not a little glory of their Merlin who as they say was therein born the Son of a bad Angel or of an Incubus Spirit the Britains great Apollo whom Geffery ap Arthur would rank with the South-saying Seer or rather with the true Prophets themselves being none other than a meer Seducer and Phantastical Wizard which howsoever Alani de Insulis in his Commentaries hath laboured to unlock those dark and hidden Similies wherewith his Book is pestred and full yet was it not without cause forbid the reading by the Council of Trent as vain and not worthy of Countenance or Credit At the entrance of the Normans this Town was brought under their obedience and for a long time was distressed with the Calamities of War yet afterwards was made by the English Princes the Chancery and Exchequer of all Southâ—Wales And at this day is yearly governed by a Maior who ever after is an Alderman and Iustice of the Peace two Sheriffs elected out of sixteen Burgesses all of them in Scarlet a Sword-Bearer a Town-Clerk and two Sergeants with Maces from whence the Pole is raised 52 degrees 15 minutes in Latitude and for Longitude is in the degree 15 and 30 minutes from the first point in the West according to Mercator 7 East from this place are the ruines of Carreg-Castle which stood mounted on a high Hill under the which many Vaults and spacious Caves far into the ground are seen wherein is thought the People unable to â—ight were therein secured in time of their Wars Where also is a Well take the report from Giraldus who writeth it that in this place twice in four and twenty hours â—bbing and twice flowing resembleth the unstable motions of the main Sea 8 This Shire is watred with twenty eight Rivers and Rivelets of name strengthned with ten Castles traded in six Market-Towns divided into six Hundreds wherein are seated fourscore and seven Parish-Churches GLAMORGAN Shire GLAMORGAN-SHIRE CHAPTER VII GLAMORGAN-SHIRE as some think named from Prince Morgan the possessor thereof or according to others is taken from Morgan an Abbey founded by William Earl of Glocester upon the Sea-shoar in the South of this Shire lyeth bounded upon that part altogether with the British-Sea the West by Logor is parted from Caermarden-shire the North butteth upon the County of Brecknock and the East by Remney is divided from Monmouth 2 The form of this Shire groweth still wider from her West-point spreading her broadest touch in the East betwixt which extreams I find by measure to be well-near forty English miles and from North to South not altogether twenty miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and twelve miles 3 The Air is temperate and gives more content to the mind than the Soil doth fruit or ease unto Travellers The Hills being high and very many which from the North notwithstanding are lessened as it were by degrees and towards the Sea-coasts the Countrey becometh somewhat plain which part is the best both for plenty of Grain and populous of Inhabitants The rest all Mountain is replenished with Cattel which is the best means unto wealth that this Shire doth afford upon whose Hills you may behold whole Heards of them feeding and from whose Rocks most clear springing waters thorow the Vallies trickling which sportingly do pass with a most pleasant sound and did not a little revive my wearied spirits among those vast Mountains imployed in their search whose infancy at first admitted an easie step over but grown unto strength more boldly forbad me such passage and with a more stern countenance held on their Iourney unto the British-Seas and Taâ—e among these is accounted for a chief 4 Upon whose fall and East-bank the fairest Town of all South-Wales is seated the Britains Caerdid the English Caerdiffe which Fitz-Haimon fortified with a Wall and Castle in the Reign of King Rufus when he and his Norman-Knights had overcome Rhese the Prince of these parts and thrust out Iustine from his lawful possession This Town he made his own Seat and Court of Iustice enjoyning his Consorts to give Aid to this honour and to hold their Portions in Vassallage of him Strong was the Castle as by the trust therein reposed may well appear where the youngest brother Beaâ—clark kept Captive the eldest Curthose both of them Sons to the Conquerour the space of twenty six years This Castle is large and in good repair whence the Town-Wall went both South and East to the Rivers side thorow which four Gates enter into the four Winds and contain in compass nine hundred and twenty paces and along the River a sure defence upon her West-side three hundred more so that the Town containeth in circuit twelve hundred and fourscore paces But as the Tave is a friend to the Town in making a Key for arrivage of shipping so is she a foe to S. Maries Church in the South with undermining her Foundations and threatning her fall The Town is governed by a Mayor yearly elected out of twelve Aldermen assisted with other twelve Burgesses a Town-Clerk four Constables and two Sergeants with Maces whose site is observed from the North-Star to lie in the degree of Latitude 51 and 49 scruples and from the â—irst point in the West 16 and 53 scruples 5 In the same graduation almost is sited the City Landaf wherein is a Castle and Cathedral Church dedicated to S. Telean Bishop of the same without any other memorable matter worthy the speaking of 6 But things of strange Note are these by the report of Giraldus who affirmeth that in a Rock or Cliffe upon the Sea-side and Island Barry lying near the South-East point of this County is heard out of a litttle chink let him take heed what he faith the noise as it it were of Smiths at their work one whiles â—he blowing of Bellows to increase the heat then the strâ—aks of the Hammer and sound of the Anvil sometimâ—s the noise of the Grind stone in grinding of Iron Tools then the hissing Sparks of Steelâ—gads as they flie from their â—eating with the puffing noise of Flames in a Furnace And whether this is the place whereof Clemens Alexandrinus speaketh I deâ—ermine not where in his Writings he hath these words They that have recorded Histories saith he do say that in the Isle of Britain there is a certain Hole or Cave under thâ— bottom of an Hill and on the top thereof a gaping Chink into the which when the Wind is gathered and tossed to and fro in the Womb or concavity thereof there is heard above a sound of Cymbals for the Wind being driven back from his hole is forced to make a loud sound as her vent 7 More Westward from hence upon the River Ogmore and neer unto Newton in a sandy plain about an hundred paces from Severne there springeth a Well though not of the clearest water where at the flowing and fulness of the Sea can hardly any water be gotten but at the Ebb and Fall oâ—
princely Houses inheritable to the English Crown are â—eated in this Shire which are Enfield Hanworth White-hall S. Iames and Hampton-Court a City rather in shew than the Palace of a Prince and for stately Port and gorgeous building not inferiour to any in Europe At Thistleworth once stood the Palace of King Richard of the Romans Earl of Cornwall which the Londoners in a tumultuous broile burned to the ground many other stately Houses of our English Nobility Knights and Centlemen as also of the Worshipful Citizens of London are in this Shire so sumptuously built and pleasantly seated as the like in the like circuit are no where else to be found Near unto Thamesis entrance into this County is kept the remembrance of Caesars entrance over Thamesis by the name of Coway-stakes stuck fast in the bottom to impeach his designs and further at Stanes a Maire-stone once stood for a mark of Iurisdiction that London had so far upon Thameâ—is 7 Which City is more ancient than any true Record beareth fabuled from Brute Troynovant from Lud Ludstone But by more credible Writers Tacitus Ptolomy and Antonine Londinium by Ammianus Marcellinus for her successive prosperity Augustâ— the great title that can be given to any by Britains Londayn by Strangers Londra and by us London This City doth shew as the Cedars among other Trees being the seat of the British Kings the Chamber of the English the model of the Land and the Mart of the World for thither are brought the silk of Asia the Spices from Africa the Balms from Grecia and the riches of both the Indies East and West no City standing so long in fame nor any for divine and politick government may with her be compared Her walls were first set by great Constantine the first Christian Emperour at the suit of his Mother Queen Helen reared with rough Stone and British Brick three English miles in compass thorow which are now made seven most fair gates besides three other passages for entrance Along the Thameâ—is this wall at first ranged and with two gates openedâ— the one Doure-gate now Dowgate and the other Billingsgate a receptacle for Ships In the midst of this wall was set a mile-mark as the like was in Rome from whence were measured their stations for carriage or otherwise the same as yet standeth and hath been long known by the name of London Stone Upon the East of this City the Church of S. Peters is thought to be the Cathedral of Restitutâ—â— the Christians Bishops See who lived in the reign of great Constantine but since St. Pauls in the West part from the Temple of Diana assumed that dignity whose greatness doth exceed any other at this day and spires so high that twice it hath been consumed by lightning from heaven Besides this Cathedral God is honoured in one hundred twenty one Churches more in this City that is ninety six within the walls sixteen without but within the Liberties and nine more in her Suburbs and in Fitz Stephens time thirteen Convents of relgious Orders It is divided into 26 Wards governed by so many grave Aldermen a Lord Major and two Sheriffs the yearly choice whereof was granted them by Patent from King Iohn in whose time also a Bridge of stone was made over Thames upon nineteen Arches for length breadth beauty and building the like again not found in the World 8 This London as it were disdaining bondage hath set her self on each side far without the walls and hath leâ—t her West gate in the midst from whence with continual buildings still affecting greatness she hath continued her streets unto a Kings Palace and joyned a second City to her self famous for the Seat and Sepulchre of our Kings and for the Gates of Iustice that termly there are opened only once a Bishops See whose title died with the man No walls are set about this City and those of London are left to shew rather what it was than what it is Whose Citizens as the Lacedemonians did do impute their strength in their men and not in their walls how strong soever Or else for their multitude cannot be circulated but as another Ierusalem is inhabited without walls as Zachary said The wealth of this City as Isa once speak of Nilus grows from the Revenues and Harvest of her South bounding Thames whose trafique for merchandizing is like that of Tyrus whereof Ezekiel speaks and stands in abundance of Silver Iron Tinn and Lead c. And for London her channel is navigable straitned along with meadowing borders until she taketh her full liberty in the German Seas Upon this Thamesis the Ships of Tharsis seem to ride and the Navy that rightly is termed the Lady of the Sea spreads her sail Whence twice with lucky success hath been accomplished the compassing of the universal Globe This River Câ—nutus laying siege against London sought by digging to divert and before him the Danes had done great harmes in the City yet was their State recovered by King Elfred and the River kept her old course notwithstanding that cost In the times of the Normans some civil broyles have been attempted in this City as in the days of King Iohn whereinto his Barons entred and the Tower yielded unto Lewis And again Waâ— Tyleâ— herein committed outragioâ—s cruelties but was worthily struck down by the Major and stain in Smithfield This Cities graduation for Latitude is the degree 51 45 minutes and in Longitude 20 degrees 29 minutes 9 In this County at Barnet upon Easter-day a bloudy battel was fought betwixt Henry the sixt and Edward the fourth wherein was slain one Marquess one Earl three Lords and with them ten thousand Englishmen 10 The division of this Shire is into seven hundreds wherein are seated two Cities four Market-Towns and seventy three Parish Churches besides them in London where in the Church of Gray-â—ryâ—rs now called Christ-Chuâ—ch three Queens lye interred which were Queen Margaret the D. of Phil. the hardy King of France second wife to King Edward the first the second was Queen Isabel wife to King Edward the second and D. to Philip the fair King of France and the third was Queen Ioan their daughter married to David King of Scotland ESSEX COUNTY ESSEX CHAPTER XV. ESSEX by the Normans Excessa and by the vulgar Essex is a County large in compass very populous and nothing inferiour to the best of the Land 2 The Form thereof is somewhat circular excepting the East part which shooteth her self with many Promontories into the Sea and from Horsey Island to Haidon in the West the broadest part of the Shire are they by measure forty miles and the length from East Ham upon Thamesis in the South to Sturmere upon the River Stow in the North are thirty five miles the whole in circumference one hundred forty six miles 3 It lyeth bounded upon the North with Suffolk and Cambridge-Shires upon the West with Hertford and Middlesex upon the South by Thamesis is parted from
he yieldeth plenty of Corn and bringeth forth abundance of Fruits the one through the natural goodness only of the ground the other through the diligent manuring and tillage in such wise that it would provoke the laziest person to take pains Here you may see the High-ways and Common Lanes clad with Apple-trees and Pear-trees not ingraffed by the industry of mens hand but growing naturally of their own accord the ground of it self is so inclined to bear fruits and those both in taste and beauty far exceeding others and will endure until a new supply come There is not any County in England so thick set with Vineyards as this Province is so plentiful of increase and so pleasant in taste The very Wines made thereof carry no unpleasant tartness as being little inferiour in sweet Verdure to the French Wines the houses are innumerable the Churches passing fair and the Towns standing very thick But that which addeth unto all good gifts a special glory is the River Severn than which there is not any in all the Land for Channel broader for Stream swiâ—ter oâ— for Fish better stored There is in it a daily rage and fury of waters which I know not whether I may call a Gulf or Whirl-pool of waters raising up the sands from the bottom winding and dâ—iving them upon heaps sometimes overflowing her banks roveth a great way upon the face of her bordering grounds and again retireth as a Conquerour into the usual Channel Unhappy is the Vessel which it taketh full upon the side but the Watermen will beware thereof when they see that Hydra coming turn the Vessel upon it and cut thorow the midst of it whereby they check and avoid her violence and danger 4 The ancient people that possessed this Province were the DOBUNI who spread themselves â—urther into Oxford-sâ—ire But betwixt the Severn and VVyâ— were seated part of SILURES or Inhabitants of South-VVales And upon what ground I know not let Lawyers dispute it the Inhabitants in some part of this Shire enjoy a private custom to this day that the Goods and Lands of Condemned Persons fall unto the Crown but only for a year and a day and then return to the next heirs contrary to the custom of all England besides 5 The general Commodities of this Shire are Corn Iron and VVols all passing fine besides Pasturage Fruits and VVoods which last are much lessened by making of Iron the only bane of Oke Elm and Beech. 6 These with all other provisions are traded thorow twenty five Market-Towns in this County whereof two are Cities of no small import the first is Glocester from whom the Shire taketh name seated upon Severn near the middest of this Shire by Antoninâ— the Emperour called Glouum built first by the Romans and set as it were upon the neck of the Silures to yoke them where their legion called Colonia Gleuum lay It hath been walled about excepting that part that is defended by the River the ruines thereof in many places appear and some part yet standing doth well witness their strength This City was first won from the Britains by Cheulin the first King of the West-Saxons about the year of Christ 570 and afterwards under the Mercians it flourished with great honour where Offrick King of Northumâ—erland by the sufferance of Ethelred of Mercia founded a most stately Monastery of Nuns whereof Kineburgh Edbergh and Eve Queens of the Mercians were Prioresses successively each after other 7 Edelfled a most renowned Lady â—ister to King Edward the elder in this City built a fair Church wherein her self was interred which being overthrown by the Danes was afterwards rebuilt and made the Cathedral of that See dedicated unto the honour of S. Peter In this Church the unfortunate Prince King Edward the second under a Monument of Alablaster doth lye who being murdered at Barkley Castle by the cruelty of French Isabel his wife was there entombed And not far from him another Prince as unfortunate namely Robert Curthose the eldest son of William the Conquerour lyeth in a painted wooden Tombe in the midst of the Quire whose eyes were pluckt out in Cardiffe Castle wherein he was kept prisoner twenty six years with all contumelious indignities until through extream anguish he ended his life And before any of these in this City say our British Historians the body of Lucius our first Christian King was interred and before his days the Britains Arviragus The graduation of this County I observe from this City whence the Pole is elevated in the degree of Latitude 52 and 14 minutes and in Longitude from the West 18 and 5 minutes 8 The other City is Bristow fair but not very ancient built upon the Rivers Avon and Frome for trade of Merchandize a second London and for beauty and account next unto York This City standeth partly in this County and partly in Sommerset-shire but being a County of it self will acknowledge subjection to neither 9 A City more ancient hath been Circestar by Pâ—olomy called Corinium by Antonine Durocornovium by Giraldus Passerum Vrbem The Sparrows City upon a flying report that Gurmund a Tyrant from Africk besieging this City tyed fire unto the wings of Sparrows who lighting in the Town upon light matter set flame upon all The circuit of whose walls extended two miles about wherein the Consular Port or ways of the Romans met and crossed each other This City was won from the Britains by Cheulin first King of the West Saxons afterwards it was possessed by the Mercians and lastly by the Danes under Gurmâ—nd the former no doubt mistaken for him wherein a rable of them kept the space of a year Anno 879 and never since inhabited according to the circuit of her walls 10 Places of memorable note are these The Island Alney near unto Glocester wherein Edmund Iron-side the English and Canutus the Dane after many battles and bloud fought in single Combat hand to hand alone until they compounded for the Kingdoms partition Barkley Castle where King Edward the second was thorow his fundament run into his bowels with a red burning Spit Tewkesbury the fatal period of King Henry the sixth his government and the wound of the Lancâ—strian Cause for in a battle there fought in Anno 1471 Prince Edward the only son of King Henry had his brains dashed out in a most shameful manner the Queen and his Mother taken prisoners and most of their favourites slain and beheaded And at Alderley a little Town standing eight miles from the Severne upon the Hills to this day are found Cockles Periwincles and Oysters of solid stone which whether they have been Shel-fish and living creatures or else the sports of Nature in her works let the Natural Philosophers dispute of and judge 11 The places of piety set apart from other worldly Services and dedicated to religious uses by the devotions of Princes erected in this Shire were Tewkesbury Deorâ—ust Glocester Minching Burkley Kinswood Circester Winchcombe and Hales
foreign Countries to that Countries great benefit and Englands great praise 9 The Trade thereof with other provisions for the whole are vented through eighteen Market-Towns in this Shire whereof Winchester the Britains Caer Gwent the Romans Venta Belgarum in chief ancient enough by our British Historians as built by King Budhudthras nine hundred years before the Nativity of Christ and famous in the Romans times for the weavings and embroderies therein wrought to the peculiar uses of their Emperours own persons In the Saxons time after two Calamities of consuming fire her walls was raised and the City made the Royal Seat of their West Saxons Kings and the Metropolitan of their Bishops See wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarchs were Crowned and Henry the third the Normans longest Reigner first took breath And here King Aethelstane erected six Houses for his Mint but the Danish desolation over running all this City felt their fury in the days of King Ethelbright and in the Normans time twice was defaced by the mis-fortune of fire which they again repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publick Records of the Realm In the civil wars of Maud and Stephen this City was sore sacked but again received breath was by King Edward the third appointed the place for Mart of Wool and Cloth The Caehedral Church built by Kenwolf King of the West-Saxons that had been Amphibalus S. Peters Swethins and now holy Trinitie is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings for herein great Egbert anno 836. with his son King Ethelwolf 857. Here Elfred Oxfords founder 901. with his Queen Elswith 904. Here the first Edmund before the Conquest 924. with his sons Elfred and Elsward Here Edred 955. and Edwy 956. both Kings of England Here Emme 1052. with her Danish Lord Canute 1035. and his son Hardicanute 1042. And here lastly the Normaus Richard and Rufus 1100. were interred their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little gilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire where still they remain carefully preserved This Cities situation is fruitful and pleasant in a valley under hills having her River on the East and Castle on the West the circuit of whose walls are well near two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces through which openeth six gates for entrance and therein are seven Churches for divine Service besides the Minister and those decayed such as Callender Ruell Chappell S. Maries Abbey and the Friers without the Suburbs and Sooke in the East is S. Peteâ—s and in the North Hyde Church and Monastery whose ruins remaining shew the beauâ—y that formerly it bare The graduation of this City by the Mathematicks is placed for Latitude in the Degree 51 10 minutes and for Longitude 19 3 minutes 10 More South is South-hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name most strongly walled about with square stone containing in circuit one thousand and two hundred paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for defence two very stately Keys for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for Gods divine Service besides an Hospital called Gods-house wherein the unfortunate Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded for treason lieth interred On the West of this Town is mounted a most beautifull Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called S. Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly erected a small and unfinished Chappel In this place saith learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium or Fort of the Romans whose circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In King Edward the thirds time it was fired by the French under the Conduct of the King of Sicils son whom a Countrey man encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understandiog his language nor the Law that Arms doth allow laid on more soundly saying I know thee a Frankon and therefore shalt thou die And in Richard the seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it standeth In this Clausentium Canute to evict his flatterers made trial of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his seat But being not obeyed he acknowledged God to be the onely supreme Governour and in a religious devotion gave up his Crown to the Rood at Winchester More ancient was Silcester built by Constantius great Constantines son whose Monument they say was seen in in that City and where another Constantine put on the purple robe against Honorius ' as both Ninius and Gervase of Canterbury do withess Herein by our Historians record the warlike Arthur was Crowned Whose greatness for circuit contained no less than fourscore Acres of ground and the walls of great height yet standing two miles in compass about This City by the Danish Rovers suffered such wrack that her mounted tops were never since seen and her Hulke the walls immured to the middle of the earth which the rubbish of her own desolations hath filled 11 Chief Religious houses within this County erected and again suppressed were these Christ's-Church Beaulieu Whâ—rwall Rumsey Redbridge Winchester Hyde South-hampton and Tichfield The honour of this Shire is dignified with the high Titles of Marquess and them Earls of VVinchester and South-hampton whose Arms of Families are as thou seest and her division into thirty seven Hundreds and those again into two Hundred fifty three Parishes WIGHT ISLAND VVIGHT ILAND CHAPTER VII WIGHT ILAND was in times past named by the Romans Vecta Vectis and Vectâ—sis by the Britains Guyth and in these days usually called by us The Lsle of Wight it belongeth to the County of South-hampton and lieth out in length over against the midst of it South-ward It is encompassed round with the British Seas and severed from the Main-land that it may seem to have been conjoyned to it and thereof it is thought the British name Guyth hath been given unto it which betokeneth separation even as Sicily being broken off and cut from Italy got the name from Secando which signifieth cutting 2 The form of this Isle is long and at the midst far more wide than at either end From Binbridge Isle in the East to Hurst Castle in the West it stretcheth out in length 20 miles and in breadth from Newport haven Northward to Chale-bay Southward 12 miles The whole in circumference is about sixty miles 3 The Air is commended both for health and delight whereof the first is witnessed by the long continuance of the Inhabitants in
down when also the Town it self suffered the calamity of fire but recovered to her former estate hath since increased in beauty and wealth and at this day is governed by a Mayor and six Aldermen clad in Scarlet two Sheriffs two Chamberlains a Town-Clark and six Sergeants with Maces their attenders whose position hath the Pole elevated fifty three degrees 25 minutes in Latitude and hath the Meridian nine degrees and 25 minutes This Town hath been honoured by these Princes Titles and these Princes dignified with the Earldom of Nottingham whose several Arms and Names are in the great Map expressed Religious houses that have been erected and now suppressed in the compass of this County chiefly were Newsted Lenton Shelford Southwell Thurgarton Blith Welbeck and Radford in Nottingham the White and Gray Friers besides a little Chappel dedicated to S. Iohn All which shew the devotions of those former times which their remembrance may move if not condemn us that have more knowledg but far less piety The Shires division is principally into two which the Inhabitants term the Sand and the Clay but for Tax to the Crown or service for State is parted into eight Wapentakes or Hundreds wherein are seated 168 Parishes Churches DARBY SHIRE DARBY-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXIII DARBY-SHIRE lieth inclosed upon her North parts with York-shire upon the East with Nottingham-shire upon the South of Leicester-shire and upon the West is parted with the Rivers Dove and Goyt from Stafford and Chess-shires 2 It is in Form somewhat triangle though not of any equal distance growing from her narrow South-point still wider and in the North is at the broadest For from Stretton near the head of Mese to New-Chappel seated near the head of Derwent the two extreams from North to South are thirty eight miles but from the Shire-Oaks unto the meeting of Mersey and Goyt the broadest part of all this Shire is not full twenty nine the whole in circumference exâ—endeth to an hundred and thirty miles 3 The Air is good and very healthful the Soil is rich especially in her South and East parts but in the North and West is hilly with a black and mossie ground both of them fast handed to the Ploughers pains though very liberal in her other gifts whose natures thus dissenting the River Derwent doth divide asunder that taketh course thorow the heart or the midst of this County 4 The Ancient People that possessed these parts in the times of the Roman assaults were the Coritani whom Ptolomy dispersed thorow Northampton-shire Leicester Rutland Lincoln Nottingham and this Shire who were all of them subdued by P. Ostorius Scapula Lieutenant in this Province for Claudius the Emperour But Romes Empire falling in Britain by the intestine Wars among themselves the Saxons a more savege and fearful Nation soon brought it under their subjection and made this a Province unto their Mercians Kingdome whom the West-Saxons first wan and again lost to the Normans 5 It is stored with many commodities and them of much worth for besides woods and Cattle Sheep and Corn every where over spreading the face of this County the Mill-stone Crystal and Alablaster the Mines of Pit-coal Iron and Lead are of great price whereof the last is mentioned in Pliny who writeth that in Britaine in the very crust of the Ground without any deep digging is gotten so great store of Lead and there is a Law expresly made of purpose forbiding men to make more than to a certain stint whose stores are plenteâ—usly gotten in thoâ—e Mountains and melted into Sowes to no small profit of the Country There is found also in certain veins of the earth Stibium which the Apothecaries call Antimonium and the Alchymists hold in great esteem 6 Places of Commerce or memorable note the first is Darby the Shire-Town called by the Danes Deoraby seated upon the West-bank of Derwent where also a small Brook rising Westward runneth thorow the Town under nine Bridges before it meets with her far greater River Derwent which presently it doth after she hath passed Tenant-Bridge in the South-East of the Town But a Bridge of more beauty built all of Free-stone is passed over Derwent in the North-East of the Towâ— whereon standeth a fair stone Chappel both of them bearing the names of S. Maries five other Churches are in this Town the chief whereof is called Alhâ—llows whose Steeple or Bell-Tower being both beautiful and high was built only at the charges of young Men and Maids as is witnessed by the inscription cut in the same upon every square of the Steeple Among the miserable desolations of the Danes this Town bare a part but by the Lady Ethelfleda was again repaired and is at this day incorporated with the yearly government of two Bailiffs elect out of twenty four Brethren besides as many Burges of Common-Councel a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Sergeants with Mace whose Graduation is observed from the Aequator to be 53 degrees 25 scruples and from the first point in the West 19 degrees 2 scruples 7 Little-Chester by the Romish Money there daily seemeth to have been ancient and that a Colony of of the Roman Souldiers there lay Yet of far greater Fame was Râ—pandunum now Repâ—on where Ethelbald the ninth King of the Merciaâ—s and fifteenth Monarch of the Englishmen slain at Seggâ—swald by the treason of his Subjects was interred and whence Burtâ—red the last King of that Peopâ—e was expâ—lsed with his Queen Ethelswith by the rage of the Danes after twenty two years Reign But with a more pleasing eye we may behold Melborn the Memorial of Englishmens great valour where in that Castle was kept prisoner Iohn Duke of Burbon taken Captive in the Battle of Agincourt and therein detained the space of nineteen years 8 Thingâ— of stranger note are the hot Water-springs bursting forth of the ground at Buxton where out of the Rock within the compass of eight yards nine Springs arise eight of them warm but the ninth very cold These run from under a fair square building of Free-stone and about threescore paces off received another hot Spring from a Well inclosed with four flat Stones called Saint Anns near unto which another very cold Spring bubled up The report goeth among the by-dwellers that great cureâ— by these waters have been done but daily experience sheweth that they are good for the Stomack and Sinews and very pleasant to bathe the body in Not far thence is Eldâ—n hole whereof strange things have been told and this is confidently affirmed the waters that trickle from the top of that Cave which indeed is very spacious but of low and narrow entrance do congeal into stone and hang as isâ—ckles in the Roof some of them were shewed at my being there which like unto such as the Frost congealeth were hollow within and grew Taper-wise towards their points very white and somewhat Chrystal-like And seven miles thence upon a mounted-hill standeth a Castle under which there is a Hole or Cave in the
the Authority of Ptolomy and Antonine and by many ancient Inscriptions that have been found there In this City the Emperor Severus had his Palace and here gave up his last breath which ministers occasion to shew the ancient custom of the Romans in the military manner of their burials His body was carried forth here by the Souldiers to the funeral fire and committed to the flames honoured with the â—usts and Turnaments both of the Souldiers and of his own Sons His ashes bestowed in a little golden pot or vessel of the Porphyrat stone were carried to Rome and shrined there in the Monument of the Antonines In this City as Spartianus maketh mention was the Temple of the Goddess Bâ—llona to which Severuâ— being come thither purposing to offer Sacrifice was erroniously led by a rustical Augur Here Fl. Valerius Coâ—stantius surnamed Choruâ— an Emperour of excellent vertue and Christian Piety ended his life and was Deified as appears by ancient Coins and his Son Constantine being present at his Fathers death forthwith proclaimed Emperour from whence it may be gathered of what great estimation York was in those days when the Romans Emperours Court was held in it This City flourished a long time under the English-Saxons Dominion till the Daâ—es like a mighty Storm thundering from out of the North-East destroyed it and distrained it with the blood of many slaughtered persons and wan it from Olbright and Ella Kings of Noâ—thumberland who were both stain in their pursuit of the Danes which Alcuine in his Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland seemed to presage before when he said What signifieth that raining down of blood in St. Peters Church of York even in a fair day and descending in so violent and threatning a manner from the top of the roof may it not be thought that blood is coming upon the Land from the North parts Howbeit Athelstane recovered it from the Dantsh subjection and quite overthrew the Castle with the which they had fortified it yet was it not for all this so freed from Wars but that it was subject to the Times fatally next following Nevertheless in the Conquerors time when after many woful overthrows and troublesom storms it had a pleasant calm of ensuing Peace it rose again of it self and flourished afresh having still the helping hand of Nobility and Gentry to recover the former dignity and bring it to the perfection it hath The Citizens senced it round with new Walls and many Towers and Bulwarks and ordaining good and wholsome Laws for the government of the same Which at this day are executed at the command of a Lord Mayor who hath the assistance of twelve Aldermen many Chamberlains a Recorder a Town-Clerk six Sergeants at Mace and two Esquires which are a Sword-bearer and the Common Sergeant who with a great Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword The Longitude of this City according to Mercators account is â—9 degrees and 35 scruples the Latitude 54 degrees and forty scruples 10 Many occurents present themselves with sufficient matter of enlargement to this discourse yet none of more worthy consequence than were those several Battels fought within the compass of this County wherein Fortune had her pleasure as well in the proof of her love as in the pursuit of her tyranny sometime sending the fruits of sweet peace unto her and other whiles suffering her to taste the sowreness of War At Conisborough in the Britain Tongue Caâ—r-Conan was a great Battel fought by Hengist Captain of the English-Saxons after he had retired himself thither for his safety his men being fled and scattered and himself discomfited by Aurelius Ambrosius yet within few days after he brought forth his men to Battel against the Britains that pursued him where the field was bloody both to him and his for many of his men were cut in pieces and he himself had his head chopt off as the British History saith which the Chronicles of the English-Saxons deny reporting that he died in peace being surcharged and over-worn with the troublesom toils and travels of War Neer unto Kirkstall Oswie King of Northumberland put Pâ—nda the Mercian to flight the place wherein the Battel was joyned the Writers call Winwid-Field giving it the name by the Victory And the little Region about it in times past called by an old name Elmet was conquered by Eadwin King of Northumberland the son of Aela after he had expelled Cereticus a British King in the year of Christ 620. At Casterford called by Antonine Legiotium and Legetium the Citizens of York slew many of King Ethelreds Army and had a great hand against him in so much as he that before sat in his Throne of Majesty was on a sudden daunted and ready to offer submission But the most worthy of memory was that Field fought on Palm Sunday 1461. in the quarrel of Lancaster and York where England never saw more puissant Forces both of Gentry and Nobility for there were in the Field at one time partakers on both sides to the number of one hundred thousand fighting men When the fight bad continued doubtful a great part of the day the Lancastrians not able longer to abide the violence of their enemies turned back and fled amain and such as took part with York followed them so hotly in chase and killed such a number of Nobles and Gentlemen that thirty thousand Englishmen were that day left dead in the Field 11 Let us now loose the point of this Compass and sail into some other parts of this Province to find out matter of other memorable moment Under Knausbrough there is a Well called Dropping Well in which the waters spring not out of the veins of the earth but distill and trickle down from the Rocks that hang over it It is of this vertue and efficacy that it turns Wood into Stone for what Wood soever is put into it it will be shortly covered over with a stony bark and be turned into Stone as hath been often observed At Giggleswick also about a mile from Settle a Market-Town there are certain small Springs not distant a quaits cast from one another the middlemost of which doth at every quarter of an hour ebb and flow about the height of a quarter of a yard when it is highest and at the ebb falleth so low that it is not an inch deep with water Of no less worthiness to be remembred is St. Wilfrids Needle a place very famous in times past for the narrow hole in the close vaulted room under the ground by which womens honesties were wont to be tried for such as were chaste pass thorow with much facility but as many as had plaid false were miraculously held falsâ— and could not creep thorow Believe if you list The credible report of a Lamp found burning even in our Fathers remembrance when Abbeys were pulled and suppressed in the Sepulchre of Constantius within a certain Vault or little Chappel under the ground wherein he was
the Receits of other Rivolets into her Stream and with many Wings doth sport her self thorow all the East-part of this Shire 3 That this River took her name from Abren the beautiful base daughter of Locrinus begotten out of Wedlock upon Estrildis the daughter of Humber the Scythian King that invaded this Land and both of them drowned in this River by Guendolena King Locrinus surviving Widow let Geoffrey relate and Poets enlarge whereof one among them in good account thus writeth In flumen praaecipitatur Abren Nomen Abren fluvio de Virgine nomen eidem Nomine corrupto deinde Sabrina datur Into this stream fair Abren headlong-cast Gave name of Abren to those waters vast Corruptly call'd Sabrina now at last 4 The River maketh the East part of this Shire for fruitfulness to be compared with most of the Land and to exceed any other Shire in Wales the West-side is more hilly and less inhabited yet surely those mountains breed innumerable of Cattel especially of Horses whose Portraiture for making and incomparable swiftness Giraldus Cambrensis Arch-Deacon of Brecknock doth greatly commend 5 The ancient Inhabitants that were seated in Gwineth and Powisland whereof this Shire was a part were to the Romans known by the name of ORDOVICES a puissant and couragious Nation whose Hearts and Hills held them the longest free from the Yoke of Subjection either of the Romans or English for unto the daies of Domitian they kept plea with the Romans and were not brought to the will of the English before the Reign of King Edward the first Those ORDOVICES inhabited the Counties of Mountgomery Merioneth Caernarvan Denbigh and Flint which are of us called now North-Wales a people generous and of affable conditions goodly for feature fair of complexion couragious of mind courteous to strangers and that which is most commendable most true and loyal to the English Crown Towns for Trades and Commerce in this County are six the chiefest thereof and Shire-Town is Mountgomery very wholsome for Air and pleasant for situation upon an easie ascent of an Hill and upon another far higher mounted stands a fair and well-repaired Castle from the East-Rock whereof the Town hath been walled as by some part yet standing and the Tract and Trench of the rest even unto the North-side of the said Castle may evidently be seen whose graduation for Latitude is placed in the degree 53 and for Longitude 17 the lines cutting each other in the site of this Town This Town hath lately received the Honour and Title of an Earldome whereof Philip Herbere the second Son of Henry Earl Pembroke was created the first in Anno 1605. And the Shire divided into seven Hundreds wherein are seated six Market-Towns and forty seven Parish-Churches MERIONETH-SHIRE CHAPTER X. MERIONETH-SHIRE which the Britains call Sire Verioneth and in Latine Mervia is bordered upon the North by Carâ—arvon and Denbigh-shires upon the East with Mountgomery upon the South by the River Dowy is parted from Cardigan-shire and the West side altogether washed with the Irish-Seas whose rage with such vehemency beateth against her Banks that it is thought and said some quantity of the Land hath been swallowed up by those Seas 2 In form this Shire somewhat resembleth a Welsh-Harp though small is the Musick that to her Inhabitants she makes being the roughest and most unpleasant to see to as Giraldus their own Historian writeth in all Wales The Air for great pleasure nor Soil for great profit I cannot greatly commend unless it be for the many and mighty great winds that for the most part therein do rage and the spired Hills clustred together so near and so high as the same Author affirmeth that Shepherds upon their tops falling at odds in the morning and challenging the Field for fight before they can come together to try out the quarrel the day will be spent and the heat of their fury shut up with their sleep 3 These mountains formerly did abound with Wolves for whose avoidance Edgar the peaceable did impose as Malmesbury writeth a yearly Tribute of three hundred Wolves upon Ludwall Prince of that Country whereby in three years space they were quite destroyed and now their faces are covered with fruitful Flocks of Sheep besides Neat and other Cattel that therein abundantly do grase wâ—erein the only riches of this Shire doth consist for by reason of this unevenness of the Soil and Rocks so near the face of the Earth the Plough cannot be drawn nor the Corn prosper which some have imputed to the idleness of the Inhabitants wherein they have been greatly wronged 4 These People are a part of the Ordovices of whom we have spoken who by the advantage of these Mountains held out with the longest against the Romans and their Necks not brought under the yoke of Bondage before the daies of King Edward the first since when they have attempted to cast off their subjection to the English upon those stirs raised by Owen Glendover who having been a Favorite of King Richard the second and discontented by King Henry the fourth in a quarrel with the Lord Grey of Rutâ—in that intruded upon his demains quarrelled with the King and entred into open Rebellion and Confederacy with all other his Rebels drawing the Welsh-men wholly to his side in hope to have had Princes restored of their own blood and he maintained the same with wonderful pride policy and obstinacy for a long time until his Confederates Followers and Favorites and his own courage credit and maintenance were brought so low by that powerful King that in the end he perished for very want of Food 5 Their Towns are not many neither those that they have of any stately Buildings whereof Bala Dolgelhe and Harlech are the Markets By Bala in the North-East of this County in the Welsh Lâ—integid in English Pimble-mear a great Pool of Water doth drown at least threescore Acres of ground whose nature is as the report doth pass that the High-land Floods though never so great cannot make her swell bigger by their receits but if the Air be troubled with over great blasts and tempests of Winds she in as great a rage riseth and passeth her Banks as if she would encounter that enemy in fight Into the South whereof the two headed Dee with a pretty sharp stream entreth and through the same glideth without any mixture of the same water as the Inhabitants believe more strongly conceited in their opinion for that the Salmon usually taken in Dee is never found in that Pool and the Fish called Guiniad bread in that Mear never is seen in the River Dâ—â— South thence near Dolgelhe in a lower Hill a great Rampire of Stone and compass is seen and hath been some fortification or defence in War which whilst we were curious to find out some instructions thereof by report this only we learned that it was called Caddoryrita Drâ—n according to the name of her neighbour and far higher Hill 6 Upon the West
and Sea-shore of this Shire Harlech a Market and Mayor-Town standeth bleak enough and barren but only for Fowl and Fish Houses not many neither curiously built wherein â—tandeth a little Chappel decayed and without use in which lieth buried Sir Richard Thimbleby an English Knight who for the delight he took in that game removed his abode from a far better Soil Here also standeth a most strong and beautiful Castle mounted upon a Hill and with a double Bulwark walled about commanding the Sea and passage of entrance of such as seek to invade the Coast and surely a great pity it is to see so fair a Work fall to decay the Constable whereof by Patent is ever the Mayor of this Town near unto which are two great Inlets of Seas which at low water may be paâ—sed upon the Sands with Guides Upon whose Shore as upon the Sea Coasts in this County abundance of Herrings are caught for which cause they are much frequented in the season of the year by many People from divers Countries 7 This Town being the chiefest of the Shire The Pole shall be elevated only from thence whose height for Latitude standeth in the degree 53 29 minutes and for Longitude in the 15 47 minutes The whole being bivided into six Hundreds wherein are feared thirty seven Parishes-Churches DENBIGH and FLINT discribed DENBIGH-SHIRE CHAPTER XI DENBIGH-SHIRE called in Welsh Sire Denbigh retiring more from the Sea within the Country on this side of the River Conwey shooteth Eastward in one place as far as to the River Dee on the North first the Sea for a small space and then Flint-shire encompasseth it on the West Caernarvan and Merioneth shire on the East Cheshire and Shropshire and on the South Mountgomery shire 2 The form thereof is long growing wider still towards the North-West and narrower towards the East It is in length from East to West one and thirty miles and in breadth from North to South seventeen miles in the whole circuit and circumference one hundred and fourteen miles 3 The Air is very wholsome and pleasant yet bleak-enough as exposed to the winds on all sides and the high Hills wherewith it is in many places environed long retaining the congealed Snow The tops whereof in the Summer time are the Harvest-Mens Almanacks by the rising of certain Vapours thereon in the Mornings and foreshew a fair Day ensuing 4 The Soil is but barren towards the West-part yet the middle where it lieth flat in a Valley is most fertile The East-side when it is once past the Valley findeth Nature to be a very sparing niggard of her favours but next unto Dee it feeleth a more liberal extent of her blessings The West part is but here and there inhabited and mounteth up more than the other with bare and hungry Hills yet the leanness of the Soil where the Hills settle any thing flatting hath been now a good while begun to bâ— overcome by the diligent pains and careful industry of the Husbandmen for they parting away the upper Coat of the Earth into certain Turffs with a broad kind of Spade pile them up artificially on heaps and fire them so as being turned into Ashes and thrown upon the ground so pared they fructifie the hungry barrenness and sterility of Soil and make the Fields bring forth a kind of Rie or Amell-Corn in such plenty as is hardly to be believed 5 The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Ordâ—vices who being also named Ordevices or Ordovicae a puissant and couragious People by reason they kept wholly in a mountainous place and took heart even of the Soil it self for they continued longest free from the Yoke both of Roman and also of English dominion They were not subdued by the Romans before the dayes of the Emperour Domitian for then Iulius Agricolâ— conquered almost the whole Nation nor brought under the command of the English before the Reign of King Edward the First but lived a long time in a lawless kind of liberty as bearing themselves bold upon their own magnanimity and the strength of the Country 6 The Mountains of this County yield sufficiency of Neat Sheep and Goats The Valleys in most places are very plenteous of Corn especially Eastward on this side betwixt the Rivers of Alen and Dee But the most Westerly part is Heathy and altogether barren The heart of the Shire shews it self beneath the Hills in a beautiful and pleasant Vale reaching seventeen miles in length from South to North and five miles or thereabouts in breadth and lieth open only toward the Sea It is environed on every side with high Hills amongst which the highest is Moillenly on the top whereof is a warlike Fence with Trench and Rampier and a little Fountain of clear Water From these Hills the River Cluyd resorts unto this Vale and from the very Spring-head increased with Becks and Brooks doth part it in twain running through the midst of it whereof in ancient time it was named Strat-Cluyd for Marianus maketh mention of a King of the Strat-Cluyd of the Wâ—lsh And at this day it is commonly called Diffryn-Cluyd that is The Vale of Cluyd This thing is worthy observation as a matter memorable both for admiration and antiquity that in the Parish of Lan-sanan within this Country there is a place compass cut out of the main Rock by Mans hand in the side of a Stony Hill wherein there be four and twenty Seats to sit in some less some bigger where children and young men coming to seek their Cattel use to sit and to have their sports And at this day they commonly call it Arthurs Round Table 7 Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln obtaining Denbigh by the Grant of King Edward the First after the Conviction and Beheading of David Brother of Llewelin for High-Treason was the first that fortified it with a Wall about nor large in circuit but very strong and on the South-side with a fair Castle strengthned with many high Towers But he gave it over and left the work unfinished conceiving grief as a sorrowful Father that his only Son came to untimely death and was downed in the Well thereof The fame of this Town spreads it self far for repute aâ— being reckoned the most beautiful place in all North-Wales and it is of no less report for the Castle adjunct unto it is impregnable for fortification And this strange accident hapning there in the year 1575 deserves not to be omitâ—ed being left as a continual remembrance of Gods merciful Providence and preservation at that time that where by reason of great Earthquakes many People were put into great â—ear and had much harm done unto them both within and without their Houses in the Cities of â—ork Worcester Glocester Bristoâ— Hereford and in other Countries adjâ—cent yet in the Shire-Hall of Denbigh the Bell was caused to Toll twice by the shaking of the earth and no hurt or hindrance at all either done or received The government of this
note are Troys and Brye and Auxerre and Sans an Arch-Bishops See c. 6 Burgundia both the Dutchy and Country The Dutchy or Burgundia suferiour and Western lieth on the South of higher Germany Her principal places are Digion Saint Bernards birth-Town Antun Bealne Sologue and Aliza once the famous City of Alexia The County of Burgundy or Burgundia Ihperior yields not to the choicest Garden in France for fertility of soil nor to the most renowned for stoutness of Inhabitants They acknowledge not as yet the French command no more than Savoy and Lorain They were under divers Generals and are called Walloons corruptly for Galleâ—s a trick of the Dutch Her principal Cities are Besanson the Metropolis of both Burgundies Salives Arboys Gray and Dola 7 Lugdunense Territorium Lione an illustrious City The center of Europe I mean where Merchants meet for Traffique from all quarters All these Provinces belong either wholly or at least in part to Gallia Lugdunensis For indeed some lie divided and stretch into their neighbours Territories as Campania into Belgica and this last Lugdunense is in part under the Government of Savoy 14 Narbonensis Gallia on the West hath the Comitatus Armenaici and Comminges Eastâ—ward part of the Alps North-ward the Mountain Cemenus and South-ward the French Seas It is generally a fruitful Country not inferior in the esteem of Pliny to Italy it self it comprehends the Provinces 1 of Languedo supposed from Languegotia language of the Goths it reacheth from the bounds of Armenia and Comminges to the Mediterraneam Her chief Cities are Narbon from whence this whole Region receives her appellation and is reckon'd the first Roman Province in Europe and Mons pessulame Mont-Pellein an University most famous for the study of Physick Nimes where there is at this day many reliques of Antiquity and Pons Sancti Spiritus c. 2 Provence provincia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divided from Languedoc by the River Rhodanus Rhoan It belongs part to the Crown of France part to the Pope and a third to the Prince of Orange In the Kings portion are Air a Parliamentary City â—rles and Maâ—silia the last built in the time of the Roman Tarquin To the Bishop of Rome belongs â—â—enian a City and Arch-bishops See with the whole Comitatus Venissimus To the Prince of Orange the chief City Aurangia or Orange on the River Meine Estang Boys de S Poll c. 3 Dâ—â—lphine on the North of Provence regio Allobrogum and is divided in Delphinatum superiorem and inferiorem The first contains in it Embrum where Agaric and Manna is plentifully gathered and Valentia c. The latter Grinnoble Vienna Daulphin Romans 4 Savoy Sabadia on the East of Daulphin a Dukedome without whose limits stands the well known City Geneva which entertains people from all Countries of any Religion But yet enforceth a Law upon fugitives not common elsewhere For whatsoever malefactor is there apprehended for mischief done in his own Countrey suffers as if he had been there condemned The principal Cities besides are Tarantise Bele Moustire Maurience c. To this Dukedom belong Cambrey on the West side of the Alps and the Countrey of Bresse whose heir is intituled Prince of Piemont a part of Italy at the very East foot of the Mountains which â—ever her from this Countrey 15 Gallia Belgica the last is the Eastern tract toward Germany and as much as belongs to this Kingdom contains only Picardy which is divided into the higher and lower The first portends towards the British Seas and here stands Calice distant but thirty miles from Dover It is that which Caesar called Portus Iâ—cius won from the French by our Edward the third lost by Q. Mary Upon her Confines toward England is the Country of Bononia and Guinnes which contain sundry Towns and Villages The chief â—â—lloin conquered by our Henry the Eighth but delivered back in the reign of Edward the Sixth In this Picardy stands Terwin besieged by King Henry in person where the Emperour Maximilian served under his Coulours and received pay as his Souldier In the lower Picardy stands Ambianum Amiens the Metropols Here are the Dutchy of Terache whose chief City is Guisa which gave name to the family of the Guises and the Country of Vermindois where Saint Quintin stands Retelois and Retel her Metropolis Artelois and Laâ—erre her 's Ponthein and Aberille 16 The Islands which are reckoned properly French are only those which lye neer in the Atlantick Ocean They are but few and of no great account The principal Dame de Bovin L'ille de Dieu Marmotier Insula regis A NEW MAPE OF Y E XVII PROVINCES OF LOW GERMANIE P. Kaerius Caelavit The Description of BELGIA IN this we continue still the Description of Belgia begun in the Map of France For the title is common as well to those Territories as indeed to all the North-East Tracts of the old Gallia The portion hereditary to the French King was marked out among the rest of his Dominions The residue since it hath been by length of time chance of war or at least chance of Fortune dispersed into the power of several Princes is better known to us by the familiar names of the Low-Countries than Netherlands Flandars c. 2 In the search of her Original we may have reference to our precedent Discourse For questionless it was possest by the Gauls as the other parts were aud if trust may be given to those Antique Stories whose truth is almost worn out with age she reacheth her pedegree as high as any and likely enough did partake in the Spoils of Rome when the Capitol was ransaked by the Gauls under the conduct of our two â—nglish Brothers For her chief Captain â—elgius whose memory she preserves to this day in her name is mentioned by Qâ—adus andother as companion to Brennius in his expedition toward Macedonia after they were intreated from Rome 3 In the first times they were a stout people and practised to continual wars by the bordering Germans which made them as well expert as hardy It seems Caesar found them so in his tryal â—or he gives them in his Commentaries the honour of a valâ—ant Nation above any other part of Gallia Yet at last he brought them under and in time they were expulsed by the Germans who for their neerest speech and customs are sâ—pposed and justly too the Predecessors to the now Inhabitants 4 For her first name I find no other likely account given than from a City built by their â—elgius in the Province of Hannonia where now stands Bavaria The râ—st Germania inâ—erior the Low Countries and Netherlands require no long search for without doubt they have little other ground than her low situation upon the Seas and indeed it is such as hath oft times endangered her by inundations and sunk many hundreds of their Towns and Villages which to this day in some places shew their tops above water at a dead low ebb Lastly Flanders
takes up the largest part thereof it being all that part which lies beyond the River Indus now Sâ—â—do and bounded Eastward with part of China and the Indian Ocean Southward wholly with the Indian or Oriental Ocean Westward with Persia and Northward with that part of Mount Taurus which divides it from Tartary This Countrey as it was by the Ancients so is still primarily distinguished into India intra Gangem and India extra Gangem the first is vulgarly term'd Indostan the other Mangi under which some doubt not to comprehend China it self already described It extends from the nequator to the 44th degree of Northern latitude which makes the longest day 15 hours and ½ as in terrestrial length it reacheth from the Fountains of the River Inâ—us to the utmost Promontory of the Golden Chersonese six hundred German miles So that the temperature of the Air must needs be very diverse under so large an extent lying partly under the torrid partly under the temperate Zone Many vast and barren Desarts there are but generally the Soil is fruitful and the Countrey abounding with things convenient for life and in some parts are produc'd most delicious fruits especially the Palm of which the people of those parts make Wine more frequently than of the Grape and for Gums Spices and all sorts of rich Drugs it surpasseth all other Countreys but that which is the chief glory of the East-Indies is that the rest of the World receives lustre from the Diamonds Rubies and other precious Gems that are brought from thence So that it so far out-shineth the opposite or Occidental Indies by how much these Gems exceed in value Gold it self besides the great Trade that is driven in many places in Silks and other curious Stuffs and rich Commodities whereupon they are much frequented and resorted to by Strangers from all parts of the World The Indian people are generally of a complexion somewhat tawny tall of stature and strong of constitution healthful and for the most part long-liv'd even many times to the age of 130 years notwithstanding their addiction above all other people in the World to luxury and venereal exercises It is permitted them to marry every man as many Wives as he can maintain whereof nevertheless one of them hath a more peculiar respect and observance and a predominance over the rest for which she pays dear enough if she survive her Husband for at his death she is obliged to throw her self into the same Funeral Pyre with him They are simple-hearted and vold of all fraud and deceit in their bargains and contracts and not given to any quirks or cavils in the Law and scarcely is there any such thing as the every known among them so that their houses have little or no need of the guards of locks and bolts so usual and necessary among us The lowermost rank of people go very ill-habited or rather almost stark naked except their head feet and what decency requires to have hid but those of Quality Birth or Estate go richly clad in Silks fine Linnen or other the most costly attire and spare for no adornments of Pearl and the most precious of Gems and they stand very much upon the honour of their Birth and Family observing a suitable grandure in their garb and retinue admitting not of any mixture of affinity with those of mean degree The strength of the Indian Militia consists in their Nairi who are a select number of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens who from seven years of age are train'd up in all manner of bodily exercises by which and by a continual inunction and suppling of their nerves joynts and bones with oil of Sesamum they attain in time to an incredible dexterity and agility of body The chief Ministers and Dispencers of the Rites and Ceremonies of their Religion or rather Idolatry are said to be of the stock of those ancient Brachmanes who doubtless were the same with the Gymnosophists so term'd by the Greeks among whom they had a very great fame being mentioned for their Learning and Philosophy by divers both Greek and Latin Writers and reckoned in the same rank of honour and esteem as the Magi among the Persians and the Druids among the Gauls and Britains The great Mountain Taurus which for extent is doubtless the biggest in the World stretcheth in a continued ridge through the whole length of Asia only under several names as Imaus Emodus Caucasus Parapomisus c. This Mountain Taurus is judged to be the same with that Mount Ararat mentioned in holy Scripture upon which the Ark of Noah rested after the Flood Of the Rivers of India Oriental Indus and Ganges are the chiefest and most famous and of the number of the most principal and largest of all Asia Indus which gives denomination to the Countrey and is now vulgarly called Hiind Duil Inder Caercede and by some Pengah taking its rise in Parapomisus or Naugrocot a branch of the Mountain Taurus falls after 900 miles course Northward with seven mouths into the Indian Ocean having taken in by the way 19 navigable Rivers the chief whereof are Hydaspes and Hypasis which terminated Alexander the Great 's expedition This River where broadest is accounted 50 furlongs broad where deepest 15 paces deep Ganges now Guencam from her uncertain original some say the Mountain Imaâ—s falls into the Ocean having according to the testimony of Pliny taken in by the way 30 Navigable Rivers This River where narrowest is accounted two German miles broad where shallowest 100 foot deep It is moreover famous for the 460 Channels cut like so many wounds out of its sides by Cyrus King of Persia in revenge for the drowning of an Horse upon which he set a very great value The Empire of the Great Mogul is so promiscuously spread throughout that part of India which lies within Ganges that there are reckoned up no less than 37 Provinces or Kingdoms under his Dominion But because his Dominion doth not exactly comprehend all Indostan or Interior India others have chosen rather to divide it into those several Regions which have been adjudged the proper contents or comprehensions of it In most of which however the Mogul hath the greatest share if not the intire Iurisdiction of them namely these 14 following 1 Dulcinda in which the chief Cities and places of note are Caximir Roree Sestan and Multan 2 Pengah supposed the ancient Kingdom of Porus conquered by Alexander the Great The first Ciâ—y of this Province is Laâ—or once the Royal Seat of the Mogul Other places of note are Sultan-Puare Atheâ— and if we reckon as some do the Kingdoms of Haiacan and Buchor under this division Buchor and Suchor 3 Mandao the warlike temper of whose women-Inhabitants hath made them pass for a race of the Amazons The Head-City of this Province is of the same name remarkable both for its 30 miles circuit and for the great Battel between Baldurius King of Cambay and Mirumudius or
by Pearl-fishing Chamdagrir sometimes honoured with the Residence of the Narsingan Kings Prepeti where an annual Feast is celebrated to their Saint Pereimar once sole King of Malabar Golconda peculiar to Musulipatan a little Province subject to the Crown of Narsinga Madura Gingi and Tanajor the Seat of the Naigi or Tributary Roytelets to the King of Narsinga Mâ—liapur called by the Christians St. Thomas from a supposition that this Apostle martyred by the Idolaters was here interred it is said to have had once 330 Temples Cheromandel whence all that Sea-coast which lies on the West-side of the Gulf of Bengala is denominated Negapatan said to be chiefly inhabited by Thomasians Tarnassart once the Royal Seat of a Kingdom so nam'd Casta remarkable for the kind custom of women there who accompanying their dead Husbands into the Grave are buried with them alive Bisnagar ruined by the joynt Forces of four Decan Kings whereupon the Court was removed first to Ponegardo thence after a short time to the City of Narsinga where yet for the most part it remains 12 Oristan whose eminent Towns or Cities are besides that which gives name and credit to the Countrey Catech â— once the Seat of the Kings of this Countrey till vanquished by the Mogul Bacolli peculiar to a little Kingdom so called Angeli Simergan and Senerpase 13 Bofanter containing divers petty Kingdoms as Botia Kacares Conche Gouren Rame Recon Tippura all denominated from their predominating Cities 14 Patanau of which Patane is the mother City the rest are Banaras seated upon the River Ganges frequented by those whose supeâ—stition leads them to bath in that reputed holy stream Siripur and Ciandecan the Seat of two old Princes not yet subdued by the Mogul Sagtagam reckoned of late too 15 Bengala taking name together with a famous Gulf from a City of great Trade seated on the Ganges whose holy waters enrich it also with a concourse of Pilgrims The rest are Gonro anciently the Seat of the Bengalan Kings Caligan a place once of Traffick as seated on the Gulf Taxda till the diversion of the Channel Porto Grande and Porto Pequeno two Towns built by the Portugheses adjoyning to the North of Bengala and therefore accounted part of it the City and Kingdom of Arachan India extra Gangem contains several Territories which are either large Kingdoms of themselves or are divided into divers lesser Kingdoms the first are six namely 1 Brama or Bâ—rma 2 Cauchin-China 3 Camboia 4 Iangoma 5. Siam 6 Pegu. 1 Brama is subdivided into these following lesser Kingdoms viz. Cavilan or Calum Prom Melinta Miranda Bacan Tangu â—va and Brama peculiarly so called all taking â—his appellation from their grand Cities and inhabited by the Brames or Bramines 2 Cauchin-China with its principal City of the same name it is divided into three Provinces each governed by his particular petty King but all under one Head and he tributary to the King of China 3 Camboia with its Capital City of the same name divided also into two inferior Provinces Champa and Camboia properly so called 4 Iangoma or the Countrey of the Laos divided into three Provinces Lavea Curroy and Iangoma strictly so called 5 Siam a Peninsula the same which of old was termed Aurea Câ—ersonesus or the Golden Cherâ—onese and supposed by some to be Solomon's Land of Ophir as the other tract of this part of India was called the Silver Region This Peninsula comprehends within it the Kingdoms of Malaca Patane Ior Muontay and Siam peculiarly so called Malaca denominated from its Emporium or City of greatest Trade belongs to the Portugheses who have also Sincapura and PaloZambilan Patane or as some say Pathane to distinguish it from that Patane already mentioned taking name also from its chief City where by the Queens leave for it hath of late been governed by Queens the English and Hollanders have their several Factories Muantay whose chief City Odia may be well reputed the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom of Siam being the Seat-Royal of the Siamese Kings it is situate like Venice upon several little Islands tack'd together with Bridges in the River Capumo Siam specially so called whose Cities of chiefest note are Socotai remarkable for a Temple 80 spans high all intirely made of metal Quedoa a Town of great Trade for Pepper of which the best sort is there to be had Tavy lying on the Sea-coast and bordering on the Kingdom of Pegu. Lugor near the Isthmus of the Chersonese Calantan peculiar to a petty Kingdom subordinate to the Crown of Siam Pegu divided into several lesser Kingdoms Verma Marin Martavan Orachan and Pegu peculiarly so called all denominated from their prevalent Cities besides which we find not in the three first any of remark but in Orachan there are also mentioned Dianga destroyed by the Portugheses who took it Ann. 1608. In Pegu Cosmi built of Canes of a vast circumference in the midst of a wilderness Coilan a quadrangular City whose four sides are said to consist of four miles a piece Dala chiefly memorable for the Stables of the Kings Elephants Lanagen delightfully seated among Palm-trees Tocabel and Dian both seated upon a River full of habitable Vessels as big as Gallies Meccao a place of retreat for the King by reason of its strong Castle in time of imminent danger but above all the Cities Pegu it self exceeds in strength pleasantness of situation and sumptuousness of building RUSSIA The Description of Russia RUSSIA sirnamed Alba to distinguish it from Russia Nigra a Province of Poland otherwise called also Moscovia from its chief Province is the greatest or rather only Empire of all Europe and one of the greatest of all the World extending from the 43 d to the 66th degree of Northern latitude the longest day in the most Southern parts 16 hours and an half and in the most Northern 22 hours and an half the length in terrestrial measure is reckoned from the Promontory Litamin vulgarly Cape Oby to the Town Czercassy 380 German miles the bredth from Corelenburgh a Town in the Confines of Finland to the River Ob near Lopin 300 German miles each German mile being equivalent to four of ours all under the Dominion of one Prince the Czar or Emperor of Russia otherwise stil'd the Great Duke of Moscovy It is bounded on the North with the frozen Sea on the East with Tartary on the South with part of Livonia a Province now belonging to the Kingdom of Poland and those Cremensian Tartars inhabiting the Southern Shores of Mar del Zabache and the Euxin or Black Sea on the West with certain Mountains and the River Polne which separates it from Livonia and Finland This large Countrey is judged to have been the principal habitation of the ancient Sarmatae or Sauromatae who yet besides what belongs at present to the Great Czar are concluded also to have possest all Borussia Livonia and Lithuania and that part of Moldovia between the Rivers Ister Tyra and Hierasus As to
the temperature of the Air it must needs be supposed that in a Territory of so vast an extent all parts cannot be alike some being so very distant from others In Moscow and the adjacent Provinces the Air is so sharp and pâ—ercing cold that sometimes no Furr is able to protect the nose and ears of those that venture forth into the Air yet the earth being kept very warm with the snow at the first approach of Spring which is almost as soon as in Germany the face of Heaven puts on a pleasant and most serene aspect and the earth a most lively verdure In Winter they travel for the most part in Sledges which being low and covered over with Canvas and the Passengers wrapt warm in Sheepskins they feel no cold but travel as it were in moving Stoves and in Summer the heat is very near as intollerable as the cold in Winter Among their Plants there is one peculiar sort which they call Boranez from its form or shape resembling a Lamb upon a stalk which seems to be its navel-string as far as which stalk permits it changes place and makes the grâ—ss wither as it turns about This fruit is clothed with an hairy rind which they say is dressed in stead of Furr and Scaliger writes that no beast will feed on it but the Wolf whom to intrap it is often set as a bait Their Melons of which there is plenty are commended as singularly well-tasted and of an extraordinary large size The frequency of Wood and Forest furnishes this Countrey with store of Venijon and all those kinds of beasts whose Furrs are in highest price besides one of a very peculiar kind and proper to these parts called the Reen by the Modern Latins Rangifer and thought to be the same with the Tarandius of the Ancients With the skin of this beast the Samoides cloath themselves it is in shape and bigness and horns partlâ— like a Stagg partly an â—lk but with long rough and white hair a cloven foot whose horn strikes so far into the ice that it never slips it is frequently made use of in the drawing of their Sleds upon any occasion of expedition for it is reported to run 30 German leagues a day Of Fish none is here wanting but the Carp Of Fowl none but the Stork The Moscovites are strong and active of body of a middle stature but square-set and brawny arm'd of a natural ingenuity and subtilty which they make use of to cheat with in their bargains and contracts being false treacherous and perfidious withal very lazy and wholly unaddicted to Learning and Arâ—s only necessity obliges them to follow Husbandry they are malicious quarrelsome and scurrilous in company yet their choler seldom advances to farther violence than can be managed with the stick fist or foot which saves many a murther the Sword or Gun would be guilty of They are generally lascivious and beastly drinkers both men and women when occasion offers for all their great Solemnâ—ies and Feastivals are so many drunken Bacchanals in which they walow one among another like Swine at other times if they are sober it is for want of what they love above all things strong liquor for their ordinary drink is but a pitiful poor sort of tiff and though the Countrey affords wherewith to fare delicately enough yet the best of them scarce know how to feed elegantly and the meaner sort eat like what they are poor slaves and lodge as ill that is like the wild Irish or bâ—rbarous Indians the whole Family man woman and beast lie higgledy-piggledy altogether in a room upon straw or mats and in Summer-time upon benches or tables And no wonder their manner of life is so animal and uncultivated since they live subordinately in most wretched slavery the common People to the Nobles the Nobles to the Czar whose grand Maxim it is as generally in Monarchies so very absolute to proscribe Learning well knowing that the necks of the ignorant most â—amely subject themselves to the yoke of tyranny The Religion they profess is according to the Greek-Church which they are said to have received from the Patriarch of Constantinople Ann. 987 though in the Moscoviâ—ish Annals their first Conversion is boasted to have been from St. Andrew the Apostle others say that Duke Wolodomirus received Baptism in the year 987 upon his Marriage with Anna the Daughter of the Emperor Basilius but the most received opinion is that Leo coming out of Greece and planting the Christian Faith among the Russians became their first Patriarch and fix'd his Seat at Kiovia whence after some time the Patriarchal Seat was removed to Volodimiria and lastly to Mosco where it continues The Patriarch who till about 100 years since could not be confirmed but by the Patriarch of Conâ—tantinople but hath ever since been chosen and confirmed only by the Czar or Great Duke though with the consent of the generality of the Clergy hath subservient to him two Metropolitans or Arch-Bishops the Arch-Bishop of Novogrode and the Arch-Bishop of Rostow and under these there are 18 Bishops enjoying very large Revenues and therefore the largest contributers to the Great Duke when he hath occasion to raise an Army Of the Rivers of this Countrey the chief are the Dniâ—per or Borysthenes of the ancients whose Fountain though unknown to Herodotus hath been since found to be near Dnieperko a' Village of Moscovia in the Wood Wolskonski and which flowing Southward by the Cities Smolensko and Kiovian after having taken in many lesser Rivers dischargeth it self at last into the Euxin or Black Sea 2 Ducina concluded to be the Turuntus of Ptolemy which springing not far from the Fountains of Boryâ—thenes in the same Wood and flowing by Riga the Capital City of Livonia falls at last into the Baltick Sea 3 Volga the Rha of Ptolemy and now called Edel which springing from a Lake of the same name being about 25 miles from Mosco and flowing with a long course and many windings after the taking in of many lesser streams disburtheneth it self with no less than 70 mouths into the Caspian Sea not far from the the City citracham 4 Don or Tanais by the Italians called Tuna which dividing Europe from Asia hath its source as some are of opinion from the Riphaeâ—n Mountains in a certain Wood out of a vast Lake not far from the City Tulla and flowing with a long course beyond the Confines of Russia Southward makes the Lake Mâ—otis 5 Occa which springing out of the Province Moâ—ceneck which it semi-circles after a long course enters the Volga beneath Inferior Novogrod The most noted Lakes are the Ilmen or Ilmer 12 German miles in length and 8 in bredth The Ladoga whose length is 25 German miles the bredth 15 and containing divers Islands The White Lake called by the Inhabitants Bielcyesero twelve miles in length and as many in bredth and into which 360 Rivers small streams or rivulets doubtless are said to empty