in time to the Normans iâ— became a Province under the Conquerours power who gave to his followers much Land in these parts 6 The place of most account in this Shire is Chichester by the Britains called Câ—ercei a City beautifull and large and very well walled about first built by Cissa the second King of the â—outh Saxons wherein his Royal Palace was kept And when King VVilliam the First had enacted that Bishops Sees should be transâ—â—ted out of small Towns unto places of greater resort the Reâ—idence of the Bishop until then held at Selsey was removed to this City where Bishop Raulfe began a most goodly Cathedral Church but before it was fuâ—ly finished by a sudden mischance of fire was quite consumed Yet the same Bishop with the helping liberality of King Henry the First began it again and saw it wholly finished whose beauty and greatness her fatal enemy still envying again cast down in the dayes of King Richard the First and by her raging flames consumed the buildings both of it and the Bishops Palace adjoyning which Seffrid the second Bishop of that Name re-edified and built anew And now to augment the honour of this place the City hath born the Title of an Earldome whereof they of Arundel were sometimes so styled Whose Graduation for Latitude which is removed from the Aequator unto the degree fifty five minutes and for Longitude observing the same point in the West whence Mercator hath measured are twenty degrees 7 With whom for frequency bigness and building the Town Lewes seemeth to contend where King Athelstane appointed the mintage of his Moneys and VVilliam de VVarron built a strong Castle whereunto the disloyal Barons of King Henry the Third in warlike manner resorted and fought a great Battle against their own Soveraign and his son wherein the King had his Horse flain under him Richard King of the Romans surprised and taken in a Wind-mill and Prince Edward delivered unto them upon equal conditions of peace But a greater Battel was fought at Battle when the hazard of England was tried in one days fight and Harold the King gave place to his Conquerour by losing of his life among sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy four Englishmen besides whose bloud so spilt gave name to the place in French Sangue lac And the soyl naturally after rain becoming of a reddish colour caused William Newbery untruly to write That if there fall any small sweet showers in the place where so great a slaughter of the English-men was made presently sweateth forth very fresh bloud out of the earth as if the evidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of bloud there shed and cried still from the earth unto the Lord. 8 But places of other note in this Shire are these from Basham Earl Harold taking the Sea for his delight in a small Boat was driven upon the Coast of Normandy where by Duke William he was retained 'till he had sworn to make him King after Edward the Confessors death which oath being broken the Bastard arrived at Pensey and with his sword revenged that Perjury At VVest-VVittering also Ellâ— the Saxon before him had landed for the conquering of those parts and gave name to the shore from Cimen his son But with greater glory doth Gromebridge raise up her head where Charles Duke of Orleance father to Lewes the twelfth King of France taken prisoner at Agincourt was there a long time detained 9 The commodities of this Province are many and divers both in Corn Cattle VVood Iron and Glass which two last as they bring great gain to their possessors so do they impoverish the County of Woods whose want will be found in ages to come if not at this present in some sort felt 10 Great have been the devotions of religious Persons in building and consecrating many houses unto the use and only service of Christ whose Beadmen abusing the intents of their Founders hath caused those Foundations to lament their own ruins For in the tempestuous time of King Henry the Eighth eighteen of them in this County were blown down whose fruit fell into the Laps of some that never meant to restore them again to the like use This County is principally divided into six Rapes every of them containing a River a Castle and Forrest in themselves besides the several Hundreds whereunto they are parted that is the Rape of Chichester into seven of Arundel into five of Bramber into ten of Lewes into thirteen of Pevensey into seventeen and of Hastings into thirteen in all fifty six wherein are seated ten Castles eighteen Market-Towns and three hundred and twelve Parish-Churches SURREY SURREY CHAPTER V. SURREY by Beda called Sutbri lieth seperated upon the North from the counties of Buckingham and Middlesex by the great River Thamisis upon the East Kent doth inbound it upon the South is held in with Sussex and Hamp-shire and her West part is bordered upon by Hamp-shire and Bark-shire 2 The form thereof is somewhat square and lieth by North and by East whereof Redrith and Frensham are the opposites betwixt whom are extended thirty four miles The broadest part is from Awfold Southward to Thamisis by Stanes and them asunder twenty two the whole in circumference is one hundred and twelve miles 3 The heavens breathing Air in this Shire is most sweet and delectable so that for the same cause many Royal Palaces of our Princes are therein seated and the Countrey better stored with game than with grain insomuch that this County is by some men compared unto a home-spun freeze-cloth with a costly fair list for that the out-verge doth exceed the middle it self And yet it is wealthy enough both in Corn and Pasturage especially in Holmesdale and towards the River of Thamisis 4 In this shire the Regni an ancient people mentioned by Ptolomy were seated whom he brancheth further through Sussex and some part of Hamp-shire And in the wane of the Romans Government when the Land was left to the will of invaders the South-Saxons under Ella here erected their Kingdome which with the first was raised and soonest found end From them no doubt the Countrey was named Suth-rey as seated upon the South of the River and now by contraction is called Surâ—ey 5 And albeit the County is barren of Cities or Towns of great estate yet is she stored with many Priâ—cely Houses yea and five of his Majesties so magnificently built that of some she may well say no shire hath none such as is None such indeed And were not Richmond a fatal place of Englands best Princes it might in estem be ranked with the richest For therein died the great Conquerour of France King Edward the Third the beautiful Ann daughter to Charles the Fourth Emperour and intirely beloved wife to King Richard the Second the most wise Prince King Henry the Seventh and the rarest of her Sex the Mirrour of Princes Queen Elizabeth the worlds love and Subjects joy 6 At Mâ—rton likewise
Morda in the West twenty and five miles the whole in circuit about extending to one hundred thirty four miles 3 Wholesome is the Air delectable and good yielding the Spring and the Autumn Seed-time and Harvest in a temperate condition and affordeth health to the Inhabitants in all seasons of the year 4 The Soil is rich and standeth most upon a reddish Clay abounding in Wheat and Barley Pit-coals Iron and Woods which two last continue not long in league together It hath Rivers that make fruitful the Land and in their Waters contain great store of fresh-fish whereof Severn is the chief and second in the Realm whose stream cutteth this County in the midst and with many winding sporteth her self forward leaving both Pastures and Meadows bedecked with flowers and green colours which every where she bestoweth upon such her attendants 5 This River was once the bounds of the North-Britains and divided their possession from the Land of the Saxons until of latter times their began to decay and the Welsh to increase who enlarged their lists to the River Dee So formerly had it separated the Ordovices from the Cornavâ—â— those ancient Inhabitants mentioned by Ptolomy The Ordovices under Caractacus purchased great honour whilst he a Prince of the Silures removed his Wars thence among them where a while he maintained the Britains liberty with valour and courage in despite of the Romans His Fort is yet witness of his unfortunate Fight seated near Clune-Castle at the confluence of that River with Temd where in remembrance of him the place is yet called Caer-Caradoc a Fort of his won by P. Ostorius Lieutenant of the Romans about the year of Grace 53. The Cornavii were seated upon the North of Severn and branched into other Counties of whom we have said 6 But when the strength of the Romans was too weak to support their own Empire and Britain emptied of her Souldiers to resist the Saxons set foot in this most fair Soil and made it a part of their Mercian Kingdom their line likewise issued to the last period and the Normans beginning where these Saxons left the VVelshmen took advantage of all present occasions and brake over Severn unto the River Dee to recover which the Normans first Kings often assayed and Henry the Second with such danger of Life that at the Siege of Bridge-North he had been slain had not Sir Hubert Syncler received the Arrow aimed at him in stepping betwixt that Shaft and his Soveraign and therewith was shot thorow unto death In the like danger stood Henry Prince of Scotland who in the strait Siege of Ludlow begirt by King Stephen had been plucked from his Saddle with an Iron-hook from the Wall had not Stephen presently rescued him Anno 1139. 7 This then being the Marches of England and VVales was sore afflicted by bloody broils which caused many of their Towns to be strongly walled and thirty two Castles to be strongly built Lastly into this County the most wise King Henry the Seventh sent his eldest Son Prince Arthur to be resident at Ludlow where that fair Castle became a most famous Princes Court And here King Henry the Eight ordained the Council of the Marches consisting of a Lord President as many Counsellors as the Prince shall please a Secretary an Attorney a Soliciter and four Iustices of the Counties in Wales in whose Court were pleaded the Causes depending and termly tried for the most part in presence of that honourable President 8 But the Shire-Town Shrewsbury for circuit trade and wealth doth far exceed this and is inferiour to few of our Cities her buildings fair her streets many and large her Citizens rich her trade for the most part in the Staple Commodities of Cloth and Freeses her Walls strong and of a large compass extending to seventeen hundred paâ—es about besides another Bulwark ranging from the Castle down unto and in part along the side of Severn thorow which there are three entrances into the Town East and West over by two fair Stone-Bridges with Towers Gates and Bars and the third into the North no less strong than them over which is mounted a large Castle whose gaping chinks do doubtless threaten her fall This Town is governed by two Bailiffs yearly elected out or twenty four Burgesses a Recorder Town-Clerk and Chamberlain with three Sergeants at Mace the Pole being raised hence from the degrees of Latitude 53 16 minutes and from West in Longitude 17 degrees 27 minutes 9 Yea and ancienter Cities have been set in this Shire such was Râ—xalter or Wroxcester lower upon Severn that had been Vriconium the chiefest City of the Cornavii Vfocâ—nia now Okenyateâ— near unto the Wrekin and under Red-Castle the Ruins of a City whom the Vulgar report to have been famous in Arthurs daies but the pieces of Romish Coins in these three do well assure us that therein their Legions lodged as many other Trenches are signs of War and of Blood But as Swords have been stirring in most parts of this Province so Beads have been hid for the preservation of the whole and places erected for the maintenance of Votaries in whom at that time was imputed great holiness in Shrewsbury many at Coulmere Stow Dudley Bromfield Wigmore Hamond Lyleshill Bildas Bishops-Castle and Wâ—nloke where in the Reign of Richard the Second was likewise a rich Mine of Copper But the same blasts that blew down the Buds of such Plants scattered also the Fruits from these fair Trees which never since bare the like nor is likely any more to do That only which is rare in this Province is a Well at Pitchford in a private mans yard whereupon floateth a thick Skum of liquid Bitumen which being clear off to day will gather the like again on the Morrow not much unlike to the Lake in the Land of Iewry This Shire is divided into fifteen Hundreds wherein are seated fourteen Market-Towns and hath in it one hundred and seventy Churches for Gods sacred and divine Service CHESTER Petrus Kaerius caeelavit The County Palatine of CHESTER CHAPTER XXXVI CHESSE-SHIRE the County Palatine of Chester is parted upon the North from Lancashire with the River Mercey upon the East by Mercey Goit and the Dane is separated from Darâ—y and Stafford-shires upon the South toucheth the Counties of Shrop-shire and Flint and upon the West with Dee is parted from Denbigh-shire 2 The form of this County doth much resemble the right Wing of an Eagle spreading it self from Wirall and as it were with her Pinion or first Feather toucheth York-shire betwixt which extreams in following the windings of the Shires divider from East to West are 47 miles and from North to South twenty six miles The whole Circumference about one hundred forty two miles 3 If the affection to my natural producer blind not the judgment of this my Survey for Air and Soyl it equals the best and far exceeds her Neighbours the next Counties for although the Climate be cold and toucheth
Country as it is thus on the one side freed by the natural resistance of the Sea from the force of Invasions so is it strengthened on the other by many Castles and fortified places that take away the opportunity of making Roads and Incursions in the Country And as it was with the first that felt the fury of the Saxons cruelty so was it the last and longest that was subdued under the Wâ—st-Saxons Monarchy 9 In this Province our noble Arthur who died laden with many Trophies of honour is reported by Ninius to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battel near Duglasse a little Brook not far from the Town of Wiggin But the attemps of War as they are several so they are uncertain for they made not Duke Wade happy in his success but returned him an unfortunate enterpriser in the Battel which he gave to Ardulph King of Northumberland at Billango in the year 798. So were the events uncertain in the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster for by them was bred and brought forth that bloody division and fatal strife of the Noble Hoâ—ses that with variable success to both Parties for many years together molested the peace and quiet of the Land and defiled the earth with blood in such violent manner that it exceeded the horror of those Civil Wars in Rome that were betwixt Marius and Scylla Pompey and Caesar Octavius and Antony or that of the two renowned Houses Valoys and Burbon that a long time troubled the State of France for in the division of these two Princely Families there were thirteen Fields fought and three Kings of England one Prince of Wales twelve Dukes one Marquess eighteen Earls one Vicount and three and twenty Barons besides Knights and Gentlemen lost their lives in the same Yet at last by the happy Marriage of Henry the Seventh King of England next Heir to the House of Lancaster with Elizabeth daughter and Heir to Edward the Fourth of the House of York the white and red Roses were conjoyned in the happy uniting of those two divided Families from whence our thrice renowned Soveraign Lord King Iames by fair sequence and succession doth worthily enjoy the Dâ—adem by the benefit of whose happy government this County Palatine of Lancaster is prosperouâ— in her Name and Greatness 10 I find the remembrance of four Religious Houses that have been founded within this County and since suppressed both fair for Structure and Building and rich for seat and Situation namely Burstogh VVhalleia Holland and Penwortham It is divided into six Hundreds besides Fourness Felles and Lancasters Liberties that lie in the North part It is beautified with fifteen Market-Towns both fair for situation and building and famous for the concourse of people for buying and selling It hath twenty six Parishes besides Chappels in which they duly frequent to Divine Service and those populous as in no part of the Land more York SHIRE YORK-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXVIII AS the courses and confluents of great Rivers are for the most part fresh in memory though their heads and fountains lie commonly unknown so the latter knowledg of great Regions are not traduced to oblivion though perhaps their first originals be obscure by reason of Antiquity and the many revolutions of times and ages In the delineation therefore of this great Province of York-shire I will not insist upon the narration of matters near unto us but succinctly run over such as are more remote yet neither so sparingly as I may seem to diminish from the dignity of so worthy a Country nor so prodigally as to spend time in superfluous praising of that which never any as yet dispraised And although perhaps it may seem a labour unnecessary to make relation of ancient remembrances either of the Name or Nature of this Nation especially looking into the difference of Time it self which in every age bringeth forth divers effects and the dispositions of men that for the most part take less pleasure in them than in divulging the occurrents of their own times yet I hold it not unfit to begin there from whence the first certain direction is given to proceed for even of these ancient things there may be good use made either by imitation or way of comparison as neither the reperition nor the repetition thereof shall be accounted impertinent 2 You shall therefore understand That the County of York was in the Saxon-tongue called Ebona ycyne and now commonly York-shire far greater and more numerous in the Circuit of her miles than any Shire of England She is much bound to the singular love and motherly care of Nature in placing her under so temperate a clime that in every measure she is indifferently fruitful If one part of her be stone and a sandy barren ground another is fertile and richly adorned with Corn-fields If you here find it naked and destitute of Woods you shall see it there shadowed with Forrests full of Trees that have very thick bodies sending forth many fruitful and profitable branches If one place of it be Moorish miry and unpleasant another makes a free tender of delight and presents it self to the Eye full of beauty and contentive variety 3 The Bishoprick of Durham fronts her on the North-side and is separated by a continued course of the River Tees The German-Sea lyeth sore upon her East-side beating the shores with her boisterous Waves and Billows The West part is bounded with Lancashire and Westmerland The South-side hath Cheshire and Darby-shire friendly Neighbours unto her with the which she is first inclosed then with Nottingham and with Lincoln-shires after divided with that famous Arm of the Sea Humber Into which all the Rivers that water this Country empty themselves and pay their ordinary Tributes as into the common receptacle and store-house of Neptune for all the watry Pensions of this Province 4 This whole Shire being of it self so spacious for the more easie and better ordering of her Civil Government is divided into three parts which according to three quarters of the World are called The West-Riding The East-Riding and The North-Riding West-Riding is for a good space compassed with the River Ouse with the bounds of Lancashire and with the South limits of the Shire and beareth towards the West and South East-Riding bends it self to the Ocean with the which and with the River Derwent she is inclosed and looks into that part where the Sun rising and shewing forth his Beams makes the World both glad and glorious in his brightness North-Riding extends it self Northward hemmed in as it were with the River Tees and Derwent and a long race of the River Ouse The length of this Shire extended from Horthill in the South to the mouth of Tees in the North are neer unto seventy miles the breadth from Flambrough-head to Horn-Castle upon the River Luâ— is fourscore miles the whole Circumference is three hundred and eight miles 5 The Soil of this County for the generality is reasonable fertile
supposed to have been buried might beget much wondeâ— and admiration but that Lazius confirmeth that in ancient times they had custom to preserve light in Sepulâ—hres by an artificial resolving of Gold into a liquid and fatty substance which should continue burning a long time and for many ages together 12 This York-shire Picture I will draw to no more length lest I be condemned with the Sophister for insisting in the praise of Hercules when no man opposed himself in his discommendation This Country of it self is so beautiful in her own natural colours that without much help she presents delightful varieties both to the sight and other senses The Bishipprick oF DURHAM The BISHOPRICK of DURHAM CHAPTER XXXIX THe Bishoprick of Durham containeth those parts and Town-ships that lie betwixt the River Tees and Derwent and all along the German Seas It is neighboured on the North with Northumberland and their Iurisdictions parted by the River Derwent her West is touched by Cumberland Westmorland and from Stain-More divided by the River Tees and by the same water on her South from York-shire even unto the Sea and the East is altogether coasted by the German-Seas 2 The form thereof is triangular and sides not much differing for from her South-East unto the West-point are about thirty miles from thence to her North-east and Tyne-mouth are likewise as many and her base along the Sea shore are twenty-three miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and three miles 3 The Air is sharp and very piercing and would be more were it not that the vapours from the German-Seas did help much to dissolve her Ice and Snow and the store of Coals therein growing and gotten do warm the body and keep back the cold which fewel besides their own use doth yield great commodities unto this Province by trade thereof into other parts 4 For Soil it consisteth much alike of Pastures Arable and barren grounds the East is the richest and most champion the South more moorish but well inhabited her West all rocky without either Grass or Grain notwithstanding recompenceth her possessâ—rs with as great gain both in rearing up Cattel and bringing forth Coal whereof all this County is plentifully stored and groweth so near to the upper face of the earth that in the trod-ways the Cart-wheels do turn up the same Some hold their substance to be a clammy kind of clay hardned with heat abounding in the earth and so becoming concocted is nothing else but Bitumen for proof whereof these Coals have both the like smell and operation of Bitumen for being sprinkled with water they burn more vehemently buâ— with oyl are quite extinguished and put out 5 The ancient Inhabitants known unto Ptolomy were the Brigantes of whom we have spoken in the General of York-shire they being subdued by the Romans after whom the Saxons made it a part of their Northumberland Kingdom at first a Province belonging to the Deirians and enjoyed by Ella their first King afterwards invaded by the Danes and lastly possessed by the Normans whose site being so near unto Scotland hath many times felt their fury and hath been as a Buckler betwixt them and the English for which cause the Inhabitants have certain freedoms and are not charged with service as other Counties are so that this with Westmorland Cumberland and Northumberland are not divided into hundreds in those Parliament Rolls whence I had the rest which want I must leave for others to supply 6 Over this County the Bishops thereof have had the Royalties of Princes and the Inhabitants have pleaded priviledge not to pass in service of War over the River of Tees or Tyne whose charge as they have alledged was to keep and defend the Corps of S. Cuthbert their great adored Saint and therefore they termed themselves The holy work folks And the repute of this Cuthbert and his supposed defence against the Scots was such that our English Kings in great devotion have gone in Pilgrimage to visite his Tomb and have given many large possessions to his Church such were King Egfred Aelfred and Guthrun the Dane Edward and Athelstane Monarch of England and zealous Canuâ—e the greatest of all who came thither bare-footed and at Cuthberts Tomb both augmented and confirmed their Liberties This Saint then of nothing made Durham become great and William the Conquerour of a Bishoprick made it a County Palatine at that time William Cereceph Bishop of the Diocess pulled down the old Church which Aldwin had built and with sumptuous cost laid the foundation of a new wherein S. Cuthberts Shrine in the vacancy of the Bishops was the Keepâ—er of the Castle-Keys In the West of this Church and place called Gallile the Marble-Tomb of venerable Beda remaineth who was born at Iarrâ— in this County and became a Monk at Weremouth whose painful industrie and light of learning in those times of darkness are wonderful as the Volums which he wrote do well declare And had the idle Monks of England imployed their time after his example their Founders expectations had not been frustrate nor those Foundations so easily overturned But the revenge of sin ever following the actions of sins dissolved first the largeness of this Counties liberties under the Raign of King Edward the First and since hath shaken to pieces those places herein erected under the Raign of King Henry â—he Eight such were Durham Sherborne Stayndrop Iarro Weremouth and Egleton all which felt the reward of their idleness and wrath of him that is jealous of his own honour 7 Things of rare note observed in this Shire are three pits of a wonderful depth commonly called the Hell-Kettles which are adjoyning neer unto Darlington whose waters are somewhat warm These are thought to come of an Earth-quake which happened in the year of Grace 1179 whereof the 〈◊〉 of Tiâ—-mouth maketh mention whose record is this On Christmass-day at Oxenhall in the Territory of Darlington within the Bishoprick of Durham the ground heaved up aloft like unto an high Tower and so continued all that day as it were unmoveable until the evening and then fell with so horrible a noise that it made all the neighbour dwellers sore afraid and the earth swallowed it up and made in the same place a deep pit which is there to be seen for a testimony unto this day 8 Of no less admiration are certain Stones lying within the River Were at Butterbee 〈◊〉 Durham from whose sides at the Ebb and low Water in the Summer issueth a certain salt 〈◊〉 water which with the Sun waxeth white and growing into a thick substance becometh a necessary Salt to the use of the by-dwellers 9 And places of elder times had in account by the Romans were Benovium now Biâ—chester and Condercum Chester in the street where their monies have been digged up and at Condercum so much that Egelrick Bishop of Durham was therewith made exceeding rich This County hath been strengthened with seven strong Castles is yet traded
yet which is wonderful there be many great heaps of Stones called Laws which the neighbouring people are verily perswaded were cast up and laid together in old time in remembrance of some that were slain there There is also a martial kind of Men which lie out up and down in little Cottages called by them Sheals and Shealings from April to August in scattering fashion summering as they term it their Cattel and these are such a sort of people as were the ancient Nomâ—dâ—sâ— The last not least matter of note is this that the Inhabitants of Morpeth set their own Town on fire in the year of Christ 1215 in the spight they bare to King Iohn for that he and his Rutars over-ran these Countries This County hath five Market-Towns in it for her Trade of Buying and Selling 26 Castles for her strength and fortification and 460 Parish-Churches for Divine Service THE ISLE OF MAN MAN-ISLAND CHAPTER XLIII THe Isle of Man is termed by Ptolomy Moneda by Pliny Menabia by Orâ—sius Mâ—navia by Beda Menavia secunda and by Gildas Eubonia and Menaw The Britains name it Menow the Inhabitants Maninge and we Englishmen The Isle of Man It boundeth Northward upon Scotland Southward upon the Isle of Auglesey Eastward upon part of Lanca-shire and Westward upon the Coast of Ireland 2 The form is long and narrow for from Cranston to the Mull-hills where it is longest it only stretcheth it self to twenty nine miles but from the widest part which is from Peele-Castle to Douglas-point are scarce nine the whole compass about is fourscore and two miles 3 The Air is cold and sharp being bordering upon the Septentrionâ—l parts and for her shelter having but a wall of water They have few Woods only they light sometimes upon subterranean trees buried under the ground by digging up the earth for a clammy kind of Turff which they use for fuell 4 The Soil is reasonable fruitful both for Cattel Fish and Corn yet it rather commendeth the pains of the People than the goodness of the ground for by the Industry of the Inhabitants it yieldeth â—uffciently of every thing for it self and sendeth good store into other Countries It hath Fields by good manuring plenteous of Barley and Wheat but especially of Oats and from hence it comes that the People eat most of all Oaten-bread It bears abundance of Hemp and Flax and is full of mighty Flocks of Sheep and other Cattel yet are they smaller in body than those we have in England and are much like to the Cattel in Ireland that are neighbouring upon it 5 This Commodity makes this Iâ—land more happy than we are here for the People are there free from unnecessary commencements of Suits from long and dilatory Pleas and from frivolous feeing of Lawyers No Iudg or Clerks of the Couâ—t take there any penny for drawing Instruments or makâ—ng of Processes All Controversies are there determined by certain Iudges without writings or other charges and them they all Deemsters and chuse forth among themselves If any complaint be made to the Magistrate for wrong either done or suffered he presently taketh up a Stone and fixeth his mark upon it and so delivereth it unto the Party Plaintiff by vertue of which he both calls his Adversary to appearance and to produce his Witnesses If the Case fall out to be more litigious and of greater consequence than can easily be ended it is then referred to twelve Men whom they term The Keys of the Island Another happiness enricheth this Island namely the Security and Government thereof as being defended from neighbour Enemies by Souldiers that are pâ—est and ready for on the South side-of the Isle stands Bala-Curi the Bishops chief place of residence and the Pylâ— and a Block-house staâ—ding in a little Island where there is a continual Garrison of Souldiers And it is so well managed for matter of rule and civil Discipline that every man there possesseth his own in peace and safety No man lives in dread or danger of what he hath Men are not there inclined to Robbing or Thieving or Licentious living 6 The Inhabitants of this Island are for the most part religious and loving to their Pastors to whom they do much reverence and respect frequenting daily to Divine Service without division in the Church or innovation in the Commonwealth The wealthier sort and such as hold the fairest possessions do imitate the people of Laca-shire both in their honest carriage and good house-keeping Howbeit the common sort of People both in their language and manners come nighest unto the Irish although they somewhat relish and favour of the qualities of the Norwâ—gians 7 Things not worthy to be buried in the grave of oblivion are that this Island in the midst thereof riseth up with hills standing very thick amongst which the highest is called Sceafull from whence upon a clear and fair day a man may easily see three Kingdoms at once that is Scotland and Ireland This Isle prohibits the customary manner of begging from dore to dore detesting the disorders as well Civil as Ecclesiastical of Neighbour Nations And the last not least that deserves to be committed to memory is that the women of this Country wheresoever they go out of their dores gird themselves about with the Winding-sheet that they purpose to be buried in to shew themselves mindful of their mortality and such of them as are at any time condemned to die are sowed within a Sack and flung from a Rock into the Sea 8 The whole Isle is divided into two parts South and North whereof the one resembleth the Scottish in Speech the other the Irish. It is defended by two Castles and hath seventeen Parishes five Market-Towns and many Villages A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN CHAPTER XLIV IT is here very pertinent to the purpose to insert a small History of this Island that the atchievements heretofore had may not be utterly buried although they are waxen very old and almost torn from remembrance by the teeth of â—ime I is confessed by all that the Britains held this Island as they did all Britain But when the Nations from the North overflowed these South parts like violent tempests it became subject to the the Scots Afterwards the Norwegians who did most hurt from the Northern Sea by their manifold robberies made this Island and the Hebrides to be their haunt and erected Lords and peâ—â—y Kings in the same as is expressed in this Chronicle written as is reported by the Monks of the Abbey of Russin A Chronicle of the Kings of MAN ANno Dom. 1065 Edward of blessed memory King of England departed this life and Harald the Son of Godwin succeeded him in the Kingdom against whom Harold Harfager King of Norway came into the Field and fought a Battel at Stainford-bridge but the English obtaining the Victory put them all to flight Out of which chase Godred sirnamed Crovan the Son of Harald the black of Iseland came unto Godred the
The second part occupied all the Land Northward from Humber to the Orkney-Sea called by the Latines Marâ— Caledonium or Dâ—ucâ—lâ—â—oâ—ium now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this lying betwixt the Irish-Seas the Rivers Sâ—verne and Dee and was called Câ—mbria which name doth yet continue with them though we the Eâ—glish call it Wales as the People Welshmen which is strange and strangers for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany whence our Saxons are said to have come do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welshman and his language Welsh 2 This opinion Verstegâ—n doth altogether contradict rather judging by the ancient Tâ—utâ—â—ick tongue which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Sâ—xoâ—s called them Gallish from the Gaules whence their original proceeded rather than Wallish from strangers which he thinketh could not be considering their habitations so neer unto them and that the like was in use he proveth by the words of Erench Gardian for Wardian Cornugalles for Câ—rwâ—lles yea and Galles for Walles calling our most famous Edward Prince of Galles not Prince of Wâ—lles insomuch that the County of Lombardy bordering along upon the Germans was of them called Gâ—lliâ—ciâ— cis-alphina and at this day Welsh-land So likewise do the Netherlands call the Inhabitants of Henalt and Artois Wallen or Walloâ—s and some part of Brabant and Flanders Welsh-Brabant and Welsh-Flaâ—ders and all because of the Language and Lineage of the Gauls Neither do the meer Natives of Wales know any other name of their Country than Cambria of themselves than Cambri or Cumri or of their Language than Cambraoc But leaving this opinion free to his affection we will proceed 3 Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britains all the plain and Champion Country over the River Dee and especially Offa King of Mercia made their limits straighter by making a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Mear betwixt this Kingdom and Wales This Ditch is in many places to be seen at this day and bears the name of Clawh Offa that is Offaes Ditch The Country between it and England is commonly called the Marches and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen especially in north-North-Wales even to the River Dee This admirable Trench began at Bassiâ—gwerke in Elintshire between Chester and Ruthland and ran along the Hills to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above an hundred miles in length 4 Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Menâ—viâ— to be an hundred miles and the length from Caerleon upon Vske in Gwentland to Holly-head in Anglesâ—y an hundred miles he might have said thirty more 5 About the year of Christ 870 our Alfred reigning in England Rodericus Magnus King of VVales did divide it into three Talaiths Regions or Territories which were called Kingdoms This Rodericus Magnus gave Venâ—dâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales to Anarawd his eldest son to Cadeth his second son Demeâ—ia Debeuâ—arth or South-VValls and to Mervin his third son Powys 6 North-VVales had upon the North-side the Irish-Sea from the River Dee to Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-West the River Dyvi which divideth it from South-VVales and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with high Hills and sometimes with Rivers till it come again to the River Dee It is generally full of high Mountains craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies many strait dangerous places deep and swift Rivers 7 This Land was of old time divided into four parts Mon Arvon Meryonith and y Bervedhwlan or the middle Country and each of these were again divided into several Countries and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commots wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Ruffin last Prince of VVales according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipful Friend and learned Antiquary as seeming far more exact than that of Doctor Powels 8 Aâ—glâ—sey the chiefest is separated from the main Land with the River Moenai wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court now a mean Village In this Island is a fair Town called Beaumarish And common passage to Ireland at Caergybi in English Holly-head 9 Arvâ—n the second part of North-VVales is now called Carnarvanshire the strongest Country within that Principality giving place to none for fertility of the ground or for plenty of Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl c. Here are the Towns of Caernarvan in old time called Caer-Segoâ—t and Bangor the Bishops See with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory This portion hath on the North the Sea and Moeâ—ai upon the East and South-East the River Conwey which divideth it from Denâ—igh-shire and on the South-West is separated from Merionyth by Rivers Mountains and Mears 10 Merionyth was the third part of Gwyneth and keepeth the name till this day it is full of Hills and much noted for the resort of People that repair thither to take Herrâ—ngs Upon the North it hath Arvon and Denbigh land upon the South Caerdigan-Shire and upon the East Montgâ—mâ—ry-shire heretofore part of Powis In this County standeth the Town of Harlech and a great Lake called Llyn-Tegyd This Country is likewise full of Cattel Fowl and Fish and hath in it great store of red Deer and Roes but there is much scarcity of Corn. 11 Y Bervedhwland was the fourth part of Gwyneth and may be called in English The middle Country is inclosed with Hills on the East West and South-parts and with the Sea Northward It is plentiful of Cattel Fish and Fowl as also of Corn and is divided in the midst with the River Clwyd to which run a number of other Rivers from the Hills In this part is Dyffryn-Clwyd the fairest Valley within Wales containing eighteen miles in length and seven in breadth In which is the Town and Castle of Ruthlâ—n near unto the Sea and not far thence S. Assaph an Episcopal seat between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy Herein stands the fair Town and goodly Castle of Denbigh situated upon a Rock the greatest Market-Town of North-Wales and from thence is seen the Town and Castle of Ruthyn fair for prospect and fruitful for fite This part of North-Wales hath the Sea upon the North d ee toward the East Arvon The River Conwey and Mâ—riâ—nyth upon the West and the Country then called Pâ—wys upon the South And these were the Mears and Bounds of the four Parts of Venedâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales 12 The second Talaith or Kingdom was Mathraval or Powys To this belonged the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Sevâ—rne It hath South-Wales upon the South and West with the Rivers Wye and Tywy and other Mears upon the North
A DANE A NORMAN England Wales Scotland and Ireland Described 〈◊〉 and Abridged With y e Historie Relation of things worthy memory from a farr larger Voulume Done by Iohn Spied Anno Cum priuilegio 1676 AN EPITOME OF Mr. IOHN SPEED's THEATRE of the EMPIRE OF GREAT BRITAIN And of His PROSPECT Of the Most Famous Parts of the WORLD In this New Edition are added The Descriptions of His Majesties Dominions abroad viz. New England 226 New York Carolina 251 Florida Virginia 212 Maryland Iamaica 232 Barbados 239 AS ALSO The Empire of the Great Mogol 255 with the rest of the East-Indies The Empire of Russia 266 With their respective Descriptions London Printed for Tho. Basset at the George in Fleet-street and Ric. Chiswel at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard 1676. England Scotland and Ireland A Catalogue of all the Shires Citties Bishoprickes Market Townes Castles Parishes Rivers Bridges Chases Forrests and Parkes conteyned in every particuler shire of the Kingdom of England Shires Cities Bishopckes Mark Townes Castles Parish 〈◊〉 Rivers Bridgs Chases Forrests Parkes Kente 02 02 17 08 398 06 14 00 00 23 Sussex 01 01 18 01 312 02 10 00 04 33 Surrie 00 00 06 00 140 01 07 00 0¼ 17 Middlesex 02 02 03 00 073 01 03 01 00 04 Hant-shire 01 01 18 05 248 04 31 00 04 22 Dorcet shire 00 00 18 06 248 04 29 01 02 12 Wilt shire 01 01 21 01 304 05 31 01 09 29 Somerset shire 03 02 29 01 385 09 4â— 00 02 18 Devon shire 01 01 40 03 394 23 106 00 00 23 Corrnuall 00 00 23 00 161 07 31 00 00 09 Essex 01 00 21 01 415 07 28 00 01 46 Hartford shire 00 00 18 00 120 01 24 00 00 23 Oxford-shire 01 01 10 00 208 03 26 00 04 09 Buckinghamsh 00 00 11 00 185 02 14 00 00 15 Berck shire 00 00 11 01 140 03 07 00 0â— 13 Glocester shire 01 01 20 01 280 12 22 01 02 19 Suffolk 00 00 28 01 464 02 32 00 00 27 Norfolk 01 01 26 00 625 03 15 00 00 00 Rutlande 00 00 02 00 047 00 01 00 00 04 Northampton-sh 01 01 11 02 326 05 24 00 03 23 Huntinton-shire 00 00 05 00 078 01 05 00 00 07 Bedford-shire 00 00 10 00 116 01 06 00 00 12 Cambridg-shire 00 01 06 00 163 01 07 00 00 05 Warwick shire 01 01 12 01 15â— 07 21 01 00 16 Lecester shire 00 00 11 02 200 01 10 00 02 13 Stafford-shire 01 00 12 05 130 13 19 01 01 38 Worcester shire 01 01 07 03 152 05 17 01 02 16 Shrop shire 00 00 13 13 170 18 13 00 07 27 Hereford shire 01 01 08 07 176 13 11 01 02 08 Lincolne shire 01 01 26 02 630 09 15 00 00 13 Nottingham sh. 00 00 11 00 168 05 17 00 01 18 Darby shire 00 00 08 04 106 1â— 2â— 00 01 34 Cheshire 01 01 09 03 068 09 19 00 02 18 Yorke-shire 01 01 46 14 563 36 62 04 08 72 Lancasshire 00 00 08 06 036 33 24 00 01 30 Durham 01 01 05 04 062 11 20 00 00 21 Westmoreland 00 00 04 06 026 08 15 00 02 19 Cumberland 01 01 08 15 058 20 33 00 03 08 Northumbrland 00 00 11 â—2 040 21 16 00 01 08 Monmouth 00 00 06 07 14â— 15 14 01 00 08 Glamorgan 00 01 07 â—2 151 16 06 00 00 05 Radnor 00 00 04 05 043 13 05 00 03 00 Brecknok 00 00 03 04 070 27 13 00 00 02 Cardigan 00 00 04 00 077 26 09 00 0â— 00 Carmarthin 00 00 06 04 08â— 20 16 00 0â— 0â— Pembrok 00 01 06 05 142 06 07 00 02 03 Montgomery 00 00 06 03 042 28 06 00 00 00 Merionidth 00 00 03 02 034 26 07 00 00 00 Denbigh 00 00 03 03 05â— 24 06 00 00 06 Flint shire 00 01 03 04 024 04 0â— 00 00 02 Anglesey 00 00 03 00 08â— 08 02 00 00 00 Caernarvon 00 0â— 05 03 073 17 06 00 00 00 * The totall Summe of this Catalogue is           5 â— Shires 25 Cities 26 Bish 645 Market 156 Castles â—725 Pa. Ch 555 Rivers 956 Bridg 93 Chas. 62 For. 783 Parks The General of Great BRITAIN CHAPTER I. THE State of every Kingdome well managed by prudent government seems to me to represent a humane Body guided by the soveraignty of the Reasonable Soul the Countrey and Land it self representing the one the Actions and State-Affairs the other Sith therefore the excellencies of the whole are but imperfectly laid open where either of these Parts is defective our intendment is to take a view as well out of the outward Body and Lineaments of the now flourishing British Monarchy the Islands Kingdomes and Provinces thereof in actual possession for with others no less justly claimed in the continent we meddle not which shall be the continent of our first or Chorographical Tome containing the four first Books of this our Theatre as also of its successive government and vital actions of State which shall be our second or Historical Tome containing the five last Books And here first we will by example of the best Anatomists propose to view the whole Body and Monarchy entire as far as conveniently we could comprise it and after will dissect and lay open the particular Members Veins and Ioynts I mean the Shires Rivâ—â—s Cities and Towns with such things as shall occur most worthy our regard and most behoveful for our use 2 The Islâ—nd of Great Britain which with her adjoyning Isles is here first presented containâ—th the Kingdomes of England and Scotland and is of many accounted the greatest Island in the World though Iustus Lypsius gives that praise to Cuba in America as the Oriental Navigators do unto Sumatra taken for Pâ—olomy's Taproâ—aria or to Madagascar the Island of S. Laurence both which are near unto or under the Equiâ—octial Line in which we will not contend as pleasing our selves with her other praises greater than her Greatness yet with this honour also that it was without question the greatest Island of the Roman World and for any thing yet certainly known of all the rest Concerning whose positure in respect of Heaven Lucretius the first of the Latin Writers that names Britain seemeth to place it in the same Parallel with Pontus where he saith Nam quid Britannum coelum differre putamus c. What differs Britains Heaven from that of Nile Or Pontus welkin from Gades warmer Ile In which by a certain cross comparison he opposeth two likes against two unlikes Britain and Pontus against Egypt and Gades But to seek into profound Antiquity rather than present practice for matters in which Vse makes perfectness were to affect the giving light by shadows rather than by Sun-shine 3 It is by experience found to lie included form the degree fifty and thirty scruples of Latitude and for
be ministred but whereas the ancient Kings of England acâ—ording to Moses his example sate in pâ—rson in the seat of Iustice to right the greater affairs of their Subjects as William Lambeâ—â— sheweth in King Alfred Edgar Canutus c. and proves out of the Kings Oath out of Bractoâ— Britain â—axon Laws c. King William not only continued this but besideâ— erâ—cted some other Câ—urtâ— of â—ustice as the Exchequer and certain Courts and Sessions to be held four times every year â—appointing both Iudges some to hear causes others to whom appeals should be made but none from them and also Praefects to look to good orders Those last Polydor calleth Iustices of Peace but their instruction seems to be far later and no less is his errour on the other side in saying the Conquerour first instituted Sheriffs and the trial by twelve men which were both ancienter 4 And because the Conquerour for honour of Bishops caused them to remove from small obssure places to Cities of more renown we have therefore reserved to this last â—lace that division of this Kingdome which is according to Iurisdiction Episcopal Formerly in the year of Salvation 636. Honorius the first Archbishop of Canterbury first divided England into Parishes which at this day are contained under their several Diocesans and these again under their two Metropolitanes Canâ—erbury and York in manner following CANTERBVRY Bishopricks Counties Parishes Canterbury Kent 257. Rochester 98. London Essex 623. Middlesex Hertford-shire part Lincoln Lincoln-shire 1255. Leicester-shire Huntington Bedford-shire Buckingham-shire Hertford-shire part Chichester Hertford-shire 250. Sussex Winchester Hant-shire 362. Surrey Wight Isle Gernesey Isle Iersey Isle Salisbury Wilt-shire 248. Bark-shire Exeter Devon-shire 604. Corne-wall Bath and Wells Sommerset-shire 388. Gloucester Gloucester-shire 267. Worcester Worcester-shire 241. Warwick-shire Litchfield and Coventry Warwick shire part 557. Stafford-shire Derby-shire Shrop-shire part Hereford Shrop shire part 313. Hereford-shire Ely Cambridge-shire 141. Ely Isle Norwich Norfolke 1641. Suffolk Oxford Oxford-shire 195. Peterborow Northampton 293. Rutland-shire Bristow Dorset-shire 236. Glamorgan Landaffe Monmouth-shire 177. Brecknock-shire Radnor-shire S. David Pembroke-shire 308. Caermarden Bangor Caernarvon-shire 107. Anglesey Isle Merioneth-shire Denbigh-shire S. Asaph Devon-shire part 121. Flint-shire part  YORK  York York-shire 581. Nottingham-shire Chester Cheshire 256. Richmond-shire Cumberland part Lanca-shire Flint part Carlile Cumberland part 93. Westmorland Durham â—urham 135. Northumberland Sodor Man Island 17. Total Bishopricks 27. Parishes 9285. 9 To speak nothing of these twenty eight Flamins the Priests of Idolatry and the three Arch-Flamins whose seats were at London Caerlion and York all of them converted by King Lucius into Christian Bishops Sees let us only insist upon the three last by the same King appointed to be Metropolitanes over the rest among whom London is said to be chief whose first Christian Archbishop was Thean the builder of S. Peters Church in Cornhill for his Cathedral as by an ancient Table there hanging was affirmed and tradition to this day doth hold Our British Historians do bring a succession of fifteen Arch-bishops to have sate from his time unto the coming of the Saxons whose last was Vodius slain by King Vortiger for reprehending his heathenish marriage with Rowen the Daughter of Hengist At what time began the misery of the Land and of holy Religion both which they laid waste under their prophane feet until Ethelbert of Kent the first Christian Saxon King advanced Christianity and Augustine to the Archbishoprick of Caâ—terbury when London under Melitus became subject to that See 6 At Caerlion upon Vske in the time of the great Arthur sate Dubritius a man excellently learned and of an holâ— conversation he had sate Bishop of Landaffe a long time and with Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops greatly impugned the Pelagian Heresie infecting at that time the Island very far whose fame and integrity was such that he was made Archbishop of all Wales but grown very old he resigned the same unto Daviâ— his Disciple a man of greater birth and greater austerity of life who by consent of King Arthur removed his Archbishops See unto Menevia a place very solitary and meet for meditation the miracles of the man which are said to be many changed both the name of the place into his own and robbed Caerlion of her Archiepiscopal seat This See of S. Davids as in an ancient Register belonging to that Church is recorded had seven Bishops Suffragans subject unto it which were Exeter Bath Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Asapâ— and â—ernes in Ireland notwithstanding either for want of Pall carried into Britany by Archbishop Sampson in a dangerous infection of sickness or by poverty or negligence it lost that jurisdiction and in the days of King Henry the first became subject to the See of Canterbury 7 York hath had better succesâ— than either of the former in retaining her original honour though much impaired in her circuit challenging to have been sometime Metropolitane over all the Bishops in Scotland and although it was made equal in honour and power with Canterbury by Pope Gregory as Beda relateth and had twelve suffragan Bishopricks that owed obedience onely four now acknowledge York their Metropolitane but Canterbury the Superiour for William the Conquerour thinking it dangerous to have two in like authority lest the one should set on his Crown and the other 〈◊〉 it off left York to be a primate but Canterbury only the primate of all England 8 That Lichfield was made an Archiepiscopal See by Pope Hadrian the first at the suit of Offa the great King of Mercia is manifested by Matthew of Westminster unto whose Iurisdiction were assigned the Bishopricks of Winchester Hereford Leicester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich and whose first and last Archbishop was Aldwin That Winchester also had intended an Archiepiscopal Pall the same Author recordeth when Henry Bloys of the Bloud Royal greatly contended with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority under the pretence of being Cardinal de latere to him an Archiepiscopal Pallâ— was sent with power and authority over seven Churches but he dying before that the design was done the See of Winchester remained in subjection to Canterbury And that long before the See of Dorchester by Oxford had the Iurisdiction of an Archbishop is apparent by those provinces that were under his Diocess which were Winchester Oxford Lincoln Salisbury Bristow Wells Litchfield Chester and Exeter and the first Bishop of this great circuit Derinus was called the Apostle and Bishop of the West Saxons which in his next successor was divided into two parts Winchester and Dorchester and not long after into Lichfield Sidnacester and Legecister and lastly the See removed from Dorchester to Lincoln as now it is And thus far for the division of this Realm both Politick and Ecclesiastick as it hath stood and stands at this day 9 But the whole Islands division by most certain Record was anciently made when Iulius Agricola drew a trench or fortification
followers so that most of the Mannors and Lands in the parts aforesaid were in those days either mediately or immediately holden of one of them And as Northfolk and Suffolk were first united in a Kingdom then in an Earldom so they continued united in the Sheriff-wick till about the fifteenth year of Queen Elizabeth 5 The Towns here are commonly well built and populous three of them being of that worth and quality as no one Shire of England hath the like Norwich Lynn and Yarmouth to which for ancient reputation as having been a seat of the Kings of East-Angles I may add Thetford known to Antoninus Ptolomy and elder ages by the name of Sitomagus when the other three were yet in their infancy and of no esteem For I accept not the Relations of the Antiquity and State of Norwich in the time of the Britains and Saxons though Alexander Nevil hath well graced them Her very name abridgeth her Antiquity as having no other in Histories but Norwich which is meer Saxon or Danish and signifieth the North-Town or Castle It seemeth to have risen out of the decay of her neighbour Venta now called Castor and as M. Cambden noteth not to have been of mark before the entry of the Danes who in the year 1004 under Swane their Captain first sackt and then burnt it even in her infancy Yet in the days of Edward the Confessor it recovered 1320 Burgesses But maintaining the cause of Earl Radulph aforesaid against the Conquerour they were by famine and sword wasted to 560 at which time the Earl escaping by Ship his wife upon composition yielded the Castle and followed In William Rufus time it was grown famous for Merchandise and concourse of people so that Herbert then translated the Bishoprick from Thetford thither made each of them an ornament to other In variety of times it felt much variety of Fortune By fire in Anno 1508. By extreme plagues whereof one in Anno 1348 was so outragious as 57104 are reported to have died thereof between the Calends of Ianuary and of Iuly By misery of war was sacked and spoiled by the Earl of Flanders and Hugh Bigod Anno 1174. In yielding to Lewis the French against their natural Lord King Iohn Anno 1216. By the disinherited Barons Anno 1266. By tumult and insurrection between the Citizens and Church-men once about the year 1255. which if Henry the third had not come in person to appease the City was in hazard to be ruined the second time in Anno 1446 for which the Mayor was deposed and their Liberties for a while seised In Edward the sixths time by Ketts rebellion whose fury chiefly raged against this City Since this it hath flourished with the blessings of Peace Plenty Wealth and Honour so that Alexander Nevil doubteth not to prefer it above all the Cities of England except London It is situate upon the River Hierus in a pleasant valley but on rising ground having on the East the Hills and Heath called Mussold for Musswould as I take it In the 17 year of King Stephen it was new founded and made a Corporation In Edward the firsts time closed with a fair Wall saving on a part that the River defendeth First governed by four Bayliffs then by Henry the fourth in Anno 1403 erected into a Majoralty and County the limits whereof now extend to Eatonbridge At this present it hath about thirty Parishes but in ancient time had many more 6 Lynn having been an ancient Borough under the government of a Bayliff or Reve called Praepositus was by King Iohn in the sixth year of his Reign made Liber Burgus and besides the gift of his memorable Cup which to this day honoureth his Corporation endowed with divers fair Liberties King Henry the third in the Seventeenth year of his Reign in recompence of their serviâ—â— against the out-lawed Barons in the Isle of Ely enlarged their Charter and granted them further to choose a Major Loco Praepositi unto whom King Henry the eighth in the sixteenth year of his Reign added twelve Aldermen a Recorder and other Officers and the bearing of a Sword before the Mayor But the Town coming after to the same King he in the ewenty ninth of his Reign changed their name from Maior Burgensis Lynn Episcopi to Maior Burgenses Lynn Regis 7 â—â—rmouth is the Key of the Coast named and seated by the mouth of the River â—ere Begun in the time of the Danes and by small accessions growing populous made a Corporation under two Bayliffs by King Henry the thrid and by his Charter about the fifteenth year of his Reign walled It is an ancient member of the Cinque Ports very well built and fortified having only one Church but fair and large founded by Bishop Herbert in William Rufus days It maintaineth a Peer against the Sea at the yearly charge of five hundred pound or thereabout yet hath it no possessions as other Corporations but like the Children of Aeolus and Thetis maria 4 ventos as an Inquisitor findeth Anno 10. H 3. There is yearly in September the worthiest Herring fishing in Europe which draweth great concourse of people and maketh the Town much the richer all the year but very unsavory for the time The Inhabitants are so courteous as they have long held a custom to feast all persons of worth repairing to their Town 8 The Bishoprick of Norwich had first her seat at Dunwich in Suffolk and was there begun by Faelix who converted this County and the East-Angles to the Faith Being brought out of Burgundy by Sigebert the first Christian King of the East-Angles he landed at Babingley by Lynn and there builded the first Church of these Countries which in his memory is at this day called by his Name The second he built at Sharneburn then of wood and therefore called Stock Chappel After Faelix and three of his Successors this Bishoprick was divided into two Sees the one with eleven Bishops in succession continuing at Dunwich the other with twelve at Elmham in Northfolk Then united again in the time of King Edwin the entire See for twelve other Bishops remained at Elmham and in the Conquerours time was by his Chaplain Arfastus being the thirtieth translated to Thetford from thence by Herbert his next Successour save one bought of W. Rufus for 1900 pounds and brought to Norwich This Herbert sirnamed Losinga a Norman builded the Cathedral Church there and endowed it with large possessions Not far from thence he also builded another Church to S. Leonard a third at Elmham a â—ourth at â—ynn S. Margarets a very fair one and the fifth at Yarmouth before mentioned By the Cathedral Church he builded a Palace for the Bishops and founded the Priory there now converted to Dean and Chapter and another Priory at Thâ—tford Since his time the Bishops See hath immoveably remained at Norwich but the ancient Possessions are severed from it and in lieu thereof the Abbey and Lands of
obtained either by or against Rollo the Dane who in the year 876 entred England and in this Shire fought two battles one neer unto Hoâ—k-Norton and a second at the ScienStane 6 Rodâ—ot likewise remaineth as a monument of Oxfords highâ— styled Earl but unfortunate Prince Robert de Vere who besides the â—arldom was created by King Richard the second Mâ—â—quess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland but at that Bridge discomfited in fight by the Nobles and forced to swim the River where began the downfal of his high mounted fortunes for being driven forth of his Country lastly died in exile and distressed estate But more happy is this County in producing far more glorious Princes as King Edward the Confessor who in Islip was born Edward the victorious black Prince in Woodstock and in Oxford that warlike Coeur de Lion King Richard the first the son of King Henry the second first took breath 7 Which City is and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses the British Athens and learnings well spring from whose living Fountain the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously have made fruitful all other parts of this Realm and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad Antiquity avoucheth that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the Old Britains and that from Greek-lod a Town in Wilt shire the Academy was translated unto Oxford as unto a Plant-plot both more pleasing and fâ—uitful whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham this latter also alledging Merlin But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feet it sustained a part of these common calamities having little reserved to uphold its former glory save onely the famous monument of S. Frideswids Virgin Conquest no other School then left standing besides her Monastery yet those great blasts together with other Danish storms being well blown over King Elfred that learned and religious Monarch recalled the exiled Muses to their sacred place and built there three goodly Colledges for the studies of Divinity Philosophy and other Arts of humanity sending thither his own son Ethelward and drew thither the young Nobles from all parts of his Kingdom The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote a man of great learning by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation At which time also Assereus Menevensis a writer of those times affairs read the Grammar and Rhetorick and affirmeth that long before them Gildas Melkin Ninius Kentigern S. German and others spent there their lives in learned studies From which time that it continued a Seedploâ— of learning till the Norman Conquest Ingulphus â—ecordeth who himself then lived No marvel then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford the second School of Christendom and the very chief Pillar of the Catholick Church And in the Council holden at Vienna it was ordâ—ined that in Paris Oxford â—ononiâ— and Salamanca the onely Vniversities then in Europe should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Caldean tongues and that Oxford should be the general universiâ—y for all England Ireland Scotland and Wales which point was likewise of such weight with the Council of Constance that from this pâ—â—cedent of Oxford University it was concluded that the English Nation was not only to have pâ—ecedence oâ— Spain in all General Councils but was also to be held equal with France it self By which high peâ—ogatives this of ours hath always so flourished that in the days of King Henry the third thirty tâ—ousand Students were therein resident as Archbishop Armachanus who then lived hath writ and Riâ—haâ—ger then also living sheweth that for all the civil wars which hindred such placâ—s of quiet study yet 15000 Students were there remaining whose names saith he were entered in Matricula in the matriculation book About which time Iohn Baliol the father of â—aliol King of Scots built a Colledge yet bearing his name Anno 1269 and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester that which is now called Merton Colledge both of them beautified with buiâ—dings and enriched wâ—th landâ— and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendom And at this present there are sixteen Colledges besides another newly builded with eight Halls and many most fair Collegiate Churches all aâ—orned with most stately buildings and enriched with great endowments noble Libraries and most learned Graduates of all professions that unless it be her sister Cambridge the other â—ursing breast of this land the like is not found again in the World This City is also honoured with an Episcopal See As for the site thereof it is removed from the Equatâ—r in the degree 52 and one minute and from the West by Mercators measure 19 degrees and 20 minutes â— As this County is happy in the possâ—ssion of so famous an Academy so it is graced with most Princely Palaces apperâ—aining to the English Crown whereof Woodsâ—ock is the most ancient and magnificent built to that glory by King Henry the first and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by King Henry the second to hide from his jealous Iuno his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford a Damosel of surpassing beauty where notwithstanding followed by a clew of silk that fell from her lap she was surprised and poâ—soned by Queen Eleanor his wife and was first buried at Godsâ—ow Nunnery in the midst of the quiâ—e under a Hearse of silk set about with lights whom Hugh Bishop of Lincoln thinking it an unfâ—t object for Virgins devotion caused to be removed into the Church â—ard but those chast sisters liked so well the memory of that kind Lady as that her bones they translated again into their Chappel Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors built by William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyning Houses built for devotion and for abuse suppressed and again put down the chief in account were Enishamâ— Osney Bruern Godsâ—ow Burchester and Tame besides S. Frideswides and very many other stately Houses of Religion in this City The Division of this Shire is into fourteen Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and two â—undred and fourscore Parish Câ—uâ—ches Glocester Shire GLOCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIII GLOCESTER-SHIRE lieth bordered upon the North with Worcester and Warwick-shires upon the East with Oxford and Wilt-shires upon the South altogether with Somerset-Shire and upon the West with the River Wye and Hertford shire 2 The length thereof extended from Bristow upon the River Avon in her South unto Clifford upon another Avon in her North are about forty eight miles and her broadest part from East to West is from Lechland unto Preston containing twenty eight the whole circumference about one hundred thirty eight miles 3 The Form whereof is somewhat long and narrow the Air thereof is pleasant sweet and delectable and for fruitfulness of Soyl hear Malmesbury and not me The ground of this Shire throughout saith
Gwyâ—eth and upon the East the Marches of England from Chester to Wye a little above Hereford This part was divided into Powis Vadoc Powis between Wye and Severne and Powis-Weâ—wynwyn In Powis-Vadoc is the Castle of Holt in Bromefield and the Castle of Chirke in Chirkâ—land the Castle likewise of Whittington and Lordship of Oswestrie with others 13 The second part of Powiâ— or the Territory belonging to Mathrâ—vâ—l is Poâ—is between 〈◊〉 and Severne or Guy and Hauren whereof some is at this day in Montgoâ—ery-shirâ— some in Radnor-shire and some in Brecknock-shire and among sundry other hath these Towns and Castles following Montgomery The Castle of Clyâ— The Town of Knightâ—n The Castle of Cyâ—aron Presteyn The Town and the Castle of Radâ—or called in Welch Maesyvet which is at this day the Shire-Town The Town of Kinton and the Castle of Huntington 14 The third part belonging to Mathraval the chief seat of Powis after the Welsh were driven from Peâ—gwern or Shrewsbury was Powis Wenwynwyâ— a County full of Woods Hills and Rivers having in it among others the Towns of Welsh-Pool New-Town Machinâ—aâ—th Arustly was anciently in this part but afterward it came to them of Gwyneth This may suffice for the description of that which in old time was called Gwyneth and Powis 15 It now remaineth that we describe the last Kingdom of Wales called Demetia-Deheubarth or the Talaith of Dinevowr which although it was the greatest yet was it not the best because it was much molested with Flemings and Normans and for that also divers parts thereof would not obey their Prince as in Gwent and in Morganwe 16 This was divided into six parts of which Cardigaâ— was the first and is a Champion Country without much Wood. It hath Merionyth-shire on the North part of Powys upon the East Carmarden-shire and Pembroke-shire with the River Tivi upon the South and upon the West the Irish-Sea In this part is the Town of Cardigaâ— upon Tivi not far from the Sea as also the Town of Aberstwyth upon the River Istwyth and Lâ—aâ—badâ—râ—evowr which in times past waâ— a great Sanctuary there were also many Castles as of Strâ—tneyrie of Walter of Lâ—anâ—ysted of Dyvâ—rth and of Aâ—er-Roydâ—ll c. 17 The second part was called Dyvet and at this day Pembroke-shire It hath upon the North and West the Irish-Sea upon the East Carmarden-shire and upon the South Severne There are in it sundry Towns and Havens among others these Pembroke Tenby Hereford-West with the goodly and many Branched Haven of Milford called in Welsh Aberdangledhett S. Davids or Menevia which is the chiefest See in Wales Fiscard called Aberwayn and Newport named Tresdreth 18 The third part was Carmarden-shire which is a Country accounted the strongest part of all South-Wales as that which is full of high Mountains great Woods and fair Rivers 19 The fourth called Morganwe now Glamorgan-shire hath on the South the Severne-Sea which divideth it self from Devon-shire and Cornwall upon the West and North-West Carmardenshire upon the North-East Brecknock-shire and upon the East Monmouth-shire 20 The fifth now called Gwent and in Monmouth-shire hath in it the ancient City of Caerlheâ—n upon Vske There are also divers Towns and Castles Chepstow Glynstrygul Ros Tynterne upon the River Wye c. This is a fair and fertile Country It hath on the West Glamorgan and Brecknock-shirâ—s upon the North Hereford-shire upon the East Glocester-shire with the River Wye and the River Severne upon the South and South-East 21 The last is Brecknock-shire for the most part full of Mountains Woods and Rivers This Country is both great and large being full of fair Plains and Valley for Corn it hath plenty of thick Woods Forrests and Parks It is full also of clear and deep Rivers of which Severne is the chiefest although there be other fair Rivers as Vske and the like 22 Thus far concerning the ancient Welsh division by Talaiths but the present division distributeth them more compendiously into two Countries and twelve Shires enacted so by Parliament under King Henry the Eighth The Countries are North-Wales and South-Wales which have shared and as it were devoured between them all Powysland each of which Countries contains 〈◊〉 Shires North-Wales Aâ—glesâ—y Câ—ernarvan Merionyth Denbigh Flint Montgomery South-Wales Cardigan Pembroke Carmarden Glamorgan Brecknock Radâ—â—r But whereas Monmouth-shire and Radnor were anciently parts the first of South-Wales the other of Powys-land Monmouth-shire by Act of Parliament also under the same King was pluckt away wholly from Wales and laid to England one of whose Counties and Shires it was from that time forward and is at this present reckoned and Radnor-Shire as it were in lieu thereof is comprehended in south-South-Wales Humphry Hluyd a Welsh Gentleman in his Epistle and Map of old Wales maketh mention of a West-Wales which he calleth Demeâ—ia and Dyfer the one the Latine and the other the British name there but because it is wholly swallowed up by this last division we will not perplex the Reader with superfluous and impertinent recitals PEMBROK Shire PEMBROKE-SHIRE CHAPTER II. PEMBROKE-SHIRE the furthest Promontoâ—y of all West-Wales liâ—th parted on the North from Cardigan-shire with the Rivers Tivy and Keach and on the East is Confronted by Caermarden-shire the South and West shooting far into the Irish-Seas is with the same altogether washed 2 The form thereof is longer than it is broad for from S. Govens South-point to Cardigan-bridge in the North are twenty six miles the Eastern Landenie to S. Davids-point in the West are twenty miles the whole circumference is ninety three miles 3 The Air is passing temperate by the report of Giraldus who 〈◊〉 his reason from the sitâ— of Ireland against which it butteth and is so nearly adjoyned that 〈◊〉 Rufâ— thought it possible to make a Bridge of his Ships over the Sea whereby he might pass to 〈◊〉 on foot 4 Anciently it was poâ—â—essed by the Demetia further branched into Cardigan and Caermarden-shires as in that County hath been said and in the Saxons Conquest and Hâ—ptarchy by the Britaiâ—s forced into those parts for refuge whither Hâ—â—ry the First and third of the Normans Kings sent certain Flemings whose Country was over-whelmed with the breaking in of the Seas to inhabit the Maritime Tract called Rosse lying West upon the River Dougledye These Dutchmen saith Giraldus were a strong and stout Nation inured to Wars and accustomed to seek gain by Cloathiâ—g Traffique and Tillage and ever ready for the Field to fight it out adding withal that they were most loyal â—o the English and most faithful to the Englishmen Whereupon Malmesbury writeth thus Many a timâ— did King William Rufus aâ—â—aile the Welsh but â—ver in vain which is to be wondred aâ— â—nsidâ—ring his other fortunate success But saith he it may be the unevenness of the ground and sharpness of the air that maintained their courage and impeached his valour which to redress King Henry his Brother found means for those Flemings who in regard
of his Mothers kindred by the Fathers side sâ—rely pestred and endamaged the English he sent into Wales both to purge aâ—d disburden his own Kingdom and to quell and keep back thâ— courage of his enemies These men here seated deceived not his expectation but so carried themselves in his quarrel that they seldome communicated with their Neighbours so that to this day they speak not the Language and the Country is yet called Little England beyond Wales 5 The Commodities of this Shire are Corn Cattel Sea-Fish and Fowl and in Giraldus his daies of saleable Wines the Havens being so commodious for Ships arrivage such is that at Tenby and Milford and Haven of such capacity that sixteen Creeks â—ive Bays and thirteen Roads known all by several names 〈◊〉 therein contained where Henry of Richmond of most happy memory arrived with 〈…〉 of Eâ—glands freedom from under the government of an usurping Tyrant 6 Near unto this is Pembroke the Shire-Town seated more ancient in shew than it is in years and more houses without Inhabitants than I saw in any one City throughout my Survey It is walled long-wife and them but indifferent for repair containing in circuit eight hundred and fourscore paces having three Gates of passage and at the West-end a large Castle and locked Causey that leads over the water to the decayed Priory of Monton The site of this Town is in the degree of Longitude as Mercâ—tor doth measure 14 and 35 minutes and the Elevation from the North-Pole in the degree of Latitude 52. 7 A City as barren is old Saint Davids neither clad with Woods nor garnished with Rivers nor beauâ—ified with Fields nor adorned with Meadows but lieth alwaies open both to Wind and Storms Yet hath it been a Nursery to Holy Men for herein lived Calphurnius a Britain Priest whose Wife was Choncha Sister to Saint Martin and both of them the Paâ—ents of Saint Patrick the Apostle of Ireland Devi a most Religious Bishop made this an Archepiscopal See removed from Isca Legiâ—num This the Britains call Tuy Dewy the House of Devi we Saint Davids a City with few Inhabitants yet hath it a fair Cathedral Church dedicated to Saint Andrew and David in the midst of whose Quire lieth intombed Edmond Earl of Richmond Father to King Henry the Seventh whose Monument as the Prebends told me spared their Church from other defacements when all went down under the Hammers of King Henry the Eighth About this is a fair Wall and the Bishops Palace all of Free-Stone a goodly House I assure you and of great Receit whose uncovered Tops cause the curious Works in the Walls daily to weep and them to fear their downfal ere long 8 But Monton the Priory and S. Dogmels places of devout piety erected in this County found not the like favour when the commission of their dissolutions came down against them and the axes of destruction cut down the props of their Walls 9 This Shire hath been strengthened with sixteen Castles besides two Block-Houses commandiâ—g the Mouth of Milfâ—rd-Haven and is still traded in five Market-Towns being divided into seven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred forty five Pariâ—h-Churches RADNOR BREKNOK CARDIGAN and CAERMARTHEN discribed Petrus Kaerius caelavit 1500. RADNOR-SHIRE CHAPTER III. RADNOR-SHIRE lyeth bordered upon the North with the County Monmouth upon the East toucheth Shropshire and Herefoâ—dshire the Rivers Clarwen and Wye divide it from Brecknock in the South and the West part doth shorten point-wise in Cardigan-shire 2 The form thereof is in proportion triangle every side containing almost a like distance for from West to North are twenty miles from North to South twenty two miles and from South to West are twenty four miles the whole in circumference extending to fourscore and ten miles 3 The Air thereof is sharp and cold as most of Wales is for that the Snow lieth and lasteth long unmelted under those shadowing high Hills and over-hanging Rocks 4 The Soil is hungry though not barren and that in the East and South the best the other parts are rough and churlish and hardly bettered by painful labour so that the Riches of the North and West consisted chiefly in the brood of Cattel 5 Anciently this County was posseâ—â—ed by the Silâ—res warlike People and great withstanders of the Romans Impoâ—itions who had not only them to â—ight against but withal the unacceâ—â—ible Mountains wherewith this Shire is so overpressed and burdened that many times I feared to look down from the hanging Rocks whereunder I passed into those deep and dark Dales seeming to me an entrance into Limbâ— Among thâ—se as say our Historiaâ—s that hateful Prince to God and Man Vâ—rtigâ—r his Countries scourge and last Monarch of the British-blood by Fire from Heaven was consumed with his incestuous Wise from whom â—iniâ— nameth the Country wherein his Castle stood Guartiger-Maur of whose Rubbish the Castle Guthremion was raised as some are of opinion Yet they of North-Wales will have his destruction and Castle to stand in their parts near unto Beth-Kellech whereof we will further speak in the relation of his Life Fatal was this place also to Llewellin the last Prince of the British Race who being betrayed by the Men of Buelth â—â—ed into those vast Mountains of Radnor where by Adam Francton he was slain and his Head Crowned with Ivy set upon the Tower of London 6 Places most worthy of note in this Shire are as ensueth The first is Radnor from whom the County receiveth her name anciently Magi where the Commander of the Pacensian Regiment lay and thought to be the Magnos in Antonine the Emperours Survey This Town is pleasantly seated under a Hill whereon standeth mounted a large and strong Castle from whose Bulwark a Trench is drawn along the West of the Town whereon a Wall of Stone was once raised as by the remains in many places appeareth This Trench doth likewise inverge her West-side so far as the River but after is no more seen whose Graduation is observed to have the Pole elevated for Latitude 52 degrees and 45 minutes and for Longitude from the first Point of the West set by Mercator 17 degrees and one minute Prestayn for beautious building is the best in this Shire a Town of Commerce wonderfully frequented and that very lately Next is Kâ—ighton a Market-Town likewise under which is seen the Clawdh-Offa or Offaes Ditâ—h whose Tract for a space I followed along the edge of the Mounâ—ain which was a bound set to separate the Welsh from the English by the Mercian King Offa and by Egberâ— the Monarch a Law made by the instigation of his Wife that it should be present death for the Welsh to pass over the same as Iohn Bever the Monk of Westminster reporteth and the like under Hâ—â—ald as Iohn of Salisbury writeth wherein it was ordained that what Welshman soever should be found with any weapon on this side of that Limit which was Offaes Ditch should have
note are Troys and Brye and Auxerre and Sans an Arch-Bishops See c. 6 Burgundia both the Dutchy and Country The Dutchy or Burgundia suferiour and Western lieth on the South of higher Germany Her principal places are Digion Saint Bernards birth-Town Antun Bealne Sologue and Aliza once the famous City of Alexia The County of Burgundy or Burgundia Ihperior yields not to the choicest Garden in France for fertility of soil nor to the most renowned for stoutness of Inhabitants They acknowledge not as yet the French command no more than Savoy and Lorain They were under divers Generals and are called Walloons corruptly for Galleâ—s a trick of the Dutch Her principal Cities are Besanson the Metropolis of both Burgundies Salives Arboys Gray and Dola 7 Lugdunense Territorium Lione an illustrious City The center of Europe I mean where Merchants meet for Traffique from all quarters All these Provinces belong either wholly or at least in part to Gallia Lugdunensis For indeed some lie divided and stretch into their neighbours Territories as Campania into Belgica and this last Lugdunense is in part under the Government of Savoy 14 Narbonensis Gallia on the West hath the Comitatus Armenaici and Comminges Eastâ—ward part of the Alps North-ward the Mountain Cemenus and South-ward the French Seas It is generally a fruitful Country not inferior in the esteem of Pliny to Italy it self it comprehends the Provinces 1 of Languedo supposed from Languegotia language of the Goths it reacheth from the bounds of Armenia and Comminges to the Mediterraneam Her chief Cities are Narbon from whence this whole Region receives her appellation and is reckon'd the first Roman Province in Europe and Mons pessulame Mont-Pellein an University most famous for the study of Physick Nimes where there is at this day many reliques of Antiquity and Pons Sancti Spiritus c. 2 Provence provincia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divided from Languedoc by the River Rhodanus Rhoan It belongs part to the Crown of France part to the Pope and a third to the Prince of Orange In the Kings portion are Air a Parliamentary City â—rles and Maâ—silia the last built in the time of the Roman Tarquin To the Bishop of Rome belongs â—â—enian a City and Arch-bishops See with the whole Comitatus Venissimus To the Prince of Orange the chief City Aurangia or Orange on the River Meine Estang Boys de S Poll c. 3 Dâ—â—lphine on the North of Provence regio Allobrogum and is divided in Delphinatum superiorem and inferiorem The first contains in it Embrum where Agaric and Manna is plentifully gathered and Valentia c. The latter Grinnoble Vienna Daulphin Romans 4 Savoy Sabadia on the East of Daulphin a Dukedome without whose limits stands the well known City Geneva which entertains people from all Countries of any Religion But yet enforceth a Law upon fugitives not common elsewhere For whatsoever malefactor is there apprehended for mischief done in his own Countrey suffers as if he had been there condemned The principal Cities besides are Tarantise Bele Moustire Maurience c. To this Dukedom belong Cambrey on the West side of the Alps and the Countrey of Bresse whose heir is intituled Prince of Piemont a part of Italy at the very East foot of the Mountains which â—ever her from this Countrey 15 Gallia Belgica the last is the Eastern tract toward Germany and as much as belongs to this Kingdom contains only Picardy which is divided into the higher and lower The first portends towards the British Seas and here stands Calice distant but thirty miles from Dover It is that which Caesar called Portus Iâ—cius won from the French by our Edward the third lost by Q. Mary Upon her Confines toward England is the Country of Bononia and Guinnes which contain sundry Towns and Villages The chief â—â—lloin conquered by our Henry the Eighth but delivered back in the reign of Edward the Sixth In this Picardy stands Terwin besieged by King Henry in person where the Emperour Maximilian served under his Coulours and received pay as his Souldier In the lower Picardy stands Ambianum Amiens the Metropols Here are the Dutchy of Terache whose chief City is Guisa which gave name to the family of the Guises and the Country of Vermindois where Saint Quintin stands Retelois and Retel her Metropolis Artelois and Laâ—erre her 's Ponthein and Aberille 16 The Islands which are reckoned properly French are only those which lye neer in the Atlantick Ocean They are but few and of no great account The principal Dame de Bovin L'ille de Dieu Marmotier Insula regis A NEW MAPE OF Y E XVII PROVINCES OF LOW GERMANIE P. Kaerius Caelavit The Description of BELGIA IN this we continue still the Description of Belgia begun in the Map of France For the title is common as well to those Territories as indeed to all the North-East Tracts of the old Gallia The portion hereditary to the French King was marked out among the rest of his Dominions The residue since it hath been by length of time chance of war or at least chance of Fortune dispersed into the power of several Princes is better known to us by the familiar names of the Low-Countries than Netherlands Flandars c. 2 In the search of her Original we may have reference to our precedent Discourse For questionless it was possest by the Gauls as the other parts were aud if trust may be given to those Antique Stories whose truth is almost worn out with age she reacheth her pedegree as high as any and likely enough did partake in the Spoils of Rome when the Capitol was ransaked by the Gauls under the conduct of our two â—nglish Brothers For her chief Captain â—elgius whose memory she preserves to this day in her name is mentioned by Qâ—adus andother as companion to Brennius in his expedition toward Macedonia after they were intreated from Rome 3 In the first times they were a stout people and practised to continual wars by the bordering Germans which made them as well expert as hardy It seems Caesar found them so in his tryal â—or he gives them in his Commentaries the honour of a valâ—ant Nation above any other part of Gallia Yet at last he brought them under and in time they were expulsed by the Germans who for their neerest speech and customs are sâ—pposed and justly too the Predecessors to the now Inhabitants 4 For her first name I find no other likely account given than from a City built by their â—elgius in the Province of Hannonia where now stands Bavaria The râ—st Germania inâ—erior the Low Countries and Netherlands require no long search for without doubt they have little other ground than her low situation upon the Seas and indeed it is such as hath oft times endangered her by inundations and sunk many hundreds of their Towns and Villages which to this day in some places shew their tops above water at a dead low ebb Lastly Flanders
it hath been formerly accounted they should differ much from those of Virginia Yet there is a sort of fruit called a Persimon mentioned as most especially belonging to Mary-Land and among Birds one named the Mock-bird from its imitation of all other Singing-birds which differing among themselves in the mixture of their colours that which is black and yellow is called Baltemore-bird from the colour of his Lordships Coat of Arms which are Or and Sable excelling in beauty all the other sorts The same is to be said of the complections customs dispositions government c. of the Natives of this Province as of those of Virginiâ— and other adjacent parts that is in brief thaâ— they are somewhat tawny their hair long black and uncurl'd but cut into fantastical forms more ingenious and docile than industrious each Town a distinct Nation and govern'd by iâ—s several Weroance or King only the Sesquaâ—anocks are a Republick As the Province is now inhabited by the English it is divided into ten Districts or Counties five on the Eastern-shore of the Bay of Chespeack namely Dorchester Somerset Kent Caecil and Talbot and five on the West side of the Bay St. Maries where the Provincial Court or chief Court of Iudicature consisting of Governor and Consiliar Iudges is held every quarter of a year Anne Arundel Baltemore Charles and Calvert The chief Rivers of this Country are Patowmec Patuxent Ann Arundel alias Severn Sasquesahanough Choptank Nantecoke Pocomoke besides others of less note of those mentioned the first four on the West side the other three to the East fall into Cheâ—apeack Bay which is navigable for 200 miles and which between two Capes Cape Charles to the North and Cape Henry to the South being seven or eight leagues distant receives all the Ships that come for Virginia or Mary-Land and passeth Northernly through the midst of Mary-Land On the Eastern shore of this Bay are divers convenient Harbours Creeks and Islands and Northward thereof is the entrance of Delaware Bay The original Seat and Principal City of this Province where the Provincial Courts the general Assembly the Secretaries office and other publick offices are held and where the seat of Trade is fixt is St. Maries situate in St. Maries County on the East-side of St. Georges River Here formerly at the Palace of St. Iohns the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert used to reside but he hath now a very pleasant and commodious habitation at a place called Mattapany upon the River Patuxent about eight miles from St. Maries here is also another fair house where the Chancellor usually resides There were also some years since in all the rest of the Counties the foundations of Towns laid which no doubt by this time are very near if not altogether compleated particularly in Calvert County near the River Patuxent 1. Calverton in Battle-creek 2. Harvy Town over against Point Patience 3. Herington upon the Cliffs As for the present Government of Mary-Land by the English the Lord Proprietor in the first place is invested as hath been mentioned with an absolute power and dominion by whose sole command all things relating to peace or War are ordered and in whose name issue forth all publick Instruments Patents Warrants Writs c. In the enacting of Laws he hath the consent and advice of the general Assembly which is made up of two Estates the first consisting of his Lorships Privy Council of which the Chancellor and Secretary alwaies are and such Lords of Manors as are called by his special Writ the other of the Deputies of each Province elected by the free voice of the Free-holders of the respective Province for which each Deputy is chosen The names of the present Governor the prime Officers of State and the rest of his Lordships Privy Council are as followeth the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships Son and Heir the Chancellor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother the Secretary Sr. William Talbot the Muster-Master General Mr. William Calvert Mr. Baker Brook all three his Lordships Nephews the Surveyor General Mr. Ierome White Mr. Edw. Lloyd Mr. Henry Coursy Mr. Thomas Trueman Major Edward Fitz-Herbert Mr. Samuel Chew Vast quantities of Tobacco the grand Trade of this Province of Mary-Land are yearly vended from hence not only in England but likewise in several of the other English Plantations besides the importation also of some other commodities to the great improvement of his Majesties Revenue by Custom and Excise The common way of traffick here is by barter or trucking of commodities one for anotherr though money is not altogether wanting as well of the coin of England and other parts as of his Lordships own Coin being stampt on the one side with his Lordships Coat of Arms with this circumscription Crescite Multiplicamini and on the other side with his Effigies and this circumscription Caecilius Dominus Terrae Mariae c. The Description of New-England WHat hath been said in General of the discovery of Virginia largely so called may in consequence be applyed to this Country of New-England being as above mentioned one of the three principal Colonies comprehended therein but in the year 1602 it began to be more particularly known a part from the rest from the discovery as some think of Captain Gosnold and in the year 1606 it was granted by Patent by King Iames to divers Lords and Gentlemen under the denomination of the Plymouth Company yet after that several that set out for this Plantation successively either miscarried or returned re infecta as first Captain Henry Chaloung who meeting with the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana was with all his Company carried Prisoner into Spain Not long after Thomas â— Haman sent to the succour of Chaloung by Sr. Iohn Popham Lord cheif Iustice of England Next Captain Prinne set out by the Bristol Company whose Voyage though it had not its wisht success yet he returned with a farther discovery of the Coast than had been made before Not long after George Popham and Raleigh Gilbert were fitted out at the charge of Sir Iohn Popham with one hundred men who though they had seated themselves not uncommodiously in a Peninsula at the mouth of the River Sagadahoc and were upon making farther discoveries yet in the year 1608 upon the death of George Popham their Commander and soon after of the Lord Chief Iustice they returned into England notwithstanding supplies had but lately been sent them to the very great distaste of the chief promoters of the design and whereupon the French had taken occasion to plant themselves in these parts had they not been timely expelled by Sr. Samuel Argal from Virginia The next that attempted a settlement here was Captain Hobson who by reason of the opposition raised against him by two Natives whom having been detained some while in England he took back along with him upon an affront offered them by some of the English was forc't to return without effecting of any thing
are by some named several Provinces into which this Countrey hath been formerly divided viz. Panuca bordering upon New Spain Aranaris Albardaosia whose Natives are peculiarly noted for their subâ—ilty Irquasia inhabited by a people exceeding all others in swiftness of foot and Alpachia Authia and Someria remarkable for expert swimmers even to the very women who make nothing to cross over wide Rivers with children in their arms it is said to abound also with Hermophradites who are made use of as drudges to follow the Camp and carry the luggage of the Army Colas bordering upon Cape Florida Tegista or Florida properly so called which stretcheth our North and South 100 leagues in length into a long Peninsula toward the Isle Cuba by the Cape Los Martyres Acuera Vitacuâ—â—us c. But the more common division of the Floridans is into their several Tribes as the Quitones the Susolas the Maticones the Avavares the Camoni the Canagadi the Marianes and the Quevenes of each of which the supreme Head or Prince is called the Paraousti This Countrey of Florida is well watered with many large and convenient Rivers of which the only mentioned in any noted Writer of these parts are these 1 Rio Grande 2 Rio Secco 3 Rio de Nieves 4 Rio de Spiritu Santo 5 Serravahi 6 Garuna 7 Ligeriâ— 8 Sequana 9 Axona 10 Charente all which fall into the great Lake of Mexico 11 Maio so called by Ribault from the Month in which he discovered it if it be not one of those already mentioned under another name The principal Towns of Florida whereof some built by the Spaniards and one by the French others by the ancient Inhabitants are 1 St. Helens situate on or near a Promontory or point so called on the utmost Frontier of the Country toward Virginia 2 Arx Carolina or Fort Charles built by Laudonier on the banks of the River Majo and by him so called in honour of King Charles the 9th of France in whose time the Conquest of Florida was undertaken by the French but this place was not long after taken from them by the Spaniard and very much ruinated 3 Port Royal a place inhabited for the sake of the Haven only which for the commodiousness of it is very much frequented 4 St. Matthews one of the principal sortifications of the Spaniards lying on the Eastern Coast of Tergesta of Florida properly so called 5 St. Augustines another of their ancient sortified places on the same Shore only somewhat more Southernly This Town as above mentioned was in the year 1585 taken and sack'd by Sir Francis Drake 6 Vitacuche once the chief Seat of the Province or petty Kingdom of Vitacuche though nâ— better indeed than an indifferent Village consisting but of 200 houses or rather cottages however thought worthy to be taken by the Natives from the Spaniards As also 7 Ocalis the Metropolitan Village of Acuera of so much the more note by how much the larger than the other 8 Osachite another Provincial Town of the Floridans 9 Apatache an ancient Native-built Town probably once of some note and resort at least taken by the Spaniards for such which made them the more eager to take it under the conduct of Pamphilus Narvaes in hopes of finding there great riches Doubtless it was then a place much larger and more considerable than to consist but of 40 or 50 houses or cottages as hath been by some delivered since it was capable of making so smart a resistance as it did when it was attack'd and of repelling them after the departure of Nervaes 10 Ante another ancient Town or Village of the Floridans chiefly remarkable for a sharp Ingagement between them and the Spaniards whom at this place though said to be nine days march from Apatache they overtook and forc'd to retreat not without the loss of very many of their men some of note 11 St. Philip. 12 St Iago both heretofore fortified by the Spaniards if not still possessed by them CAROLINA The Description of Carolina CAROLINA having been formerly accounted a part of Florida though of late separated into a peculiar Province little or nothing is to be said more of the discovery situation climate temperature soil commodities nature and customs of the natives than what hath been already mentioned in Florida it self of which we have been the more particular in regard this part of it which is called Carolina from his present Majesty King Charles the Second and which makes up a considerable Province belongs now to the English it being not so proper to attribute those things to a part only which are applicable to the whole it remains only therefore to speak of the present interest and propriety when upon what occasion and to whom the Patent was granted and if there be any thing else peculiar to this Province above the rest of Florida It was by the care charge and industrious endeavours of divers noble persons as Edward Earl of Clarendon â—ord Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarl William Earl of Craven Iohn Lord Berkly Anthony Lord Ashly now Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret Vice-Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold Sir William Berkly Knight and Baronet Sir Iohn Colleton Knight and Baronet that this Province of Carolinâ— as the best part of all Florida was impropriated into the interest and possession of the English to whom indeed of right the whole Countrey may be accounted properly to belong both in regard it was discovered by Sir Sebastian Cabott by the encouragement and for the use of King Henry the seventh of England and for its neighbouring situation to our other Plantations besides several other conveniences by setling therein two considerable Plantations the one at Albemarl-Point which lying to the North borders upon Virginia and whither very many Families have transplanted themselves from New-England and other of our American Plantations the other at Charles-Town or Ashly River almost in the center of the Countrey which being the better Plantation of the two may in all likelihood invite a far greater as well from New-England and other parts that way as from Barbadoes and Bermudas many have already removed their effects hither The most apparent boundary between Carolina and Virginia appears plainly by Mr. Ledderers Map who hath written a very exact description of his travels into these parts to be the Râ—ver Rorenock alias Shawan that is to say the main River for above half the way and afterwards a smaller branch running on Northward towards the Hills as far as Sapon in the Countrey of the Nabissans the rest of the main stream running farther into the heart of the Countrey which from this boundary stretcheth a long way North-west This Sapon is the first Town within the limits of Carolina and situate as it were upon the utmost point of the said branch of the River Rorenock whereby though it stand dry upon an high ground yet it is environed with a fruitful and productive Soil Nor far from it is a place
Archiepiscopal Seats grounding his conjecture on the saying of Pope Lucius who affirmeth that the Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Roman Magistrates and that their Archbâ—shops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents abode so that the ancient Seats of the three Archbâ—shops here being London in the East Câ—erleon in the West and York in the North Londons Diocess as seemeth made Britain prima Caerleon Britain secunda and York Maxima Caesariâ—nsis 15 But in the next age when the power of their Presidents began to grow over great they again divided Britain into five parts adding to the three former Valentia and â—lavia Caesariensis the first of which two seemeth to have been the Northerly part of Maxima Caesariensis recovered from the Picts and Scots by Theodoâ—lus the General under Valence the Emperour and in honour of him named Valeâ—tia and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour son of Theâ—dâ—sius for that we read not of the name Britain â—lavia before his time 16 So these five partitions had their limits assigned after this manner Britaine prima contained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis the Severne and the British Sea Britaine Secunda extended from Severne unto the Irish Seas containing the Countrey that we now call Wales Flavia Caesariensis was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne and Valentia from the said River and Picts wall reached unto the Rampire near Edenburgh in Scotland the farthest part that the Romans possessed when this division was in use For the several people inhabiting all those parts with their ancient Names and Borders whether designed by the Romans or the old Britains together with our modern Names and Shires answerable to each of them we will refer you to the Tables thereof elsewhere 17 This whole Province of Britain as in our History shall appear was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselves assuming as a glorious surname Britannicus coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce known Seas here marrying living and dying enacting here Laws for the whole Empire and giving to those Captains that served here many ensigns of great honour yea Claudius gave Plantius the first Prefect of that Province the right hand as he accompanied him in his Triumph and his own Triumph of Britain was set out with such magnificence that the Provinces brought in golden Crowes of great weight the Governours commanded to attend and the very Captains permitted to be present at the same A Naval Coronet was fixed upon a Pinnacle of his Palace Arches and Trophies were raised in Rome and himself on his aged knees mounted the staires into the Capitol supported by his two sons in Law so great a joy conceived he in himself for the Conquest of some small portion of Britain 18 Now the Romans found it held it and left it as times ripened and rottened their success with the Names the Inhabitants Manners and Resisters I leave to be pursued in the following Histories and will only now shew thee these three Kingdoms that are in present the chief Bodies of Great Britains Monarchy two of which Scotland and Ireland shall in their due places have their farther and more particular Descriptions THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND ENGLANDS General Description CHAPTER II. THE Saxons glory now near to expire by his appointment who holdeth both times and Kingdoms in his all-ordering hand their own Swords being the Instruments and the Danâ—s the mauls that beat their beautiful Diadem into pieces the Normans a stirring Nation neither expected nor much feared under the leading of William their Duke and encouragement of the Roman Bishop an usual promoter of broken titles made hither suddenly into England who in one only battel with the title of his sword and slaughter of Harold set the imperial Crown thereof upon his own head which no sooner was done but the English went down and the Normans lording it became Owners of those Cities which themselves never built possessed those Vineyards which they never planted drunk of those Wells which they never had digged and inhabited those Houses filled with riches for which they never had laboured for they found it to be as the land whereupon the Lord set his eye even from the beginning to the end of the year not only drinking water of the rain of Heaven but having also rivers of waters and fountains in her valleys and without all scarcitie whose stones are Iron and out of whose mountains is digged brass This made them more resolute at first to settle themselves in this fairest and fruitfullest part of the Island the conquerour using all policy both Martial and Civil to plant his posterity here for ever How he found the Land governed we shewed in the Heptarchy but his restless thoughts were not contented with conquering the Nation and their Land unless he also overcame their very Customes Laws and Language 2 Touching the distribution of the Kingdome whereas other Kings before him made use of it chiefly for the good of the people and better ministring of Iustice he made use of it to know the wealth of his Subjects and to enrich his Coffers for he caused a description to be made of all England â—ow much land every one of his Barons possessed how many Knights fees how many Plow-lands how many in villanage how many heads of beasts yea how much ready money every man from the greatest to the â—ast did possess and what rents might be made of every mans possession the Book of which inquisition yet in the Exchequer was called Doomesday for the generality of that Iudgment on all the Land Whereunto we may add his other distribution of this Land worse than any former when thrusting the English out of their possessions â—e distributed their inheritances to his Souldiers yet so that all should be held of the King as of the only true Lord and possessor 3 For the Laws by which he meant to govern he held one excellent rule and purpose which was that a people ought â—to be ruled by Laws written and certain for otherwise new Iudges would still bring new Iudgments and therefore he caused twelve to be chosen out of every County which should on their oath without inclining one way or other neither adding nor deâ—racting open unto him all their ancient Laws and Customes By whose relation understanding that three sorts of Laws formerly were in the Land Merchelenage West-Saxonlage Dane-lage he had preferred these last himâ—elf and people being anciently derived from those Northern people had not all the Barons bewayling to the King how grievous it was for a Land to be judged by those Laws which they understood not altered his resolute purpose yet in bringing in the strange â—orms of Norman Processe and pleading in the French tongue which continued till Edward the thirds time that grievance was buâ— slendâ—rly prevented So likewise did he much alter the old Courts of Iustice where these Laws shouâ—d