people the noble Earl The fifth Earl of this family not to be particular in the account of them had the
a garison-castle is so situate upon the river that no ships can pass to Waterford or Ross but by its permission and therefore they took care to fortifie it in the year 1588 when the Spaniards intended to conquer Ireland From hence to the very mouth of the river a narrow neck of land shoots out upon which stands a high tower built by the citizens of Ross in the time of their prosperity for the direction of mariners into the river's mouth At a little distance from hence upon a winding shore stands Tintern Tintern Monast de Voto where William Marshall Earl of Pembrooke built a famous Monastery and called it De Voto because in a dangerous storm he had made a vow to found one and being here cast upon the shore chose this place Hieron Promontory This very Promontory Ptolemy calls Hieron which signifies sacred and I don't question but it was call'd to the same sense by the inhabitants For the last town in it Byaun in Irish sacred where the English landed when they first invaded this Island is call'd in Irish Banna which signifies holy From this Holy-Promontory the shore turns eastward and winds about again for a long way towards the north over-against which the sea is full of flats and shallows very dangerous and called by the mariners the Grounds The Grounds Here Ptolemy fixes the river Modona The river Modona and the city Menapia standing at the mouth of it names so utterly lost at this day that I plainly despair of giving any light to a thing so very much involved in darkness Yet seeing there is but one river empties it self here and that in a manner parting this country in two called Slane as also The river Slane that upon the mouth where it stagnates there stands a city call'd by a German name Weisford Weisford the head town of this County methinks I could at least conjecture with some confidence that this Slane is that Modona and this Weisford Menapia and the rather because this name is but novel and of a German original having been given it by those Germans whom the Irish call Oustmen This city is none of the greatest but as remarkable as any being the first of this Island that submitted to the English reduced by Fitz-Stephens a valiant Commander and made a Colony of the English Upon this account this shire is very full of English who dress after the old fashion and speak the old language but with some allay and mixture of Irish Dermic who first drew the English hither gave this city and the territory about it to Fitz-Stephen for ever who began a burrough-town hard by at Carricke and with great art improved those advantages wherewith nature had fortified the place But he having surrendred his right to King Henry the second the King made it over to Richard Earl of Pembrook in fee to hold of him and the Kings of England for ever from whom by the Earls Mareschals it fell to the Valences of the family of Lusignian in France and the Hastings it fell to the Greys Lord of Ruthin called always in old Charters Lords of Weisford though in Henry the 6th's time J. Talbot is once mentioned 18 In the Records in the Acts of Parliament by the title of Earl of Shrewsbury and Weisford Concerning the river take this Distick of Necham's such as it is Ditat Eniscortum flumen quod Slana vocatur Hunc cernit Weisford se sociare sibi Enrich'd by Slane does Eniscort appear And Weisford sees him join his stream with her For c Eniscorthy Eniscort a Burrough-town stands upon this river as also more inward upon the same Fernes only famous for its Bishop's See which the Fitz-Giralds formerly fortified with a castle Hard by on the other side the Slane live the Cavenaghs the Donels Montaghs and O-mores Irish families of turbulent and seditious spirits as also the Sinotts the Roches and the Peppards all English On this side those of greatest note are the Viscounts Mont-Garret the first of whom was 19 Richard Edmund Butler a younger son of Peter Earl of Ormond dignified with that title by Edward the 6th and many other of the same name with the Devereux Staffords Chevers Whites Forlongs Fitz-Harrys Brownes Hores Haies Coddes and Mailers of English blood and original as are very many of the common people CAVCI The Cauci THE Cauci who were also a people of Germany seated upon the sea inhabited that part of the country next the Menapii but not at the same distance as those in Germany They lived in that sea-coast country now possess'd by the O-Tools O-Tools and Birns Birns Irish families that live by blood and wickedness ever restless and unquiet confiding in the strength of their forts and garisons they obstinately withstand all law and live in implacable enmity with the English To put a stop to their outrage and to make them conformable to the laws it was debated by very wise men in the year 1578 how those parts might be reduced into a County and at last they were divided into six Baronies and laid within certain limits constituting d This County of Wicklow has besides the town of Wicklow famous for the best ale in Ireland the town of Arklow several pretty Villages and some Noblemen's seats It is so well inhabited with English and by them improved to that degree as to make it inferior to few Counties in this Kingdom the County of Wicklo or Arcklo Arcklo For here is a place of that name which is eminent above the rest and a castle of the Earls of Ormond who among other titles of honour stile themselves Lords of Arcklo Below which that river call'd Ovoca in Ptolemy runs into the sea 20 Making a Creek and as Giraldus Cambrensis says is of that nature that as well when the tide flows as ebbs in this creek it retains its natural taste and freshness preserving it self unmixt and free from any tincture of salt to the very sea The County of DIVELIN or DVBLIN BEyond the Cauci lived the Eblani in that tract which is now the County of Dublin or Divelin bounded on the east by the Irish sea on the west by the County of Kildare on the south by the little territories of the O-Tools and O-Birns and those which they term the Glinnes â—â—e Glinâ—â—â— and lastly on the north by the County of Meath and the river Nanny The soil produces good corn and yields grass and fodder very plentifully and the County is well stock'd with game both for hunting and fowling but so naked for the most part that they generally burn a fat kind of a turf or else coal out of England instead of wood In the south part which is less improved and cultivated there is now and then a hill pretty thick with wood upon the top of it under which lie the low vales call'd Glynnes thick set with woods and
defeated This occasion'd a general Insurrection in Scotland of both Earls and Barons against the King of England There was also at this time a Quarrel between the King of England and Roger Bigod Earl Marshal but this was soon made up S. Lewis a Frier minor Son of the King of Sicily and Archbishop of Cologn died this year This year also the son and heir of the King of Maliager i.e. of the Islands of Majorac instituted the Order of the Friers-minors at the direction of S. Lewis who bid him go and do it Item Leghlin in Ireland with other Towns were burnt by the Irish of Slemergi Item Calwagh O Hanlen and Yneg Mac-Mahon were slain in Urgale MCCXCVIII Pope Boniface IV. on the morrow of the Feast of S. Peter â—â—d S. Paul all things being then quiet made Peace between England â—â—d France upon certain Terms Item Edward King of England â—â—d an Army again into Scotland to conquer it There were slain 〈◊〉 this Expedition about the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen many â—â—ousands of the Scots at Fawkirk The Sun appear'd that day 〈◊〉 red as Blood in Ireland while the Battel at Fawkirk continu'd â—â—em about the same time the Lord King of England gave his Knights the Earldoms and Baronies of those Scots that were slain â—n Ireland Peace was concluded between the Earl of Ulster and the Lord John Fitz-Thomas about the Feast of Simon and Jude Also â—â—e morrow after the Feast of the seven Sleepers the Sun-beams â—ere chang'd into a bloodish colour all the morning to the great â—dmiration of every one Item This year died Thomas Fitz-â—aurice Knight and Sir Robert Bigod sometime Justiciary in the â—ench Item In the City Artha as also Reath in Italy during â—â—e stay of Pope Boniface there happen'd so great an Earthquake â—â—at Towers and Palaces fell down and the Pope and his Cardiâ—als fled out of the City with great consternation Item on the Feast of Epiphany there was an Earthquake in Engâ—â—nd from Canterbury to Hampton but not so violent MCCXCIX Theobald Lord Botilter the younger died in the Mannor of Turby on the second day before the Ides of May His Corps were convey'd towards Weydeney i. e Weney in the County of Limerick on the 6th day before the Calends of June Item Edward King of England married the Lady Margaret Sister to the noble King of France in Trinity-church at Canterâ—ury about the Feast of the Holy Trinity Item the Sultan of Baâ—ylon with a great Army was defeated by Cassan King of Tarâ—â—ry MCCXCIX On the day after the Purification there was an inâ—â—â—ite number of Saracen-horse slain besides as many Foot Item There was this same year a Fight of Dogs at Genelon-castle in â—urgundy the number of the Dogs were 3000 and all kill'd but â—â—e Item This year many Irish came to the Castle of Roch â—efore the Annunciation to give some disturbance to the Lord Theâ—bald de Verdon MCCC The * Numisma Pollardorum Pollard-mony was prohibited in England and Ireland Item King Edward enter'd Scotland with an Army in Autumn but was stay'd by an order from Pope Boniface and to excuse himself sent certain Envoys to the Court of Rome Item Thomas son â—o the King of England was born at Brotherton by Margaret the King of France's Sister on the last day of May. Item Edward Earl of Cornwall dy'd this year without issue and was buried in â—he Abby of Hailes MCCCI. Edward King of England enter'd Scotland with an Army Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and Sir John Fitz-Thomas Peter Bermingham and many others set sail from Ireâ—and to assist him Item A great part of the City of Dublin was â—urnt down together with the Church of S. Warbutga on S. Caâ—â—mb's day at night Item Sir Jeffrey Genevil married the daughâ—er of Sir John Montefort and Sir John Mortimer married the daughter and heir of Sir Peter Genevil and the Lord Theobald Verdon married the daughter of the Lord Roger Mortimer The People of Leinster took up Arms in the Winter and burnt the Towns of Wyklo and Rathdon c. but they suffer'd for 't for the greater â—art of their Provisions at home was burnt up and their Cattel â—ole so that they had certainly famish'd if a sedition had not hapned among the English at that juncture Item A small company of the Brenies were defeated this year by the Tolans and 300 of those Robbers were cut off Item A great part of Mounster was wasted by Walter Power and many Farm-houses burnt MCCCII This year died the Lady Margaret Wife to Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland on the 3d day before the Ides of April And in the week following Maud Lacy the Wife of Sir Geffery Genevil died also Item Edmund Botiller recoverd the Mannour de S. Bosco Holywood forte with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging from Sir Richard Feringes Archbishop of Dublin by a Fine in the King's bench after the feast of S. Hilary Item the Flemings defeated the French in Flanders at Courtenay the Wednesday after the feast of S. Thomas In this Engagement were slain the Earl of Artois the Earl of Albemarle the Earl of Hue Ralph de Neel Constable of France Guy de Nevil Marshal of France the Earl of Hennaund's son Godfrey de Brabant and his son William de Fenles and his son James de S. Paul lost his hand and fourty Baronets were kill'd that day with Knights Squires c. without number The Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Pope Boniface for three years as a Subsidy for the Church of Rome against the King of Arragon Item upon the day of the Circumcision Sir Hugh Lacy made an inroad upon Sir Hugh Vernail and drove off his Beasts This year Robert Brus Earl of Carrick married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster Item Edward Botiller married the daughter of Sir John Fitz-Thomas The City of Bourdeaux with others thereabouts which Edward King of England had formerly lost by a sedition of the French were now restor'd upon S. Andrew's-eve by the means of the Lord John Hastings MCCCIII Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster and Sir Eustace Power invaded Scotland with a strong Army But after that the Earl himself had made 33 Knights in the Castle of Dublin he passed over into Scotland to assist the King of England Item Gerald the son and heir of Sir John Fitz-Thomas departed this life This year the King and Queen of France were excommunicated with all their Children by Pope Boniface who also confirm'd the privileges of the University of Paris Soon after the Pope was taken Prisoner and kept as it were in Prison three whole days Soon after the Pope dy'd The Countess of Ulster died likewise about this time Item Walran Wellesly and Sir Robert Percivall were slain this year on the 11th day before the Kalends of November MCCCIV A great part of Dublin was burnt down viz. the Bridge-street a good part of
call'd Hogelyn John de Northon John de Breton and many others Item On the 16th before the kalends of July Dolovan Tobyr and other towns and villages bordering upon them were burnt down by the said malefactors Item Soon after this a great Parliament was held at London wherein a sad difference arose between the Barons upon the account of Pieirs Gaveston who was banish'd out of the Kingdom of England the day after the feast of S. John the baptist's nativity and went over into Ireland about the feast of the Saints Quirita and Julita together with his wife and sister the Countess of Glocester and came to Dublin in great state and there continued Item William Mac Baltor a stout robber and incendiary was condemn'd in the court of our Lord the King at Dublin by the Lord Chief Justice John Wogan on the 12th before the kalends of September and was drawn at a horse's tail to the gallows and there hang'd as he deserv'd Item This year a marble cistern was made to receive the Water from the conduit-conduit-head in Dublin such as was never before seen here by the Mayor of the City Master John Decer and all at his own proper expences This same John a little before made a bridge to be built over the river Aven-Liffie near the priory of S. Wolstan He also built the Chappel of S. Mary of the Friers minors wherein he was buried and the Chappel of S. Mary of the Hospital of S. John in Dublin Item This John Decer was bountiful to the convent of Friers Predicants in Dublin For instance he made one stone-pillar in the Church and laid the great stone upon the high altar with all its ornaments Item He entertain'd the friers at his own table on the 6th day of the week out of pure charity as the seniors have reported to their juniors Item The Lord John Wogan took ship in Autumn to be at the parliament of England and the Lord William Bourk was appointed Keeper of Ireland in his room Item This year on the eve of S. Simon and Jude the Lord Roger de Mortimer and his Lady the right heir of Meth the daughter of the Lord Peter son of Sir Gefferey Genevil arriv'd in Ireland As soon as they landed they took possession of Meth Sir Gefferey Genevil giving way to them and entring himself into the order of the Friers predicants at Trym the morrow after S. Edward the Archbishop's day Item Dermot Odympsy was slain at Tully by the servants of Sir Piers Gaveston Item Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster at Whitsontide made a great feast at Trym and conferr'd Knighthood upon Walter Lacie and Hugh Lacie In the vigil of the Assumption the Earl of Ulster came against Piers Gaveston Earl of Cornwal at Drogheda and at the same time turn'd back towards Scotland Item This year Maud the Earl of Ulster's daughter imbark'd for England in order for a marriage with the Earl of Glocester which within a month was consummated between them Item Maurice Caunton kill'd Richard Talon and the Roches afterwards kill'd him Item Sir David Caunton was hang'd at Dublin Item Odo the son of Cathol O Conghir kill'd Odo O Conghiâ— King of Connaght Item Athi was burnt by the Irish MCCCIX Peter Gaveston subdued the O Brynnes in Ireland and rebuilt the new castle of Mackingham and the castle of Kemny he also cut down and scour'd the pass between Kemny castle and Glyndelagh in spite of all the opposition the Irish could make and sâ— march'd away and offer'd in the Church of S. Kimny The same year the Lord Peter Gaveston went over into Englanâ— on the eve of S. John Baptist's Nativity Item The Earl of Ulster's son's wife daughter of the Earl oâ— Glocester came into Ireland on the 15th of October Item On Christmas-eve the Earl of Ulster returned out of England and landed at Drogheda Item On the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sir John Bonevil was slain near the town of Arstol by Sir Arnold Pover and his accomplices and buried at Athy in the Church of the Frierâ— predicants Item A Parliament was held at Kilkenny in the octaves of thâ— Purification of the Blessed Mary by the Earl of Ulster John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and others of the nobility wherein a difference among certain of the great men was adjusted and many proviso's made in the nature of statutes that might havâ— been of good consequence to the Kingdom if they had been observ'd Item Shortly after Sir Edward Botiller return'd out of England where he had been knighted at London Item The Earl of Ulster Roger Mortimer and Sir John Fitz-Thomas went over into England Item This year died Sir Theobald Verdon MCCCX. King Edward and Sir Peter Gaveston took theiâ— march for Scotland against Robert Brus. Item There was this year a great scarcity of corn in Ireland * Eranca an eranc of corn sold at the rate of twenty shilling and upwards Item The Bakers of Dublin were punish'd after a new way foâ— false weights For on S. Sampson the Bishop's day they werâ— drawn upon hurdles at the horses tails along the streets of thâ— City Item In the Abby of S. Thomas the Martyr at Dublin Sir Neiâ— Bruin Knight Escheator to our Lord the King in Ireland departed this life his corps was buried at the Friers-minors in Dublin witâ— such a pomp of tapers and wax-lights as never was before seen iâ— this Kingdom This year a Parliament was held at Kildare wherin Sir Arnold Pover was acquitted of the death of the Lord Bonevil for it waâ— found Se defendendo Item On S. Patrick's day Mr. Alexander Bickenor was witâ— the unanimous consent of the Chapter made Archbishop of Dublin Item The Lord Roger Mortimer in the octaves of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin return'd into Ireland Item This year died Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln MCCCXI In Thomond at Bonnorathie the Lord Richarâ— Clare gave the Earl of Ulster's party a very strange defeat Thâ— Lord William Bourk and John the Lord Walter Lacy's Son werâ— taken prisoners with many others This battle was fought on thâ— 13th before the kalends of June and great numbers both of thâ— English and the Irish slain in it Item Tassagard and Rathcante were invaded by the rapperies namely the O Brinnes and O Tothiles the day after S. John Baptist's nativity Whereupon in the Autumn soon after a greaâ— army was rais'd in Leinster to defeat them both in Glindelory anâ— in other woody places Item In August a Parliament was holden at London between thâ— King and the Barons to consider the state of the Kingdom and thâ— King's houshold and a committee of six Bishops six Earls and six Barons was appointed to consult the good of the Realm Item On the 2d day before the Ides of November the Lord Richard Clare cut off 600 Galegolaghes Item On All saints day last past Peter Gaveston was banished out of England by the Earls and Barons and many good statutes were