the third Dynasty when the Succession seems so clear and so certain an Epocha as the Building of Rome to deduce their accounts from their Chronology be yet uncertain for several of their best Historians make no scruple to confess That no certain account can be given of Rome which was 25 Years after the Olympiads and but 752 Ante Christum till the Regisugium which was 268 Years Ante Christum 384. A fair account then we are like to expect concerning the first rise of our own Nation after so many revolutions of Ages wherein Truth seems as it were more and more to have withdrawn her self from us which to trace out we must again return to the Romans who are the best able to satisfy us in this case This is most certain that the account of Times before the Romans either in Italy Germany Old Gallia or Brittain is scarce sit to be discoursed of under any other Head than that of Impostures not that I think that these Nations had lain in a perpetual sleep till the Romans rous'd them with their Swords and waken'd them as I may say into some kind of Civility but that they had no certain uniform way of conveying the Transactions of their own and former times to the view of Posterity On which account we may very justly reject all those pretended Successions of Gomer and Brute as Fabulous as also that this Island was Inhabited by Giants with a great many other I know not what pretty Stories adapted to the Ignorance of those times However all Historians agree in this That it is highly probable that the first Inhabitants of this Island were Originally descended from the ancient Gauls that part of the World being long Inhabited before this which is sufficiently apparent from the resemblance of their Government Manners Conditions Buildings Habits and the Community of their Language which is the surest proof a Nations Original As for its Name the most probable Conjecture is That it was termed Brittain from Brit which in the ancient Brittish Language signifies Painted and the word Tain which denotes a Nation agreeable to the Custom of the ancient Brittains who used to discolour and paint their Bodies that in their Wars they might seem more Terrible to their Enemies We are inform'd by Julius Caesar in his Commentaries That it was Governed at first by several petty Rulers and Princes of different Interests and Counsels He Landed in Brittain A. M. 3095. or thereabouts but was repuls'd by Câ—ssibelan a Bold and Warlike Prince who was Chosen King or rather Generalissimo by the Unanimous Consent of the other Roytelets to repel the common Enemy He afterwards made several Inroads into it but without any great Success he in the end being forc'd to leave it to the Government of its own Kings Augustus Tiberius and Caligula seemed with good Advice to have neglected it but in the Reign of the Emperor Claudius Plautius the Praetor and after him Ostorius subdued a great part of it Nero being Emperor Suetonius his Lieutenant gained a memorable Victory over Bonduce the Wife of Prasutagus King of the Iceni After which time the Romans still gaining ground the Island was at last totally Conquered in the Reign of the Emperor Domitian and by his Command first made a Province under Agricola who much about that time subdu'd Scotland and Ireland The Romans after they had kept it in Subjection several Hundred Years were upon the Northern Nations sacking Rome under the Command of Alaricus King of the Goths and Vandals recalled by the Emperor Honorius at which time Brittain being left in a manner naked and destitute of help the Picts and Scots presently invade it The Brittains after they had repelled them for several Years being at length much weakned they Counsel their King Vortigern to call the Saxons to their Assistance by whose Aid under the Commands of their Captains Hengist and Horsa they overcame their Enemies in a pitch'd Battel near Stamford in Lincolnshire They rewarded the Saxons for this Victory first with the Isle of Thanet and afterwards with the whole County of Kent who growing daily more Powerful dispossessed at length their Benefactors of their Native Habitations so that in the Reign of Cadwallader the last of the Brittish Kings they were compleat Masters of the whole Island parcelling it out into seven Kingdoms generally called the Saxons Heptarchy The Saxon Kings striving amongst themselves for Sovereignty were at last after they had Ruled separately 129 Years reduced under subjection by Egbert King of the West-Saxons A. C. 818. who caused this Land to be called England by a Parliament held at Winchester From Egbert England continued under the Government of its own Kings till the Year 1017 which was 199 Years about which time Edmund surnamed Ironside being Murther'd the Danes having for a long time infessed our Coasts hoping to succeed as the Saxons before them had done Canutus King of Denmark seiz'd into his hands the Regal Government The Danish Kings having Rul'd England 29 Years Edward the Confessor the Brother of Edmund Ironside succeeded in the Kingdom A. C. 1046. who out of the Saxon Mercian and Danish Laws Compil'd one Universal Body of the Law from whence our Common Law is thought to have its Original He Reigned 20 Years and died A. C. 1066. to whom succeeded Harold who having Reigned near a Year was slain in a pitch'd Battel near Hastings in Sussex A. C. 1067. by William the Conqueror from whom begins the most exact Computation of the Kings of England Thus much I thought necessary to give the Reader some insight into the first Ages of our Nation which I have endeavoured to perform in as concise a manner as the Subject could possibly admit of I shall now proceed in the Description of England as it stands divided by King Alfred into Shires or Counties which I have placed in that order as they are afterwards Treated of beginning with the Learned Cambden First in the furthest Western Parts and so from thence pass over the other Countries in order imitating herein as he judiciously Observes Strabo Ptolomy and others the most ancient Geographers who always begin their Descriptions in the Western Countries as being first from the first Meridian The Shires of England are generally computed to be 39 to which if we add 13 more in Wales reckoning the Isle of Anglesey to be one the whole makes 52. 6 of which were first Ordained in the Reign of Edward the First A. C. 1280. the rest were constituted in the Reign of Henry the VIIIth by a Parliamentary Authority An. Dom. 1510. The Names of the Shires in England Cornwall Devonshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire Barkshire Surrey Sussex Kent Glocestershire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex Essex Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire Huntingtonshire Northamptonshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire Darbyshire Warwickshire Worcestershire Staffordshire Shropshire Cheshire Herefordshire Radnorshire Brecknockshire Monmouthshire Glamorganshire Caermarthenshire
produceth such numbers of Cattel of such large proportion that even Spain can scarce afford the like The Principal Towns are these 1. Manchester a very beautiful Town far excelling all others round about it 't is of good resort and is famous for Clothing the Market-place is large and spacious 't is also adorn'd with a very fair Church and College Founded by Thomas Lord Delaware it was in former times called Mancunium and was made a Fort and Station of the Romans 2. Riblechester though it be at present but a small Town yet by Tradition it hath had the repute of the richest Town in Christendom and is reported to have been the Seat of the Romans which the many Monuments of their Antiquities Statues Pieces of Coin and other several Inscriptions digged up from time to time by the Inhabitants may give us sufficient persuasion to believe 3. Warrington a fair Market-Town known by reason of the Lords thereof sirnam'd the Butlers who obtain'd of Edward the First the liberty of a Market for it 4. 〈◊〉 a good well frequented Town famous for it Antiquity but more famous for a convenient passage from this place to Ireland 5. Ormeskirk a Market-Town remarkable for the Sepulchres of the Stanleys the Earls of Darby 6. Preston a Town of good resort so named from the Religious Men dwelling in it 7. Lancaster it was formerly the chief Town of this Shire but at this day it is neither well peopled nor much frequented most of its Inhabitants are given to Husbandry the Territory round about being well Manur'd lying open fresh and fair and not void of Woods Roman Coins are often digged up here and here they say was the plot of ground in which the ancient Town was planted which was destroyed by the Scots An. Dom. 1â—â—2 't is sufficiently famous in our English Annals for those Noble Persons who have successively born the Title of Earls and Dukes of it the greatest Princes for Revenues of any Subjects in Christendom Westmorland IN Latin Westmoria is bounded on the West and North with Cumberland on the East with Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durham and on the South with Lancashire The Air is sharp and piercing purging its self from Mists and Vapours but the Soil for the generality is so unfertile that it can hardly be brought to any fruitfulness by the industry and painful labour of the Husbandman The Principal Towns are these 1. Appleby a Town pleasantly seated encompass'd for the most part with the River Eden but it is at present so slenderly Inhabited and the Buildings so rude and simple that were it not for its Antiquity it deserveth not to be accounted the Shire-Town and to have the Assizes kept in the Castle which is the common Goal for Malefactors in short all the beauty lies in one broad Street which from North to South riseth with an easy ascent of an Hill in the upper part standeth the Castle in the lower the Church and by that a very good School Founded by Robert Langton and Miles Spenser Doctors of Law 2. Kirkby Lonsdale a Town situate on the East side of this Shire the tract of Land lying about it being called Lonsdale it hath a very good frequented Market all the People round about repair hither on Sundays to Church 3. Kirkby Stephen a fair Market-Town of good resort 4. Kendall situate in a Dale on the River Can from whence it had its Name it is the chief Town in Westmorland having two long fair broad Streets crossing one another it is of great Trade and Resort and for the diligent and industrious practice of the Inhabitants so excels the rest that in regard thereof it carrieth a super-eminent Name above them and hath great Vent and Traffick for her Woollen Cloaths through all the parts of England Famous it is for giving the Title of Earl to John Duke of Bedford Regent of France in the time of King Henry the Sixth Cumberland IN Latin Cumbria on the North boundeth on Scotland on the South and West the Irish Sea beateth upon it and Eastward above Westmorlanâ— it confineth on Northumberland It s ancient Inhabitants though known to the Romans by the name of Brigantes were the natural Britons who called themselves 〈◊〉 The Air is piercing and of a sharp temperature and would be more biting were it not that the high Hills oppose and break off the Northern Storms and dissolve the falling Snows The Province is very rich the Vales smile with Corn and the Hills with Pasture the Sea affords plenty of Fish and the Land is overspread with variety of Fowls The Principal Towns are these 1. Keswick a little Town seated in a very pleasant Soil being compass'd about with Hills King Edward the Third ordained a Market in this place by the procurement of Sir Thomas Darwentwater the Lord of it Famous it was in times past for its Copper-Mines it being at this day much Inhabited by Mineral Men who have here their Smelting house by Darwent-side which with its foâ—ible Stream and their ingenious Inventions serveth them in stead for easy Bellows-works Hammer-works Forge-works and Sawing of Boards not without admiration of such as behold it 2. Cokermouth a rich frequented Market-Town seated in a Valley between two Hills its Buildings are fair and beautiful upon one of the Hills standeth the Church on the other a very strong Castle the Gate whereof carrieth in the Front the Arms of the Percus 3. Papcastle an ancient Castle but at this present almost ruinated however memorable it is in that for a great number of Monuments it layeth claim to a Roman Antiquity among which was found a large Vessel of Greenish Stone engraven with little Images which serveth now for a Sacrarium Regenerationis in St. Brigids Church hard by Several Authors tell us that Fonts were adorn'd with Pictures of Holy Men to the end that such as were Baptized might have before their Eyes the Pictures of those Men whose deeds they were to imitate so saith Pontius Paulinus for in the first Plantation of Christianity among the Gentiles such only as were of full Age after they had been Instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion were admitted to Baptism and that but twice in the year viz. at Easter and Whitsontide except on urgent occasions at which times they which were to be Baptized were attired in White Garments Exorcised and Exsuffled with sundry Ceremonies which I leave to the Learned in Christian Antiquities 4. Solway-Frith within this very Frith where the Salt-waters ebb and flow the English and Scots by report of the Inhabitants fought with their Fleets at full Sea and with their Horse and Footmen at the ebb which seems no less marvellous than that which Pliny reported not without wonder of the like place in Caramania this Arm of the Sea is called Solway-Frith from Solway a Town of Scotland bordering upon it 5. Penrith a little Town of an indifferent Trade Fortified on the West side with a
A DESCRIPTION Of all the Shires Cities and Towns c. IN ENGLAND Anglia Rediviva Being a full DESCRIPTION Of all the Shires Cities Principal Towns and Rivers in ENGLAND With some useful Observations concerning what is most Remarkable whether in relation to their Antiquity Situation Buildings Traffick or Inhabitants To which is Prefix'd A short Account of the first Origine of our Nation of its being Conquer'd by the Romans As also the occasion of the Saxons and Danes first entring England Collected from the best Historians By Mr. DUNSTAR Vincit amor Patriae Virg. London Printed for T. Bennet at the Half Moon in St. Paul's Church-yard C. Coningsby at the Turk's Head in Fleetstreet and D. Midwinter and T. Leigh at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard 1699. To the HONOURED Sir Thomas Twisden In the County of Kent BARONET SIR THE desire I always had to serve You encouraged me to prefix Your Name to this following Treatise Which being Collected from the best of our English Historians whose Writings You have frequently conversed with I presum'd that what was here so compendiously Digested would revive in Your Mind some remarkable Observations not unworthy Your remembrance You have here SIR a short view both of the ancient and present state of England as also an account of the most memorable Battels annex'd to the places near which they were Fought I have spar'd for no Pains and Industry to make it Perfect I being earnestly desirous that it might in some manner Merit Your Favour and Esteem which being once gain'd would be a great means in engaging others who are ambitious of emulating Your Example to receive it kindly How happy I have been in this Performance the Reader can best determine this I am sure of That if Learning and Sense Wit and Humour join'd with an Address that is every way becoming and agreable are accomplishments fit to recommend a Gentleman All those who know You and those who are to know You will applaud my Judgment in chusing You for my Patron Be pleased then SIR to afford a kind Reception to these my first Offerings let the fulness of my Joy for Your safe return amongst us plead in my behalf and make an atonement for the Faults You will here meet with Give me leave to hope that this short Description of Your own Country which cannot but be very dear unto You may find some place among those excellent Remarks which You have so lately made Abroad SIR since the greatness of Your Quality forbids me to come near You as a Friend Permit me to Subscribe my self with all imaginable sincerity SIR Your most Humble Servant S. DUNSTAR Anglia Rediviva UNDER the Title of ENGLAND we comprehend the better part of one of the best and greatest Islands of the whole Earth which together with that of Scotland is generally term'd both by Ancient and Modern Writers Great Brittain or Albion It is bounded on the North with the Hyperborean Ocean on the West with the Vergivian or Western Ocean which parts it from Ireland on the South it is divided from France with the English Channel and on the East it is separated from Germany Belgium and Danemark with the Brittish or as some call it the German Ocean It is in length from Berwick in the North to the Isle of Wight in the South 375 Miles whereof 73 make a Degree and from Dover in the East to the Lands-end in the West about 328 in compass 1300. In shape it is Triangular it having Three Promontories shooting out into divers parts viz. the Cape of St. Burien in Cornwall the Foreland of Kent and the Point of Catness in Scotland it contains according to Mr. Morden's computation near 30 Millions of Acres being about the 1 1000 part of the Globe and the 1 â—33 part of the Habitable World It s Air is Temperate the Cold in Winter being neither so extream nor the Heat in Summer so vexatiously scorching as in some parts of the World which have either a more Southern or Northern Scituation The whole Country is exceeding Fruitful 't is Bless'd with all the Commodities of Heaven and Earth it has Corn in abundance it is rich in Pasture it hath innumerable quantities of Cattel plenty of Wild and Tame Fowl and variety of all sorts of Fish The People are Bold and Warlike very Tenacious of their Liberty of a Generous and Noble Disposition see what the Ingenious Mr. 〈◊〉 says of them in his late Poem See in the Ocean yon fair Western Isle Whose Three sharp Points th' insulting Waves divide See with what beauteous Rivers 't is suppli'd How rich the happy Fields thro' where they glide Well knew the Old Phoenicians that blest place Enur'd to Pain there lives an hardy Race Daring as Virtues self for Conquest made Peace but their Recreation War their Trade Jealous of Liberty they Chains refuse Fair Death before Inglorious Life they chuse Force cannot bend but Kindness may improve And mildly melt their generous warmth to Love Book the 3d. C. 1147. As concerning its Name and its First Inhabitants Historians have left us in so great an uncertainty that we scarce know what to resolve on but we need not wonder at so great an Obscurity if we consider that the First Inhabitants of Countries had other Cares to employ their Thoughts than to deliver their Beginnings to Posterity and possibly had they been never so willing so to do they could not have effected it seeing their Life was so uncultivated and void of all Literature that it was almost impossible for them to preserve the Memory of things and to make over the same to succeeding Ages Besides their Druides and Bardi who Rehearsed and Sung the Actions of their Heroes not only like other Heathen Priests Monopolized that little Learning they had wholly to themselves and were by this means the only Persons suppos'd to be able to give an account of what was past thought it not lawful to Write any thing Nor indeed have we any better account of ancient times even in those Civiliz'd parts of the World wherein Learning chiefly flourished when a profound Ignorance overspread the face of Greece its self as well as other Nations for if we would take the pains to enquire strictly into the matter we shall there find as much darkness and obscurity as to their Original as in these our European Parts What Fabulous Stories would the subtle Greeks impose upon us if we had the Faith to believe them Who as a Learned Father of our Church affirms had not learn'd to speak plain truth till the World was about 3173 Years old for so it was when the Olympiads began If we would enquire further into the Succession of the Latins and would take the trouble to examine the two first Dynasties the first before Aeneas's coming into Italy and the second of the Aeneadae after fo certainly it will be sufficient ground to question the account of times before if in
Shires of Wales but those Two also beyond the Severn viz. Herefordshire and Monmouthshire which are now reckoned among the Counties of England according to Ptolomy the Silures inhabited the South part called by one Name Dehubarth but now Herefordshire Radnorshire Brecknockshire Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire The Inhabitants are generally impatient of Servitude very Valiant and given to War Herefordia is bounded on the East with Worcestershire and Glocestershire on the South with Monmouthshire on the West with Radnor and Brecknockshires and on the North with Shropshire This Counties Climate is healthful and temperate and the Soil so fertile for Corn and Cattel that no place in England yieldeth more The Principal Towns are these 1. Hereford the principal City of this Shire seated on the Banks of the River Wye in the middle of most flourishing Meadows and no less plentiful Corn-Fields it was raised out of the ruins of the ancient Ariconium 't is encompass'd almost round with Rivers it was Walled about in the Reign of Henry the First who Founded in this place a most beautiful Cathedral Church 2. Lemster a Town famous for exceeding fine Wool Radnorshire IN Latin Radnora hath on the North Montgomeryshire on the East Herefordshire on the South Brecknockshire on the West where 〈◊〉 groweth very narrow Cardiganshire The Air of this Province is very sharp and Cold and the Soil lean and barren its riches consists chiefly in the brood of Cattel The Principal Towns are these 1. Radnor the principal Town of this Shire fair Built after the manner of the Country with thatch'd Houses in times past it was fenc'd with a Wall and Castle which are now grown to decay 2. Prestan a Market-Town so fair and beautiful that it in a manner putteth down Radnor it is of late Years wonderfully frequented 3. Knighton a Town scarce inferior to Prestian near this place is King Offa's admirable Ditch reaching from Dee Mouth up to Wy Mouth by this Town for the space of Fourscore and ten Miles made by him to separate the Brittons from his Englishmen Brecknockshire IN Latin Brechinia is bounded on the East with Herefordshire on the South with Monmouth and Glamorganshires on the West with Caermardhenshire and on the North with Radnorshire The Air is very Temperate the whole County is full of Hills and uneven for Travelling but the Soil is very fertile yielding in the Vallies both plenty of Corn and Pasture The Principal Town is 1. Brecknock the Shire-Town seated in the very heart of the Country its Walls are strong and of good repair it hath Three Gates for entrance with Ten Towers for its defence on the West side it hath a stately Castle that it was Inhabited in the Romans time is evident from the Coins of the Roman Emperors oftentimes digged up here Monmouthshire IN Latin Monumethia is bounded on the North by the River Munow that separateth it from Herefordshire on the East the River Wye divideth it from Glocestershire on the West the River Remney severeth it from Glamorganshire on the South 't is bounded by the Severn Sea The Air is healthful and clear the Soil is Hilly Woody Rich and in all places very Fruitful The Principal Towns are these 1. Monmouth the chief Town of this Province 't is encompassed almost round with the Rivers Munow and Wye on the North side where it is not defended with Rivers it was formerly Fortified with a Wall and Ditch 2. Chepstow a Town situate on the side of an Hill rising from the very River Fortified round about with a Wall of a large Circuit it hath a very fair Castle situate over the River Wye the Town generally speaking is of good resort 3. Abergevenny a Town well frequented Fortified with Walls and a Castle which of all the Castles in Wales as Giraldus says has been most defam'd on the account of Treason 4. Newport a Town lately Built not unknown upon the account of its Castle and the Commodiousness of its Harbour Glamorganshire IN Latin Glamorgania on the South it has the Severn Sea on the East Monmouthshire on the North Brecknockshire and on the West Caermardhenshire The Air is temperate and giveth more content to the Mind than the Soil doth fruit or ease to Travellers The Principal Towns are these 1. Cardiffe a proper fair Town having a commodious Haven Fortified by a strong Wall and Castle by Fitz-Haimon memorable it is for that Robert Curthouse William the Conqueror's Eldest Son being quite put by his hopes of the Crown of England and depriv'd of both his Eyes by his Brother King Henry the First lived until he was an Old Man in this Castle 2. Cowbridge a fair Market-Town well frequented 3. Landaffe a small City and of as small reputation situate somewhat low but adorn'd with a Bishops's See and a Cathedral Consecrated to St. Gelean Bishop of the place West-Wales Caermardhenshire Dimetae IN Latin Maredunum is limited on the East with Glamorganshire and Brecknockshire on the West with Pembrokeshire on the North 't is severed from Cardiganshire by the River Tovy and on the South it hath the Ocean The Air is pleasant and delightful the Soil being not so full of Hills as its neighbouring Counties is therefore much better for Corn and Pasturage The Principal Town is Caermardhen the chief Town of this County compass'd about with Brick Walls part of which is yet standing upon the River Tovy which is able to bear small Ships although there be now a Bar of Sand cast up against the mouth of it 't is pleasant for its Woods and Meadows and venerable for its Antiquity memorable it is for the Birth of the Sage Merlin Pembrokeshire IN Latin Pembrocia the Sea presseth upon every side of this County unless it be on the East where Caermardhenshire and on the North where a part of Cardiganshire boundeth upon it The Air is passing temperate and the Soil very fruitful The Principal Towns are these 1. Tenby a fair Town strongly Walled towards the Land it looketh into the Sea from a dry Cliff famous it is for its commodious Roads for Ships and for an abundance of Fish taken there 2. Milford-Haven than which there is not another in all Europe either nobler or safer there are reckoned within it Sixteen Creeks Five Bays and Thirteen Roads known every one by its several name 't is particularly famous for the arrival of King Henry the Seventh who released England from the Domestick Calamities and Civil Miseries it then groan'd under 3. Pembroke the principal Town of this Shire it standeth on the East Creek of Milford-Haven it was formerly Fortified with Walls and a Castle which are now decayed 4. Haverford situate in the Demy Island of this County by the Welsh called Ross by the English Little England beyond Wales by reason of the English Tongue there spoken it is a Town the best Traded and frequented of all South-Wales it was Fortified with a Rampier and Wall on the North side by the Earls of
term'd The West Riding The East Riding The North Riding West-Riding IS compass'd by the River Ouse with the bound of Lancashire and South limits of the Shire and beareth towards the West and South The Principal Towns are these 1. Sheffield a Town of great repute both for its Inhabitants who are generally Smiths as well as for the many Iron Mines which are found thereabouts 't is Fortified with a strong and ancient Castle 2. Halyfax a famous Town lying from West to East upon the steep descent of an Hill it is not many Years since it took this Name it being formerly called Horton is is so very populous that it is thought to have 12000 Inhabitants 3. Wakefield a great Market-Town well frequented its Buildings are very beautiful famous it is for its Inhabitants getting great store of Wealth by making Cloth nor is it less remarkable for its Bridge upon which King Edward the Fourth erected a beautiful Chappel in memory of those who lost their Lives in Battel his own Father being slain in the Field by those that sided with the House of Lancaster 4. Leeds formerly a House of the Kings but now grown to be a populous rich Town by reason of Clothing 5. Towton a little Country Village which may not be unfitly termed England's Pharsalia famous it is for the Battel between the Houses of York and Lancaster where the Lancastrians received so terrible an overthrow that they left more than 30000 dead upon the place 6. York the second City of England the fairest in all this County it being a singular safeguard and Ornament to all the Northern parts a pleasant place large and stately well fortified and beautifully adorn'd as well with private as publick Buildings rich populous and to its greater dignity it hath a stately Cathedral consecrated to St. Peter and an Archiepiscopal See which beside Twelve Bishopricks in England exercised formerly the Power of a Primate over all the Bishops of Scotland but it hath now but Four within its Diocese viz. the Bishoprick of Durham of Carlisle of Chester and of the Isle of Man Memorable it is for the Death of Severus the Emperor and of Constantine the Father of Constantine the Great East-Riding ON the North and West side 't is bounded with the River Darwent on the South with the Salt Water of Humber and on the East with the German Ocean The Principal Towns are these 1. Beverly a great Town very populous and full of Trade so named from John de Beverly Archbishop of York a Godly and Learned Man who after he had given over his Bishoprick as weary of this World came hither and ended his Life in Contemplation An. Dom. 721. 2. Hull a Town Founded by King Edward the First which by little and little hath rose to that Dignity that for stately and sumptuous Buildings for strong Blockhouses for well-furnished Ships for store of Merchants and abundance of all things it is become now the most famous Town in all these parts the Inhabitants make a great Trade of Island Fish dried and hardened which they term Stock-Fish whereby they gather a mass of Riches 3. Patrington a Town pleasantly seated having a most delightful Prospect on one side lieth the main Sea on the other the Humber and over-against it the fresh and green Borders of Lincolnshire The Inhabitants glory much on the account of their Antiquity and the commodiousness of their Haven North-Riding OR the North part of this County stretcheth it self Westward 60 Miles together even as far as to Westmorland 't is limited on the one side with Darwent and for a while with the River Ure on the other side with the River Tees running all along by it which on the North Coast separateth it from the Bishoprick of Durham The Principal Towns are these 1. Pickering a large Town belonging to the Dutchy of Lancaster situate upon an Hill and defended by an old Castle to which a great number of small Villages lying round about do appertain 2. Scarborough-Castle is seâ—â—ed on a Rock of a wonderful heighth and bigness which by reason of steep Cliffs is almost inaccessible on every side it was at first Built by William le Grosse Earl of Albermarle which being in process of time fallen down it was afterwards Rebuilt by King Henry the Second here the Hollanders Fish for Herrings demanding first License of the Lord of the Castle 3. Rhidal a pleasant beautiful Market-Town adorn'd with Twenty three Parish-Churches through the midst whereof runneth the River Rhy 4. Malton a large Market-Town well frequented for Corn Horses Fish and Implements of Husbandry here are to be seen the Foundations of an old Castle belonging to the Family of the Vescys 5. Richmond a fair beautiful Town seated on the River Swall it seems to have been formerly Fortified with a Wall whose Gates yet stand in the midst of the Town so that the Suburbs are extended far without the same it is indifferently populous and well frequented the People are most employed in Knitting of Stockings wherewith even the Decrepit and Children get their own Livings Durham IN Latin Dunelmus is bounded on the North by Northumberland on the West where it is more narrow by Westmorland and Cumberland on the South it hath Yorkshire and on the East the German Ocean The Air is sharp and piercing and would be more violent were it not for the Vapours of the German Sea which dissolving the Ice and Snow make the Air more mild and temperate As for the Soil the East part is by far the richest The Principal Towns are these 1. Hartlepool a very large Town of good resort it has a very safe and convenient Harbour for Shipping 2. Durham a noble City seated on high and shap'd in form of an Egg environ'd on all sides but on the North with the River Were 't is Fortified with a Wall its Buildings are beautiful but especially its Cathedral which standing on the South side where the River windeth its self about maketh a solemn and gallant show having an high Tower in the midst anâ— two Spires at the West end Famous it is likewise for its Castle which standeth between two stone Bridges over the River as also for its spacious Market-place and for St. Nicholas's Church which is a beautiful Fabrick Near unto this City at Nevils Cross a sore Battel was Fought between the English and Scots wherein David Bruce King of Scotland with many of his Nobility were taken Prisoners by Queen Philippa Wife to that glorious Prince King Edward the Third who in Person was present in the Field Lancashire IN Latin Lancastria is enclos'd between Yorkshire on the East side and the Irish Sea on the West on the South side where it boundeth on Cheshire it is broader and by degrees the more Northward it goeth where it confineth on Westmorland it is narrower The Air is subtle and piercing not troubled with gross Vapours but the Soil for the most part is lean and barren yet it
Castle of the Kings which in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth was repaired out of the Ruins of a Roman Fort 't is adorn'd with a fair Church and a beautiful Market-place 6. Carlisle a City commodiously and pleasantly seated 't is guarded on the North with the Channel of Eden on the East with Deterill on the West with Caud besides these natural Fences 't is Fortified with strong Walls of Stone with a Castle and Cittadel in fashion it lieth out somewhat long running out from West to East on the West side standeth the Castle repair'd by King Richard the Third in the midst of the City standeth the Cathedral Church the upper-part of which being the newer is very artificially and curiously wrought but the nether part is much more ancient That this City flourished in the times of the Romans divers tokens of Antiquity now and then digged up there and the famous mention of it in those days do sufficiently prove The Picts Wall THrough the higher part of Cumberland shooteth that famous Wall which was the limit of the Roman Province for when the Romans had enlarg'd their Empire even so far beyond their Wishes that the unwieldiness thereof began to be of its self fearfully suspected the Emperors thought it the safest way to limit the same with certain bounds In this Islaâ—d therefore the Romans when they perceived that the further parts of Brittain lying Northward were Cold of a rough and barren Soil and Inhabited by the Caledonians Britons and barbarous Nations in subduing which they were sure to take much pains and reap very small Profit built at several times divers Fences as well to bound as to defend the Province the first Wall or Fence is thought to have been raised by Julius Agricola it being made of Turfs between Edenborough and Dunbritton Frith the second Fence was by the River Tine where a Stone Wall Fight Foot broad and Twelve Foot high was Built being an Hundred Miles long reaching from the German Sea to the Irish Ocean It was begun by the command of Adrian the Emperor and was finished by Severus who hereupon was stiled Britannicus Some report that this Wall was only of Turfs and that the Stone Wall was erected afterwards by the Romans when they left Brittain Lollius Urbicus Lieutenant of Brittain under the Emperor Antoninus Pius enlarged the bounds again as far as to the first Frontier Fence that was raised by Agricola The first that was ever blamed for neglecting these limits was Constantine the Great for he it was that was the first and principal cause that the state of the Empire ran to ruin however this admirable work could not divert the tempestuous storms of Foregin Enemies for when the Romans retired out of Brittain the Picts and Scots aâ—â—â—ulting the Wall broke down the Fences with their Engines and over-ran Brittain being then disarm'd and shaken with Civil Broils and most miserably afflicted with extream Famine Northumberland Ottadini IN Latin Northumbria it lieth enclosed in fashion of a Triangle but not with equal sides the South side is shut in with Darwent running into Tine and with the River Tine its self where it confineth on the Bishoprick of Durham the German Sea beateth on the East side on the West it hath Cumberland on the North it fronteth Scotland with the River Tweed which was the ancient limit of both Kingdoms The Air must needs be subtle and piercing these Northern parts being very much exposed to extremity of Weather The Soil is neither rich nor fruitful it having neither fertility of ground for Corn or Cattel the most part of it being rough and in every place hard to be Manured The Principal Towns are these 1. Newcastle the Principal Town in all these parts ennobled by a notable Haven which the River Tine makes it being of that depth that it beareth very Tall Ships and so defendeth them that they can neither be easily toss'd with Tempestâ— nor driven upon the Shelves and Rocks 't is situate on the rising of an 〈◊〉 very uneven on the North bank of the River which hath a fair Bridge over it on the left hand standeth the Castle and on the right the Market-place and the better part of the Town it was Built by Robert the Son of William the Conqueror and named by him Newcastle the Buildings are beautiful it is adorn'd with Five Churches the Inhabitants are extream Wealthy partly by intercourse of Traffick with the Germans and partly by carrying out Seacoals both into Foreign Countries and also into other parts of England it was Fortified with very strong 〈◊〉 having Eight Gates in the Reign of King Edward the First Before the Conquest it was called Monkchester it having been in possession of the Monks and Chester being added which signifying a Bulwark or place of defence Shews that in ancient time it had been a place of Fortification It was taken by the Scots An. 1642. who enter'd England in an Hostile manner under pretence of delivering a Petition to King Charles the First 2. Tinmouth a very ancient and strong Castle on the East and Northside 't is impossible to be enter'd by reason of a mighty high Rock hanging over the Sea and in other places such is the heighth of it that it needs but small defence 3. Morpeth a famous little Town situate on the North bank of the River Wentsbeck on the South bank standeth the Church and the Castle by it all beset with Trees this Town An. Dom. 1215. was set on Fire by its own Inhabitants out of spite and malice to King John Near this place was Born John Duns called Scotus because he was descended of Scottish Blood who being brought up in Merton College in Oxford became wonderfully Learned in Logick and in the intricate Divinity of those times yet as one still doubtful and unresolv'd he overcast the truth of Religion with mists of obscurity and with so profound and admirable Subtilty he wrote many Books in a dark and rude Stile that he deserved the title of the Subtle Doctor and after his own Name he erected a new Sect of Scolists but he Died pitifully for being taken with an Apoplexy and over-hastily Buried for Dead whilst upon the return of Life Nature was about to discuss the violence of the Disease he endeavouring in vain by a lamentable noise to call for help after he had a long time knock'd his Head against the Gravestone he dash'd out his own Brains and at last yielded up his vital Breath 4. Barwick the utmost Town in England and the strongest Hold in all Brittain 't is situated between two most mighty Kingdoms as Pliny has reported of Palmyra in Syria it was the first thing always that both Nations took care of whenever they were at discord it having had different fortunes being one time under the power of the Scots and another time of the English Our Kings have oftentimes Fortified and Fenc'd it with new Works but especially Queen Elizabeth who enclos'd