the Learned about the generation of these Geese some holding that they were bred of the leaves of the Barnacle Tree falling into the Wayters others that they are bred of moist rotten wood lying in the Waters but it is since found that they come of an Egg and are hatched like all other Geese There is a water in this Country called Merton Lake part of whose Waters are frozen in Winter and part not In the Lake of Lennox being 24 miles in compass the Fish are generally without Finns and yet there is great abundance of them It is said that when there is no wind stirring the waters of this Lake are so Tempestuous that no Marener dares venture on it They write also of a deaf stone 12 foot high and 33 foot thick of this rare quality that a Musket shot off the one side cannot be heard by a man standing on the other these wonders are reported by Hector Boetius and if not true let him bear the blame Near Falkirk remain the ruines and marks of a Town swallowed up by an Earthquake and the void place is filled with water saith Lithgow The Lough Lâ—mond turneth sticks into stones in which are several Islands and one of them which is full of Grass Rushes and Reeds swims about the Lake near a place called Dysert in Fife by the Sea side is a Heath where there is great plenty of earthly Bitumen In the Country of Argile at this day saith Cambden are Kine and red Deer ranging wild upon the Hills Between the Coast of Cathness and Orkney is a dreadful Frith or Gulf in the North end of which by reason of the meeting of 9 contrary Tides or Currents is a Male stream or great Whirlpool which whirleth continually about and if any Ship Boat or Bark come within the reach thereof they must quickly throw over something into it as a Barrel a piece of Timber or the like or else the Vessel will inevitably be swallowed up which the Cathness and Orkney Mareners know very well and observe it as a constant custom to redeem themselves that way from danger Toward the North of Scotland saith Speed there be Mountains all of Alabaster and some all of Marble At the mouth of the River Frâ—th in the main Sea is a very high Rock out of whose top a spring of water runs abundantly The Snow lies all the year upon the Hills in Ross A large piece of Amber saith Cambden as big as a Horse was found not long since upon the Coast of Buquan in which County they say Rats are never seen and if any be brought thither they will not live It is credibly reported saith Ortelius that there is a Stone found in Argile which if covered a while with Straw or Flax it will set it on fire The Snow lies all the year long upon the Hills in Ross It is recorded that Sergius K. of Scots was so addicted to Harlots that he neglected his own Wife and drove her to such poverty that she was forced to wait upon another Noblewoman for her living whereupon watching her opportunity she slew her Husband in Bed and her self after The Castle of Edenburgh was built by Cruthenus King of the Picts and called Maiden Castle because the Daughters of the Pictish Kings were there kept working with their Needles till they were married Ethus King of Scots was almost as swift in running as a Stag or Greyhound and therefore called Wing-footed but utterly unfit for Government being cowardly and a slave to Pleasure In the time when the Barbarous and bloody Danes raged in England they came to Coldingham a Nunnery on the hither part of Scotland where Ebba the Prioress with the rest of the Nuns cut off their own Noses and Lips chusing rather to preserve their Virginities from the Danes than their beauty or favour whereupon these cruel Heathens burnt their Monastery and all of them therein Malcolm King of Scots was a very magnificent and couragious Prince in 1067. of which he gave proof in the beginning of his Reign for being informed of a Conspiracy against his life he dissembled the knowing of it till being abroad one day a hunting he took one of the chief Conspirators aside challenged him as a Traitor adding Here now is a fit place to do that manfully which you intended to perform by Treachery now if you have any valour kill me honourably and none being present you can incur no danger With this Speech of the King the man was so daunted that he fell at his Feet confessed his fault asked forgiveness and proved ever after Faithful and Loyal This King repealed that barbarous Statute of K. Eugenius 3 by the persuasion of his Virtuous Lady Margret Sister to K. Edward Atheling which ordained That when a man was married his Lord should lye with his Bride the first night He allowing it to be redeemed with half a Mark of Silver which sum is to this day put into the Leases which the Lords make to their Vassals this King besieging Aldwich Castle an English Knight unarmed only with a light Spear in his hand on the end of which he carried the Keys of the Castle came riding into the Camp where being brought to the King and bowing his Spear as though he intended to present him with the Keys ran him into the left Eye and left him for dead and by the swiftness of his Horse escaped hence some say came the great Family of the Pierceys His Queen hearing of her Husband and Sons death beseeched the Almighty that she might not survive them and had her desire dying within a days after In 1137. Kentigern was Bishop of Glasgow a man of rare Piety and exceeding bountiful to the poor It is recorded that an Honourable Lady having lost a Ring which her Husband gave her as she crossed the River Clayd her Husband grow Jealous as if she had bestowed it on one of her Lovers upon which she went to Kentigern intreating his help for the safety of her honour who after he had used his Devotionâ— went to the River and spoke to one who was fishing to bring him the first Fish he caught which he doing the Ring was found in the Fishes Mouth and the Bishop sent it to the Lady who was thereby freed of her Husbands Jealousy This good Bishop saith A. B. Spotswood lived till he was 185 years old In 1550. The Persecution waxing hot in Scotland against the Protestants many Prodigious signs were observed saith A. B. Spotswood a Comet like a fiery broom or besom flamed the whole months of November December and January great Rivers in the midst of Winter were dryed up and in Summer swelled so high that divers Villages were therewith drowned and numbers of Cattle feeding in the low grounds were carried into the Sea Whales of an huge bigness were cast up in divers parts of the River Forth Hailstones as big as Pigeons Eggs fell in many places which destroyed abundance of Corn And which was
at lawful distance But now he resolved to eat grass with Nebuchadnezzar till it pleased the Queen to restore his senses she being overjoyed with these Speeches Would to God said she his deeds would be answerable to his words he hath long tried my patience I must now make tryal of his Humility Upon which the Earl became so confident of the Queens favour that being denyed a Suit about farming sweet wines he conspired with others to seize her Person and which more alienated her affections than any thing else she heard he despised her Person and that he had said That the Queen was now old and decrepit and withered as well in mind as in body After this he made an Insurrection in London which not succeeding he was sent to the Tower and being arraigned together with the Earl of Southampton by his Peers was found guilty and Feb. 25. 1601. was to be the fatal day in the mean time divers Ministers were sent to comfort him The Queen now wavered in her self one while remembring former kindnesses she would not and then again she would have him die because of his stubborness in not asking her mercy and his openly saying That he could not live but she must perish So that she gave order for his death within the Tower where he spake to this Purpose My Lords and Christian Brethren who are present witnesses of my just punishment I confess to Gods Glory my self a most wretched Sinner and that my sins in number exceed the hairs of my head that good which I would have done I did not and the evil which I would not that did I for all which I beseech my Saviour Christ to be a Mediator but especially for this my last crying sin I beseech God Her Majesty and the State to forgive me and bless her with a prosperous Reign with a wise and understanding Heart to bless the Nobles and Ministers of the Church and State I likewise beseech you and all the world to have a charitable opinion of me foâ— my intention toward her Majesty whose death I protest I never intended nor any violence toward her Person I thank God I never was an Atheist in not believing the Scriptures nor a Papist to trust in my own merits but am assured to be saved by the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ my Saviour This Faith I was I brought up in and herein I am now ready to die beseeching you all to join your souls with me in Prayer that my soul may be lifted up by Faith above all earthly things and lastly I desire forgiveness of all the world even as freely as from my heart I forgive all the world And then kneeling down said I have been divers times in places of danger where death was neither so present nor so certain and yet even then I felt the weakness of my flesh and therefore now in this last and great conflict I desire the assistance of Gods Holy Spirit and so saith Mr. Speed with a most Heavenly Prayer and faithful constancy as if his soul had been already in heavenly fruition he laid himself on the block and spreading abroad his arms the appointed sign with three strokes his head was severed from his body for which the Executioner was in danger of his life at his return if he had not been secured by the Sheriff of this great Favourite Dr. Fuller concludes That his failings were neither so foul nor so many but that the Character of a right worthy man most justly belongs to his memory It is recorded that Walter E. of Essex his Father having wasted his Spirits with grief fell into a Dysentery whereof he dyed after he had requested such as stood by him That they would admonish his Son who was then scarce ten years old that he should alwaies propound and set before him the 36th year of his life as the utmost he should ever attain to which neither he nor his Father had gone beyond and his Son never reached to being beheaded in the 34th year of his Age so that his dying Father seemed not in vain to have admonished him as he did but to speak by Divine inspiration and suggestion Hereford is the chief City of this County seated amongst pleasant Meadows and Cornfields Lemster is another Town which hath the greatest fame for Wool which they call Lemster Oar of which Mr. Drayton thus writes Where lives the man so dull on Brittains furthest shore To whom did never sound the name of Lemster Oar That with the Silkworms web for smallness may compare Wherein the winder shews his Workmanship so rare So doth this Fleece excell all others in the Land Being neatly bottom'd up by natures careful hand This County is divided into 11 Hundreds wherein there are 8 Market Towns 176 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Hereford Out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men for the County 2. for Hereford 2. for Lemster 2. for Webly 2. and gives the Title of Earl to Leicester L. D' Eureux HVNTINGTONSHIRE is surrounded with Northampton Bedford and Cambridgeshires being small in extent hardly stretching 20 miles outright though measured to the most advantage it is good for Corn and Tillage and toward the East very plentiful for feeding Cattle Huntington is the chief Town of all the County called in their publick Seal Huntersdune The Hill or Down of Hunters and gives name to all the Shire Godmanchester is a very great Country Town and of as great repute for Tillage no place having more Ploughs or more stout Husbandmen for they boast that in former times they have received the Kings of England as they passed in their progress this way with ninescore Ploughs brought forth in a rustical kind of Pomp as a Gallant show when K. James came first into England the Bayliffs of this Town presented him with 70 Team of Horses all traced to fair new Ploughs to shew their Husbandry of which when the King demanded the reason they told him That it was their ancient Custom whensoever any King of England passed through their Town so to present him And added further That they held their Lands by that Tenure being the Kings Tenants The King was much pleased herewith bidding them use well their Ploughs and said he was glad he was Landlord of so many good Husbandmen in one Town St Ives is another Town in this County reported to be so named from Ivo a Persian Bishop who it 's said about the Year of Christ 6â—0 travelled through England Preaching diligently the Christian Religion and dying in this place left his name thereunto There are two little Springs at Ayleweston in this County the one fresh and the other somewhat brackish the latter they say is good for Scabs and Leprosie and the other for dim sights The Lake of Wittlesmere and other Meers near it in this Shire do sometimes rise tempestuously in calm and fair Weather and make Water-quakes by reason the ground near it is rotten and hollow
Admirable CURIOSITIES Rarities Wonders in England Scotland Irland K Canutus Commanding The Sea pa. 86 K. Henry 3. Preaching to the Monks pa. 88 ADMIRABLE CURIOSITIES Rarities Wonders IN England Scotland and Ireland OR An Account of many Remarkable Persons and Places and likewise of the Battels Seiges Prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable Occurrences and Accidents for several Hundred Years past Together with the Natural and Artificial Rarities in every County and many other observable matters As they are recorded by the most Authentick and Credible Historians of former and latter Ages Adorned with the Lively Description of several Memorable things therein contained Ingraven on Copper Plates By R.B. Author of the History of the Wars of England c. and Remarks of London c. London Printed by Tho. Snowden for Nath. Crouch at the Bell next to Kemp's Coffee-house in Exchang-Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1682. TO THE READER HAving already published a brief Treatise called Historical Remarks of London and Westminster which hath found general acceptation I was encouraged to prosecute the same design upon every County in England as also in Wales Scotland and Ireland wherein the Reader cannot be so unreasonable to expect an exact description of every Town or considerable place that having been already performed at large by divers others this being only a Collection of the Natural and Artificial Curiosities Rarities and Wonders likewise of several Remarkable Places and Persons with the Prodigious Accidents in each County as I find them in Mr. Fox Dr. Heylin Dr. Fuller Sir Rich. Baker Mr. Speed Mr. Clark and several other Authors of credit which I have not particularly named to every Relation because it would have taken up too much room most of the particulars herein being very well known to the Learned and for others it will not signify much since this is published for the sake of those that are desirous of knowledge but are not in a capacity to buy a multitude of Books now though the Title speaks of Battels and Seiges yet I have purposely omitted all of that kind which have happened in our late Civil Wars as having already published a book of the same price with this wherein is a succinct Account of all the Transactions during the Reign of K. Charles the 1. till His Majesties Happy Restoration I desire it may please all since I intend to offend none but only to serve the Publick and my self wherein if I find success I shall be very well satisfied neither can the Reader be much displeased to have so much variety for so little money and to find that notwithstanding some think there are no wonders but in other Countries he may yet observe there are it may be as strange things at home as in other places R. B. Of BRITTAIN THE Island of Brittain is of all others the most famous and has been accounted the greatest in the World it comprehendeth all those Islands both great and less which lie in compass about it the length thereof from South to North that is from Lysard Point in Cornwall to the North of Scotland is 624 miles and the breadth thereof from the Lands end in Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet in Kent about 300 English miles It is a Country always very temperate and was highly esteemed by the Romans as appears by what hath been said concerning it by one of their Orators who calls it the happy and most fortunate Island endued by nature with all the blessings of Heaven and Earth in that therein is neither extream cold in Winter nor scorching heats in Summer and that which is most comfortable long daies and very lightsome nights wherein there is such an abundance of Grain as may suffice both for Bread and Wine the Woods thereof are without wild Beasts the Fields without noysom Serpents but therein are vast numbers of Milch Beasts and Sheep weighed down with their own Fleeces To which may be added what Alfred the Poet of Beverly writ long since of Brittain Insula praediveâ— quae toto vix eget orbe c. A wealthy Island which no help desires Yet all the world supply from her requires Able to glut King Solomon with pleasures And surfeit Great Augustus with her Treasures As to the name Brittain there is no great certainty of its Original that which hath passed for currant in former times when almost all Nations did pretend to be of Trojan Race was that it took this name from Brutus affirmed to be the Son of Silvius Grand-Child of Aeneas and third King of the Latines of the Trojan Blood which Brutus having unfortunately killed his Father and thereupon flying from Italy with his Friends and followers after a long Voyage and many wandrings is said to have fallen upon this Island and to have conquered here a race of Giants and having given unto it the name of Brittain to leave the Soveraignty thereof to his posterity who quietly enjoyed the same till subdued by the Romans but this Tradition has been since laid aside as altogether fabulous since the Roman Historians never mention either Brutus or the Giants Caesar telling us that he found the Brittains under many Kings and never under the command of one sole Prince but in times of Danger it is therefore more probable that it was derived from Britt which in the Brittish Language signifies Painted and the word Tain a Nation agreeable to the custom of the Ancient Brittains who used to discolour and paint their Bodies that they might seem more terrible in the Eyes of their Enemies such as the Romans called afterwards Picts or Painted Men other particulars may be observed in the description of those parts into which it is now divided that is 1. England 2. Wales 3. Scotland ENGLAND is bounded on the East with the German on the West with the Irish on the South with the Brittish Oceans and on the North with the Rivers of Tweed and Solway and thereby parted from Scotland invironed with Turbulent Seas guarded by inaccessible Rocks and where these are wanting preserved against all Forreign Invasions by strong Forts and a puissant Navy The whole Island was first called Albion either from the story of one of the Giants so called or Ab albis Rupibus the white Rocks toward France which name continued till the time of Egbert the first Saxon Monarch who called the Southern parts thereof England from the Angles who with the Juits and Saxons conquered it Pelagius being Bishop of Rome Gregory seeing some beautiful Children in the Market place of Rome to be sold he inquireth what Country they were of who answered Angli Englishmen and were Heathens what pity is it said he that the Inhabitants being so fair and Angelical of Countenance should yet be subject to the Prince of Darkness asking further of what Province they were they answered Deira a Province in England then so called These People saith he
are to be delivered de Ira Dei from the Wrath of God and understanding the name of one of the Youths was Alle They ought saies he to sing Allelujah to the living God upon this Gregory was mighty desirous to come hither to convert these Heathens but could not at that time yet after Pelagius his death being chosen Bishop of Rome and remembring his former intentions he sent Austin with about 40 more Preachers to undertake this work This Nation enjoys a soil equally participating of ground fit for Tillage or Pasture most of her other Plenties and Ornaments are expressed in this old verse following Anglia Mens Pons Fons Ecclesia Foemina Lana For Mountains Bridges Rivers Churches fair Women and Wool England is past compare For the Mountains here and there lift up their lofty heads and give a gallant prospect to the lower grounds all of them having Mines in their Bowels or else are clothed with Sheep or adorned with Woods the Bridges are in number 857 the chief whereof are Rochester Bridge over Medway Bristol Bridge over Avon and London Bridge over the Thames the Rivers are 325 the Principal being the Thames of which a German Poet thus truly spake Tot CÃ mpos Sylvas tot Regia tecta tot Hortos c. We saw so many Woods and Princely Bowers Sweet Fields brave Pallaces and stately Towers So many Gardens drest with curious care That Thames with Royal Tyber may compare The Churches before the General Suppression of Abbles were most exquisite The Women are generally handsomer than in other places sufficiently endowed with natural Beauties without the Adulteration of Art In an absolute Woman say the Italians are required the parts of a Dutch Woman from the Girdle downward of a French Woman from the Girdle to the Shoulders over which must be placed an English Face as their Beauties so likewise their Prerogatives are the greatest of any Nation neither so servilly submissive as the French nor so jealously guarded as the Italian but keeping so true a decorum that as England is termed the Purgatory of Servants and the Hell of Horses so it is acknowledged the Paradise of Women And it is a common by-word among the Italians That if there were a Bridge built over the narrow Seas all the Women of Europe would run into England For here they have the upper hand in the Streets the upper place at the Table the Thirds of their Husbands Estates and their equal share in all Lands which are Priviledges wherewith other Women are not acquainted they were of high esteem in former times amongst Forreign Nations for the modesty and gravity of their Conversations but the Women of these times are so much addicted to the light Garb of the French that they have lost much of their honour and reputation among sober Persons abroad who before admired them The Wool of England is of exceeding fineness of which are made excellent broad cloaths dispersed over all the World to the great benefit of England as well in return of so much Mony which is made of them as in setting to work so many poor People who from it receive sustenance Having thus briefly gone through the Method of the old Verse it is time now we should look upon the Men and they are commonly of a comely Feature and a gracious Countenance for the most part grey Eyed pleasant beautiful bountiful courteous and much resembling the Italians in Habit and Pronunciation In matters of War they are both able to endure and ready to undertake the hardest Enterprises and for their Courage are deservedly renowned throughout the World K. Edw. 3. and his Son did carry their victorious Arms through all France K. Hen. 6. was crowned King at Paris The D. of Bedford was Regent of France and being slain in a Battle was buried in Roan whose Monument when Charles 8. K. of France came to see a Nobleman standing by advised him to raze it Nay answered he let him rest in peace now being dead of whom in War whilest he lived all France stood in fear Marshal Biron said He liked not the English March being beaten by the Drum because it was so slow Sir Roger Williams a gallant Souldier answered him That as slow as it was yet it had gone through all France Our Wooden Walls the Ships are a great security to this Nation the English having been generally accounted the strongest in the World What service did our Ships do us in 88. Sir Francis Drake and after him Thomas Cavendish Esq within the space of Three Years and Three Months travelled about the Globe of the whole Earth Sir Richard Greenvill in a Ship of Q. Elizabeths fought against a great Navy of the Spaniards and his single Vessel was fought within turns by 15 other great Ships whereof the great St. Philip of 1500 Tuns Prince of the 12 Sea Apostles was one yet this valiant Knight sunk Two of their best Ships and killed a Thousand Men He is called by the Spaniards still Don Richard of the Greenfield and they fright their Children with him Our Nation without Vanity may assume to itself the Praise considering its narrow Limits to have produced as many Schollars admirable in all degrees of knowledge as any Country on this side the Alps and received the Christian Faith as some say from St. Peter and Paul and Lucius was the first Christian King of any in Europe Among many other worthy Men Bishop Jewel Bishop Andrews Bishop Whitgift and Dr. John Reynolds are very famous of the last of whom the following account is very remarkable this Jo. Reynolds had a Brother named William who was at first bred up a Protestant of the Church of Eng. and John was trained up in Popery beyond the Seas William out of an honest zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church made a Journey to him where after a conference between them it so fell out that John being overcome by his Brothers Arguments returned into Eng. where he became a very strict and serious Protestant and William being convinced by the reasons of his Brother John staid beyond Sea where he proved a very rigid and violent Papist of which strange accident Dr. Alabaster who had tryed both Religions and among others had some notable whimsies made this ingenious Epigram Bella inter geminos plusquam Civilia fratres c. In point of Faith some undetermin'd jars Betwixt two Brothers kindled Civil Wars One for the Churches Reformation stood The other thought no Reformation good The points propos'd they traversed the Field With equal skill and both together yield As they desir'd his Brother each subdues Yet such their Fate that each his Faith did lose Both Captives none the Prisoners thence to guide The Victor flying to the vanquish't side Both joy'd in being Conquer'd strange to say And yet both mourn'd because both won the day The Government of England is Monarchical of a perfect and happy Constitution wherein the King hath his full Prerogative the
John Heyward saith Dun was a famous Thief among others and Commander over the rest and of him the place was called Dunstable This County is divided into 9 Hundreds wherein are 10 Market Towns and 116 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of London it Elects only 4 Parliament Men two for the County and two for the Town of Bedford and gives the Title of Earl to the Right Honourable William L. Russel BVCKING HAMSHIRE hath on the East Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire on the West Oxfordshire on the North Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and on the South Hertfordshire it hath its name from the â—lenty of Beech-Trees which the Saxons called Bucken with which the Country was formerly so over-run that it was altogether impassable and became a refuge for Thieves and Robbers and occasioned that Proverb in this Country Here a Bush and there a Thief for which cause they were cut down In 1665. Jan. 20. about six a clock at night there was an Earthquake in some parts of Buckinghamshire which was attended with an unusual kind of noise in the Air but was quickly over it much frighted some People on the sudden to feel their Chairs and Stools quake under them and to hear Tables and such things to clatter in the rooms and the whole House to shake this Information saith Mr. Clark in his Examp. p. 2. I had from an honest Minister in that County K. William the Conqueror gave a Mannor and certain Yardlands in Buckinghamshire to a Person upon this Condition That the Possessor or Owner thereof should find Straw or Litter for the Kings Bed whensoever he came that way which shews what an alteration there is as to matter of Grandeur since that time The best and biggest bodied Sheep in England are in the Vale of Aylsbury in this County where it is nothing to give Ten pound or more for a Breed-Ram so that should a Forreigner hear the price thereof he would guess that Ram to be rather some Roman Engine of Battery than the Creature commonly so called I know not saith Dr. Fuller whether his Observation with the reason thereof be worth the inserting who first took notice that our Cattle for food are English when feeding in the Field but French when fed on in a Family as for example English 1. Sheep 2. Ox. 3. Calf 4. Hog 5. Pig French 1. Mutton 2. Beef 3. Veal 4. Bacon 5. Pork Whereof the Author assigns this Reason that after the Norman Conquest the French so Tyrannized over the English Tenants that they forced them to keep and feed their Cattel but the Mounsieurs eat all the good meat after it was killed and drest to their hands Forreigners much admire at our English Sheep because they do not as those in other Countries follow their Shepheards like a pack of Dogs but wander all abroad and the Popish Priests tell their ignorant Flocks That this disobedience of our Sheep happened to us because we have left their great Sheperd the Pope a very profound reason whereas our Sheep did the same long before our Separation from Rome because being freed from the fear of Wolves which infest their Flocks beyond Sea they feed safely in the Fields wanting neither Guide to direct them nor Guard to defend them Roger Wendover was born at a Market Town of that name in this County and was bred a Benedictine in St. Albans where he became the Kings Historian and it is observable that our English Kings had alwaies a Monk generally of St. Albans as being near London the Staple of News and Books to write the most remarkable Passages of their Reign and some add that their Chronicles were locked up in the Kings Library and were never suffered to be opened in that Kings nor his Sons life if so they had a great incouragement to be impartial not fearing a blow on their Teeth though coming near to the heels of Truth as being hereby in some kind tyed up from doing them any hurt this Roger began his Chronicle at the Conquest and continued it to 1235. which Matthew Paris and others carried down further after his death The Lady Hester Temple Wife to Sir Thomas Temple was born at Latimers in this County she had 4 Sons and 9 Daughters who lived to be Married and so exceedingly multiplied that this Lady saw Seven hundred extracted from her own Body Vives tells of a Village in Spain of about an 100 Houses whereof all the Inhabitants issued out of one certain old Man who then lived and says the Spanish Language did not afford â— name whereby the youngest should call the Elder â—â—nce they could not go above the Great Grandfathers â—ather but had the Off-spring of this Lady been conâ—racted into one place they were enough to have peopâ—ed a City of a competent proportion though her issue â—as not so long in Succession as broad in extent this â—ady died in 1656. Sir Edward Cook that famous comâ—entator of the Law was born in this Shire One time a Parliament was called and the Court Party being jeaâ—ous of Sir Edwards Activity against them as not having â—igested the discontent he had received from thence â—ereupon to prevent his Election as a Member and conâ—ine him to this County he was pricked Sheriff thereof he â—hereupon scrupled to take the Oath alledging many â—hings against it and particularly that the Sheriff is bound â—hereby to prosecute Lollards wherein the best Christiâ—ns may be included but no excuses would serve his â—urn he must serve the Office however his Friends beâ—eld it as an injurious degradation of him who had been â—ord Chief Justice to attend on the Judges at the Assizes Buckingham is the Shire Town of this County fruitâ—ully seated upon the River Ouse and was fortified formerly with Rampires and a strong Castle mounted on a â—igh Hill whereof nothing now remains but some small â—igns of such a place It is divided into 8 Hundreds wherein are 15 Market Towns 185 Parish Churches â—nd is in the Diocess of London out of it are Elected 14 Parliament Men For the County 2. Buckingham 2. Chipâ—in-Wiccomb 2. Alisbury 2. Agmondisham 2. Wendover 2. and Marlow 2. It gives Titles to George Villiers Duke of Buckingham and Robert Bruce Earl of Alisbury Lord When shall I be cleered Q. Emma goes blindfold barefoot over 9 Burning plowshares at Winchester Pa. 87. Upon Midsummer Eve 1626. a Codfish was brought to the Market in Cambridge and there cut up for Sale and in the Maw thereof there was found a Book in Twelves bound up in Canvas containing several Treatises of Mr. John Friths this Fish was caught upon the Coasts of Lin called Lindeeps by one William Skinner the Fish bei g cut open the Garbidge was thrown by which a Woman looking upon espied the Canvas and taking it out found the Book wrapped up in it which was much soiled and covered over with a kind of slime and congealed matter this was looked upon with great admiration and by Benjamin
Prime the the Batchelors Beadle who was present at the opening of the Fish was carried to the Vice-Chancellor who took special notice of it examining the particulars before mentioned the leaves of the Book were carefully opened and cleansed the Treatises contained in it were A Preparation for the Cross a Preparation for Death the Treasure of Knowledge a Mirrour or Looking-glass to know themselves by a brief Instruction to teach one willingly to die and not to fear death they were all re-printed and how useful the reviving of these Treatises by such a special Providence hath been may be easily discerned by such as have lived since these times In the Year 1640. a Pond in Cambridge became red as Blood the water whereof being taken up in Basons remained still of the same colour and many strange sights were seen in the Air as Armies fighting against each other which were lookt on as sad Presages of our ensuing Troubles Ely another City in this County was formerly a place very famous for a Nunnery there founded by Audrey Wife to one Tombret a Prince in this Province who had this place as a part of her Dowry and she after his death Marrying with a King of Northumberland in a short time left her Husband and the Rights of Marriage and according to the Superstition of those dark times built this Monastery and became her self first Abbess thereof this in the Danish Desolations was destroyed but soon after re-built by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester who stored it with Monks to whom K. Edgar granted the Jurisdiction over four Hundreds and an half within these Fenns which to this day are called The Liberties of St. Audrey after whose example many Nobles so inriched it with Revenues that the Abbot thereof laid up yearly in his own Coffers 1400 pounds and soon after the Monks thereof repaired their old Church with new and stately buildings which now is the Cathedral of the Diocess and for beauty gives place to no other in the Land Ely Minster presenteth itself afar off to the Eye of the Traveller and on all sides at a great distance not only promiseth but giveth earnest of the magnificence thereof the Lanthorn therein built by Bishop Hotham wherein the labour of Twenty Years and Five Thousand ninety four pounds eighteen Shillings ten pence half penny farthing was expended is a Master-piece of Architecture when the Bells ring the Wood-work thereof shaketh and gapeth which is no defect but the perfection of Architecture and exactly falleth into the joints again rare also is the Art in the Chappel of St. Maries and the other of Bishop West wherein the Master Masons in King James his time on serious inspection sound finer Stonework than in K. Henry 7. Chappel at Westminster In 1190. K. Richard 1. went into the Holy Land and at his going left in chief place of Authority at home William Longshamp Bishop of Ely who carried himself so that though the things he did were justifiable yet the pride wherewith they were done was unsufferable seldom riding abroad without 500 or a 1000 Men in his Train not for safety but for State and though others were left in power besides yet he made but Ciphers of them ruling all as he pleased this insolency was insufferable so that some holding for and others against him the Kingdom was in danger to be rent in sunder till at last the Bishop finding himself too weak for his Enemies thought it best to fly out of the Kingdom whereupon for his greater safety disguising himself in Womens Apparel and carrying a piece of Linnen Cloath under his Arm he designed in this manner to take Shipping and go beyond Sea but being discovered and known the Women in revenge of the abuse done to their Cloths in making them the instruments of his deceit fell upon him and beat him so that it might have beaten Humility into him for ever after this disgrace made him glad to get into France his Native Country where to little purpose he woed the King and Queen for Reparation Edward Norgate Son of Dr. Robert Norgate was born in Cambridge and being very judicious in Pictures was imployed into Italy to buy some for the E of Arundel returning by Marseilles he missed the money he expected and being unknown neither knowing any man there he was observed by a French Gentleman deservedly so stiled to walk in the Exchange as we may call it of that City many hours every morning and evening with swift Feet and sad face forward and backward to him the civil Monsieur addressed himself desiring to know the cause of his discontent promised if it were in his power to help him with his best advice and assistance Norgate communicated his condition to whom the other answered Pray Sir take my Counsel I have taken notice that you have walked at least twenty miles a day upwards and downwards which if it had been spent in going forward would in a few days have brought you into your own Countrey I will if you please furnish you with a light habit and a competent sum of Mony for a Footman to enable you to walk home Norgate very chearfully consented being accommodated accordingly footed it through the body of France being more than 500 English miles and so leisurely with ease safety and health returned into England he became after the best Limner in our Age was an excellent Herald and which was the Crown of all a right honest man he died in 1649. I may here insert saith Dr. Fuller an artificial wonder of what is commonly called Devils Ditch Country People conceiting that it was made by the Devil the lie to be sure was whereas it was the work of some King or Kings of the East Angles see the laziness of posterity who are so far from imitating the industry of their Ancestors that they even libel the pure effects of their pains as Hellish Atchievements probably it was made to divide and defend their Dominions from the King of Mercia or possibly to keep the People in imployment and for diverting mutinous thoughts Laziness being the Mother of disloyalty industry of obedience this County by reason of the Fens hath but a sickly air the soil yeilds good Barly and store of Saffron the Herb called Scordium or Water Germander groweth very plentifully in this County of which Diascordium is made in the Country about the Fenns saith Speed Water-Fowl is so plentiful and cheap that five men may be well satisfied with that kind of Fare for less then an half penny when they have mowen their grass in the Fenns as much as will serve they set fire on the rest in November that it may come up again in abundance This County is divided into 17 Hundreds wherein are eight Market Towns and 163 Parishes and elects 6 Parliament Men that is for the County 2 University 2 Town of Cambridge 2 and has given the Title of Duke to four Sons of the Duke of York successively who
Miller that had been very active in that Rebellion who fearing the approach of the Marshal told a sturdy Fellow his Servant that he had occasion to go from home and if any man should inquire for the Miller he bid him say that himself was the Miller and had been so for 3 years before soon after the Provost came and called for the Miller when out comes the Servant and said he was the man the Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill These 3 years answered the Servant the Provost then commanded his men to lay hold of him and hang him on the next Tree at this the Fellow cried out That he was not the Miller but the Millers Man Nay Sir said the Provost I will take you at your word and if thou beest the Miller thou art a busie Knave if thou beest not thou art a false lying Knave and however thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him and so without more ado he was dispatched I will conclude the Remarks of this County with somewhat more Comical At the Dissolution of Abbeys K. Ken. 8. gave away large shares to almost every one that asked Amongst other Instances take this merry story It happened that two or three Gentlemen the Kings servants waited at the door where the King was to come out with a design to beg a large parcel of Abby Lands One Mr. John Champernoun another of his servants seeing them was very inquisitive to know their suit but they would not impart it to him in the mean time out comes the King they kneel down so doth Champernoun being assured by an implicit Faith that Courtiers beg nothing hurtful to themselves they present their Petition the King grants it they render him humble thanks so doth Mr. Champernoun afterward he requires his share they deny it he appeals to the King who avows that he meant they should have equal shares whereupon his Companions were forced to allot him the Priory of St. German in Cornwal valued at 243 pound a Year so that a dumb Beggar met with a blind Giver the one as little knowing what he asked as the other what he gave This County is divided into nine Hundreds wherein are 22 Market Towns and 161 Parish Churches It elects 44 Members to sit in Parliament and is in the Diocess of Exeter CUMBERLAND hath Scotland on the North Northumberland and Westmerland on the East Lancashire on the South and the Irish Sea on the West We read that King Edmund with the help of Leoline Prince of Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the Eyes of the 2 Sons of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom to Malcolm K. of Scots whereof their eldest Sons became Prefects King Edward the 1st dyed at Carlile in this County for intending to invade Scotland he raised a great Army which he ordered to attend him at this City but falling sick and being sensible it would be his death he commanded his Son afterward Edward 2. to be brought into his presence to whom he left many good Precepts and Admonitions exhorting him To be merciful just and courteous constant and true both in Word and Deed that he should be pitiful to those in misery that he should carry his bones with him about Scotland till he had subdued it and that he should send his Heart into the Holy Land with Sevenscore Knights and Thirty two thousand Pound of Silver which he had provided for that purpose lastly that upon pain of eternal damnation the said Money should not be expended upon any other use soon after which he died In the 17th Year of this Kings Reign the City of Carlile with the Abby and all the Houses belonging to the Friers Minors were consumed with fire In the Reign of Q. Elizabeth a rich Vein of most pure and native Brass was found at Keswrick in Cumberland which had lain neglected a long time In April 1651 about 5 a Clock in the Afternoon there was a general Earthquake in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmerland wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses were so shaken that the Chimneys fell down Presently after the Scottish Army came into England to assist the Parliament it rained Blood which covered the Church and Church-Yard of Bencastle in this County At Salkelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory called by the Country People Long Meg and her Daughters they are 77 stones each of them 10 Foot high above ground and one of them is 15 Foot in height Skiddaw Hill riseth up with two mighty high Heads like Parnassus and beholds Scruffell hill in Anandale within Scotland there is a Rime that Skiddaw Lauvellin and Casticand Are the highest hills in all England These being two other Hills in this Tract according as Mists rise or fall upon these Heads the People thereby prognosticate of the change of Weather and therefore they sing If Skiddaw have a Cap Scruffell knows full well of that The Sea hath eaten a great part of the Land away upon the shores of these Western Shires and Trees are sometimes discovered when the Wind blows at low Water else they are covered over with Sands and the People thereabout say that they dig up Trees without boughs out of the mossy places in this Shire which they find by the direction of the Dew in Summer which they observe never falls on the ground under which they lie Some Emperick Chirurgions in Scotland take a journey to the Picts Wall the beginning of every Summer to gather vulnerary Plants which they say grow plentifully there and are very effectual being sown and planted by the Romans for Chirurgical Uses There is a small Burrough called Solway Frith under which within the very Frith or Bay the Inhabitants report the Engl sh and Scots fought with their Fleets at full Sea and also with their Horsemen and Footmen at the Ebb. This Province was accounted a Kingdom of itself and King Steven to purchase aid from the Scots confirmed it by gift to that Crown which Henry 2. claimed and regained from them since which many bickerings have happened between the two Nations in this Shire but none so fatal to the Scots as the Fight at Salome Moss where the Nobility disdaining to serve under their General Oliver Sinclare gave over the Battle and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour so deeply wounded the heart of K. James the 5. that he died for grief soon after There are many ruines of Castles Walls and Forts in this County with Altars and Inscriptions of their Captains and Collonels This County is not divided into Hundreds as the rest but therein are seated 9 Market Towns 58 Parish Churches and divers Chappels of ease It Elects 6 Parliament Men for the Counâ—y 2. Carlile 2. Cockermouth 2. and is in the Diocess of Chester and Carlile DERBY-SHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North Nottinghamshire on the East
Inscription alluding to the Mettal In Martins-Comb I long lay hid Obscure deprest with grossest Soil Debased much with mixed Lead Till Bulmer came whose skill and toil Reformed me so pure and clean As richer no where else is seen This County hath many commodious Havens for Ships among which Totnes was famous for Brutes first entrance if Geffry Monmouth say true and another Poet who writes thus of Brute The Gods did guide his Sail and Course The Winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shore Where first he came to land But it is more certain and withal more lamentable that the Danes first entred at Teignemouth to invade this Land about 787 unto whom Brightrick King of the West Saxons sent the Steward of his house to know their demands whom they villanously slew yet were they forced back to their Ships by the Inhabitants With more happy success hath Plimouth set forth men of renowned Fame and prevented the entrance of Invaders as in the Reign of that eternised Queen the Mirrour of Princes Elizabeth of everlasting memory for from this Port Sir Francis Drake that famous Knight and most valiant Sea Captain set forth to Sea in 1577 and entred into the Streights of Magellane and in Two Years and Ten Months through various changes of Fortune Divine Providence being his Guide and valour his Consort sailed round about the World of whom one writ thus Drake peragrati novit quem terminus orbis c. Drake whom the incompast World so fully knew Whom both the Poles of Heaven at once did view If Men are silent Stars and Sun will care To Register their Fellow-Traveller As he lived most part of his Time so he died and was buried at Sea when his Corps was cast out of the Ship one made this Tetrastick on him Though Romes Religion should in time return Drake none thy Body will ungrave again There is no fear Posterity should burn Those Bones which free from Fire in Sea remain And the Lord Charles Howard High Admiral did not only from Plimouth impeach the entrance of the proud Invincible Spanish Armado in 88. but with his Cannons marked them so as shewed who had had the handling of them as tokens of their own Shame and his immortal Honour The Commodities of this Shire consist much in Wool and Clothing Corn is likewise very plenteous as likewise Fish and Fowl The City of Exeter is the Shire Town environed with Ditches and strong Walls a mile and half in Circuit wherein are 15 Parish Churches and a Castle called Rugemont which commands the whole City and Country about it and hath a pleasant prospect into the Sea The River Lid by Lidford runs under ground the stream sinking so deep that it is altogether invisible but it supplies to the Ear what it denies to the Eye so great is the noise thereof In the Parish of North-Taun on near an House called Bath there is a Pit but in the Winter a Pool not maintained by any Spring but the fall of rain water and therefore commonly dry in Summer of which Pool it hath been observed saith Dr. Fuller that before the death or change of any Prince or some other strange accident of great importance or any Invasion or Insurrection it will though in a hot and dry season without any rain overflow its banks and so continue till that which it prognosticated be past and fulfilled and the Relater who published his book 1648. reports That it overflowed four times in 30 years past There is another thing in this County called the Hanging Stone being one of the bound stones which parteth Comb-Martin from the next Parish it took the name from a Theif who having stoln a Sheep and tyed it about his neck to carry it on his back rested himself a while upon this Stone which is about a foot high till the Sheep strugling slid over the Stone on the other side and so strangled the man which appeareth rather to be a Providence than a casualty in the just execution of a Malefactor We may add to these wonders the Gubbings which is a Scythia within England and they pure Heathens within this place lyeth nigh Brent Tor on the edge of Dartmoor it is reported that about 200 years ago two Strumpets being with Child fled thither to hide themselves to whom certain debauched Fellows resorted and that this was their Original they are a People who live by themselves exempt from all Authority Ecclesiastical and Civil they dwell in Cottages like Swine being rather holes than Houses having all in common and multiplied without Marriage into many Hundreds their Language is the dross of the dregs of the Devonshire Speech and the more learned a man is the less they can understand him during our Civil Wars no Souldiers were quartered among them for fear of being themselves quartered by them their Wealth consists of other mens Goods and they live by stealing the Sheep on the Moor and vain it is for any to search their Houses being a work beneath the pains of a Sheriff and above the Power of any Constable their swiftness is such that they will outrun many Horses they are so healthful that they outlive most men living in the ignorance of Luxury the extinguisher of life they hold together like Burs and if you offend one all will revenge his Quarrel In the year 959. Edgar one of the Saxon Kings of this Land hearing of the admirable beauty of Elfrida the only Daughter of Ordgarus Duke of Devonshire and Founder of Tavistock Abby in that County he sent his great Favourite Earl Ethelwold who could well judge of beauty to try the truth thereof with Commission that if he found her such as Fame reported he should bring her with him and he would make her his Queen the young Earl upon sight of the Lady was so surprized that he began to woe her for himself and had procured her Fathers good will in case he could obtain the Kings consent hereupon the Earl posted back to the King relating to him That the Lady was fair indeed but nothing answerable to the report that went of her yet desired the King that he might Marry her as being her Fathers Heir thereby to raise his Fortune The King consented and the Marriage was solemnized soon after the fame of her beauty began to spread more than before so that the King much doubting he had been abused resolved to try the truth himself and thereupon taking occasion to hunt in the Dukes Park came to his house whose coming Ethelwold suspecting acquainted his Wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King in disparaging her beauty and therefore to prevent the Kings displeasure intreated her by all manner of persuasions he could possibly use to cloth her self in such attire as might least set her forth but she resolving to be revenged and considering that now was the time to make the most of her beauty and longing to be a Queen would
Hell whom they devoutly worshipped as the preserver of their health Shaftsbury likewise wherein one Aquila either Man or Eagle is reported to have prophecied of future times In this City Edward son of Edgar who was murdered at Corf-Castle by his Step-Mother to make way for her own Son was buried In the Reign of K. Edward 2 the great Earl of Lancaster married a Lady from Camford in this County who was taken out of his house by one Richard Martin a deformed lame Dwarf who challenged her for his Wife alledging he had lain with her before the Earl married her whereupon the Lady was examined who voluntarily confessed it was all true and thereupon the ugly Fellow in her right claimed the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury In the Fourth of this Kings Reign the Church of Middleton with all the Monuments were consumed with Lightning the Monks being at Mattens In the 22d of Edward 3. a Plague was brought from beyond Sea into the Towns and Villages of England on the Seacosts of Dorsetshire which raged so both there and in other parts of England that scarce the Tenth man was left alive in the Kingdom In 1506. King Philip sailing out of Germany to take possession of the Kingdom of Spain was driven by Tempest upon the Coasts of England and landed at Weymouth to refresh himself and was invited by Sir Tho. Trenchard a worthy Knight of that County to his House who immediately sent word to King Henry 7. of his Arrival who glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince sent the Earl of Arundel at present to wait upon him till himself should follow the Earl attended him with a gallant Troop of about 300 Horse and for more state came to him by Torch light upon this Message though K. Philip had many reasons to hasten his Journy yet not to distaste K. Henry he came Post to Windsor where after great and magnificent Entertainment K. Henry taking an opportunity when they were both in a private room laying his Hand civilly upon K. Philip's Arm said Sir you have been saved upon my Coast I hope you will not suffer me to wreck upon yours The King of Castile asking him what he meant I mean saith the King that hair-brain'd Fellow the Earl of Suffolk who being my Subject is protected in your Country and begins to play the Fool when all others are weary of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your felicity had been above these thoughts but if it trouble you I will banish him K. Henry answered That his desire was to have him delivered to him with this the King of Castile a little confused said That can I not do with my honour Well then said the King the matter is at an end at last the King of Castile who much esteemed K. Henry composing his Countenance said Sir you shall have him but upon your honour you shall not take his Life I promise it upon my honour said K. Henry and he kept his promise for he was not put to death during all his Reign but yet he took such order that in the Reign of his Son K. Hen. 8. he had his Head cut off This Earl of Suffolk had lately gone over to Flanders to the Lady Margret K. Henry's sworn Enemy which made the King doubt of his Intentions The Earl was accordingly brought over and sent to the Tower and after K. Philip had received the Order of the Garter and Prince Henry that of the Golden Fleece the King of Castile departed home In the 26. of Q. Elizabeth 1558. at a place called Blackmore in the Parish of Armitage in this County a piece of ground containing 3 Acres removed from its place and went quite over another Close with the Trees and Fences thereon a great way off stopping up an High-way which led to Cerne the same Hedges inclosing it as before and the Trees standing very upright thereon onely one Oak of almost 20 Load fell down in the place from whence it removed there remained a great deep Pit In 1613. Aug. 7. The Town of Dorchester was utterly consumed with Fire which began in the house of a Tallow-Chandler and destroyed the whole Town save a few Houses near the Church and all their Wares and Goods to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds yet no man perished therein In June 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool and soon after dissolved into a shower of Blood which fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops upon them were sent to London and seen by many The Forrest of the White Hart is in this County so called because in the Reign of Henry 3. the King came hither to hunt and having taken other Deer he spared a most beautiful and goodly white Heart which afterward Thomas de Lynd a Gentleman of this Country with others in his Company took and killed for which the King put a mulct or Fine upon him and the whole County and the very lands which they held pay even to this day every year by way of amercement a sum of Mony into the Exchequer which is called White Hart Silver My self saith Dr. Fuller have paid a share for the sauce who never tasted any of the meat so that it seems Kings Venison is sooner eaten than digested Mr. Ignatius Jordan was born at Lime Regis in this County and when he was young was sent to Exeter to be brought up a Merchant in this City having passed through the several inferiour Offices he at last came to be Mayor and was a Justice of Peace 24 years together yet his beginning was but very mean which he was always ready to acknowledg for when some threatned him with Law-suits and that they would not give over while he was worth a groat he cheerfully told them That he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came first to Exeter for said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say He wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and yet raked so much together for their Children do you not see said he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spoke of such as had small beginnings and afterward became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance of himself I came said he but with a groat or sixpence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter In his Troubles in the Star Chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him the Lord is my Keeper I will not be afraid He was famous for Justice and Charity in his life and at his death left very large Legacies to the poor
Graves and their Coffins opened the Dutchess Cicely had about her Neck hanging in a Silver Ribbon a Pardon from Rome which penned in a fine Roman hand was as fair and fresh to be read as if it had been written but yesterday this Lady was a great Benefactress to Queens Colledge in Cambridge In former Ages the Bishops have had the Royalties of Princes over this County and the Inhabitants have pleaded the priviledge not to pass over the River of Tees or Tyne to serve in War whose charge as they alledged was to keep and defend the Corps of St. Cathbert their great adored Saint and therefore they called themselves The Holy Work Folks and the repute of this Cuthbert and his supposed defence against the Scots was such that several of our English Kings went in Devotion to his Tomb on Pilgrimage and gave large Possessions to his Church among others zealous Canutus the greatest of all came thither bare-footed and at Cuthberts Tomb both inlarged and confirmed their Liberties This County is not divided into Hundreds but Wakes which are 4 wherein are 118 Parishes and is in the Diocess of Durham It elects four Parliament Men 2 for the County and 2 for the City of Durham ESSEX hath Kent on the South divided by the River Thames Suffolk on the North severed by the River Stoure Cambridge Hertfordshire and Middlesex on the West the two latter for the most part parted by the River Ley and the Germane Ocean on the East this Shire produceth plenty of Saffron especially about Walden a fair Market Town which Saffron may seem to have coloured with the name thereof it hath also Oysters called Walfleet the best in esteem and are thought by Pliny to have been served in the Roman Kitchins likewise Cloths Stuffs Hops and is indeed a fair Country affording all things necessary to mans subsistence only the Air of the Eastern part is not accounted very healthful Those parts adjoining to the Sea are commonly called the Hundreds of Essex and are very fruitful in Cattle However the vulgar Wits of this County much astonish strangers with the stock of poor People in these parts affirming that they have Five Hundred Cows and Nine Hundred Sheep which are indeed but five Cows and nine Sheep in these Hundreds The chief City of account is Colchester built by Coilus the Brittish Prince 124 Years after Christ wherein saith Monmouth the first Christian King Empress and Emperour in the World were born that is his Son Lucius Helena and Constantine of which thus the Poet sings From Colchester there rose a Star The Rays whereof gave glorious Light Throughout the World in Climates far Great Constantine Rome's Emperour bright The most famous place for antiquity in this County is Camolodunum now Maldon which was the Royal Seat of Cunobolin King of the Trinobantes as by the Money therein minted appeareth about the time of our Saviours Birth which City Claudius afterward won from the Brittains and therein placed a Colony of Soldiers In the East Promontory of this County in the Reign of Richard 2. the Teeth of a Giant were found if they were not of an Elephant of a very great size and not far thence in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth more bones as monstruous were digged up The Monks have recorded that a Pilgrim was sent by St. John Baptist to K. Edward the Confessor with a Ring upon which account his house in this County was called Hav-a-ring but the Clergy in those times made no Conscience to invent fictions daily for their own advantage There were bones digged up at Ness near Harwich in this County which with their bigness and length amazed the Beholders I cannot see saith Dr. Fuller how such can maintain them to be the bones of men who must confess that according to the Proportion of the Doors and Roofs of ancient Building which we have either seen or read of if they were so big and tall they must go into their Houses stooping not to say creeping along except those who affirm it be as careless of their credit as the Traveller was who affirming he saw Bees as big as Dogs and yet their Hives were of our ordinary size and being demanded what shift they made to get in Nay said he what know I let them look to that More probable it is that these were bones of Elephants store whereof were brought over into England by the Emperour Claudius To these wonders it will not be amiss to adu the ensuing relation written by Mr Tho. Smith of Sewarstone near Waltham Abby a discreet person lately deceased Toward the latter end of Q. Elizabeth saith he I served Sir Edward Donny who lived in the Abby of Waltham Cross in Essex which at that time lay in ruinous heaps and Sir Edward beginning to re-edifie it one Tomkins his Gardiner being employed therein among other things discovered a fair Marble Stone which was the cover of a Tomb of the same Stone this cover being removed there appeared the Anatomy of a man therein the Bones only remaining in due order and none of them out of place and no other dust or filth whatsoever remaining in tâ—e Tomb having well observed it I told the Spectators that if they did but touch any part thereof it would fall in sunder which being tried happened accordingly for my part I am persuaded that as the Flesh and Entrails of this Anatomy to us became in visible so would the bones likewise have been in some longer time O what is man then which vanisheth thus away like the Smoak or a vapour and is no more seen Whosoever thou art that shall read this passage thou mayst find sufficient cause of humility It is generally conceived that this was the body of King Harold This County hath no Cathedral and the Churches therein cannot challenge to themselves any eminent Commendation but for private houses Essex will own no Shire her superiour whereof Three are most remarkable 1. Audly end built by the E. of Suffolk which without compare was one of the best Subjects Houses in the Nation yet is the Structure better than the standing thereof as being somewhat low on the one side 2. Newhall built by the Ratcliffs Earls of Sussex which is extream pleasant for the shady approach thereunto and for the Parks round about it 3. Copthal highly seated on an hill in the midst of a Park built by the Abbot of Waltham enlarged by Sir Thomas Heneage and others herein is a Gallery as well furnished and more proportionable than any in England In November 1639. there happened an Hurricano or Whirl-wind which entring in at the great East Window blew that down and carried some part thereof with the Picture of the L. Coventry singled from many more which hung on both sides untouched all the length of the Gallery being about 56 Yards out of the West Window which it threw down to the ground some observed the like Wind in other places about the same time as
to lose his Life for Christ's sake At the stake he kneeled down and read the 51st Psalm then the Sheriff said to him Here is a Letter from the Queen if thou wilt recant thou shalt live otherwise thou shalt be burnt No quoth William I will never recant and so he was fastened to the stake He then said Good People pray for me while you see me alive adding Son of God shine upon me and the Sun immediately shone out of a thick Cloud so full in his face that he was forced to turn his head aside fire being kindled he lift up his Hand to Heaven saying Lord Lord receive my Spirit and so ended his Life in the Flames John Lawrence was burnt at Colchester whose Legs being lame with Irons and his Body weak with cruel usage he was carried to the Stake in a Chair and burnt therein at his burning many young Children being about the fire cried out to him Lord strengthen thy servant and keep thy Promise which was lookt on as a product of Divine Providence who out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained strength Thomas Hawks Gentleman was first brought into trouble for refusing to baptise his Child after the Popish fashion This man going to the stake promised his Friends to give them some solemn Token of the clearness and comfort of his Conscience in performance whereof whilst his Body was burning he raised up himself and though having the sense yet having no fear of the Fire joyfully clapped his hands over his head to the Admiration of all the Beholders There was an Idol called the Rood of Dover-Court in this County to which multitudes of People went in Pilgrimage Divers zealous Protestants at Dedham being much troubled to see the Almighty so dishonoured by wicked Idolatry went from thence in a Frosty Moonshine Night 10 Miles to the place where the Idol was where they found the Church Doors open the Popish Clergy boasting the power of this Rood was such that no man could shut the doors of the Church where it stood These Persons taking the Image from the place where it stood carried it a quarter of a Mile off and there burnt it to ashes for which three of them were by the bloody Papists hanged in Chains In 1605. a great Porpus was taken at Westham in a little Creek alive a Mile and half within the Land and within a few days after a Whale came up the Thames whose lenght was seen divers times above Water and judged to exceed the largest Ship in the River but when she tasted the Fresh-Water and scented the Land she returned into the Sea This County contains 20 Hundreds 21 Market Towns and 415 Parish Churches It is in the Diocess of London and elects 8 Parliament men for the County 2. Colchester 2. Harwich 2. Malden 2. and gives the Title of Earl to Arthur L. Capel GLOCESTERSHIRE hath Worcester and Warwickshire on the North Oxford and Wiltshire on the East Somersetshire on the South Herefordshire with the River Wye on the West the River Severn runs through it and Malmsbury the old Historian thus describes it The ground of this Shire throughout saith he yieldeth plenty of Corn and bringeth forth abundance of Fruits the one only through the natural goodness of the ground the other by diligent manuring and tillage insomuch that it would provoke the most lazy Person to take pains Here you may see the High ways and common Lanes full of Apple-trees and Peer-trees not ingrafted by the industry of Mans hand but growing naturally of their own accord the ground itself is so inclined to bear fruit and those both in taste and beauty far exceeding others and will endure till a new supply come There is not any County in England so thick set with Vineyards as this is so plentiful of increase and so pleasant in taste the very Wines made thereof have no ill taste and are little inferiour to the French the Houses are innumerable the Churches very fair and the Towns standing very thick but that which addeth a greater glory to it is the River Severn than which there is not any in the Kingdom exceeds it for breadth of Channel swiftness of stream or for Fish better stored There is in it a daily rage and fury of the Waters which I know not whether to call a Gulf or Whirlpool of Waves raising up Sands from the bottom winding and driving them upon heaps and sometimes overflowing its banks roveth a great way on the bordering grounds and then returneth again into its usual Channel unhappy is the Vessel which it taketh full upon the side but the Watermen being aware of it when they see it coming turn their Vessels and cut through the midst of it and thereby avoid the danger Thus far he This encounter of the salt and fresh water as is supposed here mentioned is called in this Country the Higre and by some the Eagre for the keenness and fierceness thereof which is such that it is equally terrible with the flashings and noise to those that see and hear it much more to them who feel it of which there can be no reason rendered since the Thames where we find the same cause hath no such disturbance Hear how the Poets describe this Higre Vntil they be imbraced In Severns Soveraign Arms with whose tumultuous Waves Shut up in narrower bounds the Higre wildly raves And frights the stragling Flocks the Neighbouring shores o flie Afar as from the Main it comes with hideous cry And on the angry front the curled foam doth bring The Billows ' gainst the Banks when fiercely it doth fling Throws up the slimy Ouze and makes the scaly brood Leap madding to the Land affrighted from the flood O'returns the toyling Barge whose Steersman doth not launch And thrusts the furrowing beak into her dreadful paunch We read that in the 2. of King Richard 3. at that time when the Duke of Buckingham intended to pass with his Army over the Severn there was so great an Inundation of Water that men were drowned in their Beds Houses were overturned Children were carried about the Fields swimming in their Cradles and Beasts drowned even upon the Hills which rage of the Waters continued for the space of 10 days and is called to this day in those parts The Great Water In the 17 of Q. Elizabeth Feb. 24. being a hard frost after a flood which was not great there came down the River of Severn such a swarm of Flies and Beetles that they were judged to be above an 100 Quarters the Mills thereabout were dammed up with them for the space of 4 days and then were cleansed by digging them out with Shovels In 1607. a mighty West-wind which continued 16 hours brought the Sea into the Severn after a great rain and at a spring Tyde with such violence that the River began to overflow its banks from as far as the Mount in Cornwall along on both sides up into Somersetshire and
the Sun was risen and shined clear He gave his Master time to pray before he took him but thou didst kill thy Brother sleeping not suffering him to wake or speak only to sigh and groan and that most sadly yet all moved thee not c. This young man was soon after deservedly Executed for this horrid Fratricide so this worthy Knight lost both his Sons at one time Two Watermen of Gravesend one named Smith and the other Gurnay being some years before hired by a Grasier to carry him down to Tilbury Hope intending to go to a certain Fair in Essex to buy Cattle these Villains by the way perceiving he had mony conspired to take away his life and accordingly one of them cut his throat and the other taking his mony threw him over-board This Murther was concealed divers years but in 1656. these Murtherers being drinking together fell out and one of them in his passion accused the other of Murther and he again accused him upon which being apprehended and examined they confessed the Fact were condemned at Maidstone Assizes and hanged in Chains at Gravesend In 1658. June 3. A Whale came up the Thames as high as Deptford and being discovered at Greenwich many Boats made out after her and a Marriner struck her with an harping Iron whereupon she spouted forth much water and blood and roared like a Lyon and so beating her self up and down till she came below Greenwich she there turned up her Belly and died she was 59 foot long and 15 foot high as she lay on her Belly September 3. following Oliver Cromwell dyed three days before which there was such a Tempestuous and violent wind as overthrew divers Houses brake and overturned many Trees by the roots and did much mischief In 1660. August 4. At Dover from 10 a clock at night till 2 next morning were such storms of Hail accompanied with Thunder and Lightning as the like was never known some of the Hailstones that fell were as big as Walnuts and were measured 4 inches about the damage was reckoned 50 pound in glass Windows which were broken In 1662. July 2. about 3 in the afternoon there happened a very strange whirlwind in Mason Dufield between the Town and Castle of Dover at the upper end of which Field the wind took up divers sheafs oâ—wards of Pease a vast height into the Air and carried them over the Town into the Seâ— and it was judged they were carried two or three miles before they fell into the Sea it also took up some Calves and other small Cattle and threw them into a Ditch a Hoy likewise in the Road was almost overset by it Upon Aug. 4. following several great Spouts were seen in Dover Road about quarter Seas over some affirm they were 7 and about half a mile asunder and ran about half an hour they were big at both ends and slender in the middle some Seamen affirmed they were bigger than those in the Streights and are very unusual in these Seas The County of Kent is divided into 5 Laths and 67 Hundreds wherein are 29 Market Towns and 408 Parish Churches it is in the Diocess of Canterbury and Rochester and gives the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Gray as Dover doth to John L Cary Thanet to Nicholas L. Tufton Rochester to John L. Wilmot and Sandwich to Edward L. Montague It elects 10 Parliament Men. LANCASHIRE hath the Irish Sea on the West Yorkshire on the East Cheshire parted with the River Mersey on the South and Westmoreland on the North It is a County Palatine and is replenished with all necessaries for the use of man yielding without any great labour Corn Flax Grass Coals and is plentifully furnished with Fish Flesh and Fowl the Brigantes the ancient Inhabitants of this County were subdued by the Emperor Claudius who secured it by Garrisons as appears by the many Inscriptions found in Walls and by certain Altars erected in honour of some of their Emperours it is famous for the four Henrys the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh all derived from John Duke of Lancaster the Shire Town is Lancaster more pleasant in situation than rich in Inhabitants the beauty thereof is in the Church Castle and Bridge Manchester is a Town of great Antiquity from Main a Brittish word which signifieth a Stone it is seated upon a stony hill and beneath the Town there are most famous quarries of Stone it far excelleth the Towns lying about it for the beautiful shew it maketh for resort to it and for clothing in regard also of the Market place the fair Church and Colledge In this Province King Arthur is reported to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battle near Duglas a little Brook near the Town of Wiggan In this Shire not far from Fourness Fells or Hills is the greatest standing water in all England called Winander Mere which is wonderful deep and 10 miles over and all paved with Stone as it were on the bottom it breeds a Fish called a Chare no where else to be found At Ferneby the People use Cannal or Turss both for Fewel and Candle which when they dig they find under them a certain black water upon which swims a fat oily matter and therein are little Fishes which the Diggers catch on the very top of Pendlehill grows a peculiar plant called Cloudesberry as though it came out of the Clouds this Hill some years ago did the Country near it much harm by reason of an extraordinary deal of water gushing out of it it is also famous for an infallible sign of rain whensoever the top of it is covered with a mist there are three great Hills here not far distant from each other seeming to be as high as the Clouds which are Ingelburrough Penigent and this Pendle In the Reign of Q. Mary Bishop Bonner put out a Mandate to the Priests within his Diocess commanding that comely Roods or Images should again be set up in all Churches the same injunction was published in other Diocesses in pursuance whereof the Churchwardens of Cockram in Lancashire had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood to set up in their Church at a certain price the Carver accordingly made one but the Image being of an ugly grim countenance they disliked it and refused to pay the Workman who thereupon brought them by a Warrant before the Mayor of Lancaster who was a favourer of the Protestant Religion when they came before him he asked them why they did not pay the man according to agreement they replied they did not like the grimness of his Visage saying They had a Man formerly with a handsome face and would have had such another now well said the Mayor though you like not the Rood the poor mans labour has been never the less and it's pity he should lose by it But I 'le tell you what you shall do pay him the money you promised him and if it will not serve you for a God
Air and clean ways it is full of many Gentile Habitations it hath good Box Walnuts Fullers Earth and Corn excellent Tapestry is also used at Moreclack in this County Kingston was formerly the seat of many Kings and Gilford hath been much larger being formerly the Royal Mansion of divers Saxon Monarchs There are two most beautiful Palaces in this Shire Richmond and Nonsuch The Medicinal Waters at Ebsham or Epsum are much frequented which were found out about 1618. upon this occasion one Henry Wicker in a dry Summer and great want of water for Cattle discovered some water standing in the footing of some Beast he at first suspected it to be their Urine but was quickly confuted by the clearness thereof he therefore with his staff digged a square hole about it and so departed returning next day he could hardly find the place in so wide a Common at last he found the hole running over with most clear water which the Cattle though very thirsty would not drink of as having a Mineral Tast It is concluded to run through some veins of Allom and at first was used only for healing outward sores which it performed but since hath been inwardly taken and with good effect in many diseases The convenient distance from London addeth to the reputation of these waters and no wonder if Citizens coming thither from the worst of Smoaks into the best of Airs find in themselves a perfect alteration There is a River in this County which at a place called the Swallow sinketh into the Earth and riseth again some two Miles off near Leatherhead which the Country People say was experimented in a Goose which was put in and came out again alive though without Feathers Nor may we forget a Vault nigh Rygate of very fine sand capable of receiving 500 men which Castle under ground was in ancient time the Mansion of some great Person having several Rooms therein If it be meerly natural it doth curiously imitate Art if purely artificial it doth most lively represent Nature We read that K. Edward 3. that glorious Conqueror after he had reigned 50 Years and 4 Months being in the 60th Year of his Age 1377. fell into his last sickness at Richmond where when he was observed to be drawing on his Concubine Alice Pierce came to his Bed side and took the Royal Rings from his Fingers and leaving him gasping for breath went away The Knights Esquires and Officers of his Court rifled whatever they could and hasted away also only a poor Priest lamenting the Kings Misery that amongst all his Counsellors and servants there was none to assist him in his last Moments entred his Chamber exhorting the King to lift up his Eyes and Hands to God to repent him of his sins and to implore the Mercy of Heaven and its forgiveness the King had before quite lost his Speech but at these words taking strength uttered his mind though imperfectly in these matters and made signs of contrition wherein his voice and speech failed him and scarce pronouncing this word Jesu yielded up the Ghost In 1491. K. Hen. 7. held solemn Justing at Richmond which continued for a Month wherein Sir James Parker running against Mr. Hugh Vaughan by reason of a faulty Helmet he was struck into the month at the first course so that his Tongue was thrust into the hinder part of his Head and died immediately in the place In 1602. Q. Elizabeth feeling some Infirmities of old Age and Sickness retired her self to Richmond at which time as a sad Omen she commanded the Ring to be filed off her Finger wherewith she was solemnly at first inaugurated into the Kingdom and since that time had never taken it off it being grown into the Flesh in such a manner that it could not be drawn off without filing at the beginning of her sickness the Almonds of her Jaws began to swell her Appetite to fail her and she was very melancholy which some imputed to her loss of Essex others because she heard that divers of the Nobility sought the favour of the K. of Scots adoring him as the rising Sun and neglecting her but however a numness seised her and she would discourse with none but Dr. Whitgift A. B. of Canterbury with whom she prayed fervently till her Speech failed her which was a day before her death she being so ill it was thought fit the Secretary and Admiral should go to her and know her mind concerning a Successour to whom she answered My Throne hath been the Throne of Kings I would have no mean Person succeed me The Secretary requesting her to speak more plainly I will said she have a King succeed me and what King but the King of Scots my nearest Kinsman After this the Archbishop exhorting her to think upon God That I do said she nor do my thoughts ever wander from him And when her Tongue no longer served her it was evident by the lifting up of her Hands and Eyes that her thoughts were fixed upon him and so on the 24 of March being the last day of the Year 1602. she yielded up her Soul to God when she had lived 69 Years 6 Months and 7 Days whereof she had reigned 44 Years 4 Months Her Body was embalmed wrapped in Lead and brought to White-Hall from whence April 28. following it was buried at Westminster Abby at which time the City of Westminster was surcharged with a multitude of all sorts of People in the Streets Houses Windows and Leads who came to see the Funeral and when they beheld her statue lying in Royal Robes with a Crown upon her Head there was such a general sighing groaning and weeping as the like hath not been seen nor known in the memory of man neither doth any History mention any People time or state to make the like lamentation for the death of their Soveraign It is said there were 1600 Mourners in black at her Funeral Thomas Cromwell was born at Putney in Surrey his Father was a Blacksmith and therefore could bestow no great matter on his Education yet such was his wit and activity that he made his own Fortune He was in the service of Cardinal Wolsey after whose death he is recommended to K. Henry 8. who finding the quickness of his understanding advised with him in many difficult matters and upon occasion he informed the King how his Princely Authority was abused by the Pope and his Clergy who being sworn to him were afterward dispensed with and sworn anew to the Pope so that he was but half a King c. He also shewed him that the Clergy by their Oath were fallen into a Premunire and their Goods Lands Chattels and Possessions were fallen to the King which he afterward demonstrated to the Bishops to be true who gave the King above an hundred thousand pound for Composition after this by his persuasion the King suppressed all the Abbies and Monasteries in England and commanded the Bible to be Printed and read in the
no Temporal Authority at all but yet in Spirituals he rather raised them as appears by a passage between Aldred Archbishop of York and this King for one time upon denying a certain suit the Archbishop in great discontent offered to go away but the King for fear of his displeasure staid him and fell down at his feet desiring his pardon and promising to grant his Suit the King for sometime lay at his feâ—t and the Noblemen that were present put the Prelate in mind that he should cause the King to rise Nay said the Archbishop let him alone let him find what it is to anger St. Peter And as by this story we may see the insulting Pride of this Prelate in those days so by another we may observe the equivocating falshood of another Prelate at that time for Stigand A. B. of Canterbury would often swear he had not one penny upon Earth when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasure It is also memorable but scarce credible of another Bishop who being accused of Simony and denying it the Cardinal before whom he was to answer told him That a Bishoprick was the gift of the Holy Ghost and therefore to buy a Bishoprick was against the Holy Ghost and thereupon bid him say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost which the Bishop beginning and oft trying to do saith our Historian could never say and to the Holy Ghost but said it plainly when he was put out of his Bishoprick In the 19th of King Henry 3. 1235. there was a great dearth in Eng. so that many poor people died for want of food the Rich being so cruelly covetous as not to relieve them and among others Walter Gray A. B. of York had great store of Corn which he had horded for five years together yet at that sad time refused to bestow any of it upon the necessities of the poor but suspecting that it might be destroyed by Vermine he commanded it to be delivered to Husbandmen that lived in his Mannors upon condition to return him as much new Corn after Harvest but behold a terrible Judgment of God upon him for his covetousness when they came to one of his great stacks of Corn nigh the Town of Ripoon there appeared in the Sheaves all over the heads of Worms Serpents and Toads so that the Bailiffs were forced to build an high wall round about the stack of Corn and then to set it on fire least the venemous Creatures should have gone out and poysoned the Corn in other places In the Reign of K. Edward 4. 1570. George Nevil Brother to the great Earl of Warwick at his Instalment into his Archbishoprick of York made a prodigious Feast to the Nobility chief Clergy and many Gentry wherein he spent 300 Quarters of Wheat 330 Tuns of Ale 104 Tuns of Wine 1 Pipe of spiced Wine 80 fat Oxen 6 wild Bulls 1004 Sheep 3000 Hogs 300 Calves 3000 Geese 3000 Capons 300 Pigs 100 Peacocks 200 Cranes 200 Kids 2000 Chickens 4000 Pigeons 4000 Rabbets 204 Bittours 4000 Ducks 400 Herons 200 Phesants 500 Partridges 4000 Woodcocks 400 Plovers 100 Curlews 100 Quales 1000 Egrets 200 Rees above 400 Bucks Does and Roe-Bucks 1506 hot Venison Pasties 4000 cold Venison Pasties 1000 Dishes of Jelly parted 4000 Dishes of Jelly plain 4000 cold Custards 2000 hot Custards 300 Pikes 300 Breams 8 Seals 4 Porpusses and 400 Tarts At this Feast the E. of Warwick was Steward the Earl of Bedford Treasurer the Lord Hastings Controller with many more noble Officers 1000 Servitors 62 Cooks 515 Scullions But about 7 Years after the King seized on all the Estate of this Archbishop and sent him over Prisoner into France where he was bound in chains and in great Poverty Justice thus punishing his former prodigality The East-Riding of Yorkshire is divided into 4 Hundreds wherein are 8 Market Towns the West-Riding is divided into 10 Hundreds wherein are 24 Market Towns the North is divided into 12 Hundreds wherein are 17 Market Towns it is in the Diocess of York hath 563 Parish Churches and elects 29 Parliament men York gives the Title of Duke to His Royal Highness Richmond that of Duke to Charles Lenos Son to the Dutchess of Portsmouth Hallifax the Title of Earl to George L. Savil. WALES THis Principality hath the Severn Sea on the South the Irish Ocean on the West and North and England on the East It is 100 Miles from East to West and 120 from North to South it consisteth of 3 parts Northwales Powis and Southwales wherein are contained 13 Shires or Counties of which I have not room to give a particular account as before but shall only observe what is memorable in each of them the names thereof are Anglesey Brecknockshire Cardigan Carmarthan Carnarvan Denby Flint Glamorg n Merioneth Monmouth Montgomery Pembroke and Radnor The name of Wales some derive from Idwallo the Son of Cadwaller who with the small Remainder of his Brittish Subjects made good the dangerous places of this Countrey against his Enemies and was first called King of Wales This Country is Mountainous and barren not able to maintain its People but by helps elsewhere their chief Commodities are course cloths called Welch Freez and Cottons Lewellin Son of Griffin the Brother of David the last Sovereign Prince of VVales of the Race of Cadwallader was slain by K. Edward 1. 1282. whereby the Principality of Wales was added to the Crown of England though it may be this Conquest happened not for want of Valour since Hen. 2. in a Letter to Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople gives this Testimony of them The Welch Nation is so adventurous that they dare encounter naked with armed men ready to spend their blood for their Country and pawn their Life for praise Anglesey is an Island separated from the Continent by a small and narrow Streight of the River Menai In divers places in the low Fields and Champion Grounds of this County there are divers Trees digged out black within like Ebony and are used to inlay cupboards c. it is hard to resolve how they came hither some imagine the Romanes cut them down as being the coverts of Rebellion others think they fell of themselves and with their own Weight in those waterish places buried themselves and that the clammy Bituminous substance that is found about them keeps them from Putrefaction This Island yields such plenty of Wheat that they call it the Mother of Wales He that relateth wonders saith Dr. Fuller walks on the edge of an house if he be not careful of his Footing down falls his credit This shall make me exact in using my Authors words That Cloaks Hats and Staves cast down from the top of an Hill called Mounch-Denny or Cadier Arthur which hath its top above the Clouds in the County of Brecknock will never fall but are with the Air and Wind still beaten back and blown up again nor will any