Ocean hauing vpon the South Lough-Nesse from Buquhan and Loqhuabria and vpon the North Catnesse and Straith-Navern rough mountainous and wooddie to the West in the vallies and towards the East more fruitfull In the midst and towards the Lake Nesse arise the high mountaines of Ardmanoch couered all the yeare long with snow Vpon the North-West is Assinshire indented with sundry creekes of the Westerne Ocean Chiefe places are in Ardmanoch the Castle Louet At the mouth of the Nesse Chanonry the seat of the Bishops of Rosse Cromerty a Sherifdome or place of Iudicature SVDERLAND SEated vpon the German Ocean betwixt Catnesse vpon the North and Rosse vpon the South and having Strath-Navern vpon the West mountainous yeelding tolerable pasturage but little corne The chiefe place is Dun-Robin Castle the seate sometimes of the Earles of Suderland The mountaines afford plenty of fine marble but of no vse in those cold and Northren regions CATNESSE HAving vpon the South Suderland vpon the North and East the Ocean and vpon the West Straith-Navern The inhabitants liue most vpon their profit of cattle and fish got in the Ocean The most noted places are Girnego castle the seat of the Earles and Durnock and Wik the seates of the Bishops of Catnesse More to the North lie the Promontories Berubium and Viruedrum of Ptolemy now Dunsbey or Duncans-bay and Hoia or Vrdshead with Howburne-head in Strath-Naverne the extreame points of the Iland of Great Brittaine towards the Pole Articke and the North. Camden placeth these two last in Strath-Navern Buchanan otherwise in this country STRAITH-NAVERNE NAmed thus from the river Naverne Nabeus of Ptolemy and bounded vpon the South with Rosse vpon the East with Suderland and Catnesse and vpon the West and North with the Ocean cold hilly and lesse fruitfull with Catnes the extreame parts of Great Britaine towards the North. Here lyeth the Promontory named Tarvedrum and Orcas by Ptolemy now Howburne Head LOQHVABRIA COntinued vpon the same Ocean betwixt Rosse vpon the North Logh-Aber vpon the South fruitfull in corne and pasturages and pleasantlie shaded with woods The most noted place is Innerloth vpon the lake Loth. LORNE EXtended a long the same Westerne Ocean betwixt Logh Aber vpon the North by which it is parted from Loqhuabria and Knapdale and Cantire vpon the North fruitful in corne and divided by the great Lake named Leauve by the natiues The chiefe place is Tarbar in Logh Kinkeran a Sherifdome or juridicall resort for this country and the more Southerne part of the Westerne Scottish Ilands BRAID-ALBIN SEated to the East of Lorn amongst rockie and high mountaines parts of the hill Grampius of Tacitus inhabited by the High-land-men or Irish Scots ARGILE LYing to the West of Lennox and the lake Lomond and bounding vpon the South with the Sea or Frith of Dunbriton wild rockie and mountainous with Cantire Braid-Albin and the neighbouring countries of the Highlanders the more ancient and first residence of the Scots desbourding hither from Ireland CANTIRE IT is a narrow Promontory or Chersonese of some 30 miles in length the Promontory of the Epidij of Ptolemie divided frō Argile by Logh Fin a long and spacious arme of the sea of Dunbriton ioyned to Knapdale the Continent by a small necke of land not exceeding a mile in breadth The Mul of Cantire the farthest point of the Chersonesse is distant onely 13 miles from Ireland the next part of Scotland and Great Brittaine to that Iland These last inclusiuely from Menteith were the famous Caledonij of Tacitus parted by Ptolemy into 13 lesser names or diuisions the Epidij Cerones Creones Carnonacae Carini Cornabij Logi Mertae Cantae Texali Vennicontes Vacomagi and Caledonij particularly thus called the onely part of Britaine stopping and giving bounds to the great conquests and victories of the Romans twice invaded by Iulius Agricola in the raigne of Domitian and by the Emperour Severus but without any good effect not without much losse to the Roman side secured by their mountaines lakes marishes and woods The Romane Empire declining they were all called by the names of Picts Afterwards they became divided betwixt the Picts driven vnto the Easterne shore and the Scots a colony as before of the Irish thrusting into the parts towards Ireland and the West the victorious conquerours not long after of the Picts At this day they are distinguished into the Law-land-men or the English and more civil Scots inhabiting the plainer countries along the German Ocean and vpon this side of the two Friths the Highland-men or Irish Scots retaining yet the Irish language and manners and possessing the heights of the hill Grampius Braid-albin Argile and other mountainous regions vpon the Westerne and Irish Seas THE ILANDS OF GREAT BRETAINE THe Ilands belonging to this Continent are all called in Ptolemy by the name of the British Ilands Before the time of Pliny as in his 4 booke and 16 chapter they made with Albion or the Greater Britaine the generall name of the Britaines distinguished from the ancient accounted an other world after Solinus The most famous greatest of these and after England of the Ilands of Europe and the West is Ireland IRELAND THE bounds hereof are vpon the East the Irish Ocean or S. George his Channell from England Scotland vpon the North the Northerne Ocean vpon the West the Westernesea vpon the South the Vergivian It lyeth betwixt about the 51½ and 56⅚ degrees of Northern Latitude or betwixt the 19 or middle Paralel of the 8 Clime where the longest day hath 16 houres and a halfe and the 24 Paralel or end of the 10 clime where the same hath 17 houres and 3 quarters The length of the Iland after this computation is 320 Italian miles or measured English Camden otherwise accounteth the length onely at 300 English The breadth he reckneth at 120 of the same miles The aire is temperate and healthie but moist and raw rather plentifully bringing vp and nourishing then ripening fruits The soile is firtill but better pasturage and for grasse then for fruits and corne through a wet qualitie of the ground or by the sloath of the natiues and for their want of manuring encombred with bogs lakes marishes and with thicke slutchie and vndreaned woods The first inhabitants were the Irish for more ancient we finde not distinguished by Ptolemie into sundry lesser people and names the Rhobognij Darnij Voluntij Vennicnij and Erdini now containing Vlster the Auteri Gangani and Nagnatae inhabiting Connaught the Velibori Vterni Vodiae and Coriondi now Munster and the Menapij Cauci Blanij and Brigantes now Leinster whose citties were Rhigia Rheba Macolicum Dunum Laberus Ivernis c. whose interpretatiōs we let passe as very vncertaine free for a long time and not conquered by forraine power neglected by the Romans and the succeeding Saxons or English engaged in more necessary
fruitfull and pleasant vally of some 60 Italian miles in length continued from the head of the Aada along the course of that riuer vntill the entrance thereof into the Lake of Como divided into 6. goverments or prefectureships The wines of this country are much commended transported in a great abundance over the Alpes into Bavaria Switzer-landt and other parts Chiefer townes following the course of the riuer Aada are Bormio a prefectureship seated at the head of the vally and the river vnder the mountaine Braâ—lio called otherwise by the Dutch Wormsser ioch Tiran a prefectureship Teio a prefectureship the chiefe fortresse of the vally Sondrio the chiefe towne a prefectureship The governour or captaine hereof for so he is named is Lieutenant of the whole country having here the like commande as hath the Captaine of Lugano in the prefectures belonging to the 12 Cantons Morbengo a prefectureship situated neere vnto the Lake of Como These 8 prefectureships of Plurs Chiavenna and the Valtolina are subject to the ioint commaund of the three Leagues or Cantons of the Grisons The language hereof as of those other appertaining to the Switzers is the Italian NETHERLAND THE Country hath been thus named from its maritime and more flat and lower situation It is accompted part of Germany with the Free Country of Burgundie making the tenth circle of the Empire although at this day it neither acknowledgeth the Emperours not obeyeth the Laws and orders appointed by the Diets diuided amongst sundry free states and gouerments partly now commanded by the Princes of the house of Burgundie and Austria partly by the generall States of the Vnited Provinces It boundeth vpon the East with the districts of Trier Luick Gulick Cleve and Westphalen vpon the North with the riuer Eems East-Freislandt vpon the South with Lorraine Champaigne and Picardie in France and vpon the North-West with the German Ocean It lyeth betwixt the 22½ and 30 degrees of Longitude and the 48½ and 53½ degrees of Northern Latitude or betwixt the 16 or middle paralel of the 7 clime and the 21 paralel or end of the 8 clime The longest day beyond Arras in the furthest South containeth 16 houres beyond the towne of Dam or at the riuer Eems in the furthest North 16 houres three quarters The circuit of the whole is 340. Flemish miles or some one thousand Italian or English The parts hereof towards the West and North along the Sea-coast are flat plaine and marishie abounding chiefly in pasturages milke butter cheese horses and beeues of an extraordinary stature and bignesse Those contrariwise towards the South-East or bordering vpon Luick Lorraine swell with rising hills and woods reliques of the great forrest of Ardenne All parts are tolerably fruitfull No country for the quantitie is more populous replenished with 225 walled townes and citties besides aboue 6600 burroughs and villages for the most part very strong and numerously inhabited by industrious and curious artificers and rich tradesmen and marchants The shipping of the maritime coasts seeme to exceed in number all the rest of the world amassed together swarming in all seas and Oceans and bringing hither as to a common magazin whatsoeuer riches and commodities the earth or sea affordeth by the commodious situation thereof and oportunitie of the great rivers of the Scheldt Mase and Rhijn distributed from hence into all lands the seat of negotiation and trading The ancient inhabitants were the Frisij now West-Freislandt North-Hollandt with part of the district of Vtreicht the Batavi inhabiting the Iland of the Rhijn intercepted betwixt the middle branch thereof and the Wael with the neighbouring shore of Gaule containing now South-Holland with parts of Vtreicht and Gelderlandt the Caninefates containing also part of the same Iland the Bructeri where now Deventer and Swol in Over-ysel the Vsipij now the country of Zutphen part of the Sicambri now Arnhem and Veluwe in Gelderlandt the Advatici now Brabant or part thereof about Bosleduc or Doway the Morini now Flanders the Atrebates now Artois the Nervij now Hainault and the country about Tournay the Tongri now part of Brabant about Antwerpe and part of the Treveri now the Dukedome of Luxemburg The fiue first nations were Germans inhabiting beyond the Rhijn The rest were parts of the Gaules Belgicke descended notwithstanding from the Germans By C. Iulius Caesar in his warres of Gaule these last were subdued to the Romans vnder which subiection they continued vntill the expiration of that Empire comprehended vnder the Provinces of Belgica Secunda and Germania Secunda The other remained still free from forraine yoak with other neighbouring Dutch people by occasion hereof not long after vniting into the common name of the most warlike and victorious French famous in the later Roman histories and in short time conquering and overspreading all Gaule Germanie vnto the rivers Elb and Saltza Pannonie the greatest part of Italy with part of Tarraconensis in Spaine won from the Moores Vnder the French who here succeeded vnto the Romans the whole was contained vnder the name kingdome of Austrasia or Oosten-reich After that the French Monarchy became divided amongst the posteritie of the Emperour Lewis the Godly the part hereof broke into sundry new principalities and goverments remaining vnto this day partly holding of the French kings or successours of Charles the Bald and partly of the German Emperours the Dukedomes of Brabant Luxemburg Gelderlandt and Limburg the Earledomes of Flanders Hollandt Zealandt Haynault Artois Namur and Zutphen the Lordships of Freislandt Groningen Vtreicht Over-ysel and Malines and the Marquisate of the Sacred Empire the manner and occasion of whose beginnings together with their continuance and state vnto our times is set downe in the Description of France Of these Flanders Artois appertained to the soveraigntie of the kings of France quitted vnto Philip the second king of Spaine and the Princes hereof by Henry the second French king in the late league of Cambraye The rest were held vnder the Dutch Emperours By Philip the Hardie the countries of Brabant Flanders Artois and Limburg with Malines and the Marquisate of the Sacred Empire became added to the dominion and family of Burgundie by Philip the Good Holland Zealandt West-Freislandt Hainault Luxemburg Namur by the Emperour Charles the fift Gelderland Zutphen Vtreicht Over ysel and Groningen the manner whereof is likewise shewed in France Since this vnion by the power and greatnesse of their Princes the Provinces haue beene wholy with drawne from all acknowledgement and subiection of the German Emperours French kings their ancient Lords governed in manner of free States by their Princes and magistrates and making a distinct nation and common-wealth by themselues knowne now by the names of Netherland the Low Countries the Lower Germany and of the 17 Provinces called thus from their number language and situation Duke Charles surnamed the Fighter Prince hereof son to Philip the Good had an intent to vnite the parts then
length totally subdued by Edmund Monarch of the Saxons aided by Lewelin king of Dimetia or Southwales and giuen by Edmund vnto Malcolme king of the Scots to be held vnder the sief of the kings of England with condition to defend the Northerne frontire of the English against the Danes and forraine invaders After this time Cumberland and Westmoreland or the countrey hereof for aboue the space of one hundred yeares were possessed by the Scottish Nation whose Praefects as the Scottish writers tearme them or immediate Princes were the eldest sons or next Heires of Scotland By king William surnamed the Conquerour they were taken from the Scots and with the rest of England subjected to the Normans King Stephen ingaged in a dangerous war against Maâ—de the Empresse restored Cumberland to the Scots to be held with the old conditions recouered againe not long after by king Henry the second his successour disliking this liberalitie of Stephen and so great a diminution of his kingdome and incorporated with the Crown of England in which vnion the country hath euer since continued the name language and accompt of the Britons thorough their English and Scottish subjection being long since here worne out and extinguished THE VVELSH BRITONS THese in their natiue language call themselues Câ—mro Cymero and Cymbri as their Latihe Authours Cambri and their countrey Cambria which they would haue to be deriued from Camber one of the sonnes of Brutus their progenitour vnto whose share this part of the Iland should fall in the devision hereof with his brethren a fable begunne by Geffrey or Monmouth and yet maintained by all their Historians Commentatours men otherwise learned and skilfull in antiquities but over zealous to preferre the glory of this their Troian descent The name as before we haue shewed was common to the Britons of Cumberland and to the rest of the nation the words Britons Britaine not being British originally but imposed by the Greekes and forreiners The Etymologie hereof we cannot conjecture vnlesse from Gomar the sonne of Iapheth first peopling these VVesterne parts of Europe and from whom after Iosephus and Zonaras the Gaules were aunciently called Gomarenses and Gomares of which nation the first Britons were a colonie Their name of Welsh or Walsh was Dutch and of a later imposition signifying strangers with the Saxons in which accompt the English still held the Britons They were a more great strong remainder of the vanquished Britons vnder their King Careticus before mentioned driuen ouer the Severne by the victorious Saxons and sheltering themselues amongst the Silures Ordovices and the Mountaines of the VVest The name notwithstanding of the Welsh we finde not vntill afterwards and the yeare 708 at what time we first read in Henry of Huntington of one Gerent King of the Welshmen ouercome in so attaile by Ina the VVest-Saxon some 19 yeares after the decease of Cadwallader and end of the British kingdome The more auncient bounds hereof were vpon the South the sea of Severne by which they were diuided from the Cornish Britons vpon the West the Irish Ocean and vpon the North East the rivers Dee Severne from the Mercian Saxons By the raigne of Offa King of the Mercians succeeding in the yeare 758 all the plaine Country beyond the Severne where now is Herefordshire with parts of Glocestershire Shropshire and Worcestershire being subdued and taken in by the Saxons of Mercia they were wholy shut vp within their Mountaines for their better distinction enclosed by Offa and severed from his English with a wide and deep ditch continued from Basingwerk vpon the Dee betwixt Chester Ruthland in Flintshire along the hills vnto the mouth of the river Wye neere Bristoll whose tract in many places is yet seene and named Claudh Offa in their language or Offa's ditch afterwards the common bound of both nations Others notwithstanding as a more known limit make the river Wye to be the bounds of both Their government after Cadwallader was vnder diverse Lords whom their Histories call Kings Amogst these their Chronicle maketh mention of Edwall Roderique and Conan Tindaethwy descended from Cadwallader and following in a direct line the progenitours of the succeeding Princes Afterwards Roderique surnamed the Great grandchild by his mother vnto Conan Tindaethwy attained to a Monarchy of the whole Wales which about the yeare 870 he deuided into three parts or provinces which limited and distinguished with their meeres he left vnto his three sons with the authority name of Kings Guinedh or Northwales bounded with the Dee the Ocean the riuer Dovi the part of Anarawd his eldest sonne Deheubarth or South-wales lying beyond the riuer Dovi Powys extended vpon the East toward England the portions of Codelh and Mervin his two yonger sonnes These likewise subdeviding their estates amongst their numerous issue as did continually their successours after them for such was then the bad custome of the Welsh the countrey againe became shared amongst many petty Lords each sonne hauing a part of his fathers inheritance whereof some notwithstanding the eldest sonne most commonly or who otherwise overtopped the rest in power or favour with the people still bore the titles of their generall divisions knowne in their histories by the names of Kings of North and South-Wales and Lords of Powys continuing those stiles vntill towards their subiection to the English Amongst these likewise one was still accompted soveraigne or chiefe Lord to whom the rest were to pay tribute and to doe seruice which honour by the order of Roderique the great and of Howell Dha their lawgiuer was due vnto the succession of Anarawd before mentioned the Kings of Northwales the first borne or chiefe of the house of Cadwallader These their soueraigne lords are named kings in the Welsh historie vnto Owen surnamed Guyneth succeeding about the yeare 1137 who first is called Prince which title is continued vntill the time of Edward the first King of England to Lâ—evelyn their last prince taken vp since by the heires of the house of England By Egbert the great Saxon Monarch the nation is first made subject to the tribute and homage of the English ruled neuerthelesse after their owne lawes and free from forreine yoake vntill the Kings of England of the Norman race By Bernard de Neumarck a Norman gentleman assisted by the Aubryes and other of the French English nobility in the raigne of William Rufus king of England Brechiniauc now Brecknockshire after a long and hard warre is wrested herefrom and annexed to the English Empire By Robert Fitz-hamon in the same raigne Morganwc now Glomorganshire By Arnulph of Mountgomerie and Girald of Winsore his successour in the warre in the raigne of King Henry the first the Country of Dyvet now Pembrokeshire at what time a colonie of the Flemmings whose countrie had beene drowned by the Ocean by the permission hereof were planted in Ros a part of Dyvet continuing
the songs of the Welsh Bards The countrey on all sides is fenny Marishy distinguished into the names of Gedney Moore Sedege Moore Audre Moore Heth Moore Queenes Moore Brent-Marsh strong fastnesses of king Alfred and his English distressed by the warres of the all conquering Danes Ilchester Iscalis of Ptolemy vpon the riuer Evill Crookehorne vpon the river Parret Bridge-water vpon the Parret The arme of the sea below this the confluence of the Parret with another river from the fens of Glastenbury is named Vzella of Ptolemy Taunton vpon the riuer Tone Vpon the Ocean VVatchet Dunster The whole contayneth 42 Hundreds 33 Market-townes 385 Parishes The auncient inhabitants were part of the Belgae of Plolemy afterwards of the West-Saxons DORSET-SHIRE BOunded vpon the North with Somerset-shire aud VViltshire vpon the East with Hantshire vpon the South with the English Channell and vpon the VVest with Devonshire The soile is fruitefull especially Moreland or the valley of white-hart Townes of better note are Shaftsbury vpon the edge of Wiltshire Vpon the Stour Blandford Winburne Vindogladia of Antoninus Vpon Moreland Shirburne sometimes a Bishops See remoued to Sarisbury in the raigne of the Conquerour Vpon the Frome Dorchester Dunium of Ptolemy and Durnovaria of Antoninus the chiefe towne Along the Sea-coast Poole within a spacious Bay vpon a point of land almost encompassed with the sea Beyond the bay lyeth the I le of Purbecke a Peninsula environed on three sides with the Ocean Weymouth and Melcomb devided with the little riuer of Wey a noted Port. Vpon the South hereof standeth Portland sometimes an Iland now joyned to the Continent defended with a castle founded by king Henry the eight commaunding the entrance of the hauen of Weymouth Burtport Lime It contayneth 34. Hundreds 18 Market-townes and 248 Parishes The auncient Inhabitants were the Durotriges of Ptolemy afterwards part of the West-Saxons DEVON-SHIRE BOunded vpon the East with Dorsetshire and Somersetshire vpon the South and North with the English Channell and the Sea of Severne vpon the VVest with the riuer Tamar from Cornwall The countrey is hilly rich in mines of Tin especially towards Cornwall the West and well stored with convenient Ports and harbours for shipping The soile is leane yet made fruitfull thorough the great industrie of the inhabitants enriched by their intermixing of lime or sands fetched from the sea-caost Townes of more note are Axminster vpon the Ax. Honniton vpon the Otterey Vpon the Ex Tiverton Excester Isca of Ptolemy Isca Dunmoniorū of Antoninus the chief town a bishops See remoued hither from Kirton in the raigne of Edward the Confessour Columbton upon the riuer Columb Vpon the Creedy beyond the Ex Kirton an auncient Bishops See founded by Edward surnamed the Elder remoued afterwards to Excester Totnes vpon the Dert Tavestok vpon the Tavy In Dertmore a mountainous fruitles waste vpon the East hereof plenty of Tin is gotten Here also lately haue Loadstones beene found Vpon the Sea-coast and the English channell Plimmouth a famous Port at the fall meetings of the riuers Plim Tamar The haven is large and deepe affording a safe roade for ships in both rivers defended with the strong Iland of S t Michael other fortifications vpon the land Dertmouth a well frequented Port at the mouth of the riuer Dert Beyond is Torbay a spacious inlet of the sea and a commodious harbour At the mouth of the Ax towards Dorsetshire Seton Moridunum of Antoninus memorable onely for the antiquity Towards the Sea of Severne Bediford vpon the riuer Touridge West hereof lyeth Hertland point Promontorium Herculis of Ptolemy Berstaple vpon the Taw navigable here for great vessels a well traded and rich empory The Shire contayneth 33 Hundreds 37 Market-townes and 394 Parishes The auncient inhabitants were the Danmonii of Ptolemy named otherwise the Cornish after the invasion of the English These being driuen out by great Athelstan confined within the riuer of Tamar the West-Saxons succeed in their voide places CORNWAL BOunded vpon the East with the riuer Tamar from Devonshire and vpon all other sides encompassed with the Ocean The countrey is hilly like vnto Devonshire but more barren enriched chiefely by neuer decaying mines of Tin and with fishings and commodities arising from the sea The valleyes notwithstanding afford plenty of grasse corne fatted with sea-sand and a sea-weede which they call Orewood Amongst the minerals Gold and Silver likewise are found as also Diamonds of a large seize angled and polished by nature but yeelding to the Orientall in colour and hardnes The Inhabitants as of Devonshire are strong and well-limmed tall good wrastlers skilfull mariners and braue warriours both by sea land stout vndaunted resolute thorough a more vegetiue quality of the Westerne winde wherevnto they are exposed or by some hidden nature of the heauens or ground Places of more note are Tamerton Tamara of Ptolemy vpon the right shore of the Tamar named from hence More remote from the riuer Stratton Launston vpon the brow of a hill the chiefe town Saint Germans vpon the riuer Liver a meane village sometimes a Bishops See for the Cornish remoued hither from Bodman Lestuthiel Vzella of Ptolemy vpon the Fawey much decayed of late yeares thorough the choaking of the riuer by sand rubbish falling from the Tin-workes a common daunger of all the navigable streames of the countrey Bodman an auncient Bishops See founded by Edward surnamed the Elder Monarch of the English remoued afterwards to S. Germans during the warres and troubles of the Danes and lastly vnited with Kirton in the raigne of Canutus Tregenie Truro Penrin vpon certaine Creekes of the great Bay of Falmouth S t Buriens Nere herevnto is the Promontory named the lands-Lands-end lands- Bolaeum Antivestaeum of Ptolemy the most Westerne point of the kingdome Vpon the shore a long the South sea East and West Loo at the mouth of the riuer thus called Foy a noted Port at the mouth of the riuer Fawey West hereof amongst others of obscurer sort is Falmouth a deepe and spacious Bay before mentioned Cenionis Ostium of Ptolemy reaching for a great space within the land deviding into sundry Creekes and safe Roades for ships defended at the entrance with two Castles or Forts S t Maudits vpon the East and Pendinas vpon the West built by King Henrie the eight Within the Bay stood the towne Voluba of Ptolemy now either extinct or vnknowne called by some other name Further West is the Lizard point the Promontorie of the Danmonij and Ocrinum of Ptolemy the furthest point of the Iland towards the South Pensans within Mounts-bay named thus from S t Michaels-Mount a strong fort vpon a craggie and high rocke at euery Full-sea environed with waters defending the Rode Vpon the North-sea Padstow neere vnto the mouth of the river Alan It contayneth 9
Ouse and the Taye The Thames Tamesis of Caesar ariseth amongst the hils of Cotswold in Glocestershire neere vnto a village named Torlton Passing by the Townes of Creekelade Lechlade and Einsham then by Oxford Reading and London betwixt Kent and Essex it is disburdened into the German Ocean The part from the head vnto the confluence hereof and the Tame is more properly named the Isis or Ouse The whole notwithstanding is vulgarly called the Thames Lesser rivers emptyed hereinto are the Churne springing in Cotswold neere Birdlip and by Cirencester tooke in at Creekelade The Windrush out of Cotswold by Burford and Whitney tooke in at Newbridge The Evenlode out of Cots-wold by Shipton vnder Whichwood tooke in below Einsham The Cherwell from the hils by Daintrey in Northamptonshire tooke in at Oxford The Tame out of Buckinghamshire tooke in neere Dorchester below Oxford Here beginneth the name of Thames The Colne betwixt Buckinghamshire and Middlesex tooke in neere Stanes The Lea out of Hartfordshire betwixt Middlesex and Essex tooke in below Blackwall The Roding out of Essex tooke in at Barking Vpon the other side of the Riuer the Kennet out of Wiltshire beyond Marleborow tooke in at Reading The Wey out of Hantshire by Farnham and Guildford tooke in at Otlands The Mole out of Surrey at the White-hill diuing vnder ground afterward breaking out and tooke in neere Molesey And the Medway out of the weald of Kent below Rochester devided into the East and West-Swale with the Thames enclosing the I le of Shepey The Severne Sabrina of Tacitus issueth out of the hill Plinlimon in Montgomerie-shire in Wales Hauing visited the townes of Shrewesbury Worcester and Glocester below Bristow it falleth into the Westerne Ocean Chiefer riuers flowing into the wider channell hereof are the Terne out of Staffordshire thorough Shropshire tooke in at Wroxcester The Avon by Warwicke and Eveshom tooke in at Teuxbury The Avon another river thus named out of Wiltshire beyond Malmesbury tooke in belowe Bristow From the side of Wales the Temd thorough Shropshire and VVorcester-shire tooke in belowe VVorcester The VVye out of the Mountaine Plimlimon betwixt Radnorshire Brecknockshire afterwards thorough Herefordshire lastly betwixt the Forest of Deane in Glocestershire Monmouthshire tooke in below Chepstow The Lug out of Radnorshire tooke into the VVye below Hereford And the Munow betwixt Herefordshire and Monmouthshire tooke into the VVye at Monmouth The Trent Treanta of Beda ariseth in Staffordshire beyond the town of Newcastle by Stone Burton Nottingham Newarcke Gainsborough receiued into Humber Abus of Ptolemy at Aukbarow below Burton Stather Rivers falling hereinto are in Staffordshire the Sow tooke in below Stafford The Tame tooke in below Tamworth The Doue out of the Peake betwixt Staffordshire and Darbieshire tooke in belowe Burton The Darwent out of the high Peake thorough Darbyshire tooke in belowe Darbye The Soare thorough Leicestershire tooke in below Loughborough And the Idel out of the Forest of Shire-wood in Nottinghamshire below Bautree deviding into the Hekdike falling in at Stockwith and another streame below Santoft-ferrie meeting with Thurne-dike a part of the Dun and tooke in at Fokerbie The Yeure sourceth out of the English Apennine amongst solitary Mountaines in the Westerne part of Richmondshire Continued thorough VVentsdale below Burrow-bridge and the meeting of the Swale after the receipt of a small rivulet thus named out of the West-Riding of Yorkeshire it taketh the name of Ouse from whence by Yorke and Selbie at Blacktoft below Howden it falleth into Humber Greater riuers disburdened herein are the Derwent from Blackamore hills betwixt the East and the West-ridings tooke in at Langrike ferie below Selbie The Swale out of Mountaines in the VVesterne part of Richmondshire neere vnto the head of the Yeure thorough Swaledale and by Richmond and Catarick tooke in belowe Topcliffe at Mitton The Nid from Craven hils thorough Nidherdale took in below Knarsborow The Wharfe out of the same Mountaines thorough VVharledale and by Wetherby tooke in at Cawood below Tadcaster The Are from the Mountaine Pennigent in Craven thorough the West-Riding and by Leedes and Snath tooke in at Armin aboue Howden The Calder from the Westerne Mountaines receiued into the Are below Wakefield at Castle-ford And the Dan or Dun below Sheafield Rotheram and Dancaster at Thurne devided into Turnebridge-dike falling into the Are betwixt Turnebridge and Rawcliffe Thurnedike at the I le of Axeye meeting with the Idell and tooke into the Trent at Fokerby neere to Burton Stather The Taye the fairest of the Scottish riuers Taus of Tacitus and Tava of Ptolemy springeth amongst the Mountaines of Braid-Albin below Dunkelden and Perth or S. Iohns-towne at Dundee carryed into the German Ocean Other better rivers or mentioned by auncient authours and having immediate entercourse with the Ocean are in Cornwall the Vale Cenio of Ptolemie emptyed into the Baye of Falmouth More Westward lye the Lizard point the Promontorie Damnonium and Ocrinum of Ptolemy and the lands-Lands-end Antaevestaeum and Bolerium of the same authour The Tamar Tamarus of Ptolemie betwixt Cornwall and Devonshire receiued into the English Channell at Plimmouth The Ex Isaca of Ptolemie thorough Devonshire tooke in at Exmouth below Excester The Avon Alaunius of Ptolemy with the Stoure tooke in at Christ-Church in Hantshire The Test and Alre at Southanton falling into the great Baye hereof Trisantonis Ostium of Ptolemie Beyond is the Baye of Portsmouth Magnus Portus of Ptolemie The Stoure below Canterbury falling into the German Ocean with two branches or channells encompassing the I le of Tenet and the North Forland a promontorie of the Iland Cantium and Nucantium of Ptolemie The Blackewater Idumanius of Ptolemie thorough Essex tooke in below Maldon The Yare Garrienus of Ptolemy out of Norfolk tooke in at Yarmouth In Suffolke betwixt this and Harwich lyeth Easton-Nesse Extensio of Ptolemy Into the Washes Metaris of Ptolemy the Ouse arising at Brakeley in Northamptonshire and by Buckingham Bedford Huntingdon and Elye tooke in at Linne The Nen Antona of Tacitus from the hils by Daintrey thorough Northamptonshire and the Fens of Cambridgeshire tooke in below Peterborough Wisbich The Welland by Stamford and betwixt Cambridgeshire and Lincolneshire tooke in below Crowland The Witham out of Lincolneshire below Lincolne and Boston flowing into the same Arme of the sea Into Humber the Ankam in Lincolneshire by Glamford-bridge and Saxbye my birth-place tooke in at South-Feriby The Hull tooke in at the town of Hull in Yorkeshire and with the sea and Humber encompassing Holdernes the Promontory Ocellum of Ptolemy Beyond vnder Flamborough head quart of Bridlington was the Bay named of the Gabrantovici by Ptolemy More Northwards against Whitby in Blackamore is the Bay Dunum of the same Authour The Tees Tuesis of Ptolemy out of Stanemore betwixt Yorkeshire and
with Middlesex The countrie is fruitfull no lesse pleasant Places of more note are Roiston vnder the downs and vpon the edge of Cambridgeshire Bishop-Stortford vpon the river Stort Vpon and along the course of the Lea Hartford the Shire town Herudford of Beda the place of a Synod of the English and British Bishops in the time of Saint Austine the Apostle of the Saxons Ware a great and noted roade Hoddesdon Theobalds a royall house of the Kings More VVest-ward S t Albans occasioned by the Monasterie thus named founded by Offa king of the Mercians to the memorie of S t. Alban the first Martyr of the Britons here put to death during the tenth persecution in the raigne of the Emperour Dioclesian Close by where is Verulam stood sometimes the towne Verulamium of Tacitus and Vrolamium of Ptolemy a Municipium of the Romans and after Gildas the countrie of S t Alban the Martyr Neere vnto Redburn vpon VVatlingstreet or the Roman militarie way betwixt this Dunstable is thought to haue stood Durocobrivis of Antoninus as on the other side vpon Brockley hill neere Ellestree in the same roade towards London Sulloniacae of the same Authour Barkhamsted It contayneth 8 Hundreds 18 Market-townes and 120 Parishes The auncient inhabitants were the Cattyeuchlani of Ptolemy afterwards part of the Mercian and East-Saxons MIDLE-SEX BOunded vpon the North with Hartfordshire vpon the West with the river Cole from Buckinghamshire vpon the South with the Thames from Surrey Kent and vpon the East with the Lea from Essex The aire is healthie pleasant the countrie fruitfull graced with sundry faire villages and townes and houses of the gentrie and nobilitie Places of better note are Vxbridge vpon the Cole Along the Thames Stanes at the fall or entrance of the Cole Hampton-Court a great magnificent house of the Kings Brentford London Londinium of Ptolemy Antoninus and Tacitus Lundonium surnamed Augusta of Ammianus Marcellinus a famous Mart-towne of the Britons misplaced by Ptolemy amongst the Cantij now the royall chamber of the kings a Bishops See the chiefe citie of the kingdome with VVestminster Redcliff and Limehouse wherewith it is continuate extended vpon the river for about 4 miles in length and some mile and a halfe in breadth sumptuous in buildings mighty populous esteemed at 600 thousand of Inhabitants flourishing in trades and gainefull manufactures strong in marchants shipping the magazin of all the riches and commodities which the whole earth and world affordeth At VVestminster in the magnificent Church of S t Peter the Kings of England are vsually Crowned as likewise enterred begun by Sebert the first Christian king of the East-Saxons but raised to the state we see by Edward the Confessour and the succeeding English Monarches Blackewall a Roade for greater vessels almost continuate with Limehouse The auncient inhabitants were the Trinobantes of Caesar and Trinoantes of Ptolemy afterwards the East-Saxons Here are contayned onely 73 Parishes besides 121 accompted within the City Liberties and Suburbs ESSEX BOunded vpon the West with the riuer Stort from Hartfordshire and the Lea from Midle-sex vpon the South with the Thames from Kent vpon the East with the German Ocean and vpon the North with the Stoure from Suffolke The Countrey is large woody fruitfull rich but low flat in many places more especially vpon the Thames Sea-coasts marishy agueish and verie vnhealthfull Townes of more note are Waltham vpon the Lea naming the great forest thus called Neerer London vpon the same riuer Leiton a straggling village thought to be Durolitum of Antoninus Barking at the confluence of the Thames and the riuer Roding Rumford Brentwood conjecturally Caesaromagus of Antoninus Ralegh Not farre of at the mouth of the Thames lyeth the Iland Convey Convennos of Ptolemy low and subject to invndations Chelmesford not vnprobably Canonium of Antoninus Cogshall vpon the riuer Froshwell Pant or Blacke-water for by all these it is named Further downe vpon the same riuer Maldon Camudolun of Ptolemy and Camalodunum of Tacitus others the royall seate of Cynobellinus king of the Trinobantes afterwards a Roman Colony planted by Ostorius Scapula in the raigne of the Emperour Claudius Below vpon the Blacke-water in Dengey Hundred a flat vnhealthfull soile stood sometimes Ithancester of Beda the place where S t Cedda baptized the relapsed East-Saxons in the raigne of Sigebert their king thought to be Othona of the Notitia the station of a foote company of the Fortenses The towne hath long since beene worne into the river The shore hereabouts yeeldeth plenty of most excellent oisters Colchester Colonia of Antoninus vpon the riuer Colne the chiefe towne Harwich a noted port at the mouth of the Stoure Walden Close by is audley-Audley-end a great sumptuous house of the Earles of Suffolke In the bordering fields as in Cambridge-shire and Norfolke groweth store of Saffron It contayneth 20 Hundreds 21 Market-townes 415 Parishes The auncient inhabitants were the Trinobantes of Caesar afterwards the East-Saxons SVFFOLKE BOunded vpon the West with Cambridgeshire vpon the South with the Stoure from Essex vpon the East with the German Ocean and vpon the North with the Lesser Ouse and the Wavency from Norfolk The soile is most fat and rich vnles towards the East the countrey large populous and well furnished with harbours and safe roades for ships Places of more note are Sudbury vpon the Stour Hadley vpon the Breton Towards the head of the riuer Bretenham Combretonium of Antoninus Wulpet Ipswich vpon the riuer Orwell the chiefe towne a populous rich noted empory Woodbridge vpon the Deben Framlingham a beautifull strong castle Vpon the Sea-coast Aldburg Dunwich Domuc of Beda sometimes a Bishops See the first of the East-Angles founded by king Sigebert in the person of Faelix the Apostle hereof extinguished by the Danish warres The towne now is ruinous and much decayed for the greatest part worne into the sea Southwold at the mouth of the riuer Blith Iland-like at everie Full-sea environed with the Ocean Beyond is Easton-nesse Extensio of Ptolemy the furthest point Eastward of the kingdome More West S t Edmundsburie Villa Faustini of Antoninus named thus from S t Edmund the last king of the East-Angles martyred by the Danes and here enshrined New-market in both counties of Suffolke and Cambridgeshire amongst greene spacious plaines The shire contayneth three greater devisions which they name the Geldable S t Edmonds Liberty and the Liberty of S t Audry distributed amongst 22 Hundreds 28 Market-townes and 575 Parishes The ancient inhabitants were part of the Iceni of Tacitus the Simeni corruptly of Ptolemy afterwards the East-Angles NORFOLKE BOunded vpon the South with the Lesser Ouse and the Wavency from Suffolke vpon the East and North with the Ocean the Washes the river Nen from Lincolneshire and vpon the West with the Greater Ouse from Cambridgeshire
Ocean The towne is rather to be accompted rich then beautifull the streetes houses for the most part standing disorderly by meanes of the hilly and vneven site thereof and the carelesnesse of the Moores never curious in private buildings It contayneth some 32 Parish churches 350 streetes 11000 dwelling houses 20000 households 160000 inhabitants besides Churchmen strangers and them that follow the Court with the subvrbs about 7 miles in compasse extended along the riuer rather in length then widenes and within the ancient walls not being very spacious being much enlarged since the discovery trade of the Indies Botero I know not how rightly giveth herevnto a fourth place amongst the more great and renowned cities of Europe Santaren Scabaliscus of Ptolemy and Scalabis of Antoninus Pliny surnamed Praesidium Iulium then a Roman colony and a juridicall resort for a third part of Lusitania seated in a fruitfull soile vpon the Taio named thus from S t Irene a Num of Tomar there supposed to haue beene martyred and here enshrined Cascais at the mouth of the Taio vpon a Promontory or wedge of land named from hence Cabo de Cascais by Solinus Promontorium Vlyssipponense On the further shore of the riuer lyeth the Promontory Barbarium of Ptolemy Strabo now Cabo de Spichel Sintra vpon the maine Atlantique at the end of the long mountainous ridge called Mons Lunae by Ptolemy Hither for the pleasure of the adjoyning shady woods and coole breathing Ocean the kings of Portugal vsed to retire in Summer and recreate themselues with hunting and other exercise Coimbre pleasantly seated amongst vineyards and woods of oliues vpon a scalpe or rocke on both sides of the river Mondego a Bishops See and a noted Vniversity The students hereof enjoy their distinct priviledges from the towne and were esteemed betwixt three or foure thousand at what time that Philip the second by Ferdinand Duke of Alva subdued the Portugals Neere here vnto at Condexa la Veia stood sometimes the towne Conimbrica of Pliny Lamego Viseo Guarda Bishops Sees Tomar Here the Kings of Portugal were accustomed to bee crowned The auncient inhabitants hereof were the Lusitani contayned first onely betwixt the Duero Taio afterwards vpon the division of Spaine by the Romans into the three Provinces before mentioned extended beyong the Taio over part of the Turditani Celtici vnto the river Anas Promontory Sacrum PORTVGAL BETVVIXT THE DVERO AND MINIO COntayned within those two rivers the most fruitfull and best inhabited part of Portugal but the poorest in regard of the great distance thereof from Lisbona and its more Northerly situation lying out of the way betwixt that city and the rich conquest of the Portugals Chiefer townes are Braga Breacaria Augusta of Ptolemy Bracara of Antoninus Bracae of Pliny then a juridicall resort suited by 24 towneships and giuing the surname to the Callaici Braecarij By Antoninus in his Catalogue of famous cities it is reckoned amōgst the foure chiefest in Spaine By the Suevians afterwards it was made the royall seate of their Kings It is now an Archbishops See and the best towne of the division contayning about two thousand inhabitants subject to the Bishop in both jurisdictions civil ecclesiasticall Porto Miranda Bishops Sees vpon the Duero Braganca from whence the Dukes of Bragança are entitled The auncient inhabitants hereof were the Callaici Braecarij of Ptolemy In forreine parts the Kings of Spaine now hold in right of the crowne hereof vpon the coast of Barbary the townes of Seuta Tangier and Mazagone in the Ocean on the hither side of the Cape of Good hope the Ilands of the Açores Madera Cape Verde Saint Thomas del Principe the fortresses of Arguin S. George de la Mina in the land of Guinea in America Brasil extended for 1500 miles along the Sea-coasts towards the Straights of Magellan devided into 18 governments or praefectureships beyond the cape of Buona Esperanza the Iland Mozambique and forts of Sena Sofala and in Asia Diu Chaul Goa Cochin Damain Bazain Malaca CASTILLE AND LEON BOunded vpon the West with the riuer Guadiana and the line before described drawne betwixt that river the Avia dividing it from Portugal with part of the Atlantique Ocean extended betwixt the mouth of the riuer Minio Cabo Finisterre vpon the North with the Cantabrique Sea vnto Fuentarabia and the Pyrenaean Mountaines vpon the South with the Sraights of Gibraltar Sea Mediterranean and vpon the East first with the Pyrenaean Mountaines frō Fuentarabia vntill towards the head of the riuer Arga or Aragon parting it from France then with a winding line drawne from the Ebro and by the townes of Taradona Hariza Daroca Xativa Orihuela continued vnto the mouth of the riuer Segura dividing it from the kingdome of Aragon It contayneth the countries of Galitia Asturia Biscaia Olava Guipuscoa Navarra Castillia la Nueva Castillia la Veia Estremadura Andaluzia Granado Murcia or some two third parts of the whole Spaine GALITIA HAving vpon the South the rivers Minio and Avia the bounds thereof Portugal vpon the North West the Seas Cantabrian Atlantique and vpon the East the riuer Mearo deviding it from Asturia The country is very mountainous overspread with the branches of the Cantabrian Alpes drie barren and ill inhabited Chiefer townes are S. Iago an Arch-bishops See named thus from the supposed reliques of S. Iames the Apostle the son of Zebedee the Patron of the Castillians visited here by continuall pilgrimages from all the parts of Christendome subject to the Papacy Lugo Lucus Augusti of Ptolemy Antoninus and Lucus of Pliny then a juridicall resort suited by 16 people or townships and surnaming the Callaici Lucenses It is now a Bishops See The ancient inhabitants of the countrey hereabouts were the Capori of Ptolemy part of the general name of the Callaici Lucenses Orense Aquae Calidae of Ptolemy Aquae Celeniae of Antoninus named thus from the hot medicinable bathes thereof now a Bishops See seated vpon the Minio The particular inhabitants hereof were the Cilini of Ptolemy part of the Callaici Lucenses Tui Tude of Ptolemy and Castellum Tyde of Pliny now a Bishops See vpon the same riuer of Minio frontiring vpon Portugal The particular inhabitants were the Gruij of Ptolemy the Gravij of Pliny part of the Callaici Braecarij Corunna Flavium Brigantium of Ptolemy and Brigantium of Antoninus now a noted port vpon the Sea Cantabrian The towne is exceeding strong the chiefe Bulwarke and defence of Galitia and these Northerne parts divided into the High and the Base townes severally fortified The Hauen is very spacious able to containe the greatest navy of ships Nearer to Asturia vpon the same Sea-coast lyeth the great promontory named by Ptolemy Lupatia Cory and Trileucum now Cabo Ortegal Ponte-vedre Baiona sea-coast townes vpon the Westerne Ocean betwixt
points A maine controuersie betwixt them was the celebration of Easter of whom the Britons from whom the Picts and Scots did not much differ observed the 14 day after the New-moone in March or the first Moneth following the custome of the Church of Asia and pretending the practice of Saint Iohn the Evangelist and the Romans with the English and others the Sunday after the 14 day alleadging an Apostolicall tradition a scruple then much disturbing the peace of Christendome and disputed of in sundry Synods No lesse was the controversie but long afterwards and amongst the English themselues betwixt the married vnmarried Priests in the raignes of Edwy Edgar Edward the Martyr Etheldred Monarches of the English-Saxons as likewise after the conquest of the Normans for vntill this time Priests were married adiudged against the married Priests through the pretended miracles of S. Dunstan a great vpholder of the Monkish faction the sentence of Pope Hildebrand in the yeare 1074 and raigne of William the Conquerour and lastly for yet notwithstanding the Popes interdict the Priests still kept their wiues by Anselmus Arch-bishoppe of Canterbury and a Synod then held at London in the raigne of King Henry the first In the raigne of great Egbert and about the yeare 829 breake in the merciles and Pagan Danes through whom and the many Popish errours which already had crept in religion is againe eclypsed Their Idol was Thur giuing afterwards the name of Thursday to the fourth day of the weeke By holy Alfred Edward the Seniour and Athelstan the second they are at length subdued and for the time either expulsed the Country or brought vnder the English and Christian yoake By this time the long aspiring Papacy had gotten the vpper hand ouer the rest of the Churches of the West and princes people divine and humane Lawes here as in all other places are made subject to the sole will and free arbitration hereof By Pope Alexander the second the Normans are authorized to vsurpe the Crowne of England Edgar and the Saxon line the right heires excluded and the oppressed English disabled for making resistance terrified and kept in by Papall cursings By Innocent the third King Iohn is made vassall to the pretended Apostolique sea surrendring his Crowne and resuming the same againe to be held vnder the fee and tribute of the Popes The Christian world hauing beene long abused Iohn Wiclef a soecular Diuine of the Vniversity of Oxford and Rectour of Lutterworth in Leicester shire in the raignes of Edward the third and Richard the second first to any effect opposeth against the tyranny hereof and those errours and impostures which antiquity superstitious and improvident zeale and their ambition and avarice had obtruded vpon religion fauoured by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Henry Lord Percy the Chancelour and body of the Vniuersity sundry Regulars and Priests the Londoners and multitudes of the Common and Lay people besides England spreading his opinions ouer the neighbouring Germany the authour of the reformation of the Hussits amongst the Bohemians withstood by the Praelates and Monkes thundred against by Bulls of the Pope sent to the King the Bishops and Vniversity and condemned by the Councell of Constance the liue bodies of Husse and Hierome of Prage and the bones of Wicleffe in detestation of their pretended heresie being burnt by the order of that Synod The positions hereof are to be read in the history of Walsingham but mingled with many falsities and vntruthes through the malice of that relater a Monke and of those times no friends to his cause What more rightly they were is better seene in the confession of the Hussits or Bohemians arising from hence moulded after his doctrine Now begun the ancient holy and grand-esteeme of the Church to asswage and coole superstition to be vnmasked the Papall power to grow suspected his censures to become more vile the wealth and great reuenues of the Monks and Cleargie to be envyed and their liues and actions to be scanned and looked into by a more narrow censorious eye In the raigne of King Richard the second a petition is exhibited by Parliament for the taking away of all their temporall possessions not assented vnto and reiected by that plaine and well meaning prince The like is attempted by two other Parliaments in the raigne of Henry the fourth and Henry the fift pretending their abuse and better imployment in the reliefe of the poore the maintenance of Esquires Knights and Lords and the seruice of the King lastly diuerted the suppression of Monasteries excepted belonging vnto strangers through the wisedome of Henry Chichlie Arch-bishop of Canterbury proposing the more honourable French warres and declaring the vndoubted right of the Prince to that Crowne By king Henry the eight provoaked by the excommunication and rash censures of Pope Clement the seaventh the Papall authority is abolished through the Realme and the power and title of supreame head of the English Church assumed and entayled vpon his successours some abuses about images and the Scriptures and prayers in an vnknowne tongue in part reformed and Monasteries and religious houses stiffe abetters of the Romish Hierarchie to the great astonishment of the world vtterly razed and demolished and their whole possessions whether Temporalties or tithes offerings the vndoubted rights of the Church escheated to the Crowne and fold or giuen to lay persons through passion avarice or his zeale against the many vices and enormities of the Monkes or to engage the laity without which possibly he could not haue withstood so great a danger in his warre against the Papacy and Cleargie partakers with him of their spoyles Vnder Edward the sixt religion is more fully established and the Church purged from errours and superstition the Masse and the rest of the 6 bloudy articles of his father abrogated images pulled downe the holy Eucharist administred vnder both kinds and the Scripture and deuine seruice read in the vulgar language yet done not without much rapine and iniurie committed vnder pretence of reformation the sacred monuments of the dead in Churches defaced and Bishoppricks Collegiate Churches Hospitalls and Almes-houses being robbed of their reuenewes by sacrilegious greatnes during the licentious raigne of that most hopefull but young pupill king By Queene Mary a great strength to whose title was the dispensatition and authority hereof Religion is againe made vassall to the sea of Rome and the power and iurisdiction of the Pope restored with condition notwithstanding that the lands and goods lately taken from the Cleargy should remaine to their lay possessours without which caution the Nobility and Commons in Parliament whose ioynt interest this was would not giue their consent persecution raging soone after with fresh furie and the whole kingdome flaming with fires and gashly sights of burning Martyrs Queene Elizabeth of famous memory gaue
an end to these long afflictions and vnsetled state of the Church the Gospell reestblished with mature and graue aduice and confirmed by her many victories and long and prosperous raigne continued since by her glorious successour King Iames maintained by the authority of his royall pen the faiths vndoubted defender the Churches patron and the true Cleargies friend with no lesse zeale and constancie by Charles our gracious soueraigne now raigning heire of his Fathers Crowne and Prinâ—ly vertues The Religion then here publiquely allowed is the Reformed or Protestant whose briefe summe is set downe in the 39 Articles agreed vpon in a Convocation holden at London in the yeare 1562 and confirmed by the Cleargie of both Provinces The supreame head hereof is the prince by a common right and prerogatiue of Kings and by decree of Parliament enacted in the yeare 1534 26 of the raign of King Henry the eight The Cleargie are Arch-bishops Bishops and inferiour ranks all Regulars or Monks excluded The Arch-bishops or Metropolitane seas follow Canterbury whose Diocesse with that of Rochester is Kent and whose Province in a manner is the whole South-part of England on this side Trent and Humber begunne about the yeare 596 by Ethelbert the first Christian King of the Kentish Saxons in the person of Saint Austine the first Apostle of the English The Bishops hereof are named Primates and Metropolitans of all England by order of Convocation in the yeare 1534. Formerly during the Romish Hierarchy they assumed the title of Legats of the Popes and Primates of all Britaine Yorke whose Diocesse is Nottinghamshire and Yorkeshire and Province the part of England vpon the North of Humber Dee and Trent founded about the yeare 652 by Edwin King of Northumberland in the person of Paulinus Chaplaine to his Queene Ethelburga and the Apostle of these Northerne parts of the English The Bishopricks may thus be ranked vnder their seas Metropolitane vnder Canterbury London whose Diocesse is Essex Middlesex and part of Hartfordshire founded about the yeare 606 by Sebert and Ethelbert Kings of the East and Kentish Saxons in the person of Mellâ—â—us the Apostle of the East-Saxons and continued after a long apostacy by Sigebert the second Christian king hereof in the person of S. Cedde the second Apostle and Bishop brother to Saint Ceadda for thus are the names distinguished the Apostle and Bishop of Lichfield and the Mercians The Bishops hereof are otherwise in Beda named of the East-Saxons The extent of their iurisdiction hath not any thing beene altered since the time of their institution Winchester founded by Kenwald king of the VVest-Saxons in the person of VVina a Frenchman taken out of the large Diocesse of Dorcester by Oxford in the time of Agilbert the second Bishop of that sea founded by King Kingills father to Kenwald in the person of Berinus an Italian the Apostle of the West-Saxons Agilbert forsaking England discontented with this division and the promotion of VVina the voyde Bishopricke of Dorcester became vnited to VVina to the sea hereof By king Ina the South-Saxons are likewise herevnto added vpon his conquest of that Countrey The great Bishoprick of VVinchester contained then by this meanes both kingdomes of the South and West-Saxons By Ina about the yeare 704 the Bishopricke of Sherborne is taken out Not long after in the yeare 711 the Bishopricke of Selsey for the South-Saxons The Diocesse after so many loppings comprehendeth now the countries onely of Surrey and Hantshire with the Iles of VVight Iersay Garnsay and Alderney In the yeare 733 Dorcester was againe made a Bishops see but for the Province of the Mercians takeÌ„ out of the Diocesse of Lichfield Out of Sherborne by Edward surnamed the Elder were devided the Bishoprickes of VVells for Sommersetshire of Ramesbury for Wiltshire and of Kirton and Bodman for Devonshire and Cornwall Of these Ramesbury became vnited againe with Sherborne in bishop Herman and the raigne of Edward the Confessour Bodman during the Danish warres was translated to S. Germans and lastly vnited with Kirton by the authority of king Canutus Of Kirton and VVells hereafter The Bishops of Winchester were otherwise in Beda named of the West-Saxons Lincolne begunne at Dorcester by Oxford in the yeares aforesaid brought hither by Bishop Remigius in the raigne of the Conquerâ—ur according to the order of a Synod at London that the Sees of bishops in obscure and decayed townes should be remoued to the chiefe citties of each Diocesse It conteined then the middle of England betwixt the riuer of Thames and Humber By king Henry the first the bishoppricke of Elie is taken out By Henry the eight those of Oxford and Peterborough It extendeth yet over Lincolneshire Leicestershire Huntingdonshire Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire with part of Hartfordshire the largest of all the English bishopricks Sarisburie begunne at Sherborne by Ina king of the West-Saxons in the person of Adelmus about the yeare 704 and remoued hither by bishop Hâ—man in the raigne of the Conquerour It conteineth now VViltshire and Barkshire Excester begunne at Kirton in Devonshire in the person of Adulfus by Edward surnamed the Elder Monarch of the English and remoued hither vnder bishop Leofricus in the raigne of Edward the Confessour VVells tooke out of the Diocesse of Sherborne and founded in the person of Athelmus by Edward the Elder Monarch of the English-Saxons By Iohn de Villula vnder king VVilliam Rufus the See was remoued to Bath Vnder bishop Robert in the raigne of king Stephen the two Churches of Bath and VVells after much contention are agreed and the Bishoppes are to assume the title of both places continuing euer since The Diocesse hereof is onely Somersetshire Chichester begun in Selsey by Edilwalch the first Christian king of the South-saxons in the person of S. VVilfride the exiled bishop of Yorke or of Northumberland the Apostle hereof after VVilfride and the conquest of the country by the West-Saxons vnited to Winchester about the yeare 711 in bishop Edbrith devided againe from Winchester and restored to Selsey and lastly from Selsey remoued hither the chiefe towne of the Diocesse by bishop Stigand in the time of William the Conquerour It conteineth onely Sussex Elye tooke of Lincolne and conteyning only Cambridgeshire founded by king Henry the first in the person of Harvaeus sometime Bishop of Bangor in Wales Norwich begun at Dunwich about the yeare 630 by Sigebert king of the East-Angles in the person of Faelix a Burgundian vnder Bisus the fourth bishop diuided into two Bishopricks of Dunwich and North-Elmham in the yeare 955 after a long vacancy during the Danish tyranny and vsurpation in the person of Athulfus restored and vnited in one bishoppricke of North-Elmham by Edwy king of the English-Saxons by bishop Herfast remoued from North-Elmham