Shafton Dorchester Blanford And in these 5 Divisions are 29 Hundreds viz. White-Church H. Bemister Redohave Tollerford Lowsbarrow Eggardon Vgscomb Sherbourn Yeatminster Buckland Redlane Brownsell Whitway H. Puddletown Winfrith Beere Rushmore Cogdeane Badbury Knowlton Vpwinborn Newton George Rowbarrow Hasler H. Craneborne Culliford Totcomb H. Pimpern And in these Hundreds are 19 Market-Towns Middleton Mon. Pool Mond Thur. Weymouth Melcom Reg. Tu. F. Cerne Abbas Wed. Cranborn Wed. Abbots Bury Thurs Sherbourn Th. Sat. Corse Castle Th. Sturminster Th. Frampton Th. Wimborn Minster Fr. Dorchester Sat. Shaftsbury Sat. Blandford Sat. VVorham Sat. Lime Bird Port Bemyster Everstwit The Chief and most remarkable place in this Shire is Dorchester lying in 50 deg and 35 min. of North Latitude It bears from London S. W. by W. and is distant therefrom 85 miles thus To Basing-stoke 39. to Stockbridge 55. to Dunkton 67. to Cranburn 76. to Blandford 85. to Dorchester 97. but by measure on the Road 112 miles This City is situate on the South-side of Frome and hath formerly been Walled about part of which Wall upon the West and South side yet remaineth Not far from which there remaineth the Tract and Trench almost meeting the River a Fortification of Earth trenched about and mounted above the ordinary plain 150 foot and contains about five Acres of Ground wherein plenty of Corn grows This City is Governed by 2 Bailiffs elected out of 8 Magistrates or Aldermen a Recorder Town-Clerk and 2 Sergeants attending them The Earls and Marquesses of Dorchester since the first constitution are Osmond Earl of Dorset John Beaufort Marquess of Dorchester Thomas Grey Marquess of Dor. Thomas Sackvile Earl of Dor. Things remarkable in this Shire At Pool in this County upon the 20th of June 1653. it is reported that it rained warm Blood In the Haven of Pool the Sea contrary to all other Ports in England Ebbs and Flows four times in 24 hours viz. First at a S. E. and N. W. Moon and the Second time at a S. by E. and a N. by W. Moon In Anno 1582. and 1583. upon the 13th of January at Hermitage in the Vale of White Hart a piece of Ground of 3 Acres removed from its old place and was carried over another Close where Alders and VVillows grew the distance of 40 Rod or Perches stopping up the VVay to Cerne Abbas and yet the Hedges and Trees that enclosed it before enclose it still the Trees growing upright and the place where this Ground was before is left as a great Pit The Portland Men are Excellent good Slingers In the Isles of Purbeck are Veins of Marble running under the Earth The Arms of the City of Dorchester is Gules a Castle Argent in its Front the Arms of England and France Quartered Durham THE BISHOPRICK and CITY THis Bishoprick and City is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the VVest by Westmorland and Cumberland On the South by Yorkshire And on the North by Northumberland It containeth in length 35 miles In breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 105 miles The Air of this Countrey is sharp and piercing The Soil on the Eastern part of it is Richest the South is Moorish but most inhabited the VVest all Rocky affording neither Grass nor Grain but only it feeds Cattle and is well stored with Coal as the whole Countrey is The Eastern part which I said before was the Richest yieldeth great plenty of Coal and where it hath plenty of Coal it is notwithstanding very fruitful and good Land The Commodities of this Countrey are Coles Lead and Iron It is in the Diocess of Durham and hath in it 118 Parishes Out of it are elected 4 Members for Parliament men Knights 2 Durham 2 The Division of it is not into Hundreds but VVakes which are Four In this Bishoprick are 6 Market-Towns Darlington Monday Barnard Castel Wed. Bishop Ankland Th. Sunderland Friday Durham Saturday Stainthorp The Principal place in the County is the City of Durham lying in the Latitude of 54 deg and 50 min. It bears from London N. by W. and is distant therefrom 200 Miles Thus From London to Waltam Cross 12. to Hodsdon 17. to Ware 20. to Buntingford 27. to Royston 33. to Caxton 42. to Huntington 48. to Stamford 69. to Grantham 85. to Newark 95. to Tuxford 105. to Doncaster 123. to Wentbridge 130. to Tadcaster 142. to York 150. to Borrowbridge 163. to Northallerton 176. to Dorlington 186. to Durham 200. But the same way being measured upon the Road it will be found to contain 262 miles Of this County the Bishops have had the Royalty of Princes and the Inhabitants have pleaded Priviledges in time of War not to pass over the River Tyne The Arms of Durham are Azure a Cross Flooree Or between four Lyons Rampant Argent Remarques in this County In the upper part of the City of Durham William the Conqueror erected a Castle upon a high Hill for her defence which is almost encompassed about with the River Were In the year of our Lord 1346. and in the 20th of Edward the 3d. upon the 20th of October at Nevel's Cross near Durham a Battel was fought betwixt the English and the Scots wherein David Brush K. of Scotland with many of his Nobility were taken Prisoners by Queen Phillip Wife to K. Edw. 3. who was in person present in the Field The Battel was managed by the Lords Moubray Percy and Nevil At Oxenhall near unto Dorlington in this County are three Pits wonderful deep called Hell Kettles They are thought to come of an Earthquake that hapned Anno 1179. For our Chronicles make mention that on Christmas-Day at Oxenhall the ground heaved up aloft like a Tower and so continued all that day till evening and then fell in making a very horrid noise and the Earth swallowed it up and made in the place three great holes Bishop Tunstall of this Diocess took a Goose and marked it and put it into one of these Pits and the same Goose was found afterwards in the River Tees At Batterby near Durham within the River Weer in the Summer time there issues a salt reddish water from the sides of certain Stones at the Ebb and Low water which the Sun calcines to whiteness and growing thick becomes Salt and the Inhabitants thereabouts do use it for Salt Essex THis County is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Hartfordshire and Middlesex On the South by Kent And on the North by Suffolk It contains in Length 45 miles In Breadth 38 miles And in Circumference 148 miles The Air of this Shire is temperate but down in the Hundreds towards the Sea-side it is very Aguish The Soil for the most part is good and in some parts so fruitful that after 3 years Glebe oâ— Saffron the Land for 18 years more will yield plenty of Barly without any manuring with dung or the like and then bear Saffron again One Acre of this Ground
The Commodities that this Shire principally affords besides many others are Cloath Stockins Corn Cattle Knives Spurs c. It is in the Diocess of York and hath in it 563 Parishes Out of it are elected 29 Members to fit in Parliament Knights 2 York 2 Kingston upon Hull 2 Knaresborough 2 Skaredborough 2 Rippon 2 Richmond 2 Hidon 2 Burrowbrigg 2 Malton 2 Thirske 2 Aldeborough 2 Beverly 2 North-Allerton 2 Pomfret 2 Its Division is into Hundreds as are most of the Counties in England of which this is divided into 26. But because of the largeness thereof it is first divided into three Parts called Ridings viz. The East Riding The West Riding The North Riding And each of these Ridings have their several Hundreds and those Hundreds their respective Market Towns as followeth viz. The East Riding is divided into 4 Hundreds viz. Buccrosse Dickering Holdernesse Ouse and Derwent And in this Riding are these 8 Market-Towns viz. Hull Tu. and Sat. Beverly Wed. and Sa. Wighton Wednes Kilham Th. Headon Sat. Bridlington Sat. Howder Sat. Packlington Sat. The West Riding is divided into 10 Hundreds viz. Stancliffe Claro Ansty Barkston Skirink Motley Aggerage Osgoderosse Strasforth Staincrosse And in this Riding are 24 Market-Towns viz. Rotheram Monday Selby Mon. Leedes Tuesday and Saturday Otley Tues Settle Tues Sheffield Tues Barnesby Wednes Knaresborow Wed. Hallifax Thursday Wakefield Thursday and Friday Bradforth Thurs Wetherly Thurs Tadcaster Thurs Rippon Thurs Snathe Friday Ripley Friday Tickhill Saturday Bantrey Sat. Doncaster Sat. Sherborn Sat. Pontefract Sat. Borough Bridge Sat. Skipton Sat. Thorne The North Riding is divided into 12 Hundreds viz. Gilling West Gilling East Allerton Langborgh Whitbystand Pickering Ridall Bulmar Burford Hallikeld Hang East Hang West And in this Riding are 17 Market-Towns viz. Pickering Mond Gisborough Mond Thruske Mond Beda Tues Masham Tues Kirby moreside Wed North Allerton Wed. Abberforth Wedn. Scarborough Th. Yarum Thurs York Thursday and Saturday Malton Sat. Helmley Sat. Whitby Sat. Stokesly Sat. Richmond Sat. Askrigg The principal place in this large County is York the second City in England It lies in the Latitude of 53 deg 58 min. It bears from London N. by W. And is distant therefrom 150 miles Thus From London to Waltham-Crosse 12 miles to Ware 20. to Royston 33. to Caxton 42. to Huntingden 48. to Stamford 69. to Grantham 85. to Newark 95. to Tuxford 104. to Doncaster 122. to Wentbridge 129. to Tadcaster 141. to York 150. But being measured upon the Road the distance is found to be 192 miles from London This City saith Speed is a pleasant place large and full of Magnificence rich and populous in all which it over-masters all the other places of this County and it is not only strengthned with Fortifications but adorned with Magnificent Buildings both Private and Publick It is an Episcopal See a Metropolitan City and in it is a most famous Library It is Governed by a Lord Maior 12 Aldermen many Chamberlains a Recorder a Town-Clerk 6 Sergeants at Mace and 2 Esquires which are a Sword-bearer and a Common Sergeant who with a large Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword The Arms of the City of York is Argent on a Cross Gules 5 Lyons Passant Guardant Or. Besides this City of York there are two other Places of note not to be forgotten viz. Richmond and Hull The Arms of Richmond is Gules an inner border Argent over all a Bend Dexter Ermine The Arms of Hull is Azure 3 Corronets in Pale Or. The Arms of such Families as have born the Dignity of Earls of Richmond and Holdernesse since the Conquest Allen E. of Brittain and Richmond Earl of Richmond John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Earl of Richmond Geffery 4th Son to K. Henry the 2d Earl of Richmond John D. of Brittain Earl of Richmond Gray Viscount Tours Earl of Richmond Ralph E. of Westmoreland Earl of Richmond Ralph E. of Chester Earl of Richmond John D. of Bedford Earl of Richmond Peter de Dreux Earl of Richmond Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Earl of Richmond Peter de Savoy Earl of Richmond Edmond Haddam Earl of Richmond John D. of Brittain Earl of Richmond Henry fits Roy D. Earl of Richmond Earls of Holdernesse Drugo de Buerer Earl of Holdernesse Stephen de Bloys Earl of Holdernesse William de Mendevile Earl of Holdernesse Baldwin de Beton Earl of Holdernesse William de Fortibus Earl of Holdernesse Edward E. of Rutland Earl of Holdernesse There are lately added by His Majesty K. Charles II. these following viz. Lodowick Stuart D. of Richmond John Ramsey E. of Richmond Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhyne E. of Holdernesse Things Remarkable in this County Upon Palm-Sunday in the year 1461. was a Battel fought in the Quarrel between Lancaster and York in which England never saw more Nobility and Gentry nor a more puissant Army in the Field for there were there at one time on both sides 100 Thousand fighting men When the Fight had continued doubtful a great part of the day the Lancasterians not being able longer to continue the force of their Enemies turned back and fled away and such as took part with York pursued them so hotly that they killed many of their Nobility and Gentry and that day were slain on both sides 30 thousand English-men About Pontefract and Knaresborough grows great quantities of Liquorice In some parts of this Shire near Sherbourn are Quarries whose Stones when first taken out of the Quarries are very soft but seasoned with Wind and Weather they become very hard and durable Other parts of this Shire produce a Lime-stone which being burnt serves to enrich and manure those Lands that are cold and hilly At the suppression of the Abbies in the days of K. Henry the 8th in a certain Chappel in York a Lamp was found burning in a Vault or Sepulchre under ground wherein Constantine the Emperour was supposed to have been Buried About Sheffield in this Shire are many Iron-Mines About the year of Christ 759. the Town of Doncaster was burnt by Fire from Heaven The Inhabitants about Dichmarsh and Marshland are of opinion that the Land there is hollow or hanging and that as the Waters rise the Land is also heaved up Near unto Bratherton is a yellow kind of Marle found which being cast upon the Fields causeth them to bear good Corn for many years together Not far from the Abby of Fountains there are Lead-Mines Near unto Burrough Bridge are certain Pyramids standing which are supposed to have been made of a factitious Stone compounded of pure Sand Lime Vitrials and other unctious matter Under Knaresborough is a Well called Dripa Well in which the Water springs not out of the Veins of the Earth but distills from the Rocks which hang over it The Water of this VVell saith Speed turns VVood into Stone for VVood put into it will shortly after be covered over with a Stony Bark and at length become Stone At Giggleswick in
in these Hundreds are 10 Market-Towns viz. Alfreton Monday Bakwell Mond Wirksworth Tuesd Tideswall Wednesd Dronfield Thursday Derby Friday Bolsover Friday Chesterfield Saturday Ashbourn Saturday Drawfield In this Shire have been formerly 7 Castles The Principal or Shire-Town is Derby affording the best Ale in England which they say makes them long liv'd It lyeth in the Latitude of 52 deg 58 min. Bearing from London N. by W. and is distant therefrom 98 miles Thus From London to Northampton 54. To Leicester 78. To Loborough 86. And to Derby 98. But by exact measure upon the Road it is found to be 122 miles and a half This Town of Derby is seated upon the West Bank of Derwent where also a small Brook runneth through the Town under 9 Bridges Besides these there is another Bridge built all of Free Stone over Derwent and upon it is a fair Stone Chappel called St. Maries Chappel In this Town is S. Alhallows Bell-Tower which is both lofty and beautiful it was built at the Charges of Young Men and Maids It is a Town-Corporate with the yearly Government of two Bailiffs which are elected out of 24 Brethren besides as many Burgesses of Common Council a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Sergeants with Maces The Earls of Derby since the Norman Conquest are William Ferres Earl of Derby Edward E. of Lancaster Earl of Derby John of Gant D. of L. Earl of Derby Thomas Stanly Earl of Derby Things remarkable in this County are At Buxton in this County Nine Springs arise out of a Rock in the compass of 24 foot Eight of which are warm and the Ninth very cold These Springs run from under a fair Square Building of Free Stone and about 300 foot off receive another hot Spring from a Well inclosed with 4 flat Stones near unto which another very cold Spring bubbleth up These Waters are experimentally found good for the Stomach and Sinews and good to Bath in There is a Cave called Eldenhole which is very spacious but hath but a low and narrow entrance but the Waters which trickle from the top thereof do congeal into Stone and hang like Isicles in the root thereof Some are hollow within and grow taperwise they are very white resembling Crystal In the Peak-Forrest is a Well that Ebbs and Flows four times in an hour keeping its just Tides The Arms of Derby is a Hart cumbant upon 2 Hill in a Park Paled all Proper Devonshire THis County is bounded on the East by Somersetshire and Dorsetshire On the West by Cornwall On the South by the Brittish Sea And on the North by the Severn It containeth in length 52 miles In breadth 47 miles and in Circumference 202 miles The Air of this County is sharp and wholsom The Soil is Hilly and Woody The chief Commodities are Tin Lead Kersies Serges Bone-Lace Corn in abundance in the Valleys and Load-stones of good value have been found upon Dartmore Rocks This Shire is in the Diocess of Excester and hath in it 394 Parishes Out of it are elected 26 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 Exeter 2 Totnes 2 Plimouth 2 Oakehampton 2 Barnstable 2 Plymton 2 Honiton 2 Tuvistock 2 Ashburton 2 Clifton 2 Dartmouth and 2 Hardress 2 Beralston 2 Tiverton 2 Its Division is into 33 Hundreds viz. Branton H. Sherwell Hartland Shebbe Fremington South Moulton Black Torrington Lifton Tavestoke Roborough Plimpton Armington Witheridge Crediton Woonford Tingbridge Heytor Colridge H. Stanborough Exmister Budley Halberton Tyverton Bampton Hemyocke Axmister Culliton Hayrudge Clifton North Tauton Shebbeate Winckley St. Mary Otery And in these Hundreds are 32 Market-Towns Plymouth Mo. Th. Bediford Tuesday Tiverton Tues Ottery Tues Excester Wen. Fri. Dodbrook W. Newton Abby W. Medbury Thurs Chulmleigh Bower Th Colliton Thurs Hatburly Friday Barnstable Friday Kings Bridge Sat. Plimpton Sat. Totnesse Sat. Ashburnton Sat. Chidley Sat. Morton Sat. Dartmouth Fri. Okehampton Sat. Tavestock Sat. Houlsworth Sat. Torrington mag Sat. South Molton Sat. Columpton S. Crediton S. Honicon S. Axminster S. Plimpton S. Ilforcombe Bradnidge Sidmouth The Principal place in this Shire is the City of Excester lying in the Latitude of 50 deg 43 min. It bears from London W. S. W. and is distant from it 138 miles Thus To Hounslow 10. to Stanes 15. to Hartley-Row 31. to Basing-stoke 39. to Andover 55. to Salisbury 70. to Shaftsbury 85. to Sherburn 97. to Crookham 107. to Axminster 116. to Excester 138. But by more accurate measure upon the Road the distance hath been found to be 172. In this Shire are several good Harbours for Shipping the chief are Tamer and Tore but the Principal of all is Ex upon which this Town is seated and from whence it took its name of Excester This City is Governed by a Mayor 24 Brethren a Recorder a Town-Clerk and other Officers their Attendants Earls of Devonshire and Dukes and Marquesses of Excester since the Norman Conquest Richard Rivers Earl of Devonshire Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire Humphrey Stafford Earl of Devonshire Charles Blount Earl of Devonshire Will. Cavendish Earl of Devonshire John Holland Dukes of Excester Thomas Beaufort Dukes of Excester Henry Courtney Marquesse of Excester Thomas Cecil Earl of Excester Things remarkable in this Shire are One Ordulphus this Countrey-man was of a Gyant-like stature and strength for he would break the Iron Bars of Gates and stride 10 foot Upon Exmore are huge Stones confusedly placed like those on Salisbury Plain and one of them hath Danish Letters upon it directing Passengers their way At Hubblestow in this Shire was a Battle fought by the Danes where their Banner called Reafan in which they reposed much confidence of Victory was taken and Hubba their Captain slain When Excester was in the late Wars besieged by the Parliament-Forces an infinite number of Larks came flying into the Town and setled in a void green place within the Walls where they were killed by the besieged in huge quantities and eaten The Arms of Excester are Party per Pale Gules and Sable A Castle Triple towred Or. Dorsetshire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Hantshire On the West by Devonshire and Somersetshire On the South by the Brittish Sea And on the North by Wiltshire It contains in length 54 miles In breadth 30 miles and in Circumference 170 miles The Air of this Shire is healthful and the Sea yieldeth the Shrub called Isidis Plocamos growing without Leaves like Coral it is most plentiful about the Island of Portland The Soil is fat affording many Commodities and pleasant in her situation being watered with many fresh and running Springs The chief Commodities of this Shire are Cattel Sheep Corn Wool Kersies It is in the Dioeess of Bristol and hath in it 248 Parishes Out of this Shire are elected 20 Parliament men Knights 2 Poole 2 Dorchester 2 Lyme Regis 2 Weymouth 2 Welcomb Regis 2 Bridport 2 Shafton 2 Wareham 2 Corf Castle 2 Its Divisions are five viz. Division Sherbourn Bridport
which is most in the North part of the County will yield 80 or 100 weight of moist Saffron in a year which when dryed will be worth about 20 l. sterling The principal Commodities of this Shire are Cloaths Stuffs Hops Saffron Oysters c. It is in the Diocess of London and hath in it 415 Parishes Out of it are elected 8 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Colechester 2 Harwich 2 Malden 2 Its Division is into 20 Hundreds viz. Vtlisford H. Clavering Waltham Becontre Ongar Dunmow Freshwell Hingkford Whittham Chelmsford Barstable H. Lexden Winstree Thurstable Dengie Rotchford Tendering Havering Harlow Chafford And in these Hundreds are 21 Market-Towns viz. Harwich Tuesd Manytree Tu. Billerakey Tu. Waltham Abby Tu. Braintree Wednes Rumford Wed. Brentwood Th. Epping Th. Fr. Haulsteed Fr. Thaxted Fr. Chelmsford Fr. Colchester Sat. Maldon S. Cogshall S. Walden S. Dunmore S. Hatfield S. Raleighe S. Hornden S. Barkin S. Cheping Onger S. In this County are 5 Castles and as many Havens and two of His Majesties Mannors The Principal place in this County is Colchester lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 58 min. It bears from London N. E. And is distant from it 43 miles Thus From London to Rumford 10. to Burnt-Wood 15. to Chelmsford 2. to Colchester 43. But being measured upon the Road it is distant 50 miles This City of Colchester is situate upon the South side of the River Coln and is walled about raised upon a high Trench of Earth now defaced it hath 6 Gates of entrance and 3 Posterns in the West wall and 9 watch-Towers for defence The City is said to be Built by Collus the Brittish Prince Anno Christi 124. and in it were born Lucius Helena and Constantine the first Christian King Empress and Emperor in the World It is Governed by Two Bailiffs 12 Aldermen all wearing Scarlet a Recorder a Town-Clerk and 4 Sergeants at Mace The Arms of this City of Colchester is Azure a Cross Trunked Argent between 3 Coronets Or. The Earls of Essex since the first Constitution Geffrey Mandevile E. Humphrey Bohun E. Thomas Woodstock E. Henry Bourcheir E. Tho. Cromwell Earl Will. Par E. Walter Euren and Arthur Capell Things remarkable in this County The Place of greatest Antiquity and Note in this County is Camolodunum now Maldon the seat of Cunobelin King of Trinobantes as by his Money therein Minted appears Near Tilbury there are Pits of 12 fathom deep in a Chalky ground The Salt Water about Harwich makes all their Springs Brackish At Barklow grows an Herb called Dane-wort very plentiful that beareth Red Berries the people there say that it sprang from Danes blood Walfleet in this County produceth the best Oysters that come to London In the East part of this Countrey in the time of Richard the 2d huge Teeth were found and not far from the same place in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth extraordinary large Bones were digged up They are thought to have been the Bones and Teeth of some Elephant who had been buried there by some loving Roman who was his Master About the beginning of November 1580. An Army of Mice so over-run the Marshes in Denge Hundred that they eat up the Grass to the very Roots and so poisoned it with their Teeth that a great Murren fell upon the Cattle that grazed there But at length a great number of strange Painted Owls came no man knows whence and devoured the Mice Gloucester-Shire IS bounded on the East by Warwickshire and Oxfordshire On the West by Monmouthshire On the South by Wiltshire and Somersetshire And on the North by Worcestershire It contains in length 60 miles In breadth 26 miles And in Circumference 190 miles The Air is very pleasant and wholsom For the Soil the Hilly part of this Country affords fine Wool which proceeds from a small Sheep long necked and square of Bulk and Bone The lower part is exceeding fruitful and rich in Grain almost of all sorts so that Mr. Cambdes says it returns an hundred for one About Bristol is store of Coals The Northern part abounds in fruit so that the Trees which grow in the very Hedges without grafting do naturally bear not only Fruit but such that for beauty and taste exceeds all other and will keep till a new supply and some sorts will not wither in a whole year Farthermore this Shire hath many Vineyards in it which produce Grapes that make Wine little inferior to that which comes from France The chief Commodities of this Shire are Corn Wool Cloath Steel Timber Sider and Perry It is in the Diocess of Gloucester and hath in it 280 Parishes Out of this Shire are elected 8 Parliament-Men Knights 2 Gloucester 2 Tewkesbury 2 Cirencester 2 Its Division is into 30 Hundreds viz. Cleeve Hundred Tibolston Cheltenham Tewksbury Westminster Slaughter Berkley Grombaldash Langley Swinshed Dirburst Kistage Kings Borton Pockle Church Henbury Thornbury Dudstone H. Blidestoe S. Briovels Westbury Botloe Crothern Rapsaye Whitston Britles Barrow Bradley Longtree Bisteigh Barton Wotton Gloucester And in these Hundreds are 26 Market-Towns viz. Dean Magna Mon. Wickware Mon. Cirencester M. Fr. Panswick Tues Minchinghampton Tu. Horton Tu. Marshfield Tu. Letchlad Tu. Campden W. Bristoh W. Sat. Blackley W. Tedbury W. Gloucester W. Sat. Stow on the Would Th. Cheltenham Thurs Dursley Th. Chipping Sudbury Th. Fair Ford Th. Newent Friday Newham Fr. Stroud Fr. Woottton underedge F Tewksbury Saturday Winchcombe Sat. Leonards Stanley Sat. Thornbury Sa. The Principal Place in this County is the City of Gloucester being in the Latitude of 51 deg 53. min. it bears from London W. by N. and is distant therefrom 81 miles Thus From London to Brainford 8. to Colebrook 15. to Maiden-head 22. to Nettlebed 33. to Abbingdon 45. to Farringdon 55. to Perrors Bridge 69. to Gloucester 81. But the distance upon the Road is 102. This City is seated upon the River Severn about the middle of the Shire it was first built by the Romans It hath formerly been walled about with a strong wall except that part which lyes against the Severn some reliques whereof in many places yet remain visible to witness their strength This City is not great but is wholsomly seated upon a Hillock the Streets every way descending from the Cross It is Governed by a Maior 2 Sheriffs and 12 Aldermen having a Sword and Maces born before them The Arms of the City of Gloucester are Or three Cheavornets Gules The Earls and Dukes of Gloucester since the first Constitution are Robert Fitz Hammon Earl of Gloucester William Mandevile Earl of Gloucester Robert de Millant Earl of Gloucester Richard de Clair Earl of Gloucester Ruff. Monthorner Earl of Gloucester Hugh Spencer Earl of Gloucester Hugh de Audley Earl of Gloucester Tho. of Woodstock Earl of Gloucester Humphrey Dukes of Gloucester Richard Dukes of Gloucester Besides the chief City of Gloucester from whence the County taketh its name we have the fair City
nor too cold occasioned by the many Rivers which run through this Shire The Soil is Rich Plenteous and Delightful and yields abundance of Corn Cattle Wool and Grass and is destitute of nothing that is either Pleasant or Profitable to the Life of Man The Principal Commodities are Wheat Barley and Malt. It is in the Diocesses of London Chichester and Lincoln and hath in it 120 Parishes Out of it are Elected 6 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 St. Albans 2 Hertford 2 Its Division is into 8 Hundreds viz. 1. Odsey 2. Edwinstreet 3. Branging 4. Brodewater 5. Hitching 6. Dacor 7. Hertford 8. Caisho And in these Hundreds are 18 Market-Towns Barnet Mon. Barkhamsted M. Buntingford M. VVatford Tues Ware Tues Hitching Tues Sabsworth Wed. Hempsted Thurs Hatfield Th. Hodsdon Th. Bishop Stafford Th. Baldock Th. Stevenedge Frid. Tringe Frid. Stondon Fr. Hertford Sat. S. Albans Sat. Rickmanswortb Sat. Stevenedge and Redbourn 2 new Markets The Principal Town in this Shire is Hertford lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 50 min. bearing from London N. by W. and is distant therefrom 20 Miles Thus From London to Barnet 10. to Hertford 20. But the way upon the Road is 22 miles measured This Town of Hertford though the Shire-Town is not the richest the turning of the way through Ware having much hindred Travellers from going through it It hath been formerly a Baliwick but is now governed by a Mayor nine Burgesses a Recorder and Two Serjeants their Attendants The Arms of Hertford is A Hart in a Field Proper The Earls of Hertford are Roger Earl of Clare and Hertford Edward Senior Earl of Hertford In this County three remarkable Battels of Civil dissention in England have been fought viz. The First on the 23d of May 1455. in the Town of St. Albans by Richard D. of York the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury and Lords of Fow Cambridge and Cobham against K. Henry the 6. In whose defence Edw. D. of Somerset Henry E. of Northumberland and John Lord Clifford with 5000 more lost their Lives The King himself wounded in the Neck with an Arrow the D. of Buckingham and Lord Sudley in their Faces Humphrey E. of Stafford in his right Hand and the E. of Dorset almost slain There were on the Dukes part only 600 slain The King by them was brought to London and a Reconciliation made by their advancements unto Dignities and Offices The Second Battel was also fought at St. Albans on the 17th of February being Shrove-Sunday by Q. Margaret against the Dukes of Norffolk and Suffolk the Earls of Warwick and Arundel who by force kept the King her Husband with them and by constraint he held and on their side fought till the Field was lost and the Lords fled when with great joy he was received by his Queen and young Prince Edward The Third Battel was fought in Anno 1471. upon the 14th of April being Easter-Day near High Barnet by the Earls of Warwick and Oxford and Marquesso Mountaculo against K. Edw. 4. who led with him K. Henry the 6th his Prisoner unto that Field and that day obtained the Victory against his Enemies There were Slain in this Battel Richard Nevil the stout E. of Warwick with his Brother the Marquess and the E. of Oxford put to flight and the Duke of Excester sore wounded and left in the Field for Dead On the King's part were Slain the Lords Cromwell Bowcher and Barns and on both parts the number of 10000 Men. Remarques in this County Near Fishpool-Street in St. Albans saith Cambden in our remembrance have Anchors of a great weight been digged up There is near St. Albans a Brook called Womere which never breaketh out but it foretelleth dearth or scarcity of Corn or else some danger suddenly to ensue At Ashwell in this County rise so many Sourses of Springs together that they presently drive a Mill and become a pretty big River Herefordshire IS bounded on the East by Gloucestershire and Worcestershire On the West by Radnorshire On the South by Monmouthshire And on the North by Shropshire It containeth in length 63 Miles in breadth 36 Miles And in Circumference 101 Miles The Air is very healthful temperate and wholsom The Soyl of this County is exceeding Rich for Corn and Cattle and about Lemster is the finest Wool in all England The Chief Commodities of this County are Syder Corn Wood and the best Wool in any part of England It is in the Diocess of Hereford and in it are 176 Parishes Out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Hereford 2 Lemster 2 VVeobly 2 Its Division is into 11 Hundreds viz. 1 Wignore 2 Wolsey 3 Broxash 4 Stretford 5 Radlow 6 Grimsworth 7 Greytree 8 Webtree 9 Ewjaslacy 10 Wormelow 11 Huntington In these Hundreds are 8 Market-Towns viz. Branyeard Monday Pembridge Tues Lidbury Tuesd Kyneton Wedn. Webley Thurs Rosse Thurs Lemster Friday Hereford Wed. Friday and Saturday The most eminent place in this County is the City of Hereford lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 12 min. and bearing W. N. W. from London and distant therefrom 101 miles thus From London to Maidenhead 22. to Nettlebed 33. to Alington 46. to Farrington 56. to Perrors-bridge 69. to Gloucester 81. to Rosse 91. to Hereford 101. But according to a more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is distant from London 130 miles The City of Hereford is Walled about having six Gates for entrance and 15 Watch-Towers for defence It is yearly Governed by a Mayor chosen out of one of the 30 Citizens which are called the Election whoever after is known for an Alderman and cloathed in Scarlet the four eldest Aldermen are Justices of the Peace and graced with a Sword-bearer a Recorder a Town-Clerk and 4 Sergeants with Maces The Arms of the City of Hereford are Gules three Lyons Passant Guardant Or. The Earls of Hereford since the first Constitution are William Fitz Osbourn Earl Robert Bossue Earl Miles Consta of England Henry Bohun Earl Henry Bullingbrook D. Stafford Walter D'Evreux Visc Heref. Upon the 2d of February being Candlemas-Day in the year 1461. near Ludlow a great Battel was fought between Jasper E. of Pembrook and James Butler E. of Ormond and Wiltshire against Edward E. of March in which 3800 men were Slain The two Earls fled and Owen Tenther taken and beheaded Before this Battel began there appeared visible in the Heavens 3 Suns which after a while all joyned together and became One as before This caused Edward afterwards to give the Sun in his Glory for his Badge and Cognizance Things remarkable in this County By Snodhill Castle is a Quarry of Exellent Marble By Richards Castle is a Well called Bone-Well wherein are continually found little Fishes Bones but not a Fin to be seen which Well being wholly cleansed of them yet will the like come again But saith Mr. Speed no man knows whether they be produced naturally or brought thither in Veins through
being ragged and torn and the next day was laid all naked upon a Horse and trussed like a Hog behind a Pursevant at Arms and was as homely Buried in the Grey Fryers in Leicester after whose Ruine his Grave rests as obscure being all overgrown with Weeds and Nettles but the Stone Chest in which he was laid was preserved and is now made use of for a Trough in a common Inn for Horses to drink in This Battel was fought the 22 of August 1485. Near Lutterworth is a spring so cold that within a short time it turneth straws and small sticks into Stone In the North part of this Shire are store of Pit-Coals which are of the nature of hardned Bitumen The People of Carleton cannot pronounce their words well but almost all of them have a naturable kind of Speech fetching their words with much ado deep out of their Throats In the Rocks about Belvoir Castles are sometimes found the Astroits or Star-Stones resembling little Stars joyned one to another wherein are to be seen at every corner 5 beams and in every beam in the middle is small hollowness At Barrow is digged the best Lime-stone in all England being extraordinary strong In St. Martin's Church in Leicester lyeth the Body of Mr. Robert Herricke one of the Aldermen of Leicester and Elizabeth his Wife he was three times Maior of that Corporation they lived fifty two years together and seldom or never had under twenty in family and never in that time Buried either Man Woman or Child and lived to see their Children and their Childrens Children and their Children to the number of One Hundred forty and two Lincolnshire LIncolnshire is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Leicestershire On the South by Cambridge and Northamptonshire And on the North by Yorkshire It containeth in length 60 miles In breadth 44 miles And in Circumference 170 miles The Temperature of the Air upon the East and South part the Air is thick and foggy by reason of the Fen-Grounds thereto adjoyning but withal very moderate and pleasing The Soil of this County on the North and West parts is abundantly fertile pleasant and Rich stored with Pasturage Arable and Meadow Grounds The East and South parts is Fenny and Brackish and for Corn barren But for Fowl and Fish no County in the Kingdom can compare with it The Chief Commodities that this Shire affordeth are Wool fat Cattle Fish Fowl Horses Flax and Alabaster It is in the Diocess of Lincoln and hath in it 630 Parishes Out of it are elected 12 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 Lincoln 2 Boston 2 Grimsby 2 Stamford 2 Grantham 2 The Shires Division is into three parts viz. Lindsey Kesteven And Holland And these 3 Divisions contain 30 Hundreds viz. Lindsey Division Manlie Yarborough Brodley Ludbrough Walchcroft Aslacoe Carringham Well Lawris Wraggoe Gartrie Loutheask Calceworth Candleshy Hill Bullingbrook Horn-Castle Kesteven Liberty Lanyo Boothby Loveden Flaxwell Ashwardburn Wivebridge Grantham Aveland Beltisloe Nesse Holland Division Shirbeck Kirton Ellowe And in these Hundreds are 35 Market-Towns viz. Barton Mon. Caster alias Spilsby Mon. Salsby M. Market-Stanton M. Stamford M. Fr. Sleaford M. Gainsbury Tuesd Barton Tu. Market Rasen Tue. Bullingbrook Tues Spalding Tues Alford Tues Grinsby Mag. W. Binbrook W. Lowthe W. and Sa. Boston W. and Sa. Glamford Thurs Burgh Th. Market-Deeping Th. Folkingham Th. Holbich Th. Wragby Th. Naverby Th. Lincoln Friday Tatershall Fr. Kirton Sat. Thongcaster Sa. Waynfleet S. Horn-Castle S. Bourn S. Grantham Sa. Demington Sa. Saltfleet Croyland Barwell The principal Place in this Shire is the famous and ancient City of Lincoln Lying in the Latitude of 53 degrees It bears from London N. by W. And is distant therefrom 103 miles Thus From London to Waltham 12. to Ware 20. to Buntingford 27. to Royston 33. to Huntingdon 48. to Stilton 57. to Peterborough 62. to Market-Deeping 70. to Sleaford 88. to Lincoln 103. In the time of the Normans this was one of the best Cities of England being the chief place to which Merchants did resort and Traffick In this City did K. Edward the Third ordain his Staple for the Mart of Wools Leather and Lead The Government of this City is annually committed to a Maior 2 Sheriffs 12 Aldermen in Scarlet a Sword a Hat of Estate a Recorder Sword-bearer and 4 Sergeants with Maces The Arms of this City are Argent on a plain Cross Gules a Flower-de-luce Or. The Names of the Earls of Lincoln since the Norman Conquest William de Romar Gilbert de Gant Randal E. of Chester Robert de Quiney John de Lacy. Tho. E. of Lancaster John of Gaunt John de la Poole Henry Brandon Edward Clynton Things remarkable in this Shire Upon the 5th of September 1140. In the City of Lincoln was fought the great Battel between Randolph E. of Chester and Robert E. of Gloucester against K. Stephen in defence of Maud the Empress where K. Stephen was taken Prisoner and carried to Bristol and there kept in Irons Again in this Shire on the 19th of May 1217. A Battel was fought by K. Henry the 3d against his Disloyal Barons who aided Lewis Dolphin of France in which Conflict the French were put to flight and therein dyed the E. of Perch with 400 Knights of that party And divers Earls and Persons of Note taken Prisoners In the Fens in this County have in Nets been taken at one Draught in the Month of August 3000 Mallards and other Fowl of the like kind The Ground about Crowland in this Shire is so rotten that one may thrust a Pole into it 30 foot deep And in a place called Holland there the Ground is so wet that as one stands upon it the Earth will shake under his feet and he will be ready to sink into it Here are also many Quick-Sands which have a wonderful force both to draw to them and to hold fast that which they have drawn The Inhabitants of those parts have no fresh water only Rain-water and that in Pits which if they be deep turns the water brackish presently And if they be shallow they dry up as soon About Barton upon Humber are abundance of Pewets Godwits Knotts and Dottrels a simple kind of Bird yet much given to imitating which Birds are caught by Candle-light in this manner The Fowler stands before the Bird and if he put out an Arm the Bird stretches out a Wing if he set forward a Leg or put forward his Head the Bird doth the like and imitates the Fowler 's gesture so long till he drawing nearer and nearer by degrees at length casts his Net over him and takes him Middlesex MIddlesex is bounded on the East by Essex On the West by Buckinghamshire On the South by Kent and Surrey And on the North by Hertfordshire It containeth in length 24 Miles In breadth 18 Miles And in Circumference 95 Miles The Air of this County is very healthful as being all a Gravel
The Soil whereof is very Rich it lying in a Vale having some Hills also and some of them of good ascent from whose tops the Prospect of the whole is seen like unto Zoar in Egypt or rather saith Speed like a Paradise or Garden of God The Chief Commodities are Corn and Cattel It is in the Diocess of London and hath in it besides those in London and Westminster 73 Parishes Out of it are Elected 8 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Westminster 2 LONDON 4 In it 5 Princely Houses inheritable to the English Crown are seated in this County viz. Enfield Hanworth White-Hall St. James and Hampton-Court The last whereof is rather a City in Shew than a Princely Palace only the which for stately Port and gorgeous Building not inferiour to any in Europe It s Division is into 7 Hundreds viz. Edmonton Goare Finisbury and Wenlaxeburn Osriston Elthorne Istleworth Spelthorn In it are 4 Market-Towns besides those in London and Westminster viz. Brainford Tues Edgware Thurs Vxbridge Thurs Stanes Friday The Principal Places in this County are the two Famous Cities of London and Westminster lying in the Latitude of 51 deg 32 min. Of which two Cities we shall speak more anon Things remarkable in this County At Barnet in this County are Medicinal Waters of late discovery and very famous Heston a little Village near to Istleworth is very remarkable for yielding the best Flower and the purest for Manchet The Waters of Crowders-Well by Cripplegate in London and that at the Postern by Tower-Hill have a very pleasant taste like that of New Milk and are very good for Sore Eyes But Crowders-Well is the better of the two And it is said that the Water of the Postern Spring on Tower-Hill being let stand for several days to settle will have in the bottom of it a yellow Sediment much resembling Brimstone both in colour and substance The Stews by the Bank-side in Southwark lying on the South side of London over the River Thames says Cambden were made to make Pikes and Tench fat and to scour them from their muddy Fennish taste And I have seen saith he Pikes Paunches opened with a knife to shew their fatness and presently the Wounds have come together again by the touch of Tenches and by the help of their glewy slime being perfectly healed up In the River of Thames there oftentimes happens a strange shifting of the Tides which is generally accounted a great Prodigie because it happens but seldom A recital of all those which I hear History makes mention of I shall here repeat Upon the 12th of October 1411. The Thames flowed thrice in one day Upon the 17th of December 1550. The Thames Flowed and Ebbed 3 times in 9 hours below Bridge Upon January the 26th in the year 1564 at night were two Tides in 2 hours The next day likewise were two in the morning and two at night Upon the 6th of November 1574 in the morning there happened two great Tides at London The one of Course and the other within an hour after which overflowed the Marshes and drowned many adjoyning Cellars Upon the 19th of February 1608 9 when of course it should have been dead low Water at London-Bridge it was high Water and presently it Ebbed almost half an hour to a foot depth and then suddenly it Flowed again almost 2 foot higher than it did before and then Ebbed again till it came near the right course Upon the 6th of February 1609 10 was another strange shifting of the Tides but the particulars I cannot gain Upon the 3d of January 1622 3 in the morning The Thames shifted four Tides within four hours viz. Two Floods and two Ebbs and then kept its right course Upon Candlemas-Day the 2d of February in Anno 1653 4 The Thames Ebbed and Flowed twice in 3 hours And the like shifting of the Tides at the same time was observed too by Seamen to be in the Maritine places of Kent Upon the 4th of October 1656 The River of Thames Ebbed and Flowed twice in 3 hours The Description following being too large to be inserted in its due place according to the Course of the rest of the Counties I have at the end by way of Supplement added this Brief DESCRIPTION OF LONDON K. Charles his Augusta or City Royal. And of the City of WESTMINSTER the Borough of SOVTHWARK and their Suburbs c. LONDON the Epitome and Glory of all Britain was the Seat of the British Empire as now the Royal Chamber of our Kings Who was the first Founder of Her Writers do much differ about some say Brute the Trojan others not but all agree that it was re-edified and enlarged by King Lud in Anno Mundi 5131. Antiquity For Antiquity London is very honourable as may appear by what A. Marcellinus says of her That she was called an Ancient City in his time which is above 1200 years ago and Cornelius Tacitus 300 years before that gives her this Character viz. London for multitude of Merchants and Commerce is very much renowned Situation This Noble City is seated on a gentle rising Bank in a healthful Air and no less pleasantly than commodiously on the River Thames so that whosoever was the Founder he shewed much prudence in the choice of its Situation and her successful estate hath given proof that built she was for long life and continuance Wall and its Gates The City is begirt with a Wall as is said by Constantine the Great which giveth entrance at seven principal Gates besides Posterns of later erection On the West side are two Ludgate and Newgate both which serve for Prisons the first for such Debtors as are Freemen of the City the other for Malefactors both of the City and Country as also the County-Goal for Debt Northwards those of Aldersgate Cripplegate Moorgate and Bishopsgate and Eastward Aldgate Besides these principal Gates there are several Posterns Also toward the River of Thames many Docks and Harbours for Vessels several Water-gates for the better security of the City and Advancement of Trade It s Extent But now as contemning Bondage this City hath enlarged her self on all sides with spacious Suburbs insomuch that she hath joyned her self Westward with another City to wit Westminster and extending her Building Eastward as far as Black-wall so that now the City is of great extent being in length from Black-wall in the East to Tuttle-fields in the West about six miles and in breadth one two and in some places almost three miles and in circuit 't is computed about 14 or 15 miles in which are numbred above 500 Streets and Lanes and 75000 Dwelling-Houses Of WESTMINSTER This City or part of London I shall first speak of being the Noblest and taken up by the King the Nobility Gentry and such as depend on the Court and Law was formerly called Thorney or Dorney and was an Island encompassed by the Thames overgrown with Briers and Thorns but now graced with fair
Lunaticks Another Glory of the City of London which must not be omitted is the River of Thames This famous River taketh the Head or Spring out of the flank of a Hill in Cotswol-Downs about a mile from Tetbury from hence by many Meanders and meeting with other Streams she arrives to Oxford then to Abington to Wallingford Reading Marlborough Maidenhead Windsor Eaton Chersey Stains Kingston Richmond Brainford Mortlack Putney Chelsey Lambeth Westminster and so to London and thence to Gravesend and thus she comes sporting along from her first source about nine-score miles before she embosoms her self in the Arms of Neptune to which we may add her convenient distance from the Sea the wholsomness of her Water her multitude of Ships and smaller Vessels her stately Palaces on both sides of her Banks her variety of all sorts of Fish and the infinite number of Families that are maintained by this River Of London Bridge Quite over the River of Thames near unto the Tower there is built a most sumptuous and magnificent Bridg built upon nineteen Arches of Stone containing in length one quarter of a mile upon which there are most sumptuous Houses builded on both sides and a Draw-Bridge in the middle large Vessels when they have struck Sail may pass under the Arches This Bridge hath been several times rebuilt and hath twice in this Age been in part consumed by Fire yet the magnificence thereof exceeds all the Bridges that Story makes mention of Of the Tower The stately and strong Tower of London it 's a strong Fort or Citadel which secures both the City and the River it serves not only to Defend but to Command either upon occasion It is the Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown the great Archieve which conserves all the old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster it is the place for the Royal Mint for the Coynage of Gold and Silver it is the chief Magazine and Armory or Arsenal of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision In it also is the Brake or Rack And lastly It is a great Ornament both to the River and the City Of Fresh Water Rivers Aqueducts Conduits Fountains c. belonging to the City of London Before the Conquest and long after London was watered with a Water called Wallbrook running through the midst of the City now a Street receiving the same name and by another Bourn or Water running through Langborn VVard watering the East part In the Suburbs VVestward was another great Water called Old Bourn now Holborn In the other part of the Suburbs were three principal VVells viz. Holy Well Clements Well Clarks well and near unto this five smaller VVells In West-Smithfield there was Horse-Pool and by Cripplegate Church Crowders Well but most of these are now stopped up and by the admirable VVork of Sir Hugh Middleton the VVater being brought from Amwel Spring by Ware to London it runs in Pipes through all the Streets of the City and by smaller Pipes into almost every Man's House To which we may add the several VVaterhouses built by the Thames which serve to convey VVater to their adjacent places The Inhabitants of London are sufficiently furnished with Provisions for besides the several Shambles every where dispersed up and down there are these Markets Leaden-hall Market the Stocks Market Hony-lane Market Newgate Market Clare Market Southampton Market St. James Market Westminster Market and Ratcliff Market To conclude London is a City of great fame for its Trade and Commerce with all Nations in the known VVorld and if we consider its Antiquity Riches Jurisdiction Situation its Populousness its good Government the ingenuity of its Inhabitants in Arts Manufactures and Martial Affairs It may deservedly be compared with any City of the highest rank in the whole VVorld By this brief Description of these two Famous Cities of London and Westminster and River of Thames you may conceive of its magnitude in some measure as Hercules may be judged by his Foot But if you would have a farther inspection into them there is lately Engraven a Map in Copper and Printed in a large sheet of Royal Paper in which is accurately described all the Streets Lanes and Common passages in these two Cities viz. From St. James's to Black Wall as they are now made nnd altered since the late Dreadful Fire The Price of which Map is but 12 d. and is to be had at Mr. Robert Mordens at the Sign of the Atlas in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange in London Memorable Casualties and other Remarkable Things and Passages hapning in London In the 20th year of William the Conqueror so great a Fire hapned in London that from the West Gate to the East i. e. from Ludgate to Aldgate it consumed all Churches and Houses together with the Cathedral Church of St. Paul In the 4th year of Will. Rufus on the 18th of October being St. Luke's Day about 600 Houses were thrown down with Tempest and the Roof of Bow Church in Cheapside was raised so that in the fall six of the Beams being 27 foot long a piece were driven so deep into the ground the Street being then not Paved that not above 4 foot remained above ground in sight and yet the whole frame kept together in the same order as they were placed by the Workmen on the Root it self In the year 1186. and in the Reign of Henry the 2d London was Paved In the 10th year of Richard the First was London first Governed by a Mayor and Sherifts In the year 1209. and in the Reign of K. John London Bridge was built with Stone In the 17th year of Henry the 3d. Five Suns appeared at one time together after which followed so great a Dearth that People were constrained to eat Horseflesh and Barks of Trees and in London 20 Thousand were starved for want of Food In the 27th year of Edward the First the Kings Palace at Westminster and the Monastery adjoyning were Burnt In the same 27th year of his Reign an Act was made by the Common-Council of London with the King's consent concerning the price of Victuals viz. A fat Cock three half-pence 2 Pullets the same A Goose 4 d. A Mallard 3 half-pence A Pheasant 4 d. A Heron 6 d. A Plover 1 d. A Swan 3 s. A Crane 1 s. 2 Wood-Cocks 3 halfpence A fat Lamb from Christmas to Shrovetide 16 d. and all the year after for 4 d. And VVheat this year was so plentiful that a Quarter was sold for 10 Groats In the 8th year of Edward the 2d was so great a Dearth that Horses and Dogs were eaten and Thieves in Prison plucked those in pieces that newly came in amongst them eating them half alive this Famine continued 3 years and brought in the end such a Pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to Bury the dead In this Kings Reign digging a Foundation of a Work about St. Pauls in London was found above 100 head of Oxen and
Star appeared visible at Noon the Sun shining clear at which time the King rode to St. Paul's Church to give thanks for the Queens safe delivery of her second Son Prince Charles now our most gracious Soveraign whom God grant long to Reign over us In the 8th year of his Reign near one half of the Houses upon London Bridge were burnt to the tops of the Arches In the year 1643. The most Magnificent Cross in Cheapside London was demolished In the 17th year of K. Charles the Second Began a dreadful Pestilence in the City of London continuing from the beginning of May till the end of December where there died in London and within the Bill of Mortality of the Plague and of other Diseases 97306. besides many more not taken account of On the 2d 3d 4th 5th of September in the 18th year of his Reign in the space of three days were in London consumed by Fire Fourscore and Ten Parish-Churches and above Thirteen Thousand Dwelling-Houses Norfolk THe County of Norfolk is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire On the South by Suffolk And on the North by the German Ocean It containeth in length 50 Miles In breadth 35. And in Circumference 145 Miles The Temperature of the Air in this County is very sharp especially in the Champion and near the Sea and the Spring and Harvest here are very late The Soil in many places is very good but generally of Clay or fat Chalk And although it be healthy in some places yet by composture of Sheep the Heaths are made mighty Rich for Corn so that when they are laid again from bearing of Corn they yield a more sweet and plentiful feeding for Sheep The Chief Commodities of this County are Stuff Stockings Wool Corn Coals and Conies Herrings and other Fish It is in the Diocess of Norwich and hath in it 660 Parishes Out of it are Elected 12 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Norwich 2 Kings-Lynn 2 Yarmouth 2 Thetford 2 Castle-rising 2 Its Division is into 31 Hundreds viz. Smethdon Brothercross North Grenehoe Halfe North Erpingham Tunstad Happing West Flegg Blowfield Tavatham South Erpingham Eynsford Gallowe Frecbridge Laundiche Milforde Forehoce Humbleyarde Hensteade Loe Clavering Earshaw Depwarde Dysse Guiltcrosse Shorpham Wayland South Grenehoe Walsham Clackelosse Grymshooe And in these Hundreds are 28 Market-Towns viz. Lyn Tues Sat. East Harling Tues Foulsham Tues Caston Tues Norwich W. F. S. Harlston Wed. Watton Wed. Attlebury Thurs Fakingham Thu. North Walsham Th. Dis Frid. Wymondham Fr. East Deareham Fr. Snetsham Fri. Walsingham Fri. Yarmouth Sat. Thetford Sa. Hingham Sa. New Bakenham Sa. Swafham Sa. Downham Sa. Holt Sa. Burnham Market Sa. Cromer Sa. Repham Sa. Alesham Sa. Worfled Sa. Sechy every second Monday Three New Markets Attlebury Southwold Winfield The Sea-Coasts of this County are very fortunate in Fish and on these Coasts are very good Harbours of which Lyn and Yarmouth are the Chief both of them of great Traffick And Wells and Blackney are next in estimation The chief place in this County is the ancient City of Norwich lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 12 min. and bears from London N E. by N. and is distant therefrom 90 miles Thus From London to Waltham Cross 12. to Ware 20. to Puckeridge 24. to Barkway 31. to Witlecford Bridge 41. to New-Market 53. to Thetford 69. to Attleborough 79. to Windham 84. to Norwich 90. But by a more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is distant 108 miles It is a City flourishing in Peace Plenty Wealth and Honour It is situate upon the River Hierus in a pleasant Valley but upon rising ground In the 17th year of K. Stephen it was founded and made a Corporation In Edward the First 's time inclosed with a fair Wall It was first Governed by 4 Bailiffs Then by Henry the 4th in Anno 1403. erected into a Majoralty and County The Arms of this City are Gules a Castle triple Towred Argent in Base a Lyon of England or Passant Gardant Or. Lyn also in this County having been an ancient Borough under the Government of a Bailiff was by K. John made Liber Burgus who gave them a Cup which to this day honoureth their Corporation Henry the Third enlarged their Charter and granted them to choose a Maior Loco Praeposito unto whom K. Henry the 8th added 12 Aldermen a Recorder and other Officers and the bearing of a Sword before the Maior and further he changed their Name from Major Burgensis Lyn Episcopi to Major Burgensis Lyn Regis Yarmouth being the Key of the Coast seated by the Mouth of the River Year and is an ancient Member of the Cinque Ports being very well built and fortified This Town growing populous was by K. Henry the 3d made a Corporation under 2 Bailiffs The Earls and Dukes of Norfolk since the first Constitution Richard Gaiet E. of Norfolk William of Boloign E. of Norfolk Hugb Bigod E. of Norfolk Thomas Brotherton E. of Norfolk Tho. Moubray D. of Norfolk Richard of Shrewsbury D. of Norfolk L. Howard D. of Norfolk Things Remarkable in this County This County of Norfolk hath been infested with two remarkable Rebellions The first of them was commenced by John Litister a Dyer in Norwich calling himself King of the Commons who led 50 Thousand Soldiers into the Field and forcibly carried the Lord Morley and Scales and other Knights besides and caused them to serve him at his Table but he was shortly overthrown by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich and deservedly Hanged Anno 1381. The other was under the leading of Robert Ket a Tanner of Windham who in a Conflict forced the Lord William Par Marquess of Northampton to flight and slew the Lord Shefield in the Field but after many Outrages done to the City of Norwich was taken by John Dudley E. of Warwick having 5000 of his followers slain and himself takee and Hanged upon the top of the Castle Anno 1543. Cambden Reports that the Inhabitants of this County are naturally very capable of the niceties and quirks of the Law and those of them that bend their Studies that way prove generally excellent Lawyers On the Shore of this County viz. by Yarmouth is every year in the Month of September the worthiest fishing for Herrings in all Europe which draweth great concourse of People thither and maketh the Town much Richer all the year after The River Bure in this County is incredibly full of Fish In the River Tore by Norwich there is great plenty of a Fish they call a Ruffe which hath a Body all prickled over it delights in Sandy places and is much like a Perch in colour brown and duskish above but of a pale yellow beneath it is marked by the Chaws with a double course of half Circles the Eye for the upper part of it is of a dark brown and the lower part somewhat yellowish and the ball of it black
depth that it beareth Ships of great burthen and is able to defend them against Storms and Tempests It s Government is by a Maior to whom K. Richard the 2d granted a Sword to be carried before And Henry the 6th made it a County consisting of a Corporation within it self The Arms of the Town is Gules 3 Castles Or. In this County is also the Town of Barwick the utmost Northerly Town in England and the strongest Hold in all Brittanie The Names of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since the Norman Conquest VValdeof Earl of Northumberland Robert Mowbrey E. of Northumberland Henry Son to David K. of Scotland Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham John Nevill E. of Northumberland Henry Percy E. of Northumberland John Dudley Duke of Northumberland Tho. Percy E. of Northumberland George Fits Roy E. of Northumber 3d Son to the Dutchess of Cleveland Things Remarkable in this County It may seem that the Inhabitants are long liv'd for one Mr. Macklane Parson of Lesbury in this County who died about the year 1658. did in the year 1656. renew his youth so that though 40 years before he could not read without Spectacles being 116 years of age he could then read the smallest Print without them His hair which before he had lost came again as a Childes There are Hills hard by North Tyne so boggy and standing with Water on the top that no Horseman is able to ride over them and yet which is to be wondered at there be many great heaps of Stones called by the Inhabitants Lews which is thought were laid up in old time in remembrance of some Victory or some that were slain there By Bywell Castle is great store of Salmons Many Memorable Antiquities are found in this County as Coyns Inscriptions pieces of broken Altars Russy-gap in this County is a place infamous for Robbing and Thieving In the year 1215. the Inhabitants of Morpeth in this County set their own Town on Fire in spite they bare to King John for that he and his Rutars had over-run these Counties Nottingham-Shire IT is bounded on the East by Lincolnshire On the West by Derbyshire and Yorkshire On the South by Leicestershire And on the North by Yorkshire It containeth in length 40 miles In breadth 24. And in Circumference 110 miles It hath a delectable healthy and sweet Air. The Soil is Rich being part sandy and part Clayie and for Corn and Grass so fruitful that it may parallel any other of its bigness in the whole Kingdom it yielding beside abundance of Wood Water and Coals The chief Commodities are Pit-Coals Wood Corn Fish Fowl and Liquorice It is in the Diocess of York and hath in it 168 Parish-Churches Out of it are elected 8 Members to sit in Parliament Knights 2 Nottingham 2 Estretford 2 Newark 2 Its Division is into 8 Hundreds viz. Bassetlaw Worthelay Southclay Newark Broxton Thurgarton Bingham Bushcliffe And in these 8 Hundreds are 9 Market-Towns viz. Tuxford Monday Newark Wednes VVorksop Wedn. Bingham Thursday Mansfield Th. Blyth Th. Southwell Saturday Redford Sat. Nottingham W. F.S. The principal Town is Nottingham lying in the Latitude of 52 deg 50 min. It bears from London N. W. And is distant therefrom 96 miles Thus From London to Newark 95 miles as in the Road to New-Castle in Northumberland Thence to Nottingham 3 miles in all 98. But being measured upon the Road it is distant from London 122 miles This Town of Nottingham is most pleasantly seated upon a Hill in it are many fair Buildings and large Streets which may compare with most Cities and the Market-place transcendeth any in any County The Town is Governed by a Mayor and 6 Aldermen clad in Scarlet 2 Sheriffs 2 Town-Clerks and 6 Sergeants with Maces their Attendants The Arms of the Town of Nottingham is Argent two Ragged Staves in Cross Vert between three Coronets two in Chief and one in Base Or the Ragged Staff in Pale passing through the Coronet in Base The Names of the Earls of Nottingham since the first Constitution Robert Ferrers John Mowbray Rich. D. of York VVill. Barkley Hen. Fitz Roy. Charles Howard Things remarkable in this County Upon the 16th of June Anno 1487. being the third year of Henry the 7th At Stoke near unto Newark in this County a great Battel was fought against K. Henry the 7th by the Erectors of Lambert a counterfeit Warwick wherein John de la Pole E. of Lincoln Francis L. Lovell Tho. Garadyne Chancellor of Ireland Martin Swart and Sir Tho. Broughton with 4000 of their naked Irish lost their Lives Lambert was there taken and made a Turn-Spit in the King's Kitchen and afterwards one of his Faulconers In this County grows a Stone softer than Alabaster which being burnt makes a Plaister harder than that of Paris With this they floor upper Rooms and when well laid and throughly dried is of great durance At Worksop grows the best Liquorice in all the Northern parts In Nottingham Town there are in good Houses many lower Rooms which the Door-Cases Fire-Hearths Stairs Windows Window-Jams and Soils have all been hewed out of the solid Rock Oxfordshire THis Shire is bounded by Buckinghamshire on the East By Gloucestershire on the West By Barkshire on the South And by Warwickshire and Northamptonshire on the North. It containeth in length 41 miles In breadth 29 miles And in Circumference 144 miles The Air is mild temperate and delicate The Soil fertile pleasant and bounteous The hilly parts being loaded with Wood and Cattel and the Valleys with Corn and Pasturage The chief Commodities of this County are Corn Cattel Fruit Wood and Malt. It is in the Diocess of Oxford And in it is contained 280 Parishes Cut of it are elected 9 Members which sit in Parliament Knights 2 University of Oxford 2 City of Oxford 2 New-VVoodstock 2 Banbury 2 Its Division is into 14 Hundreds viz. Banbury Bloxham Chadlington VVootton Floughley Bullington Bampton Tame Lewknor Pirton Dorchester Ewelme Langtree Binfield And in these Hundreds are 15 Market-Towns viz. VVoodstock Tues Tame Tues Bampton Wed. Chippingnorton Wed. Witney Thurs Banbury Thurs Henley Thurs Bunchester Friday Burford Sat. Deddington Sat. Watlington Sat. Bistow Fairford Coleford Oxford Wed. Sat. The principal place in this Shire is the famous City and University of Oxford from whence the Shire taketh its name This City lyeth in the Latitude of 51 deg 46 min. It bears from London W. N. W. And is distant therefrom 47 miles Thus From London to Uxbridge 15. to Beckonsfield 22. to High Wickham 27. to Stoken Church 32. to Wheatly Bridge 41. to Oxford 47. But by exact admeasurement upon the Road the distance is found to be almost 56 miles The Arms of Oxford is Bendy wavie Argent and Azure An Oxe Gules passing over a Ford proper The University consisteth of these Colledges and Halls viz. Colledges Founded by Anno. University King Alfrid 872 Beliol Jo. Belial Kt. Dev. his Wife 1263 Merton Walter
magnificently Built that of some she may well say that no Shire hath none such as is Nonesuch it self The Dukes and Earls of Surrey since the first Constitution William Warren created Earl of Surrey by Will. Rufus William Earl of Eagle Son to K. Stephen E. of Surrey Hamlin Base Son to Geffery Plantaginet E. of Surrey Thomas Mowbray E. of Surrey in right of his Wife Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey created by K. Richard the 2d Thomas Beaufort E. of Surrey created by K. Henry the 4th Thomas Howard E. of Surrey created by K. Richard the 3d. Things Remarkable in this County At Richmond in this County died Edward the 3d. Conqueror of France The beautiful Ann Daughter to Charles the 4th Emperour and Wife to K. Richard the 2d The most wise Prince K. Henry the 7th And the rarest of her Sex Q. Elizabeth Under Holm Castle standing upon a Hill of Gritty Stone is a great Vault of Arched Work The River Mole runs above a mile under ground and in the place where it falls into the ground there groweth abundance of Box naturally Near unto Nonesuch is a Vein of Potters Earth much commended for that it is excellent good for the making of Crucibles for the melting of Gold and other Metals The rising of a Bourn or stream near Croydon as the common people hold presageth Death as the Plague or the like and it hath been observed to fall out so The VVaters of Ebsham in this County are very famous and much frequented for their Medicinal Virtues and purging by Siege In the year 1389. in the Month of July K. Richard the 2d being at his Court at Sheene there swarmed in his Court such multitude of Flies and Gnats skirmishing with one another that in the end they were swept away with Brooms by heaps and Bushels were filled with them Sussex THis County is bounded on the East by Kent On the West by Hantshire On the South by the Brittish Sea And on the North by Surrey It containeth in length 53 miles In breadth 16 miles And in Circumference 172 miles The Air is good but subject to Fogs and Mists arising from the Sea The Soil is Rich and yeildeth plenty of all things necessary but very ill for Travellers in the Winter time for the Land lying low the ways are very Mirey but on the other side of them you have the prospect of Meadows Pastures and Corn Fields The chief Commodities this County affords are Corn VVood Iron and Malt. It is in the Diocess of Chichester and hath in it 312 Parishes Out of it are elected 20 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Chichester 2 Horsham 2 Midhurst 2 Lewes 2 New-Shoreham 2 Bramber 2 Steyning 2 East-Grimstead 2 Arundel 2 Its Division is into 6 Rapes and each of them contains a several number of Hundreds in all 65 Hundreds viz. Chichester Rape In which is contained Hundreds 07 Arundale Rape 05 Bramber Rape 10 Lewes Rape 13 Pevensa Rape 17 Hastings Rape 13 Hundreds in all 65 And in these Hundreds are 16 Market-Towns viz. Chichester Wednes and Sat. Petworth Wed. Stevington Wed. Arundel Wed. and Satur. Steneinge Wed. Rhye Wed. and Sat. Hastings Wed. and Sat. Midhurst Th. Bright Helmiston Th. East Grinstead Th. Sattell Th. Coxfield Friday Horsham Sat. Lewes Sat. Tarringe Winchelsey now disused The Principal place in this County is the City of Chichester lying in the Latitude of 50 deg 48 min. It bears from London S. VV. by S. And is distant therefrom 50 Miles Thus From London to Kingston 10 miles to Guilford 25. to Godalmin 28. to Lechford Bridge 39. to Chichester 50. But by measure it is found to be distant from London 63 miles This City is beautiful and large and well VValled about This City hath born the Title of an Earldom whereof those of Arundel were sometimes so stiled The Arms of this City are Guttee Argent and Sable On a Chief Engrailed Gules a Lyon Passant Guardant Or. The Earls of Sussex and Arundel since the first Constitution William de Albania Earl of Chichester and Arundel John Fitz Allan Earl of Sussex and Arundel Philip Howard Earl of Arundel Robert Radcliffe Earl of Sussex Leonard Lord Dacres Earl of Sussex Things Remarkable in this County Upon the 28th of September 1066. William the Bastard D. of Normandy making his claim to the Crown of England by Affinity Adoption and Promise arrived at a Port in Sussex called Pensey with 896 Ships furnished for VVar And on the 14th of October following near Hastings Joyned Battel with Harold K. of England where in the Field valiantly fighting was there slain by the shot of an Arrow into his Brains and with him died Gorob and Leofwine his Brethren and almost 68 Thousand of his Men. The place where this Battel was fought doth ever since bear the name of Battayl where the Heptarchy of the Saxons was brought to the last Period Then were all their Laws altered their Nobles displaced and all men disherited and all seated into the Normans hands who made himself Lord of all and on the day of his Nativity was Crowned King of England in Westminster-Hall Upon the place where this Battel was fought namely at Battayl aforesaid William of Newberry fabulously thus writeth That if there any small showers of Rain do fall upon this place where so great a Slaughter of English men was made presently sweateth forth very fresh blood out of the Earth In this County are many Iron Mines In this County also is made Glass but it is neither good nor clear This County hath been formerly all a VVood being part of the great wood Andradswald which was 120 miles long and 30 miles broad At Selsey in this County are great store of Cockles and Lobsters and those the best In the year 1250. The Town of Winchelsey in this County was wholly swallowed up of the Sea In the 35th year of K. Henry the 8th the first Cast Pieces of Iron that ever were made in England were made at Bucksted in this County by Ralph Hage and Peter Bawde In the 3d year of Q. Elizabeth a Man-child was born in Chichester having Arms and Legs like to an Anatomy the Breast and Belly monstrous big about the Neck a great Coller of Flesh and Skin growing like the Ruff of a Shirt In the 22th year of Q. Elizabeth in the Town of Walsham in Sussex a Child of Eleven years old whose name was Will. Withars lay in a Trance for the space of 10 days without any sustenance and at the last coming to himself he uttered to the standers by many strange Speeches inveighing against Pride Covetousness coldness of Charity and other erroneous Sins Warwick-Shire IT is bounded on the East by Leicestershire and Northamptonshire On the West by Worcestershire On the South by Orfordshire and Gloucestershire And on the North by Staffordshire It contains in length 40 miles In breadth 30 miles And in Circumference 122 miles This Shire is commended much for the wholsomness
ranks round like a Crown and overthwart them are laid others with Mortises and Tenants Now the great question among the Learned is how these Stones came hither for say they it is not likely that they were ab initio placed here by the God of Nature because the whole Countrey round for some miles hardly affords a Stone either great or small and they seem too vast to be brought hither either by Wagon Cart or other Artifice The Learned Mr. Cambden therefore thinks that they were made there by Art of pure Sand and some unctuous Cement even as those also in Yorkshire because anciently there was such an Art of making Stone And Pliny saith that the dust of Puteoli Puzzole being laid in Water becometh Stone presently and that there were Cisterns at Rome made of digged Sand and Lime which were so firm and hard that they seemed Stone But notwithstanding the Authority of this great Scholar saith my Author I am clearly of opinion that they are natural Stones and placed there ab initio than which I think nothing is plainer For saith he upon the Downs between Marlbury and Anbury not above 20 miles from Stonehinge which Downs are but a Continuation or part of Salisbury Plain differing nothing from it but in the un-evenness are some abundance of great Stones called by the Country thereabouts the Gray Weathers and at Anbury in an Orchard there are half a dozen or half a score Stones little inferiour to the Stonehinge for bigness and some of them standing upright and others lying flat on the ground And the Country here like that about Stonehinge affords not a Stone besides So that saith my Author unless we will have all these Stones to be Artificial we must grant the Stonehinge to be natural Now whereas this unstoniness of the Country about which we speak of seems to some a strong Objection against the naturalness of the Stones but it is on the contrary if duly considered a great Argument for it For saith he What can be more probable than that Nature could not provide her self otherwise of Lapidifick matter enough to make those huge Stones of but by robbing of the circumjacent places The More of that matter Here The Less hereabouts because nature wanting Timber would fetch it nearest hand To say no more of Stonehinge but that near it mens bones are digged up many times which may very well be because it was the Burial place of old for the Kings of the Brittains In the Parish of Luckington is a Well called Handcock's Well the Water whereof is said to be very cold in Summer and warm in Winter and is commended as a singular Water for the Eyes About Sayworth are found abundance of Stones somewhat like Cockles yet so apparently differing from their shape that by the very sight of them one may plainly see that they never were true Cockles as some there do believe Worcester-Shire IT is bounded by Warwickshire on the East By Herefordshire and Shropshire on the West By Gloucestershire on the South And by Staffordshire on the North. It containeth in length 38 miles In breadth 31 miles And in Circumference 137 miles The Air of this Shire is of a favourable temperature it gets an appetite for Labour Diet and Rest The Soil is fertile and inferiour to none in the Lande for besides abundance of Corn in every place the Hills are stored with plenty of Woods and Pasturage and the Hedge-Rows in the High-ways are filled with Fruit-Trees The chief Commodities are Corn Salt Sider and Perry It is in the Diocess of Worcester and hath in it 152 Parishes Out of it are elected 9 Parliament Men. Knights 2 Worcester 2 Droitwich 2 Evesham 2 Bewdley 1 Its Division is into 7 Hundreds viz. Halfeshire Doddington Worcester Parshor Blakenhurst Oswalderstow Vpton And in these Hundreds are 11 Market-Towns viz. Evesholme Mond Parshore Tues Bromesgrove Tues Tenbury Tues Vpton Thurs Kedderminster Th. Shipton Friday Droitwich Fr. Sturbridge Fr. Bewdley Sat. Worcester Wednes Frid. and Sat. The principal place in this Shire is the City of Worcester It lies in the Latitude of 52 deg 14 min. It bears from London W. N. W. And is distant therefrom 92 miles Thus From London to Uxbridge 15 miles to High Wickham 27. to Oxford 47. to Glimpton 60. to Marton on the Marsh 74. to Pershore 86. to Worcester 92. But measured upon the Road it is found to be 112 miles distant from London This City is most pleasantly seated very much frequented and very richly inhabited It is seated upon the East Bank of the Severn and that which the Severn doth not defend is Walled about through which Wall are 7 Gates for Entrance and 5 Watch-Towers for Defence This City is Governed by 2 Bailiffs 2 Aldermen 2 Chamberlains and 2 Constables annually elected out of 24 Burgesses cloathed in Scarlet assisted with 48 other Citizens whom they call their Common Council clad in Purple a Recorder Town-Clerk and 5 Sergeants with Maces their Attendants The Arms of this City is Argent a Fesse between 3 Pears Sable The Earls of Worcester since the Norman Conquest Waleram E. of Mellent Earl of Worcester Thomas Piercy Earl of Worcester Richard Beauchamp Earl of Worcester John Tiptost Earl of Worcester Edward Somerset Earl of Worcester Things Remarkable in this County In the year 1265. upon the 5th of August at Eversham in this County a great Battel was fought betwixt K. Henry the 3d. and his Barons through whose Dissentions most of them were slain as Simon Montfort E. of Leicester and 17 Lords and Knights besides and Humphrey Bohun taken Prisoner In many parts of this County are Salt Pits and Salt Springs The Hedge-Rows and High-ways are beset with Pear-Trees of which they make Perry The Severn here affords great store of fresh-water Lampreys At Droitwich are 3 Fountains of Salt Water divided by a little Brook of Fresh Water passing by them by the boiling of which Salt water they make the purest white Salt in England There is lately found out about Eckington Bride 7 miles from Worcester a Medicinal Water Yorkshire YOrkshire the greatest County in England is bounded on the East by the German Ocean On the West by Lancashire and Westmoreland On the South by the River Humber And on the North by Durham It containeth in length 85 miles In breadth 75 miles And in Circumference 318 miles As this County is large and spacious so the Air is of several Temperatures in several parts thereof It is placed in such a Temperature of Climate that in all parts of it she is indifferently fruitful yet hath she her barren places too But saith Speed If one part of her be a Stony and Barren ground another is fertile and richly adorned with Corn Fields If she be here naked and destitute of Wood in another place she is shadowed with Forrests full of Trees If one place be Moorish Mirey or unpleasant another yeilds as much delight and content to the Eye
And in Circumference 116 miles This Shire hath a very Temperate Air and is generally the pleasantest place in all South Wales For the Soil it is but barren and very hilly the plainest part is that towards the Sea-Coasts which yieldeth plenty of Grain and is most Inhabited The Mountainous part is replenished with Cattel upon whose Hills you may behold whole herds The chief Commodities are Corn Cattel and Sheep It is in the Diocess of Landaffe and hath in it 118 Parishes Out of it are elected 2 Parliament Men. It s Division is into 10 Hundreds viz. Llangevelach Swanzey Neath Newcastle Ogmor Llantrissent Dexispowys Cardiff Caerfily Cowbridge And in these Hundreds are 9 Market-Towns viz. Cowbridge Tues Cardiff Wed. and Satur. Swanzey W. and S. Caerphilly Thurs Penrise Thurs Llantrissent Frid. Bridgend Sat. Neath Saturd Glamorgan The Principal place in this Shire is Landaffe which is the Bishops See It lies in the Latitude of 51 deg 35 Minutes It bears from London West And is distant therefrom 126 miles Thus From London to Monmouth 99. as in Monmouthshire to Landaffe 126. But by more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be distant from London 163 miles At Tave is a Harbour for Ships and by that means is a friend to the Town which is governed by a Maior yearly elected out of 12 Aldermen and assisted by 12 other Burgesses a Town-Clerk 4 Constables and 2 Sergeants with Maces Things Remarkable in this Shire Upon the top of a Hill called Minyd-morgan is a Monument with a strange Character which the Dwellers thereabouts say If any man read the same he will die shortly after Upon the River Ogmore and near unto Newton in a sandy plain about 500 foot from Severn there springs a Well the water whereof is not very clear in which at full Sea in the Summer time can hardly any water be gotten but at the Ebb of the Tide it bubleth up amain And it is observed that this Spring never riseth up to the brink or overfloweth At Abarbarry in this Shire is a Cave under the bottom of a Hill and on the top of it a gaping chink And when the Wind is gathered into that hole and tossed too and fro in the womb of it there is heard as it were a Musical sound like that of Cymbals Giraldus affirms saith Speed That in a Rock or Clift upon the Sea-side and Island Barry lying near the South-east point of this County is heard out of a little chink the noise as it were of Smiths at their work one while the blowing of Bellows to increase the heat then the strokes of the Hammer and sound of the Anvil sometimes the noise of the Grindstone in grinding of Iron Tools Then the hissing Sparks of Steel Gads as they fly from their heating with the puffing noise of Flames in a Furnace Merioneth-Shire THis Shire is bounded on the East by Montgomeryshire On the West by the Irish Sea On the South by Cardiganshire And on the North by Carnarvanshire and Denbyshire It containeth in length 38 miles In breadth 28 miles And in Circumference 111 miles The Air is indifferent wholsom The Soil is very barren and it is very full of spired Hills being the most Mountainous County in all Wales Caernarvanshire excepted And the Shire is subject to very great winds The Commodities that this Shire affordeth are Sheep Fish Fowl and Cottons It is in the Diocess of Bangor and in it are 37 Parishes Out of it is elected only one Member of Parliament Knight 1 Its Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Ardydwy Penllyn Ydeirmon Talybont Ystymanael Mowthy In these Hundreds are 3 Market-Towns viz. Belgelhe Tuesday Harlech Saturday Bala Saturday The principal Town in this Shire is Harlech which lyes in the Latitude of 53 deg 5 min. It bears from London N. W. by W. And is distant therefrom 176 miles Thus From London to Shrewsbury 124 miles as in Shropshire to Welshpool 137 miles to Harlech 176 miles But by an exact admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be distant from London 218 miles This Town standeth bleak enough and hath but few Inhabitants neither are their Houses many and those but of ordinary Building It is annually governed by a Maior Things Remarkable in this County Near unto Bala is a great Pool of VVater that drowns at least 160 Acres of Ground whose Nature is as the Inhabitants report such That the high Land-Floods though never so great do not make at any time this Pool to swell bigger But if the Air be troubled with violent Tempests of Wind it then riseth above its Banks The River Dee saith Speed runneth into this Pool with a sharp Stream and slides through it without mixture of VVaters In this Pool is bred the Fish called Guiniad which is never seen in Dee And in Dee Salmons are taken which are never found in this Pool Upon the Sea-Coasts of this Shire great store of Herrings are taken Monmouth-Shire IT is bounded on the East by Gloucestershire On the West by Brecknock and Glamorganshire On the South by Severn And on the North by Herefordshire It containeth in length 29 miles In breadth 20 miles And in Circumference 84 miles The Air is temperate healthful and cleer The Soil is Hilly Woody and Rich all places fruitful and none barren The Hills are grazed upon by Cattel and Sheep and the Valleys are laden with Corn and Grass The chief Commodities of this Shire are Cattel Corn and Sheep It is in the Diocess of Llandaff and in it are 127 Parishes Out of it are elected 3 Members to sit in Parliament It s Division is into 6 Hundreds viz. Wenlooge Abergaveny Skenfrith Ragland Caldicot The Moor. And in these Hundreds are 7 Market-Towns viz. Vske Mon. Frid. Abergavenny Tues Caerlyon Thurs Monmouth Sat. Cheapstow Sat. Newport Sat. Pont Poole Sat. The principal place in this Shire is the City of Monmouth situate in the Latitude of 51 deg 57 min. It bears from London W. by N. And is distant therefrom 99 miles Thus From London to Gloucester 82 miles as in Gloucestershire to Monmouth 99. But by a more accurate admeasurement upon the Road it is found to be 127 miles distant from London This Towns situation is pleasant and good seated between the Rivers of Monnow and Wye it hath 3 Gates for entrance besides the Lock or Tower at the Bridge It is a Town of good repute and well frequented It is governed by a Maior 2 Bailiffs 15 Common-Councellors a Town-Clerk and 2 Sergeants for their Attendants The Earls and Dukes of Monmouth are Robert Carey Earl of Monmouth James Scot Duke of Monmouth Things Remarkable in this County The two Rivers of Uske and Wye are full of Salmon and Trouts At Chepstow the River Wye riseth to an exceeding great height At Lanthony Abby saith Cambden the Rain which the Mountains breed falls very often The VVind blows strong and almost all the Winter it is continually