accounting one thousand paces to a Mile is a mile and halfe and some what more The scituation of it is very plesaunt and amenous béeing set vpon a little hil emong many hilles the Contrie round about béeing Mountanose and ful of hilles It is pendeÌ„t towards the Sowth and West partes after and in such sort that be the Stréets neuer so foule or filthy yet with a shower of rain they are clensed aad made swéet And albeit commonly hilles are dry yet nature is so beneficial to this hil that it is ful of springê and by that menes euery parte of the Cittie is furnished with welles and Tyepittes the commoditie wherof hath wel appéered in sundry times of necessitie but especially in the late Commotion whiche was in the yéer of our Lord. 1549. for though then the enemy by spoiling of the Pipes wherby water was conuayed to the fountains of the Cittie from certaine Springs distant not a Mile from the same did abridge them of that water yet moste comfortably did they inioy the welles and Tyepittes within the walles whiche abundantly fléeted with waters to the satisfying of all the people therin There are also within this Cittie certain Fountains called Conduits vnto which through certain canalis or Pipes of Lead waters are conueyed from Springs rising out of certain places and féelds without this Cittie and these waters are of moste price the same by reason of the cariage béeing purified and made lighter then the waters springing within the Cittie and by that menes more fit for the dressing of meates Of these Fountains one béeing of great antiquitie and of later réedifyed staÌ„deth in the middle of the Cittie at the méeting of foure principall Streets therof and wherof it taketh his name beeing called the Conduit at Quarterfoies or Carsoxe and this serueth eche parte of the Cittie a like At the higher parte of this Cittie is a very olde and auncient Castle called by the name of Rugemont that is to say the red hil taking that name of the red Earth whervpon it standeth The Cite of it is eminent and aboue bothe the Cittie and countrie adioyning for they doo all lye as vnder the lee therof It hath a goodly prospect towards the Seas for betwéen that and it is no hil at all it is strongly diched round about and was so builded as is thought by Iulius Caesar or rather by the Romains after him for they had their recourse to it for their defence and refuge many yéeres The same also was sometimes the Palaice of such Kings as to whome the Kingdome of west Sex or west Saxons was alloted vnto After that it was the habitation of the Earles of Cornwall and last of all to the Dukes of Exon and of Cornwall for to those estates the signiory of this Cittie did appertain the same béeing parcel sometimes of the Earledome but now of the Duchie of Cornewall It. is now in meruelous ruin and decay not easely by force to be gotten were it réedified and inuironed At the lower end and parte of this Cittie without the walles fléeteth a goodly Riuer called in British Iske Ptholomeus by misinformation calleth it Isaca but the olde writers name it Esle Exe Exâ— or Excestrum which names be yet retained It hath his spring or hed in a certain Moer or desert distant from this Cittie neer about xxiiij miles called Exemore it floweth into the main Seas but by the way is increced with sundry Riuers Brookes and Lakes namely Creedy Collome and others in it is great plenty of Salmon Trout Peal dace Pike and other fresh water Fish whiche are had in the lesse price for that the Seas béeing so néer doo furnish the Cittie and the cuntrey abundantly with sundry kindes of Sea Fish moste delicate The main Sea it self is not distant from the Cittie abooue eight miles out wherof commeth an Arme seruing for the Port of the same which sometimes as appéereth by olde and auncient records did flow vp to the walles of the Cittie where bothe Shippes were wunt to be laden and vnladen of all kinde of Merchandise at a proper place appointed for the same which at this presents kéepeth his olde and ancient name béeing callen the VVater gate The decay therof happened in the yéer of our Lord. 1312. by one Hugh Courtney the third of that name and Earle of Deuon who béeing offended and incenced against this Cittie his wrathful humour could not be satisfied vnlesse he might impair the state of that common welth and therfore séeing and vnderstanding emong other commodities the vse of the Hauen to be one of the chéefest did neuer quiet him self vntil he had destroyed the same Wherfore in the yéer of our Lord. 1313. béeing the fifth yéer of the reign of King Edward the second he enterprised his pretenced deuise and mischéef For where as the Lady Awmerle Countesse of Deuon his Ancestrix had builded certain Weares vpon the Riuer of Exe th' one within the mannor of Exminster béeing in the west side of the Riuer and th' other within her manor of Topsham béging in the East side of the Riuer leuing betwéen the said twoo weres a certain aparture or open roume of thirtye foot through which all Botes Shippes and Uessails without let might haue their vsuall passage and repassage towards and from this Cittie The said Earle to abridge destroy this commoditie did leuye build a new Weare in the said open place stopping filing and quirting the same with trees timber and Stones in such sort that no vessail could passe or repasse After him Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon and Nephew to the said Hugh did not onely maintaine and continew the fact of his ancester and grandfather by dayly repairing and defending the same but also woorking an vttter destruction for any passage for Shippes thencefoorth to the Cittie vnder preteÌ„ce to buyld certain Milles did erect and make two other weares the one Sainct Iames ouerthwart the Riuer and the other at Lamperford by meanes wherof not onely the Cittie susteined the whole losse of their haueÌ„ but the whole Contrey adioyning for which iniuryes vpon complaints made writs and commissions of inquiry were sent out the said Earles for the same by verdict and presentment at seuerall times found guilty but such was his authoritie and power that it auailed nothing Neuerthelesse the said Earle Hugh the water course vnto the Cittie thus destroyed buylded a place called a Key for the charge and discharge of all Wares and Merchandise within that port at a Town of his owne called Topsham distant from the Cittie about thrée miles from whence euer sithence all wares and Merchandises haue béen caryed and recaryed to and from the Cittie by Horse Cart or Wain though to the gain of the Earle and his Tenaunts yet to the great trouble and hindraunce of this Cittie and Merchaunts therof Neuerthelesse the port hath euermore yet dooth retain his olde and ancient name béeing called the Port of
preuail and had such conquests ouer him that he was fain and driuen to forsake his Realme of Wales and flée into Ireland where Cadvvallo béeing careful to recouer his land cuntreye repaired his Armye and gathered a new force and often times did attempt to land there within his owne Contreye but all was in vain for Edvvin was euer in redines and alwaies resisting him would not suffer him to land in any place For this Edwin had about him a certain man named Pellitus who was a Magitian skilful in Nicromancie and by his science and Art did for show declare vnto Edwin what thingê were a dooing and attempted against him Cadwallo hauing such euil successe was in vtter dispair to recouer or auail against Edwin wherfore he sailed into Armorica now called Britain vnto the king therof named Salomon to whom he disclosed his miserable estate fortune as also coÌ„plained much of Pellitus of his Sorceryes WheÌ„ these two Kings had consulted of the matter it was at length coÌ„cluded thought best that some wittie and bolde man should be sent ouer and giue the attempt to kil Pellitus whervpon Brienus Nephew to king Cadwallo taketh vpon him to attempt this matter appareling him self in poor mans wéed saileth ouer into EnglaÌ„d and traueleth vnto York where King Edwin lay kept his court And there he ioyned and accompanyed him self emong the poor people whose custome and maner was to lye about the Kings gates at dinner and Supper times awayting for the Almes after Dinner and Supper Pellitus béeing the Kings Alomener and hauing the charge to distribute the almes commeth foorth and setteth the poor people in order Brienus by his béeing there watcheth his time to woork his feat and sudainly in the prese of the people with his weapon which he had prepared for the purpose thrusteth Pellitus into the body and killeth him and foorth with the thing in such a throng not perceiued shifteth him self away priuely and through woods thickets hilles and Dales commeth to Exeter where he discloseth and declareth vnto the Britons what he had doon they glad and reioysing héerof and hoping that now their King Cadwallo would return doo prepare and make redy bothe them selues and the Cittie aswell for the resisting of their enemyes as also for the receiuing and ayding of their King. Penda hearing of this iniury doon to King Edvvin his contreye man and minding to reuenge the same gathered a great armye of Saxons marcheth vnto Exeter and beseegeth the same round about minding the vtter subuertion of the Cittie and nation but the Citizens and Britons manfully withstanding his force defended bothe them selues and their Cittie vntil that king Cadwallo beeing héerof aduertised did with his force come ouer who not onely reskewed deliuered bothe his Cittie and contrey but also ioyning battel with his enemyes gaue them the ouerthrowe 3 It was also in great trouble in the time of King Allured or Alphred the fourth Sonne of Ethelvvolphus for Polidorus and others doo write that in the fifth yeer of the said Kingê reign the Danes concluded a peace with the King and gaue hostages for the kéeping therof notwithstanding contrary to the same moste perfideously they assembled theÌ„ selues and with all haste marched towards this Cittie perforce entred took the same Daci etenim qui Religionem et fidem pre suo commodo postponendam ducebant Londino se mouentes maximus iti neribus Exoniam proficiscuntur vrbemque per vim capiuÌ„t but long they inioyed no rest there for the winter passed the King to be reuenged of their periurye marched towards the said Cittie with his power which the Danes vnderstanding and not able to abide the vexation and trouble of the Citizens would not abide the end but fled some to Dartmouth there took shipping who were in a tempest at the Seas for the moste parte drowned some fled to Chipenham or as soÌ„e write to Bristovv whom the king so hardly pursewed that he neuer gaue ouer vntil he had ouercome them and slain their Captains Hubbert and Hungar. 4 Likewise in the xix yéer of the reign of the said king the Danes contrary to their faith pledges and promises did again come to this Cittie and layd siege to the same Danorum Excercitus Anno. 877. ab vvarham nocte quadam federe dirupto ad Excancestre diuerterunt quod Britannici dicitur Cayerewise at audito Regis aduentu ad puppes fugerunt et in mare predantes manebant 5 It was also besieged by the said Danes in the xix yéer of king Elgered Anno. 1001. For the Danes which were theÌ„ in Normandye hearing of the good luck successe and great spoiles their company in England had in euery place and their teeth set on edge therwith sudainly prepared their Shippes to sail come ouer and as it chaunced they landed vpon the costes of Deuon and foorthwith took their iourney and marched towards this cittie of Exon thinking to haue found them napping and to haue taken them vnwares and vpon a sudain Sed Ciuibus viriliter resistentibus recesserunt the inhabitaÌ„ts and people of Deuon Somerset and Dorset hearing therof in all haste assembled theÌ„ selues minding bothe to reskew the Cittie as also to encounter and aduenture the feeld with the Danes And meeting with them as they were comming from the siege of the Cittie ioyned battail with them at a place called Pinho distant about iij miles froÌ„ the Cittie where was a cruel fight and a great slaughter had betwéen them And thus dooth Houedon also testifie for saith he Memoratus paganorum exercitus de Normannia in Angliam reuectus ostium fluuii Eaxe ingreditur et mox ad extinguendam vrbem Exancestre egreditur sed dum murum illius destruere moliretur ac ciuibus vrbem viriliter defendentibus repellitur vnde nimis exasperatus more solito villas succendendo agros depopulando hominesque cedendo per domnoniam vagatur quare domnanienses in vnum congregati in loco qui dicitur Pinho certamen cum eis ineunt King Sweno béeing in Denmark aduertised héerof as also how King Eldred alias Etheldred or Egelred had caused all the Danes in the Realme sudainly in one night to be slain béeing much greeued therw t did prouide prepare an armye for the reuenge therof and in the yéer 1002. landing into diuers partes of this Realme did moste cruelly spoil the land â–ª sley the people and bring the whole estate to an vnspeakable miserye But at length receiuing a tribute for peace returned home again into his owne contrey howbeit the Citizens of Exon hearing of this crueltie vsed in the East partes made them selues strong and prepared the Cittie in redynes to withstand the force of such an enemye if happely he should attempt hostilite and force against them But the Dane beeing returned heme and knowing nothing of this preparation one Hugh then Earle of Deuon as Princes lack no
deliueraunce at this present had in perpetuall memory the vj. of August béeing a holy day in the remembraunce therof Thus this little Cittie which in antiquitie is not inferiour to other hath from time to time felt the smartes and chauÌ„ges of all times and indured great troubles daungers extremities and perilles and yet God regarding their faith obedieÌ„ce to their Prince and common welth before all other sacrifices hath defended and preserued them alwaies rewarding them with immortall Fame for which his great benefits his name be praised for euer and euer The sundry and seuerall names of the Cittie of Excester and the interpretation of the same COrinea or Corinia is the first and eldest name of this Cittie and so named by Corineus who ariuing with Brutus into this laÌ„d and seasing or taking laÌ„d vpon these west parteê was by Brutus Lord of the same And he then building this Cittie as is thought called it by his owne name Corinia whiche beeing so then is this Cittie one of the first Townes or Cittyes buylded by the Brittons in this land Cayrpenhuelgoite is compounded of foure woords Cayr is a Fortresse or a walled Town pen is a hed or the chéef of any thing hovvel is good luck prosperitie or knowledge goyed is wood a forest or timber woork now these put togither after the English phrase is the prosperouse chéef Town in the wood Penhaltcayr is compounded of thrée woords Pen is the hed or chéef halt is high a top of a hil or the brim or edge of a thing cayr is a Town walled or a Fortresse these put togither doo signyfy the hed Town or Cittie vpon the Hil. Pencayr is compounded of two woords of Pen and Cayr which signify the chéef Cittie Cayrruthe Cayrrith is compounded of Cair and Rith Rith is tawnish or a dark red and so it signifyeth the red town Cittie or Fort. Cayrriske is likewise a compound of two woords Iske signifieth afresh water also a quil or a wing but in this place it is the name of the Riuer which fléeteth by the Cittie and so it signifieth the Cittie of Iske Isca was also the name of the Town and Isaca the name of the Riuer which fleeteth by it as Ptolomeus and certain latter writers folowing him doo suppose write though it should seeme rather the Cittie to be called Isaca and the Riuer Isca Muncketon was so called by the Saxons but vpon what reason it dooth not appéer others theÌ„ that they did at their comming chaunge and alter the names of all or moste parte of places in this land giuing new names either of Townes or places of the Contrey from wheÌ„ce they came or of their owne deuise or els King Etheldred or King Edgar when they had builded eche of them a Monastery for Muncks did giue that name Exeter was the name which King Adelstane gaue vnto it when he soiourned in this Town calling it so of the riuer Exe and then it is to say Exeterra the town or soyle of Exe â–ª Exancestre is thought to be so called by the Saxons who commonly and for the moste parte named such Fortes and holdes as they buylded by this woord Cestria as Cicestria Dorcestria Osestria and many other like for Cestir in the Saxon tung is a Forte a Town or a Cittie Excestrum or Excestre is the name moste now in use and so â—amed as some write of the Riuer whiche they write 〈◊〉 named Excestrum Brutus Cadwalader Corinnia Cairpenhulgoit Penhaltcair Pencayr Cayrruth Cayrriske king Coil Bale Muncketon Adlestane Exeterra Excestre Exancestre Courtney Churche of Exon. Ethelvvol phus Etheldred Edgar Canutus S. Edward Leofricus Edvvin Cadvvalline Alphred Svveno VVilliam CoÌ„querer King Stephen Baldwin Ridiuers King Richard Duke of York Duke of Glocestre Vere Delapole Lord Din ham Lord Fitzvvarren Baron of Carevve Duke of Clarence Neuel erle of VVarvvick king Henry King Edvvard Faults escaped in the Printing Folio side line fault correction 4. 1. 9. Republica e Republica 6. 2. 12. aduisedly vnaduisedly 21 1. 18. thrir commission their commission 33. 1. 7. Also no person Also as no person eodem 2. 12. aud there to doo and there to doo 41. 1. 19. iu a prouince in a prouince eodem 2. 1. Corinibia Cornubia eodem 2. 11. PoÌ„ticus Virimus Ponticus Virumus 42. 1. 5. dominations denominations eodem 1. 11. glory and renown glory and renown eodem 2. 11. It is all togither It is not all togither eodem 2. 21. aad made swéet and made swéet eodem 2. 34. canalis canelles 43. 1. 12. The Cite the scite eodem 1. 23. the signiory the segniory eodem 2. 1. and otber and other eodem 2. 10. béeing callen béeing called 44. 1. 4. one Sainct James one at Sainct James 45. 2. 21. exhaunsed exhausted 46. 1. 35. as very obsequions are very obsequious 47. 1. 2. laceratus sunt laceratus fuit eodem 1. 18. pacisicare pacificaret eodem 1. 24. reconciliati sunt reconciliati sunt 48. 1. 20. maximus maximis 49. 1. 35. with mortal Fame with immortal fame 50. 2. 34. requied required 51. 1. 9. leauing nothing leauing nothing eodem 2. 29. in such destesse in such distresse