antient and noble family have flourished from the first conquest of this country by the English who were afterwards advanced to the honour of Barons o Now Earl of Tyrone Curraghmore Upon the bank of the river Suire stands Waterford â—â—terford the chief City of this County Of which thus old Necham Suirius insignem gaudet ditare Waterford Aequoreis undis associatur ibi Thee Waterford Suir 's streams with wealth supply Hasting to pay their tribute to the sea This City which the Irish and Britains call Porthlargy the English Waterford was first built by certain Pirats of Norway Though 't is situated in a thick air and on a barren soil and close built yet by reason of the convenience of the haven p It was once but now Cork may claim that honour 't is the second City in Ireland for wealth and populousness and has ever continued q It s motto was Intacta manet Waterfordia But in the course of the Irish rebellion begun An. 1641. by means of the Popish Clergy it became exceeding faulty Now that the English Inhabitants daily encrease we may expect it will recover its former reputation particularly loyal and obedient to the Crown of England For since it was first taken by Richard Earl of Pembroke it has been so faithful and quiet that in our Conquest of Ireland it has always secur'd us from any attempts on this side Upon this account the Kings of England have endowed it with many and those considerable privileges which were enlarged and confirmed by Henry 7. for behaving themselves with great valour and conduct against Perkin Warbeck a sham-Prince who being but a young fellow of mean extraction had the impudence to aim at the Imperal Diadem by pretending to be Richard Duke of York the second son of King Edward 4. King Henry 6. gave the County of Waterford 〈◊〉 of â—â—terford together with the City to John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury in words which so clearly set forth the bravery of that warlike man that I cannot but think it worth the while and perhaps some others may think it so too to transcribe them from the Record We therefore says the King after a great deal more wherein one sees the defect both of the Latin and eloquence of the Secretaries of that age in consideration of the valour of our most dear and faithful Cousen John Earl of Shrewsbury and Weysford Lord Talbot of Furnival and Lestrange sufficiently shewn and proved in the wars aforesaid even to his old age not only by the sweat of his body but many times by the loss of his blood and considering how our County and City of Waterford in our Kingdom of Ireland with the Castle Seigniory Honour Lands and Barony of Dungarvan and all the Lordships Lands Honours and Baronies and their appurtenances within the same County which by forfeiture of rebels by reversion or decease of any person or persons by escheat or any other title of law ought to vest in Us or our progenitors which by reason of invasions or insurrections in these parts are become so desolate and as they lye exposed to the spoils of war so entirely wasted that they are of no profit to us but have done and now do many times redound to our loss and charge and also that the said lands may hereafter be better defended against the attempts and incursions of enemies or rebels do ordain and create him Earl of Waterford with the stile title name and honour thereunto belonging And that all things may correspond with his state and greatness we hereby of our special grace certain knowledge and free motion that the Grandeur of the Earl may be supported more honourably do give grant and by these presents confirm unto the said Earl the County aforesaid together with the aforesaid title stile name and honour of Earl of Waterford and the city of Waterford aforesaid with the fee-farm castles lordships honours lands baronies and all other appurtenances within the County as also all mannors hundreds wapentakes c. along the sea-coast from the town of Yoghall to the city of Waterford aforesaid To have and to hold the said County of Waterford the stile title name and honour of Earl of Waterford and likewise the city of Waterford aforesaid with the castle seigniory honour land and barony of Dungarvan and all other lordships honours lands and Baronies within the said County and also all the aforesaid mannors hundreds c. to the abovesaid Earl and to the heirs males of his body begotten to hold of us and our heirs by homage fealty and the service of being our Seneschal and that he and his heirs be Seneschals of Ireland Seneschal of Ireland to us and our heirs throughout our whole land of Ireland to do and that he do and ought himself to do in the said office that which his predecessors Seneschals of England were wont formerly to do for us in that office In witness whereof c. However while the Kings of England and their Nobility who had large possessions in Ireland were either took up with foreign wars in France or civil dissentions at home Ireland was quite neglected so that the English interest began to decay r See the Statute of Absentees in the County of Caterlogh and the power of the Irish grew formidable by reason of their absence and then it was enacted to recover their interest and to suppress this growth of the Irish strength that the Earl of Shrewsbury for his absence and carelesness should surrender the Town and County of Waterford to the King and his successors and likewise that the Duke of Norfolk the Baron Barkley Ann. 28. H. 8 the Heirs Female of the Earl of Ormond and all the Abbots Priors c. of England who held any lands there should surrender them to the King and his successors for the same faults The County of LIMERICK THus far we have surveyed the maritime counties of Mounster two remain that are inland Limerick and Tipperary which we are now come to The County of Limerick lies behind that of Cork Northward between Kerry the river Shanon and the county of Tipperary fruitful and well inhabited but it has few remarkable towns The West part of it is called Conilagh Conilagh where among the hills Knock-Patrick Knock-Patrick that is St. Patrick's hill is most eminent for its height from the top whereof one has a pleasant prospect into the sea and along the river Shanon which at a great distance falls from a wide mouth into the Vergivian Ocean At the bottom of this hill the Fitz-Giralds liv'd for a long time in great honour Knight of the Vally Qu. Elâ—z An. 11. till Thomas call'd the Knight of the Valley or de Glin when his graceless son was put to death for Arsony for 't is treason by the laws of Ireland to set villages and houses a fire was also found an Accessary and had his estate
upon the disordered English kill'd great numbers of them whilst they stood doubtful whether they should run or fight But the greatest part posting themselves on the higher grounds got into a body encouraged one another and opposed the Enemy with great resolution as if they had made choice of that place for an honourable death At last Harold was shot through the head with an arrow and there with his two brothers Githus and Leofwine lost his life Upon this Edwin and Morcar with some few who had saved their lives made their escape by flight giving way to the hand of providence and the present necessity after they had fought without intermission from seven a clock in the morning to the dusk of the evening The Normans lost in this battle about 6000 men and the English a far greater number William overjoyed with his victory ordered a solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God and fixed his tent in the middle of the slain where he stayed that night Next day after he had buried his men and granted leave to the English to do the like he returned to Hastings to consider of proper methods how to prosecute his victory and to refresh his soldiers So soon as the news of this victory reached London and other cities of England the whole Nation was in a surprise and in a manner struck dead Githa the King's mother was so overcome with grief that no way could be found to comfort her She humbly desired of the Conqueror to grant her the bodies of her sons which she buried in Waltham-Abby Edwin sent away Queen Algitha his sister into the more remote parts of the Kingdom The Nobility desired the people not to despair and begun to consider of methods how to settle the Nation The Arch-bishop of York with the City of London and Sea-soldiers Bâ—â—â—â—les commonly called Botescarles were for making Eadgar King and renewing the war with William Edwin and Morcar were secretly contriving how to get the government into their their own hands But the Bishops Prelats and others upon whom the Pope's Anathema made a deeper impression thought it most advisable to surrender and not to incense the Conqueror with a second battel the issue whereof was but at best doubtful nor resist God who for the crying sins of the nation seemed to have delivered up England into the hands of the Normans William leaving 〈◊〉 strong garison in Hastings resolved to march in a hostile manner directly towards London but to diffuse a greater terror through the nation and to make all sure behind him he divided his forces and marched through part of Kent Suffex Surrey Hamshire and Berkshire Where he came he burnt villages and towns plundering them passed the Thames at Wallingford and filled all places with horror The Nobility all this while were at a stand what to do nor could they be persuaded to lay aside private animosities and consult the publick interest of the nation The Clergy to avoid the curses of the Church and censures of the Pope by which he did at that time sway both the minds of men and whole kingdoms and considering that the affairs of the nation were not only decay'd but quite ruin'd stood so firm to their resolution of surrendring that many so save themselves withdrew privately out of the City But Alfred Archbishop of York Wolstan Bishop of Worcester along with some other Bishops and Edgar Etheling Edwin and Morcar met the Norman Conqueror at Berkhamsted He made them most glorious promises upon which hostages were given and they submitted themselves to his protection Forthwith he went to London where he was received with great joy and acclamations and saluted under the title of King Next he prepares all necessaries for the inauguration which he had appointed to be on Christmas-day and in the mean time employed all his care and thoughts upon the settlement of the nation This was the period of the Saxon's government in Britain which lasted six hundred and seven years The revolution that hapned in the Kingdom some imputed to the avarice of Magistrates others to the superstitious laziness of the Clergy a third sort to the Comet which then appeared and the influence of the Stars a fourth attributed it to God who for hidden but always just reasons disposes of Kingdoms But others who looked nearer into the immediate causes threw it upon the imprudence of King Edward who under the specious colour of religious chastity neglected to secure a succession and so exposed the Kingdom as a prey to ambition WHat an insolent and bloody victory this was the Monks who writ about it do fully inform us Nor can we question but in this as in all others villany had the upper hand William as a token of his conquest laid aside the greatest part of the English laws brought in Norman customs and ordered that all causes should be pleaded in French The English were dispossessed of their hereditary estates and the lands and farms divided among his Soldiers but with this reserve that he should still remain the direct Proprietor and oblige them to do homage to him and his successors that is that they should hold them in see but the King alone be chief Lord and they â—uciaâ— â—eal â—illiâ—â—he â—ucâ— Feudatory Lords and in actual possession He made a Seal on the one side whereof was engraven Hoc Normannorum Gulielmum nosce patronum By this the Norman owns great William Duke On the other side Hoc Anglis signo Regem fatearis eundem By this too England owns the same their King Further as William of Malmsbury tells us in imitation of Caesar's policy who would not have those Germans that skulk'd in the forrest of Ardenna and by their frequent excursions very much disturb'd his army suppressed by the Romans but the Gauls that whilst foreigners destroyed one another himself might triumph without blood-shed William took the same methods with the English For there were some who after the first battle of that unfortunate Harold had fled over into Denmark and Ireland where they got together a strong body of men and returned three years after To oppose them he dispatched away an English army and General and let the Normans live at their ease For which side soever got the best he found his interest would go forward And so it proved for after the English hâ—d skirmâ—shed for some time one with another the victory was presented the King without any trouble And in another place After the power of the Laity was destroyed he made a positive declaration The English thrown out of their Honours that no Monk or Clergy-man of the English nation should pretend to any place of dignity wherein he quite receded from the easiness of King Canutus who maintained the conquered party in full possession of their honours By which means it was that after his death the natives found so little difficulty in driving out the foreigners and recovering their ancient freedom After he had setled those
The Church of York was by the Princes of that time endow'd with many large possessions especially by Ulphus the son â—f Toraldus which I the rather note from an old bâ—ok that a strange way of endowing heretofore may be took notice of This Ulphus govern'd in the west parts of Deira and by reason of a difference like to happen between his eldest son and his youngest about the Lordships after his death he presently took this course to make them equal Without delay he went to York and taking the horn wherein he was wont to drink with him he fill'd it with wine and kneeling upon his knees before the Altar bestow'd upon God and the blessed S. Peter Prince of the Apostles all his Lands and Tenements This horn was kept there to the last age as I have been informed It would seem to reflect upon the Clergy if I should relate the emulations and scuffles which ambition has raised between the two Sees of York and Canterbury whilst with great expence of money but more of reputation they warmly contended for pre-eminence T. 〈◊〉 r This Controversie was determin'd in Arch-bishop Thoresby's time A. D. 1353. at the special solicitation of King Edward â— qui corpoâ—um animarum pericula considerans ac pacem quietem populi sui affectans dictos Archiepiscopos ad pacis concordiam invitavit Yet so as that the Arch-bishops of York might legally write themselves Primate of England Anglia Sacra par 1. p. 74. For as one relates it the See of York was equal in dignity tho' it was the younger and the poorer sister and this being raised to the same power that the See of Canterbury was and endowed with the same Apostolical privileges took it very heinously to be made subject by the decree of P. Alexander declaring that the Arch-bishoprick of York ought to yield to that of Canterbury and pay an obedience to her as Primate of all Britain in all her Constitutions relating to the Christian Religion It falls not within the compass of my design to treat of the Arch-bishops of this See many of whom have been men of great virtue and holiness 'T is enough for me to observe that from the year 625. when Paulinus the first Arch-bishop was consecrated there have succeeded in it threescore and five Arch-bishops The 〈◊〉 sixth Aâ—â—bishâ—p to the year 1606. in which D. Tobias Matthews Venerable for his virtue and piety for his learned eloquence and for his indefatigable industry in teaching was translated hither from the Bishoprick of Durham mm This City very much flourish'd for some time under the Saxon Government till the Danish storms from the North began to rush on and spoil'd its beauty again by great ruins and dismal slaughter Which Alcuin in his Epistle to Egelred King of the Northumbrians seems to have foretold For he says What can be the meaning of that shower of blood which in Lent we saw at York the Metropolis of the Kingdom near St. Peter's Church descending with great horrour from the roof of the North part of the House in a clear day May not one imagine that this forebodes destruction and blood among us from that quarter For in the following age when the Danes laid every thing they came at waste and desolate this City was destroy'd with continual sufferings In the year 867. the walls of it were so shaken by the many assaults made upon them that Osbright and Ella Kings of Northumberland as they pursued the Danes in these parts easily broke into the City and after a bloody conflict in the midst of it were both slain leaving the victory to the Danes who had retired hither Hence that of William of Malmesbury York ever most obnoxious to the fury of the northern nations hath sustained the barbarous assaults of the Danes and groaned under the miseries it hath suffered But as the same author informs us King Athelstan took it from the Danes and demolish'd that castle wherewith they had fortified it Nor in after-ages was it quite rid of those wars in that especially which was so fatal for the subversion of Cities But the Normans as they put an end to these miseries so they almost brought destruction to York For when the sons of Sueno the Dane arrived here with a fleet of two hundred and forty sail Aâ—fâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Burleâ—â— Treasâ—â— of Eâ—gâ— and landed hard by the Normans who kept garrison in two castles in the city fearing lest the houses in the suburbs might be serviceable to the enemy in filling up the trenches set them on fire which was so encreased and dispersed by the wind that it presently spread about the whole city and set it all on fire In this disorder and hurry the Danes took the town putting the Townsmen and the Normans to the sword with great slaughter yet sparing William Mallet and Gilbert Gant the principal men among them for a Decimation Deciâ—â—â—â—on among the soldiers afterwards For every tenth prisoner of the Normans on whom the lot fell was executed Which so exasperated William the Conquerour that as if the citizeâ—s had sided with the Danes he cut them all off and set the City again on fire and as Malmesbury says so spoiled all the adjacent territory that a fruitful Province was quite disabled and useless that the country for sixty miles together lay so much neglected that a stranger would have lamented at the sight of it considering that formerly here had been fine cities high towers and rich pastures and that no former inhabitant would so much as know it The ancient greatness of the place may appear from Domesday In the time of Edward the Confessor the City of York contained six Shires or Divisions besides the Shire of the Archbishop One was wasted for the castles in the five remaining Shires there were 1428 houses inhabited and in the Shire of the Archbishop two hundred houses inhabited After all these overthrows Necham sings thus of it Visito quam foelix Ebraucus condidit urbem Petro se debet Pontificalis apex Civibus haec toties viduata novisque repleta Diruta prospexit moenia saepe sua Quid manus hostilis queat est experta frequenter Sed quid nunc pacis otia longa fovent There happy Ebrauk's lofty towers appear Which owe their mitre to St. Peter's care How oft in dust the hapless town hath lain How oft it's walls hath chang'd how oft it's men How oft the rage of sword and flames hath mourn'd But now long peace and lasting joy 's return'd For in his days these troublesome times being followed with a long and happy peace this city began to revive and continued flourishing notwithstanding it was often marked out for destruction by our own Rebels and the Scotch Yet in King Stephen's time it was most sadly ruined again by a casual fire which burnt down the Cathedral St. Mary's Monastery and other Religious houses and also as 't is supposed that
design he openly declares him an enemy and with all the dispatch he could marches into Gaul against him where Albinus with the choice of his British army had posted himself to receive him Upon engaging the Albinianites fought so stoutly that Severus threw off his purple and was put to the rout with his whole army But the Britains pursuing the enemy in some disorder as if the victory was already theirs Laetus who was one of Severus's Captains and stood expecting the issue with his men fresh and untouch'd now hearing that Severus was cut off and thinking that he himself might set up for Emperor fell upon them and put them to flight Upon this Severus having rallied his men and reassum'd his purple pursued them likewise with great eagerness and so came off with success having among many others slain Albinus himself And now Severus sole Emperor of the whole world first sent Heraclianus Heraclianus Propraetor D. l. 28. Tit. 6. Virius Lupus Propraetor and then Virius Lupus Propraetor and Legate call'd by Ulpian the Lawyer President of Britain to take possession of Britain This Virius Lupus as we shall observe in its proper place repaired many Castles here However he was at long run forc'd to buy a peace of the Maeatae at a great rate having made some of them prisoners because the Caledonii who had promised to check the excursions of the Maeatae had not perform'd that Article And finding himself unable to curb them in their inroads after much calamity suffer'd from 'em he sent for Severus himself in person to his assistance Severus embraced the occasion very joyfully both that he might wean his sons who grew luxurious and debauch'd from the pleasures of the City and add the name of Britannicus to his other titles and though now above sixty years old and withall gouty he resolves upon this expedition together with his sons Bassianus whom he call'd Antoninus and Augustus and Geta Caesar with the legions The Britains sent Embassadors immediately to offer peace whom after he had designedly stay'd a long time till all things were prepar'd and ready for the war he dismiss'd without coming to any conclusion and having left his son Geta whom at his first arrival in Britain he made Augustus in the hither part of the Island which was in subjection to the Romans that he might administer justice and government among them he himself with Antoninus march'd into the remoter parts of the country where without coming to any battle he employ'd himself in cutting down the woods building bridges and draining the fens and yet by ambuscade and sickness lost fifty thousand of his men Thus Dio. But Herodian makes him to have had several skirmishes with success while the Barbarians from the fens and thick woods where they had posted themselves sallied out upon the Romans At last however he forc'd them to a league upon condition that they should part with no small share of their country to him And that which is the most glorious action in his reign he built a wall from sea to sea quite cross the Island Upon the account of these victories he stamp'd his coins with this Inscription VICTORIA BRITANNICA and assum'd the title of Britannicus Maximus His son Geta had also the title of Britannicus as appears by his coins Yet without observing this league the Britains began afterwards to revolt which gall'd him to that degree that in an Oration to his soldiers he recommended the utter extirpation of them in those Verses of Homer Nemo manus fugiat vestras caedemque cruentam Non faetus gravida mater quem gestat in alvo Horrendam effugiat caedem Let none your mercy share Let none escape the fury of the war Children unborn shall die Having in some sort quieted these Rebels he dy'd at York not so much out of any infirmity of body as out of grief and concern at the wickedness of his son Antoninus who with his own hands had made two several attempts upon his life with these words in his mouth I receiv'd the Commonwealth disorder'd in all parts of it and I leave it in peace even among the Britains His corps was after their military way carried out by the souldiers put in the fire and the day solemniz'd with races by the souldiers and his sons Perhaps it would look like a piece of levity in me if I should relate the prodigies that happen'd before his death namely the blackness of the sacrifices the cypress crown offer'd him by a saucy buffoon in these words You have been every thing now be a God The method since it may divert the reader I will here subscribe The Apotheosis or Deification of the Emperor It is a custom among the Romans to consecrate those Emperors who die leaving either sons or successors behind them And they who are thus honour'd are thought to be rank'd among the Divi. Now the city is to be all in mourning Herodian with some allay of festival solemnity For they bury his body as they do those of others in great state The Image of the deceased person they draw as near as they can and lay the same in the entry to the palace upon an ivory bed very large and high with a cloth of gold spread over it And this Image lies pale here to resemble the deceased person The bed is attended the greatest part of the day on both sides of it on the left side all the Senators in mourning habits and on the right the Matrons whether honourable by descent or marriage Of these no one is either to wear gold or jewels but to be dress'd in a thin white garment like mourners This solemnity continues for seven days Physicians coming in daily to visit him and as if the body were a real patient still signifying they have less and less hopes of him At length when they find the party to be quite dead the young men of best quality among the Knights and Senators take up the said bed upon their shoulders and carry it by the via sacra into the old Forum where the magistrates of Rome us'd to lay down their offices Now on both sides the Forum were certain steps like stairs upon these on the one side stood the young sons of the senators and most eminent men in the city on the other the principal Ladies singing hymns and sonnets after a melancholy and mournful manner in praise of the dead person When this is done they take up the bed again and carry it into Mars's Field in the broadest part whereof is erected a square Rostrum eaven on all sides and built of nothing but great timber like a tabernacle The inside of it is stuff'd with combustible matter the outside of it is adorn'd with hangings richly embroider'd with gold and works of ivory and beautified with several pictures Within this stood another much less but of the same make and furniture with wide gates and doors in it Above that likewise a
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
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
quarries some such little miracles of sporting Nature And I have seen a stone brought from thence winded round like a serpent the head whereof tho' but imperfect jutted out in the circumference and the end of the tail was in the center u But most of them want the head In the neighbouring fields and other places hereabouts the herb Percepier â—ercepier grows naturally all the year round It is peculiar to England and one tastes in it a sort of tartness and bitterness 't is never higher than a span and grows in bushy flowers without a stalk It provokes urine strongly and quickly and there is a water distill'd out of it of great use as P. Poena in his Miscellanies upon Plants has observ'd w Scarce five miles from hence the river Avon parts Bristol in the middle â—â—tow call d by the Britains Caer Oder Nant Badon i.e. the City Odera in Badon valley In the Catalogue of the Ancient Cities it is nam'd Caer Brito and in Saxon it is BrightstoÆ¿ i.e. a famous place But a Amongst the rest Leland in his Comment upon the Cygnea cantio pag. 152. those who have affirm'd it to be the Venta Belgarum have impos'd both upon themselves and the world The City is plac'd partly in Somersetshire and partly in Glocestershire so that it does not belong to either having distinct Magistrates of it's own and being a county incorporate by it self It stands upon a pretty high gâ—ound between the Avon and the little river Frome what with walls and the rivers guarded very well for it was formerly enclos'd with a double wall It casts such a beautiful show both of publick and private buildings that it answers it's name and there are what they call Goutes in Latin Cloacae built in the subterraneous caverns of the earth to carry off and wash away the filth x so that nothing is wanting either for neatness or health But by this means it comes that Carts are not us'd here It is also so well furnish'd with the necessities of life and so populous that next to London and York it may justly claim a preeminence over all the cities in Britain For the trade of many nations is drawn thither by the advantage of commerce and of the harbour which brings vessels under sail into the heart of the city And the Avon swells so much by the coming in of the tide when the Moon descends from the Meridian and passes the place opposite that ships upon the shallows are born up 11 or 12 fathoms The citizens themselves drive a rich trade throughout Europe and make voyages to the remotest parts of America At what time and by whom it was built is hard to say but it seems to be of a late date since in all the Danish plunders it is not so much as mention'd in our Histories For my part I am of opinion it rose in the decline of the Saxon government since it is not taken notice of before the year of our Lord 1063. wherein Harald as Florence of Worcester has it set sail from Brytstow to Wales with a design to invade it In the beginning of the Norman times Berton an adjoyning farm and this Bristow paid to the King as 't is in Domesday book 110 marks of silver and the Burgesses return'd that Bishop G. had 33 marks â—â—am of â—â—â—ster and 1 mark of gold y Afterwards Robert Bishop of Constance plotting against William Rufus chose this for a seat of war and fortify'd the little city with that inner wall I suppose part of which remains to this day z But a few years after the Suburbs began to enlarge on every side for on the south Radcliff where were some little houses belonging to the suburbs is joyn'd to the rest of the city by a stone-bridge which is so set with houses that you would not think it a bridge but a street This part is included within the walls and the inhabitants have the privileges of citizens There are hospitals built in all parts for the poor and neat Churches for the glory of God Amongst the rest the most beautiful is S. Mary's of Radcliffe without the walls into which is a stately ascent by a great many stairs So large is it the workmanship so exquisite and the roof so artificially vaulted with stone and the tower so high that in my opinion it goes much beyond all the Parish Churches in England I have yet seen In it the founder William Canninges has two honorary monuments the one is his image in the habit of a Magistrate for he was five times Mayor of this City the other an image of the same person in Clergy-man's habit for in his latter days he took Orders and was Dean of the College which himself founded at Westbury Hard by it is also another Church call'd Temple the tower whereof as often as the bell rings moves to and again so as to be quite parted from the rest of the building and there is such a chink from top to bottom that the gaping is three fingers broad when the bell rings growing first narrower then again broader Nor must we omit taking notice of S. Stephen's Church the stately tower whereof was in the memory of our grandfathers built by one Shipward 41 Alià s Bâ—rstaple a citizen and merchant with great charge and curious workmanship On the east also and north parts it was enlarg'd with very many buildings and those too included within the walls being defended by the river Frome which after it has pass'd by these walls runs calmly into the Avon making a quiet station for ships and a creek convenient to load and unload wares which they call the Kay Under this The marsh between the confluence of Avon and Frome is a champain ground which is set round with trees and affords a pleasant walk to the citizens Upon the south-east where the rivers do not encompass it Robert natural son to King Henry 1. commonly call'd Robert Rufus Consul of Glocester because he was Earl of Glocester built a large and strong Castle for the defence of his city a and out of a pious inclination set aside every tenth stone for the building of a Chappel near the Priory of S. James which he also erected just under the City He took to wife Mabil daughter and sole heir of Robert Fitz-Hamon who held this city in fealty of William the Norman This castle yet scarce finish'd was besieg'd by King Stephen but he was forc'd to draw off without doing any thing and the same person not many years after being prisoner there was a fair instance how uncertain the events of war are Beyond the river Frome over which at Frome-gate is a bridge one goes obliquely up a high hill of a steep and difficult ascent from whence there is a pleasant prospect of the City and haven below it This upon the top runs into a large and green plain shaded all along the middle with a double rank of trees
who was his Godfather See Bede lib. 4. c. 13. and upon Baptism gave him this token of adoption Their Country is now divided into three Hundreds with a very little change of the name Meansborow Eastmean o Weastmean is only a Tithing and not a Hundred as the other two Weastmean within which there is a rais'd hill surrounded at the top with a large trench and call'd Old Winchester where tradition tells us there was an ancient City but there is now not the least mark or sign of it so that one may easily imagine it to have been only a Roman Summer-Camp Below this lies Warnford Warnford where Adam de Portu a man of great wealth in those parts under William the Conqueror rebuilt the Church as we are taught by a rude distich fixed on the wall Addae hic portu benedicat solis ab ortu Gens Deo dicata per quem sic sum renovata Good folks in your devotions ev'ry day For Adam Port who thus repair'd me pray q More inward there border upon these the Segontiaci Segontiaci who submitted themselves to Caesar and inhabited the Northern limits of this County living in the Hundred of Holeshot in which we meet with Aulton a Market-town that King Alfred by will left to the Keeper of Leodre and Basingstoke Basingstoke that has a well-frequented market and a very neat Chapel dedicated to the Holy Ghost built by William the first Lord Sands who there lies bury'd Upon the roof of it the history of the Prophets Apostles and Disciples of Christ is very artificially describ d. Below this place Eastward lies Basing Baâ—ing famous for it's Lords of that Sirname St. Johns St. Johns Poinings and Powlets For when Adam de Portu Lord of Basing marry d the daughter and heir of Roger de Aurevall whose wife was the daughter and heir of the noble family of the St. Johns Out of 〈◊〉 old m 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 then William son of the said Adam took the honorary title of St. John which was retain'd by his successors in a right line But when Edmund de St. John in the time of Edward 3. died without issue Margaret his sister marrying John de St. Philibert brought to him the whole estate of the Lords St. John She likewise dying without issue Isabel her other sister wife of * Sir Luke Hol. Luke Poynings had by him Thomas Lord of Basing whose grandchild Constantia by his son Hugh became heir to this part of the estate and being marry'd into the family of the Powlets was the great grandmother of that William Powlet Powlet who by K. Henr. 8. was made Baron St. John of Basing and by King Edward 6. Earl of Wiltshire and Marquess of Winchester and being Lord High Treasurer of England after he had in most troublesome times run through a course of the highest honours He lived â—â— years dy'd in a good old age a happiness that rarely attends Courtiers He built here a seat both for largeness and beauty wonderfully magnificent but which was so overpower'd by it's own weight that his posterity have been forc'd to pull down a part of it r Nigh this place we see The Vine Vines 〈◊〉 brought 〈◊〉 to Engâ—aâ—d a very neat house of the Barons of Sandes and so call'd from Vines which we have had in Britain more for shade indeed than fruit Vopiscus ever since the time of Probus the Emperor For 't was he that gave liberty to the Britains and some other nations to have Vines The first Baron of this family was †Sir William Hol. William Sandes Barons 〈◊〉 Sandes whom King Henry 8. advanc'd to that honour when he was his Chamberlain and had encreas'd his estate by marriage with Margery Bray daughter and heir of John Bray and Cousin of Reginald Bray Knight of the Garter and a most eminent Baneret To him was born Thomas Lord Sandes grandfather to William now living Nigh this place to the south-east lies Odiam Odiam now proud of a Palace of the King 's and once known for the prison of David 2. King of Scots It was formerly a free burrough of the Bishop of Winchester's Matth â—â—ris the Castle whereof in the reign of K. John was defended by 13 English for 15 days together against Lewis Dauphine of France who straitly besieged it with a great Army Higher up among the Segontiaci upon the Northern edge of the County lay the City of these Segontiaci Vindonum which losing it's old name Vindâ—â—â— took that of it's inhabitants as Lutetia in France borrow'd it's name from the Parisians For this place was call'd by the Britains Caer Segonte that is the City of the Segontians and so Ninnius terms it in his Catalogue of Cities we at this day call it Silcester Silcester and Higden seems to give it the name of Britenden from the Britains I am induc'd to call this place the Vindonum because it agrees with the distances of Vindonum from Gallena or Guallenford and from Vinta or Winchester in the Itinerary of Antoninus and the rather too because there is a military way still visible between this Silcester and Winchester Ninnius tells us this City was built by Constantius son of Constantine the Great and that it was once call'd Murimintum perhaps for Muri-vindun that is the Walls of Vindonum for the Britains retain the word Mure borrow'd from the Provincial language and the V consonant they often change into M in their pronunciation On the ground whereon this City was built I deliver Ninnius's words the Emperâ—r Constantius sow'd 3 grains of Corn that no poor person might ever inhabit there So Dinocrates at the building of Alexandria in Egypt as Ammianus Marcellinus has it strowed all the out-lines with †Farioâ— Wheat by which Omen he foretold that that City should always be supplied with plenty of provisions The same Author also reports that Constantius dy'd here and that his sepulchre was to be seen at the gate of the City as appear'd by the inscription But in these matters let Ninnius vindicate his own credit who indeed has stuff'd that little history with a great many trifling lies But thus much I dare affirm that this city was in great repute in that age and I myself have here found several coins of Constantine Junior son of Constantine the Great which on their reverse have the figure of a building and this inscription PROVIDENTIAE CAESS But all writers agree that Constantius whom Ninnius makes the builder of this city dy'd at Mopsuestia or Mebsete in Cilicia and was thence carry'd to the sepulchre of his Ancestors at Constantinople 〈…〉 I deny not but that a †sepulchre or honorary grave might be here made for the Emperor for such like ‖ Barrows of earth were often made in memory of the dead â—mulâ— â—orary 〈◊〉 or â—ows round which the souldiers had yearly their solemn exercises in
a house of Knights-Templars which is now quite gone it also affords a seat to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Suffragan who Archâ—â—â—â—â—â— of Cantâ—â—bury's Sâ—fragan when the Archbishop is taken up with more weighty affairs manages such things as concern good order but does not meddle in the business of Episcopal Jurisdiction There is a large castle like a little city with strong fortifications and a great many towers which as it were threatens the sea under it from a hill or rather a rock upon the right hand that is on every side rugged and steep but towards the sea rises to a wonderful height Matthew Paris calls it The Key and barre of England The common people dream of it's being built by Julius Caesar and I conclude that it was first built by the Romans from those British bricks in the Chapel which they us'd in their larger sort of buildings When the Roman Empire began to hasten to it's end a Nâ—merus Tungricaâ—â—rum company of the Tungricans who were reckon'd among the Aids Palatine were plac'd by them here in garrison part of whose armour those great arrows seem to have been 75 Then and many years after before the invention of great Ordnance out of engines call'd Ballistae like huge Cross-bows bent by force of two or four men which they us'd to shoot out of Bâ—â—â—â—â—scis engines like large Cross-bows and which are r There is at present no such thing in the Castle now shown in the Castle as miracles Between the coming in of the Saxons and the end of their government I have not met with so much as the least mention either of this Castle or the Town unless it be in some loose papers transcrib'd from a Table hang'd up and kept here which tell us that Caesar after he had landed at Deale and had beaten the Britains at Baramdowne a plain hard by passable for horses and fit to draw up an army in began to build Dover-castle and that Arviragus afterwards fortify'd it against the Romans and shut up the harbour Next that Arthur and his men defeated here I know not what rebels However a little before the coming in of the Normans it was lookt upon as the only strength of England and upon that account William the Norman when he had an eye upon the kingdom took an oath of Harold that he should deliver into his hands this Castle with the well And And after he had settl'd matters in London he thought nothing of greater consequence than to fortifie it and to assign to his Nobles large possessions in Kent upon condition that they should be ready with a certain number of Souldiers for the defence of it but that service is now redeem'd with so much money yearly â—â—â—â—ars â—â—ng'd For when Sir Habert Hubert de Burgo was made Constable of this Castle those are the words of an ancient writer he considering that it was not for the safety of the Castle to have new Guards every month procur'd by the assent of the King and of all that held of the Castle that every Tenant for one month's Guard should send his ten shillings out of which certain persons elected and sworn as well horse as foot should receive pay for guarding the Castle It is reported that Philip sirnam'd Augustus King of France when his son Lewis was laying new designs in England and had taken some cities 77 And â—orts and could not get this being manfully defended by the said Sir Hubert de Burgh should say My son has not yet so much as foot hold in England if he have not got into his hands the Castle of Dover looking upon it to be the strongest place in England and to lye most convenient for France Upon another rock over against this and of almost an equal height there are to be seen the remains of some ancient building One author upon what grounds I know not has call'd it Caesar's Altar but John Twine of Canterbury a learned old man who when he was young saw it almost entire affirm'd to me that it was a watch-tower â—aâ—â—s to direct Sailors by night-lights c c Such another there was over against it at Bologne in France built by the Romans and a long time after repair'd by Charles the Great as Regino witnesses who writes it corruptly Phanum for Pharum now call'd by the French Tour d'Order and by the English The old man of Bullen Under this rock within the memory of our Fathers the most potent Prince King Henry 8. built a mole or pile we call it the Peere wherein ships might â—â—verâ—eâ—e 〈◊〉 Suiâ—â—â—eâ—â—â— ride with more safety It was done with great labour 78 And 63000 l. charges and at infinite charge by fastning large beams in the sea it self then binding them together with iron and heaping upon it great quantities of wood and stone But the fury and violence of the sea was quickly too hard for the contrivance of that good Prince and the frame of the work by the continual beating of the waves began to disjoint For the repair whereof Queen Elizabeth laid out great sâ—ms of money and by Act of Parliament a Custom for seven years was laid upon every English vessel that either exported or imported Commodities This sea-coast is parted from the Continent of Europe by a narrow sea where some are of opinion that it wrought it self a passage thorow Solinus calls it Fretum Gallicum or The French straits Tacitus and Ammianus Fretum Oceani and Oceanum fretalem the strait of the Ocean and the Ocean-strait Gratius the Poët terms it Freta Morinûm dubio refluentia ponto The narrow seas on Bullen-coast that keep uncertain tides the Hollanders Dehofden from the two Promontories The strait of Calais or Narrow-seas we The strait of Calleis the French Pas de Callais For this is the place as a Poët of our own time has it gemini quà janua ponti Faucibus angustis latéque frementibus undis Gallorum Anglorumque vetat concurrere terras Where the two foaming mouths of boist'rous seas Preserve a narrow but a dreadful space And Britain part from Gaul This narrow sea as Marcellinus hath truly observ'd at every tide swells out with terrible waves and again in the ebb is as plain as a field 79 If is be not rais'd with winds and counter-seas Between two risings of the moon it flows twice and ebbs as often For as the moon mounts up towards the meridian and after it's setting in the point opposite to it the sea swells here exceedingly and a vast body of waters rushes against the shore with such a hideous noise that the Poët had reason enough to say Rhutupináque littora fervent And Rhutup's shore doth boil and bellow And D. Paulinus Epist 2. ad Victricium where he speaks of the tract of the Morini which he calls the utmost bound of the world stiles this an Ocean raging with barbarous waves Give me
another small river that runs into it from the East â—â—â—kesbuâ—â—â— between which is seated Tewkesbury in the Saxon tongue Theocsbury by others nam'd Theoci Curia so call'd from Theocus that there led the life of an hermit a large and fair town having 3 bridges over 3 rivers leading to it famous for the making of woollen cloth â—â—â—tâ—rd and smart biting Mustard but formerly most noted for an ancient Monastery g founded by Odo and Dodo two brothers in the year of our Lord 715 where their palace formerly stood as they shew us by the following inscription HANC AULAM REGIA DODO DUX CONSECRARI FECIT IN ECCLESIAM Which being almost ruin'd by age and the fury of Wars was repair'd by Robert Fitz-hamon Fitz-hamon a Norman 4 Lord of Corboile and Thorigny in Normandy translating Monks from Cranborn in Dorsetshire hither piously designing to make what satisfaction he was able for the loss the Church of Bajeux in Normandy sustain'd which Henry 1. consumed with fire to free him from prison but afterwards repenting of the fact rebuilt it It cannot saith William of Malmesbury be easily conceiv'd how much Robert Fitz-hamon adorned and beautified this Monastery where the stateliness of the buildings ravish'd the eyes and the pious charity of the Monks the affections of all persons that came thither In this Monastery he and his successors Earls of Glocester were interr'd who had a castle hard by call'd Holmes that is now ruin'd Neither was it less famous for the bloody overthrow that the Lancastrians received in this place in the year 1471 in which battel many of them were slain more taken and beheaded their power so weaken'd and their hopes so defeated by the death of Edward the only son of K. Hen. 6. and he very young whose brains were barbarously beaten out here that they were never afterwards able to make any head against King Edw. 4. Whence J. Leland writes thus of this town Ampla foro partis spoliis praeclara Theoci Curia Sabrinae qua se committit Avona Fulget nobilium sacrisque recondit in antris Multorum cineres quondam inclyta corpora bello Where Avon's friendly streams with Severn joyn Great Tewkesbury's walls renown'd for trophies shine And keep the sad remains with pious care Of noble souls the honour of the war From hence we go down the stream to Deorhirst Deorhirst which is mentioned by Bede it lyeth very low upon the Severn whereby it sustaineth great damages when the river overfloweth It had formerly a small Monastery which was ruined by the Danes but reflourished under Edward the Confessor who as we read in his Will assigned it with the government thereof to the Monastery of St. Denis near Paris But a little after as Malmesbury saith it was only an empty monument of antiquity h Over-against this in the middle of the river lies a place call'd Oleneag and Alney by the Saxons now the Eight i.e. an Island Famous upon this account that when the English and Danes had much weaken'd themselves by frequent encounters to shorten the War it was agreed that the fate of both nations should be determin'd by the valour of Edmund King of the English and Canutus King of the Danes in a single combat who after a long doubtful fight agreed upon a peace and the Kingdom was divided between them but Edmund being quickly taken out of the world not without suspicion of poyson the Dane seised upon the whole i From Deorhirst the river Severn 5 Runneth down by Haesfield which K. Hen. 3. gave to Richard Pauncefote whose successors built a fair house here and whose predecessors were possessed of fair lands in this country before and in the Conqueror's time in Wiltshire after various windings and turnings parts it self to make the Isle of Alney rich and beautiful in fruitful green meadows and then hastens to the chief city of the county which Antoninus calls Clevum or Glevum the Britains Caer Gloui the Saxons Gleaucester we Glocester Glocester the vulgar Latins Glovernia others Claudiocestria from the Emperour Claudius who as is reported gave it that name when he here married his daughter Genissa to Arviragus the British King whom Juvenal mentions Regem aliquem capies vel de temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus Some captive King thee his new Lord shall own Or from his British chariot headlong thrown The proud Arviragus comes tumbling down as if Claudius his three wives brought him any daughters besides Claudia Antonia and Octavia or as if Arviragus was known in that age when his name was scarce heard of in Domitian's reign But leaving those that make their own conjectures pass for the records of venerable antiquity I should rather adhere to Ninnius his opinion who derives this name from Glouus the great grand-father of King Vortigern only I find Glevum mention'd long before by Antoninus which the distance from Corinium with its name confirm to be the same But as the Saxon name Gleauecester came from Glevum so Glevum by analogy came from the British name Caer Glowi and that I believe from the British word Glow which in their language signifies fair and splendid so that Caer Glow is the same as a fair City Upon the same account among the Greeks arose the names of Callipolis Callidromos and Callistratia and amongst the English Brightstow †And Shirley and in this County Fair-ford 6 Fairley c. This City was built by the Romans on purpose to be a curb to the Silures and a Colony placed there call'd Colonia Glevum for a The Inscription is still to be read at Bath I have seen the remains of an ancient stone in the walls of Bath near the North-gate with the following Inscription * decurio DEC COLONIAE GLEV VIXIT ANN. LXXXVI This City lyes extended upon Severne and on that side where it is not wash'd with the river is secured in some places with a strong wall being beautify'd with many fair Churches and handsome well-built Streets On the south part was once a Castle built of square stone but now almost quite ruin'd it was first raised in the time of William the Conqueror and 16 houses were demolished in that place as Doomsday book mentions it to make room for this edifice About which as Roger de Monte writes Roger the son of Myles Constable of Glocester commenced his action at Law against King Henry 2. and also Walter his brother lost the right he had both to the City and Castle Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons first took this City by force of arms from the Britains in the year 570. then it came under the Jurisdiction of the Mercians under whom it long flourished in great repute here Osrick King of the Northumbrians by the permission of Ethelred King of the Mercians founded a great and stately Monastery for Nuns over which Kineburga Eadburga and Eva all Mercian Queens successively presided Edelfieda likewise that famous Lady
of the Mercians adorned it with a noble Church in which her self lyes intomb'd Not long after when the whole County was ravaged by the Danes these sacred Virgins were forc'd to depart and the Danes as Aethelwerd that ancient Author writeth after many turns and changes of war set up their tents at Gleuu-cester Now those ancient Churches having been ruin'd in these calamitous times Aldred Archbishop of York and Bishop of Worcester erected a new one for Monks which is the present Cathedral and hath a Dean and six Prebendaries belonging to it Which Church in former ages receiv'd great additions and ornaments from several Benefactors for J. Hanly and T. Farley Abbots added the V. Mary's Chapel Nicholas Morwent built the western front from the ground very beautiful b Thomas G. Horton Abbot joyned to it the northern cross Isle Abbot c Frowcester Trowcester built the curious neat Cloysters and Abbot Sebrook the great and stately Tower The south Isle was rebuilt with the offerings that devout people made at the shrine of King Edward 2. who lyes here interr'd in an Alabaster tomb And not far from him lyes in the middle of the Quire the unfortunate Robert Curt-hose the eldest son of William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy in a wooden monument 7 Who was bereft of the Kingdom of England for that he was born before his Father was King depriv'd of his two s ns the one by strange death in the N. Forest the other despoiled of the Earldom of Flanders his inheritance and slain he himself dispossessed of the Dukedom of Normandy by his Brother K. Henry 1. his eyes pluck'd out and kept close Prisoner 26 years without contumelious indignities until through extream anguish he ended his life Beyond the Quire in an Arch of the Church there is a wall built with so great artifice in the form of a semicircle with corners that if any one whisper very low at one end and another lay his ear to the other end he may easily hear each distinct syllable k In the reign of William the Conqueror and before the chief trade of the city was forging of Iron for as it is mention'd in Doomsday book there was scace any other tribute requir'd by the King than certain d A Dicar of Iron contain'd to barrs Blunt's Tenures Icres of Iron and Iron bars for the use of the Royal Navy and a few pints of Honey After the coming in of the Normans it suffer'd some calamities when England was all in a flame by the Barons wars being plunder'd by Edward the son of Henry 3. and after almost laid in ashes by a casual fire But now by the blessing of a continued peace it doth prosper and reflourish and having the two adjacent hundreds added to it is made a County of it self and is call'd The County of the City of Glocester l And Henry 8. in the memory of our Fathers augmented the state thereof by erecting an Episcopal See with which dignity as Geoffry of Monmouth saith it was formerly honour'd and I have reason not to question the truth of this assertion m since the Bishop of * Câ—osis Cluve is reckon'd among the British Prelates which name being deriv'd from Clevum or Glow doth in part confirm my conjecture that this is the Glevum mention'd by Antoninus n The river Severne having now left Glocester o and uniting its divided streams 8 Windeth it self by Elmore a Mansion House of the Gises ancient by their own lineal discent being in elder times owners of Apseley-Gise near Brickhill and from the Beauchamps of Holt who acknowledge Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent whom I lately mentioned benâ—ficious to them and testifie the same by their Armories Lower upon the same side Stroud a pretty river slideth into Severne out of Coteswold by Stroud a Market-town sometimes better peopled with Clothiers and not far from Minching-Hampton which anciently had a Nunnery or belonged to Nuns whom our Ancestors named Minchings waxeth broader and deeper by the ebbing and flowing of the tyde it rages like the aestuation of the sea towards which it hastens with frequent turnings and windings But in its course toucheth upon nothing memorable except Cambridge Cambridg a e It has only five or six houses small Country-hamlet where Cam a little river runs into it f Where this action is mention'd by the Saxon-Annals it is said to have been at Cambridge which is prov'd rather to be Bridgnorth in Shropshire See the County under that title at which bridge as Aethelwerd writeth when the Danes passed over by filing off laden with rich spoils the west Saxons and Mercians receiv'd them with a bloody encounter in Woodnesfield in which Healfden Cinuil and Inguar three of their Princes were slain On the same side of the river not much lower standeth Berkley Berkeys in the Saxon tongue Beorkenlau eminent for a strong Castle and its Mayor who is the chief Magistrate as also for the Lords thereof the Barons of Barkley of an ancient and noble family 9 Descended from Robert Fitz-Harding to whom King Henry 2. gave this place and Barkley Hearnes Out of this house descended many Knights and Gentlemen of signal note of which was William Baron of Barkley 10 Who was honoured by King Edward 4. with the style of Viscount Barkley by King Richard the 3. with the Honour of Earl of Nottingham in regard of his mother daughter of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Nottingham and by King Henry 7. with the office of Marshal of England and dingity of Marquess Barkley who in the reign of Henry 7. was made Viscount and Marquess Barkley E. of Nottingham and Marshal of England but because he died without issue those titles ceased with him p If you would know by what stratagem Godwyn Earl of Kent Earl G dwyn's 〈◊〉 a man fit and prepar'd for any wicked design got the possession of this place take this short account of Walter Mapes who lived 400 years since for it is not unworthy the Reader 's perusal Berkley is a village near Severne of the yearly value of 500 l. in which was a Nunnery govern'd by an Abbess that was both noble and beautiful Earl Godwin a notable subtle man not desiring her but hers as he pass'd by left his nephew a young * That this is not the original of the name is plain from the Saxon Bricgstow which plainly points out to us a bridge or passage over the river proper handsom spark as if seized with sickness till he should return back thither and instructed him to counterfeit an indisposition till he had gotten all who came to visit him both Lady Abbess and Nuns with child And to carry on the intreague more plausibly and more effectually to obtain the favour of their visits the Earl furnish'd him with rings and girdles that by those presents he might the more easily corrupt and gain their inclinations There needed
publick spirit For this reason the present Chancellor of the University at the same time providing for the memorial of himself has in this Library erected a Statue of Sir Thomas Bodley that great friend and patron of Learning with this Inscription THOMAS SACKVILLUS DORSETTIAE COMES SUMMUS ANGLIAE THESAURARIUS ET HUJUS ACADEMIAE CANCELLARIUS THOMAE BODLEIO EQUITI AURATO QUI BIBLIOTHECAM HANC INSTITUIT HONORIS CAUSSA PIE POSUIT That is THOMAS SACKVIL EARL OF DORSET LORD HIGH TREASURER OF ENGLAND AND CHANCELLOR OF THIS UNIVERSITY PIOUSLY ERECTED THIS MONUMENT TO THE HONOUR OF SIR THOMAS BODLEY KNIGHT WHO INSTITUTED THIS LIBRARY In the Reign of Henry the Seventh for the better advancement of Learning William Smith Bishop of Lincoln built new out of the Ground Brazen-Nose-College ff which was b With Exhibitions for 13 Scholars An. 1572. well endow'd by the pious and good old man Alexander Nowell Dean of St. Pauls About the same time Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester founded Corpus-Christi-College gg After these Cardinal Wolsey Arch-bishop of York on the site of the Monastery of St. Frideswide began the most noble and ample Foundation of all others 15 For Professors and two hundred Students which King Henry 8. with addition of Canterbury-College did richly endow and gave it the name of Christ-Church Christ-Church hh 16 Assign'd to a Dean Prebends and Students The same mighty Prince at the expence of his own Exchequer honored the City with an Episcopal See and the University with publick Professors And in our own age that the Muses might still be courted with greater favours Sir Thomas Pope Kt. and Sir Thomas White Kt. Citizen and Alderman of London have repair'd Durham and Bernard Colleges which lay almost buried in their own dust have enlarg'd their buildings endow'd them with lands and given them new names dedicating the former to the Holy Trinity ii this latter to St. John Baptist kk Queen Mary c The publick Schools at the time of Mr. Camden's writing ow'd their restitution to the piety and bounty of Queen Mary An. 1554. but the present fabrick in form of a stately Quadrangle was rais'd by the contribution of Sir Thomas Bodley and other Benefactors An. 1613. built from the ground the publick Schools And lately Hugh Price Dr. of Laws has happily laid a new foundation 17 With good speed and happy success as I wish call'd in honour of our Saviour Jesus-College ll These Colleges in number sixteen beside eight Halls mm all fairly built and well endow'd together with their excellent and useful Libraries do so raise the credit and esteem of Oxford that it may be justly thought to exceed all other Universities in the world nn Nor does it yield the precedence to any in Living Libraries for so with Eunapius I may term the men of profound learning nor in the admirable method of teaching all Arts and Sciences nor in excellent discipline and most regular government of the whole body But why this digression Oxford is very far from standing in need of a Panegyric having already gain'd the universal esteem and admiration of the world Nor would I by any means seem extravagant in the commendation of my mother University Let it suffice to say of Oxford what Pomponius said of Athens It is so eminent that there needs no pointing at it But by way of conclusion take this passage which begins the history of Oxford from the Proctor's book Chronicles and Histories do assure us that several places in different parts of the world have been famous for the studies of Arts and Sciences But of all such places of study among the Latins Oxford appears to be of the most ancient foundation to profess a greater variety of knowledge to be more firm in adhering to the Catholick Religion and to enjoy more good customs and greater privileges The Astronomers observe this City to be in twenty two degrees of longitude or distance from the fortunate Islands and in the northern latitude of fifty one degrees and fifty minutes 18 And thus much briefly of my dear Nurse-Mother Oxford As soon as Isis and Cherwell have joyn'd their * Besides this number valu'd at more than a thousand pound he gave 126 Volumes more in the year 1440. an in 1443. a much greater number with considerable additions at his death An. 1446. streams below Oxford the Isis with a swift and deeper current passes on to the south to find out the Tame River Tame which it seems long to have sought for Nor does it run many miles before the said Tame rising in the County of Bucks comes and joyns with it which river upon entrance into this County gives its own name to a Market-town of pleasant situation among rivers for the river Tame washes the north part of the town and two little brooks slide by it on the east and west sides This place has been in a flourishing condition ever since Henry Bishop of Lincoln in the reign of Henry 3. Claus 3 Hen. 3. brought the great road which lay before upon one side of the town through the middle of it Alexander that munificent Bishop of Lincoln Lord of this Manour to alleviate the publick odium he had contracted by his extravagant expences in building of Castles founded here a small Monastery And many years after the Quatremans a Family in former times of great repute in these parts built here an Hospital for the maintenance of poor people But neither of these foundations are at present to be seen though instead of them Sir John Williams Lord Williams of Tame Kt. advanced to the dignity of a Peer of this Realm by Queen Mary under the title of Baron Williams of Tame has here founded a beautiful School and an Alms-house oo 19 But this title soon determined when he left but daughters married into thâ— families of Norris aâ—d Wenman From hence the Tame runs near Ricot Ricot a neat seat which belong'd formerly to the Quatermans upon whose failure of issue male it was sold away by the Fowlers and Hernes till it came at last into the hands of the Lord Williams before-mention'd and by his daughter to the Lord Henry Norris Lord Norris whom Queen Elizabeth advanc'd to the dignity of a Peer by the title of Baron Norris of Ricot pp a person as well eminent for his honourable descent being deriv'd from the d Sir Edward Norris Knight marry'd Tridesaide younger daughter of Francis Viscount Lovel Lovels who were allied to most of the great families in England as more especially for his stout and martial sons whose valour and conduct are sufficiently known in Holland Portugal Bretagne and Ireland The next place visited by the Tame 20 Huseley where sometimes the names of Burentines flâ—urished as at Chalgrave is e The same place we find in the Catalogue of the british-British-Cities call'd by Ninnius and Huntingdon Cair Dauri by Alfred of Beverley
issue male A little before the Restoration this honour was conferr'd upon Henry Jermin Baron of S. Edmundsbury for his faithful Services to King Charles 2. It is since erected into a Dukedom and is enjoy'd by Charles Beauclair n North-west from hence is Markat or more truly Meregate â—â—â—gate i.e. says Norden an issue or out-gate of water which seems to refer to the river Womer mention'd by our Author * Nord p. 20 This is said to have broke out in the time of Edw. 4. and to have run from the 19. of February till the 14. of June following o The old Sulloniacae is plac'd by our Author at Brockley-hill in this County whereas that hill is really in Middlesex into which County the Roman Station ought also to be translated For tho' †â—n p. â—53 Mr. Burton seem inclin'd to think Ellestre the old Sulloniacae yet it does not appear that any thing of Antiquity has been discover'd thereabouts nor does the old Roman way run through it as our Author affirms that place lying near a mile to the right hand of it Thro' Edgware indeed a mile south of Brockley the way passes towards London so that Mr. Talbot when he settl'd the Sulloniacae there had at least some shew of probability on his side But not any remains of Antiquity appearing there 's no reason why it should be remov'd from Brockley-hill especially since of late Coins Urns Roman Bricks c. have been dug up there in the place where Mr. Napier has built him a fair new seat as well in laying the foundation of the house as levelling the gardens Rarities of this kind have been also turn'd up with the plough for about seven or eight acres round p Upon the south-border of this County is Barnet ‖ Full. Wor. p. 18. where was discover'd a medicinal spring suppos'd by the taste to run through veins of Alom It coagulates with milk the curd whereof is an excellent plaister for any green wound Continuation of the EARLS Edward son to the Duke of Somerset of the same name being dispossest of all by the attainder of his father was restor'd the first of Q. Elizabeth by Letters Patent bearing date the 13th of January to the titles of Lord Beauchamp and Earl of Hertford Edward the son dy'd in the life-time of his father and so did his eldest son of the same name Whereupon he was succeeded by William his grandchild who by K. Ch. 1. for his eminent services was advanc'd to the title of Marquess of Hertford as afterwards upon the restoration of K. Charles 2. to that of Duke of Somerset Since which time the same persons have successively had both titles which are at present enjoy'd by Charles of that name More rare Plants growing wild in Hertfordshire Alsine montana minima Acini facie rotundifolia An Alsines minoris alia Thal. Harcyn Small mountainous round-leaved Chick-weed resembling Stone-Basil In the mountainous parts of this County on the borders of Buckinghamshire near Chalfont S. Peter Found by Dr. Plukenet Gentianella Autumnalis Centaurii minoris foliis Park Not far from the ruins of old Verulam Park p. 407. Hieracii seu Pilosellae majoris species humilis soliis longioribus rariùs dentatis pluribus fimul flore singulari nostras On a dry bank at the edge of a wood in a lane leading from Hornhill to Reickmeersworte Dr. Plukenet Lysimachia lutea flore globoso Ger. Park Yellow Loosestrife with a globular tuft of flowers said to be found near Kings-Langley by Phyt. Brit. Mentha piperata Pepper-mint or Mint having the taste of Pepper Found in this County by Dr. Eales Militaris aizoides Ger. See the other Synonymes in Cambridgeshire Fresh-water-Souldier or Water-Aloe In the new ditches of Hatfield P. D. Ophris sive Bifolium palustre Park Marsh Twayblade On the wet grounds between Hatfield and S. Albans Park p. 505. Orchis myodes major Park major flore grandiusculo J. B. muscam referens major C. B. The greater Fly-orchis Found by Dr. Eales near Welling in Hertfordshire Helleborine latifolia flore albo clauso Broad-leav'd Bastard-Hellebore with a white close flower Found by Dr. Eales near Diggeswell in this County Sphondylium montanum minus angustifolium tenuiter laciniatum Jagged Cow-Parsnep Observed by Mr. Doody near Tring in this County Campanula Alpina minor rotundifolia C. B. About Reickmeersworth in Hertfordshire in an old Gravel-pit there observed by Dr. Plukenet TRINOBANTES NEXT the Cattieuchlani the people call'd by Caesar Trinobantes by Ptolemy and Tacitus Trinoantes inhabited those parts which have now chang'd their names and are call'd Middlesex and Essex From whence that old name should be deriv'd I cannot so much as guess unless it come from the British Tre-nant implying towns in a valley for this whole Country in a manner lyes upon a level all along the Thames But this is a conjecture I am not very fond of Though those indeed which inhabited Gallovidia in Scotland lying all low and in a vale were call'd in British Noantes and Novantes and the ancient people nam'd Nantuates liv'd about * Rheâ—â— vallâ—s Le Vault or the vale of the Rhine and had their name thence So that this conjecture is at least as probable as that of others who out of a spirit of ambition have deriv'd these Trinobantes from Troy as if one should say Troja nova or new Troy And let them enjoy their own humour for me In Caesar's time this was one of the stoutest Cities in the whole kingdom for such a body of people as liv'd under the same laws and government he always calls Civitas or a City and was govern'd by Imanuentius who was slain by Cassibelin Upon this Mandubratius his son fled for his life went over into Gaul to Caesar put himself under his protection and return'd with him into Britain At which time these our Trinobantes desir'd of Caesar by their Embassadors to espouse the cause of Mandubratius against Cassibelin and to send him into the City as Deputy-Governour This was granted them upon which they gave forty hostages and the first of all the Britains submitted themselves to Caesar This Mandubratius to observe it by the way is by Eutropius Bede and the more modern Writers call'd always Androgeus But how this difference of the name should come is a mystery to me unless it be true what I was told by one very well skill d both in the history and language of the Britains that the name of Androgeus was fixt upon him on account of his villany and treachery For the word plainly carries in its meaning something of villany and he in the book call'd Triades is reckon'd the most villanous of those three traitors to Britain because he was the first that call'd in the Romans and betray'd his Country After Mandubratius when civil wars at home drew the Romans from the care of Britain and so the kingdom was left to its own Kings and Laws it plainly appears that Cunobilin had the
an honourable series of Earls and Lords are descended From hence passing through Earls-Coln so call'd by reason of its being the burying place of the Earls of Oxford where Aubry de Vere 24 In the time of King Henry 1. founded a small Convent and took himself a religious habit it goes on to Colonia which Antoninus mentions and makes a different place from Colonia Camaloduni Whether this Colonia Colonia be deriv'd from the same word signifying a Colony or from the river Coln let Apollo determine k For my part I am more inclin'd to the latter opinion since I have seen several little towns that adding the name of Coln to that of their respective Lords are call'd Earls-Coln Wakes-Coln Coln-Engain Whites-Coln This city the Britains call'd Caer Colin the Saxons Coleceaster and we Colchester Colchester 'T is a beautiful populous and pleasant place extended on the brow of an hill from West to East surrounded with walls and adorn'd with 15 Parish-Churches besides that large Church which Eudo Sewer to Henry 1. built in honour of St. John This is now turn'd into a private house In the middle of the city stands a castle ready to fall with age Historians report it to have been built by Edward son to Aelfred when he repair'd Colchester which had suffer'd very much in the wars 25 And long after Maud the Empress gave it to Alberic Vere to assure him to her party But that this city flourish'd even more than ever in the time of the Romans abundance of their coins found every day fully evince l Though I have met with none ancienter than Gallienus the greatest part of them being those of the Tetrici Victorini Posthumus C. Carausius Helena mother to Constantine the Great Constantine and the succeeding Emperours The inhabitants glory that Fl. Julia Helena mother to Constantine the Great was born in this city daughter to King Coelus And in memory of the Cross which she found they bear for their arms a Cross enragled between four Crowns Of her and of this city thus sings Alexander Necham though with no very lucky vein Effulsit sydus vitae Colcestria lumen Septem Climatibus lux radiosa dedit Sydus erat Constantinus decus imperiale Serviit huic flexo poplite Roma potens A star of life in Colchester appear'd Whose glorious beams of light seven climats shar'd Illustrious Constantine the world's great Lord Whom prostrate Rome with awful fear ador'd The truth is she was a woman of a most holy life and of an unweary'd constancy in propagating the Christian Faith whence in old inscriptions she is often stiled PIISSIMA and VENERA-BILIS AUGUSTA Between this city where the Coln emptieth it self into the sea lyes the the little town of St. Osith the old name was * Cice by the Saxon Annals Chic Chic the present it receiv'd from the holy Virgin St. Osith S. Osithe who devoting her self entirely to God's service and being stabbed here by the Danish pyrates was by our ancestors esteem'd a Saint In memory of her Richard Bishop of London about the year 1120. built a Religious house and fill'd it with Canons Regular This is now the chief seat of the right honourable the Lords Darcy Barons Darcy of Chich. stiled Lords of Chich who were advanc'd to the dignity of Barons by Edward the sixth 26 When he created Sir Thomas Darcy his Councellor Vice-Chamberlain and Captain of the Guard Lord Darcy of Chich. m From hence is stretch'd out a vast shore as far as Nesse-point Nesse in Saxon Eadulphesness What was once found hereabouts let Ralph de Coggeshal tell you who wrote about 350 years ago In the time of King Richard on the sea-shore in a village call'd Edulfinesse were found two teeth of a Giant Giants of such a prodigious bigness that two hundred of such teeth as men ordinarily have now might be cut out of one of them These I saw at Cogshal and handled with great admiration Another I know not what Gigantick relique was found near this place in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth by the noble R. Candish I can't deny but there have been men of such extraordinary bulk and strength as to be accounted prodigies whom God as St. Austin tells us therefore produc'd in the world to show that comeliness of body and greatness of stature were therefore not to be esteem'd among the good things because they were common to the impious with the virtuous and religious Yet we may justly suspect what Suetonius hath observ'd that the vast joints and members of great beasts dugg up in other countries and in this kingdom too have been commonly term'd and reputed the bones of Giants Bones of Giants n From this point the shore runs back a little to the Stour's mouth famous for a sea-fight between the Saxons and Danes in the year 884. Here is now seated Harewich Harewiâ—â— a very safe harbour as the name imports for the Saxon Hare-Æ¿ic signifies as much as an haven or bay where an army may lye 27 The town is not great but well peopled fortified by art and nature and made more fencible by Queen Elizabeth The salt-water so creeketh about it that it almost insulateth it but thereby maketh the springs so brackish that there is a defect of fresh water whcih they fetch-some good way off o This is that Stour which parteth Essex and Suffolk and on this side runs by no memorable place only some fat pastures But not far from the spring of this river stands Bumsted which the family of the Helions held by Barony 28 From whom the Wentworths of Gosfield are descended And in those parts of this county which are opposite to Cambridgeshire lyes Barklow Barkl w. Old Baâ—rows famous for four great Barrows such as our ancestors us'd to raise to the memory of those Soldiers that were kill'd in battel and their bodies lost But when two others in the same place were dugg up and search'd we are told that they found three stone Coffins and abundance of pieces of bones in them The Country-people have a tradition that they were rais'd after a battel with the Danes And the †Wall-wort or Dwarf-elder that grows hereabouts in great plenty and bears red berries they call by no other name but Dane's-blood Danes-blood denoting the multitude of Danes that were there slain Lower among the fields that look pleasantly with Saffron is seated g Call'd formerly Walden-burg and afterwards Cheping-Walden Walden Waldâ—â— a market-town call'd thence Saffron-Walden 29 Incorporated by King Edward 6. with a Treasurer two Chamberlains and the Commonalty It was famous formerly for the castle of the Magnavils which now scarce appears at all and for an adjacent little Monastery 30 Founded in a place very commodious in the year 1136. Commonly call'd Maâ—dâ—villeâ— in which the Magnavils founders of it lye interr'd Jeffrey de Magnaville was
an ancient family but now of execrable memory for a most cruel and horrible plot never parallel'd in any age which Robert Catesby of Ashby St. Leger the dishonour of his family running headlong upon villanies gaping after the most detestable cruelties and impiously conspiring the destruction of his Prince and Country lately contriv'd under a specious pretext of Religion Of this let all ages be silent and let not the mention of it convey this scandal to posterity which we our selves cannot reflect on without horrour nay the dumb and inanimate Beings seem to be moved at the hainousness of such a villanous conspiracy Hard by is Fawesley Faweâ—â—â— where the Knightleys have long dwelt adorn'd with the honour of Knighthood descended from the more ancient family of Knightley of Gnowshall in Staffordshire And more eastward upon the Nen whose chanel as yet is but small stands Wedon on the street Wedâ—◠〈◊〉 the Street once the royal seat of Wolpher K. of the Mercians and converted into a Monastery by his daughter Werburg a most holy Virgin whose miracles in driving away Geese from hence some credulous writers have very much magnified I shou'd certainly wrong truth shou'd I not think tho' I have been of a contrary opinion that it is this Wedon which Antonine in his Itinerary calls Bannavenna Bennavenna Bennaventa Bannâ—â—na 〈◊〉 Isaâ—â—â—na 〈◊〉 naâ—â—â— and once corruptly Isannaventa notwithstanding there remain not now any express footsteps of that name so much does length of time darken and change every thing For the distance from the ancient Stations and Quarters on both sides exactly agrees and in the very name of Bannavenna the name of the river Aufona Avenna now Nen the head whereof is near it in some measure discovers it self Likewise a Military-way goes directly from hence northward with a Causey oft broken and worn away but most of all over-against Creke a village where of necessity it was joyn'd with bridges but elsewhere it appears with a high ridge as far as Dowbridge near Lilborne A little more northward I saw Althorp â—â—â—â—p the seat of the noted family of the Spencers Knights allied to very many Houses of great worth and honour out of which Sir Robert Spencer the fifth Knight in a continued succession a worthy encourager of virtue and learning was by his most serene Majesty K. James lately advanced to the honour of Baron Spencer of Wormleighton Hard by Althorp Holdenby-house 〈…〉 â—â—denby makes a noble appearance a stately and truly magnificent piece of building erected by Sir Christopher Hatton 〈◊〉 Christoâ—er Hatâ—◠〈◊〉 died 〈◊〉 1591. Privy Counsellour to Qu. Elizabeth Lord Chancellour of England and Knight of the Garter upon the lands and inheritance of his great grandmother heir of the ancient family of the Holdenbys for the greatest and last monument as himself afterwards was wont to say of his youth A person to say nothing of him but what is his due eminent for his piety towards God his love for his Country his untainted integrity and unparallel'd charity One also which is not the least part of his character that was always ready to encourage Learning Thus as he liv'd piously so he fell asleep piously in Christ Yet the monument the learned in their writings have rais'd to him shall render him more illustrious than that most noble and splendid tomb in St. Paul's Church London deservedly and at great charges erected to the memory of so great a person by Sir William Hatton Kt. his adopted son Beneath these places the Nen glides forward with a gentle small stream and is soon after encreas'd by the influx of a little river where at the very meeting of them the City called after the river Northafandon and in short Northampton â—orthampâ—â—n is so seated that on the west-side it is water'd with this river and on the south with the other Which I was of late easily induced to imagine the ancient Bannaventa but I err'd in my conjecture and let my confession atone for it As for the name it may seem to have had it from the situation upon the north-side of the Aufona The City it self which seems to have been all of stone is in it's buildings very neat and fine for compass large enough and wall'd about from which walls there is a noble prospect every way into a spacious plain Country On the west-side it hath an old Castle 10â—5 â—egister of Andrews beautiful even by it's antiquity built by Simon de Sancto Licio commonly call'd Senliz the first of that name Earl of Northampton who joyned likewise to it a beautiful Church dedicated to St. Andrew for his own sepulture and as 't is reported re-edified the town Simon the younger also his son founded without the town ‖ De Pratis De la Pree a Nunnery It seems to have lain dead and neglected during the Saxon Heptarchy neither have our Writers made any where mention of it in all those depredations of the Danes unless it was when Sueno the Dane with barbarous fury and outrage ravag'd all over England For then as Henry of Huntingdon reports it was set on fire and burnt to the ground In the reign of St. Edward there were in this City as we find in Domesday 60 Burgesses in the King 's Domain having as many Mansions of these in King William 1.'s time 14 lay waste and 47 remained Over and above these there were in the new Borough 40 Burgesses in the Domain of K. William After the Normans time it valiantly withstood the siege laid to it by the Barons during the troubles and slaughters with which they had then embroil'd the whole Kingdom Who being maliciously bent against King John for private and particular reasons did yet so cloak them with pretences of Religion and the common good â—â—â—rtitus 〈◊〉 that they termed themselves The Army of God and of Holy Church At which time they say that military work was made they call Hunshill But it stood not out with like success against Hen. 3. their lawful King as it did against those Rebels For when the Barons brought up and now inur'd to sedition begun a war against him in this place he made a breach in the wall and soon won it by assault After this as before also the Kings now and then held their Parliaments here for the conveniency of its situation as it were in the very heart of England and in the year of Christ 1460. a lamentable battel was here fought wherein such was the Civil division of England after the slaughter of many of the Nobility Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick took that most unfortunate Prince King Hen. 6. then a second time made Prisoner by his subjects To conclude the longitude of Northampton our Mathematicians make 22 deg 29 min. and the latitude 52 deg 13 min. d From hence the Nen hastens by Castle-Ashby where Henry Lord Compton has begun a very fine House near which is
Canutus founded for Nuns who being expell'd within a little time in the year 1040. Leofrick Earl of Mercia enlarg'd it and in a manner built it a-new with so great a show of gold and silver to use Malmesbury's words that the walls of the Church seem'd too strait to contain the treasures of it It was very prodigious to behold for from one beam were scrap'd w Five hundred marks Malmesb. See Dugdale's Warwickshire 50 marks of silver And he endow'd it with so great revenues that Robert de Limsey Bishop of Lichfield and Chester remov'd his See hither as to the golden sands of Lydia that as the same Malmesbury hath it he might steal from the treasures of the Church wherewithall to fill the King's Coffers to cheat the Pope of his provisions and gratifie the Roman avarice However this See after a few years return'd back to Lichfield but upon these terms that one and the same Bishop should be stil'd Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield The first Lord of this City that I know of 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—try was Leofrick who being incens'd against the Citizens laid upon them very heavy taxes these he would by no means remit notwithstanding the great intercession of his Lady Godiva unless she would consent to â—ide naked thro' the most frequented parts of the city â—â—50 which if credit may be given to tradition she perform'd â—egus having cover'd her body with her long dangling hair without being seen by any one and so freed her Citizens from many heavy impositions From Leofrick this City by Lucia his son Algar's daughter came into the possession of the Earls of Chester for she had marry'd Ranulph the first Earl of that name and the third of the family who granted the same Liberties to Coventry that Lincoln enjoy'd and gave a great part of the City to the Monks the residue of it and Chilmore their manour-house near the City he reserv'd to him and his heirs who dying and the inheritance for want of issue-male coming to be divided amongst the sisters Coventry by the death of the Earls of Arundel fell to Roger de Monte alto De monte Alto. or Monthault whose grandson Robert granted all his right for want of issue-male to Queen Isabel Mother of King Edw. 3. to hold during her life after her decease the remainder to John de Eltham brother of the King and to the heirs of his body begotten In default of such the remainder to Edward King of England and his heirs for ever For so you have it in a Fine the second year of Edward 3. But John of Eltham was afterwards created Earl of Cornwall and this place became annex'd to the Earldom of Cornwall from which time it hath flourish'd very much Several Kings gave it divers immunities and privileges especially Edward 3. who granted them the electing of a Mayor and two Bayliffs 11 And to build and embattle a wall about it and Henry 6. who having laid to it some of the neighbouring villages granted by his Charter For so are the very words of it That it should be an entire County incorporate by it self in deed and name distinct from the County of Warwick At which time in lieu of two Bayliffs he constituted two Sheriffs and the Citizens began to enclose it with very strong walls In these are very noble and beautiful gates at that which goes by the name of Gofford is to be seen a vast shield-bone of a Boar which you may believe that Guy of Warwick or Diana of the Groves which you please kill'd in hunting after he had with his shout turn'd up the pit or pond that is now called Swansewell-pool but in ancient Charters Swineswell As to the Longitude of this City it lies in 25 degrees and 52 scruples the Latitude in 52 degrees and 25 scruples Thus much of Coventry which yet that I may ingenuously acknowledge the person who furnish'd me with it you must know you have not from me but from Henry Ferrars of Badsley a person to be respected as for his birth so for his great knowledge in Antiquity and my very good friend who in this and other places courteously directed me and as it were gave me leave to light my candle at his s Near Coventry to the North are situated Ausley Ausley a castle heretofore of the Hastings Lords of Abergavenny and ww Brandon Brand Brand. of old a seat of the Verdons To the East is placed Caloughdon vulgarly call'd Caledon Caledon an ancient seat of the Barons Segrave Barons Segrave from whom it descended to the Barons de Berkley by one of the daughters of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk These Segraves from the time that Stephen de Segrave was Lord Chief Justice of England were Barons of this Realm and enjoy'd the inheritance of the Chaucumbs whose Arms from that time they assumed viz. Arms of the Segraves A Lion rampant Argent crowned Or in a shield Sable John the last of this family marry'd Margaret Dutchess of Norfolk daughter of Thomas de Brotherton and had issue Elizabeth who carry'd the honour of Marshal of England and title of Duke of Norfolk into the family of the Mowbrays Not far from hence is Brinkle Brinkle-castle where was an ancient castle of the Mowbrays to which belong'd many fair possessions lying round it but time hath swept away the very ruins of it t as also of the Monastery of Combe Combe-Abbey which the Camvils and the Mowbrays endow'd Out of whose ashes the fair structure of the Harringtons arose in this place As you go Eastward x Anciently writ Thester Over as being seated castward of Monks-kirby and call'd but lately Cester-over by the inhabitants Dugd. Warwicksh p. 60. Cester-over presents it self the possession of the Grevils of whom I have before made mention Near which Watling street a Military way of the Romans dividing this County to the North from Leicestershire passes by High-cross of which we have already spoken near Nonn-eaton which of old was call'd Eaton but Amicia the wise of Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester as Henry Knighton writes having founded a Monastery of Nuns here in which she her self was profess'd of that number from those Nuns it got the name of Non-Eaton And formerly it was of great fame for the piety of its holy virgins who being constant in their devotions gave a good example of holy living to all about them Near this stood heretofore Asteley-castle Asteley the chief seat of the family of the Asteleys 12 Out of which flourish'd Barons in the time of King Edward the first second and third Baron Asteâ—ey the heiress of which was the second wife of Reginald Grey Lord of Ruthin From him sprang the Greys Marquisses of Dorset some of whom lye interr'd 13 In a most fine and fair Collegiate Church which Thomas Lord Astley founded with a Dean and Secular Canons in the neat
naufraga Petri Ductorem in mediis expectat cymba procellis Now thy vast honours with thy virtues grow Now a third mitre waits thy sacred brow Deserted Wigorn mourns that thou art gone And Kent's glad sons thy happy conduct own Now Rome desires thee Peter wants thy hand To guide his leaky vessel safe to land This city was in all probability built by the Romans when to curb the Britains who dwelt beyond Severn they planted cities at convenient distances all along upon its east-bank just as they did in Germany on the south-side of the Rhine It is seated upon an easie ascent from the river over which lieth a bridge with a tower upon it It was anciently fenced with lofty Roman walls as an old parchment-roll informs us and hath to this day a good firm wall But its glory consists in its inhabitants who are numerous courteous and wealthy by means of the Cloathing trade in the neatness of its buildings the number of Churches and most of all in the Episcopal See which Sexuulfus Bishop of the Mercians placed here A. D. 680. building a Cathedral Church in the south part of the city which hath often been repair'd and by the Bishops and Monks hath been lengthened westward a little at a time almost to Severn side It is really a fair and magnificent Structure ennobled with the monuments of King John Arthur Prince of Wales and some of the Beauchamps A College also of learned men called Prebendaries no less famous than were formerly the Priory of Monks or College of Secular Priests here For in this Church presently upon its first foundation as in the other Abbies of England were placed married Presbyters Married Priests who govern'd those Churches a long time with great reputation for sanctity till Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury in a Synod decreed Register of the Church of Worcester A. D. 964. That for the future all Religious men in England should lead a single life For then Oswald Bishop of this See who was a most zealous promoter of Monkery remov'd the Priests and plac'd Monks in their room which King Edgar attests in these words l The Convents both of Monks and Virgins were destroy'd and neglected all England over which I have determined to repair to the praise of God for the benefit of my own soul and to increase the number of the Servants of God of both sexes and accordingly I have already settled Monks and Nuns in seven and forty houses and resolve if Christ spare me life to do it that I will go on in the oblation of my devout munificence to God till I have made them up fifty the number of the years of Remission Wherefore at present that Monastery in the Episcopal See of Worcester which the reverend Bishop Oswald hath to the honour of Mary the holy mother of God enlarged and having expelled the Secular Clerks c. by my assent and favour bestowed on the religious servants of God the Monks I do by my royal Authority confirm to the said religious persons leading a Monastick life and with the advice and consent of my Princes and Nobles do corroborate and consign c. After some considerable time when through the incursions of the Danes and civil broils the state of this Church was so decay'd that in the place of that numerous company of Monks which Oswald founded here scarce 12 were left Wulfstan S. Wulstan who sate Bp. of this See about A. D. 1090. restor'd it and augmented the number of Monks to 50. and also built a new Church He was a mean scholar even in the account of that age but a person of such simplicity and unfeigned integrity and of a conversation so severe and strict that he was a terrour to ill men and beloved by all that were good insomuch that after his death the Church gave him a place in the Kalendar among the Saints Now after they had flourished in great wealth and power above 500 years King Hen. 8. expell'd these Monks and in their room placed a Dean and Prebendaries and founded a Grammar-school for the instruction of youth Close by this Church remain the bare name and ground-plot of the Castle Which as we read in William of Malmesbury's history of Bishops Ursus made Sheriff of Worcester by William 1. built in the very teeth of the Monks so that the grass took away part of their cemetery But this Castle through the injury of time and casualty of fire hath many years since been ruined The City also hath been more than once burnt down A. D. 1041. it was set on fire by Hardy-Canute who being enraged at the Citizens for killing his Huscarles so they call'd his Officers who collected the Danegelt did not only fire the City Marianus but also massacre all the inhabitants except such as escaped into Bevercy a small island in the river Nevertheless we find in the survey of William 1. that in the days of Edward the Confessor it had a great many Burgesses and was rated at xv hide-land and when the Mint went every Minter gave xx shillings at London for stamps to coin withall In the year 1113. a casual fire which consumed the Castle burnt the roof of the Church also During the Civil wars in K. Stephen's reign it was fired once and again but suffered most when that King took the City Anno 15 Steph. Reâ—â—â— which he had unadvisedly put into the hands of Walleran Earl of Mellent but at that time he could not carry the Castle m However it still rose out of the ashes with greater beauty and hath flourished under an excellent Government managed by two Bailiffs chosen out of 24 Citizens two Aldermen and two Chamberlains with a Common Council consisting of 48 Citizens more n As to the Geographical account of it it 's Longitude from the west Meridian is 21 degrees 52 minutes and hath the north pole elevated 52 degrees and 12 minutes o From Worcester taking its course westward the river passeth by Powick Barons of Powick anciently the seat of John Beauchamp whom K. Hen. 6. raised to the dignity of a Baron whose estate soon after heirs female carried to the Willoughbies of Broke the Reads and Ligons p Hence through rich and fragrant meadows it runs by Hanley Hanley formerly a Castle belonging to the Earls of Glocester and Upton Upton a noted market town where Roman Coins are frequently dug up Not far off on the right-hand Severn hath the prospect of Malvern Malvern hills hills hills indeed or rather great and lofty mountains for about seven miles together rising like stairs one higher than the other and dividing this County from that of Hereford On the top Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester did anciently cast up a ditch all along to part his lands from those of the Church of Worcester which ditch is still to be seen and is very much admired pp On the other side Severn and near the same distance
Nobâ—â—â— with Vincent's Corections p. 471. Dugd Baâ—â—â— T. 1. p. 334. f Upon the death of Edward Earl of Shrewsbury Febr. 7. 1617 the last heir-male of John the third Earl of this family the honour came to the house of Grafton now the seat of Charles Earl of Shrewsbury who is the next lineal heir of this Sir Gilbert Talbot mention'd by our Author g From hence this river goes to Droitwich or Durtwich Durtwich the original whereof says our Author may bear some analogy to the Hyetus in Boeotia from its dirty soil And indeed Stephanus Byzantius in his book De Urbibus under 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentions this reason of the name * See 〈◊〉 saâ—â—â— Nevertheless it is more probable that this town in Boeotia deriv'd its name from Hyettus an exile from Argos who fix'd here for the Greek name is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h Here says Mr. Camden arise three springs of brine and indeed at present there are only three but anciently as late as King Henry the seventh there were five They do not observe the seasons of wealling which our Author mentions nor do they at any time leave off because the brine is too weak to make salt for the springs yield strong brine all the year round but only when they judge the quantity of salt made sufficient to serve their markets which they are careful not to overstock They now burn coal and not wood in their Seales The town it self is very wealthy it had great privileges granted it by King John whose Charter they have to shew at this day They were also much favour'd by his son King Henr. 3. and other Princes particularly in this present Century K. James 1. in the 22d year of his reign granted them a Charter The Borough is govern'd by two Bailiffs and a certain number of Burgesses they send also two Members to Parliament i As to the Bullions of salt mention'd by Mr. Camden in his quotation from Domesday what proportion that is I cannot determine Monsieur du Cange in his Glossary contents himself to say in general that 't is a measure of Salt I am apt to think 't is the same with Bullitiones in Domesday-book where an account is given of the rent of eight fats belonging to the King and Earl at Nantwich which paid every Friday 16 Bullitiones See Sir Peter Leicester's Antiquities p. 427. Where it follows that 15 of these made unam summam one seam or horse-load or 8 bushels Spelm. Gloss in Summa And in Monast Angl. tom 2. p. 256. col 2. four sums are said to contain 40 bullions which I conceive to be Barrows the size whereof hath been different at different places and times k A little below the Saltwarp joyns it self to the Severn and goes along with it to Worcester Worcestâ—â—â— * Burtoâ— Antoniâ— Iâ—inerat p. 252. whose original is referr'd by John Rous of Warwick to King Constantius I suppose he means Chlorus As to the British name of the place Mr. Burton thinks our Author mistaken when he names it out of Ninnius Caer Guorangon and Guorcon perhaps as to the latter he is which Arch-bishop Usher judgeth to be either Warwick or Wroxeter in Shropshire but as to Caer Guorangon * Primâ—â— Eccles c. 5. the learned Primate agrees with Mr. Camden The conjecture of those who derive the name Wireceaster from Wyre-forest is very groundless for that forest lies near twelve miles from the city and as much in Shropshire as in this County Doubtless Wirecester is a contraction of Wigora or Wigra-cester as 't was call'd in the days of the Conquerour and his sons And Wigracester it self seems to be a contraction of Wic-para-cester i.e. the city of the men of Wiccia just as Canterbury is of Cant-para-byrig i.e. the burrough of the men of Kent The difference in writing Weogora Weogorena Weogorna and Wigra-cester is of no moment for our Saxon-Ancestors used eo and i indifferently as Beorhtpald Birhtpald Weohstan Wihstan so Weogora Wiogora and Wigra-cester And the difference in termination is as little material for as here we have Weogora and Weogorena-cester so in Bede we have Cantpara and Cantparena byrig The present name Worcester is either form'd from Wircester by the change of one vowel or else by contracting and melting the g in Weogorcester 〈…〉 â—â—orâ—â—â—er The name Wigornia is made like Cantuaria by softening the termination after the mode of the Latins Florentius who dy'd above 60 years before Joseph of Exeter dedicating his book to Baldwin us'd the name Wigornia so that Joseph tho' he might be as Mr. Camden hath it one of the first yet he was not as some * â—â—â—on's â—â—â—ent 〈◊〉 Antoâ—â— p. 252 others will have him the first writer who call'd this city by that name l Our Author mentioning the expulsion of Secular Priests notes in the margin A. D. 964. which is the date of King Eadgar's Charter in the Church of Worcester This date tho' very nicely particular having the Indiction the year of the King the day of the month and the week is nevertheless manifestly false For Florentius the Annals of Worcester and other monuments with one consent fix the expulsion of the Secular Priests in the year 969. and some of them add that Winsius was created Prior in the year 971. which Winsius is in the body of this Charter mention'd as then actually Prior so that 964 cannot be the true date †〈…〉 p. 〈◊〉 5â—2 〈◊〉 m Mr. Camden is very particular in recounting the calamities of this city amongst which we may very well reckon the plunder thereof by the Cromwellians after Worcester-fight 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Brit. 〈…〉 Sept. 3. 1651. wherein the Army consisting mostly of Scots who endeavour'd to re-inthrone King Charles the second being routed that Prince was wonderfully conceal'd till he could make his escape into France n He next gives us in short the civil Administration of the city but since that time by virtue of a Charter of King James 1. dated Octob. 2. in the 19th year of his reign this City is govern'd by a Mayor and six Aldermen who are Justices of the Peace these Aldermen are chosen out of the 24 capital Citizens a Sheriff usually chosen out of the said 24 likewise a Common-Council consisting of 48 other Citizens out of which number there are annually elected the two Chamberlains They have also a Recorder a Town-Clerk two Coroners c. The City is a County of it self o Between Worcester and Speechley on a rising ground is probably the old Oswald's-Law which ‖ â—â—â—d's 〈…〉 p. 434. Sir Henry Spelman says signifies as much as Lex Oswaldi and intimates the Constitution for expelling married Priests and is follow'd in that opinion by other learned men But it must be observ'd that in ancient writings it is not Oswaldes laga but law which signifieth a knap or little-hill and Edgar's Charter gives
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
Monuments of this kind in Wales some of which we shall take notice of in other Counties In Anglesey where there are many of them as also in some other places they are call'd Krom-lecheu a name deriv'd from Krwm which signifies crooked or inclining and lhech a flat stone but of the name more hereafter 'T is generally supposed they were places of burial but I have not yet learn'd that ever any Bones or Urns were found by digging under any of them Edward Somerset Lord Herbert of Chepstow Ragland and Gower obtain'd of K. Charles 1. the title of Earl of Glamorgan Earls of Glamogan his father the Lord Marquiss of Worcester being then alive the Succession of which Family may be seen in the Additions to Worcestershire DIMETAE a _THE remainder of this Region which is extended Westward and call'd by the English West-Wales West-Wales comprehending Caer-mardhin-shire Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire was thought by Pliny to have been inhabited by the Silures But Ptolemy to whom Britain was better known placed another Nation here whom he call'd Dimetae and Demetae Moreover both Gildas and Ninnius used the word Demetia to signifie this Country whence the Britains call it at this day Dyved changing the M into V according to the propriety of that Language If it would not be thought a strain'd piece of curiosity I should be apt to derive this appellation of the Demetae from the words Deheu-meath which signifie the Southern plain as all this South-Wales has been call'd Deheu-barth i.e. the Southern Part. And I find that elsewhere the Inhabitants of a champain Country in Britain were call'd by the Britains themselves Meatae Nor does the situation of this Country contradict that signification for when you take a prospect of it the Hills decline gently and it dilates it self gradually to a Plain a Seing it was the custom amongst the Romans to retain such names of the places they conquer'd as the ancient Natives made use of adding only a Latin termination it may seem more probable that Dimetia was mâ—de out of the British name Dyved than the contrary But whatever the original name of this County might be I cannot subscribe to our Author's conjecture of the etymon of it for we find no such word in the British Language either in Manuscripts or common use as Meath for a plain champain Country Tho indeed if there were such a word they that are well acquainted with those Counties would scarce allow it applicable to them CAER-MARDHIN-SHIRE THE County of Kaer-Vyrdhin call'd by the English Caer-Mardhin-shire is a Country sufficiently supply'd with Corn very well stock'd with Cattel and in divers places affords plenty of Coal It is bounded on the East with Glamorgan and Brecknock shires on the West with Pembroke on the North divided from Cardiganshire by the river Teivi and on the South with the main Ocean which encroaches on the Land here with such a vast Bay 〈◊〉 that this Country might seem out of fear to have withdrawn it self In this Bay Kydweli first offers it self the territory whereof was possessed for some time by the sons of Keianus a Scot until they were driven out by Kynèdhav a British Prince But now it is esteem'd part of the Inheritance of Lancaster by the heirs of Maurice of London or de Londres who removing from Glamorganshire after a tedious war made himself Master of it and fortified old Kydweli with Walls and a Castle now decay'd with age For the Inhabitants passing over the river of Gwen-draeth vechan built new Kydweli invited thither by the conveniency of a Haven which yet at present is of no great use being choak'd with shelves â—â—hâ—an â—â—an of â—y conâ—â— When Maurice of London invaded these Territories Gwenlhîan the wife of Prince Gryffydh a woman of invincible courage endeavouring to restore her husband's declining state enter'd the field with display'd banner and encounter'd him But the success not being answerable to her courage she with her son Morgan and divers other Noblemen as Giraldus informs us were slain in the field 〈◊〉 of â—or and â—â—eli By Hawis the daughter and heiress of 1 Sir Thomas of London Thomas de Londres this fair Inheritance with the Title of Lord of Ogmor and Kydweli descended to Patrick Chaworth and by a daughter of his son Patrick to Henry Earl of Lancaster The heirs of Maurice de Londres as we read in an old Inquisition were obliged by this Tenure in case the King or his Chief Justice should lead an Army into these parts of Kydweli to conduct the said Army with their Banners and all their Forces through the midst of the Country of Neath to Lochor â—â—iver 〈◊〉 or â—â—s A little below Kydweli the river Towy which Ptolemy calls Tobius is received into the Ocean having passed the length of this County from North to South First by Lhan ym Dhyvri so call'd as is supposed from the confluence of rivers which out of malice to the English was long since demolish'd by Howel ap RhÅ·s â—â—r Afterwards by Dinevor-castle the Royal Seat of the Princes of South-Wales whilst they flourish'd situated aloft on the top of a Hill And at last by Caer-mardhin which the Britains themselves call Kaer-Vyrdhin Ptolemy Maridunum Maridunum and Antoninus Muridunum who continues not his journeys any farther than this place Caer-Mardhin and is here by negligence of the Copyists ill handled For they have carelesly confounded two Journeys the one from Galena to Isca the other from Maridunum to Viroconovium This is the chief town of the County pleasantly seated for Meadows and Woods and a place of venerable Antiquity fortified neatly saith Giraldus with brick-walls partly yet standing on the noble river of Towy navigable with ships of small burden tho' the mouth of it be now almost stopp'd with a bed of Sand. Here our Merlin Merlin or Myrdhin Emris the British Tages was born for as Tages was reported to have been the son of a Genius and to have taught the Tuscans South-saying so our Merlin who was said to have been the son of an Incubus devised Prophecies or rather mere Phantastical Dreams for our Britains Insomuch that in this Island he has the reputation of an eminent Prophet amongst the ignorant common people a Soon after the Normans enter'd Wales this town fell into their possession but by whose means I know not and a long time it encounter'd many difficulties having been often besieged and twice burnt first by Gryffydh ap RhÅ·s and afterwards by RhÅ·s the said Gryffydh's brother At which time Henry Turbervil an Englishman reliev'd the castle and cut down the bridge But the walls and castle being afterwards repair'd by Gilbert de Clare it was freed from these miseries so that being thus secured it bore the tempests of war much easier afterwards The Princes of Wales eldest sons of the Kings of England settl'd here their Chancery and Exchequer for South-Wales Opposite to this city
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Old Time moves slowly though he knows no stay And steals our voices as he creeps away Unseen himself he hides from mortal view Things that are seen and things unseen does shew However I comfort my self with that Distich of Mimnermus which I know by experience to be true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oblectes animum plebs est morosa legendo Ille benè de te dicet at ille malè E'en rest contented for thou l't ever find Thy labours some will blame and some commend The Preface to the Annals of Ireland AS the Press had got thus far the most honourable William Lord Howard of Naworth out of his great Zeal for promoting the Knowledge of Antiquity communicated to me the Annals of Ireland in MS. reaching from the Year 1152. to the Year 1370. And seeing there is nothing extant that I know of more perfect in this kind since Giraldus Cambrensis and the excellent Owner has given me leave I think it very proper to publish them The World is without doubt as much indebted to the Owner for preserving them as to the Author himself for writing them The Stile is rough and barren according to the Age it was writ in yet the Contents give great Light into the Irish History and would have been helpful to me if I had had the use of them sooner As they are I here present them to the Reader faithfully copied exactly from the Original even with the Errors if he has any thing of this nature more perfect I hope he 'll communicate it if not he must be content with this till some one or other will give us a more compleat account of these Affairs and continue it down to the present Time with mâ—r eleg ance a Work of no great Difficulty THE ANNALS of IRELAND IN the Year of our Lord MCLXII died Gregory the first Archbishop of Dublin a worthy Person in all respects and was succeeded by Laurence O Thothil Abbat of S. Kemnus de Glindelagh a pious Man Thomas was made Archbishop of Canterbury MCLXVI Rothericke O Conghir Prince of Conaught was made King and Monarch of Ireland MCLXVII Died Maud the Empess This Year Almarick King of Jerusalem took Babylon and Dermic Mac Morrogh Prince of Leinster while O Rork King of Meth was employed in a certain expedition carried away his Wife who suffer'd her self to be ravish'd with no great difficulty For she gave him an Opportunity to take her as we find in Cambrensis MCLXVIII Donate King of Uriel founder of Mellifont Abby departed this Life This year Robert Fitz Stephens neither unmindful of his promise nor regardless of his faith came into Ireland with thirty * Militibus Knights MCLXIX Richard Earl of Strogul sent a certain young Gentleman of his own family nam'd Remund into Ireland with ten Knights about the Kalends of May. The same Earl Richard this year attended with about 200 Knights and others to the number of a thousand or thereabouts arriv'd here on S. Bartholomew's eve This Richard was the son of Gilbert Earl of Stroghul that is Chippestow formerly Strogul and of Isabel Aunt by the Mother's side to K. Malcolm and William King of Scotland and Earl David a hopeful man and the morrow after the same Apostle's day they took the said City where Eva Dermick's daughter was lawfully married to Earl Richard and her Father gave her MCLXX. S. Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury suffer'd martyrdom This same year the City of Dublin was taken by Earl Richard and his party and the Abby de Castro Dei i. of God's Castle was founded MCLXXI Died Dermick Mac Morrah of a great age at Fernys about the Calends of May. MCLXXII The Valiant King Henry arriv'd at Waterford with 500 Knights and among other things bestow'd Meth upon * Dominus Sir Hugh Lacy. The Abbey de Fonte vivo was founded this year MCLXXIV Gelasius Archbishop of Armagh the first Primate of Ireland a pious man died at a great age He is said to have â—een the first Archbishop that wore the Pall His Predecessors were only titular Archbishops and Primates in reverence and honour to S. Patrick the Apostle of this Nation whose See was so much esteem'd by all men that not only Bishops and Priests and those of the Clergy submitted themselves to the Bishop but Kings and Princes Gilbert a Prelate of great worth succeeded him in the Archbishoprick MCLXXV William King of Scots was taken prisoner at Alnwick MCLXXVI Bertram Verdon founded the Abbey of Crokesdenne MCLXXVII Earl Richard died at Dublin about the Kalends of May and was buried in Trinity Church there This year Vivian a Cardinal call'd from S. Stephens in the Mount Caellius was sent Legat of the Apostolick See into Ireland by Pope Alexander MCLXXVIII On the ninth of the Kalends of December the Abby de Samaria was founded This same year Rose Vale that is to say Rossglass was founded MCLXXIX Miles Cogan and Ralph the son of Fitz-Stephen his Daughter's Husband were slain between Waterford and Lismore c. as we read in Cambrensis The same year Harvie Mont Marish enter'd into the Monastery of S. Trinity in Canterbury who founded the Monastery of Mary de Portu i.e. of Don Broth. MCLXXX Was founded the Abby of the Quire of Benedict and also the Abby of Geripount This Year Laurence Archbishop of Dublin on the 18th of the Kalends of December died happily in Normandy within the Church of S. Mary of Aux After him succeeded John Cumin an Englishman born at Evesham elected unanimously by the Clergy of Dublin the King himself stickling for him and was confirm'd by the Pope This John built S. Patrick's Church at Dublin MCLXXXIII Was confirm'd the Order of the Templers and Hospitallers and the Abby De Lege Dei was founded MCLXXXV John the King's Son made Lord of Ireland by his father came into Ireland in the 12th year of his age which was the 13th since his father's first coming the 15th since the arrival of Fitz-Stephens and the 14th since the coming of Earl Richard and return'd again in the same 15th year of his Age. MCLXXXVI Was confirm'd the Order of the Carthusians and the Grandians This year Hugh Lacy was kill'd treacherously at Dervath by an Irishman because the said Hugh intended to build a Castle there and as he was shewing an Irishman how to work with a Pick-ax and bow'd himself down forwards the Irishman struck off his Head with an Axe and so the Conquest ended The same year Christian Bishop of Lismore formerly Legat of Ireland who copied those vertues which he had both seen and heard eminent in his pious Father S. Bernard and Pope Eugenius a venerable person with whom he liv'd in the Probatory of of Clareval and by whom he was made Legat of Ireland after his Obedience perform'd in the Monastery of Kyrieleyson happily departed this Life Jerusalem and our Lord's Cross was taken by the Sultan and the Saracens
being still Justiciary as before His Wife died this year MCCLXXXI Adam Cusak younger kill'd William Barret and many others in Conaught Frier Stephen Fulborn was made Justiciary of Ireland The Lord Robert d'Ufford return'd into England MCCLXXXII This Year Moritagh and Arte Mac-Murgh his Brother were slain at Arclowe on S. Mary Magdalen Eve And Roger Lord Mortimer died MCCLXXXIII The City of Dublin was in part burnt and the Belfrey of Trinity Church upon the third day before the Nones of January MCCLXXXIV The Castle of Ley was taken and burnt by the petty Kings of Offaly the morrow after S. Barnaby's Day Alphonsus the King's Son twelve years old departed this Life MCCLXXXV The Lord Theobald le Botiller died on the 6th of the Kalends of October in the Castle of Arclowe and was buried there in the Convent of the Friers Predicants Gerald Fitz Maurice was taken Prisoner by his own Irish Subjects in Ofaly with Richard Petit and S. Deget and many others and at Rathode was a great slaughter MCCLXXXVI Le Norragh and Arstol with other Towns were successively burnt by William Stanton on the 16th of the Kalends of December About this time Eleanor Queen of England mother of King Edward took a religious habit at Ambresbury upon the day of S. Thomas's translation having her dower confirmed by the Pope and assur'd to her for ever Calwagh was taken Prisoner at Kildare The Lord Thomas Clare departed this Life MCCLXXXVII This year died Stephen Fulborn Archbishop of Tuam and was succeeded in the Office of Justiciary for a Time by John Sampford Archbishop of Dublin This year the King of Hungary renounc'd Christianity and turned Apostate and having fraudulently assembled his Nobility under pretence of a Parliament Miramomelius a potent Saracen came upon them with an Army of 20000 men and took the King and all the Christians there away prisoners on S. John Baptist's eve As the Christians were carried along the weather turn'd cloudy and a tempest of Hail fell suddenly and killed many thousands of the Infidels So the Christians return'd to their own homes and the Apostate King went alone with the Saracens The Hungarians crown'd his Son King and continued in the Catholick Faith MCCLXXXIX Tripoly a famous City was demolish'd after great effusion of Christian blood by the Sultan of Babylon Who commanded the Images of the Saints to be dragg'd at the horses tails through the ruinous City in contempt of Christ MCCXC Inclyta stirps Regis sponsis datur ordine legis The issue of the King becomes a Spouse The Lord Gilbert Clare took to Wife the Lady Joan de Acon a daughter of our Lord King Edward in the Abby of Westminster and the marriage was celebrated in May And John the Duke of Brabant's son married Margaret the said King's daughter also in the Church aforesaid in July This year the Lord William Vescie was made Justiciary of Ireland and enter'd upon the Office on S. Martin's day Item O Molaghelin King of Meth was this year slain MCCXCI Gilbert Clare the son of Gilbert and the Lady Joan de Acon was born on the 11th of May betimes in the morning Item there was an army led into Ulster against O Hanlan and other Princes that had broke the Peace by Richard Earl of Ulster and William Vescie Justiciary of Ireland Item The Lady Eleanor formerly Queen of England and mother of King Edward died this year on S. John's day after a laudable life spent four years eleven months and six days in a religious habit as she had desir'd in the Abby of Ambresbury where she was a profess'd Nun. Item the news came to our Lord Pope Martin on the eve of S. Mary Magdalen concerning the city of Acon in the Holy Land which was the only place of refuge for the Christians that it was besieg'd by Mislkadar the Sultan of Babylon with a numerous army He besieg'd it hotly for about forty days viz. from the 8th day before the Ides of April till the 15th before the Kalends of July At last the Wall was pull'd down by the Saracens and they entred the city in great numbers many Christians being slain and some drown'd in the sea for fear Among whom was the Patriarch and his Train The King of Cyprus and Oto de Grandison escap'd in a ship with their followers Item This year the Lord Pope Martin granted our Lord King Edward the tenth of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in Ireland for seven years together as a supply towards a relief for the Holy Land Item the eldest son of the Earl of Clare was born the same year MCCXCII Edward King of England again entred Scotland and was chosen King John Lord Balliol of Gallweya obtain'd the whole Kingdom of Scotland by right of inheritance and did homage to our Lord Edward King of England at Newcastle upon Tine on S. Stephen's day Florentius Earl of Holland Robert Brus Earl of Carrick John Hastings John Comin Patrick de Dunbar John Vescie Nicholas Souls and William Roos who were then at difference in the said Kingdom submitted themselves to the judgment of King Edward Item A fifteenth of all the Goods of Laymen in Ireland was granted to our Lord the King of England to be collected on the Feast of S. Michael Item Sir Peter Genevile Knight died this year Item Rice ap Meredyke was brought to York and there dragg'd at the horses tails c. MCCXCIII A general and open war was this year waged at sea with the Normans Item no small number of the Normans was cut off in a sea-engagement by the Barons of the Ports of England and others their coadjutors between Easter and Whitsuntide For this a war broke out between England and France whereupon Philip King of France directed his letters of citation to the King of England to appear in person at his Parliament to answer what the King had to say to him but finding no compliance with this order he forthwith by the counsel of his Parliament declar'd him outlaw'd and condemn'd him Item Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester and his wife came into Ireland about the feast of S. Luke MCCXCIV William Montfort in the King's Council holden at Westminster before the King died suddenly He was Dean of S. Paul's in London The Bishops and Clergy who doubted what the King would expect from every one of them had instructed him as a person whom the King would confide in what to signifie from them to him as soon as he return'd to the King and was addressing himself to speak as he had design'd he grew speechless fell down and was carried out by the King's servants in a miserable condition Upon this sight people grew fearful and began to take him for the great procurer of the tenths of ecclesiastical benefices to the King and of the scrutiny and search after the fold of Christ as also of the contributions granted the King afterward Item The city of Bordeaux with the adjacent country of Gascoign was taken
defeated This occasion'd a general Insurrection in Scotland of both Earls and Barons against the King of England There was also at this time a Quarrel between the King of England and Roger Bigod Earl Marshal but this was soon made up S. Lewis a Frier minor Son of the King of Sicily and Archbishop of Cologn died this year This year also the son and heir of the King of Maliager i.e. of the Islands of Majorac instituted the Order of the Friers-minors at the direction of S. Lewis who bid him go and do it Item Leghlin in Ireland with other Towns were burnt by the Irish of Slemergi Item Calwagh O Hanlen and Yneg Mac-Mahon were slain in Urgale MCCXCVIII Pope Boniface IV. on the morrow of the Feast of S. Peter â—â—d S. Paul all things being then quiet made Peace between England â—â—d France upon certain Terms Item Edward King of England â—â—d an Army again into Scotland to conquer it There were slain 〈◊〉 this Expedition about the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen many â—â—ousands of the Scots at Fawkirk The Sun appear'd that day 〈◊〉 red as Blood in Ireland while the Battel at Fawkirk continu'd â—â—em about the same time the Lord King of England gave his Knights the Earldoms and Baronies of those Scots that were slain â—n Ireland Peace was concluded between the Earl of Ulster and the Lord John Fitz-Thomas about the Feast of Simon and Jude Also â—â—e morrow after the Feast of the seven Sleepers the Sun-beams â—ere chang'd into a bloodish colour all the morning to the great â—dmiration of every one Item This year died Thomas Fitz-â—aurice Knight and Sir Robert Bigod sometime Justiciary in the â—ench Item In the City Artha as also Reath in Italy during â—â—e stay of Pope Boniface there happen'd so great an Earthquake â—â—at Towers and Palaces fell down and the Pope and his Cardiâ—als fled out of the City with great consternation Item on the Feast of Epiphany there was an Earthquake in Engâ—â—nd from Canterbury to Hampton but not so violent MCCXCIX Theobald Lord Botilter the younger died in the Mannor of Turby on the second day before the Ides of May His Corps were convey'd towards Weydeney i. e Weney in the County of Limerick on the 6th day before the Calends of June Item Edward King of England married the Lady Margaret Sister to the noble King of France in Trinity-church at Canterâ—ury about the Feast of the Holy Trinity Item the Sultan of Baâ—ylon with a great Army was defeated by Cassan King of Tarâ—â—ry MCCXCIX On the day after the Purification there was an inâ—â—â—ite number of Saracen-horse slain besides as many Foot Item There was this same year a Fight of Dogs at Genelon-castle in â—urgundy the number of the Dogs were 3000 and all kill'd but â—â—e Item This year many Irish came to the Castle of Roch â—efore the Annunciation to give some disturbance to the Lord Theâ—bald de Verdon MCCC The * Numisma Pollardorum Pollard-mony was prohibited in England and Ireland Item King Edward enter'd Scotland with an Army in Autumn but was stay'd by an order from Pope Boniface and to excuse himself sent certain Envoys to the Court of Rome Item Thomas son â—o the King of England was born at Brotherton by Margaret the King of France's Sister on the last day of May. Item Edward Earl of Cornwall dy'd this year without issue and was buried in â—he Abby of Hailes MCCCI. Edward King of England enter'd Scotland with an Army Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland and Sir John Fitz-Thomas Peter Bermingham and many others set sail from Ireâ—and to assist him Item A great part of the City of Dublin was â—urnt down together with the Church of S. Warbutga on S. Caâ—â—mb's day at night Item Sir Jeffrey Genevil married the daughâ—er of Sir John Montefort and Sir John Mortimer married the daughter and heir of Sir Peter Genevil and the Lord Theobald Verdon married the daughter of the Lord Roger Mortimer The People of Leinster took up Arms in the Winter and burnt the Towns of Wyklo and Rathdon c. but they suffer'd for 't for the greater â—art of their Provisions at home was burnt up and their Cattel â—ole so that they had certainly famish'd if a sedition had not hapned among the English at that juncture Item A small company of the Brenies were defeated this year by the Tolans and 300 of those Robbers were cut off Item A great part of Mounster was wasted by Walter Power and many Farm-houses burnt MCCCII This year died the Lady Margaret Wife to Sir John Wogan Justiciary of Ireland on the 3d day before the Ides of April And in the week following Maud Lacy the Wife of Sir Geffery Genevil died also Item Edmund Botiller recoverd the Mannour de S. Bosco Holywood forte with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging from Sir Richard Feringes Archbishop of Dublin by a Fine in the King's bench after the feast of S. Hilary Item the Flemings defeated the French in Flanders at Courtenay the Wednesday after the feast of S. Thomas In this Engagement were slain the Earl of Artois the Earl of Albemarle the Earl of Hue Ralph de Neel Constable of France Guy de Nevil Marshal of France the Earl of Hennaund's son Godfrey de Brabant and his son William de Fenles and his son James de S. Paul lost his hand and fourty Baronets were kill'd that day with Knights Squires c. without number The Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Pope Boniface for three years as a Subsidy for the Church of Rome against the King of Arragon Item upon the day of the Circumcision Sir Hugh Lacy made an inroad upon Sir Hugh Vernail and drove off his Beasts This year Robert Brus Earl of Carrick married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster Item Edward Botiller married the daughter of Sir John Fitz-Thomas The City of Bourdeaux with others thereabouts which Edward King of England had formerly lost by a sedition of the French were now restor'd upon S. Andrew's-eve by the means of the Lord John Hastings MCCCIII Richard Bourk Earl of Ulster and Sir Eustace Power invaded Scotland with a strong Army But after that the Earl himself had made 33 Knights in the Castle of Dublin he passed over into Scotland to assist the King of England Item Gerald the son and heir of Sir John Fitz-Thomas departed this life This year the King and Queen of France were excommunicated with all their Children by Pope Boniface who also confirm'd the privileges of the University of Paris Soon after the Pope was taken Prisoner and kept as it were in Prison three whole days Soon after the Pope dy'd The Countess of Ulster died likewise about this time Item Walran Wellesly and Sir Robert Percivall were slain this year on the 11th day before the Kalends of November MCCCIV A great part of Dublin was burnt down viz. the Bridge-street a good part of
rich man died this year This Continuation following is took from a Manuscript Chronicle in the Hands of Henry Marleburgh MCCCLXXII SIr Robert Ashton being made Chief Justice came into Ireland MCCCLXXIII A great war between the English of Meth and O-Feroll with much slaughter on both sides Item John Lord Husse Baron of Galtrim John Fitz Richard Sheriff of Meth and William Dalton were in May kill'd by the Irish in Kynaleagh MCCCLXXV Died Thomas Archbishop of Dublin the same year Robert of Wickford was consecrated Archbishop of this see MCCCLXXXI Edmund Mortimer the King's Lieutenant in Ireland Earl of March and Ulster died at Cork MCCCLXXXIII A raging pestilence in Ireland MCCCLXXXV Dublin bridge fell down MCCCXC Died Robert Wikford Archbishop of Dublin Robeâ—t Waldebey Archbishop of Dublin of the order of the Austin Friers was translated also this year MCCCXCVII Died Frier Richard Northalis Archbishop of Dublin of the order of the Carmelites This year Thomas Crauley was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin Thomas Lord Burk and Walter Lord Bermingham cut off 600 of the Irish and Mac Con their Captain * Read Roger. Edmund Earl of March Lieutenant of Ireland with the assistance of the Earl of Ormond wasted the Country of O Bryn and knighted Christopher Preston John Bedeleu Edmund Loundris John Loundry William Nugent Walter de la Hide and Rober Cadel at the storming of a strong mannor-house of the said O Bryn MCCCXCVIII Forty English among whom were John Fitz Williams Thomas Talbot and Thomas Comyn were unfortunately cut off on the Ascension day by the Tothils On S. Margaret's day this year Roger Earl of March the King's Lieutenant was slain with many others by O Bryn and other Irish of Leinster at Kenlys in that province Roger Grey was appointed to succeed him in the office of Chief Justice On the Feast of S. Mark Pope and Confessor the noble Duke of Sutherey came into Ireland being made the King's Deputy Lieutenant thereof accompanied with the Archbishop of Dublin Thomas Crawley MCCCXCIX In the 23d year of King Richard being Sunday the very morrow after S. Petronil or Pernil the Virgin 's day King Richard arriv'd at Waterford with 200 sail At Ford in Kenlys within Kildare on the 6th day of this week two hundred of the Irish were slain by Jenicho and others of the English the next day the people of Dublin made an inroad into the Country of O Bryn cut off 33 of the Irish and took to the number of 80 men and women with their children prisoners The King came to Dublin this year on the fourth before the kalends of July and embark'd in great haste for England upon a report of Henry duke of Lancaster's being arriv'd there MCCCC At Whitsontide in the first year of King Henry IV. the Constable of Dublin-castle and several others engag'd the Scots at Stranford in Ulster which prov'd unfortunate to the English many of them being cut off and drown'd in that encounter MCCCCI In the second year of this reign Sir John Stanley the King's Lieutenant went over into England in May leaving Sir William Stanley to supply his office On Bartholomew-eve this year Stephen Scrope came into Ireland as Deputy to the Lord Thomas of Lancaster the King's Lieutenant The same year on the feast of S. Brice Bishop and Confessor Thomas Lord Lancaster the King's son being Viceroy of Ireland arriv'd at Dublin MCCCCII The Church of the Friers Predicants at Dublin was consecrated on the 5th of July by the Archbishop of this City The same day 493 Irish were slain by John Drake Mayor of Dublin assisted with the Citizens and the Country people near Bree where they gain'd a considerable victory In September this year a Parliament was held at Dublin Sir Bartholomew Verdon James White Stephen Gernon and their accomplices kill'd John Dowdal Sheriff of Louith in Urgal during this session MCCCCIII In the fourth year of King Henry IV. Sir Walter Beterley a valiant Knight then steward there with thirty more was kill'd in May. About the feast of S. Martin this year the King's Son Thomas went over into Enlgand leaving Stephen Scroop to officiate as his Deputy who return'd also on the first day of Lent into England after which the Lords of the Kingdom chose the Earl of Ormond Lord Chief Justice of Ireland MCCCCIV In the 5th Year of King Henry's reign died John Cowlton Archbishop of Armagh on the 5th of May and was succeeded by Nicholas Fleming The same year on S. Vitali's day a Parliament was held at Dublin by the Earl of Ormond at that time Chief Justice of the Kingdom where the Statutes of Kilkenny and Dublin and the Charter of Ireland was confirm'd Patrick Savage was this year treacherously slain in Ulster by Mac Kilmori his brother Richard being also given in hostage was murder'd in prison after he had paid a ransom of 200 marks MCCCCV In the 6th year of King Henry three Scotch Galleys two at Green Castle and one at Dalkey were taken in May with the Captain Thomas Mac Golagh The merchants of Tredagh entred Scotland this year and took hostages and booty The same year Stephen Scroop went into England leaving the Earl of Ormond to officiate as Justice during his absence In June this year the people of Dublin invaded Scotland entering it at S. Ninians where they gallantly behav'd themselves after which they made a descent upon Wales and did great hurt among the Welsh in this expedition they carried the shrine of S. Cubie to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Dublin Item This year on the vigil of the blessed Virgin died James Botiller Earl of Ormond at Baligauran during his office he was much lamented and succeeded by Gerald Earl of Kildare MCCCCVI In the seventh year of King Richard the Dublinians on Corpus Christi day with the assistance of the country people overcame the Irish and kill'd some of them they took three ensigns and carried off several of their heads to Dublin The same year the Prior of Conal in a battle with 200 well-arm'd Irish on the Plain of Kildare vanquish'd them by his great valour killing some and putting the rest to flight The Prior and his party were not above twenty such is the regard of Providence to those that trust in it The same year after the feast of S. Michael Scroop Deputy Justice to Thomas the King's son Viceroy of Ireland arriv'd here The same year died Innocentius VII succeeded in the chair by Gregory The same year on S. Hilaries-day a Parliament was held at Dublin which broke up in Lent at Trym Meiler Bermingham slew Cathol O Conghir in the latter end of February about the same time died Sir Geffery Vaux a valiant Knight of the County of Carlagh MCCCCVII A perfidious base Irishman call'd Mac Adam Mac Gilmori never christen'd and therefore call'd Morbi nay one that had been the ruin of forty Churches took Patrick Savage prisoner forc'd him to pay 2000 marks for ransom
usus Littora foelices intrat Totonesia portus From hence great Brute with his Achates steer'd Full fraught with Gallic spoils their ships appear'd The winds and gods were all at their command And happy Totnes shew'd them grateful land The river Dert which I spoke of being past Totness bridge where it heaps up sand brought along with it from the Stannaries sees nothing on each side of it but fertile grounds till it draws at last slowly to it's mouth where upon a long hill stands Dertmouth De 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which by reason of the commodiousness of the haven defended by two Castles is a town of great resort for merchants and well-built ships It has a Mayor by the grant of King Edward 3. The Zouches Nicholas de Teukesbury and the Brients according to the change of times were formerly owners of it and it hath often stoutly resisted the French In the year 1404. Monsieur de Castell a Frenchman who had stopp'd the trade in these parts by his piracies and had burnt Plimouth whilst he attack'd this place was set upon by the peasants and the women and cut off with his whole party Wâ—lâ—gham I must not here forget to mention Stoke-Fleming â—oke-Fleâ—â—ng which is hard by and taking it's name from a nobleman of Flanders formerly Lord of it went by a daughter of Mohun to the Carews The shore going back from hence the sea presses in after it and by that great in-let makes a bay of about 12 miles in circuit called at this day Torbay â—â—rbay which is a secure place for ships when the south-west wind blows i and has a small village situate upon it of the same name which was the seat of the Bruers heretofore 3 Who built here a Religious house who in Rich. 1. and K. John's time were men of great note but afterwards of the Wakes Near this stands Cockington â—â—y of â—â—â—ingâ—â— where the family of the Carys different from that of the Carews have long flourish'd in great repute from which the Barons of Hunsdon of whom in their proper place are descended h From the same are descendâ—d the noble families of the Earls of Dover and Monmouth A little higher stands Hacombe â—combe where formerly liv'd Jordan Fitz-Stephens Knight denominated from this place de Hacombe by whose daughter Cecil it came to the family of the Archdeacons from which likewise by Hugh Courteney it sell at last to the Carews â—e family â—he Caâ—â—s whose family is very famous in these parts and very numerous For Jane the daughter of this Hugh and the heir to her mother being marry'd to Nicholas Baron Carew had many children their eldest son Thomas proving somewhat undutiful to his mother she settled this fair inheritance upon the three younger sons from whom are descended the three families of Carews de Hacombe Anthony and Bery and upon John Vere her son by a second husband from whom are the Earls of Oxford â—gâ—â—â—â—th Hence we come to Teignemouth a small village upon the mouth of the River Teigne from which also it takes it's name where the Danes who were sent before to discover the situation of Britain and the harbours 〈◊〉 first â—ding of 〈◊〉 Danes first landed about the year of Christ 800. and having kill'd the governour of the place took it for a presage of future victory k which afterwards they pursu'd with the greatest cruelty thro' the whole Island More inward near the rise of the Teigne stands Chegford â—egford where formerly flourish'd the famous family of the Prows then i The right name is Chidleigh Chidley â—idley which gives it's name to the large family of the Chidleys k It yields a title of honour to the noble family of the Cliffords Sir Thomas Clifford Lord High Treasurer of England being created Baron of this place by K Ch. 2. and near to the mouth â—â—â—gnâ— Bishops-Teignton so call'd because it belong'd to the Bishops where upon the account of a sanctuary in it John de Grandison a Burgundian Bishop of Exeter as foreseeing what might happen in after-times built a very fine house that his successors as the words of his Will are might have where to lay their heads in case their temporalties were at any time seiz'd into the King's hands Yet so far was this from answering his design that his successors are now depriv'd both of this house and well nigh all the rest â—e river 〈◊〉 Six miles from hence the River Isca mention'd by Ptolemy which the British call Isc the Saxons Ex flows from a very large mouth into the Ocean Whether or no it took this name from Iscaw which signifies in British Elders I cannot tell Some derive it from reeds which the Britains call Hesk and with which the northern nations as the Britains thatch'd their houses â—â—y and fasten'd the joynts of their ships But seeing reeds are not found here I cannot agree to it The head of this river lies in Exmore a filthy barren ground near the Severn-sea the greatest part whereof is in Somersetshire where some monuments of antiquity are still seen namely Ancient Stones stones set in the form of a triangle in some places in others in the form of a circle and one among them is inscribed with Saxon or rather Danish letters for directing those as it seems that travell'd that road Ex or Isc flowing from hence first southward by Twifordton so call'd from the two fords now at present l Thiâ— Castle and mannour by match with one of the co-heirs of the Courtneys came to the Trelawnies Teverton Tiverton to which the woollen trade brings both gain and glory l runs by pretty rich grounds and is enlarg'd chiefly by two little rivers Creden from the west and Columb from the east Upon Creden in the times of the ancient Saxon Church there flourish'd a Bishops-See in a town of the same name Cridiantun now contractedly Kirton where was born that m He was Archbishop of Mentz and had the Title of Legate of the Apostolical See under several Popes was martyr'd by the Pagans An. 354. and his day in the Roman Calendar is the 5th of June Winifrid or Boniface Winifrid the German Apostle who converted the Hessians Thuringers and Frisians of Germany to the Christian Religion 4 And for that was accounted the Apostle â—f Germany and Canoniz'd a Saint Now it is only remarkable for a thin market and a house of the Bishops of Exeter m But within the memory of our fathers it was much more noted for a College of twelve Prebendaries who are now dissolv'd The river Columb which comes from the east washes Columbton a small town that takes it's name from it which King Alfred by his last Will left to his younger son and near Poltimore Poltimore the seat of the famous and very ancient family of Bampfield it runs into the river Isc And
now the Isc is grown bigger but dividing into many streams very convenient for mills it flows to the City Isca to which it leaves it's name Hence n He was once Prior of S. Nicholas in this City Alexander Necham Exoniae fama celeberrimus Iscia nomen Praebuit To Exeter the famous Ex gives name This city is call'd Isca by Ptolemy by Antoninus Isca Dunmoniorum for Danmoniorum Isca Danmoniorum Excester by others falsly Augusta as if the second Legion Augusta had quarter'd there whereas that was garrison'd in the Isca Silurum as shall be said hereafter It was nam'd by the Saxons o And Eaxan-ceaster Exan-ceaster and Monketon from the monks now at this day it is called Excester by the Latins Exonia by the Welsh Caer-isk Caer-uth and Pen-caer that is a chief city Caer what it signifies For Caer that I may once for all note it signifies a City in British hence they call Jerusalem Caer Salem Paris Caer Paris Rome Caer Ruffayne So Carthage in the Punick tongue as Solinus testifies was call'd Cartheia that is to say a new City Among the Syrians likewise I have heard that Caer signify'd a city and seeing it is took for granted that the whole world has been peopl'd by them it may seem very probable that they also left their tongue to posterity as the mother of future languages This city as Malmesbury says tho' the ground about it be wet and filthy and will scarce bear a crop of bad oats and often yielding empty ears without grain in them yet by reason of it's stateliness the richness of the citizens and resort of Strangers all kind of merchandise is so plentiful in it that one need lack nothing there that is necessary It stands on the east side of the Isc upon a hill of easie and gentle rise to the eastward and falling again to the west encompass'd with a ditch and very strong walls having many towers between them The town is a mile and half in circuit with suburbs shooting out here and there for a long way It contains p Thirteen of these Churches were in Oliver's time expos'd to publick sale by the Common-cryer 15 Parish-Churches and in the highest part near the East-gate has a castle call'd Rugemount formerly the seat of the West-Saxon Kings afterward of the Earls of Cornwall which now has nothing to recommend it but its antiquity and situation q It is suppos'd to have been the work of the Romans and as a place of great moment it has been committed from time to time to persons of the best rank For it commands the city underneath it and the country on all sides and has a very pleasant prospect to the sea In the east part of the city stands the Cathedral in the midst of fine houses quite round built by King Athelstan as the private history of this place witnesses in honour to S. Peter and fill'd with Monks at last the Monks being remov'd to Westminster Edward 3. grac'd it with the dignity of being an Episcopal See having transferr'd the Bishopricks of Cornwall and Kirton hither and made Leofric the Britain first Bishop of it whose successors have improv'd the Church both by buildings and revenues n And William Bruier the ninth Bishop after him in lieu of the displac'd Monks brought in a Dean and twenty four Prebendaries Josephus Iscanus In that age flourish'd Josephus Iscanus who owes his birth and name to this place a Poet of very lively wit whose pieces were so highly approv'd of that they met with as much applause even as the ancients For his poem of the Trojan war haâ— been twice publish'd in Germany under the title of Cornelius Nepos Cornelius Nepos When Isca first fell under the Roman Jurisdiction does not plainly appear I am so far from thinking it conquer'd by Vespasian as Geoffery of Monmouth asserts when under Claudius the Emperour Suetonius tells us he was first shown to the world that I should think it was hardly then built Yet in the time of the Antonines it was probably very famous for Antoninus continues his Itinerary in these parts to this City and no farther It fell not absolutely under the dominion of the Saxons before the year after their coming into Britain 465. Will. Malm. For then Athelstan forc'd the Britains who before that liv'd in the city in equal power with the Saxons out of it drove them beyond Tamar and encompass'd the city with a ditch a wall of square stone and bulwarks since that time our Kings have granted it many privileges and among the rest as we read it in the Book of William the Conqueror This city did not geld but when London York and Winchester did that was half a mark of silver for a Knight's fee. And in case of an expedition by land or sea it serv'd after the rate of five hides It hath also from time to time undergone much misery once spoil'd by an out-rage of the Danes in the year of our redemption 875 but most dismally by Sueno the Dane in the year 1003 being betray'd by one Hugh a Norman the governour of the city when it was laid level from the east to the west-gate and had scarce begun to recruit till William the Conqueror laid close siege to it at which time the Citizens not only shut up their gates against him but gall'd him with many bitter reflections however a part of their wall happening to fall down which the Historians of that age attribute to the hands of Providence a surrender soon follow'd at this time as it is in the said Survey-book the King had in this city 300 houses it paid 15 pounds a year Eight and forty houses were destroy'd after the King came into England After this it was press'd by three sieges yet easily escap'd them all First by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire in the civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster again by r After Warbeck was vanquish'd the King gave great commendations to the citizens and bestow'd upon them the sword he then wore to be born before the Mayor and also a cap of maintenance Perkin Warbeck a sham and counterfeit prince who being a young man and of mean descent by pretending to be Richard Duke of York the second son of K. Edward 4. rais'd a very dangerous war 5 Against Henry the Seventh thirdly by the seditious Cornish in the year 1549. when the citizens tho' under a most sad want of all sorts of provisions continu'd loyal till John Baron Russel rais'd the siege Å¿ For this deliverance the 6th of August was appointed to be and is still annually observ'd as a day of thanksgiving and commonly call'd Jesus-day K. Edw. 6. as a reward of their loyalty gave them the rich mannour of Ex-Island But Exeter has not suffer'd so much by these enemies as by certain heaps Wears as they call them t His name was Hugh Courtney and the true
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